[cheering] [applause] [cheering] [applause] >> Campo Verde High School, Mia Shay. Canyon Valley Junior High, Alyssa Robles. >> [applause and cheering] [applause] >> Canyon Valley School, Dylan Johnson. >> [applause] [cheering] [clears throat] [applause] >> Cooley Middle School, Julia Lancar. >> [applause] [applause] >> DESERT HILLS HIGH SCHOOL, Maximus Salguero. >> [applause] >> Eduprize High School, Jayden Lobizzy. >> [applause] [applause] >> Gilbert Classical Academy, Michael Wang. >> [applause] [applause] >> Leading Edge Academy Early College, Alexia Bartel. >> [applause] [applause] >> Perry High School, Ashley Hess. >> [applause] [applause] >> Sossaman Middle School, Caitlyn Bush. >> [applause] [applause] >> South Valley Junior High, Palmer Carlson. >> [cheering] [applause] [applause] >> And from Williams Field High School, Vanessa Vega. >> Yeah. Thank you. At this time I'm going to call to order the council meeting regular council meeting of April 21st, 2026 of the Gilbert Town Council. And um our invo- invocation will be offered by Ryan Milsarik. I hope I have that right, Ryan. Of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of Gilbert Stapley Stake. Thank you, Ryan. Our Heavenly Father, we're grateful for the opportunity to gather this night, Lord. We give thee thanks for the freedoms of this country which we celebrate on this 250th almost 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. [snorts] We're grateful for that and for all those who were inspired to bring about those freedoms which we enjoy. We're grateful for this land. We're grateful for those who lead and serve and give their lives that we might continue to maintain those freedoms. Thankful for those who serve currently and those who have given their lives in the past. Thankful Father for those who are here this night who come with things to consider and and issues to resolve and pray that thou would bless us with the spirit of inspiration. Bless those who lead and preside in our country and those who lead and preside locally that thou would help them in their decisions and that thy spirit would always guide us, Lord, that we might come in unity and in accordance with thy will. We're thankful for this wonderful season. We're grateful to celebrate in this part of the world and we do love thee, Father. We come we pray for these things in the name of our Savior, even Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Our pledge will be led by Vice Mayor Bon Giovanni. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Roll call. Mayor Scott Anderson. Here. Vice Mayor Chuck Bongiovanni. Here. Council member Bobby Buckly. Here. Council member Kenny Buckland. Here. Council member Young Caprausky. Here. Council member Monte Lyons. I'm here. And Council member Jim Torgerson. Here. A quorum is present. Thank you. We have several recognitions and proclamations tonight. We'll start off with the recognition of the light of light of the world giving machines uh the 2025 charitable efforts that were done this past year. I'll ask uh group to come up and I'll come down there. All right. Thank you, Mayor Anderson, members of the town council. Uh the Light the World Giving Machine initiative, is this ready to There we go. Almost. Yeah, there we go. Great. Um Light the World Giving Machine initiative brought 30,000 visitors to downtown Gilbert here this last November and December. Uh for those who are not familiar with them, a Giving Machine contains 30 carefully curated cards in there that each represent a charitable giving uh opportunity of goods or services. Uh visitors can come and donate one or more items that are then fulfilled by local and global nonprofits. Uh this last Christmas uh Giving Machine could be found in uh a little over 125 cities worldwide in uh 21 countries and six continents. And uh interesting fact, Gilbert was one of the very very first places where um we hosted a Giving Machine back starting back in 2018. 100% of each donation goes to the outstanding local nonprofits that participate each year. Uh with 100% of the overhead for the the venue and the staffing and marketing and the the machines themselves being uh covered by our sponsor, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Uh these were located, as you can see here, on the northeast corner of Water Tower Plaza there in downtown Gilbert, right along Page Avenue there across the street from from Hale Centre Theatre. Uh these were open from mid-November through the end of December uh day and night, available 24 hours a day. We had some interesting donations at 3:00 in the morning. Uh we also had a a a digital kiosk version that's a new style of the a machine that that was inside that that pump house jail building, uh renovated building there in uh Water Tower Plaza. And we had a lovely kickoff event in November. Uh as you can see here, we had Danielle Miller from Fox 10 on the the left who did a a live uh segment uh on her morning show uh showcasing downtown Gilbert and and the Giving Machine initiative. Uh we also had um I'll remember her name, Emma Jade, that came and recorded a longer segment uh for her Momcast show on NBC 12 News. So, huge thanks uh here in Gilbert. Uh we had friends and family uh families, groups of friends and and others who would come uh again, day and night. We had a number of small music groups that came and performed uh there for the people who were waiting in line to donate. And uh a lot of social media uh out there of people that that came and again showcased downtown Gilbert and talked about their experience with the Giving Machine here this uh this last year. So, huge thanks here. Um in Gilbert alone, roughly 43,000 items were donated uh in 2025 alone. Um tonight we'll focus on the donations made to our five local nonprofits that are here in the East Valley. Uh so, uh if we could, could all the representatives from the nonprofits maybe come right up here and we'll we'll be have you on deck and ready to to come up. And uh with that, let's maybe start with the uh the group from Positive Paths first. And uh we have a Yeah, these these were the the top These were the seven that were in the machine. Days for Girls and Mentors International were a couple of international ones. Um and the five up here are all East Valley organizations that are outstanding. We'll start here with the Positive Paths group. Um Positive Paths exists to support East Valley women uh in need by pro- providing a life bridge to economic stability, personal growth, and professional achievement. They do this through mentorship programs, scholarships, and supportive services. Tonight, we'd like to present them with a a check that represents the the total of all of the donations that were made here. The the cards that you can see here on the slide are the cards that were in the machine in their row. And uh you can see the quantities of things that people in the East Valley here came and and donated to to help them. So, with that, Teresa, do you want to bring the check? >> [applause] >> Okay. Thank you so much. >> [applause] >> Next, let's have uh Paz de Cristo Community Center come on up. There we go. Paz de Cristo Community Center works to feed, clothe, and empower our neighbors struggling with hunger and homelessness. Their vision is to empower their guests to reach their full potential by removing barriers so that they may be more self-sufficient. Here again, we have a check representing the donations that were made to these guys. As you can see, there was a lot of food here, right? Very exciting. >> [applause] [applause] >> Hop in. All right. >> [applause] >> Sure, thank you. There we go. All right, One Small Step. Uh if we could have you come up. Here we go. Awesome. One Small Step provides clothing and dignity to children and families in need. Their vision is that no person or family within the service area lacks the clothing they need to secure employment, succeed in school, maintain a healthy and hygienic life, and be socially accepted. Now one up. >> [applause] >> All right, thank you. Thank you. >> [applause] >> All right, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest. Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest offers compassionate support and essential services for our neighbors. Come on up. >> [laughter] >> They stabilize people during crisis and transition, build a foundation where people can thrive, and preserve dignity and respect for the most vulnerable. >> [applause] [cheering] [laughter] >> All right. >> [applause] >> Last but not least, uh yep, there we go. We've got Lauren's Institute for Education. Right down Gilbert Road here. Lauren's Institute for Education gives those with developmental disabilities the chance to learn, grow, and thrive. They solid- solidify a full circle of care and create growth opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities as early as possible and for as long as their loved ones wish. >> [applause] [applause] [applause] >> So, huge thanks to Mayor Anderson and to the town council for your ongoing support of the the Light the World Giving Machines. Uh Gilbert's been a magnificent host over the years. Greatly appreciate it. Um huge thanks to the individuals you've met tonight that operate these these amazing organizations here in the East Valley. Um what an impact you're having every day. Um wanted to thank also Katie Devenuto and her team at Gilbert Parks and Rec. They're they've been amazing to work with. Dave Lenderholm and his team from the the Gilbert Park Rangers that came and helped us every day. Um big thanks to Elder John Lewis who's here. Uh of course for his Yeah. [applause] undying support for the town of Gilbert of course. Um also of course for the Giving Machine initiative and and for giving me and my wife Teresa the the opportunity to to uh to be involved this year. It's been great. Um especially huge thanks to the amazingly generous people of of Gilbert and the East Valley who uh who showed up and came and were generous with their time and their talents and and their their um donations to these again amazing organizations uh that that do so much good here in the East Valley. So, with that I'll give you the mic and thank you again. Thank you and just very short. Uh one of the reasons when I established my house rules for Gilbert when I was first inaugurated as mayor was I wanted to make sure that we were kind and a caring people in Gilbert. This shows that we are and that we will continue to be a kind and caring people and I appreciate that very much. Thank you. >> [applause] [applause] >> What's next? Volunteer month. Volunteer month. Boards and commissions were um I'd like to invite any of our board and commission chairs that may be here to come forward. >> [snorts] >> Veteran's Advisory Board. Thank you. Do we have any other uh board or chair commission chairman here? Any other members of any board or commission that's here who would like to come up? Hm? Pam, come on up. The people that volunteer on our boards and commissions render valuable service to the town of Gilbert and they oftentimes are working behind the scenes and you don't know what it is that they are doing and they're such a great help to our community and we appreciate them very much. So, we