Regular Meeting - 1/9/2024 6:30:00 PM

e
e
everyone welcome to the January 9th
2024 council
meeting we appreciate you all be here be
here being here in this evening it's our
first meeting of the year happy New Year
to everyone and we will
begin tonight's meeting with an
invocation and I am really afraid that
I'm going to butcher your your name so
I'm going to ask our friends from the
Hindu Faith to come down to the podium
and please introduce yourselves and
share the invocation with
us make sure you push the button to turn
the microphone's coming to help there we
go thank
you make sure you stand close to the mic
thank you right Namaste we're here from
the Hindu swam sa also known as HSS USA
my name is is
pru my name
isint my name is abai
gagan and today we'll be chanting two
samrit verses
meanings
shant shant
shant let all be happy all be healthy
let all see the good in others and let
no one suffer happiness oh peace peace
peace
shant
shant the meaning of this verse is let
us protect each other let us eat
together let us work together and let us
study together to be bright and
successful let us not hate each other
thank you thank
you thank you for sharing that with us
this evening
next we will have the Pledge of
Allegiance council member Bon
Giovani and pledge of allegiance to the
flag of the United States America and to
the Republic for which it stands one
nation under indivisible with liberty
and justice for
all
if I could please have the town clerk um
do mayor Bridget Peterson here vice
mayor Kathy
tilky oh here council member Scott
Anderson here council member Chuck Bon
Giovani council member Bobby Buckley and
council member Jim torguson here aquarum
is present thank you cheli now if I
could ask vice mayor tilky to please
join me down on the
floor
thank
you um each year the Gilbert Town
Council chooses council members to serve
in the role of vice mayor and it comes
with
nay but many extra duties so sometimes
at the very last second and very much
appreciated for the work that you've
done last year so we have a little gift
for you thank you for everything and I
have a CER appreciation to proudly
proudly awarded to vice mayor Kathy
tilky for your serving Gilbert residence
as vice mayor throughout
2023 you are
welcome oh CH Us in the
middle right in the middle so where we
had a good photo
would you like to say a few words oh no
I'm good no you're good thank
you
[Applause]
wow the isn't the
next
next on our agenda we um just as I just
mentioned every year we choose one of
the council members to serve as vice
mayor for this coming and so at this
time we would be looking to nominate a
member as vice
mayor council member Bon ganni thank you
mayor uh traditionally this is a an
honor um new council members who haven't
been uh Vice May uh that will leave
myself um council member uh tus in
Council Lee um council member um Kowski
was vice mayor number year did a great
job so um I'm going to take my hat out
of the ring because it would be
extremely hypocritical of me uh to be
mayor to our to be vice mayor to our
current if it's okay with council member
um torguson council member Buckley I'd
like to nominate council member Scott
Anderson for vice
mayor nomination do we have a second or
do we have any other comments from the
council well told me not to meet with
the mayor so I'm going to have to second
the nomination not
Anderson we have a motion please please
vote passes 60 council member Kowski
can't join us this evening she happens
to be out of state and not available so
now at this time I need to pause the
meeting and ask mayor to change seats
with now the new vice mayor Scott
Anderson and change the voting board and
the name plates thank
you
this will give um vice mayor Anderson a
couple of moments to get settled and
I'll ask Council to join me down on the
floor for the proclamation declaring the
month of January 2024 is anti-human
trafficking
month
can I please have Pastor Jones Pastor
Mike and others that are here for this
please join
me Hi how are you so nice to see you so
nice to see you hi
hi so nice to see
you we request to Proclaim January is
anti-human trafficking month whereas
trafficking transcends all nationalities
and demographics and is the second
criminal Enterprise in the world with
tens of thousands of Americans exploited
annually and which the United States
ranks as one of the top human
trafficking offenders Arizona up
destinations for human trafficking and
the Phoenix area is one of the top
trafficking jurists nationally and
whereas ridding the world of human
traffic include concerted efforts in
schools churches nonprofits enforcement
and businesses with the common goals of
intervention disruption dismantling of
human trafficking syndicates and whereas
188873
7888 is a tollfree 100%
ential National anti-human trafficking
hotline open
247 May specifically trained
anti-trafficking
Advocates that provide resource to and
support for victims of human trafficking
and where as the town Arizona joins the
not in our city.org movement in our
commitment to public awareness and
combat the human trafficking epidemic
that impacts our community State nation
and world now therefore I Bridget
Peterson mayor of the town of Gilbert do
hereby proclaim the month of January as
anti-human trafficking month in Gila to
say not in our city and I encourage our
community to work together to eliminate
traff from it by supporting those
efforts by front Lan line organizations
and law enforce battle against human
trafficking I'd like to who would I'd
like to present this to Pastor would you
like to say a few words thank you talk
about your event okay well I thank you
and and Michael we appreciate this
opportunity and again uh Gilbert a lot
um to bring awareness and join the fight
um this is something we can all agree
upon in you know heated moments of
disagreement we're coming to agreement
that this is in a darkness that just
can't stand in our and uh so this will
be our sixth event this year it'll be at
Grand Canyon um university in their
basketball arena last year we were at
gamage at ASU thousands of people come
out for a night of prayer uh worship um
thousands of elected officials police
officers all coming Frontline Ministries
not in our supports uh Frontline
Ministries that are doing recovery
fighting be supportive of law
enforcement making sure they have the
resources and City of Gilbert is doing
we applaud you for that and so um like I
see the c um you know the candle uh when
it shines in darkness it drives out
exposes things that need to be exposed
and um and that's way uh with not in our
cities we're shining a light on
something that we can't ignore and uh
most people still are unaware of this
Darkness so we're making a difference as
we're coming together and so we want to
invite you out February 8th to join us
there at Grand Canyon it matters every
person coming out many of you out here
tonight it matters and so we invite you
to come there 5 o'l and um and I
appreciate you know we've had over 50
participate last year we're hoping for a
hundred if your church didn't you us in
touch with um any of the pastors and say
we would love to have ALS
participate so thank
you this and yeah this is uh Michael um
Heiden uh or um from Christ Greenfield
as well so just wanted to uh Pastor
that's there so mayor thank you thank
you so much we appreciate all you're
doing let's take a
photo let's take a photo let's put you
in the Middle with
the
let's she's very
bossy thank you I'll see you I'll see
you in February thank
you
now we will move into Communications
from s vice mayor um at this
time pH Communications from citizens our
chief of police will be speaking and
then weaving up item 20 to be heard at
that at that time because we know it's
on our agenda vice
mayor thank you
mayor the goodward Town Council values
citizens comments and input anyone
wishing to speak before home must fill
out a request to speak card for each
item they wish to speak on and submit
Clerk or place it in the bin provided
prior to the start of the meeting
Communications from citizens portion on
the agenda provides citizens an
opportunity to identify Council matters
of Interest or concern related to town
government under the pr Arizona open
meeting law the Town Council is
prohibited from responding to issues
that have not really noticed therefore
the Town Council may only listen to
citizens who wish to address and at the
conclusion of the open call to public
res response is limited members of the
council responding to criticism made by
those who have address the public body
asking staff to review a matter or
asking that a matter be put on a future
agenda
the town asks that when your name is
called you come forward to the podium
state your name and place of residence
and then begin
speaking all speakers uh and then begin
uh and we'll limit the time to three
minutes for each uh speaker and tonight
we have several we'll
start with brand is our first uh speaker
following Brandon will be Christine so
be ready Christine
good
evening uh We've expect childish and
vindictive embarrassing behavior from
mayor Peterson um has defined her Legacy
more by the shallowness of the title of
Mayor on that little placard rather than
the depth and breadth of noble actions
typically associated with authentic
leadership um in part due to her failed
leadership we now have a group of
entitled Punk little Thug on beating
innocent people to death for no reason
and getting away with
it I didn't know about Gilbert goons or
um even though they got I've had a lot
of trouble at my at my house um nothing
compar family but I have information
that I think the public should know
about the very top ship in this
town I've had uh a situ was on the news
where a truck tried to run over kill a
bunch of kids in front of my house as I
was waiting for the police to
come um another vehicle came by and I
got blasted in the face with bear spray
my neighbor got blasted in the face with
bear spray family has been threatened
councilman tason's home has been
targeted he's his
family's um m80s were some sort of
