And the Avondale City Council meeting.

I'd like to call to order the regular city council meeting of April 21st, 2025.

Would you all please stand with me for the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

One nation under God to be justice for all.

Thank you.

Marcel, if we could have roll call, please.

Councilmember Conde.

Here.

Councilmember Garcia.

Here.

Councilmember Solario.

Here.

Councilmember Weiss here.

Councilmember White.

Here.

Vice Mayor Nielsen.

Here.

And Mayor Pineda.

Here.

Thank you, Marcella.

Ron, next item, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor and Council.

Up first, we are going to have a presentation by Ted Flores, our human resources assistant director, introducing one of his new employees.

Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of council.

Please join me in welcoming Leilani Anderson to the HR team.

Leilani joined the city of Avondale on March 24th as a benefits analyst responsible for supporting citywide benefits and wellness program.

Prior to joining the city, Leilani spent the last 10 years working in a variety of benefits and HR roles for Sun Health, with her last physician director of Total Rewards.

Leilani holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Baylor University and is currently a certified professional in HR through the HR Certification Institute.

A fun fact about Leilani prior to starting her career in the HR benefits world, she worked as a store manager for Starbucks in both Arizona and Texas for 10 years.

So she might have some tips and tricks if she didn't sign an NDA or anything like that.

So you can ask her about your favorite drinks at Starbucks.

Well, welcome aboard, Leilani.

Um so just really quickly, just just today I was giving a lecture to my my business students, and we were talking about the function of HR, and I asked for a show of hands.

How many of you are looking to you know engage in a career in HR and nobody raised their hand?

So could you please share with not only us but everybody listening just how wonderful HR can be.

I love the stigma that HR has because a lot of people will refer to us as the principal's office.

At the end of the day, people in HR really do care about humans, and we don't want to lose the human inhuman resources, whether it's benefits, whether it's pay, whether it's investigations, there are so many different aspects to it, and we're here for for everyone.

So it's worth it.

And considering your former occupation as a barista and manager, I'm sure.

Uh I'm sure that correlates well with working with people in general, right?

The same skills apply.

Yes, I had a variety of personalities, age ranges, as well as at some health.

So the multi-generational opportunities, you learn a lot about communication, building bridges, they were great opportunities.

Well, thank you so much for being here and choosing Avondale for your place to call home.

Thank you.

So I wanted to bring that up because I'm going to talk about it after this next presentation as well.

So next up, I believe we have our Chief Police, Chief Espinoza, to introduce some of his newer uh officers.

Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council.

Uh as always, it's great to be here.

If I can uh introduce you to our 10 newest uh officers, what I'm gonna do is because we have 10 of them, we're gonna have uh them come up here one at a time.

They're gonna state their name, where they call home, and why they chose Avondale.

But before we do this, if I can take a second just to thank Mr.

Corrin and his uh executive team for their ongoing support to the police department.

It is clear to them that uh it is so critical for us to hire good police officers.

These ten officers are excellent.

Uh they have a clear understanding that uh by hiring good uh employees in turn they will be good to our residents, and we will continue to provide quality police services.

With that being said, I'm gonna have you guys come up here one at a time, your name, where you call home, and why you chose Avondale.

Uh good afternoon.

My name is Dante Heron.

Um I call home uh Detroit, Michigan.

I moved out here when I was and when I was in about the eighth grade.

Um so Avondale was one of the first cities that we lived in, so I was a little bit more comfortable with the area.

Uh so that was one of the reasons why I did apply here.

Uh one of the few departments that I applied in.

I was glad that they actually picked me up.

So I'm excited to work with everybody.

Thank you.

Nice.

Welcome aboard.

Uh good evening.

Uh my name is Tyler Yveso, 26 years old.

I call Avondale home.

I was born in Phoenix, and I moved to Avondale when I was about four years old.

So and I grew up right down the street next to uh Quinn elementary school.

That's where I went to elementary school.

So and then that's the reason why I chose Avondale, because Avondale is my home, and that's what I want to protect.

My family lives in Avondale, so that's the reason why I chose Avondale.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Good evening.

My name is Marco Espino, and I actually grew up in Avondale.

So I see Avondale as my home.

Not originally from here, but I moved here when I was seven years old.

Stayed here till I was 18, joined the Army, and then decided to move right back.

And uh yeah, so I call Avondale my home.

My family lives here and I felt really connected to the city, and that's where I chose Avondale.

It's actually the only place I applied to, and uh thankfully I got hired.

Welcome aboard.

And if you're counting, that's three for three, Avondale.

Good afternoon.

My name is Jonathan Brainerd.

Um Phoenix, but I was pretty much raised in Goodyear.

Um I chose Avondale because uh has that small town feeling with also all the resources and everything you want from a big city.

Everybody knows everybody here, they look out for each other, and that's where I wanted to come and be from.

Uh I joined the military, so that's another reason why the small town feeling and the camaraderie is a big uh deal for me.

So that's why I chose Avondale.

Well, welcome aboard.

Good evening.

My name is John Horton.

Um I'm from New Mexico.

I was born and raised.

I didn't move out here until about three years ago.

Um I chose Avondale because it has the uh small town feeling as Brennan was saying.

Um I'm from a very, very small town where everybody does know everybody, and uh it it just reminds me of home.

So I'm very grateful that I get to be here, and I'm looking forward to serving and protecting this community.

Welcome aboard.

Good everyone, everyone everyone.

Uh my name is Raul Alcala.

Um I leave here in the Avondale, originally from Mexico.

Uh I chose Avondale because I was uh prior volunteering police services here at the department.

I feel with the CD.

I love every single interaction that I have with everyone here at the department and the CD.

So that made me apply for Ravondale.

Um so I'm really excited to be here with you guys.

Um I'm looking forward to seeing you guys pretty soon.

Welcome.

Thank you for being here.

Uh good evening.

Uh my name is Joseph Del Pozo.

I'm originally from Las Vegas, Nevada.

I live in Surprise currently.

Um the reason I chose Avondale is to get a chance to work with my brother, who is also named Joseph Del Pozo.

Um so it's an honor to be here.

I've heard a lot of great things, and I'm excited to get out there.

So thank you for having me.

Thank you.

Thank you for being here.

Good evening, I'm Odia Ramadez.

I was born here in Arizona, Avondale.

Um the reason I chose Avondale is because I want to serve my community and is uh place where I live.

Um I chose Avondale just because I want to serve my community and I live here, my parents live here, and every everyone else, my family live here.

So thank you.

Well, thank you.

Thank you for choosing Avondale.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayor and Council members.

My name is H.

Salaji.

I'm 53 years old.

I'm a from Yugoslavia.

Uh former Yugoslavia.

Avondale was my first home here, and uh trying to leave and live in Goodyear.

But um I wanted to serve the city of Avondale and make a difference, and I'm just honored to be here and give an opportunity to serve.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Good evening, everybody.

Uh, my name is John Munoz.

Uh, I've called Arizona home since 2001.

Um, always been a West Valley guy, uh, currently live in Goodyear.

Uh the reason I chose Avondale was um I was doing social services work for a smaller apartment complex here in Avondale, and decided that by joining the police department, I could have a larger impact within the city, not only with those I was currently working with, but everybody else abroad.

So that was my reason for choosing Avondale.

