May 06, 2024 City Council

IN THE AVONDALE CITY

[00:00:01]

UM,

[1. ROLL CALL BY THE DISTRICT CLERK]

BOARD MEMBER MALONE? YES.

BOARD MEMBER NIELSEN? YES.

BOARD MEMBER SOLORIO.

BOARD MEMBER WHITE HERE.

VICE CHAIR PINEDA HERE.

AND CHAIR WEISS HERE.

THANK

[2. Minutes]

ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, MR. MAYOR.

COUNSEL, I'M ASSUMING THAT THERE'LL BE A VOTE ON THE MINUTES.

HAS ANYONE HAS, UH, ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MINUTES? ANY DISCREPANCIES? IF NOT, CAN I GET A MOTION? I HAVE A MOTION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, UH, I'M SORRY, A BOARD MEMBER WHITE.

A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER SOLORIO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE VOTE.

THE BOARD VOTED, UH, UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU.

[3. CFD Resolution 1-2024 - Adoption of the Alamar Community Facilities District Fiscal Year 2025 Tentative Budget]

TENTATIVE BUDGET, NALL PRESENTING THAT.

OKAY.

GOOD EVENING CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF THE FACILITIES BOARD.

I'M RENEE WEATHERLY, THE DISTRICT TREASURER AT MY HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT THE FISCAL 2025 TENTATIVE BUDGET.

SO THE ALAMAR COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT FORMED IN 2018.

UM, THE DISTRICT CAN LEVY, UH, TAXES AND ISSUE BONDS INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE CITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THE ALAMAR DISTRICT.

SO FOR THE FISCAL 2025 TENTATIVE BUDGET, IT TOTALS JUST UNDER $3.3 MILLION.

THE REVENUES GENERATED FROM THAT COME FROM PRIMARILY OUR PROPERTY TAX, WHICH IS LE A PRIMARY AND A SECONDARY TAX RATE.

THE COMBINED TAX RATE IS $4 AND 15 CENTS, AND THAT IS PER HUNDRED DOLLARS OF NET ASSESSED VALUE.

THE BUDGET ITSELF, IT COVERS MINIMAL OPERATING EXPENSES AS WELL AS THE COST OF DEBT.

AND SHOULD THE, UM, DISTRICT ISSUE BONDS, IT WOULD ALSO COVER ANY CAPITAL EXPENDITURES FROM THOSE BOND PROCEEDS.

SO THE NEXT STEPS OF THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET TONIGHT, WE ARE HERE PRESENTING THE TENTATIVE BUDGET.

WE DO NEED TO POST A PUBLIC NOTICE BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE FINAL ADOPTION, UM, OF THE BUDGET AS WELL AS THE PROPERTY TAX.

SO WITH THAT, WE'RE REQUESTING A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION ONE DASH 2 0 2 4.

TENTATIVE BUDGET AND EXPENDITURE LIMITATION FOR ALAMAR COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

RENE, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ARE THERE ANY BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE BUDGET OR ANY, UH, POSSIBLE, UH, BONDING QUESTIONS? SAYING NONE.

CAN I GET A MOTION, PLEASE? I HAVE A MOTION FROM BOARD MEMBER CONDI.

A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER PANETTA.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE.

THE BOARD HAS APPROVED THE BUDGET.

SEVEN ZERO.

CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? UH, ADJOURN THE MEETING, PLEASE.

I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER NIELSEN.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE.

WE ARE ADJOURNED.

I'D LIKE TO CALL THE ORDER THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR, UH, MONDAY, MAY 6TH.

UH, WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND A MOMENT OF REFLECTION? IS THAT ME? YEAH, I GOT IT.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

JULIE,

[1. ROLL CALL BY THE CITY CLERK]

COUNCIL MEMBER MALONE.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER NIELSEN.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.

HERE.

VICE MAYOR PINEDA.

HERE.

MAYOR WEISS HERE.

THANK

[a. Recognition of Fire and Medical Citizen's Academy Graduates]

ROD.

ITEM TWO A PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

UP FIRST, WE HAVE RECOGNITION OF OUR FIRE MEDICAL CITIZEN ACADEMY GRADUATES PRESENTED BY GABBY.

HI GABBY.

HOW ARE YOU? GOOD.

HOW ARE YOU? ALL RIGHT.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE A FEW OF OUR 2024 CITIZEN ACADEMY GRADUATES TO YOU.

UM, THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO HOST SEVEN CLASSES, UM, INTRODUCING CITIZENS HERE IN AVONDALE AND FROM OUR SURROUNDING CITIES TO THE FIRE AND MEDICAL OPERATIONS AND SOME OF OUR CREWS.

SO, NIGHT ONE, WE, UH, INTRODUCED THEM TO OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER.

UM, TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR SAFETY PROCEDURES AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS AS THEY RELATE TO EVENTS HERE WITHIN THE

[00:05:01]

UM, CLASS TWO, WE VISITED STATION 1 72 AND OFFERED THEM SOME INFORMATION RELATED TO OUR COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION AS WELL AS OUR FIRE INSPECTIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS.

UM, AND ON NIGHT THREE, WE TOOK THEM TO OUR TRAINING CENTER AND SHOWED THEM SOME OF OUR LADDER COMPANY FUNCTIONS.

YOU CAN SEE THOSE THERE WITH THE, UH, CAR.

WE GET TO SMASH IT UP A LITTLE BIT WITH SOME OF THE GEAR THAT THEY USED.

UM, THAT'S PROBABLY A CLASS FAVORITE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY GET TO GO UP INTO OUR LADDER TRUCK, UM, A HUNDRED FEET IN THE AIR, AND THEN THEY GET TO USE THE HOSE AND IT'S SUPER FUN.

