Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

Thank you everyone who is in attendance and online. I'd like to welcome you to the formal board meeting of the Maricopa County County Board of Supervisors for Wednesday, 03/25/2026. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Thank you, madam chair. Supervisor Gallardo?

Here.

Vice chair Lasko? Here. Supervisor Galvin?

Here.

Supervisor Stewart?

Here.

Chair Brophy McGee?

Here. We have full board membership in attendance. We will now proceed to invocation and pledge of allegiance. Supervisor Gallardo, please introduce your guest.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It is always an honor to have someone from our family be able to participate. I'm looking in the audience. Oh, there he is in the back. And to have someone from our own our own county family to to help us kick off today. So today, I have the director of our library district, Jeremy Reeder here. And if it's okay, ma'am, I would love to say a few words afterwards.

Absolutely. Thank you.

Our father in heaven, we are so grateful for this day. We are so grateful for this nation in which we live and for this opportunity that we have to participate in this civic opportunity. We are grateful for those that are here, those that serve, and those that are utilizing their citizenship in such a manner. Father, we are concerned nationally and locally about the level of contention that besets us in this day and age, and so we ask for added measure of peace to be with us in this meeting, that this business will be conducted in a peaceful manner. We are grateful, father, for those that are serving here, and we again ask for an added measure of wisdom for our board and for those whose decisions are to be made, even the wisdom of Solomon that we may know thy will concerning this great work in this great community.

We are again grateful grateful for all that we have been given and the opportunity we have to be here today, and we say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Amen. And now for the pledge.

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, supervisor Gallardo. Thank you, mister Reeder. Would you please

Thank you, madam chair. And once again, you, Jeremy, for joining us and kicking us off today. As we all know, Jeremy is the director of our library district. He joined our family back in 2004. He's been the director since 2020. He has a wife and two kids, one in one in which is a librarian in Seattle. I did not know that. That's pretty cool. His hobbies is sitting in a chair and reading a book, which is awesome. Who would have thought?

Who would have thought the library district director would love to read a book? And and just playing a you know, he's played such a key role in in in my district, particularly out in the Gila Bend and and Madam Chair, a couple years ago, we had some some sad news out of Gila Bend that that we were losing our spot, and as you know, Gila Band is my little diamond in the rough out there in the West Valley. It's a special place in my heart, and I try to and do with every ounce of my ability to help these great folks, it's a small community, and and I always tell folks, we all drive through Gila Bend on our way somewhere. But if

you just go right off

the highway, you have around 2,000 individual families that live in that town, and it's just a tight knit community. But anyways, we had some sad news that we're losing a district, and with the help of Jeremy and his team, we're on our way of establishing a new library in Hilo Bend that's gonna service not only the kids, but the families there in Hilo Ben, so thank you so much. I was out there, I looked at the site. I haven't gone back. It's been a couple of months, but I did see the site.

I'm very familiar with the site in which we are gonna renovate and turn into our new library out there in Gila Bend. But thank you, Jeremy, once again for helping me in Gila Bend and for everything you do here in Maricopa County on behalf of our libraries, our kids, our families, our community. Thank you so much, Jeremy.

Thank you, supervisor Gallardo. There's a sign you see on your way into Gila Bend about home of something and six crabby people.

I've been here for a while. I I remember you.

Have you figured out who the crabby people are? Okay.

I'm familiar with this one.

He's so funny.

There is.

They have a town newspaper that is really a community based newspaper. It'll tell you everything that's going on in the schools and the the, like, the elementary soccer team, and it just gives you it's a really a community vibe newspaper, so I love it. So if you ever wanna know about Gila Bend, that Gila Bend's son is is is how you get to know everything.

Lots of years in the legislature. The rural schools tour was unforgettable. So thank you for a little more history and background on Hila Bend. We are next up with the pet showcase, and Kim is here to introduce us to patches. Yes.

I

wasn't sure if she was gonna let me pick her up. She's a little squirrely. So as you can see, this is not Doug, as on the photo. Doug got adopted probably within three minutes of us opening up yesterday, which is not surprising, as did all of his littermates as well. I believe there's one left who might in surgery today as well. But I brought Patches. We actually have a ton okay. Patches would like to run around all the time, as you can see. We have a ton of puppies right now. Patches is one of them.

He is or she is eight months old. She arrived at the shelter about a week ago as a stray. So But she has wild puppy energy as you can tell. Between six months and 12 years old 12 old rather, that is probably the hardest stage of puppyhood. I can attest to this as my puppy just got out of that stage. She's still kind of in it. But they are rambunctious, they are troublemakers, and so she is just having a ton of fun right now. She just has one mode and that is on. And I haven't figured out the off switch yet, but I know I petted her, and then she had the zoomies around the yard for about ten minutes, and she hasn't stopped since. So if anyone's adopting her or really any puppy, just be prepared for that puppy energy.

I can say that we have been working on sit all morning, and she seems to really grasp it. She's very, treat motivated, which is great for training. But she will need a home that, that will provide that training for her, so she can be the puss best pup that she can be. But she's only twenty two pounds. She's a great size. She's probably not gonna get much bigger just being eight months old already. And she is $250. That's her adoption fee, that includes her spay, her microchip, and her vaccines.

Oh, thank you, Kim. And patches, worth your weight in gold. I do remember I had three toddlers and thought, puppy. No problem. Oh, put me in a home. So I hope you find a good home, Patches. And thank you again, Kim.

Mhmm. Thank you.

Alright. Getting to the more serious business part of the agenda. It's important that I refresh with the audience public meeting rules and decorum. It is the intent of the members of this board to follow orderly procedures for conducting business. We have rules of decorum during the open meeting.

The chair of the board of supervisors has the authority to maintain order and professional standards during open meetings and may enforce the following rules. Those disregarding these rules will be subject to removal. First of all, attendees should remain seated during an open meeting to minimize distractions to the board or other attendees unless you are called forward to address the board or if you are leaving the meeting room. I didn't think it was necessary to read the following, but now I find it is. No person attending an open meeting shall engage in disorderly or boisterous conduct, including but not limited to applause, whistling, stamping of feet, booing, making any loud, threatening, profane, abusive, personal, or impertinent, or slanderous utterances that deserve that disturbs, disrupts, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the meeting.

So with those caveats in mind, please understand those rules have been stated ahead of time, and now we will proceed to conduct the meeting for the board. Thank you. We have one agenda item on planning and zoning. It's consent. Supervisors, do you wish to remove this item and for discussion from the consent agenda?

Seeing none, madam vice chair, is there a motion?

Madam chair, I need to clarify. Do you want this part of the consent agenda then, or do you want it to be voted on

Separately for planning and zoning consent.

Okay. Only have one Fantastic. Thank you. Madam chair, I move that we approve item number five.

Is there a second? Second. It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor will say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed? The motion passes unanimously. We will move on to statutory hearings. Clerk of the board, the annexation from the city of Mesa to Maricopa County, and a whole bunch of liquor license applications, and transportation, item eight a through c, road files as listed in the agenda. Madam clerk, do you have any speaker forms for these items?

Madam chair, yes. I do. I received three speaker forms on item number six. I have one speaker form on item number seven. They did not specify which liquor license they wish to speak on. And four, on item number eight as well, they did not specify which road file they wish to speak on.

Thank you. And please understand if you are speaking on these items, you are weighing in for or against or with valid questions. Madam clerk, would

you please call the first three speakers? The first three speakers on item number six, Joe Hoff, Roger May, and Roger Pickrell. He marked that he is in opposition. Mister Hoff, would you please come forward?

Welcome. Good morning. I'm using my allotted time. I trust decorum will be maintained, and any interruptions will be noted for the record. I would like to ask a broader procedural question. Number one, while this team while excuse me. While this item is being discussed individually, can you explain why other items involving millions and even billions of dollars are placed in the consent agenda and approved in a single motion?

Madam chair

Mister What criteria determine whether an item

Please confine your comments to support or opposition of the item, the annexation from the city of Mesa to Maricopa County. Thank you. Madam clerk, mister Mapes. Welcome, mister Mabe.

Thank you. My name is Roger Mabe. I'm here to speak on item agenda item number six. And I'm using my allotted time, and I trust the quorum will be maintained, and any interruptions will be noted for the record. I have a few questions for clarification one can you confirm for the record what the estimated long term annual maintenance cost will be once this roadway is under county control two has any life cycle cost analysis been completed for this roadway and if so is that available to the public three can you clarify how this transfer will affect future development authority and zoning decisions along this corridor.

Four, can you confirm whether the public has had any separate opportunity to review or comment specifically on this jurisdiction transfer prior to today.

Thank you, sir. Before I call mister Gutierrez forward, Roger Pickerel, do you have any questions or comments as relates to item number six, the annexation from city of Mason, Mesa to Maricopa County?

Are you pausing my time? I'm Roger Mays. Are you pausing my time?

And I am pausing your time.

Well, clock is running.

And I am going to get those questions answered because they are specific to the agenda item. Mister Pickrell, do you have any further questions?

Yes. If I go to the podium, let me

Please.

Okay.

Great. Thank you, mister May.

I'll substitute momentarily. Having been in construction, knowing this is a construction question that you're you're itemizing here, with the point of expenditure, public information needs to you know, when they in a neighborhood or a streetway a a throughway, if they're gonna be interrupted on that, I adhere to some of what Roger Mays is saying is I would like to be able to question how much time down, you know, when you go into a a roadway, detours, etcetera, routings, and especially, you know, you gotta figure out, okay. I'm gonna have tar and rock on my vehicles. How much my how much time I'm gonna have to avoid this area? That is a cost factor, and I was wondering if you had any now he hit the nail on the head, and I was just wanting to Thank you very

much. You may both be seated.

I have forty two seconds on my

That concludes

No. I have forty two seconds. You said you would give

You may be seated or you may be excused. You pick. Mister Gutierrez, would you come forward? So mister Gutierrez, I'm assuming you made note of the questions. The long term maintenance oh, and mister Alex. I will ask you both to introduce yourself so the audience knows who's testifying.

Good morning. I'm Jesse Gutierrez, director of transportation.

Alex Smith, director of real estate.

Thank you. So we had some questions about the long term maintenance, life cycle cost, transfer impact, public input, notice to the public of an estimated time of the project for those who will be inconvenienced. Mister Gutierrez.

Good morning, madam chair, members of the board. This this particular de annexation is for a development that's coming in. We already own and maintain the roadway. We are expanding our footprint in the roadway to improve mobility and safety in that intersection and support development as a developer comes in. That developer is actually going to do the widening for us.

