Good evening.

I'd like to call to order the regular city council meeting of December 1st, 2025.

Would you all please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence?

So if we can have roll call, please.

Councilmember Conde.

Here.

Councilmember Garcia.

Here.

Councilmember Salario.

Councilmember Weiss here.

Councilmember White.

President.

Vice Mayor Nielsen.

Here.

Mayor Pineda.

Here.

Thank you.

Ron, next item, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor and Council.

Uh, first presentation is present gonna be presented by Lieutenant Lopez for our Code Department of the Year Award.

All right.

Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council.

Just to give you a little information.

Our city's code compliance team plays a huge role in ensuring our city looking good.

Um, whether you live, visit, or shop within our city.

We want to make sure that everyone that comes through Avondel is impressed.

Our co-compliance team helps by going out daily and contacting a residents and property owners to take pride in their community.

Just recently, the team developed the property all-star award program, rewarding residents that take pride on their property.

Also through the years, they have conducted community cleanup events where they collect trash and unwanted items in neighborhoods within the city, collecting over a hundred tons of trash since 2018.

The work has been so impressive that this year at the American Association of Code Enforcement, which represents the profession of code enforcement in all 50 states, has recognized the City of Avondo Code Compliance team with a national code enforcement department of the year award.

So we congratulate them and thank you.

Oh sorry.

I wasn't sure.

Josh was coming up to say something.

Well, first and foremost, congratulations.

And again, you you hit it right the nail on the head.

It's that we want Avon Dale to keep looking beautiful.

But it's even just much more than just looking beautiful.

It's more about just reinforcement that we care and residents care about the investment in which uh uh they have uh decided to embark upon here at the city of Avondale.

And so what I really like is the last time that uh you are all up here presenting was really just to share information regarding education and the education piece uh that you work along with alongside with with our our residents.

So it's not always about uh a negative interaction, it's really about education and sharing all the wonderful things that uh uh occur here in the city and how to be a part of that.

And so just congrats on the award, and I'm sure there's other council members maybe that have a couple of words.

So any other council members.

Okay, council member voice.

Thank you, Mayor.

Just echoing uh Mayor's uh comments and I was going to say something about education that you provide education as the first step, and I think that's so important.

You definitely are customer service oriented, and thank you so much for all you do.

And congratulations again, you guys.

It feels like you were just up here recently.

Yeah.

And if I could just say one last thing, is that I really appreciate the social media post.

I like the skipping and all the other things, but just really highlighting what you do and making it fun.

I think is something that uh this the city and the residents really benefit from.

So thank you so much, and we appreciate creating the award and and all the other things that you guys have done.

Thank you.

And Ron, are we gonna get a picture uh with the cold compliance team and Mr.

Kesler?

Yes.

So Josh, don't let your team leave.

If you don't mind sticking around for a few.

Okay, Ron, next item.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor and Council.

Uh Josh, don't go anywhere.

Uh speaking of our uh awards, uh, he is gonna present our holiday edition of the property all-star curb appeal award.

Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council.

Uh, this evening I'm excited to present to you uh the recipients of our property all-star award holiday edition.

Uh, these are property owners.

Uh, we had so many um submissions to our office, and it was really, really hard.

It was really, really close.

Um, but the the ones we chose are just the ones that we felt that just you know spread that holiday cheer and uh just brighten up our communities.

And so I'm very happy.

I'm gonna have them come up one by one as I call their name.

And I have my co-fficer Claudia Rojas assist me.

Uh Johnny and Sarah Rendon.

Johnny and Sarah Rendon are from our Del Rio Ranch community.

Uh Mr.

and Mrs.

Rendon have been in app have have been Avondale residents for nine years.

Um Mr.

Rendon started his light display because of his three children and how much they loved it.

The neighbors would stop and tell them how much they appreciate it, and he adds more to it every year.

He does this for his kids and just to bring joy to that neighborhood.

And so, congratulations, Mr.

and Mrs.

Rendon.

And Mr.

Mayor, if I can interrupt, we will get pictures with all the families also.

So hopefully they'll stick around for a picture with council.

Uh Janet and Everett's Mansfield.

So Mr.

and Mrs.

Mansfield and their son Ryan are part of our historic Avondale community, and they are actually some of our previous recipients of our property also award.

So we're glad to have them back.

They also created a wonderful display in their community, and we're really happy to have them back again.

And congratulations, Mr.

and Mrs.

Mansell.

Thank you.

Unfortunately, they weren't able to attend tonight, but they just wanted I just wanted to share their property, and also they are also previous recipients of our property all-star award as well.

But when speaking with them, they were just really happy to create this display that they share with their community.

And they also mentioned that they also invite members of the community to come and take pictures with their little displays that they have here, and they also share some cookies with them sometimes.

So we'll definitely make sure we get their sign a certificate to them, but we wanted to share their property.

They did a really nice job.

Mr.

Jimmy Arbizo?

So the Arbizu family have been in Glenarm Farms for over 50 years.

Jim and it was Jimmy and his father that actually built their home when I was speaking with them.

And in addition to the wonderful display that you see here that he created, he's also president of his car club and his organization also works with the community, and they do hold the whole events and they also hold toy drives, which he's holding right now.

So congratulations, Mr.

Arbizo.

Thank you so much.

And our final recipient, Mr.

Hernandez.

Mr.

Hernandez has been an Avondale resident for five years.

Uh and he wants to speak about them.

He said coming from a small town in Texas.

He shared the he shared with me the memories of his parents, you know, taking him and his family in the car and going out and seeing those decorated homes as a child.

And that was his inspiration.

That's what he wanted to do for his community, create that same environment and have the children from the community come and visit his home.

And he also has an he had believed he had an event last Thursday where he had all the members of the community come out.

He dressed up as a grinch and passed out some cookies.

So uh again, just thank you so much to all of you.

Uh congratulations, and thank you for just making Avondale shine bright this holiday season.

Thank you very much.

Thank you so much.

Appreciate it.

If you guys wouldn't mind sticking around so we can get a photo of all of you, we'd really appreciate it.

And please display display those awards with pride.

Ron, next item, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor and Council.

Up next, Dillard uh from my office will present our Citizen Leadership Academy.

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

My name is Dillard Collier, and I'm a management analyst in the city manager's office.

Tonight I will be presenting about the Citizens Leadership Academy and recognizing our 2025 program graduates.

So this program offers a comprehensive overview of Avondale City Government and a behind the scenes look at department operations with interactive and in informative demonstrations, tours, and workshops on a variety of topics, including the city council, court system, development projects, financial and budget practices, public parks, traffic engineering, and more.

So this year, our academy ran for about nine weeks, starting on October 8th with an introduction from the City Council and City Manager's office.

And ended December 10th.

Last Wednesday with SWAT simulations and special equipment showcases from the police department.

So each week departments share insights into their operations and deliver demonstrations that highlight their most essential services.