SO CLASS FOUR WAS HELD AT STATION 1 75 WHERE THEY EARNED THEIR CERTIFICATES IN STOP THE BLEED, AND THEY LEARNED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR THREAT LIAISON OFFICER PROGRAM CLASS FIVE.

UM, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR ENGINE COMPANY FUNCTIONS, UM, AND KIND OF DISCUSSED HOW THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM LADDER COMPANY FUNCTIONS, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO USE THE HOSES, WHICH ARE PRETTY POWERFUL.

CLASS SIX SHOWED THEM HOW IMPORTANT EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ARE TO OUR DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY WE LIKE TO CALL IT OUR BREAD AND BUTTER.

UM, THEY WERE ABLE TO EARN THEIR CERTIFICATES IN ADULT CPR, AND THEN IN OUR FINAL CLASS, WE GAVE 'EM A LOOK INTO OUR SPECIAL OPERATIONS, UM, WHICH INTRODUCED 'EM TO OUR WILDLAND TEAM AND OUR TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAMS. UM, YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE.

THEY'RE IN OUR BRUSH TRUCK.

UM, AND ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, THEY GOT, UM, A LITTLE DISPLAY FROM OUR TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM.

UM, ALL OF OUR CREWS WERE VERY QUICK TO TELL ME HOW IMPRESSED THEY WERE WITH, UM, THE ENGAGEMENT AND THE QUESTIONS THAT EVERYONE IN THIS CLASS ASKED.

UM, THEY HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME WITH THEM BECAUSE OF THAT.

SO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE CYNTHIA CAESAR MCCARTHY TO SHARE HER EXPERIENCE GOING THROUGH THIS YEAR'S ACADEMY.

HOW ARE YOU? EXCELLENT.

HOW ARE YOU? GOOD, THANK YOU.

GOOD.

WELL, I'LL REALLY TRY TO STAY TO THREE MINUTES.

I HAVE BEEN WARNED.

UM, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS CYNTHIA CAESAR.

TONIGHT I STAND BEFORE YOU WITH A HEART FILLED WITH GRATITUDE AND A PROFOUND SENSE OF APPRECIATION FOR THE CITY OF AVONDALE AND IT'S SUPPORT FOR THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS, WHICH HAS LED ME TO THIS MOMENT.

IN JUNE, 2023, AFTER 16 YEARS, I WAS REDIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER AND STARTED MY JOURNEY AGAIN.

ON NOVEMBER 6TH OF LAST YEAR, I STOOD IN THIS ROOM GRADUATING FROM AVONDALE POLICE ACADEMY DURING MY FIRST AND SECOND SURGERIES.

SO WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT THE AVONDALE FIRE AND MEDICAL CITIZEN ACADEMY, I WAS THANKFUL BECAUSE I KNEW THIS ACADEMY WOULD GET ME THROUGH MY THIRD AND HOPEFULLY MY LAST SURGERY, WHICH IT DID.

IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING ROAD TO RECOVERY, AND I REMAIN INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND HERE TODAY STRONGER AND MORE RESILIENT.

BOTH ACADEMIES PROVIDED ME WITH A SENSE OF PURPOSE, SOMETIMES SIMPLY A REASON TO TAKE A SHOWER AND GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.

BUT MORE THAN THAT, IT GAVE ME A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SACRIFICES OUR FIRST RESPONDERS MAKE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

LIKE THEY'RE NOT JUST EATING BON BONDS AND WATCHING MOVIES AND NOT, AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT FIGHTING FIRES OR RESCUING A CAT FROM A TREE.

INSTEAD, THEY ARE OFTEN SLEEP DEPRIVED AND STILL HAVE A DAILY SCHEDULE FILLED WITH WORKING OUT TRAINING AND ATTENDING OTHER ACTIVITIES, SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS ACADEMY.

I ALSO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO MENTION THAT I AM PART OF HOMES FOR HEROES, A PROGRAM THAT HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART AND A REASON WHY I SIGNED UP FOR BOTH ACADEMIES IN THE FIRST PLACE, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY SO TIRELESSLY AND LET YOU KNOW THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO STAYING IN CONTACT WITH AAV AVONDALE FIRE AND WOULD LOVE TO PERIODICALLY DROP OFF BOXES OF GOODIES TO EACH FIREHOUSE AS A SMALL, VERY, VERY SMALL WAY TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THE AMAZING WORK THEY DO.

I HAVE SO MANY GREAT MEMORIES, BUT LET'S JUST SAY NOTHING CAN COMPARE TO THE BUCKET.

UH, WITH ENCOURAGEMENT, I WAS LEFT WITH A SENSE OF PRIDE DOING SOMETHING I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS PHYSICALLY ABLE TO DO.

IN CLOSING, I WANT TO EXTEND MY SINCEREST THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN A PART OF MY JOURNEY TO THE INSTRUCTORS, MENTORS, MY FELLOW CLASSMATES, MY FAMILY, MY WONDERFUL FRIENDS.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE, YOUR SUPPORT, AND YOUR FRIENDSHIP.

OF COURSE, THANKS TO GOUT GABBY, SHE'S KIND OF AWESOME.

AND TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY, YOUR SACRIFICE, AND YOUR UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

WE ALL OWE YOU IMMENSE GRATITUDE FOR YOUR SELFLESS SERVICE.

AS I STAND ON THE BRINK OF THIS NEW CHAPTER, I DO SO WITH A RENEWED SENSE OF PURPOSE AND A PROFOUND APPRECIATION FOR THE EVERYDAY HEROES WHO INSPIRE US ALL.

