Town of Fountain Hills 2022-2023 Annual Report

2023 ANNUAL REPORT

Fiscal

IN THIS REPORT

* 2022 Councilmembers

2022-2023 TOWN COUNCIL

Mayor Ginny Dickey (Elected 2022 3rd Term)

Councilmember Gerry Friedel (Elected 2020)

Councilmember Brenda Kalivianakis (Elected 2022)

Councilmember Hannah Toth (Elected 2022)

Councilmember Allen Skillicorn (Elected 2022)

Vice Mayor Peggy McMahon (Elected 2020)

Councilmember Sharron Grzybowski (Elected 2020)

Councilmember * David Spelich

Councilmember * Mike Scharnow

Councilmember * Alan Magazine

who did not run for reelection

A YEAR-IN-REVIEW

New Town Logo and Brand Introduced

Cities and Towns compete for new businesses, tourists, and evenresidents.Anexcellentwaytostaycompetitiveistohavea fresh and inviting logo for marketing our community. The Town adopted a new logo and brand that captures the natural beauty, clean community, safe, and charming Town through the worldfamous fountain, Four Peaks mountains, and the Arizona sun. The new logo will help for marketing purposes, such as advertising, social media, and the website. The Town's original seal, adopted in 1989, will be used for official Town government communicationsanddocuments.

Fountain Hills Cares Features Important Topics

Two Fountain Hills Cares events covered topics important to residents of Fountain Hills. In October 2022, Veterans Benefits and Resources was the topic featuring the director of the Arizona Department of Veterans Services and the VA Phoenix Health Care System. In April 2023, the Cares program gave an informative overview of the dangers of social media and its effectonmentalhealth.

New Commission Helps Preserve Town's History

TownCouncilapprovedtheformationof theHistoryandCulture Advisory Commission to advise the Town Council on matters relating to historic and cultural preservation, including making plans and policies for the identification, evaluation, and recognitionofhistoricallyorculturallysignificantaspectswithin FountainHills.

Long Time Town Manager Retires

After serving the Town of Fountain Hills since 2014, Town Manager Grady Miller announced his retirement in 2023. Miller served as Town Manager since July 1, 2015. He worked as Administrative Services Director for one year prior to his unanimous appointment to Town Manager. During his tenure, Miller led the Town under the direction of two mayors and multiple Councilmembers during a period of tremendous economic growth following the Great Recession. Deputy Town Manager and Community Services Director Rachael Goodwin wasnamedasInterimTownManager.

Fountain Hills Recognized as a Dementia Friendly Community

The Town of Fountain Hills is honored to join a growing networkofcommunitiesintheDementiaFriendlyAmerica program.DementiaFriendlyAmericaisanationalnetwork of communities, organizations, and individuals seeking to ensure communities across the country are equipped to support people with dementia and their caregivers. Dementia-friendlycommunitiesfostertheabilityofpeople living with dementia to remain in the community and engage and thrive in day-to-day living. The Town of Fountain Hills is the 10th community in Arizona to receive theDementiaFriendlyAmericadesignation.

As a dementia-friendly community, Fountain Hills is committed to being a town that is informed, safe, and respectful of individuals living with the disease, their families, and caregivers, and the Town is dedicated to providingsupportiveoptionstofosterqualityoflife throughsupportivecommunityconnections.

Visit www.fountainhillsaz.gov/dementia-friendly

REVENUE BY STORE PARK FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Community Services Delivers Recreation, Programs, Services, and More

Recognized as the Best of the Best

The Town of Fountain Hills Community Services Department was awarded the prestigious Grand Plaque in the 2022 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management at the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) annual conference being held in Phoenix. The department was honored in the Class Five category for populations of 30,000 or fewer. The National Gold Medal Awards program honors communities in the United States that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development,professionaldevelopment,andagencyrecognition.

The Community Services Department oversees and works collaboratively with many community organizations by maintaining and providing services with town parks, trails, Community Center, Senior Services,communityartsprograms,volunteers,specialevents,HomeDeliveredMeals,andmore.