improvised device was detonated up
against the side of my house and the kid
walks like didn't have a care in the
world like nothing was going to happen
to him and he got into a $100,000 truck
and drove away sounds kind of
familiar just me what I want everyone to
know is that uh the mayor and Planning
Commission chairman were interviewed by
regarding the matter and it says in the
police report that they thought it was
quote comical how careless the kid
walked away our mayor thought it was
comical I didn't think it was comical my
young children didn't think it was
comical and it's clear that our take
this kind of thing seriously so uh this
is not just the police chief it's his
manager and it's our mayor who we need
to be looking to I do trust him uh Mr
torguson Mr bananie and Mr Anderson I do
the mayor she's crooked she's
corrupt I'm calling for an outside
investigate Department of Justice to
find out exactly how all of this
happened get to the bottom of it and
make sure that it never happens again
and get Justice for this young man's
family and protect the rest of residents
here thank
[Applause]
you hi can you hear
me um I'm Christine I am a resident of
Gilbert ladies and gentlemen today I
want to EMP the critical role of empathy
in leadership a quality that can perect
the well-being of a
community leaders especially those in
public office share the responsibility
of understanding and addressing the
needs of their constituents empathy the
ability to share the feelings of others
it's not just a soft but it's a
Cornerstone of effective leadership a
leader who empath EMP can connect with
the diverse experiences of their of
their Community fostering unity and
inclusivity
this understanding allows for policies
and that genuinely benefit all of the
people however empathy is lacking as
we've unfortunately witnessed in our
mayor's actions the consequences can be
severe our mayor has openly stated doe
Youth and shockingly has declared I
don't
Havey these statements reflect a
concerning disregard for segments of
particularly the younger generation who
are essential to our
future more the mayor's absence during
walks and support of justice for Preston
and in council members not to attend
vigils and walks demonstrates a
concerned support for the very citizens
she was elected to
serve CL of the council have been told
to not talk to the media and the public
as their silence is deafening and too
consistent to be anything else
and yet in light of these the Council
subcommittee on team violence becomes
even more critical the proposed
subcommittees by members of the council
serve as a Beacon of Hope Community that
we have some leaders who prioritize
empathy and are act working for the
betterment of our Collective
well-being by having represent genuinely
connect with and understand the people
we can rebuild the trust eroded du to
the mayor's track record of lacking
empathy as we importance of empathy and
leaders let us hold our elected
officials for embodying this essential
quality let us demand leaders who talk
about understanding the people but
actively demonstrate it through their
actions and
decisions our community deserves leaders
who lead with their hearts as well as
ensuring a brighter and more
compassionate future for us
all if you if you hold your applause
please um that's the decorum of a
council meeting applaud like that so
could you please hold it down thank you
uh Murray has indicated you did not want
to speak is that
true okay Joelle you're next up no I
want to speak okay Joel um after Jo
mcferson yes mine's not as harsh
so um good evening my name is Joelle
Murray I'm a cons uh concerned mother
and
citizen when I learned that I was going
to be moving to the Valley from
Pennsylvania in 2012 I also found out
that I was pregnant with my second child
I knew I had to be very when it came to
places to live and school districts my
children would be attending I when I
came across the lovely town of Gilbert
everyone was so friendly and the scenery
was ous I heard nothing but good things
from the residents about the school
district I read reviews on about how
safe it was and how much it's growing
there is no doubt in my mind that gy was
the winner my kids have grown up here
and we've been SE successful excuse me
and
sports Ive always felt that I have made
the right decision for their few until
recently fast forward to the Halloween
of 2003 when we first heard about the
horrendous attack on poor Preston Lord
's hoping this was an isolated incident
maybe a young kid who got mixed up in
the wrong crowd we found out actually
through our
children that he was an upstander the
type of young man that I want my sons to
grow up to be just like an honor student
athlete and the a kind human soul I
wondered how this could happen to such
an outstanding young man wanted to find
the answers surely the kids had to be
talking on social media so I H different
platforms
myself and I I'll tell you as a mother I
was not for what I
found I found what happened that I found
out that what happened to press was not
an isolated incident and that te these
teenagers were attacking others and
videotaping these assaults the videos
showed their Victor victim their faces
and some of them being repeatedly kicked
while they were on the ground
defenseless of these TXS gut-wrenching
to watch but some of them were being
taken in public places most famously now
the In-N-Out Burger on Market Street in
Gilbert a place told run
frequent I thought to myself how is this
happening how aren't these attacks being
reported and what is going on with our
youth now I know how it's happening it's
because we've continued to let it happen
we haven't held these and I call them
children because their acts are childish
we haven't held them accountable they're
doing
um and they finally finally killed
someone um I don't know when it's up or
when anyone is going to take it serious
enough but it's our job to these
children um sorry I got a little off
track but I'm not how we lost sight of
that but I would like to be a part of
the
solution I would like to help identify
the victim and and seek Justice for them
I would like to have the people
responsible for these crimes held
accountable
and I want our children to to be able to
report these things sorry um and most
importantly I want them checked I
propose that we set up maybe a text line
or a phone line that our teenagers can
report these acts anonymously so that
they can be seriously looked into your
time thank
you
[Applause]
please Katie mcferson to be followed by
Bridget
Vega good evening mayor Peterson vice
mayor Anderson esteem members thank you
for the opportunity to speak again
tonight I want to thank you for
listening to my request to convene an
in-depth look at the Nexus of alleged
attacks that occurred here in Gilbert
that a Savage and brutal beating of our
teens I had the opportunity to meet with
several of your street Crim officers and
I found that to be deeply in in
eradicating violence here what I would
also request comes next on the passing
of the subcommittee is for our town to
recognize that our youth are s for help
true listening is being prepared to be
changed by here there's an old African
proverb that says a child who embraced
by The Village will burn it down to feel
its warmth definitely on fire
I would request more communication in
person direct and
honest in the absence of the general
public is filling in the blanks about
you and it isn't with kind
words we are the town of
Gilbert that that we have remained a
town is
intentional a town conve to its
residents small we know each other we
care about her and we definitely care
about our youth it conveys something to
neighboring CI that we are different and
that we care it is critical we live up
to our origin and history as a town
otherwise we might as just one other
city thank you so
much thank you next up Bridget
Vega Bridget will be followed by
suzan
good mayor and Town Council I am Bridget
a mother a mental health human
trafficking prevention Advocate and
local resident change begins with when
does it stop justice starts with us when
each and every one of us have the
courage to stop looking away and turning
a blind eye you don't get to look the
other way on this issue an innocent soul
child was brutally murdered Preston Lord
it could have been any one of our
children what if it was your child
someone you
know together we must rise for the
children when you am I a part of the
problem when you face that mirror and
start holding people accountable I am
concerned as suicide rates have
skyrocketed sex drug
trafficking drug use including
alcoholism with weed and Fentanyl on
Elementary and high school campuses and
salt as stated by the County Attorney
based on superior's most recent stats
show the number of crimes committed by
miners with weapons have by five times
more from 2022 to
2017 that's including all categories
possession murder and assault
I would like to partner as well as
connect or as well as confirmation to
connect the department to nonprofits
such as starbite foundation and red lean
prevention programs addressing physical
emotional spiritual health and
importance of digital safety and
resilience so we can get a prevention
program at the schools community and all
Town
governments this will be the next step
to eradicate ha violence and stop
abusers to continue to perpetuate
intentional Affliction of emot on the
youth and Community due to senseless
acts of violence adverse child
experiences are the lead contributor to
senseless acts of violence and stalking
tactics we are witnessing in the
community and Across the Nation the
children are watching and your silence
is deafening as we wereit for a thorough
invest tigation the children go to
school feeling unsafe
unseen and cannot even be
children they Wonder as life goes on
where's the Justice who's protecting
us as they live in survival mode using
coping mechanisms the children are in
every day and cross path with the teens
who continually to get away with the
murder it's more than a hashtag it's a