like to recognize them for their dedicated service that they rendered to the town of Gilbert as a volunteer. Um tonight we have two from the the Veteran's Advisory Board. Why don't you introduce yourselves? Thank you. Uh my name is Charles Dunn. I'm the current chair of the Veteran's Advisory Board and you'll be hearing more from me here in a minute. So, I'm going to keep mine short. I'm Pamela Reinsmith and I've been on the board for about 6 years now. Thank you. Let me read a portion of the proclamation. Whereas the strength and prosperity of Gilbert are deeply rooted in the selfless contributions of residents who dedicate their time, energy, and talents to serve and uplift one another. Whereas volunteerism is a powerful expression of civic pride and connection creating lasting positive impacts for residents of all ages. Now, therefore I Scott Anderson, Mayor of the town of Gilbert, do hereby proclaim Gilbert's continued commitment to volunteerism. Thank you all for your commitment to Gilbert and and all of you that uh are weren't able to be here tonight, we appreciate your service and uh and what you're able to do for the town of Gilbert. So, we're ready for a photo. >> [applause] >> Okay, as as part of Volunteer Month the the proclamation, we also want to highlight our partnership with JustServe. Rachel, where are you? There you are. Gilbert embraces the use of JustServe.org to connect residents with local service opportunities making it easier for individuals families, and groups to get involved and make a difference. Rachel's going to come up and ask uh members of the to come on up, I guess. You're going to introduce each one. Why don't we go ahead and present this and then why don't we have Yeah, let's go ahead and have all our JustServe specialists come up that are in the room. Yeah, come on up and stand by by Mayor Anderson. That would be fantastic. >> [clears throat] >> Yes, why don't we go ahead and present this and then we'll take a photo. Does that sound good? Okay. Come on up. Yes, come on up. Yes. Okay, should we go ahead? All right, Mayor Anderson and council members. It is an honor to be here tonight and recognize something that already defines this community. On behalf of JustServe, I am proud to officially recognize the town of Gilbert as a JustServe City. Joining a growing national movement of more than 150 cities nationwide committed to strengthening their communities through volunteerism and service. This designation is not something new, it's something the town is already doing and Gilbert is a community that that shows up and lifts. And you guys lead out on that. I've witnessed Mayor Anderson and many of you show up at service events um as well as give of your your resources to lift this community. Councilman Torgeson did our signs for our our Gilbert Feeding Families food drive and and we've just seen such an outpouring of leadership from you guys. Um we've also seen this this city bloom as partnerships have grown um with nonprofits and schools and um businesses and of course leading the the charges are faith-based organizations. Um A JustServe City is one that intentionally makes service visible and accessible. It encourages unity across diverse groups and builds a culture where where people look outward and lift those around them. Um I was amazed this week. I was at Midwest Food Bank several times this week to watch our high school students come together and work different high school students from different high schools work together to serve the community. Also on another time I was there and and to see the opportunities available to um all ages and to be inclusive to those who maybe their capacities and abilities are a little bit different and they're able to serve here in the town. So, through this designation, the town commits to continue this incredible momentum you guys have going. Um through JustServe strengthening collaboration across community partners and celebrating the everyday individuals, the families, the one-by-one um individual service, and the neighbors lifting neighbors. Because of your leadership and your partnership and your belief in people, Gilbert stands as a model for what is possible when a community chooses connection over division and chooses selflessness over self. Thank you for the culture you've created, for the way you lead, and for the lives that are impacted every day because of it. Congratulations, Gilbert, on being recognized as a JustServe City. >> [applause] >> We can do that up there for the next photo. Okay, scoot in for your photo. What about you in there? Okay, I'll do one and then we'll do that. I'll take the pictures. I can take it. There we go. 4 hours? >> [applause] >> Okay, and you know what? Did we Did we even We didn't move that. We'll just show you some of There we go. Okay. Awesome. Okay. On top of this wonderful town that we live in and and built within it are individuals that serve and groups that serve. And in honor of America 250 and JustServe has partnered with America Gives. And with that, we um would like to give out 30 We're not going to do 30 tonight. 30 Heart of Service Awards celebrating America 250. And I'll just show you really quick. The award um is a really nice little medallion. And on the front is the America 2 250 symbol and JustServe on the back. And so, each recipient will receive that. Um the Heart of Service Award um honors individuals who consistently choose to lift others and strengthen the community through meaningful acts of service. Um each What I'd like to do, I guess, is invite to the front our four recipients and we'll we'll do them one at a time. Melanie Dykstra >> [applause] >> We'll just We'll do Melanie first, then we'll go to the next, okay? So, it is an honor truly an honor to recognize Melanie. I told her I could cry cuz I love her so much. Um Melanie Dykstra Dykstra is one of our Heart of Service recipients. Melanie is a leader. I know. I picked that picture. You get it, all right? A leader among leaders. I knew she was going to complain about that. >> [laughter] >> She has an incredible ability to bring people together, as you all know. You all know her. And get things moving in a way that works. In her role at [clears throat] the Town of Gilbert as the Volunteer and Community Resources Manager, over the past 8 years, she's helped create a culture where service, thank you, and collaboration um are just part of how things are done. But what I love most about Melanie isn't just how she leads, it's how she shows up. Who cries at a town council meeting? Probably a lot of people. Okay. >> [laughter] >> Mainly the mayor. That's right. There have been so many times we've had to work around her schedule because she was serving. Um delivering meals on wheels, helping someone, just doing work quietly in the background. That's who she is. She doesn't just talk about service, she lives it. Um Melanie, thank you for the way you lead, the way you serve, and the example you are to all of us. We love you. Yeah. [applause] Okay. Would Redemption Gilbert, Shawn Warren, and a few members of your team, come on up here. There they are. >> [applause] >> It is an absolute honor to recognize Shawn Warren and Jeremy and Rachel Olem today tonight um with as Heart Heart of Service recipients. Um Redemption Gilbert Church is one of the leading faith-based organizations in our community. Uniting and inspiring people who truly love and lift one another. With strong leadership through the organization, including Shawn, um and the Olems, um they lead in our community engagement efforts. Their team consistently looks outward. And you might see on the the slide, one of the phrases I loved on their website, which says, "God's people are called to love the last, the least, and the lost." So powerful and they really exhibit this. One of the ways they exhibit this is um they lead out in our heat relief program. And the town's heat relief program. And this heat relief program actually allows those experiencing homelessness a respite, a place to come during the summer during the day and get out of the heat. And Redemption Gilbert is the heart of that. They have led out They have led other faith organizations to follow their lead. So, you guys are just a powerful powerful group. Um Thank you for the way you lead, for the way you serve, and and the powerful example you set for all of us. We're so grateful for Redemption Gilbert. >> [applause] [applause] >> Okay, we have two more really quick. Gwen Fulmer, will you come on up? >> [applause] >> It is a joy to to really um recognize Gwen Fulmer as a recipient of the Heart of Service Award. Gwen has the passion and energy that you cannot match. If you have served in Gilbert and you don't know who Gwen Fulmer is, you are living under a rock. She is the heart of service here. She's bold, she's tenacious, she will make you love service if you don't love service. And we love her. For the past 11 years, Gwen has served as a JustServe specialist, teaching people how to find volunteer experiences and volunteer service, and helping nonprofits to know how to get that out there, and then volunteering alongside all of them. We love Gwen. She doesn't just participate in service, she multiplies it. Thank you, Gwen, for your service to our community. Thank you for showing up. >> [applause] [applause] >> We saved not the best for last, but kind of the best for last. Lisa Bailey, come on up. >> [applause] >> Lisa Bailey, it is just an absolute pleasure to recognize and honor our sweet Lisa Bailey as a Heart of Service recipient. Lisa serves our community as a dedicated JustServe specialist as well, helping um individuals find meaningful ways to serve. But her impact goes far beyond that. Lisa has served um on the board of Winged Hope for the last 4 years, as well as served in the JustServe um leadership for the past 8 years. Lisa is all heart. She is all love. She um takes serving to the next level. She She will walk alongside you in your pain and um lift her community around her. So, I am just so privileged and honored to work with her and and give her this award that is so well well deserved. We love you, Lisa Bailey. >> [applause] [applause] [applause] >> Thank for your time this evening and for helping us highlight tonight the true heart of Gilbert and our nation service. Thank you so much. >> [applause] >> Okay, right now I would like to bring up Jeremiah Churchill with he is the water resources conservation coordinator and I will be presenting a proclamation for him but he has a he has a kind of a long PowerPoint I believe so Jeremiah, when you're finished I'll come down and you can we can have anyone else come up that you would like. Sorry. Thank you very much. First I just wanted to start out what is water wise Gilbert? You may be a community member and drive through the town and see a sign that says water wise Gilbert in your community and not have any idea of what it really is. Water wise Gilbert is a landscape water budget program and what we do is we map out a facility what's high water use what's low water use and we create a landscape water budget. The goal of our members is to stay within 120% of their landscape water budget. So as we see here this year is the best year we've