Apr 22, 2024 City Council

[00:00:03]

I LIKE TO CALL THE REGULAR MEETING OF MONDAY, APRIL 22ND, 2024.

IT IS GREAT TO SEE A ROOM FULL OF PARENTS AND KIDS AND EVERYONE LOOKING TO, UH, PARTICIPATE WITH US TONIGHT.

UM, PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND A MOMENT OF REFLECTION AND PRAYER.

I WOULD, UM, I WOULD ASK YOU TO KEEP IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

UH, SARAH SELBY, WHO'S THE WIFE OF ONE OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, SHE WAS TRAGICALLY KILLED, UM, A FEW DAYS AGO.

AND, UH, THEY HAVE FOUR CHILDREN.

SO THERE'S INFORMATION.

I THINK, CHIEF, THERE'S INFORMATION, UM, THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC IF THEY'RE INTERESTED ON HOW TO DONATE AND HOW THEY TO GO DO THE GOFUNDME LATER ON.

YES, SIR.

PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

[1. ROLL CALL BY THE CITY CLERK]

COUNCIL MEMBER NIELSEN.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE HERE.

VICE MAYOR PANDA HERE.

MAYOR WEISS HERE.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER MALONE HAS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU.

MARCEL RON, ITEM

[a. Employee Introductions​]

THANK YOU, MS. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UP FIRST IS MARK, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF IT, UH, PRESENTING, UH, TWO NEW EMPLOYEES.

GOOD, GOOD EVENING.

COUNCIL AND MAYOR.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UM, SO WE'VE GOT TWO NEW EMPLOYEES.

ONE'S NOT HERE TODAY, BUT THIS IS SEAN RASHID.

HE'S OUR SENIOR NETWORK ENGINEER.

UH, HE'S FROM FLORIDA WHERE HE HAD 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN NETWORKING INSECURITY WITH FEDERAL AND STATE, UM, GOVERNMENT.

AND HE LOVES TO TRAVEL, MEET NEW PEOPLE AND SEE NEW CULTURE.

AND THEN OUR OTHER ONE, MATTHEW HUGHES, NOT HERE WITH US TONIGHT, HE'S OUR NEW GIS TECHNICIAN.

HE'S FROM CALIFORNIA WHERE HE WAS THE INTERN FOR THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA.

AND HE LIKES TO PLAY VIDEO GAMES OF AND WATCH TV SHOWS.

, WELCOME ABOARD.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

COUNCIL.

NEXT WE HAVE EDITH, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES TO INTRODUCE NEW EMPLOYEES.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I HAVE THREE NEW EMPLOYEES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THIS EVENING.

WE HAVE A VIDEO FOR YOU, AND THEN WE DO HAVE ONE EMPLOYEE WHO'S HERE PRESENT, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK WITH HER.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND SHOW THE VIDEO.

HELLO, MY NAME IS STACY ANO AND I'M NEW TO NFS.

I AM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES COORDINATOR, AND I'M EXCITED TO BE JOINING THE CITY OF AVONDALE TO FURTHER MY EXPERIENCE IN SOCIAL WORK AND HUMAN SERVICES.

HI, MY NAME IS SOPHIA.

I AM NEW TO NFS AND I WORK WITH THE SENIOR CENTER.

I'M THE, UM, SENIOR CENTER ASSISTANT, AND I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE BECAUSE IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP, UH, PEOPLE.

HI, I'M STACY HYMES.

I'M THE NEW NFS SPECIALIST, AND I AM EXCITED TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF AVONDALE BECAUSE THEY PUT THE VALUES OF COMMUNITY INTO THOUGHT AND ACTION.

AND WITH THAT, I DO HAVE STACY ANO HERE.

HELLO.

HELLO.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

HOW ARE YOU? I'M DOING GOOD.

HOW ABOUT YOURSELF? HOW LONG YOU BEEN WITH US NOW? A MONTH, EXACTLY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

30 DAYS.

BIG DEAL.

, YOU'VE MADE IT THROUGH THE TOUGHEST PART.

IT'S ALL SMOOTH SAILING GOING FORWARD.

, WE'RE WE'RE GLAD YOU WERE WITH, YOU'RE WITH US.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR.

[b. Proclamation - Building Safety Week]

IT LOOKS LIKE NEXT IS OUR PROCLAMATION FOR BUILDING SAFETY WEEK, AND WE HAVE JODY, OUR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

HI, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, VICE MAYOR AS WELL.

UH, TONIGHT WE HAVE BUILDING SAFETY WEEK.

UM, I WANTED TO JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE BRIEF ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU GO INTO THE PROCLAMATION.

THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL, ALSO KNOWN AS ICC, PROMOTES BUILDING SAFETY MONTH.

AND THERE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT PROMOTE IT JUST FOR A WEEK.

UM, IT'S AN INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN THAT TAKES PLACE IN MAY TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT BUILDING AND LIFE SAFETY CODES.

IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

IT NOT ONLY INVOLVES OUR BUILDING INSPECTORS, OUR BUILDING PLANE REVIEWERS, BUT EVEN OUR FRONT COUNTER PERMITTING STAFF THAT ALSO DO SOME OVER THE COUNTER REVIEW.

UM, AND IT ALSO IS IMPORTANT TOO, AS WELL, MAYBE NOT

[00:05:01]

OUR BUILDING CODE OFFICIALS AND BUILDING PLAN REVIEWERS WORK DAILY TO KEEP, UM, A TAB ON ALL OF OUR PROJECTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE BEING BUILT TO SAFE CODES AND THEY'RE ABLE TO GO OUT AND MAKE INSPECTIONS FOR THEM.

SO I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PROMOTING BUILDING SAFETY WEEK HERE FROM MAY 6TH THROUGH MAY 10TH.

THANK YOU, JODY.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, LEMME GO AHEAD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS OUR CITY IS COMMITTED TO RECOGNIZING THAT OUR GROWTH AND STRENGTH DEPENDS ON THE SAFETY AND ESSENTIAL ROLE.

OUR HOMES, BUILDINGS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLAY BOTH IN EVERYDAY LIFE AND WHEN DISASTERS STRIKE.

AND WHEREAS OUR CONFIDENCE IN THE RESILIENCE OF THESE BUILDINGS THAT MAKE UP OUR COMMUNITY IS ACHIEVED THROUGH THE DEVOTION OF VIGILANT GUARDIANS, BUILDING SAFETY AND FIRE PREVENTION OFFICIALS, ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, BUILDERS, TRADESPEOPLE, DESIGN PROFESSIONALS, LABORERS, PLUMBERS, AND OTHERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WHO WORK YEAR ROUND TO ENSURE THE SAFE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS.

