* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [ Call to Order] [00:00:03] NEXT IS OUR REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 23RD, 2026. WE WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER CLERK, PLEASE TAKE THE ROLE. MAYOR HARKEY HERE, VICE MAYOR ENCINAS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER POSTON. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ORLANDO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER HAWKINS. HERE WE HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR INDICATION TONIGHT WILL BE LED BY PASTOR RYAN ARTISAN AND FROM REDEMPTION CHURCH AND FOLLOWED AFTER THAT THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE PASTOR. OUR INVOCATION TONIGHT WILL BE LED BY MAYOR KEVIN HARTKE. AND, UH, PASTOR, I GOT THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, LISTEN TO WAY TO, UH, CONSIDER TO MAKE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THIS CITY THAT EACH OF US CALL HOME. WE THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE WAY THAT, UH, YOU HAVE BLESSED OUR CITY AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THOSE BLESSINGS. SO WE ASK FOR WISDOM, LEADERSHIP AND THE ABILITY TO HEAR TONIGHT. WELL, WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THIS CHARGE AND FOR YOUR CHARGE FOR LEADERS TO LEAD. WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS UPON THIS GATHERING. IN JESUS' NAME I PRAY. AMEN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN FRENCH I I OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. ALL RIGHT, COUNSEL. UM, NEXT WE HAVE SCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES AND VICE MAYOR, JOIN ME UP FRONT. ALL RIGHT. DIFFERENT ORDER TONIGHT. SO FIRST [1. Proclamation: Valley Bike Month] WE HAVE, UH, OUR FIRST PROCLAMATION. I'LL READ THIS ONE IS VALLEY BIKE MONTH. OUR SECOND ONE IS GOING TO BE LIBRARY WEEK AND WE'RE GONNA LET YOU TACKLE ALL THE HARD LIBRARIAN WORDS. PERFECT. DO WE HAVE ANYONE HERE RECEIVING THIS TONIGHT? NO. OKAY. OH, THERE THEY'RE, YEAH. . ALRIGHT. ALMOST MADE A COMMENT ON AN E-BIKE, BUT I WON'T. SO WHEREAS THE CITY OF CHANDLER CELEBRATES ITS 18TH ANNUAL FAMILY BIKE RIDE EVENT ON APRIL 11TH AND WAREHOUSE, THE CITY OF CHANDLER VALLEY METRO AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WILL BE PROMOTING VALLEY BIKE MONTH IN APRIL, 2026. AND W AS THROUGH THE MONTH OF APRIL. RESIDENTS OF CHANDLER AND ITS VISITORS WILL EXPERIENCE THE JOYS OF BICYCLING, BICYCLING THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, COMMUTING INCENTIVES, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND BY SIMPLY GETTING OUT AND GOING FOR A RIDE. AND WHEREAS BICYCLING IS AN ALT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO DRIVING, CONTRIBUTES TO REDUCE POLLUTION, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, AND WEAR AND TEAR ON LOCAL STREETS AND ROADWAYS. AND WHEREAS CREATING A BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SHOWN TO IMPROVE CITIZENS' HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND QUALITY OF LIFE ENCOURAGES ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND ATTRACTS TOURISM DOLLARS. AND WHEREAS EVENTS SUCH AS THE CHANDLER FAMILY BIKE RIDE SUPPORT, CLEAN AIR AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS, AND THE PRESENCE OF GUST, TEA BREEZE, MARICOPA'S ONLY CLEAN AIR AND ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARENESS MASCOT HELPS ENGAGE FAMILIES AND REINFORCE THE IMPORTANCE OF AIR QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. NOW THEREFORE, I KEVIN HARTKE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHANDLER, TO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL, 2026 AS VALLEY BIKE MONTH. WOO. AND ALRIGHT, WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING AWKWARD? THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR AND AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE, WE DO WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY BIKE RIDE. UM, I THINK THERE'S ONLY BEEN ONE EVENT, [00:05:01] ONE BIKE RIDE OVER THE PAST 18 YEARS WHERE YOU HAVE NOT ATTENDED. AND SO WE ARE VERY MUCH, UH, APPRECIATIVE OF THAT SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS. AND FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE STILL INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THE FAMILY BIKE RIDE IS, IT IS ON, UH, APRIL 11TH AND REGISTRATION IS OPEN. WE ASK YOU TO REGISTER ONLINE AND WE INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME OUT TO OUR EVENT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. THE FAMILY BIKE RIDE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO MY ROBUST T-SHIRT DRAWER . ALRIGHT, SCOOT OVER THIS WAY A LITTLE BIT MORE. SEE YOU AT THE PARK. ALL RIGHT. AND NEXT IS [2. Proclamation: Library Week] PROCLAMATION FOR A LIBRARY WEEK. DO WE HAVE OUR RECIPIENTS FOR THIS? THANK YOU MAYOR. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. ALL RIGHT. FOR LIBRARY WEEK. WHEREAS LIBRARIES SERVE AS A VIBRANT COMMUNITY HUBS CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH KNOWLEDGE, TECHNOLOGY, AND RESOURCES WHILE FOSTERING ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT AND LEARN LIFELONG LEARNING. AND WHEREAS THESE RESOURCES CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING INCLUSIVE PLACES THAT WELCOME PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS, CULTURES, AND WALKS OF LIFE. AND WHEREAS CHANDLER PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS LONG SERVED AS A TRUSTED INSTITUTION AT THE HEART OF THE CITY, NEIGHBORHOODS AND SCHOOL CAMPUSES LEADING INNOVATION, PROVIDING TECHNOLOGY, TRAINING, AND ACCESS TO STATE-OF-THE-ART CREATOR EQUIPMENT. AND WHEREAS CHANDLER PUBLIC LIBRARY AND LIBRARIANS LOOK BEYOND THEIR TRADITIONAL ROLES PROVIDING TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, EMPOWERMENT, AND ENGAGEMENT, WHILE THOUGHTFULLY DEVELOPING COLLECTIONS AND PROGRAMS THAT EXPLORE THE DIVERSITY OF OUR EVER-CHANGING SOCIETY. AND WHEREAS AMERICA IS CELEBRATING NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK TO RECOGNIZE THE FAR REACHING IMPACT AND IMPORTANCE OF LIBRARIES AND LIBRARIANS, ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FIND YOUR JOY IN YOUR LOCAL BRANCH. NOW THEREFORE, BEFORE KEVIN HARKEY MAYOR, THE CITY OF CHANDLER, ARIZONA, HE DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 19TH, 2026. OH WAIT, YEAH. APRIL 19TH THROUGH APRIL 26TH, 2026 AS NATIONAL LIFE. VERY WEEK. CONGRATS. THANK YOU. I KNOW. SHE'S LIKE, DON'T GIMME THE MIC. . UM, WE JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT, UM, TO THANK CITY LEADERSHIP, CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR HARTKE, THE COMMUNITY. UM, LIBRARIES ARE STILL SO, SO IMPORTANT IN SOCIETY TODAY AND WE HAVE LIKE WORLD CLASS LIBRARIES IN CHANDLER AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GET OUT AND SEE SOME OF OUR NEW, UM, AND AMAZING THINGS, OUR BOOKMOBILE IS ON THE ROAD. IF YOU'VE AND HAMILTON LIBRARY IS JUST NEWLY RENOVATED AND IT'S JUST COMING TOGETHER SO NICELY, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME OUT, VISIT ONE OF OUR LIBRARIES AND GET A LIBRARY CARD IF YOU DON'T ALREADY HAVE ONE. AND LIBRARY GIVING DAY IS ALSO APRIL 1ST. SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY AND WHAT IT DOES, YOU CAN HEAD OVER TO OUR WEBSITE@CHANDLERLIBRARY.ORG TO FIND THAT. HERE'S THE MIDDLE PART. RIGHT HERE. THERE YOU GO. ALEXIS HAS TAUGHT ME WELL, LIBRARIANS BRING OUT THE THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THE ALRIGHT. CITY MANAGER SERVICE [3. Service Recognitions] RECOGNITIONS. MAYOR COUNCIL, I MAY GO A LITTLE OFF SCRIPT, BUT THE FIRST ONE I'M GONNA CALL DOWN. I'M GONNA ASK THE, UH, DIRECTOR FOR IT, SANDEEP TO COME ON DOWN. AND WE ARE GONNA RECOGNIZE TURON DELVE FOR 10 YEARS OF SERVICE. ALL RIGHT. AS TURON MAKES HIS WAY TO THE FRONT. UM, MAYOR THROUGH COUNCIL, THROUGH MAYOR AND COUNCIL, APOLOGIZE. TODAY WE CHAIR FOR TURON DELVE. 