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I HAD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2025.
WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE PRIDE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD AND INVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[1. ROLL CALL BY THE CITY CLERK]
ROLL CALL PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI HERE.COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE PRESENT VICE MAYOR NIELSEN.
[a. Employee Announcements]
AND COUNCIL UP FIRST, UH, WE HAVE OUR EMPLOYEE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND I BELIEVE JODY, OUR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IS GONNA START US OFF.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I AM HAPPY TO INTRODUCE, SORRY,
UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MARTIN MORENO.
MARTIN IS ONE OF OUR NEW PLANNERS AND HE JOINS US FROM BEING A RECENT GRADUATE FROM ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY.
AND HE WAS ALSO A MARVIN ANDREWS, UM, FELLOW.
HE WORKED AT CITY OF TEMPE AND HE ALSO HAD WORKED AT PHOENIX AND PEORIA DURING VARIOUS INTERNSHIPS, INCLUDING PUBLIC WORKS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
HE HAS A PASSION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ALSO PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
HE RECEIVED HIS MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND A A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN GOVERNMENT FROM GEORGETOWN.
UM, HE ENJOYS PICKLEBALL IN HIS SPARE TIME AND EXPLORING NEW PARKS.
YOU HAVE A NEW BEST FRIEND STARTING TODAY.
UM, HE ENJOYS PICKLEBALL EXPLORING NEW PARKS AND RESTAURANTS AND RIDING HIS MOTORCYCLE LITTLE ADVENTURE.
UH, SECONDARILY WE HAVE ZACHARY JONES.
ZACH JUST JOINED US LAST WEEK.
UM, HE IS ALSO A NEW PLANNER IN OUR PLANNING DIVISION.
HE MOST RECENTLY WAS WORKING IN NEVADA AND DOING SOME ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING SUCH AS SOIL CONSERVATION.
UM, HE ALSO WAS A PLANNER FOR MISSOULA COUNTY IN MONTANA.
HE CAME HERE TO THE DESERT AND TO THE HEAT AND HE'S, UH, HE'S LOVING IT.
UM, HE HAS A MASTER'S DEGREE IN GEOGRAPHY AND HE WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA AND HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN NATURAL RESOURCES PLANNING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN.
AND HE ENJOYS ALSO BEING OUTDOORS AND PLAYING AND WATCHING PROFESSIONAL DISC GOLF.
AND, UM, ACTUALLY WENT TOWARDS THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF OUR STATE AND SURPRISE THIS PAST WEEKEND TO PLAY, UM, IN A DISC GOLF, UM, EVENT THERE.
SO ANOTHER OUTDOOR ADVENTUROUS.
AND THEN GILBERT GARCIA, YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN HIM AROUND.
UM, HE WORKED IN OUR FINANCE AND BUDGET DEPARTMENT FOR MANY YEARS.
UM, AND HE TOOK AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME OUR NEW BUILDING PERMIT TECHNICIAN TOO, UH, WHICH IS IN OUR BUILDING SERVICES DIVISION, WORKING WITH OUR PERMITTING CENTER.
UM, HE HAS GREAT SKILLS IN HIS UTILITY BILLING DIVISION WHERE HE WORKED IN, UH, MANAGING REVENUE WITH THE SUPERVISOR AND HIS SKILLS AND HIS ABILITY TO BE VERY DETAILED ORIENTED, UM, MANAGE INTAKE AND BE A PROJECT MANAGER, UM, IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND HE'S GOING THROUGH TRAINING AND WORKING WITH A SUPERVISOR DON, RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND WE HAVE NO DOUBT HE'S GONNA BE SUPER SUCCESSFUL HELPING OUR TEAM AND OUR DEPARTMENT.
AND IN HIS SPARE TIME, HE ENJOYS COOKOUTS GAME NIGHTS AND HOLIDAYS TOGETHER WITH HIS FAMILY.
