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Opinions
Chris Judd: District 6 Newsletter — June 2024
Posted
Surprise District 6 City Councilmember Chris Judd.
City of Surprise
Surprise City Council District 6 map.
City of Surprise
By Chris Judd
As we head into the summer months and many of you plan to get away, I hope you travel safely and enjoy your time away in hopefully cooler weather. It’s hard to believe the Fourth of July celebration is right around the corner. We look forward to seeing you at our event! With temperatures rising, please remember to be safe when you are outside – seek shade and always stay hydrated!
Inside This Issue:
News & Updates
Arizona’s Healthiest and Safest Employer
Juneteenth
Safe Speeds Save Lives
Voting Information
Reems Rd and Olive Ave Closure
Economic Development Update
Industrial Rail Plex
Current Events
Summer Reading Program
Family Beach Bash
City Council Meeting
Surprise Day of Service
City Hall Art Gallery
Fishing at Surprise Lake
May Highlights
Portillo’s Ribbon Cutting
National Military Appreciation Month
City Court Academy
Save the Date
Independence Day Celebration
Community Meeting
NEWS & UPDATES
City named one of Arizona’s Healthiest and Safest Employers
Our City was honored for being one of Arizona’s healthiest and safest employers! The recognition highlights our commitment to providing a work environment that supports health, safety and well-being, helping to make the City of Surprise a safe place to live, learn and work. Are you looking for a career that values your well-being? We're always looking for talented individuals to join our team! Visit surpriseaz.gov/Careers to explore current job openings and see why the City of Surprise is a great place to work!
Juneteenth
City of Surprise administrative offices will be closed on Wednesday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. City of Surprise trash and recycling customers ONLY are reminded there will be a modified trash collection schedule that week, postponing collection by one day.
Safe Speeds Save Lives
Creating safer streets starts with addressing speed, which is the largest cause of injury and death in traffic collisions. The Police Department’s “Safe Speeds Save Lives” campaign is delivering high-visibility traffic enforcement with a zero-tolerance approach towards speeding and aggressive driving on West Valley roadways. The enforcement mobilization is in effect through July 31, 2024.
Voting Information
Find important voting information, like where to vote and important dates to remember for the upcoming election! Ballots for the Primary Election will be mailed beginning Wednesday, July 3. In-person early voting will begin July 3 at in the City Hall Community Room and will continue through Election Day, July 30.
Transportation: Reems Road and Olive Avenue Closure (County Project)
Maricopa County has informed that this improvement project is still under construction, but is getting close to completion. Maricopa County has reported the project has experienced some delays, some of which were not anticipated, which caused the delay in opening the roadway. Maricopa County and their contractors are working diligently to open the roadway as soon as possible. As of right now, the closure is expected to last through the month of June. I will share any future updates that we receive from Maricopa County.
Economic Development Updates
Industrial Rail Plex
There is 4.1 million sf of industrial built in Surprise and 2.4 million sf under construction. Major employers currently doing business in the Surprise Rail Plex include Amazon, Crescent Crown Distribution, IRIS USA, Southwest Products, Trimaco, SeaCa Plastic Packaging, Milam Glass, National Indoor RV Centers and many more!
This year, Tricolor Auto Group from Dallas, TX is hiring 500 new employees at their new 258,000 square foot location in Surprise!
Five other industrial sector businesses recently opened and 13 more are set to open this year that do everything from advanced manufacturing of steel, to commercial construction, to experiential marketing, custom kitchen install, specialty flooring and much more.
CURRENT EVENTS
Summer Reading Program
The Summer Reading Program is just getting started, so make sure to get signed up! Surprise Public Library System is excited to join more than 60 libraries across the county for Summer Reading. The theme of this year’s program is “Adventure Begins at Your Library,” reminding us that an adventure is just a library card away. The journey to read and earn prizes runs through August 1.
Bring your little ones for a splashing good time at the pool on June 14, from 9 - 11 a.m. Families will enjoy cool water, mermaids, raffles, games and more!
The event will be at the Surprise Aquatic Center, located at 15831 N. Bullard Ave. All children 10 and younger must be accompanied by their guardian(s).
Registration is required for each entry, including parents. $5 for Surprise residents and $8 for non-residents. To purchase tickets, head to surpriseaz.gov/SurpriseRec and click on ‘Special Events’ or contact 623.222.2500.
City Council Meeting
The next City Council Meetings will be on June 18 at 6 p.m. The public is welcome to attend in person, or you can tune in on surpriseaz.gov/SurpriseTV, the City of Surprise Facebook page or Cox channel 11.
Surprise Day of Service
Join us to assist with sorting bulk food items, creating food baskets and loading food into vehicles; helping in the process of providing food for families in need. Registration is required. For questions, please call 623.222.1647.
Wednesday, June 12, at 7:15 a.m.
St. Mary’s Food Bank
13050 W. Elm St.
City Hall Art Gallery
The City has many ways you can enjoy the arts and culture scene in our community. One of these is by visiting rotating art exhibits at City Hall.
Chuck Kyle Photography Exhibit | Runs through July 26
16000 N. Civic Center Plz. • 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday
Due to extreme heat conditions every summer, our local lake does not stock fish between June 25 and September 15. Please visit azgfd.gov to learn more about fishing around the state.
MAY HIGHLIGHT
Portillo’s Ribbon Cutting
The wait is over! One of our top 10 most wanted restaurants, Portillo’s, is NOW OPEN! Portillo’s is located at 16320 W. Waddell Rd.
National Military Appreciation Month
May was National Military Appreciation Month, and it was an honor to have A1C Gian Velez Nazario, SSGT Quayvon Doleman and CAPT Owen Sedej of Luke Air Force Base, along with Veterans, Disability and Human Services Commissioner Lair at our City Council meeting.
City Court Academy
This year’s City Court Academy concluded with special recognition at the City Council meeting on May 7. This group of high school students gained insights into the fields of law and government with structured real-world experiences. Details and information on joining can be found at surpriseaz.gov/CourtAcademy.
SAVE THE DATE
Independence Day Celebration
Get ready to celebrate! Join us on Thursday, July 4, at 5 p.m. at Mark Coronado Park and Surprise Stadium. We will have live entertainment, food will be available for purchase, and there’s even a free baseball game before a fireworks show! Fireworks will begin at 8:45 p.m. Visit surpriseaz.gov/Independence for more information.
Community Meeting
Wednesday, June 12, at 6 p.m. at Tap House Sports Grill - 13699 N. Litchfield Rd.
Let's discuss the latest City issues and answer any questions you may have. Please check my webpage at surpriseaz.gov/District6 for updates to my meeting schedule.
