* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [1. Roll Call by the City Clerk] [00:00:03] I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 12TH, 2026. WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE JOIN ME? IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE HONOR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR RICHES STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. STRONG. THANK YOU, MARCELLA, CAN WE HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER, MEMBER GARCIA HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER, WHITE PRESIDENT MAYOR PINEDA HERE. AND VICE MAYOR NIELSEN HAS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE TONIGHT. THANK YOU, RON. NEXT ITEM, PLEASE. [6. Reports from the City Manager ] UM, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE PRESENTATIONS ITEM, UH, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'D LIKE TO START TONIGHT BY ADDRESSING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX, REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER. PLEASE DO SO. I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO TAKE JUST A MINUTE AND I'D LIKE TO, UH, RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER SHERRY WEISS, UM, FOR AN OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS HAS BEEN SELECTED AS DISTINGUISHED NURSE OF THE YEAR BY THE MARCH OF DIMES, AN ORGANIZATION NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH. EACH YEAR, THE MARCH OF DIMES SELECTS THEIR HEROES IN ACTIONS. AWARDEE AWARD SELECTS THEIR HEROES IN ACTION, AWARDEES, WHICH CELEBRATE THE EXTRAORDINARY HEALTHCARE HEROES WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR THEIR MOMS, BABIES AND FAMILIES ACROSS ARIZONA. THIS HONOR REFLECTS NOT ONLY CLINICAL EXCELLENCE, BUT ALSO A DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE COMPASSION ADVOCACY AND SERVICE VALUES THAT ALIGN CLOSELY WITH PUBLIC SERVICE. THIS RECOGNITION HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPACT ONE INDIVIDUAL CAN HAVE, BOTH IN HEALTHCARE PROFESSION AND IN OUR COMMUNITY. ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE, I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE COUNCIL MEMBER WES, ON THIS WELL-DESERVED HONOR, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO OUR CITY AND THOSE YOU CARE FOR EVERY DAY. SO AS YOU, UH, UH, SEE YOUR FAMILY, UH, JOINED US HERE TONIGHT. OH, THEY'RE, AND IN THE BACK, BUT YOUR, YOUR DAUGHTERS AS WELL. BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT MORE PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT IT THAN YOU. SO IF YOU WANNA COME DOWN AND SAY ANYTHING, IF THAT WAS ALRIGHT WITH THE MAYOR. YES. UH, AND HUG SOME PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU VERY MUCH. I'M SURE IT'D BE WELL RE RECEIVED. I KNOW HER. . OH, BYE . THANK YOU. YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING ABOUT MARCH ? WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, YEAH, I WAS KIND OF GOING UNDER THE RADAR THERE. I THOUGHT ACTUALLY, UH, FOUR NURSES, OR FOUR STAFF MEMBERS FROM MY NICU WERE, UM, FINALISTS FOR THE STATE. UM, TWO FOR, UM, NURSING, PEDIATRIC NURSING, ONE FOR STUDENT NURSE. AND I WAS IN THE DISTINGUISHED NURSE CATEGORY AND TWO OF US WON. UM, MYSELF AND OUR STUDENT NURSE. AND IT WAS AN HONOR AND IT WAS A SURPRISE AND I FELT JUST AS SHOCKED AS I DID BACK THEN. UM, BUT I JUST, I HAVE TO THANK THE TEAM THAT I WORK WITH. I HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM AT MY HOSPITAL, AND, UM, I JUST FEEL LIKE I HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM HERE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION. THANK YOU CHAIR. MUCH DESERVED. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, RON. [a. Employee Announcements] AND I'LL GIVE YOU A SECOND AS I KNOW YOU'RE UP, YOU'RE UP NEXT AGAIN. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. [00:05:03] ALRIGHT. X, UH, UP NEXT WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY RENEE, WEATHER LESS, OUR FINANCE AND BUDGET DIRECTOR. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING TO YOU MARCO POE. HE'S OUR NEWEST PROJECT MANAGER IN THE CIP DIVISION. MARCO JOINED THE TEAM LAST WEEK, AND WE'LL BE WORKING ON THE CITY'S TRANSPORTATION AND PARKS, UM, CIP PROJECTS. MARCO CAME TO US FROM THE CITY OF PHOENIX WHERE HE WORKED FOR 25 YEARS IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING WATER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC TRANSIT AND STREETS, BEFORE FINALLY RETIRING AND JOINING THE CITY OF AVONDALE. ONE OF HIS MOST CHALLENGING, BUT REWARDING POSITIONS OVER THE YEARS WAS WORKING IN RIGHT OF WAY MANAGEMENT FOR DOWNTOWN PHOENIX, WHERE HE HAD TO BALANCE LIGHT RAIL CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT INGRESS, EGRESS PLANS FOR THE PHOENIX SUNS, THE DIAMONDBACKS, AND THE 2023 SUPER BOWL DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE, AS WELL AS TWO PRESIDENTIAL VISITS AMONG OTHER HIGH PROFILE SPECIAL EVENTS WHILE MAINTAINING, UM, WHILE MINIMIZING, SORRY, THE IMPACT ON THE PUBLIC. ON HIS SPARE TIME, MARCO VOLUNTEERS AT A JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER AND ENJOYS SPENDING TIME WITH HIS WIFE OF 38 YEARS, HIS THREE SONS AND HIS FIVE GRANDCHILDREN. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME MARCO. WELL, WELCOME ABOARD MARCO. SO HOW LONG, HOW LONG HAS MARCO BEEN ON STAFF? AND I MIGHT HAVE MISSED THAT. I APOLOGIZE. SO, UH, I STARTED A WEEK AGO TODAY. UH, MAYOR, COUNCIL, APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. SO, A WEEK AGO TODAY, HOWEVER, WITH ALL THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE'VE JUST HEARD, UH, TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE, UH, NONETHELESS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS, AND I KNOW THAT COMING ON BOARD TO A NEW ORGANIZATION, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH, BUT WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT, UH, WITH YOUR PAST EXPERIENCE AND KEEPING THAT IN MIND, WILL YOU BE BRINGING TO THE CITY OF AVONDALE? WHAT, WHAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE SEEN SO FAR THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO TACKLING? UH, OBVIOUSLY I'M VERY HONORED TO, UH, SERVE THE CITIZENS OF AVONDALE. AND, UM, MY GOAL IS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M LOOKING OUT FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE RESIDENTS, AND, UH, MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, MINIMIZING IMPACTS, BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, UH, SAFETY, UH, FOR A DA FOR, FOR ALL THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GONNA BE GOING ON, UH, THE TRAVELING PUBLIC, OBVIOUSLY. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. THANK YOU. AND YOU'VE ONLY BEEN HERE A WEEK, BUT I GOTTA TELL YOU, THAT'S ONE OF THE COOLEST AVONDALE HATS I'VE SEEN YET. SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE CAN GET ONE OF THOSE, BUT IT'S . IT HAS REALLY COOL. WELL, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU. WELCOME ABOARD IN CITY OF AVONDALE. YOU'VE GOT A TREMENDOUS STAFF YOU'LL BE WORKING WITH. IT'S A GREAT ORGANIZATION. AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON OTHER PRESENTATIONS RELATED TO THE CIP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, RON. [b. Recognition of Police Employees - Officer Benavidez & Officer Redfearn] THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UP NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY, UH, CHIEF ESPINOZA RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF HIS OUTSTANDING OFFICERS. I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAD TO RAISE THE, UH, PODIUM. SO, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNSEL. IT IS MY HONOR TO BE HERE TO RECOGNIZE TWO OF OUR OUTSTANDING OFFICERS, OFFICERS, DANIEL BENAVIDEZ, AND OFFICER, UH, JARED REDFERN, IF I CAN HAVE YOU GUYS COME UP HERE. ON DECEMBER 17TH, OFFICER BENAVIDEZ AND REDFERN WERE INVITED TO RANCH SANTA FE ELEMENTARY, WHERE THEY WERE SUR SURPRISED WITH THE BRONCO RISE UP AWARD. UH, PART OF THE NOMINATION STATES, THEY ARE REFLECTIVE, INTENTIONAL, AND CONSTANTLY SUPPORTIVE, SERVING AS OUTSTANDING EXAMPLES FOR ALL OF OUR BRONCOS. THE NOMINATION GOES ON TO SAY, MOST IMPORTANTLY, OFFICERS, REDFERN AND BENAVIDEZ HELP KEEP OUR CAMPUS SAFE. THEIR COMMITMENT, CARE, AND DEDICATION CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE ALL OF OUR BRONCOS FEEL PROTECTED, SUPPORTED, ENABLED TO THRIVE. WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THEY DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IF I CAN ALSO ECHO WHAT, UH, THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAD TO SAY, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE THEM ON BOARD. THESE TWO EMPLOYEES, UH, ARE GREAT. THEY SERVE IN, UH, OUR COMMUNITY IN MANY CAPACITIES. UH, THEY ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH THE SCHOOLS. THEY, UH, ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH, UH, OUR UNSHELTERED COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING, UH, RESOURCES. THEY ARE BOTH, UH, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS, UH, AND THEY ARE