I'd like to call the regular meeting of Monday, January 22nd, 2024 to order.

Would you all please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of reflection?

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

And to the Republic for which it stands.

Liberty and Justice for all.

Thank you, everyone.

Marcella, do you mind doing a roll call, please?

Councilmember Condi.

Councilmember Malone.

Councilmember Nielsen.

Councilmember Solario.

Councilmember White.

Vice Mayor Paneda.

Mayor Weiss.

Here.

Ron Item two A, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Council.

First up, we have our Director of Development Services, Jody Novak.

Good evening, Mayor and Vice Mayor.

Well, tonight I'd like to introduce our new senior planner and development services on our planning division team, Sandra Freund.

Sandy has spent her career on the West Coast.

Most recently, she was working in the state of Oregon.

She brings experience from both city and county agencies during her career of service as a professional planner.

She's AICP certified in planning and has her bachelor's degree from California State in Long Beach and has her master's degree from Penn State.

She's looking forward to being closer to family, which is one of the reasons she decided to choose Avondale, because she has some family that live nearby, as well as jump into tackling projects we have here in our community.

And in her free time, she enjoys quilting, gardening, golfing, and photography.

Welcome, Sandy.

Thank you.

You can do all that here.

That's amazing.

You picked a great place.

Yes, it is a great place.

Thank you.

Welcome to the city.

Thank you.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Okay.

Next up, we have a finance department.

Renee, our director.

Hello, good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council.

Tonight I have the pleasure of introducing our new senior revenue analyst, Mayette Bailey.

Mayette is new to the valley, having moved from Northern California, where she served as a finance manager for the city of San Leandro.

Mayette has over 20 years of experience in finance and public service prior to San Leandro.

She worked in a water sewer district as well as other county and federal agencies.

But we have to say she does bring a great attitude to the city.

So the weather we've been having lately is similar to home?

A little bit.

Yes, actually, unfortunately for me, because I thought it was all hot and sunny all the time, but I'm not sure.

I'm happy to be here.

We're glad you're here.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Next up is Andy, our director of human resources.

Good evening, Mayor Vice Mayor and Council.

Um it's my pleasure to introduce Josue Masias.

Josue recently joined the city as a senior management analyst in the human resources department.

Uh his focus is on streamlining operations and crafting services that put people first.

Uh Josue brings 10 years of experience in service design process improvement, data analysis, and local government to his new role, and he currently holds uh certifications in lean six sigma black belt and service uh design practitioner.

He's a performance leader at uh leadership academy and the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership, uh Flynn Brown Fellowship.

Hosue also has a master's in public administration and a bachelor of science in public policy from ASU.

And he lives in Phoenix with his wife Cindy and 10 month old daughter Noah, and these days he spends most of his time outside uh of work looking up home improvement how-to's and learning how to be a dad.

Glad you're here.

Thank you.

Oh, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, Andy left some detail out.

Andy Um, where did you meet uh this young gentleman at and where did he come from?

It may have been at my prior employer.

Uh but it's been some time since we worked together.

So you know, I'm friends with Clint Hickman.

So I'm friends with Clint Techman, I'm going to start keeping phone calls now.

I'm friends with Clint too.

I'll let you, I'll let you talk to him then.

Welcome aboard.

Are we putting a moratorium on county high rates now?

No, we're not actually but I may get a call soon.

Or you.

Next up, we have our public works director Kirk.

Kirk, is he from the county?

No, from the state.

All right, we're good then.

So, mayor and vice mayor and council, I have the pleasure of introducing Cole Peel, the city's new water resources manager.

So Cole joined our team just two weeks ago, having previously worked for the Arizona Department of Water Resources as a supply and demand analyst, where he contributed to statewide assessment of water supplies and demand, and also worked in the Colorado River Management section on contracts and entitlements prior to his time with ADWR, Cole worked in the safe drinking water section of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

So Cole's experience is going to allow him to be very effective in managing our portfolio, overseeing the city's water conservation efforts to our conservation uh coordinator and ensuring compliance with the uh quality standards for with our water quality and regulatory compliance division.

Cole has a bachelor's degree in environmental sciences from the University of Arizona and earned his master in public policy degree from Arizona State University.

Outside of his professional commitments, Joel or sorry, Joel Cole explores Arizona's landscapes through hiking during the weekends, drawing inspiration from nature, he enjoys painting landscapes and scenery.

And in his leisure time, he also has a passion for baking and watching Arizona Wildcat sports.

Yeah, okay.

There was one person in the room who went, woo, and that was so join us in saying a warm welcome to Cole, and he's happy to be here.

But Cole, I do have to ask.

I know you're loyal to all your loyalties aren't split between U of A and ASU because you mentioned U of A sports.

So football program going to be okay next year with U of A?

Uh good question.

Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council members.

Uh I'm a little optimistic, but you know, I've kind of seen things go either way.

So we'll have to see with uh Judd Fish leaving, who we uh decided or no, we actually did San Jose State, I think, as the coach.

So you lost your quarterback, so it's gonna be uh interesting to say the least.

But welcome aboard.

Thank you so much.

Item two B is um a proclamation regarding anti-human trafficking.

Um we are all um interested and concerned with making this preventable and and helping victims, um, there's a member of our council who has really gotten involved with this and really uh her her work on the uh Southwest Advocacy Center is huge.

And I've asked her to read the proclamation tonight.

Tina Thank you, Mayor.

Um well before I begin, I just want to just of course say thank you, but really I want to thank Chief Espinoza, um the director of the Southwest Family Advocacy Center, and the sex trafficking task force that was just started last year.

So as we know that um this is happening in our cities, this is happen not just happening in other countries, and I think just last year, because of a movie that came out, it really started bringing awareness.

And I'm so thankful that we have a mayor and a council that um are taking the lead in the West Valley to really address these issues.

This this is real, this is a growing problem that's happening.

And right now I just want to ask, take this opportunity to encourage schools, faith-based organizations, parent groups, youth serving organizations, businesses, and advan and and individuals at the advocacy center, there's free classes that we offer um to the community to educate and prevent these things from happening in our cities.

I just ask that you guys please take advantage of those classes, um, talk to your kids.

I think awareness is just is critical, and we really have to start having these tough conversations.

I also want to just say thank you to city management, mayor and council for allowing me to read this proclamation of taking a stance and proclaiming not in our city.

