Feb 23, 2026 City Council

[1. ROLL CALL BY THE CITY CLERK]

[00:00:05]

I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TONIGHT'S COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 23RD TO ORDER, AND IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

AT A MOMENT OF SILENCE, I 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 ALL.

THANK YOU.

MARCELLA, CAN WE GET ROLL CALL PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SOLORIO HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER WHITES HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE PRESENT VICE MAYOR NIELSEN MAYOR.

MAYOR PINEDA.

HERE, RON.

NEXT ITEM PLEASE.

THANK

[a. Innovation Team Recognition]

UP FIRST IS WE'RE GONNA HAVE A, UH, PRESENTATION ON THE INNOVATION TEAM RECOGNITION, UH, PRESENTED BY ANISA OH AND TORN, AND THE TEAM COME ON UP.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ANISA ROMO, SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND COAD ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE INNOVATION TEAM.

TONIGHT I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING OUR 20 24 20 25 INNOVATION TEAM COHORT.

I AM JOINED TODAY BY TORRANCE SDO, INNOVATION TEAM, CO-ADMINISTRATION, AND OUR INNOVATION TEAM MEMBERS CHRISTINA BAKER AND MARIA GONZALEZ.

TOTAL BACKGROUND ABOUT THE INNOVATION TEAM.

IT'S AN INTERNAL EMPLOYEE TRAINING PROGRAM FACILITATED BY THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE WITH THE CORE PURPOSE OF EMPOWERING AVONDALE EMPLOYEES TO FOSTER A CULTURE OF INNOVATION THAT EQUIPS STAFF TO IMPROVE PROCESSES, SAVE MONEY OR TIME, AND IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.

TO MEET THE INNOVATION TEAM'S CORE PURPOSE, EACH CLASS IS TASKED WITH ESTABLISHING A PROJECT PIPELINE FOLLOWING LEAN SIX SIGMA CERTIFICATION WITH THE PRIMARY GOAL OF IMPROVING PUBLIC SERVICES AND DELIVERING RESULTS FOR AVONDALE'S KEY STAKEHOLDERS.

AVONDALE'S STAFF MEMBERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION ARE INVITED TO APPLY TO BE PART OF THE INNOVATION TEAM AND ARE SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS.

THROUGH JOINING THE INNOVATION TEAM, MEMBERS GAINED THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON INTERDEPARTMENTAL PROJECTS, UM, BUILDING LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND NEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH DEPARTMENTS THAT THEY MAY NOT NORMALLY INTERACT WITH.

THIS EXPERIENCE PROVIDES INCREDIBLE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GROWTH TO PARTICIPATING EMPLOYEES.

IN APRIL, 2024, WE STARTED THIS COHORT WITH EIGHT MEMBERS, WITH THOSE WHO HAVE LEFT THE TEAM EXPERIENCING MAJOR LIFE CHANGES LIKE PROMOTIONS AND CROSS COUNTRY MOVES.

AT THE COMPLETION OF THIS COHORT, WE HAVE THREE GRADUATES WHO HAVE BEEN THE TEAM LEADS FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE PROJECTS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AND HAVE SEEN THEIR PROJECTS THROUGH SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION.

UM, SO EACH COHORT BEGINS WITH, UH, RECEIVING LEAN SIX SIGMA YELLOW BELT CERTIFICATION.

AND THE PHOTO THERE IS, UM, WHEN WE DID OUR CLASS, UM, FOR OUR YELLOW BELTS, UH, THIS TRAINING PREPARES MEMBERS TO EVALUATE PROCESSES AND IDENTIFY WASTED TIME, RESOURCES, ERRORS, DEFECTS, AND FIXABLE ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, MEMBERS WORK ON PROCESS IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND CONCLUDE THEIR TENURE WITH THE INNOVATION TEAM.

ONCE THEY HAVE PROVIDED THE WORK GROUP WITH THE TANGIBLE SOLUTION THAT IS ACCEPTED AND FULLY IMPLEMENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

THE 20 24 20 25 COHORT SELECTED TWO PROJECTS TO WORK ON AS AN INNOVATION TEAM.

THESE PROJECTS WERE SELECTED FROM, UH, PROJECTS PROPOSED BY BOTH THE INNOVATION TEAM MEMBERS WHO, UH, PRESENTED PROJECTS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING PROCESSES WITHIN THEIR WORK GROUPS AND CITY MANAGEMENT WHO PRESENTED PROJECTS BASED ON HIGH PRIORITY, UM, PROCESSES IN THE ORGANIZATION.

AFTER EVALUATING WHICH PROJECTS COULD HAVE THE HIGHEST IMPACT TO OR SELECTED THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT PROCESS AND THE U UTILITY BILLING ELECTRONIC WORK ORDERS PROCESS, OUR INNOVATION TEAM MEMBERS WILL REVIEW THEIR WORK ON IMPROVING THESE PROCESSES TONIGHT.

WITH THAT, I WILL PASS THE PRESENTATION OVER TO CHRISTINA BAKER TO REVIEW THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT PROCESS.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS CHRISTINA BAKER.

I'M A SENIOR BUDGET ANALYST WITH THE FINANCE AND BUDGET DEPARTMENT, AND I WAS THE TEAM LEAD FOR THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT PROCESS PROJECT.

THE INNOVATION TEAM WAS TASKED, TASKED WITH IMPROVING A LARGELY MANUAL SPECIAL EVENT PROCESS THAT REQUIRED

[00:05:01]

FIRST THING WE DID WAS IDENTIFY OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE, WE HAD A LOT OF 'EM.

THERE WERE 16 CITY DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED.

THAT'S ALL BUT TWO DEPARTMENTS.

UM, PHOENIX RACEWAY WAS ALSO A KEY STAKEHOLDER THAT PROVIDED INPUT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, AND WE DID, UM, SURVEY PRIOR SPECIAL EVENT APPLICANTS TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK.

HERE'S SOME NUMBERS FROM OUR RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS.

LIKE I SAID, WE MET WITH 16 DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS.

WE REVIEWED SIX MUNICIPALITIES SPECIAL EVENT POLICIES.

WE GATHERED DATA ON 144 SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATIONS.

WE USED FOUR LEAN, SIX SIGMA APPROACHES, AND WE HELD 105 STAFF MEETINGS OVER THOSE TWO YEARS.

.

