City of Chandler Study Session 4/1/24

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to our audience we've got a few meetings
coming up here tonight first is our
public housing authority then I will
gabble out and then we will have our
study session and then opportunity to uh
many of you are here for that and that
will be at the beginning of that meeting
so with that I'd like to call our public
housing uh Authority or public housing
meeting to order and clerk if you would
please take the role chairman Harkey
here Vice chair Harris here commissioner
laoren commissioner
incus here commissioner Ellis here
commissioner Stewart here commissioner
Orlando here commissioner poon here we
have a quum thank you cler do we have
any unscheduled public
appearances uh mayor I have not received
any calls or okay so there's two items
on the agenda um one is a an annual
renewal the other are minutes uh L
anyone has a question a motion would be
order
Commissioners Mr chair commissioner
Orlando yeah I mooved that we approve
the consent agenda items 1 through two
April 1st 2024 pack meeting second that
there well I saw council member hting
first oh okay go ahead there we have a
motion and a second uh clerk please hold
the commission Vice chair
Harris yes commissioner
Lauren commissioner
ncz yeah commissioner
Ellis yes commissioner Stewart yes
commissioner Orlando yes commissioner
Poston yes chairman Harkey yes motion
carries unanimously thank you commission
that can includes our public housing
meeting and thank you commissioner for
joining us tonight as well for your
work welcome to the April 1 study
session it's not a joke we're having a
study session on April
1st clerk please take the role mayor
Harkey here Vice May
Harris here I'm out council member in
CIS here council member Ellis here
council member Stewart here council
member Orlando here council member poon
here we have a COR May the flu's taking
our is taking the toll this week huh
well they're I think uh they're feeling
well they're doing well one council
member is out of town at a family event
the other is not doing well tonight with
that we have our next order is our
service recognitions and council member
Orlando why don't you please join me up
our first item on our public appearances
is service recognition so city manager
why don't you take the lead on this part
thank you Mr Mayor members of the city
council we have a full agenda tonight we
do have five Employee Service
recognitions plus one retirement
recognition and
for and for the first uh two
presentations i' like to call forward
our acting chief of police Melissa
de
good evening mayor and Council uh this
tonight I would first like to recognize
I can have de di diangelo Larson come
forward please we're gonna recognize her
for her 10 years with
[Applause]
please so Dianna has held several roles
during her tenure with the city of
Chandler she began her career in 2014 at
the Tumbleweed Park and Recreation
Center as a recreation coordinator where
she often hosted children's birthday
parties Legend has it that she would
often dress up in costume for the theme
of the birthday party so talk about
commitment in 2016 Deanna started at the
police department as a record specialist
and she quickly made a name for herself
she is known for being hardworking
always providing outstanding customer
service and she has a deep sense of
dedication ation to her work um also I'd
be remiss if I didn't add that Dianna is
a very talented Baker and she often
spoils us with her custom cup cupcakes
at work so thank you Dianna since 2020
Deanna has worked in our crime analysis
unit she has spent two years with a data
analysis and Reporting team followed by
her current role as a police
investigative specialist with the
Intelligence and Analysis units Deana
has been recognized as a key contributor
throughout her career and tonight she is
joined by her mom Lynn and her aunt Jan
and tonight I am honored to congratulate
you on your 10 years of dedicated
service to our city so thank
you
she's very
talented all right next I would like to
call up Sergeant Chris Kush to recognize
him for 25 years with our
[Applause]
department Sergeant Chris Kush has
served our community for the past 25
years and is a member of the Chandler
Police Department he began his career as
a patrol officer before being selected
to work in our bike unit he was a
recruit training officer and also a
detective in our auto theft and property
crimes units in 2010 Sergeant Kush
promoted to the rank of Sergeant and
worked as a supervisor overseeing our
school resource officers and he is
currently assigned as our property crime
sergeants in addition to his primary
responsibilities Chris has been a part
of our SWAT team for the past 10 years
and serves as our technical support
Sergeant overseeing our drones in robot
program so he's got a really cool job
he's Al the president of the Chandler
lieutenants and sergeants Association
Chris's Integrity compassion and
commitment to enhancing the safety of
our community have ear earned him the
trust and respects of his colleagues
Chris credits his unwavering support to
his wife Kim and his daughters Ashley
and Carly to his success throughout his
career and they're also joining him here
tonight so I am honored to recognize
Chris for 25 years of dedicated service
congratulations
[Applause]
mayor and councel for our next service
recognition I'd like to ask our Chief
Information officer sandep doia to come
over
everybody's clapping and I said
recogniz all right good evening mayor
and councel tonight I'd like to invite
Tristan to come on forward to receive
her 20 years of service recognition now
the surprise surprise I will now recite
an OD to Kristen Kristen's Tale in 20
years of service Kristen's tale unfolds
from it trainer to project manager her
journey molds from in-person training
she led the digital charge her
accomplishments shine her impact is
large as a business analyst processes
were streamlined in E agenda success she
truly shined with the budget team she
broke the sound barrier the new budget
system CLA delivered with no fear even
during the covid pandemic when we had to
avoid lines and crowds she delivered an
online scheduling tool used by used by
customers across eight departments house
in the cloud but ad the hustle Christen
finds her Bliss by Caribbean Shores she
seals each wish hiking golfing Bunko
nights abound in in creativities Embrace
she's always found with Pixie and CT her
furry loyal band family's tie strong and
which he stands Tha food her culinary
delight and service and laughter Kristen
shines bright congratulations
[Applause]
CHR mayor and Council for our next
service recognition I'd like to invite
John kudon our Public Works and
utilities director to come
[Applause]
forward thank you mayor and council
tonight I'd like to invite Ramone greno
forward to accept his uh 25y year
[Applause]
recognition Ramon greno started with
city of chander as a plant officer
in 1988 at the posos surface water
treatment plant all the way coming to
chander fresh out of the Navy where he
served as an engine room machinist as
part of the first crew aboard the
amphibious assault ship the USS
curge at the water plant he learned
quickly and worked his way up through
the ranks he has served as Chandler as
an operator one an operator 2 a lead