Well, thank you for doing that.

Welcome aboard.

Thank you, Mayor, Vice Narren Kelsen.

And thank you.

Mr.

Mayor, before he steps down, um uh one one more thing, Chief.

Did we have a top graduate at the uh at this last academy?

We did.

Officer Del Poza was our academics uh recruiting.

In addition, Mr.

Marion Council, um today, if everybody showed up and I didn't hear otherwise, uh, we are fully staffed again in our police department 100%.

That's even better.

Well, as Chief Spinoza said, thank you, Ron, and to your team and everyone involved uh to make this uh a reality of being fully staffed, and more importantly, just providing again all of that protection to our community, and you will see them in the community and uh look out for them in a neighborhood near you and slow down where you'll see them just a joke.

But welcome aboard, everybody, we appreciate it.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Up next, we have also a uh presentation by Chief Espinoza and uh Suzanne, our coordinator of volunteer services with the police department.

Good evening again, Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council.

With me is Suzanne Hoach.

She is our volunteer coordinator.

She's gonna be saying a few words about uh National Volunteer Week.

But before she does that, I just want to take a moment to thank our volunteers and policing.

They do an amazing job for our our community, and we thank them uh on behalf of the PD.

So thank you.

Okay.

Hello, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council members, thank you for having us here this evening to celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Week.

Like he said, my name is Suzanne, I'm the coordinator of the volunteer program at that police department.

Um we currently have 29 volunteers in police service, also known as VIPs, um, and many of them are here tonight.

And I'd like to invite them to stand now to be recognized.

The VIPs assist the police department in a variety of ways, and they all have a common goal to give back to the community and support local law enforcement.

In 2024, the VIPs volunteered a total of 3,532 hours and provided assistance to all areas of the police department and also at numerous city events as well.

The Avondale Police Department proudly recognizes and expresses gratitude to our VIPs during this national appreciation week, National Volunteer Appreciation Week, and I will now turn it back over to you, Mayor, um, to read the proclamation.

Yes, I'd be happy to do that.

Whereas we firmly believe the value of compassion, empathy, and community support are the foundation of a united and harmonious society fostering connections that transcend differences, and whereas the strength and prosperity of our city is based on the selflessness of its residents to serve and uplift one another.

And whereas we acknowledge the profound impact that can be achieved when we extend a helping hand to our neighbors, especially those of a diverse background, lifting them up and collectively working to improve lives.

And whereas we nurture a culture of giving within our cities, emphasizing that volunteerism is not just a duty, but a source of personal fulfillment and community strength.

And as we work side by side with and learn from each other, mutual understanding increases, misconceptions can be corrected, and new friendships are built.

And whereas we encourage all citizens to care for one another, volunteer and engage in acts of service and kindness that contribute to our city's betterment and its inhabitants' well-being, regardless of background or belief.

And whereas the City of Avondale has joined a growing list of supporters, including the president of the National League of Cities and hundreds of leaders to date in making a commitment to volunteerism.

And whereas April is National Volunteer Month, a month dedicated to recognizing the importance of volunteering and a time for us to thank our City of Avondale volunteers.

Now, therefore, it be resolved on behalf of the mayor and council of the City of Avondale hereby proclaims the month of April as a national volunteer month and affirm our city's commitment to volunteerism.

Thank you so much.

Ron.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And Council up next, we have a proclamation for Building Safety Month, and I believe our uh director of development services, Jody will uh start us off.

Yes, uh good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council members.

Um, on behalf of the Development Services Department, I'm happy to promote our Building Services Division for the National Building Safety Month.

Photos are playing on the screen of our team in action.

Um, they're both in our office and they're out in the field on a daily basis.

Um, our two division managers are here to support their team members, Ben Carr, our chief building official on my left, and our deputy building official Mark Bird.

And we also have several of our uh team members from the building uh services division that are here as well in our audience in the front row.

Um, our building services division includes a lot of inspectors, plan reviewers, permit technicians, and management, and they represent Avondale every single day and sometimes even on weekends when there's emergencies needed to um help out our residents or development community, and they make sure our city is safe.

So I want to thank you for your support and allowing us to help build and grow Avondale, as well as um have you present our proclamation for a building safety month.

Thank you so much, Jody.

Can we have members of your team stand for a minute before I read the proclamation to be honored?

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm gonna read the proclamation for building safety month.

Whereas our city is committed to recognizing that our growth and strength depends on the safety and essential role our homes, buildings, and infrastructure play, both in everyday life and when disasters strike.

And whereas our confidence and the resilien resilience of these buildings that make up our community is achieved through the devotion of villagent guardians, building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, builders, tradespeople, the design professionals, laborers, plumbers, and others in the construction industry who work year-round to ensure the safe construction of buildings.

And whereas these guardians are dedicated members of the International Code Council, a nonprofit that brings together local, state, and federal officials who are experts in the built environment to create and implement the highest quality codes to protect us in the buildings where we live, learn, work, and play.

And whereas these modern building codes include safeguards to protect the public from hazards such as monsoon storms, microbursts, wildland fires, and floods, whereas Building Safety Month is sponsored by the International Code Council to remind the public about the critical role of our communities, largely our known protectors of public safety, our code officials, who assure us of safe buildings that are essential to our prosperity, and whereas Building Safety Month encourages us all to raise awareness about the importance of safe and resilient construction, fire prevention, disaster mitigation, energy conservation, water safety, training the next generation, and new technologies in the construction industry.

And whereas each year in observance of Building Safety Month, people all over the world are asked to consider the commitment to improve building safety, resilience and economic investment at home and in the community, and to acknowledge the essential service provided to all of us by local building departments and fire prevention bureaus and protecting lives and property.

Now, therefore, it be resolved on behalf of the mayor and council of the city of Avondale, we hereby proclaim the month of May 2025 as Building Safety Month in conjunction with the celebration of Building Safety Month by the International Cold Council.

Thank you.

And thank you, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council members, and my department's fully staffed as of today.

Thank you.

Thank you, Jody.

Very nice.

Ron.

Sorry, Mr.

Mayor Council, I'm trying to get it together.

I actually I feel bad now because I did forget, but um that last position was vacant for a very long time, so I'm glad to see that they finally uh filled that last position for hard to hard to fill.

All right.

Next up is uh as a regular with council, and I think one of your guys' favorite time of the year uh when we get to recognize a youth in our community, but we have uh Donna Gardner, our youth and community engagement manager with neighborhood and family services.

Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of the council.

Um this is always a fun and wonderful initiative to be able to recognize uh the wonderful things that students are doing in our community.

Um with me I have Edith Valtirez, our uh neighborhood and family services assistant director to help pass out the awards.

Um the first exceptional student of Avondell.

Um as I call your name, please walk up to the front of the podium to receive your award and stay standing as I uh call all the other students' names, and at the end of the presentation, you will be invited uh to take a picture with mayor and counsel.

The first student being recognized is within the Awafria Union High School District and attends Alwafria High School.

Um his name is Micah McCollow.

Micah.

Micah is a 12th grader.

Micah is always uplifting those around him.

He is genuine and selfless.

He is on the Awafria volleyball team.

You can always find him volunteering to complete tasks, whether that be helping to put on uh put up the net, mentoring freshmen, cleaning up trash, or putting away chairs.

