May 17, 2007

Council members seemed overwhelmed by comments

Tuesday night's City Council meeting filled Maricopa Wells Middle School's auditorium primarily with vocal opponents to the city's latest annexation bid.

More than 40 people signed up to speak during the first public hearing for the annexation that includes most of Thunderbird Farms. Some declined to speak when called upon, but the vast majority of those who did address the Council were adamantly opposed to the annexation. The message was clear, "We don't want nothing to do with you," as one gentleman said in closing.

The city's Planning Assistant Nicole Dailey was charged with delivering the city's plans to the gathering in the form of a slide presentation. In spite of their differences of opinion, the crowd seemed to appreciate her efforts, when after her half-hour explanation there was uniform applause.

Those who fired questions at the Council did so in a variety of ways and ranged in length of residence from nearly new to having been in the outlying areas of Maricopa for many years.

A few of the questions or positions posed were:

* What are the procedures for enacting ordinances? One woman suggested that there was really nothing between developing zoning and other ordinances except the opinions of the Council. In essence, this is true. Although, the city must go through several notification processes and public hearings for zoning ordinance changes, basically it is a vote of the Council that determines whether there will be a new ordinance.
* Who were the individuals who initiated the annexation bid? There seemed to be some confusion about the requirements for annexation - assumptions that the city was not allowed to initiate the annexation itself. However, according to the League of Cities Annexation Guide, cities can and often do initiate annexations as a way of controlling growth.
* One gentleman brought up the question of eminent domain, stating that the annexation would then put the areas incorporated into Maricopa in danger of takings under eminent domain. As a point of clarification, the county, the state and the federal government currently have the right of eminent domain.
* There were several speakers that pled the case for the Thunderbird Farms Fire District, including Chief Craig Snively, which would be eliminated in the case of annexation. It should be noted that this fire district comprises approximately a section and half of land in that area, about one and one half square miles of the 45 square miles to be annexed.

One of the most eloquent speakers of the night was Jack McLain, a three-year resident of the Papago Buttes area and senior vice-commander of VFW Post 1677. He addressed polarization, the community's fear of collusion between builders and the council and questioned whether or not Goodyear had any intention of annexing the area at all.

McLain agreed to a phone interview on Wednesday and elaborated on his thoughts. He pointed out that there is a cultural polarization on this issue that neither side understands.

"The demographics of the city of Maricopa and this area are 180 degrees different," McLain commented.

He explained that the goals of those who live in Thunderbird Farms and its surrounding area are the opposite of the City Council's stated agenda to grow the city and be competitive with cities like Chandler.

"Most of these people are pretty crusty and there's a strong Libertarian bent. They have a distain for organization and government. When they go to Bashas' or Fry's and wear their normal clothes, they're looked upon with derision and considered rubes. There's intense prejudice on both sides," McLain stated.

The retired research pharmacist says he's sitting firmly on the fence right now, because he can see a benefit to annexation provided the city holds the developers' feet to the fire on providing infrastructure before they build. However, he also pointed to a reported council member's explanation that the little jog along Val Vista Road was to keep a farm together as disingenuous.

"That's part of the Del Mar project, a 3,800-house 1,100 acre plan that has already been approved," McLain went on.

When asked after the meeting what his reaction to the comments from the public was, Councilmember Kelly Haddad, said, "I don't know what to say right now. There were a lot of questions. We just need get the answers to the people that asked them."

Councilmember Farrell commented, "I think the people are misinterpreting the process, thinking that at the end of the day it's the council's vote and it's not. It takes 51 percent of the landowners annexed. The ball's in their court, not ours."

In a phone interview the following day, Mayor Kelly Anderson said he was very encouraged by the turnout. He said he intended to take their questions and concerns back to staff and address them.

"I stayed after the meeting to talk to people about their concerns - like land use and how Maricopa became a city in the first place. We jumped in to have a little control and retain the rural flavor even though the county had allowed this growth. Like Mr. Crabtree [one of the speakers] said when he got up to address the council, it's better to get involved when the rules and regulations are being made and have some control over your destiny than wait five years, when others have moved in and are making the rules. I respect their concerns and desire to retain a rural lifestyle and we [the Council] will move forward with them in mind," Anderson said.

©Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc. 2007