[00:00:06]
I HAVE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR.
[1. ROLL CALL BY THE CITY CLERK]
ROLL CALL PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI HERE.COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE PRESENT VICE MAYOR NIELSEN.
[a. Employee Announcements]
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.UH, FIRST WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR EMPLOYEE PRESENTATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
FIRST UP WILL BE ANISA, UM, FROM OUR OWN OFFICE FOR OUR SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST, WHO IS GONNA INTRODUCE ONE OF OUR INTERNS, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE TONIGHT.
HE'S OUR NEWEST MARVIN ANDREWS JANE MORRIS FELLOW WITH THE CITY.
BAYES IS IN THE SECOND YEAR OF HIS MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY WITH A CONCENTRATION IN PUBLIC FINANCE.
HE IS A DOUBLE DEVIL WITH A BACHELOR'S IN PSYCHOLOGY FROM A SU DURING HIS UNDERGRADUATE YEARS BASE, WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH, UH, HIS SERVICE WITH SEVERAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, INCLUDING SEED PHILANTHROPY AND THE ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF PHOENIX, BUILDING HIS COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
MOST RECENTLY, BAY SERVED AS A MANAGEMENT INTERN FOR THE CENTER OF URBAN INNOVATION AT A SU AND IS ALSO A BUDGET AND FINANCE INTERN AT MARICOPA COUNTY.
SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE BEES JOIN US THIS YEAR.
BAYES, WELCOME ABOARD AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU'VE, UH, ENCOUNTERED WHILE YOU'VE BEEN HERE THIS SHORT TIME, UH, THAT YOU'D LIKE TO, TO SHARE? YES, AND IT'S BEEN A, UH, AMAZING TEAM, AND THAT'S BEEN THE BEST PART.
WELL, YOU JOIN A A A HECK OF A GROUP.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A, WOULD IT BE A FRATERNITY OR WHAT? A COHORT.
UH, WHAT? I DON'T KNOW HOW TO, TO DEFINE IT, BUT I HEAR NOTHING BUT GREAT THING THINGS ABOUT, UH, THE FELLOWS AND HOW YOU STILL STAY CONNECTED EVEN AFTER, UH, YOU, YOU KNOW, PUT YOUR TIME INTO WHEREVER YOU'RE BEING HOSTED.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WE APPRECIATE YOU.
UP NEXT, WE HAVE OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, UH, KIM MOON, YOUR ENGINEERING DIRECTOR, YOUR CITY ENGINEER, UH, TO MAKE A A NEW EMPLOYEE INTRODUCTION.
HI, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE AND WELCOME ERIC CAR CARRASCO, WHO HAS JOINED OUR TEAM AS AN ASSOCIATE ENGINEER.
HIS FIRST DAY OF WORK WAS LAST WEEK ON MONDAY, AUGUST 18TH.
HE HOLDS A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING FROM NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY, AND HE ACTUALLY JUST RECEIVED HIS ENGINEERING AND TRAINING CERTIFICATE, UH, IN DESIGNATION.
HE BRINGS A DIVERSE RANGE OF EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING WORK IN SRP ELECTRIC PLAN, DESIGN, SAW TOWER INFRASTRUCTURE, GEOTECHNICAL FIELD TESTING, AND CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION.
IN ADDITION TO HIS ENGINEERING BACKGROUND, HE ALSO HAS EXPERIENCE AS A HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER.
ERIC WILL BE DOING CIVIL ENGINEERING PLAN REVIEW FOR LIZ KAHN.
UH, WE'VE GOT LIZ IN THE BACK WITH US, AS WE OFTEN DO IN HIS WORKSTATION IS NEAR VETTE, RAUL, AND CARLOS.
SO IF YOU GET A CHANCE, PLEASE BE SURE TO STOP BY AND SAY HELLO.
ERIC, UH, YOU WERE A FORMER, UH, TEACHER, SO TELL ME, HOW DOES THAT CORRELATE WITH THIS NEW POSITION? HOW CAN YOU USE THE, THE TOOLS, IF YOU WILL? HI, YES.
UM, WHEN I WAS A TEACHER, I LIKE TO GET EVERYONE ENGAGED, AND IN FACT, THAT'S, I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
UH, WE ACTUALLY HAD OUR, UH, ABOUT AN HOUR SESSION OF THE LIT, UM, VIDEO COMPETITION.
AND IT WAS REALLY COOL BRINGING ALL THE ENGINEERS TOGETHER, WORKING, UH, AS A GROUP TO, UH, GET THAT VIDEO GOING.
WELL, I'M SURE THAT WAS A HEAVY LIFT.
HAVE THEY TAUGHT YOU IN THE SECRET HANDSHAKE YET? I'M JUST, I'M JUST JOKING.
COUNCIL, NEXT WE HAVE, UH, THE FIRE AND MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, UH, CHIEF ROONEY TO MAKE A COUPLE INTRODUCTIONS.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE AND THE HONOR
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OF INTRODUCING YOU TO OUR TWO NEWEST FIREFIGHTERS.THESE TWO GENTLEMEN JUST SPENT 14 WEEKS TRAINING IN THIS HOT WEATHER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER.
UH, THEY'RE ABOUT 10 POUNDS, 20 POUNDS LIGHTER THAN WHEN THEY STARTED.
AND, UH, BUT THEY, THEY COMPLETED EVERYTHING AND THEY GOT SIGNED OFF.
THEY GRADUATED LAST WEEK AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT INTRODUCING 'EM TO YOU.
AND, AND THEY'VE ACTUALLY BOTH COMPLETED TWO SHIFTS OUT THERE, SO DALE'S THAT MUCH SAFER BECAUSE THESE GUYS ARE OUT THERE.
SO I'M GONNA START WITH, UH, JAVIER VARGAS.
THIS IS JAVIER NEXT TO ME HERE.
UH, HE WAS BORN IN LOS ANGELES JUST LIKE MYSELF, WHICH IS, SO I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE HIM.
ANOTHER LOS ANGELES, UH, UM, BORN AND RAISED, BUT YOU WEREN'T RAISED, YOU WERE RAISED IN AVONDALE, RIGHT? SEE, HE, HE GOT SMART AND CAME OUT HERE SOONER THAN I DID
UM, AND HE IS LIVED HERE EVER SINCE.
BEFORE JOINING AVONDALE FIRE AND MEDICAL, HE WORKED AT THE LOCAL IN-N-OUT BURGER HERE IN, IN AVONDALE.
SO, UH, AFTERWARDS YOU CAN ASK HIM ALL THE SECRET SAUCES AND THINGS THAT YOU CAN GET THE SECRET MENU THERE.
UM, HE PLAYED BASEBALL HIS WHOLE LIFE, AND HE STARTED IN CENTER FIELD, UH, IN VARSITY FOR ALL YOU FOUR YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
SO, UM, UH, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HIM PLAYING AGAINST PD HERE SOON.
THE NEXT, I HAVE, UH, FIREFIGHTER SCOTT KIMMY, AND HE WAS BORN IN AVONDALE.
AND, UH, BEFORE JOINING AVONDALE FIRE AND MEDICAL, HE WORKED AT THE LOCAL SAM'S CLUB HERE.
AND I JUST FOUND THIS OUT FROM HIS FAMILY THAT FOUR MONTHS AGO HE WAS NAMED, UH, HE RECEIVED AN AWARD FOR JUICER OF THE MONTH,
SO YOU MIGHT SEE HIM IN THE PAPER.
HE MIGHT HAVE A PLAQUE UP THERE FOR HIM, I DON'T KNOW.
HE WENT TO SCHOOL HERE IN AVONDALE AT WEST POINT, AND YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, BUT HIS FATHER, RICH WORKS FOR US.
AND, UH, HE'S OUR FLEET MANAGER.
HE GREW UP PLAYING SOCCER, FOOTBALL, AND BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL.
AND AGAIN, THAT SHOULD HELP US AGAINST PD THIS NEXT YEAR.
UM, LET'S SEE, WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY? UM, WHENEVER WE HIRE OR PROMOTE ANYBODY IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, I SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH THEM AND I SAY THEIR FIRST JOB IS TO MAKE ME LOOK LIKE A GENIUS FOR HIRING THEM.