child's life to the youth those that
reported prior but were silenced you are
courageous and I'm everything you've
endured but I pray for healing strength
and protection as God continu stories to
light please know we're here for you you
are enough your voice matters we see you
we hear you we stand by you I love you
be an upstander and continue to keep the
Lord against Stevens and aa's family all
in your prayers we have no future if we
don't protect children we have a duty to
protect protect the innocent if not that
blood is on our thank you for your time
I pray over the partnership so we can
grow and build a safer and together not
in our city enough is enough human
trafficking is $150
industry thank you
Suzanne following Suzanne Kurt
roor mayor and council members my name
is Suzanne Vargo I'm a gilhart resident
a mother of two teenage daughters and a
retiree from our neighbor to the west
where I proud Community for over 20
years as a first
responder not only did I serve that
Community communities and all
neighboring jurisdictions as my
department operated Without
Borders my last seven years of my career
one of my many responsibilities was
information sharing across agent many
law enforcement on local state and
federal levels this information network
is filled with some of the most
passionate engaged and committed people
I have ever had the opportunity to work
with and when I say committed I mean 247
committed while this network exists and
has to work together in many areas it
has
limitations typically it has to do with
staff data input access and
funding there are many threats that have
get vetted out there and unfortunately
teen violence most likely would not have
been elevated a logical theory for this
because it's important to understand
that even similar incidents in a single
jurisdiction for multiple touch points
across multiple shifts beats days and
Staffing models individually are blips
on the radar at the
time now throwing the same type of
incidents are happening in multiple
jurisdictions and the assumption would
be that everyone knows about it from the
beginning there is still no visibility
to the magnitude of the problem as on
the street level agencies are not
actively communting each other about
it there is an opportunity that exists
though and it's not a short-term but a
long-term opportunity that will provide
multifaceted dividends in return while
many of us are here tonight to
specifically address the immediacy of
action for combating team violence my
ask tonight is for support for an
opportunity to give our Police
Department the tools that that will
address a multitude of needs for better
policing and
Reporting all law enforcement agencies
in the state of Arizona should be
entering their calls into a single
database with a language that can be
queried to make the connections and
identify
Trends being used outside of
Arizona this requires collaboration and
commitment by and agencies for funding
and resources this is a long-term effort
in a world with tension span even though
there has been recent progress in
coordination with other agencies recent
cases involving team violence the Ripple
effects of this on the mental health of
our youth minds of your community for a
very long time I implore you to keep
this on your minds for time and find a
long-term solution to supporting our
Police Department giving them the tools
to effectively do their jobs which will
ultimately support your community thank
you thank you Kurt
[Applause]
Ro members Kurt you might want to pull
that mic up you're thank
you mayor and members of the Town
Council my name is Kurt I'm a member of
the channel Unified School Board but
tonight I speak to you as a private
citizen of Sun
Lakes Preston Lord was a young man who
was suben and left to die in the
street other teens watched this happen
and took it with their cell phones that
assault occurred at a house party that
was located just our Castile High
School recently another teen was
assaulted par another group of boys that
teen was one of our students at Castile
high school that was also video by other
teens bystanders including our girls
could be heard in the background loud
loudly encouraging this
assault multiple assaults of this kind
have been reported and videoed over the
last year at various locations in the
community investigations by local law
enforcement have been hampered by the
lack of cooperation for witness and
others that with withheld Vital
Information from either fear of
retaliation or protecting these thugs or
simply not wanting to get
involved cannot
stand we need a significant culture
change and members of our community must
be involved with this these mop attacks
will only get worse if they are not
staunchly confirmed all of our children
must be made to feel safe and protected
in our schools and in our
streets recent arrests in these cases
probably do not address the F EX viles
situation there are most most likely
other teens that are also guilty or
encouraging this violence they should
not expect to walk away unpunished I'm
fairly certain that our Chann unified
students are either involved or know who
our Perry High School is located in the
Gilbert Town limits our Castile High
located in Queen Creek Town limits this
involves us as well I understand that
town of Gilbert is considering
establishing a committee to address teen
violence as a community leader and
Chandler I am stepping up to offer my
services to
particip violence and intimidation
cannot be allowed to be part of who we
are or how we teach our children or how
we raise our families thank you thank
you Nikki
Reber next up is
Nikki would be followed by tamy small is
it mayor and council
members I didn't bring anything this is
just from my heart when I read what
happened to that young man it broke my
heart my kids aren't in school anymore
they're all grown up after
Arizona two of them because they just
didn't want to leave live here anymore
one of them because he wanted a
different
climate I miss them I have
grandchildren who are here who have
children going to
school makes me a great
grandmother I don't know if I'm all that
but they think
so it scares the heck out of me this
happened when I read about it and it
papers and it hit the news
I'm thinking this has been going on for
a long and we're all just now finding
out about it and it was all because the
involved the parents who had injured
children finally raised enough St that
the newspaper got involved then the
media got involved excuse me these were
reports made to police departments a
long and nobody did anything I don't
necessarily hold usly responsible but I
certainly hope if you're making this
subcommittee you the police department's
responsible for taking an I don't give a
darn
attitude because that's exactly how it
has come
across I have friends in the Chandler
police department and they've not had
respect for the Gilbert Police
Department time they've never really
said to me why they just don't have
respect for Police Department I find
that dist disturbing and I think you all
should too as
members so I hope something good comes
out of this
subcommittee pray for something to be
done I'm not sure that we need to
totally be Miss on a bunch of rich kids
who've gotten out of
control take it back all of the people
that live in Gilbert the ones who speed
all the time because they know they can
get away with the ones who just have a
flipping attitude Gilbert now has
highest best per capita income per
household income we be stale now so we
got some lot of people living here it's
got some
Pockets so is that where it's all coming
from people who just for work do their
job earn their income and don't pay any
attention to anything else and other um
me me me attitude instead of a all of us
at it has to start at the adult level
if we can't the adults to behave the
kids are never going to behave it won't
happen thank
you Tammy
small Tammy will be followed by
ragavan in
Conan mayor vice mayor and council
members my name is Tammy small I leer
I've been a resident here for about 25
years and I'm I know some of you but
this story of teen violence is not new
to Gilbert it has been addressed in the
past and it should be addressed firmly
and quickly one of the things Gilbert
did in the past and I'm not necessarily
advocating it may be a solution but it
may not they formed a human relations
commission I served as an inaugural
member that commission has a vision for
the town of Gilbert and it
reads the vision for is a safe and
friendly town where residents share a
sense of
community respect individual rights
except responsibility for the well-being
of
all that last part of that is something
that makes a lot of sense and it
provides a solution now we all need to
be held
responsible members of the committee uh
the community the school the
town the law enforcement and other
authorities we all need to take a stand
against this
violence we may eradicate it but it
should be better and it must be better
and better than this I have a couple of
suggestions but
um experien the last few weeks when I've
been paying attention to
and um thanks to the news for bringing
it since it was swept under the rug
apparently and ignored by
towns that can't happen that is unaccept
and and I'm not blaming anybody I'm just
saying that it shouldn't a death of a
Young Man in our community to have you
get your pants on fire about this so I H
I'm I'm interested in hearing the police
chief talk a little lat to hear that's
coming I think that he ought to have to
do that every week every meeting oh this
is resolved not only that in addition to
committee I'm not sure who you have
involved in that I've heard a few here
tonight Vol help
the whole Community needs to be heard on
matter
because there's another proverb that
talks about decisions are made with many
Council and I don't think that circling
your wagons and pretending that the
elected officials are somehow the
smartest people in the world and they
can solve this without input from
parents and students and others
evenement it just won't happen so also I
