Jan 08, 2024 City Council Study Session 01/08/2024

[ Call to Order]

[00:00:05]

WELL, GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO OUR STUDY SESSION OF JANUARY 8TH.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE A ROLL CALL.

I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.

WE'VE GOT QUITE A FEW THINGS GOING ON IN TERMS OF RECOGNITIONS AND, AND A PROCLAMATION, SO, UH, WE'RE GOING TO WORK THROUGH THOSE.

UH, PLEASE, UH, MUFFLE AND STIFLE YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR A FOOTBALL GAME THAT'S ALSO GOING ON AT THIS TIME.

SO, UH, NO SPONTANEOUS, WHOOPS, COMING OUT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AREA OVER THERE, PLEASE.

SO ANYWAY, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

I'M GLAD THAT AS A CITY WE HAVE SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE.

AND WITH THAT CLERK, PLEASE TAKE THE ROLE.

MAYOR HARTKE HERE.

VICE MAYOR ORLANDO.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ASINAS PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER HERE.

WE HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU CITY CLERK.

OUR

[1. Service Recognitions]

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART, IF YOU WOULD JOIN ME UP FRONT.

ALL RIGHT, FIRST ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT ARE SERVICE RECOGNITIONS.

AND LET ME TURN THIS OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

WE DO HAVE THREE EMPLOYEE SERVICE RECOGNITIONS THIS EVENING.

AND, UH, THE FIRST ONE I'D LIKE TO CALL KIM MOYERS, OUR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, FORWARD TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'D LIKE TO CALL UP TRACY WYATT FOR HER 10 YEARS OF SERVICE.

TRACY JOINED THE ART CENTER IN 2013.

SHE NOW SERVES AS THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST FOR THE ARTS CENTER DIVISION.

TRACY IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, PROVIDING NONPROFIT FINANCIAL EXPERTISE FOR THE CULTURAL FOUNDATION AND IMPECCABLE FINANCIAL AND STRATEGIC SKILLS FOR THE DIVISION.

TRACY WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN COLLECTING THE DATA AND SUPPORTING THE APPLICATION FOR THE SBOG GRANT, WHICH WAS SECURED, UH, THE LARGEST AWARD IN THE CENTER'S HISTORY OF $1.6 MILLION.

TRACY IS DEEPLY, YES, TRACY IS DEEPLY DEVOTED TO HER FAITH AND SERVES AS THE TREASURER OF THE FAMILY BIBLE CHURCH.

PRIOR TO JOINING THE CITY, TRACY AND HER HUSBAND DAWN, OWNED THEIR OWN TECHNOLOGY FIRM FOR OVER 10 YEARS.

TRACY IS ALSO A PROUD MOM OF DAUGHTER CELESTE, AND BOTH DAWN AND CELESTE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE WITH TRACY.

TODAY.

WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE TRACY AS PART OF TEAM CHANDLER.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THE NEXT TWO RECOGNITIONS ARE FOR RETIREMENTS FROM THE CITY.

AND FOR THE FIRST ONE, I'D LIKE TO CALL UPON OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, DON LANG.

THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK JOHN CHERYL, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES MANAGER TO COME FORWARD AND BE RECOGNIZED.

SO, JOHN CHERYL HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR ALMOST 23 YEARS.

HE BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE CITY IN MAY OF 2001 AS A STORMWATER PROGRAMS COORDINATOR IN PUBLIC WORKS.

IN OCTOBER, 2006, HE MOVED TO MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE HIM AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL MAN PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND WAS THEN PROMOTED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES MANAGER IN FEBRUARY, 2016.

AFTER ALMOST 23 YEARS, ASSISTING DEPARTMENTS IN KEEPING CHANDLER FACILITIES ENVIRONMENTALLY COMPLIANT.

JOHN IS HEADING INTO A WEALTH DESERVED RETIREMENT.

JOHN AND HIS WIFE AMANDA, WHO'S HERE THIS EVENING, WILL BE LIVING IN THE QUAD CITIES.

THAT'S IOWA, ILLINOIS AREA, VERY COLD WITH, WITH THEIR TWO AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERDS, ROWAN, AND SAPPHIRE.

AMANDA WILL CONTINUE TEACHING MUSIC AT AUGUSTAN UNIVERSITY, AND JOHN BEING EXTREMELY CREATIVE, MAY CONTINUE MAKING BEAUTIFUL, HANDCRAFTED WRITING PENS, ROAST COFFEE, BEANS, OR MAYBE SOMETHING NEW.

JOHN'S GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR, PASSION FOR SERVICE AND EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION KNOWLEDGE WILL BE MISSED.

AND I THINK OUR

[00:05:01]

I THANK YOU FOR ALMOST 23 YEARS SERVING THE CITY OF CHANDLER.

WE WISH YOU GREAT ADVENTURES IN THE YEARS TO COME.

JOHN MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR OUR LAST, UH, RETIREMENT RECOGNITION THIS EVENING.

IF I COULD PLEASE ASK OUR CHIEF OF POLICE, SEAN DUGGAN, TO COME FORWARD TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE CITY OF CHANDLER MAYOR AND COUNCIL, IT'S MY HONOR THIS EVENING TO RECOGNIZE CHIEF OF POLICE SEAN DUGGAN ON HIS RETIREMENT.

AFTER 10 YEARS WITH THE CITY OF CHANDLER AND 38 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, CHIEF DUGGAN JOINED THE CHANDLER POLICE DEPARTMENT ON JANUARY 13TH, 2014.

AFTER SERVING 27 YEARS WITH THE SCOTTSDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT, HE BEGAN HIS LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER SHORTLY AFTER GRADUATING FROM A SU WITH A DEGREE IN JUSTICE STUDIES FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HIS FATHER WHO SERVED AS A NEW YORK CITY POLICE OFFICER, WORKING IN NEARLY EVERY ASPECT OF POLICING.

HE STEADILY ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS, CULMINATING IN THE RANK OF ASSISTANT CHIEF, NOT INITIALLY SEEING HIMSELF AS A CHIEF OF POLICE.

