All right, good evening, everyone.

I like to call this regular city council meeting on Tuesday, December sixteenth to order.

Tonight we have uh Rabbi uh Shlomo to give the invitation.

Rabbi, if you if you would, please figure it out, just standing here with our mayor, members of the surprise city council, and our community, we come together in prayer.

Tonight is a third night of Hanukkah when we light the minority, remember the miracle that took place over two thousand years ago in the land of Israel, where the Jewish people led by the Maccabees so strong in the face of darkness.

These days we hold mixed emotions.

On one hand, Hanukkah's a time of light of joy, gratitude, and adding goodness and kindness to the world.

It reminds us that even a small flame can make a real difference.

On the other hand, our hearts are heavy.

Just days ago, a horrific terrorist attack at Bondi Beach and Senior Street took the innocent lives and left many wounded, including members of the Jewish community.

It was a moment of deep darkness.

Hanukkah teaches us how to respond.

We add light through darkness, through goodness, compassion, and standing strong with our values.

Bless our mayor and the city council with wisdom as they serve the people of surprise.

May we continue to be community that adds light and brings kindness and dignity to all.

We had our very first menorah lighting at the city hall here, and it was just a special moment.

I appreciate uh you being here and helping uh do all that.

So thank you.

And happy Hanukkah.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, if you can call a roll, please.

We're working on the phone line with Councilman.

Uh Mayor Sarder.

Present.

Vice Mayor Hastings.

He is excused.

Thank you, Councilmember Haney.

Here.

Councilmember Greenberg.

Here.

Councilmember Duffy.

Here.

Councilmember Melton, are you on speaker?

I am here, yeah.

Thank you, Councilmember Jed.

Here.

Thank you.

We have quorum.

Thank you.

Uh tonight we have some special pre pledge presenters.

They're not only gonna uh help us with the Pledge of Allegiance, but they're gonna sing a couple of uh songs to help us get in the in the holiday spirit.

So the Valley of Mr.

Choir, the uh director.

Um uh Valley Vista and the director of the arts for Tyshard to name Earnellia here, so I'll I'll let you take it from here, please.

Yeah, so if we could all join us in the Pledge of Allegiance, the Valley of the Choir will lead us off with that.

Just break it up, no singing allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God in your school with liberty and just draw.

Thank you.

We could sing the pledge.

No, not tonight.

So if you're ready to sing, we're yeah, please.

Oh Mr.

Kringle is soon gonna jingle the bells now, tingle all your troubles away.

Everybody's waiting for the man with the back, because Christmas is coming again.

He's gonna play full, it's not gonna stay full.

He's got stuff to drop in every stop of the way.

Everybody's waiting for the man with the back us.

Christmas is coming again.

He'll be with the answers, the prayers that you made through the year.

You'll get yours if you've done everything you should.

That's the special good, he'll make this December the one you'll remember.

The best man, the merriest you ever did have.

Everybody's waiting for the man with the bag.

Christmas is here again.

He'll be with the answers the praise that you made through the year.

You'll get your done everything you should.

Everybody's waiting for the man with the bag.

Christmas is here again.

Everybody's winning.

They're all congregated, waiting for the man with the bag.

Better watch out now.

The fire is warm, the angels are singing, and I don't want to miss a single thing.

Don't want to put it in to all this cheer.

But as long as you're with me, it's always the time of the year.

You make every day feel like it's Christmas.

Never want to stop feeling like the first thing on your wish list.

Right about the top.

I can deny what I'm feeling inside.

Now that they make about the way, bring me alive.

You make every day feel like it's Christmas.

Every day that I'm with you.

Look at the lights.

It's covered in white.

This could be heaven.

But as long as you're with me, it's always a time of the year.

You make every day feel like it's Christmas.

Never want to stop feeling like the first thing on your wish list.

Right at the top.

I can deny what I'm feeling inside.

Nothing take about the way you bring me the life.

You make everything feel like it's Christmas.

Every day that I'm with you.

Every day that I'm with you.

Never wanna stop feeling like the first thing on your wish list.

Right about the top.

I can deny what I'm feeling inside.

Nothing big about the way you bring me the light.

You make everything feel like it's Christmas.

Every day that I'm with you.

Every day.

I can deny what I'll feel inside.

No matter the reason, no matter the season, my housey baby, you better believe it.

You make every day feel like it's Christmas.

Every day that I'm with you.

Well, oh, every day that I'm with you.

Oh, every day that I'm with you.

Sure with you, if that's okay.

Thank you.

All right, I'm gonna do what Miss Virginia does really quick.

We're we're gonna close the face this way really quick.

Okay.

Oh, so pretty.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh, here we go.

Yes.

Okay.

Well I wanted to um do the community acknowledgement part of it.

Uh tonight we had on Sunday I had an opportunity to uh join Rabbi at the menorah lighting up in Asante.

And I learned something.

Oh, I learned a lot that day, but I learned something about um our our law enforcement community, and I wanted to invite the Arizona Rangers up here if you don't mind me joining me up here, Rabbi uh Chief Beecher, if you could join me as well.

And so uh it's important that you know we make sure that our community is safe and that you know we can celebrate the different you know traditions and and religions that we have in the city, and but it takes uh a community to do that, and so I had uh I had some residents reach out uh throughout the weekend to ask how you know we're securing you know the the uh manora lighting.

And I called Chief Beecher and he's like, Mayor, we got the Arizona Rangers, and I kinda heard of him, but never really did, but then I had an opportunity to come out and meet you, and so they supplemented what our police were doing out there.

So we had a few police officers, and how many rangers did you have out there?

Uh we had four of our rangers out there, four of the rangers out there volunteering their own time and really just doing everything they can to make sure that um you know our city's safe, our residents can do what they want to do.

So I just really wanted to say from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you.

Um give you a challenge coin and say thanks for coming out and doing everything that you did.

Sure.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Absolutely.

Appreciate that.

Chief, did you want to say anything?

Yeah, I'll just jump in here.

And so this goes back to the partnerships that we have with uh with the law enforcement body and in totality, really.

And so uh great appreciation.

I know that we can be stretched thin at times, and so this is phenomenal that we have, like I said, the partnerships with the Arizona Rangers and quite honestly with uh with West Valley and just the Valley in total, and so great appreciation.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Appreciate the help.

Everybody else come up.

Council, you want to go behind them really quick, please?

Thank you.

Look this way this way.

Perfect, thank you.

Turn down, and we have Ms.

Andrea Davis with the city manager report.

Thank you, Mayor Council.

Tonight I have two items.

The first one, we have our HR director, Josette, to present the employee dependent scholarships.

Good evening, Mayor Council.

Make sure that's on.

All right.

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.

Holy, we got a lot going on.

All right.

All right, so I'm here tonight to present to you the winners of the 2025 Employee Dependent uh Scholarship Award.

Let me give you a little background.

So the Employee Dependent Scholarship Program was established by former Mayor Joan Schaefer in 1999 to recognize and support the educational pursuits of our employee dependents.

Over time, it has become a meaningful city of surprise tradition, one that highlights academic achievement and celebrates family contributions to our workforce.

Through this program, we have awarded over 70,000 uh dollars to 33 employee dependents, and we are in we are honored and proud to highlight these students and their achievements.

A little background about the process.

So, to be considered for the program, applicants must meet eligibility requirements, including be a dependent of a regular status city employee, be 25 years or younger at the time of application, um, submit a 500-word essay describing their future career goals, a selection committee consisting of city staff across the organization, reviews and evaluates the essays to decide on the winners.

This year we received 18 applications.

So I'm gonna go ahead and introduce our first winner.

Emma Hudson is our first place winner.

Uh, she's a recipient of the $5,000 scholarship award.

Emma is a dependent of Troy Hudson, our lead court security guard in the city court.

Emma truly impressed the selection committee and her exceptional essay, clear vision of her future goals and dedication to her success and caught their attention.

She was accepted to the Grand Canyon University Honors College for Nursing.

Emma has been involved in programs such as HOSA, where she discovered her love for health care, was a varsity cheerleading captain, which taught her how to encourage and uplift others and stay positive.

And she volunteered at her church nursery, all this contributing and preparing her to work under pressure, stay positive and lead with confidence, which will serve her well in her career as a labor and delivery uh nurse.

This is her journey.

So I'd like to invite Emma up with her family.

You guys are in mind coming up.

So we could take a picture, Karina.

And if everybody would just congratulate, join me to graduate engagement.

We have this for you.

Thank you so much.

And then you want to take the picture.

Oh, if you guys want to stand over here and take a picture of counsel.

All right.

Thank you.

Congratulations, Jenna.

All right.

So let's move on to our second place winner.

Claire Avilos.

She's our second place winner and is a recipient of the $3,000 Scholarship Award.

