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[1. Roll Call by the City Clerk]
CAN YOU DO ROLL CALL? THANK YOU.COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE PRESENT MAYOR PINEDA HERE.
AND VICE MAYOR NIELSEN HAS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE TODAY.
[2. Welcome and Introductions]
MORNING EVERYBODY.THANK YOU FOR, UH, BEING HERE THIS MORNING.
THIS IS, UH, AN IMPORTANT, UH, MILE, NOT MILESTONE, BUT AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO ENGAGE THIS MORNING, UH, AS A, AS AN ORGANIZATION TO KIND OF SET THE TONE FOR WHAT WILL OCCUR OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
AND, UH, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, UH, THE BODY, THE, THE COUNCIL, UM, IS HERE THIS MORNING TO LISTEN AND TO OBSERVE AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR CONSULTANT TEAM, UH, FOR HELPING US IN ASSISTING US WITH THE, WITH THE PROCESS AND OUR GUESTS THIS MORNING.
OUR PANELISTS, UH, WHO ARE GOING TO BE PRESENTING SOME INFORMATION.
UM, BUT, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO AN, UH, AN EXCELLENT DAY TO REALLY TAKE EVERYTHING IN AS, UM, WE PUSH FORWARD AND TURN THAT INFORMATION INTO OUTPUT FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
AND THANK YOU TO COLDWATER COFFEE, UH, BAKERY AND COFFEE, UH, FOR THE EXCELLENT BREAKFAST THIS MORNING.
AND, UH, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO, IS IT ANISA? IT IS.
HI, MAYOR AND COUNSEL AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.
THANK YOU TO OUR PANELISTS FOR JOINING US TODAY.
UH, WE'VE PREPARED A SERIES OF PANELS FOR YOU, UM, INCLUDING REPRESENTATION FROM IMPORTANT AREAS SUCH AS HEALTHCARE, NATURAL RESOURCES, HUMAN SERVICES, UM, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE WANNA, AGAIN, THANK OUR PANELISTS FOR VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME WITH US TODAY TO SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVES ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THEIR INDUSTRIES AND WHAT FUTURE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES, UH, LIE AHEAD IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, ESPECIALLY AS WE GO THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS.
UH, WE'LL CLOSE THE DAY WITH AN UPDATE FROM OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, UM, AND AN ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FROM ROUNDS CONSULTING.
SO, WE HOPE TODAY SETS THE STAGE AS THE COUNCIL CONTINUES THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS.
AND JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, YOUR TIME HERE, AND I'LL PASS IT OVER TO OUR CONSULTANTS JUST TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES, UM, AND, AND LET YOU LITTLE KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
I'M NANCY HETRICK WITH JAN JANA JANIK.
UH, AND WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE CONSULTANT TEAM THAT WILL BE WITH YOU FOR THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.
TOMORROW WILL BE THE DAY THAT WE REALLY SPEND TIME THINKING ABOUT AND STRATEGIZING FOR THE NEXT, UH, THREE TO FIVE YEARS FOR THE CITY.
WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT TODAY WILL REALLY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH YOUR APPETITE FOR THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
UH, I'VE BEEN WORKING, UM, DOING MANAGEMENT CONSULTING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SINCE 2006, DOING A LOT OF STRATEGIC PLANNING AND FACILITATION WORK, UM, ACROSS THE WEST.
UH, AND DELIGHTED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU.
UM, TOMORROW WHEN WE ALL GO LIVE AND WE GET INTO A REAL WORKSHOP SETTING.
UH, IT SHOULD BE REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION.
WELL, WE HAVE JUST A FEW MINUTES BEFORE OUR FIRST PANEL BEGINS.
I KNOW WE'RE STILL WAITING ON ONE PANELIST, SO IF WE WANNA WAIT TILL EIGHT 15 AND GIVE HER A FEW MINUTES.
UH, MR. MAYOR, IF I CAN, UM, I WANNA JUST ADD ONE COMMENT WHILE WE WAIT.
GIVE HER, UH, CENTRA JUST A COUPLE MINUTES.
SO THIS, UH, THIS WASN'T ORIGINALLY ON HER AGENDA, SO, UH, HOPEFULLY WE'LL GIVE HER A LITTLE BIT OF GRACE.
BUT, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HOPE HAPPENS TODAY AND TOMORROW IS THIS IS REALLY THE COUNCIL'S MEETING.
AND SO FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS.
IT'S ALSO A GREAT TIME TO BEGIN TO PROVIDE A FEEDBACK OR DIRECTION, UM, UH, UH, FROM INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY TODAY.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT PIQUES YOUR INTEREST OR THAT YOU WANNA BRING UP FOR TOMORROW, OUR CONSULTANTS CAN HELP KEEP NOTES AND TRACK AND BRING IT BACK TOMORROW AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
SO THIS IS REALLY MEANT FOR COUNCIL TO HEAR FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT ACTUALLY BECOMES, UH, TOMORROW.
SO AGAIN, UM, THIS IS FOR YOU GUYS, AND SO GET THE MOST OUT OF IT.
FEEL FREE TO STOP US, ASK QUESTIONS AND, AND LEAD.
UH, WE DO HAVE, UH, QUESTIONS PREPARED FOR OUR PANELISTS, UH, ESPECIALLY THIS FIRST ONE.
UH, BUT, UM, YOU, THIS IS FOR YOU GUYS, SO IF, IF YOU WANNA START WITH THE QUESTIONS OR YOU, IF YOU GOT A BURNING ISSUE, UH, THIS IS A TIME TO ASK AND, AND TO BRING IT UP.
SO, AGAIN, HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS GET
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THAT VALUE OUT OF TODAY'S MEETING.THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CORBIN.
I SAW THE AWESOME PICTORIAL THAT WAS DONE AS WE DID THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
THERE WAS A DRAWING THAT WAS DONE WITH THAT.
WILL WE HAVE THAT RENDERING ANYWHERE WITH US DURING THIS PROCESS, OR WILL WE BE ABLE TO POST IT UP SOMEWHERE IN THE CHAMBERS? MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.
I'M GONNA ASK, UH, NANCY TO, I KNOW THAT THE IMAGES YOU'RE REFERRING TO, WE'LL SEE IF IT'S HERE AT THE CITY.
UH, 'CAUSE THAT WOULD BE A REALLY NICE ADDITION TO THE CONVERSATION TO HAVE THAT AROUND.
UH, YOU KNOW, THE SUMMARY AND THE TAKEAWAYS FROM THOSE MEETINGS ARE ALL PROVIDED TO YOU IN THE STAKEHOLDER, UH, SUMMARY REPORT.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE DRAWINGS ARE SO MUCH MORE, UH, ALIVE.
SO WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN TRACK THAT DOWN.
WE LOVE TO BRING ART TO EVERYTHING.
[3. Panel Discussions]
ALL RIGHT, MR. IT PLEASES YOU.WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO, UH, JEN, OUR MODERATOR TO INTRODUCE THE GROUP AND GET US STARTED.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL,
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO DELVE INTO THE FIRST PANEL THIS MORNING WITH, UM, THIS INCREDIBLE GROUP OF EXPERTS HERE REPRESENTING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING PANEL.
YOU'LL HEAR ME SAY THIS PROBABLY A COUPLE TIMES.
TODAY IS A TEAM SPORT, AND WE COULD NOT DO THIS SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERS TO HELP US ADVANCE OUR PROJECTS.
UM, SO WITH THAT, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GONNA QUICKLY INTRODUCE EVERYONE ON THE PANEL, BUT GIVE EACH, UM, PANELISTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A FIVE MINUTE OVERVIEW OF THEIR ROLE, UM, THEIR ENTITY, UH, TALK ABOUT ANY OBSTACLES, PRIORITIES, AND PRETTY MUCH PROVIDE A LANDSCAPE, UM, OVERVIEW OF THE LANDSCAPE.
AND THEN AFTER WE GO THROUGH THEIR, UM, BRIEF PRESENTATIONS, WE WILL THEN TURN IT OVER, MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO YOU TO ASK QUESTIONS.
UM, I'M ALSO HAPPY AS MODERATOR TO JUMP IN WITH ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, UM, AS WELL.
SO, WITH THAT SAID, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND QUICKLY INTRODUCE RIGHT NEXT TO ME.
I HAVE JONATHAN ROBLES WITH ESTRAYA MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
HE IS THE ASSOCIATE INTERIM ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, I FEEL LIKE.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE YOU JUMP INTO ALL YOUR INCREDIBLE ROLES.
NEXT, UM, WE HAVE ERIC TO ERIC IS THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF LAND, UM, AT BROOKFIELD RESIDENTIAL.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, JEFF CAMPOS NEXT, NEXT, UH, TO ERIC, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHWEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
PRINCE IS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF VALLEY PARTNERSHIP, AND THEN CENTRA, WHO WE ARE.
VERY THANKFUL WE ADDED
CENTRA HOFFMAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF WESTMARK.
OKAY, WITH THAT SAID, I'M GONNA TO GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO JONATHAN.
DO YOU WANT YEAH, I CAN JUST USE THIS.
UM, I'M KIND OF PINCH, PINCH HITTING TODAY.
DR. RIVERA GOT CALLED AWAY YESTERDAY FOR EMERGENCY MEETINGS THIS MORNING.
SO HE SENDS HIS, UH, UH, REGRETS FOR NOT BEING HERE, BUT I'LL DO MY BEST TO REPRESENT THE COLLEGE.
UH, AGAIN, I'M JONATHAN ROBLES, UM, THE INTERIM ASSOCIATE, UH, VICE PRESIDENT FOR, THIS IS A LONG TITLE, BUT COMMUNITY, UH, ALUMNI AND FOUNDATION RELATIONS.
SO MY ROLE AT THE COLLEGE IS, UH, FUNDRAISING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
UH, BUILDING EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIPS, UH, REPRESENTING THE COLLEGE, UM, WITH OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERS AND, AND DOING WHAT I CAN TO HELP THE COLLEGE.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE COLLEGE SINCE 2009.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY THAT WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
UM, I'M VERY PROUD TO WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE'S AWARE OF THE HISTORY, BUT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM IS UNIQUELY AMERICAN.
THERE'S NO OTHER SYSTEM LIKE THAT IN THE WORLD.
AND FOR ME, I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT BECAUSE IT'S AN OPEN ACCESS SYSTEM FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
SO IT PROVIDES A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY AND, UM, AND CAN START BUILDING GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR FAMILIES.
AND DR. RIVERA ALWAYS MENTIONS AND REMINDS US AT THE COLLEGE THAT THE WORD COMMUNITY IS IN OUR NAME.
SO IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO BE VERY, UM, MINDFUL OF THAT AS WE GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND REALLY BUILD THAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH FOLKS THAT IT'S A WIN-WIN AND IT'S BACK AND FORTH, RIGHT? WE LOVE TO HAVE STUDENTS COME AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON OUR CAMPUS, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO ENGAGE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
SO WE WELCOME THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO ENGAGE WITH, WITH OUR COM, UH, MUNICIPALITIES AND
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OUR PARTNERS.UM, JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EMCC.
IT'S 33 YEARS OLD, AND IT'S THE YOUNGEST OF THE 10 COMMUNITY COLLEGES WITHIN THE MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT.
UM, WHAT'S ALSO UNIQUE ABOUT EMCC IS THAT WE SERVE SIX MUNICIPALITIES.
IF YOU LOOK AT PARADISE VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE WORKING WITH PARADISE VALLEY REGION, MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, OBVIOUSLY MESA.
SO FOR US, WE'RE VERY PROUD TO REPRESENT AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, LITCHFIELD PARK, GOODYEAR, UM, EL MIRAGE.
I MET, I THINK I GOT EVERYONE.
TOLLESON CAN'T FORGET, T TOWN.
SO FOR US, YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY UNIQUE SITUATION FOR US AS A, AS A COLLEGE.
UM, AND IT'S CHALLENGING BECAUSE WE WORK WITH SO MANY MUNICIPALITIES AND THE DIFFERENT, UM, THE DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS THAT EACH ONE PRESENTS.
BUT WE TAKE IT, UM, WE TAKE VERY MUCH PRIDE IN THAT BECAUSE WE CAN REPRESENT AND HELP THEM IN THEIR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
A COUPLE OF, UH, HIGHLIGHTS I WANNA MENTION REGARDING THE PRIORITIES.
FOR US, WE REALLY WANT TO PRODUCE, AS I SAID, A WORKFORCE THAT SERVES OUR CITIES IN THEIR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
GROWTH, AND THE RETENTION OF OUR STUDENTS IS ONE OF OUR MAIN PRIORITIES.
UM, OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF COMPLETERS FROM 1053 TO 1300 BY THE YEAR 2026.
WE ARE AT 1,176 COMPLETERS AT THE COLLEGE.
WE HAVE OVER 10,000 STUDENTS AT THE COLLEGE.
AND OUR SEMESTER WITHDRAWAL RATE IS DOWN FROM 18% TO 13%.
SO WE'RE MAKING GREAT STRIDES IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS, UM, COMPLETE AND MOVE ON TO EITHER WORKFORCE OR TRANSFER OR GET THE CERTIFICATES THAT THEY NEED.
ANOTHER KEY PRIORITY FOR US RIGHT NOW IS THE FUNDRAISING PRIORITY, OR IT'S CALLED EMPOWER ED.
IT'S A THREE YEAR CAMPAIGN THAT WE JUST LAUNCHED.
AND OUR GOAL FOR THE COLLEGE IS TO RAISE 500,000 OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS FOR THE DISTRICT.
SO EACH OF THE COLLEGES ARE, HAVE EMBARKED UPON THIS FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FOR OUR STUDENTS.
UM, OBSTACLES THAT WE FACE RIGHT NOW.
A CHANCELLOR A COUPLE YEARS AGO USED TO SAY THAT WE'RE STATE LOCATED, BUT NOT STATE FUNDED.
SO IT'S AN INTERESTING FACT THAT WE USED TO BE STATE FUNDED, BUT WE'VE LOST THAT STATE FUNDING AND WE'RE JUST SLOWLY GETTING IT BACK WITH STEM INITIATIVES, SOME NURSING TYPE, UM, FUNDING THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THAT, THAT WORKFORCE.
AND THEN ALSO TEACHERS ACADEMY.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOME MONEY TO PRODUCE TEACHERS, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE STATE LOCATED, NOT STATE FUNDED.
UM, FOODS INSECURITY IS, IS A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR US AS WELL.
UM, JUST LAST SEMESTER WE HAD 3000 STUDENTS, UM, GO INTO OUR FOOD PANTRY.
SO FOOD INSECURITIES IS A HUGE OBSTACLE FOR US IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO EAT.
SO THAT'S BEEN QUITE CHALLENGING FOR US.
WE DO HAVE A BASIC NEEDS TASK FORCE IN THE DISTRICT, AND WE'RE WORKING TO SEE IF WE CAN PROVIDE EQUITY ACROSS ALL THE COLLEGES IN ADDRESSING BASIC NEEDS.
UM, IT COULD BE MENTAL HEALTH, IT COULD BE, UH, FOOD INSECURITIES, AS I MENTIONED.
UM, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT NEED.
SO, UH, TRANSPORTATION, WE ACTUALLY ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR AVONDALE WITH THAT MICRO TRANSIT.
UM, THAT HELPS OUR STUDENTS QUITE A BIT.
THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE SEE, WE'RE HOPING IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS OR SO TO GET A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OFFERED AT THE COLLEGE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT AREAS OF MAYBE NURSING, POTENTIALLY MAYBE BUSINESS IT OR CYBERSECURITY, OR AREAS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS FAR AS BACHELOR'S DEGREES.
I'M SURE YOU, YOU SEE A LOT OF LAND AROUND THE COLLEGE.
WE HAVE 70 ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED LAND, SO THAT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
UM, THERE'S BEEN DIFFERENT IDEAS PRESENTED TO HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC PRIVATE RELATIONSHIPS TO, UM, DEVELOP THAT LAND.
UM, KEY PROGRAMS OF OUR COLLEGE INCLUDES, AS I SAID, NURSING, CYBERSECURITY.
WE'RE VERY PROUD THAT WE'VE BEEN FOR FORMALLY DESIGNATED AS A NATIONAL CENTERS OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN CYBERSECURITY DEFENSE BY THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
SO CYBERSECURITY IS A BIG ONE FOR US.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS GROWING AS A POTENTIAL DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE FOR US AS WELL.
WE'RE ALSO PROUD TO BE A MICROSOFT DATA CENTER ACADEMY.
UM, THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS SCHOLARSHIPS PER YEAR.
50,000 FOR GLENDALE AND 50,000 FOR US.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY WONDERFUL FOR OUR STUDENTS.
STEM BUSINESS PROGRAMS, WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE A SMALL, UH, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER CREATED AT THE, AT THE COLLEGE, UH, REENGAGE THAT, THAT INITIATIVE.
UH, SO HAVE SOME ACTUAL OFFICE SPACE THERE.
WE HAVE A MAKER SPACE, UM, WHICH
[00:15:01]
IS GREAT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND ENGINEERING STUDENTS.UM, WE, WE WELCOME YOU TO COME LOOK AT THAT SPACE AS WELL.
UM, NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ALLOW ME TO BRAG ABOUT IT.
OUR NURSING PROGRAM IS SECOND IN THE STATE.
WE HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT PASSING RATE OF OUR, UM, UH, CERTIFICATION EXAMS. UM, DUAL ENROLLMENT HAS INCREASED 102% FROM FALL 2022 TO SPRING 2023.
SO THAT'S AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL TO EARN A COLLEGE DEGREE.
UM, AND IN 2022, WE AWARDED THE GOVERNOR'S INNOVATION AWARD IN ACADEMIA.
SO WE ARE QUITE PROUD OF THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
I CAN GET INTO OTHER STATISTICS, BUT I DON'T WANNA TAKE ANY MORE TIME.
YOU THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME OF THIS FEEDBACK TO YOU GUYS.
I AM A SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT WITH BROOKFIELD RESIDENTIAL.
WE ARE A LARGE SCALE MASTER PLAN DEVELOPER, AS WELL AS A HOME BUILDER.
UM, OUR PRIMARY BUSINESS HERE IN ARIZONA IS ACTUALLY MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE THREE VERY LARGE SCALE MASTER PLAN COMMUNITIES IN THE PHOENIX METRO AREA, ONE OF WHICH IS HERE IN AVONDALE.
I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT.
ONE OF OUR STAPLE COMMUNITIES.
UM, I'VE BEEN DOING MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT FOR A LITTLE OVER 25 YEARS NOW, UH, IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS, NEVADA AND ARIZONA.
AND ONE OF OUR KEY STRUGGLES HAS ALWAYS BEEN WORKFORCE, SUPPLY CHAIN, AND COST.
AND, UH, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ARE VERY IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.
WE HAVE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF IT IN OUR ALAMAR PROJECT WITH THE CFD, AS WELL AS WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP THAT WE DID WITH THE CITY OF AVONDALE ON ALAMAR PARK, WHICH WAS A 50 50 SPLIT ON COST WITH THE DEVELOPER TAKING LEAD AND COLLABORATING WITH THE CITY TO CREATE A GREAT AMENITY IN THAT COMMUNITY FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS OF AVONDALE, NOT JUST IN ALAMAR.
SOMETHING THAT, UM, ANOTHER THING THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON, UH, THAT TIES BACK TO THE EDUCATION SIDE, AND THAT IS GETTING SKILLED LABOR.
UH, WE HAVE A VERY BIG STRUGGLE WITH SKILLED LABOR IN THIS TOWN.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET ENOUGH SKILLED LABOR TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THE HOUSES THAT WE NEED TO BUILD, TO DO THE, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THAT WE NEED TO DEVELOP.
AND IN ORDER TO CREATE THESE GREAT PLACES, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO ENTICE OUR YOUTH TO ENTER INTO THE CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING AND PLANNING AREAS OF, UH, MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING THESE KIND OF COMMUNITIES.
WE ALSO HAVE A LAND CONSTRAINT HERE IN PHOENIX, WHICH IS A, A BIG DEAL, UM, PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE LAND DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE, UH, LOCAL AGENCIES SUCH AS AVONDALE IS A BIG PART OF OUR BUSINESS.
UM, AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PICK UP THESE LARGE SCALE PROJECTS THAT RANGE ANYWHERE FROM 500 TO 5,000 ACRES.
ALRIGHT, MOVING ON TO JEFFREY.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE.
IS THAT BETTER? YEAH, THAT'S A LITTLE BETTER.
UH, YEAH, I REPRESEN I'M THE PRESENT CEO OF THE SOUTHWEST VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
UH, LOOK FOR A NEW CHANGE TO COME ABOUT, BUT I'M NOT GONNA SHARE THAT WITH YOU TODAY.
YOU RUINED THE WHOLE SURPRISE.
BUT AS AN ORGANIZATION, UH, I'VE BEEN REPRESENTING THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, APPROACHING FOUR YEARS, ANY, ANY MONTH NOW.
AND, UH, UH, IT'S BEEN A GREAT RIDE.
I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH AND, AND, AND HAD GREAT SUCCESSES AS AN ORGANIZATION.
AND, UH, FIRST OF ALL, SOUTHWEST VALLEY CHAMBER IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
UH, WE'RE A MEMBERSHIP BASED ORGANIZATION ADVOCATING FOR OUR MEMBERS ON ECONOMIC INTEREST, UH, THROUGH NETWORKING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UH, CHAMBER'S ROLE IS REALLY TO HELP BUSINESSES GROW, ALSO BRING IN BUSINESSES, UH, NOT TO THE EXTENT OF WHAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, DOES HERE IN IN AVONDALE, BUT, UH, IT, IT REALLY PRIDES US IN, UH, SUPPORTING EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING DONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, WE SHARE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REFERRALS.
PEOPLE COME TO US AS AN ORGANIZATION SAYING, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IN YOUR, IN THIS TOWN.
WHO DO WE HAVE NOW? UH, THE SOUTHWEST VALLEY REPRESENTS SIX CITIES, SO WE'RE A REACH, BUT, BUT WE FOUND THAT, I REMEMBER ONE OF MY CONCERNS WAS, IS IT GONNA BE A CONFLICT TO WORK WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT CITIES? NO, IT ACTUALLY IS AN ENHANCEMENT BECAUSE PEOPLE COME IN, LOOK AND SAY, AND GOODYEAR, AND THEN THEY, THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT AVONDALE.
SO WE REFER, SAY, HATERS, HERE'S YOUR OPPORTUNITIES.
WE GIVE THEM COMMUNICATIONS FOR ALL THE CITIES WE REPRESENT.
THEY COME TO US BECAUSE OF OUR STRENGTH IN NUMBERS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE UTILIZE.
UH, I'M AN AVONDALE RESIDENT, SO I GET A LITTLE BIASED THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, I WANT ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS HERE AND JEN'S AWARE OF IT.
[00:20:01]
THAT STAYS IN THIS ROOM.I DON'T WANT IT TO GO OUT TO MY OTHER FIVE CITIES,
SO, UM, SOME OF THE KEY FUNCTIONS THAT AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT WE, UH, DO AS A CHAMBER, WE'RE BUSINESS ADVOCACY.
WE REPRESENT THE OF LOCAL BUSINESS AND LOBBYING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
WE AS AN ORGANIZATION HAVE LOBBYISTS THAT WE SHARE WITH OTHER CHAMBERS OUT IN THE WEST VALLEY.
SO WE CALL OURSELVES OURSELF THE WEST VALLEY CHAMBER ALLIANCE.
WE TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ARE BENEFITING OUR BUSINESSES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME ALSO BENEFITING OUR CITIES.
YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER YESTERDAY THERE WAS A COUPLE THINGS THAT CAME UP THAT, UH, WE SAW THAT THE CITIES WANTED US TO SUPPORT, AND IT WAS OBVIOUS 'CAUSE THEY WERE ALL AGAINST IT.
SO WE, WE DEFINITELY OPPOSED IT AS AN ORGANIZATION.
WE WORK TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO REALLY, WITH THE GOAL OF THE WEST VALLEY AND WITH US, SIX CITIES IN THE WEST.
VALLEYS IS, UH, PRETTY PROMINENT.
I DON'T THINK I MENTIONED THE SIX CITIES, BUT WE HAVE, OF COURSE, AVONDALE, GOODYEAR, TOLLESON, LITCHFIELD PARK, EL MIRAGE, AND NOW THE NEWLY, UH, MEMBER IS, UH, CITY OF SURPRISE.
SO YOU CAN SEE OUR REACH IS PRETTY BROAD, BUT, UH, WE'RE, UH, EXPERIENCED SUCCESS WITH THAT.
UH, ANOTHER THING IS NETWORKING, CONNECTING, UH, ORGANIZATION EVENTS, INITIATIVES THAT FOSTER, UH, RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BUSINESSES.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE HAVE AT, AT OUR OFFICE RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A BUSINESS NETWORKING GROUP THAT MEETS AND THEY REFER PEOPLE.
SO WE CONTINUE TO ADD THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE A LUNCH ONE, WE DO A, A BREAKFAST ONE.
WE DO ONLINE SESSIONS TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE OUR MEMBERS BECAUSE OF OUR REACH OF GEOGRAPHY.
SO WE'RE HAVING GREAT SUCCESS WITH, UM, UH, ONLINE CONNECTIONS, UH, ALSO ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES.
WE, WE PROMOTE THE COMMUNITY STRENGTHS TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES, AS I MEN MENTIONED, TO BE ABLE TO INVEST IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.
SO WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE, UH, AND CITY AND, AND, UH, TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE EFFORTS ARE BEING ENHANCED.
UH, WE ALSO ARE BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES WHERE WE'RE OFFERING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS, AND ACCESS TO MARKET RESEARCH TO HELP THEM GROW AS A BUSINESS FROM A SMALL BUSINESS TO, YOU KNOW, ONE THAT HAS MAYBE 10, 20 BUSINESSES.
THEY, THEY ALL ARE ENJOYING OUR TRAINING PROGRAMS. WE HAVE TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT ARE FROM, UH, UH, ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING PROGRAM, WHICH IS A EIGHT WEEK COURSE THAT WE OFFER THAT GETS THE BASICS OF STARTING YOUR, OF RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS FROM EVERY A ASPECT.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE, UH, WOMEN IN, IN BUSINESS THAT'S BEEN, THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF OUR MORE POPULAR ONES, UH, WHERE WE HAVE SPECIFIC NEEDS THAT ARE ADDRESSED FOR WOMEN.
WE OFFER THOSE IN THE TRAINING PROGRAM MONTHLY.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE, UM, UH, NONPROFIT TRAINING.
WE HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT BUSINESS SERIES WHERE WE HAVE SPEAKERS THAT, UH, AND, AND MAYOR PINETA WAS ACTUALLY, UM, PARTICIPATED IN ONE OF THOSE WHERE THEY ADDRESSED GROUPS AND TALKED ABOUT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE ENHANCED.
AND I, I THINK MAX, YOU WERE ALSO PART OF THAT AS WELL.
SO, SO THOSE ARE LIKE JUST SOME OF THE TRAINING PROGRAMS WE OFFER.
WE HAVE A LOT MORE ON THE BOARD.
UH, SOME OF 'EM ARE IN PERSON, SOME ARE VIRTUAL, WHICH ENHANCES WHAT WE'RE DOING AS AN ORGANIZATION 'CAUSE OF OUR REACH.
UH, AND THEN WE HAVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COLLABORATING WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY ISSUES.
UH, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH STRAY MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE ALMOST ATTACHED AT THE HIP TO SOME DEGREE, UH, WORKING TOGETHER.
AND, UH, AND THEN CENTRO, WE, WE WORK WITH TREAD TOGETHER.
AND, AND SINCE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO CONNECT THAT, WE GOTTA REENGAGE WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER.
SO, UH, AND THEN WE, SO THAT'S, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS.
WE, WE PROMOTE THE CITIES THAT WE REPRESENT, UH, TO BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT AND BOOST TOURISM IN THOSE CITIES.
AND, UH, LET'S SEE, CHAMBER AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT BY ADVOCATING FOR INTEREST OF MEMBERS IN POLICY MAKE MAKING, AS I MENTIONED, UH, THE GOAL IS TO PROMOTE EXISTING COMMUNITY STRENGTHS AND, AND HIGHLIGHT WHAT WE HAVE IN PERSON TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM, UH, GAIN INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING IN, IN THIS WEST VALLEY.
UH, WORKING WITH ED, WE HAVE A GREAT CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH ED AND, AND WITH JEN COMING ON, IT'S EVEN ENHANCED EVEN MORE.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UH, AND THEN SOME OF THE CHALLENGES MAYBE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, UH, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN I CAME IN, WE WERE UNDER 200 MEMBERS.
WE'VE ALMOST QUADRUPLED THAT IN MEMBERSHIP.
SO OUR SIZES GROWTH HAS, HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.
WE'VE ADDED THREE, WE'RE AT THREE CITIES, WE HAVE SIX CITIES.
SO IT'S A MATTER OF HAVING CONTROLLED GROWTH FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THOSE, WHICH, WHICH ALSO BRINGS CHALLENGES TO US.
[00:25:01]
WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING ON TRYING TO ENHANCE THAT, TRYING TO WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY, UH, AND, AND BEING ABLE TO DELIVER THE PROMISES THAT WE DO AS AN ORGANIZATION.AND A TOWN ALWAYS GOES FIRST IN THE UPDATES, RIGHT?
UM, I'M CLARK ELL PRESIDENT, CEO OF VALLEY PARTNERSHIP.
I HAVE BEEN THERE JUST OVER A YEAR AND A HALF.
UM, SO VALLEY PARTNERSHIP IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 38 YEARS TO ADVOCATE FOR RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN MARICOPA COUNTY.
UM, SO, UM, OUR MEMBERSHIP IS MADE UP OF DEVELOPERS, LAND BROKERS, ZONING ATTORNEYS, UM, GCS SUBS, BROOKFIELD IS A MEMBER AS WELL AS UTILITIES.
AND EACH CITY WITHIN THE COUNTY HAS REPRESENTATION AS WELL.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT AS WELL AS REPRESENTING ALL SEGMENTS OF DEVELOPMENT ARE REALLY WHAT SORT OF DIFFERENTIATE US FROM SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, DEVELOPMENT GROUPS THAT, UM, THAT YOU WILL HEAR FROM.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHERE WE ARE AT AND CHALLENGE WISE IS WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD PROBLEMS TO FACE.
THE ECONOMY HAS NEVER BEEN AS DIVERSIFIED AS IT IS TODAY.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE WAS A NUMBER OF ANNOUNCEMENTS YESTERDAY THAT WERE INCREDIBLE FOR THE REGION AND WE WILL ALL, UM, CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM, BUT WE DO HAVE LOTS OF UNCERTAINTY, ESPECIALLY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, ON THE MACRO LEVEL RELATED TO THINGS LIKE GOODS, PRICE OF GOODS, UM, HOW WE, HOW CERTAIN DECISIONS WILL IMPACT LABOR.
AND WE WORK A LOT WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND WITH THE TRADES TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A, UM, EFFECTIVE AND STABLE, UM, LABOR FORCE MOVING FORWARD, AS WELL AS THE COST OF FINANCING.
COST OF FINANCING HAS INCREASED IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND THERE IS UNCERTAINTY MOVING FORWARD, UM, AS WE LOOK AT THAT AT THE MORE LOCAL LEVEL.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE THREE ISSUES THAT I WOULD POINT OUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, UM, AND YOU GUYS ARE SORT OF CONFRONTED WITH IS, UM, YOUR GUYS' RESOURCES HAVE BEEN CUT IN RECENT YEARS WITH CERTAIN DECISIONS MADE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
THOSE ARE RESOURCES THAT WE WORK WITH YOU GUYS ON TO DEVELOP INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER THINGS.
UM, WE ARE AN ATTEMPT TO BE ACTIVE IN EXPLAINING TO OUR STATE PARTNERS WHY THOSE RESOURCES ARE SO IMPORTANT AND WHAT SORT OF CONSTRAINT THAT THAT DOES PUT ON YOU.
BUT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND WANNA WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT, AGAIN, YOU GUYS HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO NOT ONLY BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NEED, BUT TO CREATE THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE WANT MOVING FORWARD.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE DISCUSSION OF POWER IS ONE THAT MY MEMBERSHIP AND MY COMMUNITY HAS NOT REALLY HAD TO WORRY ABOUT SINCE THE CREATION OF PALO VERDE, BUT IS A, UM, EVER-GROWING CONSTRAINT ON NEW CONSTRUCTION MOVING FORWARD? UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MY ORGANIZATION WORKS ON WITH THE D WITH THE, UM, UTILITIES IS HOW WE ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE POWER AVAILABLE FOR THAT NEXT PROJECT.
WE WANT THAT NEXT ADVANCED MANUFACTURER, THOSE NEXT, UM, HOMES WE WANT, WHILE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING AN INDUSTRY LIKE DATA CENTERS, HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE, AND GIVING THAT INDUSTRY THE CERTAINTY THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND MOVE FORWARD.
AND THEN, UM, I AM, I'M NOT GOING TO ATTEMPT TO STEAL ANY OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES PANEL MOVING FORWARD, BUT WATER IS A DISCUSSION THAT TAKES PROBABLY 80 TO 85% OF MY TIME, MOST OF THE TIME.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PUTS US IN A VERY INTERESTING POSITION IS WE ADVOCATE WORK WITH THE CITIES AND BUILD IN BOTH DESIGNATED AND UNDESIGNATED PROVIDER AREAS.
SO PLACES LIKE, UM, BUCKEYE AND QUEEN CREEK, AS WELL AS, UM, YOURSELVES AND OTHER DESIGNATED PROVIDERS.
SO SORT OF BALANCING THOSE NEEDS AND WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC JURISDICTIONS AND THE WATER PROVIDERS ON HOW WE CAN CREATE CERTAINTY MOVING FORWARD.
YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF WHAT, AND IF I COULD LEAVE YOU WITH ONE THING WITH THIS PANEL, WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR CERTAINTY MOVING FORWARD TO BOTH ATTRACT CAPITAL AND THEN MAKE INVESTMENTS IN A REGION.
THE ABILITY TO KNOW THAT THOSE INVESTMENTS CAN DERIVE VALUE AND PAY BACK THE CREDITORS IN THE DECADES TO COME IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO, UM, MY MEMBERSHIP.
I THINK YOU PRETTY MUCH ALL KNOW ME, CENTRAL HOFFMAN, UH, PRESIDENT AND CEO WITH WESTMARK.
AND FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCESS BECAUSE WE JUST WENT THROUGH, UM, A STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS AT WESTMARK, AND STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT IS SO IMPORTANT, AND I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER REALLY SEEN A CITY, UM, ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE TODAY.
AND I WAS LOOKING OVER YOUR AGENDA, SO KUDOS, UH, TO THE WAY YOU'RE RECEIVING THIS INFORMATION.
UM, LITTLE BIT ABOUT WESTMARK, I THINK AGAIN, UH, MOST OF YOU KNOW, BUT WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS SERVED THE WEST VALLEY COMMUNITY FOR 35 YEARS.
[00:30:01]
35TH ANNIVERSARY, AND WE KIND OF OPERATE IN TWO PRIMARY ROLES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORT, WORKING WITH ALL OF YOUR, UM, WITH ALL OF YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, JEN, CHERYL, AND SO ON.AND, UH, PUBLIC POLICY, UH, WORKING WITH YOUR INNER GOV, LIZ BARKER ON A LOT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THAT YOU'VE BEEN FACING WHEN WE WENT THROUGH OUR, AND THEN WITH IN THE LANE OF ECONOMIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT, WE HAVE REALLY FOCUSED IN ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OVER THE LAST NINE YEARS.
AGAIN, THAT'S THE KEY THING, AS YOU ALL KNOW, TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR BUSINESSES COME HERE AND THEY'RE THRIVING WHEN THEY DO ARRIVE.
SO WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH, UH, AUSTRALIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
WE'VE WORKED AS JEFFREY SAID, WITH THE CHAMBER ON THEIR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AND SO ON.
AND, YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT ERIC BROUGHT UP WAS THE CHALLENGE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.
YEARS AGO WHEN WE FIRST DID, UM, OUR, OUR REGIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, 72% OF THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN MARICOPA COUNTY LIVED IN THE WEST VALLEY POST PANDEMIC.
THAT NUMBER HAS DROPPED TO 45%.
SO IT IS A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR A COMMUNITY AND A REGION THAT'S GROWING AND WHERE YOU NEED THE, THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, AND YOU NEED THESE EXPERTISE.
SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING AT WESTMARK IS WE CREATED A 5 0 1 C3 THAT IS FULLY DEDICATED TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THEY'RE ENGAGED IN SUPPORTING, CONVENING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE, AND THEN WORKING ALONGSIDE THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SHARING THAT INFORMATION AND THEY CAN CREATE THOSE RESPONSIVE PROGRAMS, UM, TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS AND GRADUATE EMPLOYABLE STUDENTS IMMEDIATELY.
UM, PART OF THAT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, UM, AREA IS WE ARE WORKING WITH AGRA FREEA, WHO OBVIOUSLY SERVES YOUR COMMUNITY QUITE WELL.
AND, UH, WE ARE THE LEAD CONVENER IN THEIR NEW PROGRAM, THE SOUTHWEST ACADEMIES, UM, UM, THE ACADEMIES OF THE SOUTHWEST.
SO WE'RE PROUD TO, TO WORK WITH THEM, UM, TO AGAIN, SERVE THE, THE COMMUNITY OF AVONDALE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING THAT WORKFORCE.
I ALWAYS TELL CHERYL ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF AVONDALE, THERE'S MANY OF COURSE, BUT ONE OF THE GREAT BENEFITS OF AVONDALE IS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE 10 MINUTES AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN.
YOU'RE KIND OF THAT FIRST COMMUNITY IN THAT HAS A LOT OF AMENITIES THAT'S REALLY WELL-ROUNDED.
AND WHEN PEOPLE DRIVE THIS WAY, THEY DON'T REALLY THINK, OH MY GOSH, IT'S SO FAR OUT.
THEY'RE LIKE, I CAN'T BELIEVE I GOT HERE SO QUICKLY.
SO I THINK THAT THAT'S A HUGE ADVANTAGE IN SELLING TOOL.
AND WHEN WE LOOK AT SUPPORTING, UM, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEEDS AND, AND THE AREAS THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH, WITH AVONDALE SPECIFICALLY, UM, I KNOW THAT BRINGING AMENITIES AND RESTAURANTS AND SO ON, UM, IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR FOCUS AREA.
AND SO WE WORK WITH ALL OF THE REGIONAL COM WITH ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES, BRINGING THEM TOGETHER AS A REGION SO WE CAN BRING BROKERS INTO REALLY SELL THAT, UM, THE WEST VALLEY AS A REGION, AND THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS THAT FRIENDLY COMPETITIVENESS.
I NOTICED THAT ONE OF YOUR, UM, ONE OF YOUR AREAS OF, I DON'T LIKE TO USE THE WORD WEAKNESS, BUT OPPORTUNITIES PERHAPS, UM, IS THAT, UH, THERE YOU NEED TO BE MORE REGIONALLY CONNECTED.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT YOU ARE VERY REGIONALLY CONNECTED AND SUPPORTED.