had since this program launched over 10 years ago. So by staying on budget water efficiently if you achieve your landscape water budget you are recognized here today. Um and that isn't very easy. There's a lot of collaboration between community managers landscapers board members even the community to address leaks identify efficiencies so we wanted to thank everybody today for their efforts that contributed to over 374 million gallons of water saved by watering efficiently. Um This happened over 10 years ago when we started this program and I did want to just one special shout out to a special person on our team who saw this a long time ago and understood how significant this could be by establishing a program like this. So I do want to give a shout out to Jeff Lee in the back there for his vision >> [applause] >> and his hard work communicating with all of the HOA's churches schools parks to help them address leaks send them notifications so again this isn't an easy thing to accomplish. We have almost 300 members in this program and only 145 of them were able to achieve this. So it is no easy task. So thank you again and I'm just going to go through these slides very quickly. If you see your HOA on there give a shout out clap cuz it's no easy work okay. So these are our OG's right here. They've been doing this since the program started 11 years in a row. We see them here. 10 years in a row. We got our nine years. Anybody? No? Eight. We got some of our parks in there. Seven years. Here are six years in a row right here. All right, we got one guy right there. Thank you, sir. Five years. Nobody. We got some schools here on our four years. Three yes. Good energy. Love it. All right. Two years. We got a lot lot of them >> [applause] >> lot of new ones. And very new very new this year. Look at this list. That is no joke people. That's good work. All right. That is all I have. We'll do the proclamation and then the members who showed up today come down for a group picture. Thank you. Well, that's quite some achievements. It is. Yes, that's exciting to see all the the new ones. It's wonderful. Is anyone else worth coming down? Yeah. Any anyone on this team that has helped and conserved water wonderful. >> [applause] >> Yeah. Oh, this is great. Yeah. Yeah. This is great. Yes. Come on down. This is going to be a great photo. Thank you, guys. I think we have half the audience here. All right. Well, well thank you all very very much and I'm going to go ahead and read the proclamation and present to all of you. So whereas water is our most precious natural resource on Earth and especially within the desert and whereas the stewardship of Gilbert's water resources and its balanced and responsible use lies with town council town staff residents businesses stakeholders and whereas Gilbert's office of water resources and conservation implemented many water efficiency programs that aid Gilbert's residents businesses and other organizations with the with the conservation of water and whereas the water wise Gilbert program effectively Sorry, I should have brought my glasses down here. So >> [laughter] >> lays out water efficiency requirements and steps participants must take to achieve standing as water wise Gilbert and whereas every water conservation effort makes a difference in the sustainability of this precious natural resource and a great number of participants have completed the necessary steps to become more than water efficient. Now therefore I Bobby Buckley on behalf of Scott Anderson mayor of the town of Gilbert honor the following 145 businesses organizations [snorts] and facilities. And facilities that have attained the water wise Gilbert stat status for 2025 and I welcome each of you to join me in not only expressing our gratitude for their contributions to sustainability but also in doing all you can do to preserve our water resources in your home at work and in your community. Okay, thank you all so much. >> [applause] >> All that and then we'll do a photo. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> This is a biggie. Is it on? Yes, it's on. Okay, I get the honor of uh expressing a lot of gratitude to some of our our own staff here in Gilbert, our water professionals. Anybody who leads, has led, currently serves in all of public works, can you come on down here? >> [snorts] >> We're going to talk water, but it's one team. I see you, Jessica. >> [laughter] >> Leah. >> [snorts] [snorts] >> So, I feel really honored that we get to express gratitude to these folks and everybody they work with uh tonight. If you've been paying attention to the news, uh I noticed uh in the paper ABC 15 today, Scottsdale is concerned they're going to lose 70% of their water. Kearney, Arizona is getting likely to get shut off, run out of supply in July. >> [snorts] >> We are blessed that these fine leaders and their staff worked really, really hard to ensure that as painful as it was going through the water rate increases, they made sure that we have the water supply we need and will have for many, many years to come. And it took a lot of hard work and it took a lot of courage to challenge council members with the truth, but you gave us the information we needed to make the right decisions for this community and I am forever grateful and this community should be as well. So, in honor of uh Gilbert Water Professionals Appreciation Week, the April 26th through May 1st, whereas Gilbert benefits from a rich diversity of water supplies from groundwater stored in vast aquifers, local mountain runoffs, and snowmelt feeding the Salt-Verde Rivers, Colorado River, water delivered through an extensive canal system, and the sustainable reuse of recycled wastewater. And whereas every home and every sector of Gilbert's economy, zoom it out. >> [snorts] >> Thank you. Oh, there we go. Whereas every home and every sector of Gilbert's economy, from finance to healthcare, requires safe and reliable water to thrive. Whereas Gilbert invests annually in programs and projects that deliver drinking water, ensure sanitary services, protect public health, protect All right, is it on? All right. Protect public health and the environment, enhance water reliability, and restore groundwater quality. And whereas Gilbert has demonstrated leadership in sustainable groundwater management, pioneering innovations like water recharge and expanding the reuse of treated wastewater to replenish aquifers and enhance local water supply and reliability. And whereas Gilbert is proud to be a 100% water reuse community. And Gilbert recognizes the importance of proactively preparing for Colorado River shortages by investing in critical infrastructure, diversifying water supplies, enhancing conservation efforts, and supporting regional solutions. Whereas protecting water resources is critical to Gilbert's future and depends on a skilled workforce and professionals. Whereas Arizona's water industry offers diverse and rewarding career opportunities in fields such as engineering hydrology biology policy economics business law and communications. Whereas the dedication of thousands of water, wastewater, and recycled water professionals ensure safe, reliable, and responsibly managed water resources for Arizona's current and future generations. Now, therefore I, Kenny Buckland, on behalf of Mayor Scott Anderson of the Town of Gilbert, hereby declares April 27th through May 1st as Gilbert Water Professionals Appreciation Week and extends its sincere gratitude and appreciation to our water professionals who are on the front line of the delivery of Gilbert's safe and reliable water. All right. At this time, um as part of the Veterans Advisory Board's standard operating procedure, uh they're going to come forth and provide a presentation for us uh about the activities of the board. And doing that presentation is Charles Dine, our current uh Board of uh Directors. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor Anderson, Vice Mayor Bongiovanni, town council members, and members of our Gilbert community. Thank you for the opportunity. Thank you. I don't know what I do without her, to be honest. >> [laughter] >> Thank you for the opportunity to report out today uh as on the Veteran Advisory Board as I close out my term as chairman of the board. It's been an honor to serve alongside a board committed to one simple mission, to strengthen the connection between Gilbert and those who have served our nation. Our work is rooted in service, remembrance, outreach, and community building. Everything we do supports a larger vision that Gilbert be recognized as the most veteran connected municipality in Arizona. Gilbert is home to veterans from every generation and every branch of service. They are our neighbors, business owners, teachers, coaches, first responders, and civic leaders. They have already served this country with honor, and our responsibility as a town is to ensure they remain seen, valued, connected, and supported here at home. Over the last several years, the board has continued to strengthen Gilbert's signature veteran ceremonies, including Veterans Day, which was held this year at Water Tower Plaza, an amazing venue, and Memorial Day observances. These events were more than calendar dates. They're moments where our town comes together to remember sacrifice, honor service, and teach the next generation what citizenship looks like. Strong public traditions help build a veteran connected community and municipality because they keep service visible in the life of the town. Our Military Tribute Banner Program, and the and this year the banner rehang program, is another meaningful way that Gilbert honors those who have served. By displaying veteran banners throughout the Heritage District, we place their names, faces, and service before the community in a visible and dignified setting. It ensures their sacrifices are not hidden in the past, but recognized in the heart of our town. Programs like this help make Gilbert a more veteran connected municipality by turning gratitude into something the public can see daily during display periods. In addition to recognition, we have also focused on something equally vital to veteran wellness, human connection. Through gatherings and community meetups, we as veterans call musters, we've created spaces where veterans can reconnect with one another and in the town they call home. Many veterans miss that sense of belonging that military life once provided. When Gilbert helps restore that connection, we strengthen lives and we strengthen community. Most recently, we enjoyed hosting a game of over the line at Cactus Yards, and we've huddled together for wellness events and social social gatherings throughout the year. One recently implemented initiative we have or especially proud of is our Meet a Veteran Program. Through this Gilbert Veterans Initiative, we record and preserve video interviews with local veterans, so their stories are not lost to time. We currently have seven completed interviews with another already in queue. These interviews matter deeply. They honor the individual, preserving living history, and allow future generations to hear directly from those who served. Years from now, families, students, residents will be