All right, where is there she is good evening and welcome to the April twenty third City Council regular meeting.

Thank you all for being here tonight.

I'd like to call this meeting to order.

Clerk, will you please take the role?

Mayor Harkey.

Here.

Vice Mayor and Sinus.

Here.

Councilmember Poston.

Here.

Councilmember Ellis.

Here.

Councilmember Orlando.

Present.

Councilmember Harris.

And Councilmember Hawkins.

Here.

We have a quorum.

Thank you.

Our invocation will be brought forth by Susan Stevens Clark of the Chandler Baha'i community.

And sorry I didn't get a chance to ask you, Councilmember Hawkins, if if you would then lead us for the pledge.

I think you know it.

If you join me in prayer, please.

Oh thou kind lord.

This gathering is turning to thee.

These hearts are radiant with thy love.

These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of thy glad tidings.

Oh God, let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees, even as it has aspired to material degrees, and rendered this just government victorious.

Confer this rare beard nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity to promulgate the most great peace, to become thereby most gracious and praiseworthy among all nations of the world.

Oh God, this American nation is worthy of thy favors and is deserving of thy mercy.

Make it precious and near to thee through thy bounty and bestow.

Thank you.

Please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the public of the United States of America.

And to the Republic for what you say.

One nation under God, the indivisible with liberty and justice.

Thank you, Susan.

Thank you, Councilmember Hawkins.

Next on our agenda tonight, we do have a couple special uh public appearances that we added, and I'd like to ask Councilmember Orlando to please join me up front.

Thank you.

All right, the first one is a fun one.

But I can invite uh Terry Kimball from the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO to join us.

Take your time.

We've got three of us now in Chandler here that are we give that to the mayor to thank you.

Thank you, Mayor and Council for allowing me this time tonight.

Um tonight we are here for um some very exciting news.

Each year um the Chandler Chamber um does their annual community awards celebration, and um the city has been a true partner with us.

But tonight we are here to honor a community award and a selection.

And the recipient of this award that we are going to give tonight is usually selected for somebody who's gone above and beyond in their leadership roles in innovation, commitment to excellence, and a lasting positive influence on our community.

This is more than just a formal honor.

Tonight, the James R.

Snediger Award goes to Chief Tom Dwiggins.

Go ahead.

Well, one system should show up to the councilman.

Well, we can have the whole team up, yeah.

Would you like to say anything, Chief?

Sure.

Uh so thank you, Terry, into the chamber.

Obviously, um, I'm very honored uh to receive this.

Uh not so much the award, I the award is great, but the name of the award.

And so that was 27 years ago.

I was on duty when that happened.

I remember it like it was yesterday.

It was a that was a tough shift for us.

And then going to the funeral um and just seeing the men and women of the police department or the fire department, but even more so, the community.

We're a lot smaller back then.

It was 1999.

We had three stagecoast buses with police and firefighters, and from where we started to where we ended, kids, business owners, you know, all of our residents, you know, it really was a moving thing.

And so I really appreciate this.

I think there's about 500 police officers and 250 firefighters that deserve it more.

Um, but I will uh I will certainly accept it on behalf of all of Chandler Public Safety.

We're blessed to serve in a great community, the leadership, our city manager's office, a council, always overly supportive for us, but not overly.

We'll just support it.

I might need some more things before I leave here.

But uh this is a great place to work.

I know um if if Officer Snediger was here today, he would be so proud of where this police department has grown.

Um and I think that all of our, you know, all of our fallen police officers, firefighters, we work every day uh with them in mind, try to be professional, try to take care of uh our residents, our business community.

Um, but it is um you know it's something that we think about a lot.

So I I appreciate it.

You are my classmate.

I can't believe you did this to me, but so thank you.

All right, let's do a vote on the picture.

Actually, we can have the rest of Mayor and Council stand behind.

We got three years.

All right, everyone, fine go perfect.

Look at me one, two, three, six miles.

Little just me, one, two, three.

All right, one more.

One more guy.

Thank you.

Nice job.

We do have one other uh scheduled public appearance.

Um, if I could call up Choy Romain.

So recently there's some federal legislation to rename our downtown Chandler Post Office.

Uh soy Romain from uh Congressman Greg Stanton's office.

Please uh share what this is.