UM, I, I, I KNOW THAT THAT'S TRUE AT THE ELECTED LEADER LEVEL AND DEFINITELY AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEVEL.
SO I, I DON'T KNOW THAT I AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT IN HERE,
AND A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, UH, WE PARTICIPATED OR WE RALLIED EVERYONE TOGETHER TO REALLY PITCH THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY ON INVESTING IN CLASS A OFFICE, UM, DEVELOPMENT IN THE WEST VALLEY.
UNFORTUNATELY, A MONTH LATER, COVID HAPPENED, BUT I, I THINK CLARK CLARK, YOU'LL AGREE THAT, UH, VACANCY RATES IN OFFICE IS, IS JUST, IT'S, THEY'RE SO THIN THAT NOW IT'S, IT'S, IT BREAKS THE ARGUMENT THAT WE NEED TO START INVESTING IN THOSE AREAS AGAIN.
UM, AGAIN, WE, WE RECENTLY REDID OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT THE WEST VALLEY OVER THE LAST, UM, 50 YEARS, I GUESS, RIGHT? WE STARTED GROWING.
WE STARTED AS AN AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY, UM, GROWING, YOU KNOW, AGRICULTURE.
AND THEN ABOUT THE TWO THOUSANDS WE STARTED GROWING HOUSES, RIGHT? WE WERE THE DRIVE TO QUALIFY REGION.
AND SO WE STARTED GROWING ALL THESE HOUSES AND ALL THESE PEOPLE AND OUR POPULATION STARTED REALLY EXPLODING.
AND ABOUT THE MID TWO THOU, UH, ABOUT 2015 OR SO, WE REALLY STARTED GROWING BUSINESSES BECAUSE WE
[00:35:01]
REALIZED THAT WE HAD A WHOLE LOT OF RESIDENTS TRAVELING EAST FOR WORK AND OUT OF OUR COMMUNITIES TAKING THEIR TAX DOLLARS WITH THEM DURING THE DAYTIME.AND SO WE REALLY STARTED FOCUSING ON BRINGING THOSE JOBS HERE.
I WOULD SAY POST PANDEMIC, WHAT I'VE SEEN IS THE GROWTH THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING IS REALLY EQUALITY GROWTH.
SO IT'S NOT JUST GROWTH FOR THE SAKE OF GROWTH, IT'S REALLY QUALITY GROWTH.
AND ANOTHER THING I NOTICED IN YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN NOTES IS THAT THE PERCEPTION IS STILL A CHALLENGE.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT TODAY WE HAVE BECOME THE COMMUNITY OF OPPORTUNITY, THE REGION OF OPPORTUNITY.
THERE'S THAT NEW PERCEPTION THAT'S OUT THERE, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE HEARING A LOT FROM THE INVESTMENT COMMUNITIES.
THERE'S ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY OF ALL THE NEW RESIDENTS COMING IN AND ALL THE NEW COMPANIES THAT ARE COMING IN THAT DON'T HAVE THOSE OLD PERCEPTIONS OF, YOU KNOW, 30, 40 YEARS AGO ABOUT THE WEST VALLEY.
SO THERE IS DEFINITELY A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY.
SO IN DOING SO, WE CREATED A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN WHERE WE'RE FOCUSED ON FIVE PILLARS, UH, MARKETING THE REGION, WHICH OF, AGAIN, WE WORK ON WITH, UH, JEN AND OTHERS, UM, SUPPORTING THE BUSINESS GROWTH, WHICH AGAIN, THE, THE INVESTMENT FORUMS AND SO ON.
THAT'S HOW WE'RE BRINGING THAT TOGETHER.
UM, SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE.
A KEY THING, AND I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU, IS SR 30 AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THAT BRINGS TO THIS REGION, TO THE CITY OF AVONDALE, AS WELL AS TO THE, THE, UM, THE ENTIRE WEST VALLEY REGION AND TO THE STATE OF ARIZONA.
I KEEP SAYING IT'S NOT JUST A A WEST VALLEY PROJECT, IT'S A STATE OF ARIZONA PROJECT BECAUSE IT'S A RELIEVER FOR I 10 AND GETTING, GETTING GOODS FROM, UM, THE PORTS OF LA AND LONG BEACH.
UM, AND THEN, UH, PUBLIC POLICY, LIKE CLARK MENTIONED, THAT'S AN AREA THAT, YOU KNOW, CITIES CONTINUE TO JUST GET POUNDED ON, AND IT'S A DELICATE BALANCE, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE BUSINESS NEEDS AND, UH, AND THE CITY NEEDS.
BUT I THINK EVERYONE'S UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU ALL CANNOT PROVIDE THE HOUSING SERVICES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT ARE REQUIRED IF YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THAT.
SO WE ARE DEFINITELY, UM, I, I THINK EVERYONE AT THIS TABLE IS DEFINITELY IN TANDEM WITH THAT, IN SUPPORT OF, OF YOUR GOALS.
AND THEN ONE AREA THAT I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT IS CREATING A REGIONAL, UH, DATA DASHBOARD.
AND FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS, WE HAVE INCREASINGLY BECOME THE ORGANIZATION, THE GO-TO ORGANIZATION FOR, UH, DATA RESOURCES ON THE WEST VALLEY.
AND, UM, THROUGH OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT OUR STAKEHOLDERS SAID.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH A SU RIGHT NOW TO BUILD A REGIONAL DATA, UM, DASHBOARD THAT WILL HAVE MORE OF THAT INFORMATION THAT'S DEEP INTO THE WEST VALLEY, MORE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.
SO I THINK THAT'S KIND OF IT IN A NUTSHELL.
I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE AND TO CONTINUE THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
I'M GONNA OPEN UP TO MAYOR COUNCIL FOR QUESTIONS.
ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL HAVE QUESTIONS OFF THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK OUR PANELISTS BASED UPON WHAT YOU'VE HEARD? OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH PANEL FOR THE ENGAGEMENT.
I JUST WANTED TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE THE THEME THAT I COULD HEAR THROUGH EACH ONE OF YOU, WHICH IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, THAT, AND, UM, IT'S INTERESTING, I THINK CENTURY, YOU BROUGHT OUT THE POINT THAT MOST OF THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS A FEW YEARS BACK LIVED IN THE WEST VALLEY AND NOW THEY DON'T MM-HMM
UM, AS WE LOOK AT, AND THEN WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF LAND AND SPACE, WE NEED BUILDERS.
WE NEED THEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE BUSINESSES AND GET THAT SUPPORT.
IF YOU ALL COULD GIVE US ONE OF YOUR GEMS AS, UM, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ATTRACT THE RIGHT RESIDENTS, WE KNOW THAT OUR AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS INCREASING, BUT THERE'S STILL FOOD INSECURITY.
SO WHAT, HOW, HOW DO WE KIND OF STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH, WITH OUR PEOPLE, OUR STUDENTS, THE YOUNGEST POPULATION AND, AND THE OLDEST POPULATION? I, I'M GONNA JUMP IN ON THAT ONE.
UM, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH AGRA, I WOULD SAY AS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, OPEN YOUR DOORS TO STUDENTS AND IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY.
THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT, UH, THE, THE, THE VARIETY AND THE MULTITUDE OF CAREER OPPORTUNITIES THAT THERE ARE TODAY.
SO THE MORE WE CAN EXPOSE KIDS TO THAT EARLY ON, THE BETTER, AND THEY WILL GET THAT INTEREST A LOT OF TIMES.
AND I THINK A, A LOT OF WHERE WE ENDED UP TODAY IS BECAUSE WE, WE, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OR THE BUSINESSES LOOK AT, WELL, WE'RE GONNA GET THEM WHEN THEY'RE 18, OR WE'RE GONNA GET THEM AFTER THEY GRADUATE, THAT'S TOO LATE.
YOU'VE GOTTA GET THEM EARLY ON.
UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS TELL BUSINESSES SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH AGRA, UM, INTERNSHIPS ARE GREAT.
THAT'S IDEAL, IDEALLY WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE.
BUT IF, IF THERE ARE LIMITATIONS YOU CAN'T HAVE, UM, KIDS
[00:40:01]
UNDER 18 ON YOUR FLOOR, ON YOUR PROPERTY, THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, DO A ZOOM MEETING, DO A VIDEO, DO THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT EXPOSE THEM TO WHAT YOUR JOB AND WHAT YOUR BUSINESS LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THAT OPERATION LOOKS LIKE, AND GIVE THEM, UM, THAT KIND OF LENS IN.SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION.
JUST FROM THE COLLEGE PERSPECTIVE.
I WOULD CONCUR THAT WE WOULD WANT INTERNSHIPS.
WE HAVE A CENTER FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AT THE COLLEGE AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS COMING TO ME SAYING, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BUSINESSES THAT ARE OPENING THE DOORS FOR INTERNSHIPS.
I JUST SENT SOME INFORMATION TO JEN AND, AND CHERYL, UH, A COUPLE DAYS AGO ABOUT THE BLACKSTONE FOUNDATION.
IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH A SU AND US AND, AND, AND GLENDALE, UM, TO DEVELOP, TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE MONEY TO THESE BUSINESSES TO HIRE STUDENTS.
SO I THINK WE JUST GOTTA GET THE WORD OUT, UM, STRONGER WITH, WITH BUSINESSES, WORKING WITH THE CHAMBER, WORKING WITH WESTMARK TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THESE RESOURCES AND, UH, THERE ARE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES TO BRING IN A STUDENT.
SO THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US AS A COLLEGE.
I, I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT I THINK IT NEEDS TO START EVEN EARLIER THAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR COLLEGE.
IT NEEDS TO START IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WE NEED TO CHANGE THE FOCUS OF FORCING KIDS TO WANT TO GO AND GET A FOUR YEAR DEGREE AND LET THEM LOOK AT WHAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY DO WITH A TRADE DEGREE OR, UM, LEARNING A, A CRAFT, BECAUSE WE'RE LOSING THAT.
THE, THE CRAFT AND TRADE, UM, GROUP IS AGING OUT AND NO ONE'S BACKFILLING.
SO, WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, UM, I HAD HEALTH OCCUPATIONS SO I COULD GO WORK OUT.
ACTUALLY, IT WAS AT LUKE AIR FORCE BASE.
WE HAD A HOSPITAL THERE, AND BY THE TIME I GRADUATED, I WAS ABLE TO GET A JOB IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT AWAY.
DO WE HAVE ANYTHING SET UP, I KNOW THAT WESTEC IS COMING TO AWA FRIA, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL FOR, WE USED TO HAVE WORK, UM, YOU KNOW, WOODWORKING AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS.
DO WE HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS FAR AS APPRENTICESHIPS FOR STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL, FOR CONSTRUCTION, FOR PLUMBING, ELECTRICITY, ANYTHING TO GET THEM STARTED AT THAT LEVEL SO THAT WHEN THEY GRADUATE THEY HAVE LIKE AN ENTRY LEVEL JOB THAT THEY CAN BUILD THEIR SKILLS AND GO FROM THERE.
I, I, WELL, I CENTER THEN I, I WAS GONNA JUMP IN ABOUT ACADEMIES OR ACADEMIES, YEAH, I WAS GONNA SAY WESTEC.
YEAH, I, I WOULD SAY IN ADDITION TO WESTEC, THEN ALSO, AGAIN, AFRI IS LOOKING AT SPECIFIC ACADEMIES.
SO THE, THE ACADEMIES OF THE SOUTHWEST, ALL OF THE, THE SCHOOLS AT AFRI IS SEVEN TODAY, AND THEY'RE EXPANDING AGAIN.
BUT ALL OF THOSE SCHOOLS WILL HAVE A SPECIFIC TRACK.
AND SO STUDENTS AND THE NINTH GRADE, THEY GET KIND OF THAT OVERVIEW OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT ALL THESE DIFFERENT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES LOOK LIKE.
UM, WHEN THEY HIT THE 10TH GRADE, THEN THEY ACTUALLY PICK A TRACK.
AND SO, SO I, I DO BELIEVE THAT CONSTRUCTION IS, IS ONE OF THOSE, I KNOW MARKETING, HEALTHCARE, THOSE OTHERS ARE, I'M, I'M 99.9% SURE.
I'M A LITTLE EMBARRASSED TO SAY, BUT I CAN DOUBLE CHECK.
BUT CONSTRUCTION IS ONE OF THOSE TRACKS.
AND SO, YEAH, SO THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES.
ONE THING ALSO THAT I REALLY WANNA COMPLIMENT AGRA ON IS THIS, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY'VE SPENT, UH, ABOUT THREE YEARS PUTTING THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER AND IT'S EXTREMELY WELL THOUGHT OUT, UM, AS TO HOW TO, HOW TO GROW THEIR WORKFORCE.
AND, UH, I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION RECENTLY WITH, UM, MY COUSIN IN NEW YORK AND TELLING HER ABOUT THIS.
HER KIDS WENT TO PRIVATE SCHOOL AND THEY HAD THAT SAME PROGRAM IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, MORE AFFLUENT COMMUNITY.
WHEN I TOLD HER THAT THIS WAS A PUBLIC SCHOOL AND ACROSS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, SHE WAS STUNNED.
SHE HAD NEVER EVER HEARD OF THIS.
AND SHE'S A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, A PUBLIC SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST.
SO REALLY KUDOS TO WHAT YOU HAVE RIGHT HERE IN YOUR BACKYARD SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND I JUST WANNA ADD ALSO ONE THING, AND WE'RE GONNA LEARN LATER ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TARGET SECTORS FOR THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
UM, BUT A LOT OF THAT IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH EITHER THE EXISTING WORKFORCE THAT WE HAVE OR THE FUTURE PIPELINE WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE.
AND SO IT DOES START IN HIGH SCHOOL OR EVEN EARLIER WITH GETTING INDUSTRY PARTNERS TOGETHER TO TELL US WHAT ARE THE CORE COMPETENCIES, WHAT ARE THE SKILL SETS THAT WE NEED TO START? SO BY HEARING FROM THE INDUSTRY PARTNERS, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, FROM SEMI, WHICH IS A HUGE ASSOCIATION OF SEMICONDUCTORS OUTTA SAN FRANCISCO, THEY'RE CREATING CURRICULUM FOR THE ACADEMIES PROGRAM IN AVONDALE AND OTHERS.
SO THAT WAY THE NINE CORE COMPETENCIES, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THAT TARGET SECTOR WILL START TO BE EDUCATED OR PART OF INTEGRATED
[00:45:01]
SO I'VE TALKED TO A FEW PARENTS AND, UM, THEY LOVE THE WESTEC IDEA.
IT'S GREAT THAT IT'S COMING OUT WITHYA, BUT IF WE ARE LOOKING AT IT NOW IN THAT PERSPECTIVE, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR CHILDREN TO GO TO THESE PROGRAMS. IS THERE ANYTHING OTHER THAN MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WHEN RIA HAS THEIRS, OBVIOUSLY WE RIDE, BUT ARE THERE ANYTHING THAT MAYBE ANY OF, YOU KNOW, IN REGARDS TO POSSIBLY BRIDGING THAT GAP? BECAUSE PARENTS WORK, THEY DON'T GET OFF TILL FIVE.
SOME I, I KNEW OF A PARENT THAT USED TO TAKE HER CHILD THERE, SO THAT MAKES IT EVEN TOUGHER FOR CHILDREN THAT REALLY WANT TO ADVANCE IN THAT CAREER OR LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THERE'S NO TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE HIGH SCHOOLS TO THESE PLACES.
I WOULD SAY THAT THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT WE HEAR FROM, FROM WESTEC.
AND I, I BE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SPOT ON.
ALL OF THE SCHOOLS ARE DEFINITELY STRUGGLING WITH THAT.
UM, I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE DID A REGIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, WEST VALLEY PIPELINE RECENTLY.
WE, UM, UPDATED THAT TO WEST VALLEY PIPELINE 2.0, WHICH THE ORIGINAL VERSION REALLY FOCUSED IN ON THE KIND OF NUTS AND BOLTS OF WORKFORCE 2.0 FOCUSES IN ALSO ON THE SOCIAL NEEDS LIKE YOU JUST DESCRIBED.
SO TRANSPORTATION, CHILDCARE, HOUSING, AND SO ON.
SO IT'S AN AREA THAT, UM, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS ON, BUT THERE, THERE'S NO EASY ANSWER 'CAUSE IT COMES BACK TO FUNDING.
AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A BIG ISSUE RIGHT NOW THAT EVERYONE'S DEALING WITH.
BUT IT'S DEFINITELY ON THE RADAR FOR SURE, BECAUSE I LIKE SHERRY, WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA AND UM, IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THEY WERE BIG ON WHAT THEY WOULD CALL ROP, RECREATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL PROGRAM.
THEY, YOU WOULD GO INTO, UM, EITHER A FINANCE OR A, UM, AUTOMOTIVE.
MY YOUNGEST BROTHER WENT INTO AUTOMOTIVE, VERY SUCCESSFUL, WENT TO UTI HERE SUCCESSFUL WORKING AT AVONDALE TOYOTA.
I WENT INTO FINANCE AND DID, UH, BANKING FOR BANK OF AMERICA.
AND WHEN I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, WENT INTO BANK OF AMERICA TO WORK FOR THEM, BUT THERE WAS TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN CASE YOU COULDN'T GET THERE.
AND IT WAS DONE THROUGH, UM, THE LA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT THROUGH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
'CAUSE THEY WOULD GO TO THESE PROGRAMS. MR. MAYOR, IF I CAN, UH, INTERJECT REAL QUICK.
SO AS WE CONCENTRATE ON WHAT THE CITY CAN DO TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES, KNOW THAT OUR WE WEAR PROGRAM IS, UH, FLEXIBLE.
AND SO AS NEEDS ARISE TO HELP GET KIDS, UH, TO SCHOOL, UM, WE HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY TO, TO AMP THAT UP.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE DO TO HELP IS, UM, GETTING THE PROGRAMS INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO THE WEST MAC AT ALGO HIGH SCHOOL, SO THEY'RE ACCESSIBLE TO THE KIDS IN OLD TOWN AND OTHER PLACES.
AND SO OUR ROLE IN, IN PLAYING THAT IS MAKING IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE TO GET IT BUILT AND BUILT QUICKLY AND FAST.
SO AS WE EXPEDITE THE, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND THE PERMIT PROCESS.
SO I JUST WANNA, UH, WHILE WE CAN'T, UH, FORCE THE SCHOOL TO CREATE A PROGRAM OR DO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, KNOW THAT, UM, WE'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS THAT THE CITY CAN HELP ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT NECESSARILY OUR FIELD OF, OF, UM, OUR LANE TO STAY IN.
BUT, UH, THROUGH DEVELOPMENT, THROUGH WER AND OTHER PROGRAMS, UM, WE TRY TO BRING THE TRAINING TO WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE.
I THINK THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE WHEN WE DO THAT, WE BECOME MORE INVESTED AND WE TALK ABOUT THESE JOBS THAT COME BACK HERE.
WE'RE INVESTED IN THESE KIDS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
SO WHEN THEY GET TO THAT LEVEL, THEY WANNA WORK HERE, THEY WANNA STAY HERE, THEY WANNA BE HERE FOR THE JOBS, THEY WANNA BUY A HOUSE SO THAT THEY CAN AFFORD.
IF I CAN JUST JUMP BACK IN TWO THINGS.
I ACTUALLY RODE YOUR, WE WER, UH, IN AVONDALE AND IT'S A GREAT SERVICE AND, AND IT REALLY MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE CHANGING NEEDS OF, UM, STUDENTS AND YOUNG AND PEOPLE TODAY AND HOW, HOW THEY TRAVEL VERSUS THE BUSES AND THE TRAINS AND SO ON THAT WE OFTEN HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC SAYING, WHEN ARE YOU GONNA GET THIS? WHEN ARE YOU GONNA GET THAT REALLY MICRO TRANSIT IS, IN MY OPINION, KIND OF WHERE IT'S AT BECAUSE IT'S, UM, IT'S VERY LOCAL AND IT TAKES YOU TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, I DID WANNA VERIFY THAT.
UM, THERE IS A CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM, UM, AT AA, UNION HIGH SCHOOL,
IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY IN NURSING, I THINK IT'S ANOTHER BIG ONE.
AND I THINK I HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT EDUCATION.
IS THERE ANY PLANS TO CREATE A SKILLS PROGRAM OR TO CREATE PROGRAMS FOR HVAC OR, UH, ENGINEERING OR THOSE KINDS OF PROGRAMS THERE, UH, AT AUSTRALIA? YEAH, WE GET ASKED A LOT FROM DEVELOPERS ABOUT A CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM STARTING AT, AT ESTRAYA, BUT IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE PROGRAM TO GET STARTED.
[00:50:01]
UM, WE HAVE A CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN, AT, AT GATEWAY, AND I BELIEVE AT MESA.BUT WE WOULD, THAT WOULD BE AN EX EXCELLENT EXAMPLE TO BUILD A PARTNERSHIP WITH INDUSTRY, UM, TO SUPPORT THAT TYPE OF PROGRAM AT THE COLLEGE.
BUT IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF MONEY TO, TO GET THAT KICK STARTED.
OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, COUNCILOR GARCIA, WELL, I WANTED TO, NOT REALLY A QUESTION QUESTION, BUT WHAT I HEARD WHEN YOU GUYS WERE SPEAKING, IT WAS OPPORTUNITY PARTNERSHIP AND OH MY, I'M LOUD AS IT IS.
SO THIS IS JUST LIKE, UM, BUT WHAT CENTRA SAID WAS THE COMMUNITY, THE PERCEPTION OF IT.
YOU KNOW, I AM, I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE 2001, SO MY PERCEPTION OF AVONDALE IS REALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE NEW NEWCOMERS THAT ARE COMING IN.
IT IS A COMMUNITY OF OPPORTUNITY.
AND WHEN WE SPEAK OF IT THAT WAY, IT JUST, IT JUST LIKE CHANGES THE WAY THAT I VIEW OF LIKE GETTING THESE BUSINESSES, ATTRACTING NEW WORKERS INTO HERE BECAUSE THEY, THEY, THEY DON'T WANNA COME HERE BECAUSE OF AN OLD PERCEPTION, BUT BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH AND EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU FOLKS ARE DOING IN THE SOUTHWEST VALLEY IN AVONDALE, IT'S CHANGING THE PERCEPTION OF, WOW, THERE'S NEW OPPORTUNITY IN AVONDALE FOR US TO GO WORK THERE, FOR US TO GO LIVE THERE.
ALAMAR THAT WHAT I SAW A LAMAR AND I WAS LIKE, WOW, THAT COMMUNITY IS IN AVONDALE.
LIKE I LIVE IN COURT TO SIERRA.
I WAS LIKE, MAYBE I'LL MOVE OVER HERE.
SO IT'S, IT'S WONDERFUL THAT WE HAVE THESE PARTNERSHIPS WITH YOU GUYS AND THAT YOU GUYS SEE THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITY HERE.
YOU KNOW, I WENT TO ASTRAY MOUNTAIN SINCE 2009, ONGOING WITHOUT A, WITHOUT A DEGREE, BUT LIKE, I GO THERE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY AND LEARNING THROUGH THERE AND THROUGH WESTEC.
I HAD A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL AT A SALON CUT MY HAIR, UM, AND SHE HAD SOMETHING TO DO AS SOON AS SHE CAME OUT OF, UH, GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.
SO THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE HERE.
AND I THINK WHAT, WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A COUNCIL AND AS PEOPLE OF AVONDALE IS LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S ONE MISSING PART IS WHEN I GO KNOCK ON DOORS AND I SPEAK TO OUR RESIDENTS, THEY DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE STUFF THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
THEY DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THESE PARTNERSHIPS OR THAT RIA HAS THIS NEW AMAZING PROGRAM FOR THEIR HIGH SCHOOLERS, OR THAT ESTRAYA HAS, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON AI AND, UM, ESPECIALLY, UM, THE, THE INTEL.
LIKE, THAT'S HUGE, ESPECIALLY FOR THESE KIDS THAT WANT TO WORK, YOU KNOW, IN THOSE THINGS.
AND I WHAT YOU SAID, A LOT OF KIDS ARE COMING OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO FOUR YEAR COLLEGES.
AND HAVING SOMETHING AVAILABLE FOR THEM IS WHAT WE NEED IN AVONDALE.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THIS AND WORKING WITH THIS COUNCIL, THAT THAT'S WHAT WE WANT AS WELL.
SO I'M JUST HAPPY TO HAVE THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF YOU FOLKS AND FOR YOU GUYS TO TAKE THE TIME TO COME IN HERE AND SPEAK WITH US TODAY AND SHARE WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE VIEWED FOR AVONDALE.
COUNCILOR GARCIA, COUNCILOR CAR, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NO.
UM, I, FOR ME, WHAT, WHAT'S I I THINK HAS BEEN A THEME HERE IN REGARDS TO NOT ONLY THE PANELISTS, BUT THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'VE ALL SHARED IS JUST HOW, UH, BENEFICIAL IT IS TO, UM, BE IN TUNE WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
UM, THE THEME THAT CAME TO MY MIND AFTER LISTENING WAS REALLY JUST AGILITY.
AGILITY AND THE FACT THAT FROM THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL TO THE HIGH SCHOOL, POST-SECONDARY, AND EVEN WITH PARTNERSHIPS, THAT IF THERE'S AN IDEA AND US AS AN ORGANIZATION ARE LOOKING TO CAPITALIZE OR LEVERAGE PARTNERSHIPS ON HOW DO WE ADDRESS, UH, COMMUNITY NEEDS AND DEMANDS THROUGH IDEAS AND THROUGH IDEATION, LOOK HOW INNOVATIVE WE CAN BE IN TERMS OF RESPONSE.
AND SO AGILITY TO ME IS THE THEME THAT WE'RE CONNECTED WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT AT THE POST-SECONDARY LEVEL.
WE'RE IN TUNE WITH RIA COMMUNITY, UH, I'M SORRY, RIA, HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH THE ACADEMIES, UH, WESTEC, UM, OUR BUSINESSES AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WORKING WITH WESTMARK AND WITH, UH, THE CHAMBER, OUR RESIDENTS GETTING BENEFITS, UH, AND OUR RESIDENTS AS A WHOLE, UH, WITH PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN US AND BROOKFIELD.
AND EVEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, WITH THE CONSTRAINTS THAT WE DEAL WITH AS AN ORGANIZATION AND HAVING PARTNERS LIKE, UH, UH, VALLEY PARTNERSHIP, UH, THAT ALLOWS FOR THAT COMMUNICATION TO OCCUR BETWEEN US AND THE STATE LEVEL TO REALLY ADVOCATE FOR SOME OF THE CONSTRAINTS THAT WE HAVE TO WORK UNDER AS IT RELATES TO BUDGET AND FUNDING.
'CAUSE AFTER ALL, UH, WITHOUT FUNDING AND WITHOUT THE BUDGET, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE ANY OF THESE, THESE, UH, IDEAS A REALITY.
SO I THINK WE'RE ALL IN TUNE WITH THAT.
BUT HAVING THESE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS AND AS COUNCIL,
[00:55:01]
UH, MEMBER GARCIA SAID, UM, COMMUNICATION AND ALLOWING OUR RESIDENTS TO BE AWARE THAT THESE OPPORTUNITIES EXIST, BUT THEY ONLY EXIST BECAUSE OF HOW CONNECTED WE ARE AND HOW RESPONSIVE YOU ARE TO OUR NEEDS.AND I MEAN US AS A CITY, BUT ALSO AS A REGION.
AND WHEN, UM, YOU LOOK AT THE COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT EXISTS OUT THERE FOR, UH, LABOR, UH, FOR, UM, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, UH, I BELIEVE THAT AVONDALE HAS A, UH, A LARGE ROLE TO PLAY IN THAT AND TO BE AS COMPETITIVE AS POSSIBLE.
SO FOR US TO COMMUNICATE THAT AS A BODY POLICY, MAKING BODY TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS, AND IN TURN HEARING WHAT OUR STAKEHOLDERS HAVE TO OFFER OUR ORGANIZATION, THEN CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS, I BELIEVE ARE BENEFICIAL FOR THAT REASON.
SO THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, THIS IS HOW I FEEL, YOU KNOW, GETTING STARTED TOMORROW, HOW WE SAY, HEY, REMEMBER HOW ONE OF OUR PARTNERS MENTIONED THIS AND HOW WE'RE LOOKING FOR OUR OPPORTUNITIES HERE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
LET'S CONNECT AND THEN WE WORK OUT THE DETAILS, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH LAND, WHETHER IT THROUGH PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT, SKILLSET, UH, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
WE'RE ALL TRYING TO LEVERAGE OPPORTUNITY.
AND, UM, I BELIEVE THAT THIS COUNCIL HERE IS, IS HAS EARS AND EYES OPEN AND, UH, THE DESIRE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, TO BE AS COMPETITIVE AS WE CAN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHILE THE I 10 IS A PARKING LOT AND WE ARE, WE'RE AWARE THAT SR 30 WILL BE COMING THROUGH.
UH, WE WANT OUR OUR FOLKS TO STAY HERE.
WE WANT THEM TO GO TO SCHOOL HERE, BE EDUCATED HERE, WORK HERE, PLAY HERE, AND ENTER AND HAVE ENTERTAINMENT AND, AND, UH, DINING AND OPPORTUNITIES HERE AS WELL.
AND SO THE MORE THAT WE CAN DO THAT WITH WORKING WITH PARTNERS SUCH AS YOURSELF AS PART OF THIS LONG-TERM STRATEGY, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT STARTED.
AND ALTHOUGH WE'VE BEEN ENGAGED, UH, IN THE PAST, UM, I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE JUST AS ENGAGED, MAYBE EVEN MORE ENGAGED IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE AND BECAUSE OF THE ROLE THAT WE PLAY AS A MUNICIPALITY WITHIN THIS REGION.
SO IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY.
WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS TOO IS JUST LISTENING TO EACH OTHER, RIGHT? LIKE WE HAVE A NEED HERE, AND WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MEET IT HERE.
UM, I DID HEAR SOMETHING ABOUT CLASS A OFFICE, UM, SPACES, SO, AND I SAW A COUPLE NODS.
DO YOU THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED SINCE WE'RE DOING OUR STRATEGIC PLAN? YEAH, I, I MEAN, I DEFINITELY THINK SO.
UM, AGAIN, I THINK IF THE, IF THE PANDEMIC HADN'T HAPPENED, WE WOULD BE IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT SITUATION WITH CLASS A OFFICE IN THE WEST VALLEY TODAY.
UM, SO IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING AT.
WE ARE, WE'RE SEEING OUR OFFICE, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, IS LOCATED IN WESTGATE, AND THERE IS NO OFFICE SPACE IN WESTGATE ANY LONGER.
WE JUST EXPANDED OUR OFFICES AND WE HAD TO DO IT WITHIN THE EXISTING FOOTPRINT, WHICH WAS NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT IDEAL, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA WORK.
BUT, BUT THERE, THERE'S A HUGE NEED.
THERE'S A HUGE NEED FOR, FOR OFFICE SPACE.
RICH WORKERS ARE RETURNING TO WORK, UM, TO THE OFFICE.
BUSINESSES ARE REQUIRING THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING SHY ABOUT IT ANYMORE.
AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.
THEY, THEY DO WANNA BE IN THE OFFICE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING AGAIN, IS, YOU KNOW, BRING, TRY TO BRING AMENITIES WITHIN OUR, OUR, OUR, YOU KNOW, OFFICE BASE SO THAT WE, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYEES WANT TO BE THERE.
AND WE HAVE OUR LITTLE WORK FAMILY AND COMPANIES ARE DOING THAT ALL OVER.
EVERY SINGLE OFFICE I'VE GONE INTO, YOU SEE, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE FOOSBALL TABLE AND, YOU KNOW, THE LITTLE POT POTT THING, AND IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.
PEOPLE WANT TO, TO, TO BE, YOU KNOW, LOCATED THERE.
AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE DONE KIND OF DONE WITH THE ISOLATION.
SO, I, SORRY, LONG, LONG-WINDED ANSWER, BUT YES, DEFINITELY PUT THAT ON YOUR RADAR.
CAN I JUST ADD, I'LL MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT.
WE ARE DEFINITELY FROM OUR MEMBERS EXPERIENCE THAT THEY WANT A NEED FOR CLASS A BUILDINGS, UH, OFFICE BUILDINGS.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY ALSO WANT THE HIGHER END HOMES.
I MEAN, WE GOT A LOT OF, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE RELOCATING TO THIS AREA AND LOOKING FOR HIGHER END OFFICE SPACE IN ADDITION TO THE, TO THE HOUSING AREA.
SO I'LL THROW A PITCH OUT TO BROOKFIELD.
I, I, I THINK THERE'S A STORY THAT WE HAVE TO TELL HERE BECAUSE, UM, AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT IT, I, I HAVE TO THANK THE MAYOR.
I WOULD'VE NEVER KNOWN THERE WAS A, A MAKERSPACE AT AUSTRALIA MOUNTAIN UNTIL HE TOOK MY SON THERE.
UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, MY SON WAS A SAGE STUDENT THROUGH TEON UNION.
I KNOW WE HAVEN'T SHOUTED THAT HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT OUT, BUT NOW HE ATTENDS A SU AND I THINK HE ENTERED A SU AS A SOPHOMORE WITH ALL THE CREDITS THAT HE GOT AT AUSTRALIA MOUNTAIN, AND NOW HE'S INTO DESIGN.
AND SO INSTEAD OF MAKING SURE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THINKING CITY PLANNING DESIGN KID, GET A REAL JOB, BUT, YOU KNOW, HE HAS A BUSINESS, HE'S A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
SO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TELL THAT STORY OF HOW WE FIRST
[01:00:01]
INSTILL IT IN OUR KIDS.BUT AS SOMEBODY WHO GREW UP IN INDUSTRY AND IN COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND LOOKING AT IT, I REMEMBER SIGNING THE BEAMS TO THE BUILDING OF LEGACY MBNA IN NORTHEAST OHIO THAT WAS OWNED BY AL LERNER, UM, THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY.
AND AS WE SIGNED EACH OF THE BEAMS, AS THE BUILDINGS WERE BUILT AROUND US, UM, AND I THINK ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFUL THOSE BUILDINGS WERE, THEY WERE SOLD TO THE CLEVELAND CLINIC AFTER AL LERNER PASSED AWAY.
IT WAS, IT WAS JUST THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE WORKING IN CLASS, A COMMERCIAL OFFICE SPACE.
SO I, I FELT LIKE I WATCHED MY CAREER GROW.
I WATCHED THIS ORGANIZATION GROW, AND WE WANNA HAVE THAT FOR PEOPLE WHO COME OUT HERE.
AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT BEACHWOOD, OHIO, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT KNOW, WHO KNOW ABOUT THE SUBURB OF GREATER CLEVELAND, IT'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL SPACE.
IT'S A VERY AFFLUENT PLACE IN NORTHEAST OHIO.
AND SO, UM, I THINK IF WE LOOK TO MODEL OUR COMMUNITY AS A SPACE AND PLACE WHERE WE WANT AFFLUENT GROWTH, YOU KNOW, CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE WAS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM BEACHWOOD, OHIO.
AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT, YOU HAVE TO REINVEST IN THE COMMUNITY AND GIVE PEOPLE OTHER WAYS.
BUT SO MANY PEOPLE WERE IN THE TRADES BACK THERE BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT MR. LERNER WANTED TO DO IS SHOW THE MARINES THERE.
HEY, YOU GUYS COME AND WORK HERE.
AND MOST OF THEM WERE, MOST OF THE MARINES I MET AT THAT TIME WORKED IN THE HVAC AREA OF MBNA AND MADE SURE THAT WE STAYED HEATED AND COOLED ALL THE TIME, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO INTEGRATE EVERYBODY.
SO THERE'S A PLACE AND SPACE FOR PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.
AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER YOU HAVE A CERTIFICATE, HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, COLLEGE DEGREE, POST, YOU KNOW, POSTGRADUATE DEGREE.
I THINK THAT WE CAN ALL COME AND WORK TOGETHER AND BE AT THE SAME TABLE IN THE SAME SPACES AND PLACES ENJOY THE NICE THINGS TOGETHER.
AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THE NICE STUFF IS OVER HERE.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR, WE, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE CANNED QUESTIONS.
I I'M GONNA GIVE IF YOU, WE, WE CAN TAKE A FEW MORE MINUTES TO ASK A QUESTION, BUT I, BUT I ACTUALLY WANNA ASK, UH, ONE QUESTION.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN VERY KIND AND NICE AND TALKED ABOUT GOOD THINGS, BUT YOU HAVEN'T REALLY TOLD THE CITY WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER.
UH, YOU'VE ASKED FOR SOME GROWTH, YOU, YOU'VE ASKED FOR, UM, UH, BUT YOU HAVEN'T TOLD US WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER.
WHAT, WHAT CAN THIS GROUP OF LEADERS ENCOURAGE OR SET AS PRIORITIES SO THAT WE CAN HELP BRING MORE HOUSING, MORE JOBS, MORE PEOPLE? SORRY, SENTRA.
SO, SO ONE THING, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT BACK, RON, BECAUSE ONE THING I REALIZED IS THAT I'M LOOKING AT THIS AND WHERE THE HOUSING PANEL, BUT WE REALLY DIDN'T GO DEEP IN HOUSING FOR YOU.
AND I, I THINK A RECOMMENDATION THAT I WOULD MAKE IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF OF PRESSURE ON, UM, UH, MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING AND SO ON.
AND IT REALLY IS A DECISION THAT I THINK THAT THE WEST VALLEY, LIKE YOU SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, WE'RE, WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE RIGHT NOW.
THE CITY OF AVONDALE IS IN A DIFFERENT PLACE RIGHT NOW, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE WHAT IS GIVEN TO US.
WE REALLY NEED TO, UM, LOOK AT DESIGN GUIDELINES, REALLY NEED TO HOLD, UM, UH, THE, THE, THE DEVELOPER ACCOUNTABLE TO THE DESIGN GUIDELINES THAT YOU WANT.
AND, UM, SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE GET, WE GET CAUGHT UP IN THE PRESSURE OF WE JUST NEED TO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH HOUSING OR WE NEED TO PROVIDE THAT.
AND I I, I'VE BEEN TELLING A LOT OF THE WEST VALLEY COMMUNITIES THAT WE'RE A DIFFERENT REGION TODAY, WE'RE A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY TODAY.
DON'T JUST ACCEPT WHAT'S BEING BROUGHT TO YOU.
UM, I LOOK AT, I LOOK AT, UH, DIFFERENT, UM, AND, AND I PROMOTE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING.
I THINK WHERE, WHERE IT GOES AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND THAT IS MORE OF, UH, I, I THINK THE QUOTE UNQUOTE CONTROL THAT CITIES WOULD HAVE MORE.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT'S SOMETHING.
SO WHILE I AGREE ON THE, UH, HOLDING THE STANDARDS, WE ALSO NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE
AS WELL AS BE FLEXIBLE IN HOW WE CAN DEVELOP THAT HOUSING.
WE NEED TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR EVERYONE, AND MULTIFAMILY IS A BIG PART OF THAT.
BUT, UM, DENSITY IS REALLY THE, THE KEY, MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PUSH THE, THE ENVELOPE ON DENSITY.
