Avondale City Council Meeting – April 7, 2025
Avondale City Council Meeting – April 7, 2025
The Avondale City Council met on April 7, 2025, for a regular meeting that included multiple proclamations, a citizen bond election presentation, a rezone request, and the city manager's recommended budget overview. The meeting began with a call to order, Pledge of Allegiance, and roll call with all members present.
Proclamations and Recognitions
- Fire Medical Citizens Academy: Chief Rooney and Community Outreach Coordinator Gabby Babinsky celebrated the completion of the Avondale Fire Medical Citizens Academy. Nine participants attended seven classes covering topics such as emergency operations, extrication, CPR certification, Stop the Bleed, and special operations. Graduate Mike Martin spoke about his experience, expressing appreciation for the program. Councilmember Solorio noted he took the class last year and called it "the best time ever." The next academy will open for registration in fall 2025, with classes likely from April to May depending on NASCAR dates.
- Month of the Military Child (April 2025): HR Director Andy introduced Sergeant Christopher Beckett (Avondale Police, 18 years) and his family. Sergeant Beckett shared his 22-year Air Force career, deployments, and the sacrifices of his wife Crystal and four children. The proclamation was read by Councilmember Garcia, who also announced Purple Up Day on April 17, encouraging residents to wear purple in support of military children. Samuel Smith, Luke Air Force Base School Liaison, thanked the city for leading the way with this proclamation.
- National Crime Victims Rights Week (April 6–12, 2025): Chief Espinoza introduced victim advocates Patty Young and Veronica. The proclamation, read by Councilmember Condi, emphasized the theme of kinship in supporting survivors.
- National Library Week (April 6–12, 2025): Branch Manager Natasha Alavi reported that in 2024, both library branches had 156,252 visitors. The winners of the 2025 Bookmark Design Contest were announced: Grayson Munz (age 7), Melanie Fimbrez (age 13), and a 15-year-old winner from grades 9–12. Councilmember Weiss read the proclamation.
- Week of the Young Child (April 5–11, 2025): Recreation Manager Mark Foote highlighted the Kidfest event on Saturday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Friendship Park, including the 7th annual Superhero 5K benefiting the Southwest Family Advocacy Center. Vice Mayor Nielsen read the proclamation.
- National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 13–19, 2025): Communications Manager Angela Destin and Supervisor Kristen Martin accepted the proclamation recognizing dispatchers. Councilmember White read the proclamation.
- Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Volunteer Week (April 5–11, 2025): A representative from Voices for CASA accepted the proclamation, thanking the city. Councilmember Solorio read the proclamation.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Unscheduled Appearance – Caesar Romero: Mr. Romero reported that on April 5, 2025, an Avondale Fire Department pickup truck responded to his neighbor's emergency (a metal pipe fell on the neighbor's head) instead of a fire engine. He questioned why a pickup was dispatched and requested a response at the next council meeting. The Chief agreed to speak with him after the meeting.
Discussion Items
- Consent Agenda: Unanimously approved with no items removed.
- General Obligation Bond Election 2025: Assistant City Manager Katie Gregory presented the Citizen Bond Committee's recommendation for a November 4, 2025 special mail-in election. Consultant Paul Bence of High Ground Public Affairs shared results of a statistically valid survey of 400 off-cycle voters (conducted Feb 10–13, 2025; margin of error ±4.9%). Key findings: 70%+ of respondents believe the city is headed in the right direction; shade structures (3.97/5), a joint police/fire station (3.86), and renovating neighborhood parks (3.76) ranked highest. The committee recommended two ballot questions: Question 1 for $68 million for parks, recreation, and libraries (including shade, trail gaps, library modernization); Question 2 for $55 million for public safety (southern Avondale fire/police substation, new public safety HQ, firearm training facility, police station expansion, court expansion). The financing plan maintains the current property tax rate of $1.45 per $100 assessed valuation (city policy cap at $2.00) by issuing $20 million in bonds every two years as old debt retires. Budget Manager Robert explained that if the bond does not pass, the property tax rate would decline. Councilmember Garcia expressed support for letting citizens decide. The council voted unanimously to approve the resolution ordering the election.
- Rezone Request – SJ Acquisitions Industrial Development (PL24-0201): Senior Planner Christina Lavelle presented a request to modify existing General Industrial zoning (previously limited to mini-storage with RV storage) to allow light industrial development on 18.6 acres at the northwest corner of 4th Street and Lower Buckeye Road. The site is currently vacant with abandoned outbuildings. A neighborhood meeting on February 11, 2025, had two attendees; one phone call opposed the request over potential mountain view blockage. The Planning Commission voted 5–0 to recommend approval on March 19, 2025. Staff conditions include a 75-foot building setback and 8-foot block walls adjacent to residential areas, plus half-street improvements, sidewalks, and lighting. Councilmember Condi voiced concerns about noise and traffic, and the city manager agreed to monitor. The council approved the ordinance unanimously.
