Surprise City Council Regular Meeting - February 4, 2026
Surprise City Council Regular Meeting - February 4, 2026
Note: The meeting transcript states the date as Tuesday, February 3, 2026, but the provided meeting timestamp is 2026-02-04 00:58:01+00:00, which is February 4. This summary uses the provided date.
The Surprise City Council held a regular meeting that included a proclamation, informational presentations from the Arizona Corporation Commission, the FY2027 budget kickoff, fee schedule updates, and a parks and recreation program overview. The majority of the meeting was devoted to public comment on the recent purchase of a warehouse by the Department of Homeland Security for a proposed ICE detention center. Over 100 residents and community members spoke, with the overwhelming majority opposed to the facility.
Consent Calendar
- The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which contained three routine items.
Presentations & Discussion
- Skills USA Week Proclamation: Mayor Sarder proclaimed February 2–6, 2026 as Skills USA Week in Surprise. Student leaders Grace Brennan and another speaker highlighted the organization's accomplishments, including raising 240 toys and collecting over 160 pounds of trash.
- Arizona Corporation Commission Update: Commissioner Kevin Thompson provided an overview of the ACC's role in regulating utilities, recent rate reductions, grid reliability (Arizona ranked 7th nationally), and the repeal of renewable energy standards (REST rules) which had cost ratepayers $3.2 billion. He noted that data centers are not regulated by the ACC, but the commission ensures contracts do not burden residential ratepayers. Councilmembers expressed appreciation for the update.
- FY2027 Budget Kickoff: Finance Director Sandy Simmons presented the budget process, emphasizing the need to balance limited resources with service demands. The FY2026 total budget is $986 million, with $395 million in operating expenses. Public safety accounts for 60% of general fund expenditures. The budget timeline includes a tentative adoption on May 5, 2026.
- Citywide Fee Schedule Updates: Staff proposed annual fee adjustments, including new and amended fees across departments. 22 fees are being eliminated this year. A public notice will be posted and council action is scheduled for April 7, 2026.
- Parks and Recreation Programs: Holly Osborne presented an overview of parks, recreation, and special events. Parks receive nearly 3 million visitors annually, with Surprise Community Park ranking among Arizona's top 10 most popular parks. The cost recovery model ranges from 0% for parks maintenance to 100% for adult sports and rentals. Youth sports enroll over 15,000 children. Councilmembers praised the department's work and discussed future plans for McMicken Dam conservation area.
Public Comments & Testimony
- The mayor read a statement acknowledging the city was not aware of the DHS purchase of a warehouse at Dysart and Cactus Roads for a proposed ICE detention center. He noted that federal projects are not subject to local zoning, but the council was committed to listening.
- Opposition to ICE Detention Center: The vast majority of speakers opposed the facility. Key points included: lack of transparency, proximity to schools (Dysart High School and elementary schools), documented human rights abuses at ICE facilities, strain on local infrastructure (water, sewer, emergency services), decreased property values, fear and trauma among immigrant families and citizens, and calls for the council to use every legal tool to halt the project. Several speakers cited deaths and violence by ICE agents, including the murder of Alex Pready. Many urged the council to pass a resolution opposing the facility and to demand environmental and safety reviews.
- Support for ICE Detention Center: A few speakers expressed support for the facility, citing the need for law enforcement and immigration enforcement. They argued that ICE targets criminals and that the facility would be located in an industrial area away from residences.
- Other Public Comment: One speaker opposed the use of Flock safety cameras, citing privacy and civil liberties concerns.
Key Outcomes
- The consent agenda was approved unanimously.
- No votes were taken on the ICE detention center; the council heard public comment and did not deliberate or take action.
- Presentations were informational; future action on the fee schedule and budget is scheduled for April 7 and May 5, 2026.
- The meeting was adjourned after public comments.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good evening, everyone. I'd like to call this regular city council meeting Tuesday, February third to order. Oh, today we have Reverend Andrew Moore for the invitation. Sir, if you lead us in prayer, please. Good evening. Let us pause for a moment in silence as we gather our thoughts. Gracious God, source of wisdom and justice and compassion. We pause at the beginning of this meeting to seek guidance beyond ourselves. Bless, we pray this city of surprise, its neighborhoods and homes. Here. Councilman Haney. Here. Councilman Duffy. Here. Councilman Melton. Present. Councilman Hastings. Here. Councilman Judd. Here. Thank you, Mayor. We have forum. All right, thank you. So tonight we have a special group to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. We have the Dysart High School, Skills USA and Broadcasting Team here. Oh, in the back. Okay. So if you could help lead us in the pledge, I would appreciate it. So we have a proclamation too. So you go ahead. Then we'll do the proclamation. Good evening, Mayor Sarder and Council. My name is Grace Brennan, and I am a senior at DIS Art High School and the president of our Skills USA chapter. Skills USA is a career and technical student organization that empowers its members to become world-class leaders, workers, and responsible citizens. We are also part of the DISART Student Broadcasting Program, a program that is student-led, student driven, and student produced. We broadcast academic and sporting events live to our school's YouTube channel for any and all to join us. Throughout the 2025-2026 school year, DISAR and Film, Dys Art Film and TV gave back to our community in ways I could have never imagined we'd achieve. As a two-time, hopefully going on three gold chapter of distinction, we are proud to share some of our accomplishments over the last year. Working in DISE Art Student Broadcasting, we have worked closely with Surprise TV to cover events such as the Veterans Day Parade, the Sci Tech Festival, and with other events like Partnership Day coming up. We have participated in multiple street cleanups for Adopter Street in Glendale and have collected over 160 pounds of trash, and we are still counting. Additionally, we held our second annual Toys for Touch Drive, raising nearly 240 toys for children in need. In just a few weeks, 38 of our members will be headed to the Glendale Community College to compete in the annual Region 5 Leadership in Skills Conference. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share more about our accomplishments and contributions to the city of El Mirage Glendale and Surprise. Thank you. All right, so proclamation from the Office of the Mayor, whereas February 2nd through February 6, 2026 has been designated by the Skills USA National Association as Skills USA Week. And whereas career and technical education provides students with a school to career connection and is the backbone of a strong and educated workforce that fosters productivity and business and industry and contributes to the leadership and the national and global economies. And whereas career and technical education and Skills USA gives high school students empowering experiences in the meaningful application of skills such as reading, writing, mathematics, as well as the development of Skill USA framework skills, including personal skills, workplace skills, and technical skills granted in academics, thus improving the quality of their education, providing increased motivation to learn, and giving all students leadership opportunities in their career fields, schools, and communities. And whereas career and technical education offers students opportunity to learn skills and have career experiences that may lead to further education or meaningful employment. And whereas the cooperative efforts of career and technical educators working with business and industry stimulates the vitality of our nation's economy by preparing graduates for careers, forecasts to experience the large largest growth within the next decade. And whereas Skills USA is the number one workforce development organization for students preparing middle school, high school, and college post-secondary students and technical skills and career programs to be high performing workers.
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