GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE RECAP 092623
Rebecca Timmer introduced this month’s spotlight committee member, Richard Rosales, Public Affairs Manager, Southeast Region of APS (Arizona Public Service)
- Richard is co-chair of this committee with Rebecca Timmer
- Manages public affairs, relationships with cities, towns, chambers, and other civic organizations.
- Two new projects planned to go before the Arizona Corporate Commission, which will help with the significant industry growth in the County.
Rebecca Timmer introduced District 2 Supervisor Mike Goodman
- Supervisor Goodman recognized staff member Haylie Studebaker for all of her hard work.
- Accomplishments in infrastructure
- SR24 escalated to 2022 completion from 2026 and has been constructed through Ironwood.
- Goal is to have extension of SR24 from Ironwood to CAP canal by 2026 while extending CAP to Ocotillo in same timeframe.
- Additional roads need to be built to sustain growth. Working with stakeholders, large landholders to make it happen.
- Relationship with Town of Queen Creek has been critical to success.
- Procured approximately $87 million for future SR24 with overpass included.
- LG agreement required much of the infrastructure to be done with groundbreaking planned for November 2023
APS and SRP are working hard with stakeholders to deliver future energy needs and to prevent future outages.
- $1.3 billion of retail sales leaking primarily to Maricopa County.
- The whole county will benefit from the tax dollars generated in the Eastern part of the County, allowing for additional roads and infrastructure.
- Home Depot was a challenge because of the push for apartments. Now other retailers are taking notice.
- Incorporation effort underway and developers are balking.
- 5 high schools in district with no pool for swim teams, having to bus to other cities just to train.
- Community amenities such as an aquatic center, civic buildings, a regional park, sports fields and other amenities need to be supported.
Economic Growth
- Most property has been platted with approximately 50,000 new homes down to Arizona Farms Road.
- Supervisor Goodman credited James Smith with providing impetus for the San Tan Valley Retail Study
James Smith:
- As population grew very quickly, planning for retail wasn’t adequately addressed and San Tan Valley was seen as mostly suburban housing community.
- Critical to the future of Pinal County to add commercial to mix.
- San Tan Valley over 100,000 population, larger than Goodyear, Buckeye, Yuma, and Queen Creek
- The workforce is commuting significant distances, well over 90% are leaving the county to go to work, contributing to the $1.3 billion in leakage.
- 30% of workforce from STV is commuting all the way to Phoenix
- $120 million leaving our county in auto sales alone; just 5 dealers could deliver as much as $5 million in sales tax.
- Gas and grocery purchases outside the county, both account for nearly $100M in lost sales
- Warehouse stores are needed as well as full-service restaurants.
- Only 16 commercially zoned sites were available at the time of the study, with small acreage not conducive to larger parcel needs.
- Only 3 existing buildings existed with a small amount of square footage
- Addressing multi-family where possible; 1,100 units under development
- 507 single-family permits this year so far, a significant jump.
- Florence Copper creating new jobs and El Dorado Holdings planning 12,000 homes and many of those residents will be looking to San Tan for shopping.
- Key for Pinal County sustainable development requires close partnership with State Trust Land
- Working with consultant and State Land to identify and determine feasibility of acquiring land to master plan for future needs.
- James was asked about workforce development. Programs underway to incentivize employers to hire local workforce with added benefit to chip away at the leakage issue. The local workforce is there; need to be attracted by the right employers in Pinal County to choose to work locally.
To view James Smith’s presentation: Click Here
Supervisor Goodman took a question relating to the discussions with State Land about identifying sites to acquire. Working on developing relationships with new administration and processing an application for approximately 300 acres. A consultant has been hired to move planning forward. The Town of Queen Creek annexation has provided new interest from retailers like Sprouts. State Land in Queen Creek is an opportunity as LG will not be acquiring the entire site.
Costco is in Maricopa County.
Supervisor Goodman wants to see citizens stepping up to community planning and be proactive in a vision for the future. He believes incorporation is the answer and developer agreements can make it happen, but the amenities are a heavy burden for the county.
Heather Wilkey of Queen Creek expressed appreciation for the county partnership on infrastructure and transportation projects. The remaining 3100 acres after LG is being discussed with State Land to ensure opportunities that make the best use of the land. Preference for employers ready to move forward vs. land holders.
The County is working with local utilities on recharge to address local water needs.
The next PPGRC Meeting will be on October 24th featuring other Pinal County Supervisors as special guests.
Our next Monthly Breakfast Meeting will be on October 20th featuring Renewable Energy in Pinal County.
Visit https://pinalpartnership.com/meetings-and-events/ for more information.
Invitation email and details will be forthcoming.