AND ON OCCASION HE GOLFS AND HE IS A LOCAL AVONDALE RESIDENT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS FROM JOINING DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
THANK YOU ALL BOYS TO WELCOME HERE TONIGHT.
SO I'LL JUST KEEP THE COMMENTS BRIEF, BUT JUST WANTED TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR BEING HERE, JOINING THE TEAM OR INTERNALLY, UH, MAKING THE SWITCH TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND UTILIZING YOUR TALENTS THAT WAY.
SO AGAIN, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, UH, REACH OUT.
BUT IN THE, UH, IN THE MEANTIME, UH, WELCOME ABOARD AND THANKS FOR JOINING THE AVONDALE TEAM.
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UP NEXT WE HAVE FROM OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, JEN STEIN, YOUR DIRECTOR.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL VICE VICE.
I'M EXCITED TO WELCOME CARTER WRIGHT TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM.
HE'LL BE SERVING AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AND HE COMES TO US FROM THE STATE OF ARIZONA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARM, ARIZONA COMMERCE AUTHORITY, KNOWN AS A CA AND EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN THAT, HE SERVED IN THE ARMY FOR 22 YEARS, ENDING HIS LONG CAREER AS
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DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS.SO WE'RE REALLY, REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE CARTER.
HE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE AND WORK HIS MAGIC, UM, IN OUR BUSINESS ATTRACTION TEAM AND EXPANSION EFFORTS IN THE SEMICONDUCTOR TECH, CONSUMER ELECTRONICS, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE AND EV INDUSTRIES.
UM, ONE REALLY COOL TIDBIT ABOUT CARTER THAT WE LEARNED IS HE'S A TWIN
UH, SO ANYWAYS, I'LL JUST WELCOME CARTER.
SO AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, CARTER, THANKS FOR, UH, WELL JEN, THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION AND CARTER WELCOME TO TO AVONDALE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU BRINGING YOUR TALENTS HERE AS THERE'S PLENTY GOING ON, AS I'M SURE YOU'RE WELL AWARE OF.
AND, UH, ALL THE ATTRACTION THAT WE CAN GET OF ALL THESE BUSINESSES, SPECIFICALLY TECH RELATED.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING THE TEAM.
ALRIGHT, NEXT UP IS KIM MOON, YOUR, UH, ENGINEERING DIRECTOR, INTRODUCING ONE OF HER NEW EMPLOYEES.
HI, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE A NEW MEMBER OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TEAM.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MR. JOSHUA BEGAY, WHO JOINED THE CITY OF AVONDALE AS AN ASSOCIATE ENGINEER ON TUESDAY, UH, SEPTEMBER 2ND.
JOSHUA EARNED HIS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO.
HE BRINGS WITH HIM A STRONG BACKGROUND IN CIVIL ENGINEERING, UTILITY DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, INSPECTION, AND PERMITTING.
HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN INCLUDES VALUABLE EXPERIENCE WITH THE NAVAJO TRIBAL UTILITY AUTHORITY, THE IDAHO TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, AND THE MARICOPA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE JOSHUA ON BOARD AND WE KNOW THAT HIS SKILLS, EXPERTISE, AND PERSPECTIVE WILL SERVE OUR COMMUNITY WELL AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND IMPROVE AVONDALE'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN GIVING HIM A WARM WELCOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, JOSHUA FOR, OR WELCOME TO AVONDALE.
AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING ON OUR TEAM AND BRINGING ALL OF THE VALUABLE EXPERIENCE FROM EVEN ANOTHER STATE HERE TO THE CITY OF AVONDALE, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
UP NEXT IS RENEE, YOUR FINANCE AND BUDGET DIRECTOR.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, TONIGHT OF INTRODUCING JAMIE ALLEN.
SHE'S OUR NEW ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST.
SHE WORKS IN OUR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND PAYROLL DIVISION, MAKING SURE OUR VENDORS AND EMPLOYEES ARE PAID TIMELY AND ACCURATELY.
