Minutes of the Regular Meeting held on July 14, 2025

Meeting Minutes 
City Council Regular Meeting 
 
July 14, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. 
Chandler City Council Chambers  
88 E. Chicago St., Chandler, AZ 
 
 
Call to Order 
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kevin Hartke at 6:00 p.m. 
 
Roll Call 
Council Attendance 
 
 
 
 
Appointee Attendance 
Mayor Kevin Hartke  
 
 
 
 
Joshua Wright, City Manager 
Vice Mayor Christine Ellis  
 
 
 
Kelly Schwab, City Attorney  
Councilmember Angel Encinas   
 
 
Dana DeLong, City Clerk 
Councilmember Jane Poston 
 
 
 
  
Councilmember Matt Orlando   
 
 
*Councilmember OD Harris 
 
 
 
 
Councilmember Jennifer Hawkins 
 
*Councilmember Harris attended virtually. 
 
 
Invocation 
The invocation was given by Jolyon Clarke, Chandler Bahá’i Community.  
 
Pledge of Allegiance 
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Orlando.  
 
Scheduled Public Appearances 
1. Proclamation: Park and Recreation Month 
MAYOR HARTKE read the proclamation and invited the Community Services team to accept.  
 
JOHN SEFTON, Community Services Director, introduced Olly the Ostrich, encouraging residents 
to take selfies with Olly and tag the department on Facebook for a chance to win prizes. He

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reflected on the personal impact of parks and recreation in his life and expressed gratitude for 
the opportunity to lead the department. Mr. Sefton thanked the Mayor for reading the 
proclamation and recognizing the team’s work. 
 
2. Recognition: 2025 International Data Corporation (IDC) Smart Cities North America Award 
MAYOR HARTKE invited Niki Tapia, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, and Smart City Staff to 
accept.  
 
MS. TAPIA thanked Mayor, City Council, and city leaders for their support in using technology to 
better serve the community. She also thanked Sandip, Kristen, Janine, and Charles for their help 
with the project. She thanked the employees who participated, saying their ideas helped make the 
program a success. Ms. Tapia noted this is just the beginning: with the first rollout complete, the 
city is on track to ensure that all residents, regardless of their language or ability, feel seen, heard, 
and well-served. 
 
SANDIP DHOLAKIA, Chief Information Officer, shared a story about seeing this technology for the 
first time, where someone told him they feel safer coming downtown because they know they’ll 
be heard and understood. Sandip said that meant a lot to him and showed how this can truly help 
people. He thanked Niki for including his team. 
 
3. Retirement Recognition 
JOHN KNUDSON, Public Works & Utilities, recognized David Valenzuela, Senior Street Specialist.  
 
4. Service Recognitions 
Dennis Aust, 10 years – Development Services  
 
Joshua Wright, City Manager, service recognition. 
MAYOR HARTKE recognized Joshua Wright, City Manager, and thanked him on behalf of the City 
Council, residents, and staff for his leadership and service. Josh joined the city eight years ago, 
bringing steady leadership, innovative ideas, and a strong commitment to serving the public. He 
listened to different people and helped the city move forward. Over the last four years, as City 
Manager, Josh has helped Chandler become more connected, innovative, and ready for the future. 
After the pandemic, he didn’t just help the city recover, he helped it grow. He worked with the city 
council to turn goals into action, keeping Chandler a great place to live and work. Under his 
leadership, Chandler was recognized as one of the best cities to live in. The city improved its 
technology and infrastructure and remained financially strong. Mayor Hartke praised Josh for 
supporting city employees, listening to people, and creating a respectful workplace. He also 
helped develop future leaders to keep the city strong. Josh led with calm and focus during hard 
times and helped build a better Chandler for today and tomorrow. As he moves on, Mayor Hartke 
thanked him for making Chandler stronger and wished him well. 
 
VICE MAYOR ELLIS thanked Joshua Wright, City Manager, for his service to the City of Chandler. 
She shared that both he and her children started their education at the same business academy,

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where important values like integrity and teamwork were taught. She said Josh always led with a 
spirit of sharing and working together. She also thanked his family, especially his mother, who has 
worked as a doctor in Chandler for many years. Vice Mayor Ellis reminded everyone that Chandler 
is Josh’s hometown, and his impact will always be remembered. On behalf of her family and all 
who know him, she thanked Josh for giving his best to the city. As he moves on to the University 
of Arizona, she shared a personal note that her late son also attended the University of Arizona. 
She said if he were here, he would proudly say, “Bear Down.” 
 
COUNCILMEMBER HAWKINS expressed that she was sad to see Josh leave and wished she had 
more time to work with him and learn from his leadership. She said he brought something truly 
special to Chandler. She thanked him for the support he had given her as a new councilmember 
and for everything he had done for the city. She acknowledged that the role is not easy and wanted 
him to know how much he is truly appreciated.  
 
COUNCILMEMBER ORLANDO said he wanted the night to be happy, not sad, because Josh did a 
great job and will be missed. He remembered their first talk over coffee at Ziggi’s, where they 
shared their goals and how to help each other. He liked their honest and respectful relationship, 
where they gave each other feedback without hard feelings. He praised Josh for caring a lot about 
city staff and standing up for them. He thanked Josh for his work and said the council always 
supported his ideas to help staff. He joked that losing Josh to the University of Arizona is a loss for 
the city. He said his own family has graduates from ASU, U of A, and NAU, wished Josh good luck, 
and told him to stay in touch. 
 
