Council meeting on Tuesday, April Twenty First to Order.

Tonight we have an invitation from Rosita Ruiz.

Good evening.

Father God, we invite and invoke your presence into this meeting.

I call in the power of your peace.

I thank you, Lord, for the privilege and the opportunity for this city council to govern in partnership with you, Lord God.

To you be all the glory, we ask this in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Thank you.

Madam McClerk, please call the rule Mayor Sarder.

Present.

Ice Mayor Greenberg.

He has an excused absence.

Thank you, Councilman Haney.

Here.

Councilman Duffy.

Here.

Councilman Melton.

Present.

Councilman Hastings.

Here.

Councilman Jett.

Here.

Thank you, Mayor.

We have quorum.

All right.

Thank you.

So tonight we have some state champions here for Delita in the Pledge of Allegiance, the Willow Canyon cheerleading team.

So if you could all join us in uh the Pledge of Allegiance.

I love the United States of America.

And to the report.

All right, thank you.

So you have to bear with me tonight a little bit.

We have a couple of proclamations we have to do, but we also have a community champion.

If the Willow Canyon cheerleading team could come up and join me, please and so we wanted to bring them in.

We have a certificate for you as well.

But we just wanted to say thank you for all that you do represent in the city of Surprise.

There's so much going on in our city, and for you to go and compete and win the championship means the world to us as a city, uh, to the community.

And so I just wanted to say thank you.

Thank you.

Is your coach here?

Yes.

Jenna Wilson.

Jenna?

Yeah.

Stay still.

Awesome.

Okay.

Yeah.

Okay.

Month of the military child.

So April is month of the military child.

So I'm gonna read this proclamation.

We have a couple others.

If there's schools, here I know Valley's here, Shadow, ACA, Arizona Charter Academy, if you could join me up here for the proclamation.

Are there other schools?

Oh, legacy.

Thank you.

We have the liaison to a military lead.

Come on up, please.

Yes, sir.

Yes.

Okay.

So from the proclamation from the office of the mayor.

Yes, sir.

Whereas military children play a vital role in supporting the strength and readiness of our nation's armed forces, often facing unique challenges such as frequent relocations, school transitions, and the deployments of parents, and whereas the resilient young individuals demonstrate courage, adaptability, and strength while supporting their families' service to our country.

And whereas the city of surprise is proud to recognize the commitment of local schools that support military connected students, including those designated as Purple Star Schools, which provides resources, programs, and support systems to help military children thrive academically and socially.

And whereas Purple Star Schools serve as a model for fostering welcoming and supportive environments for military families within our community.

And whereas the month of the military child, first established in 1986, provides an opportunity to honor and celebrate the contributions and sacrifices of military connected children.

And now therefore I, Kevin Sarter, mayor of the City of Surprise, to hereby proclaim April 2026, month of the military child.

And the city of Surprise and encourage all residents to recognize and honor military children and their schools and organizations that support them.

Yes, that way or face this away.

Good evening, everyone.

My name is Lee Fernwalt.

I am the military community liaison for the Arizona Department of Education.

I oversee all of the military programs, one of which being the Purple Star School program.

We have 81, excuse me, now 82 as of today.

82 schools throughout the state are designated as Arizona Purple Star Schools.

It is a prestigious program that not only elevates all students within the campus, but shows great support for our community.

Today I had the pleasure of visiting Valley Vista High School and uh part of their cornhole championship, if you will, and it was a great event.

So, but we have as far away as Lake Havasu, Yuma, and all the way down south to Sierra Vista.

This program is a global program with Dodia Schools, that's Department of Defense Education Authorities that are also designated as Purple Star Schools by their respective command.

But you have to pass a law in order for you to become a purple star school state.

Arizona is 43rd, and we still have about five states left to go through the legal or excuse me, legislation to become a purple star school state.

I do thank you for your time and your presence for allowing me to be here, Mayor, and distinguished council members.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Yes, Mayor and Council, thank you.

Two items tonight.

First, the city librarian Ashwir has a special presentation.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

I'm always excited to be up here and brag about libraries and schools and all the amazing things we do together.

So I'm only here briefly to say our library put together a committee to judge the DICE Art Unified School District essay contest this year.

They went through all of them.

The theme this year was Why I Love America in honor of our America 250 coalition.

And I'm actually going to introduce Danielle Edgerton, who went in with it works with the schools and has worked with the students.

Good evening.

Thank you for inviting me to say a few words about the incredible partnership between the City of Surprise and the Dice Art Unified School District.

This year we held our fifth annual of writing competition.

This year our students celebrated their community in a form of video script.

These first place winners will have their videos brought to life.

We look forward to sharing these videos with the city in the very near future.

Additionally, both the City of Surprise and the DISAR Education Foundation have awarded them each with a prize.

Please allow me to introduce the winners.

Tegan Willis McBeath.

She's our high school first place winner from Dysart High School.

Thank you.

Stay up here and then we'll take pictures and we'll have to find something at the end.

All right.

Next for our uh grades six through eight.

First place winner from Canyon Ridge is Andy Aurora.

All right.

And lastly, we have grades three through five.

Our first place winner is from Asante, Alyssa Pollock.

Perfect.

We'll come on up and take a picture with you guys.

First of all, congratulations.

Congratulations.

So the City of Surprise is 100% committed to America's 250th.

One of the first things when I came into office was telling hope working with my council, working with staff to do all the things that we can to celebrate.

And one of those was this essay contest.

And so I just wanted to say thanks.

We have a commemorative challenge coin with the surprise 250 on the front and on the back is the Arizona's 250th logo.

So I just wanted to say congratulations.

Mr.

Davis, anything else?

One more item.

Next, I'd like to introduce the members of the surprise at youth council.

Tonight we have Madeline Meis and Anaya Hood.

Melan.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

My name is Madeline Mys, and I'm a proud to serve as a member of the Surprise Youth Council.

I'd like to share a few updates on what SYC has been working on in the community.

This past Friday night, we hosted our second Nerf Battle event, which was a huge success.

We had a great turnout, and it was exciting to see so many cups, so many kids come together for a fun event or for a fun evening.

In addition, several of our council members participated in Vetfest, where they had a great time interacting with military families, veterans, and members of our community.

It was a meaningful opportunity for us to connect and show our appreciation.

Looking ahead, our youth development committee will be hosting a resume building and job preparation class on May 11th at the Surprise Regional Library.

This is a great opportunity for teens to gain valuable skills as they prefer prepare for their workforce.

Thank you, Mayor and Council, for your continued support of the Surprise Youth Council.

That's all I have.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

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

This is my second year serving on the Surprise Youth Council.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening.

In March, Peyton Braid Braden, Grace and I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC to attend the National League of Cities Conference.

It was an incredible and eye-opening experience.

We had the chance to learn from inspiring speakers, connect with youth leaders from across the country, and gain a deeper understanding of leadership and civic engagement.

And exciting news, we accepted 15 new members through our recent recruitment process, and they will be sworn in at the council meeting on May 19th.

We're excited to welcome these new members and look forward to the positive impact they have they will have on the surprise community.

That concludes my update.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

That's all.

Okay, thank you.

And youth council, thanks for all that you do.

I saw a lot of you at the vetfest.

Um I saw you out in the at your work.

Happy birthday.

I'll embarrass you for that.

But um yeah, thanks.

Thanks for all you guys do.

