Apache Junction City Council members met recently with city employees for a strategic planning retreat to discuss topics such as police operations, equestrian issues, utilities, and marketing and communications.
The retreat, which was open to the public, was held March 6 at Central Arizona College’s Superstition Mountain Campus, 805 S. Idaho Road in Apache Junction. The facilitator was Evelyn Casuga of the Center for the Future of Arizona.
All council members appeared to agree there is a need to create a sense of community between residents of the northern and southern sections of Apache Junction. An LED marquee — like the one at Phelps Drive and East Apache Trail — could be installed and banners stretched across roads in south Apache Junction to promote citywide activities and events to residents, according to the discussion.
The city of Apache Junction could do what they do in Bullhead City — put QR codes in business windows that direct smartphone users to city news; or place flags on light poles advertising when a special event is coming up, Councilmember Bambi Johnson said.
“Those on the light poles, it doesn’t matter if you live here or not, if you travel through you’ll know about an event and you know how to get there,” she said.
Marketing and communication avenues also should be opened up with Apache Junction’s neighbors to the east in Gold Canyon, in unincorporated Pinal County, Vice Mayor Robert Schroeder said.
He told of a Gold Canyon resident — who didn’t know he was a council member — who made a disparaging remark about Apache Junction, its mayor and council.
“There is a disconnect to our neighbor over here. I know we’re trying to bridge a connection with our down south (residents) but we should also try to bridge the disconnect with ... our neighbors” in Gold Canyon, he said. “What sort of real image does our closest neighbor have of us?”
Other topics at the retreat included safety of horses on the roads, an update on plans for a police substation in south Apache Junction, building a dog run at the animal control facility and having a water company install additional fire hydrants.
Councilmember Tess Nesser asked if signs could be placed at intersections where horses have the right of way.
“Not only would it be a novelty, unique thing reminding everybody that we were a horse community, but it is also educational,” she said.
Councilmember Bryan Soller asked for an update on a police substation planned for south Apache Junction
Work is progressing on plans for a library and police substation on the southwest corner of Elliot and Ironwood, Police Chief Michael Pooley said during the retreat.
“It will be really nice to have a substation down there to help with the calls for service,” Soller said.
An outside dog run or area is needed for Apache Junction Animal Control as the animals are kept inside most of the day in individual enclosures with three cinder-block walls and a gate, Councilmember Peter Heck said.
Being inside such an enclosure is bad for the dogs, he said.
“They change. They lose their desire to be friendly,” Heck said.
Arizona Water Co. should be encouraged to construct more water hydrants to help when firefighters are putting out structure fires, Councilmember Darryl Cross said.
Comments on the retreat
The retreat was a chance for councilors to discuss their concerns, Mayor Chip Wilson said during the lunch break for the retreat.
“I think it’s very informative. We’re covering a lot of ground and a lot of the issues. One of the things is they are hearing directly from each council member as to what their concerns are and it’s giving the city staff what we are looking for, what we want for the community,” he said.
Heck said he liked the exchange of ideas.
“I think it’s going very well. I like the exchange. There’s a lot of great ideas, a lot of great concepts that are being presented. It’s not all going to get done next week. I think some of these are long range, but ... it’s to take a look at the areas of need and then prioritize,” he said.
Soller liked that there were open discussions on a variety of topics.
“I like the retreat. I think it’s a good way to get ideas out there, get input back from the city staff. I really like the retreats,” he said. “It starts to set the groundwork on where we want to go forward and what we’ve done and how we can move forward from there... I really like the format, I like having an open discussion.”
The retreat is a chance for council members to brainstorm ideas, Nesser said.
“This lets us have that time to see the pros and cons,” she said. “You always get other ideas. You don’t think about it until you hear somebody else’s point of view. ... So yeah, this is tremendously helpful in brainstorming.”
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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