Feb 23, 2023 City Council Meeting 02/23/2023

[ Call to Order]

[00:00:07]

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO OUR REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 23RD, 2023.

UH, TONIGHT WE'VE GOT, UH, A NUMBER OF AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS.

UH, THEN A CONSENT AGENDA, AND THEN ONE ACTION ITEM THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT AND CLOSING WITH ANNOUNCEMENT.

SO A THRILLING MEETING.

YOU'RE GONNA WANNA STAY TO THE END, OF COURSE, WITH THAT CLERK, PLEASE TAKE THE ROLE.

MAYOR HART.

KEY PRESENT, VICE MAYOR ORLANDO.

PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER ENCINAS.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER POSTED HERE.

WE HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU.

OUR INDICATION TONIGHT WILL BE LED BY PASTOR JOEL TERO OF, OF SOUTHEAST VALLEY BIBLE CHURCH, AND OUR PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE BY COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART, COME HERE.

IT'S A THRILL TO BE HERE.

I, UM, I LOVE HISTORY.

SO I THOUGHT I WOULD, UM, BORROW FROM THE FIRST PRAYER, THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, 1774, OUR LORD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, HIGH AND MIGHTY, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS, WHO DUST FROM TH THRONE, BEHOLD ALL THE DWELLERS ON EARTH AND REIGN US WITH POWER, SUPREME AND UNCONTROLLED IN, IN UNCONTROLLED OVER ALL THE KINGDOMS, EMPIRES, AND GOVERNMENTS.

LOOK DOWN IN MERCY.

WAS WE BEK ON THESE OUR AMERICAN STATES? BE THOU PRESENT, OH GOD, OF WISDOM AND DIRECT.

THE COUNCILS OF THIS HONORABLE ASSEMBLY ENABLE THEM TO SETTLE THINGS ON THE BEST AND SUREST FOUNDATION.

THAT THE SCENE OF BLOOD MAY BE SPEEDILY CLOSED, THAT ORDER HARMONY AND PEACE MAY BE EFFECTIVELY RESTORED.

AND THAT TRUTH AND JUSTICE, RELIGION AND PIETY PREVAIL AND FLOURISH AMONG YOUR PEOPLE.

PRESERVE THE HEALTH OF THEIR BODIES AND VIGOR OF THEIR MINDS.

SHOWER DOWN ON THEM AND THEY, THAT THEY REPRESENT SUCH TEMPORAL BLESSINGS AS THOU EXPEDIENT FOR THEM IN THIS WORLD, AND CROWN THEM WITH EVERLASTING GLORY IN THE WORLD TO COME.

ALL THIS WE ASK IN THE NAME AND THROUGH THE MERITS OF JESUS CHRIST, THY SON AND OUR SAVIOR, AND ALL GOD'S PEOPLE SAID.

AMEN.

THANK YOU, PASTOR.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

AYE, PLEDGE, ALLEGIANCE, PLEDGE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NATION, UNDERGROUND, INDIVISIBLE, LIBERTY, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU, PASTOR.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

NEXT

[ Scheduled Public Appearances]

AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, IF YOU PLEASE JOIN ME UP FRONT.

I GOT NO PROCLAMATION FOR YOU.

HAVE ONE, NOT FOR HER.

.

ALL RIGHT.

OUR FIRST SCHEDULED APPEARANCE IS WE'D LIKE, UH, TO RECOGNIZE AVA SOK.

I CAN INVITE UP, UH, CHIEF D DINS, AVA AND HER FAMILY.

SO AVA IS A 10 YEAR OLD FIFTH GRADER AT BASIS.

SHE LOVES PLAYING SOCCER, DRAWING, PLAYING THE VIOLIN, AND BAKING.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE THING YOU LIKE TO BAKE? UM, I LIKE COOKIES.

I LIKE WHO DOESN'T LIKE COOKIES? AND AVA WAS DRIVING WITH HER FAMILY LATE ON NEW YEAR'S EVE WHEN SHE NOTICED FLAMES IN A NEARBY NEIGHBORHOOD.

HER PARENTS TURNED THE CAR AROUND AND THEY WERE ABLE TO ALERT THE FAMILY OF SEVEN THAT THE GARAGE WAS ON FIRE.

THEY CALLED NINE 11.

THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS QUICKLY RESPONDED AND WERE SO GRATEFUL FOR AVA FOR BEING SO ALERT AND LETTING HER PARENTS KNOW THAT THERE WAS DANGER NEARBY.

SO THAT IS REALLY COOL.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING, ? WELL, WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU WERE SO ALERT AND, UH, FROM WHAT I HEARD, YOU, UH, THE FAMILY WAS NOT AWARE AND EASILY, UH, THIS COULD HAVE TURNED A TOTALLY DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING

[00:05:01]

I, I DO WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU GUYS.

AND, UH, ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IN PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE FIRST STEP TO SUCCESS IN PUBLIC SAFETY IS THAT, UH, PEOPLE LIKE YOU RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

AND SO WE ALWAYS SAY, IF YOU SEE, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

AND CERTAINLY THIS CASE, I THINK IT WAS AFTER MIDNIGHT.

AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT GARAGE FIRES, ESPECIALLY, UH, GARAGE FIRES ARE MEANT TO, UH, KEEP THE FLAMES INSIDE THE GARAGE, UH, WHICH MEANS THERE'S A DELAY FOR YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS.

AND SO WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU DID SEE, SAY, SEE SOMETHING.

AND I BELIEVE YOU CONVINCED YOUR MOM TO TURN AROUND CORRECT .

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO AT FIRST, BUT YOU KEPT ON HER.

UM, AND I'M SURE THAT THE, THE FAMILY IS GRATEFUL.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.

AMAZING.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

CAN WE MAYBE GET YOU THREE IN FRONT SO WE COULD CONDENSE THIS PICTURE A LITTLE BIT? RIGHT THERE? YES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, ANNA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK, THANK YOU.

NEXT, IN OUR, UH, PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT, WE HAVE A RES RECOGNITION FOR DISABILITY AWARDS RECIPIENTS.

SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE UP, UH, THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES MEMBER JEFF DEAVER.

AND AVA, I'VE GOT YOUR, I'VE GOT THIS, THIS FOR YOU.

SO SORRY I DIDN'T HAND THAT TO YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

HOW WE DOING? GOOD, HOW ARE YOU? GREAT.

SO THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SERVES AS A LIAISON BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS OF CHANDLER TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND ACCESSIBILITY AND TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO LIVE IN CHANDLER.

THE MEMBERS OF THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE COMMUNITY AND STRIVE TO INCREASE THEIR OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS IN CHANDLER.

IN ADDITION, THEY HELP WITH ISSUES SUCH AS EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT USING THEIR STIPEND PROGRAM.

