[1. ROLL CALL BY THE CITY CLERK]
[00:00:04]
EVERYBODY I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 7TH, 2025.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? TONIGHT IS BEING LED BY SEAN LETFORD, SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU TO KICK OFF THE PLEDGE.
LET US KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY, SEAN.
I PLEDGE OVER REGI TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER IN LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
IT TAKES A LOT OF CONFIDENCE TO GET UP HERE, SO WE APPRECIATE YOU, APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT.
CAN WE GET ROLL CALL PLEASE? MARCELLA.
DEBRA NEEW, OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO IS PARTICIPATING IN OUR ABBY TEMP PROGRAM.
WE'LL DO THE ROLL CALL TONIGHT.
COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE PRESENT VICE MAYOR NIELSEN.
[a. Employee Announcements]
RON.UH, UP NEXT WE HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHO'S GOING TO INTRODUCE A COUPLE OF EMPLOYEES.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I AM HERE TO INTRODUCE TWO NEW EMPLOYEES TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
UM, TO MY LEFT WE HAVE DANNY GARONE.
DANNY OBTAINED HIS, UH, LAW DEGREE AND HE HAS A BACHELOR'S OF ART IN JOURNALISM AND POLITICAL SCIENCE FROM ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY.
SHE, SHE COULDN'T EVEN GET IT OUT.
UM, BEFORE COMING TO WORK FOR AVONDALE, DANNY WORKED AT THE STATE OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE FOR 11 YEARS SPECIALIZING IN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, THE PUBLIC RECORDS LAW, AND THE OPEN MEETING LAW.
HE'S A PROUD FATHER OF TWO SMALL CHILDREN, AND DANNY LOVES THE NEW YORK YANKEES AND HE STILL HAS NOT GOTTEN OVER THE 2001 WORLD SERIES, SO SCAM.
AND TO MY RIGHT, WE HAVE RYAN JOHNSTON.
HE IS A LEGAL INTERN WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE THIS SUMMER.
HE IS A INCOMING TWO L AT THE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR SCHOOL OF LAW AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, WHERE HE RECEIVED THE PRICK SCHOLAR AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.
BEFORE STARTING LAW SCHOOL, RYAN LIVED IN COLORADO AND WORKED FOR AMAZON AS A SENIOR ESCALATIONS INVESTIGATOR, WHERE HE CONDUCTED OVER 250 EMPLOYMENT INVESTIGATIONS RELATED TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY LAWS.
RYAN IS ALSO AN AVONDALE HOMEOWNER AND HE LIVES IN ALAMAR, AND HE LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S RYAN, DANNY, AND RYAN, THANK YOU FOR, UH, JOINING THE AVONDALE FAMILY AND, UM, WE WELCOME ABOARD.
AND WHILE A WILDCAT HAS A HARD TIME GIVING KUDOS TO A SU
BUT WELCOME AGAIN TO THE AVONDALE FAMILY.
NEXT IS WE HAVE, UH, KIM MOON, OUR CITY ENGINEER TO INTRODUCE A COUPLE NEW EMPLOYEES.
HI, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COUNCIL, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I HAVE TONIGHT TWO NEW EMPLOYEES WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
FIRST UP IS, UH, CARLOS CORONA.
CARLOS HAS STARTED WITH THE CITY ON MAY 12TH AS A SENIOR ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN.
HE BRINGS OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE TO THE GROUP, INCLUDING PREVIOUS WORK WITH MUNICIPALITIES IN CALIFORNIA.
HE'S EAGER TO APPLY HIS EXPERTISE AND DEDICATION TO THE TEAM WITH EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF MEG AND A O DESIGN AS WELL AS INSPECTIONS.
CARLOS IS COMMITTED TO DELIVERING IMPROVED SERVICE AND QUALITY FOR THE CITY.
CARLOS IS STATIONED IN ELIZABETH KAHN'S ENGINEERING PLAN, REVIEW AND PERMITS TEAM.
[00:05:01]
HE'S ORIGINALLY FROM CALIFORNIA.HE MADE THE SWITCH THIS SEASON SEASON TO BEING A DODGERS FAN, UH, FROM BEING A DODGER FAN TO THE DYER BACKS
OKAY, SO, OKAY, WE'RE GLAD HE MADE THE SWITCH AND THAT WE GET TO WORK WITH HIM HERE AT AVONDALE.
AND WE ALSO HAVE THIS EVENING, SERGIO PEREZ PEREZ.
UH, ALSO WITH MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH TRAFFIC SIGNALS, HE HAS A STRONG BACKGROUND IN READING BLUEPRINTS AS WELL AS INSTALLING TRAFFIC SIGNAL HEADS AND SIGNAL POLES.
SERGIO HAS WORKED, UH, PREVIOUSLY IN BOTH THE CITY OF GOODYEAR AND CITY OF BUCKEYE GETTING VALUABLE MUNICIPAL EXPERIENCE.
HE IS STATIONED IN BENNY ROBINSON'S TEAM TRAFFIC OPERATION OPERATIONS TEAM.
AND YOU, YOU LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM CITY HALL, SO HE'S RIGHT NEXT TO HER.
WE ARE ALSO EXTREMELY EXCITED TO WELCOME HIM TO THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, MR. MAYOR.
UP NEXT, WE HAVE YOUR FIRE CHIEF LARRY ROONEY TO, UH, TALK ABOUT A PROMOTION.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF INTRODUCING YOU TO, UH, OUR NEWEST ENGINEER.
THIS IS JOSE GUZMAN AND JOSE HAS WORKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS BEFORE BEING PROMOTED TO ENGINEER.
HE'S VERY ACTIVE IN THE DEPART THE DEPARTMENT.
HE HAS HELPED, UH, WITH THE DESIGN OF OUR NEW TRAINING FACILITY THAT YOU WILL BE SEEING SOMETIME IN APRIL.
UM, HE TEACHES EMS AND SUPPORTS FIREFIGHTER CHARITIES.
UM, BEFORE I GO, GO WITH WHO JOINED HIM TONIGHT, I WANT TO EMBARRASS HIM A LITTLE BIT BY SAYING, JOSE, THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TEST HE TOOK FOR ENGINEER.
AND SO INSTEAD OF, UH, DOING OTHER THINGS THAT WOULD HELP NOT HELP HIS CAUSES, HE WENT BACK, HE WORKED REALLY HARD.
HE STUDIED, HE WORKED ON HIS ENGINEERING.
IT HAS HYDRAULICS INVOLVED AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS, BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE AT THE END OF THOSE HOSE LINES.
SO WE TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND GUESS WHAT, HE CAME OUT NUMBER ONE THIS TIME.
WE IN THE, WE IN THE DEPARTMENT ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF JOSE, BUT I KNOW THERE'S SOME PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE EVEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROMOTION FOR HIM.
HE IS JOINED BY HIS WIFE, JASMINE IN THE BACK THERE.
JOSE'S FIVE-YEAR-OLD SON, JOSE
WE HAVE A LITTLE PLAQUE FOR JOSE CHIEF, UH, WAGNER.
IT'S, UH, SUITABLE FOR HANGING ON YOUR WALL AND TAKING A LOT OF PRIDE IN.
VICE MAYOR COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH CHIEF AND WELCOME JOSE TO THE MOSA TO THE AVENUE, OR CONGRATULATIONS ON THE, UH, ON THE ENGINEER PROMOTION AND ACHIEVING NUMBER ONE ON THE TEST.
THANK YOU, UH, MR. MAYOR, UH, IF I'D LIKE TO SAY IT BEFORE THE FIREFIGHTERS LEAVE THE ROOM BECAUSE THEY'D LIKE TO ESCAPE, UM, PLEASE STICK AROUND.
WE'D LOVE TO HAVE A PICTURE WITH YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND OUR COUNSEL.
IF, IF I COULD SHARE REALLY QUICKLY, I HAD THE HONOR OF BEING, UH, AT 1 75 ON SATURDAY AND GOT A LITTLE BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY HAD A DISCUSSION AND LEARNED THAT THE ENGINEER DOESN'T JUST GET IN AND DRIVE, THAT THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE ABOUT THE TRUCK THAT THEY HAVE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH A WHOLE SET OF, OF STEPS AND CHECKS JUST TO EVEN GET IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT.
SO, UH, KUDOS TO YOU, JOSE, FOR WANTING TO GET TO THAT, TO THAT POINT IN YOUR CAREER.
[b. Proclamation - World Brain Day]
ON NEXT ITEM, PLEASE.ALRIGHT, UH, MR. MAYOR, UP NEXT IS, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR WORLD BRAIN DAY.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME, I'M GONNA GET IT WRONG AND I APOLOGIZE JANINE AND SEAN LETFORD TO THE PODIUM TO SHARE A FEW WORDS.
OH YEAH, CHIEF CHIEF'S GONNA HELP YOU WITH THE, THE MICROPHONE THERE.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I LIKE TO SLIDE DOWN THE WATER SLIDES AND THE AQUATIC CENTER.
BRAIN HEALTH IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF YOUR BRAIN DOESN'T WORK, YOU WON'T WORK.
UH, KIDS SHOULD LEARN ABOUT BRAIN HEALTH BECAUSE IT'S FUN.
[00:10:01]
IS WORLD BRAIN DAY.CAN AVONDALE CELEBRATE JULY AS BRAIN HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH? EVERYONE, INCLUDING KIDS, SHOULD KNOW HOW TO HAVE HEALTHY BRAINS.
HERE ARE THE SEVEN PILLARS OF BUILDING BRAIN CAPITAL.
THE FIRST ONE IS BRAIN FOOD, EAT WELL.
THE SECOND ONE IS BRAIN SLEEP.
WE MADE A SONG FOR THIS ONE BECAUSE IT CLEARS OUT THE TOXINS.
SWEEP UP, SWEEP UP, SWEEP UP THE TOXINS, SWEEP UP, SWEEP UP, SWEEP UP THE TOXINS.
THE THIRD PILLAR IS BRAIN MENTAL STIMULATION, BUT I CALL IT CREATIVITY.
THE FOURTH PILLAR IS BRAIN PEACE KEEPS STRESS SLOW.
THE FIFTH PILLAR IS BRAIN SOCIAL, CONNECT TIME, HAVE FRIENDS IN THE WORK SCREEN TIME.
THE SIX PILLAR IS BRAIN MOVEMENT, EXERCISE, WALK, AND DANCE.
THE LAST PILLAR IS BRAIN ARTS.
DO ALL THE ARTS BY YOURSELF AND WITH OTHERS.
WE TEACH KIDS AND THEIR ADULTS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR BRAIN.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR, TAKE CARE OF YOUR BRAIN.
TWO, HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
UM, JANINE ALSO WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE THE READING OF THE PROCLAMATION.
I DID, UM, REGISTER TO SPEAK, BUT SHE SAID IT'S BETTER JUST TO DO IT NOW.
AND GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE MOVED HERE FROM VA ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND WHEN I MOVED, UM, TO THE AREA, I'M ALWAYS AWARE OF THE ESSENCE OF WHERE I'M MOVING.
AND ON THE LAST DAY OF LAST YEAR, I LOOKED DOWN AT A MANHOLE AND IT SAID, AVONDALE, THE CITY WHERE THREE RIVERS MEET.
AND I WAS LIKE, WOW, THAT WAS IT.
IT'S, THIS IS THE ONLY CITY IN THE VALLEY WHERE THREE RIVERS MEET.
NOT JUST IN THE PHYSICAL SENSE, BUT IN THE METAPHORICAL AND NEURAL AND THE NEUROLOGY, THE NEUROLOGICAL SENSE AS WELL.
AND I WANTED TO QUICKLY TALK ABOUT THE RIVERS, YOUR VASCULAR SYSTEM AND YOUR ARTERIES AND YOUR VEINS IN YOUR BRAIN.
I'M HERE TO OFFER, AND MY SON IS HERE TO OFFER A KIND YET URGENT WARNING THAT OUR BRAINS ARE UNDER ATTACK.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT ARIZONA IS NOW THE FASTEST GROWING, HAS THE FASTEST GROWING RATE OF ALZHEIMER'S IN THE NATION.
THIS DISEASE AFFECTS 6.5 MILLION AMERICA'S.
AND IT SLOWLY TAKES AWAY THE BRAIN'S ABILITY TO FUNCTION.
AND FOR US TO REMEMBER WHO WE EVEN ARE, IT IMPACTS MORE PEOPLE THAN BREAST CANCER AND PRO PROSTATE CANCER COMBINED BETWEEN THE YEARS OF TWO 2020 21, HEART DISEASE DECREASED BY 2%, BUT ALZHEIMER'S INCREASED BY 141%.
THIS MEANS THE RIVERS OF LIFE WITHIN YOUR CHILDREN, THESE AMAZING PEOPLE BACK HERE.
AND OUR CITIZENS ARE BEING CLOGGED BEFORE THE SYMPTOMS EVEN APPEAR DECADES LATER.
AND THEY WILL COME UNLESS WE ACT.
NOW THE CDC SAID ONE IN FOUR PEOPLE WILL EXPERIENCE STROKE.
THAT'S 25%, AND THESE STROKES ARE OCCURRING EARLIER IN THE LIFESPAN.
SO DESMOND 2, 2, 1 SAYS, THERE'S A POINT WHERE WE NEED TO STOP PULLING, JUST STOP PULLING PEOPLE OUT OF THE RIVER DOWNSTREAM AND GO UPSTREAM TO SEE WHY THEY'RE FALLING IN.
AND THAT'S WHY WE ASK FOR YOU TO DO THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY.
'CAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST STEP WE BELIEVE IN GOING UPSTREAM TO SPARK ACTION, TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSES.
THAT'S WHY IS ARIZONA AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE DEMENTIA CASES.
AND WHAT THE NEUROSCIENTISTS ARE SAYING IS THAT THE CURE IS NOT JUST IN LOOKING AT THE ELDERLY WHO ARE DEALING WITH THIS DISEASE, BUT THE CURE IS IN PREVENTION.
YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUR TEENAGERS.
WE ARE DISCOVERING THAT OF ALL THE A ALZHEIMER'S CASES, 40 TO 50% OF DEMENTIA CASES COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.
OF ALL YOUR STROKE CASES THAT YOUR AMAZING FIRE AND POLICE ARE, ARE, ARE ADHERING TO AND GETTING THOSE CALLS, 80% OF THOSE CASES COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD WE GONE UPSTREAM, I BELIEVE.
AND MY FAMILY IS HERE TODAY SAYING THAT WE BELIEVE THAT AVONDALE COULD BE THE LEAD THE WAY IN THE ENTIRE VALLEY.
SO THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT, UM, STARVING OFF DISEASE, BUT THIS IS ALSO ABOUT BUILDING BRAIN CAPITAL, WHICH IS A $26 TRILLION OPPORTUNITY GLOBAL, WHICH SHARE IS ARIZONA'S AND WHICH SHARE IS AVONDALE'S.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU INVEST IN THE BRAINS IN YOUR STUDENTS, IN YOUR CHILDREN, YOU INVEST IN PRODUCTIVITY, INNOVATION AND THE HEALTH THAT ARISE.
WHEN WE PRIORITIZE COGNITIVE STRENGTH, HEALTHIER BRAINS MEANS MORE CREATIVITY, MORE COLLABORATION, AND MORE RESILIENCE IN YOUR CITIZENS.
[00:15:01]
I JUST WANNA SAY, HOW DO WE GO UPSTREAM? THAT'S THE QUESTION EVERYONE SAY, HOW DO WE GO UPSTREAM? STEP ONE, AWARENESS TODAY.WE, WE, WE PROCLAIM THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AVONDALE IS GONNA START PAYING ATTENTION TO BECAUSE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW AT THE UNITED NATIONS, THE G SEVEN, THE GG, THE G 20 WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM AND THE WORLD HEALTH FORUM.
STEP TWO IS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE AVONDALE CREATE A MULTI-SECTORIAL BRAIN CAPITAL OR BRAIN HEALTH COMMITTEE THAT REALLY BRINGS TOGETHER GOVERNMENT EDUCATION, WHICH IS K 12 AND HIGHER ED, PUBLIC SERVICES, PRIVATE BUSINESS AND NONPROFITS.
AND STEP THREE, CREATE A STRATEGIC PLAN MODELED AFTER CANADA, SWEDEN, AND SPAIN, WHO ARE CURRENTLY PUTTING TOGETHER THEIR BRAIN HEALTH PLANS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
WHEN YOU IMPLEMENT, WHEN YOU ADAPT, AND WHEN YOU EXPAND, I BELIEVE AVONDALE CAN BE THE LEADER IN THE VALLEY WHEN WE SUPPORT THOSE ALREADY AFFECTED BY COGNITIVE DECLINE.
WHILE WE GO UPSTREAM AND HELP YOUR STUDENTS AND YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR INFANTS, WE LOOK AT THE MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS OF ALL OF THEM TO BUILD RESILIENT, CREATIVE AND COGNITIVELY STRONG BRAINS THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.