Adero Canyon Opens a New Trail

Thanks to our partners, Trail Blazers who cut another trail for residents and visitors to enjoy. The North Leg Trail provides many newviewsofthesurroundingareasandnewchallengesforhikers.

PARK FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Rebuilt Skate Park an Instant Hit with Valley Skaters

In June, the renovated Skate Park at Desert Vista Park reopened to great fanfare. The redesigned park features something for beginner,intermediate,andadvancedusers. Initially constructed in 2007, the new additions include a pump track, a skate ‘bowl,’andimprovedramps.

New System Helps Staff Manage Fountain Remotely

CommunityServicesparkstaffacquiredanewstate-ofthe-artcomputersystemwithappcapabilitiesallowing thefountainoperations,windmonitoring,andfountain lightingtobemonitoredandcontrolledbytheteam remotely.Thisdrasticallyincreasedresponsetimesfor questionsaboutthefountainoperationandabilitiesto makequickchangesneededduringevents.Theother significantadvantageisthecomputernowcalculates runtimesallowingforconsistentusageofthethree motorsthatoperatethefountain,thusreducingwearand tearononemotormorethantheothers.

Community Center Has Active Year

Multi-Day Events

MunicipalClerk’sConference(4days)

ValleyoftheSunWatchandClockConvention (2days)

GunShow(3days)

2BridgeTournaments(3days)

PhoenixBibleStudents(2days)

2SessionsofVoting(providedspacefor4 weekseachsession)

4BloodDrives(2days)

316ReservationPermits

297OperationalDays

30,000Sq.Ft.Facility

DarkSkyFestival-2,500+attendance

Encore/FHCCABingo-49weeksofbingo played

MunchandMusic(FHCCA)-4freeconcerts, 200-400pershow.

Community Center Stats

Four Peaks Park Receives Additional Upgrades

Four Peaks Park completed a five-year renovation that began with a plan to build one of Arizona's most diverse neighborhood parks. The completion of this project included the installation of over a dozen shade trees and a one of kind agave garden. New LED lighting was installed to help minimize light pollution from the park entering neighborhoods and add lighting for the playground. With the increased park usage, parking became an issue, so the parking lot was rebuilt, adding additional parking spaces.

Golden Eagle Park Gets Night and Day Upgrades

GoldenEagleParkballfieldsaresomeofthebestaround, attractingsomeofthebiggesttournaments.However,the crowdhadtositinthesunduringdaygamesorbringtheir ownawningsforshade.Newshadecanopieswere constructedbehindbackstopstoprovideanexcellentplace tositonbleachersandwatchthegames.

Nightgamesalsoreceivedanupgradewith theinstallationofnewLEDlights.These lights(right)aremoredirectionalthan traditionallightingandhavedimming capabilities.Thesystemproduceslesslight pollutionintheneighborhoodsandourdark skies.

PARK FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Senior Softball a Big Hit

The Town led Senior Softball Tournaments featured a total of four events. Among these tournaments, the fourth edition was introduced this year, specifically focusing on participants aged between 45 and 55.On average, 24 teams competed in each tournament. Last year's total of 69 teams rose to an impressive 96 teams this year, representing a significant 30% increase in teamregistrations.

Mayor's Youth Council Making a Difference

MYC participates in community service yearround. By volunteering at 8 Town events, Make a Difference Day, Fountain Hills Cares, and Adopt a Street MYC accumulated 296 service hours!

Pickleball Added to Sports Leagues

Pickleball was to the roster of adult sports leagues offered by the department, has proven to be a success, gaining immense popularity. The departmentintroduced11newpickleballprograms, encompassing one-day workshops and weekly leagues, and an astounding 100 participants registered,withmostprogramshavingwaitlists.

Department Wins State Award for Outstanding Sports Program

FountainHillsRecreationwashonoredtoreceivethe APRA Outstanding Sports Program Award for the Brilliant Victory Skate School and the Fountain Hills Skateboard Classic. This award recognizes the organizations, institutions, or agencies for developing, implementing, or coordinating Arizona's mostoutstandingsportsprogram.

