[00:00:01]
OF MAY 5TH, I'D LIKE TO[1. ROLL CALL BY THE CITY CLERK]
CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 5TH, 2025.WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE STAND WITH ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE? ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THIS REPUBLIC FOR WHICH GRANT, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE PRESENT VICE MAYOR NIELSEN.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO HAS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE TONIGHT.
[a. Employee Introductions]
YOU SO MUCH, RON.THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, UP FIRST WE HAVE OUR POLICE CHIEF, UH, CHIEF ESPINOZA, UH, PRESENTING HIS NEW EMPLOYEES.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, TWO WEEKS AGO WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW, UH, SWORN STAFF.
WELL, TODAY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE OUR NON-SWORN STAFF.
I'M GONNA HAVE 'EM COME UP HERE.
I'M GONNA HAVE 'EM, UH, STATE THEIR NAME, THEIR POSITION, WHERE THEY CALL HOME AND WHAT BROUGHT THEM, UH, TO AVONDALE.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, TWO OF OUR LATEST PROMOTIONS.
I LIVE IN LITCHFIELD PARK, ARIZONA.
I'M CURRENTLY WORKING AS A POLICE RECORDS CLERK AT THE POLICE STATION.
AND I CHOSE AVONDALE BECAUSE OF THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND JUST THE PEOPLE LIKE I, I LIKE COMING INTO SOMEWHERE EVERY DAY WHERE PEOPLE KNOW WHO I AM AND KNOW WHAT I DO.
UM, I STARTED BACK IN JANUARY OF 27 OF 25.
UM, THE REED NIGHT SHOWS, UM, AVONDALE, UM, IT, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN AND WHAT I'VE RESEARCHED, VERY, VERY FAMILY ORIENTED AND I LIKE THAT.
UM, I HAVE WIFE AND THREE KIDS AND I TAKE 'EM FISHING IN AVONDALE.
WE DO A LOT OF THINGS IN AVONDALE.
UM, THE FOOD, THE MATING IN AVONDALE, SO WE COME OUT HERE ALL THE TIME FOR THE FOOD
UM, I'M FROM CHICAGO, SO IT'S NOT AS GOOD AS CHICAGO FOOD, BUT IT'S PRETTY CLOSE
UM, AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE AND LOOK FORWARD TO A, A LONG CAREER WITH THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
DID PORTILLOS FOLLOW YOU OUT HERE OR WERE YOU HERE BEFORE? PORTILLOS WHITE CASTLE.
WELL, WELL THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THEM OUT OUT HERE TO HAVE, UM, CHICAGO FOOD COMING UP THE WEST COAST, SO I'M HAPPY.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THE AVONDALE FAMILY.
I SHOW, I LIVE IN PHOENIX CURRENTLY AND IT SHOWS AVENUE FOR THE SENSE OF ENVIRONMENT AND RELATIONSHIPS HERE.
I REALLY ENJOY JUST EVERYONE'S LIKE RELATIONSHIPS AND HOW THEY TALK TO PEOPLE AND RELATE TO PEOPLE, AND IT'S A NICE PLACE TO WORK FOR.
WELL, THANK YOU SAMANTHA BEING HERE.
AND, UH, YOU HAVE SUCH A, A DIFFICULT POSITION AND SO WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND BRING TO THE TABLE.
ALRIGHT, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
HE WAS, UH, ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS.
HE WAS RECENTLY PROMOTED TO OUR PARK RANGER SUPERVISOR NEXT TO HIM.
I HAVE, UH, RICHARD REYES, WHO WAS ONE OF OUR, UH, DETENTION SUPERVISORS AND WAS RECENTLY PROMOTED AS A DETENTION MANAGER.
I'M GONNA HAVE HIM COME UP HERE AND JUST, UH, STATE WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO AVONDALE AND WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME? MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
LIKE, UH, THE CHIEF HAD MENTIONED RECENTLY PROMOTED TO, UH, PARK, UH, PARK RANGER SUPERVISOR.
UH, I COME FROM, UH, CALIFORNIA.
UH, BUT AFTER, UH, ABOUT 30 YEARS IN PUBLIC SAFETY IN CALIFORNIA, I KNEW MY, UH, MY JOB WASN'T DONE AND, UH, MY WIFE AND I DECIDED TO, UH, RELOCATE TO ARIZONA.
[00:05:01]
THAT WAS IN THE PLAN FOR, FOR QUITE SOME TIME.UH, WE LIVE, UH, JUST, UH, NORTH OF AVONDALE ON A COUNTY ISLAND.
UM, AND, UH, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW HAPPY I AM TO BE A PART OF THE AVONDALE FAMILY.
UH, IT IT'S BEEN A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE.
UH, I'M JUST BEEN HERE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND, UH, THANKFUL THAT, UH, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SEEN MY VALUE AND, UH, LIKE I SAID, I I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT AND JUST THE KINDNESS AND HELPFULNESS OF, OF EVERYBODY THAT, UH, I'VE COME IN CONTACT WITH.
AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE TRANSITION AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING PART OF THE AVONDALE FAMILY.
UM, I JUST RECENTLY PROMOTED TO DETENTION MANAGER.
UM, WHAT BROUGHT ME TO AVONDALE IS I DID A LOT OF BUSINESS IN AVONDALE.
UH, MY KIDS PLAY IN THE YOUTH SPORTS, A LOT OF TOURNAMENTS AT FESTA FIELDS.
AND THEN, UH, I DID A LOT OF BUSINESS HERE AND JUST GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS HERE AND JUST SEEING HOW THE, HOW THE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER AND HOW THE PEOPLE ARE, I JUST, WHEN I SAW THE POSTING, I SAID I'M GOING TO, YOU KNOW, TRY IT OUT AND GIVE IT A SHOT.
WHILE I'VE BEEN HERE AS A, FOR A YEAR AS A DETENTION, UH, SUPERVISOR, I NOTICED THAT I, I I REALLY WAS ENGAGED WITH THE LEADERSHIP.
I REALLY LIKED THE LEADERSHIP AND, AND THE DIRECTION THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS GOING.
HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE LEADERSHIP, UM, IN THE WAY THAT THE PATROL AND THEN THE SUPPORT SERVICES WORK TOGETHER, WORK HAND IN HAND.
'CAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE'RE A GROWING COMMUNITY, WE'RE STILL GOT THE SMALL COMMUNITY MINDSET AND VERY FAMILY ORIENTED.
SO IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING, UH, BEING HERE FOR A LONG TIME.
AND CURRENTLY, DO YOU LIVE IN ELOY OR YOU I DO.
YEAH, SO I WAS COMING UP HERE TWO, THREE TIMES A WEEK ANYWAYS.
'CAUSE I, LIKE I SAID, I HAD MY OWN BUSINESS AND I WAS, I COME UP HERE FOR BUSINESS AND THEN I GOT MY KIDS IN THE YOUTH PROGRAM.
SO WE PLAY A LOT AT FESTIVE FIELDS, SO, AND THEN WITH THE 2 0 2, IT HELPED
WELL, WE, UH, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND THANK AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE TRANSITION AND, UH, FOR BEING PART OF THE AVONDALE FAMILY.
CAN WE GET A, YOU HAVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF THE NEW EMPLOYEES.
THANK YOU, CHIEF, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UP NEXT IS OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, UM, TO INTRODUCE A COUPLE OF HER NEW EMPLOYEES.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
TONIGHT I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING CELINE GARCIA, WHO'S A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP IN THE REVENUE DIVISION AND IS ONE OF THE FRIENDLY FACES YOU'LL SEE IN THE CASHIERING STATIONS HERE AT CITY HALL.
PRIOR TO JOINING AVONDALE, CELINE WORKED IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR FOR THREE YEARS.
MOST RECENTLY, UH, AT THE VA AS AN ADVANCED MEDICAL SUPPORT ASSISTANT.
CELINE IS ALSO A US ARMY VETERAN WITH NINE YEARS OF SERVICE WHERE SHE WORKED IN HUMAN RESOURCES, ONBOARDING AND SUPPORTING SOLDIERS.
CELINE'S, ORIGINALLY FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND HAS LIVED IN THE VALLEY FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.
SHE ENJOYS HIKING, READING THE GENERAL OUTDOORS, AND LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH AVONDALE RESIDENTS.
CELINE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND SHARING, BEING THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR RESIDENTS ARE CALLING IN AND YOU'RE THE VOICE THAT THEY RECEIVE ON THE OTHER OTHER END OF THE PHONE.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WILL DO TO, UH, BRIGHTEN UP THEIR DAY OR TO AT LEAST MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THEY ARE RECEIVING THE SERVICE THAT THEY NEED? UM, AS CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHERE I THINK WE ALWAYS HAVE TO TREAT EVERYBODY, UH, WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT, AND ALWAYS HAVE A SMILE ON OUR FACE.
EVEN IF THEY CAN'T SEE US, WE CAN THAT SMILE OVER THE PHONE.
THAT WAY THE CUSTOMERS THAT THEY'RE BEING LISTENED TO, UM, AND THEY FEEL WELCOME AND THEN THEY WANNA COME BACK ACTIONS WITH US.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AS WAS MENTIONED AND WELCOME TO AVONDALE FAMILY AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF IT.
AND, UM, WE HAVE A SECOND EMPLOYEE WHO UNFORTUNATELY WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
SHE HAD TO TAKE A BEREAVEMENT LEAVE.
SHE'S A SENIOR CUSTOMER SERVICE REP IN UTILITY BILLING.
SHE JOINED US FROM THE CITY OF BUCKEYE, WHERE SHE SERVED AS A DEVELOPMENT SERVICE PERMIT TECHNICIAN FOR THREE YEARS.
SHE ALSO WORKED IN SEVERAL AREAS ACROSS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING ZONING, PERMITTING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR WATER DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND MARIA HAS BEEN AN DALE RESIDENT FOR 15 YEARS.
WELL, CHILD MARIA, WE SAID, I'M SORRY WE MISSED HER, BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THE FAMILY.
