[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6122931,"mediaKeyId","2693561-e0459f99945929c58f3b9b061ef67669","parentId",2693561,"title","Surprise Police re-accredited at CALEA 'gold standard'; accreditation manager honored","audioSeconds",161,"startMs",1264000,"endMs",1425000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2693561-e0459f99945929c58f3b9b061ef67669&start=1264&end=1425","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2693561-e0459f99945929c58f3b9b061ef67669/thumbnail_1264000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6122931/Surprise/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Surprise-Police-re-accredited-at-CALEA-gold-standard-accreditation-manager-honored","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122931-dd80ddecc0b3bf535023b46d8363c577/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159457&Signature=QbJuW6L3Kim6GY1waM3wjygTYPFx9AzUgGMOiFgmGkLsHmaSI3TUU2LZBiA6~3HWw02Av~X5bypTvs4I0EuOSjOrUur8NgiJajUQLsl4e0koyIG77ItmA8kfbfSiTw318jbylTyRplDUbXg36-czKwCMpNOffNAogvmiA7nsi1Gahbaxc9rlYpXJk0-dl-hlcP3Xf-Fm1~-ODjER-F~H3BNx4WdRZesm84Wb6LlvQX0SrUxwTLpF1w5Di7Ry649pc1n8l49USHJ4ouyg1DDcOitdcWYiWwDo1SgtS1uKWBlVgKsbygh8RZGY1xZL75Pm3EIGej5r~Bg4lSZ7qjQ74A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Surprise, AZ","date","2025-03-04T00:00:00Z","article","Surprise Police Chief Bob Pena told the City Council on March 4, 2025, that the Surprise Police Department has been reaccredited at the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) gold standard and presented the official certificates to the council.

\"We were reaccredited at the gold standard,\" Chief Pena said, describing the outside-audit process that reviews departmental policies and procedures against CALEA standards. He said the department attended the CALEA conference in Jacksonville and received formal confirmation in November; the certificates had arrived and were presented at the meeting.

Chief Pena also recognized Deborah Stewart, the department's accreditation manager, who he said was singled out at the same conference for her work. He noted that Jen Chavez, the department's policy analyst, will assume the accreditation manager role after Stewart's retirement. \"Deborah Stewart was also recognized as our accreditation manager,\" Chief Pena said while presenting the award.

Chief Pena described CALEA as law enforcement's premier accreditation organization and said gold-level reaccreditation reflects an outside review of the department's policies and procedures. The presentation was framed as recognition of sustained compliance with the standards rather than a policy action requiring council approval; no vote or directive was recorded.

Council members and the mayor offered congratulations and appreciation for the department's efforts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular City Council Meeting - March 04, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Chief Pena told council the Surprise Police Department received reaccreditation at CALEA's highest level and presented certificates; Deborah Stewart was recognized as accreditation manager and Jen Chavez is slated to assume the role following Stewart's retirement.","taxTitle","Surprise, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",2566,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6122936,"Council approves annexation ordinance to add 5.41 acres north of future Beardsley Road",211,1897000,2108000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2693561-e0459f99945929c58f3b9b061ef67669&start=1897&end=2108","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2693561-e0459f99945929c58f3b9b061ef67669/thumbnail_1897000.jpg","/articles/6122936/Surprise/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Council-approves-annexation-ordinance-to-add-541-acres-north-of-future-Beardsley-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122936-25b364b59f9305d3db2a4f2a0da016f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159457&Signature=WRTa7rYZDtkt6FAJuukoa~gzgXWTI2zcxhPamk~DXr1qdnrjAHd7gtdbcx~vRI0KK6ZqzTW~yHutIJ0M-kaW7iZMxqWQ8f5bRh-82r3PxzSBdmgNClfkL8pZxeHx9vode0pNLhFEYajq~0BGiaEBA3ZTNXfW7eY8Ihnag2IhI7m~EKK~2aMXInsvEcemkZJOUUXZ4hs26gcEmFY5Sw56xbyYub8ZHRJORia6~tvbNmNnwi-rv1dCiUCuBBziFGC7wsghSSMh2MjrSiZZZyEvUD8cVcxVH~Mb0xdBxLpdQilO9JQowuG62cyusT8k1HTpegsHLk6HUB~QBlgaRL3uMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Surprise City Council on March 4, 2025, voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2025-01, annexing approximately 5.41 acres of county land generally south of the Central Arizona Project, east of Buckeye, north of the future Beardsley Road alignment and west of the future 250 First Avenue alignment (case FS24-0623).