encourage you to make the town officials
responsible beside are not elected but
paid by by us because I haven't even
heard back from a call I made to the
assistant Town manag last week so I
guess that's thank
you
Ravine he will be followed
by
bavan
chintala I get that
right Namaste everyone name is ragavan
and I am here as a volunteer of Hindu
sok s today we come here to address you
wonder wonderful people about Surya
namaskar or sun
salutations namaskar is a form of yoga
to be specific it is series of 10 simple
yoga ASAS are postures that are per
sequence as the name suggests the
exercise is at Sunrise or in the
mornings however doing any time of the
day is effective and
beneficial swak son in 2006 and since
has taken it as an initiative to
popularize this practice from a Indian
civilization composed and introduced by
Maharishi Tali since
2006 every January the period of two
weeks HSS conducts sua namaskar yagna
yatan
roughly translated Sun salutation
sacrifice all over the USA the cultural
significance Hindus for this period of
14 days is that it starts on sankranti
and ends on S saptami makaan is the day
sun enters the Capricorn and hence
transition into the northern hemisphere
the days in the hemisphere starts
getting longer and marks the end of
winter the drive culminates on R Sami or
the seventh day aing moon this day is
celebrated as son's birthday during
Surya namaskar yagna campaign the
benefit namaskars are popularized via
programs videos social posts and
inperson
SS T run on the selfless ideal of yoga
for health and health for
Humanity every session and program
conducted under this Banner is free and
open to the community of religion race
sex or age this year the 17th annual
Surya namaskar yagna health for
yogathon will run from 113 2024 to 128
2024 our goal is to
promote and mental well-being by the
means of
suan the benefits of su namaskar are
many a few benefits of consistent
practice to list would be improved blood
in increased
oxidization Boos in gut health invite
each and everyone of you here to join us
this year in the Su namaskar make 2024
yeah healthy and happy I end my address
you wonderful people with a call for
yoga and health yoga for he and health
for Humanity thank you very much thank
you
Namaste Namaste vice mayor Namaste all
council members Namaste everyone my name
is bhagan chintala and I'm representing
sa Diwali sa Diwali initiative by dmic
communities individuals and
organizations are centers temples
gars and logistic and social cultural
organizations who believe in SE
Dharma service to humanity is service to
Divinity so our mission is to Foster and
save uh and do sa SAA means selfless
giving for the welfare of society by
promoting the festive and enlight of
diali sa diali creates a shared values
of platform for D indic community and
individual to organize food collection
and other drives around the Festival of
Diwali which is in from the starting
month of or October and it goes all the
way to
December in 202 so we collected like
55,000 of food and 2.1 million pounds
since
2018 um to um from 546 beneficiary op
and in Phoenix greater Phoenix area we
eight cities participated this year and
we collected 10,000 PS of and we donated
that to two beneficiaries one is our n
and we drw all the way to Neo oce to um
uh to uh good and in local in ch to
thank you very much
than May that includes our
Communications thank you vice mayor I'd
like to invite um Chief Michael soberg
to the Pod to offer a statement
please
good evening uh mayor vice mayor council
members members of the community thank
you for being here tonight uh before I
read the the statement that I have
prepared a couple uh additional
information that I want to add based on
the comments that were made tonight and
we will our teen violence web page um
Gilbert School District Higley school
and the Chandler Unified School
Districts all have anonymous tip lines
text lines so I've got those numbers we
will provide that to the community so
they have that in addition at least at
those three school districts we have SRO
at all of our and our Junior highs uh
five days a week and so they are asset
as well that is available to the
community and to the kids as well with
the counselors at the schools as well uh
one other comment regarding some of the
comments we do share uh not only in the
state but in the East Valley our commun
our intelligence and our cases we do
have the ability through the Ariz
terrorism information center actic as
well as the East Valley Fusion Center
the East Valley agencies are part of as
well as different systems as was alluded
can help us communicate our report
writing system we have access to the
other agency's report writing system as
is to ours as well so we do uh that
information sharing so stay man thank
you thank you to everyone who took the
time to be here tonight we are a great
community in large part because of our
engaged and caring res again thank you
for taking the time to be here this
evening and make I would like to start
off by providing you with an update on
our investigations on teen
violence while Queen while Queen Creek
police department in into who is
responsible for the death of Preston
Lord is in the hands of the maricopa's
office we continue to work on Gilbert's
investigations we are combing detail of
our past assault cases and arrests
involving youth to determine if there
are ACS or
correlations and what are the
relationships if any between those
involved as most already know the
information we can provide is limited to
not jeopardize or undermine any ongoing
investigations or those go to
trial yesterday we shared an update that
we had eight
investigations and as of today there are
now nine active investigations teen
[Applause]
violence four reopened invent and five
previously unreported to the department
the most recent is an assault which
occurred in November of
2022 while strating this incident was
not not reported to the police prior
this is an example of what we from our
community and we are thankful uh for the
victim who had the courage to delay
assault I have said before we initially
did not have any report mentioned
Gilbert goons but recently victims have
been using that term Yer announced that
we have been working with and will
continue to work with the state gang
task force the Mesa Police Department
Queen Creek police department and
Chandler police department and the
Canal's office to thoroughly investigate
any individuals self-proclaim or
Affiliated their as being associated
with the term Gilbert
goons we can enourage anyone with
information related to Prior incident of
teen violence to please report by
calling our non-emergency number which
is
480
5036 or through our online tip site
which you can provide your or be
anonymous or through our through the
appropriate police jurisdiction the
incident
occurred and as always if anyone in our
community Witnesses a violent or
behavior in the moment we ask that you
please call
911 department is thankful for the
community excuse me is thankful that the
community has come together to support
Seeking Justice for Preston Lord and any
other victims irrating waiting for
additional information and charging
decisions it may seem at times as it
isn't being taken but I can assure you
that everyone here is working to ensure
that anyone who has committed a crime in
Gilbert is held accountable and we would
to support the Queen Creek Police
Department's investigation into the
death of Preston
Lord thank you Chief I appreciate your
time this evening and us all we're going
to move item 20 to the beginning of our
agenda so I'll open the administrative
items on our agenda this evening to 2A
Administration consider appointing a
council subcommittee on teenage violence
in Gilbert in conjunction with the
police prevention and support as that
was requested I look forward to the
discussion um who would like to go first
on that topic I'll start vice mayor
thank
you let me start off as uh to all for
being here
um this is difficult I Fain um I have
children that attended the school
district back when we had a similar
situation in
Gilbert and that you're concerned uh
we're all concerned and we know that
violence and hatred have no place in
this community especially when it
involves our
youth a very special group that we want
to take care
of we've gone through a period of time
where we've got two different processes
that uh should going on here and one has
been going on for a period of time which
is I know isting to you because we
haven't been sharing a whole lot of
information and the Reas as we're
building an investigation and be able to
be successful with that investigation to
consider it um as being confidential at
the time but we feel like and that's the
reason this is on the agenda tonight and
to
listen and we're hearing now to listen
and um I think you heard tonight from
our um religious community heard from a
young men who did a chant for us that
it's time to come together to find
Solutions and um while a subcommittee uh
could certainly be beneficial uh it's
actually very restrictive in educations
when we're working as a subcommittee but
we do have an existing task force I I
I'm going to ask um council member tilki
to talk about because she's the leaon
but we do have an existing task force
not unlike the human relations which was
cons which was formed years ago and it's
speciically for a task like this where
we can bring you together we can bring
it is from the school districts from the
faith
community uh anybody stakeholder that
would like to be involved we want to
have them involved when we want to
listen and discuss with you where we can
go now in this parallel process to the
is that's going on but again thank you
so much for being here involved and we
look forward to speaking with you some
more thank
youc M thank you mayor
um if you don't mind I'd like to just
start already and then and talk a little
bit about our community engagement task
force and I Echo um Vice mayor's
comments about where we in the timeline
right now and it's I know it's