Thank you very much and good evening.

My name is Coi Romine, and I'm here on behalf of the Office of Congressman Greg Stanton to share a few remarks about the exciting news that in February, Congressman Stanton introduced legislation on the floor of the House of Representatives to honor the life and career of a true public servant, former chandler, city mayor Choy Payne, who passed away in 2019.

This legislation will designate the USPS office building and downtown Chandler, located at 101 North Colorado Street as the Mayor Coy Payne Memorial Post Office Building.

Mayor Payne served in the United States Army during the Korean War and after his service, earned a degree from Arizona State University and served over 30 years as an educator for the Chandler Public School system.

After two terms as a chandler city councilman in 1990, Mr.

Payne was elected mayor of Chandler, becoming the first black mayor in Arizona State history.

Mayor Payne led as an example for all of us, dedicating his life to serving the vulnerable, giving back to his community, and being a compassionate leader and a thoughtful listener and a good friend.

Mr.

Pay, as he had said after his time as mayor, his first love was always the city of Chandler, Arizona, and its wonderful people.

The Congressman and his team are honored to introduce this legislation to dedicate the downtown chandler post office building and Mayor Payne's name.

And though there's at a definitive timeline for its passage into law, we are working with our fellow members here, both in the delegation in Arizona and the entire House to get it passed as quickly as possible.

And we will continue to push for its advancement in the House.

And we will be happy to provide further updates as they develop.

Thank you very much.

Council, before we vote on the consent agenda, we do have a few speaker cards.

Um I'd like to call them up in order.

So two people speaking on three items for consent.

Let me first call up uh Rick Human.

Mr.

Human, you have up to three minutes to state your name, city you're from, share the item that you want to speak on, and you have again up to three minutes.

Okay, thank you, Mayor.

Rick Human 4310 West Dublin Street, Channel Arizona.

I'm here on item number 11.

Um, the charter changes, there's three of them that are pretty much just technical changes that I have no problem with.

The fourth one of having changing the requirement to have our employees work in our city at the director level and above.

I do believe that people should have skin of the game.

I don't come here to say no.

I always have try to have solutions.

Um I think if you have somebody, whether it's the parks department, public works, whatever, have worked their way up to the city, been in the city three years or more.

Um, they shouldn't have to move back into the city if they lived outside.

But anybody coming new to the city, I think should have skin of the game and should be here.

Our director level positions pay very well, so they should be able to afford to be in our city.

So I do support the first three.

I don't support without some changes on the item about not having people live in our city.

So thank you.

Uh is Noah James Markham on item number 17 and item number 20.

Um Mr.

Markham, you're welcome to come up and uh I'll just give you an aggregate time for both of these.

State your name, city you're from, and your specific concerns first on item 17 and then on item 20.

Okay.

Um aloha um mayor and to the rest of the city council.

My name is Noah James Markham, and I'm from the Great Blue City FMP.

Um, yeah.

Um, so number 17.

I am so I'm really excited.

I am excited that we are looking at the sewer here because it is disgusting.

It is, yeah, city manager.

I don't know what you're doing, but it is disgusting still out there.

I can smell it, and I don't want to smell it.

I don't.

I really don't.

And another thing, number 20.

Um, thank you for taking care of a water because you know the legislators are not doing their job in the Capitol.

So thank you so much.

And that's the comment about links.

Thank you.

Somebody left their phone.

I don't know who's the phone.

Uh someone leave their phone there, didn't you say?

I think just wake up.

Okay.

Cool.

Great.

Council, those are all the um speaker cards.

Uh next is our consent agenda.

How would you like to proceed?

Mayor.

Umberlando.

I move that we approve the consent agenda agenda of January 23rd, 2026, regular items one through 21.

All right, so we've got a motion by council member Lindo, a second by uh councilmember Ellis.

Any additional questions, comments?

Mayor.

Councilmember Lando.

Uh Mayor, I we asked this question the other night.

Um, and and I guess uh I just want to clarify this is on items uh 17, excuse me, not 17, um 11.

The uh proposed amendments for the article change.

Um tonight we're approving to put this on the ballot for November 3rd, correct?

Yes, uh through the mayor, council member Lando, that's correct.