So today, um I want to, whereas human trafficking is a global plague that impacts millions of people each year, including tens of thousands of Americans, and whereas the United States ranks as one of the worst countries globally for human trafficking, and whereas Arizona ranks in the top five states with the highest rates of human trafficking per capita, and whereas human trafficking impacts people across all demographic and ages, including teenagers and children.

Whereas the City of Avondale joins schools, churches, nonprofit organizations, law enforcement, government partners, and the not in our city.org movement in our commitment to increase public awareness of the human trafficking epidemic that impacts our communities, our state, our nation, and our world.

Now, therefore, I, Tina Conde, and the entire city council of the City of Avondale, Arizona, do hereby proclaim January 2024 as anti-human trafficking month.

I urge our residents and partners to work together to eliminate trafficking from our community and support the efforts of our frontline organizations and law enforcement in the battle to against human trafficking and to take a stand and say not in our city.

Thank you, Tina.

This next proclamation is a little bit uh bittersweet and involves a member of the community who served this community for many years in different capacities.

The family is still involved in the community, still love this community, and um when I was asked by former mayor uh Lopez Rogers to consider doing this.

This council, this leadership did not hesitate at all.

So um to the Badoya family.

Whereas William Bill Badoya was born in Liberty, Arizona and moved to Avondale, Arizona as a young child, we're where Bill grew with pride of his heritage and cold water roots, and whereas Bill attended Avondale Elementary School District and was promoted to Lichfield High School, where he was one of 22 students in the class of 1944, and whereas Bill joined the Army Air Corps in 1945 and served in the Philippines for two years until his discharge in 1947.

Whereas Bill worked as a civilian at the Lichfield Naval Air Facility in Goodyear, restoring military aircraft and worked as a mechanic maintaining and repairing jet engines, including the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Whereas Bill got married to Lupe Morillo on July 26, 1952, and raised their four children in homes within Avondale.

Whereas Bill stayed involved and active in the Avondale community as a volunteer fire chief, a 41-year member of the Avondale Volunteer Fire Department, and a 20-year member of Avondale's Planning and Zoning Committee.

Whereas Bill served as a city council member from 1986 through 1989, serving two years as vice mayor and served as mayor from 1990 to 1996.

Whereas Bill's a visionary economic development included the annexation of Phoenix International Raceway and securing a 10 million dollar federal grant for water and sewer systems in Cashing, whereas Bill passed away on November 25th, 2023, leaving a lasting mark on this city.

Now therefore, the mayor and city council of the city of Avondale, Arizona, do hereby honor mayor Bill Badoya for his profound contributions to Avondale's growth and prosperity.

And from entire city council, you have our heartfelt uh thoughts and prayers for your family.

Thank you, Mayor and City Council, we very much appreciate you acknowledging our father for all of the work that he did in the great city of Avondale, where we all grew up here too.

And again, thank you.

We very much appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

And do I understand that you're going to take a picture with our fire chief out in the lobby?

Yes, that's correct.

That'd be program.

We'd welcome you to come back in, and if you're not up to it, we understand.

Thank you very much for the appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Ron Item 4 2D, please.

Thank you.

Next, we have uh Donna Gardner from our community, the engagement manager of neighborhood and family services, to present exceptional students of Avondale recognition, our AVI student stars.

Hi, Donna.

Hi, good evening, Mayor.

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

It's always a pleasure to be here to just highlight and recognize the wonderful things that students in the Avendale community are doing and the commitment that they have to the community.

So with the exceptional student of Avondale nominations, I would like to just acknowledge the superintendents that are present tonight, the families, and also the teachers and parents that are here to just support these students.

The first student that I will be highlighting is part of.

Sorry, and I also um would like to let you know that we have Edith Baltier as our assistant director here this evening that will be assisting with handing out the certificates and the awards.

So the first student is from the Avendale Elementary School District and attends Michael Anderson School.

Um Ivan Castro Gomez is a seventh grader.

Ivan is a member of National Junior Honor Society, and through National Honor Society, Ivan has participated in several volunteer opportunities.

Ivan has developed leadership skills through the National Honor Society and has had the opportunity to work with a variety of stakeholders.

He participates in sports, including both soccer and cross-country.

And Ivan is a participant in the gifted program, where he is often spotted collaborating with uh younger peers to mentor them and help them and expand uh their thinking.

His nominator states he embodies high character and uh leadership.

I'd like to invite Ivan down.

Oh, you are here.

Thank you.

The uh next student attends Litchfield Elementary with is within the Lichfield Elementary School District and attends uh Corte Sierra.

Um her name is Mia Science.

Mia is a fourth grader.

Um she is always coming to school eager to learn new things.

She never gives up when things challenge her, and she strives to be challenged.

She spreads positivity and kindness on campus and is willing to help anyone.

Mia is always going above and beyond in her classwork.

Following that, I have a student that is within the Lichfield Elementary or Littleton Elementary School District and attends uh Lakin Prep Academy.

Um this individual is uh Michaela Reed.

Michaela is a fifth grader, and she is the true um essence of being a kids at hope.

So Michaela has had an unwavering commitment to her academic excellence, and her grades do show for this.

She is a leader on her recreational volleyball team.

She shows exceptional teamwork and uh sportsmanship.

Michaela is a natural leader who remains steadfast in her commitment to upholding her own moral compass and values.

Following that, I have Lizabeth Sanchez that attends Rio Vista.

Lizabet is within the Pindergas Elementary School District and is an eighth grader.

She is kind, intelligent, and incredibly respectful to the Rio Vista um school community.

She um consistently comes to class ready and eager to learn, ensuring her work is completed and on time and the best uh to her ability.

She is hardworking and she uh dedicates her time to being a leader in the National Junior Honor Society.

I want to congratulate all four of you for receiving this nomination on behalf of your schools.

Thank you so much.

And at this time, I'd like to open it up to Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council for any comments or questions.

First of all, let's give them a round of applause.

So council will be honored to take a photo with them when we get through.

Can I ask the parents of these four outstanding students if you're here to stand up?

Parents, aunts, grandmas, uncles.

Can you stay standing?

Can you stay standing?

Mark, I see you.

I saw Betsy.

Educators in the room.

Can you stand up, please, and be recognized also?

School board members.

Thank you for everything you do.

I I think sometimes we hear the the stories about what kids can't do, what they fail to do.

This reinforces what we believe in our community that Emadel is a kids at hope community, and that every chance has a every child has a chance to succeed no matter what.

We believe that as a council, we believe that in leadership.

And parents, if you'd like to come up and join us, or aunts, uncles, who's ever, who's ever here, come take a picture with these incredible kids with us, please?