He's gonna do the improvements on that section of roadway. So those costs are borne by the developer, and the the cost of the roadway is already in our program. However, knowing that that's kind of the the answer to the first two questions with the life cycle cost. But I'd like to add that if you we wanted to be very specific about the amount of property that we're actually taking in. It's a very small strip of land along the south corner quadrant.

It amounts to very small footage, but we have similar roadways nearby. And I can say that the average cost for the improvement maintenance, ongoing maintenance, life cycle cost of the maintenance that we're gonna add to the system would be about $2,000 a year, but the intersection will be completely improved to a full wider footprint. So this is a very minor we're asking Mesa to de annex a portion of their annexation to give us the room we need to build our bigger intersection. Pretty straightforward. As for future implications, all the zoning and road way type of authorities remain as they are today.

There's nothing changing. All we're asking for, like I said, is Mesa to to give us a little more room to build a bigger and better intersection. As far as the the annexation component, perhaps mister Smith can talk to that.

Please.

Chair, members of the board, I think it's important to note that this is decreases regulatory burden to the developer, and they would have to deal with multiple jurisdictions for the roadway improvements, and that the annexation provides just one entity. That would be the county. The develop the development itself can occur in Mesa. All the roadway improvements are governed by the county, and it significantly benefits the developer. The ordinance was already approved by the city of Mesa council previously, and the board heard this for the first hearing on twenty five February. So I believe the public has had plenty opportunity on this one.

Thank you, sir. Any questions? Supervisor Lisko.

Yeah. Thank you, madam chair. I think one of the questions from mister Pickerel, if I'm not mistaken, was, like, how long is this gonna take? How long will the businesses and people have to drive over this construction?

Madam chair, supervisor Lansko, once we have the actual development plan in place, we will notify the public and have a very specific schedule of the time frames. It's early on, obviously, in the in the process right now. Once we get to that point, we will be sharing that and do extensive public outreach to businesses and residents alike in in the affected area. And, of course, like all our projects, we try to expedite the work, minimize the impact of traffic. And while we are impacting traffic, we try efficient as possible and keep keep it safe, but also move as much traffic through the intersection as possible and through the improvements themselves.

So once we get to that point, we will do extensive public outreach.

Thank you. Any other questions?

Madam chair.

Supervisor Stewart.

Thank you very much. Mister Gutierrez, thank thanks so much and appreciate the questions. And this is great for the neighborhood. Right? It's great for the community. We're expanding roads. We're making them safer. This is what good communities do. And what is really remark it's remarkable to me about the initiative to lower the burden. We need housing. We need better roads. And to be able to annex this into the county makes that streamlined. So I appreciate the work that you guys have done on this. Thank you. Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you, supervisor. We will proceed then to comments public comment on seven a. I am assuming and thank you very much. I'm assuming we will take this as a package if need be separately. But seven a through e, madam clerk, liquor license applications.

Madam chair, have one speaker form from Louie Mar Garza. She wishes to speak on item seven. Miss Garza, please note that your behavior at prior board meetings is under heavy consideration, and your participation will be limited appropriately. You have two minutes, and it needs to be pertaining to an item on liquor license applications. Applications?

Louie Marcia Betty Garza. As I'm looking at seven a, b, c, d, and e, I did a review of all these liquor licenses throughout the year, and I noticed that these these items are literally literally the Jeffrey I Epstein of redacted documents, heavily redacted. And it seems that the majority of the names that are on here were thrown into chat GPT and they just spit out all sorts of letters.

Letters. What my questions are going

to be, and I think this is right for a Nick Shirley investigation, thrown I want to know and I'm my understanding is that there are limited liquor licenses to be issued. And I know they transfer, they move, they do a lot of things. But looking at the addresses, these are all little mom and pop stores that want to be liquor license locations. Again, heavily redacted. And I do question why you would even redact on one of them the date that they became citizens because a good portion of these throughout the year have all been foreign people who got their Arizona driver's license and now can conduct business in the varying points of Maricopa County and hashtag because Arizona.

I would challenge anybody to get a map and pinpoint the addresses throughout the year of these liquor licenses. And I would submit that you would be able to actually drop a a map on top of it that the military has access to, and which you can no doubt find a lot of tunnels and a lot of strange rezonings in that area. Please consider this. Govern yourselves accordingly.

Thank you.

You're good people, but you don't know what side of the coin you're on.

You. Madam County manager, to whom do I direct the questions related to redactions on liquor licenses?

Madam chair, the clerk's office oversees the liquor licenses. I would like to add that this is just a recommending body to the state.

Thank you. Do you have

any further comments, miss Scarce? Madam chair, exactly what county manager said. And in regards to the redaction, we do redact any personal information that's application before it goes out to the public.

The public.

Yes, ma'am.

But the state board, liquor board gets all the information.

They have the complete information, the complete application. Correct.

Thank you very much. Do board members have any further questions? We will now go to item eight through AC Road files. We have four speakers lined lined up. Madam Clerk, could you call them?

Yes. Thank you. First speaker, Andrew Tye, followed by Tom Arnold, Luke Portell, and then Andrew I'm sorry. I have two from Andrew Tye. So, actually, I just have three, madam chair. Andrew Tye, Tom Arnold, Luke Portell. Thank you, Mr. Tye.

Good morning. This is on item number 80.

Item number which?

80, RECO funding.

Nope. Road declarations.

A

eight. Number eight.

Are you wishing to speak to road file declarations?

Yes.

Items a through a through c.

Well, I don't know if it's a through c.

Mister Tite, what item are you here to speak on?

Agenda

item number eight, Okay. Okay. Can I speak?

Please proceed.

I'm using my allotted time. I trust the quorum will be maintained and any interruptions will be noted for the record. I am speaking on agenda item eight. I have a few additional questions. Can you confirm whether any of these road declarations will result in changes to existing property access or use?

Could any of these actions affect driveways, easements, or how the property owners currently use their land? And how are the property owners informed if the access access or use may be impacted as a result of these decisions. When actions affected property access and use it's important that those impacts are clearly understood by the general public. Thank you, sir. We

will hear from the remaining speakers and then proceed. I think mister Gutierrez thank you. Mister Arnold. Morning. Good morning, sir.

I'm using my allotted time. I trust decorum will be maintained, and any interruptions will be noted for the record. I'm speaking on agenda number eight. I would like clarification on the following. And, again, there's four items that I would like clarification on.

So one, can you confirm for the record whether these road declarations include the authority for property acquisition through condemnation? Two, are there any affected property owners tied to these road files, and have they all been notified? Three, what criteria determines when a roadway is formally bought, excuse me, brought into the county system? And number four, is there any publicly accessible list of all road files currently under consideration or plan for future deck declaration? Thank you, sir. Thank you.

Mister Gutierrez? That concludes public participation. Madam chair Oops. Nope. Never mind.

One

more speaker. One more. Luke Portell.

Mister Portell, I wanted to advise

Yeah, you're not gonna

interrupt.

Wanted to advise you in advance. I wanna advise you in advance. You are excused. You're excused, please. All right.

Jesse and Alex. We have some questions from public participation. Hopefully, made note. I attempted to. Who would like to start?

Good morning.

Good morning, sir.

I'll I'll start. Jesse Lutiepas, director of transportation. I'll start here by just clarifying that one of the road files, the initial road file is for a roadway project. It's to create a new roadway, an existing roadway and expand it to its full capacity again, similar to our earlier discussion. That's from 107th Avenue to 95th Avenue on MCAD going do a project to do a widening, street lighting, sidewalks, all a full improvement on that section of roadway on MC85.

The other two road files are essentially through planning. It's a subdivision. We're taking in the roadways from a subdivision that they have dedicated to the county through ARS, and I think Alex will speak a little bit of that in in a minute. But it's very straightforward. They have dedicated it's not about condemnation.

They have dedicated these roadways to the county, and we're gonna take them in. When the subdivision is complete and we've inspected them and they've met the county standard, we take them into our roadway system and maintain them. So those are the three files we're looking at. But to get to the I think the changes in driveway, the changes to access driveways would probably pertain only to the first road file A. And typically, the new roadway design aligns existing driveways, especially for businesses where they're at.

And we try to maintain all the driveways and access accesses exactly the way they're at. We don't take away easements or things of that nature. We include them all into the new roadway alignment, very straightforward. So that process is worked through the design process for the access to driveways and business access and residential access, if there's any along that alignment. This particular alignment is mostly industrial.

But we work with the businesses and make sure that if we do have to adjust their driveways that we get their approval and make any compensation if needed for for those. In terms of I think some of the other questions were along the roadway declaration, the use of the land. We don't change the use of the land. We just build a new roadway that makes it easier and better for access to those businesses and residents. I think in that aspect is very straightforward.

Getting to the second set of questions, I think, Alex, if you want to talk to the condemnation component.

Alex Smith, Director of Real Estate Chair, members of the Board. The first road file a does authorize acquisition of property up to and including condemnation. As the Board is aware, both the real estate department and the Department of Transportation respect property rights and treat the landowners and the businesses. I make a distinction sometimes they're not the same, and we work with both of them at the same time to ensure that we do the right thing for them. The takes, for lack of a better word, whether it be easement or fee, are appraised by a licensed appraiser.

An offer package is made to the landowner. There are negotiations most of the time. Those lead to a voluntary transaction. Sometimes that does lead to a condemnation case being filed, but that doesn't mean that's a forcible transaction either. Most of those cases are settled by the county and the landowner in a voluntary manner as well.

Thank you. Supervisor Leisker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. When you talked about these particular cases, was there condemnation on the eight, A through C?

The A is a new road file, and there has not been. And then B and C are pursuant to a different state statute that basically says if the county approves a plat in which the roads are dedicated, if they're built to our standards, we have to take them And those road files do not authorize any acquisition or condemnation because that's not needed because the property's already been dedicated.

Thank you. Any other questions?

Madam chair, thank you.

Mister Stewart.

Thank you. So in this one, do we have any neighbors that were concerned about this? Anybody show up today?

Madam chair, supervisor Stewart, none that come to mind that there was no there's maybe some early negotiations of locations of driveways and things of that nature, none that are opposed to And the HOA wanted this. Right? Absolutely. And and BNC, they are absolutely there. They absolutely want That's a good thing.

Absolutely. Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you. Any further comments or questions from board members? County manager Pikorsky.