AVONDALE IS THE ONLY CITY IN THE ENTIRE VALLEY WHERE THE THREE RIVERS MEET.
THAT'S NOT ONLY POWERFUL, THAT'S PROPHETIC.
AVONDALE IS A PLACE OF DIVERSITY AND CONVERGENCE.
IT IS THE INTERSECTION OF LIFE, OF HOPE AND THE FLOURISHING MINDS, AND IT WILL REMAIN TO BE SO IF WE GO UPSTREAM AND PROTECT THE RIVER OF LIFE THAT FLOWS WITHIN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING MY SON IN HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU AND HAVE A WONDERFUL REST OF YOUR MEETING.
AND WE HAVE THE RESEARCH FOR YOU RIGHT HERE FROM MY SON.
I'LL LEAVE THAT RIGHT, RIGHT THERE.
AND I'D LIKE TO READ A PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS THE CITY OF AVONDALE RECOGNIZES WORLD BRAIN DAY OBSERVED ANNUALLY ON JULY 22ND AS A VITAL OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE GLOBAL AWARENESS OF BRAIN HEALTH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTING AND TREATING NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AVONDALE RECOGNIZES WORLD BRAIN DAY OBSERVED ANNUALLY ON JULY 22ND AS A VITAL OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE GLOBAL AWARENESS OF BRAIN HEALTH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTING AND TREATING NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS.
AND WHEREAS JULY IS AN IMPORTANT MONTH TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND OTHER NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, HIGHLIGHTING THE STRENGTH AND THE RESILIENCE OF THOSE AFFECTED ALONGSIDE THE DEDICATION OF THEIR FAMILIES, CAREGIVERS, AND COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS PROMOTING BRAIN HEALTH THROUGH EDUCATION, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, SOCIAL CONNECTION, CREATIVITY, AND LIFELONG LEARNING, AND POWERS RESIDENTS TO PROTECT COGNITIVE VITALITY AND LIVE FULFILLING LIVES.
AND WHEREAS THE CONCEPT OF BRAIN CAPITAL, RECOGNIZING BRAIN HEALTH AS A VITAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ASSET UNDERSCORES THE NEED TO INVEST IN RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS THAT STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY COGNITIVE RESILIENCE AND PRODUCTIVITY.
AND WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF JULY, THE CITY OF AVENDALE JOINS COMMUNITIES GLOBALLY IN CELEBRATING BRAIN HEALTH, SUPPORTING THOSE AFFECTED BY ALZHEIMER'S AND NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND PROMOTING ACTIVITIES THAT INSPIRE HOPE, CONNECTION, AND WELLNESS.
AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA, HEREBY PROCLAIMS JULY 22ND, 2025 AS WORLD'S BRAIN DAY AND ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE BRAIN HEALTH AND SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
[c. Proclamation - Park and Recreation Month]
RON.UP NEXT IS, UH, PROCLAMATION FOR PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH PRESENTED BY CORY, YOUR PARKS, RECREATION AND LIBRARIES DIRECTOR.
AND THAT WAS A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW.
SO KUDOS, HOPEFULLY A FUTURE PARKS AND RECREATION EMPLOYEE, UM, FROM WHAT I'M SEEING.
THE SAME, UM, UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
JULY MARKS OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH FIRST LAUNCHED IN 1985.
UH, EACH YEAR WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE VITAL WORK OF PARKS AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS WHO ENHANCE THE HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MILLIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THIS YEAR'S THEME IS BUILD TOGETHER, PLAY TOGETHER, HAVING THE IMPACT OF MORE THAN 160,000 FULL-TIME PROFESSIONALS AND COUNTLESS PART-TIME STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WHO KEEP PARKS THRIVING IN THE COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS CONNECTING OUR RESIDENTS.
UH, AVONDALE PARKS RECREATIONAL LIBRARIES DEPARTMENT IS PROUD TO BE A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED CAPRA AGENCY, UPHOLDING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF SERVICE IN THE NATION.
WE SERVE 130,000 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND WELCOME MORE THAN A MILLION VISITORS TO OUR PARKS 13 PARKS, UH, RENOVATED COMMUNITY CENTER, OUR STATE-OF-THE-ART AQUATIC CENTER, AND TWO VIBRANT LIBRARIES.
WHILE WE'VE BEEN KNOWN FOR CREATING FUN MEMORIES AND IMPACTING, AND THE IMPACT OF OUR STAFF'S WORK GOES FAR BEYOND THE SMILES THAT YOU SEE HERE ON THE SCREEN.
[00:20:01]
MONTH IS ABOUT CELEBRATING AND RECOGNIZING OUR DEDICATED STAFF WHO SERVE THE COMMUNITY 365 DAYS A YEAR.I'M PROUD TO WORK ALONGSIDE AN AMAZING GROUP OF PEERS WHO HAVE BECOME KNOWN AS AVONDALE'S TEAM IN GREEN.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK 'EM TO PLEASE STAND, TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED.
YEAH, AND THAT'S JUST A SMALL FRACTION OF OUR TEAM.
AT THE HEIGHT OF OUR SEASON, YOUR PARKS, RECREATION AND LIBRARIES DEPARTMENT IS MADE UP OF 166 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND PART-TIME PROFESSIONALS.
FROM FIRST TIME JOBS TO SEASONED EXPERTS, EACH TEAM MEMBER PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN ENRICHING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH DYNAMIC SPACES AND PROGRAMS TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND VISITORS LEARN, PLAY, AND CONNECT.
AND WITH THAT MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO READ OUR PARKS RECREATION MONTH PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS PARKS AND RECREATION IS AN IN INTEGRAL PART OF COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
AND WHEREAS PARKS AND RECREATION PROMOTES HEALTH AND WELLNESS, IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR PARKS.
AND WHEREAS PARKS AND RECREATION PROMOTES TIME SPENT IN NATURE, WHICH POSITIVELY IMPACTS MENTAL HEALTH BY INCREASING COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE AND WELLBEING AND ALLEVIATING ILLNESSES SUCH AS DEPRESSION, ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDERS, AND ALZHEIMER'S.
AND WHEREAS PARKS AND RECREATION ENCOURAGES PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES BY PROVIDING SPACE FOR POPULAR SPORTS, HIKING TRAILS, SWIMMING POOLS, AND MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE ACTIVE LIFESTYLES.
AND WHEREAS PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMMING AND THE EDUCATION ACTIVITIES SUCH AS OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMMING, YOUTH SPORTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ARE CRITICAL TO CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT.
AND WHEREAS PARKS AND RECREATION INCREASES THE COMMUNITY'S ECONOMIC PROSPERITY THROUGH INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES, EXPANSION OF THE LOCAL TAX BASE, INCREASED TOURISM, AND THE ATTRACTION AND RETENTION OF BUSINESSES AND CRIME REDUCTION.
AND WHEREAS OUR PARKS AND NATURAL RECREATION AREAS ENSURE THE ECOLOGICAL BEAUTY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE A SPACE, A PLACE FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO CONNECT WITH NATURE AND RECREATE OUTDOORS.
AND WHEREAS THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS DESIGNATED JULY AS PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH, AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AVENUE RECOGNIZES THE BENEFITS DERIVED FROM PARKS AND RECREATION RE RESOURCES NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED ON BEHALF OF THE AVONDALE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA, HEREBY PROCLAIMS JULY, 2025 PARK AND RECREATION MONTH.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, IS THERE ANYBODY, 'CAUSE AS MUCH AS PARKS AND RECS HAS ACCOMPLISHED AND AS MUCH AS WE'VE ALL, UH, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATED IN MANY OF THE EVENTS, ANY OF YOU, UH, UP HERE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ANY WORDS OR COMMENTS, WE'LL START AT THE END.
WE'LL GO WITH COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.
THANKS TO THE ENTIRE PARKS AND REC TEAM.
I JUST, I, I, I, I HAD TO BECOME A PART OF THE TEAM IN GREEN, SO I FOUND SOME APPAREL TO MATCH.
UM, BUT I, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU BECAUSE I THINK AS, AS WE CELEBRATE IN THE PRIOR PROCLAMATION, KIND OF FIT REALLY IN A NICE SPACE, I THINK THAT WHAT WE REALIZE IS OUR ABILITY TO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER OFTENTIMES HAPPENS IN THESE TOUCHPOINTS WHERE WE ARE DOING SOMETHING RECREATION OR WE'RE AT A PARK OR WE'RE AT OUR LIBRARIES.
AND I ALWAYS REFER TO MY FIRST REAL JOB BEING AT A PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SO, UM, COGNITIVE ABILITY IS REALLY ENHANCED AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PAYING ATTENTION TO CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND OF ALL ABILITIES.
UM, BECAUSE IF YOU GO INTO A LOT OF OUR FACILITIES, THEY ARE ACCESSIBLE.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT TO ME.
UM, AND, AND IT HELPS PEOPLE WITH THE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES BE ABLE TO ENJOY AND LOVE AVONDALE.
AND TO HEAR THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OVER A MILLION VISITORS TO OUR PARKS, AND THAT WAS AT LAST FY.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO COME INTO AVONDALE PARKS.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT NUMBER'S RIGHT.
AND TO BE CLEAR, THAT'S ACTUALLY, UH, A REFLECTION OF JUST A FRACTION.
FRIENDSHIP PARK ALONE HAD 1.3 MILLION VISITORS LAST YEAR.
FRIENDSHIP PARK ALONE HAD 1.3 MILLION VISITORS.
WELL, THANKS TO ALL THOSE VISITORS AS WELL.
PARKS AND REC COUNCILOR, ROY COREY, AND TEAM, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING.
IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO SEE THE PEOPLE IN GREEN EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT WE GO OUT TO, UM, AN EVENT.
I JUST REALLY LOVE THE FACT THAT WE ARE GETTING PEOPLE OUTDOORS, WE'RE MAKING THINGS FULLY ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY.
AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT IN ALL OF THE NEW DESIGNS THAT WE HAVE COMING UP, WE'RE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT, UM, PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES AND WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE OUT.
SO JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, COUNCILOR SOLORIO, COREY, AND THE TEAM IN GREEN, WHICH WE ALL LOVE.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU GUYS DO.
[00:25:01]
I KNOW THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US UP HERE HAS COME TO WITH YOU, TO YOU GUYS WITH A SUGGESTION, AND YOU JUST TAKE IT AND JUST LIKE HAVE IT MEGA EXPLODE AND MAKE IT 10 TIMES BETTER.SO THANK YOU YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU GUYS DO AND KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.
COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD SAY ANYTHING DIFFERENT,
I KNOW WHEN I FIRST, UH, GOT ON COUNCIL, I EXPRESSED HOW MUCH I LOVE THE PARKS AND RECS IN AVONDALE SPECIFICALLY.
I HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT COME FROM DIFFERENT CITIES SPECIFICALLY TO COME TO OUR LIBRARY PROGRAMS, TO COME TO OUR PARK PROGRAMS. YOU GUYS OFFER SO MUCH TO SO MANY PEOPLE FROM THE AGES OF SIX MONTHS TO 87 YEARS OLD.
LIKE IF YOU GO IN THERE, THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY TO DO AND YOU GUYS MADE THAT POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL LIBRARIES, WE HAVE GREAT STAFF IN THE LIBRARIES, AND I REALLY, I THINK THE LIBRARY STAFF, AS MUCH AS I LOVE ALL THE PARK AND REC STAFF, THE LIBRARY STAFF, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO BECAUSE YOU GUYS MAKE THAT SO MEMORABLE FOR MY 2-YEAR-OLD NIECE AND MY 3-YEAR-OLD NIECE THAT MY COUSIN HAS TO LODGE INTO THAT LIBRARY THREE TIMES A WEEK,
SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
I APOLOGIZE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, CONDI, IS THERE ANY WORDS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, JUST A HUGE THANK YOU TO CORY AND, UM, HIS TEAM.
I KNOW I CAN SAY, UM, HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO, BUT I WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT OUR FAMILY, ESPECIALLY DANIELLA, YOU KNOW, SHE'S HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN SEVERAL PROGRAMS, UM, THE SUMMER, UM, CAMP PROGRAM, UM, ATTEND THE AQUATIC CENTER.
I MEAN, EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS DO, YOU DO WITH EXCELLENCE.
SO I JUST WANNA JUST SAY THANK YOU GUYS AND YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING.
AND I JUST ADD THANKS TO EVERYTHING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID, BUT I'LL, I'LL FOCUS ON JUST ONE LAST FRIDAY NIGHT.
YOU GUYS DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF KEEPING HOW MANY OF OUR THOUSANDS WERE DOWN THERE IN LINE AND MADE A GREAT, GREAT IMPRESSION ON, ON A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWN THERE.
COREY, YOU DIDN'T HAVE YOUR GREEN UH, SHIRT ON.
YOU WERE KIND OF JUST NATURAL KIND OF BLENDING IN WITH EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT THANK YOU.
AND, AND, AND A WEEK AGO WE HAD OUR GRANDCHILDREN, GRANDSONS, THREE GRANDSONS FROM, UH, RENO DOWN TO VISIT WITH US.
AND THEY HAPPENED TO ASK IF THEY COULD VISIT A ADJACENT, UH, WATER PARK AND SEE THAT WATER PARK AS WELL AS OUR AQUATIC CENTER AND UNBIASEDLY.
I CERTAINLY DID ASK THEM WHICH ONE THEY PREFERRED.
AVONDALE WAS THE ONE THAT THEY PREFERRED.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO TO MAKE THIS PLACE A WAY WHERE PEOPLE CONTINUE WANT TO COME.
I'LL JUST SUM IT, SUM IT UP BY SAYING THANK YOU, UH, THANK YOU TO THE STAFF, THE FACES BEHIND THE GREEN SHIRTS, EVERYTHING YOU, THE LONG HOURS YOU PUT IN, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, UH, MANY OF US UP HERE AND EVEN THE COMMUNITY, UH, HAVE A TON OF ASKS AND YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES THAT MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE THERE.
THAT AND, AND A COHESIVE GROUP THAT MAKES IT COME TO FRUITION.
UM, AND, UM, MORE PICKLEBALL COURTS RIGHT TO COME.
I THOUGHT I'D END WITH, I THOUGHT I'D END WITH THAT.
APPRECIATE IT, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I JUST WANNA REFLECT AND SAY THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
YOU GUYS MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR OUR TEAM TO GET CREATIVE AND AND THRIVE.
UM, AND AGAIN, WE ARE VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM HERE, VERY TALENTED PROFESSIONALS, SO I'M FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS GROUP, SO THANK YOU.
[d. Property All-Star Curb Appeal Award]
PLEASE.UP NEXT IS, UH, PRESENTATION BY, UH, JOSH, YOUR CO COMPLIANCE MANAGER.
VERY EXCITED TO, UH, INTRODUCE TWO WINNERS OF OUR PROPERTY ALLSTAR CURB APPEAL AWARD.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, AGAIN, I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT OUR VERY FIRST RECIPIENTS OF OUR PROPERTY ALLSTAR CURB APPEAL AWARD.
SO THIS AWARD WAS CREATED TO RECOGNIZE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND AND MAINTAIN THEIR PROPERTIES.
UM, JUST DEFINITELY TO JUST THAT HIGHER STANDARD, TO TO DEMONSTRATE THAT COMMUNITY PRIDE.
AND WE EVALUATE EACH OF THESE PROPERTIES BASED OFF LANDSCAPE DESIGN, LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE, AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE.
AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR SELECTION COMMITTEE, WHICH COMPRISED OF MEMBERS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION AND MEMBERS OF OUR CITY STAFF, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT OUR FIRST AWARD, UH, TO THE, THE PEREZ FAMILY.
SO THE FRIENDS FAMILY MOVED INTO THE ALAMAR COMMUNITY IN 2021.
THEY ARE NOMINATED BY ONE OF THEIR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS IN ALAMAR.
AND I LIKE TO READ A STATEMENT FROM THAT NOMINATION.
THEIR HOME IS ALWAYS BEAUTIFULLY, BEAUTIFULLY MAINTAINED, AND THEY TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THEIR LANDSCAPING AND CURB APPEAL.
THEY TRULY HELP MAKE OUR COMMUNITY
[00:30:01]
LOOK WELCOMING AND WELL CARED FOR.SO, AND VERY EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU BOTH OR YOUR CERTIFICATE FOR BEING A PROPERTY ALL STAR.
THANK YOU FOR SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION AND MAKING AVONDALE LOOK VERY BEAUTIFUL.
THANK BIG, UH, BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO, UH, JESUS AND ANDRES, UH, BEING OUR FIRST RECIPIENT OF THE AWARD.
AND AGAIN, I'M SURE YOU DON'T DO IT FOR THE AWARDS.
I JUST, I SAY THIS MANY TIMES ABOUT FOLKS THAT ARE GETTING AWARDS HERE AND HONORED IS THAT IT'S JUST WHO YOU ARE.
I WOULD ASSUME IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE AWARD, IT'S JUST THIS REPRESENT REPRESENTATION OF, OF WHO YOU GUYS ARE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU DISPLAYING YOUR SIGN WITH, WITH PRIDE.
OUR NEXT RECIPIENTS, MERCED AND SALLY SHEEZ, I'M GONNA HAVE THEM COME UP AND THEY'RE GONNA BE ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR DAUGHTER DEBBIE.
MR. AND MRS. SHERE ARE BOTH LIFELONG RESIDENTS OF AVONDALE, AND WE HAD, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THEM LAST WEEK, AND IT TURNED OUT THAT MR. REZ ALSO SHARED WITH US THAT HE WAS A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER FOR OUR CITY AS WELL.
UM, THEY BUILT AND MAINTAINED THEIR HOME FOR THE PAST 52 YEARS.
DEBBIE, WHO NOMINATED THE PROPERTY, UM, I'D LIKE TO READ A STATEMENT THAT SHE MADE WHEN, WHAT HER NOMINATION IS.
THE LOCALS AFFECTIONATELY REFER TO HIM AS THE MAN WITH THE BEAUTIFUL CORNER LOT.
THEY'RE TRULY A PILLAR OF OUR AVONDALE COMMUNITY.
AND AGAIN, WE ARE EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS AWARD TO THEM ON YOUR BEHALF.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND MAKING THAT BILL LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
SO IT'S, IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE EVERY TIME I GO TO THAT SPECIFIC INTERSECTION, WHETHER TO GO STRAIGHT OR MAKE THAT LEFT, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THE HOUSE AND IT JUST STICKS OUT BECAUSE OF JUST HOW NICE AND, AND IMMACULATE THE FRONT YARD LOOKS.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO DRAW EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION TO THE TWO VEHICLES AND HOW THEY'RE BACKED INTO THE DRIVEWAY
UH, BUT AGAIN, THANKS, I I LOOK FORWARD TO DRIVING BY THE CORNER OF YOUR HOME AND SEEING THIS SIGN AGAIN DISPLAYED WITH PRIDE AND IT'S JUST A REPRESENTATION OF WHO YOU ARE AND JUST KEEP IT UP.
AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT YOU ARE HONORED WITH THIS AWARD.
AND WILL WE GET PICTURES WITH THE WINNERS? AND NOW'S THE TIME.
[00:43:17]
THIS[00:43:17]
IS HER WIFE.WHO'S THAT? GARCIA? HI, WE'RE GIVING, UH, CHRISTMAS PRESENTS OUT.
COUNCILMAN WEISS, SO THAT'S GOOD.
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES.
UH, AT THIS TIME, MARCEL, DO WE HAVE ANY REQUESTS TO SPEAK? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REQUEST TO SPEAK.
[4. CONSENT AGENDA]
IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WISH TO HAVE AN ITEM REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? E ITEM E.
CAN WE GET A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ALL ITEMS, EITHER EXCEPT FOR E GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO, PLEASE VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI, HOW DO YOU VOTE? AYE.
[e. Resolution 1044-0725 - Fourth Amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Phoenix for Recycling Services]
ME.COUNCIL, I BELIEVE HAROLD, UH, IS GOING TO GIVE A PRESENTATION AND UPDATE
[00:45:01]
ON THIS ITEM.GO TO MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M GONNA GIVE A QUICK, UH, BRIEF OF OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX AND A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, HISTORY WITH THEM AS WELL.
SO WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX, UH, WE HAVE HAD A LONGSTANDING, UH, WORKING RELATIONSHIP, UH, WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX.
THEY PROCESS, THEY HAVE BEEN PROCESSING OUR RECYCLABLE MATERIALS THAT WE COLLECT, UH, FROM OUR RESIDENTS EVERY WEEK AT THEIR MATERIAL RECOVERY FACILITY AND WITH THIS AMENDMENT, UH, FOURTH AND FOURTH AMENDMENT IS THE FINAL AMENDMENT WITH OUR CURRENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX, A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, OF COST HISTORY.
UM, WE, UH, FOR EVERY TON THAT WE PROCESS, UH, THROUGH THE PHOENIX RECYCLING FACILITY, UH, THEY CHARGE US A PER TON FEE.
THAT PER TON FEE HAS INCREASED OVER THE YEARS, AS YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE SCREEN.
UM, THIS IS DUE TO THE CITY OF PHOENIX JUST CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVING THEIR FACILITIES AND INVESTING A LOT OF MONEY INTO THEIR RECYCLING FACILITIES AND THEN PASSING THAT COST, UH, OUT TO THEIR, UH, CUSTOMERS.
NOT ONLY DO WE, UH, GET CHARGED A FEE, BUT THAT REV THE MATERIALS THAT WE COLLECT ALSO HAVE A VALUE TO IT AS WELL.
AND THE CITY OF PHOENIX EVERY QUARTER PROVIDES US WITH AN UPDATED, WHAT THEY CALL BLENDED RATES.
SO ALL THE MATERIALS THAT WE COLLECT AND GIVE US WHAT THE VALUE IS, UH, PER TON.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? UH, FOR US AS A CITY, THAT MEANS THAT THAT REVENUE THAT WE RECEIVE CAN OFFSET THAT PER TON PROCESSING FEE.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2022, WE HAD AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT $8 AND 42 CENTS PER TON IN REVENUE COMING BACK TO THE CITY OF AVONDALE, MEANING THAT THE VALUE OF THE MATERIALS WAS WORTH MORE THAN THE PROCESSING, UH, PER TON FEE.
BUT THAT CHANGED QUICKLY AS THE RECYCLING, UH, INDUSTRY IS VERY VOLATILE AND THE VALUE FOR THOSE MATERIALS, UH, CAN CHANGE ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
AS WE MOVED INTO 2023 AND 2024, UH, THE, UH, OUR PROCESSING FEES AND CONTINUED TO INCREASE, BUT SO, AND BLEND OUR BLENDED RATE, OUR REVENUE THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THOSE, UH, SALES OF THOSE MATERIALS, UH, STARTED TO DECREASE.
SO THAT MEANT THAT FOR US AS A CITY, WE STARTED TO PAY ON AVERAGE IN FISCAL YEAR 23, ABOUT $30 AND 85 CENTS PER TON.
AND THEN IN FISCAL YEAR 24, ON AVERAGE, WE WERE PAYING ABOUT $58 AND 38 CENTS PER TON TO PROCESS THAT MATERIAL.
SINCE, UH, THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, FISCAL YEAR 25, WE'RE BACK TO ABOUT $37 AND 23 CENTS AT A COST TO US.
FOR, FOR THE CITY OF AVONDALE, WE COMPARE THAT TO THE LANDFILL COST.
UH, IN FISCAL YEAR 25, THE PROCESSING FEE PER TON WAS $35 AND 25 CENTS AT THE LANDFILL.
AND FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR 26, UM, OUR AVERAGE COST IS GONNA BE $33 PER TON, WHICH WILL PUT US BELOW THE LANDFILL, UH, PER TON COST AT THIS MOMENT.
NOW, AGAIN, IT IS VOLATILE, IT CAN GO UP AND DOWN, BUT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF IT HAS STABILIZED POST COVID.
UH, THERE WAS A LOT OF FLUCTUATION IN THE CHANGE IN THE MARKET, SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THINGS ARE STARTING TO STABILIZE A LITTLE BIT.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IN FISCAL QUARTER TO A FISCAL YEAR 22, THE AVERAGE RET OR THE RETURN TO US WAS $115 PER TON.
SO THE VALUE OF THAT MATERIAL WAS REALLY HIGH DURING THAT TIMEFRAME, AND IT DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY TO ONLY $26 AND 54 CENTS PER TON AFTERWARDS IN FISCAL YEAR, UH, 2023 AS A, UH, FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, WE, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO RECYCLE 5,700 TONS COMPARED THAT TO OUR TWO 28,550 TONS IN TRASH.
MEANING JUST IN OUR CANS, IN OUR BINS, IN OUR BLUE BINS, IN OUR BLACK BINS, WE WERE ABLE TO DIVERT 20% OF OUR MATERIALS, UH, FROM THE LANDFILL, WHICH IS A REALLY GOOD PERCENTAGE.
AND AS A FRIENDLY REMINDER, UH, WE HAVE OUR TOP 10, TOP 10 ITEMS THAT WE CAN THROW INTO OUR RECYCLING BIN.
UM, SO PLEASE, UH, WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE OUR RESIDENTS TO, UH, FOLLOW THOSE, UM, UH, THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND ITEMS TO PUT INTO THE BLUE RECYCLING BIN.
CONTINUING WITH THE TOPIC OF RECYCLING, JUST WANNA FIT QUICK FOOTNOTE.
WITH OUR RECYCLING DROP-OFF CENTER THAT WE OPENED UP IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, IT HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
IT WAS ONE OF THOSE INITIATIVES, UH, THAT WE HAD IN REGARDS TO PROVIDING RECYCLING SERVICES, UH, TO OUR MULTI-FAMILY, UM, HOMES AND RESIDENTS.
UH, MONTH OVER MONTH, UH, THE AMOUNT OF TONNAGE THAT WE HAVE BEEN COLLECTING FROM THE RECYCLING FACILITY HAS INCREASED AND IN THE COMMUNITY HAS ADOPTED IT REALLY WELL.
UH, OUR RESIDENTS, UH, PUT IN THEIR VERY CLEAN RECYCLING MATERIAL.
UH, SO IT'S BEEN A REALLY GOOD SUCCESS FOR US.
AND, AND FOR, SINCE THE INCEPTION, WE'VE, UH, COLLECTED JUST SHY OF 20 TONS OF RECYCLING MATERIAL, UH, THROUGH OUR DROP OFF CENTER.
SO WHAT ARE OUR NEXT STEPS? WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE VOLATILE RECYCLING MARKETS AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE UPDATES TO COUNCIL AS TO WHERE THE INDUSTRY'S HEADING,
[00:50:01]
WHAT, UH, WHERE THE, UH, LOCAL, UM, PHOENIX AREA CITIES ARE DOING AS WELL WHEN IT COMES TO RECYCLING.AND WE WILL REVIEW OPTIONS FOR PROCESSING, RECYCLING MATERIALS IN PREPARATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 27 AS OUR CURRENT AGREEMENT WITH PHOENIX ENDS WITH THIS FOURTH AND LAST EXTENSION.
UH, SO WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR OPTIONS IN REGARDS TO, UH, PROCESSING OUR MATERIALS AND BE READY FOR FISCAL YEAR 27.
THANK YOU SO MUCH HAROLD, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I WAS JUST WONDERING, UH, WE HAD VALUABLE RECYCLABLES IN THE PAST.
CAN YOU GIVE US LIKE A RANGE OF WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED LIKE A VALUABLE RECYCLABLE, I THINK ABOUT CARDBOARD THAT'S INTACT, LIKE DIRECTLY FROM AMAZON AND ALUMINUM CANS THAT MAYBE HAVE A BRAND LABEL ON IT, THAT, THAT SAY THAT THEY'RE RECYCLABLE 'CAUSE THEY POSSIBLY CAN GO RIGHT BACK TO THE BRAND.
BUT CAN YOU GIVE US A BETTER SCOPE ON THAT? 'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE MAYBE WE COULD TARGET RECYCLING THINGS OF MORE VALUE.
MAYOR
UM, YES, DEPENDING ON THE MARKET, SOME MATERIALS ARE MORE VALUABLE THAN OTHERS.
SO, UH, POST COVID CARDBOARD WAS VERY VALUABLE BECAUSE EVERYONE THERE, THERE WAS A LOT OF ORDERING ONLINE AND, UH, ITEMS BEING DELIVERED, UH, TO THE HOUSEHOLD.
SO THE DEMAND FOR THAT CARDBOARD WENT UP EXPONENTIALLY, BUT THEN IT DROPPED QUICKLY AS WELL BECAUSE THEN BEHAVIOR, CONSUMER BEHAVIOR CHANGED QUICKLY TOO.
SO IN REGARDS TO WHAT IS VALUABLE, IT DEPENDS ON THE TIMEFRAME THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ASKING THAT QUESTION.
THAT'S WHERE THE CITY OF PHOENIX PROVIDES US WHAT'S CALLED A BLENDED RATE, MEANING ALL THE MATERIALS THAT WE COLLECT, THEY GIVE US THAT ONE SPECIFIC RATE.
SO BY TARGETING ONE ITEM OVER THE OTHER DOESN'T REALLY BENEFIT US FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
SO THE CITY OF PHOENIX GIVES US THAT ONE FULL BLENDED RATE, UH, INSTEAD OF US TRYING TO TARGET, THEY JUST WOULD RATHER HAVE EVERYTHING RECYCLED TOGETHER.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? OKAY.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE THAT AND OUR DILIGENCE AT PUBLIC WORKS AND, AND YOU DO HAROLD TO, TO KEEP US ABREAST OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
I KNOW THE COMMUNITY IS ALWAYS EXCITED ABOUT RECYCLING, JUST TO SEE SOME NUMBERS LIKE THAT, IT GETS THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT REALLY IS HAPPENING AND NOT THAT WE'RE GONNA DO IT ONE DAY AND NOT ANOTHER DAY THAT YOU GUYS ARE ON TOP OF IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND YOU PRESENT IT TO US SO THAT THE US AS WELL AS A COMMUNITY CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF IT ALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I DO HAVE JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION ON THE DROP OFF FOR, UM, THE COMMUNITY.
IS IT EVER FULL? DO WE EVER HAVE A NEED FOR ANOTHER ONE IS, YES.
UH, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS? YES.
UM, WE WERE HAVING THE, EACH ONE OF THE BINS, UH, ROLL OFF BINS SERVICED TWICE A MONTH.
WE'VE HAD TO NOW MOVE TO HAVING THEM SERVICED EVERY WEEK BECAUSE THE TONNAGE HAS INCREASED.
SO AT THIS MOMENT, WE'RE ABLE TO MEET WITH THE DEMAND BY, UH, UH, DISPOSING OF THE MATERIALS MORE QUICKLY.
UH, BUT IF THERE IS, YOU KNOW, ANY ADDITIONAL NEED FOR THE DEMAND, WE'LL DEFINITELY, UH, PROVIDE MORE UPDATES ON THAT.
AND AGAIN, JUST IN A SHORT WHILE, I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT STRATEGIC PLANNING AND ONE OF THE, UH, THINGS THAT HAS COME UP IN REGARDS TO, UH, STRATEGY AND AS AN ORGANIZATION, HOW DO WE BECOME MORE EFFICIENT? THIS JUST FALLS RIGHT IN LINE WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THAT, UM, VIEWPOINT, UH, OR AT LEAST THAT DATA POINT IS, UH, REVIEWED AND OBSERVED BY YOUR DEPARTMENT.
AND SO THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO COMMUNICATE IT TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO SECOND FROM VICE MAYOR NIELSEN.
WE CAN TAKE A VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
[a. Public Hearing and Ordinance 2026-0725 - Hermosa Ranch Technology Campus North - Major Planned Area Development Amendment PL-25-0054]
REGULAR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE.THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
WE NOW WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION BY JOSS, OUR LEAD SENIOR PLANNER ON THE HERMOSA RANCH TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS NORTH, A MAJOR PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, MY NAME IS JOSHUA WHARTON.
I'M A LEAD SENIOR PLANNER HERE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN THE PLANNING DIVISION.
THE ITEM BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS THE HERMOSA RANCH TECHNOLOGY COR CAMPUS NORTH MAJOR PLANT AREA DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT.
THIS IS APPLICATION PL 25 DASH 0 0 5 4.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM IS TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE HERMOSA RANCH TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS NORTH PLANARY DEVELOPMENT AND CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS WILL BE THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING WHERE COUNSEL WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THIS ITEM.
THE SITE IS LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF LOWER BUCKEYE ROAD AND AVONDALE BOULEVARD AND IS APPROXIMATELY 239 ACRES AND IS A FORMER DAIRY FARM
[00:55:01]
IN TERMS OF THE SURROUNDING ZONING DISTRICTS AND LAND USES NORTH OF LOWER BUCKEYE ROAD IS THE DEL RIO RANCH SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISION ALONG LOWER BUCKEYE ROAD IS A COUNTY ISLAND TO THE EAST CONTAINING THE RACE RAY RANCHERO SUBDIVISION.AND SOUTH OF THAT IS THE PLANNED SHADOW RIDGE SUBDIVISION.
THOSE ARE BOTH SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISIONS.
SOUTH OF THIS PROPERTY IS THE HERMOSA RANCH TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS SOUTH PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT, WHICH HOUSES THE PRIME DATA CENTER AS WELL AS THE SIERRA STRAY ENERGY STORAGE FACILITY, AS WELL AS THE EXISTING SRP SUBSTATION.
TO THE WEST IS THE CONATA RANCH SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISION, AND THAT IS OWNED CONATA RANCH, PAD, EXCUSE ME, THE PROPERTY WAS ANNEXED IN 2006 AND 2008 AND WAS REZONED TO PAD IN 2024.
THESE ARE A COUPLE PHOTOS OF THE SITE.
THE FIRST IS LOOKING SOUTHWEST FROM LOWER BUCKEYE ROAD.
THE SECOND IS IN THE SAME DIRECTION FROM ALONG AVONDALE BOULEVARD.
THE FIRST PHOTO SHOWS THE VICINITY WHERE IT'S EXPECTED THAT THE DATA CENTER WILL BE LOCATED WHILE THE SECOND PHOTO SHOWS THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THE COMMERCIAL CENTER.
THE GENERAL PLAN FOR THIS PROPERTY IS BUSINESS PARK AND LOCAL COMMERCIAL.
AND THE PAD AMENDMENT REQUEST IS COMPRISED OF TWO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES.
THE FIRST IS TO ADJUST THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR THE DATA CENTER PARCEL, AND THE SECOND IS TO MODIFY THE PAD STIPULATIONS TO ADDRESS DEVELOPMENT PHASING AND CLARIFY THE REQUIRED ON AND OFFSITE IMPROVEMENTS.
THE AMENDED DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING, AN INCREASE IN THE MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT FROM 50 TO 52 FEET, AN INCREASE IN THE ALLOWED PARAPET WALL HEIGHT FROM FIVE FEET TO NINE FEET ABOVE THE MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT, AND AN INCREASE IN THE HEIGHT OF SCREENING FOR MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT FROM 75 FEET TO 77 FEET ABOVE THE MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT.
AND FINALLY, AN INCREASE IN THE ALLOWED HEIGHT FOR ELEVATOR PENTHOUSES AND SCREENING FOR ELEVATOR EQUIPMENT FROM 75 FEET TO 86 FEET.
SHOWN HERE IS A SITE PLAN WITH SOME OF THESE AREAS OF INCREASED HEIGHT OUTLINED IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE PERCEIVED SCALE OF THE EQUIPMENT SCREENING.
THE AREAS WHERE THE 77 FOOT SCREENING WILL BE SET, WILL BE LOCATED, WILL BE SET BACK AT LEAST 10 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE BUILDING.
AND THEN ELEVATOR EQUIPMENT WILL BE LOCATED SO AS TO REDUCE ITS VISIBILITY FROM THE STREET.
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THESE NEW BUILDING STANDARDS WILL LOOK LIKE, THE APPLICANT HAS PROVIDED SOME PERSPECTIVES.
TWO PERSPECTIVES I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ARE VIEWS TWO AND FOUR.
SO THE FIRST VIEWPOINT IS FROM LOWER BUCKEYE ROAD LOOKING SOUTH.
THIS IS APPROXIMATELY WHERE THE COMMERCIAL CENTER WILL MEET THE DATA CENTER.
IT SHOWS THE APPROVED BUILDING HEIGHTS FOR THE DATA CENTER.
SO THIS IS ALREADY WHAT'S BEEN APPROVED AS PART OF THIS PAD.
THIS NEXT VIEW SHOWS THE INCREASED HEIGHTS.
AND THEN FINALLY THE LAST VIEW SHOWS WHAT THE FINAL PRODUCT WILL LOOK LIKE WITH THE REQUIRED LANDSCAPING IN FRONT OF IT.
VIEWPOINT FOUR IS THE SAME SEQUENCE.
SO IT SHOWS THE PERSPECTIVE FROM THE SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISION ACROSS THE STREET.
AND THEN THIS IS WITH THE INCREASED HEIGHT.
AND FINALLY, THE LANDSCAPING ADDITIONAL PERSPECTIVES ARE SHOWN IN THE PAD NARRATIVE THAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET.
IN ADDITION TO THE UPDATED DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO MODIFY THE STIPULATIONS FROM THE ORIGINAL REZONE ORDINANCE.
THIS, THESE MODIFICATIONS WOULD TIE REQUIRED ON AND OFFSITE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARCELS IDENTIFIED IN THE NARRATIVE.
SO FOR CONTEXT, PARCEL A HAS BEEN APPROVED AS A COMMERCIAL CENTER WITH A GROCERY STORE ANCHOR AND OTHER RETAIL SERVICE AND RESTAURANT PADS.
PARCEL B IS WHERE THE PLANNED DATA CENTER WILL BE LOCATED.
PARCEL A WOULD BE REQUIRED TO INSTALL REQUIRED IMPROVEMENTS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THEIR FRONTAGE.
THESE INCLUDE IMPROVEMENTS IN AN ADJACENT TO THE RIGHTS OF WAY ON AVONDALE BOULEVARD AND LOWER BUCKEYE ROAD.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE'LL BE A A $500,000 CONTRIBUTION TO A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF MIAMI AVENUE AND AVONDALE BOULEVARD.
PARCEL B WOULD SIMILARLY SIMILARLY BE REQUIRED TO INSTALL IMPROVEMENTS ADJACENT TO THEIR SITE, WHICH INCLUDE RIGHT OF WAY IMPROVEMENTS AND A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT A HUNDRED 19TH AND LOWER BUCKEYE ROAD.
ADDITIONALLY, THEY'LL BE REQUIRED TO INSTALL A TRAIL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY'S ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN ALONG THE REGIONAL POWER AND CORRIDOR ON THE WEST SIDE OF THEIR PROPERTY.
AS PART OF STAFF'S ANALYSIS, THE AMENDMENT MEETS THE FIVE REQUIRED FINDINGS FOR PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENTS.
IT CONFORMS WITH THE GENERAL PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATIONS AS WELL AS
[01:00:01]
THE CONFORMS WITH THE PAD REQUIREMENTS OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND THE CITY'S SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS AND DESIGN MANUALS.ADDITIONALLY, ADEQUATE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT EITHER PRESENTLY EXISTS OR WILL BE CONSTRUCTED BY THE DEVELOPER AS PART OF THEIR STIPULATIONS.
THE RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL ARE REASONABLE TO ENSURE CONFORMANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND OTHER APPLICABLE CITY CODE OR CODES ORDINANCES AND POLICIES.
AND THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS OUTLINED IN THIS PD ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S COMMERCE PARK AND COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS.
A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING WAS HELD AT CITY HALL ON MAY 6TH OF THIS YEAR.
THERE WERE SIX ATTENDEES ASIDE FROM THE APPLICANT'S TEAM, CITY STAFF, AND, UH, ONE COUNCIL MEMBER.
DISCUSSION WAS PRIMARILY RELATED TO THE SCALE OF THE, OF THE DATA CENTER.
THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE, UH, CHANGE IN HEIGHT.
THERE WERE QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT LOCATED AT THE HARD CORNER.
AND THEN THE PROJECT TIMELINE WAS ALSO DISCUSSED.
STAFF HAS ALSO RECEIVED 20 WRITTEN RESPONSES, UH, IN OPPOSITION TO THE CHANGE, EITHER THROUGH EMAIL OR VIA AVONDALE CONNECT.
MOST OF THE CONCERNS WERE WITH THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT THE TIMELINE WAS FOR THAT DEVELOPMENT TO OCCUR.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS WITH THE INCREASED HEIGHT.
IN RESPONSE TO THAT, THE APPLICANT PROVIDED SOME PERSPECTIVE SHOWING WHAT THE INCREASED HEIGHT WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND THAT'S WHAT I SHOWED YOU EARLIER.
AS PART OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, A MEETING WAS HELD ON JUNE 18TH.
MEMBERS VOTED FIVE TO ZERO TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF PL 25 DASH 0 0 5 4.
QUESTIONS ASKED WERE RELATED TO THE NUMBER OF REQUESTS THAT AMENDMENTS AS WELL AS THE TIMELINE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
STAFF RESPONDED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THIS PAD THAT WAS REQUESTED AND A TIMELINE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE GROCERY STORE ANCHOR AND DATA CENTER WAS PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT.
AND WITH THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION PL 25 DASH 0 0 5 4.
THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 20 26 0 7 2 5.
I PROVEN A MAJOR AMENDMENT TO THE HERMOSA RANCH TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS NORTH PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT SUBJECT TO THE 12 CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL AS LISTED IN THE STAFF REPORT AND TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR OR CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MARCEL, HAS THERE BEEN ANY, ANY ANY REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? THANK YOU MAYOR.
I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REQUESTS TO SPEAK.
AND AT THIS TIME I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND LIKE TO ENTERTAIN.
ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE JUST 'CAUSE UM, IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THIS MORNING VERY WELL BY OUR CITY MANAGER AND STAFF.
I ORIGINALLY WAS GONNA VOTE NO.
I'VE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS REACH OUT TO ME BECAUSE OF THE HEIGHT.
UM, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT ELSE THAT THIS WILL BRING INTO THE AREA, INCLUDING THE FRIES, GROCERY STORE AND OTHER AMENITIES THAT WE REALLY NEED IN THE SOUTH, UM, OF AVONDALE ESPECIALLY THE RESIDENTS ARE ALWAYS ASKING FOR GROCERY STORES, NEW RESTAURANTS IN THAT AREA.
UM, I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE A GREAT WAY TO ENABLE THAT AND TO E ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME HERE AND OPEN NEW RESTAURANTS.
UM, HOPEFULLY A DIFFERENT GROCERY STORE AS WELL, LIKE LATER ON AS, AS TIME GOES BY.
SO, UM, I'M NOT, I'M NOT VOTING NO BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO, I'M VOTING YES FOR THE FUTURE OF THE SOUTH AVONDALE.
UM, TO FURTHER EXPLAIN THAT, YOU MIGHT ASK THE APPLICANT TO GIVE THE TIMELINE.
THEY PROVIDED IT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT I THINK THE TIMELINE, UH, OF THE GROCERY STORE, UH, IS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMUNITY IF THEY'RE WILLING TO SHARE ANY OF THAT.
IT IS AS REFERENCED BY THE PRESENTATION OUT OF THE 20 COMMENTS, UH, THAT I WAS ABLE TO REVIEW SEVERAL OF 'EM.
THERE WERE A FEW THAT DID MENTION REFERENCE THE HEIGHT, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING IT WAS MORE ABOUT WHEN ARE WE GONNA GET SOME COMMERCIAL.
SO IF, IF, UH, THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SHARE, UH, SOME INFORMATION RELATED TO THE START OF THAT 'CAUSE EVERYBODY'S ANXIOUS AND, AND WAITING.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. MAYOR.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, IT'S GREAT TO BE BEFORE YOU TODAY, CAROLYN OVER HOLZER WITH BERGEN FRANK SMOLEY AND OVER HOLZER AT 43 43 EAST CAMELBACK.
AND I DON'T LOVE COMING BACK TO YOU GUYS FOR A MAJOR PAD AMENDMENT, UM, JUST A YEAR AFTER WE GOT THE ZONING.
BUT I DO LOVE THE REASON WHY, AND IT REALLY WAS DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE GROCERY, UM, ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE SITE.
[01:05:01]
GROCER HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AND THEIR PLANS REALLY ACCELERATED THE PROJECT IN A WAY THAT WE DIDN'T ENVISION, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE ASKING TO AMEND THOSE STIPULATIONS.UM, THEY ALREADY HAVE THEIR SITE PLAN APPROVED.
SO WITH THE COMPLETION OF THIS PAD AMENDMENT, THEY'LL BE SUBMITTING THEIR CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS AND THEY WILL BE OPEN BEFORE THE END OF NEXT YEAR.
UH, ADDITIONALLY, THE DATA CENTER CAMPUS, THEIR SITE PLAN IS ALSO ON FILE WITH THE CITY.
THERE'S A LOT MORE SITE WORK INVOLVED WITH THAT.
SO THEY WILL BE GOING THROUGH THE SITE PLAN PROCESS THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR.
NEXT YEAR WILL BE THE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENT PHASE.
YOU PROBABLY HAVE NOTICED THEY'VE ALREADY DONE SOME DEMO WORK OUT THERE AND THEY ARE DOING SITE PREPARATION WORK AND THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO IN ADVANCE OF THOSE APPROVALS.
UM, BUT THEN THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS FOR THE DATA CENTER CAMPUS WILL EXTEND FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS WITH THE, UM, FIRST BUILDING OPERATIONAL IN EARLY 2028.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT INFORMATION.
YES, COUNCILMAN RO WHITE, I APPRECIATE.
THANK YOU MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, FOR BRINGING THIS TO US.
THANK YOU TO THE FAMILY FOR BEING HERE AS WELL.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING, UM, HERE TO SUPPORT THIS.
I THINK THAT SEEING DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN IN AVONDALE, UM, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE CLOUD AND WHERE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION ARE REALLY GOING IN THE FUTURE, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE STORAGE FACILITIES, UM, AND, AND WE NEED TO BE A PART OF THAT TECHNOLOGY PATHWAY THROUGH THE STATE OF ARIZONA.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, THIS PROJECT AND I'M EXCITED.
I MEAN, I EAT SO I WANT GROCERIES TOO, UM,
UM, BUT I THINK AS, AS WE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP, UH, THE SOUTHERN PART OF AVONDALE, IT'S EXCITING TO, UM, KNOW THAT WE'RE BRINGING THIS TYPE OF ASSET ONTO OUR PORTFOLIO OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE BUSINESS IN COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY HERE IN AVONDALE.
THANK YOU CAROLYN ALSO FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND UM, YEAH, I KNOW THAT I LOOKED BACK, THIS WAS APPROVED BACK IN MAY.
THE HEIGHT WAS APPROVED BACK IN MAY OF 2024.
AND I DID READ THE COMMENTS AND THERE WERE A COUPLE ABOUT THE HEIGHT, BUT MOST OF THEM CENTERED AROUND THE NEED FOR GROCERY STORES AND DINING.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S JUST GONNA SPARK, UM, OTHER THINGS IN THE AREAS AND THE OTHER, UM, CORNERS ALSO.
AND THEN IT'S BRINGING TO TRAFFIC LIGHTS THAT ARE MUCH NEEDED IN THE AREA AS WELL.
AND CAN I JUST SAY, NOT JUST A FRIES, BUT A FRIES MARKETPLACE, WHICH IS SO EXCITING.
UM, WE JUST APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENT.
I KNOW IT'S A TWO FOR ONE DEAL, COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT ONE OR THE OTHER.
AND UM, AGAIN, OUR RESIDENTS ARE JUST BEEN SCREAMING FOR THIS SORT OF DEVELOPMENT, SO I KNOW WE'RE ALL GONNA BE EXCITED TO PUSH ON DOWN THE ROAD AND CHECK OUT THE FRY'S MARKETPLACE AND ALL THE OTHER GROWTH THAT IT'LL SPUR, UH, MOVING FORWARD FROM THAT POINT.
SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT INFORMATION, CAROLYN.
AND AT THIS TIME, IF WE ALREADY HAVE A MOTION, GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS.
UH, CAN WE PLEASE VOTE? AND COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI, HOW DO YOU VOTE? AYE.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU AGAIN.
THANK YOU FOR THE INVESTMENT IN AVONDALE.
[b. Resolution 1049-0725 - City’s 2025 Strategic Plan]
OKAY, RON, NEXT ITEM PLEASE.UP NEXT IS YOUR, UH, 2025 STRATEGIC PLAN.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ANISE RAMAL, SENIOR MANAGER ANALYST IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
TODAY I AM HERE TO INTRODUCE OUR UPDATED STRATEGIC PLAN TO YOU.
THE CITY STRATEGIC PLAN WAS ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN 2021, AND IT WAS A FIVE YEAR PLAN.
IN MID 2024, THE CITY HIRED BAFT TELES CONSULTING TO BEGIN THE UPDATE TO THE PLAN, CONTINUE THE LONG-TERM VISION, AND SET NEW PRIORITIES THAT WILL SERVE AS THE BASIS OF FOR DEVELOPMENT OF DEPARTMENTAL GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION IN THE COMING YEARS.
TONIGHT, NANCY HETRICK FROM MATHIS WILL REVIEW THE STRATEGIC PLAN PROCESS AND THE 2025 STRATEGIC PLAN.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME NANCY TO THE PODIUM.
MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN AND I'M DELIGHTED TO PRESENT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING, UH, YOUR UPDATED STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
I HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION I'LL TAKE YOU THROUGH.
UH, I KNOW YOU'VE HAD A CO AN OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW THE PLAN, BUT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, WALK THROUGH, UH, THOSE ELEMENTS IN THE PROCESS THAT TOOK US, UH, TO THE PLAN.
UH, SO WE'LL GO THROUGH A PROCESS.
WE'LL REVIEW THE VISION, PURPOSE AND VALUES, AND THE STRATEGIC OUTCOME AREAS AND STRATEGIES IMPORTANTLY THAT YOU IDENTIFIED THROUGH YOUR PLANNING PROCESS.
A STRATEGIC PLAN ANSWERS THREE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY WHAT HAS OCCURRED THROUGH A, A LONG AND ENGAGED PROCESS, INCLUDING, UH, A WORKSHOP HELD WITH EACH OF YOU, UH, IN EARLIER THIS YEAR, RESULTING IN YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
SO A GOOD STRATEGIC PLAN ANSWERS THE
[01:10:01]
QUESTIONS, WHAT DO WE KNOW TO BE TRUE TODAY IN TERMS OF THE CONTEXT OF THE CITY? WHAT DO WE HOPE WILL BE TRUE IN THE FUTURE? AND WHAT MUST GO WELL IN ORDER TO GET THERE? THE CITY OF, OF AVONDALE, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, HAS A TRADITION OF USING A STRATEGIC PLAN TO GUIDE AND INFORM THE WORK THAT YOU DO.AND THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF THAT COMMITMENT.
THE GOALS OF THE PROCESS WERE TO UPDATE AND BUILD ON THE SUCCESSES OF THE LAST STRATEGIC PLAN.
IT CREATES A SHARED VISION FOR THE FUTURE, AND IT SERVES TO ALIGN THE RESOURCES, UH, OF THE CITY AND DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN THAT REALLY RESULTS IN YOUR VISION AND THE RESULTS YOU ARE STRIVING TO MAKE.
HERE'S JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE STEPS THAT OCCURRED TO CREATE THE PLAN.
UH, IT BEGAN WITH COUNCIL INTERVIEWS INCLUDED COMMUNITY MEETINGS, ONLINE ENGAGEMENT IN PERSON MEETING WITH THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP TEAM, UH, AND ULTIMATELY CONVENED IN A, UH, TWO DAY, UH, EXTRAVAGANZA, WHICH INCLUDED, UH, EXPERT PANELS ON, ON KEY TOPIC AREAS OF INTEREST TO COUNCIL, UH, AS WELL AS THE WORKSHOP AND PARTICIPATION FROM EACH OF YOU.
SO HERE ARE THE ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN, THE CORE PURPOSE AND CORE VALUES OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
THEY ARE SUCCINCT AND MEMORABLE, UH, AND HAVE SERVED THE CITY WELL OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST, UH, HORIZON OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
THE ELEMENTS WE LOOKED AT IN OUR WORKSHOP, UH, WERE THE VISION FOR THE FUTURE STRATEGIC OUTCOME AREAS AND THE STRATEGIES THAT WILL DELIVER THE RESULTS.
SO EACH OF THESE HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT WHERE THE CITY IS ON ITS JOURNEY AND WHERE YOU WANT TO TAKE IT TO THE FUTURE.
SO THE VISION THAT RESULTED THROUGH THIS PROCESS, UH, IS HERE BEFORE YOU.
IT READS IN AVONDALE, WE EMBRACE THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE BY FOSTERING INNOVATION AND EMPOWERING ALL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO ASPIRE, ACHIEVE, AND ACCELERATE TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
NEXT, WE GET INTO SORT OF THE MEAT OF THE PLAN, IF YOU WILL.
UH, THIS IS THE AREAS OF FOCUS THAT YOU WILL PRIORITIZE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
UH, WE'LL THEN LOOK AT STRATEGIES THAT REALLY PROVIDE A ROADMAP FOR HOW YOU'RE GONNA GET THERE.
UH, THERE ARE FIVE STRATEGIC OUTCOME AREAS.
THEY INCLUDE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY, COMMUNITY WELLBEING, RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION, CONNECTED AND ENGAGED COMMUNITY AND INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT.
I WILL GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE OUTCOME AREAS.
I'LL HIGHLIGHT THE DIRECTIONAL GOAL STATEMENT, BUT I WON'T READ ALL THE STRATEGIES YOU HAVE THEM BEFORE YOU AND I, AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CERTAINLY WE CAN ANSWER THOSE FOR YOU.
SO, THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND GROWTH.
AVONDALE SUPPORTS A THRIVING LOCAL ECONOMY BY FOSTERING AND SUPPORTING BUSINESS GROWTH, JOB CREATION, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
THE CITY ADVANCES ECONOMIC GROWTH.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ATTRACTS HIGH QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT AND FULL SERVICE AMENITIES, AND PROMOTES A VARIETY OF ATTAINABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES THAT STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S VITALITY.
SO, AMBITIOUS AND ASPIRATIONAL, UH, OUTCOME.
HERE YOU CAN SEE THERE WERE FIVE, UH, STRATEGIES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AND DOCUMENTED TO MOVE TOWARD THE DIRECTION OF THAT GOAL STATEMENT I JUST READ TO YOU.
UH, THESE ARE CONTAINED IN THE PLAN.
AVONDALE IS A CITY WHERE ALL PEOPLE FEEL SAFE, SUPPORTED AND CONNECTED TO RESOURCES THAT PROMOTE AND ENHANCE THEIR WELLBEING.
THE CITY PRIORITIZES PUBLIC SAFETY, NATURAL RESOURCES, HEALTHCARE AND WELLNESS, WHILE PROMOTING MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH FOR ALL TO ENJOY AND EN ENRICHING QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND I FEEL LIKE SEAN WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT ONE.
UH, IT'S A BIG PRIORITY AND A BIG AREA OF, UM, OF INTEREST FOR COUNCIL AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, I WON'T READ THROUGH EACH OF THESE, BUT THEY'RE CONTAINED IN THE THE PLAN.
NEXT, WE HAVE CONNECTED, ENGAGED COMMUNITY.
AVONDALE INFORMS, PREPARES AND ENGAGES OUR COMMUNITY TO ENSURE RESIDENTS ARE CONNECTED TO RESOURCES, THE REGION AND EACH OTHER.
FIVE STRATEGIES DRIVE US TO THAT GOAL, UH, AS OUTLINED HERE ON THIS NEXT SLIDE.
RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION.
AVONDALE INVESTS IN SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING WATER, ROADS, AND UTILITIES, AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN REGIONAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
AND THERE ARE FIVE STRATEGIES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AL OUTCOME AREA.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AND IMPORTANTLY, IN TERMS OF THE, THE QUALITY OF SERVICES THAT ARE DELIVERED, UH, TO YOUR RESIDENTS, INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT.
UH, THE GOAL STATEMENT FOR THIS IS AVONDALE'S ELECTED LEADERS, EMPLOYEES, AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS COLLABORATE TO SERVE AS A MODEL OF INNOVATION, EFFICIENCY, AND RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE SIX STRATEGIES THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO ACHIEVING THAT GOAL OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
UH, AND, UM, WE'LL DEVELOP, INFORM THE, THE ROADMAP FOR HOW WORK IS DONE.
[01:15:01]
IS A LITTLE VIEW OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.AGAIN, YOU HAVE A COPY OF IT, UM, THAT YOU HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
I WOULD ASK FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AND, AND HOPE THAT YOU ARE, UM, PLEASED WITH THE PROCESS AND THE OUTCOME AND YOUR PLANS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT.
UM, REALLY QUICKLY BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK, UH, RON, UH, AND LEADERSHIP, ALSO ALL STAFF DIRECTORS, UM, MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, STAKEHOLDERS, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ALL PARTICIPATED IN THIS STRATEGIC, UM, PLANNING OPPORTUNITY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS ELECTED, UM, RON AND I MET AND HE SAID, WHAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO DO? AND I SAID, WELL, LET'S, LET'S ENGAGE IN A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN.
WE HAVE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE JOINING US, A NEW MAYOR.
AND SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR ALL OF US TO, TO SET THE TONE.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY HERE HAS OTHER THINGS GOING ON.
SO THE FACT THAT WE WERE, WERE ABLE TO BE HERE TOGETHER FOR THOSE TWO DAYS TO ENGAGE IN THAT OPPORTUNITY SAYS A LOT ABOUT THIS BODY HERE.
AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND EVERYBODY FOR BEING A PART OF THE PROCESS TO KIND OF SET THAT TONE FOR WHERE WE ARE HEADED.
AND AVONDALE HAS A LOT OF, OF GROWING TO DO.
AND, UH, WHILE THERE ARE OTHER COMMUNITIES HERE IN THE REGION WHO ARE EXCELLING, GREAT FOR THEM.
BUT, UH, AVONDALE IS NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.
AND, UH, I JUST APPRECIATE IT.
SO, OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER? WHITE.
CONDI, UH, LET'S GO WITH YOU FIRST.
UM, JUST REAL QUICK, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, NANCY.
AND FOR ME IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID GET THAT COMMUNITY INPUT.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY, LEADERS THAT HAD A LOT OF VISION FOR WHERE THEY WANT, UH, TO SEE OUR CITY GOING AND JUST TO HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION AND INVITING THEM TO THE TABLE TO BE A PART OF IT.
UM, I'M JUST VERY THANKFUL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.
I, NANCY, I THINK YOU, UM, THE TWO DAYS THAT WE SPENT WITH YOU, UM, WE HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS AND SOME CHANGES THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE.
AND I JUST THOUGHT WE DID, UM, GREAT.
UM, ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP DEVELOP THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
ANYBODY ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS.
I THINK I WAS ONLY HERE FOR JUST A FEW WEEKS WHEN WE DID THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND IT WAS, I REALLY ENJOYED IT.
I ENJOYED THE INTERACTION, I ENJOYED HOW IT WAS ALL SET UP.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE BROUGHT IN COMMUNITY, UH, STAKEHOLDERS, UM, TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS.
SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR THE PRESENTATION AND TO MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR BEING THERE.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, WE DID SPEND TWO DAYS, YOU KNOW, TO WORK ON IT.
AND THE STAFF, THEY WERE ALL THERE TOO.
THANK YOU NANCY, AND THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP AND GUIDANCE.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU ALSO FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DID AND THOSE TWO DAYS.
UM, IF ANYONE GOES BACK AND WATCHES IT, YOU WILL SEE HOW WE AS A COUNCIL AGREED ON THE FUTURE OF AVONDALE.
AND WE REALLY PUT THOUGHT INTO EVERY WORD, EVERY SENTENCE, EVERY PUNCTUATION IN, IN, IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
SO FOR EVERYONE THAT PARTICIPATED TO THE COUNCIL, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
BUT I REALLY DO SUGGEST IF ANYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH IT, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE AS A BODY PUT AVONDALE BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE.
THANKS AGAIN, NANCY, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
OKAY, WE GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO, PLEASE VOTE.
[c. Ordinance 2027-0725 – Amendment of City Code Chapter 7, Articles I, II, III, IV, and V – Relating to Special Events]
OKAY, RON, NEXT ITEM PLEASE.UP NEXT, I THINK CORY'S GONNA DO THE INTROS, UH, BUT I BELIEVE DOMINIC IS GONNA GIVE THEIR PRESENTATION.
BUT BEFORE WE START, UM, I, I WANNA LEAD WITH, UM, UH, WE'RE GONNA DO THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT AND THE DISCUSSION, BUT, UM, WE'RE GONNA ASK COUNCIL TO, UM, CONTINUE THIS TILL THE NEXT MEETING ON THE 14TH FOR THE, THE VOTE.
UH, WE'D LIKE, UH, ANOTHER WEEK TO WORK WITH, UH, NASCAR AND PHOENIX RACE ON A COUPLE QUESTIONS THEY HAD, UH, BUT NOTHING WE SHOULDN'T HAVE RESOLVED, UH, BEFORE NEXT MONDAY.
SO, BUT WE DO WANT FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL TONIGHT AND, UH, HEAR THE PRESENTATION.
AND THEN, UH, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE IT ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA FOR FOR MONDAY.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, COREY RIVA PARKS RECREATION LIBRARIES DIRECTOR BACK AGAIN, UH, BRINGING FORWARD AN ORDINANCE TO
[01:20:01]
AMEND CHAPTER SEVEN OF THE CITY CODE RELATED TO THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMITTING PROCESS.TONIGHT I'M JOINED BY DOMINIC DIONA, OUR SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST ON THE TEAM WHO OVERSEES THE SPECIAL ED PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS TO SHOW SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOW THIS WILL STREAMLINE AND IMPROVE THE OVERALL OUTCOME FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INTRODUCTION, COREY.
I'M WITH THE PARKS, RECREATION AND LIBRARIES DEPARTMENT.
TONIGHT I'M HERE TO GIVE A PRESENTATION ON THE TOPIC OF CITY CODE, SPECIFICALLY TO UP AN UPDATE TO CHAPTER SEVEN SPECIAL EVENTS.
SO THE REASON WE'RE HERE TONIGHT IS TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF AN INTERNAL REVIEW COMPLETED BY STAFF THAT TOOK IN FEEDBACK REGARDING THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT PROCESS.
THE PROPOSED CODE UPDATES AIM TO ENHANCE OUR OVERALL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND IMPROVE EFFICIENCY UNDER THE CURRENT CITY CODE.
ALL EVENT APPLICATIONS, NO MATTER THEIR SIZE OR THEIR COMPLEXITY, ARE SUBJECT TO THE SAME REVIEW PROCESS.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS PRESENTED TONIGHT AIM TO IMPROVE THIS.
THE BENEFITS CUSTOMERS WILL SEE INCLUDE FASTER REVIEW TIMES, FEWER STEPS IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS, ENHANCED EVENT SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT, AND SUPPORT FOR A ONE-STOP SHOP PAYMENT MODEL FOR CUSTOMERS WHO PAY EVENT PERMIT FEES.
THIS WILL MAKE THE APPLICATION PROCESS MUCH MORE STREAMLINED AND EASIER FOR CUSTOMERS.
CUSTOMERS WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM NOT NEEDING A PERMIT AS OFTEN.
IN 2024, THE CITY RECEIVED 144 APPLICATIONS FOR EVENTS.
AND WITH 127 OF THOSE APPLICATIONS BEING PERMITTED FOR APPROVAL STAFF'S PROPOSALS TONIGHT WILL HELP REDUCE THESE APP, THESE ANNUAL NUMBERS BY DOING AWAY WITH UNNECESSARY PERMITS FOR EVENTS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY NEED THEM.
FOR THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO CHAPTER SEVEN, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 15 TOTAL CHANGES THAT STAFF HAVE RECOMMENDED.
MOST OF THE CHANGES ARE MINOR AND EITHER CLARIFY DEFINITIONS OR CAPTURE THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES STAFF ARE USING TO REVIEW PERMITS.
CURRENTLY, HOWEVER, THERE ARE A FEW PROPOSED CHANGES THAT STAFF WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER.
THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CODE SUPPORT BUILDING EVENT PERMIT FEES INTO A SINGLE FEE THAT A CUSTOMER PAYS.
THIS ALONE WILL GREATLY ENHANCE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND MAKE NAVIGATING THE PERMIT PROCESS MUCH EASIER FOR APPLICANTS.
UPDATES TO THE CODE ALSO INCLUDE NEW GUIDANCE ON EVENT SAFETY, AS WELL AS REQUIRING CITY SPONSORED EVENTS TO GO THROUGH THE PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS.
THIS WILL INCREASE TRANSPARENCY, AND, I'M SORRY, TRANSPARENCY ENSURES THE CITY IS PLAYING BY THE SAME RULES.
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE CODE IS THAT SPECIAL EVENTS WILL NOW FALL INTO ONE OF THREE EVENT CLASSIFICATIONS.
MAJOR EVENTS, MINOR EVENTS, AND ALCOHOL ONLY EVENTS.
MAJOR EVENTS WILL BE DEFINED AS ANY EVENT WITH MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE.
MINOR EVENTS WILL BE DEFINED AS EVENTS WITH 250 TO 999 PEOPLE AND ALCOHOL ONLY EVENTS WILL BE DEFINED AS AN EVENT THAT REQUIRES ESTATE SPONSORED SPECIAL EVENT LIQUOR LICENSE, BUT HAS LESS THAN 250 PEOPLE BY CREATING THESE CLASSIFICATIONS, THIS WILL SIMPLIFY THE PROCESS AND IMPROVE RESPONSE TIMES FOR APPLICANTS.
WHEN THE CITY RECEIVES A SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATION, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL FACTORS THAT DETERMINE IF AN EVENT REQUIRES A PERMIT.
IN ADDITION TO THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE ATTENDING AN EVENT, A SPECIAL EV A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT IS REQUIRED IF AN EVENT HAS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS, FIREWORKS OR PYROTECHNICS, TEMPORARY STRUCTURES SUCH AS A LARGE TENT OR A STAGE STREET CLOSURES, RESTRICTING ACCESS TO PROPERTY OR DISPLAYS OF NON DOMESTICATED ANIMALS OR LIVESTOCK.
A GOOD RULE OF THUMB IS IF A PROPOSED EVENT REQUIRES THE COORDINATION OF MULTIPLE CITY SERVICES, IT LIKELY NEEDS A PERMIT.
OTHER ITEMS TO CONSIDER ARE THAT WHEN EVENTS TAKE PLACE IN CITY PARKS, THE RULES OF CHAPTER 17, PARKS AND RECREATION RULES OF CONDUCT DO APPLY TO PERMITS IN PARK PROPERTIES AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARK BLOCK PARTIES DO NOT REQUIRE A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT.
THAT TYPE, THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS HAVE A SEPARATE REVIEW PROCESS THAT IS MANAGED BY OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
SO AS, UH, RON MENTIONED BEFORE TONIGHT, UH, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING A MOTION TO CONTINUANCE OF ORDINANCE 20 27 0 7 2 5 FOR CHAPTER SEVEN ARTICLES 1, 2, 3, 4, AND FIVE.
AND WITH THAT, MAYOR COUNSEL, WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO OUR PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SO MUCH.
UH, THANK OPEN THIS UP TO, OH, RON, I JUST WANNA ADD A COUPLE THANK YOUS OUT THERE.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROJECT FOR THE LAST YEAR THAT'S BEEN READ, THAT'S BEEN LED BY ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AT DEL NAGA, UM, WHO'S REALLY BEEN GETTING THE TEAMS TO THINK ABOUT THE SERVICES WE OFFER FROM OUR RESIDENTS POINT OF VIEWS, FROM OUR USERS' POINT OF VIEW.
AND WE REALLY HAVE, UH, SIMPLIFIED THIS.
AND I THINK DOMINIC HAS UNDERSTATED THE IMPACT RIGHT NOW.
YOU TRY TO APPLY FOR A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MUCH IT'S GONNA COST, NOT UNTIL YOU GET INTO THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND FIGURE OUT WHICH APPLICATIONS YOU NEED.
YOU EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE COST OF YOUR PERMIT.
UM, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR PERMIT YOUR EVENT IS, YOU'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE UNTIL YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF WHAT PERMIT YOU WILL ACTUALLY NEED.
[01:25:01]
A GREAT JOB WORKING THROUGH THIS, MAKING IT SIMPLER AGAIN UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP.IN ADDITION, ANISA AND TORIN HAVE LED THE INNOVATION TEAM, WHICH YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT LATER IN THE YEAR, WHO HAVE ACTUALLY COME UP WITH MOST OF THESE IDEAS, HELPS SELECT A SINGLE ONLINE VENDOR POINT AND REALLY HAVE WORKED TO MAKE THIS NOT EASIER FOR STAFF, EVEN THOUGH IT WILL BE EASIER FOR STAFF, BUT EASIER FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
UM, SOME OF THE, UH, RULES YOU SAW UP THERE ABOUT WHO IT APPLIES TO, THE ONLY THING THAT'S REALLY CHANGING AS FAR AS WHAT'S NEW IS IT'S FEWER PERMITS WILL BE NEEDED RIGHT NOW IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN A HUNDRED PEOPLE AT YOUR EVENT, IT REQUIRES.
SO OUR MINIMUM HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM 100 TO TWO 50.
SO WE'VE ACTUALLY REDUCED THE NUMBER OF SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS THAT WILL BE NEEDED.
WE'VE REALLY DONE A LOT TO MAKE IT, UM, AS, AS FLAWLESS AND AGAIN, UH, DELL ANISA TOUR AND THE INNOVATION TEAM.
AND OF COURSE, UH, DO DOMINIC AND, UH, UH, COREY AND HIS TEAM GOING ALONG.
BUT, UM, UH, THE, THE GIVE FROM FIRE, UH, WORKING ON HERE, UH, THEY WENT FROM, YOU STILL HAD TO COME IN AND, AND PAY IN PERSON TO, TO DO YOUR FIRE PERMITS.
WE'RE NOW DOING THAT ONLINE, AND IT'LL BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS.
YOUR ENGINEERING, YOUR TRAFFIC CONTROL PLANS.
I JUST, THE AMOUNT OF INNOVATION AND WILLINGNESS TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX IS JUST, I CAN'T UNDERSTATE HOW IMPRESSED I AM WITH HOW WELL OUR CITY AND YOU, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU GET TO HEAR ABOUT IT ONE MORE TIME WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE INNOVATION TEAM, BUT IT IS GONNA BE ONE OF MY MOST PROUD MOMENTS FOR THIS YEAR.
I, I CAN TELL YOU WITH, WITH THE WORK AND THE OUTCOME THAT THIS HAPPENED, AGAIN, WE NEED TO, UH, CROSS A FEW T'S AND DOT A FEW I'S WITH, WITH NASCAR, UM, BEING OUR, OUR LARGEST, UH, VENDOR IN THE, IN THE AREA.
UM, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL BE READY, UH, BY THE NEXT MEETING.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
RON, ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? I I JUST WANT TO STATE THE SAME.
I MEAN, IT GOES, I SAID THIS EARLIER, BUT IT TIES RIGHT BACK INTO OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN AND REGARDING TO BEING INNOVATIVE, UH, AND REALLY MEETING THE CUSTOMER WHERE THEY ARE.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
EFFICIENCY AND MAKING, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE AWARE THAT THOSE PARTIES THAT WORK WITH US, UH, JUMPING THROUGH ALL THESE DIFFERENT HOOPS MAY LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN THEIR MOUTH FOR FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THIS JUST STREAMLINES ALL OF THAT.
AND SO, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN RON FOR THE SENSITIVITY TO, UH, ENGAGING WITH OUR, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST TOURISM DRAWS IN TERMS OF PARTNERSHIP AND BEING NASCAR.
SO WE GOT A MOTION TO CONTINUE, MAYOR.
UM, SO I KNOW SOME OF THE PROCESSES ARE NEW AND I'M GLAD THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE, UH, MORE STREAMLINED FOR THE APPLICANTS.
ARE WE NOTIFYING SOME OF THE APPLICANTS THAT SAY DO EVENTS EVERY YEAR AT THE SAME TIME, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME CHANGES? UM, IN PARTICULAR, I'M THINKING ABOUT MERCY HOUSE 'CAUSE I KNOW THEY HAVE STREET CLOSURES FOR, UM, SOME OF THEIR EVENTS.
SO WE HAVE, UM, POINTS OF CONTACT FOR ALL OF THOSE REGULARS, DALE FOR NASCAR.
UH, CHRIS'S GROUP FOR SOME GROUPS, COREY FOR SOME GROUPS, AND WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO THEM ONCE COUNCIL APPROVES THIS ABOUT THE UPDATED PROCESS.
UH, ORDINANCE IS GOING TO EFFECT 30 DAYS AFTER COUNCIL APPROVE, SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO, UH, NOTIFY PEOPLE.
WE HAVE A FEW APPLICATIONS THAT ARE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET TO MAKE THOSE SIMPLER, BUT YES, ABSOLUTELY.
UM, AND I KNOW COUNCIL HAS A, A, A SPECIAL AFFECTION FOR MERCY HOUSE AND CASH, HIS HEART AND SOME OF THOSE OTHERS.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM, UH, LIKE WE HAVE IN YEARS PAST, AND I THINK THEY'LL BE EVEN MORE PLEASED, UH, WITH THIS NEW PROCESS.
AND I KNOW THAT COUNCIL USES SOME OF THE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS TO PAY FOR SOME OF THESE FEES FOR SOME OF THESE EVENTS, AND THAT'LL ALSO BECOME SIMPLER, UH, COME THE HOLIDAYS OR WHEN THEIR EVENTS COME ABOUT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, BRO CONDI, IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS, AGAIN, WE GOT A MOTION TO CONTINUE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO, IF THE REST OF YOU COULD PLEASE VOTE.
THANK YOU COUNCILOR RDI, ITEM PASSES SEVEN ZERO TO CONTINUE.
[d. Ordinance 2028-0725 - Amendment to City Code Chapter 24, Article V - Water Service and Water Resource Management]
ITEM FIVE D RON.UP NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY KIRK, UM, ON OUR AMENDMENT TO CITY CODE ON WATER SERVICE AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, HIS REQUEST TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 2028 DASH 7 25 AMENDING THE AVONDALE CITY CODE CHAPTER 24 TO ADD A NEW ARTICLE FIVE TITLED WATER SERVICES AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.
SO THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS ORDINANCE, TWO PURPOSES.
FIRST, IS TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN TERMS, CONDITIONS, AND LIMITATIONS REGARDING MUNICIPAL WATER SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF AVONDALE, AND THEN ALSO TO DEFINE HOW AVONDALE WILL MANAGE ITS WATER RESOURCES TO ENSURE EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESOURCES ACROSS ALL LAND WITHIN THE CITY AND
[01:30:01]
ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY'S DESIGNATION OF ASSURED WATER SUPPLY OR OUR DAS.SO AS A REMINDER, OUR DESIGNATION OF ASSURED WATER SUPPLY, OR OUR DAS, ENSURES THAT AVONDALE HAS A 100 YEAR SUPPLY OF WATER AVAILABLE FOR CURRENT DEMAND AND OUR PLANNED FUTURE GROWTH.
OUR CURRENT DAS PROVIDES FOR 30,666 ACRE FEET OF WATER USE ANNUALLY, AND IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING A REVIEW AND RENEWAL PROCESS THROUGH THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.
NOW, THE CITY DELIVERS JUST OVER 50% OF THAT VOLUME OF OUR DESIGNATION EACH YEAR TO OUR CURRENT CUSTOMERS AND THE CUSTOMER BASE.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PROJECTED COMMITMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL 20% OF THAT DESIGNATION TO PROJECTS NOT YET CONSTRUCTED.
SO WE ANTICIPATE BY THE YEAR 2034 THAT 70% OF OUR CITY'S DESIGNATION WILL BE DELIVERED TO CUSTOMERS EACH YEAR.
HOWEVER, WE'RE FACING ISSUES WITH ONGOING DROUGHT THAT'S PRESSURING OUR WATER SUPPLIES, AND WE FULLY EXPECT THAT AFTER 2026, OUR COLORADO RIVER ALLOCATION WILL BE REDUCED, WHICH MAY IMPACT OUR DAWS IN THE FUTURE.
UH, A LOT OF THE CITY GROWTH IS ANTICIPATED IN AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE SALT RIVER PROJECT SERVICE AREA, WHERE, UM, THE AREA'S PRIMARY, UH, SOUTH OF LOWER BUCKEYE, WHERE THE ONLY WATER RESOURCES WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO USE ARE THE COLORADO RIVER ALLOCATION AND ARE RECLAIMED AFFLUENT IN OUR PORTFOLIO.
FINALLY, THE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING AND THE DESIRE FOR CERTAIN HIGH TECH OR INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES IN THE CITY TO CREATE JOBS, UM, BRINGING DEVELOPMENT THAT NEEDS ADDITIONAL WATER RESOURCES AND PLACES HIGHER DEMANDS ON AND MORE DEPENDENCY ON THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
ULTIMATELY, OUR GOAL ISN'T ENSURE IS TO ENSURE THAT AVONDALE HAS WATER FOR CURRENT DEMANDS AND FUTURE GROWTH.
AND AS NOT, I NOTED IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, ONE OF THE STRATEGIES IS PROTECTION OF OUR DESIGNATION OF ASSURED WATER SUPPLY.
SO THE ORDINANCE REALLY IS AN ELEMENT TO HELP MEET THAT STRATEGY.
SO THERE ARE FOUR MAIN COMPONENTS TO THIS ORDINANCE.
GENERAL PROVISIONS LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY, WATER RESOURCE AVAILABILITY, AND ALLOCATION AND PENALTIES AND REMEDIES.
AND I'M GONNA TOUCH ON EACH OF THESE COMPONENTS IN MORE DETAIL.
SO WE'LL START OFF WITH THE GENERAL PROVISIONS.
IT STATES ALL WATER CUSTOMERS CONSENT TO THIS ORDINANCE BY VIRTUE OF RECEIVING CITY WATER SERVICES.
SO IF YOU'RE RECEIVING WATER FROM THE CITY AND YOU'RE RECEIVING A BILL, YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY CONSENTING TO THIS ORDINANCE.
THIS ORDINANCE PROHIBITS THE DRILLING OF EXEMPT PRIVATE WELLS, WHICH ARE LOW VOLUME WELLS UNLESS OTHERWISE APPROVED.
UM, THIS IS PRIMARILY FOR WELLS THAT WOULD BE SIZED TO SERVE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
THE IN THE INTENT HERE IS TO, UM, GET NEW CUSTOMERS TO CONNECT TO THE CITY INFRASTRUCTURE RATHER THAN DRILLING THEIR OWN WELL.
AND THEN FINALLY, THIS ORDINANCE CONTEMPLATES FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE PLANNING AREA SOUTH OF THE AUSTRALIA MOUNTAINS AND THE APPLICABLE SPECIAL PROVISIONS TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN THAT AREA.
UM, AS A REMINDER, AND I WOULD MY F REFER YOU TO A MAP, I THINK THAT WAS PROVIDED TO YOU AT YOUR, AT YOUR CHAIR.
UM, THE AREA SOUTH OF THE STRAY MOUNTAINS IS CALLED THE CITY'S SOUTH PLANNING AREA.
UM, WATER FOR THIS AREA IS NOT INCLUDED IN OUR DESIGNATION OF ASSURED WATER SUPPLY, AND THERE IS NO INFRASTRUCTURE THAT EXISTS IN THAT AREA TO GET WATER TO IT.
THEREFORE, THE NOTED SPECIAL PROVISIONS REQUIRE THAT FUTURE DEVELOPERS IN THIS AREA WOULD NEED TO SECURE WATER RIGHTS AND ASSIGN THOSE RIGHTS TO THE CITY, AND THAT THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO DEVELOP INFRASTRUCTURE PLANS SUBJECT TO CITY REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
OTHERWISE, THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO PROCURE THE WATER RESOURCES AND DEVELOP THE INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH OTHER METHODS IN REGARDS TO LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY.
AS I MENTIONED, DEVELOPMENTS WITH HIGHER VOLUMES OF WATER DEMAND AND SPECIALTY NEEDS ARE COMING TO AVONDALE.
AND WHILE OUR DUTY IS TO PROVIDE SATISFACTORY WATER SERVICE TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE DO THAT TODAY, WE CAN NEVER GUARANTEE AGAINST FLUCTUATIONS AND PRESSURES OR INTERMITTENT ISSUES OR SERVICE DISRUPTIONS THAT MIGHT OCCUR DUE TO EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE NEEDS OR EVEN WATER SHORTAGES.
SO THEREFORE, THE CITY HAS STATED IN THIS ORDINANCE THAT THE CITY IS NOT LIABLE TO CUSTOMERS WHO EXPERIENCE LOSS OR DAMAGE DUE TO THESE POSSIBLE SERVICE DISRUPTIONS OR THE FLUCTUATIONS.
AND FURTHERMORE, THE CUSTOMERS THAT ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE UNINTERRUPTED SERVICE OR A BETTER WATER QUALITY THAN WHAT THE CITY IS OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS, THAT THOSE DEVELOPERS MUST TAKE THEIR, MAKE THEIR OWN PROVISIONS ON THEIR PROJECTS WITH THE NECESSARY MACHINERY, STORAGE TANKS, OUR SPECIALIZED TREATMENT SYSTEMS TO MEET THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS.
AND THEN FINALLY, IN THE EVENT OF A SERVICE OUTAGE, THE CITY WILL MAKE, WILL RESTORE SERVICE IN A MANNER THAT'S EQUITABLE, UH,
[01:35:01]
AND FOR THE GREATEST PUBLIC BENEFIT.AND THE RESTORATION MAY OR MAY NOT FAVOR ANY SPECIAL CUSTOMER OR A VENUE, UH, JUST DEPENDING UPON THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PRESENT THEMSELVES AT THAT TIME.
THE HEART OF THIS ORDINANCE IS REALLY THE WATER RESOURCE AVAILABILITY AND ALLOCATION PORTION.
AND THIS ORDINANCE DEFINES HOW WATER RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED ACROSS LANDS WITHIN THE CITY'S WATER SERVICE AREA.
AND IT PROVIDES A PROCESS FOR CITY AND PROSPECTIVE DEVELOPERS TO AGREE ON HOW MUCH WATER OR HOW MUCH OF THE CITY'S DESIGNATION A DEVELOPER IS ALLOWED TO USE.
SO THERE ARE THREE KEY DEFINITIONS THAT I WANNA BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ORDINANCE.
THIS IS THE VOLUME OF WATER FROM OUR DESIGNATION OF ASSURED WATER SUPPLY THAT'S ALLOCATED TO A PARCEL OF LAND BASED UPON THE GENERAL PLAN AND THE INTEGRATED UTILITY MASTER PLAN.
THE VOLUME OF WATER THAT A CUSTOMER OR PROJECT IS ALLOWED TO USE BASED ON AGREEMENTS WITH THE CITY.
AND THEN THIRD IS MULTIPLE OR LARGE METER OR MLM CUSTOMERS.
THESE ARE CUSTOMERS WITH DEMANDS OF 25,000 GALLONS PER DAY OR MORE, OR 28 ACRE FEET PER YEAR OR MORE, OR HAVE A THREE INCH OR LARGER WATER METER OR A COMBINATION OF METERS EQUIVALENT TO THAT THREE INCH SIZE.
SO HOW DOES THIS ALL WORK? SO THE CITY'S INTEGRATED UTILITY MASTER PLAN AND THE GENERAL PLAN ARE USED TO DETERMINE A WATER ALLOCATION.
THE INTEGRATED UTILITY MASTER PLAN OR THE IUMP IS A PLANNING DOCUMENT THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL IN 2018 AND IT'S CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED AND BECOME BEFORE COUNCIL AT A FUTURE DATE.
THE GENERAL PLAN IS ALSO APPROVED BY COUNCIL AND IDENTIFIES DESIRED LAND USES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SO THE WAY THAT THIS WORKS IS THAT THE IUMP HAS A TABLE THAT ESTABLISHES PROJECTED WATER DEMANDS FOR SPECIFIC TYPES OF LAND USES OR DEVELOPMENTS.
YOU CAN SEE, UH, THAT THE IUMP HAS WATER DEMAND PROJECTED FOR A NUMBER OF LAND USES, AND THE CATEGORIES THAT MATCH THE LAND USE CATEGORIES IN THE GENERAL PLAN LIKE MEDIUM DENSITY, RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION, MIXED USE, OR FREEWAY COMMERCIAL.
SO AS WE WORK THROUGH THE WORK THROUGH AN EXAMPLE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE YELLOW LINE ON THE TABLE, YOU WOULD SEE FOR MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO DEVELOPMENT, THE TARGET DENSITY IS 2.5 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE.
THE PROJECTED WATER DEMAND FOR THAT PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT IS 361 GALLONS PER DAY PER DWELLING UNIT FOR A TOTAL UNIT WATER DEMAND OF 903 GALLONS PER ACRE PER DAY.
THE GENERAL PLAN INDICATES THE DES A DESIRE FOR A MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, AND I HAVE INDICATED THE LAND IN THE RED BOX NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE WHERE THE, THE ARROWS REPORTING TO.
AND THAT HAS A TARGET DENSITY OF 2.5 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE, BUT AN ALLOWABLE RANGE TO OF 2.5, UP TO FOUR DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE.
EACH PARCEL OF LAND UNDERLYING THE LAND USE IS ALLOCATED THE VOLUME OF WATER USING A MATH FORMULA.
AND IT'S PRETTY, A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD CALCULATION.
WE DETERMINE THE LAND USE FROM THE GENERAL PLAN, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT WE DETERMINE THE PARCEL SIZE, THE ACREAGE THROUGH A SURVEY.
WE LOOK UP THE UNIT DEMAND IN THE IUMP TABLE, AND THEN WE JUST SIMPLY DO THE MATH.
THE ALLOCATION OF WATER EQUALS THE UNIT DEMAND TIMES THE AREA ACRE AREA OF THE PARCEL.
SO FOR OUR EXAMPLE, WE WERE JUST MENTIONING WE HAD 903 GALLONS PER ACRE, UH, PER DWELLING UNIT TIMES 28 ACRES.
AND FOR THE CASE OF THE PARCEL WE'RE LOOKING AT, THAT EQUATES TO 25,284 GALLONS PER DAY OF WATER ALLOCATED TO THAT SPECIFIC PARCEL.
OR IF WE WANT TO USE WATER RESOURCES SPEAK, WE WOULD CALL IT 28 ACRE FEET PER YEAR BECAUSE WE WORK AN ACRE FEET, NOT NECESSARILY GALLONS.
THE WATER DEMAND IS THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS.
AND THIS IS WHAT THE DEVELOPER STATES THEY WILL USE ON THEIR DEVELOPMENT BASED ON A DEMAND REPORT PREPARED AND SEALED BY A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER.
IF THE DEMAND IS LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO THE ALLOCATION, THERE'S NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED.
THE PROJECT PROCEEDS AS PLANNED.
BUT IF THE DEMAND IS GONNA BE GREATER THAN THE ALLOCATION, THEN THERE'S OPTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPER.
THE DEVELOPER CAN SECURE AND PLEDGE ADDITIONAL WATER RESOURCES TO THE CITY.
THE DEVELOPER CAN REDUCE THE WATER DEMAND OF THE PROJECT THROUGH REDESIGN OR OTHER MEANS TO MEET THE ALLOCATION.
OR THE DEVELOPER CAN PETITION THE CITY FOR ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION SUBJECT SOLELY TO THE CITY FOR TO THE CITY'S APPROVAL.
UH, OR IT COULD BE A COMBINATION OF ANY OR ALL OF THE THREE.
[01:40:02]
SO WHAT DO THESE DEVELOPER OPTIONS LOOK LIKE IN MORE DETAILS? SO ADDITIONAL WATER RESOURCES, THAT COULD BE A, A LEASE THAT'S TRANSFERRED, MAYBE THEY ACQUIRE A, A NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBAL LEASE AND THEY TRANSFER THAT LEASE TO THE CITY.THEY CAN OBTAIN LONG-TERM STORAGE CREDITS AND PLEDGE THOSE TO THE CITY.
OR THERE COULD BE OTHER FORMS OF, OF THAT THE CITY COULD AGREE UPON LIKE GROUNDWATER OUTSIDE OF THE, OF THE, OF THE VALLEY.
BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT ANY OF THE RESOURCES HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE CITY AND THEY REALLY NEED TO BE PHYSICALLY AVAILABLE TO THE CITY.
WE MAY NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THOSE RESOURCES, UH, WITHOUT A LOT OF INVESTMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE WITH REGARD TO REDESIGN THAT WOULD BE MANAGED THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
MAYBE THE DEVELOPER IS REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF TURF ON THEIR PROJECT, MAYBE THEY GO BACK AND REDUCE THE PLAN DENSITY OR THEY IMPLEMENT, UM, WATER USE, REDUCING MEASURES, RECYCLING AND OTHER THINGS TO HELP REDUCE THEIR DEMAND.
SO THEN YOU ASK, WELL, WHY WOULD THE CITY AGREE TO PROVIDE MORE WATER THAN WHAT IS ALLOCATED? WELL, THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS.
MAYBE THE DEVELOPMENT IS HIGHLY DESIRED.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT SERIALLY THE CITY REALLY WANTS TO SEE.
MAYBE IT BRINGS A LOT OF JOBS, MAYBE IT BRINGS ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUE, MAYBE PROVIDES AFFORDABLE OR WORKFORCE HOUSING.
ALL GREAT REASONS THAT THE CITY MAY WANT TO CONSIDER SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT WHEN WE DO THIS, WE ARE GONNA RE REALLOCATE WATER FROM OTHER PARCELS WITHIN THE CITY.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE FROM THIS GROUP AND GIVE THIS OTHER GROUP A LITTLE BIT MORE.
KEEP IN MIND THAT WATER HAS A MONETARY VALUE AND WHEN WE REALLOCATE WATER, THERE COULD BE A CHANCE IN THE FUTURE THAT THE CITY WOULD BE OBLIGATED TO FIND THOSE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE AND THAT FUTURE RESOURCE MAY BE COSTLY.
SO IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING WE WANT TO KEEP.
WE KEEP IN MIND ALL OF THIS WOULD BE DOCUMENTED BY A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE DEVELOPER, SO WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WAS DECIDED UPON.
SO MAYBE YOU ASK WHY WOULD THE DEMAND BE GREATER THAN THE ALLOCATION.
SO ANOTHER EXAMPLE HERE IS A CHANGE OF LAND USE THROUGH REZONING.
SO SAY THE DEVELOPER WANTS TO CHANGE THE LAND USE FROM MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL WITH 2.5 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE, AS WAS SHOWN IN THE YELLOW LINE, UM, TO, UH, HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, WHICH IS IN THE RED CIRCLE WITH 20 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE.
THEN YOU CAN SEE IN THE RIGHT HAND OF THAT TABLE, THE DEMAND FOR THAT IS 7,220 GALLONS PER ACRE PER DAY.
INSTEAD OF THE 903 THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PREVIOUS EXAMPLE.
OR PERHAPS THE DEVELOPER WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THE LAND USE TO LOCAL COMMERCIAL THAT HAS A DEMAND OF 1,850 GALLONS PER ACRE PER DAY.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THE ALLOCATION DOES NOT CHANGE AS IT'S STILL BASED ON THE ADOPTED GENERAL PLAN AND THE IMP.
SO WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE, THE DEVELOPER WOULD HAVE TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE ALLOCATED AND WHAT THEIR U USE WOULD BE BASED UPON THAT, THAT, UH, CHANGE IN LAND USE.
SO PUBLIC WORKS HAS SEVERAL METHODS TO TRACK THE ALLOCATIONS AND THE ALLOWANCES.
WE HAVE A WATER DEMAND CALCULATOR TO G-I-S-G-I-S BASED CALCULATOR THAT COMPARES DEMAND AGAINST ALLOCATION FOR EVERY PARCEL IN THE CITY.
WE HAVE TO REPORT ANNUALLY TO THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES ON OUR USE.
THE WATER USAGE FOR ALL CATEGORIES IS TRACKED, TALLIED AND REPORTED.
SO WE HAVE, WE KNOW FROM YEAR TO YEAR HOW MUCH WATER WE'RE USING.
I MENTIONED THE INTEGRATED UTILITY MASTER PLAN.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING THAT.
THAT HAPPENS EVERY FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS, REALLY DEPENDING UPON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY.
AND THE DATA TABLES LIKE WE, LIKE I SHOWED YOU, ARE UPDATED BASED ON AC ACTUAL USAGE AND PROJECTED GROWTH AT THE TIME.
AND THEN FINALLY, I MENTIONED IT BEFORE, THE RENEWAL OF OUR DESIGNATION OF ASSURED WATER SUPPLY.
WE HAVE TO RENEW THAT, RENEW THAT EVERY 10 YEARS TO VALIDATE THAT WE STILL HAVE THAT 100 YEAR SUPPLY THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE.
UM, IT'S AS HIGH LEVEL PLANNING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS COME AND GO OR THEY GET DELAYED OR CANCELED OR CHANGED, OR THEY SOMETIMES TAKE A VERY LONG TIME TO COME TO FULL COMPLETION.
AND SO WE'VE ALLOCATED WATER WAY OUT INTO THE FUTURE THAT WE MAY NOT SEE THE USE FOR A LONG TIME.
ALSO, SPECIFICALLY REGARDING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, I MENTIONED THAT THE GENERAL PLAN ALLOWS FOR A RANGE OF DENSITY FOR, FOR HOME DEVELOPMENT.
UM, WE WORK OFF OF A TARGET OF TWO AND A HALF.
BUT IF A DEVELOPER COME IN COMES IN AND SAYS, WELL, I WANNA DO 3.9, WE ARE STILL GOING TO APPROVE THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE WITHIN THE LAND USE THAT WAS DESIGNATED FOR THE CITY.
BUT WE END UP MAKING UP SOME OF THAT DIFFERENCE.
WE JUST ABSORBED THAT THROUGH THE ALLOCATION PROCESS.
SO THIS CONCEPT OF WATER ALLOCATIONS AND ALLOWANCES, NOT NEW.
[01:45:01]
THE VALLEY VALLEY HAVE SIMILAR ORDINANCES.UH, PEORIA AND GOODYEAR JUST COMPLETED THEIR ORDINANCE WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
SURPRISES WORKING ON THEIRS RIGHT NOW.
ALL OF THESE HAVE DIFFERENT COMPLEXITIES BASED ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
ALL THE CITIES HAVE DIFFERENT PORTFOLIOS, DIFFERENT DESIGNATIONS AND AMOUNTS OF WATER AVAILABLE.
THE ONE THING ABOUT AVONDALE'S COMPARED TO THE OTHERS, I BELIEVE IS IT'S SIMPLER AND THE SIMPLICITY PROVIDES THE CITY AND COUNCIL MORE FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS ON WHEN THEY, HOW THEY APPROVE PROJECTS.
DEVELOPERS, THEY'VE BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROCESS 'CAUSE THEY'RE SEEING IT IN OTHER AREAS.
WE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE, UM, THE ORDINANCE OUT TO OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT.
AND WE ONLY REALLY RECEIVED TWO QUESTIONS.
AND IT WAS BASICALLY REGARDING THE, THE EFFECTIVE DATE WHEN THE ORDINANCE WILL GO INTO EFFECT.
SO ONE THING IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS WE ARE ALREADY DOING THIS EVEN THOUGH THE ORDINANCE ISN'T IN PLACE.
WE'VE BEEN PRACTICING WATER ALLOCATION ALLOWANCE FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.
WATER ALLOCATIONS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED FOR ALL OF THE ANNEXATIONS REZONED, LAND USE CHANGES, EVERYTHING THAT'S COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, APPLICANTS HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY STIPULATION AND THERE'S IN THOSE DOCUMENTS OF THE NEED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL WATER TO CERTAIN PROJECTS IF THAT WAS NECESSARY.
AND THOSE STIPULATIONS WERE APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
AND WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER ABOUT DATA CENTERS THAT THAT WAS A TOPIC OF TONIGHT.
THIS CONCEPT IS REALLY WHAT BROUGHT US TO THE POINT OF BRINGING IN THE AIR COOLED DATA CENTERS INSTEAD OF THE WATER COOLED DATA CENTERS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT SEVERAL YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE REALLY LOOKED CLOSELY AT WHAT WAS AVAILABLE AS AN ALLOCATION AND WHAT THOSE DEMANDS WOULD BE.
SO IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING THOSE DATA CENTERS TO THE CITY.
THE LAST PORTION OF THE ORDINANCE CONCERNS PENALTIES AND REMEDIES.
AND PRIMARILY THIS APPLIES TO THE MULTIPLE OR LARGE METER CUSTOMERS BECAUSE THOSE CUSTOMERS HAVE THE HIGHEST DEMAND.
SO THEY'RE GONNA CREATE PRESENT THE HIGHEST RISK TO OUR DESIGNATION.
UM, USE IS MEASURED COMPARED TO THE ALLOWANCE.
AND IF A, IF A PROJECT'S USE EXCEEDS THE ALLOWANCE, THERE'S AN ESCALATION PROCESS, WE NOTIFY THEM OF THAT, OF THAT EXCEEDANCE.
WE GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT.
WE MAY ASK THEM TO BRING SOME RESOURCES BACK TO HELP OFFSET WHAT THEY OVERUSED.
IF THE PROBLEMS CONTINUE, WE CAN DISCONNECT THEIR SERVICES.
AND THEN AT THE WORST CASE, THERE'S CIVIL PENALTIES AND FINES THAT WOULD BE APPLIED.
THIS ONLY APPLIES TO COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL AND HOA LANDSCAPE CUSTOMERS.
UM, IT DOES NOT IMPLY TO SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.
AND I'LL PREFACE THIS BY SAYING WE APPLY THE METHODOLOGY TO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INITIAL PLANNING STAGES, BUT THE ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T APPLY BECAUSE ONCE THE, THE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PARCELS ARE SUBDIVIDED, THE PARCELS BECOME SMALL.
WE HAVE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUAL WATER METERS AND WATER METER CUSTOMERS, AND THEN WE JUST CAN'T, WE SIMPLY CAN'T ENFORCE THAT, UM, USAGE LIMIT ON AN INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD.
SO WE TAKE CARE OF IT UPFRONT, WE'LL STILL DOUBLE CHECK IT, BUT WE DON'T, WE AREN'T GONNA GO BACK TO RESIDENTS SAY, HEY, YOU, YOU NEED TO GIVE US ADDITIONAL WATER.
UM, THIS IS NOT REC RETROACTIVE, BUT I MENTIONED WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS PRACTICE FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS.
SO MOST OF THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH, WE'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED THESE SITUATIONS WITH THEM.
THEY ALREADY KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT, UM, JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE, UM, PERSPECTIVE 14 ACCOUNTS OF THE 28,000 APPROXIMATELY ACCOUNTS IN THE CITY FOR WATER SERVICES ACTUALLY HAVE MLM STATUS.
THERE'S NINE RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY, THERE'S TWO PARK AMENITIES FOR AVONDALE, ONE HIGH SCHOOL, ONE BUSINESS, AND ONE HOA.
UM, BUT THESE, UH, THESE DEVELOPMENTS, THEY'RE ALREADY EXISTING.
THEY WOULDN'T BE SUBJECT TO THE ORDINANCE UNLESS THEY INTEND TO MAKE SOME KIND OF A CHANGE.
IT INCREASES THE WATER DEMAND.
SAY THEY ADD ANOTHER BUILDING OR WATER FEATURES, OR THEY DEVELOP SOME LARGE TURF AREAS, THEN WE WOULD TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT AND UH, AND SEE WHAT THEIR, WHAT THEIR DEMAND WOULD BE.
THIS ORDINANCE PROTECTS THE FINANCE RESOURCES, FINITE RESOURCES OF THE CITY'S DESIGNATION OF ASSURED WATER SUPPLY.
MEANING, AGAIN, ONE OF THE STRATEGIES IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH WATER FOR THE LAST DEVELOPER THAT COMES IN, THAT WE DON'T GIVE IT AT ALL AWAY TO THE FIRST ONES THAT COME THROUGH THE DOOR.
WE WANNA HAVE ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WATER RESOURCES HAVE MONETARY VALUE, SO WE WANNA USE THEM WISELY.
NEW WATER RESOURCES ARE BECOMING VERY EXPENSIVE
[01:50:01]
TO, TO ACQUIRE.WHAT USED TO COST ABOUT $200 PER ACRE FOOT IS NOW COSTING $20,000 TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AN ACRE FOOT FOR A 100 YEAR LACE LEASE.
SO THAT 28 ACRE FEET EXAMPLE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE BEGINNING, THAT COULD HAVE A VALUE OF UP TO $2.8 MILLION IF, IF WE HAD TO PURCHASE THAT WATER IN THE FUTURE.
THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY FOR THE CITY TO CONSIDER ANY DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS, ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
OUR DEPARTMENTS ALL WORK IN COLLABORATION FOR EACH PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE WATER ALLOCATION OF THE LAND USE ALL FITS TOGETHER.
IF COUNCIL APPROVES THIS ORDINANCE, IT BASICALLY, UM, PUTS WHAT WE ALREADY DO AS PRACTICE INTO ORDINANCE AND THE ORDINANCE.
WE WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE 30 DAYS AFTER YOUR APPROVAL.
AND LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK THE TEAM THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS MANY DEPARTMENTS AND MANY STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS, EVEN SOME OF OUR PREDECESSORS OVER, UH, MULTIPLE YEARS.
SO IT'S BEEN QUITE AN EFFORT, QUITE A COLLABORATION.
I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT, UH, THAT THEY PROVIDED IN GETTING THIS TOGETHER AND BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.
SO WITH THAT, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AND, UH, WHICH IS FOR THE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE STAFF HERE AND WE'RE ALL AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
KIRK, ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? OKAY, VICE MAYOR NIELSEN, I NEED TO MAKE ONE OF COURSE
AND WE'RE CONSISTENTLY TALKING ABOUT WATER IN THIS A HUNDRED YEAR, UH, LEAD OR A HUNDRED YEAR SUPPLY THAT WE HAVE.
AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THE, THE COMMENTS THAT ARE MADE ABOUT AVONDALE AND HOW WELL THEY HAVE THEIR PORTFOLIO MANAGED AND TAKEN CARE OF OTHER PLACES.
SCOTTSDALE DEPENDS MORE UPON, UH, COLORADO RIVER AS THAT COMES THROUGH THERE, THAT'S GONNA BECOME LESS AND LESS.
AND KURT, THOSE WHO ARE HAVE THE VISION OUT THERE, IT'S NOT GONNA BE MY KIDS OR GRANDKIDS.
IT'S GONNA BE THE GRANDKIDS OR THE GREAT GRANDKIDS THAT ARE GONNA STILL HAVE A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE HERE IN AVONDALE WITH THE SUSTAINABILITY THAT WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GO AND THESE KIDS WILL HAVE WATER FOR A HUNDRED YEARS OR WHATEVER.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING AT, UH, THE DEVELOPERS AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'LL COME IN HERE.
AND I GUESS THE ONLY OTHER THING I THINK YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS WE JUST NEED TO BE CAREFUL AS TO WHAT WE HEAR IN THE MEDIA.
THERE ARE CERTAIN PLACES THAT WANT TO HAVE GROWTH AND CONTINUE TO HAVE GROWTH, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE CRYING BECAUSE ALL THEY DO IS PULL GROUNDWATER OUT.
THEY DON'T HAVE WHAT WE HAVE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT PORTFOLIOS AVAILABLE.
SO CO COMPLIMENTS TO AVONDALE AND YOUR WORK AND THE GROUP THAT HAS DONE THIS.
AND IT'S GOOD FOR US TO KNOW NOW THAT YES, AVONDALE'S GOT THAT WATER.
SO SOME OF THE THINGS WE JUST TO ON TV AND HERE HAVE TO KEEP MAYBE A, A JAUNDICE, IOWA, SOME OF IT.
BUT, UH, AVONDALE SET FOR THE FUTURE.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER? WHITE.
THANK YOU KURT, FOR THE PRESENTATION AND TO THE TEAM FOR COLLABORATING ON THIS.
I THINK YOU, UM, SAID SOMETHING IN PASSING, IT WENT REALLY QUICKLY IN YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT YOU SAID THE AMOUNT OF COLORADO RIVER WATER WE'RE GONNA RECEIVE WILL BE DECREASING.
IS THAT JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE NEWS OR DO YOU HAVE AN EXACT AMOUNT THAT WILL BE GETTING LESS THAN WE RECEIVE CURRENTLY? RIGHT.
SO, UH, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCILOR WHITE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EXACT NUMBER IS GONNA BE.
WHAT WE DO KNOW IS AT THE END OF 2026, THE CURRENT PLAN THAT WE OPERATE UNDER WITH THE COLORADO, COLORADO ENDS AND ALL OF THE, THE STATES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE, IN THE, UH, NEGOTIATIONS ON COLORADO RIVER USAGE AND INCLUDING MEXICO AS WELL, ARE ALL, UM, CRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO NEXT.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, QUESTIONS OF WHAT THE UPPER BASIN AND LOWER BASIN AND CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA, WHAT ARIZONA HAS PROPOSED WITH THE LOWER BASIN STATES IS WHAT IS EQUIVALENT TO WHAT WE WERE USED TO BE CALLING A TIER THREE SHORTAGE, WHICH MEANS A CUT.
SO WE ARE DEFINITELY ANTICIPATING A CUT, WHETHER IT'S 20%, 30%, 50%, IT'S HARD TO SAY.
IT'S ALSO HARD TO SAY WHERE IT ACTUALLY GOES.
ALL THAT COLORADO RIVER WATERS ALLOCATED TO THE STATE AND IT GOES TO AGRICULTURE, MINING INDUSTRY AND OF COURSE THE CITIES AS WELL.
SO IT STILL MAY BE DIVVIED UP, YOU KNOW, BASED UPON THOSE PARTICULAR NEEDS.
SO WE'VE HEARD NUMBERS OF 2020 5% OF OUR, OF OUR RESOURCE MIGHT BE CUT.
AND IF YOU REMEMBER FROM PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS, WE USE ABOUT HALF OF THAT RESOURCE RIGHT NOW THROUGH OUR CONNECTION WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX.
[01:55:01]
INTO, UH, LONG-TERM STORAGE.SO WHAT WE WOULD LIKELY SEE IS A REDUCTION IN OUR LONG-TERM STORAGE.
WE WOULDN'T BE BUILDING AS MANY CREDITS FOR THE FUTURE.
AND THEN HOPEFULLY MAYBE THINGS CHANGE, YOU KNOW, 10, 15 YEARS FROM NOW WE SEE THE CLIMATE, UM, IMPROVE WITH REGARD TO RAIN ON THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN.
AND PERHAPS WE GET BACK TO SOMETHING WHAT WE CONSIDER NORMAL TODAY, BUT IT, IT, UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOESN'T LOOK VERY GOOD RIGHT NOW.
COUNCIL MEMBER BER CONDI, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
NO, NO QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU KIRK FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UH, YOU KNOW, I LOVE SEEING THE TEAM BACK THERE.
AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S, IT'S A COLLABORATION BETWEEN MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND I, I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT I'M SURE THAT MANY OTHERS HERE WHO HAVE RUN FOR ELECTION, ONE OF THE THINGS, UH, THAT I KNOW I WAS ASKED MANY TIMES BY RESIDENTS IN THE LAST YEAR WAS WITH ALL THE MULTIFAMILY IN THE DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH WATER THAT, THAT WAS A QUESTION THAT WAS A CONCERN.
AND IT'S NICE THAT WE'RE ABLE NOW TO PUT THIS INTO CONTEXT WITH THIS ORDINANCE TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE TO THEM IF, IF, SHOULD THEY WISH TO READ, UH, WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE TONIGHT AND PUT THIS NOT JUST IN PRACTICE, BUT THROUGH AN ORDINANCE AS TO HOW SERIOUS WE ACTUALLY TAKE THIS.
BECAUSE, UH, AND JEN, I KNOW I'VE MENTIONED TO THIS MANY TIMES WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ABOUT BEING AGGRESSIVE, BUT YET WE REALLY STILL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US ON HOW AGGRESSIVE CAN WE BE, BUT BEING, UM, UH, WILLING AND ABLE TO WORK WITH THOSE POTENTIAL END USERS IS STILL THERE AS PART OF THIS ORDINANCE.
AND, AND I KNOW IN PRACTICE THAT WE'VE SEEN WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN, UH, THERE'S A SHORTAGE, RIGHT? WITH, UH, A DEVELOPMENT THAT IS COMING TO FRUITION HERE WHO HAD THE PURCHASE EXTRA CREDITS TO, TO COME ONLINE, BUT YET IT MADE BUSINESS SENSE FOR THEM TO DO THAT.
SO I THINK THIS MEETS THAT COMMUNITY WHERE WE NEED TO MEET THEM.
UH, WE'RE JOINING IN WITH OTHER CITIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY DOING THIS.
AND SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M VERY HAPPY, UH, WITH, WITH PUTTING THIS INTO PRAC THIS PRACTICE INTO AN ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE A, ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD COUNT COMMENTS.
WE HAVE A, UH, MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO.
THE REST OF THE COUNCIL WOULD VOTE.
THANK YOU COUNSEL AND TEAM, THIS
[6. SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS FROM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COUNCILMEMBERS]
TIME WE HAVE THE SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCILS OR ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ANY INFORMATION ON A, AN EVENT.COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, I WENT TO THE 4TH OF JULY EVENT ON SET ON FRIDAY.
OH MY GOSH, SUCH A LONG WEEKEND.
THE WHAT YOU GUYS DID INSIDE WITH THE GOLF, LIKE THE GOLFING, THAT WAS SUCH A HIT THAT WAS SO BUSY, BUT IT WASN'T OVERWHELMINGLY LIKE, UH, LIKE CHAOS BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN, BUT BECAUSE OF THE STAFF AND, UM, THE WAY WE MANAGED EVERYTHING, I THINK THAT YOU GUYS DID SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB.
I TOOK MY 11-YEAR-OLD, UM, I SPILLED A BUNCH OF, UH, ICY ON ME AND IT WAS GREAT.
UM, I THINK THE FIREWORKS WERE SO PRETTY.
SO I DON'T NORMALLY ATTEND THOSE TYPE OF EVENTS BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE, BECAUSE I GET A LITTLE ANXIETY, BUT IT WAS SO WORTH IT.
LIKE THE, THE, THE LIKE SEEING THE FIREWORKS LIKE OFF THE MOUNTAINS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, IT WAS GREAT.
AND ALSO THE FOOD WAS REALLY GOOD THAT YOU GUYS PROVIDED.
BUT THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE STAFF SO MUCH BECAUSE THE PATRIOTISM IN AVONDALE IS REALLY HUGE.
SEEING EVERYBODY OUT THERE IN THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE AND CELEBRATING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY WAS SO WONDERFUL.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THE STAFF THAT DID THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCIL MEMBER CON, DO YOU HAVE ANY, UH, AN EVENT YOU WOULD LIKE TO, TO COVER? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND I TOO WILL JUST ECHO UH, COUNCILOR GARCIA'S SENTIMENTS ON THE EVENT.
UH, WHILE IT WAS, UH, THE POSITIONING OF THE STAGE AND THE VENDORS WERE SHIFTED, AS I MENTIONED TO CORY, THAT IT JUST MADE EVERYTHING FEEL MORE INTIMATE AND, UM, I DON'T THINK THAT TOOK AWAY FROM THE EVENT AT ALL.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE MADE IT EVEN BETTER.
I REALLY LOVE WHERE THE STAGE WAS.
I, WHAT I REALLY ENJOYED WAS WATCHING THE COMMUNITY WHO WERE NOT QUOTE UNQUOTE PURCHASING VIP TICKETS, STILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE, UH, COOL, UM, UH, WHAT IS IT CALLED? THE, UM, THE BARN, THE BARN ACCESS, THE BARN PLAY GAMES, UH, EAT, BUY DRINKS,
[02:00:01]
WHATEVER THEY WANTED TO DO.SO THEY WERE ABLE TO GO IN AND OUT, UH, WITHOUT HAVING TO HAVE ANY WRISTBAND OR ANYTHING.
AND THAT MADE IT MUCH MORE FUN AND ACCESSIBLE.
SO THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THAT.
UH, UH, AND THEN ONE LAST THING REALLY QUICKLY, UH, THANK YOU TO AVONDALE FIRE 1 75 FOR ALLOWING ME TO RIDE ALONG.
AND, UM, I WANNA SAY FORTUNATELY I ONLY GOT TO GO ON ONE CALL BECAUSE OTHERWISE THAT'S NOT GOOD, RIGHT? FOR THE COMMUNITY IF I'M GOING ON MANY CALLS.
UH, BUT EVERYTHING THEY DO, THEY'RE JUST SO PROFESSIONAL.
THE EDUCATION CONSTRAINTS THEY'RE UNDER TO CONTINUALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, PERFECT THEIR, UH, CAREER CHOICE, JUST, JUST AMAZING.
SO THANK YOU TO 1 75 AND UH, KAILYN SMITH FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.
COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO, UH, SAME KIND OF ECHOING ON WHAT THEY SAID.
UH, I KNOW THAT I TALKED TO VENDORS AND IN THE FREE SPEECH ZONE YOU HAD THEM INDOORS.
VERY MUCH APPRECIATED BY THEM FROM YEARS PAST HAVING THEM OUTDOORS.
IT'S TOO HOT TO BE OUTSIDE, SO IT WAS NICE TO SEE THE VENDORS AND FOR FREE SPEECH ZONE INSIDE.
COUNCILOR MCC, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT MY CALENDAR AND REALIZED, UM, AN EVENT THAT I JUST WANTED JUST TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR ATTENDING.
IT WAS THE MERCY HOUSE SUMMER READING PROGRAM, SO A LOT OF US ATTENDED AND WE GOT TO CELEBRATE WITH THE KIDS THAT WENT THROUGH FOUR OR FIVE WEEKS OF MERCY HOUSE SUMMER READING PROGRAM.
THEY DID SUCH AN AMAZING JOB AND I WAS SO, UM, UNBELIEVABLY PROUD OF HOW MANY KIDS GOT PERFECT ATTENDANCE.
AND UM, I ALSO JUST WANNA THANK CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FOR ALL SHOWING UP FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT REALLY MEANT A LOT, UM, TO NOT ONLY JUST, UM, THE KIDS TO MYSELF, BUT TO UM, MERCY HEALTH STAFF AS WELL.
[7. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
CAN I PLEASE GET A MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? WE HAVE, UM, MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE AND A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, PLEASE VOTE.OKAY, WE'LL NOW MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE'LL RETURN SHORTLY OR AFTERWARD COMPLETE.
IF YOU'RE LEAVING, DRIVE SAFE HOME AND ENJOY THE REST OF THE WEEK.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING ONLINE, CITY COUNCIL WILL RETURN TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AFTER THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH OH.
AND WE'LL RECONVENE INTO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, MARCELLA, CAN YOU PLEASE DO ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE PRESENT VICE MAYOR NIELSEN.
[a. Resolution 1050-0725 - Development Agreement with Sierra Luna Energy Storage LLC]
YOU SO MUCH, RON.UP NEXT IS RESOLUTION 10 50 DASH 0 7 2 5 DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH SIERRA LUNA, ENERGY STORAGE LLC, AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THE APPLICANT IS ALSO HERE IF, UH, COUNCIL SO DESIRES OR YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANY COUNCIL MEMBER? OKAY, I SEE WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO, PLEASE VOTE.
THAT'S IT FOR THIS ITEM, CORRECT? YES.
AGAIN, THANK YOU TEAM FOR BEING HERE AND STICKING AROUND FOR THE EVENING AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE UH, ALL THAT WAS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE AND THE INVESTMENT IN, UH, IN OUR NEAR OUR CITY.
AT THIS TIME, NEXT ITEM IS ADJOURNMENT.
CAN I PLEASE GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? CAN GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, PLEASE VOTE.