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Record of Proceedings

Surprise City Council Meeting - December 2, 2025 - Code Adoption and Appointments

City Council — Wednesday, December 3, 2025
BodySurprise, Arizona
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, December 3, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 30:00

Original source
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1:57

All right, good evening, everyone.

1:58

I'd like to welcome everybody to the city council meeting.

2:01

Um December 2nd, 2025.

2:05

If uh Bonnie Clark, if you could lead us an invitation, please.

2:09

From City Church.

2:11

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the city councilman and our mayor and all the staff here, and we lift them to you and we pray for wisdom for them.

2:21

We pray for their servants' hearts and to give them vision for our city, your vision.

2:28

Guide them to make wise decisions out of concern for the residents of the city.

2:33

We lift their health, their families, and their safety.

2:37

We also thank you for our police, our firefighters, and all our first responders that serve surprise.

2:45

Lord, we thank you for peace in our city and your guidance in our lives.

2:50

May this meeting tonight be a blessing in the mighty name of Jesus.

2:54

Amen.

2:55

Amen.

2:56

Thank you.

2:58

All right, Madam Clerk, roll call, please.

3:01

Mayor Sarder.

3:02

Present.

3:04

Councilmember Haney.

3:06

Here.

3:06

Councilmember Greenberg.

3:08

Uh, Councilman Greenberg has an excused absence.

3:10

Thank you.

3:11

Councilmember Duffy.

3:12

Here.

3:12

Councilmember Melton.

3:14

He also has an excuse absence.

3:16

Thank you.

3:16

Councilmember Judd.

3:17

Can I get one of those?

3:18

Thank you, Mayor.

3:19

We have quite a disminute.

3:21

All right, thank you.

3:22

Can you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

3:29

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

3:36

One nation under God.

3:38

Indivisible liberty and justice for all.

3:54

Yes, thank you, Mayor, Council members.

3:56

I'd like to introduce Shelby here tonight to introduce our youth council.

4:01

Thank you.

4:06

Thank you, Andrea.

4:07

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

4:09

I'd like to introduce to you the two Dais members with you tonight.

4:13

Uh first up is Kate Donick from Paradise Honors.

4:17

Hello, Mayor and Council.

4:18

My name is Kate Donick.

4:19

I'm a junior at Paradise Honors and a fourth year youth council member.

4:23

This semester, our council has been busy volunteering in events, including the Sci Tech Festival, the Veterans Day Parade, Gain Night, Nerf Battle, and much, much more.

4:32

Upcoming, we're looking forward to this weekend's surprise party and the annual teen summit on February 25th.

4:39

If uh if not familiar, the teen summit is a one-day conference where schools send delegates to learn life skills, participate in team building, and get leadership training.

4:49

Our committees are also busy with our projects, including a teen entrepreneur entrepreneurship course, art programs, and community cleanups.

4:56

Thank you.

4:57

Kenzie.

4:58

Thank you, Kate.

5:00

Next up is Kenzie Mies from Paradise Honors.

5:03

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

5:04

My name is McKenzie Myes.

5:05

I go to Paradise Honors High School, and I'm a senior.

5:08

This is my fifth year on the council and many times on the dice.

5:12

This weekend is the surprise party and SYC will be volunteering volunteering across the event.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████████████38%
Community Engagement███████████████████████████27%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████15%
Public Safety███████████11%
Youth Programs████4%
Public Engagement████4%
Cannabis Regulation█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Surprise City Council Meeting - December 2, 2025

The Surprise City Council held a regular meeting on December 2, 2025, at City Hall. Councilmembers present: Mayor Sarder, Vice Mayor, Councilmember Haney, Councilmember Duffy, Councilmember Judd. Councilmembers Greenberg and Melton had excused absences. The meeting included appointments to two commissions, approval of a new liquor license, adoption of the 2024 International Codes and 2023 National Electrical Code, and reports from the Youth Council and councilmembers.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda (three items) was approved unanimously without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • James Ashley, representing the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, spoke in support of the building code adoption package. He thanked the city for proactive, early stakeholder outreach and noted that the proposed amendments would mitigate unnecessary regulations and cost increases while maintaining safety standards.