LASTLY, AS A TRADITION, UH,

[00:10:01]

I DID NOT KNOW THERE'D BE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE, .

UM, AND SO ANYONE I HAVEN'T PINNED ALREADY, UM, I'D APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO APPROACH AND, UH, PIN YOU TODAY.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING TO MY STORY.

SO, COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO, I KNOW YOU WERE PART OF THIS.

DO YOU WANNA KIND OF LET US KNOW WHAT YOUR THOUGHT? I KNOW YOUR, UH, YOUR MOM AND YOUR DAD WENT THROUGH THIS ALSO.

MM-HMM.

, WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS? UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED PUT THIS TOGETHER.

I UNDERSTAND THIS IS THE SECOND CLASS THAT WENT THROUGH IT.

UM, IT REALLY WAS SUPER INSIGHTFUL.

YOU KNOW, EVEN SITTING IN THE COUNCIL SEAT, I LEARNED SO MUCH MORE.

UM, I HOPE TO COME BACK DURING MY LAST CLASS BECAUSE I ACTUALLY HAD TO TAKE, UM, I ACTUALLY HAD MY OWN PERSONAL ILL ILLNESS THAT, UM, THAT ONE LAST NIGHT OF OUR CLASS AFFECTED ME AND I HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED.

SO I GOT TO ACTUALLY USE OUR SERVICES, .

AND, UM, JUST THE LEVEL OF CARE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IS GIVEN TO EVERYONE THAT WE SAW THROUGHOUT THOSE WEEKS ON THE DIFFERENT CALLS THAT THEY GO ON.

AND THEN WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT 'EM AND TO REALLY LIVE IT AND SEE IT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, UH, MADE THE EXPERIENCE A LOT LESS SCARY.

BUT ANYBODY THAT'S, THAT LIVES IN AVONDALE SHOULD REALLY TAKE IT, SHOULD TAKE THE CLASS AND REALLY JUST, YOU KNOW, GET THAT UNDERSTANDING ON WHAT WE THINK FIRST RESPONDERS DO, BUT WHAT THEIR JOB LIKE ENCOMPASSES ANYTHING.

LIKE, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WHEN YOU DON'T, YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN.

WHO, WHO DO YOU CALL? YOU CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ANSWERS PRETTY MUCH ANY CALL.

SO I WAS, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE, I GET TO CARRY FOREVER.

MOST STUDENTS AREN'T AS DEDICATED AS YOU ARE TO TEST THE FACILITIES THAT THEY'RE GOING.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT, EVERYONE.

RIGHT.

THAT DOESN'T USUALLY HAPPEN, RIGHT? SORRY.

UM, AWESOME.

UH, YOU KNOW, WE DO THIS FOR A REASON.

WE DO THE POLICE, WE DO THE FIRE, WE DO THE PUBLIC WORKS, WE DO WHAT WE DO WATER, WE DO ALL OF IT.

BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A GREATER APPRECIATION FOR PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH THAT ACADEMY AND THEY'RE OUR GREATEST SPOKESPEOPLE.

THEY'RE THE ONES WHO GO OUT AND TELL THE COMMUNITY, OH MY GOSH, THIS WAS INCREDIBLE.

AND IT'S ALSO A WAY FOR US TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE SEE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE CITY IS JUST CITY EMPLOYEES, AND THE TRUTH ARE THEY'RE HUMAN BEINGS AND THEY HAVE FAMILIES AND THEY HAVE ASPIRATIONS, AND THEY HAVE GOALS.

AND THIS ALLOWS YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO GOES THROUGH THESE ACADEMIES TO MEET THEM ON A PERSONAL LEVEL.

PLUS WE GET TO HEAR INCREDIBLE STORIES LIKE WE JUST HEARD.

AND, UM, MY HOPE IS THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE LONGER TO THE FUTURE.

CHIEF, ANY OF YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS? MAYOR? I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UH, WE'RE BLESSED WITH THE BEST FIREFIGHTERS IN THE STATE.

BOTH THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WORK FOR OUR DEPARTMENT HAVE A LOT OF PASSION, UH, FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

AND, UM, I THINK OUR CITIZENS SAW THAT.

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

RIGHT.

THANK YOU GABBY.

APPRECIATE THAT.

ALRIGHT,

[b. Proclamation - Economic Development, Tourism, and Small Business Month]

AND CHERYL, I SEE YOU WALKING UP, SO I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ALL YOUR THUNDER, BUT THANK YOU.

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

UM, I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT BEFORE YOU TONIGHT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM AND SMALL BUSINESS MONTH.

AND IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE

[00:15:01]

SO I AM GONNA START OUT WITH NIKKI TAYLOR.

SHE IS THE ONE, UH, THAT PUTS AVONDALE ON THE MAP.

SHE'S OUR DESTINATION MANAGER FOR DISCOVER AVONDALE.

UH, THE PERSON THAT MAKES EVERYTHING LOOK BEAUTIFUL IN OUR DEPARTMENT IS CECILY MORALES TO MAKI, AND SHE'S OUR BRAND SPECIALIST.

UH, I ALSO HAVE THE GLUE TO OUR DEPARTMENT, STEPHANIE HIIN, OUR, OUR RESOURCE SPECIALIST.

BY THE WAY, THEY MAY GET NEW TITLES TONIGHT, JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT I REMEMBER.

, ADAM SHIPLEY IS OUR RESIDENT SUSTAINABILITY, BUSINESS ATTRACTION, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER.

AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE JAMIE LYNN GONZALEZ, WHO IS OUR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC VITALITY MANAGER.

AM I RIGHT? I'M GOOD.

UH, AND JAMIE IS REALLY, SHE BRINGS THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR CONVERSATIONS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS A SEAT AT THAT TABLE.