Madam Clerk, do you have a report?

Uh yes, sir.

So tonight before council are two items for consideration of appointment to members of our parks and recreation commission and our arts and culture commission.

Before we start, I'd like to turn it over to our chair of the nomination committee, Chair Haney.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Um, I just wanted to say a few things.

Uh one of the more challenging things that we have to do is sit on this committee and try to uh pick a very qualified, passionate, caring resident um of our city.

And every time we have these openings for our commissions, we get flooded with applicants, and each one would would make a significant contribution to to one of our commissions.

And I'm so thankful that so many people are willing to step up and serve.

And so um we had the same uh challenge uh this this round, and I have to give a big shout out again to Councilmember Melton and Vice Mayor Greenberg uh for the thought and um care that they put into making these decisions, and we uh were able to select two uh candidates who I believe are going to serve their respective commissions very well.

Um, and so I would like to before we get into the official motion, just kind of let you all know a little bit about uh the two individuals that we were able to select.

So uh the first one is Patrick Campbell, and so he has held significant leadership roles within the district's community, uh, and that includes also through administrative initiatives.

Uh, most notably he served as the committee spokesperson and co-chair for the bond override committee.

And then in this capacity, he was a key figure in advocating for district funding.

He presented recommendations to the governing board regarding the bond proposals for facility renovations, school construction, and bus replacements.

And when he came in his interview, he had a passion and a willingness to step up and serve, and I'm very excited to see what he's going to do for that commission.

And then, last but not least, uh Mr.

Kern Forrest, who is a district one resident, so always have to give a shout out to D D1 folks.

Um he is an experienced educator.

He has over 25 years of high school band as a high school band director, instructional leader, and a copper campus operations leader within the Dysert Unified School District.

He currently is serves at Shadow Ridge High School, focusing on music education, culture building, and student activities.

He's got a lot of great ideas, and I think he's gonna make a significant impact on his commission.

I'm really excited to see what what he does there.

So we are absolutely lucky to have both of you guys willing to step up and serve our city.

Um and we look forward to seeing the work that you guys do.

Okay, I'll enter, I'll entertain a motion.

Let me read the items first.

Well, please read the item, madam clerk.

First, we have consideration action to approve the recommendation for appointment of Patrick Campbell to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission.

Term expiration of June 30th, 2027.

I'll entertain a motion.

Mayor, I move to approved recommendation of Patrick Campbell to Parks and Rects and Advisory Commission term expiration June 30, 2027.

Second.

So we move and second it, please cast your vote.

That is a pass vote, Mayor.

Item two, consideration and action to approve the recommendation for appointment of Current Forest to the Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission from expiration of June 30th, 2029.

Mayor, I move to approve the recommendation for appointment of Kerwin Forrest to the Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee.

Term expiration June 30, 2029.

Second.

Please cast your vote.

That is also a passed vote, Mayor.

And if my two appointees would please join me in front of the podium here, we will administer your oath.

Okay.

Raise your right hand.

Hi, state your name.

Hi, Patrick Forrest.

Do you solemnly swear?

I will support the Constitution of the United States.

And the laws of the state of Arizona.

And the laws of the state of Arizona.

And then I will bear true faith.

And I will bear true faith.

And allegiance to the saint.

And allegiance to the same.

And defend them against all enemies.

And defend them against all enemies.

Whatsoever.

Whatsoever.

And I will faithfully and impartially.

And I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties.

Discharge the duties.

At the position of.

State your commission.

Parks and right.

And hereby attest.

The nearby test.

To abide by all official ordinances.

So by all official ordinances.

Policies and procedures.

Policy and procedures.

Of city of surprise.

Of the city of surprise.

According to the best of my ability.

Either so help me out or I have so I do a firm.

Wait, there's a helping God.

Very good.

Congratulations.

Thank you for time.

Yes, you can take photos.

Yes.

Oh, test respect there, Steph.

Yes.

Definitely stuff that we take pictures, Mayor's time again.

It's like a crane machine.

All right, gentlemen.

I just want to say congratulations.

Oh, quick break, sorry.

Sorry.

I may have forgotten a proclamation.

There was like six in one stack.

So give me bear with me.

We have one more for the National Crime Victims Rights Week.

So proclamation from the Office of the Mayor, whereas in 1981, the first National Crime Victims Rights Week was proclaimed by the pres by President Ronald Reagan to recognize victims to raise awareness and promote advocacy service for survivors of crime.

And whereas Arizona has long been a leader in protecting victims' rights, as evidenced by the Arizona Constitution, victims' rights, bill of rights, and since November 1990.

And whereas surviving a crime has a lasting effect on victims, individual physical, psychological, social, and financial issues, and whereas honoring the rights of victims, including the knowledge of their rights and ability to be heard and to be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.

And whereas 60% of American children are exposed to violent crimes and abuse each year.

Whereas a coordinated effort on the part of the of community leaders, police, judges, advocates, healthcare workers, and concerned Americans working together will aid in developing solutions to this problem and improve our response when it occurs.

Now therefore I, Kevin Sarder, mayor surprise to hear Bri proclaim the week of April 19th through April 25th, 2026 as National Crime Victims Rights Week.

Thank you.

Did you want to say anything about it?

No, I think we're okay.

Bye, thanks.

Thanks.

Thanks.

Okay.

I think yes.

Mr.

Murray, there was an item on the consent we were going to pull.

Was that six?

Item six, Mayor.

Item six.

Okay.

We're gonna are we gonna have a presentation on that one tonight?

Or pull it indefinitely.

Okay.

So I will entertain a motion for the consent agenda excluding item six.

I move to approve the consent agenda excluding item number six.

Second.

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

That's a pass vote, Mayor.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, please read item number eight.

Item eight, consideration and action, vacating approximately one hundred and sixteen thousand one hundred forty square feet of right of way.

Generally located along the south side of Joe Max Road, west of one hundred and seventy-third Avenue resolution 2026 43.

Right.

Mayor men's members of council.

Um I'm gonna be presenting this item tonight.

Uh tonight staff is requesting approval of right-of-way reduction totaling 116,140 square feet along the south side of Joe Max Road, west of 173rd Avenue.

At the time the roadway was originally platted, the design designated width exceeded what is necessary for the ultimate build out of Joe Max Road.

If resolution 2026-43 is approved, this portion of the right-of-way will be replatted and incorporated into the Asante North development.

In January, staff presented seven similar agreements to the council for other segments of Joe Max Road along this alignment, all of which were approved.

This particular segment was inadvertently omitted from that agenda, is therefore being presented for council considering this evening.

And there is the exhibit.

And this is a public hearing if there's any questions or comments, but it is a public hearing.

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

Do we get any requests to speak on this agenda item?

I did not, Mayor.

I'll close this item to the public.

Council, if you have any questions or concerns.

Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion.

I move to approve resolution number 2026-43.

Second.

Please cast your vote.

That's a pass vote, Mayor.

Thanks.

Please read item number nine.

Item nine, consideration action to edit city code section two-six one.

Permitting two or more council members to place an item on the agenda no less than 24 hours before the meeting.

Ordinance 2026 oh five.

Mayor Council, I have this one tonight.

This one came up a couple of weeks ago at the request of Councilman Judd.

Um, I will skip through the exhibits here relatively quickly.

The request at Councilman Judd was to allow two or more council members to place an item on the agenda so long as it was uh conveyed conveyed to the clerk no less than 24 hours before the meeting.

