[{"_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",6537773,"mediaKeyId","3439992-43dcce89f756b3a4ade4ebe24cb007c0","parentId",3439992,"title","Avondale staff outlines $68M parks and $55M public-safety bond propositions for November mail ballot","audioSeconds",1221,"startMs",89000,"endMs",1310000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3439992-43dcce89f756b3a4ade4ebe24cb007c0&start=89&end=1310","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3439992-43dcce89f756b3a4ade4ebe24cb007c0/thumbnail_89000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6537773/Avondale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Avondale-staff-outlines-68M-parks-and-55M-public-safety-bond-propositions-for-November-mail-ballot","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537773-2ad360cc885561f178d1cf9d2c71d586/orig.mp4?Expires=1775005036&Signature=NrrKyNMjgYZFSft96ggSyvYttHZAeLwOjpxyMpDV0G7clMvmzjp4rXNBmjKYBeRqylhOCHT17nGB8vtOb5IxqkOytaa7ZDZSoPEIFzTw8Ts-pwA~4zDIrbAl1tIqmsLJ2MoSmczDpxYFYhobWi~bvMaIN-UWGEO7cxBBB6hzhlfwlZi9hBqu0EV1SrdwaXJjuyExo7dAP~chNEA1DVePV65dKSrd0bFooeCNuli2jJ9UE6TEjXgm2FM7LEpTkpAuBBW0NJMFT7aSu6jSEBIvBrPzYZBOokfPtKvidvU4vOxJRMZyfDQ8AJZzU5OwvLFaWFZquvVRq2j6Wk0vf3ptnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Avondale","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","Assistant City Manager Katie Gregory told the City of Avondale Planning Commission on May 21 that the city will place two general obligation bond questions on the November special election ballot: Proposition 404, a $68 million authorization for parks, trails and library improvements; and Proposition 405, a $55 million authorization for public safety projects.

Gregory said the City Council unanimously approved forwarding the two questions to voters after recommendations from a seven-member citizens bond committee that met last year. \"This fall, we will be holding a special election. The city council has approved for the, for us to forward 2 questions to our voters,\" Gregory said.

The propositions, she said, were structured so the city would not increase its property tax rate to accommodate the debt. \"What we're sharing ... is that it will not require a future increase to our secondary property tax rate or the city's property tax rate,\" Gregory said. The ballot will be vote-by-mail; ballots will be sent beginning Oct. 8, and staff recommended mailing ballots by Oct. 28 or dropping them off at City Hall by Nov. 4.

Nut graf: The two propositions would fund a mix of capital projects the city said are aimed at improving resident access to recreation and public safety infrastructure without raising the city's property-tax rate. If voters approve, the city plans to issue general obligation bonds and sell them with strong ratings the city said should produce lower interest costs.

Details of Proposition 404 (parks, trails and libraries): Gregory outlined proposed uses in the parks and trails package, including new and expanded shade structures at parks; park amenity and parking improvements (examples named include Lucas Park, Fred Campbell Park and Friendship Park); trail connections along the Agua Fria and Gila corridors; pedestrian bridges and underpasses at major road crossings; and refresh work at the Civic Center Library. She said park-shade improvements were the top request in polling and that the proposal would pay for design, construction, improvement and acquisition related to these assets.

Details of Proposition 405 (public safety): The public-safety proposition would fund construction, equipment and improvements for fire and police facilities and court facilities. Gregory listed projects the bond would target: a Southern Avondale fire station and a police substation, a new consolidated public-safety headquarters, a police firearms training facility, and build-outs/expansions of the main police station and the city court to accommodate growth.

Financial and procedural context: Gregory said the figures ($68 million and $55 million) reflect debt levels the city can issue without increasing the property-tax rate, noting the city has low existing debt per capita and strong bond ratings. \"This is the first time we've been a AAA rated community,\" she said, adding that a high rating would help the city obtain lower interest rates when issuing bonds. She also described the city\u0000s mix of prior funding sources (cash, impact fees and other revenues) and said the council wanted to avoid raising tax rates.