[b. Proclamation - Economic Development, Tourism, and Small Business Month]
NEXT ITEM PLEASE.UP NEXT WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, UH, JEN STEIN.
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FAST.MAYOR, YOU GOTTA, IT'S HARD TO KEEP UP WITH HER.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO I'M JEN STEIN, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TONIGHT TO, UM, PRESENT WHAT I'M CALLING A TRIFECTA OF WEEKS, RECOGNIZING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NOT JUST ONE, BUT THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
SO IT'S A VERY EXCITING MONTH.
FIRST, WE KICK OFF THE MONTH OF MAY, RECOGNIZING SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, WHICH ACKNOWLEDGES THE CRITICAL ROLE OF AMERICA'S ENTREPRENEURS AND IS REALLY THE HEART AND SOUL OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND TO CELEBRATE SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, WE WILL BE DELIVERING LOVE LOCAL WINDOW DECALS AND, UM, ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO JUST SHOP LOCAL AND SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
IN ADDITION TO SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, MAY IS ALSO SMALL BUSINESS MONTH.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK FROM MAY 4TH TO MAY 10TH, NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK IS AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION CREATED BY THE US TRAVEL ASSOCIATION TO SPOTLIGHT THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY.
AND WE ARE CELEBRATING AVONDALE'S TOURISM ASSETS THROUGH OUR DESTINATION MARKETING, UM, DISCOVER AVONDALE.
AND THAT WILL HIGHLIGHT, UM, DIFFERENT TOURISM ATTRACTIONS.
AND WE WILL BE, UM, RUNNING A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN ON DISCOVER AVONDALE SHOWCASING OUR FIVE MOST VISITED DESTINATIONS.
WE WILL CONTINUE THE CELEBRATION INTO, UM, MY RECOGNIZING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEEK FROM MAY 12TH TO MAY 16TH.
AND THIS SHOWCASES THIS WEEK, INITIATIVES THAT GENERATE JOBS, ENHANCES CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, AND IMPROVES THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE IN COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE.
AND SO WE WILL ALSO BE SHOWCASING THROUGH A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN, OUR MOST RECENT LOCATES UPDATES ON THE BOULEVARD, HIGHLIGHTS OF AVONDALE'S NEWEST TECH PARK, AND HOW AVONDALE IS IN THE CENTER OF IT ALL.
SO MAKE SURE YOU ARE FOLLOWING US ON LINKEDIN AND KEEPING AN EYE OUT ON AN INTERVIEW WITH OUR VERY OWN MAYOR, UM, HIGHLIGHTING THE STRATEGIC GROWTH IN AVONDALE.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I WANNA RECOGNIZE MY INCREDIBLE TEAM.
I HAVE ADAM AND STEPHANIE CAN WAVE BACK THERE.
IT'S A SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM THAT'S WORKING HARD.
UM, WE CANNOT DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT OUR TEAM SUPPORT.
THEY ARE INCREDIBLY DEDICATED, UM, CREATIVE AND WORK REALLY HARD.
WE ACTUALLY, UM, SICILY IS OUT TODAY AND NIKKI, WHO IS, UH, LEADS OUR TOURISMS ON MATERNITY LEAVE.
AND CHERYL AND JAMIE ARE PITCHING UP A STORM RIGHT NOW TO ABOUT 30 LIFE SCIENCE AND HEALTHCARE COMPANIES THAT WE HOPE TO BRING TO AVONDALE RECRUIT AND ATTRACT SOON.
SO WE ARE ALWAYS IN MOTION EVERY MOMENT OF THE DAY, UM, HIGHLIGHTING AND SHOWCASING AND PITCHING AVONDALE TO POTENTIAL BUSINESSES AS WELL AS WITH ADAM BACK THERE, HELPING SUPPORT OUR EXISTING BUSINESS COMMUNITY BY MAKING SURE THAT THEY FIND SUCCESS THROUGH ALL THE RESOURCES THAT WE OFFER.
SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM AND ALL THAT GOES INTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND WITH THAT, I THANK YOU AND I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO MAYOR PINEDA TO READ THE PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL REMAINS THE LARGEST PROFESSIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ADVANCING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS WORLDWIDE.
AND WHEREAS THE AVONDALE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PROMOTES ECONOMIC WELLBEING AND ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE COMMUNITY BY CREATING, RETAINING AND EXPANDING JOBS THAT DRIVE GROWTH, INCREASED WEALTH AND STRENGTHEN STRENGTHENED THE TAX BASE.
AND WHEREAS THE US TRAVEL ASSOCIATION CONTINUES TO REPRESENT AND ADVOCATE FOR ALL SECTORS OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY AS THE NATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING TOURISM AND TRAVEL.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY'S DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION DISCOVER AVONDALE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2020.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AVONDALE ATTRACTS OVER 1.8 MILLION VISITORS ANNUALLY REINFORCING ITS STATUS AS A LEADING DE DESTINATION.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AVONDALE CELEBRATES LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES AND RECOGNIZES THE VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE TO THE ECONOMY AND THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS THE AVONDALE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS VIBRANT COMMUNITIES TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR AVONDALE RESIDENTS, CREATES JOBS, BOOST OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND PRESERVES OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED.
ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE, HEREBY PROCLAIMS MAY, 2025 AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM AND SMALL BUSINESS MONTH AND ENCOURAGES THE COMMUNITY, SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES, EXPAND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES,
[00:15:01]
AND CELEBRATE THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM.CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU JEN, AND THANK YOU FOR THE TEAM AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TO PROMOTING AVONDALE AND MAKING AVONDALE A PLACE.
UH, NOT ONLY JUST MAKING IT A PLACE FOR THOSE TO CALL HOME BETTER, UH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, SEEKING OUT THOSE THAT LOOK TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY.
[c. Proclamation - Law Day]
PLEASE.THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UP NEXT, WE HAVE NICOLE HARRIS, OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND JUDGE JENNINGS, UM, TO, UH, SHARE A PROCLAMATION ON LATTE.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL NICOLE HARRIS, CITY ATTORNEYS, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND I HAVE WITH ME JUDGE CRAIG JENNINGS.
PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE AVONDALE CITY COURT LAW DAY IS OBSERVED ANNUALLY ON MAY 1ST, AND IT'S A NATIONAL DAY DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING THE RULE OF LAW AND UNDERSTANDING HOW IT PROTECTS LIBERTIES AND JUSTICE.
IT'S A TIME TO REFLECT ON THE PRINCIPLES OF LAW AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIETY.
THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN LAW DAY, SELECTING AN ANNUAL THEME, PROVIDING RESOURCES AND ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION.
THE THEME THIS YEAR IS THE CONSTITUTION'S PROMISE OUT OF MANY ONE, THE CONSTITUTION ENSHRINES OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO ONE ANOTHER.
AND THE 2025 LAW DAY THEME URGES US TO TAKE PRIDE IN A CONSTITUTION THAT BRIDGES OUR DIFFERENCES, TO BRING US TOGETHER AS A UNITED NATION.
OUR CIVIC LIES TIE US TOGETHER AS ONE WE, WHETHER THROUGH LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS THAT SERVE THE COMMON GOOD THROUGH MILITARY SERVICE, OR BY WORKING TOGETHER EVERY DAY TO FULFILL THE PROMISE OF OUT OF MANY ONE, SOME OF THE KEY ASPECTS OF LAW DAY.
IT HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF A LEGAL FRAMEWORK THAT ENSURES FAIRNESS, EQUALITY, AND PROTECTION OF RIGHTS FOR ALL.
IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO LEARN ABOUT THE LEGAL PROCESS, ITS PURPOSE, AND HOW IT CONTRIBUTES TO FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.
AND LAW DAY ENCOURAGES THE LEGAL COMMUNITY, SCHOOLS AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS TO HOST EVENTS, DISCUSSIONS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE LEGAL AWARENESS.
LAW DAY WAS THIS PAST THURSDAY, MAY 1ST, 2025.
UM, I CURRENTLY SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THE ARIZONA CITY ATTORNEY'S ASSOCIATION, AND I WAS UP IN FLAGSTAFF AT OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE DISCUSSING VARIOUS LEGAL CONCERNS WITH CITY AND TOWN ATTORNEYS FROM ACROSS THE STATE.
UM, I NOW WILL TURN IT TO JUDGE JENNINGS FOR ANY REMARKS YOU MAY HAVE.
I JUST BRIEFLY WANTED TO, TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR, UH, PARTICIPATING IN THIS RECOGNITION.
OBVIOUSLY, OUR, OUR COUNTRY'S, UH, NATION OF LAWS OR STATE IS, UH, STATE OF LAWS OR CITIES FOUNDED ON LAWS.
AND SO, UH, LAWS AND, AND FAIRNESS AND, AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE IS, IS PARAMOUNT TO OUR SYSTEM OF LIFE IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND SO WE APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL, UH, TAKING THE TIME FOR THIS.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, MAYOR FOR THE READING OF THE PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS IN 1958, PRESIDENT EISENHOWER PROCLAIMED LAW DAY TO HONOR THE ROLE OF LAW IN THE CREATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND IN 1961, CONGRESS ISSUED A JOINT RESOLUTION DECLARING MAY 1ST LAW.
AND WHEREAS LAUDE CELEBRATES THE ROLE OF LAW IN OUR SOCIETY AND CULTIVATES A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION.
AND THE THEME FOR LADAY 2025 IS THE CONSTITUTION'S PROMISE.
OUT OF MANY ONE DERIVED FROM THE MOTTO EPLS UNUM, OR OUT OF MANY OR OUT OF MANY ONE, A PHRASE, ADOPTED ON JULY 4TH, 1776, BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 13 ORIGINAL COLONIES, WHICH SYMBOLIZED THE UNITY OF A NATION FOUNDED IN THE PURSUIT OF IDEALS OF LIBERTY, EQUALITY, AND JUSTICE.
AND WHEREAS THE DRAFTERS OF THE CONSTITUTION SEEKING TO PREVENT RULE BY ONE GROUP SEPARATED THE POWERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, THE EXECUTIVE AND THE JUDICIARY AMONG THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, ENSURING THE RULE OF LAW AND GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENTAL CHECKS AND BALANCES.
AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT OUR NATION'S HISTORY, LEGAL PROFESSIONS HAVE PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN OUR SOCIETY BY UPHOLDING THE RULE OF LAW, ADJUDICATING AND ADVOCATING FOR JUSTICE FOR ALL, AND SERVING AS WELL-INFORMED ADV ADVISORS TO RESPECTIVE CLIENTS IN AN EFFORT TO ASSIST PARTIES IN NAVIGATING COMPLEX LEGAL SYSTEMS IN THE INEVITABLE CONFLICTS THAT ARISE IN SOCIETY.
AND WHEREAS THE COURAGEOUS AND PERSISTENT EFFORTS OF OUR NATION'S LEGAL COMMUNITY HAVE IMPACTED THE LIVES OF MANY AMERICANS TO ENSURE THE PROMISE OF A MORE PERFECT UNION AS PRESCRIBED IN THE PREAMBLE OF THE CONSTITUTION, AND TO UPHOLD OUR NATION'S PROMISE OF EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AND WHEREAS LEGAL PROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT THE NATION, THIS STATE AND THIS CITY CONTINUE TO SERVE OTHERS FOSTER UNITY AND CARRY FORWARD THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES OF EPL
[00:20:01]
UNUM OUT OF MANY ONE.AND WHEREAS THE AVONDALE CITY'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE AVONDALE CITY COURT HAVE UPHELD THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF THE RULE OF LAW BY ADVISING, ADVOCATING AND ASSISTING CLIENTS AND ADJUDICATING LEGAL MATTERS, AND WHERE THE AVONDALE CITY COUNCIL EXTENDED ITS APPRECIATION TO THE ENTIRE LEGAL COMMUNITY FOR THE LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDED TO ALL TO ENSURE UNITY, LIBERTY, EQUALITY, AND JUSTICE THROUGHOUT OUR NATION AND OUR CITY.
AND NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THE CITY OF AVONDALE, HEREBY PROCLAIMS MAY 1ST, 2025 AS LAW DAY IN AVONDALE TO PROMOTE THE RULE OF LAW AND FULFILL THE SHARED CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMMITMENT TO THE VALUES OF LIBERTY, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE THAT MAKES US OUT OF MANY ONE.
[d. Proclamation - National Water Safety Month]
RON.THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UP NEXT, WE HAVE A PROC PROCLAMATION ON NATIONAL WATER SAFETY MONTH, AND I BELIEVE BRITTANY, OUR NEW RECREATION MANAGER, UH, WITH PARKS AND REC WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATION.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT NATIONAL WATER SAFETY MONTH AND SOME UPCOMING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE AL AQUA CENTER.
TO KICK OFF OUR SUMMER SEASON, MAY 1ST WAS NOT ONLY LAW DAY, BUT ALSO THE OPENING OF OUR REGISTRATION FOR ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS AT THE AVONDALE AQUATIC, UM, CENTER, INCLUDING SWIM LESSONS AND ADULT FITNESS PROGRAMS. CURRENTLY WE ARE HOSTING, UM, ADULT LAP SWIM FOUR DAYS A WEEK ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS AND SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, ALL IN THE MORNING.
AND WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING OFF OUR SUMMER SEASON ON MAY 24TH WHERE WE'LL TURN OVER TO A SEVEN DAY A WEEK OPERATION.
UM, THAT'S GONNA BE FROM ONE TO FIVE EVERY DAY WITH EXTENDED HOURS ON MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS.
CURRENTLY WE ARE OPEN TO AVONDALE RESIDENTS ON SATURDAYS FROM ONE TO FIVE, BUT KICKING OFF THOSE FULL-TIME HOURS STARTING SOON.
AND THEN ALL THOSE PROGRAMS THAT ARE RE ARE ARE CURRENTLY OPEN FOR REGISTRATION, ARE GONNA BEGIN ON JUNE 2ND.
AND AGAIN, THAT INCLUDES OUR INFANT SWIMMING LESSONS, ADULT LESSONS AND YOUTH PROGRAMS, UM, AS WELL AS THINGS LIKE WATER FITNESS AND OUR RIVER FITNESS AND EVEN A DROP IN PADDLEBOARD YOGA CLASS ON SATURDAYS.
SOME FUN EVENTS THAT WE HAVE AT THE AVONDALE AQUATIC CENTER THIS YEAR ARE OUR DIVE-IN MOVIES.
SO WE HAD OUR INAUGURAL SHOWING LAST YEAR OF JAWS, WHICH WAS A HUGE HIT.
UM, GOT A LOT OF GREAT FEEDBACK FOR THAT ONE.
SO WE ARE LOOKING TO HOST MORE THIS SUMMER.
WE'RE HAVING THREE, INCLUDING TOP GUN MAVERICK SURFS UP AND PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, UM, ON THE MAY 26TH, IT'S JUST ONE OF OUR FEW THEME DAYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HOST THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
UM, WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO KIND OF DRESS FOR THAT THEME.
SO MEMORIAL DAY WEARING A RED, WHITE, AND BLUE, AND WE'LL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL GIVEAWAYS AND SOME GAMES TO PLAY AT THE CENTER.
AND THEN ONE OTHER EVENT THAT I REALLY DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT IS OUR FIRST EVER DUNKIN DASH.
SO THIS IS A SWIM AND RUN EVENT.
WE'RE WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR SPORTS DIVISION ON THIS EVENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR RUN SERIES ALREADY GOING, BUT IT'S WHERE THEY CAN SWIM 20 LAPS, UM, OR 500 METERS IN THE POOL, AND THEN GO AHEAD AND JUMP INTO THAT RUN AT A TWO AND A HALF MILE RUN THERE, FINISHING UP THEIR FIRST DUATHLON.
SO WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE OF ANY, UM, ATHLETIC LEVELS TO GO AHEAD AND JOIN AND JUMP IN WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY FOR THAT ONE.
UM, IN PREPARATION FOR THIS MONTH FOR NATIONAL WATER SAFETY MONTH, I DO ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS AND HELP, UM, ASK THAT YOU HELP PROMOTE THE EDUCATION OF THIS WATER SAFETY MONTH BY REVIEWING THE ABCS WITH OUR VALUED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SO A IS FOR THAT ADULT SUPERVISION, ENCOURAGING AN ADULT TO BE PRESENT AT ALL TIMES WHEN THERE ARE CHILDREN AROUND WATER.
THIS INCLUDES MAKING SURE OUR PHONES ARE PUT AWAY, UM, OUR BOOKS ARE PUT DOWN AND WE'RE REALLY PRESENT AND ALERT IN THAT MOMENT.
THINGS CAN HAPPEN REALLY QUICKLY AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRULY DEDICATED TO THOSE WHILE IN THE WATER.
SO AN OBVIOUS ONE FOR THIS ONE IS MAKING SURE THAT GATES AND LATCHES ARE SHUT AND LOCKED SO THAT CHILDREN AREN'T ABLE TO GET IN, BUT INCLUDING THINGS LIKE TOILET SEAT LID COVERS AND BUCKETS AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE ARE TAKEN CARE OF IN THE HOME AS WELL FOR SMALL CHILDREN.
AND THEN C IS FOR OUR CLASSES.
THE AVONDALE AQUATIC CENTER DOES HAVE A, UM, PLETHORA OF CLASSES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL AGE LEVELS, BUT NOT ONLY SWIM LESSONS AND EVERYONE LEARNING TO SWIM, BUT GETTING ADULTS CERTIFIED IN CPR.
UM, THE AVONDALE AQUA CENTER IS REACHING OUT AND WORKING WITH THE, UM, AVONDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT THIS SUMMER, AND WE HAVE TWO CPR CLASSES HOSTED, UM, IN ONE IN JUNE AND ONE IN JULY FOR OUR ADULTS TO LEARN THAT CPR AS WELL.
UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I PASS IT OFF TO VICE MAYOR NIELSEN? SO, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONS JUST REALLY QUICKLY.
UM, I LOVE THE ABCS OF WATER SAFETY'S JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK THAT, UH, ONE REMINDER EVERY YEAR, EVERY SEASON'S ENOUGH, AND, UH, HONESTLY, IT IS JUST NOT, YOU'LL START TO SEE, UNFORTUNATELY AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE SUMMER, MORE AND MORE ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED.
[00:25:01]
OF REINFORCING AND IF I CAN, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST SHARE SOMETHING PERSONAL IS THAT WHILE WE HAVE THE ABCS OF WATER AND WE TYPICALLY LOOK AT THOSE AS HUMANS, UM, IN TERMS OF EDUCATION AND, UM, SUPERVISION AND BARRIERS AND OTHER THINGS, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY A WEEK AGO WE LOST OUR 16-YEAR-OLD DOG WHO, UH, FELL IN THE POOL WHEN NOBODY WAS HOME AND DID NOT MAKE IT.SO IN ADDITION TO HUMANS, YOUR KIDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS ALSO, I WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, I I HOPE THAT SOME OF YOU'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THIS AS IN, IN AS FOR PETS AS WELL.
SO JUST THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THIS NOW.
THIS IS NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE A WAY TO IDENTIFY NON-SWIMMERS TO SEND THEM OVER TO GET LIFE JACKETS.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE IDENTIFY THE NON-SWIMMERS WHEN THEY'RE COMING IN SO THEY KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THEY CAN'T SWIM.
WE ARE CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE, UM, A BUNCH OF A-FRAME SIGNAGE THAT IS OUT THERE AS WELL THAT ENCOURAGES ALL OF OUR EIGHT YEARS IN AGE OF YOUNGER TO BE WITHIN ARM'S REACH OF A PARENT AT ALL TIMES.
AND WE ALSO HAVE, UM, A POLICY THAT 14 AND YOUNGER MUST COME IN WITH A RESPONSIBLE ADULT, 15 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO HELP WITH THAT ADULT SUPERVISION AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN OUR SUMMER CAMPS THAT COME ON THURSDAYS, OUR SUMMER CAMPS DO COME A LITTLE EARLY AND THEY ARE PARTICIPATING IN A, UM, SWIM TEST.
