Chandler City Council Study Session 6/9/2025

[Music]
Good evening and welcome to our June
9th, 2025 study session. Like to call
this meeting to order. Clerk, please
take the role. Mayor Hartkey here. Vice
Mayor Ellis here. Council member Incas
here. Council member Poston here.
Council member Orlando here here. here.
Council member Hawkins here. We have a
quorum. Thank you so much for our
scheduled public appearances. I'd like
to invite Council Member Harris to join
me up front.
city manager. Thank you, Mr. Me, Mr.
Mayor, members of city council. We do
have five employee service recognitions
this evening. And for the first, I'd
like to call up our communications and
public affairs director, Matt Berdick.
Good evening. I ask Stephanie Romero to
come forward for her 10-year service
award.
[Applause]
It's a great pleasure. The twins are
here. Yeah.
It's a great pleasure to recognize
Stephanie for her outstanding
contributions as a public information
officer. Stephanie is a highly coveted
member of our team with outstanding
relationships with the news media and
community. Her experience and insight
shaped the communications, marketing,
and publicity provided for multiple city
departments, including the Chandler
airport, city clerk, DEI, development
services, economic development,
municipal court, and neighborhood
resources. You can tell Stephanie's
quite busy. She elevates the quality and
effectiveness of communication materials
and programs produced for the city. She
takes personal ownership to represent
Chandler and ensure departments
successfully communicate and fulfill
their goals and objectives. Thank you,
Stephanie, for 10 years of service to
Chandler and for the outstanding work
that you produce day in and day out.
[Applause]
Thank you.
Yes. Thank you. Um, today, uh, I'd like
to call James Kawa down today. James is
celebrating 10
[Applause]
years. So, public works and utilities.
We're thrilled to recognize James uh,
and celebrate his remarkable milestone.
Uh James has completed 10 years of
dedicated service with the city of
Chandler and specifically with public
works and utilities at the airport water
reclamation facility. Part of our
wastewater team, James has exemplified
professionalism, commitment, and a
strong work ethic that has significantly
contributed to our team success over
this past decade. His in-depth knowledge
of city utilities and infrastructure,
meticulous attention to detail, and
dedication to data accuracy have made
him a trusted and valued team member.
James input has been instrumental in
many projects, including the design,
construction, and most recently the
startup of the new reclaimed water
interconnect facility, showcasing his
ability to make a lasting impact. James
is a rare operator. He is one of only
245 operators currently in the state of
Arizona that we refer to as a 4x4. And
that's not a truck. Uh what this means
is James holds a grade four, the highest
grade possible in all operator areas,
wastewater collections, water
distribution, water treatment, and
wastewater treatment, making him a 4x4
operator. So please join us in
congratulating James on his impressive
achievement. We're incredibly grateful
for your continued dedication and look
forward to celebrating many milestones
with you. Thank you, John.
Mr. Mr. Mayor, members of council, for
our third employee service recognition,
like to call forward Melissa Deanda, our
assistant chief of police.
Good evening everyone. If I can have
Cynthia Blake come down please. She's
being recogn recognized for 20 years of
service.
And while Cynthia is coming down, I also
just want to recognize her husband. Matt
is here to celebrate her as well.
Cynthia has dedicated 20 years of
exceptional service to the Chandler
Police Department, beginning her career
as a records specialist and rising
through the ranks to become a valued
supervisor in the police department
information technology division. Her
journey reflects the unwavering
commitment, adaptability, and passion
for public service. In records, Cynthy
was known for her meticulous attention
to detail and a deep understanding of
police documentation procedures.
Transitioning into the PDIT team, she
brought that same level of dedication to
supporting the department's evolving
technology needs. As a supervisor,
Cynthia has been instrument instrumental
in leading systems transitions,
enhancing technical workflows, and
mentoring new team members. Her
leadership, collabor collaborative
spirits have helped modernize internal
processes to ensure the department
remains at the forefront of law
enforcement technology. We thank you,
Cynthia, for your integrity,
professionalism, and two decades of
outstanding service to the Chandler
Police Department and our community.
Congratulations.
[Applause]
Mayor and Council, for our next service
recognition, I'd like to call up Kim
Moyers, our comm excuse me, our cultural
development director.