SO TODAY WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THIS YEAR'S CHANDLER'S MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY AWARDS.

AND OUR FIRST AWARD GOES TO KYLE LISTER ALL.

SO AS KYLE IS COMING UP, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIO HERE.

KYLE IS A LEADER ON AND OFF CAMPUS AMONGST HIS PEERS.

KYLE SHOWS UP TO SCHOOL DAILY, READY TO LEARN AND PARTICIPATE IN CLASSES.

KYLE IS A VERY KIND AND RESPECTFUL STUDENT WHO SHOWS TRUE COMPASSION FOR OTHERS.

HE IS ATHLETIC AND USES HIS LEADERSHIP ON THE BASKETBALL COURT AS WELL AS IN SCHOOL.

KYLE, THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A GREAT EXAMPLE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE A PICTURE HERE.

CAN FAMILY COME OVER? LET'S SCOOT OVER THIS WAY MORE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE.

WE'RE SCOOTING OVER.

THIS WAY'S COMING OVER.

ARE WE THERE? NO.

ALL RIGHT.

AND OUR SECOND, UH, PRESENTATION AND AWARDEE GOES TO THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OF THE YEAR.

AND THIS IS FREDDY RODRIGUEZ.

[00:10:09]

FREDDY HAS A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR AND CAN ALWAYS PUT A SMILE ON EVERYONE'S FACE.

HE TAUGHT HIMSELF HOW TO READ BEFORE HE EVEN EVER STARTED SCHOOL, AND NOW HE'S READY TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND TO SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS.

FREDDY ENJOYS LEARNING ABOUT VACUUMS AND CAN OFTEN BE SEEN SHOPPING AT THRIFT STORES FOR THE NEXT VACUUM TO REPAIR.

HE EVEN REPAIRED A VACUUM AT CAMP CHALLENGE.

SO THANK YOU FREDDY, FOR BEING A GREAT EXAMPLE.

YOU'RE WONDERFUL.

OUR THIRD AWARD GOES TO EDUCATOR OF THE WOR OF THE YEAR, AND WE HAVE ROSE ESCALANTE.

ROSE HAS SUPPORTED CHANDLER UNIFIED SPORTS AND CONTINUES TO DEDICATE HER LIFE TO CHILDREN WITH DIFFERENT ABILITIES.

HER PASSION IS DERIVED FROM HAVING A SON WITH AUTISM, WHICH GIVES HER UNIQUE INSIGHTS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATING STUDENTS, DID NOT STOP HER IN THE CLASSROOM.

ROSE ALSO WORKED AT CAMP CHALLENGE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

THANK YOU.

AND CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING AWARDED AS THE 2023 EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR.

YOU WANT A PICTURE? YES.

AND OUR NEXT AWARD GOES TO THE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR.

AND THIS IS AUSTIN RECTOR.

AUSTIN EXEMPLIFIES OUR CITY OF CHANDLER VALUES.

HE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND WITH CHANDLER THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS, SPECIAL OLYMPICS, AND HIS OWN NONPROFIT AR INCLUSION.

HE BRINGS SO MUCH JOY TO THE COMMUNITY.

HE'S A GREAT COACH, FRIEND AND VOLUNTEER.

AUSTIN STARTED VOLUNTEERING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SERVING AS THE BEST BUDDIES PRESIDENT IN HIGH SCHOOL AND HAS ALSO SERVED ON THE SPECIAL OLYMPIC ARIZONA BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

THANK YOU, AUSTIN.

AND WE ARE GONNA CALL ALL OF THE RECIPIENTS BACK UP FOR A PHOTO.

SO, SO BE READY AFTER OUR NEXT ONE HERE, AND THEN I'LL READ A PROCLAMATION AND, AND HAND OVER THE MICROPHONE FOR YOU TO SOME COMMENTS.

BUT LASTLY, THE COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO HONOR AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION AS EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR, CLAIRE AND DALE ASSISTED LIVING.

WE'D LIKE TO INVITE JUDE WALKER TO COME UP AND ACCEPT THE WARD.

CLA AND DALE ASSISTED LIVING HAS OPENED THEIR FACILITY TO ASSISTING OUR CHANDLER COMMUNITY WHEN APPROACH ABOUT EMPLOYING A TEEN WITH AUTISM.

JUDE WALKER WELCOME THE CHALLENGE IN FREDDY'S OWN WORDS.

HE IS PATIENT BREAKS DOWN THE TASK FOR ME AND PROVIDES UNDERSTANDING FOR THOSE THAT NEED THE EXTRA LITTLE HELP.

HE'S A GREAT REPRESENTATION OF THOSE WHO GO TO THE EXTRA MILE.

THANK YOU.

JUDE WALKER AND CLAIRE AND DALE.

ASSISTED LIVING.

LET'S TAKE ANOTHER PICTURE.

[00:15:11]

CAN WE HAVE ALL THE RECIPIENTS COME ON UP? LET'S TAKE ONE MORE PHOTO.

AND WHAT'S OUR, WHAT'S HER SLOGAN THERE? COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS SMILE LIKE FREDDY.

ALL RIGHT, , WE WANT EVERYONE TO COME UP AND SMILE LIKE, FREDDY, CAN I STAND NEXT TO YOU? DO YOU WANNA COME HERE? RIGHT MY WAY.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION AS WELL, WHEREAS AS VIN, AS INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE VALUED, CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, FURTHERMORE, DISABILITY IS A NATURAL PART OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE, AND IN NO WAY DIMINISHES THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH ANY DISABILITY, BE IT PHYSICAL OR MENTAL, TO ACHIEVE A SELF-DETERMINED AND VALUED LIFESTYLE.

AND WHEREAS OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES TO HAVE PURPOSEFUL LIVES THAT INCLUDE MEANINGFUL JOBS, FRIENDSHIPS, HEALTH, SAFETY, AND SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES MUST BE FOSTERED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO INCREASE THIS AWARENESS IS THROUGH EVERYONE'S ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND THE OPENNESS TO LEARN AND ACKNOWLEDGE EACH INDIVIDUAL'S COMP CONTRIBUTION.

AND WHEREAS DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH ALLOWS US TO CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE THE APP THAT APPROPRIATE SUPPORTS FROM THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING CAREGIVERS, ADVOCATES, AGENCIES, NONPROFITS, AND SCHOOLS ENABLE ALL CITIZENS WITH A DISABILITY TO ENJOY THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENSHIP, AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF CHANDLER COMMUNITY.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, KEVIN HARTKE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHANDLER, TO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MARCH, 2023 AS NATIONAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH.

WOOHOO.

SAY SOME WORDS.

YOU GAVE ME THE MIC.

