Filling the District 6 council seat vacated when former Councilman Eric Orsborn resigned April 2 to run for mayor will be among the discussion topics when the Buckeye City Council meets in regular session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 21.

Due to public health concerns related to COVID-19, the meeting will be live-streamed on the city’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/c/BuckeyeArizona. Members of the public wishing to comment can find information on participating on the city’s website.

By law, the council must fill Mr. Orsborn’s term, which expires in 2022, by appointment, according to a staff report. The council will be asked Tuesday to direct city staff on the process for informing the public, recruiting potential appointments and making an appointment.

The law does not specify the steps for the recruitment process, the staff report stated. When it filled council vacancies in 2011 and 2016, Buckeye published the openings in the West Valley View newspaper, and posted them on the city’s website and Facebook page. Residents interested in being appointed to those seats submitted letters of intent and questionnaires for review by a committee of three councilmembers not up for reelection. That committee submitted recommendations to the full council and the appointees were sworn in at the regular meetings following their selection, the staff report stated.

This year, Districts4 Councilman Patrick HagEstad and District 5 Councilman Craig Heustis are the only two not up for reelection. District 1 Councilman Tony Youngker is running against challenger Tedy Burton, and District 2 and 3 Councilwomen Jeanine Guy and Michelle Hess are running unopposed. Mayor Jackie A. Meck announced earlier this year he would not seek reelection.

Also on the agenda is a public hearing on the city’s Water Resources Master Plan.

Consent agenda items include:

• Accepting Department of Homeland Security grants in the amount of $49,052 for the city’s Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosives Unit and Rapid Response Team, and $32,636 for the city’s terrorism liaison officers;
• Accepting Governor’s Office of Highway Safety grants in the amount of $60,700 for DUI enforcement overtime; $24,246 for elective Traffic Enforcement Program enforcement overtime, materials and supplies for police officers and $75,716 for accident investigation equipment;
• Accepting a S. Department of Justice, Cops Hiring Program grant covering cover 75 percent of the approved entry-level salary and fringe benefits for up to six newly hired officers for three years for a total $125,000 per officer.
• Consideration of the final plat for Verrado Market Street west of the southwest corner of McDowell Road and Verrado Way within Verrado Marketside Commercial District.

Other council sessions scheduled for Tuesday include a 3:30 p.m. executive session regarding the Watson Road Community Facilities District’s position on a lawsuit between the facilities district and Stephen W. Grandy and Beth A. Grandy; a 4:30 p.m. workshop on the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 city budget and third-quarter financial overview. Following its regular meeting, the council will reconvene as the joint facilities districts board to discuss Festival Ranch, Verrado Western and Watson Road tax-exempt bonds.