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[1. ROLL CALL BY THE CITY CLERK]
I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 3RD, 2025.WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE JOIN ME IN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? IN A MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION, MY PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE MATTER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT SPANS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
MARCELLA, CAN WE PLEASE GET ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE PRESENT VICE MAYOR NIELSEN.
[a. Employee Announcements]
NEXT ITEM PLEASE.THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, FIRST WE HAVE UH, UH, EMPLOYEE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
UH, RENEE WEATHER WILL BE OUR FI IS OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING TWO OF OUR NEW EMPLOYEES IN THE FINANCE AND BUDGET, UM, DEPARTMENT.
THE FIRST TO MY RIGHT IS KIM GRANT.
SHE'S OUR NEW CONTROLLER WHO JOINED THE CITY ON FEBRUARY 3RD AND IS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON ACCOUNTING AND THE CITY'S FINANCIAL REPORTING.
KIM HAS OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN FINANCE, AUDIT, AND ACCOUNTING.
BEFORE JOINING THE CITY OF AVONDALE, SHE WORKED WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX FOR 25 YEARS AND WAS MOST RECENTLY THE DEPUTY FINANCE DIRECTOR OVER TREASURY AND DEBT MANAGEMENT.
HER CAREER FOCUSED ON THE AREAS OF FINANCE, ACCOUNTING AND TREASURY.
PRIOR TO THAT, KIM SPENT FIVE YEARS WORKING AS A FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDITOR FOR THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR.
GENERAL KIM IS A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT AND ENJOYS TRAVELING, HIKING, AND SPENDING TIME WITH HER FAMILY, AND WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE HER ON OUR TEAM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH KIM, FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
UH, JUST REALLY QUICKLY WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS JUST SHARED, HOW DO YOU HAVE TIME TO GO HIKING AND SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY?
I HAVEN'T HAD FRIDAYS OFF BEFORE, SO KIND OF USING THAT TO MY ADVANTAGE,
ALRIGHT, AND NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE GRACIE TO, GRACIE JOINED OUR TEAM ON JANUARY 6TH AS A SENIOR BUYER.
SHE SUPPORTS OUR DEPARTMENTS WITH THEIR PROCUREMENT NEEDS AND ENSURES COMPLIANCE WITH CITY CODES AND POLICIES.
PRIOR TO JOINING THE CITY, GRACIE WORKED FOR THE STATE IN PROCUREMENT ROLES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR FIVE YEARS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES FOR TWO YEARS.
GRACIE IS A 13 YEAR RESIDENT OF AVONDALE, A GRADUATE OF AUSTRALIA MOUNTAIN COLLEGE, WHERE SHE HAS OBTAINED TWO ASSOCIATE'S DEGREES IN ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT AND ASSOCIATE OF THE ARTS.
SHE'S CONTINUED HER EDUCATIONAL CAREER AND IS CURRENTLY A FULL-TIME STUDENT AT NAU, WORKING TOWARD HER BACHELOR DEGREE IN LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT.
GRACIE ALSO MANAGES TO FIND TIME TO BALANCE HER FULL-TIME WORK AND SCHOOL SCHEDULES BY ENJOYING OCCASIONAL OUTINGS, CAMPING WITH HER FAMILY.
SO WE'RE HAPPY SHE CHOSE AVONDALE AND WE HAVE HER ON OUR PROCUREMENT TEAM.
SO TELL US ONE THING THAT YOU LIKE TO DO TO, UH, SPEND YOUR FREE TIME.
UM, WELL I DON'T HAVE MUCH FREE TIME.
I HAVE A SUN IN COMPETITIVE SPORTS AND I GO TO SCHOOL FULL TIME ON TOP OF THIS.
SO, UH, MY FREE TIME IS FILLED WITH, UH, SOCCER FOR THE MOST PART AND, YOU KNOW, CAMPING AND WRITING QUADS WHENEVER WE HAVE THE CHANCE AS WELL.
SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE A A LOT TO DO WITH THE SPORTS.
COMES PRACTICE GAMES AND THAT'S ANOTHER PART-TIME JOB.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, MR. MAYOR.
NEXT WE HAVE, UH, OUR FIRE CHIEF LARRY ROONEY TO, UH, INTRODUCE A PROMOTION.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND THE HONOR TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MARLON NIGHTINGALE.
MARLON IS OUR NEWEST FIRE CAPTAIN AND I'M GONNA READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIM.
HE HAS WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR 11 YEARS AND HE, HE WORKED AS AN ENGINEER BE BE BEFORE BEING PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN ON FEBRUARY 3RD.
MARLON WAS THE NUMBER ONE CANDIDATE DURING OUR LAST TESTING PROCESS AND DEMONSTRATED THE SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP DURING HIS TIME TO BECOME A SUPERVISOR.
CAPTAIN NIGHTINGALE IS VERY ACTIVE IN THE DEPARTMENT AND HAS HELPED US DESIGN OUR NEWEST FIRE TRUCKS, THE ONES THAT ARE BEING DELIVERED AND YOU'LL BE SEEING HERE SHORTLY.
AND SO HE IS TAKEN A LOT OF PRIDE IN IN THAT HE CAME TO, UH, OUR DEPARTMENT WITH A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THAT AREA.
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OF IT AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HIM.UM, HE ALSO IS VERY SUPPORTIVE IN THE FIREFIGHTER CHARITY EVENTS.
UM, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, WE'D LIKE TO GIVE HIM A, A PLAQUE AT THIS MOMENT, UH, FOR HIS PROMOTION AND, UH, CONGRATULATE HIM.
SO, MARLON, TELL US, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOURSELF AND, UH, WHAT YOU LOOK TO ACHIEVE AS YOU EMBARK ON THIS NEW JOURNEY.
I JUST WANTED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE CITY OF AVONDALE AND THE RESIDENCE HERE.
UM, AS I CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THE RANKS OF FIREFIGHTER ENGINEER AND NOW AS CAPTAIN, UM, THIS WILL OPEN UP A LOT OF OTHER DOORS WHERE I CAN, UH, MAKE MYSELF USEFUL TO THE DEPARTMENT AND, UH, THE MEMBERS AROUND THERE.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE NEW CHALLENGES THAT, THAT COME AROUND IN THAT, THAT PROVIDE QUESTION.
WELL GREAT TO HEAR AND WELCOME BOARD AND CHIEF.
UM, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU'D LIKE, YOU'D LIKE TO PRESENT THERE? YES, I'D LIKE TO GIVE A PLAQUE IF THAT'S OKAY, MA'AM.
SO, UH, OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PRESENTED TO MARLON NIGHTINGALE FOR PROMOTION OF THE FIRE CAPTAIN FEBRUARY 3RD, 2025.
THANK YOU CHIEF AND THANK YOU US CAPTAIN NIGHTINGALE.
I HOPE HIM AND HIS FAMILY CAN STICK AROUND AND WE WILL GET A PICTURE AFTER OUR, OUR PRESENTATIONS.
NEXT UP WE HAVE OUR, UH, OUR, UH, WELL CURRENT, OUR CURRENT PARKS.
UH, NO, WE, WE HAVE OUR DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND LIBRARY, UH, COREY, UH, TO MAKE A, A COUPLE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
WELL I AM EXCITED TO BE HERE CURRENTLY.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO REINTRODUCE TWO OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO WERE RECENTLY PROMOTED AND THEN INTRODUCED ONE NEW EMPLOYEE TO THE TEAM.
UH, FIRST OFF WE HAVE BRITTANY WESTLAND, WHO'S BEEN PROMOTED TO THE RECREATION MANAGER OVER THE SPORTS AND AQUATICS DIVISION.
BRITTANY JOINED OUR TEAM ABOUT A YEAR AGO AS THE RECREATION COORDINATOR AND PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN OUR FIRST SUMMER OVER AT THE AQUATIC CENTER WHERE SHE BUILT A POSITIVE CULTURE FOR OUR LIFEGUARD STAFF.
UH, BRITTANY'S PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR PARADISE VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE SHE WAS A HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEACHER AND LEARNED A TON OF PATIENTS
UH, SHE HAS A DEGREE IN SECONDARY EDUCATION.
SHE WAS ALSO A CERTIFIED LIFEGUARD TRAINER AND AUDITOR FOR STAR GUARD.
UH, AND SHE JUST RECENTLY GOT MARRIED AND ENJOYS SEEKING HER TWO CORGIS, HER PUPS, AND A HUSKY ON WALKS AND SCREWING AROUND HER NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO TELL US ONE THING THAT YOU'VE LEARNED NOW THAT YOU'VE HAD ONE SUMMER UNDER YOUR BELT AND YOU ARE LEADING ALL THESE, UH, YOUNG, UM, IMPRESSIONABLE YOUTH TOWARDS BEING A LIFEGUARD.
WHAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE LEARNED THAT YOU'RE GONNA TAKE WITH YOU INTO THIS NEXT SUMMER? WELL, PATIENCE DEFINITELY GOES A LONG WAY AND I DO THINK MY TEACHING CAREER FOR THAT.
UM, BUT YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL ALONE.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY WORKING ON GROWING OUR LEADERS THIS YEAR AND WE'RE EXPANDING OUR LEAD LIFEGUARD TEAM AND WE'RE HOPING TO EVEN, UM, GROW SOME OF OUR LIFEGUARDS ON THEIR LEVEL SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE HELP WITH OPENING AND CLOSING.
SO TRAIN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AND THEN WHEN YOU THINK YOU'VE TRAINED ENOUGH TRAINS MORE
AND COREY, REAL QUICK BEFORE, WHAT ARE THE NEXT, UH, OUR NEXT EMPLOYEE? DID YOU GUYS RECENTLY PLAY PICKLEBALL OR SOMETHING? I MEAN, UH, I'VE SEEN SOME TENSION
HE COULDN'T EVEN GET HIS NAME OUT.
UH, MR. MAYOR? UH, NO, SOMEONE PLAYED ON COURT ONE AND SOMEONE PLAYED ON COURT FOUR.
COURT ONE IS MUCH HIGHER THAN COURT FOUR.
UM, NEXT UP IS FALLON THOMPSON.
FALLON HAS RECENTLY BEEN PROMOTED TO OUR RECREATION PROGRAMMER ROLE IN OUR AQUATICS DIVISION.
UH, FALLON WORKED WITH US AGAIN LAST YEAR AS A POOL MANAGER OVERSEEING THE, THE LIFEGUARDS DIRECTLY.
UH, SHE JOINS US FROM THE CITY OF GOODYEAR.
WE SNAGGED HER
UH, FALLON'S HOBBIES ARE SWIMMING, THANKFULLY
WELL WELCOME ABOARD FALLON, SAME TYPE OF THING.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? WHAT ARE YOU ANTICIPATING, UH, TO EITHER LEARN, DEVELOP, UH, AND OR ACHIEVE OVER THIS NEXT SUMMER? YEAH.
UM, I THINK WE'RE IN A REALLY, REALLY GOOD SPOT IN OUR SECOND YEAR OF OPENING AND WE HAVE SO MUCH ROOM FOR GROWTH AND WE HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM BEHIND US WHO IS REALLY PROMOTING THAT GROWTH WITH US.
SO, UM, WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM BEHIND US WHO'S GETTING READY TO COME UP AND BE LEADERS AND IS SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE AND WE'RE EXCITED TOO.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
CONGRATULATIONS BOTH ON YOUR PROMOTIONS.
UH, AND THEN NEW TO THE TEAM IS GEORGIA COX, WHO ACCEPTED THE POSITION AS OUR RECREATION COORDINATOR OVER THE AQUA DIVISION.
SO THESE ARE GONNA BE THE FACES BEHIND THE AQUATIC CENTER FOR SURE.
UH, GEORGIA'S BEEN ON THE TEAM FOR A SOLID 10
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HOURS.HOPEFULLY SHE SHOWS BACK UP TOMORROW.