SO THESE TWO GUYS ARE GONNA BE, UM, UH, GREAT FIREFIGHTERS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS HERE IN AVONDALE.
SO REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY, UH, CHIEF OR JAVIER AND SCOTT, UH, BEING THAT YOU WERE RAISED HERE IN AVONDALE OR GREW UP IN AVONDALE AND ATTENDED SCHOOLS HERE, JUST IF YOU COULD JUST QUICKLY, UH, SHARE WITH US WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU WERE RAISED IN, UH, OR EVEN GREW UP IN.
WELL, I'VE LIVED HERE IN AVONDALE ALMOST MY WHOLE LIFE.
SO I'VE SEEN THE CITY GROW TO WHAT IT IS TODAY, AND IT'S JUST AN ABSOLUTE PR UH, PLEASURE.
IT MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY THAT I LIVE IN.
AND, UH, AGAIN, IT'S A HUGE HONOR SERVING, UH, THE CITY OF AVONDALE, UH, SEEING HOW MUCH IT'S GROWN AND ALSO BRINGS A LOT OF PRIDE, YOU KNOW, BEING FROM HERE, BEING RAISED HERE, JUST BEING A PART OF THAT, THAT GROWTH AND, UH, BEING A CARETAKER FOR MY COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE OUR YOUTH CAN LOOK TO YOU, PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO KNOW YOU CAN LOOK UP TO YOU AND JUST REALIZE THAT THE POTENTIAL IS THERE TO DO JUST WHAT YOU DID.
APPRECIATE IT, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UP NEXT, WE HAVE OUR IT DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE, UH, I BELIEVE IT'LL BE JEFF.
OUR IT DIRECTOR, CIO, UH, MAKING THE NEXT PRESENTATION.
EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I GET THE HONOR TO INTRODUCE YOU TONIGHT TO, UH, ROB ZO.
UM, HE JOINED OUR TEAM AS OUR SENIOR NETWORK ENGINEER THIS SUMMER.
SO ROB JOINS US, UM, FROM THE CITY OF PEORIA WHERE HE SERVED FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS AS A NETWORK ENGINEER, AND THEN LATER AN INFRASTRUCTURE ARCHITECT.
UM, IN THAT ROLE, HE LED, UH, NUMEROUS CITYWIDE PROJECTS THAT MODERNIZED AND SECURED THEIR CRITICAL NETWORK SYSTEMS. UM, WE'RE EACH FOCUSED ON, UH, THE WATER SYSTEMS AND THE CITY'S FIBER NETWORK.
UM, PRIOR TO MUNICIPAL WORK, UM, ROB GAINED A VARIETY OF HIS EXPERTISE, UM, IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, UM, WORKING FOR, UH, THE DIAR UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UM, SO HAVING GROWN UP IN THE WEST VALLEY, AND HE'S NOW RAISED A FAMILY HERE, ROB IS PERSONALLY INVESTED IN USING HIS EXPERIENCE TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY WHERE HE LIVES.
HIS PRIMARY FOCUS WILL BE ENSURING THE AVAILABILITY AND THE NETWORK SECURITY OF OUR
[00:10:01]
SYSTEMS HERE.AND I'M NOT GONNA ASK YOU TO COMPARE, UH, OUR GREAT CITY TO PEORIA, UH, BUT
AND SO BEING CLOSER TO HOME AND ACTUALLY GETTING TO WORK IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I, I LIVE AND USE EVERY DAY WAS, UH, WAS DEFINITELY APPEALING TO ME.
UM, I THINK AS FAR AS WHAT I'M BRINGING FROM THERE, SOME OF THE DIFFERENT TECHNICAL PRACTICES AND SOME OF THE, THE SKILL WE HAVE THERE, BRING ME HERE.
ENHANCING WHAT THE WHAT'S GO HERE THAT WELL, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU AND WELCOME ABOARD.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UM, THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY STAFF.
SHE COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT WE WILL INTRODUCE CAROLYN AT OUR NEXT, UH, MEETING.
SO UP NEXT WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
UH, YOUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR KIRK, UH, WILL MAKE THE INTRODUCTIONS.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE THE NEW EMPLOYEES IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
I HAVE ONE IN PERSON HERE TONIGHT, AND WE HAVE A SHORT VIDEO TO SHARE.
FIRST I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE ALYSSA ROJAS.
ALYSSA WANTED TO BE IN HERE IN PERSON TONIGHT, ALTHOUGH SHE HAS A VERY EARLY START TIME TOMORROW MORNING.
SHE JOINED THE CITY IN MAY AS A SOLID WASTE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR.
UM, SHE'S BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS AND WAS PREVIOUSLY OPERATING AT THE CITY OF PEORIA.
WE HAVE HER WORKING ON BOTH THE BULK TRASH CREW AS WELL AS OPERATING THE, UH, AUTOMATED SIDE LOADER FOR CURBSIDE TRASH AND RECYCLING COLLECTION.
AND ALYSSA REALLY ENJOYS SEEING HOW APPRECIATIVE PEOPLE ARE WHEN SHE ACTUALLY DOES THAT SERVICE TO THEM, KNOWING THAT SHE'S MADE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON, ON OUR RESIDENTS.
WHEN ALYSSA ISN'T WORKING, SHE ENJOYS VIDEO GAMES AND ANIME.
UM, SHE'S BEEN DOING GREAT WORK FOR THE CITY AND WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE HER ON OUR TEAM.
MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK HER A COUPLE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO THE VIDEO, I'M SURE SHE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
YEAH, NO,
UH, NO, THANK YOU FOR, UM, YOUR SERVICE HERE TO AVONDALE.
BUT WHILE, WHILE YOU'RE OUT THERE IN, IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND, AND WORKING WITH RESIDENTS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT, UH, YOU WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO KNOW, UH, IN REGARDS TO BEING OUT THERE WITH BULK TRASH OR UTILIZING THE, SO THE SIDE LOADER AS YOU'RE TRAVERSING THROUGH THE COMMUNITIES, UM, THAT, UH, MIGHT BE A FUN FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF.
I, THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF FUN FACTS, BUT JUST ONE THING THAT I, THEY THEY KNOW IS, IT IS PICK UP A LOT OF TRASH EVERY DAY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW HEAVY IT IS AND HOW DANGEROUS IT IS, BUT, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT SMOKE BACK, BUT CLOSE ENOUGH.
YOU, YOU DO A GOOD JOB OUT THERE.
AND, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, OUR RESIDENTS MAY NOT KNOW HOW MUCH TONS OF MATERIAL ARE, ARE TAKING THAT GO THROUGH YOUR HANDS AND, AND OTHERS.
SO WELCOME ABOARD AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING THE VIDEO.
THANK YOU MAYOR, VICE SERGEANT COUNSEL.
I'LL DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN IN FRONT OF YOU FOR THE VIDEO.
I'M WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION IN SOLID WASTE.
I AM AN OPERATOR AND, UM, I CAME TO THE CITY BECAUSE EVERYBODY I KNOW THAT HAS EVER WORKED FOR A CITY HAS NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT IT.
THEY ALL LOVE THEIR JOB HERE AND THERE, SO I WANTED TO BE A PART OF THAT.
UM, THE WAGES ARE REALLY GOOD.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY I WANTED TO COME.
AND, UH, I REALLY ENJOYED IT SO FAR.
I LOVE ENJOYED LEARNING ABOUT THE CITY AND SEEING NEW THINGS ABOUT IT AND LEARNING ABOUT IT, SO I'M REALLY HAPPY AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SHELDON BEGA.
I AM A WASTE WATER OPERATOR AT THE WATER REC MASON FACILITY HERE IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
UH, WHAT BROUGHT ME TO AVONDALE WAS MY FAMILY AND MY FAVORITE PART OF BEING PART OF THIS CITY MUNICIPALITY IS THAT IT WAS VERY WELCOMING.
THEY MADE ME FEEL RIGHT AT HOME, UH, WORKING WITH THE TEAM.
WHENEVER I NEED HELP, THEY HELP ME WITH, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING.
THEY'RE, EVERYBODY'S MORE THAN FLAT, MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP ME AND SHOW ME HOW TO DO DO IT RIGHT, HOW TO DO IT PROPERLY.