We are pleased to have had full participation from all of our city departments this year, and today we are excited to showcase a selection of these outstanding sessions.

So pictured here is City Manager Corbin explaining the role of the city manager's office to our participants.

So each session featured an informational component in which departments share background on their internal operations as well as their external roles, including how they engage with residents, businesses, and interdepartmental teams.

These presentations offered participants a clear understanding of the city's function and objectives while also providing an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the services our departments provide.

So pictured here is a session with the city clerk's office in which participants learned about the policy creation process by taking part in a mock city council meeting.

Also pictured on the slide is the session with the public works department in which participants learned about the city's water treatment practices.

So additionally, departments were encouraged to incorporate engaging interactive elements into their sessions to enhance participant involvement and deepen understanding.

So pictured here is the fire and medical department session in which participants put on fire gear and watch the demolition of a car to learn how our firefighters respond to emergency situations.

Also pictured here is the budget and finance department session in which participants were tasked with allocating limited funds to priority services and programs and learn just how challenging it is to balance a budget.

While most presentations were held on Wednesday evenings, a few Saturday sessions were also offered, giving participants the ability to explore our city's amenities and facilities firsthand.

These sessions provided a behind-the-scenes look at city operations and a valuable chance to meet the dedicated staff who keep our essential services running smoothly.

Pictured here is again the public works department session in which participants toured the municipal operations service center, the water reclamation facility, and the aquaculture building.

And then also a Saturday session was the Parks Recreation and Libraries Department session, uh, which participants toured the Aquatic Center, Friendship Park, Mountain View Community Center, Alamar Park, and several other public parks and locations.

Now, to learn more about the program, we'll hear from three of our graduates.

So Amanda, Evan, and Alyssa will share more about their experience.

Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council.

My name is Amanda Flores.

I've been a resident of Avondale for 28 years, which is my entire life.

And I'd like to say that I have never been more proud to be a resident of this city.

Learning about the ins and outs of city management, one of the best things that I could have taken away from this experience is the understanding that the employees of this city genuinely care about the residents, the operations, and just the efficiency of government.

I think in today's world it's very easy to feel discouraged by the things that we see going on, but I feel the exact opposite.

I feel so taken care of and just seeing the level of expertise that members of these different departments have and in each of their individual areas has been fantastic.

So learning about the budget process, I felt so much more informed about city spending.

Um I felt honestly inspired when we were learning from public safety, the fire department in particular.

My dad was a firefighter for 37 years, and for many, for much of my life, those were just stories that he told, but learning about it from the professional side, I thought, wow, we have such competent people, you know, taking care of us in the city.

Um if you get a bunch of emails soon, it's because I've been taking my role as uh informing other citizens about our city very seriously.

Um I'm a government teacher at West Point High School.

My students are doing a civic action project, and I was able to, when they had different thoughts and complaints, say, hey, you could contact this department or have you checked out the Aviwise app?

So if you know within the week when their project is due, you get spammed, uh that could be why.

Um, but anyway, all that is to say, um it's it's been such a wonderful opportunity.

I think one of my biggest takeaways is just having having lived here for close to 30 years.

There's such tremendous growth and change, and Avondale really is a city on the rise.

So thank you for all your work.

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

My name is Evan Ho, and I like to share a bit about my experience in the Citizens Leadership Academy.

This academy taught me one thing.

Avondale runs on far more teamwork and behind the scenes coordination than I've ever realized.

Hearing from the leaders who make the city work, you quickly see this isn't just a job for them, it's a passion.

Two classes really stood out.

First, the fire station tour, getting to play dress up as a firefighter, and watching the tactical rescue team pull off a mock rescue straight out of an action movie.

Then the Avondale Police Department said, We can top that and rolled out the tools, the SWAT team, the canine unit, and basically filmed a live episode of cops right in front of us.

Both departments didn't just compete to be the best responders, they turned their presentations into a full-blown public safety smackdown.

And I'm not picking a winner, I don't run into burning buildings, and I also don't need a speeding ticket tomorrow.

This program changed how I see myself as a resident.

I'm not just someone who lives here.

I'm someone who can speak up, get involved, and help move the city forward.

If I could tell other residents one thing, it's this.

Hi, good evening.

My name is Alyssa Scro.

Um, I first just want to start off by thanking Mayor, the council, um, and the City of Avondale team for just making the Citizens Leadership Academy possible.

It was a wonderful program to be a part of and have the opportunity to do.

Um when I first entered the program, I was an eager resident, only having been here for two years, but I had limited understanding of what it actually takes to keep a city running effectively on the day-to-day.

Um it didn't take me long to realize the 24-7 planning, coordination, and public service required to keep residents' lives uninterrupted and running smoothly.

And that realization only deepened as we went through each of the departments and just learned a lot more of the behind-the-scene works that's happening and frankly often without a lot of recognition from our residents.

So I especially valued the presentations from the public works department and the neighborhood and family services.

I had no idea the amount of resources that are available to residents at no cost, or how thoroughly these teams are working each day to maintain essential services or planning ahead and taking preventative actions to protect the city.

And when challenges arise, it's clear now more than ever how quickly and effectively they respond, whether that means restoring normal operations or helping a citizen in need.

In addition to that broader perspective, I also walked away with some practical insights, like how traffic markings are intentionally designed to guide drivers safely.

I had no idea about that before.

Um, or just thinking differently about what I put in my trash and recycling, knowing that these choices can actually directly impact worker safety.

But more than anything, to echo what my classmates have said already.

What's inspired me most was the people behind the operations.

One of the most impactful moments for me was hearing our maintenance director share that their team exists not only to serve the citizens, but also to support one another.

And that the people at the city of Avondale genuinely want each other to flourish.

That message stuck with me.

It made me feel like I could be part of something bigger than myself as a resident and as a professional.

So while it may seem like a small detail in the broader scope of city operations, I believe it's actually one of the main reasons that Avondale continues to thrive.

It reinforces the idea that it truly takes a village to run a city, and that meaningful progress happens when employees, elected officials, and residents work together with a shared purpose towards a common goal.

So if I could leave residents with one message, it would be this.

Avondale is comprised of genuine people taking genuine steps to create positive change.

The Avondale Leadership Academy instilled in me a deep pride in being an Avondale resident, along with a renewed love for a community that we're all a part of.

I would encourage residents to get involved, whether that's participating in the Citizens Leadership Academy, going to a city event, volunteering on a committee.

Just to see firsthand how our city continues to aspire, achieve, and accelerate, gives you an entirely new appreciation for the city we call home.

So thank you.

And now we'll recognize our 2025 Citizens Leadership Academy graduates.

So when I call your name, please stand.

Alyssa Scrow, Amanda Flores, Carl Peterson, Deanna Sapata, Evan Ho, Francis DeWint, Jean Bracken, Gloria McDowell, Juanita Bracken, LeVar Shamore, Rachel Bracken, Valentina Robles, and Walter Gonzalez.

