2026-10-20 - Town Council Regular Meeting

03:54Mhm.

05:49>> Mhm.

07:44>> Mhm.

07:58>> Mr.

07:59>> Okay.

08:07Okay. I think we're ready to get

08:09started.

08:11I'll call this regular meeting of the

08:12Gilbert Town Council

08:14of October 20th, 2026 to order.

08:19Our invocation tonight will be by John

08:22Kamao,

08:24CEO of the Kenya Kenya Presbyterian

08:26Church of Arizona. John.

08:38>> Thank you.

08:40Mr. Mayor.

08:42Uh my name is uh John Kamao.

08:45I am a resident of this uh wonderful

08:47city. I've lived here for 23 years.

08:50And I am [clears throat] very humbled to

08:53be here to say the invocation for the

08:56leadership and the people of Gilbert.

09:01Let's bow our heads and pray.

09:03Almighty, everlasting God,

09:06we come before you

09:08holidays and precious and grateful heart

09:11with grateful hearts acknowledging that

09:13you are the source of all wisdom,

09:16justice, and righteous

09:18leadership.

09:19Heavenly Father, we lift before you this

09:21great city, its people, its families,

09:25and all who have been entrusted with the

09:27leadership

09:29of serving

09:30them.

09:33Lord, grant our mayor, city council

09:35members, and all public servants the

09:37wisdom of Solomon,

09:40the courage of Joshua,

09:42and the great

09:43integrity of Daniel,

09:45and the compassion of Jesus Christ.

09:48Where there is divisions, Lord, bring

09:50unity. Where there are challenges,

09:53provide solutions. Where there is

09:55suffering, inspire compassion, and where

09:58decisions must be made, let justice,

10:01truth, and righteousness prevail.

10:05Bless our neighborhoods, protect our

10:07children, strengthen our families,

10:10prosper our businesses, and watch over

10:13those who protect and serve our

10:15communities.

10:17May every decision made in this chamber

10:20honor the dignity of every person and

10:22advance the peace, prosperity, and

10:25well-being of this city.

10:27Lord God Almighty, let this city be

10:29known not only for its growth and

10:31achievements, but for its integrity,

10:34compassion, unity, and justice.

10:37We commit this meeting, its

10:39deliberations, and the leadership into

10:41your mighty hands

10:43in the precious name of our Lord and

10:45Savior Jesus Christ. We pray and

10:48believe. Amen.

10:50>> Amen.

10:52>> Thank Thank you, John.

10:54>> Our pledge tonight will be led by

10:55Council Member Bucklin.

11:05>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

11:07United States of America, and to the

11:10republic for which it stands, one nation

11:13under God, indivisible, with liberty and

11:16justice for all.

11:22>> Thank you. Roll call.

11:24>> Mayor Scott Anderson.

11:25>> Here.

11:26>> Vice Mayor Chuck Bon Giovanni.

11:27>> Here.

11:28>> Council Member Bobby Buckley.

11:29>> Here.

11:30>> Council Member Kenny Buckland.

11:31>> Here.

11:32>> Council Member Young Krapowski.

11:33>> Here.

11:34>> Council Member Montiel.

11:35Here. And Councilmember Jim Torgeson?

11:37Here. A quorum is present.

11:39>> Thank you. We have a couple of

11:40proclamations and a recognition tonight.

11:43Our first proclamation is declaring the

11:45month of October 2026

11:48as domestic violence awareness month.

11:51Councilmember Torgeson.

11:57>> [snorts]

12:17>> You know, before I go into this

12:19proclamation,

12:20this is something that goes beyond

12:23ladies up here that may have been

12:24victims.

12:26We had I believe in the proclamation

12:28says 2096 domestic violence calls last

12:31month.

12:32Those are the calls.

12:34Those aren't the ones that didn't get

12:36called in.

12:37And

12:39in my family there's been some people

12:40that

12:42were victims.

12:43And knowing

12:45the decades it took to recover for some

12:47of them is incredible. And it's never to

12:52be slighted. This is not something that

12:54uh we should

12:56just recognize once.

12:58But it's something to remember if you

12:59see something, you feel something, be

13:01engaged with your neighbor, know what's

13:03going on because it's an extremely tough

13:06thing to get out of when you're trapped

13:08in that cycle.

13:10And uh

13:12we have a domestic We have a a vi-

13:15victims advocacy center coming online.

13:17That helps.

13:19But it's a start.

13:20So, just please take it to heart cuz

13:23when you see people and you know people

13:25that have literally taken decades to

13:27heal.

13:28It's It's an injustice that that we

13:30can't do on our own.

13:33So, whereas domestic violence is defined

13:35as the willful intimidation, physical

13:37assault, battery, sexual assault, and or

13:41other abusive behavior as part of a

13:42systematic pattern of power and control

13:45perpetrated by one intimate partner

13:47against another.

13:48It includes any behaviors that

13:50intimidate, manipulate, humiliate,

13:52isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce,

13:55threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound

13:58someone physically, emotionally, or

14:00psychologically.

14:02Whereas domestic violence affects over

14:0412 million Americans each year across

14:07all demographics, including age, race,

14:10gender, sexuality, religion, education

14:13level, and economic status.

14:15Domestic violence does not discriminate

14:17and can happen to anyone. It looks

14:19different in every relationship, and no

14:21one experiences it the same way.

14:24Although the underlying objective of all

14:25domestic violence is to exert power and

14:28control over another.

14:30Whereas Arizona ranks as the fifth

14:32highest state in America

14:34for domestic violence, and between

14:36August 1st, 2025,

14:39and August

14:4031st, 2026, that is a mistake. It's

14:43August 1st, 2026, not 2025. Uh Gilbert's

14:47Police Department has responded to more

14:49than 2,096 calls for service related to

14:52domestic violence and made 1,250

14:55arrests.

14:57Whereas the dedication of Gilbert's

14:59family violence detectives, police

15:00counselors, prosecutors, victim

15:03advocates, and interns working

15:04harmoniously on a multi-disciplinary

15:07team to reduce lethal lethality risks

15:10for the survivors while promoting

15:12justice through Gilbert's domestic

15:13violence specialty court that empowers

15:16survivors with a voice and holds

15:18offenders accountable and offers

15:20rehabilitation through court-mandated

15:22counseling.

15:23And whereas Gilbert actively serves on

15:25the Maricopa Association of Governments

15:27Domestic Violence Subcommittee to ensure

15:29regional discussions, efforts, and

15:32policies support domestic violence

15:34survivors. And whereas Gilbert is

15:36committed to the increasing domestic

15:38violence awareness and providing the

15:40resources necessary to reduce its

15:42perpetration in our community and

15:44support survivors through the

15:45forthcoming Vic Family Advocate Excuse

15:48me, Family Advocate See Center that will

15:51open in the fall of 2026 to provide

15:53trauma-informed care through advocacy,

15:55therapy, and forensic services to

15:57domestic violence survivors.

16:00And

16:01Hold that for a moment.

16:06Sorry for that.

16:08Now, therefore, I, Jim Torgeson, on

16:10behalf of Scott Anderson, the mayor of

16:12the town of Gilbert, do hereby proclaim

16:14the month of October 2026 as Domestic

16:17Violence Awareness Month in Gilbert,

16:19Arizona, and invite all members of our

16:21community to attend Gilbert's fourth

16:22annual Domestic Violence Awareness Event

16:25at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 22nd,

16:282026, held at the Southeast Regional

16:31Library to learn more on how we can

16:33eliminate domestic violence from our

16:35community.

16:36And at this point, I would really like

16:38to hand the proclamation to you and for

16:40you to introduce everybody that is with

16:42you.

16:45>> Thank you so much.

16:48Um this is our This is our team. Um

16:52we're the Domestic Violence Committee.

16:54Keith is our um has been our leader and

16:57now he's um changed hands to Melanie.

16:59And uh we're This is our fourth year, is

17:02that right?

17:03Fourth year having this event. And I

17:05think you can hold it, Keith.

17:08Uh what's important for everyone to know

17:10is that uh there's a different kind of

17:13survivor of domestic violence that's not

17:14always talked about, and that's the type

17:17that I am. They call us the invisible

17:19victims of domestic violence and that's

17:21children who witness domestic violence.

17:23Every 44 minutes in the state of

17:25Arizona, a child witnesses domestic

17:27violence and about 60% of the time when

17:30there's domestic violence present,

17:32there's child abuse present as well. And

17:34so what I would hope is that we

17:37also support the adult victims, but also

17:39the children who witness domestic

17:41violence and understand the long-term

17:43lifelong consequences that it can have.

17:46Witnessing domestic violence is the

17:48single greatest predictor of juvenile

17:50delinquency and adult criminality. And

17:52so when people say that it's not their

17:54business and it doesn't matter, it truly

17:56does. And I'm honored to live in a town

17:58like Gilbert where it matters, where

18:00it's always mattered, um where we've had

18:02non-profits serve as victim advocates

18:04until we had these fine victim advocates

18:06here.

18:07And I'm so excited for our family

18:09advocacy center coming up and just

18:11couldn't be more proud. Um

18:13I still call him my chief,

18:16Mike Sohlberg over there. Um I'm so

18:18grateful for him and all the work he did

18:20to make that happen and so grateful for

18:21the care

18:23uh that happens for victims every day in

18:25our amazing town. So thank you.

18:29Okay. Thank you all so much.

18:34>> I'm thinking we'll do this group first

18:36for a photo and then if anyone on

18:37council would like to join for a photo

18:39after that.

18:57Does council want to jump in? Since you

18:59guys are in your purple,

19:00feel free.

20:28>> Next is a proclamation declaring October

20:302026 is breast cancer awareness month.

20:34Councilmember Buckley.

20:39>> I'll let you

20:40>> Yeah, just Well, just for a second.

20:42>> Sure.

20:42>> I know. Okay.

20:43>> Hi there.

20:44>> How are you guys?

20:47>> Okay.

20:48Thank you.

20:52>> How are you? Uh Would you ladies like to

20:53introduce yourself or say anything?

20:57Uh Well, either way, if if you want to

20:59wait, I'll read it and then

21:02All right. Um so, whereas breast cancer

21:05is one of the most commonly diagnosed

21:07cancers in women and also affects men

21:11with one in eight women being diagnosed

21:13in their lifetime. And whereas while

21:16breast cancer is the second leading

21:18cause of cancer death among women, when

21:21detected early and treated effectively

21:24the five-year survival rate is very

21:26high. And whereas October is annually

21:30recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness

21:33Month

21:34to increase public awareness about the

21:36disease and to emphasize the importance

21:39of early detection, education, and

21:42access to quality care.

21:44And whereas breast cancer screenings,

21:47including mammograms, are critical tools

21:50for early detection and are vital for

21:53saving lives.

21:54And whereas breast cancer survivorship

21:58can go beyond treatment and many

22:00survivors face ongoing struggles of

22:03emotional, mental, and physical

22:05challenges as they navigate life after

22:07cancer. And whereas we honor, celebrate

22:11the

22:12and celebrate the resilience of breast

22:14cancer survivors and stand in solidarity

22:18with those currently undergoing

22:20treatment while also remembering those

22:23who have lost their lives to this

22:25disease. Excuse me.

22:32Okay.

22:35Whereas the generous support and

22:37tireless efforts of volunteers,

22:39caregivers, researchers, and health

22:42professionals per

22:44are essential to finding a cure and

22:46providing support to those affected.

22:50Okay. Whereas bio by raising awareness,

22:53promoting early detection, adding more

22:55resources, and supporting the mental and

22:58emotional well-being of those affected

23:01by breast cancer,

23:02Our community can help women not only

23:05survive, but

23:07um live brightly before that. Now,

23:10therefore, I, Bobby Berkley, may

23:13not the mayor of Gilbert, not not at

23:15this moment.

23:16>> [laughter]

23:17>> Um uh

23:18uh on behalf of the mayor of the town of

23:20Gilbert, do you hereby proclaim Breast

23:23Cancer Awareness Month in the town of

23:25Gilbert and encourage all residents,

23:28businesses, healthcare providers, and

23:30community organizations to join in

23:32activities promoting awareness,

23:35education, and support for the fight

23:37against breast cancer. In witness

23:39whereof, I hereby Whoops, that's for

23:42Scott Anderson. So, that would be for

23:44Mayor Anderson. All right. Thank you.

23:47Thank you all so much.

23:49Um

23:53>> So, my my name is Laura Allred, and this

23:55is Jamie Kram, and we are members of the

23:57board um for Brightly Living Foundation.

24:01Uh so, thank you. Thank you, Mayor

24:03Anderson. Thank you, members of the

24:05council for this recognition. So, it was

24:078 years ago that I was diagnosed with

24:10breast cancer at the age of 33.

24:13And

24:14I think that I expected a year of

24:18um active treatment and how that would

24:20take a toll on my body physically, but

24:22what I didn't expect was the mental and

24:24emotional toll that it would take.

24:27And um how that would affect me after

24:30active treatment was over.

24:32And there were days that I felt so alone

24:35and so overwhelmed.

24:37And what I now know is that research

24:39shows that 82.5% of women affected by

24:43are diagnosed with breast cancer have

24:44symptoms of PTSD.

24:47And

24:48so, what this proclamation means to me

24:52is telling that 33-year-old version of

24:54myself and every woman or man who has

24:58been diagnosed with breast cancer today

25:01that you are not alone. We see you. We

25:05honor you.

25:07We support you. And there are resources

25:10out there for you for physical, mental,

25:12and emotional support. For example, at

25:13Brightly Living Foundation, um we

25:16provide in-person support groups and

25:18events to provide education and

25:19connection for mental wellness, and we

25:22provide financial assistance for people

25:24to receive professional counseling and

25:26therapy.

25:28>> [snorts]

25:28>> And so, there is hope and strength as we

25:30all stand together. So, let's continue

25:33to support initiatives and local

25:35organizations that provide early

25:36detection and support for those on their

25:39breast cancer journey. So, thank you for

25:41allowing Brightly Living Foundation to

25:43be here today, and thank you for this

25:44proclamation.

26:22>> Thank you.

26:23Uh Kathleen [clears throat] Dallow, are

26:24you joining me down there?

26:44Was this a cheering section?

26:58>> Just so you know, we we have a lot of

27:01people in our community that helped

27:03build this community. Kathleen is one of

27:05those people.

27:06She's been around for 30 33 years

27:09dedicated service with Dignity Health.

27:12Um when are you retiring?

27:15>> Yes.

27:15>> Yesterday?

27:17Okay.

27:17>> Just retired today.

27:18>> Just retired, but

27:19we have benefited from all the service

27:22she's given in this community for 33

27:24years.

27:25I'll read a few of those things um

27:28and maybe some of you that are over

27:29there would like to say something about

27:31her, too.

27:33Um

27:35Kathleen began her nursing career as an

27:37RN before joining Chandler Regional

27:38Medical Center 1993, later earning her

27:41Master's of Health Administration

27:44from the University of Phoenix in 2013.

27:48As Director of Community Integration for

27:50Dignity Health East Valley, Arizona,

27:52serving Chandler Regional Mercy Gilbert

27:54Medical Centers, Kathleen is champion

27:57the belief that building a bridge from

27:58hospital to community is essential to

28:00health care delivery,

28:02developing partnerships and facilitating

28:05collaboration between government,

28:07nonprofits,

28:08and health care systems.

28:10Here [snorts] in Gilbert, that

28:11philosophy took visible lasting form.

28:14Kathleen was instrumental

28:16in crafting the vision and guiding

28:17Gilbert's Heritage Center from an early

28:19vision

28:20to a fully realized reality. In

28:22addition, she dedicated two years of her

28:24time

28:25facilitating the Town of Gilbert's

28:27Community Engagement Task Force,

28:29strengthening the ties between

28:31residents, nonprofits, and municipal

28:33leaders.

28:34She was also instrumental in supporting

28:36development of the soon-to-open

28:39Gilbert Advocacy Center,

28:42a centralized resource that will serve

28:44families across our town.

28:46Serving as a founding member of the

28:47Gilbert Advocacy Foundation board for

28:50the past 2 years

28:52to sustain that mission.

28:55Kathleen has been described by her

28:56colleagues as a mentor, a builder, and

28:58above all, a friend. Her own words

29:01capture her legacy best.

29:03That together we have saved lives,

29:05improved lives, and made our communities

29:07better.

29:09Uh tonight, on behalf of the town of

29:10Gilbert, we simply say thank you,

29:12Kathleen, for all you've done for us.

29:15Thank you for 33 years of service, for

29:17the countless lives you have touched,

29:18and for the lasting mark you have left

29:20on this community.

29:22In recognition of your extraordinary

29:24contributions and partnership, we are

29:26honored to present you

29:28with the gift that I think

29:31Alby has.

29:32You can just give it.

29:34It's a small token of our deep gratitude

29:37and appreciation

29:39for all you've done. Thank you so much.

29:43You can.

29:44>> Okay, thanks.

29:45Thank you so [applause] much.

29:49Thank you so much for this unexpected

29:52recognition.

29:53As a resident of Gilbert since '93, it's

29:57really been a true honor to serve the

29:59community and certainly through my

30:0233-year tenureship with Dignity Health,

30:05I had the opportunity to really build

30:06relationships with the town of Gilbert

30:08and work together with nonprofits and

30:11community to help increase resources,

30:14provide services, and and build a

30:16lasting impact, as as you mentioned. And

30:19it's been my great honor and I'm

30:21grateful that the Dignity Health

30:22Outreach team continues to provide

30:24services to the Gilbert community every

30:26single day. And and I'm also certainly

30:29grateful for my family who has supported

30:30me through my career and my community

30:33service throughout these many years. And

30:35I'm still not done, as you all know,

30:37>> [laughter]

30:38>> in my service. And I love the town of

30:40Gilbert. And thank you again so very

30:42much. And I'm thankful for the entire

30:44team as well. Thank you.

30:49>> [applause]

30:53>> We love you. Thank you so much for your

30:55service.

30:57And I've got this certificate or this

30:59letter actually to you.

31:02So, thank you so much and continue.

31:05Thank you.

31:55The presentation from the Gilbert Sister

31:57Cities Youth Ambassador update has been

31:59postponed to a a different date.

32:02Uh before we get into communication for

32:04citizens from citizens, I'd like to

32:07announce that we will be pulling item

32:10number 46. It will be removed from the

32:12agenda.

32:14And with that item being removed, we're

32:16also I'd like to direct staff

32:19to work with

32:21those parties interested in a

32:22public-private partnership to prepare

32:26um

32:27a

32:29presentation at a study session on

32:31November the

32:3317th.

32:35November 17th.

32:37Thank you.

32:39Is there anything more we need to do

32:41with that, Chris?

32:44>> Mayor, no, that that's sufficient.

32:46>> Okay.

32:49We'll move on to communications from

32:50citizens.

32:52>> Thank you, Mayor.

32:54We value the participation of our

32:55community members and robust robust

32:58exchange of ideas. However, it's

32:59essential that this that discourse

33:01remains respectful and constructive,

33:03reflecting the professionalism expected

33:05in such forums. Misinformation and

33:07personal attacks undermine our

33:09collective efforts and do not

33:11contribute to the productive dialogue

33:13necessary for the town's progress. This

33:15is an opportunity for the public to

33:17address the town council directly about

33:19issues impacting the town. Accordingly,

33:21the town council will not allow for

33:23moments of silence or playing of music

33:24or other recorded material, which could

33:26distract the meeting decorum and violate

33:28copyrights.

33:29While we understand and appreciate the

33:30passion our community members bring to

33:32this session, we remind everyone that

33:34clapping during the meeting is not

33:36acceptable. This practice can disrupt

33:37the flow of discussion, potentially

33:39intimidate others, and distract from the

33:41respectful atmosphere we strive to

33:42maintain. In accordance with state law,

33:44we are unable to respond to issues that

33:46have not been properly noticed.

33:47Therefore, the town council may only

33:49listen to citizens who wish to address

33:51them at and at the conclusion of the

33:54open call to republic res- to the the

33:57public response is limited to individual

33:59members of the council responding to

34:00criticism made by those who have

34:02addressed public body, ask staff to

34:04review a matter, or asking that a matter

34:06be put on future agenda. However, please

34:09be assured that your concerns and input

34:11are heard and valued. In accordance with

34:13town code, speakers may not use this

34:15form to advocate for or against any

34:16candidate for public office. Town

34:18resources, including this public

34:20meeting, may not be used for campaign or

34:21election purposes.

34:23Each speaker is limited to 3 minutes.

34:24Priority is given to Gilbert residents,

34:26business owners, and property owners.

34:28Public comments will be limited to 30

34:30minutes total at the beginning of the

34:31meeting. The town clerk will notify the

34:33council when 30-minute limit has been

34:35reached. And if if additional comments

34:37remain, they will be heard after the

34:39conclusion of the public hearing items

34:40with the same 3-minute limit per

34:43speaker. When you come up to the podium,

34:45please state your name and city of

34:46residence.

34:48Council, we don't have more than 30

34:49minutes of of comments today just to let

34:51you know.

34:53I'm going to call Barbara up. Barbara,

34:55since we're not talking about parks, do

34:57you still want to speak tonight?

35:00Yes.

35:01Please come on up.

35:11>> My name is Barbara and I live in

35:13Gilbert.

35:14What this council wants to do

35:17are all the nice things. Advocate for

35:19all issues. This is not a bad thing to

35:22want to do. In fact, it is a wonderful

35:25and appreciated thing.

35:26But you also need to advocate for all of

35:28the residents.

35:30I attended my first town hall on October

35:3214th, 2025 and I've been here ever

35:35since.

35:36I told you I'd be in your face and I am.

35:39Which is just a few days over 1 year.

35:42I am more dismayed now than my first

35:44meeting. I was livid when I attended

35:46that meeting with the sorry excuse you

35:49collectively as the town council along

35:51with the town manager and the town staff

35:53gave for the atrocious victimizing way

35:56you handled the infrastructure debacle,

35:58the wells and the water treatment plant

36:00and our utility bill.

36:02Now I am more livid with the fact that

36:04you think it is in the town's best

36:05interest to invest approximately 1/4

36:09approximately 1/4 of a billion dollars

36:12for parks. You haven't even gotten to

36:14phase three and any change orders and

36:17you don't even have all the money to

36:19complete these projects. So the fire

36:21department and police department are

36:22non-essential compared to the life

36:25quality of these parks.

