The mayor, Vice Mayor, and City Council welcome you to the Avondale City Council meeting.

As a courtesy to others, please silence all phones.

Anyone wishing to address the council regarding items listed on the agenda or under unscheduled public appearance should complete the request to speak form online at WWW.avondale AZ.gov slash request to speak.

Or complete a blue card that is located at the back of the council chamber and hand it to the city clerk prior to consideration of that agenda item.

When your name is called, please approach the podium and give your name for the public record.

Please limit your comments to three minutes.

If more than five requests to speak are received, comments may be limited to one minute.

A countdown clock will be easily visible on the speaker's podium.

If your comments concern an item not listed on the agenda, Arizona open meeting law restricts mayor and council actions.

If your comments concern item that is not listed on the agenda, mayor and council may respond to criticism, request that staff review the matter, or request that the matter be scheduled on a future agenda.

Thank you for your interest in the Avondale City Council meeting.

Would you all join me in the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silent reflection?

Thank you.

Marcella, can we get roll call, please?

Board member Garcia.

Here.

Board Member Conde.

Here.

Board Member Solario.

Board Member Weiss.

Here.

Board Member White.

Present.

Vice Chair Nielsen.

Present.

Chair Paneda.

Here.

Thank you, Ron.

Next item, please.

Thank you.

Uh, Mr.

Mayor.

Yeah, Mr.

Chairman, so I was looking for the word.

Uh, first up, we have our uh public hearing for proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and tax levy going to be presented by uh Renee Weathels, your district treasurer.

Good evening, Chair, Vice Chair, and members of the Alamar Community Facilities District Board.

We are here tonight for the um fiscal 2027 proposed um sorry, a final budget and public hearing.

So in the fiscal twenty twenty-seven budget for the Alamar CFD.

Um the total budget is six point two million, and that includes um five million of debt proceeds, which was an estimate.

We have an item later.

Um we will talk about the issuance of some debt.

So the district itself is planning to levy um both a primary and secondary tax with a combined tax rate of four dollars and fifteen cents.

The primary rate is which is limited per statute is thirty cents per 100 dollars of assessed valuation and generates just over eighty-six thousand dollars.

And those revenues are used for the operations of the district itself.

The secondary tax rate, which will be three dollars and eighty-five cents per 100 of assessed valuation will generate just over one point one million dollars.

So our recommendation tonight is to open the public hearing for the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and tax levy, and then to adjourn and reconvene to adopt resolution CFD resolution three-2026, setting forth the final budget for fiscal year 2027 and CFD resolution four-two zero two six, setting the property tax levy for fiscal year ended June 30th, 2027.

So that concludes my presentation.

I will take any questions.

Thank you, Renee.

Are there any questions from any of the board members regarding the presentation?

Okay.

Hearing none at this time, I'd like to open up the public hearing on item 2A.

Marcella, do we have any requests to speak at this time?

Thank you, Chair.

We have not received any requests to speak.

Okay, thank you so much.

At this time, I'll close the public hearing on item 2A.

Again, this is for discussion.

And no action is to be taken.

Do you have any questions on anything that was provided by Renee in the presentation?

Okay.

And at this time.

Okay, at this time, I'd like to open up the public hearing on item 2B.

Marcella, any uh requests to speak at this time.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, item two B.

I believe there's a short presentation from Renee.

Oh, okay, I didn't see that.

All right, Chair Vice Chair and members of the Alamar CFD board.

Um, we are here tonight to conduct a public hearing to approve the feasibility study to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for the Alamar Community Facilities district.

So the Alamar CFD was established in May of 2018.

The district is approximately 1,086 acres, which will include about 4,036 single family housing units at full build out, and over half of those units um are currently platted.

As of April of this year, more than 1,232 lots have been sold to home buyers, with 53 more under construction.

In 2018, in November election, voters approved the district's authority to issue up to 70 million dollars of general obligation bonds.

Uh as I mentioned in the earlier item, the district's total property tax rate is four dollars and fifteen cents, made up of the primary and secondary rates, and the proceeds of the bond issuance will be used to do to reimburse the developer for public infrastructure.

So this bond um issuance would represent the fifth sale of bonds for the district over the past four years.

We've issued a total of 12.4 million dollars in bonds.

We are requesting approval to issue up to four million dollars of general obligation bonds for this summer in July or the end of the month, June.

After the sale of the bonds, the district will have not less than 53.6 million dollars of remaining authorization, and the plan is to continue to issue issue general obligation bonds each year until full build out.

So with that, our publication is to open a public hearing for the feasibility study and to adopt CFD resolution two-2026.

That concludes my presentation, Chair, and I will take any questions.

We have any questions from the board at this moment.

Okay, council member Garcia.

Just because it's very unique, and if the when the residents come and listen to this again, can you explain why we do the bonds?

I mean, they know because they bought a home there.

