So thank you all for being here today.

The spring financial retreat is really one of our most important conversations that we have every year.

It gives us the opportunity to step back from day-to-day operations and to really focus on the bigger picture, where we are financially, where we're headed, and also how our resources align with our community's priorities and to allow time for us to celebrate some things as well.

So we'll have a couple of celebration moments throughout the next two days.

Across the valley, municipalities are facing growing financial pressures, many of which are driven uh by at the state level and are outside of those municipalities control.

Um the issues that have been for Gilbert decreases to our revenue streams that are put in a train on ongoing funding.

And so we uh what that means is we need to explore alternate approaches to ensure that we continue to maintain the high quality of life our residents expect.

At the same time, I want to celebrate this this part.

We have strong leaders and we have a dedicated workforce.

And we have proven financial policy.

Um that have really served us over time and have helped me for what it is today.

But also that uh we'll continue to serve as well into the future.

This retreat is not meant to solve every issue.

It's really going to be a series of sessions that we will work through together and an opportunity to provide clear guidance to our staff as we prepare not only the upcoming budget, but also as we tackle some of the challenges we know are before us.

You continue to have these discussions, but they are really important for the community center really acknowledging for doing that.

I also want to thank our leadership team, the work you and your teams have done to not only serve our residents at the highest levels, but also managing costs, improving efficiencies, and adapting to changing demands has not been easy, but it matters.

And so I really appreciate that.

We will likely have some tough conversations.

Surprise, surprise, it feels like every retreat.

We have some tough conversations, but that's what these are for.

So thank you again for your time and engagement over the next two days.

And I look forward to a productive and collaborative conversation.

Thank you.

And so I want to allow Matt to provide something.

Opening costs as well.

Thank you, Don.

Well, good morning, everyone.

So a couple of things first off.

They gave me a portable mic to wear, a loud mic to wear.

I would also remind you that Vice Mayor Angie Rani is joining us remotely for this conversation, which means for him as well as for anyone else who's listening.

Thank you.

All of your comments are being picked up by microphones that are in the ceilings here.

And those those microphones don't turn on and off when when you're when you call when you're called upon to speak, they are on all the time.

And that means that even your side conversations have the potential to block uh the vice mayor from being able to hear what's going on or for others to hear what's going on as well.

So I would just encourage you if you're going to have side conversations, take them out of the room so we don't interfere with the feed that's going on, and just remember the microphones are always listening.

Okay?

Alright.

So uh good morning.

And Chuck, uh just you might want to confirm that you can hear us as well.

I think you can unmute yourself to say hi, and uh, you also can just uh in teams you can flag the little uh hand raise button, and staff is here with that monitoring and will let me know if you get into the conversation as well.

So hey, fantastic, good to hear you.

So for those of you who don't know me, I'm Matt Merman.

In my practice, which is social prosperity partners, I serve as an independent civic facilitator, and I think this is the third year in a row for this room retreat.

I'm honored to be your facilitator.

My role is simply to hold space through this council and with staff alongside you to ask questions, hear each other out, explore options so that by the end of our time together, you as council have a clear direction about how these choices will be approached.

In my role, I don't advocate for any particular outcomes.

I'm here to protect the integrity of your process and ensure that the conversation remains focused and inclusive and constructive.

And to any residents who might be here or watching online, thank you.

Uh, this is a working session for the council.

It's intentionally transparent.

You deserve to see how direction begins to take shape before formal decisions are made.

So let's briefly acknowledge the moment that our community is navigating.

Uh, much of which council you have already been working on for many months.

Gilbert's vision speaks to being the city of the future.

Anticipating change, creating solutions so the community continues to thrive.

That future is shaped in conversations like this.

In the seriousness and the sensitivity and the creativity applied to the choices before you.

Inflation and uncertainty affect residents and businesses and municipal operations.

Costs rise, whether action is taken now or later.

There have also been state level changes affecting municipal revenue, the formation of the of Santan as a town, the ending of the rental tax and other possibilities, even still being discussed, that can impact how cities and towns fund essential services.