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The stories that defined Paradise in 2019

Posted 12/30/19

In Paradise Valley, the year 2019 was illustrated through growth.

Two freshman councilmembers took their seats in January, as Jerry Bien-Willner transitioned from a councilmember to newly-elected …

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Top 10

The stories that defined Paradise in 2019

Posted

In Paradise Valley, the year 2019 was illustrated through growth.

Two freshman councilmembers took their seats in January, as Jerry Bien-Willner transitioned from a councilmember to newly-elected mayor --- a feat he accomplished unchallenged.

The town also saw the hiring of a new town manager, Jill Keimach, as Brian Dalke served temporary role with poise and wisdom, town officials say.

Overwhelmingly, however, town officials were inundated with applications to redevelop properties in town.

From a handful of medical plazas --- Mountainview Medical Plaza, Lincoln Medical Plaza and Paradise Valley Medical Plaza --- to making updates to the Sanctuary Resort and SmokeTree Resort, and the rebuilding of two public schools, Paradise Valley properties are seeking to enter their next phases of life.

In addition to pursuits of growth, the municipality is in the midst of finding an alternative method to pay down public safety pension obligations, and planning roadway improvements as Five Star Development’s resort and residential project grows closer to completion every day.

On one unique day, Vice President Mike Pence came to Arizona to meet with Gov. Doug Ducey and Sen. Martha McSally --- both Paradise Valley residents --- to discuss the success and needs of Hispanic business leaders.

Through it all, the Independent has been reporting on issues big and small for the residents of Paradise Valley. And when neighborhoods face an issue, from unruly short-term rental homes in their neighborhood, to bicycle groups dominating their roadways, to missing mail --- the local newspaper of record is there.

Read below for the biggest stories of the last year.

1. Keimach finds new home at helm of the Town of Paradise Valley

There’s a new boss in town, and she goes by the name of Jill Keimach.

Ms. Keimach has taken the helm as Paradise Valley’s new town manager, which at first blush appears to be a position she has passion.

Hailing from northern California, Ms. Keimach says the quality of Paradise Valley Town Council, coupled with the size and scope of the town drew her to accept the job leading the municipality.

Ms. Keimach officially started with Paradise Valley on May 20, after her employment agreement was unanimously approved by Town Council on March 28.

“I basically came to Paradise Valley to check it out, to see if I was a good fit --- they were looking at me for the same thing,” Ms. Keimach said during an interview in her new office at Town Hall, 6401 E. Lincoln Drive.

“The most important thing is the relationship between the town manager and council, and council itself. Working with seven different individuals who are all experts in different areas, all have succeeded in their lives; how do they work together as a team? It’s not a given with all of those individuals that they’re able to work together as a team. I saw they could in Paradise Valley --- that’s why I wanted to work here.”

2. Planning Commission recommends SmokeTree SUP denial

The Paradise Valley Planning Commission has recommended denial of Smoke Tree Resort’s Major Special Use Permit Amendment.

On March 5, the Planning Commission hosted a public hearing, followed by a vote on the project. The Commission voted 4-3 to recommend denial, with Commissioners Daran Wastchak, Thomas Campbell and Jonathan Wainwright dissenting.

Smoke Tree Resort was originally built in 1966 at 7101 E. Lincoln Drive, adjacent to the municipality’s border. Earlier this year, the legacy resort property changed hands for a reported $10 million, and new ownership is eying a new chapter for the boutique resort.

The original resort, which had been maintained in perpetuity, is now under the guise of Phoenix-based Geneva Holdings. The property is on approximately 5.3 acres, and plans call for a complete rebuild comprised of up to three story buildings with both rental and residential units.

3. Cyclists draw community ire

Paradise Valley municipal officials and law enforcement personnel have worked together to mitigate concerns regarding rampant cyclists on the town’s residential streets, however, one local homeowner says the issue remains.

Heidi McCauley resides on east Quartz Mountain Road, along the north side of Mummy Mountain, where a local team of cyclists use her residential street around 6 a.m. to train.

According to Ms. McCauley, the issue is dangerous and efforts made by the Paradise Valley Police Department and town officials aren’t mitigating her concerns.

“We have a lot of problems with cyclists,” Ms. McCauley explained. “We feel like all they do is have a cop at the stop sign in the morning, and that’s supposed to fix the problem. It hasn’t deterred the problem at all.”

The issue remains on the weekends, the Paradise Valley resident says, and often causes drivers and pedestrians to stop in their tracks.

“You kind of hold on for dear life until they pass, and go on with your walk or drive,” she said. “You’re almost run off the road by these cyclists.”

According to Ms. McCauley, there is upwards of 40 individuals riding at high speeds --- up to 40 MPH, she says --- down a skinny, windy road with a posted speed limit of 15 MPH.

4. Paradise Valley continues to explore alternative measures to cover PSPRS obligations

Paradise Valley officials are mulling over exploring the use of taxable bonds as payment for portions of their unfunded liability in the Public Safety Pension Retirement System.