operator and in 2023 three he took on
his new role as the posos water plant
superintendent through all this time
with the city Ramon has shown an
eagerness to learn as much about the
water plant and distribution system as
possible and has mastered each position
he has
held he has also shown a dedication to
training and mentoring new staff members
this attribute made him the Clear Choice
for his new job Ramone's dedication to
chamber and PCO surface water treatment
plant shines through and his positive
can do attitude are infectious and serve
as an excellent example for all staff to
follow thanks Ramone for 25 years you
owe me 10
more
mayor and Council I actually have our uh
final uh service recognition uh this uh
evening before we do our retirement
recognition if I could invite our
cultural development director Kim Moyers
to come forward to recognize her 10
years of service with the city of
Chandler
Kim joined the city in April 2014
assuming the role of downtown
Redevelopment manager her unwavering
dedication to fostering business growth
and diversification in Chandler's
downtown area has left an indelible mark
on the community Kim's pivotal
contributions Have Been instrumental in
attracting new businesses and
cultivating the vibrant Ambiance that
characterizes Downtown Chandler today
notable among her achievements are
spearheading significant projects such
as over Street New Square DC Heights and
the Oregon Street Parking Garage along
with the Adaptive reuse of existing
space into iconic restaurants shops and
experiences supported by the Visionary
leadership of the city council Kim has
led the way in taking Downtown Chandler
from its humble roots to an epicenter of
Chandler's unparalleled quality of
life recognizing her exceptional work
ethic and Leadership skills Kim was
promoted to the position of cultural
development director in March 2019 in
her current capacity she has played a
pivotal role in streamlining both public
and private special event processes
furthermore Kim has been instrumental in
facilitating the expansion of special
events and the introduction of new
cultural programs at the Chandler Museum
and the Chandler Center for the Arts
Beyond her professional accomplishments
Kim finds profound fulfillment in her
roles as a devoted wife to her high
school sweetheart Travis who is not here
tonight because it's pickle ball night I
am told
yeah gota got to blame him for that one
and a nurturing mother to three
successful children and her most
cherished title of Grandma relishing
every moment spent with her adorable
beloved
grandbabies as we reflect on Kim's
remarkable decade of service we extend
our heartfelt gratitude thank you Kim
for being exceptional leader friend and
colleague congratulations on 10
incredible years with Team
Chandler
mayor and Council sadly we do have one
retirement recognition this evening and
it's a big one I'd like to invite Matt
berdick our Communications and public
affairs director forward to make the
presentation all
right thank you city manager mayor and
Council I'd like to invite Heather
figero to come forward to celebrate 30
years and her upcoming
[Applause]
retirement so Heather is celebrating
retirement tonight following 30 years of
service to CH Heather works in the mayor
and Council Office providing support to
our elected officials as you all know
and serving as a liaison who connects
residents with information and city
services Heather has excelled in her
role working with the city council she
offers Council a deep base of knowledge
about Chandler with a solution oriented
approach to address issues on behalf of
the office Heather began her she's a
huge success story she began her service
with Chandler is part of a program with
Chandler high school that exposed
students to career opportunities at the
city and she's never left she began her
career helping residents obtain building
and construction permits as part of the
development services department she then
moved into roles that supported our
economic development team with their
variety of business retention attraction
and tourism programs the majority of her
time in the past decade has been spent
in the mayor and Council Office
supporting city council members and a
couple of years the city clerk's office
her expertise has helped many returning
and firsttime elected officials adapt to
the role to serve Chandler as they
establish a vision and policy direction
for our
community and on behalf of our entire
communication the public affairs
department and many members of Team
Chandler that have worked with Heather
over her time 30 years here at the city
we congratulate Heather on this
phenomenal career Milestone
well-deserved retirement and we're
hoping that this is a big ruse all for
April fools but we know it's it's not so
congratulations
[Applause]
hether I know that several counil
members would like to say something and
then uh afterwards if you guys want to
get behind and we'll take a big photo
with Heather as our
centerpiece um just starting Heather
when I first came to City Hall you were
here you've always been helpful your
your can do helpful smile your attitude
of of uh how can I make things happen
has been noticed Been Loved been
appreciated I I still looked fondly back
in the years when we had trivia nights
down in the ostrich and we were always
paired up on the same team and while we
never won we came
close and uh it it was always a lot of
fun but your your smile your your your
kind words your just willingness to to
help in any way will will certainly be
missed you you've taught another
generation of that same kind of customer
service and and willingness to get
things done and we just deeply deeply
deeply appreciate
you so let me ask Matt if you would like
to and then we'll go in the back Heather
we first met many many years ago you
haven't changed I have but you you but
we were at you were at the airport and
uh she uh set some standards down there
and I knew you were going to uh be a
mover in Shaker way back then and uh
when I came back to the council second
or third time or what it was I just
learned one thing whatever Heather says
just do
it thanks well I got to tell you so when
you first walk you get elect you first
walk through the doors when the first
people you meet is Heather and um I I
can say this with 100% um truth and
honesty I I you've never had a bad day
every time we walk in the door on the
fifth floor you have a smile and you're
eager to help um I've never worked with
anybody like you before in my life and
I've had a good career um but the way
you are giving to everybody and U you
make yourself available to help us be
better at what we do but
it is a a true Testament and and I think
that Heather is a embodies what the
spirit of the culture of the company of
the of the city is which is a spirit of
customer service but you did it all the
time on the fifth floor for us and you
left for two years and I remember when
she left for two years I was the vice
mayor at the time when she was coming
back and I heard a rumor that she was
coming back to the fifth floor I said I
got dips I got dips other was my my
assistant or my boss if you will for
where I need to be for 3 years years
took two years off off and then I and
then I I had to Havey back so I'm just
grateful uh for what the future holds
