May 19, 2025 City Council

CITY COUNCIL

[00:00:01]

AT

[1. ROLL CALL BY THE CITY CLERK]

I PLEDGE ALL ALLEGIANCE TO THE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT SCAMS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, BEING INVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU.

CHRIS, IF WE COULD DO A ROLL CALL.

COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE HERE.

VICE MAYOR NIELSEN.

HERE.

MAYOR PINEDA HERE.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS HAS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE TONIGHT? YES.

THANK YOU, RON.

NEXT ITEM

[a. Employee Announcements]

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

UP.

UH, NEXT IS WE HAVE OUR EMPLOYEE ANNOUNCEMENTS.

I BELIEVE WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE JUDGE.

HERE HE COMES.

DID WE SAY ALL RISE ? THANK YOU, RON.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, BRILLA AND I ARE HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY WITH TWO OF OUR NEWEST EMPLOYEES.

UH, AS YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TOO MANY VACANCIES AT THE COURT OR VERY OFTEN DO WE HAVE VACANCIES AT THE COURT.

UH, BUT WE HAD A PROMOTION RECENTLY AND THEN SOMEONE DID LEAVE.

SO WE HAD, UH, TWO NEW HIRES.

FIRST I WANT TO INTERVIEW, OR EXCUSE ME, INTRODUCE GREGORY LEPERT.

UH, GREG STARTED WITH US ON APRIL 14TH.

UH, SO BEEN THERE A LITTLE OVER A MONTH NOW.

HE CAME FROM THE POST OFFICE, UH, WHERE HE HAD BEEN THERE FOR A FEW YEARS, AND THEN JOANNA MILAN ROMERO, UH, JOINED US THE WEEK LATER ON APRIL 21ST, AND SHE CAME FROM THE TOLLESON POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE SHE WAS A DISPATCHER.

BOTH OF THEM HAVE TOLD ME MULTIPLE TIMES.

THEY'RE IN BETTER POSITIONS NOW.

SO , SO WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE AVONDALE TEAM.

AND TONIGHT WE HAVE SO MANY FOLKS COMING TONIGHT.

USUALLY WE HAVE YOU SAY SOMETHING OR UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE, GET OFF YOUR CHEST.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR .

OKAY.

WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN FILMED.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UP NEXT, WE'LL HAVE, UH, JODY, OUR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, PRESENT HER NEW EMPLOYEES.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UM, I HAVE TWO NEW EMPLOYEES I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THIS EVENING.

UM, CARRIE ROVE.

SHE IS OUR NEW BUILDING PERMIT TECHNICIAN, TOO, THAT SERVES IN OUR FRONT COUNTER PERMITTING CENTER WITH OUR PERMIT TECHNICIAN TEAM.

SHE HAD WORKED WITH CITY OF AVONDALE FOR A LITTLE BIT AS A CONTRACTOR, HELPING US DURING OUR TRANSITION AS WE WERE FILLING POSITIONS AND MANAGING WORKLOAD.

SHE PREVIOUSLY WORKED WITH A FIRM THAT WE CONSULT WITH CALLED SEAN CODA, BUT SHE WAS VERY EXCITED TO WORK IN PUBLIC GOVERNMENT, UM, AND HAD APPLIED FOR OUR POSITION AND ULTIMATELY WAS HIRED TO BE A PART OF OUR TEAM.

SO SHE CHOSE DALE BECAUSE OF OUR CULTURE, ALL THE WONDERFUL TEAM MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE THAT SHE GETS TO WORK WITH, AND SHE ENJOYS TAKING HER DAUGHTER TO RODEO EVENTS.

IN HER SPARE TIME, I'M GONNA SAY WELCOME TO CARRIE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

AND OUR, ALSO, OUR OTHER NEW EMPLOYEE THAT WE HAVE IS MONICA RI.

UH, MONICA IS ONE OF OUR NEW SENIOR PLANNERS IN OUR PLANNING DIVISION.

UH, SHE WORKED BOTH IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR, SO SHE HAS A LOT OF URBAN PLANNING EXPERIENCE.

SHE MOST RECENTLY WORKED WITH PINAL COUNTY, UM, SO WE'VE BROUGHT HER MORE TOWARDS THE PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA.

UM, SHE'S ASSISTED WITH ALL SORTS OF ZONING CODE UPDATES, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PLANNING, AND WORKING ON MASTER PLAN COMMUNITIES.

SHE HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE AND A MASTER'S DEGREE IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE BECOMES A VERY HANDY IN A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WE DO IN OUR DEPARTMENT, AND SHE ENJOYS LISTENING TO EXCELLENT MUSIC FROM A VARIETY OF GENRES IN HER SPARE TIME.

SO WE WANNA SAY WELCOME, UH, TO MONICA FOR BEING PART OF OUR DEPARTMENT AS WELL.

WELL, CARRIE AND MONICA, WELCOME TO AVONDALE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

APPRECIATE IT.

MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'LL ASK, UH, CHIEF ROONEY TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE HIS NEW EMPLOYEE OR ACTUALLY NEW CERTIFICATIONS.

HOW'S THAT? MM-HMM .

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL TONIGHT.

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING YOU TO OUR NEW PARAMEDICS.

UNFORTUNATELY, TWO ARE SICK AND ONE IS ON VACATION WITH HIS FAMILY.

SO WE, I WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO ONE OF THEM.

I'LL MENTION ALL OF THEM, THOUGH.

THEY, UH, WERE VERY PROUD OF 'EM.

THEY, UH,

[00:05:01]

AND WE'RE ALSO VERY THANKFUL FOR THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM TO SUPPORT US ON INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PARAMEDICS THAT WE HAVE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, UH, NOT PRESENT.

WE HAVE, UH, FIREFIGHTER JUSTIN KHAN.

WE HAVE, UH, FIREFIGHTER OSCAR LOPEZ AND FIREFIGHTER, UH, JORDAN DY.

UM, I DO HAVE THE PLEASURE OF, UH, INTRODUCE YOU TO BROCK CABO.

UM, BROCK IS, UH, A FIREFIGHTER AT 1 71, AND, UH, HE'S ON A SHIFT AND HE IS SERVING THAT PART OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.