The prior code prior to the last revision had approximately a one-week requirement that was subsequently amended to I'm sorry, I went too far.

One week, that was one week, and then it was subsequently amended to the Friday before.

That's the current language and the code, and the proposed language is not less than 24 hours before the meeting.

That's the extent of the presentation.

All right, Councilman Judd.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thanks, Jeff.

Thank you for the presentation.

Um it's a little tough.

A lot of times our agenda is not coming out until you know, it usually we try to get it out.

The clerk tries to get out as early as she can, but there's always so there's just so much going on in the city that we'll get amendments, get changes.

And a lot of times, some of us can't get to the agenda until the weekend.

And by the time the weekends come around, um, there's no mechanism for a couple of council members to make any adjustments to the agenda.

So 24 hours lets us adjust an item on the agenda or add an item to the agenda and still maintain legality with state law on 24 hours notice.

And so with that, I move to approve or end the discussion on this councilman.

Councilman Hastings.

Thank you, Mayor.

Yeah, I I like this.

Um, I support it.

I also supported it when I asked for it about eight months ago for the change to be made.

Um sorry.

Had to.

No, but in all seriousness, I think that's uh that's what um I think one of the things with and that's it's not a that's not any one person, but it just didn't go anywhere.

Part of the I feel like government, one of the my frustrations, one of the reasons I ran for office is oftentimes government is reactive, not proactive.

And look, no, none of nobody's perfect, certainly not me.

But I'm I'm glad we're doing this.

I think originally, Jeff, can you go back on the presentation?

So back in the summer of 2024.

Um, so before then it was so the mayor can get an item on the agenda 24 hours notice.

Um, the city manager, city attorney appointed officials, the ones sitting up here with us, can get it, can it could get an item on 24 hours notice, but two council members had to, it was five business days, which essentially is seven days um total, and it had to be in writing.

I recall like having to chase councilman Judd, I think, around for his his, I think I called like a wet signature, you know, on a piece of paper.

So we changed it ultimately to 48 hours notice.

But obviously, what that does is 48 hours kind of puts us into the weekend.

So then you're really looking at Friday.

So I like the idea of it kind of being a level playing field.

I like the idea of two council members being able to put something on the agenda.

I like the idea of two council members being able to put something on the agenda if something were to happen, or you know, I think that should carry the weight of the same thing staff or yeah, mayor would do.

So yeah, 24 hours before the meeting.

Um I'm in favor of it just kind of being the same across the board.

And if that's 24 hours, if it needs if we need to work with that, depending on, I know we have to get the agenda out.

There's some mystery of issues.

Um, but I think it should all just kind of be the same.

So thank you.

Mr.

Murray, was there any staff work done on this?

Do we benchmark other cities and what they're what they do?

No, mayor.

I believe the I believe the request from Councilman Judd was to make it consistent.

That was the motion as presented and seconded by Vice Mayor Greenberg.

Yeah, I feel like we have a good council now.

And I feel like we have people that are pretty reasonable, practical, and wouldn't rush to do something, but I don't think that's gonna be the case always.

And I don't want to make a decision now for this council that works and in the future where they might have two rogue council members that want to put all sorts of agenda items on last minute and make staff jump through hoops.

I would like to see a third council member.

It takes three council members to put something on the agenda within 24 hours.

I think it's more reasonable.

I think it makes sure that those two have buy-in from the council, and we can't get more than three because it'd be quorum, but I still feel like three would be uh more reasonable number to make sure that the whatever items going on the agenda is has the potential to uh action be done.

My two cents.

Anybody else have any comments or councilman hastings?

Yeah, thanks, Mayor.

Go ahead.

I understand your uh Simon.

My concern with that because is is the the open meeting law.

Obviously, I I support open me law, but it's actually what open meeting law is for those of you who don't know is um it's it's illegal for us to meet and it should be a majority of us four because we have seven, so four is a majority in public.

But that doesn't just I mean there's the obvious things like you know, meeting in a basement prior to me, like obviously that's illegal.

But we also have to be careful with like I mean it goes, it extends to group text messages, also too like that.

So the concern with that is if I want to talk about any specific issue to get something on the agenda, typically there's a discussion with it.

Because if I ask Councilman Haney, hey, I'd like to get this item on the agenda.

Well, he's gonna ask why.

So if I have a conversation with him, that's great.

But now I have so if I but if it doesn't, if it doesn't go well, and then I have to go to a second council, like I only can talk to so many, I guess, people.

Um, and that that's that's the concern without violating open me law.

So I'd like to think, you know, if something affects South Surprise specifically, which is represented specifically by Councilman Judd and Councilman Duffy, for instance, that they would have the ability to get something on the agenda short notice just in case.

So I understand what the mayor is saying.

I respectfully disagree.

I like the um the 24 hours um two people.

Um we did change in the initial change, which was back when it was five and seven days, that the mayor and because at the time only the mayor could call a special meeting.

We changed it so three council members can also call a special meeting, but two can get something on the agenda.

So um it seems pretty consistent with what cities are doing, but um, I appreciate the conversation.

So no other comments or questions while I entertain a motion.

Uh I move to approve ordinance 2026-05.

Second, it's been moved and seconded, please cast your vote.

That's a pass vote there.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, please read item number 10.

Please read item 10.

Staff update regarding the proposed DHS facility.

Mayor and council, thank you.

So tonight, the update we have for the DHS.

Uh, staff continues to have weekly communication with DHS.

Uh staff has requested an update on water estimates if there are less beds used.

Uh legally enforceable agreements to include community relations board tax revenue replacement, tour of the facility, no roving on city-owned properties, schools, places of worship, community center, and surrounding areas.

So again, that was asking for legally enforceable agreement for those items.

Uh we have confirmed two tours for council and city management of the Florence facility, uh, which is similar in operations, expected at the surprise DHS facility.

Uh the operations of the DHS facility in Surprise originally set for September is now considered to be an aggressive date and a likely won't happen until the fall.

What we also know is things are still fluid at DHS, they're still not funded, and there continues to be a lot of change.

And that concludes my presentation.

Okay.

Thank you.

Councilman Judd.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh Andrea, thanks for thanks for getting us the update.

And I guess we we're having somewhat regular talks with DHS.

Are we correct?

Okay.

And I think we have some questions that they haven't answered yet that we've that we've sent to them.

So those are the four items that uh I gave that up to date on the water estimates, the relations board, those.

Uh the one they have confirmed is the tour.

Uh at this point in time, the tour has been confirmed.

Okay.

That's it.

Correct.

Well, I wish we had more.

Do we have any other meetings scheduled?

Uh yeah, we have a we touch base with them uh once a week uh to see where they're at.

Uh, like I mentioned, the things are very still still very fluid at DHS.

I know there's a lot of change and turnover, what's going on?

But yes, we have weekly updates with them.

Okay.

Well, it's frustrating.

And I know you guys are all frustrated.

I'm frustrated that we've got this facility coming in here.

Um, but I'll say it again.

Please stop.

I'll say it again.

Um I don't want a federal detention facility to come into surprise.

This has nothing to do, please stop.

This has nothing to do with ice.

I don't have any problem with ice, what ice is supposed to be doing.

I just don't want a federal detention center in the middle of surprise.

And I'm gonna poke and prod and push any way that I can to stop this from coming in, but DHS, they own the land.