for you and the next chapter and I'm so
glad for you and just so happy for your
retirement thanks so much for everything
you've done for me and and keeping my
family a breast of all the things that I
had going on uh it's so important but um
you're
special yeah
thanks mayor Miss he I wanted to um
tell you that on behalf of my family and
I my husband and my daughter we truly
admire your
heart of love and
kindness the last four years uh I've
been here and I had um someone prior to
you and then the rest of the years I
spend them with
you you have done nothing but to show me
that uh two people can truly work
together have their differences and
still
work whereby there's nothing that can
come between them in the sense of making
sure that the work is done well I
appreciate you I appreciate your strong
ways of speaking with me because you
know me I from the hip and so we
understood each other for that
purpose you have always has been honest
with
me and for that I admire your
heart and um I'm
grateful for all the the time that you
have really spoken with me without even
said a
word when my son passed
away when I came back into this office
the next day you were the first person
that gave me a
heart and I will never forget that day
it was not from my assistant it was not
from somebody I had known but it was
from a mother to another mother and for
that I will always care for you and love
you dearly appreciate you God bless you
I know that um this is not going to be a
goodbye because you're going to be
around for a little bit and um I'm going
to be here for a long time you'll get to
see me for a long time we'll see each
other thank you love
you well I've been lucky enough to know
Heather for a very long time and I knew
her I think from each department that
she went to and she was like the secret
weapon in every Department knowledgeable
smart knew everyone knew everything and
and and like somebody else said did it
with a smile every single time and then
ended up being my son's favorite
customer at the sushi restaurant that he
worked at when he was in high school
coming home telling me about someone he
met that was amazing I'm like you have
good taste because she is actually
amazing and then to have to share you
with the council members I guess you
know they had to be lucky enough to get
to know you too um you will be missed
um and just thank you and thanks for
always being there really appreciate it
and wishing you the best of luck and fun
you really deserve this I hope you take
full advantage of
it
well let's do a
photo
for
[Applause]
why
mayor and Council that concludes our
Employee Service recognitions this
evening thank you
great next we have some recognitions the
first is the Chandler Innovation fair
winners micel Miranda can come on up
every February Chandler celebrates the
exploration of innovation the Chandler
Innovation Fair showcases businesses
artists students and innovators in the
community as Chandler participates in
the state wide Arizona Science Tech
Festival once again we held the annual
Chandler Innovation Fair competition uh
I believe this was our largest event
ever is that right Odette very great and
the winning CH teams which are
recognizing tonight were chosen for
presenting the most educational most
creative and most passionate projects we
are excited to honor them
tonight thank you mayor council members
um before before we get into the awards
I really just want to thank Odette for
all of her wonderful work on
[Applause]
this we're lucky to have her and uh
Stephanie from Kapp also is instrumental
making this event go but um now the good
stuff so our first category is for high
school and we would like to recognize
ACP Arizona College Prep High School and
is RNA
[Applause]
here
the Arizona College Prep High School
Booth was a display to True stem
promotion that included science and
Innovation projects a NASA Ambassador
display and a reptile petting exhibit
HOSA activities from the students
student group HOSA and an art and
Ceramics display and a much sought after
egg drop contest congratulations
ACP do some photos
here
all right
[Applause]
congratulations good
job uh and this was a tie for the high
school group so it was very competitive
with the
sheriff um our next Award winner is
Valley Christian High
School come on
[Applause]
up the Valley High School Christian
exhibit featured an interactive display
of technology using three robots they
designed built and programmed they
showcased the first robotics program
whose mission is to promote stem to our
community by demonstrating features of
the robots and letting the audience
drives them they also discussed the
Engineering Process with Spectators and
encourage youth to continue developing
their existing talents and embrace new
challenges through stem congratulations
Valley
[Applause]
Christian all
right and Hamilton High School stem Club
was also award uh recipient but they
aren't able to join us
tonight
all right in the junior high category we
have Willis Junior High please come on
[Applause]
up Willis Junior High had several
displays of student science fair project
boards from experiments they completed
during the school year but the focus of
their Booth was on the physical and
chemical changes that create slime the
students took the helm at the
demonstration Booth by helping visitors
create their own slime describing the
process and explaining the interaction
of the materials that make slime slimy
congratulations Willis Jr
[Applause]
High
that's the real check that's the one you
want congratulations
[Applause]
Willis in the junior high category we
Santan Junior High was also recognized
but they are not able to attend as
well in the elementary category can we
welcome up bolognia Elementary
[Applause]
School the Scorpion showed off their
Lego models and Engineering knowledge
attendees who visited the Scorpion's
Booth were able to choose their favorite
color to make slime as well while other
visitors created parachutes for their
favorite animal or pipe cleaner figure
congratulations
yeah
congratulations and in the elementary
category Rice
Elementary at the Chandler Innovation
Fair Rice Elementary Booth reflected
their school's focus on
sustainability they had a a make andake
Ed egg head project that the community
could participate in along with worms
from the school's Garden for everyone to
learn more about congratulations Rice
[Applause]
Elementary
congratulations
[Applause]
rice mayor and Council that is the end
of our Awards presentation and real
quickly we want to thank all of our
sponsors who helped make this event
financially feasible so thank you to all
the sponsors out there you guys are very
much appreciated in the debt thank you
very much again
thank
[Applause]
you I don't know how you're all going to
do it but every year it gets better so
I'm excited about next
year okay we've got a few you guys are
leaving before our proclamations
well I would too our first Proclamation
is Valley Bike month so as you're all
leaving don't forget to join us April 6
for the mayor's bike ride
all right yes come on
down
whereas the city of Chandler celebrates
its 16th annual Family Bike Ride event
on April
6 I think I've made 15 of
them whereas the city of Chandler Valley
Metro and the surrounding communities
will be promoting Valley Bike month in
April 2024 and whereas throughout the
