On the agenda: Tolleson City Council Meeting — flock camera (Sep 8)
Past ⚠ Agenda Watch Tolleson, Arizona · Tuesday, September 8, 2026 — 2 weeks ago
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The published agenda for the September 8, 2026 meeting contains: "flock camera". The meeting has passed. The agenda stays here as a permanent public record.
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The agenda, word for word
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TOLLESON CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
TOLLESON CIVIC CENTER
9055 WEST VAN BUREN STREET, TOLLESON, AZ 85353
ZOOM WEBINAR ID: 840 6967 9194
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
6:00 PM
Doors open to Council Chambers at 5:45 PM for public seating. The public may be asked to
temporarily relocate if an executive session occurs. The public will be invited back into Council
Chambers when the Council returns from executive session.
Members of the public may also participate in the meeting via Zoom Webinar
(https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84069679194) with a computer or cell phone.
A.
CALL TO ORDER
B.
INVOCATION/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
C.
ROLL CALL
D.
FINAL CALL TO SUBMIT SPEAKER REQUESTS
All citizens and interested parties wishing to speak before the Council regarding nonagenda items or during a public hearing shall fully complete a Speaker Request Form and
submit the form(s) to the City Clerk prior to the meeting being convened. Citizens must
complete one form for each item they want to address. Speaker Request Forms are located
at the entrance of the Council Chambers. For Zoom participants, click the chat button, and
enter your name and the item you would like to address. Submissions should be made no
later than the Mayor announcing the “Final Call to Submit Speaker Requests”. All speakers
will be limited to 3 minutes unless otherwise noted by the Mayor. Speakers are not
required to disclose their identities or personal information. You may also submit an online
speaker request form at https://www.tolleson.az.gov/speakerrequest at least one hour
prior to the meeting.
E.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC (NON-AGENDA ITEMS)
This is the time for the public to comment on non-agenda items. Members of the Council
may not discuss items that are not specifically identified on the agenda. Therefore,
pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.01.H, action taken as a result of public comment will be limited
to (1) responding to criticism; (2) directing staff to review the matter; or (3) asking that a
matter be put on a future agenda.
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F.
G.
SCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES AND PROCLAMATIONS – FOR DISCUSSION
1.
Proclamation recognizing September 11, 2026, as a Day of Remembrance, Unity, and
Service in the City of Tolleson, honoring the lives lost and those who served in
response to the events of September 11, 2001, and encouraging acts of kindness,
volunteerism, community service, and civic engagement. – Julian Rodriguez, Tolleson
Union High School Jobs For Arizona Graduates Junior President
2.
Proclamation declaring September 2026 as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the
City of Tolleson, recognizing those affected by prostate cancer and encouraging
residents to learn about risk factors, support patients and survivors, and consult
qualified healthcare professionals regarding individual health and screening
decisions. – George Good, Chief of Social Impact
3.
Proclamation declaring September 15 through October 15, 2026 as Hispanic Heritage
Month in the City of Tolleson, recognizing the essential role of the Hispanic and Latino
community in Tolleson’s history, growth, and identity and honoring generations of
leadership, public service, entrepreneurship, education, arts, and civic participation
that continue to enrich our community. – Pilar Sinawi, Deputy City Manager
BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR – PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION ITEMS
1.
Public Hearing – Soliciting comments from interested parties regarding Rezone
Application PNZ-26-0021, submitted by the applicant and property owner, Costco
Wholesale Corporation, to rezone approximately 10.55 acres located along the east
side of 91st Avenue and north of Buckeye Road from Planned Area Development (PAD)
to Light Industrial (I-1). The rezone would allow the subject property, identified as APN
101-12-739, to be combined with Costco’s existing lot. (Ordinance No. 633 N.S.)
Council Action: Adopt/Deny Ordinance No. 633 N.S. of the City Council of the City of
Tolleson, Arizona, amending the Zoning Map of the City of Tolleson to rezone
Maricopa County Assessor’s Parcel Number 101-12-739 from Planned Area
Development (PAD) to Light Industrial (I-1), which consists of approximately 10.55
acres, and is generally located along the east side of 91st Avenue and north of Buckeye
Road. (Development Services Department)
H.
CONSENT AGENDA – ACTION ITEMS
Items on the Consent Agenda are of a routine nature and are intended to be acted upon in
one motion. Council Members may pull items from Consent if they would like them
considered separately.
1.
Approve Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of August 25, 2026. (City Clerk
Department)
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I.
2.
Approve Claims and Bills Report for the period of August 19, 2026 to September 1,
2026. (Finance Department)
3.
Approve the First Amendment to the Purchase Contract between the City of Tolleson
and Schulte Real Estate Management Corp. for the sale of City-owned property
located at the northeast corner of 91st Avenue and Van Buren Street, identified as
Maricopa County Assessor Parcel No. 102-48-263, and authorize the City Manager to
execute and deliver said Amendment. The Amendment extends the Buyer's Due
Diligence Period for an additional nine (9) months (270 days), beginning September 8,
2026 and ending June 5, 2027. All other terms of the Purchase Contract shall remain
in full force and effect. (Development Services Department)
REGULAR AGENDA – ACTION ITEMS
1.
J.
K.
WORK STUDY AND PRESENTATIONS – FOR DISCUSSION
1.
Emergency Preparedness Department Update – George Good, Chief of Social Impact
2.
Utilities Department Update – Jamie McCracken, Utilities Director
MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER’S REPORT OF CURRENT EVENTS – FOR DISCUSSION
1.
L.
Discuss and consider the reappointments of Jimmy Davis, Wendi Sears, Marlena Pina,
and Kino Flores as the Board of Directors of the Tolleson Alliance Against Substance
Abuse (TAASA) to serve a term from October 1, 2026 through October 1, 2028. (City
Council)
Community Events Update – Randy Babchuk, Parks & Recreation Director
ADJOURNMENT
Pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.01 and A.R.S. § 38-431.02, notice is hereby given to the members of
the Tolleson City Council and to the general public that the Council of the City of Tolleson will
hold a meeting open to the public. Council Members of the City of Tolleson will attend by
telephone/video conference call.
Note: The City Council of the City of Tolleson, by a duly passed motion, may vote in public session
to adjourn to executive session on any agenda item in accordance with A.R.S. § 38-431.03 for
legal advice from the City Attorney.
Arizona law prohibits any City resource, including staff time, equipment, and anything of value
to influence an election. This prohibition applies to Call to the Public at the Council Meeting. You
may discuss a City issue but do not “advocate” for a specific candidate or ballot measure.
Additionally, soliciting petition signatures or campaign contributions or distributing campaign
materials is prohibited on City property. The City appreciates your efforts to help the City comply
with state law and avoid using taxpayer monies to influence an election.
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Zoom’s live transcription feature can provide automatic captioning by clicking on the Closed
Caption (CC) button during the meeting.
THE CITY OF TOLLESON ENDEAVORS TO MAKE ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS ACCESSIBLE TO
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. With at least two business days advance notice,
accommodations can be provided at this meeting for individuals with vision, hearing and/or
speech disabilities, including a transcriber, large print, an interpreter, an assistive listening
device, etc. Please call the City Clerk at (623) 936-7111, or TTY users may dial 711 for Arizona
Relay Service (AZRS), to request an accommodation to participate in this public meeting. The
City will try its best to accommodate any last minute requests.
LA CIUDAD DE TOLLESON SE ESFUERZA PARA HACER TODAS LAS REUNIONES PÚBLICAS
ACCESIBLE PARA INDIVIDUOS CON DISCAPACIDADES. Con al menos dos días laborables de previo
aviso, se pueden proporcionar adaptaciones en esta reunión para personas con discapacidades
visuales, auditivas o del habla, incluido un transcriptor, letra grande, un intérprete, un
dispositivo de asistencia auditiva, etc. Llame a la Secretaría Municipal al (623) 936-7111, o los
usuarios de TTY pueden marcar 711 para el Servicio de Retransmisión de Arizona (AZRS), para
solicitar un alojamiento para participar en esta reunión pública. La Ciudad hará todo lo posible
para satisfacer cualquier solicitud de último minuto.
Options for attending Zoom Webinars (select one):
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Under Zoom Desktop Client, click the Download button.
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d. Enter your full name and click Join Audio by Computer
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4. Alternate Option via Telephone with Audio Only:
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For technical support or questions in accessing the meeting, please email the Information
Technology Department ([email protected]) or call Zoom Support at 888-799-9666.
Posted on September 2, 2026.
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Honoring September 11th
A Day of Remembrance, Unity, and Service
WHEREAS, September 11, 2001, remains a solemn day in our nation's history, when nearly 3,000
lives were lost and countless families and communities were forever changed; and
WHEREAS, we honor the innocent lives lost and recognize the courage and sacrifice of the
firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency personnel, military members, volunteers, and
civilians who responded with bravery and compassion; and
WHEREAS, September 11th reminds us of the strength that can be found when communities
come together with compassion, unity, and a commitment to helping one another; and
WHEREAS, the City of Tolleson and the students of the Tolleson Union High School Jobs for
Arizona Graduates (JAG) Program recognize the importance of remembering those affected by
September 11th and honoring their legacy through leadership, volunteerism, and service to others;
and
WHEREAS, the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance provides an
opportunity to honor those who were lost and those who served by giving back to our communities.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Juan F. Rodriguez, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of
the City of Tolleson, Arizona, do hereby proclaim September 11th as a Day of Remembrance,
Unity, and Service, and encourage all residents, students, families, organizations, and community
members to remember those affected by September 11th and honor their legacy through acts of
kindness, volunteerism, community service, and civic engagement.
Juan F. Rodriguez, Mayor
ATTEST:
Crystal Zamora, City Clerk
Page 6 of 79
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
September 2026
WHEREAS, prostate cancer affects individuals, families, caregivers, and communities across the
nation, and increased public awareness helps people better understand the disease, its risk factors,
and available resources; and
WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 266,307 new prostate
cancers were reported in the United States in 2023, and 34,815 men died from prostate cancer in
2024; and
WHEREAS, age is the most common risk factor for prostate cancer, and African American men
and men with a family history of prostate cancer face an increased risk of developing or dying from
the disease; and
WHEREAS, informed conversations between patients and healthcare professionals about
individual risk, symptoms, and the potential benefits and harms of screening can help people make
appropriate decisions regarding their health; and
WHEREAS, the City of Tolleson recognizes the strength of prostate cancer patients and survivors,
honors those whose lives have been lost, and expresses gratitude to families, caregivers, healthcare
professionals, researchers, and advocates who provide support and advance education, detection,
treatment, and research.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Juan F. Rodriguez, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of
the City of Tolleson, Arizona, do hereby proclaim September 2026 as Prostate Cancer Awareness
Month, and encourage residents to learn about prostate cancer risk factors, support those
affected by the disease, and consult qualified healthcare professionals regarding their individual
health and screening decisions.
Juan F. Rodriguez, Mayor
ATTEST:
Crystal Zamora, City Clerk
Page 7 of 79
Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 – October 15, 2026
WHEREAS, Hispanic Heritage Month is observed nationally from September 15 through October
15 to honor the histories, cultures, traditions, and achievements of Americans whose ancestors
came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America; and
WHEREAS, the Hispanic and Latino community has played an essential role in the history,
growth, and identity of Tolleson, enriching our city through generations of leadership, public service,
entrepreneurship, education, agriculture, arts, and civic participation; and
WHEREAS, the strength of Tolleson is reflected in the dedication of Hispanic and Latino residents
who have built businesses, supported families, served their neighbors, and helped create a
welcoming and vibrant community; and
WHEREAS, Hispanic heritage is celebrated through language, music, art, cuisine, faith, family
traditions, and a deep commitment to community, all of which contribute to the cultural richness of
Tolleson and the nation; and
WHEREAS, this observance provides an opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of past
and present generations, inspire future leaders, and reaffirm the City's commitment to respect,
inclusion, and opportunity for all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Juan F. Rodriguez, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of
the City of Tolleson, Arizona, do hereby proclaim September 15 through October 15, 2026 as
Hispanic Heritage Month, and encourage all residents to celebrate the rich heritage, enduring
traditions, remarkable achievements, and lasting contributions of our Hispanic and Latino
community; to honor the generations whose dedication helped shape our city’s history and
identity; and to carry forward their legacy by building a future rooted in pride, unity, opportunity,
and respect for all.
Juan F. Rodriguez, Mayor
ATTEST:
Crystal Zamora, City Clerk
Page 8 of 79
Item Number: G.1.
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
SUBJECT:
MEETING DATE:
TO:
FROM:
REVIEWED:
Costco Rezone Application PNZ-26-0021 - Ordinance No. 633 N.S.
September 8, 2026
Mayor and Council
Jason Earp, Development Services Director
Reyes Medrano, Jr., City Manager
PURPOSE:
To conduct a public hearing and consider adoption of Ordinance No. 633 N.S. for Rezone Application PNZ-260021.
BACKGROUND:
Costco Wholesale Corporation, the applicant and property owner, submitted Rezone Application PNZ-26-0021
for approximately 10.55 acres generally located along the east side of 91st Avenue and north of Buckeye Road.
The subject property is identified as Maricopa County Assessor's Parcel Number 101-12-739 and is currently
zoned Planned Area Development (PAD). Costco is requesting Light Industrial (I-1) zoning so the subject
property may be combined with Costco's existing lot.
DISCUSSION:
Ordinance No. 633 N.S. would amend the City's Zoning Map by rezoning APN 101-12-739 from Planned Area
Development (PAD) to Light Industrial (I-1). The proposed zoning is consistent with Costco's adjoining property
and would facilitate consolidation of the parcels. Required public notice has been provided, and public hearings
are scheduled before the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council on September 8, 2026.
Ordinance No. 633 N.S. includes the legal description and map of the subject property and provides that the
rezoning will be subject to the consent and waiver contingency stated in the Ordinance. The Planning and Zoning
Commission is scheduled to consider the application at its 5:00 p.m. meeting on September 8, 2026, and its
recommendation will be presented to the City Council.
BUDGET IMPACT:
There is no anticipated budget impact associated with the requested rezoning.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends adoption of Ordinance No. 633 N.S., rezoning APN 101-12-739 from Planned Area
Development (PAD) to Light Industrial (I-1).
ATTACHMENTS:
1.
Ord 633 N.S. Costco Rezone - East Side of 91st Ave. and North of Buckeye Rd. from PAD to I-1 09 08 26
2.
09 08 26 Costco Rezone - East Side of 91st Ave. and North of Buckeye Rd. from PAD to I-1 - Ord. 633 N.S.
