All right, good evening, everyone.

I like to call this regular city council meeting on Tuesday, November eighteenth to order.

I feel I hope I got it right.

Um lead us in the invocation.

Almighty God.

Today you have provided us with rain, and with it came a lesson as well.

In our biblical reading last week, we learned about Abraham and Sarah, whose tent was open to all sides, welcoming every traveler and offering kindness, hospitality, and dignity.

As leaders as a community, may we each be a source of that light, especially now in the season where light and warmth are needed most.

Standing here with the mayor, members of the city council, and fellow residents, I pray that you grant us wisdom, clarity, and strength.

Council Member Haney.

Councilmember Duffy.

Here.

Councilmember Melton.

Present.

Councilmember Jedd.

Here.

Thank you, Mayor.

We have quorum.

All right, thank you.

So tonight we have uh a group with us that's going to lead us in the pledge.

It's the City of Surprise uh Special Olympics athletes.

So if you could all join me and have join them as well.

One nation.

Okay.

Can we take a picture with them, Council?

You guys want to take a look?

We're going somewhere.

Let's push.

Yeah, sorry.

That was the interaction.

Ashley, did you want to pay a few words?

Uh yeah.

Oh, yeah.

This is boss.

There you go.

No, they are earlier.

Blue's blue.

We're blue for you.

I followed instructions.

I didn't.

Hold them a little lower.

There you go.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, here we go.

One, two, three.

One more.

One, two, three.

There.

Thank you.

All right.

Okay.

Okay.

Good evening, Mayor, Count uh Mayor and Council.

My name is Ashley Stevens, and I'm honored to serve as the adaptive recreation coordinator for the city of Surprise.

On October 24th through the 25th, our city proudly hosted the Special Olympics Arizona State Fall Games in Bocce and Swimming.

Welcoming more than 1,000 athletes from across the state, it was a true celebration of inclusion, sportsmanship, and community pride.

We were thrilled to have 43 athletes from our adaptive recreation program compete after eight weeks of training, bringing home gold, silver, and bronze medals.

Also, with the growth of surprise and more families joining our community, we were able to form two Special Olympics softball teams for the very first time.

This last Thursday, um, 25 of our athletes proudly competed in the area tournament for uh Special Olympics softball.

And our one team brought home first place medals as our second team brought home third place.

So it's been great uh watching their achievements, and we can't wait to watch our two softball teams go uh compete at state.

Thank you.

Thank you for coming in.

Good job on winning the medals first and third place, that's pretty incredible.

Yeah, good job.

Okay, so I'm gonna do a proclamation.

Umri Jensen and Katie Joe Chambers, would you mind joining me up here?

So as they're making their way to the front, I'm gonna go ahead and say the proclamation.

Go ahead.

All right, proclamation of recognition.

Or as just serve.org is a website, is a website, but more importantly, a free service, bringing community volunteers with community needs in a cohesive and efficient manner.

And whereas, thanks in part to the justserve.org platform, surprise has experienced a 80% year over year increase in the days of service volunteers, as well as 116% year over year increase in the number of volunteer hours.

And whereas the City of Surprise Human Services and Community Vitality Department is leading the efforts for surprise to be designated as a just served city due to our community's exceptional commitment to volunteering.

And whereas the City of Surprise meets all requirements to become a just served city with one remaining item, this proclamation to receive the designation held by only 98 cities around the world.

And whereas the City of Surprise takes great pride in fostering a culture of compassion, connection, and civic engagement, where residents of all ages and backgrounds come together through volunteerism to build a stronger, more caring community.

Now, therefore, I, Kevin Sarter, on behalf of the City of Surprise, to hereby recognize just serve.org for its exceptional commitment and promoting volunteer opportunities, which significantly impact our community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

You want you want to say thank you for the honor of being here.

And uh right on the front row are some of a great group that we have had the opportunity to have on just serve as well.

And so many volunteers just love signing up to cheer on and serve at your events.

They're so inspiring.

I'm so glad to be part, have served with Special Olympics.

I've also been honored to serve in the city of Surprise.

I live in a different neighboring city, but I always love coming to the days of service in the city of surprise.

Seth Dyson was the first person I met when I moved to the area.

And he made me feel warm and welcome at a breakfast at the Salvation Army where we were serving.

And um, from the moment I met him.

First off, he went to the same college that I did, my alma mater, and we bonded, and he has a heart for service.

And um, he has blessed your community with that love and has hired people and um surrounded himself with people of similar attitude.

And this tribute to the Just Serve City is not because they jumped through any hoops for us, it's because uh you're already celebrating volunteerism in everything that you do, um, and just right aligning yourselves with the 9-11 National Day of Service, the Martin Luther King Day of Service.

It's I'm really looking forward to it.

You're already collecting photos of people serving, and Global Youth Service Day as well.

And and so we just are so glad to align ourselves with great people of surprise who inspire people to serve their community.

So thanks for inviting us to be here and um beyond this path towards also being a global uh just serve city, which will be coming up in the year of 2026, and surprises leading the way.