Thank you, madam chair. I wanted to add, I also heard a question about where you can see our roadways. And on the Maricopa County Department of Transportation site, we have a roadway information tool, and it'll show you which roads are open and declared and what our extent of our right of way is.

Yes. And will that be part of our transportation infrastructure transparency initiative?

Madam chair, yes, absolutely will be.

Our infrastructure, but yes, I'm so excited about that project. So more to come. Hearing no other questions from board members, and excusing you both with thanks, we will proceed to a vote on items six, seven, A through E, and eight, A through C. Madam vice chair, is there a motion, please?

Madam chair, I move that we approve item six through eight c.

Thank you. It's been moved. Is there a second?

Second.

It's been moved and seconded. Hearing no further discussion, we will proceed to a vote. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Moving on to the Board of Supervisors' consent agenda items nine through 76. Do board members have any Moving items they wish removed? Hearing none, I will maintain discretion to comment following our vote on consent agenda items after the vote. Madam Vice Chair?

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that we approve items number nine through 76.

Thank you. Is there a second? Second. It's been moved and seconded. Hearing no further discussion, all those in favor will please say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Thank you for the board's indulgence for me to comment on item nine, the chair's appointment to p s p r s local board, John s Garcia. Mister Garcia's career in the public sector spans over forty years. He started as a police dispatcher at the University of Arizona and eventually joined the Maricopa County Attorney's Office where he serves served the citizens of Maricopa County with distinction for twenty four years in various capacity capacities.

He retired from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in 2017 and assisted the department on a contract basis for eighteen months and then returned to work full time. He then joined the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department for a year in their policy development section. Not being done with pursuit of higher learning and future public service. He accepted in 2020. He accepted a contract position with the Arizona Department of Health Services, and that turned into a full time regular position.

And now he serves as the program director of the Arizona Biomedical Research Center. Back in 1997, the chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appointed Mr. Garcia to serve as a citizen member on two local boards for PSPRS. And since 2010, he has served as acting chair for the two local boards. So I wanted to thank Mr.

Garcia for his willingness to continue public service and thank the board for approving his nomination. We will now move on to the regular agenda items 77, 78, and 79. One two are related to finance, resolution for lease and lease purchase of certain real property, resolution for purchase agreements, and other necessary documents. Planning and development has an item, resolution extending the moratorium on increased regulatory burdens. Madam clerk, do we have any speakers signed?

Madam chair madam chair, yes. Two wish to speak on item number 77, and one wishes to speak on item number 79. We'll call on the first speaker, Leslie Shepherd, followed by Dawn Hawker and Jamie Martin.

I'm sorry. You said two or three?

Three speakers. Okay. Mhmm.

Miss Shepherd. Okay. Hello? Alright. So on this agenda item number seventy seven and seventy eight, the final job obligation is what?

$303,330,000,000 dollars broken up to 500,000,000 over time, which obviously people are gonna pay a lot more for that, you know, long term. So my question to you is, can you confirm for the record the total repayment obligation, including interest associated with these financing instruments? What specific revenue sources are plea are pledged or accepted to be used to repay these obligations? And are these obligations considered considered a a debt in substance, even if the the structured it's even if struck even if structured in differently? These are significant long term financial commitments, and understanding the full obligation is critical for the public.

And I I want you to know that I always appreciate when you have certain individuals come up here. I've met some of them in person, and they're really wonderful people. So when we hear from them, it just reassures. So I'm I'm grateful that they get up there and answer the questions. This is a huge budget item. Now you didn't pull the one that was 1,000,000,000 from the consent agenda, and all all of you were

Excuse me, Shepherd. Would you confine your comments to item 77 and

Oh, I thought we were doing it like the budget meeting.

We can kinda go off

and Sandy So my question, I asked you three specific

questions regarding interrupt the chair again.

And please do not interrupt me. It's my allotted time.

We have the three questions. You may be seated. Madam County Manager, who may we call forward just to answer the three questions?

Thank you, madam chair. Mike McGee, our CFO, and also Bill and Pedro who assisted us with this item are here as well. Thank you.

And gentlemen, when you are all seated, please introduce yourself for the audience starting with mister McGee. Thank you for coming.

Hello, madam chair and supervisors. My name is Mike McGee. I'm the county's chief financial officer.

Good My name is Pedro Miranda. I'm board counsel with law firm support. Good morning,

madam chair, members of the board. My name is Bill

Make sure you turn your microphone up.

And closer to you. Good morning, madam chair, members of the board. My name is Bill Davis. I serve as the financial adviser to the county, and I'm with the firm of Piper Sandler.

Thank you. Who would like to start regarding repayment, revenues, sources, and debt and substance. Please,

mister Yeah. So the total repayment obligations, currently, we're looking at short term repayment terms between one to three years. So it's very short term in nature. The interest expense, it won't be until we go out for the bidding process that we'll know what the actual interest rate is, but I can tell you that it is very likely that the treasure the investments or the proceeds that we invest with the treasurer on this will earn interest that will likely offset the cost of the interest cost on this issuance.

Thank you. Revenue sources?

Yeah. So the revenue sources pledged, there are two issuances here. One is certificates of participation. That is secured by pledged real estate, which is a South Court Tower. And the second one are pledged revenue obligations.

That one's 200,000,000. That is secured by state shared sales tax revenue including vehicle license tax revenues. And as far as what is used for the payments, that would be repaid with money we already have aside for this. The purpose for capital expenditures being financed is it's necessary to fund these projects outside of the expenditure limit. Any capital project spending that we do is subject to the expenditure limitation. However, debt payments are excluded, and therefore, this is necessary to fund those projects outside of the expenditure limit.

Thank you. Do either of you debt in substance, I think was the phrase phrase that that was was used. Used. Do you care to speak to that? Flip

Madam a Chair, members of the board, in each case, it's an obligation of county. The certificates of participation, the principal and interest, will be subject to annual budget appropriation, similar to a lease. If the board, at some point in time during the life of the certificates participation determines not to appropriate the payment for debt service, then the property under a ground lease would be transferred to the trustee for the benefit of the cop holders. So it's the form of a lease agreement in essence. The pledge revenue obligations do have a distinct and specific revenue pledge.

They are obligations of the county, and the county, if you approve the resolution and the pledge revenue obligations are sold, the bondholders, holders would have rights to those pledged revenues to ensure that debt service is made or paid on a time in a timely fashion.

Thank you. Trying to be little captain obvious here. Why are we financing? Why are we using debt to finance? Could you explain that aspect of it? Because to me, it is absolutely stunning that as the largest county in well, as a very large county in The United States, we have to handle our debt in this manner. Please.

Yes. Madam chair. So we have currently planned $530,000,000 of capital project spending through fiscal year twenty twenty nine. And in order to spend that capital project money, we have to finance the projects in order to stay within the expenditure limit. It's unique to Arizona that we have this expenditure limitation, but it's something that jurisdictions have to deal with. But like I said, we have the money to repay this, and it will be repaid within one to three years.

Thank you. Hoping that's clear. Are there any questions from these three experts from board members? Mister Stewart.

Madam chair, thank you very much. And I appreciate your team working to cap the maximum rate at 5.5%. Do we know in a range of what the interest rate's going to be on this particular project? Yeah. Since

yeah. Madam Chair, Supervisor Stewart, since we haven't gone out for the bidding process yet, I don't know if we should disclose a range because, you know, they might be watching this meeting. I don't know, Bill, do you have a thought on that?

Just very briefly, Madam Chair, Supervisor Stewart, we don't know what the interest rate is going to be, and it really will at the time of the bid, and I'll circle back to that in one minute, our ultimate rate will depend on where the market is. And we're in a very volatile time right now, but rates are generally really low. Yesterday, for example, tax exempt rates jumped up by 10 or 15 basis points, so one tenth to 0.15 of 1%. So they're bouncing up and down now pretty frequently daily. You know, it's really hard to say. We've got a cap at five and a half percent. You know, my guess is that we'll be below four. Okay.

So My hope. So triple a bond rating

Supervisor Stewart.

Thank you. Triple a bond rating, no debt. I would expect that we'll get a pretty good rate. We're we're a pretty safe bet for somebody that wants to buy this debt.

Yes,

sir. Alright. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Any other questions or comments from board members? Okay. Gentlemen, you may be seated, and I will take these two items as a separate motion.

Madam vice chair Madam chair, if I may interrupt. We have Oh. I do have one more speaker on item 77 then followed by a speaker on item 79.

My apologies. I thought they were all 79. Who's 77?

77. Don Hawker. Please stay seated, gentlemen. Mister Hawker.

No. My name is Don Hawker, and I think there was a mistake. Maybe my handwriting wasn't good, but I was trying to do seventy seven and seventy eight, not 79. Let's see. I thought

you said My apologies. That's I 7778 is what you're speaking on, sir.

Yes. I'm using my allotted time. I trust that the quorum will be maintained, and any interruption will be noted for the record. I'm speaking on agenda items seventy seven and eight. I'd like to better understand the structure. Can you explain how certificates of participation differ from traditional bond in terms of risk and repayment obligations? And number two, what safeguards are in place to ensure future budgets are not constrained by these obligations? And three, are these financing decisions reviewed for long term fiscal impact before approval? Understanding how these instruments function is important when commitments of this scale are made. Thank you.

Thank you, mister Hockert. Mister McGee, would you care to you know, I think most of the these were answered, but let's go back over them specifically. COP's versus bonds.

Yes. Madam chair, I would defer to our bond counsel to describe the difference between bonds and COP's and PRO's.

And I would take that on. You just answered that question. Do you wanna answer it again or do you want

me to do it? Go ahead.

Okay. So certificates of participation are these are the ones where the South Court Tower is used as the security and it is subject to a ground lease where the county leases the building to to a trustee here, US Bank Trust, who will lease it back to the county to be able to use for its current purposes. And those lease payments are what pay back the debt that is attached to to these certificates. And like Bill said, these are subject to annual appropriations. And typically, while other issuers may go out twenty, twenty five, thirty years with these types of certificates, the county typically will do two or three year maturity, so it's paid very quickly.

In terms of the pledge revenue obligations, it's pretty similar except that there's no building that serves as a security. So it's essentially similar to what was done here in the last two years, I believe, for the pension obligations. Except there, we did have to attach for different legal reasons the a building as collateral. There is no need to do that in this case. And the pledge or the revenue source for repayment, as as was discussed.

Instead of annual appropriations, it's different items, including revenues from the state shared sales tax, revenues from the vehicle license tax, and county imposed excise taxes.

