Gilbert resident Aaron Accurso said the so-called compromise ordinance “was absolutely empty compared to what Vice Mayor Yentes was requesting. Go back to that.” || YouTube
By Cecilia Chan || Gilbert Sun News
A revision of a proposed ordinance banning Gilbert from participating in – and spending taxpayer dollars on – passenger rail is going back to the drawing board after two Council members said it was watered down too much for their liking.
Vice Mayor Aimee Yentes and Council members Kathy Tilque and Laurin Hendrix will now work on a compromise measure to bring back to Council on Nov. 1 for consideration. The trio originally put the item on the Aug. 23 study session agenda for discussion.
“This agenda item has changed quite a bit from what it was when it was discussed two weeks ago,” Hendrix said at the Sept. 6 public hearing. “Pretty much everything that was in it was taken out.
“This is not the item three council members proposed to put on the agenda and it should not be on the agenda tonight,” he said.
Hendrix said the amended ordinance before the Council only covered one of the two original provisions.
“I don’t see any justification for this to be on the agenda unless, contrary to the mayor’s numerous comments two weeks ago that she opposed light rail, that she changed her mind and she chose to put this on the agenda as opposed to three members,” he said.
Under town code, three council members or the mayor can request an item be placed on an agenda.
The changes included removing the prohibition on using town resources such as personnel and money toward commuter rail or light rail, including for studies and designs.
Town Attorney Chris Payne explained that the revised ordinance came out of Council feedback at the August study session.
“The item that I signed and spoke with Vice Mayor Yentes was to place this on a public hearing so that we would have a discussion on that item,” Tilque said. “And that is what we had at study session.
“During that conversation there was a lot of what I took as some give and take on the original ordinance,” she continued, adding:
“Based on that conversation, I provided changes that I felt comfortable with and that I mentioned I would feel comfortable with at that meeting and that is why that is on the agenda now. This is the outcome of that discussion.”
Hendrix, however, remained resolute.