BUT AT CURRENT MOMENT WE DON'T HAVE A FULL, UM, SWIM TEST, BUT WE DO HAVE THE SIGNAGE FOR THOSE.
AND THEN WE DO HAVE LIFE JACKETS AVAILABLE FOR FREE AT CHECKOUT AND WE HAVE A LIFEGUARD STATION THERE AND THEY ACTUALLY HELP FIT THE JACKETS ON ALL THE CHILDREN AS WELL AND PROVIDE EDUCATION TO PARENTS THAT IF YOU ARE USING A LIFE JACKET, THAT THEY SHOULD ALWAYS BE US COAST GUARD APPROVED.
WHEREAS SWIMMING AND AQUATIC RELATED ACTIVITIES PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN MAINTAINING GOOD PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND ENHANCEMENT, THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL PEOPLE.
AND WHEREAS WATER SAFETY EDUCATION IS ESSENTIAL TO PREVENT DROWNING AND RECREATIONAL WATER RELATED INJURIES.
AND WHEREAS AWARENESS OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THE RECREATIONAL WATER INDUSTRY AS REPRESENTED BY THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THE NATIONAL WATER SAFETY MONTH COALITION AND DEVELOPING SAFE SWIMMING FACILITIES, AQUATIC PROGRAMS, HOME POOLS AND SPAS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES, PROVIDING HEALTHY PLACES TO RECREATE, LEARN, GROW, BUILD, SELF-ESTEEM, CONFIDENCE, SENSE OF WORTH, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WHERE IS UNDERSTANDING THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION, WATER SAFETY RULES, PROGRAMS TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES, WHETHER OWNERS OF PRIVATE POOLS, USERS OF PUBLIC SWIMMING FACILITIES, OR VISITORS TO WATER PARKS.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CITY OF AVONDALE HERE BY PROCLAIMS MAY, 2025 AS NATIONAL WATER SAFETY MONTH.
AND TO URGE ALL THOSE IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE TO SUPPORT, EDUCATE, AND PROMOTE THIS OBSERVANCE.
NEXT ITEM WE SHARE THAT ENDS THE, THIS PORTION I BELIEVE.
UM, WE DO HAVE A FEW PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO GET PICTURES WITH YOU, THE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MAYBE THE LAW DAY.
MAYBE THEY'LL COME DOWN AND GET A PICTURE AND NICOLE WANTS A PICTURE WITH THE JUDGE AND YOU GUYS, AND THEN OUR NEW EMPLOYEES FROM THE PD AS WELL, IF WE GET A FEW OF THOSE.
COUNSEL, JOIN ME DOWN BELOW PLEASE.
[00:35:11]
I,[3. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES]
[00:35:15]
YEAH, WE, UH, ITEM NUMBER THREE, UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES.UH, CHRIS IS, ARE THESE THE ONLY CARDS WE HAVE? UH, YES, WE HAVE TWO MAYOR.
DO YOU HAVE TWO MORE? UH, NO, JUST THE TWO FOR UNSCHEDULED.
I HAVE A TOTAL OF THREE APPEARANCE.
ONE GONNA BE READ, UH, ONE'S ON THE REGULAR AGENDA FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COUNSEL, I COME TO YOU THIS EVENING, UH, WITH SOME DISTURBING NEWS, UH, WITHIN AND OUT OVER HERE OFF OF DIAR ROAD.
UM, I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT THREE TIMES THERE.
UH, THE LAST ONE HERE, THE CLOSEST ONE HERE, OR THE BACK ONE WAS HERE, UH, THE 27TH OF THIS MONTH, APRIL.
ANYWAYS, THEY WE'RE IN, WE'RE ALREADY IN MAY, UH, ABOUT EIGHT, ABOUT 8 58.
AND, UH, THE TRAFFIC WAS BACKED ALL THE WAY UP TO THE OFF RAMP AND THEY'RE BLOCKING THE, UH, I WAS ON MY MOUNTAIN BIKE, THEY WERE BLOCKING THE, UH, PIPELINE AND AS I WAS TRYING TO GO TO GET AROUND IT, HERE COME ANOTHER CAR AND IT ALMOST GOT ME, IT MISSED ME BY THAT MUCH.
I'M IN THERAPY NOW 'CAUSE I GOT HIT BY A CAR OFF OF, UH, A HUNDRED 11TH AND VAN BUREN OVER HERE.
AND, UM, SO I, UH, I FIGURED I BETTER COME HERE AND ASK AND, AND, AND, AND IN THE NAME OF PUBLIC SAFETY THAT WE, THAT YOU SIR COUNSEL, VICE MAYOR, UH, WRITE A BEAUTIFUL LETTER, UH, TO THE CEO OF THEM PEOPLE.
IT'S A WONDERFUL BUSINESS, BUT IT HAS OUTGROWN, THE CITY OF AVONDALE HAS OUT GROVE THAT LITTLE MOM AND POP BURGER JOINT, AND IT IS, IT'S JUST DANGEROUS.
UH, THEY ALLOWING SQUATTING AFTER THEY, UH, THEY'RE BASICALLY KIDS AND THEY'RE ALLOWING 'EM JUST TO SQUAT ON THE PARKING LOT.
YOU CAN GO THERE ANY FRIDAY, SATURDAY NIGHT AND UH, SEE IT FOR YOURSELVES AND YOU'LL BE QUITE SHOCKED.
AND, UH, IF THEY HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT OVER THERE, 'CAUSE OF THAT, KNOCK ON WOOD, BUT IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
UM, AND SO I FIGURED THAT'D COME AN ADDRESS AND THEY ARE VIOLATING, UH, LET'S SEE, CODE ORDINANCE 1337 BY DOING THAT.
UM, BUT THE STATE OF ARIZONA HAS ACTUALLY 28 8, 15 D FOR THE SAME THING.
SO IT'S OVER PICK WHICHEVER ONE NOW.
THEY'RE NOT BEING CITED OR ANYTHING.
UM, WHAT'S THE ANSWER? THAT'S YOUR JOB, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
AND, UH, SO I FIGURED I'D BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION AND I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THERE'S A, A GOOD OUTCOME ON THIS FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE AT THE END IT'S GOTTA BE PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT'S ALL.
AND RON, IS THERE ANY KIND OF COMMUNICATION, WE'VE BEEN AWARE OF THE SITUATION IN-N-OUT BURGER AND WORKING WITH THE, UH, THE MANAGERS AND THE OWNERS THERE, UM, ON THIS ONE, UM, I'D BE HAPPY TO HAVE EITHER CHIEF OR KIM, UH, SPEAK WITH HIM OFFLINE.
UM, I THINK KIM'S TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING WITH IN-N-OUT BURGER, BUT I KNOW THAT CHIEF HAS HAD SOME OF HIS OFFICERS WORKING WITH THEM AS WELL, TRYING TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO PUT AS MUCH TRAFFIC ON THE, UH, PREMISES POSSIBLE.
UH, IF YOU'D LIKE, UM, CHIEF, WOULD YOU HAVE A WORD WITH MR. DECKER AFTER, UM, HE LEAVES THE CHAMBERS? YES, MA'AM.
SO IF YOU WANNA SPEAK WITH CHIEF ESPINOZA AS YOU STEP OUTSIDE THIS WAY YOU GUYS CAN EXCHANGE INFORMATION.
UH, THERESA DEANTE, THEREBY SM MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE I BROUGHT IT TO YOUR ATTENTION ABOUT THE RED FIRE PICKUP TRUCK AIR.
YOU ASKED CHIEF ROONEY TO TALK TO ME OUTSIDE, WHICH HE DID, AND HE STATED THAT HE WOULD, HE WOULD MAKE SURE TO CALL ME AND LET ME KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE MATTER WAS.
HE NEVER DID, HE NEVER CALLED ME.
I GUESS IT WASN'T IMPORTANT TO HIM.
[00:40:01]
IN THE MEDICAL FIELD.I WAS IN THE OPERATING ROOM SURGICAL TECHNICIAN.
WHAT I SAW ON THAT DAY OF APRIL THE FIFTH, 2025, EXCUSE ME, MY NEIGHBOR'S BROTHER, THE INJURED THAT TOOK PLACE, THE NEXT DAY HE HAD SPINAL SURGERY.
I SAW TWO INEXPERIENCED EMTS TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB.
I WONDER WHY THEY DIDN'T CARRY AN EKG MACHINE.
OXYGEN IV MEDICATION THAT IS NEEDED.
I ONLY SAW A BLOOD PRESSURE MACHINE STETHOSCOPE AND A FINGERTIP PULP, UH, PULSE MONITOR.
IF YOU WANT THAT RED FIRE PICKUP TRUCK TO MAKE A GO OF IT.
THE RIGHT WAY IS TO PUT EXPERIENCE PARAMEDICS ON THAT TRUCK, PUT THE INEXPERIENCE, EMTS ON THE FIRE ENGINE TO GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH THE EXPERIENCE PARAMEDICS ON THE FIRE ENGINE TRUCK.
I DON'T WANT AVONDALE RESIDENTS TO SETTLE FOR THE RED PICKUP TRUCK WHEN THEY SHOW UP WHEN THEY CALL 9 1 1.
NOT UNTIL THAT RED PICKUP TRUCK IS FULLY EQUIPPED WITH EXPERIENCE.
PARAMEDICS HEART MONITOR OXYGEN EQUIPMENT, IV DELIVERY EQUIPMENT, AND THE SAME MEDICATION THAT IS ON THE IS ON THE FIRE ENGINE TRUCK AS WELL.
REMEMBER AVONDALE RESIDENTS, WE NEED CHIEF ROONEY TO GET ON THE BALL AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.
UM, MR. MAYOR AND COUNSEL, IF I CAN, UH, RESPOND TO A LITTLE BIT OF CRI CRITICISM THERE.
CLEARLY THERE'S BEEN A, UH, UH, INABILITY TO MAKE CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER.
I FOLLOWED UP PERSONALLY WITH, UH, CHIEF ROONEY TODAY, ACTUALLY.