BUT, UH, WE HAVE SOME LITTLE BIT BETTER BRAGGING RIGHTS WITH BROCK AS WELL.

SO, UH, EVERY CLASS THEY GIVE THE PARAMEDIC THE CLASS AWARD TO THE, UH, HIGHEST STUDENT.

AND BROCK WAS THAT THIS YEAR.

I, I KNOW I'M EMBARRASSING HIM RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S THE CAUSE WE, WE STRIVE TO BE NUMBER ONE AND, AND CONSTANTLY WE HAVE THE NUMBER ONE PEOPLE IN, IN, IN THE ACADEMIES AND, AND ALSO IN THE PARAMEDIC CLASS.

UM, HE RECEIVED THE KYLE BRAYER AWARD.

KYLE WAS A, A CAPTAIN IN TEMPE WHO LOST HIS LIFE.

AND, UH, THEY, UH, NAMED THE AWARD AFTER HIM AND, AND ROCK, UH, GOT THE TOP SCORES ACROSS THE BOARD AND, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HIM.

SO, BROCK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, BROCK.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHIEF.

ALRIGHT, UP NEXT, UH, COUNCIL AND MAY, UH, SORRY, MAYOR AND COUNCIL WILL, UH, WHY IS IT I ALWAYS MESS UP ON, BUT ANYWAYS, UH, CORY'S UP NEXT OUR PARKS REC DIRECTOR TO INTRODUCE HIS NEW EMPLOYEES.

THERE'S A LOT OF US TONIGHT.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

I'M CORY LIVA.

I'M EXCITED TO SHOW THAT WE HAVE SOME NEW TALENT ON THE TEAM IN GREEN, JOINING OUR PARKS MARION DIVISION.

I'M GONNA ALLOW 'EM EACH TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES, THEMSELVES, UH, SHARE THEIR POSITION, TITLE, AND A LITTLE FUN FACT ABOUT THEMSELVES AS WELL.

UM, BUT I JUST WANNA SHOW THAT THESE ARE, SOME OF THESE ARE BACKFILLING VACANT POSITIONS.

UH, ONE IS AN INTERNAL PROMOTION, MOVING INTO A NEWER HIGHER LEVEL ROLE.

UM, AND TWO, OUR NEW POSITIONS THAT WE ARE FORTUNATE TO ADD, UM, IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR, UH, TO JOIN AND SUPPORT OUR TEAM.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA START WITH DESIREE .

HI EVERYONE.

UH, MY NAME'S DESIREE GONZALES.

I'M THE NEW RECREATION PROGRAMMER FOR OUR WONDERFUL SPORTS DIVISION HERE.

BEEN HERE JUST UNDER TWO MONTHS.

UM, A FUN FACT ABOUT ME IS I ACTUALLY AM AN ASSISTANT COACH FOR A BASKETBALL TEAM HERE WITHIN ARIZONA.

SO I'M PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS BUSY.

UM, A COUPLE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT AVONDALE SO FAR IS THE LEADERSHIP, THE PEOPLE IN PICKLEBALL.

OOH, .

HI, I AM MARISSA DALEY.

I'M THE ARTS CULTURE AND LIBRARY MANAGER.

UH, MY FIRST DAY AT AVONDALE WAS MARCH 31ST FUN FACT ABOUT ME IS I'M ON WEEK 93 OF A READING STREAK AND I'M AN AVID, UH, VERY NEW FAN OF HOCKEY.

UM, THE MAPLE LEAF JUST LOST .

UM, THAT'S IT.

YEAH.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

AWESOME.

HELLO, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COUNCIL.

I'M ANGELINA.

I'M THE RECREATION PROGRAMMER FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.

UH, FUN FACT ABOUT ME IS, UNFORTUNATELY I'M AN ARIZONA SPORTS FAN.

UM, SO THERE'S THAT.

AND A COUPLE THINGS THAT I LOVE ABOUT, UH, AVONDALE SO FAR IS LEADERSHIP AND HOW WELCOME YOU GUYS HAVE ALL BEEN SINCE I STARTED.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

HELLO, MY NAME'S BLAKE MELLO.

I'M THE PARK SUPERVISOR HERE.

UM, BEEN WITH THE CITY OF AVONDALE BACK AT THE CITY OF AVONDALE FOR THREE WEEKS.

I WAS PREVIOUSLY HERE FROM 2019 TO 2022 AS A PARK LEAD.

UM, FUN FACT ABOUT ME, I AM ADDICTED TO COOKING FOOD ON THE BLACKSTONE, SO YOU SEE A TIKTOK, I'M MOST LIKELY GONNA TRY IT.

UM, FAVORITE PART ABOUT AVONDALE IS JUST THE WHOLE CITY VIBES, A SMALL TOWN FEEL, AND JUST HOW THE, UH, EACH DEPARTMENT WORKS WITH ONE ANOTHER.

I CAN MAKE A PHONE CALL AND THE WATER DEPARTMENT'S THERE WITHIN AN HOUR, SO IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK.

THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS MARIANA.

I AM AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR PARKS AND RECREATION.

I'VE BEEN WITH AVONDALE A WEEK TODAY, .

UM, A FUN FACT ABOUT MYSELF IS I WAS ACTUALLY PART OF THE AVONDALE EXPLORERS FOR THREE, ALMOST FOUR YEARS, AND I PARTICIPATED IN A VARIETY OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND COMPETITIONS.

MY FAVORITE PART OF AVONDALE IS, UH,

[00:10:01]

THANK YOU.

HELLO, MY NAME IS DANIELLA .

UM, I HAVE JUST GOTTEN RECENTLY PROMOTED TO LIBRARIAN TWO AT CIVIC CENTER LIBRARY.

UM, FUN FACT ABOUT ME, UM, I WON MY STATE CULINARY COMPETITION IN HIGH SCHOOL, SO THAT'S WHY I BAKED SO MUCH, JUST NOT FOR CORY, UM, .

UM, BUT WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT AVONDALE IS JUST SERVING THE COMMUNITY.

AND I'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS NOW AND JUST RECOGNIZING THOSE FACES THAT COME, UM, TO THE LIBRARY AND THEN WHEN THEY CAME AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

SO, YEAH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE WILL TAKE SOME BAKE GOODS THOUGH, SO YEAH.

