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I LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025.
WOULD YOU PLEASE ALL JOIN ME IN THE ST AND STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? AND A MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH 13 OF JUSTICE.
JULIE, CAN WE HAVE ROLL CALL PLEASE? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
[a. Employee Announcements]
AWESOME.TONIGHT WE HAVE EMPLOYEE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THE FOLLOWING NEW EMPLOYEES WILL BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL.
THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION ONLY.
AND TO BEGIN, WE WILL HAVE, UH, JUDGE CRAIG JENNINGS AND A BRILL RUIZ OTE FOR THE COURTS.
GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
BRILL AND I AND CHERIE, ONE OF OUR SUPERVISORS.
SHE TOLD ME FOR MORAL SUPPORT.
SO WE'RE ALL, UH, HONORED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT TO YOU BONNIE IBRAHIM.
UH, BONNIE RECENTLY WAS, UH, PROMOTED WITHIN THE COURT.
SHE STARTED OFF AS A COURT CLERK ONE FOR US WAY BACK IN 2015.
I JUST TOLD HER, I DIDN'T REALIZE SHE'D BEEN THERE ALMOST 10 YEARS.
UH, BUT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
I WOULD GUESS IT WAS EIGHT OR SO.
BUT, UH, SHE WAS RECENTLY PROMOTED TO A COURT CLERK TOO, SO SHE'S GOING FROM FRONT COUNTER HANDLING PEOPLE AND, AND ALL THAT BUSYNESS, UH, TO BEING IN THE COURTROOM AND WORKING ON TRAFFIC CASES, BOTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL.
AND SO SHE WAS RECENTLY PROMOTED TO THIS POSITION.
WE HAD SOMEBODY LEAVE US AFTER HAVING A CHILD, AND SO BONNIE HAS STEPPED UP.
SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE FOR THAT.
WELL, BONNIE, THANK YOU, UH, SO MUCH FOR JOINING AND, AND REMAINING WITH THE CITY.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PROMOTION AND UH, WE WELCOME YOU ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL TO THE CITY OF A THANK YOU MAYOR.
NEXT I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE ANDY MOSQUITO, DIRECTOR OF HR.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE OUR NEWEST EMPLOYEE TO THE HR DEPARTMENT.
UH, HER NAME IS KEELY FARROW AND SHE'S OUR SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST.
UM, KEELY JOINED THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
I'M JANUARY 27TH, AND IN HER ROLE AS SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST, SHE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPORTING POLICY DEVELOPMENT, HR INFORMATION SYSTEMS, AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS.
PRIOR TO JOINING AVONDALE, KEELEY SPENT THE LAST 25 YEARS WORKING FOR MARICOPA COUNTY IN A VARIETY OF HR LEADERSHIP ROLES.
KEELEY HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN JUSTICE STUDIES FROM A SUA MASTER'S DEGREE IN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FROM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY AND IS CURRENTLY CERTIFIED AS A SENIOR PROFESSIONAL IN HR THROUGH THE HR CERTIFICATION INSTITUTE AND A SENIOR PROFESSIONAL THROUGH THE SOCIETY OF HR MANAGEMENT.
UH, WHEN NOT AT WORK, KEELEY SPENCER, HER TIME TRAVELING THE WORLD.
HER MOST RECENT TRIP WAS TO IRELAND AND HER NEXT TRIP, UH, WILL SOON TO BE NORWAY DURING THE SUMMER.
SO PLEASE, WE HELP, UH, JOIN ME IN WELCOMING KEELY TO OUR DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH KEELY, FOR CHOOSING AVONDALE.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND JOINING THE TEAM.
AND FROM THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE LIEUTENANT LOPEZ TO INTRODUCE HIS TWO NEW EMPLOYEES.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, FIRST I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING TO MY LEFT, UH, HENRY CA CASTRO, OUR NEWEST MEMBER TO THE CITY OF AVENUE MUNICIPAL SECURITY TEAM.
HENRY WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.
LOT OF PEOPLE FROM CALIFORNIA I KNOW, UM, WITH HIS LOVE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
HE JOINED THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 1993.
HIS TENURE THERE, HE WORKED PATROL BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO THE TRAFFIC BUREAU, WORKING THE LAST 19 YEARS THERE.
[00:05:01]
ARRESTING SEVERAL DUIS EVERY YEAR.AND HE NOW, HE ENJOYS HIS TIME, UH, HERE IN ARIZONA WHERE HE MOVED HIS LOVE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
HIS WIFE CURRENTLY WORKS FOR GLENVILLE PD AS A DISPATCHER, AS THEY RAISED A 14-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
SO NOW HE'S PART OF OUR MUNICIPAL SECURITY TEAM.
AND TO KEEP OUR CAMPUS SAFE AND FREE FROM BAD PEOPLE RIGHT.
SO WE WELCOME HENRY TO THE CITY.
TO MY RIGHT I HAVE MICHAEL MARADA.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING MICHAEL TO OUR CODE COMPLIANCE TEAM.
MICHAEL HAS 40 PLUS YEARS LIVING HERE IN ARIZONA, WHO I KNOW HAS NOT HEARD OF, BUT HE'S A NATIVE HERE.
UM, HE ALSO HAS A LOVE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WORKED FOR THE GLENDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A POLICE OFFICER THERE.
HE WORKED VARIOUS AREAS IN GLENDALE, WHICH HAS LED HIM TO BEING A, A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER, TEACHING YOU GUYS OF WHAT IT IS TO BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER.
MIKE, AFTER 20 YEARS, HE RETIRED IN 2024 AND CLOSED A CHAPTER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH HIS WIFE AND THREE ADULT KIDS.
HE ENJOYS TRAVELING AND SPENDING TIME WITH 'EM.
NOW HE WANTS TO CONTINUE SERVING THE COMMUNITY BY JOINING OUR COMPLIANCE TEAM.
AND WE WELCOME MICHAEL TO THE CITY.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR CHOOSING AVONDALE, AND WELCOME TO THE TEAM.
AND NEXT, FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE KIRK BEATTY, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
AND COUNSEL, BEFORE I SHOW YOU A VIDEO OF THE FOUR EMPLOYEES THAT WE'VE RECENTLY HIRED WHO ARE AT HOME, HOPEFULLY GETTING SOME SLEEP 'CAUSE THEY'RE EARLY RISERS.
I WANNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EACH ONE OF THEM.
WILLIAM DEKE IS A WATER RECLAMATION OPERATOR.
HE JOINED OUR TEAM AFTER A SHORT STINT WITH THE, UM, TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN PHOENIX, DSMC.
YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD THE ACRONYM.
PRIOR TO THAT, HE WORKED WITH A COMPANY CALLED PLUMBING MASTERS FOR THREE YEARS AND HE SERVED ALSO AT THE UNITED STATES MARINES.
WILL IS AN AVID, AVID MARSHALL ARTS ENTHUSIAST.
HAS A LOVE FOR THE OUTDOORS, WHICH HE'S PASSING ON TO HIS THREE YOUNG BOYS, LIAM THOMAS, AND SULLIVAN.
AND HE AND HIS WIFE ARE ALSO PROUD.
HER PARENTS OF A BABY DAUGHTER WHO WAS BORN LAST MONTH.
THE NEXT PERSON YOU'LL SEE ON THE VIDEO IS NOAH GREEN.
HE'S A WATER PRODUCTION AND TREATMENT OPERATOR.
NOAH ATTENDED THE WATER SYSTEMS PROGRAM AS WEST ME VOCATIONAL CENTER DURING HIS SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL.
AND UPON GRADUATION, HE INTERNED FOR THE CITY OF BUCKEYE IN THE WATER PRODUCTION TREATMENT FIELD.
SUCCESS SUCCESSFULLY OBTAINED HIS A DEQ CERTIFICATION TO BECOME A CERTIFIED OPERATOR.
WHEN HE'S NOT WORKING, HE ENJOYS, UM, HANGING OUT WITH HIS FRIENDS AND PLAYING VIDEO GAMES.
UH, THE NEXT ONE IS, UH, IS JIMMY HILL, SOLID WASTE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR.
HE'S AN EXPERIENCED EQUIPMENT OPERATOR WHO WORKED FOR THE CITY OF PHOENIX AND THERE'S SOLID WASTE AREA.
UM, AND HE WANTED TO WORK FOR AVIL BECAUSE HE LIVES HERE, TAKES PRIDE IN HIS COMMUNITY.
HE AND HIS FAMILY RELOCATED TO AVONDALE A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
UH, HIS WIFE AND KIDS ALL WORK OR GO TO SCHOOL HERE IN AVONDALE.
HE ACTUALLY WALKS TO WORK FROM HIS NEIGHBORHOOD OVER TO THE MOSQUE.
SO THAT'S, HE'S NICE AND CLOSE
UM, WE'RE JUST REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE SUCH AN EXPERIENCED PERSON AND SOMEBODY THAT'S ENTHUSED TO BE WORKING FOR THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
AND THE LAST PERSON WE'LL SEE ON THE VIDEO IS VIDEO IS ANDREW LEYVA, A WATER RECLAMATION OPERATOR.
HE CAME TO US, UM, AFTER WORKING IN THE MEDICAL GAS SERVICE AS A TECHNICIAN, PROVIDING CERTIFICATION, UH, AND PERTAINING TRAINING FOR ME, MEDICAL, GAS USAGE AND HOSPITALS.
HE'S ALSO A 14 YEAR VETERAN OF US NAVY.
HE'S BEEN MARRIED FOR 17 YEARS WITH HIS TO HIS WIFE MARA.
AND THEY HAVE THREE BOYS, ANDREW, SANTIAGO, AND DANIEL.
HE LEFT SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS, UM, CAMPING AND FISHING, AND IS CURRENTLY TEACHING HIS BOYS HOW TO FORM FOR MECHANICAL WORK ON ATVS AND THE FAMILY CARS.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL JUST LET THEM SAY HELLO ON THE VIDEO TAP.
I'M A WASTEWATER RECLAMATION OPERATOR.
AND WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT MY JOB IS THE SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE PUBLIC BY CLEANING ALL THE WATER THROUGH A VERY SCIENTIFIC PROCESS.
IT'S A VERY DETAILED PROCESS THAT ENSURES OUR WATER IS CLEAN FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.
I'M IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
I'M A WATER PRODUCTION OPERATOR AND MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING AT THE CITY IS HAVING MY OWN TRUCK.
ONE THING I LIKE ABOUT WORKING FOR CITY OF AVONDALE IS THAT I LIKE THE CULTURE, I LIKE THE ENVIRONMENT, AND I LIKE MCCUEN.
EVA, UH, I WORK AT THE WASTEWATER
[00:10:01]
FACILITY TREATMENT AND I AM A WASTEWATER OPERATOR.AND WHAT I LIKE ABOUT MY DEPARTMENT IS THE MORALE AND THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH.
TELL HIM GOOD MORNING FOR US WHEN YOU SEE HIM,
NEXT I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE AL BASE, ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNSEL.
IT'S MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE YOU NOT ONLY TO NEW EMPLOYEES, BUT AS WELL AS SOME RECENT PROMOTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD.
UM, I'M GONNA INTRODUCE THEM AND THEN I'D LIKE FOR EACH OF THEM TO KIND OF COME FORWARD, STATE THEIR NAME, THEIR POSITION AND WHAT, YOU KNOW, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEMSELVES AND WHY THEY CHOSE AVONDALE.
SO I'LL START WITH OUR PROMOTIONS.
HE'S BEEN HERE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO AND A HALF YEARS, AND HE'S A LATERAL, UH, FROM ANOTHER AGENCY.
WE HAVE SERGEANT LESLIE GREEN, WHO'S BEEN HERE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AND IS ALSO A LATERAL FROM ANOTHER AGENCY.
AND THEN WE HAVE SERGEANT WILLIAM SEXTON, WHO'S BEEN HERE FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX AND A HALF YEARS.
AND HE'S, THIS IS HIS FIRST AGENCY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
BUT, UM, OUR NEW EMPLOYEES, WE'VE GOT SEVERAL NEW EMPLOYEES.
WE'VE GOT OFFICER JC DUNEY, UH, SHE JUST GRADUATED THE ACADEMY ALONG WITH OFFICER JACOB S. PARK, RANGER TRENT PHILLIPS DETENTION OFFICER ANTONIO MENDOZA AND MATTHEW PARKS AND DISPATCHERS, CORINA CODA AND AARON METZKER.
WE ALSO HAVE MCKENZIE WHITLOW WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE FOR EACH OF THEM TO COME UP AND JUST TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEMSELVES, UH, THEIR POSITION AND WHY THEY CHOSE AVONDALE.
UM, AS, UH, CHIEF SAID, I'M B LATERAL FROM FLAGSTAFF, UH, ARIZONA.
I'VE SERVED UP THERE FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT YEARS.
UM, ENDED UP COMING BACK TO AVONDALE.
UM, I LIKE THE CULTURE OF THE CITY, UM, AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE.
UM, SO IT'S NICE TO BE BACK TO WHERE I GREW UP HERE.
I'M SERGEANT LESLIE GREEN, AS WELL AS A LATERAL.
I CAME FROM SURPRISE, WHERE I SPENT ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF YEARS.
I'M CURRENTLY THE SERGEANT OVER SQUAD 10, AND THE REASON I CHOSE AVONDALE IS I WANTED TO WORK FOR THE BEST CITY AND THE BEST CHIEF IN THE VALLEY OF PHOENIX.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S NOW ON RECORD.
I'M SERGEANT, UH, WILLIAM SEXTON.
UH, I, THIS IS MY FIRST AND ONLY AGENCY.