JAMIE HAS A BACKGROUND IN ACCOUNTING AND PAYROLL, HAVING WORKED THREE YEARS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND EIGHT YEARS IN THE GROCERY INDUSTRY.
JAMIE'S BEEN A WEST VALLEY RESIDENT FOR 15 YEARS AND SPENDS A LOT OF HER TIME WITH HER TWO TEENAGE SONS WHO BOTH PLAY CLUB BASEBALL WHEN ISN'T TRAVELING TO GAMES.
SHE ENJOYS HIKING, LONG DISTANCE OBSTACLE COURSE RACES LIKE THE SPARTAN RUN AND MUD RUN, AND SEEMS TO BE QUITE THE HANDY WOMAN AROUND THE HOUSE.
UP NEXT IS WE HAVE A LIEUTENANT, UH, LOPEZ, WHO WILL BE INTRODUCING A NEW EMPLOYEE FOR THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW EMPLOYEES TO YOU GUYS.
I DO HAVE SERGEANT PAUL WILSON, WHO DO THE, WHO I WILL DO THE INTRODUCTION ON EMPLOYEE.
GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE SERGEANT THAT OVERSEES MUNICIPAL SECURITY OFFICERS.
I AM PRIVILEGED TO BE INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST SECURITY OFFICER, CAROLYN AGUILAR.
CAROLYN COMES TO US AFTER FINISHING A SUCCESSFUL 20 YEAR CAREER WITH THE MARY MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WHERE SHE SERVED 20 YEARS AS A DETENTION OFFICER.
CAROLYN IS HAPPILY MARRIED AND SHE HAS TWO ADULT CHILDREN WHEN SHE'S NOT AT WORK, SHE ENJOYS TRAVELING, HIKING, ATTENDING CONCERTS, AND DOING SOME CRAFTS SUCH AS PAINTING.
CAROLYN IS THE OLDER SISTER TO ONE OF AVONDALE'S FINEST SERGEANT CHRIS BECKETT WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AVONDALE IS ONE BIG FAMILY AND WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE CAROLYN JOIN.
SO I'M, I'M SURE MANY OF US UP HERE HAVE SEEN CAROLYN AND, UH, HER
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SMILING FACE AS WE COME INTO THE, INTO THE MAIN LOBBY THERE.AND IT'S, UH, A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ABOARD AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR APPARENTLY HERE IN AVONDALE AND SO WE APPRECIATE THAT AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE AVONDALE TEAM.
UP NEXT YOU HAVE YOUR PARKS, RECREATION AND LIBRARIES DIRECTOR, UH, COREY TO INTRODUCE SOME OF HIS NEW EMPLOYEES.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE ONE NEW EMPLOYEE, ASHLEY YING, UH, JOINING OUR SPECIAL EVENTS DIVISION AS A RECREATION PROGRAMMER, AS WELL AS HIGHLIGHT TWO INTERNAL PROMOTIONS IN OUR LIBRARIES.
MY MYRA, FELIX AND CHRISTINA OURIS.
UH, I'M THE PASS TO MIKE AND ALLOW 'EM TO SHARE ABOUT THEIR POSITIONS IN THE FUN FACT ABOUT THEMSELVES.
I AM THE NEW RECREATION PROGRAMMER FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR TWO MONTHS AS OF TODAY.
AND A FUN FACT ABOUT ME IS THAT I CAME HERE FROM THE CITY OF GOODYEAR.
UM, I USED TO WORK IN AQUATICS FOR 10 YEARS AND WHAT I LOVE ABOUT AVONDALE IS DEFINITELY THE PEOPLE, RIGHT? HELLO, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CHRISTINA ARIAS AND I'M A LIBRARIAN.
I WAS PROMOTED FROM A LIBRARIAN ONE.
UM, I'VE BEEN WITH AVONDALE FOR TWO YEARS.
UM, A FUN FACT ABOUT ME IS I ENJOY QUILTING IN MY SPARE TIME, WHICH I MAY NOT LOOK LIKE IT, BUT I LOVE IT.