month of April residents of Chandler and
its visitors will experience the joys of
bicycling through educ ational programs
commuting incentives community events or
by simply getting out and going for a
ride and whereas bik bicycling as an
alternative to driving contributes to
reduce pollution congestion and wear and
tear on our streets and Roads and
whereas creating a bicycle friendly
Community has been shown to improve
citizens Health well-being and quality
of life encourage economic activity and
attract tourism dollars not here
therefore I Kevin Harkey mayor of the
city of Chandler do hereby Proclaim
April 2024 as Valley Bike
[Applause]
month hi yeah thank you very much um
mayor and Council for recognizing April
as Valley Bike month um up here tonight
I have with me David Flashman and he's
with cactus Cruisers and so he is a
bicycle advocus and advocate in our
community and so we just wanted to
encourage everybody to come out to the
family bike ride this Saturday at the
park and ride and events start at 7:30
with mayor starting the ride at 8:30 in
the morning so we hope to see you
there all right let's take a
photo
our next Proclamation is jazz
appreciation month if we could have Bart
salsman and Helen Dy come on
up I'm gonna have council member read
this because it's the longest
proclamation of the
night
thank you good seeing again all right
whereas jazz is considered one of our
America's most significant or original
art form pioneered in New Orleans and
affirmed the noblest aspiration of our n
National character individual discipline
perseverance and Innovation and is
enjoyed worldwide and whereas April was
the first established as Jazz
appreciation month in 2001 by the sodian
national museum of America history
to celebrate America's leading creative
artist and the contributions made to
society by encouraging School
governments and organizations to
participate in jazz concerts festivals
and educational
events you did say it was long whereas
jazz is flourishing in Chandler thanks
to the Chandler jazz festival founded by
Bart Salzman in 2000 and is currently
produced by the city of Chandler the
jazz festival will celebrate its 25th
year in April and where throughout Jazz
appreciation month a wide range of
programming will include jazz bands
youth bands in Downtown Chandler and
various location throughout the city it
is currently one of the largest free
festivals in the southwest and the
Arizona classic Jag Society has
presented the Arizona classic jazz
festival for over 30 years at the Crown
Plaza San maros Resort in Cham and
whereas thanks to Jazz in Arizona and
the Arizona classic Jazz Society over
100 introductions to Jazz assemblies
have been conducted in janler elementary
schools serving over 15,000 children and
additional 300 assemblies servicing over
50,000 kids in the Phoenix area and
whereas the Chandler Gilbert Community
College features a major Jazz program
and the chander Unified School District
continues to support jazz bands in high
schools and Junior High School therefore
Kevin hary mayor of Chandler hereby
proclaimed April 2 24 as Jazz
appreciation
month thank you councilman Orlando
mayor um it's all Leah's fault back
there Leah pow um just a reminisce a
little bit 25 years ago I was called to
Rich delugas office I thought thought I
was going to be chewed out for
complaining to Leah about no Jazz at the
Jazz Festival they used to have a little
one over at Arrowhead Park and um I'm a
jazz musician and producer and jazz fan
and uh I got called You Know Rich
belugas the old-timers know
him and I got called on the carpet of
his office and he asked if I would agree
to start a downtown Chandler jazz
festival in order to bring people to
downtown to see this
wonderful location we have Historic
downtown and with all the vacancies of
the offices and he wanted exposure for
those offices for those retail spots so
Leah was at the meeting and my first
call was Michael ksky some of you
remember him from
dccp and my second call was was to Bruce
Fairchild the general manager of the San
Marcos Resort and they were both so
accommodating Bruce gave us the entire
run of the hotel for the for the first
few years and um Michael made one phone
call Mike KY I was at his office he
called Greg Vargas at Motorola and in
one phone call he had $10,000 to start
the
festival from uh Motorola uh Community
Services fund so we had the first one in
the year 2000 and we grew it for 16
years for the first few years I was a
volunteer of course the city wouldn't
give me any money they gave me the park
Rich Deluga said oh we can't give you
any money but you can use the park and
uh and you could have Leah Powell as as
help her so she was instrumental and
making that happen and then my dear wife
managed 50 volunteers for the first few
years and that's how it went so we we
were very appreciative of Chandler for
supporting Jazz which is the the
common language of people you know if
you if you if you if you talk if you go
around the world Jazz was started in the
United States in New
Orleans Helen was instrument is
instrumental in keeping the traditional
the old style jazz alive but it's
evolved and it is the
single language that unites everybody
from all Creeds all walks of life all
political all religions you you you put
them in a in in a Auditorium and you put
some jazz music in front of them and
everybody's swinging and tapping their
feet and having a good time but I got to
say that the thing that I do the most
that I enjoy the most is going to the
schools and we I have let
uh a quartet To over 400 it was in the
proclamation 400 elementary schools
mostly fourth graders and it's
continuing now thanks to Helen's uh
Arizona Jazz societ Arizona classic Jazz
society and I want to show you one of
the things we do for the
council get you guys swinging a little
bit I'm going to put this down just for
a second because I have a present for
every everybody and I'm going to show
you what makes music so important for
the children and for
everybody these are all brand
new take one and pass them down here
pleas make sure Joshua gets
one um
for our for our our our
workshops for our workshops at the
schools I'm going to show you how to
play this and we're gonna do just a very
very short
tune oh did you run oh I didn't know if
there was enough over here we're gonna
jve all right why is jazz important why
is music
important okay first thing we do is tune
up you take the big end and you hum
don't blow you Helm say
do do I want to hear
it I don't hear you m Mr White
right okay everybody one two
three okay I'm gonna do something you
copy you copy what I
do
[Music]
ready
[Music]
thank
you we're taking an offering now for uh
let's take a
photo
encore
all right our next Proclamation it's
going to be hard to beat the uh National
Sexual Assault Awareness fund if our
domestic violence Commissioners can come
on
up oh it's another long one here council
member
it's okay all
right
move whereas sexual assault occurs in
epidemic proportions across the United
States affecting one American adult and
every 68 seconds and one child every 9
minutes and where a sexual assault is a
tool used to intimidate control and
abuse victims and survivors of domestic
violence and whereas sexual violence
disort disproportionately impacts
immigration populations people of color
