[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6649936,"mediaKeyId","2510686-6b10ed5a106d6c4cc3ca5b0520835975","parentId",2510686,"title","Avondale council and staff workshop to update strategic plan; economic growth, community well‑being prioritized","audioSeconds",8413,"startMs",28000,"endMs",8441000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510686-6b10ed5a106d6c4cc3ca5b0520835975&start=28&end=8441","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510686-6b10ed5a106d6c4cc3ca5b0520835975/thumbnail_28000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6649936/Avondale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Avondale-council-and-staff-workshop-to-update-strategic-plan-economic-growth-community-wellbeing-prioritized","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6649936-fb25bae3f3ceb6123007a6e38f8db7ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136210&Signature=DbgnZWtDTjCG~6XH3Uz7ECtCvoB2sHgRz1BwRT5Lb1kAirR50k8xXc0qZY-h91FbHngzWcwDvuySY~PxbkKcHasJnkm8NT~gntQ3uVFZ~~uLIsYFY7-YuawZb0tSFbkovLNijnqc8L-T8GobwCkEaS5r78FK7qYNYLs849ESs4YiZac~8moCEJuxBxecEDmQg4zmDNA0tQ1ak3ED7OPEXwMKfZwFGW0I91kc821BeOhL~48vu3MV8vb1Hwi8m7~XrFIdmL75mu4yvLKWg8wereo29qS-7zlvFgrAhgvaxHY8iwaO4qRnDtszIbYjxYhFAVH~HUsWdCLMc8u-336zxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Avondale","date","2025-03-05T00:00:00Z","article","Avondale officials and city staff held a strategic planning workshop March 5 to revise the city’s 3–5 year priorities, focusing discussion on economic growth, community well‑being, resilient infrastructure and improving how the city delivers services.

The process matters because the council will use the strategic plan to set budget priorities, guide major projects and target outside partnerships and grant efforts over the next several years.

Council members, city management and outside facilitators worked through stakeholder survey results, public panels held earlier in the week, and an interactive exercise that asked councilors to identify what is true today and what they want Avondale to be in 10 years. Facilitator Nancy emphasized the plan’s role as a unifying document, saying the strategic plan is “the document that provides a clear statement of work, a clear statement of expectations, and a clear … priority list.”

Discussion highlights

- Economic growth and prosperity. Council and staff said recruiting higher‑quality retail, dining and entertainment, growing local jobs and planning for a range of housing choices are top priorities. Council member Garcia summarized the local emphasis in the six‑word icebreaker exercise as “Economic development, eatery, play, thriving, and safe.” Participants discussed using land‑use planning and targeted infrastructure investment—water, sewer and roadway capacity—to attract the kinds of businesses that support tourism and local amenities.

- Community well‑being. Participants broadened public safety to include environmental and public‑health concerns — air and water quality, emergency preparedness, and access to health services — and tied those to parks, trails and programs that support physical and mental health.

- Resilient infrastructure and transportation. The council discussed completing connected trails and multimodal links, improving road maintenance programs and coordinating regionally on large projects such as State Route 30 and river basin/flood issues. Staff noted a current transportation master plan update that will feed capital priorities.

- Connected and engaged community. The stakeholder engagement summary, presented by Janae, showed residents value Avondale’s welcoming character but want clearer information on services and more opportunities to connect. Ideas captured included enhanced signage, expanded community events and improved multilingual outreach.

- Innovative and effective government. Workshop discussion emphasized streamlining customer service and permitting, increasing use of technology to improve access and translation, retaining a competitive and skilled workforce, and seeking outside funding and partnerships to deliver services.

Vision and next steps

Workshop facilitators offered draft vision language combining council feedback: “In Avondale, we embrace the future with confidence by fostering innovation and empowering all residents and businesses to reach their full potential.” Councilors suggested short, memorable wording that ties to the city’s brand; staff will return a revised vision and the draft strategic outcomes for further review.

City staff will convert the workshop results into a draft strategic plan for council review. The plan is expected to be packaged with budget materials during the spring budget process, and council will have a chance to refine goals and strategies before formal adoption later in the budget cycle.

Adjournment

The workshop ended by unanimous motion to adjourn. Council member Garcia moved to adjourn; Council member White seconded and the council voted in favor.

