Avondale City Council and Alamar Community Facilities District Board Meetings - October 22, 2025

This combined meeting included the Alamar Community Facilities District (CFD) Board regular and special meetings, followed by the Avondale City Council special and regular meetings. The meetings covered budget approvals, bond issuances, zoning changes, utility rate increases, employee introductions, and recognitions. All votes were unanimous except for one abstention on the rate increases.

Consent Calendar

• Alamar CFD Special Meeting: Approved consent agenda items 2A through 2C (details not specified) unanimously (6-0).
• City Council Regular Meeting: Approved consent agenda items 4A through 4K (details not specified) unanimously (6-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Water and Sewer Rate Increase (Item 5C): One speaker, Ms. Alexian, voiced strong opposition to the proposed rate hike. She criticized the colorful, small-print utility insert for wasting money and lacking the meeting time and address. She highlighted the burden on seniors on fixed incomes, noting her own $23 monthly food stamps and reliance on food banks. She asked for consideration for elderly residents and questioned the need for such spending while asking for more money from the community.
• All other public hearings (CFD budget, bond issuance, car wash conditional use permit, zoning code amendment, final budget, truth in taxation) had no speakers.

Discussion Items

• Alamar CFD Budget and Tax Levy (Item 2): Renee Weatherless presented the final FY2024 budget for the CFD, totaling $4.6 million with a combined property tax rate of $4.15 per $100 assessed value ($3.85 secondary for debt, $0.30 primary for operations). The public hearing was opened and closed with no comments. No motion was made on this item; it was informational only.
• Alamar CFD Bond Issuance (Item 3): Renee Weatherless presented a request to authorize sale of up to $3.25 million in general obligation bonds (Series 2023) with anticipated rates of 3-5%, to reimburse the developer for public infrastructure. The CFD has 1,086 acres and up to 4,036 housing units; voters authorized $70 million in 2018. As of April 2023, 1,293 lots were sold to builders and 550 to home buyers. Previous bonds: $16,000 (FY2022) and $3,675,000 (FY2023). The public hearing had no speakers. The board passed Resolution 4-2023 approving the feasibility report and authorizing the bond sale (6-0).
• New Employee Introductions: Several city departments introduced new hires:
  • Development Services: Joshua Orton, Senior Planner, from San Antonio, Texas.
  • Engineering: Albert Viscara (Traffic Civil Technician), Viennette Hanson (Engineering Project Manager), David Boltz (Engineering Inspector, 26 years from Washington), Lana Nabati (CIP Project Manager), Katie Hine (Associate Engineer from Prescott).
  • Information Technology: Michelle Thickett (Security Analyst, pursuing master's degree), Alex Petree (IT Assistant, from private sector).
  • Public Safety: Noelle Boltz (Municipal Security Officer, daughter of David Boltz, studying forensic science at ASU).
  • Public Works: Robert Perez (Senior Business Systems Analyst, from Fortune 500 companies and City of Glendale).
• Fire and Medical Citizen Academy Graduates: Gabriela Babinski presented the 13 graduates of the Avondale Fire and Medical Citizen Academy, which covered seven classes including emergency operations, fire extinguisher practice, ladder truck operations, stop the bleed, CPR, and special operations. Daniel Shu, a graduate, shared positive remarks. Councilmember Malone praised the program.
• Juneteenth Proclamation (Item 3A): Councilmember White introduced a proclamation declaring June 19, 2023 as Juneteenth Day of Observance in Avondale, recounting the history and the work of Opal Lee. The proclamation was read and adopted.
• AZ Water Supervisor of the Year Award: Eric Bayer presented Mike Arichetta, Wastewater Collections Supervisor, with the AZ Water Supervisor of the Year award for his 27 years of service. Arichetta thanked his team.
• Conditional Use Permit – Francis and Sons Express Car Wash (Item 5A): Catherine Lorbeer presented a request for a conditional use permit for a self-service car wash with conveyor tunnel at Dysart and Indian School Roads (3.72 acres, three vacant parcels). The site is zoned C2 (community commercial) and requires a CUP. The applicant plans an express car wash with automated pay stations, self-serve vacuums, and daily operation. Six conditions of approval were proposed. Three residents from Litchfield Park expressed concerns about noise, traffic, drainage, and need. Planning Commission recommended approval. Council discussed noise mitigation (six-foot wall) and water usage (recycling, less waste than driveway washing). The permit was approved (6-0).
• Zoning Code Text Amendment (Item 5B): Catherine Lorbeer proposed amending Section 28.8 and 28.91 to streamline conditional use permit review by eliminating the second public hearing before City Council, making Planning Commission decisions final unless appealed. This would save about 6 weeks to 2 months. Planning Commission recommended approval. The amendment was approved (6-0).
• Water, Sewer, and Solid Waste Rate Increases (Item 5C): Aaron White presented proposed rate increases: water 2.65% per year for two years (84 cents/month typical), sewer 7% per year for two years ($2.80/month typical), solid waste $1.50/month for two years ($2.50 for two trash cans). Combined increase about $5.14/month in January 2024 and $5.34 in January 2025. Avondale's rates remain in the middle of valley cities. Public notice included social media, RAVE magazine, utility inserts, emails, and press releases. Council discussed the need for better communication with seniors and online bill payers, and requested that staff provide resources for financial assistance. A motion to adopt the water and sewer rate resolutions passed 5-0 with one abstention (Councilmember? Not specified). A second motion to adopt the solid waste fee schedule passed 5-0 with one abstention.
• Final Budget and Truth in Taxation (Items 5E & 5F): Renee Weatherless presented the final FY2024 budget of $464,896,600, balanced with ongoing revenues and expenditures. Minor adjustments (class/compensation, carry-forward, opioid settlement fund). The combined property tax levy is $8.5 million at a rate of $1.4595 per $100, a decrease in rate but increase in levy due to new construction, requiring a truth in taxation hearing. The city's share of a homeowner's property tax is about 9%. Separate public hearings were held with no public comments. A roll call vote on Resolution 1033-0623 (intent to raise property tax levy) passed unanimously (6-0).

Key Outcomes

• Alamar CFD: Approved Resolution 4-2023 authorizing sale of up to $3.25 million in general obligation bonds (Series 2023) (6-0).
• City Council:
  • Approved Juneteenth proclamation.
  • Approved conditional use permit for Francis and Sons Express Car Wash (6-0).
  • Approved zoning code text amendment to streamline CUP process (6-0).
  • Adopted water and sewer rate increases (Resolution modifying water and sewer rates) (5-0, one abstention).
  • Adopted solid waste fee schedule (5-0, one abstention).
  • Adopted Resolution 1033-0623 setting forth intent to raise property tax levy (truth in taxation) (6-0) – with a required roll call vote.
• Next Steps:
  • The City Council will convene a special meeting later to adopt the final budget (Resolution 1034-0623) and set the property tax levy.
  • Staff will improve communication of rate increases and financial assistance resources, including on online bills and in printed materials (considering recyclable paper and larger fonts).