, LET US KNOW.

TWO, TWO MONDAYS A MONTH IS WHAT I HEARD.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

UH, MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL UP NEXT IS WE ARE GONNA HAVE, I BELIEVE HAROLD, OUR, UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.

MAKE THE NEXT PRESENTATION YOU NEED, MAYOR VICE MAYOR COUNCIL.

UM, WE'LL INTRODUCE, UH, LA ALLOW FOUR OF OUR NEWEST, UH, EMPLOYEES WHO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES ON THIS VIDEO.

BUT I'M ALSO HAPPY TO SAY THAT AFTER THESE, UH, FOUR INDIVIDUALS, WE ONLY HAVE FOUR VACANCIES LEFT TO FILL FOR THIS YEAR FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.

SO VERY EXCITED.

HELLO, MY NAME'S ANTHONY JOHNSON.

I WORK FOR PUBLIC WORKS.

I'M IN THE STREET MAINTENANCE SIDE.

I'M STREET MAINTENANCE TOO.

I CAME TO AVONDALE BECAUSE I HEARD IT'S BEAUTIFUL TOWN, CITY, AND WHAT I MOST LOVE ABOUT THIS JOB IS TO KEEP THE CITY CLEAN AND THE ROADS CLEARED AND SMOOTH.

HI, MY NAME IS RYAN WILLARD.

I'M A WASTEWATER COLLECTIONS OPERATOR HERE AT THE CITY OF AVONDALE.

UH, FAVORITE PART OF MY JOB IS THE PEOPLE THAT I GET TO WORK WITH.

HI, MY NAME IS FLAVIO ALDO.

I'M THE NEW SCADA TECHNICIAN HERE FOR THE CITY OF AVONDALE.

UH, THE REASON I CAME HERE TO, AT THE CITY OF AVONDALE IS I JUST WANTED A NEW OPPORTUNITY, SOMETHING FRESH, FRESH START, NEW CAREER.

UM, AND THE ONE THING I DO LIKE ABOUT THIS PLACE IS EVERYONE'S SO FRIENDLY.

THE CULTURE HERE IS GREAT, AND IT'S, UH, IT'S A CULTURE THAT'S MAKES, IT, MAKES IT EASY TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF AND MAKE YOU WANNA BETTER YOURSELF AND JUST BE PART OF A GOOD GROUP.

HI, MY NAME IS DOUGLAS PENA.

I'M PART OF THE PUBLIX WORK.

I'M A HEAD OF EQUIPMENT OPERATOR.

WHY DID I COME WORK FOR THE CITY OF EVANDALE? I, I HEARD IT WAS A GOOD CITY TO WORK FOR.

UM, I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WORKING FOR A WELL RESPECTED ORGANIZATION WILL GIVE ME ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL BE ME ADVANCE IN MY CAREER.

MY FAVORITE PART, WORKING IN MY JOB IS GOING TO BE PROBABLY DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC, THE RESIDENTS, AND WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND THE SAME GOALS AS YOU DO.

THANK YOU.

AWESOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. MAYOR.

AND COUNSEL, BEFORE WE GO ON TO, UM, UH, B UH, IF, UH, OUR FIREFIGHTER OR PARAMEDIC, IF HE COULD MAKE SURE HE STICKS AROUND FOR A PICTURE, UH, WITH COUNSEL, I'D APPRECIATE THAT GIVEN HE'S REPRESENTING THE WHOLE CREW.

UM, FOR THE, UH, PARAMEDIC SCHOOL UP NEXT,

[b. Industrial Commission of Arizona - Public Entity Partnership Program (PEPP) Large City Employer Recognition Award for City of Avondale]

THE CITY RECENTLY RECEIVED.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, ON APRIL 28TH, 2025, THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION OF ARIZONA HOSTED ITS ANNUAL RECOGNITION DAY FOCUSED ON ORGANIZATIONS AND EMPLOYERS WHO DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT TO WORKER SAFETY.

I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WITH COUNCIL'S LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT, THE CITY OF AVONDALE RECEIVED THE ICA PUBLIC ENTITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, LARGE CITY EMPLOYER RECOGNITION AWARD, WHICH SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZES THE MUNICIPALITIES WHO EPITOMIZE AND EXHIBIT EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORT, TIME, EFFORT, AND ACTION IN THE PEP PROGRAM, UM, SETTING THEM APART FROM OTHER SIMILAR MUNICIPALITIES IN THE INDUSTRY.

DURING THE EVENT, WE WERE HONORED TO HAVE VICE MAYOR NIELSEN ATTEND TO REPRESENT CITY COUNCIL FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE AWARD.

UH, THE CITY WAS PROVIDED A BANNER THAT WE INTEND TO ROTATE PERIODICALLY THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO CELEBRATE THE RECOGNITION, BUT ALSO SERVE AS A REMINDER FOR PRIORITIZING SAFETY AT WORK.

I'D LIKE TO ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE JAMES CORLESS, OUR RISK MANAGER AND GREG LACOMA ARE SAFETY OFFICER FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND LEADERSHIP IN SUPPORTING WORKER SAFETY HERE IN AVONDALE.

AND THEY'RE HERE TONIGHT.

BOTH JAMES AND GREG ARE APPROACHING THEIR ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

[00:15:01]

I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CITYWIDE SAFETY COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS STAFF FROM THE PUBLIC WORK SAFETY COMMITTEE WHO MIGHT BE HERE TONIGHT.

IF ANYONE'S HERE, CAN YOU PLEASE STAND AGAIN? UNDER CITY LEADERSHIP, THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF CREATING A CULTURE OF SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE, THE ORGANIZATION AND, AND SPECIFICALLY ALSO WITHIN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH JAMES AND AND GREG.

SO AGAIN, COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS IMPORTANT RECOGNITION TONIGHT.

AND MAYOR, AT THIS TIME, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANDY.

AND AGAIN, ANYTIME THAT, UH, WE ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND OFTEN NOT IN SEARCH OF THE AWARD, BUT BECAUSE IT'S JUST WHAT WE DO, IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT FEELING.

