[00:00:06]
STAND AND JOIN ME WITH A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
MY PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TRULY THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS FOR ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
[1. ROLL CALL BY THE CITY CLERK]
NUMBER ONE IS ROLL CALL.MARCELLA, WILL YOU PLEASE DO THE ROLL CALL? COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI HERE.
[a. Installation of City Council]
NEXT ITEM PLEASE.I, UH, GET THE HONOR TO ANNOUNCE, UM, THAT WE'RE GONNA START WITH OUR INSTALLATION OF OUR NEW CITY COUNCIL.
AND WE ARE ACTUALLY GONNA START WITH YOU, MR. MAYOR.
MAYOR PINETA, WHO WILL BE SWORN IN BY THE HONORABLE PEP GUZMAN.
AND ACTUALLY, BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF DIGNITARIES HERE, UH, IN THE AUDITORIUM AND WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THEM.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STANDING WHEN I ANNOUNCE YOUR NAME, AND IF I MISS YOUR NAME, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
UH, HONORABLE JUDGE PEP GUZMAN, FORMER LD 22 LEGISLATOR AND AVONDALE, AND FORMER AVONDALE COUNCIL MEMBER LORENZO SIERRA CHANDLER, MAYOR KEVIN HARKEY, FORMER AVONDALE MAYOR KEN WEISS.
NICE
UH, FORMER VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER FROM THE CITY OF GLENDALE, JAMIE HAMAMA.
AND IF THERE'S ANY OTHER FORMER OR CURRENT ELECTED OFFICIALS, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STANDING, I APOLOGIZE, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE YOUR NAME DOWN.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND JUST HEAD DOWN.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I FORGOT THIS, BUT FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER FROM CITY OF DALE, MY BUDDY, JASON HERB
WHERE DO YOU WANT US STAND HERE? STAND RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
WHERE DO YOU WANT US TO STAND? OH, PERFECT.
SO YOU CAN, AND THEN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO ON NEXT TO, UM, THE, THERE, THERE YOU GO.
SO SET UP WHERE YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR HAND THERE.
MIKEY, COME AND GET IN THE PICTURE.
MR. MIKE PINEA, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HEAD AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I MIKE PINEA, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
THAT I, THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA AND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE, AND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME AND I WILL BEAR FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE TRUTH.
[00:05:01]
FAITH, SAY THAT AGAIN.AND THAT I WILL BEAR TRUTH, FAITH, AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME AND DEFEND THEM AGAINST ALL ENEMIES.
AND DEFEND THEM AGAINST ALL ENEMIES.
AND THAT I WILL, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY.
AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES.
DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR, OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR, REPRESENTING THE CITY OF AVONDALE, REPRESENTING THE CITY OF AVONDALE, MARICOPA COUNTY, THE STATE OF ARIZONA, MARICOPA COUNTY, THE STATE OF ARIZONA, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY THANK, UH, MY WIFE OLIVIA, MY SON JONATHAN, MY SON MIKEY, MY DAUGHTER ANGELIQUE, MY DAUGHTER BIANCA, AND MY PARENTS DANIEL AND ESTHER, UH, FOR BEING HERE.
AND, UM, NOT MANY GET TO SEE MY KIDS BECAUSE THEY'RE, UH, OH, MY SISTER LISA.
UM, NO, NOT MANY GET TO SEE ALL MY KIDS TOGETHER 'CAUSE THEY'RE SPREAD APART.
SO I JUST, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WAS ABLE TO, UH, OR AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE THEM.
THANK YOU MR. MR. NEXT ITEM, PLEASE.
NEXT WE HAVE, UH, UH, THE SWEARING OF COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, WHO WILL BE SWORN IN BY HER SON, RYAN.
SO WE'LL HAVE YOU STAND OVER HERE, MOVE THIS.
SO COME CLOSE TO THE MIC THOUGH.
CAN YOU HOLD THE BIBLE FOR ME? OH YEAH.
RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I JEANETTE GARCIA, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THOU SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
THOU SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE AND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
I'LL BE BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME.
I'LL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME AND DEFEND THEM AGAINST ALL ENEMIES AND DEFEND THEM AGAINST ALL ENEMIES.
AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE WITH DUTIES.
AND I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTING THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA, REPRESENTING THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
AND, UM, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT.
THIS WHOLE SECTION'S MY FAMILY,
COUNCIL, UP NEXT, WE ARE GONNA SWEAR IN COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO WHO'LL BE SWORN IN BY MR. ALDAMA.
[00:10:06]
SURE.RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I, GLORIA SOLORIO DO SO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA, AND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE, AND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME AND DEFEND THEM AGAINST ALL ENEMIES.
AND DEFEND THEM AGAINST ALL ENEMIES.
AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER.
DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTING THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA, REPRESENTING THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
UH, I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYONE 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, TO BE HERE ON A MONDAY NIGHT.
I JUST APPRECIATE YOU GIVING UP YOUR TIME AND BEING HERE.
THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY, UM, MY NEPHEWS.
'CAUSE I ALWAYS SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS ARE OUR FUTURE AND I DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN, BUT THEY'RE LIKE MY KIDS.
SO THIS IS WHY I'M UP HERE TO MAKE AVONDALE BETTER FOR OUR FUTURE, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UP NEXT IS A SWEARING END OF COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS.
SHE WILL BE SWORN IN BY HER HUSBAND AND OUR FORMER AVONDALE MAYOR, KEN WEISS.
NO, I MEAN, I THINK SHE MEANS ME.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES? THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA AND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE AND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
THAT I'LL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME TO THE SAME.
AND DEFEND THEM AGAINST ALL ENEMIES.
AND DEFEND THEM AGAINST ALL ENEMIES.
AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES.
DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTING THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA, REPRESENTING THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
I ACTUALLY WROTE A COUPLE NOTES 'CAUSE I KNEW I WOULD FORGET WHAT I WAS GONNA WANNA SAY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I'M HONORED, UM, FOR THE TRUST THAT THE RESIDENTS OF AVONDALE PUT INTO ME.
UM, THEY BESTOWED ON ME FOR THIS POSITION.
AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO EARN YOUR TRUST, UM, TO BE A GOOD COUNCIL MEMBER TO MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WILL ALWAYS LISTEN TO DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW,
[00:15:01]
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.EACH OF US BRINGS DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES TO THIS COUNCIL.
FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS I WORKED IN HEALTHCARE AND I LOOK AT THINGS FROM A HEALTHCARE PERSPECTIVE.
SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT MY LIFE EXPERIENCES AND MY WORK EXPERIENCES WILL BE BENEFICIAL IN OUR DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD TO MY WONDERFUL FAMILY, ESPECIALLY MY HUSBAND, KEN, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BELIEVING IN ME, ALLOWING ME TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.
AND FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, I FEEL TRULY BLESSED.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA TAKE A MINUTE TO, UH, TAKE PICTURES AND, UH, UM, CELEBRATE, UH, DOWN HERE.
UH, UH, WE HAVE OUR FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHER THAT WILL ARRANGE THINGS, BUT, UH, COME ON DOWN.
IF YOU GUYS WOULDN'T MIND JOINING ME DOWN THERE FOR SOME PICTURES AND FOR EVERYONE WHO JOINED US TONIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
THAT CONCLUDES THE INSTALLATION CEREMONY.
UM, SO WE WILL NOT BE OFFENDED IF YOU LEAVE AFTER THIS POINT.
CONGRATULATIONS AND DIDN'T CRY UNTIL YOU START TALKING ABOUT IT.
[00:20:50]
3, 2, 1.I'M NOT, I DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT.
[00:26:30]
YEAH.[00:32:15]
WATCHING THIS, SHE'S GOT SAID I WAS SO SICK AND TOLD SHE JUST TEXTED BEFORE.I'LL, I, I'M THURSDAY, FRIDAY.
TEXT SAID I HAVE FIVE TO GIFT YOU.
AND SO SHE SAID, UM, SO WE JUST NEED TO PICK IT UP.
IT'S, I CAN'T LET KNOW WHEN THIS IS COOL.
ONCE WE GET IT, WHATEVER'S NOT NECESSARY, WE'LL TAKE IT TO THE FOSTER PEOPLE THAT JUST CAME TO
[b. Employee Announcements]
RON, UH, ITEM TWO B, PLEASE.THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
WE'LL, UH, NEXT HAVE OUR EMPLOYEE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
WE'LL START WITH THE INTRODUCTIONS OF NEW EMPLOYEES.
FIRST UP, WE HAVE, UH, AN INTRODUCTION BY KIM MOON, OUR DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND CITY ENGINEER.
I AM, UH, KIM MOON, THE ENGINEER, UH,
[00:35:01]
CITY ENGINEER AND DIRECTOR OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE, UH, INTRODUCE OUR NEW PROJECT MANAGER, TORSTEN SCHMID.