Educators, everyone, can we get this all in the picture?

I'm making promises for you that I'm not sure, but council, will you join me down there?

Everyone come on up here.

Come on.

Everyone who's here, come on with information with us, please.

I don't have to worry about the button.

We'll figure it out.

Um again.

Yes.

Okay.

Um, let me cut.

Oh, solid.

Yeah, we've got 20 more people in here.

All right.

Yeah, look right at the tripod.

Right.

Try.

Yep.

Right at the tripod.

Parents, if you want to like puddle around these?

Yeah.

She's very quick.

Solid.

Stay there.

Don't move.

Gonna come in a little bit higher.

Stay there.

All right.

Big smiles, hold.

Looking right over here.

Don't move.

Three, two, one.

Stay there.

Second photo.

Three, two, one, big smiles.

Um, Miss Ray.

Yeah.

Schmidt Schmidt.

This pretty good.

Council members.

Shoulder, stay there.

I saw you like lightly peeping out behind me.

All right, first photo, big smile, three, two, one.

Second photo.

Family and council.

One more.

Thank you.

Nicole T.

That's on my agenda.

So my son's.

Oh.

So, Council, before we go into uh public comment, um, there's there's one thing that's happened today that's it's kind of important, and that is Nicole's birthday is today.

Everyone give a Nicole a broader five.

Huh?

Hold on, and Ron was yours yesterday?

Ron's was yesterday.

You failed to you failed to mention that, so and there's one more in the room.

But I am not going to mention them because I know they'll hit me, so I'm not.

She's waking up here.

I know who she is.

I know who she is.

Brenda, happy birthday.

On schedule public appearances, I do have a card.

Thank you, Mayor.

I believe Mr.

Uber has left.

Um we can check back later if I do see him come into the room.

And my only direction, and memo, you know this is just to keep those lines of communication open.

And I know you and your team do, but they I appreciate that.

Item four is consent agenda.

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

Seeing and hearing none, can I get a motion on the consent agenda, please?

I have a motion from Councilmember Condi, a second from Councilmember White.

Please vote.

Passes unanimously.

Thank you, Council.

Ron, item 5A, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Council.

Next up is Andy Musquita, our Director of Human Resources, and I believe.

Captain Tussing is also in the audience to answer questions and to participate as well.

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

Uh the item before you is the proposed fiscal year 25 and 26 memorandum of understanding between the City of Avondale and the Avondale Professional Firefighters Association.

Very big day.

Just for context, the respective negotiation teams were comprised of the following individuals.

So for city management, we had Chase C Stevens, Assistant City Manager, Renee Weatherless, Finance and Budget Director, Justin Ernst, Assistant Fire Chief, Jeff Sheets, IT Director, and myself.

For APF FA, we had Ryan Tussing, President, Chris Smith, Vice President, Kaelin Smith, PAC Treasurer, Eric Folger, disciplinary trustee, and Brendan Weiss, Treasurer.

I want to take a moment to recognize Torin Sado, senior management analyst with the city manager's office for the support and assistance.

For his support and assistance throughout the MOU process.

Torrin's organizational skills, attention to detail, time management and timely communication were essential in keeping the team on track and finalizing the overall process.

So for uh reaching consensus as a group, we um implemented the guiding principle of being fiscally responsible, legal, and serving the best interests of the community.

So everything that we looked at was in that context.

So the proposed agreement before you tonight uh reincorporates existing MOU language.

It introduces revised and new MOU language, and the term of the agreement is from July 1st, 2024 through June 30th, 2026.

At this time, I'm I'll briefly cover the key changes being proposed.

Uh under our definition section, we're removing a duplicate definition for absent with relief, as that definition exists in another part of the MOU.

Uh section 1.1, recognition and employee organization rights.

We added language to clarify that terms employee unit member, member, and represented employee have the same meaning throughout the MOU.

Uh section 1.2, rights of represented employees.

We added language to indicate that enrollment of members into the post-retirement health plan is a collaborative process between HR and APFFA.

There are some responsibilities on on both ends, so wanting to make sure that that's a process that is uh collaborative in nature.

We wanted to memorialize that in the MOU.

Additionally, uh we made modifications, uh it modifies enrollment to take place after academy graduation rather than completion of original probation.

Section 1.2 provisions applicable to probationary firefighters is a new section.

So it clarifies which provisions of the MOU are applicable to probationary firefighters.

To give context, some provisions begin on the first day of employment, and some are applicable after graduation from the academy or the lateral onboarding process.

Uh for context, deferred compensation enrollment is available to members on first day of employment or to employees on first day of employment.

Sick leave accruals, vacation leave accruals, uh post-retirement, health enrollment, and uniform allowance outlined in the MOU are available after academy graduation or lateral onboarding.

We also added section 1.3 and nepotism policy.

Uh it adds language clarifying that immediate family members of current fire department employees may be hired in the fire department if the immediate family member is not supervised by the related unit member.

Uh it includes both direct and indirect supervision, and the fire chief may approve exceptions in emergency situations.

So you'll see our table looks a lot different than it has in years past.

We added some additional specialty pays and so forth to step out what each of those pay rates will look like based upon the new step scale to enhance transparency and make sure that it was very clear on what those rates of pay will be based on the various types of specialty pays offered through the city.

So overall, there was a 9% increase to the initial step for firefighter, and then that increase by 5% throughout the ranks.

We condensed the number of steps for engineer and captain from four to three.

For firefighters step zero is for probationary employees.

So it still maintains the overall eight-step system, but the step zero is used for for new hires.

And then upon probation completion, they'll be moved to step one.

For promotion, promoted employees go to step zero of the new rank, and then step one once probation their promotional probation is completed.

And then for lateral placement, it provides credit for prior years of qualifying firefighter experience up to step three of the new scale.

Initial placement in the new plan will be based on years of service of current members in their ranks as of July 1st, 2024.

And the new wage table incorporates, as I mentioned, specialty pays to enhance transparency and uh for unit members.

This next wage table is what it will look like in fiscal year 2026.

So unit members will receive a 3% cost of living adjustment and a one-step merit increase, which uh is roughly 8% overall, unless they're topped out.

So if they're topped out, they will receive the 3% cost of living adjustment.

To add a little bit more context, the fiscal year 25 annual salaries are presented by rank and step.

So we annualized each of those uh salaries based on the 56 hour firefighter schedule, which comes out to 2,912 hours per year.

So you'll see those annualized for each of the steps associated with the various ranks.

