Proposed 2025 Chandler Bond Election and City Charter Amendments Presentation

Bond Election & Charter 
Amendments Discussion
City Council Work Session
April 10, 2025

Committee Timeline
Mayor and Council 
approved formation 
of Committee and 
members
Sep. 12, 2024
Committee Kick-off
Sep. 16, 2024
Projects reviewed with 
finance and bond counsel 
to form recommendations 
to Mayor and Council
Jan. 2025
Committee Chair reports 
to Mayor and Council on 
recommendations and 
presents executive report
Feb. 20, 2025
Committee meetings 
take place and review 
final recommendations 
with finance
Oct.-Nov. 2024
Subcommittees make 
recommendations to 
Steering Committee
Dec. 2024
Draft report 
prepared
Jan.-Feb. 2025
City Council 
discussion of 
recommendations 
at work session
April 10, 2025
Call for Special 
Election for November 
4, 2025 election
April 24, 2025
Deadline for bond 
language given to 
Maricopa County
June 7, 2025
Arguments 
Pro/Con filed with 
City Clerk
Aug. 6, 2025
Sample Ballot/ 
Informational 
Pamphlet mailed to 
voters before election
Sep. 23, 2025
Election Day
Nov. 4, 2025

Public Communication
• Staff presented public information options in 
October to the Steering Committee
• Input gathered helped to create a public 
information campaign regarding the work of 
the Resident Bond Exploratory Committee.
• Bond election website created as the central 
source for resident information
• Social posts and articles released

Public Education
• Bond Exploratory Committee can advocate for 
bond election once City Council calls for 
election
• Staff will begin education to public through 
various platforms and organizations
• Easy to distribute pamphlet created for both 
pre and post call for election

Chandler Bond History
*
* City of Glendale's data only represents bond election information since 2007
Chandler
Bond Category
2000 
Election
2004 
Election
2007 
Election
2021 
Election
Parks and 
Recreation
$34,935,000
$40,600,000
$81,350,000
$72,985,000
Fire
$4,655,000
$4,580,000
$14,265,000
$25,160,000
Police
$3,800,000
$4,360,000
$15,745,000
$55,190,000
Art Center
$4,200,000
Museum
$8,500,000
$4,500,000
Streets
$23,795,000
$59,095,000
$202,310,000
$85,780,000
Effluent Reuse
$24,410,000
Water and 
Sewer
$29,745,000
$36,580,000
$107,850,000
Public Buildings/ 
Facilities
$9,960,000
$33,570,000
Library
$11,255,000
Total
$121,340,000
$153,715,000
$451,435,000
$272,685,000

Steering Committee Recommendations
• Over a period of five months, the 
Resident Bond Exploratory Steering 
Committee reviewed and evaluated 37 
possible bond projects with an estimated 
total cost of $728,095,600
• Prioritized fiscal conservancy by focusing 
on the highest-need projects
• Final recommendation of 24 projects 
with a $475,000,000 bond need in the 
areas of Fire, Police, Streets, and Parks 
and Recreation for approval in the 
November 2025 bond election
Parks & Recreation
$158 Million
Police
$46
Million
Fire
$88
Million
Streets
$183 
Million
• If approved, this $475 million 
recommendation to City Council 
would NOT increase primary or 
secondary property tax rates using 
current projections.

Financial Management of Capital Plan
• Bonds fund 73.9% of proposed 10-year CIP
• The secondary tax levy funds GO bond 
debt, with additional capacity created by 
either increasing revenue or paying down 
debt leaving the tax rate flat
• Arizona law limits GO bond debt to 20% of 
secondary assessed value for most 
projects and 6% for special purpose bonds, 
with the city well below these limits
• Maintaining a stable tax rate requires 
balancing assessed values and tax rates, 
with state law capping assessed value 
growth at 6.2% for five years, then 1.22% 
annually
• Committees recommendation caps 
growth at 4.5%
Managing Secondary Tax Rate To 
Remain Flat
The recommended bond projects, based on current 
projections, will NOT increase secondary property tax rates

Parks & Recreation Subcommittee
• Maintain existing parks was the top priority
• Community and recreation center repairs and 
improvements
• Higher priority for AJ Park renovation
• Folley Pool prioritized as high impact project 
for the surrounding neighborhood
• Include Phase 2 of Mesquite Groves Regional 
Park due to increased cost since the 2021 bond 
election
• Park improvements to impact all areas of 
Chandler
• Tumbleweed Ranch, Multi-Gen expansion, and 
Mesquite Groves Phase 3 pushed out to future 
bond election