THE CREATORS AND THE STARS OF OUR OWN, UM, PODCAST AT THE AVONDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE 10 10 PODCAST. UH, BUT THEY ARE ALSO INVOLVED WITH OUR HOAS, OUR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION. IN FACT, UH, WHEN ONE OF THESE, UH, HOA, UH, PRESIDENTS, MR. MR. UH, LEMON HEARD, UH, THAT WE WERE GONNA BE, UH, UH, RECOGNIZING THESE TWO OFFICERS, HE ASKED IF HE IF HE COULD SAY A FEW WORDS. SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, SIR. THANK CHIEF, [00:10:01] MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. UM, HE, HE SUMMED IT UP IS WHEN I SAW THEY WERE GETTING AN AWARD, I THOUGHT THEY KNOW THIS IS JUST A PERFECT TIME FOR ME TO KIND OF TELL WHAT THEY MEAN TO THE COMMUNITY. UH, I HAPPEN TO RUB ELBOWS WITH THEM. A LOT OF DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS ON THERE. UH, I KNOW A COUPLE OF YOU HAVE GONE TO THE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY RECENTLY, AND I'VE DONE IT WITH THEM FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. I, I, THE DETAIL THAT THEY PUT INTO THIS, THE TIME THEY CONNECT WITH EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THAT ROOM, AND THEY MAKE IT SO THEY WILL ASK QUESTIONS AND ENJOY IT. AND, AND IT TAKES A LOT ON THAT, AND THEY WORRY A LOT ABOUT IT. BUT THEY DO A GREAT JOB ON THAT PART. UH, THEY ALSO, I KNOW YOU ALL SEE 'EM AT COMMUNITY EVENTS. UH, I THINK BENNY'S PROBABLY THE BEST COLORER THAT I'VE EVER SEEN, UH, ON THAT PARTY COLORS A LOT. BUT AGAIN, THE COMMENTS, AGAIN FROM THE CITIZENS THAT COME BACK FROM THOSE, JUST WHAT THEY DO FOR THE COMMUNITY ON THAT, AND ESPECIALLY LIKE HOAS, UH, THEY'VE BEEN GOING TO OUR HOA UP IN GARDEN LAKES FOR, FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND NOW IT'S ONE OF THOSE, ARE YOU GONNA MAKE SURE YOU BRING THEM BACK? BECAUSE WHAT THEY DO, I, AND I WON'T GO INTO DETAIL ON SOME OF 'EM ON THERE, BUT SOME HAVE CONCERNS MAYBE OF THE TRAIL SAFETY, UH, SOME ABOUT PARKING, FANCY THAT, UH, AND THEY, THEY GET ON ONE RIGHT AWAY. YOU KNOW, THE CITIZENS, THAT'S WHAT THEY LIKE, THEY LIKE TO HEAR THAT THEY'RE HEARD AND THAT THEY'RE RESPONSIVE ON THAT PART. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I CALLED THEM OUT AND LET YOU KNOW THE THING, THE GREAT THINGS THEY DO IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR EMPOWERING THEM TO DO THAT. UH, AND WE JUST APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, PAUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS SO MUCH, SIR. DON'T LEAVE YOU. UH, WE ALSO HAVE A VERY SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR THEIR, UH, ONGOING COMMITMENT TO THE RESIDENTS OF AVONDALE. IT'S OUR CHALLENGE COIN. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS CHALLENGE COIN AND PREVIOUS ONES THAT I'VE GIVEN YOU BOTH, IS THAT IT'S IN A SMALL LITTLE CASE THAT YOU CAN, UH, SHOWCASE, UH, IN YOUR CUBICLE. SO , THANK WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, YOU GUYS. YEAH. YEAH. HOLD ON. EASY. COME ON BACK, . SO, FIRST AND FOREMOST, CONGRATULATIONS. I MEAN, MANY OF, UH, WHAT PAUL, UH, MR. LEMON JUST SAID, WHAT, UH, CHIEF JUST SAID AND HOW THEY DESCRIBE YOU AND THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, ARE ECHOED MANY, MANY DIFFERENT TIMES AND WAYS, UH, EVEN WHEN I'M OUT THERE, JUST AS RECENT AS THIS PAST WEEKEND IN ALAMAR. AND, UH, WHILE IT WAS JUST A CHILI COOKOFF, AND I DON'T MEAN TO PHRASE IT THAT WAY, BUT WHAT I MEAN IS A NEIGHBORHOOD PARTY. IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR SEVERAL OF THE RESIDENTS TO COMMUNICATE TO ME JUST HOW MUCH YOU GUYS DO FOR THEM AND HOW MUCH THEY APPRECIATE YOU. AND, UM, I HEAR THAT OFTEN, RIGHT? WE HEAR YOUR NAMES OFTEN AND THE FACT THAT, UH, YOU ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH THE PODCAST AND THAT'S GOT LEGS OF ITS OWN. AND, AND I KNOW YOU GOT A LOT OF FOLLOWERS AND LISTENERS, UM, JUST SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHAT YOU DO IN AND OUTSIDE OF WORK AND JUST HOW MUCH THE CITY MEANS TO BOTH OF YOU. SO FOR ME, UH, TO YOU, CONGRATULATIONS AND IT'S WELL DESERVED, BUT I'M SURE THAT THERE'S OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE THAT WOULD LOVE TO SAY SOMETHING. SO WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN, FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO. I'VE SEEN YOU QUITE OFTEN AT RANCHO SANTA FE, HAVING THREE NEPHEWS THAT GO TO SCHOOL THERE. UH, PRINCIPAL ZUNIGA REACHED OUT TO ME VIA EMAIL SAYING SHE'S SORRY SHE COULDN'T BE HERE, BUT SHE'S STILL NOT DRIVING AS SHE'S ON CRUTCHES STILL. AND SECONDLY, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME THE COOL AMPED AKA, THE THEA, BECAUSE, UM, THE KIDS SEE YOU AND THEY CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I KNOW YOU GUYS BOTH. AND THEY WONDER LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW THEM. I SAID, THEY WORK WITH ME. NO, THEY DON'T. THEY DON'T WORK AT THE HOTEL. SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME THE COOL AUNT BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS HI. AS SOMEBODY WHO WENT THROUGH THE CITIZENS LEADER, WELL, CITIZENS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, BUT ALSO THE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY, I HAD SO MUCH FUN AND YOU GUYS MADE IT GREAT, AND ALONG WITH JENNY, BUT I WANNA THANK THE LEADERSHIP FOR ALLOWING THEM TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS. SO THE COPY 10 10, JUST ALL OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY DO, UM, TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, UM, AND HAVING THAT BANDWIDTH TO BE ALLOWED TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY DO, AND, AND JUST TO, UM, IT, IT JUST BRINGS SO MUCH WHEN, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PASSION, RIGHT? AND TO ALLOW SOMEBODY TO, UM, FOSTER THAT PASSION. SO JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UM, ALLOWING THEM TO DO IT. AND THANK YOU FOR DOING IT. YOU DO IT. GREAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU, CHAVEZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH. MEMO AS WELL FOR ALLOWING FOR THEM TO TAKE SPACE UP IN THE CITY. I THINK, UM, I FIRST, UM, MET YOU ALL AS A PARENT AT, UH, UH, EV AND, [00:15:01] UM, REALLY WAS GRATEFUL THAT MY KIDS WERE LIKE, OH, YOU DON'T, YOU'RE NOT AFRAID TO TALK TO THE POLICE. I'M LIKE, NO, THEY'RE REALLY COOL. RIGHT? UM, I STILL BELIEVE 10 10 IS POSSIBLE FOR AN EMMY IN THE FUTURE. I THINK THAT YOU GUYS ARE AWARD-WINNING. FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHY, I THINK THAT 10 10 COULD BE EMMY AWARD-WINNING. IT BROADCASTS ON YOUR LOCAL 11. UM, SO PLEASE TUNE IN. IF YOU DON'T WANNA LISTEN ONLINE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY WATCH IT ON TV HERE IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE. SHAMELESS PLUG. BUT BACK TO YOU GUYS. YOU ARE THE HEART OF THAT, RIGHT? AND WE WERE OUT AT THE HOLIDAY PARTY, UM, WITH MERCY HOUSE, AND I JUST TURNED AROUND AND YOU WERE STANDING BEHIND ME, UM, RED. AND, AND THAT'S THE WAY AVONDALE FEELS ABOUT OUR POLICE. WE'RE NOT AFRAID, BUT YOU ALWAYS HAVE OUR SIX. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, I WANTED TO SAY LIKE WHAT SHERRY SAID, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, FOR LETTING THEM THINK OUTTA THE BOX. 'CAUSE COMMUNITY POLICING IS WHAT BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS DO. I MEAN, IF YOU SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT PEOPLE IN AVONDALE FEEL SAFE AND THEY LIKE OUR OFFICERS, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO AT THE SCHOOLS AND WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES THEMSELVES. SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING. COUNCILOR MUR CONDI. WELL, EVERYBODY STILL MY THUNDER, SO, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UM, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, BUT MORE SO BRINGING, UM, YOUR HEARTS OF JOY TO THE COMMUNITY. YOU ALWAYS, ALWAYS HAVE SMILES ON YOUR FACES AND, UM, JUST BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE SO IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. ONCE AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND, AND MISS, OH, MR. MAYOR, UH, THEY ASKED BEG THEY PLEADED TO GET PICTURES WITH YOU ALL. I TRIED TO HOLD THEM OFF . UH, BUT UH, I SAID AFTER THIS PROCESS, AFTER WE'RE DONE WITH PRESENTATIONS, UH, THEY WOULD LOVE TO GET A PICTURE WITH COUNCIL. SOUNDS GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. RON . [c. Proclamation - 80th Anniversary] OKAY, ITEM C OH, ANOTHER GREAT ONE. UH, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL. UP NEXT IS, WE HAVE A PRE PRESENTATION BY MARCELLA AND PIER, UH, UH, FOR OUR 80TH ANNIVERSARY KICKOFF. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AS YOU ALL ALREADY KNOW, THE CITY OF AVONDALE IS CELEBRATING OUR 80TH ANNIVERSARY AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. AVONDALE WAS INCORPORATED AS A TOWN ON DECEMBER 16TH, 1946, WITH A POPULATION OF 2,232 RESIDENTS. AND JUST SOME FUN HISTORY FOR YOU ALL. AVONDALE'S. FIRST MAYOR WAS MR. DW CHISHOLM, WHO WAS APPOINTED AMONGST HIS PEERS. AND THE FIRST, UM, THE TOWN FIRST BEGAN WITH TWO EMPLOYEES, THE TOWN CLERK AND THE TOWN ATTORNEY. AND JUST A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, THE TOWN GREW TO A STAFF OF SIX TO INCLUDE A MARSHALL, A DEPUTY MARSHALL, AN ENGINEER, AND A JUDGE. AS YOU CAN TELL, AVONDALE HAS GROWN DRASTICALLY WITH THE POPULATION NOW OF OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND AND OVER 800 EMPLOYEES. AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO KICK OFF THIS YEAR LONG CELEBRATION. AND AT THIS TIME, I'LL PASS IT OVER TO PIERRE, WHO WILL SHARE SOME OF OUR MARKETING EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE PLANNED. THANKS, MARCELLA. UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, SPEAK WITH YOU THIS EVENING. AS MARCELLA MENTIONED, TONIGHT WE'LL KICK OFF OUR 80TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, AND WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO, UH, PRESENT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE GOT PLANNED. UH, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A MARKETING PLAN THAT WILL CELEBRATE THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY. UM, AND ALTHOUGH THE CITY CLERK, DEPARTMENT AND MARKETING WILL BE SPEARHEADING IT, UM, EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT IN, UH, THE CITY HAS, UH, PLAYED A PART IN IT AND WILL CONTINUE. UM, SO STARTING THIS MONTH, WE WILL BE INSTALLING A BIG BANNER OVER THE STREET ON AVONDALE BOULEVARD. SO, UM, MOTORISTS DRIVING DOWN THE CITY WILL KNOW THAT THIS IS A MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY FOR US. UH, WE WILL ALSO BE PLANNING SOME MERCHANDISE IN THE GIFT STORE, UH, INCLUDING THIS LIMITED EDITION STATE 48, UM, 80TH ANNIVERSARY SHIRT. SO, UH, THEY GO ON SALE TOMORROW IN THE GIFT STORE. PLEASE GET YOURS WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. UH, WE WILL ALSO HAVE SOME OTHER ITEMS LIKE POLO SHIRTS, HATS, UH, CUSTOMIZED POSTCARDS, PINS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. SO WATCH OUT FOR THOSE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. UM, WE ALSO HAVE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE CELEBRATION. AS YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR'S STATE OF THE CITY EVENT TAKES PLACE [00:20:01] IN, IN MARCH. AND THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S STATE OF THE CITY WILL BE THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY. UH, YOU CAN EXPECT MEA PINEDA TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S TREMENDOUS PROGRESS OVER THE EIGHT DECADES AND WHAT'S TO COME IN THE FUTURE. AND OF COURSE, EVERYBODY LOVES A PARADE. BILLY MOORE DAYS THIS YEAR WILL BE, UH, WILL, WILL HAVE A FLOAT DEDICATED TO OUR HISTORY, AND WE EXPECT TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT THE END OF THE YEAR WITH WINTER FEST, UM, TO MARK THAT, UH, THE OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY FOR THE CITY, WHICH IS DECEMBER 16TH. AND THEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE'LL BE SHARING STORIES FROM OUR RESIDENTS, OUR LONGTIME EMPLOYEES, BUSINESSES AND LEADERS VIA, UH, VIDEOS AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND IN OUR RAVE MAGAZINE. AND SO, REALLY THE OBJECTIVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IS TO GET THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO RALLY AROUND THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY, AND FOR EVERYONE TO REALIZE THAT THEY'RE A BIG PART OF OUR CITY'S PAST PRESENT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE FUTURE. I'LL TURN IT BACK TO MARCELA. AND THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. UM, AT THIS TIME, MAYOR, WE'LL PASS IT BACK OVER TO YOU FOR THE READING OF THE PROCLAMATION. I'D BE VERY HAPPY TO READ THE PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS AVONDALE'S HISTORY CAN BE TRACED BACK TO ITS ORIGINS AS A STAGE COACH STOP ON THE BUTTERFIELD TRAIL, A SETTLEMENT, FIRST KNOWN AS COLD WATER, NAMED FOR THE FLOWING WATER FROM THE NEARBY RE RIVER. AND WHEREAS ON DECEMBER 16TH, 1946, AVONDALE INCORPORATED AS A CITY WITH DW CHISHOLM APPOINTED AS ITS FIRST MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE. AND WHEREAS AVONDALE HAS COME A LONG WAY FROM ITS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS A FARMING COMMUNITY TO ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE METRO PHOENIX AREA. AND WHEREAS AVONDALE IS A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE SHARE A DEEP SENSE OF PRIDE IN WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AND WHAT IT IS TODAY. AND WHEREAS THE YEAR LONG 80TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WILL OFFER ALL RESIDENTS OF AVONDALE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMEMORATE AND CELEBRATE AVONDALE'S PROUD PAST AND DISCOVER ALL THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS TO OFFER WHILE LOOKING AHEAD TO THE EXCITING FUTURE HISTORY. NOW THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF THE AVONDALE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA, HEREBY PRO PROCLAIMS 2026 AS A CELEBRATORY YEAR OF AVONDALE'S 80TH ANNIVERSARY. JUST REALLY QUICKLY, AND, UM, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW, PIERRE JUST HIT ON SOMETHING AND I KNOW THAT IT'LL COME ACROSS IN THE STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, AND THAT IS IN REGARD TO THE PAST, THE PRESENT IN THE FUTURE. AND JUST THINKING ABOUT HEARING 80 DECADES THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY. UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT, THOSE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE ALL OF US WHO SIT AT THIS DEUS MORE IMPORTANTLY, LEADERSHIP STAFF AND THE RESIDENTS, UH, WHAT THEY'VE, THEY'VE GONE THROUGH, WHAT THEY'VE WENT THROUGH, UH, THE WINS, THE LOSSES, THE SETBACKS, TRY THE, UH, THE, UM, THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN FACED ON ALL OF THE, AGAIN, I SAID IT ALREADY, BUT THE SUCCESSES THAT THE CITY HAS, HAS WON, UH, AND HAS CELEBRATED. I JUST AM SO FORTUNATE AND HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT, UH, IN THIS CAPACITY AND OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AS A COUNCIL MEMBER. SO I HOPE THAT OVER THE NEXT YEAR THAT WE CAN ALL CELEBRATE TOGETHER THIS 80TH YEAR, UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR, A LOT TO BE HAPPY ABOUT. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE SHOULD BE HAPPY AT JUST WHAT IS TO COME, UH, THAT AVONDALE HAS NOT REALIZED YET. AND I KNOW THAT I AM. AND SO IF ANYBODY HAVE HAS ANY COMMENTS, FEEL FREE. OTHERWISE, UH, WE'LL SAVE IT FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF EVENTS THAT'LL BE COMING FORWARD. NO. OKAY, [d. Proclamation - Not In Our City] AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE, UH, ITEM D RON. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. UP NEXT, WE HAVE REEM, WHO IS OUR FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER MANAGER, TO INTRODUCE THE, THE TOPIC AND I THINK A GUEST AND, UH, THE READING OF THE PROCLAMATION. GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT, UH, A SERIOUS TOPIC. I FEEL LIKE I'M ALWAYS HERE TALKING ABOUT A SERIOUS TOPIC, , BUT THIS TOPIC, YOU KNOW, TODAY IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING. IT'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH. UM, HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS A HIDDEN CRIME, BUT ITS IMPACT IS VERY REAL. HERE IN AVONDALE AND THE WEST VALLEY. OUR REGION'S GROWTH, MAJOR TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS, AND LARGE EVENTS MAY COMBATING THIS ISSUE AND PRIORITIZING PREVENTION AND AWARENESS, ESPECIALLY CRITICAL SINCE 2022, THE CITY OF AVONDALE HAS LED THE WAY THROUGH THE WEST VALLEY, UH, SEX TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE. IT'S A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BRINGING TOGETHER LOCAL AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, NONPROFIT PARTNERS, HOSPITALS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS TO IDENTIFY VICTIMS, DISRUPT TRAFFICKING NETWORKS, AND CONNECT SURVIVORS WITH HOUSING, COUNSELING, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES. SINCE THE TASK FORCE BEGAN, OUR DETECTIVES HAVE ARRESTED NEARLY 200 BUYERS, [00:25:01] INCLUDING 45 CHILD PREDATORS AND ASSISTED 89 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING SURVIVORS. AND THOSE AT RISK OF BEING TRAFFICKED. PREVENTION IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT. WE FOCUS ON EDUCATING FIRST RESPONDERS, CITY STAFF, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RECOGNIZE THE SCIENCE AND REPORT CONCERNS SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY. THIS IS NOT JUST A LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUE, IT IS A COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY. THROUGH CONTINUED PARTNERSHIPS AND SURVIVOR CENTER SOLUTIONS, AVONDALE IS HELPING LEAD THE WEST VALLEY IN PROTECTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT OUR UPCOMING HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING FOCUSED ON RUNAWAY YOUTH AND THEIR LINKS TO SEX TRAFFICKING TAKING PLACE ON JANUARY 26, UH, SECOND HERE AT THE VISITOR CENTER. I, I, UH, PROVIDED YOU THE PAMPHLET. I HOPE