Okay. Mister McGee.

Yeah. Madam chair, I would like to add answer the second and third question from the gentleman. He asked about safeguards to ensure that future budgets are constrained. I would like to say that this does not constrain our future budgets because we already have the money set aside to repay this, and it will be repaid in a short term amortization, such as what Pedro just described. The third question was long term fiscal impact.

I do not believe that there is a long term fiscal impact of this financing, because as I mentioned, it's very short term financing. We have the funds, and also, as I mentioned a little bit earlier, it's very likely that the interest that we will earn while the money is sitting with the treasurer will be off will offset the cost of this interest on this loan, or these purchase these certificates.

Thank you.

Yes.

Now let me ask if supervisors have any follow-up questions.

One quick question, madam chair.

Mister Stewart.

Thank you very much. On the Mike, can you talk a little bit about the expenditure limit? And this could cost the taxpayer about $23,000,000. I would imagine it'd be lower because, like you said, we're gonna offset that with some savings, or we'll we'll make some money on this money being at the treasurer's office. Can you talk a little bit about what would happen? Could we pay cash if we didn't have expenditure limit?

Yeah. Madam Chair, Supervisor Stewart, yes. If we paid cash, it would count against our expenditure limit, because unfortunately, capital project spending is excludable. And and so we have to have this arrangement in order to, you know, stay within the expenditure limit.

Madam chair, the legislature has imposed or I guess the legislature has imposed an expenditure limit on us that prevents us from paying for cash. Otherwise, we would be able to save this interest. Is that a fair statement? Correct. Thank you. Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you. Madam madam chair, I'm The expenditure limit, it is a voter approved limit in from 1980. So the limit was set in '80, and then it goes up every year at the rate of inflation essentially. It's in it's actually in the constitution. Thank you.

I think we're done but hang on. Does that conclude public participation?

Madam chair, one more on item number 79.

I would like to take seventy seven and seventy eight separately and then we'll proceed to public participation on 79. Madam Madam vice chair, items seventy seven and seventy eight.

Okay. Thank you madam chair. I move that we approve items number seventy seven and seventy eight.

Thank you. It's been moved. Is there a second?

Second.

It's been moved and seconded. Hearing no further discussion, we will proceed to a vote. All board members in favor will say aye. Aye. Any opposed? The motion passes unanimously. Thank you, gentlemen. I appreciate your participation and explanation. Item 79, resolution extending the moratorium on increased regulatory burdens as relates to planning and zoning. Madam clerk.

Madam chair, one speaker Jamie Martin wishes to speak on item number 79.

Welcome. Hi. I'm Jamie Martin. I'm speaking on agenda item 79. This item extends a moratorium on regulations that have been in place since 2013 and repeatedly extended over time.

I'd like to ask three questions and one comment. The three questions are one, has there been any formal review of the long term impacts of maintaining this moratorium over multiple years? Number two, are there any areas areas where updated regulations may be necessary but have been delayed due to this policy? Number three, what process is in place to evaluate whether this moratorium continues to serve the best of the public's interest. Long term policy extension should be periodically reassessed to ensure they remain appropriate.

And we were just hearing about safeguards or guardrails. We need guardrails in Arizona. Arizona. The fourth thing I'd like to say is when taxpayer funded contracts or agreement certificates are affected, ongoing review is necessary to ensure transparency that terms and conditions are being followed. Thank you.

Thank you for your questions. Madam County manager, do you

care to answer or call forward staff? Madam madam chair, I can I can answer? The question regarding if we evaluate this going forward, we bring this resolution forward either annually or biannually for the board to reconsider as opposed to having it extend five, ten years into the future. That way the

Sorry for the interruption. But the question was, has there been a formal review? Thank you. Formal review. Thank you.

So I believe answering the third question about the process to evaluate so that it comes forward for the board to consider and for public comment before it's renewed. Also, there are updated regulations that are necessary, such as items that could impact public safety, public health, there is a specific process that we follow to ensure community and public and stakeholder input. We call that ERAP or Enhanced Regulatory Outreach Program. So you can adopt new regulations that would improve community safety or health. And also if we need to comply with any federal or state regulations, Those regulations though go through a very specific process which allows public input at multiple times.

And then for the last question, if there was a formal review of the long term impacts, this has been in place since at least 2010 or 2012. It's been in place for a number of years and we review that with the help of stakeholder task forces and we periodically convene people that are subject matter experts from the community or the from the public and the business community, the regulated community to provide input on our regulations to ensure that they are working for the best service for the community.

Thank you. Do board members have questions or comments? They were great questions. Know, how do you keep it from just being a rubber stamp or a, yeah, this is what we do. But I have and I have some awareness of this when I first voted for it.

It reflects the county culture. We're not gonna go and regulate or enforce on the basis of of anything other than essential public safety. And we have processes in place to safeguard, and I was happy as chair to place this on the agenda for consideration and vote to renew by my fellow board members. Hearing no further comments, no further public participation, Madam Vice Chair.

Madam Chair, I move that we approve item number 79.

Is there a second, please? Second. It's been approved and seconded. We will now proceed to vote. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes unanimously. We now move to the board of supervisors addendum. Four items for the county attorney.

Quarterly RICO expenditures, conflict waiver for Osborne Maladon, initiating litigation regard regarding environmental health code, and initiating litigation regarding ordinance. Additionally, we have one item from the treasurer, which is the purgeable property tax data. Madam madam clerk, are there speakers signed up to speak on any of these items?

Madam chair, yes. I do have three speaker forms. Okay. First speaker, I will call on Jamie Martin, wishes to speak on item number 81, followed by Don Hawker. He wishes to speak on item 82. Last, Barbara Ratti wishes to speak on item 84.

Okay. Miss Martin.

Thank you. I'm speaking on agenda item 81. This is one of the agenda item the excuse me. This is one of the agenda items that was added after Monday. Nearly 70% of the agenda is grouped into consent, meaning the majority of decisions are approved without individual discussion unless a board member chooses to put them on. How does a county ensure there's no conflict of interest when approving representation, adverse to the county?

Thank you. And that's your question? Mhmm. Okay. I will take a run at this. We received advice in executive session as to why the conflict is not applicable in this case or has been adequately dealt with. Mister Galvin, do you care to comment further?

No. All all I

just wanna say, madam chair, is

that we receive legal advice Yeah. In executive session. All discussions regard and involve legal advice.

Right. But on this item.

So That's it. Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam clerk. Next speaker, Don Hawker, item 82, followed by Barbara Ratti on item 84.

Can I do a follow-up or no? No. Have 56. Am I able to do a follow-up or no?

No, ma'am. I asked if you had more questions. We're moving the board meeting along, I appreciate your questions. Thank you. Mister Hawker. Yes. My name

is Don Hawker and speaking on items eighty two and three, I would like clarification. Since these matters were discussed in executive session. What information can be provided publicly to ensure transparency? How does the public understand the basis for the enforcement actions? I couldn't select yes or no on whether I approve because I have no idea what was said in exactly this session. I'd like to note also that these two agenda items were added after Monday. Thank you.

Thank you, mister Hocker.

Brooke,

our attorney I like to say babysitter, but that's not right. Our representative and executive session for Maricopa County Attorney's Office.

Yes. Madam Chair, as it has been noted, this is the supervisor's addendum, which is, items that have been added to the agenda for legal action or for the board's action following briefing and advice from counsel in executive session. The conversations in executive session are confidential, as has been noted already. The question as to what information can be provided publicly, These two items, eighty two and eighty three, are initiating litigation on various enforcement for the environmental health code and for the zoning ordinance. Any initiation of litigation becomes a public record the case is filed, that is a public record. Thank you.

Thank you. And I can safely say they pertain to public safety. Okay. Item 84.

Barbara Ratti wishes to speak on item 84.

I'm gonna apologize I just don't feel like speaking right this moment.

Okay well thank you for signing up. Hearing no further discussion from board members we will proceed to a vote on items eighty, eighty one, 82, 83, and 84. Madam vice chair.

Madam chair, I move that we approve items 80 through 84.

Thank you. Is there a second?

Second. Finally.

I had so many wall flowers on the second. Thank you. I think supervisor Galvin landed there first.

Barely.

Barely. That's what I mean. So we will proceed to a vote. All those in favor will say aye.

Aye. Any

opposed? Motion passes unanimously. We will now recess as the board of supervisors and convene as the improvement district board of directors items 85, 86, and 87. Madam clerk, are there any speakers?

Madam chair, yes. I do have two speaker forms. First speaker, Tom Arnold, wishes to speak on item number 85 followed by Roger Mabe on item 86. Thank you. Mister Arnold.

Hi. Regarding agenda item 85, and may I proceed with thank you for answering the questions when it comes to governance, when it comes to business and finance. You speak at this speed, and I comprehend at this speed. So if I'm my questions are redundant, I don't mean it to be angering. I just apologize upfront. Regarding agenda item 80, this item involves

I'm sorry. Was that eighty five?

Eighty five. Yes. Yes. Sorry. This item involves approving a final assessment that will be repaid by homeowners within the improvement district.

Three questions I would like to ask. Can you confirm for the record the total repayment amount per property, including interest over time? Number two, what is the estimated timeline for repayment, and how will these costs be communicated clearly to affected homeowners? Number three, and what options are available to residents if they are unable to meet these financial obligations? When assessments lead to long term repayment obligations, it is important that residents fully understand the financial impact. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. We'll go ahead and hear from mister Maitre on item 86. Did we have any other speakers?

I'm sorry, madam chair. One more speaker on item number 86, Roger Maitre. Okay. Thank you. Please proceed.

I'm speaking on agenda item number 86. I'm using my allotted time, and I trust the quorum will be maintained. Your prior interruptions are being noted for the record. This item adds additional properties into an existing water improvement district, which includes shared responsibility for operational and maintenance costs. My questions are, can you confirm how the costs will be allocated amongst existing and newly added properties?

Are there any projected increases in ongoing maintenance or operational expenses as a result of this expansion? Three, how are residents informed of their long term financial responsibilities when entering into these districts. Expanding districts may provide services, but they also create ongoing financial obligations that should be clearly understood. For the record, I drive three hours round trip, and I'm constantly denied the webinar. Please answer these questions. Please answer these questions.

Thank you. No further speakers?

Madam chair, no other speakers.

Okay. We will proceed. Madam county manager for items eighty five and eighty six. Who would like to come forward? I think one is mister Gutierrez.

