I've been keeping a couple of you.

I was I was lobbying for the State Department in the budget to look at foreign relationships as a positive thing.

So to me, it's all part of measurements.

And then I was at three cities.

Yeah, that was good.

Yeah, yeah.

How was the how was the room now?

I will tell you.

Yeah, well, but what can be up there?

I get a number of things.

Yeah.

And I think that's it.

It's just I don't even know how to go.

Yeah, yeah.

Even though they have heard your comments, and I we should have said that you were to have added that in there.

Just so that thing is that you just want to add another part of it.

Next year it says no number sixteen and all the advertising.

This would be a layout topic and all over the can't we can't remove it to our should be here.

Council member Harris.

I'm here.

Okay.

We'll be ready in a couple of minutes.

Two minutes.

Hi.

Vice Mayor Ellis.

Vice Mayor Ellis.

Yeah.

Okay, we'll be starting in just a second.

Hi, thank you.

All right.

Good evening.

And welcome to the special meeting of the Chandler City Council on November 24.

Council, we have uh a single item agenda, discussion and possible action on the appointment of city manager, but uh an employment agreement.

I'd like to I'll lead our indication tonight, and Councilmember Huckins can lead our pledge of allegiance.

Okay, thank you for the responsibility of government.

Um both hearing, listening, deciding.

I thank you for this counsel and uh our ability to mostly agree, but even when we don't agree, uh we refuse to be disagreeable.

So I pray for wisdom, understanding.

I I thank you for everyone in this room and their interest and desire to see Chandler continue to serve uh its citizens well and uh be a model to the community.

So I ask your blessings upon this time here tonight in Jesus' name I pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the fly of the United States.

Underground.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Holland.

Okay.

Um speaker cards here um before uh a motion.

I would like to do we have any more or just two.

Mayor, we just have the two.

Great.

So I'll invite uh um Sally Putnam and then Chuck Wolf.

Please come on up here, state your name and uh which municipality you are part of and you have up to three minutes to share your thoughts and concerns.

When the light turns yellow, you've got 30 seconds left, and please wrap up.

Okay.

Okay.

Um also a business owner here in Chandler.

Um, and also a voter in Chandler as well.

And I'm here to um support to throw my support behind the um city manager that we currently have, John.

Um has been very good um for the city.

I am on the board of directors for the uh Chandler chamber, and he has really helped us out in a lot of areas, um, been willing to have conversation with us on um a number of topics that were um difficult to to go through, and he handled it very well.

And um I just kind of feel like when uh when a team has uh Patrick Mahomes or uh Josh Allen as their quarterback, you don't go out and look for other quarterbacks, and I think that we've got we've got a star, we've got um a franchise quarterback on our team, and I just don't think that there's any reason for us to spend our time and our money on um an issue when we've already got a good starter.

Thank you.

Thank you, Sally.

Good football reference.

Um Chuck Wolf.

Please come and up, state your name and uh where you the city you reside, and you have up to three minutes when it turns yellow.

Um please wrap up.

Thank you.

My name's Chuck Wolf, and I live here in Chandler.

I also own a business here in Chandler.

Um Chandler's always been a place that supports economic growth and business expansion and community partnerships.

And John has carried that on.

But more than that, he has taken the time to understand the long-term needs of employers in Chandler.

When companies make decisions about growth, we need certainty and we need a partner at the city who is present, informed, and collaborative.

We should not waste taxpayer time and money to go out for a search when John is a qualified candidate.

I'm I'm on board with Sally.

You know, you got a franchise quarterback stick with them.

Umfirming John is the right step to maintain momentum, reassure businesses and residents, and show that Chandler is committed to stability and continued growth.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

War.

Those are our only two speaker cards for the evening.

Council, I'd like to make a motion.

And the motion is to approve the appointment of city manager and approval of employment contract with a few caveats and changes.

First, the uh salary would be 360,000 per year with a 10,000 sign-on payment on top, as well as to clean up the 60-day language and section I1.

And uh according to B3, change it consistent with our charter to make sure that uh you have six uh uh city manager of six months to find a house.

There's a motion who was that, please.

Second uh Vice Mayor Elliott.

We have a motion by mayor, second by Vice Mayor.

Uh Council, would you like to make comments before we vote?