36:27The three teenage girls who made their

36:28way to the last town hall, I'm sure with

36:31a little coaxing, said they love living

36:33in Gilbert and are glad that the town is

36:35providing a safe place for them to hang

36:37out with their friends.

36:38Of course, they're ecstatic. I'd be

36:40ecstatic if the town council had said

36:42they were going to do the right thing by

36:44the residents who paid the bills and use

36:46this money for the much-needed

36:48infrastructure, new wells, and the new

36:50water treatment plant. All of which

36:52existed because of the negligence and

36:55mismanagement from the town staff, town

36:57manager, and town council.

37:00These three teenagers don't pay the

37:01mortgage. They don't pay the atrocious

37:03Gilbert utility bill. They don't pay car

37:05insurance. They don't pay health

37:06insurance, and they don't pay child

37:08care, etc.

37:09They have never been to a town hall and

37:11probably have never read an agenda. So,

37:13do you listen to the adults of the town

37:15who do pay all these bills? No, you were

37:18so grateful these three showed up so you

37:20could feel good providing this life

37:22quality for them.

37:24Let's hope they live in a household that

37:25isn't on a budget. You listen to 60,000

37:28people out of 290,000.

37:31And Mr. Mayor, I was really disappointed

37:34when you made the comment that you were

37:36upset that it wasn't a full count of

37:38seven for approving this. And thank you,

37:40Councilman Torgenson and Lyons, for

37:44not voting yes on it. Although we both

37:46know or we all know that it's going to

37:49pass because these decisions are always

37:51made or already made before you enter

37:53the room.

37:55I'm not saying I'm against parks and

37:57amenities. I think they're great. But if

37:59the representatives of this town can't

38:01build parks for under 300 million

38:04dollars plus, there is something

38:06definitely wrong. Your priorities are

38:08definitely not what the residents of

38:10this town want. You are spending money

38:12you don't have.

38:14When I was raising my daughter and she

38:15asked for something extra cuz we were on

38:18a budget, I had to tell her there's no

38:20money. I showed her our income and our

38:22bills.

38:23And she said, "If you don't have money,

38:25you can't spend it." And she didn't even

38:27have a master's degree.

38:29Just because you want it, just because

38:31it would be nice, doesn't mean you can

38:32have the champagne of parks on a less

38:35than beer budget. Plus, you continue to

38:37put things on the table that cost money.

38:41Thank you.

38:42>> Thanks, Barbara.

38:44Council member um elect Bus Obeayomi.

38:49Bus, you know how I I know how to spell

38:51your last name. What's the pronunciation

38:53here?

38:53>> Yeah, good job.

38:56Um I think it's on. Can you guys hear

38:57me?

38:57>> All set, sir.

38:58>> All right. Good evening, Mayor, council

39:00members, and fellow Gilbert residents.

39:02I'm council member elect uh Bus

39:04Obeayomi. And first of all, I want to

39:06thank

39:07uh the people of Gilbert

39:10for the trust they have placed in us,

39:12whether you voted for me

39:14or not.

39:15My commitment is to serve every resident

39:18of this great community.

39:20Uh tonight's agenda addresses important

39:22matters.

39:23Uh some include data center development,

39:26council procedures, the code of conduct,

39:28and significant park investment.

39:31The decision requires thoughtful

39:32deliberation,

39:35uh transparency, and fiscal

39:36responsibility. But I want to speak

39:38briefly about something just as

39:41important. How we govern and how we

39:44treat one another.

39:45We were elected by the people, and we

39:47must never forget that our authority

39:50comes from the people.

39:53Public office is not about us, it's

39:55about those we are elected to serve.

39:58We will disagree. Uh that's normal.

40:01And that is healthy.

40:03But disagreement should never become

40:06disrespect.

40:07We must be willing to put aside personal

40:10differences and personal grievances to

40:13work together for the greater good of

40:15Gilbert.

40:17We challenge ideas without attacking

40:20individuals.

40:21We can demand accountability with while

40:24maintaining civility.

40:26I often say that perception is reality.

40:29In public service, perception shapes

40:31public trust.

40:32Our residents are watching and the

40:34example that we set actually matters.

40:37To our current council members and my

40:39fellow incoming council members, my

40:42comrades in public service,

40:45I offer this sincere appeal.

40:47Let us lead by example.

40:50Let us listen before judging,

40:53seek understanding before confrontation,

40:56and demonstrate the highest standard of

40:58decorum, integrity, and mutual respect.

41:02We do not have to agree on every issue

41:04to work together.

41:06Not Not Not do we have to compromise our

41:10conviction

41:11to demonstrate civility.

41:14For me personally, as I take to as I

41:16prepare to take office,

41:17I commit to listening, seeking the fact,

41:20remaining accountable, and treating

41:22others with dignity, even when we

41:24disagree.

41:25Gilbert is bigger than any one of us.

41:28Let us Let us

41:30be remembered not only for the decisions

41:33that we make, but for the integrity and

41:36the respect which

41:39which we make them.

41:40It's not about us.

41:42It's about the people of Gilbert. Thank

41:44you.

41:45>> Thanks, Bus.

41:47Uh Nikki Reber, hope I said that right.

42:03>> I'm Nikki Reber. I live here in Gilbert,

42:05right next to the power plant.

42:09And I came to address whatever you guys

42:13are going to talk about and decide on

42:15data centers.

42:16I know we need them. I can't get on my

42:19computer and research stuff if there's

42:21not data centers. By the same token,

42:25I don't want to see any more of them in

42:27Gilbert. We have one. That's enough.

42:30I don't think there's enough land left

42:32in Gilbert

42:33to build a big data center. It would

42:36have to be little. It would have to be

42:38medium. And it would have to be next to

42:40somebody's neighborhood.

42:42Now, I said I

42:44live next to the power plant. 3 years

42:47ago, they decided that they were going

42:49to put in

42:51batteries, the kind that you store power

42:54in.

42:56They're 120

42:58ft away from my bedroom window.

43:03And I listen to all those fans over

43:06there all the time because they have to

43:08be kept cool.

43:10Well, the data centers aren't any

43:11different. They will come in and tell

43:12you that we can cool it with fans.

43:17Yeah, you can.

43:19Makes a lot of noise.

43:21They'll tell you that we can do it with

43:23less water by recirculating.

43:26Well, yeah, you can, but you have to

43:28keep cooling that water and you have to

43:30keep moving it through your data center.

43:33So, you're using lose using a lot of

43:36electricity to do that. So, it's not

43:38going to save us anything.

43:40I guess if you were going to consider

43:42one for Gilbert, I would hope that

43:46any the council coming in is probably

43:49the one that's going to get hit with

43:51this. And I would want them to have the

43:53guts to stand up to a data center

43:57developer and say, "Unless you provide

44:00your electricity,

44:02you ain't building here.

44:04And unless you come with a better way of

44:06doing the water.

44:08We don't want you here.

44:10We already got enough problems in

44:12Gilbert with water and we all know it.

44:16I took my opportunity to say my 3

44:19minutes. I hope you guys, if it comes up

44:22before this council,

44:24that you will consider

44:26that you're going to get told whatever

44:28that developer needs to tell you to try

44:30to sway you to his side of doing it. I

44:33hope you are not that dumb that you will

44:36really look into what this stuff does,

44:38what it creates, the noise. As you

44:41already did, they've put out a report on

44:44the noise.

44:46I got enough to deal with with SRP.

44:49I don't need a data center.

44:51Thank you.

44:54>> Thank you, Nikki.

44:56River Brown?

45:05>> Good evening, council members.

45:07So, before we begin, I have some papers

45:10here for you guys to research from the

45:12research I've done.

45:13Um I am going to be reading off of my

45:16research that I have done and concurred.

45:19First off, I want to state that I am um

45:22speaking as an activist, an activist

45:24alone. I am not a part of any

45:26organization.

45:30The statement is intended to showcase

45:32the harms of AI effects of the AI data

45:34centers that have had um effects on our

45:36community, state, and overall nation.

45:39I do want to state that um overall

45:43that I understand that we need data

45:44centers. I understand that that our

45:46world is a digital world and that's how

45:48we operate.

45:50But the fact that is that AI data

45:52centers are harming our environment

45:55essentially.

45:57I, River Brown, want to make it clear

45:58that I am protesting against AI data

46:01centers and not general usage of data

46:03centers.

46:07There is three facts that I want to

46:08touch on. First of is going to be within

46:11the Navajo Nation.

46:13I don't really feel like a lot of people

46:15talk about, you know,

46:18essentially what is going on in the

46:20Navajo Nation and the water and

46:22basically putting about five data

46:24centers

46:25in the desert. Sorry, I'm a little bit

46:28um

46:28public speaking's not my best skill set,

46:31but I'm here.

46:32Um

46:34So, I'm just going to read off this.

46:37Now, think about how it would be be to

46:39live without clean water and usable

46:41water and having to haul in barrels in

46:43the desert when it gets 115°.

46:46The Navajo Nation people don't have to

46:48imagine, they live it. Around 30% of

46:51Navajo families have to haul water in

46:53barrels to have access to water.

46:55The Navajo Nation is estimated to have

46:57300k people on the nation itself. If 30

47:01people in 30% of people in the nation

47:04have no access to clean visible water,

47:07then

47:08then that would mean there are around

47:10210 people have no access to clean or

47:14viable drinking water.

47:17I'm trying to collect myself.

47:19Um so, basically we're just building all

47:21these data centers and we are not

47:25thinking wisely. We're not thinking

47:27wisely where putting them um we're not

47:30thinking wisely about the communities

47:31that are being affected by them and so

47:34on and so forth.

47:35Um

47:37That is my statement and I resign.

47:41>> Thank you, River. You just did You did

47:42You did just fine.

47:46Charles Montenegro.

47:53>> [clears throat]

47:59>> I

48:00um

48:01first of all, I wanted to thank the

48:03mayor and town council

48:05uh for your service to the community.

48:08Um I think sometimes you rarely get

48:10acknowledged and receive thanks for what

48:13you do. So, thank you very much.

48:15The second issue I wanted to address

48:18is um

48:21I'm not sure if any of you guys um

48:23access or follow or I'm a news junkie.

48:27And there's um there's a app called the

48:30Nextdoor.

48:32And um there's been an increase of

48:35activity

48:36of our youth that is sort of alarming.

48:39Um

48:41when I was growing up, there were no

48:42doorbells.

48:44And just you knock on the door. Now

48:46there's doorbells.

48:47But and then now it's called

48:49ding-dong-ditch, I guess.

48:52Uh but now there's um that sort of

48:54activity has progressed to a little more

48:56aggressive knocking on your doors.

48:59Uh there's some videos I'm going to send

49:01to your council email for you to view.

49:04And um

49:06we need to address an ordinance that

49:09deals with this increased bad behavior.

49:12And it's not a ding-dong-ditch issue. It

49:15has to do with um

49:17uh there's two I have some videos here

49:19I'm going to send to your mailbox where

49:21these two kids were out in after 11:00.

49:26And uh they were um

49:29came to someone's home

49:31and threw slices of American cheese on

49:34somebody's car.

49:37So, imagine if all of us left the town

49:40council today, we walked into the

49:41parking lot and every one of us had six

49:45slices of American cheese on your car.

49:48That's the sort of behavior that we need

49:49to address.

49:51The second issue is there are kids that

49:53I mean I I mentioned uh

49:55ding-dong-ditch

49:57is that there's a kid there's two kids

49:59at

50:00at 1:10 in the morning

50:02and I think there's an ordinance against

50:04against that

50:05where these kids are

50:07um walking up to a door

50:09it's not a Tik Tok challenge. They're

50:12actually using their shoulder to bang on

50:15the front door of a home.

50:17Uh that is not normal behavior

50:20especially 1:00. The the use to uh kids

50:23or two teens are like 10 or 12 years old

50:25and you got to wonder ask yourself where

50:27are the parents?

50:28So a few months ago uh the city council

50:31had the courage developed a

50:35e-bike ordinance.

50:37You guys I'm sure worked diligently on

50:38that ordinance and uh whatever ordinance

50:41addresses this sort of behavior the

50:44ding-dong-ditch or the vandalism of cars

50:48regardless where they're at in the in

50:49the in the community we need to modify

50:52it or uh come up with one so we can

50:55address this issue. So I'm going to be

50:56sending these videos to your mailbox so

50:58you can actually see what I'm talking

50:59about and I'm hoping that we we walk out

51:02of here today there's no American cheese

51:04on our cars.

51:06Thank you.

51:07>> Thank you Charles.

51:10All right, I'm going to turn it over to

51:11our town uh manager Mario Penaagua for

51:15um our consent calendar.

51:23>> Thank you vice mayor.

51:31Mayor members of the council I will

51:33provide an overview of the consent

51:35agenda items on tonight's council

51:38agenda.

51:40Um as a reminder these items fall into

51:43different categories

51:45uh that advance the uh, focus of the

51:49town, strong economy, prosperous

51:51community, and an exceptionally built

51:53environment.

51:55So, item five is an extension of the

51:57intergovernmental mental agreement with

51:59the ASU Project Cities Program. It

52:01extends an existing IGA through January

52:0431st, 2029, enabling continued

52:06collaboration with ASU students on

52:08innovative and sustainable solutions for

52:11the town's infrastructure talent

52:12challenges. The cost of each project

52:15will vary depending on the scope of

52:17work, its complexity, and the number of

52:19students involved. Any expenditure over

52:21$100,000 would come back to the council

52:23for,

52:25um, approval per the town code.

52:28Uh, there's also an intergovernmental

52:29agreement for waste collection and

52:31transportation mutual aid on item six,

52:35which, uh, is an IGA with participating

52:38Arizona cities, towns, and tribes

52:39outlining terms for providing mutual aid

52:42uh, to each other during emergencies,

52:44vehicle shortages, or inadequate

52:46staffing levels. Uh, there's no

52:48financial impact to the town to approve

52:50the IGA.

52:52Items eight, nine, and 10 are

52:54intergovernmental mental agreements.

52:56Eight is with Higley Unified School

52:59District for the town to be reimbursed

53:01for up to $274,746

53:03for two school resource officers during

53:06the academic year. Item nine is an IGA

53:09with Gilbert Unified School District uh,

53:11for reimbursement up to $887,499

53:16for seven school resources officers for

53:19the academic year. And then, item 10 is

53:21an IGA with Chandler Unified School

53:23District for the town to be reimbursed

53:26for a total of $295,355

53:29for two school resource officers.

53:32Item 11 is a contract with Water Wise

53:34Consulting providing residential water

53:37efficiency checkup program support

53:38services as part of the town's water

53:40conservation efforts, not to exceed

53:43$75,000 per year over 3 years funded

53:47through the water fund.

53:50Item 12 is a cooperative purchasing

53:51agreement with Riddle Painting and

53:53Coatings company for interior and

53:55exterior exterior painting services for

53:58the town on facilities not to exceed

54:00$250,000 annually over 4 years and

54:04through paid for through the

54:06corresponding facilities infrastructure

54:07repair maintenance funds.

54:10Item 13 is a cooperative purchasing

54:12contract with the Hertz Corporation for

54:14car rental services to town employees

54:16for travel purposes not to exceed

54:18$25,000 annually over 4 years

54:21and to be used only within the limits of

54:23the approved department budgets.

54:26Item 14 is a contract with C&S Sweeping

54:29for sweeping services to over 40

54:31town-owned parking lots not to exceed

54:3398,500

54:35for fiscal year 27 and a total not to

54:37exceed amount of $591,000

54:40over 6 years paid through the vehicle

54:42license tax funds.

54:45Item 15 is a cooperative purchasing

54:47agreement with Arizona Electric Supply

54:49providing for the purchase of street

54:50light fixtures and supplies not to

54:52exceed 250,000 for fiscal year 27 and

54:561.25 million over 5 years via the street

54:59lighting operating budget.

55:02Item 16 is a cooperative purchasing

55:03agreement with Galls LLC for the

55:05purchase of firefighter turnout gear

55:08protective equipment and tools not to

55:11exceed $100,000 per year via the general

55:13fund.

55:15Item 17 is a contract with Brown and

55:17Brown Insurance Services

55:19providing for brokerage and brokerage

55:21and consulting services for the employee

55:23health and benefits insurance for the

55:25self-insured trust fund not to exceed

55:27$95,000 per year for a period of 3 years

55:30paid through the self-insured trust

55:32fund.

55:34Item 18 is a cooperative purchasing

55:36contract with TI Training LELLC and in a

55:40contingency for the purchase of TI 180

55:43LED screen system to replace the Gilbert

55:46Police Regional Academies VIRTUAL

55:49training simulator. The contingency is

55:51necessary because the original quote

55:53omitted sales tax.

55:55The total is not to exceed $275,550

55:58including the $18,000 requested in

56:01contingency for through the general

56:03fund.

56:05Item 19 is an agreement with the Greater

56:07Phoenix Economic Council for regional

56:10economic development services to support

56:11business recruitment, retention, and

56:13expansion for fiscal year 27 not to

56:17exceed $144,309

56:19via the general fund.

56:22Item 20 is a cooperative contract with

56:24Milestone Computer Services and

56:26contingency

56:27for server infrastructure replacement

56:29including hardware, software, and

56:30support services as current equipment is

56:32at end of life.

56:34This was budgeted at originally and

56:36previously at a lower annual amount

56:39and the cost moves to the replacement

56:41fund from the general fund which

56:43requires the whole amount to be in

56:45contingency for this year. It's for an

56:47amount not to exceed $1,795,752

56:52via the general replacement fund

56:54contingency with freeing up $350,000

56:58annually in the general fund.

57:02Item 21 is an amendment to cooperative

57:03purchase contract with Phoenix Pumps

57:05Incorporated providing

57:07motor pump and well maintenance, repair,

57:10and replacement services. It adds

57:13$300,000 annually for a total not to

57:15exceed $600,000 via the water parks and

57:19wastewater budgets.

57:22Item 22 is a task order number 22 with

57:24Talus Corporation for polymer modified

57:28master seal application to maintain

57:30streets not to exceed 1 million 482,669

57:34in fiscal year 27 by the vehicle license

57:37tax funds.

57:39Item 23 is a contract with Calgon Calgon

57:43carbon Corporation providing for

57:45granular activated carbon installation

57:47and related services at the North Water

57:49Treatment Plant, a critical component of

57:51water quality treatment for an amount

57:53not to exceed $2 million annually and

57:56$10 million over a 5-year

57:58term by the rate supported North Water

58:01Treatment Plant budget. The planned

58:03quantities are based on the consumption

58:05of granular

58:07activated carbon from the North Water

58:09Treatment Plant pilot studies and

58:11pricing is set within the contract for

58:13the 5-year term.

58:16Item 24 is JOC 21 with Talis Corporation

58:20for design and construction of a

58:21multi-use path crossing at Heritage

58:23Trail and Guadalupe Road not to exceed

58:25431,2326

58:28using general obligation transportation

58:30bonds.

58:32Item 25 is JOC 11 with Felix

58:35Construction Company and JOC 21 with

58:37Sunland Asphalt for storm water dry well

58:40concrete and pavement improvements at

58:42Layton Lakes Lift Station not to exceed

58:45294,952

58:47by the rate supported waste water

58:49replacement fund.

58:51Item 26 is GMP number four with Aiken

58:54Gardner Construction LLC and and PMCM

58:57services phase two with Stanley

58:59Consultants for the second segment of

59:02the

59:03transmission main assessment on Hegley

59:06Road. Aiken Gardner is not to exceed

59:097 million and 364,769

59:12and Stanley Consultants not to exceed

59:14263,552

59:17by the rate supported water replacement

59:19fund.

59:20This brings the total historical and

59:23projected construction cost

59:26uh cost to $29,226,726.

59:33Item 27 is change order number one with

59:35Sunland Asphalt and change order number

59:37one with Ardurra Group uh for the

59:39additional scope of improvements at

59:41Cactus Yards that will improve

59:42pedestrian circulation and safety around

59:45the facility. Sunland Asphalt is for the

59:47amount an amount not to exceed 73,074

59:51and Ardurra Group is not to exceed

59:5226,180

59:54by the general fund and the general

59:56replacement fund.

59:59Item 28 is change order with Duke's Root

1:00:01Control expanding the existing

1:00:03stormwater inspection contract to

1:00:05include cleaning and repair of

1:00:06stormwater structures when deficiencies

1:00:08are

1:00:09found. Uh it increases the annual amount

1:00:11by 40,000 for a total not to exceed

1:00:1370,000 for fiscal year 27 and 420,000

1:00:16over 5 years by the stormwater budget.

1:00:20Item 29 is wastewater replacement fund

1:00:22contingency request for TF Contracting

1:00:25Services LLC for emergency repair of

1:00:28reclaimed water line damage during

1:00:30boring operations. Uh the town recovered

1:00:33the cost from the boring contractor and

1:00:35those funds will be placed in the

1:00:36wastewater contingency fund creating a

1:00:38net zero expense to the town. Uh this is

1:00:41for an amount not to exceed 125,530

1:00:44in the wastewater replacement fund

1:00:46contingency.

1:00:48Item 30 is CIP contingency request for

1:00:51arbitrage rebate payment providing the

1:00:54required arbitrage rebate payment to the

1:00:57US Treasury related to series 2022

1:00:59general obligation bonds.

1:01:01As part of an effective investment

1:01:03management program, the town's earned

1:01:05interest on these GO bonds exceeded the

1:01:06IRS limit for tax-exempt bonds, so the

1:01:09overage must be paid to the IRS. It's

1:01:12for $135,000

1:01:13via CIP contingency with the debt

1:01:16service fund as the designated funding

1:01:18source.

1:01:20Item 31 is an authorization for

1:01:22acceptance of the 12% gaming

1:01:24contributions grant from the Salt River

1:01:26Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

1:01:28supporting the town's Native American

1:01:30management internship and victim

1:01:32advocacy intern programs

1:01:35and passes funding through Helping Hands

1:01:37for Single Moms Dignity Health

1:01:38Foundation Gilbert Children's Dental

1:01:41Clinic and Family Promise

1:01:43for an amount of two total amount of

1:01:45$223,963

1:01:48in grant fund contingency which will be

1:01:50offset by the SRP MIC revenue.

1:01:54Item 32

1:01:55is authorization for application and

1:01:57acceptance of the Governor's Office of

1:01:58Highway Safety for fiscal year 2017

1:02:01grant funding supporting police overtime

1:02:03and materials for DUI enforcement

1:02:05pedestrian and bicycle safety education

1:02:07and selective traffic enforcement

1:02:09program efforts for an amount not to

1:02:11exceed $178,570

1:02:14with no requirement for matching funds.