AND THEN, UM, ABSENT TONIGHT, BUT EVER.

SO WITH US, AS ALWAYS, IS KEN CHAPPA OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

PERFECT.

I THINK WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION.

WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION TO READ, UM, VICE MAYOR, WHEREAS YEP.

WHEREAS THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IS THE LARGEST PROFESSIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SERVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS.

AND WHEREAS THE AVONDALE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM DEPARTMENT PROMOTES ECONOMIC WELLBEING AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES THAT FOCUS ON CREATING, RETAINING, AND EXPANDING JOBS THAT FACILITATE GROWTH, ENHANCE WEALTH, AND PROVIDE A STABLE TAX BASE.

AND WHEREAS THE US TRAVEL ASSOCIATION IS THE NATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR ALL COMPONENTS OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY, AND WHEREAS THE CITY'S DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION DISCOVER AVONDALE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2020.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AVONDALE IS A PREMIER DESTINATION FOR TOURISTS AND VISITORS ATTRACTING OVER 1 MILLION VISITORS IN 2023, WHEREAS THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA CELEBRATES OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS THE AVONDALE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS VIBRANT COMMUNITIES TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR AVONDALE RESIDENTS, CREATES JOBS, BOOST OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND PRESERVES OUR COMMUNITY.

AND NOW THEREFORE, IT BE RESOLVED THAT THE CITY OF AVONDALE RECOGNIZES THE MONTH OF MAY, 2024 AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM AND SMALL BUSINESS MONTH, AND REMINDS INDIVIDUALS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS COMMUNITY CELEBRATION, WHICH SUPPORTS EXPANDING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES, AND MAKING LIVES BETTER.

THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.

THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU.

SO YOU COULD TELL THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS NOT A HUGE TEAM COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE WORK THAT THEY DO, ALL THE NEW BUSINESSES, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING TONIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, TECH JOBS COMING INTO THE CITY.

BUT OUR HEALTHCARE CORRIDOR, WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE BOULEVARD, THAT WAS ALL BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM, AND THEY DO OUTSTANDING WORK AND WE'RE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF ALL OF YOU.

UM, SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY AND TELL MR. CHAPPA WE MISS HIM TONIGHT.

RON, ITEM,

[c. Marvin Andrews Fellow Recognition]

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

NEXT UP WE'RE GONNA SEE A PRESENTATION BY ANISA AND TORIN, UM, TO CELEBRATE, UH, ONE OF OUR INTERNS.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME'S ANISA ROMO, MANAGEMENT ANALYST IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

UH, TORIN AND I ARE HERE TONIGHT TO RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR 20 23, 20 24 MARVIN ANDREWS FELLOW DILLARD COLLIER.

THIS YEAR WE ARE BOTH FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPERVISE DILLARD'S INTERNSHIP AT THE CITY OF AVONDALE AND ARE EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE HIM TONIGHT.

WE ARE ALSO EXCITED TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, ALSO CELEBRATING HIS GRADUATION FROM, UH, THE A SU MASTER OF THE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAM.

UH, FOR SOME BACKGROUND, UH, THE MARVIN ANDREWS FELLOWSHIP IS DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY THE COUNTRY'S MOST TALENTED STUDENTS, ASPIRING TO EXECUTIVE LEVELS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

SELECTED FELLOWS ARE MASTERS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND MASTERS OF PUBLIC POLICY.

STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN CAREERS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT FELLOWS RECEIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS MANAGEMENT INTERNS WITH CITIES IN THE PHOENIX METRO AREA DURING THEIR TIME IN THE PROGRAM.

UH, SEVERAL CITY EMPLOYEES ARE ALUMNI OF THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING TORIN AND MYSELF.

UH, THE CITY OF AVONDALE IS A LONGSTANDING PARTNER, UH, OF THE FELLOWSHIP AND HAS HOSTED SEVERAL MARVIN ANDREWS FELLOWS SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION IN 2009.

UM, I BELIEVE OUR FIRST FELLOW WAS EDITH.

UM, SO SHOUT OUT TO HER FOR THE 20 23 20 24 SCHOOL YEAR.

UH, THE CITY HOSTED DILLARD COLLIER AS OUR MARVIN

[00:20:01]

I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE A COUPLE ROUNDS OF APPLAUSE FOR DILLARD TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS TORN SDO.

I'M OUR SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AS WELL.

SO A BIT ABOUT DILLARD.

DURING HIS TIME WITH THE CITY, DILLARD WORKED IN A VARIETY OF DEPARTMENTS, EXPANDING HIS LOCAL GOVERNMENT KNOWLEDGE AND CONTRIBUTING TO HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS ACROSS THE CITY.

DILLARD SERVED ON PROJECTS IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, OUR CITY AUDIT, CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE, OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, OUR FINANCE AND BUDGET DEPARTMENT, THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

DILLARD MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALL DEPARTMENTS IN WHICH HE SERVED UTILIZING HIS, GROWING HIS, HIS RESEARCH, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, ANALYTICAL AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH SKILLS.

AS AN EXAMPLE, A NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES.

DILLARD WORKED ACROSS SEVERAL DIVISIONS AND CONTRIBUTED TO CREATING AN UPDATED HOME REPAIR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES GUIDE, PLANNING THE POINT IN TIME COUNT HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS SYMPOSIUM, AND THE UPWARD BOUND COLLEGE PREPAREDNESS EVENT, AS WELL AS ASSISTING IN THE CITY'S 2024 HEAT RELIEF PLAN.

