[ Call to Order]
[00:00:06]
GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE JUNE 9TH, 2022 REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHANDLER CITY COUNCIL.
I'D LIKE TO CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER CLERK, PLEASE, UH, TAKE THE ROLE MAY HARTKE BY SMEAR ROAD HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, COUNCIL MEMBER LOPEZ, COUNCIL MEMBERS, STEWART COUNCIL MEMBER, ELLIS COUNCIL MEMBER ORLANDO.
OR INDICATION TONIGHT WILL BE LED BY FATHER ROBERT.
I APOLOGIZE IF I'M MISPRONOUNCING YOUR NAME, SIR, FROM SAINT ANDREW, THE APOSTLE CHURCH AND OUR, OUR INVOCATION.
OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LOPEZ, FATHER ASPREY, GOD OF JUSTICE, MERCY, AND LOVE.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE AND OF OUR GREAT NATION AND OF OUR CITY.
POWER COUNSELORS AND STAFF, AND FOR GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY OF CHANDLER, LORD, MAKE THEM GOOD SERVANTS OF ALL THOSE.
THEY SERVE AND INSPIRE THEM TO SPEAK THE TRUTH WITH RESPECT, BUT WITHOUT SHAME TO OFFER HOPE TO OTHERS, BUT WITHOUT FEAR AND GIVE GLORY TO YOU IN EVERY WORD THEY SPEAK AND ACTIONS THEY TAKE AS A COUNCIL TONIGHT, AND ALWAYS HELP THEM TO ACT WITH COURAGE AND CONVICTION, TO LISTEN WITH UNDERSTANDING AND GOODWILL AND TO SPEAK WITH CHARITY AND RESTRAINT.
GIVE THEM A SPIRIT OF SERVICE, REMINDING THEM THAT THEY ARE STEWARDS OF YOUR AUTHORITY.
GIVE THEM TO BE THE LEADERS YOU ARE, PEOPLE NEED AND DESERVE.
HAVE THEM SEE THE HUMANITY AND DIGNITY OF THOSE WHO MIGHT DISAGREE WITH THEM AND TO TREAT ALL PERSONS, NO MATTER HOW WEAK OR POOR WITH REVERENCE YOU ARE, CREATION DESERVES.
AND FINALLY, FATHER, CAN YOU, ALL OF US GATHERED HERE TODAY WITH THE STRENGTH OF YOUR PRESENCE AND THE JOY OF HELPING TO BUILD TOGETHER A COMMUNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON.
WE ASK THIS AS YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS, ALWAYS CONFIDENT IN YOUR GOODNESS AND LOVE.
PLEASE JOINING ME IN RECITING AIRPLAY.
I BLAME THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[ Consent Agenda Items listed on the Consent Agenda may be enacted by one motion and one vote. If a discussion is required by members of the governing body, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion and determination will be made if the item will be considered separately.]
WE, UM, LOOKED AT OUR CONSENT AGENDA AND HAD STAFF A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS ON MONDAY.SO BEFORE US IS BOTH A CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN A PUBLIC HEARING.
AND, UH, FOLLOWING THAT IS, UH, WHAT IS YOUR WELL RELATED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA COUNCIL MEMBER LOPEZ.
SO I MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR MEETING TO SEND A JENNIFER FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 9TH ITEMS ONE THROUGH 21.21 SECOND.
SO YOU HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER LOPEZ THE SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER, HARRIS COUNCIL.
ANY, ANY COMMENTS RELATED, JUST ONE COMMENT FROM AMIA COUNCIL MEMBER LOPEZ.
SO I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU.
WE DO THIS VERY OFTEN THAT, UH, WHEN WE HAVE A BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTEE, I ALWAYS TRY TO RECOGNIZE THEM BECAUSE AGAIN, THE WAY THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR CITY GREATNESS IS BY OUR COMMUNITY BEING INVOLVED AND CONTINUALLY INVOLVED TO ADVISE THE COUNCIL.
SO FOR THE, UH, BOARD APPOINTEE, UH, COMMISSION APPOINTEE OF BETTY RAMIREZ, I THANK HER FOR INVOLVEMENT.
I JUST WANT TO NOTICE THAT I'M GOING TO BE VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER 16, VOTING.
NO ON ITEM NUMBER, THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
IF NOT COUNCIL, PLEASE VOTE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY EXCEPT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 16 WITH VICE MIRO DISSENTING.
SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR REGULAR MEETING.
THREE, ACCORDING TO STATE STATUTE, WE
[00:05:01]
NEED TO CLOSE OUT,[ Public Hearing]
WELCOME TO OUR PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 22 PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ADOPTION OF THE 20 22 23 ANNUAL BUDGET AND 2023 TO 2032 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM CIP AND THE SETTING OF PROPERTY TAX LEVIES, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBER ORLANDO.AND I KNOW WE ALREADY, BUT DID WE HAVE ANY UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCE? WE'LL DO THOSE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS.
OKAY, SO WE'LL DO IT ACCORDING TO THE SECOND MEETING.
UH, IF I COULD HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION, PLEASE EVEN THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE WITH YOU HERE TONIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT FOR OUR PROPOSED 20 FISCAL YEAR, 2022 TO 23 BUDGET.
UH, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR 2023 THROUGH 2032, AS WELL AS THE 2022 TO 23 PROPERTY TAX LEVY.
UH, ONE OF THE REASONS WE DO THIS IS, UH, FOR TRANSPARENCY SAKE.
UH, TRANSPARENCY IS KEY TO ALL THAT WE DO HERE AT THE CITY OF CHANDLER.
SO THIS ALLOWS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE A VOICE IN WHAT WE DO.
UM, IN FACT, AS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, WE, WE REALLY HARNESS THAT TRANSPARENCY.
IN FACT, WE TAKE THAT HOME SOMETIMES AND I'VE BEEN ACCUSED BY MY DAUGHTER OF BEING TOO TRANSPARENT AND NOT ALLOWING HER ENOUGH PRIVACY, AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID IN HER JOURNAL.
SO WELL ACTUALLY LET ME CLOSE THIS ONE OUT.
THIS IS THE PRIOR PRESENTATION AND THIS WOULD WANT LOAD NOW.
IS THAT BACKUP NOW? OKAY, PERFECT.
UM, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THESE SLIDES FAIRLY QUICKLY.
UM, SOME OF THESE WILL BE A REPEAT FROM SLIDES YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN IN PRIOR PRESENTATIONS.
UH, BUT WE DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
AS THEY'RE LOOKING THROUGH TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
ARE YOU ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION? BUT WE DO WANT TO REMIND THEM THAT ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE@CHANDLERAC.GOV FORWARD SLASH BUDGET.
