Minutes of the Special Joint Meeting held on September 12, 2023
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Meeting Minutes
City Council Special Meeting
September 12, 2023 | 5:00 p.m.
Chandler Unified School District
1525 W. Frye Rd., Chandler, AZ
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kevin Hartke at 5:11 p.m.
Roll Call
Council Attendance
CUSD Governing Board Attendance
Mayor Kevin Hartke
President Jason Olive
Vice Mayor Matt Orlando
Board Member Kurt Rohrs
Councilmember OD Harris
Board Member Patti Serrano
Councilmember Mark Stewart
Board Member Joel Wirth
Councilmember Christine Ellis
Councilmember Jane Poston
Councilmember Angel Encinas
City Staff Attendance
CUSD Staff Attendance
Josh Wright, City Manager
Superintendent Frank Narducci
Kelly Schwab, City Attorney
Tom Dunn, Executive Director
Jennifer Ekblad, Deputy City Clerk
Wendy Nance, Associate Superintendent
Michelle MacLennan, Cultural Arts Manager
Lana Berry, CFO
Matt Burdick, CAPA Director
Stephanie Ingersoll, Executive Director
Dawn Lang, Deputy City Manager / CFO
John Knudson, Public Works & Utilities Director
Tadd Wille, Assistant City Manager
Mickey Ohland, Parks Development Senior Manager
Andy Bass, Deputy City Manager
John Sefton, Community Services Director
Page 2 of 8
Presentation and Discussion
1. History of Collaborative Projects
2. Updates to Future Projects
3. Future Opportunities to Collaborate
FRANK NARDUCCI, Chandler Unified School District Superintendent, opened the meeting by
discussing the collaboration between the City of Chandler and CUSD. He expressed a desire to
review past projects and brainstorm innovative ideas for the future.
MAYOR HARTKE provided comments regarding the performing arts, libraries, pools, and the
education system in Chandler. Mayor Hartke emphasized that collaboration is important for the
community and expressed appreciation for Chandler’s robust education system and athletic
programs.
Discussion
4. Issues of Mutual Interest, including but not limited to: Opportunities for Partnerships,
Land Use Planning, Transportation, Facilities, and Future Development.
LANA BERRY, CUSD CFO, presented the following presentation:
• City of Chandler and Chandler Unified School District Current Partnership
• Success = Great Partnerships
o Recognize the current partnerships.
o Outline the investments in 85225.
o Review opportunities for future collaboration
o Brainstorming session between City Council and Governing Board
• Current Partnerships
• Chandler Center for the Arts
MICHELLE MACLENNAN, Cultural Arts Manager, presented the following slide.
• About the Center for the Arts
o Opened doors on August 25, 1989, August 2024 Celebrating 35 Years
o Collaborative Model
Jointly owned and operated by the City and CUSD
Time of use and shared costs through I.G.A.
Monday-Thursday use for CUSD programs
Friday-Sunday* use for City programs
Shared costs for O & M, Capital improvements, and shared technical and
custodial positions (this often spurs questions)
JOHN SEFTON, Community Services Director presented the following slides.
• ACIC
Page 3 of 8
o City-owned facility in Downtown Chandler leased to and operated by Arizona State
University
o There is an ongoing conversation between CUSD and ASU on opportunities to utilize
space at ACIC.
o ASU Chandler Innovation Center was established to be a community resource for
entrepreneurship and education.
o ASU is working to expand programming with learning and engagement
opportunities for a continuum of learners, including K-12 students:
CUSD Design and Implementation experiences and teacher training
workshops
I-Rise Foundation Robotics
• Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
o Collaborations with CUSD Department of Counseling and Social Services
o Mini Grants to School Clubs for Culture Programs
o Chandler Diwali Festival of Lights
o Chandler Contigo
o CUSD Educators’ Collaboration Meetings
o Chandler Celebration of Unity
• Sci-Tech Fest
• School Resource Officers
o The Chandler Police Department’s School Resource Officer (SRO) program has been
recognized as a “Model School Resource Officer Agency” by the National Association
of School Resource Officers
o Currently Officers at all Junior-High and High School Campuses
o Jointly funded by CUSD and City of Chandler
• Aquatics
o End of the year elementary school parties in May at Hamilton and Mesquite Groves
for 3,449 students
o Hamilton High School PE and ROTC classes as Hamilton Aquatic Center
o High School swim team practices and meets.