able to see and hear these veterans tell their stories in their own voices. The Gilbert Veterans Outreach Initiative is designed to ensure veterans know there is a local door they can knock on when they need help. This past year, we have received seven direct requests for veteran resources and assistance, most recently helping a local veteran to find permanent housing 2 weeks ago. That number is important because seven veterans reached out instead of remaining unseen. This means trust is growing, that awareness is increasing, and it means veterans recognize Gilbert as a place where support is real and accessible. The board has also continued to support recognition efforts that publicly honor service including proclamations from the council and visibility initiatives that remind veterans and residents every day that veterans are woven into the fabric fabric of this town. Visible gratitude matters. It tells every veteran in Gilbert, you belong here and your service is remembered here. We've also worked to strengthen board governance, planning and long-term strategy by convening our annual strategic planning session, which was facilitated this year by Gilbert resident Major Ed Ferguson. He brought both professional planning expertise and valuable perspective of a Gilbert resident from outside the board. To further support community effectiveness, I've honored Excuse me. To further support continuity and effectiveness, I'm honored to uh I've honored my promise to council and completed a chair continuity binder designed to ensure future board leadership has the tools, references, and operating guidance needed to be immediately effective. We are committed not only to implementing meaningful programs, but to responsible stewardship, measurable progress, and a clear future direction shaped by community input. Our goal is not simply to maintain what exists, but to build something even stronger for the town. Looking ahead, our priorities are clear. To expand outreach so more veterans know where to turn. To engage younger and post-9/11 veterans. To grow volunteerism and partnerships. To preserve more veteran stories and legacies. To continue high-quality civic ceremonies and to make Gilbert a model community for veteran connection across Arizona. Council, many cities honor veterans. Fewer actively connect them. Fewer still build systems of belonging, remembrance, and outreach and support. Gilbert has the opportunity to lead this space and I believe we already are. With council's continued support, with the support of staff and the dedication of volunteers and veterans themselves, I believe Gilbert will be recognized as the most veteran connected municipality, excuse me, municipality in Arizona. Not because we say it, because we live it. If I might make a brief appeal to our residents, if there are veterans hearing this tonight who agree with our endeavor, the town is currently taking applications to the board through April 30th and I invite you to apply. On behalf of the Gilbert Veterans Advisory Board, thank you for your support, truly. Thank you for your trust and for your continued commitment to those who have served. Thank you, Council Member Lyons, for your commitment to us as council liaison. It has been an honor to serve this board as its chair. We are proud of what has been built and energized by what comes next. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have regarding our actions this year and welcome any feedback or direction from council at this time. Oh Manny. Yeah, I just want to thank you, Charles, you and the the board for all the effort that you put forward. And you did call out Monica, uh the coordination between staff and Veterans Advisory Board has meant a lot to the veterans in this community. And I really appreciate the effort you guys are putting forward to reach out and to connect. And the things that we have on the horizon coming up, I think they're really good and beneficial not just for our veterans community, but for the community as a whole. Thank you, sir. Have a good night. Thank you. >> [applause] >> At this point, we'll continue with the uh agenda. Um I would like at this time to advance item number 22 for consideration so that we don't uh waste a lot of people's time tonight. Uh item 22 if the council remembers is the zoning case at Higley and Ocotillo for a retail center. There's been a request to postpone this until May 19th and what I'd like to who's having that? Poll the council to see if you are inclined to do the postponement. Uh I do have some request to speak cards if we do go forward with the request to speak, I want that limited only to the postponement. Why it should or shouldn't be done. Um other than that, I'll are there any um comments from the council? Only if we postpone. Hm? Only if we postpone. Mhm. In that case, is there a motion to postpone? So moved. No. Second. It's been moved and seconded this item be postponed until May 19th, 2026. Please vote. Motion carries 7-0. So, this item will come back on May 19th and we invite those who uh are interested to come back at that time. This will give the applicant an opportunity, as all applicants have, to address comments concerns uh design, uh stipulations, all those kinds of things are what he can work out during this time and I'd encourage the neighborhood to work with the work with them and and and uh address your concerns with them. Thank you. No. We'll move on to uh communications from citizens. Thank you, Mayor. We value [clears throat] the participation of our community members and robust exchange of ideas. However, it's essential that the discourse remains respectful and constructive reflecting the professionalism expected in such forums. Misinformation and personal attacks undermine our collective efforts and do not contribute to the productive dialogue necessary for our town's progress. Um this is an opportunity for the public to address the town council directly about issues impacting the town. Accord Accordingly, the town council will not allow for moments of silence or playing of music or any recorded material which could distract from the meeting decorum or violate copyrights. While we understand and appreciate the passion of our community members bring to the session, we remind everyone that clapping during the meeting is not acceptable. This practice can disrupt the flow of of discussion, potentially intimidate others, and distract from the respectful atmosphere we strive to maintain. In accordance to state law, we are unable to respond to issues that have not been properly noticed. Therefore, the town council may only listen to to citizens who wish to address them and at the conclusion of the of the open call to the public, response is limited limited to individual members of the council responding to criticism made by those uh who have addressed the public body asking for staff to review a matter or asking that a matter be put on a future agenda. However, please be assured that your concerns and input are heard and valued. In accordance to town code, speakers may not use this forum to advocate for or against any candidate for public office. Town resources including this public meeting may not be used for campaign or election purposes. Each speaker is limited to 3 minutes. Priority will be given to Gilbert residents, business owners, and property owners. Public comments will be limited to 30 minutes total at the beginning of the meeting. The town uh clerk will notify the council once the 30-minute limit has been reached. In addition to comment In addition if additional comments remain, they will be heard at after the conclusion of the public hearing items with the same 3-minute limit per uh speaker. So, when you come up, please to come to the podium, state your name, city of residence, and please push the button make sure the mic is red. So, tonight we're going to start with uh Barbara Collard. I think you just like calling me first. My name is Barbara and I reside in Gilbert. And I'd like to say at first, I didn't have it on my little note, but I'd like to applaud the groups, the volunteers that were here. And I hate to be the Scrooge that follows that wonderful kind of grouping, but with the good comes the bad. I'm still at a loss as to how you came up with how you were going to increase our fees and implement them. The town's process was to assess the needs of two of the four enterprise funds for solvency every 2 years to ensure financial stability and uninterrupted service. This approach helps prevent simultaneous rate increases across all four utilities allowing adjustments to be phased and managed. So, even though you had a plan on paper, you neglected to follow through on follow through on it. You can't blame previous council members and staff. Scott Anderson elected in 2016, Bobby Buchli elected November 2022, Young Kim Polsky April 2020. The rest of you didn't have the dates in your bio. You had a town manager for 14 years that you gave accolades to. Town staff, Jessica Marlow and Rebecca Hamel, and many other town staff that knew that the infrastructure needed to be dealt with and the sewer lines needed to be dealt with and the waste and recycle vehicles needed to be serviced and or replaced. You cannot tell me that everyone in Gilbert that didn't check the status of this these items that needed to be dealt with. You could have prevented the big shock that came to every resident in Gilbert. So, your plan was to cram it down our throats. You held your open houses and your listening sessions pretending to care about what we had to say. You shook your heads [snorts] in agreement. Two of you bold-faced lied to my face and one of you is running for re-election, and needless to say, you're not getting my vote. You have lost my trust, and most everything coming out of your mouth is half truths. You allow us 3 minutes to bring matters to your attention, then you do what you want anyway. By the way, how are the midge flies doing? I heard four residents at the March 3rd meeting telling you how they have been battling that situation for 10 years. 