East Valley Business - 08.18.19

east valley

Volume 2 Issue 05 Mesa, AZ

August 18, 2019

Saltmine Studio Oasis a well-kept secret in Mesa

BY SHANE CROWE Tribune Contributor

T

IN THE BIZ

ucked into downtown Mesa, behind a nondescript steel door, sits an oasis once shared by the likes of DJ Khaled, Mike Posner and Megadeth.

The Saltmine Studio Oasis is a threebuilding compound with five recording studios, two live-in facilities and a live venue.

Upon passing through the gate into the massive courtyard, it’s clear why this is dubbed an “oasis,” with its three Mexican fountains and ample space.

The many pictures and plaques covering the walls of the interior coupled with the scent of incense are invigorating and inviting. At the center of the operation is Don Salter, the man who has cultivated the evolution of this studio from its inception.

Born into a family of musicians, his interest in music began when he learned to play the guitar and started writing songs in his teen years while attending University High School in Westwood, California.

“It started in a bedroom in my house, and moved to the dining room of my house,” said Salter, a Gilbert resident.

The studio was subsequently moved to a rental house and then two industrial spaces before finding its home in 2003.

“Over the period of 17 years, we’ve been here and built an unbelievable, almost resort-style studio oasis,” Salter said. “It’s designed to be a chill space and a workspace for four different independent projects.”

While all five of the studios are equipped Public Notices ............... page 2 © Copyright, 2019 East Valley Tribune

Don Salter of Gilbert has built his Saltmine Studio Oasis in Mesa with care and attention to detail over 17 years.

(Special to the Tribune)

to complete every part of the recording process, three of the studios are specifically tailored for the individual parts of the process: tracking, mixing and mastering. One of the two studios with live-in facilities also doubles as an Airbnb.

Scattered throughout each studio are a myriad of vintage microphones and Salter’s lifelong collection of world-class analog instruments.

“Our cup of tea is we have an enormous amount of the top-shelf equipment because that’s what people want when they’re trying to get a top-shelf sound,” he said.

(USPS 004-616) is published weekly

Mailing Address: 1620 W. Fountainhead Pkwy., Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282

(480) 898-6500 Steven Strickbine, publisher Paul Maryniak, executive editor

He’s earned a reputation for his stellar sound and abilities. “(Don) knows how to get to me — he has all the good amps and guitars,” said Josh Kennedy, singer/guitarist of The Black Moods, who recorded its first EP at The Saltmine in 2005. “We’ve been in every crack and crevice in that place. You always find something new there,” he said.

The courtyard of The Saltmine doubles as the Oasis Venue, which can fit 300 to 500 guests. But shows are sparse because noisy shows would disrupt studio business. Most of the time, the venue serves as a hangout spot for Studer the Studio Cat. Subscriptions are $26 for 2 years, $14 for one year.

Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, AZ 85026.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: East Valley Tribune, 1620 W. Fountainhead Pkwy., Suite 291, Tempe, AZ 85282

Equally as impressive as The Saltmine’s facilities is the star-studded list of visitors who have utilized the studio including DMX, Mac Miller, Alicia Keys, Rev. Louis Farrakhan and Steven Segal.

The pictures of guests and plaques of successful albums like Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter III” and DJ Khaled’s “Major Key” leave little negative space on the wall. The average rate is $85 an hour.

“Beyond the fact that we’ve actually had people who are in different states or countries all over the world come here specifically to work with us at The Saltmine, the lion’s share of famous and world-famous artists is on tour,” Salter said, adding: “When they’re on tour they look for the top studio to do work at. We are generally considered the top studio in Arizona, which we are very happy and humbled by the thought.”

Local country singer Ryan Sims can attest to the studio’s standing.

“I have recorded in some of the finest studios in the United States, including the House of Blues in Nashville. “Don’s place stands up to everything,” he said.

Sometimes artists will bring their own producers and engineers to The Saltmine, which Salter sees as a learning experience for both parties. When the artist leaves, Salter said, The Saltmine’s engineers and producers can take those ideas, shortcuts and suggestions, and pass them on to the independent acts to whom the studio caters.

“You don’t have to be a five-star artist to receive five-star treatment at The Saltmine,” Salter said.

