Regular Meeting - 4/4/2023 6:30:00 PM

okay if everyone could take their seats
please we'll get started in just a
second
thank you all for joining us for our
April 4th 2023 Gilbert Town council
meeting please turn off our silent
silence your cell phones and devices I
had to silence my MacBook so it's not
just you
and I will go ahead and call this
meeting to order we would start with our
invocation this evening and that will be
by Pastor Thor strandholt of Valor
Christian Center good evening pastor
hello testing one two I am here okay
mayor Peterson Town Council it's so nice
to be back with you again
what an awesome awesome time to be alive
here we are celebrating Easter already
it seems like we just did it a couple
months ago
we as Christians we celebrate the
resurrection of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ and our Jewish friends
celebrate their time of of uh Passover
during this time
every week I like to do a little
newsletter for our church and and just
to update the people on the events that
are going to start happening at Valor
Christian Center and I usually like to
start out with a word of exhortation or
a word of encouragement so I'm going to
share just a little bit of my last one
with you
and that is this we were born for such a
time as this you know my wife and I will
sometimes watch those old western movies
you know and we see those stage coaches
and and the way those people had to get
around and
we thank God that we weren't born at
that time
I'm glad I was born at this time and
it's a long way from
the electric vehicles and the scooters
that we have in today's life but it's
nice to know though that we were
designed for a purpose God Don't Make
Junk as the saying goes you are so
special to God which you probably
already know he's built within you
skills talents and abilities and you
could call those
abilities gifts gifts that God wants you
to use to bless someone else along the
way now you as our Town Council are
using your gifts to bless our town and
to make wise decisions let's pray
Lord thank you for the council members
that we have with us and that we have on
our team now thank you for the decisions
that they will make to make Gilbert the
Greatest Town that ever was and it's in
Jesus name I pray amen and amen amen
Pastor thank you for joining us this
evening next we have a very special
group here for the Pledge of Allegiance
I would ask Girl Scout Troop 3914 to
please come down to the front of the
room
they will be leading Us in the pledge
this evening oh there's five of you now
there were only four earlier when we met
I'm excited to have you all here thank
you for joining us
please rise and join us in the pledge
one nation under God indivisible
with liberty and justice for all
a little detour now if I could please
have our town clerk offer the Roll Call
mayor Bridget Peterson here vice mayor
Kathy tilkey here council member Scott
Anderson
here
council member Chuck Bon Giovanni here
council member Bobby Buckley here
council member young Kapowski here and
council member Jim Torgeson here a
quorum is present thank you very much
chevelli we have council member Anderson
joining us virtually so you'll hear a
voice from above and it's council member
Anderson even though it's in an
interesting time in our in our history
isn't it pastors but it's council member
Anderson speaking from above this
evening we have quite a few
proclamations thank you for joining us
here
we will
move right into those first we have
council member Torgeson will be
presenting to Christine O'Connor Delgado
who's a neurophysiology technologist too
and Tamara Wilkinson who's a
neurophysiologist technologist if you
could come down to the front and join
our council member please
did I kill your name I did it thank you
thank you good
there should be a wireless mic down
there for you council member Torgeson
it's probably right there on the table
there we go
Tiding
hello Cleveland
whereas neurodiagnosis is the practice
of analyzing and monitoring Central and
peripheral nervous system function to
promote the effective treatment of
neurological diseases injury impairment
and whereas neurodiagnostic Technologies
are Paramount in the diagnosis and
