Good evening and welcome to the November 13th regular meeting of the Chandler City Council.

Glad to see so many of you here, and thank you for joining us at the reception that preceded.

Clerk, would you please take the role?

Mayor Hartke here.

Vice Mayor Ellis, Councilmember Encinus.

Here, Councilmember Poston, here.

Councilmember Orlando?

Here.

Councilmember Harris?

Yeah.

Councilmember Hawkins.

Here.

We have a quorum.

Thank you so much.

Our invitation tonight will be presented by Reverend Sarah Oglesby Dunigan of Valley Dunegan, I'm sorry, of Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation, and our Pledge of Allegiance by Councilmember Poston.

Spirit of life, love and community, God of many names and no name at all.

Be with these leaders and community members today and every day.

Help them to listen more deeply, ask more questions, and hold this community and its needs in the center of their decisions.

Help them to hear all voices, especially those that have been silenced or struggled to be heard.

Help them to consider far into the future and to learn from the past, so that the decisions made here will leave a legacy of thoughtful and compassionate leadership.

Help them to learn and grow as leaders and as humans, shaping this community for other humans.

Bless this community with compassion, integrity, and true leadership.

For all of this we pray and give thanks for your guidance and love.

Amen.

Thank you for that.

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the black of the United States of America and to the Republic for wishes, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for our thank you, Reverend.

Thank you, Councilmember.

I'd like to invite Cynthia Hardy, and I think you've invited a couple of people to join you.

Whereas Thanksgiving is a cherished tradition celebrated in gratitude for the blessings of the year and abundance we share as a community.

And whereas people of faith and goodwill throughout Chandler come together in the spirit of Thanksgiving, honoring the historic roots of this observance that date back to the first gathering of gratitude shared between early settlers and indigenous peoples.

And whereas we acknowledge with respect the contributions and generosity of the indigenous peoples whose stewardship of this land continues to inspire a spirit of gratitude and unity.

And whereas Thanksgiving invites us to share culture, food, and fellowship, nourishing both body and soul, and strengthen our bonds as neighbors, and whereas faith, freedom, and family remain enduring pillars of our heritage, reminding us to reflect on our blessings and extend compassion to others.

And whereas the week of Thanksgiving offers an opportunity for all in our community to come together and reflection, generosity, and service.

Now, therefore, Kevin Hartke, mayor of the city of Chandler, Arizona, to hereby proclaim the week of November 24 to 28 as week of giving thanks in Chandler.

Cynthia, would you like to share a couple of words?

I want to say thank you.

Um, this originated from my husband, uh Pastor Victor Hardy.

We are the pilgrims from 1620.

Our church is the congregational church of the valley, and those are the people that had broke bread with the indigenous people back 400 plus years ago.

So I thank the mayor and the council and the staff for recognizing that you have history here, and we're noted in the Library of Congress for our church, and this will be added to that.

Thank you.

Let's take a photo.

Let's put you in the middle, maybe a couple of you guys over here.

There we go.

Yeah.

All right, that middle is right here.

There we go.

All right, scoot in there.

Act like you're grateful to be next to each other.

Our second proclamation is dementia and age-friendly community.

So if we could invite up our community services team and dementia and age-friendly community partners.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, if I may, mayor, really quickly and ask some of the people that I know beside this team that have been working really hard to make this happen.

Um, to please come down also.

I have a couple of the associations that are here.

Um Ha is here, Al Ho's here.

These are organizations that are dealing with assisted living world with all the Alzheimer's and dementia patients that we have here in the state of Arizona, all over.

There's a lot of homes and Chandler alone, we have about at this time, I think we have almost what?

A total of 1,800 assisted living homes, 2700 assisted living home.

That's when I left after I left.

We are at 18, now we are 27.

That's to tell you that we do have an industry that is very strong, and it's really helping a lot of people.

My background is in Alzheimer's and dementia.

I am a nurse practitioner and psych at this time.

I would like to thank all of you and you, Scott, for years you have been working toward this.

Uh, and I would like to also thank our police chief and the police department.

When I came here years ago, and I wanted to make sure that we have someone whenever we get a call out there with one of our Alzheimer's patients, that the police will be able to work with them with dignity and also help them throughout finding where they needed to go.