They're gonna do something with it.

Um I would love to see us be able to enforce our zoning, but our attorney did quite a bit of work on that over these last two weeks.

And local localities and cities have almost well, have zero luck going against zoning with the federal government.

There's a lot of case law and there's a lot of laws that he was able to cite that said even the guys that are suing that are having some success with the NEPA stuff back east, they aren't even including the zoning stuff on it.

There's no chance.

The other thing that I've been saying from the beginning is is the best way to stop this DHS facility, or the only way this DH facility stops is if DHS decides not to come.

That's the that's it.

And the only way DHS decides not to come is if their bosses tell them they're not doing this anymore.

Their bosses are the federal elected officials.

When you guys are in here really, really, really mad at the lowest guys on the totem pole.

And I can't speak for them, but I can tell you I'm very frustrated about this situation.

Um there are some little things we can do.

I mean, our our attorney did do a bunch of work on this with with the comments that we had, and there are some concerns with with the way that they may or may not have done the NEPA stuff, and there's some concerns about how they went with the um the intergovernmental communication act.

I think that's what's called.

And those are things we probably that someone could probably sue them for, and you would probably have some success.

And here's what that translates to.

So let's say we make that argument and we go to court, and let's just let's just stick with the NEPA review.

And we make that argument and we go to court, and the judge says, Yep, they didn't do it right.

Now that he sends them back, okay.

You guys have to do it right before you can continue on.

That's it.

It's a delay, it's a small delay.

I'm interested in small delays as long as it gets us to the next election cycle, because the next election cycle, voters have a chance to put pressure on their federal elected officials and say what it is that you want, because these are the guys who can actually do something.

Everything else that we do here is slim to no chance of actually having a real effect on what we do.

Now, one of the things that that uh Mr.

Murray came upon when he was going through his review and the review that he sent to us is Councilman Judd, just please be cautious of what you're about to say.

That is turn to client communications.

It's not been waived by the client.

So one of the things that Jeff told us that we can do is we can send a letter to the head of DHS because he's the only person.

Is this should I stop at this point?

Or no, I guess that's the one.

I mean, I'm trying not to get into the specifics that you gave me, but you did give us a broad overview that the D the head of DHS is the only person is the person that we would formally request to follow our zoning.

We would send a formal request to the head of DHS to follow our zoning.

But it's not blinding.

And he could just say no.

So that's what I took from the review there.

There was a bunch other stuff in it.

And if I want to talk about more of this, apparently I've got to get counsel to pass a motion to waive that privilege for stuff that you're telling me.

Why do I have an attorney if I can't talk about what you're telling me?

Councilman Judge.

Please stop.

So what what can I talk about on here?

Because this is important.

These are some of the things that are tying our hands that are keeping us from being able to do what we need to do.

These guys want to know.

I'm frustrated, they're frustrated.

So uh what what I mean, these seem like pretty broad strokes that I'm taking from the research paper you gave me.

Understood, Councilman Judd.

And just for the record, be perfectly clear.

I'm the I'm the attorney for the entire city.

I serve at the cut behest of all seven of you.

Right.

Not any one of you.

And I'm not trying to paint outside of the lines here.

I'm trying to figure out what I'm allowed to communicate, what I'm not.

And I would be, as I said, I would caution you to be careful on the information that you're about to move.

I move to go to executive session for legal advice.

Wait, what?

Just so we can so we can have a conversation with the city attorney to see what we can and can't do.

I'll second that.

If you want to talk about it, let's go.

There are other council members that have comments and questions they want to add.

Um I'll see I'll see the floor for now.

I got a little more, but I'll wait.

Councilman Melton.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Judd.

Uh Ms.

Davis, uh so far.

To the best of your knowledge, is DHS still committed to providing us design drawings prior to construction.

Mayor, Councilmember Melton.

Yes, at this point, the site plans at time of construction, whenever those are prepared, is that plan has not changed.

Okay.

Thank you, Mayor.

There are no other questions or comments.

So you motion.

Uh mayor, there's a motion on the table with a second.

There's been a motion and a second.

Please cast your vote.

It's a voice vote.

Fair point.

All right.

All in favor.

Can you read this a point of clarification?

Yeah, we just take the motion.

Yeah.

Go ahead.

Yeah, thanks.

Um, I just want to make sure we're following the law here.

There's only there's only certain specific reasons we can go into closed door sessions.

Um I'm okay getting legal advice from our attorney in closed door session.

I'm also in favor of you know, being transparent as well.

I want to make sure that I mean, I don't put our attorney on the spot, but that he's prepared.

I don't know if he's I mean, what what I guess what's the purpose?

Like we're getting legal advice on what?

On attorney client privilege.

It's like so.

I just don't understand what we're what we're doing here.

Yeah, I'll clarify.

So I'd like to I'd like to get legal advice on what I can and can't talk about, so I can stay within the lines.

Okay, okay.

Thank you.

Okay.

Okay, there's been a motion and a second to adjourn to executive session.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Okay.

Okay, because that's what I'm saying.

Oh yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh yeah.

This regular city council meeting.

Do any other councilman have any comments or questions before I move to the next item?

Hearing none, I'll open the call to the public, Madam Clerk to begin request to speak.

We do, Mayor.

Um, my first speaker request is Mary Becker.

Are you here?

Please come up to the podium and remember to state your name.

Um fix that you can fix that microphone for you.

Hold on just one second.

Sure.

All right, good evening, ma'am.

Okay, good evening, Mayor and honorable members of our city council, um, our city manager and the clerks.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.

My name is Mary Becker.

This is my husband Donald Becker, who, as you can see, is an old man.

Um we live in Happy Trails Resort with all the other old folks here in surprise.

I would like to be put on the record tonight as being, as you said, Mr.

Hastings, proactive to address something before it becomes an issue.

Um, and it has to do with the establishment of Islamic neighborhoods and mosques here in the great city of surprise.

And you're gonna say, why?

And I want to contrast our form of government with the form of government that the Islamic nation has.

In the United States, we are a constitutional republic.

Islamic neighborhoods are the uh are a theocracy.

What they say goes, and you don't have a choice.

Every one of you was elected, just like our state and federal leaders have been elected.

In an Islamic area, leadership is either by lineage or appointed the people have no say.

In this country, that's allowed.

It's freedom of speech, but not in an Islamic country.

It is not allowed.

Not in an Islamic country.

Um our elected officials take the oath of office, they have always taken it on the Bible.

Because this is a Christian Judeo nation.

Listen, folks, I'm not gonna have anybody in this crowd cheer or who or holler.

I don't care what side of the issue you're on, I don't care what issue it is.

Um woman, uh, say her piece and show go on, and you somebody else will come up and say their peace, and we're not gonna have anybody feel intimidated by your words or actions or whatever that may be.

So, ma'am, please continue.

If you are a Muslim and you take your oath of office on the Quran, the co law of the Quran supersedes the law of our land, our constitution.

So they swear allegiance to that, not to our country.

And last, I would like that we honor our service, the sacrifice of the men and women in service who died to guarantee us freedom.

And I want to guarantee for my children, grandchildren, and future generations.

And I want to pledge my allegiance to this country.

And I want to thank you, and I pray that God will bless and give you wisdom and discernment in the decisions you face today and tomorrow.

Thank you.

My name is Kay West Kirchner.

Ma'am.

Madam Clerk, is she the next speaker?