Claire is a dependent of Armando Avalos, who's uh works and streets equipment operator and public works.

Sorry, that should be transportation.

Claire demonstrated strong motivation, thoughtful goals, and a passion for making meaningful uh impacts.

She has served as a senator in her university student government association, where she advocated for over 8,000 students, passing three pieces of legislation.

She served on the University Executive Board of Latin American Studies students and she received certificate of special congressional recognition by multiple U.S.

representatives.

These experiences have prepared her to pursue a career in law and make lasting impact on both the Latino community and the hometown of Surprise.

So let's congratulate Claire.

Yes, there you go.

Go ahead and college carefully.

Thank you.

And right here.

Thank you.

All right.

And for our third place winner.

Finn Bush could not be with us here, but I want to go ahead and share a little bit of information about Finn, is our third place winner, recipient of a $2,000 scholarship.

Finn is the dependent of Amanda Lacey, who is our environmental compliance supervisor in our water resource management department.

Been impressed the interview panel with enthusiasm, personal growth, and clear commitment to furthering education.

Finn's goal is to become a forester for the U.S.

Forest Service, where Finn can combine several of her interests from wildlife management to cattle grazing, outreach, and education.

Finn was part of the range club and gained skills needed for natural resources careers.

Finn worked as a research assistant to a graduate student documenting duck behavior and organizing data in Southern Arizona.

And participated in the Future Farmers of America by helping organizing a state poultry evaluation competition for high schoolers.

So although Finn is not here, let's go ahead and congratulate Finn for that success.

All right.

So that's what I have.

Thank you for joining us in congratulating these employee dependent scholarship recipients.

Thank you, Joseph.

You're welcome.

Thank you, Bear.

We have a second item.

If I could welcome Shelby up to announce the youth council.

Thanks Shelby.

Thank you, Andrea.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

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

First up is Alice Bogman.

Alice is a junior at Willow Canyon High School.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

My name is Alice Bachman, and I am a junior at Willow Canyon High School as well as a second year member of the Surprise Youth Council.

This season, our focus has been strengthening community connections and listening to the voices of the youth.

At the surprise party, our council supported multiple initiatives, including conducting youth council surveys to gather feedback on what teens would like to see more of in the community.

We also assisted with the Operation Santa Food Drive, helping collect donations for families in need, and supported Santa's workshop to ensure a fun and engaging experience for children's and for children and families.

In addition, on Sunday, we helped with cookies and crafts with Santa, creating a welcoming holiday environment, and recently hosted our annual youth council holiday party where members reflected on the semester and celebrated our shared accomplishments.

Through these events, we were able to combine service, outreach, and community engagement, making the holiday season both impactful and meaningful.

Thank you.

That is all I have.

Thank you, Alice.

Next up is Cadence Starter.

Cadence is a June sophomore at Shadow Ridge High School.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

My name is Caden Starter, and I'm a sophomore at Shadow Ridge High School.

This is my first year on the Use Council and my first time on the dais.

As a member of the outreach committee, we focus on bettering surprise through connections and community service.

This past week, our committee made kindness cards for local hospitals to spread cheer during the holidays.

Also, I am one of the leads planning an event in which we are trying to bring youth closer to seniors by a trivia night with questions about different eras.

Some coming up events our council has planned include a street cleanup in the spring, which we would love to have mayor and council attend.

Additionally, the 10th annual MLK Day of Service is on January 17th from 8 a.m.

to 12 p.m.

Anyone can come volunteer and enjoy service projects that benefit the community.

I want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

Thank you for this opportunity to reserve represent our youth in the city.

Also, shout out to Jingles for being here tonight.

Thank you, Cadence, and that's all I have.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

That's it.

I you know, I'm I want to be a proud dad, but I don't want to embarrass anybody, so I'm gonna move on.

We'll take a picture at the end, but super proud.

Um Madam Clerk.

Yes, good evening, Mayor and Council.

Um the agenda for the city clerk is that we are celebrating our 65th year as a city.

And I just want to read some historical facts for the audience.

Once upon a desert day on December 6th, 1960, people of a tiny community cast a total of 153 ballots at a special election to decide its future.

The big question should we officially become the incorporated town of surprise?

113 voters said yes, and 40 said no.

A few days later, on December 12th, 1960, the Maricapa County Board of Supervisors signed the canvas of official results, declaring the incorporation the official option.

The area was a growing desert gem.

On March 30th, 1961, our U.S.

Census Bureau confirmed that the town of Surprise was small but mighty, with a population of 1,574 residents at the time of the census.

Fast forward 20 years, this little town that could had doubled in size to over 3,500 people.

On March 19th, 1991, the voters were asked another big question.

Should Surprise now evolve and further and evolve further and assume a city organization rather than a common council form of government.

Upon approval of a resolution, the town of surprise was now to be known as the city of Surprise, and our transformation began.

From our humble beginnings to a thriving, dynamic city, surprise continues to honor its past while building an exciting future.

Here's to many more years of progress.

Happy birthday surprise.

Thank you, Mayor.

That's all I have.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

And as one of two, I know Councilman Meltons on the phone.

I don't know if he's uh can I'm sure you would say something, but I'm gonna say it.

I just want to say that you know it's important that we remember our roots and the original town site and that one square mile where we started.

Um, you know, it's it's important for this the city council.

I know that we do everything we can to support them and show our appreciation for everything that they've done.

So I just wanted to give a shout out to the original town site members.

There are five items on a consent agenda.

Would anyone like to pull an item or have clarification on it?

Hearing and seeing none, I'll entertain a motion.

Motion to approve consent agenda.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded.

Please cast your vote.

Councilman Melton.

Thank you.

That's a past vote, Mayor.

The eyes have it.

All right, thank you.

There's one item on the public uh hearing part of the agenda.

Madam Clerk, please read item eight.

Item eight, consideration and action pertaining to recommendation to the Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control on application number 365730, requested by Maria Danielle Burgess, our Circle K store number 9626, located at 16256 West Joe Max Road, 85387 for a new Series 9 liquor license.

Okay, this being a public hearing, I'll open this agenda item to the public.

Madam Clerk, do we get any requests to speak?

I do not, Mayor.

I'll close this item to the public.

Council, did you have any questions or comments?

Councilman Haney.

Mayor, I just had one question, maybe for Christy.

I see.

So on here is that the number for the application that you just read, that's the correct one, correct?

I have two different ones.

Yes, on the item, it's correct.

Okay, just want to make sure that the right one.

I don't want Jeff getting mad.

All right, you would uh that's all I have, Mayor.

Okay, thank you.

I understand a motion.

Uh I move to recommend approval of application number three, six five seven three zero to the Arizona Department of Liquor Likes Licenses and Control.

Second.

So moved and seconded, please cast your vote.

Councilman Milton.

Aye.

That is a pass vote, Mayor.

With conviction, I appreciate that.

Councilman Melton.

Madam Clerk, please read item.

Item nine, presentation and discussion regarding the city court department strategic plan.

Good evening, Judge.

Good evening.

Mayor and Council, good good evening.

I'm presiding judge Louis Frank Dominguez, along with Court of Minister Elena Cano.

We'll talk with you about the strategic plan for the Surprise City Court.

First, the court's mission statement.

I'll highlight a few points.

The City Surprise Municipal Court's primary function is to fairly and impartially adjudicate all cases filed in the court and to effectively obtain compliance with the court's orders.

Now, simply put, or simply stated, we strive to treat all we encounter professionally and with respect.

Our goal is to ensure access to justice and justice for all.

A brief overview of the court.

On the left side of the screen are some core service and functions, public service, access to justice, court operations, and case adjudication.

With access to justice, you'll hear more about that as part of our presentation.

Special programs which you know about.

These are some of the programs we have.

Surprise City Court Academy, Justice for All, Financial Relief Fair, and our teen court through the surprise youth justice program.

A few words about the Justice for All Financial Relief Fair.

Many of the court's orders and mandates involve people paying fines and fees to the court.

Some are mandatory, some are not, but once a judge orders it, they're mandatory.

And most people do the best they can to pay in full on the day that it's ordered.

Of course, we set up payment schedules as well for many people, especially in our our time now.

But sometimes they fall out of compliance.

And we send the case to collections.

So people that have their cases out of compliance, uh, we've developed a program called the Justice Financial Relief Fair, Justice for All, where we provide a chance for those people out of compliance to come back to court and get back in compliance.

We've uh developed the program so they can appear virtually, so we have to take time off work or school or other activities.

And we set an appointment.

That's worked very effectively.

And uh that's a program we're gonna continue to ensure people get back on track.

Because oftentimes, if you're out of compliance with a financial obligation with the court, it could impact your driving privilege with the city with the state of Arizona, could impact other issues as well.