AND I SEE, I THINK I SAW A, A GLIMMER OF THE, OF THE FLAG FOLDED UP, SO I CAN'T WAIT TO KIND OF SEE IT DISPLAYED.

UM, BUT, UM, VICE MAYOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT THE EVENT? IT WAS KIND OF AN INTERESTING THING.

THEY HAD PROBABLY ABOUT 10 OR 12 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THERE AND REPRESENTED BY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF IT.

BUT THE SAFETY ASPECT, I GUESS MY BACKGROUND FROM THE MINES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO INTO WORK WITH THE NUMBER OF FINGERS THAT YOU GOT IN THE MORNING AND COME BACK OUT AT NIGHT.

BUT, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE DONE JUST TO PROACTIVELY TO ENGAGE SAFETY RATHER THAN LOOKING AT IT AFTER THE FACT AND DOING THINGS IN THE MORNING, IN THE AFTERNOON, TRYING TO KEEP THAT IN EVERYBODY'S MIND AND INCUR.

AND I JUST, I'M IMPRESSED WITH THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE AND KEEP IT UP.

ABSOLUTELY.

YES.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE FLAG DISPLAYED.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND MR. MAYOR, A REMINDER FOR THE REST OF THE PRESENTATIONS, WE WILL GET PICTURES AT THE END.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, UP NEXT IS

[c. Proclamation - National Public Works Week]

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN.

VEER VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, THIS WEEK IS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK 2025.

NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK STARTED AS AN EDUCATION PROGRAM IN 1960 AND RECEIVED FEDERAL RECOGNITION IN 1962 WHEN PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ISSUED A PROCLAMATION.

PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING THE THIRD WEEK OF MAY AS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK EACH YEAR, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION CREATES A THEME FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK, AND THIS YEAR IT IS THREE P PEOPLE PURPOSE AND PRESENCE.

THIS YEAR'S THEME, PEOPLE PURPOSE AND PRESENCE HIGHLIGHTS THE THREE CORNERSTONE'S IDEALS THAT MOTIVATE PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS TO SERVE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES EVERY DAY.

MEETING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE IS WHAT GIVES PUBLIC WORKS ITS SENSE OF PURPOSE.

MANY TIMES, PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS WILL NEVER MEET THOSE WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED, BECAUSE WHEN THINGS ARE GOING RIGHT, NO ONE KNOWS THAT PUBLIC WORKS IS RIGHT THERE YET WITH, YET WITH OR WITHOUT FANFARE.

PUBLIC WORKS IS EVER PRESENT, WORKING IN THE BACKGROUND TO ADVANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL THE PUBLIC WORKS INDUSTRY ENCOMPASSES MANY AREAS INCLUDED, BUT NOT LIMITED TO STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION, WATER AND WASTEWATER, UTILITIES, FLEET SERVICES, ADMINISTRATION, SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING.

AND IT INCORPORATES CITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE CONSULTING AND CONTRACTING COMMUNITY.

IN AVONDALE.

PUBLIC WORKS RELATED SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE FACILITIES ENGINEERING AND PARKS DEPARTMENT.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THEM AS WELL.

YOUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT EMPLOYS 123 FULL-TIME STAFF PROVIDING AND SUPPORTING CITY SERVICES 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR.

THIS WEEK IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE EDUCATION ABOUT THE WORK OF PUBLIC WORKS.

SO ONCE AGAIN, WE WILL BE OFFERING A CHANCE FOR EMPLOYEES TO TOUR OUR OPERATIONS AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE DO, AND WE'LL ALSO BE RECOGNIZING, CELEBRATING, AND THANKING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE PUBLIC WORKS INDUSTRY THAT WORK HARD TO MAKE LIFE CIVILIZED FOR ALL OF US.

MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM ARE HERE THIS EVENING, AND WE WOULD BE HONORED, MAYOR, IF YOU COULD READ THE PROCLAMATION THAT IS BEFORE YOU.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS FOCUS ON CONSTRUCTION FACILITIES SERVICES THAT ARE VITAL IMPORTANCE TO SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND TO PUBLIC HEALTH, QUALITY OF LIFE AND WELLBEING OF THE PEOPLE OF AVONDALE.

AND WHEREAS THESE INFRASTRUCTURE, FACILITIES AND SERVICES CANNOT BE PROVIDED WITHOUT THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE ENGINEERS, MANAGERS, AND EMPLOYEES AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REBUILDING, IMPROVING,

[00:20:01]

AND WHEREAS IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST FOR RESIDENTS, CIVIC LEADERS, AND CHILDREN IN AVONDALE TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE OF AND TO MAINTAIN AN ONGOING INTEREST AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS THE YEAR 2025 MARKS THE 65TH ANNUAL NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK, SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, CANADIAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, BE IT NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED ON BEHALF OF THE AVONDALE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF AVONDALE, HEREBY PROCLAIMS MAY 18TH THROUGH THE 24TH OF 2025.

AS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS SUITE, I URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND ACTIVITIES, EVENTS AND CEREMONIES DESIGNED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS, ENGINEERS, MANAGERS, AND EMPLOYEES, AND TO RECOGNIZE THE SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE TO PROTECTING OUR NATIONAL HEALTH, SAFETY, AND ADVANCING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL.

AND IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF PUBLIC WORKS, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND SO YOU CAN BE RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING AND WHAT YOU ALL DO FOR THE CITY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

APPRECIATE IT.

ALRIGHT,

[d. Citizen’s Water Academy Recognition]

GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THIS NEXT ITEM AND IT'S PLACED VERY CONVENIENTLY ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT AFTER PUBLIC WORKS WEEK, AND THAT'S TO CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF THE SPRING 2025 CITIZENS WATER ACADEMY.

THE WATER ACADEMY IS AN ANNUAL EVENT HELD BY PUBLIC WORKS WHERE WE INVITE A GROUP OF INQUISITIVE RESIDENTS FOR A DEEPER LOOK AT WATER WITHIN THE CITY OF DALE.

THIS YEAR, THE ACADEMY WAS HELD OVER A SERIES OF FIVE SESSIONS OVER FIVE WEEKS, UM, FIVE TUESDAYS IN A ROW WITH ONE BI WEEK.