Please join me in congratulating our 2025 leadership academy.

Thank you all so much for investing in your community and learning about how your city works to make lives better.

I would also like to give a special uh thanks to my program co-administrators, Anisa Romo, Liz Barker Alvarez, Alectis Ayala, and Bayes Rubicare.

Thank you all for your assistance and support throughout the program's duration.

And then finally, Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council, thank you for your continued support of this program and encouraging our residents to learn more about our city.

So our graduates will come down to take a photo with mayor and council after the presentation items.

Mayor, at this time, I'm happy to take any questions or comments.

Just a comment from me, and that's you know, it's it was said many times by the ambassador, I'm sorry, by the ambassadors, by those who uh were getting up to speak, and just how much they've learned uh about how the city operates, but more importantly, uh the things that you were not aware of that now you have a better appreciation for.

And as policymakers who sit up here who are also residents, uh, we are very mindful of that of some of the changes that we make or some of the policies that we create are not just one of which we um you know just do for the sake of doing or completing or offering uh or um you know pressing on to our residents, but it's more of a mindful way of making sure that residents are um safe, uh, and that's with our public safety.

And thank you for the shout-out to the public safety.

I'm glad to see that the competition is live and well, chiefs.

Great.

Uh, but more importantly, uh just at some point as the ambassador, as you'll hear from our ambassadors, is really taking that message on because we can't do it all.

There's seven of us.

And while we do sing our praises, often it's best said through those of you who have been through it, who have seen it, uh, you know, live and in person that could communicate it to your neighbors, to your friends that will have a deeper appreciation for their city, and more importantly, for um, you know, all of the different ways in which we conduct that type of business.

And so thank you again for participating.

And there's many more uh committees, there's boards and commissions and uh and other things to join.

So please not let this be the last time that you were involved.

Continue to to uh to involve yourself and educate yourself because as a city we become better when our residents are better off educated about what happens here.

So thank you so much.

Any other members of council wish to share?

Okay, Councilmember Garcia.

I think my favorite part of when I hear these testimonies is how you guys mentioned how the staff genuinely loves their job.

When I started, the first thing I noticed is how they genuinely loved their job.

Every person that I speak to, all the employees are always willing to help and to educate if you don't know something.

And now that you guys have gone through this and have the information, it's your, you know, it's your turn to go out into your community to go knock on the doors in your neighborhood and let your neighbors know like what's happening on council, what's happening in the city because they don't know that they could join um this class.

They don't know that we have all of these things available to them.

And even if they don't know about the Abbey Wise app, like share these with your neighbors because this is what community is, right?

Like it's for us to get the information and to go out and share it with them.

And thank you, Dillard and everyone that participated in this and making it possible because obviously it turned out really well.

So thank you so much.

If not, thank you again, Dillard and staff for helping and putting this together.

I know it's a lot of work and all of the departments who participated.

I know that's a lot of extra time, so thank you so much.

Okay, Ron, next item.

Thank you, Mr.

Man Council.

Up next, oh, it's Dillard.

Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council members.

I will also be presenting tonight about the Avondale Ambassador Program and recognizing our inaugural cohort of ambassadors and their year-long commitment to making the lives of our community members better.

So this year-long program, running from January to December, offers resident residents a structured opportunity to engage more deeply with the city's programs, services, events, and high priority projects.

So it's designed to empower particip participants to serve as informed community ambassadors, sharing knowledge, resources, and opportunities with their neighborhood groups, families, friends, and our visitors.

So pictured on the slide are two examples of our ambassadors embodying these principles of information and resource resource sharing.

The slide on the left shows our ambassadors engaging with a family at the city's Light of the Sky celebration on July 4th.

And the slide on the right shows our ambassadors engaging with the family at the city's Trace Rios Nature Festival on February 22nd.

So additionally, through this experience, the ambassadors are encouraged to connect with city leaders and staff through quarterly meetings, monthly city council and city board and commission meetings, and the annual state of the city events.

Over the past year, our ambassadors attended four quarterly meetings where they took a bus tour of the city, learned about upcoming capital and development projects, discussed the FY26 budget and bond propositions, received critical community-based safety resources, and so much more.

Each ambassador also attended at least 12 city council or city board and commission meetings where they engaged with important issues facing our community and learned about thoughtful and community-driven solutions.

Our ambassadors also attended the State of the City event on April 10th, where they interacted with local and regional community leaders and reflected on the city's growth and achievements and strategic location at the center of it all.

Finally, our ambassadors created a safe and welcoming environment and positively shaped our vibrant community by hosting 12 information tables at city-sponsored events where they provided fun giveaways and informative handouts and shared their experience as an engaged community member.

Finally, our ambassadors were active on Avondale social media accounts and community engagement platforms like Abewise and Avondale Connect and followed the city's various social media accounts where they provided feedback on city projects and initiatives and reposted important city alerts, announcements, and news.

So pictured on the slide is our very first quarterly meeting on January 22nd, where the ambassadors were greeted by the mayor and city council and city management.

So as you can tell, our ambassadors have been very busy this year, and we're incredibly excited to celebrate their accomplishments and share a few data points that illustrate the impact that they've had on our community.

So currently there are 20 ambassadors in the program, and throughout the year, these ambassadors attended 19 city-sponsored events and meetings, which is about two events per month, but had the opportunity to attend more than 96 and volunteered for a total of about 276 hours, which is about 14 hours per ambassador.

To further explore the impact and experience of this program, we'll hear from two of our current ambassadors, Janet Beeson and Rhonda Bell.

Well, good evening.

Good evening to the mayor and the vice mayor and the city council members.

My name is Janet Beeson.

I know you haven't seen me lately here.

It has been a pleasure to serve as an ambassador in this inaugural year.

But I do want to take just a moment to thank Dillard.

He has kept up with all of us, all of our training, events, and particularly all the materials that we had to use when we went to those events.

So Dillard, thank you so much.

He talked about the training.

And so the first training, I found the trainings very interesting.

I've I've done the academies, but this training was a little bit different.

That first time we did a tour of the city.

Now I have I have been part of Avondale since 1977.

I thought I knew Avondale.

But the tour of the city was really interesting as we have growth and we're so close to Phoenix and we're close to Goodyear and all of that.

It was just interesting having having that tour.

The other meetings, as Dillard mentioned, were the informative meetings from the leaders, and we got to know much more about the city.

Now I know you haven't heard this at all, but no doubt.

People in Avondale who work in Avondale love the city.

And I did.

I had that on my notes, and I kept on hearing that this evening.

But for me, I enjoyed uh being a representative representative of the city during events.

It's fun for me to meet people.

I love to meet people, share information to the public about Avondale, about our alert system, Aviwise, the Wave, the wave, the rave, or the services that are available.