I'm gonna turn it over now to uh Elena.

She'll talk about the next item.

Thank you, Judge.

Good evening.

Sorry, I shouldn't use my reading glasses.

Good evening, ma'am, council members.

Um consider this an honor to stand before you.

I think this is my first time before the council and present the court strategic plan to you.

The court is accountable to two governing parties, the city and the state.

So the court strategic plan was actually created in August of 2024 when passing of the gavel at the Supreme Court went from Chief Justice Robert Bruton now to now Chief Justice Ann Timmer.

Each Chief Justice has their own four-year strategic agenda and goals, and they task all courts in Arizona to identify those goals within the respective courts and to assist with those overarching goals of their own.

When the city council identified its primary pillars, the court tried its best to align the Supreme Court goals with the goals of the city.

Slide four reflects what we believe aligns with the city council goals and the Supreme Court goals.

So public safety, public safety aligns with protecting children, families, and community.

Community experience aligns with expanding and promoting access to justice.

Fiscal responsibility aligns with advancing judicial branch excellence and innovation.

Government transparency aligns with maintaining public trust and confidentiality.

Thank you, Elena.

Our first city court goal is protecting children, families, and communities.

We're committed to fostering a culture of safety to protect those who are most at risk and to build a safer, more supportive environment for families and communities.

Three items there, three initiatives.

We developed and implemented with the help of our justice, criminal justice partners, our city courts firearms transfer program.

Often we see our community members in court seeking protective orders.

Specifically under orders of protection, if and when appropriate, the judge can order that the defendant in the protective order case order protection no longer possess firearms ammunition, and that order must be complied with.

So we talk about security and safety for all, and security is paramount for the court.

Now, in terms of community engagement, one of the programs we have involves veterans.

And annually, we participate in the American Beginning Veterans Stand Down and also the Glendale City Veterans Stand Up.

And those both of those programs are helpful to ensure that our veterans are served in our community.

I'm going to turn to the next slide to Elena.

Thank you, Judge.

So goal two, community experience and access to justice.

These goals are both dimensions of public service.

The court is committed to making each court visitor's experience meaningful, whether visiting the courthouse or the court website.

We do this by providing resources and tools that are understandable and clear.

Oops.

As you can see, I've got the odd-numbered court goals.

I'm in goal number three for the city court.

And after this one, you'll see Elaine at the lector and for the rest of the presentation.

And we'll have questions and comments at the very end.

Goal number three: advancing judicial branch excellence in innovation.

That's really important.

Our goal is strategic workforce restructuring for future successes.

We think we have success now.

We're always looking to ensure we continue along that path to ensure we're efficient and in fact fiscally responsible.

We try to be responsible stewards for our resources provided by the community.

We strive to be forward-looking in our evaluation of what needs the court has to serve this city and this community.

Proactively, we strive to realign our workforce with the roles that will be essential in the years to come.

We'll talk a little bit more about digital assistance, transformation, and sustainability.

Those concepts are key drivers for future growth for our city and also the court as well.

Elaine's gonna take us through the next few slides.

So Elena.

Thank you, Judge.

So goal for government government transparency and maintaining public trust and confidence.

These are two distinct yet mutual goals.

One way the court believes it achieves this is by educating the community about the court processes.

The court seeks to ensure navigating through the court system is as clear and innovative and intuitive as possible by enhancing the user friendliness of the court's website, incorporating icons instead of set of texts, expanding the use of instructional how to videos to explain key steps of court processes, and revising court forms to reduce legal jargon.

So our key on projects and initiatives.

Some of the initiatives mentioned have already started the process towards completion.

Our website redesign, although in the early stages, there is progress yet to be made.

The court is has added icons to the landing page of the court's website addressing the most frequently asked questions.

How to register for defensive driving school, how to file a motion, how to make a payment, and what is the court case number and hearing date.

Our virtual hearing initiative.

The court currently conducts virtual hearings.

However, we seek to expand both the reach and the range of case types eligible for virtual appearance.

Electronic services.

This will be our greatest reform, providing electronic check-ins and services for the court visit visitors.

This is the court's vision.

Having kiosks in the courthouse where court visitors can see their options and pay their citations at the kiosk.

Check in to their hearings from the kiosk or their cell phones.

Electronically generated self-help forms.

We already made the motion for elect our motion form electronically, where they don't have to print it out, write out the motion form, scan it back, and then email it to us.

They literally can go onto our webpage now, fill fill it out electronically, hit the submit button, uh email pops up, and they can add any documentation that they want to send to the court immediately.

So there's no more um handwriting that.

It makes it easier for the community, makes it easier for our staff as well.

We are currently working on other electronic forms like financial affidavit, and we hope to move on to the payment plan calculator as well.

So some challenges and opportunities, like with any project, um, the constraints of funding, the availability of project partners who are balancing competing priorities of their own project obligations, and then of course, on the other side of the spectrum of that is our opportunities.

Um we're working with various departments in the cities, which we love to do, and that brings a unity and camaraderie and understanding each other's departments as well.

So thank you.

I appreciate the presentation.

Council, do you have any questions or comments?

I just have one question about the efficiency, and seems like you're doing a lot to increase that.

Is there a specific goal you have in mind for efficiency, or is there a certain metric you're trying to achieve?

Maybe a standard within the courts.

You only have me to turn to you about the metric for efficiency.

Yeah.

Go ahead.

Okay.

Well, Judge, I'm sorry, it's a it's a habit.

In another life.

Mayor no, absolutely.

So what we're trying to do is we're trying to take away the tedious task of our staff.

And this is where we think electronic and technology and AI can actually accomplish that.

For example, our payment plan is a very tedious task that our staff does.

They write down these forms and they fill them out to kind of decide and calculate what these payment plans of the defendants um sanctions are going to be.

One of um one of the AI things that I would like to put on the court's website is that the defendants can do this themselves with a calculator kind of running in the background, they can actually fill out these forms themselves and make payment plans for themselves and fill them out and abide to that as well.

So that's just one example of efficiencies we're trying to make in the court.

Yeah.

So in general, the metric would be where we have right now person hours doing that function, really reducing that the percentage we haven't assigned a percentage, so we're gonna see how that's gonna work for us.

Okay, perfect.

Well, Judge, I appreciate everything you do over there.

I know it's um it's important work, and I think having the access for people, especially in the different languages important.

We have all sorts of different people in the city of surprise residents, and so I appreciate you doing that and um and all of your work on the on the strategic plan and making sure that it aligns with what we're doing and what uh the Arizona courts want you to do as well.

So thank you so much.

One last statement about the the courthouse.

In my view, uh courthouse is a lighthouse.

There's a beacon, people know to come to this place to adjudicate cases, whether they need protective orders, some are invited uh by complaint or summons to come to court.

But regardless, our goal is to ensure that we provide an opportunity to be heard, due process.

We continue to strive to that.

And we appreciate the support of the council, and of course, to see a manager and all the departments here.

Thank you for the chance to talk to you.

So thank you, sir.

Thank you, Judge.

Madam Clerk, please read item 10.

Item 10, consideration and action pertaining to approval of the 2026 legislative agenda.

Good evening, mayor and counsel.

Good evening, Ms.

Toss.

How are you?

Thank you.

Oh, please, Jody.

Um.

Okay.

I am here to present the 2026 legislative agenda, but also to provide you with a 2025 legislative recap.

So for our residents that might have just moved here or may not be aware, I also wanted to provide pictures and maps of their particular districts and who represents them so they can help in our advocacy efforts.

So our two U.S.

Senators are Senator Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, and then CD8, which compromises most of Surprise is Congressman Paul Gosar in CD8 is Congressman Abe Hamiday.

Surprise is three legislative districts.

We have LD 25, Senator Tim Dunn, House Majority Leader Michael Carbone, and Representative Nick Cupper, also a surprise resident.

Also, we have LD28.

We have Senate Majority Whip, Frank Carroll, House Appropriations Chair, David Livingston, and Representative Beverly Pingarelli.

They have about 3,000 residents that live in their district from Surprise.

Then we have LD 29, which is which encompasses about 60% of Surprise.

We have Senator Janae Shamp, former majority leader for the 2025 session.

We have House Speaker Steve Montenegro, and we have Representative James Taylor.

Surprise is incredibly lucky to have so many of our uh state representatives in leadership, which has benefited us this last legislative session.

So 2025 legislative session recap.

In 2025, the Arizona State Legislature convened on January 13th with Mayor Sarter present as Senator Carroll's guest and adjourned on Friday, June 27th, lasting a total of 166 very long days.

Arizona was one of 12 states with a divided government.

Republicans held a majority in both chambers, 1713 in the Senate and 3327 in the House.