Madam chair. Yeah. Mister Gutierrez. And I don't know if you have anyone else from your Lana wants to go.

Thank you and appreciate your testifying. And please introduce yourselves again for the audience starting with mister Gutierrez.

Good morning, madam chair, members of the board. I'm Justin Gutierrez. For these items, I am your county engineer.

Thank you.

Good morning, madam chair.

Is your microphone on?

Can you pull it closer?

And closer. And closer. Okay. Good morning, madam chair and supervisors. I'm Alana Luicki, and for this item, I am the superintendent of the streets. Thank you.

So just a brief introduction on item 85, and then Alana, Ms. Luicki will give you details to the to the cost and and questions. Essentially, this has been a long term project, the pavement improvement district. We've been working on this for several years, over five years, and the residents are very well informed. We've been to the board on this item for four previous steps, and we'll be back for two more in the very near future.

Future. Essentially, these are pavement improvement districts. It's the request of the neighborhood who is asking us to make these improvements on their behalf. They'll pay us back, pay the contractor back essentially for the work done. So it's very transparent and it's really a neighborhood driven project. But with that said, I'll let Ms. Luicke answer the questions in detail.

Yes, so the repayment amounts have been mailed to the property owners to make them aware of what they owe, and we've had quite a bit of payments that have been made for the property owners that have not paid. Well, everyone has been paid reprided the ten year debt service agreement of what they would have to pay over the ten years because when the petition was set up for this district, it was set up with year repayment option. All of that has been provided per Arizona State statute for the requirements of improvement districts. We have done the required mailings to notify them. And if they have not made their cash payments, they will be following the ten year repayment schedule.

Thank

you. Is that for item 85 only or did Yes. That's

Madam chair, that's for 85. And and to add to Alana's reply is they've had the option to either pay upfront initially and or go out to the ten year financing option. And like we said before, the residents were very well aware of the costs coming in. They were provided early estimates. And then once the actual bids came in from the contractors, we shared those actual numbers with each homeowner and it's based on the square footage of their property.

So it's very it's respective to the size of the property, the costs are. So they're very well aware. There was no surprises, very transparent, very upfront. We met with each individual homeowner in person to go over the cost over the time, so there's no surprises there. And in fact, as Ms. Lewicki said, more than half of the homeowners have already paid their portion of the project. So it's it's very, very successful. This project is very successful.

Thank you. Supervisor Lesko, you had a question before we get to 86?

Yeah. This is an interesting concept because in in '86, it's kind of similar, but it's for a water district. And and just to make sure that I understand, it is the neighborhood look. What is this? A private road or something? And they they they wanna divide up the cost between all the neighbors instead of one neighbor saying, well, I'll pay for the cost. Or, you know, the neighbors are arguing. They decide they come to the county. I think it's in state law. Right?

State law. But they come to the county, and they say, hey. We wanna form this district so that everybody in the neighborhood has to pay. And then I think there's a certain threshold of neighbors that have to approve this, if I'm not mistaken. And then they agree with it, and then they all have to pay in instead of the road not being maintained. And, you know, one neighbor say, well, heck, I'll pay for it, you know, or something like that, and then the other neighbors being mad. Is is that the gist of it?

Madam chair, supervisor Lesko, you're absolutely spot on. That's exactly the way it works. And it's it's in statute 48, and it's exactly the way you mentioned. They get together. They petition the county. Can you build this for us if we pay for it? And you're spot on.

Yeah. I'd like to expand. It's built to county standard and is it is a county road now, so they've built it and now we'll be using it as a county road, so they have that benefit to them as property owners.

Thank you. Do you have any comments related to the questions on item 86?

Yes. Chair?

Madam Chair, go ahead.

This district, the Australia District, and this item is adding Grand View to the district. This is at request of the property owners there. They currently have a small private water utility company that prides them with water, which they can't drink it because of the PFAS in the system. So ADEU came to us and asked if we could they have a grant to provide the connection and the property owners asked for a petition to be added to the Estrella Dells Improvement District. The first question that was asked was about how the costs are allocated.

The costs for this district are based on the acreage and the water utility provides us with the costs and we maintain the service and the water lines out there. So the costs will be distributed for all properties per acreage.

Thank you. Any questions from board members? Comments? Thank you both so much. Hearing no further public participation, Jasmine's running around so I want to be sure.

Madam chair, no other speakers on these items. We

will proceed to a vote on items 85 through 87. Is there a motion please?

Thank you madam chair. I move that we approve items number 85 through 87.

Thank you. Second?

Second.

It's been moved and seconded. Hearing no further discussion we will proceed to a vote. All those in favor will say aye. Aye. Those opposed? Motion passes unanimously. We will adjourn as the Improvement District Board of Directors and convene as the Flood Control District Board of Directors On items 88, 89, 90 through 91, 92, and 93, madam clerk. Madam chair,

I do have one speaker form. Louis Mar Garza wishes to speak on item number 89.

Item 89. Thank you. Miss Garza.

Do I have your permission to proceed? We all know Hitler didn't die. Yavol.

Excuse me. Can please confine

me As to item 89, what I'm looking at, this also deserves a Nick Shirley and a Dogey worthy investigation. You are the flood district. I'm thinking there is a conflict of interest in that. I've noticed throughout the year that you were very generous in, you know, assisting people who seem to not get in in their heads that that they

Item 89.

89 flood District. Exactly. Are you on another document, miss Groffey?

You are

I'm on 89. I'm on Amendment to determination link

of relocation benefits into entitlements

question is through taxpayer dollars, I have noticed throughout the year that you're very generous with these monies in helping people to relocate from flood prone areas. I want to know who put them in that area to begin with. Did you rezone something nearby that made that area flood prone? And you have done this over and over and again. There are many of them that are redacted.

So I would like to point out that perhaps maybe just likely that this is yet another method for you to money launder. Since you have no oversight, you are the flood district people. And if you were to add it up throughout the year, you'd have a lot of money that you're just giving away to irresponsible people. Their motor home has been dilapidated. We have tons of people. I don't understand how you are trying to build up stories for the homeless and but you're using taxpayer money's 200 something thousand dollars, and this is just one of many. I'd like a little bit more since you've proven yourself to be pitifully piss poor stewards

of our collective You are

excused. Bend

over Mac County manager.

Nine 8.

Thank you.

My manager, could you please answer what I think was a question? Please remove miss Garza.

Thank you. Madam chair, the the flood control district has a program called the flood prone properties acquisition program. It actually saves significant money as opposed from building structures, which can be

Please excuse. Please remove miss Garza. Emma Braun is a guardian. I knew it wouldn't take long, but I tried. You are excused. I'll head there, Emma Braun. Okay. Madam, county manager, back to the beginning.

Thank you. The flood control district has a program called the flood prone properties acquisition program. It purchases properties that are in the highest danger areas of a floodplain, which is in the floodway or areas that have very deep flooding. Many times, these are older homes that were there before the hazard was identified. And this program actually saves tens and tens of millions of dollars from the cost of building a structure to protect these homes.

And this particular item is related to the buyout program that the flood control district is running in Gila Bend. You may recall probably five or six years ago now, there was serious flooding in Gila Bend where two people died. So this is a program that is gonna save lives and it's also going to save money from not having to build a very large structure.

Thank you. I think there was a relevant question in there related to grading and regrading in other areas that then would create a flood situation. I know that goes on in personal property all the time up in New River, but that's the residents doing it. But how does the county address that?

Madam chair, if we receive a complaint that someone is altering the floodplain and altering the flow of water, we would open a violation case and investigate and go through the process to get that corrected.

As I'm well aware. Thank you. Okay.

Madam chair, no other speakers.

Okay. The board will now consider items 88 through 93 for the flood control district. Madam vice chair.

Thank you, madam chair. I move that we approve items number 88 through 93.

It's been moved. Is there a second?

Second.

It's been moved and seconded. Hearing no further discussion, we will proceed to a vote. All those in favor will say aye. Aye. Those opposed? Motion passes unanimously. We will adjourn as the Flood control district board of directors and convene as the library district board of directors for items 94, 95, and 96 through 99. Madam clerk, are there any speakers?

Madam chair, yes. I do have one speaker form from Leslie Shepherd wishes to speak on item number 94.

Actually, I have it down for 9495. So would you rather I sit down and come back up for 95? Please combine your comments. Okay. So I'm looking at this. First of all, I'm super excited about that that that library going in at Gila Bend. Very excited about that. Also, I noticed in the minutes that you're passing November 5, 11/19/2025, and 12/10/2025. I went and looked at the minutes. It there's nothing I know that this is like a broken record, but, you know, it's my allotted two minutes of time that you're not supposed to interrupt.

And I'm gonna tell you that the minutes are not reflecting that we brought up the laws that are being violated. The books it is perfectly normal, and this book is gay. That is actually in the minors department. None of that is listed in the minutes. And, also, the boy I read out loud the book that's called All Boys Aren't Blue.

It was incredibly sexually graphic, again, in the minors department. I see none of these things that are actually listed in the minutes. And, again, I'm happy that that library is going into the because, again, we did go to every single one of the county libraries at the end of last year, we've been doing it again this year. Specifically, the books I've been checking out that I'm mentioning, I've gotten them all from the Fountain Hills County Library. So it'd be your library, miss Brophy McGee, miss library district chairman. And so those inappropriate content books that are in the minors department are still labeled there and still there. So I noticed that the minutes are not reflecting any of these dialogues that are that have been brought up at these meetings.

Thank you for your comments. Okay. Thank you. I'm

gonna go ahead, I've I still got ten seconds. I'll stand here while you guys gonna discuss whatever it is.

Thank you. You may be excused. Have a seat. I have had a request from a board member to consider item 94 IGA with the town of Gila Bend separately. Madam vice chair, is there a motion on item 94?

Yes. Thank you, madam chair. I I make a motion that we hear item number vote on item number 94.

It's been moved. Is there a second?

Second. Second.

Comments, madam vice chair, or discussion?

Yeah. Madam chair, I'd like to reserve my comment till after the vote, if you don't mind.

Thank you. Are there any other comments? I think you already talked

about your primary

supervisor, but please No.

No. I'll I'll make it real quick, madam chair. And and this is an item that first of all, thank you for putting on our agenda. The town of Gila Bend, a couple years ago, lost their library. The partnership we had ended, and we were asked to leave. Our library district director, as well as his team, worked really hard over the last few months trying to locate a library section. This is a partnership in front of us with the town of Gila Bend. The one previous was with the actual school district. In my opinion, with the school district, it was more of a revenue thing on their side. They just couldn't add a space, it was a space issue as well.

