Darrell Duty

The meeting featured the administration of the oath of office for newly elected and returning council members. Additionally, the council conducted the election of the new vice mayor. The session concluded with comments from the mayor and council members acknowledging their new terms and expressing their commitment to public service.

The session conducted logic and accuracy testing for the upcoming jurisdictional elections in Glendale and Goodyear. The process included verifying that all election management systems were at zero, testing accessible voting devices, performing a central count test, and demonstrating the adjudication system for handling ballots that cannot be automatically read. Error-handling protocols were demonstrated using test ballots, including those marked with red ink, ballots with damaged timing marks, and ballots from the wrong election. Observers confirmed the accuracy of the final tabulations, ensuring that the results matched established baselines.

The meeting focused on the second and final public hearing to adopt the property tax ordinance for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The council reviewed the item, opened and closed the public testimony portion, and subsequently conducted a roll call vote, resulting in the unanimous passage of the ordinance.

The board meeting focused on the consideration and adoption of a resolution to approve the final budget for the Rio Salado Community Facilities District Improvement number one. This included the assessment of capital costs as well as annual operation and maintenance costs for the upcoming fiscal year.

The City Council meeting included the acceptance of various board, commission, and committee meeting minutes. The Mayor provided reports regarding the contracts of appointed charter officers, noting that no amendments or pay increases were made, and highlighted the exceptional performance of the city clerk, city attorney, and city manager. Additionally, the Council confirmed various board and commission appointments and reappointments. A proclamation was issued for America 250 Day. Public appearances included discussions on student housing projects, concerns regarding city data management and transparency, and a proposal to conduct a study for a municipal animal shelter in Tempe.