SO THEY CAN FIND AS MUCH INFORMATION OUT ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE BUDGET PROCESS AS THEY WOULD LIKE TO ON THAT WEBSITE, OR THEY CAN CONTACT US IN THE MANAGEMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
SO THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 22, 23 IS $1.3 BILLION, A TOTAL GENERAL FUND BUDGET OF $412 MILLION THAT REPRESENTS THE TOTAL BUDGET OF A 27.8% INCREASE OVERALL WITH THE MAJORITY OF THAT COMING FROM OUR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE GENERAL FUND, IT'S A 22.7% INCREASE IN GENERAL FUND.
UH, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE OPERATING PORTION OF THE GENERAL FUND, THAT'S ONLY A 12% INCREASE.
SO IN LINE WITH KIND OF SOME OF THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES THAT WE'RE SEEING, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER, UH, BUDGET INCREASE DRIVERS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A SLIDE HERE IN JUST ONE SECOND.
SO AGAIN, SOME OF THOSE INCREASED DRIVERS OF WHAT'S DRIVING THE BUDGET FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
UH, WE HAVE HAD A REVENUE RESET.
THE PRIOR TWO FISCAL YEARS HAVE HAD SOME ARTIFICIALLY LOW NUMBERS DUE TO THE COVID-19 IMPACTS.
UH, WE HAVE EXPENDITURE INCREASES.
INFLATION IS ONE OF THOSE PERSONNEL COSTS IS ANOTHER, UH, THAT'S DRIVING SOME OF THE INCREASES IN OUR BUDGET.
AND THEN OF COURSE, GRANTS, WE HAVE ADDITIONAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, UH, COMING, NOT ONLY FROM THE STATE, BUT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT HAVE REALLY ENHANCED OUR BUDGET AND ALLOWED US TO DO SOME OF THE PROJECTS IN OUR CAPITAL PLAN THAT'S NEEDED.
UM, BUT OF COURSE, THOSE EXTRA DOLLARS INCREASE THE BUDGET.
AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE THE ADDITIONAL,
[00:10:01]
UH, PUBLIC SAFETY PENSION OBLIGATION THAT WE'RE PAYING DOWN A 50 MILLION AND THAT'S INCREASING OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR.SOME OF THE OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, UM, ADD THIS BUDGET IN WITH NO ADDITIONAL INCREASE TO OUR TAX RATE.
UH, OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE IN FACT IS DECREASING AND NO NEW FEES.
UH, WE DO HAVE ANTICIPATED WATER WASTEWATER AND SOLID WASTE RATE CHANGES THAT WILL, WILL GO INTO EFFECT JULY 1ST.
WE ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR EXISTING SERVICE LEVELS AS WELL AS ENHANCING THE PROGRAMS, UH, THAT ARE SUPPORTING THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK THAT COUNCIL HAS SET.
UH, WE DO ADD FUNDING FOR OUR LABOR ASSOCIATIONS, GENERAL EMPLOYEE MERITS AND MARKETS.
UH, WE PLAN TOWARDS OUR DEBT REDUCTION, WHICH FREES UP ONGOING REVENUES IN FUTURE YEARS BY PAYING ONE TIME DOLLARS NOW.
AND WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN OUR STRONG RESERVES, A 15% GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCY AND A $10 MILLION DEBT STABILIZATION RESERVE FOR OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WE CONTINUE AN EMPHASIS ON, UM, MAINTAINING OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'RE UPDATING THE, THAT CIP HAS BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT SOME OF THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES THAT WE'VE SEEN AND OR HAD SEEN EARLY IN THE YEAR.
UH, OF COURSE THERE'S BEEN SOME ADDITIONAL INFLATIONARY PRESSURES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
UH, AND SO WE'LL HAVE SOME SHIFTING DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR OR THE NEW FISCAL YEAR AS THOSE PROJECTS COME IN, IF THEY'RE OVER THE ANTICIPATED BUDGET, UH, IT INCLUDES ABOUT $119 MILLION OF PROJECTS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO SUPPORT THE INTEL EXPANSION.
AGAIN, THAT $119 MILLION IS NOT JUST OUT OF POCKET FOR CITY OF CHANDLER.
A MAJORITY OF THAT IS REIMBURSED THROUGH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE AS WELL AS, UH, WITH INTEL.
AND IT CONTINUES TO FUND SOME OF THE REQUESTED PROJECTS THAT WE'VE HAD THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRIESTS POLICE FORENSIC LAB MUSKIE GROSS PARK FIBER UPGRADES ARE TUMBLEWEED EXPANSION, THE MULTI-GENE CENTER CENTER AND OUR AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING THE COOPER ROAD EXTENSION.
THE TOTAL CIP FOR THE TENURE TOTAL IS 1.66 BILLION, UH, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 20 22 23, WHICH IS WHICH THE AMOUNT THAT'S APPROPRIATED IS 597.4 MILLION FOR OUR PROPERTY TAX LEVY.
UM, WE DO WANT TO REMIND OUR RESIDENTS THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR OF PROPERTY TAX THAT THEY PAY, THAT DOES NOT ALL COME TO THE CITY OF CHANDLER.
UH, IN FACT, IT'S SPLIT AMONGST THREE KIND OF PRIMARY GROUPS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS, WHICH RECEIVES THE MAJORITY OF THAT DOLLAR OF TAX THAT THEY PAY MARICOPA COUNTY AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS.
AND THEN THE CITY OF CHANDLER, WHICH IS JUST ABOUT 10% OF EVERY DOLLAR THEY PAY IN PROPERTY TAX COMES TO THE CITY OF CHANDLER FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 TO 23.
OUR PROPERTY TAX LEVY, UM, IS 3.4 OR 3.7 BILLION FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, AS COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR AT 3.46 BILLION, THE LEVY THAT'S PRODUCED OR THE TAX REVENUE THAT'S PRODUCED FROM THAT LEVY, UH, IN 21, 22 WAS 38.5 MILLION.
AND FOR FISCAL YEAR 22, 23 PROJECT ABOUT $40.8 MILLION OR AN INCREASE TO THE TAX LEVY OF $2.3 MILLION.
UH, THE TAX RATE REDUCTION WILL GO FROM A DOLLAR 0.1, 1, 2, 6 PER A HUNDRED DOLLARS OF ASSESSED VALUE TO 1.1 0 2, 6 PER A HUNDRED DOLLARS OF ASSESSED VALUE.
AND SO WHAT'S THE IMPACT TO THE CITY, A HOMEOWNER, A MEDIAN VALUE HOMEOWNER IN THE CITY OF CHANDLER, UH, FOR THAT TAX RATE DIFFERENTIAL, UH, YOU'LL NOTICE IN THE MIDDLE, THERE IS OUR 2023 PROJECTED RATES.