AND WHEREAS THESE GUARDIANS ARE DEDICATED MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL, A NON-PROFIT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT THE HIGHEST QUALITY CODES TO PROTECT US IN THE BUILDINGS WHERE WE LIVE, LEARN, WORK, AND PLAY.

AND WHEREAS THESE MODERN BUILDING CODES INCLUDE SAFEGUARDS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM HAZARDS SUCH AS MONSOON STORMS, INCLUDING MICROBURSTS, TORNADOES, WILDLAND FIRES, FLOODS, EARTHQUAKES, SNOWSTORMS, AND HURRICANES.

WHEREAS BUILDING SAFETY WEEK IS SPONSORED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL TO REMIND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE CRITICAL ROLE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, LARGELY, LARGELY UNKNOWN PROTECTORS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR LOCAL CODE OFFICIALS WHO ASSURE US OF A SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, ENERGY EFFICIENT AND LIVABLE BUILDINGS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR PROSPERITY.

AND WHEREAS BUILDING SAFETY WEEK ENCOURAGES US ALL TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFE AND RESILIENT CONSTRUCTION, FIRE PREVENTION, DISASTER MITIGATION, ENERGY CONSERVATION, WATER SAFETY, TRAINING, THE NEXT GENERATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

AND WHEREAS EACH YEAR IN OBSERVANCE OF BUILDING SAFETY WEEK, PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE ASKED TO CONSIDER THE COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE BUILDING SAFETY, RESILIENT RESILIENCE AND ECONOMIC INVESTMENT AT HOME AND IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ESSENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDED TO US BY ALL LOCAL AND STATE BUILDING DEPARTMENTS, FIRE PREVENTION BUREAUS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND PROTECTING LIVES AND PROPERTY.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WEEK OF MAY 6TH THROUGH MAY 10TH, 2024 IS HEREBY DESIGNATED AS BUILDING SAFETY WEEK IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CELEBRATION OF BUILDING SAFETY MONTH BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU, JODY.

THANK YOU,

[c. Proclamation - Commitment to Volunteerism]

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WE HAVE ALSO AN A PROCLAMATION OF OUR COMMITMENT TO VOLUNTEERISM HERE IN AVONDALE.

I'D LIKE TO READ THAT PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE VALUE OF COMPASSION, EMPATHY, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT ARE THE FOUNDATION OF UNITED AND HARMONIOUS SOCIETY FOSTERING, UH, CONNECTIONS THAT TRANSCEND DIFFERENCES.

AND WHEREAS THE STRENGTH AND PROSPERITY OF OUR CITY IS BASED IN ITS SELFLESSNESS OF ITS RESIDENTS TO SERVE AND UPLIFT ONE ANOTHER, WHEREAS WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROFOUND IMPACT THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED WHEN WE EXTEND A HELPING HAND TO OUR NEIGHBORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, LIFTING THEM UP AND COLLECTIVELY WORKING TO IMPROVE LIVES.

AND WHEREAS WE NURTURE A CULTURE OF GIVING WITHIN OUR CITIES, EMPHASIZE CITIES, UH, EMPHASIZING THAT VOLUNTEERISM IS NOT JUST A DUTY, BUT A SOURCE OF PERSONAL FULFILLMENT AND COM COMMUNITY STRENGTH.

AND AS WE WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER, MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING INCREASES, MISCONCEPTIONS CAN BE CORRUPTED, AND NEW FRIENDSHIPS CAN BE BUILT.

AND WHEREAS WE ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER, VOLUNTEER AND ENGAGE IN ACTS OF SERVICE AND KINDNESS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CITY'S BETTERMENT AND ITS INHABITANTS WELLBEING, REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND OR BELIEF.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AVONDALE HAS JOINED A GROWING LIST OF SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND HUNDRED OF HUNDREDS OF LEADERS TO DATE IN MAKING COMMITMENT TO VOLUNTEERISM.

WHEREAS APRIL IS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH AND A MONTH DEDICATED TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERING AND A TIME FOR US TO THANK OUR CITY VOLUNTEERS.

NOW THEREFORE, I, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF APRIL AS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH AND AFFIRM OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO VOLUNTEERISM IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA.

CURTIS, THANK YOU.

[00:10:03]

WE SEE VOLUNTEERISM IN THIS CITY EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK, EVERY MONTH.

THIS WEEKEND WE HAD, UH, OUR EARTH, UH, EARTH MONTH FESTIVAL, AND THERE HAD TO BE 130 VOLUNTEERS WHO CAME OUT TO PLANT TREES AND TO CLEAN UP AND DO A LOT OF WORK.

I SEE OUR AVONDALE YOUTH COMMISSION HERE, UM, THEY WERE OUT THERE.

AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT MAKES AVONDALE UNIQUE AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, MAKES US, UM, A BETTER COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE FOR, FOR BEING PART OF THAT.

[d. Holiday School Spirit Food Drive Awards Presentation]

THANK YOU, MR. OR LETTER DI SHOULDN'T SAY NUMBER D.

LETTER DI NEED YOU.

OKAY.

UH, NEXT WE HAVE MARIELLA LES, WHO WILL, UH, PRESENT A HOLIDAY SCHOOL SPIRIT FOOD DRIVE, AWARD PRESENTATIONS.

THAT MUST BE WHAT ALL THOSE TROPHIES ARE ABOUT.

MAYOR, WE GOT SOME TROPHIES TO GIVE OUT.

HELLO.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

I AM NOT HERE ALONE.

I AM JOINED BY OUR AVONDALE YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION, ELECTED OFFICERS FOR THE SEASON.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS TEAMS WITH AVONDALE SCHOOLS EVERY YEAR SINCE 2008, TO ADDRESS THE HIGH DEMAND FACED BY LOCAL FOOD BANKS DURING THE HOLIDAYS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

AS MENTIONED, I AM JOINED WITH OUR AVONDALE YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION MEMBERS TO ASSIST WITH THE DISTRIBUTING AWARDS TO OUR PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS.

THE COMMISSION ACTIVELY ENGAGES IN THE FOOD DRIVE BY ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION AND ADVOCATING TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THE 16TH ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE WAS HELD FROM NOVEMBER 20TH THROUGH DECEMBER 20TH, 2023.

