December 18, 2022 | www.santansun.com
Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
Chandler Council quietly OKs small pay raise BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor
Most politicians are very careful when it comes to increasing their own salaries, especially since most people can’t give themselves raises and taxpayers cast a leery eye on politicians who do. Chandler Councilwoman Christine Ellis is not most politicians. “If you have a problem with us getting a small little raise, sit down with me,” Ellis said after attending one of the many city events she attends weekly. “I’ll explain it to you.”
Chandler City Council quietly pushed through a change that would give members small, automatic raises to match those given around the Valley at its Dec. 8 meeting. The raises will not start until 2025, after this term ends. The item was on a consent agenda with 40 others and none of the members chose to highlight it during the Dec. 5 study session or the regular Dec. 8 meeting. “This restoration will either be the same as city general employees receive in a [Cost of Living Adjustment] or what
is the current [inflation rate], whatever is lower,” Mayor Kevin Hartke wrote in an email. Council is restoring this automatic increase after taking it out when members gave themselves a raise in 2016. It is a feature that is part of the city’s contracts with police and firefighters to ensure their salaries remain competitive. The mayor blamed inflation. “Chandler Council compensation has fallen significantly behind peer cities that we compare to with other employee compensation packages,” Hartke
wrote. Chandler currently pays its vice mayor and council members $33,500 a year and its mayor $55,000. Based on information from the Arizona League of Cities and Towns, that puts Chandler above the average for the top 10 Valley cities. Tempe, Scottsdale, Surprise, Gilbert, Peoria and Goodyear all pay their council members less. In addition to their base pay, Chandler City Council members get a number of See
COUNCIL on Page 4
Zora Folley mural commemorates a Chandler icon BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor
Perhaps the most fitting part of the mural the City of Chandler commissioned to boxing legend Zora Folley is that it’s in Southside Village, not too far from where Folley lived. It’s not quite a stone’s throw away, but “a good golf swing,” said Peter Bugg, the city’s visual arts coordinator. The city dedicated the large mural on the east wall of FLO Yoga & Cycle, 71 E. Frye Road, on Dec. 6, paying tribute to the man who won a Purple Heart fighting in the Korean War, fought Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight boxing crown, and was the first Black person to serve on the Chandler City Council.
Folley’s family was on hand for the dedication. “I really appreciate the City of Chandler for honoring my dad today for his achievements and what he did to put Chandler on the map,” said Zora Folley Jr. Bugg said this is the first public arts project in the new historic district of Southside Village since he started working for the city five years ago. The mural is titled “Legendary” and was done by west Phoenix artist Giovannie Dixon. It took him about a month to paint, covering the entire eastern wall of the FLO Yoga & Cycle business. It cost $20,000. Bugg said that the See
Giovannie Dixon’s mural honoring Zora Folley can be found on the east wall of FLO Yoga & Cycle, 71 E. Frye Road, Chandler. (David Minton/ Staff Photographer)
Champions!
MURAL on Page 10
CUSD stepping up its mental health services BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor
Chandler Unified School District is stepping up its efforts to address mental health issues, partnering with three agencies to provide more services to students and staff. CUSD officials are also meeting with a committee of parents, staff members and practitioners to determine future steps. “We really wanted some practitioners
on there, because some of this isn’t in our area,” said Dr. Craig Gilbert, associate superintendent of pre-K-12. “We want to really make sure that we have intervention all the way to post-vention.” After putting a request for proposals to mental health agencies, the district awarded contracts to the Hope Institute of America, LLC; Lighthouse Wellhealth, and Southwest Behavioral and Health See
MENTAL on Page 9
IN-PERSON REGISTRATION REGISTRATION
Junior defensive back DJ Jaiman and junior defensive end Jack Bleier were flying high along with the rest of the Basha Bears Dec. 11 as they held off the Saguaro Sabercats to capture the Open Division title. For details, see Sports on Page 38. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)
F E AT U R E D STO R I E S
More
2023 in review: Chandler saw many changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . News Page 6
Business . . . . . . . 34
Pickleball store here prospers from game's popularity . . . Business Page 34
Real Estate . . . . . 30 Sports . . . . . . . . . 38 Neighbors . . . . . 42
Sun Lakes Rotary had a busy month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neighbors Page 42
Faith . . . . . . . . . . 46
New Chandler nightclub drawing crowds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GetOut Page 47
Directory . . . . . . 50
GetOut. . . . . . . . 47