City planning staff described the site and the procedural history leading to the final decision. A staff presentation said the two subject parcels are currently within Maricopa County and that the city's action would incorporate those parcels into Surprise city limits while surrounding parcels to the north and south would remain in Maricopa County and land to the west is in the City of Buckeye.

Staff reviewed the annexation steps: the city council first considered intent to annex at a meeting on Jan. 7, 2025; a blank petition was filed with the County Assessor and the Department of Revenue on Jan. 13, 2025, beginning the 30-day waiting period; a second public hearing occurred as a discussion-only hearing on Feb. 4, 2025 (day 22 of the waiting period). An outreach meeting on Aug. 8, 2024, at Willow Canyon High School drew nine attendees, and staff reported that questions centered on the Surprise 295 project, site access and the annexation process. The pre-annexation zoning for the site was listed as RU-43 (rural residential).

After staff presentation and no public speakers on the item, Councilman Haney moved to approve the annexation ordinance; the motion was seconded and the council clerk recorded a unanimous yes vote. \"That's a unanimous yes vote, Mary,\" the clerk announced following the roll call.

The annexation ordinance was adopted at the meeting; staff said the action would incorporate the two parcels into Surprise with like-for-like rural residential zoning upon completion of the annexation process.","The Surprise City Council unanimously approved Ordinance 2025-01 to annex approximately 5.41 acres of Maricopa County land (case FS24-0623); staff described the annexation steps, pre-annexation zoning and outreach held in August 2024.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6122941,"Council requests study after lengthy Bell Road traffic update",2645,2148000,4793000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2693561-e0459f99945929c58f3b9b061ef67669&start=2148&end=4793","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2693561-e0459f99945929c58f3b9b061ef67669/thumbnail_2148000.jpg","/articles/6122941/Surprise/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Council-requests-study-after-lengthy-Bell-Road-traffic-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122941-2a519c9cf1c719eca2151bd7c26dabcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159457&Signature=M6Y26ruZ7jF~kPEZx63jrSmtq8kwFU7bm-MPu7qGSj0Rbi3DHCIeC6cMqayp7-JyC99iVDJhlNAtkpHmaRplaDKSmR2tiHlzpSCCVKlR6qaOrcPr95fvcBI-U2PQVVylP78seFZ6zbTpb~X0GV0iyjkrcf62FqD3~WEDyoE0Xxlg7lK2Jq7zc3rGEXt82kAJrHGVAID-rT1mqTqKdYXfYIGqnLrcw62teB3ABlvW-6Yl5DaWkMIuS4PjrL7o2hp-xn4-ZlGso8VAo9Mze6nxkl5HG4McoFy0DoUQSzpGOGH-uMynIKT2vRqiWv76O8wZkU0Rq8BxbR7q6wuW2Z1QbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City traffic staff presented a corridor-wide update on Bell Road at the Surprise City Council meeting on March 4, 2025, detailing volumes, left-turn storage limits, previous improvements and potential capital projects. Council directed staff to produce a study with options for safety and congestion improvements at several hot spots, especially the Bell and Litchfield intersection.

\"Bell Road carries a very large amount of traffic,\" said Karan Guntupalli, the city's traffic engineer, describing the corridor as among the region's most heavily traveled east–west arterials. He and Albert Garcia, the city's TISMO manager, told council that major intersections can see about 70,000 vehicle entries per day and that left-turn movements can be substantial during peak hours.

Engineers reviewed treatments already in place, including dual-left additions at other intersections, median adjustments and an adaptive signal-control deployment completed in 2018. Garcia said the adaptive system — which uses high-definition lane-by-lane sensors and centrally processed timing algorithms — was funded largely with grants and costs about $1.5 million to deploy.

Staff gave planners' high-level cost ranges for physical changes: extending left-turn storage at minor or unsignalized approaches was estimated at roughly $500,000–$800,000 per location, while installing dual left-turn lanes at fully signalized intersections was estimated at about $1.5 million per intersection (costs depend on right-of-way, lighting and median work). \"Average cost is about 1.5 (million)\" for dual lefts, city staff said.

Several council members voiced safety concerns about Bell and Litchfield, which staff named as a top hot spot. Vice Mayor Hastings said he was a proponent of the flashing yellow arrow but acknowledged its limitations in peak traffic: \"I love the blinking yellow arrows...they're just not as effective during certain times of the day,\" he said, adding that he believed Litchfield is the most dangerous intersection in the city.

