I'm going to go ahead and get started.

If I have, could I have everyone take a seat, please?

No, not before communications.

After communications, before you have a lot of people, so when a dumb communication, I'm not going to know that so I'd like to call the uh the meeting to order.

Father, we just want to thank you for the privilege of being able to come here tonight and to partake in the exercise of governing our community.

Give us wisdom, give us insight that leads to good understanding, good policy, and good decision making.

And we just want to thank you again, Lord, for just the grace of being able to be a part of this body politic in this great community.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

Let us stand for the pledge.

A pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible for liberty and justice for all.

Roll call.

Mayor Scott Anderson.

Here.

Vice Mayor Chuck Bon Giovanni.

Here.

Councilmember Bobby Buckley.

Here.

Councilmember Kenny Bucklin.

Here.

Councilmember Yan Kaprowski.

Here.

Councilmember Monty Lyons.

I'm here.

And Councilmember Jim Torgeson.

O'Quaram is present.

Thank you.

I'll uh let the council know that tonight, since uh uh Councilmember Buckland is joining us virtually, all of our votes will be voice votes tonight.

So you're aware of that.

This time we have one recognition if uh Don Prince is Don here.

Come on down, Don.

Thank you.

I got hope those that's what they're seeing.

As uh many of you may know in the audience, uh Dawn has served as our interim town manager for the last six months, and we couldn't have asked for a better job, a seamless uh transition uh and carrying on with so many important things in the town.

So we're so grateful for her.

And we have a recognition letter that I'd like to read parts of it that will demonstrate her abilities.

As mayor of the town of Gilbert, it is my distinct pleasure to recognize and honor interim town manager Don Prince for her exceptional service and leadership during one of the most consequential transition periods in our organization's recent history.

It is with immediate immense gratitude and appreciation that we recognize and commend her for the steadfast commitment to this organization and the community we serve.

As interim town manager, Don led Gilbert through a financial stability process that produced a balanced budget, reprioritized resources, and converted long-standing limited term staff positions to full-time roles.

She also maintained Gilbert's regional leadership presence, supported the launch for Gilbert and your dollars, your Gilbert communication campaigns.

Brad, perhaps most significantly, Don led the people first through virtual town halls, individual check-in, check-ins, and deliberate visibility across the organization.

She ensured staff felt seen and supported through a period of real uncertainty.

She championed employee well-being, mentored emerging leaders, and modeled the kind of steady principled leadership that holds an organization together.

Don has served this community with grace, competence, and an unwavering commitment to Gilbert's future as she transitions back to her role as an assistant town manager.

The council wishes to express its deep gratitude for all she has given during this chapter in her career.

Thank you and congratulations.

We'll go ahead and move on to our communications from citizens.

Thank you, Mayor.

We value the participation of our community members and robest robust exchange of ideas.

However, it's essential that this discourse remains respectful and constructive, reflecting the professionalism expected in such forums.

Misinformation and personal attacks undermine our collective efforts and do not contribute to the productive dialogue necessary for our town's progress.

This is an opportunity for the public to address the town council directly about issues impacting the town.

Accordingly, the town council will not allow for members of moments of silence or playing of music or other recording material which could distract from the meeting or violate copyrights.

While we understand and appreciate the passion of our community members bringing this session, we remind everyone that clapping during the meeting is not acceptable.

This practice can disrupt the flow of discussion, potentially intimidate others, and distract from the respectful atmosphere we strive to maintain.

And according to state law, we are unable to respond to issues that have not been properly noticed.

Therefore, the town council may only listen to may only listen to res to citizens who wish to address them and at the conclusion of the open call to public responses limited to individual members of council responding to criticism made by those who have addressed the public body, asking staff to review a matter or asking that a matter be put on a public on a future agenda.

However, please be assured that your concerns and input are being heard and valued.

In accordance to town code, speakers may not use this forum to advocate for or against any candidate for public office.

Town resources, including the public meeting, may not be used for campaign or election purposes.

Each speaker is limited to three minutes.

Priority will be given to Gilbert residents, business owners, and property owners.

Public statement will be limited to 30 minutes total at the beginning of the meeting.

The town clerk will notify the council once the 30-minute limit limit has been reached.

If additional comments remain, they will be heard after the conclusion of the public hearing items with the same three minute limit per speaker.

When you come up, please come to the podium and state your name and city of residence.

So, okay, let's start.

Barbara.

Barbara Colvin.

My name is Barbara, and I live in Gilbert.

I am not a vindictive or spiteful person.

In fact, I go out of my way to help people.

But I also won't sit back and shut up when I know a wrong is being imposed on the residents in the town I live in, which is why I show up every town hall.

To remind you that I am representing those that can't be here or have felt default defeated by those that were entrusted to do right by us.

During the May 19th town hall, one of the council members made a comment during his feedback to the Harvest Grove residents.

He said, Someone on a previous topic made the comment about us not caring.

Since I was the only one who spoke earlier, it was me.

And yes, I did make that comment.

And yes, that was an error on my part, and I apologize.

What I should have said was you do care.

You just don't care enough to do right by the residents of Gilbert.

This is not just a reflection of the seven people represented by this council.

It is inclusive of the Gilbert Town staff.

The town manager, Patrick Banger, departed, Kelly Porce, Rebecca Hamill, and Jessica Marlowe.

These are the only names I have, and I'm sure there are others.

Now, whether it was the town staff that came up with the horrendous resolution process that took place, or you, the council, or was it a collaboration effort on both sides?

You cannot say all of this was done during previous councils.

This is the most irritating response.

And not totally true.

At least half of you have been on the council at some time during the past ten years.

The town manager had been here for 14 years.

The town staff had anywhere from three to plus ten years.

All were here long enough to not let the town get in the situation.

And the actions taken by the town staff and town council for a resolution were some of the worst I have ever seen.

In what reality do you live in that you can honestly say we are doubling your monthly sewer rate?

We are tripling your monthly flat rate fees.

We are raising your water rates to astronomical unaffordable rates for some.

And we are going to raise them again in 2027 and probably the next three years after that.

And this is only one bill we are paying.

And you sit there and tell us you have our best interest in mind.

We as residents have followed the rules.

We have been financially sucker punched by every government entity there is.

You have turned your enjoyable our enjoyable town into a New York City, LA wannabe of wall-to-wall apartments, and all of our open lands turned into nothing but concrete heat absorbers.

No, you can't tell developers what they can build on land they purchase, but you do have control of the zoning, the rezoning, or not to rezone at all.

They can restrict their bill to the way the land is zoned.

You encourage residents to communicate with you to bring things to your attention.

You have proven time and time again it is a ruse to let us think that what we have to say matters.

Your minds are made up before any meeting takes place.

Points of fact, water open houses, water listening sessions, and harvest grove.

You listened to everyone at each of these events as a courtesy.

You knew which way you were voting.

See you in two weeks.

Thank you, Barbara.

Tiffany Silva.

Mayor, Council members, um, I'm concerned about the scale of the current.

Did you say where you're from, please?

Oh, sorry, I'm Tiffany uh Gilbert resident.

Thank you.

I'm concerned about the scale of spending in the current agenda.

It reflect reflects approximately 1.7 billion in planned projects over the next decade.

Yet I do not believe most residents have a clear understanding of what is being proposed.

What will c what it will cost them or how much long-term debt is being taken on.

I reviewed the agenda for tonight's meeting.

It's over 1,200 pages, $1,279 to be exact.

And my concern is not only the size of the spending, but the lack of clear priorities prioritization and transparency around it.

I suppose I support responsible investment in Gilbert.

However, residents are repeatedly asked to approve additional funding while there is limited clear reporting on how existing revenues are being spent.

One of my concerns in this bill, there's a 100 million dollar capital improvement program contingency fund.

A contingency of this size must have clearly defined limits and strong oversight.

Right now, that level of clarity is not evident.

The taxpayers deserve to know how those funds may be used.

My next concern is the scale of the parks and recreational spending, which exceeds 400 million dollars.

While these projects may be desirable, they are not an essential infrastructure.

Some of this includes pickleball courts and a pump track.

Most residents probably don't even know what a pump track is.

These are being included under a quality of life initiative.

But from my perspective, quality of life also includes affordability, such as lower water bills.

Which brings me to my final concern.

Months ago, I requested an audit of the water situation due to the rising water bills.

Unfortunately, it was only done on the meters.

That's not the level of detail I was looking for.

So I want to be very clear.

The public deserves clear answers for why their water bills have risen so significantly.

In closing, um, this is all about trust.

We have given you guys some ability to make decisions for us, and the trust has been eroded.

Large-scale borrowing needs to have confidence behind it.

Just to recap, the hundred million dollar contingency fund needs to be clearly defined what it will be used for.

Non-essential park recreational projects should be postponed until we have the funds to pay for them without a bond.

