Council praises Buckeye Airshow; highlights veterans 'Lift Up' event and upcoming planning retreat

Council members used the Feb. 17 meeting to praise staff and volunteers for the recent Buckeye Airshow and to promote upcoming community events.

Councilman Houston congratulated staff and organizers on the ‘‘tremendous showing’’ at the airshow and encouraged veterans to attend the annual Lift Up event, which he said "is going to be Friday, March 13 over at Summit Community Church starting about 09:00 in the morning." Houston described the event’s role helping veterans register for benefits and noted numerous vendors and community partners contribute services and supplies.

The mayor and other council members also thanked staff, volunteers and external partners including AOPA and Luke Air Force Base for flyovers and support; the mayor cited multiple attendance estimates during remarks (statements referenced figures around 35,000 up to "38,000" and "38 and a half thousand") and said Arizona State University will provide an economic-impact study of the event. The city manager reported about 200 volunteers — roughly 100 from AOPA and 100 from the city — who "put in over 2000 hours volunteering at the air show to really make it work well." Council thanked staff across departments and noted organizers are already planning next year’s event.

The city manager also invited the public to a strategic planning retreat scheduled for "next Tuesday" beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Landing Multipurpose Room; staff said the retreat will focus on aligning council priorities with master plans and strategic goals and is open to the public.