The Avondale City Council confirmed Curtis Nielsen to continue as vice mayor and approved a slate of regional board designations and council subcommittee appointments. The council also adopted the city’s recommended 2025 public‑policy priorities for state and federal advocacy.

Why it matters: The confirmed vice mayor and the council’s regional designations determine who represents Avondale on key regional bodies addressing water, transportation, economic development and Luke Air Force Base interests. The public‑policy priorities provide staff with direction for monitoring and advocating on bills during the upcoming legislative session.

On the vice mayor selection, Council member Condie moved to nominate Curtis Nielsen; Council member Solorio seconded the nomination and the item passed. The council did not record a roll‑call tally in the chamber; the motion was announced as passing.

On regional and local board appointments, staff presented a slate of designations. Mayor Pineda elected to serve on the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Regional Council and the Luke West Valley Council and Westmark board. The mayor designated Vice Mayor Nielsen to serve on the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWA) Board of Directors and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) board. Council member White was designated to continue on the Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority (RPTA) board and to chair its audit and finance subcommittee. The council moved to continue the appointments as presented and to fill two vacancies; the motion passed with no tally announced.

On public policy, Liz Barker Alvarez, the city’s intergovernmental affairs administrator, presented the recommended 2025 public‑policy priorities. Staff highlighted items including preserving local funding, opposing preemption of local authority, supporting expanded housing opportunities that do not preempt local control, enhancing public safety tools, managing growth and development, promoting economic development, building transportation networks and protecting water supplies. Council member Condie moved to adopt the priorities; Council member Salorio seconded and the motion passed.

Votes at a glance: Consent agenda — motion by Vice Mayor Curtis Nielsen, second by Council member White; outcome: approved (clerk: “Item passes”; tally not specified). Vice mayor selection — motion by Council member Condie, second by Council member Solorio; outcome: approved (tally not specified). Regional and committee appointments — motion to continue appointments as presented and fill two vacancies by Council member White, second by Council member Condie; outcome: approved (tally not specified). 2025 public-policy priorities — motion by Council member Condie, second by Council member Salorio; outcome: approved (tally not specified). Adjournment — motion by Council member White, second by Council member Garcia; outcome: approved (tally not specified).

Council discussion and staff comments also included briefings on the legislative environment: staff noted the state legislative session would begin Jan. 13 and reported that 55 bills had been filed as of the afternoon of the meeting, and that an FY25 estimate showed a $469,000,000 balance. Staff also noted 91 water bills were considered in the prior session, underscoring water’s importance to the region.

All motions were announced as passing on the council floor; the transcript does not contain detailed vote tallies for these items.