Home Delivered Meals Make a Difference for Those in Need

The Home Delivered Meals Program provide nutritional meals for individuals of all ages living in Fountain Hills who require meal assistance. This program assists residents recovering from illness or surgery and allows home-bound individuals to reside longer in the comfort of their own homes. Between July 2022 and June 2023, the program served 5,449 meals. An increase of 868 meals from the previousyear.

Make a Difference Day

Make a Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of service, where millions of volunteers unite in a shared mission to improve the lives of others.

On October 22, 2022, 412 community volunteers heeded the call to help neighbors in need:

41 Residential Projects

412 Volunteers

Over 1,800 Service Hours Contributed Countless Chuck Truck Debris Pick-ups

3 Dumpsters filled with tree limbs, landscape clippings, and debris

Over 40 Volunteers helped beautify Fountain Hills Middle School Campus

Over 40 Volunteers planted 200 plants at Town Hall and on the Avenue of the Fountains

Over 150 Holiday Greeting Cards were created by our Girl Scouts for Care Card

The 4th at the Fountain started the fiscal year with a bang! Fireworks at Fountain Park with the world-famous fountain asa backdrop is one of the regions must see 4th of July events.

Spooky Bast Spooky Bast Concerts on the Avenue Concerts on the Avenue

Irish Fest Irish Fest

Greening of the Fountain Greening of the Fountain

Music Fest Music Fest

Earth Day Celebration

Earth Day Celebration

Turkey Trot Turkey Trot

Roll-In-The Glow Roll-In-The Glow

REVENUE BY STORETOWN INFRASTRUCTURE

The Town of Fountain Hills Public Works Department takes pride in maintaining necessary infrastructure with limited financial resources. Always on-call, the department oversees roads, town-owned washes, and town facilities to ensure they are secure and safe for residentsandvisitors.Fiscalyear22/23sawasteadylist ofplannedcapitalprojectsgetstartedandcompleted.

The department consists of the following divisions: Streets, Engineering, Sidewalks, Rights-of-Way, and Facilities.

Panorama Storm Drain Pump Installed

The Town completed improvements to eliminate standing water issues at the lower segment of the Panorama Wash. Approximately 500 feet of 66" of pipe and 6" pipe were installed, along with two concrete headwalls, riprap, and a new pump casing and pump control system.Fillmaterialwasalsoplacedon the site, creating a leveled three-acre plotofland.

Street Repair and Traffic Calming Measures

Public Works Streets Department continuously work to improve roads throughout Fountain Hills. This past year pavement treatment and traffic calming measures were applied to El Lago Blvd, Grande Blvd and El Pueblo

Saguaro Blvd. and Kingstree Blvd Drainage and Erosion Infrastructure Improvements

Significant rain events have caused heavy erosion, as seen in the Before photo, and caused flooding due to slow drainage at the intersection of Saguaro and Kingstree Blvd. This project will substantially reduce the flooding and required time to drain, improving the safety of vehicles driving through the intersection and reducingtheriskofvehiculardamage from passing through floodwaters duringorfollowingstormevents.

Protecting Neighborhoods with Drainage Improvements

ThroughamatchinggrantprovidedbytheFlood Control District of Maricopa County, the Town installedaproper-sizedcatchbasinandanother catchbasinandconnectedpipeonDeuceCourt to help eliminate damaging flood waters from enteringhomesduringheavyrains.

Citizen's Streets Committee Committed to Town's Roadways

To help oversee street maintenance planning, and longterm town street needs, the Town formed an ad-hoc streetscommittee.TheCitizensAd-HocStreetscommittee consists of engaged residents who offer input and guidance in how the Town can manage its streets and pavement repairs for the next 20-years. In addition, the committee is working closely with the Town Manager and PublicWorksDirectorinreviewingtheTown'sstreetneeds and issuing its recommendations to the Town Council for addressing the Town's pavement management into the future.