frustrating for you and it's frustrating
for all um violence within our community
is not tolerated participate will be
investigated and
prosecuted I have full confid faith in
our Police Department to conduct fair
and thorough investigations do it right
and follow strict protocols to ensure
all cases can be cuted and justce served
and we don't want to be that piece in
the that allows someone to go free
because we missed at a time when it
wasn't
appropriate I ask that we all within our
community allow the police department
time to complete their investigations
encourage the community to provide
information directly to the police
department schools as the chief
mentioned so team violent our community
needs to be addressed with a longterm
plan I've heard several of you say that
it may be tempting to only react to this
tragic situation but if we truly want to
create solutions for teen violence then
we need an effective long-term plan to
be successful and we going to need your
community to to be part of those
Solutions last night I hadity to talk
about teen violence to our community
engagement task force they are willing
to add this topic to their scope of work
should the council choose to provide
that
direction as a reminder to their mission
the community engagement Tas force will
provide a for where matters of Social
welf and Community concern May be
presented discussed and collaborated to
address concerns within the town of
Gilbert the identified area is include
but are not limited to domestic violence
hum trafficking mental health Suicide
Prevention homelessness lowincome
Challenge and ensuring Gilbert is a kind
welcoming and
inclus if there is Council interest I
would suggest the
first we would need to expand the scope
of work for this task include team
violence expand the number of task for
members to a total of 11 task force
members in two
months we could add advisory positions
from each school district schools
interested in participating if you would
like that
Council we have some of our task force
members
because we are nearing our scope of work
and we didn't replace them at the time
I'd recommend those currently serve
serving on the task for to remain and go
ahead and post for these new positions
in in I believe we could accomplish
within the month and have everybody
seated and move
forward the task force would evaluate
data violence and ident so we know where
we are today and where we've been in the
past with experts in the field
understand resources currently available
ident apps and resources needed to move
the needle towards eliminating and
eradicating as you mentioned team
violence in
Gilbert part of that scope we could
expand if this Council wanted to ding
sessions within the community and do a
broader base feedback process everybody
feels that they have participated and
provided um the task force does not have
the authority to make finals they will
be bringing that back to the council in
a in a public format so that you would
be um updated on that as we go along um
I uh if we whatever Direction the
council would like to um we do have um
members of the community of offers to
provide some Financial Resources if we
need that as we and I think that's a
great example of how this community
wants to make a difference we want to
take on this issue and we are all for
Preston Lord's family and all of the
people of this
um we hate to see something like this
enti and we hear you and I know your
frustration I feel but I would never
want to be the one that allowed one of
these people to walk away scotf free
because we did something from the that
interrupted that investigation so I hope
that you will understand where we're
coming from and know that we're we want
to move
forward thank you very much I have
grandchildren and children children and
all my grandchildren live here and for
the first time I had look my grandson in
the eye and say please be careful when
you go out tonight so um thank you for
listening to me I hope that we'll
consider some night and be able to get
you involved in finding these Solutions
thank you thank you council member any
other comments council member bonani uh
thank you mayor uh um when I was young
my momm used to always say you know
Chuck ears and one mouth and I thought
that was her way of saying Chuck shut up
for 55 years I believed that until I sat
on this di for the first time and
realize that you have to
listen rather than just
talk and my numbers are incorrect please
someone correct me but I believe 25
population in Gilbert is under the age
of six under the age of
18
um we need to do something about this
invest in our
teens in this community find ways to
invest whether it's or other
resources um many of you guys probably
don't know this but I was a
professionally treasure worker um many
years ago and you have to start buying
the problem you have to start by
analyzing the full scope of the
and reason why I wanted to set up this
with the other council members was to
create some goals and action items share
with the
community
um include not just a small number of
the community but uh Community
involvement from parents
Asians
schools everyone who's vested interest
in it um I want to create listening
sessions or council member torus sorry
Jim council member torus and I visited a
school probably about six weeks ago and
just spoke to some of the kids there it
was it was a good session I'd like to
see us be able
to speaking with teenage teenagers in
the
schools maybe not even you know maybe
with staff maybe without staff talking
with them giving them some surveys so we
know where things are in their
point um I foresee us and I've already
spoken with uh to have Chandler and
possibly Queen Creek's Council also do
the same thing form subcommittees and
then I'll meet as a coalition it's
officially called the task force I'm
still learning but I think that the um
Southeast Valley Cities and C
have to work together on this I don't
want to be stuck in bureaucracy that's
not me we need to include people um and
create a coalition among the other
cities
um with the focus on safety of all
citizens but we have to listen learn and
work together to solve this issue and I
don't want to delay it I don't want to
wait I don't want to have
to you know get election be part of a
organization or whatever um I think we
need to dive into this and you guys are
all experts better yet the teens are all
let's get them
involved
because violence has no place in Gilbert
Arizona thank
you council member torgenson
um things have changed a lot since I uh
something has happened in in our
community communities around
it what occurred to
this when I was a kid if you kicked
somebody when they were on the ground
your own friend would probably beat you
up it wasn't even a it wasn't a
consideration it wasn't something to do
a human being uh what we're seeing is is
it can't be
blamed some people want to blame the
police for something some people want to
be for something it's not that's not it
it's it's our community it's our it's
our culture and it's it is a bigger
problem and and we're not the listening
and hearing and learning uh things
that couldn't even relate to as a youth
and seeing that this is what's happening
now there's a learning curve
that it's not instant uh don't want it
to be taken lightly uh because it's it
is at least can be addressed regionally
as we have a a Tri City thing for
economic growth and it's Chandler Queen
Gilbert and this this murder occurred in
Queen Creek and it may or may not
because I don't know of if the
participants could be members of
Chandler or Gilbert or Queen Creek uh
but the the violence certainly doesn't
ex is not based gically only to a city
to a town uh it's to a region and
there's information that's incorrect
that comes for instance I I read about
somebody being beaten up with brass
knuckles in Desert
Ridge wasn't from Gilbert and
the assault happened in in that Desert
Ridge but I I believe that not only we
have to listen uh everybody has to
listen we have to uh take the the best
ideas that come out
uh that are
not somebody can just utter something
and all of a sudden you realize they've
given an important piece to add to the
puzzle and I don't think that uh doing
things to way we doing them would be the
answer I think something as Mark Stewart
had re uh or Kurt had reached out to me
uh
involve more of our community the the
Chandler and queen cre uh to try and get
our arms around something a little bit
bigger because if we trunk at our town
border uh it would be it'd be a disser
those that have been affected by this
because it's it's more than that and
it's
not I would like this to be taken to a
level where we cooperate with other
municipalities and actively engage with
them learn
and much as Chuck was told he had two
years so was I and then the most
successful man I know told me he didn't
cared something up he cared about who
fixed it and he was always listening to
the ideas around around him and uh he
was the smartest man in the room but he
didn't sir so anybody thinks there's
smartest man in the
room you might not have the answer it's
going to be it's going to come from the
mouth of a child it's going to
teenager it's going to be coming from
somebody that lives with fear that was
afraid to Port this for 14
months uh and Found the courage to do it
and I want I I don't have a specific
vision for how this but uh I don't want
to take the little bit of I have and
waste it by
not trying to help this not happen again
because it's uh I can't imagine what
that family goes through and it's so
unnecessary so if we can make this a
little bit bigger than the town of
Gilbert I'd like
to
council member
Buckley thank
you I applaud all of the comments that
uh has said we we have heard your
comments and concerns from the from the
community violence and
hate have no PL over this is very
emotional for all of us as well as
you um
so and teen safety is of the utmost
importance to our town leadership
and as the Queen Creek Department
continues to investigate the death of
President
Lloyd I'm always the emotional