o Back to school parties
• Libraries
o Hamilton High School
Circulation 317,526 +8.7%
Programs 11,406 student, 10,367 community
o Basha High School
Circulation 200,632 +18.6%
Programs 13,541 study, 7,840 community
Page 4 of 8
• Inclusive Recreation
o Camp Challenge – Sanborn Elementary
o Special Olympics Track
o Special Olympics Basketball
o Wait lists for participation = opportunity to expand at a second location
o ACP, Hamilton & Basha High
o Willis Junior High School
• Sports/Recreation
o City Programs at CUSD Facilities
Adult basketball Leagues at Hamilton (3 seasons)
Adult Volleyball Leagues at Hamilton High School (3 seasons)
o CUSD Use of City Facilities
High School Cross Country at Tumbleweed Park
Elementary School Running Club at Snedigar and Tumbleweed Park
High School Sand Volleyball at Chuparosa
Pavilion Rentals
• Arbor/Agriculture
o Cork Oak Tree Propagation
o Tumbleweed Park and FFA
o 25 trees planted at Paseo Trail
TOM DUNN, CUSD Executive Director, presented the following slides.
• CUSD Investment in 85225
o Current Enrollment: 462
o Future Enrollment: 750
o Timeline:
Sept 2023 – Construction
Oct 2024 – Move in
Jan 2025 – Project complete
• New Galveston Campus
• Entrance
• Courtyard Viewing East
• Courtyard Viewing South
JOHN KNUDSON, Public Works & Utilities Director, presented the following slides.
• City Investment in 85225
• Public Outreach
o Summer 2021, Envision Galveston Kicked Off
o Envision Purpose
Empower residents to improve their neighborhoods.
ImprovEmpower residents to improve their neighborhoods.
Improve the quality of life for Galveston Neighborhood residents.
Page 5 of 8
Facilitate opportunities for neighbors to meet and develop positive
relationships with their local government.
Provide opportunities for Mayor and City Council to meet neighbors.
Enhance trust between the city and neighborhood.
o Deliverables
Visual representation of residents’ goals and dreams for the future of
Galveston Neighborhood
Survey responses from residents who attended the event, including where
they live, what they like most about their neighborhood, and whether or not
they visit Gazelle Meadows Park
Identify individuals interested in continuing conversations about community
visions and collaborating with neighbors to facilitate the next steps.
• Detroit Basin/Gazelle Meadows Park
o Water, Sewer, and Storm Drain Improvements
• Streetscape Improvement Projects
o Existing Conditions
• Streetscape Improvement Projects
o Consultant studied Erie Street from Arizona Ave to McQueen Road for the following
items:
Existing conditions
Traffic Circulation
On Street Parking
R.O.W. Encroachment
Streetscape Improvements Ideas
o Study made the following recommendations:
No additional on street parking is possible on Eire due to R.O.W difficulties
and street width. Additional parking will be added to park.
Used of stamped asphalt at key intersections to add interest and uniqueness
to area.
Addition metal art fence along Gazelle Meadows Park
Uniform DG will be used from Arizona Avenue to railroad tracks.
Install benches with shading.
Street re-pavement and ADA improvements
• Streetscape Improvement Projects
JASON OLIVE, CUSD President, asked what Arizona Avenue's direction is.
MR. KNUDSON said West.
MICKEY OHLAND, Parks Development Senior Manager, presented the following slides.