I WILL, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK ALL THE RECIPIENTS TONIGHT FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO AND ALL THE COMPLIMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT THEY'VE, UH, MADE.

UM, IT'S, IT'S, UH, REFRESHING TO SEE THAT HAPPEN AND, AND TO SEE THAT THE CITY AND, AND STAFF AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL ARE SUPPORTIVE AND BEHIND, UM, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

AND ONE MORE THING IS, UH, WE GOT THE CHANDLER FUND RUN, WHICH IS A HUGE EVENT FOR, UM, THE CHANDLER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND THAT'S COMING UP AT TUMBLEWEED PARK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND SO WE DO THAT IN THE MONTH OF MARCH BECAUSE, UH, THE MONTH OF MARCH IS DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH.

SO, AND HOW DO WE FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THAT? WELL, UM, IT'S, IT'S REALLY CATERED TOWARDS THE CHANDLER SCHOOL DISTRICT KIDS, BUT IF YOU GO TO THE CHANDLER WEBSITE, YOU WILL FIND INFORMATION ON THE FUND RUN.

AND IT'S BEEN RECOGNIZED IN THE PAST FOR, UM, IT'S RECEIVED SOME AWARDS FOR THE EVENT, AND IT'S ABOUT 700 STUDENTS, UM, SHOW UP TO IT.

SO IT'S A, IT'S A VERY BIG EVENT.

SO IF YOU'RE AROUND AT TUMBLEWEED PARK, UM, MARCH 7TH SECOND, UM, STOP BY AND YOU'LL SEE ABOUT 700 KIDS RUNNING AROUND THE PARK.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

WELL, LET'S TAKE A PICTURE.

YOU GET THIS ONE.

THANK YOU.

YES.

[00:20:18]

THAT'S QUOTABLE .

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL,

[ 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. Proposed Motion: Move to approve the Consent Agenda of the February 23, 2023, Regular Meeting, Items 1 - 19.]

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROCEED? IS THERE A MOTION? MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, THANK YOU.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, FEBRUARY 23RD, 2023.

REGULAR MEETING ITEMS ONE THROUGH 19.

SECOND, WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY VICE MAYOR ORLANDO, AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART.

COUNCIL, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THERE AGAIN.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNSEL.

[ Discussion and Action]

SO COUNSEL, THERE'S A COUPLE OPTIONS AFTER DISCUSSION HERE THAT WE MIGHT, AM I MISSING SOMETHING? MAYOR? I BELIEVE THERE'S GONNA BE ONE CARD FOR THIS ITEM.

OKAY.

WE'LL SET THAT UP IN A MINUTE HERE.

UM, I'M GONNA TAKE, UH, WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH US FIRST, UM, COUNSEL THERE, UH, THERE CAN EITHER BE A MOTION TO, UH, REQUEST THAT COUNSEL DRAFTS AN ORDINANCE.

WE WILL NOT BE VOTING ON AN ORDINANCE TONIGHT SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE ONE OR A MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS, OR A MOTION TO DISCONTINUE THIS.

SO THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS BEFORE US AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT.

AND LET ME TURN THIS OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART.

MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I, I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND WHAT A GREAT EVENT.

I LOVE WHEN WE HAVE THE NEIGHBORS HERE.

UM, I'VE GOT A COUPLE THINGS I WANNA KINDA SET THIS UP AND, AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I BROUGHT THIS FORWARD IS I THINK WE'RE ALL FEELING THE PRESSURE OF INFLATION.

UM, AND I, YOU KNOW, THE WAY I'M GONNA SET THIS UP IS THERE'S KIND OF A MACRO, UH, THING THAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR ECONOMY.

THERE'S KIND OF A MICRO, UM, IMPACT THAT IT'S HAPPENING ON OUR FAMILIES.

AND I THINK THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO AT THE CITY LEVEL TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THIS MIGHT BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO BY SUN SETTING OR SUSPENDING OUR GROCERY TAX FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT NEED IT THE MOST.

SO I'M GONNA KIND OF WALK THROUGH SOME THINGS HERE AND I'M GONNA READ A FEW THOUGHTS.

SO FIRST OF ALL, THANKS TO COUNSEL FOR TAKING MY CALL LAST WEEK ABOUT THIS.

I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS, AND HOPEFULLY STAFF WAS ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS FOR YOU ABOUT THOSE SPECIFIC THINGS.

BUT I WANNA REC RECOGNIZE THE INFLATIONARY CHALLENGES WE FACE AND THE HARDSHIP THAT'S BEEN CREATED FOR MANY IN OUR CITY.

INFLATION'S NOT SLOWING DOWN, AS WE NOTICED WITH THE JANUARY REPORT.

AND MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS ARE AT A CROSSROADS, AND OUR FOLKS NEED HELP MAKING ENDS MEET RATHER THAN CHOOSING BETWEEN A TANK OF GAS OR FEEDING THEIR KIDS.

EVERY ONE OF US UP HERE AND CITY STAFF UNDERSTANDS HOW HARD THIS IS FOR MANY.

AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION WITH YOU AND WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT A PROPOSAL TO SUSPEND OUR GROCERY TAX.

IT'S 1.5% ON ALL NON PREPARED FOODS, AND I'D LIKE FOR THAT TO GO INTO EFFECT AS EARLY AS APRIL 15TH.

BUT I WOULD SETTLE FOR J JULY 1ST, WHICH IS THE BEGINNING OF OUR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

AND WE COULD PROVIDE WHAT LITTLE RELIEF WE CAN AT THE, THE DINNER TABLE.

SO I REMEMBER WHEN COVID HIT AND WE WERE AWARDED FEDERAL MONOPOLY MONEY, AS I LIKE TO CALL IT BACK THEN.

AND THAT CREATED SOME TREMENDOUS INFLATIONARY PRESSURES ON ALL OF OUR FAMILIES, RIGHT? AND, AND WE WERE ASKED TO USE THOSE DOLLARS TO SHOW UP OUR BUDGET BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE DOLLARS AND GIVE THEM TO THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

WE DIDN'T NEED IT.

AND THE REASON WE DIDN'T NEED IT IS BECAUSE THE WORK THAT MAYORS AND COUNCILS BEFORE I CAME BECAUSE OF DAWN AND HER TEAM, THEY'RE AWARD-WINNING, UH, FINANCIAL PLANNING TEAM.

UM, SO WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO WITH THAT, AND THANKS DAWN FOR THAT, BECAUSE US BEING ABLE TO DO THAT WAS IMMENSE.

I REMEMBER TALKING TO JACKSON FROM GINGER MONKEY ABOUT THAT AND WHAT WE COULD DO FOR HIM AND WHAT WE COULD DO FOR DENISE WITH, UM, ACROSS THE STREET OVER HERE.

AND THOSE WERE IMPACTFUL TO THOSE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE DOORS OPEN.