So we'll start with Angel and work our way this way.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, over the last three or four months, um, our acting city manager has kept our city and our organization moving forward and helping build a foundation of stability and trust with our community.

And I want to acknowledge that and I want to thank you, John, for that work that you've been putting in.

Um, since the beginning of this process, um, I have been very clear about my commitment on honoring our city's traditions, our established processes, and the history that guides how we have selected city managers in the past.

Back in June, I stated publicly right here on this dais that I would be that I would proceed with a nationwide recruitment process to review the opportunities for a Chandler for a Chandler's future leadership, one that would allow for a competitive selection and ensure that our residents, employees, and community partners would be part of.

And I remain committed to my word, and I believe that we owe that level of openness and participation to the people that we serve.

This council has chosen a different path.

Well, this is not the approach that I advocated for.

I respect the decision of this body.

My vote tonight is not a reflection on the acting city manager's experience nor ability, but a vote on our missed opportunity to review all possibilities for Chandler's future.

Thank you, Mayor.

Councilmember Poston.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um wow, I've thought a lot about what I wanted to say, and I think Councilmember Incena said it very well.

Um that you know, I I Mayor, when you told me that Councilmember Hawkins wanted to bring um this item forward, no one was more surprised or happy than I was.

Um, because I think you have proven yourself beyond a shadow of a doubt in my mind that you are the best city manager that we can find.

Um, I think Councilmember Harris likes to use the phrase a needle in a haystack.

And I do think we found that.

My hesitation was that I don't always think it's a gift to not make someone competitive because I wanted to give John the ability to go out and prove to everyone else that beyond a shadow of a doubt, he is the best city manager.

And I want to make sure that everyone understands or got that.

That being said, um, if the worst thing that happens is that we are moving forward with a fantastic city manager, then I I can be okay with that as well.

Um my one concern is really I also really felt and and have a very sincere level of discomfort with the fact that this was only posted on Friday and have any on Monday.

Um, I've shared that that I really felt that it didn't give much opportunity for public input.

It didn't give much opportunity for the community to review the contract, especially with some of the changes that we have tonight.

Um but that being said, I appreciate the chance to uh say my piece.

Uh, all of that being said, we're not voting on the process this evening.

We're voting on a contract with an excellent city manager.

So my vote's going to be reflecting the fact that we are voting on a contract, and I appreciate the level of discussion that this council had.

This was not easy.

I appreciate your comments and coming in and bouncing out when we had that discussion.

Um, you know, we don't always agree, but I am so grateful that this is the type of council that moves forward um respectfully, and everyone in their hearts here is doing what they feel is best for the city.

So my vote will reflect the fact that we are voting on a contract with a person that I think is top of the line and the best choice that we could make.

Thanks, man.

Okay.

I'm gonna continue with those here, then go to those online, and then myself.

Councilmember.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, there's not much more I I could say to add to that.

Um, although I am concerned about the process, this being my fourth, maybe fifth city manager I've hired, and to every one of those who went through a process.

We had um a nationwide search.

It wasn't it was very economical, by the way.

We were able to recruit at an economical price.

Um we had um some cases, we had one case where we did hire somebody outside and he was an internal candidate.

Um we had the other three, we stayed with the internal candidate.

So it's a mixed bag and in that respect.

Um we did start on this process in June.

We were all in agreement when we left that room to move forward with uh, in fact, some folks even said on the diaspat night that we want to move forward.

And they did not like the previous process, but we're gonna fix it with this process.

Well, okay.

So we're we're we're moving ahead tonight.

Um, I am concerned that we put this on the agenda on a Friday afternoon at about 2 30, 3 o'clock for a weekend.

And I'm sorry for the audience had to stay out there for three or a couple hours here.

I uh but uh we had other issues in there, obviously.

Um, but I am concerned that we did that, and then of course, we have a Monday we're sitting here.

In fact, even at the last minute, we've had some scurrying around to make changes.

It just didn't look professional in my mind.

We should have um had the executive session tonight.

We should have discussed with John what the changes were, and then move forward at appropriate time as a professionally done.

Now I know we could walk and chew gum, I get all that, but by the same token, we're a very professional city chairman, and we're very a model city when it comes to uh doing things the right way.

Um John, I've known you many years, probably more than anybody in this council.