AND WHAT I DO IN MY FREE TIME IS I GO TO THE GYM, I GO HIKING, I GO OUTSIDE AND EXPLORE.
[00:15:02]
UH, I LIVE IN TEMPE, BUT, UH, I WOULD LOVE TO MOVE TO THE CITY OF DALE AND IT'S VERY BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE.I LIKE THE SCENERY, I TAKE IT BACK HOME, THE ROAD'S BACK HOME, AND I ENJOY JUST THE MOUNTAIN TO THE SOUTH.
AND, UH, I LIKE LOOKING AT THAT VIEW EVERY DAY AT WORK AS WELL.
WELL, KURT, THANK YOU TO SHELDON, JOSH, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
ALYSSA, WE APPRECIATE HAVING YOU.
[b. International City/County Management Association Credentialed Manager Designation]
ON NEXT ITEM PLEASE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, AND MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.I DON'T GET DOWN ON THIS SIDE OF THE PODIUM VERY OFTEN, SO I GET VERY HAPPY WHEN I GET TO RECOGNIZE, UH, ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES, UH, SOMEONE ESPECIALLY OF TRACY'S CALIBER.
YOU HAVE TO BE B YOU CAN BE BASHFUL LATER.
SO, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE A SIGNIFICANT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT BY ONE OF OUR OWN MS. TRACY STEVENS, OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
TRACY RECENTLY, UH, EARNED THE CREDENTIALED MANAGER DESIGNATED FROM THE INTERNATIONAL CITY COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, ALSO KNOWN AS ICMA.
IT IS A PRESTIGIOUS HONOR THAT REFLECTS A CAREER BUILT ON LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY, AND DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
THE ICMA CREDENTIAL MANAGER DESIGNATION IS AWARDED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS WHO DEMONSTRATE A HIGH LEVEL EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE, A STRONG EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, AND A FIRM COMMITMENT TO ETHICS AND CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
IF FEWER THAN 1400 PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE EARNED THIS DESIGNATION, TRACY BRINGS 29 YEARS.
29 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH MOST OF IT RIGHT HERE IN THE WEST VALLEY, SPECIFICALLY HERE AT THE CITY OF AVONDALE, 19 YEARS, RIGHT GOING ON, GOING ON 19 YEARS HERE AT THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
SINCE JOINING THE, UH, CITY OF AVONDALE SINCE TWO IN 2007, TRACY HAS SERVED IN SEVERAL LEADERSHIP ROLES, INCLUDING PLANNING MANAGER DEVELOPMENT, ENGINEERING SERVICES DIRECTOR, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, AND CURRENTLY IS OUR ASSISTANT C CITY MANAGER.
TRACY'S A PROUD GRADUATE OF THE ICMA HIGH PERFORMANCE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.
SHE ALSO IS A ACTIVE MEMBER OF BOTH ICMA AND THE ARIZONA CITY AND COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, BETTER KNOWN AS A CMA, AND WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE SUCH A DEDICATED, ACCOMPLISHED, PROFESSIONAL SERVING, UH, OUR COMMUNITY.
PLEASE, UH, UH, JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING MS. TRACY STEVENS ON THIS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AND THANKING HER FOR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AVONDALE AND HER RESIDENTS.
SO, TRACY, SHARE WITH US THE EXPERIENCE OF GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
I MEAN, AS BUSY AS YOU ARE HERE AND BEING ABLE TO FIT IN THIS EDUCATION COMPONENT TO YOUR SCHEDULE.
JUST KIND OF WALK US THROUGH WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.
THANK YOU MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION AND THANK YOU TO RON FOR SUPPORTING ME THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
AND, UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, MAYOR IS, IT IS A PROCESS.
UH, IT IS A, UM, A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU COMPLETE A WORK PLAN AND, UM, PROVIDE THAT TO, UH, MEMBERS OF MY PEERS THROUGH ICMA.
UM, IT'S THROUGH AN ASSESSMENT THAT IS COMPLETED AND THEN IDENTIFYING AREAS WHERE, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO, UH, FOCUS ON THOSE TWO AREAS.
IN MY CASE, IT'S, UM, EFFICIENCIES IN, UM, SYSTEM AND SERVICE DELIVERIES AND STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP.
AND SO THOSE ARE THE TWO AREAS THAT, UH, I WILL BE FOCUSING ON OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
AND IT'S ALSO JUST CONTINUED LEADERSHIP, A COMMITMENT AS, AS RON SAID, A COMMITMENT TO, UM, HIGH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND WORKING WITH THE HIGHEST INTEGRITY.
UM, IT'S A COMMITMENT TO LIFELONG LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO OVER THE NEXT YEAR, THOSE ARE THE TWO AREAS THAT I'LL BE WORKING ON.
WELL, THAT, THAT WAS A, A A LOT TO TAKE IN.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW BUSY YOU WERE AGAIN, IN, IN, UH, WORKING TOWARDS THIS CREDENTIAL.
AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR, YOU KNOW, THAT OPPORTUNITY AND THAT EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE THAT YOU BRING TO THE LEADERSHIP TEAM.
SO ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THAT HAVE ANY WORDS, COMMENTS? OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.
I THINK THE ENTIRE CITY KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT I FEEL ABOUT CREDENTIALED LEADERS, AND SO I'M VERY PROUD THAT YOU'RE A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM AND ALL OF YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT YOU'LL BE DOING IN THE FUTURE.
OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN, AND WE SHARE YOUR, YOUR ACHIEVEMENT, SO THANK YOU.
[00:20:06]
MR. BARON.[c. Proclamation - National Police K-9 Day]
HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL POLICE CANINE DAY, AND I BELIEVE, UH, CHIEF ESPINOZA WILL KICK IT OFF.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AS WE LET OUR, UH, TEAM IN, I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT OF THE REASON WHY WE'RE HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
ALSO, THANK YOU FOR, UH, TAKING THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE OUR CANINE UNIT.
IF, BEFORE WE TURN THE MIC OVER TO YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION, IF I CAN INTRODUCE, UH, OUR TEAM AND TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR CANINE UNIT.
THE CANINE UNIT IS LED BY LIEUTENANT HEATH BRITTON AND SERGEANT MORGAN AYERS WITH NO CANINE, UH, OFFICER BO WAGNER WITH HIS PARTNER AKE OSCAR SANGO WITH HIS PARTNER PACO, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
OFFICER MICHAEL OROZCO AND HIS PARTNER BARRETT, WHO'S NOT HERE TODAY.
OFFICER CALEB NEWMAN WITH HIS PARTNER, UH, SIKH.
UH, AND OFFICER JOE TORITO WITH HIS PARTNER X.
SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR CANINE UNIT.
UH, ALL OF OUR DOGS ARE DUAL PURPOSE DOGS, MEANING THAT THEY HAVE, UH, TWO JOBS.
THEIR MAIN JOB, EVERY, UH, DOG IS TRAINED IN BEING A PATROL DOG, MEANING THAT THEY ARE TRAINED TO, UH, DO ARTICLE SEARCHES.
THEY'RE ALSO TRAINED TO, UH, SEARCH FOR PEOPLE, AND THEY ALSO ARE TRAINED TO ASSIST US WITH, UH, MAKING ARRESTS.
ALL THE DOGS HAVE A SECONDARY JOB.
THREE OF 'EM ARE TRAINED TO, UH, DETECT NARCOTICS WHILE THE OTHER TWO ARE TRAINED TO DETECT, UH, EXPLOSIVES.
UH, MAYOR AT THIS TIME, WE'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU FOR THE, UH, PROCLAMATION.
AND I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE COMMENTS BY COUNSEL.
I'LL JUST START BY SAYING THAT I WAS JUST SHARING EARLIER THAT, UH, LAST YEAR I WAS ABLE TO GO AND SEE Z COMPETE.
AND IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN THESE OFFICERS OUT IN, IN ACTION OR ON DUTY, UM, THEY'RE AMAZING ANIMALS.
AND, UM, UH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION NOW AND AGAIN.
WE'LL, WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL.