My name is Kay West Kirchhoff.

One second, your name hasn't been called.

Oh, I'm sorry.

It's okay.

Madam Clerk, the next speaker.

Yes, next speaker is Alex Christ.

Can you call like more than one?

So the process will be.

Ma'am, we're gonna run this meeting.

I appreciate it.

Okay.

Good evening, sir.

Thank you.

Mayor, council members.

Thank you very much.

Mayor, you have been great at balancing the city business.

And it is great to see that business playing out here with various departments giving presentations.

And in relation to Chief Beecher and Chief Spurlong requesting more money for overtime, it is my belief that it is because of these protests that occur every weekend and even at the state of the city event, especially when people or groups who have no connection or roots in our city take up valuable resources.

And if I may suggest that they at least chip in five dollars to help us cover that cost.

Mayor, you have been nothing but respectful during these uh hard times.

You have said on numerous occasions that you want everyone's voice to be heard.

We asked for communication and demanded transparency.

And there was a 15-minute presentation by Miss Jody and Miss Andrea of meetings you had in Washington.

And you gave Miss Andrea gave one today.

But the jeers and the comments in this chamber were disheartening.

You even had to gavel and again gavel tonight to remind people of the rules and decorum.

If we get what we asked for and not believe what we are told, where do we go from here?

I appreciate a healthy dose of kept a skepticism, even coming from the from the council members.

But if we don't believe anything we are told, there is nothing else to do.

Mayor, you have been nothing but respectful to everyone that comes here, allowing people to speak for hours, the first two uh meetings that we've had.

But the disrespect and derogatory statements and the disrespect is just too much.

And is that what we want to teach the next generation of leaders?

That if you don't listen to me, that if you don't believe what I believe in, I will stand here before you call you names, use derogatory terms, and disrespect you, all too thunderous applause and cheers.

No, that's not what I want to teach my children, my grandchildren, but I will impose on them uh to think critically and rationally and accept the consequences of their actions.

And if you have time, and when the time does come, I will stand with them and defend our great nation and our constitution.

Mayor, vice mayor, council members, I appreciate what you are doing, and thank you so much for standing up.

Next, Ariane Reading or Ari Arianne.

Ready?

Not here.

Oh that's the U over the monitor.

Come on up.

They complicated down here.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Hello, City Council.

I appreciate you allowing me to speak.

Um there is, however, a lot I can say with confidence that I do not appreciate.

I don't think Jesus would appreciate the where housing and tormented immigrants and the lack of will to fight it, although I do appreciate your trying.

I won't take too long to overstate the atrocities of ice.

We've all been seeing them happen over the past year.

They've shot innocent people on the street, ripped people away from their families, and lock them in detention centers, which do not meet basic safety standards.

People are not being given enough food or water, and the medical care provided is abysmal.

However, while these are among my concerns when it comes to the detention center being proposed in the warehouse purchased by ICE, and I'm gonna be frank, kind of an opaque manner.

They're not the concern I really want to bring your attention to.

Across the way from the warehouse, which wasn't constructed with the intention of human habitation and isn't qualified for that purpose, is a chemical processing plant.

While this plant does have a safety plate plan in place with the consideration that there is a warehouse across the street, they do not have a safety plan that takes into account hundreds of people being trapped in that warehouse.

If there is a chemical spill, God forbid, those people do not have a plan in place to protect their lives.

Given the fact that the contractor being put in place to run the warehouse is Garda World, the same contract that's currently running, Alligator Archit Alcatraz, the detention center in the Everglades, which we have already heard so many horror stories from.

I cannot trust them to protect the people who will be trapped in the case of an event like that.

I ask you, I urge you for human decency and morality to oppose this detention center in whatever way you can.

I hope I've been respectful.

Thank you.

Lynn Gelling.

Good evening.

Um I'm hoping that you'll take my comments as um trying to make this a better meeting and opportunity for everyone to understand what's going on.

I'm going to speak to something other than the warehouse.

Um, but before I start, Mayor Sider, I noticed that the live feed video feed right now is turned off for public comments.

I want to note for the record that the video portion is not working right now, and it Arizona's open meeting law exists so that the public can observe their government in action.

I don't feel that turning the live feed off is in the good spirit of open uh meetings here in Arizona.

So I will be making a formal complaint about that.

Also, as far as the meetings go and the agenda, when you go to the website, you cannot find the agenda.

You have to search within an external portal and uh do a drop down and then start looking.

You can't find the minutes from the last meeting, and I've addressed all these in a very detailed um email to uh Ms.

Passerelli.

And I'd like to see these issues really looked at.

We're trying to figure out what's going on here, and when things are hidden, it's not really in the spirit of open meetings.

And finally, the last meeting, I sat here and waited and waited and waited to get to speak, and it didn't happen.

You went into executive session, you did not tell us that when you came out of executive session, that we really should have been here to hear what uh Councilman Judd said, because he retracted one of his motions.

And no one here knew about it until we saw it in other places.

That's not really open.

I really, really urge you, since tempers are high, to be really careful about how you communicate and be really open with us because that kind of stuff leads to us being distrustful.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, Newkirk.

Good evening, Council members.

Good evening.

Coming here from Tempe.

Um I'm here in your town.

Um, grateful to be here because I think what's at stake here is not just important for surprise.

It's not just important for the Phoenix Valley.

It's not even just important for Arizona, it's important for our whole country.

And I think so many people have spoken to the truth about why we can allow this to be built here, why it's wrong, why it's wrong from a civil rights and human rights perspective, while it's wrong, why it's wrong from a local democracy perspective and others.

Um I agree with them 110% all the way.

Trump said that he was gonna go after the worst of the worst.

It's clear that he has been going after everyone indiscriminately, including some of the best of the best.

But uh, what I want to say to you tonight is to be courageous, to understand that you might not be able to win.

We might not be able to stop this, but the eyes of history are upon us to do what's right to use the power that we do have.

And so we ask you tonight to take a stand, to take a position.

You can't be neutral on a moving train, and history is watching, to say no to this and to join with everyone, including the vast majority of your constituents who've spoken out against it.

If you do that, and if we fail, you'll at least have done the right thing.

You'll at least have done what you can.

You'll at least have taken a stand.

And we will have a chance.

People are out here fighting.

People are going to continue.

I'll be with them.

But we need you to do your part.

It may not prevail.

It may not succeed, but you have an obligation, a moral obligation to use your power to use your voice, and we appeal to you tonight.

Have the courage of your convictions.

Follow the tradition of people like Dr.

Dr.

King and the Americans who were in the American Revolution.

They did the right thing, whether it was easy or hard.

Now is the time to take a stand to say no to this and to do it tonight.

Thank you.

Okay, I'm gonna call the next five names, if you would please line up in the center.

And when you approach the podium, remember to state your name.

Correct, sir.

We're gonna start at 7 10.

So when the first person begins, it'll be the 30 minutes for the topic.

Right.

The 15 minutes, we're gonna stop and ask if there's anybody that wants to speak.

Um in favor of the ICE facility, and if there's none, we'll continue to call people that are not.

Yes, sir.

Until we reach that 30 minute mark.

Yes.

Okay.

And there may be some in between.

We'll just track.

Okay.

First, Stephen Isles.

Heather Olson, Amanda Kamiskis, Penny Alt Guerman, Jennifer McCann.

Good evening, sir.