UM, HERE'S KIND OF WHAT THE OLD PROCESS LOOKED LIKE.

UM, THROUGH THIS PROCESS, APPLICANTS POTENTIALLY HAD TO VISIT SEVEN DIFFERENT SITES TO COMPLETE THE SPECIAL EVENT PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS, UM, AND COSTS WERE UNCLEAR.

IN THE BOX IS A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF WHAT THE PROCESS FLOW LOOKED LIKE IN THE OLD PROCESS.

THE KIND OF KEY THING TO TAKE AWAY FROM HERE IS THE NUMBER OF BOXES OR STEPS THAT WERE REVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.

SO, UM, FROM THAT RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, WE DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE SOME INTERMEDIATE CHANGES THAT WE COULD DO QUICKLY, AND IN FALL OF 2024, WE IMPLEMENTED THOSE.

THOSE WERE LARGELY CENTERED AROUND THE PDF APPLICATION AND THE CITY'S CURRENT WEBSITE.

UM, REALLY WHAT WE DID IS WE JUST STREAMLINED IT, ADDED SOME MORE REFERENCES TO THE APPLICATION SO THEY KNEW WHEN ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS WERE REQUIRED AND WE ADDED A, UM, DOCUMENT CENTER OR LIBRARY TO THE WEBSITE SO THAT THEY CAN EASILY FIND THOSE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS THAT WERE NEEDED.

AND THEN THE LARGER, UM, IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE DONE BECAME EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2025.

AND THOSE INCLUDED CITY OF AVONDALE CODE CHANGES, WHICH ESTABLISHED EVENT TIERS.

SO NOW WE HAVE A MINOR AND MAJOR EVENT TIER.

UM, IT ALSO AUTHORIZED STAFF TO CURTAIL OR SHUT DOWN EVENTS THAT WEREN'T IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PERMIT AND ENABLED STAFF TO DENY FUTURE PERMITS FOR APPLICANTS THAT WEREN'T COMPLIANT IN THE PAST.

UM, WE ALSO CHANGED THE FREE STRUCTURE.

SO BACK TO THAT MINOR AND MAJOR EVENT.

THERE'S NOW A FLAT FEE FOR THE EVENTS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE SUB PERMIT COSTS.

PRIOR TO THIS ALL-INCLUSIVE RATE, THE COST OF A SUB PERMIT VARIED BASED ON THE SPECIFICATIONS FOR THAT EVENT, AND IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR APPLICANTS TO KNOW WHAT THAT TRUE COST WAS PRIOR TO ENTERING THE PROCESS.

AND FINALLY, WE IMPLEMENTED A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT MODULE WITHIN THE CITY'S CURRENT PERMITTING SYSTEM THAT PROVIDED A SINGLE ENTRY POINT FOR THE APPLICATION.

SO HERE'S THE NEW PROCESS.

UM, WE REDUCED THE SEVEN POTENTIAL LOCATIONS TO ENTER THE PROCESS DOWN TO FOUR.

UM, WE REDUCED, UM, OH, SORRY.

I SAID THAT WE INCREASED CLARITY ON SPECIAL EVENT REQUIREMENTS AND COSTS THROUGH THAT FLAT RATE, UM, AND JUST ADDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON WHEN THINGS WERE NEEDED.

AND THE KEY TO TAKEAWAY FROM HERE WITH THAT, UM, WORKFLOW IS THAT HOPEFULLY IT'S PRETTY EASY TO TELL THAT THERE'S A LOT FEWER BOXES OR STEPS THAT AN APPLICANT HAS TO GO THROUGH.

SO PROJECT OUTCOMES.

UM, THE INNOVATION TEAM'S OBJECTIVE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT WAS TO CREATE A BETTER PROCESS FOR THE APPLICANT WHILE FINDING EFFICIENCIES FOR STAFF FROM THE STANDPOINT.

UM, THE INNOVATION TEAM WAS SUCCESSFUL IN ESTABLISHING A SINGLE ENTRY POINT FOR APPLICANTS, ESTABLISHING ALL INCLUSIVE RATES FOR MINOR AND MAJOR EVENTS, AUTOMATING THE PROCESS AND INCREASING TRANSPARENCY ON SPECIAL EVENT REQUIREMENTS AND FEES.

THIS WAS A MAJOR CHANGE IN HOW SPECIAL EVENTS ARE HANDLED HERE AT THE CITY.

UM, AND WE KNOW THAT WITH BIG CHANGES LIKE THESE, ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS ARE OFTEN NEEDED AS THE NEW PROCESS IS PUT TO WORK.

UM, LEAN SIX SIGMA APPROACHES OFTEN INCLUDE ELEMENTS OF MONITORING AND CONTINUOUS PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS, ESPECIALLY FOR LARGE CHANGES SUCH AS THESE.

UM, WITH THE FINAL CHANGES GOING INTO EFFECT LAST SEPTEMBER, THE SPECIAL EVENTS PROCESS TRANSITIONED BACK TO THE KEY DEPARTMENT STAKE STAKEHOLDERS WHO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROCESS AND MEET WITH BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS FOR CONTINUOUS PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL NOW PASS IT OVER TO MARLA TO REVIEW THE NEXT PROJECT.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS MARLA GONZALEZ.

I AM THE YOUTH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE CO-TEAM LEAD FOR THE UTILITY BILLING WORK ORDERS PROJECT.

SO MY TEAM WORKED WITH TWO DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT INVOLVED THE SOLID WASTE AND WATER METERING TEAM UNDER PUBLIC WORKS, AS WELL AS THE UTILITY BILLING TEAM UNDER THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

BOTH PROJECTS HAD THE COMMON GOAL OF STRENGTHENING EXISTING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN BOTH DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS OUR RESIDENTS.

SO PREVIOUSLY

[00:10:01]

INTERNALLY, REQUESTS MOVED THROUGH A CYCLE OF BEING ENTERED INTO A SYSTEM CONVERTED TO A PDF.

EMAILED ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEM AGAIN, PRINTED SCAN MARKED AS COMPLETE IN ANOTHER SYSTEM, HANDWRITTEN SCAN BACK MARKED AS COMPLETE IN THE FIRST SYSTEM ORIGINALLY USED.

SO THOUGH THIS DID FUNCTION FOR BOTH DEPARTMENTS INDEPENDENTLY, WE RECOGNIZED THAT THERE WAS A MUCH BETTER, UM, STREAMLINED APPROACH TO THIS.

