LEADERS LAUD CITY’S STRONG ECONOMIC GROWTH It’s an exciting time to work, live and play in Glendale, thanks to the great teamwork and vision of our employees, as well as strong ties to the community that have led to smart growth. That was the sentiment that our City Manager Patrick Banger and Economic Development Director Dan Henderson shared during the second Pop In with Patrick Live Teams chat on Aug. 27.
The next Pop In with Patrick live Teams chat will be held on Sept. 17. Watch your email inbox for details soon!
“Glendale is a large city by any standard and measure in the region, within the nation,” Patrick said. “We have some incredible and singular assets, such as Luke Air Force Base, our Entertainment District, our downtown, our northern mall area, our financial corridor.” They touted the Mayor and City Council’s focus on revitalizing downtown, an area Patrick said should be preserved as the “heart and soul of the community.” Dan said downtown development is a “full-contact sport” that involves “engaging with the community.” They also spoke favorably about the Entertainment District, which Patrick said not only attracts crowds to State Farm Stadium and Desert Diamond Arena, but also Tanger Outlets and ancillary entertainment businesses, including PopStroke, Topgolf and Andretti Indoor Karting & Games Glendale. Patrick answered questions employees posed through the chat. Watch Patrick answer some questions on Vimeo here.
MAJOR MILESTONES CITY APPLAUDS 30-YEAR EMPLOYEES Two outstanding employees were recently recognized for celebrating 30 years working for our city - Tammie Harris in our Community Services Department, and Pete Aguilera in our Engineering Department. Tammie is a Senior Community Services Representative who helps veterans, youths who are aging out of foster care and people who are experiencing homelessness or close to homelessness find housing. She said her favorite part of her job is “seeing the relief on a person’s face when I tell them they are eligible for the program.” An Arizona native, Tammie’s first position in Glendale was as a Housing Specialist.
Tammie Harris
Community Services Director Kimberly Hall praised Tammie for her dedication to “serving individuals and families by helping them access housing and other essential resources.” She added that Tammie, “through her compassion and commitment to service helps residents navigate challenging circumstances and connect with the resources they need to move forward and thrive.” Engineering Technician Pete Aguilera focuses on roadway construction and design, as well as underground water valve and fire hydrant replacement, along with bus and pedestrian pad construction design and helping with project manager assignments. Born in Morenci, Pete has lived in Glendale for 35 years, and he started working for the city in the traffic engineering section of the Transportation Department, where he spent 18 years before moving to the Engineering Department. “Both departments have been amazing places to work, and I’ve learned so much over the years,” Pete said.
Pete Aguilera
City Engineer David Beard, who is Pete’s supervisor, said Pete has applied his “Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) expertise to advance in-house design programs.” Pete has delivered CAD services for several key initiatives, including the Valve and Hydrant Replacement program, the Concrete and Asphalt Repair program, as well as the Bus Stop Enhancement programs. Pete has even developed exhibits and drawings for public meetings. Congratulations to Tammie and Pete!
CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT GOING PINK FOR GREAT CAUSE October is Breast Cancer Awareness, and Yourisparagraph our Police Department once again text supporting those impacted by breast cancer through the Pink Patch Project. Employees and community members may purchase Pink Patch Project merchandise, including patches, keychains, challenge coins, shirts, tumblers and other items featuring the pink ribbon, the international symbol of breast cancer awareness. Employees and members of the public also are encouraged to wear their Pink Patch Project apparel throughout October. A kick-off event for this fundraiser will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 1 at our Main Police Station, where Police Department employees will receive free coffee and pastries and anyone may buy merchandise. Pink Patch Project is an international, nonprofit public awareness campaign through which public safety agencies participate. Glendale’s Pink Patch Project sales have helped a Police Department employee who had breast cancer, as well as the mother of our Police Department’s Management Assistant for Special Operations Brittney Brown. Her mother passed away, and Brittney said organizing the fundraiser has been a healing experience. The local fundraiser also aided the vendor who provides the merchandise when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The deadline to order items is Sept. 9. Visit this Pink Patch Project website to do so.
CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES IN GLENDALE Did you know that our Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center (FRAC) will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this month? Our Parks and Recreation Department, employees, including some who have worked at FRAC since it opened, are planning festivities for their city colleagues and the public. An open house with a Roaring 20s theme will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 25 at FRAC. There will be a costume contest, where everyone is encouraged to dress like it’s the 1920s, as well as a Zumba party, games and other activities. Learn more about the open house on the flier to the right. Discover more information about FRAC and the other Parks and Recreation Department facilities by clicking on the city’s website.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER GAIN TOOLS TO MEET FINANCIAL RETIREMENT GOALS Preparing for retirement can be a complicated process, but luckily you may gain insight to plan your financial future at several workshops our city is offering. The next ones are: Social Security Administration (SSA) - on Sept. 2 Medicare: Sept. 9 Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) on Sept. 16 Expert speakers deliver presentations from noon to 1 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. At a workshop last month on the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS), our Police Sgt. Cody Carmichael, who is also an investment advisor with Modern Wealth Management, explained the intricacies of PSPRS, including tier structures, risk tolerance, benefits for survivors and health insurance subsidies. Employees learned how our city’s compensation plan through Empower can help them build additional retirement income beyond their pension in the Empower (Deferred Compensation) workshop also held in August. Employees must register for each session through the NEOGOV webpage in the Employee Portal.
LEARN WAYS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT ON THE JOB There is still time to enroll in the next round of the Glendale Lean Academy’s Yellow Belt certification classes. The deadline to register for them is Sept. 11 and the classes will take place from Sept. 16 to Nov. 18. Participants obtain practical tools to help them solve problems, improve processes and make a lasting impact across Glendale. Most of the classes are provided online and some courses are held in person. Employees who want to enroll in the classes must have approval from their supervisor and department director. If you have any questions, contact our Department of Organizational Performance at 623-930-2489. You may learn more about Glendale Lean Academy in the Employee Portal.
HONING IN ON HEALTH GAIN IMPORTANT DETAILS ABOUT YOUR WELL-BEING In just a few weeks, employees will be able to obtain valuable insight into their health and well-being and take steps to try to stay healthy. The Know Your Numbers on-site health screenings and flu shots will be provided at these times and locations: Sept. 29: 7:30 – 11 a.m. in City Hall, first floor in the multipurpose room Oct. 6: 7:30 – 11 a.m., City Hall, first floor multipurpose room Oct. 7: 7:30 – 11 a.m., Glendale Elementary School District (GESD) System of Care Campus, Literacy Center, 7677 W. Bethany Home Road Oct. 14: 7:30 – 11 a.m., Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center, Coyote Room Oct. 15: 7:15 – 11 a.m., Field Operations, Make Ready Shop Oct. 22: 7:15 – 10:30 a.m., Field Operations, Make Ready Shop Oct. 27: 7:30 – 11 a.m., City Hall, First Floor Multipurpose Room Oct. 28: 7:30 – 11 a.m., Glendale Regional Public Safety Training Center (GRPSTC), Room 130 Nov. 4: 7:30 – 11 a.m., Main Police Station, PD Classroom Nov. 5: 2:30 – 5:30 p.m., Field Operations, Make Ready Shop The screenings measure blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, height, weight and waist circumference. It’s recommended that you fast at least eight hours prior to the screenings. Your confidential results will be available at the screenings. Appointments are required for the health screenings and may require your manager’s approval. You will earn 10,000 points for the WellStyles Program. These screenings are free and available to employees who are on or are eligible for the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona medical plan. Appointments are not needed for the flu shots. The city medical plan covers the cost for these. Please bring your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona insurance card with you. Covered spouses and dependents ages 4 and older also may attend.
GREAT NEWS IN GLENDALE CITY IS READY TO RUMBLE WITH MAJOR SPORTS EVENTS Our city’s leadership, employees, Mayor Jerry Weiers and City Councilmembers are thrilled about a landmark partnership between TKO Group Holdings, Inc. and Arizona Sports & Events Alliance that will bring more exciting sports and entertainment events to Glendale. This new partnership was celebrated at a press conference that our City Manager Patrick Banger, Assistant City Manager Vicki Rios, Deputy City Manager Thomas Adkins, Mayor Weiers and Councilmembers, along with many city employees attended last month at State Farm Stadium. The deal will bring seven major Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), World Wrestling Entertainment, LLC (WWE), Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and Zuffa Boxing events to the state over the next three years, including: NOCHE UFC on Sept. 12 at Desert Diamond Arena WWE Royal Rumble in February of 2027 at State Farm Stadium PBR World Finals: Championship from May 20-23, 2027, at Desert Diamond Arena Our videographers - Mike Harris, Luis Jacinto, Alfredo Kaspar and Shaun Mockoski captured video and photos at the star-studded event. Learn more about how this partnership will benefit our city in their video posted on Vimeo.