- Display Ad
Page 9 of 79
WHEN RECORDED, RETURN TO:
City of Tolleson
City Clerk
9055 West Van Buren Street
Tolleson, Arizona 85353
ORDINANCE NO. 633 N.S.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TOLLESON, ARIZONA,
AMENDING THE ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF TOLLESON TO REZONE MARICOPA
COUNTY ASSESSOR’S PARCEL NUMBER 101-12-739 FROM PLANNED AREA
DEVELOPMENT (PAD) TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL (I-1), WHICH CONSISTS OF
APPROXIMATELY 10.55 ACRES, AND IS GENERALLY LOCATED ALONG THE EAST
SIDE OF 91ST AVENUE AND NORTH OF BUCKEYE ROAD, AS MORE PARTICULARLY
DESCRIBED AND DEPICTED IN EXHIBITS A AND B; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF
CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND
INCORPORATION OF EXHIBITS.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Tolleson (“Council”) is authorized pursuant to
Arizona Revised Statutes (“A.R.S.”) § 9-462.01 to approve rezonings to conserve and promote the
public health, safety, and general welfare; and
WHEREAS, Costco Wholesale Corporation, a Washington corporation, is the owner of
certain real property consisting of approximately 10.55 acres generally located along the east
side of 91st Avenue and north of Buckeye Road, identified as Maricopa County Assessor’s Parcel
No. 101-12-739 and legally described and depicted in Exhibits A and B attached hereto (the
“Property”), and has filed an application with the City requesting that the Property be rezoned
from Planned Area Development (PAD) to Light Industrial (I-1); and
WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council have provided
public notice and conducted public hearings in accordance with applicable State and local laws
to hear comments on the owner’s application; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Tolleson finds that the proposed rezoning is
consistent with and conforms to the City’s General Plan and is in the best interests of the City of
Tolleson.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TOLLESON,
ARIZONA AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.
forth herein.
The recitals above are hereby adopted and incorporated as if fully set
Page 10 of 79
CITY OF TOLLESON ORDINANCE NO. 633 N.S.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
PAGE 2
Section 2.
In General.
The Zoning Ordinance of the City of Tolleson, Arizona, is hereby amended by amending
the Zoning Map of the City of Tolleson, as follows:
Maricopa County Assessor’s Parcel No. 101-12-739, as legally described in
Exhibit A and depicted in Exhibit B, is hereby rezoned from Planned Area
Development (PAD) to Light Industrial (I-1).
Section 3.
Providing for Repeal of Conflicting Ordinances.
All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this Ordinance are
repealed to the extent of such conflict.
Section 4.
Providing for Severability.
If any provision of this Ordinance is for any reason held by any court of competent
jurisdiction to be unenforceable, such provision or portion hereof shall be deemed separate,
distinct, and independent of all other provisions and such holding shall not affect the validity of
the remaining portions of this Ordinance.
Section 5.
Incorporation of Exhibits.
The exhibits attached to this Ordinance are incorporated herein and made a part of this
Ordinance as if set forth herein in full.
Section 6.
Zoning Considerations.
In accordance with Article II, Sections 1 and 2, Constitution of Arizona, and the laws of the
State of Arizona, the City Council has considered the individual property rights and personal
liberties of the residents of the City and the probable impact of the proposed ordinance on the
cost to construct housing for sale or rent before adopting this ordinance.
Section 7.
Authorizations.
The Mayor, the City Manager, the City Clerk and the City Attorney are hereby authorized
and directed to take all steps and to execute all documents necessary to carry out the purpose
and intent of this Ordinance.
Section 8.
Consent and Waiver Contingency.
Page 11 of 79
CITY OF TOLLESON ORDINANCE NO. 633 N.S.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
PAGE 3
This Ordinance shall not become effective until the City files with the Maricopa County
Recorder an instrument (in a form acceptable to the City Attorney), executed and authorized by
the Property owners and any other party having any title interest in the Property, that waives
any potential claims against the City under the Arizona Property Rights Protection Act (A.R.S. §
12-1131, et seq., and specifically A.R.S. § 12-1134) as a result of the City’s adoption of this
Ordinance. If this waiver instrument is not executed and provided to the City with authorization
to record within 14 calendar days after this Ordinance is approved, this Ordinance shall be void
and of no force and effect.
Section 9.
Operative Date.
Pursuant to A.R.S. § 19-142 and City Code § 30.44, this Ordinance, if not otherwise void
pursuant to Section 8, shall become effective 30 days after its adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Mayor and Council of the City of Tolleson, Arizona, on this
8th day of September, 2026.
____________________________________
Juan F. Rodriguez, Mayor
ATTEST: ____________________________________
Crystal Zamora, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ____________________________________
Justin Pierce, City Attorney
Page 12 of 79
CITY OF TOLLESON ORDINANCE NO. 633 N.S.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
PAGE 4
EXHIBIT A
TO
ORDINANCE NO. 633 N.S.
[Legal Description]
Maricopa County Parcel No. 101-12-739
Lot 2A of JBS Costco Depot, according to the plat of record in the Office of the County Recorder
of Maricopa County, Arizona, recorded in Book 1843 of Maps, page 16.
Page 13 of 79
CITY OF TOLLESON ORDINANCE NO. 633 N.S.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
PAGE 5
EXHIBIT B
TO
ORDINANCE NO. 633 N.S.
[Map]
See following page.
Page 14 of 79
I
101-12-739
S 91ST AVE
W SHERMAN ST
S 86TH AVE
RD
W BUCKEYE
0
150 300
Feet
(1 inch = 600 feet)
600
Map Prepared on 8/19/2026
by the City of Tolleson
Geospatial Services Division
Disclaimer: Aerial Imagery may not
match field conditions.
Aerial Imagery flown 10/2025, courtesy of Maricopa County
LEGEND
Property Boundary
Other Parcel Boundary
Page 15 of 79
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
CITY OF TOLLESON
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Tolleson Planning and Zoning Commission will
conduct a PUBLIC HEARING on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM, and the Mayor
and Council will conduct a PUBLIC HEARING on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 at 6:00
PM, both during Regular Meetings held in the Council Chambers at the Tolleson Civic
Center, 9055 West Van Buren Street, Tolleson, Arizona 85353, and via Zoom Webinar.
Planning and Zoning Commission Webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83763983293
(Meeting
ID:
837
6398
3293);
Mayor
and
Council
Webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/w/84069679194 (Meeting ID: 840 6967 9194); and telephone
access for both meetings: 1-253-215-8782.
The purpose of the public hearings is to solicit comments from interested parties
regarding Rezone Application PNZ-26-0021, submitted by the applicant and property
owner, Costco Wholesale Corporation, to rezone approximately 10.55 acres located along
the east side of 91st Avenue and north of Buckeye Road from Planned Area Development
(PAD) to Light Industrial (I-1). The rezone would allow the subject property, identified as
APN 101-12-739, to be combined with Costco’s existing lot. (Ordinance No. 633 N.S.)
Published in the Arizona Business Gazette–Republic Edition on August 22, 2026.
Page 16 of 79
9055 W. Van Buren St., Tolleson, AZ 85353 • (623) 936-7111 • TTY users, dial 711 for Relay • www.tolleson.az.gov
AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
On August 19, 2026, Ken Hernandez certify that the following public notice was posted on the
property per A.R.S. § 9-462.04:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
CITY OF TOLLESON
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Tolleson Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct
a PUBLIC HEARING on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM, and the Mayor and Council
will conduct a PUBLIC HEARING on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 at 6:00 PM, both during
Regular Meetings held in the Council Chambers at the Tolleson Civic Center, 9055 West Van
Buren Street, Tolleson, Arizona 85353, and via Zoom Webinar. Planning and Zoning Commission
Webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83763983293 (Meeting ID: 837 6398 3293); Mayor and
Council Webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/w/84069679194 (Meeting ID: 840 6967 9194); and
telephone access for both meetings: 1-253-215-8782.
The purpose of the public hearings is to solicit comments from interested parties regarding
Rezone Application PNZ-26-0021, submitted by the applicant and property owner, Costco
Wholesale Corporation, to rezone approximately 10.55 acres located along the east side of 91st
Avenue and north of Buckeye Road from Planned Area Development (PAD) to Light Industrial (I1). The rezone would allow the subject property, identified as APN 101-12-739, to be combined
with Costco’s existing lot. (Ordinance No. 633 N.S.)
Published in the Arizona Business Gazette–Republic Edition on August 22, 2026.
KHERNANDEZ
Ken Hernandez, Code Compliance Officer
Page 17 of 79
Page 18 of 79
Page 19 of 79
Item Number: H.1.
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
SUBJECT:
MEETING DATE:
TO:
FROM:
REVIEWED:
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of August 25, 2026
September 8, 2026
Mayor and Council
Crystal Zamora, City Clerk
Reyes Medrano, Jr., City Manager
PURPOSE:
The City Clerk Department is requesting the approval of the Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of August 25,
2026.
BACKGROUND:
It is the public policy of the State of Arizona that meetings of public bodies be conducted openly and that notices
and agendas be provided for such meetings which contain such information as is reasonably necessary to inform
the public of the matters to be discussed or decided. Minutes serve a historical purpose, but just as important,
they serve a legal purpose, documenting Council's adherence to the proper procedures, city code and state law.
The approved minutes are a permanent record.
DISCUSSION:
The minutes provide an outlet for residents to connect with the City of Tolleson in order to stay informed of
Mayor and Council's actions, and they are posted on the City's website and filed in the City Clerk's Office.
Transcription is provided in order to facilitate communication accessibility and may not be a totally verbatim
record of the proceedings.
BUDGET IMPACT:
This item has no additional budget impact.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council approve the Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of August 25, 2026.
ATTACHMENTS:
1.
08 25 26 City Council Meeting Minutes
Page 20 of 79
TOLLESON CITY COUNCIL MEETING ACTION MINUTES
TOLLESON CIVIC CENTER
9055 WEST VAN BUREN STREET, TOLLESON, AZ 85353
ZOOM WEBINAR ID: 840 6967 9194
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2026
6:00 PM
Doors open to Council Chambers at 5:45 PM for public seating. The public may be asked to
temporarily relocate if an executive session occurs. The public will be invited back into Council
Chambers when the Council returns from executive session.
Members of the public may also participate in the meeting via Zoom Webinar
(https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84069679194) with a computer or cell phone.
A.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Rodriguez called the Tolleson City Council Meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
B.
INVOCATION/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Invocation was delivered by Development Services Director Earp, and the Pledge of
Allegiance was led by Vice Mayor Davis.
C.
ROLL CALL
City Council: Mayor Juan Rodriguez, Vice Mayor Jimmy Davis, Council Member Clorinda
Erives, Council Member Adolfo Gámez (participated remotely), Council Member Linda
Laborin, and Council Member Cruzita Mendoza.
Not Present: Council Member Christine Chavira
Department Directors: City Manager Reyes Medrano Jr., Deputy City Manager/Chief
Government Affairs Officer Pilar Sinawi, Deputy City Manager/Employee Resources
Director Wendy Jackson, Chief Financial Officer Kevin Artz, Chief of Social Impact George
Good, City Clerk Crystal Zamora, Development Services Director Jason Earp, Parks &
Recreation Director Randy Babchuk, Fire Chief Michael Young, Library Director Mandy
Carrico, and Public Safety Director/Police Chief Rudy Mendoza.
City Representative: City Attorney Jon Paladini
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D.
FINAL CALL TO SUBMIT SPEAKER REQUESTS
All citizens and interested parties wishing to speak before the Council regarding nonagenda items or during a public hearing shall fully complete a Speaker Request Form and
submit the form(s) to the City Clerk prior to the meeting being convened. Citizens must
complete one form for each item they want to address. Speaker Request Forms are located
at the entrance of the Council Chambers. For Zoom participants, click the chat button, and
enter your name and the item you would like to address. Submissions should be made no
later than the Mayor announcing the “Final Call to Submit Speaker Requests”. All speakers
will be limited to 3 minutes unless otherwise noted by the Mayor. Speakers are not
required to disclose their identities or personal information. You may also submit an online
speaker request form at https://www.tolleson.az.gov/speakerrequest at least one hour
prior to the meeting.
E.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC (NON-AGENDA ITEMS)
This is the time for the public to comment on non-agenda items. Members of the Council
may not discuss items that are not specifically identified on the agenda. Therefore,
pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.01.H, action taken as a result of public comment will be limited
to (1) responding to criticism; (2) directing staff to review the matter; or (3) asking that a
matter be put on a future agenda.
F.
SCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES AND PROCLAMATIONS – FOR DISCUSSION
1.
American Red Cross and City of Tolleson Blood Drive on Saturday, August 29, 2026
from 9 AM to 2:30 PM at the Tolleson Civic Center. – George Good, Chief of Social
Impact
2.
Proclamation honoring Viviana Martinez, a Tolleson native and Tolleson Union High
School graduate, in recognition of her outstanding athletic achievements, including
representing the United States on the USA Softball National Team, contributing to The
University of Texas Women's College World Series National Championship program,
and inspiring the next generation of female athletes through her dedication,
perseverance, and excellence. – Mayor Juan F. Rodriguez
3.
Proclamation declaring September 2026 as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in the
City of Tolleson, joining all those who are battling ovarian cancer, those who have lost
their lives to the disease, their loved ones, and our state’s dedicated healthcare
professionals in raising awareness, advancing public education, and embracing hope
for earlier diagnoses, improved treatments, and ultimately a cure. – Rachel Sackett,
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
4.
Proclamation declaring August 31, 2026 as Overdose Awareness Day in the City of
Tolleson to honor the lives lost to overdose, support individuals and families affected
by substance use disorders, promote recovery, and raise awareness of overdose
prevention and response resources. – George Good, Chief of Social Impact
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5.
G.
Introduction of New Employee:
Utilities Department – Abraham Zazueta Higuera, Utilities Worker
Employee Promotion:
Human Services Department – Juan Chavarin, promoted from Senior Center Program
Assistant to Human Services Technician
BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR – PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION ITEMS
1.
Public Hearing – Soliciting comments from interested parties in reference to a
proposed ordinance amending the Tolleson Zoning Code, Chapter 12, Land Usage,
Article 12-4, Zoning, by amending Section 12-4-9 (Definitions and Terms), Section 124-41 (Uses Permitted in the C-1 Zoning District), and Section 12-4-42 (Uses Subject to
Use Permit in the C-1 Zoning District). The proposed amendment would permit
neighborhood grocery stores/carnicerias in the C-1 Zoning District and would allow
convenience markets, gas stations, and regional grocery stores in the Neighborhood
Commercial (C-1) Zoning District subject to approval of a use permit. (Ordinance No.
631 N.S.)
The public hearing opened at 6:21 PM and closed at 6:25 PM.
Council Action: Adopt/Deny Ordinance No. 631 N.S. of the Mayor and City Council of
the City of Tolleson, Arizona, amending the Tolleson Zoning Code, Chapter 12, Land
Usage, by amending Article 12-4, Zoning, Section 12-4-9 (Definitions and Terms),
Section 12-4-41 (Uses Permitted in the Neighborhood Commercial (C-1) Zoning
District), and Section 12-4-42 (Uses Subject to Use Permit in the C-1 Zoning District);
providing for repeal of conflicting ordinances; and providing for severability.