UH, SO OVERALL THE INCREASE ON THE PROPERTY TAX BILL BECAUSE OF THE INCREASES IN PROPERTY VALUES IS $9 AND 66 CENTS OR ABOUT 80 CENTS PER MONTH.
UH, SO THIS IS A RECAP OF SOME OF THE KEY BUDGET OPPORTUNITIES WE'VE HAD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, FOR DIRECTION FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, MAJORITY OF THEM ARE NOW COMPLETED, UH, TONIGHT AS OUR PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET.
AND THEN WE DO HAVE THE ADOPTION OF THE FINAL TAX LEVY ON JUNE 23RD.
AND WITH THAT, I'D BE WILLING TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCIL QUESTIONS, OR COMMENTS, MY HAIR CUT SOME OF ORLANDO.
SO, UH, YOU'RE JOKING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.
AND, UH, BUT IN SERIOUSNESS, WE HAD A BUDGET SURVEY EARLIER THIS YEAR.
A LOT OF WHAT WE DO, UH, IS BASED UPON A LOT OF THE INPUT WE GET FROM THE RESIDENTS.
CAN YOU, UH, GIVE US WALK THROUGH THAT SO THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT ARE WATCHING, WE'LL DO THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
THROUGH THE MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBER ORLANDO, THANK YOU FOR THAT, BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TRY TO ENDORSE AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
UM, THE PUBLIC INFORMATION THAT WE GET ON THE BUDGET, THE, THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GET IS, IS CRUCIAL TO PLANNING FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET.
UH, SO WE STARTED IN OCTOBER, UH, TO SEND OUT NOTIFICATIONS TO THE PUBLIC, UH, THROUGH THEIR UTILITY BILLS.
[00:15:01]
MEDIA CAMPAIGNS TO TRY TO GET AS MUCH INPUT AS WE CAN THROUGH THAT PROCESS.AND THEN WE GET, WE GATHER ALL OF THOSE COMMENTS AND LUMP THEM INTO CATEGORIES OF COMMENTS.
WE PROVIDE ALL OF THAT TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
SO, UH, RESIDENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF START OUT THE BUDGET PROCESS WITH THEIR FEEDBACK.
UH, MANY OF THE PRIORITIES THAT WE GATHERED THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS COME FROM THAT SURVEY.
SO IF THEY WANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD ON SPECIFIC ISSUES, THEY FEEL NEED, UH, CORRECTED OR FUNDED, UM, OR ADDITIONAL AMENITIES THEY WANT ADDED TO THE CITY.
THAT'S A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO DO THAT, UH, AS WELL AS ANY OF THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS, BUT THAT'S KIND OF RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET PROCESS AND ALLOWS THEM RIGHT AT THE FOREFRONT TO GET THEIR IMPACT OR THEIR INPUT TO US.
AND AS YOU INDICATE EARLIER, THERE ARE STEPS ALONG THE WAY WE GET A GOOD DISH ON IMPACT, OBVIOUSLY.
I MEAN, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS FOR SEVEN MONTHS NOW, EIGHT MONTHS WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS MEETINGS.
SO IF WE DON'T KNOW BY NOW, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
UH, ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AS PART OF THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND CONSOLE.
I MUST, UM, I, I WANT TO MAKE AN APOLOGY TO YOU ALL THAT I ACTUALLY, UM, SHOULD NOT HAVE GAMBLED OUT FOR THIS HEARING AS A THANK YOU FOR YOUR POINT OF ORDER, SIR, WE WILL BE, UH, AFTER OUR UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES, WE WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AND THEN RE-ENTER A SPECIAL MEETING AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO VOTE ON THIS AS PART OF THE, UM, SHARING THE, THE LEAGUE'S, UH, BUSINESS BINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, MEETING OUR, OUR SOME SECTION.
AND ONE OF THE GOALS WE HOPE TO BRING TO THE STATE IS ACTUALLY THAT, UM, THESE WILL JUST BE REQUIRED AT A PUBLIC MEETING RATHER THAN HAVING TO GO OUT AND ENTER AGAIN.
SO WE'LL SEE, UH, SEE WHAT THE APPETITE IS FOR THE OTHER CITIES TO BRING THAT TO THE STATE.
SO, UM, SORRY, COUNCIL FOR THE CONFUSION THAT I CREATED, ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
WE HAVE, UM, THANK YOU, MATT COUNCIL.
WE HAVE DISCUSSION FROM AUDIENCE.
I DO HAVE, UM, A COMMENT CARD THAT ASKS TO BE, UM, ENTERED INTO THE CITY OF CHANDLER RECORDS.
I DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER CARD, UM, FROM FARHANA SHEEP HEALTH, WHO WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK ON REGARD OF THIS.
SO FOR HOW DOES SHE FEEL YOU HAVE, UH, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, UH, FARHANA SHIFA ADDRESS 5 7, 5, 5 WEST BREAK CODE CHANDLER, ARIZONA, 8 5 2 TO SIX ON OUR BULL MAYOR AND RESPECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL BECAUSE AT THE TIME OF THE BUDGET SESSION, UM, YOU APPROVED SOME MONEY FOR, SO FOR SOME OF THE PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVE IN THE CITY, AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, RENNIE LOPEZ FOR RECOGNIZING THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY.
I SERVE AS AN ART COMMISSIONER IN THE CITY AND SIX YEARS NOW, JUST FINDING OUT, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MATT ORLANDO FOR NOTIFYING THAT, UM, ART COMMISSION GOT SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOL CHILDREN.
I DO BELIEVE OUR CITY WILL, WILL LOVE IT.
AND OUR ART COMMUNITY WILL ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.
AND THE TEACHER COMMUNITY WILL BE VERY HAPPY.
AND WITH THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY, OUR STAFF, THOSE WHO ARE WORKING WITH THE COMMISSIONERS, THEY ARE FABULOUS, ESPECIALLY SHOUT OUT TO PETER BUCKS.
HE, UH, AND THE COMMISSIONERS WE CONTINUOUSLY WORKING ON PROMOTING THE LOCAL ARTISTS AND LOCAL INITIATIVE, SO THAT MONEY WILL GIVE US MUCH MORE OPPORTUNITY, NOT JUST TO HELP THE SCHOOL CHILDREN ALSO ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AND THE ARTISTS COMMUNITY.
SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS LITTLE BOOST FOR THE ART COMMUNITY.
I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO MY ATTENTION, BECAUSE IT IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.
AND AS YOU EXPRESSED TO ME SO ELOQUENTLY WHEN WE MET WAS, HEY, WE WERE LOSING A LOT OF ARTS IN OUR SCHOOL BECAUSE JUST PRIORITIES ARE TAKING OVER.