Um you, in fact, for a record record, John had talked to me several years ago about potentially putting in when Marshall left, but because of circumstance happening in Mesa, he decided not put in.

So he wanted this job even three, four years ago.

Um, and I appreciate we're giving you the opportunity tonight, John, with this contract.

And again, uh my concern is the process to allow the citizens to input, have the uh stakeholders, the businesses, um uh, you know, whether it's a day process or a discussion point with the council, have the community uh weigh in on this issue.

Uh we won't be doing that obviously tonight because we're it's on the agenda.

Um let's see, where was I here?

So, yeah, um bottom line is um we we uh we deviated from the process, majority of the council that wanted to do that.

Uh I did not want to deviate for the record.

I wanted to continue with the process outside, like I said, in four other cases, I've done it before.

It was very successful.

Everyone came away looking great.

We did the right choice, made the right decision, and we moved on from that.

So I'm concerned about that.

And um, but obviously the reality sets in.

Uh obviously, there's the votes to move this forward.

And uh I will abide by that because that's that's our democratic process, as you said earlier in our in your invocation.

But again, I am very concerned that we set precedent here.

Uh we went out for a police chief.

Uh, we did a nationwide search.

Economic development, I mean, excuse me, planning development person, we went out for a nationwide search.

There was nobody saying, well, we got a great candidate here, or we should be not circumventing have the citizens' input on this.

So, for transparency reasons and um I got an issue with this process, but again, we're voting on the contract tonight.

So, thank you, Mayor.

Councilmember Hawkins.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um to your point, I also want to address the selection process for our city manager.

Um, especially because of my initial vote.

So a few thoughts were when I began um this process, I had real concerns about how it how it had unfolded.

I had shared that directly with Mr.

Pomier and promised that regardless, I would support his appointment because when he succeeds, Chandler succeeds.

And to his credit, he hit the ground running and has proved himself consistently through his own work.

Over the past three and a half months with input from residents, employees, and business owners, one message has been very consistent.

John Pombier has earned the trust and confidence of this community.

Hiring him permanently was obviously not our original plan.

Uh, but throughout this extended interview, he's delivered at every step.

And can every conversation I've had with staff, citizens, and business leaders has been overwhelmingly positive about his leadership and steady direction.

As a council, we're committed to transparency, integrity, and fiscal responsibility.

Launching a national search now would not reflect those values, and when we have already had a proven leader in place.

Based on his performance, his deep understanding of Chandler and our culture, and a strong support from our community.

I'm confident in moving forward with John as our city manager, and it's the right move.

So thank you for all coming out tonight, and I appreciate all your input.

Councilmember Harris.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Oh, okay.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I just want to just take a moment and to everyone that's there listening and attending in person.

Just want to take a moment and speak very plainly about our city manager contract and the process that brought us here.

Um, first, under our city charter, it is the council, not the city manager who sets the terms for the city manager's contract.

Um, we we do it within the framework that the voters have already approved.

That's important to me.

Um, this isn't like some side deal, uh, it's a charter driven, it's a lawful, and it's rooted in voter direction.

In other words, it was a good process for our charter.

I also want folks to understand this very important.

This decision did not happen overnight.

For the last four months, we've had we have been in the process of evaluation, and during that four month evaluation process, I've watched John very closely.

How he interacts with council, how he works with our staff, and how he shows up for our community.

I've watched how he responds under pressure, how he listens when people disagree with him, and how he carries the responsibility of leading the city as a dynamic as dynamic as Chandler is.

Um, during those four months, there was not one delay that he he gave to our residents.

They that was the evaluation process for me, and it was a good process per the charter.

Now we start with the charter, then we deal with voter direction.

Then our charter allows the council to set the term and severance through the negotiated agreement within the limits of the state of the law that we have here.

Um, and then we move into an evaluation and negotiation.

That includes conversations and executive sessions that were where we talked about his performance, leadership, and what's in the best interest the best interest of Taylor.

We work with legal counsel to make sure every step is responsible and defensible.

And when we came, when we came right back here to this public diet where um where the final decision is made in the open on the record, where every resident can see it, question it, and hold us accountable.

And for me, this vote is about me.

This vote is about smart people first, voter approved approach to leadership, smart because we are protecting both the integrity of the organization and the interest of the taxpayers.

