Jun 03, 2024 City Council

VICE CHAIR PANDA HERE.

CHAIR WEISS HERE.

AND BOARD MEMBER WHITE HAS AN EXCUSE ABSENCE TONIGHT.

SOUNDS GOOD.

UH, THIS

[2. Public Hearing - Proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Budget and Tax Levy]

IS A CALL TO THE PUBLIC.

IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025? BUDGET AND TAX LEVY MARCAL? ANYBODY ONLINE? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REQUEST TO SPEAK FOR AGENDA ITEM TWO.

UM, I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE FINANCE AND BUDGET DIRECTOR.

SOUNDS GOOD.

HI, RENEE.

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

I AM HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT, UM, THE FINAL CFD FINAL BUDGET.

SO THERE HAVEN'T BEEN NO CHANGES SINCE THE TENTATIVE BUDGET HERE.

WE DO HAVE, UM, A TOTAL TAX RATE INCLUDED WITH THIS BUDGET OF $4 AND 15 CENTS BROKEN DOWN BETWEEN THE PRIMARY AND THE SECONDARY RATE.

THE TOTAL BUDGET IS JUST UNDER 3.3.

IT DOES INCLUDE A CONTINGENCY OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH WOULD BE RECOVERED BY DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE CASE OF ANY UNFORESEEN ITEMS, UM, THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED.

SO WITH THAT, WE DO RECOMMEND THE PUBLIC HEARING CONVENING TO A SPECIAL MEETING AND ADOPTING THE CFD RESOLUTION TWO DASH 2 24 SETTING FORTH THE FINAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND RESOLUTION THREE DASH 2 0 2 4, SETTING THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2025.

AND I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR RENEE? SEEING NONE, DO WE NEED TO DO A MOTION ON THIS FOR APPROVAL OR IS IT JUST, UH, FOR A PUBLIC HEARING? FOR THE FIRST THANK, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THIS ITEM IS JUST A PUBLIC HEARING, MY THOUGHT.

UM, AND I DO WANT THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT.

SORRY, I MEAN, ECHO.

UM, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE IS ON ZOOM, SO SHE IS IN ATTENDANCE TO THE MEETING TONIGHT.

HI, MAX.

CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? HELLO? UH, WE NEED, WE NEED TO ADJOURN THIS PART OF THE MEETING, THOUGH, CORRECT BAR? I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING PROTOCOL.

YES, CORRECT.

CAN I GET A MOTION FOR ADJOURN, PLEASE? I HAVE A MOTION FROM BOARD MEMBER MALONE.

A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER CONDI.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.

I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE ALAMAR COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT'S SPECIAL BOARD MEETING.

UH, MARCELLA.

[1. ROLL CALL BY THE DISTRICT CLERK]

BOARD MEMBER CONDI.

TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE? I HAVE A MOTION FOR BOARD MEMBER OF ALONE.

BOARD MEMBER MALONE? HERE.

BOARD MEMBER NIELSEN? HERE.

BOARD MEMBER SOLORIO.

CAN I GET A MOTION

[2. CONSENT AGENDA]

A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER CONDI.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE.

CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE SPECIAL MEETING? I HAVE A MOTION FROM BOARD MEMBER SOLORIO.

A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER MALONE.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.

I'D LIKE TO CALL THE, UM, REGULAR MEETING OF THE AVONDALE CITY COUNCIL.

UH, MARCELLA, DO YOU MIND DOING A ROLL CALL PLEASE? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AT THIS TIME, WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAND AND DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, THE INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE LAW.

CAN YOU ALL PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MARCELLA, FOR KICKING ME ON MY TOES.

[1. ROLL CALL BY THE CITY CLERK]

I'LL DO ROLL CALL NOW IF YOU WANT TO.

COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI.

COUNCIL MEMBER MALONE.

COUNCIL MEMBER NIELSEN.

COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO.

AND COUNCIL UP FIRST IS OUR CITY ATTORNEY, UH, TO PRESENT, UH, TWO NEW EMPLOYEES.

COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.

[a. Employee Introductions]

A PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR

[00:05:01]

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO TWO NEW STAFF MEMBERS IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

UM, FLO.

FIRST WE HAVE BLESSING, UH, JHO.

SHE IS A SECOND YEAR LAW STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, JAMES Z. ROGERS COLLEGE OF LAW.

SHE EARNED HER BACHELOR'S OF LAW DEGREE FROM AHMA BELLO UNIVERSITY IN NIGERIA.

IN 2015, SHE PRACTICED AS A LICENSED ATTORNEY FOR SIX YEARS IN NIGERIA.

BEFORE COMING TO THE STATES, UM, SHE CAME TO PURSUE HER MASTER'S OF LAW DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND BUSINESS LAW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA.

SHE THEN EMBARKED ON HER US LAW DEGREE JOURNEY, DEMONSTRATING HER COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUSLY LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, BLESSINGS, INTEREST IN TRANSACTIONAL AND MUNICIPAL PRO PRACTICE.

LED HER TO JOIN OUR OFFICE AS A LEGAL INTERN THIS SUMMER WHERE SHE IS EAGERLY SEEKING TO EXPAND HER KNOWLEDGE AND GAIN PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE.

BLESSING WILL BE WITH THE CITY FOR EIGHT WEEKS THIS SUMMER AND SHE WILL SHADOW US AND LEARN ALL ABOUT MUNICIPAL LAW.

SO WELCOME.

BLESSING.

SECOND IS A FAMILIAR FACE, MARY GRACE, MCNAIR .

SHE HAS PRACTICED MUNICIPAL LAW AND, UH, REAL ESTATE LITIGATION, LAND USE AND CONSTRUCTION LAW IN THE PHOENIX AREA FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

HER PRIOR GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN WITH THE CITIES OF SCOTTSDALE, MESA, AND AVONDALE.

SHE RETURNS TO US FROM PRIVATE PRACTICE WHERE SHE WORKED FOR THE LAW FIRM OF BUS GILBERT RO, DOING LAND USE AND ZONING CASES FOR PRIVATE CLIENTS.

MARY GRAYS PREFERS WORKING FOR AVONDALE BECAUSE SHE APPRECIATES THE VALUE THAT HER MUNICIPAL PRACTICE BRINGS TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

WE ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME MARY GRACE BACK TO AVONDALE AND TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

UM, SHE WILL BE ADVISING DEVELOPMENT ENG, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, ENGINEERING, PUBLIC SAFETY COURTS, CITY PROSECUTOR, AND ASSISTING ME WITH LITIGATION.

SO, WELCOME MARY GRACE.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I GOT THE AGENDA LAST WEEK.

I'M GOING THROUGH IT AND I'M LOOKING AT THE NEW EMPLOYEES AND A LOT.

THERE'S NO WAY THERE'S TWO PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXACT NAME.

SO WELCOME BACK.

YOU WERE MISSED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DID THEY GIVE YOU A BIGGER OFFICE? UM, ACTUALLY STEVE AND I ARE SHARING AN OFFICE.

ROSA, WELCOME, WELCOME ABOARD.

ALRIGHT.

LET US KNOW HOW THAT WORKS OUT.

, WE NEED SOME MORE SPACE.

YEAH.

WELL, JOEL'S HERE.

JOEL'S LIKE IN HIS HEAD GOING THROUGH ALL THE SQUARE FOOTAGE AND ALL THE SPACE.

GOOD JOB, MAYOR.

GOOD.

ANYTIME I CAN.

THANKS FOR POINTING IT OUT.

I GOT SIX MONTHS.

ANYTIME I CAN SPEAK .

UH, NEXT UP MAYOR IS, UH, JOEL SPEAKING TO THE DEVIL? UH, OUR DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES.

DEVIL.

NO, THAT'S GOOD.

MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COUNCIL, I AM HERE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TWO OF OUR NEWEST EMPLOYEES.

THIS IS ROSA BROWN AND A BANDON.

UM, ROSA IS ORIGINALLY FROM CALIFORNIA.

SHE MOVED TO THE VALLEY IN 2001 AND COMES TO US FROM THE RADIATION PROTECTION INDUSTRY.

ROSA ENJOYS SEWING AND HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND SHE'S CURRENTLY TAKING CLASSES AT EMCC FOR FACILITIES MAINTENANCE.

ABE IS AN ARIZONA NATIVE.

HE SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN THE ARMY JOINING LATE AT AGE 30.

MOST RECENTLY, HE WORKED AT AS LOCALLY AS A PACKAGING ENGINEER.

ABE IS A FAN OF ALL SPORTS AND IN THOSE RARE MOMENTS WHEN THERE'S NOT A GAME, ABE'S FAVORITE HOBBY IS LASER ENGRAVING.

OKAY, SO A FAN OF ALL SPORTS.

THERE HAS TO BE ONE SPORT THAT STANDS OUT.

FOOTBALL, COLLEGE OR PRO? PRO.

ALL RIGHT, YOUR TEAM IS ARMS. ALL RIGHT, GOOD.

GOOD WAY TO START.

WOW.

OKAY, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE IN THE ROOM ARE COWBOY FANS.

WE WON'T TALK ABOUT THOSE GUYS.

WE WON'T.

THANKS JOEL.

AND NOW WE HAVE, UH, A LADY YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF TONIGHT.

UH, WE HAVE RENEE, YOUR, UH, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND BUDGET.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT TO YOU TOIA GREEN.

SHE'S OUR NEW PROCUREMENT BUYER.

SHE STARTED WITH THE CITY ON MAY 13TH.

TEKE HAS WORKED IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR FOR OVER SEVEN YEARS, UM, IN PROCUREMENT, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION.

SHE'S ALSO WORKED ACROSS VARIOUS SECTORS, WHICH INCLUDE PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC FIDUCIARY, AIR QUALITY, AND STATE CORRECTIONS.

TEKE HAS AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FROM GIBBS COLLEGE IN MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

AND SHE'S A MOTHER OF TWO AND A WIFE OF 18 YEARS.

SHE ENJOYS EVENT PLANNING AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING THE CITY OF AVONDALE OR HER HOME.