And now I can say, because of mayor and counsel, we proudly have a department in our police department for mental health.

So thank you again to all of you who are standing here making this happen.

My mom died with dementia, Alzheimer's and dementia.

She had it for 12 years, and tonight we are leaving a legacy here in the city of Chandler that says that those who have uh dementia and Alzheimer's, they need to be treated with dignity and respect and lots of love.

So thank you again for all of you for standing with all of us tonight.

Mayor, at this time, I would like to read the proclamation.

Whereas the city of Chandler is committed to being a place where residents of all ages and abilities feel valued, supported, and included.

And whereas Chandler recognized that 19% of Chandler's residents are age 60 and older, emphasizing the city's responsibility to create an environment where older adults can age in place with dignity and remain a valued member of the community.

And whereas there's growing need for resources and support for residents, families and caregivers of Asian adults and those with cognitive challenges.

And where eyes becoming a dementia and age-friendly community, the most straight chandler's dedication to fostering an inclusive supportive network for Asian adults, helping to spark joy in their lives, and whereas this designation reflect the collective effort of community organizations, city departments, and residents who work together to make Chandler a city that welcomes connection and community at every age of life with dignity and respect.

Now thereof, the mayor Kevin Harkey of the City of Chandler, Arizona, do we have proclaim that the city of Chandler has been designated as a dementia and age-friendly community?

In where in witness thereof, I have here on to set my hand and cause the seal of the city of Chandler, Arizona, to be a fixed this 13th day of November 2025.

Thank you.

All right, let's take a photo.

If you think you're taller, be in the back.

Yes, please come on.

Come on forward.

Come on forward.

All the little people.

Thank you, thank you so much.

Oh, all right.

Council next on our agenda is to vote on the consent agenda.

Um we had opportunity on Monday to get further insight on these and have some conversations on a few things.

How would you like to proceed, Council?

Council Member Cines.

I move to approve the uh consent agenda of the November 13, 2025 regular meeting items one through thirty.

And I I uh I do have one, I just realized I do have one item that we read, so it's would it be okay to do the motion and second and then yes, sir, you can do the motion and second, then have that person okay, thank you.

Second.

So we have a motion by council member Cena, second by council member poston, and we have one speaker card related to the consent agenda.

Uh Melissa Latech, are you I think oh there you are, good.

Can I change my mind?

Yes, okay, changing my mind.

Okay, Melissa and I talked beforehand and to pursue some other options for her concerns.

Uh so we have a motion and a second, any recusals.

Council, please vote.

Motion carries unanimously.

All right, thank you.

Council next, we uh item number thirty-one is a public hearing for annexation, annex twenty-five-zero zero zero four of approximately thirty-two point two acres.

That's more than approximate, at the southeast corner of Apple Bay and the Union Pacific Railroad, including certain union Pacific rights of way.

And we have a staff person that's here that's going to uh explain that, but I would like to open this public hearing.

Staff uh good evening, mayor and council.

Uh before you today is annexation ANX 25-04.

Uh the property is located at the southeast corner of Applebee Road and then Union Pacific Railroad.

Um it also includes uh Union Pacific Rights of Way.

The surrounding land uses to the north, um, there's Appleby Road, and then there's Rural 43 unincorporated Maricopa County property to the south again is rural 43 um unincorporated Maricopa County property, and then to the east is industrial IND2 zoned unincorporated Maricopa County property, and to the west on the west side of the railroad is PAD for single family and PAD for multifamily to provide some background.

Um, in its entirety, the property to be annexed is about 32.02 acres.

Um, one parcel highlighted in yellow on this slide is currently zoned light industrial IND two in Maricopa County, and the initial city zoning will be planned industrial I1.

The remainder of the property is highlighted in red on this slide.

Um it'll it consists of five parcels, all of which are currently part of the Union Pacific Railroad and are currently zoned RU43 in the county.

Their initial city zoning will be AG one in line with our other railroad properties in Chandler.

Uh the subject properties all have a land use designation of uh employment under the general plan.

The city of Chandler will provide water, wastewater, and reclaimed services to the subject property, and staff has circulated the request to city departments and have received no negative comments.

And that concludes my presentation.

I'm available for any questions.

Thank you so much.

And what is your name again?

Taylor.

Taylor, thank you, Taylor.

