Reporter- Crystal Cavanaugh

The new fiscal year budget was approved as well as extensive Community Center improvements.  A new rate schedule for renting the Community Center was put in place with some pushback. It was reported that the Center had only been recovering 20% of its costs. There was some concern about the selection of preferred vendors & the additional costs to a non preferred vendor when providing services. More discussion with the Town will likely occur.

This month interviews were conducted with the four firms that had provided proposals to be considered for the position of Town Attorney after the resignation of Aaron Arnson in April. The firm Pierce Coleman continued in this role for an additional 60 days while proposals were received.

By a vote of 5-2, the Timothy Lasota Law Firm was approved with attorney Jennifer Wright providing the primary services. The two dissenting votes preferred the DEI focused law firm of Dickinson Wright.

Other issues to keep an eye on will include any requests for exceptions, allowances and waivers from the Fountain Hills ordinance codes for upcoming builds of previously approved multi family projects. Of particular concern to the neighborhood of Lost Hills will be any waivers approved for the Senderos urban style studio & one bedroom apartments in the heart of an established neighborhood off Mountainside. One particular council member appeared to be promoting a rezone for the adjacent parcel for the benefit of the developer instead of the residents by bringing up a formerly settled issue. This member will be watched closely in the next months. The Town Council is currently on break until September.