WHEREAS POLICE CANINES ARE HIGHLY TRAINED IN COURAGEOUS PARTNERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT RELIED UPON BY AGENCIES ACROSS THE NATION TO HELP ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY, DETECTING LEGAL SUBSTANCES, LOCATE MISSING PERSONS, APPREHEND SUSPECTS, AND PROTECT THEIR HUMAN PARTNERS IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
AND WHEREAS THESE LOYAL AND SKILLED DOGS PERFORM CRITICAL ROLES THAT OFTEN REQUIRE PRECISION AND SPEED BEYOND HUMAN ABILITY, MAKING THEM INVALUABLE AND ENHANCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS, AND SAVING LIVES EVERY DAY.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AVONDALE PROUDLY RECOGNIZES AND HONORS THE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE POLICE CANINE UNITS ACROSS THE NATION ON NATIONAL POLICE CANINE DAY, AND THE OUTSTANDING SERVICE OF ITS OWN POLICE CANINE UNIT WHOSE TIRELESS EFFORTS STRENGTHEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND DEMONSTRATE UNWAVERING PROFESSIONALISM, DEDICATION, AND EX EXCELLENCE.
AND WHEREAS NATIONAL POLICE CANINE DAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS DEEP GRATITUDE FOR THE BRAVERY AND SACRIFICE OF POLICE CANINES, AS WELL AS THE COMMITMENT AND CARE OF THEIR HANDLERS, WHO FORMED STRONG BONDS WITH THEIR CANINE PARTNERS AND EXEMPLIFY THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF SERVICE.
AND WHEREAS THIS DAY ALSO SERVES TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF FALLEN CANINES, WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN THE LINE OF DUTY TO REAFFIRM THE CITY'S SUPPORT FOR THE ONGOING GROWTH AND SAFETY OF ITS CANINE PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE OPENING OF THE NEW CANINE FACILITIES IN 2025.
AND WHEREAS POLICE CANINES ALSO PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH, HOPING TO BUILD TRUST AND POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE PUBLIC THROUGH DEMONSTRATIONS, SCHOOL VISITS AND PUBLIC EVENTS THAT EDUCATE AND INSPIRE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES.
AND WHEREAS SEPTEMBER 1ST IS NATIONAL POLICE CANINE DAY, A DAY DEDICATED TO RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR POLICE CANINES, AND A TIME FOR US TO THANK OUR CITY OF AVONDALE POLICE CANINE HANDLERS.
NOW THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CITY OF BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2025 AS NATIONAL POLICE CANINE DAY AND AFFIRM OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO THE AVONDALE POLICE CANINE UNIT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL WHO WISH? OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE HERE AND NOT, I WAS REALLY HOPING TO SEE ALL OF THEM, BUT I GET IT, BUT I'LL TAKE MORE THAN ONE.
BUT WHEN I GOT INTO COUNCIL, UM, I THINK I MET OFFICER SAMMY FIRST, AND THAT WAS MY FIRST INTERACTION WITH THE DOG.
[00:25:01]
SO I WAS LIKE, CAN I PET THE DOG? CAN I DO THIS? AND HE WAS LIKE, NOPE.BUT, UM, THEY WORK SO HARD AND IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE THAT YOU GUYS NOW HAVE A DEDICATED FACILITY TO HAVE THEM WHERE THEY CAN HAVE FUN.
I ACTUALLY ASKED ONE OF THE OFFICERS, I'M LIKE, HE PROBABLY DOESN'T WANNA COME HOME ANYMORE.
UM, BUT IT IS SUCH A GREAT FACILITY.
YOU GUYS ALL WORK SO HARD, I IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, HAVING A CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT NOT ONLY THAT, THEN LEARNING THE COMPONENT OF WORKING WITH THE DOG IS HUGE.
SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
I, ONE OF THE FUNNEST THINGS, UM, THAT I'VE GONE TO AS A CITIZEN, AND I STRONGLY RECOMMEND CITIZENS TO DO THIS, IS THE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY.
AND ONE OF THE GREAT NIGHTS THAT WE HAD WAS WHEN WE GOT TO SEE THE DOGS IN ACTION, AND YOU GUYS WERE SHOWING THEM TO, UM, ALL OF THE CITIZENS TO SEE THE NEW, UM, BUILDING THAT YOU HAVE, THE KENNEL, UM, WITH THE ABILITY TO TRAIN THERE AND PRACTICE THERE.
I JUST, I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL, BUT I REALLY, REALLY LOVE THE FACT THAT WE INVESTED IN, UM, IN YOUR DEPARTMENT AND IN, IN, IN OUR CANINES.
SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.
CHIEF, LIEUTENANT, SERGEANT, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM, UM, IN CANINE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT I KNOW I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO TOUCH THE DOGS NOW, AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE HARDEST THING BECAUSE NOT ONLY, UM, DO WE SEE ALL THE HOT HURTS AROUND THE CITY, BUT YOU GUYS ARE ONE OF THE MOST CARING, UM, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE VALLEY.
SO IT'S VERY HARD FOR US TO KIND OF WALK AWAY FROM YOU AND NOT WANT TO TOUCH THE DOGS.
BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
ALL THE DOGS THAT ARE HERE, YOU GUYS ARE BEING REALLY QUIET AND WELL BEHAVED.
AND I KNOW I HAVE MADE A, A QUICK REQUEST OF, UM, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND YOU GUYS CAME THROUGH AND GAVE US ALL DOGS AS WELL.
UM, I KNOW FORMER, UM, CHIEF, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, NANA GAYE, HAD A LOT TO DO WITH US GETTING CANINE HERE IN THE CITY.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL, SIR.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW WHERE WE'VE GONE, WHERE WE'VE BEEN, AND KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING.
AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, THEY ALWAYS BEHAVE EXACTLY WHEN YOU NEED THEM TO, RIGHT?
THESE DOGS WORK HARDER ALMOST THAN SOME PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED AS MUCH.
AND I LOVE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS.
I LOVE HOW YOU GUYS TREAT THEM.
UM, I'VE HEARD THE WAY YOU GUYS FEED THEM WHERE THEY SLEEP, AND IT'S JUST WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT HERE IN AVONDALE THAT WE LOVE AND SUPPORT OUR CANINE PARTNERS AND THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THEM BECAUSE THEY DO WORK REALLY, REALLY HARD AND THEY SAVE LIVES MORE THAN PEOPLE COULD EVER IMAGINE.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO, AND THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, TRAINING THEM WELL,
WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING HERE.
WE APPRECIATE OUR, OUR CANINE FRIENDS HERE AND, UM, I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THIS DAY.
[3. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES]
AT THIS TIME, UH, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER THREE, UH, PUBLIC APPEARANCES.ARE THERE ANY OTHER CARDS OR ANYTHING ELSE? MARCELLA, UH, MR. MR. MAYOR AND COUNCILOR, GO ON.
UM, WE HAVE TWO NEW RECRUITS AND THEY'RE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WOULD LOVE TO HAVE, THEY'RE NOT RECRUITS, THEY'RE FIREFIGHTERS NOW, BUT LOVE TO HAVE A PICTURE WITH COUNSEL IF OH, OKAY.
I DUNNO IF THEY'D LOVE TO, BUT I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO HAVE PICTURES WITH THEM.
OKAY, COUNSEL, WOULDN'T I ENJOYING ME DOWN THERE FOR SOME PHOTOS.
[00:35:54]
OKAY.[00:35:55]
AGAIN, UM, ITEM NUMBER THREE, AGAIN, ON, ON SCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES.WE, THIS, THIS, WE HAVE NO OTHER CARDS, BUT THIS ONE, CORRECT? MARCELLA? THAT'S CORRECT.
THERESA DESANTE, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS ON JUNE THE 23RD, 2025, I REQUESTED A COPY OF THE INTERIM GOVERNOR OF THE INTER GOVERN GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT CONTRACT OF UNIT LA 1 75.
REMEMBER I SAID THE LITTLE RED TRUCK FROM THE CITY OF AVONDALE, WHAT I RECEIVED MAY NO MENTION OF UNIT LA 1 75.
THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING REGARDING UNIT LA 71 75.