(Development Services Department)
Vice Mayor Davis moved to adopt Ordinance No. 631 N.S.; the motion was seconded
by Council Member Erives. The motion carried 6 to 0.
Mayor Rodriguez – Aye
Vice Mayor Davis – Aye
Council Member Erives – Aye
Council Member Gámez – Aye
Council Member Laborin – Aye
Council Member Mendoza – Aye
2.
Public Hearing – Soliciting comments from interested parties in reference to a
proposed ordinance amending the Tolleson Zoning Code, Chapter 12, Land Usage,
Article 12-4, Zoning, Downtown Tolleson Commercial Office Residential Entertainment
(CORE) District, Section 12-4-93 (Land Use), to permit regional grocery stores in the
CORE Zoning District subject to specified conditions, including a maximum gross retail
floor area of 50,000 square feet. (Ordinance No. 632 N.S.)
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The public hearing opened at 6:26 PM and closed at 6:29 PM.
Council Action: Adopt/Deny Ordinance No. 632 N.S. of the Mayor and City Council of
the City of Tolleson, Arizona, amending the Tolleson Zoning Code, Chapter 12, Land
Usage, by amending Article 12-4, Zoning, Downtown Tolleson Commercial, Office,
Residential and Entertainment (CORE) District, Section 12-4-93, Land Use, permitting
regional grocery stores in the CORE Zoning District; providing for repeal of conflicting
ordinances; and providing for severability. (Development Services Department)
Vice Mayor Davis moved to adopt Ordinance No. 632 N.S.; the motion was seconded
by Council Member Laborin. The motion carried 6 to 0.
Mayor Rodriguez – Aye
Vice Mayor Davis – Aye
Council Member Erives – Aye
Council Member Gámez – Aye
Council Member Laborin – Aye
Council Member Mendoza – Aye
H.
CONSENT AGENDA – ACTION ITEMS
Items on the Consent Agenda are of a routine nature and are intended to be acted upon in
one motion. Council Members may pull items from Consent if they would like them
considered separately.
1.
Approve Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of July 14, 2026 and Special City Council
Meeting Minutes of August 10, 2026. (City Clerk Department)
2.
Approve Claims and Bills Report for the period of July 8, 2026 to August 18, 2026.
(Finance Department)
3.
Adopt Resolution No. 2661 of the Mayor and Council of the City of Tolleson, Arizona,
approving a Power Distribution Easement from the City of Tolleson to the Salt River
Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District for the transmission and
distribution of electricity, communication signals, and data in connection with the City
of Tolleson Aquatics Center and Retail Building near 83rd Avenue and Van Buren
Street; and authorizing the execution and delivery of said Easement. (Development
Services Department)
4.
Approve the Professional Services Agreement between the City of Tolleson and
Metron Farnier, LLC for essential components, equipment, parts, and related services
for the City’s water meter systems, and authorize the City Manager to execute and
deliver said Agreement. The City shall pay the Vendor an annual aggregate amount
not to exceed $400,000 for parts and services. The Agreement shall remain in full force
and effect until June 30, 2027, and may automatically renew for up to four successive
one-year terms. (Utilities Department)
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Vice Mayor Davis moved to approve Consent Agenda items 1 through 4; the motion
was seconded by Council Member Mendoza. The motion carried 6 to 0.
Mayor Rodriguez – Aye
Vice Mayor Davis – Aye
Council Member Erives – Aye
Council Member Gámez – Aye
Council Member Laborin – Aye
Council Member Mendoza – Aye
I.
REGULAR AGENDA – ACTION ITEMS
1.
Approve/Deny the Professional Services Agreement between the City of Tolleson and
Veolia WTS Solutions USA, Inc. for essential parts, equipment, supplies, components,
and related services for the Electrodialysis Reversal (EDR) Water Treatment Facility,
and authorize the City Manager to execute and deliver said Agreement. The City shall
pay the Vendor an annual aggregate amount not to exceed $800,000 for parts and
services. The Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until June 30, 2031.
(Utilities Department)
Vice Mayor Davis moved to approve the Professional Services Agreement; the
motion was seconded by Council Member Mendoza. The motion carried 6 to 0.
Mayor Rodriguez – Aye
Vice Mayor Davis – Aye
Council Member Erives – Aye
Council Member Gámez – Aye
Council Member Laborin – Aye
Council Member Mendoza – Aye
2.
Approve/Deny the Cooperative Purchasing Agreement between the City of Tolleson
and McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. for Citywide Water Resources Treatment
services on an as-needed basis, and authorize the City Manager to execute and deliver
said Agreement. The City shall pay the Contractor an annual aggregate amount not to
exceed $5,000,000 for services. The Agreement shall remain in full force and effect
until April 7, 2027. (Utilities Department)
Council Member Gámez moved to approve the Cooperative Purchasing Agreement;
the motion was seconded by Council Member Laborin. The motion carried 6 to 0.
Mayor Rodriguez – Aye
Vice Mayor Davis – Aye
Council Member Erives – Aye
Council Member Gámez – Aye
Council Member Laborin – Aye
Council Member Mendoza – Aye
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3.
Approve/Deny payment of $2,524,592 to the Arizona Department of Transportation
for the City’s construction contribution and construction overage for the Tolleson
Pedestrian Bridge System over Van Buren Street at 96th Avenue, pursuant to the
Intergovernmental Agreement previously approved by Resolution No. 2593.
(Development Services Department)
Council Member Erives moved to approve the payment of $2,524,592 to the Arizona
Department of Transportation; the motion was seconded by Council Member
Laborin. The motion carried 6 to 0.
Mayor Rodriguez – Aye
Vice Mayor Davis – Aye
Council Member Erives – Aye
Council Member Gámez – Aye
Council Member Laborin – Aye
Council Member Mendoza – Aye
J.
K.
WORK STUDY AND PRESENTATIONS – FOR DISCUSSION
1.
Employee Resources Department Update – Wendy Jackson, Deputy City
Manager/Employee Resources Director
2.
Information Technology Department Update – Wendy Jackson, Deputy City Manager
MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER’S REPORT OF CURRENT EVENTS – FOR DISCUSSION
1.
L.
The Tolleson Public Library will be closed Wednesday, October 21, through Friday,
October 23, 2026, to accommodate the replacement of furniture throughout the
facility.
CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
1.
Motion to go into executive session.
Vice Mayor Davis moved to convene into executive session at 7:32 PM; the motion
was seconded by Council Member Laborin. The motion carried 6 to 0.
Mayor Rodriguez – Aye
Vice Mayor Davis – Aye
Council Member Erives – Aye
Council Member Gámez – Aye
Council Member Laborin – Aye
Council Member Mendoza – Aye
2.
Convene into an executive session pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03(A)(7) to discuss and
consult with designated representatives of the public body in order to consider its
position and instruct its representatives regarding negotiations for the lease of Cityowned property.
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M. RECONVENE INTO PUBLIC MEETING
Mayor Rodriguez reconvened the public meeting at 8:40 PM.
N.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.
Pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.01 and A.R.S. § 38-431.02, notice is hereby given to the members of
the Tolleson City Council and to the general public that the Council of the City of Tolleson will
hold a meeting open to the public. Council Members of the City of Tolleson will attend by
telephone/video conference call.
Note: The City Council of the City of Tolleson, by a duly passed motion, may vote in public session
to adjourn to executive session on any agenda item in accordance with A.R.S. § 38-431.03 for
legal advice from the City Attorney.
Arizona law prohibits any City resource, including staff time, equipment, and anything of value
to influence an election. This prohibition applies to Call to the Public at the Council Meeting. You
may discuss a City issue but do not “advocate” for a specific candidate or ballot measure.
Additionally, soliciting petition signatures or campaign contributions or distributing campaign
materials is prohibited on City property. The City appreciates your efforts to help the City comply
with state law and avoid using taxpayer monies to influence an election.
Zoom’s live transcription feature can provide automatic captioning by clicking on the Closed
Caption (CC) button during the meeting.
THE CITY OF TOLLESON ENDEAVORS TO MAKE ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS ACCESSIBLE TO
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. With at least two business days advance notice,
accommodations can be provided at this meeting for individuals with vision, hearing and/or
speech disabilities, including a transcriber, large print, an interpreter, an assistive listening
device, etc. Please call the City Clerk at (623) 936-7111, or TTY users may dial 711 for Arizona
Relay Service (AZRS), to request an accommodation to participate in this public meeting. The
City will try its best to accommodate any last minute requests.
LA CIUDAD DE TOLLESON SE ESFUERZA PARA HACER TODAS LAS REUNIONES PÚBLICAS
ACCESIBLE PARA INDIVIDUOS CON DISCAPACIDADES. Con al menos dos días laborables de previo
aviso, se pueden proporcionar adaptaciones en esta reunión para personas con discapacidades
visuales, auditivas o del habla, incluido un transcriptor, letra grande, un intérprete, un
dispositivo de asistencia auditiva, etc. Llame a la Secretaría Municipal al (623) 936-7111, o los
usuarios de TTY pueden marcar 711 para el Servicio de Retransmisión de Arizona (AZRS), para
solicitar un alojamiento para participar en esta reunión pública. La Ciudad hará todo lo posible
para satisfacer cualquier solicitud de último minuto.
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City of Tolleson
VENDOR NAME
Checks Recorded
Check Dates: July 8, 2026 to August 18, 2026
PAYMENTS OVER $10,000
AMOUNT
CHECK NUMBER
CHECK DATE
CITY OF PHOENIX
$64,251.37
188295
8/6/2026
CITY OF PHOENIX
$49,398.06
188354
8/13/2026
MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
$32,525.57
188303
8/6/2026
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$30,000.00
188350
8/13/2026
WASTE CONNECTIONS OF ARIZONA
$29,051.06
188217
7/23/2026
ARIZONA STATE TREASURERS OFFICE
$28,541.75
188384
8/18/2026
VINCERE PHYSICIANS GROUP PLLC
$27,240.00
188181
7/23/2026
INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION OF ARIZONA
$22,653.28
188276
8/4/2026
LOGAN SIMPSON DESIGN INC
$18,833.27
188361
8/13/2026
JYCHELLE & ROGELIO GUTIERREZ
$17,648.27
188258
8/4/2026
VERIZON WIRELESS SERVICES LLC
$16,011.77
188256
7/30/2026
HD SUPPLY, INC
$15,707.99
188250
7/30/2026
TOLLESON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DIST.#17
$12,650.00
188324
8/11/2026
FRANKLIN STRIPING INC
$12,111.31
188259
8/4/2026
AED EVERYWHERE INC
$10,054.73
188374
8/18/2026
ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY
$10,000.00
188265
8/4/2026
Page 28 of 79
CITY OF TOLLESON
AUGUST 25, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Post-Production File
City of Tolleson
City Council Meeting Minutes
August 25, 2026
Transcription Provided By:
eScribers, LLC
* * * * *
Transcription is provided in order to facilitate communication accessibility and may not
be a totally verbatim record of the proceedings.
* * * * *
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Page 29 of 79
CITY OF TOLLESON
AUGUST 25, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Okay. Good evening, everyone. I am Mayor Juan Rodriguez.
Hopefully, you can hear me fine. Today is August 25th, and I would like to call this city
council meeting to order. We're going to begin with our invocation and pledge of
allegiance.
Development Services Director Earp, will you please deliver the invocation?
And Vice Mayor Davis, will you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?
If you can, please stand if you're able to.
EARP: Heavenly father, we gather here today as public servants and community
members. We thank you for the privilege of service and for this place we call home.
Grant this council wisdom, clarity, and patience as we discuss the matters before us.
Help us to listen to one another with open minds and respect. Watch over our
community, our staff, and our leaders. Guide our thoughts and our actions this evening
for the greater good of all. In Jesus name, Amen.
ALL: Amen.
ALL: 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.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Awesome. Thank you both. We're going to move on to roll call.
Please, City Clerk, let the record reflect that all council members are present with the
exception of Christine Chavira. We have five council members in the chamber, and we
have Councilmember Gámez attending by Zoom. So Ms. Chavira is the only one that's
not here today.
Final call to submit Speaker Request Forms. Now is the time to submit those to the City
Clerk. All speakers will be limited to three minutes for comments. Comments only.
Actions taken as a result of public comments will be limited to either one, responding to
criticism; two, directing staff to review the matter; or three, asking that a matter be put
on a future agenda.
Madam City Clerk, do we have any submissions at this time?
ZAMORA: We do not have any, mayor.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Right. Item E, Call to the public. This is for non-agenda action
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CITY OF TOLLESON
AUGUST 25, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
items.
City clerk, do we have any of those?
ZAMORA: We do not.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Awesome. All right.
MEDRANO: We're going to get out of here pretty early, won't we?
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: All right. Scheduled public appearances, proclamations, American
Red Cross and City of Tolleson Blood Drive on Saturday, August 29th, 2026.
Chief of Social Impact, Chief Good, you have the floor, sir.
GOOD: Thank you, Mayor, members of the council. Edgar Olivo, who's President of the
Red Cross of Arizona and New Mexico, is scheduled to be here tonight; however, he was
unable to attend. But as you just referenced, we have a blood drive here in the Lantana
room from 9 to 2:30 p.m., and that'll be Saturday. So any support you guys can
provide -- as we know, we've talked in the past about how Latino blood -- we call it
Latino gold, because it's the type-O blood, and it's the universal donor, and anybody can
receive that.
So Red Cross is at critically low levels throughout the region and the country, and again,
we're trying to help them. You never know when one of us might need it, or someone
we know or don't know, but it's very important. So if you guys can support that, that
would be terrific. We'd appreciate it. And maybe we'll see some of you out there on
Saturday. Thank you, mayor.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Well thank you, chief. And just to reiterate, this is Saturday,
August 29th in the Lantana room from 9 to 2:30 p.m. One liter donated can save up to
three lives. And so fact of the matter is, us as Latinos happen to have the most common
blood that can be shared amongst other human beings. So don't do it for yourself, do it
for the people that you might save someday. You never know when the script is flipped
and you happen to be in need of blood. So now you have an opportunity to help others.
Please do so. Do they sign up to you, or to the city hall, or -GOOD: There is information throughout social media, which our public affairs team has
placed, and there are QR codes that they can register. Walk-ins are also accepted. It's
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CITY OF TOLLESON
AUGUST 25, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
preferred for people to register so they know how many phlebotomists to send;
however, we're not going to turn anybody away.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Tolleson has a really good history of being top donors for the Red
Cross. I know we've had multiple blood drives here, and every last one of them has
been very successful thanks to the marketing campaigns, thanks for Chief Good's
efforts, and of course American Red Cross for partnering with us. So look forward to a
great event. Thank you.
We're going to move on to item number two, which is -- what do we have?
ERIVES: Proclamation.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: A proclamation. Well, she's not on yet, so should we -- she's on?
