City Council - workshop

Good evening and welcome to the Public Housing Authority Commission regular meeting. Tonight, we have a Public Housing Authority and then a study session of which we will be honoring many of you at that particular point. But our first meeting is our Public Housing Authority Commission. Clerk, will you please take the role of the commissioners?

Chair Harkey?

Here.

Vice Chair Encinas? Here. Commissioner Poston? Here. Commissioner Ellis? Here. Commissioner Orlando?

Here.

Commissioner Harris?

Here.

Commissioner Hawkins? Here. And Commissioner Lurie?

Here.

We have a quorum.

Thank you, clerk. Commissioners, how would you like to proceed with our consent agenda tonight? Is there a motion? Chair?

Commissioner Orlando. I'd like to move the agenda for June 22, 2026, Public Authority Commission regular meeting, items one through three. And Mayor, as you know, we've already had a chance to look at these earlier. So I don't have any questions, I think. All right.

We have a motion. Is there a second?

Second.

Second by Vice Chair Encinas. Commission, any recusals, any calls? Seeing none, please take the vote.

Vice Chair Encinas? Yes. Commissioner Poston? Yes. Commissioner Ellis? Yes. Commissioner Orlando?

Yes.

Commissioner Harris?

Yes.

Commissioner Hawkins? Yes. Commissioner Lorraine?

Yes.

And Chair Harkey?

Yes.

Motion carries unanimously.

Thank you, Clerk. Thank you, Commissioners. That concludes our Public Housing Authority Commissioned. Next is our City Council study session of June 22, 2026. I'd like to call this meeting to order. And clerk, please take the roll.

Mayor Harkey.

Here.

Vice Mayor Encinas. Here. Councilmember Poston. Here. Councilmember Ellis. Here. Councilmember Orlando. Here. Councilmember Harris. Here. Councilmember Hawkins. Here. We have a quorum.

Very good. Next is our scheduled public appearances, and Councilmember Hawkins, it's your time to join me up front. First on our agenda tonight is the proclamation for Parks and Recreational Month. If Mr. Sefton, John Sefton, Community Services Director, and all members of the Parks and Rec team can come up and join us. This looks like a group ready to recreate. All right, I've got a proclamation to read. Whereas Chandler parks and recreation programs enrich the lives of residents by providing opportunities to discover, imagine, and grow. And whereas engaging programs and classes inspire individuals of all ages to move, connect, explore, reinforcing the personnel, environment, and economic benefits of recreation and leisure programs should have been the personal, not personnel, benefits. And whereas Chandler's Park, playgrounds, aquatic centers, recreational facilities foster a sense of belonging, creating the lasting memories and cultivate lifelong friendships. And whereas the city of Chandler is committed to ensuring all community members have access to parks, recreational opportunities, and spaces that foster inclusion, engagement, and personal growth. And whereas Parks and Rec Month celebrates the dedicated professionals who plan, maintain, and enhance Chandler's parks and programs, helping build stronger, healthier, and more connected communities. Now, therefore, I, Kevin Hartke, Mayor of the City of Chandler, hereby... proclaim July 2026 as Parks and Recreation Month. And we encourage residents to explore our city's 70 parks, enjoy rewarding programs, and celebrate the power of parks and recreation through connection, play, and community. All right, would you like to say a couple words? You're being designated.

Hi, everyone. My name is Brandon Putman, Park Superintendent. I just wanted to talk about the power of parks, the power of nature within our parks, the power of community and what they bring to our community, gathering places, and the well-being and the recreation side of things, which brings about a healthy lifestyle. So it is a little weird here in Arizona to represent Parks and Rec in July. So just be thinking about our parks in this heat as we maintain them. And then this fall, please get out and get those summer pounds shed by enjoying our parks. So thank you so much.