Proposed Ballot Question
QUESTION 1
ENHANCE CHANDLER’S PARKS AND RECREATION AMENITIES TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF 
LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY
Shall the City of Chandler, Arizona, be authorized to issue and sell general obligation bonds of 
the city in the principal amount not exceeding $158,000,000 to provide funding for 
community, neighborhood and regional parks, aquatic centers, arts and cultural centers, 
recreational facilities, buildings and improvements? Projects may include, but are not limited 
to those intended to:
•
Renovate and improve existing neighborhood and community parks, recreational  
facilities and buildings,
•
Design and construct new city parks and recreational facilities, buildings and 
improvements,
•
Construct or improve multi-use fields, playgrounds and other facilities at city parks, 
which may include Snedigar Sports Complex, Desert Breeze Park, Mesquite Groves 
Park, and Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, and
•
Renovate and improve existing pools and aquatic centers, which may include Folley 
Pool.
Generated funds will be used to pay for all necessary design, acquisition, construction, 
reconstruction, improvement, repair, renovation, equipment and installation and associated 
costs including the acquisition of land or interests therein necessary for such.
These bonds will be issued as general obligation bonds and the issuance of these bonds will 
result in a property tax increase sufficient to pay the annual debt service on bonds, unless the 
governing body provides for payment from other sources.

Public Safety - Fire Subcommittee
• Prioritized facilities to meet the changing 
needs of Chandler
• Rebuild Fire Station #284
• Construction of new Fire Station #2812
• Fire emergency vehicle replacements
• Remodel of Public Safety Training Building A 
was moved to be paid by General Fund

Proposed Ballot Question
QUESTION 2
ENHANCE CHANDLER FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICES AND RESPONSE THROUGH 
IMPROVED FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
Shall the City of Chandler, Arizona, be authorized to issue and sell general obligation 
bonds of the city in the principal amount not exceeding $88,000,000 to provide funding 
for public safety and fire facilities and improvements, related equipment, vehicles, 
technology and communication systems? Projects may include, but are not limited to, 
those intended to:
•
Construct a new city fire station and related public safety facilities,
•
Repair and renovate existing city fire stations and related public safety 
facilities, and
•
Acquire emergency vehicles which may include fire engines and ladder trucks.
Generated funds will be used to pay for all necessary design, acquisition, construction, 
reconstruction, improvement, repair, renovation, equipment and installation and 
associated costs including the acquisition of land or interests therein necessary for such 
purposes.
These bonds will be issued as general obligation bonds and the issuance of these bonds 
will result in a property tax increase sufficient to pay the annual debt service on bonds, 
unless the governing body provides for payment from other sources.

Public Safety - Police Subcommittee
• Prioritized facilities to meet the changing 
needs of Chandler
• Police Main Station renovations
• Radio communications equipment
• Police emergency vehicle replacements

Proposed Ballot Question
QUESTION 3
ENHANCE CHANDLER POLICE DEPARTMENT SERVICES AND RESPONSE THROUGH 
IMPROVED FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
Shall the City of Chandler, Arizona, be authorized to issue and sell general obligation 
bonds of the city in the principal amount not exceeding $46,000,000 to provide 
funding for public safety and police facilities and improvements, related equipment, 
vehicles, technology and communication systems? Projects may include, but are not 
limited to, those intended to:
•
Renovate and improve the city Police main station,
•
Acquire technology and radio communication equipment to enhance 
police responsiveness, and
•
Acquire emergency vehicles.
Generated funds will be used to pay for all necessary design, acquisition, 
construction, reconstruction, improvement, repair, renovation, equipment and 
installation and associated costs including the acquisition of land or interests 
therein necessary for such purposes.
These bonds will be issued as general obligation bonds and the issuance of these 
bonds will result in a property tax increase sufficient to pay the annual debt service 
on bonds, unless the governing body provides for payment from other sources.