And um thank you for having us here.

Right, my nice ranger.

There is Seth.

Oh, we say one, two, three.

Thank you for it.

Thank you.

All right, Mr.

Wingaroth.

Thank you, Mayor, members of the council.

First, I'd like to invite Jamie Aldama from the Sound of Autism, who will be presenting a very special award this evening.

Jamie, it's good to have you here.

Good evening, and thank you so much.

I appreciate it.

Good evening, Mayor.

My name is Jamie Aldama.

I serve as the executive director with uh Sounds of Autism.

We are a West Valley nonprofit serving families who have been diagnosed uh loved one who's been diagnosed with autism.

Uh, thank you to the vice mayor, to our city manager and members of the council.

We appreciate this opportunity.

Um we serve families living with uh diagnosis of autism when we serve families uh at risk and others uh with um mental health.

We have been working, mayor, with your police with your fire, with your human resources, with your courts.

We've been working so many of your uh city departments for the last 12 months.

We mayor have maintained a rubric that checks a box, but it's not just checking the box, Mayor.

It's tangible work that your team, the city manager's team has put forth for your community for your constituents diagnosed with autism and other mental health issues and those at risk.

We are so thankful, we are so grateful for the work that you, mayor, have done, vice mayor and the members of the council have done.

We know that your community is proud of you.

We are proud of you, and many of our supporters, our public supporters and our private uh organizations that are with us tonight.

Uh, we want to thank a few individuals.

We want to thank uh your court system for being so uh receptive to our organization, the work that we do.

We want to thank Sonia Gonzalez of the City Court, she's gone over and beyond uh the expectation of the constituents that she serves.

We are so happy for the work that she provides for us.

Uh mayor, we want to thank uh your fire department who has signed on with us to be a unified responder for City of Surprise for the families that live in this community.

We want to thank the police officers, the women and men that that serve this community and keep us all safe.

We want to thank them.

We also want to thank uh Seth Dyson and Julie Kent Partridge of the uh human services and the vitality department.

They are the greatest ever.

It is so amazing the work that they do and what they've embraced here in this in this city in your backyard, Mayor.

We are so excited to have them part of our team.

We brought with us today supporters of ours, but more important, Mayor, we brought them their supporters of yours.

And if they will stand up, we have members of Kiwanis with us today.

We have members of the Rotary Club with us today.

If you'll stand up, please mayor.

These are people that support you, Vice Mayor, members of the council, and the city manager.

We are proud of the work that you've done for not only your community, but for Sounds of Autism and gives us the opportunity to serve more of those families, and we are so grateful to you and thankful to you.

We brought with us a couple items, Mayor.

First of all, Mayor, I'd like to read um a certificate that we put together for your efforts uh in the city of Surprise.

Unified Responder Community Certificate.

This certificate is presented as City of Surprise.

Congratulations to the City of Surprise leaders for completing the first phase of Sounds of Autism Unified Responders Initiative.

This certificate certifies the City of Surprise, Mayor, City Council members, leaders with the police and fire members, leaders within the victim advocate center, recreation center leaders within K through 12 schools, and many nonprofits have committed to working together to create a more sustainable, adaptive community within City of Surprise.

That now serves the needs of all individuals living within the city of Surprise.

Mayor, we would please give this to you and the entire city of surprise.

And we also like to give you, Mayor, for your entire team for embracing being a unified responder community.

We'd love to give this to you, Mayor, and the city council and recognize you for your efforts.

You have gone over and beyond your police and fire has set the standards so high.

We haven't met anybody that set the standard as high as City of Surprise, your police, your fire, and everybody else in your city.

We are so thankful for allowing us to be here and receptive of us.

So we'd like to leave this with you, and uh, we just want to extend our thank you again, Mayor.

All right, thank you.

Sir, if if it's possible, I'd like to have the council go down.

We can take a picture with you.

Please we'd love to, yes.

Okay.

Cricket.

Thanks.

Cricket Barrentos is the founder of Sounds of Autism.

She and her son Landon are here with us, and uh they'll be joining us and whomever else she uh brings up.

All right.

I'm gonna leave that there.

I appreciate it.

Thank you, Mayor.

You can do better.

All right, eyes on me.

One, two, three.

Go ahead.

We'll have your grounds and all of them.

Jackson.

Can you dance like that?

Um, everybody's leaving, but I just I just wanted to say that we appreciate the the award, and it's really our staff and everybody that does such a great job.

Um we would be silly to sit up here as elected officials and take all the credit.

It's really Bob and his team, Seth, everybody that you mentioned.

So thank you so much.

So yes, Mayor.

Now, as always, it is a great pleasure to have recreation coordinator Shelby Fenwick to introduce our wonderful youth council members.

Shelby.

Thank you, Bob.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

I'd like to introduce the two dais members, uh, two youth council members up on the dais with you tonight.

First up is Desmond Robert.

Desmond is a sophomore at Willow Canyon.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

My name is Desmond Robert.

I'm a sophomore at Willow Canyon.