I, I WOULD JUST ADD, I WAS GONNA TAKE, I WAS JUST ADD, WE HAVE A QUARTERLY AND I I AGREE A HUNDRED PERCENT.
I AGREE A HUNDRED PERCENT WITH, WITH, YOU KNOW, BOOK SPEAKERS, UM, AND WHAT CLARK JUST SAID, BECAUSE IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
[01:05:01]
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EFFICIENCIES ARE DONE.UM, I WORKED FOR C FOR 10 YEARS AND GOT COMPLAINTS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE REDLINED STUFF AND WE DIDN'T DO IT COMPLETELY, AND THEN WE REDLINED IT AGAIN AND WE REDLINED IT AGAIN.
AND SO MAKING YOUR, YOUR, UH, PROCESSES, UM, ARE MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE EFFECTIVE, UM, BECAUSE TIME IS MONEY.
AND SO IT, IT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR, BUT IT, IT IS THERE BOTH ME AND CENTRA CITY ALUM.
IT, IT REALLY TIES BACK TO THAT FLEXIBILITY PIECE TOO.
'CAUSE UM, AS, AS MASTER PLAN DEVELOPERS, WE GET INTO A COMMUNITY, WE MAY START WITH ONE PLAN, AND YOU MIGHT FIND THAT THAT PLAN DOESN'T WORK.
AND TO BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PIVOT WHENEVER WE NEED TO PIVOT IS HUGE IN OUR WORLD.
WELL, THIS WAS INCREDIBLY INSIGHTFUL, AND I JUST WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE PANELISTS FOR COMING OUT THIS MORNING TO PARTICIPATE AND KICK OFF THIS RETREAT OR THIS AFTERNOON, OR THIS TO THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
AND, UM, WITH THAT, LET'S GIVE OUR PANELISTS A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, MR. MAYOR, IF WE CAN TAKE FIVE WHILE WE CHANGE OUT THE PANELS.
I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, IF WE CAN TAKE A SHORT BREAK, TAKE FIVE AND THEN, UH, WE'LL, UH, GET THE NEXT PANEL SEATED MISSION, UH, WHAT YOUR ORGANIZATION IS ALL ABOUT AND HOW IT RELATES TO THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO OUR CITY COUNCIL FOR ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE, UH, TO HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, INTEGRATED CONVERSATION HERE.
AND THEN, UM, I ALSO HAVE SOME PRE-PLANNED QUESTIONS IF WE, IF WE NEED TO GET TO THAT.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE DID AT THE LAST PANEL, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE.
UM, BUT I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TODAY.
UM, I HAVE TO MY LEFT, CLIFF LOU, HE'S THE VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY FOR THE PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
AND THEN NEXT TO HIM IS DR. CHRISTINA CONRAD.
SHE ACTUALLY OVERSEES OUR PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN AVONDALE, UH, AND SHE IS THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, MEDICAL DIRECTOR.
AND THEN NEXT TO HER IS TONY HOUSTON WITH DIGNITY.
HE, UH, DIGNITY HEALTH ARIZONA MARKET PRESIDENT.
UH, AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE, OH, I'M SO SORRY.
I MESSED, I DON'T KNOW, ON MY PAPER, IT'S DIFFERENT, BUT, OKAY.
SO IF MARTHA DOESN'T LOOK LIKE TONY, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE A WEIRD MIX UP HERE.
SHE'S THE ARIZONA COMPLETE HEALTH PLAN PRESIDENT, CEO.
AND THEN NEXT TO HER WE HAVE TONY HOUSTON WITH DIGNITY HEALTH, ARIZONA MARKET PRE PRESIDENT.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CLIFF NOW.
CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME? YOU NOT GET SO, SO
WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY AT PHOENIX CHILDREN'S.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE ORGANIZATION FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS NOW BY WAY OF, I'M ONE OF THOSE FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
UM, I WAS, UH, WITH THE LUCILLE PACKARD CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT STANFORD FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UM, MY, MY, MY WIFE, DAUGHTER AND I HAVE NOT QUITE GOT USED TO THE TEMPERATURES HERE IN THE SUMMER, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL GET THERE.
SO IT'S, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REASONS, UM, WHY, UH, I CAME HERE TO PHOENIX IS JUST THE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CITY PROPER, AND, AND, AND AVONDALE, I MEAN, YOU, YOU HAVE OVER A MILLION KIDS.
AND, AND THAT, THAT, THAT'S IMPORTANT, RIGHT? WE ARE, WE'RE HERE TO SERVE THE KIDS.
UM, THEY DESERVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, UM, THE SUBSPECIALTY CARE THAT THEY NEED.
AND WE'VE ALWAYS AT PHOENIX CHILDREN'S EMBRACED THAT.
UM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY, UM, WE STARTED OUR PRESENCE HERE IN I, I THINK 2013 MM-HMM
AND THEN BUILT OUT THE, UH, SPECIALTY CARE URGENT CARE CLINICS AND, UH, FREE STAMP THE, UH, FULL SERVICE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
UH, AS YOU'RE AWARE, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO ARE, UH, BASED, UH, DOWNTOWN AT THE THOMAS CAMPUS WITH OVER 500 BEDS, UH, FULL SERVICE ED AND ALL THE SUBSPECIALTIES THAT GO WITH THAT.
YOU'RE ALSO AWARE THAT WE'RE LOCATED AT, UH, ARROWHEAD AS WELL AS IN, UH, THE EAST VALLEY, UM, AT OUR MULTI-SPECIALTY CARE SITE WITH DIGNITY HEALTH.
AND SO, AS WE, AS WE THINK ABOUT, UH, GROWTH, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE DO, WE DO WANT TO GO WHERE THE KIDS ARE.
UM, WE ENGAGE WITH, UH, COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP SUCH AS YOURSELF IN TERMS OF WHAT IS THE NEED, UH, WHAT IS THE PATIENT DEMAND, AND WE TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY AND WE THINK THROUGH WHAT
[01:10:01]
WE CAN DO, WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY AS THE, AS THE ONLY TRUE PEDIATRIC PROVIDER IN THE STATE.SO I AM A PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN, AND I'M THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF OUR PHOENIX CHILDREN'S AVONDALE LOCATION, WHICH OPENED IN JULY OF 2023.
AND HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE NOT HAD TO TAKE YOUR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN THERE, BUT IF YOU HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOMETHING MORE LOCAL.
UM, YOU KNOW, BEFORE, UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THESE KIDS WERE, WERE HAVING TO GO DOWNTOWN, AND WE HAVE A PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN 24 7 THERE.
UM, WE HAVE 40 ROOMS, INCLUDING TWO RESUSCITATION ROOMS, YOU KNOW, SIX ROOMS THAT ARE DESIGNED WHAT WE CALL LIKE OUR, OUR SAFER ROOMS FOR KIDS THAT ARE HAVING LIKE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND NEED THAT HELP.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE LIKE A RAPID MEDICAL ASSESSMENT AREA FOR KIDS WHO MIGHT HAVE LIKE LOWER ACUITY NEEDS THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY GET 'EM IN AND OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE QUICKER.
UM, BUT WE HAVE A CHILD LIFE THERAPIST ON STAFF.
WE HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST, WE HAVE A SOCIAL WORKER, UM, 24 7 X-RAY ULTRASOUND, CAT SCAN, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO PROCEDURAL SEDATIONS, ORTHOPEDIC REDUCTIONS, LIKE THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, UM, THAT WE PROVIDED OUR OTHER EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AS WELL.
AND IT DEFINITELY HAS SERVED A NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY IN 2024, UM, WHICH WAS OUR FIRST FULL YEAR IN SERVICE, WE HAD OVER 50,000 CHILDREN VISIT US, AND WE HAD OVER 1600, UM, AMBULANCES COME TO US AS WELL.
UM, SO IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO FILL THAT GAP OUT HERE.
UM, AND I WILL, OH, I'M ALSO A LOCAL TOO.
I SIT ON THE CITY OF AVONDALE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS TRUST BOARD, AND, AND I LIVE HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY, GLITCH LITCHFIELD PARK, TECHNICALLY, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE SEE OUR AVONDALE PD CREWS THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD
WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
I'M THE PLAN PRESIDENT FOR ARIZONA COMPLETE HEALTH FOR THE ARIZONA MARKET.
UM, I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN WITH MY ORGANIZATION FOR CLOSE TO 29 YEARS, SO I'M A LONG TIMER, UM, BUT IN THE ARIZONA MARKET, SPECIFICALLY OVERSEEING THE ARIZONA HEALTH PLAN FOR THE LAST FIVE, UM, I'M AFRAID THAT'S GONNA ROLL OFF THE TABLE.
UH, UM, SO ARIZONA COMPLETE HEALTH HAS HAD A LONG STANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF AVONDALE, WITH THE RESOURCE CENTER.
UH, AND WE, UH, WE REALLY, UH, VALUE AND APPRECIATE THAT RELATIONSHIP.
UM, WE COVER ABOUT 600,000, UM, ARIZONANS THROUGH OUR MEDICAID PROGRAM ACCESS AS WELL AS OUR MARKETPLACE PROGRAMS AND OUR MEDICARE PROGRAMS. SO, UM, WE REALLY, UH, TEND TO SERVE LOWER INCOME POPULATIONS IN TERMS OF OUR COVERAGE, UM, AND, UM, HAVE, AGAIN, LONG HISTORY IN DOING THAT HERE IN THE MARKET.
WE ARE ALSO THE REGIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AUTHORITY IN THE NORTH PART OF THE STATE AND THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE.
SO SERVICING THE SMI POPULATION AND THOSE IN, IN CRITICAL NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
UM, AND THEN WE WERE ALSO RECENTLY AWARDED THE LONG-TERM CARE CONTRACT FOR THE STATE OF ARIZONA, WHICH WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IMPLEMENTING HERE IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.
UM, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE OBSTACLES THAT WE SEE COMING OUR WAY, UM, UH, A LOT OF CHANGES, AS YOU ALL KNOW, UH, FROM A FEDERAL PERSPECTIVE, UH, IN TERMS OF WHAT MIGHT BE COMING DOWN THE PIKE WITH RESPECT TO FUNDING CUTS, UH, TO MEDICAID PROGRAMS IN PARTICULAR, BUT ALSO SUBSIDIES FOR THE MARKETPLACE PROGRAMS. AND SO WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT, UM, OUR STATE AND OUR COMMUNITIES UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPACT OF THAT COULD BE TO ARIZONA.
AND SO, UM, WE HAVE SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS IF THERE'S SOME REDUCTIONS IN THE FEDERAL MATCH PROGRAM.
UM, AND WHAT THAT COULD MEAN TO THE STATE IS, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY A BUDGET SHORTFALL OF AS MUCH AS $2 BILLION.
AND WHAT THAT COULD MEAN TO OUR SERVICES HERE IN THE COMMUNITY AT PLACES LIKE DIGNITY AND PHOENIX CHILDREN'S IS, UM, FEWER PEOPLE COVERED BY MEDICAID AND MARKETPLACE.
AND THAT REALLY PUTS A SIGNIFICANT BURDEN ON THE HEALTHCARE DELIVERY SYSTEM.
SO I THINK FROM A, JUST FROM A, WHAT CAN WE DO TOGETHER PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S SOMETHING TO ME THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL NEED TO THINK ABOUT AND HOW WE ARE INTERACTING WITH OUR, UH, OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND AT, UH, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO ENCOURAGE, UH, THAT, THAT, UM, THAT FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE BUDGET CUTS ON.
ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, OTHER, UM, THINGS THAT ARE, UH, POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES COMING DOWN THE PIKE, UM, IS A PROGRAM THAT IS VERY, UH, CLOSELY TIED TO THE MARKETPLACE, UH, REFERRED TO AS ICRA.
IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL COVERAGE PROGRAM THAT IS, UM, UH, CAN BE SUPPORTED THROUGH SMALL BUSINESS.
AVONDALE IS A COMMUNITY THAT IS FULL OF SMALL BUSINESSES.
[01:15:01]
EMPLOYERS CAN DO A, UH, BASICALLY A DEFINED CONTRIBUTION FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, SO THEY HAVE A VERY FIXED THEN BUDGET FOR THEIR HEALTH COVERAGE, AND THEN THOSE EMPLOYEES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PICK THEIR COVERAGE THROUGH THE MARKETPLACE.SO IT'S A NEW PROGRAM THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO INTRODUCE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS IN 2026 AND BEYOND THAT WE THINK IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITIES LIKE AVONDALE, WHO HAVE A LARGE, UM, UH, SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS WELL.
SO, I'LL STOP THERE AND HAND IT OVER TO TONY.
I'M TONY HOUSTON, THE MARKET PRESIDENT FOR DIGNITY HEALTH HERE IN ARIZONA.
I'VE BEEN WITH OUR PARENT COMPANY, COMMON SPIRIT HEALTH FOR 10 AND A HALF YEARS.
I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE LAST SUMMER, AND IT'S BEEN A INCREDIBLY WARM WELCOME.
I MEAN THAT FIGURATIVELY AND LITERALLY, IT'S, UH, REALLY GREAT TO BE WITH YOU ALL, YOU KNOW, AND AS I ARRIVED HERE, ARIZONA'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE LEADING MINISTRIES IN OUR ENTIRE COMPANY.
WE LEAD IN OUR PEOPLE SCORE, SO THAT'S AN EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT, THAT'S OUR FOCUS TO BE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK AND PRACTICE.
AND SO ARIZONA LEADS THE WAY IN OUR LARGE COMPANY.
WE'RE IN 24 STATES, COMMON SPIRIT HEALTH IS LARGEST CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE COMPANY IN AMERICA, AND ARIZONA LEADS THE WAY.
SO IT'S REALLY A PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF THE COMPANY AND SEE ALL THE GOOD THINGS IN ARIZONA, AND THEN GET TO ARRIVE HERE AND BE A PART OF THE TEAM, YOU KNOW, SO, AS I MENTIONED, WE, WE'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.
JOSEPH WILL CELEBRATE 130 YEARS IN PHOENIX.
I THINK ABOUT THAT A LOT WHEN THE SISTERS THAT CAME TO ARIZONA TO START THIS MINISTRY, UM, REALLY IN THE FRONTIER AND BEFORE WE WERE EVEN A STATE.
AND SO WE, WE TAKE REALLY, UH, GREAT PRIDE IN, IN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT MEANS TO PERPETUATE A HEALING MINISTRY FOR MULTIPLE GENERATIONS.
AS MARTHA SAID, IT DOESN'T GET ANY EASIER IN HEALTHCARE IT SEEMS, BUT WHEN WE'VE GOT LIKE-MINDED FOLKS, UH, LIKE YOURSELF, AND I'M, I'M REALLY PLEASED TO BE A PART OF THIS PANEL TODAY AND REALLY ENGAGE WITH YOU ON WHERE WE GO NEXT.
UH, IT'S EXCITING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS AT DIGNITY HEALTH.
WE'VE GOT EIGHT ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA, SIX OF 'EM IN THE VALLEY.
TWO OF THEM ARE UP IN, IN THE PRESCOTT AREA.
WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OTHER HOSPITALS THAT WE SHARE WITH A PARTNER, SPECIALTY HOSPITALS.
WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE ACCESS POINTS.
OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS THAT STAND BY THEMSELVES.
WE'VE GOT 14 OF THOSE THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY.
THE CLOSEST ONE TO YOU IS IN GOODYEAR.
WE'VE GOT A SMALLER HOSPITAL IN LEVINE, NOT FAR FROM YOU.
AND WE COULD TALK MORE ABOUT, WE'VE GOTTA FILL IN, IN AVONDALE, WE'RE AROUND YOU, BUT WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT WITH YOU.
SO WE'VE GOT SOME EXCITEMENT ABOUT THAT.
UM, 15,000 CAREGIVERS EVERY DAY COME TO WORK AT DIGNITY HEALTH, UH, TO PERPETUATE OUR MINISTRY, TO BE GOD'S HEALING PRESENCE TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL PREFERENCE FOR THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, AND THAT'S WHAT MARTHA TALKED ABOUT.
WE, UH, WE HAVE A OWNERSHIP IN A, IN A MEDICAID PLAN AS WELL.
AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
WE ALSO HAVE A REAL PLEDGE TO BE ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.
AND SO WE THINK ABOUT PARTNERING WITH FOLKS WHO CAN DO THAT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE PRIDED OURSELVES IN LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
WE'RE A PART OWNER IN PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, AND WE'VE COLLABORATED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
WE, WE DO IT TOGETHER IN THE EAST VALLEY, AND, AND WE THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT TOGETHER IN OTHER PLACES IN THE VALLEY AS WELL.
I'LL CLOSE AND GET READY TO ENGAGE IN THE CONVERSATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING IN THE FUTURE, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WORKFORCE.
THAT'S OUR, OUR GOAL TO BE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK AND PRACTICE.
AND WE CAN TALK A LOT ABOUT THE EFFORTS WE'VE HAD.
WE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MEDICAL SCHOOL HERE NOW AT CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY, AND I'M A PROUD ALUM.
I GOT MY DOCTORATE AT CREIGHTON, SO IT'S GREAT TO WAVE THE BLUE JAY FLAG HERE IN PHOENIX WITH, WITH OUR FRIENDS.
UH, SO WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO PUT OUT THE NEXT GENERATION OF, OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, BOTH PHYSICIANS.
WE HAVE OUR NURSING SCHOOL, OUR PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANTS, OUR PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, OUR PHARMACISTS.
WE TEACH ALL OF THOSE FOLKS HERE IN PHOENIX.
AND ACTUALLY, THE SCHOOL IN PHOENIX IS AS LARGE AS THE HOMESCHOOL IN, IN OMAHA IS.
AND SO REALLY A FOCUS ON WORKFORCE.
AND AS MANY AS WE'RE MINTING EACH YEAR, WE'RE STILL NOT MINTING ENOUGH.
AND IT TAKES ALL OF US COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO PERPETUATE THAT NEXT GENERATION OF THE WORKFORCE.
SO CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE'RE FOCUSED ON.
AND THEN, AS MARTHA SAID, THE, THE, THE ECONOMICS ARE DIFFICULT IN HEALTHCARE.
THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT, BUT EVEN MORE SO NOW WHERE REIMBURSEMENT IS SQUEEZED AND, AND THREATENED.
AND THEN ECONOMICS, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR COSTS ARE HIGH IF INFLATION IS REAL IN HEALTHCARE, ESPECIALLY LABOR INFLATION AS IT RELATES TO TRYING TO RETAIN TALENT.
SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO ENGAGE WITH LIKE-MINDED FOLKS TO HELP US TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE, UM, AS ATTRACTIVE AS POSSIBLE IN PHOENIX FOR THE WORKFORCE, BUT ALSO HOW TO AFFORD HEALTHCARE WITH EACH OTHER AND THINK ABOUT NOVEL WAYS IN WHICH TO DO IT.
SO AGAIN, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU AND EXCITED TO ENGAGE IN THE CONVERSATION, TELL A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT DIGNITY HEALTH IS DOING IN THE STATE AND IN THE VALLEY.
SO I THINK AT THIS TIME, UH, RON, WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO THE COUNCIL.
CHERYL, COUNCIL, WE'LL START WITH YOU GUYS, UH, LIKE WE DID LAST TIME.
BUT WE DO HAVE A, A LIST OF, UH, UH, I KNOW CHERYL WORKED ON 'EM FOR SEVERAL WEEKS ON THESE QUESTIONS, SO SHE'S HOPEFUL YOU'LL LET HER ASK A COUPLE OF THEM.
BUT, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS.
[01:20:01]
YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.WHEN MARTHA, I'M GONNA KIND OF DIRECT THIS A LITTLE BIT TO YOU, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT LONG-TERM, UM, I THINK ALT TEXTS PROBABLY THE LONG-TERM CARE.
UM, DO YOU SEE A SHORTAGE OF BEDS ANYWHERE IN THE, IN THE WEST VALLEY? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN, UM, IS THAT A NEED THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY MEET? SO THE, THE, THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE ACTUALLY ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE LONG-TERM CARE PROGRAM IS TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS AND REALLY SUPPORT PEOPLE LIVING INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO I WOULD SAY YES, THERE'S A SHORTAGE.
UM, UH, AND SO IS THERE A NEED? YES, I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A NEED.
HOWEVER, THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO BE INSTITUTIONALIZED IF THEY CHOOSE TO STAY IN, UM, IN A, UM, UH, INDEPENDENT SETTING.
NOW, ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, SUPPORTED FACILITIES LIKE THAT, I THINK ARE, THERE'S A CRITICAL NEED FOR THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT OPPORTUNITY FOR SURE TO, TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE, THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OVER THE LONG TERM.
UM, AND, AND I KNOW, UH, CERTAINLY TONY ON YOUR SIDE, THAT YOU'RE, YOU'LL HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT AS WELL.
AS MARTHA SAID, I, I'D SAY ALL OF OUR GOAL IS TO TRY OUR BEST TO KEEP PEOPLE AWAY, RIGHT? UM, AS DR. CONRAD SAID, WE'RE HERE FOR YOU WHEN YOU NEED US, BUT BOY, WE'D RATHER YOU NOT COME.
IT'S KIND OF A WEIRD BUSINESS SOMETIMES, ISN'T IT? YEAH, YEAH.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY.
BUT, BUT JUST A COUPLE STATS FOR YOU, AND OUR TEAM WORKS ON THIS CONSTANTLY.
YOU ALL KNOW THIS AND, AND ME BEING NEW, WE'RE, WE'RE GROWING SO FAST.
SO IF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US THAT ARE IN THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER BUSINESS TODAY, THAT'S HOSPITALS, LONG-TERM CARE, THE FOLKS THAT HAVE THE BIG ASSETS, IF WE COULD GROW AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT TAKES A WHILE TO BUILD IN HEALTHCARE.
I KNOW YOUR PANEL BEFORE WAS TALKING ABOUT, UH, WANTING TO BUILD A LITTLE FASTER.
HEALTHCARE TAKES A WHILE TO BUILD WITH JUST ALL OF OUR REGULATIONS AND EVERYTHING WE DEAL WITH.
IF WE ALL COULD GROW AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, WE WOULD STILL BE SHORT OF THE PHYSICAL BEDS WE NEED.
WE NEED OVER 3000 HOSPITAL BEDS TO MEET THE DEMAND IN THE STATE.
AND, AND AS FAST AS WE'RE GROWING, IT'S STILL GONNA BE THERE.
SO THAT, THAT WHAT MARTHA SAID, WE HAVE TO COMPLIMENT THAT WE ARE GONNA NEED PHYSICAL ASSETS, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO EVOLVE THE WAY WE DELIVER CARE SUCH THAT WE CAN DO IT IN YOUR HOME, OR WE CAN DO IT THROUGH TECHNOLOGY.
AND, AND, AND SO WE, WE HAVE MANY OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING, BUT YOUR QUESTION'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
ONE, BECAUSE IT'S GONNA TAKE ALL OF US TO ENGAGE IN THAT HEALTHCARE CONTINUUM, FAMILIES, CAREGIVERS, ET CETERA, AND THE PHYSICAL ASSETS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T, YOU CAN'T TAKE DR. CONRAD EVERYWHERE.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO COME TO HER RIGHT AT AT MOST, MOST TIMES.
SO I THINK IT'S A COMBO OF WE GOTTA GROW FASTER TOGETHER AND WE GOTTA THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW WE DELIVER HEALTHCARE.
COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE INFORMATION FROM THE PANEL.
I THINK, UH, LIVING IN AVONDALE AND KIND OF THE COLOR SCHEME HERE, IT PUTS ME IN THE MIND OF THE BLUE ZONES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
SO I'M SURE ALL OF YOU KNOW ABOUT THEM.
OKINAWA, JAPAN, SARDINIA, ITAL, ITALY, ARIA GREECE, KOYA PENINSULA, COSTA RICA, AND LOMA LINDA, CALIFORNIA.
SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT AVONDALE, I WANT THE PEOPLE HERE TO LIVE HEALTHY LIVES, WHICH IS WHY THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FROM CHILDHOOD TO LONG-TERM CARE AT THE END OF THE LIFE CYCLE IS IMPORTANT.
BUT MY FOCUS REALLY IS ON HOW, HOW DO WE GET TO THAT STATUS WHERE WE'RE NOT CONSTANTLY MEDICATING AND CARING FOR, BUT WE CAN ACTUALLY ENJOY A FRUITFUL, HEALTHY LIFE.
AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE, UH, ONE CLOSEST TO US, I'LL GIVE YOU SOME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS.
THERE'S A NETFLIX OUT THERE IF YOU GUYS ARE REALLY INTERESTED, BUT YOU LOOK AT LOMA LINDA, CALIFORNIA, NOT FAR.
SO SAME TYPE OF CLIMATE AND EVERYTHING, ATMOSPHERE, ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
UM, SOMETHING THAT I GREW UP VERY CLOSE TO.
IT'S THE HOME TO THE LARGEST POPULATION OF SEVEN DAY ADVENTISTS WHO ARE RANKED AMONG NORTH AMERICA'S LONGEST LIVING PEOPLE TO MINISTRY, RIGHT? UM, AND THEN THEY LIVE AS MUCH AS DECADES LONGER THAN MOST AMERICANS.
AND WHY DOES THAT HAPPEN? PREDOMINANTLY A PLANT-BASED DIET.
WE'RE AN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY HERE IN AVONDALE.
UM, MODERATE CALORIE INTAKE, LOW CONSUMPTION OF TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL, HIGH SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT, WHICH IS WHY I LOVE THINGS LIKE OUR SENIOR CENTER AND OUR CHILDCARE GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE RANGE.
AND THEN EXERCISE BEING AN INTEGRAL PART OF LIFE.
IF YOU GUYS COULD GIVE US A FORECAST ON WHAT WE COULD DO TO TRANSITION THIS SPACE AND THIS PLACE INTO LIKE A BLUE ZONE WHERE, YEAH, WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING THROUGH.
WE GOT A LOT OF CONCERNS WITH AIR QUALITY, SAFE STREETS, ALL THESE OTHER THINGS, BUT HOW DO WE MAKE THOSE PEOPLE AROUND US REALIZE THIS IS REALLY WHAT WE WANT HERE.
UM, SO I LOVE THE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE SPORTS COMPLEX, THE PARKS HERE.
LIKE, I LOVE WHEN WE SEE KIDS THAT COME IN WITH AN ANKLE INJURY FROM PLAYING SOCCER, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT KIDS SHOULD BE DOING.
THEY SHOULD BE OUT THERE, UM, ENGAGING IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO I LOVE THE DIFFERENT, LIKE, HAVING THOSE THINGS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO, UM, ALL
[01:25:01]
TYPES OF CHILDREN.UM, SO IT KEEPS THEM ACTIVE AS WELL AS OBVIOUSLY, UM, ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, NUTRITIOUS FOODS, UM, COMMUNITY, RIGHT? THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WITH THE BLUE ZONE IS ENGAGING IN A COMMUNITY, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU MAKE IT A LIFESTYLE, UM, THAT'S WHERE IT CAN LIKE, CHANGE THEIR ENTIRE COURSE.
SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANYTHING LIKE IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU CAN DO OTHER THAN KEEP PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES FOR THE CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW? 'CAUSE I LOVE TO SEE, UM, A KID WHO COMES IN WITH A SPORTS INJURY VERSUS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ON THEIR PHONE AND DOOM SCROLLING AND, YOU KNOW, NOW HAS ANXIETY OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, YOU KNOW, RELATED TO THAT.
SO I, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT, UH, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YEAH.
PARTNERSHIPS, I WOULD SAY PARTNERSHIPS ARE REALLY CRITICAL.
SO, UM, WE, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES TO HELP, UM, BUILD, JUST IN CASE.
BETTER, UM, UH, TO BUILD FITNESS COURTS AND FITNESS PROGRAMS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO I KNOW WE, WE DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS ALREADY HERE IN AVONDALE TOGETHER, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT PARTNERSHIPS WITH, UH, FOOD PANTRIES TO PROVIDE FRESH PRODUCE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT I THINK ARE REALLY CRITICAL IN THE COMMUNITY TO START YOUNG AND MAKE SURE OUR KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT, THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES AND THAT THOSE ARE ENCOURAGED IN THE COMMUNITY.
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH YOU, DR. CONRAD, IN TERMS OF JUST STARTING EARLY.
UM, I THINK THAT'S PART OF OUR CHALLENGE WITH, WITH RESPECT TO WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SIDE, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK IF WE, IF WE ARE ABLE TO PARTNER TOGETHER THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS AND YOURS, I THINK WE'VE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET US GOING IN THAT DIRECTION TOWARD MORE OF A BLUE ZONE CONCEPT.
AND, AND SO, UH, NIA IN ITALY, I'M A BIG LOVE ITALY.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A TERM CALLED SATA.
WHAT IT MEANS IS BASICALLY TO TAKE A WALK AFTER YOU EAT, RIGHT? SO IF YOU SEE IN ITALY, AFTER THEY DINE, THEY'LL, THEY'LL WALK AS A COMMUNITY, THEY'LL WALK THE, THE STREETS ARE SAFE AND IT'S A COMMUNAL ACTIVITY, AND YOU'RE MOVING AFTER YOU EAT, WHICH IS GOOD FOR DIGESTION.
AND IT'S INTERESTING AS A COMMUNITY LIKE THIS, INSTEAD OF HAVING A, A PARTICULAR WEEKEND WHERE WE DO A WALK OR A RACE OR SOMETHING, MAYBE EVERY EVENING AFTER DINNER, YOU ENCOURAGE PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES TO TAKE A WALK.
UM, IT, IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST AN INTERESTING WAY TO THINK ABOUT STAYING CONNECTED FOR YOUR HEALTH.
THAT'S EVERY DAY, NOT JUST A PARTICULAR ONCE OR TWICE EVENT.
SO IT'S, IT IS, THOSE BLUE ZONES ARE REALLY INTERESTING TO STUDY, BUT, UM, THAT'S WHAT MY FAMILY WE TRY TO DO IS ALWAYS TAKE A WALK AFTER WE EAT.
I THINK THAT JUST KIND OF REAFFIRMS, AT LEAST FOR ME, UM, AND I HOPE FOR OTHERS AS MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, OF THE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY, UH, IN REGARDS TO WALKABILITY FACTOR, UH, CONNECTIVITY WITH OUR TRAIL SYSTEM AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, UH, AND MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE.
BECAUSE BEING THAT AVONDALE, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM ITS ORIGINATION TO NOW HAS BEEN A LITTLE SPREAD APART, THEN I BELIEVE THAT AS POLICY MAKERS, OUR JOB SHOULD BE TO INVEST IN CLOSING THOSE GAPS.
AND, AND WE'VE, WE'VE MADE BIG STRIDES AND WE'VE DONE THAT.
UM, BUT THERE'S OBVIOUSLY MORE THAT WE CAN DO, UM, TO, UH, PROVIDE THAT BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUR RESIDENTS IN ADDITION TO, UM, STARTING EARLY, AS YOU MENTIONED, WITH SPORTS PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS IN GENERAL THAT JUST GET THE EXERCISE GOING AND, UM, A A CHANGE OF LIFESTYLE.
OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE PANEL FOR BEING HERE.
I REALLY DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I HAVE A COMMENT.
UM, I'M SO THANKFUL THAT PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IS HERE.
SO I HAVE A 10-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, AND SO SHE BROKE HER FOOT AT SCHOOL AND I TOOK HER RIGHT AWAY TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
AND AFTER THAT THEY SAID, WELL, WE'LL COME BACK FOR A CAST LATER.
AND I THOUGHT, OKAY, I'M GONNA PROBABLY HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TO GET THE CAST.
BUT LITTLE DID I KNOW, I GOT A TEXT WHILE I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT SO THAT SHE CAN COME BACK AND GET THE CAST.
AND THE CAST WAS RIGHT THERE IN THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR.
AND SO I'M JUST THANKFUL TO HAVE IT FOR THE CONVENIENCE SAKE.
AND WHEN I WAS THERE, I JUST LOOKED AROUND THE ROOM AND I JUST THOUGHT, WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO HAVE THIS HOSPITAL IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE OUR DEMOGRAPHIC IS FAMILIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN THAT COME HERE.
AND I JUST THOUGHT IT SAVED US A DRIVE GOING ALL THE WAY TO PHOENIX, YOU KNOW, AND USING THE HOSPITAL THERE.
UM, BUT BEFORE, UM, SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED TO HER A FEW YEARS AGO, I WAS IN PANIC MODE AND I THOUGHT, I CAN'T MAKE IT ALL THE WAY OUT TO THAT HOSPITAL, UM, IN PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN PHOENIX.
[01:30:01]
AND AT THAT TIME, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE EMERGENCY ROOM OPEN IN THIS LOCATION.SO I TOOK HER TO A DIFFERENT HOSPITAL IN THE WEST VALLEY.
AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, SERVICE FOR KIDS IS WAY DIFFERENT THAN ADULTS.
WHEN WE WENT INTO THAT HOSPITAL, WE STAYED FOR A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN WE WERE WAITING AND WAITING AND IT WAS JUST SO UNCOMFORTABLE.
I TOLD MY HUSBAND, WE GOTTA GO, WE GOTTA TAKE HER ALL THE WAY TO THE OTHER PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
AND I'M SO GLAD I DID, BUT I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO.
SOME THINGS WERE MENTIONED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH, YOU KNOW, AS A COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, AND SO I KNOW WE STRIVE TO DO THINGS WITH OUR KIDS TO KEEP THEM OFF OF THEIR PHONE, OFF OF SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO WHETHER IT'S PARKS AND REC, WHICH WE HAVE A WONDERFUL ROBUST PROGRAMMING, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITY, UM, THAT WE HAVE.
AND LIKE, UH, MAYOR MENTIONED WORKING ON OUR TRAIL SYSTEM AND JUST, UM, NEW OPPORTUNITIES KEEPS COMING TO MY MIND.
AND THIS IS A WAY FOR US TO GET FEEDBACK FROM YOU GUYS ON THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR FAMILIES SO THAT THEY CAN BE HEALTHY.
SO, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, CAN WE LET CHERYL ASK A QUESTION? I THINK SHE'D BE SAD IF SHE DIDN'T GET TO ASK ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
YOU KNOW, I JUST LOVE THE MIC, BUT I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, STARTING THEM YOUNG, WE DO IN AVONDALE, RIGHT? 700,000 OF THEM EVERY SINGLE YEAR AT THE SPORTS CENTER.
SO, UM, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRAM WE WE HAVE HERE THAT DOES LEAD US TO POTENTIALLY A BLUE ZONE COMMUNITY.
SO, UM, PANEL, HOW CAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS COLLABORATE TO TACKLE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS LIKE OPIOID ADDICTION AND RISING CHRONIC CONDITIONS.
SO THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY BIG TOPIC.
MANY OF US HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, BEEN TALKING ABOUT POLICE CHIEF, FIRE CHIEF, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THIS ISSUE GOING ON.
WHAT'S SOME OF YOUR FEEDBACK OF HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO TRY TO TACKLE THIS? UH, IT'S A SUCH AN IMPORTANT ONE.
THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THERE.
I'LL JUST, I'LL START WITH OPIOIDS, JUST TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UNDERSTANDING.
AND, AND MAYBE DR. CONRAD COULD JUMP IN HERE TOO.
WE, WE'VE SEEN A CHANGE IN OUR PRACTICE OVER THE YEARS, JUST GIVEN WHAT IS HAPPENING.
AND SO MANY, MANY OF OUR CLINICIANS THAT IN THE PAST WOULD'VE USED OPIOIDS TO HELP WITH PAIN RELIEF ARE THINKING DIFFERENTLY.
YOU KNOW, MANY OF OUR ORTHOPEDIC PROCEDURES, AS AN EXAMPLE, WE DO THINGS THAT ARE CALLED NERVE BLOCKS NOW.
AND, AND THEY'RE, WE CAN DO THEM IN MANY, MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AND IN MUCH MORE, MANY MORE PROCEDURES THAN WE HAD IN THE PAST.
THAT WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY LARGE PROCEDURES WE DO NOW THAT WE DON'T USE OPIOIDS AT ALL.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE.
I THINK AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO GET, GET THE WORD OUT AND EDUCATION OF, OF WHAT ALL THIS MEANS.
I DO APPLAUD ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS HERE FOR YOUR ABILITY TO TRAIN YOURSELVES AND BE READY FOR, UM, THE MEDICATIONS THAT CAN REVERSE, UM, SOME OF THESE THINGS.
AND THANK YOU FOR ANYONE WHO WAS PUSHING, FOR GETTING YOU ALL EQUIPPED WITH THOSE THINGS, THE NARCANS, ET CETERA.
AND I THINK LASTLY IS WE, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT, THAT, THAT THE STIGMA THAT COMES WITH EITHER MENTAL HEALTH OR, OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO SAY IT'S, IT'S, IT SHOULDN'T BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER CHRONIC AILMENT.
AND SO WE HAVE TO FIRST START WITH, IT'S OKAY IF SOMEONE ADMITS THAT THEY, THEY NEED HELP AND WE NEED TO BE ACTIVATED TO, TO ASSIST THEM.
SO I THINK IT STARTS WITH DECREASING THE NEED FOR OPIOIDS.
IT, IT, IT HELPS WITH INTERVENING IN THE EMERGENT SITUATIONS.
AND THEN I THINK IT, IT HELPS WITH DECREASING THE STIGMA AND THEN ALLOWING PEOPLE TO ACCESS THE PROGRAMS THAT WE, WE ALL HAVE TO HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE JOURNEY OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
WE ALSO, UM, WE HAVE A GRANT, UM, IN THE HOSPITAL WHERE WE, UM, CAN OFFER PATIENTS WHO COME IN FOR ANY TYPE OF, UM, OVERDOSE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO SEE THAT IN OUR TEENAGE POPULATION.
UM, WE CAN OFFER THEM A FREE, UH, NARCAN TO TAKE HOME WITH THEM, WHICH IS, UM, OPIOID REVERSAL.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES THESE KIDS ARE GOING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITIES, GOING BACK TO THEIR HOMES, AND THEN PARENTS ARE VERY FEARFUL, LIKE, WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN? YOU KNOW, SO THIS ACTUALLY EMPOWERS THEM TO HAVE SOMETHING AT HOME THAT THEY CAN GIVE WHILE THEY CALL 9 1 1, YOU KNOW, AND ARE WAITING FOR AN AMBULANCE TO RESPOND.
AND ALL OF OUR PHYSICIANS, UM, DO CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION EVERY YEAR ON, UM, OPIOID ABUSE AND ADDICTION.
UM, AND WE ALSO DO, WE TRY NOT TO USE OPIOIDS, UH, FIRST LINE AS PAIN IN CHILDREN EITHER.
AND I'LL ALSO ADD THAT WE, WE CERTAINLY TRY TO GET CARE OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AS, AS QUICK AND AS EXPEDITIOUS AS POSSIBLE.
UM, WE OFFER, UH, A PROGRAM CALLED THE BRIDGE CLINIC.
AND WHAT IT ESSENTIALLY IS, IS A, IS A MEANS FOR CHILDREN THAT ARE DISCHARGED FROM OUR
[01:35:01]
ED THAT, UM, WITH, UH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONCERNS, IF THEY DON'T HAVE A, UH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDER, UH, WE PROVIDE THAT TO THEM.AND WE, WE ASSESS THAT, UM, AT DISCHARGE.