SO OUR GOAL WAS TO STREAMLINE THIS PROCESS BY MOVING TO ONE SHARED ELECTRONIC SYSTEM.

THIS CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL APPROACH BETWEEN BOTH DEPARTMENTS WOULD HELP WITH ELIMINATING PAPER WASTE AS WELL AS IMPROVING CUSTOMER SERVICE.

SO TO IMPLEMENT THIS CHANGE, WE MAPPED OUT THE PROCESS AND WE WERE ABLE TO PINPOINT THE AREAS THAT WOULD REDUCE WASTE.

WE IDENTIFIED THAT THE EXISTING CITY SOFTWARE ELEMENTS EXCESS, WHICH IS USED BY THE SOLID WASTE TEAM TO CREATE AND COMPLETE WORK ORDERS, WOULD REDUCE THE LOOP BY ALLOWING DIRECT ENTRY INTO THE SYSTEM FROM OUR BILLING TEAM.

SO IN ORDER TO DO THIS, WE COORDINATED WITH OUR IT DEPARTMENT TO SECURE ACCESS FOR THE BILLING TEAM.

CONDUCTED MEETINGS WITH, UM, BOTH TEAMS TO GATHER FEEDBACK.

WE DELIVERED HANDS-ON TRAINING TO THE BILLING TEAM TO ENSURE CONSISTENT USE WITHIN THE SYSTEMS. WE DEVELOPED A FORMAL STANDARD OF PRACTICE AND ALSO HELD A TRIAL PERIOD BEFORE WE FULLY IMPLEMENTED THIS PROCESS.

AND AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024, BOTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ADHERE TO THIS, UM, NEW PROCESS AND IT'S BEEN ABLE TO WORK FOR THEM.

IT'S EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE, AND IT'S BEEN ABLE TO ELIMINATE DUPLICATE EFFORTS BY REDUCING THE LIKELIHOOD OF ERRORS WHILE ALSO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE REAL-TIME UPDATES TO OUR RESIDENTS, WHICH WAS KEY FOR US.

SO THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS PROJECT WAS THE WATER SERVICES WORK ORDERS VERY SIMILAR TO OUR SOLID WASTE WORK ORDERS.

WE PARTNERED WITH OUR PUBLIC WORK WATER METERING TEAM TO TRANSITION THE WATER SERVICE WORK ORDERS FROM PAPER TO DIRECT ELECTRONIC INTO AN EXISTING SOFTWARE THAT WE ALREADY HAD AS WELL, WHICH IS CALLED NEWNESS.

SO THE PAPER-BASED METHOD ADDED UNNECESSARY STEPS.

UM, WE NOTICED THAT IT COULD ALSO INCREASE, UH, THE LIKELIHOOD OF ERRORS AND IT ALSO CONSUMED CONSUMED SIGNIFICANT TIME, UM, FOR OUR STAFF AS WELL AS OUR P PAPER RESOURCES.

AND IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THESE CHANGES, WE MET WITH OUR NEIGHBORING CITY DEPARTMENTS TO GATHER DATA ON THEIR ELECTRONIC WORK ORDERS.

WE CONDUCTED RIDE-ALONGS WITH OUR WATER METERING TECHNICIANS TO OBSERVE THEIR WORKFLOWS, UM, AND ALSO COLLECT FEEDBACK.

WE TESTED MOBILE TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS, UH, WHILE THEY'RE OUT IN THE FIELD TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WASN'T ANY ISSUES WITH THE WIFI.

WE RESEARCHED MUNI CAPABILITIES FOR MOBILITY REPORTING AND DASHBOARD FUNCTIONALITY.

WE HELD MULTIPLE MEETINGS BETWEEN PUBLIC WORKS IT AND OUR OWN TEAM TO TROUBLESHOOT, UM, AND LOOK INTO ANY SETBACKS THAT WE WOULD RUN INTO.

WE ALSO TRAINED STAFF ON THE NEW WORKFLOW AND TESTED A PERIOD, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WASN'T ANY GAPS WITH THE INTERNET USAGE.

AND WE ALSO DEVELOPED A STANDARD OF PRACTICE FOR THE DASHBOARD ACCESS THAT WE CREATED.

WE, UM, ASSISTED THEM IN RUNNING QUERIES ON THE WORK ORDERS TO ELIMINATE THE AMOUNT OF PAPER THAT WAS GONNA USE, UM, AS WELL AS TROUBLESHOOTING.

AND AS OF MAY 20, 20, 25, ALL WORK ORDERS FOR THE WATER SERVICES ARE ALSO MOVED TO ELECTRONIC.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE UTILITY TEAM AS WELL AS OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ADAPT TO THESE CHANGES.

AND DUE TO THEIR HARD WORK AND BEING IN THE FRONT LINE, WE ARE PROJECTED TO SAVE ABOUT 9,000, UM, PIECES OF PAPER ANNUALLY.

SO THIS PROJECT ALIGNS WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO EFFICIENCY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND IMPROVES SERVICE DELIVERY THROUGH THE PROCESS IMPROVEMENT.

THANK YOU.

AND I'LL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND PASS OVER TO TORIN MAYOR, VICE MEMBER AND COUN AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS TORIN SEDO, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND STRATEGY MANAGER AND THE INNOVATION TEAM'S CO-ADMINISTRATION.

BEFORE WE RECOGNIZE OUR INNOVATION TEAM GRADUATES, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO MAKING LIVES BETTER AND IMPROVING THE CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE HERE IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE.

THEIR HARD WORK HAS IMPACTED OUR ORGANIZATION AND HELPED TO FOSTER A CULTURE OF CONTINUED INNOVATION.

WE'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE DEPARTMENTS WHO COLLABORATED WITH THE INNOVATION TEAM ON THEIR PROJECTS AS THEIR EXPERTISE, INPUT, SUPPORT OF STAFF MEMBER PARTICIPANTS, AND WILLINGNESS TO

[00:15:01]

FINALLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS FOR EMPOWERING THEIR STAFF TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM AND CITY MANAGEMENT FOR PROVIDING CONSISTENT SUPPORT TO THE INNOVATION TEAM AND IMPLEMENTING THE TEAM'S IDENTIFIED SOLUTIONS.

OF THE FOUR INNOVATION TEAMS THAT I HAVE LED WITH THE CITY OF AVONDALE, THIS ITERATION REPRESENTED THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT FROM LEADERSHIP THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED, WHICH HAS CONTRIBUTED TREMENDOUSLY TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT THAT THIS INNOVATION TEAM HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT.