Um, but sometimes um I've spoken to residents who live there that don't realize what they signed when they bought the house.

So just a small explanation on why and how it was already included in this, and that we do this periodically as as it goes until it's complete.

Okay, so chair and and board member Garcia.

Um, so at the time of purchase of those housing units, there is the documentation that is given to the home buyers, and and that is signed through that home buying process.

The um the development itself is is built in advance.

So all of the infrastructure, the the water lines, the roads, uh, the the streets are all built, and then as the property values are increasing each year, so going from dirt lots to housing units, the property value increases.

Bonds can be issued up to that valuation.

So in this case, our property tax rate has started out at the maximum four dollars and fifteen cents.

It will not change, just at more housing units and the property tax will increase, then that will generate further capacity to issue bonds in the future to be able to pay for that infrastructure that was pre-built.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Thank you for the explanation.

You're right.

I mean, there are many residents who have no idea that they're, or maybe just maybe even over a member in regards to what the CFD is and what the responsibility is.

So thank you so much.

All right.

At this moment in time, I've opened Marcella opened a public hearing earlier and closed it.

Can it move forward?

Thank you, Mayor or Chair.

We have not received any requests to speak, so we are okay to move forward.

Okay.

So just in case I'm gonna close the public hearing on item 2B.

Can we get a motion on staff's recommendation?

And if you wouldn't mind, Councilmember Solorial, could you read the motion?

Motion to adopt CFD resolution 2-2026 authorizing and ratifying the giving of notice of hearing with respect to approving a feasibility report and approving such feasibility report authorizing all matters necessary to sell and issue general obligation bonds for the Alamar Community Facilities District, not to exceed 400,000 in aggregate principle and authorize the district manager and district treasure to determine certain matters related thereto.

Okay, thank you so much.

And chair, that was four million.

Four million.

We have any other debate or discussion.

Hearing none, can we get a vote?

Sorry, one moment.

There you go.

Okay, item passes unanimously seven to zero.

Next item is adjournment.

Can I get a motion for adjournment?

Okay, we got a motion from Councilmember White, second from Councilmember Condi.

Please vote.

Thank you.

I don't pass unitfully.

We are adjourned.

Okay, on to item one of the LMR community facility district board special meeting.

I would like to call to order the LMR Community Facility District Board special meeting of June 1st, 2026.

Marcella, can you do what roll call, please?

Board member Condi.

Here, board member Garcia.

Here, Polario.

Here, board member Whites here.

Board Member White.

Present.

Vice Chair Nielsen.

Here.

Chair Panita.

Here.

Next item on the agenda is consent.

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

Seeing none, can I get a motion?

Got a motion from Councilmember Solorio, a second from Vice Mayor Nielsen.

Can we please get everybody to vote?

Item passes unanimously seven to zero.

Next item is adjournment.

Can I get a motion for adjournment?

We got a council.

I'm sorry, a motion from Councilmember White, second from Council Member Salorio.

Please vote.

Okay, that special meeting is now adjourned.

Now we're on to the regular meeting of tonight.

I would like to call to order the Avondale City Council meeting, the regular city council meeting of June 1st, 2026.

Can we please get roll call, Marcella?

Councilmember Condi here.

Councilmember Garcia here.

Councilmember Solario.

Councilmember Weiss here.

Councilmember White.

Present.

Vice Mayor Nielsen.

Here.

Mayor Peneva.

Here.

Thank you so much.

Ron, next item, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Council.

Up next, we have a presentation for Green for Good Community Sustainability Grant Program Awardees.

I believe Kim Anderson is going to make the presentation.

Your sustainability officer.

Good evening, Mayor.

Vice Mayor and Council.

As Ron said, I'm Kim Anderson, the city's sustainability officer.

And I'm here excited to share the recipients of the uh 2026 Green for Good Grant Program, which will empower local communities to implement sustainability actions through small-scale funding opportunities.

So this presentation will provide a quick background on what led us here, as well as announcing our recipients.

So to refresh the memories, it wasn't so long ago that I was up here.

Um, but this program was developed by Avendell's very first Abbey Pro intern, Madison Bigham.

I believe she's here with us tonight.

So thank you, Madison, for all of your help with putting this together and for the AppyPro um opportunity.

During the development, Madison collaborated with Avondel staff and neighborhood and family services, the city attorney's office, finance and budget, as well as our grants coordinator at the time.

She also met with representatives from the city of Mesa and FLAG staff who have similar programs to this.

And they were able to share some best practices and the development of the program.

And the intent of this grant is to support projects that will benefit the Avondale community, enhance our environment, and address at least one of our sustainability pathways that's found in our community sustainability plan.

Those are listed here.

I won't go through all of them.

But our recipients had to meet at least one of these pathways.

Some of them were able to hit more than one of those.

We kept eligibility broad because we wanted this opportunity to reach many different groups and organizations.