UM, I, UH, CAME FROM ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE WITH THE MARINE CORPS.
UH, MY WHOLE FAMILY WAS LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE MAJORITY OF ALL WORK FOR PHOENIX.
I WANTED A, UH, AGENCY THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT CLOSER, THAT COMMUNITY, FAMILY ENVIRONMENT.
AND AFTER ONLY A COUPLE YEARS, I REALIZED I MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE.
SO, UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING AVONDALE.
HELLO, I'M OFFICER JACOB CARNES.
I'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD NOW ABOUT THREE MONTHS.
AND THE REASON WHY I CHOSE AVONDALE, UM, IS BECAUSE I LIKE THE SENSE OF FAMILY, THE WHOLE CITY, NOT JUST THE DEPARTMENT FEELS LIKE ONE BIG FAMILY.
AND EVEN ONLY BEING ON FOR A COUPLE MONTHS, I, I FEEL IT NOW.
EVERYBODY JUST LOVES TEACHING, HELPING, HELPING EVERYBODY ELSE GROW.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING AVONDALE.
SO I CHOSE AVONDALE 'CAUSE I ACTUALLY WENT TO THE CITIZEN POLICE ACADEMY IN 2023.
I REALLY LIKED MEETING ALL THE DIFFERENT OFFICERS AND EVERYONE IN THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT I MET.
SO, UM, I DECIDED TO APPLY AND HERE I'M, AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.
AND AS A RESULT, AGAIN, AS SHE MENTIONED IN JOINING ONE OF THE ACADEMIES, IT, IT INSPIRED HER.
AND HERE SHE IS WITH THE BADGE AND SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
MY, UH, PARK RANGER FRIEND PHILLIPS.
I ACTUALLY CAME FROM THE CITY OF PHOENIX AS A PARK RANGER.
UM, WHY I CHOSE AVONDALE IS LIKE, THEY NOT SAME IS THE FAMILY.
YOU ARE ACCEPTED FROM DAY ONE AND UH, IT'S THE BEST DECISION I HAVE TO MAKE A MOMENT.
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING AVENUE AND BEING HERE.
I CAME FROM MCSO WHERE I SPENT 11 YEARS THERE.
AND THE REASON I CHOSE TO COME TO AVONDALE FROM MCSO IS, UH, THE LOVE THAT THE CITY HAS FOR THEIR COMMUNITY AND THE, UH, HOW FAMILY ORIENTS EVERYTHING IS.
AND TO BE CLOSER TO HOME FOR ME AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND CHOOSING AVONDALE.
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HOW YOU DOING? I'M MATTHEW PARKS.UM, I'M ALSO TRANSFER, I RETIRED FROM MCSO AND I CAME TO AVONDALE 'CAUSE I HAVE FRIENDS THAT WORK HERE, BUT ALSO ENJOY THE FAMILY AND THE SMALLER COMMUNITY.
IT IS, IT'S A LOT TIGHTER COMMUNITY IN A SMALLER DEPARTMENT.
WELL, IT'S NICE THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO RECONNECT WITH, WITH FORMER FRIENDS.
AND SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING AVONDALE AND BEING A PART OF THE TEAM.
I'M A DISPATCHER AND I CHOSE AVONDALE BECAUSE I'M ACTUALLY FROM MONTANA AND AVONDALE WAS ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE WHOLE COUNTY THAT I USED TO WORK FOR.
SO IT FELT COMFORTABLE IN THAT REGARD.
SO THAT'S WHY I CHOSE IT AND I LUCKED OUT WITH ALL THE OTHER ATTRIBUTES THAT I GOT WHEN I GOT HERE.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CHOOSING AVONDALE.
HELLO, MY NAME'S CARINA COBA AND I'M A DISPATCHER.
AND THE REASON WHY I CHOSE AVONDALE WAS JUST KIND OF PIGGYBACK OFF OF THESE AMAZING PEOPLE, JUST GREAT COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, AMAZING ENVIRONMENT AND UH, IT'S JUST A BLESSING OVERALL TO BE HERE.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR CHOOSING AVONDALE AND BEING A PART OF THE TEAM.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH.
[b. Proclamation - Engineers Week]
TRACY.WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR ENGINEERS WEEK AND THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY KIM MOON.
OUR DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING CITY COUNCIL WILL PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 16TH THROUGH FEBRUARY 22ND, 2025 AS ENGINEERS WEEK.
THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION ONLY.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK IS FROM FEBRUARY 16TH, FEBRUARY 22ND THIS YEAR.
AND THIS YEAR'S THEME IS DESIGN YOUR FUTURE AIMED AT INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENGINEERS.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE PROFESSION OF ENGINEERING, TO SUPPORT ACTIVITIES THAT GET STUDENTS INTERESTED IN ENGINEERING AND TO PROPO PROMOTE FUTURE CAREERS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MATH.
WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM MANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS HERE THIS EVENING.
SO AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA ASK THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TEAM TO PLEASE STAND.
WE ALSO HAVE ENGINEERS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, SO ANY ENGINEERS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, PLEASE STAND.
AND WE HAVE LOTS OF TECHNICIANS AND, UH, THE LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT WORK ON DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
SO EVERYONE PLEASE JOIN IN STANDING WITH US.
UH, ANYONE WHO'S INVOLVED IN DEVELOPMENT DESIGNING CONSTRUCTION, I INVITE YOU TO STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED.
SO THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION THIS EVENING AND AND PROMOTING ENGINEERING WEIGHT.
AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO READ A PROCLAMATION, IF I WILL, IF I CAN.
WHEREAS ENGINEERS PROVIDE THE TALENTS AND SKILLS NECESSARY TO ANALYZE AND SOLVE COMPLEX PROBLEMS AND CREATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE ESSENTIAL FOR THE HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE WHICH ARE CITIZENS ENJOY.
AND WHEREAS THE SUPPORT OF AN UNDERSTANDING AND INFORMED CITIZENRY IS VITAL TO THE EFFICIENT PLANNING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND OPERATION OF THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH INCLUDES WATER, SANITARY AND STORM SEWERS, STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION.
AND WHEREAS THE HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE, COMFORT, AND ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THIS COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE SUCCESS OF PROJECT RENEWAL GREATLY DEPENDS ON SOUND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND WHEREAS ENGINEERS ADDRESS THE MAJOR TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME FROM REBUILDING TOWNS DEVASTATED BY NATURAL DISASTERS TO DESIGNING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL TAKE OUR COUNTY, OUR COUNTRY THROUGH THE 21ST CENTURY.
AND WHEREAS THE QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IS VITALLY DEPENDENT UPON THE EFFORT, TALENT, AND SKILL OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR ENGINEERS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DALE IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND DEDICATED ENGINEERS WHOSE PROFESSIONALISM MATERIALLY INFLUENCES THE PEOPLE'S ATTITUDE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK THEY PERFORM.
AND NOW THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED THAT THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 16TH THROUGH FEBRUARY 22ND, 2025,
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IS HEREBY DESIGNATED AS ENGINEERS WEEK IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE.AND MAYOR, I DO WANNA NOTE WE WILL TAKE PHOTOS AFTER THE LAST PRO UH, PRESENTATION ITEM.
SO STAFF, IF YOU WOULD LIKE A PHOTO, PLEASE STAY.
[c. Proclamation - Black History Month]
OKAY, TRACY.OUR NEXT ITEM IS A PROCLAMATION FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME LISA COBB, PRESIDENT OF THE ARIZONA WEST VALLEY ALUMNI CHAPTER OF THE DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY TO THE PODIUM.
TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION AND SHARE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF HER ORGANIZATION, CITY COUNCIL WILL PRESENT A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY, 2025 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION ONLY.
GOOD EVENING, MAY I HAVE ALL THE OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INCORPORATED.
PLEASE STAND GOOD EVENING TO THE ESTEEMED CITY OFFICIALS OF CITY OF AVONDALE, AND ALL OF OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS OF ARIZONA WEST VALLEY ALUMNI CHAPTER, WE ARE TRULY HONORED FOR THE SIGNIFICANT RECOGNITION OF THIS BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROCLAMATION.
IT IS BOTH HUMBLING AND INSPIRING TO RECEIVE THIS HONOR.
FOR OVER A CENTURY, DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY HAS REMAINED COMMITTED TO FOSTERING POSITIVE CHANGE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES, THROUGH PRINCIPLES OF SISTERHOOD, SCHOLARSHIP, AND SERVICE.
WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE IMPACT OF OUR CHAPTER HAS MADE ON THE CITY OF AVONDALE TO ADDRESS CRITICAL ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FRIENDS, AND OUR FAMILIES.
THIS RECOGNITION IS PARTICULARLY SPECIAL TO RECEIVE DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AS WE HONOR THE LEGACIES OF THOSE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE US, THE IMPORTANCE, SO AT THE END BEFORE US, AND THE, UH, WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING OUR ORGANIZATION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SERVE ALONG THE SIDE OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
AND THANK THE CHAPTER AS WELL FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.
AND, UH, I TOO HAVE A PROCLAMATION THAT I'D LIKE TO READ.
WHEREAS IN 1926, THE FIRST CELEBRATION OF NEGRO HISTORY WEEK WAS STARTED BY THE EDUCATOR AND SCHOLAR CARDI CARTER G WOODSON, TO HONOR THE BIRTHDAYS OF PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND ABOLITIONIST FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT BLACK HISTORY, SHARED TRADITIONS FROM BLACK CULTURE, HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND FOCUS POSITIVE ATTENTION ON AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND WHEREAS IN 1976, PRESIDENT GERALD FORD EXTENDED THE CELEBRATION TO A MONTH.
AND IN 1986, CONGRESS PASSED PUBLIC LAW 99 DASH 2 44, TO DESIGNATE FEBRUARY AS NATIONAL BLACK AFRO-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH.
AND WHEREAS BY CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE ARE CELEBRATING THE GENERATIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO HAVE BEEN IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE THE 17TH CENTURY, HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO SHAPE AND STRENGTHEN THE FABRIC OF OUR CITY, OUR STATE, OUR NATION, AND HAVE ENRICHED EVERY ASPECT OF OUR GLOBAL IDENTITY.
AND WHEREAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH HONORS AND AFFIRMS THE IMPORTANCE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGHOUT OUR NATION, BY RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY BLACK AMERICANS AMID UNDUE HARDSHIPS, SLAVERY, INEQUALITY, AND EXTREME FORMS OF INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM AND VIOLENCE.
AND WHEREAS WHILE BLACK HISTORY MONTH INITIALLY BEGAN AS NEGRO HISTORY WEEK, IT IS VITAL TO CONTINUE TO LEARN ABOUT AND TO CELEBRATE THE OUTSTANDING, YET OFTEN OVERLOOKED CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE STRONG COMMUNITY OF BLACK PEOPLE THROUGHOUT EACH YEAR.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AVONDALE RECOGNIZES THE ENRICHMENTS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS TO THE WEST VALLEY'S RICH HERITAGE, SEEING SUCCESS THROUGH THE MANY IMPRESSIONS OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US AND THOSE WHO LIVE HERE NOW, WE CELEBRATE OUR CITY'S DIVERSITY, RECOGNIZING WE MUST WORK TO EXTEND THE AMERICAN DREAM TO BLACK PEOPLE IN OUR CITY AS WE MAKE LIVES BETTER FOR ALL.
AND NOW THEREFORE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY, 2025 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN AVONDALE AND URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO CELEBRATE THE RICH HERITAGE, IMMENSE STRENGTH AND SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT IN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY AND EVERY DAY AS WE CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM AND EQUALITY FOR A MUST, JUST FOR A MORE JUST SOCIETY.
[d. National Children’s Alliance Reaccreditation of the Southwest Family Advocacy Center Recognition]
[00:25:04]
TRACY.THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE RE-ACCREDITATION OF THE SOUTHWEST VALLEY ADVOCACY CENTER.
RECOGNITION WILL BE PRESENTED BY REEM GEORGE, FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER MANAGER WITH THE AVONDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT, EVENING HONORABLE MAYOR PER AND ESTEEM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME OF THE INFORMATION FOR THE SOUTHWEST FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER AND OUR ACCREDITATION PROCESS THAT TOOK ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF.
UM, AND WE JUST RECENTLY GOT ACCREDITED.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE WERE ESTABLISHED IN 2006, UM, AND WE WERE FIRST ACCREDITED BACK IN 2013, AND THE PROCESS IS EVERY FIVE YEARS.
SO WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS EVERY FIVE YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE UP TO THE NATIONAL STANDARDS, THAT WE MEET THE STANDARDS, UM, AND THAT WE ARE, UH, WORKING TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS. AND WE'RE DOING IT IN A MATTER THAT IS SAFE, UH, PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND PHYSICALLY SAFE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
UH, WE ARE ONLY ONE, WE'RE WE'RE ONE OF TWO ADVOCACY CENTERS IN MARICOPA COUNTY THAT IS FULLY ACCREDITED N 1 0 5 IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.
UH, IT IS A PRETTY RIGOROUS, UH, PROCESS.
IT'S A ONE STOP, UH, SHOP MODEL WHERE CRIME VICTIMS COME TO OUR CENTER AND ALL THE SERVICES THAT TAKE PLACE, IT TAKES PLACE INSIDE OUR CENTER.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO A HOSPITAL, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO, UH, INSIDE A POLICE STATION.
IT'S ALL, IT ALL HAPPENS ALL IN THE SAME FACILITY.
