Surprise Citizen Patrol is a volunteer-based program comprising 62 highly trained individuals who donate their time and skills to further the Police Department Mission. Saturday, June 19, I attended the Surprise Citizen Patrol annual recognition dinner at Briarwood Country Club. This event recognizes the individual efforts of all the highly dedicated City of Surprise members and congratulates recipients with special awards.
Chance Shelter Donation
Chance Shelter is a non-profit that was founded in 2015 to meet the needs of animals, their owners, and the community of Surprise and surrounding cities. They are a no-kill shelter providing crisis intervention, education programs, community involvement, outreach programs, and pet food assistance. I had the pleasure of presenting Chance Shelter with a $500 check from my Council discretionary funds. Thank you, Chance Shelter, for the work you do for our residents and their pets!
Dungeon Gaming Center Ribbon Cutting
Thank you to Dungeon Gaming Center, located at 15557 W. Bell Rd., Suite 409, for inviting me to participate in your ribbon cutting celebration! Dungeon Gaming Center offers board games, collectible card games, role-playing games, war games, gaming tournaments, league and open gaming, miniature figures, and much more. Welcome to Surprise!
BADAZ Axes Ribbon Cutting
BADAZ Axes, located at 16630 W. Greenway Rd. #309, had its Grand Opening on February 19! They specialize in axe games and have an axescape room coming soon. You can check them out at badazaxes.com.
Judges Reappointed
Congratulations to Surprise City Court Presiding Judge Louis Frank Dominguez and Associate Judge Catherine A. Gaudreau. Council has reappointed them to new 4-year terms beginning July 1. Thanks to both judges for their continued service to the City of Surprise! Click here for more information https://bit.ly/3gxg6Q0.
Sanitation Customers
Surprise sanitation customers will see a change on their city utility statement beginning July 1, 2021, as a rate increase determined by a structured schedule is implemented. Beginning July 1, single-family solid waste (trash) customers will pay a monthly base rate of $23.50, increasing $0.10 per month. There will be no change to residential wastewater and water utility rates. The Utility Rate study was approved in February 2019, and created a five-year structured schedule to obtain the revenues required to operate utilities and maintain infrastructure while also considering asset replacement and emergency funding needs. If you would like to learn more about the utility rate and the utility rate study, please visit the City’s website at surpriseaz.gov/utilityratesinfo.
Surprise Budget 2022
Surprise City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2022 City Budget. The budget is focused on maintaining our current level of service as the City continues to see steady growth. This budget includes 25.5 full-time positions in the General Fund and eight new employees in water, sewer, sanitation, and sports and tourism to address the City's growth. More information on the City’s budget can always be found on our website at surpriseaz.gov/budget.
Banner Del E Webb Nursery
Council Members Aly Cline, Roland Winters, and I joined Banner Del E Webb Medical Centers Louisa Kellam Center for Women's Health for a ribbon cutting! Banner Health, Sharon Lind, CEO of Banner Del E Webb Medical Center, Gina Ore, CPO of Sun Health, and their Nursery nurse team hosted the ceremony in honor of the center’s new Nursery, located at 14502 W. Meeker Blvd.!
Surprise Heat Relief Stations
The City of Surprise is a Heat Relief Network partner, providing hydration and refuge stations for those in need of a place to cool off during Arizona's hot summer months. Listed below are the Surprise locations:
Surprise Resource Center: Refuge & hydration – 12425 W. Bell Rd., Building A, Suite 124
Surprise Fire-Medical Station #301: Hydration – 16750 N. Village Dr. East
The Salvation Army: Refuge & hydration – 17420 N. Avenue of the Arts Blvd.
You can help those in need of relief by donating water bottles, sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats at either the Surprise Resource Center or Surprise Fire Medical Station #301.
Also, the City of Surprise Police Department wants you to remember, Hot Cars Can Kill! Never leave a child alone in the car, check for kids, pets, and vulnerable persons before you lock your vehicle, and call 911 if you see a child alone in a car.
Meet and Greet
Please join me for my Monthly Meet and Greet on July 10, at 9 a.m. at Chef Peter's Bistro, 17300 N. Sun Village Pkwy. I look forward to discussing the latest city issues and answering any questions you might have. You can also subscribe to my Notify Me mailing list on my city webpage at d5.surpriseaz.gov so that you never miss any important District 5 news.
City Council Meetings
The next regularly scheduled Council meeting is August 17 at 6 p.m. in the City of Surprise Council Chambers, located at 16000 N. Civic Center Drive. City Council meetings are open to in-person attendance, or you may tune in on surpriseaz.gov/surprisetv, the Surprise City Gov Facebook page at facebook.com/cityofsurprise, or on Cox channel 11 to watch the meetings live. Instructions for virtual public comment will be available on the meeting agendas at surpriseaz.gov/agendas.