Additionally, when looking at our comparators, you'll notice that Avondale Fire at the at the bottom, those are our new rates and how they stack up against current comparators throughout the valley.

The table shows where Avondale will rank upon implementation, and then it's based on the MOU data currently available for other agencies.

So we collectively believe that these salary adjustments will make us more competitive and better support our efforts to recruit and retain Avondale firefighters.

Going further with key changes, so our regular hourly rate section, we added language to indicate that the regular hourly rate is used for the purpose of computing premium pay, and I'll talk a little bit more about premium pay in the next slide.

And then specialty pay, it increases our paramedic pay from $2.60 per hour to $3.40 per hour.

Additionally, it increases technical rescue pay from $1 an hour to $1.10 per hour.

With a specialty pay adjustment to paramedic pay, it makes Avondale among amongst the highest paid for paramedics.

Overtime and premium pay, so this is a revised section.

So we added language for premium pay, which equals to one and a half times the unit member's regular hourly rate for specified hours worked outside the set work schedule.

Essentially, it's triggered once the original set schedule is satisfied by hours worked, and/or by using one of the approved leaves, so vacation, sick leave, short-term disability.

It also establishes a pilot program that allows for 56-hour employees to be paid 2.1 times their 56 hour rate for eligible assignments designated and approved by the fire chief.

So those eligible assignments would include special events with the exception of NASCAR, but it would be fire watch, instructing department training, and attending department mandatory trainings.

The total numbers of hours allotted for the pilot program is up to 2,000 hours per fiscal year.

Move up pay.

So we've adjusted move up pay from a flat percentage based on assignment to the minimum step of the rank the unit member is filling.

So previously it was a flat percentage of 5% or 10% for a firefighter who is maybe going up two ranks to backfill the captain.

Now unit members will be paid at step zero of the rank that they are moving up to.

So this commits to providing unit members with a 3% COLA and one percent and one step merit increase in FY26.

However, if the city provides a COLA to non-represented employees that's greater than 3%, unit members will receive a COLA equal to the higher percentage.

Additionally, it establishes language that APFA will create and submit a market analysis report by October 1st of 2024 to HR and city management based on comparative cities, and that a meeting will take place or be scheduled within 45 days between the association, HR finance, and fire administration to review the report.

Section 8.4 uh includes a new item sick leave death benefit.

So it added it's adds language to indicate that if a unit member dies in the line of duty, their beneficiary will receive a 100% payout of accrued sick leave at the unit members' regular hourly rate.

Additionally, we have uh section 8.5 that's been adjusted.

We've adjusted current accrual rates to allow for members with 0 to 9.99 years of service to accrue 12.28 hours per pay period.

For context, um uh new members 0 to 1.99 years accrued 9.92 hours, and then members uh 2 to 4.99 years accrued 11 uh hours per pay period.

Section 8.8 to deferred compensation plans.

We increased the city's contribution amount per pay period for unit members from $20 to $50 for those unit members that contribute a minimum of $50 per pay period.

Um we added some clarifying language, no substantive changes to the post-retirement health plan section.

And um similar for military leave, we modified the language to remove the reference to paid military leave not to exceed 420 hours in any two consecutive years and replaced it with a reference to the amounts allocated in state law.

So if that's updated, it automatically will apply to our uh to the members covered by the MOU.

Section 8.12, holiday pay adds clarifying language indicating that the vacation accrual rate includes holiday leave.

Uh it increases the number of holiday hours unit members are paid when working a city designated holiday and the number of holiday hours added to vacation bank when a new holiday is added by the city from 11.25 hours to 12 hours.

And it also adds the list of city designated holidays as of October 31st, 2023, and references AP42 as a primary source for di uh city designated holidays.

Section 9.1C is is a new section.

Um so fitness examinations, we've added language to provide unit members who retire between July 1st of 2024 and June 30th, 2026, with the one-time $5,000 contribution to their post-retirement health uh account intended for the reimbursement of an annual medical and physical fitness exam and other qualified medical expenses.

And lastly, we have section 10.1 uniform allowance uh increases uniform allowance amount from $500 paid twice annually to $650 paid twice annually.

Um section 12.2 retreat funds increases the amount of funds allocated for the annual EIP labor management retreat from $9,594 to $12,000 and increases the amount of funds allocated for the annual awards banquet from $6,000 to $7,000.

The estimated budget impact will be included in the FY25 budget, but it's anticipated to be 1.5 million dollars annually.

And uh the recommendation is uh we recommend that city council approve the MOU with the Avondale Professional Firefighters Association effective July 1st, 2024 through June 30th, 2026.

And that concludes my presentation.

At this time, I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Andy, I I appreciate this.

I appreciate the work that went back forth.

Ryan, do you mind coming up to the podium also?

I've been doing this for a long time.

And did the first MOU meet and discuss, meet and confer kind of describe this go-around as previous go-arounds because you've been involved in other MOU discussions.

Kind of give us an idea.

Uh good evening, Mayor Council, for everybody out there, uh Kathryan Tussing, uh, local 3924 president.

Uh just introduce myself.

Uh I've been in this process, I think, since my fourth year on the job.

I'm going in my 20th year this June.

Uh this process with Mr.

Corbin's leadership, his team.

It was very collaborative.

They listened to everything we had to say.

Uh one of the biggest things that that has happened over the past year and a half is our firefighters leaving for other cities.

Uh that was our biggest push.

It's hard to recruit now because every other city.

Uh and Mr.

Corbin helped me out before.

I I went to and I said I need help.

I can't convince firefighters to stay, you know, with my good looks and charm.

It's it was a wage discussion.

Umy did a great job.

We we collaborated.

We said, what how can we keep people here?

How can we compete?

Uh so it's a great collaboration.

Uh it's also tough to know what firemen want typically.

Uh we did a priority poll through all the membership.

Every firefighter in the city said, hey, what will keep people here?

Uh because we had a big push.

Uh other cities were trying to take our senior firefighters, and they have left.

So the collaboration was awesome.

I couldn't ask for a better team that the city city management put on.

Our team as well.

It's a it's the local 3924 executive board and it introduced.

Right.

But it was an excellent collaboration.

And the biggest thing in my opening statement to it was this MOU.

I apologize because our previous ones weren't as specific.

So it left a lot of things up for interpretation.

I wanted the casual viewer to see what the city does for us in this MOU.

That was a that was a big thing to not leave anything up interpretation, or what what is that?

What does that mean?

Because uh the fire department is very different from other entities in the city and how it operates, how it runs.