UM, UH, I CHOSE AVONDALE BECAUSE I WANNA WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR JOBS AND I SEE THAT ALL AROUND ME AND THAT'S WHY I ALSO CHOSE, ME AND MY WIFE CHOSE TO BUY OUR FIRST HOME HERE.
MY NAME IS MAYA F AND I HAVE BEEN WITH THE CITY OF DALE FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS AND NOW SERVING AS LIBRARIAN ONE AT SAN GARCIA WESTERN LIBRARY.
A FUN FACT, UH, IS THAT I COME FROM A FAMILY OF PROUD GRADUATES FROM RIAA HIGH SCHOOL AND YES,
MY PERSONAL FAVORITE, THE MURAL, ANDRE MERIA AT THE, UM, GOODYEAR FARMS HISTORIC CEMETERY.
COREY, WAS THAT A LEAD IN FOR TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION OR POTENTIALLY WELL, KUDOS TO YOU.
NO, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
CONGRATS ON THE PROMOTIONS AND WELCOME ABOARD.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING THE AVONDALE TEAM.
AND AGAIN, WITH ALL OF THE NEW EMPLOYEES HERE, I APOLOGIZE, UH, THAT WE DIDN'T REALLY ENGAGE WITH ALL OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY AS UH, WE LIKE TO.
UM, BUT UH, JUST FOR TIME PURPOSES, UH, UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES.
MARCELLA, DO WE HAVE ANY CARDS OR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REQUEST TO SPEAK.
[4. CONSENT AGENDA]
MOVING ON, WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WISH TO REMOVE AN ITEM FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? IF NOT, CAN I GET A MOTION? GOT A MOTION FROM VICE MAYOR NIELSEN AND A SECOND FIRM COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI ALL PLEASE VOTE.
THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, AGAIN,
[a. Public Art Update]
LET ME INTRODUCE CORY, YOUR PARKS, RECREATION AND LIBRARIES DIRECTOR TO INTRODUCE SOME FOLKS TO TALK ABOUT OUR ART PROGRAM.YES, UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE MARISSA DALEY, OUR ARTS CULTURE AND LIBRARIES MANAGER TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON OUR PUBLIC ART PROGRAM IN THE MUNICIPAL AND THE WORK THE MUNICIPAL ART COMMUNITY'S BEEN DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WITH THAT, MARISSA, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM THE ARTS CULTURE AND LIBRARY MANAGER IN PARKS REC LIBRARIES.
TODAY I AM HERE TO PRESENT ON PUBLIC ART PROJECTS COMPLETED IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, CURRENT PROJECTS IN PROGRESS AND THE RECOMMENDED PROJECTS SCHEDULED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.
THE PUBLIC ART TEAM COMPLETED 14 ART PROJECTS, BEGAN 11 NEW PROJECTS AND AWARDED THREE SCHOLARSHIPS TO AVONDALE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS.
THROUGH THE ACHIEVING ARTIST SCHOLARSHIP ART CONTEST, WE FOLLOWED THE PUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED IN 2021.
AND WITH SUPPORT FROM THE MUNICIPAL ART COMMITTEE, WE ARE BEAUTIFYING AVONDALE ONE PROJECT AT A TIME.
SO WE INVITED THEM HERE TODAY.
OUR CHAIR IS IN THE, AND VICE CHAIR WE HAVE RHONDA BELL AND DENISE TEAL.
OTHER MEMBERS, JANICE GRAHAM, SARAH IVY, DEANNA ADA, GAVIN MEJIA, AND JACQUELINE GARCIA.
SO COMPLETED PROJECTS, UM, AT MOUNTAIN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER, MARIA MADRID REED COMPLETED HER MURAL
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INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS.WE CONTINUE OUR HOMETOWN HERO BANNERS LOCATED SOUTH OF I 10 ON THE WAY TO THE AMERICAN LEGION AND PLAN TO ADD ADDITIONAL VETERANS THIS NOVEMBER.