treatment of a variety of neurological
conditions including epilepsy
unexplained coma Sleep disorders and
spinal cord injuries and whereas
neurodiagnostic technologists contribute
to successful surgical procedures by
monitoring the Central and peripheral
nervous system during high risk
procedures such as surgery for scoliosis
cardroid artery artery disease brain
tumors and spine trauma thereby
minimizing neurological complications
during survey excuse me surgery and
helping reduce the risk and negative
surgical outcomes such as paralysis or
stroke and whereas neurodiagnostic
technologists engage in lifelong
learning and have the greatest respect
for the worth and integrity of
individuals as they are devoted to the
best interests of patients while
providing high quality patient care
now I therefore on behalf of Mayor
Bridget Peterson from the town of
Gilbert to Pro hereby Pro I'm sorry
proclaim the week of April 16th to the
22nd 2023 as neurodiagnostic week in
Gilbert and thank you
necessary
oh no
perfect thank you thank you
great job council member that was a hard
one for your first Proclamation
next up we'll have vice mayor tilkey
present to Elisa Fiorini
Chief Housing Development officer for
Save The Family Foundation of Arizona
and Gilbert Community Resources
supervisor Jennifer Loria if you could
please join vice mayor down at the front
of the chamber
I see Jennifer Loria oh there we go
hi ladies
we'll come over here
first thanks for joining us this evening
this is a proclamation on Fair Housing
month whereas housing is a critical
component of Community Health and
stability and whereas April 2023 marks
the 55th anniversary of the passage of
the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and whereas
the Civil Rights Act of 1968 the Pharaoh
Housing Act fair housing amendments Act
of 1988 and subsequent court rulings
continue to ensure full and fair access
to housing opportunities for all people
without prejudice due to race color
national origin religion gender
disability or familial status and
whereas adequate shelter provides
protection from the elements security
and the dignity humans deserve and when
denied Quality quality of life is
diminished and whereas the town of
Gilbert recognizes the values all
efforts by those who reduce barriers to
full and fair housing opportunities and
whereas April is the nationally
designated fair housing month now
therefore I mayor Bridget Peterson town
of Gilbert do hereby proclaim the month
of April as fair housing month
in Gilbert and encourage all citizens of
Gilbert to appreciate and work for Equal
Housing opportunities in our own
community
dated to a fourth of April 2023. thank
you
regular picture token
thank you
great job vice mayor thank you next up
we have council member Bon Giovanni to
present to Gilbert's Transportation plan
manager Jason Hafner and Senior
Transportation planners Stephanie
bubenheim and Nathan Williams
thank you
yeah I had to bring the big text because
that's too small for me to read you can
hold it then
I would need a
telescope to read that one okay uh it's
a proclamation for bike Gilbert month
whereas the bicycle is viable low cost
and fun form of transportation and
whereas Gilbert's multi-use trail system
that connects to other Metro Phoenix
metropolitan Regional Trails captivates
bicycle bicyclists from all over the
nation annually and whereas creating
bicycle-friendly communities has been
shown to improve citizens Health
well-being quality of life and boost
Community Spirit while improving traffic
safety and reducing
pollution and congestion and whereas
bicycling in activities and amenities
positively impact Gilbert's economy and
tourism industry and stimulate Economic
Development by attracting new businesses
and residents who enjoy outdoor
recreation and Healthy Lifestyles and
whereas the league of American
bicyclists proclaims may as National
Bike month and value Metro proclaims
April as Valley Bike month and whereas
during the during the month of April the
joys of bicycling will be experienced by
many throughout community events helmet
and bike safety promotions or by simply
going for a ride
now therefore I on behalf of Bridget
