Jun 16, 2025 City Council

WE CAN

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[1. ROLL CALL BY THE CITY CLERK]

WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE P PLEDGE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.

ALL THANK YOU, MARCELLA.

CAN WE HAVE ROLL CALL PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE PRESENT VICE MAYOR NIELSEN HERE.

AND MAYOR PBA HERE.

THANK YOU, MARCELLA RON, NEXT ITEM PLEASE.

[a. Proclamation - Small Cities Month]

SOUNDS GREAT.

ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS THE PROCLAMATION FOR SMALL, UM, CITIES MONTH, WHICH IS IN JUNE, HENCE WHY I'M WEARING MY SMALL CITY SHIRT RIGHT UP HERE, .

WHEREAS SMALL CITIES AND TOWNS ARE THE HOME TO MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AND CONSTITUTE THE VAST MAJORITY OF MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND WHERE SMALL CITIES AND TOWNS STRIVE TO STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE PROVISION OF SERVICES AND PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE ALL CITIZENS.

AND WHEREAS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN ESSENTIAL PARTNER IN THE SUCCESS OF SMALL CITIES AND TOWNS AS AN ENC AND IS ENCOURAGED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND LEGISLATION THAT STRENGTHEN SMALL COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS THE STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE PARTNERS IN THE SUCCESS OF SMALL CITIES AND TOWNS AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT KEY PROGRAMS AND LEGISLATION THAT STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, AND CITIZENS ARE PARTNERS IN THE SUCCESS OF SMALL CITIES AND TOWNS AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO CON TO CONTINUE TO GROW THEIR EFFORTS TO MAKE SMALL CITIES A VIABLE CHOICE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN.

AND WHEREAS THE NEED FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICES IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND GROWTH OF SMALL TOWN AMERICA.

AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES PRESIDENT AND THE, AND THE SMALL CITIES COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES HAVE DECLARED JUNE, 2025, A SMALL CITIES MONTH.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED ON BEHALF OF THE AVONDALE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF AVONDALE, HEREBY PROCLAIMS JUNE, 2025, A SMALL CITIES MONTH AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE THIS EVENT, TO WORK TOGETHER THIS MONTH AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO INVEST IN SMALL CITIES AND TOWNS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO.

THANK YOU, SIR.

RON.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

AS A REMINDER THOUGH, WE'D ALSO, WE'D LIKE A PICTURE WITH THIS PROCLAMATION, AND SO, UH, AFTER WE'RE DONE WITH ALL THE PRESENTATIONS, IT IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE'D LIKE TO GET A PICTURE OF.

I BELIEVE SHE'D LIKE TO SHARE IT NATIONALLY.

YES.

BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE WE A SMALL CITY, EVEN THOUGH WE STAND AT 90, CLOSE TO 95,000 RESIDENTS, BUT, UM, AVONDALE PLAYS A KEY ROLE.

THERE'S A NATIONAL SMALL COUNCIL THAT I AM A PART OF AND I'M A VICE CHAIR OF, AND IT'S ALONG WITH MYSELF, SOMEBODY FROM CHADOR, NORTH CAROLINA, SOMEBODY FROM GRANDVIEW, TEXAS, AND THE OTHER PERSON IS FROM COLLEGE PARK, GEORGIA.

SO AVONDALE IS REPRESENTED ON THE MAP FOR SMALL CITIES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT, MR. MAYOR

[b. Proclamation - WESTMARC Day]

I BELIEVE JEN, OUR DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WILL, UH, KICK THIS OFF.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UM, I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE TONIGHT ALONGSIDE OUR STRATEGIC PARTNER, WESTMARK, WHICH SERVES AS A UNIFIED VOICE FOR 15 COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE WEST VALLEY.

UM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE 6 2 3 AREA CODE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1999, SYMBOLIZING THE WEST VALLEY'S IDENTITY AS A DISTINCT AND GROWING REGION FOR THE PAST 26 YEARS.

THIS AREA CODE HAS BECOME MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS.

IT HAS BECOME, UM, AN IDENT, A UNIFYING IDENTIFIER FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND IN THAT SAME SPIRIT, UM, WESTMARK HAS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE IN A REGIONAL COLLABORATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO RECOGNIZE THIS IMPORTANT, RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS SHARED IDENTITY AND PARTNERSHIP.

WE ARE PROUD TO CELEBRATE JUNE 23RD, 6 2 3 AS 6 2 3 DAY, UM, AS WESTMARK DAY.

JOINING US THIS EVENING IS KIMBERLY JORDAN REPRESENTING WESTMARK.

SHE'S AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE FOLLOWING THE READING.

SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TURN OVER TO YOU, MAYOR, UH, TO READ THE OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, JEN.

WHEREAS WESTMARK,

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AND WHEREAS WESTMARK SERVE AS SERVES AS THE UNITED VOICE OF 50 COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING AVONDALE REPRESENTING MUNICIPALITIES, BUSINESSES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND NONPROFIT COMMUNITY LEADERS COMMITTED TO SHAPING A PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR THE WEST VALLEY OF METRO PHOENIX.

AND WHEREAS IN 2025, WESTMARK UNVEILED A REFRESHED BRAND AND STRATEGIC VISION TO REFLECT THE WEST VALLEY AS AN ELEVATED, THRIVING UNITED AND OPPORTUNITY RICH REGION.

AND WHEREAS THE DATE JUNE 23RD, 6 23 SYMBOLICALLY REFLECTS THE 6 2 3 AREA CODE THAT SPANS MUCH OF THE WEST VALLEY AND SERVES AS A PROUD GEOGRAPHIC IDENTIFIER FOR THE REGIONS RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.

AND WHEREAS WESTMARK CONTINUES TO BE, BE A CATALYST FOR COLLABORATION, INNOVATION, AND ADVOCACY ON KEY REGIONAL PRIORITIES SUCH AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, WORKFORCE ADVANCEMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING, AND A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED ON BEHALF OF THE AVONDALE CITY COUNCIL.