I was an ambassador at a table at Trace Rios Juneteenth, Billy Moore Days, and then at Alamar and during their Halloween night.

I think that the opportunities we as citizens have to learn about city operation and to be able to serve the city seems to me to be a wonderful chance to promote, to participate, and to make Avondale even a better place to live.

Another benefit that I feel that this ambassador program gave me.

I got to meet some residents that I would have never gotten to meet.

You know, we sitting at tables together and going to meetings together.

That was really a benefit that I don't know if you all had planned that, but yes, that's what happened.

To new ambassadors, I'm telling get ready, share how lucky we are to live in Avondale.

Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council, and the City Manager.

I am Rhonda Bell, and I'm here to echo a few words you've heard earlier all about the experiences.

I would like to share my uh reflections on four questions that we were uh sent and the email when we were asked to speak.

We were asked to speak or reflect on how the program helped us connect uh more to the Avondale community.

First up, acceptance and alignment.

For me and many others, we attended prior academies together, and we were able to reconnect and strengthen our connections through the program, as Janet mentioned.

We've become more familiar with our elected officials, our department heads, and our city staff, which commit creates a more supportive community environment.

What are some events, initiatives or projects that had the biggest impact on me?

I would say all the Avondale activities.

Each month, the Avondale ambassadors received an e-blast of activities and events.

We received a schedule, details, and logistics for tabling responsibilities to ensure that we would have a successful experience.

Let's see, the kids' fest, Juneteenth, light up the sky.

We wrote the Citizen Academy flow on Billy Moore Days.

That was fun.

And then the tree lighting and winterfest last week.

Advocacy.

Rather than expressing our own personal opinions.

So the real life application came a few months later when fellow ambassadors for the November election.

But I just want to shout out my fellow ambassadors that worked on the municipal bond committee.

And everyone else who worked hard to get the word out.

The voters did approve proposition 404 for our parks, trails, and shade coverings.

Prop 405 did not pass, but this was an example of our advocacy in action.

A few insights, the apparel.

Okay.

We received t-shirts and jackets for with our own ambassador logo, but not without instruction.

So we received coaching and expertise, expectations for behavior and conduct while wearing the Avondale logo.

We were to emphasize being kind, being helpful, being professional, just like any other City of Avondale employee.

So while we're interacting and interfacing with residents, we'll have a favorable view and face for the program.

Access.

We went from doing tabletop exercises, simulating different budget scenarios to tabling events in the community, being the face of the community and being part of the heart of the community.

We learned how our city operates firsthand.

Have you ever seen a traffic light up close?

I'm saying you never know how big it is until you stand up right next to it.

The lens was as big as my head.

I was just very impressed.

That's all I'm saying.

Last up.

What will we share with new ambassadors?

All the reasons.

If you wish to become active and learn about our community, this is your opportunity.

Be sure to ask plenty of questions.

And if all else fails, you'll make a new batch of friends along the way.

I would not have met otherwise.

In closing, it is my honor to partake in this program along with my fellow ambassadors as we help others connect the thoughts to the center of it all.

Thank you.

So through their passion and service-driven spirit, our ambassadors promoted the city and community's mission to make lives better and represented our core values of helpfulness, kindness, and professionalism.

So for this reason, I'm thrilled to recognize our 2025 Avondale ambassador.

So when I call your name, please stand.

Al Nunez, Amanda Duncan Billman, Ben Rudy, Brian Swanson, Shiri Gurlach, Cindy De La Riva, Crystal Lopez Davy, Cynthia Caesar McCarthy, Dan Shu, David Garrison, Deanna Zapata, Janet Beeson, Lindsay Coth, Mike Martin, sorry, Natasha Edmonds, Paul Lemon, Ramon Sanchez, Ronda Bell, Walter Gonzalez, and William Bill Reeves.

Thank you all for being engaged in your community and actively working to make lives better.

Can we join me in congratulating and thanking our 2025 Avondale ambassadors?

Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council Rivers, thank you for your continued support of this program and your commitment to encouraging our residents to become changemakers.

So our ambassadors will come down and take a photo after the presentation items.

And mayor, at this time, I'm happy to take any questions or comments.

Okay.

Any members of council?

Any comments or questions for the ambassadors?

Oh, run.

Mr.

Mayor, if I can add, um, I I think I owe a few thank yous for both our presentations.

Uh I'll start with our department directors who put in a lot of extra time and hours preparing for these presentations.

We sometimes come up with the crazy ideas, but they're the ones who have to execute it.

So uh shout out to all the presenters and the participants and the bus drivers and the storytellers.

Uh we couldn't do it without you, so thank you.

Thank you to Dillard and his team.

He recognized them, but him and Anisa and Whitney and Alexis and James helps out and Liz helps out.

Um they rotate through, couldn't do it without that team.

And then lastly, for the ambassador program, not my idea.

It was Tracy's idea.

I think it's a great idea.

Council asked to create more opportunities for connection and learning about the city.

And this one came from uh Tracy behind me.

So shout out to Tracy and Teen.

But uh good job to the Avondale uh staff.

Thank you so much, members of council, okay.

Thank you, Dillard.

Thank you, ambassadors again.

I appreciate seeing all the blue.

More importantly, I appreciated seeing you all at the events, manning the tables, providing information.

Again, ambassadors are that conduit between us, the community, the departments, the community, and uh you definitely demonstrated that well, and I really appreciate their service.

And I know that some of you are already signing up for the next goal round.

And for those of you who are not, I don't mind again another plug for the community that if you're looking and interested, please make sure that you apply because we need many other uh ambassadors out there to kind of spread the information that is Avondale.

So thank you again so much for your service.

And with that, I think it's picture time, right?

Yeah, and provide students with gift bags containing treats and essential school supplies that they tend to lose throughout the year.

Beginning in January, we plan to launch a chess club and a STEM club to support their academic growth.

We're also working with the McKinley Venture families to support those experiencing housing instability.

And over Thanksgiving, we hosted families to ensure everyone received the home cooked meal and felt loved and cared for.

We're grateful for the City Council's leadership and look forward to serving Avondale with humility, integrity, and partnership.

And we thank you for this opportunity to introduce our church and the work we're doing and the future endeavors we seek to do throughout the week, because we believe that church isn't just on Sunday, but it's how we live Monday through Friday, serving people, loving on them.

And if I can just have one minute to just pray for you all.

Gracious God, we thank you for this city, for the leaders you have entrusted with its care.

We ask for wisdom, courage, and unity for the mayor, vice mayor, and city council as they serve us and serve your people.

Through Jesus Christ, teach us to love our neighbors, to seek justice, and serve with humility and compassion.

Lord, we ask that you bless Avondale, all of its people and residents, all of the those who work here, and all who love it so dearly.

We pray this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We do have another blue card here, Maria Alvarado.

Buenas noches, Alcalde Pineda and Vice Alcalde Curtis Nielsen and members of the governing board.