SABRINA MARTINEZ: Juan, I'm mom, Sabrina. Her mom's on, but Vivi couldn't join.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Understood. Well, let's rock and roll.
Proclamation honoring Viviana Martinez -- that's her mom, by the way -- a Tolleson
native and Tolleson High School graduate, in recognition of her outstanding athletic
achievements, including representing the United States on the USA Softball National
Team, contributing to The University of Texas Women's College World Series National
Championship program twice, and inspiring the next generation of female athletes
through her dedication, perseverance, and excellence.
It is my great honor to recognize Viviana Martinez, a proud Tolleson native and a
Tolleson High School graduate. Achievements from representing our country -- I think I
just read all this. US teams contributed to the -- oh, I did -- pride on our community.
Viviana, your dedication, perseverance, and excellence inspires young athletes,
especially young women, to dream big and believe in what they can accomplish. On
behalf of the City of Tolleson, congratulations on all your achievements. We are
extremely proud of you.
And I can say the same thing to Mr. Victor and Sabrina, her parents. You have raised an
amazing daughter. She's done great things, and we are extremely proud of her and her
entire family. So let's give Viviana a big round of applause, please.
SABRINA MARTINEZ: Thank you. We appreciate it. And thank you for the honor,
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CITY OF TOLLESON
AUGUST 25, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
especially, you know, us being residents of Tolleson, even though we live on the
outskirts now. But you know, I grew up as -- grew up there, so I appreciate this.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Yeah. I had the privilege of going to school with Sabrina, I think,
from kindergarten all the way through high school. So my mom actually has a house
right around the corner. And as luck would have it, both of our daughters played
softball. And Viviana, right off the bat -- I mean, as a little kid, you could tell she was just
a rock star. Her ability to play the game was above none. I mean, she was just that
good. As testament today, as a starting shortstop for the Texas Champions, the NCAA
champions last year, starting shortstop for Texas, University of Texas, in Austin. And I
think she's a senior this year?
SABRINA MARINEZ: Yeah. She's a fifth-year senior. Yeah. She graduated already. But
since she tore her ACL, she gets another year to play, and she's going to get her
communications certificate and then come back home. So she'll be playing one more
year.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Well, that's good news for Texas, bad news for the rest of the
nation. But of course, we wish her well. Hopefully, someday she'll be playing for the
USA softball team in the Olympics, representing Tolleson and representing, I guess, the
University of Texas, the Jones last name, the Martinez's last name. That makes her a
very, very special person.
So I will tell you that we do have a very special recognition that we are handing out to
people like Viviana who have gone above and beyond in their accomplishments in life.
It is a beautiful, awesome flag. It is actually encased in a wooden box with a nice glass
so people can see what's in it. And then, in the back -- a lot of people ask me, well, what
does a Tolleson flag mean? You know, it's got all these symbols and stuff on it, and the
colors. And I'll be the first to tell you, it's not for Saint Mary's, although they might have
the same colors. It does explain in the back what the torch means, the gold ribbon, the
vegetation in the flag, and the significance of why our Tolleson flag is so loving and
important to us.
So I know Viviana is back at her classes in Texas, and she's a very busy person. When
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CITY OF TOLLESON
AUGUST 25, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
she's not on the softball field, she's in the classroom, or doing whatever she needs to do
to advance in life. But Sabrina, if you or your husband can stop by and pick this up on
behalf of Viviana, we'd really appreciate it. We want her -- we want to get this to her so
she can display it and show it off to everybody in Texas.
SABRINA MARTINEZ: Yes. I will stop by. I got her on the phone. She was trying to call
in.
They were just recognizing you, Vivi.
VIVIANA MARTINEZ: Oh.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: (Indiscernible) there.
VIVIANA MARTINEZ: I'm at (indiscernible), and the music's loud and everything.
SABRINA MARTINEZ: They're having a team dinner, so it's loud over there. Okay.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: All right. Well, appreciate your dinner. Enjoy it.
Sabrina, thank you very much for chiming in on this. And again, we'll have the award
here. And much appreciation and much love to Viviana and all of her great
accomplishments. Thank you very much for being a great Tollesonian and representing
us well.
SABRINA MARTINEZ: I'm proud to be a Tollesonian, and thank you so much. Okay. Byebye.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: We also have the proclamation here, so pick it up.
All right. We're going to move on to item number three, proclamation declaring
September -- and by the way, staff and community members, if you have somebody
who has done amazing things -- in Viviana's case, very young life -- I mean, she's 25 -- or
even a senior citizen or anybody who has accomplished significant efforts in their life
and has done a great job of representing our city of Tolleson, is a product from our
hometown, don't hesitate to nominate them. You know, bring that information to our
public affairs person, our deputy city manager, Pilar Sinawi, or Reyes, or Wendy, or any
of our staffers.
We have to get into the business of promoting our own and celebrating our
accomplishments. We have a great town with great people, and I think the world
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CITY OF TOLLESON
AUGUST 25, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
should know about that. So this is hopefully the first of many. So if you know of
anybody, send them our way.
Okay. Enough of that. Proclamation declaring September 2026 as Ovarian Cancer
Awareness Month in the city of Tolleson, joining all those who are battling ovarian
cancer. Is it warm in here, or is it just me? Okay. Months in the city of Tolleson and
joining all those who are battling ovarian cancer; those who have lost their lives to the
disease, their loved ones; and our state's dedicated healthcare professionals; and raising
awareness; advancing public education; and embracing hope for early diagnosis,
improved treatments, and ultimately, a cure. So with that, I will proclaim -- well, first of
all, Rachel Sackett is joining us on Zoom. Is Rachel on?
SACKETT: I'm here.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: All right, Rachel. I will turn the floor over to you.
SACKETT: Thank you so much, mayor.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Thank you.
SACKETT: So my name is Rachel Sackett Putman, and I'm here as a stage three ovarian
cancer survivor, thriver, and advocate, and as a proud Arizona resident of the past 20
years. Thank you, mayor and council members of the city of Tolleson for recognizing
September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and for continuing to support this year
after year. Arizona is where I've built my adult life, my marriage, my career, and my
survivorship, so receiving this proclamation from the city of Tolleson is so deeply
meaningful.
Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest cancers affecting women, yet it remains one of
the most underfunded and least understood. Over 21,000 women in the US will be
diagnosed this year, and more than 12,000 will lose their lives, which is about a 60
percent mortality rate. Most women are diagnosed at advanced stages because
symptoms are vague, and there are still no early detection test. For many of us, that
lack of awareness is the difference between catching cancer early and fighting for our
lives.
I was diagnosed at 38 with a rare subtype called low grade serous ovarian cancer, a
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chronic disease with no standard of care and an 85 percent recurrence rate. Like many
women, I lost my ability to have biological children, dreams my husband and I hadn't yet
fulfilled. And this year, I've suffered some very deep losses to this disease, losses that
weigh heavily and remind me why awareness is so urgently needed.
Every (indiscernible), every social media message, and every proclamation, including
yours, helps someone recognize symptoms earlier and brings them much needed
awareness to this insidious disease. It truly saves lives and honors the women lost far
too soon. Thank you for standing with survivors, honoring the women we've lost, and
helping to protect families across the city of Tolleson and the great state of Arizona.
Your continued leadership makes a real and lasting difference. Together, we can shine a
light on this gravely overlooked disease and give hope to the women and families who
need it most.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Okay. Thank you, Ms. Sackett. Appreciate your time and your
comments. Anybody on council have anything to add? Anybody? Okay. I'll just add
that you're right. This is a terrible disease. You know, how many people out there have
suffered -- if not directly, their family members? It has an ability to impact an entire
community in a very negative way. And so we have to be united in our front to do the
best that we can to not only battle it, but find a cure, get to the core element of what
causes it, and be able to address it so it stops affecting so many families moving
forward.
But again, we thank you for your time and bringing this to our community. And signing
a proclamation is the least that we can do as a community. And thank you for bringing it
to our attention.
SACKETT: Thank you, mayor. Thank you.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Oh. You're welcome. Now, therefore, I, Mayor Juan F. Rodriguez
do hereby deem it is an honor and pleasure to extend this proclamation -- well, wait a
minute. I'm reading the wrong one. Now, therefore, I, Mayor Juan F. Rodriguez do
hereby proclaim September 2026 as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in the city of
Tolleson. Be it proclaimed. All right.
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Ms. Sackett, we do have -- we do have a proclamation. I don't know if you can see it. I
don't know where the cameras are, but it's signed by -SACKETT: I see it.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: -- myself and I believe the City Clerk. So what are we -- are we
taking a picture or -- okay. We'll make sure that this gets to you, and it can be displayed
at a prominent location so that people can be aware that us, the city of Tolleson, are in
unity with you guys to make sure that we do everything that we can to try to battle this
terrible disease.
SACKETT: And if you guys are able to take a picture with the proclamation, please feel
free. I'd love to get them. And we post them to really just create that awareness. So I
appreciate that too.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: All right. Let's take that picture now, because I don't want to
forget.
SACKETT: Thank you.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Let's huddle up. T-town huddle.
DAVIS: (Indiscernible) my Starbucks cup.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Awesome. Thank you. All right. Don't sit on the water.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Absolutely. Take it out.
All right. Thanks again, Ms. Sackett.
We're going to move on to proclamation number four for the third proclamation of the
evening, and that's declaring August 31st, 2026 as Overdose Awareness Day in the city
of Tolleson to honor the lives lost to overdoses, support individuals and families affected
by substance use disorder, promote recovery, and raise awareness of overdose
prevention and response resources.
I'm going to kick this one over to our Chief Social Impact Officer, George Good. Sir, you
have the floor.
GOOD: Thank you, Mayor, members of the council. Thank you for the recognition in
this proclamation regarding Overdose Awareness Month. This has been really
important. Four years ago, the number of overdose deaths in our country approached
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100,000. Recent data just came out, and now we're at 50,000. That's still a lot of
people to lose in a year, 50,000 people, if you can imagine; however, we're definitely
trending in the right direction. There's a lot of reasons that that number has gone down
a lot.
I will give enormous credit to the two gentlemen sitting to my left, Chief Mendoza and
Young, for the Leave Behind program that they put -- their departments participate in,
along with awareness efforts such as this one, and the Narcan education that we do
throughout the community. So without the combination of all these things -- and again,
throughout the entire country, those numbers would probably still be up. This issue has
significantly impacted our community, as you all are aware; however, we are trending in
a very good direction. We don't want to stop until that number is zero, but we're going
in the right direction, and hopefully we'll continue to do so. Again, thank you for your
proclamation.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Awesome. Thank you. First of all, you're right. One death is too
many. There's been some considerable advancements here in Tolleson, and all credit is
to our staff. You guys are the ones that respond when we have serious situations. And
when it does have to do with drug overdoses, your reaction is critical. And so you're
making a huge impact here in our community, and so is Narcan being preventative in
our approach to how we address these issues. But you're right. It's a national problem.
And so I'm glad to see that there's some headway. We're moving in the right direction.
But you're right, we have a lot more work to do.
So with all that being said, I, Mayor Juan F. Rodriguez, do hereby proclaim August 31st,
2026 as Overdose Awareness Day in the city of Tolleson. Be it proclaimed.
Chief, we do have a proclamation here if you want to take it. Yeah, I signed it. It is
signed. Thank you.
All right. Now to one of my favorite parts of the agenda, and that's introduction of new
employees. I'm going to kick it over to City Manager Reyes Medrano.
MEDRANO: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of council. It's always a joy to do. I
introduce you to our newest members of the Towson family. It looks like, first, we have
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a brand-new member of our next generation leadership, Abraham Zazueta Higuera,
utility worker. Is that you? You look like my uncle, a younger version. Very talented
musician. I'm sure you are as well. We'll talk about it later. Are you really? Are you
really? Oh, that is a -- see? I thought I was making it up, Randy. I would love to hear
you play. Seriously, I love music. We all do.
And next, as always, I'm very -- oh, I'm elated to introduce -- or in this case, a promotion
of a Tolleson resident and our second member of the Chavarin family to serve our
community, Juan Chavarin. He's been promoted to human services technician. And
that guy, as you can see, inherited the Chavarin smile. And he, like his sister, spreads joy
throughout the organization. And we're so glad for both of you to join our community
full-time, obviously. Just like Aliyah (ph.) was a part-timer, and she promoted a full-time
earlier this year. I love it when our people take the time to invest in our community on
a part-time basis and pursue these opportunities to be converted to full-time. It just
makes us that much more strong. So thank you. Thank you both. Thank you, Mayor.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Thank you. And welcome, both of you to the organization. As you
may or may not know, Tolleson has a very strong tradition of retention. People tend to
start working here, they love it here, and they last here. So we think of ourselves as a
family; and as such, you two are our newest members of our family. Some part-time
family, now full-time family, some new family. Regardless, welcome to the familia.
Thank you very much for picking us.
We're going to move on to G, which is business from the floor. This is our public hearing
and action items. The first item is a public hearing soliciting comments from interested
parties in reference to a proposed ordinance amending the Tolleson Zoning Code,
Chapter 12-4, Land Usage, Article 12-4, Zoning, by amending Section 12-4-9, Definitions
and Terms, Section -- why did I put the candy in my mouth right now -- in Section 12-442, Uses Subject to Use Permits in the C-1 Zoning District. The proposed amendment
would permit neighborhood grocery stores/carnicerias in the C-1 zoning district and
would allow convenience markets, gas stations, and grocery stores in the Neighborhood
Commercial C-1 Zoning District subject to approval of a use permit -- and that's
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important, the use permit -- Ordinance Number 631, New Series. I will now turn it over
to our Development Services Director, Jason Earp.
You have the floor, sir.
EARP: Thank you. Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of the council, we come bearing good
news. We're reinventing this to make it a little bit more restrictive. So right now,
convenience stores, gas stations -- or grocery stores, gas stations are allowed by right. If
this is approved tonight, after 30 days, if a gas station/convenience store wants to come
in, it'll go to P and Z for recommendation to council, and then to council for approval
through the use permit. So we're there -- at that time, you can approve it or deny it at
that time. And I'll answer any questions you may have.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: What would be cause for denial under this new code?
EARP: Excuse me? I'm sorry.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: What would be cause for denial under the new code compared to
right now?
EARP: What would be the -MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Cause for denial.
EARP: Oh. Right now, there is no cause for denial.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: This would give us the leverage?
EARP: Correct. I'm sorry, Mayor. I didn't understand you.
REYES: This is also apropos, given the fact that state laws changed to where city
councils no longer approve site plans, but this gives you the leverage you need to at
least control what you want to see in the city with specificity to this type of use.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: (Indiscernible) permits and requires the proposed use and
developer to come in front of us and to state your case on why they're a good fit for our
city. And ultimately, we as a council can decide to either issue the use permit or deny
the use permit. And we have, I think, more than enough gas stations in Tolleson to
provide benefit that enhances the Tolleson experience for visitors and residents alike.