Um council, is there any discussion or questions for Taylor?

Councilmember Orlando.

Thank you.

Thank you, Taylor.

So what's the uh plan development in this area?

Yes, uh, through the mayor, council member Orlando.

The plan for this is going to be a prefabricated um trust manufacturing facility, so it'll be an industrial project.

And uh did they give any idea of employees they might be looking at?

Um I I'm not aware of the number of employees.

Okay, well, good.

Would you have a time frame?

Uh for when they would develop.

Yeah.

Um councilmember Orlando, my understanding is that they're trying to develop as fast as possible.

They're currently working with the county to get a temporary use permit to start working on um developing the site, but once they are annexed into the city, they're gonna work as fast as possible to develop under city standards.

Perfect.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

So we'll know that.

Uh uh Councilmember Orlando's last question when they actually submit to us, correct?

Uh yes, Mayor Harkey.

They this project as they're currently proposing it, will actually be reviewed administratively by staff.

Um, so they won't need to come back through council.

Okay.

Any additional questions, council.

Is there any discussion or questions from the audience on this public hearing?

Seeing none, I'd like to close this public hearing on annex 25-0004.

We have another public hearing for annexation on annex 24-000 four of approximately 18.64 net acres south of the southwest corner of Aketio and Basha Road.

And I would like to open this for public hearing.

And please start with your name too.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

Uh, my name is Darcy Smith.

Before you today is an annexation, it's Annex 2424.

It's located at south of the southwest corner of Acateo Road and Basha Road.

The surrounding land uses to the north is PAD for town homes, to the west is PAD for single family homes.

To the south is Nediger Park, and to the east is Goodyear Canal, and then Bashett Road.

The subject site is approximately 18.64 net acres, and it's currently zoned RU43 within Maricopa County, and the initial city zoning would be um agricultural, so AG1.

The general plan designates the site as neighborhoods, and the city of Chandler will provide water and wastewater to the subject property.

Staff has circulated their request to city departments, and no negative comments have been received.

And that concludes my presentation.

Thank you.

You ready, mate?

Okay, you got it.

That's okay.

Thank you for that presentation.

Uh council questions comments.

Thank you.

I didn't see you there for a second.

I just defaulted to that.

Councilmember Orlando.

Thanks.

Okay, same question.

What's going here?

Yep.

Um, through the mayor, Councilmember Orlando, the proposed request is for a 107 lot subdivision, and it will be seen before council in December.

And there'll be single family homes.

Yes.

For sale.

For sale.

Okay.

I'll do my thank you.

And Councilmember Hopkins.

Thank you, Mayor.

I do have one question.

Um, has there been a traffic study based on the new influx of folks that would be coming from that direction?

What does that look like?

Are we concerned at all or has that been addressed or reviewed at all?

Yeah.

Councilmember Hawkins.

Um there was a traffic impact statement that was done, and our traffic engineering team has looked at it and has said it has been okay.

Thank you.

And I have a question.

I I know I've been reading some comments on this, and I know one person qualified this as high density housing.

What would be the category of how many units per acre is this development?

Yeah, through the mayor, council, sorry, through the mayor.

Um the dwelling units is 5.7 dwelling units per acre in the general plan that puts it about medium.

It's say the last one.

Uh medium density.

Okay.

And this is consistent with surrounding housing.

Uh, that's there.

Yeah, through the mayor.

Um the townhomes to the north is around eight, and then the homes to the uh west is around four.

Then there's another um neighborhood that would be on the other side of Basher Road that's also at like 5.3.

So it's consistent.

All right.

Council, any additional questions related to this?

Okay.

Um, any discussion or questions?

Don't go away yet.

Any uh questions from the audience.

Seeing none, thank you.

I'd like to close the public hearing on ANX 24-0004.

Council, that is the conclusion of our two public hearings for annexation.

Next on our schedule is unscheduled public appearances.

I do have a few cards in front of me related to that.

Uh first we have um Mr.

Beal.

Mr.

Beal, please state your name and address.

For the record, you have up to three minutes to share your concerns since this is unscheduled.

We cannot engage with you.

Uh, but staff will follow up and um please.

When you're aware as the light turns yellow, wrap up your comments.

Uh, my name is Brooke Beale, uh, 85 West Teakwood Place.