SO IT WAS A SMALL THING THIS YEAR AND HOPEFULLY TO DO MORE NEXT YEAR.
UM, NO ADDITIONAL, UH, COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION FROM OUR AUDIENCE RELATED TO THIS ITEM, SEEING NONE THAT'S SO THAT CLOSES OUR PUBLIC HEARING.
I'M NOT GOING TO GAMBLE BECAUSE
[00:20:01]
I'LL BE GAMBLING IN A MINUTE, THEN I'M GAVEL.WE'RE GOING TO RUIN THIS GAMBLE.
[10. Unscheduled Public Appearances]
WE HAVE, UH, UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES.DO WE HAVE ANY LISTED NEAR HARKEY? NO, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY CARDS.
COUNCIL WILL SAVE OUR CURRENT ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING THAT WILL FOLLOW.
SO WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES THIS MEETING.
WE HAVE A QUORUM AND I THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
WE HAVE A SINGLE AGENDA AT THIS SPECIAL MEETING AS ONE ACTION ITEM, WHICH IS THE ANNUAL BUDGET.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE LAST OCTOBER.
I BELIEVE SEPTEMBER AND SENDING SOME INFORMATION TO THE CITY.
WE HAVE CAREFULLY WATCHED, UH, THE IMPACTS OF COVID.
AND IF COME OUT OF THAT, IS THERE, UH, WHY DON'T WE DO A MOTION AND A SECOND AND THEN RESERVE CONVERSATION, UNLESS THERE WAS SOMEONE THAT WOULDN'T, UH, WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY AT THIS CASE.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
FOR US TO ACCEPT THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED FOR THE LAST.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION OR WE HAVE A SECOND AGAIN, THE RESOLUTION NUMBER 5, 5, 9, 0 ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO PUT THE, HE HAD TO PUT THE RESOLUTION IN THERE.
WE RECEIVED THAT RESOLUTION, BUT THE BUDGET IS THE BUDGET.
SO COUNCIL, BEFORE WE VOTE, ANY, UM, ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE, LET'S START WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER STORY.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I TOOK A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS WHEN WE FIRST WERE ROLLING INTO THIS, I SAID, WE ARE NOT SPENDING ANY MORE MONEY THAN WE DID LAST YEAR.
UH, YOU KNOW, I GOT TO SIT HERE AND WORK FOR THE TAXPAYER, BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, STAFF ELOQUENTLY SHARED WITH ME.
WE, WE HELD THE BUDGET IN 2020 AND WE HELD THE BUDGET IN 2021 BECAUSE OF COVID, WHAT THAT DID IS REALLY PUT THE BRAKES ON A LOT OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, WATER, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS, THINGS LIKE THAT, AS WELL AS HIRING.
WE'VE PUT A FREEZE ON HIRING FOR, FOR QUITE A WHILE AS WELL.
AND SO WE'RE PLAYING CATCH UP AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE MARKET'S LIKE.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND I SEE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THIS INCREASED 61.6% IS IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
THAT'S WHAT YOU AND I PAY OUR TAXES FOR IS SO WE CAN GET TO, JUST TO WORK ON GOOD ROADS.
SO MY HEARTBURN STARTED TO FADE A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THEN THE INFLATION THING STARTED TO HAPPEN.
AND THEN I SAW SOME OF THE INCREASES THAT WERE COMING ON AND CHANGE ORDERS JUST IN THIS FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR.
I SAID, OKAY, THAT MAKES SENSE.
WE'VE GOT AN INFLATION ISSUE HERE.
THEN I REALIZED WE WERE PAYING OUR POLICE MORE.
WE'RE PAYING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT MORE.
WE ARE DOING INCENTIVE FOR HIRING.
AND THAT WILL CONTINUE INTO THE NEXT BUDGET SEASON, AS WELL AS RETAINING.
I THINK WHAT I THINK ARE THE BEST STAFF IN THE ENTIRE STATE THAT PROVIDE SOME INCREDIBLE SERVICE FOR US.
AND I ALWAYS TELL YOU, THIS, THIS, WHAT WE DO IS A CUSTOMER SERVICE, UH, PROJECT.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, THIS STUFF THAT WE DO, AND THAT COSTS MONEY TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.
AND THIS CITY DELIVERS IT, UM, TRANSPARENTLY EFFECTIVELY, EFFICIENTLY.
UM, AND I WISH I COULD SHAKE MY FIST AND SAY, WE NEED TO DO BETTER, BUT WE DO PRETTY GOOD.
AND, UM, I'M KIND OF A HAWK ON THAT COMES TO THAT STUFF.
SO $20 BILLION INVESTMENT FROM INTEL ALSO PUT A BIG, BIG AMOUNT OF CASH INTO OUR COFFER AND WE NEED TO SPEND IT.
AND SO WE'RE ALREADY DOING A TAX RATE REDUCTION, UH, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO SOME THINGS THAT WILL IMPROVE IN AND LET US CATCH UP.
AND THEN YOU ADD THE FEDERAL DOLLARS.
AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT, UH, DAWN AND YOUR STAFF AND EVERYBODY, AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS DID, UH, AS IT RELATES TO THIS AND, UH, AND ENJOY YOUR VACATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL TAKE VACATION, I'M GOING TO BE TAKING VACATION AT THIS ABOUT YOUR SHOULD.
COUNSEL, ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, COUNCILMEMBER LANDO.
I MEAN, THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING BUDGET WE'VE DONE A LONG, LONG TIME.
IN FACT, I HAD A COMMENT MADE FROM A RESONANT ASKING WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT OUR STREETS.
AND MAYOR GOES BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, YOU WERE RIDING WITH ANOTHER, A POLITICAL OFFICIAL, AND HE SAID, YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE GOOD
[00:25:01]
STREETS ARE MAINTAINED, GO TO CHANDLER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.YOU COULD TELL THE STORY LATER, BUT, UM, AND THEN THANK YOU.
MS. LANG GAVE ME THIS INFORMATION LAST YEAR.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE SPENT ABOUT $31 MILLION IN OUR STREETS, LIGHTING, PARKING LOTS, UH, EQUIPMENT INTERSECTIONS THIS YEAR, IT'S $82 MILLION.
WE'RE HEARING WHAT YOU'D HAVE TO SAY AS STREETS ARE IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET US FROM POINT A TO POINT B AND IN BETWEEN.
SO, UM, WE'VE ALSO HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT PARKS AND RECREATION.
WE'VE INCREASED, UH, THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THOSE ACTIVITIES, AND WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE WORK TO DO IN OUR PARKS AND RECREATION.
SO, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT'S, I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT BEEN NEGLECTED, BUT THE KEY WORD WE'RE DOING NIGHT NOW IS NOT ONLY MAINTAINING SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WE'RE ENHANCING THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND TO ME THAT SENDS A MUCH STRONGER SIGNAL TO OUR RESIDENTS THAT WE ARE LISTENED TO YOU.
