Council to take action on Resolution No. 45-26 approving the Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Buckeye, City of Avondale, City of Goodyear, and Maricopa County to continue operating the

4.H
CITY OF BUCKEYE
Regular Council Meeting
COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
MEETING DATE: 05/19/26
AGENDA ITEM: 4.H. PD -
Intergovernmental Agreement - West
Valley Sex Trafficking Task Force
DATE PREPARED: 05/14/26
DISTRICT NO.:
STAFF LIAISON: Robert Sanders, Police Chief, rsanders@buckeyeaz.gov, (623)
349-6430
DEPARTMENT: Police
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Consent Agenda
Items / New Business
ACTION/MOTION: (This language identifies the formal motion to be made by the Council) 
Council to take action on Resolution No. 45-26 approving the Intergovernmental Agreement between the
City of Buckeye, City of Avondale, City of Goodyear, and Maricopa County to continue operating the
West Valley Sex Trafficking Task Force.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUS AREAS: 
A Safe and Sustainable Quality of Life
SUMMARY
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Overall, the IGA ensures continued cooperation among West Valley public safety agencies to protect
victims, support community safety, and combat sex trafficking through a unified regional approach. 
The City of Buckeye, along with the Cities of Avondale and Goodyear and the Maricopa County Sheriff's
Office, seeks approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to continue participation in the West
Valley Sex Trafficking Task Force. The Task Force was originally established through a 2023 IGA and is
designed as a regional partnership to identify, rescue, and support victims of sex trafficking, while
coordinating enforcement efforts against offenders. 
The proposed 2026-2027 IGA reaffirms the shared commitment of participating agencies to collaborate
on investigations, conduct coordinated operations, provide specialized training, and share resources to
address sex trafficking in the West Valley. Each agency assigns personnel, works jointly on
investigations, and contributes to a regionally unified response. 
The City of Avondale administers grant funding provided through the Arizona Department of Emergency
and Military Affairs (DEMA), which reimburses eligible costs such as overtime, training, equipment, and
investigative activities, subject to available funds. Participating agencies submit documentation to
Avondale for reimbursement. 
The agreement is effective January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027, and includes standard
provisions related to termination, indemnification, insurance, E-Verify compliance, and nondiscrimination.
It ensures continued regional cooperation to enhance public safety and support vulnerable victims across
West Valley communities. 
Participation in the West Valley Sex Trafficking Task Force provides significant regional and community
benefits. The IGA strengthens coordination among Buckeye, Avondale, Goodyear, and the Maricopa
County Sheriff's Office, allowing agencies to share resources, training, and investigative expertise to
more effectively identify and assist victims of sex trafficking.

By collaborating through a unified task force, the City of Buckeye enhances its ability to support victim-
centered responses, improve communication with service providers, and participate in proactive
operations aimed at reducing trafficking activity in the West Valley. The agreement also provides access
to DEMA grant funding administered by the City of Avondale, which helps reimburse eligible costs such
as overtime, training, and investigative activities, reducing the financial burden on the City while
supporting critical public safety initiatives. 
BENEFITS:
Participation in the West Valley Sex Trafficking Task Force provides significant regional and community
benefits. The IGA strengthens coordination among Buckeye, Avondale, Goodyear, and the Maricopa
County Sheriff's Office, allowing agencies to share resources, training, and investigative expertise to
more effectively identify and assist victims of sex trafficking. 
By collaborating through a unified task force, the City of Buckeye enhances its ability to support victim-
centered responses, improve communication with service providers, and participate in proactive
operations aimed at reducing trafficking activity in the West Valley. The agreement also provides access
to DEMA grant funding administered by the City of Avondale, which helps reimburse eligible costs such
as overtime, training, and investigative activities, reducing the financial burden on the City while
supporting critical public safety initiatives. 
Continued participation in this partnership promotes community safety, strengthens regional law
enforcement cooperation, and ensures that Buckeye remains actively engaged in efforts to prevent
trafficking, rescue victims, and hold offenders accountable. 
FUTURE ACTION:
Once the Intergovernmental Agreement is fully executed by all participating agencies, staff will take the
following steps:
Distribute the fully executed IGA to all parties, as required, ensuring each agency receives a copy
of the finalized agreement.
Ensure assigned Buckeye Police Department personnel are designated to participate in the Task
Force's ongoing investigations, training, and coordinated operations, as outlined in the
responsibilities section. 
Begin tracking any reimbursable expenses, such as personnel overtime, training, and investigative
activity costs, in alignment with DEMA grant requirements. Agencies must maintain documentation
including general ledger records, timesheets, and pay profiles for reimbursement submission. 
Submit reimbursement requests to the City of Avondale on the required quarterly schedule. 
Coordinate with the Southwest Family Advocacy Center and participating agencies to ensure the
City of Buckeye's contact information is included on the annual notice list. 
Implement internal compliance requirements, such as continuing adherence to insurance, E-Verify,
nondiscrimination, and Workers' Compensation provisions.
Should additional amendments to the Intergovernmental Agreement, changes in grant funding, or
updates to Task Force operations occur, staff will return to Council for review and approval as needed. 
FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT:
There is no significant General Fund impact associated with this agreement. Each participating agency,
including the City of Buckeye, is responsible for its own personnel and operational costs.
Eligible expenses such as overtime, training, and investigative operations may be reimbursed through
grant funding administered by the City of Avondale, subject to funding availability and compliance with
reporting requirements. Overall, the agreement is expected to have a minimal fiscal impact to the City,
with costs largely offset by external grant funding.

BUDGETED:
No
FISCAL YEAR:
2026
Items related to a project or facility location must include an attached vicinity map for Council
Review.
ATTACHMENTS:
IGA-2026 TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE IGA
Resolution_No 45-26 Sex Trafficking.pdf