AND NOW TO RECOGNIZE OUR 20 24, 20 25 INNOVATION TEAM GRADUATES.

WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.

ALRIGHT, CHRISTINA, FIRST, GREAT.

CHRISTINA BAKER, SENIOR BUDGET ANALYST, FINANCE AND BUDGET.

MARIELLA GONZALEZ, YOUTH AND COMMUNITY AND ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR, NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES.

AND MYRA, GARBO DILLA, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WAS NOT ABLE TO JOIN US TONIGHT, BUT IS ONE OF THE GRADUATING MEMBERS OF THIS YEAR'S INNOVATION TEAM.

WITH THAT, PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING OUR 20 24 20 25 INNOVATION TEAM GRADUATES.

OUR GRADUATES WILL COME DOWN TO TAKE A PHOTO WITH THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AFTER OUR PRESENTATION ITEMS. MAYOR, AT THIS TIME, WE ARE HAPPY TO RECEIVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL.

UH, NO QUESTION, JUST A COMMENT IN REGARDS TO AS IF YOU WEREN'T BUSY ENOUGH WITHIN YOUR OWN DEPARTMENTS.

UM, AND I ALSO FIND IT IRONIC THAT EFFICIENCY TAKES SO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT, RIGHT? , BUT NONETHELESS, UH, OUR RESIDENTS ARE THE ONES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, INTERNALLY, OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GONNA BENEFIT FROM ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT FORMS OF INNOVATION.

AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT, AND I WROTE IT DOWN OF EMPOWERMENT FROM LEADERSHIP, TO BE ABLE TO CONDUCT THIS TYPE OF, OF ANALYSIS IS TREMENDOUS.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE AS I MENTIONED, IT SAVES, IT DOES SAVE TIME, AND IT DOES SAVE MONEY.

AND SO WE'RE VERY BENEFICIAL.

US ON THIS SIDE OF THE DS ARE VERY BENEFICIAL TO WHAT ALL OF YOU AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND ALL THOSE WHO WILL COME AFTER THIS GRADUATING CLASS WILL BRING TO THE TABLE.

AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE, UH, FOR ALL OF THE IDEAS, FOR ALL THE SYNERGY, BUT ALSO ALL THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO BE ABLE TO UNDERTAKE SOMETHING SUCH AS THIS, WHICH IS REALLY MOVING MOUNTAINS AND, UH, AND MAKING IT INTO A SITUATION IN WHICH THE, THE ORGANIZATION BENEFITS.

SO I'M JUST PLEASED, AGAIN, TO, TO LEARN IN REGARDS TO THE TWO DIFFERENT, UH, UH, EFFORTS THAT WERE UNDERTAKEN HERE WITH THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, UH, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH PERMITS OR WHETHER IT BE THROUGH, UM, WATER USE.

AND I, I FORGOT WHAT THE OTHER ONE WAS OR WHAT THE TITLE, TECHNICAL TITLE OF IT WAS.

BUT, UH, JUST AGAIN, THANKS SO MUCH.

ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THAT WISH TO SHARE OR EXPRESS ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO, AND THANK YOU, UM, ALYSSA AS WELL AS, UH, CHRISTINA AND MARIELA, I JUST, UH, MARIELLE, I SEE YOU NORMALLY ENGAGE WITH THE CHILDREN, AND SO TO KNOW THAT YOU'VE COME COMPLETELY OUT OF THE REALM THAT I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD'VE BEEN SEEING YOU DO WORK AND SO SUCCESSFULLY, SEAMLESSLY TRANSITIONING, UM, THAT REALLY SHOWS THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE THERE.

AND WATER IS SO VALUABLE TO ALL OF US, AND WE WANT VERY GOOD BILLING AND WE WANNA HAVE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING AND SO DO OUR PATRONS AS WELL AS THOSE WHO WORK IN THE SERVICE AREAS.

SO THAT'S JUST, IT'S AN, IT'S NEAT TO SEE THAT, I WOULD SAY CROSS TRAINING, BUT REALLY EXPANSION OF YOUR ROLE BECAUSE, UH, UH, THERE, I'M SURE THERE'S MUCH MORE THAT, UM, WE HAVE YET TO SEE FOR YOU DOING SO.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, CHRISTINA, UM, UH, HAVING TIME TODAY IN OUR AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING AND HEARING ALL THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT'S DONE UNDER MS. WEATHER LIST, I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, SEEING YOU BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM.

PLEASE KNOW THAT THE WORK YOU DID IS GOOD.

HOWEVER, WE CATCH SOME GRUMBLINGS ON THE BACK END.

'CAUSE PEOPLE DON'T LIKE PAYING MONEY AND IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE, UM, TO HAVE EVENTS IN AVONDALE.

AND, UM, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BITE IT AND SAY IT'S EXPENSIVE TO DO BUSINESS IN AVONDALE, UM, AND BE SUPPORTIVE IN THAT WAY.

BUT CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS HUGE ACHIEVEMENT FOR BOTH OF YOU.

TORN MORE FOR YOU, MR. SAL.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED? YOU SAID IT WAS EIGHT THAT STARTED OFF, DID WE REALLY GET POACHED? FIVE PEOPLE WALK ME DOWN THAT STREET.

MAYOR VICEMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.

WE DID NOT GET POACHED, UH, FIVE PEOPLE.

[00:20:01]

BUT WE DID HAVE A NUMBER OF LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES, UH, WHERE SOME MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM, UH, DID PROMOTE IN OTHER AREAS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES.

UH, BUT A NUMBER OF THOSE SAME, UH, FIVE MEMBERS DID MAKE THE CHANGE TO MOVE TO A DIFFERENT STATE, UH, HAVE CHILDREN, UH, HAVE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEIR SPOUSES TOOK ELSEWHERE, THAT, THAT THEY CHOSE TO, TO TAKE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THEM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER, WE, UH, WEISS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, STOOD OUT FOR ME IS THE CUSTOMER SERVICE.

SO YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY ARE YOU HELPING OUR RESIDENTS, YOU'RE ALSO HELPING THE TEAM HERE INTERNALLY.

UM, AND I THOUGHT MAYBE WITH TRACKING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THINGS MOVE ELECTRONICALLY, YOU CAN TRACK THEM VERSUS PAPER, WHICH IS GOING BACK AND FORTH, AND THEN THE MONEY THAT YOU'RE SAVING.

