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Chris Judd: District 6 Newsletter — July 2022

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Below are some District 6 Economic Development updates! 

Now Open

  • Honor Health Urgent Care – SEC Loop 303 and Waddell Rd.
  • KIFF Enterprises/JBugs  Dysart & Sweetwater

Opening Soon

  • By the Bucket – 15557 W. Bell Rd.
  • H20 N Go – 14763 W. Cactus Rd.

In Review/Development

  • NEW! Alaska USA Credit Union – 13671 N. Litchfield Rd. 
  • NEW! Smiles by Delivery – 13700 N. Dysart Rd.
  • Ancona Surprise Pointe 33 – NWC of Sweetwater and Dysart Rd.
  • ArchWell Health Clinic North Litchfield – 17674 N. Litchfield Rd. (former Golden Corral)
  • ASC Desert Mirage Surgery Center (Phase 2) – 12361 W. Bola Dr.
  • Cactus and Summit Industrial Building – W. Cactus & N. Summit 
  • Carioca Marley Park Promenade – NEC Reems Rd. & Cactus Rd.
  • Construction Steel – 11040 N. Solar Canyon Way 
  • Dominion Business Park – 11294 N. Litchfield Rd. 
  • EOS Fitness Marley Park - 13632 N. Litchfield Rd. 
  • Etico Construction Group – Solar Canyon Way & Desert Cove Rd. (Skycom Business Park)
  • I3 Summit – Dysart Rd. & Cactus Rd. 
  • Level Crossing Phase 2 – 13700 N. Dysart Rd. 
  • Marley Park Square Lot 3B Bldg 2 – SWC Litchfield & Waddell
  • MedVet Associates – 15800 N. Litchfield Rd. 
  • Moezzi Veterinary Urgent Care Center – 17255 N. Litchfield Rd.
  • National Indoor RV Center Storage Facility – SEC Rioglass Solar Rd. and Solar Canyon Way
  • Oxygo – NWC Desert Cove Rd. & 132nd Ave.
  • Skyway Commons Phase II Bldg D – SWC Dysart Rd. and Cactus Rd.
  • Summit Business Park Industrial – SWC Sweetwater Rd. & Dysart Rd. 
  • Sweetwater Commons – SWC Litchfield Rd. & Sweetwater Ave
  • The Wall Company – Skyway Commons, 11470 N. Dysart Rd. 
  • U-Haul Moving and Storage of Surprise – SWC Cactus Rd. and Litchfield Rd.

Sleep Number store re-opens!

On Wednesday, June 1, we joined Sleep Number for a Ribbon Cutting! Sleep Number GM, Jesse Jackson, held the event in honor of the re-opening of their store, located at 13733 N. Prasada Pkwy. Suite 112. Thank you for choosing Surprise!

Councilmember Judd visits the reopened Surprise Sleep Number store

2022 Primary Election information

The Primary Election is Tuesday, August 2 with three Surprise City Council seats on the ballot.

These are the seats to be filled:

  • District 1 (Acacia) – Term ending December 2026
  • District 5 (Palm) – Term ending December 2026
  • District 6 (Palo Verde) – Term ending December 2026

Only residents can vote in the races and only in their respective District. To check which District you live in, visit surpriseaz.gov/mysurpriseaddress

Here is the timeline for the Primary Election:

  • July 5: Last day to register to vote  
    • Register online at Maricopa.Vote 
    • You need to update your voter registration if you’ve moved, changed your name or would like to change your political party. 
    • Voters registered as an Independent or no party preference must select a Republican or Democrat ballot to participate in the election.

  • July 6: Ballots mailed & drop boxes available
  • July 22: Last day to request a ballot in the mail
  • July 26: Last day to mail back your ballot
  • August 2: Primary Election Day

Surprise City Hall is a designated Voting Center. The City Hall Community Room will be open for voting July 6 - August 2 for any Maricopa County resident to cast a ballot in person. 

For the Primary Election, Maricopa County voters can choose any Voting Center that works for them to cast a ballot in-person. Please visit Locations.Maricopa.Vote for all Voting Center locations and hours.

Xeriscape Demonstration Garden now open

The City of Surprise Xeriscape Demonstration Garden is officially open for the public to enjoy. The new one-acre garden is available for public viewing from sunrise to sunset seven days a week and is conveniently located on the Surprise City Hall campus at 16000 N. Civic Center Plz., just west of West Valley Arts HQ. 

The garden offers four themes along its mix of concrete and granite pathways, including: 

  • low desert native plants
  • native compatible plants that thrive in dry desert conditions
  • sensory garden space with diverse colors, smells and textures
  • year-round color display with a variety of plants with different blooming times 

At the center of the garden is an amphitheater large enough to accommodate 40 people, which will serve as a multi-purpose space for water conservation, master gardener and Arts HQ presentations. This new space will help the Surprise Water Resource Management Department to demonstrate appropriate landscape maintenance and watering practices to residents, HOAs, commercial water users and other groups through both tours and self-guided materials.