HE'S ATTEMPTED TO REACH OUT TO HER AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT.
SO, UH, NOW THAT THEY'RE HERE, LET'S LET THEM CONNECT AGAIN.
HE HAS A DIFFERENT, UM, UH, BASED ON HIS RESEARCH ON THE INFORMATION, HE BELIEVES TO BE THE SAME INCIDENT.
HE HAS A DIFFERENT, UH, TAKE ON THE INCIDENT.
AND SO HE'D BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH HER NOW THAT THEY'RE BOTH HERE.
BUT HE DID ATTEMPT, BUT I, UH, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH HER, SO, UM, OKAY.
UH, THEY CAN STEP OUTSIDE DOWN.
UH, SO MR.
AND YOU GUYS CAN, UH, HAVE A CONVERSATION.
[4. CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, CONSENT AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WISH TO HAVE AN ITEM REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? MAYOR.
WE CAN GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS ITEM F.
GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, PLEASE VOTE.
UH, MR. MAYOR? COUNCIL WHITE, DID YOU WANNA GO FIRST OR YOU WANT ME TO JUST WE DID DO, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE SPOKE TO US EARLIER ABOUT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
WE DO HAVE A SMALL PRESENTATION FOR YOU, UM, BUT WE CAN START WITH THE PRESENTATION IF, IF THAT WORKS, AND THEN GO FROM THERE.
HELLO, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M KIM MOON, THE CITY ENGINEER, DIRECTOR OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS ROSS SHELTON, THE CITY, UH, TRAFFIC ENGINEER.
AND WE HAVE PREPARED A FEW SLIDES FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.
UH, A PROPOSAL TO, UH, MODIFY THE CITY CODE BY ORDINANCE, SPECIFICALLY THE TRAFFIC CHAPTER 23 WITH REGARDS TO THE SPEED LIMIT TABLES AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITY ENGINEER.
SO THE FIRST CHANGE IS FOR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT TABLES THAT ARE CURRENTLY EMBEDDED IN THE CITY CODE.
AND THE PROPOSAL IS TO, UH, LEAVE THE POLICY GUIDANCE IN THE CITY CODE, BUT REMOVE THOSE TABLES AND HAVE THEM ON FILE WITH THE CITY CLERK.
MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS ARE BASED ON ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC STUDIES, REASONABLE AND PRUDENT UNDER CONDITIONS.
THEY'RE DESIGNATED BY THE CITY MANAGER WHO IS AUTHORIZED DESIGNEE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES.
AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE PROPOSAL IS THAT THEY BE ON FILE WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THE SECOND CHANGE AS A PART OF THIS ORDINANCE IS IN ADDITION OF A GENERAL DUTY OF THE CITY ENGINEER TO PROVIDE FOR PLACEMENT AND TO MAINTAIN OR REMOVE TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES, PLACE, MAINTAIN OR REMOVE ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC CONTROL AS NECESSARY.
ALSO IN COMPLIANCE WITH CITY CO CODE, UH, GOVERNANCE AND POLICY IN ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES.
[00:45:02]
WHY AM I PROPOSING THESE CHANGES? WE HAVE, UM, A LOT OF EXISTING CONDITIONS THAT CHANGE OVER TIME.WE HAVE NEW ROADS THAT ARE ADDED TO THE SYSTEM WITH ALL THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
AND, UM, WE, WE WANNA MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL THE, THE REQUIREMENTS ON THE SPEED LIMITS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FHWA MUTED, UH, THE MANUAL OF UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES.
SO IN A NUTSHELL, THOSE ARE THE TWO CHANGES THAT I'M PROPOSING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
COUNCILOR WHITE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE SUCH A QUICK PRESENTATION.
UM, UH, KIM AND RAJ, I WANTED TO, UM, I GUESS MY CONCERN MULTILEVEL, SO I'LL SHARE ALL THE ITEMS. UM, THE FIRST CONCERN IS WE HAVE BEEN DOING, UM, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, I THINK IN MANY AREAS WITH OUR SPEED CAMERAS.
UM, AND THAT IS IN ORDER TO CUT DOWN ACCIDENTS IN AVONDALE.
I, I THINK THE PUBLIC COMMENTARY REALLY, UM, IT SPEAKS TO MY HEART BECAUSE I LIVE OFF OF A HUNDRED AND 11TH AVENUE IN VAN BUREN, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES WE HAD ONE OF THOSE CAMERAS.
SO IS THIS GONNA BE, UM, A RINSE AND REPEAT WHERE WE'RE GONNA GO AND STUDY THE AREAS WITH TRAFFIC CAMERAS IN THAT SAME FASHION? UM, BECAUSE I'VE ALSO HEARD IT ALLEGED TO BE A VIOLATION OF SOME TYPE OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, MAYBE THE SIXTH AMENDMENT.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT FOR ME PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER, WHITE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COUNCIL.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY VIOLATIONS.
UM, THERE IS CURRENTLY A SPEED STUDY BEING DONE, UH, BY OUR, UH, TEAM, OUR DEPARTMENT IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, THE TRAFFIC DIVISION THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDERWAY TO SUPPLEMENT AND CHECK THE CURRENT SPEEDS.
UH, RAJ AND HIS TEAM JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, UH, WENT ACROSS THE CITY AND CONFIRMED ALL THE CURRENT SPEED LIMITS ARE, UH, VALID AND ACCURATE.
I DO HAVE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT HOW SPEED STUDIES CONDUCTED IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT.
UM, BUT OTHERWISE EVERYTHING APPEARS TO BE IN ORDER AND I, I DO WANT THAT OFFLINE.
I THINK THAT'S 'CAUSE I ALSO HAVE THE DUAL ROLE THAT COUNCIL HAS APPOINTED ME TO SERVE IN THE TRANSIT FUNCTIONS, UM, SITTING ON VALLEY METRO RPTA AND I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT US ON MAG TPC.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE AS POLICIES AND OUR CODE CHANGES HERE IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE, THAT WE MAKE IT MAKE SENSE TO NOT ONLY OUR RESIDENTS, BUT IT MAKES SENSE ACROSS THE GREATER MARICOPA COUNTY.
UM, I ALSO AM INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING, UM, IS IT NECESSARY TO TEST SPEED TO DETERMINE IF WE, UM, CHANGE SPEED LIMITS? YES.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, WHITE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UM, THE SPEEDS ARE, UM, THE SPEED STUDY.
AND ACTUALLY I'M GONNA SKIP FORWARD TO A SLIDE.
RAJ AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER.
UM, LOOKS FOR THE 85TH PERCENTILE OF SPEEDS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, OUT OF A THOUSAND DRIVERS, 850 WILL PROBABLY BE DRIVING THE APPROPRIATE SPEED FOR THE ROAD CONDITION.
ROAD CONDITIONS ARE LANE WIDTH, UH, HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL CURVES, UM, DRIVEWAYS AND ROAD SURFACE, A VARIETY OF FACTORS.
SPEED LIMIT, UM, DOESN'T ALWAYS DICTATE THE BEHAVIOR OF THE DRIVER.
OFTEN IT WILL BE BASED ON WHAT THE DRIVER PERCEIVES TO BE SAFE AS THEY DRIVE ALONG THE ROADWAY.
AND FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S VERY RARE THAT, UM, THE 85TH PERCENTILE WOULD BE WRONG FOR THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROADWAY AT ANY GIVEN SITUATION.
SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, THE ARTERIAL ROADWAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, HERE IN AVONDALE WOULD NEVER EXCEED 45 MILES PER HOUR UNLESS THE SPEED STUDY WOULD DICTATE OTHERWISE FOR THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROADWAY.
AND THAT'S JUST STANDARD POLICY.
AND SO IF WE SEE, LIKE ON MC 85, THE SPEED GO UP TO 50, IS THAT BECAUSE THAT'S A MARICOPA COUNTY, UM, THROUGHWAY IN OUR JURISDICTION? THAT IS, UM, A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ROADWAY THAT, UH, ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO STANDARDIZE OVER TIME.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW IT IS A COUNTY ROADWAYS, UH, GOT SOME HISTORICAL, UM, REFERENCE.
AND ALSO IT, IT IS A THOROUGHFARE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT.
UH, I DON'T KNOW RAJ, IF WE'VE INCLUDED THAT AS PART OF OUR STUDY.
WE WE'RE DOING THE STUDY OF THE CITY ROADWAYS AT THIS TIME, BUT OVER TIME, AS YOU'VE SEEN MAYBE IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY, AS ROADS ARE DEVELOPED AND THEY MAY COME INTO THE CITY SYSTEM AND WE LOOK AT IT AT THAT TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I APPRECIATE THE COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION IN SUCH A QUICK TIMEFRAME.
[00:50:01]
UH, CAN WE GET A MOTION? WOULD YOU LIKE TO, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE MOTION READ CHRIS? NO.SO WE GOT A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI, UH, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, PLEASE VOTE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, KIM RAJ.
[a. Resolution 1021-0525 - Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026 Tentative Budget]
ALRIGHT, UH, ONTO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UP NEXT, WE HAVE THE ADOPTION OF OUR FISCAL YEAR 2026 TENTATIVE BUDGET, AND WE HAVE, UH, OUR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND BUDGET.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT THE FISCAL 2026 TENTATIVE BUDGET.
SO WE ARE DOWN THE STRETCH FOR THE BUDGET PROCESS TONIGHT WITH THE TENTATIVE BUDGET ADOPTION, AND WE WILL BE BACK IN JUNE FOR THE FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION.
SO AS WE'VE BEEN PRESENTING TO YOU, UM, WE ARE PRESENTING JUST THE CHANGES THAT YOU'VE SEEN SINCE THE LAST VERSION OF THE, UM, CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET TONIGHT.
THE TENTATIVE BUDGET, UM, SETS THE MAXIMUM EXPENDITURE LIMIT, WHICH MEANS THAT, UM, WE CAN STILL MAKE SOME CHANGES.
WE JUST CANNOT INCREASE, UM, IN THE FINAL BUDGET.