SO AS, AS A NAME IMPLIES, IT'S A, IT'S A BRIDGING STRATEGY, BUT, UM, WE, WE ENSURE THAT, UM, THE CHILD IS CARED FOR, UM, IN TERMS OF THE NEEDS THAT THEY NEED THROUGH THEIR JOURNEY, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, TWO DAYS, TWO WEEKS, TWO MONTHS.
AND SO WHERE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO US, WE'RE ALSO, UM, WE BEGINNING TO, UH, WORK WITH OUR, UH, NETWORK OF PEDIATRICIANS TO PROVIDE, UH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THERAPISTS WITHIN THEIR PEDIATRIC OFFICES.
SO IT'S NOT COMING DOWNTOWN TO THE THOMAS CAMPUS.
UM, WE'RE GETTING BETTER AT, UM, HAVING THERAPISTS, UM, ROTATE, IF YOU WILL, THROUGH OUR GENERAL PEDIATRIC PRACTICES AND OUR NETWORKS TO ENSURE THAT THAT SERVICE IS OUT THERE AS WELL.
MR. MAYOR, IF I CAN ASK, SO, UM, YOU, IF YOU WERE HERE EARLIER, YOU HEARD US TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, UM, WHAT CAN THE CITY DO TO GET MORE ACCESS FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO HEALTHCARE, BEHAVIORAL, MEDICAL AND OTHERS? WHAT CAN WE DO TO BRING MORE FACILITIES HERE? WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU GET MORE STAFFING SO THAT YOU HAVE MORE PROVIDERS? UH, MORE CARE.
WE WANNA INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, BEHAVIORAL, AND OTHERWISE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK ARIZONA LACKS, UH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, UH, SIGNIFICANTLY.
AND SO WHAT CAN, WHAT CAN WE, WHAT CAN OUR COUNCIL DO TO HELP ENCOURAGE, UH, HEALTHCARE, UH, WORKFORCE GROWTH ACCESS HERE IN AVONDALE? YEAH, A COUPLE POINTS THERE.
I'D SAY THE WHOLE COUNTRY NEEDS MORE MENTAL HEALTH CAREGIVERS FOR SURE.
AND SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT, AND I'D SAY NOT ONLY JUST MENTAL HEALTH, BUT JUST BROADLY CAREGIVERS STARTING AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO THINK ABOUT, UH, HEALTHCARE AS A CAREER FIELD.
AND IT, AND IT ISN'T HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYBODY IS GONNA BE A PHYSICIAN OR A NURSE, BUT WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN SERVE IN HEALTHCARE.
AND SO STARTING EARLY WOULD BE ONE.
THE SECOND, AND I THINK THE PANEL BEFORE US WAS PROBABLY THE EXPERTS ON THIS, BUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE CAREGIVERS THAT WORK IN HEALTHCARE IS GONNA BE CRITICAL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER HEALTHCARE, OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT? SO I THINK ANYTHING WE CAN DO TOGETHER TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME TO THE VALLEY.
WE ARE GROWING, SO WE NEED ALL THE CAREGIVERS TO COME TO, BUT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE CLOSE TO WHERE THEY WORK.
AND SO THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN, WE CAN SPEND SOME TIME ON.
AND THEN I THINK THE LAST THING IS, AS I MENTIONED, WE CAN'T GROW FAST ENOUGH.
SO CONTINUING TO STAY CREATIVE IN WAYS AT WHICH WE CAN BLEND THINGS THAT YOU'RE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT.
I LOVE THAT COMMENT ABOUT THE BLUE ZONE.
SO IF WE'RE ALREADY PUTTING ASSETS INTO PLAY FOR THE COMMUNITY, IS THERE A HEALTHCARE COMPLIMENT THAT COULD BE, BE PUT, UH, YOU KNOW, CONNECTED TO THAT PERHAPS THAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT TOGETHER? UH, SO I THINK THOSE TO ME WOULD BE, UH, GET THE WORD OUT.
HEALTHCARE'S A GREAT PLACE TO WORK.
UH, WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO DO IT.
UH, WE NEED HELP IN AFFORDING THE HOUSING FOR OUR CAREGIVERS.
AND THEN LET'S BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE CAN USE SHARED RESOURCES TO ACTIVATE, UM, ACCESS POINTS IN, IN THE DELIVERY SYSTEM.
AND TONY, UH, REAL QUICK ON THAT NOTE, UM, I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF THE CEOS OF THE HOSPITAL AND I WAS TALKING ABOUT RESIDENCY, LACK OF RESIDENCY PROGRAMS FOR PHYSICIANS WE'RE SHORT ON PCPS PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS.
AND HE WAS MENTIONING ACTUALLY THE SAME THING TO THAT, TO THAT NOTE THAT, YOU KNOW, RESIDENCY PROGRAMS ARE PAYING ON AVERAGE 60,000 ANNUALLY.
SO A RESIDENT HAS TO GO THROUGH A TWO TO FOUR YEAR PROGRAM ON THAT SALARY.
AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE, JUST TO GIVE A FULL, UM, CONTEXT TO THAT TOPIC, UH, THAT WAS A A POINT DISCUSSION.
YEAH, AND I, I WOULD JUST ADD THAT, UM, SO COULD NOT AGREE MORE ON THE HOUSING COMMENT BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT, RIGHT, IF, IF RESIDENTS ARE PAID $60,000 A YEAR AND THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO, UM, TO, TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY'RE GETTING TRAINED, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF THEIR LONGEVITY FOR STAYING IN THE COMMUNITY? BUT I THINK THAT, UM, IN TERMS OF OTHER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WE DO NEED OTHER, UM, SUPPORT ROLES WITHIN THE DELIVERY SYSTEM, NOT JUST PHYSICIANS.
WE DO HAVE A NATIONAL SHORTAGE, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT WITH RESPECT TO PHYSICIANS, BUT DEVELOPING PROGRAMS IN OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND EVEN HIGH SCHOOL, UM, PROGRAMS TO GET PEOPLE READY FOR WORKING IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
SO WE'VE DONE, UM, UH, FOUNDATION GRANTS TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO HELP DEVELOP THEIR PROGRAMS AND EXPAND THEIR PROGRAMS. WE'VE GOTTA HAVE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS FUNDAMENTALLY IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND TO YOUR POINT, WE'RE GROWING.
WE CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.
SO I THINK THAT WAS A WONDERFUL QUESTION BECAUSE IT IS, I MEAN, THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE THROUGHOUT ALL OF ARIZONA AND IN AVONDALE.
[01:40:01]
WE DON'T WANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU, YOU SAY YOU'RE SENDING CHILDREN HOME WITH NARCAN, LIKE THAT'S REALLY SAD TO HEAR.UM, BUT I DO KNOW THAT, UM, I'M A VETERAN.
SO WHEN I WAS IN AFGHANISTAN AND I GOT BLOWN UP, THE FIRST THING THEY DID IS MEDICATE ME, RIGHT? THEY GAVE ME LIKE ALL THE SLEEPING PILLS, ALL THE THINGS TO NUMB ME.
AND THEN I CAME HOME AND THEY GAVE ME MORE MEDICATIONS.
LIKE IT WAS ALWAYS MORE MEDICATION, MORE MEDICATION.
BUT ONCE I LEFT THE MILITARY AND I CAME INTO THE COMMUNITY, THE VA DIDN'T REALLY PROVIDE REALLY GOOD SERVICES FOR ME.
AND WHAT HELPED ME WAS COMMUNITY SERVICES.
UM, NOW I'M A-P-T-S-D PEER COACH, A CERTIFIED COACH.
AND I THINK BEING ABLE TO OFFER THOSE, UM, PROGRAMS TO ASSIST PEOPLE TO GO TO THEIR PEERS, ESPECIALLY, UM, AND IT ISN'T BAD FOR LIKE, THE WAY I'M GONNA, THE WAY I'M GONNA SAY IT'S NOT GONNA COME OUT.
THERE'S A BAD STIGMA RIGHT NOW WITH HAVING MENTAL HEALTH COACHES IN SCHOOLS OR IN DIFFERENT AREAS BECAUSE YOU KNOW OF THE CLIMATE WE LIVE IN AND HOW CAN WE GET THE, THE COMMUNITY TO TRUST THOSE PEOPLE AGAIN, TO ALLOW THEM, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A HUGE MENTAL CRISIS ISSUE AND THE OPIOID ISSUE.
AND I, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TRUST SOMEBODY THAT I TAKE MY SON TO.
AND NOT THAT THEY'RE GONNA, UM, AFFIRM SOMETHING HE DOES, BUT TO COR TO CORRECT IT OR TO HELP HIM ACTUALLY GET THROUGH IT.
I KNOW THAT I AM REALLY THANKFUL THAT YOU GUYS DON'T GIVE OUT AS MANY OPIOIDS NOW.
'CAUSE NOW IF I'M IN PAIN AND I GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND I'M USED TO THAT, THEY GIVE ME LIKE TYLENOL AND I'M LIKE, I NEED SOMETHING STRONGER LIKE IN MY HEAD, BUT I DON'T.
IT'S BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO IT AND I, AND I, AND PERSONALLY I SEEN THE DIFFERENCE IN IT, BUT NOW I, LIKE, I HAD TO FIND IT MYSELF.
LIKE I HAD TO FIND RESOURCES ON MY OWN BECAUSE THE HOSPITALS WERE JUST MEDICATING ME.
SO I THINK BEING ABLE TO OFFER THOSE PEER COACHES OR THOSE, THOSE DIFFERENT TYPE OF, UM, HEALTHCARE, LIKE ROADS THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO MEDICATE THEMSELVES ANYMORE.
AND I THINK SOMETHING, UM, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE MENTIONED WAS LIKE, EXERCISE, EATING.
YOU KNOW, GOING OUTSIDE LIKE THAT IS HUGE IN THE MENTAL, LIKE FOR YOUR MENTAL STABILITY, BEING ABLE TO GO OUT IN THE SUN.
UM, DO YOU GUYS PROMOTE THAT WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS COME IN THERE? OR ADULTS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH LIKE REALLY HARD ISSUES? YOU GO LIKE, HEY, YOU NEED, LIKE, YOU NEED SUN, YOU NEED TO GO OUTSIDE AND EXERCISE, YOU NEED TO GO WALKING.
UM, I KNOW I HAVE A REALLY BAD BACK AND MY PHYSICAL THERAPIST, I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR THEM.
THEY TOLD ME, DO NOT GET BACK SURGERY UNTIL YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO WALK BECAUSE YOU'LL PROBABLY BE WORSE OFF IN PAIN.
AND THEY, THEY RECOMMENDED WORKING OUT.
LIKE, IF I DON'T WORK OUT MY BACK, I AM IN PAIN, BUT IF I DO WORK OUT, I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER.
AND I THINK THOSE AVENUES ARE A LOT BETTER.
BUT YOU MENTIONED IT LIKE YOU GUYS ARE WORKING LESS ON THAT AND MORE, SO THAT'S GREAT.
BUT I WANNA KNOW, LIKE IF YOU GUYS PROMOTE IT WITH THE CHILDREN AS WELL.
I WOULD SAY WE ARE DEFINITELY, UM, AND WE RECENTLY ACTUALLY DEVELOPED, UH, LIKE AN INTEGRATIVE HEALTH CLINIC AS WELL.
SO SOME FOR SOME OF OUR, UM, KIDS WHO MAY HAVE, UM, CHRONIC COMPLAINTS THAT WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE POTENTIALLY TO LIKE, OR MAYBE CHRONIC PAIN FROM, FROM A SERIOUS INJURY OR SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN START TO DEVELOP, UM, WE CAN TRY OTHER AVENUES, YOU KNOW, UM, TO REALLY PROMOTE THEM TO HAVE A FULL AND ACTIVE LIFE.
'CAUSE THEY'RE YOUNG, YOU KNOW, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY, UM, THEY CAN BE AS HAPPY AS THEY CAN BE FOR THEIR LIFE.
BUT YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, THAT WE PROMOTE.
YEAH, I, I WOULD JUST ADD, YOU, YOU COMMENTED ON PEER SUPPORT.
UM, ACCESS THE MEDICAID PROGRAM HERE IN ARIZONA REQUIRES THAT WE OFFER PEER AND FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND, UM, WE HAVE FOUND THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCES ARE, ARE MUCH BETTER EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT SOMEONE THROUGH SU THEIR JOURNEYS.
UM, AND SO WE, WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST PEER AND FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM, UH, TO SUPPORT FOLKS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER CHALLENGES OR OTHER CHALLENGES THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED IN THEIR LIFE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN, THAT CAN BACK TO A MORE PRODUCTIVE SPACE.
SO AB ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT.
CHERYL, DO YOU WANNA YEAH, WRAP THIS UP? WRAPPING IT UP.
WELL, I THINK WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE OTHER QUESTIONS I HAD ANYHOW, WHICH WAS ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND GAPS, UM, AND SOME OPPORTUNITIES.
SO I THINK WE HAD A REALLY GREAT DISCUSSION HERE TODAY.
UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR PANEL FOR COMING IN AND BEING WITH US TODAY, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR COUNCIL FOR HAVING THIS REALLY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO, TO HEAR FROM THE DIRECT COMMUNITY, OUR STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH AVONDALE.
SO LET'S GIVE 'EM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[01:45:02]
THANK YOU ALL.WE'LL TAKE ABOUT A FIVE MINUTE BREAK, RON.
LISA JUST GAVE ME A DIRTY LOOK, SO I WAS JUST, I KNOW, I'M LIKE, GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH OUR NEXT PANEL.
WE'LL BE HAVING OUR HUMAN SERVICES, A NONPROFIT PANEL, AND I WILL GO AHEAD AND PASS IT OVER TO CHRIS LOPEZ, OUR DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES TO GET US STARTED.
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE FACILITATING THIS CONVERSATION.
UM, I FEEL LIKE IT'S A REUNION HERE.
UM, OUR PANEL MEMBERS ARE ALL LONGTIME SUPPORTERS OF THE RESOURCE CENTER AND REALLY THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
UM, SO AGAIN, JUST EXCITED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH OUR FRIENDS HERE.
UM, I'M GONNA START, UH, INTRODUCING OUR PANELISTS HERE.
MOST OF THEM YOU ALREADY KNOW, BUT, UH, NEXT TO ME HERE IS KATHY DFI.
SHE'S OUR CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER WITH A NEW LEAF.
UH, NEXT TO HER WE HAVE SAM LEBAS.
HE'S THE VICE PRESIDENT OF CORPORATE RELATIONS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY WITH UNITED WAY.
AND THEN WE HAVE ALSO WITH US HERE TODAY, DELANEY RUSSELL, THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR FIRST THINGS FIRST.
WITH THAT MAYOR, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND, UH, KICK IT OVER TO KATHY AND HAVE HER TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER ORGANIZATION AND SOME OF THE TRENDS THAT SHE'S SEEN IN THE COMMUNITY AND, UM, HOW SHE, UH, ENVISIONS US WORKING, UH, TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE.
COUNSEL, I WAS JUST HONOR TO BE HERE.
WHAT AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER CITY THAT'S DOING THIS, SO THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.
I'VE BEEN WITH A NEWLY FOR 28 YEARS.
UM, WE ARE A LARGE HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATION.
I'M SURE MOST OF YOU HAVE HEARD OF US, ALTHOUGH FOR UNTIL ABOUT 2000 WE WERE STRICTLY EAST VALLEY BASED.
AND THEN WE SKIPPED OVER TO GLENDALE, UM, AND, AND PROVIDED SERVICES THERE THROUGH FAITH HOUSE, UM, OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER.
AND SINCE THEN WE'VE BEEN GROWING AND GROWING MOSTLY THROUGH MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS.
UM, AND WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH AVONDALE FOR, I WAS TRYING TO REMEMBER CHRIS, MAYBE EIGHT TO 10 YEARS AT LEAST.
UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, WORKING TOGETHER AS YOUR CITY GROWS AND AS THE NEEDS OF YOUR CITY GROWS.
UM, WE'VE HAD A STAFF MEMBER HERE FOR ABOUT THREE TO FIVE YEARS HELPING WITH HOUSING, UM, MOTEL VOUCHERS, UH, PEOPLE THAT COME INTO THE RESOURCE CENTER THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
UM, AND, AND, UM, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF NEED THAT SHOULDN'T SURPRISE YOU.
UM, IN ALL OF OUR, UH, IN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS, WE HAVE ABOUT, UH, ABOUT 40 PROGRAMS ADDRESSING HOUSING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UM, CERTAINLY FOSTER CARE, UH, COMMUNITY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
WE EVEN HAVE, UM, A CONTRACT WITH THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT FOR UNACCOMPANIED MINORS, UM, THAT WE SHELTER.
UM, SO WE'RE SEEING, UM, MOST RECENTLY WE'RE SEEING A REAL, UH, REAL NEED, UM, FOR, UH, STABILITY AROUND FUNDING.
OF COURSE, WE'RE NOT SURE FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT, UM, RECENTLY WHAT OUR FUNDING'S GONNA LOOK LIKE.
AND EVEN THAT, UH, EVEN THAT'S CONCERNING WITH RESPECT TO PRIVATE FUNDS, UM, AND THE WAY, UH, PRIVATE DONORS WANT THEIR DOLLARS TO BE USED.
SO, UM, I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THERE'S A HOUSING CRISIS
SO WE TRY AND ADDRESS THAT CONTINUUM, CONTINUUM AT A NEW LEAF.
UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S A CHALLENGE.
IT'S A DAILY CHALLENGE IN FINDING THE RESOURCES TO DO SU DO SO WITH SUCH A GREAT NEED.
NEXT, I'D LIKE TO KICK IT OVER TO SAM TO TELL US A LITTLE, LITTLE BIT ABOUT UNITED WAY AND, UH, NEEDS THAT THEY'RE SEEING.
I'M MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
IT'S SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE.
I THOUGHT YOU SAID SOMETHING, SORRY.
UM, UM, UH, FIRST I WANNA START BY SAYING THANK YOU, UM, TO MR. UH, CORBIN AND MR. LOPEZ FOR THEIR TREMENDOUS PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION WITH, UH, UNITED WAY.
BUT I THINK ALL OF OUR NONPROFITS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, IT MAKES, MAKES THE JOB A LOT EASIER WHEN THERE'S, WHEN IT'S COLLABORATION FOCUSED AND, UM, REALLY FOCUSED ON, UH, THE COMMUNITY ITSELF.
UH, AGAIN, MY NAME IS SAM LAVIS.
I'VE BEEN WITH UNITED WAY FOR, UH, THREE YEARS IN MAY.
AND PRIOR TO THAT, UM, WORKED IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR AND I'M THE FORMER CEO OF FIRST THINGS FIRST.
UH, SO, UH, BORN AND RAISED IN, IN PHOENIX, BUT, UH, PROUD ARIZONA.
BUT, UH, BUT FIRST, UH, FIRST THINGS FIRST, UH, UNITED WAY.
UH, UH, WE'RE ABOUT TO CELEBRATE OUR HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY, UH, THIS FALL.
UM, WE'VE BEEN STRONG PARTNERS.
I, I THINK WITH, UH, UH, UH, THE CITY.
UM, I THINK OUR REAL, UM, I THINK OUR REAL STRENGTH AND OUR,
[01:50:01]
WHAT WE COUNT AS OUR STRONGEST CAPABILITY AS AN ORGANIZATION IS THIS ROLE WE PLAY AT THE INTERSECTION OF, UH, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY.UM, IN THE SENSE THAT, UH, WE PARTNER WITH ABOUT 400, UH, ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING, UM, CITIES, BUT ALSO, UM, UH, FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS AND COMPANIES, AND TRY TO CONNECT THEM WITH THE NEEDS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND TRY TO ALIGN THEIR PHILANTHROPIC GOALS, UH, THE PRIORITIES AND THE GENEROSITY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES, UH, WITH REAL ISSUES AT A COMMUNITY LEVEL.
AND I THINK THAT'S, UM, SORT OF BEEN THE HISTORY OF UNITED WAY AND WHERE WE SEE OURSELVES IN THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS, UH, COMING OUT OF COVID.
UH, AND UNDER SOME NEW LEADERSHIP WITH, UH, UH, UH, NEW CEO AT THE TIME, UH, CARLA VARGAS JASA, UM, AND OUR BOARD AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS REALLY TOOK, I THINK, A REALLY DELIBERATE AND CONCERTED EFFORT TO REASSESS WHAT LIFE WAS GOING TO BE LIKE AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY PRIORITIES WERE THROUGHOUT MARICOPA COUNTY, INCLUDING THE WEST VALLEY, AND, UH, ALL OF OUR PARTNERS.
UH, AND THROUGH A YEAR LONG CONVERSATION AT A COMMUNITY LEVEL AND COMMUNITY LEVEL, UH, UH, THROUGH OUR VARIOUS SORT OF COMMUNITIES IN ACROSS MARICOPA COUNTY, WE LANDED ON WHAT WE'RE CALLING OUR, OUR MIGHTY CHANGE AGENDA.
MIGHTY CHANGE 2026, BUT IT'S, THE BROAD STROKES ON IT ARE A REAL FOCUS ON FOUR KEY IMPACT AREAS AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY ACROSS, AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS MARICOPA COUNTY WERE TELLING US WERE PERVASIVE ISSUES AND AREAS THAT IF, UH, WE HAD TO PUT OUR STAKE IN THE GROUND AS A UNITED WAY WHERE THEY WANTED US TO FOCUS.
AND THOSE FOUR IMPACT AREAS ARE NUMBER ONE, EDUCATION.
AND VERY SPECIFICALLY ON THIS IDEA THAT EARLY INVESTMENT IN OUR, OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN IS, IS WHERE WE'RE GONNA SEE THE STRONGEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT UPSTREAM SOLUTIONS.
AND SO WE'RE FOCUSED KEENLY ON LITERACY RATES, THIRD GRADE LITERACY RATES, AND HOW DO WE TURN THE DIAL IN TERMS OF BETTER PROGRESS, UH, BETTER OUTCOMES ON THAT.
THE SECOND IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK OUR COMMITTEE HAS LONG UNDERSTOOD THAT THE, UM, KEY TO BREAKING INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY OR CYCLES OF POVERTY OR ADVANCEMENT FOR OUR, OUR RESIDENTS IS THROUGH, UM, IS ACCESS TO MEANINGFUL AND GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE FOCUSED ON UPSKILLING, RESKILLING JOB TRAINING.
SO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS A KEY PILLAR.
THE THIRD IS HEALTH AND, AND FOOD INSECURITY IS, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE IN FIVE OF OUR CHILDREN AND ONE IN SEVEN OF OUR SENIORS THROUGHOUT MARICOPA COUNTY REGULARLY EXPERIENCED FOOD INSECURITY.
THEY GO HUNGRY, IN OTHER WORDS, ON A, ON A REALLY PERSISTENT BASIS.
SO WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CLOSE THE GAP ON FOOD INSECURITY IS A PRIORITY.
AND THEN THE FOURTH, OF COURSE, IS, UM, IS HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
YOU KNOW, ANY GIVEN NIGHT ACROSS, UH, MARICOPA COUNTY, OVER 9,000 INDIVIDUALS WILL EXPERIENCE SOME FORM OF HOMELESSNESS.
UM, AND SO THE MORE AND MORE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO, UM, UNDERSTAND OUR ROLE IN THAT OPPORTUNITY, UH, UM, IT'S DEFINITELY PARTNERSHIP WITH AWESOME NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE THE CITY, UH, AND THE NEWLEAF.
UM, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE MORE AND MORE FOCUSED NOW ON WHAT CAN PREVENTION LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF SORT OF LIKE, AGAIN, AN UPSTREAM SOLUTION, A VIEW ON, UH, THE FRONT END OF A, OF A PIPELINE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD.
UM, AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE'RE BEGINNING TO DEVELOP AND SHAPE SOME, UH, UH, A REFOCUS FOR UNITED WAY IN THE MONTHS AHEAD IN THE, IN THE YEAR AHEAD.
UM, BUT THAT'S, UH, THAT'S MY INTRODUCTION,
AND THANK YOU FOR, AGAIN, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, SAM.
NEXT, I'D LIKE TO KICK IT OVER TO DELANEY.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD.
I AM A REGIONAL DIRECTOR HERE IN SOUTHWEST MARICOPA.
UM, I HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING SOUTHWEST MARICOPA, ONE OF OUR 28 REGIONS HERE ACROSS THE STATE OF ARIZONA.
SOUTHWEST MARICOPA ENCOMPASSES TOLLESON ALL THE WAY OUT TO HARLA AND THE TONE OF POP BORDER PALO VERDE DOWN TO GILA BEND AND BACK UP.
WE HAVE ROUGHLY 30,000 CHILDREN HERE IN SOUTHWEST MARICOPA, BIRTHED TO AGE FIVE, AND ROUGHLY 7,100 OF THOSE RESIDE IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
UH, WE ARE ONE OF THE CORE PARTNERS AT THE ARIZONA COMPLETE HEALTH AT AVONDALE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER.
AND WE HAVE BEEN A CORE PARTNER SINCE, UH, 2010, I BELIEVE.
UH, IT IS ONE OF 46 FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS THAT WE FUND ACROSS MARICOPA COUNTY.
UH, WE'VE JUST RECENTLY EXPANDED DOWN INTO THE PIMAS AS WELL WITH SANTA CRUZ.
UH, AND WE SUPPORT THE NETWORK OF OTHER COMMUNITY HUBS SIMILAR TO FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE OF ARIZONA.
UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR, THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF A CHILD'S LIFE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT AS THAT IS WHEN 90% OF THOSE, UH, THAT BRAIN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IS OCCURRING.
AND WE ARE THE STATE'S FIRST AND ONLY EARLY CHILDHOOD AGENCY SUPPORTING EARLY CHILDHOOD HERE.
WE DO IT IN MANY DIFFERENT FORMS. ANYTHING FROM FAMILY SUPPORT, PARENTING, EDUCATION, UH, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND SCHOLARSHIPS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, YOU NAME IT.
IF IT TOUCHES A CHILD, CHANCES ARE WE'RE IN THAT SECTOR.
THE WORK THAT THE RESOURCE CENTER HAS DONE OVER THESE LAST 15 YEARS.
OUR DOLLARS HELP FUND TWO FULL-TIME STAFF AT THAT RESOURCE CENTER, JACKIE AND ANTHONY, AND THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
UH, WHEN I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE DATA FOR QUARTER TWO, WE HAD ROUGHLY
[01:55:01]
11,000 PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS COME THROUGH THAT DOOR, DUPLICATED, UH, RECEIVING SERVICES FOR THEIR CHILDREN, BIRTH TO AGE FIVE.UH, THIS RESOURCE CENTER IS ONE OF OUR BUSIEST FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS IN MARICOPA COUNTY.
AND AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, AS THE MOST STATE OF THE ART FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER.
UH, JUST RECENTLY IN JANUARY, WE HAD A TOUR THAT THEY GRACIOUSLY OPENED THEIR DOORS FOR, UH, WITH SOME OF OUR PROVIDERS ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF ARIZONA THROUGH DCS, UH, AND OUR COURT TEAMS, AS WELL AS PREVENT CHILD ABUSE, ARIZONA.
SO, UH, IT IS THE EXAMPLE OF RESOURCE CENTERS.
I LOVE TO SHOW IT OFF ANY CHANCE THAT I GET.
UM, I KNOW SURPRISE IS COMPETING FOR THAT, BUT THEY HAVE ANOTHER TWO YEARS, SO WE'LL, WE'LL STICK IN THE LEAD.
UM, SO WE'RE JUST INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR THE CITY'S CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD FOR YOUR SUPPORT AT HUMAN SERVICES.
I THINK I OWE YOU COFFEE FOR ALL THOSE KIND OF WORDS.
SO
AND I JUST DO HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, I'VE HEARD THAT CHILDCARE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED IN THIS AREA, AND CAN SOMEBODY SPEAK TO THAT? YES.
SO NOT JUST HERE IN AVONDALE, BUT ACROSS THE STATE OF ARIZONA, WE HAVE AN AFFORDABILITY AND AN ACCESSIBILITY CONCERN RELATED TO CHILDCARE.
UH, THE AVERAGE COST OF, UH, INFANT CARE IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA AVERAGES MORE THAN THE COST OF TUITION FOR, UH, UNIVERSITY.
SO IF YOU ARE A FAMILY WITH AN EIGHT WEEK OLD LOOKING TO PARTICIPATE IN CHILDCARE, YOU CAN ANTICIPATE SPENDING ANYWHERE FROM 11,000 TO $15,000 A YEAR, UM, DEPENDING ON THE AREA AND AVAILABILITY.
UH, SO, SO THE COST OF CHILDCARE IS INCREASING AND HAS ONLY INCREASED COVID EXACERBATED, UM, OUR, OUR KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THAT IMPACT TO FAMILIES.
SO THE FURTHER OUT THAT YOU GO OUTSIDE OF MARICOPA COUNTY, YOU DO HAVE, UM, ACCESS ISSUES.
SO THERE'S NOT ENOUGH CHILDCARE CAPACITY TO SERVE.
UM, EVEN HERE IN SOUTHWEST MARICOPA, CONSIDERED A VERY URBAN AREA.
WHEN YOU START GETTING TO THE BUCKEYE AREA, YOU HAVE CHILDCARE DESERTS.
SO HERE IN AVONDALE SPECIFICALLY, YOU HAVE ABOUT SEVEN QUALITY FIRST SITES, WHICH HAS THE CAPACITY TO SERVE ROUGHLY 2000 CHILDREN.
UM, YOU HAVE OTHER UNREGULATED IN HOME CENTERS, BUT, UM, OFTENTIMES THERE'S STILL INACCESSIBLE OR UNAFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES.
WHAT, WHAT CAN THE CITY DO? BECAUSE I THINK THE, THE PROBLEM IS HIGHLIGHTED CLEARLY.
BUT IS IT THE CITY'S ROLE TO SUBSIDIZE THAT? IS IT, WHAT, WHAT CAN CITIES DO? WHAT, WHAT SHOULD COUNCIL DO TO HELP ADDRESS THE PROBLEM? RON, I WAS HOPING YOU WOULD ASK THAT QUESTION.
UH, SO I'LL GIVE YOU A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT ONE OF OUR AMAZING PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX DID TWO YEARS AGO.
THEY SAW THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR AIRPORT EMPLOYEES, UH, TO, THEY HAD A CHILDCARE NEED.
SO THE CITY OF PHOENIX FRONTED, I THINK ROUGHLY FOUR AND A HALF OR $5 MILLION IN CHILDCARE SCHOLARSHIPS, SO THAT EMPLOYEES AT THE AIRPORT WERE ABLE TO UTILIZE SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS TO SEND THEIR CHILD TO A CHILDCARE CENTER SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO WORK.
UM, THAT'S A VERY DRASTIC MEASURE.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO ANTICIPATE.
UH, BUT THINGS LIKE SUBSIDIZING THE COST, UM, IS AN INCREDIBLE STARTING POINT.
ALSO, WORKING WITH BUSINESSES, UM, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES POTENTIALLY TO SET ASIDE, UH, TAX REVENUE, TO CREATE A CHILDCARE FUND, UH, TO BE ABLE TO BE RE DISTRIBUTED.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF CREATIVE SOLUTIONS.
THERE'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL, UH, KIND OF APPROACH TO IT.
UM, BUT I THINK IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY IS INTERESTED IN ENTERTAINING, UH, WE CAN, WE CAN LOOK AT DOING A FEASIBILITY STUDY HERE FOR THE CITY OF AVONDALE, REALLY IDENTIFYING WHO'S IN NEED OF CHILDCARE, WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED, UH, IS IT A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BARRIER? UM, AND MAYBE WORKING WITH SOME OF OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS TO COME UP WITH SOME CREATIVE SOLUTIONS.
SO I THINK JUST THE STARTING POINT IS ASKING THAT QUESTION AND SEEING HOW WE CAN GO FROM THERE.
CAN I ADD AN OBSERVATION? I THINK, UH, SO PART OF THE, THE QUESTIONS WE WERE SORT OF ASKED TO CONSIDER WAS THINKING ABOUT, UH, PARTNERSHIPS AND SPECIFICALLY LIKE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
AND I THINK, UM, CHILDCARE IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF, OF PUBLIC PRIVATE AT WORK, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, FIRST THINGS FIRST OBVIOUSLY IS, IS, UM, IS A STATE PROGRAM.
IT'S A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM TAX DOLLARS.
AND WE PARTNER ACTUALLY WITH UNITED WAY AND FIRST THINGS FIRST IN TERMS OF, UM, DELIVERY OF SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FAMILIES.
SO WE ACTUALLY, THE, THE ADMINISTRATIVE HOME, UH, WITH UNITED WAY, UH, WITH FIRST THINGS FIRST TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE DOLLARS ARE GETTING OUT SEAMLESSLY, QUICKLY, UM, TO FAMILIES AND TO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS.
SO I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A REALLY NEAT EXAMPLE OF HOW, UM, YOU CAN SORT OF RELY ON YOUR RESPECTIVE STRENGTHS IN COMING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY ATTRACTIVE ABOUT THE FIRST THINGS FIRST AND ITS INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITIES, IS ITS FOCUS ON NOT ONLY ON ACCESS, BUT ON THE QUALITY OF CHILDCARE.
AND THAT'S TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE LOOK AT OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
[02:00:01]
A COFFEE FOR ALLTHANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PANEL.
I REALLY APPRECIATE HEARING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT CHILDCARE, BEING A PART OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, I REALIZED AS SOMEBODY WHO IS DIFFERENTLY ABLE DURING COVID, THAT THE AMOUNT OF CHILDCARE I WOULD'VE HAD TO PAY FOR TO HELP MY KIDS GET THROUGH KIND OF SCHOOL AND EVERYTHING WAS MY SALARY.
SO I, IT MADE IT EASIER FOR ME TO RETIRE, UM, BECAUSE MY KIDS MEAN THAT MUCH TO ME.
IF YOU KNOW THEM, YOU, YOU SEE THEM, YOU KNOW, THEIR, THE WORLD.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS AREA DON'T HAVE THAT CAPABILITY.
UM, IF YOU'RE A SINGLE PARENT AND YOU DECIDE, I DON'T WANNA WORK ANYMORE, I GOTTA FOCUS ON MY KIDS, WHERE'S THAT OTHER INCOME GONNA COME FROM? UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S A REALLY BIG CONCERN.
'CAUSE UM, I BELIEVE WE ALL HAVE FAMILIES HERE AT THE DEUS.
WE ALL HAVE FAMILIES, WE ALL HAVE CHILDREN IN OUR FAMILIES.
UM, ONE OF THE CHILDREN BEING ON THE DEUS AS WELL.
SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT FAMILIES ARE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US, AND HOW THAT SHOWS UP DIFFERENTLY FOR ALL OF US, I I JUST WANT SOME GUIDANCE ON, ON WHAT WE DO TO PROVIDE PARENTAL EXTENDED FAMILY SUPPORT AS WE CARE FOR THE KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE, UM, IT'S BECOMING EVER MORE CHALLENGING.
I, I THINK ABOUT SIMPLE THINGS, AND THIS IS REALLY NOT POLITICAL, BUT VERY, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF VOTER TURNOUT BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE GET OFF OF WORK, THEY GOTTA GO HOME AND COOK DINNER.
THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO COME, THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ THOSE LONG BALLOTS.
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF TIME BECAUSE THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR KIDS.
SO THEY'RE TAKING THEM TO PRACTICE, THEY'RE GETTING 'EM AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.
THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO KEEP 'EM OFF OF WHATEVER AND KEEP 'EM OUTTA DRUGS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO I FIND WHAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY IS BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER, WHICH OFTENTIMES WE ARE, WE REALLY ARE.
BUT HOW CAN WE KIND OF BURST THE BUBBLE ON THAT AND LET THE JOY SPREAD? BECAUSE I, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS MY SUPPORT NETWORK HERE.
WHEN I SAY SOMETHING ABOUT MY KIDS, THEY KNOW I'M LEAVING.
SO IT'S NOT THAT CONVERSATION, BUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE EMPOWER EVERYBODY IN AVONDALE TO KNOW THAT WE CARE FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.
WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THE FULL VALUE OF THEIR LIFE IN THIS CITY, SO THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY PART OF EVERY ASPECT OF IT, BECAUSE I THINK THEY HAVE SO LITTLE BIT OF TIME, AND THEY WORK SO HARD.
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE WORK HARD TO AFFORD TO BE ABLE TO STAY HERE.
AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A LOT TO BALANCE.
AND WE WANT THEM TO HAVE KIDS HERE.
WE WANT THEM TO HAVE FAMILIES AS LARGE AS THEY CAN ACCOMMODATE.
WHAT DO WE DO? I THINK THAT'S A PHENOMENAL QUESTION.
I WANNA GIVE COMPLIMENTS TO THE CITY BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY DOING IT.
UM, THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER IS BUILT AROUND THE FIVE PROTECTIVE FACTORS, INCLUDING PARENT RESILIENCY, UNDERSTANDING OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT, UNDERSTANDING OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CONCRETE SUPPORTS, SOCIAL CONNECTION.
UM, SO BY ALREADY INVESTING IN MAKING IT A STATEMENT AT THAT RESOURCE CENTER THAT YOU ARE JUST NOT HERE TO SERVE THIS AVONDALE, BUT THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES, THAT IS, YOU'RE MEETING THAT MARKER.
UM, I WILL TELL YOU, AND MAYBE CHRIS CAN ALSO ATTEST TO THIS, UM, THE NEED IS ONLY GROWN.
SO I THINK ANTICIPATING THAT THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR, UH, POTENTIALLY MORE INVESTMENTS, A NEED FOR EXPANSION, PROBABLY AT ONE POINT, UH, TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES.
BUT, UH, AN INDIVIDUAL CAN WALK INTO THAT FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER FOR ONE SERVICE, AND THEY'RE MET WITH STAFF THAT TRULY CARE ABOUT THEM.
THE SAME WAY THAT YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER IN YOUR COMMUNITIES, AND THEY'RE NOT JUST THERE TO IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT ONE NEED.
THEY'RE THERE TO IDENTIFY, UM, AN ENTIRE CIRCUMSTANCE OF NEEDS.
AND SO WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING A LOT OF THE TIME AS A FAMILY MAY COME IN FOR ONE PARTICULAR SERVICE, BUT ENGAGING WITH ANTHONY OR JACQUELINE, UM, THEY'RE IDENTIFYING OTHER NEEDS.
AND SO ONSITE AT THAT RESOURCE CENTER, THE MODEL THAT'S BEEN CREATED ALLOWS THEM TO DO RESOURCE AND REFERRAL, OFTENTIMES IN THE SAME BUILDING WITH PARTNERS LIKE A NEW LEAF.
AND SO, UM, JUST THAT MODEL AND SUPPORTING THAT MODEL IS, IS GOING TO HELP MEET THAT NEED RIGHT NOW, BUT JUST ANTICIPATING THAT THERE'S, THERE'S GONNA BE A GROWTH AND A CONTINUED NEED IN THAT SECTOR.
SO I HOPE I ANSWER THAT, AND THEN YES, PLEASE DO.