UM, AND, UH, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME OF THE STANDARDS.
THERE ARE 10 CORE STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE TO MEET 110 ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS FOR US TO ACTUALLY BE ACCREDITED.
UH, SO WE DID GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD, UH, EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED, ALL THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WE NEED.
UH, WE HAD, UM, A LOT OF, UH, PIECES OF DOCUMENTATION FROM ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS THAT MAKE UP OUR ADVOCACY CENTER, WHICH IS AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WE HAVE HONOR HEALTH, PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
ALL THESE PARTNERS HAD TO COME FORWARD AND BRING IN ACCREDITATION, DOCUMENTATION AND CREDENTIALS FOR ALL THEIR STAFF SO WE COULD MEET THOSE STANDARDS.
UM, WE HAD A LOT OF PIECES OF INFORMATION.
OF COURSE, I DON'T HAVE, UH, TOO MUCH, UH, TIME TO GO INTO IT, BUT WE HAD TO PROVIDE A LOT OF THESE DOCUMENTATIONS TO ENSURE THAT, UH, WE'RE UP TO STANDARDS.
UM, ON NOVEMBER 21ST, UH, WE DID HAVE SITE AUDITORS THAT CAME IN.
THEY ATTENDED OUR MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM MEETING, AND THEN THEY TOOK A CENTER TOUR AND MET WITH DIFFERENT, UH, STAFF FROM DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES, UH, INCLUDING, UM, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, OUR FORENSIC INTERVIEWER, VICTIM ADVOCATES.
THEY MET WITH OUR, UH, CHIEF OF POLICE AS WELL AS, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, UH, THE CHIEF OF PAKA PD AS WELL.
THEY MET WITH OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, AND THEN THEY CLOSED OUT THE MEETING, UH, WITH ME ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE PASS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY HAD.
UM, JUST SOME OF THE ACCREDITATION BENEFITS.
UH, IT INCLUDES MEMBERSHIP ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF I NEED TO REACH OUT ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL BECAUSE I NEED HELP WITH A A CERTAIN TOPIC, UH, I COULD DO THAT BECAUSE THERE IS THAT, UH, SENSE OF COHESIVENESS AND MEMBERSHIP ONLINE AND IN PERSON AS WELL.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE A STATE CHAPTER AS WELL.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT GETS PRESENTED, UH, TO US.
WE RECENTLY GOT, UH, A GRANT, UM, UH, THROUGH THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE.
UH, WE GET TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, ONLINE PEER SUPPORT, UM, AND IT'S JUST TO, UH, IT'S JUST THAT STANDARD PRACTICE FOR CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION, UH, TO MAKE IT SO WE'RE UP TO, UH, NATIONAL STANDARDS.
WE MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS, UM, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PARTNERSHIPS, UM, AND THEN A LOT OF RESOURCES, UH, THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO OUR FACILITY.
I COULD, I COULD GO ON, UM,
WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, REEM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, UH, BEING ONE OF TWO IN THE STATE THAT IS FULLY ACCREDITED, AND, UH, I KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THAT.
I MEAN, YOU COVERED THIS SO QUICKLY AND BRIEFLY AND, AND WE APPRECIATE IT, BUT THERE WAS JUST SO MUCH WORK THAT WENT IN BETWEEN YOU, YOUR TEAM, THE CITY, THE OTHER, UH, CITIES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING.
I, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THIS IS TRULY A, A, UH, TREMENDOUS ASSET THAT WE HAVE.
UH, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS SERVICE EXISTS, BUT IT DOES.
AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO AT LEAST, UM, SHOW OUR COMMITMENT BY PARTICIPATING? AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THAT ALSO PARTICIPATE AS PART OF THIS BOARD AS WELL.
AND IF THERE'S ANY MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, UH, ANYTHING OR ASK ANY QUESTIONS, AND THAT WOULD BE A GREAT TIME.
AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS ON THE LINE.
I'LL COME TO YOU IN JUST A SECOND.
BUT COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI, IF YOU WILL.
[00:30:01]
THANK YOURE FOR THE PRESENTATION.UM, BUT MOST OF LAW, I WANNA THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK FOR YOU.
UM, ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, WEISS AND I, UM, WERE INTERVIEWED, UM, BY THE FOLKS THAT CAME TO HELP YOU TO DO THEIR ACCREDITATION.
AND ONE THING I THINK I HEARD FROM THEM IS, UM, HOW IMPRESSED THEY WERE WITH YOU AND THE CENTER.
AND I JUST WANNA JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, AND IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THE CAPACITY THAT I DO ON THE FRIENDS BOARD AND WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE CENTER FOR ITEMS THAT AREN'T COVERED IN THE CENTER'S BUDGET.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR DEDICATION.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL HERE, OR COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.
UM, YES, I JUST REALLY WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE RAYMOND, HER TEAM.
THEY, UH, DO A WONDERFUL JOB DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AND THEY ARE REALLY, TRULY SUPPORTED BY, UM, PD OF ALL OF THE AGENCIES.
AND IT'S JUST AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THIS WONDERFUL, UM, CENTER.
UM, THE WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT THE VICTIMS THAT GO THROUGH THE, THAT GO THROUGH THROUGH IT.
I'LL START COUGHING, BUT THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO.
SHE, SHE, SHE, I DON'T SEE HER ANYMORE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DO.
UM, I KNOW TINA AND SHERRY WORK ON THERE.
UM, I'VE, I'M A, I'M A SURVIVOR OF BOTH DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, SO KNOWING THAT THERE'S A PROGRAM IN THE WEST VALLEY THAT HELPS PEOPLE IN THOSE SITUATIONS IS WONDERFUL.
AND, UM, I HAD AN INCIDENT, UH, EARLIER THIS YEAR WHERE I HAD TO, UM, GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CONDI FOR, FOR HELP, UM, ABOUT INFORMATION.
AND SHE ALWAYS SAYS, YOU KNOW, SHE SPEAKS SO HIGHLY ABOUT THE ADVOCACY CENTER AND TO ALWAYS RECOMMEND TO SEND ANYONE THERE, EVEN IF IT'S SOMETHING SMALL THAT YOU GUYS ARE ABLE TO HELP.
SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO.
UH, COUNCILMAN GARCIA, I APPRECIATE IT.
UM, TRACY, BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT ITEM, UM, IF WE COULD JUST BACK UP REALLY QUICKLY.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UM, OUR, OUR VISITORS HERE FROM THE CHAPTER AND WE HAVE A PARTICIPATING MEMBER HERE ON COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.
AND I JUST SKIPPED OVER SO QUICKLY, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, UH, ABOUT, UM, BEING AS PART OF THE GROUP, AS PART OF BEING THE, THE SORORITY CHAPTER THAT YOU, UH, SIT ON? THANK YOU SO MUCH BECAUSE YOU CAN SHARE WITH THE, WITH THE REST OF, UH, OH YES.
I, I ACTUALLY, UH, WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, THANK, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE PROCLAMATION TO BE PRESENTED TO THE DELTA CHAPTER HERE IN THE WEST VALLEY.
UM, A PART OF THE REASON I THINK I SIT ON THIS DAY IS BECAUSE ON APRIL 17TH, 2021, WE CHARTERED THIS CHAPTER HERE IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS CHAPTER SO SPECIAL AT THIS MEETING ON THIS DAY, THIS TIME.
UM, BECAUSE, UM, ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TO CULTIVATE, UM, WE, WE DELTA GOES TO BLACK COMMUNITIES AND WE SUPPORT THEM WHERE THEY ARE.
SO THAT JUST REALLY MEANT IN 2021, WE HAD A REASON TO BE HERE, RIGHT? SOME OF US HAVE BEEN HERE MUCH LONGER THAN THAT.
AS I LOOK AT SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS, UM, AND AS I THINK ABOUT OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND THE INTEGRITY THAT SHE HAS AND DELIVERS, SHE'S NOT A MEMBER OF OUR CHAPTER, LIKE A FEW OTHER OF THE SOROS, UM, WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE.
UM, HOWEVER, WHEREVER WE GO, WHEREVER WE DO, THE ONE THING THAT KEEPS US TOGETHER IS, IS SISTERHOOD AND SERVICE.
AND SO I THINK AS WE HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE SCHOLARSHIP TO BECOME DELTAS, THE SERVICE THAT WE GIVE IS THE PRICE WE PAY TO LIVE.
[e. Holiday School Spirit Food Drive Awards Presentation]
TRACY.THE HOLIDAY SCHOOL SPIRIT FOOD DRIVE AWARDS PRESENTATION WILL BE PRESENTED BY MARYELLA GONZALEZ, OUR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR WITH NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES, AND STACY ANO, NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES COORDINATOR.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT.
AS MENTIONED, MY NAME IS MARIA GONZALEZ.
I'M THE YOUTH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
I FIRST OFF WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THOSE WHO ARE ATTENDING THIS EVENING AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN OUR 17TH ANNUAL SCHOOL SPIRIT DRIVE.
SINCE 2008, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED WITH OUR AVONDALE SCHOOLS TO HELP ADDRESS THE INCREASING DEMAND PHASED BY OUR LOCAL FOOD BANKS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY, UM, WITH THAT.
[00:35:01]
SO WE'RE ALSO PLEASED TO HAVE OUR AVONDALE YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION HERE IN ATTENDANCE.THEY ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THIS BY ENCOURAGING ENGAGEMENT AND ALSO ADVOCATING FOR RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I ALSO HAVE DEANA AMAYA, WHO IS OUR AVONDALE YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION CHAIR, WHO'S GOING TO ASSIST WITH PAN OUT THE TROPHIES.
AND I ALSO HAVE STACEY ANO, WHO WILL BE RECOGNIZING OUR PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS.
THIS YEAR'S DRIVE RAN FROM NOVEMBER 4TH, 2024 THROUGH DECEMBER 6TH, 2024.
AND WE HAD NINE TOTAL PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND WE'RE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION.
AS WE KNOW, THIS FOOD THAT'S COLLECTED IS GONNA GO BACK TO OUR RESIDENTS OF AVONDALE.
LISTED HERE ARE THOSE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE 17TH ANNUAL SCHOOL DRIVE.
AGAIN, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THEIR PARTNERSHIP.
IN THIS YEARLY EVENT THAT OUR DEPARTMENT COORDINATES, WE RECEIVED FEEDBACK FROM MULTIPLE SCHOOLS EXPRESSING THEIR ENJOYMENT AND BEING ABLE TO BE PART OF THIS INITIATIVE.
WE SH WE COLLECTED 4,351 POUNDS OF FOOD, WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO 3,628 MEALS.
BUT I'M EVEN MORE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS YEAR THAT NUMBER INCREASED.
SO THIS YEAR WE GATHERED 6,040 POUNDS, WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO 5,033 MEALS.
THROUGH THE INVOLVEMENT OF OUR SCHOOLS HOSTING THE DRIVES AT THEIR RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS AND SPREADING AWARENESS IS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THIS NUMBER HERE.
SO EACH CONTRIBUTION, NO MATTER THE AMOUNT IS, UM, PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING THOSE AND ENSURING THAT EVERYONE HAS FOOD ON THEIR TABLE.
SO, WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO STACY, WHO WILL BE PRESENTING AWARDS TO OUR SCHOOLS.
MY NAME IS STACY ANO, NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES COORDINATOR.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE COORDINATING THIS YEAR'S SCHOOL SPIRIT FOOD DRIVE, AND I'M HONORED TO BE HERE THIS EVENING TO RECOGNIZE THE AMAZING EFFORTS OF THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS.
AS I CALL YOUR SCHOOL'S NAME, PLEASE SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE PODIUM TO RECEIVE YOUR PARTICIPATION.
PLAQUE, PLEASE RETURN TO YOUR SEAT AFTER RECEIVING YOUR AWARD, YOU WILL BE INVITED TO THE FRONT OF COUNCIL CHAMBERS FOR A GROUP PHOTO.
AFTER ALL PRESENTATIONS ARE COMPLETED.
AVONDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL, TRE VISTA STEM ACADEMY.
IMAGINE SCHOOLS, AVONDALE LAIE CORE SCHOOL.
THANK YOU, STAR ACADEMY MICHAEL ANDERSON SCHOOL.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS.
YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
WE WILL NOW BE RECOGNIZING THE TOP THREE CONTRIBUTING SCHOOLS IN THIRD PLACE, AWA HIGH SCHOOL, WHO COLLECTED 440 POUNDS EQUIVALENT TO 367 MEALS IN SECOND PLACE.
WE HAVE CORTE SIERRA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHO COLLECTED 938 POUNDS EQUIVALENT TO 782 MEALS, AND FINALLY IN FIRST PLACE, WEST POINT HIGH SCHOOL,
[00:40:03]
WHO COLLECTED 3046 POUNDS EQUIVALENT TO 2,538 MEALS.I'D LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO DEANNA AMAYA, THE AVONDALE YOUTH ADVISORY CHAIR, WHO SUPPORTED AND RALLIED BEHIND HER SCHOOL.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS.
YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY OF AVONDALE.
THIS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? JUST GREAT JOB, EVERYBODY.
GREAT JOB TO NOT ONLY THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED, LEADERSHIP FROM ALL THE SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
UH, NOT JUST FOR THE PARTICIPATION, BUT EVEN JUST FOR THE IMPACT, UH, THAT WILL COME BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH YOU SERVE.
AND, UM, CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THAT.
BUT I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM, FROM COUNCIL? ANYONE ONLINE? COUNCIL MEMBER, WE DRAGONS.
ANYBODY ONLINE? COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS.
WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH FOR PARTICIPATION.