UH, WE HAD 19 SUBMISSIONS THIS YEAR AFTER A REALLY SUCCESSFUL MARKETING CAMPAIGN, SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
IN JANUARY OF 2025 AND MOELLER STEON COMPLETED HER SCULPTURE, HARMONY OF RIVERS AT FIRE STATION 1 72 IN THE HEART OF CRYSTAL GARDENS WITH APPROVAL FROM THE MUNICIPAL ART COMMITTEE, OUR PARK MAINTENANCE MANAGER TOM STREET, ADDED A BEAUTIFUL AND COMPLIMENTARY LANDSCAPE TO HIGHLIGHT THE SCULPTURE.
LASTLY, OUR NEWEST SCULPTURE CONFLUENCE CAN BE FOUND AT PARK AVENUE PLAZA, COMPLETED BY VITO DEBAR IN MAY, 2025 WITH SUBMISSIONS FROM LOCAL YOUTH ARTISTS.
SIX UTILITY BOX ART WRAPS ARE DISPLAYED ACROSS VAN BUREN.
THESE ARTISTS WERE SELECTED FROM THE 2024 BLANK CANVAS ART PROGRAM.
WINNERS AND ADDITIONAL WRAPS WERE DESIGNED AS AN EXPANSION ON THE MURAL AT GOODYEAR FARMS HISTORIC CEMETERY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UDE ARTS.
THESE ADDITIONAL WRAPS ARE LOCATED IN NORTH AVONDALE, ALONG DARD AND INDIAN SCHOOL ROAD.
PUBLIC ART IS FUNDED SEVERAL WAYS.
IT IS FUNDED OR FUNDING IS PROVIDED EVERY YEAR, OR FUNDS ARE PROVIDED FROM FEES IN LIEU.
A FEE IN LIE FOR ART IS PAYMENT.
A PROPERTY DEVELOPER CAN MAKE, CAN MAKE TO A CITY'S PUBLIC ARTS FUND INSTEAD OF SELECTING OR INSTALLING ART ON THEIR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT SITE.
SO FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, THE REMAINING BUDGET IS CURRENTLY 463,000 WITH 121,000 ALLOCATED TO CURRENT PROJECTS.
PUBLIC ART IS ALSO FUNDED THROUGH CIP FUNDS, WHICH IS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL PROJECT.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 CIP PUBLIC ART BUDGET IS CURRENTLY 485,000 WITH 114,000 ALLOCATED TO CURRENT PROJECTS.
THESE FUNDS HAVE ALLOWED US TO INVEST IN HIGH CALIBER ARTISTS TO CURATE IMPRESSIVE ART AROUND THE CITY OF AVONDALE.
ANY FUNDING NOT ALLOCATED CAN BE APPLIED TO FUTURE ART PROJECTS AND I'M EXCITED TO SHARE WITH THOSE WITH YOU IN THE NEXT SLIDES.
SO IN PROGRESS PROJECTS, UM, IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR, JULIAN VIAPONDOS MURAL WILL BE ADDED TO THE NEW FIRE STATION 1 71 IN OLD TOWN AVONDALE.
THIS MURAL WILL BE, WILL BE VISIBLE FROM AB CERNO PLAZA AND SAM GARCIA LIBRARY.
LAUREN LEE'S MURAL FOR COOPER'S HAWK RESTAURANT AT PARK 10 WILL BE COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER.
AND FINALLY, TREVOR O'TOOLES SCULPTURE, THE GRID WILL BE COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER AS WELL.
UH, YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH TREVOR'S WORK AS HE COMPLETED A LARGE SCULPTURE AT THE AQUATIC CENTER IN 2024.
TREVOR STATED, THIS CONCEPT DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM THE GRID-LIKE PATTERN OF CITY STREETS, ILLUSTRATING HOW SOMETHING AS ORDINARY AS CROSSING A ROAD CAN EMBODY A DEEPER ARCHITECTURAL IDEA.