And student counsel, he's always on time to events and takes initiative to set things up or help wherever he is needed.

The principal selected Micah to be a student ambassador at Awa Freya's Gala Fundraiser.

Micah gave tours to alumni and sat with donors for the evening to explain what's special about Awa Freya.

Micah is polite and well spoken.

He pushes himself in AP classes and is taught a top-notch student with very high grades.

Following Micah is Joselyn Perez.

Jocelyn is within the Avondel Elementary School District and attends Michael Anderson.

Jocelyn is an eighth grader.

Jocelyn puts forth great effort in her academics.

She has earned numerous awards due to her grades and achievements.

Jocelyn takes pride in being a good student and role model for others.

She is kind and caring.

Jocelyn has dedicated numerous hours of her time to serving her school and community.

Jocelyn has been a part of National Honor Society.

She um is an example of what leadership is.

She is the National Junior Honor Society president.

Not only is Jocelyn an exceptional student, she is a great person.

She has gone above and beyond for her school and community during her elementary and middle school years.

Great job.

Scott Brown.

Scott Brown is in within the Lichfield Elementary School District.

And is a fifth grader at Corte Sierra.

Scott is a kind and caring individual and is always motivating other students.

He is always giving his best efforts in all activities.

He encourages others and always has kind remarks for others.

He is one of those kids who can brighten your day with a smile and a friendly hello or hug.

Great job, Scott.

Following that is Mario Vega.

Mario is within the Littleton Elementary School District and attends Country Place Leadership Academy.

Mario is a seventh grader.

Mario is involved in numerous leadership activities at his school.

Earlier this year, he wanted to learn how to play golf.

He wrote a proposal for starting a golf club through community partners.

Students now have the opportunity to learn to play golf at Country Place Leadership Academy because of Mario's leadership.

Next is Izzy Para.

Izzy attends Garden Lakes Elementary is an eighth grader.

Izzy does everything with excellence.

Her academic work not only meets the standard, but she goes above and beyond.

She has worked for the past two years taking extra credits for high school.

She serves the school community by helping to tutor other students.

She is always willing to help teachers and help her classmates.

So at this time, um I would like to just um applaud you again for the wonderful things you're doing in the community.

I can't say I was doing these amazing things that you're doing.

Great job.

Uh as if you don't have one already.

So congrats on anything.

Is there any member of council they would like to share anything?

With that, if we could take some pictures with you guys, I'd be honored to do that.

So if you would join me down there, counseling.

Okay.

Marcella, do you have uh any requests to speak?

Thank you, Mayor.

I have not received any requests to speak.

Okay.

Next item on the agenda is the consent agenda.

Are there any council members who wish to have an item removed for separate consideration?

And Max, do you have anything?

No, sir.

Thank you, Mayor.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, I see we have a motion from Councilmember Solorio, a second from Councilmember Weiss.

Please vote.

Councilmember White, how do you vote?

Okay, item passes.

Thank you.

Item five, Ron.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh, up first is our fiscal year twenty twenty-six contributions assistance program, and I believe Edith will be making the presentation.

Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council members.

My name is Edith Valtieras, and I'm the assistant director for the neighborhood and family services department.

I am here this evening to present on the contributions assistance program.

So, first we have uh just an overview of the purpose of this presentation to provide you with background and history, update on nonprofit agencies funded in fiscal year twenty twenty five, provide a criteria overview.

We also will share some preparations for fiscal year twenty twenty-six, and then uh provide a review of the process and the timeline.

So the background here is uh the contributions assistance program allocates funding to eligible nonprofit agencies with 501c3 status that provide health and human services to Avondale residents.

Level funding for fiscal year twenty twenty six of two hundred thousand is included in the proposed departmental budget.

In fiscal year twenty twenty five, thirty-two agencies were funded, providing a wide range of services that included distribution of food, literacy programs for children, workforce development, medical assistance, life skills for youth, and supporting our most vulnerable populations uh with resources.

So these are the current awardees for fiscal year twenty twenty-five.

All recipients are on track to expend funds by June thirtieth, twenty twenty-five.

I also wanted to highlight uh two new agencies, Angels on Patrol.

They accept referrals from law enforcement to provide crisis intervention support beyond uh what law enforcement may be able to do to help, and also the foster alliance.

They support foster care families with furniture, clothing, and other items when receiving uh foster care placements.

Here's the criteria organizations must adhere to when applying and if awarded.

So, number one, we have provision of direct services which improve the health and welfare of Avondale residents.

Priority will be given to services and initiatives that support and address City Council goals.

Services provided at the Arizona Complete Health Avondale Resource Center will be given priority.

Priority will also be given to special projects.

However, requests for operating support toward direct and measurable services will be considered.

Also organizations that are funded will also participate in quarterly reporting and demonstrate satisfactory progress towards stated goals and objectives.

And number eight, all awards must meet or exceed the minimum funding amount requested by the organization.

This minimum is set to ensure sufficient resources are available to successfully execute the proposed project.

Here I would like to introduce you to the contributions assistance program council subcommittee, who is appointed to review, select, and determine funding recommendations for City Council approval.

We have Vice Mayor Curtis Nielsen and Council members Tina Conde and Jeanette Garcia.

In preparation for fiscal year 2026, staff has offered two grant writing workshops in early March to help organizations prepare for the upcoming application process.

These workshops were facilitated by Jeremiah Smith, the founder of Everyone Inc.

Mr.

Smith provided vital information and practical tools to create compelling grant proposals to help attendees obtain potential funding for their initiatives.

Total of 25 organizations participated with 31 attendees present.

We also welcomed 11 new organizations, hoping to form partnerships with the with Avondale.

So our process and timeline on April 22nd, applications will be available on the website.

A press release will be issued.

Current recipients, including new organizations who attended the grant writing workshops, will be notified via email.

And staff will also promote the program via social media.

We have a deadline for application submittals on May 15th.

Applications will be provided to the council subcommittee on May 27th for review.

The council subcommittee will meet on June 18th to review applications and determine funding recommendations on July 14th.

A request for approval of funding recommendations will go to city council.

And then the award presentations will take place sometime in August.

So thank you, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council members, for your time.

This concludes my presentation, and I am available for questions.

Thank you so much for the presentation, Edith.

Are there any members of council who wish to ask any questions, make any comments?

Max, do you have anything?

No, really grateful that the uh thank you so much, Mayor.

Thank you so much, Edith, for the presentation.

I'm really grateful the city still has over 200,000.

Um so thank you so much to the city manager's office for being able to make sure we're able to have the funding to support our community that way.

Thank you so much, Councilmember White.

Councilmember Conhe.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Edith, for the presentation.

So, besides the Avi Weiss, Abby Student Star presentations, this is my next best favorite thing to do as a council member.

Um, and I'm so glad that Councilmember Garcia is going to be able to be a part of it this year.

You'll get to learn more about some of the amazing organizations that do such good things in our community.

So I'm looking forward to that.

And I'm also excited to know that there's 11 new nonprofit organizations that will be hopefully completing applications.

And one thing I know in the past, I think Mayor had talked about is making sure that those folks have some assistance in writing those applications to make sure that they're complete and that you know they're going to be eligible for the some funding.

So thank you guys for all the work that you guys do.

Thank you, City Manager, so much.

200,000, it goes a lot of a long ways to so many great organizations.