• Gazelle Meadows Park Improvements
• Existing Park Amenities:
Page 6 of 8
o Playground
o Picnic Areas
o Open Space Turf
o Neighborhood Park
o 8.99-acres in size
o Originally developed in 1985/1992
o Serves as a retention basin.
• Existing Park Amenities
o Keep existing turf.
o Additional playground equipment
o Additional shade
o Outdoor exercise equipment
o Parking
o New site furnishings
o Lighted basketball court
o Swings
o Picnic ramadas
o Skate Plaza
o Updated landscaping
o ADA improvements
• Central Activity Area
• Park Improvement Concept
• Central Activity Area
• Educational Play
• Skate Plaza
• Potential Parking at Galveston
• Current Opportunities
o CCA – enhancement or expansion
o Fields & Gym space utilization
o CARE Center
• The Future is Bright
o Needs assessment to determine future opportunities for arts expansion beyond
CCA.
o More visual arts programming in schools – Shumay Elementary last year, Knox
currently
o CCA – Multi year Capital Improvements through voter approved Bond.
o CCA – Backstage dressing room and restroom renovations
o Joint Use / Development IGA
o ACIC field trips for schools to learn about STEM and project management.
o Community Programming
o Public safety community education pilot in elementary schools
Page 7 of 8
LANA BERRY, CUSD, commented on the need to enhance or expand the Chandler Center for the
Arts, utilize space for fields and gym, install lighted fields, and establish a CARE center.
SUPERINTENDENT NARDUCCI praised the city for being a great partner in building a $3.5 million
facility for CARE center.
MS. BERRY indicated the CARE Center operates using grants and serves students with specific
needs. They offer classes for family outreach and are located on the northeast side of campus,
with access to medical and dental facilities.
VICE MAYOR ORLANDO inquired if the CARE Center is an additional facility to Hamilton.
SUPERINTENDENT NARDUCCI answered that the dental service originally started in two San
Marcos classrooms but has since expanded to offer restorative and preventative dental work in
partnership with Ascend.
MS. BERRY noted that a nonprofit runs the CARE Center for CUSD and facilitates the medical and
dental services.
MAYOR HARTKE provided comments regarding the presentation and facilitated a brainstorming
session where the following ideas were suggested by the members present:
• Housing for teachers and support staff.
• Coordinated effort with colleges for housing Chandler Gilber Community College –
Williams Field Facility.
• Lighting additional school fields to increase community use.
• Open gyms – piloting the concept for community use at Galveston Elementary.
• Open fields on weekends – increase community engagement with schools and families
that jointly use the fields.
• Shared auditorium /gymnasium/event center (downtown).
• Meet transportation challenge/enhance to solve traffic congestion at schools (parent pick-
up and drop-off) – expand Chandler FLEX Program.
• Joint study performed on bike pathways to schools.
• New crosswalk technology near school (compared to Arizona Avenue at the crossing mid-
town).
• Rethink the partnership for Employee Sick Kid Care with Dignity or Banner Health.
• Public art built into infrastructure.
• More focus on arts collaborations between city and schools
• Collaborate with shared support services such as landscape maintenance including
student workforce development (example pilot schools adjacent to city parks).
• Turf projects to conserve water/increase usage/ community engagement.
Page 8 of 8
• Municipality service areas workforce development, internships and apprenticeships
(fire/police/city/water works/etc.) A comparison was the COE program of the past.
• Expand awareness of internships
• Expand vocational offerings utilizing community business.
• Plug into the Chamber portal for Internships /apprenticeships.
• CTE expansion into the technical theater specific to Chandler High School and Chandler
Center for the Arts.
• Host a joint job fair including City/Chamber/CUSD.
• Council and Boardmember shadowing for civic engagement.
• Paid internships and grants support.
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 6:34 p.m.
ATTEST: _______________________
______________________________
City Clerk Mayor
Approval Date of Minutes: October 16, 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 12th day of September 2023. I further
certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present.
DATED this _______ day of October, 2023.
__________________________
City Clerk