AND, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO IT WAS GOOD.

SO BECAUSE WE DIDN'T NEED IT TO SHORE UP OUR BUDGET BECAUSE YOUR HARD WORKED ON, WE DECIDED TO SHARE THAT WITH, WITH OTHER FOLKS, AND WE PROVIDED THE SUPPORT THAT WE COULD, UM, TO THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES WHEN THEY NEEDED.

AND SO NOW WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES, RIGHT? IT'S, IT'S VERY SIMPLE, ESPECIALLY THE WORKING POOR AND THOSE FOLKS THAT DON'T QUALIFY FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE,

[00:25:02]

SO MOM SHOULDN'T DECIDE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO, TO, TO, TO PAY FOR GROCERIES OR SCHOOL CLOTHES BECAUSE EGGS ARE $7.

AND IF THERE'S A LITTLE BIT THAT WE CAN DO, I'D LIKE TO CONSIDER THAT.

SO A FOOD TAX REDUCTION IS A TAX RELIEF FOR EVERYONE.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS BECAUSE A PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION IS FOR OWNERS.

IT'S NOT FOR RENTERS, IT'S NOT PASSED THROUGH.

THIS.

RELIEF IS ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING AND EASING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN THAT INFLATION IS PLACING ON OUR COMMUNITY AND TAKING THE STEPS TO ALLEVIATE BECAUSE WE CAN AFFORD IT.

IF YOU KNOW ME, UM, I'M ALWAYS WATCHING OUR BUDGET.

AND SO AS EVERYONE ON THIS DIAS CITY, CHANDLER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING GOOD TIMES AND PROSPERITY FOR YEARS AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AND A CORPORATION OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE DELIVERED TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE'RE EXCELLENT AT IT.

AND IT'S A TESTAMENT TO OUR STAFF.

EVERYONE THAT STANDS ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE INCREDIBLE MEN AND WOMEN THAT SERVED ON THIS DIAS BEFORE I DID SET US UP TO BE IN THE POSITION TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THEY SET A CULTURE OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY DECADES AGO.

I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR EVERYONE UP HERE IN EXPRESSING MY GRATITUDE TO DAWN AND HER TEAM FOR PUTTING CHANDLER IN THIS AMAZING POSITION BECAUSE THESE FOLKS WIN AWARDS FOR PUTTING OUR COMMUNITY IN SUCH AMAZING PLACE.

SEE, DAWN HAS PAID DOWN DEBT.

DAWN AND HER TEAM HAVE PAID DOWN DEBT.

THEY'VE REFINANCED BONDS, THEY'VE HELPED CHANDLER MAKE INVESTMENTS IN WATER AND OTHER PROJECTS THAT HAVE GIVEN CHANDLER A AAA BOND RATING.

AND THE MAYOR AND COUNCILS BEFORE ME, THE BOARDS AND COMMISSION MEMBERS HAVE ALL SET US UP IN AN INCREDIBLE FINANCIAL POSITION.

MATTER OF FACT, WE HAVE THE LOWEST UTILITY RATES IN THE ENTIRE EAST VALLEY IN THE ENTIRE VALLEY BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

SO WE DON'T RU JUST RUBBER STAMP THESE BUDGETS.

ODS AN ACCOUNTANT HE DIGS IN.

MATT'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

HE DIGS INTO THE BUDGET, HE ASKS THOSE HARD QUESTIONS.

AND I KNOW JUST FROM THE SHORT TIME I'LL WORK WITH JANE AND, AND WITH, UH, ANGEL, AND I KNOW WORKING WITH CHRISTINE, THEY'RE GONNA ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS AND STAFF ALWAYS HAS THE ANSWER.

SO BECAUSE THEY'RE DILIGENT ABOUT MAKING SURE THEY PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICES, WHICH WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM ANY CORPORATION.

SO SOME OF YOU MIGHT BE AWARE THAT OUR LEGISLATORS HAVE TAKEN NAME IN OUR REVENUES AND SOME OTHER THINGS AND TRYING TO USURP LOCAL CONTROL.

UM, AND, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF SOME NUMBERS THAT I'M GONNA SHARE HERE WITH YOU IN A LITTLE BIT.

THE STRAIGHT, THE STATE THREATENS TO UNDERMINE OUR LOCAL CONTROL BECAUSE OTHER CITIES DON'T WATCH THE MONEY LIKE WE DO.

THE REALITY IS THAT EACH CITY IS DIFFERENT.

FORTUNATELY, THE, FOR THE MAYOR, THE ARIZONA, HE'S THE ARIZONA PRESIDENT AND LEAGUE OF CITIES, AND HE HAS SHARED THE IMPORTANCE WITH THE LEGISLATORS ABOUT RETAINING LOCAL CONTROL AT THE CAPITAL.

HE DID THIS AT THE CAPITAL LAST MONTH, AND HE'S A HUNDRED PERCENT RIGHT, BECAUSE SEE, SOME CITIES LIKE CHANDLER CAN AFFORD A TAX REDUCTION LIKE THIS.

OTHER CITIES LIKE PAYSON, WHERE 16% OF THEIR ANNUAL BUDGET COMES FROM GROCERY TAX BECAUSE THEY HAVE A WALMART SUPERCENTER, THEY CAN'T AFFORD THIS.

SO SOME BROAD BRUSH APPROACH FROM THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT WHAT CITIES NEED.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR LOCAL CONTROL.

IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I BROUGHT THIS UP TO SHOW THAT RESPONSIBLE CITIES LIKE CHANDLER CAN LOOK AT THEIR BUDGET, CAN HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS ON THE DIAS, AND TAKE CARE OF THESE THINGS AND, AND ASK THEM TO, TO LEAVE US ALONE.

SO THAT GETS ME TO THE CRUX OF THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.

AND I WILL USE SOME LAYMAN TERMS THAT'S EASY FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND.

UM, SO THIS MIGHT WHERE, WHERE YOU GET YOUR PENS OUT.

SO WE HAVE A 10 MILLION EMERGENCY FUND, RIGHT? WE HAVE A 38 MILLION CONTINGENCY FUND.

THIS DO, THESE DOLLARS ARE NOT EARMARKED FOR ANYTHING, RIGHT? SO 48 MILLION RIGHT THERE.

WE COULD LOWER THAT TO 12% OF OUR BUDGETS, WHICH I THINK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ORLANDO WE DID YEARS AGO WHERE WE LOWERED IT AND WE USED THAT.

I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE USED THE MONEY FOR, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO U LOWER THAT CONTINGENCY BUDGET WHEN I STARTED ON COUNCIL, THAT CONTINGENCY BUDGET WAS ABOUT 24 MILLION.

NOW IT'S 38 BECAUSE IT'S A PERCENTAGE, IT'S NOT A NUMBER.