So individuals, nonprofits, community and educational groups, homeowner associations, churches, schools, and businesses were all able to apply.

So here's a little timeline on where we've been and where we're at and where we're going.

We hosted a workshop.

I at that time also presented at the Avondale Interfaith Council meeting and had information shared at our Cafecitos meeting.

In addition, we had information shared through regional partners like ASU and email lists provided by our economic development department, neighborhood and family services, and our water conservation coordinator.

After the application window closed on April 3rd, our amazing sustainability commission got to work on reviewing those applications and selecting our recipients.

And next, um, next step is they'll get their money and we'll get to work.

And the grant will run from June 15th until June 30th of 2027, when they will have to be completed.

And the marketing efforts were not in vain since we received a total of 14 applications.

Very happy about that.

Four projects were selected for funding.

Two projects are fully funded and two projects were partially funded.

I'd like to note that in the application, we asked all of the applicants if their project was able to be accomplished with an amount less than the maximum requested.

Just a reminder, we had a total of $15,000 to allocate.

So if they're able to take a little bit less than so that way we can spread more love, they indicated if they were able to do so.

And that was how we were able to fund four projects.

And now I'm honored to share the recipients of the 2026 Green for Good grant.

When I call their name, they can come stand up here with me.

First, we have the Desert Bloom Compost Program from the Global Shapers Phoenix Group.

This is a food waste reduction and compost program that will partner with five Avondale restaurants.

Their goal is to connect them with education, local composting efforts, and food donation services.

The overall their funding request was $5,000 maximum with a minimum request of 1,280.

Their funded awarded amount is $5,000.

And the sustainability pathways that they are addressing is waste as a resource and fresh food for all.

Next, we have multi-campus cooling initiative from Littleton Elementary School District.

So this project will be planting trees at four of our elementary schools in Avondale.

They'll be increasing shade coverage for students and on buildings as well.

They'll be strategically located next to buildings to help reduce the energy load, especially in the summers.

And with the overall intent of improving our environment.

The sustainability pathways that they are addressing is resilience to extreme heat, healthy environment, and efficient buildings and renewable energy.

Next, we have Mercy House, the heat relief and hydration program.

So this funding will go to the installation of solar powered outdoor lighting at their cooling center.

They currently operate a phenomenal cooling center for our community that provides shade, water, um, just resources and access for those who need it.

And so with our funding, they'll be able to install solar powered outdoor lighting to extend their safety and accessibility, offer extended heat relief hours, and support renewable energy.

The funding requested was 4,997 max, 2,523 minimum, and they are awarded 2,544.

The sustainability pathways that they are addressing is efficient buildings and renewable energy and resilience to extreme heat.

And last we have our uh makers warehouse from AZ Community Impact.

Uh so this project is going to be uh providing items for our community that would otherwise have been left to our land.

So they will take adults with special needs, retirees, and second chance adults and give them an opportunity to upcycle items that would otherwise be going into the trash and provide those items to Avondale families in need.

Um their goal is to divert waste from the landfill and provide beds, desks, and dressers, along with some uh hygiene um uh items as well.

Their funding request was 5,000 max, 1,000 minimum, and their funded awarded amount is 2,500.

Their sustainability pathway that they're addressing is waste as a resource.

So I'd like to thank you, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council for supporting the Green for Good Community Sustainability Grant Program.

I'm thrilled to see the positive impacts that these programs uh will have on our community and help make Avondale more sustainable over overall.

Um so I have members of the Sustainability Commission here with us as well as representatives from these amazing organizations.

And I will open it up to council if there's any questions or comments.

Uh, first, if councilmember mine, can we give a round of applause for all of the grantees?

Some are new that uh that I'm not very familiar with, and many others we know exactly who you are and what you've done and the great things that you've done here in Avondale.

And so, just really quickly, uh, you know, $15,000, you know, is can be eaten up really quickly.

Uh, but I'm just so happy to see that where it's going and the impact that will be uh distributed among the community here, specifically in Avondale.

Um, and so I would just ask that my fellow council members if you have any words to share or express if you'd like to do so now.

Councilmember Conde.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you for the presentation.

And thank you to each and every one of you for the great work that you're doing.

You guys are all doing something different.

And I always say that to folks that we don't all have to do the same thing.

We just all need to do something.

So thank you guys.

Congratulations.

Councilmember Garcia.

I thank you so much for the presentation and for everything you guys are doing for our community.

Yeah, just like Tina said it perfectly.

We don't all have to do the same thing as long as we're all putting something in.

And this is going to help a lot of people in different ways.

I'm honestly the most excited, and I know it sounds crazy about the trees in the school, because being out like as a mom waiting for your child, those trees help so much.

So thank you so much for putting that in.

Thank you.

What have you done here?

Council Mr.

Voice.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Kim.

