Avondale City Council Special and Regular Meeting - October 22, 2025
Avondale City Council Special and Regular Meeting - October 22, 2025
This meeting began with a special session to introduce new city employees and recognize police promotions and life-saving awards, followed by a regular meeting that included a public hearing on zoning code amendments, a consent agenda, and a council current events roundtable. The meeting took place on the evening of October 22, 2025.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was moved by Councilmember Conde, seconded by Councilmember White, and passed unanimously (7-0). No items were removed for separate consideration.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Paul Lemon and Dan Shu, both members of the Sustainability Commission and residents, expressed strong support for retaining the city's recycling program. They acknowledged rising costs but urged the council to seek public input and consider a rate increase rather than eliminating the program. They noted that recycling is integral to a sustainable city and thanked the council for past support.
Discussion Items
- Item 4A – Zoning Code Amendments (Ordinance 2055): Deputy Director of Planning Catherine presented a series of amendments, including reducing pre-application review types, adding reasonable accommodation procedures, clarifying group home and sober living home definitions, adjusting parking requirements (25% garage parking for multifamily), updating ADA sidewalk clearance, and adding “kitchen incubator” as a use. The city attorney ensured compliance with state and federal laws. Mayor Weiss noted recent state scrutiny of sober living homes and confirmed the city currently has no problem homes. Councilmember Nielsen asked about the garage parking percentage and kitchen incubator definition. The public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers. A motion by Councilmember White, seconded by Vice Mayor Paneda, passed unanimously (7-0).
- Council Current Events Roundtable: Mayor Weiss initiated a new segment for council members to share updates. He highlighted a visit to STARS, a facility serving adults with mental health and substance abuse issues, located near the old City Hall. Councilmember Tina reported the Interfaith Council was restarting. Councilmember Curtis acknowledged Mayor Weiss's work on Prop 400 and Valley Metro updates, noting that microtransit (We Ride) is gaining ridership in the West Valley. Councilmember Nielsen visited Alba Freya Food Bank, which provides 50 food boxes daily. Councilmember Malone and Councilmember White volunteered with the West Valley Mavericks Association for back-to-school shopping with children.
Key Outcomes
- Introduction of eight new employees across multiple departments (Development Services, Finance, IT) and recognition of five police promotions.
- Life-saving awards presented to Officers Phil Cerrito, Omar Menares, Robert Simington, and citizen Mr. Cotton for two separate rescues (canal and pool drowning incidents) that led to full recoveries.
- Zoning code amendments approved unanimously (7-0), including updates to group housing definitions and ADA compliance.
- The council discussed upcoming events, including the Arizona League of Cities and Towns conference and continued focus on recycling, transportation, and community partnerships.
The meeting was adjourned at the conclusion of the roundtable.
Meeting Transcript
23 special meeting to order. Marcella, do you mind doing roll call, please? Councilmember Conde. Councilmember Malone. Councilmember Nielsen. Here. Councilmember Solario. Councilmember White. Here. Vice Mayor Paneda. Mayor Weiss. Here. Welcome back, everyone. Ron's wearing a sharp new suit. Look at that. Speaking of Ron, Ron, item number two, please. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We have first a presentation by Jody Novak, our director of development services, introducing two new employees, or one. One new employee, and going to talk about the second. Good evening, Mayor and Council. I'm going to introduce first Cole Hunger. We're very pleased to have him join our planning division team here as a planner. Cole joined our department this past June. He came from the city of Casagrande, where he worked in the planning development department as an intern following getting his master's degree at Arizona State University recently. He had originally done his bachelor's degree in San Antonio and uh Trinity University, made his way back to Arizona. He's highly motivated. He's very eager to learn a lot of stuff about planning and development and working with our team and uh grow his career with Avondale. So we're very happy to have him on board. Um and he's moved up to downtown Phoenix, so he's getting closer to the West Side. Welcome, Cole. Jody said you moved back to Phoenix. Did you grow up here? Where'd you grow up? Uh Phoenix, Scottsdale. Welcome back. Um, and Sylvia Willem Marcore is another new planner. Unfortunately, she's not able to be here this evening, but I'll do a quick introduction for her. Her photographs on the screen. Sylvia also joined our team just this past July, um, where she had worked previously for a private development firm learning how to do zoning case application submittals for a developer. Um she as well has a bachelor's and a master's degree in urban planning, both received from Arizona State University. Um she is local and lives here in the West Valley. She as well is an eager learner, and she's really wanting to contribute to a lot of building, growth, and development in Avondale. So we welcome her joining our team too. And you're happy with the new talent? Yes, very much so. Yeah, we have a good a good team and a good group so far. There's a lot of learning and training that's occurring. Thanks, Jody. Yeah, thank you very much.
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