10 YEARS AT THE CITY STRONG, REFLECTING ON A DECADE OF SERVICE, STEADY AND LONG FROM THE MARINES DAY, FIXING FIGHTER JETS HIGH TO OUR ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO KEEP THE CITY SYSTEMS READY TO FLY. HE CHASED AIRCRAFT IN THE SKY. NOW HE KEEPS OUR TECH FROM GOING AWRY. HE TACKLES BIG PROJECTS, BRAND NEW AND TOUGH. HE LEARNED FROM SCRATCH AND STILL MADE, MADE [00:10:01] ANALYTICS LOOK LIKE FUN STUFF. HE MOVES MOUNTAINS OF DATA, IMPROVING HOW WE PRINT. HE SAVED THE CITY DOLLARS AND HEADACHES AND ENABLED EMPLOYEES TO SPRINT WHEN NOT SAVING THE DAY, HE NAVIGATES THE CITY PLANES WITH RADIO CONTROLLED CHOPPERS. DON'T WORRY RYAN. HE STAYS CLEAR OF OUR AIRPORTS. PLANES, , HE FISHES WITH HIS SON LONDON. HIS PRIDE AND THESE RARE MOMENTS WHERE THEY SIT OUTDOORS SIDE BY SIDE WITH DAUGHTER ZOE. IT'S THRIFTING AND ART CRAFT FAIRS AND PHOTOS, CREATIVITY AT HEART FROM CORNHOLE, SHOWDOWNS TO TEAMWORKS. THAT TEAMWORK, THAT'S PRISTINE. WE THANK YOU TERIN FOR 10 YEARS OF GREATNESS AT THE CITY AND FOR YOUR SERVICE IN THE MARINES. NOW WE NEED TO MOVE THAT MAYOR COUNCIL. NEXT UP I'M GONNA ASK MATT [4. Retirement Recognitions] BURDICK TO COME ON DOWN AND WE ARE GONNA RECOGNIZE THE RETIREMENT FROM KAPPA OF JENNIFER HONY AFTER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE, SENIOR MANAGER. THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL. TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE JENNIFER HOEY, SOMEONE WHO SPENT HER ENTIRE CAREER CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND OUR CITY SERVICES. SHE'S THE STEADY HAND IN THE CREATIVE WRITER BEHIND CITISCOPE. OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER THAT, UH, RESIDENTS RECEIVE, THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS RECEIVE EACH MONTH. SHE'S HELPED RESIDENTS STAY INFORMED ABOUT CITY PROGRAMS, EVENTS, AND SERVICES. HER WORDS AND DESIGN CHOICES HAVE SHAPED HOW WE SHARE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CHANDLER. AND THEY'VE DONE SO WITH WARMTH, WARMTH, ACCURACY, AND CARE FOR TEAM CHANDLER. SHE'S PROBABLY MORE IMPACTFUL, LEADING INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH CAMPAIGNS, EVENTS, NEWSLETTERS, AND WEBSITES THAT KEEP EMPLOYEES CONNECTED AND IN THE KNOW. SHE SUPPORTED COMMUNICATION NEEDS OF MANY KEY DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING HUMAN RESOURCES, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT SERVICES, FACILITIES, FLEET AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, JUST TO NAME A FEW, NO MATTER WHAT THE ASSIGNMENT, HER WORK HAS ALWAYS REFLECTED COLLABORATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND PRIDE IN SERVICE TO TEAM CHANDLER, SHE'S OUR CHEERLEADER AND A CHAMPION OF OUR CULTURE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. SHE SPOTLIGHTED EMPLOYEES AND RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE CHANDLER GREAT. BUT TONIGHT WE GET TO SHINE A LIGHT ON JENNIFER AND CELEBRATE HER INCREDIBLE 25 YEAR LEGACY OF SERVICE, CREATIVITY AND MOST IMPORTANT HEART. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT. NOW WE KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING. THERE YOU GO. THAT'S WHY MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, OUR LAST RECOGNIZED. FIRST I'LL ASK, UH, JEREMY ABBOTT TO COME DOWN AND WE HAVE A DOUBLE WINNER HERE, RECOGNIZING 25 YEARS OF SERVICE AND RETIREMENT. LIZ DENNING. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER. SO THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE MILESTONE AND I'M HONORED TO RECOGNIZE LIZ DENNING AND HER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY OF CHANDLER. LIZ IS AN INVALUABLE TEAM, CHANDLER AND PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES DEPARTMENT BRINGING EXPERTISE, DEDICATION, AND LEADERSHIP THAT HAVE SHAPED OUR OPERATIONS FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES. HER CONTRIBUTIONS SPAN BOTH ACCOUNTING AND PUBLIC WORKS, DEMONSTRATING REMARKABLE VERSATILITY AND INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE. LIZ BEGAN HER CAREER IN ACCOUNTING WHERE SHE SPENT SIX YEARS AS AN ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST, SENIOR ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST, [00:15:01] AND HANDLING ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, FIXED ASSETS AND PAYROLL. THIS FOUNDATION GAVE HER DEEP INSIGHT INTO THE CITY'S FINANCIAL OPERATIONS KNOWLEDGE THAT CONTINUES TO SUPPORT OUR DEPARTMENT HERE EVEN TODAY. FOR THE PAST 19 YEARS, SHE SERVED PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES PROGRESSIVELY, UH, IN ROLES AS A MANAGEMENT ANALYST, SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST, AND CURRENTLY OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES SUPERVISOR. HER CURRENT ROLE, SHE MANAGES OUR CA CAPITAL AND OPERATING, UH, ACTIVITIES FROM DEVELOPMENT THROUGH CLOSEOUT, OVERSEEING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF INVESTMENTS THAT KEEP OUR INFRASTRUCTURE STRONG AND OUR LEVEL OF SERVICE RELIABLE. LIZ EARNED HER MPA FROM WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY IN 2010 WORKING FULL-TIME AND SHE'S ALSO MENTOR MENTORED MANY STAFF MEMBERS THROUGHOUT HER CAREER THROUGH OUR CITY'S MENTORING PROGRAM, SHARING HER EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE AND HELPING DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF FINANCE AND PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS. LIZ HAS SERVED THE DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENTS A PWA OR AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION ACCREDITATION MANAGER SUCCESSFULLY GUIDING US THROUGH MANY RE ACCREDITATIONS OVER THE YEARS. THIS ACHIEVEMENT REFLECTS HER EXTRAORDINARY ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS AND COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING THE HIGHEST PROFESSIONALISM PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. HER LEADERSHIP ENSURES OUR DEPARTMENT, RENA REMAINS RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY FOR OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE BEYOND CHANDLER LIVES, UH, SERVES AS A PWA ACCREDITATION AUDITOR, TRAVELING AND SHARING HER EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER CITIES THROUGHOUT THE NATION. MOST RECENTLY, HER HOMETOWN OF FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED HER ASSISTANCE IN ACHIEVING A PWA COMPLIANCE, A TREMENDOUS HONOR AND TESTAMENT TO HER RESPECTED EXPERTISE. LIZ HAS PROCESSED AND TRACKED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN GRANTS, IN PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS SUPPORTING TRANSPORTATION POLICY, UH, TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING, AND VARIOUS OTHER AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY. MY EXPERIENCE WITH LIZ IS THAT SHE'S ALWAYS THE GO-TO PERSON ON STREET AND TRANSPORTATION, CIP PROJECTS. SHE'S EXCEPTIONALLY DEPENDABLE AND CAN FIGURE OUT THE TOUGHEST FINANCIAL ISSUE WITH SKILL AND PATIENCE. HER INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE AND HER COLLABORATIVE APPROACH MAKE HER AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE TO THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. AND I WISH I COULD SAY I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS OF YOUR SERVICE, BUT WITH THIS RECOGNITION, I MUST ALSO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR RETIREMENT LIVES. LEAVES BEHIND A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE, INTEGRITY, AND SERVICE. YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE STRENGTHENED OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEMS AND ELEVATED OUR STANDARDS, UH, THROUGH MANY PUBLIC WORKS COLLEAGUES. SO ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF CHANDLER, I THANK YOU FOR 25 YEARS OF ITS DOWN OUTSTANDING SERVICE. YOU'VE MADE AN IMPACT ON OUR ORGANIZATION AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE WISH YOU JOY, RELAXATION, AND NEW ADVENTURES IN YOUR RETIREMENT. YOU'VE EARNED IT. THANK YOU. FIRST DO ONE FIRST AND I LOST TRACK. ALL RIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES THE SCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES COUNCIL, BEFORE WE GO ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA, I ALSO DO WANNA DO A SHOUT OUT TO ALEXIS APODACA. THIS IS HER LAST COUNCIL MEETING. AFTER STAFFING US FOR SO MANY YEARS, YOU WILL BE MISSED. YOUR QUIET LEADERSHIP, SOMETIMES [00:20:01] QUIET . ALL RIGHT, NEXT ON OUR [ 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 March 23, 2026, Regular Meeting, Items 1 - 2.] AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA ON OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING COUNCIL, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROCEED? IS THERE A MOTION? MAYOR , COUNCIL MEMBER ORLANDO, UM, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA OF MARCH 23RD, 2026. REGULAR MEETING ITEMS ONE THROUGH TWO. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND COUNCIL, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. ALL RIGHT. AND WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES OUR REGULAR MEETING. UH, NEXT WE HAVE OUR STUDY SESSION. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.