I DON'T KNOW IF A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW, BUT YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT JOB AND NOT JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE WORKING FOR THE CITY OF AVON, THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEAN, WAS GONNA SAY .

WELL, I HAVE TO CLARIFY THAT.

BUT PROCUREMENT'S HARD AND, AND I, AND I KNOW I, YOU GO THROUGH THE HISTORY OF THE CITY AND, AND I I THINK IT'S VERY HARD TO WORK FOR A

[00:10:01]

GOVERNMENT AGENCY, UM, AT A LOCAL LEVEL.

'CAUSE YOU HAVE A TENDENCY TO KNOW EVERYONE, ALL THE EMPLOYEES, ALL THE PEOPLE AND EVERYTHING.

AND YOUR JOB, AND YOUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PROCUREMENT RULES ARE FOLLOWED, PROCEDURES ARE FOLLOWED, AND THAT SOMETIMES THAT ANSWER IS NO.

AND THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT JOB, ESPECIALLY STARTING OUT NEW.

SO WELCOME ABOARD.

YOU HAVE COMPLETE SUPPORT FROM THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UP NEXT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PRESENTATION BY LIEUTENANT UH, LOPEZ FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, ON THE 4TH OF JULY.

THANKS, RON.

WAS THAT BETTER? CLARIFYING IT? THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT, MR. MAYOR.

ALL RIGHT, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

[b. 4th of July Fireworks Update ]

THIS WAS SOMETHING I ASKED RON AND CHIEF TO KIND OF BRING TOGETHER, JUST BECAUSE AS WE GET A MONTH AWAY FROM 4TH OF JULY, WE ALL GET CALLS, THE COMMUNITY GETS CALLS, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WE CAN, UH, COMMUNICATE THAT INFORMATION BACK TO THE, UH, PUBLIC AT LARGE.

SO, LT MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

UH, TODAY I'M VARNEY LOPEZ, LIEUTENANT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON THE PATROL DIVISION.

I'M HERE TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT FIREWORKS AND EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT.

OBVIOUSLY, LIKE YOU MENTIONED WITH THE 4TH OF JULY, UH, HOLIDAY COMING UP, WE ARE RAMPING UP FOR OUR EFFORTS IN THAT AREA.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FIREWORK CALLS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

UH, WE RESPOND TO MOSTLY ILLEGAL FIREWORK CALLS AND MOST OF THE STUFF THAT GOES IN THE AIR.

UM, BUT THE HOLIDAYS WE LIKE TO FOCUS ON ENFORCEMENT AND DETAILS IS REALLY THE 4TH OF JULY AND THE, UH, NEW YEAR'S EVE, UH, HOLIDAYS, OBVIOUSLY, WHAT'S LEGAL, AS WE KNOW, MOST OF THE CONSUMER FIREWORKS, UH, THAT ARE SOLD BY VENDORS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY AND AND HERE IN AVONDALE ARE THE SPARKLERS, THE THINGS THAT ARE ON THE GROUND THAT PRODUCES A GREAT, UH, LIGHT AND SHOWS.

AND IT'S, THEY'RE FUN TO USE.

UM, BUT THE STUFF THAT WE LIKE TO FOCUS IS OBVIOUSLY THE ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

LEGAL FIREWORKS, AS WE ALL KNOW, STUFF, ANYTHING THAT USUALLY GOES IN THE AIR, LIKE THE BIG AERIALS THAT BOOMS THAT YOU SEE IN THE AIR, THOSE OBVIOUSLY ARE ILLEGAL.

THE ROMAN CANDLES, THE PEOPLE THAT HOLD IN THEIR HANDS, BUT THEY STILL GO IN THE AIR.

THEY OBVIOUSLY, THOSE ARE ILLEGAL.

ANYTHING THAT REALLY GOES LOUD AND BANGS AND BOOMS, MOST LIKELY THEY'RE GONNA BE, UH, ILLEGAL.

HOWEVER, LIKE I MENTIONED, SOME OF THE CONSUMER FIREWORKS THAT ARE OUT THERE ARE VERY LARGE AND COME IN VARIOUS DIFFERENT SIZES.

HERE'S ONE, A QUICK VIDEO.

THIS IS THE AMAZING, IT'S CALLED THE AMAZING BECAUSE IT'S, IT KIND OF IS AMAZING.

UM, IT'S A VERY NICE LARGE DISPLAY.

AS YOU WILL SEE.

OBVIOUSLY THE CELL PHONE VIDEO DOESN'T DO A WHOLE LOT OF JUSTICE.

UM, BUT THE PERSON IS STANDING ABOUT 20, 30 FEET AWAY.

AND AS YOU'LL SEE THE RADIUS OF THIS TYPE OF FIREWORK PRETTY LARGE.

SO AGAIN, THAT WAS A LEGAL FIREWORK, A GREAT DISPLAY.

AS YOU NOTICE BY THE VIDEO, IT'S ALMOST A TWO MINUTE LONG TYPE OF DISPLAY.

AND YES, IT IS LEGAL.

NOTHING WENT IN THE AIR BESIDES THE SPARKLING AND THE NOISE.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE, THE LIGHT SHOW, LIKE I MENTIONED, THE, THE, THE CELL PHONE VIDEO DOESN'T DO IT JUSTICE.

IT DOES PROVIDE, UH, A LARGE DISPLAY, A GOOD 20 FOOT PLUS RADIUS OF OF SHOW, UM, WHICH IS WHY IT'S KIND OF IN THAT AREA THERE.

BUT OBVIOUSLY ONE IS IT LEGAL.

UM, STATE STATUTE ALLOWS US TO USE FIREWORKS, UH, DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

OBVIOUSLY THE MAIN ONES THAT WE LIKE TO FOCUS ON IS THE JULY 4TH HOLIDAY AND THE NEW YEAR'S EVE HOLIDAY.

UM, BUT THROUGHOUT THAT, YOU'LL SEE OBVIOUSLY VENDORS START SELLING 'EM, UM, IN ADVANCE BEFORE THE ACTUAL HOLIDAY.

HOWEVER, PEOPLE CANNOT USE THEM BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11:00 PM AND 8:00 AM EXCEPT OBVIOUSLY DURING THE JULY 4TH,

[00:15:01]

UH, HOLIDAY AND THE NEW YEAR'S EVE HOLIDAY.

AND OUR CITY CODE MIRRORS THAT STATUTE, WHICH ALLOWS US TO DO ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION.

HERE'S A QUICK VIDEO THAT THE WEST VALLEY AGENCIES, ALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE WEST VALLEY HAVE JOINED TOGETHER IN CONTINUOUS EDUCATION ON FIREWORKS.

THREE REASONS YOUR WEST VALLEY POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WANT YOU TO KEEP SUMMER CELEBRATIONS ENJOYABLE FOR ALL.

DON'T BLOW 4TH OF JULY BY USING ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS OF HAVING A BLAST WITHOUT BREAKING THE LAW.

YOU CAN WATCH A PROFESSIONAL FIREWORKS SHOW, OR YOU CAN BUY CONSUMER FIREWORKS AT THE STORE.

JUST REMEMBER TO USE THEM IN A CLEAR AND OPEN AREA UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A RESPONSIBLE ADULT.

KEEP A BUCKET OF WATER ON HAND TO DUMP THE USED FIREWORKS SO THEY DON'T SPARK A FIRE.

LOUD NOISES FROM ILLEGAL FIREWORKS IS DISRUPTIVE TO YOUR NEIGHBORS, CAN SOUND LIKE GUNSHOTS, AND THAT'S UPSETTING TO EVERYONE.

IT CAN BE SCARY FOR CHILDREN OR EVEN PETS.

THE EXPLOSIONS CAN BE SO LOUD THAT IT'LL CAUSE 'EM TO RUN AWAY AND SOMETIMES GET LOST.

WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT LIGHTING, ILLEGAL FIREWORKS IS THE GUNS, THE LAW BOTTLE ROCKETS, ROAMING CANDLES AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT GOES UP IN THE AIR HAVE BEEN BANNED IN ARIZONA FOR YEARS.

NOW, THE FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE YOU ARE LIKE ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

YOU COULD PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN FINES.

WE ARE OFTEN OVERWHELMED WITH FIREWORKS CALLS AROUND THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS.

LET YOUR FIRST RESPONDERS HANDLE SERIOUS EMERGENCIES TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.

DON'T BLOW FORTH OF JULY FOR EVERYONE.

THREE RE OBVIOUSLY THAT'S PART OF E EDUCATION PIECE.

UM, ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE START DISPLAYING AND PRODUCING, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT ILLEGAL FIREWORKS OR LEGAL FIREWORKS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. UM, THANKFULLY THE CITY IS HOSTING THE LIGHT OF THE SKY EVENT, WHICH WE ALSO TRY TO, UH, GET, UH, OUR CITIZENS AND, AND, AND PEOPLE TO JUST RESPOND TO THAT EVENT IF THEY WANNA SEE THE LARGE AERIAL TYPE DISPLAY.

WE ALSO VISIT OUR VENDORS, UM, OR WE HAVE OFFICERS ON, UH, READY TO, UH, LOCATE AND VISIT THE VENDORS TO ENSURE THEY'RE NOT SELLING ILLEGAL FIREWORKS AT THE, THE STORES THAT WE HAVE ON EVERY CORNER THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND PART OF IT, WE ALSO VISIT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AGAIN TO MAKE SURE NO ONE'S SELLING ILLEGAL FIREWORKS ONLINE, UH, THROUGH FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE AND OR OFFER UP WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY TRY TO SELL ILLEGAL FIREWORKS AS WELL.

AND THAT'S PART OF ENFORCEMENT AS WELL.

WE HAVE DEDICATED TEAMS, UH, A UNIT THAT'S, UH, WILL BE WORKING THE 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY AS, AS WELL AS A NEW YEAR'S EVE HOLIDAY THAT WOULD BE DEDICATED TO THESE ILLEGAL TYPE FIREWORK CALLS FOR SERVICE.

SOMETIMES WE USE OUR AERIAL DRONE AND OTHER TOOLS NECESSARY, UH, TO RESPOND TO A CERTAIN AREA IF NEED BE.

