* 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. [00:00:04] GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE MARCH 26TH REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. SO CLERK, PLEASE TAKE THE ROLE. MAYOR HARTKE HERE, VICE MAYOR AND ZENA 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. VERY GOOD. OUR INDICATION WILL BE BROUGHT TONIGHT BY, UH, MINISTER KEITH SHEPHERD OF ALMA SCHOOL ROAD. CHURCH OF CHRIST. I LIKE YOUR NEW SIGN, BY THE WAY. DRIVE BY IT EVERY DAY. AND OUR, UH, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS. LET'S PRAY TOGETHER. PLEASE, ALMIGHTY GOD, WE THANK YOU. THE GIVE OF LIFE THAT YOU HAVE BLESSED THIS COUNTRY WITH YOUR PEACE AND PROSPERITY, A BLESSING. AND IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU THAT WE HAVE WHAT WE HAVE. WE THANK YOU, FATHER FOR THIS CITY AND THIS STATE AND THE BLESSINGS YOU'VE GIVEN US HERE. YOU GIVE US LIFE AT THIS TIME IN HISTORY AND THIS PLACE WE PRAY YOUR BLESSINGS ON OUR COUNTRY, ON OUR LEADERS, NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL, ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME. FATHER, WE PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY, ALL MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, KEEP THEM SAFE. WATCH OVER THEM AND BLESS THEM AS ONLY YOU CAN. WE THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE AT THIS PLACE. WE PRAY YOUR BLESSINGS ON THOSE IN AUTHORITY HERE. MAY THEY MAKE WISE DECISIONS, MAY THEY BE A BLESSING TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY AND HONOR AND GLORIFY YOU. THANK YOU, FATHER, THAT YOU ARE FORGIVING GOD AND A GRACIOUS GOD, AND BLESS THE ACTIVITIES OF THIS MEETING TONIGHT. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU PASTOR. PLEASE JOIN ME AS WE RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC. FOR RICHARD, IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, THE INDIVISIBLE. LIBERTY, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. THANK YOU PASTOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. [ 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 26, 2026, Regular Meeting, Items 1 - 37.] COUNCIL. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. THESE ARE, UH, ALL ONE ITEM THAT WE WILL BE VOTING FOR. BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WOULD INVITE ANYONE WHO IS PART OF THE NEW BOARDS AND COMMISSION THAT YOU ARE BEING EITHER RE-UPPED OR THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME. PLEASE STAND. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND UH, WE DO HAVE, UH, UH, A BREAKFAST COMING UP THAT I HOPE YOU'RE ALL ABLE TO ATTEND, AND IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION, YOU'LL BE GETTING IT SOON. SO, VERY GOOD. COUNSEL, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROCEED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER ORLANDO PROPOSE A MOTION TO MOVE TO PROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA OF MARCH 26TH, 2026. REGULAR MEETING ITEMS ONE THROUGH 37. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER POSTON, BEFORE WE VOTE, IS THERE ANY, UH, RECUSALS, ANYTHING ELSE? UM, MAYOR, I'LL BE DISSENTING ON ITEM NUMBER 27. ALRIGHT, SO VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER 27. SEEING NO OTHER COUNCIL, PLEASE VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS? YES. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS DISSENTING ON NUMBER 27. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, CLERK. [10. Unscheduled Public Appearances] NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES. I HAVE TWO CARDS. FIRST ONE ON TOP IS NOAH JAMES MARKHAM. UH, MR. MARKHAM, YOU HAVE UP TO THREE MINUTES TO SHARE, UM, YOUR THOUGHTS. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS YELLOW, PLEASE WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS WHEN IT'S RED, YOU'RE DONE. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE. UM, ALOHA MAYOR AND TO THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS NOAH JAMES MARKHAM. I'M FROM THE GREAT CITY OF TEMPE. UM, I KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT IT'S VERY, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE SHOWERS OR WHAT IT IS, BUT IT'S VERY CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE WHEN I GO UP AND DOWN THESE STREETS OF CHANDLER, I DO NOT WANNA SMELL THE SEWER. IT IS JUST NASTY. I GET, I GET THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A NUMBER TWO, BUT THIS IS, I DON'T WANNA SMELL IT IN THE ROAD. I MEAN, IT IS OUTRAGEOUS. I MEAN, I'M RIGHT BY DOWNTOWN CHANDLER AND I CAN SMELL IT IN THAT SEWER. IT'S VERY ANNOYING, . SO I HOPE YOU GUYS GET ON THAT. UM, AND SECONDLY, I KNOW WE'RE ABOUT INNOVATION HERE IN CHANDLER, AND I KNOW THIS WILL BE A BIG TASK, [00:05:01] BUT I WONDER IF YOU GUYS COULD BRING THE LIGHT RAIL IN HERE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR ACCESSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TOO, AND, UM, AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT CAN'T DRIVE. SO MAYBE CHANDLER CAN THINK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THE LIGHT RAIL IS A GREAT INVESTMENT AND, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF PHOENIX DOES SOMETHING REALLY BAD. BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT WE CAN TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION. UM, AND YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME TODAY. HELLO. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY FOLLOW UP THAT YOU WOULD CARE TO HAVE WITH MR. MARKHAM, BUT, UH, PLEASE DO. CITY MANAGER. UM, NEXT IS MAYOR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER. I THINK, UH, I THINK, UM, I THINK THE FOLLOW UP IS DISCUSSED IN THE MANHOLES. I MEAN, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER TODAY, UM, WHICH REPAIRING MANHOLES IN VARIOUS AREAS THAT, I MEAN, I PASSIONATELY TALKED ABOUT EARLIER TODAY. IT, IT DOES MAKE EVERYTHING STINKY. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING AS WELL. SO I KNOW WE'RE WORKING ON IT. I KNOW WE ALREADY HAVE SOME CAPITAL INVESTMENTS GOING INTO MANHOLES ACROSS THE CITY, AND I KNOW THAT THAT CONCERN IS SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS ME TOO. SO, THANKS. CITY MANAGER. DID YOU WANNA, I MEAN, I KNOW WE'RE WORKING ON IT, BUT ANY, WE ARE, WE ARE WORKING ON THE PROBLEM AND, AND WE ARE INSPIRED BY THE WORDS YOU HAD EARLIER. SO IT IS ON A HIGH PRIORITY FOR US, SIR. THANK YOU. 'CAUSE WE DON'T WANT A STINKY CITY. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS MR. BEAL. MR. BEAL, AS YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT ENGAGE YOU, BUT PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE. YOU'RE UP TO THREE MINUTES. UH, MY NAME IS BROOKE BEAL, UH, LIVE HERE IN CHANDLER. AND I'M, AGAIN SPEAKING ON THE MATTER OF E-BIKES AND IN GENERAL ON E-BIKES, UH, BUT ESPECIALLY ON THE, THE CONSOLIDATED CANAL. UH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, JASON BROOKS FOR HIS EXCELLENT ARTICLE. UH, ANOTHER EXCELLENT ARTICLE ON THE TOPIC. UM, I THAT'S, IT'S GREAT. I'M GLAD YOU'RE PUTTING THAT OUT THERE, MAKING THIS, UH, THIS, UH, KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC. UM, LAST TIME I SPOKE, UH, I SORT OF GOT A RESPONSE BACK FROM THE CITY MANAGER DURING HIS, UH, FEW MINUTES AT THE END OF THE MEETING, UM, WHERE I WAS TALKING ABOUT RESPECT. AND I GUESS HE, HE SEEMED TO IMPLY THAT HE WAS DOING ALL THAT HE COULD. UH, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT HE IS ACTUALLY, UH, THE CHIEF OF POLICE'S BOSS AND THAT HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE POLICE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DO THEIR JOB. NOW, THIS PROBLEM IS A PROBLEM OF PROPERTY LAW. OWNERS OF PROPERTY HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS, ONE OF WHICH IS, UH, THIS CRIMINAL TRESPASS. AND THEY HAVE SET UP, THEY HAVE TOLD THE CITY OF CHANDLER THAT THEY WANTED ENFORCED. THEY HAVE SIGNS THAT ARE POSTED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CANAL EVERY MILE SO THAT IT'S, IT'S UNAMBIGUOUS. THERE IS NO CRIMINAL, UH, NO E-BIKES ON THE CANAL, IT'S CRIMINAL TRESPASS. AND YET, EVERY DAY I SEE ONE TO 10 ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON THE CANAL, UH, NOT JUST ELECTRIC, BUT MOTORIZED. I, 2, 3, 3 WEEKS AGO, THE SAME KID BLEW PAST ME AT 40, 50, 60 MILES AN HOUR ON HIS GAS POWERED, UH, BIKE THIS MAY BY NO MORE THAN A FOOT OR TWO. AND I, I WASN'T TRYING TO GET IN HIS WAY, I WASN'T, I WAS WALKING THE CANAL AND HE JUST BLEW PAST ME LIKE HE WAS ON THE FREEWAY. THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL. THIS, THE POLICE HAVE SEEN THIS GUY. I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH POLICE ON THE CANAL WHEN HE'S GONE PAST. THEY DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. UH, I, YOU KNOW, I JUST, I I DON'T UNDERSTAND, UM, WHAT, WHAT THE PROBLEM IS HERE. THERE'S A LAW, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO ENFORCE IT. YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR TELLING THE POLICE DEPART DEPARTMENT TO ENFORCE IT, AND THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE DOING IT. SO, UH, THE OTHER THING I JUST WANNA BRING UP, UH, IS COUNCIL MEMBER POSTON, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO DO SOME SORT OF AN ETHICS THING. I THINK THAT'S GREAT. I GOOD LUCK WITH THAT. UM, I, I JUST DON'T SEE , I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING, UH, WITH, WITH WHAT YOU GOTTA WORK WITH HERE. SO, UH, I DON'T THINK YOU WANT MY SUPPORT, BUT GO FOR IT. THANK YOU. [00:10:02] NEXT UP [ Current Events 1. Mayor's Announcements 2. Council's Announcements 3. City Manager's Announcements] IS CURRENT EVENTS AND, UH, I'LL START OFF. LAST WEEKEND WE HAD A TREMENDOUS GATHERING OF CITIZENS THAT CAME TOGETHER FOR, FOR OUR CITY DAY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND I WERE THERE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE STOPPED BY ON YOUR OWN TIME, BUT THANK YOU IF YOU DID IT. UH, WE HAD NEARLY 700 VOLUNTEERS SHOW UP THAT CONTRIBUTED, UH, 2,800 HOURS ACROSS 38 PROJECTS. AND THE IMPACT WAS IMMEDIATE. WE HAD 80 TONS OF GRAVEL SPREAD, MORE THAN 57,000 SQUARE FEET OF WALLS PAINTED, AND NEARLY 1,100 HOMES SUPPORTED THROUGH THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS. AND THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR SPONSORS. SHERWIN WILLIAMS, WASTE MANAGEMENT, AVI, HOME DEPOT, PCL, AS WELL AS SALVATION ARMY AND RESURRECTION STREET MINISTRY FOR HELPING MAKE THE CELEBRATION IN THE PARK A SUCCESS. THANK YOU FOR THE FOREST CITY LEADERSHIP TEAM, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND EVERY VOLUNTEER WHO HELPED MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER BLOCK BY BLOCK. THIS COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO LIFT EACH OTHER UP AND, UM, TO OUR HOUSING FOLKS. THAT WAS VERY TOUCHING THE, THE PLAQUE THAT YOU GAVE ME. SO, UH, THANK YOU. UH, I WASN'T ANTICIPATING THAT AND, UH, IT WAS A TRUE HONOR AS I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A ROLE IN THIS OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS OR SO. SO THANK YOU. AND NEXT AND LAST FOR ME, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT OUR UPCOMING FAMILY EASTER CELEBRATION ON FRIDAY, APRIL 3RD AT 5:30 PM THIS BELOVED ANNUAL EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT DOWNTOWN IN THE DR. AJ CHANDLER PARK. THIS LONGSTANDING COMMUNITY TRADITION BRINGS TOGETHER FAMILIES FOR AN EVENING FULL OF FUN, INCLUDING THE POPULAR 24 KARAT WITH A K TRAIL, UH, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND GAMES AND ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER, CREATE LASTING MEMORIES, AND ENJOY ALL THAT DOWNTOWN CHANDLER HAS TO OFFER. I ENCOURAGE YOUR RESIDENTS TO JOIN US AND TAKE PART OF THE FESTIVE CHANDLER TRADITION. AND I ENCOURAGE COUNCIL, DON'T COMPETE WITH, UH, THREE YEAR OLDS AND TRYING TO GRAB EASTER EGGS. SO, , I WASN'T GOING TO SAY ANY NAMES. I DID MAYOR. OKAY. I TOOK A LITTLE PRIVILEGE. THERE YOU GO. THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POSTON, JUST A COUPLE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT CHANDLER HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT IS OPENING ITS PUBLIC HOUSING WAIT LIST, AND THAT'S FOR THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE BEDROOM FAMILY SIZES. UM, PRE-APP APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED STARTING NOON, FRIDAY, APRIL 3RD. UM, ALL COMPLETED APPLICATIONS NEED TO BE SUBMITTED BY NOON ON FRIDAY, APRIL 17TH. AND FROM THAT POOL OF APPLICANTS OR PRE APPLICANTS SUBMITTED, 350 PRE-APP APPLICATIONS WILL BE PLACED ON A LOTTERY ON A WAITING LIST. SO IT'S GREAT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO OPEN UP THAT LIST AGAIN, IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION OR NO ONES WHO NEEDS, KNOWS SOMEONE WHO NEEDS MORE INFORMATION, THEY CAN FIND THAT BY GOING TO APPLY CHANDLER HOUSING.COM OR BY CALLING CHANDLER HOUSING AT 4 8 0 7 8 2 3200. AND THEN MY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENT IS THE POLICE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CAREER WEEK. UM, THE NEXT CRIMINAL JUSTICE CAREER WEEK WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 8TH THROUGH JUNE 11TH. THAT'S 2026. THE REGISTRATION OPENS IN APRIL THOUGH, AND YOU CAN GO TO VISIT CHANDLER AZ CHANDLER AZ PD.GOV AND SEARCH FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE CAREER WEEK. OR JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND FIND CRIMINAL JUSTICE CAREER WEEK. THANK YOU, UH, VICE MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I DO JUST WANNA TAKE A MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT NOCHE ILLUMINATA LAST FRIDAY, WHICH IS AN EVENT THAT WE HELD RIGHT HERE AT OUR OWN CITY HALL, WHICH WE TRANSFORMED. IT REALLY ELEVATED THE SPACE NOCHE ILLUMINATA MEANS, UH, ILLUMINATED NIGHT, AND IT WAS A VIBRANT CELEBRATION THAT BROUGHT OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO HONOR CULTURE, ART, AND CONNECTION. AND I WANNA THANK, UM, MAYOR FOR ATTENDING, COUNCIL MEMBER POSTON AND ALICE FOR BEING IN ATTENDANCE AS WELL. THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING THERE TO SUPPORT. UM, ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL MOMENTS OF THAT EVENING WAS HONORING ALBERTO SPARTA, WHOSE LIFELONG DEDICATION TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND UPLIFTING OTHERS, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH IN STEM ROBOTICS. UM, IN, IN MANY DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, EVEN SOCCER, HE HAS LEFT A LASTING, UM, IMPACT ACROSS OUR CITY AND BEYOND. I'VE KNOWN HIM MAJORITY OF MY ENTIRE LIFE. SO IT WAS GREAT TO HONOR HIM AND ALL THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE HERE IN CHANDLER. UM, THE EVENT FEATURED, UH, SPECTACULAR LIGHT DISPLAYS, LIGHT PERFORMANCES OR LIVE PERFORMANCES AND INTERACTIVE [00:15:01] EXPERIENCES THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE RICHES AND DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED A NONPROFIT, UH, THE CHANDLER EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND LIVE WELL FOUNDATIONS HELPED HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN YOUTH, INCLUDING A POWERFUL SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCE BY THIRD GRADE STUDENTS, UM, WHO SHARED WHAT COMMUNITY MEANS TO THEM AND THROUGH THEIR OWN VOICES AND EXPERIENCE. UH, WE HAD A VERY STRONG, UH, TURNOUT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IT WAS GREAT TO CELEBRATE WITH EVERYBODY, AND I DO WANT TO THANK, UM, CC DARA, ADRIANA, AND NIKKI, THE TEAM WHO HELPED BRING THIS EVENT TO LIFE. IT WAS A SMALL VISION THAT I HAD AND THEY BROUGHT IT TO FULL LIFE ON FRIDAY, AND IT WAS A GREAT EVENT TO BE WITH EVERYONE. SO THANKS FOR EVERYONE'S, UH, HANDS ON DECK ON THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S FOR ORLANDO, NOTHING TONIGHT. MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS. THANK YOU. UH, I HAVE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS TONIGHT. UM, FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT, I WANT TO FIRST, EARLIER THIS MONTH, CONGRESSMAN STANTON SECURED CRITICAL FUNDING TO STRENGTHEN ARIZONA'S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY RESILIENCE AS WE CONTINUE TO FACE THE GROWING CHALLENGES OF EXTREME HEAT. UM, HIS INVESTMENT IN WATER RESOURCES ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO PROTECTING AND SECURING OUR STATE'S FUTURE. AND FOR CHANDLER, THE ABILITY TO CONSTRUCT NEW WELLS WILL HELP REDUCE RELIANCE ON THE COLORADO RIVER AND FURTHER DI DIVERSIFY THE CITY'S WATER PORTFOLIO, STRENGTHENING OUR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. SO WE WANT TO THANK, UM, CONGRESSMAN STANTON ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CHANDLER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUED SUPPORT OF ARIZONA'S WATER PRIORITIES. UH, THIS INVESTMENT IS VITAL TO MAINTAINING THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO ENSURE A RELIABLE AND SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY WELL AND TO THE WELL INTO THE FUTURE. THE NEXT ANNOUNCEMENT I WANT TO SHARE WAS THIS PAST WEEK. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, ALONG WITH MY WIFE, AS WELL AS OTHER ELECTED LEADERS ACROSS THE VALLEY, WAS ABLE TO JOIN THE BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS GALA. UH, AS YOU KNOW, CITY OF CHANDLER'S PARTNER, PARTNER WITH BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS TO HELP WITH MENTORSHIP. UM, BUT I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THIS GALA AND THIS EVENT RAISES AWARENESS OF THEIR PROGRAMS AND GENERATES MUCH NEEDED FUNDS TO PR TO SUPPORT YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE EVENING CREATES A STRONG IMPACT AND FOSTERS MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WHILE ALSO HIGHLIGHTING THE CONTINUAL POSITIVE INFLUENCE OF BIG BROTHER, BIG SISTER IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE PRESENT FOR OUR POWERFUL STORIES THAT SHOWCASE THE LIFE CHANGE, LIFE CHANGING IMPACT BIG BROTHER, BIG SISTER OF CENTRAL ARIZONA HAS ON THE YOUTH AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. AND IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THIS EVENT IN THE FUTURE, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO. IT WAS TRULY INSPIRING. ALSO, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, SOME YEARS AGO, MY WIFE AND I WAS ABLE TO BE, UH, THE CO-CHAIR FOR THE EVENT. WE HELPED RAISE A LOT OF MONEY. UM, I THINK THAT NIGHT WE RAISED ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP YOUR BROTHER, BIG SISTER. SO IT'S AN HONOR TO REALLY WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS AND REALLY SEE ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS GROW AND, AND SEE THE FRUITS OF IT EVEN INSIDE OF OUR CITY, CHANDLER. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THEN I GUESS THE LAST ANNOUNCEMENT, I'M JUST GONNA TAKE A POINT OF PRIVILEGE. AS YOU GUYS KNOW, I STARTED A TEACHER APPRECIATION INITIATIVE LAST YEAR. I IMPLEMENTED THAT. UH, AND THIS YEAR WE'RE GONNA BE SETTING UP THE LINK PROBABLY BY MONDAY. UH, WE WANT YOU TO, UM, ONCE WE PUT THE LINK OUT THERE, PLEASE, WE'RE PLEASE, WE'RE ASKING FOR YOU TO NOMINATE SOME OF THE TEACHERS THAT ARE INSIDE OF THE CITY OF CHANDLER JURISDICTION, NOT CHANDLER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT STRETCHES PAST OUR JURISDICTION, BUT TEACHERS THAT ARE. AND WE'RE INTENTIONALLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, GET GREAT TEACHERS FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL, CHARTER SCHOOL, AND MONTESSORI SCHOOL, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THOSE TEACHERS FROM ALL THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS ARE, UM, TRULY RECOGNIZED. AND, UH, QUICKTRIP ALREADY HAVE KICKED IN TO GIVE EACH ONE OF THE ONE, EACH ONE OF THE TEACHERS THAT IS SELECTED A $200 GAS CARD. SO I APPRECIATE QUICKTRIP FOR DOING THAT. SO I CAN'T WAIT, UH, FOR THE, THE ANNOUNCEMENTS TO, AS YOU GUYS HEAR MORE ABOUT IT, CAN'T WAIT TO GET SOME OF THE DENOMINATIONS GOING AND GET SOME OF THE TEACHERS INVOLVED. AND, UM, AND I'M, I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND ANY COMMUNITY PARTNER THAT WANTS TO BE A PART OF THAT OR WANTS TO HELP OR SUPPORT, UM, WE WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME, LET ME KNOW. I WOULD LOVE TO, UM, SUPPORT. I WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR SUPPORT TO HELP SUPPORT THE TEACHERS. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU MAYOR. THAT'S ALL I GOT. COUNCIL MEMBER HAWKINS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, KIND OF ALONG THAT SAME THREAD FOR CUSD OR AT LEAST CHANDLER STUDENTS, I JUST WANNA SAY WELCOME BACK. UH, WE HOPE YOU HAD A FUN AND RELAXING SPRING BREAK AND WE'RE READY TO FINISH, EXCUSE ME, READY FOR A STRONG FINISH TO THIS SCHOOL YEAR. AND AS WE RETURN, PLEASE REMEMBER TO STAY SAFE AND HYDRATED AS THE WARMER WEATHER APPROACHES, OR IN OTHER WORDS IS ALREADY HERE. UM, BUT WE ALSO WANNA WISH THE BEST OF LUCK TO THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS PREPARING FOR STATE TESTING NEXT WEEK. I KNOW THAT'S A LOT TO HANDLE, BUT YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, UH, IS [00:20:01] APPRECIATED AND WE'RE CHEERING YOU ON. SO THANK YOU CITY MANAGER, MAYOR COUNCIL. LAST NIGHT I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING THE POLICE PUBLIC SAFETY AWARDS. IT IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY OVER 30 YEAR CAREER THAT I WENT TO ONE OF THESE EVENTS AND ALL SEVEN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL WERE AT ONE OF THOSE EVENTS. SO I TAKE IT AS A POINT OF PRIDE THAT YOU WERE THERE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND YOU GOT TO SEE THE AMAZING WE WORK THEY'RE DOING BEHIND THE SCENES IN OUR COMMUNITY TO FIGHT CRIMES SUCH AS CHILD TRAFFICKING, CYBER CRIMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THEY'RE KEEPING US SAFE. AND YOUR SUPPORT WAS NOTED AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR IT. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE IS A POINT OF PRIDE AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR NOTICING THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES YOUR MEETING. THANK YOU, COUNSEL. * 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.