Peterson mayor of town of Gilbert do
hereby proclaim the month of April 2023
as bike Gilbert month
[Applause]
picture here
the one day I didn't bike
thank you
thank you
next we have council member kroprowski
will present Gilbert water concert will
present two Gilbert water conservation
coordinator jeremeyer Churchill to Water
Wise members if there are any water-wise
members here in the audience please come
down and join council member karpowski
and Jeremiah here at the front of the
chamber
good evening
thank you all for being here tonight
excellent we have our Proclamation for
our water wise Gilbert 2022 honorees
whereas water is the single most
precious natural resource on Earth and
whereas Gilbert's Town Council Town
staff residents businesses stakeholders
each act as responsible stewards of the
diverse water resources of Gilbert and
whereas Gilbert's office of water
resources and conservation offers many
water efficiency programs that Aid
Gilbert's residents businesses and other
organizations with the conservation of
water
and whereas the waterwise Gilbert
program effectively lays out water
efficiency requirements and steps
participants must take to achieve
standing as a water-wise Gilbert awardee
and whereas every water conservation
effort makes a difference in the
sustainability of this precious natural
resource and a great number of
participants have completed the
necessary steps to becoming more water
efficient now therefore
I young koprowski with the Gilbert Town
Council honor the following 139
businesses organizations and Facilities
that have attained the waterwise Gilbert
status for 2022 and I welcome everyone
to join me in not only expressing our
gratitude for their contribution to
sustainability but also in doing all you
can do to preserve our water resources
in your home at work and in the
community and the 136 sites are will be
on the presentation congratulations
thank you
do you want to stand in the middle
there's Judy
do you have
um
next we have our volunteer recognition
for the year and we would like to start
with our Bronze award
winners for hours of service that is
between 100 and 249 hours of service we
have Sonia grosch Maria Milburn
Charlotte sharp and Joyce McLaren are
you here this evening
come on down
come on down and join me please
congrats yes please thank you
congratulations and thank you for all
the time that you donate to the Gilbert
Police Department
we have certificates for you here that
will be passing out
and then we'll get a photo
Charlotte and I have known each other
since
1997 I think it was
I didn't move here until 95 so it has to
be after that but you have been
volunteering all this time for the
police department and for the town of
Gilbert let me step in the middle of you
ladies let's push two of you on this
I know that oh we'll name the other
person oh okay so we have a silver award
also 250 hours to 499 hours of service
that's Cheryl Jurgens Cheryl are you
here this evening come on down
thank you for all of your time that you
donate to the Gilbert Police Department
oh they have awards for you too
did Cheryl get the silver one oh she did
that's lovely
let's get let's get a photo together
scooch in here a little bit
thank you thank you for all you do
[Applause]
so important to recognize the volunteers
in our community we wouldn't be able to
do the things that we do in our town if
it wasn't for the volunteers that serve
in all the capacities that they do we
have approximately 15 or 16 boards and
commissions we have these great Gilbert
Police Department volunteers our Gilbert
Fire Department is trying to ramp up
their volunteer program again post covid
they had to kind of shut that one down
because of the pandemic next I have some
five-year awards that will be joining me
and they are also from
the Gilbert Police Department correct
that is Maria Melbourne Darlene Roche
and oh Bo Bigelow so he's with
Redevelopment commission yes Beau
Bigelow Bo are you here
so we have Maria with PD Darlene with PD
and Beau with the Redevelopment
commission all having served five years
as Volunteers in our community thank you
for your service different capacities hi
Bo
sure next we will do I just have 20.