SO ON AUGUST 17TH, 2025, EXCUSE ME, I SUBMITTED ANOTHER REQUEST TO THE CITY SPECIFICALLY REQUESTING A COPY OF AVONDALE'S UNIT A LA 1 75 CONTRACT PER THE, PER THE CITY OF AVONDALE, THERE ARE NO AGREEMENTS CONNECTED WITH THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
FIRE MEDICAL VEHICLES HAS THEY OWN, THEY ARE OWNED BY THE CITY AND NOT LEASE.
MY QUESTION NOW IS ON APRIL THE SEVENTH, 2025, CHIEF ROONEY TOLD ME HIS CON THAT HE COULD NOT TOLD ME HE COULD ONLY STAFF UNIT LA 1 75, THE LITTLE RED TRUCK WITH EMTS PER THE CONTRACT.
BECAUSE I ASKED CHIEF ROONEY, HOW COME THERE WASN'T A PARAMEDIC ON THE LA 1 75 WITHIN THE EMT.
THAT WAS HIS ANSWER PER CONTRACT.
SO IS THERE A CONTRACT OR NOT REGARDING UNIT LA 1 75? DOES THAT MEAN THE LEFT HAND DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT HAND IS DOING? SEEMS A LOT.
NOT A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS TO ME, IN MY OPINION.
AND BY THE WAY, I'M CURIOUS, DID THE CITY OF DALE CONTINUE THEIR CONTRACT WITH A MR AMBULANCE OR ENTER INTO A NEW CONTRACT WITH MARICOPA AMBULANCE OR A STAFF MEMBER AT MARICOPA? AMBULANCE IS RELATED TO CHIEF ROONEY, SO WHO REALLY BENEFITS? THAT'S WHAT I WANNA KNOW.
RON, WILL WE FOLLOW UP ON THIS ITEM? YES, MR. MAYOR.
[4. CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, CONSENT AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL WHO WISH TO HAVE AN ITEM REMOVED FOR A SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? AND IF NOT, CAN I GET A MOTION, WHICH I SEE HERE, WE GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, CAN WE PLEASE GET A VOTE? OKAY, ITEM PASSES.
[a. Budget Transfer from Contingency to M0176 Bridge Housing]
ITEM NUMBER FIVE.RON, YOU THINK I'D BE READY FOR THE ONE AGENDA ITEM WE HAVE TONIGHT, RIGHT?
WE HAVE A BUDGET TRANSFER REQUEST FROM CONTINGENCY TO MO 1 76 BRIDGE HOUSING.
REALLY, IT'S ALSO TO GIVE COUNSEL IN THE COMMUNITY THE UPDATE OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH OUR BRIDGE HOUSING AND EXPLAIN WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT.
CHRIS, OUR DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILY SERVICES WILL, UH, LEAD OFF A PRESENTATION, BUT HE HAS BACKUP, HE HAS MUSCLE BEHIND HIM.
IF, UH, YOU GUYS HAVE A QUESTION THAT HE CAN'T ANSWER, EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, I'M PLEASED
[00:40:01]
TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A SUB DAY REGARDING THE FAMILY BRIDGE HOUSING PROGRAM.THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION IS TO SHARE SOME PROJECT HISTORY.
WE WANNA PROVIDE SOME UPDATES REGARDING THE DESIGN OF THE, OF THE BUILDING.
UH, WE WANNA SHARE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE SERVICES, REVIEW THE BUDGET, AND THEN DEFINE THE ACTION THAT'S BEING REQUESTED.
BEFORE I JUMP INTO THAT, I WANNA PROVIDE A LITTLE REFRESHER, UM, ABOUT WHAT FAMILY BRIDGE HOUSING IS.
FAMILY BRIDGE HOUSING AT IS, AT ITS CORE IS TEMPORARY HOUSING DESIGNATED TO FILL THE GAP.
IT'S EXACTLY THAT, A BRIDGE BETWEEN HOMELESSNESS AND PERMANENT HOUSING.
IT PROVIDES A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR FAMILIES TO WORK TOWARDS AND SECURE LONG-TERM HOUSING.
BRIDGE HOUSING IS OFTEN THE CRITICAL STEP IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING FROM THE STREETS TO SHELTER STREETS OR SHELTER INTO PERMANENT HOUSING, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE FAMILIES THAT ALREADY HAVE A HOUSING VOUCHER IN HAND AND ARE JUST WAITING FOR A UNIT TO BECOME AVAILABLE.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND REGARDING THIS PROJECT, WE INITIATED AND GOT COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT BACK IN JULY OF 2021.
UM, WE BEGAN DESIGN FOR THAT PROJECT IN DECEMBER OF 2021, AND THEN IN AUGUST OF 2022, THE PROJECT WAS PAUSED DUE TO SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, INFLATION, AND THEN ALSO CONTRACT PERFORMANCE IN APRIL OF 2023.
THE PROJECT WAS INFUSED WITH FUNDING AS MARICOPA COUNTY CONTACTED US AND WANTED TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT WITH $1.7 MILLION OF AMERICAN RESCUE ACT FUNDING.
THEN AGAIN, IN APRIL OR IN OCTOBER OF 2024, A COUNTY WANTED TO INFUSE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS INTO THIS PROJECT, UM, AND INCREASE THE TOTAL FUNDING OR THE TOTAL CONTRIBUTION TO $1.9 MILLION.
IN JUNE OF 2025, WE CLOSED AN IFB WITH SEVEN BIDS THAT ALL CAME IN ABOVE OUR CURRENT BUDGET.
UH, WE DO ANTICIPATE WITH YOUR SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT AND COMPLETING THE PROJECT IN APRIL OF 2026.
THE IMAGE BEFORE YOU PROVIDES AN AERIAL OF THE PROJECT AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO OUR RESOURCE CENTER, UH, THE AVONDALE POLICE SUBSTATION, UH, AND CANINE FACILITY.
AND WE'RE SHARING THIS WITH YOU TODAY BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE THE, UH, RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BRIDGE HOUSING PROJECT AND THE RESOURCE CENTER.
UH, WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF SYNERGY AND POWER BEHIND HAVING, UH, BRIDGE HOUSING LOCATED ON A CAMPUS WITH THE AVONDALE RESOURCE CENTER BECAUSE THOSE WRAPAROUND SERVICES PROVIDED OUT OF THE RESOURCE CENTER ARE SO CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THESE FAMILIES.
HERE'S A DETAIL OF THOSE UNITS.
UH, IT'S A TOTAL OF THREE DUPLEXES, UM, WHICH ARE ON THE EAST SIDE OF EIO C FELIX WAY, AND RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, UH, TO THE EAST OF THE RESOURCE CENTER.
THIS IMAGE IS A FLOOR PLAN FOR A DUPLEX.
AS YOU'LL NOTICE YOU'RE REVIEWING THIS.
THERE ARE TWO BEDROOMS FOR EACH UNIT, A LIVING ROOM, A KITCHEN, A COVERED ENTRY, AND A DEDICATED LAUNDRY, UM, ROOM.
IN EACH OF THESE UNITS, THESE UNITS ARE APPROXIMATELY 800 AND, UH, 85 OR 858 SQUARE FEET EACH.
AND, UM, WE THINK THESE ARE FANTASTIC, UM, UNITS DESIGNED TO SERVE FAMILIES AND, UM, WILL REALLY ENHANCE THE THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS.
HERE'S AN ELEVATION OF THE UNITS.
THE UNITS ARE CONSTRUCTED WITH, UH, STUCCO, PAINTED STUCCO, BRICK VENEER, AND METAL PANELING.
UM, I ALSO WANNA REF INDICATE THAT THE ARCHITECTURE IS DESIGNED TO REFLECT AND ECHO THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE RESOURCE CENTER, CREATING A COHESIVE CAMPUS, A COHESIVE LOOK AND FEEL OF THE CAMPUS BEFORE YOU.
WE HAVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE SERVICES.
UM, THERE ARE REALLY THREE PARTS TO THIS, BEGINNING WITH ELIGIBILITY.
UH, WE'VE WORKED TO CREATE A PROGRAM THAT'S DESIGNED TO PRIORITIZE AVONDALE RESIDENTS.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING TO SERVE FAMILIES WITH AT LEAST ONE CHILD, ONE MINOR CHILD.
UM, THE FAMILIES SHOULD BE ENROLLED IN A HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THESE FAMILIES ALREADY HAVE AN OFF RAMP, UM, AND A WAY TO, UH, CONNECT WITH PERMANENT HOUSING.
