Florence Development News
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Town Council - Regular Session - Video Recording
Published: Jun 16, 2026
Town Manager Bruce Walls Announces Departure, Reflects on Service
Town Manager Bruce Walls announced that this was his last town council meeting. He expressed gratitude to the current and previous councils for the opportunity to serve and thanked the staff for their support. He mentioned that an unofficial survey on the '410s' (likely referring to staff or HR-related matters) would be included in his weekly report, with an official survey on staff culture and happiness also planned by the Town Clerk and Communications Manager. Council members and audience members expressed appreciation for Walls' service and leadership, acknowledging his significant contributions and the team he built.
Street Light Improvement District Levies Approved for FY2027
The council discussed and approved Ordinance 784-26, which levies a secondary property tax on eight out of ten street light improvement districts for street light operations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. Two districts have sufficient funding to cover electrical costs for the next year without additional levies. Council member Bencina expressed dissatisfaction with the current method of taxing these districts based on home value, advocating for an equal sharing among homeowners rather than a value-based assessment, and suggested a future work session to re-evaluate this approach. He also noted that Hunt Highway and Felix Road street lights should not be funded by Merill Ranch residents as they are city roads. The increases for the affected districts are described as minimal, and the council approved the ordinance via a roll call vote.
Viney Jones Library HVAC Replacement and Storm Damage Repairs Approved
The council approved entering into a cooperative use contract with East Valley Disaster Services, Inc., utilizing the City of Mesa's agreement, for storm damage repairs and HVAC improvements at the Viney Jones Library and Community Center. The contract amount is not to exceed $474,981.51. This covers repairs to interior damage from a September storm and the replacement of 28 HVAC units on the roof, 14 of which were damaged. The existing units are 11 years old and failing, with three currently down. A portion of the funding ($100,000+) comes from storm damage repair funds specifically for HVAC, while the remainder is part of the FY27 CIP. Council member Bencina suggested inquiring about APS rebates for energy-efficient upgrades.
Main Street Park Project Expanded to Include Roundabout and Utility Design
The council is considering an amendment to the contract with Dibble Engineering for the Main Street Park improvements (CIP120). The amendment includes additional scope for the design of a roundabout and utility infrastructure, with a total not-to-exceed amount of $30,000 for the roundabout design and $180,000 for utility work (water and sewer design, ADWR permitting, and sewer monitoring). The utility work is funded by the Utility Department's existing budget. The previous contract with Dibble was for the initial Main Street Park design. The council expressed concerns about the overall cost and the need for future funding, particularly for the roundabout and utility relocation which is estimated to cost around $3.1 million for construction. Council members indicated a preference for Option 2, which includes a half-court basketball court, over Option 1 which includes public art. Concerns were also raised about ensuring the town's infrastructure can support future development, including data centers.
Council Selects Preferred Design for Temporary Welcome Signs
The council discussed and provided direction on preferred options for welcome signage design at various town limits. Three design options were presented, all meeting current brand standards. Option 1, with a blue background and 'Welcome to Florence' text, was favored by several council members, with suggestions to remove the ribbon element and potentially add 'Historic' to the town name. Option 3 was also noted for its uniqueness. The signs are intended to be temporary, lasting about a year, until a formal branding strategy is developed. The welcome signs will be installed at 13 locations, with costs varying by design. The Charles Whitlow Rodeo Grounds sign design was also presented and approved conceptually, pending final pricing. Directional signs for Florence Memorial Park, compliant with ADOT standards, were also reviewed.
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