Thank you guys for um applying for this um for these grants.

It was exciting to see the 14 different um agencies applied.

Um, so congratulations.

And we know that you guys are going to put it to good use.

And Kim, thank you for the presentation, but I'd be remiss if I did not also thank Megan, Madison, sorry, Madison for bringing this to the city of Avondale.

And more importantly, look what's happened as a result.

You'll finally see some impact.

And uh, we just thank you for the idea and bringing it here.

And most importantly, having 14 uh applicants.

And uh, you know, we have the four in front of us.

We're gonna actually execute.

So I look forward to to seeing the fruits of the labor.

And will we get a report back or anything, an update, if you will.

Yes, yeah, I do plan on coming back um at the uh end of the program to provide an update and a final report.

Okay, thank you so much.

We appreciate it.

And thank you guys for being here and congratulations.

And I think we're gonna have a picture here in just a second.

So oh.

Council Member Boyd.

Thank you so much, Marath.

Uh thank you, Kimberly.

I uh planted trees with you before, so I know how honest and truthful your commitment is.

I just wanted to acknowledge the fact that um solar energy is so important to us to extend the time that we have available, um, being able to divert waste.

Um I just was driving down our kind of like marginal road off of the I-10 coming between ninety-ninth and a hundred and seventh, and I saw something that probably needed to be upcycled.

It's been sitting there for about a week.

It looks like a half a bet, it's kind of like an antique, but just to know that type of stuff won't end up in the trash.

Um, composting is vital.

Um, I I see that's a way to create food, and I'm happy that it wasn't just looking at looking at waste, but also a way to ensure we have nutrition um coming back in.

But when I think about the trees that will be coming into Littleton, I don't know if they'll be planted before our next Arbor Day event or if that's gonna be one of the ways we'll get to go out and help them do that.

But I'd love to um see that process happen and be there with the students.

It energizes the children when we plant alongside of them.

They know how important a sustainable future is for us.

So um, thank you all for submitting your application, Madison.

Thank you for the ingenuity and innovation.

Sometimes ideas are all we need to be innovative, and thank you so much.

Really appreciate that.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Council, if you wouldn't mind joining me down, we'll take a picture.

All right, item number three is unscheduled public appearances.

I don't see any blue cards.

Is that correct, Marcella?

Thank you, ma'am.

Okay, but I do see a couple of Boy Scouts in the audience, and I don't know if you're here for a badge to earn some time or what, but I'd love to have you come up and introduce yourselves if if you would and your troop number.

If you feel comfortable, I don't want to put you, I don't know, putting you on the spot.

You got a number.

There they are.

All right.

So have any things again.

You can just share your name and your troop number.

We'd love to meet you.

Actually, I think we might have met you before.

Yeah.

Dominate.

We are working on citizenship.

Nice citizenship.

Well, we thank you for being here.

And uh, you know, I I apologize for putting on the spot, but wanted to make sure that if we can get you up here and share it a little bit, maybe learn a little bit from you, um, then we're all the better for that.

And uh, Dad, I'm assuming.

Are you uh the troop leader?

Yes, my name is Christopher Getting D.

I'm the scout master for Troop 91.

Well, great to meet you.

Thank you for what you're doing and having the boys here involved.

We really appreciate that.

And uh Vice Mayor here, I know I don't know if we have a couple of words.

I don't know if you on the spot too, but kind of right up your alley.

Citizenship.

There's two or three merit badges in there.

Which one specifically?

Citizenship in community, okay.

And part of the responsibility or opportunity in their list of uh requirements is to come and attend and see what we do in that community so that they can be part of this in the future.

So citizenship in the community, citizenship in the nation.

And is there a third one?

In the world.

So they've got opportunities to participate in all of those, and those are merit badges they can select.

Stand to the side there so we can see your merit matches.

How many you got there?

And each one of those have a different uh focus.

And it's just still how many of you got?

You're you're early there, huh?

But uh, how many is it now to uh receive eagle?

Is it still 21 22?

No, I think it's uh 31 to the 31.

I see your wife there changing her mind.

Thank you very much.

Appreciate that.

Boys keep after it.

When I was there on Boy Scouts, there was a badge called Metallurgy.

I spent 40 years in metallurgical engineering degree.

So I started in Boy Scouts and put my whole career towards it.

So I appreciate it.

Cool.

Thank you so very much.

Ironically enough, uh, I was in Boy Scouts for for three weeks.

Uh I was in it for one.

I went to Camp Geronimo, and that was the last time I was a Boy Scout.

So, and I was a part of Troop 91, believe it or not.

We were we were out of at that time it was the um cap office, which is now the Mountain View Community Center.

Uh, but a friend of mine talked me into going.

I I thought I would love it, and then I realized I don't really like the outdoors too much.

And so, but no, seriously, thank you guys for being here.

