With last week’s announcement of the reopening of Surprise City Hall and the city’s public meetings, the Surprise City Council Budget Retreat on Friday, April 16 will now be open to public attendance.

It will also be televised for those wishing to watch remotely.

The retreat begins at 9 a.m. in City Council Chambers. There will be a lunch break approximately between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

At the retreat, council will continue the development of the Fiscal Year 2022 city manager’s recommended budget, which is scheduled to be released to the city council in April.

Final budget adoption comes in June, and fiscal year 2022 begins July 1.

While facial coverings are no longer required to enter City Hall, their use is recommended. Those who are feeling sick shouldn’t plan to attend in person.

The retreat will also be carried live on surpriseaz.gov/surpriseTV, the Surprise City Gov Facebook page at facebook.com/cityofsurprise and Cox channel 11.

In addition to in-person public comment, the public may comment by email or phone as detailed below:

To submit email comments, including Call to the Public for non-agenda items, email publiccomments@surpriseaz.gov.

Comments for Call to the Public must be submitted prior to the start of the meeting. To comment on agenda items, emails must be submitted prior to time(s) designated for public comment by Mayor Skip Hall during the meeting.

To comment live by phone for Call to the Public or at the conclusion of the staff presentations and council comment, call 623-222-1250 prior to, or during, the meeting to be placed on a callback list.

Those who reach voicemail should leave a name and phone number. The city clerk will call those wishing to comment from the dais during the meeting, and the call will be streamed through the Council Chamber audio system.

For information about the budget-building process for fiscal year 2022 visit surpriseaz.gov/budget. 

For questions about how to submit a public comment, contact the Surprise city clerk at clerk@surpriseaz.gov or 623-222-1200.