Sidewalk Infill Work Continues

Much of the Town of Fountain Hills developed without sidewalks before incorporation in 1989. New sidewalk construction is ongoing to in-fill the gaps between sidewalk sections to improve pedestrian mobility and safety. As part of the sidewalks identified by the Pedestrian & Traffic Safety Committee, the Active Transportation Plan, and the long-range sidewalk plan, construction of sidewalks on Saguaro Blvd between Rand Drive and Tower Drive (pictured) and Desert Vista eastofSaguaroBlvdwascompleted.

Managing Environmental Resources

Environmental Programs provide environmental regulatory compliance oversight to Fountain Hills operations and facilities. These programs include but are not limited to Storm Water and Air Quality programs. Environmental Programs are also responsible for coordinating recycling programs, energy efficiency activities and help promote and implement sustainableactivitieswithintheTown.

In November, the annual (Top) Household Hazardous Waste drop-off programattheFountainHillsHighSchoolwasanothergreatsuccess.

Other recycling programs during the year included the (Middle) Electronics Recycling Day held in April and the (Bottom) Friends of the LibraryannualDocumentShreddingDaywhichoccurredinMay.

Another flood control district of Maricopa County grant was awarded to the Town, helping the Town improve an unlined drainage channel between Grande Boulevard and Rosita Drive. The project replaced the existing channel with a re-designed concrete-lined U-shaped drainage channel, addressing future flooding concerns and maintenance issues by more effectively conveying drainagerunofffromGrandeBlvd.toRositaDrive.

Grande-Rosita Drainage Channel

ECONOMIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT

The Town welcomed the following businesses in The Town welcomed the following businesses in FY22/23: FY22/23:

Atticus Books and Music Atticus Books and Music

AZ Stone and Crystal Company

AZ Stone and Crystal Company

Alpha Financial

CBD Store P39 CBD Store P39

Nordic

Nordic Alpha Financial

Honor Health Primary Care

Honor Health Primary Care

Manny’s Local 818

Manny’s Local 818

Motor Vault Motor Vault

TDC Financial TDC Financial

Experience Fountain Hills Launches Website Redesign

ExperienceFountainHillswhichservesasthe DestinationMarketingOrganization(DMO)forthe TownofFountainHillsannouncedtheredesignofthe ExperienceFountainHillswebsite.Experience FountainHillsisfocusedonpromotingtheTownasa destinationforlocalsandvisitorsalike,with spectacularyear-roundoutdoorrecreationandquality eventsthroughouttheyearfromartfestivals,tolive music,toculturalcelebrations.

Thenewsocialmediafeatureallowsvisitorsand localstosharetheirexperienceswithothersfostering authenticityanduniquenessbuildingandenhancing theattractivenessofFountainHillsasaworldclass tourismdestination.

Gotowww.experiencefountainhills.orgtoseethe updatedfeaturesandfindevents,activities,shopping anddininginFountainHills.

Business Retention and Expansion Business Retention and Expansion

The Town of Fountain Hills and Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce continued the Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) Program. The BR&E program assists in analyzing our local economy and supports existing job creators as they hire more employees, add locations, invest in facilities, and continue to give back to the community. This partnership will foster relationships and maintain open lines of communication with businesses.

In response to some of the feedback received, the Town and Chamber partnered on an 8-week Shop Local printed ad campaign in the Fountain Hills times and produced two event guides, one for the Winter and one for Spring.

Republic Services Community Grant Program

Republic Services and the Town of Fountain Hills awarded to two local non-profits. The Republic Services Community Grant Program was established to support Fountain Hills based nonprofit organizations’ programs and projects. The town administered program provided funding to the following organizations: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale –Fountain Hills (McKee Branch) - $5,000 and Fountain Hills Youth Substance Abuse PreventionCoalition-$5,000.

The Republic Services Grant Program Awardees, left to right, are Mike Scharnow and Shawn Lehoff of the Fountain Hills Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and Lauren Stratton and Cynthia Wenstrom of theBoys&GirlsClubsofGreaterScottsdale.