THE CITY OF AVONDALE, HEREBY PROCLAIMS JUNE 23RD, 2025 AS WESTMARK DAY IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE, AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE WEST MARK'S ENDURING LEADERSHIP, REGIONAL IMPACT AND COMMITMENT TO THE PROSPERITY OF THE WEST VALLEY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND KJ, IF I MIGHT, I, I'M SURE THERE'S OTHERS THAT HAVE SPREAD OUT TO DO THE SIMILAR THINGS ACROSS THESE 15 COMMUNITIES.

AND JUST QUICKLY, IF YOU CAN JUST SHARE, UH, WITH THOSE IN, IN ATTENDANCE AND THOSE ONLINE, UM, WHILE I'M HAPPY TO SIT ON THE WESTMARK BOARD AND SEVERAL OTHER COMMITTEES, UH, JUST BRIEFLY GIVE A, A INTRODUCTION OF WESTMARK.

SURE.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL, IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE WITH YOU THIS EVENING AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

AND, AND MAYOR AS, UH, ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS WITH WESTMARK, WE SERVE THE WEST VALLEY AS, AS A WHOLE, SO THE REGION OF OUR, OUR 15 COMMUNITIES HERE IN THE WEST VALLEY AND REALLY WORK TO POSITION THE WEST VALLEY FOR BUSINESS ATTRACTION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND SO ALONG WITH THAT, UH, WE'RE VERY HEAVILY INVOLVED IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AS WELL SINCE THAT REALLY UNDERPINS, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

UH, WE ARE ALSO ALWAYS FOCUSED ON LEGISLATIVE ISSUES THAT ARE POTENTIALLY IMPACTING THE WEST VALLEY AND JUST KEEPING IN THE KNOW OF THOSE OF THOSE ISSUES AS WELL.

UM, SOME OF THOSE THINGS INCLUDE INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU KNOW, EDUCATION, QUALITY OF LIFE.

SO THERE ARE MANY WAYS AND, AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT, UH, FACETS THAT WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO AND, AND CONSIDERING IN OUR STORYTELLING OF THE WEST VALLEY AND WHY IT IS SUCH AN AMAZING PLACE TO LAND OR EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS.

AND ALSO, UH, COME AND JOIN US AS A RESIDENT FOR THE AMAZING QUALITY OF LIFE AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE HERE.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING WESTMARK DOES AND, AND, UH, THE LEVERAGE THAT IT ALLOWS FOR US IN THE WEST VALLEY TO, TO UTILIZE, UH, MAKING A STAKE AND MAKING A CLAIM ON WHERE DEVELOPMENT IS HEADED.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT, MR. MAYOR

[c. Recognition of the Committee Members of the Avondale Citizen Bond Committee]

UH, MARCELLA WILL MAKE THE, UH, PRESENTATION.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

TONIGHT WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING OUR OUTGOING COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF THE CITIZEN BOND COMMITTEE, WHO HAVE ENDED THEIR TERMS AS OF MAY 31ST OF THIS YEAR.

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ABOUT THE CITIZENS BOND COMMITTEE.

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024, THE AVONDALE CITY COUNCIL CREATED A CITIZEN BOND COMMITTEE MADE UP OF AVONDALE RESIDENTS TASKED WITH EVALUATING FUTURE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT NEEDS, AND ONE OF THEIR GOALS WAS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR A POTENTIAL GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ELECTION IN NOVEMBER OF 2025.

FROM DECEMBER THROUGH MARCH, THE COMMITTEE MET AND THEY MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL IN APRIL.

AND IN APRIL, THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, VOTED YES ON THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO BRING FORTH A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ELECTION FOR TWO BOND QUESTIONS TO THE BALLOT ON NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025.

WE TYPICALLY RECOGNIZE OUR OUTGOING BOARDING COMMISSION MEMBERS AT THE END OF THE YEAR IN DECEMBER.

HOWEVER, SINCE THE TERMS OF THESE MEMBERS ENDED IN MAY, WE ARE DOING THIS A LITTLE BIT EARLY.

UM, THEREFORE, WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO THANK OUR, UM, BOARD MEMBERS ON THE CITIZEN BOND COMMITTEE FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY SCHEDULES

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UM, AND AS A REMINDER, THEY ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS, SO THEY DO NOT GET PAID FOR THEIR SERVICE.

WHEN I READ YOUR NAME, WILL YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD AND JULIE WILL BE VANNA WHITE AND GIVE OUT THE, UM, CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION.

SO WHEN I READ YOUR NAME COME FORWARD, NATASHA EDMONDS, WHO SERVED AS OUR CHAIR, DANIEL SHU, WHO SERVED AS OUR VICE CHAIR, AMANDA DUNCAN, BIMAN, BEN RUDY, CINDY DELLA RIVA, CRYSTAL LOPEZ, DAVY, DEANNA ZAPATA, HECTOR ARIANO, AND NICOLE LIST.

SO THANK YOU TO YOU ALL FOR VOLUNTEERING TO SERVE AS COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON OUR CITIZEN BOND COMMITTEE, UM, AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL AT THIS TIME, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MARCELLA, AND AS YOU YOU SAID IT, I MEAN, UH, ALL OF YOU, UH, MEMBERS HERE ARE RESIDENTS WHO ARE TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR SCHEDULE, UH, TO BECOME INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITIES.

AND, UH, SO MANY FACES I RECOGNIZE FROM PARTICIPATING IN SO MANY OTHER COMMITTEES, WHICH JUST MEANS, UH, YOU'RE VERY INVESTED, WHICH IS, WHICH IS GREAT.

AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, THE EFFORT THAT YOU PUT FORTH, UH, TO, UM, GETTING US TO THIS POINT FOR US TO GO OUT TO THE VOTERS AND ALLOWING THEM TO SPEAK, UH, THEIR, THEIR VOICE AT THE BALLOT BOX.

SO, ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR WORDS FOR THE BOND COMMITTEE? COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AVONDALE.

I THINK IN THE SEASON OF CHANGE, UM, FOR OUR CITY ADMINISTRATION, COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL, I THINK THIS IS A TIME WHERE YOU HAVE TO BE SOBER MINDED.

COMING TO FINANCE AND THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR, OF OUR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND HOW WE'RE GONNA OPERATE AND TO KNOW THAT WE NEED TO GO OUT AND ASK FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SUFFICIENT PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO MAKE SURE WE CAN PROVIDE AN EXPANDED PARKS AND REC SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I THINK IT'S A VERY NOBLE GESTURE THAT YOU HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO DO THIS.

I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU WANT TO GO ON TO SERVE, AND HOPEFULLY ONE DAY WE'LL SIT ON THE DAIS WITH MANY OF YOU WHO ARE SERVING, UM, NOW IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

OR MAYBE YOU'LL TAKE MY SEAT.

I'D LOVE THAT TOO, BECAUSE WE KNOW YOU'RE COMMITTED AND THAT'S WHY I SAY THAT WE KNOW YOU'RE COMMITTED AND WE KNOW YOU'LL DO THE WORK.

SO I THINK WHEN THE WORK IS WHAT MATTERS, IT'S THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

AND EACH ONE OF YOU DID THAT TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY AND TO OUR RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROY, COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS.

WELL, I WANNA JUST THANK YOU GUYS.

UM, I KNOW SO MANY OF YOU FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES THAT YOU SERVE ON FROM BEING AMBASSADORS AND, UM, JUST YOUR SERVICE TO THE, TO THE CITY.

THANK YOU FOR IDENTIFYING THINGS, UM, THAT WE SHOULD, UM, PUT BEFORE VOTERS LIKE LOOKING AT THE LIST AND ACTUALLY PARING IT DOWN AND GIVING US, UM, REALLY GOOD WORDING FOR THE DOCUMENT.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WEISS.

ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR TIME.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AT THIS TIME, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME DOWN FOR PHOTOS.

OH, OKAY.

[00:18:53]

[3. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES]

WE DO HAVE THREE CARDS, SO IF YOU DON'T MIND AS I CALL YOUR NAME, IF YOU CAN COME TO THE PODIUM FIRST WE HAVE JAMIE ALDAMA.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR.

MORNING VICE MAYOR COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS JAMIE ALDAMA.

I'M A RESIDENT OF GLENDALE, ARIZONA, UH, HERE IN THE WEST VALLEY.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR SOUNDS OF AUTISM, AND WE ARE A NONPROFIT THAT WORKS WELL WITH AVONDALE HERE IN THE WEST VALLEY.

WE, UH, SERVE FAMILIES WHO, UH, LIVE WITH LOVED ONES WHO ARE LIVING ON THE SPECTRUM, SPECIFICALLY AUTISM.

HOWEVER, TODAY, MAYOR, WE'RE HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT AN EPIDEMIC THAT'S SWEEPING THE WEST VALLEY, ARIZONA AND THE STATE, AND FRANKLY OUR NATION.

AND THAT'S UNDERAGE AND TEENAGE VAPING.

UH, TEENAGE VAPING IS, IT'S BEING SWEPT AROUND OUR COMMUNITY, YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR BACKYARD, AND YOUR PARKS.

AND OUR SCHOOLS, OUR KIDS ARE, UH, ARE NOT COMPETITIVE IN SPORTS.

IF THEY'RE VAPING, THEY'RE NOT COMPETITIVE IN THEIR ACADEMICS, THEY'RE CAUSING, UH, DISRUPTIONS IN CLASSROOMS. TEACHERS ARE HAVING A

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MAYOR.

IF ANYONE IN THIS ROOM THAT HAS A TEENAGER, UH, UH, FAMILY MEMBER, A NIECE AND NEPHEW CHILD, IT AFFECTS YOU.

MAYOR, WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH UNDERAGE VAPING, AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS A FEW STEPS THAT YOU CAN TAKE.

MAYOR, YOU AND YOUR COUNSEL CAN WORK TOGETHER ON A COUPLE THINGS.

UM, AND THAT'S, IF YOU DON'T ALREADY HAVE AN ORDINANCE OR A POLICY THAT, UH, MANDATES PURCHASING, VAPE AND VAPE PRODUCTS FROM 18 TO THE AGE OF 21, PLEASE LOOK INTO THAT WORK TOGETHER TO GET THAT POLICY AND THAT ORDINANCE, UH, CREATED.

SECONDLY, UH, OF 250, UH, TEENAGERS THAT WERE, UM, THAT WERE SURVEYED HERE IN THE WEST VALLEY, 50% OF THOSE REPORTED THAT THEY PURCHASED THEIR VAPE AND THEIR VAPE PRODUCTS FROM LOCAL RETAILERS.

THAT MEANS THEY'RE BUYING THIS STUFF FROM GAS STATIONS, FROM, UH, CONVENIENCE STORES AND FROM, UH, UM, VAPE SHOPS.

MAYOR, WE NEED, AND WE'RE ASKING, WE KNOW THE FINE WORK THAT YOUR POLICE CHIEF AND YOUR POLICE OFFICERS DO, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY WE'RE ASKING TO, TO, TO UP AND INCREASE THEIR ENFORCEMENT OF THAT ILLEGAL, UH, SALES, UH, TO OUR KIDS.

UH, THE HEALTH RISK TO OUR KIDS IS SIGNIFICANT, MAYOR, AND, UH, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT, UH, VAPING IS A GATEWAY TO HARDER DRUGS LIKE FENTANYL.

