Avondale City Council Regular Meeting and Alamar CFD Board Meetings - October 15, 2025

The meeting began with the Alamar Community Facilities District (CFD) Board public hearing on the final FY2025 budget and tax levy, immediately followed by a CFD special board meeting. The regular Avondale City Council meeting then convened and covered new employee introductions, a presentation on Fourth of July fireworks enforcement, a Truth in Taxation hearing, approval of the FY2025 fee schedule, and multiple public comments regarding a proposed group home for individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) and other community concerns.

Consent Calendar

• The CFD special board meeting approved its consent agenda 7-0.
• The City Council approved its consent agenda 7-0 without any items removed for separate discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Gonzalo Ortiz (resident since 1970) thanked the city, first responders, and the community for support after the St. William Catholic Church fire on May 1, 2025. He highlighted fundraisers raising $3,000 and the assistance of the Mercy House Community Center.
• Leo James Eckdoll (Coldwater Ridge resident) opposed a pending SMI group home two doors from his property. He cited safety concerns for nearby schools (Estella Vista Elementary, Littleton Elementary, La Jolla Community High School) and described potential unpredictable behavior from residents. He requested city help to stop the home.
• Diana Duke (neighbor to the proposed SMI group home) expressed fear for her safety and that of her teenage granddaughters. She stated the homeowner has not yet applied for permits and urged the city to prevent the facility from being placed in a residential neighborhood surrounded by schools.
• Yvonne Hopper (Coldwater Ridge resident, 20-year resident) shared past negative experiences with group homes, including frequent fire/ambulance calls and quality-of-life disruptions. She asked the council to assist with HOA covenant enforcement regarding business operations.
• Written public comments on the fee schedule (item 5B) were read by City Clerk Marcella:
  • Greg Disart argued that a $5 fee for police reports is “un-American” and called for no property tax increases, reduced spending, and opposition to new fees.
  • An anonymous “Avondale voter” opposed fee increases and staff additions, criticized recycling truck cleanup, and urged council to cut budgets instead of raising rates.

Discussion Items

• New Employee Introductions: The city attorney introduced legal intern Blessing Ajeho (University of Arizona law student) and returning attorney Mary Grace McNear. Facilities director introduced Rosa Brown and Abe Bandon (new facilities maintenance employees). Finance director introduced procurement buyer Takia Green.
• Fourth of July Fireworks Education and Enforcement (Presentation by Lt. Barney Lopez): The police department dedicates resources to illegal fireworks enforcement on July 4 and New Year’s Eve. Lt. Lopez showed a video of a legal consumer firework (“The Amazing”) with a 20+ foot radius and explained that illegal fireworks are those that go into the air or explode. Education includes a West Valley multi-agency campaign, social media, and vendor visits. Statistics tracked include fireworks calls, shots-fired calls, citations issued, and total calls for service (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.). The fine for illegal fireworks is $500 (since 2021). Councilmembers discussed barriers to public reporting, the impact on veterans and pets, property damage (e.g., melted streets), and the desire to explore incentives or increased fines. The city manager agreed to bring the topic back after the July 4 holiday for further policy discussion.
• Truth in Taxation Public Hearing (Item 5A): Finance Director Renee presented the proposed FY2025 property tax levy. The primary levy would increase by about $300,000 (from $3.7M to $4.0M), but the tax rate would decrease from 63.73 cents to 62.41 cents per $100 of assessed value due to rising property values. The total property tax (primary + secondary) is projected at just under $9.5 million. The city’s portion accounts for 11% of a sample property’s total tax bill. A roll-call vote approved the intent to raise the levy (motion by Councilmember Solario, second by Nielsen, all ayes).
• FY2025 Fee Schedule (Item 5B): Renee and City Engineer Kim Moon presented proposed fee changes across departments. New fees include memorial benches, temporary certificates of occupancy, group housing registration, pavement cut fees, telecom fees (including boring and handhold vault inspection), and traffic control plan fees. Fees were updated to reflect actual costs and align with neighboring cities. Telecom fees drew one public comment; staff noted that fees are still lower than most comparable cities. Council discussed the need for a future work session to review fee policies comprehensively, especially for police reports (noting victims receive reports free) and other fees. The fee schedule was approved 7-0 (motion by Nielsen, second by Vice Mayor Paneda).

Key Outcomes

• Alamar CFD Board: The public hearing was opened and closed with no comments; the board then adjourned to a special meeting, where the consent agenda was approved 7-0, and the special meeting was adjourned.
• City Council Consent Agenda: Approved 7-0 with no items removed.
• Truth in Taxation Hearing: Council voted unanimously (7-0) to adopt Resolution 1054-0624 setting the intent to raise the property tax levy. The final budget and levy adoption will occur after the required two-week waiting period.
• FY2025 Fee Schedule: Adopted 7-0 via Resolution 1054-0624, effective July 1, 2025. A work session to review fee policy, including potential adjustments to police report fees, is planned for September 2025 (after the July 30 election).
• SMI Group Home: No formal council action was taken. City staff (police, planning, intergovernmental relations) met with concerned residents after the meeting to provide resources and explain the city’s current role and limitations.
• Future Direction: Council expressed interest in revisiting fireworks enforcement strategies after the July 4 holiday, including possible increased fines or public reporting incentives.