Good evening. I'd like to call up Bill
Lorent for his 25 years of service to
Bill has been a cornerstone for the
Center for the Arts, bringing not only
technical passion as a lighting
coordinator and designer, but also a
steadfast commitment to bring quality
arts to our patrons. His design and
creativity have illuminated countless
concerts creating memorable shows on our
stage. Bill's eye for detail and
understanding of how light shapes the
mood and story is seen by the impact of
the lighting. How the lighting brings to
the wide variety of dance shows and
recently the musicals Wizard of Oz and
Little Women. Bill's creative efforts
are also seen outside of work. If anyone
needs some inspiration during the
Christmas time, just drive by Bill's
house and you will see one of the best
decorated homes around. Bill is always
willing to lend a hand, share his
knowledge, and give excellent customer
service to the clientele and performers.
His deep connection to the Chandler
community and unwaving unwavering
support for the arts has made a lasting
impact to all who know him. He's shown a
great commitment working long nights and
long hours, and we recognize and thank
his family whose understanding and
support has been essential for him.
Today we celebrate not only his
professional achievements but the
passion and dedication that have shaped
his 25 incredible years of service.
Thank you, Bill.
[Applause]
Mayor and council, for our final service
recognition this evening, I'd like to
call forward John Septton, our community
services director.
Good evening, mayor and council. What an
honor it is every time to come up here
and to partake in the Chandler tradition
of recognizing our civil servants. So,
thank you very much. Allow me to welcome
to center stage Michelle Welch.
As a reference librarian, Michelle has
been a constant source of knowledge,
support, and inspiration for 25 years.
Known for her even keel and calm
demeanor, Michelle brings a steadiness
that is deeply appreciated. Saying that
Michelle has patience is like saying
Chandler gets a little toasty in August,
a true epic understatement. Her patience
is unmatched and appears to be endless.
An impressively skilled communicator,
she exemplifies clarity and precision in
every interaction, delivering excellent
customer service with kindness and
professionalism. With remarkable time
management and a flexible approach to
everchanging needs of the library,
Michelle consistently learns new skills
and brings on new ideas and takes on new
roles. Her colleagues are grateful for
her flexibility, expertise, heart, and
dedication as she brings to the team
every single day. And if you're not
already sufficiently impressed, she's
also a published
author. Searchable for
sure. Michelle, you're a jewel in
Chandler's Public Library crown, and we
appreciate you so much. Congratulations
on the quarter century of service to
Chandler.
What's
that? Hold
on. Mayor and council, that concludes
our service recognitions this evening.
Thank you.
All right, our n our next scheduled
appearance is Brook Beal uh to talk
about the consolidated canal. Mr. Bill,
you have up to three minutes. Please
state your name and address for the
record.
Uh yes, my name is Brook Bill, 85 West
Twood Place here in Chandler. And uh
tonight I'd like to talk about the uh
crime spree on Consolidated Canal in
Chandler, Arizona. Uh now, you may
wonder what a crime spree is. Uh my
definition is that it's uh well over 400
events in the past couple of years. uh
by the same 10 pe 10 or 12 people every
day pretty much every day, every week,
every month, past two years. So that is
is my definition of a crime
spree. Uh this is an email that uh was
sent from SRP, the person who is
responsible for the canal. It was sent
to Mayor Hartkey and the city ch
council. Um on 9:24 I forwarded this. Uh
it was originally sent to um the parks
and recreation director and to the
police department uh lieutenant in the
police department. Now I apologize for
the eye chart there. Uh that's really
not readable. But basically what uh what
Bana has said there is uh because the
Bureau of Reclamation regional director
has not expressly determined that ebikes
should be treated the same as
non-motorized bicycles, their use along
the SRP canal continues to be
prohibited. Same restrictions apply to
ecooters. So ebikes are prohibited.
Period. End of story. There's there's no
qualification there. not
allowed. This is uh Arizona revised
statute 288/19. In there, the Arizona
legislature has given you uh seven
people the right to uh have a
jurisdiction over bicycles or multi-use
paths to prohibit the operation of a
class one bicycle or a class 2 bicycle.
Uh class three are prohibited on
multi-use paths. So with that
authorization, Chandler Municipal uh
government back in uh somewhere between
99 and
2012 came up with ordinance
316C and that basically says uh motorass
assisted vehicles including but not
limited
to there you go motor assisted. Can't
say anything more about an ebike than
motor assisted.