UH, ONCE THEY'RE ON THAT, IT'S, IT'S REALLY HARD TO CATCH UP AND GET 'EM BACK ON TRACK.

THESE ARE GREAT TEENAGERS.

THESE ARE GREAT CITIZENS OF AVONDALE IN THE WEST VALLEY.

WE WANT 'EM TO BE GREAT TAX PAYING CITIZENS, PARTICIPATE IN EVERYTHING IN THEIR COMMUNITY, BUT WE WANT THEM TO GRADUATE FROM SCHOOL AND WE WANT THEM TO STOP THAT VAPING.

IF YOU'RE AN ADULT AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE VAPING, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, THEN THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE.

IT'S EVEN BAD FOR THEIR HEALTH.

BUT AS A TEENAGER, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TAKING INTO THEIR LUNGS.

IT'S A SEVERE, CAN CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO THEIR LUNGS, AND, UH, IT CAUSES A LOT OF ISSUES WITHIN THEIR SOCIAL LIFE AND IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND THEIR, THEIR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY.

MAYOR, WE'RE ASKING IF YOU CAN INCREASE AND WORK WITH YOUR POLICE CHIEF, UH, TO LOOK AT SOME OF THESE RETAILERS IN THE WEST VALLEY THAT ARE SELLING ILLEGALLY TO OUR TEENAGERS AND OUR MINORS.

IT IS EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY, UH, ADDICTIVE.

ONCE THEY'RE ON IT, THEY'RE ON IT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET 'EM OFF 50 MILLIGRAMS OF NICOTINE AND, AND STICK OF, UH, BACON MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOU JAMIE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND THEN RON, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, IF WE CAN GET THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER.

YES, SIR.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

OKAY.

AND, UM, THERESA DESANTE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ROD RON CORBIN.

I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT A REQUEST MADE IN LATE APRIL BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR AN ADDITIONAL $800,000 ABOUT BALLPARK FIGURE TO COVER SALARIES TO THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR VACATION SELL BACK AND ONE PERSON RETIRING.

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE.

EXCUSE ME.

I ALSO NOTICE THAT THE FIRE CHIEFS WILL BE RECEIVING A 10% RAISE, WHICH MAKES THEM ONE IF NOT THE HIGHEST PAID ADMIN CHIEFS IN THE VALLEY, THOUGH, IF THEY'RE BEING REWARDED FOR FAILING TO FORECAST THE OBVIOUS DAILY WORK THAT HAS BEEN THERE THE WHOLE TIME.

I KNOW YOU CAN'T ANSWER, SO I'LL MOVE FORWARD.

I UNDERSTAND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MIGHT BE TRANSITIONING TO A NEW AMBULANCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY FOR THE LAST TWO, TWO AND A HALF DECADES.

HAS A TRANSPORT COMPANY CONTRACTS HAS HAVE ENDED AND RESTARTED.

THE COMPANY HAS ALWAYS THE NO, THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALWAYS HAD THE OPTION TO FIND OTHER WAYS, RATHER IT BE START THEIR OWN, CONTINUE WITH THE SAME COMPANY A MR, OR ENTER INTO A NEW ONE LIKE MARICOPA.

SUDDENLY THERE IS A GREAT EFFORT TO ASSUME A NEW CONTRACT WITH A NEW COMPANY.

COULD IT BE THAT THE CHIEF OF THE DEPARTMENT IS RELATED TO A STAFF MEMBER AT THE MARICOPA AMBULANCE? REGARDLESS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST, PAPERWORK, THIS LOOKS, WALKS AND TALKS LIKE A CORRUPT DUCK.

THE OPTICS ARE VERY OBVIOUS.

THE GOOD OLD BOY WAY IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL IN THE AVONDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MR. TI.

AND THE FINAL BLUE CARD WE HAVE THIS EVENING FOR LINDA YEAGER.

HOPE I PRONOUNCED THAT CORRECTLY.

[00:25:17]

THERE YOU GO.

MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, MY NAME IS LINDA YEAGER.

I RESIDE IN LITCHFIELD PARK, BUT I WAS RAISED, WELL PRACTICALLY BORN HERE, WHAT CAME FROM CALIFORNIA, BUT MY HOME IN MY HEART IS AVONDALE, HAS ALWAYS BEEN AVONDALE, WENT TO SCHOOL HERE ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.

UM, I'D LIKE TO ADD TO WHAT MS. DESANTIS SAID REGARDING THE GOOD OLD BOY SYSTEM.

JUST FOR INFORMATION, CHIEF ADAMS WAS FIRED FOR VIOLATING THE DEPARTMENT AND CITY POLICIES OF FOR THE PROMOTIONAL PROCESSES.

AND LYING CHIEF ADAMS SUED THE CITY TO GET HIS RETIREMENT.

JUST ANOTHER NOTE REGARDING CHIEF ADAMS. HE WAS THE INTERIM FIRE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF FLORENCE, ARIZONA IN DECEMBER, 2020, THEN PROMOTED TO FIRE CHIEF MAY, 2021 AFTER AN OBSCENITY LADEN INSULT WAS HEARD OVER A HOT MIC AT A TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.

CHIEF ADAMS SUBMITTED HIS RESIGNATION AS FLORENCE'S FIRE CHIEF.

IMAGINE WITHIN MONTHS OF BECOMING THE FIRE CHIEF.

ANOTHER NOTE, DEPUTY CHIEF BEN ABIA WAS FORCED TO RETIRE FOR SOME UNSAVORY FINANCIAL PRACTICES.

I KNOW THE CITY OF AVONDALE CONDUCTS BACKGROUND CHECKS AS PART OF ITS HIRING PROCESS.

MY POINT BEING, TALK TO THE RANK AND FILE EMPLOYEES IF POSSIBLE, OR THE APPLICANT WAS OR IS EMPLOYEE JUST SAYING YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED WHAT CRUCIAL INFORMATION YOU MAY LEARN ABOUT THE APPLICANT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE THAT, MR. MAYOR UNTIL, YES, UH, YOU OR NICOLE CUT ME OFF.