UH, GEORGIA HAS WORKED IN THE AQUATICS OR THE AQUATICS INDUSTRY FOR EIGHT YEARS, UH, SERVING AS A LIFEGUARD POLE MANAGER AND COORDINATOR OVER AT THE CITY OF PHOENIX AND AT LITCHFIELD PARK.
UH, SHE HAS GRADUATED FROM NAU WITH HER DEGREE IN PARKS AND RECREATION MANAGEMENT.
SHE'S EXTREMELY PASSIONATE ABOUT WATER SAFETY AND THE GROWTH OF THE AQUATICS INDUSTRY.
UH, OUTSIDE OF WORK, GEORGIA LOVES TO EXPLORE NATURE INCLUDING HIKING AND ROCK CLIMBING.
UM, AND STACEY AND I ARE BOTH OVERALL EXCITED TO HAVE THIS GROUP RUNNING OUR POOL THIS SUMMER.
SO WELCOME TO THE TEAM GEORGIA.
AND THERE'S NOTHING LIKE COMING AND SPEAKING ON, IN FRONT OF A BUNCH OF PEOPLE ON YOUR FIRST DAY.
RIGHT? I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT PART TOO.
WELL, WELCOME ABOARD ALL OF YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON YOUR PROMOTIONS, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THE TEAM, MR. MARION COUNCIL.
UP NEXT, WE HAVE JILL, OUR PROCUREMENT MANAGER, UH, TO HELP, UH, WITH OUR PROCLAMATION, I BELIEVE JILL'S HERE.
[b. Proclamation - Procurement Month
]ON A PROCLAMATION FOR PROCUREMENT MONTH.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
PLEASE ALLOW ME TO PRESENT THE PROCUREMENT TEAM.
HELLO, MY NAME IS LAURA ROBINSON AND I'M A PROCUREMENT OFFICER.
MY NAME IS TESSA PRADER AND I'M THE CONTRACTS ADMINISTRATOR.
BRIAN GARCIA, SENIOR BUYER C TO SENIOR BUYER, THEIA GREEN BUYER.
IT'S OUR HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCUREMENT MONTH PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING THE ESSENTIAL ROLE PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS PLAY IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENTAL PURCHASING DESIGNATE MARCH AS PROCUREMENT MONTH IN 1984 TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO PROTECT TAXPAYER DOLLARS WHILE UPHOLDING THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
OUR PROCUREMENT TEAM WORKS DILIGENTLY BEHIND THE SCENE TO ENSURE EFFICIENT USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
THEY NAVIGATE COMPLEX REGULATIONS, THEY NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS AND COLLABORATE ACROSS DEPARTMENTS WHILE MAINTAINING THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF INTEGRITY.
WE WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION TO OUR CITY ATTORNEYS, UM, THE CLERK'S, OFFICE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, AND ALL OF THE COLLABORATING DEPARTMENT.
THIS PARTNERSHIP ALLOW US TO BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND FULFILL OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO, UM, PUBLIC SERVICE.
AT THIS TIME I WILL PASS IT BACK TO YOU FOR THE READING OF THE PROCUREMENT MONTH PROCLAMATION.
WELL, I'LL READ THE PRO UH, PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GOV, GOVERNMENTAL PURCHASING NIGP HAS PROCLAIMED THE MONTH OF MARCH AS PROCUREMENT MONTH TO FURTHER EXPAND AWARENESS OF THE PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONAL'S ROLE TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC BUSINESSES AND CORPORATE LEADERS.
AND WHEREAS PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN SERVING INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS AND BUSINESSES WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM, INNOVATION, ETHICS, AND TRANSPARENCY.
AND WHEREAS THE PROCUREMENT DIVISION ADDS SIGNIFICANT VALUE TO THE CITY OF AVONDALE BY PERFORMING ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS SUCH AS PROCURING FAVORABLE CONTRACTS, CONDUCTING MARKET RESEARCH, DEVELOPING STRATEGIC PROCUREMENT STRATEGIES, AND CULTIVATING WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STAKEHOLDERS USING TECHNOLOGY, COMPETITION AND BEST PRACTICES.
AND WHEREAS PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE AND OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE TREMENDOUS INFLUENCE ON ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE UNITED STATES WITH A CUMULATIVE PURCHASING POWER RUNNING INTO BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
AND WHEREAS THE OBJECTIVE OF A FIRST CLASS PROCUREMENT DIVISION INCLUDES SAFEGUARDING PUBLIC FUNDS, ENSURING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND INSTILLING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND TRUST.
AND WHEREAS THE PROCUREMENT DIVISION CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATES COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE THROUGH ADHERENCE TO THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT VALUES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTABILITY, ETHICS AND IMPARTIALITY, PROFESSIONALISM, SERVICE AND TRANSPARENCY ESTABLISHED BY NIGP AND NOW THEREFORE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA DUE HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH, 2025 AS PROCUREMENT MONTH IN AVONDALE AND URGES ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT THE VALUABLE
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CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS IN PROMOTING EFFICIENCY, TRANSPARENCY, AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND PUBLIC SPENDING.AND RON, CAN WE GET A PHOTO AS WELL AFTER THIS MR. MAYOR? UM, SOME OF THESE HAVE TO LEAVE RIGHT AT AT SIX, SO THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO, UM, GET A PICTURE, BUT, UH, OKAY.
THEY WANTED TO, UM, EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE TO COUNCIL AND APPRECIATION, BUT, UH, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO PASS THIS YEAR.
[c. Proclamation - National Fix a Leak Week]
NEXT IS OUR PROCLAMATION NATIONAL FIX.THERE'S MR. BAY, UH, YOUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO TALK ABOUT FIXING THE LEAK.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS ERIC BAY AND I'M A MEMBER OF YOUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT EPA WATER SENSE NATIONAL FIX AID LEAK WEEK.
THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT RUNS FROM MARCH 17TH TO MARCH 23RD TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT WATER CONSERVATION, SPECIFICALLY TO EDUCATE INDIVIDUALS ON HOW THEY CAN FUND AND FIX WATER LEAKS INDOORS AND OUTDOORS, BOTH AT THEIR HOMES OR PLACES OF BUSINESS.
DURING THIS WEEK, AVONDALE'S WATER CONSERVATION COORDINATOR AMBER HUGHES, WILL BE TABLING AT THE SAM GARCIA LIBRARY AND CIVIC CENTER LIBRARY TO FURTHER PROMOTE THIS INITIATIVE AND TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS WITH WATER SAVING TIPS, TRICKS, AND TOOLS.
AND WHILE FIX A LEAK WEEK IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT YOUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT THINKS ABOUT WATER CONSERVATION CONTINUOUSLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY IS A SIGNIFICANT WATER USER.
SO WE ARE CURRENTLY PERFORMING OUR OWN INTERNAL WATER AUDIT TO FIND LEAKS AT CITY PROPERTIES.
THIS AUDIT IS ON YOUR WAY AND MORE DETAILS TO COME ON THAT WHEN THE RESULTS ARE FINALIZED.
AND NOW, MAYOR, WOULD YOU PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD BY READING THE FIX A LEAK? WEAK PROCLAMATION? I WOULD BE HAPPY TO.
WHEREAS WATER IS A BASIC AND ESSENTIAL NEED FOR OF EVERY LIVING CREATURE.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AVONDALE, A WATER SENSE PARTNER, IS WORKING TO INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER CONSERVATION.
AND WHEREAS AVONDALE HAS DESIGNATED THE THIRD WEEK IN MARCH TO NATIONAL FIX A LEAK WEEK TO EDUCATE CITIZENS ABOUT HOW THEY CAN HELP SAVE ARIZONA'S PRECIOUS WATER RESOURCES BY ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO FIND AND FIX LEAKS BOTH INDOORS AND OUTDOORS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AVONDALE HAS ALWAYS ENCOURAGED AND SUPPORTED WATER CONSERVATION THROUGH VARIOUS PROJECTS, MARKETING, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS, AND WHEREAS EVERY BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, SCHOOL AND CITIZEN CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY HELPING TO CONSERVE WATER AND THUS PROMOTE A HEALTHY ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS OUTDOOR IRRIGATION AND UNDETECTED LEAKS COMPROMISED OR COMPRISE A LARGE PORTION OF WATER USE AND WASTE, AVONDALE, WERE ENCOURAGED CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING OUTDOOR IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY AND FINDING AND DETECTING LEAKS.
NOW THEREFORE, I MIKE PINETA, BY THE VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA DUE HEREBY PROCLAIMED THE WEEK OF MARCH 17TH THROUGH MARCH 23RD, 2025 AS NATIONAL FIX A LEAK WEEK, AND FURTHER EXTEND ENCOURAGEMENT TO ALL CITY OF AVONDALE RESIDENTS TO CONSERVE WATER AND FOLLOW FOLLOW WISE WATER USE PRACTICES.
[d. City Manager's Excellence Awards Program]
AND COUNCIL IS A PRESENTATION BY ANISA, OUR SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST IN MY OFFICE TO TALK ABOUT OUR RECENTLY ANNOUNCED AND AWARDED CITY MANAGERS EXCELLENCE AWARDS.HELLO, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ANISA ROMO, SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
AND I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT THE AWARDEES OF OUR 2024 CITY MANAGER'S EXCELLENCE AWARDS PROGRAM.
THE CITY MANAGER'S EXCELLENCE AWARDS WERE CREATED IN 2023 TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEES WHO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE DELIVERY AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.
NOMINATIONS OPEN EACH CALL AND EMPLOYEES ARE ENCOURAGED TO RECOGNIZE TEAM MEMBERS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION.
FOR THE 2024 CITY MANAGERS EXCELLENCE AWARDS, WE RECEIVED 38 NOMINATIONS RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEES AND TEAMS. OUR 2024 NOMINEES ARE PICTURED HERE.
THERE ARE EIGHT AWARD CATEGORIES AS OUTLINED ON THE SCREEN.
EACH EMPLOYEE AWARD WINNER RECEIVES AN ENGRAVED AWARD, A CHALLENGE COIN, AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR PICTURE PLACED ON THE, UH, CITY MANAGER EXCELLENCE AWARDS PAGE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, AND ONE DAY OFF WITH PAY.
SEVERAL AWARD CATEGORIES ALSO INCLUDE A MONETARY AWARD.
I'LL REVIEW OUR WINNERS FROM EACH CATEGORY AND BRIEFLY OVERVIEW WHAT EACH AWARD REPRESENT.
AND WE DO HAVE OUR AWARD WINNERS HERE TONIGHT.
SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE A PHOTO AFTER THE, UM, PRESENTATION, BUT ALSO AS I READ THEIR NAMES, IF I CAN ASK THEM TO PLEASE STAND IN THE AUDIENCE TO BE RECOGNIZED.
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FIRST AWARD IS OUR SAFETY EXCELLENCE AWARD.IT'S OUR NEWEST CATEGORY, WHICH REC, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN TO A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO EXEMPLIFY OUTSTANDING DEDICATION TO MAINTAINING A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT.
THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES A GROUP THAT IDENTIFIES AND ADDRESSES POTENTIAL HAZARDS, FOSTERS A COLLECTIVE CULTURE OF SAFETY AND IMPLEMENTS EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES.
OUR 2024 AWARD-WINNING TEAM WAS OUR AQUATIC STAFF IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION AND LIBRARIES DEPARTMENT.
OUR NEXT AWARD IS THE PIT CREW AWARD.
IT'S GIVEN TO A TEAM OF INDIVIDUALS EXCELLING IN AT LEAST ONE OR MORE OF THE CORE VALUES OF THE CITY, AND WHO WORK AS A TEAM TO ACHIEVE THE CITY'S CORE PURPOSE OF MAKING LIVES BETTER.
OUR 2024 AWARD-WINNING TEAM IS THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION WITH NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES.
THE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD RECOGNIZES EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS IN GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE DELIVERY AND CUSTOMER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ALL WITHIN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY.
OUR 2024 AWARD WINNER IS JASMINE LECRON WITH PUBLIC WORKS.