All right, let's do a photo. Thank you all. Next, we want to recognize our civic graduation. If I can have Amelia Kurajowski, assistant to the city manager, come up. And I'd like to read something first, too. I do want to thank all of our attendees and for making a point of coming here tonight as well. It's great to see so many participants, families, alumni, and community members gather to celebrate this year's civic class. Tonight is about recognizing you, your commitment to learning, to engagement, and to your community. You've taken time out of your busy lives and schedules over the last six months to better understand how Chandler works. And programs like CIVIC help build a stronger, more connected community. They create informed residents who understand not just what the city does, but why we do the things that we do in Chandler. And as I've told several of you out there today, you now are more knowledgeable than perhaps 95% of the people who live in Chandler about what goes on here and what doesn't come here. I ask that you use that superpower Dispel myths. Lead people if they need answers to how to get them, whether it's with police, fire, parks, water. You are knowledgeable, and I hope that you remember that and don't shy away from letting people know that. That kind of understanding helps lead to better conversations, and you will help build better partnerships with inner city. I also hope that this experience doesn't stay right here. Get involved. So whether that's attending meetings, volunteering, signing up to serve on a board or commission, or even just staying engaged in your community, put to work the knowledge and the opportunity that you've had to not just understand Chandler, but to be a purveyor and disseminator of information of the same. So on behalf of the city, thank you for taking your time, your curiosity, and your commitment to this program. I want to congratulate the 2026 Civic class. We are proud of you. And I must say, very few of you have taken up my offer to meet the mayor for coffee. Most of you have thought about it. but you haven't followed through. Well, if you're an educator like my friend on the front row, you've got a few more weeks before school starts. And for everyone else, the offer still stands. In fact, if anything, I have more coffee offerings all over downtown to take you up on that. So with that, let me turn it over to Amelia.

Thank you so much, Mayor. That was really a great overview of the program. The individuals that we're recognizing tonight have shown a real commitment to learning more about their city and becoming informed, involved residents. They have met with city leaders, toured facilities, took part in hands-on demonstrations, and learned how to stay engaged with their local government. Before we begin recognizing our participants, I want to take a moment to really highlight the many staff members of Team Chandler who make this program possible. Throughout the civic experience, participants interacted with more than 20 departments and divisions across the organization. I think this really reflects the collaborative spirit that defines our city. I would like to express a sincere thank you to all of our staff who took their time to welcome this year's class, share their expertise, and offer a firsthand look at how Chandler operates. Your enthusiasm and commitment ensures that our residents leave with a deeper appreciation and understanding of their city. With that, we are excited to recognize our 2026 Civic Program participants tonight. Participants, when I call your name, please come to the front and join the Mayor and Councilmember Hawkins for your photo. Please stay up at the front as we will all take a group photo at the end. So with that, first let's congratulate Juliet Ackert. Lindsay Barnes. Shannon Begay.

Anvi Bhakta.

Laura Burdick.

Kim Alvin DeLaura. That was one of our outstanding teachers in Chandler.

Jose Gonzalez-Garduno. Carlene Green. Cynthia Hardy. Baltazar Hernandez. Shalini Iyer. Daniel Kamer. Alejandra Maya. Patti Maynard. Christine McKee. Jenny Miller. nardia padilla renee potts Mikaela Keehan.

Melanie Smith. Hi.

Stephen Fair. I was worried.

I thought maybe I didn't pass my final. Not this time.

Antonio Taylor. Jennifer Teague. And last but not least, Peyton Williams.

Do you want to organize this? The young people.

All the young people.

All the young people. Good job, buddy. Yeah, right here. No, Matt, you're seen right here.

It's all ones in the back.

There you go.

Okay, guys.

Ready? One, two, three.

Sibbe. Sibbe. Sibbe. Do a fun one. Say Sibbe.

What could I say, Jack? You got money. I got money.

That concludes our scheduled appearances. All right. Before we adjourn, Councilmember Landau had a question on number nine.

Staff, just a quick question on number nine. I understand they're requesting a withdrawal. Arizona Commerce Center. I apologize. I meant to call us in today, so forgive me to get you up here, but this is for a, what's the zoning for and what would be the final product?

Yeah, through the mayor. Council Member Orlando, it is for a rezoning for an industrial business park.

Like typical what we've been seeing along Arizona Avenue again, or is there something else that this is a gotcha? No?

No, it's typical along Arizona Avenue. There's two innovation buildings, which have industrial and commercial.

Okay, and they're just doing this because of its, what are they looking for, a PDP, or are they looking for an agreement? What's the delay?

It is a development agreement for the railroad crossing on Ryan Road.

Okay, so they have to take care of that first, what you're saying. Now I got you. Okay, I was wondering why this was, that makes sense now. Thank you. Thanks, Mary.

Okay. Council, that's the only thing. So if you would like extra pictures with individual council members, we would love to do that with y'all. So with that, this meeting is adjourned.