next we will do 20-year award that will
be Tom Gillis with the police department
is Tom here
I see Tom out at a lot of events
I see Tom out at a lot of events because
sometimes he gets to drive that really
cool 55 Chevy that the Gilbert Police
Department has and he drives it in our
parades and he's really good at revving
it up and sometimes sometimes burning a
little rubber but we don't tell the
chief
no you're not allowed to do that anymore
oh let's move let's move in a little bit
closer here and we'll get a photo let me
get between you guys real quick
thank you thank you thank you again for
your service to our community
and now we're going to recognize some
members of our board's commissions and
committees we have a few people here
present this evening from the Industrial
Development Authority I have Kevin
DeRosa
Kevin here
hi Kevin from Parks and Recreation I
have Ben Kaufman I see Ben sitting right
here
from the Planning Commission I have Jan
Simon
from the self-insured trust board Lindy
Mitchell
and from the veterans Advisory Board I
have Dave Rosenfeld
these folks serve as our chairs and vice
chairs of those boards and commissions
that I just mentioned and provide a lot
of service and time to our community and
we thank them for that
and April is National volunteer month
that's why we take the time to recognize
our volunteers here in the community how
many do we have five so I'll stand here
thank you all for your service to the
community thanks Kevin nice to see you
we want to be able to do it without you
our community is a better place because
of the people that serve in those roles
next I have the honor of recognizing our
Cactus yards
staff team Parks and Rec staff team
Cactus yards wins the outstanding Park
of the Year award for the fourth year in
a row
fourth year in a row I think that
deserves a round of applause
the town of Gilbert decided to take over
the programming of cactus yards back in
2019 it was a very big and difficult
decision for us to do and we have been
lucky enough to have turned that into an
obviously award-winning Park Robert why
aren't you joining us Robert Carmona
director of parks and rec
Cactus yards was named the outstanding
Park of the Year by the Arizona baseball
chapter of the United States Specialty
Sports Association also known as U
triple sa for the fourth year in a row
after receiving the highest scores
across the board on Park amenities
cleanliness field conditions and more
the complex has been awarded the title
of the outstanding park by the USU
triple sa every single year since its
opening in 2019. the award is voted on
by coaches and players who competed in
the 2022 Arizona USSA baseball season
Cactus yards received a score of 10 out
of 10 in every single category including
Park amenities sliders concessions
operated by Kraft culinary field
conditions field maintenance Park
cleanliness Park management staff
courtesy courtesy
affordability congratulations to this
incredible group of town employees that
work hard to ensure that the facility
receives the high-level recognition each
year we are very proud of the venue and
asset that you're offering to our
community thank you and congratulations
I'm going to do a little something
different with this group I want them
all to introduce themselves and let us
know what your role is with the town
please I know sorry I'm Dan Wilson I'm
the recreation supervisor for cactus
shards okay my name is George Tolman
Recreation coordinator at Cactus yards
my name is Trevor Henry and I'm a
recreation coordinator at Cactus jars
I'm Eric Bell with you triple SA
I'm Corey Perrault with uh Top Choice
baseball
my name is Lane Graham and I'm the
recreation manager
and Ben Kaufman I'm on the Parks Board
Ben's the chair of our Parks and Rec
board which is all manned by manned by
local residents for the town of Gilbert
let's get a photo thank you
want to say something did you want to
say something please if you would like
to yes this is your moment
uh Mary council members uh good evening
on behalf of Top Choice baseball and
USSA I would like to express our
profound appreciation for the
exceptional job and Duty fulfilled by
the staff at Cactus yards from
management to maintenance including the
facilities partnership with culinary
each individual have had the pleasure of
working with has worked hard to build a
standard of expectations
they've truly outdone themselves once
again
for the fourth consecutive year Cactus
yards has been named Arizona's
outstanding Park of the year
this achievement speaks volumes about
the dedication and hard work contributed
by each individual to buy into what this
facility is all about
we continue to see the team effort
attributed by staff on a weekly basis
that has accredited to this world-class
facility
I feel proud to have such an outstanding
Park in this community that is driven
and focused on prioritizing their
customers from promoters to teams to
individuals seeking a place to compete
practice and enjoy
the recognition that Cactus yards has
received on a national level is highly