THE FRONT RUNNER AWARD RECIPIENT IS AN EMPLOYEE WHO CONTINUALLY WORKS TO RESOLVE ISSUES QUICKLY, STREAMLINE PROCESSES, PROVIDE EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND WORK SUFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO MAKE AVIL THE BEST IT CAN BE.
OUR 2024 AWARD WINNERS WERE JOSHUA WHEATLEY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MATTHEW DUDLEY WITH PUBLIC WORKS, THE GUIDING LEADER AWARD RECIPIENT IS AN EMPLOYEE WHO CREATES A WORK ENVIRONMENT THAT IS TEAM ORIENTED, FEAR AND TRANSPARENT.
OUR 2024 AWARD WINNER IS LIANA BELL WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
THE VICTORY LANE AWARD IS THE SECOND HIGHEST OF THE CITY MANAGERS EXCELLENCE AWARDS AND IS GIVEN EACH YEAR TO AN EMPLOYEE WHO EXEMPLIFIES THE CORE VALUES OF THE CITY AND WHO CONTINUALLY GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND CARRYING OUT OUR CORE PURPOSE.
OUR 2024 WINNER WAS LISA MAXI MULLINS WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THE 2024 CITY MANAGER SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD IS PRESENTED TO AN EMPLOYEE WHO EXEMPLIFIES THE ABBVIE WAY THROUGH THEIR TIRELESS COMMITMENT TO MAKING LIVES BETTER IN AVONDALE, SUPPORTING A CULTURE OF PROFESSIONALISM AND TEAMWORK, AND CONVEYING THEIR PASSION FOR SERVICE DELIVERY DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AND SUPPORTING THE CITY'S CORE VALUES OF TEAMWORK, ACCOUNTABILITY, KINDNESS, TRANSPARENCY, EFFICIENCY, HELPFULNESS, LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.
OUR 2024 AWARD WINNER IS KA CATHERINE LOBE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
FINALLY, THE CITY'S MANAGER STAR PERFORMER AWARD IS THE HIGHEST AWARD GIVEN TO AN EMPLOYEE EACH YEAR THAT EXEMPLIFIES ALL THE CORE VALUES OF THE CITY TO AN EXTRAORDINARY DEGREE AND IS AN EXCELLENT ROLE MODEL TO THEIR TEAM, THE ORGANIZATION, AND THE COMMUNITY IN MAKING LIVES BETTER.
OUR 2024 AWARD WINNER WAS BRITTANY WESTLAND WITH THE PARKS, RECREATION AND LIBRARIES DEPARTMENT, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM.
OUR AWARD WINNERS ARE HERE, LIKE I MENTIONED, AND THEY'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR A PHOTO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH ANISA, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE AWARD WINNERS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE ACCOMP ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT HAVE COME WITH IT AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR EVERYDAY, UH, ACTIVITIES.
AND AGAIN, I I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME ABOUT AWARD WINNERS THAT OFTEN YOU DON'T DO IT FOR THE AWARDS, IT'S JUST WHO YOU ARE.
THIS IS JUST A WAY OF HONORING, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM AS WELL AS TO YOU WHO ARE WORKING AS PART OF A TEAM.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE ON COUNCIL THAT WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE ANY FEEDBACK? YEAH, WELL, CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE YOU MR. MAYOR.
I THINK IT'S TIME FOR PICTURES.
UH, WE CAN, I HAVE COUNSEL GO DOWN AND, UM, ESPECIALLY OUR PROMOTION OVER THERE.
UH, GET A PICTURE OF THE FAMILY WITH OUR NEW NEWEST FIRE CAPTAIN AND THEN, UH, UH, THE AWARD WINNERS, UH, FOR THE MANNERS AWARDS.
IF YOU COULD COME DOWN AS A SINGLE GROUP,
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WE'LL[00:31:56]
START[3. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES]
WITH THERESA DESANTE AND NEXT WILL BE DIANA JONES.OKAY, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING YOU, THE COUNCIL SAID THAT HE WOULD HAVE AN EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING TO DISCUSS THE COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA AND, UH, OUR COMPLAINTS REGARDING HER CALLING TOM HANKS A PEDOPHILE, NOT A PETAL, AND SIGNING OFFICE AND SIGNING OFF HAS A CITY OF AVONDALE COUNCIL MEETING.
SO HAVE YOU HAD YOUR MEETING YET? OH, SORRY, WE CAN'T ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM UP HERE.
NOT WHEN IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE A SECRET? YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND YOU NEED OUR VOTES, YOU, YOU GUYS BEND OVER BACKWARDS, YOU KNOW, TELLING US WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR.
WHATEVER YOU, YOU KNOW, WE WANT YOU GUYS WILL DO AND, UH, JUST TO GET OUR VOTES, BUT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.
NOW THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT YOU CLOSE RANKS AND SHUT OUT THE VERY PEOPLE WHO CHOSE VOTES YOU SOLICITED WHEN YOU NEEDED IT.
SO THAT'S MY, THAT'S MY COMPLAINT IS WHEN IS SOMETHING GONNA BE DONE? YOU KNOW, IS IT GONNA TAKE MONTHS, YEARS? IF IT WAS ANYBODY ELSE, I'M SURE THAT YOU GUYS WOULD'VE HAD HER RESIDE OR YOU WOULD'VE ASKED HER TO.
AND LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT VERY HAPPY OF ALL THIS WHAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE OF HER ACTIONS.
SO ANYWAYS, THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO SAY AND I WANTED TO FIND OUT WHEN THE MEETING WAS GOING TO BE, BUT I GUESS IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
YOU GUYS PROBABLY SWEEP IT UNDER THE CARPET.
BUT ANYWAYS, THANK YOU MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, EXCEPT YOU GARCIA.
AND UP NEXT AFTER DIANA IS ROGER RO I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF MS. GARCIA.
I'VE KNOWN HER FOR A LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS.
WE ARE VETERANS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DIFFERENT SERVICES.
SHE PUT A COMMENT ON HER PERSONAL PAGE USING HER FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT.
IS TOM HANKS ON THE CITY COUNCIL? NO, HE IS NOT.
DOES HE CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY WITH TAXES OR ANYTHING ELSE? I BET HE DOESN'T.
[00:35:01]
DOES HE CONTRIBUTE TO OR AFFECT YOUR PERSONAL HOUSEHOLDS? I BET HE DOESN'T.THEN WHY DO WE HAVE ALL THIS DRAMA OVER THIS INDIVIDUAL AND THIS STATEMENT? LET THE CITY COUNCIL GET ON WITH THE CITY BUSINESS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECTS OUR STREETS AND OUR HOMES.
I ALSO HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT ON YOUR PROCLAMATIONS.
THIS IS NATIONAL WOMEN'S MONTH, SO THAT SHOULD BE A PROCLAMATION ALSO.
AND THEN AFTER, UH, ROGER IS MARK CHAZEN.
WE HAVE, UH, AN INTERESTING CONCEPT HERE.
I'M A VIETNAM VET AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT JEANETTE GARCIA, A WOMAN THAT SHARED THE CLOTH OF OUR COUNTRY, A WOMAN THAT TOOK AN OATH, SPITE AND DEFEND BOTH FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTIONS OF OUR NATIONAL AND OUR STATE.
IT WARMS MY HEART TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE IN HER REPRESENTATION TODAY.
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
IF THERE WAS A AN INFRACTION AGAINST OUR FELLOW MAN, WE TAKE IT TO THEM AND WE'VE DONE THAT.
BEYOND THAT, WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT HE, JESUS GAVE US THE MODEL PRAYER.
OUR TRESPASSES SAYS WE FORGIVE THOSE THAT TRESPASS AGAINST US.
HE DIDN'T SAY THAT JUST AS A PASSING LINE.
HE WAS TRYING TO TEACH US WHAT THE FATHER DESIGNED, SENDING HIM DOWN TO GO TO CALVARY FOR, FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.
THAT DAY WHEN HE WAS HANGING ON THE CROSS, LEADING THEM BEATEN, HE PROVIDED TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.
HE TOOK IT ON HIMSELF TO TAKE ON THE SINS OF THE WORLD.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PUT MY PANTS ON ONE LEG AT A TIME EVERY DAY.
NOW I'M SURE MOST OF YOU WILL GET DRESSED IN A SIMILAR FASHION.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS NONE OF US IN THIS ROOM OR THIS CHAMBER OR IN THIS, IN THIS WORLD, IS GREATER THAN THE FATHER THAT WE HAVE IN HEAVEN.
ONE THING THAT I ASK YOU TO NEVER USED TO BE ABLE TO APPEAL YOURSELF TO HIM, THE MAKE THOSE APPEALS TO HEAVEN.
SO THAT WAY ONE DAY WE WON'T PASS JUDGMENT ON OUR FELLOW MAN BECAUSE THE JUDGMENT THAT WE PASS WILL BE JUDGED AGAINST US ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT WHERE EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND EVERY TIME WE'LL CONFESS.
I'LL FINISH THE LAST 38 PLUS SECONDS.
LORD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, I COME BEFORE YOU THRONE, MERCY AND GRACE FOR PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING.
YOU'RE THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO IN OUR LIVES EACH AND EVERY DAY.
YOU ARE, YOU'RE THE FOURTH MAN IN THE FIRE.
FATHER GOD, YOU HOLD OUR HANDS.
WE CAN'T HOLD YOURS, BUT YOU'LL NEVER FORSAKE US.
AS IN PSALM 23, WHEN LEE SAYS, WE WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF SHALL OF DEATH, WE START TO HAVE A SHADOW.
KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THAT IN OUR HEARTS AND WE THANK YOU AND WE PRAISE YOU IN JESUS NAME.
I HAD LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE MAYOR, THE VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR GRANTING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
MY REASON FOR COMING BEFORE YOU TODAY IS TO VOICE SUPPORT FOR COUNCILWOMAN JEANETTE GARCIA.
[00:40:01]
I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO KNOW MS. GARCIA OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY IMPRESSED WITH HER SPIRIT AND DEDICATION TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY AT EVERY LEVEL.THIS COUNCIL IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH A PRINCIPAL AND PATRIOTIC WOMAN ADVOCATING FOR THE WELLBEING OF AVONDALE AND ITS RESIDENTS.
THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, I HAVE TRAVELED AROUND THE WORLD THAT HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THAT EVEN IN THE MOST ENLIGHTENED REGIONS, THERE IS NO PLACE WHERE THE PEOPLE SHARE OUR LEVEL OF FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY.
IT IS TRULY A BLESSING TO LIVE AT A COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE ENJOY THE GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO SPEAK PUBLICLY IN FRONT OF THEIR NEIGHBORS AND ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES WITHOUT FEAR OF REPRISAL.
UNFORTUNATELY, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A GROWING MOVEMENT WHICH SEEKS TO SUPPRESS THE PEOPLE'S FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION USING INTIMIDATION, SHAMING, AND EVEN OCCASIONALLY ACTS OF VIOLENCE.
WE ALL BRING DIFFERENT VIEWS, UH, VIEWPOINTS AND LIFE EXPERIENCES TO THE DISCUSSION.
AND SOME OF US WILL BE A BIT MORE COLORFUL IN OUR CHOICE OF WORDS.
COUNCILWOMAN GARCIA'S LIFE EXPERIENCE AS A CHRISTIAN, A MOM, A COMBAT VETERAN, AND A LATINA, MAKE HER WHO SHE IS.
THESE THINGS AND MORE HAVE MOLDED HER INTO THE GOD-FEARING, PATRIOTIC FIREBALL WHO HAS NEVER HESITATED TO ANSWER WHEN CALLED TO SERVE HER FAMILY, HER COMMUNITY, OR HER NATION.
YES, MAYBE SOMETIMES HER CHOICE OF WORDS MAY BE A BIT SPICY, AND SOME PEOPLE MAY OCCASIONALLY FIND THAT OFFENSIVE.
OTHERS LIKE MYSELF SEE IT AS A SIGN OF RELATABILITY AND UNWAVERING BELIEFS.