UM, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT DID NOT DESERVE THESE HARSH WORDS TONIGHT, INCLUDING OUR CHIEF.

UM, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED OR AWARE OF ALL THE PROCESSES DISCUSSED HERE TONIGHT SINCE I'VE BEEN CITY MANAGER AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ABOVE PAR NOT ONLY ON ETHICS, BUT OUR ABILITY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I'LL LOOK INTO THE, UH, THINGS BROUGHT UP HERE TONIGHT, UH, IF I HAVEN'T, UM, BUT MOST OF THEM I HAVEN'T.

AND AGAIN, I'M NOT ALLOWED TO TO RESPOND, BUT I DON'T APPRECIATE, UH, UH, OUR CHIEF'S INTEGRITY BEING ATTACKED, UH, OR OUR STAFF.

IT IS JUST NOT TRUE.

THANK YOU, RON.

APPRECIATE THAT.

OKAY, ITEM FOUR, CONSENT

[4. CONSENT AGENDA]

ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WISH TO HAVE AN ITEM UH, REMOVED? YES, SIR.

THANK YOU.

ONE MOMENT.

ITEM H YES.

OKAY.

UH, UH, WILL SOMEBODY MAKE THE MO, ACTUALLY, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS TO BE PULLED? WE BELIEVE IT WAS F AS WELL, CORRECT? YES, MR. MAYOR, WE, WE RECEIVED A REQUEST TO PULL, UH, F, F, AND H AND H.

OKAY.

CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? MINUS ITEMS. F AND H.

GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE A SECOND FROM VICE MAYOR NIELSEN, PLEASE VOTE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[f. Resolution 1034-0625 - Water Conservation Rebate Adjustments]

UM, THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED THE SCRIPT.

UM, FIRST, YES.

YES, WE DONE APPROVE THE CONSENT ADJUSTMENTS.

WE JUST DID.

OOPS, I APOLOGIZE, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UP NEXT.

FIRST WE'RE GOING TO HEAR, UH, ABOUT OUR WATER CONSERVATION REBATE ADJUSTMENTS, I BELIEVE COAL, UM, FROM OUR UTILITY DEPARTMENT.

WE'LL BE MAKING THAT, UH, PRESENTATION FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU.

UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, HOPE ALL OF YOU ARE STAYING COOL IN THIS HOT WEATHER.

IT FELT LIKE WHEN I WAS WALKING IN HERE TODAY, IT WAS LIKE A HAIRDRYER IN MY FACE.

I KNOW ABOUT YOU ALL, BUT, UM, MY NAME IS COLE PEEL.

I'M THE WATER RESOURCES MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF AVONDALE, AND TODAY I'M GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT BRIEFLY WITH SOME WATER CONSERVATION REBATE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO COUNCIL.

OKAY, SO BEFORE I GO INTO THE DETAILS OF WHAT THE RESOLUTION ENTAILS, I DID WANT TO KIND OF GIVE A GENERAL SUMMARY OF WHAT THE CURRENT WATER CONSERVATION REBATE PROGRAM IS FOR THE CITY OF AVONDALE.

SO HOW IT'S, UH, MANAGED IS, IT'S MANAGED BY OUR CONSERVATION COORDINATOR, AMBER HUGHES, WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.

AND SHE ESSENTIALLY ADVERTISES

[00:30:01]

UH, THESE REBATES ARE PART OF AN ANNUAL AMOUNT THAT WE GET IN OUR BUDGET EVERY YEAR THROUGH THE CONSERVATION BUDGET ITSELF.

AND OUR WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW THROUGH THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.

SO HOW DO WE QUALIFY AND RECEIVE WATER CONSERVATION REBATES AS RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS? SO YOU DO HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OR A BUSINESS OWNER IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE TO RECEIVE THESE REBATES.

AND THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS IN PARTICULAR IS MAKING SURE THAT YOU PURCHASE AND INSTALL THESE POTENTIAL ITEMS PROPERLY.

SO, AND I'LL GO INTO A COUPLE EXAMPLES IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES HERE, BUT YOU DO HAVE TO SEND IN SPECIFIC PHOTOS AND RECEIPTS OF WHEN YOU PURCHASE THESE ITEMS TO AMBER, WHO THEN VALIDATES THOSE AND PROCESSES THOSE TO MAKE SURE YOU GET THOSE APPROPRIATE REBATES.

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO SOME, UH, PROPER PAPERWORK THAT HAS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AS WELL.

SO A W NINE FORM YOUR MAILING ADDRESS, CONTACT INFO, UTILITY, BILLING, ALL THAT.

AND THEN THESE ARE ACTUALLY SOME CURRENT REBATES THAT WE OFFER TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE CITY ITSELF.

SO YOU'LL LOOK HERE, THERE'S UM, A COUPLE DIFFERENT ONES THAT WE HAVE.

UM, WHETHER IT'S CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES OR TURF CONVERSION, LOW FLOAT TOILETS.

I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMMONALITIES IN WHAT WE OFFER AS WELL AS OTHER AMMO CITIES THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY IN, UM, CENTRAL ARIZONA.

AND ALL THIS INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE AT THE, UM, PICTURE THERE ON THE ACTUAL AVONDALE AVONDALE CONSERVATION WEBPAGE.

OKAY, SO THE BIG QUESTION IS WHAT CHANGES ARE HAPPENING? SO WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS ESSENTIALLY TWO SEPARATE TYPES OF REBATES.

THE FIRST ONE IS ACTUALLY FOR OUR RESIDENTS ITSELF.

IT WOULD BE A SMART IRRIGATION CONTROLLER REBATE FOR UP TO A HUNDRED DOLLARS PER, UM, SMART CONTROLLER.