EVERYBODY RECEIVED I'LL, I'LL LEAVE THE REST IN THE BACK. UM, UM, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING, UH, THERE IS A LINK TO REGISTER. UM, AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THE MICROPHONE OVER TO MR. BUS OAMI WITH NOT IN OUR CITY FOR REMARKS. THANK YOU. AWESOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WOULD LOVE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND ALSO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, DISTINGUISHED COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR HONORING US WITH THE PROCLAMATION. UM, ONE PERSON TRAFFICKED IS ONE PERSON TOO MUCH, UH, NOT IN OUR CITY, WAS STARTED WITH A GROUP OF PASTORS, UH, OVER EIGHT YEARS AGO WITH THEIR HEART AND THEIR PASSION TO SPEAK AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OUR C ACROSS ALL THE CITIES, UH, IN ARIZONA, ARIZONA BEING THE 15TH STATE WITH THE LARGEST HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN UNITED STATES. SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE NOW. A FEW YEARS AGO, IT WAS 15TH, NOW WE ARE 17TH. BUT THE FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS NOT OVER. IT TAKES THE EFFORT OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OTHER CITIES AS WELL. SO, WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD LOVE TO WELCOME PASTOR RYAN NUNES TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH ON BEHALF OF NOT IN OUR CITY, UH, FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND FOR STANDING PUBLICLY AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING. YOU KNOW, WHEN A CITY TAKES A STAND, IT SENDS A CLEAR MIS MESSAGE THAT EXPLOITATION HAS NO SAFE PLACE. HERE. THIS PROCLAMATION IS MORE THAN WORDS THAT REPRESENTS AWARENESS, PREVENTION, AND PROTECTION FOR THE VULNERABLE. TOGETHER, FAITH LEADERS LIKE MYSELF, CITY OFFICIALS LIKE YOU, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RESIDENTS, CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. UH, WE WANNA INVITE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TONIGHT OF HOPE EIGHT, WHICH IS GONNA BE ON FEBRUARY 22ND AT PURE HEART CHURCH IN GLENDALE, 5:00 PM IT'S A FREE EVENT. IT'S FOR FAMILY MEMBERS, UH, FAMILY FRIENDLY. IT'S FOR, UH, AWARENESS AND HOPE AS WE UNITE TO SAY, NOT IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND TOGETHER WE CAN ALL SAY, NOT IN OUR CITY. NOT IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, BACK TO YOU FOR THE READING OF THE PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI WILL BE READING THE PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION, I JUST REALLY WANT TO, UM, EXPRESS MY SIR GRATITUDE TO CHIEF ESPINOZA, TO REEM GEORGE, UM, AND JUST THE AVONDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, ALL THE DETECTIVES, THE ADVOCATES, UM, THE WEST VALLEY SEX TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE TEAM, AND ANY OF THE DETECTIVES THAT WORK THESE CASES. UM, I ALSO WANNA JUST SAY, UM, THANK YOU TO ANYBODY ELSE WHO PLAYED A PART IN BRINGING THESE CLASSES, THESE TRAINING TO OUR CITY, TO OUR STAFF. IT'S SO IMPORTANT. UM, THE LAST THREE YEARS I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE NIGHT OF HOPE. SO IT'S DEFINITELY A WONDERFUL EVENT, UM, OF WORSHIP AND PRAYER, UM, JUST TO COVER OUR CITIES AND OUR, UM, LEADERS. AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO READ THE PROCLAMATION NOT IN OUR CITY, WHEREAS HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS A SERIOUS CRIME IN VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS THAT EXPLOITS INDIVIDUALS THROUGH FORCE FRAUD AND COERCION FOR LABOR OR COMMERCIAL SEX, AND AFFECTS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, GENDERS, BACKGROUNDS, AND WHEREAS NOT IN OUR CITY, IS A COMMUNITY CENTERED COALITION DEDICATED TO COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING BY UNITING LAW ENFORCEMENT, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFITS, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, AND RESIDENTS IN A SHARED COMMITMENT TO SAY, NOT IN OUR CITY TO EXPLOITATION. AND WHEREAS NOT IN OUR CITY, EMPHASIZES EDUCATION AWARENESS, VICTIM SUPPORT, AND PROACTIVE PREVENTION STRATEGIES, ENCOURAGING LOCAL PLEDGES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO HELP IDENTIFY, REPORT, AND PREVENT TRAFFICKING ACTIVITIES. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AVONDALE IS COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE SAFETY, DIGNITY, AND WELLBEING OF ALL RESIDENTS, AND RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION, EDUCATION, AND VIGILANCE IN PREVENTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SUPPORTING SURVIVORS. NOW, THEREFORE, [00:30:01] ON THE BEHALF OF AVONDALE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA, HEREBY PROCLAIMS JANUARY, 2026 AS NOT IN OUR CITY MONTH. AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND BUSINESSES TO JOIN IN RAISING AWARENESS, SUPPORTING VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS, AND WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAS NO PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI. AND, UM, I CAN WE, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GONNA BE POSTED, RON OR NOT, THE INFORMATION TO THIS, UH, MEETING NEXT WEEK HERE AT THE CIVIC CENTER, OR IF THAT'S JUST FOR ORGANIZATIONS, MR. MAYOR, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. UM, OKAY. I KNOW THE ADVOCACY CENTER WILL HAVE THAT STUFF POSTED. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEP. [3. Unscheduled Public Appearances] OKAY. AT THIS TIME, ITEM NUMBER THREE, UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES. MARCEL, I DO HAVE ONE, MR. MAYOR, BEFORE WE START, UH, THIS IS THE END OF THE PRESENTATIONS. CAN WE GET A COUPLE PICTURES, UH, SO THAT, UH, OUR GUESTS CAN, UM, GO ABOUT THEIR DAY? YEAH. EVEN AFTER YOU SAID IT BEFORE, RIGHT? I MEAN, WITH, WITH A THOUGHT, IF I REMEMBER, BUT YES, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, PLEASE JOINING US DOWN HERE FOR PICTURE. PERFECT. STAYING RIGHT THERE. BIG SMILE. 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, AND ONE MORE. PERFECT. THANK YOU. OKAY. RIGHT THERE. LOOKING RIGHT OVER HERE. BIG SMILE. 3, 2, 1. OH, NO, RIGHT HERE. SORRY. PERFECT. 3, 2, 1, BIG SMILE. 3, 2, 1. FIVE MORE. PERFECT. THANK YOU GUYS. [00:35:12] OKAY. I WILL HAVE YOU GUYS TWO STEPS THIS WAY. PERFECT. OKAY. RIGHT IN CENTER AND THEN THERE. LOOKING RIGHT OVER HERE. HOLD TIME. BIG SMILES. 3, 2, 1. NO, YOU'RE GOOD. PERFECT. THANK YOU GUYS. YEAH, I ALRIGHT WITH YOU. RIGHT UP HERE. BIG SMILES. 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1. HOLD MY LENS. 3, 2, 1. PERFECT. PERFECT. THERE. 3, 2, 1 BIG SMILE AND WE COME POSITION. YEAH, LOOK BACK. PERFECT. BIG SMILE. 3, 2, 1. BOTH TIGHT UP. 3, 2, 1. THANK YOU. OKAY, RON. UH, WE ARE ITEM NUMBER THREE, UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES. AND I APOLOGIZE, MARCELLA, I KNOW WE HAVE ONE BLUE CARD. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHERS? THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE HAVE RECEIVED ONE REQUEST TO SPEAK FROM GERALD MO. OKAY. OH, YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO COME AND YOU GET THREE MINUTES? THERE. OH, I THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA GET UP. YOU SURE? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO NO OTHER, NO OTHER BLUE CARDS OUTSIDE OF THAT ONE. THANK YOU MAYOR. NO OTHER REQUEST TO SPEAK. OKAY. WELL THANK YOU GERALD. [4. Consent Agenda] OKAY, ITEM FOUR, WE HAVE THE CONSENTS AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WISH TO HAVE AN ITEM REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? SEEING NONE, IF WE CAN PLEASE VOTE OR I CAN GET A MOTION. SORRY. GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI, PLEASE VOTE. OKAY. ITEM PASSES. [a. Public Hearing - Intent to Adopt Revised Development Impact Fees] RON, UH, ITEM FIVE A, PLEASE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL, UH, FIRST WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING INTENT TO ADOPT REVISED DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES. OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, RENEE WEATHERLY, IS HERE TO PRESENT. GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S ITEM IS TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CITY'S INTENT TO ADOPT REVISED DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES. SO, AS WE KNOW, DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES ARE INTENDED TO REQUIRE NEW DEVELOPMENT TO PAY ONE-TIME FEES THAT FUND THE COST OF NECESSARY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE [00:40:01] AND SERVICES SUCH AS ROADS, PARKS, PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES, WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS THAT ARE NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASED DEMAND FROM NEW GROWTH. THESE FEES ENSURE THAT GROWTH PAYS FOR ITSELF, PREVENTING THE BURDEN FROM FALLING ON EXISTING RESIDENTS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES. THE DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE PROCESS ITSELF IS REGULATED BY STATE STATUTE, AND THE PROCESS BEGAN IN AUGUST WITH A