EITHER WAY, THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION TO PUNISH HER FOR SPEAKING HER MIND.
IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA POST THAT STARTED ALL OF THIS, MS. GARCIA REFERRED TO TOM HANKS AS PEDO.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH SPANISH SLANG, THAT WORD IS COMMONLY USED TO MEAN FART.
TO BE HONEST, MY KIDS HAVE CALLED ME FAR WORSE.
I UNDERSTAND HOW NON-SPANISH SPEAKERS WOULD INTERPRET THAT TO MEAN THAT SHE WAS CALLING MR. HANKS A PEDOPHILE, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.
HER SUBSEQUENT ONLINE EXPLANATION CLARIFIED HER INTENT, WHICH SHOULD HAVE PUT THIS ISSUE TO BED.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUN OPPORTUNISTIC INDIVIDUALS BOTH IN THE COMMUNITY AND ON THIS COUNCIL WHO CHOSE TO INTENTIONALLY MISINTERPRET HER COMMENTS IN ORDER TO FURTHER THEIR OWN PERSONAL AGENDA.
THE TRUTH IS THAT THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO FIND IT UNACCEPTABLE THAT A LATINA WOMAN COULD HOLD POLITICAL VIEWS THAT ARE AT ODDS WITH A CURRENT WOKE IDEOLOGICAL AGENDA.
COUNCILWOMAN GARCIA COMMITTED THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN OF APOSTASY BY EMBRACING THE MAGA MOVEMENT, AND SHE HAS NEVER BEEN AFRAID TO SHARE HER VIEWS.
NOT ONLY DID SHE EMBRACE, EMBRACE THE CONSERVATIVE PHILOSOPHY, BUT SHE TIRELESSLY WORKED TO PROMOTE CANDIDATES IN THE 2024 ELECTION WHO ARE NOW RETURNING THE UNITED STATES TO ITS PROPER PLACE AS A BEACON OF HOPE FOR MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD.
MARCELLA, I BELIEVE THERE'S A COUPLE MORE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO READ.
FIRST I HAVE JULIE FISHER AND I QUOTE, I ATTENDED THE MEETING LAST MONDAY WHERE I LISTENED TO DISGUSTING DIATRIBE DIRECTED AT COUNCILWOMAN GARCIA.
THE FIRST CITIZEN TO SPEAK DID NOT HAVE THE COURTESY TO ADDRESS HER PROPERLY USING ONLY HER LAST NAME.
GARCIA, DID YOU? DID YOUR PARENTS COME HERE? LEGALLY? THIS BLATANT, DISGUSTING, DISGUSTING RACISM IS THE VERY ESSENCE OF THE EXPOST, WHICH IS BEING REFERENCED.
SHAME ON EVERYONE WHO IS ATTACKING THIS COUNCILWOMAN FOR ADDRESSING THE RACIST SKIT ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.
NEXT, I HAVE RICHARD GUTHRIDGE AND I QUOTE, I WOULD LIKE TO STAND UP FOR COUNCILWOMAN GARCIA.
I WOULD LIKE TO STAY, SAY I AM YOUNG AND THAT WE ARE GREAT BECAUSE WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN THIS COUNTRY.
IF WE ARE SO CONCERNED OVER A TWITTER STATEMENT, I RECOMMEND FOR YOUR OWN MENTAL HEALTH BENEFIT, YOU GO OUTSIDE AND TOUCH SOME GRASS IN QUOTE.
AND I QUOTE, I'VE BEEN MONITORING THE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS OF CO COUNCILWOMAN JEANETTE GARCIA SINCE HER VIRAL TWEET, AND I'VE NOTICED SHE USES HER PLATFORMS TO SPOTLIGHT LOCAL ISSUES, INFORM HER AUDIENCE AND PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL DISCUSSIONS.
I AM PROUD SHE IS OUR COUNCILWOMAN.
NEXT I HAVE LAYLA RUSSELL AND I QUOTE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS REGARDING THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE FAILURE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES RAISED BY THE CITIZENS OF AVONDALE.
SPECIFICALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THIS ELECTED BODY WILL ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY AND HOLD COUNCIL MEMBER
[00:45:01]
GARCIA ACCOUNTABLE FOR HER ACTIONS AND THE MISLEADING STATEMENTS SHE MADE DURING THE FEBRUARY 24TH COUNCIL MEETING, COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA CONTINUES TO SHRED MISINFORMATION IN HARMFUL RHETORIC WITHOUT FACING ANY CONSEQUENCES.SHE HAS STATED THAT SHE WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR HER ACTIONS AND INSTEAD PORTRAYS HERSELF AS A VICTIM WITH ONLY, WHICH ONLY SERVES TO EX ESCALATE THE SITUATION.
HER BEHAVIORS BEHAVIOR HAS RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT ATTENTION.
ONE OF HER MAIN POINTS OF CONTENTION WAS A POST ON HER SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE WHERE SHE WRONGFULLY CLAIMS THAT AVONDALE RESIDENTS ARE OPPOSED OPPOSING HER DUE TO HER POLITICAL VIEWS AND HER IDENTITY AS A CONSERVATIVE LATINA.
THE COMMUNITY IS SIMPLY HOLDING HER ACCOUNTABLE FOR HER ACTIONS, AND SHE REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER CONDUCT CON SURROUNDING A POST FROM FEBRUARY 16TH.
NOT ALL MEGA HAT WEARING PATRIOTS ARE WHITE.
IN FACT, MOST RACISM COMES FROM THE ELITE DEMOCRATS.
THE RESIDENTS DID NOT COME TO SPEAK ABOUT HER POLITICAL VIEWS BEING A CONSERVATIVE LATINA.
SHE MADE THAT STATEMENT WHEN SHE REFUSED TO APOLOGIZE.
ALSO, I AM CONCERNED THAT AS A SITTING COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN A RECALL EFFORT ON AN ELECTED OFFICIAL COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE SPILSBURY OF MESA.
IT IS TROUBLING THAT SHE APPEARS TO HAVE SO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT AND ENERGY FOCUSED ON MESA.
WHILE ISSUES IN AVONDALE REMAIN UNADDRESSED, I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO ENSURE THAT THE CITIZENS OF AVONDALE ARE HEARD AND THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE HELD TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF ACCOUNTABILITY BASED ON AVONDALE'S CODE OF CONDUCT.
NEXT, I HAVE PEN PRESTON KAI OGI.
AND I QUOTE HELLO TO ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY COMMENTS BEING MADE HERE TODAY.
I AM WRITING IN FULL SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER JANET GARCIA.
I BELIEVE THAT WE AS CITIZENS ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE A PERSONAL LIFE WITH OUR OWN VIEWS, BELIEFS, AND VALUES.
THIS INCLUDES OUR SOCIAL MEDIA WHERE THE COMMENT MADE WAS A, ON A PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT AND NOT ON AN ACCOUNT OF THE CITY.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS MATTER SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT IS BROUGHT INTO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AS THERE ARE MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WE WOULD BENEFIT THE CITY THAT ARE NEEDED TO BE ATTENDED TO.
COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA MADE HER STANCES KNOWN TO VOTERS DURING THE ELECTION SEASON, A RIGHT WHICH WE ALL HAVE IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY.
THE VOTERS ELECTED HER BECAUSE OF HER INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER.
AS A PERSON OF AVONDALE, MANY PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO HAVE A VOICE AS THEY FEAR BACKLASH IN THEIR BUSINESSES AND OTHER AREAS OF THE, OF THEIR LIVES.
BUT SHE IS ABLE TO REPRESENT SO MANY WHO HAVE THE SAME BELIEF, VALUES, AND BELIEFS.
THE CITY OF AVONDALE HAS MANY BIG PROJECTS COMING IN THE FUTURE AND LOTS OF GROWTH COMING AS WELL THAT NEEDS TO BE ATTENDED TO DURING THESE MEETINGS.
I BELIEVE IT IS THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY THAT THE SUBJECT, THIS SUBJECT BE MOVED PAST AND NOT BE BROUGHT INTO DISCUSSION AT FUTURE MEETINGS.
IT IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO BRING, BRINGING THIS TOPIC INTO A BROAD, BROADER ASPECT AS THE VOTERS WHO ELECTED HER SUPPORT HER, WHICH IS WHY SHE WAS ELECTED TO HER POSITION.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU.
NEXT I AM MCKENNA MENDOZA, AND I QUOTE, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS MY FULL SUPPORT AND RESPECT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA.
AS A VETERAN, MS. GARCIA HAS CONSISTENTLY PR PRIORITIZED HER COUNTRY, STATE, AND CITY.
SHE EARNED HER POSITION THROUGH THE TRUST OF VOTERS, TRUST AND VOTES OF THE AVONDALE CITIZENS.
RECENTLY, COUNCILMAN GARCIA HAS FACED HARASSMENT AND THREATS STEMMING FROM A POST THAT WAS MISINTERPRETED.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT SHE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO EXPRESS HER PERSONAL VIEWS ON HER OWN SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS.
JUST AS IN ANY, ANY, JUST AS ANY INDIVIDUAL WOULD.
MS. GARCIA HAS RIGHTFULLY EARNED HER POSITION ON THE COUNCIL AND DESERVES TO REMAIN IN HER ROLE.
SHE SHOULD NOT BE COMPELLED TO RESIGN.
LAST, I HAVE SANTIAGO BE HEAS AND I QUOTE, FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS IDEAS AND OPINIONS WITHOUT GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE OR PUNISHMENT.
I'M AGAINST THIS FALSE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST JANETTE GARCIA.
PICKED A WORD THAT MEANS FART IN SPANISH.
THERE ARE MORE THINGS TO WORK ON IN THE CITY THAN TO WASTE TAXPAYERS MONEY ON ONE WORD AGAINST THE CITY COUNCIL.
CITY COUNCIL OF AVONDALE, QUOTE.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE REQUEST TO SPEAK.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS CONSENT AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M SORRY YOU WISH TO HAVE AN ITEM REMOVED OR MAYOR, UM, IN COMPLIANCE WITH, UM, SECTION TWO ASKING FOR STAFF TO REVIEW THE MATTER, WE RECEIVED A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
TRADITIONALLY, YOU DO ASK FOR THE ADDRESS TO BE READ.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW THE CITY AND, UH, AND ADDRESSES OF THOSE PEOPLE MAKING PUBLIC COMMENTS, PLEASE.
RON NICOLE, MAYOR, UH, VICE MAYOR COUNCIL, CAN YOU REPEAT YOUR, YOUR QUESTION AGAIN? COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.
UH, AFTER THE CALL TO THE PUBLIC, I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ASK STAFF TO REVIEW A MATTER.
WE DIDN'T HEAR THE ADDRESSES OF
[00:50:01]
THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THE COMMENTARY.SO NORMALLY WE GET THAT INFORMATION FROM THOSE MAKING THE COMMENTS.
THE CI THEIR STREET ADDRESS CITY? YES.
THOSE ARE ON THE REQUEST TO SPEAK CARDS.
THAT, AND I BELIEVE THOSE ARE FORWARDED TO YOU, TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT WE CAN SEND SEND.
I DIDN'T HEAR IT FROM THOSE PEOPLE WHO MADE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE CAN, WE CAN GET THOSE TO YOU.
[4. CONSENT AGENDA]
ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WISH TO HAVE AN ITEM REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? SEEING THEN, CAN I GET GOT A MOTION FROM VICE MAYOR NIELSEN? A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, CAN I GET A VOTE? ITEM PASSES.
[a. Public Hearing - 2025-2026 HUD Annual Action Plan and Five Year HUD Consolidated Plan (2025-2029)]
ONTO THE REGULAR AGENDA, RON.THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
UP NEXT WE HAVE CHRIS LOPEZ, OUR DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES, UM, TO TALK ABOUT OUR HUT ANNUAL ACTION PLAN.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THIS PRESENTATION REGARDING A DRAFT OF OUR FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND ALSO A DRAFT OF OUR FI OF OUR ANNUAL ACTION PLAN.
THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION IS FIVE PARTS.
ONE, WE WANNA REVIEW THE FUNCTION OF THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN.
WE WANNA DESCRIBE THE METHODOLOGY, UH, FOR DATA COLLECTION.
WE ALSO WANNA SHARE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CONSOLIDATED GOALS AND OUR ACTION PLAN STRATEGIES.
WE'LL ALSO REVIEW OUR ESTIMATED FUNDING AND REVIEW THE TIMELINE AND THE PROCESS THAT WAS, UH, UNDERTOOK.
IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THIS, TO BEGIN WITH, I WANT TO JUST KINDA DEFINE WHAT THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN IS AND WHAT ITS PURPOSE IS, THE OR THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN.
THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN IS A REQUIREMENT, UH, FROM HUD THAT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED EVERY FIVE YEARS BY COMMUNITIES WHO RECEIVE THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS.
UM, THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS INCLUDE OUR CDBG COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, AND ALSO OUR HOME PARTNERSHIP.
UM, IT'S ALSO SERVES AS A TOOL FOR ADDRESSING AND ASSESSING OUR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS IN AVONDALE.
AND OFTEN IT INCLUDES A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH.
IT'S DATA DRIVEN AND HAS, UH, AN INTENSE LOOK AT, UM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UM, BEFORE GETTING ANY FURTHER, I WANNA TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE OUR CONSULTANT.
THIS IS A, UH, UH, DIFFICULT PROCESS WITH A LOT OF WORK INVOLVED, AND SO WE'VE CONSULT, WE'VE PROCURED THE SERVICES OF A CONSULTANT TO HELP US WITH THAT.
AND SO JOINING US TONIGHT IS ERIC CHATHAM.
UH, THE PRINCIPAL OWNER AND LEAD CONSULTANT WITH CITAS.
UH, ERIC WILL BE AVAILABLE AS I COMPLETE OUR THE PRESENTATION TO ASSIST WITH ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
I ALSO WANNA TAKE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR AWARD-WINNING TEAM WHO YOU MET EARLIER TODAY.
UM, THEY'RE HERE TONIGHT AND CARRY OUT THE DAILY WORK OF OUR, UM, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION.
UM, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THEM STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
SO I'VE GOT, UH, REGINA MARETTE, OUR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER HERE WITH ME TONIGHT.
I'M ALSO JOINED BY ALEXIA GRADY.
GRADY, OUR MANAGEMENT ANALYST, AND JAMIE MOEN, OUR HOUSING REHAB COORDINATOR.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, THERE'S REALLY A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH FOR COMPLETING THESE PLANS.
WE, UM, UTILIZE A VARIETY OF DA DATA SOURCES TO, UM, UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY NEEDS.
UM, A LOT OF THAT ENTAILS THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT MAKE UP OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I REALLY WANNA FOCUS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THIS IS REALLY TAKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE RESIDENTS, TALK TO OUR PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE DO THIS THROUGH PUBLIC SURVEYS, THROUGH MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS.
FROM THAT INFORMATION, UH, WE HAVE GENERATED SOME GOALS THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING.
THE FIRST IS TO OFFER HOUSING REHAB SERVICES.
THIS HAS BEEN THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF OUR DIVISION, UM, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, IN ALLOWING US TO PRESERVE OUR STOCK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO WANNA FUND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS.
WE HAVE SOME IMAGES HERE TO THE RIGHT.
UM, WE RECENTLY COMPLETED SOME IMPROVEMENTS AT THE SAM GARCIA LIBRARY, AND WE ENVISION THESE HAVING A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND REALLY SUPPORTING, UM, THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AND, UH, JUST THE OVERALL WELLBEING OF FAMILIES.
THIRD, WE WANNA OFFER SERVICES FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AND SPECIAL NEED RESIDENTS.
UM, ALSO IN THE IMAGES BEFORE YOU HERE, WE HAVE A YOUNG MAN WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR ABBVIE 10 PROGRAM.
THIS IS OUR SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES YOUTH WITH A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN VALUABLE WORK EXPERIENCE WITHIN OUR VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS.
[00:55:01]
WE BRING IN ABOUT 20 YOUTH AND THEY, UH, HAVE A MENTOR WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENT.UM, THIS PROGRAM IS PHENOMENAL.
IT DOES A LOT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
IT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INCOME TO THOSE HOUSEHOLDS AND REALLY PROMOTES THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND THEN FOUR, WE WANNA PROVIDE EFFECTIVE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.
UM, WITH THESE FEDERAL PROGRAMS, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN, A LOT OF REGS THAT WE NEED TO ADHERE TO.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY CONTINUES TO RECEIVE THOSE FUNDING.
AND SO WE HAVE STAFF THAT ARE DEDICATED, UM, AND WITH AN EYE FOR DETAIL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE.
NEXT, I WANNA TRANSITION OVER TO THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN.
THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN IS AN EXTENSION OF THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN, AND REALLY IT DIGS IN A LITTLE BIT DEEPER AND IT DEFINES HOW WE'RE GONNA UTILIZE THE DOLLARS THAT WE RECEIVE ANNUALLY AND ASSIGNS THEM TO SPECIFIC PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.
AND AGAIN, THERE'S A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AND THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN.
EACH OF THE GOALS IN THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN MUST FURTHER, UM, THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN.
UM, THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN IS A REQUIREMENT EACH YEAR.
UM, AND THE FOLLOWING IS KIND OF THE BREAKDOWN OF WHAT WE ANTICIPATE.
WE DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW UNTIL THE AWARD LETTER IS RECEIVED, BUT FUNDING HAS BEEN PRETTY STABLE OVER THE YEARS.
SO FOR OUR CDBG COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK BRAND, WE WERE ANTICIPATING JUST OVER $700,000.
AND THEN FOR OUR HOME FUNDS, WE'RE LOOKING AT CLOSE TO $200,000 PLUS.
UH, THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO CONTRIBUTE 25% IN MATCH THE TABLE BEFORE YOU HEAR BREAKS DOWN OUR PROPOSED FUNDING ALLOCATIONS.
THESE ARE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW TO UTILIZE THESE DOLLARS.
UM, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THE ACTIVITIES AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UH, EXPECTED OUTCOMES.
SO THE FIRST ONE IS REALLY THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM.
WE'RE ABLE TO USE UP TO 20% OF OUR ALLOCATION FOR PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.
THIS REALLY FUNDS SALARIES RELATED TO THE DELIVERY OF, OF THIS PROGRAM.
AGAIN, I MENTIONED THIS IS REALLY A STAPLE OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED.
THIS HELPS US PERVER PRESERVE OUR STOCK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MAKING SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO, TO RESIDE IN.
UH, WE'RE ANTICIPATING COMPLETING APPROXIMATELY 12 HOMES IN THE COMING YEAR.
WE WANNA CONTINUE TO FUND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND, AND FACILITIES.
THESE ARE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
AS I MENTIONED, WE'VE MADE A CONSIDERABLE INVESTMENT IN OUR SAM GARCIA LIBRARY, AND, UH, WE CAN, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO PROJECTS LIKE THAT.
PUBLIC SERVICE IS ANOTHER ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY.
WE'VE DONE THIS FOR, FOR A FEW YEARS, AND WE FEEL LIKE THERE'S A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO OUR YOUTH.
IN ADDITION TO THE ABBEY TEMP SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, WE ALSO HAVE A COST SHARE AGREEMENT WITH MARICOPA COUNTY, WHERE WE, UM, HAVE A STAFF THAT'S ASSIGNED AT THE RESOURCE CENTER THAT WORKS WITH ADULTS TO HELP THEM DEVELOP, UM, JOB SKILLS, TO WRITE RESUMES, UM, JUST TO FIND, FIND THAT GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.
UM, SO IN THE COMING YEAR, WE ANTICIPATE PROVIDING APPROXIMATELY 20 PARTNERSHIPS AND SERVING ABOUT 300 INDIVIDUALS WITH THOSE JOB SKILLS AND WORK READINESS SKILLS.
THE OTHER POT OF FUNDING THAT WE ANTICIPATE RECEIVING IS OUR HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP FUNDS.
WE ANTICIPATE RECEIVING APPROXIMATELY $249,000 FOR THAT.
UM, AGAIN, WE CAN UTILIZE A PORTION OF THESE DOLLARS FOR PROGRAM AND ADMINISTRATION.
AND SO THAT, AGAIN, ALSO HELPS TO FUND OUR, OUR POSITIONS THAT DELIVER THESE PROGRAMS. UM, WE'RE GONNA UTILIZE, OR WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE UTILIZE A PORTION OF THESE FUNDS FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.
FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS GET INTO A HOME.
IT ALSO ENSURES THAT THEY HAVE THE HOME BUYER EDUCATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A RESPONSIBLE HOME HOMEOWNER, WHAT THOSE COSTS ENTAIL.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THOSE HOMEOWNERS ARE ABLE TO SUSTAIN, SUSTAIN, UM, THOSE COSTS OF, OF THEIR HOME.
UM, AND THEN THERE IS A 25% MATCH.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WORK INTO EACH BUDGET YEAR.
UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH RENEE AND, AND THE BUDGET TEAM.
AND SO WE'RE, UM, ANTICIPATE INCLUDING THAT IN OUR, IN OUR NEW BUDGET.
UM, GOING BACK AND JUST REFERRING TO OUR TIMELINE, WE BEGAN THIS PROCESS BACK IN JUNE OF 2024 WITH A VARIETY OF PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UH, WE HAD SOME PUBLIC MEETINGS AT THE INTERFAITH PARTNERSHIP MEETING.
UH, WE HAD A PRESENTATION TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES COMMISSION, AND THEN ALSO MET WITH SOME OF THE NONPROFIT, UH, PARTNERS WITHIN, UH, THE CITY.
WE ALSO, UM, ADMINISTERED A SURVEY.
THAT SURVEY GENERATED 137 RESPONSES.
UM, ALL OF THOSE RESPONSES AND ALL OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT FROM THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS REALLY SUPPORTS THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE, THAT WE'VE, UM, UNDERTOOK OVER THE YEARS.
UM, AND, UH, THEY'RE REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU HERE TONIGHT.
UM, AGAIN, WE'RE HERE TONIGHT ON, UH, MARCH 3RD, PROVIDE
[01:00:01]
MARCH 3RD, PROVIDING THE CITY COUNCIL PRESENTATION.WE'LL BE COMING BACK ON MARCH 6TH, OR I'M SORRY, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL END ON MARCH 6TH.
WE ANTICIPATE COMING BACK ON MARCH 24TH FOR COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
UM, AND THEN, UH, WE WILL SUBMIT THE PLAN WITH COUNTY AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS ON IN MAY OF 2025.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE ANTICIPATE, UH, RECEIVING OUR FUNDING AGREEMENT AND AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS IN AUGUST OF 2025.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE MYSELF AND MY TEAM AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MARCEL, HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY REQUESTS TO SPEAK? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REQUESTS TO SPEAK.
THEN AT THIS TIME, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UH, WHEN I SEE THIS, I JUST, I'M SMILING EAR TO EAR BECAUSE HAVING SERVED RECENTLY ON A NATIONAL LEVEL FOR THINGS SUCH AS THIS WITH YOUTH, FAMILY AND EDUCATION, UM, SEEING WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING OUT THERE, UM, SEEING WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THOSE SONAR PROGRAM, BEING ABLE TO TAKE THAT INFORMATION, TAKE IT TO DC AND SHOW EVERYONE ELSE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE 10 TIMES AHEAD OF THE GAME.
PEOPLE CAME UP TO US AFTERWARDS ASKING, HOW ARE YOU GUYS PUTTING THESE THINGS IN PLACE? WHAT ARE YOU GUYS USING YOUR CDBG FUNDS FOR? AND WE'VE KIND OF BECOME A CATALYST FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO.