HE, UH, IS IN OUR CIP DIVISION AND HE'S, UH, WORKING ALONG WITH OTHER PROJECT MANAGERS AND WILL FOCUS ON VERTICAL PROJECTS.
THIS IS HIS FOURTH WEEK, AND UNFORTUNATELY, I'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE OUT TODAY.
HE'S ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, HE'S NOT ABLE TO JOIN US THIS EVENING, SO I'M JUST GONNA GIVE YOU A FEW HIGHLIGHTS.
HE'S WORKING ON FIRE STATION 1 71, POLICE COMMUNICATIONS BUREAU, REMODEL, CANINE TRAINING FACILITY, AND THE FIRE TRAINING TOWER.
SO HE'S ALREADY UP AND RUNNING ON THOSE PROJECTS.
HE WAS BORN IN NEW JERSEY, GREW UP ON A SMALL FARM IN THE COUNTRY.
HE SPEAKS BOTH ENGLISH AND GERMAN.
UH, HE'S A REGISTERED ARCHITECT IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.
HE WAS INSPIRED BY FRANK LO WRIGHT TO PURSUE ARCHITECTURE, AND HE WENT TO COLLEGE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
HE ENJOYS GOLF, HOCKEY, LIVE MUSIC, STAINED GLASS, HOME IMPROVEMENTS, AND HIS YEAR AND A YEAR AND A HALF OLD PET BOXER.
UM, SO IF YOU SEE TORSTEN AROUND, PLEASE UH, SHAKE HIS HAND AND WELCOME HIM TO AVONDALE.
AND PLEASE LET HIM LET HIM KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL APPRECIATIVE OF HIM BEING HERE.
AND, UH, SO IT'S A, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY HE WASN'T HERE TONIGHT, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
AS YOU MENTIONED, WHEN WE SEE HIM AROUND, WE'LL MAKE SURE TO SAY HELLO.
AND MR. MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN, MR. A REMINDER, UH, WE POST ALL PICTURES OF ALL NEW EMPLOYEES IN THE BIWEEKLY REPORT THAT COMES FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
SO AT THE BACK PAGES, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT HE LOOKS AT, LIKE, SO WHEN YOU RUN INTO HIM AT 1 71 OR THE CANINE FACILITY WHEN IT'S TIME, UH, YOU'LL RECOGNIZE HIM.
THANK YOU HONOR, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL, UP NEXT, WE HAVE INTRODUCTION BY, UH, DAVE WAGNER, OUR ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF, ONE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S NEW EMPLOYEES.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, TONIGHT I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE OUR NEWEST FIRE INSPECTOR, STEPHANIE HERNANDEZ.
UH, STEPHANIE GREW UP IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA, AND SHE PREVIOUSLY WORKED AS A FIRE INSPECTOR WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND, UH, IS INTERNATIONAL CODE COMPLIANCE CERTIFIED.
UH, SHE HAS A BACKGROUND IN HEALTHCARE AND HAS OBTAINED HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY IN, UH, NURSING.
AND HER GOAL IS TO, UH, GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE CITY OF AVONDALE AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY TO THE BEST OF HER ABILITY.
AND THEN ONE FUN FACT ABOUT, UH, STEPHANIE IS THAT SHE LOVES HER DOG.
COCO
SO HOW LONG I, I'VE MISSED IT.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH US SO FAR? UM, MY FIRST DAY HERE WAS IN NO, SECOND WEEK OF NOVEMBER.
IN THAT SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THOUGH, SHARE SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE WITNESSED HERE WITH THE CITY THAT, UH, MAKES THIS THE PLACE THAT YOU WANNA CALL HOME.
IMMEDIATELY I REALIZED THAT THE CLOSENESS OF THE COMMUNITY, UM, IT, EVERYONE'S JUST LIKE FAMILY HERE.
UM, I WAS REFERRED TO CITY OF OF AVONDALE FROM A FAMILY FRIEND, UM, AND HE KEPT SAYING IT WAS JUST FAMILY, FAMILY-LIKE, AND COMING FROM PHOENIX TO HERE, IT'S DEFINITELY FAMILY-LIKE.
SO I REALLY LIKE THAT CLOSENESS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, STEPHANIE.
[c. Recognition of Camp HERO Participants]
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.UP NEXT WE HAVE GABBY, OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR TO PRESENT AND TALK ABOUT CAMP HERO.
UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY WITH CAPTAIN LOPEZ, FIREFIGHTER CONNO AND A FEW OF OUR PARTICIPANTS FROM OUR 2024 CAMP HERO.
UM, CAPTAIN LOPEZ AND FIREFIGHTER O CONNO WERE REALLY BIG, UM, ADVOCATES FOR THIS PROGRAM.
UM, NATIONALLY, ONLY 5% OF FIREFIGHTERS ARE WOMEN, AND SO THEY FELT THAT HAVING A A CAMP LIKE THIS WOULD HELP INCREASE THOSE NUMBERS HERE IN AVONDALE AND ALSO GIVE, UM, SOME OF THE GIRLS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CAREER THAT THEY MAYBE HADN'T CONSIDERED, UM, PRIOR TO ATTENDING THIS CAMP.
UM, THIS CAMP IS FOR GIRLS AGES 14 TO 18 FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS.
UM, AND IT GIVES THEM A LOT OF HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITIES TO GET TO KNOW OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
WE HAD 13 PARTICIPANTS THIS YEAR, UM, FOR OUR FIRST EVERY YEAR.
AND, UM, THEY HAD A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES, VARIETY OF GOALS.
UM, SOME OF THEM CAME IN THINKING MAYBE THEY WANTED TO BE FIREFIGHTERS, UM, BUT A MAJORITY OF THEM WEREN'T REALLY SURE WHAT TO EXPECT.
UM, BY THE END OF THE CAMP, A LOT OF THEM KIND OF CHANGED THEIR MIND AND WERE LIKE, I'M ACTUALLY SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING THIS AS A CAREER, WHICH IS GREAT.
UM, THEY WERE ABLE TO HAVE A LOT OF HANDS-ON, UM, SKILLS WORK.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THERE ON THE LEFT, THEY WERE ABLE TO FLOW WATER.
UM, THEY'RE IN THE CENTER, THEY'RE DOING A SEARCH AND RESCUE DRILL.
UM, YOU CAN'T SEE IT, BUT, UH, THEIR EYES ARE
[00:40:01]
ACTUALLY COVERED.UM, THEY, THE GOAL WAS TO FOLLOW THE HOSE, WHICH YOU CAN KIND OF SEE HERE IN THIS PICTURE.
UM, WHILE THEY'RE BLINDFOLDED, LOUD MUSIC'S PLAYING, UM, THEY GOTTA GO IN, GET THE MANNEQUIN, GET IT OUT, AND GET IT TO SAFETY.
SO THAT'S KIND OF SIMULATING SOME OF THE STUFF THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS GO THROUGH.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE A FORCIBLE ENTRY DRILL.
UM, AND THAT'S, THEY'RE USING THE SAME TOOLS THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS USE EVERY DAY.
UM, SO IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE THESE GIRLS KIND OF LEARN SOMETHING NEW, PICK IT UP AND, AND REALLY HAVE FUN WITH IT AND REALLY ENJOY IT.
SO, UM, THEY WANT, THEY ASK THAT THE CAN'T BE LONGER IF WE'RE GONNA TRY AND EXTEND IT FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, THIS IS PROBABLY THEIR FAVORITE DAY.
THEY GOT TO GO UP ON OUR LADDER.
THEY ACTUALLY CLIMB THE LADDER.
UM, FOR A CITIZEN ACADEMY, WE USUALLY HAVE SOMEONE GET IN THE BUCKET, UM, AND THEN WE LIFT THEM UP.
BUT FOR THIS, THEY DO WHAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS DO IN THE ACADEMY, WHICH IS, UM, CLIMB THE LADDER TO NOT QUITE A HUNDRED FEET, BUT THAT IS AS FAR AS IT EXTENDS.
UM, AND IF THEY WANTED TO, THEY WERE STRAPPED IN.
SO THEY HAD THE OPTION TO KIND OF LEAN BACK AND JUST KIND OF SHOW THEMSELVES HOW BRAVE AND HOW STRONG THEY REALLY COULD BE.
SO IT WAS A REALLY EMPOWERING EXPERIENCE FOR THESE GIRLS.
UM, THEY REALLY ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
UM, THEY HAD A TON OF FUN YOU CAN SEE HERE IN THESE PICTURES.
UM, AND THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT THEY ASKED FOR IN THEIR FEEDBACK WAS THAT, UM, WE EXTEND THE CAMP ON SUNDAY.
THEY WERE LIKE, CAN WE STAY? CAN WE SPEND THE NIGHT? AND, UH, THEY HAD SCHOOL, SO THAT'S IMPORTANT.
BUT, UM, WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS PROGRAM.
UM, I THINK I'VE HEARD FROM ALMOST ALL OF YOU HOW EXCITED YOU WERE WHEN WE ANNOUNCED IT.