ONE DAY WHEN SELECTED BY OUR FORMER CITY MANAGER, RICH DE LUCAS, FOR THIS ROLE IN 2014, HE CALLED JOINING THE CHANDLER POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE GREATEST HONOR THAT CAN BE BESTOWED UPON ME PROFESSIONALLY.

AND CHANDLER CHIEF DUGGAN HAS BROUGHT A RENEWED SENSE OF PROFESSIONALISM AND INNOVATION TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HE SPEARHEADED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS BODY CAMERAS AND TEXT TO 9 1 1, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHANDLER PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING CENTER.

HE ALSO ELEVATED CHANDLER'S REPUTATION AS A RESPECTED AGENCY, BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, SERVING LEADERSHIP ROLES WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE, THE NATIONAL JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCE, AND THE ARIZONA CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMISSION AMONG MANY OTHERS.

DESPITE ALL OF THE CHANDLER POLICE DEPARTMENT'S NATIONAL ACCLAIM AND THE INCREDIBLY SAFE COMMUNITY WE ENJOY TODAY, CHIEF DUGGAN'S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT IS THE TEAM HE HAS BUILT.

SEAN, WE'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING TOGETHER THESE LAST NEARLY SEVEN YEARS, AND PARTICULARLY THE PAST THREE.

IN THAT TIME, I'VE KNOWN YOU TO BE A PASSIONATE DEFENDER OF AN ADVOCATE FOR YOUR PEOPLE, ALWAYS PUSHING FOR NEW TOOLS, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT FOR THOSE UNDER YOUR COMMAND.

I KNOW YOU FEEL CONFIDENT IN YOUR DECISION TO RETIRE KNOWING THAT THE CHANDLER POLICE DEPARTMENT IS IN GREAT HANDS.

BEING A CHIEF OF POLICE IS AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT JOB, ONE IN WHICH YOU FREQUENTLY FIND YOURSELF IN THE EYE OF THE STORM AND HAVING TO MAKE THE KIND OF HARD DECISIONS NOBODY WANTS TO MAKE.

YOU HAVE MET THE CHALLENGE WITH INTEGRITY AND BRAVERY AND OUR COMMUNITY IS BETTER FOR IT.

IN PARTICULAR, I WANNA THANK YOUR WIFE MARY, WHO'S HERE TONIGHT AS WELL, AND YOUR CHILDREN FOR THEIR PATIENCE AND SHARING US, SHARING YOU WITH US THIS PAST DECADE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT.

SEAN, WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN THIS NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE.

YOU HAVE A PHOTO OF YOU SWITCHING.

DO YOU WANT ME TO HOLD STANDING? THAT'S AWESOME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

STAY HERE.

SO COUNCIL, I, UM, UH, I'LL GIVE EACH OF YOU A CHANCE IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING AS WELL, AND I'LL START.

SO WHEN I FIRST BECAME MAYOR, SOMEONE CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, CAN I HAVE A KEY TO THE CITY? AND I SAID, WELL, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? HE SAID, THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND SAID NOTHING.

AND IN FACT, I DON'T EVEN LIVE HERE.

SO I SAID, WELL, TO GET A KEY TO THE CITY, YOU REALLY HAVE TO HAVE EXTRAORDINARILY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS COMMUNITY.

AND, UH, FOR THAT REASON, I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU ONE.

YOU HAVE, UH, MADE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON OUR CITY.

UH, YOU HAVE, UH, MADE US REALLY WHAT I WOULD CALL A A, A PRIDE OF THE NATION AND, UH,

[00:10:01]

AND THERE'S LOTS OF FACTORS, GREAT SCHOOLS, OF COURSE, BUT, UH, WITHOUT SAYING THAT WE ARE AN EXTREMELY SAFE CITY, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY.

SO FROM MYSELF AND FROM CITY COUNCIL, WE'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU THIS KEY TO THE CITY AS WELL.

LET ME START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART, THEN WE'LL WORK AWAY IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT MAYOR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU KNOW, UH, , YOU SHOULD, UM, , HE'S NOT MOVING.

I, I, I GOTTA TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, CHANDLER IS FORTUNATE.

WE, WE LIVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT'S, UM, LOVES OUR POLICE, LOVES OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

UM, I, I, I KNOW FROM GOING INTO MANY DONUT SHOPS OVER THE YEARS THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS DON'T PAY FOR COFFEE IN THIS TOWN.

AND, AND THAT'S REMARKABLE.

BUT IT, IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A CULTURE, UM, IN OUR, IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT STARTED WITH SEAN.

UM, IT'S A, IT'S A CULTURE OF PRIDE.

IT'S A CULTURE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RESPECT AND MUTUAL RESPECT.

WE DON'T GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, IN, AT CITY, AT CITY HALL.

AND IT'S BECAUSE, AND I'VE BEEN ON RIDE-ALONGS AND, AND, AND Y'ALL CAN TOO, BUT YOU GO OUT AND, AND THESE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE A DEMEANOR WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU JUST DON'T HEAR ABOUT.

AND SO, WE'RE LUCKY.

AND THAT STARTED 10 YEARS AGO WHEN, WHEN SEAN JOINED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND SO, UM, I'M PROUD OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND I KNOW IT STARTS HERE.

IT'S WITH THE LEADERSHIP, WITH YOUR ASSISTANT CHIEFS, THE SERGEANTS.

IT PERMEATES THROUGH THE ENTIRE CULTURE OF THE, OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND IT'S WHY WE HAVE THE, THE LOWEST CRIME RATE THAT CHANDLER'S EVER EXPERIENCED FOR, FOR VIOLENT CRIME IS HAPPENING IN 2023.

AND THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO CHIEF DUGGAN.

UM, SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU, FOR MY FAMILY, JUST PERSONALLY, FOR BEING ABLE TO LIVE IN A SAFE COMMUNITY LIKE THIS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I, I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT.

I GOT ONE RIGHT HERE.

CHIEF, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR YEARS OF DEDICATION HERE TO THE CITY OF CHANDLER.