And the last is an independent review of the water treatment facilities.

Thank you for your time.

Tiffany, thank you.

Um I think it says Lauren Weber.

I'm Lauren Reber, a homeowner here in Gilbert.

I have several things I would like to address.

I'll do it as quick as I can.

I only got three minutes.

Up to $2,000, depending on how big your yard is.

My neighbor, two houses away had already decided to get rid of his until he found out you'd pay him.

Now he's watered the damn grass and has it all nice and green again because it has to be green in order for him to apply for that money.

Something wrong with that system.

A lot of my neighbors have put in desert.

They don't realize nobody stops to think.

When you put in that much rock everywhere, you create a heat island around your house.

And all that money you were going to save water in that little bit of grass.

Now it's going to come up on your electric bill because your AC is gonna run a whole lot more because your house is hot, your yard is hot, everything's hot.

Um I know there's been some discussion about maybe going to a primary property tax, uh, extra taxes.

This town can't manage the money it has.

Why would you want to have more property taxes to waste?

Please, Gilbert residents, wake up.

They bring this on you.

You're just gonna be spending more money with a town council that doesn't know what to do with it all.

There's an and I feel like that lady before me.

$15 million for a repair and education center, $14 million for a pickleball court.

These people want to pick a pickleball court, let them go play in Mesa where there's plenty of them.

$59 million for a pool.

Why does Gilbert want to build a swimming pool while they're telling us water is gonna be an issue?

You don't need to be building a $60 million pool at my expense or anybody else's.

So you have a real problem.

Where I live, I have a trail between SRP and my property.

And those kids, because that thing is lighted all night long, they are up and down all night long.

2 a.m.

in the morning, I listen to their motorcycles, or I listen to their e-bikes.

I watch them race up and down there because they know nobody can catch them.

So I don't know what y'all are gonna do, but the rules that were published in the little newspaper saying that's what you'd like to put in place.

Please put all those rules in place, and maybe even more.

And then when it comes to helmets, if y'all haven't decided what helmets they should wear, they should all be wearing helmets.

We take five-year-olds and tell them if you're riding a bicycle, you should have on a helmet for your own safety.

Well, so should these kids.

Thank you, Lauren.

Uh May Dobbins.

May Dobbins and I am a resident and business owner here in Gilbert.

I've been lived here for 20 years, homeowner for 20 years almost here in Gilbert.

And I just want to say to you all that um I know that some of the things and decisions you've had to make are really challenging and having to navigate all of that, but I am a proud Gilbert resident, and I'm thankful for all of the work that you all do.

Um, I know that it's not easy, and I know that there are questions and there are issues that you're navigating, but I am grateful for um a team of folks like yourself.

One of the things that I've had the opportunity to see living in Gilbert for the last 20 years is the growing diversity of Gilbert.

I think it's beautiful.

And so I will leave you with a note of that.

It is my hope that the town would be proactive in seeking out diverse voices and backgrounds at our leadership levels so that representation is evident and that all can feel that they belong here at Gilbert.

May thank you.

Um I think it says Carlo Montenegro.

Charlie's Charlie?

Help me out with this.

Okay.

Thank you, sir.

Of course, I'm dating myself with that reference with Charles in charge.

Um Mayor and the council members, I'd like to first thank you for your service to the community.

Uh, my uh three minutes today, I want to spend under three minutes to reinforce um by the way.

I live in Gilbert Power Ranch just down the street, and I've been here since 2013, Arizona native born, and so on.

So I do want to um applaud you for taking uh action or considering the ordinance for e-bikes.

As I was reading through this, there's a lot of great things in it.

But I'd like to emphasize a couple of things that we need to either strengthen or make this well known.

First of all, uh safety.

I think a couple of people mentioned helmets.

And yesterday when I was leaving one of the committees, there was a pod, a group of 50 e-bikes when I left the meeting.

I looked over, I said, holy cow, we're being invaded.

And uh about less than 25% of them had helmets.

So safety is a huge issue.

And I'd like you guys to really uh consider enforcing the helmet issue.

I see it in the ordinance uh draft, but really emphasize that the needy um for helmets.

Uh same thing with uh lighting, uh, especially maybe perhaps even in addition to the the rear light of uh strobe light for the rear, uh just like some of the people who ride 10 speeds or uh I see strobes, and those are uh wonderful safety issues to add to the safety component to the e-bike.

Um I I live um in Power Ranch as I mentioned, and uh tomorrow morning I'd like to invite each and one of you.

Um I'll buy you a big gulp at the Circle K at Ridden House and Power, and you'll see uh a lot of e-bikes kids, and they're leaving Circle K with a big gulp in their hand and trying to control that um that e-bike with one other, on the other hand.

So, in terms of beverages, I think you referenced beverages, but it had to do with alcoholic beverages, not a big gulp or a slurpee, or that blue power rate stuff they drink, you know.

Um I never tasted it, but looks good.

Um so the beverages when they're driving that uh e-bike.

And finally, when it comes to the the the fines, I know that there's a 250 dollar component for the fines, and uh I lived in during the 80s and 90s, of course, and there was an issue about the three strikes and you uh um and you're out.

And what I mean by that is we should have considered an escalating fine.

The first fine, 250 dollars, the second fine, five hundred dollars, the third fine, seven hundred and fifty dollars, and maybe even in uh impound that buy for a month.

Um, and so that I know it sounds a little you know uh mean or strict, but that'll reduce some of the you know uh issues that we have with uh with the um e-bikes.

The last thing I'll mention, um I live in the HOA, and I see e-bikes being ridden in the uh in the green areas of grass, and we spend a lot of money watering the grasses, and we certainly don't need uh e-bikes riding on our uh property, especially the green belt areas.

Thank you very much, and I'll be back.

I have one other thing.

It's a different yellow piece of paper, whatever that was.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Noah, are you here?

Oh, there you are.

Aloha, mayor, and to the rest of the city council.

Um my name is Noah James Markham, and I'm from the great city of uh Tempe, but it's great to be back in this town always.

Um let's talk about Happy Pride Month.

Wouldn't those pride flags look fantastic down that heritage district.

Oh my goodness, whatnot.

Um congratulations to the new city manager, even though I would have liked the woman.

It's okay.

I know people that don't understand what a woman can do in some of the most powerful roles.

It's fine.

I will continue the legacy and keep speaking for women that don't have a voice, and as a man, I will keep on making sure that women can have the best rows just like men do, and only think they can do.

Flock cameras, I know that's a big thing around not just this city, but around a lot of other cities.

And um, we need to take care of our flock cameras.

That is a good thing that we have here.

Also, I would like to talk about Israel and Palestine.

They both matter.

Also, I would like to talk about um transgender people.

They need their own private restrooms here, so I hopefully you guys can figure that out.

And they should not be playing in women's sports.

As being a Democrat, I would talk about these subjects.

We also need to extend the light round here in Gilbert and the Gilbert of Chambers of Commerce.

You didn't even think about women.

It's okay.

I understand.

I understand.

You just want the men to be in charge.

One more thing we need to make sure we get the ball rolling on and start building our cactus surf park.

It's time to get the ball rolling.

Um yeah, that's it.

Mahalo, and thank you for your time.

Thank you, Noah.

Daryl.

Grosson.

Daryl Grosen, Gilbert resident.

I'm speaking tonight because there is massive there is a massive blind spot on this dais.

The dialogue in Gilbert has been hijacked, not just so by so-called keyboard warriors, but the very people elected to represent us.

Decorum has collapsed.

We see protocol routinely ignored by council members to prioritize non-residents over Gilbert taxpayers even after reading the statement every meeting, and it happened again tonight.

We see council members openly calling citizens liars and lobbying unfounded accusations at anyone who challenges them.

We've even seen police used her harass a resident at their home over a Facebook post.

This is unacceptable, possibly illegal, and an abuse of power.

You have dismissed genuine concerns as political theater or the work of fake accounts.

This isn't government, governance.

It's intimidation, ignorance, and childish.

Government's core or Gilbert's core values are driven, kind, and bold.

Yet there is nothing kind about attacking residents.

Nothing bold about avoiding accountability, and nothing driven about silencing those who challenge your assumptions, your half-truths, and your misinformation.

This behavior is cross the line from unprofessional into outright defamation.

Recently, members of this leadership falsely accused me of encouraging 6,000 people to stop paying their utility bills and attempted to blame me for the town's 470,000 dollar water meter audit.

I have thoroughly reviewed council meeting recordings, my personal recordings of our meetings that I attended, and my social media history.

For the official record, your allegations are categorically false.

Mockingly ask if I will deliver my apology as a chart or a graph.

Let me be perfectly clear.

If presenting hard data is treated as a punchline by this council that says everything about your character and commitment to transparency.

However, I'm sorry for the thousands of voters who believed your empty promises.