SERVING AS A VICE CHAIR FOR THAT COMMITTEE REALLY GAVE ME SUCH A FULL BACKGROUND OF, YOU KNOW, THE NEED ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND WHERE THOSE FUNDS GO TO, AND TO KNOW THAT WE'RE AHEAD OF THE GAME WHEN YOU COME AND YOU PRESENT THINGS SUCH AS LIKE, THIS JUST REALLY FILLS MY HEART.
UM, BEING ON THE, UM, THE COMMISSION WITH YOU JUST RECENTLY, I GOT TO HEAR THIS PRESENTATION AND SO I DO KNOW SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING, AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF A HOME REPAIR SO THAT SOMEBODY WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING ONLINE OR IN THE AUDIENCE MAY GET TO SEE SOME OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT YOUR, YOUR TEAM DOES WITH THAT, THOSE FUNDS.
MAYOR WEIS, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS.
UH, SOME OF THE MOST HEARTWARMING PROJECTS THAT, THAT I'VE SEEN AND WITNESSED IN MY TIME WITH AVONDALE ARE REALLY THOSE THAT INCLUDE A DA IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, I REMEMBER, UM, IN YEARS PAST, WE HAD A GENTLEMAN WHO NOT ONLY NEEDED HOME REPAIRS, BUT HE REALLY NEEDED HIS HOME TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE HIS, HIS NEEDS.
AND SO, UM, SOME OF THOSE ENTAIL INSTALLING RAMPS, UM, MAKING SURE THAT COUNTERTOPS ARE AT WHEELCHAIR HEIGHT, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, EVEN IMPROVEMENTS TO WHERE LIGHT SWITCHES ARE AT.
ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS REALLY MAKE, UH, A HOME LIVABLE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S EXPERIENCING THOSE CHALLENGES.
UM, WE'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE SOME OF THOSE, THOSE PHOTOS BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS THROUGH, UM, THROUGH RON, THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
UM, BUT YEAH, THE IMPACT IS TREMENDOUS AND WE CAN'T EVEN QUANTIFY WHAT THAT MEANS FOR, FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
THANK YOU CHRIS, FOR THE AWESOME PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU TO THE TEAM FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO.
I WANNA TAKE A DIFFERENT LENS ON IT.
I THINK WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT ALL THE REGS THAT YOU HAVE TO COMPLY WITH AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO WHEN YOUR FUNDS ARE AUDITED TO SEE IF YOU USE THE MONEY CORRECTLY.
SO PULLING ON THAT AUDIT COMMITTEE, YOU GUYS ARE BEYOND REPROACH.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR USING THE MONEY IN AN APPROPRIATE FASHION AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU THREAD THE NEEDLE AND THAT THAT ALL THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE USING ARE GOING RIGHT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
YOU'RE A WONDERFUL STEWARD AND AN EXCELLENT LEADER.
THANK YOU MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, IF I CAN RESPOND TO THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT OUR BUDGET AND FINANCE TEAM, UM, PROVIDE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE SUCCESSFUL.
THEY WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT IN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE REGS, IT, THEIR SUPPORT IS, IS UNPARALLELED.
THANK YOU CHRIS, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA APPRECIATE YOUR, THE DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH.
AND EVEN MORE THAN THAT, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, THE COMMUNITY IS ALWAYS SAYING, HOW DO I GET INVOLVED? AND FOR YOU GUYS TAKING THE TIME TO GET OUT THERE AND DO SURVEYS AND GET THEIR INPUT, IT'S, IT'S, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
UM, ONE THING THAT I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE HOUSING REHAB SERVICES.
SO A LOT OF THOSE THINGS ADDRESS HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES THAT ALLOWS THAT RESIDENT TO STAY IN THE HOME.
AND SO I KNOW WHEN TALKING TO RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THEY HAVE AC REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE DONE AND, YOU KNOW, IT GETS SO HOT HERE IN ARIZONA.
SO BEING ABLE TO HELP THEM WITH SOME OF THOSE REPAIRS AGAIN, TO KEEP 'EM IN THEIR HOME IS, IS, IS SO IMPORTANT.
SO I KNOW THAT WE USED TO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH AZ COMMUNITY IMPACT.
ARE THEY STILL HELPING US WITH SOME OF THOSE REPAIRS? MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL
[01:05:01]
MEMBER, TINA CONDI, UH, WE DO WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM.AND WE ALSO JUST HAD A MEETING LAST WEEK WITH, UM, AVONDALE SERVICE PROJECT.
SO BOTH ARE TREMENDOUSLY SUPPORTIVE IN MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN MEET THE NEEDS.
UH, OCCASIONALLY WE ENCOUNTER FAMILIES WHO DON'T QUALIFY, UM, FOR, FOR THESE PROGRAMS, UH, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
AND SO THOSE NONPROFIT ENTITIES REALLY, UM, ARE SUCH A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO US BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE WHILE WE WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE, UM, INCOME QUALIFICATIONS AND OTHER QUALIFICATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS.
SO, UH, WE CAN'T THANK OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS ENOUGH.
THAT WAS THE ONE I WAS THINKING OF.
WELL YOU GUYS ALL DO GREAT WORK AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REACHING OUT AND CONNECTING WITH OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
'CAUSE I THINK TOGETHER WE CAN SERVE BETTER.
I JUST HAVE, YOU KNOW, MY NORMAL COMMENTS ABOUT 20 INTERNS AND 300 INDIVIDUALS.
THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT HAVE TO, UH, INFLUENCE IN WITH, WITH, WITH THIS FUNDING.
HOW ARE YOU GONNA DO THAT? I KNOW YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING SET UP THERE, BUT IS IT GONNA GO OUT AND GO TO THE PARENTS AND THE KID'S GONNA SAY, HEY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS.
UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GONNA DO IT, BUT I JUST LIKE MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS OUT TO THE KIDS.
IF IT'S TO THE SCHOOL, WHEREVER IT MIGHT BE.
THIS INTERN THING REALLY IS, IS IMPORTANT.
AND I GUESS AS WE AS A CITY TRY TO WORK TOWARDS EDUCATION, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY ONE OF THEM WITH 300 KIDS, THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE TO INFLUENCE DURING THE SUMMERTIME OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET MAXIMUM EXPOSURE, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.
AND THE SECOND ITEM IS HOME BUYING EDUCATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S JUST FOR THOSE THAT ARE GONNA BE BUYING HOMES, UH, YOU KNOW, RIGHT.
THAT YOU HAVE INFLUENCE OR WORK WITH.
BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE OPENED UP TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL.
JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RENTING NOW WHEN YOU FINISH RENTING WHAT'S AVAILABLE AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GOTTA LOOK FOR.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN EXPAND THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER TO THE TEACHING AND THE TRAINING OF OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE'VE GOT A WONDERFUL THING HERE.
WE'VE GOT IT PLANNED OUT WELL.
WE JUST NEED MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUT AND GET INVOLVED AS MANY AS WE CAN TO ENJOY AND APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE GOT FOR US.
UH, WE, UH, PUT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF EFFORT INTO BROADCASTING THESE PROGRAMS WIDELY.
PIER AND HER TEAM ARE PHENOMENAL.
UM, SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE, LIKE OUR, UM, ABBY STAR WHERE WE RECOGNIZE THOSE STUDENTS, THAT ALLOWS US TO DEVELOP STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE SCHOOLS AND TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SOLID POINT OF CONTACT AND, UM, REALLY HELPS US TO PROMOTE THESE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, IN REGARDS TO THE HOME BUYER EDUCATION, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE BROADCAST THAT ON, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.
WE HAVE IT POSTED ON ALL OF OUR DIGITAL SIGN BOARDS ACROSS THE CITY.
UM, AND THEN WORD OF MOUTH AS WE'RE ATTENDING, UH, FUNCTIONS AND EVENTS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND THEN A COMMENT.
UM, BY THE WAY, WHAT, WHAT A LARGE DOCUMENT THIS ACTION PLAN IS, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST A, FROM WHAT I READ OF 104 PAGES AND TO KIND OF BREAK EVERYTHING DOWN WAS, WAS PRETTY, UH, OVERWHELMING.
BUT OUT OF THAT, A COUPLE THINGS CAME, UH, TO MIND AND ONE WAS IN REGARDS SPECIFICALLY TO, UH, THE PUBLIC SERVICES PORTION OF THIS.
AND PART OF THE REPORT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS GONNA BE SOME INCREASED OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF YOU COULD ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON WHAT THOSE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES WOULD BE.
UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIG ONES IS AGAIN, OUR ABBY TEMP PROGRAM.
SO MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S, UH, WIDELY BROADCASTED AND THAT YOUTH ACROSS THE COMMUNITY ARE AWARE.
UM, WE HAVE, UM, SOME POSITIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THAT HAVE, UM, AS THEY BECOME VACANT, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TWEAK THOSE POSITIONS.
AND SO WE KNOW THAT GETTING THAT, UM, COMMUNITY AWARENESS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS SUCH A PRIORITY FOR US AND FOR COUNCIL.
SO WE'VE INCLUDED THAT AS ONE OF THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR A COUPLE OF POSITIONS WITHIN MY DEPARTMENT.
AND SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY, TABLING THE EVENTS, BEING WELL VERSED IN THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE OFFER AND REALLY, UM, EXUDING THAT WARMTH THAT INVITES PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR, OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
AND I THINK THAT THAT DOVETAILS NICELY WITH WHAT VICE MAYOR JUST SAID IN REGARDS TO THE EDUCATION COMPONENT, BECAUSE ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT I HAD, UH, WRITTEN DOWN AS WELL WAS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU SPEAK TO OTHER FOLKS FROM DIFFERENT CITIES, MANY ARE NOT OFFERING HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. SO THE FACT THAT WE ARE, AND THAT WE ARE DEDICATING A PORTION OF THE BUDGET TO ASSIST THOSE, UH, NOT ONLY IS THAT IMPORTANT AND A FEATHER IN OUR HAT SO TO SPEAK, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE, UH, SINGING OUR PRAISES ABOUT TO VICE MAYOR'S POINT.
UM, AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION, 'CAUSE THE OTHER ONE'S ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED, UM, IN REGARDS TO THE NEW BUSINESSES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TYPE THINGS.
AND I KNOW THAT IN THE PAST, SPECIFICALLY ON WESTERN, UH, THAT THE METRICS SAID THAT 12 OF THE 50 PLANNED
[01:10:01]
BUSINESSES WERE ACTUALLY ASSISTED.AND MY QUESTION WAS, WHAT DO YOU THINK AIDS IN THE LOSS OF, OF THAT, UM, OPPORTUNITY IN TERMS OF TRACTION? WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD ASSIST MORE BUSINESSES TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES ALONG WESTERN, UM, MAYOR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? UM, THERE'S A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES WITH THESE SMALLER BUSINESSES.
A LOT OF 'EM ARE MOM AND PROP ORGANIZATIONS, COMPANIES, UM, SO HELPING THEM WITH BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPMENT, UM, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING THE, THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE DATA WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO, AND, AND WE ARE, HAVE ALREADY INITIATED SOME OF THESE STEPS, IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH JEN STEIN AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO GET A REAL SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE NEEDS ARE, UM, FOR THOSE SHOPKEEPERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS, UM, AND REALLY PIVOTING A LITTLE BIT AND TRYING TO FIND NEW WAYS TO SUPPORT THEM IN, IN THEIR SUCCESS.
WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, BUT ALL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES HAVE A LIFESPAN.
AND SO, UM, I THINK THIS IS A, A, A PRIME OPPORTUNITY FOR US WITH JAN JOINING THE TEAM TO REVISIT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND, AND STRATEGIZE HOW WE CAN, UM, BEST SERVE THOSE, THOSE SMALLER, UM, BUSINESSES.