SO THESE FAMILIES THAT WE IDENTIFY WILL HAVE A VOUCHER, UM, FOR HOUSING, AND THEY'RE JUST WAITING FOR A UNIT TO BECOME AVAILABLE.
UH, ANOTHER IMPORTANT PIECE IS THAT COMMITMENT TO CASE WORK.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THESE FAMILIES ARE SET UP FOR SUCCESS.
AND SO THERE'LL BE, UH, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT THAT HAPPENS WITH THESE FAMILIES AND SKILL BUILDING.
UM, THAT LEADS ME TO ENGAGEMENT.
SO WE ANTICIPATE THESE FAMILIES BEING HOUSED, UM, IN THESE UNITS FOR UP TO 12 MONTHS.
[00:45:01]
OCCASION YOU'LL HAVE FAMILIES THAT ARE ABLE TO MOVE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING IN AS LITTLE AS SIX MONTHS.AGAIN, THAT CASE MANAGEMENT IS SO CRITICAL THAT CASE MANAGEMENT WILL HELP THESE FAMILIES DEVELOP SKILLS, UM, SUCH AS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, UM, YOU KNOW, RESUME WRITING, INTERVIEW SKILLS, UM, HOW TO MAINTAIN AND UPKEEP A HOUSE, UM, AND THE RESIDENCE, UH, ACCESS TO CHILDCARE AND ALL OF THE WEALTH OF RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE AT THE, AT THE RESOURCE CENTER.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY WE WANNA EXIT THESE FAMILIES INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.
WE DO THAT THROUGH NAVIGATION, UM, ONGOING WRAPAROUND SUPPORT FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS AFTER THEY'VE EXITED THE BRIDGE HOUSING.
AND THEN, UH, FREQUENT FOLLOW US WITH THOSE FAMILIES.
UH, A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE GOALS.
REALLY OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS FAMILY STABILITY.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THESE FAMILIES HAVE A STAY, A SAFE AND STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CHILDREN.
UM, AS BRIAN, UM, REMINDS ME OFTEN ONE OF THE GREATEST, IF NOT THE ONLY PREDICTOR OF HOMELESSNESS IS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS.
SO WE REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THESE CHILDREN THAT GROW UP, UM, HAVE A STABLE ENVIRONMENT AND DON'T END UP IN THE SAME SITUATION.
UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT STABILITY HELPS THE KIDS MAINTAIN ATTENDANCE AND THAT THEY KEEP THEIR GRADES UP AND THEY'RE CONNECTED TO THE SAME SCHOOL AND THE SAME COMMUNITY THAT THEY GREW UP IN.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE ADULT PARENTS HAVE ACCESS TO, UM, STABLE EMPLOYMENT AND THAT HAVING A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD HELPS FOLKS MAINTAIN THAT STABLE EMPLOYMENT.
UH, WE HELP THEM THROUGH THE GOAL SETTING OF, UM, MANAGING THEIR FINANCES AND MAINTAINING AND DEVELOPING THAT FINANCIAL SECURITY.
UM, AND ULTIMATELY, AGAIN, PERMANENT HOUSING.
WE DO, UM, ANTICIPATE SOME COSTS.
AND SO ANNUAL, UH, OPERATION COSTS FOR THESE UNITS, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT $150,000 OF GENERAL FUNDS PER YEAR.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A CASE MANAGEMENT AND NAVIGATION COMPONENT.
AND, UH, WE HAVE THESE FUNDS IN HAND ALREADY.
THESE ARE, UM, HOME ARPA FUNDS, UH, AT AMOUNT AT AN AMOUNT OF $60,000 PER YEAR.
SO TONIGHT FOR, UM, THE BUDGET REQUESTS THAT WE ARE, ARE REQUESTING, WE'RE REQUESTING $280,000 FROM CONTINGENCY FOR CONSTRUCTION.
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO AWARD THE CONTRACT TO THE LOWEST AND A RESPONSIBLE BID.
THIS REQUEST WILL INCREASE THE TOTAL, UH, CITY'S TOTAL COMP CONTRIBUTION TO JUST OVER $1 MILLION.
AND THE OVERALL PROJECT BUDGET TO $2,989,061.
THE SECOND PART OF THAT IS $75,000 FROM CONTINGENCY FOR PROJECT OPERATIONS.
THIS IS A PRORATED AMOUNT THAT WILL ALLOW US TO ENGAGE WITH A QUALIFIED PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, UM, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION TO OPERATE THE UNITS, UM, THAT WE'LL BE OPENING.
UM, IN FY 26, THE 150,000 OF ONGOING ANNUAL OPERATING COSTS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE CITY'S LONG RANGE FINANCIAL FORECASTS.
THE SLIDE BEFORE YOU NOW IS THE RECOMMENDED MOTION.
UH, WE'RE RE REQUESTING A MOTION TO APPROVE A BUDGET TRANSFER FROM CONTINGENCY FOR BRIDGE HOUSING IN THE AMOUNT OF $280,000 AND THE APPROVAL OF A BUDGET TRANSFER FROM CONTINGENCY IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,000 FOR OPERATIONS OF THE BUILT BRIDGE HOUSING.
UM, AND THEN AUTHORIZING FINANCE AND BUDGET TO AND STAFF TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO EXECUTE THE TRANSFER.
WITH THAT, UM, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
THANK YOU, CHRIS, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, IT WAS EARLIER IN MY MEETING WITH LEADERSHIP THAT I WAS REMINDED AND IT WAS COMMUNICATED THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THINGS THAT LARGE MUNICIPALITIES DO FOR THEIR RESIDENTS.
AND SO A CITY OF OUR SIZE, UH, WHILE WE KIND OF FIT, WE'RE NOT A LARGE CITY, WE'RE NOT A SMALL CITY, BUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE SIX UNITS, UH, TO ASSIST WITH THIS TRANSITIONAL PERIOD SPEAKS WONDERS AND SPEAKS VOLUMES OF, OF OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I ALSO MENTIONED, OR TO LEADERSHIP, UH, THAT I WAS HAPPY WITH THE SIX UNITS, BUT WHAT WAS, WHAT WAS ALSO COMMUNICATED TO ME AS WELL IS THE FACT THAT WHILE THE SIX UNITS POTENTIAL IS REALLY 12 FAMILIES, IF THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THIS TRANSITION, UM, AND UTILIZING THE, THE SHORT TIME PRIOR TO THESE, THESE OFF RAMPS, IF YOU WILL, OR FINDING PERMANENT HOUSING.
SO AGAIN, WHILE IT'S ONLY SIX UNITS, AND I DON'T, I SHOULDN'T EVEN SAY ONLY WHILE IT'S SIX UNITS, THE POTENTIAL IMPACT IS GREATER THAN THAT.
AND, UH, I KNOW THAT THE FAMILIES ARE GONNA BENEFIT, UH, THROUGH THIS TRANSITIONAL PERIOD.
AND YOU, UH, YOU MENTIONED THE TERM SYNERGY, THE FACT THAT IT'S SO CLOSE TO THE, TO THE, UM, THE CENTER THERE FOR WHATEVER REASON, I CAN'T THINK RESOURCE, THE RESOURCE CENTER, UM, JUST HELPS AGAIN IN TERM TERMS, TERMS OF THAT COMMITMENT, UH, TO THOSE SERVICES AND THE ENGAGE, THE ENGAGEMENT THAT
[00:50:01]
WILL BE REQUIRED, UH, JUST MAKES THINGS SO MUCH EASIER.ACCESS TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WHETHER IT BE CHARTER OR OTHERWISE IS ALSO CLOSE BY.
AND SO I BELIEVE THESE FAMILIES ARE GONNA BENEFIT FOR A WHOLE, FOR A WHOLE HOST OF REASONS.
SO, UM, I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL.
I KNOW WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND HERE, BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS.
UM, THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING SO THOUGHTFUL IN THE PROCESS.
IT'S NOT JUST PROVIDING THEM A PLACE TO LIVE, IT'S PROVIDING THEM WITH RESOURCES AND A GOAL TO GET OUT AND GET INTO SOMETHING MORE PERMANENT.
