Surprise District 6 City Councilmember Chris Judd.
City of Surprise
By Chris Judd | City Councilmember
As we are now halfway into June, the heat is in full effect here in Surprise, and it's a great time to get out and enjoy all the events and aquatic activities our new Oasis Swim Center has to offer – and don’t forget to snag your Daily Pool Pass for residents! As you make the most of the season, I want to remind everyone to stay safe, especially around water. Whether you're at the pool or splash pad, please keep a close eye on children and practice smart water safety habits. And remember to stay hydrated while spending time outdoors in the heat. Let’s have a fun, safe and memorable summer together!
Inside This Issue
Economic Development Update
Now Open!
Coming Soon to Marley Park Square!
May Highlights
McMicken Dam Intergovernmental Agreement
Rescue Oasis Ribbon Cutting
Surprise Youth Scholarship Awardees
Current Events
City Council Meeting
Community Meeting
Fire First Fridays
Family Beach Bash at Oasis Swim Center
Paper Shredding Event
Blood Drives
News & Updates
Heat Relief Stations
Nominate a Community Legend
Save the Date
Independence Day Celebration
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Appointments
Designing a Water Harvesting Landscape
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
Now Open in Surprise!
American Furniture Warehouse - 16600 W. Waddell Rd.
3 Minute Car Wash - 14057 W. Waddell Rd.
Black Rock Coffee - Asante, 16324 W. Pat Tillman Blvd., #109
Blue Sushi Sake Grill - 13442 N. Prasada Pkwy.
Heelex Medical - 12329 W. Bola Dr. 100
LaMichoacana All Natural Fruit - 13706 W. Bell Rd., Suite C-20
Postal Pros -14545 W. Grand Ave., 106
Scheller Insurance Company - 15278 W. Bell Rd., Suite 109
Senestech - 13430 N. Dysart Rd., Ste. 105
Shell Gas Station (Carioca) Marley Park - 15470 W. Cactus Rd.
Starbucks – Prasada North - 16450 W. Waddell Rd.
Starbucks – Sterling Grove - 17160 W. Peoria Ave.
Venetian NailLounge – City Center - 16825 N. 145th Ave.
Coming Soon to Marley Park Square!
Chipotle - Litchfield and Waddell - Under construction
Fazoli’s - Litchfield and Waddell - New TI submitted
Pure Barre - 13580 N. Litchfield Rd.
The Taco Spot - Litchfield and Waddell - Building permit submitted
MAY HIGHLIGHTS
McMicken Dam Intergovernmental Agreement
On Wednesday, May 21, Mayor Kevin Sartor and I attended the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors meeting, where the McMicken Dam Intergovernmental Agreement was approved. This partnership between the Flood Control District and the City will transform the area in west Surprise near the White Tank Mountains into a vibrant recreational space, enhancing community access to parks and open spaces.
The area will predominantly remain as open space with a few opportunities to develop active park facilities. It's a great example of how we can leverage partnerships and repurpose lands for community benefit.
Rescue Oasis Ribbon Cutting
On Thursday, May 8, the City of Surprise, in partnership with Willmeng Construction, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the completion of the Rescue Oasis public safety and recreation complex at Cactus and Perryville roads, with amenities all ages can enjoy such as Oasis Swim Center, Rescue Oasis Park and Soak Station 309 splash pad, along with a full size basketball court, sand volleyball court and more! We are excited to have something this amazing open in Surprise. For more information and to reserve a spot with a Daily Pool Pass, go to surpriseaz.gov/Aquatics.
Surprise Youth Scholarship Awardees
During the City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 20, nine local students were awarded Surprise Youth Scholarships in recognition of their outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements in our community. A total of $20,000 in scholarships was awarded to help these graduate high school seniors afford further educational opportunities. Congratulations!
CURRENT EVENTS
City Council Meetings
The next City Council Meeting is on August 5 at 6 p.m. The public is welcome to attend in person, or you can tune in on surpriseaz.gov/SurpriseTV, the City of Surprise Government Facebook page at facebook.com/CityOfSurprise or on Cox channel 11.
Community Meeting
Please note that I will not be holding a Community Meeting in July. Join me for my next one on August 20 at 6 p.m. at Tap House Sports Grill, located at 13699 N. Litchfield Rd. Let's discuss the latest City issues and answer any questions you may have.
The Surprise Fire-Medical Department is offering free life-saving knowledge and training. These classes aim to provide attendees with basic emergency response training in a comfortable and stress-free environment so community members will know how to start helping while waiting for emergency crews. Please note the registration forms below are only open two weeks before the class date.
Stop the Bleed & Narcan Classes – Participants will learn the basic skills needed to save someone in the event of a deep-penetrating injury and the proper technique needed to deliver Narcan. Classes are on the first Friday of each odd-numbered month. The next class is July 11 (due to the Fourth of July holiday).
CPR Classes – Take a free non-certifying CPR class. Participants will learn the basics of CPR, including chest compressions, AED use and rescue breathing. Classes are on the first Friday of each even-numbered month. The next class is August 1.