YOU HAVE DEFINITELY SET THE BAR AND YOU HAVE UPHELD THE CHANDLER BRAND.

WE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN HERE, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT YOU AND YOUR SERVICE.

SO I DO JUST WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

WE ONLY GOT TO WORK TOGETHER FOR ONE YEAR, BUT I'VE SEEN YOU MANY MORE YEARS SHOWING LEADING CHANDLER AS A RESIDENT.

AND TODAY I'M HAPPY TO BE, HAVE WORKED WITH YOU FOR THIS PAST YEAR.

SO I THANK YOU AND I WISH YOU THE BEST FOR YOUR RETIREMENT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.

UH, RAISING A BLACK MALE SON IN THE CITY OF CHANDLER, UM, WAS A BIT EASIER KNOWING THAT YOU WERE AT THE REALM OF THIS CITY.

AND THE NIGHT THAT, UH, MY SON DIED, CHANDLER HOSPITAL, YOU WERE STANDING RIGHT THERE WITH ME.

AND I REMEMBER IT WAS, UH, THE MOMENT THAT YOU WALKED IN, THAT'S WHEN MY KNEE BUCKLED BECAUSE I JUST SAW YOU.

AND HIS NAME IS SEAN, AND YOUR NAME IS SEAN.

AND WHEN I SAID SEAN, AND THAT'S WHERE IT REALLY DAWNED ON ME WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

AND YOU STOOD THERE WITH ME THAT NIGHT, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO, BUT YOU WERE THERE.

AND FOR THAT, I'M GRATEFUL THE CITY IS GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOUR WIFE AND YOUR CHILDREN HAVE ALLOWED YOU TO ACCOMPLISH HERE.

I WANNA THANK YOU WIFE FOR MAKING SURE THAT EVERY NIGHT WHEN YOU COME HOME, THAT YOU'RE REJUVENATED FOR THE NEXT MORNING TO BE HERE WITH US AGAIN.

AND FOR THAT, I'M GRATEFUL.

AS I SAID, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME.

BECAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR COUNCIL, YOU WERE THE FIRST PERSON THAT I SAT DOWN WITH TO ASK, IF THERE WAS ONE THING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THIS CITY, WHAT WOULD IT BE? AND YOU OPENED YOUR HEART TO ME AND TOLD ME, AND I FELT THAT I HAD LIVED TO THAT, UH, BY GIVING YOU WHAT YOUR HEART MOSTLY WANTED, WHICH IS TO HAVE A DEPARTMENT WHERE MENTAL HEALTH IS GONNA BE THE PRIORITY HERE FOR YOUR GUYS AND ALSO FOR THE PEOPLE OF CHANDLER.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ACCEPTING THE KEY OF THE CITY AND FOR HAVING WORKED TO PUT US WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

AND MAY TOMORROW BRING YOU A DAY THAT YOU WILL FEEL THAT

[00:15:01]

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, CHIEF.

WELL, UH, IT'S THE RETIREMENT.

AND I GOTTA TELL EVERYONE, ALTHOUGH CHIEF SEEMS SO STERN, HE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEINGS YOU'LL EVER MEET.

HE REALLY DO CARE ABOUT HIS JOB.

HE REALLY DO CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF CHANDLER.

AND I CAN TELL YOU, I'VE HAD SO MANY CONSTITUENTS COME UP TO ME AND TELL ME THAT THEY SLEEP BETTER, KNOWING THAT CHIEF WAS AT THE HYMN OF THE CITY OF CHANDLER.

UM, AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH THAT DURING THE TIME WHERE OUR CITY NEEDED YOU TO STEP UP THE MOST, AND DURING THE TIME THAT WE REALLY NEEDED YOU TO SHOW YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOU SHOWED YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOU CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR OUR CITY SAFE.

UM, DURING PROTESTS GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE NATION, NO ONE CAME TO THE CITY OF CHANDLER.

NO ONE HARMED ANYTHING.

YOU MADE SURE THAT YOU KEPT A ORDERLY MOMENT AND YOU ALLOW PEOPLE TO EXERCISE THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH, AND YOU NEVER TRY TO STOP THAT FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

AND FOR THAT, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT YOU AND I WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF YOUR GREATEST MOMENTS WHEN YOU WAS ABLE TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO EXPRESS HOW THEY FELT, WHETHER WE AGREE WITH IT OR NOT.

BUT I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, UM, IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS.

IT'S BEEN AMAZING SERVING WITH YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS PICKING UP YOUR PHONE FROM ME.

THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS LISTENING TO ME.

THANK YOU FOR THE COFFEES THAT WE'VE HAD.

THANK YOU FOR BEING ABLE TO JUST TO BE A PERSON.

I CAN JUST LEAN ON AND DEPEND ON.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU THINK YOU'RE RETIRING, YOU'RE JUST GOING TO YOUR NEXT PHASE OF ME CALLING YOU .

BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOUR WIFE AND YOUR FAMILY AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT SHE KEEPS YOU LIFTED.

AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING CHANDLER FIRST.

AND I KNOW YOUR FAMILY HAD TO MAKE A LOT OF SACRIFICES, SO YOU CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP US FIRST.

BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

USE THAT KEY.

WELL, IT OPENS UP THE MAYOR'S HOUSE.

, THANK YOU AGAIN.

SHE THANK YOU.

WELL, CHIEF, WHEN, WHEN I FIRST CAME ON COUNCIL, YOU SET ME UP WITH A TOUR OF ALL OF YOUR FACILITIES, AND THEN LATER IN, IN THE TERM, YOU SET ME UP WITH, UM, A RIDE-ALONG WITH YOUR STAFF AND THE PRIDE THAT EMANATES FROM EVERY ONE OF YOUR STAFF, FROM BEING PART OF CHANDLER EMANATES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.

AND THE COMMUNITY HAS PRIDE IN ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND OF THAT AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR ME IN INTRODUCING ME TO YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE AND ALL THE THINGS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW.

UM, I APPRECIATE IT.

I WISH YOU THE BEST.