UM, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE CITY MANAGER'S SUPPORT, OUR ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT, UM, OUR MARKETING DEPARTMENT SUPPORT.
I DON'T THINK WE WOULD'VE HAD 13 PARTICIPANTS IF IT WASN'T FOR THEM.
WOULD YOU MIND INTRODUCING, UH, THE PARTICIPANTS AND WOULD ANY OF 'EM LIKE TO, TO SHARE ANY ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE? JUST TELL THEM NAME AND TELL ME WHAT YOUR FAVORITE PLAN WAS.
IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE, THAT'S FINE, BUT YOU'D LOVE TO TO HEAR FROM YOU.
UM, MY FAVORITE THING WAS JUST PROBABLY LIKE MEETING PEOPLE AND GETTING TO ACTUALLY DO LIKE, HANDS-ON WORK.
UM, IT WAS REALLY FUN AND I'VE MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS THROUGH IT.
UM, MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT IT PROBABLY WAS LIKE THE CONNECTIONS.
I STILL, I HANGED OUT WITH HER LIKE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO 'CAUSE I MET HER THERE AND IT WAS REALLY FUN.
UM, I GOT A FEW OF THE GIRLS' NUMBERS AND IT WAS SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND IT WAS REALLY FUN.
EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE PUT ON THE SPOT, YOU GUYS DID A GOOD JOB.
MY NAME IS ELY AND UH, MY FAVORITE PART OF THIS CAMP IS THAT IT MADE ME RECONSIDER MY, LIKE, CAREER OPTIONS THAT I NEVER THOUGHT I WANTED TO BE A FIREFIGHTER, BUT NOW I'M RECONSIDERING WHAT I WANNA DO WHEN I'M OLDER.
AND I GUESS, YOU KNOW, YOU SAID IT BEST NOW YOU'RE CONSIDERING IT.
YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT BEFORE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING AND THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING.
ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL WANNA SHARE? OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, I LOVE THIS PROGRAM.
WHEN THEY SHOWED IT TO ME, I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOSH, I WAS PART OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I WAS IN THE ARMY, AND I WANT YOU GIRLS TO KNOW THAT YOU GUYS COULD DO IT AND FI DON'T JUDGE ME.
WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY,
IT IS ONE OF, IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE HARDER THAN BEING A POLICE OFFICER ONLY BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE TO CARRY ALL OF THAT GEAR.
I HAVE FRIENDS WHO DO THE NINE 11 CHALLENGE EVERY YEAR.
FEMALES WHO HAVE TO CARRY THAT, DO IT WITH ALL OF THAT GEAR.
AND YOU KNOW, WE GET TOLD A LOT THAT WE CAN'T, BUT WE CAN.
IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO PUT THE WORK, YOU'RE ABLE TO DO IT AND SUCCEED.
AND THE THING THAT YOU'LL GET OUT OF IT THE MOST IS THE BOND.
EVEN JUST THE BOND YOU GUYS BUILT IN THAT WEEK.
THE BOND YOU BUILD WITH THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE WITH, WHETHER IN THE MILITARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT OR AS FIREFIGHTERS, WILL BE A BOND YOU COULD NEVER BREAK.
AND YOU GUYS MIGHT BE FRIENDS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES AND GO TO THE FIRE ACADEMY TOGETHER AND SERVE FOR 20 YEARS TOGETHER AND END UP BEING LIKE THESE WONDERFUL WOMEN AND HAVING OTHER, TEACHING OTHER GIRLS HOW TO BE FIREFIGHTERS.
SO I THINK IT IS WONDERFUL THAT YOU GIRLS TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO DO THIS 'CAUSE THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT, ABOUT YOU AND THAT YOU TOOK A, IT'S A, IT WAS A WEEK, RIGHT? OR LIKE FOUR DAYS.
YOU GUYS TOOK FOUR DAYS OUTTA YOUR LIVES TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD NEVER THINK TO DO AND NOW YOU MIGHT HAVE A NEW CAREER PATH.
I'M GLAD THAT THE PROGRAM WENT REALLY WELL.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE WOMAN AND ALL OF THE SUPPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR SETTING THIS UP.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU GUYS.
YOU GUYS ARE THE FIRST CLASS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THIS.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF COURSE, BUT ESPECIALLY TO THE WOMEN.
[00:45:01]
THIS CONFERENCE, I THINK I TOLD CAPTAIN LOPEZ, I WAS IN FLORIDA AT A, UH, WOMEN AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE.AND UM, I GOT TO HEAR A NEW PRESIDENT THAT WAS COMING IN FROM SAN ANTONIO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY WERE GETTING READY TO DO THIS SAME PROGRAM NEXT YEAR WHILE WE ARE OUT THERE IN CONFERENCE IN MAY.
AND I HAD TO GO UP TO HER AND EXPLAIN AND SHOW HER THE PICTURES WHILE IT WAS HAPPENING, SAYING, WE ARE ALREADY DOING THAT AND IT'S HAPPENING IN AVONDALE.
AND THEY WERE LIKE, OH, WE THOUGHT WE WERE THE FIRST ONES TO DO THAT.
YOU GUYS AREN'T, WE ARE FIRST
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR COMMITMENT LADIES TO, UM, SERVING AVONDALE.
GABBY, MY DAUGHTER WAS HEARTBROKEN.
WE ACTUALLY ARGUED SHE TURNED 14 AT THE END OF THE MONTH, SO SHE COULDN'T BE A PART OF IT.
UM, SO
UH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WOMEN CAN DO TOUGH THINGS.
SO IT'S JUST GREAT TO SEE THE CAMARADERIE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO BUILD.
AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE NOT ONLY, UM, THE WOMEN IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT SUPPORT YOU, BUT THE ENTIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF MEN STANDING BEHIND YOU AS WELL.
AND WE LIKE TO SEE THE MEN LIFTING US UP AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, FIRE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO SEE YOU GIRLS HERE.
THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING AVONDALE IN TRYING OUT SERVING IN FIRE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, AND THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PROVIDED TO THESE YOUNG WOMEN.
[d. Information Technology Digital Cities and Solution Awards]
PLEASE.YEAH, MR. MAYOR, I WANT TO CLARIFY, UM, WE WOULD LIKE SOME PICTURES WITH, WITH THE, THE YOUNG LADIES AND COUNCIL, BUT RIGHT AFTER THE NEXT PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'LL HAVE PICTURES AGAIN IF WE CAN.
UP NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM JEFF SHEETS, OUR CHIEF INFORMATION OFFER OF, UH, UH, ABOUT ANOTHER AWARD.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, SO I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE, UH, TWO TECHNOLOGY AWARDS THAT WE'VE RECENTLY RECEIVED WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
UM, AND SO THESE RE THESE AWARDS REFLECT NOT JUST THE INNOVATION AND THE DEDICATION OF THE IT TEAM, BUT THE INCREDIBLE COLLABORATION WITH ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS, COUNCIL AND CITY LEADERSHIP.
SO OUR FIRST AWARD IS THE ANNUAL DIGITAL CITIES SURVEY.
UH, THE DIGITAL CITY SURVEY IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AWARD TO HONOR CITIES THAT EXCEL IN USING TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE SERVICES, IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY, AND ACHIEVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY.
SO EACH YEAR WE'RE RANKED IN POPULATION OF BETWEEN 75,000 AND 125,000.
SO WE'RE RANKED WITH CITIES NATIONWIDE IN THAT CATEGORY.
YOU'LL SEE THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE'VE, UM, PLACED IN THE TOP SIX IN THE LAST FIVE YEAR.
IN THE LAST FIVE, THE LAST, UM, WE'VE TYPICALLY PLACED IN THE TOP 10 EVERY YEAR.
UM, SO YOU'LL SEE THAT THAT GOES BACK TO SEVEN, EIGHT MORE YEARS.
WE'VE, UH, REPLACED, WE'VE BEEN IN THE TOP 10 EVERY YEAR.
SO, UH, THIS YEAR'S REWARD, UH, WAS AWARD WAS RECEIVED AT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES CONFERENCE, A CITY SUMMIT EVENT, UM, BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MALONE, WHITE AND SOLORIO.
THEY WERE THERE TO RECEIVE THAT AWARD FOR US IN PERSON.
SO JUST A FEW OF THE CATEGORIES THAT WENT INTO THIS, UH, YEAR'S, UM, AWARDS, UH, CITY CITYWIDE CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM THAT WE IMPLEMENTED.
WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
UM, STREAMLINING IT PROCESSES FOR ONBOARDING NEW EMPLOYEES, UH, WORKING WITH THE AUDIT TEAM, UH, TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE FOR OUR KEY SYSTEMS. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING PROCESSES AND TABLETOP EXERCISES.
AND THEN BUSINESS PROCESS REVIEWS THAT WE CONDUCTED FOR KEY SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS.
UM, SO WE NEED DIGITAL CITIES.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST POSSIBLE.