THANK YOU MARIANA, FOR HELPING AND, AND DIRECTING THIS, UH, EVENT.
I APPRECIATE IT, STACY AS WELL.
[f. Exceptional Student of Avondale Recognition (Avi Star Student)]
THANK YOU, MAYOR.THE NEXT ITEM IS THE EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS OF AVONDALE RECOGNITION PROGRAM KNOWN AS OUR ABBVIE STAR STUDENTS.
THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY DONNA GARDNER, YOUTH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER WITH NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
UH, THIS IS SUCH A FUN AND WONDERFUL, UH, INITIATIVE TO RECOGNIZE THE AMAZING THINGS THAT, UH, THESE STUDENTS ARE DOING HERE IN, UM, OUR AVONDALE COMMUNITY.
I'M HONORED TO BE HERE, UH, PRESENTING THESE RECOGNITIONS ON BEHALF OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, PRINCIPALS, EDUCATORS, AND NOMINATORS THAT ARE, UM, PRESENT WITH US THIS EVENING, UH, TO SUPPORT THESE STUDENTS.
UH, THE ACHIEVEMENTS BEING RECOGNIZED, MAYBE, UM, ACADEMIC, EXTRACURRICULAR OR PERSONAL AND OR HIGHLIGHT, UH, THE IMPACT THAT THESE STUDENTS HAVE HAD FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FRIENDS, UM, FAMILY OR COMMUNITY, UM, STUDENTS.
AS I CALL YOUR NAME, UH, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM TO RECEIVE, UM, YOUR CERTIFICATE.
AND, UM, YOU'RE WELCOME TO TAKE A SEAT, UM, AFTER YOU RECEIVE YOUR CERTIFICATE.
UM, THE LIST OF, UM, THESE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT THESE STUDENTS ARE DOING IS INCREDIBLE.
UM, SO JUST BE PREPARED 'CAUSE THE THE LIST IS, UH, ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND JUST GOES ON AND ON.
OKAY, SO FIRST UP, UM, THIS STUDENT IS WITHIN THE AWA, UM, UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UM, SHE IS A 12TH GRADER AT AWA FREYA HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, NJA IS THE PRESIDENT OF, UH, HOSA, WHICH IS HEALTH OCCUPATION, UM, FOR STUDENTS OF AMERICA AT AWA FRIA HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, SHE IS THE AL CLOSET CO-PRESIDENT, NATIONAL HONORS SOCIETY SECRETARY HISTORIAN FOR AWA FREEA, A BLACK STUDENT UNION SENIOR CLASS TREASURER, A KEY PART OF THE FRESHMAN MENTOR PROGRAM OF VARSITY ATHLETE FOR CROSS COUNTRY.
SHE, UM, PLAYS SOCCER AND TRACK ALSO NJ IS, UH, PRESENT AND ACTIVE IN ALL OF THESE COMMITMENTS.
UM, WHILE MAINTAINING A HIGH GPA, UH, SHE CHALLENGES HERSELF BY TAKING AP CLASSES AND IS IN THE TOP BY PERCENT OF HER GRADUATING CLASS.
SHE ASSISTS WITH PLANNING COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENTS, UH, TO LIST JUST ONE OF THE MANY, UM, NJ ASSISTED WITH THE ANGEL TREE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT BY HELPING ORGANIZE OVER 500 GIFTS AND DELIVERING THEM TO LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
SHE HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON FRESHMEN, UM, BY, UH, BEING A LINK CREW LEADER.
A LINK CREW, UH, MEMBER IS PART OF THE FRESHMAN MENTORSHIP PROGRAM WHERE, UH, NJ AND HER GROUP OF THREE PLAN LESSONS AROUND ORGANIZATION, STUDY TIPS, MENTAL HEALTH, SCHOOL
[00:45:01]
RESOURCES, AND COURSE SELECTION.NJS NOMINATOR STATES, SHE'S TRULY AN EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT AND HAS BEEN GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY OF AVONDALE ALL FOUR YEARS.
UM, AT AWA FRIA HIGH SCHOOL, THE NEXT STUDENT IS WITH, UM, AVONDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ATTENDS LAIE CORE.
SHE IS IN FIRST GRADE AND HER NAME IS LYNETTE SALAZAR.
SHE GOES OUT OF HER WAY TO SUPPORT HER FRIENDS.
SHE SHOWS RESILIENCE, RESPONSIBILITY, AND PASSION FOR LEARNING.
LYNETTE ALSO SHOWS WILLINGNESS TO ALWAYS DO HER BEST AND EXCITEMENT FOR NEW CHALLENGES.
SHE EMBODIES THE QUALITIES OF, UH, THOUGHTFULNESS AND, UM, IS ALSO AN ENGAGED LEARNER.
HER POSITIVE ATTITUDE UPLIFTS THOSE AROUND HER.
THE NEXT STUDENT IS WITHIN THE LITCHFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ATTENDS WHITE TANKS LEARNING CENTER AND IS IN THIRD GRADE.
EVERYONE AT SCHOOL LOVES GETTING TO WORK WITH SAMMY.
BECAUSE OF HIS CONTAGIOUS ENERGY, HE CONTINUES TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN HIS SCHOOLWORK AND CREATES MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS.
FOLLOWING THAT, THIS STUDENT IS WITHIN THE LITCHFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ATTENDS COLLIER.
MELANIE DEMONSTRATES EXCEPTIONAL BEHAVIOR AND OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL.
HER KINDNESS AND WILLINGNESS TO HELP OTHERS CREATES A SENSE OF COMMUNITY IN THE CLASSROOM.
SHE IS A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL, NOT ONLY IN HER CLASSROOM, BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT HER SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY.
SHE SHOWS DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND KINDNESS TO ALL.
NEXT, THIS STUDENT IS, UH, WITH THE PENDERGAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ATTENDS CANYON BREEZE ELEMENTARY.
ROMERO ESCOBAR IS A FIFTH GRADER.
ROMERO CONSTANTLY DEMONSTRATES A STRONG WORK ETHIC AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND WILLINGNESS TO HELP OTHERS.
ROMERO'S WILLINGNESS TO, UH, SET UP AND PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS, NOT ONLY ENRICHES HIS OWN EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO INSPIRES HIS PEERS TO GET INVOLVED.
HE IS A NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY MEMBER, A MEMBER OF THE CANYON BREEZE CHAMPIONSHIP ESPORTS TEAM, AND IS A WINNING MEMBER OF CANYON BREEZE'S ELEMENTARY MATH CHALLENGE TEAM FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
AND, UM, IS A COMPETING MEMBER OF THE ROBOTICS TEAM.
ROMERO VALUES TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION, MAKING CANYON BREEZE A MORE VIBRANT PLACE TO LEARN AND GROW.
THIS STUDENT IS WITHIN THE TOLLESON UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ATTENDS WESTVIEW HIGH SCHOOL AND IS A 12TH GRADER.
GRANT GRI IS, UM, AN AMAZING STUDENT, A FANTASTIC ATHLETE, BUT ALSO A PASSIONATE VOLUNTEER.
HE HAS LOGGED OVER A THOUSAND HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.
HE HAS VOLUNTEERED AT ANDRE HOUSE, WHICH, UM, SERVES THOSE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
HE VOLUNTEERS AT HIS CHURCH, SERVING AT MASS, VOLUNTEERING AT THE YMCA AND TUTORING GIFTED CHILDREN.
HE'S AN EAGLE SCOUT, WHICH TOOK HIM SIX YEARS TO COMPLETE.
GRANT IS VERY RESPECTFUL AND COURTEOUS TOWARDS ALL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.
HE IS AN ATHLETE AND PLAYS TENNIS AND FOOTBALL.
HIS NOMINATOR STATES THAT HE'LL MOST LIKELY BE PLAYING FOOTBALL AT A DIVISION ONE COLLEGE.
[00:50:01]
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE STUDENTS NOMINATED FOR EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT OF AVONDALE, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.STUDENTS WILL BE INVITED TO TAKE A PHOTO AFTER ALL PRESENTATION ITEMS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
CAN WE ALL GIVE THESE, UH, WONDERFUL STU, OH, SORRY.
ARE THERE OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THAT WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS ANY COMMENTS? ANYONE ONLINE? OKAY.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO NOT ONLY, UH, SCHOOL, BUT UH, YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR FAMILY, AND UH, ALL THOSE THAT YOU COME IN TOUCH WITH.
SO, CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR PARTICIPATING.
[g. Avondale Ambassador Program Introduction]
THIS TIME, UM, WE ARE MOVING TO, UH, THE AVONDALE AVONDALE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.AND THEN WILL WE BE DOING PICTURES RIGHT AFTER THAT BEFORE WE GO TO UH, YES.
SO OUR NEXT ITEM IS THE NEW AVONDALE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, AND THESE WILL BE OUR INTRODUCTIONS FROM DARD COLLIER, OUR MANAGEMENT ANALYST WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A MANAGEMENT ANALYST IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
AND TONIGHT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF INTRODUCING THE AVONDALE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM AND OUR INAUGURAL COHORT OF AVONDALE AMBASSADORS.
SO THIS YEAR LONG PROGRAM PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO ENGAGE WITH CITY PROGRAMS, SERVICES, EVENTS, AND HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS.
REALLY EMPOWERING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SHARE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS AND VISITORS.
AND THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE, THE AMBASSADORS WILL ATTEND QUARTERLY MEETINGS TO LEARN ABOUT CITY SERVICES AND UPCOMING PROJECTS, HOST INFORMATION TABLES AT CITY EVENTS, ATTEND MONTHLY CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND CITY BOARD COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS, ATTEND THE ANNUAL STATE OF THE CITY EVENTS, UH, AND BE ACTIVE ON AVONDALE'S SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLATFORMS LIKE VY WISE AND AVONDALE CONNECT.
AND PICTURED HERE WAS OUR FIRST QUARTERLY MEETING, WHICH WAS HELD LAST WEDNESDAY, WHERE THE AMBASSADORS RECEIVED A WELCOME FROM CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGEMENT, LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM, AND WE'RE PROVIDED A GUIDED TOUR OF THE CITY.
SO NOW I'LL INTRODUCE OUR 2025 AVENUE AMBASSADORS OR OUR 21 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.
SO WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STAND IF YOU'RE ABLE AND BE RECOGNIZED.
AL NUNEZ, AMANDA DUNCAN, BEN RUTI, BRIAN SWANSON, SHERRY GERLACH, CINDY DELA, RIVA, CRYSTAL LOPEZ, DAVY, CYNTHIA CAESAR, DAN CHU, DAVID GARRISON, DEANNA ADA, JANET BEASON, JESSICA VALDEZ, LINDSAY COTH, MIKE MARTIN, NATASHA EDMONDS, PAUL LEMON, RAMON SANCHEZ, RHONDA BELL, WALTER GONZALEZ, AND BILL REEVES.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING OUR 2025 AVONDALE AMBASSADORS.
SO MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM.
AND OUR PARTICIPANTS WILL COME DOWN TO TAKE A PHOTO WITH MAYOR AND COUNCIL AFTER THE PRESENTATIONS.
ANY COMMENTS? ANYONE ONLINE? SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE DISCUSSED AS PART OF, UH, THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM WHILE WE WERE THERE LAST WEEK WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, AS MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO DO, UH, WHAT WE CAN WITHIN OUR OWN NETWORKS AND, UH, I GUESS OUR OWN SPHERES OF INFLUENCE.
AND IT TAKES MUCH, MUCH MORE THAN THAT, UH, AS IT, UM, PERTAINS TO NOT ONLY THE ONGOINGS OF WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN AVONDALE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, UH, THE CONNECTIVITY THAT WE LOOK TO ENGAGE WITH RESIDENTS.
AND SO ALL OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THIS AMBASSADOR PROGRAM BEFORE YOU HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH JUST THAT, OF GETTING OUT THERE AND SHARING THE INFORMATION BY RECEIVING INFORMATION AND BECOMING EDUCATED ON WHAT'S GOING ON HERE WITH THE CITY SO THAT THEY TOO CAN GO OUT AND SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THEIR FRIENDS, THEIR FAMILY, AND OTHER RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, HOPEFULLY, IS THAT SOME OF YOU SITTING HERE TODAY WHO ARE NOT A PART OF THE PROGRAM AND OUR NEXT COHORT WOULD JOIN, AND THEN OTHERS AFTER
[00:55:01]
THAT AGAIN, TO BECOME ENGAGED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY THAT YOU LIVE IN.UM, AND I KNOW THAT COUNCIL AND I, UH, REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, PROGRESS WITH THAT GROUP AND JUST ALL OF THE CONNECTIONS AND ENGAGEMENT THAT WILL HAPPEN.
AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH ALL OF YOU FOR PARTICIPATING.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, UH, BEING HERE.
NOW, IF EVERYBODY WOULD JOIN ME DOWN HERE, UH, BELOW THE DAY, WE WILL TAKE SOME PHOTOS AND THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO, UM, UH, GUESS OR I'M SORRY, UH, TO PUBLIC APPEARANCES AND UN UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES.
[01:08:52]
I,[01:08:52]
I WILL.WANT ME TO TAKE PHOTOS? ALL THE ANGLES.
[3. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES]
WE GOT ITEM H, WHICH IS, UH, OR I'M SORRY, ITEM THREE IS UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES.JULIE, I SEE WE HAVE A BLUE CARD.
SO MARIVALE, IF YOU COULD COME, UH,
[01:10:01]
AND FEEL FREE TO SHARE WITH US WITH YOU CAME SPEAKING.UH, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MARIBEL CHU AND I AM A FARM WORKER ADVOCATE WORKING FOR THE MIGRANT COMMUNITY IN THE WEST VALLEY.
