Residents press Chandler to enforce stormwater code after years of standing water and mosquito concerns

Several Chandler residents used the public‑comment period at the Nov. 13 council meeting to press city officials for clearer enforcement and timelines after repeated standing‑water and drainage problems that residents say have persisted for years.

Jimmy Clapp, a resident of the Sunbird retirement community, told the council Sunbird Golf Course has produced recurring stormwater violations and that standing water now remains “7, 5, 7, and now 9 days after rainfall,” which he said exceeds Chandler’s 36‑hour drainage requirement under City Code chapter 45. Clapp said environmental services recently issued a notice to comply to the golf course but that the notice did not include a deadline or details on required corrective actions. “Without clear deadlines and transparent communication, there's no assurance these violations will be corrected,” Clapp said, and he asked the council to direct staff to provide: the date the notice to comply was issued; the deadline for the owner to submit a corrective‑action plan; the specific corrective measures required; and the expected timeline for full compliance.

Sharna Larson, another nearby resident, said the standing water is breeding mosquitoes and noted a recent Chandler hospitalization for West Nile virus to underscore the public‑health risk. Larson asked the city to “trust but verify” that mosquito abatement steps were actually implemented and to provide documentation of who verified that larvicide pellets were applied and whether those measures were effective.

Michelle LeBlanc, a resident of a 55+ community near Cooper Commons, described a long‑standing basin water problem that she said makes the neighborhood look neglected and raises safety and mobility concerns for older residents.

City staff responded during the meeting: environmental services confirmed a notice to comply had been issued to the golf course and an assistant city manager and assistant police chief offered to provide incident reports and follow up with residents. Council member Orlando asked staff for a report on Sunbird and related neighborhood impacts; a council member replied, “We'll get that to you.”

The record shows residents seeking specific, dated enforcement steps and timelines rather than open‑ended communications. City Code chapter 45 was referenced by residents as the drainage standard but the Nov. 13 meeting did not record a council vote on enforcement steps; staff committed to follow up with details and reports.