UM, AND I HATE SURPRISES WHEN YOU ARE, UM, FILLING OUT AN APPLICATION AND IT DOESN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH THIS CONFERENCE WILL COST OR HOW, AND THEN YOU, UNTIL YOU GET TO THE END, AND THEN IT'S LIKE, HERE'S YOUR CREDIT CARD AND THIS IS HOW MUCH IT COSTS.

SO HOW NICE IS IT TO HAVE ALL OF THAT UP FRONT? SO AGAIN, I JUST, CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO.

WELL, YOU HEARD IT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

CONTINUE YOUR GOOD WORK, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU,

[b. Life Saving Award Presentation]

NEXT ITEM, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UP NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY CHIEF ESPINOZA LIFESAVING AWARDS.

EXCUSE ME.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE TO RECOGNIZE TWO OF OUR OFFICERS FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND DEDICATION TO THE RESIDENTS OF, UH, THE CITY OF AVONDALE.

HISTORICALLY, LIFESAVING AWARDS ARE PRESENTED AT OUR YEARLY AWARDS BANQUET.

AND ALTHOUGH WE WILL STILL BE, UH, DOING THAT, PRESENTING AND HONORING THESE TWO OFFICERS THAT ARE, YOU'RE GONNA SEE HERE IN A LITTLE BIT, WE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO ALSO, UH, RECOGNIZE THEM HERE IN FRONT OF YOU.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE, UH, THE LIFESAVING AWARD IS THE HIGHEST AWARD THAT IS PRESENTED TO AN OFFICER BY THE AVONDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M GONNA ASK OFFICER MATTHEW BERGER, IF HE CAN COME UP HERE.

RIGHT OVER HERE, BUDDY.

ALL RIGHT.

OFFICER, UH, BERGER WAS RECENTLY APPROVED FOR A LIFESAVING AWARD FOR HIS ACTIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN SAVING THE LIFE OF A LITTLE GIRL.

OFFICER BERGER RESPONDED TO A COMMUNITY POOL WHERE A 3-YEAR-OLD WAS FOUND UNRESPONSIVE IN THE WATER BY HER MOTHER.

OFFICER BERGER ARRIVED, PERFORMED LIFE SAVINGS MEASUREMENTS AND PERFORMING CPR AND SUBSEQUENTLY CLEARING ABBY'S AIRWAY, WHICH RESULTED IN ABBEY, UH, REGAINING BREATHING.

THE CHILD WAS TRANSPORTED TO PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL WHERE SHE MADE A FULL RECOVERY.

ACCORDING TO DOCTORS AT PCH OR PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, UH, THEY REPORTED THAT THE ACTIONS OF OFFICER BERGER WERE CRITICAL TO ABBEY'S SURVIVAL AND FULL RECOVERY.

IF AT THIS POINT, IF WE CAN GIVE HIM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE, STANDBY.

IF I CAN HAVE OFFICER UH, CRUZ COME UP HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

OFFICER, UH, ROBERT CRUZ WAS RECENTLY APPROVED FOR A LIFESAVING AWARD FOR HIS ACTIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN SAVING THE LIFE OF A CHILD.

OFFICERS CRUZ, OFFICER CRUZ RESPONDED TO A DROWNING INVOLVING A 3-YEAR-OLD BOY.

HE IMMEDIATELY TOOK OVER CPR FOR THE CHILD'S, UH, FATHER AND CONTINUED LIFESAVING EFFORTS UNTIL THE CHILD REGAINED, UH, BREATHING.

OFFICER CRUZ THEN PLACED THE CHILD IN THE RECOVERY POSITION, CLOSELY MONITORING HIM UNTIL HE COULD CARRY THE CHILD TO A SAFE LOCATION FOR MEDICAL EVALUATION.

BY OUR FRIENDS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, DIONNE AVENUE FIRE ENGINE CAPTAIN CONFIRMED THAT OFFICER CRUZ'S IMMEDIATE AND SUSTAINED CPR WAS CRITICAL TO THE CHILD'S SURVIVAL AND FULL RECOVERY.

IF WE CAN, UH, GIVE OFFICER CRUZ A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE, MAYOR, VICE AND COUNCIL AT THIS TIME WILL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS FOR THE OFFICERS OR, OR COMMENTS.

THANK YOU, CHIEF ESPINOZA.

UM, ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THAT WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT? I, I, YES, COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, I JUST WANNA SAY HOW INCREDIBLE YOU GUYS ARE, AND THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

YOUR JOB IS ALREADY HARD, AND TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND TO SEE THOSE THINGS I KNOW IS NOT ALWAYS EASY, BUT YOU GUYS ARE REALLY THE HEROES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT DO, THAT ARE NOT RECOGNIZED ENOUGH.

AND I, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU DID AND YOUR HEROIC ACTIONS, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE LITTLE BABIES, BECAUSE AS A PARENT, THAT IS A PARENT'S WORST NIGHTMARE,

[00:25:01]

SO I REALLY, REALLY JUST WANNA HONOR YOU AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.

UH, YEAH, JUST SOME OF THE SAME SENTIMENT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU WEAR A BADGE, YOU'RE A MEMBER OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND YOU ARE TRAINED.

BUT EVEN WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, WITH THINGS HAPPENING WITH, I KNOW IF I WAS IN THE SAME SCENARIO AND I WAS THE PARENT AND I'M FREAKING OUT, I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

MAYBE BE HYSTERICAL.

IT TAKES THAT TRAINING AND IT TAKES THAT LEVEL OF ABILITY TO REALLY KIND OF COMFORT THE PARENT, SETTLE THE, THE, THE SITUATION DOWN AND, AND TAKE ACTION.

AND SO NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE IT OR DICE IT, THIS IS THE LIFESAVING AWARD.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU, BOTH OF YOU, UH, ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE.

YOUR, YOUR TRAINING, YOUR ABILITIES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, UH, YOUR, UM, YOUR JUST YOUR GRACE TOOK OVER.

AND WE HAVE TWO, UH, YOUNG, YOUNG, YOUNG CHILDREN WHO ARE STILL WITH US TODAY BECAUSE OF YOUR ACTIONS, AND THAT CAN'T BE UNDERSTATED.