Continue working and earning your badges and dad, thank you so much for the support you're providing your children.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Item number four on the agenda is the consent agenda.

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

Seeing none, can I get a motion?

We got a motion from Councilmember White, a second from Councilmember Solorio.

Can we get a vote?

Item passes unanimously.

Thank you so much.

On to item number five.

Ron, next item, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Council.

Up next is uh presentation on our proposed fiscal year 2027 final budget and tax levy adoption.

Uh present presented by uh Renee Weatherless, your finance budget director.

And I believe I'm gonna do a cameo halfway through.

So evening, Mayor Vice Mayor and Council members.

We're here for the fiscal 2027 final budget and property tax levy.

So we are at the final stages of the budget process tonight.

Now the purpose is to hold a public hearing on the proposed property tax levy and the final budget for fiscal year 2027 in the amount of 514 million 304,500.

And also to note that um we will not be holding a truth in taxation hearing this year.

So per stack we're required to um hold the hearing, and we are not planning to increase the levy, excuse me, by that allowable two percent.

And we are not planning to increase the levy, excuse me, by that allowable 2%.

And that is why we will not be holding a truth in taxation hearing this year.

So the property tax rate is planning to be set at 1.4592 combined total, which is equal to what we set it at for fiscal 2026.

So the levy that is generated from that property tax is over 4.5 million for the primary and 6.8 million for the secondary for a total of uh just under three 11.4 million dollars.

And looking at the historical property tax rate, you can see that um for the last several years that property tax rate has been relatively consistent.

And as I mentioned, it is flat um going into next year.

Now, when you look at an example of an Avondale residence property tax bill, you'll note that the city of Avondale represents approximately 11% of the total makeup of that property tax bill.

School districts make up the majority of it at about 75%.

And then you have count the county and other special districts that make up the difference.

Moving on into the 2027 final budget, um, we did set the expenditure limitation with the adoption of the tenative budget on May 4th.

Um, and as we've been doing, we are presenting any changes from a previous version.

Now, the changes that we've included in the final budget has been um an increase to general fund salaries for employer related expenditures in the amount of 43,000 dollars.

We had a fund correction for vehicle purchase from general fund to the water utility fund for 60,000.

We had a correction to a property tax revenue of 300, and then we continued to make adjustments to both a CIP carryover appropriations as well as a RICO program carryover appropriation.

And any of those increases that were made were offset by decreases coming out of our contingencies or unanticipated revenues to maintain that same expenditure limit.

Now, some other documents that have been included with the fiscal 27 final budget include the administrative awards over $100,000, a schedule of interfund transfers, as well as our five-year capital improvement plan.

And at this point, I'm going to turn it over to Mr.

Corbin to talk about um budget priorities.

Thank you, Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council.

I appreciate this opportunity.

I wanted to um talk about uh council priorities and talk highlight some accomplishments.

We spent the last several months going through the budget, and we spent a lot of time debating, having council debate, some cuts.

We're 3% across the board for most departments.

We made some cuts, we had some hard choices.

So what we never really got to was some of the huge successes that are in this budget that give back to the community.

We really haven't, some of them are going ongoing every year, you know, that we get back to the community.

So I just wanted to highlight a few of those uh um what I call successes, the good stories uh that this budget gives back to the community.

And we set those um those decision points, our recommended budget based on council's priority, economic development, connected communities, parks and recreations, our services, public safety, and personnel.

So over, I'm not gonna go through every line item, but I just want to highlight uh the amount of money we spend on economic development, making our community a great place to own and operate a business.

Whether it's uh marketing, um, over 200,000 there, uh, that includes um our tourism dollars that we get from the state.

It includes things uh in marketing, includes things in economic development that we have to support businesses.

A big one that we have for next year is expansion of the boulevard.

So we have uh set aside um uh three and a half million to purchase the the corner property over there on Roosevelt and Avenue Boulevard that will add additional parking to the Boulevard area.

In addition, it sets up a program we have for a row of restaurants, a high-end restaurants there.

It also includes half street improvements to assist with that development and the development of the uh embassy suites, and then um uh additional um infrastructure in that area.

We spend a significant uh amount of resources supporting small businesses, uh, whether it's a providing free consultation for uh development of plans, human resources, financial things, again with about marketing, what they're doing.

Um, and then with growth, we have to plan for infrastructure, right?

So we dedicate significant dollars into improving intersections uh along the way along these businesses.

This has always been in the three and a half years I've been with the city and before I got here.

Parks has been a priority for this council.

We continue that in this next year.

We hope to open Donna Tella.

I guess hope's not the right word.

We're going to open Donatella in this next year.

Significant investment, first neighborhood park on the north side of the highway.

We have the Old Town Plaza, almost a million dollars there going in.

We're also adding improvements to our parks, Fiesta and Festival and Friendship Park at 2.5 million, including upgraded playground over at uh friendship, if I've got the right park.