I THINK THAT'S 'CAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE THE NFL , AND I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS YEAR PUBLIC WORKS GRADUATED 14 RESIDENTS, AND WHILE I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES, UH, FOR THIS EVENT, IT'S MY WATER DIVISION STAFF THAT REALLY MAKES US A WONDERFUL AND SUCCESSFUL EVENT, UH, EACH AND EVERY YEAR.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THE PHOTOS, UM, OF THEM GIVING THEIR PRESENTATIONS ON TONIGHT.

ONE, WE HAD WATER RESOURCES, WATER CONSERVATION, AND SUSTAINABILITY.

YOU CAN SEE OUR WATER RESOURCE MANAGER, COLE PEEL, UH, GIVEN A TALK ABOUT OUR PORTFOLIO AND THEN ONE OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHS, UH, JASMINE ZA RUNNING THE TACK TRAILER.

ON NIGHT TWO.

WE HAD PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND WATER QUALITY.

ON NIGHT THREE, WE HAD WASTEWATER COLLECTION AND STORMWATER.

AND YOU CAN SEE OUR LEAD WATER DISTRIBUTION OPERATOR, TJ ESTE, TALKING ABOUT OUR VAC TRUCK.

AND THEN OUR WASTEWATER COLLECTION SUPERVISOR MIKE ATA.

GIVEN A PRESENTATION ABOUT OUR CCTV VAN NIGHT FOUR, NIGHT FIVE, WE HAD A WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY, THE AQUACULTURE PROGRAM, WETLANDS RECHARGE, CIP UTILITY BUILDING AND GRADUATION.

UH, YOU CAN SEE OUR, OUR PLANT SUPERVISOR AT JESS PADE TALKING TO INDIVIDUALS ON TOP OF THE ITERATION BASIN.

OUR WETLANDS OPERATOR, ZACH, TALKING ABOUT THE AQUACULTURE PROGRAM, OUR AQUACULTURE COORDINATOR IN THE BOTTOM LEFT HAND CORNER OF REBAR TALKING ABOUT THE CRYSTAL GUARD WETLANDS.

AND THEN WE HAVE OUR PRODUCTION AND TREATMENT SUPERVISOR, MATT FERRELL, UH, GIVEN A LITTLE TOUR OF THE RANCHO SANTA FE BOOSTER STATION.

AND I COULD HONESTLY RAVE ABOUT THE ACADEMY ALL NIGHT, BUT INSTEAD, I FIGURED YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM ONE OF OUR ACADEMY PARTICIPANTS.

SO PLEASE JOIN ME AND WELCOMING CYNTHIA MCCARTHY.

CAN YOU BELIEVE COME BACK ? UM, I'M SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS, UH, MY STORY.

I'VE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THESE ACADEMIES SINCE SEPTEMBER, 2023.

UM, DONE FIRE POLICE LEADERSHIP.

I'M, UH, AN ACADEMIC AMBASSADOR NOW, AND NOW I JUST FINISHED, SADLY THE LAST ACADEMY.

I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE OTHER ACADEMIES CREATED JUST FOR ME, .

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO WITH MY TUESDAYS , BUT SERIOUSLY, I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT WATER THAT LIKE, I, I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY I TALK TO, EVEN IF THEY DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE, UM, AT EVENTS, UH, THAT THEY SHOULD TAKE THESE ACADEMIES TO JUST LEARN WHAT, WHAT ALL OF THESE EMPLOYEES DO FOR

[00:25:01]

IT, IT JUST SURPRISES ME EVERY TIME I TAKE AN ACADEMY, UH, THE AMOUNT OF, LIKE, THEY'RE, THEY ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR JOBS AND I'M ALWAYS SHOCKED HOW DO THEY ALL LOVE THEIR JOBS? THEY JUST LOVE THEIR JOBS.

NOBODY PLANS TO EVER LEAVE.

I'M REALLY SURPRISED OF HOW MANY NEW HIRES THAT I SAW THIS EVENING, UM, BECAUSE NOBODY EVER LEAVES.

BUT, UM, REALLY, UM, I I REALLY JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACADEMIES FOR THE CITIZENS BECAUSE IT, IT IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM BECAUSE UNTIL YOU TRULY KNOW WHAT THE, UM, EMPLOYEES OF AVONDALE DO FOR YOU, YOU JUST DON'T HAVE THAT, UM, APPRECIATION.

UM, SO I LITERALLY WANT TO THANK THE ACADEMY BECAUSE I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT, UM, THEY'VE DONE IN MY LIFE.

IT, IT'S MORE THAN THEY WILL EVER KNOW.

THEY'VE JUST REALLY SUPPORTED ME, UM, FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF.

SO I REALLY JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND CYNTHIA, REALLY QUICKLY, UH, AS THE, AS THE, UH, AMBASSADOR OF THE, UH, COMMITTEE OR THE, SORRY, THE ACADEMY, UM, WAS IT, I HOPE IT WAS COMMUNICATED JUST HOW, UH, WELL AVONDALE HAS DONE WHEN IT COMES TO A PORTFOLIO OF WATER, UH, AND AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, JUST THE ADVANCEMENT AND THE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS UTILIZED AS PART OF, UH, THE WATER AND THE TREATMENT AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS.

AND SO, UH, AS AN AMBASSADOR, I, I HOPE YOU ARE ABLE TO, TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THE RESIDENTS OF JUST THE IMPORTANCE THAT WATER PLAYS, UH, OF, IN TERMS OF A ROLE HERE WITH THE CITY AND, AND, AND JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US AS A POLICYMAKING BODY, UH, TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE RESIDENTS.

AND SO I, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

APPRECIATE THE REST OF THE GROUP, UH, FOR PARTICIPATING.

UM, BUT HOPEFULLY THAT MESSAGE WAS CONVEYED.

IT REALLY WAS, UM, MAYOR AND, UM, I AM ABLE TO, EVEN REGARDING LIKE THE RATE HIKE, I WAS ABLE TO LIKE REALLY BELIEVE IN IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, NOBODY WANTS THEIR BILLS TO GO UPRIGHT, BUT JUST GOING TO THE ACADEMY, I KNEW THAT THERE WAS NO WAY I COULDN'T SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, A RATE HIKE.