SO IF WE LOWERED THAT, THAT WOULD TAKE US TO, WE COULD LOWER THAT BY 3% AND THAT WOULD TAKE US TO 26.6 MILLION TO COVER AS A BUFFER FOR INFLATIONARY OVERRUNS WHILE PROVIDING RELIEF TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND LIKE I SAID, WE DID THAT LONG AGO.

AND LASTLY, CITY REVENUES THIS FISCAL YEAR HAVE TAKEN IN OVER 31 MILLION OVER OUR FORECAST AND WE'RE TRACKING TO BE PLUS 50 MILLION, I THINK.

DAWN, THANK YOU.

GIMME UPDATED NUMBERS IS ABOUT 48 MILLION BY JAN JUNE 30TH, YEAR END.

THAT'S OUR FISCAL YEAR END.

SO WE HAVE A HUNDRED MIL, NEARLY A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS AND NOT BUDGET FOR ANYTHING.

UM, AND I KNOW WE WANT TO PAY ANOTHER 50 MILLION OUR P S P R S BUDGET, BUT THAT'S ALREADY BAKED INTO OUR, OUR PLAN BECAUSE THAT'S A DIRECTION THAT WE GAVE OUR BUDGET PEOPLE LAST SESSION TO MAKE SURE WE GET THIS THING PAID DOWN QUICKER.

I KNOW THE MAYOR WANTS TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL 20 MILLION THIS YEAR, WHICH I STILL THINK WE CAN DO, CUZ THAT'S CAN BE BAKED INTO THE BUDGET.

WE'RE BUILDING BALLPARKS, WE'RE ADDING MORE POLICEMEN, WE'RE ADDING FIRE STATIONS, WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

JOHN KNUTSON IS DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB KEEPING OUR WATER RATES LOW AND INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE THERE.

[00:30:01]

SO THAT BRINGS ME TO THE COST OF THIS PROPOSAL.

SUSPENSION OF THE ENTIRE 1.5% WOULD COST THE CITY ABOUT 14 MILLION.

SUSPENDING IT HALF AT 0.75 WOULD COST US 7 MILLION.

STILL.

REMEMBER, REMEMBER, WE'RE NOT PLANNING TO CUT ANYTHING.

THE BUDGET'S GONNA MOVE FORWARD.

A MATTER OF FACT, THERE'S 33 MILLION IN DECISION PACKAGES THAT OUR STAFF HAS SAID THEY NEED TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE.

WE CAN STILL FIT THIS IN EVEN WITH, EVEN WITH THE, THE, UH, SALES TAX CUT.

SO THE FACT REMAINS, WE ARE DOING VERY WELL, FOLKS, AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GIVE BACK TO THOSE THAT NEED IT THE MOST.

SO I'M GONNA END WITH THIS.

I'M GONNA ASK MY MYSELF, FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THINK ABOUT THIS IDEA WITH COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE NOT, ARE HAVING TROUBLE PAYING THEIR BILLS.

LET'S SHOW THAT WE CARE ABOUT OUR CONSTITUENTS WELLBEING BY GIVING THEM SOME HELP DURING THESE HARD TIMES.

AND I'M ONLY ASKING FOR THIS TO BE REVIEWED ANNUALLY.

SO IF NEXT YEAR WE NEED THE REVENUE BECAUSE SOMETHING HAPPENS AT THE LEGISLATURE, OR BECAUSE WE'RE IN A RECESSION, WE CAN TOGGLE THIS SWITCH BACK ON.

AND I'M ASKING FOR THIS ORDINANCE TO BE PUT IN PLACE THAT EVERY FEBRUARY, THE LAST MEETING OF FEBRUARY, WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGET, WE LOOK AT OUR SITUATION, WE DECIDE WHAT WE NEED TO DO, AND WE ALL SIT UP HERE AND VOTE AGAIN.

IT'S A RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO.

SO MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANNA THANK MAYOR COUNCIL FOR, FOR BEING BUDGET WATCHDOGS, THAT THEY ARE AND SUPPORTING THE WORK OF OUR STAFF TO PROVIDE THE BEST IN CLASS SERVICES THAT OUR RESIDENTS EXPECT.

AND WITH THAT, I WANNA MAKE A MOTION FOR STAFF TO PUT TOGETHER AN ORDINANCE FOR OUR NEXT MEETING.

AND I'D LIKE TO OPEN UP TO DISCUSSION AND GET EVERYONE'S INPUT ON WHAT RELIEF WE ARE WILLING TO PROVIDE.

THANK YOU.

SO I MOVE TO DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE OF SUSPEND THE COLLECTION OF THE CITY'S GROCERY TRANSACTION PRIVILEGE TAX AT 1.5% EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2023, OR REQUIRE THE COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER WHETHER TO REINSTATE OR CONTINUE THE SUSPENSION BEFORE THE LAST REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY OF EACH YEAR.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

OKAY.

I WASN'T EXPECTING A MOTION AT THIS POINT, BUT THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

IS THERE A SECOND? WE MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.

YOU MADE A, A MOTION.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THERE HAS TO BE A SECOND.

IS THERE A SECOND? I WAS NOT EX UH, AS I SAID, MAYOR, I WAS NOT, UM, I SPOKE WITH YOU EARLIER.

I WAS NOT EXPECTING A MOTION, BUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO IS, LET ME JUST ASK, IS THERE A SECOND PLEASE? TO THIS MOTION? HEARING NONE, THE MOTION DIES.

UM, SO AT THIS TIME THEN I WOULD LIKE TO BE CLEAR, HANG ON A SECOND.

WAIT TO BE RECOGNIZED ON THIS.

THANK YOU.

SO STAFF, AT THAT POINT, WHERE DOES THIS GO? IS THERE ANOTHER MOTION COULD BE MADE TO GO A DIFFERENT TANGENTIAL DIRECTION, OR DOES THIS JUST ELIMINATE CONVERSATION WITH US? MAYOR, CITY ATTORNEY.

MAYOR, IF I MAY, UM, THE, THE CONVERSATION COULD STOP NOW OR IT, ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE MOTION COULD BE MADE.

UM, IT IS REALLY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNCIL.

OKAY.

UM, I CERTAINLY DO NOT WANT TO END THE CONVERSATION ON A NOTE.

SO IF THERE WAS ANOTHER MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED, I WOULD, I WOULD FURTHER THAT MAYOR, UM, MA'AM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

UH, APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT, UM, YOU'RE GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO TALK TO MY COLLEAGUE ON THE DIAZ.

WE'VE DONE SOME TALK IN THE BACKGROUND AND I KNOW EVERY ONE OF US HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO HIM BEFORE.