UM, IT'S MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH ALL THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMITMENTS, UH, TO ADOPT A NEW TECHNOLOGY.
AND THEN ALSO IN NOVEMBER, UH, THE CITY WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE PUBLIC TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE, UH, FOR OUR 2024 CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS TRAINING PROGRAM.
SO FOR THIS, UM, WE TOOK HOME THIS AWARD FOR THE WORK OUR TEAMS DID TO ENHANCE CYBERSECURITY TRAINING.
AND IT WORKED TOGETHER TO CREATE A NEW SOLUTION TO PROVIDE, UH, AN INNOVATIVE AND INTERACTIVE TRAINING PROGRAM INSTEAD OF JUST A MUNDANE VIDEO TRAINING THAT MOST OF US HAD COME ACCUSTOMED TO.
SO, UM, WE CAME TOGETHER HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
WE CREATED A MOVIE LIKE ATMOSPHERE.
WE WATCHED FOUR EPISODES OF A TV SER, A LITTLE MINI TV SERIES.
OF COURSE WE BROUGHT IN POPCORN AND CANDY AND MADE IT JUST LOOK LIKE A A, A MOVIE THEATER EVENT.
AND WE HAD A GREAT MAJORITY OF THE CITY TURNOUT FOR THAT.
UH, WE'VE DONE IT FOR TWO DIFFERENT SERIES AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
UM, BUT I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT REALLY BETWEEN IT AND MARKETING.
UM, IN MARKETING, I WANNA CALL OUT NOLENE AND INGRID AND MCKENZIE.
PHIL, STAND UP OR PUT THE END.
SO THEY REALLY HELPED, UM, HELP US POLISH THIS IDEA TOGETHER.
THEY CREATED MOVIE TICKETS, MOVIE POSTERS.
WE HUNG THEM AROUND THE CITY, REALLY HELPED US WITH THIS EVENT.
AND THEN IN MY TEAM, I WANT TO BRING UP OR HIGHLIGHT CHRISTINE, ALEX, AND JAKE FROM MY TEAM.
THEY WERE REALLY THE RING LEADERS ON MY SIDE.
UM, THEY REALLY ORGANIZED THIS WHOLE CAMPAIGN AND
[00:50:01]
REALLY BROUGHT EVERYBODY TOGETHER.WE ALL HAD T-SHIRTS ON THAT TALKED ABOUT CYBERSECURITY CREWS.
SO WE WERE THE, THE, THE STAFF IN THE MOVIE THEATER AND REALLY JUST TRIED TO BRING THE CITY TOGETHER.
WE ASKED TRIVIA QUESTIONS, GAVE OUT DOOR PRIZES.
REALLY TRIED TO GET SOME INVOLVEMENT WITH THAT.
SO, UM, SO AGAIN, I LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT MY AMAZING TEAM THAT'S HERE TONIGHT.
SOME OF 'EM ARE HERE, SO IF YOU GUYS WILL RAISE YOUR HAND OR STAND UP, THAT'D BE GREAT.
SO, AND WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
IT'S DEFINITELY A TEAM EFFORT, BUT I DON'T KNOW THE REST OF YOU ARE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A MOVIE SHOWING HERE APPARENTLY IN POPCORN AND ALL KINDS OF GOOD THINGS.
SO NEXT TIME, HOPEFULLY, UH, I'LL BE SITTING IN ONE OF THOSE, THOSE SEATS SOUNDS GOOD.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S A TEAM EFFORT.
UH, IS THERE ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THAT WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? NO, I KNOW IT WAS, IT WAS, I WAS PROUD TO OPEN UP THE WEST VALLEY VIEW AND SEE THE, THE NICE PHOTO OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, YEAH, THE INFORMATION RELATED TO THE AWARD.
SO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING US IN SUCH A GREAT LIGHT.
MR. MAYOR, UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE TIME FOR, UH, PICTURES.
UM, I KNOW THE, UH, THE HERO PROGRAM WOULD LIKE TO, TO GET SOME PICTURES, UM, AND THEN A COUPLE OF THE OTHERS AS WELL.
BUT LET'S, UH, START WITH THE HEROES SO THEY CAN GET READY FOR SCHOOL.
HAVE YOU TWOS, TWO SIP ALL AND I'LL HAVE YOU OVER RIGHT OVER TALL.
CAN I HAVE THE THREE GUYS MEAL? JUST LIKE THAT.
CAN I HAVE THE REST OF SHOULDERS? BEAUTIFUL.
ALRIGHT, LOOKING RIGHT OVER AT THE LENS.
[00:55:36]
OKAY.INVESTIGATOR PUBLIC APPEARANCES.
MARCEL, ANY REQUEST TO SPEAK? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REQUEST TO SPEAK.
[4. CONSENT AGENDA]
AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO, WHO WISH TO HAVE AN ITEM REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? SEEING NONE, CAN WE GET A MOTION? GOT A MOTION FROM VICE MAYOR NIELSEN.
A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, PLEASE VOTE.
[a. Selection of Vice Mayor]
NUMBER FIVE, SELECTION OF THE VICE MAYOR AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO NOMINATE A MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL AS VICE MAYOR? MAYOR.UM, JUST A LITTLE BACKSTORY, JUST KIND OF, UM, WHEN IN 2017, SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, UM, I WAS ACTUALLY APPOINTED TO PHIL, UM, A SEAT FOR, AT THAT TIME, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDY NIELSEN, WHO WAS COUNCIL MEMBER CURTIS NIELSEN'S WIFE.
AND AT THE TIME THAT I FILLED OUT MY APPLICATION AND DID THE INTERVIEWS, IT WAS MYSELF AND I THINK THERE WAS SEVEN OTHER MEN THAT HAD APPLIED FOR THE POSITION.
AND I KEPT THINKING, WHAT AM I DOING? AM I GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THIS? AND I REMEMBER DOING THE INTERVIEW HERE IN, IN COUNCIL IN FRONT OF ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND JUST REALLY ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS, SHARING FROM MY HEART AND, UM, THINKING IT'S NOT GONNA BE ME, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M SERVING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IN OTHER CAPACITIES.
AND I REMEMBER AFTER BEING APPOINTED, FIRST OF ALL, I SAID, WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW,
AND I REMEMBER HE CAME UP TO ME AND HE SHOOK MY HAND AND HE LOOKED AND HE SAID, I'M GLAD IT WAS YOU.
AND I SAID, HE'S GLAD IT WAS ME.
DID HE NOT HEAR ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY? AND I JUST THOUGHT SOMETHING SO SIMPLE AND SUCH KIND WORDS, BECAUSE HE WAS GLAD IT WAS ME.
AND I SAID IT MEANT SO MUCH COMING FROM HIM.
AND I DON'T EVEN THINK I EVER HAD MET HIM BEFORE.
I ONLY KNEW ABOUT HIS SERVICE AND THE SERVICE OF, UM, OF SANDY NIELSEN.
UM, BUT CURTIS, SINCE BEING ON COUNCIL, I'VE SEEN YOU TIME AND TIME AGAIN REPRESENT OUR CITY WITH HONOR AND INTEGRITY, UM, IN WASHINGTON DC AND ON VARIOUS BOARD AND COMMITTEES IN OUR CITY.
BESIDES YOUR COUNCIL DUTIES, YOU HAVE BEEN A BLESSING TO SERVE SO MANY IN SO MANY OTHER CAPACITIES, UM, IN YOUR CHURCH AND IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT.
AND IT WOULD BE AN HONOR TO NOMINATE VICE MAYOR CURTIS NIELSEN TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AS VICE MAYOR FOR THE REMAINDER OF HIS TWO YEAR TERM.
AND CURTIS, I HOPE THAT IT'S YOU
IS THERE ANYBODY SECOND? GOT A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO.
UH, PLEASE IF WE COULD HAVE A VOTE.
SO I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CONDE.
AND CURTIS, I'D LIKE TO FORMALLY SAY CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING THE NEXT, THE VICE MAYOR FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
IF I SAID ANYTHING, I'D START TO CRY.
[01:00:01]
I JUST SAY THANK YOU, APPRECIATE YOUR TRUST AND YOUR CONFIDENCE IN ME AND FOR ALL THE THINGS WE'VE DONE TOGETHER AND WE'LL DO FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS TOGETHER.YES, THANKS SO MUCH, ALL OF YOU.
[b. Council Appointments to Regional and Local Boards, Commissions, and Committees]
TO MOVE ON TO COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO REGIONAL LOCAL BOARDS.UH, LIZ, UH, BARKER ALVAREZ, OUR INTERGOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATOR WILL, UH, PROVIDE THIS PRESENTATION.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, AGAIN, I'M LIZ BARKER ALVAREZ AND OUR GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATOR, REGIONAL AND LOCAL REPRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL IS REALLY BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY IN MAINTAINING A STRONG PRESENCE, UH, REALLY THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
SERVING ON THESE COMMITTEES, WHETHER THAT BE WITHIN THE MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS, WESTMARK, UH, THE ARIZONA MUNICIPAL WATER USERS ASSOCIATION AND OTHER REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IS REALLY PARAMOUNT TO THE CITY STAYING ABREAST OF REGIONAL INITIATIVES, UM, AND OUR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN NOT JUST A PRESENCE, BUT OUR VOICE, UM, IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
SO THIS AGENDA ITEM WILL BE TAKEN IN TWO PARTS.