Very excited about that one.

It will be accessible friendly.

Very excited about that.

We also continue to expand our programming.

We added over $700,000 to our sports programs.

A significant portion of that was cost increase for the aquatics program.

And remember, this excludes personnel in this.

This is actual programming that we give back to the community.

And then we have three quarters of a million dollars in our community events.

For public safety, we continue to do a great job here.

A couple I want to point out that I want to make sure are highlighted is the drone as a first responder program and our flock safety camera program in cooperation with uh Chief Espinoza and our police department and finance.

We were able to find ways to finance that.

I appreciate Chief Espinoza leading the way in being flexible in how we make things happen.

Oh, the two others I wanted to, or the one other I wanted to mention was the McDowell uh Road Bridge Lighting.

We consider lighting of our sidewalks, a safety issue, making our community safer.

And I know that uh this has been asked for.

And so we hope to wrap that out.

Before December of this year, they will be on.

Where's Kim, right?

Yes.

Before December of this year, we will have those those lights on.

All right.

And then connected community, another priority for council.

Um I I don't know that we've ever really grouped it this way, but between our housing program, hopeless homelessness assistance, senior program, youth program, we spend over a million dollars in programming.

That's in contracts, that's in purchasing mills, that's in providing the services.

That 1.2 is not employee uh salaries, that's just the additional uh programming costs.

Uh this council has always prioritized uh giving back to the community and taking care of those that need assistance.

Um a big one that I want to talk about uh is uh transportation, and that is our plans to expand the intersection of McDowell and Dysert.

If you've ever used that intersection, you know it can be very difficult.

So we're very excited about that.

Uh and then continue on with with uh services.

Um again, prioritizing economic development uh to be customer friendly is expensive.

So we spend almost a half a million dollars just on our programs for like a SELA with our online and texting uh scheduling for permitting building inspections and those kinds of things.

Um we have modernized um that department or those departments um to make it easy to do business here in Avondale.

A lot of safety upgrades around uh City Hall.

Um, of course, you have uh know about the investments in the wastewater treatment plant.

But also this includes, remember, we've replaced water lines and streets in Old Town, Cash and Las Legas.

And that program continues through our phases, um multi-millions of dollars going into improving infrastructure in Old Town.

Uh and then in personnel, um, I don't know that this gets talked about.

It's put in the budget every year, but we do set aside 100,000 for public safety home buyer assistance program.

So if they buy a home and they work with us, they can get a 20,000, 20,000, 20,000 uh loan that is forgivable after five years uh to go down towards our down payment of their home.

So we're very excited about that.

Um then um we talked a lot about some cuts to travel and training.

This 1.1 million in training is not travel.

That is just training, straight training across the city.

So still investing heavily in our employees.

The 148,000, a big chunk of that is our um uh organ checks, um wellness, health screenings.

Uh so we get your blood pressure checked.

Uh sometimes they find stuff and send you the doctor, um, but it but it's all good.

So investing in our employees.

So uh with that, I'll take any questions at the end of the presentation from my desk over there, but I just think there's a lot to celebrate in this budget.

Uh, we're doing a lot with a little and the same time remaining fiscally conservative.

Um, we still have our 35% uh reserves, we have our five uh million dollar CIP reserves.

Um we're still uh structurally balanced and um we're able to grow as our city grows.

So very excited about uh the budget that the team has put together.

And since this may be my last time at the mic, and unless I get to answer question, mayor, if I can, just thank the team.

It was a lot of work this year, more I think than others.

We had a new uh budget manager that uh Greg uh did a fantastic job putting this together.

I'm grateful for that.

Of course, led by Renee.

But more importantly, um, our department directors and their executive teams and their and their divisions um sitting down and looking closely, evaluating line by line and um coming up with a responsible request and responsible reductions where uh we would uh minimize any um impact to the community.

So just a big shout out uh to the budget team, finance team, and the department directors.

Thank you, Mr.

Marion Council.

Thank you, Ron.

All right.

So our next upcoming action for this budget process is to return on June 15th to adopt the property tax levy.

So with that, our recommendation is to conduct a public hearing for the fiscal 2027 final budget and property tax levy to adjourn and then reconvene to take action on resolution 1041-0626, setting forth the final budget for fiscal year 2026-2027.

So that concludes our presentation.

We'll take any questions.

Thank you so much, Renee, for the presentation.

Are there any council members that have any questions at this time?

No.

I would just really quickly like to echo uh the sentiment by Ron in regards to uh departments.

I know that it's not easy anytime that anybody's asked you to reduce the budget.

There's so much to do.

Um, and I know that there's you know, at some times it feels like uh very little to work with, but the fact that we were able to um reduce budgets and still be able to balance, but as uh Ron just elaborated on all of the successes and still being able to demonstrate that commitment to the community of bringing uh each and every item that was just uh shared with us.