I, I HAVE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF, SO THAT MODEL AT WORK, IN TERMS OF THINKING ABOUT COMMUNITY SPACES, UH, AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND CONNECTING FAMILIES.
SO LAST THURSDAY, I, UM, HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF JOINING, UH, A SITE VISIT AT LAUR, UH, AS PART OF A LITERACY HUB, UM, UM, SITE, A TOUR, BUT ALSO IT WAS A, A KINDERGARTEN ROUNDUP RECRUITMENT FOR FAMILIES.
AND IT WAS STARTED AT FOUR 30 ALL THE WAY THROUGH SIX O'CLOCK.
AND IT WAS, FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS SUCH A INCREDIBLE SITE TO SEE FAMILIES THERE ENGAGING AND, YOU KNOW, GOING TO THE DIFFERENT STATIONS.
UM, THIS, UH, AVONDALE LIBRARY WAS THERE TO MAKE SURE PARENTS AND KIDS HAD ACCESS RIGHT AWAY TO, TO LIBRARY CARDS, A NUMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY NONPROFIT PARTNERS THERE, LIKE MAKE WAY FOR BOOKS, UH, RUNNING SOME OF THE LITERACY SESSIONS, UH, OUR STAFF FROM UNITED WAY WHO ARE EMBEDDED IN THE COMMUNITY THERE, SCHOOL STAFF.
UM, BUT ALSO LIKE THIS ASPECT THAT DELANEY'S TALKING ABOUT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT SERVICES, UM, UM, AND CONNECTING FAMILY TO THOSE IN REAL TIME, OR ME STARTING WITH, WITH RAISING AWARENESS.
UM, BUT IT WAS, IT WAS SUCH A, UM,
[02:05:02]
I MEAN, IT'S ONE THING, SO ONE THING TO READ IT ON PAPER, AND IT'S ANOTHER THING TO SORT OF SEE IT AT WORK IN REAL TIME.AND, UH, UM, BUT I, I, I NEGLECT, I RAN OUTTA THE HOUSE, AND I FORGOT TO BRING THESE FOR, BUT I'LL MAKE SURE I GET SOME.
IT'S, IT'S UNITED WAY'S ANNUAL REPORT CARD, UH, CALLED OUR ANNUAL SCORECARD.
AND I, THERE'S A WHOLE HIGHLIGHT ON AVONDALE AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND, UM, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND LAUR BOTH ON, UM, BOTH ON, UH, SUPPORTING ATTENDANCE ACROSS MARICOPA, WHICH IS OUR, OUR ABSENTEE, CHRONIC ABSENTEE, UH, UH, ABSENTEEISM INITIATIVE, BUT ALSO OUR LITERACY HUB.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE I GET THAT TO, UM, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND THE STAFF.
BUT, UH, I JUST WANTED TO BUILD ON DELANEY'S REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE AROUND, UM, NOT ONLY BEING THOUGHTFUL, BUT CLEARING OUT THE HURDLES.
AND, AND MAYBE TO ANSWER TO MAYBE, UM, MR. CORBIN SORT OF THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT CAN YOU DO? YES, RESOURCES ALWAYS RIGHT.
UH, SO LIKE EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH RESOURCES, BUT ALSO LEADERSHIP FROM, UH, THE COUNCIL, FROM STAFF, COMMUNITY LEADERS.
IT SENDS A SIGNAL ABOUT WHAT IS A PRIORITY FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
AND THE MORE THAT THERE IS A VOCALIZATION OF WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU AS LEADERS, UM, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, THE MORE IT HELPS THEN, UH, TO, UH, ALL THE REST OF US IN THE COMMUNITY TO SEE THOSE SIGNALS AND TO LEAN IN AND, AND SEE THAT, YES, IT IS, IT, IT IS A PRIORITY.
AND WHEN THERE HAS TO BE A TRADE OFF BETWEEN THIS OR THAT, KNOWING WHERE OUR LEADERS STAND, UM, VERY, UH, IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY IS TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND LIKE FACILITATING QUICKER ACTION, ENCOURAGING ALL OF US THAT ARE COLLABORATORS TO BE MORE COLLABORATIVE AND, UH, LEVERAGING RESOURCES WHERE THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES.
SO TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED THAT LEADERSHIP, WHICH YOU CONSISTENTLY DO.
UM, BECAUSE IT, IT SHOWS AND IT'S, IT'S A DEFINITELY A POINT OF PRIDE FOR OUR ORGANIZATION IN TERMS OF OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY.
MAYOR SAM GAVE US FOUR PILLARS FOR UNITED WAY.
CAN HE GIVE THOSE TO US AGAIN, THE FOUR THINGS THAT UNITED WAY WAS? YES.
SO IT'S VERY SPECIFICALLY, UH, INCREASING THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR CHILDREN IN COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS MARICOPA COUNTY THAT ARE READING PROFICIENTLY AT GRADE LEVEL.
UM, NUMBER TWO, IT IS HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
SO WE HAVE A GOAL ABOUT REDUCING, UH, HOMELESSNESS IN COMMUNITIES.
UH, AND NUMBER THREE IS HEALTH AND HUNGER.
SO REDUCING, UH, INCIDENCES OF FOOD INSECURITY SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FREQUENCY IN THE PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT GO HUNGRY IN OUR COMMUNITY, STUDENTS, CHILDREN, AND, UM, UM, SENIORS AND, AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, LARGELY THROUGH CONNECTING PEOPLE TO, UH, ELIGIBILITY LIKE, UM, UM, BENEFITS, UM, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
AND THEN LASTLY, IT'S, UH, IT'S, UM, UH, WE HAVE A FOCUS ON JOBS.
UH, SO RE-SKILLING, UPSKILLING JOB TRAINING, AND A, AND A, UH, A BENCHMARK WOULD BE, UM, UH, A NUMBER OF ENGAGED YOUTH AS OPPOSED TO DISCONNECTED YOUTH, OR I'M SURE THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT TERM ANYMORE, BUT, UM, UH, AND THEN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE FINDING, UM, THAT ARE INCREASING THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME BECAUSE THEY FOUND MORE GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.
AND THEN THOSE WILL BE OUTLINED IN HERE.
AND I, I, I CAN SEND AN ELECTRONIC VERSION, BUT I ALSO WANT YOU TO HAVE A PHYSICAL COPY.
AND I'M SO SORRY I RAN OUTTA THE HOUSE.
I, I FORGOT THE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, SAM, FOR PROVIDING THOSE FOUR PILLARS.
COUNCIL, UH, MEMBER SOLORIO, I WANNA THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE.
UM, I SERVE ON SMALL CITIES COUNCIL, 'CAUSE I SERVE NATIONALLY AS WELL.
AND IT'S, UH, THIS IS MY THIRD MEETING IN, I HAVE ANOTHER MEETING LATER ON TODAY DURING THIS PORTION.
BUT IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT THEY SAID THAT SMALL CITIES COUNCILS USED TO SEE TOPICS SUCH AS HOUSING, SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND ONE OF THE TOP ONES THIS YEAR IS CHILDCARE.
UM, SO IT IS VERY INTERESTING.
THEY SAID THAT THAT USUALLY IS WHAT THEY SEE IN OTHER COMMITTEES, BUT NEVER IN SMALL CITIES COUNCIL.
NOW SMALL CITIES ACROSS AMERICA MAKE UP 70% OF AMERICA.
UM, I SHARED WITH THEM SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO HERE IN AVONDALE FROM, YOU KNOW, FIRST THINGS FIRST, FROM THAT BIRTH AGE TO, THEY WERE JUST SHOCKED.
THEY'RE LIKE, HOW DO YOU GUYS EVEN GET THE MONEY? WHERE DOES THAT EVEN COME FROM? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO, UM, I THINK YESTERDAY, CHRIS'S PRESENTATION DURING COUNCIL WAS VERY PIVOTAL IN SHARING.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE TAKE FROM HERE AND WE SHARE ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.
AND PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY WONDERING, HOW DO WE DO THAT? SO, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE HERE HELPING PUT THE PUZZLE PIECES TOGETHER, BECAUSE ON THE LEVEL WHERE WE'RE AT, IT MAKES OTHER CITIES WANT TO KNOW MORE INFORMATION AND HOW TO DO THAT.
AND IF IT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP, YOU KNOW, IN A, AS A NATIONWIDE ISSUE, IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, I ENDED UP BEING ONE OF THOSE STATISTICS IN 2020 WHERE I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAREER AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER BECAUSE OF CHILDCARE.
UM, IT WAS CHILDCARE AND I DIDN'T WANNA GET THE COVID SHOT, BUT REALLY IT WAS CHILDCARE.
UM, I, THERE WAS NO CHILDCARE AVAILABLE.
UM, AND I DIDN'T LOOK INTO THE, I, I LIVED IN AVONDALE.
I DIDN'T LOOK INTO THE CITY FOR RESOURCES LIKE THAT.
NEVER, LIKE, IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME TO BE LIKE,
[02:10:01]
HEY, I'M GONNA GO LOOK AT THE NONPROFITS OR THE CITY TO SEE IF I COULD FIND CHILDCARE.AND SO I JUST LEFT MY JOB AND TRIED TO FIND SOMETHING THAT, UM, I COULD FIND.
AND IF I KNEW ABOUT THESE RESOURCES, IF I, I, I MIGHT'VE BEEN IN A DIFFERENT PLACE EVEN TODAY BECAUSE I WOULD'VE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND I THINK KNOWING THAT THESE ARE AVAILABLE FOR ME, IT'S LIKE, HOW DO WE GET THAT TO THE COMMUNITY? AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE GOING TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, UM, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN AVONDALE THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO, THEY'RE NOT ATTENDING THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ANYMORE.
THEY'RE ATTENDING THE CHARTER SCHOOLS OR THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
UM, A LOT OF PARENTS ARE NOW HOMESCHOOLING, UM, BUT THEY STILL NEED RESOURCES.
AND I THINK, UM, BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO THEM AND NOT FOCUS IN JUST ONE AREA OF AVONDALE, BUT ALL OF AVONDALE IS IMPORTANT.
'CAUSE I LIVE IN THE NORTH SIDE OF AVONDALE, AND I DO FEEL AS IF WE ARE A LITTLE LEFT OUT BECAUSE PEOPLE ASSUME THAT WE HAVE, WE KNOW AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND A LOT OF RESOURCES ARE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF AVONDALE, BUT I NEEDED RESOURCES.
AND LIKE, HOW CAN WE REACH ALL THE COMMUNITIES? BECAUSE JUST 'CAUSE WE LIVE IN A DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T ALSO NEED THOSE RESOURCES.
SO, UH, I KNOW THAT ABBY WISE AND AVONDALE'S COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WOULD PROBABLY BE A GREAT TOOL TO BE ABLE TO, TO SEND INFORMATION OUT.
UM, I KNOW THAT WHEN LARGE EVENTS HAPPEN, OR THE HEALTH AND RESOURCE FAIR IS HAPPENING AT THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER, UM, WORD OF MOUTH IS, IS HUGE.
UM, I BELIEVE THERE'S OVER 160 PARTNERS NOW AT THAT RESOURCE CENTER.
SO FOR THEM, THEY'RE ALSO, UM, MEETING AND, AND CHATTING WITH, UH, THE INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING SERVICES FOR THEM.
UM, I DO THINK THAT'S ALWAYS A BIG THING THAT WE TALK ABOUT A LOT IN OUR SPACE IS HOW DO YOU REACH ANYONE? AND EVERYONE, A LOT OF OUR GRANT PARTNERS ARE UTILIZING THINGS AS SIMPLE AS FACEBOOK AND LIKE MOMS GROUPS ON FACEBOOK TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND MM-HMM
UM, THE INFORMATION OF SERVICES.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD RELY ON THE CITY TO REALLY SAY, WHAT IS THE BEST METHOD TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE? AND THEN WHAT CAN WE PROVIDE FOR YOU AS A, A COLLABORATOR AND AS A SYSTEMS PARTNER, WHAT INFORMATION IS MOST RELEVANT? UM, HOW CAN WE DIRECT PEOPLE TO THE MOST ACCURATE AND ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES? UM, SO MAYBE THAT'S WHERE WE DO SOME BRAINSTORMING TOGETHER AND SEE WHAT, UH, THE BEST SOLUTION IS IN THAT SPACE.
I THINK AS A COUNCIL AND AS A CITY, OUR LEADERSHIP IN GETTING THE VOICE OUT IS IMPORTANT.
UM, EVEN THE WAY WE, WE SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT WE COULD GET ALONG WITH DIFFERENT, OUR DIFFERENCES AND THEM BEING COMFORTABLE TO COMING TO US NO MATTER WHERE THEY STAND, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE, IS LIKE, THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'LL, LIKE, I DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR A LOT OF THINGS BECAUSE I WAS $10.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND THOSE PEOPLE, WHEN THEY GO, THEY, THEY TEND TO LEAVE, YOU KNOW, NOT, AND THEY DON'T, THEY LEAVE THE CITY, BUT THEN THERE'S NONPROFITS THAT CAN HELP THEM.
SO, UM, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR BEING THAT, LIKE IN BETWEEN FOR, FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES WHO DON'T QUALIFY FOR THE RESOURCES THAT ARE LIKE CITY AVAILABLE, BUT THEN THEY COULD GO TO YOU FOR DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE TODAY AND OFFER THAT.
I WOULD JUST QUICKLY ADD, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, FOR ALL THE SYSTEMS WE HAVE THAT MAKE REFERRALS TO US FOR ANY SERVICE WE PROVIDE, UM, OUR BEST, OUR BEST REFERRAL SOURCES, WORD OF MOUTH, IT JUST IS.
AND THAT COMES FROM THE PEOPLE YOU LIVE AROUND, THE GROUPS THAT YOU'RE IN, YOUR CHURCH, YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOUR, YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, UM, TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, UH, THIS IS GOING ON AT THE RESOURCE CENTER.
AND, AND THEN, UM, OUR, OUR END OF THINGS IS NOT ONLY PROVIDING THE RESOURCES, BUT NAVIGATING THE RESOURCES.
IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT, UM, TO NAVIGATE IF, AGAIN, YOU'RE A SINGLE MOM WITH TWO KIDS AND, AND YOU NEED, YOU HAVE MULTIPLE NEEDS.
AND HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE THOSE SYSTEMS? THEY'RE VERY DIFFICULT.
BUT AT A NEW LEAF, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PAID TO DO.
HELP PEOPLE NAVIGATE THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE GONNA HELP THEM FIRST AND FOREMOST.
BUT HONESTLY, JUST BACK TO MY, MY FIRST POINT, JUST KEEP SPREADING THE WORD THAT AVONDALE RESOURCE CENTER IS TO DELANEY'S POINT, JUST A GREAT, GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR TO, FOR FOLKS TO GET ALL THEIR NEEDS MET, UM, OR AT LEAST START NAVIGATING THE SYSTEMS FOR THE, THE SERVICES THEY NEED.
UH, CHRIS, YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ASK FOR THE PANEL? ABSOLUTELY.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT AVONDALE AND THE RESOURCE CENTER, BUT WE DON'T WANNA REST ON OUR LAURELS.
WE WANNA TAKE A LONG LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.
UM, CAN THE PANEL HELP US KIND OF EXPLORE WHAT ARE THE EMERGING, EMERGING TRENDS AND WHAT ARE THE, THE BIG NEEDS ON THE HORIZON THAT WE REALLY NEED TO, UM, BE AWARE OF AND WORKING TOWARDS ADDRESSING? UM, I'LL SPEAK FIRST AND LET YOU KNOW THAT, UH, OF COURSE, AGAIN, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CHILDCARE, TRANSPORTATION, ALL THE THINGS WE DO HERE AND KNOW, KNOW ABOUT.
UM, BUT, UM, SUPPORT SERVICES IS SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY HEAVILY FOCUSED ON ONCE FOLKS BECOME HOUSED.
[02:15:01]
YOUR HOME, BE LIVE ON THE STREETS OR FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN YOUR CAR, AND THEN IF THERE'S RESOURCES, WHICH WE HAVE OFTEN TO HELP PEOPLE BECOME REHOUSED, BUT THEN JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, NOT LEAVE THEM TO NAVIGATE ON THEIR OWN FROM THERE, BECAUSE THERE'S STILL A NEED, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD AND POTENTIALLY FOOD ON THE TABLE, THERE'S STILL THIS, IF YOU'VE LIVED ON THE STREETS FOR A WHILE OR IN YOUR CAR FOR A WHILE, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S THAT NEED FOR SUPPORT SERVICES, FOR CONNECTION, FOR NAVIGATING, UM, OTHER RESOURCES, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.SO WE'RE PUTTING A REAL HEAVY EMPHASIS IN THAT, IN OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT JUST, HERE'S A PLACE TO STAY.
UM, BUT ALSO WE'RE HERE FOR YOU, UH, FOR ANY NEEDS THAT COME UP ONCE YOU'RE HOUSED.
UM, ONE, ONE, UM, POINT OF VIEW THAT I SHARED BRIEFLY EARLIER IS AT THE BEGINNING OF UNITED WAY'S PLAN, THIS FIVE YEAR PLAN MC 2026, UM, WE HAD A REAL FOCUS ON, UH, ON HOUSING AND HOMELESS IS STILL DUE, BUT IT WAS A SPECIFIC SORT OF POINT OF VIEW, WHICH WAS, UM, KEEP SUPPORTING, UH, SHELTER EMERGENCY TRANSITION.
AND I THINK THAT'LL ALWAYS SORT OF BE OUR, A FOCUS FOR UNITED WAY.
UM, BUT WHAT WE'RE IN DEEP CONVERSATIONS NOW WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN THE NONPROFIT, UH, LEADERS, UH, COMMUNITY LEADERS, THE MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS IS, UH, COMING TO THIS CONVERSATION AND LOOKING AT GOOD REPRESENTATIVE MODELS FROM DIFFERENT CITIES AROUND WHAT CAN A PREVENTION FRAMEWORK LOOK LIKE AND WHAT CAN, WHAT ROLE CAN A UNITED WAY AND ITS, AND ITS PARTNERS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL HAVE IN TERMS OF, UM, WHAT, WHAT CAN THAT LOOK LIKE FOR OUR, OUR COMMUNITIES? AND THAT'S GONNA BE A, THAT'S, WE'RE AT THE FRONT END OF THAT CONVERSATION.
WE'VE SEEN SOME GOOD EXAMPLES OF A, OF A MORE, UH, COMPREHENSIVE, A MORE EFFICIENT AND CONNECTED, UH, HOW DO YOU TAKE THESE SOMETIMES DISCONNECTED SUPPORT SERVICES AND HAVE THEM WORK MORE SEAMLESSLY ON A PREVENTION SORT OF FRAMEWORK.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S TOP OF MIND FOR US, AND THAT WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH, UM, UH, SO WE'LL, WE'LL MORE TO COME IN TERMS OF WHERE THERE'LL BE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN THAT CONVERSATION AND, AND PUT PEN TO PAPER TO SAY, LOOK WHAT WE THINK THAT CAN LOOK LIKE.
UH, AND THE SECOND THING THAT SORT OF COMES TO MIND IS, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SHORT TERM OR IF IT'S GONNA BE MULTI-YEAR, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALSO, UH, OUR, OUR CEO HAS BEEN HOSTING, UH, CONVERSATIONS WITH NONPROFIT LEADERS IN TERMS OF WHAT ARE WE SEEING AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF AS A COMMUNITY, AS IT RELATES TO ANY, UH, FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL POLICY MAKING.
UH, AND ITS IMMEDIATE IMPLICATIONS FOR RESOURCE AVAILABILITY OR, OR ANY OTHER IMPACT IT MIGHT HAVE IN COMMUNITIES.
UM, SO JUST SORT OF LIKE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE, THE POLICY LANDSCAPE, PARTICULARLY AT A FEDERAL LEVEL, AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR ANY PASS THROUGH DOLLARS OR POLICIES THAT, UM, EVEN IF THERE ARE NO DOLLARS ATTACHED, WHAT THAT COULD MEAN.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S SORT OF TOP OF MIND FOR US AND IN REAL TIME.
AND YES, IT'S REAL TIME, BUT IT ALSO HAS THE, THE POTENTIAL TO BE A MULTI-YEAR, UH, CONVERSATION.
I WILL JUST KIND OF THROW AN AD THAT, UH, I THINK OVER THE LAST PROBABLY DECADE, DEFINITELY POST COVID, WE'VE SEEN JUST A HIGHER NEED FOR SOCIAL SERVICES.
UM, I'M THINKING TO PRIMARILY, UM, SERVICES AND, UH, THE NEED FOR PROGRAMS SUCH AS WIC, NAPT, TANF, UM, THINGS ALONG THAT LINE.
SO HERE IN SOUTHWEST MARICOPA, WE'VE HAD AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE SOUGHT IN, UH, ENROLLMENT IN SERVICES LIKE WIC.
UM, WE'VE SEEING OVER LIKE 95% UTILIZATION RATES OF WIC.
SO FAMILIES THAT ARE ENROLLED IN THESE BENEFITS ARE UTILIZING THESE BENEFITS, UM, A LOT OF THE TIME.
SO THERE'S BARRIERS TO, UH, ENROLLING IN SAID SERVICES, UH, JUST NOW RECENTLY, A LOT OF THOSE PROVIDERS ARE NOW TAKING THINGS VIRTUALLY, WHICH IS GREAT.
BEFORE YOU USED TO HAVE TO MAIL IN PACKETS OR DROP THEM OFF IN PERSON, WHICH FOR FAMILIES, TO YOUR POINT, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, UM, IF YOU'RE WORKING A NINE TO FIVE AND THE OFFICE CLOSES AT FIVE, HOW DO YOU GET THERE? UM, SO WE'RE SEEING A SHIFT IN THAT, BUT I WOULD SAY WE'RE GONNA SEE AN INCREASED NEED AND DEPENDENCY ON SOCIAL SERVICES, UM, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY SEEKING FOR CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES, THAT NEED HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, UM, OR FOR, UH, PROGRAMS LIKE WG AND TIFF.
SO I THINK JUST ANTICIPATING THAT, UH, EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS GONNA, IS GONNA TRICKLE DOWN.
OUR PROVIDERS ARE ALREADY FEELING IT.
UM, SO JUST ANTICIPATING THAT THAT'S BOTH SHORT TERM AND, AND LONG TERM MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE PANEL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE MORNING IS, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND THE NEED, YOU KNOW, TO, TO SUPPORT THAT.
UM, ARE YOU SEEING, UM, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS A SHORTAGE OF HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS? AND IF SO, WHAT CAN AVONDALE DO TO SUPPORT, UM, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AS THEY TRY TO HIRE THE MOST QUALIFIED, UH, PERSONNEL FOR THEIR ORGANIZATIONS? UH, SO I KNOW THAT, UH, ACADEMIES OF THE SOUTHWEST VALLEY THROUGH THE RIA DISTRICT IS AN INCREDIBLE EXAMPLE OF SORT OF PREPARING THOSE WORKFORCE PIPELINES
[02:20:01]
FROM THE HUMAN AND SOCIAL SERVICES SIDE OF IT.UH, A LOT OF THOSE PROVIDERS, UM, ARE, THOSE ARE LOW PAYING JOBS, BUT THEY'RE HIGH NEEDS JOBS, RIGHT? SO COMING FROM A, A CHILDCARE LENS, UM, I REMEMBER WHEN I CAME OUT OF COLLEGE, I HAD A FOUR YEAR DEGREE.
I WENT FROM, UH, BEING A BARISTA AT A RESORT MAKING, UH, LIKE 45 OR 49,000, UH, TO MAKING 1375 AN HOUR.
AND, UM, AT THAT POINT, IT ALREADY HAD A MORTGAGE.
AND SO IT WAS A BIG DISCUSSION WITHIN OUR OWN FAMILY OF, CAN WE AFFORD TO TAKE THIS ON? BUT I KNEW THAT I WANTED TO BE IN THE FIELD OF EARLY CHILDHOOD.
UM, A LOT OF OUR PROVIDERS DON'T HAVE, UM, A PRIVILEGE OR AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, AND SO THEY DON'T EVEN SEEK OUT THAT CAREER PATHWAY.
SO SUPPORTING THE ACADEMIES OF THE SOUTHWEST VALLEY IS GREAT BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE JOBS ARE TECHNICAL JOBS.
BUT I THINK ALSO PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR ROLES, UM, THAT ARE ON MORE OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES SIDE.
WE FUND PROGRAMS LIKE HOME VISITATION HERE IN SOUTHWEST MARICOPA.
AND, UH, WE WILL GO MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS WITH VACANCIES, AND THAT MEANS THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT BEING SERVED BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A PROVIDER THAT HAS SOUGHT OUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A JOB AT $19 AN HOUR.
UM, AND THAT'S JUST THE REALITY.
AND SO WHEN YOU COUPLE IT WITH THINGS LIKE A HOUSING SHORTAGE OR HOUSING, UM, AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS, COST OF LIVING INCREASES, UM, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS TO SEEK OUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO IF THERE'S WAYS THAT THE CITY CAN INCENTIVIZE, SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU DID WITH THE CULINARY PROGRAM AT EMCC, UM, I THINK THAT IS A PHENOMENAL EXAMPLE OF SORT OF ADAPTING AS A CITY AND, UH, REALLY SHOWING SUPPORT AND RALLYING BEHIND THE PROVIDERS THEMSELVES, UM, THAT ANYONE ELSE HAD.
WE'RE SEEING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, UH, NEEDS, UM, AS, AS A CRISIS ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
AND IT, IT'S IMPACTING AVONDALE AS WELL.
UM, WHAT CAN CITIES DO SPECIFICALLY? WHAT ARE SOME ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE TO ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, UM, TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SERVING OUR RESIDENTS AND ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY.
I GUESS I WOULD START BY, UM, DOING YOUR BEST TO REMOVE THE STIGMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, UM, NEEDS AND SERVICES.
I THINK THAT THAT IS A BARRIER FOR FOLKS REACHING OUT.
UM, AND WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING, UM, IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT IN OUR OWN WAY, UM, AS ARE OUR CHILDREN AND OUR AGING PARENTS.
UM, BUT THERE'S THIS STIGMA ATTACHED TO NEEDING MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND HOW WE SAY IT AT A NEW LEAF IS, IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE THAT HAD DIABETES OR CANCER, WE WOULDN'T BE STIGMATIZING THEM.
IT'S THE SAME FOR, UM, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES.
SO ONE THING YOU CAN DO IS SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT STOPPING THE STIGMA, AND THEN CERTAINLY LEAN ON THE FOLKS LIKE A NEW LEAF, AND LIKE OTHER PROVIDERS, CERTAINLY HERE IN AVONDALE, THAT, THAT WORK WITH THIS POPULATION AND HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AND, AND CAN HELP YOU, HELP YOUR RESIDENTS KIND OF NAVIGATE, AGAIN, NAVIGATE THE SYSTEMS OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WHAT INTERVENTIONS ARE TIMELY AND, UM, AND MOST EFFECTIVE IN HELPING YOUR RESIDENTS.
I'VE GOT ONE, ONE LAST QUESTION.
AND THIS IS REALLY, UM, IS KIND OF FOCUSED, UH, ON SAM, SAM, UM, AVONDALE PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING A, AN INNOVATIVE CITY.
ARE THERE ANY INNOVATIVE HUMAN SERVICE PRACTICES OR MODELS THAT YOU'RE SEEING, UM, THAT YOU, YOU THINK AVONDALE SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT? WELL, ONE, ONE I SORT OF MENTIONED, OR I DIDN'T SORT OF, I DID MENTION IT'S HIGHLIGHTED BECAUSE IT, IT IS AN INNOVATION THAT, THAT WE'RE KIND OF LEAN INTO, UM, AND USING AVONDALE'S PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, LITERACY HUBS AS A REAL EXAMPLE.
SO LIKE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE, AND WHEN YOU SEE THIS, YOU'LL SEE THE DATA.
IT'S SOMETHING YOU, WE LIKELY ALREADY KNOW, WHICH IS IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THIRD GRADE LITERACY RATES, WE KNOW WHY THEY'RE IMPORTANT.
BECAUSE UP UNTIL THIRD GRADE, YOU'RE LEARNING TO READ AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, THEN YOU'RE, UM, READING TO LEARN AFTER THAT.
SO IF, IF YOU AREN'T AT PROFICIENT, IT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE, UH, FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THROUGH SCHOOL.
UM, AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK OVER THE TREND LINE, IT, IT'S, WE CAN'T SEEM TO MOVE THE DIAL ON ON, ON, UM, LITERACY RATES FOR OUR THIRD GRADERS.
AND SO ONE OF THE INNOVATIONS, IT'S, AND IT'S AN INNOVATION THAT JUST PREDICATED ON SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
SO IN SOME WAYS IT'S NOT REALLY AN INNOVATION, RIGHT? BUT IT IS, IT IS NOT AN IN, IT IS NOT AN INNOVATION IN THE SENSE THAT WE, WE, WE KNOW WHAT WORKS IN ITS COLLABORATION.
IT IS BRINGING WHAT WE'RE ALL RESPECTIVELY GOOD AT, GOVERNMENT, NONPROFITS, PRIVATE SECTOR AND OTHERS, AND BRING OUR BEST TO BEAR IN COLLABORATION.
THAT'S, THAT'S NOT INNOVATIVE.
THAT'S SORT LIKE, WE KNOW THAT WORKS.
I THINK WHAT'S INNOVATIVE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL IS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE HYPERFOCUSED ON LITERACY HUBS IS HYPERFOCUSED ON, ON BRINGING ALL THE BEST THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY ITSELF.
SO IT'S, IT'S PARTNERSHIPS, UM, IT'S WRAPAROUND SERVICES, IT'S INFORMED BY, UM, WHAT WE CALL, UM, EVIDENCE INFORMED PRACTICES.
WE DON'T THINK THEY'RE GONNA WORK.
WE KNOW THAT THEY WORK BECAUSE, UM, UH, BECAUSE THE EVIDENCE IN THE RESEARCH TELLS US THAT IF WE HAVE AN INTERVENTION AND IT'S DEPLOYED IN A PARTICULAR WAY, THAT WE'RE MORE LIKELY TO CHANGE OUTCOME, WE'RE MORE LIKELY TO HELP OUR CHILDREN, WE'RE MORE LIKELY TO HELP OUR FAMILIES.
AND SO, UM, THE LITERACY HUBS IS THIS REAL INTERESTING MODEL THAT'S,
[02:25:01]
THAT'S LIKE, LET'S TAKE THAT EVIDENCE INFORMED APPLICATION THAT AS IT RELATES TO, UH, LITERACY AND, AND WORKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, LET'S TAKE THIS SLICE BECAUSE IT, IT, IT, IT, IT, IT, IT ADDRESSES DIGITAL LITERACY AND IN A SEAMLESS WAY, LET'S TAKE THIS PARENT ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY THAT WE KNOW IS BASED IN EVIDENCE THAT WORKS.UM, BECAUSE IF WE, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH IN THIS TWO GENERATION MODEL, SO I DIDN'T MEAN TO GO ON AND ON, SORRY, BUT, UH, BUT, UH, BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S SORT OF AN, AN EXAMPLE OF, UH, ON TWO LEVELS.
ONE IS, IS VERY SPECIFIC TO LITERACY.
YOU, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE, UH, UH, AGGREGATED DATA IN THE REPORT AND THAT LITERACY HUBS ARE WORKING IN TERMS OF, UH, COMPARED TO THOSE THAT AREN'T ABLE YET TO PARTICIPATE IN LITERACY HUBS.
AND WE'RE FOCUSED WITH OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS, WITH FOUNDATIONS, WITH DONORS AND SAYING, LOOK AT WHAT WORKS.
LIKE, LOOK, IF YOU LOOK OVER THE TREND LINE, NOTHING'S MOVING THE DIAL.
BUT HERE WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE WHERE WE'RE HYPER-FOCUSED ON INNOVATING, UH, IN ITS WORKING.
HELP US DO THAT MORE IN COMMUNITIES LIKE AVONDALE IN AVONDALE, ACROSS AVONDALE, BEYOND AVONDALE.
UM, SO JUST SORT OF MAYBE ONE, ONE EXAMPLE.
UH, WE'RE ABOUT OUT OF TIME, BUT I JUST REALLY WANNA TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WISDOM, AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK.
YOU, YOU INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY.
OKAY, FIVE MINUTES, EVERYBODY.
AS YOU KNOW, IT PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN OUR LIVES.
WE ALSO PLAY A PART IN ROLE IN OUR ECONOMY, OUR SUCCESS IN AVONDALE, STABLE AND ENDURING WATER SUPPLIES, CLEAN AIR, LANDED OPEN SPACE, HEALTHY WILDLIFE AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF NATURE HELP US ENJOY LIFE THROUGH RECREATION DRIVES ECONOMIC GROWTH.
AND FRANKLY, IT KEEPS US ALIVE.
SO, UM, TODAY'S PANEL REPRESENTS A CROSS SECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES AFFECTING THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
AND IT'S MY HOPE THAT WE CAN NOT ONLY LEARN ABOUT THESE RESOURCES, BUT THAT WE CAN HAVE A BROADER DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THESE RESOURCES CONNECT AND INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AND HOW THE AVONDALE COMMUNITY CAN PROTECT THESE RESOURCES RESPONSIBLY AND RESPONSIBLY, USE THEM TO INFLUENCE AND TO SUPPORT THE OTHER ELEMENTS THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT TODAY, INCLUDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING, AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
SO OUR PANEL MEMBERS TODAY, UH, RIGHT NEXT TO ME IS WARREN TENNEY IS THE EX EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA MUNICIPAL WATER ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING SOME DISCUSSIONS REGARDING WATER.
MATTHEW POPPIN, ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTOR OF MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS, BUTCH, UH, HE CAN HELP US DISCUSS AIR QUALITY AND SOME OTHER ELEMENTS.
NEXT TO HIM IS BOBBY LERO, LAND SPECIALIST WITH ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT, ABLE TO TALK ABOUT OPEN SPACE, UM, REVITALIZING THE RIVER AND, AND, UH, WILDLIFE.
AND THEN NEXT TO HIM IS TY SOLEY, RETIRED BIOLOGIST FROM ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT, AND ALSO WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY.
I'M GONNA HAVE, UH, EACH MEMBER TAKE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES, TALK ABOUT THEIR ORGANIZATION, PROVIDE US AN UPDATE ON UPCOMING PRIORITIES AND OBSTACLES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THEN AFTER WE DO THAT, WE'LL OPEN FOR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL.
SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO WARREN.
THANK YOU KIRK, AND THANK YOU ALL, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT WATER.
UH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE WATER IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT AS LONG AS YOU KEEP TURNING ON YOUR TAP AND YOU HAVE WATER THERE, YOU'RE NOT REALLY TOO CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
AND YET, WATER IS NEVER SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN STOP WORKING ON AND MAKING CERTAIN THAT, UH, YOU HAVE THE WATER SECURITY THAT YOU NEED FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
SO, AS KIRK NOTED, I'M WARREN TENNY, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE ARIZONA MUNICIPAL WATER USERS ASSOCIATION, OR ALSO KNOWN AS AMWA.
AND AMWA HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1969.
IT WAS BROUGHT TOGETHER OR ESTABLISHED BECAUSE OF THE FORESIGHT OF MUNICIPAL LEADERS IN RECOGNIZING THAT WATER DOESN'T FLOW ACCORDING TO POLITICAL JURISDICTION, AND THEREFORE IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE WORKING TOGETHER WHEN IT COMES TO WATER RESOURCE AND WATER POLICY ISSUES.
AVONDALE IS A MEMBER OF AMWA, UH, VICE MAYOR BEATTY SERVES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, VICE
WHAT A, WE TOLD HOW ENGINEERING WOULD HELP THERE.
[02:30:01]
MAYBE.KIRK SERVES ON THE MANAGEMENT BOARD, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF THE WATER SERVICES DIRECTORS.
AND YES, OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS COMPRISED OF EITHER THE MAYOR OR A COUNCIL MEMBER, AND THEREFORE IT IS VICE MAYOR NIELSEN WHO SERVES ON THE AMWA BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
UM, SO LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT BACK.
UM, SO AMWA, UM, COMPRISED OF AVONDALE AS WELL AS GOODYEAR, PEORIA, UH, GLENDALE, PHOENIX, SCOTTSDALE, TEMPE, MESA, GILBERT, AND CHANDLER COMPRISED TOGETHER THOSE 10 MUNICIPALITIES PROVIDE WATER TO 3.7 MILLION RESIDENTS, THAT IS MORE THAN HALF OF THE STATE'S POPULATION, AND ALSO PROVIDE WATER TO THE BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES THAT ARE KEY TO OUR ECONOMY.
AND THEREFORE, EACH OF THE MEMBERS OF, OF AMWA TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING WATER SECURITY.
WHAT IS WATER SECURITY? THAT'S TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT, YOU KNOW, AS A RESIDENT, THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE WATER, NOT JUST TODAY, BUT FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BECAUSE CITIES ARE NOT IN, OUR, CITIES ARE IN THE FOREVER BUSINESS, AND THEREFORE, WATER IS THE FOUNDATION FOR YOU HAVING A THRIVING AVONDALE.
AND IT IS ALSO THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR ECONOMY.
AND SO WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE IN ARIZONA, UM, TO HAVE A STRONG WATER POLICIES IN PLACE AS A STATE, UM, AND TO BE ALSO HAVE, UH, AVAILABLE DIFFERENT RESOURCES.
YOU ARE ALSO FORTUNATE THAT YOU HAVE A, A GOOD, UH, GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO THE, TO PROVIDING WATER AND DOING THE WORK THAT'S NEEDED 24 7 OF MAKING SURE THAT WATER IS DELIVERED TO THE RESIDENTS OF AVONDALE.
AS I SAID, IT'S WATER IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CANNOT JUST, UH, SIT BACK AND JUST MAGICALLY HOPE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.
IT REQUIRES A LOT OF PLANNING AND INVESTING, AND THAT'S WHAT THE REASON WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, UH, UH, HERE IN ARIZONA IS BECAUSE WE HAVE PLANNED AND WE HAVE INVESTED.
THERE'S CHALLENGES WITH THE COLORADO RIVER THAT WE'RE, THAT ARE GONNA BE IMPACTING THE STATE.
UH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS REQUIRED TO COME UP WITH NEW OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES BY, UM, THE END OF NEXT YEAR FOR HOW TO OPERATE THE COLORADO RIVER THAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE RIVER IS PRODUCING LESS WATER AND WE'RE GONNA END UP HAVING LESS WATER HERE FROM THAT RESOURCE.
THERE'S CHALLENGES WITH OUR GROUNDWATER, UM, IN THAT WE HAVE REACHED LIMITS ON OUR AQUIFER, AND WE ALSO HAVE JUST GOTTA KEEP MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN NEW SUPPLIES.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN JUST SNAP YOUR FINGERS AND, AND HAVE EVERYTHING WORKING, UH, FOR THE FU.
UM, HAVE EVERYTHING ALL DONE FOR THE FUTURE RIGHT NOW.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO COMMIT FOR THE LONG GAME ON.
YEAH, THANK YOU WARREN FOR BREAKING THE ICE WITH EVERYBODY.