YEAH, AND I THINK THAT'S KEY BECAUSE AS A, AS A PART OF THIS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL AND EVEN WAY BEFORE OTHER COUNCILS, UH, THAT I'M AWARE OF, YOU KNOW, HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO DETERMINE WHAT THE BEST OUTCOME, THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES, UH, THEY SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS DOWN THERE ON WESTERN SO THAT WE COULD REALLY START.
AND SO THAT A SPARK CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT A PLACE OF WALKABILITY, OF ATTRACTION, RETENTION OF BUSINESSES, TO YOUR POINT IN REGARDS TO SOME, UH, YOU KNOW, EDUCATION AND OTHER THINGS.
UM, BUT I THINK IT'S JUST, AS YOU MENTIONED, JUST TO PRIME OPPORTUNITY TO, AGAIN, NOT ONLY REENGAGE, BUT CONTINUE THOSE DISCUSSIONS, THOSE TALKS THAT HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE TO, UH, BRING WESTERN TO WHAT IT NEEDS TO BECOME, WHETHER THAT BE FACADES, WHETHER THAT BE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, JUST RETENTION IS KEY BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THAT AREA.
AND I KNOW I'M PREACHING TO THE CHOIR HERE, BUT, UH, IT'S MORE JUST REALLY, UM, SHARING KUDOS WITH YOU AND HOPE THAT COMES THROUGH, BECAUSE AGAIN, UH, EVERYTHING THAT IS TAKING PLACE HERE WITH THIS GRANT REALLY AFFORDS US THAT OPPORTUNITY TO, TO PROVIDE AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES AS POSSIBLE TO A, A, A LARGE, MANY OF RESIDENTS.
AND SO FOR THAT, I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU, YOUR TEAM, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY YOU MENTIONED IT AS WELL AS, UH, THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU HAVE WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS.
SO I APPRECIATE IT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[b. Resolution 1008-0325 - Notice of Intent to Modify Water and Sewer Rates]
YOU, MR. MAYOR.UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY ROBERT, OUR BUDGET MANAGER, UM, TO ISSUE OUR NOTICE OF INTENT TO MODIFY WATER AND SEWER RATES.
ALRIGHT, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.
I'M THE CITY'S BUDGET MANAGER AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT ON THE NOTICE OF INTENT TO MODIFY WATER AND SEWER RATES.
SO FOR THE NOTICE OF INTENT, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE FORMAL ADOPTION PROCESS FOR ADJUSTING WATER AND SEWER RATES.
SO IF WE WERE EVEN ADJUSTING THE, THE WATER AND SEWER RATES BY A PENNY, WE WOULD STILL NEED TO ADOPT THIS NOTICE OF INTENT BEFORE WE TOOK ACTION.
ACTUALLY ON THE, UH, WATER AND SEWER RATES, IT DOES NOT ACTUALLY SET THE RATES, IT STARTS THE PROCESS.
UM, PER STATE STATUTE, IT REQUIRES THAT WE POST A REPORT TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE 30 DAYS BEFORE COUNCIL ACTION.
UM, AND WE PUBLISH A PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE NEWSPAPER, UM, AT LEAST 20 DAYS BEFORE COUNCIL ACTION, THE NOTICE OF INTENT, WE BEFORE TO YOU TONIGHT WOULD SET THE, UH, DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AND COUNCIL ACTION FOR MAY 5TH.
THAT SAID, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT ALL OF OUR RATE PAYERS HERE IN THE CITY ARE AWARE OF THE RATE CHANGES THAT WE ARE PROPOSING.
SO WITH THAT REPORT, UM, STATE STATUTE REQUIRES THAT WE POST, POST IT TO THE WEBSITE 30 DAYS BEFORE.
WE'RE GOING TO POST IT, UM, THIS MONTH IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
UM, ON THE WEBSITE, WE ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE A RESIDENTIAL BILL COMPARISON ON THE WEBSITE.
SO SOMEBODY CAN TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEIR CURRENT BILL IS AND THEN SEE WHAT THE NEW RATES WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THAT BILL.
UM, WE'LL HAVE NOTICES ON OUR ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEM AND FRONT COUNTER INFO IN APRIL.
WE ARE SCHEDULING RIGHT NOW THREE PUBLIC MEETINGS, UM, TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED RATE CHANGES.
UM, WE ARE TENTATIVELY LOOKING AT HAVING THEM ONE IN THE OLD TOWN AREA AT THE SAM GARCIA LIBRARY, UM, ONE AT, UH, THE RESOURCE CENTER, AND THEN ANOTHER ONE HERE AT THE CIVIC CENTER CAMPUS.
UM, WE WANNA INCLUDE OUTREACH TO OUR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS AND BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
UM, THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS OBVIOUSLY HAVE LARGE LANDSCAPING PARCELS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE RATES.
[01:15:01]
AND COMMISSIONS ARE INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY.ADDITIONALLY, WE WANNA ALSO OUTREACH TO OUR, UM, UM, AVONDALE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM AND THE, UM, AVONDALE WATER, UM, CITIZENS, UH, COMMITTEE WILL HAVE PAPER BILL NOTIFICATIONS, AND WE WILL HAVE NOTICES IN THE NEWSPAPER AND ALSO ON THE CITY'S SOCIAL MEDIA AS A REMINDER OF WHAT WE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK.
UH, SO FOR WATER, WE ARE LOOKING AT A 6.7% RATE INCREASE ON THAT BASE AND, UH, CONSUMPTION CHARGE, AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL NEW CHARGE FOR, UM, WATER TREATMENT, UM, TO ADDRESS, UM, UM, THE PFAS THAT ARE, UM, IN OUR, SOME OF OUR DRINKING WATER AND AS 6.2% RATE, UH, FOR WATER RESOURCES TO SECURE, UM, WATER RIGHTS FOR THE CITY.
THESE PERCENTAGES MAY NEED TO CHANGE, UM, IN FUTURE FISCAL YEARS DEPENDING ON WHAT THE COST OF PROJECTS RELATED TO THAT COMES IN AT.
AND THE, UH, SCHEDULE FOR WHEN WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT THE ADDITIONAL WATER TREATMENT NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE PFAS ISSUE.
IN FISCAL YEAR 27 FOR WATER, WE ARE LOOKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL 6.1% RATE INCREASE ABOVE, UM, THE FISCAL YEAR 26 RECOMMENDATION.
THOSE WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE JANUARY ONE OF 26.
FOR SEWER, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A FLAT 2% RATE INCREASE, JANUARY ONE OF 26, AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL 2% ABOVE THAT JANUARY ONE OF 27.
AND THEN FOR SOLID WASTE FOR THE STANDARD, UM, ONE TRASH CAN, ONE RECYCLING CAN SERVICE, WE WOULD BE LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT A DOLLAR 60 RATE INCREASE JULY ONE OF 25, AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL 1 75 RATE INCREASE, UM, JULY ONE OF 26.
SO AGAIN, THE NEXT STEPS IN OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
SO TONIGHT WE HAVE THE NOTICE OF INTENT, SO THAT STARTS OUR CALENDAR.
UM, FOR THE PROPOSED, UM, RATE CHANGES, WE WILL HAVE ALL THE REQUIRED PUBLIC NOTICING AND OUTREACH AND OUR OUTREACH PLAN DURING THIS MARCH AND APRIL TIMEFRAME.
UM, APRIL 20TH IS OUR DEADLINE TO SCHEDULE THE, UM, NOTICE OF INTENT PUBLICATION IN THE NEWSPAPER.
MAY 5TH WOULD BE OUR, UM, PUBLIC HEARING AND, UH, PROPOSED RATE ADOPTION.
JULY ONE WOULD BE THE FIRST RATE INCREASE FOR SOLID WASTE.
JANUARY WOULD BE, UM, WHEN WE WOULD IMPLEMENT THE WATER AND SEWER PORTION OF THE RATE INCREASE.
AND THEN, UM, JULY 1 27, WE'D HAVE THE ADDITIONAL SOLID WASTE RATE INCREASE, AND THEN JANUARY 1 27, WE'D HAVE THE ADDITIONAL WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASE.
SO HERE'S THE RECOMMENDED MOTION FOR TONIGHT, AND I AM OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I SEE THAT WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE WITH A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO.
CAN I GET, UH, A VOTE? OKAY, WE GOT 60 S ONE, NO ITEM PASSES.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
[c. Short-Term Rental Update]
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY KEITH, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND BUDGET TO TALK ABOUT SHORT TERM, UH, RENTALS.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, KEITH FOSTER.
I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL BUDGET, AND I'M GOING TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE REGARDING SHORT TERM RENTALS.
UM, WE HAVE ABOUT 191 IN THE CITY AND THEY'RE SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE CITY, AS YOU CAN SEE WITH THIS MAP.
SO SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE RENTED FOR LESS THAN 30 DAYS.
THEY'RE USUALLY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES OR HO OR, UM, APARTMENTS OR CONDOS, AND THEY ARE OFTEN REFERRED TO AS VACATION RENTALS.
UH, AND THEY, JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THEY DO PAY SALES TAX LIKE HOTELS.
UH, IN ADDITION, WE WILL GO THROUGH SOME OF THE HISTORY THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM.
SO IN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW THAT ALLOWS SOME LIMITED REGULATION OF SHORT TERM RENTALS.
AND THEN IN OCTOBER OF 23, UH, OCTOBER 23RD, 2023, UH, CITY COUNCIL PASSED AN ORDINANCE, UM, PROVIDING FOR SOME REGULATION OF, OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS, UH, INCLUDING A LICENSING PROGRAM.
UH, FROM OCTOBER TO JANUARY, UH, CITY STAFF WORKED ON DEVELOPING AN ONLINE PLATFORM SO THAT SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS COULD, UH, GET THEIR LI GET A LICENSE FOR THEIR SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
AND THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ORDINANCE WAS FEBRUARY 1ST, AND THE SYSTEM OPENED ON TIME.
AND THEN WE DID SOME OUTREACH AND EDUCATION FOR THANK YOU FOR THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS.
WE CONTRACT OR WE CONTRACTED WITH A, AN ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS IDENTIFY SHORT TERM RENTALS.
AND SO WE HAD A VERY TARGETED, UH, OUTRAGE CAMPAIGN.
SO WE DID PROVIDE A PRESS RELEASE DESCRIBING THE REGULATION ON JANUARY 25TH, 2024.
AND ON FEBRUARY 7TH THERE WAS A WEST VALLEY VIEW NEWS ARTICLE ABOUT OUR REGULATIONS.
[01:20:01]
AND THEN BASED OFF OF OUR CONTRACT WITH THIS VENDOR TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SHORT-TERM RENTALS, WE SENT A LETTER DIRECTLY TO THEM.UH, ADDITIONALLY, WE HAD, UH, WE'VE ADVERTISED WITHIN OUR RAVE, UH, MAGAZINE AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, THERE WAS A DELAYED DATE FOR ANY PENALTIES FOR NON-LICENSED SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
SO WE WERE SURE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WAS AWARE OF THE REGULATION BEFORE THIS, UH, DATE FOR ANY PENALTIES.
UM, NO PENALTIES HAVE BEEN ISSUED.
HOWEVER, UH, SOME OF THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS IS SHORT-TERM.
RENTAL OWNERS MUST SAY THAT THEY'RE MUST AFFIRM THAT THEY'RE FOLLOWING ALL LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
UH, THEY ARE TO PROVIDE AND DISPLAY EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION.
THIS IS DISPLAYED JUST INSIDE THE ENTRYWAY.
THIS IS FOR ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS, UH, TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT, TO CONTACT, TO BE ABLE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE OWNER OR MANAGER OF THE PROPERTY.
UH, THEY'RE TO MAINTAIN $500,000 WORTH OF LIABILITY, LIABILITY INSURANCE, AND PERFORM GUEST BACKGROUND CHECKS.
BOTH OF THESE ARE OFTEN PROVIDED BY THE ONLINE MARKETPLACE THAT THEY'RE USING.
UH, THEY'RE ALSO PROVIDING REQUIRED TO PROVIDE NOTIFICATIONS TO THEIR NEIGHBORS, INCLUDING CONTACT INFORMATION.