SO WITH THAT, I'M EXCITED WITH THIS BUDGET.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, LET ME GO TO COUNCIL UMBRELLAS, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THIS SAME HOUSE.
MA'AM WANTED TO KIND OF BRING IT ALL TOGETHER.
WHEN WE HEARD OUR MANAGERS, CITY MANAGERS IS THAT EVERY CITY WANTS TO BE CHANDLER.
THEY'LL WANT TO, IF THEY DON'T KNOW IT YET, THEY WANT TO STILL WANT TO BE CHANGED.
BUT HAVING LIVED HERE FOR 35 YEARS, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BUDGET THAT I'VE SEEN.
IT'S SO REALLY FORWARD-THINKING IN THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING.
UH, MARK, I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO THAT PART AND GIVING US THE GO-AHEAD TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BUDGET.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING.
ANOTHER THING THAT I THINK THAT WAS REALLY PART OF THE BUDGET THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE IS THE FACT THAT EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER THAT IS SITTING UP HERE HAS SOMETHING ON THEIR HEART TO DO FOR THE CITY OF CHANDLER.
AND WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE STAFF TOOK THE TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH US AND ASK US THE QUESTIONS, THE RIGHT QUESTIONS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THOSE INTO THE BUDGET.
THERE'S NOBODY LIKE YOU THAT CAN REALLY LEAD THIS THING.
AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU TOOK TWO JOBS TO MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN, AND YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I THINK CHANDLER IS REALLY ON A GOOD PATH.
THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR, YOU HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB LEADING US WITH THIS BUDGET.
I DON'T THINK I WOULDN'T WANT TO WORK WITH, UM, ANYBODY ELSE, UH, CONCERNING THE, THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE EMPOWERED US AS CONSUMER MEMBERS TO BREAK, COME TO THE TABLE.
EACH ONE OF US FELT RECOGNIZED.
WE FEEL HEARD THAT YOU AS A LEADER HAS REALLY GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE WHO WE ARE, WHO THE PEOPLE OF CHANDLER HAVE ELECTED US TO BE ON THIS COUNCIL.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR LETTING ME BE ME, MY DUNBAR.
WHERE'S MY WHERE'S THAT THERE HE IS OVER THERE.
SO I WAS GOING TO FINISH WITH A JOKE.
WELL, RIGHT NOW HE TOOK IT AWAY.
I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE LATER, I TELL YOU ABOUT THE JUDGMENT, BUT THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR CHILE.
I MEAN, LETTING ME BE ME AND BEING ABLE TO VOICE MY OPINION STILL MORE FORWARD WITH WHAT I WANTED TO DO.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, WE, WE HOPE YOU'LL SHARE YOUR JOKE DURING YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS.
UM, THIS, UH, THIS BUDGET, I GOT TO TELL YOU THAT THE RESOURCES WE LISTENED TO OUR RESIDENTS, WE TOOK IN AN ACCOUNT WHAT YOU PUT IN ON THOSE SURVEYS.
UH, WE SPEND TIME AND WE SAT IN THE TRENCHES WITH THOSE THAT REACHED OUT.
AND THOSE THAT REALLY WANTED TO BE HEARD TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THAT EXTRA, THAT, THAT EXTRA STREETLIGHT OR THAT ALLEYWAY THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED OR SOMETHING, UH, OR SOME SERVICE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AND I CAN TRULY SAY THAT I'M REALLY PROUD THAT I LOVE OUR ROADS.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT GRAFFITI IS CLEANED OFF THE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY.
UH, I TOOK A PICTURE ONE TIME.
I MEAN, BY THE TIME I CIRCLED BACK AROUND THE CORNER, IT WAS GONE.
BUT THAT CALLS FROM BACK CALLS FROM, YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE, UH, US HEARING YOU AND HEARING WHAT YOU WANT THIS BUDGET TO LOOK LIKE THIS, THIS BUDGET REPRESENTS THE VOICES OF CHANDLER.
I THINK, UM, DON, YOU DID A WONDERFUL JOB AND YOUR TEAM AND PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND ANDY AND, AND, AND MR. DUNBAR DONE DID IT AGAIN.
AND SO I'M REALLY JUST PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SAY, THIS
[00:30:01]
IS ONE OF THE BEST BUDGETS THAT I HAD TO WORK ON WITH A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO I TRULY RESPECT WORKING WITH, UM, HERE ON THE DIETS.AND SOMETIMES I DON'T LIKE WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT I'M TRYING TO MAKE THEM SMILE.
BUT ANYWAY, I REALLY ENJOY WORKING ON THE BUDGET.
IT WAS LONG, IT WAS WORTH THE TIME.
AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT THE RESIDENTS WAS REPRESENTING THIS BUDGET.
AND THANK YOU FOR HANNAH FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AS IT REGARDS TO THE BUDGET.
I'M STARTING TO RUN OUT OF THINGS TO, TO ADD ON HERE.
SO THE ONLY THING I WILL ADD IS THAT THE, AND THIS IS, UM, WILL BE MY EIGHTH AND FINAL BUDGET.
UM, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF VALLARTA, GOOD BUDGETS BEFORE AND MAYBE ENJOYS BUDGETS LIKE DON DOES, BUT, UM, WE, WE CONTINUE TO DO, AND AGAIN, THE, THE TERM, SHE USES A LOT, WHICH I NEVER HEARD BEFORE JOEL COMING, WHICH WE ALL DO IN OUR HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH IS PRIORITY BASED BUDGETING.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE START OFF AND THE LEADERSHIP WITH THE MAYOR, THE COUNCIL DOWN TO THE CITY MANAGER AND ALL THE STAFF AND DIRECTORS, EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ROWING IN THAT SAME DIRECTION.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE ARE HERE TO DO THE ROADS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE WATER, THE POLICE, THE STATE FIRE, AND, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND WE DO IT PRETTY DARN WELL.
AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AS WE GROW TO BE SO EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE, THAT WE CAN CONTINUE OUT OF THOSE SEVEN BUDGETS.
I MEAN, OUT OF THOSE EIGHT BUDGETS, WE LOWERED THE, THE CITY PORTION OF THE PROPERTY, TEXAS SEVEN TIMES, WHICH IS AMAZING TO ME.
I MEAN, TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF SERVICES THAT WE HAVE AND EXPAND EVEN SOME OF THE SERVICES SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, UH, WE'RE CATCHING YOU TO A, AND IT'S THE AIRPORT WHERE CONTINUE TO ADD ON, UH, LIKE THE MENTAL HEALTH, UH, WITH POLICE, THESE THINGS THAT AGAIN ARE TRULY NEEDED, BUT YET WE'RE NOT HAVING TO RAISE TAXES IN ORDER TO DO IT.