WE HAD PARTICIPATION FROM A TOTAL OF EIGHT SCHOOLS IN AVONDALE IN JUST ONE SHORT MONTH.

THE 2023 HOLIDAY SCHOOL SPIRIT DRIVE COLLECTED 4,351 POUNDS OF FOOD, WHICH IS 3,628 MEALS.

THE PHOTO YOU SEE HERE IS ACTUALLY SUBMITTED FROM WEST POINT HIGH SCHOOL.

UM, THEY HAD A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AND SENT OVER PHOTOS WHEN THEY WERE COLLECTING THE FOOD.

I WANNA EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO ALL OF THE SCHOOLS THAT TOOK PART IN THE 2023 SCHOOL FOOD DRIVE.

THROUGH THEIR WORK IN HOSTING THE DRIVES AT THEIR RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS AND SPREADING AWARENESS IS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THIS YEAR'S GOAL.

THEIR EFFORTS HAVE TRULY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION.

I WILL NOW BEGIN TO CALL OUT AND INVITE OUR PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS ONE BY ONE TO PRESENT THEM WITH THEIR AWARD.

AS I CALL YOUR NAME SCHOOL, PLEASE SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO RECEIVE THE AWARD, AND AT THE VERY END OF THE MEETING, WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A GROUP PHOTO.

FIRST UP, WE HAVE AVONDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

IF WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE AVONDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, I WILL HAVE YOU COME UP AND RECEIVE THE AWARD ON THEIR BEHALF.

THINK WHAT WE DO.

PERFECT.

BETSY'S, YOU KNOW IT'S AN IMPORTANT AWARD WHEN THE SUPERINTENDENT IS HERE.

TAKE IT .

LET'S GIVE BETSY.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE CANYON BREEZE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

IF I CAN PLEASE HAVE THE CANYON BREEZE, 2024 NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY.

COME UP TO ACCEPT YOUR AWARD, .

NEXT UP, WE HAVE LOTTIE CORE SCHOOL.

WITH THIS, TONIGHT, WE HAVE NATALIE LEWIS, THE SCHOOL LIBRARIAN, ACCEPTING THEIR AWARD.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE MICHAEL ANDERSON SCHOOL.

IF I CAN PLEASE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE AVONDALE ELEMENTARY DISTRICT COME UP TO RECEIVE THE AWARD ON THEIR BEHALF.

[00:15:10]

TONIGHT WE HAVE GEO 10, THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR ACCEPTING THEIR AWARD.

I WILL NOW ANNOUNCE THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD PLACE WINNERS FOR OUR 2023 HOLIDAY SCHOOL SPIRIT DRIVE.

AS I CALL YOUR SCHOOL'S NAME, PLEASE SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO RECEIVE YOUR TROPHY IN THIRD PLACE.

WE HAVE WEST POINT HIGH SCHOOL, WEST POINT HIGH SCHOOL GENERATED 874 POUNDS OF FOOD, WHICH IS 729 MEALS.

TONIGHT WE HAVE AVA SHELTON, STUDENT BODY VICE PRESIDENT, ACCEPTING THEIR TROPHY.

THANK YOU.

IN SECOND PLACE WE HAVE ESTRAYA VISTA STEM ACADEMY, ESTRAYA VISTA STEM ACADEMY GENERATED 879 POUNDS OF FOOD, WHICH IS 733 MEALS.

HERE WITH US TONIGHT IS EMILY PALMER, STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ACCEPTING THEIR TROPHY AND THE ANTICIPATED FIRST PLACE WE HAVE IMAGINE SCHOOL, AVONDALE.

IMAGINE SCHOOL AVONDALE GENERATED 954 POUNDS OF FOOD, WHICH IS 795 MEALS.

IF I CAN PLEASE HAVE CHRISTINA GONZALEZ, MS. MIMI YA SANTIAGO, COME UP TO ACCEPT YOUR TROPHY.

IT'S LIKE, YAY, .

THAT'S VERY EXCITING.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING A VITAL PART OF THIS MEANINGFUL INITIATIVE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL AGAIN LATER THIS YEAR FOR THE 17TH ANNUAL DRIVE.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU.

I, I THANK YOU.

SO THIS, THIS ALMOST ENTIRE GROUP WAS OUT THERE ON SATURDAY.

HOW LONG WERE YOU OUT THERE ON SATURDAY FOR EARTH MONTH? FOUR HOURS.

LIKE FOUR HOURS.

YEAH.

YOU LEARN HOW TO PLANT TREES, CORRECT? YEAH.

OKAY.

GOT IT.

GOT IT.

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO.

SERIOUSLY.

THANK YOU.

COUNSEL.

ANY COMMENTS ON THIS? OKAY, THANKS.

AND FOR THE RECIPIENTS IN THE ROOM, WE WILL HAVE A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY AFTER THE NEXT PRESENTATION.

ITEMS ITEM

[e. Exceptional Student of Avondale Recognition (Avi Star Student)]

EDITH, ARE YOU DOING THIS ONE? OKAY, I WANNA MAKE SURE AS, UM, GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

I AM BACK TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT AVONDALE NOMINATIONS.

THIS IS A FUN AND WONDERFUL INITIATIVE TO RECOGNIZE THE AMAZING THINGS THAT STUDENTS ARE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY.

I AM HONORED TO BE PRESENTING THESE RECOGNITIONS ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATORS, PRINCIPALS, EDUCATORS, AND NOMINATORS OF EACH SCHOOL, DISTRICT AND SCHOOL.

THE ACHIEVEMENT BEING RECOGNIZED MAY BE ACADEMIC, EXTRACURRICULAR, OR PERSONAL, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPACT THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE MADE FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILY, SCHOOL, OR COMMUNITY.

WITH THAT, WE'LL START OFF WITH OUR FIRST DISTRICT.

OUR FIRST DISTRICT HAD A DIFFICULTY CHOOSING JUST ONE STUDENT THIS TIME AROUND.

SO WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE EXCEPTION AND RECOGNIZE TWO STUDENTS FROM RIA HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO FIRST UP FROM RIA HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DAMIEN GONZALEZ.

DAMIEN GONZALEZ IS A JUNIOR AT A HIGH SCHOOL.

DAMIEN HAS EXCELLED IN HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS DURING THE PAST YEAR.

DAMIEN SUPPORTS HIS COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEERS AS MUCH AS HE CAN.

HE VOLUNTEERS AT FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN, WHERE HE HELPS OTHER STUDENTS PACKAGE AND STACK BOXES OF FOOD TO BE DISTRIBUTED.

