City Council - Regular Meeting

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Council Member Harris. Yes, I'm here. Council member Harris, are you there? Yes, I'm here. Oh, we hear you. Great. We'll start in about three minutes.

Okay. Thank you. Don't want to go sit down yet. I know I've heard

Thank you. have to explain it.

Yeah. All right. Good evening and welcome to the April 9th Chandler City Council meeting. I would like to call this meeting to order. Clerk, please take the role. Mayor Herky here. Vice Mayor Incinus here. Council member Poston here. Council member Ellis here. Council member Orlando here. Council member Harris here. And Council Member Hawkins

here. We have a quorum.

Thank you so much. Our invocation tonight will be delivered by Carrie Westerester who is the Arizona market director of spiritual care for Dignity Health and our pledge of allegiance by Council Member Orlando. Okay. Good evening everyone. Um, Mayor Hartkey and members of Chandler City Council, it is an honor to offer a brief reflection as you continue in service to this vibrant community. My reflection tonight is rooted in the shared mission of service that guides all of us who work for well-being of Chandler and draws from the values of the hospitals that I serve in. The foundation of our commitment is a profound belief in the dignity of every person. This principle is paired with a steadfast call for the promotion of human kindness which must govern our approach in all things. It is this commitment that reminds us that our leadership is defined not only by what we accomplish but how we achieve our goals. Effective governance and true community service require daily reflection on our goals for the future and our values. demanding excellence and integrity in every decision. Our common goal must be to create healthier communities. Uh which means we must look beyond the walls of this room to those within the community of Chandler whose needs must be considered in every discussion and decision made. This shared commitment to service within the community of Chandler requires respect for all persons and the wisdom to make decisions that benefit every resident. May we continue to support one another in this important work. Now let us pause for a moment of prayer. Almighty and loving God, creator of all, we come before you in a spirit of gratitude for the gift of community and the privilege of service. We ask that you pour out your wisdom and understanding upon the

members of the Chandler City Council so that their decisions may always reflect compassion, justice, and respect. Grant them the strength to be tireless advocates for the entire community, especially those most in need. May we be united in a shared commitment to human kindness and peace, fostering a spirit of collaboration that builds up our city. We pray for all who call Chandler home and for the continued well-being of this community. In all the holy names of God, we play we pray. Amen.

Amen. Please join me to recite the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag 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.

Thank you both. Council, before we vote on the consent agenda, we item number two is a board appointment. And uh tonight we have our uh representing the library board, Melanie Dystra, who is no stranger to Chandler or the East Valley. Thank you. Next consent agenda. Council, how would you like to proceed? Yes, mayor. Vice Mayor. Yeah. I move to approve the consent agenda of the April 9th, 2026 regular meeting items 1- 16.

Is there a second? Second by council member Ellis. Uh any questions, recusal? Seeing none, council, please vote. Council member Harris, yes. Motion carries unanimously.

Thank you. And to our audience, we had opportunity to review these, meet with staff earlier in the week, so this might seem quick to you, but it's not to us. just in the process of looking over these items, being familiar with them, and ready to vote on them. Next on our agenda is unscheduled public appearances. I have one card from Mr. Beal. As previously stated, this is unscheduled. We cannot uh engage you, but you have up to three minutes to share your thoughts and staff will get back to you.

Please state your name and city of residence. Brook Bill Chandler. Uh so first I'd like to talk about uh reemphasize my my position on ebikes and bicycles on sidewalks. Uh I think that it's a bad idea. Um I think that only focusing on the safety of the ebikes bicyclist or the cyclist ignores the the the safety of people such as myself. uh 70 years old, I get struck by an ebike, I'm probably going to go down hard. And for you to ignore my safety is is unacceptable. You may have children or grandchildren that you want to keep safe, but guess what? I want to keep me safe. And and you need to consider that when you're when you're making these decisions. Um second thing is uh May is going to be bike safety month and also water safety month. And what a perfect thing for you guys to do would be to come up with a presentation on what you're doing to make the canal uh safe, the consolidated canal safe for bicyclists and uh for pedestrians. Uh since you have 20 million gallons of water going through there uh from in the seven and a half miles of the canal. Uh that's quite a bit of water. That's unsafe. Uh, and then you put on their bicyclists and ebikes that go 20 to 30 miles an hour or even the motorbikes that go uh 40, 50, 60 miles an hour. So, um, I I I would like to have you guys uh put together a presentation uh for next month to uh to show what you're doing to address these concerns of mine. Um, I think that I now

have had to call 911 three times while I've been walking on the canal. Uh, twice I was actually physically assaulted. Uh, the third time was just uh last month I was nearly assaulted. I think the only reason I wasn't assaulted was because I handed held up the phone and and showed the guy that I had already called 911 and they were on the phone with me at the time that he arrived. Um because I was taking pictures of his son. Apparently I'm a predator taking pictures of of his boy who was on the canal riding his motorbike. Not an ebike, but a motorbike. Um and as soon as he saw that I was on the phone to 911, uh he and his wife turned around and left. That's how concerned they were about his son breaking the law or me taking pictures of his child. Um, as soon as he saw that I was talking to the 911 operator, I gave them his his license plate. Um, they left. They They didn't want anything to do with it. So, um, I'm tired of doing the policeman's job there. I'm collecting information of crimes that are being committed and I shouldn't have to.