AND, UM, WHEN WE'RE JUST MAKING CHANGES BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS AND SUCH, THOSE CAN BE AMENDED THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR.
SO, UM, WE JUST HAD A HANDFUL OF CHANGES SINCE OUR LAST STUDY.
THE FIRST BEING THE COMPENSATION STUDY.
WE DID HAVE A SPACE HOLDER AT THE TIME.
WE PREPARED THE CITY MANAGER'S, UM, RECOMMENDED BUDGET.
WE HAVE SINCE CALCULATED ALL THE ACTUALS AND HITTING ALL THE FUNDS AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAD AN INCREASE TO THE FIRE TRAINING TOWER PROJECT BUDGET OF 961,000.
WE HAD AN INCREASE OF 68,000 TO THE CITIZENS ACCESS PORTAL, UM, FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND AN INCREASE TO A POSITION IN THE CITY OF ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO CARRY OVER.
AGAIN, THAT GETS ADJUSTED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR AS, UM, ALL OF OUR INVOICES GET PAID.
SO AFTER TONIGHT WE HAVE, UM, A FEW MORE STEPS TO GET TO THAT FINAL PROCESS OF THE BUDGET.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF, UM, PUBLIC NOTICES FOR THE BUDGET AND THE TRUTH AND TAXATION IN THE MONTH OF MAY.
WE WILL BE RETURNING TO COUNSEL ON JUNE 2ND FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET AND A PUBLIC HEARING, UM, FOR TRUTH AND TAXATION.
AND TO ADOPT THE FINAL BUDGET.
WE'LL THEN RETURN, UM, AGAIN ON JUNE 16TH.
TO ADOPT THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION 1 0 2 1 0 5 25, UM, SETTING FORTH THE FISCAL 2026 TENTATIVE BUDGET.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS THOUGH BY COUNSEL BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD? OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER, WE WEISS, I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, RENEE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AS ALWAYS.
UM, I WILL BE GONE IN MAY FROM THE REST OF THE MONTH.
UM, AND I DO HAVE ONE ITEM THAT'S ON THE BUDGET THAT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT EVENTUALLY, OR HAVE IT LOOKED AT.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT I'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO DO IN JUNE? MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL? IF, UH, RENEE, IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO THE CALENDAR.
SO THE ADOPTION IS JUNE 2ND, SO IT'LL BE AT THAT MEETING.
UM, MY CURRENT PLAN IS BASED ON YOUR QUESTION OFFLINE, IS TO GET YOU THE INFORMATION AND THEN FOR YOU AND I HAVE DISCUSSION, SO WE'LL HAVE IT TEED UP FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION IF NECESSARY ON JUNE 2ND.
PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OR THE RECOMMENDED OF THE BUDGET.
IT'S, IT'S A CIP ITEM, AND SO IT'S JUST A, A WRAP UP LITTLE THING.
COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE RENEE, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC, CAN YOU SHARE THE SIZE OF THE AVONDALE BUDGET AND MILLIONS PLEASE? BUNCH 300 MILLION ISH FOR THE TOTAL, NOT JUST THE GENERAL FUND, THE TALKING ALL FUNDING SOURCES.
UM, WE HAVE THE, UH, TO ATTACHED TO TONIGHT'S, WE HAVE THE, UM, A SUMMARY WHICH WILL SHOW THE OVERALL CHART OF ALL FUNDING SOURCES AS WELL AS TOTAL EXPENSES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IN THE CITY.
SO YOU NO OTHER COMMENTS? WE'VE GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER NEIL, UH, I'M SORRY.
VICE MAYOR NIELSEN, PLEASE VOTE.
[00:55:03]
OKAY.[b. Public Hearing and Resolution 1022-0525 - Updating City of Avondale Water and Sewer Rates]
ITEM FIVE B, WELL LOOK AT THAT MR. MAYOR.UH, UP NEXT IS, UH, RENEE, YOUR FINANCE DIRECTOR AND BUDGET DIRECTOR, UH, TO MAKE THE NEXT SET OF PRESENTATIONS.
AS A SIDE NOTE, ITEMS FIVE B AND FIVE C WILL BE PRESENTED, UH, TOGETHER BY, UH, THE DIRECTOR.
I DO BELIEVE YOU'LL HAVE TO HAVE TWO SUB PUBLIC HEARINGS, UH, AND I'M SURE CHRIS WILL BE ABLE TO WALK US THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
OH, JUST ONE, JUST ONE PUBLIC HEARING AND FIVE B.
UM, BUT WE'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
I KNOW WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE CALL TO THE PUBLIC FOR, FOR IT AS WELL.
OKAY, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I AM HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT THE ADOPTION OF THE UTILITY RATES.
SO, UM, AS MR. CORBIN MENTIONED, WE DO NEED TO HOLD A HEARING ON THE PROPOSED WATER AND SEWER RATES PER STATE STATUTE.
AND THEN, UM, AFTER THE HEARING, WE WOULD VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION MODIFYING THE WATER AND SEWER RATES, AND THEN ALSO VOTE ON A RESOLUTION MODIFYING SOLID WASTE RATES.
SO COUNSEL RECEIVED AN INITIAL PRESENTATION FROM STAFF ON UTILITY RATES BACK IN FEBRUARY ON THE 24TH.
AND THEN ON MARCH 3RD WE POSTED A NOTICE OF INTENT.
UM, IT WAS FILED WITH THE CLERK AND POSTED ON THE CITY WEBSITE, WHICH, UM, STARTED THE 60 DAY PUBLIC.
UM, NOTICE THAT'S REQUIRED PRIOR TO A PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, A PUBLIC NOTICE WAS ALSO PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER AND PUBLISHED ON THE CITY WEBSITE 20 DAYS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AS REQUIRED BY STATE STATUTE, STAFF UTILIZED AN ARRAY OF PUBLIC OUTREACH METHODS, INCLUDING HOSTING THREE OPEN HOUSES AND ONE CAFECITO MEETING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
NOTICES WERE POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THE CITY WEBSITE, AND AN AD WAS PUBLISHED IN THE WEST VALLEY NEWSPAPER.
WE OFFERED AN AN ONLINE UTILITY BILL CALCULATOR ON OUR WEBSITES WHERE RESIDENTS COULD GO TO PLUG IN THEIR SERVICE LEVELS AND SEE THE ANTICIPATED IMPACT, UM, ON THEIR UTILITY MONTHLY BILL.
WE ALSO PROVIDED INFORMATION ON OUR ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEM, OUR PAPER BILLS, AND AT OUR FRONT CASHIER COUNTERS.
AND WE ARE ALSO SCHEDULED TO PRESENT TO THE AVONDALE CITIZENS ACADEMY.
ALL DOCUMENTATION WAS PROVIDED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
SO THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY OF OUR RECOMMENDA RECOMMENDED RATE.
SO FOR WATER IN FISCAL YEAR 2026, IT'S A 6.7% RATE INCREASE ON BOTH THE BASE AND THE TIER, IN ADDITION TO A 7.5% WATER TREATMENT FEE ON THE TOTAL WATER BILL AND A 6.2% WATER RESOURCE FEE ON THE TOTAL WATER BILL.
THEN IN FISCAL 2027, IT WOULD BE JUST A 6.1% RATE INCREASE WITH NO CHANGE TO THE TREATMENT VIEW OF THE WATER RESOURCE IN SEWER AND FISCAL 2026 WOULD JUST, UH, BE A 2% RATE INCREASE IN 26 AND A 2% RATE INCREASE IN 27 SOLID WASTE IS A FLAT DOLLAR AMOUNT INCREASE, UM, FOR ONE TRASH BIN, ONE RECYCLE BIN OF $1 AND 60 CENTS IN FISCAL 26 AND $1 AND 75 CENTS IN FISCAL 27.
SO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR THE AVERAGE, UM, AVONDALE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WHO USES 9,000 GALLONS OF WATER, 8,000 GALLONS OF SEWER AND HAS ONE TRASH BIN AND ONE RECYCLE BIN, THEIR CURRENT BILL IS $105 AND 80 CENTS.
THEY WOULD SEE AN INCREASE OF $9 AND 33 CENTS ON JANUARY 1ST, 2026 AND ANOTHER $5 AND 9 CENTS ON JANUARY 1ST, 2027.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE, AT OUR RATES CURRENTLY, AND GIVEN THE PROPOSED RATES THAT WE HAVE TONIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THAT AVONDALE'S CURRENTLY IN THE BOTTOM HALF, UM, IN COMPARISON TO OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE VALLEY AND WOULD MOVE POTENTIALLY TO THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK, UM, AGAIN WITH OTHER CITIES, UM, MAKING ADJUSTMENTS IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE HAVE MADE SOME OPERATIONAL CHANGES TO HELP OFFSET RISING COSTS.
WE WANTED TO NOTE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE.
UM, WITH THE WATER FUND, WE'RE NOW DISTRIBUTING OUR WATER QUALITY REPORT ELECTRONICALLY AND HAVE SAVED ON SOME PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION COSTS.
WE'RE ALSO PURCHASING PARCEL EIGHT.
IT'S LOCATED ON THOMAS ROAD, EAST OF THE RIA AS PART OF A PROJECT TO TREAT THE PFAS.
THIS WILL SAVE MILLIONS FOR THE CITY BECAUSE IT WILL BE ABLE TO TREAT THE WATER AT THE SITE INSTEAD OF HAVING TO PUMP THE WATER ACROSS THE CITY TO TREAT IT ELSEWHERE.
[01:00:01]
FUND, WE'RE INSTALLING VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVES, WHICH IS SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT THAT CAN OPTIMIZE CONTROL AND EFFICIENCY AND WILL REDUCE OUR ELECTRICITY USAGE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST OPERATIONAL COSTS AT THE RECLAMATION PLANT.WE ALSO HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO REHABILITATE OUR SEWER MAINS WITHOUT HAVING TO TRENCH AND TEAR INTO OUR ROADS, WHICH IS A COST SAVINGS TO THE CITY IN SOLID WASTE.