10 years. Chuck Scott and Jim were Oh my, we need to address this. You think that everyone has accepted the fact that they are being taken advantage of. But that is not why they are not here in your face every meeting. They can't be here because they are working two or three two to three jobs just to try to pay their bills. Between the federal government and greedy CEOs abusing the crap out of us with high cost of food, gas, insurance, and now we have Gilbert, they can't be here, but I am, and I'm here representing them. They say you can't fight city hall, which looks like that is what it is hap that that that is what is happening. I'm here, and I'm going to give it my best shot. If you, the council, and town managers want to allow something, you rezone [bell] it. Quit rezoning everything you need to meet the developers instead. Try doing what the residents of Gilbert want. Back to the water bills. I know the bell dinged. I have seen numerous notations on Go Gilbert about their bill being the exact same amount for three to five months, and it was exact down to the penny. Sounds like you got your money's worth with this new billing system. I have also personally talked to people that their bills were like this. There was also no explanation on the bill since the billing period was from 3 5 26 through 4 7 26. Were 7 days billed at the 25% increased rate, or do we have a really big bigger one coming next month? Naturally, I have plenty more to say, but you'll have to tune in in 2 weeks to hear it. And by the way, there are many, many Gilbert residents that need a giving machine. Thank you. Thank you, Barbara. Boss Obyomi. Did I say that right, Boss? You know, it's it's a lot easier than Bug Giovanni, so >> [laughter] >> if you want to take it that way. But can you guys hear me? All right, good evening, Mayor and Council. My name is Boss Obyomi. I'm a Gilbert resident. I also serve as president founder of Building Bridges Leadership Foundation. Uh first, I want to thank you for your leadership and for the January proclamation recognizing human trafficking awareness month. Uh that matters. It brings visibility to an issue that is often unseen, and it signals that Gilbert is willing to confront difficult realities with intention. Uh at the same time, awareness alone is not enough. Proclamations are a starting point, but impact is what happens right after. The question before us is what do we do next? What's the next step? The Building Bridges Leadership Foundation um exists to answer that question. Our mission is to connect leaders across sectors, public, private, nonprofit, and faith to collaborate on real challenges facing our communities, and also be able to drive practical sustained solutions. So, we believe that meaningful impact actually happens when we move beyond silos and create intentional spaces for alignment, where ideas actually turns into action, and actions lead into measurable outcomes. So, that's why we are bringing together leaders across public safety, nonprofit organizations, private sector, and the faith community because the challenges we are addressing, human trafficking, vulnerability prevention, they do not exist in silos. So, they are interconnected. They are complex, and they require a coordinated response. So, as part of this effort, I we are hosting a Building Bridges Leadership Seminar this Friday, April 24th, uh from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the River Ranch uh Center here in Gilbert. So, this is not just another event. It's a step towards building a more connected ecosystem, where conversations lead to collaborations, collaborations lead to actions. So, but beyond any single gathering, my heart is this, that Gilbert would not only be known for its growth, its development, its excellence, but how but for how it cares for the most vulnerable among us. So, those who are often unseen, those who are at risk, those who may not have a voice in rooms like this, because the strength of a community is not only measured by how well it performs, but how well it protects. You can say amen to that. And I believe we have an opportunity right here in Gilbert to localize our impact, to move from awareness to coordination, and from coordination to sustained measurable action. So, this is not about one initiative, it's about one group. It it's about building a culture where leadership, responsibility, and community actually intersect, where we collectively decide that the well-being of every resident actually matters. So, I look forward to continue to partner, to contribute, and to help Gilbert that not only thrives, but truly cares for all. Because at the end of the day, the true measure of a community is not just how it grows, but how it shows up for those who are in need the most. Thank you so much for your time. Thanks Boss. Noah. Mahala. Aloha, um Mayor and to the rest of the city council. My name is Noah James Markman. I'm from the great city of uh Tempe. Um so, we have a few things we need to talk about in Gilbert. So, you know, I was I don't know why people are so obsessed with the guns. And um why don't we just keep those at home because I saw somebody in the car, and they're just, you know, holding their their gun, a huge rifle, just going down the street, you know, like not you know, like why do we need that? We need to be protected. I I don't need that in a car. We should keep it at home. Um and then also, I would like to thank Chuck Bongiovanni um for really representing us um because it's amazing to have his leadership. Um and uh you know, we can disagree, but um I still think it's a great um role for us um on this city council. >> [laughter] >> And then also, um I would like to see more woman cops up in this city um because it's getting pretty annoying um looking at all these white old men. I don't like it. Um and then also, um uh we need to build up the light rail. I would love that, and then we need to build build more in here uh Gilbert, and then I would like to talk about the ICE and what is going on with ICE right now. Um we've had three great congresspeople come to Mesa um at the ICE facility, and uh they just showed up unexpectedly um over there, and it's great to have the power woman um that are congresswoman Congress woman Ann Kirkpatrick uh came from Tucson all the way to Mesa to uh really see this, and um I'll tell you that right now that the Republicans have done is they have um there's a quantity of 21 people that are supposed to be in the cell, right? But we have put about 46 in the cell. So, that's more than 21. Um and we've been hearing that they've been packed up like sardines. Um and yeah, so that's unacceptable, Republicans. And then also, the last thing I know we're looking for a town manager. We need to think about a woman. And they can do the roles, too. Um so, yeah, that's what I um that's all I have to say. Thank you so much Mahalo. Thanks Noah. Uh last one, folks. Um uh Carissa Arnold. My name is Carissa Arnold, and I am a Gilbert resident. It was my hope that I would not have to speak on this topic. However, the council and the public have the right to know the information I have. Several months ago, I filed a criminal complaint against Gilbert town officials. I can confirm that the Arizona Attorney General is conducting a criminal investigation, and that investigators are reviewing all previous complaints filed against the town of Gilbert. I have a letter from the criminal division of the office of the Attorney General confirming the investigation in my possession. These facts expand the probable list of witnesses to include dozens of people, including town staff and public safety personnel, many of whom are afraid [clears throat] to come forward publicly. Actions taken by the office of the town attorney, town clerk, town manager, and most recently members of the town council are not simply political rhetoric. They constitute witness harassment and unlawful influence of a criminal investigation and are being reported as such to investigators. I demand that these actions cease immediately. While several town officials are involved, I can confirm that Leah Rhineheimer, who is being considered for the position of town manager and Chief Solberg, who is serving as an assistant town manager, are specifically identified in this complaint. The evidence I have obtained and provided to investigators includes emails, public documents, witness statements, and recorded conversations. This evidence shows a disturbing pattern of conduct by these two individuals suggesting they are a unqualified and detrimental to Gilbert for the positions for which they are being considered. Evidence provided to investigators suggests the following disqualifying conduct. They aggressively downplayed significant investigations including the Gilbert Goons and other teen violence issues. These practices appear to have carried over to other significant investigations including the Jenny Jones barn fire and the murders of Preston Lord, Nick Cordova, Rachel Hansen, and Alyssa Romine. Ms. Rhineheimer aggressively encouraged town officials to remain refrain from making comments to the public or reporters on most investigative issues choosing to believe that the public outrage would simply go away if the town didn't make any comments. They disparaged reporters and media outlets that investigated potential misconduct or criticized Gilbert police and leadership. They preferentially cooperated with reporters deemed friendly. They supported the mass deletion and selective withholding of public records especially those containing disparaging dialogue and evidence of misconduct. They appear to have knowledge of and perpetuated the systemic manipulation of police data. Additional facts must be disclosed to include some of Ms. Rhineheimer's closest friends and travel companions include Don Buckland, former Gilbert budget director and Council member Kenny Buckland. This close personal relationship creates a significant conflict of interest that would warrant Council member Buckland's recusal from this selection process. The Buckland and Kaprausky families recently vacationed together in Mexico creating the appearance that the integrity of the town manager selection committee could have easily been compromised. The appearance of nepotism cannot be overlooked. I agree that a change in leadership allows good practices while continue continue bad ones are eliminated. Sorry. After however, I believe that selecting Ms. Rhineheimer for town manager would be a continuation of the bad policies that have plagued our town for the last several years. I respectfully ask that the council give serious consideration to the facts I have presented tonight as you deliberate on the hiring of the next town manager to lead our community. Thanks Grisel. Okay, so I'm going to turn it this part of the meeting over to um Don for our consent calendar. The yellow cards are for items that are not on the agenda. The item you want to speak to was on the agenda and we just postponed it till May the 19th. Okay. Go ahead. Are you Andy? Yes. Come on up, sir. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Haven't formally met you yet, but I've sent some emails and due to the zoning I was here last week and now I'm here to just kind of you know, see you face to face and give you some information. Um this we're talking about being kind and caring. I I really appreciate that and and last last meeting you were talking about, you know, the planning and what needs to happen with the Gilbert. I I really respect that because I've been here long enough to know that a lot of us respect the planning and and what's built Gilbert so far. It's it's a beautiful place and and when you talk about kind and caring, that's that represents a lot of the area I'm from. I live in Marbella Vineyards and that's right by it's right on the corner of Higley and Ocotillo and that's the rezoning issue that we're dealing with. I know there was a continuance for agenda 22. Um but the the main issue is zoning and I think the long-term plan for that area was SC. And you can really see it because it's a family-oriented community. You could feel it and when we moved out there, we looked all around the valley and I had two young kids at the time and we were we were were really looking for a place that our family could grow and it just fit perfectly. So um or your website says that we should work together as community and that's that's why we're here today. A lot of my my neighbors came and we've been working together on this. Um we're showing up, we're communicating, and we're sharing a lived experience because we're the ones who see that corner every day. We're here to participate in the process and just like your water experts who give you the right to information for you to make a good decision for the longevity of Gilbert, we're here because we lived in that we live in that area and we know the zoning is so important because it's not just about us. If we start rezoning all these parcels, that impacts all the citizens of Gilbert. They start they start thinking oh what are we next? Are we next? You know, and we we should really think about the people who planned that area. The zoning for SC they they thought about the future of Gilbert. And and if you think about it, we're almost there. We have the Gilbert Regional Park, beautiful area. You could see people flock to that area because we don't have a lot of, you know, at that time we didn't have a lot of places for the kids to go, for families to go. They built a Chipotle not down the down the street. That thing is packed. Those are that's what the family wants. That's what a lot of our kids want. We we have a lot of kids on these e-bikes. And and zoning SC kind of it really protects our neighborhood. It really protects the citizens there. It gives them the shops, the future pizza par you know, it's never a grocery store, stuff that even places people can walk around and I just want to focus on zoning. Let's let's let it sit for a little bit. I think we have a great piece of land here. Once we have that park built out, once we have Ocotillo bridge built out, people are going to be flocking to this area. And that's what SC zoning is all about. Last meeting, this is the last thing. Last meeting we had that Mike who had the bike place. He'd been looking for a little place to to rent to sell his bikes. 20 years later he's doing really well in Gilbert. We need those little shops. I mean, you know, we have Gilberts everywhere and we have Targets everywhere, but we need those little shops for people to succeed in business. Thank you. That's all. Thank you, Andy. John, if you're not going to speak about the continuance, you're okay. No, very good. Thank you. All right, so now I'll turn it over consent calendar over to um Don Prince. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Good evening, Mayor members of the council. I'm going to go through the consent agenda items overview. Um first we just want to mention uh Okay, there we go. First I just want to mention that um these are our pillars. Everything we do roll up into these pillars and these pillars are the support for our city of the future initiative and so we have a continued focus on these pillars to as we prepare for the future and ensure resilience for Gilbert. Item number six is an IGA with Maricopa County and this item is under our exceptional built environment pillar. This is an IGA with Maricopa County for design permitting environmental clearance, right of way acquisition, utility utility relocation, construction management, and annexation of Stacy Road between Higley and 172nd Street as part of CIP ST2126. This agreement benefits the Higley Road improvements project improving the operations of the street system to meet the needs of Gilbert residents. This agreement also includes annexation of Higley Road from Happy Happy Road to just south of Stacy Road. There was no financial impact to the town with this agreement. Agenda item number seven is a cooperative purchase agreement with Arizona Elevator Solutions. This is under our exceptional built environment pillar. This is a cooperative purchase agreement with Arizona Elevator Solutions to provide comprehensive elevator vertical transportation maintenance and repair services across town facilities. Services will ensure safe, reliable, and code compliant operations through preventative maintenance, emergency response, inspections, and repairs supported by 24/7 and qualified technical staff. This agreement is is in an amount not to exceed 95,000 annually over the term of 5 years. Funding for this item is supported from each facility's cost center through the corresponding facilities infrastructure repair and maintenance account. Item number eight is PMCS is a PMCM services agreement with Consultant Engineers Inc. And this is under our exceptional built environment pillar. This is a motion to approve PMCM services agreement with Consultant Engineers Inc. CEI for CIP project PR0570 and PR1160, which addresses major maintenance repairs to the town's aging lake and park infrastructure, including lake dredging, lake liner replacements, sediment and seepage testing, pump replacements and upgrades, turf removal to reduce runoff into lakes, installation of aeration equipment, rehab of pump stations, irrigation piping, and valve system replacements at Crossroads Park and Freestone Park. Both CIP projects are funded through the general placement fund and an agreement with CEI is not to exceed $2,321,222. Item number nine is our change orders for CIP project SW0127, Village 2 South Southwest pump station rehab. It is a motion to approve change orders related to the CIP projects SW0127, the Village 2 Southwest uh pump station rehab project. These change orders will enhance the quality of the project outcomes by addressing the following. Change order number three with ASR Construction Group will correct an undersized APS electrical pad in an amount not to exceed $18,922. Change order number one with TriStar Engineering for PMCM services addresses scope changes related to an inlet reclaimed line conflict in an amount not to exceed $57,070. This project includes extensive repairs and equipment replacement, including headwall replacement, piping, channel, electrical improvements, design and construction for fiber optics to the pump station, including conduit, fiber optic cable, enclosures, and related infrastructure and equipment. Funding for this these change orders is rate supported from the environmental compliance fund. Item number 10 are change orders for CIP project PR0570, which is the Urban Lakes Renovation. This is under our exceptional built-environment pillar. This is a motion to approve change order number one to AE Services with J2 Engineering and Environmental Design LLC and contingency for CIP project PR0570, Urban Lakes Renovation, in an amount not to exceed $70,792 to address needed ADA upgrades to the park, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. These upgrades have been added to the scope of the Urban Lakes Renovation project after evaluating the required work and project timing, which indicated that it was most efficient and cost-effective to include them in PR0570. Funding for this item is supported via general fund the general fund replacement fund. I just want to pause here just for a second just to talk a little bit about Urban Lakes just to provide some additional information. Currently, we manage nine lakes across seven parks, which are vital in the desert setting. These lakes uh have various um reasons why they are there. Some recharge groundwater, some provide uh wildlife habitat and serve as community recreation spots. Without proper maintenance, water loss and habitat degradation uh would occur. Lake dredging improves water quality and health by removing sediment that has settled over time. It also increases water capacity for better to better manage stormwater and prevent flooding. Um liner replacements and seepage control help uh prevent uh water loss through the bottom and sides of the lake, but also protecting the lake from contaminated soil or shallow groundwater from entering the lake. Um so, just wanted to share that. Um these lakes are really important. They have a lot of uh things that they do for the town, and so maintenance on those is critical for how we how we move forward. Um Item number 11 is services contract change order with DH Pace Company Incorporated. This is under our exceptional built-environment pillar. This is a motion to approve a contract change order with DH Pace and Company Incorporated, increasing the overall annual contract amount by 150,000 for all town facility door replacement and repair needs. Escalations in service costs, equipment supplies, and an increase in town facilities covered under this agreement necessitate the change order. Doors included in this agreement encompass a variety of town facilities, including bay doors in service yards, fire station apparatus area doors, water treatment plant doors, and well site doors. Funding for this agreement will be obtained from the corresponding facilities infrastructure repair repair maintenance account for each facility that requires services or replacement. Item number 12 is a grant application and acceptance for Ak-Chin Indian Community. This is under our prosperous community pillar. This is a motion to approve the application for an acceptance of awarded funds for a 2026 12% gaming grant from the Ak-Chin Indian Community for Ascend. This grant falls under state prop 202, which provides that a share of gaming revenues can be distributed to cities and towns or counties for government services that benefit the general public. Ascend is requesting 25,000 for $25,000 for their Family Resource Center and Early Literacy Programs. These funds will provide services to approximately 100 children and their parents. Gilbert is acting as a pass-through agency for Ascend in this grant, and there is no budget impact to Gilbert. Item number 13 is a grant application and acceptance for an Edward Byrne Just Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. This is under our exceptional built-environment pillar. This is a motion to approve the application of and acceptance of awarded funds for the 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount not to exceed $27,646. This grant is offered by the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. Funding received will be used to purchase protective gear for police officers that would reduce their risk of injury in the event of civil unrest, including flame resistant, cut resistant, and laser light resistant equipment. There are no matching fund requirements for this grant. Item number 14 is endorsement of Palomino Irrigation Water Delivery District, and this is under our exceptional built-environment pillar. This is a motion to approve a resolution resolution endorsing the creation of the Palomino Irrigation Water Delivery District. Uh so, to tell you a little bit about an irrigation district, an irrigation water delivery district, or IWDD, is a special taxing district in Arizona that facilitates irrigation water delivery to landowners' properties, and can be formed when the majority of landowners whose properties are entitled or capable of receiving irrigation water from the same system wish to facilitate the delivery of irrigation water to their lands. IWDDs are corporate entities and levy assessments and charges for the irrigation water delivery. The purpose of the IWDD is to create an equitable distribution of costs associated with the use and