SO JUST CONGRATULATIONS, THANK YOU FOR, UH, WHAT YOU DID FOR THEM, FOR THOSE SPECIFIC FAMILIES.

AND IT'S OUR HONOR TO TO HONOR YOU TONIGHT FOR THE AWARD.

SO, CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

AND PLEASE, PLEASE STAY AROUND FOR OUR PHOTO, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND.

RON.

NEXT ITEM, PLEASE.

[c. Proclamation - Engineers Week]

COUNSEL.

UP NEXT IS WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR ENGINEERS WEEK PRESENTED BY KIM MOON, YOUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR AND YOUR CITY ENGINEER.

HELLO, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

I'M KIM MOON, YOUR CITY ENGINEER, AND TONIGHT I'M HERE FOR THE PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK, WHICH IS OBSERVED THIS YEAR FROM FEBRUARY 22ND THROUGH FEBRUARY 28TH.

THE OFFICIAL THEME FOR 2026 IS TRANSFORM YOUR FUTURE.

AT THIS TIME, I'M GONNA INVITE THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO STAND UP THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

PLEASE STAND UP AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

THERE'S ANYBODY TONIGHT.

NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK IS A NATIONWIDE CELEBRATION OF THE ENGINEERS AND TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS WHO PLAN, DESIGN, BUILD, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT EVERYONE RELIES ON EVERY DAY.

AND AVONDALE ENGINEERING IS BEHIND NEARLY EVERYTHING THAT KEEPS OUR CITY MOVING.

SAFE ROADS, RELIABLE WATER, AND WASTEWATER EFFECTIVE STORMWATER, DRAINAGE, TRAFFIC OPERATIONS, AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

THIS WORK, UH, DIRECTLY SUPPORTS PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

THIS WEEK ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THIS WORK POSSIBLE.

NOT ONLY OUR LICENSED ENGINEERS, BUT ALSO OUR PLAN REVIEWERS, INSPECTORS, ARCHITECTS, PROJECT MANAGERS RIGHT OF WAY AND PROJECT COORDINATORS, TECHNICIANS, ANALYSTS, AND SUPPORT STAFF WHO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO DELIVER SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

ENGINEERS WEEK ALSO ENCOURAGES US TO LOOK AHEAD BY INSPIRING STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH, HELPING TO ENSURE A STRONG AND SKILLED WORKFORCE FOR THE FUTURE OF AVONDALE.

ON BEHALF OF OUR TEAMS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FOR RECOGNIZING THE VITAL RO ROLE ENGINEERING PLAYS IN SERVING THE CITY OF AVONDALE.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, KIM.

AND FROM ONE, UH, FROM ENGINEERS TO OR FROM ONE ENGINEER TO THE OTHERS VICE MAYOR, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND READING THE PROCLAMATION, I WOULD LOVE TO WRITE THE BLOCKING RECLAMATION.

OOPS.

BETTER TURN THAT OFF.

WHEREAS ENGINEERS PROVIDE THE TALENT AND SKILLS NECESSARY TO ANALYZE AND SOLVE COMPLEX PROBLEMS AND TO CREATE, IMPROVE, AND MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE ESSENTIAL TO THE HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE ENJOYED BY OUR RESIDENTS.

AND WHEREAS THE SUPPORT OF AN INFORMED AND ENGAGED CITIZENRY IS VITAL TO THE EFFICIENT PLANNING, DESIGNED CONSTRUCTION OPERATION OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING WATER SYSTEMS, SANITARY AND STORM SEWERS, STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, AND ENERGY DIS DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS.

AND WHEREAS THE HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE, COMFORT, AND ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE CITY OF AVONDALE DEPENDS UPON SOUND ENGINEERING PRACTICES AND RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MEET BOTH CURRENT AND FUTURE COMMUNITY NEEDS.

AND WHEREAS ENGINEERS PLAY A VITAL ROLE, A CRITICAL ROLE IN ADDRESSING THE MAJOR TECHNOLOGICAL AND, UH, SOCIO, UH, SOCIAL CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME, FROM REBUILDING COMMUNITIES AFTER NATURAL DISASTERS TO DESIGNING INNOVATIVE AND

[00:30:01]

AND WHEREAS THE 2026 ENGINEERING WEEK THEME, TRANSFORM YOUR FUTURE HIGHLIGHTS THE VITAL ROLE OF ENGINEERS, ENGINEERS PLAY IN SHAPING A MORE SUSTAINABLE, INNOVATIVE, AND RESILIENT FUTURE, WHILE INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION TO PURSUE CAREERS IN ENGINEERING AND RELATED FIELDS.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AVONDALE IS FORTUNATE TO EMPLOY HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND DEDICATED ENGINEERS WHOSE PROFESSIONALISM, EXPERTISE, AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE POSITIVELY INFLUENCES THE COMMUNITY, AND HAN ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS.

NOW, THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF THE AVONDALE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA, WHEREBY PROCLAIMS THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 22ND THROUGH FEBRUARY 28TH, 2026, IS HEREBY DESIGNATED AS ENGINEERS, WEAK IN THE CITY OF AVONDALE, AND THE COMMUNITY ENCOURAGED TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ENGINEERS IN TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU, THE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

SPECIAL SHOUT OUT.

EVERYBODY'S WEARING THEIR 80 YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

TODAY'S SHIRT AS WELL.

OH, WE SEE THAT CAME IN FULL FORCE.

.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

KIM.

RON, NEXT ITEM

[d. Proclamation - Black History Month]

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

COUNCIL.

UP NEXT, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH, BUT BEFORE WE START, WE'D LIKE TO PLAY A SHORT VIDEO FOR YOU ALL, AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE WILL SHARE A FEW WORDS AND INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION.

CITY OF 100,000 RESIDENTS.

WE ARE PROUD OF THE MANY CULTURES AND BACKGROUNDS THAT MAKE AVONDALE A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY, WE HONOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH, A TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK AMERICANS THROUGHOUT OUR NATION'S HISTORY.

THIS YEAR'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL.

IN 2026, WE MARKED 100 YEARS SINCE IT BEGAN, AS WELL AS OUR NATION'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY.

WE ARE REMINDED OF THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING, REFLECTING, AND RESPECTING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN OUR COUNTRY.

WE HONOR CARTER G WOODSON, KNOWN AS THE FATHER OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WHOSE WORK HELPED ENSURE BLACK HISTORY IS TAUGHT AND REMEMBERED IN ARIZONA.