WE RECONFIGURED OUR BOLT TRASH ZONES AND HAVE SEEN SOME IMPROVEMENTS PRIOR TO THAT.
RECONFIGURATION STAFF WAS WORKING LONG HOURS FIVE TO SIX DAYS A WEEK, AND NOW WE CAN SERVICE THE ENTIRE CITY WITHIN FOUR DAYS.
RESIDENTIAL TRASH AND RECYCLING DAYS HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED PRIOR TO THAT POINT FOR 20 YEARS.
WITH THE NEW CONFIGURATION, WE SUCCESSFULLY EVENED OUT THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS THAT COM THAT ARE SERVICED PER DAY, AND AS A RESULT, WE HAVE REDUCED OUR DRIVING TIMES, UM, BY PERFORMING RECYCLING SERVICES IN THE MORNING AND TRASH IN THE AFTERNOONS.
SO OUR NEXT STEPS WOULD BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SOLID WASTE RATE INCREASE ON JULY ONE OF 25, FOLLOWED BY THE FIRST WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASE ON JANUARY 1ST, 2026.
THEN THE SECOND YEAR INCREASES WOULD TAKE EFFECT WITH SOLID WASTE ON JULY 1ST, 2026 AND WATER AND SEWER ON JANUARY 1ST, 2027.
LASTLY, WE JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY CITY THAT'S AFFECTED BY THE NEED TO INCREASE UTILITY RATES.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER CITIES, UM, AND THIS IS JUST A SAMPLE OF, OF WHAT WE HAVE FOUND.
SO OUR RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON UPDATING WATER AND SEWER RATES AND THEN TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 1 0 2 2 0 0 5 25, UPDATING CITY AVONDALE WATER AND SEWER RATES.
AND THEN TO ALSO ADOPT RESOLUTION 1 0 2 3 DASH OH 5 2 3 UPDATING SOLID WASTE FEE SCHEDULE.
SO THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, RENEE, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE REST OF THE COUNCIL BEFORE WE OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING? WE GO TO PUBLIC HEARING FIRST.
SO BEFORE WE GO THROUGH QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION, LET ME AT THIS TIME OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE DO HAVE ONE REQUEST TO SPEAK.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS REGARDING THE PROPOSED INCREASE FOR THE UTILITY RATES, UH, 1442, POSSIBLY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS TOTAL.
WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES, I BELIEVE WE MUST UNDERSTAND, I'M SORRY.
UM, I BELIEVE WE MUST EXHAUST ALL OTHER OPTIONS BEFORE RESORTING TO ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL BURDENS ON OUR RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY DURING THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.
MY PRIMARY QUESTION TO THE COUNCIL IS WHETHER THIS INCREASE IS TRULY NECESSARY AT THIS MOMENT.
COULD WE CONSIDER DELAYING THIS PROPOSAL AROUND US TO REASSESS ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AS THEY STABILIZE? IF AN INCREASE IS UNAVOIDABLE, I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER EXTENDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OVER FOUR YEARS INSTEAD OF TWO.
THIS APPROACH WOULD EASE THE IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON OUR RESIDENTS, PROVIDING THEM WITH SOME BREATHING ROOM TO ADJUST FINANCIALLY.
FURTHERMORE, I PROPOSED EXPLORING POSSIBILITIES OF REBATES OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR OUR SENIORS, LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND THOSE ON FIXED INCOMES.
BY DOING SO, WE CAN ENSURE THAT THIS DECISION DOES NOT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS NO CERTAINTY AT ALL.
THE SURROUNDING CITIES WILL TAKE SIMILAR ACTION.
BY POSTPONING OUR DECISION, WE ALLOW TIME TO EVALUATE HOW REGIONAL ECONOMIC TRENDS DEVELOP AND HOW CHANGES IN THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME MIGHT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY.
UNTIL WE OBTAIN CLEAR ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS AND CONSIDER THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS, I RECOMMEND THAT WE REFRAIN FROM MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PROPOSAL.
OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES FUL AND CONSIDERATE DECISION MAKING THAT PRIORITIZE THE WELLBEING OF ALL THE RESIDENTS.
[01:05:01]
CONSIDERING MY POINTS.ARE THERE ANY OTHER BLUE CARDS OR ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK? UH, NO MA'AM.
WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY ADDITIONAL REQUESTS TO SPEAK.
AT THIS TIME I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNSEL FOR COMMENTS.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THAT WISH TO SHARE ANY COMMENTS, MAKE A STATEMENT IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER? NONE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD ASKED FOR WAS, UH, THAT WAS LISTED UNDER OPERATIONAL CHANGES IN REGARDS TO ALL OTHER OPTIONS BEING EXPLORED IS THAT, UM, BEFORE LEAST SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, I WOULD WANT TO INCREASE THE RATE ON ANY RESIDENT.
I'D WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AS A ORGANIZATION, THAT WE ARE BEING MINDFUL AND AS I MENTIONED IT TO CITY LEADERSHIP, WAS SQUEEZE AS MUCH JUICE OUT OF THE BERRY AS POSSIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO LOOKING AT ANY SORT OF EFFICIENCIES AS AN ORGANIZATION.
TO THAT END, WHAT WAS LISTED AS PART OF OPERATIONAL CHANGES IS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE, WHETHER IT'S LOOKING AT, UM, CHANGING ZONES FOR TRASH PICKUP, UH, FOR BULK TRASH, UM, LOOKING AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN WATER WHEN IT COMES TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER THINGS.
AND IN OTHER WORDS, BEFORE WE RAISE RATES, WHAT HA WHAT CAN WE DO? AND AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, A LOT OF THOSE EFFICIENCIES HAVE BEEN EXPLORED AND MORE IMPORTANTLY HAVE BEEN EXECUTED.
AND ONE OF THE SITUATIONS THAT THIS COUNCIL WE FIND OURSELVES, OURSELVES IN IS THAT FOR MANY YEARS PRIOR TO ALL OF US BEING ON COUNCIL, WATER RATES WERE NEVER, UM, INCREASED AND THEY WERE NOT INCREASED OR A LONG EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
AND FOR THAT REASON, AS TIME HAS EVOLVED AS PRICES HAVE GONE UP AND YES, I I FULLY UNDERSTAND ABOUT NOT NAVIGATING, UM, THE ECONOMY AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING OUT THERE, THE ISSUE IS AT HAND IS THAT, UH, THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE ACT, UH, THAT WAS PERFORMED OVER ALL THOSE YEARS.
AND HERE WE ARE, WE'RE THE COUNCIL NOW WHO IS NOW RESPONSIBLE TO ADDRESSING THOSE NEEDS AND CONCERNS.
AND SO TO CONTINUE TO WAIT AND KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, UH, I AM, I, I AM NOT ONE TO BE IN FAVOR OF INCREASING RATES FOR ANY RESIDENT.
UM, I JUST, YOU KNOW, DON'T SEE, UM, A WHOLE LOT OF BENEFIT TO THAT UNTIL THE FACT THAT WE START LOOKING AT OUR BUDGETS AND, AND SEEING AS, UH, EXPENSES START TO, UM, SUPERSEDE REVENUES THAT WE'RE FINDING OURSELVES IN SOME MAJOR CHALLENGES.
AND IF THE FIRST THING THAT WE CAN DO IS LOOK AT AN ORGANIZATION, FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE BECOME MORE EFFICIENT INTERNALLY FIRST, WHICH WE DID, I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP.
AND SO FOR THAT, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I, UH, CONVEYED THOSE COMMENTS.
BUT BEFORE I MOVE FORWARD WITH A REC, I'M SORRY, WITH A VOTE, UH, COUNCILMAN ROY, MAYOR, I JUST WANNA COMMEND YOU.
WE, WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO SEE EYE TO EYE, BUT I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE, UM, NOT ONLY DID WE FIND EFFICIENCY, WE FOUND A A A PEOPLE SATISFIER.
I THINK THAT OUR PUBLIC WORK STAFF, THEY WERE WORKING SO MANY MORE DAYS PER WEEK AND IMAGINE THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORK LIKE FRIDAYS ANYMORE.
THEY'RE NOW JUST THE FOUR DAY WORK WEEK THAT EVERYBODY ELSE WAS DOING.
SO WE'VE CUT OFF A WHOLE WORK DAY FOR PEOPLE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WORK ON THE WEEKENDS TO DO TRASH COLLECTION IF THE HOLIDAYS, THEY WORK HOLIDAYS NOW, UM, AND ONLY TAKE OFF FOUR PER YEAR.
SO I, I JUST, I I, I TOTALLY DON'T BELIEVE IN, IN PUTTING OUR RESIDENTS IN A BAD SITUATION.
BUT IF WE DO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN? FAILED INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND WE STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE TO REPAIR AND IT'S GONNA COST DOUBLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, UH, OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN A POUND OF CURE.
AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE I PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOU BECAUSE I KNOW WE, WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH, I THINK IT'S NOT GOOD TO MAKE RESIDENTS HAVE TO PAY MORE, BUT YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING TO FIND EVERY OTHER WAY TO AVOID RATE INCREASES.
AND, AND WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND, AND THE WATER RESOURCES AND THE SEWAGE IN, IN, IN THE CITY.
COUNCILMAN WHITE, COUNCILMAN WEISS.
AND I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN WITH REGARDS TO, UM, YOU KNOW, A BURDEN ON PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE INCREASE IN THE WATER RATES, BUT I, SO CHRIS IS HERE FROM, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES.
I THINK WE DO HAVE PROGRAMS TO HELP WITH ASSISTANCE, CORRECT.
UH, MR. MAYOR, OR DO WE, UH, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER OIS? YES.
AGAIN, THOSE ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UM, PASSED DOWN THROUGH THE STATE AND THE COUNTY.
UM, BUT WE DO ADMINISTER THOSE AT OUR RESOURCE CENTER AND IF, IF ANYBODY'S IN NEED, THEY CAN REACH OUT TO, UH, THE RESOURCE CENTER.