I have nearly 300 pages of counselor member screenshots to back my statements that I continually update and I have shared publicly.

The core duty of this council is to represent the residents.

Instead, you're attacking the residents who do their homework.

Thank you.

Thanks, Daryl.

My name is Carissa Arnold, and I am a Gilbert resident.

Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the murder of Alyssa Romine.

She was reported missing, and her naked body was found floating in the riparian preserve.

She was just 30 years old when her life was taken.

The fact that she was found naked and was sorry, the fact that she was found naked was hidden from Alyssa's family for several years.

There was no water in her lungs, no drugs in her system, but there were signs of assault.

The family was forbidden to see Alyssa's body before putting her to rest.

Gilbert police prohibited the family from posting any information and said that any communication with the media would compromise the investigation.

Alyssa was murdered just four months before Gilbert was designated the safest city in America.

It has been five years since Gilbert has taken any action in the investigation.

It has been nearly 10, eight years since Gilbert police have even spoke with the family.

At one point, when a detective was asked about the investigation, he replied, we don't know.

The Bible thumping freak did it to herself.

Apparently, he did not realize he was speaking to Alyssa's cousin.

This was not a suicide.

It is time to call this what it is.

Alyssa Romine, a young, beautiful, and vibrant woman, was murdered and left floating naked in your precious riparian preserve.

And the facts were concealed because they made Gilbert look bad.

Gilbert has gone another year pretending nothing happened.

This is what you do best.

This has become a common theme.

It has been four years since Rachel Hanson's murder, six years since Nick Cordova's murder, and now ten years since Alyssa's murder.

Nothing bad ever happens in Gilbert's.

Isn't that what you want everyone to believe?

This council has done nothing to hold Gilbert Police accountable.

The only direction you seem willing to provide is when you dispatch police officers to harass residents who lawfully post the delinquent tax statements and credit card lawsuits of council members running for a re-election.

I could not make this up if I tried.

As a reminder, the Arizona Attorney General is currently investigating the town of Gilbert.

Tonight, I am saying what many residents have been demanding since the Gilbert Goons and the murder of Preston Lord.

I am asking the residents of Gilbert to join me in demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Solberg.

Chief Solberg has failed the victims, failed the officers who serve under him, and failed the residents of Gilbert.

Change in Gilbert Police Department leadership is yours past due.

It is time for our town to move forward with new leadership that prioritizes accountability, transparency, and is worthy of public trust.

Thanks, Krissa.

I just have a just a couple of comments.

The any kind of primary property tax must be approved by residents, not us.

We cannot vote and approve a primary property tax.

That has to go to the residents.

Also, um Facebook posts.

Death threats or doxing will receive a visit by the Gilbert Police Department every single time.

And uh thirdly, about non-residents speaking.

That rule, shall we say, applies when we have 30 minutes at the end of the meeting if we go over 30 minutes?

The first 30 minutes, who's ever sitting in this seat can choose the order of what speakers.

If we go over to the next 30 minutes, yes, you are correct that Gilbert residents would have to go first.

So I just wanted to clear that up.

And I'm going to turn the meeting over now to the mayor.

Thank you.

From this point, we're going to move the agenda around a little bit.

Um to help uh Councilmember Buckland who Councilmember Buckland, are you there?

Yes, Mayor, I'm here.

Okay.

We're going to move the public hearing items and also the uh budget items uh forward before we do the consent calendar, so that'll give you an opportunity to participate before it gets very late where you are, if that's okay with you.

Thank you, Mayor.

I appreciate that.

Public hearing items.

Uh I ask you all to review the public hearing items, um, items 25 through 34.

I do have requests to speak on 32, 33, and 34, so we will be pulling those off.

Are there any other um public hearing items that anyone would like to have a separate hearing on that case?

I'll open the public hearing on items 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31.

And close the public hearing and ask for a motion and a second.

I move to approve items 25 through 31.

I'll second that.

It's been moved and seconded.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed none opposed.

Motion carries 70.

Item 32 is uh conduct a hearing and consider adoption of ordinance number 2986.

Amending the code of Gilbert.

Um chapter 62, traffic and vehicles, article four, bicycles, and micromobility devices, and article five, motorized play vehicles and motorized skateboards.

Staff of we could get a short presentation first on this, and then uh we'll ask the uh for the those who would like to speak.

Staff, if we could get a short presentation first on this, and then uh we'll ask the uh for the those who would like to speak Hello Mayor and Council.

My name is Mike Angstead.

I'm an assistant chief with Gilbert PD.

And I'm back here once again with regard to e-bikes and the ordinance that we're proposing.

Um I am happy to run back through the presentation I did at our last study session.

Uh I can do it really quickly if that's helpful, or um, however you'd prefer.

I think just hitting the highlights of what you consider important in in Gilbert.

Perfect.

If you don't mind, I'm just gonna skip ahead to to the portion of this presentation that specifically addresses the ordinance.

So some of the the highlights of changes that were proposing.

Um we'll just go into this blue box just to uh clarify for anybody that wasn't that didn't watch our the study session previously.

Um we're talking about restrictions that will apply largely to a bicycle, an electric bicycle, an electric miniature scooter, an electric personal assistive mobility device, an electric stand-up scooter, aka a bird scooter, if you will, a motorized skateboard, a motorized wheelchair, and a personal mobile cargo carrying device.

So as we move forward, I'm just gonna sort of refer to these as the devices.

Um we amended the or were suggesting that this ordinance be amended to uh include that these devices have to be operated in a manner that's consistent with state law, specifically Title 28, that they can't be operated where signage prohibits within the town, that they may operate on sidewalks and multi-use paths and parks, although operators must yield right away to pedestrians and give an audible warning when passing.

And we clarified at uh study session, this would um also include things like horses if you're going to overtake one.

Additional restrictions apply uh uniformly to all the devices, so it kind of brought all these devices in line as a category.

Um, as discussed by um one of the speakers earlier, lights must be displayed, not just equipped on these devices at night.

And um to clarify, it does require uh headlight at nighttime as in addition to a um a rear red light to the rear and a reflector, so it does have that that light to the rear.

Um, illegal parking provisions are expanded to all these devices, and violations of any of those type of issues that are listed there are civil violations, and they're handled by our court accordingly.

Um we are suggesting an age restriction, and this one's a little bit different.

If you look on the right side of the screen, just as a review, there are various um uh ordinances out there with regard to ages for e-bikes.

Uh, in Gilbert specific, what we're recommending is no person under the age of 12 may operate a class one or class two e-bike, uh, electric miniature scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, or an electric stand-up scooter, and no person under 16 years of age may operate a class three e-bike.

And just as a reminder, the class threes are slightly faster, they go up to 28 miles an hour.

That's uh hence the age difference there.

Um currently, right now, there is no age restriction, so a you know, theoretically a four-year-old could ride a class one uh e-bike, and so this is an effort to to create an age restriction, and all of those violations are civil.

This establishes uh a speed limit, so a 15 mile per hour maximum on all sidewalks within the town boundaries, and a 15 mile per hour maximum on all town parks and multi-use paths.

Operators, um, in addition to the speed limit, operators must also travel at a reasonable and prudent speed under the existing conditions and actual or potential hazards.

So even though somebody may be going under 15 miles per hour, if it's a crowded sidewalk and they're running into crowds of people, that would be not a reasonable and prudent speed based on those conditions.

Operators must control the speed as necessary to avoid colliding with people, objects, or vehicles.

This applies to bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, motorized skateboards, wheelchairs, and personal mobile cargo carrying devices.

And again, all of those violations are civil.

We're suggesting a helmet requirement, and the protective helmets are required fitted and fastened for all bike or all e-bike and electric scooter riders under the age of 18, and this includes bicycles, pedal bicycles.

So all of the devices to include bicycles would require a helmet if you're if you're a minor.

Parent liability and reckless writing is added to this ordinance.

Specifically with parental responsibilities, parents, guardians, custodians may not authorize or knowingly permit a child to violate this article.

And that's those are civil violations with criminal options.

Reckless riding.

So riding under the influence.

It's a class one misdemeanor.

Very similar to the laws that exist already for automobiles.

Failure to stop, it would be unlawful to knowingly refuse to stop or flee from a law enforcement officer or authorized traffic enforcement agent.

That would be a class one misdemeanor as alluded to previously tonight.

We do run into situations where we'll try to take enforcement action on somebody who's clearly operating one of these devices in violation of the law, and it's not uncommon that they flee.

So this gives the officers a tool to be able to address that.

Business requirements would require businesses to inform customers purchasing a motorized device about the rules within this article.

And we it is our plan to set them up for success so they could notify the purchaser via paper, website, or mobile application, and the business would be prohibited from selling or renting e-bikes or town devices on town property or rights of way without permission.

The uh Gilbert Transportation Device Safety Program.