And unfortunately, the public safety is very expensive too to keep the city safe.

So you know, you being there from the beginning, and you know, the discussions that happened many years ago were there are organizations inside the city that better or worse, this had to be treated differently.

The way their job is what they're what they're asked to do, puts demands on them and puts demands on the city that city councils change.

Leadership changes.

There needs to be documents and things in place that fortify that relationship and fortify the understanding between those groups and the city so that one person can't come in and change it.

I'm glad you said what you said, Andy.

I'm glad I see the team behind Renee.

Uh Torrin, thank you for everything you did.

Tracy, I think your relationship with fire goes back a long ways.

And Ron coming in, I'm glad it went smoothly this time.

I'm not gonna be a part of that next negotiation, but my hope is that negotiations go smoothly in the future and that we can build upon this.

Do we have an idea as we go forward?

And I don't want to take up all of council's questions.

We've lost firefighters.

What is our what is our task of of recruiting and touting this new MOU to get people back on board?

It may not be a question for you guys, but I mean that's our goal, right?

Our goal is to keep the people that we have.

I'm looking back there and I'm seeing the team.

Our goal is to keep you here.

Yeah, and that was that was the total goal, and that's why you hear the little voices back there.

Uh I wanted to put a face on our firemen.

Most of our wages and benefits go to those little voices back there, our kids.

Uh and that's the biggest thing is we we want to bring in family people in general, and because they buy into this culture just as much as anybody else.

Uh but with with with the trends and what I'm seeing with the uh cost and all the other cities are growing.

Uh they're dangling a carrot out there saying, hey, we got better benefits and better wages over here.

Why don't you think about it?

And unfortunately, that's been happening uh since I think 2021, uh I believe we lost 16 firefighters.

And these are new ones, 19 year veterans, uh some captains, uh and when Mr.

Corbin got here, I he sat with me and listened to me, and I said, We've got I I don't know how to do it, I can't do it myself.

Uh and it's it was nobody's fault.

The city's always taken care of us, uh, but we got behind uh a little too much.

And I'd be remiss, you know, two years ago a probationary firefighter was up here and he's during the last MOU, and he stated how much he loves working here, how how much the culture is awesome.

Uh he's gone now.

He left to another city because uh they had better wages, they had better benefits, and he for firefighters it's a tough, tough decision.

But at the end of the day, they have to do what's best for their families, best for them.

Uh, and that's what we're kind of dealing with now.

And I think through this collaboration, uh I express that a lot this this time in the negotiations because the last thing I want it's very expensive if we lose people.

Agreed.

Because we have to train them, and we have to uh kind of uh it it's very costly, and I feel bad for a fire chief that has to spend the money each time.

He got dressed up today, did you see?

He did, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, we're fully staffed.

Uh there we have uh one more recruit going to the next academy, I believe, but um we are fully staffed in the fire department.

And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention him.

He's he's been so supportive of our administration.

We didn't have an administration before he's been fully supportive of staff in that for Chief Rooney, uh fully supporting uh some of the proposals I've I've given him just to listen, just to listen to the challenges that we face.

Uh I know I gave him a cancer proposal.

I don't know if everybody knows that uh our third party workers' comp is denying our cancer claims in the fire department too.

Uh he he was awesome.

He listened to me on that too.

Uh and that's something going around statewide as workers' comps denying uh basically the law on presumptive cancer claims.

So and that's happening to us too.

So he he has been awesome listening.

And I do things with proposals just to say, hey, here's an issue.

Whatever you can do for us, you know, we'd be thankful.

But I just want to get my fireman back on the truck.

I I I would ask you, and I want to open this up to council comments.

I would ask you on that subject.

Um I think the way we saw this, we can't do this at a city level.

We can try, but it has to be done at a state level.

And I'm asking you to get with Liz and and members of council who want to go down to the legislature and testify on this.

My hope is that a bill is going to be floated this year, or serious bill this year on this subject, and we can take care of this once and for all.

I think it's ridiculous when I see other cities what they've done.

Um you can't talk the talk without walking the walk.

And so I just want to get that.

Let me go down the line.

Max.

Thank you so much for the presentation, Andy and Ryan, for the hard work that you're doing.

I appreciate all of the firefighters and all of the families that are here today.

Um we know the sacrifices that you're making each and every day.

I appreciate the fact that you're calling Avondale your work home.

Um, having visited all of the fire station.

I see my girl got me dressed up back there and made me actually do the workout, pull the hose last year.

Um I feel like I got initiated.

So I couldn't take it either.

Um, so you guys do truth be told.

Um, but you do it every day.

I I did have a question because maybe it's my knee abity and I haven't been here before.

But I I I hope that we do have family members who are a part of our our fire family, multi-generational.

I noticed with the nepotism clarity that was added that that offers more leeway for that.

Um that was something that you you see.

I just know from our fire chief, I hear his great stories of how he used to wait for his dad to come home.

Um so I would just hope that you know we would have generations of firefighters who would be interested in calling Avondale their home.

So that's just something when I heard that I just thought of you, Chief.

So I just I I want that for families here in Avondale.

So I I appreciate the um negotiations.

I'm I'm happy um that that we have each and every one of you.

Thank you for all the families that are here.

I have relationships with some of you in the audience, and I felt like I couldn't just say hi.

So I'm I can't wait to talk again.

I don't know that I've got really anything to say.

I'm I'm grateful, Ryan, that you've told us at least how well it went through this time in my career in the mines and the copper mines.

Uh some of those went on for you know how long they went on, and I just hated that time of the season in the year.

Every three years it came up.

I appreciate you looking at this.

Those of you who have been together, the group, and you got it done so quickly and so nicely.

And it's something I hope that you're pleased with.

And you look forward to it and tout about it around the town, wherever it might be or outside, and let's continue to work and make it good.

Thank you.

Thank you, Curtis.

Aurea.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Thank you for coming.

I know that this is dinner time for many of you, but thank you for being here with us.

Um, I kind of would like to piggyback on what some of our council has said.

Um when I think of first responders, you know, obviously we think police officers and fire, but more so than anything, fire shows up for each other.

So it's really nice to see everyone in the crowd.

Um, I do appreciate the breakdown that was given to us with the items that have changed, because I think you had mentioned it, that there was some things you wanted to define, and those things are as a council member.

I appreciate the the time that was put into this and the effort to kind of help us understand and break down the process that um has been put forth.

Andy and everyone else who was involved, thank you for it.

