This is a massive 165-item formal meeting with an estimated $126.7 million in financial exposure. The agenda is dominated by development projects concentrated in Districts 4 and 5, major federal grant acceptances, budget adjustments, and 16 uncontested election cancellations that consolidate appointment power with the Board.
What matters most: Three Planning & Zoning items (two industrial rezonings near Luke AFB in District 5, one industrial rezoning in District 4), a $29.6M Northern Parkway project, $11.7M in EV charging infrastructure, and $10.5M for WIC nutrition services. Two sole-source contracts bypass competitive bidding.
Bottom line for citizens: If you care about development patterns, federal surveillance grants, unchecked election cancellations, or whether your tax dollars go through competitive processes, this meeting has multiple items requiring attention.
MEETING DETAILS
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | Wednesday, August 19, 2026 |
| Time | 9:30 AM |
| Location | Supervisors’ Auditorium, 205 W. Jefferson, Phoenix |
| Chair | Kate Brophy McGee (District 3) |
| Vice Chair | Debbie Lesko (District 4) |
| Board Members | Mark Stewart (D1), Thomas Galvin (D2), Steve Gallardo (D5) |
| County Manager | Jen Pokorski |
| Meeting Type | Formal (and Flood Control District, Library District, Improvement Districts) |
| Agenda Items | 165 |
| Total Financial Exposure | ~$126.7M |
Note: This is a DRAFT agenda subject to change. Final agenda will be available at least 24 hours before the meeting.
MAJOR ITEMS REQUIRING ATTENTION
🔴 PLANNING & ZONING — THE BIG THREE (Items 6-8)
Item 6 — MARIPOSA ENERGY PARK (District 5)
- Case #: Z250025
- Applicant: Chris Webb, Rose Law Group / Hanwha QCELLS USA Corp.
- Request: Zone change from Rural-190 to IND-2 IUPD for solar + Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
- Location: SEC of Patterson Rd. and Litchfield Rd., south Avondale/south Goodyear
- Commission Vote: 6-0 (7/23/26), motion by Commissioner Rochwalik (D3), seconded by Leighton (D4)
- Flag: BESS facilities are fire-prone industrial infrastructure near residential areas. Conditions require 500’ setback from homes and 6’ chain link fencing. Solar + battery storage is a booming development pattern in District 5. Rose Law Group is a frequent applicant.
Item 7 — TONOPAH 75 Comprehensive Plan Amendment (District 4)
- Case #: CPA260003
- Applicant: Natalie Maikoski, EPS Group / Tonopah I-10 & 355 Ave-72 Acre, LLC & JR Investments 10 LLC
- Request: Change land use from Rural Densities (0-1 du./ac.) to Industrial on 42.5 acres
- Location: 1,320’ east of NEC of 355th Ave. and McDowell Rd.
- Commission Vote: 6-0 (7/23/26)
- Flag: Rural-to-industrial conversion in the path of westward sprawl. Floodplain concerns (FEMA Zone AE). Proximity to I-10 requires ADOT coordination. This is the first of two Tonopah 75 items.
Item 8 — TONOPAH 75 Zone Change (District 4)
- Case #: Z260006
- Same applicant as Item 7
- Request: Zone change from Rural-43 to IND-2 IUPD
- Commission Vote: 6-0 with 10 conditions including IUPD overlay limiting uses to septic-compatible until sewer available
- Flag: Paired with Item 7, this converts 42.5 acres from rural residential to industrial. Conditions include archaeological review, floodplain compliance, and ADOT coordination. The applicant must secure water/sewer/fire independently — typical of leapfrog development.
🔴 STATUTORY HEARINGS (Items 9-12)
Item 9 — DEANNEXATION FROM CITY OF AVONDALE TO MARICOPA COUNTY (District 5)
- What: Return a portion of Miami Avenue (Avondale Blvd to 111th Ave) from City of Avondale to County jurisdiction
- Why it matters: 0.000619 square miles added to County ownership. MCDOT gets the full 40-foot half-street right-of-way without having to buy it. Precedent for municipal boundary adjustments that expand county road maintenance obligations.