CONCRETE IS SCHEDULED TO BE POURED ON OCTOBER, IN OCTOBER, AND THEN THE FINAL SCULPTURE INSTALLATIONS WILL BE IN NOVEMBER.
WE WILL ORGANIZE A PUBLIC ART REVEAL, UH, AT WINTER FEST ON DECEMBER 6TH.
SO ON THE HORIZON, WE HAVE A FEW INCREDIBLE PROJECTS.
UH, FIRST CIVIC CENTER PARK WILL HAVE A SCULPTURE FUNDED BY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS.
OUR RECOMMENDED ARTIST IS NICHOLAS RACOONA, WHOSE CONCEPT IS CALLED SEEDS FOR GROWTH, WHICH COMPREHEND COMPREHENSIVELY REPRESENTS THE CITY OF AVONDALE'S AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE.
ONCE BUILT ON COTTON FARMING AND RANCHING, OLD TOWN PLAZA, LOCATED ON WESTERN AVENUE AND DYSART, WE WILL HAVE AN ILLUMINATED SCULPTURE AFTER COMMUNITY ENG, A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENT WHERE WE WILL PARTNER WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES ON WESTERN AVENUE AND AVONDALE RESIDENCE.
OUR RECOMMENDED ARTIST IS INTERNATIONALLY, INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN HIGH BY CSO, WHO RECENTLY FINISHED THEIR EXHIBIT AT THE DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN BEING A SIGNIFICANT GATEWAY INTO O OLD TOWN AVONDALE.
WE WANTED SOMETHING WITH THE STRONG STATEMENT AND COMMUNITY INPUT.
FRIENDSHIP DOG PARK ON MCDOWELL HAVE A SCULPTURE FUNDED BY THE PUBLIC ART FUND.
HOMETOWN HERO SUBMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED BY DECEMBER 12TH, OR I'M SORRY, SEPTEMBER 12TH AND WILL BE REVEALED ANNUALLY PRIOR TO VETERANS DAY.
AND THEN FINALLY, CONVERSATIONS ON FUTURE UTILITY BOX REPS ARE IN THE BEGINNING STAGES.
SO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ARTS IN AVONDALE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND UH, I'LL OPEN IT UP AT THIS POINT IN TIME FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS.
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OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS.MORE SO THAN ASK NO QUESTION, I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE, UM, MEMBERS OF THE MUNICIPAL ARTS, UM, C COMMITTEE OR COMMISSION FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
UM, AND I ALSO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY INTERESTING IS THE HARMONY OF RIVERS.
UM, I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS A DYNAMIC, UM, UM, SCULPTURE, SCULPTURE UNTIL I ACTUALLY WAS DRIVING BY AND IT MOVED AND I WAS LIKE, OH, THIS IS GREAT.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND IT'S PERFECT FOR THAT AREA.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOU DO AND FOR, UM, BEING HERE AND HELPING US OUT.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
ALSO, THANK YOU FOR THE TOUR OF BOTH OF THE LIBRARY FACILITIES ON SEPTEMBER 2ND.
I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT PUBLIC ART, WE HAVE TO GIVE OURSELVES, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE BEAUTY AND GRACE WITH OTHERS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IT GIVES US A MOMENT OF PAUSE AND, AND SO TO SEE THE BEAUTIFUL WORKS, UM, THAT HAVE COME OUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY, I APPRECIATE, UM, I THINK YOU ALL WERE ABLE TO PUT A DIRECTORY OUT THERE FOR US, SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT PUBLICLY AS WELL.
SO FOLKS KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE.
THEY CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, UM, UNDERNEATH THE PARKS, RECS AND LIBRARY TAB AND, AND LOCATE THE DIFFERENT ART INSTALLATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND POSSIBLY GO ON THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL TOURS.
