Chandler City Council Regular Meeting and Study Session - October 15, 2026

The meeting on October 15, 2026 opened with a brief Public Housing Authority Commission (PHAC) session, followed by a regular City Council meeting and concluding with a Study Session. The evening included personnel recognitions, proclamations, Exchange Club awards, unanimous approval of consent calendar items, presentations on several grant‑funded projects, and policy discussions on extending the Chandler Municipal Airport runway and exploring alternative employee work schedules.

Public Housing Authority Commission

• PHAC convened, established a quorum, and unanimously approved the minutes of its August 10, 2026 meeting along with two other consent items.

Ceremonial Items

• Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance: Pastor Tim Klumps of the Family Bible Church offered the invocation; Vice Mayor And Senus led the pledge.
• Service Recognitions: Ten years – Sherry Trinidad (Accounting); 15 years – Ivan Enriquez (City Clerk’s Office); 20 years – Christopher Gutierrez (Traffic Management Center); 30 years – Deputy City Manager Leah Powell, recognized for building Chandler’s diversity office, the HELP collaborative, and leading the RAD conversion resulting in the 157‑unit Villas on McQueen affordable housing development.
• Retirement Recognitions: Deborah Moreno (Library Administrator, 25+ years) and Scott Rogers (Environmental Management, 12 years) were honored.
• Proclamations: October 2026 was proclaimed Rotary Month and Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
• Exchange Club Awards: Battalion Chief Bo Jenkins received the Firefighter of the Year Award; Officer Aaron O’Brien (Behavioral Health Unit) received the Police Officer of the Year Award.

Consent Calendar

• The City Council voted unanimously to approve the Council consent agenda (Items 1–3). The PHAC consent agenda had been adopted earlier.

Study Session – Presentations on Consent Items (Already Approved)

The following items, previously placed on the consent agenda, were called up for informational discussion.

• Chandler Flex Microtransit Grant (Resolution 6042): The city accepted a $1 million federal grant (secured by Congressman Greg Stanton) to support operations and expansion of Chandler Flex. The grant requires a 50% local match, which is already budgeted. Since its 2022 launch, the service has provided nearly 200,000 rides with a customer rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
• Pima Park Playground (Resolution 6041): A $750,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant was approved for a fully accessible playground designed with input from the Camp Challenge special‑needs program. The city will provide a dollar‑for‑dollar match. Construction is expected to be complete by fall 2027.
• Foley Park and Pool Renovation Master Plan (Agreement with Kimley Horn): Council authorized a $159,000 contract to develop a master plan for a major renovation of Foley Pool and Park, including a possible 50‑meter competitive pool, a play pool, and improved amenities. The project will incorporate community feedback.
• Ordinance 5179 – Rezone for Group Home: A zoning change was approved for a residential group home serving up to nine clients with developmental disabilities (staffed by six employees). Compliance will be monitored by the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities through annual inspections.
• Desert Palms Preliminary Development Plan: Council approved a four‑pad development on Warner Road comprising three quick‑serve drive‑throughs and one shop building. The project is intended to revitalize a long‑vacant corner and generate sales‑tax revenue.
• Water Reclamation Facility Improvements – Phase 3 (Items 34 & 35): Council approved a $50.8 million construction contract (McCarthy) and a $5.0 million construction‑management‑at‑risk contract (Wilson Engineers) for rehabilitation of the Airport and Ocotillo water reclamation plants. The work includes replacement of diffusers, headworks improvements, odor scrubbers, and a new disk filter. The CMAR contract, staffed by up to 34 professionals, is necessary because the city’s internal CIP team (24 members) cannot manage the project alone. Officials noted that delaying the work would risk plant failure, environmental impacts, and inability to meet reclaimed‑water permits.
• Young Family & Professional Attraction Campaign (Agreement with Eddie Alexander): Council authorized a $190,000 one‑year contract for a marketing campaign to attract young families and professionals. Funding sources include a $150,000 grant from the Chandler Industrial Development Authority and $10,000 contributions from each of the four school districts serving Chandler (Chandler Unified, Kyrene Elementary, Mesa Public Schools, and Tempe Union High School). The campaign will use a 10‑week discovery phase to develop measurable goals. The city expects to return to Council for ongoing funding after the first year.

Discussion and Direction on Policy Matters

• Chandler Municipal Airport – Runway Extension (Municipal Code Chapters 8–10): Council debated whether to retain the existing ordinance requiring a bond election before extending the south runway by up to 680 feet (to 5,550 feet) or to amend it. Staff presented two options: (1) keep the ordinance and proceed to a bond election (earliest November 2027, cost ~$500,000); (2) amend the ordinance to remove the bond requirement while keeping other protections (length cap, public input, weight limits). Councilmembers expressed varying views: some advocated a public vote (whether bond or general election), while others preferred to amend the ordinance and rely on the mandatory FAA environmental review and public‑input process. Council directed staff to return by the November 9, 2026 meeting with two draft ordinances: one that substitutes the bond election with a general election (which could occur as early as July 2027) and one that removes the election requirement entirely, along with pros and cons of each option. No final decision was made.
• Full‑Time Hours for Benefit Eligibility: Councilmember Harris withdrew her discussion request after receiving clarification from staff.
• Alternative 4/10 Employee Work Schedules: Councilmember Harris requested that staff explore the feasibility of offering four‑day, 10‑hour work schedules to more employees and expanding service hours for residents. The city manager noted that 25–30% of employees already work 4/10 schedules and that departments have discretion to implement such schedules. Council concurred that the city manager should survey departments, assess community needs, and report back on opportunities for improved hours and flexible scheduling without committing to a formal work session.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous approvals of PHAC minutes, the Council consent calendar, and all study‑session resolutions and contracts.
• Directive on Airport Ordinance: Staff to present two draft ordinances at the November 9, 2026 Council meeting (Option A: replace bond election with general election; Option B: eliminate election requirement).
• Work‑Schedule Study: City manager will review current practices and department needs and bring back a report on possibilities for expanded hours and flexible scheduling.
• No public comment was offered during any segment of the meeting; all public appearances were scheduled recognitions and ceremonial presentations.