Tourism is one of Arizona’s most critical economic drivers, with people from around the nation and the world coming to enjoy Arizona’s weather and many events. Winter visitors and tourists are essential to the economy of Fountain Hills. In addition to the part-time residents, visitors come to Fountain Hills to experience the fountain, art festivals, special events, beautiful scenery, and hiking adventures. The Town helps to attract visitors through promotional campaigns and publications that ensure they know about the town when they visit.

Photo upper left: Nearly 30,000 people from around the country attend the twice a year Fine Arts & Crafts Fair. Photo lower left: Concourse in the Hills attracts nearly 50,000 visitors to Fountain Hills to marvel at more than 1,000 exquisite vehicles.

Fountain Hills Beauty Attracts National Audience Tourism

The Town was awarded over $350,000 in tourism grants from the

The Town was awarded over $350,000 in tourism grants from the Arizona Office of Tourism, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and Salt Arizona Office of Tourism, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community that assisted in enhancing River Pima Maricopa Indian Community that assisted in enhancing our tourism efforts throughout the year to include digital and print our tourism efforts throughout the year to include digital and print advertising, a new tourism video, sponsorship of the Fountain advertising, a new tourism video, sponsorship of the Fountain Festival of Fine Arts and Craft, hosted by the Fountain Hills Chamber Festival of Fine Arts and Craft, hosted by the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce, sponsorship of the Dark Sky Festival, hosted by the of Commerce, sponsorship of the Dark Sky Festival, hosted by the Dark Sky Association and a Tourism and Events Impact Study. Dark Sky Association and a Tourism and Events Impact Study.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The Development Services Department provides various functions to ensure that the town grows smartly and safely. The divisions within the department include Building Safety, Planning and Zoning, Code Compliance, and Mapping and Graphics.

Building permits continued to indicate steady growth of new housing and construction projects in Fountain Hills. The department processed more than 635 residential building permit applications and 105 nonresidential building permits this last fiscal year. These totals included 145 new residential, 98 pool and spa, 73 new homes, and 101 solar permits.

Dark Sky Discovery Center Reaching for the Stars

TheTownofFountainHillsandthenonprofitInternationalDarkSkyDiscovery CenterhaveagreedonaTownHall campuslocationforthecenter.This unique,state-of-the-art,multi-functional facilitywillprovidescience-based educationandbeatourismattractionfor FountainHills,Arizona,andbeyond.

SeeClickFix Connects With Residents

The Town of Fountain Hills launched a new online and mobile service request system to help residents report service issues directly to Town staff. From reporting potholes and graffiti to a fallen street sign, the new digital reporting system allows residents to submit photos and specific location information, providing the team with helpful information to help staff quickly resolve requests and concerns. SeeClickFix replaced the Town's RequestTrackerplatform.

Continued Improvements to Review Process

The Development Services Department continues to improve the review process for building and remodeling projects. During this last year staff processed text amendments to improve the processingofSpecialUsePermitsandSitePlans.

COMMUNITY PROVIDERS

Though the Town of Fountain Hills does not provide direct water, sewer, and trash collection services,thetownworkscloselywithpartnersto offer these utilities. By using these top-notch organizations to deliver utility services, residents are assured of the best service without paying additional taxes or fees to the town for equipmentmaintenanceandupgrades.

EPCOR Provides Water

EPCOR, a Canadian-based company, provides water services to more than 13,000 residences in Fountain Hills and has existed since before the town's incorporation in 1989. event of the main water rupture or other water supply issue, EPCOR will quickly respond to resolve the situation.

www.epcor.com

Republic Services Provides Trash and Recycling Collection

The Town of Fountain Hills has a contract with Republic Services to provide household trash collection, recycling, and bulk trash removal. Republic Services Residents are billed directlybythecompany.www.republicservices.com

Fountain Hills Sanitary District Manages Wastewater

Established in 1969, the Fountain Hills Sanitary District is a governmental entity that collects, treats, and disposes of wastewater and its byproducts within the Town of Fountain Hills. The Fountain Hills Sanitary District has successfully recycledwastewaterforbeneficialreusesince1974.