maintenance of the private neighborhood irrigation system. The district must be approved by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. However, since the property falls within the incorporated area of Gilbert, the town's governing body must endorse the creation, which is accomplished via this resolution. This endorsement includes 30 parcels located in in the northwest corner of Williams Field and Lindsay Road within the Palomino Acres subdivision. Irrigation water is received from the Salt River Salt River Project, which has consented to the format formation of the IWDD. There are no financial implications to the town for this item. Item Agenda item number 15 is a quarterly risk management claim report. This is under our prosperous community the risk management claim report for 20 FY2026 Q3. And with that, we'd be happy to take any questions. Dawn, did I miss 7A? Probably. Did you go over 7A? No, let me take a look. I did not go over 7A. Let me take a look. Vice Mayor, 7A was an addendum that was um published yesterday. It was about the opioid litigation, and it's just a new settlement, new opportunity to participate in new settlement with um a number of additional companies. Okay. Are there any items that uh Council wants to get more information on? Uh Councilmember Buckland? No, however, I believe we're going to move the administrative item to the consent. Is that accurate, Mayor? Yes. So, item 23. You might read what that is. Thank you, Mayor. Vice Mayor. It's a motion to appoint Mary Fedor to the Self-Insured Trust Board as a regular member for the partial term beginning April 21st, 2026 and ending September 30th, 2027, and a full term beginning October 1st, 2027 and ending September 30, 2023. Okay. I If you don't want to watch to hear anything more, I have a motion to uh approve item 6, 7, 7A 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 and 23. Can I get a second? Second. Please vote. >> Stop. Did I vote? Items pass 7-0. Mayor? Thank you. We'll move on to public hearings. You see items 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22. Item 22 has been postponed till May 19th. I do have a request to speak on item 20. Uh are there any other items council would like to discuss? If not, I'll entertain a motion for item 17. I'll open the public hearing on item 17, 18, 19, and 21. I'll close the public hearing and ask for So moved. It's been moved. Is there a second? Second. It's been moved and seconded to approve items 17, 18, 19, and 21. Please vote. Item carries 7-0. Item 20 is a connect to hearing and consider adoption of resolution number 4655. Kelly, you know you know who's can give a very brief presentation. Thank you, Mayor and Council. I'm happy to give just a quick overview of this, so we've got information for your decision. >> [clears throat] >> We are talking about water resources system development fees, and we'll just do a quick recap of what system development fees are. They are charged to new fees charged to new developments, so that the municipality or the town can offset costs associated with the impact that they have on our systems. They are paid by new commercial and residential development. Existing residents do not pay these fees unless they expand or build new. And these fees are highly regulated under state statute. So, SDFs help offset the cost of growth related to capital, new capacity that cannot be used for existing system, and they must have a proportionate share under state statute. We cannot use them for operations, staff, or daily services, maintenance repairs, fixing, or upgrading or creating higher levels of service. So, it's very important to know that new development pays their share towards new infrastructure, but Arizona law defines what that share is and how it can be funded, and we follow those rules. System development fees for Gilbert, we do charge the maximum allowed under state statute. State statute does not allow for 100% cost recovery for various reasons. Some of those are included here on the on the screen. There are grandfathering provisions that allow new development to pay the lower fees when we adopt new fees. They can pay the lower for up to 24 months if they meet certain criteria, and then the difference in the fees we have to make up from other funds. Also, schools are exempt from having to pay all of the types of fees. There's only certain types of SDFs that they have to pay for, and the study takes a year plus to update, so we're not able to just update the cost of development when we finish a project or get quotes on a project. It is a long drawn out process, and so there are isn't 100% cost recovery there. It's also important to note that system development fees are different from enterprise funds. They have different financial rules that we have to follow, and the town works very diligently to follow all of the financial rules and best practices for each type of fund, but they are different for various types of funds. In this particular case, we want to talk about the water resource system development fees. Uh these are SDFs we use to purchase new water rights. In 2022, the town issued bonds to help cover the costs of various water projects. One of the projects that we anticipated using bond funds to pay for is this one on the screen, WA0830, which is purchasing water rights. Uh it is one of the water resource SDF projects. At that time, we were anticipating final approval from the federal government at at any time to be able to finish out that contract and make the payment. It has now been 4 years later. We have not received that approval, uh and we no longer have a timeline of when we expect to receive that approval, but we don't anticipate it in the near term. So, we have these bond funds that are available and need to be used on a water resource SDF project. These bond funds need to be spent within a reasonable amount of time, and we are coming up on that timeline. So, we need to do something with them. We got a whole group together of legal counsel, SDF counsel, and all of the groups' financial advisers to be able to figure out what is our next best option for these funds. We looked at using the funds for other water resource SDF projects. Unfortunately, none of those are moving forward at this time and ready for payment, either. So, our next best option that this work group could come up with is that this these bond funds can be used at the North Water Treatment Plant. The North Water Treatment Plant is anticipating using water system development fees, a slightly different bucket of money, for water infrastructure. Instead of using water system development fees, we can use the bond funds there. Water the North Water Treatment Plant meets the criteria of both the SDFs and the bond funds, so that makes it a good project to be able to use the funds on. So, we'll use the bond funds there in place of water SDFs. The water SDFs that we would normally have used on this project, we will move over into the water resource SDF fund in order to keep both funds whole and meet the requirements and restrictions of all of the funding sources. That will allow the money the cash in the future that is now in the water resource SDF funds to be used on W8030 or another water resource SDF project in the future. With that, we need to address that there is a water resources SDF internal loan in place. This is from a water buy that we purchased in about 2018. We've been working to pay off that loan, but when we transfer money over into this account, it would go towards the loan and not be available towards W8030 or future project that it needs to be available for. The SDFs we know will not have 100% cost recovery, and it's in the best interest of the town if when we do have to use funds to make up that gap for that non-cost recovery for not having 100% cost recovery, it's in our best interest to make that up on the projects that are the least expensive, which would be this internal loan with the for the 2018 water buy. So, at this time we do recommend that we finish the loan off and don't finish repayment to the water repair and replacement fund is where it's borrowing funds from at this time, and that will allow all of this transaction to happen and provide the best long-term cost recovery for the town. With that, are there any questions? Questions Council? Okay, I do have one request to speak, Noah. Aloha, Mayor [clears throat] and to the rest of the city council. Um I really do we need to approve this, and being from the island of um Hawaii, um you know, we care about our water a lot. We have lots of water there. Um >> [laughter] >> Um yeah, so let's approve this and make sure our water is good here because our capital doesn't know what water is about, I guess, so. Thank you so much. Thanks. Thank you. I'll close the public hearing and bring it back to the council for action. I have a motion on item 20. Second. Seconded. It's been moved and seconded that we accept item 20 as written. Please vote. Motion carries 7-0. That concludes our regular business. Future meetings, you can see that we do have some study session material in the future to consider. Communications report from the town manager. Thank you, Mayor. Just got a couple slides to go through. We've got a lot of really exciting things this month. Um So, just want to start with some department and division highlights. Um We saw public safety telecommunicators week, April 12th through the 11th. It's the second full week in April is set aside to nationally recognize our public safety telecommunicators, aka our 911 dispatchers. Dispatchers are the unsung heroes of public safety. They sit inside secure rooms, rarely seen. They stare at a wall of computer monitors, uh bombarded by the crackle of radio traffic and 911 alarms, and yet they always remain calm and collected. Their fingers fly across the keyboard while their eyes process an immense amount of data. Dispatchers are the reassuring voices our citizens hear when they call 911. They are the lifeline to our officers when they call for urgent backup. To our Gilbert police dispatchers and Mesa alarm fire dispatches but dispatchers, thank you for your sacrifice. You routinely endure long hours, grueling night shifts, adrenaline dumps, and every emotion in between. You show up to work every day to answer the call and to be there when our citizens need us most. You are the voice behind the headset reassuring them help is on the way. We appreciate you. These are some of our dispatchers. We are very proud of the work that they do and we know that it's a hard job and so just really thank them for their their service. It is also Arizona water awareness month which we talked a little bit about that in the proclamations and and those types of things. So Gilbert actively manages our urban water cycle by securing, managing, and protecting Gilbert's water supplies. This work ensures a reliable source of water treatment, distribution, and eventual reuse as it moves through the rest of our utility system. These efforts are led by the water resources, water, wastewater, and environmental compliance divisions each performing essential functions that together create a complete urban water cycle. Water resources forms the foundation of