So I maybe I misunderstood you on Monday night when I asked if the language, the actual charter language or the actual, yeah, the the actual language of the charter could be amended before it goes on to the ballot.

Or are we also approving the language tonight?

And that's the the thing I kind of confused about.

I'll defer to our city attorney, but our the four resolutions do include ballot language as exhibits to the resolution.

Correct.

Okay, so they do approve, they do have the language, but if this council decides at a later date, hypothetically, I'm not saying this will that we want to change that language or eliminate one of those.

Do we have that option?

And at what date do we have that option?

Yes, so you would have to do it on or before June 8.

That's the deadline to provide that ballot language.

Those resolutions are what I provide to the county.

That's just the ballot language only, not the publicity pamphlet, any of that activity, correct?

Well, those would go into the information pamphlet as well.

That's what I start working on in June once that ballot language is approved.

Perfect.

Okay, so we did clarify it is the actual language, or we could actually pull one of these off if we by June 8th.

Okay, that's what I want to make sure.

So I I was I was clear that night.

Yes, I will not provide the language to them until Monday, June 8th.

Got it.

Thank you very much.

Thanks, Mayor.

Yeah.

And I also thought the conversation was a specific question to the city attorney saying, was this the best language to be used and that gave council the flexibility, I think, on one.

And I think there was a big conversation about uh could it be more clear?

Would that make it clearer, Mercury?

And and uh a city attorney's opinion was that this gave us the most flexibility and was the clearest.

Is it ton, is that your recollections in conversation too?

Mayor, yes, that is that is correct.

Okay, good.

Councilmember Ellis.

Uh question for you.

In view of the fact that we do have people that are saying that they don't agree with uh one of the ballot questions.

Uh what we are okay tonight is to go to the public for them to vote on it.

So we are not voting saying that we say yes to it, we just put in it and giving it to the people of Chandler and let them make up their mind about it.

It can pass and it cannot pass.

Through the mayor, council member Ellis.

That is correct.

All right, thank you.

Just wanted to make a clarification on records that this is what we're doing tonight.

Thank you.

Mayor, uh, if I might.

Council, uh, yeah, go ahead.

This is the first reading of the ballot language.

The second reading will come at another meet another date in May.

And should the council opt to not move one of them forward at that second meeting, it wouldn't get the second hearing or second vote to then proceed per charter.

That's a good clarification.

Good.

Thank you.

Um, can I clarify, please?

Actually, there's only one reading with the resolutions tonight.

That approves the language, they will not come back to you at this point.

Okay.

It was only the ordinance like for the franchise that was twice.

That's the other one that you're approving with the second read this evening.

Okay.

Um, Vice Mayor.

There would be a second vote to take it back.

Mayor, there would be need to be a second vote to take it back after tonight, correct, Clerk.

Tonight approves the ballot language, it will not come back to them unless they request to revisit those items and like repeal the resolutions that are getting approved tonight.

Right.

Would that be the case if uh someone who's in the majority vote could bring this back up?

So I I forgot that uh I believe in our in our in our language, if you want to bring an issue back up, you you are in the majority that you can.

If you're in the minority, you cannot.

Is that correct?

That's reconsidered.

Oh, that's recon okay.

So we're not talking a reconsider because we would have time.

Is that correct?

Sorry to put you two on the spot here, but anything on top of it.

Yeah.

Um mayor, if you wish to reconsider, you can recons move to someone could make a or anyone on the council, they can make a motion to reconsider at the next at either this meeting or at a next regular special meeting, but not later than 30 days after the date of the decision.

Okay, but now we have a motion in the second on the on the floor here.

We're just navigating.

Um thank you, Mayor.

Um, I will just I wanted to notate that I will be voting no on item number 11.

Um, I want to thank the committee for their time and their input for this, uh, but I do feel like some of these items are foundational to Chandler's culture, foundation, and traditions.

And I probably sit in the minority in this, but I do want to express that and uh and we'll be voting no on these amendments.

Okay.

Saying no further, council, please vote.

And motion carries unanimously with vice mayor and senius dissenting on number 11.

Okay.

Thank you.

That is our consent agenda.

Next on our agenda is unscheduled public appearances.

And I have two cards related to that.

First up is Mr.

Beal.

So Bill states your name and city in which you reside, and you have up to three minutes to share your thoughts and concerns.