Um, it's a tremendous feat and task.

And so uh I'm just very thankful to all departments, Ron, to your leadership uh and Renee.

Uh I know I'm sure there was a lot of hours with your team spent working through this.

So thank you so much.

If there are no questions from council at this time, I would like to open up the public hearing on item 5A.

Marcella, have we received any requests to speak?

Thank you, Mayor.

We have not received any requests to speak.

Okay, thank you.

Then at this time I'll close the public hearing.

Tonight, uh, this is just for discussion only.

No action is to be taken.

We will have this conversation on the 15th.

So at this time, let's move on to item number six summary of current events.

Is there any council member who would like to share any information on any event or anything that you've uh been a part of?

Councilmember Weiss.

Thank you, Mayor.

I just this has been such a great couple weeks um for the city.

We had at the library um, I think last weekend, there's a new art exhibit um for celebrating black artists, and then we also um had art unveiled at the Civic Park, um, which was great.

I mean, it's just beautiful the um the sculpture that's there, uh seeds of growth.

And then this last weekend at Garcia at the Sam Garcia Library, we had the reading summer kickoff, which was well attended.

There was quite a line to get in.

So just want to thank everyone.

And then I really um enjoyed our Memorial Day service this year.

It was really, really beautiful.

We had wonderful weather.

So it's been just a great couple weeks.

Thank you so much.

Council Mercondi.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I just wanted just to thank um all the staff, the library staff, parks and rec staff.

Um, my family attended the 2026 summer reading kickoff at Sam Garcia Library.

And it was an amazing event.

I wish my grandkids were here so they could have attended with us.

But I really just want to say thank you to um the library.

We had friends that came that live in Goodyear that always come to our libraries.

So that says a lot for all the programming and all the great things that we offer at our libraries.

So thank you so much for um libraries, parks and rec.

Um, appreciate all the work that you do.

Thank you.

Councilmer Garcia.

Um, I attended the Memorial Day service.

It was wonderful, always honorable.

So thank you guys so much for putting that together.

We we want to respect all of our veterans in the city of Avondale.

And I also got to spend the day at the VFW with them.

And it was just so wonderful to be with them and to just learn about their stories and like what they're contributing into our community.

They do a lot over there at the VFW as well as American Legion that they share a building.

So hopefully one of them is asking for space so they can meet somewhere in the city.

So hopefully we're able to get that for them.

But I would I just really enjoy being with the veterans this past week.

Thank you so much.

Vice Mayor Nielsen.

I had an opportunity as well to participate in the veteran or the memorial day.

And thank you very much for the shade.

It was very much appreciated.

Nice and cool up front there.

So whoever whoever did that, that's wonderful.

Just a couple other things.

I had the opportunity this past week to participate in GPEC, the greater Phoenix Economic Council.

They really are trying to do what they can to focus on not only Phoenix, but uh the whole valley here as the uh new opportunities, new buildings.

And they made a presentation.

I don't have all the numbers, but it's just amazing to see how much they're they're actually working to bring those in.

And the important thing they brought out, I thought was the important thing they want to start, not start.

They want to continue to work with all the other uh water users, water participators, and come up with a uniform statement as to what one is happening with the water there.

The other thing I had an opportunity on Saturday to participate with AC Community Impact.

We took 63 beds for children who had never had a bed to sleep in, had 12 different groups and the 12 different groups took those out.

And just to see the smile on the kids' faces to see a mattress, a bed, a blanket, and a pillow that they can actually sleep on.

So it was just touching, and I'm sorry.

I uh I wear my emotions on my sleeve, but just to see them participate, that was amazing.

Thank you.

Okay, Councilmember White, really quickly, and then we'll come back.

Thank you so much, Mayor.

I had the opportunity to attend um also the Memorial Day event.

I um gave a couple of tours of our memorial pathway going to the courthouse.

A lot of folks don't realize that we do honor every um branch of service there, and then the names that are etched in the stones.

Um I had the honor of going to um the summer reading um kickoff again.

Thanks to Parks Rex and Libraries.

There were free books given out on the book bus.

Um, and so if if that is coming around, I do believe they still have free books available um to give away at the library.

So that's awesome opportunity.

I just also wanted to commend council member Candy and Vice Mayor for their steadfast leadership of our interfaith council.

Um, I attended that meeting as well.

And folks just have a wealth of knowledge that's presented to them there, and all the resources that are available are made available to our residents.

So I just want to thank you for your ongoing commitment to our interfaith community and being um steadfast with that.

Thank you.

Council Member Garcia.

Thank you.

I'm sorry.

I wanted to honor and dedicate my prayer and uh moment of silence today to Staff Sergeant Donald Stacey.

He was my friend.

He went to Olifria High School.

His family still lives here in Avondale.

Um, he died in Afghanistan in 2011.