Before I begin, I want to say uh congratulations to all of the families who received awards, who went through the academy.

They're not here right now, but they uh are uh doing a great uh job for the city of Avondale.

We are very proud of what you did uh to recognize uh the Academy Award and the graduates.

Thank you for doing that.

Now I want to say uh my name is Maria Alvarado and I live in Avondale, and I want to wish everyone happy holidays.

So happy Hanukkah, um Merry Christmas, and feliz Navidad.

What I'm going to talk to you about tonight is has to do with behaviors.

And one of your uh testimonials was Rhonda Bell.

She said it very well.

We look at behaviors.

We expect behaviors, not just from the city of Avondale, the residents, uh the business people, but also from our leaders, our council members.

I was here when uh Mayor Piñada said that this uh accusations against uh councilwoman Jeanette Garcia, uh, that the city council um their hands are tied, they cannot do anything about it.

Uh really?

I can't believe that, because you do have a city code of conduct.

I have it here in my hands.

It's a six-page document, and it uh talks about the reasons why this document was put together, which is that every elected official behave with honor.

Driving in excessive speed and driving um against uh a um let's see, what was it regarding the accusation?

Driving to at a speed greater than reasonable and prudent is not only dishonorable, but also not an example of conduct, which avoids this avoids the appearance of impropriety.

So this type of behavior is beyond reproach, not beyond reproach.

Uh, as councilwoman Janet Garcia, Jeanette Garcia defends herself against allegations.

And I'll just finish up.

The community will look to make sure that all the city council people are acting in a professional personal conduct that is fair, ethical, and accountable to local government.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you.

And I just want to just to clarify that you mentioned that I mentioned that our hands are tied.

And I'm speaking specifically to uh the issue related to um councilmember Garcia's litigation and accusations that were in the paper.

What I mean by that is that in that specific instance there has not been a trial.

She's not been found guilty of anything yet.

So at this moment in time she's considered innocent till proven guilty.

So the council cannot really uh do anything in regards to her behavior because there's no behavior to manage in that aspect.

Well, if this is the document, the six-page document, why don't we just tear it up and then be done with it?

There's no code of conduct.

We expect the residents to be here.

Well, we can't rip up the code of conduct because it's a good idea.

I think our elected officials should also go.

Go ahead, run.

Ms.

Mayor, the three minutes is up.

Okay.

All right.

Uh but anyway, I'd be happy to shore up the code of conduct.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right.

Item number four, please.

Or yeah, item number four, consent agenda.

I see.

Are there any members?

Uh council members who wish to have an item removed for separate consideration?

Okay, because I see.

Well, I got actually I got a motion already from Councilmember Weiss and Vice Member Nielsen.

My hand's up.

I would like to um have for separate consideration.

Just a set just a second.

Uh Nicole, I saw that we got a motion and a second here.

Councilmember White then raised her hand.

So how do we handle that?

Do we move forward with the vote?

Because as of right now, those that's the only motion that's been made.

I didn't see were she recognized before people you asked for the motion.

I didn't even get a chance to ask yet.

It was already up there.

My hand was up.

Can you ask for the motion?

Our automated system doesn't allow for that.

Um I guess you'd have discussion on it, or and then you have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda.

So you would move.

Just move forward with that.

Yes.

And no discussion.

Yeah.

Okay.

How do we have time to am I supposed to assert verbally or do we have an option on the automated system now?

Because I can assert for a motion before.

And I still don't have it on my screen to do anything.

So there's a technological area on my screen that didn't allow me to move or second.

So there's some technology difficulty.

Can we pause for a moment, please?

Because my screen doesn't offer me the opportunity to motion or second.

I got on my screen, it shows everybody else's screen shows that mine doesn't.

I'm not quite sure where the technological errors I don't have the opportunity.

I don't move forward with it or entertain the um question or pull an item.

Well, the problem is the motion and the second were put in before you asked for the motion to be made.

And sometimes that happens a lot before you've even like a motion people have pushed and that's happened in several council meetings.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And so the motion shouldn't be made until you've asked for it.

So at this point, you know, we can correct that going forward before tonight.

We have the discretion to you hadn't called for the motion and she had asked or raised her hand.

So you could I don't have the option to vote.

Sorry.

I do not have the option to even participate at this moment.

Could somebody fix my technology now?

Oh, that's separate from so Mayor, yes.

We could um we need to redo it.

You didn't call it and she raised you could have whatever she wanted to have pulled off for discussion.

Okay, so that we can go ahead and entertain the whatever.

If somebody wants to, yeah.

Okay, and then moving forward, just so we don't have this issue.

If you members could please refrain from because this happens often, and I know I've never called it out, but obviously here in public we're we're dealing with a situation in which we're hitting motion and seconds really quickly, but we haven't I haven't even formally read the statement yet.

So moving forward if we can just hear the motion and then come to vote.

So uh okay.

So at this moment in time, can we vote?

Can I I'll I'm making the motion uh too.

I'll fix hers, but are we going to pull the item off?

Yeah, we can pull the item, we can pull the item off.

And what what's the item that you want to pull off and G?

F and G.

F and G.

Okay, so can we get a vote on all items with the exception of F and G.

So we didn't need a motion to approve all items except for F and G.

Yeah, we have we have the same Councilmember Conde and Councilmember Solorio.

I answer I think I'm screening everything disappeared.

And Councilmember White, how do you vote?

Councilmember White, how do you vote?

Yay.

Okay.

So the the consent ag consent agenda minus item F and G have been uh have been approved.

So item F, Ron.

Uh Mr.

Mayor, uh Councilmember White.

Okay, Councilmember White, yeah.

Sorry.

Uh yeah, I just uh taking a look at item number F.

I just wanted to make sure um that we understand when the project A0454 will be complete, because I believe we are uh moving some funds from that project.

However, the project is not completed, and I was just concerned that maybe we should have all of those funds moved from the general fund instead of the project because we are unaware of the um completion cost.

Uh Mr.

Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilmember White.

Uh the I appreciate that.

We expect for fire station 171 to be complete no later than February, maybe uh as early as late uh January.

We don't have any reason to believe we will expend those funds.

So we are currently running about a half a million dollars under budget.

So we've left about 400,000 in contingencies with the uh contractor just in case something strange were to happen.

For example, we're adding um some additional screening.

That's about another a few thousand dollars, I think uh ten or twenty thousand dollars.

So we believe the four hundred thousand is uh uh left is plenty.

Uh the rest come from um reserves.

We feel very comfortable with that.

Uh the the um rush for this transfer, if you want to call it a rush, is the contract expires at the end of the month.

Uh this is our last meeting before the end of the month.

So we just need this this authorization so that we can move forward um without seeing another price increase of the fire apparatus.

So uh you said um that there would be approximately 400,000 that would be realized as a savings coming under budget.

Uh Mr.

Mayor uh Vice Mayor Council White, that that is our current uh expectation.