Um so this is uh just a reminder that uh back on June 9th of this year, I had a presentation uh to discuss motorized vehicles on the canal, the consolidated canal.

Uh Vice Mayor Ellis invited the uh police chief to come up and have uh make some comments, and she asked at the time whether or not it was safe to walk on on the canal, and his response was yes, that it is in fact safe, that there had been no reports of any uh any trouble there.

So on November 5th, there was a uh neighborhood vehicle involved in a hit and run, and the driver of that uh was also uh involved in an assault.

So I think it's safe to say that it's your the answer to your question, uh Vice Mayor Ellis, no, not necessarily safe anymore.

The answer is that there have been uh incidents on the canal as a result of the motorized vehicles on the canal that should not be there.

Now the reason for there not being any uh any patrols on that is because there are staffing resource issues uh according to the police chief.

Now you guys are working on your budget for next year.

Uh I'm guessing that your budget last year, 2025, since I've been making these comments for the better part of a year now.

Uh, you should have had an opportunity to put that money, put that uh those that monies into a budget, but you chose not to in 2025.

So I'm here to remind you that in 2026's budget, you have this opportunity again.

So there really is no excuse for saying that you don't have sufficient resources.

You just have chosen not to allocate those resources.

So this again comes back on you.

So um, with that, I think uh I'll wrap it up.

Thank you, sir.

Mayor if I may uh nice talk to um our city um and assistant city manager here tonight, and also I see uh assistant chief of police is back there too.

Um since Mr.

Beale has addressed me directly um concerning uh the safety of our residents on that uh canal.

I would like to again reiterate the fact that the canal is safe, and I have got it in it information.

This incident was also reported to me that there was an altercation there, and how the altercation happened and everything.

Um, if council would like, we would love to make sure that you get that report also.

So truly, I can say that this evening.

Willie, go ahead and please answer to that.

Thank you.

Yeah, we can we can get that to you.

Thank you.

I'd love to, I think we all would love to see that.

Thank you.

Our next um unscheduled appearance is Michelle LeBlanc.

Michelle Welcome.

Please state your name and address for the record.

You have up to three minutes to share your thoughts and concerns as on scheduled.

We cannot directly engage you.

That has a golf course that operates under an HOA operated and managed uh community.

Um I first want to say that I am from Albuquerque and I um worked in the legal field, so I am very familiar with laws and research and the work that it goes into it.

So I first want to thank you very much for all your work and efforts that you do on behalf of all of us residents.

Second, I would like to also say that um living here in Chandler in the last two years.

I've discovered that not everybody is kind and not everybody follows the law.

Um, and I'm here just to urge the council that there is uh basin water that's been standing, and it's been a long um standing um issue with the council.

So I'm just wanting to ask the council um and just add that I strongly believe that is it a privilege to own and operate a business here in this beautiful place that we call Chandler, Arizona.

And this is our home.

We live here, and we want to our surroundings and landscapings to be beautiful, and we want to maintain them and expect people that own them and operate in those communities to do the same.

Anything that we would want our family and neighbors and grandchildren to enjoy and to feel safe, and I believe that with the help of the city council and mayor, that we can help our 55 plus community be beautiful again.

It's been neglected for many many years.

Um Cooper Commons is the next golf course community or a community next to us, and they adjust totally revenue their outside um part of their community.

And if you drive by our community, it's so neglected, it's just looks like a ghetto.

I'm sorry, I'm from Albuquerque, so I do have that uh vision, I guess.

You know, but I I lived around there, and it it's it is what it is, but I am just asking you guys to stand with us and help us rectify this issue that's been going on for a lot of years.

I thank you very much for all your time that you've listened to me.

Thank you very much, Mayor, and council.

Thank you.

Our next speaker card is Jimmy Clant.

Can state your name and address for the record.

You have up to three minutes to speak.

Council cannot engage you because this is unscheduled public appearances.

My name's Jimmy Clett, uh, live at 1813 East Channel East Buena Vista Drive, and um Chandler 85249.

Um good evening, Mayor, Council people, employees.

I wanted to um talk to you about the same thing that I talked last week, last month about.

For nearly four years, residents have reported the same reoccurring stormwater violations at Sunbird Golf Course.

Standing water that remains for seven, five, seven, and now nine days after rainfall.