So having said that, I'm in favor of this. Because again, the use permit process, I'm a big
fan of, and it puts control back in the local governing board, in this case us, and it allows
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us the freedom to make decisions that are best guided in the interest of our community.
So any other comments or questions at this time?
GÁMEZ: Mr. Mayor?
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Yes? Go ahead, Councilman Gámez.
GÁMEZ: Can you hear me?
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Yes, I can. Go ahead. You have the floor.
GÁMEZ: Yes. I just have a concern, and it may not be one, but I think it has the
potential to add to the issue that we have in terms of the traffic. We have issues on
91st Avenue, and in the morning, in the afternoon, we have to be very cognizant of who
are we going to allow to come in. And it might be the best carniceria ever, but at the
same time, you know, how many people are we talking about? And we have to just
remember that we represent a bunch of people here that are going through a bunch of
hell -- actually, I'm one of them -- right there at 91st Avenue and Taylor. The traffic is an
issue all day and maybe part of the night.
So we'll just be cognizant of what we're going to do and how that's going to impact us if
we do anything at all. Thank you, mayor.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Well, thank you. And just to be clear about this, this is asking for
us to create a use permit process. So if we do have large traffic flows or other concerns
in certain corridors of our city, we have the leverage to deny that use in that area and
maybe find a more appropriate location for them here in town if it's a good use at all.
So I think this empowers us to be to be able to do things like that.
But having said that, Vice Mayor Davis?
DAVIS: We're pretty built out, so anything that will help us to control what is coming
into, you know, the very limited land that we have left, I think is useful and a benefit to
us, especially with losing some authority over some of that recently. Thank you, State
Legislator. So I think this is a good thing. That's all.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: All right. Anybody else, council? Not seeing any. All right. I will
now open this -- well, we just opened the public hearing and turn over development
services. So I am now going to turn to council. We had two comments. Speaker from
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the public will have three minutes for comments. Anybody from the public? Don't see
anybody from the public. Were there any members of the public want to talk -- okay.
This public hearing is closed. Council, does anyone have any comments on this item or
would like to make a motion? Okay. We have a motion from Vice Mayor Davis. We
have a second by Councilwoman Clorinda Erives. All those in favor of approving
Ordinance Number 631 New Series of the Mayor and city council of the city of Tolleson,
please signify by saying aye.
DAVIS: Aye.
ERIVES: Aye.
LABORIN: Aye.
MENDOZA: Aye.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Aye.
Councilmember Gámez, I'm going to ask you -GÁMEZ: Aye.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Yeah. Okay. I heard you.
So this motion passes unanimously, five with one absentee -- oh, am I right? One, two,
three, four, five, six with one absentees. Yeah. Unanimous vote with everybody
present. So thank you very much.
We can move on to item number two public hearing. Is that also yours, Jason?
EARP: Yes.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Okay. Well, I'll just rock and roll through it. We have a second
public hearing today. This is soliciting comments from interested parties in reference to
a proposed ordinance amendment to the Tolleson Zoning Code, Chapter 12, Land
Usage, Article 12-4, Zoning, Downtown Tolleson Commercial Office Residential
Entertainment -- got to flip my page -- CORE District, Section 12-4-93, Land Use, to
permit regional grocery stores in the CORE Zoning District subject to specified
conditions, including a maximum gross retail floor area of 50,000 square feet, Ordinance
Number 632 New Series. I will now open this public hearing and turn this over to
Development Services Director, Jason Earp.
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Sir, you have the floor.
EARP: Thank you, Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of the council. Right now, in our CORE
district, it's only allowed neighborhood grocery stores up to 30,000 square feet. As you
most of you are aware, we're working with a grocery store as we speak, and they are
looking to build in something between a 40 and 45,000 square foot grocery store, so we
need to amend this to allow that. We went to 50 just to be safe. We're confident
they're not going to go that high, but we definitely need to change the ordinance to
allow for a grocery store in the area we're looking for. And earlier this evening, P and Z
recommended approval.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: I'm going to open up to council for questions or comments at this
time. Good?
Councilmember Gámez, do you have something to add?
GÁMEZ: No. I think it's a good deal.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Yeah. No. I completely agree. I think 30,000 square feet for a
grocery store is very small, and we have to -- we have to meet the developer where
they're at. And if they need a bigger footprint to be able to develop something with
enough size to support their sales and of course provide the products that we need here
locally for our community, it's a win-win, in my opinion. So I would be in full support of
it.
This is a public meeting, so anybody from the community can also make any comments.
I don't see any. But if you do, just let us know. You get up to three minutes.
Yes, Vice Mayor?
DAVIS: I'll just say, I really hope that we do get a grocery store, because it is a huge
need in our community. We are definitely, pretty much, a food desert.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Is that a drone?
DAVIS: I think R2-D2 agrees with me. It does sound like the Jetsons, actually. So taking
me back to my -- way, way, way back to my childhood. Wow. That was a long time ago.
Anyway, yeah, a grocery store is great. We need one. If we need a bigger size for a
grocery store, I couldn't get more behind that, because we need access to food for our
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community so they can walk to a grocery store to get a cabbage, if they need, to get
whatever it is that they need. So anyway, I'm in full support of this.
EARP: Thank you, Vice Mayor.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Anybody else from council? No?
Anybody else from the public? Not seeing any.
All right. I will now entertain a motion for council action, adopt or deny Ordinance
Number 639 New Series of the Mayor, city council, and the city of Tolleson, Arizona. I
have a motion by vice mayor to approve, I assume?
DAVIS: Motion to approve.
LABORIN: Second.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: I have a second by Councilmember Laborin to approve as well. So
with that being said, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye.
DAVIS: Aye.
ERIVES: Aye.
LABORIN: Aye.
MENDOZA: Aye.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Aye.
Councilmember Gámez?
GÁMEZ: Aye.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Aye? Okay. Motion passes by unanimous consent. Thank you all
for this.
EARP: Thank you, Mayor -MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Mr. Earp -EARP: -- Vice Mayor.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: -- thank you very much.
We're going to move to item H, which is our consent agenda action items. I see items 1
through 4. For you guys' deliberation, if you haven't had an opportunity to review it,
that's on you. You should have done that before the meeting. But I will entertain a
motion to approve or deny.
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DAVIS: Motion to approve the consent agenda items.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Okay. All items 1 through 4, we have a motion.
MENDOZA: Second.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: We have a second from -MENDOZA: Mendoza.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: -- Councilwoman Mendoza over at the end. We have a second to
approve all four items as well. So all those in favor, please signify by saying aye.
DAVIS: Aye.
ERIVES: Aye.
LABORIN: Aye.
MENDOZA: Aye.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Aye.
GÁMEZ: Aye.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: All right. Awesome. Once again, all the consent agenda action
items have been approved unanimously, and we are going to -- oh, this is much better,
much more quieter. So I don't -- so it's been approved. We're going to move on to
regular agenda action items.
Councilmember Gámez, you're a little lucky today. The AC doesn't appear to be working
in the council chambers, so we're passing out fans and all kinds of stuff to try to keep
cool in here.
GÁMEZ: Yeah, I see that. Yeah.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: So regular agenda -GÁMEZ: Sorry. Sorry.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: -- we'll save you one.
GÁMEZ: Thank you.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Approve/deny the professional service agreement between the
City of Tolleson and Veolia WTS Water Solutions USA, Incorporated for essential parts,
equipment, supplies, components, and related services for the Electrodialysis Reversal,
EDR, Water Treatment Facility, and authorize the City Manager to execute and deliver
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said agreement. The city shall pay the vendor an annual aggregate amount not to
exceed 800,000 for parts and for services. Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect until June 30th of 2031.
Who's going to explain to me what that is?
BROWN: Hi. Sorry. I'm Tim Brown, I'm the Water Manager for utilities here at the city
of Tolleson.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Welcome. Thank you for being here.
BROWN: They did steal me from Goodyear in December, so -REYES: Hey. All right.
BROWN: -- (indiscernible) for me right now.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Welcome. Thank you. Thanks for being with us.
BROWN: Thank you, Mayor, Vice mayor, members of council. Yeah. We're going to
recommend that we move forward with this. We've had a long-standing relationship
with Veolia for our EDR, our Electrodialysis Reversal system at both of our well sites that
we currently have running. Veolia is the sole source provider for the parts and materials
that we would need to repair or replace any of the equipment at our well sites to keep
our residents getting clean water.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: With that, I can tell you I have no idea what that piece of
equipment is, so I'm going to take Tim's word for it. And I'm in support of it, because we
need a wastewater treatment plant that's functional. And when you're the sole
proprietor of supplies and services for a specific piece of equipment, if you don't get it
from them, you're not going to get it. So it's critical that we are able to get it so we can
make the repairs on a timely basis and keep our facility operating efficiently the way it's
supposed to. Other comments or questions?
LABORIN: (Indiscernible) water clean. Yeah.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Yes, sir?
DAVIS: Motion to approve.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Okay. We do have a motion to approve by Vice Mayor Jimmy
Davis. We have a motion second by Councilmember Mendoza. All those in favor,
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please signify by saying aye.
DAVIS: Aye.
ERIVES: Aye.
LABORIN: Aye.
MENDOZA: Aye.
GÁMEZ: Aye.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Aye.
All right. We have ayes across the board. Motion passes unanimously. Team, thanks
again for joining the organization, all right, and welcome to the council chambers.
Item number two is to approve or deny the Cooperative Purchase Agreement between
the city of Tolleson and McCarthy Building Companies, Incorporated for Citywide Water
Resources Treatment services on an as needed basis, and authorize the City Manager to
execute and deliver said agreement. The city shall pay the contractor an annual
aggregate amount not to exceed $5 million for services. The agreement shall remain in
full force and effect April 7th, 2027.
LARSON: Good evening. My name is Kevin Larson. I am the wastewater manager for
utilities.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Welcome, sir.
LARSON: So this professional services agreement is adding different contractors to our
portfolio, both within water and wastewater. And right now, I would say that the class
of contractors that we have are kind of mid-level. Sometimes, the resources aren't
always there. So McCarthy is actually one of the larger companies. They have a lot of
resources. And with the projects that we have coming up, it's going to be conducive to
what we need. I don't know if I said good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of
council, so I apologize for that.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: It's assumed, but good evening.
LARSON: So if you guys have any questions, I'm more than happy to answer them.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Very familiar with McCarthy. It's a huge outfit. They do a lot of
work in the Valley, probably throughout the country. And there's a specialty that has to
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come with the wastewater treatment plant, and they happen to have that.
So with that being said, council, any other comments at this time? Okay.
And Reyes, just to make sure, this $5 million is shared amongst all the users?
REYES: Kevin?
LARSON: So if it's related to the wastewater plant, then yes, it would be partnershipbased. I do want to add that that's the annual aggregate, and we're capping that at the
five million, because that's the maximum allowable per year for one JOC contract. The
piggyback did give them a larger aggregate with the city of Scottsdale, but we're only
going up to the one $5 million aggregate for everything we have going on.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Okay. I'm not seeing any other comments.
Councilmember Gámez, are you good, or do you have questions?
GÁMEZ: Move for approval.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: All right. We have a motion by Councilmember Gámez to approve
this item two.
LABORIN: Second.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Do I have a second? Okay. I have a second from Councilmember
Laborin. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.
DAVIS: Aye.
ERIVES: Aye.
LABORIN: Aye.
MENDOZA: Aye.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Aye.
GÁMEZ: Aye.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: All right. No opposition. So congratulations to both of you.
LARSON: Thank you.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: You both get to pass your item unanimously, so congratulations.
It's a good day.
LARSON: Thank you very much.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: We're going to move on to item number three, which is approve
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or deny payment of 2,524,592 to the Arizona Department of Transportation for the
city's construction contribution and construction overage for the Tolleson Pedestrian
Bridge System over Van Buren Street at 96th Avenue, pursuant to the
Intergovernmental Agreement previously approved by Resolution Number 2593.
Development Services Director Earp, you have the floor, sir.
EARP: Thank you, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and members of the council. As stated, this is the
overages. This is what the cost came in at. It's already in the budget that was approved
for July 1. We're just coming forth for approval.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: We've had in-depth conversations about the need and importance
of building this bridge. This is the next logical step to make sure that we keep the ball
rolling on our end, and we keep this project on a respectable timeline, and we're able to
do it in the most apropos time, which is probably the summertime. So with that being
said, I will entertain a motion or take any questions at this time from council.
ERIVES: Motion.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: We have a motion from Councilmember Erives. We have a second
from Councilmember Laborin. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.
DAVIS: Aye.
ERIVES: Aye.
LABORIN: Aye.
MENDOZA: Aye.
GÁMEZ: Aye.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Aye.
All those opposed? Not hearing any. Thank you very much.
EARP: Thank you.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Motion passes unanimously. Okay. We're going to have a work
study presentation.
Does anybody need to go to take a break at this point? Not seeing any. Okay.
We're going to move on to item J. We're studying presentations for discussion. We're
going to begin with our employee resource department update.
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Deputy City Manager Jackson?
JACKSON: Okay. Good evening, Mr. Mayor and members of council. It's a pleasure to
stand before you this evening, just to give you a brief update on the employee resources
department; and then following this, it will be the information technology department.
So each year, what we do in our department is we come up with a theme. I'm a big
themey person. So our theme for fiscal year 2026 -- okay. It's not showing.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Isn't it good that IT's coming to help?
JACKSON: Yes, yes. It's a new remote. It's a new remote. Thank you. All right. Great.
So FY 26 theme was transforming the employee experience through automation,
engagement, and a bold future, a strategic approach to innovation, efficiency, and
workforce excellence. So with this theme, we had multiple goals. And so what I decided
to do is just present to you the three main goals that we did, but we had other goals and
accomplishments. What this theme impacts would be our technology improvement,
employee engagement and community preparedness, and compensation strategy and
workforce retention.
So what does this mean? Starting with technology and process improvements, our main
objective was to maximize UKG Ready capabilities following full implementation to
enhance operational efficiency and workforce strategy. Between last year and this year,
we migrated over to a better HRIS system that's going to enable the future of Tolleson
to utilize this product for a long length of time. We have a lot of complicated benefit
codes, compensation codes. As you know, we have public safety, and we're growing.
We have an aquatic center coming online. So we wanted to make sure that we have a
really sound, robust product that can take us into the future.
We've been able to accomplish Phase 1, which meant we have integrated -- not only do
we have payroll live, but we also integrated a lot of our benefits. And what that means
is we have file feeds that are going out to the carriers. So we do not have to do this as a
manual process anymore. So we have our benefits such as our vision plan, our medical
dental plan, life insurance plan, health equity and TASC. These programs are now file
fed over to the carriers each week.
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Another great enhancement, which we've never -- yes? TASC is the company that has
our FSA and Cobra. They manage that for us. And the other programs -- which this will
be the first time ever we will be having automated file feeds for our pension system,
and nationwide. And so this is going to help make it more efficient for our payroll and
our finance department be able communicate that information over to those carriers.