He takes pride in giving first timers and

Public Notice CITY OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA COMMERCIAL WATER METER REHABILITATIONS PHASE 11B PROJECT NO. CP04680001 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received until Thursday, September 19, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. All sealed bids will be received at Mesa City Plaza Building, Engineering Department at 20 East Main Street, 5th Floor, Mesa, Arizona; except for bids delivered 30 minutes prior to opening which will be received at the information desk, 1st

All five studios are equipped to complete every part of the recording process but three also are tailored for the individual parts of that process: tracking, mixing and mastering. (Special to the Tribune)

independent acts the same treatment as the celebrity guests and competitive pricing for those without label representation, starting at $65 per hour.

“We’re still going to treat them like royalty,” he said. “That’s what helps keep our reputation great. If you love your fellow man and your fellow artist first, they’re going to retrieve and send back that same love.”

Sims recalls using every piece of equipment possible and accruing knowledge and techniques while recording an album with his band EastonAshe in 2006. “If you ask (Don) his two cents, he’ll give you three,” Sims said.

Added Salter, “We keep a really positive vibe here. That’s our greatest secret

floor, Main Lobby of the Mesa City Plaza Building. Any bid received after the time specified will be returned without any consideration.

This contract shall be for furnishing all labor, materials, transportation and services for the construction and/or installation of the following work: This project calls for the rehabilitation of 15 water meter assemblies (WMA) at 10 sites in the City of Mesa. The existing WMAs are within underground vaults, and are sized 3-inches, 4-inches or 6-inches. The concrete lid of the concrete vaults will be removed with the remaining vault to be abandoned in place per the approved plans. The

EAST VALLEY BUSINESS

weapon, is fantastic, creative vibes.”

Salter and his studio have adapted to newer styles of music creation while not compromising on quality. According to Salter, about half of his calls are from people wanting to work that day, while the other half adheres to the practice of booking studio time in advance.

“We have to do both — both styles of artists are out there,” said Salter, who credits his three-decade tenure and success to his wife of 28 years, Maria. “The planned, advanced-thinking and the spontaneous.

We try to take care of all of them.”

The Saltmine Studio Oasis, 48 S. Macdonald, Mesa, 480.220.4007, thesaltmine.com.

existing WMAs shall be replaced with new dual 2-inch, 4-inch or 6-inch WMAs, and relocated above ground.

Site work will include installation of new piping restoration of the site, and landscape improvements to mitigate to impact of the view of the WMA. The Engineer’s Estimate range is $650,000.00 - $750,000.00.

For all technical, contract, bidrelated, or other questions, please contact Stephanie Gishey at stephanie.gishey@mesaaz.gov.

Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of dis-qualification, from direct

2

or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified above.

Contractors desiring to submit proposals may purchase sets of the Bid Documents from ARC Document Solutions, LLC, at https://order.earc.com/arcEOC/PWELL_Main. asp?mem=29. Click on “Go” for the

AUGUST 18, 2019

Public Planroom to access plans.

NOTE: In order to be placed on the Plan Holders List and to receive notifications and updates regarding this bid (such as addenda) during the bid-ding period, an order must be placed. The cost of each Bid Set will be no more than $23.00, which is non-refundable.

Partial bid packages are not sold. You can view documents on-line (at no cost), order Bid Sets, and access the Plan Holders List on the website at the address listed above. Please verify print lead time prior to arriving for pickup. For a list of locations nearest you, go to www.e-arc.com.

One set of the Contract Documents is also available for viewing at the City of Mesa’s Engineering Department at 20 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ. Please call 480-644-2251 prior to arriving to en-sure that the documents are available for viewing.

In order for the City to consider alternate products in the bidding process, please follow Arizona Revised Statutes §34.104c.

If a pre-bid review of the site has been scheduled, details can be referenced in Project Specific Provision Section #3, titled “Pre-Bid Review of Site.”

Work shall be completed within 257 consecutive calendar days, beginning with the day following the starting date specified in the Notice to Proceed.

Bids must be submitted on the Proposal Form provided and be accompanied by the Bid Bond for not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid, payable to the City of Mesa, Arizona, or a certified or cashier’s check. PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL SURETY BONDS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. The successful bidder will be required to execute the standard form of contract for construction within ten (10) days after formal award of contract. In addition, the successful bidder must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self-Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/ pur-chasing/vendor-self-service).