UM, THANK YOU MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND, AND SPEAK WITH YOU AND HOPEFULLY PROVIDE, UH, USEFUL INFORMATION.
I'M THE ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTOR WITH THE MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS.
AND I THINK MOST OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH MAG, BUT JUST IN CASE YOU'RE NOT, WE'RE A REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY WHERE REALLY OUR MAYORS AND OUR CITY MANAGERS ARE THE BOSSES AND WE BRING THEM TOGETHER TO MAKE POLICY DECISIONS ON, ON TOPICS THAT NEED REGIONAL COORDINATION.
AND CERTAINLY ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS ARE, ARE ONE OF THOSE.
UM, BOTH, UH, MAYOR AND AND CITY MANAGER HAVE SAT THROUGH A LOT OF MY AIR QUALITY UPDATES, UM, EACH MONTH.
AND SO THEY'RE PROBABLY PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH IT.
SO MAG HAS THREE AREAS THAT WE'RE FOCUSED IN IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PRIMARILY WE ARE THE LEAD AIR QUALITY PLANNING AGENCY FOR BOTH MARICOPA COUNTY AND PARTS OF PINAL COUNTY.
SO AS PART OF THAT ROLE, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING THESE REGIONAL PLANS THAT WE SUBMIT TO PEPA
[02:35:01]
THAT SAYS, HEY, HERE'S HOW WE'RE GONNA MEET THESE NATIONAL AIR QUALITY STANDARDS.AND WE'RE REALLY AT A VERY CHALLENGING TIME RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF AIR QUALITY BECAUSE IT, IT IS A STRUGGLE TO PUT TOGETHER PLANS TO MEET SOME VERY STRINGENT EPA STANDARDS, UH, THAT HE, UH, MIGHT BE EMITTING.
AND REALLY WHAT WE'RE FINDING WITH PM 2.5, THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH THAT IS RESIDENTIAL WOOD BURNING AND THE CONSUMER FIREWORKS ACTIVITY.
THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT REALLY ARE THE MOST UNHEALTHY ACTIVITY AND REALLY PUT US IN NON-COMPLIANCE WITH EPA STANDARDS.
AND THAT'S SORT OF A SHIFT FOR PEOPLE.
'CAUSE PEOPLE USUALLY THINK BIG INDUSTRY, THEY THINK CARS AND VEHICLES, BUT REALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PM 2.5, THE PROBLEM LOCALLY IS KIND OF ONE OF OUR OWN MAKING.
SO THEN IT'S ALL ABOUT WHAT DO WE DO? HOW DO WE ENGAGE WITH RESIDENTS ABOUT THAT? 'CAUSE EVERYBODY ENJOYS BEING OUTSIDE USING THEIR FIRE PITS, BURNING WOOD AND THE CONSUMER FIREWORKS WE PRESENTED, UH, LAST MONTH THAT WE HAD THE WORST AIR QUALITY IN THE NATION ON JANUARY 1ST, 2025.
AND THAT WAS STRICTLY DUE TO CONSUMER FIREWORKS.
IT WAS ALSO THE THIRD WORST IN THE WORLD.
THERE WAS ONLY TWO PLACES IN THE WORLD THAT HAD WORSE PM 2.5 CONCENTRATIONS THAN THE WEST PHOENIX MONITOR AT 33RD AVENUE IN THOMAS.
AND THAT'S A PROBLEM STRICTLY OF OUR OWN MAKING.
THAT'S NOT INDUSTRY, THAT'S NOT CARS.
IT'S US BURNING WOOD AND US DOING THE CONSUMER FIREWORKS.
AND YOU, YOU GUYS HAVE ALL SEEN THAT, RIGHT? YOU GO OUTSIDE ON THOSE ON, ON NEW YEAR'S EVE AND IT JUST, IT GETS TRAPPED.
IT STAYS AT THAT LEVEL OF THE LIGHT AND IT REALLY IS UNHEALTHY IF THERE EVER IS AN UNHEALTHY TIME TO BE OUTSIDE.
IT'S NEW YEAR'S EVE AND NEW YEAR'S DAY.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE AS A COMMUNITY CAN REALLY ADDRESS, UM, AND, AND LOOK FORWARD TO.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY THAT'S EXCITING IN TERMS OF OZONE, OZONE IS MUCH MORE HARDER.
THE OZONE WE BREATHE HERE DOESN'T NECESSARILY COME FROM HERE.
UM, IT'S MUCH MORE DISTRIBUTED, SO IT'S A MUCH HARDER POLLUTANT TO CONTROL.
UM, THE URBAN INCREMENT IS MUCH SMALLER.
LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE, WE'RE ROUGHLY ABOUT 80 PARTS PER BILLION, WHICH IS 10 PARTS PER BILLION OVER THE STANDARD.
BUT A PLACE LIKE THE GRAND CANYON IS CLOSE TO 70 PLACE LIKE PETRIFIED NATIONAL PARK IS CLOSE TO THE STANDARD AS WELL WHERE THERE'S NO SOURCES.
SO OZONE IS MUCH MORE DISTRIBUTED.
BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT AS WE'RE DOING THIS STUDY THIS SUMMER, UH, A SU HAS, HAS BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH US, UH, WITH A DEQ, WITH MARICOPA COUNTY, WITH EPA TO REALLY STEADY OUR OZONE PROBLEMS SO THAT WE CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING LOCALLY SO THAT WE CAN THEN COME TO POLICYMAKERS AND SAY, WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME SCIENCE TO SAY THAT THESE ARE THE DECISIONS THAT WILL HELP THE MOST WITH OZONE HERE LOCALLY.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT STEADY AND WE'RE HOPING, UH, THAT WILL GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE ON HOW TO BETTER ADDRESS OZONE MOVING FORWARD.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE LONG-TERM THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT.
YEAH, WE JUST, WE JUST HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT WITH THIS PANEL, SO JUST UH, GOT IT.
UM, FROM GAN AND FISH PERSPECTIVE, THE BIG ONE IS OPEN SPACE.
UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN REVIEWING THOSE LONG-TERM PLANS THAT THE CITY OF AVONDALE PUTS OUT, LIKE LET'S SAY THE 20, LIKE A 2040 GENERAL PLAN.
UM, IDENTIFYING EARLY AND NOT FLEXING ON THE OPEN SPACE IS A BIG CONSIDERATION THAT, THAT WE WANT.
AND FRANKLY, CITY OF AVONDALE FROM MY TIME HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AT THIS.
UM, NOTIFYING US EARLY IN THE PROCESS IS REALLY BIG.
UM, ONE THING THAT'S BEEN EFFECTIVE IN SOME OTHER REGIONS AS FAR AS HABITAT RESTORATION EFFORTS DIRECTLY WITHIN THE GILA RIVER AND IMPROVING UPON RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IS FORMING RELATIONSHIPS EARLY WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, UM, CREATING SOME SORT OF INCENTIVIZED PROGRAM FOR THEM TO DO TREATMENTS WITHIN THERE.
UM, WE'VE ENCOUNTERED ISSUES WHERE WE'VE BEEN DOING LARGE SCALE CHUNKS.
WE HIT A POT OF PRIVATE LAND WHERE IT ACTUALLY HAS A REALLY ROUGH INVASIVE SPECIES POPULATION OF STINK NET SALT CEDARS.
SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH BECOMING A SEED BANK.
SO INTRINSICALLY IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO JUST LEAVE THAT OUT.
SO OFTENTIMES WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING TO ACTUALLY PAY THAT PERSON TO DO THE WORK ON THEMSELVES, JUST USUALLY GOING THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, MEETING WITH THEM REALLY AND OFTEN TO GET THEM ON BOARD ON SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.
YEAH, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT THAT BIG PICTURE PLANNING IS CRITICAL.
UH, CONSIDERING YOUR SAND AND GRAVEL OPERATORS, THIS CORRIDOR IS FULL OF OPEN WATER SITES THAT ARE THE PITS OF THE SAND AND GRAVEL OPERATIONS.
SO THINKING ABOUT HOW THAT'S DEALT WITH WHEN THOSE OPERATIONS ARE DONE AND MOVE AWAY.
UH, SO CONSIDERING HAVING LOCAL PROCESS FOR REMEDIATION OF THOSE SITES AND CONSIDERING WHETHER THOSE SITES MIGHT BE A WATER SOURCE, UH, NOT ONLY FOR YOUR OWN USE BUT FOR NATURAL
[02:40:02]
AREAS AND ALSO SOME NATURAL OPEN SPACE IN ASSOCIATION WITH RECOVERY OF THOSE.I REMEMBER MAYOR MECH WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN SOME OF THOSE SITES WHEN HE WAS MAYOR OF, UH, BUCKEYE.
SO, UM, I DO ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITIES TO THINK ABOUT THE SAND AND GRAVEL.
THEY'RE GONNA MOVE WEST, THEY'RE GONNA MOVE DOWNSTREAM.
SO THERE'LL BE NEW OPERATIONS, UH, GOING TOWARDS 85.
UH, SO YOU CAN LOOK AT SOME OF YOURS MAYBE PHASING OUT IN IN THE FUTURE.
THE OTHER THING TO CONSIDER IS WORKING WITH THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT FOR NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS FOR FLOOD MANAGEMENT RATHER THAN HARDSCAPE.
UH, A LOT OF THAT TIES BACK TO HOW YOU ZONE SO THAT YOU ALLOW FOR INFILTRATION OF YOUR FLOOD WATERS AND DISPERSAL OF YOUR FLOOD WATERS AND YOU DON'T END UP WITH BIG CONCENTRATIONS.
UM, SO THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE TO THINK ABOUT.
UM, IT'LL SAVE YOU MONEY IN THE LONG TERM TO THINK AHEAD THAT WAY.
AND YOU GET SOME NATURAL OPEN SPACE BENEFITS BY WORKING WITH THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IN THAT MANNER.
UH, HAVING SOME SETBACK WITH YOUR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE, UM, THE STATE 30 ROUTE FROM THE RIVER CORRIDOR ITSELF, AND DON'T BACK ALL THAT INDUSTRIAL RIGHT UP AGAINST THE, THE RIVER FLOODPLAIN AND, AND ALLOW FOR SOME TRANSITION.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OPPORTUNITY THERE IS IN AVONDALE TO CONSIDER FARMLAND AS BEING RETAINED IN YOUR MATRIX, BUT KEEPING FARMLANDS, AGAIN NEAR THE RIVER CORRIDOR ITSELF THAT MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE OR BE EXPENSIVE TO MEET FLOOD MANAGEMENT CRITERIA TO TURN IT INTO HOUSES.
MAYBE THOSE ARE THE LANDS THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM, UH, KEEPING IT IN AGRICULTURE.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF MY THOUGHTS.
I WANNA THANK THE PANEL FOR THEIR TIME TODAY.
AND I THINK WHAT WE DID TODAY IS WE REALLY KIND OF SHED THE LIGHT ON THE FACT THAT THESE RESOURCES, WATER, AIR, OPEN SPACE, WILDLIFE, ARE REALLY, TRULY INTERCONNECTED AND, UM, THAT IT, IT, THEY'RE ALSO IMPACTFUL TO EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE'RE DOING WITHIN THE CITY WITH HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND THOSE THINGS ARE IMPACTFUL TO THE WATER AND THE, AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES AS WELL.
SO I THINK A BIG IDEA IS WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALWAYS THINKING FORWARD AND COLLABORATIVELY ON ALL OF THESE ISSUES, YOU KNOW, FOR THE BEST BENEFIT OF THE, OF THE CITY.
SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I THINK WE'RE DONE WITH THIS GROUP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
FIVE MINUTE ACTUALLY, MR. MAYOR.
LET, I JUST WANNA, UM, LET YOU CONSIDER THIS.
UM, WE'VE GOT, UH, 45 MINUTES FOR A JEN'S PRESENTATION.
WE COULD TAKE AN EARLY LUNCH AND COME BACK AT 1230.
UM, THEY CAN TIME TO SET UP AND HAVE LUNCH, BUT I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE SOME CON CONFLICTS AND THEN SHE CAN GO, UH, UH, RIGHT BEFORE OUR ONE 30, UH, OUR, UM, ROUNDS CONSULTING FIRM AND THEN DO 'EM AFTER LUNCH OR WE CAN, YOU KNOW, SQUEEZE IN AS MUCH AS WE CAN BEFORE PEOPLE HAVE TO LEAVE OR, OR GO TO LUNCH AND THEN STILL COME BACK AT ONE 30.
BUT I'M, I'M, I'M FINE MOVING LUNCH UP EARLY IF YOU GUYS ARE REST OF COUNCIL.
AND THEN CAN WE COME BACK AT 1230 THEN? AND, UM, START WITH, UH, IS LUNCH AVAILABLE NOW? IS IS FOOD, UH, ON ITS WAY? THE FOOD IS READY? FOOD IS READY THEN LET'S, I'D RATHER EAT IT NOW THAN IN AN HOUR.
SO WE'LL CONVENE BACK AT 1230.
[4. Economic Development Update]
A PLAN THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY GOING TO BE EVALUATING AND MONITORING PROBABLY EVERY SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR.UM, IT'S A FLUID PLAN BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS SHIFTS, RIGHT? SO CONDITIONS MAY SHIFT, PRIORITIES MAY BE ADJUSTED, THINGS HAPPEN.
AND SO WE ALWAYS WANNA BE PREPARED AND FLEXIBLE TO GET INTO THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND MAKE CHANGES WHEN WE NEED TO.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT, LIKE CITY MANAGER CORBIN SAID, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE IN ALIGNMENT AND THAT WE ARE TRULY IMPLEMENTING YOUR VISION.
SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE FEEDBACK AND INTERACTION, UM, DURING THIS PRESENTATION TO HELP, UH, ALIGN AND MAKE SURE WE'RE, WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS A TEAM SPORT.
SO I WAS GONNA DO AN ANALOGY AND MY HUSBAND LAST NIGHT STOPPED ME 'CAUSE I WAS GONNA BE LIKE, YOU'RE LIKE THE OWNERS AND COUNCIL MEMBER AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS, LIKE THE, YOU KNOW, GMS. HE'S LIKE, DON'T JUST DON'T TRY TO DO A SPORTS
[02:45:01]
ANALOGYBUT IN ALL REALITY,
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO START OUT BY SAYING THAT IT IS A TEAM SPORT.
I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PERFECT TIMING TO PUT CHERYL COVERT ON THE SPOT.
YES, CHERYL HAS PLAYED AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND EVEN THIS PRESENTATION TODAY.
SO I WANTED TO GIVE HER A SPECIAL, UM, SHOUT OUT AS WELL.
AND I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, JODY AND KIM OVER HERE BECAUSE THIS IS DEFINITELY, THANK YOU, A PARTNERSHIP.
I MEAN, I WAS LITERALLY BEHIND ANDY'S CHAIR HOPING HE WOULDN'T ROLL ME OVER DURING A PANEL BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO CLOSE A BIG DEAL.
SO JODY WAS HELPING ME, UM, WITH THAT.
AND SO, AND ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, OH, COUNCIL MEMBER, I JUST CITY MANAGER MAYBE, MAYBE ONE DAY HE'LL BE A COUNCIL MEMBER AFTER ALL THIS
I JUST PROJECTED KIRK WILL SUIT CITY MANAGER, RON CORBIN.
UM, AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, TRACY STEVENS HAVE BEEN ALSO VERY HELPFUL IN WORKING WITH ME ON THIS PLAN, AS WELL AS THE REST EXEC TEAM.
I STILL DUNNO HOW TO SAY HER LAST NAME.
ALSO HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.
AND, UM, I WANNA ALSO THANK NICOLE AND THE CITY ATTORNEYS BECAUSE A LOT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS AND THINGS TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT.
SO THIS NEXT TO GET US TO THE NEXT LEVEL REQUIRES A LOT OF, UM, AGREE, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE WE DO AGREEMENTS THAT THE RIGHT WAY WHEN WE ENGAGE WITH THE PARTNERS, DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS.
SO WITH THAT SAID, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR VISION, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT'S REALLY SPEARHEADING OUR EXCITEMENT AND PASSION TODAY.
ALL RIGHT, BY THE NUMBERS, I WANNA START BY THE NUMBERS, BECAUSE ALL DAY LONG WE COULD TALK ABOUT THAT AVONDALE'S THE BEST CITY ON EARTH, AND IT IS
IT'S, AND, AND WE STORY TELL, AND WE TELL, RIGHT CHERYL, EVERY DAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHY YOU'LL FIND SUCCESS IN AVONDALE, WHY WE ARE HERE TO HELP REMOVE YOUR BARRIERS, WHY IT MAKES SENSE FOR YOU TO LAND HERE.
BUT THE NUMBERS ARE WHERE THE PROOF IS, THE PROOF'S IN THE NUMBERS.
AND THAT REALLY HELPS US CREATE THAT NARRATIVE TO, UM, WHY YOU'LL BE SUPPORTED HERE.
UM, BEFORE I GET INTO THE NUMBERS, AND, AND CHERYL AND I TALK ABOUT THIS EVERY DAY, IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS REALLY US BUILDING, UM, THE CITY FOR THE GENERATIONS.
IT'S NOT JUST FOR TODAY, IT'S FOR THE AGES.
AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MAYOR LEGACY PROJECTS.
WE HAVE ONE SHOT TO GET THIS RIGHT.
WE HAVE ONE SHOT TO ENGAGE WITH THE RIGHT DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DELIVERING SMART, INTENTIONAL QUALITY DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL DELIVER THE JOBS AND AMENITIES THAT OUR RESIDENTS EXPECT AND DESERVE.
THAT IS THE UNDERLYING REASON WHY WE'RE HERE, IS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO, TO EXECUTE THAT, BUT BY THE NUMBERS, OKAY? ALMOST A HUNDRED THOUSAND POPULATION.
WE'RE GROWING, WE'RE EXPERIENCED TREMENDOUS GROWTH.
WE HAVE A LOT OF HOUSING AND ENTITLEMENTS AND THINGS IN MOTION, WHICH REALLY HELP WITH OUR NARRATIVE BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE A GROWING CITY.
WE HAVE, AND WE'LL GET TO WHY WE BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, WE SAY WE'RE THE CENTER OF TREMENDOUS GROWTH.
UM, WE HAVE 235,000 CARS ON I 10.
I FEEL LIKE I GRADUATED TO THE BIG LEAGUES 'CAUSE I FINALLY GOT OFF THE 1 0 1
MY TWO PREVIOUS CITIES WERE ON THE 1 0 1.
SO I'M LIKE, I'M IN THE BIG LEAGUES.
THIS IS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING THROUGH AVONDALE.
AND SO WE ALSO EXPERIENCED, UM, A 30% INCREASE IN OUR HOUSEHOLD AVERAGE INCOME.
TAKE A MOMENT TO SOAK THAT IN.
THAT MADE US THE SEVENTH HIGHEST MEDIAN INCOME INCREASE IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO WE THIS, AND I'M GONNA GET TO WHY THAT NUMBER IS SO IMPORTANT TO US IN A SECOND.
UM, AND THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE US CENSUS BUREAU AND NOT ME.
'CAUSE SOME PEOPLE THINK I MAKE THESE NUMBERS UP,
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I'LL TRY TO BE QUICK.
WHEN WE GO OUT THERE TO PURSUE BUSINESSES, TO COME TO AVONDALE, ESPECIALLY RESTAURANTS, THEY ARE GOING TO ASK ME, WELL, THEY'RE GONNA ASK ME LIKE 20 QUESTIONS, BUT I'M GONNA JUST TELL YOU THE TOP TWO.
[02:50:01]
INCOME, AVERAGE INCOME? WHAT'S YOUR POPULATION? OH, I'M GONNA LIE, THREE DATE.WHAT'S YOUR DAYTIME EMPLOYMENT LOOK LIKE? SO THAT THEY HAVE CONSISTENT BUSINESS COMING THROUGH.
UM, SO THE FACT THAT WE GREW OUR HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS REALLY GREAT, AND WE'RE GETTING AMENITIES AGAIN THAT WE REALLY, WE REALLY DESIRE.
BUT THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR STORES LIKE WHOLE FOODS OR FLOWER CHILD IS 130,000, 120 TO 130,000 IS THE AVERAGE.
SO RIGHT AWAY WE KIND OF GET DISMISSED, BUT WE'RE GETTING CREATIVE.
WE'RE DROPPING THE PIN CLOSER TO GOODYEAR.
PUT YOUR EARMUFFS ON ATTORNEYS.
WE ARE TRYING TO GET CREATIVE AND INTEGRATING REGIONAL NUMBERS TO SHOW THAT WE HAVE THE STRENGTH, RIGHT? SO YOU'RE GONNA START TO SEE, AND I TELL YOU THIS BECAUSE IF YOU SEE ONE OF OUR SITE BOOKS OUT THERE THAT SAYS 117,000, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING,
WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE DROP, WE'RE GOING, WE'RE GOING WEST JUST TO, TO KIND OF SHOW THAT WE LISTEN, WE KNOW WHATEVER COMES TO GOODYEAR.
I MEAN, GOODYEAR AVONDALE'S GONNA GO TO WHATEVER COMES TO AVONDALE, GOODYEAR, YOU KNOW, FROM RESTAURANTS, RIGHT? YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THAT CROSS TRAFFIC, UM, POPULATION.
THIS IS IMPORTANT TOO, BECAUSE 1 0 1 TRADE AREA, THE TRADE AREA THAT THE RESTAURANTS LOOK AT WHEN THEY'RE DETERMINING WHERE TO PLACE THEIR NEXT RESTAURANT, ANY RESTAURANTS SOUTH OF BELL ROAD ALL THE WAY TO HERE IS CONSIDERED SOMETIMES ONE TRADE AREA.
SO THE POSTINO'S OF THE WORLD AND THE VIG AND, UM, THIRSTY LINE, I'M JUST NAMING SOME OF THE RESTAURANTS WE SEE A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON.
THEY'RE CONSIDERED IN OUR TRADE AREA.
UM, SO THEY MIGHT GO TO GOODYEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF THE TRADE AREA.
THE RESTAURANTS ON 3 0 3 COOPER'S HAWK, UM, I CAN'T MISSION BARBECUE.
SOME OF THOSE, THEY WON'T GO TO GOODYEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE PART, PART OF THEIR TRADE AREA.
SO THAT'S, COOPER'S HAWK WILL COME TO AVONDALE, OTHERS WILL COME.
SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE HAVE TO GO AFTER THE 3 0 3 RESTAURANTS AND THEY HAVE TO GO AFTER THE 1 0 1 UNTIL THE POPULATION CHANGES.
WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO START TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE'RE GETTING MORE POPULATION, GUESS WHAT? WE CREATE OUR OWN TRADE AREA.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE, WE'RE LITERALLY WORKING OUT TRADE AREAS.
I MEAN, I'VE, I'VE MADE UP A RIVER BETWEEN GOODYEAR AND I, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT RIVER'S CALLED.
WHAT'S THAT RIVER CALLED? YEAH, THAT RIVER.
I'M LIKE, THAT'S A TRADE AREA.
IT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT, I MEAN, YOU CAN'T CROSS THAT RIVER.
JUST PRETEND I TEN'S NOT THERE.
BUT, UM, SO WE JUST HAVE TO GET REALLY CREATIVE.
BUT I THOUGHT THIS WAS IMPORTANT TO SPEND SOME TIME.
SO YOU EVERYONE UNDERSTOOD WHY IT'S A CHALLENGE SOMETIMES TO GET SOME OF THOSE, UM, POPULAR RESTAURANTS.
NOT TO SAY WE WON'T GET THEM BECAUSE ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
MAYBE NOT TOMORROW, BUT MAYBE IN TWO MONTHS.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AVONDALE, AND THIS HAS REALLY HELPED ME A LOT, AND IT HAS HELPED THE TEAM AND, AND, AND I, AND THANK YOU, I'VE EVEN HEARD THE MAYOR REFERENCE THIS.
SO I APPRECIATE, WE ARE TRULY THE CENTER OF IT ALL.
AND WE ARE, FROM A TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR STANDPOINT, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MASSIVE TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR.
WE'RE IN THE CENTER OF GROWTH.
WE'RE IN THE CENTER OF SEMICONDUCTOR ACTIVITY.
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY WITH TSMC EXPANDING THEIR INVESTMENT.
SO WE ARE HALFWAY BETWEEN TSMC AND WE'RE HALFWAY IN BETWEEN INTEL.
SO WHEN WE PITCH SUPPLIERS, WHICH WE HAVE JAMIE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW TO SUPPLIER CONFERENCE, THIS POOR GIRL WITH A LOT OF TECHNICAL PEOPLE, UM, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE.
SO IT MAKES SENSE TO CREATE A SUPPLIER TECH PARK TO, UM, HOUSE THESE SEMICONDUCTOR, UH, SUPPLIERS.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE IN THE CENTER OF IT ALL THERE.
UM, WE'RE THE CENTER OF, AGAIN, A LOT OF GROWTH.
I FOUND OUT FROM OUR CITY MANAGER,
SO WE ARE TRULY LITERALLY THE CENTER.
IN FACT, IF YOU GO NORTH ON AVONDALE OR HUNDRED 15TH AVENUE ALL THE WAY NORTH, YOU HIT THE NORTH POLE.
DID YOU GUYS KNOW THAT? SO WE ARE A STRAIGHT SHOT TO SANTA CLAUS.
I TOLD THAT TO A BUNCH OF BUSINESS PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S HOW THEY REMEMBER US.
THEY'RE LIKE, SANTA'S WORKSHOP.
I'M LIKE, I DIDN'T SAY THAT, BUT OKAY.
I SAID, WE HAVE A STRAIGHT SHOT TO SANTA, WHICH IS REALLY FUNNY COMING FROM ME.
BUT ANYWAYS, BECAUSE I DON'T CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS.
BUT ANYWAYS, BUT HANUKKAH, CHRISTMAS, IT'S ALL, IT'S ALL FUN.
[02:55:02]
PRODUCT VACANCY,HEY, WE COULD PITCH ALL DAY LONG.
WELL, ACTUALLY WE DO, WE PITCH ALL DAY LONG AND WE ARE REALLY, REALLY, MY TEAM, I, I, AGAIN, CHERYL OVERSEES THE BUSINESS ATTRACTION TEAM AND THEY'RE OUTSTANDING.
THEY'RE SOLID AND THEY'RE PITCHING AND THEY'RE BRINGING, AND THEY'RE ENTICING BUSINESSES.
BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE PRODUCT, WE CANNOT ACCOMMODATE OR SUPPORT THEM.
AND THEN THAT MAKES US REALLY, WELL, IT MAKES US REALLY SAD, RIGHT? 'CAUSE WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE INTERESTED IN US.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE TO PUT THEM.
UM, SO INDUSTRIAL DEMAND IS STRONG ACROSS ALL ASSET SECTORS.
THE FORMER CONS, 300,000 SQUARE FEET, UH, CAME ONLINE IS AVAILABLE.
AND THEN WE HAVE 150,000 SQUARE FEET OF BRAND NEW PRODUCT THAT CAME ONLINE, WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL.
UM, CLASS A INDUSTRIAL OFFICE.
AND HEALTH IS REALLY LOW AT 2.4%.
I THINK FORMER JOANNE WENT OUT OF BUSINESS.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA BE BACK LOOKING AT BACKFILLING THAT, UM, OFFICE AND HEALTH, EVERYTHING IS, IS UP IN TERMS OF LEASING TERMS OR RE UH, RATES $10 AND 49 CENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL UP 2.1%.
OFFICE HEALTH IS, UH, HEALTHCARE MEDICAL OFFICE $32 AND RETAIL 26 55.
UH, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CLASS A OFFICE EARLIER IN THE FIRST PANEL.
I DO WANNA, JUST FULL DISCLOSURE, THERE'S 8 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF CLASS A OFFICE IN THE VALLEY.
SO WE JUST HAVE TO ALWAYS KIND OF BE MINDFUL THAT THERE IS A LOT OUT THERE.
BUT WHAT THERE ISN'T, WHAT WE NEED IS SUBMARKET.
SO SUBMARKET OFFICE SPACE IS PROBABLY, UM, WHAT WE'D PURSUE.
OKAY, MR. MAYOR, IF I CAN, WHAT IS SUBMARKET AND WHY, WHY IS IT GOOD TO HAVE, UH, RATES GOING UP FOR RENT? SO RATES GOING UP A RENT IS ACTUALLY A GOOD THING.
'CAUSE THAT'S SHOWING COMPETITIVENESS, RIGHT? SO NOW WE ARE LIKE, WE'RE COMPETING.
IF YOU LOOK TOO LOW, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG.
IF YOU LOOK TOO HIGH, THEN THAT'S LIKE A DETERRENT.
SO IT'S LIKE, KIND OF LIKE THE GOLDILOCKS STORY.
WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND THAT RIGHT MIX THAT PUTS YOU IN A GREAT POSITION FOR RECRUITMENT.
UM, AND SO, AND THEN ALSO, UM, SUBMARKET, THAT'S THE FINANCIAL SERVICES, THE BANKS, THE TITLES, THE ATTORNEYS, THE REALTORS, THE CPAS, THE TAX FOLKS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR OFFICE SPACE IN THEIR MARKET, IN THE CITY.
THEY MAY RESIDE OR CITY NEARBY.
THEY DON'T WANNA GO INTO DOWNTOWN PHOENIX.
THEY WANNA HAVE OFFICE, UM, ACCOMMODATIONS AND, AND ASSETS NEARBY.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE SUB MARKET IS.
SO TO ESTA, SO OUR VISION TO ESTABLISH AVONDALE AS A CENTRAL HUB FOR INNOVATION, HEALTHCARE, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, ENTERTAINMENT, DRIVING, JOB CREATION, REVENUE GENERATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS RETENTION, AND EXPANSION AND TOURISM.
UM, WHILE CREATING A LONG-TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY THAT LEVERAGES LAND RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY THROUGH QUALITY INVESTMENTS TO INCREASE QUALITY OF LIFE AND MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER FOR THE AGES.
SO WHEN WE GET OUT THERE AND WE'RE SEEKING INVESTMENT, 'CAUSE REALLY THAT'S IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE WHY WOULD YOU WANNA INVEST HERE? WE'VE GOT GREAT TENANTS, WE'VE GOT GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE.
I TALK ABOUT ALL I BRAG ALL THE TIME ABOUT OUR POLICE CHIEF, FIRE CHIEF CORY.
I MEAN, HOW THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE IF YOU REALLY WANT THOSE QUALITY OF LIFE AMENITIES.
I HEARD THAT FROM SOME OF YOU A FEW TIMES TODAY.
THIS IS WHAT I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA PAUSE AT THE END, BUT PLEASE FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN 'CAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE I GET THESE PRIORITIES CORRECT.
I'VE HEARD YOU, I'VE MET WITH YOU ONE-ON-ONE.
SO I WAS LIKE LISTENING TO WHAT YOU, WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU.
I'VE ALSO MET WITH EXEC AND LEADERSHIP TEAM, MEETING WITH CITY MANAGER AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS.
I'VE ALSO LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS FOR THE STRATEGIC PLANNING.
SO THIS HOPEFULLY REFLECTS A MAJORITY OF THOSE, UM, INTERACTIONS AND FEEDBACK.
JOB CREATION SEEMS TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT PRIORITY TO ME.
THAT'S HOW WE, IN ORDER TO GET THOSE HOUSEHOLD INCOMES UP, THE ONLY WAY TO GET THOSE HOUSEHOLD AVERAGE INCOME UP IS QUALITY HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD JOBS.
SO WE ARE AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD JOBS RIGHT NOW, AS WELL AS OTHER JOBS AS WELL.
BUT I JUST, THOSE ARE, THAT'S HOW YOU MOVE YOUR, YOUR NEEDLE RE UM, REVENUE GENERATION THROUGH REDEVELOPMENT.
SO WE HAVE, UM, WE'RE 90% BUILT OUT.
UH, IT WAS, IT WAS A LITTLE STRESSFUL WHEN I CAME ON BECAUSE I, WE HAD TO DO, IT WAS AMAZING THE TEAM.
WE HAD TO DO QUICK LAND ASSEMBLY, UH, WORKING AGAIN WITH JODY AND YOUR TEAM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT COULD WE REZONE.
[03:00:01]
NOW I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE BECAUSE THE TEAM IS SO INCREDIBLE.AND LIKE, HERE'S HOW WE GET, HERE'S HOW WE GET THE LAND READY FOR POTENTIAL FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
SR 30, WE'RE GONNA MAKE MORE LAND THERE.
UM, BUT REDEVELOPMENT IS SUPER CRITICAL IN FILL INFILL PARCELS.
UM, OLD TOWN, WHERE COULD WE REDEVELOP? AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE EVALUATING.
IT'S THE NUMBER ONE FACTOR THAT SITE SELECTORS DETERMINE WHEN THEY'RE COMING INTO A COMMUNITY, IF THEY HAVE SUFFICIENT WORKFORCE TO SUPPORT THEIR, UM, THEIR OPERATIONS.
AND THEN WE HAVE OF COURSE, TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND DESTINATION BRANDING, INCREASING OUR HOTEL HOSPITALITY ASSETS AS WELL AS INCREASING, UM, OUR PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRAM ACTIVATION WITH PHOENIX RACEWAY AND SOME OTHER ENTITIES.
GOAL ONE, CREATE 200 JOBS PER YEAR IN THE TARGET SECTORS, WHICH WILL BE ABOUT A THOUSAND OVER FIVE YEARS.
I, I BELIEVE IF WE GET THE PRODUCT WE NEED, THAT'S GOING TO BE MUCH HIGHER.
SO, UM, BUT I'M NOT SAYING I'M BAGGING.
'CAUSE SOMETIMES I DON'T WANNA FEEL LIKE THAT.
BUT THAT'S KIND OF A HEALTHY NUMBER BASED ON THE PRODUCT THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
'CAUSE YOU HAVE TO CONNECT THE TWO.
UM, FINANCIAL SERVICES IS A REALLY IMPORTANT TARGET SECTOR FOR US.
WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR TARGET SECTORS, LEMME BACK UP.
WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT'S IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CURRENT WORKFORCE WE HAVE TODAY.
THE EXISTING COMMUNITY, EXISTING WORKFORCE, AND THEN THE FUTURE PIPELINE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THROUGH OUR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS.
SO LOOKING AT THE CURRICULUM, THE CERTIFICATIONS, WHAT'S BEING TRAINED, WHAT'S HAPPENING, WHO LIVES IN, IN OUR BACKYARD TODAY.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE EXISTING IN FUTURE, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO WHEN DELANEY WAS TALKING ABOUT FIRST CHILDREN.
I'M LIKE, WE NEED TO START CAPTURING THE KIDS.
UM, THAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE GET, IF THEY HAVE GOOD QUALITY CHILDCARE, THEN WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, MORE PEOPLE CONFIDENT IN THE WORKPLACE.
CHERYL HAS BEEN BUILDING OUT OUR HEALTHCARE CORRIDOR CORRIDOR.
UM, AND WE HAVE FEW STRATEGIC PARCELS LEFT THAT WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT WE ARE, UM, HAPPY TO INTRODUCE SOME OR SHARE SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS SOON.
THESE ARE MY MICROCHIP EARRINGS.
UM, WE AGAIN, ARE IN THE HALF POINT OF THE SEMICONDUCTOR ECOSYSTEM.
SO THIS IS A MICROCHIP, IT'S A REAL ONE.
I MADE AN EARING OUT OF, IT'S A SUBSTRATE IN THE BACK AND IT'S MASKING AND LITHOGRAPHY ON THE FRONT.
THOSE ARE THE SECTORS WE'RE GOING AFTER BECAUSE WHERE'S KIRK LOW WATER? WE'RE LOOKING AT LOW WATER SEMICONDUCTOR, BUT SOME OF THE ADVANCED PACKAGING AND SUBSTRATES WE ARE WORKING WITH.
BUT WE KNOW WE CAN'T, WE CAN, WE CAN ONLY PROBABLY MAYBE WITH A CLOSED LOOP GET ONE OR TWO, UM, TECHNOLOGY ASTRAY.
MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS AN INCREDIBLE AI LEARNING LAB, SO WE'RE CAPITALIZING ON THAT.
HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, RETAIL, ENTERTAINMENT.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY AMENITIES THERE.
ATTRACT NEW EMPLOYEES AND TARGET SECTORS.
THAT'S REALLY OUR, OUR BIGGEST MISSION.
UM, SHORT OF GETTING A RESTRAINING ORDER OR GETTING ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING, RON HAS AGREED TO BE MY FIRST CALL WHEN I GET, NOT ARRESTED HERE, BUT WE LITERALLY PUT OURSELVES IN POSITIONS OR PLACES WHERE WE KNOW KEY DECISION MAKERS ARE PRESENT.
NOT IN A STALKING, CREEPY WAY, BUT KIND OF, KIND OF.
BUT WE FIND UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES IN SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND PLACES WHERE WE KNOW THAT OUR TARGET SECTOR EXISTS.
AND THEN WE MEET THEM, WE DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS.
WE BUILD, WE TALK ABOUT OUR AMAZING ASSETS.
THEY FALL IN LOVE WITH ALL OF US.
AND THEN THE, THE GOAL IS, OF COURSE, TO LAND THEIR BUSINESS.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR AGGRESSIVE, UM, VERY AGGRESSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY THERE.
UM, BUILDING OUT THE HEALTHCARE QUARTER, THAT'S ANOTHER HUGE PART OF OUR TASK OR GOAL.
WE'VE GOT TWO BIG HEALTHCARE PROJECTS IN THE, IN THE WORKS, UM, POSITION IN BRAND AVONDALE AS A SUPPLIER PARK.
GROW AND REVITALIZE EXISTING BUSINESS.
THAT'S THE HEART AND SOUL OF OUR, UM, OH, OH YEAH.
WE HAVE A THOUSAND BUSINESSES AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEY FIND SUCCESS AND THAT WE HELP THEM THROUGH PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES.
WE HAVE DEDICATED A POSITION TO BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION.
[03:05:01]
IS HE GOES OUT, HE VISITS, HE WORKS WITH THE EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS.HE MAKES SURE THAT BUSINESSES HAVE SUPPORT SERVICES AND RESOURCES, UM, THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND WE'RE FOSTERING AND GROWING, UM, ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH SOME REALLY INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CHAMBER, SBDC AND OTHER, UM, LOCAL, LIKE LOCAL FIRST OTHER LOCAL ENTITIES.
MR. MAYOR, IF I, IF I CAN INTERRUPT JEN ONE MORE TIME BECAUSE I, I THINK SHE'S NOT REALLY TELLING THE WHOLE STORY.
SO WHEN, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SHORT OF STALKING OR GETTING ARRESTED, UH, DO YOU MIND, UH, SHARING THE STORY? UH, YOU WERE AT A, UH, THAT WE MET THE YOUNG LADY THE OTHER DAY, UH, AND HOW YOU MET HER AT A CONFERENCE YOU WEREN'T ATTENDING.
WHAT THE, GOING TO THE BILTMORE IN MEAT SPACE? WHAT'S HER NAME? OH, OH YEAH.
SO I THOUGHT, OKAY, YES, I THOUGHT FOR A SECOND.
I WAS, YOU WERE GONNA TALK ABOUT WHEN I KIDNAPPED TERRY BRADSHAW
I'M HAPPY IF YOU HAVE ONE SECOND TO TELL.