So this is a program optional for civil violations selected prior to court proceedings.

If the violator completes the program, um civil fines are waived.

The court shall impose a fee for the administration of the safety program, and if the violator is under 18, the parent or guardian must attend with the violator.

Eligible if the violator has not participated in the program within the past 12 months.

What we want is just safety.

These can be operated in a safe way.

Not so much the electric motorcycles that have no business being on the road, separate issue.

But these electric bicycles can certainly be operated in a legal and safe way.

We want to get there, we want to work with parents to uh accomplish that.

That is, and the last thing I will say on this slide is um as we covered that the the last meeting, um, a kind of our intent in getting this in front of the council is to push this ordinance through if it's possible before we get too deep into summer break.

It's such a short summer now here in the valley that the kids will be back in early July, but we're really trying to start off this campaign if we're going to launch an ordinance where we can um partner with the schools and get the education out there that things are changing and this is getting kind of reeled in.

And with that, mayor, I uh I'll stop.

Thank you, Chief.

Any questions in the council?

Vice Mayor.

Thank you, Mayor.

Mike, I've seen this in briefings, I've seen this in the study session, but I just hit me for the first time.

We have listed on here motorized wheelchairs.

Is it illegal anywhere for I I don't know any place where a motorized wheelchair can't be?

Councilmember Bongiovanni and Bear, I'd have to go back and look at the specific provisions that uh apply to the motorized wheelchairs.

I know there's the motorized assistive devices, which are slightly different.

In our discussions with legal, it was my understanding that anything having to do with the wheelchair was excluded.

Okay, because I saw that in there, I just wanted to make sure of that because that that one kind of bothered me there for a second.

Um, second question: if we vote on this and it all passes, would this be the strictest e-bike ordinance in the valley?

To your knowledge.

You know, when we compare it to other cities, I'll just go back to this slide with with regard to um ages and so forth.

It it's pretty pretty restrictive, yes.

Um there are I I want to say age-wise, we're a little bit more permissive when we allow kids to ride some of these devices at the age of 12, um, where other communities don't have any uh age restriction, but I mean by and large, yeah.

We're yes, thank you, sir.

Thank you, Chief.

I have two requests to speak.

Our first speaker, Lauren Reaver push push the button, Lauren.

Here you go.

Ah, there we go.

Red light.

Lauren Reber Gilbert.

Um, I kind of already spoke to you because I didn't know I was gonna get to speak again.

I'd like to see all these rules absolutely adopted.

I do have a question.

I used to shop at Bashes over there on Higley.

I quit going over there.

I won't go near that place because of e-bike riders, motorcycle riders, and kids driving golf carts all over the place.

Can we do anything about the golf carts?

Or are there rules about the golf carts that maybe aren't being enforced?

I mean, that store lost my business.

And I used to go there a lot, and that's not the closest store I can go to.

I can almost walk to fries, but I would drive to Bashes because I liked it.

Once that place got taken over by all these kids, I was like, I don't need this.

I quit going there.

But I would like you to consider if there's something that can be done about these kids running around in golf carts.

Sometimes it's one kid and sometimes it's eight of them piled in there and and driving on the street and the sidewalk and running in front of cars and everything else.

Um as far as the e-bikes go, that's all I have to say.

I just want something done, especially if you can keep them.

He said something about having signs that would say you can't ride them here.

Well, that little trail that goes down past my house between me and SRP from Warner Road to the canal.

Put a sign there.

No e-bikes, no motorcycles, no nothing.

Bicycles is okay, they don't make noise.

But the rest of it, yeah, especially at two o'clock in the morning.

Thanks.

Thank you, Chief.

I think golf carts are treated as regular moving vehicles, aren't they?

Mayor, that's correct.

There's actually two kind of devices that looks really similar.

Uh a golf cart is only belongs on a golf course.

It doesn't have any safety anything on it that the type that you would actually golf with.

There are neighborhood assistive devices or neighborhood um electric vehicles that you can get a license plate from the Department of Transportation, and it has all of the proper signals and whatnot.

It is considered a motor vehicle, and you can't operate it.

You have to be 16 years old, you have to have a driver's license.

So if it's a kid, truly a kid, somebody under 16, it's inherently illegal to operate that.

Thank you.

Our next speaker, Charles Montenegro, if you have uh any additional to add.

Uh yes, thank you.

First of all, I heard there are the PD conducted uh some again.

You I'm dating myself, a a dragnet of e-bikes and power ranch, I think it was, or Gilbert.

So I thank you for that.

Uh the other issue, um, what I didn't see in the presentation in terms of enforcement.

So I'd like to hear more about the enforcement component of the ordinance, and what can um residents do to report situations?

I I as I said, I live just across the street from the Circle K power written house.

I see a bunch of stuff, a lot of you know, uh I wish e-bikes were available when I was a kid.

Yeah, I would have loved one, except my dad, he had me pedal up and down the street.

I guess it kept me active, and which is a good thing for kids.

But today kids don't peddle, you know, and which is I wish I had an e-bike myself, but I'd I would like to know more about the e uh the ordin the enforcement component.

And also in terms of businesses, uh the resident uh before me mentioned um the grouping of uh e-bikes at businesses, you know, uh grocery stores or bashes, as the resident before me uh mentioned, but I also um when I sometimes I go by a um, which I shouldn't do too often, by Mickey D's, I see a bunch of e-bikes blocking the doors.

So I know that's a you know business, but like to find out what we're doing, how to address that issue as well.

So again, thank you for letting me speak.

Uh I'd like to have see this ordinance pass along with the enforcement component and what can residents do to um notify the PD when there's an issue.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'd encourage the two of you to meet together after the item so you can talk to him a little bit more, Chief.

Thank you.

I'll uh close the public hearing, bring it back to the council for action or discussion.

Council member.

Uh just I always hesitate on things because I feel like we're stepping on the opportunity of some parents to be parents.

At the same time, I realize a lot of parents aren't being parents.

Will this is this something that we're gonna see revision on sunset on or something, you know, something to modify as we see how it works, or is this something that's just gonna be in code done, not revisited?

Well, we can visit anything in the code when we need to, we can make amendments as necessary.

Um council member buckley.

Perhaps maybe we could ask for an update on uh I don't know where Chief Angstead went, but or assistant chief, but uh could we maybe get numbers of how this has worked uh in you think six months or maybe a year?

Do you think six well that six months should work quite well because of the summer break will be over, and um okay.

To ask Mario how he feels about that.

Yes, absolutely, mayor, members of the council, we can provide an update in six months on the effectiveness of the ordinance and how things are going with enforcement councilmember Kaprowski.

Thank you.

Um I echo the sentiments of the residents that spoke tonight.

Uh the reality is that Gilbert today is very different than it was 20 years ago.

We're approaching build out as a community.

Our streets and pathways and intersections carry more people, more vehicles, and more activity than ever before.

At the same time, distracted driving has become a significant challenge.

Cell phones are now a constant presence in daily life, and I think every parent understands that even the safest child can be placed at risk by the actions of someone else.

I think this ordinance recognizes that reality and it acknowledges that children and teenagers share public spaces with these vehicles, motorcycles, e-bikes, and scooters in an increasingly urban environment.

And so I think as a community, it's our responsibility to take some steps to reduce the severity of those injuries when the crashes occur.

And I think this ordinance um is a great step in the right direction.

And as was mentioned by Councilmember Torgeson, maybe having some concerns for parents.

My thoughts on that as a parent is I believe this requirement provides an important tool for parents.

Many parents already require their children to wear helmets, but they often face resistance, especially as children get older.

They're not able to monitor their children, you know, out when they leave the home if they give them a little bit of freedom, which I think that they do here in Gilbert, because we're a safe community and and we like to give our children that opportunity.

Um but having a clear community standard allows parents to say it's not just our family rule, it's the law.

This is something you should do.

And that simple message can really help remove the debate and encourage that consistent behavior and helmet use and um emphasize the expectations that we have for our children, teens, and even adults to use these devices appropriately in the spaces in the community.

So ultimately, I think this ordinance is about education, prevention, and creating a culture of safety.

Um I think that it will go a long way in helping to curb some of the behaviors we're seeing, and I believe is a policy we're supporting.

So for those reasons, I'll be supporting this ordinance.

Any other comments?

Mayor Anderson, if I may, we've got one um recommended change to section 113, that's the Gilbert safety program.

That's the Gilbert safety program.

So in subsection A3, what it currently says is if the Gilbert Police Department's Gilbert Transportation Device Safety Program is chosen, the fine designated the court will not be imposed.

What we're recommending, instead of saying chosen, and we came across this as we were review re-reviewing this week, we would recommend instead of chosen that it would read if the Gilbert Police Department's Gilbert Transportation Dev Safety Program options is successfully completed by the time the initially provided by this section or by the court, then the fine will not be imposed.