Council members discussed trade-offs: making left turns protected-only (removing permissive/blinking yellow intervals) would reduce some angle collisions but could increase overall delay during off-peak times and could prompt more red-light violations if drivers become impatient. Staff said protected-only phasing is most appropriate when left-turn demand reaches particular thresholds (about 300 left-turning vehicles during peak hours with heavy opposing flows).

After extended discussion about priorities, coordination with neighboring jurisdictions and the costs of corridor-wide improvements, Vice Mayor Hastings and several council members asked staff to produce a focused study. \"I'd like us just to bring back a plan whether we do a study,\" Hastings said; staff subsequently agreed to prepare options, cost estimates and an evidence-based recommendation for council consideration.

No formal vote was taken on capital funding during the meeting; staff indicated they would present study findings and potential funding strategies at a future work session.","Traffic engineers briefed council on Bell Road volumes, left-turn storage and signal timing; council asked staff to return with an evidence-based study and options, including potential dual-left and median modifications at trouble intersections such as Bell and Litchfield.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6122944,"Surprise demonstrates interactive map of meeting postings, staff to refine display",366,896000,1262000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2693561-e0459f99945929c58f3b9b061ef67669&start=896&end=1262","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2693561-e0459f99945929c58f3b9b061ef67669/thumbnail_896000.jpg","/articles/6122944/Surprise/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Surprise-demonstrates-interactive-map-of-meeting-postings-staff-to-refine-display","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122944-8318f3794fc053063a659b91fc0d511d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159457&Signature=NksjIcNmFLTeD1FTObiZ0I3nnjqikCT6YhPeEqspUSTakzTxc1GxGRvtTW1Of7qsxIimZ-~FgzM~HoVo1os2D60JqWE0Gl4LAUde7NGwJEJixvLV2wRe4-WdLsaflnlPOX4NjTmY7Eb41Fqw947gmMb8xI3ZR5Ni7n6EO0oDijoRPAyaq5ZtkchU2hyxjbjB8aVBUaO~LJjzh1b6m5RdTrf-f9SiyGho-N-iejRKhzL~sb-NSlNy4Ugdpkpf1tyDMxLX23WZXDkR7Jxrmh8Fv8DMkMfY1urA6N~1p3y8cJ0yO3NwhRF4X82rOnOzAvX1U9y1cX~sG-oyrw7VAGBs1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Development staff demonstrated an interactive online map at the Surprise City Council meeting on March 4, 2025, that displays posted meeting notices and links to associated agendas and PDFs.

The map is intended to help residents find neighborhood meeting postings and conditional-use hearing notices. \"So tonight's the demonstration of the map,\" Community Development Director Lloyd Abrams told the council, describing a tool his team built with GIS and marketing staff that links map points to meeting information and agenda PDFs.

Council members pressed staff on how the map will match physical signs and how long postings remain visible. \"All the dots on this map are gonna correspond with the whiteboards that we see posted around town?\" Councilman Judd asked. Abrams said the map shows upcoming meetings entered into the planning system and that a point remains on the map one day past the meeting date; entries that are still TBD will appear once staff populates the database.

Several council members praised the tool as a transparency improvement and requested minor changes. Councilman Haney thanked staff for improving resident access to meeting information and said he would share the tool with constituents. Councilman Greenberg requested a distinct color for his district on the map. Abrams said staff will work on color assignments and that the map is responsive for phones, using location services when available.

Abrams also told council the map itself is live, but the public link will be published from the Community Development page and subscribers will receive notifications when it is posted. \"The map itself is live,\" Abrams said, and staff intends the link to be placed on the community development page and to support subscription-based notifications.

Council members asked staff to consider keeping a visual distinction between posts for upcoming meetings and those for completed meetings; Abrams said the current routine removes points as soon as the meeting occurs but he will explore options to show completed postings longer. He also said the nightly routine that populates the map runs after planners enter meeting data.

The presentation concluded with council members thanking the development and GIS teams; no formal council action was required. Staff indicated they will return with minor refinements and will publish the public link from the Community Development web page.

The demonstration followed earlier requests from council to improve site-posting transparency and was presented as an initial roll-out that will be refined based on council feedback.","City staff demonstrated a new interactive map that shows upcoming posted meeting notices and agendas; staff said the map is live but the public-facing link is not yet on the main site, and council asked for refinements including color-coding and mobile behavior.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Surprise Police re-accredited at CALEA 'gold standard'; accreditation manager honored

Council approves annexation ordinance to add 5.41 acres north of future Beardsley Road

Council requests study after lengthy Bell Road traffic update

Surprise demonstrates interactive map of meeting postings, staff to refine display