MY, MY PART INTO ALL OF THIS IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN STAFF IS, UH, PRESENT TO GIVE US DIRECTION AND, AND EXPLAIN TO US WHAT'S NEXT INTO ANYTHING THAT WE BRING, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO LISTEN.

AND I HAVE TAKEN THAT INTO ACCOUNT AFTER I'VE SPOKEN WITH MY COLLEAGUE.

I CALLED, UH, MS. DAWN AND ASKED HER SOME SPECIFIC QUESTION CONCERNING THIS TEXT AND HOW, UH, CAN WE EVER PUT SOMETHING ON AND SO CASUALLY TAKE IT OFF AND VICE VERSA.

AND IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK.

AND, AND BECAUSE OF THAT REASON AT THIS TIME, AND BECAUSE I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE HEART OF COUNCIL MEMBER OF STEWART BEHIND THIS WHOLE IDEA, I WOULD LOVE TO PUT A MOTION RIGHT NOW THAT WE TABLE THIS TO THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH SHOULD, WHICH WILL BE MARCH 20TH, WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A CHANCE TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION AND SOME MORE CONVERSATION GOING SO THAT WE COULD SEE WHERE ELSE CAN WE FIGURE OUT SOMETHING TO BE ABLE TO HELP OTHERS AND ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT HE HAVE CONCERNING THEIR, UM, THEIR, THEIR BILL AND THE INFLATION AND ALL THESE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THIS FOOD TAX, IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE ALL AS MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN LOOK INTO WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT WE CAN

[00:35:01]

SO CAN I CLARIFY BEFORE YOU ASK FOR A SECOND? SO ARE YOU ASKING THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION IN THE BUDGET CONVERSATION HAPPENING NEXT MONTH TO LOOK FOR OTHER OPTIONS TO SAVE OUR, OUR RESIDENTS, UH, DOLLARS AND, AND FINANCIAL RELIEF IN GENERAL, CORRECT.

THAT'S THE CONVERSATION, CORRECT.

BUT IN TERMS OF THIS, YOU'RE NOT RESURRECTING THAT? NO.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS THAT WE ARE TAKING IT BACK TO STAFF NOW AND SAY, HEY, IF THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE, WHICH RIGHT NOW WE ARE THINKING THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE POSSIBLE TO GO INTO IT BASED ON WHAT, UH, DON TOLD ME.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN IN THIS INSTEAD.

BUT IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT, ALL OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN WORK ON TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN? ALL RIGHT, LET ME TRY TO GET A SECOND.

YES, SIR.

IS THERE A SECOND TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION AND BRING IT TO, WHICH HONESTLY IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT'S WHAT WE DO AT OUR NEXT BUDGET.

UH, THAT'S THE PROCESS.

WE NORMALLY THEN AFTER WE HAVE, UH, THE FULLEST IMPACT OF PS P R S, WE HAVE THE TAX DOLLAR, UH, BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND A, AND A FIRMER GRASP OF WHERE WE ARE.

SO CORRECT.

YOUR MOTION IS TO NOT TABLE THIS, BUT FURTHER THE CONVERSATION OF COST SAVINGS AND BUT, AND ALLEVIATING, UH, THE IMPACT OF INFLATION ON OUR CITIZENS IN OTHER WAYS.

CORRECT.

OKAY.

AND WE IS THERE A SECOND? AND WE'RE GOOD AT DOING THAT.

MAYOR.

I, IS THERE A SECOND? MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO SECOND THAT, BUT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, THANK YOU.

YOU MAKE SOME REALLY VALID POINTS AND, UM, I, I THINK TABLING THIS DISCUSSION AND TABLING THE DISCUSSION ABOUT, OR THE VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE FOR A LATER DATE, UM, IT'S NOT WORKING FOR IT.

IT IS GREAT.

SO I'LL SECOND YOUR MOTION.

I DON'T THINK, I'M NOT ADDING TO YOUR MOTION.

I'M JUST COMMENTING ON YOUR MOTION.

SO I'M SECONDING YOUR MOTION.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, MAYOR, BE CLEAR.

SORRY.

YES, MAYOR, BE CLEAR.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT RESURRECTION A RESOLUTION ORDINANCE HERE.

THE MOTION WAS TO CONTINUE DISCUSSION FOR POTENTIAL FURTHER REVENUE CUTS, NOT THIS PARTICULAR MOTION.

AND I THINK THAT'S VERY CLEAR ADVICE THERE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S MAKE, YEAH.

OKAY.

SO IF YOU STILL WANT TO SECOND IT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO SECOND, IF YOU DON'T THEN WELL, HE ALREADY, HE ALREADY DID.

NO, I'M SAYING IF YOU NO, I'M GIVING THE OPTION.

YOU GOOD? IT'S NOT, CUZ WHAT I HEARD YOU COME JUST, JUST CLARIFYING HERE.

WE'RE GOOD BY.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

YEAH.

AND IF WE WANNA TALK ABOUT IT UP HERE, THAT'S GREAT, BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MOVE TO TALK ABOUT IT, SO, ALL RIGHT.

COUNCIL, PLEASE VOTE.

I DON'T QUITE KNOW WHAT THIS, THIS VOTE GETS TO FURTHER DISCUSSION YEAH.

ON REVENUE REDUCTION.

ALL RIGHT.

SURE.

UH, MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

OKAY, MAYOR COUNCIL, ME STEWART, MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

UM, AND KELLY, JUST TO BE CLEAR, I CAN BRING THIS ORDINANCE FORWARD IN EVERY MEETING SUBSEQUENTLY AND WE CAN VOTE IT UP OR DOWN THE SAME WAY.

RIGHT? WELL, WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR DISCUSSION.

SO IMMEDIATELY AFTER OUR DISCUSSION, WHICH WILL BE, WILL THAT BE IN, DID YOU GUYS SAY THAT WAS GONNA BE IN OUR BUDGET MEETING OR WILL THAT BE ON THE DIAS THE BUDGET, THE BUDGET MEETING.

SO AFTER THAT BUDGET MEETING, AS OUTTA RESPECT, I CAN BRING THAT FORWARD THEN IN THE NEXT MEETING.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL STEWART, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT COUNSEL IS GIVEN DIRECTION TO NOT FURTHER THIS, THIS CALL.

IS THAT CORRECT? CITY ATTORNEY? YES.

MAYOR, IF I MAY, UM, AT THIS POINT, I THINK I HAVE CLEAR DIRECTION FROM A MAJORITY OF THE COUNSEL TO LET DISCUSSIONS PROCEED WITHOUT ANY SPECIFIC DIRECTION ON ANY ORDINANCE, BUT AS PART OF THE BUDGET.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD RESPECT AS YOUR STAFF.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

UM, I DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER CARD, UH, UH, UH, JEFF WINGER.