This far exceeds Chandler's 36-hour drainage requirement under City Code Chapter 45.

The most recent event produced over 216 consecutive hours of standing water in areas where seniors in their 70s, 80s, and 90s regularly walk.

These conditions present safety, mobility, and health concerns for the elderly population.

Today I received confirmation from environmental services that the city has issued a notice to comply to the golf course.

I appreciate this development.

However, it is not the first time residents have been told the city's working with the property owner.

That has been a standing message since 2022.

When I previously asked when the golf course must submit its corrective action plan, I was informed that there is no deadline.

Today's update similarly provided, no timeline, no compliance date, no explanation of the corrective actions required.

As a result, some bird residents, many elderly, some disabled, many without internet access, still have no understanding what actions are underway or when longstanding violations will be resolved.

I respectfully request that the city council direct staff to provide the following.

One, the date of the notice to comply was issued, the deadline for the owner to submit its corrective action plan.

Three, the specific corrective measures required under the notice, and four, the expected timeline for full compliance with city code.

Without clear deadlines and transparent communication, there's no assurance these violations will be corrected.

Our community has four years of evidence demonstrating that informal discussions alone have not produced results, and you have four years worth of evidence.

Residents of Sunbird Value the City of Chandler's professionalism.

We are simply requesting enforcement of existing ordinances and transparency regarding the steps being taken to protect a vulnerable senior citizens.

Thank you for your time, and we wish you a happy Thanksgiving.

Thank you, sir.

You're welcome.

The last speaker card is Sharna Larson.

There.

Councilmember Orlando, please.

Yeah.

Um can we get us a report on what's happening at Sunbird and also the previous speaker?

If we get um some uh our neighborhoods out there and give us a report of what's going on.

Yeah, we'll get that to you.

And then courses of action.

Thank you.

Yes.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Hi.

My name is Sharna Larson.

I live at 6380 South Pebble Beach Drive.

I don't want to sound like a broken record, but I'm here because of this standing water issue because it's resulting in mosquitoes.

We can't enjoy any outtime side time because we're being formed by mosquitoes.

I'm urging you to please take this seriously.

There was a 23-year-old kid in Chandler that got bitten by mosquitoes at a park, got West Nile virus.

He was on a ventilator because he became unable to speak, unable to swallow, and partially paralyzed.

If you don't understand how serious West Nile virus is, I ask you to please educate yourself.

I would like to be able to enjoy my community.

It is a safety issue.

I'm next to a golf course.

It's supposed to be an enjoyable, not a harm.

And this golf course is not maintaining its property, it's not maintaining its dry wells, it's not addressing the standing water issues.

I do believe that the employee that was working on it, Kenya was trying to take the necessary steps to get the water drained, and someone has interceded and is blocking us from progress on getting this matter addressed.

I'm tired of being told that they put out pellets.

I would like to know who went out who verified that pellets were put out to prevent the breeding of the mosquitoes.

Have they verified that enough pellets were put out?

Was it actively preventing the mosquitoes?

Trust but verify.

Not to mention the fact that it adds insult to injury when there is standing water that's breeding mosquitoes, and they continue to water the golf course.

Why is the golf course more important than my safety?

Thank you.

Thank you.

That concludes our unscheduled public appearances.

Next on our agenda is current events.

And I'll start.

I do want to thank our community.

Heartfelt thank you for your support of the recent bond and the two questions.

Certainly the bonds will make sure that our city is safer, that our streets are better maintained and safer, and our parks reflect the amenities that you want.

The questions will add clarity to our election process as well as add clarity to the contract arrangement with city manager.

We don't take trust for granted.

There is interesting across our state that 87% of city questions and bonds actually passed.

So proving once again that people in our seats are have a high level of trust, and we don't take that for granted in terms of our role or others in the cities.

School bonds, unfortunately, saw a 37% passage across the state.

And we're grateful that our voters also uh value public education.

So we want to thank you for believing in our city.

We're excited to continue to do the work for you.

This process has been a true team effort and specifically related to the bond.

I want to thank our bond committee.

We had over 31 people that worked on that.

City members and partners and our dedicated staff whose hard work made this outcome possible.

Thank you to all and to Dawn, our CFO.