COUNCILMEMBER POSTON highlighted Josh’s role as a strong advocate for city staff. She said both 
staff and council will truly miss him. As a former city employee herself, she shared how important 
it is to have a city manager who stands up for staff and how much of a difference that made during 
Josh’s time. She noted that when Josh first started, the staff didn’t always feel appreciated. 
However, over time, he helped change that and garnered strong support from employees, earning 
their respect and trust. She wished him the best at the University of Arizona, adding that her own 
family is now cheering for a Wildcat too. She closed by saying, “Bear Down,” and wished him good 
luck in the next chapter. 
 
COUNCILMEMBER ENCINAS said he will truly miss Josh. He joked that Josh was his favorite and 
only city manager, so there’s no comparison, but he believes Josh is brilliant. He said Josh always 
had answers when needed and always made time, even to tease him about being a Sun Devils 
fan. While he won’t miss that part, he said he deeply admires Josh’s work ethic and drive to 
accomplish things. He added that the city wouldn’t be where it is today without Josh’s leadership 
and the way he managed Chandler’s great staff. He said it’s hard to see Josh go, but he knows he’s 
headed for bigger things, and he’s confident they’ll stay in touch.  
 
COUNCILMEMBER HARRIS said he’s not sad about Josh leaving, because Josh is just a phone call 
or text away. He said Josh is moving on to bigger things, and this next step is part of the path he’s 
worked hard for. He shared that while it’s hard not seeing someone every day, Josh has always

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been there to help solve problems. He thanked Josh for his strong problem-solving skills and 
leadership, saying that’s exactly what the city needs in its top staff. Councilmember Harris also 
said he respects Josh for being honest, having tough conversations, and always working to 
improve himself. He believes Josh will bring that same strength to the University of Arizona. On 
behalf of the people of Chandler, he thanked Josh for all he’s done for the city and wished him 
wisdom and success in the future. He ended by saying, “Keep going, Josh, and bear down.” 
 
JOSHUA WRIGHT, City Manager, expressed his gratitude for the recognition he received. He 
thanked the community for trusting him over the past four years, as well as throughout his entire 
tenure with the City of Chandler. Mr. Wright emphasized that serving as city manager is a 
profound honor, allowing a rare opportunity to influence and impact the community positively. 
He shared his appreciation for the trust placed in him to lead staff and contribute to the city's 
achievements. He reflected on his eight-year journey in Chandler, describing it as a dream come 
true, and acknowledged that Chandler represents the pinnacle of municipal service, especially 
after working for two other cities. With about 20 years of experience, he expressed gratitude for 
the opportunity to serve. Mr. Wright emphasized his belief in people as the core of the city’s 
success, highlighting the importance of respect and a team-oriented approach. He praised the 
staff of Team Chandler as second to none, noting their consistent excellence. He also thanked the 
city council for their support and investment in staff development. Concluding his remarks, he 
described his tenure as a blessing for his family and himself, expressing heartfelt appreciation for 
the opportunity to be part of the community. 
 
Consent Agenda and Discussion 
City Clerk 
1.  
Approval of Minutes 
Move City Council approve the Council meeting minutes of the Special Meeting held on June 
23, 2025, the Study Session held on June 23, 2025, the Work Session held on June 26, 2025, 
and the Regular Meeting held on June 26, 2025. 
 
Development Services  
2.  
Final Adoption of Ordinance No. 5127, Zoning Code Amendment, PLH25-0007 Medical 
Marijuana Code Amendment 
Move City Council adopt Ordinance No. 5127 approving Zoning Code Amendment PLH25-
0007 Medical Marijuana Code Amendment, amending Chapter 35 – Section 2213 Medical 
marijuana facility, medical marijuana cultivation site, and infusion food establishment by 
replacing the one (1) year time condition for medical marijuana facilities approved through 
a Use Permit with any period of time approved by the City Council. 
 
Public Works and Utilities  
3.  
Final Adoption of Ordinance No. 5126, Granting a Non-Exclusive Power Distribution 
Easement to Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, at No Cost, for

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the Electrical Facilities Required for the New Pickleball and Tennis Courts at Tumbleweed 
Park 
Move City Council adopt Ordinance No. 5126, granting a non-exclusive power distribution 
easement to SRP, at no cost, for the electrical facilities required for the new pickleball and 
tennis courts at Tumbleweed Park. 
 
Consent Agenda Motion and Vote  
Councilmember Orlando moved to approve the Consent Agenda of the July 14, 2025, Regular City 
Council Meeting; Seconded by Vice Mayor Ellis.  
 
Motion carried unanimously (7-0). 
 
Adjourn 
The meeting was adjourned at 6:33 p.m. 
 
 
ATTEST:  _______________________  
______________________________ 
                       City Clerk                                                   Mayor 
 
 
Approval Date of Minutes:  August 11, 2025 
 
 
Certification 
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of Regular 
Meeting of the City Council of Chandler, Arizona, held on the 14th day of July 2025.  I further certify 
that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. 
 
DATED this _______ day of August, 2025. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
__________________________ 
                                                         
           City Clerk