This is my third year serving on the Surprise Youth Council and my fourth time up on the dais.

Last week, the Youth Council had the privilege of participating in the Veterans Day Parade, and it was an honor to walk alongside our community as we celebrated and thanked the brave men and women who have served our country.

We had a wonderful time handing out flags to parade goers and showing our appreciation for veterans.

After the parade, we were able to connect with kids and families by giving out temporary tattoos, stickers, and other goodies.

It was so much fun seeing the sense of community pride that makes surprise such a special place.

Looking ahead, the Surprise Youth Council is excited to volunteer with the Arts HQ this Saturday at the Sci Tech Festival.

We're eager eager to help out, engage with families, and support an event that brings creativity, innovation, and learning to our city.

That is all I have.

Thank you for this opportunity to speak tonight.

Thank you, Desmond.

Next up is Grace DeSotel.

Grace also is a sophomore at Willow Canyon.

I'm sorry, a junior at Willow Canyon.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

My name is Grace Sisletel, and I'm a junior at Willow Canyon High School.

This is my first year serving on the Surprise Youth Council and my first time on the dais.

Our events committee recently hosted its first nerf battle this past Friday at the Surprise Library, and it was a fantastic success.

We had around 30 youth joining us for an evening filled with teamwork, friendly competition, and lots of laughter.

It was wonderful to see kids from across the community come together, make new friends, and enjoy a welcoming and engaging atmosphere.

We'd like to extend our sincere gratitude to Mayor Sarter and the Surprise Police Department for their support and involvement at the event.

Their presence helped make the event both memorable and meaningful for the participants.

As we head into the holiday season, the youth council is gearing up for a busy few months of volunteering at various community events.

We're looking forward to giving back, whether that's helping at city celebrations, supporting local drives, or spreading holiday cheer throughout surprise.

On behalf of the entire youth council, thank you, Mayor and Council, for the opportunity to speak tonight and for your continued support of youth engagement and leadership in our city.

That is all I have.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Grace.

Um, and lastly, on behalf of the surprise youth council, I want to thank you, Bob, for your incredible leadership and genuine care you've shown to our community.

You've led with both vision and heart, and your support of youth programs and parks and recreation has made a lasting impact.

We're so grateful for the encouragement you've given us along the way, and we wish you and your wife the best of luck in your next adventure.

We you will be missed.

Well, I just I just wanted to thank the um youth council for participating.

We got to walk together as a as a council and youth council in the Veterans Day Parade, and it was a pretty amazing thing to be able to pass out flags and work together, and then uh the other thing is the nerf battle was pretty intense.

Uh I got shot right between the eyes.

And she was on my team, the other girls on my team, but a little bit crazy, but we appreciate everything that you do.

So there are two items on the cons.

Uh, Madam Clerk, do you have a report?

No, sir.

Okay.

There are two items on the consent agenda.

Do anybody have any questions or comments?

Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion.

I move to approve the consent agenda.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded.

Please cast your vote.

That's a unanimous pass vote, Mayor.

Please read item three.

Item three, consideration and action pertaining to the approval of a fiscal year 2026 budget amendment and the amount of 120 20,000 to support planning, programming, and activities related to the city's celebration of the United States 250th anniversary and amending the fiscal year 2026 contract awarding authority list.

Resolution number 2025 134.

Good evening, Bob.

Good evening, mayor, members of the council.

I just want to do the kickoff to this what's very important to me item that you have before you.

Fifty years ago, I was a member of the class of 76 at West High School.

Now, just for clarity, this wasn't 1876.

It's 1976.

And I was on the bicentennial committee.

And our job on our committee was, you know, for the for the school year was to celebrate, educate, to come up with great pep rallies, things to educate people and build pride in not only our school, but in America.

And I'll I'll tell you, the actual fourth happened when I had graduated.

But I think for for those of us who are around for the bicentennial, that day was very special.

I still can feel the way I felt right now when it was when we had that.

And I I just need to really thank the mayor and council for focusing on the 250.

I think it's going to be another extremely memorable day for all of us in surprise and everyone here in the United States.

And I'm also I'm so grateful to our staff.

I think all of our departments have been very, very active in being prepared and participating in this.

And I'll turn it over to my wonderful partner, Holly Osborne, who's really been the quarterback for us, and she's gonna share a little bit about what we have in store.

Holly.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you, Bob.

Um, so the 250th, it'll be a very brief presentation.

We've actually already started celebrating America's birthday because nobody throws a party better than surprise, I would say.

Um so what we're doing is looking for um more support and planning efforts to continue this.

And of course, the biggest birthday bash will be on July 4th.

So some of the funding we're looking at is promotional material, um, a banner program, obviously branding.

I think you saw the sneak peeks of our um no longer sneak peek, our hot ticket item of our Veterans Day shirts that we got sponsored.

Um, our 250th logo's already been out.

So, what we're trying to do is just make all of our events enhanced to focus on America and America's birthday.

So you'll see things throughout the the library will have events, we will have events from parks and rec, um, sports entertainment and culture will have events.