Good evening.

I'm Steve Isles.

I'm a resident here in surprise.

My occupation is an advance practice board certified chaplain.

Um, I want to thank you for notifying us that the 30-minute regulation kicked in.

I saw that clearly in all the stuff I felt out.

That for large groups there's 30 minutes.

I'll try not to waste a lot of time here.

Um Mr.

Duffy, I do appreciate your candor about not wanting a DHS facility here.

And for our city attorney Jeff Murray, thank you, sir, for keeping them within the boundaries.

The reality is, as with many things, the government does what the government does, and you are totally correct.

There's not a lot we can do.

I do appreciate and do respect that you are all using great wisdom and discernment in going forward with what you can get out of this.

Okay.

Do we got concerns?

Yes, people got some concerns.

Do we have a right to be angry?

Yeah, I'll leave that up to you.

But we all live here together, and the one thing we need to do is to make sure that what goes on in surprise is what is okay with the city council.

Now, that being said, I forgot there's a few things I've been hearing out.

One of the great things I hear out there is what I call fear-mongering.

People are out there saying the property value is going to decrease.

Well, I've heard that too many times in my 62 years of my life.

Never once seen it come true.

But again, I to me that's a fear-mongering position.

One thing I do want to say is a great thank you to our fine law enforcement officers.

Um, there are many things that they had to be out on the lookout recently.

Things I don't want to share, I don't share, but they do a great job.

As important as them is our firefighting department.

Uh, in my work, I work with both law enforcement and firefighters.

And in that, they have a very tough job, a job that some of them, and this is more of a concern than any um DHS facility is our firefighters in this town are having to wear bulletproof vests.

And the reason for that is because they go into situations and they can't wait to have the area cleared.

I never thought a fireman or a paramedic would have to wear a bulletproof vest.

So I wanted to come here and say I support this council.

I support what you do, and I love you guys have great wisdom and discernment.

You are in my prayers, and know that whatever decisions you make, I believe will be the best for this city.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening.

My name is Amanda Kaminskis, and I work at 137th Avenue in Greenway.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

And I want to start by saying this clearly.

I wear a mask, not because I hide my face like the ICE agents, but because I'm immunocompromised.

You told this community that the detention center would be an action item this week.

But instead, it is an update.

That is a broken promise.

And this community notices.

People here have rearranged their lives to show up.

Week after week, this room has been full.

Voices have been raised, calls have been made, emails have been sent, not casually, but urgently.

This is not a disengaged community.

This is a community asking to be taken seriously.

And yet, instead of action, we are given delay.

At the same time, we are hearing support for a federal rule that would keep ice facilities away from schools.

So I need to ask if that distance matters somewhere else.

Why does it not matter here?

This site is surrounded by schools and children.

It sits next to a hazardous chemical storage facility.

And as a medically retired paramedic who trained others for mass casualty incidents, I can tell you that this is very dangerous.

You're not just creating risk, but this could be far worse than you could imagine.

And I want to make this even more real.

The family I work for is trying to buy a home so that they can stop renting.

They have an autistic brown-skinned child who has a history of running when being overwhelmed.

Because of this facility, they are now looking to move outside of surprise because they do not feel their child would be safe here if she ran.

This is what this decision is already doing.

It is changing where families feel safe living.

It is pushing people out.

These are not theoretical concerns.

They are immediate, local, and already impacting real people.

So let's just call this what it is.

People are suffering, are going to suffer inside that facility.

This is a concentration camp being placed in our community.

History does not look kindly on moments like this, when people in power claim their hands are tied when harm is being built in plain view.

You could you can publicly oppose this.

You have power.

You can place this as a formal action item.

You can use every legal tool available to make this harder.

Choosing not to act is still a choice, and delay is not neutral.

It allows this to move forward.

You made a promise on April 7th and then immediately broke it.

That matters.

Because once this opens, we cannot walk it back.

We cannot say we needed more time.

Mayor and council, the community is out.

Ma'am, your time is up.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Good evening.

My name is Dr.

Pennyalt Garriman, and I live at the intersection of Lichfield and Cactus.

We moved here about six years ago, and the reason we were drawn to surprise were a few reasons.

The 50 to 100 years of water supply, as well as feeling safe and quiet neighborhoods.

This prison will hold 50, 500 to 1500 people plus guards.

That will bankrupt our water usage for the permanent residents here.

We also know the administration claims that there will be money up front for renovations and whatever.

And they claim only 552 people for one week.

We've also seen from other facilities that these promises are not kept.

Even if you get your details in writing, they don't always come through.

I'm also concerned about the property values in all of surprise, not just the ones in the five to 10 mile radius.

And mind you, I live within two miles of that facility, and in no uncertain terms, I do not want that that close to me.

The city council and the mayor, if you are truly listening to your constituents, you will act.

Lastly, I'm not very happy after the last city council meeting because I was one of the many 50 people who are unable to speak and exert our First Amendment rights.

And again, today there will be many, many people.

This is your job.

We pay you to listen to us and act according to what we are saying.

I do have a couple other thoughts not related to this.

We walk through there all the time and see trash and recyclables all over.

And we would also like to see the electric box, the electricity restored to Viramonty Park, so you don't have to spend money renting a diesel generator to run the splash pad.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Good evening.

My name is Jennifer McCann, and my cross streets are Cactus and Dice Art.

I am not a surprise resident, but I live literally on that line between El Mirage and Surprise.

It's 1.3, or this warehouse is 1.3 miles from this house where we live.

And unfortunately, I have to drive along the street that it's located multiple times a day.

So I'm thinking about this constantly, to be totally honest and feeling sick about it every single day.

And so, and chose this area because we love it so much.

My children have gone to school in surprise these last 10 years, and I do most of my shopping here.

I volunteer with the City of Surprise more than I do in El Mirage, to be totally honest.

We've done the MLK Junior Day of Service and Beanbag Day, amongst others.

My kids have walked in multiple parades as part of various school and other activities.

And I am so terrified that that is gonna change.

It's one of the things that I really love about being active in surprise.

Sorry.

Every day that you lack opposition to this warehouse, and even more as it becomes functional, I think we're we're gonna see that change over and over.

I'm here obviously to ask you to please do anything and everything that you can to slow down and eventually stop DHS using this warehouse.

Um Mayor Sartar, you said uh that it's not worth the resources to push back, but we disagree, obviously.

Um, meeting after meeting, since this purchase uh was announced, you've seen members of the community come out with an overwhelming majority against this, and your city is begging you to please do something.

I hear every week or every time we're here begging you to do something.

Um you have the opportunity to really truly make a difference here, and the reality is that you will make a difference whether you act or not.

But inaction is gonna turn this beautiful city that we all love so much into a place of hate and fear.

Um, I can tell that you all, most of you do love this city.

Um, you ask thoughtful questions in each of the meetings that I have attended, um, and you take thoughtful actions on behalf of your constituents.

And I just hope that you continue to do that for this issue as well.

Um, unfortunately, we are already seeing that the trust and faith in this community has is crumbling.

You've heard we have protests over and over.

Um, and we've mentioned that might be a drain on our resources.

You can stop those protests by taking some action and doing something immediately.

You already seen many people lose faith in this body since the announcement, and you're losing more every day that you're doing or you're not doing something, so please do something.

Thank you.

I'm gonna call the next two names, Kayla Bishop and Ava Lucero.

