OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Avondale City Council Meeting: New Firefighters, Proclamations, and Denial of Battery Storage Facility - October 15, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, October 15, 2025
BodyAvondale, Arizona
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, October 15, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:34:11

Transcript — Verbatim
2:40

He is not working, he likes to spend time traveling with his wife and children and being outdoors.

2:45

So please welcome Travis to our humble city.

2:53

Next we have Justin Schumann, if he could step forward, please.

2:58

Justin grew up in Glendale, which we do not hold that against him.

3:05

Arizona, and he was a firefighter.

3:07

He recently, this is very interesting, so you got to really pay attention.

3:11

He before taking the job with us, he retired as the Arizona Cardinals mascot big red.

3:18

Come on now.

3:42

I have to know if there's like if that's like a record, if there's like a hall of fame for mascots.

3:50

And then Big Red for nine years.

4:56

But I don't have where you were a teacher or coach.

5:00

Last one was Valley Vista High School and Surprise.

5:02

Okay.

5:03

He has a master's degree.

5:05

He also coached at the collegiate level, which I don't know where.

5:08

Greenville University in Southern Illinois.

5:11

All right.

5:14

You're married to Kaylee, and you have an 18-month-old daughter named Hazley.

5:20

Hazley.

5:21

He's very exact excited to serve the citizens of Avondale.

5:31

By the way, I'm reading these, they wrote them.

5:37

Jeremy Mata.

5:40

We're very proud to have Jeremy here.

5:42

He's a hometown boy.

5:43

He grew up in Avondale, Arizona.

5:45

He previously worked as equipment manager for Agua Fria High School and served six years in the military.

5:52

And thank you for your service.

5:53

Thank you, sir.

5:55

Firefighter Mata is a third-generation Avondaler.

5:59

I guess that's not what you would say, but he is married to his wife Marissa and has two uh beautiful children, Charlotte and Dawson.

6:14

Next is Brendan Hartley.

6:19

Brendan grew up in Peoria, Arizona.

6:21

Uh firefighter Hartley previously worked as an EMT in the medical service division with uh Arizona Fire and Medical Authority.

6:30

As well as having spent five years as a personal trainer.

6:34

So are you handing out cards after this?

6:38

I forgot I wrote that.

6:40

Okay.

6:41

All right.

6:44

Thank you for your time.

6:45

That's all he wrote.

6:50

Chief, we got to give him a chance because he was speechless there.

6:53

So come on back up.

6:56

Come on up.

6:58

He looks like he's in good shape, though, Mayor.

7:00

I think he could he could.

7:02

So where'd you go?

7:02

Where'd you go to high school?

7:05

Wow.

7:06

Where'd you go to high school in Peoria?

7:07

Uh I actually went to high school in Glendale Mountain Ridge.

7:10

Okay.

7:11

Good deal.

7:11

Welcome aboard.

7:12

Thank you, Mayor.

7:15

You can go now.

7:19

We have so much fun here.

7:22

Ramon, please step forward.

7:25

Come arena.

7:27

Did I say that right?

7:28

Yes, sir.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety███████████████████████████27%
Personnel Matters████████████12%
General Plan████████████12%
Energy Storage███████████11%
Procedural█████████9%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████8%
Racial Equity██████6%
Youth Programs██████6%
Domestic Violence Awareness████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Avondale City Council Meeting: New Firefighters, Proclamations, and Denial of Battery Storage Facility

Note: The meeting date provided by the system is October 15, 2025, but the transcript consistently references dates in February 2024 (e.g., February 26, 2024). This summary uses the system date as instructed but acknowledges the discrepancy.

This meeting included the swearing-in of new firefighters and a fire captain, three proclamations, approval of a consent agenda, and a public hearing and council vote on a proposed battery energy storage facility. The council voted unanimously to deny the general plan amendment and rezone for the Sun Depot Energy Storage project.