SO WE WERE ACTUALLY, UM, AND THANK YOU MAYOR.
WAS, WAS, UM, WAS, UH, WITH RON AND TRACY AND, AND MET A POTENTIAL PROSPECT WHO IS FROM CALIFORNIA.
SHE DOES THE LITHOGRAPHY FOR MICROCHIPS.
SHE'S A MIC, UH, SHE'S A CHIPS APPLICANT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THIS IS A BIG, BIG DEAL FOR US.
BUT, UH, IT CAME OUT IN THAT MEETING THAT I SNUCK INTO AN EVENT AT THE BILTMORE TO MEET HER
I WAS AT AN EVENT NEXT DOOR, AND THEN I WAS LIKE, THAT'S REALLY WHERE I WANNA BE.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE CEOS ARE.
I DID GET PERMISSION ONCE I WAS IN THERE, I FOUND THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
UH, TERRY BRADSHAW REALLY QUICK.
WHEN I WORKED FOR GLENDALE, I WAS REALLY UPSET WITH HOW MANY TIMES THEY REFERRED TO UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX STADIUM AT THE TIME AS UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX OR, OR PHOENIX RATHER THAN GLENDALE.
IT'S LIKE SO ANNOYING WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN THE CITY AND THEY DON'T, AND IT'S HARD.
AND, UH, I KNEW TERRY BRADSHAW WAS FLYING IN HIS PRIVATE PLANE TO DO THE, THE, WHAT'S THE TROPHY I LOST.
ITS, UH, WHAT'S THE TROPHY AT THE END OF THE SUPER BOWL? LOMBARDI.
REMEMBER BACK IN GLENDALE, 2008 DAYS SUPER BOWL.
AND, UH, I MET HIM AT THE GLENDALE AIRPORT.
I DROVE MY CAR ONTO THE TARMAC PROBABLY AND GREETED HIM, LITERALLY LIKE STOPPED.
AND HIS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE STAIRS CAME DOWN.
I'M LIKE, WELCOME TO GLENDALE, MR. BRADSHAW.
WE'RE SO HAPPY YOU'RE HERE TO BE PART OF SUPER BOWL.
AND HE'S LIKE, WOW, WHAT A GREAT WELCOME.
AND I'M LIKE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE YOU KNOW, YOU'RE IN GLENDALE
AND THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST THAT GLENDALE'S GOT GAME BECAUSE THAT WAS OUR BRAND AND AT THE TIME.
AND SO HE'S LIKE, ARE YOU MY RIDE? AND THEN I SAID, EARMUFFS EVERYONE ON THE TURN.
AND SHE, I SAID, YES, YOU CAN
I SAID, YES, YOU, YOU CAN, YOU CAN GET A RIDE WITH ME.
LIKE I, I WAS HEADING THERE ANYWAYS, I HAD TO GO BACK TO WHERE MY OFFICE WAS.
HE'S LIKE, SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.
I TOOK HIM TO THE, THE SUPER BOWL FOR HIS BIG TROPHY, YOU KNOW, PRESENTATION.
AND THEN HE'S LOOKING THROUGH HIS NOTES.
HE'S LIKE, ARE YOU MELISSA, MY DRIVER
SO I SAID, I'M, I'M JUST, I'M YOUR DRIVER.
SO
BUT ANYWAYS, UM, AND THEN HE HONESTLY, AND I HAVE IT VIDEOTAPED IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE IT, HE, UM, AT THE TROPHY PRESENTATION, HE THANKED THE CITY OF GLENDALE.
AND HE PERSONALLY THANKED ME FOR PICKING HIM UP AT THE AIRPORT AND DID A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO 200 MILLION PEOPLE.
AND MY MOM WAS LIKE, WHAT DID YOU DO, JENNY? THAT'S WHAT I'M CALLED.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE DO, CHERYL, RIGHT? WE DO REALLY WILD STUFF.
SO THAT'S WHEN I, THAT'S MY ONLY, THAT'S MY ONLY TIME I'VE EVER KIDNAPPED ANYONE SO FAR.
UM, GOAL TWO, REDEVELOPING AN ADDITIONAL 3% OF AVONDALE INFILL LAND.
SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AN ACTIVE RFP THAT HIT THE STREETS FOR THE BOULEVARD.
WE HAVE HEARD YOU, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE WE FIND A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT PARTNER WHO COULD DELIVER GREAT EXPERIENTIAL ENTERTAINMENT, RESTAURANTS, RETAIL, THAT SUB-MARKET OFFICE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, HOSPITALITY, HOTELS.
AND I AM REALLY EXCITED TO SAY WE'VE HAD SO MUCH INTEREST FROM REALLY, REALLY GREAT DEVELOPERS.
WE HAD 80 DOWNLOADS IN THE FIRST DAY.
WE HAD 22 PEOPLE ON OUR PRE-COMMITTEE CALL.
UM, THE TEAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB, BASICALLY, OF SAYING LIKE, YOU'RE MISSING OUT IF YOU'RE NOT HERE IN AVONDALE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE JUST, YOU'RE BEHIND THE TIMES.
[03:10:01]
SELL, WE SELL, WE SELL, RIGHT? AND, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO, IS MAKING SURE THEY KNOW THAT, UM, THIS IS, THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE.COOPER'S HAWK IS GOING THROUGH OUR PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO I, I LOOK AT CHERYL, 'CAUSE THAT WAS, THAT WAS ONE OF CHERYL'S BIG WINS, UM, THAT WILL RECRUIT, THAT WILL PROMPT OTHER RESTAURANTS.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR THOSE CATALYSTS THAT SHOW, AND NOT ONLY PROVE THE MARKET, BUT SHOW OTHERS AND DEMONSTRATE THIS IS WHY, AGAIN, YOU'LL, YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN AVONDALE OLD TOWN REDEVELOPMENT IS IS A SPECIAL PRIORITY THAT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT IN THE NEXT SLIDE.
I GAVE IT, IT HAS ITS OWN SLIDE.
THAT IS, THAT IS WHERE WE WILL UNLOCK FUTURE LAND THROUGH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
NO PRESSURE, JODY AND TEAM, AND THEN EVENTUALLY KIM.
UM, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE NEED TO LOOK AHEAD.
WE'RE ALWAYS ANTICIPATING THE NEXT NEEDS, LIKE THE NEXT, THE NEXT BIG PLAY IN OUR PLAYBOOK.
AND IT'S GONNA BE SR 30, UM, AUTO DISTRICT EXPANSION, REDEVELOPMENT.
I HAVE THAT DOWN BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME MOVEMENT RECENTLY WITH KIA MOVING ACROSS THE STREET.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE CAN KIND FIND ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, ANOTHER CAR DEALER TO GO INTO THAT SITE AND, AND CONTINUE TO, AND, AND FROM BRE CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE HAPPY.
THEY'RE HAPPY IN THE DISTRICT.
COUNCIL OR MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER.
I, UM, I, I, I, AND I NOTICED THAT LAURA KA A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WAS SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION, I THINK AND MCWELL AND TOOK A PICTURE OF TWO DRIVING IN.
SAY, HEY, THIS IS HOW WE KNOW WE'RE SO MUCH HERE.
UM, I, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S A BAD STANDARD, BUT IF YOU PULL IN MY DRIVEWAY, YOU MIGHT SEE I LIKE BRANDS AS WELL.
ARE WE LOOKING AT ATTRACTING ANY OF THE LUXURY STREET BRAND VEHICLE DEALER HERE? UM, I KNOW THAT THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE WILL CONSIDER REMARKABLE BEST.
YOU KNOW, AND I MEAN, UH, EVERYBODY LIKES A GOOD CHEVY TRUCK.
I'M SURE YOU PROBABLY GET ONE HERE, BUT WE HAVE THAT COMPETITION AND GOODYEAR FORD, SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE BEST AUTO MILE.
THEY SPONSOR A LOT OF WHAT WE DO.
I MEAN, WHERE'S LEXUS? ARE WE GONNA SEE THEM TOO? BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO SHINE AWAY THE FOLKS THAT ARE GIVING US ALL OF, YOU KNOW.
UM, BUT A LOT OF THE RETAILERS THAT WE HAVE HERE DO HAVE LUXURY BRANDS AVAILABLE IN THEIR LINEUP.
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO GET SOME OF THOSE LUXURY AUTO BRANDS AND
THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
AND SO YES, THE, THE ANSWER IS YES, WE WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE LUXURY DEALERS.
UM, WE, IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA, THERE'S AN INTERESTING LAW OR LEGISLATION WHERE YOU HAVE TO BE 10 MILES AWAY FROM ANOTHER.
THE DEALERSHIPS, THE OEMS, THE BRAND HAVE TO BE 10 MILES APART.
AND YOU GET THESE POINTS AND IT'S IN A COMPLICATED SYSTEM.
SO WE ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO GO AFTER THOSE.
AND WE ARE, WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF THESE BROKERS, UM, OUTTA DC THEY HAVE A LOT OF THESE AUTO BROKERS WHO WE'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH.
AND SO IT REALLY IS A MATTER OF THE LAND, THE OWNERSHIP GROUP, WHICH IS KIA, WHETHER THEY'RE WILLING TO SELL TO ONE OF THESE OTHER OEMS. AND WE'RE WORKING ON THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE OTHER PLANS THAT, UM, WELL, WE DIDN'T LIKE THEIR OTHER PLANS, RIGHT? AS SEE.
SO IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY OF LIKE PITCHING AND PROMOTING AND ATTRACTING AND RECRUITING BUSINESSES, WE'RE ALSO HAVING, I SAID TO RON, I WAS GONNA SAY IT NICELY.
ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH LANDOWNERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS ON WHAT WE, WHAT WE BELIEVE WE, WE SHOULD HAVE OR DESERVE.
WHAT, WHAT'S IN ALIGNMENT WITH YOUR VISION.
AND SO, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF LOW HANGING FRUIT OUT THERE, WHICH IS EASY.
I MEAN, I'M, I'M ASKING PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, PLOP DOWN $20 MILLION HERE AND 50 MILLION HERE, AND THEY'RE LIKE, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT I'M LIKE, YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT BACK.
SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES, WE ARE, BUT WE, WE, WE JUST HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THE OWNERSHIP.
MI MR. MAYOR, BEFORE SHE GOES ON, THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO TALK.
YOU TALKED ABOUT NOT, UH, ACCEPTING LOW HANGING FRUIT.
WE DESERVE BETTER THAN SOME OF THE THINGS.
I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, HAVE RECEIVED PHONE CALLS TO DEVELOP LAND IN THE BOULEVARD AREA, NOT, NOT OUR PRIVATE LAND, THAT NOT THE LAND WE OWN, BUT THE LAND NEARBY.
UM, BECAUSE COUNCIL YEARS AGO, PUT SOME VERY, UH, UH, STRICT RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT CAN GO THERE.
UH, THE GOAL TO CREATE, UM, HIGHER LEVEL, UH, EATERIES AND RETAIL AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
SHOULD WE BE CHANGING THOSE STANDARDS? SHOULD WE, WHAT, WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP TO MAKE SURE THAT GETS DEVELOPED? I WOULD LIKE TO MAINTAIN THOSE STANDARDS OR EVEN MAKE THEM MORE, MORE, UM, I DON'T KNOW, SUPPORTIVE OF OUR VISION.
[03:15:01]
SOME AMENITIES.WE'RE LACKING LIFESTYLE CENTERS.
WE'RE LACKING SOME OF THOSE HIGH QUALITY SIT DOWN RESTAURANTS.
WE DON'T NEED MORE FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS.
AND I'M SORRY IF ANYONE LOVES FAST FOOD.
I MEAN, I, I GOTTA BE RESPECTFUL THOUGH, THE DRIVE THROUGH FOLKS THAT KEVIN AND OUT, YEAH, WE'RE HAPPY, BUT WE WANNA, AND YOU KNOW, WE WANNA BE REALLY STRATEGIC IN WHO WE APPROACH AND THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT IS MEANINGFUL, INTENTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO I CALLED JODY, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES A DAY I HAD LOST COUNT A MILLION, LIKE SAYING, OKAY.
AND, AND CHERYL AND I, EVERY FRIDAY, THIS IS LIKE EVERY FRIDAY, WE CALL IT FRIDAY FIGHT FOR OUR LAND DAY.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE LANDOWNERS CALL
AND THEY'RE LIKE, THIS IS, WE GOT A CONVENIENCE STORE AND THREE FAST FOODS AND RESTAURANTS.
LIKE, RIGHT? BUT THEN WE SAY, HEY, WE ALWAYS LISTEN.
CUSTOMER SERVICE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO WE ALWAYS TRY TO WORK WITH SOMEONE WHO MIGHT HAVE THAT IDEA AND FIND THEM THE RIGHT PLACE.
NO, WE DO, WE, WE FIND SITES THAT, UM, MIGHT BE A BETTER FIT, RIGHT? IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FIT.
BUT YES, SOME OF THE REALLY LESS DESIRABLE STUFF WE KICK OVER.
BUT, UM, NO, WE, WE ALWAYS ARE TRYING TO BE A GOOD STEWARD, A GOOD, UM, YOU KNOW, A GOOD, WE WANT, HEY, WE HAVE TO HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH EVERYONE BECAUSE ONE, AT, AT ONE POINT THIS DEVELOPER MIGHT BE SEEKING SOMETHING WE DON'T WANT, BUT THEN I'M GONNA NEED THEM FOR SOMETHING ELSE ANOTHER TIME, RIGHT? AND IT'S, IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
SO WE HAVE TO BE WHAT WE CALL BEST FRIENDS, UH, YOU KNOW, CLOSE WITH THEM ALL THE TIME.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.
'CAUSE I, OH BOY, I'M TALKING A LOT.
SO I'M GONNA STOP BECAUSE I, I WANNA HEAR FROM YOU.
UM, WE ARE THE PROUD OWNER OF FIVE 18 EAST WESTERN.
I MEAN, NOT REALLY, LIKE, I DON'T LIVE THERE BECAUSE I'D BE SQUATTING AND WE DON'T WANT SQUATTERS, RIGHT? SO I NEED FEEDBACK FROM YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL ON YOUR VISION HERE.
BUT WE DO HAVE SOME, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SOME CONCEPTUAL SITE PLANS.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE BUSINESSES ON WESTERN.
WE STARTED TO ENGAGE AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MEETINGS SCHEDULED WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS TO MAKE SURE WE HEAR WHAT THEIR VISION IS AND WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
UM, AFTER ALL THAT, WE ALSO HAVE A SITE, A BUS TOUR WITH A NUMBER OF BROKERS AND DEVELOPERS TO BRING THEM THROUGH TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK.
I LEARNED THAT BECAUSE AFTER THE BOULEVARD, I THINK I HAD 30 SEPARATE MEETINGS, AND I'M LIKE, THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
WE SHOULD HAVE PUT 'EM ALL ON A BUS.
UM, AND THEN, UH, THEN WE'LL ISSUE A REQUEST FOR A PROPOSAL, SIMILAR, WHAT WE DID WITH THE BOULEVARD.
ALL THAT FEEDBACK HELPS INFORM AND SHAPE THE RFP.
UH, WITH THAT SAID, I'M GONNA TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT FIVE 18 WESTERN 3 28 WESTERN.
WE PROBABLY WILL LOOK AT ADDING TO THE RFP.
THAT IS, UM, IT, I JUST FORGOT.
OPPORTUNITY WHERE OPPORTUNITY TREES, OPPORTUNITY TREES IS CURRENTLY THERE.
THE QUESTION IS AN INITIAL FEEDBACK WE'VE RECEIVED FROM SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IS THAT IT IS, UM, EXPENSIVE TO REMODEL, AND IT COULD, IT COULD POTENTIALLY LIMIT DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY IF YOU KEEP THE STRUCTURES VERSUS CLEARING IT.
BUT THIS IS JUST A, SOME OF THE FEEDBACK WE'VE HEARD.
AND NOW I'M GONNA JUST TURN IT OVER TO YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL FOR ANY FEEDBACK.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HELPFUL INFORMATION, BECAUSE OFTEN THIS IS KIND OF THE INFORMATION THAT LIVES BEHIND THE SCENES THAT MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, DON'T RECEIVE.
SO WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THESE THINGS, AND YET, UH, THE SAUSAGE MAKING IS KIND OF MYSTERIOUS.
SO THIS, I THINK, UH, LENDS ITSELF WELL TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE YOUR TEAM WORKS FROM THE, THE POINT OUT TO, TO WHERE WE LIVE HERE IN POLICY POLICYMAKING.
UM, SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL, IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MR. MAYOR, I NEED TO CLARIFY, WE'VE GOT A FEW MORE SLIDES TO GO THROUGH.
THE, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR HERE IS, UH, SHE'S, WE'RE GONNA GO OFF FOR RFP FOR FIVE 18 WESTERN EVENTUALLY TO LET THE PEOPLE, UH, MAKE, UH, PROPOSALS TO COUNCIL.
THEN COUNCIL WILL BE ABLE TO DECIDE WHAT TO GO THERE.
BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THIS ISN'T A SACRED COW.
THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE PRO PROPOSALS THAT COME BACK WILL INCLUDE DEMOLISHING THE STRUCTURES THAT ARE ON THERE.
SO IF COUNCIL SAYS THAT'S NOT AN OPTION, LIKE YOU'RE NOT EVEN GONNA CONSIDER THAT, THEN WE KIND OF NEED THAT FEEDBACK.
IF IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER AS IT COMES IN, THEN, THEN WE'RE GOOD TO MOVE WITH THAT.
BUT WE DON'T WANNA SET UP AN RFP THAT DOESN'T, UH, THAT ISN'T EVEN CONSIDERED, UH, BY COUNCIL.
YOU GUYS HAVE QUESTIONS ON THIS END? I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I JUST HAVE A COMMENT IN REGARDS TO 3 28 WEST WESTERN.
SO THAT USED TO BE OUR OLD RESOURCE CENTER.
[03:20:01]
WAS OUR OLD RESOURCE CENTER, BEFORE I GOT ON COUNCIL, I USED TO VOLUNTEER THERE, THERE WAS A, UM, A VITA SITE THERE, VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX PREPARATION.SO THIS WAS LIKE 20 16, 20 15, AND THE PLUMBING WAS BAD, THE BATHROOM WAS BAD.
SO I KNEW THAT THERE WAS ISSUES WITH PLUMBING THERE.
AND EVEN AFTER THE OPPORTUNITY TREE WENT IN, I THINK WE DID SOME UPGRADES THERE.
AND WHEN I WENT AFTER THE UPGRADES, I SAID, UH, IT NEEDS MORE UPGRADES.
SO I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S SOME, A BUILDING THAT, UM, FOR ME PERSONALLY, I FEEL LIKE, UM, IT WOULD JUST TAKE US MORE MONEY TO INVEST INTO IT.
THEN, UM, IF WE GET RID OF IT, THEN WE CAN REALLY KIND OF SEE WHAT WE CAN PUT THERE.
THE FIVE 18 EAST WESTERN, I KNOW THAT THAT RECENTLY WAS REMODELED AND THEY WERE KIND OF STUDIOS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY LOOKED LIKE INSIDE, I THINK WAS, THEY WERE NEVER REMODELED.
MR. MAYOR CA, COUNCILMAN MCCONNEY, THEY, THEY WERE, UH, UH, AN AIR CON, UH, UH, WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER WAS THROWN IN IT, AND THEY TRIED TO RENT IT TO PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T AFFORD TO LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE RED TAGGED IT.
IT WASN'T SAFE FOR, UH, LIVING IN OKAY, I'D NEVER BEEN IN.
BUT FOR ME, WHEN I LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I LIKE THE CONCEPT OF SMALL OFFICE SPACE, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MAYBE PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO BE IN AN EXPENSIVE, YOU KNOW, CLASS A BUILDINGS, BUT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SMALLER BUSINESSES, INDIVIDUAL REALTORS, WHATEVER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE INSIDE LOOKS LIKE, BUT I WOULDN'T, FOR ME, I WOULDN'T WANNA INVEST A WHOLE LOT IN REPAIRING.
SO, UM, I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT OPTIONS THEY ARE IF WE DEMOLISH IT AND GET RID OF IT.
COUNCILMAN GARCIA? I, I AGREE WITH TINA, UM, ON BOTH THE BUILDINGS, BUT I WOULD WANT TO ENSURE THAT IT DOESN'T GO UP, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
LIKE IF THEY'RE GOING TO, IF THEY'RE GONNA TAKE IT AWAY OR IF THEY'RE GONNA DEMOLISH IT AND REBUILD, I DON'T WANT IT TO, TO GO UP THAT WAY.
YEAH, I WOULD WANT IT TO STAY ONE, ONE LEVEL AND THEN WITH THE OFFICES, IF THEY'RE GONNA, IF WE'RE GONNA KEEP THOSE TO REMODEL THEM SO THEY LOOK, YOU KNOW, MORE PRESENTABLE AND NICER, BECAUSE THE, THE AREA LOOKS NICE IF WE REPAINT IT AND REDO THE WINDOWS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
UM, BUT I THINK BOTH THE BUILDINGS COULD BE DEMOLISHED AND REDONE.
I JUST WANNA JUST GO BACK REAL QUICK.
WHATEVER WE PUT THERE, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, BECAUSE IT'S OLD, OLD WESTERN, RIGHT? IT'S, I WANNA MAINTAIN THAT, THAT CULTURE.
I DON'T, YOU KNOW, PUTTING SOMETHING BRAND NEW WITH ALL GLASS WINDOWS ISN'T SOMETHING I THINK WOULD FIT DOWN THERE, SO I JUST WANNA BE MINDFUL OF THAT AS WELL.
I HAVE TO CONCUR WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
I JUST FIRST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE PD THOUGH, BECAUSE MY FIRST RIDE ALONG, UH, WAS THERE WHEN THEY ISSUED A WARRANT FOR FIVE 18 EAST WESTERN.
AND I THINK I SAW ABOUT 20 PEOPLE WHO WERE, UM, BEING DETAINED AT THE TIME.
AND WE REALLY CLEARED OUT A PLACE THAT WAS DRUG INFESTED GUYS.
I MEAN, THAT, THAT PLACE WAS DRUG INFESTED.
IT WAS A USER CENTRAL, AND THEY WERE SO EMBOLDENED TO DO IT RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR DETENTION CENTER.
SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU, UM, IN PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO MAKE SURE SPACES AND PLACES LIKE THAT ARE NO LONGER PLACES WHERE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY CAN CONGREGATE AND DO DRUGS IN AVONDALE.
TO ME, THAT IS WHY IT SHOULD BE DEMOLISHED.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE ANY REMNANTS OF WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD DO HERE.
THAT'S NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO YOU.
WE'RE GONNA CHANGE HOW THIS EVEN LOOKS AND FEELS.
I BELIEVE THE LINE OF SIGHT GOING VERTICAL IN WESTERN TAKES AWAY FROM IT BEING LIKE AN OLD TOWN WESTERN ENVIRONMENT.
WE DID SO MUCH RIGHT THERE AT THE CORNER OF DIAR AND MC 85 TO KIND OF BRING THAT, YOU KNOW, CARRIAGE AND WAGON FEEL WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE DID LAST YEAR WITH AQUIRE.
UM, I REALLY HOPE THAT, UH, WHATEVER GOES THERE WILL BE SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY FEELS LIKE THEY CAN COME TO.
I THINK ABOUT THE ORIGINAL RESOURCE CENTER.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I WANT FOLKS TO BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAVE THESE BEAUTIFUL EDIFICES, SO I MIGHT DISAGREE JUST A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF BRASS AND GLASS, I FEEL AT THAT SAM GARCIA LIBRARY.
SO MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE SNAZZY STUFF CAN GO THERE BECAUSE WE GOTTA BRING OUR COMMUNITY UP, RIGHT? SO IF WE PUT NICE THINGS AROUND THEM, THEY WANT NICER STUFF AND THEY CAN THEN ATTAIN IT AND THEY CAN DO IT IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO, UM, YEAH, I'M, I'M TEARING IT DOWN QUITE HONESTLY.
I, I WOULD HAVE IT NO OTHER WAY BECAUSE WE HAVE CHANGED THE FACE OF THAT COMMUNITY AND WE ARE, WE'RE TAKING AWAY THINGS THAT DON'T SERVE THEM, AND WE'RE PUTTING IN THINGS THAT ARE GONNA TAKE THEM TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS ON THIS, AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT WE CAN SEE DEVELOPMENT NOW HERE.
UH, IF, IF, IF I MAY REALLY QUICKLY, UM, I AGREE WITH, UH, MANY OF THE SENTIMENTS HERE WITH FIVE 18 AT EAST WESTERN.
UM, I WOULD REALLY LOVE IT TO BE SOMETHING THAT THE, UH, COMMUNITY COULD USE.
[03:25:01]
KNOW THAT IT'S TOUGH, UH, IN REGARDS TO, YOU KNOW, GOING IN AND OUT.SO I DON'T KNOW TRAFFIC WISE WHAT WHAT WOULD OCCUR THERE.
UM, BUT BEING ABLE, I, I THINK WE DEMONSTRATE IF WE'RE TAKING THE LEAD HERE, WE DEMONSTRATE TO THE REST OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS ON WESTERN THAT WE ARE ALSO TO, UM, INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITY OF WHETHER IT BE WALKABILITY OR PATRONAGE OF THAT, THAT STREET.
AND WHILE THERE MAY BE HESITATION FROM SOME DOWN THERE WHO CURRENTLY OWN BUSINESSES TO REDEVELOP AND TO GET IT TO WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT, THIS WOULD BE A FIRST STEP TO DEMONSTRATE NOT ONLY OUR INVESTMENT, BUT US TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITY, UH, IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER.
AND 3 28 WESTERN, UM, UNLIKE GLENDALE'S LIBRARY WHERE THERE WAS A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING THE, UH, THE DEMOLITION OF THEIR LIBRARY, BECAUSE I, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU'RE AWARE THAT THAT ACTUALLY WAS A LIBRARY PRIOR TO RESOURCE CENTER.
UM, AND I REMEMBER DOING HOMEWORK THERE IN LIKE THE FOURTH, FIFTH GRADE, UM, THAT DEMOLISHING IT AND MAKING IT SOMETHING NEW WOULD NOT BE A BAD THING.
SO, UM, I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, COMMUNITY RESISTANCE TO US DOING THAT IF WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD BENEFIT FROM EVEN GREATER.
FOR SAKE OF TIME, I DID BY THE WAY, GIVE YOU, I'M CALLING IT THE FINAL DRAFT OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
SO, UM, I'M GONNA JUST GO THROUGH QUICKLY THE NEXT FEW SLIDES.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT WORKFORCE.
WE HAVE TWO INITIATIVES FOR OUR FIRST YEAR GOAL.
UM, WE'RE WORKING WITH, UH, WOMEN IN MANUFACTURING FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PANEL AND AVONDALE'S GOT TALENT WITH ASTRAY MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UM, KIND OF LIKE A AMERICA'S GOT TALENT MEETS A SHARK TANK AND DO SOME KIND OF FUN PITCHING.
SO FORMING STRATEGIC ALLIANCES IS REALLY, UH, A BIG, A BIG EFFORT OR WHERE WE'RE FOCUSING OUR ENERGY BOOST TOURISM TO ACHIEVE A 3% INCREASE IN BED TAX OCCUPANCY.
UM, NIKKI TAYLOR, WHO JUST HAD A BABY ON SUNDAY, CONGRATULATIONS.
SHE IS, UM, OUR TOURISM DMO AND SHE'S DONE A REMARKABLE JOB.
I MEAN, WE HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST CONSISTENT HOTEL OCCUPANCY RATES IN THE WEST VALLEY.
AGAIN, WHEN I TALKED ABOUT GRADUATING THE BIG LEAGUES.
I HAD NEVER SEEN THESE NUMBERS.
AND THEY'RE REALLY HELPING US TAKE ADVANCES TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
UM, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND, AND NOW SHE'S ACTUALLY HELPING WITH A LOT OF THE BUSINESS ATTRACTION OF HOSPITALITY AND BRINGING IN NEW HOTELS AND NEW RESTAURANTS.
AND I'LL, UH, I'LL GET TO SOME GREAT NEWS IN JUST A MOMENT ON THAT FRONT.
SHE'S ALSO WORKING ON WORK, WORKING ON RECRUITING EVENTS, MEGA EVENTS NATIONALLY, RECLA, YOU KNOW, ACCLAIMED EVENTS TO DRAW PEOPLE INTO AVONDALE.
SO THE, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE BALLOON FESTIVAL THAT TAKES PLACE IN ALBUQUERQUE, THAT COMPANY WE'RE NEGOTIATIONS WITH TO BRING THEM TO AVONDALE THIS NOVEMBER.
THAT'S ANOTHER REALLY BIG ONE.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT IS, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL NIKKI OUT THERE JUST AGAIN, PROMOTING AND, AND WORKING TO BRING, UM, ACTIVATE THESE EVENTS HERE.
AND THEN LONG-TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VISION.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER ABOUT REALLY IDENTIFYING THOSE KEY DEVELOPMENT SITES AND DOING IT THROUGH LAND ASSEMBLY.
WE KNEW WE NEEDED A SUPPLIER TECH PARK AND WE NEEDED TO LAND ASSEMBLE PRETTY QUICKLY.
UM, CHERYL WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE SOME OF THE LANDOWNER Z MODULAR WHERE Z MODULAR IS.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE LAND, WE WERE ABLE TO GET A DEVELOPER TO INVEST, I DON'T $20 MILLION IN ONE SECOND.
UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE TENANTS, WE HAVE TENANTS, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WANNA BE HERE THAT'S ENTICING.
JODY IS NOW WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS.
AND SO RIGHT THERE, THAT DIRT YOU SEE RIGHT THERE IS GOING TO BE THE AVONDALE TECH PARK FOR R AND D AND ADVANCED MANUFAC MANUFACTURING SUPPLIERS.
STRATEGIC PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT FOR GROWTH AND INNOVATION THAT CONTINUES.
THIS IS AN ONGOING, UM, AN ONGOING CRITICAL PIECE OF OUR STRATEGY.
YEAH, THEY'RE JUST, IF YOU COULD GIVE THEM LOCATION NORTH OF VAN BUREN THERE, NORTH OF VAN BUREN.
NORTH, NORTH OF THE, UM, Z MODULAR, MODULAR, UM, MULTIFAMILY THAT'S GOING UP RIGHT BEHIND THAT.
OUR, OUR FIRST AVONDALE TECH PARK.
AND WE'RE ALSO NOW WORKING ON A BUSINESS PARK AS OF YESTERDAY, BUT WE'LL GET TO THAT THE NEXT TIME WE TALK.
IN THE LAST 100 DAYS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, IT'S BEEN SUCH AN HONOR.
I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE, UM, STRATEGIC PLAN OUTCOMES THAT WE'VE HAD IN A FEW MONTHS.
THE RFP WAS RELEASED FEBRUARY 22ND.
LIKE I MENTIONED, WE HAVE INCREDIBLE ACTIVITY AND INTEREST.
UH, WE HAVE A HEALTHCARE GAP ANALYSIS THAT'S COMING TO US END OF END OF THIS WEEK, WHICH REALLY WILL HELP US, UM, FIGURE OUT WHERE ARE THE GAPS, THE SPECIALTY SERVICES THAT WE NEED.
WE TALKED THIS MORNING WITH THE HEALTHCARE PANEL.
[03:30:01]
FOR, UM, HEALTHCARE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.I THINK OUR, UM, CEO, THE CEO FROM DIGNITY SAID THREE THAT WERE, THERE'S A 3000 HOSPITAL BED SHORTAGE.
WE'LL TAKE THOSE BEDS,
UH, WE DID RECEIVE AN LOI OR THE LANDOWNER RECEIVED, I JUST TAKE CREDIT.
WE JUST TAKE CREDIT, UH, FOR A MICRO HOSPITAL.
WE'RE GETTING, WE'RE GETTING BEDS, WE'RE GETTING, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S EXCITING.
YOU DON'T WANNA BE IN ONE OF THOSE BEDS, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF, UM, OUR COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE, UH, WORKFORCE INITIATIVE.
EVAN HAS GOT, GOT TALENT AND OUR, OUR PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION AFFILIATIONS, UM, OUR INTERACTIONS WITH THE LAND ASSEMBLING AND, UH, GROCERY STORE.
WE'RE WORKING ON GROCERY STORES AS WELL.
WE HAVE ONE BIG ONE THAT HAS COMMITTED AND WE HAVE A ONE OR TWO BEHIND IT THAT I CAN'T MENTION YET THAT ARE IN THE WORKS BECAUSE THEY SEE ALL THE INCREDIBLE ACTIVITY THAT'S OCCURRING IN THAT PART OF OUR CITY, AND WE'RE CAPITALIZING ON THAT.
UM, WITH THAT SAID, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT, I'M GONNA PUT THIS UP AND I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA PAUSE BECAUSE I REALLY WANNA HEAR FROM YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
HERE ARE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES.
AM I IN ALIGNMENT? IS THIS, AM I MISSING ANYTHING? IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD OR ANY FEEDBACK? THIS IS WHERE I REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, YOUR INPUT, SO THANK YOU COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, I LIKE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING AFTER THE LOW HANGING FRUIT AND THAT WE'RE THE STANDARD'S GONNA STAY WHERE IT'S AT.
UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I, I REALLY, REALLY WANT.
AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SAY NO TO THINGS THAT WE DON'T WANT.
AND IF YOU GUYS ARE DOING THAT, THAT'S WONDERFUL BECAUSE I THINK WHEN I, I GO AND TALK TO PEOPLE, THEY'RE LIKE, WHY DO WE HAVE THIS GOING UP? AND WHY ARE, WHY, YOU KNOW, US AS A COUNCIL, WHY ARE WE SAYING NO? AND IT, AND YOU KNOW, I LEARNED BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY PLANNED FOR THAT WAY 10 YEARS AGO.
AND NOW THAT, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT WE HAVE NEW COUNCIL AND NEW PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO SAY NO, THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA BUILD THIS, IT'S WONDERFUL BECAUSE THEN WE COULD BUILD WHAT, WHAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT IN THE CITY AND THAT, THAT WE NEED.
UM, AND THAT'S GONNA MAKE MORE MONEY, MORE REVENUE FOR THE CITY.
UM, SO THIS, THIS HAS BEEN WONDERFUL TO, TO HEAR AND SEE AND THAT YOU'RE IN ALIGNMENT, AT LEAST WITH LIKE, MY VISION OF WHAT I WANTED AVONDALE TO BE.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE I DON'T HAVE TO BE IN COUNCIL IN THREE YEARS.
I WAS TELLING HER EARLIER, BECAUSE I DID EVERYTHING I, I WANTED
BUT, UM, BUT THIS IS, THIS IS GREAT.
AND I THINK IT IS GONNA BRING IN JOBS AND I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE IF WE DO GET THOSE SEMICONDUCTOR, UM, UH, JOBS HERE IN AVONDALE, THAT'S GONNA BE WONDERFUL.
AND I KNOW I MENTIONED LIKE, I KNOW APPLE'S GONNA BE INVESTING IN ARIZONA, AND I'M HOPING THAT WE COULD ALSO MAYBE GET APPLE TO COME TO AVONDALE.
'CAUSE THAT WOULD BE, I MEAN, THE JOB MARKET HERE, THEN IT'S GONNA EXPLODE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND EVERY, YOUR WHOLE TEAM AND EVERYONE, WHOEVER PUT EFFORT INTO THIS, BECAUSE THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I SEE THE FUTURE OF AIL LOOKING LIKE.
SO JUST LISTENING TO SOME OF THE PANELS, WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY SPOKE ABOUT THIS MORNING, IT'S, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE RIGHT ON TARGET.
AND SO EVERYBODY'S KIND OF TALKING ABOUT JOB CREATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ALL THESE THINGS.
TOURISM, LIKE, I, I FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS, WE SPOKE TO YOU GUYS, WE SHARED WITH THE VISION WITH YOU GUYS, AND YOU GUYS TOOK IT AND YOU GUYS ARE APPLYING IT.
UM, MAYOR, UH, JEN, I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS.
I THINK THE ONE THING I SEE THAT'S MISSING, UM, AND I, AND, AND I, AND, AND I'LL, I'LL CHALLENGE MR. CORBIN AS WELL.
WHEN I CAME TO COUNCIL, I, I WANTED SOME TYPE OF ASPECT OF FINANCIAL LITERACY.
THERE'S ONE THING THAT WE'RE NOT DOING.
WE'RE NOT CREATING WEALTH IN AVONDALE.
PEOPLE AREN'T BECOMING WEALTHY JUST BY LIVING IN AVONDALE BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE PAYING RENT, SO THEY DON'T OWN HOMES ANYMORE.
AND WE NEED TO CREATE WEALTH IN AVONDALE BECAUSE THEN IT'S NOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SIX FIGURE JOB CREATION.
MOST OF THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM MAKE OVER SIX FIGURES.
SO I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
YOU GUYS CAN GO HOME AND SLEEP WELL, BUT WE'RE NOT CREATING THAT WEALTH FOR THE THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT ALLOWING THEIR PARENTS TO BUY A HOME AND OWN LAND AND CULTIVATE THAT HERE IN AVONDALE.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW I CAN EVEN BE IN THIS MOMENT, IN THIS SPACE, IN PLACE, I THINK ABOUT WHAT MY FAMILY HAS LEFT FOR ME.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND THAT'S GENERATIONAL WEALTH.
SO WE NEED A MECHANISM IN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES THAT CREATES WEALTH.
COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY INSIGHTFUL WAS THE TALK ABOUT THE RESTAURANTS ALONG THE, YOU KNOW, FROM BELL ROAD DOWN AND FROM THE LOOP 3 0 3.
[03:35:01]
I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT IF YOU HADN'T HAD THIS PRESENTATION.UM, I REALLY DO FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE LISTENED TO US.
AND, UM, I SUPPORT, I SUPPORT YOUR VISION.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANNA SHARE IN REGARDS TO WHAT YOU SEE HERE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'M SAD, BUT I WAS AT SMALL CITIES COUNCIL.
SO, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE JUST, WHEN I GOT ON THE CALL WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WAS HOW BIG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS FOR EVERYONE.
AND THEY ASKED US TO SHARE, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY ASKING FOR? SOME PEOPLE'S ASKS ARE MUCH MORE OR LESS, SOME PEOPLE JUST WANNA STRIP MALL.
THAT'S WHAT WOULD MAKE THEIR COMMUNITY.
I HAVE A, THERE'S A WOMAN ON SMALL CITIES COUNCIL THAT, YOU KNOW, SHARED THE LAST TIME I WAS ON THE CALL FOR, UM, GETTING A SUBWAY IN THEIR TOWN WAS HUGE.
THERE'S ABOUT 1,500 PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THEIR TOWN.
AND TO HAVE A SUBWAY WOULD BE KEY FOR THEM.
THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO HALF HOUR INTO TOWN FOR THAT.
SO, UM, WHEN I LOOK AT THAT AND I SEE ALL THE THINGS, UH, THAT OPPORTUNITIES AS I SEE 'EM AS WE'RE CREATING, I THINK THAT WE ARE FINALLY IN AN AREA WHERE WE'RE LOOKING BIG.
AND I KNOW THAT I HAD SHARED WITH RON BEFORE THAT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS BIG WAS NOT BIG.