Public Works Subcommittee
• Maintain existing infrastructure through 
repaving and collector street improvements
• Placed higher priority on upcoming needed 
street and intersection improvements
• Kyrene Road, Arizona Avenue and Warner 
Road Intersection, McQueen Road
• Additional phases for McQueen Road and 
Warner Road moved to a future bond election
• Ocotillo Shared Use Path moved to future 
bond election
• Washington Street improvements moved to 
be paid by General Fund

Proposed Ballot Question
QUESTION 4
KEEP CHANDLER STREETS SAFE AND IMPROVE TRAFFIC FOR CHANDLER RESIDENTS
Shall the City of Chandler, Arizona, be authorized to issue and sell general obligation 
bonds of the city in the principal amount not exceeding $183,000,000 to provide funding 
for streets, avenues, alleys, highways, transportation and shared use path 
improvements, related equipment, technology and communication systems, and traffic 
signals, signal control systems and signage to keep streets safe and improve traffic flows 
for city residents? Projects may include, but are not limited to, those intended to:
•
Repave and repair existing streets and intersections in the city,
•
Improve and repair traffic signals and signal control systems,
•
Improve city streets, which may include improvements to McQueen and Kyrene 
Roads,
•
Improve city intersections, which may include the Arizona Ave./Warner 
Road intersection and Kyrene Road/Chandler Blvd. intersection, and
•
Design and construct shared use paths.
Generated funds will be used to pay for all necessary design, acquisition, construction, 
reconstruction, improvement, repair, renovation, equipment and installation and 
associated costs including the acquisition of land or interests therein necessary for such 
purposes.
These bonds will be issued as general obligation bonds and the issuance of these bonds 
will result in a property tax increase sufficient to pay the annual debt service on bonds, 
unless the governing body provides for payment from other sources.

Next Steps
Date
Description
April 10, 2025
City Council discussion of recommendations at Work Session
April 24, 2025
City Council calls for a Special Election
June 7, 2025
Deadline for ballot language submitted to Maricopa County
July 7, 2025 - August 
6, 2025
Arguments Pro/Con filed with City Clerk
September 23, 2025
Sample Ballot/Informational Pamphlet mailed to voters before 
election
October 6, 2025
Last day for voters to register for election
October 8, 2025
First day to mail out ballot
November 4, 2025
Election Day
November 24, 2025
Deadline for City Council to canvas the election

Charter Amendments 
Recommendation

Potential Amendments for Consideration
Section 2.13 Publication and adoption of 
leases
•Section 2.15 Publication and adoption of 
ordinances
•Section 9.03 Residency requirements for 
city manager and all department heads

Section 2.15 Ordinances
Current Charter requirements for publication and 
adoption of ordinances (effective 1965)
• Introduction of ordinance at Council meeting
• After tentative approval, distribution and 
publication* of the notice of consideration 
consisting of the ordinance by title only along 
with notice of time and date of final 
consideration
• Final adoption by Council
• Publication* in full at least two times with 
minimum of 6 days between publications
*Publication occurs in a newspaper of general circulation

• Ordinance is 
posted or read in 
full 24 hours before 
meeting
• One publication in 
full within 15 days 
after adoption
Scottsdale
Tempe
Mesa
Glendale
Requirements of Other Valley Charter Cities
• Notice of 
consideration 
published at least 7 
days before action
• One publication in 
full as soon as 
practicable after 
adoption
• Notice of 
consideration 
published at least 6 
days before action
• One publication in 
full within 2 weeks 
after adoption
• Ordinance is 
posted or read in 
full 72 hours 
before meeting
• One publication 
in full

Proposed Amendment
• Consideration and action at one 
Council meeting for zoning and 
leasing ordinances
AND
• Publication one time after adoption
• Ordinances amending City Code 
would continue current practice of 
two readings (e.g. new laws)
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Section 2.13 Action Requiring an Ordinance
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In addition to other acts required by law or by specific provisions of this Charter to be done by ordinance, those acts of 
the city council shall be by ordinance which:
(a) Adopt or amend a city code or establish, alter or abolish any city department, office or agency.
(b) Provide for a fine or penalty or establish a rule or regulation for violation of which a fine or other penalty is imposed.
(c) Create taxes.
(d) Grant, renew or extend a franchise.
(e) Regulate the rates and fees charged for its services by a public utility. 
(f) Authorize the borrowing of money.
(g) Lease city lands and property for a period of three (3) years or more, or to convey same or to authorize leases for a 
period of three (3) years or more, or the conveyance of any lands or property of the city.
(h) Reserved.
(i)(g) 
Amend or repeal any ordinance previously adopted, except as otherwise provided in Article VIII of this Charter, 
with respect to repeal of ordinances reconsidered under the referendum power.
(j)(h) 
Provide for the levy of assessments, the collection thereof, or enforcement of liens on real property within the 
city.
(k)(j) 
Provide for the appropriation or expenditure of any public money in excess of the sum of one-tenth of one per 
cent of the then annual budget, unless the amount has been appropriated in the adopted budget.
(l)(k) 
Provide for establishing or changing fire limits.