ON TOP OF HIS PROJECTS, DILLARD ALSO PARTICIPATED IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND IN TRAININGS, AS WELL AS RIDE-ALONGS WITH OUR POLICE AND OUR STREET OUTREACH AND NAVIGATION RESOURCE TEAMS AND TOURS OF OUR, SORT OF, OF OUR CITY'S FACILITIES.

HE TRULY JUMPED IN READY TO CONTRIBUTE AND BECOME A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENT AND OUR TEAM.

WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF DILLARD'S HARD WORK AND HIS DEDICATION AS A MARVIN ANDREWS FELLOW IN ALL DEPARTMENTS IN WHICH HE SERVED ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.

HIS POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND HIS PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE MADE DILLARD A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO OUR CITY.

AT THIS TIME, WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE DILLARD FOR THE COMPLETION OF HIS INTERNSHIP AND HIS MASTER'S OF PUBLIC POLICY DEGREE.

CONGRATULATIONS, DILLARD.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

DILLARD.

COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE.

.

OH NO.

SO IT'S A LOT.

UM, SO TELL US WHAT SURPRISED YOU? WHAT SURPRISED YOU THE MOST? SO YOU, YOU, YOU DID THIS KIND OF HAVING AN IDEA.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S MARVIN ANDREWS FELLOWS WHO HAVE PROCEEDED YOU.

WHAT SURPRISED YOU THE MOST AFTER YOUR TIME WITH THE CITY OF AVONDALE MAYOR OF VICE MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS? I THINK I'VE WORKED IN A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS, UM, AND PUBLIC SECTOR INSTITUTIONS.

I THINK THE AMOUNT OF, OF COMPASSION AND PROFESSIONAL ENERGY THAT THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY GENERATES AND HAS INVESTED IN ME HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN READY FOR AND OPEN TO.

AND I THINK AVONDALE REPRESENTS A ROLE MODEL FOR ME OF A COMMUNITY AND THAT REALLY INVEST IN ITS EMPLOYEES AND ALSO IS SO SUPPORTIVE AND INCREDIBLY WELCOMING FOR SOMEONE WHO IS SO NEW AND, AND KIND OF NAIVE AND IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT.

SO I THINK JUST THE AMOUNT OF OPENNESS AND, AND PROFESSIONALISM AND AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES I'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO, IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT I WANTED, BUT, YOU KNOW, WAS, AND I WAS LIKE, OH, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IS, IS ALL THIS HAPPENING TO ME? , WHAT'S NEXT? UH, I'M STILL APPLYING TO POSITIONS, BUT SUPER INTERESTED IN CONTINUING MY JOURNEY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND, UH, SPECIFICALLY LIKE MANAGEMENT ANALYSTS, MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT POSITIONS, AND APPLYING TO A LOT OF AVONDALE POSITIONS.

SO YOU MAY BE SEEING ME MORE THAN YOU POTENTIALLY WANT TO, BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THERE'S A DIRECT LINE BETWEEN MARVIN ANDREWS FELLOWS AND THE CITY OF AVONDALE IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

YES.

OKAY.

WE'RE, WE'RE SO HAPPY FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DID WITH US.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AVONDALE BEING A COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT RESONATES NOT ONLY THROUGH, UM, OUR RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO THROUGH OUR EMPLOYEES.

UH, THERE WAS AN A THING THAT WENT OUT TODAY FOR ST.

WILLIAM CHURCH AND MERCY HOUSE AND THE FOOD THAT WAS DELIVERED TO HELP THEM FEED THE COMMUNITY AND GET THE COMMUNITY BACK TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, THEY RELY ON ST.

WILLIAM AND I KNOW, UM, THAT RESONATES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANKS.

[d. Proclamation - National Water Safety Month]

RIGHT.

SO WATER SAFETY MONTH, AND WE GET TO OPEN UP OUR BRAND NEW AQUATIC CENTER, WHICH WE SORT OF DID EARLIER IN APRIL.

AND WE'LL GIVE A QUICK UPDATE ON, ON OUR, UM, OUR WAVE FEST AND OUR SOFT OPENING THAT WE DID IN APRIL FOR YOU GUYS.

IN ADDITION TO OUR WATER SAFETY PROCLAMATION.

AH, THERE WE GO.

SO OUR AVONDALE AQUATIC CENTER, WE DID OUR SOFT OPENING FOR OUR RESIDENTS ON APRIL 20TH, WAS A GREAT SUCCESS, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM SOME OF THESE AMAZING PICTURES ON THAT DAY.

MAYOR

[00:25:01]

UM, SO WE HAD A GREAT TIME OUT THERE.

UM, WE HAD OVER 491 PARTICIPANTS.

UM, THIS EVENT FILLED UP IN JUST OVER AN HOUR.

WE HAD 400 SPACES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND FILLED UP IN JUST OVER AN HOUR.

AND THEN WE HAD 800 PEOPLE ON OUR WAIT LIST.

UM, AND SO WE DID PRESENT THOSE PEOPLE ON THE WAIT LIST WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER, UH, PRE-REGISTER FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, WHICH IS OUR OPENING WEEKEND.

UM, AND ABOUT 500 OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE REGISTERED FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND OPENING.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO, TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY.

UM, EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY ON THE 20TH, UM, IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STAFF, 32 OF OUR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO LIFEGUARD FOR THE FIRST TIME.

WE HAVE A VERY, VERY GREEN LIFEGUARD STAFF.

UM, AND SO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BE OUT THERE AND SEE PEOPLE ACTUALLY IN THE WATER AND, AND, AND RUN THROUGH, UM, AN ACTUAL OPENING WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US.

WE HAD ZERO INCIDENCES MINUS ONE SMALL SCRAPED TOE.