SO, UM, IT IS GREAT TO SEE ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING, THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON, THE LEVEL OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE NOW, UH, LOOKING INTO US.
LIKE I SAW THAT YOU GUYS DID THAT RFP THAT WAS OUT THERE, THAT'S HUGE.
PEOPLE WERE, I SAW THE AMOUNTS OF SHARES.
THAT WAS THE PEOPLE WERE LOOKING AT THE COMMENTS.
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN THAT.
AND I'VE LIVED IN THIS CITY FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.
SO KEEP DOING WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
YOU KNOW, FROM ME, IT GOES BACK TO WHEN I FIRST GOT ON COUNCIL, UM, MANY O OFTEN FOLKS WOULD TALK ABOUT AVONDALE AS THIS BEDROOM COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHERE YOU, WHEN YOU STARTED A CAREER, YOU WOULD GO TO AVONDALE BECAUSE YOU COULD, IT WAS AFFORD AFFORDABLE.
UH, AND THEN WHEN YOU, YOU KNOW, WENT UP THE LADDER, SO TO SPEAK, YOU WOULD MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE OF, OF THE, OF THE VALUE AND THE SIZE OF THE HOME AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND, AND I OFTEN THOUGHT TO MYSELF, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY AS NOW THAT I'M ON COUNCIL AND WE ARE DEVELOPING, IT'S KIND OF A, UH, SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY WHEN YOU CONTINUE TO APPROVE THOSE TYPE OF PROJECTS.
SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING IT TO YOURSELF, SO TO SPEAK.
SO TO GO BACK IN REGARDS TO THE COMMENT, UH, THAT, UH, RON MADE IN REGARDS TO, YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE HOLD TO THIS OR SHOULD WE RELAX A BIT THAT WOULD BE GOING BACKWARDS IN, IN MY VIEW OF, OF BEING THAT SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY OF, OF DRIVE-THROUGH RESTAURANTS.
AND TO YOUR POINT, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HIM.
HOWEVER, AS I, AS I'VE ALWAYS SEEN IT, AVENUE BOULEVARD, OR HUNDRED 15TH AVENUE, SO TO SPEAK, IS, IS THE HEART.
AND MCDOWELL HAS HAD ITS TIME, AND IT WILL CONTINUE, I THINK, IN A DIFFERENT FORM WITH HEALTH CORE.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO? CORRIDOR? SORRY, CHERYL? HEALTH HEALTH QUARTER.
I WAS CALLING IT CORRIDOR, BUT CORRIDOR, YEAH.
UM, AND SO IT, IT WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP IN THAT ASPECT, BUT WHERE I SEE OUR RESIDENTS WANTING TO COME WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND SPEND THEIR TIME, SPEND THEIR DOLLARS AND LIVE AND WORK IS IN THE BOULEVARD HERE, AND TO KEEP, UM, THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT THOUGHT PROCESS TO A HIGHER STANDARD IS, IS WHAT THEY DESERVE.
AND I KNOW AS A MEMBER OF THIS POLICY MAKING BODY, THAT I WILL DO WHAT I CAN TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
AND SO JUST KEEP PUSHING IT FORWARD.
I SEE, UH, SEVERAL OF THE DIFFERENT BULLET POINTS HERE IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES TO BE RIGHT IN LINE WITH WHAT I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR.
BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED, AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT MANY TIMES, JEN, THAT THESE ARE LEGACY PROJECTS, THESE ARE GONNA STAND THE TEST OF TIME.
AND OUR MARK, THE NEXT COUNCIL'S MARKS ARE GONNA STAND, UH, UH, WITH THESE PROJECTS.
AND SO IF WE GET ONE CHANCE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT.
SO I BELIEVE WE'RE ON THAT PATH, AND THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND TO ALL OF CITY LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR DOING THAT.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I, I FOLLOW UP ON TWO THINGS REAL QUICK TO, TO ROUND OUT THIS DISCUSSION.
THE FIRST IS, ONE OF THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES I THINK WAS MENTIONED A COUPLE TIMES THAT WE FOLLOW IS, UM, WE SAY A NO AND YES, IN THE RIGHT PLACES, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS MENTIONED WHEN I WAS HIRED WAS A BANK SOUTH OF LOWER BUCKEYE ROAD.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT, UH, PROJECT TO TRY TO GET A BANK ON THE LOWER SIDE OF, OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THE OTHER THING, THERE'S, THERE'S PLACES ALONG BROADWAY OR, UM, UH, LOWER BUCKEYE ROAD THAT MAYBE STILL NEED ANOTHER GAS STATION.
SO MAYBE THE QT GOES THERE AND NOT ON MCDOWELL.
AND SO ONE OF OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES IS TO MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITY, MAKING SURE OUR RESIDENTS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL, TO HAVE A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE DON'T BELIEVE THE BOULEVARD IS A PLACE FOR SOME OF THOSE THINGS, BUT EVERYTHING
[03:40:01]
JEN DOES AND HER TEAM IS STRATEGIC.SO IT'S A YES OR NO, DEPENDING ON THE NEED AT THE MOMENT.
AND SO THE OTHER THING, THE NUMBER ONE, AND I MADE THIS VERY CLEAR WHEN I HIRED HER, OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, IN MY OPINION, UNTIL YOU ALL CHANGE IT, IS JOB CREATION.
AND IT REALLY GOES BACK TO THE HEART OF WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
I'M A STRONG BELIEVER IN GENER GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE HOME OWNERSHIP.
YOU HAVE TO OWN THE LAND TO BUILD THAT WEALTH.
WE BELIEVE THAT IF WE CAN GET HIGHER PAYING JOBS, HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD JOBS, INCREASE OUR HOUSEHOLD INCOME, MEDIAN INCOME, WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND THAT WE'RE CREATING.
NOW WE'LL COME TO COUNCIL FOR, FOR ZONING AND, AND, AND, AND DENSITY AND OWNERSHIP, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
BUT WE BELIEVE THAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE EDUCATED, UH, IN CYBERSECURITY OR IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AT OUR OWN LOCAL COLLEGE, AND THEN BE ABLE TO GET A JOB HERE IN OUR CITY AND USE OUR PARKS AND GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO I, I JUST, THAT JOB CREATION I THINK WILL LEAD TO GENERATIONAL WEALTH.
IT WILL LEAD TO, UH, AVONDALE RESIDENTS GROWING UP HERE, STAYING HERE AND TAKING ALL OF OUR SPOTS, UH, AT, AT SOME POINT.
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK ON, ON THE PRESENTATION TODAY AND WE'LL, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.
COUNCIL, MAYOR SOLORIO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, JEN AND I SEE OTHER CITIES DOING IT, AND I GET THAT IT'S NOT MAYBE ENTIRELY A CITY ISSUE, IS REALLY, AND WE TALK ABOUT THIS ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, WHAT IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING? WE NEED TO THINK ATTAINABLE HOUSING BECAUSE I'M SEEING IT HAPPEN IN GOODYEAR WITH LIKE A MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY.
AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE AN ATTAINABLE COMMUNITY THAT, YOU KNOW, HELPS VETERANS, HELPS TEACHERS, WHERE IT'S A COMMUNITY FROM WHAT I SAW IN GOODYEAR THAT THEY'RE DEVELOPING IS ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE.
'CAUSE WHAT'S AFFORDABLE HERE, LIKE, I WORK AT A HOTEL, NONE OF THE STAFF THERE LIVES HERE.
THEY CAN COME WORK HERE, BUT THEY CAN'T LIVE HERE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF OUR STAFF CAN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
YOU KNOW, THEY LIVE IN GOODYEAR.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVE IN GOODYEAR FROM CAMPAIGNING.
I REALIZE A TON OF PEOPLE LIVE IN GOODYEAR.
SO IT MAKES ME SAD THAT PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE CAN'T LIVE HERE BECAUSE IT'S SO EXPENSIVE.
PEOPLE THAT COME IN THAT VISIT AND STAY AT THE HOTEL, THEY MIGHT BE VISITING THEIR CHILD FOR UTI, THEY MIGHT BE, THEY'RE LIKE, THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
I CAN GO LIVE IN GOODYEAR DOWNTOWN FOR CHEAPER.
AND THAT MAKES ME SAD BECAUSE WE ARE HERE TO MAKE IT, AND WE ALWAYS USE THE TERM AFFORDABLE.
IT NEEDS TO BE TO THE LEVEL OF, I THINK, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE NAME OF GOODYEAR, THE COMMUNITY THAT, I THINK IT'S CALLED DOMINIUM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHERE THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT.
AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE.
'CAUSE ONCE YOU GET THAT ATTAINABLE HOUSING IN, YOU BRING IN A WHOLE NOTHER LEVEL OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ADD TO THAT WORKFORCE, WHO CAN COME HERE AND DO THAT AND SPEND THE TIME AND SPEND THEIR MONEY HERE.
RIGHT NOW, EVEN WHEN I SIT ON THE NATIONAL COMMITTEES, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE AND I SIT ON WHAT IS AFFORDABLE.
'CAUSE IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE TO REALLY ANYBODY.
BUT WHAT'S ATTAINABLE AND WHAT'S POSSIBLE IS TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS LIKE THAT FOR EMPTY PIECES OF LAND.
AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HAVING TOO MUCH APARTMENTS, BUT, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE NOT EVEN THOSE ARE AFFORDABLE.
UH, MR. MAYOR AND, UH, COUNSEL KNOW THAT WE'RE WORKING ON ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
ATTAINABLE HOUSING IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
UM, WE HAVE SOME UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH, INCLUDING LANDOWNERS AND THE VALUE OF THEIR LAND.
SOME OF THESE PROJECTS LESS DOABLE, SO WE HAVE TO HELP THEM FIND OTHER SOLUTIONS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDING OR WHETHER IT'S THE RELAXATION OF, OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT, UH, WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THOSE, UH, PROJECTS AS THEY COME FORWARD AND AS, AND AS WE OWN LAND AND AS WE, UM, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THE PROJECT OURSELF, THEN WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
WE ARE CURRENTLY, UM, LOOKING AT SOME VETERANS PROJECTS, HOUSING IN, UH, OLD TOWN AREA ON SOME LAND WE OWN.
WE, UH, THERE IS A, UH, WELL, IT WAS GONNA BE A LITECH, BUT NOW IT'S A, UM, UH, WHAT I'M GONNA CALL WORKFORCE, BUT ATTAINABLE.
I THINK IT'S MOSTLY TOWN HOMES, BUT THERE'S A PROJECT ON BROADWAY THAT WE ARE EXPLORING, UM, THAT THE LANDOWNER'S INTERESTING IN, IN POSSIBLY DOING, WHICH WOULD BE, UH, UH, THE GOAL WOULD TO BE SOME PERCENT OF A MI THE AREA MEETING INCOME.
AND SO WE ARE ENTERTAINING ALL OF THOSE CALLS AS THEY COME IN.
UM, AVONDALE, UNLIKE SOME OF OUR, UH, NEIGHBORING CITIES HAVE A LOT MORE LAND AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO, TO CONNECT TO.
UM, SOMETIMES WE'RE, WE'RE JUST MORE EXPENSIVE.
AND IT, IT'S HARDER TO, TO GET THE NUMBER TO PENCIL OUT, BUT WE CONTINUE TO ENTERTAIN ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU JODY AND KIM WORK VERY HARD TO HELP FIND AFFORDABLE SOLUTIONS, UM, TO, TO BRING THOSE PRODUCTS TO OUR, TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND MR. MAYOR, I HATE TO CUT IT SHORT, BUT WE DO HAVE A GUEST SPEAKER, UH, THAT I THINK, UH, ARRIVED.
I THINK I SAW HIM SNEAK IN THE BACK DOOR BACK THERE.
SO IF WE CAN TAKE, UH, A FIVE MINUTE, UH, BREAK AND THEN WE'LL SET UP FOR OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
[03:45:01]
SOUNDS GREAT.[5. Economic Update]
MIKE OUTLOOK, PASS IT OVER TO LUIS.AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
UM, I, I JUST FOUND OUT IT'S YOUR LAST PRESENTATION, SO I'LL TRY TO MAKE IT AS SURE AS POSSIBLE.
BUT
SO, SO TODAY WHAT WE WANT TO COVER IS, UH, JUST THE BROADER US ECONOMY AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE MARKET, UH, INFLATION AND AS IF THERE'S A RISK OF A RECESSION.
UH, WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THE STATE ECONOMY, UH, AND FINALLY, UH, WHAT IT MEANS FOR AVONDALE.
SO THE US ECONOMY, ECONOMY IS IN GOOD SHAPE.
UM, I WANT TO PUT AN ASTERISK BEHIND THAT SUBTITLE.
UM, WE, IT MIGHT SAY, WAS IN GOOD SHAPE A AFTER A FEW MONTHS, WE DON'T KNOW YET, BUT, UM, WE ENDED THE, WE ENDED 2024 ON A GOOD NOTE.
UH, GDP WAS INCREASING AT ABOUT 2.3%.
UM, HOWEVER, WE, WE DID GET SOME RECENT, UM, PRO UH, PROJECTIONS ON GDP GROWTH FOR THIS COMING YEAR.
UM, AND ONE OF, ONE OF THE MAIN ONES THAT, UH, IS, IS VERY WORRISOME IS THAT THE ATLANTA FEDERAL RESERVE FOR THEIR PROJECTIONS ON GDP GROWTH FOR THE CURRENT QUARTER, THEY HAD A NEGATIVE 2.8%, UH, PROJECTED.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO KEEP AN EYE OUT.
UM, MOST OF, UH, WHAT THE ATLANTA FED IS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT IS THE SOFT, UH, MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY AND INVESTMENT ACTIVITY.
UM, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY GOING AROUND.
SO COMPANIES, UH, AND MANUFACTURERS ARE HOLDING OFF ON A LOT OF CAPITAL INVESTMENTS OR HIRING JOBS, SO THAT, THAT PULLBACK ON ALL THAT ACTIVITY IS, IS LIKELY TO BE SEEN IN THIS FIRST QUARTER.
UM, ANOTHER THING THAT WE MIGHT SEE IS, UH, A LOT OF THE FEDERAL LAYOFFS AND HOW, HOW THAT'LL IMPACT, UH, SPENDING IN THE ENTIRE ECONOMY.
SO JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR.
UH, IN TERMS OF JOB GROWTH, UH, WE ENDED 2024 SEEING ABOVE AVERAGE JOB GROWTH.
UH, AGAIN, SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE OUT IS, UH, HOW THE FEDERAL CUTS AND THE FEDERAL LAYOFFS WILL IMPACT, YOU KNOW, JOBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UM, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE NUMBER OF JOBS THAT THEY LAY OFF.
THEY, UH, AS THEY EARN INCOME, THEY ALSO SPEND THROUGHOUT THE ECONOMY, WHICH SUPPORTS ADDITIONAL JOBS.
SO IT COULD HAVE THAT RIPPLE EFFECT.
SO, SO IT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON.
SO PRIOR TO, UH, TO 2025, UM, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS AT ALMOST RECORD LOWS.
SO WHAT THIS, WHAT THIS DID WAS IT PUSHED UP WAGE GROWTH, IT PUT, PUT ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON IT, UM, WHICH, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT CONTRIBUTES TO INFLATION.
SO, AS WE ALL KNOW, UH, INFLATION, WE JUST, WE SAW A HUGE SPIKE, UM, AFTER THE PANDEMIC, AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT THAT RATE OF GROWTH DE DECLINE.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S STILL HOVERING ABOUT, UH, 3%.
AND FOR PRICES TO GO DOWN, WE NEED TO SEE THAT GO TO BELOW ZERO, WHICH WE HAVEN'T SEEN YET.
SO HOW DO WE GET HERE? AND, UM, HOW DO, HOW DO WE GET TO INFLATION? SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS, RIGHT? SO WE CAN'T JUST PINPOINT ONE EXACT THING.
UM, A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, THE JUST SIMPLE SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
UH, DURING LOCKDOWNS, A LOT OF THE MANUFACTURING WAS, WAS, UH, HALTED.
SO A LOT OF OUR, SO WE SAW STORES BEING EMPTY, SO JUST TO RESTOCK, UH, ALL THAT, ALL THE PENT UP DEMAND, ALL THAT PUSH PRICES UP.
BUT ONE OF THE MAJOR FACTORS IS JUST THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS PUT INTO THE ECONOMY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE, HOW MUCH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UH, SPENDS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, UM, THE, THE TREND
[03:50:01]
WAS GOING UP.BUT THEN DURING COVID AND AFTER COVID, WE DID SEE A $7 TRILLION INFUSION IN, IN MONEY COMING INTO THE ECONOMY.
UH, AND JUST TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, IT'S ABOUT ONE AND A HALF TIMES MORE THAN THE, THE FEDERAL SPENDING, UH, BEFORE THE, THE PANDEMIC.
ANOTHER, ANOTHER THING THAT'S, UH, CONTRIBUTED TO INFLATION, AND THAT'S WHY INFLATION HAS STUCK AROUND SO LONG, IS THAT, UH, THE FED KEPT INTEREST, INTEREST RATES TOO LOW FOR TOO LONG.
SO WHEN, WHEN WE DID SEE, WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT ONE WAY TO, UH, SOFTEN THAT THE DOWNTURN WAS TO LOWER INTEREST RATES.
AND SO THAT DID INFUSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF, UH, INVESTMENT BECAUSE MONEY WAS EASY TO GET.
UH, BUT IT ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO A LOT OF THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ISSUES WE HAVE, UM, JUST BECAUSE THE INTEREST RATES WERE SO LOW THAT A LOT OF INVESTORS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND PURCHASED A LOT OF HOMES.
UM, AND THEN THE, ALL THE, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ALSO BUYING HOMES AND MOVING AROUND, THEY WERE BUYING GOODS AND, AND, AND ALL THAT.
SO THAT ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO A LOT OF THE INFLATION PRESSURES WE'VE SEEN.
SO AGAIN, ALL, ALL THAT MONEY THAT WAS PUT INTO THE ECONOMY, UH, IT ENDED UP IN THE CONSUMER'S POCKETS, RIGHT? SO AFTER LOCKDOWNS, PEOPLE WERE FLUSHED WITH CASH, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF PENT UP DEMAND, SO THEY STARTED SPENDING.
AND SO THAT RIPPLE EFFECT CAUSING HIGHER INFLATION TO KEEP GOING,
SO WHAT ABOUT THE OUTLOOK IN INFLATION? IT'S A LOT OF THE SAME, UH, ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.
SO A LOT OF, UH, FEDERAL SPENDING, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON IN GEOPOLITICALLY, UM, IS, IS THE MONETARY TIGHTENING? SO IS IT, ARE WE GONNA HAVE REDUCTIONS IN INTEREST RATES, SO, OR, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THEN A BIG ONE, AS YOU KNOW, IS TARIFFS, UM, AND TRADE WARS.
SO AS OF TODAY, WE, WE DID IMPLEMENT, UH, 25% TARIFF ON CANADA AND MEXICO GOODS.
AND THERE'S ADDITIONAL TARIFFS ON CHINESE GOODS.
SO, UM, WHEN, WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT TRADE WARS, UH, PROTECTIONISM IS, IS, SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA IN TERMS OF PROTECTING A AMERICAN INDUSTRIES.
BUT IN THE LONG RUN, IT'S, IT'S NOT.
SO WHEN YOU FIRST LOOK AT TARIFFS, WHAT FIRST HAPPENS IS THAT BOTH THE CONSUMERS AND THE BUSINESSES, UH, ARE THE ONES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THAT INCREASED COST FIRST.
AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT FOREIGN COUNTRIES THEN IMPOSE THEIR OWN TARIFFS.
SO IT PUSHES PRICES EVEN HIGHER.
AND THEN EVENTUALLY THE, THE, THE TARIFFS DO HAVE SLIGHT EFFECTS ON PROTECTIONISM.
SO YOU COULD SEE SOME COMPANIES, YOU KNOW, RETURNING OR INVESTMENT COMING BACK.
BUT ALL OF THAT IS, IS SHORT TERM BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS IS THESE INDUSTRIES DEPEND ON, UH, TARIFFS AS, UH, PROTECTION AS A SUBSIDY.
SO THEN, UM, THERE'S LESS COMPETITION, UH, THERE'S LESS INNOVATION.
AND SO REALLY WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE HURTING THE, THE CURRENT BUSINESSES THEN CREATING INEFFICIENCIES.
SO IS THERE A RISK OF A RECESSION? UM, IT'S, UH,
YOU KNOW, UM, WE ALL, ONE THING THAT WE LIKE TO SAY IS THAT, UH, ECONOMISTS PROVIDE, UH, PROJECTIONS, NOT PREDICTIONS.
UM, BUT THERE, THERE'S, WHEN WE, WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THE RISK OF RECESSION, THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FACTORS WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, INCLUDING JOB GROWTH, UH, GDP GROWTH, UM, THE STOCK MARKET, THE YIELD CURVE INVERSION, UM, AND MOST OF THOSE RIGHT NOW ARE FLASHING.
SO IT IS A, A SIGN OF, UH, INCREASED RISK NOW IN TERMS, IN TERMS OF THE ARIZONA ECONOMY.
SO WE'VE SEEN STEADY CONTINUED GROWTH, UM, IN BOTH POPULATION AND EMPLOYMENT GROWTH.
ONE OF THE, ONE OF, UH, ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS THOUGH IS, UH, AND IT WAS BROUGHT UP, UH, WHEN I GOT HERE TOO, IS JUST HOUSING AND THE AFFORDABILITY AND AT OBTAINABILITY
[03:55:01]
CHALLENGES WITH, WITH HOUSING.UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT STATE LEVEL DATA, UH, THE, THE SHARE OF HOMES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO THE MEDIAN INCOME IS THAT IT'S LOWEST LATE, THAT IT'S LOWEST RATE THAT IT'S BEEN IN ALMOST, ALMOST, UH, 40 YEARS.
UM, AND, UH, THERE'S, THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS FOR THAT.
BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASON IS JUST THE SHORTAGE OF HOUSING.
SO, UM, PRIOR TO, SO THE, THE CHART HERE IS JUST ON SINGLE FAMILY PERMITS IN ARIZONA, UM, BEFORE THE GREAT RECESSION, WE WERE, UH, YOU KNOW, PERMITTING CLOSE TO, UH, 70,000 HOMES A YEAR.
AND THEN AFTER THE GREAT RECESSION THAT DROPPED DOWN TO ALMOST 10,000.
AND REALLY THE, WE HAVEN'T REALLY, UM, RECOVERED FROM THAT PEAK.
AND SO THERE'S JUST BEEN A REALLY LONG LAG IN CONSTRUCTION.
SO WITH THE HOUSING SHORTAGES, WHAT THAT'S DONE IS, UH, INCREASED THE PRICE OF, UH, THE COST OF HOUSING.
AND THAT'S BOTH IN, UH, IN RENTAL HOMES AND IN MEDIAN, UH, IN FOR SALE HOMES.
UH, IF YOU LOOK AT JUST THE MEDIAN PRICE OF HOMES SOLD THROUGHOUT THE STATE, UH, IT'S GONE UP ABOUT 80%, UH, JUST FROM, UH, THE BEGINNING OF 2020, UH, WHEN ALL THE PANDEMIC ISSUES STARTED.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHEN THE LOW, THE INTEREST RATES WERE LOW.
SO, UM, IN TERMS OF THE ARIZONA ECONOMY, SO THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT LEVERS THAT CAN BE POOLED AND MOVED AROUND, BUT, UH, THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF, OF THINGS OUT OF THE, OUR CONTROL.
SO A LOT OF, UH, FEDERAL POLICIES ARE REALLY GONNA HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHAT, WHAT'S HAPPENING.
UH, FOR ONE EXAMPLE, UM, WITH ALL THE TALKS OF FEDERAL, UH, BUDGET CUTS, UM, ONE THING WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS THE POTENTIAL FOR MEDICAID CUTS TO THE STATE, UH, WHICH CAN RANGE ANYWHERE FROM A BILLION DOLLARS TO SEVEN AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS.
AND, UH, JUST THE IMPACT OF THAT WOULD BE DEVASTATING ON THE UPPER END, UH, THE JOB LOSSES ARE EQUIVALENT TO WHAT WE LOST DURING THE GREAT RECESSION.
AND, UH, UN UNLIKE THE RECESSION WHERE WE HAD A NATURAL BOUNCE BACK, UH, THESE ARE, THIS, THERE WOULDN'T BE A BOUNCE BACK, UH, FROM THIS LOSS.
AND SO IT'S NOT ONLY THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, BUT THEN IT'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LOSE THEIR HEALTHCARE, AND YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT THAT NOT ONLY DOES THAT DRIVE COSTS FURTHER UP, UH, BUT UM, YOU KNOW, JUST THE HUMAN HUMANITY IMPACT OF THAT WOULD BE JUST IN INSANE.
SO IT'S ONE THING TO KEEP AN EYE OUT.
SO, UH, SO WHAT ABOUT AVONDALE? UM, OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, THE CITY HAS SEEN STEADY GROWTH, UM, OVER THE NEXT, UH, 30 YEARS.
WE'LL ALSO SEE STEADY, STEADY GROWTH GOING FORWARD.
UM, POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY ABOUT 50,000 PEOPLE.
UH, JOBS ARE EXPECTED TO GROW BY 30,000.
SO LOOKING AT PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, UM, ONE THING THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP IS JUST THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ISSUES.
UH, JUST LIKE THE STATE, UH, AVONDALE SAW A HUGE DECLINE IN CONSTRUCTION AFTER THE GREAT RECESSION, AND IT TOOK A REALLY LONG TIME TO START BUILDING AGAIN.
UM, ONE, ONE THING THAT IS, UH, UH, PROMISING ABOUT THIS CHART, THAT IT SHOWS THE MULTIFAMILY COMPARED TO SINGLE FAMILY PERMITS, UH, MULTIFAMILY HAS SEEN THAT BOOST LATELY, AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR DIVERSIFYING THE HOUSING STOCK.
UM, IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER HOW WE JUST, WE NEED THAT, WE NEED DIFFERENT HOUSING OPTIONS TO, UH, PROVIDE HOUSING FOR DIFFERENT GROUPS.
SO IT'S, IT'S NOT, NOT SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, HIGH END RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS, BUT IT'S ALSO LOOKING AT WORKFORCE APARTMENTS, UH, AND ALSO THAT LOWER, UH, LOWER INCOME, UH, RENTALS.
AND THEN ALSO, UH, CONTINUING TO IMPROVE THE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING MARKET STOCK.
SO SIMILAR TO THE STATE, ALL THE, HOW THE, THE COMPLETE HALT OF HOUSING CONSTRUCTION PUSHED, UH, THE MEDIAN PRICE OF HOME SOLD,
[04:00:01]
UM, IT ALMOST DOUBLED IT.NOW LOOKING AT, UH, THE WORKFORCE.
SO ONE THING THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE DATA IN AVONDALE IS THAT, UH, ABOUT 90% OF THE PEOPLE ARE COMMUTING FROM OUTSIDE, AND ALSO 90% OF RESIDENTS WORK OUTSIDE OF AVONDALE.
SO, UM, ONE THING THAT'S, THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE IS TO REDUCE THAT LEAKAGE.
SO LOOKING AT CURRENT INDUSTRIES AND SEEING WHERE, UH, WHERE THE CURRENT LABOR FORCE WORKS.
SO, UM, AND LEVERAGING THAT LOCAL STRENGTH TO, TO TARGET THOSE INDUSTRIES AND GET THEM TO COME TO AVONDALE.
UM, ANOTHER THING IS TO TARGET THOSE HIGH WAGE INDUSTRIES.
SO NOT JUST, NOT, NOT JUST THE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE, UH, THAT MAKE UP A LARGE PORTION OF, OF THE CITY'S EMPLOYMENT, BUT THOSE THAT PAY WELL.
SO THE BIGGEST THING RIGHT NOW IS JUST THE UNCERTAINTY.
UM, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON, AND IT'S ALL HAPPENING REALLY QUICK.
UM, THE, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, LOCAL ISSUES AS WELL.
THE STATE, UM, AS YOU KNOW, CAN, IS LOOKING AT DIFFERENT POLICIES THAT IMPACT THE CITY.
SO THAT'S ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND.
UM, THE, THE, IT, THERE, THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE FOCUS ON, UH, INVESTMENTS IN ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THAT HELPS WITH JOB STABILITY AND RESILIENCE FOR YOUR WORKFORCE.
UM, BUT WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, LOWER PAYING JOBS OR JOBS WITH, UH, THAT REQUIRE LESS EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT ARE NOT AS RESILIENT FOR DURING RECESSIONS.
SO MAKING THAT INVESTMENT, UM, HAS, UH, LONG-TERM BENEFITS, UH, AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT JUST MUNICIPAL BUDGETING, UM, KEEPING AN EYE ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY AND THE STATE, UM, AND JUST PLANNING PROPERLY.
THAT'S PART, THAT'S IT FOR THE PRESENTATION, BUT HAPPY TO OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BASED UPON WHAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE?
SO WHAT'S YOUR PREDICTION? ARE WE HEADED INTO A RECESSION OR, UM, ONE OF THE COMMENTS YOU HAD UP THERE WAS A MUNICIPAL BUDGETING.
WHAT SHOULD WE BE BUDGETING, PREPARING FOR? SO WHAT'S MY PREDICTION? YES.
WHEN, I DON'T KNOW,
UM, ONE THING, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, RIGHT BEFORE COMING IN, I DID SEE THAT TRUMP, SO CANADA IMPOSED THEIR OWN TARIFFS AGAINST THE US AND TRUMP, UH, TWEETED THAT HE WAS JUST GONNA RETALIATE BY THAT SAME AMOUNT.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE A TOOL TO BARGAIN, BUT REALLY IT'S, IT'S, UH, PLAYING WITH, UM, ALL OF OUR WALLETS, RIGHT? SO IT, IT, IT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT.
SO IT'S JUST VERY, VERY UNCERTAIN, UM, THE LEVEL OF, UH, PULLBACK THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM, UH, COMPANIES INVESTING, UM, THAT ALSO HAS A TRICKLE EFFECT.
SO YOU, WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS UNCERTAINTY IS GONNA LAST, UM, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, ALL SIGNS ARE POINTING TO A HIGHER RISK OF THAT HAPPENING THIS YEAR.
UM, IN TERMS OF BUDGETING, UM, ONE THING TO KEEP AN EYE ON IS, UH, SO WHAT ARE THOSE ONE TIME, UH, REVENUE SOURCES? UM, BECAUSE WE, WE'VE, I, ALL CITIES IN ARIZONA HAVE SEEN THAT INCREASE IN TAX REVENUES DUE TO A LOT OF THESE INFLATIONARY FACTORS OR THAT PEN PENT UP DEMAND.
SO KIND OF SO YOU, SO IT'D BE, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KIND OF GO INTO THAT AND TRY TO PINPOINT WHAT IS THAT ONE TIME REVENUE, UH, AND, AND WHAT, HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU, YOU BE TAKING OFF THE BASE TO PRO TO NOT ONLY PLAN FOR NORMAL YEARS, BUT ALSO PLAN FOR A YEAR WITH A POSSIBLE RECESSION?
[04:05:02]
OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF INFORMATION AND, UM, THEY QUIET FOR A REASON IN HERE.
IT'S FUNNY, ONE OF THE, UM, SPEAKERS EARLIER SAID, WHAT DOES, WHAT DO BUSINESSES NEED TO SUCCEED? THEY, THEY NEED CERTAINTY.
AND SO IT'S THE OPPOSITE OF OUR ENDING OF OUR, OF OUR DAY, BUT, UM, HE'LL BE RIGHT SOMEDAY
OKAY, WELL, I GUESS IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, THEN THANK YOU SO MUCH, LUIS, FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND PROVIDING THE INFORMATION AND, UH, WE'RE THANKFUL FOR IT.
[6. Closing Remarks]
WE'RE ACTUALLY READY TO CLOSE, UH, A COUPLE MINUTES EARLY AFTER, UH, A WHIRLWIND DAY.UH, WE'VE GOT YOU MAYOR, UH, TRACY, AND THEN NANCY TO, TO WRAP US UP.
UM, IN CLOSING, I WILL JUST SHARE WITH YOU WHAT I'VE SHARED WITH OTHERS THAT I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH TODAY.
AND THAT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS EXPERIENCE FOR MANY REASONS, AND, UM, JUST DIDN'T REALIZE, UH, HOW SIGNIFICANT THE BENEFIT WOULD BE TO HEAR FROM OUR PARTNERS.
UM, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, UH, AS A ORGANIZATION, I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE KEY BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS, UH, US AS POLICY MAKERS, AND I SAID THAT A LOT TODAY, BUT AS POLICY MAKERS, OUR, OUR DECISIONS ARE REALLY ROOTED IN THE FAVORABILITY, UM, FOR OUR RE OUR RESIDENTS.
AND YET WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED TODAY, THERE ARE JUST SO MANY VARIABLES TO, UH, THE OUTCOMES THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO PREDICT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
AND SO THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PLAN, WE'RE REALLY JUST LOOKING AT, UH, NOT ONLY JUST SETTING THOSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND WORKING WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN DEFINED FOR US, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN ASKED ABOUT, UH, WHAT SHOULD WE DO FIRST WITH ME COMING INTO OFFICE AND STRATEGIC PLANNING OR A STRATEGIC PLANNING WAS, WAS KEY TO THAT IS REALLY WHAT IS THE STRATEGIES BEHIND GETTING TO THE GOAL AND OBJECTIVES THAT I SHARED WITH NANCY LAST WEEK IN MY MEETING WITH HER.
THAT THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY KIND OF WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD FOR ME, IS WHAT ARE, WHAT, WHAT ARE THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES? SURE, BUT WHAT ARE THE STRATEGIES TO GET THERE? AND ALL OF THE PROFESSIONALS IN THE ROOM, UH, WILL, WILL LEAD US IN THAT DIRECTION, UM, GUIDED BY, UH, US AS POLICY MAKERS, AND WE JUST HAVE TO WORK WITHIN THOSE CONSTRAINTS WHILE BEING AS CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE AS POSSIBLE.
UM, WE MAY NOT ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT JEN HAS TO CALL YOU, UH, IN THE EVENT THAT WE, UH, GET IN TROUBLE, BUT, UH,
UH, YOU ARE ALL THE PROFESSIONALS, YOU'RE THE EXPERTS.
UM, WE ARE LOOKING TO YOU TO GUIDE US THROUGH SOME OF THE DECISION MAKING THAT HAPPENS HERE.
AND WE'RE FORTUNATE, I'LL SPEAK FOR US BY SAYING THAT WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SO MANY PROFESSIONALS AND EXPERTS IN THIS ROOM TO DO JUST THAT.
AND, BUT I DO NOT MIND BEING AGGRESSIVE, UH, TRAILBLAZERS, IF YOU WILL, IN THIS ROOM.
AND THE WAY WE GET FROM POINT A TO Z UH, MAY NOT LOOK LIKE WHAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE DONE.
AND I WILL WORK AND SPEAK WITH OUR RESIDENTS, UH, TO DEFEND THAT MINDSET OF, OF BEING INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE, UM, TO TACKLE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE HERE.
SO, UM, THERE'S THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SAY TODAY THAT I THINK ARE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR TOMORROW.
UM, AND SO I'LL HOLD OFF ON SOME OF THOSE, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE AND BEING A PART OF THE PROCESS WITH US.
AND, UM, I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT DAY TOMORROW OF US SPEAKING TOGETHER AND FORMULATING THIS PLAN ON MOVING FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU, RON, FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
I MEAN, THIS IS, I MEAN, LOOK AT THIS.
YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE MICROPHONE.
IT IS JUST BEEN A REALLY CONDUCIVE EXPERIENCE TOO, MOVING FORWARD.
UM, I, I DO, I'LL SAVE MY COMMENTS FOR TOMORROW, BUT ANISA HAS WORKED VERY
[04:10:01]
HARD ON THIS PROJECT, BUT I'LL THANK AGAIN TOMORROW.AND THEN, UM, THE, THE FOOD AND THE SETUP, UM, FROM, UH, DILLARD AND WHITNEY AND ALEXA AND, UH, YOUR TEAM.
AND THEN I KNOW THAT, UH, MARCELLA AND EVERYBODY WHO HELPED HER SET UP THE ROOM.
SO IT TOOK A WHOLE TEAM EFFORT, BUT MORE ABOUT THAT TOMORROW.
BUT I WANNA TURN IT OVER TO TRACY TO SAY A FEW THINGS.
UH, APPRECIATE THE TIME TODAY AND, AND WE HEARD SO MUCH GREAT CONVERSATION WITH ALL THE PANELS IN THE ROOM.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT RESONATED, I THINK THROUGHOUT THE DAY WAS JUST CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AND ATTAINABLE HOUSING AND CREATING WEALTH AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN OF COURSE, JOB CREATION AND THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO PARTNER, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A, A GREAT HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN OUR CITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
SO, UM, WE ALL HAVE BEEN KIND OF TAKING NOTES, I THINK.
SO WE'RE GONNA PULL THOSE ALL TOGETHER AND WE PROVIDE THOSE TO YOU TOMORROW SO THAT YOU HAVE THOSE IN FRONT OF YOU, UM, TO REFLECT BACK ON AS WE DISCUSS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
AND, UM, COME TO KIND OF LOOKING AT THE NEW STRATEGIC OUTCOMES AND RESHAPING SOME OF THOSE BASED ON WHAT WE HEARD TODAY.
SO, UM, IT SHOULD BE EXCITING AND, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT DAY TOMORROW.
AND I ALSO WANNA THANK ANISA FOR ALL OUR HARD WORK AND ALL THE MODERATORS TOO.
YOU GUYS DID A REALLY GREAT JOB.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO NANCY.
I MEAN, THIS REALLY SETS THE TABLE FOR OUR TIME TOGETHER TOMORROW.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE, UM, REALLY POWERFUL AND INSPIRED.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FOCUS ON THE FUTURE AND ALL OF THE TOPICS OF THE DAY, UM, REALLY RESONATE.
AND I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF ENERGY AND A LOT OF THEMES AROUND SOME REALLY CORE, UH, ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN FRONT OF YOU ALL.
AND SO I THINK TOMORROW WILL BE THE WAY, THE TIME AND THE SPACE FOR US TO ELABORATE ON WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE IN THOSE AREAS, AND TO REALLY SORT OF LAND THE PLANE, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU WANNA CELEBRATE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, UM, AS YOU'RE ANTICIPATING THE FUTURE.
SO REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO AN INSPIRED DAY TOMORROW.
YEAH, WE'LL START AT SEVEN 30.
WE'LL HAVE BREAKFAST READY AT SEVEN 30, AND THE PROGRAM WILL START AT EIGHT.
SO THE WORKSTATION WILL START AT EIGHT.
AND CAN I, CAN I ALSO SAY REALLY QUICKLY TO THANK YOU TO ALL THE COUNCIL FOR MAKING IT, UM, A PRIORITY TO BE HERE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPEN BETWEEN WORK FAMILIES AND OTHER THINGS.
AND SO, UM, IT'S A TWO DAY EVENT AND WE'RE ALL HERE.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE.
CAN I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SORRY, I, A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SECOND.
GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILOR GARCIA.
SECOND FOR COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.