I, I, THIS TOOK A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAT I THOUGHT WAS THIS, BUT WOULD YOU STILL LIKE TO, UH, ADDRESS COUNSEL? YOU OF ALL PEOPLE KNOW THE DRILL, SIR, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS HERE IS THE FELLOW, UH, FREIGHT, FREIGHT CARR MAYOR COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.

JEFF WINGER, 1360 SOUTH CAMILLIA COURT, CHANDLER, ARIZONA 85 2 86.

UM, I JUST WAS GONNA TALK GENERALLY ABOUT THIS.

I I WAS FRUSTRATED.

I I DIDN'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BACK IN THE DAY.

I'M, I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED.

I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN A COUNCILS MEMBER NOT GET A SECOND JUST FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES.

[00:40:01]

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A, A TAX ON SOMEBODY BOUGHT AN AIRPLANE OR FANCY CARS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A TAX, WHICH, UH, I HEARD PEOPLE ON ALL POLITICAL SPECTRUMS A FEW YEARS AGO SAYING EVEN THE SALES TAX IS MOST REGRESSIVE TAX THERE IS, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAX ON THINGS YOU NEED TO SUSTAIN YOURSELF FOR LIFE FOOD.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS RECESSION OR, UH, INFLATION HAS GONE A LOT DIFFERENTLY THAN IT DID WHEN I HAD THE HONOR SERVANT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ORLANDO BACK THEN IN THAT INFLATION IS SO HIGH.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, BACK THEN RESTAURANTS COST SKYROCKETED.

BUT PEOPLE WOULD GO AND COOK AT HOME AND BUY FOOD TO GO HOME AND EAT.

AND RESTAURANTS SAW A LOT LESS PEOPLE.

THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT IS THIS TIME.

GROCERY INFLATION IS SKY HIGH.

SO IT'S EVEN, YOU STILL SEE PEOPLE IN RESTAURANTS.

UM, I GUESS JUST A COUPLE POINTS ON, ON THESE THINGS IS THAT I, I REALIZE YOU GOTTA WAIT FOR THE BUDGET TO DEVELOP.

AND DONNA'S BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB HERE.

SHE'S GETTING KUDOS ALL NIGHT FOR A LONG TIME.

SO YOU GOTTA WAIT FOR THAT TOO, TO DEVELOP.

BUT I, I HATE TO SEE AS A COUNCIL BEFORE YOU SEE THINGS COME FORWARD COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN.

TALK ON AN ITEM IN THE FUTURE OF THINGS THAT DRASTICALLY AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED.

AND I THINK DON CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WRONG, BUT THE, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S COMING FROM STATE SHARED REVENUE, I KNOW IT'S KIND OF A CIRCUS DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY'LL HAVE A BUDGET.

AND WHAT STATE SHARED REVENUE YOU'RE ENTITLED TO, YOU'RE ENTITLED TO.

AND URBAN REVENUE SHARING IS GOING TO BE SKY HIGH FOR THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS FROM NUMBERS.

I WAS, UH, KIND UP SOMEBODY GOT FROM ME, FROM G L LBC.

I MEAN, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE STAGGERING AMOUNTS OF MONEY COMING IN FROM THAT.

AND I WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, URGE YOU NOT TO COMPLETELY CLOSE THE DOOR ON SOMETHING THAT I, I THINK MOST CITIZENS, IF YOU WENT AND TALKED TO 'EM, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT TALKING SOMETIMES ABOUT A, A FEW CENTS HERE AND THERE, LIKE WE USED TO TALK ABOUT SOMETIMES WITH PROPERTY TAX WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CAN BE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FAIR, YOU CAN'T COMPLETELY SAY THIS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FAIR ALSO TO SAY THAT THAT MONEY'S COMPLETELY TAKEN OFF THE TABLE, BECAUSE NOW THOSE PEOPLE HAVE MORE MONEY IN THEIR HANDS AND THEY MIGHT BE OUTSPENDING IN OUR COMMUNITY ON OTHER THINGS THAT GENERATES SALES TAX AS WELL.

SO IT, IT'S NOT LIKE ALL THAT MONEY IS LOST.

BUT I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, LISTENING.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MR. WINTER.

COUNSEL, NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES.

I'M NOT AWARE THAT WE HAVE ANY, ALL RIGHT.

THAT LEADS US TO COUNSEL.

YOU KNOW, I CAN NEVER FIND THESE THINGS, WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

BEAR WITH ME A MINUTE.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT LEADS US TO

[ Current Events 1. Mayor's Announcements 2. Council's Announcements 3. City Manager's Announcements]

I I DO WANNA THANK, UH, STAFF AND COUNSEL.

WE HAD A TREMENDOUS STATE OF THE CITY LAST WEEK.

UH, AGAIN, UH, I, I THINK OUR, OUR STATE OF THE CITY IS IN GOOD HANDS, AS I MENTIONED THERE.

WE ALREADY HAVE THE LOWEST, UH, TRANSACTION TAX, 1.5%, THE LOWEST OF ANY CITY, I BELIEVE IN THE STATE.

AND WE HAVE OTHER WAYS IN WHICH WE, UH, CONTINUE TO MAKE LIFE VALUABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR COUNSEL FOR YOUR GREAT WORK AND BRINGING US TO THAT POINT AND FOR REALLY MAKING CHANDLER, UH, A GREAT CITY TO, UH, WALK THROUGH.

SO, UH, WELL, I'M LOOKING AT MY NOTES HERE AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A VIDEO.

IT SAID I'LL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE DECADES TO HIGHLIGHT CHANDLER'S GROWTH.

I GUESS THAT'S JUST WHAT WE DID.

SO, UH, FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN VISIT CHANDLER AZ.GOV/STATE OF THE CITY.

NEXT, I DO WANNA INVITE OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I BELIEVE I LEFT A NOTE ON EACH YOUR COUNCIL'S DESK FOR THE, UH, RELAY FOR LIFE COMING UP ON MARCH 11TH AT 3:00 PM AT PERRY HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS EVENT WILL, UH, SUPPORT A WALK TO SUPPORT A COMMUNITY OF SURVIVORS, CANCER GIVERS, VOLUNTEERS AND PARTICIPANTS TO FIGHT AGAINST COUNCIL OR AGAINST CANCER.

OH, WE DON'T WANT HIM FIGHTING AGAINST COUNSEL BEFORE THEN.

WE HAVE 18 DAYS LEFT TO OF OUR STEP CHALLENGE.

WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THIRD PLACE OVERALL.

WE HAD THE TITLE LAST YEAR.

SO IF YOU ARE A, A, UH, CHANDLER CITY EMPLOYEE THAT HASN'T BEEN LOGGING IN YOUR MILES, UH, PLEASE DO SO EVERY EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.