1:02:19Item 33 is authorization for acceptance

1:02:22of the 2025 Homeland Security Grant

1:02:24Program Urban Area Security Initiative

1:02:26grants supporting the Gilbert Fire and

1:02:29Rescue Mass Care Team enhancement and

1:02:31the Safe Gilbert Bleeding Control

1:02:32Program including medical equipment

1:02:35bleeding control kits and training.

1:02:37The grant allocation to Gilbert is for

1:02:39an amount not to exceed $41,040

1:02:42with no matching funds required.

1:02:45Item 34 is a resolution creating a

1:02:47street light improvement district for

1:02:49the Willow Brook subdivision

1:02:51establishing a special taxing district

1:02:53formed by developer position petitions

1:02:56and signed by 100% of property owners to

1:02:59pay for street light energy costs

1:03:01through a secondary property tax on

1:03:03properties within the district. The town

1:03:05will maintain the 26 street lights with

1:03:07an anticipated town budget impact of

1:03:09$910

1:03:11via the public works street lights

1:03:15maintenance budget.

1:03:19Item 35 is for the public works advisory

1:03:22board resignation accepting the

1:03:23resignation of board of the board member

1:03:25effective October 20th with no financial

1:03:28impact to the town.

1:03:30Item 36 is risk management claim report

1:03:33for fiscal year 2017 quarter one quarter

1:03:36number one accepting the quarterly

1:03:38report of claims made against and paid

1:03:40by the town as required by section 2-61E

1:03:44of the town code.

1:03:46These claims are paid for from the risk

1:03:48management trust fund.

1:03:51Thank you, Mayor and Council. That

1:03:53concludes the consent agenda items.

1:03:55>> Thank you, Mario. Mario, um

1:03:58Council, do you want to pull any of

1:03:59these for more additional information?

1:04:03Seeing none, uh I'll make a motion to

1:04:07um

1:04:08accept 5 through 37.

1:04:12Do I have a second?

1:04:14>> I'll second.

1:04:15>> Seconded by Council member Lyons. Please

1:04:17vote.

1:04:18>> Vice Mayor,

1:04:19just a point of clarification, item

1:04:20seven is being continued. Can we just

1:04:22include that in the motion? Thank you.

1:04:23>> Yes, so motion 5 6

1:04:27uh 8 through 37.

1:04:32Can I get a second on that again?

1:04:33>> You got it. Second.

1:04:34>> Seconded by Council member Lyons. Please

1:04:36vote.

1:04:42Vote passes 7-0.

1:04:45Mayor?

1:04:47>> Thank you. Uh we'll move on to uh public

1:04:49hearings.

1:04:51Items 38

1:04:55through 43.

1:04:59Council members, would you like to uh

1:05:01have any of those pulled off considered

1:05:02separately

1:05:04and we vote on them as a block?

1:05:07Let me know.

1:05:07>> 41 and 41 and 43.

1:05:09>> Uh Uh, yeah, 41. I wanted 41 as well.

1:05:12>> and 43.

1:05:13>> 40

1:05:14>> 40

1:05:15>> 45

1:05:21>> 45's an administrative item.

1:05:24>> 40

1:05:28>> 45

1:05:33Okay.

1:05:35Uh, so I will make a motion to approve

1:05:37items. Let me open the public hearing

1:05:39first and close the public hearing for

1:05:41items 38,

1:05:4339, and 42. I have a motion to

1:05:47>> Man, I'm sorry. I got 43 confused. So,

1:05:50I'm okay with 43.

1:05:57>> Anybody else okay with 43 being

1:05:59included?

1:06:02You want to discuss it?

1:06:04Okay. We can We can leave it there.

1:06:1041 is will be considered separately.

1:06:14As well as 40.

1:06:17So, I need a motion to approve

1:06:18or um close the public hearing. I need a

1:06:20motion to approve 38, 39, 42.

1:06:23>> So, moved.

1:06:25>> It's been moved and seconded. Please

1:06:27vote.

1:06:33Motion carries 7-0.

1:06:36Item 40, general plan GP 26-03,

1:06:41zoning Z 26-04,

1:06:44Hemingson Assisted Living.

1:06:48Staff presentation.

1:06:52I'll open the public hearing at this

1:06:54point.

1:06:59>> [clears throat]

1:07:01[snorts]

1:07:13>> Mayor Anderson, members of the council,

1:07:15good evening.

1:07:17It's been a few months since I've been

1:07:18before you.

1:07:19I'm I'm happy to be here tonight. My

1:07:22project that I have before you is for

1:07:24the Hemming Hemmingson Assisted Living

1:07:26Facility.

1:07:29This project is located in in Cooley

1:07:32Station area.

1:07:33It's located on parcel seven, which is

1:07:36one of the remaining last remaining

1:07:38parcels that hasn't been entitled, and

1:07:41you can see it or in entitled recently

1:07:44anyways.

1:07:45It's on the map in front of you. It's at

1:07:47that southeast corner of Williams Field

1:07:49Road and Summerton Boulevard.

1:07:54The request before you tonight is for a

1:07:56general plan amendment and a PAD rezone

1:07:58for an 88-bed

1:08:0053,613

1:08:02square foot

1:08:04congregate care facility or

1:08:06what the industry calls it is an

1:08:07assisted living facility on about a five

1:08:10and point eight acre site. That's gross

1:08:12acres.

1:08:15So, um

1:08:17the first part of the request is for for

1:08:18the general plan change.

1:08:20The current general plan designation on

1:08:22the site today is general office.

1:08:25And the applicant is proposing to change

1:08:27that to general commercial on this 5.8

1:08:29acres 5.8 acre site to accommodate this

1:08:33proposed congregate care facility.

1:08:37The second request is for a zone change

1:08:41from general office to shopping center.

1:08:48So, as as I

1:08:50um talk about this, the reason they're

1:08:53requesting to change this zoning and

1:08:56general plan amendment is because the

1:08:58general office zoning category that's on

1:09:00the site today in land use

1:09:04does permit um

1:09:07congregate care with a conditional use

1:09:09permit only on the ground floor

1:09:12of a mixed-use building.

1:09:15This specific applicant, Hemingson

1:09:17Assisted Living

1:09:19uh development company

1:09:21um builds single-story buildings. They

1:09:23don't build two-story buildings.

1:09:26Um and they don't uh participate in

1:09:28mixed-use development.

1:09:30And given the size and shape of the site

1:09:33um they they want to keep and how close

1:09:35it is to residential, they want to keep

1:09:37these buildings to single story

1:09:39which would not be allowed under the

1:09:41current general office zoning today. So,

1:09:43that's why they're proposing to change

1:09:45it the zoning to shopping center which

1:09:47there is actually shopping center right

1:09:49next door on a per Cooley Station parcel

1:09:52eight to the east. So, it kind of mixes

1:09:55mixes it fits fits with that zoning to

1:09:57the immediately to the east.

1:09:59Which we don't know what's going to be

1:10:01going there yet.

1:10:02So, as I stated earlier, the site's

1:10:04about 5.8 acres.

1:10:06Building about 53,000 square feet a

1:10:099 95 8% of the building is single story.

1:10:13There is a portion of building two up

1:10:16along Williamsfield Road that will be a

1:10:19portion of the building will be two

1:10:20stories, but the rest of the buildings

1:10:22all the way to the south end of the site

1:10:25all the way close to the residence will

1:10:27all be single story. So, there's five

1:10:28total buildings about 10 to 12,000

1:10:31square feet a piece. And then there's a

1:10:33lot of open space in between these

1:10:35buildings and courtyards and places for

1:10:37residents to

1:10:40to relax and interact and and and walk

1:10:42around and so forth and a lot of

1:10:43landscaping. Um so, and there is two

1:10:47ways in and out of this development. One

1:10:49entrance off of Williamsfield Road and

1:10:51one off of Summerton Boulevard with

1:10:53ample uh site circulation and access.

1:10:56So, like I stated before, 88 beds and

1:10:58there in this use only necessitates 45

1:11:01parking spaces.

1:11:03Um and here's the landscape plan that

1:11:05shows you

1:11:06how much landscaping is actually being

1:11:08proposed. 46.4%

1:11:11open space and if you'll pay attention

1:11:13to that south boundary right next to it

1:11:15looks like there's three adjacent homes

1:11:17to the south.

1:11:19They're proposing an ample buffer there

1:11:20of about 30 ft wide with double rows of

1:11:23trees and and evergreen trees that will

1:11:26allow this buffer and transition to a

1:11:29more commercial type of use to be

1:11:32um

1:11:34uh less of an impact on these residents.

1:11:40So, the proposed deviations. The

1:11:41applicant is proposing a few deviations

1:11:44to be able to make keep these buildings

1:11:45single story.

1:11:47Um obviously they're they're proposing

1:11:49to work make the buildings 25 ft tall

1:11:52where 35 ft and two stories

1:11:55could be built in the zoning district,

1:11:56but they have agreed to keep the

1:11:57buildings to single story except for

1:11:59that

1:12:01one building along Williamsville Road,

1:12:02which is still at 25 ft 10 ft lower than

1:12:04what would the zone that zoning district

1:12:06typically allows. So, we appreciate the

1:12:08applicant for doing that.

1:12:10And that is one of the trade-offs for us

1:12:13approving these deviation or um

1:12:15recommending approval of these

1:12:16deviations.

1:12:17Um one of the deviations is along that

1:12:20residential boundary along the south

1:12:21property border.

1:12:23They're requesting to reduce the setback

1:12:24from 75 ft to 67 ft. Again, that is so

1:12:28that they can

1:12:29maximize the site area and keep those

1:12:31buildings single single story adjacent

1:12:34to those residents. So, not a huge

1:12:36reduction there.

1:12:38Um

1:12:39and then also along that southern

1:12:40boundary is they would like to reduce

1:12:43the landscape setback from 35 ft down to

1:12:4530 ft. Again, keeping those buildings

1:12:48single story. That still allows the

1:12:51applicant having a 5-ft reduction to

1:12:54place the exact same amount of trees in

1:12:56that buffer that they would be able to

1:12:58fit in a 35-ft wide landscape setback.

1:13:01So, we feel that that is appropriate.

1:13:04The last deviation is for the drive

1:13:07aisle setback along Williams Field Road

1:13:09at that entrance along Williams Field

1:13:10Road to be instead of it being 60-ft

1:13:14throat depth of the entrance

1:13:16um

1:13:18to be 25.

1:13:19Now, the reason for that is

1:13:22is because this site generates doesn't

1:13:25generate a lot of traffic. Congregate

1:13:27care facilities are a lower traffic

1:13:29generating use than what would typically

1:13:31be in a shopping center district. They

1:13:33will not have a lot of queuing at that

1:13:35entrance.

1:13:36Um a lot of the vehicles uh the vehicles

1:13:38at that entrance can take a right in and

1:13:40right out. It's a right in right out

1:13:42entrance only with a median in Williams

1:13:44Field Road. So, that means they won't be

1:13:46queuing at that Williams Field Road

1:13:48entrance for very long. So, the

1:13:50applicant doesn't need 60-ft in depth.

1:13:52That would also impact where they can

1:13:54place drive aisles and things, but they

1:13:56don't need that much depth.

1:13:58Um another factor why town staff

1:14:01supports this deviation is that there is

1:14:03a con- the entrance off of Summerton

1:14:06if you take go out Summerton Boulevard

1:14:09and you head north, there is a traffic

1:14:11signal at Summerton Boulevard and

1:14:12Williams Field Road. And that's where we

1:14:14anticipate most of the traffic from this

1:14:17site will go is to the controlled

1:14:19intersection.

1:14:21So, town staff um supports this

1:14:24deviation as it's just they just don't

1:14:26need the 60 ft.

1:14:31Um that that concludes the deviations.

1:14:34The last part of this um presentation is

1:14:37that

1:14:38there was a neighborhood meeting in

1:14:39March

1:14:40of 2026. Only three surrounding property

1:14:43owners attended. They just asked general

1:14:45questions and they seemed very

1:14:47supportive of of this proposed project

1:14:49and staff has received no comments from

1:14:52property owners to the south or in

1:14:54anywhere in that Cooley station area.

1:14:57Um

1:14:58staff's recommendation is that you

1:15:01approve the

1:15:03general plan amendment for Hemming

1:15:04Hemming seniors assisted living and you

1:15:06also approve the the zone change that is

1:15:08proposed as as proposed um in the staff

1:15:11report.

1:15:13Um that concludes my presentation. If

1:15:15you have any questions, um I am

1:15:17available to answer them. I believe the

1:15:19applicant is here too and

1:15:21uh and may have a presentation also if

1:15:23if you deem it necessary to for him to

1:15:26give. Thank you.

1:15:27>> Thank you, Keith. Questions for Keith?

1:15:31Council member Torgerson.

1:15:33>> So, in changing from general

1:15:36office to general commercial and then

1:15:38shopping center, the congregate a

1:15:41congregate care facility is an approved

1:15:44use in

1:15:46commercial zoning, general commercial

1:15:47and shopping center?

1:15:49>> Uh Mayor Anderson, um Council member

1:15:51Torgerson,

1:15:53that is correct. It's it's a a permitted

1:15:55use in the shopping center zoning

1:15:56district.

1:15:57>> Is it a permitted use in a multi-family

1:15:59zoning district?

1:16:01>> Uh Mayor Anderson, Council member

1:16:03Torgerson, I don't believe it is.

1:16:05>> But it's not in a general or in a

1:16:07general office zoning is not permitted.

1:16:10>> Mayor Anderson, Council member

1:16:11Torgerson, it is a use that's allowed

1:16:13but it's only allowed on the ground

1:16:15floor of a mixed-use building.

1:16:18>> Got it.

1:16:19Thank you.

1:16:20>> You're welcome.

1:16:22>> Any other questions?

1:16:23>> I got one.

1:16:25>> Vice Mayor.

1:16:25>> Thank you, Mayor. It's more of a

1:16:26comment, Keith. Thanks for the

1:16:27presentation.

1:16:28Um

1:16:30this is my this is my jam. I've been

1:16:31doing this my whole life.

1:16:33And I wish we had 100 parking places.

1:16:37But reality is these families don't

1:16:39visit.

1:16:40And uh with 85 89 um beds or 86 beds,

1:16:46mainly assisted living and memory care,

1:16:49I wish we needed 100 parking places, but

1:16:51unfortunately we don't. And I guess what

1:16:53I'm just trying to say is if your loved

1:16:55one's in assisted living or memory care,

1:16:57we should be visiting more.

1:17:00>> Thank you.

1:17:02Any questions?

1:17:03>> No.

1:17:04>> Thank you, Keith. The applicant

1:17:06>> Thank you.

1:17:07>> I'll invite uh if you'd like to make a

1:17:08presentation at this time.

1:17:17>> Hey Mayor Anderson, members of the

1:17:18council. My name is Greg Davis with I

1:17:20Plan Consulting here on behalf of both

1:17:22the Cooley family who owns the property

1:17:24and Hammingson uh Senior Living who's

1:17:26the developer. Um I have a presentation,

1:17:28but Keith really covered the majority of

1:17:30it. I'd be glad to respond any questions

1:17:32or concerns that you do have though.

1:17:34>> Thanks, Greg. Any questions?

1:17:40No?

1:17:41>> Good.

1:17:41>> You got off easy, Greg.

1:17:42>> I know. I appreciate it. Thank you.

1:17:45>> Thank you.

1:17:47I have not received any public comment

1:17:50cards, so with that I'll close the

1:17:52public hearing and bring it back to the

1:17:53council for discussion and or motion.

1:18:05Just item 40.

1:18:09>> I'll move to approve item 40, the

1:18:12general plan GP 26-03

1:18:15and the zoning Z 26-04

1:18:19with the conditions cited by staff in

1:18:22the packet.

1:18:22>> I'll second that.

1:18:24>> A move by council member

1:18:27Krupansky seconded by the vice mayor to

1:18:29approve item 40. Please vote.

1:18:38Motion 6-1 with Councilmember Torreson

1:18:41dissenting.

1:18:46Item 41, we'll move on.

1:18:49Uh zoning Z-26-01

1:18:51LDC text amendment

1:18:54related to data centers.

1:18:58Staff.

1:19:07Sal.

1:19:09>> Good evening, Mayor and Council. Good to

1:19:10see you all.

1:19:12Sal DeSanto, planner two.

1:19:14And the application we'll be taking a

1:19:16look at tonight is the LDC text

1:19:18amendment uh related to data centers, uh

1:19:20Z-26-01.

1:19:25>> [clears throat]

1:19:27>> Uh just to begin the presentation, I'd

1:19:29like to just provide an overview of the

1:19:31specific specific sections of the LDC uh

1:19:35that we are looking to amend for this

1:19:36refresh. Uh so, first is going to be

1:19:39division 2.0, terms, section 3.0, base

1:19:42zoning districts and use regulations,

1:19:44section 5.0, additional use and site

1:19:47regulations, and section 5.10, data

1:19:50centers, which would be the new section

1:19:52specifically for data center

1:19:54development.

1:19:58>> [clears throat]

1:19:59>> Uh looking at this as a whole as to why

1:20:01we are bringing this data center

1:20:04uh amendment forward is actually for for

1:20:06a few different reasons.

1:20:08Um first is this amendment recognizes

1:20:11evolving infrastructure needs. Data

1:20:13centers have become essential components

1:20:14of today's digital economy, supporting

1:20:16everything from business operations to

1:20:18cloud computing and everyday online

1:20:20services. While these services operate

1:20:23in a digital space, the infrastructure

1:20:24supporting them requires physical

1:20:26facilities to store, process, and manage

1:20:28the data.

1:20:30Second is we want to balance innovation

1:20:32with community protection.

1:20:34Although data centers contribute to

1:20:35technological advancement, they also

1:20:37introduce unique consideration

1:20:39considerations such as noise, building

1:20:41scale, utility demand, and visual

1:20:43impacts. These factors warrant

1:20:45thoughtful planning and regulation.

1:20:48Third, is this amendment allows us to

1:20:50proactively establish clear standards.

1:20:52By updating the land development code

1:20:54now, we can provide predictable

1:20:55regulations and expectations before

1:20:57significant data center projects are

1:20:59proposed.

1:21:01Another key objective is ensuring

1:21:03compatibility with surrounding

1:21:04neighborhoods. Our goal is to create

1:21:06standards that allow data centers to

1:21:07operate efficiently while protecting

1:21:09nearby residents and preserving the

1:21:11community character and quality of life

1:21:13that makes Gilbert unique.

1:21:15And finally, these regulations create

1:21:17predictability for both the applicant

1:21:19side and the public. Clear standards

1:21:21help developers understand the town's

1:21:23expectations of development

1:21:26while providing residents with the

1:21:27confidence that potential impacts are

1:21:29being responsibly addressed.

1:21:34Um providing on this slide is just the

1:21:36two

1:21:37um the two sections of our code that

1:21:39currently address data centers. The

1:21:41first is the definition you see on the

1:21:43screen, and the second is in our use

1:21:46regulations table where you can see data

1:21:48centers are permitted only with a

1:21:49conditional use permit in the business

1:21:52park and the light industrial zoning uh

1:21:54districts.

1:22:00>> [clears throat]

1:22:01>> As part of this code process, we've

1:22:03identified several areas that would

1:22:05benefit from updates and additional

1:22:07clarifications to help address data

1:22:08center development. The first area

1:22:11involves the definition of a data

1:22:12center.

1:22:13Throughout our research, it became clear

1:22:15that data centers are not a

1:22:16one-size-fits-all use, and as a result,

1:22:18we determined it would be important to

1:22:20establish separate definitions for

1:22:22primary data centers and accessory data

1:22:24centers.

1:22:26Data centers can vary significantly in

1:22:27scale, ranging from relative relatively

1:22:30small facilities to campuses

1:22:32encompassing hundreds of thousands of

1:22:34square feet. Additionally, data center

1:22:36storage and processing functions may

1:22:38exist as accessory components to larger

1:22:40principal uses, such as financial

1:22:43institutions, manufacturing facilities,

1:22:46medical operations, and technological

1:22:48companies, as well.

1:22:49The proposed accessory data center

1:22:52definition specifically identifies

1:22:54facilities that are incidental and

1:22:57subordinate to a principal non-data

1:22:59center use on the same site.

1:23:01Under the proposed standards, an

1:23:03accessory data center would be permitted

1:23:05only when it occupies no more than 10%

1:23:08of the primary building the primary

1:23:10building's gross floor area,

1:23:12serves only the operational needs of the

1:23:14on-site principal user,

1:23:17does not provide data storage or

1:23:18processing services to third parties,

1:23:21and is incorporated within the principal

1:23:22structure rather than located within a

1:23:24separate standalone building.

1:23:27This approach is based on research

1:23:28conducted during the amendment process.

1:23:30We found that many commercial and

1:23:31industrial users require a limited

1:23:33amount of on-site data storage

1:23:36space to support their operations. And

1:23:38as I mentioned, this is particularly

1:23:40seen in financial industries, medical

1:23:42industries, and manufacturing.

1:23:46Our research also indicated that these

1:23:48accessory facilities are generally much

1:23:50smaller in size compared to the primary

1:23:52facilities. And these can range anywhere

1:23:54from what we've seen between 2,000 and

1:23:5710,000 square feet. The proposed 10%

1:24:00threshold is intended to provide the

1:24:01flexibility for these types of users

1:24:03while ensuring they remain accessory to

1:24:05the primary use and may proceed proceed

1:24:08by right without the need for separate

1:24:09data center review.

1:24:14Here [clears throat] we start to look at

1:24:15some of the specific sections that we

1:24:17are looking to apply for the data center

1:24:19or for data center development.

1:24:22As I previously mentioned, data centers

1:24:24are currently allowed in the business

1:24:26park and light industrial zoning

1:24:27district through a conditional use

1:24:29permit. However, after further research

1:24:31and evaluation, staff determined that

1:24:33data centers are more closely aligned

1:24:35with heavier industrial and employment

1:24:37development patterns both in terms of

1:24:39operational characteristics and site

1:24:41design requirements. Therefore, staff

1:24:43believes it is appropriate to permit

1:24:45primary data centers within the light

1:24:47industrial and general industrial zoning

1:24:49districts only.

1:24:51Uh additionally, staff is recommending

1:24:54that modifications, deviations,

1:24:57alternative development standards um

1:24:59cannot be changed through a planned area

1:25:02development process. And this is just to

1:25:04ensure that developers, neighbors, and

1:25:06the town are completely aligned in how

1:25:08these development patterns um may move

1:25:10forward.

