Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Avondale City Council Regular Meeting - October 15, 2025 (Note: Transcript indicates June 2, 2025)

City Council — Wednesday, October 15, 2025

BodyAvondale, Arizona

SessionCity Council

DateWednesday, October 15, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 43:38

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:05

The council meeting, a regular city council meeting of June 2nd, 2025.

0:10

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

0:25

In the Republic for which it stands one nation liberty and justice.

0:49

Thank you.

0:52

Marcella, if we could have roll call, please.

0:54

Councilmember Condi.

0:57

Here.

0:57

Councilmember Garcia.

0:59

Here.

0:59

Councilmember Solario.

1:01

Here.

1:01

Councilmember Weiss here.

1:03

Councilmember White?

1:05

Vice Mayor Nielsen.

1:06

Here.

1:07

Mayor Pineda.

1:08

Here.

1:10

Okay.

1:12

Item number two, Ron.

1:14

Thank you, Mr.

1:15

Mayor.

1:16

Up first, we have uh Mark Foote, our recreation manager, who will present our first proclamation of the evening for a Juneteenth.

1:27

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

1:30

My name is Mark Foote.

1:31

I'm the recreation programmer within Parks Recreation and Libraries Division, specifically over special events.

1:37

I'm here to introduce a proclamation recognizing Juneteenth, an important day in American history that marks the end of slavery in the United States.

1:46

It's a time to reflect, to learn, and to honor the strength and resilience of those who came before us.

1:51

We're proud to commemorate this moment as a city and invite the community to come together for our annual Juneteenth celebration.

1:58

This year's event will be held on June 14th from 6 to 9 p.m.

2:02

here at the Civic Center Complex.

2:04

It will feature live music from groups such as Backdoor Funk, local themed food vendors, educational talks hosted at the Civic Center Library, and performances that highlight the cultural contributions of black Americans throughout a history.

2:18

It's a family-friendly event meant to bring neighbors together through food, music, and shared experiences.

2:23

And we're excited to host this third annual event, and we encourage residents of all ages to in marking this meaningful day.

2:31

If there are no questions, Mayor, I'm going to invite you to read the proclamation.

2:36

Thank you so much.

2:37

And uh Councilmember White will be reading the proclamation tonight.

2:41

Thank you so much, Mayor.

2:43

Um, and thank you as well.

2:44

I appreciate it.

2:46

Whereas on January 1st, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation granting freedom to all those who were enslaved.

2:56

And whereas the news of freedom did not become an immediate reality for more than 250,000 enslaved black people of Texas.

3:05

And whereas on June 19th, 1865, over two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas finally received word that they were free from bondage.

3:20

And whereas those who were formerly enslaved were recognized for the first time as citizens and black Americans came to commemorate June 19th as Juneteenth with celebrations across the country, building new lives and new traditions that we honor today.

3:39

And whereas Juneteenth, we recommit ourselves to the work of equity, equality, and justice as we celebrate the centuries of struggles, courage, and hope that have brought us to this time of progress and possibilities.

3:54

Whereas on March 17th, 19th, I'm sorry, 2016, Governor Doug Ducey signed HB 2226, sponsored by former Representative Reginald Bolding, recognizing June 19th as Juneteenth Day in Arizona, making Arizona the 45th state to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday.

4:16

And whereas Avondale officially recognized June 19th as the Juneteenth holiday as of February 22nd, 2022, which represents one significant step amongst many in our 79-year history, which commits the city to eradicating racism against the descendants of former enslaved black Americans of African descent.

4:41

Now therefore, Mayor and the Council of the City of Avondale, Arizona, do hereby proclaim June 19th, 2025 as Juneteenth, and encourage all Avondale residents to reflect upon the value of freedom and join in the Juneteenth celebrations across the valley.

5:00

Thank you so much.

5:06

Thank you also to the city managers team.

5:09

We have these beautiful Juneteenth pens, uh Mayor and Council that will be handed out at our celebration on the 14th.

5:16

And as Councilmember White said, Saturday, June 14th, at our here right at the Amphitheater Civic Center, uh join us for festivities fund and educational opportunities.

5:27

So there anybody else would like to share?

5:29

Otherwise, we'll okay.

5:32

Thank you so much.

5:33

All right, at this time, uh, we have two blue cards.