Item 12 — ES-2025-004 MARICOPA COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CODE FEE CHANGES
- What: Public hearing on fee adjustments for environmental health services
- Why it matters: Fee increases affect restaurants, pools, septic systems, and other regulated businesses. The Board of Health already approved this on 4/27/26. This item becomes effective immediately upon Board approval — no delayed implementation.
🔴 SOLE SOURCE CONTRACTS (No Competitive Bidding)
Item 13 — CORELOGIC/MARSHALL & SWIFT CONTRACT RENEWAL
- Amount: $2,611,968.34
- Term: 4 years 11 months (through 7/31/2031)
- Department: Assessor
- Type: Sole source (no competition)
- What: Building cost data, software, integration licensing for property valuation
- Flag: Nearly $2.6M contract renewed without competitive bidding. CoreLogic is a dominant national player in property data. The “sole source” designation means no other vendor was considered. Contract #C-12-22-008-X-01 suggests this is a continuation.
Item 62 — COMPETITION IMPRACTICABLE WITH PRATT AND WHITNEY CANADA
- Amount: $140,000
- Department: Sheriff
- What: Extended service plan for 2025 Kodiak 900 airplane engine
- Flag: “Competition Impracticable” is the county’s designation for sole-source procurement. Pratt & Whitney Canada is the only manufacturer for this engine. The Sheriff’s Office now has its own aircraft fleet.
🔴 SHERIFF’S OFFICE — SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY (Items 55-68)
Item 56 — HIDTA DRUG TRAFFICKING GRANT
- Amount: $667,924 (MCSO share: $547,174; MCAO share: $120,750)
- Period: 1/1/2026 – 12/31/2027
- Flag: Recurring federal drug enforcement funding. Sheriff’s Office absorbs $138,872 in unrecoverable indirect costs from General Fund.
Item 57-61 — ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AGREEMENTS (5 items)
- Counter terrorism pole cameras, bomb squad sustainment, terrorism liaison officer funding, open-source intelligence tools
- Total: ~$245,809
- Flag: Multiple surveillance and counter-terrorism grants. Most are first-time or recurring federal awards. Sheriff absorbs indirect costs.
Item 64 — IGA WITH CITY OF BUCKEYE REGARDING HIDTA
- Value: Up to $30,000 in overtime benefits for Buckeye officers assigned to Maricopa County drug task force
- Flag: Expands Sheriff’s Office coordination network. Supersedes previous IGA approved 12/11/2024.
Item 66 — DONATIONS TRANSFER TO MASH CAPITAL FUND
- Amount: $25,000 from MCSO MASH 501©(3)
- Flag: Nonprofit fundraising arm donating restricted funds back to county for corral construction. Circular flow between government and its own nonprofit.
Item 68 — ONE-TIME FLEET ADDITIONS — MASH ANIMAL RESCUE TRUCK & TRAILER
- Amount: $318,416 ($75K truck + $243K trailer)
- Annual Operating Cost: $12,000 absorbed by General Fund
- Flag: Quarter-million-dollar trailer for animal rescue operations. Donation-funded capital purchase, but operating costs hit the General Fund permanently.
🔴 ELECTION CANCELLATIONS (Items 17-32, 53, 91)
16 uncontested irrigation/water district elections cancelled and replaced with Board appointments
- Districts affected: D1 (3), D2 (3), D3 (6), D4 (3), D5 (2)
- Method: A.R.S. §16-410(A) — if candidates ≤ open positions, election cancelled, Board appoints
- Flag: This is standard practice for special districts, but it concentrates appointment power with the Board of Supervisors. No competitive elections, no voter input. 16 separate boards now have members who were never elected.
Item 53 — CANCELLATION OF NON-COMPETITIVE SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD ELECTIONS
- What: Cancel November 3, 2026 elections where candidates ≤ open positions; appoint candidates; declare vacancies where no one filed
- Flag: Applies to school districts across Maricopa County. The County Superintendent of Schools fills vacancies. This is a routine but significant consolidation of school board appointment power.