Um so each little department is taking on part of it.

Uh, we're adding, if approved, um, or we're adding Liberty Lane will be part of Sparkling Surprise, one of our newest displays.

Um, there's other new displays too, but we'll go into that.

Um, and then of course, the Fourth of July would be we want to make it the biggest and best firework display we've ever had.

Um, so it would be adding more fireworks, bigger fireworks, and hopefully, if we can pull it off a um a lake show.

So I'm gonna leave it at that without too much um to put in there.

So with that, I will entertain any questions you guys have, unless they're history questions, and then I will phone a friend, but I can plan a party.

Council, uh Councilman Haney.

Yeah, mayor I just have one question.

Holly uh what so I'm guessing this is gonna be on the 4th of July, correct?

Yes.

Okay, do we know what the weather outlook is going to be for the fourth?

That's a good or uh yeah.

No, I'll probably go out of town so that it stays dry.

Okay, that's my only question.

Okay, I appreciate that question.

It's very fair and valid.

We started setting up today for a surprise party, so in case you're wondering why it's raining, it's me again.

Right.

There's a tradition as it's my first holiday.

We didn't get to take the picture over there because of your own.

It's just a little red.

Oh, any other council have a comment or question?

Uh I just wanted to thank uh the council and their support and all this.

It's important that we celebrate America, America's 250th.

I think you know, we look at our strategic plan and our vision.

This is exactly what you know we're looking for as a council.

And so I appreciate the staff and Bob and all of your effort to get to this point.

So thank you.

Of course.

Thank you.

I will entertain a motion.

I move to approve resolution 2025-134.

I hope that's the right one.

Yep.

Yeah.

Okay.

It's been moved and seconded, please pass your vote.

Yeah, get the wrong number.

Come on.

Madam Clerk, please read item number four.

Sorry, unanimous pass vote.

My mic was off.

Thank you.

Item four consideration and action pertaining to approval of a facility use agreement with Dysart Unified School District.

For city use at the Vista Center for the Arts Resolution 2025 63.

I'm I'm leading this off as well and doing it because this is an epic item before you.

It's something that has been well over two years in the works.

And I will tell you that we would not be at this at this juncture if it wasn't for the amazing support from our DICERT Unified High Schools and Schools.

And here with us tonight, our governing board president Don Densmore.

Governing Board Member Mary Jane Sayola.

Superintendent Dr.

John Croto.

And DICERT superstars, Danae Marinelli and Luis Payan.

And I will also tell you that in the audience here with us tonight is Vista Foundation president John Cavalletto.

But last and not least is our council member Chris Judd, who has been in this project with great amount of passion, time, and uh problem solving to get us to this point.

So council member, it's been an honor for staff to work with you as we've been on this journey.

Thank you, Bob.

All right.

All right.

Thank you, Bob.

Um, and I just want to give a quick little internal shout out to some of our teams too.

Um, as Bob said, this we've been working on this for two years.

And so um obviously tonight, a lot of that heavy work came from our legal team with Jeff and Hobie.

Um, Jeff and Hobie worked super closely with Julie and and our team to make sure we got the agreement here today.

Our communications team has been with us the whole way, finance, IT, and we're about to, you know, bombard our CIP team as well.

So we're uh we're just really thankful for all the departments that kind of have helped us get to this way and all the other ones that will be helping us as we move forward.

So um we'll just get started.

Um, so really just kind of quick history of the Vista Center for the Arts.

Um, it was completed in 2008 and it was really designed as a shared use facility.

So the Vista has been serving both district students and the West Valley community since it's been opened.

Um and in 2019, uh DICE art piloted a presenting program where they hosted nationally recognized performers, touring acts.

Um, great success from the community.

They loved it.

We got great feedback from that.

Um, and in 2024, DICERT and the city really started exploring kind of a collaborative partnership so that DICERT could really focus on their core initiatives of education.

Um, so we conducted a feasibility study to see if the city could sponsor the presenting program so that we could still offer that to our community.

Um so in 2025, we started the facility use agreement, and really the goal was just to ensure long-term success and sustainability for both the district and the city and still allow um those programs to happen for the community.

So overview of the agreement.

Obviously, the two parties are the City of Surprise and Dysart Unified School District.

The facility is the Vista Center for the Arts, which is a 1300 seat theater, and it also has a 200-seat lecture hall.

Um, the purpose is really to allow the city to operate a presenting program that brings live entertainment and cultural experiences to the community, and then to also establish a partnership benefiting both the district and the city through shared use and capital improvements.

Um, so the term, this first term goes through June 30th, 2031.

And then there's one renewal option.

Um, that's an automatic renewal unless the parties decide to opt out for an additional five-year term.

So the rental conditions from the city side is there's a all-inclusive city rate of 6830 per day, which was created by our feasibility study and our experts in that.

And then there's also an option for a waiver of rent with the capital improvement program.

So the city will invest in mutually agreed upon capital improvements to the center.

Um, and then with those programs, we'll have the opportunity to waive our rental fees for any projects that both benefit the city and the district.