Again, uh as of today, uh for a screen, we have a few thousand dollars, so we expect it to be around 400,000.

So uh Mayor uh City Manager, uh what what happens to that 400,000?

Does that go back into the general fund?

Mr.

Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilman White, yes, it goes back into the general fund.

It'll be realized uh um right now we're in the middle of making estimates for our end of year fund balances, and so as we get closer, this will end up in that fund balance.

So every year we start with a certain amount of money, and that'll go back into that pot of money for the next project.

So uh the thought process, Mayor, is that if the money is going to go back into the general fund, the bulk of the fund should come from the general fund so we realize all of the savings at the end instead of taking a portion from a project that isn't complete.

To me, if all of the money comes from the general fund, then anything we realize beyond that is tied to the project goes back to the fund.

I just don't want to split the money coming from project funds when it's not closed and a general fund.

That was the thought process, but um that that is um what I would prefer in and I move that we take the entire amount from the general fund, seeing this project is incomplete.

Okay, we'll see in a motion.

Uh Ron, is it you want to follow I you did an explan explanation, but do you want to follow up prior to the uh we've got a motion on the table here?

Yeah, Mr.

Mayor or Vice Mayor Council White.

Um I don't know, I'll ask Renee if that creates a problem, but we already have this uh budgeted out and and wrapped up uh the way it is.

Uh it all works out hopefully in the end.

Um the we feel comfortable.

Um we try to reduce the amount of money we take out of the contingencies out of um reserves.

You want to be careful.

And so where we feel comfortable, this is common, uh especially public works when one project ceases or starts, we move we move things around from project to project.

Um so it's just the way everything's been teed up, but um I I don't have a problem if it has to move the other way.

I'm getting ahead in agreement from our uh finance director, but again, um it's just not how it was teed up.

Sure.

And Renee, any comments you'd like to provide?

Uh Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council.

Um we can certainly make that all come from the contingency.

It will, as you mentioned, roll forward in the balance in the end.

Sure.

So uh motion's been made a second by councilmember solario.

So just to be clear, a vote allows for all of it to be moved over now as opposed to as it's needed.

Mr.

Mayor, that's how I understand the motion.

Okay.

So if you vote yes, you're allowing for the funds to all be pulled now as opposed to an increments as it's needed, or as it was uh communicated uh by uh city manager Corbin.

So at this point, did we get a vote?

Is a voice vote or you can vote on your screens.

Am I voting or the motion for it again?

Am I voting for this or for her?

For the proposal the motion the motion that council member white voiced is what the motion is.

Thank you.

Okay.

So if you can please vote okay, item passes five to two.

All right.

Item G.

Thank you so much.

Um I believe that there um an item number G.

This is just for um an easement to occupy our air space.

Um, and I appreciate I received some clarification from our city's attorney, attorney office.

But I I just wanted to make sure this was spoken into the record because um in our license in the agreement that's in our packet, I believe that there's an indication in its standard language from what I understand, that we have to afford um a mortgage opportunity in the contract.

So it was written out pretty specifically in the detailed packet that was provided.

Um, the agreement that we would allow the licensee to potentially enter into a mortgage arrangement.

However, we have an existing agreement that says this licensee does not intend to sell this property.

So I just wanted to make sure that was spoken um to the public that even though there is that clause in the agreement that there is an agreement that exists with council that this would not be a property that would be mortgaged in the future.

Um is that correct, sir?

We wouldn't that they would not be selling or mortgaging this land.

Uh Ron or Nicole.

Uh Mr.

Mayor, uh Councilmember, uh Vice Mayor Councilman White, I'm not sure I'm following.

Um, this is so that they can put lines over uh the road.

Uh it's in the form of an easement.

Um so it it um I don't know that there's I I don't know what the property would be.

Um so um it's a license agreement for them to have the lines over, and this is related to the development agreement that you guys approved a couple months ago for um the uh Sierra Luna battery storage, and so um this is one of the last steps in that process.

So you guys agreed in the development agreement to um approve a license or easement for them to move forward with their projects.

So this is that step, and so um in the license agreement, there is standard language that talks about their right to assign or mortgage that's standard language that you know financing likes to see, banks like to see um the licenses for 30 years.

Um and the applicants here, I mean the Sierra Luna representative is here and their lawyer.

If you have any questions for them, but as when we went through the development process, development agreement process, they're very committed to Avondale.

They have a CR Australia that they built with us, and so they don't intend to sell any time soon, but that language does give them the option, and that's just standard language in our license.

And that was negotiated between our city attorney's office and and their um attorneys.

Okay.

Councilmember White, thank you.

Um, do we know when they um completed the agreement with the county or when the county approved it?

I think the what date was that?

Uh Mr.

Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilmore White, uh August.

August of this year.

Yes, that was under one of the other requirements was that they get county approval.

They did get all their county approvals, I believe, right, Ben.

That's what I was under the impression of.

So okay, so spoken into the record.

Thank you, Kate.

Uh, but we want to move forward for with the motion.

Can I get a motion in a second?

Okay, we've got a motion from council member weiss, a second from Vice Mayor Nielsen.

Please vote.

Okay.

Finally, I don't know, but might be having some technical issues, but it looks like item passes.

Thank you so much.

All righty.

On to item five on the regular agenda.

Ron.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor and Council.

We're now going to hear from Liz, your intergovernmental affairs administrator, talk about uh the priorities for the upcoming state and federal legislative season.

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

As Mr.

Corbin noted, I'm Liz Barker Alvarez, Intergovernmental Affairs Administrator for the City of Avondale.

Part of my job here at the city is to uh monitor uh state and federal legislation or policies, um, advocate on behalf of the ones that benefit our city's uh goals and objectives, and advocate against those that um would be harmful to our city, to our residents, or to our mission.

So we do this by reviewing and analyzing proposed policies and legislation.

We meet with our stakeholders so that we can fully understand all together the impact that the policies would have on the city of Avondale, and then we meet with policymakers and their staff to make sure that uh that they're engaged, that they understand the impact that they would have, and hopefully that they align with the city's position on those proposed um matters.

All of that really, excuse me.

Sorry, I'm getting over something.

Um, all of this really starts with identifying the city's positions on the proposed measures and the public policy priorities that you're gonna hear about tonight, really offer us a framework for doing that while keeping up with a very fast pace of the legislative session and being nimble in a political environment that's constantly changing.

Interesting.

Do you so as part of the presentation, I'm gonna describe a little bit about what the current environment is, how these policy priorities and our legislative positions are developed, and then go over the recommended 2026 public policy priorities.

So, in terms of our current environment, Democrat Katie Hobbs is um governor, and we have a Republican majority in both chambers of the legislature.

The state's fiscal year 26 budget balance is estimated at only 69 million dollars compared with 469 million last year.