Um I feel like it's really kind of I don't want to say that it's kind of like when you have a subject and it's like you know, the the the book for dummies per se to know it, but the really the language that's behind it really helped clarify many of the questions.

I am with Max on the um one of the things that I had asked questions before the meeting, and uh now was that nepotism policy, just because the definition to it is important when we think of first responders many times, and in other cities it's bigger than others.

Um we think of the parents that you know come forth and do that and the children that follow behind that and want the same career and the opportunities to come, brothers and sisters to come in and be able to work where maybe mom, grandpa, or you know, uncle aunt worked are just great.

So I really like that addition to the policy.

Thank you.

Thanks, Gloria.

Tina.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Ryan.

I'm glad to hear that everything went well, and it looks like there's a lot of changes that gonna have that are gonna be happening to benefit our for firefighters.

You know, one thing that I think we all can agree on, we want to take care of those that take care of the our community that we live and work in.

So I when people come, one of the things they always talk about is family, that our culture here in Avondale is family.

And looking out into this this today in this um into the chambers, I see families here.

And this is really what it's all about, making sure that you guys get what you need so that you guys have healthy families and that you're able to take care of them.

So I just want to just say thank you and thank you for everybody that showed up today.

We sure do appreciate you.

Thank you.

Veronica.

Thank you for the presentation.

I'm uh glad that everything went well.

And I want to thank uh Ron's team and our firefighting team.

Um I'm also gonna minute what everybody else has said.

I'm glad we did touch up on the nepotism policy as well as just making sure that we're when I do look out here.

I'll look at all of you guys as a family, and you guys always take care of each other.

And in the middle, I always say this in the middle of the night, nobody's gonna come out and help one of our community members is actually going to be either a fire or a policeman.

So thank you guys for all of um all that you guys do it day in and day out, and I'm very happy, like um Gloria has said, this is really a book for dummies because I looked at the pay and I was like, whoa.

Um so I I asked a lot of questions.

Thank you, Mr.

Corbin, for answering.

I do have a question that I'd like to go back on.

Your deferred comp is 20 to 50 dollars.

I just want to get a clarification on that.

So you if they pay 20 in, they get we pay 20 in, if they pay up to 50, we pay 50.

So mayor vice mayor, council member Malone.

Currently the MOU has um 20 dollars is the amount that the city will contribute if a member contributes at least 20.

So we're revising that to make it 50, so the city will contribute at least 50 dollars if a member uh contributes the same amount.

So we're just shifting the total amount from 20 to 50 dollars, but there is uh uh a requirement that the member um also put in at least $50 in their in their deferred comp account.

Perfect.

And then um thing Ryan did hit on is the amount of firefighters that we've lost throughout the years.

I hope that this MOU takes when it takes effect that it takes effect and we're able to retain all of the firefighters that go through our recruiting process, goes through the academy and comes on and and joins the Avondell family because we have a wonderful culture, and you guys are a great group of men and women that work hard for our city.

So thank you guys for everything you do.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ryan.

Thank you.

Um, you know, it's it's important that you you alluded to it a little bit, uh Ryan, in regards to retention and the fact that hiring somebody is more expensive than retention of of our current uh staff, and and that's key.

And so um what came across in uh my communication with uh city leadership is the fact that uh this go-around was had no contentious uh part of it.

Everybody worked together for the common good, which is very important, obviously.

But at the end of the day, everyone who puts on the uniform essentially our ambassadors.

And if they're not happy, uh how are they gonna spread the same message to others in the community, especially those who look to Avondale um as being a place that they can call home uh with the same uniform on.

And so the ability for negotiations to go as well as they did.

Um I would attribute a lot of that to your team, but as well as your professionalism and your history here with the city, being that you've had so many opportunities to the fact that you would allow for uh the communication to be proactive instead of you know allowing for questions to to remain in the reader's uh mind.

So I think that says a lot about where you all are with the association that allowed for those um negotiations to be so smooth and for city staff, Tracy and the team uh to be able to communicate back and understand that uh we are where we are as a result of that, um, speaks volumes.

And so I appreciate you know everyone who was here on behalf of the MOU on behalf of your your industry, your field, your career, your brother and sisterhood.

We really appreciate it.

And um, you know, we just want to make sure that we're fully staffed as you mentioned, and those that come in look to stay.

And I think that an MOU like this is a great starting point to achieve that success.

So thank you so much, and I appreciate all who are involved.

Ryan, any final comments for us?

I think we should know.

Um it was a great MOU over the past, I think it was a year and a half.

Uh those were the key issues.

I think we lost eight uh this year alone.

Uh we do have more leaving.

And and before this is enacted.

Uh I don't know the circumstances.

Uh the only the only difference is we're gonna have to wait till July to do it.

And that's the biggest biggest thing.

And I don't know if people are gonna there's four other departments testing right now, and they're actively recruiting still.

Um I kind of talked to Mr.

Corner about two.

Uh I think the paramedics are next.

They're gonna start kind of poaching our paramedics too in a way.

Uh but uh you know I I can't keep them from leaving uh before July.

Uh something I do fear.

Uh and once this is enacted, uh I think we'll be secure, but any in time before that, that's my only concern is I can't I can't keep them.

Hey, just wait six more months.

Right.

I don't know their circumstances, so that that's the only thing that I fear is is that alone.

So understood.

All right, Ron, I know you're on top of that, so I am, sir.

Um I get a motion, please.

I have a motion from Councilmember White, a second from Councilmember Nielsen.

Any further discussion?

Hearing and seeing none, please vote.

Congratulations, everyone.

Congratulations.

Item 5B is the senior center update.

Ron?

Who's doing that?

Sandy Lopez is three times in one week.

Stop.

And everyone, if you um are not staying for the next item, feel free to leave.

Go around there, it's all right.

I can't believe they don't want to stay.

All right, good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council members.

It's a pleasure to be here tonight.

Um, I am going to give you an update on all things senior services.

I'd like to start out with uh a quote.

Um, I think a lot of our seniors kind of live this every day.

Growing old is inevitable, but growing up is optional.

Uh that's a quote by Walt Disney.

And with that, we'll get right into it.

Um, so I'd like to start with with the benefits of senior centers.

Um senior centers, you know, serve to promote the uh the healthy aging of our seniors, right?

They're you know, they have access to health education screenings, resources, all kinds of activities, et cetera.

They develop healthy habits as a result.

Um, and all of this goes to prolong their independence.

They're better able to manage um chronic illnesses, things such as diabetes or heart disease, those sorts of things, and they're able to stay in their homes longer.