Phase 2 of our project is our applicant tracking, performance management, and
compensation. We implemented those portions in July, and it's making us more
efficient. So this whole platform, we could use it full cycle for the employee, from the
onboarding to the retirement. So we're planning on using the whole system.
How this is going to impact us is it will improve our payroll and benefits processing,
streamline onboarding and performance management processes, and reduce reliance
on manual administrative workflows. My team is so happy that they don't have to go to
each carrier website to add a new employee in with their benefits, so it's making our
lives a lot easier. And the council alignment to this is a Smart Cities. We're modernizing
the internal systems through enterprise and HR technology integration and automation.
So Smart Cities is where we're impacting that.
One of our other goals was dealing with employee engagement and preparedness. So
our objective was to expand employee development and organizational preparedness
through city-sponsored training opportunities. Now, part of our vision statement is
making sure that we have professional development opportunities for employees. But I
would like to lean on the preparedness aspect of this goal for this evening. We made
sure that, through our partnerships with Red Cross, we now have on-site certified Red
Cross facilitators for first aid CPR. And in addition our fire department -- kudos to them.
They stepped up to say that, hey, we would love to be instructors, not only for the
employees but for the entire community.
So we are a training center for them now, and they'll be able to give certifications out to
the public. Currently, to date, we have a little bit more than 107, but by the time I did
this slide, we had 107 employees who were actively first aid, CPR certified, and AED,
which is great. And then we're going to continue on our other leadership professional
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development that we do have goals for.
So how does this impact? It not only expanded our certification opportunities, it
established additional certified instructors, and continued leadership. And the impact is
strengthening emergency preparedness and employee preparedness, built in internal
capacity for ongoing first aid and CPR training, and expanded leadership and
professional development opportunities. And so the alignment to this is emergency
preparedness, and we're strengthening employee capacity to respond effectively to
emergencies.
And our next goal was the compensation strategy and workforce retention. And so the
objective for this particular goal is to modernize the city's compensation and
performance management framework to ensure market competitiveness, workforce
retention, and long-term fiscal sustainability. So with this particular goal, I'm going to
lean in on the compensation strategy. Taking some feedback from our leadership team
and our employees, we decided to enhance our compensation system. So we
dismantled the whole quadrant system. And in addition to that, we did have budgeted
dollars for last year to do a compensation study; but we had to roll that over because
we were so enthralled with the UKG project.
So with this being said, we are embarking on our new compensation study. That project
has kicked off. We have a third-party facilitator that's going to come in and meet with
our leadership team, and we're going to create what our new vision is going to be for
our compensation moving forward. I have been here for 20 years, and yes, it has been
the quadrant system, but we also haven't changed what our vision statement is. Our
vision statement back about 12, 15 years ago was to maintain being 50th percentile,
plus five percent. That is no longer achievable. And so what we'll have this third-party
do is sit down and work with us, and we'll go through a work study, and we will plan out
what our compensation -- new vision is and what our strategy will be.
However, for the goals for last year, the impact was to establish a foundation of
compensation modernization, and we position the city to be better aligned with pay
practices with other market conditions, and we prepared for the redesign of our
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performance management approach. And so those are some of the things that we
touched on with this particular goal. And although there isn't an exact organizational
alignment to your priorities, I created one: supporting workforce stability, market
competitive, and long-term service continuity. So with our goals -- oh, yes?
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: (Indiscernible) I'm sure that with the facilitator, because if it's a
goal that the organization feels it's important enough to mention on a slide, I think it's
important enough for us to sit down and consider how important it is to organization,
and maybe we incorporate that moving forward if council's okay with that.
DAVIS: Yeah.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Okay. Thanks, Wendy.
JACKSON: Some of the goals for FY 27 is a little bit carry over. So the theme for this
fiscal year is operational excellence through data integrity, automation, and employee
engagement. And the three focus areas will be data integrity and compliance,
automation and system optimization, and employee engagement.
Starting with data integrity and compliance audits, we have gone through a season of
audits this last year, and so I'm going to maintain the momentum on that. And the
objective is to strengthen data accuracy, compliance, and accountability through
independent review. As you know, we have not had an insurance broker in probably
about seven or eight years. And I know how important this is for you all. And
sometimes, you know, we would be out networking with people and they'll say, oh, you
know, what does Wendy do? And you know, Reyes will say, oh, she's our broker.
But what I decided to do is I wanted to definitely show value in that, because I take it
very seriously, and I wanted to reinvest into the city. And so as of last week, I passed
the broker's license exam. And then this week, I'll be submitting in the application and
get my fingerprints done so it's official. So you definitely -MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Do us a favor -JACKSON: -- can now say you have it in-house.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: -- don't quit and go become a broker.
JACKSON: No, no, no. Look, I like doing it from this perspective. I'm not, like, a
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salesperson, but I just wanted to make sure I had the knowledge to be able to maintain
the programs that we do have.
So with that all being said, I know that we want to maintain very rich benefits, and so I
started thinking out the box of what we can do to help maintain it. Some of the things
that other cities have done is to conduct a third-party independent-dependent eligibility
audit. And what they found -- some of these companies have found that there may
have be -- there may be some benefit dependance on the benefit plan that is not
technically eligible to be on the plan. And they found that there's been a savings of five
to ten percent. So therefore we have started that audit. You'll get more information
that comes out, but a third-party will be ensuring that everyone who's on the plan
should be on the plan.
We're also going to continue our journey with our safety plans citywide. You know, we
had that ADOSH survey, so that will still continue, of course. And then we also will do
an -- I skipped one bullet. I'm sorry. We also will do an internal audit just to ensure our
compensation codes and our payroll codes are accurate, it's taxing correctly. So we'll
make sure we'll do that this year. So the anticipated impact will be improved benefit
and payroll accuracy, reduced financial and compliance risk, strengthen workplace and
safety oversight, and enhance accountability through independent validation. And so
our organizational focus is accountability, compliance, and risk management.
Our next goal for FY 27 is automation and system optimization. I enjoy technology.
That's like my favorite part. But I know that technology can help us be more efficient.
So our objective here is to complete remaining system integrations and expand
automation to improve accuracy, reporting, and efficiency. And some of the planned
activities is to continue on our journey of building out these file feeds that would work
with nationwide deferred comp and our pension systems, because they're not a
hundred percent done yet. And then, of course, finish off implementing the remaining
phases of our software system, which is like our recruiting module, our compensation
module. So there are a few other modules in there.
There's also the training platform that's in there. I have a plan to develop a partnership
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with LinkedIn Learning so that employees -- if they want to help upskill themselves or
take some additional classes, they'll be able to do it within the suite of our new system.
And of course, helping the supervisors and managers with better reporting and
compliance for their departments when it comes to timekeeping. So the anticipated
impact would be improved payroll and benefits data accuracy, reduced manual data
entry and reconciliation, strengthened reporting and audit readiness, and expand
workforce analytics capability. And the council priority alignment is Smart Cities
Initiative. What we're doing is modernizing internal operations through system
integration -- excuse me -- automation, and data-driven technology.
And the next major goal is employee engagement. The objective is going to be to
strengthen employee engagement through professional development, recognition, and
organizational initiatives. Some planned activities are going to be continue professional
development and leadership development opportunities, enhanced employee
recognition initiatives. We're going to continue to use the Gallup to guide some
engagement strategies. We have done a Gallup study for the last two years. Part of our
happiness advantage, our Orange Frog Workshop that we give, we do talk about the
significance of the Gallup studies and how high performing organizations tend to be
happier.
And so with the Gallup Q12, we're able to make those assessments, and so we're going
into our third cycle with that. And the anticipated impact is support employee
development and retention, strengthen organizational culture, promote an engaged and
effective workforce. And the council priority alignment kind of created this one here.
It's core values in action. So we're supporting a strong, engaged, and service-focused
workforce.
So speaking of our workforce, I just wanted to give you a little bit of data. I don't have a
slide on this, but it's something I thought I should bring. As of today, our workforce
comprises of 59 percent Hispanic or Latino population. In addition, we have 42 percent
females. Our average tenure -- you're going to see this one decrease. Once we open up
the aquatic center, hiring on new employees, that would decrease. But our average
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tenure at this time is 8.06 years.
And speaking of employment, we are definitely a desired place to work. Our public
affairs department did an analysis on our pages, how many people visit our pages. And
our employee resources page, we got over 16,000 hits this last year, and we received
over 4,200 applications. So we definitely look a desired place to work. And most of our
sources from applicants are just coming straight to our website. They just visit our
website. That's where we're getting most of our candidates. So that concludes the first
part of our presentation. I don't know if you have any questions, comments?
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Technology is something that we have to always be in the
business of finding out the best way to employ it for the benefit of our employees and
our community. And I'm glad to hear, number one, that you're going to be sticking
around even though you got your broker's license. Congratulations on that. I'm glad to
hear that technology is core to what we do. From a human resources perspective, it can
streamline a lot of functions, and I think it's absolutely necessary. And the reality is,
your HR restriction is not that big. So the more efficiency you can find within your
operation, the better it is for every member of this organization.
So I want to thank you for taking the time to put the presentation together; but more
importantly, thank you for taking the time to put everything you have put together in
place. So you put us in a place of success not only in 2026, but prepare us for 2027.
Well done, Wendy. Thank you.
DAVIS: Councilmembers?
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Any comment from council? Yes, Vice Mayor?
DAVIS: I'll just say keep up the great work. Thank you for all you do.
ERIVES: I just wanted to add on the -- I appreciate how you broke down from your
objectives, what you're doing. And then, I love how you tie in always -- and that's
through all the presentations -- is our advancement in the goals that we have as a
council. I love how those always incorporate. And I love hearing how you couldn't find
one, so you created one. So that's something we -- like you were mentioning, Mayor,
we need to hear that. What is our staff saying? So I appreciate that. Thank you.
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MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Okay. Thank you very much.
JACKSON: All right. So this next presentation -MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: We're going to go to IT now? Okay. Let's take a quick break. Not
a recess, just a quick break from the presentation. You ain't got to go far. I'm going to
call you right back up. I know the feeling of getting off work late. Bless you five times.
Bless you. I know the feeling of getting home, you know, having to get home late.
You're hungry, your family's waiting for you, and you're tired. You probably had to drive
through traffic if you drove all the way from 16th Street in Thomas, where the Phoenix
Children's Hospital is at.
So I wanted to take the time to, first of all, call Sabrina up here. Sabrina, this is Vivian's
mom.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER 1: Oh, she's cute. Oh, that's cute.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Yes. We went to school together. Yes. She was always taller than
me until now, because I'm up here. But this is basically the write-up that we did on
Viviana. Very well deserved. And I think -- there's a lot of things that need to be said, I
think. And I'm not going to say too much about Viviana, because she's in Texas, and you
know, God bless her, and I hope the best for her. But some of the characteristics that
Viviana, I've seen, display is she's a very respectful young lady. I've never heard one bad
thing come out of her mouth. Just very down to earth, very respectful. Shakes your
hand, introduces herself. And it doesn't matter if you're a multimillionaire or if you're a
guy on the street; she just respects everybody. She's very resilient.
You guys may not know this, but she had a serious injury last year which pretty much
canceled her season. And when you're playing at that caliber of game where you're
competing for the national championship, that could be heartbreaking. It could be very
stressful and quite frankly, depressing, I would assume. And she shook it off, came
back, and starting shortstop national champions this year, so she's very resilient. But I
think she also was very much, committed to reinvesting her skills. She's already done a
couple of items here, camps here for local softball programs, including Tolleson High
School.
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So her commitment to community is, hands down, going to be there moving forward,
just knowing who she is. But I mentioned those things because those things you don't
learn on the softball field, those things you learn at home. And I think a lot of times, we
don't stop and think the people behind the people, right? And Viviana comes from
great stock. I mean, the Jones stock and the Martinez stock, they have great roots. You
know, some of those are here in Tolleson, some of those came from the Dominican
Republic, but they're great people.
And when you see an outcome of a child that is that great, and that loving, and that
inspiring, you ask yourself, how did that kid ever become who she is? Well, great
parents, that's how they become. So great job to you raising a wonderful child, multiple
children. And welcome to Tolleson again. You're always welcome here.
So we don't do -- we don't do key to the cities here. That's so 1980s, right? So what we
did is we took our Tolleson flag -- and Randy actually came up with this a while back,
and he created a nice wooden box with a glass case so people can see our flag. And
then, in case she doesn't know or anybody doesn't know what her flag really stands for,
in the back, it's the actual interpretation of all the major items on here. So we would
love for Viviana and your family to have this display, hopefully in a prominent location.
And again, congratulations for, you know, raising such a great kid.
Congratulations to Viviana, to you and your husband, and to the entire family. You guys
have done an amazing job. And so we just want to let you guys know we're very, very
proud of her and everything you guys have accomplished.
SABRINA MARTINEZ: Thank you. (Indiscernible). You know, I grew up here, and we
always said (indiscernible) because we moved our family, and we stayed in the Tolleson
District. We were on the outskirts, but we remained here, and I (indiscernible)
memories. And whenever she was in high school or you know, (indiscernible), other
high schools were like (indiscernible). I go, now she's in (indiscernible). That's where
she's from, and that's where I grew up.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: And did she play ever. Her freshman year -- her freshman year,
how many home runs did she hit her freshman year?
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SABRINA MARTINEZ: (Indiscernible).
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: 17 or 18. They stopped pitching to her the rest of her high school
career because they knew what was going to happen. That's how good she was. But I
think the amazing part is Tolleson High School hadn't been to the playoffs since 2000,
which is probably when Viviana was born. And here she is in high school, and they go
back and they get to go play against your Pinnacles and your East Valley schools and
take it to them. I mean, they did an awesome run. And so it took almost 18 years for
them to go from the playoffs -- making it back to the playoffs. And I got to see Viviana
was very core to that success of that team, and we're very proud of her.
We're very proud of all you guys. So thank you for coming out. I know you just got off
of work, probably starving. So if you want a water, we have a water. Yeah. Take it. Go
for it. Yeah. But thanks again, okay? Thank you. Come on up here. Let's take a picture.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER 2: We love how (indiscernible).
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: She does. Yeah.
SABRINA MARTINEZ: I tell her to, like, you know -- yeah.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Thank you. Thanks again. I know you got to get home, but thank
you very much. And her mom still lives in Tolleson off of 96th Avenue?
SABRINA MARTINEZ: (Indiscernible).
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: 95th Avenue. Yeah. Yeah. And if you ever get a chance to see her
on TV, when she's up to bat, they'll say, Viviana Martinez from Tolleson, Arizona. And
you get to pick where they announce it from. So the fact that she picked our
community to announce like that is awesome. So drive safe. Thanks again. Say hi to
Victor.
Okay, Wendy. You're back on.
