Avondale City Council Regular Meeting - November 19, 2025
Avondale City Council Regular Meeting - November 19, 2025
Mayor Peneva called the meeting to order at 20:15 (MST) with all council members present: Councilmember Condi (via audio), Garcia, Solario, Weiss, White, Vice Mayor Nielsen, and Mayor Peneva. The meeting included recognition of the 2025 Citizens Police Academy graduates, a discussion on the Agua Fria pedestrian bridge options, a presentation on the speed safety camera program leading to a vote to terminate the contract, the kickoff of the FY2027 budget process, and a failed motion to reconsider a previous salary adjustment vote.
Note: The transcript incorrectly states the meeting date as November 3, 2025; the official meeting date is November 19, 2025 as provided by the source.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was approved unanimously with a motion by Councilmember White and second by Vice Mayor Nielsen. No items were removed for separate consideration.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No unscheduled public appearances were requested.
Discussion Items
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2025 Citizens Police Academy Presentation: Officer Benavides and Chief Espinoza introduced the 19 graduates of the eight-week program. Two graduates spoke: one shared her experience as a domestic violence survivor and praised the West Valley sex and human trafficking task force; another, a Glendale resident, highlighted the program's depth and the dedication of officers. Council members expressed gratitude and noted the program's value in building community trust.
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Agua Fria Pedestrian Bridge Aesthetic and Cost: City Engineer Kim Moon presented three weathered steel bridge options (H truss, tied arch, bowstring) with estimated total project budgets of $7.6M, $8.2M, and $10.2M respectively (including escalation to 2028). An at-grade crossing option was also presented at approximately $1.2M but with higher maintenance costs ($15,000-$50,000 annually) and no lighting or amenities. Council feedback leaned toward the H truss or tied arch bridges, with several members opposing the at-grade crossing due to maintenance and safety concerns. Mayor Paneva expressed comfort with the at-grade crossing, while Councilmember Garcia opposed spending $8M on a bridge. Councilmember Solario favored the H truss or tied arch for cost and aesthetics. Councilmember Weiss preferred the H truss for its cost and lighting. Vice Mayor Nielsen favored the tied arch. Councilmember White supported the tied arch, citing aesthetic value. Councilmember Condi preferred the H truss first, tied arch second. The item was for discussion only; no vote was taken.
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Speed Safety Camera Program: Lieutenant Justin Nylon presented data requested by council. Key statistics: from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025, the program issued 12,127 citations, of which 2,174 (17.9%) were to Avondale residents and 9,953 (82.1%) to non-residents. On Dysart Road, pre-deployment speeding vehicles (exceeding 11 mph over limit) were 3,200 out of 60,000; post-deployment they dropped to 1,600, but a later follow-up showed a return to 3,100, indicating no long-term behavior change. On Avondale Boulevard, speeding vehicles decreased 37% from 2,900 to 1,800. The department recommended terminating the contract with VARI Mobility, removing cameras by December 31, 2025, and canceling the program by June 30, 2026, at a cost of $107,000. The total program cost for FY2026 was estimated at $561,482, while revenue generated was $743,665. The department proposed alternative strategies including filling traffic officer vacancies, increasing LIDAR units, and public campaigns. Councilmember Garcia moved to terminate the contract, seconded by Vice Mayor Nielsen. Councilmember White opposed, citing concerns about contract termination affecting the city's credit rating and the potential loss of grant funding. The motion passed 5-2 (Councilmembers Condi, Garcia, Solario, Weiss, and Vice Mayor Nielsen in favor; Councilmembers White and Mayor Paneva opposed).
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Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Kickoff: Finance Director Renee Weatherless and Capital Improvement Program Manager James Melanese presented the budget process. Key points:
- General fund forecast shows ongoing expenses exceeding revenues from FY2027 onward, with a projected fund balance above stabilization and capital reserve of $1.2M in FY2025, dropping to $200,000 by FY2030.
- Sales tax revenue: retail running 4% over budget; auto dealers declining; contracting revenue 7% over budget year-to-date.