The City plans to host an official ribbon cutting and community event to celebrate the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden on September 17 from 9 - 11 a.m. During this time of year, the temperatures begin to cool down and the newly planted garden will have had time to become more established. 

To learn more about water conservation, including tips, rebates and workshops, visit surpriseaz.gov/waterconservation

Day of Service volunteers needed

The City of Surprise is currently seeking volunteers for upcoming Days of Service. Volunteers will assist with food sorting and packing at St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance in Surprise. Event dates are:

  • Wednesday, July 20
  • Wednesday, August 17
  • Wednesday, September 14

There are two shifts available 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. To register please contact Larry Garcia at 623.222.1522 or larry.garcia@surpriseaz.gov

Veteran Success Center adds Veteran Benefits Counselor

A dedicated Veteran Benefits Counselor (VBC) will now be available two days a week through the West Valley Veteran Success Center. The West Valley Veteran Success Center is a multi-organization partnership dedicated to supporting service members, veterans and their families, who can now book an appointment with the VBC. The Veteran Benefits Counselor will work directly with Veterans Affairs to develop and file applications for benefits and claims.

At this time, sessions with the VBC are by appointment only and walk-in clients cannot be served. Appointments can be made through the VBC call center at 602.535.1215.

Learn more at surpriseaz.gov/veterans 

Fiscal Year 2023 Budget approved 

In a Special Meeting on Tuesday, June 7, City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget. It focuses on two main initiatives – addressing personnel needs to maintain the current level of service and providing operational funding to enhance services for residents. Additionally, it includes funding for planned Capital Improvement Projects that support infrastructure initiatives such as renovations, design and construction of a police substation, fire station, municipal art projects, water and wastewater treatment facilities, as well as improvements to the quality of the City’s recreation centers, fields, parks, roadways and drainage. Learn more at surpriseaz.gov/budget.

June 19th officially proclaimed Juneteenth

Mayor Hall officially proclaimed June 19th to be Juneteenth in the City of Surprise at the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, June 7. Receiving the proclamation was The Reverend John R. Powell and his wife Anita Powell from Gideon Missionary Baptist Church in Surprise. They were joined by church members and members of our City’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration & Service Advisory Committee, Paul and Mary Outlaw. Last month, Surprise City Council officially voted to recognize June 19th as an annual City holiday.

A group of people take an image with the Mayor's Juneteenth proclamation in the City Council Chambers

Mayor proclaims Monsoon Awareness Week

Mayor Skip Hall proclaimed June 12-18 to be Monsoon Awareness Week in Surprise and encourages residents to be prepared for severe weather during this unpredictable season. Monsoon is observed typically from June 15 through September 30 and is characterized by an increase in thunderstorm and lightning activity, high winds, dust storms and flash floods. While the severity of weather can vary each season, it is essential that Surprise residents have a monsoon safety plan in place and be ready for all possible weather-related occurrences. 

Residents are encouraged to download the My Surprise app to easily submit pictures and reports of downed trees, roadway debris, clogged storm drains or other non-emergency situations. These reports assist the City with timely storm safety and recovery actions. The My Surprise app is available in the App Store, Google Play or online at surpriseaz.gov/mysurprise. To report these storm issues by phone during regular City business hours, please contact the Public Works Department at 623.222.1900. After-hours calls should go to the Surprise Police Department non-emergency line at 623.222.4000.

Visit surpriseaz.gov/monsoon for a complete list of monsoon safety tips and resources.

Mayor Hall and City Manager Bob Wingenroth hold a framed proclamation

Connect with District 6

Please check out my District 6 Facebook page at Councilmember Chris Judd! Be sure to click the "like" button to get District 6 news and updates. Please also visit my District 6 webpage at surpriseaz.gov/district6 where you can subscribe to my ‘Notifications’ list to receive important District 6 updates. Sign in or create an account, then select text and/or email for “District 6 Council Updates” and any other news you may want to receive.

Council Meetings and Agenda

The next regularly scheduled City Council Meetings will take place on August 1 and 16 at 6 p.m. and will be open to the public for in-person attendance. You can also watch live at surpriseaz.gov/surprisetv or the Surprise City Gov Facebook page at facebook.com/cityofsurprise. Cox channel 11 also carries the meetings live. Agendas are always posted online at a minimum of two days prior. 

If you see something on the agenda that concerns you, please reach out before the meeting so I have time to address your concern. I may even ask your questions during the City Council presentation. The best way to reach me is chris.judd@surpriseaz.gov

Meet and Greet

Please join me for my D6 Community Meeting on July 20 at 6 p.m. at Venue Taproom, 13699 N. Litchfield Rd. I look forward to discussing the latest City issues and answering any questions you might have. 

Please check my webpage at surpriseaz.gov/district6 for updates to my meeting schedule.