The successful bidder, simultaneously with the execution of the Contract, will be required to furnish a Payment Bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, a Performance Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and the most recent ACORD® Certificate of Liability Insurance form with additional insured endorsements.

The right is hereby reserved to accept or reject any or all bids or parts thereto, to waive any informalities in any proposal and reject the bids of any persons who have been delinquent or unfaithful to any contract with the City of Mesa.

BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune, Aug. 11, 18, 2019 / 22622

Public Notice CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking a qualified firm or team to act as the Construction Manager at Risk for the following: EASTMARK GREAT PARK PHASE 4 EASTMARK COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT NO. 1 Mesa Arizona PROJECT NO. S892

The City of Mesa is seeking a

Contact with City and Developer Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that con-tract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below.

RFQ Lists. The RFQ is available on the City’s website at: http:// mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/ construction-manager-at-risk-andjob-order-contracting-opportunities.

The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter, plus a maximum of 10 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide eight (8)hard copies and one (1) electronic copy (CD or USB drive) of the Statement of Qualifications by Thursday, September 19th, 2019 at 2:00 pm.

The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications. The Developer is an equal opportunity employer.

Delivered or hand-carried submittals must be delivered to the Engineering Department reception area on the fifth floor of Mesa City Plaza Building in a sealed package.

On the submittal package, please display: Firm name, project number, and/or project title.

Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System (http:// mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/ vendor-self-service).

Questions. Questions pertaining to the Construction Manager at Risk selection process or contract issues should be directed to Stephanie Gishey of the Engineering Department at stephanie.gishey@ mesaaz.gov.

BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune, Aug 18, 2019 / 22861

qualified Construction Manager at Risk (CM@Risk) to provide PreConstruction Services assistance and complete Construction Services as the CM@Risk for the Eastmark Great Park Phase 4 (“Project”). All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

The following is a summary of the project. The required tasks will be reviewed with the selected CM@ Risk and defined to meet the needs of the project as part of the contract scoping.

DMB Mesa Proving Grounds, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Owner” and “Master Developer”) is the owner/master developer of approximately 3,200 acres located south of Elliot Road, north of Williams Field Road, east of Ellsworth Road and west of Signal Butte Road (the “Property” or “Eastmark”). The Property is also commonly referred to as Eastmark (formerly the Mesa Proving Grounds).

The Eastmark Great Park is a key element of the Eastmark project and is intended to provide a major open space component for the entire community that provides a central location for a range of activities. Paths and trails within the community will provide connectivity to the Eastmark Great Park and important social infrastructure including schools and civic uses that are intended to be located in close proximity to the Eastmark Great Park. It is expected that a multiplicity of uses will be located in and around the Eastmark Great Park further defining this area as a community focal point, gathering spot and social hub.

The Eastmark Great Park currently extends north-south between Inspirian Parkway and Eastmark Parkway, the two major north south roadways connecting the project and consists of a series of parks that form the hub of the Eastmark community. The northern reach of the Eastmark Great Park is planned to be north of Warner North and the southern reach is Ray Road.

The Eastmark Great Park will, when complete, consist of multiple parks and “finger” extensions that together total 90 acres and will be ultimately owned by the City. Additional areas adjacent to the Eastmark Great Park will also be owned by the Eastmark Community Alliance.

The Eastmark Great Park Phase 4 (“Phase 4”) site is approximately 24.44 acres. The Phase 4 improvements may include a fishing lake, open turf fields, pathways, ramadas, and a play environment area. The Phase 4 improvements will be an extension of the existing Eastmark Great Park and will extend the park north to Warner Road.

The total estimated construction cost is $4,900,000.

A Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on Monday, August 26, 2019, 2:00 p.m at the City of Mesa (Mesa City Plaza, Room 170, 20 E. Main Street Mesa, AZ). At this meeting, City staff will discuss the scope of work and general contract issues and respond to questions from the attendees. Attendance at the pre-submittal conference is not mandatory and all interested firms may submit a Statement of Qualifications whether or not they attend the conference. All interested firms are encouraged to attend the Pre-Submittal Conference since City staff will not be available for meetings or to respond to individual inquiries regarding the project scope outside of this conference. In addition, there will not be meeting minutes or any other in-formation published from the Pre-Submittal Conference.