New Firefighters and Fire Captain Swearing-In

  • New Firefighters: Travis (from Glendale, former Arizona Cardinals mascot Big Red), Justin Schumann (Glendale, former firefighter), Jeremy Mata (Avondale native, military veteran), Brendan Hartley (Peoria, former EMT and personal trainer), Ramon (Avondale native, automotive tech), John Tompkins (moved from Georgia, paramedic, identical twin works for Avondale Fire).
  • Fire Captain: Christina Lopez (6-year veteran, mentor, paramedic, TRT certified, active in Firefighters Charity).
  • All were sworn in by the Mayor, and a pinning ceremony followed.

Proclamations

  • Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (February 2024): Read by Councilmember Gloria Slaureo. Patricia Beta Young (victim advocate, Avondale PD) and Veronica Ray (Southwest Family Advocacy Center) spoke, noting that nearly 1.5 million high school students experience physical abuse annually, and 1 in 10 high school students has been physically hurt by a partner. Resources were available at the back table.
  • Black History Month (February 2024): Read by Councilmember White, who shared personal reflections on Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King, and his great-grandmother Willie B. Kennedy. The proclamation highlighted the theme "African Americans and the Arts" and the importance of diversity in Avondale (over 50% Hispanic, 10% Black).
  • Arizona Red Raptors Day (February 26, 2024): Honored the youth baseball team (ages 9-11) for winning a tournament. Coach Chris introduced the team, expressing gratitude to the city and parents.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 4A through 4D were approved as a block, with one item (ENF) pulled by the City Manager to be brought back later. The vote was 6-1 (Councilmember Malone absent).

Public Comments & Testimony (Items 5A and 5B)

  • Supporters:
    • Travis Wright (via card, QTS): Supported the Sun Depot Energy Center, citing need for reliable electricity for data centers and clean energy resources.
    • Ariel Terry (Avondale homeowner): Supported for energy independence, grid reliability during extreme heat (over 50 days >110°F in 2023), $40 million revenue for the city, and safety record (only two self-contained fires in 150,000 hours of service).
    • Christiana Fadul (future resident, clean energy advocate): Emphasized need for battery storage to meet growing demand and support Phoenix Children's Hospital; convinced of safety after speaking with Inventergy.
  • Opponents:
    • Layla Villasenor (resident, Palm Gardens subdivision): Represented over 100 neighbors opposing the project. Commended staff and planning commission for their analysis. Cited incompatibility with surrounding schools, hospital, and homes; safety concerns from potential fire events. Stated they are not anti-development but oppose this location.
    • Phoenix Children's Hospital submitted written concerns about fire risk, toxic fumes, and potential evacuations.