So, not allowed on the canal, not
allowed on Chandler property, in fact.
So, these are some of the signs that are
posted on the Consolidated Canal uh by
the city of Chandler and by SRP. Upper
right says this is not allowed. It's
federal offense. Sign down below it says
316C and on the left it explains that
that's the SEO Trail. And finally, here
we have Chandler Police Department sign
saying ebikes are prohibited. Thank you,
Mr.
Bill. Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Orlando.
Yeah.
Um, city, I know we've talked about this
staff several
times. Um, can we I don't know where
these ordinances or these things are
coming from, the
definition. Um, and I know that we've
had patrols out there. I know we've had
signs out there.
Um, is there anything else we could be
doing to identify ebikes? Specifically
saying no ebikes. I mean, maybe that's
part of the conversation. Can we put a
bicycle lane out there so that
pedestrians could have a safe path?
There must be something we could do to
address this. And I'm sure other
cities are having the same issue or
maybe not having the same issue. So, can
we um do some more due diligence on
this? Because I know he wants to spend
other Mondays and Thursday nights and
not have to deal with eites and coming
out here telling us um that there's
different laws and rules and regulations
and chapters and verses that we're he
believes we're not following. Whether we
are or not, that's different story. So,
can we look into this and come back
within 30 days a plan or an idea that
this council could look at that we could
address this issue?
Yeah, Mr. Mayor, uh, Council Member
Orlando, you're correct. We have done
some targeted patrols out there. We've
actually stopped and trespassed about
eight individuals already uh, since last
October 1st, and we have added some
signage as well as more frequent
presence out on the canal. We can
certainly explore some of the other
ideas you mentioned about a bike lane or
other physical improvements and come
back to you with some ideas. Okay. Thank
you. Thank you, Mer.
Vice Mayor, if I may, I receive a text I
believe from Miss Alexis
um concerning all the things that we
have been doing over there on the canal.
Uh is there a way that we can read all
of those so that that the public knows
that things are being done on a daily
basis whether through the police or
whatever it is that we are doing it's
very consistent with every single day
that we are there. How many police
around that's being done? Can we read
all of those to put them into the record
please? Uh sure. U Mr. Mayor uh Vice
Mayor um certainly can read uh the most
recent information that we have
available from the police department for
you. Yes, please. Um so in fall of 24 um
after we made aware of this issue, we
had one of our police uh teams in that
part of town set up a pop-up tent along
the canal for several hours to educate
riders about motorized vehicles and
ebikes along the canal. We've also set
up traffic trailers this spring at
various points along the canal with
educational messages and we have uh
developed a a refreshed relationship
with SRP as well to develop cohesive
messaging with our communications
department about the prohibition of
certain types of vehicles on the canal.
As I mentioned, we've done eight traffic
stops of vehicles that were operating
illegally on the canal and we did
trespass those eight individuals as
well. they were all juveniles uh on
electric motorcycles or dirt bikes. Um
and again, we've had about
uh uh 24, excuse me, 126 calls on this
since that time, but generally from one
party. Um almost all of them are from
the same party. So, um we have been
actively working on uh enforcement,
education. We've done some work again
with Kappa on our messaging out through
social media and other channels as well
and we will continue to have a police
presence out there to enforce the law.
Uh thank you mayor if I
may. You said there was 124 calls and
based on my text it says
that there was 126 calls. 124 of those
calls came from Mr.
And then staff also is working in PS on
PSA campaigns and all kinds of you know
PD has posted multiple portables. They
come and go. I see 40 to 60 uh 40 to 50
patrol a week around that. So when we
say that what else can we
do? Where do we want to go with that?
I'm just going to leave you with that.
Mayor
question, Council Member Ber, I don't
look I don't want to get into the
details. I think the concern is safety.