GOOD LUCK IN RETIREMENT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE YEARS THAT YOU'VE BEEN HERE.

AND I'LL ECHO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS SAID, THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE ANY POLICE OFFICER FROM THE CHIEF RIGHT DOWN TO ANYONE THAT'S THERE, IT IS A FAMILY JOB.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU AND THE SACRIFICES YOUR FAMILY HAS MADE AND WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST IN RETIREMENT.

THANK YOU.

VICE MAYOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANY COMMENTS? THANK YOU.

HEY, UH, SEAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE, UH, NOT JUST TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I THINK, UH, YOUR LEADERSHIP ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.

A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN GREATLY INVOLVED IN SETTING STANDARDS AND TRAINING, NOT JUST FOR ARIZONA AND OUR LOCAL, BUT FOR THE NATION.

UH, THAT, THAT THAT MUST BE THE EPITOME OF, OF YOUR CAREER.

AND I'M SURE YOU'RE VERY PROUD OF, UH, THOSE ACTIVITIES.

SO, UM, GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR FUTURE EV ENDEAVORS AND, AND ALL THE BEST TO YOU AND THE FAMILY.

I MADE THAT WITHOUT COUGHING.

I DID IT ONCE AND WE'LL SEE YOU ON THURSDAY.

OH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? I THINK I NEED TO SAY SOMETHING AT THIS POINT.

UM, JUST REAL BRIEFLY, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN THE ABSOLUTE, UH, GREATEST HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS YOUR CHIEF, BUT REALLY TO WORK ALONGSIDE SO MANY COURAGEOUS, TALENTED, AND DEDICATED, UH, MEN AND WOMEN WHO HELP EVERY SINGLE DAY TO KEEP OUR CITY SAFE.

AND IT'S A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE, UH, WE'VE DEVELOPED OVER MANY, MANY YEARS, UM, THAT IS MADE CHANDLER, IT'S SUCH A GREAT CITY, BUT, BUT SPECIFICALLY A VERY SAFE CITY BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORT AND, UM, AND REALLY OF WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY.

UM, WE HAVE SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL HERE, AND I'M, AND I'M CONFIDENT, UM, AS A RESIDENT, UH, THAT WILL CONTINUE.

UH, THE CITY'S IN GREAT HANDS.

WE HAVE A DEEP LEADERSHIP BENCH AND, UH, THE TRAJECTORY WILL CONTINUE TO GO UPWARDS AND ONWARDS.

SO THANK YOU.

SO

[00:20:01]

ALL RIGHT, NEXT ON

[2. Recognition - Public Works Equipment Roadeo Awards]

WELL, THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL, UM, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE GREAT WORK THAT OUR PUBLIC WORKS STREETS AND TRAFFIC DIVISIONS DO FOR THE CITY.

I'D LIKE TO INVITE, UM, ALL OF THE PUBLIC WORKS, STREETS AND TRAFFIC FOLKS UP.

UH, WE'VE GOT QUITE A FEW HERE TONIGHT, CHARLIE.

SO THE STREETS AND TRAFFIC DIVISIONS, 56 FIELD STAFF ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CITY'S 2100 LANE MILES OF ROADWAY.

3000 DRAINS, CATCH BASINS AND DRY WELLS, 240 TRAFFIC SIGNALS, 29,000 STREET LIGHTS, 40 MILES OF ALLEYS, 420 ACRES OF A RIGHT OF WAY LANDSCAPE, AND JUST ABOUT 52,000 ROAD SIGNS WITH THE STAFF THIS SMALL.

THEY COULDN'T DO ALL OF THAT UNLESS THEY WERE THE VERY BEST WHAT THEY DO.

FORTUNATELY, EVERY YEAR THERE'S A STATEWIDE COMPETITION CALLED THE MAINTENANCE SUPERINTENDENT'S ASSOCIATION RODEO, SPELLED O-R-O-A-D-E-O, WHERE PUBLIC WORKS ORGANIZATIONS FROM ACROSS THE STREET, A STATE CAN COME TOGETHER AND SHOWCASE THEIR SKILLS.

IN THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION, NOT ONLY DID WE WIN AND PLACE, BUT WE ALSO TOOK THE SHOW WITH FIRST PLACE FINISHES AND ASPHALT PATCH, CONCRETE REPAIR, STREETLIGHT, INSTALL, SIGN PLACEMENT, AND BACK COOPERATIONS.

WE ALSO PLACED THIRD IN TRAFFIC MARKING AND THE MOST IMPORTANT, THE FREE THROW COMPETITION.

AND WITH ALL THESE OUTSTANDING CHANDLER WAS ALSO CHOSEN BEST OF THE BEST FOR THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION.

NOT ONLY THIS YEAR, BUT LOOKING AT THE TROPHY.

WE'VE GOTTEN IT FIVE YEARS OUT OF THE PAST 11.

SO TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS SHOW.

I'D LIKE TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WORK YOU DO FOR OUR CITY AND TRULY DEMONSTRATING WHAT TEAM CHANDLER IS ALL ABOUT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GUYS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

LET'S, UH, JOHN, COME ON UP.

LET'S TAKE A PHOTO.

YEAH, YEAH.

COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART REMINDED ME THAT, UH, A FORMER PHOENIX CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, WAS MY BIGGEST ADVOCATE OF CHANDLER RHODES, AND HE ALWAYS PLD HIS OWN, BUT HE WOULD ALWAYS RAVE ABOUT CHANDLER.

AND, AND THIS IS THE TEAM THAT, UH, BROUGHT US ALL OF THOSE ACCOLADES, SO THANK YOU.

[3. Recognition - CUSD, Best School District by Niche]

AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE FRANK UCCI TO COME ON UP AS THE PROUD PARENT OF FOUR GRADUATES OF CUSD.

I AFFIRM THAT STATEMENT, AND THIS HAS BEEN PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THROUGH OUR STUDENTS' EXPERIENCES, EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS AND NICHE IS ONE OF THE LEADING SCHOOL SEARCH WEBSITES.