UH, IN THE FIRST PART I'M GONNA PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION REGARDING AVONDALE'S REPRESENTATION ON SOME REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
AND THEN IN THE SECOND PART, WE'RE GONNA BE, UM, TALKING ABOUT VARIOUS COUNCIL COMMITTEES AND SUBCOMMITTEES AND ASKING FOR COUNCIL ACTION TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF VACANCIES ON THOSE.
SO THERE ARE SIX REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT MAYORS ARE ASKED TO SERVE ON JUST BY VIRTUE OF THEIR POSITIONS.
SO THESE GROUPS COVER A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS RANGING FROM TRANSPORTATION TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO HUMAN SERVICES, ET CETERA, WATER.
AND, UM, ALTHOUGH THE MEETING TIMES ALLOCATED TO, UM, THOSE REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MAY ONLY BE ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH, THE TIME THAT IT TAKES TO, UM, TO LEARN THE ISSUES TO PREPARE FOR THE MEETINGS, UM, IT REALLY IS A, A, A HUGE UNDERTAKING.
UM, AGAIN, UM, MAYOR PINEDA HAS OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON ALL SIX BY VIRTUE OF BEING MAYOR.
IF HE CHOOSES NOT TO SERVE, THEN UH, HE APPOINTS, UM, UH, UH, PROVIDES A DESIGNEE TO EACH OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.
UH, MAYOR PINEDA HAS ELECTED TO SERVE ON THE MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS REGIONAL COUNCIL.
UH, THIS IS TYPICALLY MADE UP OF THE MAYORS OF ALL OF THE CITIES IN MARICOPA COUNTY, UH, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM BOTH PINAL AND MARI AND MARICOPA COUNTY, AS WELL AS, UH, THREE INDIAN TRIBES AND NATIONS.
AND JOINTLY THESE INDIVIDUALS, UM, MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT TRANSPORTATION FUNDING AND POLICY HERE IN MARICOPA COUNTY.
MAYOR HAS ALSO ELECTED TO SERVE ON THE LUKE WEST VALLEY COUNCIL, WHICH ARE THE MAYORS OF THE CITIES OF THE WEST VALLEY, WHO HAVE JOINED FORCES TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF LUKE AIR FORCE BASE.
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE IS A HUGE, UH, ON ITS OWN.
IT'S THE FIFTH LARGEST AIR FORCE IN THE UNITED STATES.
IT IS A HUGE, UH, ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.
AND OF COURSE, MANY OF THE AIRMEN WHO SERVE AT LUKE AIR FORCE BASE AND THEIR FAMILIES, UH, CALL THE WEST VALLEY AND AVONDALE HOME.
AND, UH, MAYOR PINEDA HAS ALSO ELECTED TO SERVE ON THE WESTMARK BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
WESTMARK IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT REALLY WORKS TO PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND VITALITY, UM, OF THE WEST OF, OF THE WEST VALLEY.
UH, THERE ARE THREE OTHER, UM, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT MAYOR, UH, CAN SERVE ON.
AND, UM, HE HAS ELECTED TO NOT SERVE ON THOSE AND INSTEAD MAKE SOME DESIGNATIONS.
HE HAS DESIGNATED VICE MAYOR NIELSEN TO SERVE ON THE ARIZONA MUNICIPAL WATER USERS ASSOCIATION, ALSO KNOWN AS AMWA BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
VICE MAYOR NIELSEN HAS REPRESENTED THE CITY OF AVONDALE'S INTERESTS ON AMWA FOR SEVERAL YEARS, UM, CONSIDERED LIKE OUR WATER EXPERT.
UM, THE 10 CITIES THAT MAKE UP AMWA PROVIDE WATER FOR ABOUT 70% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION.
THEN, UM, HE HAS ALSO DESIGNATED VICE MAYOR NIELSEN TO SERVE ON THE GREATER PHOENIX ECONOMIC COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
UM, GEG DOES WORK THAT IS SIMILAR TO WEST MARKS, BUT REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE AMERICA BO THE GREATER PHOENIX AREA WHERE WESTMARK FOCUSES MAINLY ON THE WEST VALLEY.
LASTLY, MAYOR PINEDA HAS DESIGNATED COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE TO SERVE ON THE VALLEY METRO REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
OUR PTA, UM, WE JUST SHORTENED THAT TO VALLEY METRO.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE IS ALREADY SERVING, UM, ON THE VALLEY METRO BOARD.
SHE WAS RECENTLY, UM, SELECTED AS THE CHAIR OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE OF VALLEY METRO, AND IS ALSO, I BELIEVE,
[01:05:01]
TREASURER OF THE BOARD THIS YEAR.UM, SO SHE'S VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN, IN, UH, VALLEY METRO'S EFFORTS TO PROVIDE, UM, TRANSIT SERVICES INCLUDING, UM, RAIL SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, SENIORS, ET CETERA.
SO THOSE ARE THE DESIGNATIONS.
THERE ARE TWO OTHER, UH, SUBCOMMITTEES WITHIN, UM, THE MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS WHERE, UH, REALLY MAYORS CAN SERVE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, ET CETERA.
THOSE, UM, OPENINGS COME UP AND INDIVIDUALS, UM, JUST PUT IN THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR THOSE.
COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE IS CURRENTLY SERVING ON THE MAG TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE AND HER CURRENT TERM EXPIRES ON JUNE 30TH, 2026.
AND THEN THERE'S THE MAG HUMAN SERVICES AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES COMMITTEE, WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER CONDE, UM, IS CURRENTLY SERVING HER TERM, HAS NO EXPIRATION.
I'M GONNA MOVE ON TO, UH, COUNCIL COMMITTEES AND SUBCOMMITTEES.
UM, AGAIN, THESE ARE ONES WHERE AT THE END WHEN WE, WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THIS, BUT AT THE END WE ARE GONNA NEED COUNCIL ACTION TO FILL A COUPLE OF VACANCIES APPOINTMENTS TO THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES ARE MADE BY COUNCIL, SO THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CONTRIBUTIONS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
THE COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE FOR BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES, INTERVIEWS APPLICANTS AND MAKES APPOINTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING CANDIDATES FOR THE VARIOUS BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES.
ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS GO TO CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
THE CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ARE MAYOR PINEDA, COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO AND COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, UH, MAYOR PINEDA, SINCE HE IS, UM, SERVING ON ALL, IN ADDITION TO BEING MAYOR, SERVING ON ALL THOSE REGIONAL BOARDS, UM, HAS ELECTED NOT TO CONTINUE SERVING, UM, ON THAT SUBCOMMITTEE.
AND SO THERE IS A VACANCY THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED.
THE CONTRIBUTIONS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES A SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING SOURCE TO ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
THE SUBCOMMITTEE MAKES FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
CURRENT MEMBERS OF THAT, UM, COMMITTEE ARE VICE MAYOR NIELSEN COUNCIL MEMBER CONDE.
AND THERE IS A VACANCY THAT OCCURRED, UH, WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER MALONE'S TERM ENDED.
WE ALSO HAVE THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
THERE ARE NO CURRENT VACANCIES.
UM, THE, THE ROLE OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE IS TO ADVISE CITY COUNCIL TO FULFILL ITS OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING THE INTEGRITY OF THE CITY'S ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
AND THEY MAY FURTHER ASSIST AND ADVISE THE CITY AUDITOR AND CITY COUNCIL ON THE CITY'S COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS, SYSTEMS OF INTERNAL CONTROLS, MANAGEMENT OF CITYWIDE RISK ENVIRONMENT, AND THE PERFORMANCE OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL AUDITORS.
THE CURRENT MEMBERS ARE VICE MAYOR NIELSEN AND COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, BOTH OF WHOM THEIR TERMS END IN 2026.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO, WHOSE TERM ENDS IN 2025.
THE CITY DOES HAVE, UM, AN INTERFAITH COUNCIL, UM, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CONDE AND COUNCIL MEMBER NIELSEN, UH, CURRENTLY REPRESENT COUNCIL, UM, IN THE INTERFAITH COUNCIL'S ACTIVITIES.
SO MAYOR, AGAIN, UM, IT IS OPEN FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION, BUT AT THE END OF THE DISCUSSION WE ARE GOING TO NEED, UM, A MOTION IN PARTICULAR TO ADDRESS AT LEAST THE TWO VACANCIES THAT I MENTIONED.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU, LIZ, FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THE INFORMATION.