UM, BUT MOST OF THE TIME WE HAVE OUR OFFICERS KIND OF DEDICATED TO EACH NEIGHBORHOOD DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ON VIEW ANY TYPE OF ACTIVITY THAT, OR PEOPLE THAT MAY BE USING ILLEGAL TYPE FIREWORKS.

AND AT MOST, IF NEED BE, WE WILL ISSUE CITATIONS AS NEEDED.

HERE ARE SOME STATISTICS THAT WE'VE BEEN TRACKING, UM, AGAIN, SOME OF THE HOLIDAYS THAT, THE ONLY HOLIDAYS THAT WE'RE REALLY REALLY TRACKING IS REALLY JULY 4TH, WHICH IS A LARGE HOLIDAY AND NEW YEAR'S EVE HOLIDAY.

UM, FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS WE'VE BEEN TRACKING SOME OF THE FIREWORK CALLS.

UM, WE ALSO TRACK THE SHOTS FIRED CALLS BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES IF IT'S ILLEGAL FIREWORKS, THEY MAY, UH, A SOMEONE MAY THINK IT MIGHT BE A ACTUAL GUNSHOT, BUT IT MIGHT BE A FIREWORK THAT'S GOING OFF.

SO WE STILL RESPOND THAT AND TRACK THAT AS WELL.

WE TRACKING THE CITATIONS THAT WE'VE ISSUED FOR THAT EVENING AND ALSO ALL CALLS FOR SERVICE, MEANING ALL THE TYPES OF CALLS THAT WE RESPONDED FOR THAT NIGHT AND ALL BETWEEN 6:00 PM AND 6:00 AM THEN THE NEXT MORNING.

SO FOR THAT NIGHT, THESE ARE THE TYPES OF CALLS THAT WE'RE TRACKING.

SO IN CONCLUSION, UM, WE ARE DEDICATING RESOURCES.

LIKE I MENTIONED, WE HAVE, UH, A UNIT DEDICATED TO WORK THE 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY, READY TO RESPOND TO ANY TYPE OF ILLEGAL CALLS, UH, LEGAL FIREWORK CALLS FOR SERVICE.

UM, BUT MOST OF ALL, WE WANT TO EDUCATE THE, OUR CITIZENS.

WE START PREEMPTIVELY EDUCATING OUR CITIZENS.

SO WEEKS IN ADVANCE, UM, THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH CITY MARKETING TO PROVIDE, UH, INFORMATION ON, ON OUR WATER BILLING, ENSURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT ILLEGAL FIREWORKS OBVIOUSLY ILLEGAL AND WE'LL CONDUCT ENFORCEMENT AS NEEDED.

BUT ULTIMATELY WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR EVERY TYPE OF, UH, CALL IT THAT WE DO ENFORCEMENT.

THE 4TH OF JULY, WE'LL TRACK OUR STATS AND SEE IF THERE ANYTHING THAT WE GOTTA CHANGE OR UPDATE OR, OR DO BETTER THE NEXT TIME.

SO THANK YOU.

I'M OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

SO THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS THAT COME TO MIND.

ONE IS, IT HAS TO BE INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING FOR OFFICERS WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO LOCATE A FIREWORKS SHOW GOING OFF WHEN NO ONE HAS CALLED AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU DRIVE, YOU PARK A VEHICLE, YOU STAGE A VEHICLE FAIRLY CLOSE.

'CAUSE YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST YOU'RE MONITORING WHERE THOSE CALLS HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE AND YOU CAN'T FIND THEM.

SO IT'S A WASTE OF POLICE TIME.

THE OTHER PART THAT WOULD BE FRUSTRATING TO ME IS IF A NEIGHBORHOOD DIDN'T CALL AND, AND, AND I'M GONNA USE GARDEN LAKES BECAUSE WE HAD, WE HAD A GARDEN LAKES HOA UH, MEETING, WHAT, TWO WEEKS AGO, THREE WEEKS AGO.

AND I TOLD THE STORY OF LAST NEW YEAR'S DAY.

I HAD SPENT THE NIGHT DOWNTOWN WITH SOME FRIENDS.

I CAME HOME, IT WAS THE AFTERNOON, AND I KEPT ON HEARING

[00:20:01]

FIREWORKS GO OFF.

AND I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM GARDEN LAKES.

AND I FINALLY GOT P****D OFF ENOUGH WHERE I GOT IN MY CAR AND I DROVE THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THERE'S PEOPLE LIGHTING OFF FIREWORKS IN THE AIR AND EXPLODING.

SO I TOOK, TOOK A VIDEO OF IT AND CALLED AVONDALE PD, WAITED FOR AVONDALE PD TO SHOW UP.

THOSE FIREWORKS HAVE BEEN GOING OFF PROBABLY FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT HOURS.

AND I'M WONDERING WHY THE NEIGHBORS DIDN'T CALL BECAUSE IF I HAD A HEADACHE AND WAS IRRITATED AFTER AN HOUR, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED ACROSS THE STREET AND WHO WERE NEXT DOOR HAD TO BE INCREDIBLY IRRITATED, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAD PETS OR THEY HAD SOMEONE WHO'S FORMER MILITARY OR THEY HAD A SENIOR CITIZEN LIVING IN THE HOUSE OR SOMEONE WHO'S INCREDIBLY IMPACTED BY WHAT THESE THINGS CAN DO.

SO THOSE ARE THE FIRST TWO THINGS THAT COME TO MIND IS HOW DO WE GET PAST THAT BARRIER WHERE PEOPLE WILL CALL INSTEAD OF JUST DEALING WITH IT BECAUSE THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

THE OTHER PART THAT GETS ME, ESPECIALLY FROM THE AMAZING VIDEO, IS THAT IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.

IT'S IMPEDING TRAFFIC, IT'S SPREADING, UH, PAPER AND DEBRIS EVERYWHERE.

IT'S GOING ON OTHER PEOPLE'S PROPERTIES.

WHAT I SAW LAST YEAR WAS ACTUALLY A STREET THAT HAD MELTED.

THERE WAS PART OF THE STREET BECAUSE OF FIREWORKS, 'CAUSE THERE WERE LIGHTING IN THE SAME AREA HAD ACTUALLY MELTED.

WHAT IS OUR CODE ABOUT LEGAL FIREWORKS BEING USED? DOES IT HAVE TO BE USED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OR CAN IT BE USED ON A PUBLIC STREET AND SIDEWALK? MAYOR, THOSE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS.

UH, YOUR FIRST QUESTION, YES, IT IS SOMETIMES FRUSTRATING TO RESPOND TO THESE ILLEGAL TYPE FIREWORKS AND ESPECIALLY IF WE WANTED TO CONDUCT TOPIC OF ENFORCEMENT.

ONE, BECAUSE IT'S A POSSESSION TYPE, UH, UH, LAW, RIGHT? IF WE WANNA CITE SOMEBODY FOR ILLEGAL FIREWORKS, WE GOTTA MAKE SURE WE KIND OF CATCH 'EM IN THE ACT LIKE YOU PROVIDE A VIDEO.

THAT'S GREAT.

AND THAT HELPS US AND WE RELY ON THAT, THE CITIZEN OR THE CALL FOR SERVICE TO SAY, YEAH, THIS PERSON WEARING THE RED SHIRT AND BLUE PANTS IS THE ONE LINING FIREWORKS.

SO I COMMEND YOU FOR SAYING THAT, AND THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT BECAUSE WE DO RELY ON THE CITIZENS TO CALL US AND, AND, AND HELP US, UH, TRACKING THESE ILLEGAL TYPE FIREWORKS.

AND SECOND, WHERE DO WE, WHERE CAN THEY USE THESE FIREWORKS? I MEAN, HAVING IT IN THE OPEN IN, IN MY OPINION, IS BETTER THAN IN SOMEBODY'S BACKYARD WORK COULD CAUSE A FIRE TYPE DANGER.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IT'S SUMMERTIME, WHICH IS WHY LEGAL FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GONNA LAND.

UM, IT MAY CAUSE SOME TYPE OF FIRE DANGER TO YOUR NEIGHBORS OR A PARK OR, OR SOME TYPE OF SOMEBODY'S PRIVATE PROPERTY.

SO WE WILL ENFORCE THOSE AS AS NEEDED.

UM, WE DO EXPECT OUR CITIZENS TO PICK UP AFTER THEMSELVES, LIKE YOU SAID, OR WE COULD LOOK AT SOME TYPE OF LITTERING TYPE CHARGE IF NEED BE.

UM, BUT WE WANNA EDUCATE THEM FIRST.

AND THAT'S PART OF OUR, OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS THAT WE USE TO EDUCATE OUR, OUR CITIZENS.

HEY, THIS IS HOW, WHEN AND WHERE YOU COULD USE OUR TYPES OF FIREWORKS.

AND PLEASE, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, PICK UP AFTER YOURSELVES BECAUSE IT CAN LEAVE A LOT OF DIRT AND DEBRIS, UH, FROM THE FIREWORKS SHOW.

OR IT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE AS YOU MENTIONED TO OTHER PEOPLE, PEOPLE'S PROPERTY.

SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE EDUCATE THAT CORRECTLY.

THEN BARNEY, THANK YOU.

I, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM COUNSEL ON ANY THOUGHTS THAT YOU HAVE BECAUSE 4TH OF JULY IS A MONTH AWAY AND IT IMPACTS ALL NEIGHBORHOODS IN ALL PARTS OF THE CITY.

SO TINA, ANY THOUGHTS? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, LIEUTENANT LOPEZ, I LIVE IN GARDEN LAKES AND I HAVE TWO DOGS.

SO WHENEVER IT'S 4TH OF JULY, NEW YEAR'S, I MEAN, MY POOR DOGS GO CRAZY.

AND I THINK MAYOR, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T CALL BECAUSE THEY DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE, RIGHT? SO SOMETIMES THEY'RE LIKE, I'M NOT GONNA CALL.

'CAUSE NOTHING EVER GETS DONE.

SO THE EDUCATION PIECE IS I THINK, VERY IMPORTANT, WHICH WE'RE DOING.

SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING THAT.