You have people walking, you have people
with their kids, strollers, and you have
a ebike. I think that's the concern I
would have too. Whether it's a 100 calls
he made or two, I think that's the
underlining issue here of safety. People
need to feel safe that they're walking
on this path. So maybe there are other
things we could do. Maybe delineate
that. I've seen where you put a bike
path right next to it. Maybe that's a
smart move where you could put I mean
even in our gym uh our Chandler our
Tumbleeed Rec Center, we have a path for
the runners and the path for the
walkers. That's a safety issue. I think
that's what really the core of this
problem is is that people feel safe on
those paths. That's all. Mayor, may I do
I have permission to ask the chief of
police to come down here right now? Uh
since we all having discussion about
this may I if chief can come down and
tell me that this that area is not
safe mean for
pedestrians not for people in general
for
pedestrians because that's not too far
from where I live and so I need to know
because I live in that area I need to
know whether I'm safe or not when I go
walk in there cuz you know I'm not. Uh
Chief, can you please tell me based on
the patrol the 40 to 50 and all the
visibility that you have in that area,
how safe is that area for the
pedestrians that are walking there? Uh
through the mayor vice
mayorless safety as a perspective. I can
just say we've had no injury accidents
as a result of anything on the canal. We
have tried to increase our presence, but
I do like to say broadly, we're talking
about the canal when we're also talking
about all the city streets that we're
responsible for in the city. So, we talk
about speeding, aggressive driving,
impaired driving, those sorts of things.
Those rate, if I'm honest, a little bit
higher priority than the canal. Not to
say that it's not important, but we're
trying to be strategic about the
deployment of our resources and we're
trying to use education, not
enforcement, as a way to mitigate some
of those issues along the canal.
Certainly, we can always increase our
visibility. Um, but I would just say
that is a long stretch of a canal bank
that we're uh responsible for. I would
say the ebike issue is one that is
relatively new in the last couple of
years. Most people have enjoyed the
canal bank for a variety of their
exercise needs without any significant
issues out there. So I am sensitive
certainly to the complaints that we get
from there. But when it comes to
resource allocation and demonstrated
need in the city, it's a deployment uh
position that we get into all the time.
So uh we are we are committed to
proactively addressing it through
increased patrols. But I will just say,
and everybody knows this, we can't be
everywhere all the time. And uh we do
our very best with what we have. Now,
it's true that we could get citizen, you
know, watch or a group that will really
be interested in that to just camp over
there and keep watching and help to keep
that area safer if they feel that it's
not. And I think at this time we could
put the plea out to the public and say,
"Hey, we're having a problem down there.
Well, citizen would love to put their
hats on and take a walk and if they see
any kids on a bike, ebike, just call the
police or tell them to get off the the
P. I mean, it's all of us making it safe
for all of us. I think that's where I am
right now. So, I appreciate you letting
me know that I'm leaving a a safe city
and and that lane that that trail is
pretty safe for for pedestrian.
Appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you,
Chief. You heard all the
presentation and then also the
suggestions that are made. So, please do
as you instructed. Next is our consent
agenda and item number four, uh, master
energy agreement, new solar
installations. If Stephen Turner can
come up and, uh, and talk about our
sustainability and performance. This has
been called in by council member
Orlando. Yeah, Mr. Mr. Mayor, members of
council, thank you for allowing me to be
here tonight to speak about our master
energy services agreement with Amoresco,
an agreement with the city of Chandler.
Uh just a a brief background. Um back in
2023, council at that time added
sustainability and technology to our
strategic framework. And it was that
decision that underscored the city's
commitment to uh smart energy solutions
uh aimed at reducing costs and um
enhancing environmental resilience. So,
a little bit of background about how why
we're here today. Um in early 2024, we
completed a feasibility study. Um and
during that time, we analyzed 25
different sites and we found 23
different sites, city facilities were
found as feasible options uh to be used
as a solar uh
arrays. This proposed system is roughly
9 megawatts in size and of those at
those 23 different sites, it is proposed
to offset about 50 plus% uh of the
energy uh uses there. The total project
cost is a little over $34 million and uh
we will be receiving in the second year
um $8.3 million from the inflation
reduction act as part of the investment
tax
credit. Uh the it is a 20-year agreement
and after savings um after the agreement
after 20 years it we will receive
approximately $42 million and after 25
years roughly $53 million. general fund
will receive 70 sorry 30% of the savings
and utilities uh utility funds will
receive about 70% of the savings and
I'll get into a reason that reason here
now um a large portion of the solar
panels will be placed at our three
biggest energy consumers our biggest one
airport water reclamation facility is by
far our largest energy user in the city
and we'll be placing close to 4
megawatts of power there uh at at Aworth
and And then we'll also have it at Okato
water reclamation facility and our PO
surface water uh treatment facility. The
remaining of the of the um solar sites
will be located at uh at different admin
buildings, city hall being one of them,
fire admin and uh several different
buildings throughout the city. Um the
fire stations, it is fire stations 1
through three and 5 through 11. We chose
not to do fire station 4 because that is
due for replacement um for a tear down
and reconstruction here in a few years
according to our CF.
