8.5.25 Parks & Recreation Minutes

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AUGUST 6, 2025, | 5:00 P.M.  
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD 
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 
 
 
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL 
 
Vice Chair Dykstra called the meeting to order on Tuesday, August 6, at 5:00 p.m.  
 
       
Members in Attendance: 
Vice Chair Melanie Dykstra 
Board Member Lynette Bradley  
Board Member Jegadesan Krishnamurthy 
Board Member Sue McInturf (via phone) 
Board Member James Montgomery 
 
Board Member Sarah Sharits 
  
 
 
Members Absent: 
Chair John David 
 
 
 
Staff Members:  
John Sefton, Corey Povar, Mickey Ohland, Becky Kuiper, Sean Good, Sandy 
Popovich, Chris Smith, Sylvia Dlott, Matt Dunbar, and Misty Gustafson 
 
Others Present: 
None. 
 
 
UNSCHEDULED/SCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES 
None. 
 
ACTION ITEMS

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1. Approval of Minutes from May 6, 2025, Parks and Recreation Board Meeting. 
 
 
Board Member Krishnamurthy moved to approve the May 6th Parks and 
 
Recreation Board meeting minutes and Board Member Sharits seconded.   
The motion was approved unanimously, 6-0. 
 
BRIEFING  
 
2. Results from the Resident Bond Committee and Details about the 
Upcoming Bond Election – Management Services 
 
Mr. Matt Dunbar, Budget and Policy Director for the City of Chandler, 
briefed the Board on the upcoming Bond Election on November 4, 2025.   
 
Mr. Dunbar shared that the City of Chandler is holding a Special Bond for 
voters to consider a $475 million general obligation bond package to fund 
large capital projects in the city’s 10-yr Capital Improvement Program (CIP).  
 
Bond Project Areas include Parks and Recreation ($158M), Fire ($88M), 
Police ($46M), and Streets ($183M).  These projects aim to improve daily 
life, ensure public safety, and support Chandler’s growth. 
 
Mr. Dunbar made it clear that the city predicts no increase to the property 
tax rate.  The estimated average tax rate for the proposed bond 
authorization is $0.4795 per $100 of assessed valuation.  The new bonds 
are timed with retiring debt, which the city projects will keep the secondary 
property tax rate stable at $0.87 per $100 of assessed valuation. 
 
Mr. Dunbar also shared that this special election would include two 
proposed amendments to the Chandler City Charter.  The City of Chandler 
provides this information without supporting or opposing the 
amendments. 
 
Proposition 410:  Term Limits for Councilmembers and Mayor 
Proposition 411:  City Manager Appointment and Removal 
 
 
Board Member Montgomery asked about the term for the bonds.  Mr. 
Dunbar responded that the bonds are typically for 10 to 20-year terms.

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Board Member Montgomery asked if the city expected the bond initiative 
to pass.  Mr. Dunbar responded that it would be dependent on the voters. 
 
Vice-Chair Dykstra asked if the upcoming bond election for Chandler 
Unified would impact this bond.  Mr. Dunbar responded that the two bonds 
are very different, and the school’s bond should not have an impact.   
 
Board Member Bradley asked if this bond presentation was ever given to 
charter schools.  Mr. Dunbar replied that it had not. 
 
Vice-Chair Dykstra asked if there are other changes to the charter.  Mr. 
Dunbar responded that there aren’t any for this election.   
 
3. Neighborhood Services Ordinance 5122 Relating to Camping – Misty 
Gustafson 
 
Misty Gustafson, City of Chandler Homeless Programs Supervisor, gave 
a briefing on the homeless in Chandler and how the new ordinance 
effective January 1, 2025, impacts them.  The ordinance states that it is 
unlawful to set up camp at city parks, outside city buildings, or schools.   
 
Ms. Gustafson outlined the many programs available to the homeless 
and the support that her team provides on a regular basis.   
 
4. Construction of Tumbleweed Park Pickleball Facility, City of Chandler, Mickey 
Ohland 
 
Mickey Ohland, Community Services Planning Manager, announced that 
the new pickleball courts at Tumbleweed Park will have the ribbon cutting 
ceremony on September 6, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. Courts will open at 9:00 a.m. 
with pros available and additional activities to include lessons from 
instructors, games, and practice with pickleball machines.  Equipment will 
be provided.      
 
5. BerryDunn Accounting and Consulting Firm has been selected for the Recreation 
& Libraries Master Plan – City of Chandler, John Sefton 
 
Mr. John Sefton, Community Services Director, announced that the 
consulting firm for the upcoming Recreation & Libraries Master Plan had 
been selected and the board would be involved with future discussions.

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6. FY25/26 Community Services Budget – City of Chandler, John Sefton 
 
Mr. John Sefton, Community Services Director, gave a high-level review of 
the approved FY25/26 Community Services budget. 
 
OPERATING BUDGET 
 
 
Amount 
                FTE 
           
Personnel and Benefits 
 
 
$24,779,032 
 
190.375 
Operations and Maintenance* 
 
$16,672,853 
TOTAL 
 
 
 
 
$41,451,885 
*Excludes capital cost centers 
 
 
 
 
 
CIP Programs 
 
 
 
2025-26 Total 
TOTAL 
 
 
 
 
$89,770,144 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CALENDAR ITEMS 
 
7. Fall Community Recreation Program registration began on August 5, 2025, 
at 10:00 a.m. 
8. The next Parks and Recreation Board meeting will be held on September 2, 
2025, at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers Conference Room, 88 E. 
Chicago St. 
ADJOURN 
Board Member Montgomery moved to adjourn August 5th Parks and  
 
Recreation Board meeting, and Board Member Krishnamurthy 
 
seconded.  The meeting was adjourned at 6:16 p.m. 
 
 
 
_______________________________ 
 _________________________________________ 
Melanie Dykstra, Vice-Chair               John Sefton, Director of Community Services