JACKSON: Back on.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Second part information technology department update, City
Manager Jackson -- Deputy City Manager.
JACKSON: So we have our FY 2026 accomplishments and our goals. And I'm going to
share this presentation with Richard Tso, who's our finance -- I'm sorry, our IT manager.
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IT manager, sorry. But first, I would like to take us down a memory lane where we came
from. So when I started here 20 years ago, we had only one person working in our IT
department. Yes. I'm going into my 21st cycle evolution. And -MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Congratulations.
JACKSON: -- serving 140 employees. And I'll never forget -- and I'll say this story here. I
never forget when I said I want a laptop, and I was like, what, the laptop? Like, that was
like, unheard of at that point in time. And emails wasn't even used as robust as we're
using it today. But as of today, we have seven full-time employees working in our
department, and they're serving 306 full-time employees here at the city. Once our IT
director retired, I went ahead and I met with the team, and we talked about the
organizational structure. We have hired so many talented individuals on our team that
they were not classed correctly, meaning they were working out of class.
We hired these individuals who brought so much breadth and depth in the IT realm that
I went ahead and, working with Richard, we created a different type of structure. And
so now, we have tier one employees who will serve as our desk top level one support.
So employees call in or they get an email, they'll be the first in line. And then we have
individuals who are more administrators who handle tier two and tier three type calls,
the more advanced calls. And then, of course, then we will have two more senior
system administrators, which one is handling securities and the other one is going to be
handling more of the network.
But before we get into this presentation, I want to talk a little bit about what IT does
because everybody thinks it's just like, okay, they plug a cable in, they turn the
computer on. No. They do so much more. I'm finding that out every day: IT
infrastructure; they do cybersecurity; end-user support; business applications; your cell
phones, mobile technology; technology projects and innovation; technology governance
and administration; security and audiovisual technology. So those are some of the big
buckets of what this group handles for us. Now, you're probably thinking about oh well
how many calls do they get or how many tickets do they resolve? I do have a three-year
comparison here.
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Back in '24, we had over 5,000 tickets that came in that the department handled, and
they did not have seven people back then. And then, in FY 25, they had slightly over
4,000. And you're probably like, why is there a dip? They did some changes to kind of
help with the ticket flow. I'll give you one example. And I was the one who noticed it
the most, because on a Monday, I would come into work, and I put in my password
incorrectly. Well, they increased the amount of times you can put it in wrong. So we
went from three to five. That created a tremendous dip. And then, last fiscal year, we
had just over 5,000 tickets.
And in terms of the managed devices, how many devices are out there, whether
someone has two laptops or a cell phone? We have 351 managed devices. So taking
what -- because I was not a part of the IT department at the time, looking at all of the
projects that they got completed in the last fiscal year, I was able to put it into three big
buckets. So the first goal for last year was strengthening cybersecurity. And what that
meant is implementing multiple cybersecurity initiatives to improve the city's security
posture and protect critical systems. So I'm going to have Richard talk a little bit about a
couple of the projects that were completed.
TSO: Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, council members. Just some of the things I just
want to go over, mainly the cybersecurity stuff, which is Cisco Umbrella, Check Point
email security. Cisco Umbrella is mainly used for our websites, going to malicious
websites. That's what kind of makes sure we're safe. We're only surfing certain
websites that we're allowed to visit. It also flags -- if somebody's going to a malicious
site, it notifies us to let us know so we can at least let them know, you know, what's
going on and not to go there. That's kind of what that is.
Check Point email security is basically -- emails that come through, it checks to make
sure that there's no malicious attachments or links within the email. So it scans all that
information, gives us a good insight on what emails are coming across that we can even
block for future references and stuff. Yeah. Go ahead.
JACKSON: And the council priority that that impacts is the emergency preparedness and
Smart City initiatives and the metrics -- I don't know if you want to talk about the
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metrics.
TSO: Yes. This one is -- it falls along the lines of cybersecurity as well. The graph there
is just kind of letting you know what windows devices, servers are under compliance as
far as updates. The very top one, compliance pending restart, just kind of lets us know
that these devices have the updates installed, but it needs to restart in order to fully get
the update involved. Noncompliant is just -- the update can't install until it actually
restarts and then it's secure after that. We do have one that says noncompliant. Those
are for our older devices, older servers that can't get updates. We're in the process of
getting those off of our networks, and it just takes a little bit of time to find them.
JACKSON: So if you get an update on your laptops, please press the button. The other
goal is modernizing infrastructure, which is modernized technology infrastructure to
improve reliability, resiliency and operational efficiency. And some of those projects
are -TSO: Just to pick a couple of these on here, Windows 11, as I mentioned, we're trying to
get rid of our old systems that can't be updated. We went from Windows 10 to
Windows 11. We did a whole upgrade last year, and we replaced somewhere around 50
computers, I believe it was. So those are all currently on Windows 11. There's still a few
hanging out there that are Windows 10 that we're going to try to get to this year.
OneDrive migration was a big one that took all our documents, pictures, your desktop, it
puts it all to OneDrive, which makes it a lot easier for us. When you get a new
computer, you sign into OneDrive, all that comes back down to your desktop, your
documents. It just moves all the stuff over instantaneously. So that was a really big one
there. I think that's it. Yeah.
JACKSON: And the council priority that it impacts is Smart Cities initiative and
emergency preparedness. And our metrics, I ask them for all the projects. Now we're
not talking about the tickets that comes into the department; all the projects that
they've handled over that last fiscal year. And they handled over 80 technology
projects. So it's amazing how this small group can do that for all of the departments.
The next goal is enhancing public safety and business operations, which is implemented
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technology solutions that improve public safety, customer service, and operational
effectiveness. And some of the projects -TSO: Some of the projects on this one MDC deployments, that's for PD. We got some
new devices that came in, and we replaced a lot of those that were not doing so well.
So we upgraded all those devices. In-car cameras, that's the flock cameras that went in.
We worked with flock to get all that stuff installed on each of the patrol cars. Tyler
licensing is for the buildings department. That was a big one, because that allows them
to do permits and licensing through Tyler. Yeah. That's about it.
JACKSON: And the council priority is Smart City initiatives again, and emergency
preparedness. And again, they supported over 5,000 tickets coming into the
department, as well as over 80 projects that was completed over the fiscal year. So
coming into the department, I include IT as HR. We're, like, together. We're one big
team now. I thought it would be good for the organization to understand a little bit
about what our needs were.
So what we did was -- I met with the most two senior people in the department, which
is Richard Tso and Josh Doolittle. And we had a planning session where we did a SWOT
analysis, just so we can identify what our strengths are in our city, what our weaknesses
are, some opportunities, and then definitely our threats. And with that, we're able to
create a three-year roadmap. So we have something now to follow for the next three
years. And here's some of the priorities that we have lined up. So the first one is
strengthen cybersecurity. The outcomes will be protect city systems, data, and
operations through layered security monitoring and compliance. The next one is
technology, a life cycle management.
Did you want to add anything about security, (indiscernible) the first one?
TSO: Yeah, sure.
JACKSON: Yeah. Go ahead.
TSO: Yeah. A lot of the cybersecurity stuff -- that's a big one going forward. A lot of
companies are really focusing on that nowadays. We're starting to move towards what
they call a sim, which monitors everything and sees if something unusual is going on
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with a certain account. It'll notify us if anything weird is happening. So a lot of that,
coming this fiscal year, is what we're going to start focusing more on, as well as updating
our firewalls and certain things like that. Yeah.
JACKSON: Another priority will be technology life cycle management, establish a
strategic asset refresh program to ensure technology remains secure, reliable, and
supportable. And so what we are going to do is compile -- we're not sure if we're going
to use a separate software or we're going to use spreadsheets, but we want to be able
to click a button and say, at any particular time, this is how many computers are due for
refresh for the budget year to make sure that we're getting more firm numbers for our
budget and to be more fiscally responsible.
The next priority is modernize infrastructure, replace aging infrastructure, and expand
resilient cloud and enterprise technologies.
TSO: Yes. That has to deal with a lot of things. With our audio-visual stuff comes
modernizing. We have some things that are outdated at different locations. We tested
out new products, and one of those is in Reyes's office for this TV audio-visual stuff, and
that's been working out really great.
JACKSON: The next one is advance digital government, increased automation, digital
workflows, SharePoint, self-service capabilities. We now are trying to help employees
be able to obtain data from each department, so we're building up our SharePoint site.
And even some departments are way far advanced, like our library department. Mandy
Carrico, she creates workflows that kind of helps her staff be able to maintain all the
visitors that are coming into the library system.
Next one is leverage artificial intelligence. This is my favorite. Leverage artificial
intelligence, evaluate AI solutions that improves efficiency, reporting, decision-making
while making strong governance. Every department wants to use artificial intelligence,
and we want to be able to support their needs, but we want to make sure that our
infrastructure is safe. And so in a planning session that I had with the entire IT
department, we decided that having an AI governance committee would be best served,
and which then we can go forward and start creating some of these policies and
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governance on how we're going to embrace AI here.
You probably will hear that I'm going to take a certification on this because, like, I don't
know much about it, but I'm trying to bring some more knowledge back to the city. And
then, develop the workforce, strengthen staff capacities through training, cross training,
succession planning, and strategic recruitment. With our new model that we have
within the department on our staffing, how we have the positions classed is creating
that pipeline for success moving forward in the future. So we do have that built in. But
you probably want to know what we have budgeted for this fiscal year. So let's talk
about that.
So our budgeted activities will impact your priority of emergency preparedness and
Smart Cities initiatives. The first one is expansion of the SharePoint intranet to improve
departmental communication. We talked a little bit about that already. So we have
budgeted money set aside for a third-party company to work with each of the
departments to get their SharePoint pages up and running. Conversion of server
infrastructure from VMware to Proxmox to reduce long-term dependency and improve
resiliency. I'm going to turn that over.
TSO: So basically what VMware and Proxmox is is kind of the foundation or the
structure of all our servers. So if you think of a cargo ship, that would be your VMware
or your Proxmox; and all the cargo -- all the little cargos that go onto it are all your
servers, your virtual servers, your virtual computers. So VMware was bought out, and
their maintenance and support went from, like, around 7,000 to just one year is, like,
75,000. So that big jump in price made us want to start looking somewhere else for a
different company, and that's Proxmox, and we'll be moving to them instead. And that's
going to be the same price for maintenance and support, around 7,000 as well.
JACKSON: And then, a modernization and ongoing support of audio-visual systems to
ensure reliable functionality for meetings, presentations, and public engagement
citywide. Okay. So we had a company come in, and they did an assessment on all of our
meeting spaces, our AV equipment, because I'm a big supporter of doing some type of
assessment. And we know where each of the rooms are now. We know the state.
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But what I didn't realize, in the audio-visual world, it takes time for a lot of the products
to come in. So we finally, after a year, got all of the equipment in for this room, because
this room is the first priority room that we're going to take care of, and the company
should be starting a project over the next couple of weeks. So hopefully, we can now
get this room up to standards, and then we'll move on to the next department.
Yes?
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: (Indiscernible).
JACKSON: That's not in IT, but we'll get you an answer, Mayor. We'll get you an answer,
Mayor.
So yes, we are working on those spaces. The next initiative is development of a
comprehensive technology asset inventory with lifecycle tracking. I kind of talked about
that a little bit. We want to be able to at our fingertips, figure out, okay, what servers
do we need to replace, what computers are ready to replace each budget year so then
you'll have the firm numbers. Evaluate artificial intelligence solutions to improve
operational efficiency, reporting, automation, and data-driven decision-making. How
can AI help us know when a system is down? How can AI help some of the departments
run their maintenance equipment? So those are some things that we're going to be
looking at.
Creation and adoption of formal IT policies and procedures. We do have some policies
and procedures, but we want to enhance that and make sure that employees know
where to find them using our SharePoint system. And this last one is a Avigilon door
management project. You did fund that project.
TSO: Yes. So currently, we are using Lenel for this, and we're planning on upgrading to
Avigilon. That involves all the different doors, all locations, fire, PD, utilities. It's just a
better system all the way around, gives us better reporting, and easier operating system
that we can work with easier for IT. So it makes it a lot more user friendly for us and
just seems to be a lot better program all the way around.
JACKSON: So I am pleased to say that this is the end of our presentation; but rest
assured that the seven people that we have, they are doing phenomenal work for our
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city, a city our size, to be able to do what we're doing. So thank you for your time. And I
don't know if you have any questions?
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: I just have a comment; but before I give my comment, I will open
it up to council if you all have comments.
Yes, Councilwoman Erives?
ERIVES: Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Jackson and Mr. Tso. I was going to say Richard.
Because that's very informative, right. Even the statistics that you had, you gave us with
regards to our staff. I'm not an expert in technology, and it feels like I get a device, and
then pretty soon, poof, it's outdated. So when you're talking about how quickly these,
you know -- equipment is moving, and how fast technology is advancing, and what used
to be this size can now be shrunk into this size, and our phones and all that. So my
question is, as we're updating, what are we doing with the old recycled or outdated
stuff?
TSO: Yeah. So most of the stuff that we have, especially Windows 10 devices, you can't
go to the next version, so it's pretty much just obsolete. So that was the biggest thing
that I was afraid of. If somebody goes to auction, buys all our stuff, and then realizes
that there's nothing you can do with it, and it ends up in a landfill or something. So we
did go out and find a company that will actually pick up all our old stuff and recycle
anything they can use; and if they can reuse it to rebuild it on something else, they'll
give us a refund on that. It's not much, but it is a little something. But yes, we do have a
company that picks them up. Yeah.
ERIVES: That's awesome. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Vice Mayor?
ERIVES: And thank you again for the presentation.
DAVIS: Thank you for the presentation. Great information. I'm glad to hear that you
now have a lifecycle plan for devices. You know, that's huge. It's a great way to plan
and to budget, because technology does become obsolete so quickly. I was also happy
to hear, you know, that you are leaning into using AI as an organization. I think, you
know, a lot of people are like, AI is going to take my job. No, it's going to replace you
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with somebody who knows how to use AI. So I'm glad we're leaning into that.
But there are some serious security, you know, issues there, so I'm happy to hear that
you guys are looking at that. I think the biggest threat to really any government
organization is probably cybersecurity at this point. You know that you're more likely to
have that type of attack. So the fact that we're being proactive and looking at that stuff,
it makes me -- it'll make me sleep easier at night.
JACKSON: Mr. Mayor, and Vice Mayor, and members of council, we do have one AI
product that we sponsor, and it is ChatGPT. It is an enterprise version, so it is closed off
for the city, so the threat shouldn't be there. And we did do a survey. We had 51 users
at the time when I did the survey; and of that, 40 percent of them reported that they
had significant time savings in doing their role. So we are using it, but there are some
departments that would like to use other types of AI. But we need to have policy, we
need to have a committee, and we then will be able to evaluate if we are able to add
new products on.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: My closing comments are pretty straightforward. When you talk
about the priorities, you think technology, you think innovation, you think efficiencies.
