Crystal Blackwell, center right, hands a microphone to Rene Barrios during the Chandler City Council’s Feb. 6 meeting. Both will serve on the city’s 10-year General Plan resident advisory committee, along with Peppur Chambers, standing back left; Mike Monte, standing front right, and many others.
The charter of the city of Chandler calls for the City Council to create special boards, commissions or citizen committees. The council appointed such a committee at its Feb. 6 regular meeting.
Council unanimously appointed a resident advisory committee that will guide the 10-year update to the city’s General Plan. It will also, according to a staff report, play a key role in the “Public Participation Plan,” which it states is a larger strategic effort get more citizen engagement in the General Plan update process.
Just after several members of the committee introduced themselves at the Feb. 6 meeting, Mayor Kevin Hartke encouraged members to think ahead as to not just what residents need now, but what they’ll need and want over the next 10-plus years.
“Part of your requirements is that you have to be forward-thinking and, at least in your mind, have a crystal ball to help us plan for the future,” Hartke said.
All meetings will be subject to the Arizona open meeting law and will be conducted accordingly. The committee will meet “as needed to provide continual guidance to the General Plan Update process,” according to a report.
The currently updated Chandler General Plan was adopted by mayor and council in April 2016. It was then ratified by voters ,with 85.8% in favor in the Aug. 30, 2016 election.
An exhaustive process of recommendations from the committee is intended to have council and mayor formally adopt its next general plan in the spring of 2026, taking it to voters for ratification in the November 2026 election.
The city is also paying Logan Simpson Design, Inc. $525,000 as the primary consultant in the process.
The introductions were, to some extent, a who’s who of Southeast Valley leaders in government and other sectors in recent years.
The first person to introduce himself as a committee member was Jack Sellers. A former Chandler City Council member, Sellers served one full and one partial term as a Maricopa County Supervisor.
Rick Heumann, the chair of Chandler’s Planning and Zoning Commission, is also a former council member.
Also introducing themselves were Christy Rodriguez, a 29-year Chandler resident. Allison Gerard said she’s a 5-year resident of the city.
Mike Monte is a real estate agent and a 41-year resident of Chandler.
Crystal Blackwell is a 24-year Chandler resident and founder / CEO of Crystal Clear Results, LLC, an organizational and leadership coaching and training services firm.
Rene Barrios is a Chandler-Gilbert Community College professor and a 36-year resident of Chandler.
Peppur Chambers has lived in the city for three years and is on the Chandler Cultural Foundation’s Managing Board.
Lori Collins, who’s the director of business and economic development for Mesa Gateway Airport, has been a Chandler resident for 24 years.
Terri Kimble, the president and CEO of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, has lived in the city for 16 years.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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