AS YOU GUYS ALL KNOW ME, I'M JUST COMING HERE AT THIS TIME JUST 'CAUSE I REALLY WANNA BE MINDFUL OF EXPRESSING FIRST AND FOREMOST THE BEAUTY OF MY CITY, RIGHT? I JUST HEARD IT ALL RIGHT.
NOW YOU HEAR ME SAYING HOW WE'RE FAMILY.
WE'RE ALL ONE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S JUST, THAT'S WHY I LOVE MY CITY SO MUCH.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD OR AS WE CONTINUE THAT OUR LEADERSHIP IS REPRESENTING US ALL.
THERE IS, YOU KNOW, AS WE DO KNOW, THERE'S A MIGRANT COMMUNITY WITHIN AVONDALE.
AND, UH, WHETHER WE'RE UNDOCUMENTED OR NOT, WE ARE STILL, UM, TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY.
WE ARE STILL THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT THE CITY.
AND I'M JUST HOPING TO COME AND, AND REALLY COME BEFORE YOU GUYS AND JUST REMEMBER THAT AND THAT.
SO WHEN WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, THAT WE'RE MINDFUL OF THE WORDS THAT WE'RE USING SO THAT NOBODY FEELS EXCLUDED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND THAT THEY FEEL SAFE IN KNOWING THAT OUR LEADERSHIP IS HERE TO REPRESENT US ALL.
AND THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU GUYS ALSO FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT YOU'VE ALWAYS GIVEN US.
OKAY, ITEM REPORT IS CONSENT AGENDA,
[4. CONSENT AGENDA]
SORRY.ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS CONSENT AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WISH TO HAVE AN ITEM REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.
UM, THIS IS COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM 4G FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
ITEM G, CAN I GET A MOTION FOR ALL ITEMS EXCLUDING ITEM G? ACTUALLY OUR SYSTEM IS NOT SYSTEM IS WE CAN GO TO VOICEMAIL.
I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI AND A SECOND FROM VICE MAYOR.
WE DON'T HAVE ON OUR SCREENS AS WELL.
[g. Final Plat for Avondale Apartments, a Replat of Desert Shoals Condominiums at Tres Rios Landing – Application PL-23-0026]
TRACY ITEM G.WE HAVE JODY NOVAK, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS? I DO, I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
WE, UH, AT, AT THIS MOMENT WE DO HAVE, UH, JODY NOVAK UP AND WE'LL PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I KNOW YOU'RE SPEAKING HERE ON REGARDS TO ITEM 4G.
UH, THIS IS AN ENGINEERING PLOT.
UM, THIS LAND HAS ALREADY HAD ITS LAND USE DETERMINED, UM, FOR THIS PROJECT.
IT'S BEEN ZONED FOR MULTIFAMILY USE SINCE 2000, UH, WHEN THE LAND WAS REZONED BY OUR COUNCIL.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS PROPERTY OWNER FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.
THEY'RE ACTIVELY IN PLAN REVIEW AND PERMIT REVIEW.
UM, THIS IS AN ENGINEERING TOOL THAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO AMEND A FINAL PLAT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE DEDICATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SEWER LINE EASEMENTS, UM, THAT WOULD HELP THIS PROJECT KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
UM, WHEN I WAS KNOCKING ON DOORS LAST SUMMER AND JUST MEETING WITH RESIDENTS, UM, A LOT OF, UM, RESIDENTS VOICED THEIR CONCERN ABOUT APARTMENTS, UM, VERSUS CONDOS AND TOWN HOMES.
AND, UM, AND SO THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT UP THIS MORNING, UM, IN MY, UM, COUNCIL BRIEFING, JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND, UM, AND IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME, BUT I JUST FELT THAT IT MIGHT BE, UM, THAT THERE MIGHT BE RESIDENTS WHO MAY ALSO HAVE THE SAME QUESTION I HAVE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEY MAY NOT, UM, UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE FINAL PLAT THAT, UM, CHANGES, UM, WE COULD HAVE MADE, WOULD'VE BEEN 20 YEARS AGO, I GUESS, IN THE ZONING OF THIS PROPERTY.
UM, BUT THAT'S REALLY WHY I WANTED IT TO COME UP, JUST SO THAT YOU COULD EXPLAIN IT TO ME JUST SO I CAN LEARN.
I'M NEW TO, I'M THE NEWEST MEMBER OF COUNCIL AND I
[01:15:01]
REALLY WANNA LEARN, UM, BUT I WANNA BE ABLE TO ANSWER RESIDENTS WHEN THEY ASK, YOU KNOW, WHY ARE YOU APPROVING, UM, APARTMENTS, UM, WHEN, WHEN IT SAYS THAT IT'S BEING REPLANTED FROM CONDOS.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM ANY OTHER MEMBER OF COUNCIL? I, AND, AND I APPRECIATE JODY, THAT YOU PROVIDED THAT INSIGHT.
I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WEIS SAID THAT INDEED, WHILST, YOU KNOW, MANY OF US ARE OUT THERE, EVEN IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CAMPAIGNING OR NOT, THAT UM, THE AMOUNT OF MULTIFAMILY COMING OUT OF THE GROUND WAS, WAS A CONCERN.
AND UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST IMPORTANT THAT AS COUNCIL MEMBER WE SAID THAT WE COMMUNICATE THE FACT THAT WE ARE EITHER MOVING WITH, UH, IN THAT DIRECTION OR NOT.
BUT IN THIS CASE, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT ALSO TO NOTE FOR RESIDENTS THAT THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE STILL IN THE QUEUE OR HAVE NOT COME TO FRUITION YET THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED WAY, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, PRIOR TO MAYBE EVEN THIS COUNCIL.
AND SO THOSE, AS THEY COME TO FRUITION, WHILE IT MAY LOOK LIKE WE'RE CONTINUING TO APPROVE MORE AND MORE PROJECTS, THAT THESE ARE JUST THE RESULT OF SOME OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN SITTING IN THAT QUEUE.
SO, UM, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WES FOR THE QUESTION.
AND UM, I LOOK AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME FOR A MOTION, UH, TO APPROVE, UH, OR LOOKING FOR A MOTION.
GOT A MOTION FROM VICE MAYOR NIELSEN AND A SECOND FROM, IT WENT BY TOO FAST.
COUNCIL MEMBER CONDE WAS A SECOND.
COUNCIL MEMBER CONDE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, HOW DO YOU VOTE? UM, SORRY, I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, I DON'T THINK SHE ANSWERED UM, COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS'S QUESTION OR DID I MISS HER ANSWERING IT? UH, THROUGH THE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A QUESTION AND SO CORRECT ME IF I'M INCORRECT.
COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, I THINK IT WAS JUST CLARIFICATION TO PRESENT WHAT THIS ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA.
AND THEN JUST A STATEMENT ABOUT SOMETIMES RESIDENTS MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT A PLAT IS.
UM, NOT UNDERSTANDING THERE'S SOME ZONING ENTITLEMENT WORK THAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED PRIOR.
UH, WHAT I COULD SAY IS STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON HOW WE PRESENT THE INFORMATION FOR PLATS, UM, SO THAT THERE'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST THE PUBLIC ON THE AGENDA AND EVEN STAFF UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS.
UH, MAYBE PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF THE HISTORY OF WHEN IT HAD BEEN ZONED, UM, AS THE SITES HAD ZONING ON IT AS PART OF A MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT BACK IN 2000.
SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE LONGSTANDING SITES THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PREZONED FOR MULTI-FAMILY.
AND UM, ONLY IN RECENT YEARS DID THE DEVELOPER DECIDE THEY WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER WISE, HOW DO YOU VOTE? I VOTE.
[a. Training on Open Meeting Law]
WE NOW ARE TRANSITIONING TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE NICOLE HARRIS, OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO SPEAK ON TRAINING ON THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR VICE MAYOR COUNCIL.
UM, BEFORE I GET STARTED, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY ONE THING.
I AM A MEMBER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA, THE NATIONAL SORORITY.
UM, I'M NOT A MEMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE'S CHAPTER, THERE'S MULTIPLE CHAPTERS.
SO I KNOW SHE MENTIONED THAT I'M NOT A MEMBER OF HER CHAPTER, SO I DIDN'T WANT YOU GUYS TO THINK I STOOD UP TRYING TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING.
I AM PART OF IT ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.
UM, BUT THERE ARE MULTIPLE CHAPTERS IN THE STATE SO WE'RE NOT PART OF THE SAME CHAPTER.
SO I'M HERE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH OPEN MEETING LAW TRAINING TONIGHT.
YOU'VE ALL HAD THIS TRAINING IN THE PAST AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA AND COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, I GAVE THEM A QUICK OVERVIEW RIGHT WHEN, UM, THEY, AFTER THEY WERE ELECTED, BUT WE'D LIKE TO DO THIS REFRESHER EVERY ONE TO TWO YEARS JUST TO REMIND COUNSEL OF THE REQUIREMENTS AND TO ALSO MAKE YOU AWARE OF ANY CHANGES IN THE LAW.
SO I'LL START WITH JUST A LITTLE BRIEF HISTORY.
SO, UM, OPEN MEETING LAW, IT'S 10 STATUTES.
IT'S A PRETTY EASY READ, SO IF YOU EVER WANNA, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR FREE TIME, GO TAKE A LOOK.
IT SET FORTH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS PRETTY CLEARLY.
UM, IT'S WAS ADOPTED IN 1962, SO WE'VE HAD IT AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE.
IT WAS AMENDED IN 1982, UM, SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENT TO AUTHORIZE, UH, THE ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL AND COUNTY ATTORNEYS TO ENFORCE THE STATUTE AND PURSUE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST VIOLATORS.
[01:20:01]
SO, UM, MY OFFICE DOES NOT, UM, PROSECUTE OR INVESTIGATE ANY OPEN MEETING LAW COMPLAINTS.ALL OF THAT'S DONE BY THOSE TWO AGENCIES.
AND THEN, UM, SOME OF THE OTHER SIGNIFICANT AMENDMENTS THROUGH THE YEARS, UM, 2017, IT WAS AMENDED TO CLARIFY WHAT CONSTITUTES A MEETING.
THERE ARE NOW THREE DEFINITIONS FOR A MEETING AND I'LL GO THROUGH THOSE.
AND THEN IN 2020 IT WAS AMENDED TO ADD A NEW EXECUTIVE SESSION, UM, WHICH ALLOWED FOR US TO DISCUSS SECURITY PLANS AND ASSESSMENTS OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR FACILITIES AND EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND THEN TWO YEARS AGO IT WAS AMENDED TO ADD, UM, A REQUIREMENT THAT COUNCILS HAVE SUFFICIENT SEATING FOR PARTICIPANTS.
AND THEN CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW THERE IS A BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD AMEND WHERE WE PLACE OUR CALL TO THE PUBLIC, UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES ON THE AGENDA.
UM, IT WOULD HAVE TO COME BEFORE ANY REGULAR BUSINESSES CONDUCTED.
SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE DISCRETION TO PLACE IT WHEREVER, BUT THAT BILL IS CURRENTLY IN THE LEGISLATURE.
AND THEN THERE ARE VARIOUS AG OPINIONS ON THE APPLICATION OF THE OPEN MEETING.
LAW AG OPINIONS ARE NOT BINDING, BUT THEY PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON THE INTERPRETATION OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
SO WHENEVER WE HAVE A QUESTION, IF WE'RE NOT SURE ABOUT HOW SOMETHING APPLIES, WE CAN SEND IT TO THE AG AND THEY'LL GIVE US THEIR OPINION.
AS I MENTIONED, IT'S NOT BINDING, BUT SINCE THEY ARE THE ENFORCEMENT ARM FOR THE OPEN MEETING LAW, IT'S A GOOD PRACTICE TO TRY TO LOOK TO THEM FOR GUIDANCE.
SO WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW? SO THE STATUTE INCLUDES THE DECLARATION OF PUBLIC POLICY.
IT'S ONE OF THE FEW STATUTES THAT CLEARLY STATES WHY WE'RE DOING THIS, AND IT'S TO MAXIMIZE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE GOVERNMENT PROCESS.
UM, THERE'S AN AG OPINION THAT SAYS IT PREVENTS PUBLIC BODIES FROM SECRET DECISION MAKING.
SO IT'S NOT A SET OF OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME OR CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME.
OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY IS THE GOAL.
SO ANY PERSON THAT'S CHARGED WITH INTERPRETING THE OPEN MEETING LAW STATUTES, SHOULD ALWAYS INTERPRET THEM IN OPEN AND IN THE, IN FAVOR OF OPEN AND PUBLIC MEETINGS.
SO THIS IS THE SECOND STATUTE AFTER THE DEFINITIONS, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR.
THIS IS THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF THE OPEN MEETING.
LAW MEETINGS OF PUBLIC BODIES MUST BE PUBLIC.
AND ALL LEGAL ACTION MUST OCCUR IN A PUBLIC MEETING.
SO TONIGHT I'M GONNA DISCUSS WHAT'S CONSIDERED A MEETING.
WHO ARE THE PUBLIC BODIES, WHAT IS LEGAL ACTION AND WHAT IS IT REQUIRED FOR THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND AND LISTEN.
SO WHAT IS A PUBLIC BODY, YOU GUYS COUNCILS? UH, THAT'S A GREAT PICTURE, BY THE WAY.
UM, ALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OF THE CITY.