LINCOLN AND ELEANOR RAGSDALE WORK TO PROMOTE FAIRNESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES ACROSS THE PHOENIX AREA.

HERE IN AVONDALE, WE ARE PROUD OF RANDALL MCDANIEL, WHO GREW UP IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WENT ON TO BECOME A PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME ATHLETE AND AN EDUCATOR FOCUSING ON CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH GIVES US TIME TO REFLECT ON THESE STORIES AND THE LASTING IMPACT BLACK AMERICANS HAVE HAD ON OUR COUNTRY AND OUR COMMUNITY.

THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS REFLECT OUR SHARED VALUES AND OUR CORE PURPOSE OF MAKING LIVES BETTER TODAY AND EVERY DAY.

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

AVONDALE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER CORBIN.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, SHARE THAT.

WE ALSO HAVE MEMBERS OF A, UM, HISTORICALLY BLACK, UM, NATIONAL PANHELLENIC ORGANIZATION THAT WAS CHARTERED HERE, UM, FIVE YEARS AGO IN AVONDALE.

AND THAT IS THE ARIZONA WEST VALLEY ALUMNI CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INCORPORATED.

UM, AND WE WANTED TO SHARE THIS YEAR'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROCLAMATION WITH THIS CHAPTER.

SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND PROCEED READING IT.

WHEREAS IN 1976, PRESIDENT GERALD FORD EXTENDED HIS CELEBRATION TO BE AN ENTIRE MONTH.

AND IN 1986, CONGRESS PASSED PUBLIC LAW 99 2 44 TO DESIGNATE FEBRUARY AS NATIONAL BLACK AFRO-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH.

AND WHEREAS IN 2026, THE OBSERVANT IS THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH HAPPENING AS OUR NATION CELEBRATES THE 250TH SEMI QUINCENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY, WHICH MAKES THIS HISTORIC TIME ONE TO REFLECT ON THE STRUGGLE OF ENSLAVED AFRICANS BROUGHT TO THIS COUNTRY AS AN AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY WHO ARE THEN FREE TO PARTICIPATE IN CULTIVATION, ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRESSION OF OUR NATION.

WHEREAS BY CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE'RE ACKNOWLEDGING THE GENERATIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO HAVE BEEN IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE THE 17TH CENTURY, WHO'VE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ACHIEVE GREATNESS IN AGRICULTURE, WHO HAVE IMPACTED THE POST CIVIL WAR RECONSTRUCTION, THE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT,

[00:35:01]

WHEREAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH HONORS AND AFFIRMS THE IMPORTANCE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGHOUT OUR NATION BY RECOGNIZING SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE MADE BY BLACK AMERICANS AMID UNDUE HARDSHIPS LIKE HUMAN, LIKE THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF CHATTEL SLAVERY AND EQUITY WITH THE THREE FIFTH RULE AND EXTREME FORMS OF INSTITUTIONALIZED SEGREGATION, WHITE SUPREMACY AND RACIST VIOLENCE.

WHEREAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH INITIALLY BEGAN AS NEGRO HISTORY WEEK, IT IS VITAL TO CONTINUE TO LEARN ABOUT PEOPLE FROM THE AFRICAN DIASPORA IN OUR COUNTRY, DESCENDANTS OF THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE IN OUR HEMISPHERE, AND TO CELEBRATE OUTSTANDING, HARD TO OVERLOOK CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF BLACK PEOPLE THROUGHOUT EACH YEAR.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF AVONDALE RECOGNIZES THE ENRICHMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS TO THE WEST VALLEY'S RICH HERITAGE, SEEING SUCCESS THROUGH MANY IMPRESSIONS OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US, AND THOSE WHO LIVE HERE NOW, WE CELEBRATE OUR CITY'S DIVERSITY, RECOGNIZING WE MUST WORK TO EXTEND THE AMERICAN DREAM TO BLACK PEOPLE IN OUR CITY AS WE MAKE LIVES BETTER FOR ALL.

NOW THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF THE AVONDALE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF AVONDALE, ARIZONA, HEREBY PROCLAIMS FEBRUARY, 2026 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS, ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES TO CELEBRATE THE RICH HERITAGE, IMMENSE STRENGTH AND SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF PEOPLE FROM AFRICAN DESCENT IN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY AND EVERY DAY AS WE CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM AND EQUALITY FOR A MORE JUST SOCIETY.

THANK YOU.

BE INVITING GUESTS DOWN.

YES, MR. MAYOR, WOULD YOU GUYS LIKE TO COME UP AND CHECK THE, YOUR CHAPTER? YEAH.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHAPTER? SO GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD EVENING.

UM, THE ARIZONA WEST VALLEY ALUMNI CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA WAS ESTABLISHED IN APRIL OF 20, 20 17.

UM, WE ARE, UM, DOING THE WORK OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UM, CITIES WITHIN THE WEST VALLEY.

UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE.

OH, NO, YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

I JUST FIGURED , WE'D LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE CHAPTER AND AND, AND WHAT YOU GUYS ARE UP TO.

UM, SO I THINK THE THINGS THAT WE HOST THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL RECOGNIZE WOULD BE OUR PARTY AT THE POLLS.

WE HOST THAT HERE, HERE IN AVONDALE, OUT AT THE AMPHITHEATER.

I KNOW FOR THE PAST FEW ELECTIONS WE'VE GIVEN OUT THINGS FROM BURRITOS, HAD TRULY LIVELY PARTIES HERE.

UM, BUT IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT THE YOUTH PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY IMPACT YOUTH HERE IN, UM, AVONDALE, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE MOST HELPFUL.

GOOD EVENING.

UM, MY NAME'S JUANITA EASTLAND.

I AM ACTUALLY THE CHAIR OF OUR DELTA GYMS AND ACADEMY WHERE WE SERVE AS OUR YOUTH, YOUNG LADIES, WHICH WE ARE IDENTIFY OUR BLACK AND BROWN GIRLS WHO, UM, ARE ABLE TO COME MEET WITH US MONTHLY AND ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT, UM, CULTURAL, UM, DYNAMICS, UM, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, AND ALSO HOW TO GIVE BACK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, UM, WITH THESE SKILLS THEY DEVELOP, UM, LEARNING HOW TO BE, UH, WOMEN OF THE, OF THEIR, HOW TO SERVICE THEIR COMMUNITY.

