[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6744540,"mediaKeyId","2756349-8c7b14a813233cf07afb5ed1c3f4e7ed","parentId",2756349,"title","Avondale staff present draft FY2026 budget with proposed pay increases, new positions and major CIP priorities","audioSeconds",1197,"startMs",4144000,"endMs",5341000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756349-8c7b14a813233cf07afb5ed1c3f4e7ed&start=4144&end=5341","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756349-8c7b14a813233cf07afb5ed1c3f4e7ed/thumbnail_4144000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6744540/Avondale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Avondale-staff-present-draft-FY2026-budget-with-proposed-pay-increases-new-positions-and-major-CIP-priorities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6744540-256966d03e547a4883815acf086f0115/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152382&Signature=XlH7mTWVknvXVU1qH15zkxrMbx6sWtzyMXVvICTaKiudtZGZNfyzQY9s2162hLaNJ6wiur~mJdIKNqWfdowyPI1QfGCGZt3wpa~tkhuXu6xSIMsnjlBj8f79HZbfwg3TVJOYPxWXdcZmg9BjWMSM7Mno6-eAsEgRy~VoLCi2wFHRe8agXg17782qwwOLjMSa0dFYYYAHnXZgMJkw386~2zqmBXcs5Inrt0lW1Jueaqs9jTcnDWKbAEq5HpLBF~Ujt2Ma-BRdkpCRjc7-MNF8LqVl007ZH6OOfsBFtsNqL0riQ-F-MxrBjicRH~2D2~c7aOTblq6WCOjn2AyP7fohag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Avondale","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","City staff presented the draft fiscal year 2026 budget to the Avondale City Council on March 24, 2025, and asked for council feedback before the city manager’s recommended budget is issued in April.

Renee (budget staff) summarized key assumptions: no recession or changes to state-shared revenue in the forecast, a return to normalized contracting sales-tax revenue after recent higher-than-expected years, and an assumed 3% annual inflation factor. The presentation showed a thin structural surplus in FY26–FY27 and described stabilization and capital reserves: a policy reserve equal to 35% of the prior year budget and a separate $5 million capital reserve. Staff noted the forecast excludes any revenues from proposed data-center projects.

Personnel proposals and compensation highlights: staff proposed targeted additions across departments (police, fire, courts, parks, engineering and economic development). HR Director Andy Mosquito recommended these pay changes embedded in the draft budget:

- Police officers and sergeants: a one-step increase (equivalent to 5%) plus a 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA); topped‑out sworn employees would receive a one‑time merit lump sum (about 2%).
- Fire sworn employees: similar one-step (5%) plus 3% COLA; topped‑out individuals eligible for a one‑time merit payment.
- Remaining city staff: a 2% merit increase plus a 3% COLA, with topped‑out employees eligible for a one‑time lump-sum of up to 2%.
- Additional compensation items: on‑call pay increase to $2.50/hour, shift differential increases (up to $1/hour for midnight–4 a.m.), ballistic vest allotment increase from $1,200 to $1,900, and a $300 annual increase to uniform allowance for eligible PD employees.
- A new proposal would provide a $5,000 city contribution to a post-employment health account for sworn officers and sergeants who retire in good standing with 20 or more years of consecutive service; staff described that as modeled after a firefighter benefit adopted last MOU cycle.

Budgeted personnel changes in the draft included requests for two police overhires (net-zero in the draft due to vacancy savings), a court clerk related to photo radar operations (funded from photo‑radar revenue as currently budgeted), a business development manager in economic development, plan-review engineering staff, parks supervisors and part-time senior-services coordinator hours, and solid-waste and fleet positions funded from enterprise rates.

Capital-improvement program (CIP) and projects: City Projects Administrator James Mullaney reviewed FY25 accomplishments and a multi-year pipeline. Major items in the FY26–30 draft include the Alamar combined public-safety station, continued Old Town phases (including the street reconstruction in Cashin/Old Town), Awa Fria trail segments and crossings, PFAS and well‑site treatment design and land, water/wastewater treatment expansion planning, park upgrades (Friendship Park, Mountain View, Fred Campbell, Las Lagos), and a design request for an indoor multi‑court facility (pickleball) with a $1,000,000 design ask and an unfunded construction estimate range discussed in the presentation.