1:25:14Uh the next section we have for you is

1:25:16regarding the special use permit. And

1:25:19throughout the presentation, you'll see

1:25:20certain sections that are highlighted in

1:25:22orange, and these were sections that we

1:25:25we heard questions and comments from the

1:25:26study session. So, we just wanted to

1:25:28provide some additional information

1:25:29related to these specific topics.

1:25:32Um so, looking at things from a

1:25:34uh special use permit's perspective, as

1:25:36I mentioned, those CUPs are currently

1:25:38the avenue for data centers,

1:25:40um but we are recommending a transition

1:25:42to the special use permit process. The

1:25:44special use permit framework provides

1:25:46greater flexibility during the review

1:25:47process and allows staff to request

1:25:49additional technical information

1:25:51specific to a proposed use.

1:25:53Given the unique operational

1:25:55characteristics of data centers, this

1:25:57process would enable a more

1:25:58comprehensive evaluation of potential

1:26:00impacts, site design considerations,

1:26:02infrastructure requirements, and

1:26:04compatibility with surrounding

1:26:06developments. Ultimately, the special

1:26:08use permit process ensures that each

1:26:09proposal proposal receives a level of

1:26:12review appropriate for the use in the

1:26:14scale of its complexity.

1:26:18The next area we wanted to look at is

1:26:20setbacks.

1:26:22Uh the proposed language requires that

1:26:24all buildings, structures, mechanical

1:26:26mechanical equipment, including

1:26:28transformers, battery storage cabinets,

1:26:30generators, cooling units, all maintain

1:26:33a minimum setback of 400 ft from all

1:26:35property lines.

1:26:37In addition, if these parcels are

1:26:39adjacent or property lines are adjacent

1:26:41to residential communities, we would

1:26:43like to see these setbacks increase to

1:26:45650 ft to further help that buffer

1:26:47between residential properties and any

1:26:49proposed data center development.

1:26:53Um as part of this update as well, it's

1:26:55important to mention that we have had an

1:26:57opportunity to tour existing and under

1:26:59construction um data centers throughout

1:27:01the area.

1:27:02The sites that we visited provided

1:27:04valuable insight into how data centers

1:27:06function and more importantly how they

1:27:08integrate with the surrounding land

1:27:09uses.

1:27:10Uh during one of our visits to a

1:27:12neighboring jurisdiction, we observed a

1:27:13facility that provided approximately 200

1:27:16ft of separation between a residential

1:27:18neighborhood and an adjacent data

1:27:19center.

1:27:20Uh from staff's perspective, that

1:27:22distance did not provide suffic-

1:27:24sufficient buffering to effectively

1:27:25mitigate the visual presence and

1:27:27operational impacts of the development

1:27:29of that scale.

1:27:31As a result, staff is recommending

1:27:32increased setbacks to ensure an

1:27:34appropriate level of separation between

1:27:36data centers and residential uses. These

1:27:38standards are intended to preserve the

1:27:40quality of life enjoyed by Gilbert

1:27:41residents while still accommodating this

1:27:43emerging form of development.

1:27:48Uh now we're just going to take a look

1:27:50at the design requirements we are

1:27:52proposing for this section of the code.

1:27:55The

1:27:57proposed design standards read that

1:27:59proposed um mechanical equipment and

1:28:02utility equipment shall be fully

1:28:03screened by a structure that is vis-

1:28:05visually and architecturally integrated

1:28:07with both the development and

1:28:08surrounding area.

1:28:10Alternatively, equipment may be screened

1:28:13through the use of decorative screen

1:28:14walls that meet or exceed the height of

1:28:16the equipment and incorporate

1:28:18architectural treatments such as varying

1:28:20materials, colors, textures, patterns,

1:28:23and public art pieces.

1:28:25Uh additional design standards include

1:28:28architectural detailing of all building

1:28:29facades visible from public

1:28:31right-of-ways and publicly accessible

1:28:33areas.

1:28:34And a minimum 40% window or glass

1:28:37treatment in front facades and 15% on

1:28:40all remaining facades.

1:28:43The next piece is enhanced architectural

1:28:46features at primary entrances to create

1:28:48visual distinction and establish a clear

1:28:50sense of entry.

1:28:52And lastly is just compliance with our

1:28:54town's applicable employment district

1:28:56design guidelines.

1:28:58The rationale behind these standards

1:29:00is

1:29:02unlike traditional office, commercial,

1:29:04or employment developments, data centers

1:29:06are designed primarily to house

1:29:07equipment and infrastructure rather than

1:29:09people.

1:29:10As a result, they often feel they often

1:29:13feature large building masses, limited

1:29:15architectural variation, minimal

1:29:17transparency, and highly secured site

1:29:19designs.

1:29:20While those characteristics may support

1:29:22operational needs, staff believes it is

1:29:24important that developments of this size

1:29:26contribute positively to Gilbert's built

1:29:28environment.

1:29:29Architectural integration not only

1:29:31strengthens the visual character of the

1:29:33community, but also improves

1:29:35compatibility with adjacent properties

1:29:36and surrounding neighborhoods.

1:29:40>> [clears throat]

1:29:41>> The next area we looked into was

1:29:44specific building heights related to

1:29:45data centers.

1:29:47Uh the proposed regulation establishes a

1:29:49maximum building height of 55 ft. Um in

1:29:52this standard is consistent with the

1:29:54town's existing light industrial zoning

1:29:57district which maxes heights at 55 ft.

1:30:01While this height limitation already

1:30:02exists within the light industrial

1:30:04district, the general industrial

1:30:05district currently has no maximum

1:30:07building restriction uh for height.

1:30:10Uh given the significant variation of

1:30:12data center design with facilities

1:30:14ranging from 20 to 30 ft to buildings

1:30:17stretching past 100 ft, uh staff

1:30:20determined that a clear defined standard

1:30:22was necessary.

1:30:23Establishing a 55-ft maximum provides

1:30:26consistency across zoning districts

1:30:28districts, aligns with existing

1:30:30industrial and employment development

1:30:32expectations, and creates clear and

1:30:34predictable standards for future

1:30:36applicants.

1:30:39>> [clears throat]

1:30:40>> The next section we'll be taking a look

1:30:42at is related to parking.

1:30:44Uh parking standards for data centers

1:30:46presented a unique challenge during the

1:30:48research process.

1:30:49Although these facilities often

1:30:51encompass hundreds of thousands of

1:30:53square feet, they generally only employ

1:30:55a few personnel for day-to-day

1:30:57operations. Um from our tours, they told

1:30:59us

1:31:00any given day, there is probably no more

1:31:02than 10 employees on site um across, you

1:31:05know, 100 to a couple hundred thousand

1:31:07square feet.

1:31:09Uh through discussions with industry

1:31:11representatives and observation patterns

1:31:13from site visits, staff found that many

1:31:15of these large-scale facilities often

1:31:17have a handful of employees.

1:31:19Because of this unique operational

1:31:21model, identifying an appropriate

1:31:22parking ratio required um significant

1:31:24analysis. Staff ultimately determined

1:31:27that a ratio of one parking space per

1:31:286,000 square feet of gross floor area

1:31:32strikes an appropriate balance.

1:31:34Uh the standard provides sufficient

1:31:35parking for regular operations,

1:31:37accommodates future growth and

1:31:38expansion, and ensures adequate

1:31:40circulation for emergency

1:31:42and service vehicles while avoiding the

1:31:44unnecessary construction of large

1:31:46underutilized parking fields.

1:31:51The next component we took a look at was

1:31:55landscaping standards.

1:31:57Uh given the scale and operational

1:31:58nature of data center development, staff

1:32:00believes landscaping plays a critical

1:32:02role both in visual mitigation and

1:32:04overall site integration. The proposed

1:32:07standards are intended to soften the

1:32:08appearance of these facilities, enhance

1:32:10the public realm, and create an

1:32:11attractive transition between

1:32:13development and surrounding properties.

1:32:16The proposed landscaping requirements

1:32:18read as a minimum 35-ft landscape

1:32:21setback along all street frontages.

1:32:23A minimum 100-ft landscape setback along

1:32:26side and rear property lines.

1:32:30A minimum of 200-ft landscape setback

1:32:33where side and rear property lines are

1:32:35adjacent to residential land use

1:32:37designations as identified in the

1:32:39general plan.

1:32:41Uh the next is required landscape

1:32:42setbacks must be maintained regardless

1:32:44of whether utility or mechanical

1:32:46infrastructure is located behind or

1:32:49within an enclosed side or rear yard.

1:32:53Uh the next is along each street

1:32:55frontage, developments must provide a

1:32:56detached sidewalk of at least at least

1:32:586-ft in width separated from a curb by a

1:33:01minimum 8-ft wide landscape area.

1:33:04And the last standard here is that the

1:33:06required landscape quantities that

1:33:08cannot be accommodated within the

1:33:09perimeter landscape areas must be

1:33:11planted elsewhere on site to meet the

1:33:14minimum counts required.

1:33:19>> [clears throat]

1:33:19>> The next area we looked at was sound

1:33:22mitigation.

1:33:23Um analyzing data center development,

1:33:25there are a few unique uh nuisances

1:33:28unlike any other development. Um you

1:33:30know, we have scale, we have size, we

1:33:32have architecture, we have water, we

1:33:34have power, uh and of course we have

1:33:36sound mitigation which could be from a

1:33:39few different things. It could be

1:33:40cooling equipment, it could be backup

1:33:42generators. So, we wanted to ensure that

1:33:44we did have some language that

1:33:45specifically spoke to sound mitigation.

1:33:50So, [clears throat] with that data

1:33:51centers often contain, you know,

1:33:52operational components such as the

1:33:54cooling equipment, uh backup generators,

1:33:56transformers, and other

1:33:58um mechanical equipment that could

1:34:00generate quite a bit of noise. So, to

1:34:01address this concern, staff is proposing

1:34:04a requirement that applicants submit a

1:34:06noise study at the time of development

1:34:08review. The study must demonstrate

1:34:10compliance with the applicable noise

1:34:11standards and identify any mitigation

1:34:13measures necessary to maintain those

1:34:15standards.

1:34:18This requirement allows potential

1:34:20impacts to be evaluated early in the

1:34:22review process and ensures that

1:34:23appropriate mitigation measures are

1:34:25incorporated into the project's design

1:34:27before construction occurs.

1:34:31>> [clears throat]

1:34:32>> The next area we looked into was

1:34:34lighting standards.

1:34:36Um

1:34:37the proposed standards require the use

1:34:39of fully shielded full cutoff fixtures

1:34:42directed downward towards the site.

1:34:44Um light trespass limitations would

1:34:46apply at residential property lines and

1:34:48upward-facing and unshielding lighting

1:34:50would be prohibited.

1:34:52Uh these requirements are intended to

1:34:53minimize off-site lighting impacts and

1:34:56demonstrate consideration to adjacent

1:34:58property owners.

1:35:05The next area we took a look at was fire

1:35:09and safety.

1:35:10Um during this process, we've had an

1:35:11opportunity to not only work with our

1:35:13building and fire reviewers, but we've

1:35:15had an opportunity to speak with um the

1:35:17fire departments of local municipalities

1:35:19and

1:35:20um given their thoughts and expertise

1:35:22and molding it into the the planning

1:35:25realm, we've established these standards

1:35:26for development moving forward.

1:35:29Um

1:35:30given the specialized nature of the data

1:35:32center operations, the proposed

1:35:34regulations would require annual fire

1:35:36inspections in accordance with all

1:35:37applicable Town of Gilbert codes and

1:35:39standards.

1:35:41Additionally, facilities must provide

1:35:43clear and descriptive door and

1:35:44wayfinding signage at all applicable

1:35:46locations to assist personnel,

1:35:48first responders, and emergency crews in

1:35:50navigating the site safely and

1:35:52efficiently.

1:35:54Uh this recommendation stems directly

1:35:56from staff site visits and discussions

1:35:58with fire departments familiar with data

1:36:00center operations.

1:36:01Uh these facilities can be except-

1:36:03exceptionally large, often containing

1:36:05long corridors, limited staff,

1:36:07repetitive building layouts, and highly

1:36:10secured areas.

1:36:11Uh for responders who may not be

1:36:13familiar with these specific facilities,

1:36:15clear signage can significantly improve

1:36:17emergency response times and operational

1:36:19safety.

1:36:21Um with this section, staff also

1:36:24recommends requir- requiring battery

1:36:26decommissioning procedures and

1:36:27transportation plans for damaged or

1:36:29end-of-life batteries.

1:36:32As battery storage systems become

1:36:33increasingly common with data center

1:36:35developments, it is important that

1:36:37operators establish clear protocols for

1:36:39safety handling, transporting, and

1:36:41disposing of damaged equipment.

1:36:43These plans provide certainty that

1:36:45appropriate procedures are in place

1:36:47should an incident occur.

1:36:50Finally, each facility will be required

1:36:52to provide a fire department smoke

1:36:53control panel and a dedicated fire

1:36:56command center designed and constructed

1:36:58in accordance with all applicable

1:37:00international building code and

1:37:01international fire code requirements.

1:37:09And the next piece here

1:37:12um is related to neighborhood notice.

1:37:15Um staff is recommending that applicants

1:37:17conduct a neighborhood meeting prior to

1:37:19submitting a formal application. While

1:37:21neighborhood meetings are already a part

1:37:23of the town's development review

1:37:24process, the primary change involves

1:37:27expanding the notification

1:37:29boundaries [clears throat] for a data

1:37:30center applications.

1:37:32Under the proposed standards, notice

1:37:34must be provided to all property own lo-

1:37:36property owners located within 800 ft of

1:37:40the subject property, and notices must

1:37:42be provided to all homeowners

1:37:45all homeowners associations located

1:37:47within 1,000 ft of the property.

1:37:49>> [clears throat and cough]

1:37:50>> For context, the town standard

1:37:52notification requirement is 300 ft to

1:37:55surrounding property owners. Within our

1:37:57Santan character area, that buffer jumps

1:37:59up to 660 ft because this is a part of

1:38:02town where we have, you know, larger

1:38:04lots and really feed into our

1:38:07agricultural history and form of

1:38:09development. So, we wanted to bring that

1:38:11similar design to our noticing

1:38:14requirements for our data centers.

1:38:16Um because we are proposing them in the

1:38:18LI and GI zoning districts, these

1:38:21properties are not usually surrounded by

1:38:23residential communities. And if we stuck

1:38:26to the traditional 300-ft buffer, we may

1:38:29not get all the appropriate uh feedback

1:38:32that would typically be um heard for for

1:38:34something of this caliber. So, we just

1:38:36want to make sure that all the

1:38:37surrounding voices and concerns and

1:38:39comments are heard before we perform or

1:38:42move forward with any formal

1:38:43application.

1:38:47And the last one here, uh just

1:38:49highlighted in orange, is specific to

1:38:51utility commitment. Um as we know, data

1:38:55centers can

1:38:56uh need quite a bit of power for them to

1:38:58operate efficiently.

1:39:00Um and some questions came up in the

1:39:02study session of, you know, how are we

1:39:04sure that they're they are going to

1:39:06provide sufficient power where we're not

1:39:07causing issues to our existing

1:39:09residents.

1:39:10Um following that study session, we were

1:39:12able to meet with APS and SRP just to

1:39:14get a better understanding of how

1:39:17um substations and power to data center

1:39:20really works.

1:39:22Uh and what they let us know is that

1:39:23they do have quite a bit of a lengthy

1:39:25process before it even comes in for any

1:39:27sort of municipal review.

1:39:29Um typically, a data center will work

1:39:31with a utility provider for a few years

1:39:34until they're able to showcase that they

1:39:36have the ability to power their project

1:39:40without impacting any of the surrounding

1:39:42neighbors or the existing power supply

1:39:44on site or or within the community. So,

1:39:48what will happen is once their review is

1:39:49completed with the utility providers,

1:39:52they will receive a utility letter of

1:39:54commitment essentially stating that this

1:39:58proposed project will not have an impact

1:40:00on the existing grid. So, as part of our

1:40:02review process and a part of our

1:40:04application checklist, we want to ensure

1:40:06that each submittal does provide a

1:40:08letter of utility commitment showcasing

1:40:10the ability to um host the power for for

1:40:13the data center.

1:40:16And the next section that we have

1:40:18highlighted for you is going to be our

1:40:20water standards. And we do have Lauren

1:40:22Hickson from our water resources

1:40:24department who is going to come up and

1:40:25go over these standards for you all.

1:40:27Thank you.

1:40:33>> Good evening, Mayor and Council. Um I

1:40:35appreciate the opportunity to talk about

1:40:37the enhanced standards that we're

1:40:39proposing for data centers regarding

1:40:41water service. So, um

1:40:44one change from the what we presented in

1:40:47um at the study session is that now the

1:40:50Town of Gilbert will not provide potable

1:40:52water to a principal data center for its

1:40:54cooling systems, humidity control, and

1:40:55other similar operations. We are going

1:40:58to allow accessory data centers to use

1:41:01potable water. Now, I'll explain some of

1:41:03the other restrictions that will be

1:41:05there, but essentially this is

1:41:07to allow existing businesses or

1:41:10operations such as a hospital to expand

1:41:13and allow an accessory data center

1:41:15without having to extend our reclaim

1:41:18system to their property that may be

1:41:20miles away, would require additional

1:41:22storage on site, pump stations, etc. in

1:41:25order to provide that ancillary service

1:41:27to their primary use that already may

1:41:29exist on a property. So, we're going to,

1:41:34however, still require reclaimed water

1:41:36for principal data centers that that's

1:41:38the primary use on that

1:41:40that parcel. So, they still may have to

1:41:42require

1:41:43extend reclaimed water to their

1:41:45property, build on-site storage, and

1:41:47pump stations to provide that um water

1:41:50supply to their cooling systems.

1:41:54We did do some investigation into

1:41:56different types of cooling systems. Um

1:41:58we are maintaining the restriction that

1:42:01open-loop evaporative cooling will not

1:42:02be permitted, which means they have to

1:42:04use cool uh closed-loop cooling. We did

1:42:06look into glycol systems and some other

1:42:09types of liquid cooling systems. Some of

1:42:11those still require some amount of water

1:42:14to operate, um and therefore we're

1:42:16maintaining this requirement of just no

1:42:18open-loop co- uh

1:42:21cooling systems. Uh we also looked at um

1:42:24some other technologies such as

1:42:26direct-to-chip cooling. This utilizes

1:42:29liquid co-

1:42:30coolants delivered directly to computer

1:42:31processors and critical hardware

1:42:33components,

1:42:34but um

1:42:36stakeholders have let us know that this

1:42:37technology is several years away from

1:42:39being a standard.

1:42:41Um another alternative is free air

1:42:43cooling, which utilizes outside air to

1:42:46assist with maintaining operational

1:42:47temperatures, but given the heat here in

1:42:50Arizona, that is not a

1:42:53viable option for us. So, um given the

1:42:56evolving technology, again, we're going

1:42:59to keep it at the limitation that no

1:43:01open-loop cooling is allowed. Um we do

1:43:03believe this is sufficient to protect

1:43:06the water supply. We did provide some

1:43:08examples. Um there was a proposed data

1:43:10center in metro Atlanta that when

1:43:12switching from open evaporative cooling

1:43:14to closed-loop cooling, they were able

1:43:17to reduce the water use by 97%.

1:43:19So, you can see that that is a pretty

1:43:22restrictive use, um and helps

1:43:25maintain um water security for us as a

1:43:27utility.

1:43:28>> [snorts]

1:43:29>> Um so, in

1:43:31for that specific item, um we're seeing

1:43:34that continued the cooling technology to

1:43:36continually evolve. Um and so, we're

1:43:39maintaining that recommendation of just

1:43:41limiting

1:43:42it to uh closed-loop cooling systems.

1:43:47In addition, data centers of all types

1:43:49will have to develop within with

1:43:51conformance to our existing sustainable

1:43:54water allocation policy and water

1:43:55resources management strategy report.

1:43:57This was adopted in 2019 and has been um

1:44:01effective at uh providing

1:44:04water security for large water users um

1:44:07and and uh buffering our system to what

1:44:10these impacts may be.

1:44:12What this does, I just wanted to provide

1:44:13you with some more

1:44:14background into how this policy

1:44:16operates. It establishes a baseline

1:44:18volume of water that the town will

1:44:20provide to new non-residential

1:44:21development.

1:44:23So, of all kinds, um not just limited to

1:44:25data centers. If this development

1:44:28exceeds the base allocation, there are

1:44:30two options for that that property and

1:44:33that development. The town, by council

1:44:35decision, may allocate additional water

1:44:37supplies on a case-by-case basis

1:44:40or the development may must acquire its

1:44:42own 100-year water supply and transfer

1:44:44it to the town.

1:44:45With the re- reclaimed water component

1:44:48added on this,

1:44:49we would also then, for principal data

1:44:52centers, whatever baseline volume of

1:44:54water we provide would be a baseline of

1:44:57reclaimed water, not potable water.

1:45:00Just wanted to provide an example of how

1:45:02this has operated and worked in helping

1:45:05out the the town in

1:45:08um kind of

1:45:10buffering us from these large water

1:45:11users is that we did have uh an inquiry

1:45:14from a proposed data center that needed

1:45:162 million gallons per day for a 1

1:45:18million square foot facility back in

1:45:202021.

1:45:21And the water allocation policy would

1:45:23provide would have provided only 660,000

1:45:26gallons per day.

1:45:27The remaining 1.34 million gallons per

1:45:29day would have been required to be

1:45:32acquired by the data center. And that's

1:45:35quite a bit of water um at today's

1:45:37rates for new water supplies, that would

1:45:39be a huge cost to them.

1:45:42Um and in addition to that, we also

1:45:44require them to provide sufficient water

1:45:47infrastructure for their facility. So,

1:45:49it was advised that they would have had

1:45:50to add a new well and equip an

1:45:52additional well to provide this service

1:45:54to themselves.

1:45:55Um and then they would have also had to

1:45:57upgrade water wastewater infrastructure

1:45:59um by upsizing existing sewer pipes and

1:46:02treatment plant capacity because the

1:46:04projected flows for these for wastewater

1:46:07infrastructure was five times from the

1:46:09projected demand for that parcel. So,

1:46:12not only did the water allocation policy

1:46:14apply, but also water infrastructure

1:46:16wastewater infrastructure was going to

1:46:17be required. Um and this still is in

1:46:19effect for um

1:46:21all non-residential well, all new

1:46:24development.