one Queen Creek Police Department
continues to investigate the death of
Preston Lloyd and the Gilbert Police
investigates other incidents of teen
violence in our
town we need to come together as a
community we collaborate with our
schools Community Partners parents and
care we look forward to working with
surrounding City partnering with to
address issues like this in the East
Valley this is no ST Gilbert it is in
Chandler it is in uh it is in Mesa there
was a a 17-year-old I think six year old
that just got prosecuted in Phoenix and
for some reason seems to think that
happened here but it was in PH the same
type of of of abuse and some we have to
get a handle on Our Youth and why they
this what is their purpose I mean where
did that come from and I ta Force could
be very helpful for that and um the
teens in our
community we need their help they need
to come forward just like we now have
Chief soberg said we now have I believe
it's um five new cases that have come in
nine Alto together and that it's sad
that these kids waited this long to do
this but understand there's a lot of
information being shared and people want
answers we have every
bit of confidence in the police the
Gilbert department and they is working
hard to ensure that anyone who's
committed a cert is held accountable and
that will continue continue to and we
will to support Queen Creek in the death
of Preston Lloyd which happened in Queen
Creek and um I am fully supportive of
our
department
and and really also our council
members thank you council member
Buckley
I know so much this evening that we
didn't know about this topic I didn't
know about this topic the four women
came and spoke to us at our last council
meeting I don't have schol I can't
imagine what you are all feeling or
thinking as off to school every day
since this has occurred in Queen Creek
with
Preston my heart breaks for him his
family it
breaks there aren't many things that
keep me awake at night but this issue
has just gutted
me we don't want to affect any of the
cases that are going on around being
very careful in what we're saying and
what we're sharing we want to those
cases are
prosecuted correctly and to the fullest
extent our intervention
as council members we are not privy to
information which we shouldn't be you
should not want us to have that
information and we we do I'm thankful
for that is all under the police
department's guidance I have all the
them but the most important thing that
stands out to me is this community the
town of Gilbert has always been one of
the safest communities in the country
because of the community policing that
we all do do we are all responsible for
ourselves we make sure that we are
paying attention to what's going on you
see something you say something you have
always shared that information with our
police and now because of what's come
forward Chief zberg shared that he's
opened FES because people have been
brave enough brave enough to come
forward if you have ever lived through
any kind of violence in your
life
you difficult that
is this isn't something that we want for
anybody
anyone I wish I had a way to sit in this
moment I it was an easy
fix I've spoken to theek and I've spoken
to the mayors of Chandler we know that
what we do we do together I spoke to Dr
McCord with G Public Schools today
really pleased to see board member Roar
is here from Chandler Castile High
School happens to be the school that I
always use as an example because it has
a Queen Creek address the Chandler
School District but it's filled with
Gilbert kids from Seville and that it's
an unusual
anomaly for our area that and and Kurt
pointed that out this evening that
school in
particular this crosses every boundary
crosses our Municipal bound it crosses
our School District
boundaries it has been the hard thing to
sit back and to not
speak it is not what we do like to
communicate with people and this has
been the hardest thing for all of us we
are so United on this
topic
and I would like to see this I would
like to see us this topic to our own
Community engagement task force I would
like to have not just Gilbert listening
sessions I would like to see us have
East Valley sessions to bring our three
communities together and our school
districts because we all I think that is
the only
way that elevates who to be able to come
to speak to all of us at the same time
we have so many rules and regulates it
difficult to speak to us you have to
make an appointment you have to come and
share for three minutes and we can't R
That's the Law if we can do listening
sessions that we can all come to that we
don't have to have those rules in place
I think it would make it
thank you to the chief for sharing the
tip lines that are involved in the
school districts even know that those
existed so I hope that we can get those
right up onto our website tonight it was
by one of the members of the public that
tip line a tip line would be a great off
for our
students I want to hear what the STS
would like to be would you like to move
to the community engagement task force
would you follow the the statements that
um council member tilky handed this
evening how would you like to handle
that CC bonani thank you
mayor uh I'd like to move ahead with a a
subcommittee and focus only on this
issue and not wrap it into
another
um Force if we need to set up a task
force after we get the
information with the other City
or
here I'd rather focus on one issue right
now
um get as much
feedback as possible um form
informally I I don't want to be weighed
down by bureaucracy and maybe that's a
wrong thing for a pte but I don't want
to be laid I don't want to
be hindered of rules as far we have to
follow as far as task force go I'd Rec
on this and then decide from that point
should we go into a bigger situation
with the task force and we meet with the
other council members in the other
cities because they are foring in
subcommittees I believe
um just want to move on
this
can council member T
this this needs to be a subcommittee
this needs that we can direct and not
put into a box that already exists it's
something that uh it's going to it's
going to have to be handled and the
ability to maybe sit with Chandler's
counsel or queen Creek's council members
that have the A subcommittee and and uh
work and start coming up with a a
broader answer and this
somehow uh into more of a an EAS Valley
to to I think to put it back to to uh uh
taskforce uh I think it diminishes the
the Urgent this needs to be listened to
the importance of this particular issue
and I think we I think we have to handle
it much more aggressively than to send
it back to a task
[Applause]
force vice
mayor the only thing that about and I
could I could be supportive of either
way but the only thing I'm concern the
subcommittee is our hands are tied by
rules a lot more than the task force
that could become very frustrating in
the process and I think we should
consider
that yeah thank you vice mayor that was
my concern was I I can't you're talking
about for subcommittee first can I ask
you to Define are you talking about just
a committee which would just be three
members of the council are you talking
about building a broader
committee little bit of both I mean I've
been on a subcommittee with um council
member um U tilki used to say vice mayor
tilki um I know we had the community
there as participating in that they have
opportunity to give uh their feedback
and their
discussion
um I will be a t a task force I mean I'm
sorry a subcommittee
that may develop into a task force we uh
believe that these
rules uh hits but I don't want to
wait uh and give it to a committee you
know already working on other
stuff
um I
just I can't believe we're having a Turf
War up here on what can just it's insane
it's
insane May
for the sake
of transparency and what we are to vote
on this evening we need to decide what
we're discussing before a vote can
happen Chris would you like to
comment yes mayor council clar what was
what was published on the agenda is uh
consideration of appointment of a
council subcommittee so that's the
action that town could take council
could if the Town Council chooses to
form a task force or commit of residents
then they could give direction to staff
and we could bring that to the council
for discussion and vote at the next
council meeting so the only legal action
you could creation of a subcommittee and
just to clarify a subcommittee is
exactly what you think it's a smaller
Committee of this public body which
means three or less couns that cannot
have members of the public or any other
board members that's done through a task
force or commit thank you for clarifying
it can can I jump
in where we had the the public was there
and able to speak that's correct so this
just clarify the membership is limited
to three members or less public body
correct but all the meetings that the
subcommittee has they're public meetings
and they can determine how to run those
meetings thank
you C
thanks mayor
um councilman m i don't believe we're
having Turf four so I apologize if you
think that's what's happening my
recommendation was based on what I
thought would be most expedient knowing
the restrictions that we've gone through
with our subcommittee has taking
something that probably would have been
easy if we could have other been done in
a month and it expanded it out to four
or five months just all of the
regulations that we go through based on
state law um I I don't have a problem
whichever way this Council wants to go
only offering a suggestion the task
force actually only looks at Topic at a
time so if they took this on they would
only be looking at Team VI
violence um you can do a combination as
you mentioned if you want to start
sessions um I know I've talked with
staff and we're to look through we've
had conversations with the AG's office
look at how we can best that and not
fall under violating open meeting law
which is very frustrating of us um be
all of us came from the uh outside world
where you could talk to anybody and do
