Hill Street School Development and Business License Process on agenda at City Council’s November 19 meeting

Members of the Globe City Council: Mayor Al Gameros, Vice Mayor Mike Stapleton (District 4), and Council members Freddy Rios (District 1), Mike Pastor (District 2), Jesse Leetham (District 3), Mariano Gonzalez (District 5), and Fernando Shipley (District 6). All members were in attendance at this meeting except Councilmember Shipley.

Hill Street School Apartments Nearing Completion

The Hill Street Apartments project, located in the old Hill Street School at the northern gateway to Globe, is nearing completion. Globe’s Community Development Director, Tony Manfredi, and former director Linda Oddonetto updated council on the project.

This mixed-construction initiative is being developed by the Gorman company, combining renovation of the old school with new construction elements.The project is expected to conclude in December, pending final approvals and the issuance of certificates of occupancy.

The project will include 64 apartment units, and these are currently being inspected, as well as the structure’s fire and other life safety systems, elevator functionality, and other critical elements. Inspections for Building One are almost complete, while Building Two is currently in the final stages of electrical testing. The exterior and interior lighting systems are fully operational.

“It’s coming along quite beautifully, and it’s amazing what this is turning out to be. The compliments that we’ve been getting from the neighboring people are just outstanding. This was a great project, great decisions being made.” ECD Director Tony Manfredi

There will be an open house for the public on December 11, with a media tour (by invitation only) scheduled for earlier on the same day, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Details are currently being finalized.

Exact move-in dates have not yet been set, but will probably be in December. 

Manfrdi said a traffic study was conducted to address anticipated congestion around the Hill Street development, and the study confirmed the need for enhanced traffic controls at key intersections. The study identified that increased traffic volume and restricted sight distances in the area justify additional safety measures. Plans are to install stop signs with flashing beacons and to restripe and update existing crosswalks.

Additional enhancements, including work on the sidewalk near Nurdberger, are still to come.

Mayor Gameros mentioned that several residents had expressed concerns to him about delayed callbacks regarding leasing inquiries. Oddonetto said the leasing office is now being managed locally and is processing inquiries and applications as quickly and fairly as they can. Oddonetto asked people to please be patient.

City to Review and Update Business License Process

The City has initiated a comprehensive upgrade of processes for business licensing. Tony Manfredi highlighted key updates and future plans aimed at enhancing the city’s licensing system.

Under City of Globe Ordinance Section 8-1-8, the City of Globe mandates that all businesses, professions, trades, and related occupations must obtain a business license and pay an annual fee as determined by the City Council. 

Licensing categories include retail or wholesale, service industries, professionals, mobile vendors, liquor sales, and utility services. Special events and mobile vendors are also subject to licensing requirements. For example, one-time vendors must secure a license for the duration of their operations in the city. 

Key reasons for requiring business licenses include:

1. Legal Compliance: Businesses must adhere to state and local laws.
2. Economic Development: Licensing provides the city with a clear understanding of services that are available in the city and potential growth areas.
3. Public Safety: Licensing ensures proper oversight, such as fire safety inspections, particularly for businesses handling hazardous materials.
4. Consumer Trust: Verification of a business’s legitimacy helps establish customer confidence.
5. Certificates of Occupancy: These go along with business licenses to ensure buildings have proper inspections, ensuring the safety of staff and patrons.

Manfredi said the cost of business license starts at $50 per year.The city has implemented several changes to enhance and streamline the licensing process. These include:

• Website Updates: The city’s licensing department now features improved online resources, including fillable and submittable forms.
• Customer Service Enhancements: A dedicated licensing administrator, Mary Helen Sanchez, has been assigned to provide direct support to businesses.
• Education Campaign: A city-wide campaign will inform businesses about licensing requirements, processes, and available resources.
• Resource Center: A new community resource center is being developed at City Hall to provide businesses with licensing information, applications, and guidance. This will be located in the front lobby. Bilingual literature is available.

These changes aim to simplify the process for businesses while maintaining access to traditional paper applications for those who prefer not to use online platforms.

The city currently has 736 licensed businesses, including 12 new licenses issued in the past 60 days. Also, in the past 30 days, the city has identified 33 businesses operating without a license. Businesses found operating without a license may face penalties, including fines of up to $1,000 and even jail time.

Manfredi mentioned the City has been facing some challenges with enforcement, particularly regarding “one-time” licensing, where a company or professional located elsewhere comes into the City for a single job or only comes occasionally. City staff are working on writing up procedures for these situations.

Manfredi also mentioned problems with unlicensed mobile food vendors, an issue that has recently gotten attention in the news. He said the city works closely with the county Health Department to address safety and compliance concerns. 