I THINK IT DON'T, DON'T QUOTE ME, IT PROBABLY WASN'T ENOUGH , BUT, UM, I MEAN, EVERYBODY JUST DOES SUCH A GOOD JOB HERE AND, YOU KNOW, JUST WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT, I CALL 'EM THE FISHMAN BACK THERE IN THE BACK, BUT WE LEARNED ABOUT WHAT FISH DO FOR THE CITY OF AVONDALE WAS AMAZING.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONE MORE THING, BUT ONE THING THAT I WAS HORRIFIED ABOUT AND I HAVE CHANGED MY HABITS, YOU ALREADY KNOW, YOU ARE ALREADY SHAKING YOUR HEAD.

, UM, DON'T FLUSH FLUSHABLE WIPES.

.

ALRIGHT, WHO'S GONNA GIVE HER SOME MONEY BACK THERE? , THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYBODY.

WOULD, WOULD THE, UH, GRADUATES FROM THE ACADEMY STAND UP TO BE RECOGNIZED AS WELL? IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'RE GONNA GET A PICTURE, BUT YES, YES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE YOU MI MR. MAYOR, I ALWAYS HAVE THE PLEASURE GOING OUT THE LAST NIGHT AND I ASK THEM WHAT THEY FOUND INTERESTING AND THAT FLUSHABLE WIPE THING IS, IS ALWAYS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

UM, , I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DO IN THE CLASS, BUT THEY GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS.

ALRIGHT, UP NEXT, UH, MR.

[e. Read Better Be Better - Pathway To Civic Leadership]

I BELIEVE EDITH IS GONNA INTRODUCE OUR TEAM OR THE TEAM.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, READ BETTER, BE BETTER TO THE PODIUM, WHO WILL SPEAK ON THEIR PATHWAY TO CIVIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH WORKS TO EQUIP STUDENTS WITH LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY SKILLS IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE THEM ONTO A PATHWAY TO BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALEX PECK, SHE'S OUR PATHWAYS PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR READ BETTER BE BETTER TO SHARE THEIR RECENT EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE RIGHT HERE IN OUR COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON MONDAY, APRIL 28TH.

UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, THANK YOU TO AVONDALE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR INVITING US AND ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

UM, WHITNEY CASTRO AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR COORDINATING EVERYTHING AND BEING SO ACCOMMODATING FOR US.

UH, MY NAME IS ALEX PECK AND I'M THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT READ.

BETTER BE BETTER READ, BETTER BE BETTER'S FOCUS IS ADDRESSING ARIZONA'S THIRD GRADE LITERACY CRISIS.

CURRENTLY, NEARLY 60% OF ARIZONA THIRD GRADERS

[00:30:01]

READ BETTER BE BETTER SEEKS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM THROUGH PROVIDING TIER TWO EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM TO K THROUGH THIRD GRADE READERS THAT ARE IMPLEMENTED ONE-ON-ONE AFTER SCHOOL.

BY FOURTH THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC DISTRICT SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, READ BETTER.

BEAT BETTER HAS EXPANDED THIS WORK INTO A COMPREHENSIVE PIPELINE WE CALL THE CHANGEMAKER CONTINUUM.

YOU'LL SEE SOME STUDENTS IN THE FRONT WEARING THEIR CHANGEMAKER SHIRTS.

UM, IT'S A FULL PROGRAMMATIC SPECTRUM THAT INCLUDES HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMMING THAT I'M REALLY PRIVILEGED TO, TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP AND RUN, UM, THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GAIN EXPERIENCE IN CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT THROUGH OUR EDUCATION PROFESSION PIPELINE, AND ALSO GAIN LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH OUR CIVIC LEADERSHIP, UH, PATHWAY.

THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, YOUNG READERS GAIN LITERACY SKILLS.

OLDER STUDENTS STEP INTO MENTORSHIP ROLES, HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOLERS EXPLORE PATHWAYS TO TEACHING AND CIVIC LEADERSHIP.

UH, AVONDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS OUR LONGEST STANDING PARTNER AND HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US SINCE FALL OF 2015.

SO MOST OF OUR LIFE AS A NONPROFIT, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

UM, TONIGHT I'M, UH, REALLY GRATEFUL TO HIGHLIGHT A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH AGRA FREA HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, SPECIFICALLY THROUGH AGRA HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE WE RAN OUR FIRST REGION BASED CIVIC LEADERSHIP COHORT.

DURING THIS PROGRAM, STUDENTS FROM THE AA SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS WELL AS NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAME TOGETHER ONCE A WEEK FOR NINE WEEKS.

UH, WORKED THROUGH A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM PROVIDED BY THE FLYNN FOUNDATION AND FACILITATE, FACILITATED BY READ BETTER, BE BETTER STAFF, MYSELF AND SOME OF THE STAFF IN THE AUDIENCE.

THEY MET WITH GUEST SPEAKERS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND WERE ASKED TO IDENTIFY A PROBLEM OR AREA OF NEED ON THEIR SCHOOL CAMPUS THAT THEY WANTED TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR.

A LOT OF STUDENTS CAME TO US AND SAID, YOU KNOW, MY SCHOOL IS FINE.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, I GOT WHAT I NEED, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

AND BY THE END OF, UM, OUR NINE WEEKS TOGETHER, THEY WERE ABLE TO ARTICULATE THE THINGS THAT THEY WANTED TO SEE MORE OF ON THEIR CAMPUS, FIND WAYS, UH, TO IMPLEMENT CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO MAKE THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF THE STUDENTS ON THEIR CAMPUS BETTER, UM, WHICH IS A WIN FOR US FOR SURE.

THE STUDENTS WORKED TOGETHER, THEY CRAFTED PROPOSALS, IDENTIFIED POLICIES, PRACTICED AND GAVE FEEDBACK, AND IT CULMINATED IN A FINAL PRESENTATION HERE AT THE CITY COUNCIL ROOM.

SO THEY'RE PRACTICED AND THEY'RE READY TO GO, AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM THEM IN A FEW MOMENTS.