SO WE'RE DOING IT WELL, WE KEEP IT IN SHARPEN AND THAT'S ALL WE KEEP ON BEING EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE WITHIN THE, WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT AS WE SHOULD.
THAT'S INVOLVED IN THE BUDGET, ALL THE INPUT FROM THE CITIZENRY OUT THERE, UH, THAT CAME TO US AND SAID WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE.
YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE GOT ALL OF YOUR PROJECTS IN PROBABLY NOT EVERYONE, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE STAY WITHIN OUR LANE.
BUT, UH, ALL IN ALL IS, IS, IS A GREAT BUDGET.
AND, UH, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART SAID, I KIND OF SHOOK MY HEAD WHEN I SAW THE, THE, THE PERCENT JUMP IN INCREASE, BUT AGAIN, NON POINTING OUT AND AS WAS MENTIONED, WE, WE HELD A LOT OF THINGS BACK DURING COVID.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
SO WE HELD BACK A LOT OF HEADCOUNT.
WE HELD BACK A LOT OF CAPITAL BECAUSE WE JUST DID NOT KNOW.
AND NOW WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE TO BE ABLE TO START THE HIRING WHEN WE CAN FIND THEM IN, AND ALSO START THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS BACK UP TO MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT YOU ALL EXPECT.
THIS IS A FINAL BUDGET OPPORTUNITY FOR BOTH OF US AND, UH, THE EIGHTH AND FINAL, UM, I WOULD SAY CHANDLER IS BLESSED AND, UH, THERE IS, UH, AND WE ALL REALIZE THAT IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND, UH, WHETHER YOU VALUE THE PARKS OR THE, OR THE SCHOOLS, OR THE MANY BUSINESSES THAT DECIDE TO LOCATE HERE WE ARE, WE ARE BLESSED.
UM, THIS IS A BUDGET THAT IT'S A VERY LARGE BUDGET.
AND, UH, AND I THINK, AND I'M, I'M QUITE SURE THAT A PART OF THIS IS BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH INTEL, WHICH IS A GOOD THING FOR CHANDLER.
AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME PENT UP DEMAND FOR SPENDING BECAUSE OF THE RESTRAINT THAT WAS SHOWN IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS.
UH, SOMETHING THAT I'D REALLY PUSHED FOR DURING THOSE TIMES AND, UH, IRRITATED PEOPLE BECAUSE OF IT.
UH, BUT, UH, I I'M GLAD THAT THERE WAS RESTRAINT.
UM, I HOPE THAT NEXT YEAR WHEN THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE OCCURRING, UM, NO ONE WILL HAVE TO SHAKE THEIR FIST AND SAY, WE NEED TO DO BETTER.
WE NEED TO DO AS GOOD AS WE CAN.
AND, UH, IF THERE IS, IF WE'RE TAKING IN MONEY BECAUSE WE ARE DOING SO WELL, IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE AND TRY TO MAKE A GOAL OF IT, THEN WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT.
AND I'LL CLOSE WITH SOME COMMENTS RELATED TO THIS THERE'S I TOO, THE, THE SHIRT, THE STICKER SHOCK WAS, UM, WAS, WAS BIG FOR ME WITH THIS BUDGET AND FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART BROUGHT IN.
I UNDERSTAND, UH, SOME OTHER THINGS THAT, UM, UH, I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE DOING IN THIS BUDGET.
WE HAVE, UH, USED A NUMBER OF CONTRACT EMPLOYEES, FOR EXAMPLE, IN
[00:35:01]
TAKING CARE OF OUR PARKS RATHER THAN HIRING PEOPLE THAT WILL MAKE SURE FROM A, WHETHER IT'S IRRIGATION TO, TO GRASS MAINTENANCE, TO GO FIRS THAT SAW THEIR JOB.AND I THINK WE CAN PROMISE, UH, SOME BETTER FIELDS TO THOSE WITH CHILDREN, UH, WITH OUR SOCCER AND BASEBALL FIELDS, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO FAMILIES.
UH, IT'S BEEN AN ARTIFICIAL NUMBER TO SAY THAT THEY'VE NOT BEEN PART OF OUR WORKFORCE SINCE WE'VE HAD THEM UNDER CONTRACT LABOR, BUT THIS WILL GIVE US A BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR PARKS.
I'M PLEASED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PUT $50 MILLION TO PSP RS TO HELP PAY DOWN THE PUBLIC SAFETY PENSION.
I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO IN MY SECOND TERM, TO BE ABLE TO BRING THAT DOWN.
AND WE'RE ACTUALLY IN A, IN A GOOD POSITION TO BRING THAT DOWN TO WHERE IT'S QUITE MANAGEABLE AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING LOOMING OVER OUR HEADS.
AND THEN ALSO WITH THAT, WE'LL BE SAVING, UH, WHAT SIX, $7 MILLION, IF NOT MORE, A YEAR, THAT WE WON'T BE SPENDING INTO THAT PARTICULAR FUND.
AND ANYTIME I CAN TAKE A ONE-TIME DOLLARS OF WHICH WE ARE RICH WITH RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OF COMPANIES LIKE INTEL EXPANDING AND, AND CONVERT THOSE ONE-TIME DOLLARS OF THE ADDITIONAL RENTAL TECHS OR CONSTRUCTION OR THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TURN THOSE INTO ONGOING DOLLARS, WHETHER IT'S PSP RS OR THE STREET LIGHT PROJECTS, I AM, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS AND I WANT TO THANK STAFF OR, UM, RECOMMENDING AND HELPING US FIND THESE.
AND I WILL CONTINUE TO BE LOOKING TO YOU TO HELP US, UH, LOOK AT THE BOTTOM LINE OF ONGOING DOLLARS.
IT'S TO ME, WE'RE, WE'RE IN A VERY GOOD PLACE TODAY.
THERE WILL BE A TIME THAT WE'RE NOT, AS WE'VE NOT BEEN IN THE PAST WITH THE RECESSION.
I I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE AMPLE RESERVES THAT IN CASE.
AND WHEN WE SEE A DOWNTURN, WE WILL BE ABLE TO WEATHER THAT.
AND WHETHER THAT DOWNTURN COMES FROM LEGISLATION THAT AFFECTS US NEGATIVELY OR THE ECONOMY, I THINK WE'RE PREPARED FOR THAT.
AND, UH, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK STAFF AND COUNCIL FOR BEING QUITE THOUGHTFUL.
THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU AS WELL.
