Dec. 13 Town Council Meeting
At the December 13 meeting of the Chino Valley Town Council, the Council voted to table their motion to hire Aviation Management Consulting Group until after the FAA completes its 90-day review of safety issues associated with the airpark’s proposed location. The FAA’s review commenced on November 5 and is scheduled to conclude approximately February 5. Vice Mayor Joel Baker expressed his opposition to spending $10,000 of the Town’s funds on hiring the consulting firm given the Town’s current financial situation. Gerald Stricklin, Director of Chino Valley’s Development Services Department, respectfully disagreed, as did some of the other Council members, saying the Town did not have anyone on staff with adequate expertise to evaluate the financial figures Mr. Perkins’s attorneys had given the Town.
Vice Mayor Baker then went on to say that the airpark was one of the three most difficult issues the Town has ever had to deal with, and that it is so major he thinks it should be taken directly to the voters. He suggested including it in the forthcoming primary election, which will be held in Septermber. There was no discussion or opposition from any other member of the Council to this suggestion. Town Manager Bill Pupo then recapitulated what the Town had decided to do and raised concern about the cost of a possible special election. Mayor Fann restated that it would be during the next primary or general election, and the Council agreed to research the possibility of including the airpark in the next election. After the meeting concluded, two members of the Coalition for the Future of Greater Chino Valley each pledged funds to help defray the costs of a special election, should one be required.
The January 17 meeting of Planning and Zoning, at which the airpark is currently scheduled to be discussed, most likely will postpone discussion until after the FAA responds in February.