UM, AND THE OTHER THING THAT CONCERNS ME TOO IS 'CAUSE MY HOUSE IS BEHIND, UM, UH, THE, THE, THE CANAL AND THERE'S PEOPLE BACK THERE THAT WILL SET OFF FIREWORKS, EVERYTHING.

AND I ALWAYS GET CONCERNED BECAUSE IT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BY WATER, I MEAN THERE'S STILL A LOT OF SHRUBBERY THAT CAN CATCH FIRE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST, I KNOW WE'RE DOING THINGS, BUT YOU KNOW, WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE ON IT.

BUT I THINK JUST BRINGING AWARENESS, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, MAYOR, JUST KIND OF SAYING AT WHAT POINT DO WE SAY, HEY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE CAUSING DAMAGE, OR IT'S A FIRE SAFETY HAZARD.

'CAUSE THAT'S ALWAYS MY CONCERN.

I MEAN, WE LIVE IN THE DESERT, THINGS ARE DRY, PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE, JUST, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL TO SEE.

BUT I THINK THEY HAVE TO DO IT SOMEWHERE WHERE IT COULD BE MANAGED AND MONITORED.

SHOULD A SPARK GO OFF? SO TINA, SO WE DO A THOUSAND DOLLARS FINE.

AND HOW MANY FINES LAST YEAR? UH, 10, 14.

GO BACK.

WOULD A, WOULD A REWARD FOR THE PERSON WHO CALLED IN INFORMATION A PERCENTAGE OF THAT FINE? WOULD THAT WORK TO, TO INCENTIVIZE? 'CAUSE I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO CALL BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANNA CALL ON THEIR NEIGHBORS.

THEY'RE AFRAID IT'S GONNA COME BACK TO THEM SOME WAY.

AND I, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT, BUT I'M JUST WONDERING, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CAN DO TO GIVE POLICE OFFICERS MORE OF A FIGHT IN THIS GAME? WELL, WE JUST STARTED IMPOSING THE FINES, CORRECT? LAST YEAR.

WE, WE STARTED THIS EFFORT SEVERAL YEARS AGO NOW.

BUT YES, LIKE I MENTIONED, UM, IT IS SOMETIMES HARD TO ISSUE THAT CITATION FOR THE PERSON HAVING POSSESSION OF THAT ILLEGAL FIREWORK IF NEED BE.

WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CONSIDER, UM, WHAT A CITY MANAGER'S THOUGHTS ATTORNEY.

I, I WOULD JUST, THIS IS A PRESENTATION.

THIS ISN'T MEANT TO GET A LOT OF DIRECTION.

SO, UM, WE HAVE TO BRING SOMETHING LIKE THAT BACK AT A FUTURE

[00:25:01]

DATE.

DO YOU MIND DOING THAT? DO YOU MIND BRINGING IT BACK? SURE.

I, A COUPLE JUST COMMENTS ON WHAT LT SAID, BUT BRING IT BACK SUMMER'S CARD, BUT MAYBE AFTER THE 4TH OF JULY TO SEE WHAT, WHAT IMPACT OUR, OUR EFFORTS HAD.

AND MAYOR COUNCIL, I JUST WANNA, UM, GIVE YOU UPDATE I GOT OR INFORMATION FROM OUR CITY PROSECUTOR.

SO WE DID START IN 2021, START IMPOSING THE FINES.

BEFORE THAT WE USED TO DO DIVERSION AND JUST, BUT I THINK YOU GOT, WELL SOME, THE DIRECTION WAS TO ENFORCE.

SO WE STARTED DOING CON CONVICTIONS WITH $500 FINES.

SO THE FINE IS $500.

VERONICA.

THANK YOU, UH, LIEUTENANT VARNEY FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I JUST WANNA COMMEND THE, UM, AVONDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WAS HAPPENING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND OR PROBABLY MY, UH, CURTIS' NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND IT WAS AN OFF MONTH.

IT WASN'T EVEN A MONTH OF, UH, 4TH OF JULY OR, UH, NEW YEAR'S.

AND I WOULD SEE, I'D HEAR IT 'CAUSE IT'D WAKE ME UP ABOUT TWO O'CLOCK, THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

AND I WAS LIKE, THAT JUST SOUNDS REALLY CLOSE.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED, IT WASN'T EVEN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, IT WAS ACTUALLY ACROSS THE STREET IN A DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD AND I KEPT CALLING AND OUR, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD APP THE NEXT DOOR.

AND MY NEIGHBORS KEPT ON COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME AREA.

EVENTUALLY WE WERE ABLE TO ALL KIND OF JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTACTED THE POLICE.

I SAID, WE HAVE TO CONTACT OUR, UM, NON-EMERGENCY LINE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CATCH THEM.

YOU GUYS DID CATCH THEM.

AND I, YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT FOR THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE IT WAS PROBABLY AFFECTING THE CASHING COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY IN BETWEEN CASHING RIGHT BEHIND FRY'S AND THEN THE COLDWATER RIDGE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS MY COMMUNITY.

SO ALL OF US WERE HEARING IT, AND IT, THEY WERE GOING OFF AT TWO OR THREE IN THE MORNING.

SO EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DID TO, TO, UM, ENSURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.

I KNOW THAT YOU TAKE THAT TYPE OF CARE EVERY 4TH OF JULY AND OR, UM, UM, NEW YEAR.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERONICA MAX.

ALL RIGHT, MAX, I'M GONNA GO TO CURTIS.

I'LL COME BACK TO YOU.

CURTIS, ANY THOUGHTS? YEAH, JUST A COUPLE ITEMS. ASSUMING THAT WITH ALL THESE THAT YOU PUT UP HERE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHERE THESE PLACES ARE.

I'M LOOKING AT THE, IS THERE A PLACE THAT YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, WHERE, WHERE THERE'S A HIGHER PROPENSITY OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN? A FOCUS AREA.

AND IF YOU PUT AN AERIAL DRONE UP THERE, I MEAN, IF, YOU KNOW, ALL 50 OF 'EM ARE HAPPENING HERE AND THE REST OF 'EM ARE SPREAD OUT, I DON'T THAT THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS A FOCUS AREA SO THAT YOU COULD PUT YOUR DRONE UP THERE AT EIGHT O'CLOCK AT NIGHT OR NINE O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.

AND WOULD THAT HELP AT ALL IF YOU, YOU KNOW, JUST FOCUS IN ONE AREA WHERE THERE'S A HIGHER PROPENSITY, THESE THINGS GOING OFF IN THE PAST? MAYOR, VICE COUNCIL THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THAT IS A TACTIC THAT WE USE.

SO A LOT OF TIMES WE DEPLOY OUR OFFICERS WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS, SOMETIMES IN UNMARKED VEHICLES, UM, TO GET, IF THERE'S A SPECIFIC AREA THAT WE WANTED TO TARGET BECAUSE WE SEE A LOT OF AERIAL OF THE SPECIFIC AREA, WE MAY SIT ON THAT AREA AND JUST KIND OF WATCH IT.

THAT'S WHERE WE MAY DEPLOY THE, THE DRONE AND KIND OF JUST NARROW IT DOWN A LITTLE MORE TO FOCUS ON A SPECIFIC EITHER BLOCK STREET OR HOUSE AND, AND KIND OF START TARGETING THAT SPECIFIC AREA.

UM, BUT LIKE YOU MENTIONED IT, SOMETIMES IT IS A LITTLE HARDER IF IT'S IN THE AIR, YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, OKAY, IS IT HERE, THERE WHERE, AND WE TRY TO SLOW IT DOWN AND, AND TARGET THAT SPECIFIC AREA.

AND ON WHAT VERONICA MENTIONED THERE, WITH THE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER, SOME OF THESE PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED.

EVEN WITH HOAS, THEY DON'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED.

UH, BUT IF THAT, IF YOU'RE GONNA DO SOCIAL MEDIA BLASTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, MAYBE YOU COULD PUT, IF YOU DON'T, HAVEN'T ALREADY, THAT NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER THERE SO THAT IT'S MORE FREELY AVAILABLE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHY A LOT OF RESIDENTS DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER.

AND IF MAYBE YOU JUST PUT THAT ON, ON YOUR, YOUR BLAST OR WHATEVER YOU WANTED TO DO, THAT, IF YOU HEAR THESE THINGS CALL THIS NUMBER, IT'S NOT EMERGENCY.

THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH IT.

NO THREATS.

ABSOLUTELY WILL.

AND ANYBODY COULD ALSO BE ANONYMOUS AS WELL WHEN THEY CALL US TO SAY, I WANNA BE ANONYMOUS, BUT I KNOW THAT THIS PERSON HERE, THIS LOCATION IS SHOOTING OFF THE LEGAL FIREWORKS.

MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW, YOU'D MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THOSE WHO, WHO CALLED IN OR SOMETHING.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, $50 GIFT CARD FOR AMAZON OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

RON SAID, WE'LL DISCUSS THAT LATER ON.

YEAH.

SO THAT WAS JUST A SUGGESTION TO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SIR.

THANKS CURTIS.

UM, AS CURTIS STATED, UH, A LOT, A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THAT NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

UM, LIKE VERONICA, I'D LIKE TO COMMEND YOU GUYS 'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS.

I KNOW THAT WE CELEBRATED, UH, 4TH OF JULY IN MY PARENTS' NEIGHBORHOOD OF ROOSEVELT PARK AND IT'S REALLY BAD THERE ALL YEAR LONG.

ALL YEAR LONG.

AND I THINK JUST LIKE THE REST OF COUNCIL HAS ECHOED, SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T WANNA CALL BECAUSE YOU'RE PLACED, IF YOU CALL A NON-EMERGENCY, AND I WILL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU YOU'RE PUT ON A A HOLD SOMETIMES LONGER THAN USUAL, ESPECIALLY ON HOLIDAYS.

[00:30:02]

I KNOW THAT RECENTLY I WENT TO, I FORGET WHAT EVENT IT WAS, BUT IT WAS RECENT WHERE THERE WAS A MAGNET THAT SAID WHAT TO CALL NON-EMERGENCY FOR, AND WE LEARNED IT IN THE CITIZENS ACADEMY, I THINK WITH YOU AS WELL.