[01:10:01]
SOMETHING.SO BEING ON, SINCE BEING ON COUNCIL IN 2017, THAT'S KIND OF BEEN A, A DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE HAD HERE ON THIS DAIS IS, UM, WE DIDN'T WANT TO INCREASE, UM, RATES AND WE PREFER TO DO LITTLE NUGGET INCREASES SO THAT FOLKS CAN KIND OF START PLANNING AHEAD AND THINKING, OKAY, I'M GETTING THIS INCREASE COMING UP.
UM, THAT WAS ONE THING WE DID, BUT KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD IS BETTER.
IF WE WAIT, IT'S GONNA BE A LARGER INCREASE, A ONE TIME INCREASE.
SO FOR ME, I THINK THAT, UM, WE HAVE A GOOD STRATEGY.
UM, IT'S NECESSARY AT THIS TIME.
AND I DO KNOW ONE THING THAT WE'VE ASKED AGAIN, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES TO PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT MIGHT NEED SOME HELP.
WE'RE ALL GONNA GET THE INCREASE.
AND YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS WE DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS NECESSARY, UM, TO HAVE IT DONE.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, AGAIN, IN A COUPLE YEARS, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO, IT'S GONNA BE A LARGER INCREASE THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.
ANYBODY ELSE? COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? UM, I DO NOT SEE THE SAME AS MY PEERS UP HERE AT THE MOMENT.
UM, I DO, I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS.
UM, A LOT OF YOUR, THE, WHAT YOU WERE SAYING IS MY, ARE MY CONCERNS AS WELL.
UM, BUT ALSO WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT HYPOTHETICALS.
WE'RE, UM, WE MIGHT NOT NEED THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND IF WE'RE ASKING RESIDENTS TO PAY FOR IT NOW AND WE DON'T GET IT, UM, THEY STILL ARE PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT WASN'T NEEDED.
SO I WOULD PREFER TO WAIT, UM, FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
SO THAT IS ONE REASON I'M VOTING NO, AND JUST BECAUSE OTHER CITIES ARE DOING SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO DO IT.
UM, COMPARING AVONDALE TO SCOTTSDALE AND GILBERT, UM, EVEN JUST ON SALARY WISE BASED OFF OF OUR RESIDENCE IS DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT AND MAYBE THEY COULD AFFORD TO DO IT, BUT ME AS A SINGLE MOM WHO MAKES MINIMUM WAGE, I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTIES THAT $10 CAN BE FOR A MOTHER, UM, AND HER UTILITIES BEING RAISED.
SO THAT IS ONE REASON I WILL BE VOTING NO TODAY.
OKAY, WITH THAT IN MIND, IF WE CAN GET, OR WE GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, PLEASE VOTE.
[c. Resolution 1023-0525 - Updating the Solid Waste Fee Schedule]
HAVE ITEM FIVE C, CORRECT? YES.AND WHO, WHO'S PROVIDING THE PRESENTATION? OH, IT'S, OH, SORRY.
IT WAS ALL, IT WAS ALL TIED TOGETHER.
RENEE IS ALREADY PRESENTATION.
SORRY, THESE ARE MOVING SO QUICKLY UP HERE.
SO WE, WE HAVE A MR I KNOW IT'S A COUNCIL.
UH, WE GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI, PLEASE VOTE.
[6. SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS FROM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COUNCILMEMBERS]
OKAY.ITEM SIX, SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO OKAY.
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HANG OUT AT THE AVONDALE FIESTA THIS PAST SATURDAY NIGHT, AND IT WAS A TREAT, UM, I WILL SAY IN HONOR OF COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO, UM, THAT, UH, FOR LACK OF BETTER TERMS, I'LL, I'LL JUST SPEAK IT THE WAY SHE SAID IT WASN'T AS CULTURALLY, UM, ENGAGING.
UM, AND SO A LOT OF OUR MEXICAN AMERICANS IN THE PAST, OUR RESIDENTS FELT MAYBE INSULTED BY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY SAW THERE, BUT THIS EVENT WAS A LOT DIFFERENT.
UM, I HAD A FEW OF MY, UM, SPANISH SPEAKING RESIDENTS WHO CAME UP TO ME AND FELT AT HOME BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT THEY WERE HEARING THEY COULD UNDERSTAND WITHOUT TRANSLATION.
AND I KNOW WE DO THAT IN CAFECITO, SO I HAD A REALLY GREAT TIME.
AND THEN MY ADOPTED PARENTS WHO, AND LETTY, UM, GAVE ME THESE BEAUTIFUL THINGS TO WEAR
SO I JUST WANNA PUBLICLY THANK MY ADOPTED PARENTS FOR MAKING SURE I DRESSED APPROPRIATELY TO ATTEND THE EVENT.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE PARKS AND RECS, ALL OF THE VENDORS THAT CAME OUT, ALL OF THE PERFORMERS THAT CAME OUT, ALL OF THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME OUT.
PUBLIC SAFETY WAS THERE IN FULL SUPPORT.
UM, I DON'T HAVE A PREFERENCE.
I LOVE YOU BOTH THE SAME, UM,
UM, BUT I THINK ALL OF THE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE STAFF THAT WERE THERE DURING, WE HAD A GREAT TIME.
AND, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR FOR KICKING OFF THE EVENT.
COUNCILMAN RO WEISS AND THEN WE'LL GO TO VICE MAYOR.
WELL, UM, I SPONSORED A GOLF TEAM THIS WEEKEND.
UM, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SAY THE NAME OF THE GOLF TOURNAMENT THOUGH.
UM, BUT IT WAS FOR PEP GUZMAN, UM, JUDGE GUZMAN, HE HAD, HE RUNS, UH, THIS GOLF TOURNAMENT EVERY YEAR AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR 20 SOMETHING YEARS.
AND OUR TEAM CAME IN THIRD, SO I WASN'T THERE, BUT THE TEAM CAME IN THIRD AND THAT WAS IT.
[01:15:01]
THANK YOU.UM, SO I GOT TO ATTEND THE FFA DINNER LAST WEEK, AND IT WAS SO WONDERFUL TO SEE THOSE YOUNG LEADERS SO ARTICULATE AND IT JUST WARMS MY HEART TO SEE, YOU KNOW, OUR AGRICULTURE IS SO IMPORTANT.
I, I KNOW WE HAVE WONDERFUL AGRICULTURE HERE IN AVONDALE AS WELL AS ENTIRE WEST VALLEY, SO THAT WAS JUST WONDERFUL TO SEE.
AND I ALSO ATTENDED THE WEST SIDE, UM, RECREATIONAL, UH, GOLF TOURNAMENT.
I GOT TO VOLUNTEER AND MEET SO MANY PEOPLE, BUT JUST TO SEE THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER FOR A WONDERFUL CAUSE, I THINK 215 TEAMS WERE THERE, UM, FROM THE WEST VALLEY AND IT JUST WARMED MY HEART TO SEE THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER FOR A, YOU KNOW, FOR THE KIDS.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY MONDAY TO GO DOWNTOWN TO THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION OF ARIZONA, WHERE THEY RECOGNIZED INDIVIDUALS, COMPANIES AND, UH, OF WHATEVER FOR SOME OF THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.
UH, JUST, UH, ACCOLADES TO THE CITY OF AVONDALE WHO, UH, RECEIVED A BANNER AND, AND SOME BIG, UH, JUST A BANNER AND, AND THE RECOGNITION AS A SAFE WORKPLACE FOR A LARGE EMPLOYER, UH, WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO HERE AND PREPARING OURSELVES AND THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT ARE GIVEN TO THE INDIVIDUALS ON SAFETY AND WHATEVER ELSE.
IT WAS VERY WELL DONE AND PRESENTED AND, AND, UH, WE GOT A BIG BANNER SOMEWHERE WE GOTTA PUT UP AND SHOW WHAT WE'VE DONE.
SECONDLY, ON TUESDAY, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LOWER GILA RIVER COOPERATIVE.
THEY MADE A PRESENTATION THERE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ALONG THE GILA RIVER AND HOW ALL THE DIFFERENT GROUPS HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.
I THINK 15, 18, 20 DIFFERENT GROUPS HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO DECIDE WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN THERE.
BUT THEY TALKED ABOUT THE PLANTS IN THE RIVER AS WELL AS THE THINGS IN THE RIVER.
THEY HAD THE INDIAN RESERVATION THERE, AND I WAS JUST IMPRESSED HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY WORKING ON THAT FROM, UM, TOLLESON ALL THE WAY OVER TO HIGHWAY 85 THERE, JUST TRYING TO MAKE THAT A NICE WATERWAY.
EVENTUALLY IT'LL BE A REALLY BEAUTIFUL PLACE, BUT IT'S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO DO IT.
THERE ARE LITTLE INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS THAT ARE DOING THINGS THERE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PLANTS AND SEE WHICH ONES ARE INDIGENOUS AND WORK GROW THE BEST THERE.
AND, UH, I GUESS THE THING THAT INTERESTED ME IS THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL FROM THE GILA RIVER WHO TALKED ABOUT THE MESQUITE TREE AND ALL THE ADVANTAGES OF MESQUITE.
YOU CAN MAKE FLOUR OUT OF IT, YOU CAN MAKE SWEETS OUT OF IT, YOU CAN RUN IT FOR SHADE AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS.
IT WAS JUST REALLY NICE TO PARTICIPATE AND I THANK YOU AND THANK AVONDALE FOR ALL THE SAFETY WORK AND THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING TO KEEP SAFETY IN FRONT OF THEIR VISION.
IT ALSO, UH, ADDS GREAT FLAVOR TO BARBECUE.
SO
MANY OF THE EVENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN COVERED, BUT REALLY QUICKLY WITH THE 17 SECONDS, UH, TWO SATURDAYS THEY GO PARTICIPATED IN THE ARBOR DAY EVENT.
MANY, MANY TREES WERE PLANTED AT DONNY HILL PARK AMONG OTHER PLACES.
A LOT OF SHADE THERE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
ALL THE ORGANIZATION PARTICIPATED.
AND THEN WAY FEST ANOTHER AWESOME OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY.
WITH THAT SAID, CAN I GET A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT? GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN CONDI.