SO YOU'LL NOTICE IN THE TOP RIGHT CORNER, THERE'S THAT GREEN AND WHITE, UH, DEVICE THAT'S CALLED A RAINBOW.

THAT'S ONE OF THE MANY DIFFERENT PRODUCTS THAT IS KNOWN AS A SMART IRRIGATION CONTROLLER THAT CAN BE UTILIZED BY THE RESIDENTS.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS THEY WOULD HOOK, UM, THIS DEVICE UP THROUGH WIFI TO THEIR PHONE AND THEY CAN CONNECT AND DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT AMAZING THINGS TECHNOLOGICALLY IN, IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THEY ESSENTIALLY WATER THE LOGS PROPERLY.

AND THIS IS GONNA BE A MAX OF ONE REBATE PER HOUSEHOLD.

AND WE ARE GOING TO REPLACE THIS, UM, WITH THE MAN, OR EXCUSE ME, WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE THE MANUAL IRRIGATION CONTROLLER WITH THIS, AND I'LL GET INTO, UM, REASONS FOR THAT IN A SECOND.

AND THEN WE'RE ALSO GOING TO OFFER A RESIDENTIAL RAIN BARREL REBATE UP TO A HUNDRED DOLLARS EACH, UM, FOR, UM, TWO PER HOUSEHOLD.

AND YOU'LL NOTICE IN THAT PICTURE THERE AS WELL IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER OF ONE OF THOSE PARTICULAR RAIN BARRELS.

SO THEY'RE PRETTY SIMPLE.

THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED TO ANY OF THE PLUMBING IN THE HOME.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT A RAIN BARREL DOES IS IT'S JUST CONNECTING TO, UM, THE GUTTER THAT'S COMING, UM, OFF THE HOME THAT'S COLLECTING STORM WATER.

IT'S GOING INTO THAT RAIN BARREL, AND THEN YOU'LL NOTICE THAT HOSE AT THE BOTTOM.

THEY CAN THEN USE THAT WATER FOR GARDENING OR WATERING ANY PART OF THEIR, UH, PARTICULAR LAWN.

AND THEN WE'RE ALSO OFFERING TO OUR NON-RESIDENTIAL USERS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS OUR COMMERCIAL USERS, UH, THE SAME RAIN BARREL REBATE UP TO A HUNDRED DOLLARS EACH, OR A LARGER WATER CISTERN UP TO $150.

SO THE QUESTION IS, WHY ARE THESE CHANGES HAPPENING? AND I'LL FOCUS ON THE SMART IRRIGATION CONTROLLERS FIRST.

AND ONE THING IN PARTICULAR THAT I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS WHEN IT COMES TO THESE SMART CONTROLLERS, THEY'RE MUCH MORE ACCURATE, THEY'RE MUCH MORE EFFICIENT, THEY'RE ABLE TO REALLY HELP THE RESIDENTIAL USERS SAVE WATER IN THE LONG TERM WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUALLY IRRIGATING THEIR LAWN.

AND WE'VE STARTED TO SEE A LARGE POPULARITY IN THESE IRRIGATION TIMERS.

I MENTIONED OTHER AMWAY CITIES THAT I HAVE SIMILAR REBATES.

A LOT OF THESE CITIES DO, IN PARTICULAR HAVE THIS SMART IRRIGATION CONTROLLER REBATE ALREADY.

SO WE WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH THOSE CITIES AND ALSO GIVE THAT SAME OPTION.

AND WE ACTUALLY ALREADY OFFER THIS REBATE FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AT THIS TIME AS WELL.

AND THEN PIVOTING TO RAIN BARRELS AND WATER CISTERNS, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WITH WHAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE IS OBVIOUSLY BEING WATER WISE IN THE DESERT.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO RAIN BARRELS AND WATER CISTERNS, WE WANT TO ALLOW OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR COMMERCIAL USERS TO ESSENTIALLY BE ABLE TO, UM, CONSERVE THIS RAIN WATER FOR USE RATHER THAN JUST LETTING IT GO INTO THEIR LAWN OR, UM, ALSO RUNOFF AND FLOODING THAT WE SEE OFTEN AS PROBLEMS. SO RAIN BARRELS DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN TERMS OF SOLUTIONS.

THEY LET THESE RESIDENTS AND COMMERCIAL USERS USE THE WATER, BUT IT CAN ALSO HELP WITH A LOT OF OUR STORM WATER MANAGEMENT.

AND AS YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW, MONSOON SEASON IS COMING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

SO WE REALLY WANT TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT ALSO.

AND, UH, WE'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS AS WELL WHEN IT COMES TO RAIN BARRELS.

THE CITY OF TUCSON HAS A VERY ROBUST RAIN BARREL PROGRAM IN TERMS OF THEIR REBATES.

SO WE DID

[00:35:01]

AND AMBER, UM, WITH HER, UM, EXPERIENCE ON TEACHING A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO THE RESIDENTS HAS ALREADY BEEN COORDINATING ON TEACHING RAINWATER HARVESTING WORKSHOPS TO OUR RESIDENTS.

SO SOME OF THE RESIDENTS ARE ALREADY AWARE OF THESE, UH, RAINWATER, UM, BARRELS, FOR INSTANCE.

AND WE'RE JUST OFFERING THIS, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO USE THESE REBATES.

THE BIGGEST THING THOUGH, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT THOUGH MM-HMM IS THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER SAVINGS OUTSIDE THE HOME.

SO BEING IN THE DESERT, UH, THE MAJORITY OF THE WATER THAT A RESIDENTIAL HOME USES IS ACTUALLY OUTSIDE THE HOME.

IT'S ABOUT 60 TO 70% OF THEIR ENTIRE WATER USAGE.