people with disabilities and members of
the lgbqt plus community and whereas
women who experience intimate
Partners sexual violence are 7.6 times
more likely to be murdered by their
intimate partner and whereas April is
National Sexual Assault Awareness Month
and is a signif signified by wearing the
color teal to support survivors and to
remind the community that we must work
together to promote educational
awareness and accountability for sexual
violence Kevin hary mayor of Chandler
Arizona does hereby Proclaim April 2024
as National Sexual Assault Awareness
Month hi um very uncomfortable following
the
Jazz but uh thank you Mr Mayor and thank
you council members we really appreciate
this this is um we don't really talk
about this subject um enough when it
comes to domestic violence and um and so
I just really appreciate the city making
this recognition and making this
Proclamation this year um around for
sexual assault survivors that are in a
domestic violence relationship so we
just really appreciate it I just wanted
to highlight a couple things um tomorrow
is actually we teal day so if you have
have teal please wear it in recognition
for uh sexual violence awareness month
and on April 24th it's denim day um so
please R jeans um and if you want to
know more you can Google that but it's
another significant day in the month of
April there are also events happening
around Maricopa County um with regards
to sexual violence especially at um
there's a big one happening at ASU
coming up in a couple weeks but we
appreciate this thank you so much
everybody all
right and Mark if you would come up our
next and last Proclamation has to do
with national child abuse preven
month since I've overworked council
member Orlando I'll read the last
one whereas every child deserves to grow
up in a safe and nurturing environment
free from abuse and neglect and whereas
in 2022 according to the Arizona
Department of Health
Services 148 children died of abuse and
our neglect in the state of
Arizona and whereas research shows that
having a supportive Community reduces
the incidence of abuse therefore the
city of Chandler strives to create a
safe environment for all of Arizona's
children whereas every April the
Exchange Club of Chandler recognizes and
honors the lives of children lost due to
child abuse and NE elect in the state of
Arizona through the field of Hope
Memorial event and whereas the city of
Chandler domestic violence commission
and the Exchange Club of Chandler are
committed to supporting child abuse
awareness and the prevention of in and
the prevention incentives now therefore
I Kevin Harkey mayor of the city of
Chandler Arizona do hereby Proclaim
April 2024 as National Child Abuse
Prevention
month and just also want to thank
Council member Ellis for her work as in
the community as um as on our our
Maricopa County Domestic Violence Force
as well as a member of the Exchange
Club thank you mayor uh the Exchange
Club of Channer would like to thank you
the mayor the city the council and the
domestic violence commission for your
support for the field of Hope as you
heard it is a memorial for the children
that lost their lives here in Arizona
due to uh child abuse and or neglect and
it is also to raise awareness to that
end I invite everyone here and all the
residents of Chandler to come out on
April 14th when we will stand the field
up at 2 o'clock we'll have an
information fair at 4 and a dedication
ceremony uh in the Dr AJ Chandler Park
at 6: PM Sunday April 14th if you can't
make that the field will be up 247
through Friday April 19
again please come on out make yourself
aware on things that you might be able
to do to make a difference thank
you let's do a
photo
[Applause]
e
and city manager um that other
unofficial Proclamation that as many of
you know that uh Chandler and Gilbert
have been working together on many joint
projects and so we're starting an
initiative that's going to be enacted
this April 1st day of calling us
chilbert and Queen Creek wants to come
in so we will be known as Queen chilbert
and then we will be bigger than Mason
and
Tucson so happy April Fool's
Day
sorry Alexis it just had to
be all right Council there's been a few
items that have
been called in tonight U the first is
item number four by myself council
member Ellis and council member Orlando
asking for a presentation and questions
uh related to the solar installations
and again we understand that this is
just for the study the the later uh
actions will be taken uh you know when
we actually talk about enacting but so
this is just for the feasibility study
and and uh a little further in that but
Stephen Turner give us a presentation
thank you mayor and Council thank you
for allowing me a us to talk about this
agenda item tonight uh talking about
these the solar feasibility study uh
city council approved the solar
feasibility study to begin on July 20th
20
2024 sorry
2023 and um and we are here today after
the completion of Milestone one of that
of that project and we'll share a little
bit of the that those results here in a
minute first we're going to talk about
the difference between Milestone one and
Milestone 2 and then we'll finish up by
explaining the the next steps after
Milestone 2 is
completed so like I said Milestone
Milestone one was completed in January
2024 and mil two is what's pending
before city council this
week what was the result of Milestone
one is we received preliminary uh site
layouts for several different sites 25
sites were were studied as part of of
Milestone one and 23 of those sites were
found as feasible
options and then we received estimated
photovoltaic production along with uh
design and construction pricing and then
also we needed to find the correct uh
financing model because there are
different ways to finance solar today
there's a solar service agreement which
is like a a power purchase agreement
from a third party provider or there's
also the outright ownership U model and
that has become a little bit more
feasible thanks to the inflation
reduction act Milestone 2 will Encompass
uh electrical and structural engineering
and then we will also submit
interconnection applications to APS and
SRP amesco will submit plans to the city
for review and then we will provide
final photo voltaic estimates and
provide the final cost and guaranteed
savings
projections so a few of the results from
Milestone one as I said earlier 23 of
the 25 sites uh studied were found as
feasible options and this is a very
large project with the proposed system
to be over nine megawatts of power upon
its completion uh this will offset
approximately 56% of the of the energy
at those 23 different sites and 70% of
the savings will come from the utility
funds and uh 30% will come from general
fund and this is a 20-year
agreement so there are a lot of
different Financial options that staff
will present to city council once
Milestone 2 is completed um and it's
worth noting that even with with no
capital investment upfront the city
would still be saving money annually um
but city council has along made it a
priority to utilize one-time revenues to
generate ongoing savings and this is a
this project is a a prime example of
that so City C sorry City staff is is
proposing in the upcoming CIP fiscal
year 2425 is up up to Mill $15 million
available to use towards a a down