Public outreach and next steps: Gregory said a citizens bond committee and polling informed the package and invited commissioners to direct questions to staff or to the bond website, www.avondaleaz.gov/bond. She closed by encouraging participation in the vote but did not advocate for a particular outcome: \"I can't tell you how to vote. I just would love it if you would all vote and if you would tell everyone to vote.\"","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Avondale - Planning Commission - May 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Assistant City Manager Katie Gregory told the City of Avondale Planning Commission on May 21 that the city will place two general obligation bond questions on the November special election ballot: Proposition 404, a $68 million authorization for parks, trails and library improvements; and Proposition 405, a $55 million authorization for public safety projects.","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},6537768,"Planning commission recommends approval of Avondale 10 rezoning for up to 37 single-family homes; vote 6-0",740,1358000,2098000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3439992-43dcce89f756b3a4ade4ebe24cb007c0&start=1358&end=2098","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3439992-43dcce89f756b3a4ade4ebe24cb007c0/thumbnail_1358000.jpg","/articles/6537768/Avondale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Planning-commission-recommends-approval-of-Avondale-10-rezoning-for-up-to-37-single-family-homes-vote-6-0","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537768-c3dd01f79b61be240b3b760d4ee67e3e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775005036&Signature=HolX5Tjgi7em1SHCxc6Eoqes1yCEpi7ZGe~9XWUa2MGfcNleJlcINos03JuaeG6w4TMLARRwOwGyfigo1tu-6EkwaeJmSt-HiINXL2jDYX~fEH2xCZ8FTDMNEeWU3vb0TwY~sMbW7hdQgIAkFUxaVz3Q9R9oW-LcmKDg3VCnVNEYM-8YoJcy~4-YW5tWb3iTu5lxC5UNrmWAksflg4aObtKu5Q9M0IH6Eg40mZ2VFyLKJj6~KfjUnf6dAvZGUeLIyhsOKroo-nNm9MWItaLN8SjrXyqCh-EPmM9X5z76Nri3Babl4atgN3aBL-HOfjmhD1QOMGz01ELz53natDF4Yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Avondale Planning Commission voted 6-0 on May 21 to recommend City Council approve application PL24-0221 (Avondale 10), a request to rezone approximately 9.1 net acres in the Las Lagos neighborhood from R16 (urban residential) to Planned Area Development (PAD) with R16 underlying standards and several deviations.

Staff presentation and findings: Planning staff (presenter identified in the record as Michelle) summarized the proposal and recommended approval with six conditions listed in the staff report. Michelle said the project meets the required findings for rezoning and is consistent with the Avondale General Plan\u0000s medium-density residential designation (2.5 to 4 dwelling units per acre). \"Staff recommends approval of application PL 24-0221, Avondale 10, a request for a rezone from R16 urban residential to planned area development, PAD, with the 6 recommended conditions of approval as listed in the staff report,\" the staff report concluded.

Project scope and deviations: The applicant requested to use R16 development standards with deviations that would permit: lot widths reduced from 65 feet to 50 feet; reduced side-yard setbacks (total side-yard setback from 18 feet to 13 feet minimum); and lot-depth/length changes as proposed by the applicant. The proposal would allow up to 37 single-family homes (about 4 dwelling units per acre) with 16.7% open space, a park in the southwest corner of the site, two linear landscape/amenity paths, trail connections to El Mirage Road, two full-movement access points (El Mirage Road and Pioneer Street), and perimeter theme walls (6 to 8 feet in height on El Mirage and 6 feet elsewhere).

Applicant comments and neighborhood engagement: Jessica Sircosene of Upfront Planning, the applicant\u0000s representative, told commissioners the project team studied drainage concerns raised by neighbors and that their additional analysis found stormflow in the adjacent area generally moves west rather than south; the applicant said they will capture on-site runoff and did not identify flood impacts to the site based on the drainage report. Sircosene said neighborhood meetings were held (a formal meeting in February with two attendees, and a pre-meeting in October with five attendees) and that some residents expressed interest in attainable single-family housing in the area.

Public comment and vote: No public commenters signed up at the hearing. Commissioner Jewell moved to recommend approval; Commissioner Pineda seconded. The motion passed by majority vote of the members present, 6-0 (Commissioners Pineda, Guzman, Benson, Grimm, Jewell and Chair White voting yes; Vice Chair McBurney was excused).

Nut graf: The commission found the proposal consistent with surrounding medium-density single-family development and with specific-area goals for Las Lagos and Old Town connectivity; staff cited compliance with the single-family residential design manual and school-district capacity confirmations.

Next steps: The recommendation goes to City Council for final action. The staff report and conditions remain part of the formal record; project details (final elevations, platting and grading) will be reviewed administratively or at subsequent hearings per city procedures.","The Avondale Planning Commission on May 21 voted 6-0 to recommend City Council approve PL24-0221 (Avondale 10), a rezoning from R16 urban residential to Planned Area Development (PAD) to allow up to 37 single-family homes on about 9.1 net acres in the Las Lagos neighborhood.","actionData","errors"]

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Avondale staff outlines $68M parks and $55M public-safety bond propositions for November mail ballot

Planning commission recommends approval of Avondale 10 rezoning for up to 37 single-family homes; vote 6-0