BUT I THINK NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO, UH, MAYBE THIS IS A WRONG THING, A MARKETING PIECE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE USE THAT NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER IN A, WE ALL KNOW PEER AND HER PEOPLE ARE GOOD WITH THE GRAPHICS AND PUTTING THAT OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE IN CASE IF, YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR FIREWORKS OR THEY'RE GOING OFF OR WHATEVER, YOU CAN CALL THIS NUMBER SO THAT PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THERE'S A NUMBER TO BE CALLED.

I THINK IF WE ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH SOMEONE TO CALL OR AN, YOU KNOW, ANY GIVEN PIECE THAT MIGHT BE ONLINE, IT MIGHT BE IN SOCIAL MEDIA.

I KNOW PD DOES A WONDERFUL JOB WITH THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA.

UM, SOMEONE TO GET BEHIND IT AND REALLY KIND OF MAKE WHAT, WHAT WE CALL LIKE A CAMPAIGN FOR 4TH OF JULY ON SAYING LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE SAFETY OF FOR EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, JUST ILLEGAL FIREWORKS AND STUFF.

DO THAT.

THANK YOU GLORIA WEISNER.

I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR UP HERE THAT, UH, FOR ANOTHER TIME AND DISCUSSION THAT COUNCIL DOES HAVE THE APPETITE TO TRY AND WORK THROUGH THIS.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I JUST THINK IT'S GREAT THAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION.

UM, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH LIEUTENANT LOPEZ IN REGARDS TO THE PRESENTATION, BECAUSE WHEN I TALK TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, ONE OF THE COMMENTS OFTEN IS, WHY ARE WE NOT DOING ENOUGH TO STOP THE FIREWORKS? OR WHY DO WE NOT SEE OFFICERS HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE? AND IT'S CLEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHACK-A-MOLE.

YOU SHOW UP AND IT'S EITHER STOPPED OR IT'S STARTING IN ANOTHER AREA.

AND I MEAN, WE CAN ONLY, YOU, UH, ALL CAN ONLY DO WHAT YOU CAN DO.

AND SO FOR THAT FACT, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC THAT YOU'RE AWARE THAT YOU TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

UM, YOU KNOW, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TAKES IT SERIOUSLY AND AS A COUNCIL, WE TAKE IT SERIOUSLY IN REGARDS TO SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS.

BUT, UM, THERE'S MORE THAT CAN BE DONE.

AND SO, UH, I DON'T WANNA BELABOR THE POINT, BUT JUST THANK YOU FOR SHARING AWARENESS THAT YOU ARE FOLLOWING UP ON LEADS.

YOU DO, YOU KNOW, GO TO THE AREAS THAT ARE BEING ANNOUNCED OR AT LEAST, UM, DEMONSTRATING THERE'S AN ISSUE, BUT SOMETIMES BY THE TIME YOU GET THERE, IT'S OVER WITH.

AND JUST THAT WHOLE ISSUE STILL PERSIST.

SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

AND I KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE FANS OF FIREWORKS AND THIS IS IN NO WAY DEROGATORY TOWARD THEM.

IT'S, IT'S NOT, BUT I TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 61 AND THEY RELIVE SOME OF THE MOST HORRIBLE DAYS OF THEIR LIVES ON NEW YEAR'S EVE AND 4TH OF JULY WITH WHAT THEY HEAR.

AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE GRASP THAT ENOUGH.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT PETS, WE CAN TALK ABOUT, UH, DOGS HIDING UNDERNEATH THE BED AND BABIES AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE WHO ARE INCREDIBLY IMPACTED BY WHAT HAPPENS ON THESE TWO HOLIDAYS.

AND I THINK IF PEOPLE KNEW MORE ABOUT THAT, THEY WOULD HAVE MORE SYMPATHY AND EMPATHY FOR THE PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

SO MAX, I'M GONNA GO TO YOU LAST, IF THAT'S OKAY.

SHE'S ON.

YES, I'M HERE.

YES, MA'AM.

UM, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HEAR ME.

SEE THE EXHIBIT OF THE LEGAL FIREWORKS.

MAYOR, IF YOU CAN JUST SHOW ME A THUMBS UP.

I WANTED TO THANK LIEUTENANT LOPEZ AND THE CHIEF, UM, FOR THE AWESOME PRESENTATION.

MAX, YOU'RE GOOD? I AM.

OKAY, PERFECT.

I ALSO, UM, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON, UM, I HAVE A FEW NEIGHBORS WHO ARE VETERANS AND THE, UM, WHEN THE, WHEN THE FIREWORKS GO OFF, IT TAKES THEM BACK TO A WAR ZONE, UNFORTUNATELY.

AND, AND THAT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT A NON-ISSUE.

BUT I HAVE NEVER FOUGHT IN A WAR AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A PLACE WHERE I'M CONSTANTLY HEARING, UM, GUNS GOING OFF.

SO I JUST, I WANT US TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT.

UM, BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE REALLY JUST GOING THROUGH TRAUMATIC EVENTS, SITTING AT HOME.

I'M VERY ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF OUR OPERATIONS ISSUES.

THEY ARE BURNING UP ROADS.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT I FOUND.

UM, MOST RECENTLY, UM, IN MY HOME.

I SAW, UM, THE REMAINS OF FIREWORKS THAT HAD GONE OFF, UH, ALREADY.

SO I'M JUST CONCERNED WITH KIND OF THE AFTER EFFECTS OF THE FIREWORKS.

NO, I DON'T WANNA RATE ON ANYBODY'S 4TH OF JULY AT ALL.

I WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.

WE HAVE LIGHT UP THE SKIES.

I WANNA ENCOURAGE AS MANY PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE IN THAT FREE EVENT.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE AWESOME FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SEE BEAUTIFUL FIREWORKS THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IN A COMMUNITY SPACE AND REALLY ENHANCE OUR COMMUNITY.

THOSE ARE EVEN TROUBLESOME FOR SOME PEOPLE TO HEAR, BUT AT LEAST WE KNOW THEY'RE CONTROLLED AND THAT THEY'RE SAFE, UM, TO

[00:35:01]

THOSE THINGS THAT ARE LEGAL CAN STILL DAMAGE OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.

THOSE THINGS THAT ARE LEGAL CAN STILL CAUSE FIRES.

SO IF THEY'RE NOT USED CORRECTLY, WE JUST HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THAT.

UM, SO I'M, I'M REALLY APPRECIATING THE MEDIA BLITZ THAT'S GOING OUT WITH THE SEVEN CITIES IN THE WEST VALLEY.

I'M JUST REALLY HOPING THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ACT AND REACT THE RIGHT WAY ON THE 4TH OF JULY, BEING CONSCIOUS OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE IMPACTED AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR CITY THAT CAN BE IMPACTED AS WELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.

NUMBER THREE IS UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES.

AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO PD FOR THE PARTNERSHIPS.

LT, ANYTHING LAST, ANY LAST THING WE SHOULD KNOW? NO, SIR.

UH, WE'LL BE OUT THAT EVENING, LIKE I MENTIONED, SO WE'LL BE CONDUCTING THESE EDUCATIONS AHEAD OF TIME AND ENFORCEMENT AS NEEDED.

AND RON JUST, I THINK VICE VERSA SAID IT PERFECTLY.

THERE'S AN APPETITE TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER AFTER THE HOLIDAY AND SEE WHERE WE'RE AT.

I HOPE SIR.

I HOPE SIR, THAT THE NUMBERS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DOWN.

[3. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES]

AND I DO HAVE A FEW CARDS.

UM, I KNOW A BIG PART OF THE DISCUSSION IS ABOUT A, UM, UM, A MENTAL HEALTH HOME THAT IS GOING TO OR IS PLANNED IN SOME PART OF OUR CITY.

UM, I WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT THE TWO GENTLEMEN YOU JUST SAW UP HERE, UM, LT AND CHIEF WILL MEET WITH YOU AFTER IF YOU WISH TO.

AND I'M ALSO GONNA HAVE OUR INTER GOV UH, LIZ TALK WITH YOU TO KIND OF GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHT INTO WHAT DEPARTMENTS MIGHT BE A GOOD OUTREACH FOR THIS.

SO, UM, IN SOME CASES THE CITY OF AVONDALE'S HANDS ARE TIED, SO I DO WANNA START OUT WITH GONZALO.

IT'S GOOD SEEING YOU AGAIN, SIR.

AT THE RIGHT TIME WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENED.

WILL YOU EVEN HEARD, JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? MY NAME IS GONZALO ORTIZ.

I LIVE AT 1 0 7 0 1 WEST HOPI IN CASHON AND AVONDALE.

I'VE BEEN A LONG RESIDENT THERE SINCE 1970.

ANYWAY, UM, I'M HERE TO TO UH, UH, TO THANK, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IN THE CITY OF AVENUE AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, UH, NOT ONLY THE, THE COUNCILS AND THE, THE MAYOR, THEY HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE.

AND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS ST.

WILLIAMS ST.

VISIT DE PAUL.

ST.

WILLIAMS WAS, UH, BURNED OUT ON MAY THE FIRST AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

AND, UH, THE, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST RESPONDER WAS THIS, UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND, UH, I HAD HEARD, YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS TRYING TO SAVE, YOU KNOW, ST.

WILLIAMS, YOU KNOW, BUT I THINK IT WAS JUST IMPOSSIBLE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT JUST BURNED, BURNED DOWN TO, TO THE GROUND, YOU KNOW.

AND, UH, ALSO, UH, WE'VE HAD SOME, UM, FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, MEMBERS THAT HAVE DONATED, YOU KNOW, UH, GIFT CARDS TO, UH, TO SAVINGS AT YAL.

AND, UM, UH, AND ALSO, UM, RIGGS, I THINK HE'S IN CHARGE OF THE, UH, OF THE, UM, CHARITY.

HE BROUGHT US SOME, UH, SOME, UM, UH, GIFT CARDS TOO.