What that would do it would require them to actually complete the program before a fine gets uh waived rather than just electing to do the program, but that way there's enforcement to make sure that they would complete the program.

That's good.

We have a motion which it would include that language change.

I'll make a motion to approve item 32 for the ordinance number 2986 amending the code of Gilbert with the change to section 113 subsection A3 as Chris Payne just mentioned.

Second it's been moved and seconded.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries unanimously.

Thank you.

Our next two items, items 33 and 34 have to do with our PKI dist PKIDs and our uh streetlight improvement district.

Item 33 uh has to do with uh municipal streetlight and improvement district.

And I think what we'll do, I'll open the public hearing on this and ask Kelly if we could get a very brief presentation about what is streetlight improvement district and how that operates.

May you could could I go back just a second and ask a question on what we just did.

I don't recall us stating when this ordinance on e-bikes take effect.

Will that be immediate?

Would that be immediate?

The vote was unanimous 7-0, so it could be immediate, I'm assuming.

Yeah, Mayor, uh members of the council, Councilmember Buckley, that's correct.

The ordinance has an immediate clause in there, and because it was passed by a supermajority, then it goes into effect immediately.

So there's no there's no 30-day wave leg no more ordinance.

Correct.

So it is now effectively it's right now.

Correct.

So if you have any kids out there, you might want to call them.

All right, thank you.

Thank you for uh I appreciate the problem.

Kelly, talk to us about uh streetlight improvement districts.

Thank you, Mayor and Council.

We have what are called street light improvement districts.

They are geographic areas defined in the town with specific properties included.

Uh street light improvement districts are only allowed to cover the costs of the electricity for the street lights within that geographic area.

The town has about 400 of them.

Um every year the town has to adopt a budget for to pay the electric costs on those street lights, uh, and then it's included on the property tax rolls for those properties.

Did you want any more information than that?

I don't need any more.

Does any of the council need more?

I'd just like clarity real quick.

How much of an increase have we seen in the electrical cost?

And has that been tied to any rate increases by the electrical provider?

Uh I don't have a specific number off the top of my head, but yes, we have seen rate increases in electricity.

This is a complete pass-through.

Um so we don't make any money as a town.

Uh, and we just pay the electric costs for those areas.

Hotkin can also provide information.

Yep, perfect.

That was well said.

Uh we haven't yet seen those any cost increases significantly come through.

Um what we see is about a five percent difference from last year, but it it does depend on the exact uh streetlight improvement district itself.

Uh and so as we look at what's happening, um, we may see that, but it is a pass through, as Kelly mentioned.

So the increase that we're asking for here, we explain to me how we calculate that.

Uh it is driven by the exact costs that we see and estimate the way that street lights are billed are by hours, not even by exact how long the light is on itself.

Um SRP will calculate a dusk to dawn time.

Um I'm getting more detailed maybe than than necessary here, but uh so SRP will calculate exactly what each street light uh requires.

The street light districts themselves uh are set defined areas.

Uh we have what was last year generated and what is estimated to be required for that.

Um the money stays in that fund because it is hash button.

Yeah, uh and my phone of friend reminding me to just this is a special revenue fund, so the the funds can only be used to pay for this and the electricity only, no operations or or repair.

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

I have one uh request to speak, Barbara Colvin.

Yes, we need to need to push the button, push the button, Barbara.

Got turned off.

Okay.

My name's Barbara.

And I saw this late in the day today, and so that's why I wasn't totally understanding what was going on here.

When I pick this up and I see nothing but a whole bunch of numbers going here, here, here, here, here.

So listening to them speak, it's strictly for light poles.

The the electricity.

Okay, the electricity to the light poles.

So all of these numbers here.

Am I to take in that those are the individual light poles that are going to be addressed?

Or those are the individual districts, street light district, and they're in different subdivisions, and each one of those stands for a particular subdivision.

Okay.

So then I guess then the same thing would apply to that 34 budget, which is what I was gonna take too.

Because when I see something like this and something like this, where it's looking for to conduct a hearing and consider adoption of, you know, that means they're looking for approval for the money for it, but then somebody said the money's can only be used for that.

And uh so when I see things like that, non-explicit, it makes me wonder when if something can get slid into there, like you've got this great big bill, and you're going through and it's supposed to be for this, then oops.

Let's slide in this and let's see if anybody spots it, and we're gonna go ahead and get it approved.

That was my concern.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other discussion?

I'll entertain a motion on item 33.

Motion to approve item 33.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded that we approve item 33 relating to streetlight improvement districts.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Me.

One.

I nay.

Councilmember Lyons, is it is uh in opposition.

Thank you.

We'll move on to uh item 34, which is uh a parkway maintenance improvement district.

It's also uh uh consideration of ordinance 2988 relating to the parkway maintenance districts, and and again if I could ask I'll open the public hearing and ask Kelly and Hawken if you could come up and talk briefly about parkway improvement districts in which I reside in one of them.

Mayor council uh a PK uh PK ID is a parkway improvement district, uh is a collective of residents that have together agreed to form this, uh and it is used to provide infrastructure repair and maintenance of shared space.

Um the town manages that uh but the the payment to pay to fund whatever improvements are occurring in that district uh are approved by those residents and are to maintain the shared space around those same residents, and so what's before you today is to approve the budgets for the required work done in those districts for the next fiscal year.

Thank you.

Councilmember Kaprowski.

Hawk and this um these are these PKID districts are formed in areas where they do not have HOAs.

Is that correct?

That is correct, yes.

Thank you.

I live happen to live in one and it operates very well.

Very efficient.

Any other questions?

Comments?

I'll entertain a motion.

Or wait a minute.

Uh Barbara, did you want to speak again?

No.

Thank you.

I'll entertain a motion at this point.

Motion to approve item 34.

It's been moved and seconded that we approve item 34.

Adoption of an ordinance 2988 relating to parkway maintenance improvement districts.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed.

Motion carries unanimously.

Thank you very much.

That concludes the public hearings.

At this point, I'd like to recess our regular meeting and convene in special meeting for consideration of budget.

And Councilmember Kaprowski has a statement for before we start on item 35.

For item number 35, I'm recusing myself from voting on the CIP program due to a potential conflict of interest as my company is a qualified vendor with the town of Gilbert.

Although neither my husband or I currently perform work for Gilbert, my council term concludes this year, and my firm may pursue future opportunities related to CIP projects.

Thank you.

We'll go ahead and consider and open the public hearing on item 35 capital improvement plan.

Consider adoption of resolution number 4673.

Approval approving the town of Gilbert fiscal year 2027 through 2036 capital improvement plan program CIP.

Kelly good evening, Mayor and Council.

I do have one presentation that includes CIP, property tax, and the budget all together.

Um if you would like that, or you could take a vote on CIP and Councilmember Kaprowski could return.

This is final budget night, so we do have the debut of our budget video, which we typically do at the end of that presentation.

What would you like?

I'd like Councilmember Kaprowski to be able to hear the portion that she is here actually present for.

So if we could do it that way.

Perfect.

The okay no after the second after the after the item.

Item 35.

Do you want me to give a presentation?

Just a presentation on the CIP, yes.

On the CIP.

Okay.

I'm just gonna scooch forward in this presentation to the CIP portion.

Um this is total budget and then capital improvements.

We do adopt the budget for capital improvements, the full amount of the budget, so we know that we can complete the project, even though the project will be worked on over several years because these are large projects that require a lot of time.

So there is in the capital improvement plan 1.7 billion dollars of infrastructure that we are working on.

1.2 billion of that is already in progress, and then the half of a million dollars is or uh half a billion dollars is uh additional projects that we will be adding um money to or adding new projects this year.

Most of the uh work being done is on our streets, uh on our water system and on our park system are the largest investments for this year, and I think that is lots of good projects going on and looking to be completed over this next year.

That's the CIP portion if there's any questions on that.

Thank you.

Any questions for Kelly?

Councilmember Lyons.

Oh, I'm sorry, I should have turned that off.

Oh, okay.

Any other questions?

Thank you, Kelly.

We'll take this one separately then.

I'll entertain a motion on item 35 of resolution number 4673, approving the capital improvement program.

Do you want me to make I'll make the motion?

I make a motion to approve item number 35, the capital improvement plan.

I'll second that.

It's been a motion and a second that we adopt resolution 4673.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries 51.

Thank you.

Go on to item 36 budget, conduct hearing and consider adoption of ordinance number 2989 setting the secondary property tax levy for fiscal year 2027.

Kelly, thank you, Mayor and Council.

This is uh just a straightforward.

Um we do have the property tax levy, which is 98 cents for 100 dollars of assessed value.

This is the same levy we've had for several years in a row now.

It would provide about $36.6 million dollars, uh, and that money can only be used to repay debt that voters have approved on a ballot.

