Eloy City Council Meeting, Briefings, and Budget Adoption - June 8, 2026

The Eloy City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, June 8, 2026. (The meeting was scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM per the published agenda, though the meeting recording transcript indicates the proceedings began at approximately 6:00 PM.) The council unanimously approved a 14-item consent agenda and adopted the tentative budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 with a maximum expenditure limit of $101,339,705. The meeting featured extensive reports from city officials, including a detailed briefing from Police Chief Sergio Banales on staffing, community engagement, and new communication platforms.

Public Comments & Testimony

• A member of the public asked whether candidates running for local office (judge, council) would be invited to speak at a meeting before the election, as was done a few years prior. Mayor Sutton responded that a candidates' forum was scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the City Hall community room.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent agenda, encompassing 14 routine items (Items A through N), in a unanimous roll call vote. Councilmember Vladovska requested and received clarification on Item C (one-year contract extensions for plan review services), confirming the intended end date of June 30, 2027, rather than the date of June 30, 2028, printed in the supporting documents. The agenda was approved with this correction.
• Approved items included:
  • Approval of meeting minutes from May 26 and June 1, 2026.
  • One-year contract extensions with Sunrise Engineering, Wilson Engineers, Bureau Veritas, SAFEbuilt, Stantec, and Logan Simpson.
  • Authorization to utilize the Pinal County JOC Contract with Ellison-Mills Construction for the Sunland Gin Waterline Loop Project.
  • An agreement with Lexipol, LLC for law enforcement policy management services not to exceed $22,832.25.
  • Appointment of Finance Director Brian Wright as the designated authorizing agent for the Annual Expenditure Limitation Report (AELR).
  • A professional services contract with Western Land Consulting Group.
  • Three final plat approvals: Stone 25-B350, Abel Alvarez, and Loves Truck Stop Toltec Road.
  • A Proposition 202 grant application to the Ak-Chin Indian Community for $150,000 for two advanced cardiac monitors for the Fire District.
  • Recommendations for Series 15 special event liquor licenses for the Santa Cruz Valley Historic Museum (3rd of July event) and the Eloy Chamber of Commerce (Fourth of July Celebration).

Reports and Announcements

Mayor’s Announcements:

• Mayor Sutton reported attending an emergency response meeting at Robeson Ranch (May 27) focused on large-scale evacuation planning, organized by council candidate Ross Dumfey.
• He met with Union Pacific representatives following a train derailment near Sunland Gin and expressed comfort with their commitment to safety and cleanup actions.
• On May 28, the Mayor, along with Council Members Garcia and Vladovska, met with Congressman Juan Ciscomani, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, and SBA representatives to discuss strengthening U.S. cotton production and reclaiming the position of the world's leading producer.
• The Mayor attended a meeting with the warden of Core Civic's Saguaro Correctional Center, highlighting a program where inmates train assistance dogs. The program was noted to reduce inmate disciplinary issues within the prison to nearly zero while providing skills for reentry.

Council Members’ Announcements:

• A councilmember reported attending the Pinal County Partner Breakfast (June 5) and a resource roundup, noting that cities across the county share common challenges regarding roads, infrastructure, and growth. Keynote speaker Joel Millman discussed workforce needs, listing the top skills employers are requesting (communication, management, problem-solving, etc.) and emphasizing that many foundational skills are developed in the home.
• A councilmember highlighted the popularity of the water aerobics program at the Eloy Aquatic Center, which has a waiting list with 25 already enrolled and draws participants from surrounding communities such as Casa Grande, Coolidge, and Arizona City.
• Other announcements included attending a NALEO webinar on redistricting and positive remarks regarding the inmate dog training program as a benefit for inmate rehabilitation and reentry into society.

City Manager’s Announcements:

• The City Manager announced details for the city's expanded Fourth of July celebration, which will also commemorate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The event on July 4 will feature free swimming from 12-4 PM at the Aquatic Center, followed by a large event from 5-9 PM at Main Street Park including live music, water slides, food vendors, giveaways, and fireworks. A taco eating contest with a championship belt was promoted as a new annual tradition.

Police Chief Briefing:

• Chief Sergio Banales provided a comprehensive update on the Eloy Police Department.
• Staffing: The department has 29 officers and is recruiting to fill three vacancies. Three lateral applicants are in the background process. The department has three active dispatchers facing three vacancies, placing significant strain on the team. Chief Banales publicly thanked the current dispatchers (Amanda Viesquez, Audra Calkins, Brittany Beechum, and Supervisor Tricia Wilcox) for their service. Nine applicants participated in a physical agility test for recruit officer positions, with hopes to send candidates to the Gilbert Police Academy in September.
• Community Engagement: In May, the Chief spoke to a freshman success class at the high school. The department hosted rabies vaccination clinics in partnership with Pinal County Animal Care and Control. A DUI enforcement detail was conducted on Cinco de Mayo, funded by an $8,500 annual grant from the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). Future GOHS operations include Independence Day, Back to School (July/August), Labor Day (September 7), and Child Passenger Safety Week (September 20-26).
• New Communication Platforms:
  • Smart 911: A new emergency notification app allowing citizens to receive weather alerts, road closures, and public safety information. Users can create profiles with emergency contacts and vehicle/pet information to aid first responders.
  • VersaTerm Community Connect: Launched on May 19, 2026, this platform provides post-call updates (officer status, case numbers, investigation updates) via text and a customer satisfaction survey. In its first month, 509 surveys were sent and 130 were completed, yielding a department customer satisfaction score of 4.5 out of 5. Positive survey comments praised the quick response and professional handling of incidents.

Discussion Items

Adoption of Tentative Budget (Resolution No. 26-1665)

• Finance Director Brian Wright presented the resolution to adopt the tentative budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 in the amount of $101,339,705.
• Wright explained that adopting the tentative budget sets a maximum expenditure limit from which the council cannot exceed. The approved budget will be published in the Casa Grande Valley newspaper for two weeks. A public hearing on the property tax levy and the budget will be held on June 25, 2026, followed by adoption of the final budget. The property tax ordinance will be considered on July 13, 2026.
• The council voted unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 26-1665.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda Approved: All 14 items were approved unanimously via roll call, with a correction to Item C regarding contract end dates.
• Tentative Budget Adopted: Unanimous approval of Resolution No. 26-1665, establishing the FY 2026-2027 maximum spending limit at $101,339,705.
• Executive Session: The council voted to enter an executive session pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03(A)(3) and (4) to discuss the Community Outreach Funding Program with the city attorney and staff.
• Meeting Adjourned: Following the executive session, the meeting was adjourned.