Eloy City Council Meeting - February 9, 2026

The Eloy City Council met on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 6:13 PM. The meeting included public comments, council and city manager announcements, a police department activity report, approval of the consent agenda, a discussion and vote on Well 3 regulatory compliance services, a public presentation praising the interim city manager, and an executive session for a performance review.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously (7-0) the consent agenda, including routine items. Note: Item B's actual dollar amount was corrected to $169,924.76.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sayed Taha (resident, 3100 South Bearford): Invited the city council, community, and police to Ramadan breaking-fast dinners at his property (community center) on Saturdays in the upcoming month. Requested a few days' extension from the city to allow seating and enjoyment during Ramadan. Also noted that the property will be dedicated as a nonprofit mosque, community center, and church for public use.
• Donna (community member near Toltec and Batanglia): Complained about unlicensed food vendors setting up in a vacant lot next to her community, with up to four vendors observed on Saturday and one already present that evening. Asked whom to call to address the issue.

Discussion Items

• Mayor's Announcements: Highlighted Councilmember Valdraska's performance in “Little Shop of Horrors” at Robson Ranch; noted the success of the pet vaccination clinic at City Hall; addressed concerns about elevated nitrates in the water supply, assuring the council that the situation is being closely monitored.
• Councilmember Announcements:
  • Councilmember Valdraska: Reported on the Point-in-Time Homeless Count (Jan 30) in Eloy, noting a transient population needing resources like more trash bins, donated shower vouchers, and accessible water spigots. Also judged the Pinal County School Spelling Bee, with three winners advancing.
  • Vice Mayor Tarango: Attended the Florence Chamber Awards dinner (Jan 31) and the Central Arizona Project Pinal Stakeholder Dinner (Feb 4). Discussed Colorado River negotiations, noting Arizona reuses 52% of water vs. 5% in the upper basin, and that Pinal County’s agriculture has taken the brunt of cuts to protect Lake Mead.
  • Councilmember Curtis: Attended the Florence Chamber Awards, noted positive comments about Eloy from speaker Craig McFarland.
  • Councilmember Schneider: Thanked the council and public for supporting the theater production at Robson Ranch.
• City Manager Rachel (Acting): Provided a detailed update on the elevated nitrate levels in the city’s water system:
  • Current status: Nitrate levels at 10.3 mg/L (down from 11 mg/L after recent testing), still above the threshold to remove the Tier 1 notification.
  • Cause: Overlapping operational challenges including emergency repairs to Well 4 and long-term repairs to Well 3 (down 6-8 months, expected completion in April). Blending water via Well 4 is ongoing.
  • Support for families: Two pallets of water available at City Hall for infants under 6 months; families must show a utility bill to receive one case per week.
  • Long-term solutions: Two capital improvement projects approved, including a nitrate filtration system at Pump Station 1 (completion within months). Well 3 repair includes an item on tonight’s consent agenda.
  • Urged residents to subscribe to the city’s alert system for emergency notices.
• Police Chief Benyalez: Presented the January 2026 police activity report:
  • Department updates: Officer recruit Tad Mendez graduating from academy Feb 12; three vacancies for officers and three dispatcher vacancies (one dispatcher leaving). Dispatch center averages 8,600 911 calls/year with 9.4-second pickup time.
  • Community engagement: Hosted volunteer brunch, Citizens Academy, cops and clergy meeting, and two pet vaccination clinics (combined totals: 230 rabies, 243 parvo, 90 bordetella, 24 cat combos, 31 microchips, 66 licenses).
  • Notable incidents: Attempted arson at community action building (suspect arrested); fraud where victim lost $25,000 to “Microsoft” scam (investigation ongoing); homicide of Maria Guadalupe Ocuna on Dec 21 remains unsolved (reward up to $1,000).
  • Statistics: January 2026 – 1,305 police calls, 303 fire calls, 619 911 calls, 2,121 total dispatch calls; 142 incident investigations; 264 traffic citations; 16 traffic collisions; 184 public records requests.
  • Expressed concern about dispatcher burnout due to mandatory 16-hour overtime.
• Public Presentation (Mr. and Mrs. Shu): Commended Interim City Manager Letcher (and Jeremy) for their work on the House of Road waterline phase two project, stating more progress was made in the last 2.5 months than in the previous three years by staff. Noted the option presented was comprehensive and thoughtful, though not yet to the finish line.
• Item 8A – Well 3 Regulatory Compliance Services: Staff recommended approval of a proposal from Wilson Engineers for regulatory compliance services (ADEQ ATC and AOC permits) not to exceed $175,000, funded through reallocation within the water CIP with no net impact. The council approved unanimously (7-0).

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Item 8A (Wilson Engineering): Approved unanimously (7-0) for Well 3 regulatory compliance services up to $175,000.
• Executive Session: Council voted to convene into executive session (ARS 38-431.03 A.1,3,4) for a three-month performance review of the interim city manager, including evaluation and contract negotiations.
• Meeting Adjourned: Following the executive session, the council voted to adjourn.