Brookville Chandler.

I've attended a number of your city council meetings now and a few of your work sessions.

And I've got to say that what I've learned from this is that you guys are not great leaders.

And honestly, you're not even good followers.

But a big no thanks to the Chandler Police Department for ignoring that and allowing them.

There were eight or ten that I saw breaking the law.

This tells me that Chandler Police Department does not observe the rule of law knowingly.

So on to other things.

And to a certain extent, uh government overreach when they're talking about the regulations for e-bikes.

Some of them are in Arizona, and they include uh the neighbors that you often refer to and check on.

Uh Chandler received the worst of those seven, Arizona, and they were very close to the bottom, number 93 in the United States, as far as the quality of the park systems.

So while you try to follow the other cities, you're not doing a very good job.

You know, Scottsdale was number 48, so they were at least in the top half.

But so on to uh onto the e-bike issue.

Um your guidance that I saw two weeks ago sort of mimics the neighboring cities.

You know, you were talking about, well, what is what is uh Scottsdale do?

What is you know, what are these guys do?

Um and nothing was new there.

You you don't have any thinking outside the box.

Um you encourage uh writing on the sidewalk.

Um an e-bike traveling 28 miles an hour, which is not unusual on the canal.

Uh it'll cross Arizona Avenue, basically that wall to that wall in two seconds.

And so if you're looking that way and then that way, and then that way to make a turn, that guy has already come across in front of you.

And if you're not looking at the right time, you're gonna you're gonna hit him.

So why do I bring this up?

Because a little over 60 years ago, on July 2nd, 1965, uh, a friend of mine was killed when he was riding on the wrong side of the road.

Car pulled out and ran him, struck him, and he was he died.

Um that's the situation you are putting people in when you allow riding on bike on the sidewalk.

Thank you, Mr.

Brooks.

Mr.

Beal.

Uh next we have uh Noah James Markham.

Please again state your name, City of Residence, and you have up to three minutes to share your thoughts.

Aloha mayor into the rest of the city council.

My name is Noah James Markham, and I reside in the great city of Tempe.

I I I love Chandler too.

It's you know good city too.

Um, but I have a problem with some things.

So this incident that I had like a few weeks ago.

I saw somebody randomly just have their gun, you know, in their car while they're driving, you know, just for fun, I guess.

Just there.

And so I hope that the police officers can watch that kind of stuff because it is scary, and I don't like guns.

I've never had a gun in my life, and I don't want one in my life.

So please keep these guns at home.

Okay.

Um, and the next thing, um I am a I love woman.

I love woman roles, and I love that um, you know, it's great that we're seeing more women going to really high positions out there.

Um and the city manager, I I am so sorry, but I really need a woman, city manager.

I need a head of a woman because she knows what she needs to do in the city of Chandler.

Oh, so let's let's let's talk about the Phoenix police.

I guess there was an incident here on the happen with a lot of um kids that were protesting ICE, right?

Um, and I guess he works in Phoenix, but he came and try to, you know, like a kid, you know, try to be with these other kids.

I know we have adults that are kids, and um, you know, they want to rattle them around.

I don't understand why he did that.

Um, so shame on you, kid.

Um, and then also let's talk about Mesa um and the ICE agreement.

Um, and I do support it.

I do support it.

I I really respect Greg Stanton um for funding the ICE agreement.

I know I kind of said something before, but we need it.

Um, and you know, it is it's good to have.

But we have to remember who has done a better job with the ICE agreement because we've had Obama, President Obama, we've had President Biden, and you know who does better with the ICE agreement.

So I I do understand why we we need ICE, um, even though I don't understand, but um, and then one more thing.

ICE, they have a facility in Mesa, and they they you know, they have startings in there.

I guess it was the capacity of 21 people, but they put 46 people in it.

And thank you, Greg Stanton, for going out there, Congresswoman Adelita Grahava, and Yasmin Anasari.

Thank you so much, Mahalo.

All right.

All right.

Next on our agenda is current events, and I'll start.

I'd like to take a moment to highlight the upcoming military bound ceremony.

Chandler is honored to recognize more than 50 local students who have committed to serve in the U.S.

Armed Forces.

This meaningful event celebrates dedication, courage, and selfless commitment of students who've chosen to serve their country following graduation.

You are all invited to join us on Saturday, May 2nd from 10 a.m.

till 12 p.m.

at Chandler, I'm sorry, at Hamilton High School.

Each enlistee will be individually honored.

They'll be presented with a commemorative military coin.

This ceremony is a meaningful way for us to come together and show our appreciation for those who are stepping forward.

So I hope that you will consider joining us.

And uh council, it's always meaningful uh when they see us there as well.

Secondly, I would like to invite you all to uh this Saturday.

We have our Roads to Riches Financial Literacy Car Show in Night Market.

It's gonna be right here at our at the City Hall area at the City Hall parking garage from 5 p.m.

until 10 p.m.

on Saturday, April 25th.

This event features a lineup of cars, music, trucks, food trucks, vendors, and but at its core, it's a focus on financial literacy for young people in our community.

Attendees will connect with organizations and resources that will help with budgeting, saving, investing, and building strong futures.

And this event supports student success through scholarship opportunity, helping empower the next generation to achieve their goals as well.

So I encourage residents to come out, take advantage of these resources and support a meaningful cause that supports our community.

Councilmember Poston.

Thank you, Mayor.

This last Saturday, I was able to attend the 100 club's heroes gala.

I was joined by Councilmember Ellis and Councilmember Hawkins.

Um what was really exciting about this event is that we had two Chandler police officers, Rupert Snediger and Dallin Bacon, honored as the officers of the year for their heroic actions saving the life of a seven-year-old girl.

I want to thank them both.

Um they are shining examples of our police department.

Um as a side note, the 100 club was actually originally started to support the families of fallen officers.

It's since expanded to it to support all first responders and their families in multiple ways through scholarships and other ways that they might need community support.

So it was a great event, and it was really wonderful to see Chandler get an award for the second year in a row.

Thanks, Mayor.

Thank you.

Councilmember Ellis.

Lots to talk about tonight, but nothing there right now.

I like that.

Councilmember Incinus.

That was a good one.

Umor, I want to share a uh information about a community event, which is very popular here in town.

It's Dia del Niño, envisioned toy drive celebration.

It's kids' day basically.

Uh, the city of Chandler is partnering with the Chandler Unified School District and Chavez Media, and they'll be hosting a uh toy drive for the children.

Toys um have been gathered uh through donations um all the way up until May 15th.

So they've already collected everything.

They'll be distributing um the toys during the the Los Niños event, uh, which is gonna be taking place at Galveston Elementary School on April 25th this Saturday from one to 5 p.m.

during the event.

Every child who attends will go home with a new toy and a smile.

So we invite you to come out and celebrate with us um on this wonderful Saturday at Galveston Elementary School.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Lindo.

Thank you, Mayor.

I had a chance to um say a few words at the fifth annual Pacific Island Festival.

Uh Vice Mayor Cenus was there, and Councilmember Poston.

I don't know if anyone else joined, but it was just all day event.

And if you did, if you did, that was great.

I'm glad you all it was a great event.

I know Ted P does not have this.

Only Chandler has the uh the uh the Pacific Island Festival.

It was it's brought to the community together for vibrant celebration of Pacific Islander culture, dynamic dance performers, live music, authentic food, unique vendors, and a cultural education throughout the day.

And you know, that's what Chandler does well.

Uh, we really embrace our diversity, and we do have events.

This event was in another city, and they decided to come to Chandler uh because they felt more welcomed, and it was a much larger event.

So we're we appreciate the performers and all the vendors.

And I believe last year they ran out of food at about six o'clock.

This year they had extra uh trucks there, so it was a great event.

So we'll see you next year.

All right, I got a thumbs up.

All right, go ahead, council member.

Councilmember Harris.

Yeah, um, unfortunately, Matt, we're not the first person to do it.

It's normally held at the Tempe Town Lakes.

No, but today, tonight I want to um be a little bit more serious, um, talking about the food and drink spiking ordinance um that I was proud to champion.

Um, this ordinance makes it a class one misdemeanor in Chandler to knowingly put any drug, substance, or intoxins into someone's uh food or drink without their knowledge or consent or even attempt to do so.

Um, this gives local or this local ordinance gives our local law enforcement um the ability to go after individuals who decide to um do something uh like this, and it gives them the tools that they if the city if the county attorney decides not to go after, uh we have the tools here to do it.