1:46:25However, um this data center decided not

1:46:28to locate in Gilbert because of these

1:46:31requirements. So, just an example of how

1:46:33our existing policy from 2019 does

1:46:36provide a lot of um resiliency and

1:46:39protection of our existing system.

1:46:42So, with that, um just in summary, we're

1:46:44not going to provide potable water to a

1:46:46principal data center for its cooling

1:46:47systems.

1:46:49We are

1:46:50not permitting open-loop evaporative

1:46:52cooling systems and we're recommending

1:46:55and then data centers will be uh

1:46:57required to conform to the sustainable

1:46:59water allocation policy

1:47:01and water resources management strategy

1:47:03report. Um I am also noting here we do

1:47:06have in the ordinance that data centers,

1:47:08whether functioning as primary uses or

1:47:10accessory uses, shall provide a separate

1:47:12water meter for cooling systems. In the

1:47:15ordinance that you have drafted, it does

1:47:17say for reclaimed cooling systems. And

1:47:19so, with any motion to adopt this, we do

1:47:22need to have that noted that that re-

1:47:24word reclaimed should be scratched out

1:47:26given that accessory um

1:47:29uses would not be utilizing reclaimed

1:47:31water. But, we still want, no matter

1:47:33what the data center is, whether it's a

1:47:35primary or a um accessory use, that

1:47:39whatever uh cooling system they have a

1:47:42separate water meter so we can track

1:47:44what water is used for that specific um

1:47:47use for

1:47:48for the data center.

1:47:50So, with that I'll hand it back to Sal

1:47:52to wrap it up.

1:47:59>> [clears throat]

1:48:01>> All right.

1:48:02So, just taking a look here at the

1:48:04timeline of where we started and, you

1:48:05know, how we've gotten here tonight. Um

1:48:07the PC initiation

1:48:09um started back in January of this year

1:48:12on the 29th. Uh we then had a study

1:48:15session for the planning commission

1:48:17after about 6 months of research um with

1:48:20our first run with these proposed

1:48:22standards.

1:48:24Uh following PC, we did go to the

1:48:26Chamber of Commerce to present our

1:48:28updated language.

1:48:30Uh following the Chamber of Commerce, we

1:48:32actually it's not in here, we actually

1:48:34met with them one more time with some of

1:48:35their more specific

1:48:37um members in in in the field to help,

1:48:40you know, better understand where staff

1:48:42was coming from with the amendment and

1:48:44also to better understand from uh

1:48:46individuals who work in in the field.

1:48:49Uh following those meetings with the

1:48:50Chamber, we did go to the Planning

1:48:52Commission for that formal hearing for a

1:48:54recommendation to the Town Council.

1:48:56Uh following that hearing in August, we

1:48:59met with you all for a study session on

1:49:01August 11th where we got some feedback

1:49:03and some comments. Uh and here we are

1:49:05tonight with you all again uh requesting

1:49:08the recommendation for approval for the

1:49:10updated um language for the proposed

1:49:13data center amendment.

1:49:15Uh and with that and with recommendation

1:49:17from the planning commission, staff

1:49:19recommends or staff requests the town

1:49:21council approves Z-26-01,

1:49:24the LDC amendment related to data

1:49:26centers. And I'm happy to answer any

1:49:28questions or comments you you all may

1:49:30have. Thank you.

1:49:32>> Thank you, Sal. Questions for Sal or and

1:49:34or Lauren?

1:49:36>> I do.

1:49:37>> Councilmember Lyons.

1:49:39>> During the study session, I had asked

1:49:41about

1:49:43bringing in a third-party industry

1:49:45expert to give us their opinion on this.

1:49:49Was that done?

1:49:51>> Uh, Mayor Anderson, uh, Councilmember

1:49:53Lyons, we we did try our best. So,

1:49:56following our study session, um, with

1:49:58with the town council, we did reach out

1:50:00to about

1:50:0115 or so, um, stakeholders from various

1:50:04various, um, you know, companies,

1:50:06industries, and ultimately we only heard

1:50:08back from two. Um, and it was APS and

1:50:11SRP. So, we did try and reach out to,

1:50:14you know, a number of stakeholders to

1:50:15get a better understanding, um, but

1:50:18outside of APS and SRP, it did, um, fall

1:50:20on deaf ears. So,

1:50:21>> Well, there was an email that I got from

1:50:23somebody in industry that

1:50:26did offer to come and help us. So, I

1:50:28don't know. Did everybody get that or

1:50:30was it just

1:50:32You guys didn't get that email?

1:50:34>> I don't recall it.

1:50:34>> Did you get it?

1:50:35>> I believe I did.

1:50:36>> Yeah. So, we had we had an email come in

1:50:38from somebody the day after.

1:50:41My concern about this is in in I'm

1:50:44struggling with that little bit. This

1:50:46particular, um,

1:50:49area is very sensitive from a national

1:50:52security perspective.

1:50:54>> Mhm.

1:50:54>> And when I when I look at this, there's

1:50:59it

1:50:59it has a a feel to it. I'm not getting

1:51:02We can talk about this when we bring it

1:51:03back to the dais, okay? So, but that

1:51:05answers my question. Thank you.

1:51:07>> Thank you.

1:51:09Councilmember Buckley.

1:51:11>> Um,

1:51:12I I have a question. What what benefit

1:51:15does it this bring to Gilbert having

1:51:18data centers here? Is there a revenue

1:51:20benefit or how how exactly

1:51:25do data centers benefit the town?

1:51:29>> Um, Mayor Anderson, Council member

1:51:31Buckley, um, and just for clarification,

1:51:34are you asking as to, you know, why we

1:51:37brought this text amendment forward um

1:51:39to get the ball rolling on this or more

1:51:41specifically to the economic impacts of

1:51:43of data center development?

1:51:44>> Well, both kind of.

1:51:46>> Both? Okay, great. So, just um from

1:51:49planning perspective and going through

1:51:51this is

1:51:52um you know, we understand that the data

1:51:54centers was a um

1:51:57a use that has been evolving quickly and

1:52:01you know, technology's changing rapidly

1:52:03and design changing rapidly. So, this

1:52:06was our attempt at trying to get um

1:52:07ahead of the game and establish clear

1:52:10and predictable standards not only for

1:52:12residences, um but also for the

1:52:14developers.

1:52:15And essentially what we're trying to do

1:52:16here is actually protect protect our our

1:52:18residents and um going through our LDC

1:52:22update and comparing it to other

1:52:23communities uh in the area, it ours

1:52:26reads a

1:52:28more restrictive than most. So, while we

1:52:30are trying to establish clear standards

1:52:33for development, it's also our intent to

1:52:36protect the quality of life in Gilbert.

1:52:39Um but from an economic standpoint, I

1:52:41can invite our economic development uh

1:52:43department up to answer those questions

1:52:46for you if you'd like, Council member

1:52:47Buckley.

1:52:48>> Okay. Uh one one more question before

1:52:50that. That would be um

1:52:53uh

1:52:55Did does this change have any effect

1:52:58of any

1:53:00like current anticipated requests for

1:53:03data centers?

1:53:05Is that why we're doing this or we're

1:53:08just wanting to be, like you said, ahead

1:53:10of the game and it's not anticipated

1:53:13right now that

1:53:16we have the people waiting in the in the

1:53:18wings to to do this.

1:53:20>> Council Sorry, Mayor Anderson, Council

1:53:22Member Buckley.

1:53:24The latter. So, there's no interest

1:53:26right now. I haven't heard from any data

1:53:28center development that has their eye on

1:53:30Gilbert. It's It was us just trying to

1:53:31be proactive

1:53:33with this, you know, new form of

1:53:35development that's really come to life

1:53:37the last few years and just trying to

1:53:39establish those clear and protective

1:53:40standards, not only for staff, but the

1:53:41residents as well.

1:53:42>> Okay. Okay. My my other my The one thing

1:53:46that I still, and I had this issue with

1:53:49the in the study session as well as

1:53:51well, is that we're giving and supplying

1:53:53any water to data centers. I'm not, you

1:53:57know, I'm I'm really not on board with

1:53:59that. I think that we need to

1:54:02to look at this a little bit tighter and

1:54:04a little bit closer and and just that if

1:54:07we have if there are data centers here,

1:54:10they need to supply their own. Period.

1:54:13And that's And that's just my opinion.

1:54:15So, um

1:54:18and if if there's someone here from

1:54:20economic development, that that'd be

1:54:22great just to have it just a few

1:54:24sentences of of the thoughts there.

1:54:27>> Absolutely.

1:54:28>> Okay. Thank you.

1:54:29>> You're welcome.

1:54:37Um good evening, Mayor Anderson, Council

1:54:39Member Buckley. Mike Martello with the

1:54:40Office of Economic Development. So, we

1:54:42do have some economic impact that we

1:54:44worked with GPEC on to provide some of

1:54:46the information on this

1:54:48chart here, but kind of at a larger

1:54:50scale, when we think about the kind of

1:54:51the economic impact of these data

1:54:53centers, it usually ties to the

1:54:55construction tax that we get from the

1:54:57from the you know, actual building of

1:54:58them and then the utility tax. So, those

1:55:00are kind of the I'll say the economic

1:55:02wins. As uh Sal noted, they aren't

1:55:04typically large-scale employment

1:55:06centers. They aren't really active in

1:55:08that capacity. So, a lot of those tax

1:55:10benefits we don't see. Um there is the

1:55:12co-location data center aspect where

1:55:14there is a leasing component. So, there

1:55:16is a lease tax if it was in that

1:55:17classification. I would say um you know,

1:55:20traditionally as we've we've been

1:55:21approached, that 2021 example is a good

1:55:23one. Um that's where we think to the

1:55:25future and knowing that we have limited

1:55:27land and wanting to be um very strategic

1:55:29with that and what the community is

1:55:31looking for. So, from a from an

1:55:32employment generation some of those

1:55:34other aspects, um this is where that

1:55:36data centers don't shine as much as

1:55:38maybe like advanced manufacturing or

1:55:39aerospace and defense or some of those

1:55:41medical um clusterings. And that's where

1:55:44I think an important part of this uh

1:55:45amendment really hits on is that

1:55:48accessory use and making sure that we

1:55:49have that opportunity to um still

1:55:52embrace that component when it is just

1:55:54an accessory use, not the, you know,

1:55:55million square foot single use meta data

1:55:58center campuses, something that would be

1:55:59tied into national security if it was a,

1:56:02you know, a defense contractor that did

1:56:04need to have servers on site and have

1:56:05that sort of data housed at a very high

1:56:07level. That that we can still attract

1:56:09those sorts of uses where we are seeing

1:56:11kind of the the full gamut of

1:56:12construction, lease, employment sort of

1:56:15job creation for us. If that

1:56:18helps with that answer, I'm happy to

1:56:20elaborate and

1:56:22>> Okay. Uh yeah, I like that. Could Could

1:56:24you send that to me?

1:56:25>> Yeah.

1:56:26>> Just email it to me.

1:56:27>> Yeah, absolutely.

1:56:28>> I'd appreciate that. Okay.

1:56:31>> Thank you.

1:56:32>> You got

1:56:32>> All right.

1:56:33>> Welcome.

1:56:34>> Thank you.

1:56:34>> Thank you for having me here.

1:56:35>> Thank you, Mayor.

1:56:36>> Um he just have to

1:56:37>> Okay.

1:56:38>> So, basically McDonald's hired more

1:56:40people.

1:56:42>> Uh

1:56:43Yes, okay.

1:56:45>> [laughter]

1:56:45>> Thanks for verifying that. Sal, question

1:56:47for you.

1:56:49Feels like to me that

1:56:51you know, we always plan for the future,

1:56:53which is great.

1:56:55To me, it feels like we're really late

1:56:57to the game, which is actually a good

1:56:58thing.

1:56:59Cuz I can count probably, you know, the

1:57:02average

1:57:03person would think of, you know, in

1:57:04their mind what a data center looks

1:57:06like. And I could count probably four,

1:57:10maybe five properties [snorts] in town

1:57:13that are

1:57:14big enough to to do this in. Maybe I'm

1:57:17incorrect, but I'm I'm thinking four or

1:57:18five.

1:57:20And

1:57:21Mayor Anderson brought up in the study

1:57:23session something really interesting um

1:57:26about the future.

1:57:28I

1:57:29I believe with him that the future isn't

1:57:32these huge data centers. They're going

1:57:34to be more more small micro data

1:57:37centers. I think companies are going to

1:57:39eventually have their own data centers

1:57:41where they where they are. Hospitals,

1:57:43you know, maybe doctor's offices in a

1:57:45small room, you know, um cuz I would

1:57:48rather I'd rather have and maybe Monte

1:57:52can answer this for a security uh

1:57:53standpoint,

1:57:55I'd rather have my data near me and not

1:57:57being fed to someone else and and, you

1:57:59know,

1:58:00X amount of miles away or at another

1:58:02city or town or country. Um I think our

1:58:05future is is is micro data centers. And

1:58:09when I say that, I I also want to go

1:58:11back to I want to make sure and I and I

1:58:14don't know from the people I've spoken

1:58:16to

1:58:17if we've really reached out enough back

1:58:21to the chamber

1:58:22and back to those companies that would

1:58:24potentially, maybe they don't visualize

1:58:26themselves having a micro data center

1:58:28right now, but

1:58:30that's part of the reason why I was

1:58:32looking forward to um

1:58:36hopefully with with um

1:58:38Council member um Lyons' suggestion and

1:58:40bringing bringing in an expert on this

1:58:43to see what the future may look like. I

1:58:45don't want to create an ordinance for

1:58:49the past when we can do one for the

1:58:51future. Knowing that we're not going to

1:58:53have a lot of the that room we're not

1:58:54going to have a lot of room for these

1:58:55data these huge ones. You know what I'm

1:58:57saying? So, I'd rather see us focus on

1:59:00the

1:59:01on some um

1:59:03ordinances for the for the micro data

1:59:05centers to make it easier for those

1:59:07businesses to create a data small data

1:59:09center for their business.

1:59:11You know, um

1:59:13trying to

1:59:14bring in, you know, non-potable water

1:59:16may be economically impossible for them

1:59:18to do. You know, a small

1:59:22company that wants to have the data near

1:59:24them.

1:59:25Um

1:59:26I I myself would and I know you guys put

1:59:29a lot of time into this last

1:59:31>> [snorts]

1:59:31>> 10 months and I appreciate that.

1:59:34But I don't I don't want to miss I don't

1:59:35want to miss the target here. I'd rather

1:59:37see us

1:59:38not vote on this tonight and give it a

1:59:41little bit more time, meet more with the

1:59:44chamber,

1:59:45um bring in an expert, and let's see

1:59:48what these micro data centers may look

1:59:51like and how we can make those happen

1:59:54cuz we're only chasing

1:59:56potentially four or five properties

1:59:58which none of them may even want to have

1:59:59a data center in them. Okay? Or us or

2:00:01the next council may not want to approve

2:00:04a data center, a big one. So, let's

2:00:06focus on the small ones where the future

2:00:08may be rather than be behind the game

2:00:11here and and looking at the the big

2:00:12ones. That's that's my opinion on this.

2:00:16>> You know, the last uh letter I saw from

2:00:18the chamber

2:00:19uh said exactly that that we need to be

2:00:22flexible.

2:00:24And I think you're right. We don't know

2:00:26if this is going to be flexible enough

2:00:28for the future or not and it would be

2:00:29nice to

2:00:31search [snorts] that out a little bit

2:00:32more.

2:00:34Council member Kuberski.

2:00:37>> It seems from what Sal presented on with

2:00:39the accessory data centers which would

2:00:41be provided potable water that that does

2:00:44address the concerns that were just

2:00:46brought up.

2:00:47My concern is that some of these

2:00:49comments sound like we're trying to gild

2:00:51this with gold when

2:00:54the elements of this amendment

2:00:56are

2:00:58reducing our vulnerability

2:01:01that we have right now

2:01:03to data centers coming into Gilbert.

2:01:05This is more restrictive to the extent

2:01:07possible by law.

2:01:09Um

2:01:11and I'm just wondering whether

2:01:14we're being a little bit too picky when

2:01:16this is getting us very close and we can

2:01:18always amend it at a future date once we

2:01:20have more information if it doesn't

2:01:22work.

2:01:24But I do see that staff has brought in

2:01:28some of the concerns that were brought

2:01:29in during the study session. So, I just

2:01:31want to kind of bring that up that this

2:01:33is actually

2:01:34protecting us and closing

2:01:37tightening our restrictions that we

2:01:39currently have today.

2:01:43>> Council member Buckland.

2:01:45>> Thank you, Mayor.

2:01:46Part of what Council member

2:01:48Kubrosky said is where my head was.

2:01:51Um I totally respect the comments from

2:01:54you and the chamber and I think they're

2:01:55valid.

2:01:57But I think staff has done a tremendous

2:01:59amount of work

2:02:01making this far more difficult and

2:02:03protecting our community in a in a much

2:02:05better way.

2:02:07So, I I don't want to just throw the

2:02:09baby out with the bathwater here.

2:02:11Um

2:02:13I'm I'm more in favor of let's get it

2:02:15done so it's memorialized so if tomorrow

2:02:18someone wants to come in it's more

2:02:19difficult to get it done and it doesn't

2:02:21mean that there can't be another

2:02:23iteration of this. I'm coming at it a

2:02:25little differently than the micro

2:02:28potential micro data centers.

2:02:31But um

2:02:32I'm not hearing anything about these

2:02:34heat plumes

2:02:36um

2:02:36that may be occurring and and our own

2:02:39Arizona State University in March it was

2:02:42reported uh in Arizona's Family News uh

2:02:46that it's the ASU School of Geographical

2:02:49Sciences and Urban Planning

2:02:51did a study and they did zones around

2:02:53data centers. I don't know

2:02:55you know, the like the the range

2:02:57distances, but what they did say is that

2:03:01the zones closest to these data centers,

2:03:03regardless of regardless of wind

2:03:05direction,

2:03:07the downwind zone

2:03:08uh had higher heat uh and in some areas

2:03:12up to 2 and 1/2 degrees.

2:03:14And for every degree

2:03:17of elevation in a in a heat crisis is um

2:03:20another like 2 and 1/2% fatality risk.

2:03:22So, we're already in the desert. We're

2:03:252023 2024

2:03:282023 was the hottest record on hottest

2:03:30summer on record if I recall and it and

2:03:31it lasted 1 year and 2024 took it. This

2:03:34year in May, if I if if the if the news

2:03:36was right, March was hottest March on

2:03:39record. And so, what is that doing to

2:03:41our community here?

2:03:42Um where it's already hot.

2:03:44It's you know, and then now their

2:03:47utility bills go up because they're

2:03:48having to crank the air down to cool

2:03:49them down better. So, I don't think you

2:03:51this is a lot we don't know. I commend

2:03:53you guys for the hard work you did. You

2:03:55have [snorts] made, I think, really good

2:03:57improvements here.

2:03:59Um but I think we need to be looking at

2:04:01that. Another thing I I I saw you

2:04:04uh appreciate the

2:04:06getting fire on board.

2:04:08Another concern I have that we're not

2:04:10talking about is these these centers use

2:04:13lithium batteries.

2:04:14And I spent time

2:04:16um

2:04:17in my career out of law enforcement as a

2:04:19global crisis manager for Amazon

2:04:21worldwide.

2:04:22Uh five of us managing their their their

2:04:24crises all over the world.

2:04:26And um

2:04:27there were times

2:04:29that we responded to fires um

2:04:32and a lot of those centers use robotics

2:04:34and lithium batteries. And our fire

2:04:37those fire departments

2:04:39got fires out quick. Suppression systems

2:04:41actually are what got it out quick. Um

2:04:43not the department, but our but those

2:04:45agencies resources were tied up for a

2:04:47lot longer because of the hydrogen

2:04:49fluoride, that very toxic corrosive gas

2:04:53that they emit. And so,

2:04:55I'm really interested when when data

2:04:57centers, especially primarily having 50

2:04:59to 200 plus batteries in a facility, and

2:05:02there's a fire,

2:05:04there's risk there that we want to make

2:05:05sure we're mitigating. How are they How

2:05:07are they off-gassing that, right?

2:05:10What is that tax on our resources if

2:05:11that happens? I realize it could be

2:05:13really rare.

2:05:14Um but I've been on enough crisis

2:05:17as a police commander and SWAT commander

2:05:18that were rare, and when they hit, bad

2:05:21things happen. So, um again,

2:05:24kudos to you guys. Wonderful job

2:05:26getting us to the next level, but I do

2:05:28have interest, Mario, in what's next.

2:05:31Can we Can we look at some of those

2:05:32other things? But I do think we can say

2:05:34yes to this, get them memorialized, and

2:05:37then do that as a second iteration.

2:05:43>> Mayor, if I might for a second, um to

2:05:45council member Lyons' question about

2:05:48some third-party folks and some of the

2:05:50research that we've done, um the Arizona

2:05:52Data Center Alliance, I believe is maybe

2:05:55where that email came from.

2:05:56>> Clinton. I just found the email.

2:05:58>> Yes, and they invited us to come to a

2:06:00forum, which Sal did attend, and so we

2:06:02have been in in confer con We have been

2:06:04in communications with them. Um as we

2:06:07did our research, we also looked at um

2:06:09different things like the Urban Land

2:06:10Institute, American Planning

2:06:12Association. We researched a whole bunch

2:06:14of other communities within the uh the

2:06:17country as to what they were doing. Um

2:06:19there's a lot of different information

2:06:21out there, and it's one of those things

2:06:23that the more you look, the more you

2:06:24always find. It just seems to get bigger

2:06:25and bigger and bigger. And there's both

2:06:27sides of everything, you know. Um so, we

2:06:29have done a lot of research on it, but

2:06:31we Did we ever sit down with like a data

2:06:33center developer? No, but we did uh go

2:06:35to the data center Alliance forum and

2:06:38communicate with them. And then the

2:06:40other research we did was all best

2:06:42practices and things across the country.

2:06:44>> Did that forum provide you feedback or

2:06:47what did they give you to uh because she

2:06:50drafted a very long email the day after

2:06:52the

2:06:53the August meeting.

2:06:54What was it that was in that

2:06:56presentation? Was it worth the time to

2:06:58go look at or was it very high-level?