EAST VALLEY BUSINESS

Public Notice CITY OF MESA PUBLIC NOTICE

The Mesa City Council will hold a public hearing concerning the following ordinance at the August 26, 2019 City Council meeting beginning at 5:45 p.m. in the Mesa City Council Chambers, 57 East First Street.

1.

Repealing the existing Personnel Rules applicable to City of Mesa em-ployees and adopting new Personnel Rules.

2. Amending Title 8, Chapter 6, Sections 1 through 4, 9, and 13 of the Mesa City Code, pertaining to Public Nuisances, Property Maintenance and Neighborhood Preservation. The changes include who interprets the Nuisance Code; the definitions of: responsible parties, blight, pigeons, recreational vehicles, and right of way; who is responsible for: parcels with weeds, parcels with debris/trash, the display of residential ad-dresses; and adds certain prohibitions as to the feeding of pigeons, temporary

3

parking of recreational vehicles and watercraft on driveways, and the storage of recreational vehicles on residential parcels; and penalties for civil violations.

3. Amending Section 10-4-5 of the Mesa City Code to establish a speed limit of 35 mph on Meridian Road from the north City limits to Mesquite Street, as recommended by the Transportation Advisory Board.

4. ZON18-00066 (District 3) The 1000 through 1100 blocks of South Alma School Road (west side) and the 1200 through 1300 blocks of West Southern Avenue (north side).

Located at the northwest corner of Alma School Road and Southern Avenue (16± acres). Rezoning from LC to RM-5 PAD for 10.5± acres.

Rezoning from LC to LC-PAD for 5.5± acres; and Site Plan Review for 16± acres. This request will allow for the development of multi-residential and commercial uses. Adam Baugh, Withey Morris, PLC, applicant; WM Grace Development Co., ETAL, owner.

5. ANX18-00031 (District 6) Annexing property located south of Williams Field Road and west of Signal Butte Road (162.4± acres).

Initiated by Dennis Newcomb, Beus Gilbert, PLC. 6. ZON19-00436 (District 6) The 5200 to 5300 blocks of South Ellsworth Road (east side), the 5300 through 6200 blocks of the South Crismon Road alignment (east and west sides), and the 10000 through 10200 blocks of the East Williams Field Road alignment (north and south sides). Located on the north side of the future State Route 24 freeway alignment from Ellsworth Road to approximately one-quarter mile east of the Crismon Road alignment (485± acres).

Major Amendment to the Pacific Proving Grounds North Community Plan, also known as the Cadence Community Plan. This request will remove Development Unit 5 from the Cadence Community Plan (20± acres at the southeast corner of the Crismon and Williams Field Road alignments). Paul Gilbert, Beus Gilbert, PLLC, applicant; Pacific Proving, LLC, owner.

7. ZON18-00951 (District 6) The 6000 through 6400 blocks of the south Crismon Road alignment (east side), the 10000 to 10600 blocks of East Williams Field Road (south side) and the 6000 through 6400 blocks of South 222nd Street (west side).

Located south of Williams Field Road and west of Signal Butte Road (182± acres). Rezone from AG and PC to PC. This request will establish the Avalon Crossing Community Plan.

Paul Gilbert, Beus Gilbert PLLC, applicant; Pacific Proving, LLC, owner.

8. ANX18-00229 (District 1) Annexing property located north of Thomas Road and west of Val Vista Drive (4.49± acres). Initiated by Blake McKee, Skybridge Company, LLC. 9. ZON18-00214 (District 1) The 3100 to 3300 blocks of East Thomas Road (north side). Located on the north side of Thomas Road and west of Val Vista Drive (7.5± acres).

Rezoning from AG and RS-43 to RM2-PAD; and Site Plan Review. This request will allow for the development of an attached single-residence subdivision. Blake McKee, Sky Bridge Companies, applicant; Arthur L. Freeman Family Trust, Kaser Citrus, Inc., John Babiarz, owners.

DATED at Mesa, Arizona, this 18th day of August 2019. DEE ANN MICKELSEN, City Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune, Aug. 18, 2019 / 22808

AUGUST 18, 2019

the tickler

east valley 1620 W. Fountainhead Pkwy., Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282

PERIODICALS U. S. POSTAGE PA I D GOODYEAR, AZ 85338