And thank you, Mayor Council, for supporting.

Definitely, definitely needed.

Thank you, Councilmember Condi.

Vice Mayor Nielsen.

I'd just like to say thank you as well.

Edith and Tina and I have worked together for a little while, and we've seen this uh process come from it's taken a long, long time.

It's streamlined, it's making it a lot easier for these uh individual uh and groups to participate in this, and it's just wonderful to see what we have available to strengthen and reinforce and take care of those people and nonprofits within our uh community.

So thank you so much again.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Anyone else?

Okay.

Uh as council uh member conde said, I'm just really grateful that you're pulling together the resource to assist some of these nonprofit groups to apply for these grants.

Um, because again, while some of these organizations they do this every day, some who are new to this may not know the ropes or you know how to position themselves, so to speak, so the fact that they would have a resource to assist is uh is great.

So I look forward to the committee here reviewing all the grants that will be coming in and to learn who was uh awarded the grant and to take another fun picture that was uh depicted there in our first slide with everybody holding up the big checks.

So thank you so much, Edith.

Thank you, Chris, and thank you, uh, executive team and Ron for all of the assistance and counsel for uh the budget to do that.

So thank you.

Appreciate it.

Okay, item number six.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

We'll do five B.

Sorry, sorry, no, that's all right.

Uh update on our park development and improvement projects.

Uh, your parks uh recreation libraries director, Corey will make the presentation.

As a side note, there is a uh uh, I'm sure a slide at the end that says uh questions or thank you.

We really are uh uh you're gonna see some projects for the first time tonight, so make sure you give us lots of feedback if we're going the right direction, not going the right direction.

Um, but we're we're looking forward to hearing from council this evening.

Yes, thank you, Ron.

Uh good evening, Mayor Vice Mayor members of the council.

My name is Corey Louiva and I'm the director of Parks Recreation Libraries, and I hope we're ready to have some fun.

More fun.

Uh excited to night pride and update on several park development projects that are going to be under that are currently under construction or will be coming under construction here in the next few months and completion over the next 18 months, hopefully.

Uh so just an overview of what we'll be touching on today, six key projects, uh including some here on campus, uh, but ultimately uh a little bit of a project in every corner of our community up on the roster.

Starting off right here in the backyard of our Civic Center campus, a project update on the Civic Center Park, which is currently under construction, and just an overview of the project.

That the amenities added will be a shaded playground, picnic romata, open turf space, perimeter sidewalk loops both inside the park as well as along the roadway where sidewalk currently didn't exist.

Uh a reading grove, a food truck alley for future event purposes, as well as a location for public art.

Um currently uh you'll see that area under construction.

It was a 4.9 acre parcel uh that we're activating there.

There is a lot of on-site drainage that we are going to be retaining uh to help benefit the entire COC Center campus, ultimately activating those spaces for passive and active recreation.

Uh current status, you'll see a lot of the underground work done.

Sidewalk installations are complete both inside and around the perimeter of the property, as well as uh, I think the most recent is uh the erection of the light pulse uh that took place last week.

Some renderings that we're excited to share with you, showcasing what the park will look like from a user standpoint.

I do want to preface that you will see some interesting shapes or shadows in some of these renderings.

Those are just locations designated for future public art.

That is not a true depiction of what the future public art will be.

We will be working with our municipal art committee through artist selection and uh and uh uh determining what goes in those locations as these projects progress.

Uh but here you'll see uh a great entryway uh to the the park from the library space.

You also get a glimpse at the shade Romata that will be added to the facility.

Uh something I'd like to point out there is this really cool feature of the facility.

There's these seat walls throughout the park that look like uh spines of books, uh paying homage to the library next door.

And we do see this project as something that'll truly benefit not just our employees on campus and visitors, but the patrons that are often visiting the library, as well as the families that come over from the aquatic center.

Another couple angles of the park, you'll see the large shaded playground facility and some of the park monumentation again as you enter the property from the opposite side of the of the park.

Um I will call out that this project does not currently have a uh perimeter fence surrounding the playground in the design, but it is something that we are looking at adding um post-project to kind of bring it back up to our new standard that we've had so much success with at the recent Deacon CNE project.

Moving over to our beloved friendship park, one of our highly visible, highly visited uh facilities, and focusing keyly or focusing specifically on the northwest corner of the park where we have our dog park.

Um this park we know is well loved by our community and is serving a ton of our public.

Um ultimately we see that there's opportunities to bring some areas or some amenities back up to stuff and really rejuvenate them into the new Avendale way.

Uh so a dog park improvement is something we are are moving forward with.

Uh you can see the current conditions out there are not the best.

We want we want to expand shade.

We want to get that turf condition up to speed.

Um something to note about this area of the park is the current irrigation is is timed and built into the same irrigation system that the sports fields um are being are utilizing currently.

Uh and those two types of turf definitely have different types of needs.

Um so right now we don't have the opportunity to isolate the dog park in water and maintain it separately than we do the sports turf.

Um so ultimately you see one suffer while one succeeds.

Right now, the sports turf would be succeeding.

The dog park is not.

Um but ultimately we know those opportunities are there, and we're excited to have this this chance to correct it.

Here's a great bird's eye view of what the facility upgrades will look like.

I just want to call out some some of the the highlights.

Uh multiple shade canopies, I think four to be exact are currently including the design, really expanding the amount of shade on site.

But we're also taking taking advantage of some of the mature shade trees.

So you'll see seat walls and seating areas designed specifically under the really tall trees that exist there.

So really, really capitalizing on the shade uh that might not be utilized right now, um, but possibly already on site with those expansive shade trees.

Uh new irrigation system as discussed, centralizing the entry plaza right now at the facility right now.

If you're visiting the dog park, you'll notice that the entrances and exits of the dog park are on the perimeter sidewalk that a lot of our morning walkers or evening walkers are on.

So if you're a family with dogs and a family with strollers, and if there's there's quite a bit of interesting interaction that happens there, there's a little bit of a stutter step.

So we're trying to centralize an entry plaza so the families with the dogs can pull into the dog park and pull out of the dog park without necessarily uh creating that conflict there on the sidewalk.

Uh improved maintenance access around the facility.

Right now, we don't have great perimeter access for all our maintenance equipment, so we'll be adding and ensuring that we have the ability to get our maintenance equipment all the way around the dog park property.

Drinking fountains, both for the the adults as well as the dogs and the children as well.

Um, and then also a designated location for future public art.

I should also mention the dog park will remain a lit amenity.

It currently is a lit amenity and we'll continue to maintain that standard there.

Here are some renderings again.

Don't mind that ghostly image of a of an art structure.

We don't know what that is yet, but that's the location that the art will be uh designated for, and we're we're planning electrical conduit and all those things right now in the project.

Um but you can see that enhanced uh entry space there, that plaza that we talked about.

Several locations to sit and gather, whether you you want to isolate and enjoy the shade on your own or meet your neighbors and socialize.

There's those opportunities for different different uh greetings throughout the property.

Some more perspectives here where you can see some of those drinking fountain facilities, again, the shade canopy, as well as the seat walls I discussed, located under the mature shade trees that are currently on the property.

Also at Friendship Park, we're excited to introduce pickleball.

No.

Uh pickleball in general is an amazing uh fast growing sport and still continues to be a nationally fastest growing sport.