PUBLIC NOTICE. WE HELD TWO STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS WITH THE DEVELOPMENT COM COMMUNITY BEFORE HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE UPDATED LAND USE ASSUMPTIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PLAN. THE PLAN WAS ADOPTED ON NOVEMBER 17TH, AND A NOTICE OF INTENT TO ASSESS DEVELOPMENT FEES WAS POSTED ON NOVEMBER 22ND. WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE UPDATED DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES AND PLAN TO RETURN TO COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 23RD TO ADOPT THE UPDATED IMPACT FEES UPON ADOPTION. THE NEW FEES WOULD NOT TAKE EFFECT FOR 75 DAYS, WHICH WOULD BE MAY 9TH, AND THESE NEW FEES WOULD APPLY TO NEW PROJECTS GOING FORWARD. SO WHY WAS THIS UPDATE NEEDED? UM, ESSENTIALLY THE REVISION IS DRIVEN BY THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY EXPANSION PROJECT. AT THE TIME, WE IMPROVED OUR LAST FEE SCHEDULE. THE PROJECT COST WAS UNDER 80 MILLION. TODAY THE TOTAL PROJECT COST IS 155 MILLION. THEREFORE, WE NEED TO REVISE OUR FEES TO RECOVER THIS INCREASE AND THE COST ASSOCIATED TO DEBT FINANCE, THE ENTIRE PROJECT. SO OUR WASTEWATER DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES ARE BASED ON METER SIZE. AND THE MOST COMMON METER SIZE FOR A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE IS A THREE QUARTER INCH METER, WHICH IS CURRENTLY $3,153. BASED ON THE UPDATED CALCULATION, THE FEE WOULD BE $10,854, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF JUST OVER $7,700. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE FEES INCREASE WITH THE INCREASE IN METER SIZE. NOW IF WE TAKE THIS UPDATED, UM, WASTEWATER FEE AND LOOK AT, UM, THE DEVELOPMENT FEES ALL COMBINED, YOU WILL SEE AN EXAMPLE FOR A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENT. THE CURRENT FEES FOR ALL NECESSARY SERVICES TOTALS $14,432. WITH THE NEW UPDATED FEE FOR WASTEWATER, THAT TOTAL INCREASES TO $22,133. AND AGAIN, THE DRIVING FACTORS DUE TO THE INCREASED COST OF THE PROJECT AND THE NEED TO DEBT, UM, FINANCE THE PROJECT. SO IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE DOES THAT, UM, MAKE US COMPARE WITH OTHER WEST VALLEY CITIES, YOU'LL SEE THAT OUR CURRENT IMPACT FEES, UM, ARE IN THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE COMPARISON. AND WITH THE UPDATED FEES, IT WOULD PUT US, UM, ABOVE THAT MIDPOINT. SO AS I MENTIONED, OUR NEXT STEPS WOULD BE TO FIRST HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT ON THE INTENT TO ASSESS DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES. WE WOULD THEN RETURN TO COUNSEL TO ADOPT THE NEW FEES ON FEBRUARY 23RD WITH THE NEW EFFECTIVE DATE OF THOSE FEES BEING MAY 9TH. UM, AND JUST TO MAKE NOTE, THOSE NEW FEES WOULD APPLY TO NEW PROJECTS ON A GO FORWARD BASIS. SO WITH THAT, I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, RENEE. UM, MARCELLA, HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY REQUEST TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REQUESTS TO SPEAK. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING, SEEING THAT WE HAVE NO REQUEST TO SPEAK. I WILL CLOSE IT. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN, UH, THE FLOOR TO ANY COMMENTS BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. OKAY. UH, YES. COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE. CAN WE GO BACK TO THE SLIDE? UM, RENEE FOR JUST ONE MOMENT THAT HAD WHAT IT WOULD'VE COST A FEW YEARS AGO AND WHAT IT COSTS NOW, THE COMPARISON? UM, I THINK IT'S, UM, THE THIRD SLIDE BACK. THE PRICING. THAT'S IT. YEAH. THE, OH, THE PROJECT? YES. THE, THAT PROJECT COST, UM, SO THE ESTIMATE, BUT THEN THE CURRENT PROJECT COST. SO IT'S AN INCREASE. IT'S ACTUALLY ALMOST DOUBLING. AND, UM, WHEN DID WE, UH, ANTICIPATE THE START OF THIS PROJECT? SO IT, UH, I WAS JUST, UH, MR. MAYOR, UH, COUNSEL, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE REVIEWING THE CIP LIST TODAY. THERE'S A REQUEST TO START CONSTRUCTION, UH, IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. WE ARE CURRENTLY UNDER DESIGN, UH, UM, RIGHT NOW. SO WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF DESIGN. THE LAST NOTE I RECEIVED, UH, FROM [00:45:01] JAMES, OUR PROJECT ADMINISTRATOR, WAS THAT WE'RE STILL AT THAT 1 55 NUMBER, UM, HOLD HOLDING ON, BUT WE'RE GETTING READY TO, TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION. IT'LL TAKE A COUPLE YEARS TO COMPLETE. UM, BUT IN THE CURRENT PLAN THAT WILL BE BEFORE COUNCIL IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS IS TO START CONSTRUCTION IN THE NEXT, UH, FISCAL YEAR. AND, AND MAYBE I DIDN'T HEAR, AND I MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ON COUNCIL, WHEN DID WE GET THE PROJECT COST AGAIN? I BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT 79, UM, LIKE SIX. WHEN DID WE GET THAT ORIGINAL ESTIMATE? WHAT WAS, UM, SO MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, UM, THAT 79,000 THAT WAS INCLUDED IN OUR LAST UPDATE WAS THE APPROVED PLAN FROM 2022. SO THAT DATE WOULD'VE BEEN PRIOR TO THEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT, MAYOR. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW, AT THIS TIME, THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD AS THIS ITEM IS ONLY FOR DISCUSSION. [b. Resolution 1005-0126 - Amendments to Avondale Personnel Policies and Procedures, Chapter 4 Recruitment & Selection] SO WE'LL GO ON TO ITEM FIVE B. THANK YOU SO MUCH, RENEE. UH, MR. MAYOR AND COUNSEL. UP NEXT, YOU'LL SEE ANDY, OUR HR DIRECTOR, UH, HE'S GONNA PRESENT BOTH FIVE, UH, B AND FIVE C UH, BOTH AMENDMENTS TO OUR PERSONNEL POLICIES. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, THE FINAL ITEMS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT ARE REQUESTS TO AMEND CITY OF AVONDALE POLICIES, CHAPTER FOUR, RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION AND CHAPTER 18 DISCIPLINE. UM, STARTING WITH CHAPTER FOUR, JUST AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM DURATION OF A CERTIFIED LIST, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY OUR LIST OF ELIGIBLE QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO CONSIDER FOR A VACANT POSITION FROM ONE YEAR TO TWO YEARS. AND ALSO TO MODIFY THE PROMOTIONAL PROBATION SECTION OF CURRENT POLICY TO ALIGN WITH RECENT CHANGES TO ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES 38 DASH 1104 REGARDING THE DEMOTION OF PROMOTED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR UNSUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PROBATION. CURRENTLY CERTIFIED LISTS ARE ACTIVE FOR SIX MONTHS WITH THE OPTION FOR THE LIST TO BE EXTENDED UP TO A MAXIMUM OF ONE YEAR WITH APPROVAL FROM THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR. AT TIMES, THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE HAVING A LONGER DURATION WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO BOTH THE CITY AS WELL AS CANDIDATES WHO ARE ON AN ACTIVE LIST. A PRIMARY EXAMPLE IS RELATED TO PROMOTIONAL TESTING FOR BOTH POLICE AND FIRE. GIVEN THE EXTENSIVE TIME, EFFORT, AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROMOTIONAL TESTING FOR SWORN PUBLIC SAFETY POSITIONS, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WILL ESTABLISH THE ABILITY FOR A CERTIFIED LIST TO BE EXTENDED UP TO A MAXIMUM OF TWO YEARS, GIVEN THE TIME AND EFFORT PUT INTO PREPARING FOR PROMOTIONAL TESTS, THIS BENEFITS CANDIDATES AND ENSURES THEIR EFFORTS AND PERFORMANCE ON THE TEST LAST BEYOND THEIR CURRENT PROMOTIONAL NEED. UM, ADDITIONALLY, THERE MAY BE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WHERE A LONGER LIST MAY BE NECESSARY TO HELP STREAMLINE HIRING WHEN FUTURE VACANCIES ARE ANTICIPATED FOR A SINGLE, UH, OR FOR A SPECIFIC POSITION TYPE AND A SUFFICIENT LIST OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES IS ESTABLISHED AND AVAILABLE. UM, ONE THING TO NOTE IS THAT THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT WAS A PRIORITY TOPIC DURING OUR RECENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE AVONDALE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION AND IS SUPPORTED BY THE ASSOCIATION. THE SECOND AMENDMENT, UM, IS HAVING TO DO WITH PROMOTIONAL PROBATION. SO THE CURRENT POLICY ALLOWS FOR EMPLOYEES TO BE DISMISSED WHEN IT'S BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE EMPLOYEE HAS UNSUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED PROMOTIONAL PROBATION. AND NO LOWER LEVEL VACANT POSITION EXISTS FOR WHICH THE EMPLOYEE QUALIFIES. UH, RECENT CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH ARIZONA REVISED STATUTE 38 DASH 1104 REMOVE THE ABILITY FOR AN EMPLOYER TO DISMISS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO IS PROMOTED ABOVE THEIR CURRENT RANK DUE TO UNSUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PROMOTIONAL PROBATION. SO IN THAT PARTICULAR INSTANCE, THE EXPECTED ACTION IS THAT THE EMPLOYER WOULD DEMOTE RATHER THAN DISMISS THE EMPLOYEE. UM, THIS CHANGE DOES NOT LIMIT THE EMPLOYER'S ABILITY TO TERMINATE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AT ANY TIME FOR JUST CAUSE, BUT IT DOES, UM, ENSURE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW BY ADOPTING THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT. SO THAT CONCLUDES AN OVERVIEW OF CHAPTER FOUR. BEFORE I MOVE ON TO CHAPTER 18, I WANTED TO PAUSE IN CASE THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL HAD REGARDING CHAPTER FOUR. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL AT THIS TIME? COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANDY, FOR, UM, TAKING A STAB AT THIS. THIS ONE'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE STATE LAW DOES GIVE US PRETTY SPECIFIC GUIDELINES. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, WOULD THERE EVER BE AN INSTANCE WHERE, UM, SOMEBODY GETS THAT PROMOTION AND THEY'RE IN THAT PROBATION PERIOD AND THE NEXT CHAPTER WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT WHERE DISCIPLINARY ACTION STARTS BECAUSE MAYBE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO EXECUTE THEIR JOB CORRECTLY. ARE THEY POTENTIALLY RUNNING CONCURRENT WITH BEING PUT ON DISCIPLINARY ACTION AND BEING DEMOTED? UM, MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE. SO WHAT WE WOULD LOOK AT IN THAT SCENARIO, UM, ESSENTIALLY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE PROMOTED, IT'S BECAUSE THEY HAD A GOOD TRACK RECORD, THEY WERE QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION. AND WE HAVE SEEN SOME INSTANCES WHERE MAYBE THE POSITION OR THE NEEDS OF THAT ROLE, UM, [00:50:01] WE'RE IN CONFLICT WITH WHAT THE EMPLOYEE'S CAPABILITIES WERE AFTER BEING SELECTED FOR THAT. SO CERTAINLY WE WOULD LOOK TO, UM, WORK WITH THAT EMPLOYEE TO COACH THEM TO PROVIDE TRAINING, TO PROVIDE THEM, GIVING THEM EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT PARTICULAR JOB. IF AT THE END OF THAT PROBATIONARY PERIOD IT'S DETERMINED THAT THE EMPLOYEE, UM, IS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN THAT ROLE, THEN WE WOULD LIKELY BE LOOKING AT, UM, A DEMOTION OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO GO BACK INTO ANOTHER POSITION, WHETHER IT'S WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT OR OR WITHIN THE CITY THAT THEY WOULD QUALIFY FOR. THE PURPOSE BEING IS THAT TYPICALLY IN THOSE INSTANCES, IT'S NOT A MISCONDUCT ISSUE OR A BEHAVIOR ISSUE. WE WANT TO, UM, IF THAT EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN A, A, A GOOD, UM, PROVIDE A GOOD SERVICE TO THE, TO THE RESIDENTS OF AVONDALE AND AND ADDING VALUE TO THE ORGANIZATION, WE WANT TO LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO LAND IN THE SPOT BEFORE, UM, GOING TO A, A DISMISSAL ACTION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. UM, THE CHALLENGE WOULD BE AT THE TIME WHERE, WHAT VACANCIES DO WE HAVE AVAILABLE? YOU KNOW, IF IF WE'RE FULLY STAFFED, IF WE'RE CLOSE TO FULLY STAFFED OR LOOKING AT, UM, WHAT THEIR SKILLSET IS AND WHAT THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A VACANT POSITION MIGHT BE. UM, IF THERE'S MISALIGNMENT THERE, MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE A PERFECT FIT, BUT WE WOULD LOOK AT, UM, THOSE AVENUES BEFORE COMING TO A FINAL CONCLUSION OF, OF DISMISSING AN EMPLOYEE FOR, FOR NOT BEING SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR PROMOTIONAL PROBATIONARY PERIOD. SO I GUESS I WAS PROBABLY THINKING ABOUT IT, UM, IF, IF I MAY, UM, UH, UM, I WAS MORE THINKING ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF YOU PROMOTE SOMEBODY FROM BEING A, UM, REGULAR EMPLOYEE TO SUPERVISING EMPLOYEES AND THEN WE REALIZED THAT THEY'RE NOT MONITORING ATTENDANCE, THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING, UM, THEIR ANNUAL REVIEWS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES. SO THAT IS A DERELICTION OF DUTIES, THAT IS A DISCIPLINARY ACTION THAT IS NOT TERMINATION OR DISMISSAL THAT WOULD, IF THEY DIDN'T DO THAT JOB. THAT IS PRETTY SERIOUS WHEN YOU SUPERVISE PEOPLE. SO THAT WOULD POSSIBLY PUT SOMEBODY IN JEOPARDY OF GETTING PUT ON DISCIPLINE FOR THAT ITEM. BUT THEN WE WOULD ALSO BE LOOKING TO DEMOTE THEM. SO THAT'S THE SCENARIO I'M LOOKING AT. WOULD WE HAVE SOMEBODY WE POTENTIALLY HAVE ALREADY HAD TO GIVE DISCIPLINE TO THAT NOW WE HAVE TO DEMOTE AND THEY'RE WORKING BACK ALONGSIDE PEOPLE THAT MAYBE THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE DISCIPLINARY ACTION TO. 'CAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN GET DISCIPLINED FOR AND PUT 'EM BACK WORKING WITH THEIR OTHER PEERS. SO THAT, THAT'S JUST, I'M KIND OF NERVOUS WITH THAT. WE WOULD HAVE TO SEE IT HAPPEN FOR, TO MANIFEST. I WOULD, I WOULDN'T WANT YOU TO GET CAUGHT OFF GUARD WITH THE REALITY THAT CAN HAPPEN, IT SOUNDS LIKE. YEAH, MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE. SO YES, WE WOULD LOOK AT THOSE INSTANCES. IF AN EMPLOYEE IS, IS, UM, NOT PERFORMING UP TO, UP TO EXPECTATIONS OR FULFILLING THOSE DUTIES OR RESPONSIBILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR JOB, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A NUMBER OF, OF CORRECTIVE STEPS THAT COULD BE TAKEN TO GET THEM ON TRACK OR TO, UH, ADDRESS THAT BEHAVIOR. I THINK WHEN WE GET TO A DEMOTION DISCUSSION, IT'S BECAUSE THOSE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN, UH, UNSUCCESSFUL AND NOW WE'RE KIND OF AT THAT POINT OF MAKING A DETERMINATION ON WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S REALLY THE RIGHT FIT FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL IN THAT ROLE. RON, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? NO, LISTEN HERE. OKAY, GUYS. WHITE. OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY, ANDY. ALRIGHT. SO MOVING ON TO CHAPTER 18. UM, IN LOOKING AT THIS PARTICULAR CHAPTER, IT'S NOT HAD A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW SINCE ITS CREATION BACK IN 2014. UM, SO HUMAN RESOURCES EMBARKED ON A REVIEW AND IS RECOMMENDING A NUMBER OF, OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THIS POLICY. SO JUST AN OVERVIEW. UM, WE BELIEVE THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY, CONSISTENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY. UH, BALANCE CLEAR STANDARDS WITH MANAGEMENT DISCRETION TO ADDRESS INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, USE DISCIPLINE TO IDENTIFY ISSUES, SUPPORT IMPROVEMENT, AND CLARIFY CONSEQUENCES ESTABLISH JUST CAUSE FOR DISCIPLINE WHEN CONDUCT, UH, VIOLATES POLICY LAW OR JOB EXPECTATIONS APPLIES PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE WITH DISCRETION BASED ON SEVERITY AND CIRCUMSTANCES AND ENSURES DISCIPLINE IS PROPORTIONATE AND CONSISTENT CONSIDERING THE INDIVIDUAL'S ROLE, THEIR INTENT AND PAST PERFORMANCE HISTORY. SO TAKING A LITTLE BIT OF A DEEPER DIVE INTO PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE, UM, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS PROVIDE A FLEXIBLE AND TRANSPARENT FRAMEWORK THAT'S ALIGNED WITH THE CITY'S AND RESIDENTS INTERESTS. UH, IT REQUIRES HR CONSULTATION BEFORE A WRITTEN REPRIMAND OR A HIRE IS IMPOSED ON AN EMPLOYEE TO ENSURE THAT HR IS, UM, IN THE LOOP ON THAT AND ABLE TO EVALUATE AND LOOK AT, UM, CONSISTENCY AND AND TRANSPARENCY ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION. UM, PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE AND ENCOURAGES COACHING AND EARLY INTERVENTION FOR MINOR CONDUCT ISSUES ALLOWS ESCALATION WHEN BEHAVIOR IS SERIOUS OR REPEATED. UM, DISCIPLINE OPTIONS GENERALLY RANGE FROM COACHING, WHICH IS MORE INFORMAL AND VERBAL WARNING TO WRITTEN REPRIMAND, SUSPENSION, DEMO MOTION AND DISMISSAL. AND IT PRESERVES MANAGEMENT'S DISCRETION TO APPLY APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF DISCIPLINE BASED ON INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATIONS. SO THIS WAS A SECTION THAT WE, UM, INCLUDED AS PART OF THE CHAPTER. AGAIN, OUR INTENT WITH THIS WAS TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY AND, AND MAKE IT, UM, REALLY KNOWN AS TO WHAT WAS ENTAILED WHEN, WHEN, UH, WHERE IN EMBARKED ON AN ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATION. [00:55:01] SO, UH, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ESTABLISH A STANDARDIZED ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATION PROCESS TO DETERMINE POTENTIAL POLICY, PROCEDURE, OR LEGAL VIOLATIONS. IT ASSIGNS HUMAN RESOURCES TO CONDUCT OR COORDINATE INVESTIGATIONS WITH EXCEPTIONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT COVERED BY ARIZONA REVISED STATUTE 38 11 0 1. IT REQUIRES WRITTEN NOTIFICATION OF INVESTIGATION OR AN NOI PRIOR TO INTERVIEWS OUTLINING ALLEGATIONS AND REPRESENTATION RIGHTS. IT ALSO SPECIFIES EMPLOYEE INTERVIEW RIGHTS, INCLUDING REPRESENTATION, NOTE TAKING, AND THE ABILITY FOR THE PRINCIPLE OR THE FOCUS OF THE INVESTIGATION TO PROVIDE A STATEMENT AT THE END OF THE INTERVIEW. AND IT PROVIDES EMPLOYEES WITH ACCESS TO FINAL INVESTIGATION REPORTS WHEN VIOLATIONS ARE SUSTAINED. COUNSEL MAY RECALL THAT BACK IN JANUARY OF 2024, AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 18 WERE APPROVED TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES WHICH ALLOWED FOR EMPLOYEES TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE, WHICH IS A CURRENT EMPLOYEE WHO'S NOT AN ATTORNEY, UH, PRESENT, UH, PRESENT DURING AN ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATION INTERVIEW OR A PRE-DISCIPLINARY HEARING PROCESS. SO WE'VE ACTUALLY EXPANDED ON WHAT