This is the amount we would need for our current debt uh and the transportation bonds upcoming that we will sell in the spring.

Any questions on that questions, comments we'll look for a motion.

I'll meet I'll make a comment.

Okay.

Councilmember Torgison.

This is difficult for me because I know how hard she's worked on this.

Uh four years ago, I opposed the the bond package.

Uh it passed by a quarter of one percent.

And once voters approved it, bonds were issued and obligations became real.

I dislike property taxes on principle.

To me, your home should be your safe place, something you truly own.

Property taxes create a feeling the government forever cla has a claim against your ownership.

I'm very fortunate and blessed in this world.

I paid for my home in cash.

I don't have an escrow account quietly collecting insurance and taxes each month where the impact is softened and spread out over time.

Because of my business cycle and advice from my financial advisor, I pay my property taxes in even years and large sums directly to the county.

When I walk in and write a check for a roughly 8,500, it hits like a ton of bricks.

It genuinely stings every single time, and I empathize deeply with taxpayers who feel squeezed by rising costs everywhere they turn.

To credit our staff, Gilbert has worked diligently to maintain the lowest property tax rates in the region at 0.98.

In fact, just three years ago, I believe it was, we took it down to 0.98.

Going any lower, we're actually going to interfere with paying our obligations.

It really, it's really we are paying our obligations.

If we paid more, we would actually end up saving money because of interest.

Uh compared to neighboring communities, we're far better with our property tax.

Uh, and as council member Bon Giovanni said, a primary property tax would only come with the voters' approval, the same as the transportation bond or a park bond or any bond.

Uh the reality is the bonds are different from sales tax.

When a bond passes, even by 50 percent plus one, the obligation is posed on everyone, whether they supported it or not.

It's not participatory in the same way that sales tax is or spending is tied to activity and choice.

I fully understand that maintaining our current rate would amount to only about 12 dollars annually for the average homeowner.

In the grand scheme, Gilbert's only 10 percent of the property tax you pay.

It's very little compared to other communities.

Definitely not primary property tax.

Uh my long-held views on property taxes and my previous opposition, that bond itself.

I start to feel like a hypocrite voting for a secondary property tax.

And I want I want people to know that they're not unheard when they're complaining about every single tax and fee and rate they see.

Uh I feel it.

I feel it deeply.

It bothers me greatly.

And I do realize we have to pay the uh the debt that was incurred by the voters, whether I like it or not, the debt has to be paid.

Uh this is not a criticism of staff by any stretch.

I'm not even going to be criticizing the projects that that are on it because most of this is transportation.

Uh I just wanted to make sure that people know the people that that sting at even $12 a year, uh, or just sting on it by uh ideology that they're they know they're heard, and I empathize with it, but unfortunately, the bill has to get paid, and the bill the voters mandated.

And I think when we talked, there was only like 0.38% wiggle room if we were lucky, and I'm probably 0.02 percent on that until I pay in August.

But there wasn't really any, there wasn't anything to do that was safe to take it even lower.

It's just not safe.

So I just want people to know they're heard and other people up here feel it, as do I.

And I will be supporting the secondary tax rate because we have to pay the bill.

Thank you.

Councilmember Buckley.

Um, I just wanted to say that I I agree with uh what council member Torgeson has said.

But I do want to acknowledge as well the work and the time and all of the efforts that Kelly, our budget director, and her team have gone through to come to the level of where we are here and not having to raise our secondary property tax.

I am not in favor of a primary property tax, not now or ever, uh, because I think that we can make you know make everything happen and have our bills paid without doing that.

There's other ways of us doing that.

But uh I anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know that we have worked on all of our budget for for since since we approved last year's budget.

We started working on what you're seeing and what we're doing right now.

So thank you.

Any other vice mayor?

Thank you, Mayor.

It's tough being the third one to talk because everyone else says exactly what you wanted to say, but I want to reiterate staff, all staff, you know, not just the budget department, but all staff has worked hard on this budget.

And it's nice to look down and see this graph and know that our secondary property tax is the lowest I've seen.

I don't know how far off, far back that that graph goes, but at least to 2009, um, it's the lowest it's been, and that just proves the leadership that you and your team have managing all this for us.

And I really appreciate you and the rest of the department heads for working hard during the budget process.

Uh, because I know how difficult it is, and I know that even at the last second when we want to squeeze something in, you guys still do what you what you need to do to make that happen.

So I appreciate everyone, all the staff here today, and and of course, your you and your department.

Um any other comments?

Just one more.

Yes, council member.

One one thing I don't think any of us mentioned is that this rate is exactly the same as last year.

There's been no increase, no decrease.

It's remained the same.

And I think that's important for for you all to know that we have the same rate as we had last year.

It's actually remained that way for several years.

Thank you.

Do I have a motion and second?

I'll make a motion.

I'll make a motion to um we're on 37 or 36.

36.

36.

Okay, to make a motion to approve the budget ordinance number 2989, setting the secondary primary property tax levy for fiscal year 2027 at 36 million six hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars.

I'll second that.

It's been moved and seconded.

All in favor, please say aye.

No.

Aye.

Any opposed.

Motion carries unanimously.

Item 37, um, budget.

Conduct hearing and consider adoption of resolution number 4674, approving the final budget for the period of July 1st, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

I'll open the public hearing and Kelly can give us another abbreviated time.

We'll do.

Uh appreciate Councilmember Buckley's comments.

We do start the budget.

It is a year-long process.

Uh and tonight is our final budget adoption.

So we had uh budget study session and open public meeting in April.

We had another open public meeting uh and uh public hearing in on May 19th for a preliminary budget adoption, and then tonight is the final uh opportunity and to close out the budget.

Um we typically have a budget video.

This year's video is really great education.

Uh Lewis did an amazing job at really thinking through what information we believe the residents might need to know about this budget, which is different from other years.

So I'll go ahead and let that tell most of the story about the budget since you've heard the presentation a couple of times now.

And while the clerk's office is getting that put up, I think Mario had uh a couple thoughts.

Thank you, Kelly Mayor, members of the council.

Just want to express my gratitude to to all of you uh for your for your leadership and uh guidance as we work through the budget process, but also to the great team that we have here at Gilbert.

It's really uh collaborative team effort that works through the challenges that we have on the budget.

It was a particularly difficult year uh as we've talked about with you and the community many times, and our team really stepped to the plate, stepped up to the plate to find a way to bring a solid balanced budget to the council forward that continues our great services that we provide to the community.

I also want to mention uh that as part of recent uh budget discussions, we've heard from council members that have expressed concerns about uh the number of traffic enforcement officers that are currently deployed by the town.

And so I have some good news to share on that front that I wanted to communicate here.

Uh this year, thanks to a very successful academy, class number 10, the town will be adding five traffic officers to the traffic enforcement team.

This means the town will have five more traffic officers by the end of this calendar year, uh, which is a 62% increase above the uh number of traffic enforcement officers compared to what we've had over the last two years.

Um, and so I know that having more traffic enforcement is something the council has received numerous complaints and inquiries about.

Um, so I wanted to share that positive update with the council tonight.

Um, and then with that, I'll turn it over back over for the for the video, which I think helps clearly communicate the challenges and the successes that we've had with the budget this year.

About our budget.

Typically, when the town announces our budget, it's a good time.

Maybe throw in a little B-roll sequence, show off the new parks, the new facilities coming to the community.

But not this year.

Now, look, we still have some amazing improvements coming, like the opening of the advocacy center, Desert Sky Park Expansion, and many more.

However, this year was less about what are the new things we're gonna get, and more about what are the things we can't afford to lose.

Because the reality is that our general fund, that's the main funding source for our day-to-day operations, it's facing a 20 million dollar a year loss in ongoing revenue.

On top of that, we understand residents are dealing with rising costs, including the recent utility rate increase that just passed, which won't be increasing fiscal year 27.

So we do have that.

But the main concern for this year's budget was around how we maintain the quality of life Gilbert residents have come to love and expect while managing a massive loss in ongoing revenue.

So, how exactly does a town just lose 20 million in ongoing revenue?

The truth is this shortfall, it's not because of ears false spending.

It's almost entirely due to external changes, both at the state and federal level.

Let's do some math.

First, the state eliminated residential rental sales tax, nine million dollars.

Second, is Arizona's move to a flat income tax, five point five million dollars.

Third, one big beautiful bill, three point five million dollars.

Lastly, our neighbor Santan Valley finally incorporated into their own city.

We're just so incredibly happy for them.

1.8 million dollars.

Basically 20 million dollars of ongoing revenue.

Again, not a one-time dip.

We're talking at least a hundred million dollars over the next five years.

When a town or city loses that much in ongoing revenue, they need to decide what the priorities are.

For Gilbert, there are three big ones that stood out.

First is essential services.

This is important for maintaining a high quality of life.

This is gonna be your police officers, your firefighters, your park rangers.