During the course of session, there were 1,854 bills that were introduced.

400 of 439 of them passed both the House and the Senate.

Governor Hobbes signed 265 of those bills into law and vetoed 174.

So this past legislative session was probably surprise's most successful legislative session.

And I just wanted to highlight a few of those bills that were able to get the governor's signature that we uh the bills we actually initiated or we led the efforts on.

That includes Senate Bill 1308 by Senator Carroll, which was sober living home reform.

Um, as you remember, that legislation was kicked off not this current session, but the previous session after conversations that were led by both Councilmember Judd and Councilman Haney.

Um the bill made various modifications relating relating to licensing, oversight, and regulations of sober living home regulations, and establish standard inspections and penalties for homes that are non-compliant with applicable state and local regulations.

Then we had House Bill 2539 by Representative James Taylor, and this bill was also incredibly important because what that did, well, our original bill was allocating $9.2 million towards the appropriations for a design study at loop 303 and 155th Avenue.

Um that would have advanced the project by one to two years.

Um while that bill never saw committee, we were able to work with our state legislature and the governor's office to get that in the state budget.

So after a negotiation, um, it was reduced.

We partnered with two other agencies, and it was reduced to a $3.2 million appropriation.

Then we had two Luke Air Force base measures that surprise led the charge on.

We had Senate Bill 1332, sponsored by Senator Janae Shamp, which provides our foreign partners with automatic driver's license reciprocity in the state of Arizona.

That basically frees up our F 35 pilots to not have to go through the bureaucracy of testing and um getting their driver's license, which makes it easier for them to purchase homes in our communities and register their kids for schools.

Then we have Senate Bill 1082, that was a strike everything by Senator Shamp.

That's the foreign landownership prohibition, effectively divestment.

The bill prohibits a foreign principal from a nation identified by the federal government as a direct threat to the United States from purchasing, owning, or acquiring an interest of 30% or more in real property in the state of Arizona.

We're going to be expanding upon that legislation this year to also include leasing.

So the purpose of the legislative agenda, it's to divide define the city's legislative priorities and core values for the 2026 state legislative session, effectively providing me by my boundaries on what I can advocate for at the Capitol.

And we encourage other levels of government to work collaboratively with cities and towns on issues of mutual interest.

And it also provides me with direction to ensure that the city is actively engaging on issues at both of our capitals, the state and the U.S.

capitals that reflect the priorities, missions, and basically the strategic plan of surprise city council.

So our our legislative set uh agenda doesn't change much.

We like to keep it as broad as possible so we're able to cover as many issues as we can under it.

And then if there's any side issues that this wouldn't fall under, I would come to you individually on those matters.

So our number one item on the legislative agenda is to maintain surprises quality of life.

I have a couple bullet points underneath that, which elaborate on what that includes.

Uh preserve local funding.

Every year we're dealing with preemptive efforts by the state legislature.

So it's to advocate to make sure we keep our uh state revenues intact, um, which will be an issue this year, considering HR1, which was the big beautiful bill.

We don't know what the ramifications from the federal government will be to state revenues, as well as the tax reform mentioned by Governor Hobbes, and then the incorporation of Santan.

Uh support local decision-making authority.

This, I'm sorry, this is where we want to oppose preemption.

And then transportation, which is public transportation and public safety, are really our two biggest issues down at the Capitol.

We want to continue to seek support to expand our transportation infrastructure in our high growth areas, specifically west of the 303 and in North Surprise.

Support regionally coordinated transportation planning, which we do with many thanks to Councilman Nikaney, who's on MAG Transportation Policy Committee, and Mayor Sarter, who's on MAC Regional Council.

Continue to engage regional, state, and federal partners to ensure residents have reliable and efficient transportation options in and out of our city, and oppose efforts that limit local control and transportation decision making processes.

Support federal and state funding for statewide regional and local transportation and infrastructure projects.

We will be seeking a state appropriation to advance a design study at loop 303 and US 60, which would be able to provide us continuity with completing the construction at loop 303 and 155th automatically go into construction at loop 303 and 60, with many thanks again to the advocacy of Councilman Haney and Mayor Sarder.

We're collaboratively with our federal, state, regional, and other local delegations to secure grant funding for our most impactful infrastructure needs.

As you all know, we'll be heading to DC in March to lobby our federal delegation on an infra grant that we plan on applying for to further help to expedite 303 and 155th.

Land use planning, protect local authority and land use planning, effectively fight the buyright zoning attempts, support efforts that promote orderly, responsible, and sustainable growth, oppose efforts that impede growth management, focus on policies that ensure growth pays for itself, and maintain consistency between local code and state law.

Public safety, preserve and enhance the ability of local government to strategically plan for and respond to emergencies, support legislation that enhances public safety services while maintaining vigilant with the protection of individual rights, and support school safety policy to further protect students, staff, and visitors.

Economic development, support efforts that maintain and enhance our economic competitiveness, support diversification of economic development tools, protect local authority and development projects, and support incentives and other mechanisms that would contribute to high quality private sector growth and job creation.

Water and sustainability every year.

We see many water bills.

We're gonna continue to see those.

So we collaborate with regional and local partners to support legislation that encourages practical water efficiency and conservation measures, protect surface water and uphold the principles of the groundwater management act, protect surprises investment in safe and reliable water resources and wastewater services, and ensure that Surprise is able to supply assured safe and sustainable water to our residents.

And lastly, I have protect the mission of Luke Air Force Base.

We advocate for the long-term mission and viability of Luke Air Force Base through local and regional community support as well as any level of advocacy to protect the base and its mission, which includes ensuring that any housing bills protect the graduated density that's in state statute.

And that's all I have.

Do you have any questions or comments?

Okay.

Thank you.

Any council members?

Councilman Haney.

Thank you, Mayor.

And Jody, thank you for the presentation.

I did have a question.

Um, obviously the legislative session can be unpredictable.

I would like to see us, and I guess it's worth the discussion.

If there's any legislation moving through the process that deals with the overall well-being of first responders throughout our state, I'd like to see surprise be a party of that.

Um, obviously in the fire service, we're losing our folks to cancer at just a heartbreaking rate.

I know our law enforcement friends are dealing with things on their end.

And so I'd love for we I know our community prioritizes public safety.

This council does as well.

And so I'd like us to be a party on any legislation that's moving forward on that.

If everyone's good with that.

Okay.

Um the next thing, and I guess it's more of a comment.

I I want to thank you for your efforts.

Obviously, I've only been here for about three years, and it's been a fast three years, but um, to see you work down at the Capitol has has been amazing.

And I I we've had some conversations as of late, is sometimes we forget just how far we've come since even that time.

And I know you've been working on these issues long before I got here, but uh what I hate and what I hear from residents the most is why they mistrust government.

There's several reasons, but one reason is they feel like sometimes we just go through the motions.

And what I like about this legislative agenda, and we have we have wins to back it up as well.

And the wins don't necessarily come in the form of legislation.

Sometimes it's what we prevent.

But we have actionable things that we have done to back it up that this isn't just simply us just saying, hey, here's our legislative agenda, just so we can pat ourselves on the back.

This is really more so a playbook for us to identify ways that we can protect the overall quality of life for residents.

And obviously, in my northwest area that I represent, uh, there's a saying out there, I always say it every time you do this presentation.

But if you don't have a seat at the table, you're on the menu.

And my residents, we're feeling what it means when you don't have a seat at the table because for so long we didn't.

And so now we have classrooms that are filled with empty seats because kids can't get in there quick enough because they're stuck in traffic.

We're seeing timelines that that folks are not happy with, rightfully so, because we're overdue for solutions.

And what makes me encouraged by this is when we're talking about this, is not only are we we're very well aware of the challenges, but through your legislative agenda, we're identifying ways where we can expedite timelines, where we can further studies that'll help get construction started sooner.

And so I'm very excited about this.

Um, one because I've seen what you've done in the past, but also I think there's tons of opportunities for us to meet this challenge head on in the future with this legislative session.

Uh, and so I guess my to end, my question is for my residents who are frustrated with the timeline, frustrated with things that are going on in our area, how can they get involved?

How can they help you?

Because obviously I'm one voice, mayor's one voice, all of us on the council.

We have some weight, but I can tell you the emails that I get sharing those personal experiences hold way more weight than any of my colleagues' opinion, you know.

And I say that respectfully.

So, how what how can a resident get involved?

It would be really impactful if they reach out to our state legislature, especially with regards to state-owned infrastructure.

And I know sometimes they might just reach out to our LD 29 delegation, but really it's all of surprises delegation and leadership in both chambers, plus the appropriations chairs.

We're competing with a small, I mean, there's a small pot of money that a lot of us are competing for.