SO THANK OUR PLANNING COMMISSION, MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMITTEE AND NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES COMMISSION, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
ALL CORPORATIONS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTALITIES WHOSE BOARDS OR DIRECTORS ARE APPOINTED OR ELECTED BY CITY COUNCIL.
SO THINK OUR, UM, UM, WHAT IS IT? OUR, A LAMARCUS COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT.
THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THOSE CORPORATIONS.
UM, AND THEN ALL QUASI-JUDICIAL BOARDS OF THE CITY.
THAT'S OUR BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS.
AND THEN ALL STANDING SPECIAL OR ADVISORY COMMITTEES OF THE, OF THE CITY.
SO THAT WOULD BE OUR BOND COMMITTEE, WHICH WE MOST RECENTLY, UM, ADOPTED.
AND THEN, SO YOUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE, ALL OF THOSE ARE PUBLIC BODIES THAT MUST COMPLY WITH THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
SO WHAT IS A MEETING? SO DEFINITION'S, PRETTY CLEAR MEETING.
IT MEANS THE GATHERING IN PERSON OR THROUGH TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES OF A QUORUM OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, PUBLIC BODY AT WHICH THEY DISCUSS, PROPOSE, OR TAKE LEGAL ACTION, INCLUDING ANY DELIBERATIONS BY A QUORUM WITH RESPECT TO SUCH ACTION.
SO IT'S ANY IN-PERSON MEETING LIKE WE'RE HERE RIGHT NOW.
BUT THAT ALSO INCLUDES, UM, THROUGH TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES.
SO THAT WOULD BE EMAIL, UM, TEXT, ZOOM MEETINGS, TELEPHONE CALLS, CONFERENCE CALLS, ALL OF THOSE, UM, AVENUES.
IF YOU GET A QUO OF THE PUBLIC BODY.
AND YOU GUYS ARE DISCUSSING, PROPOSING, DELIBERATING ON COUNCIL BUSINESS, THAT IS CONSIDERED A MEETING THAT WOULD NEED TO COMPLY WITH THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
A MEETING ALSO INCLUDES, UM, A ONE-WAY ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION BY ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC BODY THAT IS SENT TO A QUORUM OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BODY.
AND THAT PROPOSES LEGAL ACTION.
SO PROPOSED MEANS TO PUT FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION OR ADOPTION.
[01:25:01]
SO DISCUSSION IS NOT NECESSARY TO MEET THIS DEFINITION OF A MEETING, AND YOU ONLY NEED ONE WAY COMMUNICATION.SO, UM, I MAY USE SOME EXAMPLES.
YOU KNOW, I MAY USE YOUR NAMES, BUT NONE OF THESE, THESE ARE JUST HYPOTHETICALS.
SO SAY MAYOR PINEDA TEXTS THREE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SAYS, THE CITY SHOULD VOTE ON BUILDING NEW OFFICE SPACE FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THAT'S A ONE-WAY COMMUNICATION TO THREE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND THAT PROPOSES LEGAL ACTION.
'CAUSE IT SAYS VOTE AT A AT A MEETING ON A SPECIFIC TOPIC.
SO THAT WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW, BECAUSE NOBODY NEEDS TO RESPOND.
IT'S JUST ONE WAY COMMUNICATION PROPOSES, AND IT'S TO A QUORUM.
SO THE LAST DEFINITION FOR A MEETING MEANS AN EXCHANGE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AMONGST A QUORUM OF THE PUBLIC BODY THAT INVOLVES A DISCUSSION, DELIBERATION, OR THE TAKING OF LEGAL ACTION BY THE PUBLIC BODY CONCERNING A MATTER LIKELY TO COME BEFORE THE PUBLIC BODY FOR ACTION.
SO THAT COULD BE ANYTHING, ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
SO, BUT JUST REMEMBER ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS.
SO IF YOU'RE EMAILING YOUR THOUGHTS, OPINIONS ON A MATTER OF COUNCIL BUSINESS TO THE WHOLE COUNCIL, AND THEN SOMEONE ELSE RESPONDS WITH THEIR THOUGHTS, THEN YOU'VE GOTTEN AN EXCHANGE.
AND THEN, UM, YOU COULD HAVE A MEETING AND THAT NEEDS TO COMPLY WITH OPEN MEETING LAW REQUIREMENTS.
SO A COUNCIL MEMBER WANTS TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE WITH NEW ZONING RESTRICTIONS.
THE COUNCIL MEMBER CALLS THREE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DISCUSS AND OBTAIN THEIR SUPPORT FOR PASSAGE OF THE ITEM OPEN MEETING LAW VIOLATION.
YES, IT DOES DISCUSS POTENTIAL COUNCIL BUSINESS AND INCLUDES A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL.
SO AFTER A PUBLIC MEETING, ONE COUNCIL MEMBER TELLS ANOTHER, THE COUNCIL SHOULD INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY SALARIES THIS YEAR THAT COUNCIL MEMBER AGREES.
SO YOU HAVE TWO AND RELAYS THAT IDEA TO ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE MAYOR FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.
SO YES, THAT DISCUSSES TAKING LEGAL ACTION, SAYING INCREASED PUBLIC SAFETY SALARIES INCLUDES THE QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL.
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AGENDIZED AND DISCUSSED AT A MEETING.
SO THAT WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
SO AS THOSE TWO EXAMPLES SHOW, IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR THE PUBLIC BODY TO COMMUNICATE SIMULTANEOUSLY IN ORDER FOR A MEETING TO OCCUR.
SO Y'ALL DON'T HAVE TO BE ON THE SAME EMAIL OR ON THE SAME TEXT THREAD ON THE SAME CALL.
WE CALL THIS A WALKING QUORUM WHEN YOU TALK TO ONE AND THEN GET THEIR IDEAS AND YOU GO TALK TO ANOTHER AND GET THEIR IDEAS AND SHARE WHAT THE OTHER SAID.
UM, YOU'VE CREATED A QUORUM AND CREATED A MEETING.
SO EMAILS ARE, YOU WANNA BE VERY CAREFUL WITH EMAILS 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY EASY TO CREATE A MEETING.
UM, HERE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES.
I'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED SOME OF THEM, BUT I WANTED TO GO OVER THEM AGAIN.
SO THIS IS AN EMAIL TO A QUORUM OF THE COUNSEL PROPOSING LEGAL ACTION.
REMEMBER, THAT'S ONE WAY COMMUNICATION AND IT PROPOSES LEGAL ACTION.
UM, AN EMAIL EXCHANGE OF FACTS AND OR OPINIONS IF IT'S FORESEEABLE.
BUT THE TOPIC MAY COME BEFORE THE COUNSEL FOR ACTION.
AND THEN FORWARDING OR RESPONDING TO EMAILS INVO INVOLVING A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL.
SO BE CAREFUL OF CHAIN EMAILS.
SO RON'S NOT HERE, BUT I'M GONNA SPEAK FOR HIM.
THAT'S WHY HE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, BLIND COPIES AND ALWAYS TELLS YOU GUYS JUST TO RESPOND TO HIM OR TO HIS STAFF.
'CAUSE WE WANNA, YOU KNOW, ELIMINATE THE RISK OF HAVING AN EMAIL FORWARDED TO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT INCLUDES THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OR IDEAS OF OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES, UM, WHERE IT'S, THESE SEEM LIKE THEY MAY BE VIOLATIONS, BUT THEY'RE NOT.
SO YOU HAVE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO EMAILS A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THERE ARE NO FURTHER EMAILS AMONG THE MEMBERS.
SO IT'S JUST A ONE-WAY COMMUNICATION FROM A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.
UM, THAT'S NOT AN OPEN MEETING LAW VIOLATION.
UM, EVEN THOUGH THE EMAIL WENT TO THE WHOLE COUNCIL, AS LONG AS THERE'S NO OTHER COMMUNICATION THAT'S NOT A VIOLATION OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
AND AS RON WOULD SAY, FORWARD THAT TO RON, FORWARD THAT EMAIL TO RON AND HIS TEAM, AN EMAIL REQUEST BY A COUNCIL MEMBER TO STAFF FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION THAT DOES NOT VIOLATE THE OPEN MEETING LAW, EVEN IF OTHER MEMBERS ARE COPIED.
SO THAT COULD BE, IF ONE OF YOU WERE EMAILING, SAY DILLARD, LIKE, WHAT, WHAT'S
[01:30:01]
THE, WHAT, WHAT IS THE LOCATION FOR THE EVENT WE'RE ATTENDING? AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS COPIED ON IT.UM, THAT'S NOT, UH, A VIOLATION.
UM, AND STAFF CAN REPLY TO EVERYBODY AND SAY, HERE'S THE ADDRESS FOR THE LOCATION FOR THE, THE THE EVENT.
UM, AS LONG AS THEY DON'T INCLUDE INFORMATION OR OPINIONS OF OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
HOWEVER, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, IF THEY REPLY WITH THEIR OPINIONS OR COMMUNICATIONS, AND THAT INCLUDES A QUORUM, THAT WOULD VIOLATE THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
SO YOU WANNA BE VERY CAREFUL OF JUST PROBABLY JUST ONLY RESPONDING TO STAFF.
AND, UM, TRY NOT TO COPY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE YOU COULD GET, UM, EASILY HAVE AN OPEN MEETING LAW ISSUE.
SO, TEXT MESSAGES, UM, OPEN MEETING LAW APPLIES TO TEXT MESSAGES.
UM, THEY ARE CONSIDERED PUBLIC RECORDS IF YOU'RE CONDUCTING ANY BUSINESS ON YOUR TEXT MESSAGES.
I THINK IN THE PAST WE'VE HAD SOME REQUESTS FOR TEXT MESSAGES, UH, PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS, AND WE'VE SENT THAT TO YOU GUYS TO SEE IF YOU'VE HAD ANYTHING.
UM, SO BE CAREFUL WHEN TEXTING, UM, DISCUSSION SHOULD OCCUR DURING THE PUBLIC MEETING AND NOT VIA TEXT.
SO, SO THAT'S, EVEN IF YOU'RE AT A MEETING RIGHT NOW AND YOU'RE TEXTING EACH OTHER, YOU'RE, YOU COULD BE CREATING A MEETING WITHIN A MEETING.
SO THE GOAL IS THAT ANY THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS YOU HAVE SHOULD BE SHARED TO THE PUBLIC SO THEY CAN HEAR.
SO, UM, BE MINDFUL OF THAT WHEN YOU'RE TEXTING.
SO THERE IS, UM, A SECTION OF THE STATUTE THAT ALLOWS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINION OR DISCUSS AN ISSUE WITH THE PUBLIC, UM, OUTSIDE OF A PUBLIC MEETING, UM, ON PERSONALLY ON THEIR OWN TIME, UM, THROUGH TECHNOLOGICAL MEANS.
OR, UM, ANOTHER FORM OF BROADCAST COMMUNICATION.
SO THIS IS EXACTLY OUT OF THE STATUTE.
SOME OF IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME, BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS PROBABLY WOULD BE A GOOD ONE FOR US TO ASK THE AG, LIKE, WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY MEAN? BUT IT DOES ALLOW FOR, FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINION TO THE PUBLIC, UM, AS LONG AS THEIR OPINION IS NOT PRINCIPALLY DIRECTED AT OR DIRECTLY GIVEN TO ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND THERE IS NO CONCERTED EFFORT TO ENGAGE IN COLLECTIVE DELIBERATION, UM, TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION.
SO ALL OF THIS IS IN THE STATUTE AND IT'S ALLOWED, IT'S KIND OF TRICKY.
SO MY ADVICE WOULD ALWAYS BE COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD NOT POST, COMMENT ON EACH OTHER'S WEBSITE, THE CITY'S WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES, WHERE THOSE COMMENTS COULD BE INTERPRETED AS PROPOSING LEGAL ACTION OR DISCUSSING OR DELIBERATING ON COUNCIL BUSINESS.
'CAUSE THAT WOULD CREATE A MEETING WHEN YOU GET INTO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS DISCUSSING BUSINESS ON PAGES OR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES OR OTHER THINGS.
SO I WOULD JUST ADVISE TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT.
SO THIS NEXT SECTION OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW TALKS ABOUT THE NOTICE AND AGENDA REQUIREMENTS.
AND IT'S REALLY GEARED TOWARDS PROVIDING THE PUBLIC WITH THE RIGHT TO ATTEND AND LISTEN, ALL OF THIS IS, UM, MOSTLY HANDLED BY MARCELLA'S TEAM, THE CLERK'S OFFICE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF HELP FROM ME, BUT THEY DO A GOOD JOB.
UM, BUT IT REQUIRES THAT WE POST ALL MEETINGS AND AGENDAS AND A DESIGNATED PLACE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I BELIEVE WE BOTH POST THEM ON OUR WEBSITE AND AT TWO LOCATIONS.
UM, CITY HALL AND LINK, SAM GARCIA LIBRARY WE'RE REQUIRED TO POST OUR MEETINGS AT LEAST 24 HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING.
UM, AND THERE IS ONE EXCEPTION TO THE 24 HOUR RULE, AND THAT WOULD BE IF WE HAVE TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY MEETING, THAT'S VERY RARE THAT WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE A MEETING OF LESS THAN 24 HOURS.
UM, I'M THE AGS OFFICE REALLY DOESN'T, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING APPROVED LIKE THAT.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A STATE OF EMERGENCY.
THINK LIKE THE FIRES IN CALIFORNIA, IF YOU KNOW, ONE OF, IF THE CITY OF AVONDALE HAD AN EMERGENCY LIKE THAT AND COUNCIL HAD TO MEET WITH LESS THAN 24 HOURS, THAT WOULD BE THE SITUATION WHERE YOU WOULDN'T BE REQUIRED TO POST IT.