- City Manager's Recommended FY2026 Budget: Finance Director Renee presented an update from earlier discussions. Key changes from the March version: carryover appropriations, moving Concert Mercado series from ongoing to one-time, adding a Litchfield Park Police Officer FTE starting January, increased project management services in IT, a fleet maintenance technician FTE, and adjustments to capital improvement projects (Old Town Phase 4, Avondale Boulevard/MC 85 intersection, DISAR water line). The general fund is structurally balanced, with projected revenues exceeding expenses. The forecast shows a fund balance of $103.6 million at end of FY2025, drawing down to $4.6 million by FY2030 after reserves. Highlights: a new Business Development Manager position, $1.2 million for economic opportunities, funding for youth summer camp, additional police officer FTEs (overhires), forensic interviewer and clinical supervisor at the Family Advocacy Center, and a 2% merit increase plus 3% COLA for personnel. Utility rate increases are included. The tentative budget will be presented in May, with final adoption in June.
Key Outcomes
- Bond Election: Unanimously approved resolution to place two general obligation bond questions (parks/recreation $68M, public safety $55M) on the November 4, 2025 mail-in ballot. First day to cast early ballots is October 8, 2025. The city will provide education on the measures.
- Rezone: Unanimously approved Ordinance No. 20016-0425 for SJ Acquisitions industrial development, subject to staff stipulations.
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
- Budget: Presented for council information; next action in May 2025 for tentative budget adoption.
- All proclamations were read and accepted unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
I would like to call the word of the city council meeting of April 7th, 2025. Would you all be on the rise and join me with a Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of slide? And we just stands for a nation under God and invisible liberty justice for all this vocal, please. Councilmember Condi. Here. Councilmember Garcia. Here. Councilmember Solario. Councilmember Weiss. Here. Councilmember White. Present. Vice Mayor Nielsen. Here. Mayor Paneda. Here. Ron, next item, please. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council. Uh first we have a presentation by Chief Rooney and uh Gabby Babinsky, our community outreach coordinator, to celebrate the completion of the Avondale Fire Medical Citizens Academy. Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council. Tonight I have the privilege of introducing Gabby Bob Bobinski, our uh reach coordinator for the fire department who um oversaw our this year's our our Citizens Fire Academy. So with that, she'll do a nice presentation with us, and we'll get to meet some of the people that attend. Good evening. Um tonight I would like to do our Citizen Academy participants. Um they're there in the back corner. We have someone who will speak at the end. Um this year we had nine participants who uh attended seven of our classes, kind of getting a little bit of background into how we run um Avondel Fire. On our first night, uh, we held it at station 172. They were able to get a tour of our command van, which was kind of cool because we used it the week prior for NASCAR. Um they got to hear a little bit about our emergency operations, how we support NASCAR and other events here in the city, as well as some background on our department and how um we regulate um our safety procedures and things like that. On the second night, uh they had a tour of station 172 and were introduced to our community risk reduction and our fire investigations and inspections. Um on the third day, they had a tour of station 175, and they were able to uh learn a little bit about extrication and our ladder company functions. Uh they got to touch the tools and they uh were up in the ladder, which is always a really good time. Uh the fourth night, they earned their CPR certifications and uh had a little introduction to our emergency medical services, which is kind of the bread and butter of our departments, predominantly the type of calls we run on. Uh the next night was a station tour of 174, uh, where they had a little peek into our engine company functions and they were able to use our hoses. Uh the next night, we introduced them to our Avondel 1 campaign, um, our threat liaison officer program, and they earned certificates in Stop the Bleed. And that night they were also able to go home with um a Narcan kit and a tourniquet. Um, our final night was our special operations where they learned about our wildland team and our technical rescue team. Um, they also got a tour of station 173, our brush truck, and um squad 173. At this time, I would like to introduce Mike Martin who will say a few words on his experience. Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, City Council. Um, thank you for the opportunity um for us to participate in these academies. Um, we got a little bit of a taste of what our firefighters do. It's uh just a little taste. We put on their fall out gear and got to go up in the ladder and all this, and it's amazing now what these guys do on a daily basis to protect us. And thank you guys for the opportunity, and you guys for putting on these academies, they're amazing. I appreciate y'all. Thank you. Thank you.
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