commendable
and that a community should take pride
in their success knowing these services
are provided right here in the town of
Gilbert
thank you for providing me the time to
express my sincere gratitude to the team
of cactus yards for their exceptional
work
they have gone above and beyond to keep
the facility in top shape and their
dedication to providing top-notch
service to the community is highly
appreciated
so with uh I appreciate all the members
being here uh once again congratulations
on this remarkable achievement to all
the team members at Cactus yards
[Applause]
thank you so much
we appreciate those kind words on behalf
of our team they do an outstanding job
there
next we will move into Communications
from citizens I will turn the meeting
over to vice mayor
thank you mayor before we begin I'd like
to just read a statement
Communications from citizens
the Gilbert Town Council values citizens
comments and input anyone wishing to
speak before the council must fill out a
request to speak card for each item they
wish to speak on and submit it to the
town clerk or place it in the bin
provided prior to the start of the
meeting the communications from citizens
portion on the agenda provides citizens
an opportunity to identify for the Town
Council matters of Interest or concern
related to town government that are not
on the printed agenda under the
provisions of the Arizona open meeting
law the Town Council is prohibited from
responding to issues that have not been
properly noticed therefore the Town
Council may only listen to citizens who
wish to address them on non-agenda items
at the conclusion of the open call to
public response is limited to individual
members of the council responding to
criticism made by those who have
addressed the public body asking staff
to review a matter or asking that a
matter be play be placed on a future
agenda the town asked that when your
name is called you come forward to the
podium state your name and place a
residence and then begin speaking all
speakers are expected to observe common
standards of decorum and courtesy
personal attacks political speeches or
threats of political action are
inappropriate in this forum and will be
grounds for ending a speaker's time at
the podium
each of the speakers this evening will
have three minutes
and
with that the first speaker is Terry
Natty if you'll come forward
good evening my name is Terry naddy and
I live in
a county island in the Gilbert planning
area
last time I was up in front of you all
and spoke I was genuinely thrilled to be
here I left not so thrilled but you know
um I was frustrated beyond words
as this body had been advised in the
executive session just prior to the
meeting
that there was nothing that could be
done to assist in changing Capital
Improvement project st-0990
this was incorrect
while the town lawyer was not wrong in
the fact that the vote for the project
could not be rescinded
he led you all to believe that there was
nothing else that could be done and
that's not true
of course it was shared in just before
the regular session so that there was no
opportunity that you guys had to verify
you just had to trust
so
I'm frustrated because the lies seem to
be commonplace
the packet that I provided you guys with
has at least eight lies that you guys
were provided with
from staff
um
tonight
you had an executive session in which
you all talked about Capital Improvement
project
st1140 I'm not sure why this is
happening in executive session but
um
off the website on that particular
what road widening there were public
meetings held in April of 19 and
November of 21.
why well
January 23rd of 18 land Pro reached out
to one of those neighbors to do an
appraisal
and on 7 19 of 18 2018 the engineering
project was at 30 percent planning
showing the existing 33-foot
right-of-way in a proposed 50 5-0 foot
right of way
on 8 30 of 18 there was a drawing
showing a 30 the existing 33 foot
right-of-way and a probe and a proposed
50-foot right-of-way with a five foot
temporary construction easement
a month and a half later on 10 26 18
there was a diagram showing a 33 foot
existing right-of-way and proposed 50
foot right of way with a 15-foot
temporary contract construction easement
then three years later
on November 15th of 21
the neighbors got a diagram showing the
existing 33 foot right-of-way and a
proposed 65-foot
right-of-way with a 20-foot temporary
construction easement so how in three
years does it change from 50 to 65.
it doesn't make any sense
thank you Miss Natty and with that
that's all of the communications from
citizens this evening thank you vice
mayor would you like to move right into
consent calendar yes mayor um
in regards to our
um consent agenda I'd like to note that
item 21 has been removed from the agenda
and council member Torgeson would like
to remove poll number 31 for additional
discussion
and with that I'd like to make a motion
to
approve the consent agenda
I know I've been reading them one at a
time but I guess I can go
do okay so um from seven
through twenty
22
through 30.