AND ALSO, I JUST WANT TO THROW THIS IN, UH, UM, CAPTAIN CHRISTINA LOPEZ CAME OVER TO OUR, UH, THE, UH, MERCY HOUSE AND PRESENTED US WITH, UH, SOME GIFT CARDS, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, SHE ALSO VOLUNTEERED FOR US TOO.

I MEAN, WE WERE REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

AND NOT ONLY JUST THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND, UH, HAS COME, YOU KNOW, CLOSE, UH, TO HELP US OUT, YOU KNOW.

AND, UM, WE, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF RESPONSE, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY JUST IN THE, IN THE WHOLE VALLEY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE, UH, CONFERENCES IN THE, UH, IN THE METROPOLITAN, THERE'S QUITE A FEW SAVINGS DE PAUL CONFERENCE, AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY GENEROUS, YOU KNOW, TO HELP US OUT, YOU KNOW, AND I ALSO WANNA BRING UP, UM, MERCY HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER.

WE, UM, YEAH, WE HAVE TO THANK HER BECAUSE SHE CAME AND, AND ASKED US, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANTED TO USE THE, UH, THE, THE MERCY HOUSE.

AND, AND I SAID, SURE.

YOU KNOW, SO, SO WE'RE THERE EVERY, UH, EVERY WEDNESDAY TO GIVE OUT, YOU KNOW, THE FOOD AND, AND ALSO IF THEY NEED ANY HELP WITH UTILITIES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, SO, AND, UH, BUT SHE'S BEEN VERY, VERY GRATEFUL.

WE'D JUST LIKE TO THANK THE WHOLE COMMUNITY HERE IN AVONDALE, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, THIS IS ALICE, UH, .

YOU KNOW, SHE'S, SHE WAS A POSTMASTER THERE IN CASHEN, AND I ASKED HER TO COME ABOARD THE SAME AS DE PAUL.

AND WELL, SHE TURNED ME DOWN TWICE, BUT THE THIRD TIME THIS IS, IS PUSHY, BUT SHE

[00:40:01]

SO, YEAH, I'M NEW TO THIS, BUT IT'S BEEN, UH, AN EXPERIENCE I WOULD NEVER EXPECTED.

AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYBODY WHO SUPPORTED US WITH THE FUNDRAISERS WE HAD OVER THE WEEKEND.

AND WE RAISED $3,000.

GOOD.

JUST IN A LITTLE TWO WEEKENDS.

SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY, TO, EVERYBODY FOR HELPING US OUT.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE PART, AND I CAN'T COMMENT A LOT, BUT YOU'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

ST.

WILLIAMS', BEEN A PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS, OUR HOPE.

AND I KNOW THAT IT WILL GET REBUILT AND YOU HAVE THE THOUGHTS OF PRAYERS OF EVERYONE UP HERE AND THE ENTIRE AVONDALE COMMUNITY, AND PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP SOME MORE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I JUST WANNA THANK YOU, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU, UH, BOARD, UH, THE, THE COUNCIL, THE VICE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SUPPORTING US AND THE, UH, FUNDRAISER THERE AT, UH, ALICE HOUSE.

YOU KNOW, SHE WAS VERY GENEROUS TO, TO USE HER PLACE AND, AND WE DID.

GREAT.

CAN I ASK, CAN I ASK WHO WON THE TV? OH, NOT YET.

NOT TILL FATHER'S DAY.

ALL RIGHT.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE.

ALL RIGHT, I'M JUST CHECKING.

, WE HAD A JOKE THAT PEP GUZMAN WAS GONNA WIN IT 'CAUSE PEP GUZMAN WINS EVERYTHING, SO THAT WAS GREAT.

UM, CAN I HAVE THE PEOPLE WHO'D LIKE TO COME DOWN AND SPEAK ABOUT THE, UH, MENTAL HOME, UH, IN THEIR AREA, WHOEVER WANTS TO SPEAK.

I HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4 COMMENTS.

MAYOR, I BELIEVE IT'S LEO AND THEN DIANA ARE HERE TO SPEAK.

AND THE OTHER ONES ARE, UH, DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK.

YEAH, LEO SAYS, NO, THIS OKAY.

NO, WE'RE GOOD HERE.

AND WOULD EVER LIKE TO COME DOWN AND SPEAK PLEASE, YVONNE? I'M SORRY.

AND I DO HAVE ONE REQUEST TO SPEAK FROM RENEE BRYANT, BUT SHE DID NOT LIST WHAT SHE WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT.

UM, SO IF RENEE IS HERE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO APPROACH THE PODIUM AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU, SIR.

DO YOU MIND JUST SAYING YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? ABSOLUTELY.

MY NAME IS LEO JAMES AL.

I LIVE AT 1 2 2 117TH DRIVE IN AVONDALE, ARIZONA IN THE COLD WATER RIDGE COMMUNITY.

THE REASON WHY I CAME HERE IS RECENTLY I MOVED TO AVONDALE.

I'VE OWNED A HOME DOWN HERE FOR SOME TIME, BUT AFTER 61 YEARS OF LIVING IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, I DECIDED TO MOVE DOWN HERE.

AND I LOVE IT HERE.

I REALLY DO.

UM, RECENTLY I FOUND OUT FROM DIANA, MY NEIGHBOR, THAT TWO DOORS DOWN FROM ME.

UH, SOMEONE PURCHASED A HOME AND IS TRYING TO GET PERMITS OBTAINED TO PUT A SMI OR SEVERELY MENTAL ILL HOUSING UNIT, AND ONE OF THE LARGE HOMES TWO DOORS DOWN.

I BELIEVE SAFETY FOR CHILDREN SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE FIRST PRIORITY.

WE HAVE ELLA VISTA ELEMENTARY, WHICH IS JUST TWO BLOCKS FROM THAT HOME.

LITTLETON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH IS EXACTLY BEHIND MY RESIDENCE, TWO DOORS DOWN FROM THIS, UH, RESIDENCE.

AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE LA JOLLA COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE.

WE HAVE COUNTLESS, WE HAVE COUNTLESS PARENTS WITH GROWING CHILDREN, MANY GRANDPARENTS WHO WATCH THEIR GRANDCHILDREN AND WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED.

AND THE ONES THAT KNOW ABOUT THIS ARE CONCERNED.

AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THE INDIVIDUAL THAT ENTERED THESE HOMES HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM EITHER A PSYCH PSYCH, PSYCH, PSYCH, YEAH.

PSYCHIATRIC WARD.

RE REHABILITATION FACILITY AND OR PRISON.

AFTER READING AN ARTICLE ABOUT AN SMII READ THAT DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, LIVING IN THESE HOMES ARE UNPREDICTABLE.

THE RESIDENTS GO INTO PSYCHOSIS AND THEIR BEHAVIOR CAN BE COMBATIVE.

IN THIS ARTICLE, THERE IS A STORY ABOUT A RESIDENT BECOMING SUICIDAL AND GOING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND TYING UP THAT STREET FOR HOURS.

WE HAVE FAMILIES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH CHILDREN ON THEIR BIKES AND ROLLER SKATES, AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECTED TO THIS BEHAVIOR.

UM, MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, UH, DIRECTING US TOWARDS SOME RESOURCES TO TRY TO, UH, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS, BUT, UH, I, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT, UH, SOMEBODY CAN DO FOR US, I HAD TO APPRECIATE IT.

AND AGAIN, WITHOUT COMMENTING, UH, WE WILL GIVE ALL THE RESOURCES THAT THE CITY OF AVONDALE CAN TO HELP YOU WITH THIS RESPECTFULLY.

THANK

[00:45:01]

YOU.

MA'AM.

WOULD YOU MIND STATING YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? MY NAME IS DIANA DUKE, AND I LIVE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE PROPERTY THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED.

I JUST WROTE A LETTER.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE AVONDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT, CURTIS NELSON, THE DAY THAT I CALLED AND MY HOA, EVERY ONE OF THEM GOT BACK TO ME WITHIN 12 HOURS, AND I WAS AMAZED, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THE, UH, MAYOR'S OFFICE TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SERVICES, WHICH THEY DID BECAUSE I RECEIVED A, A CALL FROM LIEUTENANT LOPEZ THAT SAME DAY.

I'M JUST GONNA READ MY LETTER.

IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE PROPERTY DIRECTLY TO THE EAST OF ME IS PREPARING TO BECOME, TO BECOME A GROUP HOME FOR MENTALLY ILL.

I HAVE CONTACTED HOA, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, CONGRESSMAN GLA ALVA.

YEP.

ALVA, UH, AND A CITY COUNCIL MEET MEMBER, WHICH WAS, UH, CURTIS NELSON.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE AVONDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.

THEY HAVE INVESTIGATED AND IT HA APPEARS THAT THIS RESIDENT HAS NOT APPLIED YET FOR APPLICATION OR PERMIT.

THE HOUSE THAT I'M REFERRING TO IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ME.

IT'S A TWO STORY HOUSE WHERE ANYONE LIVING IN THAT HOME HAS ACCESS TO LOOKING INTO MY BACKYARD, POSSIBLY INTO MY WINDOWS.

AND THIS IS VERY DISHEARTENING AND FRIGHTENING TO ME.

I DO LIVE ALONE OWN, UM, I'M SURE THAT THERE'S PLACES OR, AND THAT ARE NOT SURROUNDED BY NEIGHBORHOODS AND SCHOOLS THAT COULD EASILY HOUSE THESE FOLKS THAT ARE IN NEED OF HELP.

I'M CERTAINLY NOT AGAINST HELPING ANYONE.

I HAVE TWO TEENAGE GRANDDAUGHTERS THAT SPEND QUITE A BIT OF TIME WITH ME.

AND I AM CONCERNED AS LEO IS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN.

IT'S MY DESIRE TO STOP THIS HOME FROM BEING INTRODUCED TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND CAUSING STRESS AND POSSIBLE DANGER TO IT.

UM, LIKE I SAID, I'M, I'M NOT AGAINST HELPING THOSE IN NEED.

PEOPLE THAT ARE ON DRUGS AND NEED HELP AND ALCOHOLICS THAT NEED HELP, IF THEY HAD A PLACE TO GO TO, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.

BUT MY MOTHER DIED AT 55 BECAUSE OF ALCOHOLISM, BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T GET HELP.