Go ahead.

Just state your name at the podium.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Hi, I am Ava Lucero and I live at Dysar and Cactus.

I'm simply a 14-year-old girl, nothing more.

Yeah, I am here to show you that even a teenager can see the problem with our situation.

As you can see, I'm I would be my school clothes usually, because I took time out of my childhood to try and fix this problem.

First, I would like to preface this with my opinion.

I don't know what other people think, but as a person of representation for the generation that our world's hands will fall into, I believe that these peaceful protests, key word peaceful, have taught my generation to speak up in order to understand better and create a place in which they feel safe.

I think that the past generations have been taught to mindlessly follow orders, but this new generation is learning to understand the orders they are following.

Today I have a poem made by one Lolo's corner on TikTok.

It goes.

But now it's ice cream, you scream.

We all scream, ice, please stop.

Ice cream trucks, some light up and fill, fill the streets with love, because who doesn't love an ice cream cone on a hot sunny day?

Now, dark and mysterious.

We used to scream, everyone gather around, gather near the ice cream truck is here, but now we yell out of fear, stay inside, the trucks are outside, searching for the next person they can find.

And it doesn't matter what you look like, just don't get caught in their sight, or you just might be the next.

I scream, you scream.

Is this a dream, the dream that M OK had for me?

Or is this the reality Fred Hampton used to speak on now coming to be?

They're killing everyone in the streets.

It don't matter if you look like me.

Say their names who didn't, those who didn't lay down their lives but had them stripped away.

All people watched and had absolutely nothing to say.

Ice scream, you scream, and together we scream, we hate ice.

And stop this madness, please.

Innocent children being stripped from their homes, their schools as they live day to day, not understanding that mommy and daddy had to go away.

And the people who took them look like just like me too.

Ice scream, you scream, we scream, but there is no ice cream.

I personally believe this poem to be amazing.

ICE has not only harmed immigrants, but also American citizens such as Renee Good, Alex Paretti, and Keith Porter.

It has gone to the point that ICE is not about solving a problem, but controlling the citizens and scaring the public.

If we are worried about these immigrants, then focus on the border and prevent quote unquote dangerous people from coming here rather than to roam our streets causing fear and suffering through our communities.

No, that both me and my neighbors are going to fear the front or going to feel the fear from this facility.

I don't want a delay.

I want this facility stopped.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Good evening.

I'm gonna take a big deep breath right now, because I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty freaking ticked off.

So let me take a breath.

My name is Kayla Bishop.

I recently bought my very first home with my boyfriend here in surprise at the crossroads of Bell and Reims.

Firstly, what you did, Mayor Sarder.

I don't even know how to say your last name to be honest.

At the April 7th council meeting was shameful.

Many of us showed up at 5 p.m.

There were 74 of us signed up to speak to be heard.

We sat for more than four hours waiting to present our concerns.

Then at the very last minute, you told speakers we'd be capped at one hour.

Only 20 to 25 of us got to stand at this microphone.

We sat there more than four hours of the most boring council talking points.

Yet you couldn't give us the same respect.

That lady gave me issues before.

I'm not surprised.

Uh yeah, you couldn't give us the same respect.

Your excuse that you had more to do.

So did all of us waiting.

Yet we still sat here.

In other words, you said the council doesn't have time to listen to you.

It was easy to see your irritability, especially with many of us addressing the ice building.

Mr.

Sarder, you're pissed off at the wrong people.

Tired of hearing the same thing, so are we.

We're tired of hearing your silence, because it's hella loud.

At the last council meeting, a small part of me kind of felt bad watching you get absolutely torn apart by your constituents.

Then I remembered, you are where you are because of what you choose to do or choose not to do in this case.

Let's be honest.

Your concern here is upsetting those who support this facility.

But basic safety precautions should not be controversial.

It is not political.

It is your damn job.

Taking steps to ensure transparency and community safety is not choosing a side, it's choosing your residence.

You keep saying, and I quote, we must better plan and prepare to maintain safety.

Okay, but how, Kevin?

That's not a talking point.

That's a responsibility.

We're still waiting for a damn answer.

You know what doesn't qualify as an answer as to why you aren't doing anything to protect us, shrugging your shoulders and saying supremacy clause.

You said that so many times, it makes my damn eye twitch every time you say it.

What does planning and preparing actually look like?

Because other cities aren't asking that, they're answering it.

When asked on the radio why you won't use the city's legal tools, you basically said, it'll probably fail, but other cities are taking action.

Denver banned ICE agents from wearing masks and requires ice to have visible identification.

Minneapolis, Chicago, and Phoenix just recently banned the use of city property without their permission.

Seattle banned new detention centers from being built within city limits.

So why are you choosing in action when action is clearly possible?

What are you doing to help us?

This isn't leadership, it is avoidance.

Show us that our safety matters enough for you to act.

Not later, but right now, because doing nothing is a choice, and it's the wrong one.

How can you look at people, especially children, begging you to help them and you just ignore them?

It's absolutely shameful.

We're not 20.

Or 20.

Do we have anybody in the audience that wants to speak?

In favor of the ice facility.

Sir, come on up.

Not in favor.

Madam Clerk, please continue.

Okay.

Next, Greg German, Brittany Bishop, and Ashley Ray.

The next Madam Clerk, we have one ma'am.

Did you sign up to speak?

I signed up to speak today.

Yes, my name is.

Yvonne Valenzuela.

Yes.

Okay.

I spent up to speak.

You got her.

I'm sorry to hear that this is a good thing.

Hold on one second, ma'am.

You have her.

Okay.

Okay, go ahead.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, councilman.

This is a very hot topic.

Um, I know that um ice and what's happening to our country with immigrants coming in and not being vetted in is a bad thing for a country.

Everybody calls for police, police when they need it.

But nobody thinks about all the police, what they have to go through to make your safety to make you safe.

Now, I am a Trump supporter, and I'm proud of that.

Yes, I am.

Because why?

I worked hard, very hard, very hard.

And you know what?

I don't like immigrants coming in and breaking laws.

And people just say, oh, it's okay.

Get in free education, get in free education, and free education, free health care, and get a sample of money that affects my end of retirement.

So as far as ice is concerned, if it's gonna save our country from immigration and make it safer, then it's well worth it.

And the last administrations didn't care, allowed anybody in to cross over into our borders, and it's costing lives.

Chicago, New York, Washington, California.

I mean, look at California, the mess they're in.

And look at our country, even our state.

Look at the country.

Look at our I've been here.

No, I'm talking to you guys because you guys are screaming at our council people.

And you're disrespectful.

You are also very disrespectful.

Ma'am, one second, please.

Madam Kirk, please pause.

That is all I have to say.

Thank you.

You have a minute and 30 seconds remaining.

Everybody else in the chamber, please maintain a level of good of respect.

That way we can all listen to right.

You're disrespecting.

Ma'am, I'm gonna start your time again if you have anything else to say.

Okay.

You are disrespecting the people here that are coming up, and I don't like that.

And that's that's what happens with the liberal side.

You just disrespect people who are who are who are Republican and trying to be respectful.

So I don't care if you scream, yell, or do whatever at me because yeah, you know, I'm tired of it.

So once again, thank you, surprise, for listening and taking the time to listen to everybody and yes, being respectful, and thank you for the police who are there when we need them.

And I like the safety, and I hope our country resumes back to law and order.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Turn off box news.