And then um next steps uh we are working
to complete the individual work orders
for each individual site and then at
that point in time we'll have what our
guaranteed savings amount is and all of
that savings in in the final work orders
will be guaranteed and that includes uh
potential rate incre rate increases from
APS and SRP. It also includes uh adding
in the u the degradation potential from
uh the solar panels being installed.
Installation will take roughly one year
although some of the sites may come
online sooner. And with that be open to
any questions.
Council member Orlando. So what's the
annual savings? Roughly a year. Uh a
little over $2 million and we'll be
experiencing that right at the very
beginning. So we will own these sites uh
ourselves. This is not a solar service
agreement where it's a third party
owning it. We will be owning these sites
and we'll be benefit be benefiting from
the savings starting year one. So
potentially being 70% being put back
into waste water. Is that what it was?
Or wait, I'm sorry. Yeah, back into
water and waste water. 60% will go to
wastewater and 10% too. So potentially
this could have an impact on the impact
on the rates potentially reducing the
rates because that overhead cost or that
variable cost is being captured by the
solar. Yeah, we are working to do
everything we can in house to make sure
that we absorb all costs before we go to
our residents asking for rate increase.
That's perfect. You know, Chandler was
one of the first cities to do this. I
don't remember how many years ago. Um,
and we're leading. We're still leading.
I don't know of any other city as as uh
putting their entire city on some kind
of a grid like this as solar savings.
So, kudos to uh folks behind this and
making this happen. Yeah. Thank you. I I
I do know it's it is one of the largest
if not all the largest uh array putting
put together by a single city in the
state. So we're it's another mayor it's
another thing where we we save on
ongoing expenses by putting onetime
dollars into a particular project which
is something that we've uh been looking
for. So let's get this moving. Steve,
you're not done yet.
Any additional questions comments for
Mr. Turner? Oh yeah, Stephen, thank you
for bringing this to us. Um, that has
been a priority of ours is continue to
see how we can take our one times and
lower tomorrow. So, appreciate it's
taken us a long time to get here with
this particular project, but appreciate
your work on that. Item number eight,
uh, downtown alley improvements, Kim
Warriors.
Mayor, council. Um the downtown alley uh
improvement project is located between
Commonwealth and Boston Street and
California and San Marcos Alley and is
lovingly referred to as Hallway after
the late Elliot Hall. As development has
continued to the west with DC Heights,
Hidden House, the Stanley and Maple
House, there's been an increase in
pedestrian and vehicular traffic in this
area, specifically the alley. This
project will improve safety with
additional lighting and will include
surface improvements such as stamped
asphalt, valley valley gutters, and a
change to a one-way circulation and new
signage. No other utility work is
anticipated. We've reached out to the
affected property owners as well as the
downtown community through the DCCP
stakeholder meetings. As we have
historically done in the past, this
project is um scheduled to begin during
the summer months to reduce the impact
to our downtown businesses. We
anticipate construction to begin next
month and it should be completed by
September. And with that, I'm happy to
answer any questions you may have.
Council member Orlando. Thanks, Mayor
Kim. Thank you again. This is just a
myriad of projects you're bringing
forward to downtown. Do we have more of
these coming up? uh there uh uh through
the mayor uh council member Orlando uh
we're always looking at projects to
increase safety visibility in the
downtown. Um we know that that's the
primary um thing that's important for
people to continue to come down. Uh so
as we find these projects and ways that
we can u make our residents feel a
little safer, we'll keep bringing them
forward. So yeah, Kim, we talked about
this before and hopefully you're still
working with the downtowners on the
trash issue. Um because I know you want
to make an alley. We're spending this
money on an alleyway and yet in the
middle of 110 degrees or 105 degrees,
whatever the case may be. I'm sure the
smell is not um enticing. Yeah. Through
the mayor, council member Orlando, we
have been able to through several of our
different alley projects, we've been
able to incorporate um trash co-ops and
those have been very successful. um
that's not part of this project because
we do not have any city-owned property
along that time along that area, but
they have been able to secure their
trash on their own property, which
really minimizes some of the trash in
that area. Good. Thank you. Thank you,
mayor. Additional questions or comments
for Kim?