Section 2.15 Ordinances in General
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(b)
Procedure. ALL PROPOSED ORDINANCES SHALL EITHER BE READ IN FULL OR POSTED IN A PUBLIC PLACE AT 
LEAST TWENTY-FOUR (24) HOURS PRIOR TO THEIR ADOPTION, PROVIDED THAT IF ANY AMENDMENTS ARE PROPOSED 
TO A POSTED ORDINANCE SUCH AMENDMENTS SHALL BE PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED DURING THE PUBLIC MEETING 
PRIOR TO THEIR ADOPTION. An ordinance may be introduced by any member at any regular or special meeting of the 
Council.
(1)Upon introduction of any proposed ordinance, the city clerk shall distribute a copy to each Council member and 
to the manager. After tentative approval by the City Council, the city clerk shall file a reasonable number of copies 
in his office and such other public places as the Council may designate and shall publish it at least one time, by 
ordinance title only, together with a notice setting out the time and place for its consideration by the Council.
(2)Consideration by the Council shall follow the publication within thirty (30) days. It may be held separately or in 
connection with a regular or special Council meeting and may be adjourned from time to time. All persons 
interested shall have an opportunity to be heard.
(3)After consideration the Council may adopt, alter, or reject the ordinance. If it is altered, the Council may not 
adopt it until the ordinance or its amended sections have been subjected to all the procedures hereinbefore 
required in the case of a newly introduced ordinance.
(4)As soon as practicable after adoption of any ordinance, the city clerk shall have it published in full at least two 
times, with the second publication to follow the first by at least six days.
(d)
Publication of ordinances and resolutions. All ordinances and resolutions having the effect of law shall be published, 
as required by state law or ordinance, once within fifteen (15) days of their passage.
(d) (e) "Publish" Defined. As used in this charter, the term "publish" means to print, at least one time, in one or more 
newspapers of general circulation in the city. The posting of an ordinance in one or more public places shall never be 
required in order to make it effective.

Considerations
• Expedites approval time for zoning cases and other real 
property matters to move at the “speed of business”
• Examples:
• Ord. 5024 (2023): New business required minor 
rezoning to allow Use Permit to serve alcohol (2 
weeks additional time)
• Ord. 5077 (2024): Airport business tenant 
changed ownership and needed City approval 
for SBA loan (2 weeks additional time)
• Ord. 5110 (2024): Redevelopment of aging 
commercial to 420 multifamily housing units in 
Uptown Chandler (3 weeks additional time)
• Reduces publication costs
• Maintains transparency (all items will still be voted on 
by City Council)

Section 9.03 Residency Requirements
Current Charter (effective 1965) requires :
• The city manager and all department heads to 
become residents within 6 months of 
employment
• All city employees must reside within a 
reasonable radius of the city

Challenges
•
Reduces candidate pool
•
Competition with other employers
•
Frequent challenge for recruiters 
hiring executive-level positions 
•
Succession planning
•
Housing market and interest rates
•
Median Chandler home sales price 
(Feb. 2025): $530,000 (Redfin)
•
Avg. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage 
(Feb. 2025): 6.97% (Bankrate)
•
Family considerations:
•
Kids in school
•
Two working parents
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• Officers of the City: 
City Manager, City 
Treasurer, City 
Clerk, City Attorney 
and City Auditor 
shall become 
residents of the city 
within 6 months
Scottsdale
Tempe
Mesa
Glendale
Requirements of Other Valley Charter Cities
• City Manager shall 
become a resident 
of the city within 6 
months
• City Manager shall 
become a resident 
of the city within 60 
days
• City Manager 
shall reside within 
the city during 
his/her tenure

Proposed Amendment
• Remove requirement for 
department directors to reside in 
the city.
• Maintain requirement that offices 
appointed by the council are to 
become residents of the city within 
6 months.
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Considerations
• Technology has dramatically changed the way 
employees work since 1965
• Chandler was largely rural and isolated. 
Proximity was needed for communication and 
emergency response.
• Improves ability to recruit department directors 
and succession plan
• Competitive for talent with other valley cities
• City Charter already requires all employees to live 
within a “reasonable distance” that can be 
administratively determined based on the 
requirements of each position
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Questions?