anything anytime you want people
together and have a a big to-do do in
conversations we we are involved as a
council we become very limited what we
can and how we can put um meetings
together make sure that we have two-way
conversations and so that's what's
important the most important thing if
the council feels that doing a sub
willll move that quicker I'm 100% for
that I I just had con um
I just I worry that the community is get
appointed when they they get stuck in
the state statutes that are going to
restrict things we can do but if that's
the way the community wants to go I'm
100% for that uh knowing that if you do
a subcommittee only three of us will be
able to be involved and so while it will
look like the perhaps the rest of us
don't care it we will not be able to be
involved and so that's th those are the
concern and so again however the the
council wants to proceed important thing
is that we do something as you've all
mentioned thank
you you yes council member thank you
mayor um yeah council member Toki I I
have the utmost for you takes a lot to
get a compliment on of me um up utmost
respect for you um I'm just concerned
about urgency if we find you know um
that um uh it needs to be broader that
we can do another meeting but I don't
want to wait two more weeks I don't want
to have bureaucracy getting way of fing
here council member
Buckley well I have a question uh
because OB we all want to be involved in
this and is there to do two
subcommittees or possibly if if one
subcommittee then I would definitely
like to be and maybe we can get the task
force or was that the term you used yeah
maybe you know the rest of us because we
want to contribute we want to contribute
and um possibly we can do that is that a
possibility mayor Peterson council
member Buckley what was noticed today
was of a subcommittee so that's the
action that Council can consider and
take today is a request for a second
subcommittee or maybe looking at
something somewhat similar that could be
future council
meeting having two subcommittees on the
same topic though could that on two I I
don't know if anything in state law that
would prohibit it but it would seem like
it might not be the best practice if
they're you're duplicating work but
there may be an our subcommittee on a
similar topic just not exactly with the
same scope that the council Define here
thank you council member torguson all
right what's on the agenda is whether
approve a subcommittee any subcommittee
can take testimony and advice group can
take testimony advice I don't see that
there would be any problem creating the
subcommittee and also all allowing that
taas task force St work on that
separately and share that advice at some
point but certainly there's if we have
one the agenda it's whether or not to
create a subcommittee it's either a yes
or a no there is no going around it so
I'm a the amount of discussion of
whether we're doing this or not seems
silly to me let us go ahead and do this
and if we find a higher and better
practice to put in so let it be
sir I 100% agree with you we just have
legal that we need to make sure that
we're following before we move forward
with something we will responsible for
those so I'm just trying to be clear
before we make a decision um you also
have to decide who would like to be
appointed to the subcommittee we've
heard other people would like to be
appointed so if you're going to make
that that decision it needs with who's
going to be appointed to that
subcommittee at the same time I'm just
trying to make
know
I understand your frustration I'm
frustrated also I I know we frustrated
totally
frustrated absolutely I I know that
three people signed a slip to ask for
the subcommittee I don't who wants to be
on the subcommittee and that is
something that will will need to be when
we make the vote vice mayor is vice
mayor is nodding his head and and just
raised his hand would you like to say
something Vice
mayorly willing to serve on the
subcommittee I also
[Applause]
mayor and
[Music]
so council member tilki
thanks mayor um it looks like we people
who want to serve on the
committee
um I um it's a little odd not having a
scope of work but I'm assuming you'll be
that back to us um I would like to make
a motion that we um put together a
subcommittee to address teen violence um
consisting of council member Bon javani
vice mayor Anderson council member
torguson I'd like to also an update at
our next meeting as to the status of
where we are on that um and that's my
motion thank you can I have a second I
will wholeheartedly second
[Applause]
back vot motion by council member tki
seconded by council member Bon Giovani
please
vote
motion pass
[Applause]
zero mayor could I make one comment
please just real quickly yes please I I
didn't make sure the audience
understands that this is the first time
we've been able com a conversation on
this topic and so when it looks like
talk to each other and we haven't
coordinated it's because we haven't
we're not allowed to so it's awkward we
have lots of suggestions we may not
agree but we decision at the end and
that's the way this works so thank you
for your patience I appreciate that we
were able to have the conversation in
public thank you it is uh sorry it it's
it's completely frustrating when we're
not allowed to talk to each other okay
so the first time we're having this
discussion is right now and uh I hardly
ever disagree with council member Toki I
hate doing it um but laws were different
we could all talk during the week to
each other but we're only allowed to
talk to two people three people so I
approached Scott or uh council member
torgenson with this um we approached uh
vice mayor Anderson and at that point
Jim anyone I can't talk to anyone
neither can the vice mayor so that's why
it's happening on the Das it's what
happens on the Das stays us and
it's not uh you know you
say council member
torguson make one of unfortunately we're
going to have to define the scope of
this a little bit better at some point
but there when you have a subcommittee
and the one problem would be you
couldn't sit let's say with Chuck and I
together out of that subcommittee
meeting we can meet with you
individually but you won't get two three
of us together at any point uh that
being said like to make sure that we
find a way to reach out and have some
consistent let's call it meetings so we
can hear different things we can we can
find some some work to do and to reach
out and see to help the scope of this
and I hate being that vague but it will
involve people pending and not just one
time it will involve people attending we
won't have an answer but we're certainly
going to listen to it and try and try
and come up with some and it takes a
little time but I want to move it as
quickly as we can to try and help this
help a the Comm to feel like a community
again council member Buckley I know if I
can say this or not but um I since I'm
not subcommittee I want you all to
know
that my phone and my email are always
open to you each and every one of
you you can talk to me I don't need a
subcommittee for you to be able to talk
to
me thank you council member it's we're
frustrated I hope you can feel that the
laws that we have to live up to are diff
like council member Tason just explained
when there's three members on that
subcommittee two can't talk to each
other anymore about that topic because
that is against Arizona State law be
very careful in what we do and how we do
it and I was really trying to set this
sub success so that it doesn't fail
right from the beginning they don't have
an OP to speak to each other outside of
the subcommittee now on this topic when
the three of them are they can meet
individually with you and that's a
perfect way to do it I was considering
the listen listening session so that you
don't have to go through everything that
go through when it comes to coming to a
public meeting it makes it difficult for
everyone especially us thank you for
your time this evening um I'm going to
take a recess for about five May if
people wanted to get up and go that give
you the opportunity thank
you
test one two test one
two
I'm going to give about a 30 second
warning if we can make it back to our
seats
please
is everybody back in their seats I will
call this meeting back to order and now
we will move on to to our consent agenda
so I will pass off to the vice
mayor looks like we have two items to be
pulled from item number
12 and item 13 is to be postponed until
January
23rd
yeah so with that I'll make a motion to
approve the consent including items four
five
six7
8 and 10
11 and
14 four 14 was the last one um I think
you can add 13 to be postponed as part
of that motion yes I'm sorry as part of
that motion 13 to be continued until
January 23rd can I have a second sorry
councilor banani I have a motion by vice
mayor seconded by council member please
vote
motion pass the arrow okay go back to
item 12 council member
torguson I just wanted to hear the a
little bit about this position we talked
about a little bit but retreat but I
wanted to hear more about
it see Rob bore approaching the
Rob and Council happy to provide a
little background and answer any
questions you may have um thank you for
the opportunity Rob bore director of
intergovernmental relations um I don't
have a physical slideshow to to show you
but um just to provide a so the council
Outreach coordinator um will be an
additional staff support position uh in
the mayor and Council Office with with
your approval
tonight the the uh so under the direct
ction of intergovernmental relations um
as you know we've been extremely lean as
far as as support in our office so um we
just have the council Aid and the
mayor's
Aid um so that that those two positions
really are responsible for all the admit
and logistical type duties and also the
more indepth staff support research and
those types of projects as well so the
primary focus with this role is going to
be
enhanced engagement between Gilbert
mayor and Council off and and our
community um both residents and