DAMIEN ALSO VOLUNTEERS AT THE SUN VALLEY ANIMAL SHELTER WHERE HIS DUTIES INCLUDE BATHING THE DOGS, CLEANING ANIMAL CAGES AND LANDSCAPING, AND CLEANING UP THE GROUNDS.

HIS LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEER SKILLS HAVE LED HIM TO BE EMPLOYED AT THE AFRI HIGH SCHOOL AS A STUDENT WORKER DURING LUNCHES IN THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA.

HE

[00:20:01]

SO IF I CAN PLEASE HAVE DAMIEN GONZALEZ COME UP HERE.

THANK YOU.

AND YOU CAN STAND, YOU CAN STAND RIGHT OVER HERE.

WE'LL TAKE A GROUP AT THE END.

PERFECT.

NEXT UP FROM RIAA HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ESPERANZA UNA ESPERANZA IS A JUNIOR ATRIA HIGH SCHOOL.

ESPERANZA DEMONSTRATES DEDICATION TO HER SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ON A REGULAR BASIS.

SHE IS A LEADER AMONGST J-R-O-T-C CADETS AND HAS HELD SEVERAL LEADERSHIP ROLES SUCH AS FLIGHT COMMANDER, COLLAR GUARD COMMANDER, DRILL TEAM TRAINER, AND IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE PROGRAM'S SENIOR LEADER LEADERSHIP.

IN THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR, SHE HAS VOLUNTEERED IN NEARLY 120 EVENTS ACCUMULATING OVER 180 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS.

SHE HAS EARNED OUTSTANDING CADET RIBBON, WHICH IS A RIBBON AWARDED ANNUALLY TO THE OUTSTANDING FIRST YEAR, SECOND YEAR, THIRD YEAR, AND FOURTH YEAR CADETS.

THE RECIPIENT FROM EACH CLASS MUST BE A HIGH SCHOOL MORALE CHARACTER, DEMONSTRATE POSITIVE PERSONALITY ATTRIBUTES, DISPLAY OUTSTANDING MILITARY POTENTIAL, AND ATTAIN ACADEMIC AND MILITARY EXCELLENCE.

ESPERANZA HAS ALSO EARNED THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART AWARD.

AND IF I CAN PLEASE HAVE ESPERANZA UNA JOIN US UP FRONT.

THANK YOU.

UP NEXT FROM OUR AVONDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS XCEL NAVARRO.

XCEL ATTENDS ALICIA C FELIX AND IS IN THE FIFTH GRADE.

XCEL IS KIND, COMPASSIONATE, AND RESILIENT.

HE IS ALWAYS ENGAGED AND EAGER TO LEARN.

HE SHOWS RESPECT TO HIS CLASSMATES AND SCHOOL STAFF.

THANK YOU XCEL.

AND IF I CAN HAVE YOU COME UP TO THE FRONT TO RECEIVE YOUR AWARD.

UP NEXT FROM OUR LITCHFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DANIEL WONG AMRO.

DANIEL ATTENDS RANCHO SANTA FE ELEMENTARY AND IS IN THE FIFTH GRADE.

DANIEL SETS GOALS FOR HIMSELF AND TAKES ACTIVE STEPS TO ACCOMPLISH THEM.

HIS GOALS ALIGN BOTH WITH ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL WELLBEING.

DANIEL HAS MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS IN ALL ACADEMIC AREAS.

HIS GRADES, TEST SCORES, AND BENCHMARK SCORES REFLECT SIGNIFICANT GROWTH.

THIS IS ALL DUE TO HIS HARD WORK AND GROWTH MINDSET.

THANK YOU, DANIEL.

AND IF I CAN HAVE YOU COME UP TO RECEIVE YOUR AWARD.

DANIEL'S FAMILY IS IN THE BACK.

HI, .

UP NEXT FROM THE LITTLETON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS BENJAMIN MARTINEZ, WHO ATTENDS LITTLETON ONLINE.

BENJAMIN HAS A STRONG WORK ETHIC AND ALWAYS GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND.

HE IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE LITTLETON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT ONLINE ACADEMY GAMING CLUB, AND RECENTLY PRESENTED HIS INITIATIVE GAME, INNOVATIVE GAME HE CREATED AT LESD DIGITAL LEARNING DAY.

HE DEMONSTRATES COLLABORATIVE AND LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS.

HE IS KIND TO ALL INDIVIDUALS.

THANK YOU, BENJAMIN.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND HAVE YOU COME UP TO THE FRONT TO RECEIVE YOUR AWARD.

UP NEXT FROM THE PENDERGAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS JORDAN ARIF, WHO ATTENDS CANYON BREEZE AND IS IN THE EIGHTH GRADE.

JORDAN'S COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IS REFLECTED DAILY IN HIS WORK.

EPIC AND DEDICATION TO HIS STUDIES.

JORDAN'S COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IS REFLECTED DAILY IN HIS WORK ETHIC AND DEDICATION TO HIS STUDIES.

HE PARTICIPATES IN THE CANYON BREEZE, A SU DIGITAL PREP PROGRAM, TALKING ALGEBRA, AND NOW GEOMETRY EARNING HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS.

JORDAN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM REQUIRES SELF MOTIVATION, TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS, SELF-DISCIPLINE,

[00:25:01]

JORDAN DISPLAYS OUTSTANDING SPORTSMANSHIP AND DEDICATION AS A MEMBER OF OUR BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, TRACK AND FIELD TEAMS. HE EMBODIES THE VALUES OF TEAMWORK AND DISCIPLINE.

JORDAN HAS BEEN AN INFLUENTIAL ROLE MODEL FOR HIS PEERS AND TRULY EXEMPLIFIES THE QUALITIES OF A WELL-ROUNDED AND DRIVEN YOUNG PERSON.

THANK YOU, JORDAN.

I WILL GO AHEAD AND HAVE YOU COME UP TO RECEIVE YOUR AWARD.

UP NEXT FROM OUR ST.

THOMAS KINES CATHOLIC SCHOOL IS AVA NERRICK, WHO IS IN THE THIRD GRADE.

AVA IS AN OUTSTANDING STUDENT WHO HAS AN EXCELLENT WORK ETHIC.

SHE COMES TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY WITH AN INCREDIBLE ATTITUDE AND DESIRE TO LEARN.

AVA SETS GOALS FOR HERSELF AND CONTINUES TO SURPASS THEM IN THE CLASSROOM.

SHE IS A LEADER WHO HELPS CONTRIBUTE TO WONDERFUL CLASSROOM DISCUSSIONS.