Discussion Items: Sun Depot Energy Storage Battery Facility

  • Presentation by Josh Orton (Senior Planner):
    • The site is 15.92 acres west of Palm Lane and Avondale Boulevard, currently agricultural. The request was to change the land use from Mixed Use to Public Civic and rezone to a Planned Area Development (PAD) for a private battery energy storage facility.
    • Staff analysis: The amendment is not consistent with the 2030 General Plan; the Mixed Use designation is more suitable. The project is incompatible with nearby uses: Canyon Breeze Elementary (700 ft, 620 students), West Point High School (0.25 mi, 3,000 students), Phoenix Children's Hospital (700 ft, 24/7 emergency department treating 40,000 children annually), and approved residential developments (McDowell Villas 164 townhomes, Avondale Commons 324 multifamily units plus commercial).
    • Fire marshal concerns: In a fire event, minimum safe distance is 150 feet, but neighborhood evacuations are probable due to toxic fumes; impacts could spread up to I-10 (half a mile).
    • Planning Commission voted 4-0 to recommend denial. Public input: 18 online comments (15 opposed, 3 in favor).
  • Applicant Rebuttal (Paul Berman, Inventergy):
    • Inventergy has built nine battery storage projects in Arizona, including a 50 MW project in Youngtown. Emphasized necessity for grid reliability to prevent blackouts during extreme heat, which could cause medical emergencies and overwhelm hospitals.
    • Safety measures: Willing to work with fire marshal on hazard mitigation, emergency response plans, and use of state-of-the-art technology. Committed to upgrading Palm Lane and enhancing landscaping. Argued that opposition was based on misinformation and fear.
  • Council Discussion:
    • Mayor Weiss: Noted 18 years on council, rarely votes against planning commission/staff recommendations. Cited the Sierra Estrella facility in south Avondale as a better location. Visited the site; concerned about safety (referenced a three-day fire at a Chandler facility). Stated the project is not the best use, not compatible, and poses safety risks. Voted no.
    • Councilmember Conde: Thanked planning commission and residents for research. Concerns about contaminated runoff, toxic fumes, and evacuation of schools and hospital. Not anti-development, but location is wrong.
    • Councilmember Malone: Echoed safety concerns for schools, residents, and hospital. Not opposed to such facilities, but not at this site.
    • Councilmember White: Emphasized listening to residents; referenced personal experience with blackouts. Son attends West Point; fears an evacuation call. Believes fire marshal's assessment is credible. Not opposed to energy storage but not here.
    • Councilmember Curtis: Mentioned personal experience with solar batteries; heat concerns. Believes batteries are useful but location is inappropriate.
    • Councilmember Salorio: Highlighted risks of lithium battery fires (carbon monoxide, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride). Unwilling to gamble with children and hospital patients.
    • Vice Mayor: Concurred with residents; opportunity cost favors denying the request.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to deny PL 23-0053 (Major General Plan Amendment) was made by Vice Mayor, seconded by Councilmember Salorio. Passed 7-0.
  • Motion to deny PL 23-0177 (Rezone to Sun Depot PAD) was made by Councilmember Salorio, seconded by Councilmember Conde. Passed 7-0.
  • The council then adjourned to executive session.

Meeting Transcript

He is not working, he likes to spend time traveling with his wife and children and being outdoors. So please welcome Travis to our humble city. Next we have Justin Schumann, if he could step forward, please. Justin grew up in Glendale, which we do not hold that against him. Arizona, and he was a firefighter. He recently, this is very interesting, so you got to really pay attention. He before taking the job with us, he retired as the Arizona Cardinals mascot big red. Come on now. I have to know if there's like if that's like a record, if there's like a hall of fame for mascots. And then Big Red for nine years. But I don't have where you were a teacher or coach. Last one was Valley Vista High School and Surprise. Okay. He has a master's degree. He also coached at the collegiate level, which I don't know where. Greenville University in Southern Illinois. All right. You're married to Kaylee, and you have an 18-month-old daughter named Hazley. Hazley. He's very exact excited to serve the citizens of Avondale. By the way, I'm reading these, they wrote them. Jeremy Mata. We're very proud to have Jeremy here. He's a hometown boy. He grew up in Avondale, Arizona. He previously worked as equipment manager for Agua Fria High School and served six years in the military. And thank you for your service. Thank you, sir. Firefighter Mata is a third-generation Avondaler. I guess that's not what you would say, but he is married to his wife Marissa and has two uh beautiful children, Charlotte and Dawson. Next is Brendan Hartley. Brendan grew up in Peoria, Arizona. Uh firefighter Hartley previously worked as an EMT in the medical service division with uh Arizona Fire and Medical Authority. As well as having spent five years as a personal trainer. So are you handing out cards after this? I forgot I wrote that. Okay. All right. Thank you for your time. That's all he wrote. Chief, we got to give him a chance because he was speechless there. So come on back up. Come on up. He looks like he's in good shape, though, Mayor. I think he could he could. So where'd you go? Where'd you go to high school? Wow. Where'd you go to high school in Peoria? Uh I actually went to high school in Glendale Mountain Ridge.

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