YOU CAN HAVE YOUR MEETING AND THEN AFTERWARDS POST THAT THERE WAS A MEETING IN WHAT WAS DISCUSSED.
SO THE MEETING AGENDA, UM, NOTICE AND AGENDA HAVE TO INCLUDE THE DATE, TIME, AND PLACE OF THE MEETING.
UM, MUST INCLUDE THE TIME THAT THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE PHYSICAL ACCESS TO THE MEETING.
UM, THE AGENDA MUST LIST THE SPECIFIC MATTERS TO BE DISCUSSED, CONSIDERED, OR DECIDED AT THE MEETING.
AND IT MUST CONTAIN INFORMATION REASONABLY NECESSARY TO INFORM THE PUBLIC AND MEMBERS OF WHAT WILL BE CONSIDERED.
AND COUNSEL MAY ONLY DISCUSS OR CONSIDER, UM, MATTERS LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
[01:35:01]
SO, UM, DISCUSSIONS MUST BE ON TOPIC.THE AGENDA IS A ROADMAP FOR THE, TO THE PUBLIC OF WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AT THE MEETING.
IF SOMEONE IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE AND THEY'RE LISTENING TO THE DISCUSSION AND THEY LOOK AT THE AGENDA AND THEY CAN'T TELL WHAT, WHAT AGENDA ITEM IT RELATES TO, YOU MAY HAVE AN OPEN MEETING LAW ISSUE.
SO YOU WANNA THE AGENDA, YOU WANNA BE SPECIFIC AND YOU WANNA KEEP THE DISCUSSION ON TOPIC.
YOU WANNA STAY AWAY FROM ITEMS IN THE AGENDA.
UM, GENERAL CATEGORIES LIKE NEW BUSINESS, OLD BUSINESS PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENTS, REPORTS, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC, UM, WITH, UH, WHAT, WHAT'S THE COUNCIL GONNA TALK ABOUT SO THEY CAN DECIDE IF THEY WANNA ATTEND.
AND THEN YOU ALSO WANNA STAY AWAY FROM LEGALESE ACRONYMS, TECHNICAL TERMS. UM, WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH TERMS LIKE I-F-B-R-F-P-I-G-A-M-O-U, BUT THE PUBLIC MAY NOT BE.
SO YOU ALWAYS WANNA SPELL THOSE, THOSE ITEMS OUT SO THE PUBLIC, UM, CAN GET THE INFORMATION WE'RE REQUIRED TO, UM, TAKE MINUTES AND, UM, RECORDINGS OF THE MEETING MINUTES OR RECORDING.
AND, UH, WE HAVE TO KEEP THE MINUTES FOREVER.
UM, THE MINUTES DO NOT HAVE TO BE A TRANSCRIPT.
THEY CAN SUMMARIZE WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED.
SO IF YOU EVER LOOK AT OUR MINUTES AND YOU'RE LIKE, HEY, THIS ISN'T AC ACCURATELY CAPTURE WHAT I SAID, I MADE THIS SPECIFIC COMMENT.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE VERBATIM.
WE JUST HAVE TO SUMMARIZE WHAT HAPPENED.
YOU KNOW, OF COURSE WE HAVE TO INCLUDE, UM, HOW EACH MEMBER VOTED AND THE NAME OF WHO MADE THE MOTIONS AND ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE LEGAL ACTIONS.
UM, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE VERBATIM.
UH, MINUTES NEED TO BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
THREE WORKING DAYS AFTER THE MEETING.
SO IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO ATTEND AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO COME, UM, NO LATER THAN THREE DAYS, THEY COULD FIND THE MINUTES AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED.
AND THEN, UM, AFTER COUNCIL APPROVES THE MEETING, THE MEETING MINUTES, THEY HAVE TO BE ON THE WEBSITE WITHIN TWO WORKING DAYS.
SO, UM, THE OPEN MEETING LAW DOES ALLOW, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SPEAK ON ITEMS NOT SPECIFICALLY LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
AND, UH, THIS IS A SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS.
SO AS LONG AS YOU HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM THAT SAYS THERE WILL BE A SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS, UM, COUNCIL'S ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON THOSE.
SOUNDS A LITTLE CONFUSING 'CAUSE IT SAYS SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS, BUT YOU'RE ONLY ALLOWED TO REPORT ON EVENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED.
SO PAST EVENTS YOU'VE ATTENDED OR THINGS YOU WENT TO.
IT'S NOT TO TALK ABOUT EVENTS THAT ARE UPCOMING.
SO, UM, BUT EVEN THOUGH IT'S SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS, IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY TRANSPIRED.
AND THE COUNCIL, UM, IS NOT ALLOWED TO PROPOSE, DISCUSS DELIBERATE OR TAKE ACTION AT THE MEETING ON ANYTHING REPORTED ON IN THE SUMMARY.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO ATTEND AND LISTEN, BUT NOT PARTICIPATE.
UM, UNLESS THERE'S A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM, OF COURSE.
UM, WE OPEN THAT TO THE PUBLIC.
THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BUT EVERY OTHER AGENDA ITEM, IT'S THE COUNCIL'S MEETING.
IT'S THE COUNCIL'S TIME TO DISCUSS BUSINESS.
SO, UM, THE STATUTE PROVIDES, WE CAN HAVE A CALL TO THE PUBLIC.
WE'RE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE IT.
AND IT ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO COME SPEAK TO US ABOUT MATTERS WITHIN THE PUBLIC BODY'S JURISDICTION.
AND COUNCIL'S LIMIT TO, TO RESPONDING TO PERSONAL CRITICISM.
THEY CAN ASK STAFF TO REVIEW A MATTER OR THEY CAN ASK STAFF THAT, UH, THE MATTER BE PUT ON A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.
AND SO THE COUNCIL SHALL NOT DISCUSS OR TAKE ANY LEGAL ACTION ON ANY MATTERS RAISED DURING THE OPEN CALL TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, EXECUTIVE SESSIONS, THERE ARE LIMITED EXCEPTIONS WHEN, UM, YOU AS A PUBLIC BODY MAY DISCUSS BUSINESS OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC VIEW.
UM, THERE ARE NINE EXECUTIVE SESSION, UM, CATEGORIES.
UM, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH, UM, A FEW OF THESE, YOU KNOW, NUMBER THREE, LEGAL ADVICE FROM MYSELF OR OTHER ATTORNEYS FOR THE CITY.
UM, NUMBER FOUR, WE DO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.
WE TALK ABOUT LITIGATION AND SETTLEMENTS.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, HIRING, UH, PROMOTING SALARIES OF, UH, EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN THE OTHER FOUR, UM, REAL PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS.
SO WE, WE DISCUSS A LOT OF THOSE, OR WE TALK ABOUT THE PURCHASE, SALE OR LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY.
AND THEN, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, NUMBER NINE IS THE NEWEST ONE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO DISCUSS SAFETY, UM, OR SECURITY OF OUR BUILDINGS, FACILITIES, AND OPERATIONS.
THERE IS REQUIREMENTS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.
UM, YOU, YOU HAVE TO AGENDIZE IT AND YOU MUST INCLUDE DETAIL OF THE ITEM TO BE DISCUSSED.
UM, YOU CAN'T JUST SAY, HERE'S A STATUTE
[01:40:01]
REFERENCE.UM, WE'RE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PUR PURSUANT TO THE STATUTE, YOU GOTTA GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE ENOUGH INFORMATION THAT WOULD DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
OR, UM, COMPROMISE THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE OR, UH, CONFIDENTIALITY.
NO LEGAL ACTION OR FINAL VOTE SHALL TAKE PLACE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
COUNSEL MAY DIRECT STAFF AND ATTORNEY AS PROVIDED IN THE STATUTE.
UM, FINAL VOTE MUST TAKE PLACE IN A PUBLIC MEETING.
AND ALL BUSINESS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION IS CONFIDENTIAL.
SO I WANTED TO JUST SHOW YOU VERY FAMILIAR WITH OUR AGENDA.
JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT A FEW THINGS WHERE, HOW WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB OF BEING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
UM, HERE WE HAVE OUR NOTICE IN AGENDA.
WE'VE GOT OUR NA OUR THE DATE, THE LOCATION, THE TIME, OUR LOCATION.
UM, THEN HERE WE HAVE WHERE WE HAVE THE PHYSICAL ACCESS TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER WILL BE AVAILABLE 30 DAY, 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE MEETING AND THE MEETING TIME, I'M HERE.
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF PROVIDING SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON WHAT'S GONNA BE DISCUSSED.
WE'VE GOT THE MOU FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS GRANT.
WE'VE LISTED ALL OF THE CITIES, UM, THAT ARE PARTIES TO IT.
SOME OF THE FIRE DISTRICTS WE TALK ABOUT IT WILL ALLOW FOR TRAINING FOR EACH PARTNER CITY IN THE DISTRICT.
UM, WE TALK ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF GRANT GRANT FUNDS THE CITY'S GONNA RECEIVE AND WHERE WE'RE GETTING THE GRANT FROM.
AND THEN WE ALSO TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S, UH, 15% MATCH REQUIREMENT.
AND THEN HERE WE HAVE OUR UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES, THE CALL TO THE PUBLIC, AS THEY CALL IT IN THE STATUTE.
BUT THAT'S, UH, WE HAVE THAT RIGHT BEFORE THE REGULAR BUSINESS.
SO IF THAT LAW DOES GO INTO EFFECT, WE'RE ALREADY IN COMPLIANCE.
AND THEN HERE, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE THE SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS FROM THE MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
IT DOESN'T LIST WHAT'S GONNA BE TALKED ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S NOT REQUIRED.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE THAT ON OUR AGENDA.
AND LASTLY, WE HAVE OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND YOU SEE WE HAVE MORE THAN JUST THE STATUTE REFERENCE.
WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE DISCUSSED, MID-YEAR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, SALARY OF THE CITY AUDITOR.
SO WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB COMPLYING WITH THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
UM, SO IT'S NOT A VIOLATION FOR COUNSEL TO BE AT A SOCIAL EVENT, UM, FOR A QUORUM OF COUNSEL TO BE AT A MEETING AS LONG AS THEY DON'T AT A, NOT AT A MEETING, AT A LOCATION, AS LONG AS THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT, UM, CITY BUSINESS.
SO, UM, IT'S EASY TO TALK TO YOUR WORK COLLEAGUES ABOUT WORK WHEN YOU'RE OUT OF THE OFFICE, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE YOU STAY ON TRACK.
I KNOW THERE'S OFTENTIMES WHERE A QUORUM OR MORE OF YOU ARE AT AN EVENT.
UM, SO YOU JUST WANNA, PERCEPTION IS REALITY.
YOU KNOW, IF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SEE YOU ALL OUT SOMEWHERE, THEY MAY AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CITY BUSINESS.
UM, BUT IT'S FINE FOR YOU TO BE THERE AS LONG AS YOU DON'T.
THE CITY MAY POST A COURTESY AGENDA TO ANNOUNCE THAT A QUO WILL BE PRESENT AT AN EVENT AND, UM, KNOW CITY BUSINESS WILL BE DISCUSSED.
SO, UM, IT IS A VIOLATION OF OPEN MEETING LAW FOR ANYONE TO TRY TO CIRCUMVENT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
SO, UM, THE STATUTE SAYS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC BODY MAY NOT KNOWINGLY INSTRUCT STAFF TO COMMUNICATE IN VIOLATION OF THE OPEN MEETING.
LAW AND SANCTIONS MAY BE IMPOSED UPON ANY PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY AIDS AGREES TO AID OR ATTEMPTS TO AID ANOTHER PERSON IN VIOLATING THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
SO THERE WAS A CASE OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT HAD A SUPERINTENDENT THAT ORGANIZED A DINNER AT HIS HOUSE.
HE INVITED A QUORUM OF THE BOARD MEMBERS TO HIS HOUSE TO DISCUSS CITY BUSINESS OUTSIDE OF A NOTICE AGENDAS MEETING.
AND HE WAS FOUND TO HAVE VIOLATED THE OPEN MEETING LAW AND ALSO THE COUNT THE, UM, BOARD MEMBERS WERE ALSO FOUND TO HAVE VIOLATED THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
SO, UM, THIS IS, UH, PRETTY STRICT ON, YOU KNOW, NOT TRYING TO GET AROUND THE REQUIREMENTS.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT'S OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY IS THE GOAL.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S AN OPEN MEETING, LAW VIOLATION, UM, ALL LEGAL ACTION TAKEN, UM, DURING THAT UNNOTICED MEETING, UM, WILL BE NULL AND VOID.
SO IT JUST HAS NO LEGAL EFFECT BECAUSE THE MEETING WASN'T PROPERLY NOTICED OR HELD.
UM, BUT YOU CAN RATIFY THE ACTION, UM, TO, TO GIVE IT LEGAL EFFECT.
BUT THAT MUST HAPPEN WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER DISCOVERY OF THE VIOLATION.
[01:45:01]
UM, YOU MUST PROVIDE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO THE PUBLIC.IT HAS TO BE A NOTICE MEETING.
YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT YOU'RE RATIFYING ACTION.
SO BASICALLY LETTING THE PUBLIC KNOW, HEY, WE DIDN'T DO THIS PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME, SO WE'RE RATIFYING OUR ACTION AND THEN IT WILL, UH, HAVE LEGAL EFFECT.