The maximum class size is 40 people for each session. Participants must be 12 years old or older, and a registered adult must accompany attendees aged 12-17.
Family Beach Bash at Oasis Swim Center
Bring your little ones for a splashing good time at the pool on Saturday, June 21, from 9 - 11 a.m. Families will enjoy cool water, games, prizes and crafts!
The event will be at the new Oasis Swim Center, located at 12361 N. Perryville Rd. All children must be accompanied by a guardian.
Registration is required for each entry (including parents) and spots are limited. $5 for Surprise residents and $8 for non-residents. To purchase tickets, visit surpriseaz.gov/SurpriseRec or contact 623.222.2000.
Paper Shredding Event
Take advantage of this free paper shredding event at the Public Works North Yard, 17274 N. Litchfield Rd., on June 25, 26 and 28 from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. to help you safely dispose of sensitive documents.
Surprise residents can bring up to three banker's boxes (15 in x 12 in x 10 in) of paper to be shredded. City staff will be there to oversee lockable bins for residents to place their paper into, and then the bins will be taken by our vendor to be shredded off-site.
Blood Drives
The City of Surprise is partnering with Vitalant Blood Donation to host blood drives. Blood donations decline dramatically during the summer, but the need for blood remains constant.
Community members wanting to participate are encouraged to make an appointment through the Vitalant website using Blood Drive Code p1T62. Although walk-ins are welcome, those with an appointment will be given priority.
For questions or information, please contact 623.222.5127.
NEWS & UPDATES
Heat Relief Stations
As we move towards the high temperatures of summer, the City of Surprise wants our residents and visitors to know we are a Heat Relief Network partner. Through September 30, Surprise has several locations providing free hydration and indoor refuge stations for those needing a place to cool off during the year's hottest months.
Locations:
Surprise Resource Center - 12425 W. Bell Rd., Building A, Suite 124
Hollyhock Library - 15844 N. Hollyhock St.
Surprise Regional Library - 16089 N. Bullard Ave.
Asante Library - 16755 W. Vereda Solana Dr.
The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) coordinates an interactive map with more than 200 locations countywide where people can find indoor cooling and respite centers, hydration stations or donation sites. The network is available at azmag.gov/heatrelief.
Anyone can experience heat illness or death, regardless of age, health, fitness level or how long they’ve lived in Arizona. The three stages of heat illness are heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Learn the signs and symptoms of heat related illness and when it’s time to seek medical attention on the Maricopa County Department of Public Health website.
Here are some tips to stay heat safe:
Stay hydrated; drink water before you feel thirsty.
If you’re sweating heavily or active for long periods, consider drinks with electrolytes to help replace salts and minerals.
Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and a wide-brimmed hat.
Use air conditioning whenever possible. Fans alone are not effective when temperatures exceed 95°F.
Check on older adults and people living alone often. If something increases their risk, like losing power or air conditioning, you can help them move to a safer, cooler place.
Never leave children, pets or anyone else in a parked car.
Nominate a Community Legend
The City of Surprise Veterans, Disability & Human Services (VDHS) Commission invites our community to nominate individuals and groups making a difference in the city for the Surprise Community Legend Awards Program. The commission is now accepting nominations for individuals and groups who have contributed to improving the quality of life of others by:
Measurably improving the lives of vulnerable Surprise residents through grassroots efforts.
Promoting quality of life, accessibility and equity for all residents of Surprise.
Linking residents to programs that offer the support needed for a fuller, safer lifestyle.
Nominees must fall into one or more of the following four categories:
Individual Legend (Must be a Surprise resident for at least two years)
Outstanding Youth (Must be age 18 or younger)
Volunteer of the Year (Organizational affiliation must be in the application)
Organization of the Year (Private, non-profit or faith-based)
More information on the Community Legend Awards program, including the online nomination form, can be found at surpriseaz.gov/CommunityLegend.
All applications must be received by June 27, 2025, at 5 p.m. If you have any questions about the application and process, please contact the Human Service & Community Vitality Department at surprisecares@surpriseaz.gov.
SAVE THE DATE
Independence Day Celebration
Celebrate Independence Day with an evening of great food, music and a spectacular firework display at Surprise Community Park. Fireworks start at 8:45 p.m.! Gather your friends and family, bring your lawn chairs and let’s enjoy a festive night together!
Surprise is officially moving the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Program to a monthly appointment system. Through November, Surprise residents can request an appointment for HHW collection pickup right from their driveway during one week each month.
The collection of these materials is split into two types and scheduled separately. One pick-up is for electronic HHW, including flat-screen TVs, computers and cell phones. Another is for all other HHW.
To schedule a collection, residents can use the My Surprise app or call customer service at 623.222.1920. All scheduling is based on availability and is first-come, first-served.
Designing a Water Harvesting Landscape
On Wednesday, July 23 at 6 p.m., learn to assess your yard based on integrated design principles and find ways you can shape your landscape to passively harvest rainwater on site. We'll give ideas on how to size and plan where to place your water harvesting basins to help slow the flow of the water, spread it across the areas where it's needed and sink it into the ground.