🔴 MAJOR CONTRACTS & GRANTS (>$1M)
| Item | Title | Amount | Dept | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | CoreLogic/Marshall & Swift Contract | $2,611,968 | Assessor | Sole source |
| 54 | USDOE Education Innovation & Research Grant | $9,598,442 | School Supt | Grant (60 mo) |
| 80-84 | EV Charging Infrastructure Subrecipients | $11,702,017 | Air Quality | Federal subawards |
| 93 | DHS Securing the Cities Program | $2,132,000 | Emergency Mgmt | Grant |
| 97 | ARPA Expenditure Approvals | Net $0 | Finance | Reallocation |
| 100 | Pay for Performance Plan | $24,752,645 | Finance | Budget adj |
| 101 | Eviction Diversion Budget | $800,000 | Human Services | Budget adj |
| 105 | DOL Homeless Veterans Reintegration | $500,000 | Human Services | Grant |
| 106 | Valley Metro ADA Transportation | $2,074,040 | Human Services | IGA |
| 109 | ADES Community Action Program | $1,444,861 | Human Services | IGA |
| 111 | ARPA Affordable Housing (Chandler) | $10,000,000 | Human Services | ARPA |
| 117 | Employee Relations Investigative Services | $750,000 | Procurement | RFP |
| 123 | Substance Use Prevention (11 contractors) | $2,443,244 | Public Health | Opioid settlement |
| 125 | WIC & Breastfeeding Peer Counseling | $10,462,815 | Public Health | IGA |
| 127 | Healthy People Healthy Communities | $2,994,529 | Public Health | IGA |
| 128 | CDC Epidemiology & Lab Capacity | $2,205,019 | Public Health | Grant |
| 134 | HIV Prevention (Education) | $800,000 | Public Health | PO |
| 137 | Glendale Property Transfer (Animal Care) | $250,000 | Real Estate | IGA |
| 141 | Northern Parkway Federal Aid | $29,568,302 | Transportation | Federal aid |
| 145 | MC 85 Construction Administration | $2,642,099 | Transportation | Contract |
| 152 | Mesa Gardens Apartments Revenue Note | $15,500,000 | IDA | Revenue obligation |
| 160-162 | Flood Control Drainage Projects | $4,640,901 | Flood Control | IGA/Contract |
Total contracts/grants >$1M: 23 items totaling ~$123.8M
🔴 OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS — SIGNIFICANT RE-DIRECTION (Item 123)
Amendments to 11 substance use prevention contracts with major budget increases:
- Banner Health Foundation: +$218,170 (new NTE: $1,390,581)
- Chicanos Por La Causa: +$355,070 (new NTE: $1,265,210)
- Community Medical Services: +$250,000 (new NTE: $950,000)
- Neighborhood Ministries: +$374,509 (new NTE: $1,423,527)
- notMYkid, Inc.: +$351,786 (new NTE: $1,305,358)
- Skye’s The Limit Foundation: +$263,255 (new NTE: $980,892)
Total increase: $2,443,244 from One Arizona Distribution of Opioid Settlement Funds
- Flag: These are national opioid settlement dollars being distributed through county contracts to nonprofit service providers. Large increases suggest expanded programming. No competitive re-bidding — these are amendments to existing contracts.
🔴 BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS (Items 97-104)
Item 100 — FY 2027 PAY FOR PERFORMANCE PLAN: $24.5M + $266K
- What: Performance-Based Retention Pay Plan adjustments
- Breakdown: $24.5M base + $266K one-time for General Fund; $8.4M base + $98K one-time for Detention Fund
- Flag: Net zero budget impact (funded from contingency), but represents a massive personnel cost shift. Note that Detention Fund gets $8.4M — that’s jail staff.
Item 98 — COUNTY ATTORNEY & PUBLIC DEFENSE BUDGET ADJUSTMENT
- What: Shifting ARPA-funded positions to General Fund; shifting grant-funded positions to General Fund
- Total: $2.8M for County Attorney, $493K for Public Defender, $469K for Legal Defender, $479K for Legal Advocate
- Flag: ARPA cliff is here. Positions that were federally funded now require permanent General Fund support. This is the beginning of the ARPA funding withdrawal.
Item 101 — EVICTION DIVERSION: $800K
- What: Shift $800K from contingency to Human Services eviction prevention
- Flag: Housing instability response. Net zero budget impact but signals prioritization.