AND THEN, UM, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE OR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY CAN LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE OPEN MEETING LAW, UM, VIOLATION UPON RECEIPT OF A COMPLAINT.
UM, THE ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT'S THE ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IS CHARGED WITH ENFORCING, UM, THEY HAVE SUBPOENA POWERS SO THEY CAN, UM, REQUEST RECORDS FROM THE CITY.
THEY CAN, UM, REQUEST INTERVIEWS WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO THEY BELIEVE WERE INVOLVED IN ANY OPEN MEETING LAW VIOLATIONS.
UM, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY CAN SUE, UH, FOR VIOLATIONS OF, OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW IN MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT.
UM, AND THEN THE MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT CAN IMPOSE PENALTIES AND FEES AGAINST ANYBODY FOUND TO BE IN VIOLATION.
UM, THE STATUTE DOES ALLOW, I ONLY PUT HERE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL COUNTY ATTORNEY CAN COMMENCE SUIT AGAINST INDIVIDUALS, BUT IT SAYS ANY PERSON AFFECTED BY AN ALLEGED VIOLATION, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
SO IT DOES ALLOW A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO ALSO, UM, COMMENCE SUIT FOR VIOLATION OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
AND, UM, HERE ARE THE PENALTIES THAT CAN BE ASSESSED.
IT'S A $500 UP TO $500 FOR FIRST OFFENSE AND UP TO $2,500 FOR ANY SECOND.
AND SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE, UM, FOR ANY PERSON FOUND GUILTY OF KNOWINGLY VIOLATING THE LAW, UM, KNOWINGLY MEANS WITH THE INTENT TO DERI DEPRIVE THE PUBLIC OF INFORMATION.
SO, UM, I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS, BUT REMOVE, THEY CAN REMOVE THE OFFICER FROM OFFICE.
SO THE COURT CAN ORDER THAT SOMEONE BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE FOR VIOLATING THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
AND THE COURT CAN ALSO ASSESS, UM, THE OFFICER WITH ALL COST AWARDED TO THE PLAINTIFF.
SO ANYONE WHO FILES SUIT, IF THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL, UM, THE DEFENDANT MAY ALSO HAVE TO PAY THE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND THE STATUTE PROVIDES.
THE CITY MAY NOT PAY THE PENALTY FOR THE OFFICER OR REIMBURSE THE OFFICER FOR PAYING THE PENALTY.
AND THE CITY CANNOT PAY THE LEGAL FEES TO RETAIN A LAWYER TO DEFEND THE OFFICER, UM, UNLESS THE CITY APPROVES THE EXPENDITURE AT A PUBLIC MEETING.
AND LASTLY, THERE'S THE OPEN MEETING LAW RESOURCES.
AS I MENTIONED, IT'S IN TITLE 38 OF THE RED ADVISED STATUTE.
UM, THERE'S ALSO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S HANDBOOK THAT GOES INTO MORE DETAIL WITH EXAMPLES AND CASES OF WHAT THE, THEIR INTERPRETATION IS OF THE STATUTES.
THERE'S THE ARIZONA OMBUDSMAN'S WEBSITE.
THEY ARE AN OS, BUT THE OMBUDSMAN IS A INDEPENDENT AGENCY.
IT'S NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE AGS OFFICE.
UM, AND THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND, UM, RESOURCES, UM, AND ASSIST WITH UNDERSTANDING THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
AND THEN THERE'S THE OMBUDSMAN'S PUBLICATIONS.
UM, THEY HAVE TWO BOOKS THAT THEY PRODUCE.
THEY HAVE ONE ON THE OPEN MEETING LAW AND ONE ON THE PUBLIC RECORDS.
UM, IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE ALSO, IF YOU, UH, HAVE FREE TIME, DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO DO,
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, MY OFFICE, WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS, UM, ON HOW TO INTERPRET OR IF, IF, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, WHILE THAT WAS PRETTY IN DEPTH, BUT CONSIDERING THAT WE HA ARE A NEW COUNCIL OR A NEW BODY WITH NEW MAYOR, UM, AND NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, I, THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO START THE YEAR OF JUST, YOU KNOW, GIVING US A REFRESHER AND A REMINDER.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HERE MYSELF, I'LL SPEAK ON, ON MY OWN BEHALF, UH, EIGHT YEARS, YOU KNOW, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND YET AS, AS A NEW MAYOR, ALMOST MADE ONE OF THESE, UH, AN ERROR, UH, INADVERTENTLY WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT.
YOU KNOW, TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE AND THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PREPARING FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING, ASKING THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION.
AND IT WASN'T UNTIL SPEAKING WITH OUR CITY MANAGER AND HE SAID, YOU CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE THAT'S, UH, POLICY MAKING.
AND SO EVEN THOUGH I WAS TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE AND, AND, UH, BE PREPARED, SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN ERROR.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, JUST HAVING THIS SORT OF REFRESHER I THINK IS, IS, UM, A BENEFIT FOR ALL OF US.
AND JUST A, YOU KNOW, A REMINDER OF JUST HOW EASY SOMETHING CAN HAPPEN,
[01:50:01]
EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT BEING MALICE OR ACTING WITH MALICE, I GUESS IS THE, IS THE POINT.SO, UM, ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, HERE TODAY OR ONLINE? OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS THOUGH 'CAUSE I JUST, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE ALSO AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REQUEST THINGS TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA.
IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE BREAKING MEETING LAW.
WE HAVE TO GO GET THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, TO REQUEST AN ITEM BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA IF IT'S NOT SOMETHING AUTOMATICALLY AGENDIZED BY GOING DIRECTLY TO THE MAYOR.
WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE OPTION IN OUR CITY CHARTER, UM, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.
I KNOW THAT OUR COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE REQUIRE THAT YOU GET, AT LEAST THINGS ARE PUT ON THE AGENDA EITHER BY THE MAYOR, BY THE CITY MANAGER, OR BY THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO, UM, THREE'S NOT A QUORUM, SO YOU MAY HAVE TO TALK TO FOUR TO GET TO THREE I.
YEAH, THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM.
SO, UM, I SUGGEST MAYBE TRYING TO USE YOUR CITY MANAGER TO KIND OF ASSIST WITH THAT.
UM, BUT YEAH, I GUESS IF YOU'RE TALKING TO EACH TRYING TO GET SUPPORT, THAT COULD BE A VIOLATION.
SO, UM, SO IF WE ARE TALKING TO EACH OTHER, TRYING TO GET SUPPORT FOR ANYTHING WE ULTIMATELY VOTE FOR ON THE DAIS, ONCE IT HITS A QUORUM, THAT'S WHEN WE'VE VIOLATED OPEN MEETING LAW.
IF WE HAVE NOT HIT THAT QUORUM NUMBER, WHICH IS FOUR FOR OUR BODY OF SEVEN, IT IS NOT A VIOLATION OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
ALL THE DEFINITIONS SAY A QUORUM OF, OF THE PUBLIC BODY.
SO IF YOU'RE UNDER A QUORUM AND IT'S JUST STAYING THE INFORMATION, STAYING WITH THREE OR LESS, THEN YOU HAVEN'T VIOLATED THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
I CAN TALK TO CHAIR ONE, EMPTY CHAIR TWO, I AM NUMBER THREE, NO VIOLATION.
ONCE I ADD ONE OF THE PEOPLE ON THE DEUS TO THIS CONVERSATION, THAT IS THE VIOLATION.
UM, ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL HAVE A QUESTION? I, I DO, UH, PIGGYBACKING ACTUALLY OFF OF, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE'S QUESTION, IS THERE A WAY TO ADD, BECAUSE I WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING TO AGENDA AND THEY WERE LIKE, OH, WE CAN'T DO THAT UNTIL SIX MONTHS.
WHEN I ASKED THE CITY MANAGER, UM, IS THERE A WAY TO ADD ONTO THE AGENDA, LIKE NEW BUSINESS? THAT WAY WE COULD ASK IN THE, DURING THE MEETING OR, UM, BECAUSE I KNOW IN OTHER, IN OTHER PLACES WITH THE ROBERT'S RULES THAT WE U UTILIZE, THEY HAVE THAT OPTION THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC AND WITH THE ENTIRE BODY PRESENT AND BE ABLE TO BRING UP, UH, THINGS THAT WE WANT TO PUT ON THE AGENDA.
THAT WAY WE'RE NOT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF WE'RE BREAKING.
UM, THE MEETING LAWS COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR PANDA, VICE MAYOR COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA.
SO I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY SIX MONTH RULE.
I THINK OUR, THE WAY OUR COUNCIL RULES A PROCEDURE STATE, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST THE MAYOR CAN REQUEST SOMETHING BE PUT ON CITY MANAGER OR THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, AND ALSO THE AGENDA IS THE MAYOR'S AGENDA.
SO, AND, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THE MANAGER.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE ADDED THE SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS, I THINK TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO UNDER MAYOR WEISS.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANTED TO ADD, UM, ANOTHER CATEGORY WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT YOU WANNA PUT ON, UM, MAYOR, I WOULD LEAVE THAT TO YOU TO KIND OF TALK TO MAYBE RON ABOUT MOVING FORWARD, UM, HOW, IF YOU WANNA ADD OTHER CATEGORIES TO THE AGENDA.
UM, BUT YEAH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S AN OPTION.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, ANY OTHER QUESTION? NO, THAT WAS IT.
I, UH, WANTED TO JUST SHARE AS A MEMBER OF THE RPTA VALLEY METRO AND CHAIR OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE, UH, WHAT WE NORMALLY DO, OUR FINAL AGENDA ITEM BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT OUR MEETING IS REPORT ON CURRENT EVENTS AS WE HAVE HERE, AS WELL AS SUGGESTED FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, WHICH THAT WAY THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR YOUR SUGGESTION.
IT'S STILL ULTIMATELY THE CHAIR OF OUR COMMITTEE OF, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD, THE MAYOR IN THIS INSTANCE, DECISION TO MAKE IT.
BUT THAT WAY WE BRING IT TO THE PUBLIC BY INCLUDING THAT ON THE AGENDA AND MAKING SURE IT IS A PUBLIC INFORMATION ITEM.
UM, AND, AND IT'S ONLY FOR INFORMATION.
YOU CAN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT DETAILS UNLESS THE MAYOR WOULD ASK, WHY, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? AND THEN THE SUGGESTION WAS MADE AND IT HAS TO KIND OF DROP DEAD LIGHT THERE.
AND THEN I CAN DEFINITELY HAVE
[01:55:01]
THAT CONVERSATION WITH RON AS WELL, UM, TO SEE ABOUT ADDING SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT OR NOT BASED UPON COMMUNICATION, BUT I'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH HIM.THANK YOU SO MUCH, NICOLE, FOR AGAIN, UH, PROVIDING US THAT INFORMATION AND, UH, EDUCATING US ON, ON SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE COULD GET OURSELVES INTO IF WE'RE NOT, NOT BEING CAREFUL.
AND I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
[6. SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS FROM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
]
COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UM, LIZ ALVAREZ, ICKER BARKER FOR HOSTING AND PUTTING TOGETHER THE LD 22 MEETING HERE IN AVONDALE.
IT WAS REALLY AWESOME TO BE ABLE TO HAVE OUR LEGISLATORS COME OUT TO THE CITY WITH OTHER, UM, CITIES IN THE AREA IN OUR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT.
AND I WAS, IT WAS GREAT PARTICIPATING AND HAVING FUN CONVERSATIONS.
IT WAS GREAT TO SEE ALL THE CITY LEADERSHIP THAT WAS OUT.
SO I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU, LIZ.
A LOT OF TIMES WE KIND OF, YOU'RE LIKE OUR UNSUNG HERO.
WE JUST EXPECT YOU TO DO ALL THE THINGS ALL THE TIME AND YOU DO.
AND SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU PUBLICLY AND LET YOU KNOW THAT WAS AN AWESOME EVENT.
I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THIS PAST SATURDAY TO ATTEND, UM, THE BLACK PHILANTHROPY INITIATIVE GALA.
UM, THEIR ORGANIZATION IS ALL THEY'RE HOSTED THROUGH, THEY'RE MANAGED THROUGH THE ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.
AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT NIGHT TO GET OUT AND SEE A LOT OF GRANTS THAT WERE GIVEN.
ONE OF THE, UM, GRANTS THAT WAS GIVEN WAS TO FUTURE STARS AND IKA JACKSON GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO UP AND SPEAK ABOUT HOW SHE PROVIDES STEM EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT SHAKA JACKSON WAS TALKING ABOUT, SHE ACTUALLY PROVIDED STEM EDUCATION ON HANDS TO MY CHILDREN.
SO JUST BEING ABLE TO GO OUT AND SUPPORT THAT INITIATIVE, WHICH IS A PART OF THE ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, WAS AMAZING.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? UH, THOSE ONLINE COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI AND I WERE ABLE TO, UM, GO TO AN EVENT, UM, HOSTED BY HSP, UM, FOR THE, UM, FRIENDS OF THE SOUTHWEST ADVOCACY CENTER.
SO OUR, UM, THAT BODY THAT SUPPORTS THE VICTIMS WAS RECOGNIZED, UM, LAST WEEK.
AND, UM, AND WE, WE HAD THE ABILITY TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW ABOUT OUR GALA COMING UP IN MARCH.
[7. ADJOURNMENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION]
MOMENT IN TIME, I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.CAN I PLEASE GET A MOTION? CAN GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI, PLEASE VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, HOW DO YOU VOTE? AYE.
COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, HOW DO YOU VOTE? AYE.
WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
FOR THOSE LISTENING ONLINE, THIS CONCLUDES THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.