And then those eligible improvements that stay with DICE art will become DICEART's property after completion, and then they'll take on the maintenance for that.

Um, as far as income goes, uh the city will retain all of the revenue from the presenting program, so ticket sales, concession sponsorships, and then from a facility standpoint, DICE art will be responsible for making sure the the facility is clean, safe, and fully functional for each of our events.

And then for um DICEART programming and third party rentals, DICEART continues to own and operate the Vista.

Um, and they will utilize it as they are using it now for all their educational programming, so classrooms, school theater, band and choir concerts, um, and their student showcases.

And then DICEART will also manage all of the third party bookings, contracts, rentals that are outside of the city and independent from both our use and the district use.

Um, and then DICEART will retain all the revenues uh generated from their programming and any third-party bookings.

The facility use calendar, um, we will DICERT will provide the city with 25 available weekends per fiscal year for city programming.

Um, so if you guys will remember, in the feasibility study, kind of by year five, we're hoping to get to that 20 to 25 shows per year.

Um, and 25 available weekends means we could have shows on you know Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Um, that annual calendar will be provided to us July 1st for the next fiscal year.

So we'll have over a year to plan all of our things.

Um, and then the city can either confirm the dates that they've given us or release them back to the school district if we're not going to use them so that they can use them for their programming and for third parties.

Um, really, this this calendar allows us to kind of balance between the district's needs, the city's needs, and also the communities.

From staffing and operations, the district will employ a theater manager that's going to be um responsible for the facility operations, and they'll ensure all the maintenance and professional operations standards are met and that we're ready to go for our shows.

And then on the city side, we'll provide all of the staffing from a program stance, so front of house, back of house.

Um that's for full-time employees and then four part-time positions by year five.

Um, we can also we'll also be responsible for security and all of the other things that come along with that, which means we can do our network connections, badge access for ticketing and things like that.

And then we have a joint management advisory board, and so this will really just be one person from our team and one person from the district at a director level that will oversee operations, scheduling, and really um approve the capital improvements, major expenditures, and then manage any coordination or conflict mitigation.

And then our timeline.

So we've um completed the first box, so we can check that off, and we're in the second box right now.

And so we're really still on track from what the feasibility study had given us as kind of a timeline.

So we will um hopefully, if this passes, start some of our shows early spring.

We'll kind of do a soft rollout.

We'll have some small friends and family type shows.

Our first event at the Vista will be our play your way to the park on February 7th.

So that's that will be cool to open with that.

Um, and then we will um have a show in summer, and then we'll kind of start our true season in the fall.

Um, and then um that's really where we're at.

I think uh any questions.

Yes, Mayor, members of the council.

I just want to um give one very solid shout out.

Um when we started the sports and tourism department, uh, we were really focused on sports and tourism.

And I think the council as well as when I've been city manager.

I I'm not exaggerating, maybe 40 to 50 asks over the time she's been in this role.

And she has never turned me down.

And she's only made us proud.

And and I will tell you, we are not in a position to do this without her leadership.

And I'm so looking forward to uh to the first show.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilman Judd.

Thank you, Mayor.

And Kendra, I am so happy that uh that you were willing to take this on because you know that was one of the big questions that uh that we that we had to confront.

It's like, well, you know, Kendra's already pretty busy.

How are we gonna work this out?

And looks like you wrote Julian, so that would go pretty good.

Uh but I can't I can't thank Dice Heart enough for for being willing to uh to explore this and and to and to find a way to to to keep the Vista open to the community and especially Dr.

Croto.

We had we were we were doing some math, and it's been a little over two years since we were sitting at lunch and and uh came up that we had this we had this problem, we'd and we'd find a solution, and and with the support of the DISAR board and and Bob, all the hard work you put into it, and then John the all the passion that John Cavalletto, all the all the passion that you put into to keeping the Vista alive all these years and and keeping shows going.

And I've just I'm so excited that we found a solution, and and here we are at the finish line.

And I'm like my colleagues here have been nothing but supportive, you know, all along the way.

So I don't not expect any surprises tonight.

And uh thank you again.

Thank you for the partnership, John.

And I'm looking forward to uh also seeing the first show, and we'll we'll get Bob down here to sit with us.

And maybe we'll get some seats that aren't quite in the back row.

Any other councilman have any questions or comments?

Um I I couldn't have said it better than uh councilman Judd and Councilman, I appreciate all your effort in this.

You know, I I came on about a year ago, and you've done some two pretty amazing things that I think that have impacted the city for uh generations, this and the in the park.

And I think when you can have an impact like that, it just means it means the world uh to the city and to the residents and into the future.

So thank you.

I will entertain a motion.

I move to approve resolution 2025 63.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded.

Please cast your vote.

That's a unanimous pass vote, Mayor.

Appreciate that.

I will now open the meeting to the public.

Madam Clerk, do we get any requests to speak on a non-agendized item?

I do, Mayor.

I have three.

And first I'd like to invite up John Avaleto.