RECENTLY RECOGNIZED CHANDLER UNIFIED AS THE 2024 BEST DISTRICT AND NUMBER ONE BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ARIZONA FOR BOTH ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS.

SO, CONGRATULATIONS.

CUSD, FRANK MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALSO, UH, CITY OF CHANDLER EXECUTIVE TEAM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE ARE NOT ONLY PROUD, BUT HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, A PART OF A COMMUNITY THAT HAS GROWN TOGETHER THAT SUPPORTS EACH OTHER AS WELL.

WE'VE HAD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CITY AND THEIR SUPPORT FOR DECADES, UH, FOR THE CENTURY.

WE GREW TOGETHER.

IT'S SYMBIOTIC, AND WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF OUR CHILDREN, OUR STUDENTS.

IT'S NOT ONLY AN AWARD, IT'S NOT ONLY, UM, A ONE-TIME THING, BUT THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF CHANDLER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, 23% OF THE STUDENTS THAT LIVE IN OUR AREA CHOOSE CHANDLER SCHOOLS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST CAPTURE RATES OF ANY

[00:25:01]

SO THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE CHOOSING CHANDLER.

BUT IT'S NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE DISTRICT, IT'S BECAUSE THE CITY IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE NATION.

IT'S A LIVABLE CITY.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE CHILDREN AND, UM, AND THE SUPPORT THAT THEY GET.

I, WE'VE ALL, MANY OF US HAVE RAISED OUR KIDS HERE IN CHANDLER, WHICH IS, WHICH IS A, A CREDIT TO THIS, THE WONDERFUL CITY THAT IT IS.

BUT ALSO IT ALSO TAKES PLACE WITH OUR COMMUNITY BUSINESSES AND OUR INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THE SCHOOLS, OUR NONPROFITS, THAT MAKE SURE OUR FAMILIES ARE READY TO COME TO SCHOOLS.

IT'S NOT A DISTRICT DOING IT ALONE, IT'S ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER.

WE TAKE OUR ROLE VERY SERIOUSLY IN DEVELOPING THE NEXT WORKFORCE FOR THE CITY OF CHANDLER.

AND SO OUR KIDS HAVE TO COME OUT PREPARED FOR THE FOUR E'S.

UH, WHETHER IT BE ENROLLMENT, WHETHER IT BE ENLISTMENT, WHETHER IT BE EMPLOYMENT OR, OR WHETHER THEY WANNA BE AN ENTREPRENEUR.

AND THAT'S OUR DEDICATION, IS TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS COME OUT WITH A GRADUATION, UH, CERTIFICATE PLUS THAT THEY ARE READY TO GO AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY AHEAD OF THEM.

WE TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY, BUT NICHE IS JUST ONE RANKING.

UM, 30 OF OUR SCHOOLS WERE RECOGNIZED BY US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, UM, AS BEING THE BEST IN THE NATION AND THE BEST IN THE STATE.

IT'S 30 SCHOOLS.

IT'S VERY HARD FOR A LARGE DISTRICT TO HAVE THIS KIND OF QUALITY FOR SO LONG.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, WE HAVE SEVEN MORE SCHOOLS THAN EVER BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF CHANNEL UNIFIED THAT WERE RATED AS A A SCHOOLS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WHICH BRINGS IT TO A TOTAL OF 30 SCHOOLS THAT HAVE THE A RATING, WHICH ALSO LED TO THE DISTRICT BEING ANOTHER A RATED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AGAIN, A DISTRICT THAT SERVES 43,300 STUDENTS EVERY DAY.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE THANK OUR CHAMBER AND BUSINESSES.

WE THANK ALL OF OUR, OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS FOR COMING IN AND HELPING US DO WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY.

AND WE ARE AFFIRMING THAT COMMITMENT.

WHAT'S COMING OUT, AND I'LL JUST SAY IT NOW, IS THERE'S GOING TO BE A RANKING COMING OUT, UM, BY STEPHANIE RANKING ARIZONA.

I WANTED TO SAY RANKING.COM.

'CAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE, BUT I THINK RANKING ARIZONA RANKS EVERYTHING THE BEST WAFFLE, THE BEST, WHATEVER, BUT WE WILL BE RANKED ALSO AS BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT.

BUT THIS HAPPENS NOT BY US ALONE.

THIS TEAM HERE IS OUR CABINET, THIS IS OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT IMPACT OUR CHILDREN, AND THAT WORK WITH OUR TEAM OF 5,200 EMPLOYEES EVERY DAY THAT COME TO WORK WITH THE, AND THEN SOME ATTITUDE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN EVERYBODY'S LIVES.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

WE APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH AND WE KNOW WHAT YOU DO IS VERY HARD, BUT YOU DO IT WELL.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, JENNIFER, UH, LINE US UP.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

OKAY.

Y'ALL DON'T NEED TO LEAVE.

YOU CAN STAY FOOTBALL.

WOW.

LEAVING US FOR A FOOTBALL GAME.

.

OKAY.

[4. Recognition - Parade of Lights Winners]

SO IF I COULD HAVE OMA LINDA YAMAS COME ON UP.

OUR ANNUAL TUMBLEWEED TREE LIGHTING AND PARADE OF LIGHTS IS ONE OF THE, IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHANDLER TRADITIONS, AND WE DO IT SO WELL.

THERE WERE SO MANY CREATIVE ENTRIES.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR MAYOR'S YOUTH COMMISSION FOR JUDGING THIS YEAR AS THEIR JOB WAS NOT EASY.

AND I WOULD ALSO BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK OR MELINDA AND HER TEAM FOR THEIR WORK TO MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS.

CONGRATULATE, I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR WINNERS AND LET'S GET STARTED WITH THE AWARDS.

WONDERFUL.

WELL, THANK YOU MAYOR.

UM, IT'S MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE THE 20, UH, 23 PARADE OF LIGHTS WINNERS.

UM, IT'S A LONGSTANDING TRADITION WITH THE CITY OF CHANDLER, MANY FAMILIES, ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, AND BUSINESSES TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE.

EACH YEAR.