SO WITH THAT, I, NONE OF US COULD PREDICT INFLATION AND THE COST OF, OF WORKING, UH, OF HIRING GREAT STAFF, UH, WHICH IS A HUGE PART OF THIS.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK THIS GETS US THERE AND I WANT TO THANK CITY MANAGER AND ALL THE STAFF THAT BRINGS US TO THIS POINT.
SO WITH THAT COUNCIL, PLEASE VOTE.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS CURRENT EVENTS GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO BRING UP.
FIRST OF ALL, UM, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LOPEZ, BELATED BIRTHDAY, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO CITY MANAGER, UH, JOSH, AND, UH, HOPE YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEKEND.
YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO PREVIOUS ONE ON JUNE 14TH, WE'LL BE, UH, JOINING THE NATION AND, AND ALSO CELEBRATING FLAG DAY IS COMMEMORATES THE DAY IN 1777, WHEN THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ADOPTED THE STARS AND STRIPES AS THE OFFICIAL US FLAG AND GEORGE WASHINGTON LED THIS EFFORT, HE REALIZED THAT THE PEOPLE FIGHTING THE WAR NEEDED A UNIQUE SYMBOL OF FREEDOM.
AND IN 1916, A HUNDRED YEARS LATER, PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON ESTABLISHED FLAG DAY.
BETSY ROSS IS BELIEVED TO HAVE SEWN THE FIRST AMERICAN FLAG.
IT WAS A WOMAN NAMED FRANCIS HOPKINSON WHO DESIGNED IT.
AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING IN DC, UH, JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
AND WE SPENT TIME, UH, AT THE SMITHSONIAN AND I WAS FRESHLY INSPIRED AS A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY OF THE, OF THE COSTS, BUT ALSO THE STORIES THAT ARE BEHIND US, LIKE THE FLAG AND, UH, AND OTHERS THAT HAVE STOOD AS, AS, UH, MEMORIALS AND INSPIRATION FROM TIME AGO TO FUTURE THAT REMIND US OF WHAT WE ARE ABOUT A BEACON ACROSS THIS WORLD THAT INVITES PEOPLE TO, UH, TO, UH, JOIN THE AMERICAN DREAM, WHICH WE SEE WITH SO MANY OF OUR LEGAL IMMIGRANTS HERE THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE COME IN AND PROSPERED ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
SO HAPPY FLAG DAY COMING UP NEXT WEEK.
AND LASTLY, UH, OUR SUMMER CONTINUES TO WARM UP, STAY SAFE AROUND WATER, LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THE ABCS OF POOL SAFETY, ADULT SUPERVISION, BARRIERS AROUND POOL POOLS AND TAKE CLASSES.
AND I'M GLAD IT'S PART OF THIS BUDGET THAT, THAT OUR POOLS
[00:40:01]
HAVE LIFEGUARDS AND THERE'S OTHER CITIES SUCH AS PHOENIX AND TUCSON THAT ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO GET LIFEGUARDS, TO BE ABLE TO OPEN ALL THEIR POOLS.AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR OUR STAFF AT OUR COMMUNITY, STEPPING UP TO WHERE THAT ALL OF OUR POOLS WILL BE OPEN AND CLASSES TEACHING SWIMMING WILL BE OFFERED TO ALL CHILDREN WHO SEEK THAT.
SO WITH THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, WHAT ABOUT ADULTS? UH, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MAYOR JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT I'M WEARING AND WHERE TO DOES SHIKI.
UH, AND THIS DASHIKI IS, UH, THIS IS MORE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE TYPE BUSINESS MEN WEAR.
AND SO I THOUGHT WHAT THE FITTING WEEK TO WEAR IT DURING CHANDLER'S, UM, FREEDOM WEEK, UH, AND TO ADD A LITTLE DIVERSITY AND CULTURE TO THIS DAY IS I AM WEARING A DASHIKI JUST SO YOU ALL WILL KNOW.
AND I'M SO EXCITED TO, UM, JUST AS A POINT OF PRIVILEGE, I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT I HAVE SCOTTISH BLOOD IN ME.
SO I WOULDN'T MAKE THESE NOT SUMMITS, BUT, UH, GOD IS MAN.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL HAVE A KILL ON NEXT WEEK.
I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WE ARE ANNOUNCING FREEDOM WEEK IN CHANDLER TO COMMEMORATE JUNETEENTH ON SUNDAY, JUNE 19.
SO WE HAVE A WHOLE WEEK OF EVENTS PLANNED FOR YOU GUYS THIS WEEK, THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 6:30 PM.
FREEDOM KICK A FREEDOM WEEK KICK OFF EVENT AT CHANDLER-GILBERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
THAT IS GOING TO BE AN AMAZING EVENT IN CALIFORNIA.
ELLIS IS GOING TO BE DOING A LITTLE KEYNOTE SPEAKING THERE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FORWARD TO HER.
AND I KNOW MANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GOING TO BE THERE IN MAY.
ARE YOU ALWAYS THERE? AND SO MAKE SURE YOU GUYS GOVERN YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY.
AND THEN ON FRIDAY, JUNE 17TH AT 6:00 PM, MAKE SURE YOU GO TO THE MS. JUNE TEEN PAGEANT AT THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE ARTS, UH, TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE.
SELF-HELP COMMUNITY, WE'LL BE HOSTING THIS AND THE WINNER OF THE PAGEANT WILL GO ON TO THE NATIONAL JUNETEENTH PAGEANT, A CELEBRATION THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETIME IN THE LATER PART OF THE YEAR.
SO YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO CHECK IT OUT.
AND LET ME JUST TELL YOU, THE YOUNG LADIES THAT'S GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING IN THIS PAGEANT ARE FROM CHANDLER HIGH SCHOOL AND OTHER SCHOOLS AROUND THE AREA.
SO MAKE SURE YOU GUYS GET YOUR TICKETS.
SATURDAY, JUNE 18, SEVEN TO 9:30 PM.
THERE'S GOING TO BE CULTURE MUSIC IN THE PARK WITH MY MAN BON WILLIS AND EAR CANDY.
COME AND WATCH THE MAYOR SKIP HOP HIS WAY TO A HIP HOP BEAT THAT WILL BE HAPPENING.
CHANDLER, JAY PARK, THAT WASN'T ANNOUNCEMENT.
I JUST MADE THAT UP ON THE SPOT.
YOU WANT TO COVER, CHECK IT OUT.
ALONG WITH OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE.
WE WERE DOING SOME, UH, SOME LINE DANCING OR SOMETHING, BUT IF YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR COUNCILMEN DANCE, COME ON OUT TO THE, TO THE SATURDAY CULTURE MUSIC IN THE PARK.
AND LASTLY, CHANDLER MEN OF ACTION.
WE'LL BE HOSTING THEIR FOURTH ANNUAL FOUNDING FATHER KITCHEN MIXER IS FATHER'S DAY.