I mean, obviously, we have Queen Creek that has SR24, we have um Maricopa that has SR 347, we have the growth in Peoria, we have the growth in North Phoenix.

So we have Buckeye, we have Goodyear, you know, they're looking at the widening of I-10, they're looking at SR30.

So we're all competing for for, you know, this small amount of money that we desperately need to help that corridor.

So the more voices that these folks hear down at the Capitol, the more impactful our fight is down there.

So, you know, I don't want to do a form letter because people have a tendency to ignore those form letters, but if they can um, you know, send a message, call their state legislature and really tell them their story about what they're going through, and then focus on the public safety need because we're having more and more accidents.

We can't stop growth.

Um I mean, they're talking about higher density, you know, putting in higher density homes and preempting us from being able to have a say so in that.

But there's a reason why we can't have higher density in our surprise because our transportation infrastructure can't keep up with it.

So hearing from those residents and really having them elaborate on the need for that transportation in their voices, because they are the voters would be so helpful and impactful.

Okay.

And when you say our transportation, obviously the made major roadways, the city controlled roadways we have control of.

Who controls Grand Avenue or US 60 in the loop 303?

It's the state.

And so, and you know, we've used a lot of leverage for surprise advocating for state infrastructure because ADOC's not down at the Capitol, you know, advocating for the widening of Grand Avenue or Loop 303 and 60, that's really surprise.

We've gotten that done.

You know, we put it in Prop 479 in order to get that done.

So I mean, it's a partnership, but that is state-owned infrastructure.

Okay.

So state-owned infrastructure.

And really, when we're talking about improving the overall infrastructure, including shaving off some time from those timelines, ultimately it comes down to funding.

Is that kind of what I'm hearing?

100%.

And then when you look at um, you know, JLBC, which is the joint legislative budget committee, they're not meeting again till January, but the forecast is a little gloom and doom for the next few years with regards to our state budget.

Um, we won't have the latest update until January, and then the Financial Advisory Committee will meet at the end of January.

So we'll have a better understanding.

But I mean, our deficit looks pretty um detrimental over the next three years.

So where's that money going to come from?

And then we have to look at the federal government because the state budget's not going to have money in it.

Um, we have a state legislature that has an increased gas taxes since 1991.

And we got a lot of HERF and other funding through that gas tax.

So when I say we're competing for a limited pool, I don't see a gas tax tax increasing.

We have more electrical vehicles on the road, which further diminishes the gas tax.

Um there's a lot of issues with regards to revenue in the state of Arizona.

And so I I would expect to see more cuts to services at the state level because of those.

And I don't know how that's going to impact any state funding.

We the state effectively does not fund infrastructure, which is why Prop 400, actually Prop 300 initially came to fruition.

And you mentioned we can't stop growth.

And obviously, we all of us have had conversations in the Northwest area of these are, you know, previously, you know, approved homes that are being constructed.

And I always highlight the steps that we've taken as a council as well as city staff of trying to look at our zoning process to increase resident engagement to make sure that the infrastructure is coming in to support the growth.

Because, and you probably hear a lot of conversation out of the Capitol.

Cities, not necessarily, at least this city is not anti-growth, but we are pro-smart growth.

And what that means is if that growth is coming, it can't come at the expense of the quality of life of residents that are already here.

And what we're experiencing is the complete opposite.

And so what I always appreciate, and I don't think a lot of our residents understand how many pieces of legislation you've had to advocate against that actually diminish local control in these zoning processes.

Is that something you anticipate will be coming up this session as well?

Absolutely, because there's still a focus on affordability and housing.

So I do expect to see that.

And like you said, some of the wins aren't necessarily the wins I highlighted.

A lot of the wins are what we were able to stop before it got to the governor's desk or to be able to get one of those 174 vetoes.

Well, thank you for your obviously your efforts.

Obviously, we'll we'll be in touch.

And um, I think especially this session, now that that corridor study came out, and I think everyone's feeling that that sense of urgency even more so because it's I mean, something's got to give, and and the best way for us to really improve it is is to shorten those timelines.

And um, so I will do everything I can on my end to work with you to see how we can increase resident engagement because I know the stories that I hear are extremely impactful.

They stick with me.

And I think the more of our decision makers uh that hear these stories, uh, maybe that'll help move the needle in the positive direction.

But uh thank you for your presentation.

I'm excited to see how I can help with uh getting this policy or this legislative agenda uh enacted, and hopefully at the end of the session, we'll come back and there'll be several more wins for us to celebrate.

So my cub spanning like to play that W flag.

But um I think I I know this this council's really humble, but a lot of our wins have actually been done to you really because of your relationships and the seats you sit on on regional and statewide committees.

So, you know, we were able to um get loop 303, 155th Avenue done because of your advocacy at MAG that was originally going to be in phase two, it's now in phase one.

We're um looking to obviously expedite loop 303 and US 60 because of your advocacy and your support on those MAG committees.

Um, so you've done a lot of that work too, and and I know you're humble and you're not gonna say that you did that, but I don't think residents really understand that we've been able to shave off 10 years worth of construction in the North area of surprise through the advocacy efforts by me at the Capitol and you and those committees that you all sit on.

We've got a great mayor, great council, and a great team surprise.

So I think everyone should share in that.

So thank you, Jody.

Thanks, Mayor.

Councilman, do you have anything else?

Okay.

I'm gonna put the quote in my office from Councilman Haney, great mayor.

I appreciate that.

Appreciate the shout-out.

Yeah.

Um so you talked about Santana Incorporating.

Uh can you explain briefly what that impact is to the city of surprise?

That's Far East Valley or Far West Valley.

Why does it matter?

Because we have to share the state revenue with all what was 91 cities and towns.

It's now 92 cities and towns, and Whitman's also looking at incorporating.

So if they follow through within their incorporation, there'll be 93 cities and towns that we have to share our state shared revenues with.

So the impact that the league has estimated to the city of surprise.

Well, I mean, it seems minimal, but it's an estimate was uh 1 million fifty uh 1.56 million.

Okay.

Yeah, so that's what that is.

And then the estimate for HR1 right now is a little over three million, but these are all estimates.

We don't we don't have that amount.

We'll have a better idea.

Com JLBC and FAC at the end of January.

Yeah.

And I think you say one 1.5 million, and it all adds up, you know, uh a half million here, a million there, and so every little bit helps, especially as we're growing and trying to build the city.

So um I one I want to thank you for your efforts and what you do.

I think one being a leader in the West Valley amongst your peers, it's a great thing.

I mean, you coordinated effort.

I mean, remember when you're going through the Luke um um bill about the um foreign investment.

I mean, you were talking to folks in DC working with all sorts of people, and I think it's just it's really I'm proud.

I know the council's proud, the city's proud of those efforts because uh you're representing the city at the highest levels of government and and doing a fantastic job at it, and not just those types of things.

I mean, you host uh different panels.

I know you hosted a panel with uh Senator Gallego.

I know you've uh a handful of them with our state legislators and and just really representing the city, and I think every little bit helps when they're when the state legislators see us and they see you know the council at different committees and they see us, you know, down at the state capital or you down there.

It's just every little bit helps.

I think advocate for the city of surprise, and I appreciate you doing that.

I know it's a lot of work and a lot of hours.

So thank you for that.

And I want to thank our legislators.

Um, you know, the first year in office, and and you know, I hear from different mayors about their perspective on um on legislators and this and that, but I just feel very thankful that the relationship that we have with our state representatives is is very fantastic.

We we came in, we posted them here for a legislative update, and they were all very receptive to it.

And so I think those relationships matter as well.

And I'm um, and they they said many times that this is the best relationship we've had with the city.

So I think it's just uh it's a great thing.

I think we're all kind of aligned with you know where we're at with our effort, our priority and what we're trying to achieve in the city with our state legislators with everybody on council.

So I'm I am looking forward to a great legislative year and um getting a lot of stuff done for the city of surprise.

Councilman Haney talked about uh contacting our uh for residents to contact their state and federal legislators.

Where do they get that contact information from?

On the government relations page on surprise.gov.

Okay, so surprise easy.gov slash government relations, whatever that URL may be.

Um and so they navigate there what what will they see?

Um they'll see each district broken down as well as our U.S.

offices and our congressional offices with their contact information for each office.

And would you recommend calling, emailing?

I um I would probably do both.

Both, okay.

Yeah, okay.

All right, thank you for that.

Well, Jody, I appreciate um everything that says consideration and action, so I'll um entertain a motion.

May I will say too, if if if any residents are angry and stuck in traffic, I will automatically forward your email to someone else.

So I'll do my part.

Uh with that, I'd like to move to approve the 2026 legislative agenda as presented.

Second, it's been moved and seconded.

Please cast your vote.

Thank you, Jody.