LET'S GET OUR STEPS IN.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UH, PLEASE JOIN US ON MARCH 16TH TO 19TH FOR THE CHANDLER

[00:45:01]

YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE OSTRICH AT, YOU CAN CHECK THIS OUT@OSTRICHFESTIVAL.COM TO PURCHASE TICKETS.

THERE WILL BE A GREAT LINEUP, FOOD AND RIDES, AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ENCINA, I ACTUALLY DO NOT HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS, BUT THIS WEEKEND, UM, I, NO FIRST TIME, UM, BUT I WILL BE OUT THIS WEEKEND AT THE CHANDLER INNOVATION FAIR.

SO SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT BE SPEAKING ON IT, BUT I'LL SEE YOU GUYS OUT THERE THIS WEEKEND ON SATURDAY.

I GUESS WE WILL BE PARTNERS DOWN THERE BECAUSE I'LL BE THERE ALSO.

IT'S, UH, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY OVER THERE PICK YOU UP.

YEAH.

OKAY.

WILL DO.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THE, WHAT I HAVE THIS AFTERNOON FOR US, OR THIS EVENING, MAYOR, IS THE PUBLIC, UH, SAFETY FAIR THAT IS COMING UP ON MARCH 4TH FROM 9:00 AM TO 1:00 PM THAT'S GONNA BE LOCATED, UH, AT THE CHANDLER POLICE MEN'S STATION RIGHT DOWN THE STREET HERE.

UM, FOR US EACH YEAR, THE CHANDLER POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE, THEY PUT ALL OF THESE GREAT THINGS TOGETHER FOR US AS FAR AS LIKE, UH, SHOWCASE THE WORK OF, UH, CHANDLER PD AND, AND WHAT THEY DO ALSO AT FIRE.

THERE'LL BE PLENTY TO EXPLORE.

I'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE AMAZING.

I AM GOING TO BE AT THE BOOTH DOING THE FINGERPRINT FOR ALL THE CHILDREN.

SO BRING YOUR KIDS OUT AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET A FINGERPRINT CARD, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US AS PARENTS TO HAVE ON OUR CHILDREN.

THE NEXT THING I'M TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW WILL BE A LUNCH THAT U OF A, WHICH IS, UH, UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA IS PUTTING TOGETHER, IT'S CALLED THE U OF A LUNCH AND LEARN.

IT'S GONNA BE ON FRIDAY, UH, THE 24TH FROM 12 TO 1:00 PM AND IT IS GOING TO BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO EDUCATE.

BUSINESSES WILL COME TOGETHER TO CREATE EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY FOR THE EMPLOYEES.

SO, UM, ANYBODY WHO WOULD LOVE TO GO, I'M SURE MISS JEN PROBABLY WOULD LOVE TO BE THERE AND, UM, BRING SOME BUSINESSES.

SO I'M ENCOURAGING ALL OUR COMMUNITY, BUSINESS COMMUNITY FROM THE CHAMBER AND EVERYBODY TO GET THERE AND LET'S PUT OUR HANDS TOGETHER AND I'M BRING SOME GREAT THINGS FORWARD FOR OUR BUSINESSES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

YES, SIR.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

UM, MS. COUNCIL MEMBER AND CINA SAID, UH, THIS SATURDAY WILL BE THE, UM, INNOVATION FAIR.

AND I SAID, UH, , SORRY, I'LL GET TO YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU.

COME ON NOW.

GIMME A BREAK HERE.

.

THE, UM, LET ME START ALL OVER AGAIN.

THIS FRIDAY, EXCUSE ME, THIS SATURDAY, UH, FROM 10 TO 3:00 PM AT DR.

AJ CHANDLER PARK WILL BE THE, UH, THE CHANDLER INNOVATION FAIR.

UM, THIS IS A SHOWCASE FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS AND INNOVATORS TO COME TO OUR COMMUNITY TO SEEK, ENCOURAGE OUR YOUTH TO ENJOY, GET SOME HANDS-ON EX EXPLORATION OF SCIENCE AND MATH.

UM, THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THIS HAS, UM, CREATED A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR KIDS.

IN FACT, UM, THIS WILL BE THE SECOND YEAR IN ROW THAT THE CHAN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, WILL BE PARTICIPATING AS WELL.

SO, UH, HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR I GET SOME OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PARTICIPATE SO WE CAN MAKE THIS EVEN LARGER AND BETTER.

UM, WE'LL SEE YOU, UH, SATURDAY, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLA WILL PERSONALLY BE GREETING YOU AT THE DOOR.

THANK YOU.

SEE, I TOLD YOU I WORKED YOU IN.

SEE YOU JUST GIMME A CHANCE.

LOVE IT.

COUNCIL, YOU DO FOR ME.

WHAT IF I, ME .

THANK, THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND, AND, AND SO I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE CHANDLER INNOVATION FAIR.

UM, , IT'S THIS SATURDAY.

IF YOU HADN'T HEARD, IT'S THIS SATURDAY FROM ANYWAY , I WILL BE OUT THERE AS WELL.

BUT, UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

ME, GREAT STATE OF THE CITY.

AND YOU KNOW, JUST TO GO BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING EARLIER, I MEAN, WE ARE IN SUCH A GREAT POSITION AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND EVERYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL AND STAFF, UM, TO BE ABLE TO SIT THERE AND FEEL THE PRIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING THAT WE, WE, WE ARE ABLE TO SEE AND WATCH AND THE, AND THE VIDEO THAT THE TEAM PUT TOGETHER, JUST GOING BACK OVER THE DECADES WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET ON OUR FACEBOOK AND CHECK IT OUT.

IT WILL GIVE YOU, WHETHER YOU JUST MOVED HERE THIS YEAR OR WHETHER YOU MOVED HERE 40 YEARS AGO, IT WILL GIVE YOU A SENSE OF PRIDE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

SO I RECOMMEND THAT.

AND THEN WHEN YOU GET DONE, YOU CAN GO CELEBRATE AT THE BEER AND BARBECUE FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY, MARCH 25TH AT NOON, FROM NOON TO 10:00 PM TUMBLEWEED PARK.

SO THAT'S GROWN AND THAT'S GONNA BE SPONSORED BY K AND IX.

OR NOT SPONSORED, BUT THEY'RE GONNA BE THERE.

SO BRING YOUR APPETITE AND YOUR COWBOY HAT, CUZ BE, IT SHOULD BE A ROOT AND TOOT IN GOOD TIME.

NOT BECAUSE OF THE THEMES WITH THE .

NO MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS THE CHAIR.

INNOVATION .

WELL, SO THIS WEEKEND I HAD, WELL, THIS WEEK I'VE BEEN, UH, SPEAKING TO SCHOOLS ACROSS THE VALLEY AND, AND AWARENESS OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH.