Chandler City Council Regular Meeting and Study Session - August 10, 2026
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Chandler City Council Regular Meeting and Study Session - August 10, 2026
This meeting began with a brief Public Housing Authority Commission (PHAC) session followed by the Chandler City Council regular meeting and study session. The council recognized employee service milestones, issued a proclamation for Drowning Impact Awareness Month, approved a consent agenda, and heard presentations on several infrastructure and community projects. Study session items will be voted on at a later meeting.
Consent Calendar
- PHAC Meeting: The commission unanimously approved the minutes of the June 22, 2026, regular meeting (motion by Vice Chair, second by Commissioner Ellis; vote 7-0).
- City Council Consent Agenda: Council unanimously approved the consent agenda (items 1 and 2) for the August 10, 2026, regular meeting (motion by Councilmember Poston, second by Vice Mayor; vote 7-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No unscheduled public appearances were made during either the PHAC or City Council meetings.
Discussion Items
- Service Recognitions and Retirement: The city recognized employees for service milestones: Alison Bullock (10 years, Library), Patty Calleros (30 years, Library), Tracy Conaway (20 years, Public Works & Utilities), Tim Wakefield (30 years, Public Works & Utilities). Odette Moore was honored for her retirement after 26 years of service, most recently in Economic Development, where she led the Chandler Innovation Fair.
- Drowning Impact Awareness Month Proclamation: Mayor Harkey proclaimed August 2026 as Drowning Impact Awareness Month. The city's "Water You Doing" campaign and new "Swim Safe 48" program (requiring wristbands for children under 48 inches) led to an 83% reduction in rescues this summer—from 121 to 21.
- Kyrene Branch and High Line Canal Paths (Items 3,4): Jason (staff) presented a project to complete shared-use path connections from the Chandler-Tempe border. The Kyrene Branch path (approx. 1 mile) includes a traffic signal in Tempe; the High Line Canal path (approx. 0.25 mile) extends to Orchid Lane, with bike lanes and green pavement markings. Construction starts later in 2026, completion by end of 2027/early 2028. The project is 94% grant-funded ($5M+), with a 5.7% local match split with Tempe. Public feedback led to removal of a signal on Ray Road, added private property signs, adjusted lighting, and gates to prevent vehicular access.
- Tumbleweed Ranch Phase 1 & 2 (Items 10,11,12): Jody (staff) presented improvements at Tumbleweed Park: Phase 1 includes a Redshed Theater with a 200-seat amphitheater and interpretive pathway; Phase 2 improves the historic McCroskey and Edwards farmhouses with a boardwalk (ADA access), sensory garden, grape arbor, and a garage to display Dr. Chandler's vehicle. No community garden is currently planned, though councilmember Orlando suggested exploring the idea. The project originates from a 2004 master plan.
- Emergency Operations Plan (Item 26): Emergency Manager Erica Houston presented the updated plan, which is solutions-based and reviewed every five years (last update 2022). The plan involves all city departments and partner agencies, with training and exercises. Councilmember Ellis asked about coordination with state and federal agencies; Houston confirmed mutual aid agreements and interstate compacts are in place, and that local capability is the first line of response.
- Water Infrastructure Projects (Items 40-44): Jeremy Abbott (Public Works & Utilities) presented five items: replacement of ASR well #8 (one of ten in Tumbleweed Park) including design, drilling, and construction oversight; rehabilitation of a lift station (one of eight citywide); and upgrades to the Basha water production facility (two-million-gallon reservoir, pumps, motors, electrical gear). These projects are part of maintaining the city's assured water supply and robust system.
Key Outcomes
- The PHAC and City Council consent agendas were approved unanimously.
- All study session items (3,4,10,11,12,26,40,41,42,43,44) were presented for discussion only; they will be voted on at the Thursday, August 13, 2026, meeting.
- No formal votes or decisions were taken on the study session items.
Meeting Transcript
Commissioner Hawkins? Here. And Commissioner Laurie. Here. We have a quorum. Thank you so much. Council, our actions on the PHAC meeting tonight is consent agenda. How would you like to proceed? Commissioners. Vice Commissioner. My move to approve the meeting the meeting minutes. The public housing authority commission, approval of the public housing authority commission, regular meeting minutes of June 22nd, 2026. Items one and two. Second. We have a motion. We have a second by Commissioner Ellis. No recusals. Please poll the commission. Vice Chair and Sinus. Yes. Commissioner Poston. Yes. Commissioner Ellis? Yes. Commissioner Orlando? Yes. Commissioner Hawkins. Yes. Commissioner Laurie. Yes. And Chair Harkey. Yes. Motion carries unanimously. A little bit out of order, but did we have any? Do we have any unscheduled public appearances for the PHAC meeting? We did not receive any. All right. With that, that concludes the business of the public housing authority commission. Regular meeting. Yeah. Next on our agenda is the regular meeting of the Chandler City Council. I would like to call this meeting to order. Clerk, please take the roll. Mayor Harkey. Here. Vice Mayor and Cena. Here. Councilmember Poston. Here. Councilmember Ellis.
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