Council discussion: members asked for clarifications about economic-development incentive funding (staff described a $1,400,000 line for attraction, lead generation and incentives), how photo‑radar revenue is tied to court staffing, and sequencing/cash-flow for CIP projects. Questions also focused on long‑term sustainability for any post-retirement health benefits and the scope and capital cost uncertainties for the proposed indoor recreation facility. Staff emphasized that design and construction timing is staggered to align with development and workload capacity and that many construction numbers remain subject to final designs.

Next steps and timeline: staff will return with the city manager’s recommended budget in April, a tentative budget adoption in May (which sets the fiscal spending limit), and a final hearing and adoption in June.

Ending: The March 24 presentation was a review and request for council feedback; no budget adoption occurred. Staff invited additional council priorities and will refine proposals ahead of the April recommended budget release.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Avondale - City Council - Mar 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented the draft FY2026 budget to the Avondale City Council on March 24, 2025, and asked for council feedback before the manager’s recommended budget is released in April.","taxTitle","Avondale, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",2567,"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},6744544,"Avondale residents call for reprimand or resignation of Councilmember Jeanette Garcia after social media post",595,2258000,2853000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756349-8c7b14a813233cf07afb5ed1c3f4e7ed&start=2258&end=2853","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756349-8c7b14a813233cf07afb5ed1c3f4e7ed/thumbnail_2258000.jpg","/articles/6744544/Avondale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Avondale-residents-call-for-reprimand-or-resignation-of-Councilmember-Jeanette-Garcia-after-social-media-post","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6744544-477ddf4313ada4162471a9cae7b37b9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152382&Signature=mJ5MnMENuiwLdamvpTc8oSLFnDdtkYKhUepe799lBvpZg5z8LqDRYuKKBRaercuREvuvNbNYmEKd~kS-QyPFrGg4fWwI~JVwzP-aKb8qLBOM5Ggj9I4bgfnQUJp0-T8PQ8aISZciCUMcy~cZuMEU05mkCJQ3uj8UBKVsQlqFPZtJ7JsxmalVcO-Bp0p-GwtqgDly9qcHNcUxNm7SA12woF995fkn7C1PhtdK2uGhxXWxm6BVa3MZH04wKfB1O4lY6Hm9Ze5Mx7pzP~8CnE5WJvCo6WI7Nuc-mhy6pGubEK6hIv2TpzLyowrkeguOZZ3zcJBo1a8jj88Wf~3jAsBUAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of residents urged Avondale’s City Council on March 24, 2025, to hold Councilmember Jeanette Garcia accountable for a social media post they said targeted individuals and exposed community members to threats.

Speakers recounted personal impacts and demanded formal discipline or resignation. \"If anything happens to me or my family, this person is the first person to look for,\" said Natasha Edmonds, identifying herself as West Valley NAACP chair for the Economic and Development Committee, describing threats and cybersecurity steps she said followed a post she attributed to Garcia. Robin Velasquez, a fourth-generation Avondale resident, asked the council to \"reprimand and or censure\" Garcia, saying the post and subsequent denials showed a pattern of avoiding responsibility. Multiple other speakers, including Veronica Malone and Linda Yeager, cited the city’s Council Code of Conduct and asked the council to enforce it.

The comments spanned dozens of speakers and written statements read into the record. Several speakers criticized what they described as attempts to minimize or recharacterize the post (one speaker quoted the social-media phrase and respondents’ later explanations), and at least one speaker said the post had produced direct threats that forced them to alter family routines and hire cybersecurity support.

Mayor Mike Pineda reminded speakers that council members do not normally respond from the dais during public comment and noted an executive session scheduled the following evening that the mayor said would address matters \"of the nature surrounding what several of you are here to speak about tonight.\" Several council members later spoke briefly in open session and said they would follow procedural steps; no formal discipline, motion, or vote occurred during the March 24 meeting.