All right. Thank you, Kim. Item number
10, economic vitality report. Mike and
Miranda.
Good evening, Mayor and Council. Excited
to bring this uh project before you. So,
several months back, we presented on
challenges that staff is forecasting
into the future and um ideas to go
forward. And one of those was a research
paper engaging ASU in a 20-year vision
project. similar to what we did about 17
years ago. So, um on the agenda tonight
is a contract to engage with ASU's
um uh WLC Seedman Research Institute to
begin exploring how Chandler can prepare
itself for the future, looking at a host
of different issues we know we're facing
and provide recommendations for the city
to consider as we chart a 20-year path
forward. So happy to answer any
questions you may have.
Vice Mayor Ellis. Thank you, Mayor M.
Thank you for uh the I told you to keep
it quick and keep it precise. And my my
question at this point is that once we
get this white paper, what is it that
it's going to do for us? I know you
said, you know, helping us look into the
future, where we're going to go, but
strategically thinking where in the city
will we be applying these things
tangibly through the mayor. Vice Mayor
Ellis, I don't know. I don't have the
answers for that right now. A lot of
that's going to be based upon the
research, the analysis, and the work
with the community that ASU does when we
started discussing with them. We didn't
want to impart our preconceived notions
of what our challenges will be. We
really wanted to stay take a step back.
Oftentimes, we're so deep in the weeds
at the micro level, we we kind of lose
focus on um the macro uh objective. So
we we really putting this on ASU to work
with the community, our business
leaders, um and the city council to
provide some good direction. So part of
the study, they're um being tasked with
providing specific recommendations
um within about halfozen areas that are
really going to challenge us as we head
into the future. So without doing the
analysis first, I can't put the cart
before the horse, but I can say we
really do want to look at those things
that will enable Chandler's continued
economic vitality.
So would you say that this is a great
investment for us at this time? I'm not
having the crystal ball and everything,
but do have the evidence-based research
that is uh proven that we'll be able to
take this and run with it. Yeah. Through
the mayor, Council Member Ellis. Um I I
would definitely agree with that. This
is something like I said that the city
did two decades ago and a lot of those
recommendations the city incorporated um
wisely into some of our municipal
planning efforts not just the planning
division but overall planning of the
city and it's paid u dividends um that
we are reaping now. So we're really
looking to use this study to continue
our success. Thank you Micah. Thank you
mayor. Mayor Mayor Counc.
Thank you mayor. Micah, if I remember,
there was one called the next 20. And
wasn't there another one about a shoe
like waiting for the next shoe to drop
kind of the name was just not as good. I
I remember. But I'm wondering if you
could share those with council so that
we can maybe take a look I think that
would be really helpful to take a look
at what this study did before and the
accomplishments and where we went from
there and and what we incorporated
because I think that might give us an
idea of of what we can look to the
future. I do remember having a that
being very valuable information and you
know maybe a look at our city in a way
that the economic development division
at the time um hadn't considered before
and I I remember it being pretty
valuable and I think that would be
helpful for us if you could find those
for us. Yeah. through the mayor. Um,
council member Poston. Um, the first
study you mentioned was a city
commission study, the 20-year study. The
five shoes waiting to drop study was
actually commissioned, I want to say, in
like 2001. Okay. Stop telling people how
old I am. But, um, it's one of my
favorite reports. I still have it on my
desk, so I'm happy to share. That's good
to know. And they're both really great
documents. We have those and and we can
share those with you. And maybe that
gets to Vice Mayor Ellis's question a
little bit more. there are certain
things in there that we're looking for
ASU um to evaluate but without
preconceived notions on what those
outcomes would be or or Micah even if
there are just some highlights that you
think would be helpful for us rather
than giving us decades of studies. I
would say read it all.
Absolutely. We can get those together.