AND FIRST LET ME JUST SAY, UH, TO MY TWO FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, VICE MAYOR, SORRY, VICE MAYOR NIELSEN AND COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE WHO HAVE SERVED AND CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE RPTA AND AMWA AND NOW GECK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DEFINITELY DONE A GREAT JOB AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU CONTINUE YOUR SERVICE THERE.
UH, FOR THE OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE THREE AREAS, THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR BOARDS COMMISSIONS AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
SO ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL NOW WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE, UH, THE POSITION WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS? MAYOR.
VICE MAYOR AND FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER.
SO, UM, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER OR WOULD LIKE TO SECOND DO WE NEED TO DO A SECOND? MARCELLA? THANK YOU MAYOR.
WE CAN TAKE ONE MOTION AT THE END AFTER THE DISCUSSION.
SO WE HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS FOR THE BOARDS AND COMMISSION AND FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, I WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER.
SO WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL BEFORE WE MAKE THE MOTION? OKAY.
[01:10:01]
FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.MR. MAYOR, YOU HAD ONE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO, NO, I JUST WANTED JUST TO JUST KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON WHAT YOU SAID.
I JUST WANNA JUST THANK EVERYBODY FOR SERVING, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT IT DOES TAKE TIME EVEN TO BE ON COUNCIL BECAUSE WE DO STUDY OUR PACKETS.
BUT IN ADDITION TO PREPARING FOR THESE COUNCIL MEETINGS, YOU GUYS ARE PREPARING FOR OTHER BOARD MEETINGS AND REALLY STUDYING, MEETING WITH STAFF, DOING THINGS BEHIND THE SCENE THAT, UM, YOU GUYS NO ONE REALLY KNOWS ABOUT.
SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR COMMITMENT AND, AND ALSO ALSO TO, TO USE, WELL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO, WHO'S SERVING ON A NATIONAL LEVEL WITH NLC AND, AND THE LEAGUE OF CITIES, RIGHT.
LOCALLY AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, UM, AND YOU WITH THE, UH, MAG AND, UM, YOU KNOW, HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU TOO FOR YOUR SERVICE.
OKAY, SO WE GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI, PLEASE VOTE, I'D HAVE TO READ THIS WORD SPECIFICALLY.
UH, NO MAYOR, BUT THE MOTION IS TO CONTINUE, UM, THE APPOINTMENTS THAT LIZ PRESENTED, UM, AS WELL AS THE TWO NEW APPOINTMENTS THAT WE HAVE.
[c. Resolution 1002-0125 - 2025 Public Policy Priorities for the upcoming state and federal legislative sessions]
C PLEASE, MS. MAYOR, AGAIN, YOU HAVE LIZ, UH, BAKER ALVAREZ, OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATOR, WHO WILL GO OVER OUR RECOMMENDED PUBLIC PRIORITY POLICIES.THANK YOU MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UH, THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS TEAM WITHIN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IS TASKED WITH MONITORING STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION, UH, MONITORING, UH, ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC POLICIES THAT SUPPORT AVONDALE'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND OPPOSING PUBLIC POLICIES THAT WOULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE CITY ITS MISSION AND OUR RESIDENTS.
WE DO THIS BY REVIEWING AND ANALYZING PROPOSED POLICIES AND LEGISLATION.
WE MEET WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO DESCRIBE THE IMPACT OF THOSE PROPOSALS ON AVONDALE.
WE MEET WITH POLICY MAKERS AND THEIR STAFF TO ENSURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THOSE POLICIES AND HOPEFULLY THAT THEY ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S, UM, POSITION AND IF NECESSARY TESTIFYING OR HELPING OTHERS TO PREPARE TO TESTIFY, UM, ON THOSE BILLS.
ALL OF THIS REALLY STARTS WITH IDENTIFYING THE CITY'S, UM, POSITION ON PROPOSED MEASURES.
AND OUR PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES OFFER A FRAMEWORK THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THAT WORK WHILE KEEPING UP WITH THE PACE OF THE LEGISLATION SESSION, WHICH IS VERY FAST, AND ALLOWING US TO BE NIMBLE IN AN EVER-CHANGING POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT.
UH, THIS PRESENTATION IS GOING TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ON OUR CURRENT POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT.
WE'RE GONNA DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW BOTH THE POLICY PRIORITIES AND OUR LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS ARE DEVELOPED.
AND THEN I'M GONNA SHARE THE RECOMMENDED 2025 PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES.
UH, IN TERMS OF THE, UH, CURRENT, UH, POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, NOT MUCH CHANGED, UM, AT THE LEGISLATURE.
UM, AFTER THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER, UM, DEMOCRAT KATIE HOBBS IS STILL GOVERNOR.
REPUBLICANS STILL CONTROL BOTH LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS, ALTHOUGH BY SLIGHTLY INCREASED MARGINS, UH, THERE WILL BE ALMOST TWO DOZEN NEW LAWMAKERS.
UM, THAT REALLY IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, A THIRD OF THE LEGISLATURE WAS NEW AND NOW THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, 24 PEOPLE THAT ARE NEW.
SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF NEW FOLKS IS THAT IT'S A STEEP LEARNING CURVE.
UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF VERY COMPLEX ISSUES, UM, AND THERE THERE CAN BE A PROPENSITY TO, UM, TO JUST NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO LEARN ALL OF THE ISSUES AND SO TO, TO VERY MUCH TAKE DIRECTION FROM YOUR FELLOW LEGISLATORS, NOT BLAMING ANYONE.
THAT'S JUST WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE.
UM, AND I'M GONNA GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND THEN COME BACK BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT IN TERMS OF AVONDALE, OUR REPRESENTATION, WHICH IS LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 22, HAS NOT CHANGED.
MINORITY LEADER LUPE CONTRERAS IS STILL OUR SENIOR MEMBER IN THE HOUSE.
HE WILL NOT BE LEADER WHEN THIS SESSION STARTS, BUT HE IS THE LEADER UNTIL, UM, THE SESSION STARTS NEXT WEEK.
UH, AND THEN ALSO IN THE HOUSE WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVE ELDA LUNA NARA.
UM, IF YOU RECALL, SHE WAS APPOINTED TO REPLACE REPRESENTATIVE LISA SUN VERY NEAR TO THE END OF THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND SHE WON ELECTION TO THAT SEAT IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
AND THEN IN THE SENATE WE HAVE, UH, SENATOR EVA DIAZ.
UM, SHE WAS, UH, NEWLY ELECTED TWO YEARS AGO AND WON REELECTION IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO SHARE THAT.
UH, CONTINUING WITH THE CURRENT POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, CURRENT LEGISLATIVE ESTIMATES PUT THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BALANCE
[01:15:01]
AT 469 MILLION.THAT IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING AT A SIGNIFICANT DEFICIT, BUT REVENUES ARE, ARE MUCH BETTER THAN EXPECTED.
UM, I SAY THAT WITH THE CAVEAT THAT THAT KIND OF FUND BALANCE CAN EASILY DISAPPEAR IN THE FACE OF SOME LOOMING ISSUES.
UM, AT THE CAPITAL, NOT THE LEAST, WHICH IS THE, UM, UPCOMING EXPIRATION OF SOME EDUCATION FUNDING
IN TERMS OF CITIES WE'RE LIKELY TO, GIVEN THAT THE ENVIRONMENT REMAINS LARGELY UNCHANGED, WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE REPEATS OF SOME OF THE CHALLENGING BILLS OR NEW CONTROVERSIAL BILLS, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS OF HOUSING AND WATER.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTS ON MONDAY, JANUARY 13TH, SO JUST A WEEK FROM TODAY.
AND EVEN THOUGH THE SESSION HASN'T STARTED, THE BILLS HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO DROP 55 BILLS DROPPED AS OF ABOUT THREE O'CLOCK THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, WHEN WE, UH, LOOK AT DEVELOPING A POSITION ON A SPECIFIC BILL FOR THE CITY OF AVONDALE, FIRST WE HAVE TO REVIEW THE FILED BILLS.
AND THAT'S BEEN RUNNING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1500 AND 1800 BILLS A SESSION FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS.
WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE, WE COMPARE THEM AGAINST THE PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES TO SAY, IS THIS A BILL THAT WE THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE WORKING ON? THEY'RE REVIEWED BY OUR PROGRAM STAFF AND OUR ATTORNEYS.
WE USE THAT INFORMATION TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR CITY LEADERSHIP ON HOW WE THINK THE CITY MAY BE AFFECTED, AND THEN WE DETERMINE WHICH, UH, POSITION WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE AND WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL TAKE ACTION ON THOSE BILLS.
THAT ACTION IT CAN HAVE, IT CAN BE A REALLY WIDE SET OF ACTIONS.
IT CAN BE EVERYTHING FROM JUST SIGNING IN AND SAYING WE'RE FOR A BILL OR OPPOSED TO THE BILL.