CURRENTLY EXISTS, UH, CURRENT, WITHIN CURRENT POLICY. SO WE'VE ENHANCED CLARITY ON RIGHTS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES WHO REQUEST A REPRESENTATIVE. UM, WE ENSURE CONSISTENT TREATMENT ACROSS DEPARTMENTS PROVIDES TRANSPARENCY BY CLEARLY DEFINING THE REPRESENTATIVE'S ROLE, AND IT ALSO SUPPORTS FAIR AND TIMELY INVESTIGATIONS WITHOUT UNNECESSARY DELAYS. UM, THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, BOTH THE ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATIONS AND THE EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE RIGHTS, UH, WERE PRIORITY TOPICS AGAIN DURING OUR RECENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH AVONDALE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION. AND, UH, THESE AMENDMENTS ARE SUPPORTED BY THE ASSOCIATION. WE ALSO LOOKED AT OUR PRE-DISCIPLINARY PROCESS. UM, SO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS REALLY PROVIDE CLARITY ON FORMAL NOTICE OF INTENT REQUIREMENTS. SO ENSURING THAT, UM, ANY NOTICE OF INTENT FOR DISCIPLINE, UM, INCLUDES REASONS, POLICY VIOLATIONS AND, AND RIGHTS THAT THE EMPLOYEES MIGHT HAVE. UH, IT GUARANTEES EMPLOYEES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND EITHER IN PERSON OR IN WRITING BEFORE DISCIPLINE IS IMPOSED. IT CLEARLY ESTABLISHES THE RIGHT TO REPRESENTATION DURING THE PREDETERMINATION HEARING AND ACCESS TO SUPPORTING MATERIALS JUSTIFYING THE PROPOSED DISCIPLINE. IT STANDARDIZES THE HEARING PROCESS, PREVENTS PREMATURE DECISIONS BY REQUIRING DISCIPLINE DETERMINATION AFTER THE HEARING. UM, SO A A, A DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION ON DISCIPLINE BEFORE HEARING, UM, THE INDIVIDUAL'S OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY IN ADVANCE. AND IT ALSO ADDS SAFEGUARDS WHEN DISCIPLINE IS INCREASED, REQUIRING A NEW NOTICE AND A NEW HEARING IN THE EVENT THAT, UH, A DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR DECIDED TO INCREASE THE DISCIPLINE AFTER HEARING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DURING THAT PREDETERMINATION HEARING. AND LASTLY, WE'VE INCORPORATED A DISCIPLINARY MATRIX AS PART OF THE POLICY AMENDMENTS. UM, SO THE PURPOSE OF THE MATRIX IS TO PROMOTE CONSISTENCY AND FAIRNESS BY ALIGNING DISCIPLINE WITH THE TYPE AND SEVERITY OF MISCONDUCT OR PERFORMANCE DEFICIENCY. UM, WE'VE PROVIDED EXPECTATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES ABOUT POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF BEHAVIOR, UM, SUPPORTS EARLY CORRECTION THROUGH COACHING AND PROGRESSIVE STEPS FOR MINOR ISSUES, SERVES AS A GUIDELINE FOR SUPERVISORS WHEN CONSIDERING DISCIPLINE AND SUPPORTS CONSISTENCY ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND THEN PRESERVES MANAGEMENT DISCRETION TO ACCOUNT FOR INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. SO THIS, UM, SUMMARIZES ALL OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 18 THAT ARE BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT. UM, AND BEFORE I GO INTO THE RECOMMENDATION, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL COMMENTS FOR ITEM FIVE B? CHAPTER 18? SEE NONE. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE. SORRY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. THANKS AGAIN, ANDY. THANK YOU AS WELL, MR. CORBIN FOR, UM, TAKING A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THIS. I DID REALLY ENJOY TAKING A LOOK AT THE MATRIX. I THINK, UM, MY BRAIN FUNCTIONS IN TERMS OF, WHEN I THINK ABOUT DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS, THREE MAIN CATEGORIES OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION. UM, ONE BEING ATTENDANCE, ONE BEING CONDUCT, AND THEN THE OTHER BEING PERFORMANCE. SO EACH AREA KIND OF WOULD ADDRESS THAT. UM, AND THAT MATRIX, I REALLY DIDN'T, UM, SEE THAT SEGREGATED OUT, BUT I SEE A MATRIX, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE. AND SINCE THIS HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE, UM, 2000, YOU SAID 14 MM-HMM . WHEN IT WAS ADDED TO THE DOCUMENT, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, GREAT WORK, GREAT JOB. UM, ONLY OTHER THING BEYOND THAT, UM, CATEGORIZATION THAT I WOULD HAVE IN MY HEAD, UM, IS I WOULD SAY THIS IS MORE FOR THE RECORDS THAT WE SEE ON OUR END. AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE LOOKING AT HOME, IT'S NOT ON THE SCREEN, BUT IT IS IN THE FULL DOCUMENTATION OF THE, UM, UM, REDLINE VERSIONS. I WOULD JUST, UM, THE CHRONIC OR SEVERE CASES, IN SOME INSTANCES, THEY HAVE, UM, WRITTEN, WRITTEN REPRIMAND UP TO DISMISSAL. UM, I, I ACTUALLY LIKE THE OLD VERBIAGE THAT WE HAD TERMINATION, I, I THINK DISMISSAL, UM, MIGHT BE MORE STANDARD VERBIAGE. [01:00:01] UM, BUT I, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE HAVE IT BROKEN OUT ON THE COLUMNS BASED ON IF IT'S A COACHING, VERBAL WARNING REPRIMAND OR, OR TERMINATION DISMISSAL. BECAUSE SOME OFFENSES, ONCE YOU COMMIT THEM, YOU ARE TERMINATED, YOU ARE DISMISSED FROM EMPLOYMENT. SO I THINK SOMETIMES WHEN WE HAVE PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINARY ACTION, WE GET THE, UM, FALSE SECURITY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROGRESS. BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE A THIEF GOODBYE TODAY, UM, WHEN WE FOUND IT AND HAD DOCUMENTED PROOF, UM, IF THERE IS A FIGHT, IF YOU, UM, HARM SOMEBODY AT WORK, GOODBYE TODAY, AND IT EVEN SAYS IN WHAT WE SEE CRIMINAL CONDUCT AND ARREST. SO, UM, AND IT DOESN'T SAY FOUND GUILTY OF AN OFFENSE, MISDEMEANOR OR FELONY, IT SAYS CRIMINAL CONDUCT ARREST. SO THAT'S A VERY STRICT SCRUTINY TO HAVE. AND I CAN ONLY SEE WHERE PEOPLE MIGHT BE UNCOMFORTABLE, WELL, I WAS ONLY ARRESTED, THEY DROPPED THE CHARGES, YOU KNOW, UM, WHY AM I GETTING DISMISSED? WELL, OUR POLICY SAYS THE ARREST ALONE IS ENOUGH. SO, UM, I THINK THAT THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I WOULD ASK IN ANY FUTURE ITERATIONS TO PROBABLY DRIVE HOW THAT MATRIX LOOKS BASED ON THE OUTCOMES, UM, INSTEAD OF THE ACTIONS AND THEM POSSIBLY, UM, KIND OF CONSOLIDATING IT. JUST FOR, UM, REFERENCE FOR ALL OF US. AND CAN YOU TELL US WHERE YOU KIND OF BENCHMARKED THE INFORMATION FROM JUDGE, MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, UM, MY PRIOR EMPLOYER, WE, WE HAD A, A MATRIX, A DISCIPLINE MATRIX. IT WAS A LITTLE, WASN'T DIRECTLY ON POINT TO, UM, TO THE MATRIX THAT WE HAVE HERE AT CITY OF AVONDALE, BUT AT LEAST IT KIND OF GAVE A FRAMEWORK FOR US TO, TO BUILD FROM AND REALLY LOOK AT, UM, HOW WE'RE STRUCTURING, HOW WE STRUCTURE DISCIPLINE HERE AT CITY OF AVONDALE AND EXPECTATIONS THAT WE HAVE. SO USING KIND OF THAT, THAT CONCEPT, BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, UH, ADAPTING IT TO OUR NEEDS, UM, ESPECIALLY TO YOUR POINT AS A FIRST ITERATION OF US KIND OF EMBARKING ON THIS, TO ENSURE THAT, UM, AS WE TIME WILL TELL, AS WE CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THINGS AND HOW THAT COULD, UM, HOW THAT COULD BE ENHANCED FURTHER. WELL, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WORK. I SOMETIMES WE DO HAVE TO LEARN FROM BEST PRACTICES AND IT'S GREAT TO HEAR, I MEAN, WE ALL STILL LIVE WHERE YOU USED TO WORK, SO WE CAN'T SAY THAT THAT ISN'T A PRACTICE THAT WE WOULDN'T WANT TO INCORPORATE. I'M REALLY GRATEFUL, MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR US BEING ABLE TO KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. AND I'M REALLY, UM, I'M INTERESTED TO SEE JUST ANY FEEDBACK FROM, I KNOW THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE SPOKEN TO THE ASSOCIATION, BUT THE CHANGES KIND OF ANY GRUMBLINGS. HOW ARE EMPLOYEES OR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE AWARE OF THIS FEELING ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT YOU'VE MADE OR ARE RECOMMENDING WE MAKE, UH, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE? SO I THINK THAT, UM, THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN, SO OBVIOUSLY WE GET FEEDBACK FROM OUR, UM, OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM ON, ON ANY PROPOSED REVISIONS THAT WE HAVE. SO A LOT OF THOSE, UM, WERE INCORPORATED AS WE KIND OF MADE THIS, I'LL CALL IT, UH, SOMEWHAT OF AN OVERHAUL, UH, OF THE POLICY. 'CAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S QUITE A FEW REVISIONS AS YOU LOOK AT THE RED LINE VERSION. UM, OUR ASSOCIATION, OUR, OUR FIRE ASSOCIATION, BEING ABLE TO HEAR DIRECT FEEDBACK FROM THEM DURING OUR NEGOTIATION PROCESS AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM AND WHAT THEY BELIEVE, UM, WILL HELP ADD THAT TRANSPARENCY AND, AND ENSURING, AND, AND I, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WHERE, UM, THERE'S CERTAIN BEHAVIORS THAT, THAT AREN'T TOLERATED AT, AT THE CITY AND, AND CERTAIN THINGS THAT, UM, THERE ARE BEHAVIORS WHERE IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO EDUCATE AND TO GET SOMEBODY UP TO SPEED. UM, BUT JUST MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S, WE'RE DEMYSTIFYING THE PROCESS ON SOME LEVEL, UM, THAT IT'S NOT BEHIND A, A, A LOCK AND KEY LIKE OF, OF WHAT OUR PROCESSES ARE AND, AND ENSURING THAT EMPLOYEES ARE FULLY AWARE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, WHAT RIGHTS THEY HAVE, WHAT OUR PROCESS IS AS WE KIND OF GO THROUGH, UM, THE VARIOUS STEPS, UH, AS IT RELATES TO DISCIPLINE. SO THE FEEDBACK, AT LEAST FROM, FROM THAT ASPECT OF IT IS, UM, VERY POSITIVE IN, IN THE SENSE OF THE CITY REALLY TAKING AN EXTRA STEP AND ADDING THAT TRANSPARENCY. AND I THINK JUST AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'LL BE A CONTINUUM OF US TO, UH, EVALUATE OUR PROCESSES AND, AND, UM, JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, IT'S NOT, OKAY, WE'RE DONE AND WE MOVE ON. THIS IS GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE TO, TO EVALUATE AND LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT, MAYOR. UM, MR. CORIN, ANDY, YOU, YOU JUST SAID SOMETHING THAT KIND OF SPARKED A QUESTION FOR ME AND ALSO WHEN WE WERE READING THROUGH IT, DO WE KNOW AFTER YOU WENT BACK TO THE DIRECTORS, IF THEY HAVE ANY, UM, DEPARTMENTS THAT MIGHT HAVE MORE STRICTER SCRUTINY BASED ON THE TYPES OF ROLES THAT THEY HAVE FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION? UH, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE? UH, YES. UM, DEPENDING ON THE DEPARTMENT, OF COURSE, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAMS, UM, HAVE TO FOLLOW STATE LAW. THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW, UH, POST RULES. AND SO THOSE ARE OFTEN STRICTER THAN SOME OF THE CITY THINGS. THERE IS, I THINK OF OUR, OUR DRIVERS, UH, EQUIPMENT, HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS. THEY HAVE THEIR, UH, DOT, UH, CERTIFICATION. UH, THEY'RE, UM, AND THEN, UH, SOMETIMES FIREFIGHTERS. SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT'S GOING ON. BUT, UM, THOSE ARE THE BIG ONES THAT COME TO MIND. UH, UH, ANDY MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, UH, MR. CORBIN? I WOULD [01:05:01] AGREE. I, I THINK WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT, UM, THINGS THAT HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT TO OUR RESIDENTS, UM, OUR EMPLOYEES, SAFETY, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, UM, THOSE ARE CERTAINLY ONES WHERE THERE'S A HEIGHTENED EXPECTATION AND, AND LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY AS, AS IT PERTAINS TO THOSE, UH, CRITICAL JOB FUNCTIONS. SO IT'D BE PROBABLY PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC WORKS. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANDY. I THINK YOU, I WAS GONNA SAY PRIOR TO, UH, YOU UTILIZING THE WORD OVERHAUL AS A HEAVY LIFT, YOU, YOUR TEAM AND BRINGING SOME OF THIS, UH, INFORMATION IN, NOT ONLY INTO COMPLIANCE, UH, BUT IN, UH, PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, WITH THE, THE FIRE UNION AND JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST HAPPY THAT IT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. IT'S A TRANSPARENT PROCESS. EVERYBODY IS AWARE, YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT OR AS YOU SAID, DEMYSTIFYING THE PROCESS. SO JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE AWARE THAT WE APPRECIATE THAT. AND I KNOW THAT'S A, WAS A MAJOR UNDERTAKING, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MR. MAYOR, CAN I JUST THROW ONE? 'CAUSE WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT OUR FIRE ASSOCIATION, WHICH I THINK IS REPRESENTED BACK THERE, BUT SO ARE OUR, UH, POLICE, ONE OF OUR POLICE ASSOCIATIONS. SO JUST KNOW THAT WE GIVE THIS TO ALL OF OUR ASSOCIATIONS TO LOOK AT WHETHER THEY'RE RECOGNIZED OR NOT, AND WE RECEIVE THEIR FEEDBACK AS WELL. IN ADDITION, WE SHARE WITH THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS WHO TAKE IT BACK TO THEIR DEPARTMENTS AND WE TAKE FEEDBACK. UM, THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT, UM, ANDY KEELY AND THE WHOLE, UH, HR TEAM DID, UH, SYNTHESIZE, UH, INPUT FROM, UH, WE RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL, FROM MYSELF, FROM THE DIRECTORS, FROM THE ASSOCIATIONS AS, UH, IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE THE DOCUMENT HE WAS ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER, BUT I, I, WE COULDN'T DO THIS BY OURSELVES. SO REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, THOSE, UH, DIRECTORS AND ASSOCIATIONS WHO PUT IN THE TIME TO REVIEW AND GIVE US A FEEDBACK THAT WE NEED TO HEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ROD. AGAIN, THANK YOU ON ANDY. UM, IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS. IF THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL, IF WE CAN GO BACK AND, UH, GET SOME MOTIONS ON ITEM FIVE B. GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, PLEASE VOTE. ITEM PASSES SIX TO ZERO WITH ONE BEING ABSENT. [c. Resolution 1006-0126 - Amendments to Personnel Policies and Procedures, Chapter 18 Discipline] MOVING ON TO ITEM FIVE C IF WE CAN GET A MOTION. GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA. THE REST OF THE COUNCIL CAN VOTE. ITEM PASSES SIX ZERO WITH ONE ABSENCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU AGAIN, ANDY. THANK YOU TO ALL, ALL STAFF WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION THAT PARTICIPATED. ALL RIGHT. WE HAD, UH, RON, YOU PARTICIPATED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD AS PART OF YOUR NO, MR. MAYOR, I'LL, I'LL, UH, YIELD THE FLOOR. OKAY, PERFECT. [7. Summary of Current Events from Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Councilmembers] ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS. DOES ANYBODY WISH TO SHARE? OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, UM, I ATTENDED THE PATRIOT ALL AMERICAN BY THE WEST VALLEY MAVERICKS A FEW WEEKS, 2, 2, 3 WEEKS AGO. UM, BUT IT'S SUCH A GREAT EVENT. IT'S A GOLF TOURNAMENT THEY THROW ON, BUT IT RECOGNIZES THE FALLEN, UM, MILITARY PERSONNEL IN THE AREA. WELL ALL OVER ACTUALLY. AND, UM, AS WELL AS FIRST RESPONDERS EVERY YEAR. UM, AN AVONDALE RESIDENT, MY FRIEND DONALD STACY, UM, I, WE LOST IN COMBAT. UM, HE'S RECOGNIZED HIS PICTURES ALWAYS ON THE GOLF COURSE, SO IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE. BUT THEY ALSO OFFER WONDERFUL RESOURCES FOR BOTH MILITARY AND, UM, PREVIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE. UM, GREAT. UM, THEY HAD A CAREER FAIR AND THEY HAD FREE FOOD AND DRINKS AND THEY ALSO HAVE, UH, SPEAKERS WHO WERE WONDERFUL. SO IF YOU GUYS HAVE NEVER ATTENDED, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND NEXT YEAR TO ATTEND. THEY HAVE CONCERTS. UH, IT'S FREE FOR EVERYONE TO GO. UM, BUT IT'S ONE OF THE EVENTS THAT IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE THAT THEY THROW. I KNOW THEY DO A LOT OF STUFF IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THAT ONE IS REALLY TOUCHING MY HEART. AND THEN I ALSO GOT TO MEET, UH, VICE PRESIDENT, UH, JD VANCE, UH, THIS PAST MONTH AS WELL, WHICH WAS AN HONOR. HE'S DOING SUCH AN AMAZING JOB AND I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL, ALL THE WORK THAT HE'S DOING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER WEISS. WELL, UM, I WAS SUPER EXCITED TO BE AT THE OPENING OF THE DOG PARK AND THE PICKLEBALL COURTS, AND I THINK RON'S GONNA GET ME OUT THERE ONE OF THESE DAYS AND TEACH ME HOW TO PLAY PICKLEBALL BETWEEN HIM AND COREY. BUT, UM, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE SO MANY FAMILIES ALREADY OUT THERE USING THE, UM, AMENITIES AND IT HAD JUST OPENED, WHICH IS GREAT. OKAY, NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'LL QUICKLY GO, UH, AGAIN, WAS WHAT WAS REFERENCED IN REGARDS TO THE DOG PARK OPENING AND THE PICKLEBALL COURTS. IT WAS GREAT. UH, THIS PAST SATURDAY, UM, I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE A PART OF ALAMAR ALAMAR COMMUNITY'S FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, SO I GOT TO MEET A LOT OF RESIDENTS OUT THERE AND [01:10:01] TASTE, UH, THE CHILI. THERE WAS A CHILI COOKOFF. AND SO WHO DOES NOT LOVE CHILI? I KNOW I DO. AND THEN ONE, UH, ORGANIZATION. AND, UH, THIS ORGANIZATION IS PRETTY FUNNY. I WAS INVITED BY, UH, A GENTLEMAN THAT SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, RUBEN ROSALES TO EAT BREAKFAST WITH HIM, AND A GROUP THAT HE MEETS WITH EVERY THURSDAY AT OUR MCDONALD'S ON 99TH AVENUE MCDOWELL. AND THEY WEAR SHIRTS, AND ON THE SHIRT IT SAYS, ROMEO. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT ROMEO, YOU'RE LIKE, WOW. THEY'RE A PRETTY COCKY GROUP. UH, BUT WHAT ROMEO STANDS FOR IS RETIRED OLD MEN EATING OUT AND . SO I WAS FORTUNATE TO JOIN THEM LAST THURSDAY FOR BREAKFAST. I TELL YOU, IF YOU SHOW UP ON A THURSDAY MORNING, UH, AND JOIN THEM, THEY WELCOME ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH 'EM AND BREAKFAST. SEVERAL OF THEM ARE VETERANS, UH, BUT JUST THE STORIES THEY TELL, UM, THE WAY THEY, THEY NEED EACH OTHER, UH, AND, UM, JUST, IT WAS A, A GREAT, UH, HOUR AND A HALF OR SO THAT I GOT TO SPEND TIME WITH, WITH THE ROMEOS, UH, ORGANIZATION. SO AGAIN, EVERY THURSDAY, UM, UH, OUR MCDONALD'S ON 99TH AND MCDOWELL ROAD. SO THANK YOU RUBEN. UH, WHEREVER YOU ARE RIGHT NOW. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER REPORTS, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO GET A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT. GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI, PLEASE VOTE WE ARE ADJOURNED. EVERYBODY PLEASE DRIVE SAFELY HOME AND WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.