BUT I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE ON DECK AND I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THE INSTALLATION AT THE BOULEVARD.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
SO REALLY QUICKLY ON THE HOMETOWN HERO BANNERS, I SAW THAT THERE WERE TWO, AND THERE MIGHT BE MORE THAT I'VE SEEN, BUT TYPICALLY HOW MANY GET APPROVED? SO WE'RE WORKING WITH MARKETING ON EXPANDING THE PROGRAM BECAUSE WE DID RECEIVE 19 SUBMISSIONS.
CURRENTLY THERE ARE ONLY SEVEN OR EIGHT, I BELIEVE.
UM, SO YEAH, WE'RE WORKING ON EXPANDING, UH, DOWN D YEAH.
UH, TO REPRESENT THE ADDITIONAL SUBMISSIONS WE RECEIVED.
YEAH, NO, IT'S, I, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO, TO HONOR THOSE HEROES HERE LOCALLY.
OBVIOUSLY DRIVING DOWN ER AND SEEING THOSE, UH, THE BANNERS, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST PUT A SMILE ON MY FACE.
AND IN REGARDS TO THE ART, I MEAN, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S SUCCESSFUL WHEN WE HAVE TO PUT BARRIERS AROUND THE ART, UH, IE THE HEART ON THE BOULEVARD THERE.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT IT DOES, IT CHANGES THE EXPERIENCE AND QUITE HONESTLY, IT MIGHT EVEN BE A REASON WHY PEOPLE WOULD COME TO THE CITY TO EVEN LOOK AT IT.
SO, UH, IN SOME WAYS IT'S ALMOST LIKE CULTURAL TOURISM.
AND SO I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO, TO BENEFIT THE WAY THE CITY BENEFITS, UH, FROM THE ART.
AND THANK YOU RHONDA AND DENISE AGAIN FOR, FOR SERVING ON THE, ON THE COMMITTEE AND, UH, BRINGING THIS ARTIST ART, SORRY, THIS ART FORTH.
UH, I KNOW THAT MUST BE A, A DIFFICULT JOB TO AGREE ON WHAT TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT WE ALL BENEFIT AS A RESULT, THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AS A RESULT.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOU DO AND, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT INSTALLATIONS THAT WILL COME FORTH, ESPECIALLY THE ONE ACROSS THE WAY AT THE V.
[6. SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS FROM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COUNCILMEMBERS]
OKAY.AT THIS TIME WE HAVE SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS.
ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ANY EVENTS THAT YOU'VE ATTENDED OR INFORMATION RELATED TO THEM? COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.
UM, YOU AND I BOTH HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE ABLE 19TH AND, UH, FIRST ANNUAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONFERENCE ABLE STANDS FOR ARIZONA BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAD NUMEROUS MEMBERS OF THE, UH, AVONDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO PARTICIPATED, OFFICER RUSSELL STEWART, OFFICER, UM, ROGERS, BIRCHFIELD, EDMONDS, CAMPBELL RUEZ AND JONES.
AND SO IT WAS REALLY AWESOME HAVING THAT EVENT HERE IN AVONDALE.
UM, WE, UH, WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE AND ACTIVATE SOME OF THE STUDENTS AT AUSTRALIA MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WHICH WAS AMAZING.
AND ALSO, UM, THEY, UH, HAD, UH, REPORTED THAT OUR SWAT TEAM, UH, WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT REALLY OPENED UP.
SO I WANTED TO ALSO THANK, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S SERGEANT ALT, UM, WHO CAME OUT WITH HIS TEAM, UM, LAST WEEK AND KIND OF OPENED UP THE, UM, THE SWAT VEHICLES AND, AND LET THEM KIND OF SEE EVERYTHING INSIDE OF IT.
THAT'S A REALLY MEANINGFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, AND THERE WERE NUMEROUS MEMBERS OF THE AVONDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, THAT WERE, UH, RECEIVING AWARDS.
I, I WOULD FORGET ALL OF THEIR NAMES IF I WENT THROUGH THEM, BUT I, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, MAKE SURE FOLKS REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A, A, A CULTURAL CELEBRATION BEING DELIVERED BY THOSE WHO REPRESENT THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
BUT THEY HONORED, RESPECTED, AND, AND TRAINED ALL OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS AMAZING.