IT CAN BE MEETING WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WHO MIGHT SHARE OUR POSITION TO BUILD A COALITION AROUND A SPECIFIC MEASURE.
IT CAN INCLUDE MEETING WITH THE LAWMAKERS THEMSELVES OR THEIR STAFF TO EXPLAIN THE IMPACT TO OUR CITY AND ALL THE WAY TO POSSIBLY TESTIFYING ON LEGISLATION AND COMMITTEES.
UM, LAST TIME WE DID THAT WAS WHEN MAYOR WEISS TESTIFIED ON PROP 4 7 9 AS IT WAS MOVING THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
AS I MENTIONED, THE PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES.
REALLY, THOSE ARE OUR GUARDRAILS.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT TELL US WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO COUNSEL AND WHAT THE BILLS THAT WE NEED TO KIND OF START FOCUSING ON WHEN WE START DEVELOPING THOSE, THOSE PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES.
NUMBER ONE, WE REVIEW PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.
UM, IT'S PRETTY RARE THAT BILLS GET THROUGH, YOU KNOW, 17, 1800 BILLS ARE FILED IN 325 WILL BECOME LAW ABOUT THAT.
SO IT'S PRETTY RARE THAT BILLS GET THROUGH ON THE FIRST TRY.
SO IF A BILL DOESN'T GET A HEARING OR ULTIMATELY FAILS IN A PARTICULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO COME BACK.
SO WE DEFINITELY LOOK AT PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS AND WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BILLS THAT, UM, HAVE IMPACTED CITIES IN THE PAST.
WE ALSO WORK WITH SOME OF OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS AND, AND DETERMINE WHAT ARE THEIR PRIORITIES.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THOSE REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR SIT ON.
AND THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE PRIORITIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION, RELATED TO WATER, UH, RELATED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ET CETERA.
SO THEY KNOW WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIKE AS WELL, AND THEY DEVELOP THEIR OWN PRIORITIES.
SO WE TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES COVER THOSE.
AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS AND COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER CITY INTER GOVS.
SO I MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE THREE LEGISLATORS THAT REPRESENT THE CITY OF AVONDALE, AND OF COURSE THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE HAVE THE CLOSEST RELATIONSHIP WITH.
BUT LEGISLATORS WHO REPRESENT ANOTHER PART OF THE VALLEY WHO REPRESENT ANOTHER PART OF THE STATE WE MAY NOT HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH BECAUSE WE DON'T REPRESENT THEIR CONSTITUENTS, BUT OUR OTHER INNER GOVS DO.
AND THEY MAY SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THOSE LAWMAKERS ARE TELLING THEM ARE THEIR PRIORITIES OR BILLS COMING DOWN THE PIKE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AWARE OF.
SO WE KIND OF PUT THAT ALL TOGETHER AND THAT THEN BECOMES OUR RECOMMENDATION TO YOU FOR OUR OUR 2025 PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES.
YOU HAVE, UM, A SHEET AS PART OF YOUR PACKET THAT DETAILS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT EACH OF THESE PUBLIC POLICIES MIGHT INVOLVE.
I'LL GIVE YOU, UM, JUST AN EXAMPLE OR TWO IN EACH ONE OF THESE AREAS SO YOU CAN SEE HOW WE MIGHT USE THAT IN TERMS OF PRESERVING LOCAL FUNDING.
YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE CITY OF AVONDALE RECEIVES SHARED REVENUE AND, AND HAS OTHER PUBLIC SOURCES OF REVENUE.
AND FROM TIME TO TIME THERE ARE EFFORTS AT THE LEGISLATURE EITHER TO PULL BACK SOME OF THOSE REVENUES OR TO PREEMPT THE CITY FROM BEING ABLE TO RAISE REVENUE.
UM, YOU'RE ALL DEALING VERY MUCH IN THE BUDGET PROCESS WITH THE IMPACT OF ONE OF THOSE DECISIONS, WHICH IS THE ELIMINATION OF THE RESIDENTIAL RENTAL TAX.
SO IF THERE WERE TO BE A NEW EFFORT TO REDUCE OUR
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SHARED REVENUE OR TAKE AWAY ANOTHER TAX THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, OR, UM, ON THE POSITIVE NOTE, I CAN BE POSITIVE.IF THERE WERE AN EFFORT TO BACKFILL RESIDENTIAL RENTAL, UM, THEN OUR PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES WOULD TELL US WHICH ONES WE OPPOSE AND WHICH ONES WE SUPPORT.
UM, ALSO OPPOSING PREEMPTION OF LOCAL AUTHORITY.
UM, WE JUST INSTALLED COUNCIL MEMBERS AND A MAYOR THAT WERE VOTED ON BY THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE TO REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS AND TO OVERSEE THE PLANNING OF OUR CITY AND TO OVERSEE OUR REVENUES.
IF THERE ARE STATE LAWS THAT PREEMPT THE AUTHORITY OF THIS COUNCIL TO, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE POLICY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE, WE'RE WE'RE GONNA OPPOSE THAT.
'CAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR RESIDENTS, UM, WANTED SUPPORT EXPANDED HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE SUPPORT EVERY SINGLE HOUSING BILL OUT THERE.
OBVIOUSLY WE TAKE A LOOK AT THEM, SOME OF THEM ARE PREEMPTION BILLS, SO WE WOULDN'T WANT TO NECESSARILY SUPPORT ALL OF THAT.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER HOUSING BILLS LIKE, YOU KNOW, MORE FUNDING FOR THE HOUSING TRUST FUND OR RENTAL ASSISTANCE OR, YOU KNOW, HOMEOWNER PROTECTIONS OR FIRST TIME HOMEOWNER PROGRAMS. YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT DO HELP, UM, WITH HOUSING AND DON'T PREEMPT LOCAL AUTHORITY THAT WE WOULD WANT TO, UM, SUPPORT ENHANCED PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE CAN BE, WE SUPPORTED A BILL LAST YEAR, UM, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO USE THE SAME METAL DETECTORS THAT THEY USE IN COUNTY JAILS SO THAT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL CAN BE AS SAFE AS, YOU KNOW, THOSE THAT WORK IN OTHER JAILS.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR POLICE AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS THAT WE'RE PRO WE'RE SUPPORTING POLICIES THAT HELP THEM DO THEIR JOBS, BUT THAT WERE ALSO OPPOSING POLICIES THAT MAY GET IN THE WAY OF THEIR DOING THEIR JOBS.
CITY MANAGED GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT, THERE WERE A LOT OF HOUSING BILLS LAST YEAR.
UM, PROBABLY THE MOST EGREGIOUS OF WHICH WAS THE, WHAT WAS CALLED THE STARTER HOME ACT WAS A BUYRIGHT ZONING BILL THAT WOULD'VE ALLOWED DEVELOPERS TO BUILD, UM, WHATEVER THEY WANTED, WHEREVER THEY WANTED, AT WHATEVER DENSITY THEY WANTED, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THERE WAS THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT IT, ET CETERA.
WE DID OPPOSE THAT BILL, THAT BILL WAS, UM, VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR.
UM, AND THEN WE WORKED IN COLLABORATION WITH DEVELOPERS ON A FEW OTHER BILLS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HOUSING IS A BIG ISSUE RIGHT NOW AND, AND SOME THINGS NEEDED TO GET DONE, BUT THIS PARTICULAR PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITY ALLOWS US THE WIGGLE ROOM TO DO THAT, TO OPPOSE THE POLICIES THAT ARE JUST FLAT OUT NOT ACCEPTABLE.
AND TO, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE A VOICE IN THOSE NEGOTIATIONS FOR POLICY THAT, THAT WE CAN LIVE WITH, PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE BILLS COMING BACK THIS YEAR TO GIVE THE CITIES MORE OPTIONS IN TERMS OF PROMOTING THE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
UM, EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, WE DO SEE SOME BILLS THAT ARE PREEMPTION BILLS, UM, THAT GET IN THE WAY OF, OF OUR BEING ABLE TO BRING JOBS AND BUSINESSES, UM, TO AVONDALE.
AND SO NATURALLY WE WOULD OPPOSE THOSE COLLABORATING TO BUILD A ROBUST TRANSPORTATION NETWORK INVOLVES THE, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSITION 4 79.
BUT IT CAN ALSO INVOLVE, UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGIES LIKE, YOU KNOW, AVONDALE'S AT THE FOREFRONT WITH WE RIDE, UM, IN THE REGION, OR YOU KNOW, EVEN CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH RAIL AND ARE WE GONNA HAVE RAIL COMING FROM TUCSON ALL THE WAY THROUGH HERE TO LOS ANGELES, ET CETERA.
PROTECTING AND ENHANCING WATER SUPPLY.
I THINK AS A, AS A MEMBER OF AMWA, I THINK YOU'RE ALL VERY WELL AWARE OF THE CONSIDERABLE INVESTMENT THAT AVONDALE HAS MADE IN ITS WATER PORTFOLIO AND IN BEING ABLE TO GUARANTEE TO OUR RESIDENTS THAT WHEN THEY TURN ON THE TAP TODAY, TOMORROW, THAT GOOD CLEAN WATER IS GOING TO COME OUT, THAT IT'S GOING TO BE RELIABLE.