WE ARE EXCITED TO PRESENT THE WINNERS OF THE 2023 PARADE OF LIGHTS AND THANK THEM FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK AND PARTICIPATION.

WE'LL HAVE EACH RE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE WINNERS COME UP WHEN THEY'RE ANNOUNCED.

UM, LET'S START WITH OUR FIRST CATEGORY, BESSETT MUSICAL OR DANCE GROUP.

OUR SECOND PLACE WINNER FOR THIS, UH, CATEGORY IS OS OASIS ENSEMBLES.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE UNABLE TO BE WITH US TONIGHT, BUT WE STILL WANNA THANK THEM FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THEIR WINNING EFFORTS.

OUR FIRST PLACE, YES, OUR FIRST PLACE WINNER FOR BEST LIT MUSICAL AND DANCE GROUP GOES TO CARLSON BIG SPIRIT LINE, ACCEPTING THEIR AWARD TONIGHT IS KELLY MARIETTA AND KAT KEN KENDRICKS,

[00:30:02]

AND ALL OF THESE LOVELY YOUNG LADIES.

WE WANNA THANK THEM FOR THEIR, UH, SPIRIT AND WHAT THEY BROUGHT TO THE PARADE AND PUTTING A WONDERFUL DISPLAY ON FOR OUR COMMUNITY THIS WAY.

, I WAS, THEY GOTTA DO THEIR FIGHT ZONE NOW.

.

LET'S THANK YOU.

THANK YOU LADIES, GIRLS.

ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT CATEGORY.

BEST LUCK COMMUNITY GROUP.

OUR SECOND PLACE IS AWARDED TO SPARK OF THE HOLIDAYS.

COLLEEN ENGINEER AND SANDY LUCAS, ARE THEY HERE TONIGHT? COME ON UP.

LADIES ARE HERE TO ACCEPT THE AWARD.

WE APPRECIATE AND CELEBRATE THEIR TINY BUT MIGHTY ENTRY AND ALL THE EFFORT IT TOOK FOR THEM TO BE PART OF THE PARADE OF LIGHTS THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU.

YOU WERE THE GRINCH CAR .

THAT'S, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

CONGRATULATIONS.

OUR FIRST PLACE IN BEST LIT COMMUNITY GROUP GOES TO CHANDLER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION AND ACCEPTING THEIR AWARD.

TONIGHT IS SONYA JONES AND TOM GERINGER.

CUSD.

TRANSPORTATION ALWAYS PUTS SO MUCH WORK AND EFFORT INTO THEIR FLOATS, AND THIS YEAR'S NO EXCEPTION WITH THEIR YELLOW SUBMARINE AS A CROWD PLEASER.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THEIR CREATIVE MINDS COME UP WITH NEXT YEAR.

NO, NO.

WONDERFUL.

CONGRATULATIONS.

ONE MORE PICTURE.

YOUR PHOTO.

GOT IT.

DID, CONGRATULATIONS.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT CATEGORY IS BELI BEST LIT BUSINESS GROUP.

OUR SECOND PLACE WINNER IS JUNK BROTHERS.

ALTHOUGH THEY WERE UNABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT, WE DO WANNA THANK THEM AND APPRECIATE THEIR PARTICIPATION.

ENTHUSIASM FOR THE PARADE OF LIGHTS.

OUR FIRST, OUR FIRST PLACE IN BEST LIT BUSINESS GROUP GOES TO, BUT TREY MAGAZINES, EXCEPT IN THE WAR TONIGHT IS JESSICA AND TIFFANY.

GWEN.

THERE WE'RE, WE LOVE SEEING NEW BUSINESSES TAKE PART IN THIS ICONIC EVENT WITH ALL OF THEIR CREATIVITY ON DISPLAY.

YOU GOT IT.

.

ONE MORE, I THINK.

.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.

THE NEXT CATEGORY IS ALWAYS A FAVORITE OF THE PARADE WATCHERS AND PARTICIPANTS, BIGGEST AND BRIGHTEST.

OUR SECOND PLACE IS AWARDED TO CHANDLER YOUTH BASEBALL AND ACCEPTING THE AWARD TONIGHT IS LISA AND JUSTIN SUTTON.

HERE.

THIS GROUP BROUGHT AN AWESOME DISPLAY TO THE PARADE OF LIGHTS, AND EVERYONE LOVES SEEING THEM.

FIRST PLACE AND BIGGEST AND BRIGHTEST GOES TO COPPER STATE, FOUR-WHEELERS.

AND HERE DO WE ACCEPT THEIR AWARD.

TONIGHT ARE JIM NOSSETT AND MIKE KNOWLES.

THIS CLUB WAS FORMED IN 1972

[00:35:01]

THANK YOU.

AND OUR FINAL AWARD FOR THE EVENING IS JUDGE'S CHOICE, AND IT GOES TO CHANDLER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION AND, AND ACCEPTING AWARD FOR THEIR, UH, GREAT ENTRY IS SONYA JONES AND TOM GER GERINGER, CUSD.

TRANSPORT TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN A STAPLE IN THE PARADE OF LIGHTS FOR MANY YEARS, AND THEY NOW RECEIVE THEIR SECOND AWARD FOR THIS ENTRY OF THEIR YELLOW SUBMARINE.

NOW YOU KNOW, WHY WE'RE THE BASSETT TRANSPORTATION'S AWARD? .

ALRIGHT, CONGRATS TO ALL OUR WINNERS AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE 2023 PARADE OF LIGHTS.

WE KNOW CREATING THESE ENTRIES ARE A LABOR OF LOVE AND IS APPRECIATED AND RECOGNIZED BY ALL.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU, MELINDA.

AND, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, I THINK WE HAD OUR HIGHEST ATTENDANCE EVER THIS YEAR AT THE, AT THE PARADE.

AND, UH, YOU GUYS ALWAYS DO AN AMAZING JOB OF, OF, UH, CREATING AN AMAZING MEMORY AND NIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU.

