OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Surprise City Council Meeting - April 21, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, April 22, 2026
BodySurprise, Arizona
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, April 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:50:19

Transcript — Verbatim
4:06

Council meeting on Tuesday, April Twenty First to Order.

4:10

Tonight we have an invitation from Rosita Ruiz.

4:13

Good evening.

4:18

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

4:22

I call in the power of your peace.

5:02

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

5:10

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

5:14

Amen.

5:16

Thank you.

5:17

Madam McClerk, please call the rule Mayor Sarder.

5:22

Present.

5:23

Ice Mayor Greenberg.

5:25

He has an excused absence.

5:27

Thank you, Councilman Haney.

5:28

Here.

5:28

Councilman Duffy.

5:29

Here.

5:29

Councilman Melton.

5:30

Present.

5:31

Councilman Hastings.

5:32

Here.

5:32

Councilman Jett.

5:33

Here.

5:33

Thank you, Mayor.

5:34

We have quorum.

5:35

All right.

5:35

Thank you.

5:36

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

5:44

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

5:58

I love the United States of America.

6:03

And to the report.

6:12

All right, thank you.

6:44

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

6:46

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

6:50

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

7:07

We have a certificate for you as well.

7:10

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

7:14

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.

7:22

And so I just wanted to say thank you.

7:24

Thank you.

7:34

Is your coach here?

7:35

Yes.

7:36

Jenna Wilson.

7:37

Jenna?

7:38

Yeah.

7:49

Stay still.

7:58

Awesome.

8:13

Okay.

8:15

Yeah.

8:20

Okay.

8:20

Month of the military child.

8:21

So April is month of the military child.

8:23

So I'm gonna read this proclamation.

8:24

We have a couple others.

8:25

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.

8:34

Are there other schools?

8:36

Oh, legacy.

8:37

Thank you.

8:49

We have the liaison to a military lead.

8:51

Come on up, please.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Immigration Detention██████████████████████████████████34%
Procedural█████████████████████████25%
Public Engagement████████8%
Public Safety███████7%
Military Support█████5%
Youth Programs████4%
Education Safety███3%
Engineering And Infrastructure███3%
Community Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Surprise City Council Meeting - April 21, 2026

The Surprise City Council met on April 21, 2026, to address proclamations, youth council updates, commission appointments, a right-of-way vacation, an ordinance change, and a staff update on the proposed DHS facility. Public comments were heard, with significant focus on the DHS facility.

Proclamations and Recognitions

  • April 2026 proclaimed as Month of the Military Child; Purple Star Schools recognized.
  • DYSART Unified School District essay contest winners introduced.
  • Surprise Youth Council provided updates on recent events and upcoming job preparation class.
  • National Crime Victims Rights Week (April 19-25, 2026) proclaimed.

Consent Calendar

  • Consent agenda approved, excluding item six.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Multiple speakers opposed the proposed DHS/ICE detention center, citing human rights concerns, safety risks (proximity to a chemical plant), and lack of community support. Some called for council action.
  • One speaker supported the facility, emphasizing immigration enforcement.
  • A speaker raised concerns about Islamic neighborhoods and mosques.
  • Comments also addressed meeting accessibility (video feed, agenda transparency) and urged the council to listen to constituents.

Discussion Items

  • Item 8: Right-of-way vacation of 116,140 sq ft along Joe Max Road for the Asante North development. Approved.
  • Item 9: Ordinance amendment to allow two or more council members to place an item on the agenda with 24 hours' notice. Passed after debate (mayor preferred three members).
  • Item 10: Staff update on the proposed DHS facility: weekly communication with DHS continues; opening delayed to fall; water estimates and legally enforceable agreements requested. Councilman Judd expressed frustration and opposition. A motion to go into executive session for legal advice on public discussion was made but outcome not recorded. Later, Councilman Judd moved to send a formal letter to the head of DHS requesting compliance with local zoning; seconded.

Key Outcomes

  • Appointed Patrick Campbell to Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission and Kerwin Forrest to Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission.
  • Approved right-of-way vacation resolution 2026-43.
  • Approved ordinance 2026-05 (24-hour notice for agenda items by two council members).
  • Motion to go into executive session on DHS legal advice (outcome unclear).
  • Councilman Judd's motion to place a letter to DHS head on next agenda (seconded, likely future action).
  • Staff to continue weekly DHS meetings and provide updates.

Meeting Transcript

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.

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