Another priority is supporting economic growth.

Unlike other cities that rely on a primary property tax to support their day-to-day operations, Gilbert, we don't have one.

Instead, over 70% of our general fund comes directly from sales tax and income tax.

This is why maintaining a strong business environment and growing our sales tax base is critical to strengthening our financial future.

Lastly, maintaining our current workforce.

Demedian comparable city has around eight employees per 1,000 residents.

Gilbert operates closer to six.

That's not a small gap.

We run incredibly lean, meaning our staff does a lot more with a lot less.

Now, this leads into things that didn't make the cut.

Like we just went over, yes, Gilbert will be running lean in 2027.

Out of the nearly 300 requested staff positions that we need to maintain service levels, we were only able to fund about a hundred of them.

That means close to 200 requested positions remain unfunded.

And over a hundred of those positions are in public safety.

That's police and fire.

Now you might be thinking, what about all that government inefficiency?

And look, I was that guy too.

That's why I was actually quite surprised when I started working with the town and found out that Gilbert practices zero-based budgeting.

This is actually a very good practice, and not many local municipalities, let alone for-profit companies do this.

Most places use rollover budgets.

They take last year's spending, adjust for inflation, maybe a new AI subscription, on and on.

The budget can just balloon.

Zero base budgeting forces you to justify each dollar from zero, essentially helping you eliminate a lot of waste.

Gilbert's been practicing zero-based budgeting since 2018, and to date's generated over 5 million in savings.

But that's not going to be enough.

So to make up for the rest of the shortfall, we had to get a little creative and honestly, we have to make some tough trade-offs.

This meant reducing spending on internal operations, doing less park maintenance, and even shutting down core community events like fall movies in the park and outdoor expo.

We're utilizing a one-time funding source of $3.3 million from the sale of land.

We also save $4 million during phase one of the new advocacy center.

It balances our budget for this year, but let's be real, these are band-aid fixes.

It's not going to solve our ongoing challenges.

For now, it did help us from making even deeper cuts into core services.

Trying to figure out how to compensate for these ongoing losses without losing our high quality of life.

As a resident, you actually have a lot of power here.

Shop local, support the mom and pop shops, even the big box retailers.

Because every dollar you spend within the town's boundaries helps tremendously.

As for the town, our goals will remain the same.

Protect what makes Gilbert exceptional.

And while we had to make some tough decisions this year, those decisions were guided by a long-term vision to ensure that Gilbert not only meets today's needs, but continues to thrive for generations to come.

Thank you, Kelly.

Did you have anything else?

No, just a shout out to Lewis and the OCE team.

They always do an exceptional job.

Very well done.

I'll close the public hearing and bring it back to the council for discussion andor motion.

Vice Mayor.

Kelly, I asked this question.

Come back here, please.

Every year I hear misinformation.

You know, when I hear we're spending 2.5 billion dollars this year.

Is that true?

It is not.

That is our total budget.

Um, but we are not allowed to increase our budget once we start the year.

So any unknown things that come up, um, we have to be prepared for that, which is why we have that hundred million dollars of CIP contingency specific for that reason.

Okay, so approximately how much do we actually spend?

Uh ballpark.

Ballpark.

Uh 500 to 700 million, um, and depending probably a little higher this year because our CIP spend is more with um the Northwater Treatment Plant in construction.

So with the 100 million contingency, we could spend probably up to 800 or so, but not 2.5 billion.

No, most of that's with the capital improvement projects that will take several years to complete, it won't complete all in one year.

And from what I understand, from what I've seen, other cities' budgets, they don't do the same thing that we do, correct?

Most of them don't do the CIP budgeting the same way that we do now.

So when another city next to us or near us has an $800 million budget, that's their budget.

We call our budget 2.5 billion, but we pretty much spend the same.

Correct.

Thank you, Kelly.

I have to ask that every single year.

You know that.

So thank you for answering that for me.

Thank you.

Any other questions, comments?

Mayor.

Yes.

Councilmember Bucklin.

Thank you, Mayor.

So in um hearing that when I was going through the budget in depth this weekend, um, you know, I hear people talk tonight about we need more transparency.

I think there's something that we could do.

We, you know, we for a number of reasons we budget the entire project in the upcoming year, and we Councilmember Bongiovany just reiterated that.

I think what could help if we provided a forecast of what we actually expect to spend in addition to the financial statements, maybe to better communicate to the general public because a budget document is not just a budget document, it is also a communication document.

Um I think that might help for that transparency piece so people understand better what it really looks like.

Thank you.

You have that written down.

Any other questions, comments?

Again, I'll ask for a motion.

Uh are you ready for the motion?

Yes.

Okay.

I'll make a motion to approve our budget via resolution number 4674, approving the final budget of 2,500 uh 2,554 million forty two thousand eight hundred and thirty-five dollars for the period of July 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2027.

That's item number 37.

I'll second that, Mayor.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries six one.

Who said nay?

Jim.

Councilmember Torres.

Thank you.

That I'll adjourn our special meeting, reconvene and regular meeting, and we'll go back to our consent calendar at this point.

Vice Mayor.

Thank you, Mayor.

I'm going to turn this over to our new town manager.

And Mario, it's probably going to take me until the time that I'm no longer vice mayor to say your last name correctly and having a last name like Bon Giovanni.

I'm horrible that I can't.

Can you please say it one more time for me, please?

Yes, sir.

Paniagua.

Yeah, I'll see you in three months.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you, Mayor, members of the council.

I will give an overview of the count uh the consent agenda items before you tonight.

And uh we uh as a reminder, we uh continue to focus on building a strong economy, strengthening our prosperous community in an exceptionally built environment.

And so with that, uh we will talk through the the items.

Uh agenda item number two uh is an I intergovernmental agreement with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office that authorizes the use of the detention officer training academy at Maricopa County to train Gilbert police detention officers.

Uh the cost is a thousand dollars per employee uh and is funded through the general fund.

Item three is an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Arizona Department of Transportation authorizing the design and construction of road improvements on Warner Road from Wrecker to Power as part of the uh MAG Regional Transportation Plan Prop 400 and the town match requirement uh is funded through general obligation transportation bonds of six million five hundred and ninety-three thousand sixty-five dollars.

Item four is a development reimbursement agreement with KLLB by three LLC, providing for improvements to the south half of Bonanza Road between Greenfield and Columbus.

Uh and that's funded uh via 20 fiscal year 27 roadway and maintenance contingency uh for the amount of 182,051 dollars.

Item five is a cooperative agreement with MES, which provides for the purchase of firefighting safety gear and equipment uh funded through the fire department's annual budget in the general fund.

Item six is a cooperative agreement with Lincoln contractor or construct excuse me, constructors incorporated uh for the concrete removal, installation, and repair in Scuppers, catch basins, and manholes as part of Gilbert's infrastructure system uh funded through the environmental compliance fund and an amount not to exceed $50,000 each year over the next four years.

Item seven is a contractual agreement with ProPipe Incorporated, funding CCTV video inspections of stormwater pipes to ensure the integrity of the stormwater system infrastructure uh funded through environmental compliance fund and an amount not to exceed 30,000 per year for uh six years.

Item eight is a contractual agreement with CDM Smith Incorporated uh for the evaluation of existing Ferris water pipelines 12 to 20 inches uh uh for internal and external corrosion to develop a priority list and re recommended rehabilitation work uh through the water fund for the amount of 382,164.

Item 9 is a contractual agreement with Hazen and Sawyer, which is for the completion of a water modeling analysis in zone three of the water distribution system to identify recommended operational improvements through the water fund 195,052.

Item 9A is a property sale, accepting the high bid for Gilbert surplus property in the area of Ray and Greenfield Roads.

The sale is for $9,09 to support critical projects in the town's infrastructure program.

Item 10 is a contractual agreement with LSW Engineers Arizona Incorporated for the procurement and installation of standby generators at six critical lift stations supported through the wastewater fund for the amount of 106,408.

Item 11 is a police department lease agreement amendment, which provides for lease of workspace to be used by the police special investigation section and funded through the general fund.

Item 12 is for construction manager at risk construction contract with Chase building team for free stone skate park repairs, concrete remediation, steel coping replacement, and concrete joint rehabilitation, and Freestone Park Ball field repairs, concrete restoration, fence remediation and replacement, as well as repairs to seating and backstops for an amount not to exceed $705,994 through the general replacement fund.

One clarification I'd like to make on this item is that the agenda referenced the contract that's to be used for this work.

And they that although that contract does include work for pickleball courts and skate park at Freestone.

This action tonight is specific to this work that I'm describing here, the skate park repairs and the ball field repairs.

And that's that's what this item covers.

Item 13 is the job orders 9 and 10 with TF contracting services LLC and PMCM contract with Consultant Engineering Incorporated.

