OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Regular City Council Meeting – April 13, 2026

City Council — Monday, April 13, 2026
BodyAvondale, Arizona
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, April 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:56:26

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Mayor, we're ready.

0:04

Okay.

0:05

I'd like to call an order the regular city council meeting of April 6th to order.

0:10

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

0:47

Thank you.

0:49

Julie, can we get roll call, please?

0:52

Councilmember Condi.

1:02

Councilmember Conde, can you hear me?

1:06

Yes, here.

1:07

Councilmember Garcia.

1:08

Here.

1:09

Councilmember Solario.

1:11

Councilmember Weiss.

1:12

Here.

1:13

Councilmember White.

1:17

Vice Mayor Nielsen.

1:19

Here.

1:19

Mayor Paneda.

1:20

Here.

1:21

Thank you.

1:22

Thank you.

1:23

Tracy, next item, please.

1:25

Thank you, Mayor.

1:26

We will start with employee announcements from Police Chief Memo Espinoza.

1:38

Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council.

1:40

Thank you for having us.

1:41

It is my pleasure to introduce the newest employees of the Avondale Police Department.

1:45

At this time, I'm going to ask all the employees to come up to the podium and state their name, tell us their position within the Avondale Police Department, where they call home, and if they can also let us know why they chose Avondale for employment.

1:57

Brandy, we'll start with you.

2:01

Good evening.

2:01

My name is Brian D.

2:02

Datcher.

2:03

I am a victim services supervisor with the Avondale Police Department.

2:09

Good year.

2:18

But as well as my lieutenant made it very clear when I first interviewed for this position that victim services was a priority here.

2:27

That's something that I hold very close to my heart.

2:30

Therefore, I knew Avondale was a place for me.

2:37

Hello, I'm Juan Garcia.

2:39

I am a records clerk.

2:55

A city that appreciates its employees.

3:01

Hello, my name is Bethany Horner.

3:03

I'm a police dispatcher.

3:14

And that was really something that I hold near and dear to my heart.

3:19

And so that's one of the reasons I chose Avondale and so far.

3:23

So good.

3:24

Thank you.

3:27

Hello, my name is Damon Daponse.

3:29

I'm a communications dispatcher, and the place I call home is Mexico because I was born and raised there.

3:34

And I live there 13 years.

3:36

And I chose Avendale because it was the first place I called home after moving from Mexico.

3:40

And it was the community that I wanted to serve and be a part of.

3:42

And it's been great.

3:44

Thank you.

3:48

Hello, my name is Evelyn LeCour.

3:51

Um, sorry.

3:58

I'm a communications dispatcher for Avon the Police Department.

4:02

Um I call home, New York.

4:05

That's where I was born and raised.

4:06

Um, but I did choose Avondale because of I guess I wanted to always be in the field, even as a kid.

4:14

And as the position opened, I did some research and I saw that you guys were very into your employees and very uh positive community, and that's always something I've looked for in the work field.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management███████████████████████████████████35%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Personnel Matters█████████9%
Public Safety█████████9%
Military Affairs██████6%
Environmental Protection██████6%
Community Engagement█████5%
Public Engagement███3%
Arts And Culture██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Regular City Council Meeting – April 13, 2026

The Avondale City Council held its regular meeting on the provided date of April 13, 2026, though the transcript opening indicates April 6, 2026, a discrepancy noted here. The meeting included employee announcements, three proclamations, a consent agenda, a public hearing on a zoning text amendment, a detailed water resources update, a recognition of Assistant City Manager Tracy Stevens, and council member reports on recent events.

Proclamations and Recognitions

  • New Police Department Employees: Police Chief Memo Espinoza introduced seven new employees (Brandy Datcher, Juan Garcia, Bethany Horner, Damon Daponse, Evelyn LeCour, Kayleigh Finkley, George Valez, Noah Malina) who each stated their position and reasons for choosing Avondale. Council welcomed them.
  • National Public Safety Telecommunications Week (April 12–18, 2026): Police Communications Manager Angela Destin and Chief Espinoza presented the proclamation. Council expressed gratitude for dispatchers’ work.
  • Month of the Military Child (April 2026): HR Director Andy Musquita presented the proclamation. Lieutenant Colonel Maria K. Barardo (Luke Air Force Base) and Sergeant Cesar Othon (Avondale Police) spoke. Councilmember Garcia read the proclamation. Sergeant Othon shared personal family stories highlighting the sacrifices of military children.
  • National Library Week and 2026 Bookmark Contest: Marissa Daly (Arts, Culture and Libraries Manager) reported library statistics for 2025: over 142,000 visits, 5,758 new library cards, 10,000+ computer sessions, 1 million resources circulated, 1,334 programs with attendance of nearly 49,000, and 46 off-site community events. Winners of the bookmark contest were announced. Councilmember Weiss read the proclamation.