SO WHEN AMBER AND I WERE BRAINSTORMING ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT ITEMS, YOU'LL NOTICE THERE'S A COMMONALITY THAT BOTH OF THESE REBATES ARE FOCUSING ON WATER USE OUTSIDE THE HOME, AND ALSO IT DOES HELP OUR CITY REACH ONE OF ITS SUSTAINABILITY TARGETS FOR REDUCING OVERALL WATER CONSUMPTION PER CAPITA.

OKAY.

UH, THIS IS KIND OF ASIDE FROM THE POINT, BUT I DID WANT TO TOUCH ON ANOTHER REBATE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE.

SO THE AQUASMART PROGRAM, IT'S TECHNICALLY SEPARATE FROM THE WATER REBATE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE THAT I JUST MENTIONED.

IT'S FUNDED THROUGH WFA GRANTS, BUT ESSENTIALLY THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON TIRELESSLY OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO.

AND JUST AS A REFRESHER REAL QUICK, SO RESIDENTS CAN ELECT TO HAVE THEIR WATER BILLS MONITORED FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR, AND IF THEY SAVE 10 OR 20% ON THEIR ANNUAL WATER BILL, WE WILL GIVE THEM A REBATE BACK ON THOSE WATER SAVINGS.

AND SO FAR, UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT.

UM, AS OF JUNE OF THIS MONTH, WE'VE HAD 13 RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE THOSE REBATES SO FAR, AND THEY'VE EITHER, UH, SAVED 10% OR 20% ON THEIR ANNUAL WATER BILLS.

AND THIS IS, UH, HAPPENING VERY FAST.

WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW RESIDENTS, UM, THAT ARE GOING TO BE IN THIS PROGRAM OVER THE NEXT YEAR AS WELL.

SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING ABOUT ANOTHER 113 RESIDENTS THAT COULD RECEIVE THESE REBATES.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

UH, MY CONTACT INFORMATION ALONG WITH AMBERS IS HERE AND OUR AVONDALE WATER CONSERVATION WEBSITE.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE THEM.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COOL.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

AGAIN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS'S JUST ONE OF THOSE, UM, AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION THAT SOME RESIDENTS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF.

AND SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT THE INFORMATION HAS BEEN SHARED, UM, BOTH ONLINE HERE, UH, AS WELL IN PERSON.

AND I THINK IT'S UP TO US HERE ON COUNCIL TO CONTINUE TO, TO SPREAD THE WORD ON THAT KNOWLEDGE.

SO THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THAT.

OKAY, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, AND WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CONNIE A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE.

OKAY.

ITEM PASSES.

THANK YOU AGAIN, COLE.

THANK YOU COUNCIL.

APPRECIATE IT.

OKAY, ITEM F.

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.

UP NEXT, WE HAVE, UH, ITEM H, UH,

[h. Resolution 1036-0625 - Adoption of the City of Avondale Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP)]

AND I BELIEVE KIRK, OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, WILL BE MAKING THAT PRESENTATION.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE CITY OF AVONDALE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AGENCY SAFETY PLAN.

WHAT IS A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PLAN OR A P TASK? SO, UH, THERE'S A RULE ESTABLISHED BY THE US FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION AGENCY ADMINISTRATION THAT REQUIRES PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCIES TO HAVE A, UH, AND IMPLEMENT A SAFETY PLAN.

SO THE GOAL OF THE PEAK TASK IS TO ENHANCE SAFETY ACROSS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS BY SHIFTING FROM A REACTIVE STANCE TO A PROACTIVE STANCE WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, SAFETY AND EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT.

THE, UH, THE P TASK IS REALLY A FE KIND OF A FEDERAL BLUEPRINT THAT WE'VE ADOPTED WITH THE WE RIDE PROGRAM WE RIDE, AND TRANSDEV OUR CONTRACTOR ALREADY HAS A VERY STRONG SAFETY PROGRAM AND A COMMITMENT TO SAFETY.

UM, AND SO IT WAS AN EASY ADAPTION FOR THEM TO MOVE INTO THIS PT A FORMAT, BUT THEY DO A GOOD JOB SO FAR.

SO WHY DO WE NEED A PT A S? ALL RECIPROCATES TO FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A PT A S.

WE RECEIVE FEDERAL GRANTS, UH, 53 0 7 GRANTS AND 53 10 GRANTS.

AND, UH, THAT FEDERAL FUNDING HELPS US OFFSET OUR COSTS FOR THE WE RIDE PROGRAM SINCE INCEPTION OF NOVEMBER OF 2022.

WEIDE IS JUST FEE $1.5 MILLION IN GRANTS.

AND, UH, SO HAVING THIS PROGRAM IN PLACE ENSURES THAT THAT MONTH, THAT FUNDING WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW IN, UH, BUT IT ALSO, UH, PROTECTS THE CITY.

MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UH, FOLLOWING THE SAFETY STANDARDS AND THAT WE'RE ALSO, THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED A SYSTEMATIC

[00:40:01]

SO THERE'S FOUR MAIN COMPONENTS TO THE PT TASK.

FIRST OFF IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SAFETY POLICY AND DECLARING, UM, A COMMITMENT FROM ALL LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION.

UM, FOR, FOR SAFETY IN, IN THE PROGRAM, THERE IS A COMPONENT FOR RISK MANAGEMENT TO HELPS US IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS POTENTIAL HAZARDS, SAFETY MONITORING.

SO ONCE WE IDENTIFY HOW WE TRACK AND MEASURE OUR SAFETY PERFORMANCE.

AND THEN FINALLY, SAFETY TRAINING, WHICH IS PREPARING OUR STAFF AND COMMUNICATING OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR SAFETY.

IN THE, IN THE TRANSIT PROGRAM, THERE'S SOME KEY REQUIREMENTS, ONE OF 'EM BEING THE TRAINING.