But nonetheless, this was a solution to reestablish our Hila Bend library that has been in that community for a very long time. Any

other comments? What I would like to say is that I think the very first question I asked you in my orientation it wasn't my orientation. I was running for office and looking at all the different county structures. And I said, what are we doing in the library business? And then I went up because one of the parting acts or appearances that my predecessor made was up in the anthem where we actually had been sharing a library with the high school up there.

Oh my gosh. They so wanted their library, and now we were gonna lease a separate building, I I get follow-up questions, as you know, all the time. We're building it out a separate structure so we're not confined by school hours. It's a service that our county residents have come to know, love, and expect. And I am very excited to see that not only the town of Hula Bend, but the six crabby people who live there will have access to a library.

And and madam chair? Supervisor. Thank you. Just one more quick comment. And and this this location is more than just a library. It is our workforce development, it is a voting site, it is a place in which folks can go and receive information in regards to public health, it serves as a spot in which folks can come and get so much in terms of county services, so I just want to point that. It's not just the library. We have workforce development. It's used as a voting center. It's used on multiple fronts.

Thank you, visor Gallardo. Hearing no other comments from board members, we will proceed to a vote on item 94 IGA with the town of Gila Bend. All those in favor will say

aye. Aye.

Those opposed? Thank you. The motion passes on a four to one vote. Supervisor Lesko.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to make clear that I have nothing really against this Hilipan Library. I just have unanswered questions on the whole like, what are is Maricopa County's obligation in the whole library system? And I just felt uncomfortable voting for something when I have some unanswered questions that hopefully will be addressed in the future. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other comments? Nope. We will proceed to library district item number ninety five and ninety six through 99. No people have signed up for public participation. Madam vice motion, please?

Thank you, madam chair. I move that we approve items number 95 through 99.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded.

Second.

Yes. And all those in favor will say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed? None. The motion passes unanimously. What I can say, and I have said this multiple times before, is that the minutes of a meeting need not reflect any comment, but simple simply the agenda item, the action taken, end of story. So we are within total compliance on our minutes. Now who made the motion, who seconded it, what the final vote was, and beyond that, we don't we're not required nor actually in my mind should we document. Thank you.

And madam chair.

Mister Galvin.

To that point, everything is on video on our YouTube page for perpetuity. Thank you.

Thank you. I always forget that. I also forget to ask how many people are on the webinar listening in. We have we will adjourn as a flood control district board of supervisors or board of directors and reconvene as Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Before staff leaves, I wanted again to thank them for coming who's Jesse?

Why is Jesse? Thank them for coming to the the table and really informing, answering the questions, pulling them together, providing solid information. What you saw here today is something I see every day, which is county excellence on display. So I wanted to thank the staff very much for your participation. We will now proceed to public comment. Madam clerk, I bet you have public comment email responses.

Madam chair, that is correct. We did receive a couple of email comments regarding elections and BNSF, and these have been shared with all the board offices.

Thank you very much.

In addition, we have 20 speaker forms. Okay. We're called to the

Let's get started.

Who's who's our first speaker?

First up, Jamie Martin, followed by Noah James Markham, and then Craig Nazzic.

Miss Martin?

Hi. My name is Jamie Martin. I submitted a formal agenda request on Sunday and did not receive a response within the expected forty eight hour time frame business hours. We need to put guardrails into the complaint process. We mentioned it today.

There's also an active superior court case, so I will keep this procedural. The public is asking for three things, that election and the recorder issues stop repeating, and that the internal conflict stops, and that the contracts are properly governed where complaints start. What has not been presented is a clear structural solution by you. I want to present one. Please listen to me.

A corrective action framework implemented within the existing complaint process creates a defined safety net where issues are assessed, root causes are identified, corrective actions are implemented, and outcomes are monitored so the same problems stop repeating over and over again. I am requesting that this be placed on an upcoming board agenda for formal review. I followed the proper process. I submitted my request, and I expected a response, but I didn't get one. I'm here today to ensure it's formally acknowledged we need to discuss corrective action plans with respect to the complaint process and the contract oversight process where you're using our taxpayer funds for these contracts and for these processes that you're implementing without our input.

Thank you.

Thank you. Madam clerk? Noah James Markham followed by Craig Nat ski and Juan Mendez. Sorry.

Aloha, miss chairwoman, and to the rest of the board of Maricopa supervisor. My name is Noah James Markham, and please, we need to get rid of the two eight seven g agreement with ICE taken away from the city of Mesa. And also, we need to make sure that none of our airports have ICE agents in there either. I also would like an agreement. If you keep the Mesa 287 G agreement in District 1, then I'd like to make sure you put that light rail all in District 1.

So let's build that light rail in District 1 and make sure it's accessible for people with disabilities. And Justin Heath, you're not very good at the job, but I know for a fact any Democrat would do a better job than you.

Last thing are sports teams like Arizona Cardinals, D backs, and our

men's soccer team, and hopefully soon the hockey team. We need to do a better job with our coaching so our teams can thrive. Please, if they're not a good coach, get rid of it. We need to do

better with our teams. Your election system for Tampa City Council said it was 95% done and it was

the last meeting we had together and it took till Friday that week of the meeting. Mahalo and thank you for listening to me this morning.

Thank you madam clerk. Craig Natsky, Juan Mendez, Kathleen Norell.

Members

of the board my name is Craig Natsky. I've worked in construction in Arizona for over thirty years. I've been voting by mail for decades. It's one part of an election system here that is in this great state that is secure, trusted, and built to make sure every single eligible voter can participate and every ballot is counted. As an American, I believe our right to vote is sacred.

It is our birthright, and it must not be infringed upon. That's why I'm here today. The trust I've had in Arizona elections for years is being threatened. From Phoenix to small towns like Douglas to indigenous communities across our state, Arizonans all share that same fundamental right, the right to vote. It gives us the power to choose our leaders and decide what happens in our government.

And the truth is our elections are already secure, trusted in workers working. Voters rely on them. We trust this system, and we trust the board of supervisors to protect it. But recorder Justin Heap is betraying that trust, creating confusion and interfering in how our elections function by stalling voting maps and blocking polling locations. He is making it harder for people to vote and putting communities at risk of being kicked out of our democracy, and this isn't happening in a vacuum.

Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans know their agenda had their agenda has failed working people. Instead of fixing real problems, they are trying to silence voters and dismantle our elections ahead of 2026. Because when everyday people vote, billionaires and politicians they bankroll lose power. So voters should never pay the price for political games, protect our democracy, and let the people decide. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam clerk?

Next up, Juan Mendez, followed by Kathleen Norell, and then Tierney Chin.

Representative, good to see you. Hey. Senator. Good morning. Senator?

When I ended. Yeah. Good morning. Good morning, supervisors and the public. My name is Juan Mendez. I live in Tempe, and I'm here today because the integrity and accessibility of our elections in Maricopa County are nonnegotiable for my community and me. And I I'm afraid, like the last speaker, that recorder heaps inaction will only spoil our elections. I wanna be clear. I'm here with community to support and collaborate with the board. The current elections contract is effective, and the elections process in Maricopa works.

Our election staff, everyday people, right, are doing an exceptional job. They've proven our elections are safe and secure, and we support the board's work in keeping our elections working. And we wanna work with you to keep it that way. But I believe, along with others, that if it were not for recorder heap, the county would already be finalizing our polling sites for the upcoming election. So I'm here today with community, and we will continue to show up to monitor and ensure access to polling sites and fair elections are not undermined.

All of our communities, but especially working class communities, hard to reach communities, those with limited transportations options, they need fair and act acquidate access to polling sites. So we must write and from what it looks like, you know, he appears to be purposely trying to disrupt and halt the election process. His actions, like fighting over IT budgets and staff and slowing down the selection process for polling sites are unacceptable. Again, we would be finalizing our election maps right now if it weren't for those delays. We should we you know, I should be out in the public helping people make a plan make a voting plan right now.

But instead, we're here making sure that we even have a plan for polling sites with an election right around the corner. But what's more what's deeply alarming is the the tripling of of Heap's ballot signature projection in this last election. So giving that alarming increase, we need transparency. We need Heap to share the demographics of those increased ballot rejections. We have a right to know which communities are having the ballots rejected. So we wanna work with you. If Heap refuses to work with you, we're here to work with you. But before the next board meeting, we would like to know that we have a plan for the upcoming election. We would like to start educating the public on polling sites and addressing the ballot rejection

Thank you, senator. Appreciate your continued participation in the process.

Thanks. Madam clerk. Next up, Kathleen Norell followed by Tierney Chin and Tony Avalo.

Hello. Kathleen here. I am a precinct committee man, a state committee man, a poll worker, a ballot counter, and a citizen. Precinct based voting and counting allows the citizens to be that actively participate in the election. When the money that is spent on elections goes to the citizens instead of the owner of a large company that is involved in many state elections, the community wins, the state wins.

Actually, you get back taxes for food, gas, property, sales, and vehicle taxes. And it well, property taxes if you can afford them. The strength of America is in its citizens and our communities. Give us back our ballots and the elections. Yes. Give us back. You've taken them away. One day, citizen ID, precinct voting, hand count. Thank you. And I've trained people on to hand count, and I think every one of you could do

it. Thank you, madam clerk. Tierney Chin, Tony Avalo, Albert Rivera.

Good morning chairwoman Brophy McGee and members of the board. My name is Tierney Chin and I'm here on behalf of all in his local action. Maricopa County voters deserve stability and certainty heading into elections. The continued breakdown in the shared services agreement between the recorder's office and the board is deeply concerning especially with the July primary election swiftly approaching. In February, he attempted to undermine the board's role in recommending early voting sites only to reveal that the premise of his letter was incorrect because he failed evaluate all the documents tabs, ignored the board's full recommendation, and spread misinformation in the process.

Now while mistakes happen, voters need transparent accurate information from their public officials and alignment between the recorder and the board. On critical infrastructure like early voting and election day locations. It is absolutely necessary to avoid voter confusion. This ongoing public standoff is not serving the people of Maricopa County, it is distracting us from the real work. Arizona voters are united in making sure every eligible voter can cast their ballot easily, securely, and without unnecessary confusion or obstruction no matter their partisanship.