2:07:01>> Uh Mayor Anderson, Council member

2:07:02Alliance. Um it I it was great to

2:07:04actually attend this meeting. So, there

2:07:06was one earlier in the year that we did

2:07:07not attend, but the second one we went

2:07:09to was actually a workshop where it was

2:07:11more focused on the water systems

2:07:13associated with data centers. Uh and

2:07:15that's where they told us about all of

2:07:16these emerging technologies in the

2:07:18industry with, you know, direct-to-chip

2:07:20cooling, you know, moving coolants

2:07:21through small little tubes directly to

2:07:24these chips. Um they talked air-free

2:07:26cooling, but

2:07:28it all seemed like these these systems

2:07:30were a few years away from actually

2:07:32being the the norm in um data center

2:07:35development, but what they really honed

2:07:37in on was the difference between the

2:07:39open-loop versus the closed-loop systems

2:07:41and how the closed-loop systems were

2:07:42significantly um less um

2:07:47were much better on the water supplies

2:07:49than the open-loop systems. Um and just

2:07:52trying to better understand, you know,

2:07:53the different types of water systems,

2:07:54but it it was eye-opening, definitely

2:07:56informative, but definitely focused on

2:07:58the water aspect of things and cooling.

2:08:00>> Did you guys even talk to her about the

2:08:03or the Alliance about what you were

2:08:05proposing to see if they had any issues

2:08:07or risks associated with what we were

2:08:09doing? And And the reason I ask this,

2:08:11and this is critical for us to

2:08:12understand,

2:08:14that data centers are a national

2:08:16security issue. This isn't just

2:08:19processing our stuff to play on our

2:08:20computers with.

2:08:22Okay, so this has major implications

2:08:25from a national

2:08:26security perspective and a quantum

2:08:28computing perspective. And I agree with

2:08:30you, they're probably going to be shrunk

2:08:32down and stuff, but I didn't feel like

2:08:34we had enough information to understand

2:08:36when I looked at all of this changes and

2:08:39restrictions we're putting in, I just

2:08:41felt like

2:08:43we were not thinking about uh

2:08:47those particular implications of it. And

2:08:49I was uncomfortable with that. That's

2:08:50That's all I'm saying. So,

2:08:52when when you guys went and talked to

2:08:54them, did you present what you were

2:08:56doing and say would this create any

2:08:58problems for somebody trying to bring

2:09:00that in?

2:09:01>> Uh Council Member Lyons, Mayor Anderson,

2:09:04it it unfortunately wasn't a forum where

2:09:07we could, you know, showcase what we're

2:09:09working on and, you know, work back and

2:09:10forth. It was

2:09:12um preset workshop. There was a lecture

2:09:14about the different forms of water

2:09:15systems, open loop first cooling or

2:09:17closed loop,

2:09:18uh direct to chip cooling, air

2:09:21direct air cooling, but unfortunately

2:09:23there wasn't opportunity in that forum

2:09:25for us to have a in-depth discussion um

2:09:27about all of the

2:09:30standards we're proposing with our

2:09:31amendment. But what we did end up doing

2:09:33is we did forward our proposed ordinance

2:09:36to the Data Center Alliance, SRP, APS,

2:09:39um and we really didn't get too too much

2:09:42feedback. Um they seemed to really all

2:09:45be on board with the proposed standards

2:09:47we had in the um proposed ordinance. Um

2:09:51And

2:09:53yeah, I mean, there there wasn't too too

2:09:56much pushback um on the language that we

2:09:58did um

2:09:59draft for this for this LDC text

2:10:01amendment.

2:10:03>> Okay.

2:10:05>> Council Member Torres.

2:10:07>> The

2:10:08I'm going to have to reiterate having

2:10:10someone else come in and take a look. Is

2:10:12there a way to bifurcate this so that we

2:10:14can take care of the large centers at

2:10:17this moment and deal with the small

2:10:18accessory ones at a future date.

2:10:24>> Um Mayor Anderson, Council member

2:10:26Torgersen, it would actually be probably

2:10:28easier to do the whole thing at once and

2:10:29then come back and amend. That way we've

2:10:32got we've got the entire pie there and

2:10:34we can come back and make changes to

2:10:36that pie in the future rather than try

2:10:38to

2:10:41try to bring in something that handles

2:10:42the large ones but still leave us

2:10:43vulnerable or risk with uh the accessory

2:10:48ones. And I you know, I would say that

2:10:50if if we'd seen a lot of these, if we

2:10:52were having developers at our doorsteps

2:10:54uh frequently about um accessory data

2:10:57centers, I would say, yeah, you know,

2:10:59maybe there is something that we could

2:11:00handle there, but we really haven't seen

2:11:02a lot of pressure on these. So, I I

2:11:04guess in staff's opinion, it would be

2:11:05better to have everything put in place

2:11:07at one time and then come back in the

2:11:09future and amend it. And to

2:11:11Councilmember Koprowski's point, we can

2:11:12always amend this uh in the future if we

2:11:15see it's not working. And we've had

2:11:17great success with that when we did the

2:11:18community preservation ordinance. We

2:11:20came back to Council several times as we

2:11:22put that in place and found out that

2:11:23certain things didn't work. So, this is

2:11:25one of those things where we know we

2:11:27don't know everything, um but it's kind

2:11:29of based on our research and what we've

2:11:31done, it's kind of our our best guess at

2:11:32this attempt. And we're more than happy

2:11:34to continue to amend it into the future

2:11:36as we go.

2:11:37>> As you do amendments, what is the

2:11:38typical time frame?

2:11:40>> To bring a LDC text amendment to Council

2:11:43is probably about 6 months cuz we got to

2:11:45initiate it through the Planning

2:11:46Commission, then you go back to them

2:11:48usually with a study session and the the

2:11:50details, and then uh Council study

2:11:52session and then a Council meeting.

2:11:54>> So, if we started to amend it tomorrow,

2:11:57it would take us 6 months probably to

2:11:59get there.

2:11:59>> Probably so, somewhere in that

2:12:00neighborhood.

2:12:04>> But to deal with it

2:12:06and to discuss things more on the micro

2:12:08level could take us a couple meetings.

2:12:12>> Yeah, we'd probably want to take it back

2:12:13to the Planning Commission uh as well.

2:12:15So, you're still going to have uh you're

2:12:17still going to be months away from

2:12:18having

2:12:19even that discussion at the micro level.

2:12:22>> It has to go to planning?

2:12:23>> It doesn't have to, but they recommended

2:12:26approval of what you have in front of

2:12:27you.

2:12:28>> That's Yeah, but we are the policy

2:12:29makers, right?

2:12:30>> That is correct.

2:12:31>> I wanted to check and make sure I still

2:12:32had some power up here.

2:12:34Um

2:12:37You had mentioned the chamber twice in

2:12:38there, and the chamber's concerned about

2:12:40I believe the smaller units.

2:12:43>> Correct.

2:12:44>> And I can see that. Let's say you're a

2:12:46hospital and your campus is growing.

2:12:49There's certain limitations, and there's

2:12:51some others that aren't, but

2:12:53I would understand wanting to have

2:12:55access to want to have control of your

2:12:57own information.

2:12:59It's much back in the day as just having

2:13:01a server on site.

2:13:03Uh

2:13:05You know, I have questions about power

2:13:08and micro nuclear reactors for some of

2:13:10these things that are massive power

2:13:12draws.

2:13:13Uh

2:13:14And as Councilman Bon Giovanni said,

2:13:16there's only five or six properties can

2:13:17probably handle these large ones.

2:13:20So, I would think the actual

2:13:22risk unless people are just frothing at

2:13:25the mouth to run down from the hills and

2:13:27put data centers in Gilbert next week,

2:13:29that if we could extend this a week or

2:13:32two to address the specific issues on

2:13:35micro ones

2:13:36from the chamber, just the specific ones

2:13:38on that. Not anything else. I'm not

2:13:40upset about what you've done with large

2:13:43facilities and protecting this

2:13:44community,

2:13:45but I don't want to start going through

2:13:47a process that could take months or a

2:13:49year when we could probably handle it in

2:13:51a month

2:13:53and we don't have to go to planning for

2:13:55it.

2:13:56So, my suggestion is that we we put this

2:13:58off for a month and

2:14:00put the wheels to the the

2:14:02asphalt and get it done

2:14:04in regards to smaller facilities

2:14:07because it can get done and it can get

2:14:09done shortly, or we go through a process

2:14:11where maybe we're limiting things and

2:14:13with the rate of technology is these

2:14:14days,

2:14:15uh if you remember,

2:14:18there was an Apollo

2:14:19and it took a building of a of

2:14:22uh

2:14:22computing to get it up to the moon, yet

2:14:24this phone has more in it than that did.

2:14:27And we're moving it every 18 months

2:14:29we're doubling capacity on that.

2:14:32I mean, just in the time that we'll be

2:14:33talking about it for the next month,

2:14:35there'll probably be a 15% increase.

2:14:37So, can we

2:14:40I'm going to suggest

2:14:42that we delay this

2:14:44for just a month to see if we can get a

2:14:47few more things handled before we before

2:14:50we make a final decision that will take

2:14:52us a year to modify.

2:14:56>> Councilmember Buckley.

2:14:58>> Um I I have a question. So, if and let's

2:15:02say someone comes in,

2:15:04we get what you have taken here and and

2:15:07you guys I I personally think you've

2:15:10done a great job and it's not you guys

2:15:13that I have the issue with. It's the

2:15:14water that that they use. That I mean,

2:15:17that's always been my issue. But, uh if

2:15:21someone comes in and and they talk to

2:15:23you and you guys want to recommend

2:15:25something,

2:15:26does that is there a a way that any data

2:15:31center that comes in can come to council

2:15:33because if we can incorporate

2:15:36making sure that somehow that if there

2:15:39are data center requests, whatever those

2:15:42are, that they have to come to council

2:15:44for approval.

2:15:46And um and I I think if we could satisfy

2:15:51that, I would I would probably be okay

2:15:54with that, but

2:15:55and or incorporate that if if we're

2:15:58going to

2:16:00end up waiting on this.

2:16:02>> Mayor Anderson, uh Councilmember

2:16:04Buckley. Um

2:16:06we did have those conversations um

2:16:08coming out of the study session uh with

2:16:10the council. Um

2:16:12there was some

2:16:14optimistic thought that maybe that would

2:16:15be something that we could write into

2:16:17this. In visiting with our legal team,

2:16:20um

2:16:21the concern was that we are now treating

2:16:24uses completely differently as as it

2:16:27comes to processes. And our processes

2:16:29should processes should be consistent

2:16:32throughout. And so, it was on the advice

2:16:35of the legal department that we not

2:16:36change the special use permit for data

2:16:39centers to require council action, but

2:16:42to leave it as it is with all other

2:16:45special use permits where it ends with

2:16:46the planning commission.

2:16:48>> Okay, so what and and and I do I do

2:16:51recall this. So,

2:16:53um

2:16:54and that's why I wanted to bring it up

2:16:55cuz no one mentioned it, but

2:16:58um

2:16:59what would constitute them coming to

2:17:01council? What would they have to ask for

2:17:03to come to council?

2:17:04>> So, uh Mayor Anderson, Councilmember

2:17:06Buckley, um special use permits can be

2:17:08appealed to council. So, let's say a

2:17:11special use permit for a data center

2:17:13went to the planning commission. And the

2:17:14planning commission voted it up or voted

2:17:17it down. Either way, it still can

2:17:19[clears throat] be appealed to the

2:17:21council for their final decisions for

2:17:22your final decision. So, there is a

2:17:24process and an ability to get it in

2:17:27front of council. It would just take

2:17:28that next step of somebody appealing uh

2:17:30the decision of the planning commission.

2:17:32>> And and who would do that?

2:17:35>> It could be several people. Somebody

2:17:36impacted by it, could be a council

2:17:38member, uh could be staff. Um there's

2:17:41several different ways in which a

2:17:42special use permit could be appealed to

2:17:44council.

2:17:46>> Okay.

2:17:47Um

2:17:50Okay. Uh I think that answers answers my

2:17:53uh

2:17:53>> Well, last question, Scott.

2:17:54>> Thank you.

2:17:54>> Vice Mayor.

2:17:55>> Yeah.

2:17:56>> Council, so

2:17:58I want to get my math right here, okay?

2:18:00So, we haven't been approached by a big

2:18:03data center in 5 years.

2:18:06>> I unless there's been conversations I'm

2:18:08not aware of, that is correct.

2:18:09>> Okay.

2:18:10>> we have not definitely have not had any

2:18:12applications.

2:18:13>> Okay. And no applications.

2:18:15>> asserted tonight that we already have

2:18:16one.

2:18:17>> I think we have a very small one.

2:18:20>> And it was before the use permits were

2:18:22conditional use permit.

2:18:23>> I've been I've been doing it. It's It's

2:18:25small.

2:18:26>> And we've had no small ones coming to us

2:18:29saying we want to open up.

2:18:30>> Correct.

2:18:31>> Okay. I mean, I'd rather

2:18:33myself go back to my first initial

2:18:35thought was I'd rather not vote on this

2:18:37than vote no tonight and just give a

2:18:40little bit more time to work with the

2:18:41chamber and

2:18:44with the and with the potential

2:18:47expert

2:18:48to look into what the future may look

2:18:51like and and

2:18:53focus a little bit more on the smaller

2:18:54ones since we don't have the land for

2:18:56the big ones.

2:18:57So.

2:18:59That's my opinion.

2:19:00>> Councilmember Kubawski? [snorts]

2:19:01>> Um since a couple of the council members

2:19:03have brought up you know, wanting to

2:19:05continue this to have some additional

2:19:08additions

2:19:10or considerations added I just want to

2:19:12make sure we are giving enough direction

2:19:14to staff on what that is or means cuz I

2:19:18haven't really heard that full

2:19:19definition yet. I've I've heard you talk

2:19:23about smaller data centers.

2:19:25I'm assuming that

2:19:27is not accessory data centers or could

2:19:29you elaborate on more specifics so that

2:19:32we can

2:19:34define what we want staff to do within a

2:19:36very limited time frame.

2:19:37>> Yeah. Probably probably um accessory

2:19:40meaning um where I mean if I'm using the

2:19:43terms wrong, let me know.

2:19:45Hospital, you know, um if if we want to,

2:19:49you know, move our our own police, you

2:19:52know, um data have small small accessory

2:19:55data center here or any other companies

2:19:58um that could don't need a huge you

2:20:00don't want to have the security risk

2:20:01going to a larger one.

2:20:03>> Well, that looks like it's included in

2:20:05this.

2:20:06>> It is, but there's there's things in

2:20:07here that I know the chamber wasn't

2:20:09comfortable with. I'm not comfortable

2:20:10with the the the water situation either.

2:20:12So, I'd rather just go back to

2:20:15um the chamber, go back to some of the

2:20:17stakeholders that could potentially see

2:20:20an accessory or smaller, however I want

2:20:22to call it. Um but also where council

2:20:26member um

2:20:28Lyons brought up something to talk to

2:20:30another another expert or two about it,

2:20:32too.

2:20:33>> Uh Mayor Anderson, Councilmember Benge I

2:20:35want to make sure I understand, too. So,

2:20:37the accessory

2:20:39uh data centers that we're talking about

2:20:40are a part of a larger building. It

2:20:43would be something that's in there.

2:20:45I think part of what the chamber had

2:20:47some concerns about was allowing some

2:20:50stand-alone smaller data centers on a

2:20:53campus someplace.

2:20:55>> Correct. Yes.

2:20:55>> Yes.

2:20:57>> Um

2:20:59Mayor Anderson, Councilmembers, we're

2:21:01very um happy to continue that

2:21:03conversation with the chamber um on

2:21:05about their concerns. I'm not sure staff

2:21:07shares the same concerns, which is why

2:21:09we didn't make a lot of changes to our

2:21:11uh ordinance when we came uh forward uh

2:21:14as we thought about the security of

2:21:16these stand-alone [snorts] data centers

2:21:18on a campus, uh the way the buildings

2:21:20look, the architecture, everything about

2:21:22it. Uh we were a little bit more um

2:21:25concerned uh I think than they were. So,

2:21:28we're again happy to continue to to have

2:21:31those conversations. Not entirely sure

2:21:33we'll end up at the exact same place,

2:21:35but we can continue this.

2:21:37>> Councilmember Bucklin?

2:21:39>> Thank you, Mayor.

2:21:41So So, I hear I hear what the council's

2:21:43or several of members are saying.

2:21:47And I get Yeah, we haven't had it a big

2:21:49one come in in 5 years, but anybody

2:21:51that's got anything,

2:21:53you know, on the horizon listens to this

2:21:54meeting says, "Time to Time to get it

2:21:57done." in this gap.

2:21:59And um that would be Murphy's Law. So,

2:22:02I also think that it's a little

2:22:04optimistic

2:22:06to think that we can

2:22:08table this a couple weeks, have these

2:22:10conversations, bring in to talk to a

2:22:12consultant, which takes longer that, and

2:22:14a

2:22:15a staff

2:22:17um

2:22:18that has lots of other jobs

2:22:21and projects they're working on, so it

2:22:23has to fit into the schedule. I

2:22:25appreciate the fact that we have the

2:22:28authority um to bypass the planning

2:22:30commission, but we're the policy makers,

2:22:32and if the policy is we go to the

2:22:34planning commission, then we need to

2:22:35stick to the own our own policies that

2:22:37we created.

2:22:38There there there

2:22:40That's why the policy's there, so

2:22:42um I don't want to go varying from that.

2:22:44I don't think that's a good look. I

2:22:45appreciate the expedient uh

2:22:48the need for expediency in trying to

2:22:50trying to um

2:22:52all good intentioned, but we should not

2:22:55be

2:22:56um

2:22:57not adhering to our own policy, so

2:22:59um

2:23:00I just go back to I think it's more

2:23:01prudent get it done

2:23:04then

2:23:04um Mario can direct staff for a second

2:23:07iteration based on clear direction from

2:23:10the council that we want to see

2:23:12um our code

2:23:15just as our policies um like our

2:23:18police department general orders um

2:23:20are really living documents that need to

2:23:22be looked at and changed as society

2:23:24changes, and AI is moving so fast, way

2:23:26faster than we can keep up.

2:23:28About the time

2:23:30they hit a second iteration, there's

2:23:31going to be a new change, and we're

2:23:32going to be looking at a third

2:23:33iteration, so I I I just think that we

2:23:36need to slow it down

2:23:38and um

2:23:39get across the finish line the really

2:23:40good work that staff did, and then

2:23:44let's see what else we could do.

2:23:46>> December 15th, would that

2:23:48>> Because I'm a member of the board of the

2:23:50>> I just want to say that I don't really

2:23:51feel that it's

2:23:52out of uh

2:23:53our process cuz we reject thoughts that

2:23:56are and votes of planning all the time.

2:24:00And this is simply and we modify those

2:24:02things and this is simply a modification

2:24:04of what's previously been done. It's

2:24:05nothing unusual. It's nothing

2:24:08disrespectful and it's nothing out of

2:24:09order. This is what we do.

2:24:12And we have an opportunity to modify

2:24:14this.

2:24:15And if it can't be modified, if we can't

2:24:18find a a good sweet spot, it'll go up

2:24:20for for a vote up or down, but I want to

2:24:23respect the general public's thought on

2:24:25some things whether it's totally correct

2:24:27or not. Doesn't matter. I want to listen

2:24:29to it. But the thoughts of smaller

2:24:32businesses with accessory sites, we were

2:24:34talking about those.

2:24:36If you're let's just say Deloitte and

2:24:39you wanted a separate building

2:24:41to handle it, to make it aesthetically

2:24:43pleasing, all those things is fine. But

2:24:46we need to make sure that that

2:24:47consideration is in this code and not

2:24:49wait a year

2:24:50to

2:24:52address it.

2:24:54To be done. I mean, I think this can be

2:24:56done fairly quickly. I've got all the

2:24:58confidence in the world everybody wants

2:24:59to get this across the finish line and

2:25:01be done with it quickly. But if we can

2:25:03look at some of those things and just

2:25:06give it a month

2:25:07that that's I think it's just a fair,

2:25:09quick

2:25:10There's no reason to slam the gavel and

2:25:13I don't think anybody's watching this

2:25:14meeting thinking, "Oh boy, I better act

2:25:17tomorrow cuz I want to have a

2:25:19a large data center in Gilbert."

2:25:21Certainly there's Murphy's law, but it's

2:25:23very unlikely.

2:25:25So, I really do want to continue this

2:25:27even if for a month so we can have a

2:25:29more thorough discussion about handling

2:25:31the concerns of businesses here that

2:25:34will want their own

2:25:36not for public use, not for selling but

2:25:38to handle a hospital to handle things

2:25:41like that. I think it's important that

2:25:43we have a thorough understanding of

2:25:45that.

2:25:47That's all I'm asking.

2:25:51>> I'm going to close the public hearing

2:25:53and thank you for the presentation and

2:25:54bring it back to the council for

2:25:56discussion and or motion and I would

2:25:59I would tend to agree with council

2:26:01member Koprowski. Let's be If we're

2:26:03going to postpone it, we better be very

2:26:05specific in what we want the staff to

2:26:07do. And that's what I want to hear in a

2:26:09motion if we're going to do that.

2:26:14>> I

2:26:15Mayor, I'd rather see I mean if if if a

2:26:16month isn't long enough, I mean we can

2:26:19go

2:26:20two months. I mean it I mean whatever

2:26:22staff feels

2:26:23>> [snorts]

2:26:23>> appropriate timing. I don't want to put

2:26:25too much on them at the same time. So,

2:26:28you know, if it's a month or if it's two

2:26:30months and I think we should be focusing

2:26:33um

2:26:34more with our stakeholders at the

2:26:36chamber and and talking with an expert

2:26:39like council member Lyons uh suggested.

2:26:44>> Mayor Anderson, uh Vice Mayor, Council,

2:26:46if I may um

2:26:47just for internal like deadlines to get

2:26:50things on the agenda, just we want to

2:26:52remind the council that

2:26:54um because that everything's published

2:26:55uh eight days in advance. So, if the

2:26:58council were to move to continue to

2:26:59November 17th, what that means for staff

2:27:02is they need to have their staff report

2:27:03by October 26th,

2:27:06which really gives them, you know,

2:27:08not much time. Zero time. So, I would

2:27:11recommend if if

2:27:12if the motion to continue is to look at

2:27:14December 15th, that would give about

2:27:16five weeks or six weeks of time to get

2:27:18stuff done or otherwise you push it

2:27:20longer than that.