Sanchez underscored the importance of identifying all businesses operating in the city, including contractors, mobile vendors, and nonprofits.

Mayor Gameros noted that Globe’s progress in economic development has garnered attention from representatives of various communities across the United States, including from Texas, California, and Nevada, who visited Globe to learn from the city’s development strategies.

Mary Helen Sanchez to Take Over As Licensing Administrator

Mary Helen Sanchez has been appointed the City’s new Licensing Administrator within the Community Development Department. She’s a former permit administrator in the Building Safety Department, a role she held for nearly three years.

Tony Manfredi introduced Sanchez, describing her as meticulous, detail-oriented, and highly capable of managing interactions with the public and applicants.

Employee Recognitions for Years of Service

Council recognized the following employees for their years of service to the City of Globe:

• Melissa Steele, Economic Development Manager, 5 years of service. Linda Oddonetto noted that Melissa’s work has been pivotal in the city's development, praising her passion and creativity. Melissa played a central role in launching the city’s first comprehensive marketing plan, significantly raising Globe’s profile to attract tourists, businesses, and new residents, and helped organize the First Friday events, now in their fourth year. Steel also manages 11 of the city’s social media pages and is spearheading the creation of a new city website set to launch early next year. She first began working for the city 20 years ago, as a lifeguard at the community center pool. 

• Angel Amado, Firefighter Captain, 10 years of service. Chief Gary Robinson noted Angel’s positive influence on the department and his community involvement. His extensive certifications include paramedic qualifications, technical rescue expertise in both rope and swift water, and instructor credentials. Amato is also engaged in community outreach, frequently working in schools and participating in events such as job fairs. Mayor Gameros emphasized Amato’s work ethic and value to the department. Councilman Gonzalez praised his wide-ranging expertise as an asset to the community.

Motions approved

Council also approved motions for the following:

• Accounts payable in the amount of $658,643.02.
• Selecting improvements to the City’s skate park to receive approximately $225,123 in FY24 Community Development Block Grant funding from the Arizona Department of Housing. The selection of project for this year’s CDBG funds was discussed extensively in previous Council meetings, going back to July. Jepson explained that the process of selecting the skate park became complicated because a legally required ad for public notice was bumped by the newspaper, so it didn’t run on time. As a result, Council needs to redo the vote on the item. A public hearing was opened, but there were no comments.
• Approving a letter of recommendation that will lead to relocating Copper Mountain Transit’s bus stop number 23, currently located at Globe Safeway, to a new designated site one block south at the intersection of Hill Street and Sutherland Street. The new bus stop will be named “Hill Street School.” The decision to move the stop was made because the current stop at Safeway was seeing low usage, and the new location will be more convenient for many people, including students.
• Awarding a contract in the amount of $972,023 for installation of the City’s new AMI water meters, as well as service line investigation, to Phoenix Water Solutions. The amount will be submitted to the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority for possible reimbursement. Installation of the meters is expected to be completed within one year.
• Approving a contract with Scholz Contracting for the Speedway Waterline Replacement Project, in the amount of $38,020. Vince Mariscal pointed out that this project started after a water leak was reported in the middle of the junction of US 60 and US 70 last summer. The waterline goes out toward the fairgrounds.
• Approving a change order to a contract with JJ Electrical Contracting for the Soccer Field Light Replacement Project, in the amount of $1,045. The change covers additional light replacement on Trujillo Field. Mariscal explained that there had been an earlier project to replace lightbulbs at the large soccer field, but some of the ballasts there had needed to be replaced, too. As a result, there were 16 extra bulbs at the end of that project. It was decided to install those bulbs at Trujillo, and this change order is paying for that installation.

Members of the Globe City Council: Mayor Al Gameros, Vice Mayor Mike Stapleton (District 4), and Council members Freddy Rios (District 1), Mike Pastor (District 2), Jesse Leetham (District 3), Mariano Gonzalez (District 5), and Fernando Shipley (District 6). All members were in attendance at this meeting except Councilmember Shipley.

To view this meeting online, visit City Council Meeting - November 19, 2024.

To view documents related to this meeting, click here. 

Full minutes can be found by going to the City Hall website . The Globe City Council meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The meetings are currently open to the public at 50% capacity. Members of the public are requested to wear a mask except when seated. Seating is limited to allow for social distancing.

Members of the public can also participate in City of Globe public meetings by viewing the meeting live on YouTube. To view the Council meeting live stream, go to the City of Globe’s YouTube channel (search for City of Globe Arizona). Or click on the “Live Stream on YouTube” link at the top of www.globeaz.gov.

To speak to agenda items before or during the meeting, call or text (928) 200-0154 or email council@globeaz.gov. If you desire to speak to the Council during an agenda item.