32-35 to approve those I've been motion
by vice mayor tilkey can I have a second
second I have a second by council member
koprowski please vote
council member Anderson how do you vote
all right
and the clerk can show the vote that
motion passes 7-0 thank you so much
moving oh back to you vice mayor
um that would be item 31 and council
member Torgeson would like to have a
conversation
I I don't know if anybody's here from
Human Resources is there anybody that
can
it's here
and maybe others but I can't see that
far sorry
oh yeah Kristen's back there hi good
evening hi sir my question uh at The
Retreat I had asked to see some options
for our sworn officers police and fire
in retirement what it would look like if
there was instead of a 125 percent of
our cost if it was a hundred percent or
if there was were other options
available I didn't see any in our packet
was this compiled yeah so mayor members
of council council member Torgeson thank
you for the opportunity to join you and
speak to this item the um the request
from The Retreat to look at a graduated
uh price structure for retirement
benefits is something that we are still
reviewing it does have an impact on the
entirety of the fund and so that will
take some time any recommendations that
we would bring before Council would be
for next enrollment cycle at the soonest
just because of the nature of the time
it would take us to pull together and
compile the data and the in the
budgetary impacts and the fund impact
they we are also looking as was
requested at the retreat at some other
ways to possibly supplement or offset
retirement cost or cost to retirees due
to health impacts and Healthcare impacts
so it's not it's not lost and forgotten
it's just moving at the pace it has to
move at correct council member Target
said it's important to me too absolutely
no that's happening thank you
thank you Nathan any other comments or
questions for Nathan
since he's at the podium nope I'll
entertain a motion for item 31.
so moved
do you have a second
I'll second I have a motion by vice
mayor tilkey seconded by council member
Bon Giovanni please vote
councilmember Anderson how do you vote
all right thank you and there we go the
motion passes 7-0 thank you so much we
are now finished with our consent agenda
moving on to our public hearing items
items will be heard at one public
hearing at which time anyone wishing to
comment on a public hearing item may do
so comments will be heard for those in
support or in opposition to an item do
we have any slips from anyone no mayor
thank you and I had nothing submitted
online so I'll move right into our items
and I will open the public hearing are
there any items that anyone would like
to pull off to have a separate
conversation about
I see none I will go ahead and close the
public hearing and entertain a motion
for all of the items on our public
hearing which be 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
44 45 46 and 47.
so moved I have a motion can I have a
second
I have a motion by vice mayor telkey
seconded by council member Torgeson
please vote
councilmember Anderson how do you vote
aye thank you council member we can read
the motion passes 7-0 moving on to our
administrative items we have one item to
consider Council Administration item
activation of a council subcommittee on
board in commission process to re to
review and consider updating the
boarding commission interview selection
and appointment process I had um
I asked Monica if she would reach out to
the council members to see if anyone was
interested in this subcommittee I would
like to be on the subcommittee and I've
heard that vice mayor tilkey and council
member Torgeson would like to be on the
subcommittee so I would like to activate
first activate that subcommittee do I
need a mo do I need a motion and a vote
to do that or can I just I think I can
just say that I would like to activate
the subcommittee correct
yes I think from my memory serves or do
I have to have a motion
did we
we could let's do a motion okay make
sure it's formal creation I'll move to
approve the activation of a console
subcommittee on boards and commissions
can I have a second
I'll suffer that I have a motion by
myself in the second by council member
Bon Giovanni please vote
um council member Anderson how do you
vote
thank you motion passes 7-0 next I would
like to move to approve the appointment
of subcommittee members myself as chair
and vice mayor Toki joining me and
council member Torgeson joining me can I
have a second please
second I have a motion by myself again
and seconded by council member karpowski
please vote
councilmember Anderson how do you vote
aye thank you motion passes 7-0 great
thank you for working on that
subcommittee with me I very much
appreciate it we have um does anyone
have any board commissioning committee
reports from Council liaison yep I do
councilmember Bon Jovani uh from Parks
and Recs uh Brunswick Rec departments
working on a master plan and they want
citizens
um feedback on it we're hoping to get
sixty thousand respondents to a survey
so if you would go to
gilbertaz.gov forward slash PR master