AND THEN THIS WEEK I AM PARTICIPATING IN NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION IN INDIAN COUNTRY CONFERENCE.
UM, WE WERE THERE, I WAS THERE TODAY.
UM, AND WE HAD A VISIT FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSIT, ALSO GOT TO HEAR FROM A ADOS CHAIR, UM,
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DIRECTOR, AND SAT WITH, UM, A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNOR'S, UM, CABINET TODAY TO, UH, LEARN AND HEAR HOW WE CAN SUPPORT TRANSIT, UM, IN OUR RURAL AREAS AND SUPPORT, UM, ACCESS TO TRANSIT FOR THOSE AND, AND IN, IN COUNTRY ACROSS THE NATION.SO THAT IS WHAT I'M PARTICIPATING IN THIS WEEK.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? OKAY, I ALSO, GO AHEAD.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, UM, I ATTENDED THE WEST VALLEY CHAMBER GALA ON A COUPLE WEEKENDS AGO.
UM, BEING AROUND COMMUNITY LEADERS.
AND I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THE ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK BECAUSE IT WAS A GLOBAL, UM, TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED.
I GOT THE HONOR TO GO TO HIS MEMORIAL YESTERDAY.
UM, AND LISTENING TO THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT AND OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, IT WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL TO SEE THAT EVERYTHING WAS SURROUNDED AROUND THE LORD.
AND THAT I HOPE THAT THESE TRAGEDIES DON'T CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
AND AS A COMMUNITY, WE COME TOGETHER THROUGH OUR DIFFERENCES, ARE ABLE TO HAVE CIVIL CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CHARLIE WAS DOING ON HIS TOURS.
AND I WANNA THANK THE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WAS THERE.
I KNOW AVONDALE WAS THERE, AS WELL AS EVERY POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE WEST VALLEY AS WELL AS FEDERAL.
SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR THE SAFETY THAT YOU GUYS PROVIDED FOR US, THAT IT WAS A REALLY SAFE AND GREAT EXPERIENCE.
COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, ANYBODY ELSE? UM, THANK YOU TO NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES AS WELL AS EVEN GOLD WHO PROVIDED A MESSAGE TO OUR YOUTH AT THE AVONDALE, UH, YOUTH SUMMIT, HOSTED AT LA JOLLA COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, I KNOW THAT ME AND COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE WERE IN ATTENDANCE THERE AND, UM, I KNOW THE MESSAGE WAS LOUD AND CLEAR IN REGARDS TO CONFIDENCE, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE YOUTH AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING NOWADAYS IN MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE CONFIDENT IN WHO THEY ARE.
UM, ALSO IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH FREEWAY, UH, HOSTED AT 1.1, THE AVONDALE INNOVATE SUMMIT.
SO WE GOT TO HEAR FROM TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES AND I KNOW THAT VICE MAYOR NIELSEN WAS THERE AS WELL.
I ALSO HAD THE PLEASURE TO SPEAK OF MEETING WITH SUPERINTENDENT EAST LOS, WITH THE RIA UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND IF YOU AREN'T ALREADY AWARE OF THEIR ACADEMIES, THE SOUTHWEST ACADEMIES AND WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE LITCHFIELD, UM, PAUL W LITCHFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY, UH, AND THE, UH, UH, PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THAT IS BEING BUILT THERE.
UH, THERE SHOULD BE MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON ON THAT, BUT HE PROVIDED A LOT OF FEEDBACK AND A LOT OF INFORMATION ON WHAT'S TO COME, UH, WHICH WAS REALLY EXCITING.
AND, AND AGAIN, MUCH MORE TO COME ON THAT LATER.
AND, UH, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ABOUT IT.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? CAN WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI, A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS, PLEASE VOTE.
EVERYBODY, PLEASE HAVE A SAFE DRIVE HOME AND WE'LL SEE YOU.