UM, AND SO LIFEGUARDS HANDLED THAT WELL AND WE'RE, WE'RE EXCITED FOR, FOR THE REST OF THEM.

UM, HAD A COUPLE LESSONS LEARNED IN BETWEEN REGISTRATION AND SOME PEOPLE TRYING TO GET IN THAT WEREN'T RESIDENTS.

BUT, UH, WE WERE, WE WERE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THOSE AND WE'VE MADE SOME CHANGES FOR OUR FUTURE OPENINGS.

UH, ADDITIONALLY AQUATIC CENTER RECRUITMENT, WE ARE STAFFED AND READY TO GO FOR THE SUMMER.

WE RAN THROUGH SOME STAFFING MODELS THIS MORNING, UM, AND WE ARE READY TO GO AND OUR STAFF ARE READY TO GO.

SO WE HAVE 58 LIFEGUARDS HIRED FOR THE SUMMER.

UM, ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE FOUR MANAGEMENT STAFF THAT'LL BE ABLE TO STAFF ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS FOR THIS SUMMER.

SO WE, WE MADE SOME BIG LOFTY GOALS TO GO INTO THIS SUMMER FROM ALL THE OPERATIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE.

AND CURRENTLY WE'RE, WE'RE MODELING THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO HOST ALL OF THOSE IN ADDITION TO POOL RESERVATIONS AND ROOM RESERVATIONS.

SO SOME UPCOMING, UH, DATES.

WE HAVE REGISTRATION THAT OPENED LAST WEEK FOR ALL OF OUR SWIMMING LESSONS AND TEAMS. UH, RIGHT NOW FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, WE'RE JUST OVER 50% FILLED ON ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS, UM, AND JUST SINCE THURSDAY.

SO REALLY EXCITED.

LOTS OF DEMAND FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR LESSONS.

FIRST SESSION OF SWIMMING LESSONS WILL START JUNE 3RD.

AND THEN WE HAVE OUR GRAND OPENING FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

THAT'S SATURDAY.

WE'LL HOST A PATRIOTIC POOL PARTY ON MONDAY, WHICH IS ACTUALLY MEMORIAL DAY.

UH, ADDITIONALLY WE'LL HAVE A FATHER'S DAY SWIM WHERE FATHERS WILL GET TO SWIM FREE AT THE FACILITY ON FATHER'S DAY.

UM, OPEN SWIM AND COMPLIMENTARY HOT DOGS ON JULY 3RD, HOSTED BY YOU GUYS COUNCIL.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU GUYS OUT THERE AT THE, THE FACILITY.

UM, AND THEN ON THE 4TH OF JULY, WE'LL HOST OUR STARS AND STRIPES EVENT.

UM, SO YOU CAN COME AND HANG OUT AT THE POOL BEFORE YOU GO OVER TO LIGHT UP THE SKY.

UM, AND THEN DEEP DIVE CINEMA FEATURING JAWS.

SO WE HAVE OUR LED SCREEN OUT AT THE FACILITY AND WE'RE GONNA BE HOSTING OUR MOVIE NIGHT, OUR FLOAT AND FLICK.

UM, AND WE ARE GOING TO TRAUMATIZE A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF CHILDREN AT OUR POOL BY WATCHING JAWS.

WE'RE SUPER EXCITED.

AND THEN WE'LL FINISH UP THE SUMMER ON LABOR DAY WITH OUR RED, WHITE AND POOL EVENT.

SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED FOR ALL OF THOSE EVENTS, ESPECIALLY JAWS.

SO AT THIS TIME, WE'LL TAKE INTO QUESTIONS BEFORE WE'LL HAVE THE MAYOR GO AHEAD AND READ OUR PROCLAMATION.

SO WHEN WE WERE DOING THE SOFT OPENING, AND I'M GLAD THERE WERE SOME DETAILS WE WORKED OUT AFTER THE SOFT OPENING 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S THERE FOR.

BUT WE TALKED ABOUT JAWS BEING PLAYED AND, UH, WHEN SHERRY AND I LIVED BEHIND CITY HALL AT ROOSEVELT PARK, WE HAD A POOL AND I WOULD GO PUT THE BALL GAME ON THE TV IN THE BACKYARD AND, AND CLEAN THE POOL.

AND I ALWAYS HAD TO DO WITH THE LIGHT ON IN THE POOL BECAUSE IT WAS ALWAYS THAT JAW SCENE OF THE SWIMMER.

AND THEN THE, I'M LIKE, AND SHERRY'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT A SHARK IN OUR POOL, RIGHT? I'M LIKE, WELL, I REALIZE THAT, BUT YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.

SO, UM, ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL ON THIS? ANY COMMENTS? WE WILL BE COOKING OUT THERE ON JULY 3RD, SO IT'LL BE EXCITING.

AND CURTIS, WE'LL JUST MAKE ONE QUICK COMMENT HERE.

UH, A WEEK, TWO WEEKS AGO, WE WERE AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS WHERE JAWS WAS ORIGINALLY FILMED.

I HOPE THE REAL ONE THAT YOU PUT IN THE MOVIE HERE IS REALLY GONNA DO SOMETHING BECAUSE IT WENT ON THE TRAM BY THERE.

HE GOT UP AND KIND OF FELL BACK IN THE WATER MECHANICS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND HE'S JUST LIKE THE WAY HE USED TO BE.

CURTIS IS NOT GOING IN THE POOL AT NIGHTTIME.

HE'S JUST NOT NO .

WE'LL MAKE IT FUN.

IT'LL BE GREAT.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE THAT.

AWESOME.

WELL, THE WATER SAFETY PROCLAMATION THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO READ, MAYOR, JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT FOR JUST TWO SECONDS.