I think our uh master plan identified the grew by 51% last year in participation across the nation.

And we are seeing no slowdown here in Avondale either.

We currently offer nine pickleball leagues a week, and all nine of those leagues are full, most of them with waiting lists.

Uh so pickleball continues to be popular nationally, but as well as as it is in our community.

Um, Avondale's pickleball courts currently are located in southern Avendale, both at Almar and Festival Fields Park.

We do not offer any public courts right now up in our northern uh properties.

So this would introduce eight new pickleball courts into our infrastructure and inventory over at Friendship Park.

We are focusing on this passive turf space as well as the practice turf field that is currently unlit in the southeast corner of the park property.

And to be transparent, this area of the park is a little bit tricky with development.

We have overlying power lines with with their utility easement as well as an underground uh recharge utility easement that prevent us from building or constructing certain things in those corridors.

Uh so with that being said, we've realized that the most developer piece of the property that's available will be where that sports field is.

But we want to design this property so that we don't lose any current amenities, and we're able to repurpose that sports field underneath the power line easement, um, but still maintain the new pickleball facility where the sports field was.

Um, in the current plan, we still be able to utilize the space for U6, U8, and U-10 sports fields, which is currently what's out there, a U-10 sports field, so we maintain that.

And we are designing this facility so that we have the ability to expand if the popularity continues and funding is available.

We want to be mindful that we wouldn't want to put ourselves in a corner where we don't have the room for future growth, and we really want to be mindful about the design.

So you see that built into the first phase.

So just an overview of that first phase, you'll see an installation of eight new pickleball courts with LED sports court lighting.

So again, good for that evening use, especially in those warmer months.

We we definitely see our parks more populated in the evenings.

Sidewalk connectivity throughout the park.

Right now, we do have a few dead ends of sidewalk on that corner of the property.

We're looking to eventually loop those and make more connectivity so you can have a fitness loop or enjoy a longer walk with your pet or family.

Uh spectator seating, shaded canopies, and obviously some landscape improvements in the area to take advantage of maybe where that passive turf isn't going to be programmed anymore and be a little bit more water-wise with our space there.

Here's some additional rendings to give you again that user perspective of what the facility will look like as an overview.

Eight pickleball courts is an amazing uh amazing amenity to have in our community.

So this will be a great start for us in the North Avondale area.

And then that shaded spectator eating seating area is really a great space.

Pickleball is also a very social sport, so this will allow a node for our community to connect, gather, and build new connections.

Moving down to MC85 between Fourth Street and Central, we have the beloved Desi Lorenz Park, a linear park property within our system.

Um and Desi Lorenz is one of our larger park properties, actually.

I think it's just under 11 acres of our park inventory, which is pretty significant.

Uh, we learned that every acre counts in our master plan.

So we have quite a bit of passive turf.

I believe there's five nodes of passive turf space in this park property currently.

So we're looking at possibly redesigning those, converting that turf and activating the space to be an outdoor education center and demonstration garden.

So removing some of the turf areas, adding demonstrations gardens, really focused on zero escape and pollinator education, allowing our residents to learn about the best use of their landscape spaces and how they can apply best practices at home.

We'd want to supplement that with some great educational signage, so there's some self-guided opportunities there, soft trails, public art areas, and then also working with our police department on some security improvements at this facility that uh need some attention.

I do want to state that we do plan to preserve the beautiful monument sign that is become uh, I think a benchmark in our community and something that people look to or see first when they they learn about Avondale.

Uh so that will remain in position and preserve.

Um but then you could kind of get a peek at what these landscape nodes would look like with the soft trail, so you can veer off the sidewalk, maybe get a pretty picture of the pollinator that's in bloom or a beautiful butterfly or dragonfly that's visiting the space, but ultimately an opportunity to kind of pull off, get closer to the vegetation that's out there, or learn more depending on the signage to determine if that's a practice that you maybe want to apply in your own backyard.

Uh we'll also be partnering with our public works department who do an amazing job with the water wise workshops, and we think that this could eventually become an outdoor education space for them.

Uh we know that they currently refer some of our residents to similar demonstration gardens in Surprise Glendale or Surprise Glendale and Peoria.

We don't have a well-established demonstration garden within our own city, so this will keep our residents in our city limits and have that amenity here in their own backyards.

All right, Western Avenue Plaza, or as I'm calling it that today.

Uh, this project has several names, Dysert and Western Avenue Pocket Park, Western Avenue Plaza, so on and so forth.

But it is a vacant parcel located right on the corner of Dysert and Western Avenue at the gateway of our old town Avondale area.

Um, and currently we have a project plan there to really make it into a new plaza park space, beautifying the area and maximizing what we can do there.

This site does have several limitations with its current proximity to Dys Art Road and the parking in the area.

There's not the opportunity to have a driveway at a parking lot, um, so on and so forth.

So ultimately looking at the space and seeing what we can do there to really activate and also beautify the area.

Um, we're gonna do some additions of some internal walking paths, decorative fencing, um, which you'll see a rendering here in a minute.

We're really kind of working with the same designer intentionally that helped uh Agua Fria with the monumentation sign, the Algrafia Union High School District uh students, and pulling some of those elements in that theming over across the street to really kind of tie the area together and and and get the public to turn their head and look down Western Avenue and draw some attention to the area.

Um decorative fencing, area lighting, landscape improvements, irrigation, some signage, and also working with an artist for something large scale, large-scale public art piece here to really again draw some attention.

Here are some great renderings to showcase what that would look like.

This project is currently in very early conceptual stages, so this is not fully vetted or designed, but we do think we can achieve what's being shown here as far as the theming.

You see that wagon wheel paying homage to the stage coach across the street and the history of Avondale.

Um, that soft trail opportunity to kind of beat the heat, get some shade, and maybe get closer to the public art.

Again, that that wiggly metal structure there is not the public art of choice, but the public art placeholder.

Um, but ultimately we think this is the best use of space, provides a recreational amenity uh to the old town area, and and really I think can draw some attention over to our Western Avenue.

And then the last project we're gonna talk about today is a very exciting project.

It's the Donatella Neighborhood Park.

This will be our first neighborhood park in North Avondale, located off of Palm Lane and Avondale Boulevard.

Uh, in the Donatella development, this was a property about five acres, designated to the city back uh during the development of Donatella phase one and now coming to fruition for physical development.

The park amenities will be expansive with a shaded inclusive playground design, park restrooms, three picnic ramadas, two open turf spaces, uh kind of designed for families to go out and practice, kick the ball, throw a ball, not necessarily be a full sports field space, obviously with the neighborhoods around us.

We were mindful of the area lighting.

Um, a basketball court, a perfectly designed quarter mile loop path.

So if you're a family walking and there are quite a bit of walkers that are already out there walking the vacant parcel, um, this area is acting as a as a perfect quarter mile, just like a high school track would be, um which we're pretty excited about.

There's an outdoor fitness station for adults or teens, a pollinator garden, LED area lighting, as well as the parking required to help support the amenities.

Some of the renderings here showcase kind of what that park will look like from a bird's eye.

I do want to call attention that there will be the area of fencing around the playground in this design, as well as 75% pour and play surfacing.

So we really minimize that wood chips, making sure this was a much more inclusive design within the playground.