2:27:25>> I want to make the motion that we push

2:27:27this to December 15th with specific

2:27:29directions to look at the chamber's

2:27:30concerns about on-site accessory

2:27:32dwellings uh

2:27:35things that are not for public use, uh

2:27:38the smaller

2:27:40site and floor plan

2:27:44options that we've discussed and see

2:27:46what we can do to

2:27:48mitigate problems and water

2:27:51use on those, especially potable water,

2:27:54and what could be done in certain areas

2:27:55for non-potable water.

2:27:57>> I'll second that.

2:28:00Before we vote on that, I'm going to ask

2:28:03staff, do you know what we're asking of

2:28:05you?

2:28:06Kyle?

2:28:12>> Uh Mayor, yes, we've got a pretty good

2:28:13handle on it and we're definitely going

2:28:15to go back and watch this again just to

2:28:17make sure, but yeah, I think we have a

2:28:18pretty good handle on it. And um if we

2:28:21don't and we have questions, we will

2:28:22make sure to reach out to council to to

2:28:25clear up any any any confusion or

2:28:27questions that we do have.

2:28:30>> Okay, there's a motion on the floor and

2:28:31a second. Please vote.

2:28:44Motion carries 6-1.

2:28:47Council member Buckland dissenting.

2:28:50Thank you.

2:28:51And we will be uh coordinating with

2:28:53staff.

2:28:57Let's move to item 43, code of Gilbert,

2:28:59conduct hearing and consideration

2:29:01adoption of ordinance number 3005

2:29:04amending the code of Gilbert.

2:29:08Who is the staff person that's been

2:29:10working on this?

2:29:12And we have council members that were

2:29:14working on this also. Council member

2:29:16Kaprowski?

2:29:17>> Yes, Mayor. Um

2:29:19this initiative was led by council

2:29:21members Buckland, Lyons, and I. We

2:29:24brought this uh to

2:29:27a meeting a couple months ago and then

2:29:29discussed it during our meeting and then

2:29:32met with uh staff to identify

2:29:34opportunities to improve the efficiency

2:29:36and structure of our council meetings.

2:29:38Um these recommendations that are

2:29:40presented here today also respond to

2:29:42some feedback we recently heard um

2:29:45from residents and and stakeholders

2:29:47about meetings running excessively late

2:29:49and then we've experienced those

2:29:50ourselves.

2:29:52Um so I just wanted to quickly summarize

2:29:55what what we're proposing, what came out

2:29:57of those conversations, and what we

2:29:59would um like to move forward tonight.

2:30:04Um we are proposing that our regular

2:30:06council meetings begin 30 minutes

2:30:08earlier at 6:00 p.m., which would force

2:30:10our student of the month recognitions to

2:30:12move to 5:30 p.m. when those occur.

2:30:16During our regular council meetings, the

2:30:18changes that we're proposing is that on

2:30:21the consent calendar, like tonight we

2:30:23had

2:30:25over 30 items on our consent calendar,

2:30:28and tonight we didn't have a lot to

2:30:29pull, but on other nights we've had

2:30:31several items be pulled, um and it would

2:30:34help staff significantly um with their

2:30:37time if we

2:30:41had council members identify the items

2:30:44that they want to pull for separate

2:30:45discussion by noon the day before the

2:30:48meeting.

2:30:49>> [snorts]

2:30:49>> It would give us an idea of um

2:30:54what needs to be pulled and then what

2:30:57remaining consent calendar items can um

2:31:02be moved and approved more quickly.

2:31:06We are proposing to eliminate the

2:31:08routine presentations of the consent

2:31:10slides and replacing those with the

2:31:12funding transparency

2:31:14to identify the funding sources um in

2:31:17the meeting agendas themselves so that

2:31:19residents can easily understand how

2:31:20projects and expenditures are funded.

2:31:24We also recognize that um

2:31:28we wanted make some changes to study

2:31:30sessions to allow more feedback from

2:31:34residents during those study sessions.

2:31:36And so we wanted to add public

2:31:38participation and public comment at

2:31:40study sessions. And because of that um

2:31:43unknown in time uh that that may take,

2:31:46we are proposing that study sessions be

2:31:48held on Mondays as needed rather than

2:31:51immediately before regular council

2:31:53meetings where it would all

2:31:55bleed together and really create a very

2:31:59long um

2:32:00evening without breaks for the council.

2:32:05Um this would move executive sessions

2:32:07right before council meetings um as

2:32:09needed, uh but we can control and

2:32:12understand how long those take a little

2:32:14bit more. So ultimately

2:32:17with those changes, we believe that we

2:32:18can make our

2:32:21meetings more effective, predictable,

2:32:23and respect time of our residents, our

2:32:26staff, and ourselves um

2:32:28while we conduct our business of the

2:32:29town.

2:32:33>> May I add one thing to that, please?

2:32:36>> Yes.

2:32:36>> What this also does, if staff has to

2:32:39make a present have a presentation

2:32:41available for everything on that consent

2:32:43calendar, if we get this to them by that

2:32:46date, that frees

2:32:48people not to have to do that, and they

2:32:50only have to focus on the items that we

2:32:52want pulled, and I think that'll open up

2:32:54a lot of

2:32:55uh opportunity for staff to get other

2:32:57work done, take some of the load off of

2:32:58them. That was one of the reasons behind

2:33:00that.

2:33:03>> Chris.

2:33:03>> Yeah, Mayor Anderson, Council, if I can

2:33:06also add one thing. One One other thing

2:33:07on the consent item it would do is if

2:33:09there was an item pulled

2:33:11um from consent, uh you would you would

2:33:13then vote on consent, and that consent

2:33:16item would be pushed after the public

2:33:18hearing.

2:33:19Um and it so it would be discussed at

2:33:21the same meeting, but just later in

2:33:22date. The purpose of that is to allow

2:33:24the staff members to that are not

2:33:26involved in that, they can go home and

2:33:28not have to stay through that.

2:33:32>> Mr. Mayor, point of privilege on that.

2:33:34Um not just that purpose, but it also

2:33:37helps

2:33:38uh our residents. Um we we tend to have

2:33:40a lot more engagement on um

2:33:44the public hearing than we do on consent

2:33:46items. And so, it allows uh and that

2:33:49usually brings larger crowds. So, it

2:33:51allows them to go home not at 11:00 at

2:33:53night after sitting listening to a bunch

2:33:55of stuff. So, it does it does serve both

2:33:57our public um

2:33:58more respect of their time and and our

2:34:00staff respect of their time.

2:34:05>> Councilmember Torgersen

2:34:06>> I just want to make sure this still

2:34:07gives some clear the consent agenda,

2:34:10although it's replaced with some

2:34:12different things. I want to make sure

2:34:14that it's still presented in a way that

2:34:16the public sees it. I don't want it to

2:34:18be something that's uh you know, just

2:34:20buried cuz the public they don't see it

2:34:23like if you looked at our consent agenda

2:34:26items on online, it doesn't give the

2:34:29information that Mario gives us. And I

2:34:31think it's important that people

2:34:33get everything. They understand

2:34:34everything.

2:34:36And the other part of that is be I I do

2:34:38agree that it should be a policy uh

2:34:41that

2:34:42everything's in advance for pulling it.

2:34:44I get that cuz I'm the problematic child

2:34:46here.

2:34:47Um

2:34:49Well, I pull things cuz I I want to make

2:34:51sure everybody understands, but uh at

2:34:53the same time if there's something last

2:34:54minute, would there be a problem for

2:34:56somebody that really saw something?

2:34:59>> Thank you for asking that question, uh

2:35:01Councilmember Torgersen. One of the

2:35:03items that uh these proposed town code

2:35:05amendments make is that if there was an

2:35:08item that someone forgot to pull or or

2:35:11somehow needed to be discussed and it

2:35:13wasn't um

2:35:15requested by that deadline, we could

2:35:16still discuss it with a majority vote of

2:35:18from the council.

2:35:20>> Yeah.

2:35:21Council member Buckley?

2:35:24>> Um I you know, I just want to bring up

2:35:27I had an issue with changing this time

2:35:29last time and I still have the same

2:35:32issue. And the reason is a lot of people

2:35:36work. A lot of people, if they're

2:35:37working, you know, 10-hour shifts, they

2:35:40might not get off until 6:00 and I I I

2:35:43don't like moving that from 6:30. 6:30

2:35:47has worked for all these years and then

2:35:50to to change that and especially with

2:35:53people that are working, you know, four

2:35:55four days a week, 10 hours a day. Um I

2:35:58just I don't want to us to eliminate any

2:36:02resident that wants to be here,

2:36:04but maybe can't get here until 6:30,

2:36:076:45. They don't miss much if they're

2:36:09here at 6:45.

2:36:11But um that's, you know, I I have

2:36:15a [snorts] definite issue with changing

2:36:17that, but otherwise, I think I'm

2:36:20probably okay with

2:36:23>> And I think that's one of the reasons

2:36:24why it was only a half-hour shift versus

2:36:27a full-hour shift. Um there was an

2:36:29evaluation of the public meeting times

2:36:32for other agencies in the region and the

2:36:35average time was uh closer to 5:00 p.m.

2:36:39So,

2:36:41we overall felt like making these

2:36:44changes um

2:36:46would be beneficial to the people that

2:36:49we have seen at these meetings,

2:36:52understanding that hopefully the half an

2:36:53hour isn't um a barrier for people to

2:36:56come and and still speak at our

2:36:58meetings, but we also don't want them

2:37:00waiting here from the beginning of the

2:37:03meeting until midnight like we have in

2:37:05certain instances.

2:37:07>> Yeah. Well, but also it's it's rare we

2:37:10have the midnight meetings.

2:37:11Unfortunately, we've had two of them

2:37:13during this 4 years, but um

2:37:16I'm I'm not that concerned because

2:37:18sometimes and that doesn't mean it's

2:37:20still going to cut it out. Instead, we

2:37:23might finish at 11:30 instead of

2:37:25midnight. But so the long meetings, I

2:37:29don't think we can anticipate those. And

2:37:32and they're they are few and far

2:37:34between.

2:37:35So I I don't know. I still

2:37:39would rather see and and and I'm

2:37:42assuming that you guys checked with

2:37:44other cities and stuff with the same

2:37:47number of residents and we're equal with

2:37:50what we are, but

2:37:52>> If I may, I I can address that cuz I'm

2:37:54the one that did the research on that. I

2:37:56evaluated all of them.

2:37:59Took

2:38:00Maricopa County Board of Supervisors out

2:38:02because they're 9:30. They're an anomaly

2:38:05in the morning.

2:38:06Um and it was uh I think it was a 5:15

2:38:09average start time.

2:38:11Um we also considered the fact that same

2:38:15as you, we want to make sure our

2:38:16residents can show up. Um and

2:38:20we have technology now

2:38:22that you know, we didn't always have and

2:38:23that is the ability to live stream while

2:38:25they're driving here to listen until

2:38:27they get here.

2:38:28But the other thing we're not talking

2:38:29about was even if we're not going to

2:38:3111:00 at night,

2:38:34people sitting over there that that that

2:38:36work for these residents um have been

2:38:38working since at least 7:00 a.m.

2:38:41And this is a pretty short meeting right

2:38:43now

2:38:44and it's going on 14 hours for them. So

2:38:47any little thing that we can do to help

2:38:49shorten it um

2:38:51helps. Helps get them home, get them

2:38:54rest so they can come back the next day

2:38:56and perform with with strong legs and

2:38:59shoulders. So that was little more input

2:39:01into what went behind it.

2:39:03>> Yeah, I I I don't have

2:39:05you know, any issue with

2:39:07shortening the the time for the meeting.

2:39:10I just the starting, the beginning. And

2:39:13I know that's where you're trying to

2:39:14shorten it, but that's just That's where

2:39:17I am in that because I I And and

2:39:22as we all know, Gilbert is unique. We're

2:39:24We're different than And our residents

2:39:26are are different than most residents.

2:39:28They're very active. They want to be

2:39:31here and

2:39:32um

2:39:33I I personally, I don't want to do

2:39:36anything that that would keep them from

2:39:37being here. You know, just to make us be

2:39:41able to go home earlier.

2:39:43Um and and I and I like what we're doing

2:39:46so that the staff can go home. I think

2:39:48that is a great idea. And um

2:39:51you know, rather than have them sit here

2:39:53and not know and to and to be

2:39:57to bring that up, I actually, when I was

2:40:01vice mayor, did my best to do exactly

2:40:04that, but it just didn't work. And

2:40:08hopefully, it will maybe it will work

2:40:10better, you know, with the incoming

2:40:12council could be because they're not

2:40:14used to doing it the way we were used to

2:40:16doing it. So,

2:40:18anyway, that's that's just kind of my

2:40:20take on that.

2:40:22>> Vice Mayor.

2:40:23>> Thanks, Mayor. I want to commend the

2:40:24council members that worked on this. Um

2:40:27it solves the problem and I I don't

2:40:29think we were there when you guys first

2:40:30were talking about it, but I think you

2:40:32guys um spent a lot of time on it. I

2:40:34appreciate it and uh I I like what you

2:40:37guys have.

2:40:40>> You know,

2:40:41Council Member Torgeson.

2:40:42>> Uh my only concern I I wanted to

2:40:44understand the 2-minute speaker limit,

2:40:4720-minute uh

2:40:49time up that particular caveat.

2:40:52>> That would only apply to the new public

2:40:55comment period that we are adding to

2:40:57study sessions. So, we're not making any

2:41:00adjustments to the regular council

2:41:01meetings, but because we're adding it to

2:41:03study sessions,

2:41:05um

2:41:06we we we defined a a different time

2:41:09period for the study sessions.

2:41:11>> Just wanted to confirm. I appreciate.

2:41:13Well done.

2:41:14>> Thank you.

2:41:16Um

2:41:17I move to approve the proposed town code

2:41:20amendments to sections 1-86,

2:41:251-91, and 1-94

2:41:29um and provide council concurrence um

2:41:31with the modifications as presented in

2:41:33the packet.

2:41:34>> Second.

2:41:35>> It's been moved and seconded. Please

2:41:37vote.

2:41:44Motion carries 6-1 with council member

2:41:46Buckley dissenting. Thank you.

2:41:50Move on to administrative items. Uh

2:41:52council member Torgersen

2:41:55boards and commission.

2:41:57>> This is Yeah, I just wanted to discuss

2:41:59this

2:42:00I wanted to discuss this so we can

2:42:02people can hear each part of this and

2:42:05how we're changing the code of conduct

2:42:06for

2:42:07>> No, no, no. We're talking about item 44,

2:42:09where your appointment to the

2:42:10redevelopment commission

2:42:11>> I'm looking at 45 right now.

2:42:13>> Right.

2:42:14>> I jumped the gun. Fantastic. Shows a

2:42:16long day for me. Um

2:42:19Item 44 is

2:42:21regarding boards and commissions. I had

2:42:23to consider the appointment to the

2:42:24redevelopment commission of Clay

2:42:26Richardson and Darren Robers as regular

2:42:29members with a term beginning November

2:42:301st, 2026 and ending October 31st, 2030

2:42:36and Edward Chris Maroney as the

2:42:38alternate member beginning with term

2:42:40November 1st, 2026 and ending October

2:42:4331st, 2027.

2:42:47>> Second. Second.

2:42:50>> I'll second that.

2:42:51>> It's been moved and seconded. Please

2:42:52vote.

2:42:59Motion carried 7-0.

2:43:02Now we're on to item 45.

2:43:05Policy number 2023-03, consider approval

2:43:08of revisions to council policy number

2:43:112023-03 regarding the code of conduct.

2:43:19>> That's fine. Thank you, Mayor.

2:43:21Um earlier today

2:43:24um council member elect um Bustle Beami

2:43:28spoke about civility and I appreciated

2:43:30that.

2:43:32With civility sometimes comes rules.

2:43:35And you have to have rules in order to

2:43:38create civility or civilization, shall

2:43:41we say?

2:43:42Um

2:43:44we are a considered a weak

2:43:46mayor-council system, which means we

2:43:49don't run the town.

2:43:51Mario and the staff

2:43:54run this town and we're kind of like

2:43:56board members.

2:43:57And I think that it's important that

2:44:01council and council members elect

2:44:03understand

2:44:05what a board and a board member means.

2:44:08>> [snorts]

2:44:08>> We're not elected to the US Senate where

2:44:11we have full investigation powers.

2:44:14We're elected as town council members as

2:44:16a board

2:44:17to oversee the employees that we

2:44:20oversee, mainly Mario.

2:44:24So um

2:44:27I have a problem with what's been

2:44:28happening lately, which is what why I

2:44:32brought this forward and

2:44:34and had council member um

2:44:36Torgerson and Lyons

2:44:38um

2:44:40make it better.

2:44:42Um

2:44:43I have seen [snorts] in the last

2:44:46couple of months

2:44:48um some behaviors that are potentially

2:44:51creating a toxic environment.

2:44:54And

2:44:56I have seen staff

2:44:59members leaving.

2:45:01I've heard rumblings of other leaving.

2:45:03There are loss of

2:45:06hundreds if not more years of not only

2:45:10experience but absolutely expertise.

2:45:13>> [snorts]

2:45:14>> And I think something has to be done

2:45:16about it, which is why we brought this

2:45:18forward.

2:45:19You know, we have council member elects

2:45:22that are

2:45:24wanting to tape record meetings.

2:45:26That's not transparency. [clears throat]

2:45:29It's intimidation.

2:45:31And it shouldn't happen.

2:45:33No council or no staff member should

2:45:35have to sit with a council member with a

2:45:37tape recorder in front of them with them

2:45:39drilling them on questions.

2:45:41Shouldn't be that way. We need to work

2:45:43as a team.

2:45:45Um I have

2:45:47two council member elects that are going

2:45:49online

2:45:51that are making statements about our

2:45:53police department, our police chief,

2:45:56uh police administration, police

2:45:58themselves. There's one of them even

2:46:00asking people to send her emails about

2:46:04how the police are corrupt.

2:46:06That's um

2:46:08that's not leadership.

2:46:10Yeah, it that's it's weakness. It's an

2:46:12impotency.

2:46:14And I'm sitting here today with rest of

2:46:16the council and everyone in here. We're

2:46:17being protected by the SWAT team who are

2:46:20here who is here right now.

2:46:23And I respect them and I appreciate them

2:46:25for all the four years that I've been

2:46:26here knowing they've got my back.

2:46:29Because these days you never know who

2:46:31may come in that come in that door

2:46:34angry. Lord knows you get enough people

2:46:36angry about water. You never know.

2:46:39And they're better men than I am because

2:46:41I don't know that my reaction time would

2:46:45be fast.

2:46:47If someone came in this room

2:46:50and I was calling them corrupt.

2:46:54They're better men than I am to protect

2:46:55me. I wouldn't call them the corrupt to

2:46:57begin with.

2:46:59But I I commend them for for being here

2:47:01and protecting us.

2:47:02>> [snorts]

2:47:03>> And I commend the police department for

2:47:05what they do.

2:47:07And it sickens me

2:47:09when we have two council member elects

2:47:11who haven't even sat in a seat up here

2:47:13yet

2:47:15asking the public to help me prove that

2:47:18they're corrupt.

2:47:20It's It's It's just wrong.

2:47:23There's zero evidence and it it should

2:47:25not be happening.

2:47:27Um

2:47:29I'm going to protect staff

2:47:31way past January cuz I I believe we have

2:47:35the best staff anywhere. We have the

2:47:37leanest staff anywhere. I have worked

2:47:39for corporations, companies, my own

2:47:42companies and I have never seen a more

2:47:43dedicated staff in my life.

2:47:46I In four years, I have never met a

2:47:49staff member yet who I feel

2:47:53was just

2:47:54doing their job.

2:47:56Never.

2:47:58And I went out with people in

2:47:59maintenance. I've went out with all, you

2:48:01know, with a lot of different

2:48:02departments and they throw their heart

2:48:05and soul into their job.

2:48:07And they are all absolute experts at

2:48:10what they do.

2:48:12And everything they do is tough.

2:48:14And everything they do is like two times

2:48:16more than their counterparts in other

2:48:17cities cuz we don't have the the the the

2:48:20the money to staff appropriately. And I

2:48:23don't want to lose another staff member.

2:48:26So, that's why we're looking for the

2:48:29ordinances that we want to bring

2:48:31forward.

2:48:32Um

2:48:33Chris, if I get these wrong, please let

2:48:35me know.

2:48:36Um unless Monty, you want to jump in and

2:48:38I'll I'll mention first one. Uh no tape

2:48:41recording of any meetings

2:48:45with staff. No tape recordings if you're

2:48:48a council member and you're with a

2:48:50resident somewhere even if even off

2:48:52staff.

2:48:53Now, some people are going to say,

2:48:55"Well, Chuck, you're not really

2:48:57transparent. You don't want

2:48:58transparency." That's not transparency,

2:49:01it's intimidation.

2:49:03It's not transparency.

2:49:05You shouldn't throw a recorder in front

2:49:07of a staff member or a resident say,

2:49:10"Let's talk."

2:49:12It's not transparency, it's

2:49:14intimidation.

2:49:16Manny, if you want to jump in, go ahead,

2:49:17buddy.

2:49:18>> I just want to put a a fine point on

2:49:20this on something that happened

2:49:23to my family this evening.

2:49:26Um a gentleman followed my son into his

2:49:29neighborhood in a gated community

2:49:32and accosted him or a

2:49:35got in his face at his house in his

2:49:38driveway

2:49:40and explained to him that he hated

2:49:42politicians

2:49:43and started threatening him.

2:49:46And had informed him that he'd been

2:49:48watching and monitoring his house

2:49:51for quite a while and really liked it.

2:49:54Which he has a pregnant wife right now

2:49:56at home, which kind of unnerved him a

2:49:58little bit. And police are

2:49:59investigating. It's another community in

2:50:01town.

2:50:02But I have been followed in this

2:50:05community.

2:50:06I moved because

2:50:09of some very uncomfortable situations

2:50:12going on around my house in this

2:50:14community and it's a direct result of

2:50:16people saying things they shouldn't say.

2:50:20And this gentleman who confronted my son

2:50:22tonight said, "Hey, I hate politicians."

2:50:24My son's not a politician.

2:50:26That happened right before we walked

2:50:28into this meeting.