payment capital investment and so under
this scenario the total project cost is
$26.2 million and that is a total annual
Savings of $1.4 million a year after
this and after 25 savings which is when
the warranty of the panels uh ends the
total savings is $ 41.6
million so with uh through this project
the city is available to receive $6
million in savings from the inflation
reduction act and that savings will
likely come a near two of the project
mean meaning the the total cost of the
project with the inflation reduction Act
is about $1 19.7
million so the next steps after
Milestone 2 Milestone 2 will take
approximately uh six months months and
once that is completed staff will
present the various financing options
once those estimates are finalized final
construction agreement will uh will be
completed upon the completion of
Milestone 2 in the form of a guaranteed
savings contract meaning that amesco
will provide uh solar production
estimates along with savings estimates
and if their system doesn't meet up to
those standards they will have to
reimburse Us in form of savings um um
make up the difference in the savings to
the city of Chandler and as I mentioned
earlier there's a 25e warranting on on
the solar panels the total construction
time of the project will take
approximately a year although some of
the smaller sites may come online a
little bit sooner and with that I'd be
happy to answer any questions council
member Ellis and council member
Orlando I pressed but I'm not hearing
myself there we go um appreciate that so
you answer a couple of my questions that
I had concerning the breakdown of um the
what we putting in and how much we're
going to be able to benefit from it but
the next question that I have because
there's a lot of people out there who
have use solar on their own home in
certain neighborhoods and Chandler and
their experience is not what we are
describing right now they've not seen
any saving they are not really benefit
in from certain things and then those
things are very unsightly on their top
of their houses so what is the
difference between what we're doing
right now and what a personal home or
someone in that kind of line will be
because if they come and ask me and say
while you're doing this because it's not
really going to do any help to the city
what can we explain to them why yes Mr
mayor council member Ellis there are so
many variables that go into the overall
cost of a solar project and what what
we're seeing with our project with how
massive this project is it's really an
economies of scale there's a lot more
buying power because they able they're
able to buy thousands of of solar panels
as they much discounted at a much
discounted rate because of their buying
power that they have also there's
various different options when it comes
to solar when it comes to ground mounted
roof mounted a carport uh the pricing
options around those different models
really varies and also um the energy
usage uh during that time is much
different in an office than it is in a
home so primarily in in the office a lot
of the energy is drawn down during the
day where at home there's not a lot of
energy being used and so it really
depends on a lot of different uh pricing
models and structures for it to pencil
out and that's why with how big this
project is with the inflation reduction
act and a lot of other things that we're
exploring when it comes to ground
mountain and roof mountain and and and
solar covered parking we're able to make
this pencil out financially the last
question that I have is the fact that I
know on on personals they can't if they
use some of the energy the rest goes to
the company is that a similar situation
with us or do we use every bit of energy
that we absorb so every bit of energy
that is being consumed uh will be uh the
the solar panels will help generate that
energy so it's it's behind the meter so
the the when the energy is being
produced from the solar it'll be
directly used into our
system
yes overflow somewhere else yeah we want
to size it correctly so we won't we
don't want to overproduce so these will
all be sized correctly based on the on
the usage of each facility that's
perfect thank you so much thank you mate
Council
Mando yeah thank you very much I don't
know my my electric bill was $22 last
month I have solar in my houses so they
need to talk about it we could talk and
um literally was $22 it was cost me more
to access fee than it was and the taxes
and it was the solar usage corre um no
my my concern was payb back period um
and I think you said earlier it was uh
15 years I can't remember exactly right
and that's just based upon what what's
the assumptions on that well there's a
lot of different assumtions Mr mayor
council me council member Orlando
there's a lot of different assumptions
there's um the degradation of the solar
panels itself we're we're uh estimating
approximately 2% of that per year and
there's also uh cost adjustments coming
from our our utility providers SRP and
APS and so we are uh calculating about
3% growth in in energy costs um often
times that is much that is uh is beyond
the 3% and that means our savings will
continue to be bigger as those as those
rates go beyond 3% and those are
conservative estimates because degreg
could be less than that normally it is
particular the new panels today and the
SRP or whatever the electric company is
3.2 is pretty conservative as well I
think we just saw 5% just recently
correct we're estimating 3% and yeah
like you said there been jumps uh much
bigger than 5% so these are very
conservative numbers and we accept so if
if the projections are correct when you
look at the electricity use obviously
it's probably going to be a quicker
payback period for us uh potentially
okay great
thanks council member Stewart thank you
Mayor Stephen I want to thank you you
know I sat on the subcommittee for this
and a lot of questions you know me a
fiscal conservative I I'm always like
wondering where we're spending our money
do makes sense to me right going to pay
back more than what we're going to
expend and it gives us the opportunity
to use the inflation reduction act money
as well uh but I want to thank you for
being kind of the tip of the spear on
leading this uh you did a great job and
we also talked about storage right the
real key to energy Independence is
storage and while we know that the
technology isn't there right now I know
that you're researching that because
that's the next step for us and so I'm
just grateful to the staff for being
Cutting Edge right we're not bleeding
edge but we're certainly Cutting Edge
and hopefully we can set the the bar for
other cities to follow so thank you
yes Mr mayor council member doart yes we
and our system will be able to adapt so
if the technology and and the pricing
with the batteries comes into alignment
five years down the road 10 years down
the road we'll be able to plug into that
system thank you additional questions
comments and I Stephen I want to thank
you and continue to thank staff and
challenge staff that just as we were
able to uh saved some money when we paid
off psprs and did the uh the LED light
and now this is it uh I know council is
quite open and looking forward to other
innovative ideas to see how we can again
take our one-time dollars that at least
today we have them and uh and lower our