But this, but by heaviness ordinance, it clearly defines what the drinking and food hampering as a crime in the city of Chandler, and this ordinance empowers victims to report incidents and reassures them that Chandler will take complaints seriously and act quickly.

And as a council member who has championed mental health, uh quality of life, and safe economic growth, I view this ordinance as a common sense step uh to protect both public safety and the long term by a vitality of Chandler's entertainment and hospitality sectors.

Um the ordinance is a part of a broader push in the East Valley with cities like Tempe adopting similar measures for their community, and I want to especially emphasize uh councilmember Randy Keaton from the city of Tempe.

And this also helps responsible business owners and ordinances reinforces existing expectations, trained staff to watch for warning signs and respond quickly when patrons reports a concern and work with law enforcement to keep their establishment safe.

So truly thankful to have let this, but also truly thankful for mayor and council to support such an effort to keep our community safe as we continue to have amazing people to run our city.

They now know that they're a little bit safer here in Chandler with the drinks with the food and drink um drink um tampering ordinance.

Lastly, uh, I want to make a special announcement.

Uh it's graduation season, and so many of us is gonna be graduating.

Um, and so this graduation season is here.

It's time to celebrate students moving forward from middle school, high school, and college.

And I'm excited to recognize and celebrate all those who have worked hard to reach the next level.

Your dedication and perseverance have paid off, and this achievement is something to be proud of.

And so I think there's a digital, there's supposed to be something digitally on the screen.

I don't know.

Oh, there we go.

Oh, personally, I'm excited to watch my wife, Elizabeth, uh, graduate.

Uh, this um uh this coming up for all her hard work has truly paid off.

Uh, and she's she's gonna be another person that we get to add to the lawyering community.

So I'm very proud of my wife.

She's been doing a great job.

And now um maybe one day she'll she'll work as a lawyer in the city government or something, or maybe she'll go into it privately.

I don't know, whatever she wants to do.

Um, but I'm glad to be adding an amazing person like that.

Um council member Ellis is going to be receiving an honorary uh doctoral degree uh on May 2nd.

Uh and she she don't mean to brag, I'll just brag for her a little bit.

Um, and so she's gonna be getting in divinity, and so I think it's gonna be, excuse me, I'm making your announcement.

You want to make your announcement?

It's gonna be her third degree.

But also on August 22nd, council member Ellis and I will be walking across the stage with we will be adding master's degrees to our portfolio, and we're gonna be graduating from the same time on August 22nd.

It's gonna be in San Antonio, Texas.

Uh, we're both going to be, I'm gonna be getting my MBA, and she's gonna be getting her nurse practition, nurse practitioner nurse practitioner and psych nurse.

So she's gonna be we're gonna be doing some amazing things.

So, congratulations, council member Ellis.

Congratulations to you sogratulations to my beautiful wife who's gonna do a fabulous job out there in the legal field, and I can't wait to see what's next for you.

Thank you, Mayor.

All right.

It's always hard to follow him.

Do you want me to go?

Do you want to?

Should I move you to what do you think?

Let him be our closer council member.

Okay.

Um, so the city of Chandler recently celebrated a successful event honoring the dedicated boards and commissioners who play a vital role in shaping our community.

Their time, their expertise, and their commitment help guide the important decisions and strengthen the quality of life for all our residents.

So thank you to each member for their outstanding service and continued dedication to Chandler.

Uh, which leads me to ask question if you are interested in getting involved.

Residents are encouraged to apply and participate in a board and commission to make a meaningful impact in Chandler.

Learn more about current opportunities and how to apply by visiting our city website and contacting or contacting the clerk's office.

And that is all I have.

Thank you.

Thank you.

City manager.

Mayor Council first, I'd like to recognize our own deputy city manager Ryan Peters and his department, led by Mike Hollingsworth.

Our fleet has been recognized as one of the top 100 fleets in the country.

So I think that's an important recognition.

I also want to point out that the Arizona Association for Economic Development honored City of Chandler employee Chandler Escalante with the Workforce Practitioner of the Year Award just recently.

And I want to recognize Chandler and Economic Development.

And that's all I had tonight, man.

All right.

Council, thank you.

We'll see you at the next