SHE IS A CREATIVE AND PROBLEM SOLVER.

AVA IS KIND, RESPONSIBLE, AND RESPECTFUL.

THANK YOU, AVA.

I WILL NOW HAVE YOU COME UP TO RECEIVE YOUR AWARD.

AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT AWARDS FOR THIS QUARTER.

I JUST WANNA GIVE A HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS THIS TIME AROUND.

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN, MARCAL.

WOULD THIS BE A GOOD TIME TO TAKE PICTURES? YES, MAYOR.

SO DO, DO YOU MIND HANGING OUT THERE? WE'D BE HONORED TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU.

WE WOULD.

WE'RE COMING DOWN.

ALL RIGHT.

EVERYONE ELSE TALK AMONGST YOURSELVES AND MR. MR. MAYOR FAMILIES RIGHT BACK, FAMILIES, TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, SUPERINTENDENTS.

YES, SIR.

WE'VE PASSED OUT SNACKS.

ARE THERE ANY SNACKS LEFT? CHRIS? CHRIS, DO YOU HAVE THE SNACKS? NO.

OKAY.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS, OH, I'M SORRY.

MARCELLA.

ANY UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REQUESTS TO SPEAK.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ITEM

[4. CONSENT AGENDA]

ARE THERE ANY COUNSELORS WHO WISH TO HAVE AN ITEM REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? SEEING NONE.

CAN I GET A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO.

A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER NIELSEN.

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.

IT PASSES SIX ZERO.

THANK YOU.

UM, BEFORE WE GET INTO REGULAR AGENDA, JUST FOR COUNCIL'S INFORMATION, UM, I'M TABLING ITEM NUMBER, LETTER B.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSE ALLOW NOISE CALLS FOR SERVICE TO A LATER DATE.

I WOULD PREFER TO HAVE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE.

AND I KNOW COUNCILOR MALONE, UM, IS AN IMPORTANT VOICE ON THIS, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT SHE'S INVOLVED IN THIS DISCUSSION.

SO WE'LL SCHEDULE PROBABLY SOMETIME, I'M GUESSING IN JUNE.

RON, IF WE CAN, UH, MR. MAYOR, I'LL HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CALENDAR.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS COMING UP BEFORE THE SUMMER BREAK.

UM, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL GET IT ON AN AGENDA.

SO ITEM FIVE,

[a. Fiscal Year 2025 Contributions Assistance Program]

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, WE GET TO HEAR FROM EDITH AGAIN.

OUR, UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES, .

THEY LOVE YOU, EDITH.

UM, SHE'S GONNA TALK ABOUT THE YEAR 2025 CONTRIBUTIONS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

SO GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO PRESENT ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH BACKGROUND AND HISTORY UPDATE ON NONPROFIT AGENCIES FUNDED IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, WHICH IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

UH, PROVIDE CRITERIA, OVERVIEW, AND ALSO REVIEW THE PROCESS AND TIMELINE,

[00:30:01]

OKAY.

SO FOR THE BACKGROUND, WE HAVE, UH, THE CONTRIBUTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ALLOCATES FUNDING TO ELIGIBLE NONPROFIT AGENCIES WITH 5 0 1 C3 STATUS THAT PROVIDE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO AVONDALE RESIDENTS.

LEVEL FUNDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 IS 200,000, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET.

FUNDING, UH, WILL REMAIN AT THE 200,000 INCREASE, UH, SUPPORTED BY THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

UH, THE ARPA GRANTS IN FISCAL YEAR 20 OH.

AND JUST TO GO BACK TO, UM, DUE TO THE INCREASE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, UM, WHERE WE KEEP IT AT 200,000, UH, THE AWARD, UH, PROPOSAL PER PROJECT HAS IS GOING TO BE 20,000 INSTEAD OF 10,000.

UM, SO IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, WE HAD 33 AGENCIES FUNDED PROVIDING A WIDE ARRA WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES.

UH, THESE AGENCIES ARE THE CURRENT AWARDEES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.

THE PROGRAM IS IN ITS LAST QUARTER, AND ALL RECIPIENTS ARE ON TRACK TO EXPEND FUNDS BY JUNE 30TH, 2024.

I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT, THERE'S AN ASTERISK ON THE NEW RECIPIENTS FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.

UM, WE HAVE SEVEN OF THEM, AND THEY INCLUDE THE AVONDALE POLICE ASSOCIATION CHARITIES, BRIDGES, REENTRY DRESS FOR SUCCESS, PHOENIX, GOODYEAR, PEBBLE CREEK ROTARY FOUNDATION, HELPING CHILDREN SUC SUCCEED IN SCHOOL FOUNDATION PROJECT KICKS AND TOP DOG WRESTLING CLUB.

OKAY, SO THE CRITERIA WE HAVE IS, UH, NUMBER ONE, PROVISION OF DIRECT SERVICES, WHICH IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF AND AVONDALE RESIDENTS.

TWO, CURRENT, TIMELY AND ACCURATE REPORTS FROM CURRENT RECIPIENTS.

THREE IS ABILITY TO GENERATE REVENUE FROM OTHER SOURCES FOR PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO SPECIAL PROJECTS.

HOWEVER, REQUEST FOR OPERATING SUPPORT TOWARD DIRECT AND MEASURABLE SERVICES WILL BE CONSIDERED FIVE PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO SERVICES AND INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT AND ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL GOALS.

SIX.

WE HAVE SERVICES PROVIDED AT THE ARIZONA COMPLETE HEALTH AVONDALE RESOURCE CENTER WILL BE GIVEN.

PRIORITY NUMBER SEVEN IS ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVED FUNDING IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR WILL PARTICIPATE IN A MID-YEAR REVIEW AND DEMONSTRATE SATISFACTORY PROGRESS TOWARDS STATED GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.

NUMBER EIGHT IS ALL AWARDS SHOULD BE AT OR ABOVE THE MINIMUM AMOUNT REQUESTED BY THE ORGANIZATION.

THE MINIMUM AMOUNT IS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FUNDING TO EFFECTIVELY COMPLETE THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED.

AND NUMBER NINE IS SERVICES AND INITIATIVES RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AFFECTED BY THE COVID TO 19 PANDEMIC.

OKAY, SO WE DO WANT TO, UH, BRING TO LIGHT OUR COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE.

OUR SUBCOMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS INCLUDE COUNCIL MEMBER VERONICA MALONE, COUNCIL MEMBER TINA CONDI, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CURTIS NIELSEN, WHO TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.

