Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents criticize recent council conduct and press for park and wash cleanups
Summary
During call to the public, multiple residents criticized council behavior related to an Oct. 7 incident, questioned proposed city hall renovations and urged action to clean washes and fix park hazards including Sun Dial 4 Park and the YMCA pool area.
Several El Mirage residents used the Call to the Public portion of the Oct. 21 meeting to criticize recent council conduct and to press for maintenance and safety work in local parks and washes.
Philip Bynum urged the council to practice "selfless service" and expressed frustration with decisions he described as out of step with voters, citing a rejected city hall renovation and "chaos" at the Oct. 7 meeting. Steve Gilliam, a 21-year resident, criticized perceived endorsements from police and fire unions and urged faster action on a blocked cut-through near the emergency room, and asked the city to remove debris and overgrown vegetation from washes near Surprise Elementary School.
Aaron Flannery called Oct. 7 "deplorable, despicable, and disgusting" and said the council had "stripped the rights" of a council member during a prior action; he asked the council to remember that elected officials serve residents. Jim McPheeers, a 25-year resident and 35-year public servant, said proposed renovations to council chambers were excessive, urged budget restraint and raised safety concerns about Sun Dial 4 Park: he said the park’s entrance requires walking down a culvert, that sprinklers are broken and hidden holes present a trip hazard, and that trees in the wash were overgrown and being used as makeshift encampments.
Mayor Hermosillo and staff acknowledged the comments; staff reported that requests to clean washes had been forwarded to appropriate staff and that specific public-safety and park repair needs would be addressed through departmental channels. The public comment period concluded before the council moved forward with other agenda items.