People first, because the city manager's decision touched every corner of our residents' daily life, and his voter approved because the authority we're exercising tonight comes directly from the charter changes to people supported.

So when I cast my vote, it's not based on personality or politics.

It's based on a four-month evaluation process conducted as a good process per the charter of John's interaction with council, staff, and our community, and on a clear, transparent process laid out by our charter.

Chandler deserves the city manager who understands that we answer to the people in a council that takes responsibility seriously, and I tend to honor that tonight with my vote.

Thanks, Mayor.

Vice Mayor.

Thank you, Mayor.

Tonight, I would like the people of Chandler to know that my vote tonight is gonna be for them because they've trusted me five years ago to sit on the diet and look in their best interest.

And what is it that we are supposed to do every single day as their elected officials?

A few months ago, I trusted my colleagues when they came to us and said, besides anyone else, I could have been a temporary manager.

John was the best that we can't get for the position.

I came on the diet and I told the people of Chandler, I will vote yes for John, because my colleagues have made a point and arguably told me that they believe he is the man for the job.

Tonight, I'm going to go on that same trust again with my same colleagues who have called me and stated that they believed then that John was the man.

And because of my interaction with him and the way that I have seen him under pressure, with almost five of our leadership members strong, 12 years in action, people who have been with us for more than 10 years, live in their position.

And John build a team by none.

And he looked into everyone of our leadership and said this person will be able to continue to lead the city forward with him.

And I trusted that he did it, not only because he wanted to pop himself up, but because he had been looking into Chandler, working in Chandler, working with the nonprofit, seeing all the needs that all people have from the lowest all the way to the top, and build a team that will be able to help them in every wish way.

Every call will be answered.

If we need will be made to the best of his ability.

Tonight, my vote is not only going to reflect the trust that I have in my colleagues, Dan, but it also gonna reflect my the trust that I have in the people of Chandler, in John, and also the staff that we have.

That when I spoke with them, and they told me that they want to feel stable, they want to feel that they have someone at their realm who's gonna continue to lead them forward.

This vote is for my employees, all of them, and this is for the 291,000 people that live here in the city of Chandler.

Thank you to the people of Chandler for having given me this for this opportunity tonight to vote for you and you alone.

Always for the love of Chandler.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

That leaves me.

Council, I I uh it's not just words to me, but I I deeply appreciate when we get together and haggle over an issue.

Um there's a psalm that says, Come let us reason.

And I think that we do that well, and I want to commend each and every one of you.

We come from different places, and I I've never questioned, and I know you don't question the rest of council, is uh do you do you believe you're making the best decisions possible?

And I I want to commend each and every one of you for that, that you move because of an onus of why are you here and how can you make Chandler better?

And I again I commend each and every one of you for that.

Thank you.

I believe that once we started this process, I told uh acting city manager many times that I I didn't like how we got there, but I'm glad we got there, and I find myself pivoting, and uh not on the position of the city manager, but on the process.

And I've worked under five city managers here and have elected or voted in four of them.

And I think that Mr.

Pambier stands up with all of them, and I look forward to your work uh in continuing to represent Chandler, the business community or nonprofits working with schools, working with companies big and small, as well as responding to residents of giving us good intel, of giving us great opinions, and um you've given me wise advice many times in the brief months that you've been here, and I've appreciated that.

And you have won me over.

Not that there was ever uh a movement against, but in terms of believing that you are the should be the next city manager, and I'm grateful that you've not only applied, um, but hopefully you'll say yes to the contract.

good intel of giving us great opinions and um you've given me wise advice many times in the brief months that you've been here and I've appreciated that and you have won me over not that there was ever uh a movement against but in terms of believing that you are the should be the next city manager and I'm grateful that you've not only applied um but hopefully you'll say yes to the contract so I uh thank council I want to thank our community for continuing to have trust in us and continuing to put the the needs and the opportunities of Chandler um in our hands so with that I'd like to call the question council vote councilmember Harris yes council member or Vice Mayor Ellis yes motion carries by majority um council member and sinus dissented all right thank you council um we have no um uh unscheduled public appearances tonight so that concludes our meeting we'll be back here in two weeks thank you council welcome aboard officially Mr.

City Manager