🔴 INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES CONTRACT (Item 117)
St. Georges Investigative Services / AZ TruthFinder
- Amount: $750,000
- Term: 8/19/2026 – 7/31/2027
- What: Employee relations investigations for Sheriff’s Office — grievances, internal violations, policy non-compliance
- Flag: $750K for a private investigative firm handling Sheriff’s Office employee relations issues. Up to 4 additional annual renewals possible. This is external oversight of internal Sheriff’s Office personnel matters.
FINANCIAL EXPOSURE SUMMARY
By Category
| Category | Estimated Total |
|---|---|
| Transportation | $32.2M |
| Industrial Development Authority | $15.5M |
| Public Health (multiple grants) | ~$19.2M |
| Human Services (multiple grants) | ~$14.8M |
| Sheriff’s Office (grants + equipment) | ~$1.5M |
| County Attorney | ~$2.9M |
| Pay for Performance (personnel) | $32.8M |
| Flood Control | $4.6M |
| EV Infrastructure | $11.7M |
| Other contracts & adjustments | ~$12.5M |
| TOTAL | ~$126.7M |
By Funding Source
| Source | Estimated Total |
|---|---|
| Federal grants/aid | ~$56.2M |
| General Fund / Local | ~$42.3M |
| ARPA/SLFRF funds | ~$10.0M |
| Opioid settlement funds | ~$2.4M |
| Other grants | ~$10.8M |
| Revenue obligations | $15.5M |
| Donations | ~$343K |
PATTERN ANALYSIS
District Concentration
| District | Items | Major Projects |
|---|---|---|
| District 4 (Lesko) | 18 | Tonopah 75 CPA, Tonopah 75 ZC, Northern Parkway ($29.6M), Glendale EV sites, Glendale property transfer, Wickenburg CDBG, El Mirage CDBG, Litchfield Park traffic signals, school crossing, bingo license, patent easements |
| District 5 (Gallardo) | 16 | Mariposa Energy Park, Avondale deannexation, MC 85 ($2.6M), EV sites (Phoenix, ASU Downtown), animal care IGA, Verizon facility, Mesa Gardens IDA note, Optima Camelview drainage, Durango-Avondale drainage, patent easements |
| District 1 (Stewart) | 8 | Special event licenses, EV sites (Chandler, ASU Poly), Chandler Heights irrigation, San Tan irrigation, New Magma irrigation, Mesa school district meals |
| District 2 (Galvin) | 7 | Patent easement, irrigation districts, 180th Field Artillery event, Mesa school meals, Tempe transit, Tonto Hills roads, Scottsdale drainage |
| District 3 (Brophy McGee) | 5 | Patent easement, irrigation districts, workforce board, ASU athletic district, Glendale air quality monitoring |
| All Districts | 12 | Budget adjustments, personnel, county-wide programs |
Finding: District 4 (Lesko) and District 5 (Gallardo) carry the heaviest development and infrastructure load. District 4’s Tonopah 75 represents significant industrial expansion. District 5’s Mariposa Energy Park is a major energy infrastructure project.
Motion Dominance (Pattern from Previous Meetings)
Based on May 6, 2026 meeting analysis: Debbie Lesko made all motions. This pattern, if it continues, concentrates procedural control in the Vice Chair’s hands. Watch whether Lesko makes motions on her own district’s Tonopah 75 items.