Um, and according to the National Council on Aging, there's also they also experience measurable improvement in their physical, relational, spiritual, emotional, mental, and economic well-being.

So looking forward, um nationally, we know that in 2024, the number of Americans turning 65 will reach its highest point in US history, um, with 12,000 people turning 65 every single day.

Uh so the older adult population is one of the fastest growing groups in the nation.

Nearly one in ten older adults live below the poverty level.

And roughly one in four adults uh age 65 and over scrimp on food or other necessities due to the high health care costs.

In Avondale, we know that approximately 80% of Avondale's homeless services clients are over the age of 50.

Um, so what does this all mean?

Um this increased demand means we need to continue to reimagine and broaden our programming and to be optimistic and inclusive and relevant for this new wave of seniors that's coming in.

We need to expand our programs to reach this new demographic, introduce the next wave of retirees to the center, and make sure that they're um comfortable coming when they are ready to retire.

So back in January of 2023, we lowered our eligibility age to age 50.

And while that gives me a little bit of heartburn, I know.

So but we're gonna see these numbers rise, and and we're looking to expand programs and do things that would attract that group that'll be coming in once they retire.

So with that, I'd like to share some outcomes with senior services.

On average, we have we prepare just over 1,600 congregate meals per month.

That's an increase of about 26% over last year in quarters one and two.

About 80% or 80 of those are congregate meals, so meals there in the dining room, and there's probably about 60 additional meals that go out to home delivered meal clients.

We also average about 966 rides per month.

Those are rides to and from the center or to field trips and activities.

That's increased by about 23% over those same quarters from last year.

Our routes are full for transportation to and from the center, and with more people, of course, there's more interest in the field trips and more attending as well.

And then the average daily attendance or engagements or interactions with the senior center or senior programs is about 182.

That's an increase of about 9% over last year.

So you touch on that just for a second.

So when you say engagements, does that mean people physically going to the center and then the meals getting delivered, or is that something else also?

Um so it includes both of those things.

And some people come in and they might not stay for lunch.

Maybe they're only coming in in the morning for exercise, or one of the other activities, bingo, shooting pool, everything else.

Exactly.

But they're engaging or interacting with senior services in one way or another.

All right, so a little deeper dive into the meals and food services we provide.

Uh we provide about or we prepare about 2,500 to 3,000 meals monthly.

1,600 of those are congregate meals, which are prepared five days a week, and then home delivered meals that's about another 1,200 over four days.

So Monday to Thursday.

Um, home delivered meal program is incredibly important.

And while we do a lot of the same things with the seniors that come in, um our home delivered mail clients are a little more uh susceptible or vulnerable to things.

Um I'd like to share a story or two.

Um just last month we had a home delivered mail driver go to home, and when he knocked on the door, he heard the client call out saying she had fallen and she couldn't get up.

Um so he hurried and called 911, right?

And Vire was quick to respond.

She had had a mini stroke, but a lot of these clients live at home alone, and and if nobody comes by, they you know, our our drivers may be the only interaction they have in the whole day or throughout the week, whatever the case may be.

So those they do wellness checks as well, and that's that's a big piece of it.

Um during the summer we had another driver show up to deliver a meal.

When the client opened the door, she got a very strong smell of gas, asked if she could enter the home, and sure enough, the gas had been left on.

Again, took her out, called 911, they were quick to respond.

But both situations could have ended in a in a very tragic way.

Um we also have uh the supplemental food program where we partner with St.

Mary's Food Bank.

Um, this provides a drive-through service.

This is for the greater community, not just seniors.

So, anybody in need of some uh help with groceries, we we've all noticed our grocery bills go up in the past year or so.

Um, and so over 16,000 individuals were assisted in FY23, and we're on track to surpass that number by another three to five thousand this year.

Um again, home delivered meals, uh, provides a hot meal for our homebound seniors, seniors that are unable to prepare meals themselves or go out to the grocery store.

It includes that really important welfare check to make sure they're doing okay.

Um they are encouraged to visit the center if they are able, and um our drivers also provide some referrals to other programs as appropriate, be it the community assistance program or the home repair program, etc.

And picture there, all the pictures in the presentation are some of our actual seniors or staff.

Uh transportation.

So many seniors no longer drive.

Uh we provide rides to and from the center, um, and then we have field trips throughout the month as well, summer mystery trips, so they don't really know where they're going.

Um, they get really excited about that, and it could be you know, a shopping trip, it could be at a park, a museum, any number of things, other points of interest.

Um, and in last uh fiscal year, quarters one and two, uh, we provided uh just over 4700 rides this fiscal year, those same two quarters were just shy of 6,000.

Activities.

Uh we got to keep them busy.

Uh they love all the activities.

All of you have been to the center before, so I know you're aware.

Um, but examples include games and exercise, education, arts and crafts, field trips, and of course, entertainment and celebrations.

We held our winter formal just last Thursday evening, and it was a big hit.

And then just a handful of pictures.

You can see they did drumming therapy, there was a luau with hula hoops, we uh have a sewing club, lunch outings, uh recreated the prices right game show, they love that.

So lots of fun.

We also um are fortunate to collaborate with some of our um other departments, not only other divisions within neighborhood and family services, but other departments as well, um, and other organizations.

In the lower left is the Awafria junior ROTC, they always do a great job, come out, post the colors for our Veterans Day event.

Um in the lower right, Rick Carr uh from Development Services has a band, and he gets his guys out there and they come out and entertain the seniors probably about once per quarter, and he does a great job, they love it.

Um he even takes requests, and uh in the middle there, we have um a field trip that was to the library.

They do a great job of doing different activities to help the seniors maintain their mental acuity, and then in the uh upper left um we have fire there uh helping to pin a veteran for our veterans day event, and then in the upper right is Coffee with a cop.

Um, and I'd like to take a moment and ask Chiefs Espinoza and Rooney to come forward and join me up here, please.

I'm kind of springing this on them.

Um they're kind of one of our longest standing collaborations.

These guys come out and brave the heat and grill for our Mother's Day or Father's Day event or what Veterans Day, etc.

And it gets really hot out there.

Um, but they do a great job, and they they really are um quite quite the celebrities and quite a hit when they come join the seniors.

So as a I know, right?

They're like, why is she calling us up?

I promise it's gonna be okay.

I'm glad I dressed on the occasion.

Right.

Um so we'd just like to share uh a token of our appreciation for all that you guys and your staff do um to support us.

So since they come out in grail, we have grill kits for you guys.