The Sanitary District prides itself on being good stewards of the environment and doing its part to protect the desert's limited water resources. All wastewater in town is treated and beneficially reused for irrigation purposes. The reclaimed water produced by the District's WWTP is used to fill Fountain Lake,andtoirrigateFountainParkandgolfcourses. www.az-fhsd.gov

REVENUE BY STOREFINANCE DIVISION

5 Grants = $4,592,632

In fiscal year 22/23, the Town received funding in the form of grants. These grants came from Arizona Office of Tourism, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and the American Rescue Plan. These funds were used towards public safety and special events to attract visitors to Fountain Hills.

Each year, the Town develops and adopts a balanced budget based on priorities identified by citizens, Councilmembers, and Town staff. This process represents numerous hours of work and dedication. The resultofthishardworkcanbeseenwhencomparingthebudgetedandactualamountsfortheTown’sfiscal year22-23operatingrevenuesandexpenditures.

TheTown reliesheavilyon Transaction PrivilegeTaxto fund operations, andthisrevenue can be difficult to estimatesinceitisdependentonsalesofproductsandserviceswithintheTown.Becauseofthis,theTown takes a conservative approach in revenue forecasting in order to ensure adequate financial resources to coverbudgetedexpenditures.

Despitethepandemic,theTowncollectedslightlymorerevenueintheOperatingFundsthanwasbudgeted. In addition, the Town’s operating expenditures were less than the amount budgeted for the fiscal year. The resulting difference between actual revenues and actual expenditures was transferred to the Capital ImprovementFundattheendofthefiscalyear.

Awards

TheTown’sFinanceDivisioncontinuestoadd toitslonglistofawardsforfinancialreporting fromtheGovernmentFinanceOfficers Association,representingpublicfinance officialsthroughouttheUnitedStatesand Canada.

27thconsecutiveCertificateof AchievementforExcellenceinFinancial ReportingforitsComprehensiveAnnual FinancialReport

21stconsecutiveDistinguishedBudget PresentationAward

11thconsecutivePopularAnnualFinancial ReportingAward

PUBLIC SAFETY

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

Keeps Fountain Hills Safe

The Town of Fountain Hills continues to utilize the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) as its contracted law enforcement provider. MCSO is committed to serving the residents and visitors of FountainHills.Thetownhassomeofthelowestcrime stats in the state, making it one of the safest communitiesinArizona.

Sheriff deputies working in the Fountain Hills community have remained dedicated to proactive enforcement to promote safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists in town; understanding that traffic enforcement is one of the key functions to achievethis.

Deputies also play a role in community outreach activities by hosting or participating in town events such as the Fountain Hills Cares event, Make a Difference Day, the Drug Take Back Program, Back to School Bash, working in partnership with the Fountain HillsDrugCoalition,amongstmanyotheractivities.

MCSO looks forward to continuing the strong partnership it has with Fountain Hills and service to thecommunity.

Calls of Service: 5,107

Reports Taken: 1,746

Arrests: 171

(Bookings, Criminal Citations, Long Form Submittals)

Traffic Stops: 3,349

Town Brings Fire Department In-House

OnOctober4,2022,theTownCouncilvotedtobringthefiredepartmentin-housewithitsfire personnel.TheCouncildirectedstafftodevelopatransitionplantoimplementanin-housefire

Oneofthebenefitsofhavinganin-housefiredepartmentistheopportunitiesforMutualAidwith theCityofScottsdaleandothermunicipalitiesalmostimmediatelythatcurrentlydonotexist.With MutualAid,theFountainHillsFireDepartmentcouldrequestadditionalassistanceinafireorother majorincidentfromtheScottsdaleFireDepartment.

Anotherbenefitofanin-houseserviceisbeingapartofAutomaticAid.UnderAutomaticAid,the closestfireunitsareregardlessofgeographicboundariesormunicipalborders.Thisfireservice benefitwouldofferadvancedsupportfromotherregionalmunicipalitiesandfireagenciesduring significantfireandemergencyincidents.

Total Calls for Service - 4,709

Crisis Response Team - 47

Structure Fires - 10

Brush Fires - 4 Inspections - 1,116

Public Education Activities - 69