plan and fill out the survey give us an
idea of what kind of things you want to
see uh Parks and Rec in the future
thank you council member any other
reports from Council Liaisons
here
I heard somebody yes council member
Anderson The Voice from above it's from
above mayor from above
um let me give you a very quick summary
of the ethics subcommittee we've met a
couple of times
we're making some great progress we're
looking at developing a very
user-friendly handbook that can be
referred to as a person seeks to learn
more about ethics and processes and
procedures that's what we're targeting
most closely are the the process and the
procedures that we would follow in
looking at some novel ways of addressing
that with the goal in mind that we want
to keep
um try to resolve issues early on in the
process rather than let them go on so
long that they tend to hurt the
community so that's what we're working
on right now and we still have
um
we've been into the second draft we're
looking at the third draft of what this
handbook may look like and we'll have
further reports on that as as it comes
up in the next few weeks
great thank you from The Voice from
above councilmember Anderson we
appreciate that update any other updates
from Council Liaisons
seeing none I will move on to report
from the town manager
thank you mayor members of the council I
wanted you already recognized him
earlier tonight that I wanted to follow
up on the recognition for the team out
of cactus yards that's just amazing to
have won that award four years in a row
just incredible work by them and I think
the dedication they they have for that
Park and and the value it provides to
this community really shows through I
also want to thank the parks and rec
team who hosted their annual Parks and
Rec Foundation gala showing appreciation
to the many volunteers who support our
Parks and Recreation program then lastly
we've got a presentation today from some
members of Gilbert Fire and Rescue who
have recently become autism certified as
well joining our Police Department as
well as our Parks and Recreation
Department a wonderful commitment by
them to something that is of incredible
importance to our organization as well
as our community I um they had an update
statistic today which surprised even me
it's now one out of 44 children is born
somewhere on the neurological Spectrum
so it is an issue that's growing in
society and one that as an organization
that we are educating ourselves and
understanding how we can best make sure
all of our program can be as inclusive
as possible as well as employment
opportunities with our organization with
that that's all I have tonight
thank you Patrick moving on to report
from the Council on current events
anyone have anything to report on
current events vice mayor
thank you mayor if I could just take a
moment to give a shout out and um
and I'm going to mention some names if
that's okay
um
so I was able to take advantage of the
ride along with our police department
and our fire department
and so I was in the car with Sergeant
Matthew reali in Team Four so I got to
meet them and then engine 255 the sea
shift
with Captain Brendan Trainor engineer
Jen
Lucas McIntyre and firefighter Dustin
blade
and I I I'm going to have comments about
both but the first I wanted to talk
about the reason I I called out all the
firefighters is
um there were two people out at that
station that are regular there so two of
those people were came into that station
to work that day and then one was a
rookie
and I will tell you I would have never
known that they didn't work side by side
every single day and I just wanted to
acknowledge that because that is quite
an accomplishment in that type of
position
but the police Ride Along they said I I
I got the curse of nothing really
happening which you know at the end of
the day I was just very happy everybody
was safe so I was okay with that but on
on the 12 hours with the fire department
they had 10 calls and I went on eight of
those so it was a very busy day we
barely had time to sit down we did a
little training and had to stop in the
middle of it but I think what I want to
point out more than anything was I was
so very proud of the passion that each
of both fire and police the the people
that I had time to spend with have for
this community and their job and what
they do every day and the compassion and
professionalism
that they showed when in the police case
that when we had uh talked to somebody
that had a minor car accident or or
things like that they were they were
very nice and helpful and in the fire
calls that we had they were calls for
some medical services and
the The Compassion that they showed
those people at their most vulnerable
time when you're there and you don't
have anyone else to call but 9-1-1 was
absolutely breathtaking to me and I
um I was just so proud of them and if
you all haven't had a chance to do that
I really hope that you'll take advantage
of it
um
and I think next month the fire trucks
not the fire truck the solid waste truck
is going to pick me up at my house at 4
45 a.m so I'm gonna get to see what
that's all about too but um I I just
want to take a moment to say that we
have
great employees here and when we talked
about what Gilbert has to offer as an
organization they were they were very
proud of that they talked many in many
instances the things that we provide our
First Responders above and beyond what
other communities
do
um so anyway
thank you for allowing me to say that no
that's great points to be made and if
you have the opportunity to do those
ride-alongs I highly recommend them
um I've done I think four or five of the
stations fire stations and a couple of
PD ride-alongs and yes we've had those
nights with nothing happens but to watch
them work they don't have to say a word
to each other they just know what needs
to happen next and it's just so
impressive what they do in our community
every single day did you have a comment
sorry oh okay
um and um any other reports yes
councilmember Torgerson
I just want to say I did the tour of
Public Works and as a businessman I I
highly critical of a lot of things and I
couldn't find really things I wanted to
criticize I found people that were a
team I found people who were proud of
their work that were happy to serve that
were
people you would want working for you on
on any level I just didn't see anything
that wasn't something as a town to be
proud of I would encourage anybody to go
take a look there's services that I was
unaware of that we offer uh there were
but to watch the guy in the sign shop I
own a sign shop to watch the guy in the
sign shop do something so fast I didn't
realize it was done I felt like going
back and firing two people and the uh it
was the guy's a rock star
yeah yeah not not Town employees I want
to fire two of my guys
um the uh uh to see the pride that he
took or when you go in and you look at
the people that are dealing with your
your street lights and how they're uh
reducing costs by Saving Parts as much
as you would do in a in private
Enterprise and uh to see the Trashmen to
see the people that are salvaging the
trucks uh there was just it was a very
well-oiled machine and it was people
that were proud to be there happy to be
there and had great morale so I just I
would suggest please take a ride the
fire the trash guys are proud and
they're happy and they love what they do
and they love providing service to
people and it really showed I really uh
I was very impressed by the entire team
and Jessica who's in charge of that team
I was I was very impressed with how they
worked and I just I wanted to make a
point of saying that because I don't
think people say enough
because you never think of the people
that are doing that for you so I just
wanted to make that point Thank you and
I also want to mention that on that same
tour uh councilmember Buckley and I went
with council member Torgeson and um for
the record I just want to mention that
um council member Buckley and I went up
about 40 50 feet to look to inspect the
street light and uh councilman torgesen
stayed on the ground I just wanted to
mention that just want to point that out
vice mayor I only lasted 20 minutes I
think in a sanitation truck I did um I
think I did four different vehicles that
morning but riding while they're picking
up garbage and it's literally
be prepared because you have to speed up
to get to the next house and the bucket
pick that bucket up and then you're
taking off to the next one so be
prepared
um buckle up and bring some Advil or
Tylenol whichever you prefer because it
is not easy
um next report from me and I wanted to
add that today April 4th is Arizona
gives day it's the day that you still
have time because it's a 24-hour
Marathon to give to non-profits in the
area in the state of Arizona choose your
favorite non-profits to give to on this
day and I know a lot of them make a
competition out of it and trying to get
as much as many donations as they can on
this day and the other thing I wanted to
talk about for our veterans Advisory
Board is we're doing a military tribute
Banner program that you can honor your
military hero with a beautiful patriotic
Banner displayed in the heart of the
Heritage district for Memorial Day and
for Veterans Day and that program can be
found at militarytribute banners dot org
ClickBank our programs and click Gilbert
Arizona you need to have those in by in
the next couple of days I think it's
April 6th is the deadline for those so
that we can make sure that they get
prepared for our Memorial Day
celebration here in the town of Gilbert
and there will be I'm going to start
talking about this early because I think
it's important there will be a Memorial
Day ceremony it will be held right here
at Town Hall on the lawn outside on 5 29
2023 8 30 a.m to 10 a.m and it's an
annual ceremony that we do to recognize
our our veterans and our heroes and
there will be a flag and wreath ceremony
a battle cross Battlefield crossbow Mia
table National Guard band a guest
speaker and the vice mayor will be
welcoming everyone because I will be out
of town guests are encouraged to bring
their own blankets and lawn chairs for
seating that is all I have this evening
so thank you all and I will adjourn the
meeting thanks foreign