[5. Proclamation - Anti-Human Trafficking Month]

SO IF I COULD HAVE PASTOR MIKE GOWANS, PASTOR BILL KIRKPATRICK, PASTOR JASON TURNER, PASTOR DAVID WRIGHT, PASTOR CARL WHITNER, WHITMER, AND ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S PART OF YOUR GANG.

YOU GUYS GET IN THE MIDDLE HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO READ A PROCLAMATION AND THEN, UH, TURN IT OVER TO YOU, PASTOR GOWANS, FOR ANY COMMENTS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE.

WHEREAS HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS A GLOBAL PLAGUE THAT IMPACTS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EACH YEAR, INCLUDING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS.

AND WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES RANKS AS ONE OF THE WORST COUNTRIES GLOBALLY FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

AND ARIZONA RANKS IN THE TOP 15 STATES WITH THE HIGHEST RATES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING PER CAPITA.

AND WHEREAS HUMAN TRAFFICKING IMPACTS PEOPLE ACROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHICS AND AGES, AND INCLUDING TEENAGERS AND CHILDREN.

AND WHEREAS THE BATTLE AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING INCLUDES SUPPORTING EFFORTS IN SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES AND NONPROFITS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BUSINESSES TO PREVENT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, INTERVENE, DISRUPT AND DISMANTLE HUMAN TRAFFICKING SYNDICATES, AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO AND SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF CHANDLER WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE ARIZONA ANTI-TRAFFICKING NETWORK FOR BECOMING A, BECOMING A CITY EMPOWERED AGAINST SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OR CEASE DESIGNATED CITY, HIGHLIGHTING THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO ERADICATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION WITHIN ARIZONA.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF CHANDLER JOINS SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES AND NONPROFITS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FEDERAL AND STATE COALITIONS, AND THE NOT IN OUR CITY.ORG MOVEMENT, AND THE COMMITMENT TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING EPIDEMIC THAT IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY, STATE, NATION, AND WORLD.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, KEVIN HARTKE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHANDLER, ARIZONA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF JANUARY, 2024 AS ANTI-TRAFFICKING MONTH.

PASTOR GOWAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE SOME COMMENTS OR THE EVENT COMING UP? YEAH, THANK YOU.

AND, UM, THANK YOU.

CITY COUNCIL FOR, UM, AND THE CITY OF CHANDLER FOR JUST BEING LEADERS AGAINST THIS FIGHT.

SIX YEARS AGO, WE STARTED WITH AN EVENT HERE IN DOWNTOWN CHANDLER CALLED KNIGHT OF HOPE.

AND THAT, UM, HAS CONTINUED TO LAST YEAR BEING AT GA AUDITORIUM WHERE WE HAD OVER 50 CHURCHES, UH, DOZENS AND DOZENS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, CELEBRITIES, ATHLETES, UH, MANY OF YOU HAVE ATTENDED AND SUPPORTED.

AND IT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A DARKNESS NONE OF US WANTS TO TALK ABOUT.

WE DON'T WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE IT, BUT WE HAVE TO.

AND WE'RE SHINING A LIGHT IN DRIVING OUT THAT DARKNESS AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

AND SO THIS YEAR, KNIGHT OF SIX IS GOING TO GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY.

THEY'RE PARTNERING WITH US, GIVING US THE BASKETBALL ARENA, UH, WHERE AGAIN, WE ALREADY HAVE, UH, MANY CELEBRITIES, PRO ATHLETES, ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU'RE ALL INVITED

[00:40:01]

UM, AND WE'RE SUPPORTING, UH, DOZENS OF FRONTLINE MINISTRIES THAT ARE FIGHTING AND, AND, AND THAT NIGHT, RECOGNIZING THEM THERE AGAIN, BRINGING AWARENESS.

WE GOTTA CONTINUE TO SHINE THE LIGHT, UM, AND DRIVE THIS DARKNESS OUT OF OUR, OUR CITIES.

UM, THIS PROCLAMATION, AGAIN, BEING MADE THIS YEAR, UH, WE'RE BELIEVING FOR DOZENS OF CITIES MAKING, WE HAVE 91 CITIES IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

I DISCOVERED THAT IN THE PAST YEAR.

AND SO WE'RE BELIEVING FOR 91 PROCLAMATIONS.

AGAIN, CHANDLER, YOU ARE LEADING THE WAY IN FIGHTING THIS AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

SO THANK YOU.

FEBRUARY 18TH GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY.

IT'S A SUNDAY, AND UH, IT'LL BE AT FIVE O'CLOCK AND WE WOULD, UM, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE EVERYONE WATCHING.

ANYONE YOU CAN LET KNOW COME.

IT IS A NIGHT OF HOPE, UH, AS WE SHINE A LIGHT ON THIS DARKNESS.

AND SO WE WILL CELEBRATE WINS, WE'LL CELEBRATE THE VICTORIES THAT ARE GOING ON, HONOR THOSE THERE THAT NIGHT.

BUT, UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME AND FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIRELESS WORK.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD.

OUR LAST PUBLIC

[6. Syed Taha, Comments and Concerns regarding the Chandler Police Department]

AND, UM, MR. TAHA COMMOD UP STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

AND AS YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE UP TO THREE MINUTES WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS YELLOW.

PLEASE, UH, WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS AND, UH, BE DONE WHEN IT TURNS RED.

THANK YOU, SIR.

GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

UM, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS HAVING ME OVER AND I LOVE COMING HERE.

AND MY WHOLE GOAL IS AS A PUBLIC SERVICE.

UH, WE ALL LIVE HERE.

I'VE BEEN LIVING IN CHANDLER FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS.

UH, CURRENTLY I USED TO LIVE AT 1736 EAST FRY.

THIS IS ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF FROM HERE.

NOW I LIVE AT TANAN EAST, UH, KABOB.

AND, UH, WE JUST, UH, RECOGNIZE THE PRIEST CHIEF AND NO ONE IS PERFECT.

NOW, THE, I DON'T WANNA BE THE PARTY POOPER ON HIS RETIREMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WHAT HAPPENED UNDER HIS SUPERVISION.