Council member Orlando. Thank you. Yeah,
Mike. I was here and we did the 2020 or
the 20 years out and one of the
recommendations was to preserve the
Price Road corridor. One of the
recommendations was to expand the
airport and they gave us some ideas and
one of the recommendations at that time
20 years ago they said chambers start
planning for affordable housing. So
there was some visionary work on that
ton. Um I think we did pretty well on
most of those things. Maybe the
affordable housing we're picking up now,
but it was a good look into the 20
years. And then like any plan, you have
to look at it and say what resources we
need to put to that plan to make it
successful. So that's the value of this
thing. It'll tell us what it looks 20
years from now. It's worked and then
what we can do for resources in order to
ensure that we we do reach that vision.
Yeah, through the mayor uh council
member Orlando, you're you're absolutely
right that that um report was a very
strategic guiding document that the city
really absorbed and leaned into. Um and
then executing, you know, we're going to
have to come forward with some um
probably budgetary requirements once the
um document is finalized and presented
to city council and get your feedback on
where you want us to go. So, we do
anticipate um resourcing um to be an
issue that is going to come later. Um
part of the the tangibles in different
parts of the report is uh the
Thunderbird School of Business. Their
part of theirs um their task is to
identify FDI markets, how do we do it,
marketing techniques, budgets to put
behind it. So that component is very
much part of the plan.
Additional questions or comments?
Council member Fost apologize. I
probably should have pointed this out
earlier just to thank you and
congratulate you for the creative way
that you funded this through the IDA
funding. I think we don't look at that
often enough and get creative in ways
that that's funding sitting there. So,
thank you for doing that and
congratulations for finding a way to
make this happen that, you know, is
already funded for us. You got a money.
Yeah, I I appreciate the kind words. I
can't take credit for that. I really got
to give uh the budget staff and the
executive staff a lot of credit. We
submit those decision packages. They're
always looking for other ways to fund
it. So, but I I'll I'll take it. Thank
you.
on the city over the line. Yes. Thank
you, Micah. Thank you. Our last item
called in is item number 20, city
charter amendment, resident advisory
committee. Calling up Ryan Peters,
strategic initiatives director. And
council member Poston, as Ryan is coming
up, following up on that, one of our
other items on here is a road
improvement. Ryan and Sheree have been
quite nimble, agile, and effective in
terms of grabbing uh when MAG puts out a
cop or some funds. And this is one of
those projects that uh much to the
chagrin of particularly West Valley
cities, we do a very good job of of uh
self-identifying good projects and
putting together a good case. And
commending Ryan on that. Thank you,
mayor. where I meet with them ahead of
time for my MAG meeting and their
information along with Jason Crarampton,
we got to give him credit, too, is
outstanding. So, we appreciate all of
the work that you do before those
meetings and saving us some money. Thank
you, mayor, and thank you, Council
Member Post. And he beat me to the
punch. I want to ensure that Jason gets
credit as well because the team is
really well uh works really
complimentary with John Kudson and John
McFarland and the whole staff over at
public works and utilities on these type
of items to make sure that we have a
really competitive grant. and obviously
we uh ended up being successful. So,
thank you to everyone involved. Yeah.
The uh item number 20 item 20. Yes,
mayor. So, um, before you tonight is
the, uh, the Citizens Charter Review
Committee, and upon voting on Thursday
night, it'll be um, formally effective
within about within 30 days. and we'll
meet with the uh committee members that
are that um you'll also have an
opportunity to vote on on Thursday and
figure out a meeting schedule and the
work should kick off late July, early
August and we expect to meet over the
course of the fall and wintertime with
the expectation to have to city council
before February meeting um the
recommendations of the committee and
obviously there'll be opportunities to
visit with the council and citizens
along the way but in order to meet the
county's deadlines on when we need to
submit ballot language to them. Um it's
a February meeting for a call of the
election and then a March meeting for
the actual ballot language itself. And
with that, we're excited for the
opportunity to look at the charter in in
depth and see where there's
opportunities to modernize it per the
council vision and expectation that we
do with this charter um and and make
recommendations to the citizens um
ultimately who will decide whether or
not they they want to amend the charter
with various questions.