SO WE DO A LOT OF SERVICE IN THE AVONDALE AREA, AND WE ALSO DO A LOT OF SOCIAL ACTION IN THE AVONDALE AREA AS WELL.

WELL, WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND IF WE CAN GIVE ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE, I, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND MR. MAYOR, WE JUST HAVE ONE MORE PRESENTATION AND THEN HOPEFULLY THEY'LL STAY FOR A PICTURE AND WITH THE, THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, RON.

YES, PLEASE, EVERYBODY, IF YOU COULD STICK AROUND, WOULD DEFINITELY WOULD LOVE TO TAKE SOME PHOTOS.

ALL RIGHT.

[e. Property All-Star Curb Appeal Award]

UP NEXT IS , THE PROPERTY ALL STAR AWARD.

[00:40:01]

AND WE HAVE JOSH PEREZ, YOUR CODE COMPLIANCE MANAGER TO MAKE THAT PRESENTATION.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

I AM GOING HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT TO YOU ARE RECEIVERS OF OUR PROPERTY, ALSO AWARD THE PROPERTY.

ALSO AWARD, UH, WAS CREATED TO RECOGNIZE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS AND COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES FOR DEMONSTRATING COMMUNITY PRIDE BY MAINTAINING THEIR PROPERTIES AT THE HIGHEST STANDARDS.

PROPERTIES ARE EVALUATED BASED ON LANDSCAPE CARE DESIGN AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE.

WE RECEIVED SEVERAL NOMINATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION, AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR SELECTION COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF MEMBERS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION AND CITY STAFF, WE SELECTED THE FOLLOWING PROPERTIES.

I'D LIKE TO INVITE MICHAEL SANTIAGO, UH, THE MANAGER OF QUICKTRIP NUMBER 4 23 WITH HIS ASSISTANT MANAGER AND SOME OF HIS STAFF MEMBERS.

I, THE QUICK TRIP NUMBER 4 23 WAS BUILT IN 2017.

THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY HAS BEEN SERVING THE NORTHERN AVONDALE COMMUNITY BY MAINTAINING THEIR LANDSCAPING AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE PROACTIVELY AT SOME OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS, PROVIDING SUCH A GREAT EXAMPLE TO OUR COMMERCIAL COMMUNITY.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. SANTIAGO AND HIS STAFF FROM QT, UH, QUICKTRIP 4 23 FOR KEEPING AVONDALE LICKING.

VERY, VERY BEAUTIFUL.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT RECIPIENT, UH, MR. JUNIOR SOLORIO, IF I CAN HAVE YOU COME UP.

JUNIOR SOLORIO MOVED INTO HIS AVONDALE HOME IN 2020, AND HE HAS SINCE UPGRADED HIS LANDSCAPING, PROVIDING A WONDERFUL CURB APPEAL IN OUR ROOSEVELT PARK TWO COMMUNITY.

AND I'D LIKE TO READ THE NOMINATION STATEMENT THAT WAS SUBMITTED, UH, FOR HIS NOMINATION.

THERE IS A HOME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT STANDS OUT ABOVE ANY OTHER HOME IN OUR GATED COMMUNITY.

SO MANY PEOPLE WALK PAST IT, STOP AND LOOK AND ADMIRE IT, AND IT IS REALLY TOP NOTCH.

SO, MR. SOLORIO, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO MAKING AVONDALE LOOKING VERY BEAUTIFUL.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT, UH, SELECTION WILL TAKE PLACE IN APRIL, 2026, AND NOMINATIONS CAN BE SUBMITTED THROUGH OUR ABBY WISE APP.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR CONTINUE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR PROGRAM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I DON'T KNOW IF EITHER ONE OF YOU ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, BUT IF YOU ARE, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE, UH, IT DISPLAYED THE SIGNS DISPLAY.

I KNOW I'M, I'M AT THIS LOCATION ALL THE TIME ON MY WAY TO STRAY MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

UH, BUT IF THE, UH, THE, THE SIGNS THERE, THE PROPERTY ALL STAR CURB APPEAL SIGN COULD BE POSTED AND SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT JUST REALLY LETS ALL THE NEIGHBORS KNOW THAT, UH, WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE TO KEEP THE PROPERTIES IN SUCH BEAUTIFUL CONDITION AND SHAPE, UH, GOES A LONG WAY AND COULD ALSO BE, UM, UH, REWARDED WITH AN AWARD.

SO, CONGRATULATIONS.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ON THE DE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, BUT I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO, TO THESE AWARDS BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE WHEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN A PROPERTY CATCHES YOUR EYE AND, YOU KNOW, DRIVE BY, TAKE A LOOK AT IT, WHETHER IT BE COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL, AND I DON'T THINK YOU GUYS DO IT FOR AWARDS, UH, BUT IT'S JUST NICE THAT THE COMMUNITY TAKES NOTE.

SO CONGRATS TO BOTH OF YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY, WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

OKAY.

NOW, IF COUNSEL WOULD NOT MIND IF WE COULD HEAD DOWN AND TAKE SOME PHOTOS, WE'LL SEE YOU DOWN THERE.

[00:56:40]

[00:56:40]

[00:56:41]

MARCELLA, HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY BLUE CARDS? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REQUESTS TO SPEAK.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

[4. CONSENT AGENDA]

MOVING ON.

SORRY.

TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, CONSENT AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WISH TO HAVE AN ITEM REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? SEEING NONE, CAN I PLEASE GET A MOTION? I GET A MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CONDI, CAN WE PLEASE VOTE? ITEM PASSES.

SEVEN ZERO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ON ITEM NEXT PLEA.

UH,

[a. Public Hearing - 2026-2027 HUD Annual Action Plan]

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

COUNSEL, UH, WE ARE NOW GONNA HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND PRESENTATION ON THE 26 27 HUD ANNUAL ACTION PLAN BY CHRIS LOPEZ, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY SERVICES DIRECTOR.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THIS PRESENTATION REGARDING OUR HOOD ANNUAL ACTION PLAN.

THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION IS THREEFOLD.

FIRST, WE'D LIKE TO REVIEW THE FUNCTION OF THE HOOD ANNUAL ACTION PLAN.

WE'D ALSO LIKE TO DEFINE ELIGIBLE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.

AND THEN FINALLY, WE WILL REVIEW RECOMMENDED FUNDING ALLOCATIONS AS A REFRESHER.