Discussion Items

  • Appointment to Audit Committee: Councilmember Haney, Chair of the Nominations Committee, recommended appointing Gloria Bianco Daly to the Audit Committee for a term expiring June 30, 2027. The motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously. Ms. Daly was sworn in.
  • Appointment to Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission: Councilmember Haney recommended appointing Kimberly Hale to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission for a term expiring June 30, 2029. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Liquor License – Tacos Chilango: The council considered a recommendation to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control for a new Series 12 liquor license for Tacos Chilango, located at 14420 West Elm Street. Councilmember Haney expressed excitement about the new restaurant and moved to recommend approval. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Adoption of 2024 International Codes and 2023 National Electrical Code: Staff presented an overview of the code adoption process, including public outreach, stakeholder engagement, and the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation for approval. No opposition was received during outreach. The council discussed the process briefly, and Councilmember Haney thanked staff. A motion to approve Ordinance 2025-14 was made by Councilmember Haney, seconded, and passed unanimously.
  • Youth Council Report: Youth Council members Kate Donick and Kenzie Mies reported on recent volunteer activities (SciTech Festival, Veterans Day Parade, Nerf Battle) and upcoming events (Surprise Party, Teen Summit on February 25). They also welcomed new City Manager Andrea Davis.

Key Outcomes

  • Appointments: Gloria Bianco Daly appointed to Audit Committee (term to 2027); Kimberly Hale appointed to Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission (term to 2029).
  • Liquor License: Recommended approval for Tacos Chilango’s Series 12 license.
  • Building Codes: Ordinance 2025-14 adopted, updating the city’s building codes to the 2024 International Codes and 2023 National Electrical Code, with local amendments.
  • Council Reports: Councilmembers announced upcoming community meetings (December 9 at Asante Library, December 6 meet-and-greet at Rec Center), thanked staff for events like SciTech Festival and for prompt response to pothole repairs, and noted the December 5 tree lighting ceremony.

Other Business

  • The meeting adjourned without further business.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good evening, everyone. I'd like to welcome everybody to the city council meeting. Um December 2nd, 2025. If uh Bonnie Clark, if you could lead us an invitation, please. From City Church. Heavenly Father, I thank you for the city councilman and our mayor and all the staff here, and we lift them to you and we pray for wisdom for them. We pray for their servants' hearts and to give them vision for our city, your vision. Guide them to make wise decisions out of concern for the residents of the city. We lift their health, their families, and their safety. We also thank you for our police, our firefighters, and all our first responders that serve surprise. Lord, we thank you for peace in our city and your guidance in our lives. May this meeting tonight be a blessing in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. Amen. Thank you. All right, Madam Clerk, roll call, please. Mayor Sarder. Present. Councilmember Haney. Here. Councilmember Greenberg. Uh, Councilman Greenberg has an excused absence. Thank you. Councilmember Duffy. Here. Councilmember Melton. He also has an excuse absence. Thank you. Councilmember Judd. Can I get one of those? Thank you, Mayor. We have quite a disminute. All right, thank you. Can you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. One nation under God. Indivisible liberty and justice for all. Yes, thank you, Mayor, Council members. I'd like to introduce Shelby here tonight to introduce our youth council. Thank you. Thank you, Andrea. Good evening, Mayor and Council. I'd like to introduce to you the two Dais members with you tonight. Uh first up is Kate Donick from Paradise Honors. Hello, Mayor and Council. My name is Kate Donick. I'm a junior at Paradise Honors and a fourth year youth council member. This semester, our council has been busy volunteering in events, including the Sci Tech Festival, the Veterans Day Parade, Gain Night, Nerf Battle, and much, much more. Upcoming, we're looking forward to this weekend's surprise party and the annual teen summit on February 25th. If uh if not familiar, the teen summit is a one-day conference where schools send delegates to learn life skills, participate in team building, and get leadership training.

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