Fountain Hills and Fort McDowell leadership had a lot on their plates over a luncheon meeting last Thursday at the Fountain Hills Community Center.

Council members and staff from both communities got together to discuss a variety of topics ranging from tourism and economic development to concerns such as wandering cattle and illegal dumping.

In opening remarks Mayor Jay Schlum said the two communities have a lot in common and should work together to assist one another and resolve mutual problems when they arise.

Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation President Dr. Clinton Pattea has been off the council in recent years until being elected to the presidency again earlier this year.

Pattea pledged to work with Fountain Hills to get things accomplished.

“President Pattea swore in the new members of the (Fountain Hills) Town Council in June,” Schlum said. “We really appreciate that and I think it is an indication of how important this relationship is.”

General Manager Phil Dorchester noted that Fort McDowell is taking a particular interest in new development projects proposed by the Ellman Companies. One of those is in Fountain Hills bordering the Yavapai community. The second is east of Fort McDowell across the Verde River at Goldfield Ranch.

Dorchester said Fort McDowell does have concerns about the potential impact of the “Preserve” development in Goldfield Ranch on the Yavapai community’s water supply.

Fort McDowell would like to work with Fountain Hills to address a dumping issue with construction debris, according to Dorchester.

He also apologized to Fountain Hills for the regular instances of cattle wandering off the reservation onto private property in Fountain Hills. Dorchester pledged to work on that issue.

Fountain Hills and Fort McDowell have had an ongoing relationship with regard to a joint tourism promotion for several years. They are working to improve and continue those efforts.

The tourism bureau is promoting Fort McDowell and Fountain Hills as “The Adventurous Side of Scottsdale,” according to Rory Magenty, who heads special events and promotions for Fort McDowell.

The Yavapai Experience at Fort McDowell and the L. Alan Cruikshank River of Time Museum in Fountain Hills were cited as examples of the cultural attractions in the communities.

Magenty said events like the Lori Piestewa Native American Games have brought a lot of people to the community to fill the Radisson at Fort McDowell and Fountain Hills hotels.

The two communities have the resources and amenities to work together to improve the tourism industry, Magenty said.

Kate Zanon, assistant to the Fountain Hills town manager and involved with economic development projects, brought people up to date on economic development activities within Fountain Hills.

Zanon said a renovation of the old Town Hall office complex into a medical plaza is moving ahead on schedule.

Demolition of the old Bashas’ store is complete and construction work is expected to begin soon on the new store and improvements to the entire plaza at Palisades Boulevard and La Montana Drive.

Zanon also mentioned a number of new commercial office/retail projects completed along the Shea corridor between Saguaro Boulevard and the Beeline Highway.

The focus for the future is the downtown core of Fountain Hills with business retention along with new development, Zanon said.

Alfonso Rodriguez, economic development and planning coordinator for Fort McDowell, noted that there is a very close tie between the tribal government and enterprise at Fort McDowell.

The government is working to create the infrastructure to allow development, Rodriguez said.

Fountain Hills and Fort McDowell will need to work together and keep one another in mind as they plan their economic futures, he said.

Schlum and Pattea both said they hope to continue the practice of regular meetings involving the town councils and their staffs.

No future get-togethers have been scheduled.