Surprise City Council Regular Meeting - May 20, 2026

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, and continued into the early hours of May 20. The council celebrated local achievements, approved several land-use and financial items, and heard public testimony regarding the proposed ICE detention facility and other concerns.

Consent Calendar

• Consent Agenda (8 items): Approved unanimously without discussion or pull. The consent agenda included routine approvals and administrative items.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Gage Fur (speaker): Requested a public safety education campaign to address hate speech and harassment, and asked that the DHS detention facility be added as an actionable agenda item.
• Taylor Bone (Coyote Lakes resident): Opposed the ICE detention facility, citing job postings, strain on public resources, and safety risks. Threatened to leave the city if the facility opens.
• Brittany Bishop (Bell and Parkview resident): Expressed strong disapproval of council's lack of action and transparency on the ICE detention center. Alleged that a supplemental agreement was signed on May 6, 2026, without public disclosure. Demanded open opposition and preparation for the facility's impact.
• Mary Becker (Happy Trails resident): In contrast, provided historical context of ICE enforcement under multiple administrations, suggesting that opposition is not representative of all residents. Emphasized that the facility is likely to open.
• Ann Bentheim (Waddell and 133rd Ave resident): Called the ICE facility a "prison/forced labor camp" and argued that incarceration without due process and slavery are wrong. Urged council to take a direct vote to oppose the facility.
• Jason Chavez (Avondale resident): Criticized the city's lack of transparent communication regarding the DHS detention center, Project Bacara (data center), and a proposed nuclear power plant. Argued these projects lower quality of life and property values.

Discussion Items

• Item 9 – Desert Trails Annexation (FS 250856): Final public hearing to annex approximately 10 acres of vacant land northeast of Sun Valley Parkway and 29th Avenue. The applicant seeks to dedicate right-of-way for the Desert Trails development agreement. A neighborhood meeting had one attendee who raised no opposition. Council approved annexation ordinance 2026-13 unanimously.
• Item 10 – Pure Heart Church Rezone (FS 241442): Rezone of 10.7 acres from rural residential to community commercial at southeast corner of 163rd Avenue and Dynamite Boulevard. The applicant (Adam Baugh, representing Pure Heart Church) presented plans for a church campus with commercial uses to offset infrastructure costs. Council discussed community integration, traffic, lighting, and noise. No opposition. Approved unanimously (ordinance 2026-14).
• Item 11 – Veramonte Park Land Purchase: Purchase of 0.751 acres adjacent to Veramonte Park at Litchfield Road and Sweetwater Avenue to add parking and enable future park improvements (lighting, fields). Council noted the need to address parking issues and a separate transformer repair for the splash pad. Approved unanimously.
• Items 12 & 13 – Financial Policies and Budget Amendment Procedures: Annual updates to the city's comprehensive financial management policies (resolution 2026-50) and budget amendment policies (resolution 2026-45). Both approved unanimously.
• Item 14 – Construction Sales Tax Presentation: Presentation by Sandy Simmons on the city's 3.7% construction sales tax, allocated to general capital fund (2.2%) and transportation improvement fund (1.5%). Councilman Judd requested discussion on using construction sales tax for operational needs, particularly public safety. Council agreed to schedule a budget retreat in fall 2026 to further explore reallocation. No vote taken.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved 8 items unanimously.
• Annexation (Desert Trails): Ordinance 2026-13 approved unanimously.
• Rezone (Pure Heart Church): Ordinance 2026-14 approved unanimously.
• Land Purchase (Veramonte Park): Purchase agreement and related documents approved unanimously.
• Financial Policies: Resolution 2026-50 and 2026-45 approved unanimously.
• Construction Sales Tax: No action taken; discussion to continue at fall budget retreat.
• Public Safety Education Campaign: The mayor directed the police chief to connect with the resident who requested the campaign.
• Council Reports: District 1 reported on 163rd Avenue construction meeting; Vice Mayor noted district 2 is quiet; Councilman Duffy announced Big 12 baseball tournament at Surprise; Councilman Judd reported on grand reopening of The Vista entertainment venue.