I should say on.

Are you still on Councilmember Melton?

Yes, and it's an I.

Thank you, sir.

That is a pass vote, Mayor.

Yeah, less energy for sure.

Um okay, thank you, Madam Clerk.

Please read item 11.

Item 11 consideration and action pertaining to approval of the surprise 120 development agreement.

Resolution number 2025, 136.

Good evening, Mr.

Amers.

Evening, Mayor, Council, item before you is the development for surprise development agreement for surprise 120.

There you go.

So Surprise 120 uh sits uh east of uh 225th, west of 227th, north of Deer Valley.

It's 120 acres, um, like all development agreements.

It's outlining the developers' obligations in this case, based on the size of the um the development, they have the obligation to contribute to 227th traffic signal as well as 219th.

We have a true up clause in there as well.

So if the cost goes up, the developer then pays the difference.

So, right now in the agreement are estimates.

They also have to either pay the water resource development impact fee, or they have to contribute their proportion of share to the recharge patient for um the um water um resource uh process, as well as they have wastewater improvements that they need to either contribute or acquire the capacity for the within spa three or contribute to the expansion of spa three for that.

They also have their water obligations they need to do, as well as whatever right-of-way in easements are required to support that infrastructure.

So here's an overall picture of the area.

You can see there in that green area is the surprise 120.

You can see the area that's directly east of that, which is our 219th Deer Valley residents.

And I pointing this out just to make clear that these lines on the map are pretty much the alignments for the most part, but not exact.

So for Deer Valley Road, knowing that we have some residents here that have a concern about the location of Deer Valley Road.

When Mesquite Mountain Ranch 5 comes in, that road will still shift to the south because we do have residents that back up right up to Deer Valley Road today.

And as you can see, these are the location of the two traffic signals that they're um required to do their proportionate share.

And with that, I'll take any questions or comments.

Okay, thank you.

Um I was told we have a few residents who wanted to speak about this agenda item.

I know it's not a public hearing part of the agenda, but I think it's important that we hear them.

So uh, Madam Clerk, do you have names?

I just have one mayor.

Um, so if there's more, please let me know.

Kimberly, and I hope I say your last name Varostek.

Thank you.

So, Kimberly, as you as you make your way up, please state your name and crossroads for the record, please.

Off of 219th in Sun Valley Parkway.

Um, I live in the little desert community.

Um, I'm representing that community tonight.

Um, specifically about um, so we're a small rural community going back about 30 years, um, and we are trying to hold on to our rural character.

We've been doing a lot of work with the city towards that end.

Um surprise 120 is to our west, as you can see.

We have reached agreements with them to limit traffic um and to attempt to limit noise and light pollution on the east boundary through the use of vegetation and buffers, which we truly appreciate those efforts.

Um, however, Deer Valley Parkway as their secondary egress ingress is still a major concern for residents and several uh affected property owners are in attendance tonight.

Um, as it is on our south boundary, it's currently a one-lane gravel road proposed to become a four-lane arterial.

Do I have that correct?

Six lane arterial.

Six lane arterial, thank you.

Um, and at that uh where it is, it would be right at people's front doors.

Um so the city has been working with MMR, uh Mesquite Mountain Ranch, who is responsible for developing that to shift the parkway south.

Um so those conversations have been occurring, and there's an informal agreement to shift the parkway, but this is yet to be formalized legally in a development agreement.

Uh surprise 120 will be taking advantage of the roadway development done by MMR to utilize Deer Valley Parkway as their secondary ingress egress.

Um, and this one fortunately drive more both construction traffic and then residential traffic through our community along that border, as well as pulling in additional traffic due to the 10 acres of commercial acreage uh to their southwest border, which you can't see here, but there is a commercial unit there.

Um there are multiple homes along Deer Valley Parkway, which include uh ranches, livestock ranches, uh, and then homesteads.

Um my time is that.

No, you have one more minute.

Okay.

Um and then a final thought for this egress, dumping four or six-lane traffic onto two nineteenth as currently planned for their egress also seems unlikely to be a safe exit method.

Uh depending on how desert trails and MMR do their development, we may have similar frontage effort, frontage roadway development efforts on 219th that haven't been yet but yet to be addressed.

So while our community realizes development is moving forward, we do have the right to continue exist as current rural landowners, but given the expected growth of thousands of homes, we do ask for responsible development, specifically in transportation because it will quickly become another grand 303 163rd set of issues if it's not planned with careful forethought.

Okay, thank you, ma'am.

Thank you.

And that was your only request to speak.

That was my only request to speak.

Okay.

Council, do you have any questions or concerns?

Uh yeah, Lloyd, do you mind addressing some of what was brought up there?

Sure.

Okay.

As Kimberly said, we do have Mesquite Mountain Ranch 5 that's in.

We have a DA.

The DA has the language to shift Deer Valley Road to the south.

What we're working on is how to make the connections like a frontage road to provide those residents the access to Deer Valley Road safely.

As development comes in, you'll see all those pieces as you see in the this development agreement start to get developed and occur.

Right now, the main focus for 120 would be 227th to Sun Valley Parkway.

Um that's why you have that traffic signal located there at 227th in uh Sun Valley Parkway.

Um as Mesquite Mount Ranch comes in, they'll be responsible for building their proportionate share of 227th up to Deer Valley.

At that point, that's when we anticipate surprise 120 based on the infrastructure costs that it's gonna take to do those roadways and both water and wastewater.

Uh development of 120 acres isn't feasible to uh fit that cost for all that infrastructure.

So it's gonna be a logical smart growth pattern that we see out there.

We do see currently today, we see surprise uh foothills moving forward.

Um that is off of 235th or um surprise foothill parkway.

That'll come that's the blue line directly west of the uh two signal there at 227.

Eventually that'll have a signal, and they'll the developers are responsible that out, that'll continue north all the way up and across to both um Deer Valley as well as to the Deer Valley Parkway.

They that's gonna connect across in the Buckeye in the future.

So right now, what you see on the screen are the proposed developments and or entitled developments that have gone through the process.

And we've got development agreement from Mesquite Mount Ranch coming forward.

We've still got Anna Madeira that's gonna do their proportion of share and responsibility for um 219th, and we still have we've well, we've got approved the desert trails that both does the 219th and Deer Valley and all the way out to 195th.

Okay.

Uh so just so I make sure I'm clear hearing you correctly.

The to make sure that that Deer Valley Road will shift south.

There it is somewhere that will hold them because I I see the concern of that there's nothing in there.

There is something that will hold them to making sure that they shift that south.

That is correct, sir.

Okay.

Okay, and I know we worked um Kimberly and Michelle, and they're great advocates for for their neighbors, and so maybe we'll just kind of keep them in the loop on on that.

We we most definitely will.

Okay.

And they've been a great partner through this desert role overlay that we're working to bring forward that zoning as well.

So we'll continue that.

Okay.

Okay.

All right, thank you, Lloyd.

Thank you, Kimberly.

All right, thank you.

Council, any other questions?

Lloyd, I had one question.

So I uh the question was about the rural urban uh interface overlay.

This is gonna be a part of that.

So there'll be some protections as far as distance.

Mayor, yeah, council, yes, sir.

Um, in fact, that with the rezoning that'll come forward with um surprise 120.

You'll you'll see where the developer, the residents in the city have already started to implement that.

So we're starting that protection, even though we don't technically have the zoning in place for it.

Okay, thank you.

That's great work.

Um, I will entertain a motion.

All right, I move to approve resolution number 2025-136.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded.

Please cast your vote.

Aye.

Thank you.

That's a pass vote, Mayor.

All right, thank you.

Please read item 12.

Presentation and discussion pertaining to the FY 2026 financial status report through September 2025.

Good evening, Mayor and Council and Jingles.

Good evening.

I apologize.

I did not get down here in time to get the presentation up.

So bear with me.

I was enjoying the Hanukkah music.

I the 1990s version of Hanukkah was I was just enjoying it.

So that was a wonderful ceremony they did for us.

Okay.

All righty.

So this evening we're going to talk about our 2026 financial status update through September.

So it's our first quarter through September.

Here are our sources of our category for our revenue examples.

That does contain our state shared sales tax, income tax and vehicle license.

So for our 2026, the first quarter, uh we were uh slightly higher than anticipated.

Um and when I say anticipated, that's just what we budgeted for those first three months and our local sales tax and for our state shared sales tax.

So they came in higher uh for the first three months than we expected them to.

And our franchise fees uh came in higher as well, and it looks like we received um more in our telecom franchise fee, which is all the telecom uh wired in our working in our right-aways.

So we collect um a percentage of their revenues as they're working in our in our areas.

Everything else, we fall out at a 1.3% over budget over what we anticipated for the first three months for our uses categories, personnel supplies services, capital and transfers out.