UM, MAY IS WATER SAFETY MONTH, AND WE'RE GOING INTO A CRITICAL TIME IN SUMMER.

DROWNING CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL ITEMS AND, AND, AND PROBLEMS IN OUR COMMUNITY FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT OF YOUNG CHILDREN.

SO IT'S IMPERATIVELY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO WATER SAFETY EDUCATION.

AND MAY AT THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER WITH MEMORIAL DAY BEING THE HISTORICAL KICKOFF TO SUMMER, AND IT STARTING TO BECOME VERY WARM IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE START GETTING IN POOLS AND RIVERS AND LAKES THAT WE REMEMBER AND, AND REMIND EVERYONE THAT TO STAY SAFE AROUND WATER TO REMEMBER THE ABCS OF WATER, WHICH IS ADULT SUPERVISION BARRIERS AND CLASSES AND SWIMMING LESSON CLASSES.

WE'RE

[00:30:01]

AND SO WITH OUR, OUR POLICE AND FIRE PARTNERS HELPING US OUT AS OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WHEN, WHEN IT COMES TO DROWNING PREVENTION, UH, WE'LL BE DOING A MOCK RESCUE WITH THEM HERE LATER THIS MONTH, UH, THE SAME DAY AS OUR EMPLOYEE EVENT, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LIFEGUARDS ARE READY AND THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ON OUR DROWNING PREVENTION, UH, RESPONSE AND, AND PROGRAMS. UM, BUT THEN WITH THAT, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZING MAY AS WATER SAFETY MONTH.

AND WE'VE HEARD, WE'VE HEARD A COUPLE STORIES OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS, UM, OF TRAGEDIES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN POOLS.

AND, UH, IF WE CAN PREVENT THEM, WE CAN'T PREVENT THEM IN OTHER CITIES, BUT IF WE CAN WORK AS HARD AS WE CAN TO PREVENT THEM IN AVONDALE AND THE WATER SAFETY CLASSES AND ALL OF THAT GOES A LONG WAY.

SO I'M HONORED TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS RECOGNIZING THE VITAL ROLE THAT SWIMMING AND AQUATIC RELATED ACTIVITIES RELATE TO GOOD PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL PEOPLE.

AND WHEREAS UNDERSTANDING THE ESSENTIAL ROLE THAT EDUCATION REGARDING THE TOPIC OF WATER SAFETY PLAYS IN PREVENTING DROWNINGS AND RECREATIONAL WATER RELATED INJURIES.

AND WHEREAS AWARENESS OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THE RECREATIONAL WATER INDUSTRY IS REPRESENTED BY THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THE NATIONAL WATER SAFETY MONTH COALITION IN DEVELOPING SAFE SWIMMING FACILITIES, AQUATIC PROGRAMS, HOME POOLS AND SPAS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES, PROVIDING HEALTH PLACES TO RECREATE, LEARN AND GROW, BUILD SELF-ESTEEM, CONFIDENCE AND SENSE OF SELF-WORTH, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS RECOGNIZING ONGOING EFFORTS AND COMMITMENTS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON POOL AND SPA SAFETY ISSUES AND INITIATIVES BY THE POOL SPA, WATER PARK, RECREATION, AND PARKS INDUSTRY.

AND WHEREAS UNDERSTANDING THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATING WATER SAFETY RULES AND PROGRAMS TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES, WHETHER OWNERS OF PRIVATE POOLS, USERS OF PUBLIC SWIMMING FACILITIES, OR VISITORS TO WATER PARKS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I KENNETH WEISS, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2024 IS WATER SAFETY MONTH AND URGE ALL THOSE IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE THIS OBSERVANCE, PROCLAIM THIS SIXTH DAY OF MAY, 2024.

THANK YOU, MARK.

APPRECIATE THAT.

RON, ANY UPDATES FROM THE

[e. Reports from the City Manager ]

I APPRECIATE, UH, MY STAFF WORKING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, BUT, UM, I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A MEMBER, UH, I THINK IT WAS THE MAYOR WHO RECENTLY RECEIVED HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN GOVERNMENT WITH ECONOMICS ON STATE AND LOCAL PUBLIC POLICY FROM GCU.

WOW.

SO I KNEW I WAS IN TROUBLE WHEN I SAW MY ENTIRE FAMILY HERE.

YES, MR. MAYOR, WE, UH, DID, UH, GO ABOUT AND INVITED THEM AND I'M GLAD THEY MADE IT.

WE ALSO, UM, IT'S TIME TO DO PICTURES WITH OUR GROUPS AND WE ACTUALLY, UH, HAVE SOME THINGS TO, TO CELEBRATE AND WE INVITE YOU AND COUNCIL AND WHOEVER'S HERE, UH, TO HAVE A PIECE OF CAKE WITH US RATHER QUICKLY BEFORE WE, UH, GO INTO THE REGULAR AGENDA AFTER WE TAKE PICTURES.

MR. MAYOR, WE COULDN'T BE PROUDER OF OUR LEADER, UM, IN THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT, THIS MAJOR MILESTONE IN YOUR LIFE.

SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

I WISH I WOULD'VE DONE THIS WHEN I WAS 18 .

UM, SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, AND IN THE BACK ROW IS MY WIFE SHERRY, MY DAUGHTER LAUREN, AND MY DAUGHTER DELANEY.

RAISE YOUR HANDS.

YOU DID THIS, PLEASE STAND.

NO, NO, NO, NO.

YOU DON'T GET TO DO THIS.

STAND UP.

COME ON.

GO AHEAD AND STAND UP SO WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

GO AHEAD, STAND UP.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SO AS, AS YOU OFTEN DO WITH YOUR FAMILY, YOU, YOU SACRIFICE FOR YOUR FAMILY.