Can you hear sir?

Council.

On behalf of the Vista Foundation, uh, we extend our sincere thanks to Councilmember Chris Judd, City Manager Bob Wingenroth, Mayor Sarder, and former Mayor Skip Hall and Dice Art Superintendent, Dr.

John Croto, and his team for their leadership and collaboration in moving this partnership forward.

We also want to acknowledge behind the scenes work of Julie Ackerly, Kendra Pettis, Danae Marinali, and Luis Pyen.

Your shared commitment to the arts in our community makes this progress possible.

And we are truly grateful for your continued support of the Vista Center for the Arts.

The foundation looks forward to continuing our support through the city's new presenting program, Surprise Arts.

Thank you.

Next, I have Connie Whitlock.

Good evening, Connie.

Good evening, Mayor Sarder and Council, City Clerk, City Attorney, and City Manager.

I stand here tonight to not just say goodbye, but to express our deepest gratitude to someone whose vision, leadership, and unwavering support have left an indelible mark on our community.

Our city manager, Bob Lingedroth.

When Wham Art Center was just a dream, a spark of hope for what art could mean to the West Valley, it was Bob who saw Wham's mission, not just in bricks and mortar, but in the power of creativity to heal, to connect, and to transform lives.

Not just in bricks and mortar, but in the power of creativity to heal, to connect, and to transform lives.

When our um you understood that art is not just a decoration, it's a declaration, that every voice matters, that every story deserves to be told, that every person, regardless of age, background, or ability, should have access to the tools of expression.

You championed that belief, not just with words, but with action.

Through two terms of surprise city manager, Wham has become a sanctuary for veterans rediscovering purpose, for children painting their first masterpieces, for teens finding their voice through poetry, and for neighbors coming together to create something beautiful side by side.

You didn't just help build a center, you helped build a movement.

What's happening art movement?

And for uh that it will ripple through generations.

As you're as you step into your next chapter, know that your legacy lives in every book break, um, boy, every breaststroke, every mural, every open mic, and every smile that walks through Wham's doors.

You've helped us prove that art belongs to everyone, and that is a gift this community will never forget.

From all of us at Wham and from the heart of this community, thank you.

We wish you joy, fulfillment, and a future as bright as what you've helped us create.

Our deepest appreciation.

Thank you, Bob.

Next, I have Kevin James.

Good evening.

I too was disheartened to read that you'll be hiring a new city manager.

I hope as you do that, you'll have the confidence and the competence to hire somebody that once in a while might tell you something you don't want to hear.

That will save you a lot of grief in the long run.

You're all very accomplished to get to where you got to.

But they're the pros, and you're not in that respect.

So please keep that in mind as you make your new choice.

The reason I'm here tonight is I wanted to uh break up an issue that is pretty minor in the overall course of things, but it's important to the people that it affects.

If you ride a Valley Metro bus and you have a handicapped permit, that is not good on an express bus.

And nobody can really tell me why that happens.

So I'm asking their their Valley Metro's next meeting is until January, so there would be plenty of time.

I'm asking that the surprise council have their Valley Metro board director bring forward a proposal to allow that reduced fare on express buses.

The overall fiscal impact of LA Metro would be pretty minor.

And Valley Metro is looking at reduced fare for veterans, which is great.

But I know a lot of veterans that make a lot more money after their service.

I know very few people that make more money after their disability.

Don't make it any harder than it already is.

And if you live in surprise or El Mirage, an express bus is the only bus you can get on.

So thank you for your consideration in that matter, and I'll hope you'll discuss it amongst yourselves and provide direction for the next Valley Metro board meeting.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Councilman Greenberg, would you mind looking into that when you go to the board?

Um I on here.

Yes, I you were at the last meeting, right?

The Valley Metro meeting.

Yeah, sir.

Yeah.

Because you mentioned that there too.

And it was already on my little list of things to talk to them about.

Okay, thank you for that.

Since I wasn't there, I couldn't offer to drive you home this time.

That was above and beyond.

I forgot that.

Thanks, everyone.

All right.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, anyone else?

No, that's in there.

Okay.

Do any of the council members have other business or future agenda?

Councilman Joe, do you want to give your report?

Yeah, I'm gonna, I'm gonna sort of skip my report and just you know, send some love to Bob.

Bob is has served our city so well for the past decade or so.

And he is just a model of an awesome servant leader.

And it's he's been a great role model for me.

You know, there's a lot of things that he does that I try to mimic or try to emulate because he's just he's a great person to be around, he's a great person to want to be like, and uh as much as I hate that you're leaving the city, I'm also I'm I'm very happy that you're that you're going off to do what you're going to do.

I know you're not retiring, but you're but you're you're going to be with with Marnie and you're going to live closer to home.

And uh thank you so much for all the time and the energy and all the help you've given to surprise.

And and again, you know, we mentioned the Vista earlier, but but uh you were hugely instrumental in helping us get our our McMick and Dam Park installed.

And and you were the first person to walk with me from Grand Avenue and and Deer Valley Road all the way to the closed bar at uh at the White Tanks.