Um, so I just want to honor him today as we're talking about Memorial Day, and that I wanted to dedicate my prayer to him today.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

I know we're out of time, but just really quickly, I just want to thank Vice Mayor Nielsen for heartfelt story that you shared during Memorial Day service.

Uh you know, we hear a lot of different things, but I just love when it comes with a personal touch.

And so thank you.

And Lieutenant Alt, he's not here, is he here?

Nope.

Uh big thank you to him for sharing his story as well.

Uh, sharing the story of his service and and two members of of that service uh that he shared uh and shared their story.

So thank you to that.

Um there's a couple other things, but we're out of time, and so just wanted to say that.

At this time, can I get a motion for adjournment okay?

You got a motion for Councilmember Garcia, second from Councilmember Condi.

Please vote.

Okay.

Councilmember Solario, how do you vote?

Okay, Adam passes the United States seven to zero.

Thank you so much.

All right.

This time I'd like to call to order the special city council meeting of June 1st, 2026.

Marcella, can you please do roll call?

Councilmember Conde here.

Councilmember Garcia here.

Councilmember Solario.

Councilmember Weiss here.

Councilmember White.

Present.

Vice Mayor Nielsen.

Here.

Mayor Pineda.

Here.

All right.

Next item is consent agenda.

Can I get a motion?

I have a motion from Councilmember Silario.

Second from Councilmember Condi.

Can we please vote?

Adam passes anonymously seven to zero.

Thank you so much.

Ron, next item, please.

Mr.

Mayor, uh, you have a presentation on the from the judicial advisory board recommendation on the reappointment of Craig L.

Jennings as the presiding judge.

Ted Floor is your acting HR director is presenting.

Thank you so much.

Good evening, Mayor Bisoner and members of council.

This evening I will be presenting the Judicial Advisory Board's recommendation to reappoint the Honorable Craig Al Jennings as the presiding judge of the Avondale City Court.

Before discussing the reappointment process, I would like to give a special thanks to the board for their dedication and commitment to this process.

Additionally, I would like to thank Liana Bell and Natalie Lopez for their support with the surveys and the interviewing of Judge Jennings, as well as I failed to mention them up here, but um the clerk's office, Emily Florian, and Chris Pearson have also helped in keeping us on track as well.

So I want to thank them as well.

So some background of the judicial um advisory board in the process.

So on July 7th, 2014, Mayor and Council initially appointed the Honorable Greg L.

Jennings as the presiding judge of the Avondale municipal court.

Following his initial appointment, Judge Jennings was subsequently recommended by the Judicial Advisory Board for reappointment in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2020 2024.

Excuse me.

On December 30th, 2025, the judicial advisory board received official notice from Judge Jennings seeking consideration for reappointment.

Based on that request, the judicial advisory board met numerous times.

On February 23rd, the board finalized feedback surveys, which were shared with the city court staff, litigants of the city court, and private attorneys.

Survey responses were collected for one month and resulted in full staff participation of 15, a total of 27 litigant responses, and a total of six attorney surveys.

Various litigants ranked Judge Jennings as satisfactory or superior.

All other feedback was generally positive with no concerns identified by the board on the results.

The survey responses collected during this reappointment process were up from previous years.

So that was good to um to get that feedback.

In addition to the surveys, the judicial advisory board inquired with the commission of judicial conduct on about disciplinary actions against Judge Jennings.

We received no indication from the commission that Jose Jennings had any actions taken against him during this current term.

Additionally, staff advertised the reappointment process in local newspapers to seek public comment on the reappointment process.

To date, staff nor the board have received any public feedback.

Finally, as part of the process, the judicial advisory board formally interviewed Judge Jennings with 10 pre-approved interview questions.

Following the interview process, the judicial advisory board unanimously recommended Judge Jennings for reappointment.

After consideration of all relevant information collected throughout the reappointment process, it is recommended by the Judicial Advisory Board to reappoint Judge Jennings as a presiding judge of the Avondale City Court for an additional two-year term.

And with that, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council, I'll take any questions.

Are there any questions from any member of the council?

No.

Okay.

And I don't, I don't see Judge Jennings.

Oh, there he is.

Great.

Look at that guy.

That's a million dollar smile right there.

Look at well.

This item was for presentation only and without any comments.

I appreciate it, Ted.

Thank you so much.

And uh Judge Jennings, based upon everything that we see here, um, you know, just looking forward to having you for another two years.

Appreciate it.

Next item is adjournment to executive session.

Can I please get a motion?

Okay, motion for council member white, second from council member conde.

Mr.

Council please vote.

Item passes unanimously.

For those of you in the audience, thank you for joining us here tonight.

We're adjourning to executive session.

If you take if you are leaving, drive safe.

Thank you so much for being here, and we'll see you in the next meeting.

And for those who are listening online, city council will not be coming back into the council chamber.

The meeting is over.

Thank you.