Consent Calendar

  • Agenda Item #4 (Consent Agenda) was approved unanimously on a motion by Councilmember White, second by Councilmember Solorio. No items were removed for separate consideration.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made (no blue cards or requests to speak).

Discussion Items

  • Item 5A – Zoning Code Text Amendment (PL26-0048): Planning staff presented a city-initiated amendment to align site plan and design review approval processes with House Bill 24447, moving all such approvals (except those in the Boulevard District) to administrative approval. A public hearing was opened and closed with no comments. Council approved the amendment unanimously (7-0) on a motion by Councilmember White, second by Vice Mayor Nielsen.
  • Item 5B – Water Resources Update: Public Works Director Kirk Beattie, joined by Assistant Director Eric Bay and Water Resources Manager Cole Peel, provided a comprehensive update. Key points:
    • Avondale’s water portfolio is stable: 44% SRP water, 18% Colorado River (CAP), 33% effluent, 5% groundwater and storage credits (~9 years of demand in long-term storage).
    • The city is in Stage 1 drought preparedness; a move to Stage 2 may be considered in winter 2026–2027 depending on Colorado River developments.
    • External pressures: the Colorado River structural deficit, stalemate among basin states, and potential Bureau of Reclamation decision by October 2026 could reduce Avondale’s CAP allocation by 50–60%.
    • State legislation (e.g., HB 2099, SB 1201, HB 430) could affect water storage and rate flexibility.
    • The city is investing in effluent expansion (Wharf project), participating in regional advanced water purification discussions, and enforcing water conservation through the Water Resource Management Ordinance (e.g., data centers using closed-loop cooling, using water equivalent to only six single-family homes).
    • A 2017 water audit found a 885,000-gallon leak that has been addressed; the city’s water loss is 5%, well below the 10% maximum.
    • Council members expressed appreciation for staff’s work and asked clarifying questions about SRP vs. off-project water use, drought stages, future litigation risks, and conservation education. No vote was taken; this was an informational item.
  • Item 6 – Recognition of Assistant City Manager Tracy Stevens: City Manager Nannette Gamez and Council surprised Tracy Stevens with recognition for 19 years of service. Council members and the Mayor praised her contributions to city development and her mentorship. Stevens will be moving to another state. A celebration is scheduled for the following Monday.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved unanimously.
  • Zoning text amendment (Item 5A) approved unanimously (7-0).
  • Water resources update received as information; no action taken.
  • Tracy Stevens recognized for her service; farewell event planned.
  • Council members reported on recent events: Torch Run, Donny Hill Extravaganza/Mercy House, Fire Academy participation, Valley Metro audit committee, West Point High School induction, Coffee with Council, Fast Track to Global Connections panel, and Cash for Heart event.
  • The meeting concluded with a motion to enter executive session, which passed unanimously.

Meeting Transcript

Mayor, we're ready. Okay. I'd like to call an order the regular city council meeting of April 6th to order. Would you please all rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence? Thank you. Julie, can we get roll call, please? Councilmember Condi. Councilmember Conde, can you hear me? Yes, here. Councilmember Garcia. Here. Councilmember Solario. Councilmember Weiss. Here. Councilmember White. Vice Mayor Nielsen. Here. Mayor Paneda. Here. Thank you. Thank you. Tracy, next item, please. Thank you, Mayor. We will start with employee announcements from Police Chief Memo Espinoza. Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council. Thank you for having us. It is my pleasure to introduce the newest employees of the Avondale Police Department. At this time, I'm going to ask all the employees to come up to the podium and state their name, tell us their position within the Avondale Police Department, where they call home, and if they can also let us know why they chose Avondale for employment. Brandy, we'll start with you. Good evening. My name is Brian D. Datcher. I am a victim services supervisor with the Avondale Police Department. Good year. But as well as my lieutenant made it very clear when I first interviewed for this position that victim services was a priority here. That's something that I hold very close to my heart. Therefore, I knew Avondale was a place for me. Hello, I'm Juan Garcia. I am a records clerk. A city that appreciates its employees. Hello, my name is Bethany Horner. I'm a police dispatcher. And that was really something that I hold near and dear to my heart. And so that's one of the reasons I chose Avondale and so far. So good. Thank you. Hello, my name is Damon Daponse. I'm a communications dispatcher, and the place I call home is Mexico because I was born and raised there. And I live there 13 years. And I chose Avendale because it was the first place I called home after moving from Mexico.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com