THERE WERE 91 WATER BILLS LAST YEAR AND THERE'S ALWAYS AN EFFORT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE ONGOING, YOU KNOW, DROUGHT, WITH THE ONGOING SITUATION WITH THE COLORADO RIVER, THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE EFFORTS TO TAKE FROM THOSE THAT HAVE, UM, HAD THE FORESIGHT AND HAVE MADE THE SACRIFICES TO INVEST IN THEIR WATER POLICY.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING AVONDALE'S WATER PORTFOLIO.
AND THEN I TALKED A LITTLE BIT WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OF PROTECTING THE MISSION OF LUKE AIR FORCE BASE.
UM, AS I MENTIONED, UH, IT IS A, UH, VERY LARGE PART OF OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE, BUT IT'S ALSO A VERY LARGE PART OF OUR REGION'S ECONOMIC, UH, DEVELOPMENT.
SO, UM, MAYOR, THOSE ARE THE PROPOSED, UM, 2025 PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES.
I AM, UM, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
UH, A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION THERE.
AND AS YOU MENTIONED, ALL OF US HERE WERE VOTED ON BY OUR RESIDENTS TO SERVE AVONDALE.
AND SO ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THAT, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A STRONG VOICE AND MAKE IT, UH, MAKE IT AWARE, MAKE IT KNOWN.
AND, UM, WHILE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF NEW MEMBERS HERE AT COUNCIL, I DON'T THINK THERE ARE NEW, UH, TO THE WEST VALLEY AND DON'T KNOW WHO OUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES ARE, BUT I WOULD REALLY, UM, ADVISE
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THAT WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE THAT YOU DO SO.AND I KNOW THAT SOMETHING MAY BE COMING UP SOON IN REGARDS TO MAKING THAT HAPPEN, SO MORE INFORMATION TO COME ON THAT.
BUT IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO ELABORATE OR SHARE ANYTHING? VICE MAYOR NIELSEN.
LIZ, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE EFFORTS THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS.
I KNOW I REPRESENT AMWA AND THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON DOWN THERE AND I LOOK AT YOU AND YOU'VE GOT KNOWLEDGE OF EACH ONE OF THESE AREAS.
AND I LOOK AT 'EM BETWEEN LUKE, BETWEEN TRANSPORTATION, EACH ONE OF US HAVE, ONE OF THOSE ASSIGNMENTS ARE RESPONSIBILITIES AND WE CAN HANDLE A LITTLE BIT.
I LOOK AT YOU AND SAY, YOU'VE GOT THIS WHOLE THING THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH AND DOING.
I KNOW AGAIN, FROM AMW THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, WITH WARREN AND OTHERS DOWN THERE SINCE OCTOBER, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO THIS ISN'T JUST SOMETHING THAT'S COMING UP NOW THERE YOU'VE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT AND OTHER STAFF HAVE PUT IT IN THERE AND I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU AND, AND THE, AND THE CITY FOR WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE AND MOVE FORWARD.
AND AGAIN, JUST ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE AND WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING THE NEXT FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS, HANDLING THESE LEGISLATORS DOWN THERE, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A HASSLE WITH THOSE 91, UH, WATER BILLS WE HAD LAST YEAR.
UH, AND I KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE ALL KINDS OF OTHER ONES.
SO AGAIN, JUST THANK YOU AND APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORTS.
BUT TO BE FAIR, THESE DIRECTORS, THEY ARE A GODSEND BECAUSE, UH, WITH THE, WITH THE WIDE VARIETY OF LEGISLATION, REALLY, UM, BOILING IT DOWN FOR ME TO SOMETHING THAT'S EASILY UNDERSTOOD WHERE A LAWMAKER WHO REPRESENTS THIS AREA CAN IMMEDIATELY SEE THE IMPACT TO THE PEOPLE THAT VOTED THEM IN AS WELL IS, UH, IS, IS A TALENT AND A SKILL AND, AND REALLY IT'S, IT'S THE DIRECTORS WHO HELPED ME.
AS VICE MAYOR SAID, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, LIZ AND ALL THE DIRECTORS AS WELL.
I GOT TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TODAY IN PUBLIC WORKS, UM, AND WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND JUST THINKING ABOUT, UM, TRANSIT IN AVONDALE AND KIND OF HOW WE MOVE, UM, THERE, THERE'S A BIT OF PREEMPTION THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DO OUR BEST TO AVOID.
I, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE GROWTH OF OUR CITY AND OUR STRATEGIC OUTCOMES AS WE GET INTO STRATEGIC PLANNING, UM, I, I BELIEVE ALL OF US HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR RESIDENTS IN MIND.
I KNOW THAT WE ACT THAT WAY AND WE BEHAVE THAT WAY EVERY DAY.
WE PUT EVERYTHING ASIDE TO WORK FOR AVONDALE.
SO AS LONG AS YOU CAN RING THE ALARM AND WE NEED TO STEP UP AND AS LONG AS ALL OF THE DIRECTORS KNOW WHEN TO ALERT YOU TO SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BECOME AWARE OF, UM, JUST JUST TELL US OUR MARCHING ORDERS 'CAUSE WE'RE THERE TO ADVOCATE FOR AVONDALE AND, AND AVONDALE IS WELL RESPECTED THROUGHOUT MARICOPA COUNTY AND THE STATE.
AND I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE UNITY WE HAVE HERE ON THE DAIS, BUT ALSO IN ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO FOR US AND CONTINUE TO LET US KNOW HOW TO BEST SERVE OUR PEOPLE.
WHAT OTHER WORDS? COUNCILMAN WEISS.
LIZ, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
I SAW THAT THERE ARE 1800 BILLS LAST YEAR AND I CAN SEE THAT YOU NEED A WHOLE TEAM AND THIS IS A WONDERFUL TEAM BEHIND YOU.
UM, AND I LIKE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SOME PRIORITIES THAT YOU'VE, THAT YOU'VE NARROWED DOWN THE PRIORITIES, UM, THINGS THAT YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON.
I KNOW THAT OTHER THINGS WILL COME UP, BUT YOU'VE GOT YOUR EYES ON ALL OF THOSE AND THOSE WERE ALL THINGS THAT I THINK, UM, THE RESIDENTS WILL AGREE ARE OUR TOP PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY.
OKAY, WITH THAT, CAN WE GET A MOTION? I GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO.
[6. SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS FROM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COUNCILMEMBERS ]
LIKE WE HAVE A SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS.IS THERE ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE? I DO.
UM, THIS PAST COUPLE WEEKS, UM, MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN ON WINTER BREAK FROM SCHOOL AND A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, SHE'S LIKE OUR, SHE'S 10 AND SO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING TO KEEP HER BUSY.
UM, I DO WANNA JUST SAY THANK YOU TO PARKS AND REC.
UM, WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE HER A COUPLE DAYS TO THE WINTER CAMP AT MOUNTAIN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER AND SHE HAD AN ABSOLUTE BLAST AND, UM, YOU GUYS DO A FANTASTIC JOB.
SHE COMES HOME, SHE'S WORN OUT A SICK JOB, SHE COMES HOME, SHE'S WORN OUT.
BUT SHE ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT HOW GREAT OF A TIME SHE HAD, SHE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON A FIELD TRIP TO SOMEPLACE THAT WE, IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FUN IF MY HUSBAND AND I TOOK HER 'CAUSE WE'RE ADULTS, RIGHT? WE CAN'T JUMP AND DO ALL THE FUN STUFF WITH HER.
BUT BECAUSE THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HER TO GO ON THIS FIELD TRIP, UM, WITH THE
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OTHER KIDS IN THE CAMP, SHE HAD AN ABSOLUTE BLAST.AND SO I CAN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH TO, TO OUR PARKS AND REC STAFF FOR, UM, UH, HAVING THOSE CAMPS FOR OUR KIDDOS.
AND THAT'S, IT'S DEFINITELY A AFFORDABLE AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT IT'S A DROP IN OR YOU CAN DO FOR A WHOLE WEEK.
'CAUSE ESPECIALLY 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT SURE ARE WE GONNA BE IN TOWN? ARE WE GONNA BE ON VACATION? SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT OPTION WAS GREAT.
AND I'VE HEARD POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM OTHER, UM, PEOPLE THAT HAVE TAKEN THEIR KIDDOS THERE TOO.
SO I JUST WANNA JUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO STAFF AND, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH COREY.
MAKE SURE YOU SHARE THAT WITH THE TEAM.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? OKAY.
WITH THAT, CAN I GET A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT? OKAY.
WE GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE SECOND FROM COUNCIL.
COUNCILMAN GARCIA, PLEASE VOTE EVERYBODY'S FASTER THAN I AM.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.