This supports a CIP project for improvements to existing stormwater channels, storm drain piping, and associated infrastructure.

The job orders with TF contracting services total 389,325, and the PMCM contract with consultant engineering is for 78,780.

Both are rate supported through the environmental compliance replacement fund.

Item 14 is JOC task order with Sunland Asphalt and Construction LLC, change order for PMCM services with CEI, and change order for AE services with Wood Patel and Associates Incorporated.

These all support phase three construction of the Phoenix Avenue Pedestrian Mall CIP project.

The amounts are 632,402 for Sunland Asphalt and Conction, 49,890 for CEI, and 17,210 for Wood Patel and Associates, and all are funded through 2027 general obligation bonds.

Item 15 is construction manager at risk construction contract with Hayden Companies for GMP 1 and PMCM Phase 2 agreement with Mark Taylor Incorporated.

These support phase two development of Gilbert Regional Park, including six ball fields, and carrying out the previous approval by the council for this project.

This also carries out direction for reprioritization of projects that advanced ball fields and the construction of ball fields in the community.

The agreements are for 23,537,536 for Hayden Companies and 5.5 million for Mark Taylor Incorporated, supported by 2027 PFMPC bonds, system development fees, and the general fund.

Item 15A is for ASCEN Community Action Program Contract supporting local nonprofits as part of the community action program to provide rental and utility assistance to residents, 180,000 from the general fund.

Item 16 is a contract change order with Oregami Risk LLC providing for expanded use of software for workers' compensation claims that allow streamlined processes, better data collection, and assistance to employees, and this is funded through the workers' comp trust fund for up to $15,000.

Item 17 is a contract change order with DAPA Landscape for trail maintenance services by DAPA landscape at the Repair and Preserve through the general fund for up to $20,985.

Item 18 is a contract change order with Train USA Incorporated for facility chiller equipment maintenance and repair needs due to increased cost of materials supplies and labor.

This is funded through each facility's operating budget for up to 26,793.

Item 18A is a FEMA assistance grant to firefighters program authorizing the application and acceptance of a grant to purchase equipment used in structure fires, hazmat, and technical rescue incidents.

Item 19 is a property workers' compensation and casualty insurance.

Item for the purchase of insurance coverages necessary to protect the town's liability risk.

The total cost of all these policies is 5,075,315.

Item 20 is uh to authorize the initiation initiation of litigation against defendants named in the fire apparatus antitrust litigation and to approve the associated legal services agreement.

Uh there's no cost to join this litigation.

Item 21 is stop loss coverage for self-insured trust, approving the stop loss coverage for our self-funded health plan that protects from major financial risk with Symmetra.

The coverage amount is $1,790,649 funded through the health fund.

Item 22 is updates to the town's personnel policies, clarifying and updating and correcting changes to employee benefits.

And item 23 is the resignation of development redevelopment commission board member, and this accepts the resignation of TJ Clausen from the redevelopment commission.

Thank you, Mayor and Council.

And uh we would be happy to take any questions if there are any.

Council members, any questions for any items?

Yeah.

Councilmember Torkson.

Could you just lump together the number of things that are being spent on water?

Because a lot of these just come through as consent agenda.

And I think people need to need to really specifically hear how many of these items are going towards water.

I can take a quick look here and try to add up the items that are related to our water system.

Jessica's gonna help us out.

Jessica, you're coming up for uh to help me out here.

Thank you.

I had the benefit of sitting behind Rebecca, the water manager.

So uh mayor, members of council.

There are two items on the agenda related to the water fund, items eight and nine.

Um, their capital improvement projects um totaling about six just under six hundred thousand dollars.

Was uh item seven is an upkeep issue for sewers and water, though, isn't it?

Uh mayor, members of council, councilmember Torgeson.

Um, item number seven is actually related to our stormwater system, so that's funded by environmental compliance.

I want people to see where this money is going off utility rates.

That's that's reason I'm bringing it up uh uh along with 13 stormwater, part of the environmental, but still part of the their bill.

And I want them to see that this money is going somewhere.

This is money isn't going into the air, it's being spent on one of these things is upkeep that we didn't receive for a decade.

And I'm glad it's there.

I just think people need to know it's there.

That's not trying to pick on anybody, I'm trying to say thank you.

Oh, thank you.

Yes.

And I'll I'll just add to that then item number six is also part of our environmental compliance fund, which is part of the utility rates.

And then item number 10 um is related to our wastewater listation system, so that's wastewater rates.

Fantastic.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Don't need a separate vote on that, Jim.

No, not at all.

I just wanted to point it out.

Okay.

Like 9A is pretty great, right?

Yeah.

Uh Councilmember Lyons, would you like to do item 37?

Yes, please.

Um, item number 37 has to do with uh 38, I mean.

Yeah, 38.

No, that's fine.

That's to do with boards and commissions, and this is the appointment of uh four regular members with terms to the Veterans Advisory Board beginning June 16th of 2026 and ending on June 15th, 2029.

Uh we had many great candidates that we interviewed.

We have determined that the following four um we are choosing to set on the board.

They are James Baplasic, Rose Lichtenfels, Douglas McClure, and Raymond Kimball.

And their terms will begin, like I said, in June of 26 and end in June of 29.

Thank you, sir.

Okay, so uh I have a motion to uh pass items two through five, six through nine a 10 through 14, 15 through 18, 18a, 19, 20 through 24, and item number 38.

Can I have a second?

Second.

Second by council member well Kabrowski on the right.

Um can we uh come we have a verbal vote?

Uh um Scott, how do I do this again?

All in favor.

All in favor, thank you.

Aye, aye.

Any opposed?

Aye.

It passes six zero, I believe.

No, no, I voted.

You writing no?

No, he saw it.

Kenny voted.

Kenny's not on the commission anymore.

Okay, so we all voted yes, correct?

Correct.

Okay.

Motion passes six zero.

Mayor.

Thank you.

Uh future meetings.

You can see the items that we have will appear on future agendas, communications, report from the town manager.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um just want to thank uh say my thanks to the mayor and council uh for giving me the opportunity here to be uh the the town manager.

I'm very excited for uh the chance to to uh contribute to the town and serve in this role and uh continue to advance our goals and um and just make continuing to make this town great.

But I also want to uh devote some of this time to um to have Don Prince come up because Don uh would like to say a few words to the town council uh and to the team, and so um want to give her this time now, if that's okay, Mayor.

That's great.

Good evening, uh Mayor and Council.

I hope you can hear me.

Um first off, I just want to say apologize for not saying this earlier.

I should have, but I wasn't ready.

But now I'm ready.

Um so I want to just come up and just say thank you so much for your trust in me for the opportunity to serve um the our town and to serve you in the role as interim.

So I wanted to say that.

I also want to say to our team Gilbert, you know, I I hope you all know.

So I'm gonna say this.

Um not just to the council, but to Team Gilbert, you're the best team ever.

And I really appreciate every one of you for all the support that you provided.

Um support, kindness, um, and the dedication to everything we do every day for the residents, just made all the accomplishments that have happened over the six months possible, and I would not have been able to do it without them uh without all of Town Gilbert.

So I wanted to mention that, and then also it it really was my pleasure to step in and to help through the transition, and I look forward to our exciting future with Mario at the helm.

So just wanted to say that.

So thank you for giving me the opportunity to say that.

Thank you.

I think on behalf of the council I can speak for everyone that thank you so much for the time that you devoted to this.

And and as I said previously, it was a seamless transition, and that was really important, I think, for Gilbert.

Thank you so much.

Mayor, may I add one thing, please?

Sure.

You know, all the decisions that I feel like I'm gonna make in my tenure on this council.

The placement of the town manager is probably going to be the most important and the most having the longest lasting implications over time.

Um it was a six-month process, and what was really helpful, and I can't express how much is knowing that you and the staff had stuff handled so that we could focus on that process.

And that I can tell you your presence and what the team did to help make sure things just moved without us having to think about a thing was phenomenal.

Um never worried about it with you at the helm.

And I thank you for all of you.

Um you too Kelly, you've been beaten up a little bit, but I I can't tell you how much it really meant to us to know that everything was in good hands.

So job well done to everybody.

Thank you.

I would not have been able to do it without the team.

Yes, so appreciate them 100%.

Thank you.

Thank you, Don.

Reports from the council.

Thank you, sir.

Here are our parts of the rec events I'd like to share, Juneteenth, in partnership with the Southeast Regional Library this year's festivities.

Join us at a vibrant celebration of Juneteenth, the historic holiday commemorizing the emancipation of an enslaved people in the United States.

Friday, June nineteenth, um, at the South East Regional Library from ten A.

M.

to twelve.

And then finally, our fourth of July celebration.

Join us for the twenty twenty-six Gilbert Fourth of July celebration.

This family, this free family friendly event is a great opportunity to experience live performances.

I knew that I was testing it.