Minutes of the Special Joint Meeting of April 7, 2023

Meeting Minutes 
City Council Special Joint 
Meeting 
 
April 7, 2023 | 9:00 a.m. 
City Hall, 2nd Floor Training Rooms A & B  
175 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler, AZ 
 
 
Call to Order 
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kevin Hartke at 9:14 a.m. 
 
Roll Call 
Council Attendance 
 
 
 
 
Appointee Attendance 
Mayor Kevin Hartke  
 
 
 
 
Josh Wright, City Manager 
Vice Mayor Matt Orlando  
 
 
 
Kelly Schwab, City Attorney  
*Councilmember OD Harris  
 
 
 
Dana DeLong, City Clerk 
Councilmember Mark Stewart 
 
 
 
  
Councilmember Christine Ellis 
  
 
 
Councilmember Jane Poston 
 
 
 
 
Councilmember Angel Encinas 
 
*Councilmember Harris attended remotely by WebEx 
 
Staff Attendance  
 
 
 
 
 
Dawn Lang, Deputy City Manager / CFO 
 
 
Andy Bass, Deputy City Manager 
 
 
 
Ryan Peters, Strategic Initiatives Director 
 
 
Alexis Apodaca, Government Relations Senior Program Manager 
 
Others in Attendance 
 
Senator Mitzi Epstein, LD-12 
Representative Patty Contreras, LD-12 
Representative Stacey Travers, LD-12 
Representative Jennifer Pawlik, LD-13

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Representative J. D. Mesnard, LD-17 
Representative Liz Harris, LD-17 
 
Welcome and Introductions – Mayor Kevin Hartke 
MAYOR HARTKE welcomed guests and staff. 
 
Discussion 
1. 
2023 State Legislative Update 
 
MAYOR HARTKE asked each legislator for their perspective on what is happening at the capitol 
this session, and something unexpected happening this year.  
 
SENATOR EPSTEIN shared that something unexpected was a bill to end the death penalty in 
Arizona was read. Housing, schools, and water are in focus this session.  
 
MAYOR HARTKE said that he and Representative Pawlik have visited Community Schooling in 
Chandler. He is impressed and looking forward to seeing more. It is all about helping kids in 
school.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE MESNARD shared that it was unexpected there was a push to set a budget very 
early in the session. The budget for this year is in the spotlight. There are more one-time funds 
than ongoing funds.  
 
VICE MAYOR ORLANDO thanked both legislators for protecting our land in concerns to 
developments and housing financing. The key is working together.  
 
MAYOR HARTKE added that economic corridors have brought a lot of value to Chandler. There 
must be a balance between residential areas and these economic developments. We are working 
on zoning improvements.  
 
COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS said it is great to share ideas. Councilmember Ellis asked what Council 
can do to support the legislators at their level.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE PAWLIK shared that one unexpected thing was that House Democrats and 
Republicans have been working closely together. There are 16 new members. The pace of this 
session has been slower than normal. Representative Pawlik commented that having an open 
door with government affairs representatives and local leadership has been valuable.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE TRAVERS said it is important to keep lines of communication open. It is 
important to delegate info to the correct people.

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REPRESENTATIVE CONTRERAS shared that coming in as a new member it was unexpected how 
much information there is. There are a lot of great ideas from new members. Transportation is a 
topic in the spotlight lately.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS said that we need to analyze housing investments and rentals. It is 
difficult to control large entities that own multiple rental homes. Looking at water through a real 
estate lens is one way to go about it.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE TRAVERS added that a surprise is having good relationship with many 
representatives, while still facing pressure from parties. Seeing the reality of politics is different 
than anticipated.  
 
MAYOR HARTKE asked how we as a City or Councilmembers make your work easier. 
 
SENATOR EPSTEIN thanked staff for the constant updates. Senator Epstein said it would be a good 
idea to address how Chandler addresses water and housing, perhaps in a symposium. 
 
MAYOR HARTKE said the Chamber put on a great presentation. Chandler holds its water as a point 
of pride.  
 
SENATOR EPSTEIN suggested a field trip to the water treatment center.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE TRAVERS said that keeping lines of communication open is valuable. Problems 
arise from lack of communication.  
 
COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS asked to have information provided beforehand.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE TRAVERS said that at this level changes happen quickly.  
 
COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS said that staff should be able to help address this. 
 
SENATOR EPSTEIN said that in the house, each representative has 1¾ person of staff who is 
responsible for everything. It is a challenge in time management.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE PAWLIK said the time we have to work with is very short. 
 
MAYOR HARTKE added that if they have ideas for future presentations, please reach out. The 
Chamber puts on a lot of events and would welcome the resource. 
 
COUNCILMEMBER STEWART said that zoning is all about supply and demand. Our growing 
community is facing challenges in housing.

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VICE MAYOR ORLANDO said that one of the topics discussed at the National League of Cities and 
Towns Conference is states usurping local authority. Whatever we do with water, other states will 
keep in mind, so we must think of the bigger picture in water management.   
 
REPRESENTATIVE TRAVERS said that there is one person responsible for water bills in the house 
in this committee. The dynamic is locked into place.  
 
VICE MAYOR ORLANDO said we have to look bigger picture.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE MESNARD brought up the Ocotillo Landings development. 
 
MAYOR HARTKE said that this is still in conversation. There is a need for housing, and we will 
continue to expand our housing inventory.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE MESNARD asked for an assessment of the project. 
 
MAYOR HARTKE thought that the county is not going to move forward with the opposition 
received. Messages from the supervisors have this attitude.  
 
VICE MAYOR ORLANDO commented that there is still a water issue there. 
 
MAYOR HARTKE continued that Chandler allocates water based on predicted use for the 100-year 
supply. Shifting zoning use increases the amount of water consumption for the property.  
 
COUNCILMEMBER STEWART said that the group did buy the parcel.  
 
VICE MAYOR ORLANDO said another development backed out at different location.  
 
MAYOR HARTKE shared that at the League Conference there was a similar narrative of cities 
changing zoning.  
 
COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS said there is money at the federal level for this.  
 
2.  
Chandler Updates 
 
SENATOR EPSTEIN asked what the Council wants them to know about Chandler.  
 
MAYOR HARTKE said there is a lot going on in Chandler. There is a new strategic plan in the works 
to set our priorities. There are new economic developments – Edwards Vacuum, Scheels. We are 
watching the continued Intel development. Our initial budget is in the works, and we want to pay

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down PSPRS unfunded liability. We turn our one-time dollars into ongoing funds and savings in 
conservation for water and lighting.  
 
COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS said that Council is unified in our priorities. The people are the priority.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE CONTRERAS said that education for legislators is helpful to get local 
understanding. The process for local decisions like water and zoning at each city is important to 
understand. Having the background is helpful.  
 
COUNCILMEMBER STEWART said staff can distribute information. Councilmember Stewart asked 
how these bills are going. 
 
REPRESENTATIVE MESNARD said that these bills are not moving. We are aware that the process 
takes a long time. We can speed up the process but not at the expense of public input. There is 
generally agreement to advance the process.  
 
COUNCILMEMBER STEWART asked if there is any legislation to move development to start within 
a certain time.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE MESNARD said it is voter protected. There is a lot of pressure on legislators to 
fix the issue. Educating legislators that on what projects are ready and what is in the works is good 
to know.  It is important to share the context on why things are happening.  
 
SENATOR EPSTEIN said that many of the issues with stopped development is not zoning, but 
outside factors like workforce and supply.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE TRAVERS said that there is a lack of thoughtfulness at the legislature, there is a 
lot of pressure to rush through bills. It is better to have well written and thoughtful bills rather 
than poor quality rushed bills.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE MESNARD said the process helps refine bills in work. Stakeholder input is as 
important as constituent input.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE TRAVERS said the last steps should not be pass or fail, there should be work 
done to improve bills in the works.  
 
MAYOR HARTKE said open communication and collaboration can help avoid problems in the 
future. Mayor Hartke thanked everyone for their attendance.  
 
Adjourn 
The meeting was adjourned at 10:31 a.m.

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ATTEST:  _______________________  
______________________________ 
                       City Clerk                                                   Mayor 
 
 
Approval Date of Minutes:  May 11, 2023 
 
 
 
Certification 
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Special 
Meeting of the City Council of Chandler, Arizona, held on the 7th day of April 2023.  I further certify 
that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. 
 
DATED this _______ day of May, 2023. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
__________________________ 
                                                         
           City Clerk