Don tirelessly got out and spoke at I don't know how many places you spoke at, but I was with you at several of them, and I know that you were at far, far more than I was not at.

So we're grateful to you.

We're grateful for your team, Team Chandler, Council, and all for the hard work of getting these passed.

Secondly, I'd like to talk about our economic development team.

I am proud to share that the City of Chandler's economic development division has been recognized with a 2025 Arizona Association with economic development Golden Prospector Award for its innovative Chandler Career Center program.

Now it doesn't mean that we're into mining, but it does mean that we've mined some great employees from around the state and nation, and they call Chandler Home, and they work for us.

Since its launch, the Chandler Career Center has connected our community in meaningful ways, onboarded more than 950 job seekers, featuring over 830 unique job postings and partnering with more than 63 Chandler-based employees.

This platform continues to strengthen our local workforce pipeline and support Chandler's vision of being a city of opportunity, innovation, and inclusive economic prosperity.

If you are someone you know is looking for a rewarding career internship with a Chandler employer, simply scan the QR code on the screen or contact our economic development division for more information.

Do you have anyone from our team Chandler Economic Development Team that's here tonight?

I know Micah's not available.

All right.

Well, if you see them, thank them.

I will be pirating Chandler's remarks and if and description of this at the League of Cities conference where I'll be on a panel talking about job attraction.

Next, uh, I want to talk about uh Veterans Day.

I do want to wish everyone still a belated Veterans Day earlier this week.

We recognize Veterans Day in the city of Chandler.

There were also many community and city celebrations where we had the opportunity to thank our Chandler veterans for their service.

So belated happy Veterans Day to all of our service members.

We're thankful for you for your service every day.

And then lastly, I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving.

It's around the corner.

Wishing all of our community a joyful and safe Thanksgiving, filled with family, friends, gratitude, turkey, pumpkin pie, or whatever else.

We'll do on your table.

From all of us at City Hall, we thank you for being part of our amazing community.

Councilmember and Citas.

Well said, Mayor.

Um, I just want to share a couple of announcements.

Um, I'm excited to share that Chandler Pride will be hosting their 2025 event this Saturday, November 15th, from 4 p.m.

to 8 p.m.

at Dr.

AJ Chandler Park.

This is their fifth year celebrating Pride here in Chandler.

There's gonna be a special evening celebrating and honoring our LGBTQ plus community with entertainment vendors and welcoming uh gathering for all.

We encourage residents to attend, participate, and show their support for inclusivity and Chandler Pride.

We look forward to seeing you all there, joining together to celebrate uh the diversity that makes our city strong.

I will be there celebrating at starting at 4 p.m.

Um next.

Uh last Thursday, uh myself, the mayor, and other council members um attended the Envision Galveston event at Gazelle Meadows Park, which is a long time coming for this event.

It was an exciting community celebration with the local school, many of our city departments and nonprofit partners coming together to celebrate the investments that we've made in the Galveston neighborhood.

It was inspiring to see so many residents come out, share their ideas, and take pride in the progress helping in their community, happening in their community.

Events like this showcase the power of collaboration, and we're excited to continue working hand in hand with our Galveston neighbors.

It was a terrific event.

Um I think we had over uh 580 uh residents and students come out to enjoy uh reopening of Gazelle Meadows Park as well.

So it was a great experience.

And lastly, um a great and exciting announcement here.

Um, our iconic tumbleweed tree lighting and parade of lights is back.

So mark your calendars.

Join us on Saturday, December 6th from 4 30 to 9 p.m.

in downtown Chandler.

It's a cannot miss event.

Uh the parade of lights will start at 6 45.

So make sure you grab your seats and bring some treats for the show and bring your lights and be festive for the holiday season.

The event is free and open to all.

Um, I know I actually will not be able to attend this year, unfortunately, but I know my council will be there and mayor uh to cheer everybody on.

Um, so keep an eye out for them on the old fashioned fire truck.

Hope to see you guys all there again.

That's on December 6th.

And again, wishing you guys all a very happy and thankful Thanksgiving as well.

Thank you, Mayor.

Council member, there's two things that I know that that bring in the Christmas season for me.

And one is the rising of the tumbleweed tree, and the other is probably 99.9 FM playing Christmas songs.

It's nice, and the tree's already going up.

I saw it on my morning run.