neighborhoods so will be done through
you know active listening and and
information sharing as coordinator will
really serve as as sort of a liaison
between the mayor and Council Office
community members so just um just a a
few of the position a few of the
responsibil related to this position uh
really will will be focused on
developing relations serving as a key
point of contact for our community and
neighborhood leaders uh information
related to resident or neighborhood
issues and ensuring all parties are kept
informed mayor and counsel of course
distribute key key information on behalf
Council through a v variety of channels
and strategies um provide neighborhoods
information and key project updates at
organized neighborhood meetings uh and
develop and manage community events with
opportunities for Town Council to
interact residents um so those are just
a few of the responsibilities but as you
can see it's really centrally focused
around uh that in serving as that
liaison and and help engagement making
sure that that we're able to listen to
our uh community members and get get the
pulse of of our residents and
neighborhoods but also help you all
distribution and and provide kind of
optimal um events or or strategy for
that communication to happen so with
that happy to answer any other questions
that you have to position thanks Rob any
questions council member Tuson so excuse
me so for instance with the group that
just left uh that person could help pile
the list of the emails that came in uh
let them know when a was or some sort of
public form that you know get that word
out there act you know on our behalf to
help engage engage those
people yeah mayor T the way I Envision
it um it'll this this in this position
will will help uh provide information
community that that our office wants to
get out there but then also kind of
targeted information for certain
neighborhoods if there's Project
Specific information or or that type of
thing so abolutely if it's if it's
information about a community listening
session or whatever that make make sure
that that we broadcast to a wide Network
then then they would um obviously you
know digital does a great job of getting
word out about you know to the entirey
about things like that but they would
probably be more kind of that Focus one
on one type of Engagement you know where
they have that that database ey on and
folks that they've kind of build that
relationship with that they can you know
make sure that they're aware of events
like that coming
up okay with then that I I assume in
basically in the same general area as
the mayor and counil AIDS as far as the
or chart and all that right yeah
absolutely so in the mayor and Council
Office under under the direction of
intergovernmental relations and can you
give me an idea of you know salary what
their what you know their assistance
what's available to them to help us Etc
sure the salary range uh council member
tus and the salary range for this
position we're looking at uh just around
,000 as as the um bottom end of the
salary up to 100,000 is the range for
the
position questions for Rob at this
time seeing thank you rob thank you if
anyone would like to um make a motion on
this your face council member tus and
just caught me off
guard if anyone would like to make a
motion on this it is a it's a two-part
motion but it is one item 12 um to
approve the FTE fund
contingency mayor Al make to approve
item 12 I have a
motion did you council member Buckley I
have a motion by council member tilky
seconded by council member Buckley
please
vote Ocean passes
60 thank you moving on now you're all
set all done yep off the clock um moving
on to the public hearing portion of our
agenda items will be public hearing at
which time anyone wishing to comment may
do so we had um eight I have no slips
for anyone wishing to speak I had no
public comment line item 18 has been
requested to be continued to January
23d is there any item that anyone on the
council wants to pull off to hear a
separate presentation on I'm
seeing mayor dig number 19 is going to
be continued as well oh I sorry number
19 is also I have a different agenda so
18 and 19 19 have both been requested to
be I will open the public hearing on
these items does anyone wish to have any
discussion or no then I will close the
public hearing and
motion if you would like to I move to
accept the consent agenda Public public
hearing agenda public hearing agenda
sorry minus items 18 and 0 considered
later you want to include those on the
public hearing agenda approved to be
post exactly
what you said mayor Peterson yes members
of council um can we put the date that
they are being continued
to would you like me to
you item number 18 A and B would be
continued to 23rd 20124 oh I'm sorry I
don't item 19 cheli is it thank you
thank you February 20th Janu February
February correct February 20th they will
be holding a study session on February
6th thank you we will be holding a study
febrary 6th and this item will be
continued to February 20th of
2024 with that we have an amended by a
motion by council member tus and amended
by me can I have a second um I promise
this year to get better at making the
motions but for now I'm g a second to
thank you please vote
sorry that was a mess but we
got um motion passes 60 it's the first
back after a break for Christmas and the
holidays so we just Huck into the swing
of things next one administrative item
item 20 is Council Administration
consider a resolution designating
assistant Town manager Don Prince
assistant to the town manager Alina Bay
as authorized agents for the Arizona
Department of Emergency and milair and
the Federal Emergency Management agency
do we need any
discussion I'm seeing none um can I
motion
I'm thank you mayor I motion to approve
administrative number 20 perfect can I
have a
second okay I have a motion by Council M
Bon Giovani seconded by vice mayor
Anderson I have to do it getting the
wrong names um please
vote it's a meeting or two good luck
with the
Feds that passes 60 congratulations Don
and Alena moving on
to um any future meetings anybody has
I've I hav't aware of
any Communications report from the town
manager members of the council uh only
thing tonight January 9th is national
law enforcement appreciate so I'd just
like to express my appreciation to Chief
Michael soberg and all the hardworking
men and women Department to work very
hard every day to keep this community
safe thank you Patrick I completely 100%
agree thank you to our law enforcement
Chief sober all of the members of the
Gilbert Police Department I appreciate
you and you are the thing that keeps me
up at night I I worry about our Public
Safety moving on next is reports from
Council
Members okay I see a hand up sorry
council member buley too
all right uh from the redevelop there
will be two public hearings Heritage
North project and the Clemens garage
project Wednesday January 17th at the
Redevelopment commission meeting the
will be meeting meeting will take place
here at 6 pm on the 17th reminder
Gilbert's Water Tower Plaza is closed to
the public as of January 2024 and will
fall of 2024 with new enhancements
please visit Gilbert's online community
calendar for updates on Gilbert events
as some of the regularly scheduled
events that occur at the water tower
will now take place in alternative
locations during construction I think
council member Buckley was next I don't
have my screen up tonight so I don't
know whose mics are being sorry Buckley
okay
um hello everybody that's
last I am going to give you some
information from Dan the director for
the office of Economic Development
of which I'm a liais on prism so I get
involved in this a little bit but the
town of Gilbert will be in two
destinations International committees
this year destinations inter is one of
the world's largest and most reliable
resource uh for thetion organizations
Michelle streer who is our senior
project manager on the marketing
professionals task force and Liz
Mangan said her name correctly uh
tourism project manager will serve all
destination organization
subcommittee participation in these
allow the Gilbert office of Economic
Development and discover Gilbert to
collaborate with and better understand
industry best practices with the leading
destination organizations from across
the globe in partner the city of Sedona
visit scottdel and discuss Flagstaff
disert will attend the Los Angeles
receptive trade CES Mission from January
23rd to the 24th with the Arizona office
of tourist in this Mission the Arizona
office of Tourism partners with host
three events targeting special
International receptive tour operators
allowing partner organizations to
Showcase their
destinations
thank you Buckley council member Bon
Giovani thank you mayor my friends at
parks and wrecked it to me again uh
Southwest Regional Library flooring all
the
L all the lobby Southeast Regional
Library has been replaced the project
lasted two days and crew hard to reopen
the facility on January 4th the new
flooring looks a and provides a much
needed update to the library trucka
pollut pla will be held on January 27th
at the Gilbert Regional Park from 9:00
a.m. to p.m. come learn about dozens of
vehicles including emergency vehicles
transports truck tow trucks public
health and buses and more there is a
sound and light sensitive hour from 9:00
a.m. 10: a.m. and tickets are available
now I you I just don't know what
happened to your mic it was something
strange happened you sounded like you
were a thousand day talking into the
yeah on the radio might on the radio
yeah yeah
radio any other comments from Council
Members it um moves to me comments from
the mayor and I actually didn't prepare
anything this evening um encourage you
to look at the Town calendar to make
sure are going on and where those events
will be happening especially since Water
Tower Plaza has now been shut or is a
around our beautiful water tower um I
appreciate everybody's attendance this
evening you for your patience and we
will see you at the next meeting meeting
adjourned