2:50:30And it is that type of rhetoric where

2:50:32you accuse somebody of corruption when

2:50:35there is no evidence of corruption. You

2:50:37may not like how they're doing their

2:50:39business. You may not like the speed

2:50:41with it.

2:50:42But to lever leverage or to level an

2:50:45allegation like that without

2:50:48something to back it up allows an

2:50:50unhinged person like the gentleman that

2:50:53accosted my son tonight

2:50:55to be able to do that.

2:50:57And I think that creates an environment

2:51:00for some very bad things to happen. So,

2:51:02I think these ground rules that we're

2:51:04looking at

2:51:05can help bring some stability back to

2:51:08this situation. So, that's the period I

2:51:10want to put on this.

2:51:14>> Councilman Torgesen?

2:51:15>> Yeah. The

2:51:17the unfortunate thing is that we have to

2:51:19have the discussion.

2:51:20Uh

2:51:21there's one councilman elect that's

2:51:23touting that he's responsible for

2:51:25shedding the town of a an employee,

2:51:28which is which is awful because people

2:51:29are people. People are human. You don't

2:51:31know the effects you have on people, but

2:51:33I want to say something that nobody

2:51:35really talks about. People that leave

2:51:37the town of Gilbert really it tends not

2:51:40to really happen, but the ones that do

2:51:42are being headhunted because they're

2:51:44good at what they do. It's because they

2:51:47they've got

2:51:48a reputation for let's say building

2:51:51Gilbert's

2:51:52credit rating or building their

2:51:54water portfolio or whatever it is that

2:51:56their particular expertise is.

2:51:58Headhunters aren't going after the

2:52:01average person. They're not going after

2:52:03subpar employees. They're not going

2:52:05after corrupt people.

2:52:07They're

2:52:08Headhunters come and take good people.

2:52:10And those good people have a work

2:52:12environment that needs to be stable and

2:52:15needs to be respectful. Uh

2:52:18Almost everybody in this room has worked

2:52:19for a boss that was terrible. Couldn't

2:52:21wait to get out. Couldn't pay you enough

2:52:24to stay. Probably took a job somewhere

2:52:26else for less if you could cuz you had a

2:52:28terrible boss.

2:52:29Uh

2:52:32Disrespect of

2:52:33uh the people that that helped build the

2:52:36very structure of this town.

2:52:38Uh

2:52:39I'm not saying to be in awe of them. I'm

2:52:41saying to show common courtesy. And some

2:52:44people lack that common courtesy. These

2:52:46people uh I like Chuck have not met one

2:52:49person on the staff that I think's just

2:52:51clocking it. I may disagree with some of

2:52:54them on on what they think or what they

2:52:56present or whatever, but there is not

2:52:58one human being

2:53:00that clocks it. And in fact, I I think

2:53:02thing I'm going to miss most out of of

2:53:04leaving council in January are some of

2:53:06the great people that I surround myself

2:53:08with here. Because it is inspiring to

2:53:10see people that love their work and care

2:53:13about a municipality uh

2:53:15and do it really kind of for no thanks.

2:53:19Um

2:53:20I was talking with with Taylor

2:53:21[clears throat] and Monica at a a

2:53:22meeting and I actually started to get a

2:53:23tear in my eye cuz

2:53:25I really recognize how different it is

2:53:27to be around people that love what they

2:53:29do. And for them to be diminished uh

2:53:31these people that just love it and and

2:53:34aspire to be the best people they can

2:53:36and really do work for less in Gilbert

2:53:38than other communities offer them.

2:53:40We do need to protect these people. We

2:53:42absolutely do. And what Monty Monty

2:53:45said, my house has been vandalized five

2:53:47times.

2:53:48There's been a culture of hate that's

2:53:49grown in this community. It's been

2:53:51spawned by social media. It's an

2:53:53addiction.

2:53:55I've been vandalized five times.

2:53:58Think about that.

2:54:00Your home.

2:54:01Where you come home to isn't safe.

2:54:04And I don't know exactly who did it. I

2:54:06have my thoughts, but I don't care to

2:54:08share those cuz it's not fair.

2:54:10But

2:54:11when you've created that kind of culture

2:54:14and now you're bringing that culture

2:54:15into the very building that houses

2:54:18what's created the roads and the parks

2:54:21and everything else.

2:54:23And whether you want to call it a failed

2:54:25sewer system or finally some people

2:54:27stepped up and decided we needed to fix

2:54:29it. It doesn't matter. These are the

2:54:31people that are executing the needs of

2:54:33this town. And I I just cannot walk away

2:54:37from this. Allowing people that I have

2:54:39grown to have an immense amount of

2:54:41respect for

2:54:43to be brutalized, to be diminished, to

2:54:47be spoken poorly to.

2:54:49I have many employees.

2:54:51And you know what? Even the bad ones I

2:54:52don't talk to like that. They find a way

2:54:55to to go somewhere else at some point,

2:54:56but

2:54:57uh I don't really have bad ones cuz I

2:54:59try to be kind to them. I try to

2:55:01encourage them.

2:55:03Uh

2:55:04I definitely don't come in and say

2:55:05you're corrupt or do I think they're

2:55:07stealing signs out of the back door.

2:55:09>> It's just

2:55:10>> It's just important that we do this.

2:55:12It's important that that we recognize

2:55:15uh we get a pretty good deal out of our

2:55:17staff. And we have the we do have a a

2:55:19sparsely staff sparsely staffed

2:55:22community. Uh

2:55:23and personally I mean I love that. I

2:55:25know that it's a weakness to some

2:55:27people, but I love the fact that they do

2:55:29more with less.

2:55:31And the people that do more with less

2:55:32should be cherished. They shouldn't be

2:55:34insulted.

2:55:35And that's why anything we do here I

2:55:38support because

2:55:40the future of this town depends on some

2:55:42institutional knowledge. And if it blows

2:55:44out of here too fast, we have none.

2:55:48>> And I believe Chris we're asking you for

2:55:51um what a true

2:55:53weak mayor council system

2:55:56requires. Am I correct?

2:55:59Would you be able to read the um the

2:56:00changes, please?

2:56:03>> Uh Mayor Anderson, Vice Mayor, Council,

2:56:05are you looking at the changes, Vice

2:56:07Mayor, on the recording or just the

2:56:10the limiting contact?

2:56:11>> Yeah, yeah, everything we have online.

2:56:12>> Yeah.

2:56:13Um so what's being proposed um on the

2:56:16the first item, and this is on the code

2:56:18of ethics, so it's not a council

2:56:20ordinance, right? It's a council policy.

2:56:23Uh the first item would be to add a

2:56:25section to um a new section to section

2:56:28two, elected and appointed public

2:56:30officials contact conduct with each

2:56:32other. And it's recording of official

2:56:35staff and others and what it what it

2:56:36says is a council member or member of

2:56:39board, commission, committee, or task

2:56:40force shall not make an audio or video

2:56:42recording of another council member,

2:56:44another member member of a board,

2:56:45commissioner, or committee, a town

2:56:47employee, or any other person while that

2:56:48person's acting in an official capacity

2:56:51unless every person present at the time

2:56:53of the recording recording has given

2:56:55prior consent. The prohibition would not

2:56:58apply to the official recording of a

2:57:00public meeting, like this one, made or

2:57:02authorized by the town um

2:57:05for purposes of town records, minutes,

2:57:07or compliance with the open meeting law,

2:57:09nor does it limit the right of the

2:57:11public to otherwise record a public

2:57:13meeting. For example, someone standing

2:57:15here recording this meeting, that'd be

2:57:16permissible.

2:57:18That's the first section on recording.

2:57:20The next section uh proposed change

2:57:23would apply to section three, elected

2:57:24and appointed public officials conduct

2:57:27with town staff. And so, to your to your

2:57:30question, Vice Mayor, right, the way our

2:57:32code is set up, um this is uh and I'm

2:57:35going to pull up, if you give me a

2:57:36second, let me just pull up the count

2:57:38the town code, the relevant provision.

2:57:41Um

2:57:48Let me just find it real quick.

2:57:59Give me 1 second.

2:58:10One more, just

2:58:16Didn't mean to put you on the spot,

2:58:17Chris.

2:58:17>> No, that's okay. Well, I wanted to cite

2:58:19the town code which is not being

2:58:21modified by this. Um, but it's town code

2:58:25I believe it's section 144. The council

2:58:28should act through the manager. And so

2:58:30what that says is, and this is again the

2:58:33town code that's not being modified,

2:58:35except for the purpose of inquiry the

2:58:37council and its members shall deal with

2:58:38the town employee with town employees

2:58:40solely through the manager and neither

2:58:42the council nor any member thereof shall

2:58:44give orders to any subordinate of the

2:58:46manager. And so that's right the code,

2:58:49that's what the council operates under.

2:58:51This is the code of ethics which it

2:58:53gives more guidance, but that's the

2:58:54general principle and that's the I

2:58:56believe the intent of what's being

2:58:58proposed here.

2:58:59And so that section, um, let me get back

2:59:02to that.

2:59:03Um, what's being proposed is there is a

2:59:05an existing section in the code of

2:59:07ethics, the code of conduct that that

2:59:09talks about expounds more on that

2:59:11section that I just read in the town

2:59:12code and what would be added would be,

2:59:16um, some

2:59:17provisions on, uh, section two. It's

2:59:19limiting contact to specific town staff.

2:59:22And what it says is questions of town

2:59:24staff and a request for additional

2:59:26background information, and this is

2:59:27coming from the council, uh, shall be

2:59:30directed to the town manager, the town

2:59:31clerk, or the town attorney. Um, the the

2:59:34three appointed, uh, employees of the

2:59:36council. Um, what it did say before

2:59:38would also added assistant town managers

2:59:40and department heads. That would be just

2:59:43shortened right to the three appointed

2:59:45uh, employees that you have, uh, outside

2:59:47of course Judge Kushen. Um, and then

2:59:49it's also adding some new language, um,

2:59:52that says public official shall limit

2:59:54unsolicited or uninvited contact with

2:59:56town staff. Um, requests for information

2:59:59assistance

3:00:00or a meeting shall be directed through

3:00:02the town manager who shall determine the

3:00:04appropriate staff response. Public

3:00:06official shall not initiate unsolicited

3:00:08or uninvited contact with town staff

3:00:10members outside of those listed above.

3:00:12And the last section here would be a

3:00:14public official who wishes to raise a

3:00:16matter with a specific staff member or

3:00:18department shall first coordinate the

3:00:20request through the town manager.

3:00:22>> So, I can't walk into uh or someone in

3:00:24the water department, give them a

3:00:2710-page thing saying I need answers for

3:00:29all these kinds of things without going

3:00:32through Mario, and I can't demand a

3:00:34meeting with them without going through

3:00:36Mario. Is that correct?

3:00:37>> That's what the code of conduct would

3:00:38require, yes.

3:00:39>> Okay.

3:00:40Thank you.

3:00:40>> And and just the final section, and

3:00:42there's an existing section that's been

3:00:44there. It says, "Do not attend meetings

3:00:46with town staff unless requested." Uh

3:00:48what's what's been in the code

3:00:51uh even if a public official does not

3:00:52say anything, a public official's uh

3:00:54presence in a staff meeting may imply

3:00:57support, show partiality, intimidate

3:00:59staff, and hamper staff's ability to do

3:01:01their job objectively. That's been in

3:01:02the code. What's being proposed to be

3:01:04added is this additional portion that

3:01:06says, "Public officials shall not

3:01:08demand, expect, or request a meeting

3:01:10with town staff unless the meeting is

3:01:11initiated or invited by the town manager

3:01:14or the authorized staff. A public

3:01:16official who wishes to discuss a matter

3:01:18with staff shall direct the request to

3:01:19the manager."

3:01:20>> So, I can't walk by a meeting upstairs,

3:01:23you know, and see staff in there, and I

3:01:25can't just walk in and sit down and join

3:01:26the meeting.

3:01:27>> Correct. And and that's been what's been

3:01:29in the code of conduct is that is that.

3:01:31And what's being added is just saying,

3:01:33"Hey, if if you want to have a meeting

3:01:35with staff, just just go through the

3:01:36town manager. Town manager will figure

3:01:38out who needs to be there."

3:01:40>> Okay. Thank you, Chris.

3:01:46>> Any other comments?

3:01:54I'll entertain a motion.

3:01:56>> I'll allow

3:01:57put a motion to approve policy number

3:01:59uh 2023-3.

3:02:03>> I second.

3:02:03>> Item 45.

3:02:05>> It's been moved and seconded approve

3:02:07policy revisions to number 2023-03.

3:02:12Please vote.

3:02:20Motion carried 7-0.

3:02:23Thank you for the work on that.

3:02:26That is very helpful.

3:02:29Um

3:02:31Item 46 was taken off the agenda. Future

3:02:33meetings, you can read those at your

3:02:35leisure. Communications, report from the

3:02:37town manager.

3:02:40>> Thank you, Mayor. I do have a report to

3:02:43share on some recent accomplishments of

3:02:46staff. This is one of the favorite

3:02:47aspects of my job is sharing how well

3:02:50our teams are doing and the great work

3:02:54that that is going on

3:02:56by the town staff. So, I'll start with

3:02:59our economic development team who has

3:03:02been recognized as the 2026 Golden

3:03:05Prospector Award in the special event

3:03:08category for their work on the Harvest

3:03:10in the Heritage District.

3:03:12It's It's a great event and the Arizona

3:03:14Association of Economic Development

3:03:17recognizes that excellence

3:03:19and and recognized them them with the

3:03:22Golden Prospector Award for 2026. So, a

3:03:25great accomplishment by the economic

3:03:27development team.

3:03:29I also want to recognize Trinity

3:03:32Donovan, who is the town's advocacy

3:03:35director,

3:03:37who will receive the Tracy Washington

3:03:39Spirit Award for her outstanding

3:03:41services

3:03:42as a sense CEO for 16 years before

3:03:45coming to work for the town. Her

3:03:47dedication to serving the needs of our

3:03:49community throughout her career is

3:03:50deeply appreciated. We love having

3:03:52Trinity on board and we wanted to spend

3:03:55some time congratulating her and look

3:03:57forward to to being with her as she

3:03:59receives that award very soon.

3:04:02We also want to recognize our solid

3:04:04waste and recycling team for the work

3:04:06that they've done. The Arizona Solid

3:04:09Waste Association of North America has

3:04:11named Gilbert as the municipality of the

3:04:13year for its glass recycling program.

3:04:16This award recognizes the solid waste

3:04:18team's work in waste diversion,

3:04:20recycling, cost efficiency, and rate

3:04:22stabilization through the glass

3:04:24recycling program. The program has

3:04:26resulted in more than 545 tons of glass

3:04:30being recycled and includes partnerships

3:04:32and collaboration with our parks and

3:04:33recreation department and the office of

3:04:36communications and engagement. So, a

3:04:38true team effort in winning this award

3:04:41for municipality of the year from the

3:04:43Arizona Solid Waste Association of North

3:04:46America.

3:04:47And finally, want to recognize our parks

3:04:50and recreation team for the second

3:04:53consecutive year, we're a national gold

3:04:56medal award finalist in 2026. So, that

3:05:00also happened last year in 2025.

3:05:04This is by the American Academy for Park

3:05:07and Recreation Administration. And them

3:05:10being a national gold medal finalist is

3:05:12a is a very significant accomplishment

3:05:15from that team. And we are very proud of

3:05:19the parks team and all the work that

3:05:20they do to to get to that level.

3:05:24Thank you, Mayor.

3:05:26>> Thank you. Reports from council.

3:05:29Vice Mayor.

3:05:29>> Thank you, Mayor. I'm ready for our uh

3:05:33parks and rec report from our Freestone

3:05:35Recreation Center Boobash. Yes, it's a

3:05:38Boobash.

3:05:39Uh come show off your costumes at

3:05:41Freestone Recreational Center's Boobash.

3:05:44Uh engage in arts and crafts, carnival

3:05:46fun, inflatables, and rock out with a

3:05:48DJ. Stop by and say hi to your local

3:05:51police officers. Gilbert Police

3:05:53Department will be passing out candy,

3:05:55showing off their squad cars in the

3:05:57parking lot. And that's going to be on

3:05:58Friday, October 23rd, at Freestone

3:06:01Recreation Center from 5:30 to 7:30.

3:06:04Now, we also have Growing Up Gilbert in

3:06:06real life teen fishing clinic. Oh, that

3:06:09sounds cool.

3:06:10The uh Town of Gilbert is inviting teens

3:06:12to learn how to fish at the Riparian

3:06:14Preserve. This clinic will provide

3:06:16fundamental skills needed for a day of

3:06:18fishing. From assembling a fishing pole

3:06:20to reeling in the best catch of the day,

3:06:22participants will be provided with a

3:06:24fishing pole, bait, and the Town of

3:06:27Gilbert staff ready to get them hooked

3:06:29on a new hobby. That's also February

3:06:31October February. Friday, October 23rd

3:06:34at the Riparian Park from 5:00 to 7:00

3:06:37p.m. and that's what's going on in Parks

3:06:39and Rec.

3:06:40>> Thank you, Council Member Buckland.

3:06:42>> Thank you, Mayor. I can't uh

3:06:45emulate that enthusiasm, but

3:06:47>> Well done, Chuck.

3:06:48>> Uh I was uh

3:06:50Saturday, um and thank you to Council

3:06:52Member Brody Harris over in Chandler,

3:06:54asked me to attend the Mental Health

3:06:56Month walk,

3:06:58and just support uh those um needing

3:07:03for for improved health and wellness.

3:07:05So, at that event, I I was really

3:07:07fortunate to meet some actual business

3:07:08leaders in Gilbert, and um found out

3:07:11that some of our businesses are

3:07:12rallying, doing some really cool things

3:07:14for our children.

3:07:16Uh so, uh

3:07:17Hayden Janice, the general uh operations

3:07:19manager over at Main Event, let me know

3:07:22that um and it's being advertised on the

3:07:25Chamber's website, where you can find

3:07:26more information, but a safe, fun event

3:07:29on the 30th, um from I think it's 6:00

3:07:31to 9:00. Um

3:07:33they've already got 14 um

3:07:36businesses lined up on a trunk or treat.

3:07:38Uh they're wanting 28 to come out, love

3:07:41on our kids, give them a safe safe place

3:07:43to trunk or treat. Um

3:07:45and um

3:07:47you know, businesses collaborating,

3:07:48working together, and everybody just

3:07:49loving on each other. So, wanted to

3:07:51shout that out. I think it's wonderful

3:07:53um that our business community is

3:07:55joining hands to take care of our

3:07:57children and I thank you, too, um Aiden

3:08:00for

3:08:02organizing that.

3:08:03>> Council Member Komparowsky.

3:08:05>> Well, it is fall and event season here

3:08:08in Gilbert. Um I just want to highlight

3:08:11the

3:08:13Gilbert Symphony Orchestra. Uh we had a

3:08:16concert a couple weeks ago, but we have

3:08:17another one coming up on Sunday,

3:08:19November 1st at 3:00 p.m.

3:08:22at Higley Center for the Performing

3:08:24Arts. And the theme for the November 1st

3:08:27concert is an American song songbook

3:08:31featuring the Gilbert Symphony Chorus.

3:08:33So, it should be a real treat um with a

3:08:36Gilbert Symphony Chorus joining in and a

3:08:39variety of music in their program.

3:08:42And then you can also mark your calendar

3:08:44for Monday, February 15th, where it's

3:08:48going to be at 7:00 p.m. and it's going

3:08:49to be music from video games. So, it'll

3:08:52be interesting to see how that one turns

3:08:54out.

3:08:55Thank you.

3:08:56>> Council Member Lyons.

3:08:59>> Let's get our slides up here. We got a

3:09:00couple things for the Veterans Advisory

3:09:03Board.

3:09:04Um t-shirts are going on sale right now.

3:09:07You can see the design up here. Uh this

3:09:09is for America 250. We did something a

3:09:11little bit unique. Um we've

3:09:14got some really good positive feedback.

3:09:16So, uh scan the barcode there. They're

3:09:18available now. We encourage you to get a

3:09:20hold of them and support the VAB.

3:09:23Um coming up,

3:09:25we have the banners that are going back

3:09:26up for the Veterans uh Day period of

3:09:30time. And uh we would encourage uh

3:09:33everybody to take a look at that and go

3:09:34see the veterans that we have that are

3:09:36being honored in our community.

3:09:38Um these are folks with ties to our

3:09:39community and it's uh it's a really good

3:09:42deal. The uh display period will be on

3:09:44Veterans Day, so I'd encourage you guys

3:09:46to go down and take a look at that.

3:09:49And finally, uh we have the Veterans'

3:09:51Day um celebration, November the 11th.

3:09:54There'll be a car show at 3:00 p.m. And

3:09:56then a ceremony beginning at 5:00 at the

3:09:58Gilbert Water Tower. I would encourage

3:10:00everybody to come out and support our

3:10:02veterans. Thank you.

3:10:03>> Thank you, Council member Torgeson.

3:10:05>> I just want to say, Young, as long as

3:10:06you're involved with that symphony, I

3:10:09will continue to support it.

3:10:15>> Are there reports? A report from the

3:10:16mayor. I have a couple of slides also.

3:10:19I'll highlight a couple of things.

3:10:21First, the 17th annual

3:10:25multi-faith gratitude gathering will

3:10:27take place Sunday, November 1st at 7:00

3:10:29p.m. at Life Community Church.

3:10:32This year's theme is grateful for 250

3:10:35years of faith and freedom. Doors open

3:10:37at 6:30 and the program will be followed

3:10:39by cookies

3:10:40and a community service project.

3:10:43Secondly, on Thursday, November 5th, For

3:10:46Our Town Gil- Gilbert will host its

3:10:48quarterly breakfast at the Gilbert

3:10:50[clears throat] Community Center

3:10:52focused on supporting foster families

3:10:54and youth in Gilbert.

3:10:56We'd like to thank our For Our Town

3:10:58Gilbert, everybody that

3:11:01lends assistance with that organization.

3:11:03Thank you so much for what you do and

3:11:05and they're strength to the community.

3:11:08Lastly, thank you for the card and

3:11:10thoughts on my

3:11:14>> birthday.

3:11:15>> Birthday? Was it my birthday? Yeah.

3:11:17>> It's your birthday, the 29th.

3:11:18>> 29th. Thank you so much.

3:11:22Is there anything else?

3:11:25If not, I'll entertain a motion to

3:11:26adjourn.

3:11:27>> So moved.

3:11:29>> We are adjourned.

3:12:15>> Hey.

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