Litchfield Park council approves $4.6M Hilltop Park contract

The Litchfield Park city council voted unanimously Sept. 16 to approve a contract for the next phase of work at Hilltop Park, though city officials stressed that more work will need to be done.

“This is not completing the park,” City Manager Matthew Williams told council members.

The contract, approved for a maximum of $4.6 million, covers what staff described as "Phase 1A" of the park. Williams said the city already had slightly more than $2 million allocated, meaning council only had to approve about $2.6 million in additional funding this time.

The approved work includes site grading, utility construction, pathways, landscaping and irrigation, masonry, electrical work, fire access improvements and ADA parking upgrades near the historic area.

 City Planner Randy Proch walked council members through a map of planned improvements, saying the work is meant to set up “future success.”

Councilmember Suzanne Allen asked how soon work could start and whether staff could prioritize pieces needed for park operations. Proch said the contractor was “very excited” and wanted to start work quickly, though coordination with utility providers, including Liberty and APS, could affect the timeline.

In other business, the council approved a conditional use permit allowing T-Mobile equipment on an existing disguised cell tower, or “monopalm,” on the hill. The site is leased to American Tower Co. and the lease allows the company to seek co-location partners.

The council also tabled a proposed rezoning related to the Tierra Verde shopping center until its next regular meeting. Proch said the applicant had not agreed to proposed conditions, including a development agreement and parking provisions.

Council members also introduced Ordinance 26-304, a gift policy required under the city charter. City Attorney Joseph Estes advised officials not to let developers, or others with city business, pay for meals.

“We’re just trying to be very transparent with this,” Estes said.

The council also approved funding for sidewalk panel replacement after city engineer Keith Drunasky said a citywide evaluation found 259 panels with accessibility concerns.

Mayor Thomas Schoaf was adamant the city has a responsibility to fix sidewalks that could cause falls.

“It's our responsibillty, as a council, if we've been informed there are panels that could cause someone to fall, we need to fix it," Schoaf said.

The next Litchfield Park City Council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 21, in the Litchfield Park Community Room, 101 W. Wigwam Blvd.

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Noah Flug
Reporter | Litchfield Park and Goodyear

nflug@iniusa.org

Community: Litchfield Park and Goodyear

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in Digital Audiences from Arizona State University

Random Fact: I only have one biological cousin.

Hobbies: Watching movies and TV, spending time with my friends, aspiring stoic.