AND THEN THE ANNUAL FEE FOR THE LICENSE IS $250.
UH, SO CURRENTLY AS WAS MENTIONED, OR AS OF, UH, FEBRUARY 19TH, 2025, THERE WERE 191 ACTIVE SHORT-TERM RENTALS WITHIN AVONDALE.
UH, 104 OF THOSE HAVE LICENSES, WHICH IS 54%, 68 ARE UNLICENSED, AND THEN THE 19 ARE UNLICENSED.
BUT THEY'RE APPEND BECAUSE THEY'RE APPENDING NEIGHBOR NOTIFICATIONS.
SO THEY PAY THE FEE, THEY FILL OUT ALL THE PAPERWORK ONLINE, AND THEN THEY'RE GIVEN A FORM TO GO OUT AND NOTIFY THEIR NEIGHBORS AND RETURN TO US THE CERTIFICATION OR THAT THEY'VE NOTIFIED THE NEIGHBORS.
AND THAT IS WHEN THE LICENSE IS ACTIVE.
UH, SO IN ADDITION TO THOSE, UH, 104 THAT ARE CURRENTLY LICENSED THAT ARE ACTIVE, WE HAVE 13, UH, LICENSED SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT ARE NOT ACTIVELY ADVERTISING, UH, COMPARING US TO SOME OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
UH, AS FAR AS COMPLIANCE RATES, WE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF, OF OTHERS 10:00 PM FLAGSTAFF.
THEIR LICENSING PROGRAM IS MORE MATURE THAN OURS, SO THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, COMPLIANCE.
AND TO KNOW GLENDALE, WHICH IS RIGHT IN LINE WITH US, THEIRS IS ACTUALLY NOT A LICENSING PROGRAM, BUT A REGISTRATION PROGRAM, UH, THAT HAS NO FEE OR LICENSE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
UH, TO MAINTAIN OUR PROGRAM, UH, WE CONTRACTED WITH THE SAME VENDOR TO THAT HELPS IDENTIFY THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS TO SEND OUT SOME NOTIFICATIONS.
SO AS THEY IDENTIFY A NEW, UH, SHORT-TERM RENTAL, THEY SEND OUT, UH, LETTERS UP TO THREE NOTICES, UM, AND NEAR THE BEGINNING OF EACH MONTH, SO STARTING IN NOVEMBER, 2024, THEY SENT OUT NOTIFICATIONS.
THE FIRST NOTICE, VERY FRIENDLY SAYING, JUST INFORMING THEM OF OUR REGULATION AND THE REQUIREMENTS TO DO THAT.
AND PROVIDES 30 DAYS AFTER THAT, A SECOND AND THIRD NOTICE OR SENT OUT, STILL FRIENDLY, BUT, UH, WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE LEGAL LANGUAGE SAYING THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.
UH, THOSE THAT DO NOT COMPLY AFTER THAT THIRD NOTICE IN 30 DAYS, UH, CODE COMPLIANCE TAKES OVER.
AND JOSH, UH, PEREZ IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT CO COMPLIANCE DOES AT THAT POINT.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UM, AS KEITH STATED, THE CO COMPLIANCE DIVISION WILL OVERSEE THE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS OF THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE.
THE ENFORCEMENT WILL BE SIMILAR TO OUR STANDARD CO COMPLIANCE PROCESS OF, UH, VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE IS ALWAYS GONNA BE OUR GOAL.
UM, WHAT THAT PROCESS IS, IS WE'LL OPEN UP A CASE, WE'LL COMPLETE AN INVESTIGATION TO VERIFY THAT VIOLATION IS PRESENT, AND THEN ONCE WE DO VERIFY THAT VIOLATION, A NOTICE OF VIOLATION WILL BE ISSUED TO THAT PROPERTY OWNER.
UH, AGAIN, WITH WORKING WITH THEM, WE WILL STILL TRY TO PROVIDE THAT EDUCATION AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO THAT PROPERTY OWNER TO HAVE THEM INITIATE THAT LICENSING PROCESS AND COMPLETE THAT.
ONCE THAT 30 DAY TIMEFRAME PROVIDED ON OUR NOTICE OF VIOLATION HAS EXPIRED, THE CO COMPLIANCE OFFICER WILL VERIFY THAT EITHER A LICENSE HAS BEEN ISSUED OR THAT THE PROPERTY IS NO LONGER BEING OFFERED AS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
IF THE LICENSE HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED, THE PROPERTY AND THE PROPERTY CONTINUES TO OPERATE AS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, THE NEXT PROCESS WILL BE A CIVIL CITATION THAT WILL BE ISSUED TO THAT PROPERTY OWNER AND THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE AVONDALE CITY COURT.
THE COMPLIANCE OFFICER WILL MONITOR THAT PROCESS THROUGH THAT COURT SYSTEM UNTIL COMPLIANCE
[01:25:01]
HAS BEEN MET.ADDITIONALLY, THE CO COMPLIANCE DIVISION WILL ALSO MONITOR THE PROPERTY ONGOING JUST FOR ANY TYPE OF CONTINUING VIOLATIONS THAT MAY OCCUR, AND WE'LL WORK WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PORTION OF THIS PRESENTATION, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
JUST REAL QUICK, ON THE AREA WHERE IT SHOWED ALL THE ST THERE WAS ONE THAT WAS LIKE 29 ST.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS, WHAT WAS THAT LOCATION, THE MAP? MM-HMM
THE MAP THAT, SO THAT IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AREA OF THE MAP OF THE CITY.
UM, WE, THE VENDOR THAT WE CONTRACT WITH HAS AN INTERACTIVE MAP THAT WE CAN DRILL DOWN ONTO INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES.
I JUST WONDER WHAT COMMUNITY THAT WAS.
IS THAT LIKE APPROXIMATELY? APPROXIMATELY? COUNCIL MEMBER MCCONNEY, THAT AREA APPROXIMATELY WILL BE THE RANCHO SANTA FE COMMUNITY AREA.
IS THAT, IS THAT IT? COUNCIL MEMBER MCCONNEY? YES, SIR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER? WHITE.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, MR. PEREZ, I WAS JUST WONDERING, UM, HOW, HOW DO WE ENVISION, UM, PREVENTING THE RENTAL UNIT FROM BEING CONTINUOUSLY USED ONCE YOU REAL, ONCE YOU GET TO THAT STAGE WHERE YOU'RE INVOLVED AND MEANING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE AND MEANING THAT IF THEY DO NOT GET A LICENSE AND THEY REMOVE THEIR, UM, THEIR LISTING, LIKE MONITORING THAT PROPERTY, IF THEY'RE OFFERING IT AGAIN? IS THAT, IS THAT YEAH.
HOW, HOW THAT, THAT I, I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND HOW OKAY, NO, I UNDERSTAND.
UM, SO THAT PROCESS IS, UH, WE ALSO, THE COCO PLACE DIVISION ALSO HAS ACCESS TO THE RENTAL SCAPE PROGRAM THAT OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS UTILIZING.
AND SO WITH THAT, UH, WE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO MONITOR THESE PROPERTIES ONGOING AND VERIFY IF THESE PROPERTIES ARE GONNA BE, UH, USED IN THE FUTURE.
UM, ALL THE OFFICERS THAT ARE BEING ASSIGNED CASES TO MONITOR THESE PROPERTIES, IF WE DO HAVE A CASE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THEY WERE OFFERING AS A RENTAL, BUT THEY MAY DECIDED TO TAKE THAT RENTAL, UH, JUST, UH, OFFERING DOWN FROM THEIR WEBSITES, WE CAN STILL CHECK THOSE ON AN ONGOING BASIS.
WE CAN HAVE, WE'LL HAVE THAT PROCESS IN PLACE.
AND JUST AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, UH, IT'S JUST REALLY ABOUT JUST COMPLIANCE, MAKING SURE THAT WE TAKE STOCK OF THE AMOUNT OF UNITS THAT ARE HERE IN THE CITY AND MORE, MOST IMPORTANTLY, UM, OFFERING SOME OR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME TEETH IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT.
SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WELL.
SO IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS, I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AND, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[6. SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS FROM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COUNCILMEMBERS]
ALL RIGHT.ARE THERE ANY EVENTS THAT ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT YOU'VE ATTENDED IN TERMS OF SUMMARY OF EVENTS? COUNCILMAN WHITE, YOU, ME TO GO? YEAH.
WELL, LAST WEEK I WAS ABLE TO GO TO A LEADERSHIP COURSE WITH, UM, OH MY GOSH, IT ESCAPED MY MIND RIGHT NOW.
LEADERSHIP WEST, LEADERSHIP WEST.
AND IT WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE TO HEAR THOSE LEADERS AND IT WAS ABOUT COMPASSION AS A LEADER.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AS LEADERS WE HELP EACH OTHER UP AND WE, WE HELP EACH OTHER RAISE EACH OTHER UP WHEN WE'RE FALLING.
UM, SO IT WAS JUST SUCH A WONDERFUL, UM, EVENT TO ATTEND.
AND THE MAIN SPEAKER I DIDN'T KNOW, AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, SHE'S AN AVONDALE RESIDENT, SO SHE WAS WONDERFUL AND AMAZING.
HERMO PETRA, AND LIKE, I WANNA TRAVEL THE WORLD JUST LIKE SHE DID AFTER THAT, AFTER THAT, UM, SPEECH THAT SHE GAVE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ATTEND THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS WONDERFUL.
UM, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, IT WAS DR.
SHE WAS A FORMER LITTLETON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
AND JUST HEARING ABOUT HER DOCUMENTARY AND ALSO HEARING FROM THE OTHER SPEAKERS, I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL.
SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE CITY AS WELL FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE A PART OF CLASS 31.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO RECRUIT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA TO SIGN UP FOR LEADERSHIP WEST.
UM, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING LAST WEEK, UM, AND SEEING OUR RESOURCE CENTER ON FULL DISPLAY, UM, WITH THE, UH, FENTANYL, UM, COMMUNITY EVENT THAT WAS HELD IN SPANISH.
THERE WAS A, I DON'T KNOW, 30 TO 40 PEOPLE IN EX IN IN ATTENDANCE.
IT WAS GREAT TO SEE, UH, MEMBERS OF STAFF TOGETHER BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, ALL OF THE RESOURCE PARTNERS THAT, UH, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISPLAY THEIR ITEMS, SHARE THEIR INFORMATION, UH, ON THE TABLES.
[01:30:01]
A, AGAIN, JUST ANOTHER GREAT EXPERIENCE CONNECTING WITH OUR RESIDENTS IN, IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGE.AND SO, UM, IF, UH, ANOTHER EVENT LIKE THAT MOVES FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, I WOULD HOPE THAT SOME OF YOU WOULD HAVE THE, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND, EXCUSE ME, TO HEAR, UH, FROM THE GUEST SPEAKERS WHO WERE THERE, WHO FACE CHALLENGES THEMSELVES AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND THE OTHER RESOURCE PARTNERS, PARTNERS THAT OFFER THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ENGAGE WITHIN.
WELL, IT WASN'T THIS LAST WEEKEND, UM, BUT THE WEEKEND BEFORE I WENT TO TRACE RIOS AND I JUST WANTED TO, UM, THANK OUR PARKS AND REC AND OUR WATER AND PUBLIX, UM, WORKS FOR BEING OUT THERE.
AND ALSO I WAS SUPER EXCITED BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME I SAW THE AVONDALE AMBASSADORS.
UM, AND SO THAT WAS REALLY NICE.
THEY HAD A BOOTH AND THEY WERE OUT THERE WORKING HARD.
SO JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR ALWAYS BEING OUT THERE AT OUR EVENTS AND THE STAFF HAS ALWAYS ENGAGED.
[7. ADJOURNMENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION]
GET A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PLEASE? MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO.WE ARE ADJOURNED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING ONLINE, THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED AND CITY COUN, CITY COUNCIL WILL NOT BE COMING BACK OUT.