Yeah.

Council member post them.

I take 99.9 off of my rotation until after Thanksgiving.

I'm a traditionalist, what can they say?

So I have a couple of announcements, Mayor, tonight.

Um, first off, I was fortunate enough to um I played in the Chandler Golf Challenge last week, and that is to benefit the mayor's uh committee for people with disabilities.

It goes to their scholarship fund, and I am so proud to announce they announced that night that they raised $16,000 for that event.

So that was absolutely fantastic.

And I I've played in it a few years now, and I just have to give a shout out to the staff, the volunteers, all the work they did to get sponsors.

It's it's not easy to put on a golf tournament, but it just gets better and better every year.

My only disappointment is I was right there on the ladies' long drive, and somebody hit a bomb, and I won nothing.

So that's okay.

I will keep trying next year.

Uh, my next announcement is there's another great event coming up, and this is another one that I go to every year.

It's Wolfstock, and that is this Saturday.

It's dog lovers and their pups.

I am one.

Um I go with my four-legged friend every single year.

I think I took her to the dog psychic last year.

She loves me.

Um, it's a free event.

It takes place from 9 a.m.

to 1 p.m.

Um, it has an agility course.

I know every year some of our officers are out there with the canine unit, and that's always a great thing to see.

Um, so Sony and I are go every single year, we'll go out again this year.

I also want to just give a quick note that um we're doing a food drive at all of our free events this year.

And one of the things that you can note is I'm gonna be bringing some dog treats because pet food is one of the things that goes by the wayside, and people have their pets and they need a little love too for the holiday season.

Which leads me right into just that reminder of our food drive.

Um, again, another thank you to Trinity Donovan with Ascend, who was out here on Monday at the study session, just reminding us all that we do have a food drive going on in the city of Chandler.

We considered this the generous season.

Um we see that everywhere.

Just a reminder that at all of the wonderful free events that we are having those food boxes out.

So we're trying to bring the food drive to our residents.

Those food boxes will also be at all of our fire stations and some select city uh facilities.

So just encouraging you that if you're buying a can of food, a pump can of pumpkin, a can of corn, some fruit for Thanksgiving, maybe throw in an extra can for a neighbor.

So that's all of my announcements, and happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Thanks, Mayor.

Thank you.

Vice Mayor.

Thank you, Mayor.

I would like to take a moment to thank Councilmember and Sinus tonight for having been the second for me to be able to get this for commission here tonight.

We work together on it.

To advance anything in the city of Chandler, we need uh all council members to be part, but to put it onto the agenda or to get the rally, everybody around it.

We usually need another council member to back it up.

So council member and sinus, thank you so much for having said yes to this.

I know we both we all have aging parents up here, and whether we are aging ourselves, but this is a big plus for Chandler tonight.

The community is very grateful that you have said yes to it, and I really appreciate you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And at this time, I also would like to recognize our director of uh Pox and Recreation, uh John, who took this and run with it.

John, please stand for a moment.

Um, one thing that uh John's mom was also part of this community for years.

She used to own assisted livings throughout the different cities here.

We always had a chance to talk about that in half of them.

But tonight I find out also tonight is your dad's birthday.

Um, and he had Alzheimer's and dementia.

And so I would like to tell you that we the community is standing with you.

We all are grateful that you work on this.

This is for both of us tonight and the whole city of Chandler.

So thank you so much for doing this.

Appreciate you, Mayor.

Um, this is a season to be grateful.

So I'm I would like to say that I'm grateful for all the residents here in the city of Chandler who have given me an opportunity to serve.

I don't take it lightly every single evening, or when I come here or when I come at City Hall to do the work that I'm supposed to do.

So for that again, I'm saying that I'm very grateful for it.

Um I would like to also thank all of you and say have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving with your family.

Um, I will be in town, so I'll be passing to everybody's house, trying to taste some of your turkeys and see which one has the best turkey.

And I know council member Olendo, you have a tradition that uh from Italy where you do fish and different things like that.

So I'm looking forward to tasting some food.

So thank you, everyone.

God bless you all.

I hadn't heard of this tradition of vice bears is uh being like a Norwegian Viking going from dinner to dinner pillaging.

So council member Orlando.

Nothing tonight, but you'll have to wait for Christmas Eve with the fish.