Ending: The workshop produced a prioritized set of draft outcomes and a clear next step: staff will draft a formal strategic plan that links the council’s outcome areas to specific strategies, budget requests and external partnerships for formal consideration this spring.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Avondale - Work Session - Mar 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Avondale officials and city staff held a strategic planning workshop March 5 to revise the city’s 3–5 year priorities, focusing discussion on economic growth, community well‑being, resilient infrastructure and improving how the city delivers services.","taxTitle","Avondale, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",2567,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6649931,"Avondale finance staff: general fund holding, but loss of residential rental sales tax will tighten FY26–27 budgets",103,1442000,1545000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510686-6b10ed5a106d6c4cc3ca5b0520835975&start=1442&end=1545","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510686-6b10ed5a106d6c4cc3ca5b0520835975/thumbnail_1442000.jpg","/articles/6649931/Avondale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Avondale-finance-staff-general-fund-holding-but-loss-of-residential-rental-sales-tax-will-tighten-FY2627-budgets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6649931-174457624618c1ee1b637ef29d0d576d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136210&Signature=NX6yJf9TBsiZJwqRP5jLfpEKayCmMo4i-Htn10gWI~WFWrUh6-sETArouBV5VhuL0JfqPYD6NBV3Dynw74Sd-ekS7qIKDQe3ZMQjU2-V4l3GqeJwJ4I2WXQGzNPNPkrB45nfQBcl1HVY-pjihKQyAqT38D0E~Qi08~1aiycraEyXSz41CpbifzsjjjUSJSo7SIqPU~YGKS~S7Dv-iA1igx-yYGMghdhZBoDTMm~sng7mrNA427lxL8rIGGY6EzeMIfaBmrT4hORebWUSaTFrCMHbIkUWqw08WP6sqlFXcMogec2Jko4~Mq1wFmsuqhlYbM~KNbMl~kNcvNhUWIh0Eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Avondale’s finance staff told the City Council March 5 that the city’s general fund is running above last year’s receipts through January but cautioned that the city will lose the residential rental sales tax, creating a two‑year window where funding choices will be constrained.

The update matters because the loss of the rental sales tax and continuing economic uncertainty will shape the FY26 budget, affecting staffing, capital projects and the city’s ability to cash‑flow large infrastructure investments.

Renee, who presented the budget outlook, said that general fund revenues are “running above last year and above forecast” through January but added: “we are losing our residential rental sales tax started on January 1 of 2025.” She reminded council that sales tax receipts are paid the month after they are collected and that the city received January payments for December collections even after the change.

Key points from the presentation

- Sales tax and revenue mix: Retail and auto dealer sales tax have remained generally steady; one‑time contracting (large project) sales tax has bolstered current-year results. Staff emphasized the difference between one‑time windfalls and sustainable revenue for ongoing operations.

- Forecast assumptions: Staff are modeling ongoing employee cost growth and have included an assumption equivalent to a 5% annual salary increase for planning purposes and noted a market compensation study is underway. Employer health care costs are expected to rise in fiscal 2026.

- Fund balance policy: The city maintains a stabilization reserve target of 35% and a separate $5 million capital reserve; forecasted general fund balances decline if one‑time resources are applied to ongoing expenses.

- Enterprise funds and rates: Water, sewer and solid‑waste enterprise funds were briefed; utility rate changes and rate presentation assumptions are included in the FY26 planning figures.

- Process and timing: Staff have completed department budget meetings and will present a first council work session on the budget at the end of the month. The City Manager’s recommended budget is scheduled for the first week of April; council will consider a tentative adoption in May and the final budget in June. Staff also reported the citizen bond committee has been meeting and will issue recommendations to council next month.

What it means and next steps

Finance staff urged a conservative approach to budgeting, recommending that one‑time and volatile revenue be invested in capital projects rather than ongoing salaries or services. Council members asked for clarity on specific items such as grocery‑store access in South Avondale, options for workforce and education programming, and infrastructure investments needed to support economic development.

Staff will return the City Manager’s recommended budget in April and the council will review supplemental requests and capital priorities in upcoming work sessions.

Ending: The fiscal outlook remains stable in the near term, but the elimination of the residential rental sales tax requires careful prioritization of ongoing vs. one‑time spending in the FY26 and FY27 budgets.","Finance staff reported the general fund is ahead of last year and forecast through January, but the city will lose the residential rental sales tax effective Jan. 1, 2025, creating a multi‑year planning constraint. Staff recommended conservative budgeting and preserving one‑time revenue for capital projects while protecting ongoing operations.","actionData","errors"]

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Avondale council and staff workshop to update strategic plan; economic growth, community well‑being prioritized

Avondale finance staff: general fund holding, but loss of residential rental sales tax will tighten FY26–27 budgets