Municipalities throughout the country have historically provided pensions to their public safety personnel --- including the Town of Paradise Valley.

Pensions were meant to attract quality workers and the promise to provide that pension when a worker retired served to reward employees for years of service to the public.

The Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System is a 236-member organization managing the pension plans for eligible public safety personnel entities statewide of which Paradise Valley participates.

The Arizona Constitution recognizes public employee pensions, while PSPRS and its duties were established in the late 1960s to ensure public safety employees equal footing in terms of pension eligibility, contribution rates and benefit formulas.

In 2016, the Independent reported the problem lies within:

  • The Town of Paradise Valley has 33 retired police officers collecting a pension totaling, on average, about $45,000 annually. However, there are only 23 active members contributing to the pension plan along with taxpayer dollars.
  • Paradise Valley, because of the PSPRS formula, is paying 62 percent of a police officer’s salary toward his or her state pension plan, which carries an estimated annual total financial obligation of about $1.5 million.

The Town Council in 2016 approved a resolution confirming that the municipality would try to pay off its then-$18 million unfunded liability in three years as opposed to its current 22-year plan.

5. Sanctuary SUP statement of direction passes divided Paradise Valley Town Council

After several weeks of vociferous debate, Paradise Valley Town Council has advanced a statement of direction to the Planning Commission regarding an intermediate Special Use Permit amendment for the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa.

Though the SOD advanced, the vote at the Thursday, Feb. 28 council meeting reflected a divided council as the measure passed 4-3. Vice Mayor Scott Moore as well as councilmembers Julie Pace and Ellen Andeen dissented.

The proposal consists of a SUP application for improvements to Casa 3, which was “historically treated” as an R-43, single-family home. The building sits on the western edge of the Sanctuary property near where Solano Drive and San Miguel Avenue meet and next to residential homes.

The applicant is hoping to expand the home by adding three guest units with one lock-off unit. This would change its use to “commercial in nature,” according to town officials.

The statement of direction --- which serves as marching orders from the council to the Planning Commission --- included 12 bullet points for the commission to consider.

Some of those points included a review of the intensity of the property, setbacks on proposed upgrades to the house, noise impacts and potential food preparation/cooking areas. The SOD also called for the commission to “encourage mitigating measures that may buffer the development from nearby residential properties.”

6. Flaxman among those charged in college bribery scandal

A prominent Valley developer credited with both spearheading the Mountain Shadows redevelopment and Omni Scottsdale resorts is one of 50 people charged in a nationwide college admissions scam.

Crown Realty & Development CEO Robert Flaxman is among the parents and college officials named by federal prosecutors as having taken part in a scheme that involved cheating on standardized tests or bribing college coaches and school officials to accept students.

A press release issued March 12 by United States Department of Justice announced the arrest of dozens of individuals in multiple states.

Those arrested were charged with allegedly being involved in a nationwide conspiracy.

Mr. Flaxman was charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud, documents show. Mr. Flaxman’s initial appearance in federal court in Boston is set for 2:30 p.m. March 29, before Judge M. Page Kelley.

Court documents released on March 12 state Mr. Flaxman participated in both the college recruitment scheme and the college entrance exam scheme in or about 2016.

7. The Scottsdale Unified School District M&O override renewal approved by 61% of voters, with 25,780 ballots cast

SUSD Governing Board President Patty Beckman was feeling many emotions the morning after the election.

“The first thought you have is you’re grateful, and probably a little bit relieved at the same time,” Ms. Beckman said. “I’m excited to continue going forward with the great work we’ve been doing, the district has been doing, and continue to raise the bar to do more things.”

With this vote, the secondary property tax rate for SUSD will be $0.38 per $100 of net assessed valuation through June 30, 2025.

Ms. Beckman says with the passage of the override, the district will be able to continue its programs --- pointing out the importance of the district’s academics and students.

“The override will enable us to continue our programs, so that we can support kids in a competitive education environment like they’ve always known in Scottsdale,” she said.

The 2019 SUSD M&O override will generate an estimated $21.4 million beginning in fiscal year 2020-21 that will be used to:

  • Maintain current class-size standards;
  • Maintain all-day kindergarten programming;
  • Maintain an emphasis on technology for students and classrooms;
  • Maintain professional learning opportunities for staff;
  • Maintain competitive salaries for teachers; and
  • Maintain current music, art, world languages, athletics and co-curricular activities.

8. Neighborhood unrest unfolds

As a May 9 public hearing on the Paradise Valley Medical Plaza nears, neighbors of the development are expressing trepidation and displeasure around the process that has unfolded over the past several months as the property seeks a special use permit amendment that would increase the plaza’s footprint.

The Paradise Valley Medical Plaza, 5410 N. Scottsdale Road, is seeking a special use permit amendment to allow for a new medical building, new parking area, two new parking canopies and new signage.