SO WE HAVE DRIVER TRAINING AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE, WE RIDE DRIVERS BASIC HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

SO EVEN THINGS LIKE, UH, DEALING WITH HEAT AND HEAT STRESS WHILE THEY'RE OUT ON THE JOB OR WHILE THEY'RE DEALING WITH CUSTOMERS THAT MAY BE HEAT STRESSED AS WELL.

AND WE PROVIDE REGULAR REFRESHER TRAINING TO THESE DRIVERS WHEN THEY'RE, WHEN THEY'RE ON DUTY.

ALSO, THE P TASK ESTABLISHES A SAFETY COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS EQUAL REPRESENTATION FROM MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS THE FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES PROVIDES FOR QUARTERLY MEETINGS TO REVIEW, REVIEW, SAFETY PERFORMANCE, AND IT ACTUALLY GAINS DIRECT INPUT FROM THE OPERATORS THAT ARE IN THE FIELD THAT REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND CAN HELP DIRECT THE SAFETY FOR THE, FOR THE, UH, PROGRAM, THERE'S TWO KEY ELEMENT, TWO KEY PERSONNEL IN THE SAFETY PLAN.

ONE OF THEM IS THE, WHAT'S CALLED THE ACCOUNTABLE EXECUTIVE, AND THAT IS HAROLD ZA, OUR ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.

AND THE OTHER PERSON IS A CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER, WHICH IS MATT DUDLEY, WHO IS OUR TRANSIT MANAGER HERE AT THE CITY.

SO MAYOR AND COUNSEL, SHOULD YOU ADOPT THE RESOLUTION THIS EVENING, THE PLAN GOES INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

UH, THERE WILL BE ANY REVIEWS OF THE PLAN, AND IF THINGS CHANGES, WE'LL BRING THOSE BACK TO COUNSEL FOR YOUR APPROVAL.

AND WE'LL ALSO BE PROVIDING QUARTERLY SAFETY PERFORMANCE REPORTS SO THAT YOU KNOW HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS HERE IS THAT THIS P TASK HELPS TO KEEP THE FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN AS LONG AS IT'S AVAILABLE TO COME IN.

IT PROTECTS THE CITY FROM LIABILITY AND ENSURES SYSTEMATIC SAFETY MANAGEMENT, AND IT MAINTAINS A LEVEL OF QUALITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND OF A PROGRAM THAT, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IS ALREADY VERY, UH, HIGHLY THOUGHT OF HERE WITHIN THE CITY.

SO WE WANT TO KEEP THAT UP.

THERE'LL BE A RECOMMENDED MOTION FOR YOU TO LOOK AT IN A MINUTE, BUT BEFORE THAT, I'D LIKE TO OPEN UP, UH, FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

UH, MATT DUDLEY'S HERE, YOU CAN HELP AS WELL.

AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, KIRK.

APPRECIATE THAT.

ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, KURT FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

UM, I, I I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE DIRECT FEDERAL FUNDING, UM, COMING HERE AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SAFETY IS FIRST.

SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK OUR SAFETY MANAGER IS DOING AS OUR TRANSIT MANAGER.

I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT.

WE ALSO SHARE THAT AVONDALE IS STILL ELIGIBLE TO GET DIRECT FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO THIS ISN'T TIED TO MAG FUNDING, THIS ISN'T TIED DIRECTLY TO VALLEY METRO.

THIS IS AVONDALE ON ITS OWN, WHICH REALLY EXPANDS OUR PORTFOLIO OF TRANSIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO OUR RESIDENTS.

SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE AND CONFIRM THAT AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING TO KEEP OUR RESIDENTS SAFE AND MOVING ABOUT AVONDALE FREELY.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANKS AGAIN FOR THE PRESENTATION.

WE GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, PLEASE VOTE.

OKAY.

ITEM PASSES.

SIX ONE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MARCELLA.

ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S MOVE ON TO

[a. Public Hearing - Series 10 (Beer and Wine Store) Liquor License - BLVD Mart]

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

UP NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY MARCELLA, OUR CITY CLERK, UH, FOR AN APPLICATION FOR SERIES 10 BEER AND WINE, UH, STORE LIQUOR LICENSE BOULEVARD.

MARKED, UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I AM HERE TO PRESENT A LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION.

WE HAVE RECEIVED, UM, FOR A SERIES 10 BEER WINE STORE FOR THE BOULEVARD MART.

THE PROPOSED BOULEVARD MART IS LOCATED AT 6 45 NORTH AVONDALE BOULEVARD IN SUITE 100, WHICH IS LOCATED RIGHT DOWN THE STREET IN THE BOULEVARD DISTRICT.

THE APPLICANT SOUGHT AND RECEIVED CITY PERMISSION TO DEVELOP A SPECIALTY RETAIL OR RETAIL BUSINESS ON THE SITE.

HOWEVER, THE AVONDALE ZONING ORDINANCE

[00:45:01]

UM, THE FOLLOWING USES ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE BOULEVARD ZONING DISTRICT AND THE PARK AVENUE SUBDISTRICT AND ARE NOT LISTED IN THE BOULEVARD LAND USE MATRIX.

AND THOSE ARE A CONVENIENCE STORE, A SMOKE SHOP, AND A BEER AND WINE STORE.

ALSO, THE APPLICANT HAS NOT PAID THE $250 LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION FEE TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

UM, AND THEN ALL REQUIRED POSTINGS WERE COMPLETED AND NO PUBLIC COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED SO FAR SINCE THIS IS A, UH, BEER AND WINE STORE LIQUOR LICENSE THAT DOES NOT MEET THE ZONING ALLOWANCE.

STAFF ARE RECOMMENDING THAT CITY COUNCIL DENY THE APPLICATION RECOMMENDATION TO THE STATE.

AND SINCE WE ARE RECOMMENDING DENIAL, WE HAVE PLACED IT ON THE AGENDA AS A PUBLIC HEARING TO GIVE THE APPLICANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IF THEY, UM, DESIRE TO DO SO.