THEY GET TOGETHER ANNUALLY, THEY REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS, AND THEN THEY TALK THROUGH, UH, ALL OF THE, UH, AWARDS AND, UH, FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND SO WE WANNA THANK THEM FOR THEIR TIME.

OKAY.

SO HERE WE HAVE THE PROCESS AND TENTATIVE TIMELINE.

SO, UH, TOMORROW'S APRIL 23RD, WE WILL, UH, HAVE THE APPLICATIONS GO LIVE ON THE WEBSITE.

UM, MAY 23RD.

UH, THE DEADLINE FOR THE APPLICATION SUBMITTALS WILL TAKE PLACE AT 5:00 PM ON JUNE 3RD.

WE WILL CONVENE WITH OUR COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS ON, UH, SOMEWHERE IN SECOND OR THIRD WEEK OF JUNE.

UH, THE, I'M SORRY, APPLICATIONS WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE ON JUNE 3RD.

AND THEN WE WILL CONVENE WITH THEM, UH, THE FIRST OR SECOND WEEK OF JUNE, UH, TO GO THROUGH THE APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS.

UH, WE ARE GOING TO THEN BRING ON JULY 8TH, UH, THE REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND THEN WE WILL HAVE A AWARD PRESENTATION SOMETIME AT THE END OF JULY OR EARLY AUGUST.

OKAY.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER.

TINA OR CURTIS.

DO YOU FOLKS HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS, CURTIS? YES.

THAT IT'S A, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR DEAN AND I AND VERONICA TO GET TOGETHER AND ACTUALLY SEE THESE PEOPLE AND VISIT WITH THEM AND, AND, AND WORK WITH THEM.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE GREAT PEOPLE TO WORK WITH, YOU KNOW, I GUESS THE ONLY QUESTION I'VE GOT IS, UH, OUTREACH.

HOW ARE WE GONNA GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE? IT'S ALREADY SENT.

YES.

SO WE HAVE A ONGOING EMAIL DISTRIBUTION LIST THAT WE WILL SEND OUT.

WE ALSO WILL SEND OUT TO ALL THE RECIPIENTS, UM, WHO, UH, HAVE BEEN AWARDED THIS YEAR.

UM, WE ALSO HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE ARE, I BELIEVE WE'RE GONNA EVEN SHARE A FLYER TOMORROW WITH THE INTERFAITH COUNCIL.

UM, WE WILL SHARE IT, UM, ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND, UM, I THINK, UM, THERE'S A MEDIA RELEASE, MEDIA RELEASE, SORRY, THAT WILL GO OUT, UH, TOMORROW AS WELL.

THANK YOU, ANNA.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, EDITH.

UM,

[00:35:01]

I'M EXCITED.

ESPECIALLY 'CAUSE LAST YEAR WE HAD SOME NEW APPLICANTS THAT, UM, APPLIED.

SO I'M, I'M EXCITED TO SEE KIND OF, UM, HOW THAT MONEY THAT WE KIND OF JUST STARTED THEM WITH LAST YEAR, KIND OF WHAT THEY DID WITH IT.

MM-HMM.

.

UM, SO MAYBE WE CAN INCREASE SOME FUNDING IF, YOU KNOW, ALL WAS WELL WITH THEM.

BUT ALSO I JUST WANNA JUST SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM BECAUSE I KNOW I'VE HAD PEOPLE THAT WAS THEIR FIRST TIME WRITING A GRANT, AND SO YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN VERY PATIENT HELPING THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS SO THAT THEY CAN FILL OUT THEIR PAPERWORK TO SUBMIT SO THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY GET A, UH, SOME MONEY FROM US.

SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THAT.

AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO MAYOR COUNCIL.

THESE, UM, NONPROFITS REALLY ARE VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, THESE ORGANIZATIONS STEP IN AND DO THINGS THAT MAYBE WE CAN'T DO AS, AS A CITY, BUT THEY STEP IN AND THEY TAKE CARE OF OUR RESIDENTS AND THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB.

AND SO I'M REALLY BLESSED TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMITTEE AND JUST KNOW THAT, UM, IT'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT FOR US TO NARROW IT DOWN AND, UM, BUT EDITH ALWAYS KIND OF GUIDES US AND RE REELS US BACK IN.

AND SO JUST ALLOCATING THOSE DOLLARS, UM, IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE WANT EVERYBODY TO GET SOMETHING.

BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU EDITH, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM.

THANK YOU FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, EVERYBODY FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS, TINA.

THANK YOU, MICHAEL.

THANK YOU.

UH, JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU SAID TOMORROW'S GONNA BE ON THE WEBSITE AND I'M SURE THE MEDIA RELEASE WILL COVER IT, BUT WHERE, WHERE EXACTLY WILL THEY GO TO? NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES? YES, THERE'S A LINK FOR, I DON'T HAVE THE ADDRESS, UM, BUT IT WILL BE ABLE, IT WILL GO INTO THE NFS AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE APPLICATION LINK FROM THERE.

AND WE'LL SEND THAT OUT AS WELL AND INCLUDE THE LINK ON ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR WEBSITE AND OUR PRESS RELEASE.

UM, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE PHONE NUMBERS AND EMAIL ADDRESSES TO BE ABLE TO GET IN TO, IN TOUCH WITH STAFF TO HELP, UH, GUIDE THEM AND DIRECT THEM.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

YOU DID.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR

[c. 2023 Citizen Survey]

UP NEXT, WE HAVE OUR 2023 CITIZEN SURVEY GONNA BE PRESENTED BY PEER, OUR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS.

AND I'LL LET HER TALK ABOUT TORRENT.

I DON'T WANT TO PRESS THE WRONG BUTTON, MR. MAYOR, WE'RE HAVING A, UH, UM, SOMEONE CONFERENCE IN THE, UH, CONSULTANT CONFERENCE IN, SO THAT'S, UH, TAKING US ANOTHER SECOND TO SET UP.

PROBABLY NOT A GOOD TIME TO EXPLAIN HOW NERVOUS MARK IS RIGHT HERE BEHIND ME RIGHT NOW.

NOT NERVOUS AT ALL.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

WE ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT THE RESULTS OF THE 2023 NATIONAL COMMUNITY SURVEY, WHICH IS A SURVEY OF OUR RESIDENTS CONDUCTED TO GATHER FEEDBACK AND INSIGHT REGARDING THE LIVABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY INPUT IS CRITICAL IN HELPING COUNCIL MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT PRIORITIES WHEN IT COMES TO THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE AMENITIES WE BUILD.