Paradise Valley Medical Plaza is on a 10-acre parcel of land at the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Jackrabbit roads.

The proposal would add one single-story building on the west side of the campus. The new space is proposed to be used for additional medical offices and/or surgical facilities. Additionally, new covered parking spaces will be added in the central area of the site, since eight covered parking spaces will be eliminated by the new building.

Jason Rose, of Scottsdale-based Rose Moser Allyn Public Relations, who represents the project, says the application seeks an addition of 17% more square footage than the existing facility, and no new height is being sought.

In 2003, the town approved a major amendment to the special use permit increasing the overall square footage of the medical and surgical facilities to 50,000 square feet.

Residents of the adjacent neighborhood are opposed to the amendment, citing concerns over increased traffic and overall disturbance, saying they feel as their opinions on the matter aren’t being heard by the municipality, although residents have spoken out at public meetings and submitted written comments.

9. School rebuilds

Total revitalization of Cherokee Elementary School appears likely

Cherokee Elementary School should be rebuilt in order to meet established desires and criteria for the local school, architect and construction officials told Scottsdale Unified School District officials.

On Thursday, April 11, Tom O’Neil of Orcutt Winslow and officials of Core Construction presented their findings to the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board during a study session meeting.

The official opinion is to rebuild the school.

“We are recommending a replacement of Cherokee, rather than a renovation with high innovation,” Orcutt Winslow Senior Associate Tom O’Neil said to SUSD officials. Mr. O’Neil is the client leader and architect of record for this project, and has been involved with other SUSD campus rebuild projects as well.

Cherokee Elementary School, 8801 N. 56th Street in the Town of Paradise Valley, was selected in October 2018 as the school district’s next bond project.

Kiva named next SUSD bond project during testy discussion

Tempers flared as the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board unanimously approved naming Kiva Elementary School as its next bond project.

The approval slates Kiva, 6911 E. McDonald Drive in the Town of Paradise Valley, behind Hohokam Elementary School in a list of schools undergoing renovations. During the discussion, boardmembers Jann-Michael Greenburg, Sandy Kravetz and Barbara Perleberg argued about perceived stances on the future of Kiva.

SUSD Superintendent Dr. John Kriekard said he anticipates the Kiva project to begin in the spring with community meetings, selecting an architect and conducting a feasibility study.

This selection comes after the district conducted an excess capacity study in which Dr. Ibi Haghighat, assistant superintendent of elementary education, recommended it for the next project at the board’s Sept. 17 meeting.

10. An economic renaissance

As children were rushing off to school and the a.m. commute was in full swing during an otherwise routine Thursday morning, Vice President Mike Pence was arriving at a quiet church in Scottsdale.

Mr. Pence, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, Sen. Martha McSally and U.S. Treasurer Jovita Carranza all took part in a roundtable discussion Oct. 3 with a group of Hispanic leaders at the First Baptist Church of Scottsdale, 7025 E. Osborn Road. The event was in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, as well as promoting economic and job growth within the Hispanic community, officials said.

Mr. Pence’s trip to Arizona included attending a victory event for Ms. McSally, as well as visiting Tucson before returning to Washington D.C.

On Thursday, the elected officials arrived at the church in west Scottsdale one by one before allowing media in to the small meeting room to hear opening remarks.

The remainder of the discussion amongst the Hispanic leaders and dignitaries, which lasted less than one hour, was private.

In Arizona, there is about 6,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, which have provided about $20 billion in export with $1.7 billion being in agriculture, Ms. Carranza said.

Meanwhile, Arizona’s Hispanic community is recording its lowest unemployment rate at less than 5%.

Honorable mention:

A dip in revenue

The Town of Paradise Valley’s historic photo radar system yielded the lowest net revenue accrued in the past five fiscal years, records show.

While funds collected from tickets issued to speeders and red-light runners has topped $1 million in recent years, fiscal year 2017-18 saw only $147,040 in fees.

In 1987, the Paradise Valley Police Department became the first agency in the nation to utilize photo enforcement. At that time, the Town Council authorized the use of photo enforcement in direct response to a steady increase of collisions in town.

Now, there are five fixed photo enforcement locations, with two mobile photo enforcement vans, whose deployment locations vary.

Paradise Valley remits collected from photo radar goes to the town’s General Fund, and is considered part of public safety, according to Paradise Valley Police Department Lt. Michael Cole.

“The primary goal for photo radar is to improve public safety and with behavior changes it is expected that violations will decrease over time,” Lt. Cole said. “Photo radar is cost-effective, as photo radar revenues decrease, so do associated costs.”

A recent public records request shows the town’s funds stemming from photo radar are:

  • 2013-14: $414,206
  • 2014-15: $962,337
  • 2015-16: $1,939,206
  • 2016-17: $1,017,206
  • 2017-18: $147,040.

According to the Paradise Valley Municipal Court, there were 47,651 photo enforcement tickets filed in fiscal year 2016-17, and 47,665 photo enforcement tickets in 2017-18.