SO I'M NOT AGAINST HELPING, BUT I AM TERRIFIED OF HAVING UNSTABLE PEOPLE LIVING NEXT DOOR TO ME.

SO MA'AM, YOU, YOU, YOU DID FANTASTIC.

YOU DID GREAT.

UM, LT CHIEF, LIZ, DO YOU MIND MEETING THE GROUP OUT IN THE BACK? IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE BACK WHO WANTED TO COMMENT OR DO YOU HAVE ONE PLEASE? YVONNE.

AND THEN ANYONE ELSE WHO'S HERE FOR UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME FORWARD.

MA'AM, DO YOU MIND STATING YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? HELLO, MY NAME IS YVONNE HOPPER AND I LIVE IN THE COLD WATER RIDGE COMMUNITY.

HI, VERONICA NEIGHBOR.

AND CURTIS, NICE TO SEE YOU.

UM, YES, I JUST WANTED TO ALSO ADDRESS MY CONCERNS.

I DO LIVE ON THAT STREET AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS.

I'VE BEEN IN A RESIDENT OF, UH, AVONDALE FOR 20 YEARS AND HAVE SEEN MY FAIR SHARE OF WHAT COMES WITH A GROUP HOME AND JUST BEING THAT I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE RIGHTS THAT THEY DO HAVE, WHICH IS TOTALLY, I'M IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD.

THEY ARE ENTITLED TO THAT OVERSIGHT AND THEY HAVE THAT PROTECTION.

BUT I ALSO ASK FOR OUR PROTECTION TOO, BECAUSE IT IS VERY DISHEARTENING AND FRUSTRATING TO COME OUTTA YOUR HOME AND BE ASKED TO BUM A CIGARETTE OR TO SEE THE FIRE AMBULANCE THERE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.

WHEN YOU HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OVER, IT REALLY DOES DISTURB THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO I KNOW THAT THESE HOMES AND OUR DEMOGRAPHICS PROBABLY DO MAKE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO PURCHASE AND MAKE THESE GROUP HOMES, BUT WITHIN THE CCNRS OF OUR HOA IT DOES SAY THAT YOU CAN'T CONDUCT BUSINESS.

AND OUR HO A IS DIRECTING US OUT.

SO WE'RE COMING TO YOU FOR HELP ASSISTANCE DIRECTION.

SO I KINDLY ASK THAT YOU LOOK AT THIS SITUATION AS IT'S BEING RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO YOU.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE

[00:50:01]

WE'VE, WE TRUST IN YOU TO DELIVER ON YOUR PROMISES OF SERVING US.

SO I JUST KINDLY ASK THAT YOU GUYS JUST GIVE US EVERYTHING YOU GOT AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION TO OUR REQUEST.

OUR REQUEST.

IT'S GOOD SEEING YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU ALWAYS.

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

ARE YOU GOOD NOW? OKAY FOLKS, IF YOU DON'T MIND, THEY'LL MEET YOU OUT IN THE LOBBY, LIZ.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, IF I CAN ASK OUR PLANNING, UH, MANAGER TO ALSO GO OUT WHO, UM, MIGHT BE ABLE TO ASSIST AND TELL HIM WHAT THE CITY IS CURRENTLY DOING, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

A AND FIVE B WILL NOT BE PRESENTED TOGETHER, BUT THEY ARE SIMILAR IN NATURE.

RON.

MARCEL, I THINK THAT'S IT FOR UNSCHEDULED FOR THIS ISSUE FOR, UH, UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCE, PUBLIC COMMENT, CORRECT.

MAYOR, WE DO HAVE TWO REQUESTS TO SPEAK FOR AGENDA ITEM FIVE B AND AND YOU'RE GOING TO READ THOSE? YES, I WILL READ THOSE.

UM, ITEM NUMBER

[4. CONSENT AGENDA]

FOUR IS CONSENT AGENDA.

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

CAN I GET A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA PLEASE? I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER NIELSEN, A SECOND FROM THE VICE MAYOR.

[a. Public Hearing - Truth in Taxation Hearing Setting Forth the Intent to Raise the Property Tax Levy]

SIR, ON ITEM FIVE A PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL UP, UH, IS RENEE, SHE'LL BE PRESENTING BOTH ITEMS. UM, SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO, UH, YOUR FINANCE AND BUDGET DIRECTOR.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I AM HERE TONIGHT TO, UM, PRESENT THIS ITEM IS PURPOSE IS TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX LEVY, WHICH IS CALLED THE TRUTH AND TAXATION HEARING.

UM, THE TRUTH AND TAXATION IS BASICALLY REQUIRED WHEN YOU'RE LEVY MORE THAN YOU DID THE PRIOR YEAR.

NOW PER STATUTE, THE LEVY CAN INCREASE ANNUALLY UP TO 2% AND THERE ARE SOME PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENTS, UM, THAT RESULT FROM THIS.

SO IN LOOKING AT THE PROPERTY TAX, PROPERTY TAX IS MADE UP OF TWO PARTS.

THE FIRST BEING THE PRIMARY PROPERTY TAX, WHICH IS USED FOR GENERAL PURPOSE AND THE, UM, SECONDARY TAX, WHICH IS SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPAYING, UM, BOND PRINCIPLE AND INTEREST.

UM, BUT TONIGHT FOR THIS PURPOSE WE'RE GONNA FOCUS ON THE PRIMARY TAX.

SO ON THIS CHART THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, YOU'RE SEEING WHAT OUR CURRENT YEAR, FISCAL 24 LEVY AND RATES ARE.

SO FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, OUR PROPOSED LEVY FOR NEXT YEAR WOULD BE JUST OVER 4 MILLION COMPARED TO THE 3.7.

THAT DOES REPRESENT A LEVY INCREASE OF 300,000, BUT IF YOU KEEP GOING, YOU CAN SEE WHAT OUR RATE IS DOING.

THE RATE FOR 24 WAS 63.73 CENTS, AND THE RATE FOR NEXT YEAR IS PROPOSED TO GO DOWN TO 62.41 CENTS.

SO THAT IS A RESULT OF THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES, WHICH GETS APPLIED TO THAT RATE.

SO WHEN YOU'RE ADDING IN OUR SECONDARY PROPERTY TAX, IT WILL GENERATE JUST OVER UNDER 9.5 MILLION FOR THE 25 BUDGET.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAX BILL BY JURISDICTION, YOU CAN SEE, UM, THAT INCLUDED IN THERE ARE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS SPECIAL DISTRICTS.

SO WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS JUST ONE SAMPLE OF ONE PROPERTY OWNER IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE WITH THEIR MOST RECENT BILL.

AND THE CITY IN THIS CASE REPRESENTED JUST OVER 11% OF THAT ENTIRE PROPERTY BILL.

SO WITH THAT, OUR RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT IS TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING, A TRUTH AND TAXATION HEARING, AND UPON CONCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, TO HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE TO SET FORTH THE INTENT TO RAISE PROPERTY TAX LEVIES.

AND THEN THE COUNCIL ACTION FOR THAT LEVEE WOULD NOT OCCUR UNTIL TWO WEEKS AFTER THE BUDGET ADOPTION.

RENEE, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ISSUE.

MARCELLO, DO YOU MIND READING THE TWO COMMENTS THAT WERE RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THE REQUEST TO SPEAK ARE FOR THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM FIVE BIB I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY.

OR FIVE A WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REQUESTS TO SPEAK.

OKAY, THEN I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, RAY RENEE, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, UM, COUNCIL HAD, USE MIKE'S TERM HERE, HAD PUT FORTH AN APPETITE TO RAISE THE PROPERTY TAX EVERY YEAR TO GET TO SOMEWHERE AROUND A DOLLAR 80.

AND I'M THINKING THAT WAS PROBABLY SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO FROM WHAT I REMEMBER.

AND WE'RE STILL AT A DOLLAR 45.

UM, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE MAKING IT WORK WITH THE FUNDS THAT WE'VE ALLOCATED.

THE 2% I I THINK PEOPLE LOOK AT THE 2%, AND RON AND I ARE THE SAME MIND OF THIS IS THE 2% IS IF YOU DON'T INCREASE THE 2%, THE FULL AMOUNT, THEN IT COMES,

[00:55:02]

EVEN IF YOU RAISE A 2% GOING FORWARD, YOU STILL LOST THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT AND IT COMPOUNDS OVER THOSE YEARS.

SO YOU'VE LOST THAT REVENUE THAT GOES FORWARD.

WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE, HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES IN THE WEST VALLEY? UM, I WOULD SAY THAT WE'RE PROBABLY ON THE LOWER END.

UM, WE DO HAVE IN OUR FINANCIAL POLICY THE CAP OF THE $2, BUT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR FORECASTED RATE, WE ARE SEEING THAT BECAUSE OF PROPERTY VALUES, WE ARE SEEING THAT TREND OF THAT PROPERTY TAX RATE GOING DOWN.

AND I KNEW, AND, AND, AND WE'VE ALWAYS TRIED, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR WATER RATES, WE TRY AND KEEP OUR WATER RATES AT THE LOWER END.

WE TRY AND DO MILD INCREASES WHEN IT COMES TO PROPERTY TAX, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SEEING THE ACTUAL RATE GO DOWN OVER PREVIOUS YEAR, WHICH IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR THIS COUNCIL.

IT'S GONE DOWN SEVERAL TIMES SINCE YOU GUYS HAVE ALL BEEN ON COUNCIL.

SO I KNOW THERE'S SOME, WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE SOMETIMES ABOUT, OH, YOU'RE RAISING PROPERTY RATES OR PROPERTY TAXES.

WE AREN'T, WE'RE TRYING TO, WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP A BASELINE THERE SO WE CAN STILL PROVIDE CITY SERVICES AND STILL BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO THE CITY.

SO I I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL ON THIS? SEEING NONE, CAN I GET A, UH, MOTION PLEASE? AND MAYOR, IT IS A ROLL CALL.

THERE'S NO MOTION ON THIS AT ALL RIGHT? NO, THERE IS A MOTION.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

AND IT IS A ROLL CALL VOTE.