And all we got some great pictures that day and some great memories, and I'm I'm gonna miss you, Bob.

And thank you very much.

Thank you.

Councilman Duffy.

Thank you, Mary.

Uh so in 2017, I walked in this room for the very first time, not to speak, but to actually apply for this.

Yeah, and it was the first time I've ever been in this room, and to the surprise of about 99% of the population and every guidance counselor I ever had, I got appointed.

And you were tasked with mentoring me who had no idea how to do this job, and you dedicated so much time, and then you left.

So I was like, okay, how bad was I really but then years later we were in a spot, and I know you don't like to say it, but you bailed us out.

You have no idea how big of an impact you coming back really was.

And then we got to know each other closer, and we actually could be family because we just found out our relatives are from the same kind of the same area of Ireland.

So we actually could be family, and you feel like it now.

So I I know why you're leaving.

I don't like somewhat that you're leaving, but I know why you're doing it.

And I'm happy to call you my friend, and I love you, Bob, and I wish you the best.

Thank you.

Vice Mayor.

Thank you, Mayor.

You know, Bob, there's there's no one who's helped me learn this job more than you.

I think when you become um city manager or you know, superintendent, you're tasked with managing a lot of different personalities, a lot of different backgrounds.

You're never quite off.

Um, you're always working.

And you've helped me tremendously, just understand basic things.

You broke things down for me.

You've made my job so easy, and I really appreciate you.

Uh it's not goodbye.

It's just we'll see you later because I'm sure we'll be out in Laguna, we'll be knocking on your door.

Um appreciate you and and and also too, I think one thing that attests like to what a leader is is the team you have.

Um, when I first got on the council, we went through the city manager search and I talked to a little bit about it last meeting.

Um there is a bit of a decision to make.

And the team that you put in place, the directors that you know we work with are such great experts in their area.

Um, you know, Andrea, of course, you know, just being ready to go.

I was hoping that one day that when you know you left that you would have people ready, and and we and we so do.

It's not if it's it's who, right?

There's so many.

So thank you for all that.

And um look forward to seeing some photos soon.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Councilman Haney.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, I'll be honest, I dreaded this moment for a very long time.

Um, you know, Bob, kind of what everyone said when I first ran for office, it seemed like a crazy idea.

And I'll be honest, I did not fully understand uh the weight of the challenges facing us.

Um, but one thing that I came to realize very quickly is how important it is to have someone who's willing to be in the trenches with you.

Um, and from day one, you were that person for me.

And uh there's very few individuals or men that I have come to admire and respect and love and trust.

One is that guy right over there.

Um, and and the second one is for sure you.

And um, we've had our fair share of experiences in the few short years that I had the opportunity to serve alongside you.

Um obviously district one is very large geographically, and that took us to the very depths of the desert where I shared our location with my wife just in case it got a little crazy.

We we made it back.

Um, but one thing that I that I came to really admire and try to emulate um about you is the fact that you were willing to meet anybody anywhere.

And I always told my residents that's not something you typically see of uh not only a public servant, but especially a city manager.

And I can't think of how many conversations that we've had with residents, residents who for so many years just felt like another number, felt like they didn't have a voice, and we met them exactly where they were at, and that meant um conversations in the living room.

It meant being honest and transparent.

Um and I mean, there's there's gonna be a big big hole um that you're going to leave as far as um what you mean to not only all of us up here, but for the city and in this community, and and so thank you for for everything that that you've done.

I don't think people really realize um how many problems have been solved before they even get to this dais because of your work.

And I don't think uh people realize just how dedicated you and Marnie have been to this city.

The amount of time you spent away to get back to the residence is something that um our city is going to benefit from from years to come, and then I can't thank you enough for your sacrifice.

And I'm still wrestling with the fact that you're gone.

My goodbye speech is actually gonna be in four parts that you'll have to come and hear in person.

So um, but I'm also so excited to know that um I see little pieces of you and all of the directors that you have formed.

Um, the way you protect your people, I see that every day in Andrea.

Um, the enthusiasm and passion that you have for this job.

I see it every time I call Eric to talk about a roadway issue.

Um, the tenacity you show to to making sure you fight on the city's behalf.

I see that in Jody.

I can go on and on about um the legacy that you're going to leave, not only with the team that you built, um, but and the fact that you've made all of us up here better men and better leaders.

Um, and I can't thank you so much.

I love you.

My family loves you.

Please don't be a stranger.

Um, and it it has truly been an honor to know you and to serve alongside you.

Also, I have a community meeting coming up.

Um I really do tomorrow, but it's fine if you want to go.

Nobody cares.

Yeah.

You're welcome to come.

I'll be the other one.

Yeah.

Uh Councilman Greenberg.

We haven't known each other that long, but you are my kindred spirit, somebody else who was born in the same year that I was born in.

And now you're running off to California.

And now I'm up here with people who weren't even born in the 60s, let alone the 50s.

I don't know what I'm gonna do.