AND I BROUGHT THIS TO HIS ATTENTION AND HE SAID HE WILL TALK TO ME AFTER THE CASE IS DISMISSED.

AND HE NEVER CALLED ME BACK.

UH, NOW THE REASON IS I WANNA GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS THE PUBLIC AT LARGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF INNOCENT CITIZENS.

WELL, I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE GO THROUGH THE SAME THING THAT I WENT THROUGH UNDER THE CHAN POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER MR. DUGAN'S, UM, UH, LEADERSHIP.

AUGUST, 2021, SANTA POLICE RAIDED MY HOUSE AND VIOLATED IN, UH, IN VIOLATION OF SEARCH WARRANT, ARRESTED ME IN FRONT.

MY CHILDREN CHARGED ME WITH HORSE NEGLECT.

SEVEN PE FELONY COUNTS DRAGGED ME THROUGH TWO YEARS OF COURT APPEARANCES CLOSED MY BUSINESS, TOOK MY TRAVEL LIGHTS, TRAUMATIZED MY WHOLE FAMILY.

I CANNOT DESCRIBE THE HORROR AND THE TRAUMA MY CHILDREN, UH, ENDURED.

THE DETECTIVES WHO ARRESTED ME LIED ABOUT EVERYTHING.

THEY LIED ABOUT MY HORSE'S CONDITION.

AND THEN WHAT THEY DID WAS EVENTUALLY THEY REPLACED THE HORSE THAT MY, THAT WERE MY HORSES, AND MADE A 160 PAGE, UH, REPORT OF THE DYING HORSE THAT THEY FOUND WHEREVER THEY FOUND IT.

AND THEN THE STATE DID NOT WANNA PROSECUTE ME BECAUSE WHEN THEY PICKED UP MY HORSES, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY NEGLECT.

SO THEN THE CITY OF CHANDLER SENT IN JANUARY OF 2022, A REPORT AND ASKED THEM TO PROSECUTE ME.

AND THEN, UH, THE, UH, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? THEN, UH, THE STATE PROSECUTED ME.

AND THEN I TOLD THEM ALL THE INFORMATION THAT, UH, IS AVAILABLE TO ME, THAT THIS IS NOT MY HORSE.

AND EVERY SINGLE INFORMATION THAT'S ON THE POLICE REPORT THAT'S ON EVERY SINGLE DOCUMENT IS FALSE.

AFTER TWO YEARS OF ME, UH, RUNNING AFTER THE, UH, STATE, THEY DISMISSED THE CASE.

AND BEFORE, UH, THEY DISMISSED THE CASE, I TALKED TO, UH, THE POLICE CHIEF, AND I TOLD HIM, THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING.

HE SHOULD HAVE INVESTIGATED AND DROPPED THE CASE.

I TALKED TO THE MAYOR, KEVIN HARTKE, AND I BROUGHT IT TO HIS ATTENTION, AND HE SAID, UH, WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THERE'S A PENDING CASE GOING ON.

IT COST THE STATE OF ARIZONA ALMOST QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS.

IT COST ME TWO YEARS OF MY LIFE AND NOBODY CARES.

AND MY GOAL IS TO

[00:45:01]

SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE.

NOW THEN I FILE A CASE.

I CAME HERE AND TALKED TO AFTER THE CASE WAS DISMISSED IN JUNE, AND I TALKED TO YOU GUYS AND I SAID, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.

AND THEN NOBODY CARESS.

AND THEN I CAME LAST MONTH ALSO.

THANK YOU, MR. TAHA.

YOUR TIME'S UP.

GIMME ABOUT 30, 30 MORE SECONDS.

I'LL LET YOU FINISH YOUR PARAGRAPH.

NO PROBLEM.

SO ALL I'M ASKING IS COMPENSATE ME FOR THE WRONGDOING THAT WAS DONE THAT YOU, YOU STOLE MY HORSES.

PAY ME FOR MY HORSES AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT, JUST DO AN INVESTIGATION ON WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

AND ALL THE, IN ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE IS FALSE.

TALK TO ME AND INTERVIEW ME.

I'LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING THAT IS FALSE.

THAT, UH, THANK YOU MR. TAHA IS, UH, BEING PRESENTED TO YOU BY THE POLICE.

THANK YOU.

AND I THINK CITY ATTORNEY, YOU, I KNOW YOU HAVE GIVEN, UH, MR. TAHA PATHS THAT, UH, SOME HE'S EXPLORED AND SOME IS EXPLORING AND IF HE WOULD LIKE MORE OF PATHS TO PURSUE THIS, HE CERTAINLY HAS OPPORTUNITIES.

IS THAT CORRECT? MAYOR? THERE ARE VERY LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES AT THIS POINT.

UM, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT, UM, MR. SID HAS EXPLORED ALL A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING, UM, FILING A CASE IN COURT.

OKAY.

SO HE'S DONE.

IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DISMISSED.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, KELLY, WOULD YOU MIND GETTING ME SOME INFORMATION ON, ON WHY THE CASE WAS DISMISSED? IF THAT'S, IF THAT'S EVEN AVAILABLE.

I'LL JUST BE CURIOUS.

UM, MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART, I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT.

THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL.

OKAY.

[4. Certified Autism Center Agreement Move City Council approve an agreement to qualify the Community Services Department, Parks and Recreation Divisions, with the Certified Autism Center designation, and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement. Council Focus Area(s):]

SO JOHN SEPTON.

WELL, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER POSTON FOR BRINGING THIS ONE FORWARD.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, THIS REQUEST FOR, FOR YOU IS TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT TO QUALIFY THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PARKS AND RECREATION DIVISIONS WITH A CERTIFIED AUTISM CENTER DESIGNATION, AND OF COURSE, AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT.

THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT PARKS AND REC DIVISIONS ARE SEEKING TO THE AUTHORIZATION TO ENGAGE THE INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF CREDENTIALING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION STANDARDS, ALSO KNOWN AS I-B-C-C-E-S, AND TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT SUPPORTING THE DEPARTMENT'S DESIGNATION AS THE CERTIFIED AUTISM CENTER.