AND IT'S SIX HOUSE, SIX UNITS IS A LOT.
YEAH, JUST LIKE MAYOR SAID, IT'S MORE THAN SIX FAMILIES.
IT'LL BE ULTIMATELY MAYBE UP TO 12 PER YEAR.
UM, I KNOW TRANSITIONING INTO SOMETHING MORE PERMANENT, IF IT'S A RENTAL, THOSE OFTEN REQUIRE DEPOSITS.
DO WE HAVE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO HELP THEM WITH DEPOSITS IN A NEW APARTMENT? MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? UH, WE DO.
UM, SO THE IDEA IS, AGAIN, IDENTIFYING FAMILIES THAT ALREADY HAVE A HOUSING VOUCHER, BUT IF WE ENCOUNTER A FAMILY, UM, THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE VOUCHER OR THEY NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, UM, OUR RESOURCE CENTER IS ARMED WITH MULTIPLE FUNDING STREAMS THAT CAN DO JUST THAT.
WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE DEPOSITS, UM, FOR, FOR FOLKS FOR BOTH RENT, UM, AND UTILITIES.
AND THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION.
ARE THEY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN UTILITIES MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? SO WHILE THEY'RE IN THE, UM, THE BRIDGE HOUSING UNITS, THEY WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR UTILITIES.
UM, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THEM TO DEVELOP, UM, SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE BUILDING UP THAT, THAT, UM, SAFETY NET, UM, FOR WHEN THEY DO TRANSITION, TRANSITION INTO BRIDGE HOUSING.
UM, BUT ULTIMATELY THAT CASE MANAGEMENT IS DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, THEY'VE GOT ALL THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
WILL PETS BE ALLOWED? UH, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PETS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ON SITE, BUT WE WILL BE WORKING WITH A NONPROFIT PARTNER WHO'S ARMED WITH A VARIETY OF RESOURCES.
SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE SUPPORT THOSE FAMILIES AND WE DO NOT WANT, UM, PETS TO BE A BARRIER TO, TO HOUSING.
AND THEN ARE THERE PATIOS IN THOSE HOMES FOR FOLKS TO SIT OUTSIDE OR MAYOR VICE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, I'M SORRY, I BREEZED OVER THE, THE, UM, THE, UM, SITE REALLY QUICKLY, BUT THERE ARE, UM, THERE'S A COVERED ENTRY, UM, WHERE SOMEBODY COULD SET UP A COUPLE OF CHAIRS AND SIT OUT FRONT.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A, UM, DEDICATED BACKYARD AREA WITH EACH OF THE UNITS.
I'M, I'M GLAD YOU, YOU MENTIONED, UM, THAT YOU'LL BE WORKING WITH THEM REGARDING LIKE, UM, HOW FINANCES, HOW TO MANAGE THAT, THAT'S SO IMPORTANT AS THEY CONTINUE TO MOVE ON, ON THEIR JOURNEY AND THEIR OWN OWN HOMES.
UM, BUT THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB.
UM, HOLD THE, LEMME SEE THERE'S GONNA BE ON THIS SIDE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHRIS, FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD STEWARD THROUGH THE RESOURCE CENTER AND YOUR LEADERSHIP OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES.
UM, WHAT IS THE OCCUPANCY OF EACH UNIT, MAYOR, VICE SENIOR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? UM, SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING FAMILIES OF APPROXIMATELY, UH, FOUR PEOPLE IN SIZE.
WE COULD PROBABLY ACCOMMODATE FIVE.
UM, IT WOULD BE, BE KIND OF TIGHT, BUT WE'RE ANTICIPATING FAMILIES, UM, YOU KNOW, MOTHER, FATHER AND UH, UP TO TWO CHILDREN.
AND DO WE HAVE TO HAVE, UM, A DIFFERENT GENDER CHILDREN IN DIFFERENT ROOMS? 'CAUSE I COULD SEE THAT MIGHT BE A CONCERN, MAYOR BY, WE WOULD WORK CLOSELY WITH THE FAMILIES TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, HOW BEST TO SITUATE THE, THE FAMILIES AND THE CHILDREN.
UM, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH A HIGHLY QUALIFIED NONPROFIT PARTNER WHO CAN HELP US NAVIGATE THAT.
AND THEY HAVE OTHER, UM, RESOURCES AND UNITS IN THEIR INVENTORY.
SO IF WE ENCOUNTER SOMETHING CHALLENGING LIKE THAT, WE COULD PERHAPS TAP INTO SOME OF THEIR OTHER, UM, RESOURCES.
UM, THANK YOU FOR DOING THE FINANCIAL STABILITY, UM, PIECE THERE.
WILL WE BE WORKING, IS THIS A PART OF THEIR CASE MANAGEMENT OR ARE WE USING A SEPARATE FINANCIAL STABILITY PROGRAM? THAT WILL BE, UM, THAT THEY'LL KIND OF HAVE TO MEET MILESTONES WITH MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
SO THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE INTEND TO WORK WITH HAVE A HUGE UMBRELLA OF SUPPORT SERVICES.
UM, AND THEY DO SPECIALIZE, HAVE SPECIALISTS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUS ON FINANCIAL LITERACY.
SO, UM, THAT OPERATOR, UH, AND CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL OF THOSE, THOSE SERVICES.
AND FINALLY, ARE THESE NON-SMOKING UNITS, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? YES.
THEY WOULD BE NON-SMOKING UNITS.
I KNOW TINA AND I WERE ON COUNCIL A LONG TIME AGO AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND WE'RE JUST GRATEFUL TO SEE IT TO COME TO FRUITION AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.
I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS JUST IN MY MIND.
[00:55:01]
LIMIT? ARE THEY GONNA RUN OUT SOMETIME? DO WE HAVE TO USE THEM BEFORE A CERTAIN DATE OR AM I CONFUSING THAT WITH SOMETHING ELSE? MAYOR VICE MEMBERSHIP COUNCIL, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.YES, THE ARPA FUNDS DO HAVE OBLIGATION TIMELINES.
UH, OBLIGATION FOR THE ARPA FUNDS, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IS UM, DECEMBER OF 2026.
THEY DO NEED TO BE OBLIGATED BY THAT POINT.
SO, OKAY, SO BY APRIL OF 26, WE SHOULD BE WELL WITH
THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD IS MAINTENANCE OF THE UNIT.
THE PEOPLE ARE IN THERE FOR SIX MONTHS.
WHO HANDLES THE MAINTENANCE CLEANUP? UH, AIR CONDITIONER REPAIR? IS THAT THE, THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT? IS THAT AVONDALE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
SO THE OPERATOR WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE, AND THEN THERE'S GONNA BE FREQUENT CHECK-INS WITH THE FAMILIES.
AND PART OF THAT IS INSPECTION OF THE UNITS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE CARING FOR THEM PROPERLY.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GONNA BE PART OF THE AGREEMENT IS THAT THEY, THEY UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO, UM, YOU KNOW, USE THE EQUIPMENT IN THE, THE FACILITIES PROPERLY.
AND I GUESS THE LAST ONE, THE LAST ONE HERE IS FURNISHINGS SHALL BE FURNISHED.
WE DO HAVE THAT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.
AND I GUESS JUST THE LAST COMMENT I'VE GOT IS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ATTEMPTING TO OR TRAINING THESE PEOPLE TO MEET THE FUTURE.
I MEAN, NOT ONLY DO YOU PROVIDE A HOUSE AND A A PLACE FOR THEM, UH, BUT THAT ONLY DOES SO GOOD THE TRAINING AND FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF IT.
I WAS TALKING TO GRANDKIDS THE OTHER NIGHT AND BALANCING A CHECKBOOK OR JUST DOING SOME THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEY JUST DON'T GET THAT OPPORTUNITY OR UNDERSTANDING IN SCHOOL ANYMORE.
SO YOU AND YOUR GROUP TEACHING AND TRAINING THEM HOW TO FACE THE FUTURE IS, IS EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR.
IF I MAY, I, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, THE TEAM BEHIND ME.