ongoing costs so we're we we're excited
about these kind of projects and this
philosophy that makes the most of uh
today and tomorrow's dollars so thank
you our next item called in um was by
the mayor item number 10 and 13 related
to heat relief and uh Ryan Bal come on
up
okay thank you mayor and Council and
thanks for the opportunity to come and
um present on this item
tonight um so as you
know as you know uh we have as a city we
have been providing heat relief services
to our most vulnerable residents for
many years that could be people who just
can't afford to um turn on their AC
during the summer or people who um don't
have a safe place to call
home last year we were really fortunate
Maricopa County provided us some funding
through the American Rescue plan act um
to um sort of standardize our services
and really see what we could do we
partnered with the city of Mesa last
year to do that and we were very
successful um this year we um the
department of the Maricopa County
Department of Human Services has
transferred the service over to the
Maricopa County Department of Public
Health so we're working under a little
bit of a different philos this year and
we will be running our own Services um
just for the city of Chandler and last
year uh together with the city of Mesa
we spent just over
$46,000 doll and we served together um
just over 1,800 unduplicated
folks um if you just want to take a look
at what we did last year um we did one
day respit Center and 10 cooling
stations that was also the standard in
Mesa um and we spent just as a city just
over
$176,000 and we served
567 unduplicated individuals and that's
just at the day res respit Center that
was operating at our Salvation Army
Chandler Corps right here um just down
the street um that's where we can really
get some good data on our residents
there are also hundreds of other that
stopped by our 10 cooling stations last
year just for a bottle of water a snack
or just to get out of the heat for a
little
while um just just at our day resit
Center we we provided um over 8,000 uh
service hours to people who were were
there either sleeping or resting or um
cooling down and then you can see some
of our stats over 10,000 bottles of
water over 13,000 meals over 600 showers
and over 220 laundry services and those
are things that really make a difference
in in the middle of the summer for
somebody that's suffering um from heat
related illness or um just you know
trying to keep
themselves going unfortunately this last
summer we had one of the the the worst
Summers ever in ter terms of heat
related fatalities there is a very
robust report that has just been
released by Maricopa County um I
encourage you to go and check that out
it's it's posted on their website now
but I I highlighted some things for you
here there were o over 600 well there
were 645 uh heat related deaths they're
still looking into some but they've
confirmed 645 heat related deaths last
year that's the most we've ever had in
Maricopa County 14 are confirmed to have
taken place in
Chandler um almost two of three of those
heat related deaths were people who are
over 50 years old and 45% of those
deaths are were with people that were
outside at the time um of
death um I'm sorry we're experiencing
homelessness and three out of four were
outside when when the death
occurred so we're taking this summer
very seriously I think that's part of
why it's um transferred from the
Department of Human Services who was
really focused on people experiencing
homelessness over to the Department of
Public Health that has a much broader
view because it's not just people
experiencing homelessness it's also
people who are in their homes and for
whatever reason can't afford the right
amount of um AC or people who have to
commute to their places of work and
overheat during that process so it's
just a much broader
perspective so for 2024 we've been
working with the Department of Public
Health and we will uh partner we hope to
partner again through the items that you
have on your agenda today um one is well
let me sorry I'm getting ahead of myself
um what we propose to do is partner
again with the Salvation Army we would
have uh a day respit center six days a
week the Department of Public Health is
um requiring longer hours this year so
it will be from 9:00 a.m. to 700 p.m.
Saturday Monday through Saturday and
also on Sundays when there are excessive
heat warnings those were the highest um
days of heat related fatality last year
they will provide food water and un
interrupted rest and also showerer and
laundry services just like last year we
will also support um eight cooling
stations through Chandler public
facilities um if you look look I know
it's a little small but if you look um
to the to the graph on the right there
you can see where we will support heat
relief services the county is also open
to doing direct contracts with nonprofit
organizations who are interested so that
may still come to fruition but just the
city of Chandler alone will host um nine
facilities all across the city and um
Maricopa County will also be taking some
direct actions this year they were they
are going to provide transportation a
centralized transportation service I
believe it's going to be through Uber
oryt so if somebody calls from anywhere
they can get an Uber or lift to a day
resit Center um in the valley and they
will also be helping to get the word out
through some branding and marketing and
they will Pro be providing us all of our
signage so the next steps are the two
items that you see on your agenda today
one is an inter intergovernmental
agreement with u Maricopa County that
will provide us the funding that we need
need to work um some of the services we
will provide ourselves and some of them
uh through the Salvation Army and then
the other one is an amendment with the
Salvation Army to continue Services um
that we started with them last
year and with that questions sure I do
want to turn back that last slide which
the
uh two slides ago no not go forward a
little
more no forward not backwards all right
one
more I just wanted to comment uh chief
dwiggins that uh that old hasmat trailer
you see on the bottom uh is still being
used that was a donation from the fire
department to be converted into a shower
trailer and uh it warms my heart that uh
this is still being used to serve our
community and um you answered one of my
questions concerning how are people
going to hear about this but what's the
process for other nonprofits if they
would like to uh get engaged contact
with you or Maricopa County yeah through
the mayor or just mayor just mayor today
um we are participating um Jeff
Christian I he is here today there he is
we are participating in the network that
the Department of Health is U providing
they have a lot of meetings please just
call Jeff if you want to get involved
you can call anyone in neighborhood
resources department and we will um
put you in contact with Jeff but Jeff
also in addition to what marova county
is going to do to get the word out Jeff
has some really innovative ideas he is
working on with Kappa for us to do some
of our own marketing and really um get
the word out to people so I'm excited to
see some of those things come to
fruition glad to hear thank you Jeff um
council member Orlando then council