5:37

So I would like to call it first Teresa DeSante.

5:55

Good evening.

5:56

Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council members.

6:01

I want for the record, I want to clarify an answer by Chief Rooney on May the 5th this year, a meeting.

6:11

Mayor, you asked Chief Rooney if he had contacted me on the contacted me, and Chief Rooney said yes regarding the incident that happened on April the 5th, my next door neighbor, where uh he got injured.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Budget Equity Analysis████████████████████████████████32%

Procedural███████████████████████████████31%

Public Engagement████████████████████████████28%

Parks and Recreation█████████9%

Summary of Proceedings

Avondale City Council Regular Meeting - October 15, 2025 (Note: The raw transcript states the meeting occurred on June 2, 2025, but the instruction specifies this date.)

The regular city council meeting convened with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call. Key actions included the adoption of a Juneteenth proclamation, a public hearing and vote on a truth-in-taxation resolution to raise the property tax levy, a public hearing on the final budget for fiscal year 2025-2026, and a series of special meetings for the Alamar Community Facilities District Board. Councilmembers also provided summaries of recent events.

Consent Calendar

The consent agenda (Item 4) was moved by Councilmember White, seconded by Vice Mayor Nielsen, and passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

Teresa DeSante: Stated that Chief Rooney did not contact her regarding an April 5th incident, contradicting a previous statement by the chief. She requested that any future communication from the city be conducted in public meetings where it can be recorded.
Maria Alvarado (bilingual): Spoke against the proposed increase in property taxes, arguing it would burden families already struggling with rising costs for gas, groceries, and utilities. She urged the council to vote no on Resolution 1032-0625 (the truth-in-taxation resolution).

Discussion Items

Juneteenth Proclamation (Item 2): Recreation Manager Mark Foote introduced a proclamation recognizing Juneteenth. Councilmember White read the proclamation, which noted the historical significance of June 19, 1865, and Avondale's recognition of Juneteenth as a holiday since February 22, 2022. The city's third annual Juneteenth celebration will be held on June 14, 2025, from 6-9 p.m. at the Civic Center Complex, featuring live music, food vendors, educational talks, and cultural performances.
Truth in Taxation Hearing and Resolution (Item 5A): Finance Director Renee presented the proposed property tax levy for fiscal year 2026. The combined property tax rate remains $1.46 per $100 assessed valuation (primary rate decreasing from $0.62 to $0.61, secondary rate increasing). The levy increases by approximately 2% (about $4.3 million) due to rising property values and statutory allowance for growth. A sample homeowner with a median home value of $405,000 pays about $233 in city property taxes, representing 11% of their total property tax bill. Council debate followed: Councilmembers Garcia and Solorio expressed opposition, arguing residents face financial strain and advocating for reallocation of funds. Councilmembers Weiss and White sought clarification on the impact of not increasing the levy (compounded future revenue loss). Councilmember White noted the primary rate decreased. The public hearing was opened and closed with no additional speakers. A roll call vote was taken: Ayes – Conde, Weiss, White, Nielsen (4); Noes – Garcia, Solorio, Mayor Pineda (3). Resolution 1032-0625 passed 4-3.
Final Budget Public Hearing (Item 5B): Staff presented the final budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 in the amount of $486,614,500. Changes from the tentative budget included $609,000 for pickleball courts and $169,000 for a dog park at Friendship Park, reallocation of $25,000 for a vision plan, and addition of 7.75 FTE for parks positions. The public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers. No vote was taken; this was a discussion-only item.
Summary of Current Events: Councilmembers reported on recent activities:
- Councilmember Solorio attended the Women in Municipal Government conference in San Antonio, focusing on civility, advocacy, and public safety. She highlighted meeting the city's first female fire chief and potential future female police chief.
- Councilmember White attended the APTA legislative conference in Washington, D.C., meeting with Senators Sinema and Kelly to discuss microtransit funding.
- Councilmember Conde thanked staff for the Memorial Day ceremony and acknowledged Vice Mayor Nielsen and Councilmember Garcia for their participation.
- Councilmember Garcia honored Staff Sergeant Donald Stacey, an Avondale resident and Olifria graduate who died in Afghanistan, and thanked attendees.
- Vice Mayor Nielsen praised the ceremony and suggested more publicity for future events.
- Mayor Pineda mentioned attending the Summer Reading Program kickoff at Phoenix Raceway, noting high attendance and community engagement.
Special City Council Meeting – Final Budget Adoption: After adjourning the regular meeting, the council convened a special meeting to adopt the final budget. A motion by Councilmember White, seconded by Councilmember Weiss, carried 7-0 (all ayes).
Alamar Community Facilities District Board Meetings: The council then acted as the CFD Board. A presentation outlined the CFD's fiscal 2026 budget of $10.9 million, with a combined property tax rate of $4.15 per $100 assessed valuation (primary $0.30, secondary $3.85) levied only on property within the district. The public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers. The board approved the budget and tax levy (motion by Councilmember White, second by Councilmember Condi). Subsequent motions adjourned the regular and special CFD meetings and moved into executive session.