THE AQUATIC CENTER, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS, UM, ONE PRIME EXAMPLE OF THE COUNCIL LISTENING TO THE DESIRES OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY WORKS YEAR ROUND TO GATHER FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS THROUGH A VARIETY OF WAYS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH AVONDALE CONNECT, WHICH IS OUR CITIZEN ONLINE PORTAL THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND PUBLIC MEETINGS AND TOWN HALLS, THROUGH EVENTS LIKE CAFECITOS, UM, COFFEE WITH THE COUNCIL, UM, AS LONG ALONG WITH THE MANY CELEBRATIONS AND FESTIVALS THAT WE HAVE.

UH, WE ARE CONSTANTLY SEEKING INPUT FROM OUR RESIDENTS.

COUNCIL'S ALSO ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY.

UM, YOU'RE OUT THERE LISTENING TO THE FEEDBACK FROM OUR RESIDENTS, BUT WE ALSO KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO HEAR FROM THOSE WHO ARE NOT INCLINED TO COME TO COUNCIL MEETINGS OR PICK UP THE PHONE OR BE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

UH, FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, WE'VE WORKED, UH, WITH PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS TO GATHER FEEDBACK, UM, FROM OUR RESIDENTS BY TAKING A FORMAL POLL ON OUR COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE TO YOU STATISTICALLY MEANINGFUL FEEDBACK.

UM, OVER THE PAST, UH, FEW YEARS WE'VE WORKED WITH POCO.

THEY HAVE CONDUCTED THREE COMMUNITY SURVEYS, THE

[00:40:01]

AND WE'RE HERE TO SHARE THE RESULTS OF THAT SURVEY WITH YOU.

PRIOR TO THAT, WE DID A SURVEY IN 2018 AND TONIGHT WE WILL LEARN HOW THE RESULTS FROM THE TWO SURVEYS DIFFER AND ALSO HOW AVONDALE FARED WHEN WE ARE BENCHMARKED AGAINST OTHER, UM, CITIES THAT WERE CONDUCTED THAT ALSO CONDUCTED THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY SURVEY.

UH, I WILL BE JOINED TONIGHT BY JASON NEUMEYER.

HE'S A SURVEY SPECIALIST FROM POCO WHO WILL PROVIDE A LOT MORE DETAIL ON, ON THE SURVEY.

I'M ALSO JOINED HERE BY MY COLLEAGUE, UH, TORIN STO, WHO DID THE HEAVY LIFTING ON THE SURVEY, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

SO HE'LL BE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WELL.

AND WITH THAT, WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY SURVEY.

AND POCO.

GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO SEE MY SCREEN HERE, UM, THAT I'M SHARING WITH YOU.

IT'S LIKE WE'VE GOT SOME NODDING.

GREAT.

YES.

UM, I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

UH, MY NAME IS JASON NEWMEYER TO PRESENT THE, A SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS FROM THIS MOST RECENT AVONDALE NATIONAL COMMUNITY SURVEY.

AND I'D JUST LIKE TO ECHO THE MESSAGE THAT WAS JUST, UM, BROUGHT FORWARD.

BUT ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY PACO COWORKERS, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ENTIRE TEAM, UH, AT AVONDALE WHO WORKED WITH US HERE AND PROVIDED THOUGHTFUL AND DETAILED FEEDBACK, NOT ONLY WHEN WE WERE DEVELOPING THE SURVEY ITSELF, BUT ALSO DURING IMPLEMENTATION, UH, DURING REPORTING, AND EVEN, UH, WITH THIS PRESENTATION DECK AS WELL.

SO BEFORE WE DIVE IN, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO WE ARE.

UH, POCOS ONLINE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT POLLING PLATFORM REALLY PROVIDES THE INFORMATION TOOLS THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND OTHER PUBLIC SECTOR LEADERS NEED TODAY.

HUNDREDS OF ORGANIZATIONS, UH, NATIONWIDE USE POCO FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING, FOR BUDGETING, AND FOR EMPOWERING RESIDENT VOICES.

ULTIMATELY, OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE CIVIL VERIFIED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ONLINE, NOT ONLY POSSIBLE, BUT ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY.

THE NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER AT POCO GIVES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE DATA THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE MORE INFORMED DECISIONS.

SINCE 1994, NRC HAS WORKED WITH HUNDREDS OF JURISDICTIONS NATIONWIDE AND IS BEST KNOWN FOR OUR NATIONAL BENCHMARKING SURVEYS, SUCH AS THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY SURVEY THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.

IN ADDITION TO THE NATIONAL EMPLOYEE SURVEY AND THE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT SURVEY FOR OLDER ADULTS, AND AS WAS HINTED AT EARLIER, OUR NATIONAL BENCHMARK DATABASE IS THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES.

POCO AND NRC MERGED, UH, A FEW YEARS BACK IN 2019 TO MORE EFFECTIVELY SERVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TO HELP PROJECT RESIDENT VOICES.

YOU CAN ALSO SEE ON THE SLIDE HERE THAT POCO IS EXCLUSIVE PARTNERS WITH ICMA AND WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, UH, AS WELL AS THE ENGAGED LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS, THE ALLIANCE FOR INNOVATION, AND MANY, MANY, MANY ACADEMIC PARTNERS INCLUDING THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH, THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON, THE HOOVER INSTITUTE AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY, AND THE, UH, HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT.

SO BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THE RESULTS, I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS WAYS, UH, THAT THESE RESULTS CAN BE USED MOST COMMONLY.

THE JURISDICTIONS THAT WE WORK WITH.

WE'LL USE THEIR SURVEY DATA TO MONITOR TRENDS IN RESONANT OPINION OVER TIME TO MEASURE GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND RATINGS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST, AND AGAIN, TO INFORM THEIR BUDGETING PROCESSES AND STRATEGIC PLANNING.

THE RESULTS THAT WE'LL PRESENT TONIGHT ALSO ALLOW YOU TO BENCHMARK YOUR COMMUNITY'S SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS AGAINST THOSE SAME CHARACTERISTICS IN, UH, WITHIN OTHER COMMUNITIES USING THAT NATIONAL BENCHMARK DATABASE.

THE HOPE HERE TONIGHT IS THAT AS THESE FINDINGS ARE PRESENTED, IT WILL SPUR IDEAS FOR YOU IN WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THESE RESULTS OR AREAS WHERE YOU MIGHT WANT TO DIG DEEPER.