- Property tax levy: included in forecast at 2% annual increase. If not increased, the five-year cumulative revenue loss would be $470,000. Council feedback was mixed: Councilmembers Weiss, Garcia, and Condi were supportive; Councilmember Solario opposed; others requested further analysis.
- Proposed revenue opportunities: credit card convenience fees (83% of Arizona clients charge fees), late fee revenue ($100,000 assessed since June 2025), and updating building valuation tables. Council generally supported credit card fees but wanted a free ACH option.
- CIP: Unfunded projects include pedestrian bridge, fire/police substation ($28.8M), PFAS compliance ($130M, with $18M financed), and water/wastewater bonds ($63M for water, $145M for sewer). Council priorities: public safety, water/sewer infrastructure, parks, and economic development.
- Staffing: Vacancy savings have dropped from $8.3M in FY2023 to an estimated $2M across all funds in FY2026. Proposed compensation increases include 3% COLA and step increases for police and general staff.
- The budget will be presented in draft form in March 2026.
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Reconsideration of Mid-Year Public Safety Salary Adjustments: Councilmember White moved to reconsider the council action from October 20, 2025, which approved mid-year public safety salary adjustments. The motion required four votes to pass. After a roll call, the motion failed 3-4 (Councilmembers Condi, Garcia, Solario, and Weiss voting no; Councilmembers White, Solario? Actually Solario seconded but then voted no? The transcript shows Solario seconded but then voted no? Let's check: The motion was by Councilmember White, seconded by Councilmember Solario. Then the vote: Councilmember Condi voted no, Garcia no, Solario no? Actually the transcript says:
Meeting Transcript
Trust and the Avondale City Council meeting I'd like to call to order the regular city council meeting of November 3rd, 2025. Would y'all please stand for the pledge and a moment of silence or reflection? One nation under Godissible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Marcella, if we can have a roll call, please. Councilmember Condi, can you hear me? Yes, I can hear you. Perfect. Thank you. Councilmember Garcia. Here. Councilmember Solario. Here. Councilmember Weiss. Here. Councilmember White. Present. Vice Mayor Nielsen. Here. Mayor Peneva. Here. Ron, next item, please. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Council. Up first, we have a presentation by Chief Espinoza to introduce our 2025 Citizens Police Academy. Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council, good evening. I am Officer Benavides, and I have the privilege of introducing and celebrating the wonderful group of people sitting over here behind me. These have completed the 2025 Citizen Police Academy. The Citizen Police Academy invites community members into the home that we call Avondale Police. Every Wednesday night for eight weeks, these neighbors get a behind the scenes look into the work and the people that make our police department special. From a mock crime scene walkthrough to a swap demo, our desire as a police department is for our citizens to have a greater understanding of what we do and a deeper connection to the kind of people that we are. As host of CPA for these individuals, I can attest that the three hours of CPA on a Wednesday night go by very, very quickly. It's because we do a lot, but it's also because we have a lot of fun. Much more can be said, but of course, I'll just leave with just one more note. Avondale community members are my favorite people. After spending eight weeks with this group of people, I am even more encouraged to continue the work of making Avondale a safe and a beautiful place to live. As a domestic violence survivor, the biggest impact for me during the academy was the West Valley sex and human trafficking task force. I had no idea how traffickers controlled their victims, the strict routines, and the constant changes and the unrelated pressure to meet their pimp demands. It's heartbreaking and eye-opening. It gave me a deeper appreciation on how much dedication and teamwork it takes to seek justice even in the most difficult times. Lastly, another big takeaway for me was the compassion, patience, and dedication shown by every officer who took part of this academy. Officer Benny and Officer Redford, a special thank you to you both for organizing an amazing academy for the food, hospitality, your openings and willingness to help. You took the time to get to know each and one of us, and that speaks volumes about the heart of the department. Throughout the this program, I've learned about the city and its people than I've ever had before. The city of Avondale is a truly community-based unity and full of heart that I am proud to be a resident of. To the officers who dedicate their lives serving and protecting, thank you. You're not just officers, you're heroes to inspire the next generation to lead with courage and compassion. Thank you. Hello, my name is Glenda Shagoya.
openpublica.com