Minutes of the Special Joint Meeting of December 16, 2024

Meeting Minutes 
City Council Special Joint 
Meeting 
 
December 16, 2024 | 4:00 p.m. 
Chandler Museum, Saguaro Room 
300 S. Chandler Village Dr., Chandler, AZ 
 
 
Call to Order 
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kevin Hartke at 4:13 p.m. 
 
Roll Call 
Council Attendance 
 
 
 
 
Appointee Attendance 
Mayor Kevin Hartke  
 
 
 
 
Joshua Wright, City Manager 
Vice Mayor OD Harris 
 
 
 
 
Kelly Schwab, City Attorney  
*Councilmember Angel Encinas  
 
 
Dana DeLong, City Clerk 
Councilmember Christine Ellis 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
Councilmember Matt Orlando  
 
 
 
Councilmember Jane Poston 
 
*Councilmember Encinas arrived at 4:28 p.m. 
 
Absent 
Councilmember Mark Stewart 
 
Staff in Attendance 
 
Tadd Wille, Assistant City Manager 
Dawn Lang, Deputy City Manager / CFO 
Andy Bass, Deputy City Manager 
Ryan Peters, Strategic Initiatives Director 
Cherie Stone, Government Relations Senior Program Manager

Page 2 of 5 
 
Others in Attendance 
 
Senator J.D. Mesnard, LD-13 
Representative Jeff Weninger, LD-13 
*Representative Stacey Travers, LD-12 
 
*Representative Travers departed at 4:45 p.m. 
 
Welcome and Introductions  
MAYOR HARTKE welcomed guests and staff. 
 
Discussion 
1.  
Discussion of the 2025 Legislative Session 
 
MAYOR HARTKE asked the group to discuss their priorities and what they hope to address this 
legislative session.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE TRAVERS discussed her upcoming projects including school safety, election 
security and accessibility, protections for small businesses, mandatory reporting for abuse of 
minors, and agricultural to urban development. She looks forward to continuing to work on 
economic growth and development for Chandler and Arizona.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE WENINGER said he is on four committees this session. His priorities are to fund 
public schools, support innovative economic development, and keep police records private for 
minors during an active investigation.  
 
MAYOR HARTKE asked if this is for minors specifically. 
 
REPRESENTATIVE WENINGER said it would depend but focusing on protecting minors. 
 
SENATOR MESNARD said his focus will be tax policy, such as increasing business personal property 
tax exemption and reducing tax liability. Additionally, Proposition 123 of state trust land to fund 
education ends June 30, and he is working on maintaining this funding for teachers. Senator 
Mesnard said he will continue to work on a bill regarding the counting of election results.  
 
MAYOR HARTKE asked what areas Chandler can help with.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE WENINGER said he will reach out to collaborate. A lot of the work now is 
theoretical. He looks forward to returning to discuss specific questions and having an open 
dialogue.

Page 3 of 5 
 
MAYOR HARTKE affirmed that frequent meetings to discuss local issues has been helpful and 
hoped to continue this collaboration.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE TRAVERS mentioned partnership working on bills to support veterans.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE WENINGER added that some projects are part of working with new 
administration and cleaning up old bills. This includes the expansion of sports betting and 
Business One Stop for new businesses, which partner with the Corporation Commission and 
Governor’s Office.  
 
MAYOR HARTKE asked Council if there were any Chandler priorities they would like to address.  
 
COUNCILMEMBER ORLANDO asked if there will be any more action on housing bills.  
 
SENATOR MESNARD said much of the action was at the state level where housing became a top 
issue for constituents, but there may be less action after this past election. 
 
REPRESENTATIVE TRAVERS said housing bills may be brought up from someone in her caucus. 
 
REPRESENTATIVE WENINGER added there may be more progress on the low-income housing tax 
credit program. Chandler has been doing the work and encouraged private sector solutions and 
innovative partnerships.  
 
MAYOR HARTKE said an additional site is being developed to have a 250-unit housing unit to serve 
low-income housing. Chandler has some projects in the works. 
 
COUNCILMEMBER ORLANDO requested to provide information about these projects to 
legislators.  
 
COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS commented that she looks forward to building better relationships. Some 
areas of focus are the State Nursing Board, the caregiver and assisted living industry, and human 
trafficking.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE TRAVERS suggested partnering with Representative Julie Willoughby and 
Senator Janae Shamp, who have nursing experience, and Representative Patty Contreras on the 
Health and Human Services Committee.  
 
COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS added that domestic violence and trafficking efforts will focus on 
prevention.  
 
MAYOR HARTKE thanked legislators for their collaboration on the Intel project.

Page 4 of 5 
 
REPRESENTATIVE TRAVERS encouraged Council to reach out to discuss their priorities and provide 
feedback. 
 
REPRESENTATIVE WENINGER added that communication over time when it comes to the budget 
especially helps.  
 
VICE MAYOR HARRIS thanked the legislators for their support and collaboration.  
 
COUNCILMEMBER ENCINAS discussed protecting water and land resources, affordable housing, 
transportation, and safeguarding Chandler’s revenue streams to ensure the continuation of 
providing quality services to residents.  
 
COUNCILMEMBER POSTON echoed protecting local revenue streams. She thanked legislators for 
their work in supporting small businesses.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE WENINGER looked forward to continuing to work with cities to support local 
control and emphasized communication for collaboration.  
 
MAYOR HARTKE mentioned protecting water resources and ensuring infrastructure that supports 
water.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE WENINGER agreed. 
 
COUNCILMEMBER ORLANDO said one concern is the definition of assured water supply which 
affects communities differently.  
 
VICE MAYOR HARRIS spoke about small businesses providing feedback to the Chamber of 
Commerce and asked how this is used in legislative decision-making.  
 
SENATOR MESNARD said it is helpful to receive feedback.  
 
REPRESENTATIVE WENINGER agreed and said receiving feedback from individuals is helpful in 
making incremental legislative change to help small businesses.  
 
RYAN PETERS, Strategic Initiatives Director, thanked everyone for their attendance and 
collaboration at the state level.  
 
CHERIE STONE, Government Relations Senior Program Manager, said she looks forward to being 
a partner for endeavors at the state level.

Page 5 of 5 
 
Public Comment 
None.  
 
Adjourn 
The meeting was adjourned at 5:04 pm. 
 
 
 
ATTEST:  _______________________  
______________________________ 
                       City Clerk                                                   Mayor 
 
 
Approval Date of Minutes:  January 23, 2025 
 
 
 
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 16th day of December 2024.  I further 
certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. 
 
DATED this _______ day of January, 2025. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
__________________________ 
                                                         
           City Clerk