SO I WILL DO A ROLL CALL VOTE AT THIS TIME.

COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MALONE.

AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER NIELSEN AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.

AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, LET ME SAY THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO MADE THE MOTION AND COUNCIL MEMBER NIELSEN SECONDED.

THANK YOU, RENEE.

ITEM B PLEASE.

[b. Resolution 1051-0624 - Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Fee Changes]

ALL RIGHT.

SO MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I AM ALSO HERE TONIGHT, UM, TO PRESENT OUR PROPOSED FEE CHANGES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

SO THERE ARE SOME POSTING REQUIREMENTS, UM, WHICH WERE MET.

WE DID POST, UM, OUR, OUR PROPOSED FEES ON THE CITY WEBSITE ON APRIL 3RD.

IT'S REQUIRED, UM, TO BE DONE 60 DAYS PRIOR TO ANY COUNCIL ACTION.

UM, WE ALSO POSTED NOTICE ON MAY 15TH ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WHICH IS REQUIRED AT LEAST 15 DAYS PRIOR TO COUNCIL ACTION.

AND THEN WE ARE REQUESTING THE ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED FEES TONIGHT.

WE DID RECEIVE ONE FORMAL PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE COUNCIL AGENDA AND WE WILL BE ADDRESSING IT, UM, LATER IN THIS PRESENTATION.

SO STAFF REVIEWED THE FEES AND RECOMMENDED CHANGES FROM THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS, AND I WILL GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, UM, FROM THE ACTUAL FEES THAT WERE PROPOSED FROM THESE DEPARTMENTS.

UH, THE FIRST BEING IN POLICE.

SO OVERALL THERE, UH, WERE SOME ELIMINATING OF OUTDATED FEES NO LONGER USED, SIMPLIFYING THE FEES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, AND THEN UPDATING SOME FEES TO ACCOUNT FOR, UM, UPDATED PRICING IN BOTH PARKS AND THE PUBLIC WORKS.

SOLID WASTE.

WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF NEW FEES BEING PROPOSED, THE MEMORIAL BENCH AS WELL AS SOME PICKUP, UH, FEE AND, UH, CONTAINER REPLACEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

UNDER BOTH THE D THE BUILDING DIVISION AND THE PLANNING DIVISION, THERE ARE VARIOUS FEES, UM, BEING UPDATED TO REFLECT ACTUAL COSTS THAT ACTUAL ALIGN WITH SOME SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

UNDER THE BUILDING DIVISION SPECIFICALLY, THERE'S A COUPLE OF NEW FEES BEING PROPOSED FOR A TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY AS WELL AS A APPLICATION PROCESSING FEE.

AND IN THE PLANNING DIVISION, A GROUP HOUSING REGISTRATION AS WELL AS ASSIGNED PACKAGING FEE IN THE ENGINEERING SERVICE.

AND THOSE FEES INCLUDE PAVEMENT CUT FEES, TELECOM FEES, TRAFFIC CONTROL, PLAN FEES, AND SEWER VERIFICATION.

SO THIS WAS THE AREA THAT OUR PUBLIC COMMENT ADDRESSED.

AND SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY ENGINEER KIM MOON.

HI.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THIS IS, UH, A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE, UH, COMMENTS RECEIVED ON SOME OF THE ENGINEERING FEES PROPOSED IN THE CURRENT FEE SCHEDULE.

SO, UM, LEMME GET MY NOTES HERE.

THE CITY'S RECEIVED COMMENTS IN THREE OF THE FEES IN THE PROPOSED FEE SCHEDULE FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROJECTS.

SPECIFICALLY THE PLAN REVIEW FEE, THE CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FEE FOR BORING, AND THE CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FEE FOR HANDHOLD VAULTS.

BEFORE I STARTED HERE AT AVONDALE, THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT HAD ASSEMBLED A TELECOMMUNICATIONS TEAM CALLED THE FIBER FORCE AND TO REVIEW, TO REVIEW RECENT INQUIRIES AND TRENDS RELATED TO THE FIBER PROJECTS

[01:00:01]

HERE IN AVONDALE.

ADDITIONALLY, CITY STAFF HAS ONGOING MEETINGS WITH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES REGARDING FEEDBACK ON AGREEMENTS, DESIGN PROCESS, CONSTRUCTION, DETAILS, METHODS, AND ASSOCIATED FEES.

WE ALSO HAVE COLLABORATED WITH OTHER AGENCIES ON INDUSTRY TRENDS, SHARED EXPERIENCES, NEW IDEAS AND BEST PRACTICES, INCLUDING REVIEW OF FEE SCHEDULES OF NEIGHBORING CITIES AND OTHER AGENCIES.

AS SHOWN HERE IN THE SPREADSHEET, OVERALL CITY STAFF IS RECOMMENDING CHANGES TO THE FEE SCHEDULE TO CREATE NEW FEES FOR PAVEMENT CUTS, TRAFFIC CONTROL, SEWER VERIFICATION, AND A NEW SECTION SPECIFICALLY FOR TELECOMMUNICATION AS PART OF THE NEW TELECOM SECTION.

IN RESPONSE TO FEEDBACK FROM FIBER COMPANIES AND TO HELP REDUCE COSTS, A NEW FEE WAS CREATED FOR SOFT LANDSCAPE POTHOLING SPLICE PIT OF $15 PER HOLE.

IN ADDITION TO THE HARDSCAPE POTHOLING AT $50 A HOLE.

OTHER TELECOM FEES ARE PROPOSED FOR IMPLE IMPLEMENTATION, UH, AND THEY HAVE NO INCREASE AT THIS TIME IN OUR CITY AND OTHER CITIES.

THE NUMBER OF FIBER PROJECTS ARE PROJECTED TO INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR HOW TO INSTALL TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE CONTINUES TO CHANGE OVER TIME.

CITY STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE COMMUNICATION AND SHARING OF INFORMATION WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE TELECOMMUNICATION INDUSTRY ON THE COST OF PROVIDING SERVICES, COMPETITION IN THE MARKET, AND HOW WE COMPARE WITH THE FEE STRUCTURES OF OTHER AGENCIES.

ON THE SLIDES OVERHEAD ARE SOME GRAPHICS AND PHOTOS FOR SOME OF THE FEES.

IN THE NEW TELE COMMUNICATION SECTION OF THE FEE SCHEDULE, A FLOWER POT IS, UH, ANOTHER TERM FOR A SMALL HANDHOLD VAULT OR BOX.

SO YOU CAN SEE IN THE GRAPHIC THE MORE TYPICAL LARGER BOX THAT YOU MAY SEE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND A FLOWER POT IS A TERM THAT SOME OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, UH, UH, FIRMS USE FOR THE SMALLER HANDHOLD.

BORING IS, UH, IF YOU LOOK IN THE PHOTO, THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF A CONSTRUCTION BORING WHERE THEY, UH, PUT A CONDUIT UNDER EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT IMPACTING THE INFRASTRUCTURE, HOPEFULLY.

UH, AND WITHOUT DIGGING A DITCH AND DISRUPTING, UH, UH, THE EXISTING PAVEMENT AND TRAVEL LANES, THESE TYPES OF ITEMS IN ASSOCIATED FEES SOUND SIMPLE AND GENERIC, BUT STAFF STILL NEEDS TO INSPECT THE INSTALLATION OF THESE DEVICES.

FEES ARE TO HELP COVER THE COST OF INSPECTIONS AND ANY CORRECTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE FIBER INFRASTRUCTURE INSTALLATIONS.

STAFF RECOMMENDS THE REVISIONS TO THE FEE SCHEDULE AS PROPOSED AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN INDUSTRY SO AVONDALE CAN BE COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET AND TO HELP ENSURE QUALITY SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OF AVONDALE.

SO BEFORE I TURN IT BACK OVER TO RENEE, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ENGINEERING FEES.

KIM, HOW LONG WERE THE PREVIOUS FEES PUT INTO PLACE? HOW LONG, HOW LONG HAVE THEY EXISTED? UH, SEVERAL YEARS.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN UPDATED IN A WHILE.

UM, AND I THINK THAT'S, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE JUMP, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT JUMP ACROSS THE BOARD.

LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES.

IT IS, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHERE HAVING THOSE REVIEWS, I'M NOT SAYING WE HAVEN'T, BUT I THINK HAVING THOSE REVIEWS ON A REGULAR BASIS REALLY DOES HELP US AVOID THESE DRAMATIC INCREASES WHERE IT GETS THE ATTENTION OF PEOPLE, EVEN THOUGH NOW WE'RE LESS THAN MOST OF THE CITIES, IF NOT ALL OF THEM, WHEN IT COMES TO THESE TYPE OF REVIEWS.

SO, UM, I WOULD JUST ASK THAT MOVING FORWARD, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE ON THESE AS WE INSPECT THEM.

ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? OKAY, KIM.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

I'M GONNA TURN IT BACK OVER TO RENEE.

SO YOU GOT THE, THE EXCITING PART OF IT OUT OF THE WAY, AND NOW IT'S BACK TO RENEE .

I'M GLAD YOU THINK IT.

I I LOVE THAT KIND.

WE'RE GOOD.

A SO NO WAIT, THAT MAYOR VICE.

WELL, DO YOU WANNA SAY THAT LOUDER? HOLD ON, SAY IT LOUDER.

THAT WAS A GOOD DAD JOKE.

MAYOR, THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT BORING.

IT WAS , IT WAS ENGAGING .

RENEE.

THANK YOU MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UM, WITH THAT, THE RECOMMENDATION IS FOR COUNCIL TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 1 0 5 4 DASH 0 6 2 4 TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 SUMMARY OF PROPOSED FEE CHANGES.

AND THEN THE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE TO POST THE NEW SCHEDULE PRIOR TO JULY ONE WITH IT GOING INTO EFFECT ON JULY ONE.

SO RENEE, BEFORE WE GET INTO PUBLIC COMMENT, DO YOU KNOW WHY THE JALAPENO PUT ON A JACKET? NO.

'CAUSE HE WAS A LITTLE CHILLY.

THANK YOU, MARCELLA.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

AT THIS TIME I'LL READ THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.