You know, they basically are -- they dovetail into each other. What doesn't dovetail is
emergency preparedness. And so I think emergency preparedness, as the Vice Mayor
alluded to, has become very critical to the success of an organization.
I remember when I first started with the city as a councilmember. I went to a
conference and I met a colleague from the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and he
was telling me that they had just got done with a major scam or whatever they call them
that happened to their city, and it cost them a lot of money to, you know, get it out of
their system. And basically, they had to crash the entire system and start it all over
again. And so you know, old documents were lost and all kinds of stuff. And it was ugly,
and that was -- we're talking back in 2005.
And now we're looking at, you know, I know Reyes and I were having a conversation
about some of the water treatment plants over in Minnesota in particular that were
being targeted for other types of computer-based malware and stuff that shouldn't be
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CITY OF TOLLESON
AUGUST 25, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
happening. So I think emergency preparedness needs to be here. And whether it's new
technology like ChatGPT; or threats from across, you know, other parts of the world; or
even internally, we should always be thinking preventative, because we don't want to
be one of those cities that gets caught up in something.
And I would even state, you know, we need to provide some training for those
computer users to be able to identify phishing schemes and other types of malware that
exist, and you know, looking at emails and making sure that they make sense. And they
didn't put in a little hyphen or something and you know, go through annual training so
that, whatever the new scam is, all of our employees are fully aware this is what they're
trying now. If you see it, report it, don't click on it, that kind of stuff. But I'm really -- I
guess my point is I'm really happy to see that we're being extremely proactive when it
comes to that. You guys sent a flier this way. It was over there for the longest time.
JACKSON: Mayor and council, we're very fortunate. We do have one -- we have two
experts in cybersecurity on our team, but we have one person who that's his primary
focus, and he's in the back of the room, Matteo (ph.). And so he really does -- he cranks
out reports, he let us know where we are, and he does warn us when we have issues -- if
we have any issues.
Another thing is we do give employees training on just the basics of what to watch for.
So they have to take an annual refresher, and that keeps us certified for CGIS, for police.
But we do have certain things in place. And also, we just formed a partnership with the
military. They're going to be testing our resiliency for us, and so that's something
exciting that we have coming down the pike. So they're doing -- these seven people are
doing as much as they can to just keep us safe.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Awesome. Thank you very much. Very good presentation. Thank
you very much.
Okay. We're going to -- I guess I'm just supposed to read this. Man, I really want to use
this gavel to kill this fly right now, but I'm going to -- I'm going to keep myself from
allowing my fly rage to take over and start smashing this desk. But just so you guys
know, the Tolleson Public Library will be closed Wednesday, October 21st through
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CITY OF TOLLESON
AUGUST 25, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Friday, October 23rd, 2026 to accommodate the replacement of furniture throughout
the entire facility.
So anything else you'd like to add to that?
CARRICO: Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of council. Yes, we'll be closed
doing a completely new furniture refresh, open to the public on the following Saturday
with all new furniture. We will be keeping open passport services, and we will be
keeping open access to the collection through curbside so that people are not without
their items through that closure.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Yes, Vice Mayor?
DAVIS: Just as a reminder, how many average daily visitors do you have in the library?
CARRICO: Through the year, about 400; through the summer, it goes up to six or seven,
depending on what day is the program day.
DAVIS: (Indiscernible) definitely needs new furniture.
CARRICO: Oh, they've been using that furniture. Yeah.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: All right. Well, thank you for that. So that was a majority of our
agenda. I don't think we have any items following.
MEDRANO: I have one -- I have one comment, sir.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Yes, (indiscernible)?
MEDRANO: I guess two. I think we're going to need a new library eventually. Library
number two, I don't know. I want to make sure that council is aware, especially for
those that attended Arizona State University, that we have welcomed our newest
Marvin Andrews fellow, Erin Sweeney, sitting back there. She is currently with the
Economic Development Department, I believe, Erin, right? So as you know, economic
development is the engine that drives everything and fuels everything that we -- all the
services we offer.
Erin is in -- she's part of our first program with Marvin Andrews, but is our second
intern -- Melissa was the first -- because we are in a part of a pilot program with the
town of Paradise Valley. Erin started there last year, and Melissa started with us; now
Melissa's there, and now Erin with us, so we're very happy to have her. And Melissa, for
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CITY OF TOLLESON
AUGUST 25, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
those that don't know, did get a part-time job with us, so she's up front on occasion. So
it's good that we get to have both of you, but Erin is outstanding. And once you talk to
her, you're going to realize she's a genius who just happened to choose to go to ASU. So
welcome, Erin.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Yes, Erin. Welcome.
MEDRANO: We're very happy to have you, Erin.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Do me a favor and whip Jason into shape over there. Show him
what a Sundevil does.
MEDRANO: Told you. Yeah. You better start. Thank you, Mayor, members of council.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Not starting any fights today. Anything else, Reyes, to add to the
good of the order?
MEDRANO: No, sir. I wanted to make sure you knew who that young lady was back
there, and she's already making a huge impact.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: All right. We're going to convene into executive session. I need a
motion to go into executive session.
DAVIS: Motion to go into executive.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Okay. We have a motion by Vice Mayor. We have a second by
Councilmember Laborin. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.
DAVIS: Aye.
ERIVES: Aye.
LABORIN: Aye.
MENDOZA: Aye.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Aye.
GÁMEZ: Aye.
MAYOR RODRIGUEZ: Excellent. It's been approved. Nobody involved in the executive
session has to stay here, so you're free to go and enjoy the rest of your evening. Thank
you for coming today. And the only thing we're going to do is, after the executive
session is done, we're going to open the doors, we're going to adjourn, and go home.
So thank you very much for your attendance. Have yourself a wonderful evening.
Page 43 of 44
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CITY OF TOLLESON
AUGUST 25, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED:
____________________________________
JUAN F. RODRIGUEZ, MAYOR
ATTEST:
____________________________________
CRYSTAL ZAMORA, CITY CLERK
CERTIFICATION
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING MINUTES ARE A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF
THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TOLLESON,
ARIZONA, HELD ON AUGUST 25, 2026. I FURTHER CERTIFY THAT THE MEETING WAS DULY
CALLED AND HELD, AND THAT A QUORUM WAS PRESENT.
____________________________________
CRYSTAL ZAMORA, CITY CLERK
Page 44 of 44
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Item Number: H.2.
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
SUBJECT:
MEETING DATE:
TO:
FROM:
REVIEWED:
Claims and Bills Report for the period of August 19, 2026 to September 1, 2026.
September 8, 2026
Mayor and Council
Kevin Artz, Chief Financial Officer
Reyes Medrano, Jr., City Manager
PURPOSE:
The Finance Department is requesting the approval of Claims and Bills Report for the period of August 19, 2026
to September 1, 2026.
BACKGROUND:
Each Council Meeting, the Finance Department shall prepare a list of all claims paid by the City. The list shall be
reviewed and approved when required by the Council, and a copy of it shall be included in the minutes.
DISCUSSION:
The Claims and Bills Report includes vendor payments of $10,000 or more for the period noted above.
BUDGET IMPACT:
This item has no additional budget impact.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council approve the Claims and Bills Report.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
Page 73 of 79
City of Tolleson
Checks Recorded
Check Dates: August 19, 2026 to September 1, 2026
PAYMENTS OVER $10,000
VENDOR NAME
AMOUNT
CHECK NUMBER
CHECK DATE
STATE OF ARIZONA
$2,524,592.00
188488
8/28/2026
WASTE CONNECTIONS OF ARIZONA
$27,772.12
188476
8/26/2026
FIRETROL PROTECTION SYSTEMS INC
$14,645.12
188448
8/26/2026
DIANA GREGORY OUTREACH SERVICES
$13,125.00
188422
8/27/2026
Page 74 of 79
Item Number: H.3.
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
SUBJECT:
MEETING DATE:
TO:
FROM:
REVIEWED:
First Amendment to the Purchase Contract with Schulte Real Estate Management Corp.
- Extension of Due Diligence Period
September 8, 2026
Mayor and Council
Jason Earp, Development Services Director
Reyes Medrano, Jr., City Manager
PURPOSE:
The Development Services Department is requesting approval of the First Amendment to the Purchase Contract
between the City of Tolleson and Schulte Real Estate Management Corp. for the City-owned property located
at the northeast corner of 91st Avenue and Van Buren Street, identified as Maricopa County Assessor Parcel
No. 102-48-263, and authorization for the City Manager to execute and deliver the Amendment.
BACKGROUND:
On February 24, 2026, the Mayor and Council adopted Resolution No. 2634 authorizing the sale of
approximately five acres of City-owned property at the northeast corner of 91st Avenue and Van Buren Street
to Schulte Real Estate Management Corp. for $1,000,000. The Purchase Contract requires the Buyer to enter
into a minimum 15-year lease with a grocery store containing at least 30,000 square feet of retail space. Section
7 of the Purchase Contract provides the Buyer with a nine-month (270-day) Due Diligence Period to complete
the grocery store lease and submit all permits for construction.
DISCUSSION:
The Buyer has requested an additional nine-month (270-day) Due Diligence Period to continue its work to
complete the grocery store lease and submit all permits for construction. The First Amendment provides that
the extended Due Diligence Period begins on September 8, 2026 and ends on June 5, 2027. Except for this
extension, the Purchase Contract remains unchanged and in full force and effect. Under the Purchase Contract,
closing is scheduled to occur 45 days after the end of the Due Diligence Period, unless otherwise extended or
agreed to by the parties.
BUDGET IMPACT:
There is no direct budget impact associated with approval of the First Amendment. The purchase price remains
$1,000,000. The extension delays the anticipated closing and the City's receipt of sale proceeds.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the First Amendment to the Purchase Contract between the City of Tolleson and
Schulte Real Estate Management Corp. extending the Buyer's Due Diligence Period for an additional nine
months (270 days), beginning September 8, 2026 and ending June 5, 2027, and authorization for the City
Manager to execute and deliver the Amendment.
Page 75 of 79
ATTACHMENTS:
1.
Res 2634 Addendum - First Amendment to Schulte Real Estate Management Purchase Contract - NEC of
91st Ave. and Van Buren St., APN 102-48-263 09 08 26
Page 76 of 79
WHEN RECORDED, RETURN TO:
City of Tolleson
City Clerk
9055 West Van Buren Street
Tolleson, Arizona 85353
FIRST AMENDMENT TO PURCHASE CONTRACT
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is made and
dated as of August 3, 2026 (“Amendment Effective Date”), by and between Schulte Real Estate
Management Corp., a Delaware corporation, and it successors, assigns or designees (“Buyer”), and City
of Tolleson, an Arizona municipal corporation (“Seller”).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, Seller and Buyer are parties to that certain Purchase Contract dated February 24,2026
(the “Existing Agreement”) concerning the purchase and sale of certain Property located at the northeast
corner of 91st Avenue and Van Buren Street in Tolleson, Arizona, identified as Maricopa County Assessor
Parcel No. 102-48-263 and more particularly described in the Existing Agreement (the "Property").
WHEREAS, Seller and Buyer desire to amend the Existing Agreement on the terms and conditions
set forth herein.
AGREEMENT:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants of the parties
hereinafter expressed, it is hereby agreed as follows:
1.
Recitals; Defined Terms; Exhibits. The foregoing recitals are true and correct statements
of fact and are incorporated into this Amendment by this reference, including the definitions set forth
therein. Terms capitalized in this Amendment, but not otherwise defined herein, have the meanings given
to them in the Existing Agreement. The “Agreement” is the Existing Agreement as amended by this
Amendment.
2.
Due Diligence Period. Section 7 of the Existing Agreement is hereby amended to provide
that the Buyer’s due diligence period of nine (9) months (270 days) (the “Due Diligence Period”) shall be
extended for an additional nine (9) months (270 days) starting on August 3, 2026 and ending April 30,
2027.
Miscellaneous.
3.
(a)
Effect of Amendment. Except as amended by this Amendment, the Existing Agreement
remains effective in accordance with its terms. The terms of this Amendment will
control over any conflicts between it and the terms of the Existing Agreement. Seller
and Buyer hereby acknowledge and agree that the Agreement is ratified and in full force
and effect.
1
201882008.1
Page 77 of 79
(b)
Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in two or more identical counterparts,
and a facsimile or electronic transmission shall be binding on the party or parties whose
signatures appear thereon. If so executed, each of such counterparts is to be deemed
an original for all purposes, and all such counterparts shall, collectively, constitute one
amendment, but in making proof of this Amendment, it shall not be necessary to
produce or account for more than one such counterpart.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of the Amendment
Effective Date.
SELLER:
CITY OF TOLLESON, an Arizona corporation
By:
Name: Reyes Medrano, Jr.
Its: City Manager
ATTEST:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________________________
Crystal Zamora, City Clerk
______________________________________
Justin Pierce, City Attorney
BUYER:
SCHULTE REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT CORP.,
a Delaware corporation
By:
Name: Matthias Schruff
Its: President
2
201882008.1
Page 78 of 79
Item Number: I.1.
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
SUBJECT:
MEETING DATE:
TO:
FROM:
REVIEWED:
Tolleson Alliance Against Substance Abuse (TAASA) Board Reappointments
September 8, 2026
Mayor and Council
Pilar Sinawi, Deputy City Manager/Chief Government Affairs Officer
Reyes Medrano, Jr., City Manager
PURPOSE:
To discuss and consider the reappointments of Jimmy Davis, Wendi Sears, Marlena Pina, and Kino Flores to the
Board of Directors of the Tolleson Alliance Against Substance Abuse (TAASA) for terms beginning October 1,
2026, and ending October 1, 2028.
BACKGROUND:
On July 8, 2025, the Mayor and City Council adopted Resolution No. 2611, approving TAASA's Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws and authorizing its incorporation as an Arizona nonprofit corporation. TAASA
operates under City oversight and addresses substance abuse through education, prevention, advocacy,
community outreach, and programs that promote the health and welfare of individuals and families. On July
14, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2659, approving amendments to TAASA's Articles of
Incorporation to support its qualification under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
DISCUSSION:
TAASA's Bylaws provide for a seven-member Board of Directors, two-year terms with no term limits, and final
approval of Board appointments by the City Council. The current terms of Jimmy Davis, Wendi Sears, Marlena
Pina, and Kino Flores expire on October 1, 2026. Their reappointments would provide continuity in TAASA's
governance and ongoing community substance-abuse prevention efforts. If approved, each director will serve
a new two-year term from October 1, 2026, through October 1, 2028.
BUDGET IMPACT:
There is no anticipated budget impact associated with these reappointments.
RECOMMENDATION:
Reappoint Jimmy Davis, Wendi Sears, Marlena Pina, and Kino Flores to the TAASA Board of Directors for terms
beginning October 1, 2026, and ending October 1, 2028.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
Page 79 of 79
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