Sole Source Pattern
- 2 items bypass competitive bidding
- CoreLogic/Marshall & Swift: $2.6M (property valuation data monopoly)
- Pratt & Whitney Canada: $140K (aircraft engine manufacturer monopoly)
Election Cancellation Pattern
- 16 irrigation/water district elections cancelled
- 1 county-wide school board election cancellation
- All appointments made by Board, not voters
- Standard practice under A.R.S. §16-410, but concentrates power
Federal Surveillance/Security Grants
- 5 AZDOHS homeland security grants to Sheriff’s Office
- 1 DHS Securing the Cities grant ($2.1M) to Emergency Management
- HIDTA drug trafficking grant ($667K)
- Total: ~$2.8M in security/surveillance-related federal funding
RED FLAGS TABLE
| # | Item | Flag | Severity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item 6 — Mariposa Energy Park | 🔴 HIGH | BESS battery storage near residential; fire risk; 500’ setback may be insufficient; Rose Law Group frequent applicant | |
| 2 | Item 7-8 — Tonopah 75 | 🔴 HIGH | Rural-to-industrial conversion; floodplain; leapfrog development pattern; paired items suggest coordinated push | |
| 3 | Item 13 — CoreLogic Contract | 🟡 MEDIUM | $2.6M sole source renewal; no competitive process; vendor lock-in for property valuation data | |
| 4 | Item 62 — Pratt & Whitney | 🟡 MEDIUM | Sole source justified by manufacturer monopoly but “competition impracticable” pattern should be tracked | |
| 5 | Items 17-32 — Election Cancellations | 🟡 MEDIUM | 16 boards appointed, not elected; standard practice but power concentration | |
| 6 | Item 50 — Tax Settlements | 🟡 MEDIUM | Multiple property tax case settlements; outside counsel involved (Aaron Clouse, Brent Stayner) | |
| 7 | Item 66 — MASH Donation Circular Flow | 🟡 MEDIUM | Nonprofit raises funds, donates back to county for capital projects; blurred public/private boundary | |
| 8 | Item 68 — MASH Fleet Addition | 🟡 MEDIUM | $318K capital purchase with $12K/year General Fund operating cost; donation-funded capital, taxpayer-funded operations | |
| 9 | Item 117 — Sheriff’s Investigative Contract | 🔴 HIGH | $750K private firm investigating Sheriff’s Office employee issues; potential conflict; up to 5 years total | |
| 10 | Item 123 — Opioid Settlement Redistribution | 🟡 MEDIUM | $2.4M to 11 nonprofits via amendments (not new competitive bids); large increases to select providers | |
| 11 | Item 137 — Glendale Property Transfer | 🟡 MEDIUM | $250K additional acquisition for West Valley Animal Care; cumulative cost tracking needed | |
| 12 | District 4 Concentration | 🟡 MEDIUM | 18 items in Lesko’s district including major zoning, transportation, and infrastructure | |
| 13 | ARPA Position Conversions | 🟡 MEDIUM | Items 97-98 show ARPA-funded positions shifting to permanent General Fund — fiscal cliff materializing |
CITIZEN WATCH LIST
What to Watch During the Meeting
1. Planning & Zoning Votes (Items 6-8)
- Will any Board member pull these for separate discussion?
- Will there be public comment on Mariposa Energy Park or Tonopah 75?
- Watch for Gallardo dissent — he voted against Project Baccara data center in May
- Watch motion maker: if Lesko makes all motions again, that’s a pattern
2. Public Comment Session
- Expected topics: Mariposa Energy Park (solar/BESS), Tonopah 75 (industrial sprawl)
- Watch Board engagement level — do they ask questions or rubber-stamp?
3. Consent Agenda Items That Might Get Pulled
- Item 13: CoreLogic $2.6M sole source (watch for procurement questions)
- Item 62: Pratt & Whitney sole source
- Item 117: Sheriff’s Office $750K investigative contract
- Items 123: Opioid settlement fund redistribution
4. Budget Adjustments (Items 97-104)
- These are typically approved as consent — watch for questions on ARPA cliff
- $24.5M for pay raises is significant
5. Setting of Hearings (Items 154-157)
- Future P&Z items scheduled for September 2 and October 21
- Multiple patent easement abandonments in Districts 4 and 5
Questions Citizens Should Consider
- Why is the Assessor renewing a $2.6M contract without competitive bidding?
- Are 500-foot setbacks sufficient for battery energy storage systems?
- Why are rural areas being systematically converted to industrial use?
- Is the Sheriff’s Office expanding surveillance capabilities through federal grants?
- What happens to opioid settlement-funded programs when settlement money runs out?
- Why is a private investigative firm handling Sheriff’s Office employee relations?
REPORT NOTES
Disclaimer: This is a PRE-MEETING report based on a DRAFT agenda. Items may change, be added, or removed before the final agenda is published. Vote records, motion makers, and seconders are marked “pending” and will be updated with post-meeting analysis.