UH, I ACKNOWLEDGE JAMES WHO'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD BE HERE WITHOUT HIS EFFORT.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE BRIAN PLANTY, WHO'S JUST PHENOMENAL, UM, KNOWS THIS ISSUE IN AND OUT AND HAS A WEALTH OF CONTEXT AND RESOURCES ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN I'LL FINALLY, I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THANK MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR JUST ONGOING SUPPORT SUPPORTING THE DEPARTMENT AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES WE NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
UM, WHO'S GONNA BE DOING THE CASE MANAGEMENT PIECE? MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
SO, UM, OUR DESIRE IS TO FIND AN OPERATOR WHO ALL IS ALSO SKILLED IN THE CASE MANAGEMENT.
UM, WE DO HAVE, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THAT ARE PROVIDING THAT SERVICE.
UM, CURRENTLY, UM, OUR ULTIMATE DESIRE WITH THE GUIDANCE OF, UM, FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT IS TO, UM, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH AN EQUALLY QUALIFIED PROVIDER IF NOT THAT PROVIDER.
UH, BEFORE, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY.
UM, THE ARBOR FUNDS HAVE TO BE SPENT BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR, BY DECEMBER OF NEXT YEAR, 26.
THEY HAD TO BE OBLIGATED LAST YEAR OR THIS YEAR, AND THEY HAVE TO BE SPENT BY NEXT YEAR, WHICH, UM, WILL BE OPEN IN APRIL.
THAT'S WHY I'M IN, UH, FAMILY SERVICES AND NOT BUDGET AND FINANCE.
WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH CHRIS AND THE TEAM.
WE GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, THE REST OF COUNCIL PLEASE VOTE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND, AND, UH, PRESENTING ON THIS.
[6. SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS FROM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COUNCILMEMBERS
]
COUNCILOR GARCIA, UM, I ATTENDED THE BLACK CANVAS SUMMER SHOWCASE ART SHOW AND PARTS AND RECS.
YOU GUYS ALWAYS KNOCK IT OUTTA THE PARK, BUT TO SEE ALL OF THE CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATED IN IT WAS AMAZING.
AND THEIR ARTWORK THAT THEY SPENT ALL SUMMER DOING IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
LIKE, I WAS LIKE, I NEED TO GRAB SOME OF THESE.
I WAITED UNTIL EVERYONE LEFT TO SEE WHAT WAS LEFT, 'CAUSE I WANTED TO PUT SOME IN MY OFFICE.
UM, BUT IT WAS SUCH A, SUCH A AWESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR THE KIDS TO GET INVOLVED AND DO SOMETHING THAT THEY LOVE AND ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND THEN TO SHARE IT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN I ALSO ATTENDED THE ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THIS PAST WEEKEND.
AND IT WAS JUST, IT'S SO GREAT TO HEAR THE HEROIC STUFF THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES EVERY DAY, THAT IT'S ALMOST SOMETIMES UNSPEAKABLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW SOME OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS SAVED A, A BABY THAT HAD, UH, GOTTEN INTO FENTANYL, LIKE A SIX MONTH OLD AND WE DON'T REALIZE ALL THE HARD WORK THEY DO EVERY DAY.
SO I JUST WANNA THANK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO AND THAT, THAT I REALLY DO PRAY OVER YOU GUYS AND HOPE THAT YOU GUYS GO HOME AND ARE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, SLEEP AT NIGHT KNOWING THAT YOU GUYS ARE SAVING LIVES.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF AVONDALE AT THE NATIONAL BLACK CAUCUS OF LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
[01:00:01]
THROUGH AUGUST 2ND, I WAS HONORED TO BE A PART OF WHAT WE CALLED HOMECOMING, ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE IN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK AMERICANS.UM, THE HISTORIC MAYOR, FORMER MAYOR OF, UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS HONORED.
UM, ACTUALLY CONGRESSMAN SYLVESTER TURNER WHO PASSED AWAY AT THE TOP OF THE YEAR.
SO THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY INTERESTING.
I'M HONORED ALSO THAT NLC ALLOWED ME TO CONDUCT YOGA FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS, THE THREE MORNINGS THAT WE WERE THERE.
AND SO WE HAD, UM, A A, A SMALL GROUP, BUT WE FOCUSED ON REALLY HEALTHY CITIES AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION.
AND BY FAR THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST TECH CONFERENCES I'VE, I'VE HEARD OF IN A LONG TIME.
WE HEARD FROM NVIDIA, GOOGLE, UM, AND A FEW OTHER MAJOR TECH PLAYERS.
AND SO I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN A LOT AND WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE THAT INNOVATION AND SUPPORT, UM, OFTEN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE UNDERSERVED.
AND THEN THIS PAST WEEK I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND LEAGUE OF ARIZONA CITIES AND TOWNS, AND I'M SURE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS A LOT TO SHARE ABOUT THAT, BUT I WAS VERY EXCITED THAT, UM, IN ARIZONA WE'VE KICKED OFF AND NOW WE HAVE ARIZONA BLACK CAUCUS OF LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.
SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT AS WELL.
COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO, UH, LIKE MAX, I ATTENDED THE ARIZONA LEAGUE, THE WHAT WE CALL THE STATE CONFERENCE, WHICH WAS VERY NICE.
I WAS ALSO VERY PRIVILEGED TO ATTEND CIVIC CRAFT, WHICH IS THE FIRST PROGRAM OF ITS KIND, VERY EXCITED TO REPRESENT AVONDALE AND BE WITH, UM, 49 OTHER PARTICIPANTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE IN A PROGRAM THAT'S BEING HELD AND SEEN WHERE THEY GO WITH IT AND AT NO COST TO OUR CITY FOR THE INAUGURAL YEAR, WHICH IS ALWAYS GREAT, AND TO BE IN A PLACE AND SPACE WITH OTHER PEOPLE AROUND US.
AND UH, WE PLAYED STEP IN THE CIRCLE.
I WAS NOT IN THE CIRCLE MORE THAN TWO TIMES, SO I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR PEOPLE LIKE RON BECAUSE SOME OF THE STORIES THEY SHARED, I WAS LIKE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN OUR CITY.
I WOULD SAY, AND THANK YOU TO LIZ AND DILLARD AND WHITNEY WHO, UH, ARE CONSTANTLY, YOU KNOW, ROUNDING US UP, MAKE SURE WE GET TO PLACES, TELLING US WHERE WE NEED TO BE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, ELECTED OFFICIALS GET TALKING TO OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THERE'S NO COMING TO FIND US.
THANK YOU RON FOR BEING OUT THERE.
NICOLE, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE YOU OUT THERE AS WELL.
UM, I ALSO ATTENDED THE, UM, ARIZONA LEAGUE OF CITIES AND TOWNS AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UM, CHERYL, YOU WERE, UM, RECOGNIZED IN, UM, A COUPLE OF THE DIFFERENT, UM, TALKS THAT I WENT TO.
ONE WAS ON INNOVATION IN THE WORKFORCE AND, UM, THE COLLABORATION FROM, UM, THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND EMCC.
AND THEY SPECIFICALLY, UM, SHOUTED OUT TO YOU.
THEY ALSO SHOUTED OUT TO OUR, WE RIDE GETTING PEOPLE TO THE COLLEGES.
UM, SO IT WAS REALLY NICE TO BE IN A, IN A ROOM WITH A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE AND HAVE, UM, AVONDALE SHOUTED OUT A FEW DIFFERENT TIMES.
AND THEN THANK YOU FOR THE TEAM FOR SUPPORTING US.
SO PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY'S ALREADY MENTIONED MANY OF THE EVENTS THAT, THAT I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND AS WELL.
UM, I WILL SHARE THAT ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, UM, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF JOINING OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT AND, UH, OUR NROS AT THE BLOCK WATCH THAT WAS HOSTED AT THE MERCY MERCY HOUSE WITH MERCY, UH, AND, UH, KA HEART.
AND UM, I REALLY APPRECIATED OUR ORGANIZATION HAVING SUCH A, UH, A BIG SEAT AT THE TABLE.
ALRIGHT, UM, NEXT ITEM IS ADJOURNMENT.
CAN I GET A MOTION PLEASE? WE GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO, PLEASE VOTE.
EVERYBODY HAVE A A GREAT NIGHT.
YOU SAW THE WEATHER OUT THERE AND, UH, DRIVE SAFE PLEASE AND WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IN SEPTEMBER.