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Residents urge council to prioritize streets, question $25 million park plan and other spending
Summary
At the Jan. 6 call to the public, several El Mirage residents urged the council to prioritize basic infrastructure and criticized proposed high-cost projects including a $25 million park, a $100,000 consultant fee and a $26,000 drone show. Speakers requested more public engagement before large expenditures.
El Mirage — During the public-comment portion of the Jan. 6 El Mirage City Council meeting, multiple residents told the council they were worried about the city’s spending priorities and asked officials to focus on street repairs and essential services.
Philip Bynum called attention to a proposed $25 million park reportedly sited in a flood zone and contrasted that with what he said were neglected original‑town streets. Bynum also listed a set of proposed expenditures he questioned, including a $100,000 consulting fee for Michael Baker, $26,000 for a drone light show and $54,000 for a City Hall concept design. “Those priorities should include items that help our citizens first,” Bynum said.
Longtime resident Steve Gilliam urged the council to stop social‑media misinformation and described efforts to challenge election‑related mailings in a prior cycle. Jeff Locke, another resident, said he planned to vote against the slate of spending items and criticized the cost of the park and other line items. “This park should not be put there, period,” Locke said.
Other speakers, including Jim McPeters, echoed concerns about new vehicle and facilities spending and urged humility and fiscal restraint ahead of the August election.
What’s next: Council proceeded to consider several capital and procurement items on the regular agenda, including road resurfacing, vendor contracts and facility improvements.