Thank you, Mr. Bill. Next is current events. I will start. Um, speaking of cycling and the canal, we have our Chandler's 18th annual family bike ride coming up, and I would like to draw attention to that. I hope you all will consider joining me on this free family-friendly event this Saturday, April 11th, with activities beginning at 7:30 at the Chandler Park and Ride and a guided ride starting at 8:30. Participants of all ages and skill levels are invited to ride alongside myself, uh, Chandler Bike Team, other council members, uh, for a scenic 7.8 mile ride along the PO Trail. In addition to the ride, families can enjoy vendor booths, bike decorating stations, and activities focused on bicycle safety and healthy living. This event is a great way to celebrate Valley Bike Month while promoting sustainability, wellness, and active transportation in our community. So, I encourage you to register in advance so that we'll also know your t-shirt size and it'll save the it'll save the uh efforts and energy of being in a line there to register live as and join us as we ride to save the world and be everyday heroes right here in Chandler. And secondly, I'd like to also highlight we this weekend is also the Chandler Jazz Festival. Bring your friends and family out to this free festival taking place now through April 12th in downtown Chandler with performances happening throughout the weekend at Dr. AJ Chandler Park and along the downtown streets. In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, the festival will feature more than 40 hours of live music showcasing a

talented local and national artist across a variety of jazz styles. From sidewalk performances to mainstage concerts, this event will offer a vibrant atmosphere where residents and visitors can enjoy great music, local culture, and the energy of our beloved downtown. So for a detailed lineup, please visit www.chandleraz.govjazz. I also encourage you to bring a blanket or lawn chair. Come downtown and enjoy the signature Chandler event. We've cooled the weather down just for you this weekend. Council member Poston

you. Um my announcement tonight is that if you have not been to the Chandler Museum lately, now is the time to go. Art from four different Chandler schools is on display there and it's the third annual artist in schools exhibit. So this exhibit is America the Beautiful and it's inspired by the upcoming 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence and it celebrates the people, the ideas, and the stories that bring us together. The result is a collection of artwork that reflects growth, creativity and a hopeful look at the future told through the perspective of our local students. This exhibit will be on display through early May. So sure, be sure to stop by the Chandler Museum and see it for yourself. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Ellis. Nothing tonight, may I? Thank you. I'm pausing. All right, council. I spare and see us.

Thank you, mayor. I do want to talk about uh two very exciting events that I um well, one in the future and one that just passed here in our community. Um I was joined by my fellow council members Matt Orlando and Jennifer Hawkins at the Hartford Sylvian Cena groundbreaking. Um it was great to join uh Chandler Unified School District leaders, staff, uh students and families for the groundbreaking of the new Hartford Sylvian Cena elementary school. I actually had the opportunity to be part of the re-imagining uh committee. So it was great to be part of those meetings with the community and see this actual plan come to life. And the groundbreaking event was an opportunity for others to learn more about the plans for the new campus. The new school will provide modern learning spaces with the existing building making way for updated athletic fields. Um it was an exciting step uh to kick this all off. So um thanks to all that were able to attend with us. And then this weekend, keeping with our schools here with CUSD, um I'm honored to be part of the inaugural Pow-Wow celebration on Saturday, April 11th. This uh Saturday, uh the event will celebrate the Native American students, families, and the Chandler community. The day will be filled with incredible culture, demonstrations, performances, activities, and vendors. Please join us in celebrating at this amazing event. We look forward to seeing you guys there this weekend. Thank you.

Council member Orlando. Thank you, Mayor. Um, as the the the council representative to the Arizona Municipal Water Use Association, better known AMA, uh, water is our game. So, this is the April is water conservation month. The city and Chandler encourages residents and business to help protect our water resources as temperatures are rising. Um, as you know, Chandler has numerous rebate programs that converts helps you convert your t your turf into other desert canopies or or desert landscaping or canopies. Uh, we're rolling out new technology, uh, new apps, uh, monitoring devices to help you keep track of any leaks in your water. And we have a great staff if you have problems with water. So small actions like fixing leaks, adjusting irrigation systems uh can make a big difference. So together we can ensure a sustainable water future in our community and let us make every drop count. In fact, we have a gentleman here from the centaure Arizona project. Thank you, Ben. Thanks for coming tonight. You knew I was going to talk about water tonight, huh?

Thank you, Ben. Thanks for all your service to on cap. Thanks, Mayor. Must be more humid when we talk about it. Yeah. Council member Hawkins.

Thank you, Mayor. So, yesterday, the city of Chandler proudly hosted its fifth annual partnership appreciation lunchon. Uh, it's a meaningful event celebrating the strong network of partners who play a vital role in advancing housing stability across our community. The lunchon brought together dedicated landlords, service providers, and community organizations who whose ongoing collaborations help connect residents to essential resources, prevent housing insecurity, and build pathways towards long-term success. Through these valued partnerships, Chandler continues to strengthen its commitment to supporting residents and fostering more stable, resilient community. The event served as both a celebration and collective impact and a reminder of what can be achieved when organizations come together with a shared purpose. So, thank you again to all of our partners that were there for us yesterday.

City manager, nothing today, Mayor. All right. Council meeting concluded.