UM, OUR PATHWAY TO CIVIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM THAT'S BEING HIGHLIGHTED FOR YOU TONIGHT IS OUR NEWEST PROGRAM, BUT FOR, FOR ME, ARE MOST CRUCIAL THROUGH MY SEVEN YEARS AT READ, BETTER BE BETTER.

AND OVER 10 YEARS IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS NONPROFITS SHOULD BE SEEKING TO ADDRESS ARE ALWAYS CONNECTED TO A STRUCTURE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SERVING THE COMMUNITY.

I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THAT THE STRUCTURES THAT SHOULD BE SUPPORTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THEIR STUDENTS ARE DETERIORATING MOST SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING STUDENTS OF COLOR AND LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

THIS IS REFLECTED IN LACK OF QUALITY TEACHERS AND BUDGET CONSTRAINTS THAT PREVENT SCHOOLS FROM BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE FUNDAMENTAL SERVICES TO THEIR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS.

I HAVE ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND DISTRICT STAFF THAT WORK THROUGH THESE OBSTACLES WITH DEEP HUMILITY AND GRACE WITH CHILDREN ALWAYS AT THE FOREFRONT.

THEY PERSIST THROUGH CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE OUT OF THEIR CONTROL TO SERVE THE STUDENTS THAT ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM, UH, IN FRONT OF THEM, DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

OFTEN FUNCTIONING AS MORE THAN A TEACHER AND SCHOOL STAFF, BUT ALSO AS A MENTOR AND ADVOCATE FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED IT MOST.

THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THIS SEMESTER IN AVONDALE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF STUDENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND THEY ARE THE ONES MOST UNIQUELY EQUIPPED TO ADDRESS THESE STRUCTURAL ISSUES THAT LEAD TO A FUNDAMENTAL LACK OF LITERACY SKILLS AS THEY EXPERIENCE THESE ISSUES DAY TO DAY.

THE STUDENTS I HAVE WORKED WITH ARE THOUGHTFUL, INSPIRING, AND FUTURE LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY OF AVONDALE.

YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM THREE OF THESE STUDENTS TONIGHT.

LINDA WYNN FROM RIA HIGH SCHOOL, JAYLENE AGUIAR FROM WESTVIEW HIGH SCHOOL, AND NIJA EDMONDS FROM WESTVIEW HIGH SCHOOL.

UM, I WANNA DO A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO PRINCIPAL AUTUMN DANIELS FROM RIA HIGH SCHOOL FOR PROVIDING A BEAUTIFUL SPACE IN THEIR LIBRARY TO RUN THIS PROGRAM.

BEING FLEXIBLE TO ALLOW STUDENTS FROM OTHER CAMPUSES TO TAKE PART IN THE PROGRAM AND BEING SUCH A WILLING PARTICIPANT IN THEIR SUCCESS.

UH, ALSO CHILENA GERMAN, THE BSU ADVISOR, WHO CONNECTED ME TO MANY OF THE STUDENTS ON CAMPUS, UM, AND HAS REALLY BECOME, UM, AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR EXPANSION AND PARTNERSHIP.

UM, PROVIDING THIS PROGRAM FOR KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHERE THEY LIVE IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE WORK WE'RE TRYING TO DO, AND I APPRECIATE THEIR PARTNERSHIP.

UM, SO I'M GONNA STOP TALKING AND I'M GONNA INTRODUCE THE STUDENTS.

UM, FIRST WE, IT'LL BE LINDA, YOU'RE FIRST, THEN JAYLENE AND NIJA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[00:35:03]

I'M THE PRESIDENT OF PCU AND I'VE BEEN IN FILM FOR THREE YEARS.

MY, THE INTRO TO MY PROBLEM IS THAT SOME TEACHERS RELY ON TOO MUCH ON VIDEOS INSTEAD OF TEACHING THE CLASS THEMSELVES, WHICH, AND SOME OF THE STUDENTS OR SOME OF THE TEACHERS DON'T UNDERSTAND FULLY THE MATERIALS THAT THEY ARE TEACHING, WHICH CAN MAKE IT HARDER FOR THE STUDENTS TO LEARN AND STAYING MOTIVATED.

THIS RELATES TO THE SCHOOL AND DISTRICT'S TEACHING STANDARDS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICIES, WHICH SHOULD MAKE SURE STUDENTS, TEACHERS ARE WELL TRAINED AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THEIR SUBJECT.

I, MY PROPOSAL IS TEACHERS SHOULD GET BETTER TRAINING ON BOTH THEIR SUBJECT AND HOW TO KEEP STUDENTS ENGAGED.

SCHOOLS SHOULD ALSO GATHER HONEST STUDENTS' FEEDBACK TO SEE WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT.

UM, MY CONCLUSION IS WHEN TEACHERS ARE CONFIDENT AND PREPPED OR PREPARED, STUDENTS WILL LEARN BETTER AND OUR SCHOOL WILL BE BETTER OVERALL.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

THANK YOU.

HELLO EVERYONE AND THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME HERE TODAY.

I'M SUPER GLAD TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS JAYLEE AGUIAR AND I'M A FRESHMAN AT WESTVIEW HIGH SCHOOL.

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH READ BETTER, BE BETTER FOR FOUR YEARS NOW.

I'M DOING THIS AND I TUTORED ALL THROUGHOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL.

IT'S SO NICE TO JUST SEE THE KIDS BRIGHTEN UP TO START LEARNING AND THEN SEEING THEIR PROGRESSION.

IT'S ON.

OKAY, ? THE ISSUE AT HAND IS STUDENT MORALE.

COMMUNITY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

IF A STUDENT IS DISENGAGED AND DOESN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY, IT WILL NOT ONLY WORSEN THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, BUT DISENGAGED AND FROM OTHERS.

IF A STUDENT IS UNENGAGED DURING CLASS TIME AND FUNDAMENTAL LEARNING, IT'LL NOT ONLY LOWER THEIR TEST SCORES AND ATTENDANCE, IT CAN ALSO OVERALL BRING DOWN THE FUNDING FOR THE SCHOOL.

IF WE BREAK FROM THE EVERYDAY ROUTINE AND INCLUDE PEP RALLIES AND MORE STUDENT INPUT, LIKE USING RESOURCES LIKE STU, WHICH IS A STUDENT GOVERNMENT AT OUR SCHOOL, HAVING MORE INCLUSIVE AND UNIFIED CLASSES AND SPORTS, I THINK IT WILL TRULY GROW OUR COMMUNITY.

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY IS SO IMPORTANT FOR ANYONE, ESPECIALLY A TEENAGER GOING THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.

AT MY SCHOOL WE HAD A UNIFIED BASKETBALL GAME AND IT WAS JUST SO NICE TO SEE EVERYONE MAKING SIGNS FOR THE KIDS AND CHEERING.

I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST SUCH A BEAUTIFUL THING.

AND I MEAN, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS A LITTLE SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

NOBODY WANTS TO FEEL ALONE.

OKAY, THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME PROTECTED.

AS YOUTH, I WANNA FEEL PROTECTED.

MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS NAJA MONDS AND I GO TO WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL.

WRITING THIS SPEECH MAY BE REALIZED THAT THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS THE YOUTH HAVE, NOT JUST ONE ON THE DAILY.

MY PEERS AND I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING VERBALLY ATTACKED THROUGH CYBER BULLYING, CONSTANT FEAR OF SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, AND STRUGGLE WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS ACCORDING TO STOP BULLYING.GOV.

DID YOU KNOW THAT 2021 AND 2022 19.2 STUDENTS FROM AGES 12 TO 18 EXPERIENCE BULLYING NATIONWIDE? A LOT OF STUDENTS REPORTED BEING BULLIED BY A STUDENT WHO SEEMED MORE POWERFUL IN SOME WAY.

THERE WAS THIS ONE TIME IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WHEN I HAD A FRIEND WHO WAS CYBER BULLY.

AS A RESULT, SHE SHARED THAT SHE WAS EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS.

THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I REALIZED THAT CYBERBULLYING AFFECTED THE PERSON SO NEGATIVELY.

BASED ON WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY'S SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM, IT IS SAID THAT MOST SUICIDAL INDIVIDUALS DESPERATELY WANT TO LIVE.

THEY JUST CAN'T SEE ANY ALTERNATIVES TO THEIR PROBLEMS. RECENTLY ON APRIL 17TH, 2025, THERE IS A SCHOOL SHOOTING AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY.

STUDIES SHOW THAT ON CNN.COM.

FROM THE YEAR I WAS BORN 2008, ANNUAL SCHOOL SHOOTINGS INCREASED FROM 18 PER YEAR TO 83 IN 2024.

MY SOLUTION TO THIS IS TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF AVONDALE AND HOLD TEAM SUMMITS.

THESE SUMMITS COULD SPREAD AWARENESS BY HAVING COMMUNITY LEADERS TALK ABOUT HOW TO PREVENT CYBER BULLYING, SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO ATTEND THIS EVENT.

WE COULD PARTNER WITH PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS TO GIVE STUDENTS EXTRA CREDIT.

IN SUMMARY, I WANT MY PEERS AND I TO FEEL SAFE AT HOME, AT SCHOOL AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

[00:40:05]

CAN WE GIVE THESE BRAVE STUDENTS A ROUND OF APPLAUSE? AND THANK YOU, ALEX.

THANK YOU AUTUMN, UH, PRINCIPAL FROM RE HIGH SCHOOL FOR PROVIDING, UH, A PLATFORM FOR THESE STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE AND ENGAGE WITH CIVIC LEADERSHIP.

UM, I'M ASSUMING THAT MOST OF US HERE ON COUNCIL CAN APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT STUDENTS ARE GETTING INVOLVED AT SUCH AN, SUCH AN AGE.

AND YOU SAID IT PERFECTLY IN REGARDS TO A PIPELINE.

I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF THE GIFT THAT KIP KEEPS ON GIVING, UM, AS THEY PROGRESS THROUGHOUT THE CAREER AND, UH, UH, FOUR YEARS IN THE PROGRAM, BEING A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL SAYS, SAYS IT ALL THAT, UH, YOU'RE GIVING BACK AND CONTINUING ON AND PROVIDING THAT SERVICE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE STUDENTS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR READ BETTER BE BETTER, UH, AND FOR A PLATFORM BEING PROVIDED THROUGH ALL FREE HIGH SCHOOL, AUTUMN.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL THAT WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ANYTHING? AND IF NOT, WE'LL CONTINUE ON.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO OKAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, IT IS SO TOUCHING TO JUST HEAR AND SEE ONE HOW ARTICULATE ALL THREE OF YOU LADIES WERE, BUT HOW PASSIONATE YOU GUYS WERE ABOUT THE TOPIC THAT YOU GUYS CHOSE.

AND ALL OF THOSE THREE TOPICS ARE SO IMPORTANT IN OUR COMMUNITIES RIGHT NOW.

AND THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS AS FRESHMEN, SENIOR SOPHOMORES, SEE THAT IS SPEAKS VOLUMES ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR CULTURE.

BUT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE.

IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, YOU FIND A SOLUTION, YOU DON'T COMPLAIN.

AND I LOVE THAT YOU GUYS ARE INVOLVED AND KEEP GOING.

AND THE SKY'S THE LIMIT IF YOU GUYS KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

PARENTS.

BE VERY PROUD OF YOUR GIRLS.

.

ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.

I KNOW YOU'RE ON THE PHONE.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? NO, NO.

THANK YOU, SIR.

I WAS JUST VERY PROUD OF THE PROGRAM AND THE OUTCOMES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR OFFERING IT IN AVONDALE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

OKAY, RON, MS. RAYNA WILL ASK COUNSEL TO JOIN US FOR PICTURES.

PERFECT.

[00:50:58]

[00:50:59]

DO WE HAVE ANY BLUE CARDS OR ANYBODY ONLINE? UH, NO MA'AM.

WE HAVE NOT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YES.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE

[4. CONSENT AGENDA]

ARE THERE, UH, I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE ONE ITEM THAT'S BEING PULLED, WHICH IS, IS IT FOUR F OKAY, FOUR F.