We uh actually came in slightly over budget in a couple of our categories.

Uh personnel, just and they're all due to timing.

Personnel, um, we were able to onboard more employees in the first quarter than uh we anticipated budgeting wise um through September.

And then our uh personnel and supplies also slightly over what we estimated for the first quarter.

Again, timing, everybody, all the departments do really well with their budgets, they know what they have.

Um it's just what what the finance team anticipated for those first three months.

And our services was was slightly under uh what we anticipated, but again, it's due to timing, and then that will come out.

Uh we were uh 2.4 percent over budget in total for those first three months, just what finance had anticipated questions or comments council councilman John.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Sandy.

So it looks like things things are trending along the way we expect.

Yeah.

Um that was just for September.

The first two months we were up a little bit more than we were in September, and then we're uh this is actually July, August, and September.

So that's all three of them together.

Yes, okay.

Yes.

All right.

And so things are going along as we could as well as we could hope.

Yep.

Um, if things take a turn, um, how well are we positioned to deal with uh a reduction of sales taxes?

Let's say you know the economy sours a little bit, people stop spending, we stop getting so much sales sales tax revenue.

How are we positioned?

We we anticipate for incidences such as those uh to where we can start scaling things back.

Um, and when I mean scaling things back, it's either you know, live within everybody's budget.

Um maybe we we read we ask every department to reduce their budget accordingly.

It just depends.

Um if this is something forecasted through for FY27, we can definitely capture that during our um FY27 budget process, which we'll be kicking off with you guys in January, late January, early February.

Okay, so as as we we're going along, if we get our if we get our sales tax revenues next month and they're uh disappointing, but we don't expect they would be, but let's say they were disappointing.

Then we sit down, finance you guys get together with all the departments and start talking about what their budget really looks like instead of what it is now.

And and we we do look at um because the sales tax is about two months um out by the time we get it and record it, it's about two months.

It we will have a good idea.

That's when I start having conversations with city management and with you guys, and we we we just start having conversations on what do we anticipate it to look like month after month here on out.

All right, sounds good.

Thank you, Sandy.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

I will now open this uh meeting to the public.

Madam Clerk, do we get any requests to speak on non-agenda items?

I do, Mayor.

Uh first I have Michelle Heineke.

Michelle, are you here?

Okay, her uh topic was for music at the park.

Um Michelle Guevara, am I saying that correctly?

No.

Okay, nobody's here.

April Butler.

Ah, good evening, April.

Good evening.

If you could say your name and crossroads for record, please.

Okay.

And what?

Your name and crossroads.

Like where the crossroads where you live.

I'm sorry, I'm not hearing you.

Your your name and the crossroads where you live.

Oh, okay.

My name is April Butler, and I'm off of uh Rumes in Lichfield.

No, Reims and Peoria.

I I've been out here for many years, but yes, I'm sorry.

Yeah, I moved.

Um, so my name is April Butler.

My family's been out here for many, many years.

Um pictures in City Hall.

I mean, we've we've been here for many years.

I wore the City of Surprise shirt, of which three of my roots back there are my family.

So my heart is here, even though I just recently moved out.

Um still very close.

My whole family's here.

I'm here today to talk about Tecanox Project Becara, of which is very concerning to me.

Um, I know you guys aren't voting on that.

Um, but I do want to come up and talk about it.

It's it's very concerning to many of us that live out that way.

Um, the closest house is only 2,000 feet away.

This is a huge project.

It's copper canyons right there.

It there's so many people that this affects.

We don't want it there.

Um, it affects so many of your voters.

I'm I'm got a petition here.

4500 people have signed it.

If you guys are interested in that information, I do have it, but I mean, this this affects your community, even though it's not in your community.

And as you know, you're also tasked with emergency services, which I'm sure is a big task in itself.

As I sat here today and listened to so much that was presented, it I was surprised actually about how much there was so much that was covered tonight that falls in relation to Project Bacara as far as safety, strategic planning, emergency budgets, uh I'm sorry, emergency um response, quality of life.

So I'm just here to keep it in your mind.

You're not voting, but you do have a voice, and I'm asking for you to use that voice and speak out on it.

We would appreciate it.

Am I out of time?

Well, you went through the case.

I'm confused, I'm trying to hurry, but I'm not sure what's going on.

Well, we had some technical difficulties, so I gave you 30 more seconds just to make sure we cover all that.

Um so thank you for for letting me come and speak on this tonight.

Um, it is something that's very close to my heart and that of my families, being that we all live out here and we live in many of your districts.

So I'm asking for me, my family, the entire family and that of the community.

I appreciate it.

Thank you so much.

All right, thank you.

And thank you for being a part of surprises history.

Um have you talked to that resident?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, okay.

All right.

And Lloyd, you've talked to her as well.

Yes.

Okay.

Just want to make sure you're connected with our community development director will assist city manager, but um, and you're council members.

So okay.

But no, we hear you.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, anyone else?

Uh, yes, Mayor.

Oh boy.

Hillary Weber.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Sorry.

Good evening.

Um, I'm Hilary Weber.

I live in Kingswood Park.

My crossroads are Parkview and Bell about there.

Um, I'm not deeply rooted in this community.

My family is a little leaf on a new branch.

Um, we've been here for six years.

I have a one-year-old, an eight-year-old, and a six-year-old.

My six-year-old has type one diabetes.

Um, and I just kind of wanted to introduce myself to you.

Um, because I am also on the coalition, the community-led coalition um to oppose Project Bocara.

And I just kind of wanted to, I don't know, I can't express to you our little core coalition group leaders of about 15 people.

We have spent hundreds of hours going through all of this information.

We have spent countless nights not sleeping, um, texting each other out of frustration about this project.

Um, professionally, I'm a research assistant at ASU.

Um, I'm pursuing a graduate degree in public health and sustainable development.

I'm also getting my environmental education certificate.

Um thing I really have to do as a professional in the research sphere is provide any participant in a research study with informed consent.

Um, your doctor also has to provide informed consent.

Anytime you visit your doctor and your doctor, she says, Oh, you needed this treatment.

Um, I'm gonna tell you all the risks, even the very, very, very, very, very minuscule one that have a less than zero percent chance of happening.

Well, like a 0.01% chance of happening.

Just so you can be informed and you can look at your own mind and say, yeah, that sounds good or that sounds terrible.

And I think the thing that's most villainous about Tacanock to me is that they are trying to remove our informed consent on this issue.

They snatched up a parcel of land that is heavy industrial zoned that's surrounded by residential area.

Um, it hasn't been rezoned since 1988, and obviously, since our beautiful town is so new, and we've seen such rapid development, that zoning is no longer compatible with the surrounding area.

Um I was really uh inspired and just felt a lot of relief from hearing all the legislative goals and all of the court's goals and the city goals and the development goals, because this project directly throws all those goals into the fire.

It will consume all of our resources, all of our water, it will make people move.

No one wants this.

This will cause cancer in our community.

There's uh, I don't know if you heard on the news, but a massive Google data center out in Ohio that's been there since 2011 has caused a spike in rare cancer cases in that community.

Um sorry, my time's up, but I just think if this project had our best interest, they would allow us the opportunity to collaborate and to bring it into the sunlight so we can vote on it.

And they're not doing that.

They know it's bad for us, and they don't care.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Uh, next I have Alex Christ.

Good evening, Alex.

Thank you, Mayor.

Alex Chris, the 175th and Waddell.

Uh, Mayor, Council members, uh, during these dark and cold nights, uh, our human history and and many cultures, we have come and contemplated and really thought about what our future is gonna be and what our past has been from the Sumerians to the Romans to the Druids.

Um, and also we have our Jewish brothers and sisters celebrating the festival of lights, Hanukkah during this time.

And as for me and my family, we come together and we celebrate the birth of our Savior who has come and given me and my family peace.

And even though December 25th is uh not actually uh correct, the fact is that he was born and that he lived and that he died, and on the third day he was raised from the dead.

And that's what my family and I love to come during this time.

Um I was hoping to to have a really cheerful one, but in the last 48 hours or so, we we have seen that that darkness wants to overcome this light.

That there are still people in this world that want to uh squash and and diminish um the light that is in us.

And my hope and prayers that we find the peace that passes all understanding, and that we find it in the Prince of Peace.

And that we look into the future.

Um 65 years for our city and 250 years for our country.

And I just can't wait to have those next years because we as humans, we as people, we as residents of this city who who come out will bring that positive light, our love for our fellow man and for what's gonna be coming in, you know, for for the next part of our of our journey.

I just want to thank you, Mayor and Council members, because uh this has felt totally different from previous councils.

And I know I I hate to repeat it a lot, but uh, we just want to thank you for that.