Key Outcomes

Juneteenth Proclamation adopted (unanimous).
Truth in Taxation Resolution (1032-0625) passed 4-3, authorizing the intent to raise the property tax levy.
Final Budget (FY 2025-2026) adopted unanimously (7-0) in a special meeting.
Alamar CFD Budget and Tax Levy approved by the board.
Council adjourned into executive session at the conclusion of the meetings.

Meeting Transcript

The council meeting, a regular city council meeting of June 2nd, 2025. Would you all please rise and stand with me for the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence? In the Republic for which it stands one nation liberty and justice. Thank you. Marcella, if we could have roll call, please. Councilmember Condi. Here. Councilmember Garcia. Here. Councilmember Solario. Here. Councilmember Weiss here. Councilmember White? Vice Mayor Nielsen. Here. Mayor Pineda. Here. Okay. Item number two, Ron. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Up first, we have uh Mark Foote, our recreation manager, who will present our first proclamation of the evening for a Juneteenth. Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and City Council. My name is Mark Foote. I'm the recreation programmer within Parks Recreation and Libraries Division, specifically over special events. I'm here to introduce a proclamation recognizing Juneteenth, an important day in American history that marks the end of slavery in the United States. It's a time to reflect, to learn, and to honor the strength and resilience of those who came before us. We're proud to commemorate this moment as a city and invite the community to come together for our annual Juneteenth celebration. This year's event will be held on June 14th from 6 to 9 p.m. here at the Civic Center Complex. It will feature live music from groups such as Backdoor Funk, local themed food vendors, educational talks hosted at the Civic Center Library, and performances that highlight the cultural contributions of black Americans throughout a history. It's a family-friendly event meant to bring neighbors together through food, music, and shared experiences. And we're excited to host this third annual event, and we encourage residents of all ages to in marking this meaningful day. If there are no questions, Mayor, I'm going to invite you to read the proclamation. Thank you so much. And uh Councilmember White will be reading the proclamation tonight. Thank you so much, Mayor. Um, and thank you as well. I appreciate it. Whereas on January 1st, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation granting freedom to all those who were enslaved. And whereas the news of freedom did not become an immediate reality for more than 250,000 enslaved black people of Texas. And whereas on June 19th, 1865, over two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas finally received word that they were free from bondage. And whereas those who were formerly enslaved were recognized for the first time as citizens and black Americans came to commemorate June 19th as Juneteenth with celebrations across the country, building new lives and new traditions that we honor today. And whereas Juneteenth, we recommit ourselves to the work of equity, equality, and justice as we celebrate the centuries of struggles, courage, and hope that have brought us to this time of progress and possibilities. Whereas on March 17th, 19th, I'm sorry, 2016, Governor Doug Ducey signed HB 2226, sponsored by former Representative Reginald Bolding, recognizing June 19th as Juneteenth Day in Arizona, making Arizona the 45th state to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday. And whereas Avondale officially recognized June 19th as the Juneteenth holiday as of February 22nd, 2022, which represents one significant step amongst many in our 79-year history, which commits the city to eradicating racism against the descendants of former enslaved black Americans of African descent. Now therefore, Mayor and the Council of the City of Avondale, Arizona, do hereby proclaim June 19th, 2025 as Juneteenth, and encourage all Avondale residents to reflect upon the value of freedom and join in the Juneteenth celebrations across the valley. Thank you so much. Thank you also to the city managers team. We have these beautiful Juneteenth pens, uh Mayor and Council that will be handed out at our celebration on the 14th.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com