Gilbert's urban water cycle by securing, managing, and protecting the community's water supplies. Their long-term planning, oversight of groundwater and surface water resources, and water conservation programs ensure that our residents and businesses have a reliable water water source now and into the future. By providing the raw water needed for treatment, they support every step that follows in the delivery of these essential services. The water division treats and delivers safe, dependable drinking water through advanced treatment facilities, wells, reservoirs, and an extensive distribution system. This treated water sustains every household, business, school, and community space in Gilbert and also provides the critical lifeline our fire department relies on to safeguard lives and property. Once used indoors, this water naturally transitions to the next stage of the water cycle which is the wastewater cycle. The wastewater team is responsible for the safe collection, conveyance, and treatment of the community's used water. Through the operation of reclamation facilities, lift stations, and hundreds of miles of sewer lines, they protect public health and the environment and their treatment and reuse efforts support recharge, sustainability, and long-term system reliability sending class A effluent water back A+ effluent water back to the environment where it can begin the cycle again. So really important part of our community, what we do, and how we do it. And water is our life, so just really proud of those teams as well. And the environmental compliance team is also a part of that safeguarding our storm water quality and overseeing the infrastructure design to manage Arizona's powerful storm events. Their inspections, spill response, household hazardous waste, and pollution prevention efforts keep storm water flowing safely through the system and protect our community lakes and natural waterways. This work ensures that storm water reenters the environment cleanly and responsibly completing another part of the broader water system. Together, these divisions form a seamless, interdependent urban water cycle that secures, treats, delivers, collects reclaims recharges and protects our community's water. Their combined services are essential to Gilbert's future supporting a healthy, sustainable, and resilient community for generations to come. So thank you to all of our water teams. April 22nd, 2026 is also administrative professional day. That's tomorrow. We're very excited about that. And so Gilbert's administrative professionals are really the backbone of team Gilbert. Without their dedicated professional contributions, our organization could not deliver the quality of service that makes our community great. This week we honor them for going always going above and beyond. Thank you to all of our Gilbert administrative professionals. And so here's some pictures of some of them. They're all amazing and wonderful. We also have a recognition for Water Tower Plaza. Water Tower Plaza renovation has earned several recognitions already across prestigious award programs most recently. The project earned an honor award for design at the 2026 Arizona Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architect Awards, one of the highest distinctions in the landscape architect architecture profession. These recognitions reflect the town's commitment to thoughtful community-centered design that honors Gilbert's heritage while building toward its future. And finally, we want to welcome Trinity Donovan to as the first director of the Gilbert Advocacy Center. Trinity joins team Gilbert after spending 16 years leading at Ascend, a local nonprofit. There she advanced the mission to nourish minds and bodies for members of our community so they could experience a brighter future. Her public service experience also includes two terms on the Chandler City Council and she currently serves on the First Things First East Maricopa Regional Council and the Gilbert Advocacy Center Foundation Board. She has been deeply involved in the East Valley for many years and we're very excited to welcome her as she guides the Gilbert Advocacy Center into opening and serving our residents. So welcome to Trinity. If Trinity wants to come up and say a word or two, I just want to have her introduced to the council as part of this meeting. That's all I got. Trinity? Thank you. Good evening, Mayor, council members. I'm truly honored and excited to step into the role as the director of the Gilbert Advocacy Center. First, I want to express my sincere gratitude to town leadership for your commitment to ensuring survivors in our community have access to compassionate, coordinated, and effective support. This investment reflects leadership that understands public safety includes care, prevention, and partnership. I also want to recognize all the team members who've been part of this process and those who've already begun doing this work. Both those who've been working on the construction and those providing victim services and counseling for our community. The intentionality that each of them bring and the way they show up for people in their most difficult moments has built a strong and meaningful foundation. If I can say it simply, team Gilbert, you already ate and left no crumbs. You have done this work tho- thoroughly, thoughtfully, and with excellence. I'm stepping into a role built by people who have set a very high standard and I'm deeply respectful of that. My commitment is to lead an advocacy center that's trusted by survivors, supportive of staff, respected by partners, and accountable to the town and the community. I'm excited to work alongside all of you to deepen partnerships and ensure every survivor who walks through those doors feels heard, supported, and empowered. Together, we can build a center that not only responds to crisis, we can build a center that restores dignity and strengthens lives. So thank you for believing in this mission and when we strengthen support for our survivors, we strengthen our entire community. Thanks. All right, any guesses what her word was? >> Secret word. Secret word. Any guesses? Any guesses? I don't I Nothing stood out to me. It all made sense. Right on. Usually the secret word doesn't make sense. They don't fit in very well. Gilbert ate and left no crumbs. Oh, ate left Oh, okay. That's a sentence. That isn't a word. Leave it to our staff to come up with really fun things to have folks use in their their first presentation to the council. So thank you, council. Thank you, Trinity. Any reports from the council? Vice Mayor. Thank you, Mayor. We're would We're would have meeting me without one of my reports for Parks and Rec. All right. Earth [clears throat] and Labor Day celebration. Join us for our annual Earth and and Arbor Labor. Why did I say Labor for? Arbor Day celebration. Learn about variable valuable resources to create a happier, healthier, and more sustainable place to live. No registration is necessary. Activities include recycling-inspired crafts and games, upcycled DIY projects, a tree planting ceremony, a live animal display, local vendor booths, prizes, and giveaways. Drop in anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on April 22nd at the McQueen Park Activity Center. Again, that's 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. And let's not forget Gilbert Cinema's Movies in the Park. Movies in the Park are back for spring of 2026 at the Civic at the Gilbert Civic Center Lawn. Movies will begin around sunset about 6:30 p.m. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and come and enjoy this fun, family-oriented event series. Feel free to bring your own food and drinks. Dogs [snorts] are welcome. Hot dogs? No. Dogs are welcome, but must stay on leash. Here the dates. April 24th, a Minecraft movie. May 1st, Lilo & Stitch. May 8th, How to Train Your Dragon. And May 15th, Zootopia 2. Again, location is at Gilbert Civic Center Lawn at 6:30. Yeah. Councilmember Alliance. You guys got some slides for me? Oh, we did. Yeah, I didn't do the slides yet. All right, just a couple things real quick. We have the rehang program going on for the uh uh banners that we'd use to recognize those who have served in our community. Uh given that this is the 250th anniversary of this nation, which is very unique in world history. Um the original veterans that gave us this beautiful nation have been supported over the generations by those who chose to wear the uniform. Men and women who laid a lot of stuff on the line. This gives an exam uh a way for us to honor them. So, if you have a banner that you've hung in the past and you would like to rehang that, please um reach out to us. Uh there's a QR code there to donate and uh we can help get that back up. Next slide. And um save the date for Memorial Day 2026. Again, this is the 250th anniversary of our nation and on this day we remember those who paid the ultimate price uh for our freedom. And just be looking forward uh looking for more information to come out on this and uh keep that date in mind. That's all I got. Thank you. I have uh any anybody else? Councilmember Buckland. Thank you, Mayor. I I just have a shout-out. Um I'm on the uh Board of Directors for Valley Metro and um just want to shout out Jason Hafner and um Nathan Williams from Planning. Um our intergov staff. They I don't know if anybody realizes how absolutely brilliant our staff is and how much impact they have um in helping me prepare for these meetings. There's just like here, there's packets full of lots of informations and critical decisions to make and they literally do their due diligence every each and every time and I just am grateful to them uh in the support that allows me to have the information I need to make um critical decisions there like we have to do here. Thank you. I have one item. Uh I think there's a slide for it, also. As you uh may all know, we've been going through a process to search for a new town manager. It's been a rigorous process. Um many uh the uh the candidates all reflect uh how much we've feel the importance of of our people here in town. Um and we do we do have internal and external candidates and we're very happy with the uh the opportunity we'll have later this week to uh visit with them a little bit more through this process. And uh we'll find the right leader as we go through this process, but there is a meet the candidates for town manager that's being done at HD South at the Severson Center on Thursday night. Uh which will be part of a several, I think uh meetings they'll be attending that day. Is that right, Nathan, on Thursday? And then and that'll be 7:00 to 8:30 where the community will have the opportunity to meet the candidates. So, please mark that down if you're watching the to take that opportunity. And um the council will be interviewing the candidates Friday. And so, we look forward to that process. Look forward to making a final selection. Thank you. Anything else? If not, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Move for adjournment. Second. We are adjourned. >> [snorts] [clears throat] >> Actually, staff, too, there's quite a few cookies from Just Serve, so feel free to come up and help yourself.