But the the um the community is gonna benefit long into the future for decisions that have been made under you and under the people that you have trained uh to be to not answer with, well, we've always done it like this, or no, we can't do that.

I mean, I love the fact that the answer is always like yes, but you know, let's figure out how we can make something work.

And all the communities that I've lived in have always been always no, we've we can't do it like that because we've never done it like that before.

And just the openness that you have had uh with everything that I've seen since I've been here and the whole staff, the way you've instilled that in them is uh amazing to me.

And you need that in a community that's growing the way our community is growing.

And I am gonna miss you, and I'm gonna be out in California um to visit for sure.

And I'm really sorry that I won't get to spend like the next three years and two months at least um working with you.

But I'm looking forward to working with Antria though.

So it's just been a pleasure knowing you.

Thank you, Councilman Melton.

Thank you, Mayor.

Let me uh let me get through business first, and then I'll do the hard part later.

I have a district meeting tomorrow night as well at Sun Village at six o'clock.

So uh community development will be there.

Talk about permanent stuff and any of the topics that come up.

Number two, um I want to thank uh the mayor for joining me at uh a couple weeks ago.

We had a movie night in the OTS.

It was the first time they've uh uh that the stakeholders shared the aggregate artist stakeholders group, put that together, put on movie night uh in the OTS, and it was a smashing success, and the community loves that.

And the community misses that.

The OTA original Square Mile misses those events, and I'm glad they got it back.

And it was thank you, uh surprise surprise PD.

Chief Beecher, your crew was there to help every step of the way.

Thank you.

Um that means a lot to me and and and to the residents of the original Square Mile.

Um and then also I did attend a thank you, Chief, for setting up uh I audited uh attended an audit of the flock uh LPR system.

And uh very proud of Gina and all of her work.

Where are you, Gina?

Thank you.

Um who uh you guys do take this these of powerful analytics that we have to help uh fight crime, and you take it seriously, and you act within the guidelines.

Um, and you uh you demonstrate integrity every set every step of the way, and I really appreciate that.

I know the community will appreciate that.

And uh Bob, that's kind of the culture you built.

You know, I remember a few years ago, Ken Remley left town.

He said, I gotta go, I gotta go hire a city manager.

I'll talk to you later.

I'm like, all right, man.

What?

And he and he came back with you.

I was like, all right.

Hey, and Ken Remley's uh trust me, this is gonna work out great.

And he was right, and that's your legacy right there.

Uh it's an incredible bench you built.

Um this, you know, I have I have a lot of wins.

We all have a lot of wins, and that began with you to help us to guide us and to get staff to move.

And I don't know what I'll do without you.

It's gonna be it's gonna be rough, but uh I you left us in good hands.

So you did your job, and I am grateful, and I'm gonna miss you, and the city's grateful for you.

All right, I'm gonna stop there.

Thank you, Bob.

Thank you, Mayor.

All right, thank you.

Um, before I say my words about Bob, I just wanted to thank, I mean, really Bob for and the staff for the Veterans Day Parade.

It was my first one.

Um, it was an incredible thing.

Parks and wreck, police fire, um, all the security you didn't see behind the scenes and the EOC, all of it.

Um, you know, Virginia and her crew.

So it was this really special thing, and I want to thank the the council for had this crazy idea of walking in the parade.

Yeah, I appreciate you supporting that.

I might have messed up the timing of it all, but I think it was important for for me to be able to walk along and shake you know every veteran's hand that I saw and said thank you.

The city of surprise appreciates you.

So I appreciate all of you guys for doing that uh with me.

And Bob, it's um I wouldn't be up here without you.

You know, I came as a retiring army officer in 2023, and I came to the city hall and had no idea what I was doing.

And you sat me down and we talked through a couple of things, we got frustrated a couple of times, but um that mentorship it gave me the confidence to run for mayor, and I appreciate that.

And then once becoming mayor, um the conversations we've had, the the guidance you've given has been uh invaluable.

It means so much to me.

You can see the entire staff here.

It's just um you've done an incredible job.

And I know that you know, walking away from something is not not an easy thing.

You know, I did it a couple years ago with the army.

Something you put your heart and passion, soul into and you have to you walk away.

But like my colleagues said, the mark of a good leader is that that bench that you leave that the the impact that they will have and years into the into the just into the future.

So Bob, I appreciate you.

I do I do love you, and uh, we're gonna miss you.

I think that's it.

No, we've got uh thing out the patriarch.

Oh, see, I appreciate you.

There was one, it was my last little note.

The situation overcame me, but uh there are gonna be some refreshments.

Uh if you want to stick around, you know, say say your goodbyes to Bob.

I think you'll be here for a little bit while longer, but um we'll have some refreshments in the mayor's atrium.

Thank you.

Um I will entertain a motion to adjourn to adjourn.

This one sucks.

All right.

I move to adjourn Bob Wiggenross, final city council meeting with us.

Oh yeah, who wants to say second to that?

Oh second, can you second himself?

It's been moved and seconded.

All in favor.

All opposed.

We're adjourned.