There is uh the state faces a 300 million dollar fiscal cliff in its education budget, and the spending on school vouchers has now topped one billion dollars.

Federal legislation, including tax conformity and cost shifts in programs like Medic uh Medicare, no, sorry, Medicaid, and SNAP, uh, will cost the state approximately 400 million dollars each year, at least for the next two to three years.

If an agreement is reached on the Colorado River, that would require legislative approval as well.

And then, of course, we have in November of 2026, we have an election for statewide officers for um members of the legislature and the federal midterm elections, and all of that adds political pressures in this environment.

Uh just as a reminder, Avondale is represented at the legislature by uh those elected to District 22.

We have Representative Lupe Contreras, who has represented this area for over a decade, and then we have Representative Luna Elda Luna Najera and Senator Eva Diaz, who have both represented Avondale for about two years.

We have spent a lot of time uh in the interim since uh July 1 with our lawmakers and have offered them opportunities to do some deep dives into some of the issues impacting uh Avondale, and we're so glad that they took advantage to learn more about economic development, to learn more about our water portfolio and how some of the current issues impact Avondale, and then in January, we'll talk a little bit more about all the housing that's being developed here in Avondale.

And uh, I do want to thank um the department directors and their staff.

They put in a lot of work to put these um tours of our community together, and our elected leaders really commented um on the knowledge of our staff on how they impressed they are with what's going on in Avondale and appreciated the opportunity to get this in-depth amount of information because during the session they have so many bills and things move so quickly that they often don't have those opportunities.

So we were glad that we were able to do that in the intro.

In terms of how we develop um our legislative positions, so there are about 1700 bills filed each year, and I do look at all of them.

No, I do not read every page of 1700 bills, but I read the I read the title, I read where it is, I read basically what the changes are, and I decide okay, this looks like it's gonna impact the city, and then comes the hard part.

But I read the, I read the title, I read where it is, I read basically what the changes are, and I decide, okay, this looks like it's going to impact the city.

And then comes the hard part.

I sent it to one of your subject matter experts, our department heads, and they and their staff really dig in deep and tell me how is this going to impact the city of Avondale.

Then I take that information and I collaborate with our other partners, it can be other cities or you know, industry folks.

We kind of decide all together, okay.

This appears to be how this is going to impact cities positively or negatively.

I'm so sorry.

We compare that information to the council approved policy priorities, and then there's a discussion with our leadership team to say, okay, this is what it's going to do, this is what the policy priorities say.

Can we determine a position?

We determine a position, and then we determine what action we want to take.

That action can range.

So the way we develop these policy priorities is first we look at past legislative sessions, because I think that if you've been here long enough, I think you've heard myself or other intergovs, and we talk to you, and it seems like it's the same bill year after year.

And that's because if it doesn't pass in one year, typically it will come back the following year and the following year.

So we really take a look at the types of issues and bills that we were dealing with in prior legislative session.

Then we look at what are the priorities of some of those regional organizations that we belong to.

You know, many of the members that are up on the dais right now participate in groups on behalf of Avondale, like the Maricopa Association of Governments, The Airism and Municipal Water Users Association, the League of Arizona Cities and Towns.

All of these collaborative groups also are doing the same process, looking at past legislative sessions, talking with lawmakers, trying to identify what their priorities are, and in doing so, they come up with their priorities.

So when we look at our our city priorities, we try to make sure that these are encompassed in there as well.

And then, of course, our ongoing conversations and collaborations with other city intergovs.

Since Representative Contreras and Representative Luna Najera and Senator Diaz represent District 22, they're the three lawmakers that I interact with the most in the same way.

So when we all talk to our elective leaders, then we can come together and say, this is what I'm hearing from our policymakers is going to be important to them.

And we all share, and that way we can kind of get a sense of some of what we're going to be dealing with in the upcoming session.

So all of those different items that I just laid out is what we take into consideration when we draft these proposed policy priorities.

And for 2026, these are the proposed public policy priorities.

If these seem familiar, they should, because the issues that we face down at the legislature don't change that dramatically from year to year.

So our proposed policy priorities and in your materials for this meeting, you do have these laid out with examples of what they what types of bills we're talking about under there.

So those would be preserve local funding, oppose preemption of local authority, support expanded housing opportunities, enhance public safety, city manage growth and development, promote economic development and prosperity, collaborate to build a robust transportation network, protect and enhance our water supply, and protect the mission of Luke Air Force Base.

So with that, Mayor, we have the recommended motion to adopt resolution 1084-1225, adopting the 2026 public policy priorities for the upcoming state and federal legislative sessions, authorize the city manager or his designee to act on such items, and authorize the mayor or city manager, city attorney, and city clerk to execute the necessary documents.

Mayor, that concludes my presentation.

I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you so much, Liz.

And I know that uh you're busy, especially when session starts and with all the different as you as you eloquently said in regards to all of the challenges that uh present themselves to municipalities uh and all of the different agencies and organizations that are too facing some of these challenges and being able to work together to be able to communicate and determine how you're going to come and support.

What is support look like or when you're going to oppose and what is the opposition look like?

And I think that it's key uh that members here on council uh continue to engage with those local organizations for those very reasons to be as educated as possible about how uh we are all going to be affected by some of these decisions, especially and I know that this has come up often in regards to local control and the different avenues that local control or the lack thereof um has taken shape and form.

And so I think it's important that we all uh become as educated as possible on what some of those issues may be, uh the challenges that we will face as a municipality and ultimately how it affects our residents, such as the loss of our rental tax uh from our multifamily and just how um how much it negatively impacts our budget and ability to do things, and so for that reason we have to prepare and adjust.

Uh and often residents are not aware of that.

So it's really good that in during this meeting that you're able to communicate what that looks like, what it means for us, uh, and how we can continue to be engaged with these challenges that will be faced, important decisions that will be made, and more importantly, our opportunity to have a say.

So thank you again uh for all the work that you do and for all the departments that participated in the tour.

Are there other members of council that wish to share?

Vice Mayor Nilson?

No, Liz, I'd just like to make a comment.

I appreciate you and all your work and effort, but not only you, but your interaction.

I mean, you're not only here, you're with all the other representatives or with senators, but you're also with all the other intergovs.

There's not a place that I don't go that I meet with one of the other intergovs and they tell me how grateful they are to interact with you.

They appreciate you.

Why don't we get emotional?

Sorry about that.

But but they do appreciate you, your insight, your vision, and the work that you do with them, and just you know, dear ability to collaborate and bring them together.

So I appreciate that, and I appreciate the ability you're gonna have now to look at these 1700 things and hope you don't stay up all night.

Either that or you can use it for part of your insign music for sleeping bills or whatever.

If you've never been with Liz while you're doing something totally different, and she's got the earpiece in listening to what's happening down at the legislature, uh having to engage in the event and work with us, uh you know, you you have your hands full.

Councilmember Solorio.

Liz, I just wanted to say thank you because he's right.