SO THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY SURVEY, OR THE NCS IS A STANDARDIZED FIVE PAGE COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY AND IT ALLOWS MUNICIPALITIES TO ASSESS RESIDENTIAL OPINION ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY AND ABOUT THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

THE NCS FOCUSES ON THE LIVABILITY OF AVONDALE BY CHARACTERIZING SURVEY QUESTIONS INTO 10 MAIN FACETS OF COMMUNITY LIVABILITY THAT YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THE SLIDE.

THESE FACETS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THROUGH EXTENSIVE SURVEY RESEARCH AS THOSE THAT ARE MOST IMPACTFUL TO THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE OF YOUR RESIDENTS.

THE NCS INCLUDES ITEMS WITHIN EACH OF THESE 10 FACETS TO PROVIDE A FULL PICTURE OF HOW RESIDENTS FEEL ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND FINALLY, EACH OF THESE FACETS ALSO TEND TO ALIGN WITH DIFFERENT MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS, MAKING IT MUCH EASIER FOR CITY STAFF TO QUICKLY FIND THE INFORMATION THAT IS OF MOST IMPORTANCE TO THEM IN THE FINAL REPORT OF RESULTS.

SO IN THIS MOST RECENT ITERATION OF THE NCS, UH, ALL HOUSEHOLDS WITHIN AVONDALE WERE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE

[00:45:01]

A LIST OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS WITHIN THE ZIP CODES THAT SERVE, UH, AVONDALE WAS PURCHASED BASED ON UPDATED LISTINGS FROM THE USPS AND THEN USING THE GIS BOUNDARY FILES THAT WERE PROVIDED BY THE CITY ADDRESSES LOCATED OUTSIDE OF AVONDALE'S BOUNDARIES WERE REMOVED FROM THE LIST OF POTENTIAL HOUSEHOLDS TO SURVEY FROM THAT LIST, 3000 HOUSEHOLDS WERE RANDOMLY SELECTED TO RECEIVE THE INVITATION.

THE 3000 RANDOMLY SELECTED HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED MAILINGS BEGINNING ON NOVEMBER 6TH, AND THIS SURVEY REMAINED OPEN FOR EIGHT WEEKS UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE FIRST MAILING WAS A POSTCARD INVITING THE HOUSEHOLD TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY ONLINE.

THE NEXT MAILING CONTAINED A COVER LETTER WITH INSTRUCTIONS, THAT FIVE PAGE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE, AND A POSTAGE PAID RETURN ENVELOPE.

BOTH THE POSTCARD AND THE COVER LETTER ALSO INCLUDED A WEB LINK AND QR CODES TO GIVE RESIDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THE SURVEY ONLINE SHOULD THEY SO CHOOSE.

THIS SURVEY WAS AVAILABLE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH AND ALL MAILINGS CONTAINED PARAGRAPHS IN BOTH LANGUAGES INSTRUCTING PARTICIPANTS ON HOW TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY IN THEIR PREFERRED LANGUAGE.

A TOTAL OF 184 COMPLETED SURVEYS WERE RECEIVED FROM THESE EFFORTS PROVIDING A RESPONSE RATE OF 7% AND A MARGIN OF ERROR OF PLUS OR MINUS 7%.

WE THEN COMPARED THE DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF THE SURVEY RESPONDENTS TO THAT OF ALL ADULTS IN AVONDALE USING THE MOST RECENT CENSUS AND AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, UH, DATA, AND WE WAITED.

THE FINAL SURVEY RESULTS WAITING IS A SURVEY RESEARCH BEST PRACTICE AND REALLY HELPS TO IMPROVE THE REPRESENTATIVENESS OF THE FINAL NUMBERS.

IN ADDITION TO THIS RANDOMLY SELECTED PROBABILITY SAMPLE OF HOUSEHOLDS, A LINK TO AN ONLINE COMMUNITY-WIDE OPEN PARTICIPATION SURVEY WAS ALSO PUBLICIZED.

THE OPEN PARTICIPATION SURVEY WAS OPEN TO ALL CITY RESIDENTS AND BECAME AVAILABLE ON DECEMBER 1ST.

THAT SURVEY REMAINED OPEN FOR FOUR WEEKS AND 44 RESPONSES WERE RECEIVED.

THIS PRESENTATION AND THE REPORT THAT HAS BEEN SHARED WITH YOU ARE BASED ON THE 184 RESPONSES FROM THE RANDOM SAMPLE, THE MAIL BASED SURVEY, THE RESPONSES TO THE OPEN PARTICIPATION SURVEY ARE PROVIDED SEPARATELY IN THE FULL REPORT AT THE END.

NOW AGAIN, ONE OF THE MAJOR ADVANTAGES, UH, TO A LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY SURVEY IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPARE THESE RATINGS GIVEN BY YOUR RESIDENTS TO COMMUNITIES FROM ACROSS THE NATION.

UH, NRC WAS THE FIRST ORGANIZATION TO CONCEIVE OF THE IDEA TO CREATE BENCHMARKS OF PUBLIC OPINION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

THIS ALLOWS JURISDICTIONS TO COMPARE RATINGS OF SERVICES TO SIMILAR SERVICES IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

AND TODAY, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE, THERE ARE ABOUT 500 COMMUNITIES, UH, IN OUR NATIONAL DATABASE.

ALRIGHT, SO WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY, UH, LET'S TURN TO AN OVERVIEW OF THIS RECENT SURVEY.

IN THE SURVEY ITSELF, WE HAVE TWO QUESTIONS THAT ASK DIRECTLY ABOUT THOSE 10 FACETS OF COMMUNITY LIVABILITY.

WE SAW A FEW SLIDES AGO.

THE FIRST ASKS RESIDENTS TO RATE THE QUALITY OF EACH OF THOSE 10 FACETS.

THE BAR CHART HERE SHOWS THE PERCENTAGE OF RESIDENTS WHO PROVIDED EXCELLENT OR GOOD RATINGS TO EACH OF THE 10 FACETS, AND THE RESULTING COMPARISON TO THE NATIONAL BENCHMARK CAN BE, UH, SEEN USING THE SHADING ON THE CHART.

THE SECOND QUESTION ASKS AGAIN ABOUT THOSE SAME 10 FACETS OF LIVABILITY, BUT IS CENTERED ON HOW IMPORTANT RESIDENTS THINK IT IS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO FOCUS ON EACH OF THESE FACETS IN THE COMING TWO YEARS.