All right.

Councilmember Harris.

I don't know about you, but Mirror, I feel so hungry, but I do have to dispute something.

Pumpkin pie or sweet potato pie.

Oh yeah, let's just add that in there.

I'm a sweet potato guy, you know.

So um, I'm gonna be smoking some good ribs and smoking some food on my smoker because I love smoking food.

So that you'll see it on Facebook.

You're gonna come over, that's fine.

Thank you.

But um, I wanted to, before I begin my announcements, I wanted to say thank you to mayor and council on Monday.

We gave staff direction to um to help support our community with utility assistance, rent, and making sure that we stay and keeping our pantries filled and channeled on food.

And on Monday, we weighed in, we gave direction to staff, and I just want everyone to know out there in the community if there is a need there.

Um we have resources that's on standby to help support you.

So I think that's great.

And I just want to tell Mayor and Council um that could not be done with all of us agreeing to it.

So if you are in the community right now, you're a veteran, you're a senior, you're someone that's in need, we want you to reach out to the city, let us help get you some um supplies or something that you need to help you get by.

So I just want to say mayor and council, thank you.

And I know Chandler residents are appreciative.

So all right, now to my announcements.

Today, I had the awesome opportunity.

I get right into it.

We're getting right into it.

Um, so I had the awesome um council member Hawkins and I had the awesome opportunity today to go do an amazing ribbon cutting called Chewy Vet Care Ribbon Cut and Oh, well, it's a chewy vet care.

So this um this care facility helps you if your animal is in need, or if you are if they need shots or there's some type of extra care that needs a new veteran Dr.

Ben, he was there.

He gave he gave some great remarks.

Um but we were there, they had like some treats and stuff.

And so unfortunately, my Izzy Isabella is my two Yorkes' name.

They wasn't able to come this morning.

I was so sad because I had another meeting after that.

I don't know who scheduled that, but uh I had a meeting right after that, and you know, my dogs, when I leave my house, they're leaving my house too.

I'm like, where are you going?

So they like coming to work with me and hanging out.

But this um this special place over there by the mall, it was amazing.

As a pet lover myself, it's always exciting to welcome uh new amenities to our community and support our very friends.

Uh lastly, number two, and um internship 101 for business is coming.

So, Chandler employers mark your calendars on Thursday, December the 4th from 11 30 a.m.

to 1 p.m.

We're hosting internship 101 for business at the University of Arizona downtown Chandler.

Uh, internships are one of the most effective ways to build a skilled local workforce and connect students with real world career opportunities.

This event brings together education and industry partners to make it easier for Chandler employers to start or strengthen internship programs that support both business growth and community talent.

Space is limited, so make sure you all register, register register at Chandleraz.gov forward slash internship 101.

I hope to see you there.

I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving and whatever you know, Vice Mayor.

If you want to come over to my house, come on.

I I got you.

You already know where I live at.

We live right around the corner from each other.

So come on over.

I got a turkey sandwich for you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Yeah, I'll rather fish that.

All right, these are first world problems.

Turkey.

Council member Huckins.

Thank you.

I actually just have one announcement tonight.

And so for those of you that don't know, the city of Chandler government actually offers a 13-session program called Civic that provides Chandler residents a behind the scenes look um at our city services.

So it's a free program.

It starts in January of this year, and it's part of the city's ongoing efforts to help residents connect with the government and our resources.

So the applications are now open.

They'll be due Sunday, December 7th.

And if you would like to learn more about this, check out Chandleraz.gov forward slash civic.

Thank you.

Very welcome.

All right, Ted, this is your moment.

This is no moment.

Um Marion Council members, I do have um one thing to announce.

I just wanted to take a moment to recognize that's with deep sadness.

We announced the passing of retired commander Michael Heikis.

Um, he was a devoted public servant who whose lifelong commitment to safety and service left an enduring mark on Chandler.

Commander Heikis joined the Chandler Police Department in 2001 and served with honor for more than 20 years.

Um, and continued actually as a reserve officer until his passing earlier this month.

So we just wanted to share our heartfelt thoughts to his family, to his friends, and all those who served alongside him.

So thank you, man.

Thank you, Tia.

Tessa that concludes your meeting tonight.

Again, happy Thanksgiving.

We'll see you soon.