Where do you think your last name comes from?

34 felonies, lady.

It's always ma'am, please step up.

Moving forward, okay.

Hello.

My name is Brittany Bishop.

I have lived near Parkview Place and Bell Road for 21 of my 26 years of life.

It's very hard to sum up all of the horrid things discussed between Mike Broomhead and Mayor Kevin Sarder on KTAR News.

Some of this is paraphrased for the sake of my three minutes, but I must point out the atrocities spoken to a conservative radio talk show, not to the residents of surprise.

Mike said this is not something you can stop.

The federal government has the right to be doing what they're doing.

They made it very clear they are going to do it.

The best option you have is to have open lines of communication.

They are willing to work with you with some of the concerns of your residents.

Have you been able to convince your city of that?

The mayor's response.

People are polarized.

They dug they're dug in on their position.

So no matter what is said or done, you're not going to make everyone happy.

You also said it's about having a pragmatic approach.

Blah blah blah, supremacy clause, blah blah blah.

Mayor said it would give people false hope if we took any action as far as ordinance or legal action.

Plus, we'd be expending city resources, time, money, and staff.

It's not something I'm willing to do as mayor.

After other incorrect things like safety concerns being less important to the residents and a decrease in property value, Mike said, go complain to Congress.

In reference to us coming here every city council meeting.

The mayor sat there nodding his head in agreement.

Mike said, your hands are kind of tied with this.

You're doing the best you can.

The mayor's response, I think so.

There's a lot of pressure to do something, but again, we have to approach it with reality.

Mike said, are you starting to see more understanding from your residents?

The mayor's response, I think so.

Right.

Mayor also said, accept the reality we live in.

Mr.

Kevin Sarder, if this is the reality you want your residents to accept, you are sorely mistaken.

If you oppose this detention center, I want you to stand if you're able at this time, guys.

These are the people fighting ICE in your city because you won't.

These are the people who will take action.

I asked these people to stand to do what the mayor wants.

Let's organize outside of here.

Let's contact Congress.

Shout out to Cali Overs for trying to make a difference.

Shout out to Indivisible for trying to make a difference.

Come find me for more connection.

My name is Brittany Bishop again.

The mayor might be a DHS floor mat, but we don't have to be.

Thank you.

Woo!

My name is Greg Deer.

Good evening.

My name is Greg Guerman, and I live on Lichfield and Cactus area.

Mayor Sarder and Council.

First of all, I'd like to request six minutes because you swelched my First Amendment rights two weeks ago, along with about 50 other people.

Is it granted?

Sir, you have three minutes.

Cheap.

Of course.

Pretty cheap, I think.

Yeah.

I heard you on a podcast stating that you listened to all of the people and would take uh those concerns to DC.

You came back from DC with nothing.

Your concept of listening is far different from mine.

When listening, usually there will be some kind of action.

A stone can listen.

Okay.

But we have to kind of come back get over your inaction, your inertia by giving you some kinetic energy.

This is kinetic energy.

These people are trying to give you some kinetic energy to do something.

That's what this is about.

My point is hundreds of people have been trying to fulfill fill you with enough kinetic energy to overcome your inertia.

I know that's a big word sometimes.

I'm a science guy.

Okay, check it out someday.

Your first excuse was that you can't, uh, you can't do anything because it is a federal issue.

It has already been proven that it is a false statement.

You just wanted to sit on it.

Inertia.

This is what federal district courts are for.

Chris Mays, I think.

Have it stopped.

Your second excuse has been that you don't want to waste valuable city resources.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

I must laugh at that one.

You flew to DC on taxpayers' dollar, I assume.

How many of you?

Okay.

Saying you have open communications, paying for it.

Okay, what does this mean?

They tell you what you do, what we'll do and say, yes, sir.

No assigned agreements.

DHS has killed nearly 50 people that have been documented.

Here we are, and you're still sitting on your hands.

Here is a strong suggestion.

Do something.

I have a present for you.

This is a red marker.

It's a sharpie.

Kind of like that one guy uses.

I'd like you to put a red program.

I would like him to put a red B on his hand when the first person dies in this facility.

Councilman.

Mr.

Sarder, please do such an action finally.

Oh, let's see.

Do I have anything exciting to say?

Facts.

More people in the US are in prison than anywhere else in the world in the US.

Change that instead of saying, go for it.

Yeah, I'd lose my only three minutes.

Was Ashley Ray present?

No, Ashley.

Okay.

Natalie.

And I'm sorry if it's Nathalie.

Natalie Lopez.

I'll be the last one.

Good evening.

Good evening.

My name is Natalie Lopez.

I'm a resident of Goodyear.

Um, and I'm here for the third time to pry for an inkling of empathy out of our community leaders and beg you once again to care for somebody you don't know.

Um, Mayor Sarder, on a radio show, you told the host taking legal action against the detention center would be a waste of resources because it would give people false hope that it would even come to fruition.

And I hope that you prove me wrong, but what I'm getting from these statements are that they're a group of people that you're not willing to fight for.

You haven't condemned DHS as murderers or at the very least as untrustworthy, and many other community leaders have.

Why?

You also have freedom of speech and a right to say whether they're doing right or wrong.

Mayor, you said you wanted to take a pragmatic approach to the project with a focus on open communication with both ICE and city residents.

You'll claim that communication with ICE has improved somehow.

We've come up here for the last couple times hoping that by sharing DHS's disturbing track record that you'd come around, recognize that maybe you didn't have all the information, but now I don't know if it's gonna take a tragedy and surprise for you to say that this is wrong.

What you are asking us to do is to collaborate with people who are killing us, and that's not a pragmatic approach.

I wish that you could acknowledge their blatant violation of human rights, but instead you're welcoming DHS with trust.

Perhaps to someone that looks like you.

Stay silent.

Some of you have been willing to workshop ideas, and I thank you for that.

But let's not forget that the mayor randomly interrupted you guys while you guys were doing that last session.

But we want an action item on the next agenda.

When you speak to reporters, you are placing so much importance on these hypothetical residents that are in support of DHS and understanding of your inaction, which for one, most of them can't even be bothered to draft a few paragraphs to share their opinions because tonight some of them are outside patronizing protesters for likes on TikToks.

They're flipping protesters off on Saturday mornings, or they're in Facebook comments giving death threats to high school students.

These are not serious people.

They base their opinions off of malice and superiority complexes.

If that's the quality of people that you want to align with, then say that.

We deserve to know what kind of people we're dealing with up here.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Councils or other business that we should get on Jane upon the agenda.

Yes, Mayor.

So I learned that we can send a letter to the head of DHS formally requesting that they honor our state and local ordinances.

Specifically the zoning.

So I want to make a formal recommendation to the head of DHS that they follow the state law and our local ordinances to not expand residential use in the LD65 zone and around Luke Air Force Base.

Yeah, that's the vote can be.

Well, no, I'm making a motion to put that on the agenda on the next agenda.

This future business.

Yeah.

Any others?

Did I get a second on that?

I'll second that, Councilman.

Thank you.

Are there any council reports?

Go ahead, Councilman.

So folks, um we appreciate what they just did.

We said we'd never break the three-second rule.

We'd never make a separate dinner.

And never do that.

We'd never let them sleep in our room.

And never become a minivan mom.

Hey Chris.

Um okay, well, I'm not at my desk right now.

As parents, we say never a lot, but never happens.