This disagreement among officials pulls focus from that critical mission. This is not about politics, it is about protecting our freedom to vote and ensuring smooth accessible elections for all and we expect our election officials to act accordingly. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Madam clerk. Next up, Tony Avalo, Albert Rivera, Barbara Ratti.

Welcome.

Good morning, madam chair and, esteemed members of the board. My name is Tony Avalos, and I'm an Arizona native who's lived in the Phoenix Metro Area for forty nine years. I'm not here with any party affiliation, but as a concerned voter who believes in secure elections for Arizona while continuing to promote Arizona voters' rights. I am very alarmed by multiple election related actions that are taking place in our great state as follows. Last week, I sat in committee hearings where the state legislature debated and passed h c r 2,001 and SCR 1,001, measures that will disadvantage voters whose single ID, such as a driver's license, will not be acceptable under the bill as follows.

For married women whose driver's license names do not match their birth certificates and who do not have a passport. For low income voters due to cost and time to obtain a second ID. And for the elderly who may be missing some documents and having issues finding them. Also, earlier this month, Arizona senate president handed over my and our, k, registration records to the Trump administration. I have a serious concern with the collaboration between the state government, and a federal administration who has denied the validity of the twenty twenty Arizona federal elections.

All of the above demonstrate how voters' rights can be impacted. Even as a lifelong American citizen and Arizona resident, I put myself out there through the process of purchasing my birth certificate and a US passport recently. Both both cost time and money, and these can be a challenge because a new passport costs a $165, and a renewal is $1.30. After all, while members of all parties agree that we want safe and secure elections, you know, we also wanna make sure that the indicate that the the voters' past voting has been audited, and there has been no indication of fraud, including mail in voting. As a retiree, I'm part of the 80% of Arizonans that vote by mail.

Esteemed members of the we trust you, and we're asking you to protect our rights as voters.

Thank you.

Thank you

so much for

your time.

Thank you. Madam clerk?

Next up, Albert Rivera, Barbara Ratti, Lisa Everett.

Chairwoman. Thank you. Chairwoman and members of the board, it's good to see you guys again. I'm Albert Rivera, a resident of District 4. I'm not here to talk about Melendris, but I am here to talk about the other elephant in the room, election integrity. We're living in a time when we have a sitting president who's questioning the integrity the integrity of elections here in Maricopa County. Meanwhile, he got exposed for for voting by mail in Florida. Think of that. I might disagree with some members of the board that have been sit I might disagree with some of you folks on what you guys have been saying about the monitor. But regarding this subject, all I ask is to keep running our elections in a safe and secure way.

Justin Kiep and the Trump administration want to inject confusion and spread fear into the election system that we have trusted for so many years. Some of their actions include the SAFE Act SAFE Act in trying to deploy ICE agents over to the polls. This is part of a much grander scheme in which MAGA is trying to violate the rights of citizens that have the fiduciary duty to do one one of the things that makes this country great, vote. My final plea, please continue to keep our relations safe and secure as they have always been. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Madam clerk.

Barbara Rattie, Lisa Everett, Andrew Tye.

Barbara Ratti. I'm here to speak about election transparency and public trust. Arizona law already recognizes the importance of verification. Under ARS sixteen sixteen o two, there is a required hand count audit of ballots after elections. That tells us something important.

Even within the current system, manual verification is considered necessary. If verification matters after the election, then trans during the process should matter just as much. Elections belong to the people. The process should be understandable, observable, and verifiable, not just by officials, but by the public public itself. Itself.

Trust is not built through complexity. It's built it's built through visibility. Regarding public trust, how can we trust machines that are mandated to be tested and certified when there is not one company in The US that will certify these machines? They are built to give a certain programmable result. How can we trust them? Thank you.

Thank you, madam clerk. Next up, Lisa Everett, Andrew Tye, Joe Hoff. Welcome.

Hi. I wanted to just address a couple of quick issues. I wanna thank you guys for following Robert's rules. They govern most governmental meetings. And regarding minutes, Robert's rules literally states actions are what is supposed to be documented in the minutes.

And that, of course, is because if I were to give these long sentences and you were to drop them all down, there would be a word wrong and I would be mad or whatever. So actions are what goes into minutes. And I wanted to address something that I've heard talked about many times in this room by people other than yourselves regarding hand count, because I know there's a big push in our county for hand counting ballots. And it does work on some small levels. It it really does.

But I will tell you there was a county in the state of Texas that decided they wanted to hand count this last primary election. I believe it was in February, and I reached out to them to get some feedback on how it went. And the email response from the elections administrator was, this is not this is truly not something I would wish on my worst enemy. It has been a terrible experience. I received my last precinct results at 3PM on Wednesday, but it's forcing the precinct based voting, which is causing the problem.

Then I had to take all of the returns for each precinct and tally them and get the totals to reporting. I didn't get to submit them by 6PM. We had to work through the night. I worked 36 straight. Our Republican party chair had no idea what she was getting into. The tally teams got up and walked out in the middle of the night due to exhaustion. We had little to no training for our judges, and the county wide polling since 02/13 has plenty of machines to cover our precincts. I'm not sure why

we Thank you.

Madam clerk. Next up, Andrew Tye, Joe Hoff, Roger Mate.

Good morning.

Good morning.

It's been an interesting evening, and then the opening prayer at this meeting. What I've realized through my career, residential real estate career, being the captain of my high school football team, our team. You know, people have to work together to get anything done in life. Probably one of the most shocking things that affected my my soul when I walked away from it was having to meet a sheriff with a locksmith at a couple's home that we were evicting because I was the realtor working for the bank. We were evicting that morning.

They were paralyzed. They hadn't even packed a single item in their house. And the children were crying, and the sheriff and the locksmith went in. They changed the locks on the back and the side door. They secured all the windows. I stood out front talking to the parents, and they came and changed the lock on the front door, and they got in their cars and left. And I thought, well, what do I do now? I gotta I gotta leave too.

And I

was looking at this family. I thought, I wanna help them. But as I drove away and looked in my rearview mirror, I really understood that these people, when they're being foreclosed on, they get caught in that situation. They are paralyzed. They don't know whether they they should sit or stand. And I realize I need to work with you to get anything done for this, done to change this, and you have the power to do that. You can tell the banks, no. We're not accepting your So I just wanna thank you for your

Thank you, sir. Appreciate your comments.

Madam clerk. Next up, Joe Hoff, Roger Mait, Don Hocker.

For the record, at the last meeting fourteen days ago, I was interrupted multiple times and asked to provide a binary response whether I was for or against an item. Public Public comment is not limited to a binary position. Speakers are here to provide input, context, and perspective relevant to an agenda item. For the record, that time was interrupted and not restored. It is also noted that no corrective action was taken in that instance while other speakers were removed under different circumstances.

For the record, this reflects inconsistency in the application

of

decorum. I would like to address public confidence in elections. Arizona operates a decentralized precinct based election system, meaning elections are run at the local level by community members. That is a strength, but only if the process remains visible and understandable. When systems become too complex, too technical, or too removed from public observation, confidence begins to decline.

Regardless of intent, perception matters. If people cannot see or understand how results are produced, they will question them. The solution is not to dismiss concerns. It is to increase transparency and accessibility. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Madam clerk?

Roger May, Don Hawker, Diana Jones Pickrell?

Chairman, this is a criticism. First and foremost, when I was speaking on an item number six, why did you promise that you would give me my time back? And then you refused to later, and you broke your promise. In essence, that's a bald faced lie. Does that make sense? It's a bald faced lie. You didn't do what you promised. Why do you believe that you can interrupt us, but we cannot interrupt you? This is extremely one-sided. Your unfairness and your unprofessional behavior proves you really are a hypocrite when it comes to being a public servant.

I've talked about this before. I'm holding a Arizona Superior Court letter. It's dated 03/1126. The court accuses this board of supervisors of engaging in shenanigans and gamesmanship. As you know, this board is under investigation by the FBI for insurance and election of fraud. The citizens of this county are very disappointed that you are not acting on the behalf of the people. It's unbelievable. In senate hearing, John John Kennedy, he's he's reading from this book. We've been talking about All Boys Aren't Blue. This book is still in your minor section.

Kennedy quotes from the book. I put some lube on and got him on his knees, and I began to slide into him from behind. I pulled out of him and kissed him while he masturbated. He asked me to turn over while he slipped the condom on himself. This was my ass, and I was struggling to imagine someone inside of me. He got on top of me, slowly inserted himself into me, and it is the worst pain I had ever felt in my life. Eventually, I felt some pleasure and pain. Get these books out of our library. The it's in the minor section. Do I need a chalkboard or something?

Madam clerk. Don Hawker, Diana Jones Pickrell, Tom Arnold.

Mister Hawker?

Yes, sir. My name is Don Hawker. And I'd like to speak a little bit about the what was just said and and maybe make a suggestion. Decades ago, the supreme court ruled that the First Amendment protection could be inapplicable for pornography depending on local decision as to whether it was offensive. And, sometimes public authorities are not aware of this decision and, fear First Amendment to remove, these kinds of, filth from the library.

State, county, and library elected board and process for the public to complain. What I feel would be appropriate would be a board that would provide a process for the public to complain, review, and discuss, and have represent representatives vote for the assessment of the public judgment of the offensive nature, which is found in a book, which would be reviewed in all public removed from all public libraries in Arizona. And violations have criminal penalties for appropriate violations to private provide effective implementation of that Supreme Court decision on pornographic exception to the First Amendment. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Clerk? Next up, Diana Jones Pickrell, Tom Arnold, Roger Pickrell.

Chairman, members of the board, I have several different statements to make. First, we are not a democracy we are not a democracy, we are a republic. Second, we wouldn't be fighting this stupid thing about the elections if the previous board and the previous recorder hadn't taken heaps duties away from him before he even got in office. Third, about married women not being able to vote. I'm 70 years old.

My birth certificate said Smith when I was born. I had it with me when I came to this state in 2013. I was a moor for forty five and a half years before I lost my husband. I am now a pickerel. My driver's license says pickerel.

My voter registration card says pickerel. So there is nothing taking my voting right away under this SAVE Act. Next, two weeks ago, you had a proclamation for the public defense recognition week. This month is National Women's History Month, and you guys have said nothing about it. As somebody who spent twenty years in the Air Force Reserves and was the first female to go through c five loadmaster school, I find this insulting.

It's insulting to Sally Wright, our first female office astronaut. It's insulting to Pam Barnes and Myra Sands, who were the first women to go into the test program for one forty one Loadmaster program, and it's an insult to Martha Malleks Martha McSally for being our senator and being an a 10 pilot.