Thank you that you continue to have your meetings on on those Saturdays, the first Saturdays.

Mayor, you take your time uh out of your time to to meet with all our residents, and I appreciate that.

So, to the staff, to all who work to make this city great, merry Christmas, and Mayor, council members, happy new year.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And the lastly, Alisa Everett.

Good evening, Lisa.

Good evening, Lisa Everett, 163rd and grand.

But we're not gonna talk about that.

I am here because I attended the amazing Christmas events that the city held.

And if you have not come to one of those events, folks, you're missing out.

It was my first year to attend.

I'm ashamed to say that.

I've lived here six years, first time, but it definitely will not be the last.

I just want to say thank you so much.

I'm assuming it's the parks department that puts all that together.

She's right there, Miss Hall.

You guys are rock stars.

It was amazing.

And I just wanted to say thank you.

And I know planning something like that is it's a year-long process.

They're probably have already started for next year.

And I just want to say thank you.

And uh, I'm really proud of our city.

All right, thank you.

That's all, man.

That's it.

Thank you.

Do we have do the any of the council members have other business and future agenda items?

Okay, not future.

We had a couple of really nice district meetings, and I want to thank Mike Boule and uh oh my god, Amy, right?

Peterson for coming out and talking about water.

Because my district is always interested in water, and everybody uh learns things all the time.

And I also want to thank the 60 or so people who are on that email thread when Christy sent it out talking about the city's 65th birthday when I realized I was almost three years older than the city.

So uh I didn't get any smart smart aleck comments.

So thank you all for not doing that.

Um that's it.

Thank you.

All right, move on to the city uh council reports.

Well, you start with Earl.

You know, he was he was on a roll.

I just let him let him go.

I I can appreciate the passion.

Uh Councilman Haney.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, I want to thank Lisa.

Thank you for leaving your house about five hours early so you can make it here today.

That's great.

Barely made it, but you're good.

Amazing you can joke about that.

I don't know, I don't have a choice, I'm just coping.

Um, uh, my next meeting meeting will be December 25th at 6 p.m.

I look forward to seeing everybody there.

December 25th.

No, just kidding.

Sorry.

Uh no, I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, happy holidays.

Um, Holly, great job.

I know I will publicly, I was not there.

We went to Barrizona, and then we we scouted out Flagstaffs, tree lighting.

Um, and I think that we still are the top dog in the state.

So uh, but you're absolutely right.

It was said earlier, there's so much stuff that goes into the planning of it.

Um, and you know, growing up here now, being able to raise my family here.

This this time of year has been uh really really fun in the eyes of an almost two-year-old.

But there's it's because of you know, folks like you that put on so many amazing events for our families to go to.

And so it's fun to talk about roads and all this other stuff, but this is the cool stuff of where people really take pride in being able to live our in our city and and raise their family here.

So kudos to you.

No rain.

I think maybe I'm the one that jinxes it because I didn't attend, and neither did the rain.

So you're welcome.

Uh and then I yeah, I hope everyone stays safe.

Obviously, New Year's.

Please don't make any dumb decision.

That will cost you or someone else's family member their life.

I am not on shift, uh, but I will be the next day.

So if you have family that live in Glendale, do not light your fireworks and then put the hot fireworks into the trash can and then be surprised when your trash can catches on fire.

So that's my safety tip for the day.

That's all I got.

Thanks.

Thanks.

Uh Councilman Greenberg.

All right.

I jumped the gun, sir.

No, it's okay.

Uh Councilman Duffy.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I just want to say thank you to Holly and Parks and Rec for another great Christmas tree lighting.

It's getting better every year.

And she does work all year because she sends me pictures in February, March of new stuff they're ordering.

So I mean, it had to be the biggest attendance I've ever seen at that event.

Mark Coronado was full, the lake was full, people were enjoying themselves.

Whoever that kid was being Buddy the Elf needs a raise.

Where is he?

It was Seth's kid.

That was your kid, Seth.

Nice.

Oh man, give that get buy him something better.

He did a great job.

That I was like, kids loved him.

It was a great event.

It's getting better every year, and I just appreciate it.

And then uh just Merry Christmas, everyone.

Happy Hanukkah.

Whatever you celebrate, just spend time with your families, enjoy each other for the most part.

Thank you.

Uh is Councilman Melton still on the line.

Does he want to do a council report?

Yes, Mayor, I'm here.

Thank you.

Uh I apologize not being there, team.

Um, I'm here doing last minute work before the Christmas shutdown.

Supporting our nation's energy and information sectors.

But uh thank you, Chrissy, for uh for allowing me to speak tonight and getting me on.

I just want to uh want to list you all um and all my neighbors a very merry Christmas.

I can't wait to come home.

Um I miss you guys.

I miss my home.

Uh and uh you're on the moon.

Very close.

Yeah, close anyway.

Uh anyway, Merry Christmas and and and happy festival.

For the rest of us.

Yeah, if you're in uh councilman Melton's district, please reach out.

He needs you need some support right now.

Wherever he may be.

Councilman Judd.

Lunar lander.

Thank you, Mayor.

Well, Councilman Melton, I think you look good here between uh Greenberg and I.

We uh we we appreciate the costume.

Um I just want to say, you know, this is our last meeting of the year, and I think it's been a great year.

We've got a great council.

I'm really proud of our new mayor.

I think he's done a great job this year.

It's uh it's a lot harder than it looks, isn't it?

A little bit.

Um we've had some good things happen this year.

Uh we got our we got our damn park across the line.

The vista's in good shape.

And again, I I get to serve with you honorable and excellent council members.

And I'm very proud to serve with you guys.

So thank you very much.

Uh great job, Holly.

That was a fantastic event.

There were a gazillion people there.

Can't wait to see how many people it was.

Can't see what you do next, what you do next year.

And uh Merry Christmas and happy new year.

Thank you.

Um Holly, I was gonna say thanks for all your effort, but uh, just want to, I guess, tell a little bit of a story.

We were up at City Hall a couple days ago, and I was I was talking about the uh some of the emails I got from a uh friend from elementary school, just raving about your um tree lighting.

And the first thing you did was was tell tell me it was all your team that did it and and really passed the the praise onto them.

I think it's um as a leader that's an important thing to do, and I think you truly meant it.

And so to you and your entire staff and and really the entire city staff, the police were out there.

I know we were in the EOC.

Um, marketing was out there, every Holly uh Kendra, everybody was out there, and it was just a really cool thing for my for my first tree lighting.

I got up on that stage and one buddy the off was uh uh top notch as far as energy.

I didn't he was all over the place, but I appreciated it.

But then just looking across the city, uh seeing you know thousands of people, it just really was a cool thing in the city of surprise to have those people come together and celebrate and just and be a community.

And we were safe, we're able to do that, and it just meant the world to me and I think to the residents.

So thank you for that.

Uh I want to also congratulate uh Lloyd Abrams as the as his new promotion of assistant city manager.

Yeah, I um I met Lloyd when I got first got on the planning and zoning commission, and he was uh I think the assistant director, and then he got promoted to director, and I've just been nothing but impressed with um your professionalism, your expertise.

Everybody says you're you're a Lloydopedia because you know everything about the city and all those types of things.

But we are lucky to have you in this role, and we look forward to I look forward to working with you on the council is.

I think we have a great city manager team, and I'm looking forward to what 2026 holds.

And really, it's it's been my first year on council.

I I don't want to get too sappy about it, but it is an absolute honor and privilege to serve the residents of the city of surprise in this capacity.

You know, I approach every day with just um 100% effort and energy, and that's reciprocated through the staff, through the the rest of the council, and it's just it's I I truly believe we have something special here in the city, and I I love doing it, and um, I'm looking forward to the next year and just seeing what we can achieve.

So uh thank you again.

Uh like my colleague said, have a good holiday.

Uh enjoy the time, spend time with family.

I know that I will.

And um want to give a shout out to my daughter of the youth.

Look, it's the last minute, nobody's watching, but um, you know, I got on the council and and she she asked me if she should do the youth council.

I'm like, absolutely, let's do it.

It'll be fun.

And so um, you know, I participated in the youth council before you got on the youth council, but it's just a real treat, I think, to um to serve with you as well.

This city is super proud.

I will entertain a motion to adjourn.

Hold it together.

Uh, I'm trying.

I'm trying.

I think your daughter just made the motion.

Oh, did you want to do a motion to adjourn?

You're all you're you can.

Alice, you want to give it a go?

Yeah, I'll do it quick.

Yeah, so really quick.

Motion to adjourn.

Move to adjourn.

I moved to adjourn.

Move to adjourn.

Hold on, do we have a second?

Second.

All right.

All right, all in favor.

All opposed.

We're adjourned.