I've been we've been in on multiple trips where you're typing stuff, I'm sure, maybe to city manager's office, hearing things, and making sure that council member White and myself get to where we need to be.

And I know after seeing this that we're gonna spend even more time together with my board appointment and housing being on the forefront of um NLC's priorities.

So super excited.

Thank you, Liz, for what you do.

Thank you.

Councilmember White.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Liz.

Um, for all that you do.

I promise I'm not getting emotional.

Um, I believe that we have to be mindful.

If you can go back for us to those priorities, you're right, they haven't changed.

Um because uh when I think about the preemption of local authority, it's exactly what the mayor just said.

I mean, we're losing a lot of money that we otherwise had budgeted for when I started as a council member.

We had no idea um when I started we were gonna lose the rental tax.

So our our forecast for the next couple fiscal years, we get real close.

Um so I appreciate all the work that you do.

I just want to encourage you to get some rest before the session starts and and possibly put a bug in the city manager's ear that I might have to um allow her to be in the office some days and leverage uh another team member or two to help out when I'm running around the city because we do want you to be zero focused as we get started on the year at what the legislature is doing, because you do provide us a lot of information so we could proactively respond in all the places and spaces where we get to represent the city of Avondale and thank you for making sure we are well prepared to do so.

I appreciate you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Weiss.

Thank you, Liz.

One of the things that um when it first came on um council and I met with you, I learned a lot, and I just appreciate your support and the fact that you're always available if we have questions.

So thank you so much for all you do.

Okay, with that said, can I get a please or please get a motion?

Got a count uh sorry, a motion from Councilmember Solorio, a second from Councilmember White.

Please vote.

Okay, that was that was quick.

Item passes.

Thank you so much, Liz.

Okay, Adam Six Summary of Current Events.

Any members of council wish to share information?

Okay, Councilmember Garcia.

Well, Saturday was a busy day here in Avondale.

I think every person on in the city was out in the community giving from the fire department to the police department to the city employees.

So thank you guys all so much for all you did.

I went to shop at the cop.

I went to um Cash and for Love.

I went Cash and Has Heart.

Um Southwest Recreational Center.

I went to Litchfield.

Um and it's just really nice to see the community come together to give back to the community.

So thank you guys all for what you guys do because it really does impact people so much.

And those kids were just so happy just to get something.

So thank you guys so much.

Oh, and Merry Christmas, everyone.

Vice Mayor Nelson.

Oh, we all attended Winterfest, which was great.

I have had more public response back to that than I have ever had before from teenagers as well.

Typically, you get a parent or somebody but I've had teens come up to me and tell me how much they were impressed with that.

So kudos on you for Parks and Rec and everybody else that was involved with that.

Uh Patty and I had the opportunity on Saturday, in addition to all the other things we're going to go to the Goodyear's Farm uh cemetery and place the wreath on the veterans thing there.

Dominic, wherever you might be.

I learned more about that cemetery any half hour I was with you.

He's just like walking encyclopedia about uh who was buried here, but what he's trying to do to pull that all together to make something out of just of uh uh that was a field at one time, so I appreciate that.

Thank you.

Okay, Councilmember Solorio.

I just want to echo what um Vice Mayor Nielsen said.

I know with Corey.

Um I shared your people are amazing in and you know, day in and day out, they do long hours and stuff, and they not one person is like tired at the end, they're energized, and I did share with Corey one of the quotes that I said because it's true leadership that you know a leader can have a vision and the people can choose to follow.

But I I did share this with Corey, which was by Simon Cenek.

Leadership is not about being in charge, it's about taking care of those in charge for or those in your charge.

So thank you, Corey.

Thank you, Stacey, thank you, everyone, because it's really the people who make the job what it is.

A job is a job, but the people that work there make the difference.

Thank you.

Councilmember Weiss.

Well, I just wanted to thank the staff also.

I see Martina out in the um sat cash in today.

It was beautiful weekend, and we had so many wonderful city events.

And one thing I did want to kind of shout out please fire everybody.

We had so many wonderful things, but the library surprised me with their rolling truck that was full of books, and kids were able to get books um in Cash and that was great.

I just really just want to thank the staff for all you do for our community.

Councilmember White.

Thank you so much.

I was uh guest of Dr.

Um and I want to thank Arizona State University, but I also want to thank Dr.

Sharon Smith at ASU.

I was her guest at the Black Chamber of Arizona's um 27th annual Pentacle Pathways Gala, um, where they had the opportunity to celebrate Black businesses throughout the state of Arizona.

Um, Dr.

Velma Trahan is the current CEO of this organization, so it was really amazing to be there.

Um, and it was really neat to also see uh my my former employer, Bank of America get recognized for all that they do um to support um black businesses throughout the state.

So I just wanted to thank AASU, thank you, Dillard, for making sure I was able to uh represent Avondale at that event.

Um, and also uh thank um Dr.

Hassan as well, Kenja Hassan, who always uh makes sure that I'm able to participate and be engaged.

We had a great contingency there from the um at the ASU West, and uh it was a great evening.

Thank you.

A lot's been said, and so I don't want to rehash everything or uh you know, just add to the time, other than to say that truly the MVPs of the last week with all these different events that have happened, staff, public safety, fire, uh, police.

I know the kids were so excited to see the trucks and see uh both fire trucks uh and the police vehicles out there and the K9 units, and they were just so happy.

So thank you for what you do.

Staff, all the time that is spent, Parks and Rec.

Again, uh Corey, you know.

I mean, I communicated to you just how uh grateful I am for for your staff and just everybody who's made this possible, including Martina Cash and Has Heart.

Thank you so much, and Judge Pep Guzman.

And I hit the mark.

Thank you.

Okay, can I get a motion for adjournment?

Got a motion by Councilmember Condi, a second from Councilmember White.

Please vote.

That's it.

Last meeting of the year.

Everybody have a great Mr.

Mayor.

Oh, hold on.

We got one more meeting.

I was just kidding.

You know what?

I like to check to make sure everybody's on top of things.

You passed.

Congratulations.

All right.

So at this time, I would like to call to order the Alamar Community Facilities District Board special meeting of December 1st, 2025.

Marcella, can you please get roll call?

Board Member Condi.

Here.

Board Member Garcia.

Here.

Board Member Solario.

Board Member Weiss.

Here.

Board Member White.

Present.

Vice Chair Nielsen.

Here.

Chair Pineda.

Here.

Next is the consent agenda.

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

Seeing none.

Got a motion from Councilmember Garcia.

A second from Councilmember Condi.

Please vote.

Item passes.

Very good.

Next item is adjournment.

Can I please get a motion?

Motion from Councilmember Garcia, second from Councilmember Condi.

Please vote.

Okay, now we're adjourned.

Everybody, please have a safe holiday season.

Stay healthy.

Be safe.

Drive home safe, and we'll see you all next year.