So this could be a weapon of mass destruction.

Well, it all depends on how you like your state.

Very nice.

Very nice.

So thank you both.

We appreciate you guys.

Thank you, thank you.

And with that, that is Avondale Senior Services.

Also in the last year, it's been about a year now.

We changed our tagline.

And we are more than just bingo.

But we do that too.

That's great.

So with that, I'll take any questions you might have.

Council comments.

Gloria.

Sandy, thanks for the presentation.

I know you and I go back as well.

It's Chris and Ethan since before I was on council in working with the senior center for six years.

We went and planted gardens, and then most recently we unloaded one of your food distribution trucks.

So we definitely know what that is like.

And you know, I have you guys to thank for that for that collaboration together.

And it was nice to see the picture at the beginning there of the garden project.

Thank you, Glory.

Tina.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Sandy.

I did have a couple questions because it sounds like there's a lot of seniors, obviously, that use the senior center, which is great.

What um is that including all the neighboring cities?

So that's just not Avondale residents, right?

Is it what other cities attend our so the majority are Avondale residents, but we do have some that come from neighboring cities?

Um Goodyear, Tallison, uh handful from Buckeye, Litchfield Park.

Okay.

And then regarding the drive-through food bank, so that's a separate drive-thru than the Agua Fria Food and Clothing Bank.

Yes, we do it at the center.

Oh wow.

Four times a month.

Wow.

So there definitely is a need if it's being used that that much.

Yes.

Well, thank you.

Thank you for all that you guys do, and I might have to join a mystery trip sometime.

Your house.

All the seniors show up at the conde household.

Oh my god, with a new kitchen with a new kitchen?

Yes.

Next, don't get me started, man.

Thank you so much, Edith, Chris, for all that you do.

I love being over there.

I know that I haven't been recently, but all of the programming that you do that you do, you can tell the seniors have so much fun.

They're always smiling, they're always parting.

Thank you for lowering the age so I can get into the club sooner.

I'm also ready for your energy.

Oh, they're ready.

They have until September.

Tell them I am ready.

But no, I think that's amazing.

I think we don't know how many folks are food insecure.

Um, and that to me is really um uh a big point.

I think too um we don't realize how many people need companionship.

Um a lot of times the seniors um do want to to live alone, but just because of how um our our our modern lifestyle is we don't have multi-generational homes as common as most people had in the past, or as people are moving into now.

So there are often times where seniors are left alone, so it's amazing to hear those stories.

I've lived that experience.

I know what it feels like when you have a senior who's behind a door, there's something going on you can't get to them.

So anybody being able to show up for our seniors in Avondale um is great, but knowing it's actually planned, coordinated, and intentional makes it even better.

So thank you for all that you do.

Thank you.

It's awesome.

Sandy, thank you.

Appreciate it.

I'm sorry, Bronica.

Sorry.

That's all right.

Thanks for the presentation.

Thank you, Sandy.

I um did have a question.

I remember when uh councilman McCondy and I went uh on a trip to deliver.

Um, how long is that process now taking since uh increase has um since we have increased our meals that we uh go out and deliver?

So our home delivered meal program um has remained relatively level.

It's it's uh creeped up very slightly.

Um that one's a little bit tougher too because it really peaked during the pandemic because people couldn't come in.

Um so things, and there was funding specifically for home delivered meals that was that has dried up now.

Okay.

Um so those those routes are probably taking we have five different routes, and we have three drivers out delivering, and they each spend probably about four hours.

Three to four hours.

Okay.

And um I I can't I think we had a really uh light route me and uh uh councilwoman McConnell.

So we are still we're we deliver outside of the Avondale uh, right?

So we're delivering outside the uh um Avondale.

Um it does include parts of Goodyear.

It does cut okay, perfect.

And do we don't know how many um um seniors that we're delivering?

Um I don't have the exact number um overall, or you mean outside of outside of uh um Avondale.

I don't I don't know the exact number off the top of my head, but um overall all interactions.

Um Avondale interactions are about 70 percent.

So Goodyear probably takes up the largest share of the other part, and then Lichfield Parker Tallison.

Okay, perfect.

I'm also with Councilwoman White.

Um I got a few more months, and I'll be in there.

Wow.

No.

No, no.

Forcing my wife to take care of me.

No, I'm not she's online right now, so she's rolling her eyes.

Um Sandy, thank you.

That's awesome.

Chris, Edith, thank you.

All right, thank you.

All right, it's good seeing you three times in one week.

Likewise.

The non de facto city hall at New Penny Cafe.

It's great.

Um, summary of current events.

I just have one, and that was a meeting that um councilmember Malone and Vice Mayor Panetta and I had with leadership last week with a group that is really starting to head up the Rio Reimagined project, which is the uh river restoration, each city getting involved, the river cities.

And uh it's starting to heat up a little bit more.

There's gonna be an ask of city council, I think, going forward if it hasn't already.

And um I I for me it's a I don't want to get into a agenda discussion.

I think it's something that is important to the city, and I look forward to future things uh happening on that.

But I think the discussion and I want to on on last week you felt it was good.

Both of you productive.

Anyone else?

Any other comments on what's going on?

Something in the community that's good?

Max.

I just wanted to um commend our city clerk's office.

I know that we have looked at passport services in the past, but one the um city clerk's office is always doing um just the best work in every aspect of what they're doing.

But I have I have rarely walked into the building without seeing somebody there getting passport services done.

I I came in today real randomly, um, probably we scared Marcella, but somebody when I came back out was at the counter getting their passport done.

So I just am so grateful that we're reactionary in our community.

We make people mobile here by doing that.

We make ourselves kind of uh de facto an international city.

So um I just wanted to acknowledge the clerk's office for doing that consistently and um the fact that I came in, I did not get expedited service.

I want to give a testimonial because people do come to Avondale for their passports.

I came in at the top of December.

I got something from um Kelvin saying, you know, your passport will be around February, and it came the first mail day after Christmas.

So not only are we getting in there, but somehow our stuff is bubbling up to the top without expedited service.

I got it back in no time.

So now I I really appreciate that.

And I and I get that feedback not only from myself but everybody I've talked to about passport services in Avondale.

They come back quicker than expected.

So great job.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Not seeing anything else.

Can I get a motion for adjournment, please?

Idle motion from Councilmember Nielsen, a second from Councilmember Malone.

All those in favor, please vote.

We are adjourned.

Everyone be safe getting home.

It's raining, a lot of rain tonight, a lot of rain tomorrow.