AND SHARON AND I SACRIFICED TO PUT OUR TWO DAUGHTERS THROUGH COLLEGE.

LAUREN GOT HER DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE FROM A SU I'M SORRY, FROM GCU.

DELANEY GOT HER DEGREE, UH, FROM A SU SHERRY GOT HER BACHELOR'S AND HER MASTER'S FROM GCU.

AND I WAS NEVER GONNA GO BACK TO COLLEGE.

I HAD HAD PROBABLY TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE AND IT WAS KIND OF ENOUGH AND SHERRY JUST KEPT ON PUSHING ME AND PUSHING ME, AND SHE SAID, THERE'S NO BETTER TIME FOR YOU TO DO THIS THAN NOW.

AND I CAN.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, UM, AT GRADUATION, IT WAS SIX YEARS AGO, ALMOST SIX YEARS AGO WHEN I STARTED THE FIRST CLASSES AT GCU.

AND I CAN REMEMBER WE WERE OUTTA TOWN AND I HAD TO TAKE THIS FIRST CLASS.

AND I REMEMBER LOOKING AT IT AND GOING, I CAN'T DO THIS.

IT'S, YOU HAVE TO WRITE IN A SPECIFIC WAY.

YOU'VE GOTTA DO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS EVERY WEEK.

YOU'VE GOTTA WRITE PAPERS AND TAKE TESTS AND QUIZZES.

AND SHE SAID, YOU CAN DO IT AND IT'LL BE OVER SOONER THAN YOU THINK.

AND WHEN YOU'RE ALL DONE, YOU WILL HAVE YOUR DEGREE AND NO ONE COULD EVER TAKE THAT AWAY FROM YOU.

SO, SO TO MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE AND MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO PUSH TO THE CITY OF AVONDALE.

THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS MAKING IT POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT WAS THE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT THAT REALLY HELPED.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO,

[00:35:01]

WE'D LIKE TO GET PICTURES WITH COUNCIL.

SO WHILE YOU'RE DOING THE PICTURES, MY STAFF WILL BE, UH, WORKING ON CUTTING THIS AND PICTURES.

AND YOU'RE ALL WELCOME TO HAVE COOKIES AND CAKE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS.

THIS IS AWESOME.

THANK YOU.

IF WE CAN START WITH FIRE ACADEMY, FOR THOSE LISTENING ONLINE, WE WILL BE TAKING A SHORT RECESS.

THE SILLINESS IS OUT OF THE WAY.

THE CELEBRATION ITEM NUMBER THREE

[3. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES]

UM, WE HAVE SOME CARDS FOR A LATER ITEM ON THE AGENDA, BUT FOR THIS, MATT, I SAW YOU, YOU'RE AROUND RIGHT? MATT, COME ON UP.

AND JULIE, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR CALL TO THE PUBLIC FOR THIS ONE, RIGHT? YES, MAYOR.

OKAY.

AND DO YOU GUYS JUST MIND, UH, SAYING YOUR NAMES JUST FOR THE RECORD, WILL PENNY GO? LINDA CARROLL, ISAAC NAHRA MAYOR, UNFORTUNATELY, OFFICER MATT HALLIN.

MR. MAYOR, I HATE TO IN INTERRUPT, BUT I NEED THE OFFICERS TO STEP TO THE MIC SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.

YEAH.

BECAUSE NOT, MAYBE NOT ALL OF US KNOW WHO YOU ARE, SO NO, NO.

LINDA, YOU ARE NOT, AND THE PEOPLE ON TV NEED TO BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU, SO PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MIC.

PERFECT.

LINDA CARROLL.

DENNIS MERCADO.

GOOD.

OKAY.

UH, GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MR. CORBIN AND CITY STAFF.

MY NAME IS WILL PENNY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE AVONDALE POLICE ASSOCIATION.

IT'S MY HONOR TO COME BEFORE YOU TO PRESENT SEVERAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL, UH, SENIORS GRADUATING FROM AVONDALE HIGH SCHOOLS.

IF YOU'RE RECEIVING A SCHOLARSHIP TONIGHT, PLEASE COME UP.

UM, WE BEGIN THIS PROGRAM THREE YEARS AGO WITH FUNDS RAISED BY ASSOCIATION MEMBERS IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

WE AWARDED ONE SCHOLARSHIP TO EACH SENIOR FROM THE FIVE AVONDALE HIGH SCHOOLS.

THIS YEAR, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF GENEROUS GRANTS FROM THE AVONDALE COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WE HAVE DO, WE WERE ABLE TO DOUBLE OUR EFFORTS AND HAVE AWARDED A TOTAL OF 10 SCHOLARSHIPS OF 1000 EACH, UH, TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS FOR THEIR COLLEGE ENDEAVORS.

I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT YOU SIX OF THE 10 RECIPIENTS THIS EVENING.

UM, JUST RAISE YOUR HANDS AS I CALL YOUR NAME.

OSCAR ROKO BZA, GRADUATING FROM LA JOLLA HIGH SCHOOL, UH, CORAL CERVANTES AND DOMINIQUE VARGAS, GRADUATING FROM WEST POINT HIGH SCHOOL, SABRINA NAZAR AND VICTORIA FLORES, GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL ZAVIAN SCOTT JONES.

GRADUATING FROM AUSTRALIA HIGH SCHOOL.

OSCAR RISCO, BA, EXCUSE ME, BA IS IS CURRENTLY DUAL ENROLLED IN CLASSES AT, UH, MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND IS PART OF THE WESTEC PROGRAM AT LA JOLLA HIGH SCHOOL.