City staff declined to estimate, during the meeting, the total city cost in staff time or meetings related to the controversy, saying a reliable figure would require additional analysis.

Why this matters: Residents framed the issue as both an ethics and public-safety concern — saying words by elected officials carry extra weight and, in these instances, led to threats and fear. The city’s next meeting includes an executive session on the topic; any formal discipline or censure would require council action consistent with the City’s code of conduct and applicable process.

Ending: The council did not act on the matter March 24; the mayor notified the public of an executive session the next day on related matters. The record of public comments and dozens of written submissions will remain part of the packet and public record.","Dozens of residents urged Avondale’s City Council on March 24, 2025, to hold Councilmember Jeanette Garcia accountable for a social media post they said targeted individuals and exposed community members to threats.",{"_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},6744538,"Avondale annexes 2,501 sq ft strip for Hopewell Avondale parcel; ordinance approved 6–0",280,3834000,4114000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756349-8c7b14a813233cf07afb5ed1c3f4e7ed&start=3834&end=4114","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756349-8c7b14a813233cf07afb5ed1c3f4e7ed/thumbnail_3834000.jpg","/articles/6744538/Avondale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Avondale-annexes-2501-sq-ft-strip-for-Hopewell-Avondale-parcel-ordinance-approved-60","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6744538-35a885dba79971aeb0f79aae29b33a4e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152382&Signature=HldQ1mik7bzYPioP1YXQP1rS0DTQ~vXuozVw2zOqdTl5YqTPIx35yEPrtvO~5Qd56TH4cf-Dt-SPYaYuCYh78IdAxCWEogFzJIqIdyVELrDVIlaBB91GHQ9j5miYP16jUHUp60CzbomgK-yKMQ0WyqUfnselSPLtja7cu5vvbW-bRzn5R4TZmt4l6WPo8JiNgrgS7KsuIJqyX2fG~l3agJu4g1-CI5-FB~F-a40bW--miu~cgtTZ~dgr6NohmF1cAqZSvGrdlkpSRd~SNCEbQYxZ1H4T0Ll56u9U2mngJ7QJTe4AA2rntATJX1Gm5EF8za5wA3bC2HoslXlR30v-0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Avondale City Council adopted an ordinance March 24, 2025, annexing approximately 2,501 square feet of county‑abandoned right‑of‑way into the city. The area is a five‑foot‑wide strip along the southeastern portion of the Hopewell Avondale parcel, east of the northeast corner of El Mirage and Indian School roads.

Sylvia Willem, planner with Development Services, told council the tract is currently part of the Hopewell parcel but remained in county jurisdiction because the five‑foot strip had been county right‑of‑way; the property owner (Hopewell Avondale) petitioned for annexation to bring the parcel into conformance with city standards and make it developable. Willem said required notifications and state annexation requirements had been met and that staff recommended adoption of \"ordinance 2010-0325.\" The staff report referenced application PL‑24‑0242.

Councilmember White moved the ordinance; Councilmember Weiss seconded. The clerk recorded the vote as passing 6–0; the clerk noted Councilmember \"Solar\" (transcript) was absent for the vote.

Why this matters: Annexation will put the strip under city jurisdiction and allow the owner’s previously approved site plan (warehouse/industrial use) to proceed in conformance with city standards. The annexation was the final public hearing for the item and concluded without public opposition on the night of the vote.

Ending: The ordinance was adopted by council on March 24; staff closed the item and the presenting planner left the meeting.","The City Council voted March 24, 2025, to adopt an ordinance annexing a five‑foot‑wide strip of land (approximately 2,501 square feet) that will bring the Hopewell Avondale parcel fully within city jurisdiction and make it developable; the ordinance was adopted 6–0 (one councilmember was absent for the roll call noted during the vote).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Avondale staff present draft FY2026 budget with proposed pay increases, new positions and major CIP priorities

Avondale residents call for reprimand or resignation of Councilmember Jeanette Garcia after social media post

Avondale annexes 2,501 sq ft strip for Hopewell Avondale parcel; ordinance approved 6–0