Page 6 - January - March, 2019 CityLine

State of the City
The 2019 State of the City Meeting was held on Saturday, January 19, 2019, at The Church at Litchfield Park’s Souers Hall. Prior to
and following the two-hour meeting, attendees were invited to network with organizational representatives and City Staff at information
tables including:

• APS Litchfield Park Departments:
• Kiwanis of Litchfield Park • Building Safety
• Litchfield Park Historical Society • City Clerk
• Litchfield Park Branch Library • Code Enforcement
• Rotary Club of Litchfield Park • Community & Recreation Services
• Scouts • Economic Development
• Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce • Engineering
• Waste Management • Finance
• The Wigwam Resort • Planning & Zoning
• Public Safety
• Public Works

Looking Back at 2018 and Ahead to 2019
Mayor Schoaf introduced a variety of updates including: Elections; City Center; Residential Development; Commercial Development;
Monument Point Business Park; Southeast Corner Dysart & Camelback; Northwest Corner Wigwam Boulevard & Litchfield Road; La
Loma Homestead; City Park Enhancements; Construction Projects; Jackie Robinson Little League Ball Field; Road Reconstruction;
Financial; and, Community & Recreation Services Programs & Special Events.

Elections
The 2018 Congressional District 8 held a Special Primary Election on February 27, 2018, and a Special General Election on April 24,
2018. Debbie Lesko (R-Peoria) filled the vacancy left by Rep. Trent Franks in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Litchfield Park
Primary held an All-Mail Election on August 28, 2018, for three (3) Council seats and one (1) Mayoral seat with all four-year term seats
filled during the Primary Election:

• Tom Schoaf, Mayor • Tom Rosztoczy
• Paul Faith, Vice Mayor • Lisa Brainard Watson

City Center Planning (approximately 30 acres)
In early 2016, the City issued Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to seek a development team to partner with the City to complete the City
Center master plan design and development. In August 2016, Council selected a team and began contract negotiations. The City and the
selected team were unable to reach an agreement and a new team, Destination LP, was selected in September 2017, to develop a master
plan. A City Manager’s Working Group was formed and is comprised of representatives from City Council, City Boards & Commissions,
business owners, property owners, community leaders, and Staff, to work with Destination LP. In 2018, three public meetings were held
and attended by residents, owners of property within the City Center, owners of existing city commercial entities, and the Wigwam to
request input on different conceptual plans and concepts. During 2019, the City Manager’s Working Group will continue to work with
Destination LP to finalize a master plan.
Residential & Commercial Development
Residential development continued in two demographic locations during 2018, including Cachet at the Wigwam at Litchfield Road
and Village Parkway and Sunset Terrace located north of the Litchfield Marketplace near Camelback and Litchfield Roads.
Commercial development continued at three demographic locations:
• Monument Point Business Park. The business park is located on the southwest corner of Camelback and El Mirage Roads. During
2018, thee new businesses opened including Burger King, Christian Brothers Automotive and Caliber Collision. Design plans were
approved for a K-8 Champion Charter School, with construction expected to begin in 2019.
• Southeast Corner Dysart & Camelback. Site and design plans were approved for four new businesses including Hines Self Storage;
Dignity Health Emergency Room/Urgent Care; Auto Zone; and, Quick N Clean Car Wash. A final plat to subdivide the property for
individual lot ownership was approved, with conditions, by Council in December 2018, and construction is expected to begin during 2019.

6 | Jan-Mar 2019 Issue litchfi eld-park.org