SPOTLIGHT ON SUCCESS DEMENTIA SUPPORT PROGRAM EARNS MEDIA COVERAGE Our Community Services Department’s impact and passion for helping people who have dementia and their caregivers sparked a story on ABC-15 recently. The TV station’s Glendale reporter Kamilah Williams visited the Memory Café program that Community Services coordinates with help from area businesses and non-profit service providers at Foothills Recreation and Aquatics Center (FRAC). She interviewed Jeannie Grates, the Dementia Friendly Glendale Action Team chairwoman, pictured to the left, as well as LG, a caregiver, pictured below, whose husband has dementia. Watch the news coverage by clicking the arrow to the left. Memory Café meets in English the third Tuesday of every month from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at FRAC. Caregivers share concerns, support, laughs and resources in a room together while their loved ones who have dementia engage in fun activities, including singing songs, in another room.
Our Community Services Department, with help and support from other departments in our city, will hold the Forget Me Not: Rooted in Hope and United in Care dementia awareness event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 3 in the Literacy Center at the Glendale Elementary School District (GESD) System of Care Center at 7677 W. Bethany Home Road. City employees in various departments will talk about how they help residents with dementia, and service providers will provide resources and tools to attendees. Learn more on our Dementia Friendly Glendale webpage.
A Spanish-speaking Memory Café group called Los Amigos de la Memoria meets the second Thursday of every month from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Glendale Elementary School District (GESD) System of Care Center, 7677 W. Bethany Home Road. Our city aims to erase the stigma associated with dementia and help caregivers navigate everything from finding assisted living facilities to obtaining power of attorney legal documents and locating adult daycare programs for their loved ones who have dementia, as well as giving anyone who has dementia a chance to socialize and gain skills and confidence. Dementia Friendly Glendale is a collaborative effort led by the Action Team that includes city employees in Community Services and other departments, as well as key internal and external stakeholders, including providers of senior living communities and other facilities that serve older adults.
STEERING THE SHIP TO SAFETY TALENTED TEAM HELPS US PREPARE FOR CRISES It is National Preparedness Month, a time when Americans are encouraged to prepare for emergencies, but a unique department in our city works hard year-round to try to ensure employees and the public stay safe when Glendale faces natural disasters and man-made threats.
Want to prepare for a disaster? Our Emergency Management Department recommends assembling a disaster supplies kit with: One gallon of water per day per person in each household Several days’ worth of nonperishable food, infant formula, diapers and a manual can opener for people and pet food and extra water for animals A battery-powered or hand crank radio A flashlight A First Aid kit Extra batteries A dust mask Plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape (to shelter in place) Learn more on our Emergency Management Department’s webpage.
Since 2004, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Ready Campaign has observed this month to encourage people to prepare for emergencies. Our Emergency Management Department, headed by Director Nicole Munson, does a great job leading a team that coordinates our city’s response to any emergencies, to help employees, residents and visitors maintain safety for themselves and their loved ones, along with protecting property and allowing the community to return to normalcy as quickly as possible. They take a comprehensive approach to helping Glendale prepare for potential threats, respond to large-scale incidents and recover from hazards. Recent examples of their work include supporting public safety planning for the memorial for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium last year and helping the city navigate the 2024 CrowdStrike software update that caused widespread computer system outages, disrupting governmental agencies, banks, hospitals and public safety entities. Nicole is one of more than 400 emergency management professionals in the United States to have graduated from the prestigious National Emergency Management Executive Academy since its first cohort. She said preparedness means “ensuring that we’re ready for what we call a ‘gray sky day’ and we do that during a ‘blue sky day.’” Another shining star is Maddi Rybicki. An Emergency Management Specialist, Maddi recently earned her Certified Emergency Manager designation from the International Association of Emergency Managers. This credential “honors professionals who have demonstrated expertise in emergency management through experience, work history, training hours, and ongoing contributions to the field, underscoring their commitment to continuous learning and advancement within the profession,” the association’s website said. Maddi helped the City of Globe recover from catastrophic floods last year.