Again, another bird's eye view of the facility uh from the user standpoint.

And then a quick shot of the playground.

And this image doesn't show the playground fencing, but that's just because it comes from different vendors.

The fencing is in the design.

But what I do want to highlight in this is it is designed to be a playground of inclusive of inclusivity, featuring the seven areas of play for all able-bodied and disabled families that visit the facility, and it would become a national demonstration site through a partnership with Game Time Playground Systems for inclusive play, um, which is something we're really excited to have featured here in this park property.

And that's not all.

I just want to, those are five or six of the projects that we just want to call attention to and highlight today based on where they're coming up in the capital improvement planning process.

There are several other projects coming to fruition throughout this year and the next five years, uh showcased here, such as the Alga Free Multi-Use Path and Trail Lighting.

The Base Meridian Wildlife Restoration is going to be kicking off soon.

Boulevard trail improvements, uh, shade and lighting added to our Civic Center amphitheater, festival fields, disc golf, and trailhead, friendship park ball field improvements.

We have that field number three, that softball field space that has not been updated yet, uh, but it is under design right now and hopefully gonna be under construction next year.

Friendship park parking entry, parking, and entry improvements.

We know that park is busy and the parking is busy, and the entry is crazy, uh, or an opportunity.

Um so looking at that space with our engineering department to how we can improve that and make it a more usable and exciting experience for our residents, not a not a uh your your finger motions got me a surprise there.

Uh you're accurate though.

Uh we still have an indoor pickleball facility on the docket, LED sports field lighting conversion continuing throughout our park properties, and then the recharge park design study uh taking place for the property across the street from Friendship Park.

And with that, I'd like to open the floor for any comments or questions.

Yeah.

Excellent presentation was um, what better way to kick it off than with visuals and information?

Um if you don't mind, I'd like to go first to Councilmember White.

Do you have any questions?

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Corey, for such an amazing presentation.

I'm really grateful for what parks, libraries, um, and the recreation is offering to the community.

Um I'm really thankful too to see that the dog park is evolving.

I have quite a few questions.

So I'm gonna start first um with the civic center park.

I know that we have more of a designated kind of walking track for the um civic center park.

Will there be like hash marks or kind of an indicator?

Like I know people who like to walk and run, like to know they've gone a mile or you've gone a certain amount of meters.

Will will there be any type of designation of mileage at that park at the Civic Center Park specifically?

Because I know a lot of the walkers are our employees.

And will we be expanding that as we grow our um parks portfolio to have more trail systems?

Uh great question.

Uh the the markers along the internal loop is something that we can look into implementing.

It is something that's already being implemented to the Donatell park design.

And it's it's really creatively done with a little quail family, and the family gets bigger as you go further.

Um we're excited to see that come to fruition.

Uh but here at Civic Center, it is something we can look we can look towards mimicking.

And then what I'm excited about, the the property here on the campus is that we also have uh another trail project where there will be an opportunity to loop around the aquatic center.

Um so there'll be multiple trail and walking path opportunities here on campus that we can maximize and eventually I think you're you're absolutely right.

We can develop kind of a self-de a self-driven fitness loop and promote that with good signage and really motivate those to go further and achieve those goals.

I like that.

Thank you so much.

And then I know with the friendship dog park, so we are uh happy dog family now.

And I know in some I think in the past it's uh small dog and large dog designation to the dog park areas.

Um maybe I did not notice it, but will there be that designation or will it be mean dogs and nice dogs designation?

I don't know.

Because I mean some big dogs are really darlings and some small dogs are really mean.

So I don't know what what are we gonna do?

That's a great question.

We we you see dog parks managed kind of in two ways.

Some go by size, like a weight capacity, and some go active, passive.

We lean into the large, active, small, passive language out in our current dog parks, and we have found that to be successful.

So we would mirror that here, but it does put that kind of ownership back in the the dog owner's hands, you know what is the the right space for your pet, and and you know their kind of appetite for for activity and play and interaction.

Some dogs really don't want to be bothered, but they want to get outside, and other dogs are much more interested in meeting friends and and smelling everything.

That is amazing.

Thank you for that.

And um as as we expand pickleball, um, I was trying to make my visual work at friendship that's eight pickleball.

It looks like it's right behind the basketball tennis area.

Is that am I are my eyes giving me the right area for the southwest part of the park?

Absolutely correct.

So is the southern southwest most I'm sorry, the most southwest corner of the park property um adjacent to those tennis courts, correct?

Tennis courts southeast Southeast.

And there are utilities there.

Do we see I know that you said that they already have easements and underground stuff?

Um we won't be interfering with any of that.

And if if we have any in issues are are or the situations already in place where we'll have agreements to manage through that.

Uh okay, correct.

I'm sorry, I wasn't sure.

Uh correct.

Yes.

So the utility easements actually on the current map on the screen are reflected within those red lines.

Um see that we are taking the the items that have height, like the 10 foot fencing and the 12 foot area lighting, and moving those outside of the utility uh easements to make sure that we can be successful in the construction.

But then we're gonna continue to have our sports turf um underneath the utility easements where it's a little bit more flexible and we can guarantee access to those utilities and and be good partners with our current agreements.

Ron, did you have something to add?

I was just gonna say, Mr.

Mayor, Councilmember White, um, it's really up against that neighborhood to the to the far side.

It's right now there's a berm right there where the uh proposed um uh practice soccer fields will go.

So part of the project will be leveling that to make sure that we continue to provide those practice surfaces for our community.

Um, but it'll be level, but but she's absolutely in the right uh area.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Well, thanks again so much for the presentation.

Um Mayor, I I will return it back to you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember White.

Other members of council with questions.

Councilmember Voice?

Hey Corey, thank you for the presentation.

Um I'm super excited about the inclusive playground um at Donatello.

Um I do have a couple questions.

Um at Desi Um Lorenz Park, will there be parking?

Is there parking there right now?

That's a great question.

And something I probably could have done a better job calling out, and it's hard to see in the rendering, but yes, there is a smaller parking lot located off of Fort Street currently.

Okay.

Um and that I believe holds 12 to 12 cars.

Okay.

Um, but what's really cool about this property is it also has three different pull-ins for a bus.

Um so there's potential for field trips and visitation at a larger group scale um and parking areas for large buses.

Nice.

Okay.

And then um on the pickleball courts, when you were saying that they're kind of bedded up against the houses.

Do we have anything that we've done to limit noise?

What have we done there for that?

Um so we are being very mindful of our distance from those houses as I believe in current design, it's oh it's around 50 to 60 feet.

Um also doing a pretty dense vegetation um installation um intentionally, similar to what we have in front of the VIC along the street here ballpark.

Okay.

All right.

And I think I think that's it.

Thank you.

No, absolutely.

Thank you, Councilmember Weiss.

Any other members of council?

Okay, Councilmember Conde.

Welcome.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Corey.

I'm super excited.

Your presentation answered a lot of questions that I had.

Um, one thing I just want us to, which I'm sure you guys already thought of is making sure that the parks um have the dogway stations.

So I especially at Civic Plaza, the newer parks, you know, that's something that's really important, especially with um our dog loving community here.

So just wanted to make sure that and then seating.

I'm really really excited to see some of that new seating that we're having, some of the um little what is it, bench seating, or what did you refer to it as?

The book.

