Maricopa County Board of Supervisors held their first Formal Meeting of 2023 this morning.
Video of the meeting is posted below. (Be advised when you watch this, the first fifteen minutes are dead air. Remarks begin at about 15:30.)
Outgoing Chairman and District 3 Supervisor Bill Gates opens the meeting with comments and congratulations and cordial recognitions of various elected officials in attendance, as well as past elected officials, current staff and fellow Board members.
A New Justice of the Peace
They begin their Agenda discussions at around 32:00. Chairman Gates puts Item #10 at the top of the list to start things off: filling the vacancy for Justice of the Peace in the San Tan Precinct. Supervisor Sellers (District 1) mentions that there were four candidates vying for this office. He makes a motion to appoint Sherwood Johnston III to fill the vacancy. Supervisor Galvin (District 2) seconds the motion. The motion passes unanimously (5-0). Supervisor Sellers recognizes Mr. Johnston, who comes to the podium and makes a few remarks to the Board.
A ‘New Look’
Chairman Gates talks about “brands” and “branding” with regard to Maricopa County, referring to some surveys that were taken “pre-COVID” and “post-COVID”. He says the surveys convinced the County that “coming up with a more cohesive, comprehensive brand would be helpful”. “A new look,” he says, “is the best way to accomplish this.”
He unveils the new look for Maricopa County by introducing a one-minute promotional video (at 38:20) rolling out a new logo which the County has begun using.
Chairman Gates points out that the existing seal will still be used in official documents. But the logo will be seen in all public communications.
In their personal remarks on the new logo, Supervisors Sellers and Gallardo (District 5) both say they hope it helps residents to have a better understanding of “what they do” at the County as far as serving the community with a broad range of services.
Supervisor Galvin calls the new logo design “evocative”, saying that after the public sees it “over and over again” it will “seep into the consciousness” of residents who will “have those good, warm feelings” about what the County does and its commitment to customer service.
Supervisor Hickman makes a tongue-in-cheek reference to the existing County seal, suggesting that just as former County Supervisor Andy Kunasek managed to get a horse and rider designed into the official seal, he ought to be able to have a chicken head designed into the ‘O’ of the new logo.
A New Chairman
Chairman Gates transitions at 48:00 to the “passing of the gavel”. Supervisor Sellers nominates Supervisor Clint Hickman to be the new Chairman for 2023. Supervisor Galvin seconds. The members vote. Unanimously approved (5-0).
Incoming Chairman Hicks presents Supervisor Gates with a plaque recognizing his service as Chairman during 2022. They take a moment for photos. Chairman Hicks introduces his family members in the audience. He recognizes former County Recorder Helen Purcell and other electeds and former electeds. He then gives his Chairman’s Address from his center seat on the dais. He appoints Supervisor Sellers as his Vice-Chairman for 2023.
In his Address, Chairman Hicks talks about the water issue in Arizona. He also talks about election issues. This comes at 1:09:14 in the video. He recommends that “instead of listening to a guy who sells pillows, let’s bring people who actually run elections to the table.” He says that an independent investigation led by former Arizona Supreme Court Justice Ruth McGregor has been appointed to look into why the ballot printers and tabulators malfunctioned the way they did on Election Day (and not during the August primaries). He talks about staff issues within the County and its various departments. He talks about the Fentanyl issue. Supervisor Gallardo adds his remarks regarding Fentanyl.
Down to Business
After some expressions of gratitude and commendations and congratulations exchanged between and among the Supervisors and the Chairman, Chairman Hicks shifts the focus and begins (or resumes) the Item Agenda (at about 1:32:00).
STATUTORY HEARINGS items; COUNTY OFFICIALS items; JUDICIAL BRANCH item; COUNTY MANAGEMENT item; COUNTY OFFICES items — here, “Blue” (who is a regular at the Meetings) speaks on Transit and Air Quality issues, taking Supervisor Sellers to task for what he sees as a lack of customer service in these areas — SETTING OF HEARINGS items (here, Blue spoke again, upbraiding the Board for the lack of transit accommodations in the areas being annexed/de-annexed by the County per Agenda items in this section); CONSENT AGENDA items.
The Board briefly recesses and convenes as the Stadium District Board of Directors. Supervisor Sellers nominates Supervisor Hickman for Chairman of this Board. The motion is approved. Supervisor Sellers then nominates Supervisor Gallardo as Secretary of this Board. The motion is approved. The Board then adjourns and reconvenes as the Board of Supervisors.
Public Comment
After Chairman Hickman has staff member Andrea review the “rules of the road” for the Public Comment section of the Meeting, Clerk of the Board Juanita Garza announces there were 60 comments received via e-mail regarding Animal Care and Control, 20 regarding Rio Verde Foothills, one fireworks complaint, one regarding “election workers’ incentive”. She then delivers “18-20” speaker requests to Chairman Hickman.
Most of the speakers express complaints and concerns regarding MCACC (Maricopa County Animal Care and Control) and what they see as systemic failures in how animals are treated and how the shelter is run.
A few speakers voice their concern about a high-density housing project proposed for a county island located in a Chandler neighborhood. The project is called “The Landings at Ocotillo.” The speakers point out that it blatantly goes against the voter-approved General Plan for Chandler and will bring “long-term” adverse consequences to the area.
“Blue” is the final speaker, complaining about a lack of bus routes in certain parts of the Valley.
The Board wraps up the Meeting with personal comments and announcements from individual Supervisors.
A complete Summary of the Meeting may be found by clicking here.
You can also read the Summary on this site by clicking here.
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Meeting Information can be found here. (Note the new logo at the top left-hand corner of the page.)