FATHER'S DAY TO ALL THE FATHERS THAT'S HERE.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE CELEBRATING THERE AND MAKE SURE YOU GUYS BRING SOMEONE SO GET ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED@CHANDLERAZ.GOV.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
MY DANCE MOVES HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED OR CALLED AWKWARD COUNCIL MEMBER LOPEZ.
IT'D BE INTERESTING TO SEE YOU SKIP HOP.
UH, THE ONLY ANNOUNCEMENT I HAVE IS TO THINK A COUNCIL MEMBER, ODIE HARRIS HAS ANCESTRY FOR SCOTCH WHISKEY THINKING, OH YEAH.
I, YOU KNOW, FOLKS, WE LIVE IN A PRETTY COOL CITY.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING PRINCETON SMART CAR, AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SUMMIT THIS PAST WEEKEND AND REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY AND SPOKE ON TWO DIFFERENT PANELS.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, UM, CHANDLER'S, UH, THE CITY OF CHANDLER CAME UP IN ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT TALKS ABOUT WHAT WE DID TO COORDINATE, UH, AB UH, DRIVING AND WAYMO IN CHANDLER.
THEY TALKED ABOUT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WORKING WITH, OR I DID TALKED ABOUT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, WORKING WITH THEM, KIND OF GAVE THEM SOME THE WHERE TWOS AND WHAT FOURS, BUT WE WERE LITERALLY THE BELLE OF THE BALL AT THIS THING.
AND YOU WOULDN'T THINK IT FROM A LITTLE TOWN OF 280,000 PEOPLE, BUT THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE, IT'S LIKE THE JETSONS, RIGHT? AND WHEN PEOPLE WOULD ASK ME, THEY JUST KEPT COMING UP TO MUSIC.
SO THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE PEOPLE IN IT.
[00:45:01]
DRIVERS.HOW DOES THAT WORK? AND I PULL UP THIS LITTLE VIDEO, BUT, UH, DR.
CORNHOUSER THERE AND, AND, UH, JERRY WHO ORGANIZED THE WHOLE EVENT WERE ABSOLUTE THE BEST HOSTS.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO SHARE OUR STORY WITH CITIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, UH, THAT WERE ATTENDING THIS THING.
THEY, THEY INVITED MY WIFE TO ATTEND WITH ME AND OF COURSE THE TAXPAYER DIDN'T PAY FOR THAT.
THEY INVITED ME AND I, AND I WENT ON THEIR DIME.
UM, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO SHARE OUR STORY.
AND I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT SOME PRETTY COOL THINGS GOING ON HERE AND SHANNON, COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS.
JUST WANTED TO REENTER THE FACT THAT I TAUGHT.
WE GOT IN JUNE TEETH, AS YOU HEARD, UH, WITH, UH, THIS COMING WEEK, IT'S GOING TO BE THE WEEK OF FREEDOM.
ON MONDAY NIGHT, WE HAD A GROUP OF COMMUNITY LEADERS AND PARTNERS THAT JOINED US HERE IN THE CHAMBER TO RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION.
AND FOR PERMISSION IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, THE MAYOR, UH, ALLOWED US TO DO IN THE CITY, OR WE DO IN THE CITY TO JUST PUT A POINT IN TIME AND DECLARE THAT SOMETHING IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OF CHANDLER.
AND THE JUNETEENTH PROCLAMATION IS SAYING THAT NOW THIS IS PART OF THE HISTORY AND WE WANT OTHER PEOPLE OF JANET TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
WE HAD, UH, GLENN, UH, WORDS, MS. LAVONNE BE HERE.
ERICA MAXWELL WAS HERE, KESHA BEACH AND DR.
DAMO SALUTE AND ALL THE OTHER MEMBERS FROM THE CHAMBER DIVERSITY DEI COMMITTEE OFFICE WERE THERE.
THEY CAME AND THEY JOINED, UH, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS TO RECEIVE THAT, UH, THAT FORMATION.
THE SECOND THING THAT I HAVE IS THE DIVERSITY MINI GRANTS THAT WE HAVE COMING UP.
SO IF YOU ARE PART OF AN ORGANIZATION RIGHT NOW, WHETHER IT'S A CHURCH, IT'S A SCHOOL, A NONPROFIT COMMUNITY GROUP.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO ON THE WEBSITE AND FILL OUT THE APPLICATION ON THE CHANDLER IZZY.GOV.
WE HAVE $20,000 RIGHT NOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE GIVEN SMALL GRANTS TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.
AND NIKKI WANTED ME TO PASS ON A THANK YOU TO, UH, WHO IS, UH, SHE IS THE SUPERVISOR OF THE BI, UH, OFFICE NOW ON THE FIFTH FLOOR.
SHE WANTED TO THANK MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR INCREASING, ALMOST DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE IN THAT FUND TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH OUR ORGANIZATION IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR COUNCIL FOR JOB.
THANK YOU, NIKKI, FOR ALWAYS KEEPING US UPDATED IN THE COMMUNITY WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DEI SPACE.
THAT'S SO, UM, JUST REMEMBER STUART, YOU REALIZE YOU WERE AT THE SECOND RATE AT UNIVERSITY AT THAT STATE.
IT'S RUTGERS, MY ALMA MATER'S NUMBER ONE, NUMBER TWO IS RIGHT ACROSS THE RIVER.
SO WHEN YOU GO TO RUCKERS, THEN YOU COULD BE PROUD.
AND NUMBER TWO, JUST BEFORE, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO ASK THE MAYOR, AND I KNOW WE WERE NOT AT THE COMMEMORATION OF THE FIRST FLAG, RIGHT? MAYOR SOUTHSIDE, MAYOR CITY MANAGER.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT ABOUT THE BUDGET ANYMORE, BUT JUST TO GIVE A QUICK, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR POSITIVE COMMENTS AND SUPPORT TONIGHT IN ADOPTING THIS BUDGET, IT HAS BEEN, UH, AN INTERESTING AND CHALLENGING PROCESS, BUT ALSO A REALLY FUN ONE.
AND, UH, I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT OUR STAFF DID TO PRODUCE THIS YEAR'S BUDGET ONE.
I PARTICULARLY RECOGNIZE, UH, DON LANG AS WELL AS MATT DUNBARTON.
WE HAVE A FEW MEMBERS OF OUR BUDGET DIVISION STAFF HERE AS WELL TONIGHT.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF THEM FOR THIS MANY MONTH PROCESS THAT HAS PRODUCED, I THINK, A VERY SOLID AND VERY EXCITING BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
COUNSEL WANTED ME TO FINISH WITH A JOKE.
NOT WHEN, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WELL, THIS IS A HAPPY COUNCIL MEMBER WHEN THE BUDGET IS WORDED UP WITH THAT.