Uh oh, at Civic Center Park.

Yes, that's right.

Yeah, so create the grounds and the the seat walls, absolutely very cool, right?

Love it, love it.

Great job.

Thank you guys for being so creative.

Um, and then the public art at Western.

Um, so I'm sure you guys probably I know you're saying there's gonna be a larger piece there, but you would just be something special to make sure or to see if we can have an artist that's a local artist from Avondale to maybe help work on that because there's definitely a sense of pride, you know, in old town, and to be able to have someone um help design or whatever part they can play.

And that's just a suggestion.

It's you know, um you guys do great work.

I know whatever we come up with will be great.

And then I had another question um in regards to oh, okay.

So there's a lot of new things that we're adding at our park, you know, the ADA certified, we're adding fencing.

You know what I would love to see, Corey?

Old school hopscotch or four square.

Like let's yeah, let's bring that back.

Like, no joke.

Like that's that doesn't take any space or money, right?

Just put something on the ground, maybe put some instructions because the kids probably won't even know what that's about.

But not play four square at school anymore.

No, they don't like rudimentary, right?

A tether ball, you know, something like bring some kind of something fun, old school, yeah.

Old school element.

But that's just this that's a suggestion.

I'm just throwing it out there.

I think it's a great suggestion.

But I love what you guys have done.

I love your creativity.

You know, I'm excited to know that there'll be hopefully additional parking um at Friendship Park because of the additional pickleball courts.

And um you guys just really put a lot of thought in there.

And I thank you for listening to our the feedback from council.

I know a lot of us wanted places um for kids that are on the spectrum or special needs to be able to play and for parents to go and just kind of decompress while the kids play in a safe environment.

So I just want to just say thank you for that.

I appreciate it.

Well, thank you guys for your support.

It's your support that allows us to do all this.

We were able to do that.

I do want to uh follow up with you on the artist.

So the call to artist for Western Ave is currently open, but there is a significant uh conversation about community engagement.

If it's not a local artist, we want someone that's gonna engage with our community to make sure it's personal to the residents.

Perfect.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Thank you, Councilmember Condi.

Vice Mary Nielsen.

Okay, Councilmember Garcia.

I was gonna have to go.

I was just gonna say Max, Sherry, and Tina asked all of my questions.

But I just wanted to thank you for everything you do on your team.

Um I drove around Avondale today with uh two of my family members, and one of them hasn't been to like Castion area in a very long time.

And as we were driving, they were like, this place doesn't look the same anymore.

Like they were ex- I don't know what they were expecting.

They're like because they're asking my grandma if she wanted to live there and like the park was beautiful and clean, the neighborhood was clean and the artwork everywhere.

So thank you guys so much for everything you do.

I know people travel to Avondale specifically for our parks and rec, and our parks are beautiful to say the least.

Uh the the can I can never say it.

De Concino Park is utilized so often by the by the members that go to the library.

I go to the library often over there and it's highly used.

Um and as she said, like I'd love to see some like traditional stuff in there because I put tire swing on here, thinking like you know, some things that like kids don't see anymore, but just that would be a lot of fun.

Um I do I have a question about the one off um Western or Western and Dysart.

Um so in the pictures, I saw that there was like benches and stuff, and I think that will be utilized the most by a lafria high school students or Transients.

So making sure that it's utilized properly and not for people to go sleep in it.

Like it's gonna be so beautiful, they're gonna find it safe to be able to sleep there.

Um just so we could keep an eye on that one as well.

Absolutely, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilmember uh Kirstie.

No, we we uh we definitely want to promote the proper use of our facilities.

And uh it's not necessary to be designated park, it would be um within our park uh amended or the ordinance of our park code.

Um allowing us to implement park hours and ensure that the uses are being maintained as intended.

Um and we'd also be working through the design and make sure that the deterrents for the wrong behavior are included.

Awesome.

Thank you.

Vice Mary Nielsen.

Corey, thank you.

You said the magic word.

Mine was have the Abbey flower over there at Desular Rounds.

That is amazing.

I can remember different places I've been in my life, and that's that was the main focus.

I'm like like flowers and whatever else.

Just a thought, that area with the things curved around there like that.

Is there any way you could put a sundial in there?

You know, if you're taking the the kids through there and they come and see these things, you know, the sundial, you know, we don't know too much about sundials anymore, but there's a big one up in another city over on the other side of town.

But if we could have something, you know, Avondale's got their own little sundial or whatever it might be, either behind the thing or somewhere on that curvature right there, just with the thing to do it so the kids could get out.

Well, this is 9 30 or 10:30, and the sun's telling us this.

It's another teaching type opportunity if if uh if I could say something like that, it's small enough you can put it in there.

I was in California and they had a bridge that was that way.

The bridge had the main thing up, and you had to walk about uh quarter of a mile, third of a mile just around so you could walk and see a huge, but that's not what we need there, just some type of a little thing.

The other thing over at the one we've been talking about at um Avondale and Western, or excuse me, Dyserton Western, Patty and I had a opportunity in March to go to a place called Hiple Gardens or Hippley Village.

It was just a grassy area here.

There was no parking there.

The parking was a block or two away, and you had to walk to this place, but it was kind of a memorial garden type thing.

And they had different little things in there.

I mean, there was a place for Disneyland type thing and a ferries over here and the gnomes here, and uh piano organ piano keys painted in a bench with with some music.

I don't know if we could make some type of a memorial type thing in there, not necessarily memorial, but cut it into four places or whatever, and this had to do maybe with Abbondale history, and this had to do with uh old town, and this had to do with this that way you get four artists involved with it, if that's what it is.

Uh they had little you know, little stones on the ground, like I'm gonna call them headstones, but they weren't headstones.

Uh to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift, you know, some type of little phones as you go around there to give an opportunity for people to think.

Uh the one I like, I you know, I grew up in Utah.

There was one on there.

If you want to climb on rocks, go to Utah to keep you keep you off the rocks.

But they had some, it was just something that these things kept adding to.

But if you could, you know, divide that up and make it kind of a walking thing around there and just enjoy the walk and could this is you know somebody's philosophical statement or whatever it is and make you think about it.

The kids could do that, uh artists could do that, or whatever.

Just a thought as to using that area may be more than just one artistic thing in there, but a number of them, whether it's four, whether it's five or six, and just little areas that you could go around and walk and talk with your kids, you know, okay, whatever it might be, piano.

I've got a couple of pictures if you want to see them someday, but uh just something along that particular line.

If you're looking for suggestions and ideas.

I I mayor, vice mayor.

I'm always looking for suggestions.

Those are all great ideas, and if you can share the photos, we would love to see them at some point.

So absolutely great ideas.

Mr.

Mayor and Vice Mayor, would you be uh be okay with ostriches?

I think we should dedicate one of the corners to the ostrich farm that used to be in Avondale.

Uh-huh.

Well, I appreciate all the counsel's feedback.

Uh did you have anything to add, Councilwoman?

Or councilmember Silario?

Corey, great presentation.

Um if it's anything that I've seen living in Arizona, is that our parks are done well.

I'm originally from Southern California.

Sometimes our parks are they're green, but they're a little bit dilapidated.

So it's nice to see so much work and so much thought go into the parks and see parks utilized because many places I've been to Glendale a few times for events for council members on that side.

