10.06.2026 Work Session Minutes

D R A F T
WORK SESSION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF EL MIRAGE
EL MIRAGE POLICE DEPARTMENT - BLUE HONOR ROOM
12401 W. Cinnabar Avenue, El Mirage, AZ 85335
5:00 PM -TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2026
Minutes
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Alexis Hermosillo; Vice Mayor Jacquelyn Parsons; Councilmember Monica
Dorcey; Councilmember Ryan Eldridge; Councilmember Scottie Gentry (online);
Councilmember Donna Winston (online)
Absent: Councilmember Anita Norton-McDaniel (excused)
2. CALL TO ORDER - meeting called to order at 5:00 p.m.
3. WORK SESSION PRESENTATION
1. Review of traffic safety at major intersections.
Jorge Gastellum, Development Services Director, introduced the team, presenting the
Traffic Safety Analysis: Jon Hiebert, Associate Engineer; Tessa Wessel, Associate Engineer;
and Bryce Christo, Assistant City Engineer. Mr. Hiebert provided information on traffic
volume trends from 2023 to 2026. Total traffic within the city was almost identical from
2023 to 2026. Volumes at Dysart Road and Olive Avenue increased due to growth and
Olive Avenue's widening. Traffic also increased at El Mirage Road and Northern
Avenue due to the Northern Avenue widening, while volume decreased on Dysart Road
and Northern Avenue. Traffic volume at Dysart and Cactus Roads, and at El Mirage and
Cactus Roads, had the largest decrease.
Mr. Christo outlined the top five accident locations between January 2023 and February
2026: Grand Avenue and Thunderbird Road, Dysart Road and Thunderbird Road, Dysart
Road and Olive Avenue, Grand Avenue and Acoma Drive, and El Mirage Road and
Thunderbird Road. There have been a total of 1,212 accidents, 551 injuries, and 6
fatalities between January 2023 and February 2026.
Ms. Wessel discussed four major traffic studies completed since 2021: Grand Avenue and
Acoma Drive; Myer Lane at 119th Avenue and A Street; Thunderbird Road at Verbena
Street; Luna Street and El Frio Street; and Thompson Ranch Road from Acapulco Drive to
Ocotillo Lane. Ms. Wessel outlined the completed recommendations and next steps for
each study. Engineering staff will present proposed improvements, as recommended in the
consultant's final traffic report, at the February 2027 Capital Improvement presentation.
Council discussion included various intersection improvements, traffic patterns, speeding,
Arizona Department of Transportation considerations, Black Rock Coffee road
improvements, extending Peoria Avenue across the Agua Fria Riverbed, landscape
improvements, roadside improvements, and street parking along Thunderbird Road.

Work Session - Council Minutes October 6, 2026
4. ADJOURNMENT - meeting adjourned at 5:58 p.m.
_____________________________
Alexis A. Hermosillo, Mayor
ATTEST:
I hereby certify the aforementioned minutes are a true and accurate record of the El Mirage City
Council Work Session held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, and a quorum was present.
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