Thank you. Uh, council member Orlando,
you called this in. No, that was my
question. The timelines, uh, I just
wanted to do those publicly, make sure
folks understand that we're going to be
some due diligence here and obviously
it' be open to the public. So, yes,
Mayor, Council Member Orlando, that is
correct. These are public meetings. It's
a it's a public body formed by this
council. So, will you have a we have a
set items for them to look at or you
just want them to look at the entire
charter? What are your thoughts on that?
Mayor, council member Orlando, we have
performed an exercise. A city attorney
and city clerk and I have visited over
the course of the last year to look for
opportunities where there might be room
to modernize the charter, make things
more clear. Um, so we will certainly
present those findings to the charter
review committee to see if they make
sense to them as well. And then should
there be any ideas from the committee
itself or the public for additional
improvements, you know, we would
entertain that and get the committee's
recommendation on whether they want to
pursue that or, you know, back off
depending on the item. And obviously,
you'll take citizen input on thoughts of
the charter as well. Is there some areas
we want to look at? Mayor, Council
Member Orlando, that is correct. That
that that's the Chandler way as we take
citizen input. This is a body that gives
the opportunity for more contributions.
Excellent. Thank you, Mayor. And then
did you say that the date on this was
August then that we're potentially
looking at in terms of bringing this to
the ballot if but with those earlier
dates mentioned. So mayor that is
correct. Should we opt for a primary
August election that would be the
February and March dates should for
strategic reasons or whatever the
charter committee determines is is best
to set us up for success. Then we could
look at a a November election. We could
potentially have a crowded election
season next year with our own local
issues. I know we have an APS franchise.
We have, I think, potentially home rule
and then a variety of other topics that
the legislature might come up with to
put on that ballot. So, you know, we
want we want to ensure that our charter
has the best opportunities to succeed
with with these various questions in
addition to the general plan work that
just kicked off. So, um, should the the
charter review committee opt to take it
to the November election and council
agree with that recommendation, then we
would need to have it the work concluded
or at least the call by May and then the
work concluded with the ballot language
by June of next year. Okay. And there's
really no earlier option. Obviously, we
would be have to pay for that
separately, but it just in terms of the
timing, we really are looking at August
or November as as the most viable two in
front of us. Correct.
Mayor, that is correct. Um, I would have
to defer to the city clerk on what
timing would be for a spring election. I
don't have that information in front of
me. Um, but that would certainly
compress all of our all the work that
this charter review committee would have
to do over the the next coming weeks. I
think it's is it five months in advance?
City clerk, call the election 180 days
and then the ballot language is five
months. Yes. So, 150 days for the
balloting. Okay. Yeah. So, we'd be we'd
have to have completed this really by
October and then November for the
language in order to get it out there
for March, which would be a lifting
term. Okay. Any additional questions on
this? Mayor, Council Member Harris, I
know that we talked about a lot. Um, I'm
okay with just kind of getting the name
solidified. I'm not I'm not I I don't
know how far or okay I am with doing
anything as it relates to putting
anything on an election right away. Um
because I don't I just kind of think
that we may not have the type of
timelines that I that I think could be
appropriate for the charter language
considering that there's a candidate
election coming up. That would be um
that would be one thing. But more
importantly, just thinking about the
overall how much time do we want them to
spend because now we'll be condensing
the time faster. So, hey, we put this
together. Now, we're going to make them
work as quickly as possible. And that
charter is rather long, very, very long.
Hundreds and hundreds of pages of
language that I would probably want them
to skim through. So, I don't know how
fast we're going to be working our
lightning speed. So, I just kind of have
some just initial concerns. I mean, I'm
sure we can work through some of the
initial concerns, but I just kind of
wanted to make sure that um with the
initial concerns that we're going
through hundreds of pages of documents.
Um, and I just don't want I just don't
want the committee to rush the process.
I want them to be thoughtful and
careful. So, I don't want us I just kind
of feel like the minute we start talking
about election this this this we're
hurry up and putting the cart before the
horse. and I want to make sure that uh
um this body of work is thoughtful.
That's kind of where I want to land with
that. So, I just want to make sure
that's done first. Thanks, Mayor. Take
your time. Take your time. Comments
noted. Any additional comments or
questions?
All right, that concludes the items
called
in council. We're going to resume our
exec session. Let's get back there in
five.