And um, since it's so large, not a lot of their events are as widely attended.

I don't know if some of their parks, you know, are not you can tell they're a little bit dated in some other areas, and it's nice to see we're taking every consideration to bring those things in.

We also feature many events at different parks throughout our city.

So good job.

Thank you, Mayor Bryce Mayor Thompson Floor.

For me, um, I I can't wait with everything that we've done that you, your team has done with uh the um annual Christmas events.

And I for whatever reason I'm spacing on the the title.

Can you help me with that?

Winterfest.

Winterfest.

Yes.

There you go.

All right, winterfest.

Um I'm really excited when Civic Center Park is complete to see how that's going to be incorporated in this expansion because over time it's kind of morphed into this uh bigger and bigger event.

And so with that type of a space and food truck alley and everything else, I'm really looking forward to how that space is going to be utilized uh for that purpose.

Um I really um am happy to see that the fencing around the playground equipment will be taken into consideration for each one of these parks.

Um, I know that at um Cernos Park, uh next to the boys and girls club, that that fencing there uh really, and even at Friendship Park uh and Festival Fields really I think puts parents at ease when it comes to safety of their children playing in really in a designated area, be able to focus on them.

And so I think that helps out a lot.

And then I don't want to have competing um interest for the Western the Dysert Western Park or Plaza.

But I gotta tell you that uh recently my son is taking graduation photos, and so when it comes time for that, then the question is well, where would you like to take the photos?

I hate to say this, but many of the areas that were suggested were not in Avondale.

And when I saw the depictions of those pictures, I thought that could be a cool place for people to take pictures, especially from Awfreya because of the tie into the proximity.

But more importantly, just whatever vegetation is utilized, whatever hardscape is utilized.

I would love to see it be that place where people that comes to mind when it comes to taking photos and that being kind of a centerpiece for that purpose.

Would it does it will it become that?

I don't know, but from what I've seen on the renderings, I think it has the making uh or the at least the um opportunity to become that.

And so uh I just wanted to uh just acknowledge that I really like what the renderings look like, and because it's such a difficult corner and area, and if it's just gonna be walkable and a place to kind of enjoy, I hope that that's taken a consideration with the wagon wheels and the whole bit, just that whole tie-in to Avondale and the uh visuals that you get would be the place that people would look at as a place to take any type of a picture.

So those are my two cents.

Thank you, Mayor.

Great, great concept.

I do agree.

I will warn those trees, and the the images are always a little bigger than they look when we when we open the park, but they'll grow to that.

Um but I I think these destinations are really uh exciting and special.

And I say it all the time.

My team we're lucky ducks to have such beautiful magazines and facilities here in Avondale.

And on behalf of them, I just want to extend a thank you to our council to our management for the ongoing support, not only to build new infrastructure, but also to reinvest in our older facilities so they remain desirable in places where the community wants to come, connect, make new memories, and and hopefully have fun.

Uh so thank you.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

Okay, with that, let's open up.

Mr.

Mary's he's walking away.

Um, just one shout out also to the rest of the team that helps make this happen.

Our uh engineering team, our community development team, uh, I know uh our CIP team, Rick, they all help bring this to fruition.

And then Corey, uh, not only his recreation team, but his parks team that helps keep it green and going.

So we really work well as a as a city as an organization here today.

So I just wanted to give a shout-out to the rest of the other group in the house.

Thank you for that, Ron.

Appreciate it.

Okay, at this time, item number six, summary of current events.

Any council members like to share any event?

We've got one here, uh, Councilmember Solorial, and then Councilmember White, I will come to you next if you have anything.

Uh so I attended on Friday the two lights uh for tomorrow, which was really nice.

Um, there was really bad inclement weather and bad thunder, and um I can only hang on so much for the cold.

But it was a nice gathering.

Did not get to see the reenactment of the Pall Revere because it was massive downpour and everybody was trying to find areas where to go under because you know it's it was right in the middle of the Capitol.

But um there were the Secretary of State was there, uh Warren Peterson was there.

Um just it was a really nice event for the community.

Saw some counsel from Goodyear and from NASA.

Um great event.

Didn't even stay for the governor because like I said, it started raining and it was freezing cold.

Thank you so much.

Councilmember White.

Nothing here, sir.

Thank you.

Okay.

Councilmember Condie.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I just want to give a shout out to Parks and Rec and all the staff that made the Kit Fest such a successful event.

There was so many vendors there.

The kids had a blast there.

And uh Mayor was out interviewing people, he was uh on what is it called FaceTime Live interviewing people, and so but it was a really really great event, and I just want to say there was a lot of work that you guys did, and you guys all did a fantastic job.

It's one of my favorite events.

Um, and we get people from Avondale, other surrounding cities.

So thank you guys for always doing a phenomenal job with that.

Um, in addition, I was had an opportunity to go watch the trolls movie at Donny Hell Park, and so I want to just say thank you to staff for staying so late.

Um, providing you know, passing out food.

It was such a great time.

The community, everybody was just so thankful.

Um, for one that they didn't have to cook dinner because they had pizza there, but a place that they could just come in the community, put a blanket down and just watch the watch a movie.

And it was such a beautiful night.

So a big shout out to staff for that.

Thank you.

Councilmember Garcia.

I really forgot what I was gonna say.

Um, well, I went, well, one, everything and everyone that worked on the state of the city.

Thank you guys.

It was wonderful.

The food was delicious.

The it went so smoothly from the moment that I parked to the moment that I left with the pictures and everyone that showed up.

Um, my guest had a wonderful time.

Um seeing everything that you guys did was just I was proud to brag about Av and Down, be like, yeah, that's our staff.

Like that's that's my people.

Um, so thank you guys so much for everything you guys did that day.

Um, and I went to the extravaganza before the movie because I had to go pick up Brian from practice after, so I couldn't say for the movie, but it was uh more attended than it was last year at the Donny Hill on Thursday.

It was so packed, I couldn't find parking.

I had to park like two blocks away, and I stayed there almost probably an hour and a half just walking and talking with people, and people were just from Tallison from Buckeye coming to the park to do that.

Um, but they were engaging in everything that was happening because we had Wham there, so we were I colored with like the kids and everything.

So it was a lot of fun.

So thank you for your staff for doing that.

And then they did the movie.

Like they were there all afternoon, and then they did the movies.

So I hope they get a day off or uh I don't know, Dutch Bros or something.

Like they worked really hard that day.

Um that's it.

But thank you guys.

Well, since those events were covered and I was able to make uh Friday's extravaganza, um, you're right.

Staff did a great job, and I saw a lot of families having a lot of fun.

Um and really quickly, two weeks ago, I was um fortunate to be able to join Cash and Has Heart and members of public safety, both police and fire, to play a game of kickball on a Saturday morning.

Um and while kickball is such a simple event, it was just so great to see the community and our public safety engage together in an activity uh of nostalgia, going back to us uh when we were at a time of youth uh playing games like that, and it was just so much fun.

I had a great time, and I want to thank Cash and his heart for putting that together and look forward to many more events.

And so, with that, can we get a motion for adjournment?

Got a motion from Councilmember Garcia, a second from Council Member Solorio.

Please vote.

Thank you, Councilmember White.

Okay, we it already passes everybody drive safely, have a great night, and enjoy the rest of your week.