Thank you, madam clerk. Tom Arnold, Roger Pickrell, Leslie Shepherd.

Hi. I'd like to speak again about election integrity. I know it's kinda like a broken record, and I I'd made some notes last night because there's some things I don't want to miss. And I don't wanna drive home and, you know, say, god, I wish I had said that. So my understanding of the Save America Act, Number one, all voters must show voter identification. Two, all voters must show proof of citizenship in order to vote. Three, no mail in ballots except for illness, disability, disability, military, military, or or travel. Travel. Four, no men in women's sports. Five, no transgender mutilation surgery for children.

Supervisors, during the State of the Union message, which I've watched most of it, when the president spoke of the Save America Act, would you have stood up in agreement? No Democrat did.

Excuse me. If

you are in agreement with this legislation, please could we write to John Thune asking, let's get this thing gone. And to Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, which I'm sure if they didn't stand up, they probably are not in agreement with the Save America Act. And if they're not, give us an explanation why so we can understand. And if you're in agreement, you and all of us here, we need to speak in our circles of friends regarding the passage of this act so they can contact their senators. And, supervisors, when you're in your get togethers, can this issue be discussed?

Your constituents will hopefully heed your words. Thank you.

Thank you, madam clerk. Next up next up, Roger Pickrell, Leslie Shepherd. Last speaker, Veronica Corcoran.

Two minutes before you begin. Thank you, madam chair, supervisors. I I know that this is a a celebrative approach to Palm Sunday. This is passion week. Gonna be celebrated next by a very another celebrated week that we're gonna be remembering our lord and savior resurrection of what he gave us at the cross.

Having said that, respect is what I got from my Lord when he said, I have taken the price for all of you. When he served us, I look at servitude like in military, like in community, and like in family. I look at this board as a I try to do a word that I use quite frequently called retrospect. And I say that because when I give respect, I have a form of understanding that I may get that in return. And my dad taught me that.

He said, if you want trust, you gotta earn it. And I wanna earn that today in this point. And I've had other things I wanted to bring about, but I need to understand when there's a time frame in a protocol that when I come up, I get that time frame to be used on a time clock. It didn't happen today, and I'm and I'm afraid it kinda irritated me, and I wanna be able at least briefly make a point. Thank you, Debbie, for bringing that point of acknowledgement on my statement of my question.

I just want an opportunity like Roger May and myself to have separate two minute bands. That was really kind of unnecessary. Thank

you madam clerk. Leslie Shepherd, Veronica Corcoran.

Alright. I would like to talk about two books that I got from the Fountain Hills County Library. You know, the first one is This Book Is Gay. It's not about being gay. This is the this is the part where people get misunderstood.

This is a book in the minors department, which means somebody 18. Pages two zero two to two o two zero eight are very, very specific. I've read and embarrassed myself reading them in here to try and bring understanding of how disgusting these books are that are in the minors department. And so this is that book, and I've given you pictures. I've actually made the copies of these pictures, and I've actually and I'm doing this because your your cameraman, which I've asked somebody here to have integrity to let me know who's in charge of the Maricopa County uploading and the editing.

Not one of you have bothered to get back with me. Even public records hasn't. I'm putting that on the record real quick before the ombudsman department. The same thing, it's perfectly normal. This is from the minors department. Minors. Page nine, graphic sex. Three different examples, whether it's heterosexual, woman on woman, or man on man. Extremely graphic. Again, I got this out of the county library from your county library, chairman of the library department.

This book or It Is Perfectly Normal, is literally full on, which I read at the last board meeting, and you were having a problem with me reading it because the contents were so disgusting. These are in the minors department in your county libraries. Now, I'm mentioning these things to you for a reason because I'm gonna be making this opportunity to continue proving that you have editing and censorship going on with your person behind the wall back over there that is doing editing, cropping, being selective in what things they show of our props. So I'm just doing that for that reason.

Thank you, madam clerk. Last speaker, Veronica Corcoran.

Welcome. Please state your name for the record.

Veronica Corcoran. I want to thank you for replying to my email regarding election election system security issue that I addressed last time, and I'm sorry for not replying yet. I was simply too busy with my civic duties campaigning for my legislative district. In the spirit of public awareness, I need to address you, madam chair, because last week I saw you threw out a lady for no reason but for being passionate in her complaint, and she did absolutely nothing wrong. She's a wonderful, God fearing woman, and her mistreatment caused that young man who threw out today to be very upset, which honestly I appreciate that we have young standing men standing for the truth, young men.

And and that young man spoke the truth last time because it's sherry duty to arrest any public official who who dare to sexually abuse a minor child. And it is a factual truth that this is happening. Like, we see the evidence every time we are here. In the last meeting, I saw you, madam chair, apologizing to your board members about your constituents being upset. But you said right there from your chair that you don't mean to apologize about child sexual exploitation in our public schools.

This is like that show that you, madam chair, worry more about being criticized by your constituents than molestation of innocent little children. Excuse me, madam chair, but that makes you questionable and a rotten human. And you know what? We love our children, madam chair, and we want to protect them of their god given innocence. You you not only owe us an apology, but you owe you owe to all the board and everybody else. And I question if you're even capable to run this kind of a meeting. If we don't have a moral quality as person on which we stand, we should not be public servant. Thank

you. Thank

you. That concludes the public participation section of the meeting. We will now proceed to supervisor's summary of current events. But let me start with madam county manager.

Nothing today. Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you. Supervisor Gallardo.

Thank you, madam chair, and thank you so much for once again holding, a great informative, meeting, allowing those that want to engage and have their thoughts be able to do it in a very professional manner, so thank you so much for providing that. Madam Chair, I'm just going to say this, and I know I'm going to get I I'm as an as an elected official, I've always made it a point that I will work with anybody. I will meet with anybody. I mean, miss Shepherd asked for a meeting. I said, let's meet.

Let's sit down. And I think we sat down for a good almost an hour and a half just sitting there talking. And she gave me her thoughts, I gave her my thoughts, and we had a very a very great discussion. I am all ears when it comes to public discussion. I will listen to folks until the rocks and false statements are starting to be flown at the board.

And, unfortunately, half the time most of the time, they're not thrown at me, they're thrown at my colleagues. I've seen it for the last three years on the previous board where many of my colleagues were just beaten up every every board meeting for no reason. I see it, mister Delvin being thrown rocks at while he was chairman and constantly just abused, not wanting to really sit down and talk. I've seen over the last three years where 12 to 15 people come and say, we're We the People. You're not We the People.

12 people are not We the People. And I'm so appreciative that Lucha coming together and saying, hey, we wanna work with the board. We wanna be able to be part of that dialogue and discussion. We wanna offer suggestions. So I appreciate Lucha coming to our board meeting and being here and being able to offer that to our board. I'm willing to sit down and talk with you all. Let's sit down. Let's work together. If you have suggestions or ideas, let me know. I'm I'm here to to work, and I have always done it that way, madam chair.

I've like I said, I've worked with Leslie. I'm I'm willing to work with Lucha now. If they're interested in sitting down, let's do it. Let's do it. But I hate this name calling every board meeting. You know, no one on this board is a terrible human. And when someone stands there at the podium calling you, manager, a terrible human? Really? Is that very productive? Seriously. And then they come out, they insult, and then they all leave. Thank you, Lucha, for sticking around and hearing the entire board meeting instead of just insulting and leaving. It's it's terrible, madam chair. Again, I'm not the one being yelled at. I'm not.

Let's be honest. I'm not. It's it's my four colleagues that don't deserve it. They don't. These are honorable folks. We don't agree on everything, but they are honorable elected officials that are doing what they believe is right for their constituency and the people here in Maricopa County. And and when I see it time in and time this has been going on for, like, three years. Every member on this board has been yelled at, insulted for no reason. Not once have you guys ever said, hey. Let's sit down and talk, and let's come up with a with an let's come up with a dialogue.

Let's let's exchange ideas. It's nothing but insults, insults, and insults. That's all I hear. So with that, madam chair, I'm sorry. Thank you all for coming now. Thank you, Lucha. I look forward to sitting down and talking, and thank you, madam chair, for another great board meeting.

Thank you, supervisor Gallardo. Supervisor Stewart.

Thank you, madam chair. It's been a it's been a good couple weeks. District one's been out in the community on a regular basis. I was lucky enough to go on a ride along with one of our sheriff deputies in district one, and that was an eye opening experience for a number of reasons. I think I think I recognize the great work that the men and women are doing of the of the sheriff's department.

I think what's interesting is they all know about the Melendrez case. Right? They all understand the importance of the progress that's been made with our sheriff's department. It is a constitutional police force, and and I'm proud of the work that they're doing. You know, I attended the Melendrez hearing a couple weeks ago, and we have gone from, well, I'll just say zero to 99 in the matter of it's been fifteen years. And I see these these hearings, and it gets so bogged down in some of the minutiae from,

and I wanna

get into the weeds here, but it gets really finite, and it's something that is costing the taxpayer a tremendous amount of money for something that has gone a long way in becoming a a better police force. And, you know, frankly, I'm grateful to judge Snow and the orders that he put into place for our sheriff's department to get us to where we are today. We're at a place now where it needs to be wound down. It doesn't necessarily need to go away completely, but it keeps expanding. It keeps becoming more expensive, and it needs to go the other direction based on some of the great work that's been done with judge Snow's help and others.

But I did attend that meeting. I attended a lunch and learn at the legislature looking at innovative technology to find missing children, to identify bad people when they come into public spaces, especially at schools. And there was a number of different legislators there as well as staff, and it was an eye opening view into the future of protecting our kids. Roots and Boots Rodeo, the fun stuff. I wanna thank Mayor Wheatley and council and Queen Creek, the town of Queen Creek for letting me attend the rodeo.

It was a blast. If you haven't ever been, you should sign up for it next year. And the Chandler ostrich festival, a great event that happens every year. I get to see Vanilla Ice. And on Saturday, we had the Commodores, but what a great community event that is.

So thanks to the Chandler chamber for bringing community together. But, you know, as importantly, I wanna thank supervisor excuse me, vice chair Lesko and supervisor Galvin during his chairmanship for working with the EPA and Lee Zeldin in finding a way to help Maricopa maintain its air quality levels. We've done a tremendous job as a community. We've asked our community to do a tremendous amount of work to keep our air safe, but also being able to still create opportunity and jobs for our kids. And I wanna thank them for the work that they did with that to get us that attainment ruling.