member Alis this time no mayor you
answered all my questions all right
Council
mellas out of the 14 people that died in
Chandler what are are we doing when we
look back and find out how that happened
to them what are we doing to prevent
those kind of incidents are from
happening again because I know with the
Department of Health Services right now
we're going to look at it more higher
level the health issues that people are
experiencing that put them at risk to be
able to die so quickly because of
dehydration yes so through the mayor
councilwoman Ellis that's a great
question I think that's part of why it's
gone over the Department of Health we
are working with the epidemiologists now
from the Department of Public Health so
they're really diving down into what are
those you know co-variables is it
substance use and heat is it dehydration
and heat is it how long is it not being
able to cool off overnight last year we
had more more nights over 31 nights that
didn't um go below 90 so they're able to
really dig into the data and tell us
what we can do better so it's it's a
pleasure to begin working with them and
and figure that out the next question is
I know that uh we're going to partner
with Salvation Army but I don't know how
many beds that they can offer and you
are being asked to provide certain night
overnight for bed what are you just day
just
days 9 until 7 p.m. 9 into 700 p.m. 9:00
a.m. to 7: p.m. so we are not giv any
night beds correct okay for some reason
I thought I heard you said that some of
them can stay overnight so I was going
to ask where we were going to put the
Overflow because real truly through
mayor um councilwoman Ellis we do also
have our non-congregate shelter programs
which I'm going to talk about in a
minute so that will help us really get
the most vulnerable um you know
somewhere overnight if needed and also
of course our wonderful iel shelter in
partnership with Ascend and the other
shelters that we support yeah because
having someone from 7 to n you can cool
them up but if you put them out after
9ine and they're still vulnerable and
you put them right back to into the area
where they going to come back to you sck
again certainly something I'd be willing
to look at in the future appreciate that
thank you council member council member
Ellis is right you know that's what my
question is going to be it's like you
know the heat doesn't stop at s so how
can we you know I know this is kind of
already baked in but maybe you can get
with Josh or or with mag figure out a
way we can have at least a 24-hour
arment Center in in the middle of the
city where we can if we have the Ubers I
think that solves a problem for folks we
can't just put them outside um until we
get this housing issue fix fixed we got
to help folks so if we could look at
that and maybe repurpose some money or
if there's way you can work with Josh to
get some more funding for an overnight
thank you happy to look into it if if
council is okay with that I think
minimally we could explore with uh
Ascent to make sure that with the iel
program that is an all night program
that uh covers Chandler that making sure
that we're able to max out the capacity
on those that's a good way particularly
in these super hot months so I I that
would be certainly worthy a phone call
in
itself happy to look into it and get
back to you thanks Ryan yep any
additional
questions yes mayor CC member
Harris Harris Ryan how you do okay thank
you mayor um yes uh Ryan I wanted to I I
I think I I talked about this with staff
but I don't know if you got this message
I know Valley um Valley Metro will be
doing heat relief uh because of part of
our conversation have been those that
are at the bus stop and it looks like
some of the stops where there will be
heat release um going on does have some
um Valley U Metro um bus stop along that
route um at some of the so I wanted to
see Ryan if you can um reach out to
Valley Metro and continue that
partnership or partner with valy Metro
to help Service heat relief because
that's a part of our discussions that
we're having on the board as I represent
the city of Chandler as the vice chair
on that board just kind of wanted to
know are we reaching out to our other
partners um because that is a whole
entity that does offer heat relief as
well through to the mayor uh Vice chair
Harris I will absolutely look into that
that's not something I had heard to date
so I will look into it and get back to
you thanks Ryan all right thank you Ryan
the last one called in is item number
177 uh uh by Leah pow presentation with
the Boys and Girls
Club
good evening mayor and Council there's
just a quick update on this tonight the
item that you have before you is for the
fir the beginning stages of the redesign
of and the of the expansion including
the patio area of the boys and girls
club we just wanted to remind you that
we had brought forward an extended
amendment to their agreement their lease
agreement with the city a few months ago
this is starting that construction
project that we talked about at the time
the outdoor area that's used as a patio
now will be expanded to be used as the
team as an expansion of the teen center
so there's renovation occurring with
that there will also be an enhanced
entrance to the facility itself adding
some additional security measurements
and then there's some of the youth area
that will have some renovation
refurbishment type paint new paint
things like that um we certainly are
appreciative of the Compadres for their
commitment to this project as well
they've made a sizable donation that
will go along to helping with the the
furniture and fixtures and additional
enhancements and we are just pleased
that we continue our partnership with
the boys and girls club it's been a
longstanding partnership and we're happy
to continue that partnership they work
very well in the community um great
stakeholders of ours and our Galveston
projects and many other programs and we
continue to dialogue with them on a
regular basis they provide us
information as far as the youth that
they're serving in the programs that
they offer and with that I'm happy to
entertain any questions concerning this
contract or agreement with boys and
girls club that's M St thank you H and
thanks for the update we are I think I
speak for everyone up here we're
grateful for the cadres but what your
office is doing with the boys and girls
club to make that a a viable and and
productive place for for youth to uh
grow up and and spend time so it's a
great partnership between us the
Compadres the Boys and Girls Club so I
just wanted uh to hear what was going on
with that so thank you
thank you very much we appreciate the
opportunity to share thank you for all
you do appreciate you thank you Council
just double checking it did we miss any
tonight just making sure so all right I
do see the live love folks in the back
we're grateful for uh one of the items
that we'll be voting on on Thursday
related to the live love Center thank
you for your diligence and commitment to
our community as well and we'll be we'll
be voting on that on Thursday appreciate
I that they do constantly in the
community with all the kids and oh we're
going to blow everybody get your blow oh
are we going to Gazo and then and then
gaville what are we doing get your okay
that's just
gav