TOOLS FOR POSITIVE CHANGES LEARN WAYS TO BOOST HEALTH, PRODUCTIVITY Did you know there are simple steps you may take to feel more comfortable and boost health and productivity at work? Check out the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Webinar: Ergonomics from noon to 1 p.m. on Sept. 23 over Zoom. Participants will learn the fundamentals of ergonomic best practices for workspaces, posture and movement, along with guided stretching routines designed to reduce tension, prevent injury and boost energy. There will be guided stretching routines shared to help prevent injuries. This webinar is perfect for anyone who wants to feel better and work smarter at a desk, at home or on the go. Register for the webinar on this Zoom webpage.
LEARN TOOLS FOR LONG-TERM CHANGES IN WEBINAR Have you been setting goals for changes you would like to implement at work or in your personal life, but feel stuck? Check out the WellStyles Webinar: The Starting Line: How to Set Yourself Up for Lasting Change from 4 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 23 over Zoom. Performance coach Chris Douglas will talk about building better habits, as well as why change is hard and offer practical tips on what to do about those challenges. He will share why it is important to be honest with yourself about where you are right now vs. where you wish you were. There won’t be any fluff or quick fixes provided, but rather real tools for building a healthier life that will stick! Earn 300 WellStyles points for attending this event live. Register on this WellStyles webpage.
SCORING POINTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY TAP INTO RAINWATER TO HELP ENVIRONMENT Arizona is in a drought so conserving water is a must! Harvesting and using rainwater is an easy way to get the most out of every drop. Check out the video to the left that videographer Mike Harris created, where our Water Conservation Specialist Litzy Hernandez Cota explains how our city harvests rainwater and provides tips for anyone to do this at home.
FOLLOW TIPS FOR SAVING NATURAL RESOURCE AND MONEY Our Water Services Department is passionate about helping employees, residents and anyone else “go green” by conserving water and also saving money in the process. Check out the video our videographer Mike Harris created, to the left, which features Water Conservation Specialist Anne Stahley revealing simple ways people may use water wisely.
WATER PLANT PLANS AVAILABLE TO VIEW This article serves as the annual notification that the city of Glendale Water Services Department maintains written employee participation plans for the Cholla Water Treatment Plant and the Pyramid Peak Water Treatment Plant as required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Risk Management Program (RMP) regulation, 40 CFR § 68.83. Any employee or authorized representative may view these written plans by contacting waterservices@glendaleaz.com
EMPLOYEE CELEBRATIONS CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW EMPLOYEES
Abdullahi Ali - Police Michael Beckwith - Field Operations Kenny Camacho - City Manager’s Office Norma Castillo - Engineering Xavier Celiz - Field Operations Francisco Chaparro - Field Operations Nicholas Clark - Water Services Brandon Cole, Jr. - Police
Marisabel Delgado - Transportation Jair Espinoza - Police Adam Forgac - Police Chase Henry - Human Resources & Risk Management Dustin Hoffarth - Water Services Sage Kelly - Transportation Kyle Keshishian - Police Robert Ramirez - Police Jeremy Reese - Innovation and Technology Connor Safsten - Police Patrick Vaillancourt - Transportation
HAPPY WORK ANNIVERSARY Your hard work, dedication and loyalty are appreciated! HAPPY 25 YEARS Robert Davis - Fire Sherilyn Dean - Parks and Recreation Salvador Fernandez - Fire David Goitia III - Police Timothy Guerrero - Fire Anthony Merlino - Fire Walter Reed - Fire James Strong - Fire
HAPPY 10 YEARS
HAPPY 20 YEARS Joshua Boothby - Fire Amber Campbell - Fire Courtney Dunlap - Fire Samuel Galindo - Field Operations Brian Gallagher - Police Yon Grant - Police Suvad Huseinovic - Police Jeremy Jacks - Fire Nicholas Magley - Police Jose Morales - Fire Mark Schilling Jr. - Police Michelle Susuras - Transportation
HAPPY 5 YEARS
James Aldama - Water Services Susan Cummings - Parks and Recreation John Hare - Field Operations Christopher Krystek - Water Services Jason Martinez - Police Alejandro Rodriguezcrespo - City Court
Michael Angle - Transportation Jacob Devros - Innovation and Technology Pace Foster - Development Services Bradley Giesbrecht - Parks and Recreation Michael Guidone - Fire Lauren Kalt - Community Services Ricardo Perez - Transportation Sonia Sarmiento - Field Operations Ashley Wallace - City Attorney’s Office