Avondale City Council Meeting - September 29, 2026

The Avondale City Council met to recognize city staff promotions and new hires, proclaim Fire Prevention Week, hear a public comment, approve the consent agenda, and receive council updates. No agenda or minutes were provided; this summary is based on the raw transcript. Note: the transcript's oral call to order states 'September twenty-eighth, twenty twenty-six,' while the provided meeting timestamp is September 29, 2026; this summary follows the specified timestamp.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved unanimously on a 7-0 vote after no council member asked to remove or separate an item. The motion was made by Councilmember Silario and seconded by Councilmember Condi (names as transcribed).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Zachariah, an in-person speaker, used a series of rhetorical riddles to criticize Flock surveillance cameras and the current U.S. president. He suggested that the president and Flock had 'lied to the public,' that China and Flock cameras 'watch your everyday life,' that a Flock license was used to stalk someone, and that both Flock CEO Garrett Langley and the current president 'hate the Constitution.' His comments expressed opposition to Flock camera surveillance and the current administration.
• The City Clerk confirmed one written public comment had been received from Mark Junkers by email and would be included in the minutes.

Staff Introductions and Promotions

• City Clerk's Office: Veronica Moreno was promoted to City Clerk Specialist after three years as the primary passport agent; her duties will include voter registration drives and passport events.
• City leadership: Renee Weatherless was named Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer. She served as Avondale's Finance and Budget Director for four years, previously worked for Tucson Unified School District, and spent 18 years in the private newspaper industry. Her oversight areas include IT, fire and medical, finance and budget, neighborhood and family services, facilities, and the capital improvement program.
• Court: Staff introduced Court Clerk I Dominique Garcia (second week), Administrative Specialist Vicky Cruz (with the city since May 26), and Court Clerk Specialist Michaela Machuka (four-year city anniversary upcoming). Machuka will work on regional homeless court, inmate release, and warrant projects.
• Development Services: Faith Westacott was introduced as a new Building Permit Technician I, an Avondale native and Agrafea High School graduate who started in early August.
• Finance and Budget: Fina Johnson was promoted to permanent Finance and Budget Director after serving in an interim capacity. She has over 25 years of financial leadership.
• Economic Development: Jamie Gonzalez was promoted to Assistant Economic Development Director after more than five years with the city. She is a West Valley native, mother of two boys, and a baseball mom.
• Human Resources: Liana Bell was promoted to Human Resources Assistant Director. She introduced Benefits Analyst Leanne Lunsford (29 years of HR experience, including 15 years as an HR analyst and board secretary for DPS) and Benefits Manager Natalie Valdez (over 15 years of HR experience, formerly with the federal government and Arizona Attorney General's Office).

Proclamation: Fire Prevention Week 2026

• Fire Chief Larry Rooney and Fire Marshal Scott Miller presented the proclamation designating October 4-10, 2026 as Fire Prevention Week in Avondale. The theme is 'Safe charging is a superpower,' focusing on safe charging, storage, and disposal of lithium and lithium-ion battery devices.
• Chief Rooney reported that, over the past two and a half years, volunteer teams distributed more than 3,000 smoke detectors door-to-door in Old Town Avondale, Las Legas, Cashin, and Rio Vista neighborhoods. He said Avondale is 'safer tonight than it was two and a half years ago' and encouraged residents still needing detectors to contact the fire department.
• The Fire Department invited the community to its annual open house on Saturday, October 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Station 171 on Western.
• Several council members shared their experiences participating in volunteer smoke detector walks and meeting residents in their homes.

Council Current Events and Reports

• Council members reported on recent community events, including a well-attended Mercados and Melody event, the ribbon cutting for Bridge Housing (eight units for families transitioning to permanent housing), about 30 participants at Citizens Academy, a West Valley Vice Mayors luncheon, a Hearts of Angels luncheon, the West Valley Regional Chamber Board and Council dinner, the Pastor Center's 11th annual awards luncheon, Project Connect at Avondale Baptist, and Mercy House receiving the Abu Fria Hall of Fame Award.

Key Outcomes

• Council proclaimed October 4-10, 2026 as Fire Prevention Week in Avondale and encouraged safe charging, smoke alarm testing, and home fire escape planning.
• The consent agenda passed 7-0.
• Staff promotions and new hires were formally recognized.
• The meeting was adjourned on a motion by Councilmember Condi, seconded by Councilmember Garcia, following voice votes.