CITY GEARS UP FOR FALL, STRESSES CROSSWALK SAFETY
Fall is just around the corner, and our city is working hard to educate residents about safe driving and walking practices around campuses and to gear up for fun, after-school programs in our community centers. Our City Council will also be back in action for meetings on Aug. 12 after taking a summer break.
Cassandra Johnston, our Traffic Education Program Manager, was interviewed for stories in “Glendale Independent” and “The Glendale Star” about state laws and local traffic rules aimed at keeping children safe on and around crosswalks near schools. Cassandra, as well as Transportation Education Specialist Tom Holzschuh, and Transportation Engineer Rebecca Fastje educated participants during Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) crossing guard training workshops. Our videographers in our Communications Department created a video sharing tips for drivers and students around crosswalks, enlisting the children of some city employees as “actors.”
Meanwhile, our Parks and Recreation Department is preparing for afterschool programs that will start Aug. 4 at Glendale Community Center, O’Neil Recreation Center and Rose Lane Community Center. Children engage in craft projects, play sports, tap into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) lessons, as well as immerse themselves in PlayStation games, gain help with homework and reading and enjoy guest speakers, among other activities, in the FREE programs Space is still available in the Glendale Community Center and Rose Lane after-school programs, but there is a waiting list for the one at O’Neil. You can register children for the programs in the Parks and Recreation Department catalog.
Check out the stories about crosswalk safety in the newspapers below.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
GAIN TOOLS TO PLAN RETIREMENT
Are you trying to plan for your retirement? You can obtain useful information during the Retirement Planning, Tailored to You: Meet with an Expert for a Custom Strategy webinar from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 13.
This is NEOGOV Learn course is the third of four webinars that Empower retirement advisor Abbi Brown is offering on financial wellness. Participants will learn how to build a customized approach to their retirement and investments. Register for this webinar through NEOGOV Learn.
There is a fun way for children to get their creative juices flowing and find peace during the Tween Art-repreneurs: Pocket Zen Garden workshop from 6 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 14 at the Foothills Library.
Kids ages 9 to 11 are invited to decorate Altoids breath mints tins and fill them with sand and other accessories. People can use a minirake to create sand designs in the “garden” as a way to soothe their nerves. Registration is requested and it opens at 10 a.m. on Aug. 7 at this library webpage.
TWEENS CAN CREATE MINI ZEN GARDENS SHARE
The 2025 Employee Engagement survey will arrive soon.
It will be arriving in your inbox and will run from Aug. 4 to 15. The survey will come from an email from noreply@quantumworkplace.com with the subject line of Take Glendale’s Employee Engagement Survey. It will only take about 10 minutes to complete. Your feedback is valuable in helping our city continue to strengthen workforce development and culture.
MORE UPCOMING EVENTS
CITY TO HOST MOBILE MAMMOGRAMS
A 15-minute health screening could save your life.
That is why our city is pleased to host Mobile On-site Mammography at various times Aug. 19-22 at the Main Police Station, Main Library, Field Operations facility and Foothills Library. Professional, experienced medical employees will use the latest digital mammography technology to provide safe, comfortable screenings. Breast cancer found at an early stage is much more likely to be treatable, with higher survival rates.
Anyone interested in obtaining a mammogram should register through the GRID Calendar and bring an insurance card, doctor’s name and the address and location that prior mammogram films were taken. Or call 480-967-3767 to schedule an appointment
THINK OUTSIDE BOX AT DATA EVENT
Do you get excited diving into data?
Then the GlendaleViz Challenge is perfect for you! During this fun event from 1 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 20 at the Civic Center, employees will turn raw data into captivating stories via charts and creative vision. The goal of the challenge is to help people push boundaries, share their unique experiences and collaborate with other data enthusiasts.
All you need to bring are your passion, creative spark and tools and with guidance everyone will highlight hidden patterns and discover the stories behind the data. You may participate as an individual or as part of a team. Register here for this friendly competition.
WAYS TO GROW IN GLENDALE
REDESIGNED WEBSITE LAUNCHING SOON
Our Innovation and Technology Department is excited to announce the launch of the redesigned city website. On Aug. 26, www.GlendaleAZ.gov will go live.
Expect a new look for our same, great city! The current GlendaleAZ.com service provider is outdated and does not meet the community’s needs. This new platform is a trusted, widely used solution that offers better functionality and an enhanced user experience. Our new city website will provide simplified navigation and layout, as well as a functional search feature and an official .gov domain. It will have a mobile-friendly design for all devices. The current web address will continue to work, but people using GlendaleAZ.com will be automatically redirected to the new GlendaleAZ.gov site. You don’t need to update existing materials right away, but you are encouraged to start utilizing the new .gov address in any future communications
More details about the updates to the employee website and city’s library website will be shared soon.
LEARN HOW TO JUMPSTART METABOLISM
Gain practical tips on fueling your body through exercise and nutrition during the Jumpstart Your Metabolism webinar from noon to 1 p.m. on Aug. 27.
During this Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona event, participants will learn how metabolism works, as well as how age, genetics and other factors impact metabolic rates. They will uncover methods for accurately determining resting metabolic rates to obtain personalized health insights. Register for this Zoom webinar here.
WAYS TO PLAY IN THE CITY
KIDS CAN EXPLORE ABORIGINAL ART
Are you looking for a fun way for your teen or preteen child to express themselves creatively?
They can check out the Aboriginal Dot Painting class from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 28 at Velma Teague Library. There is much meaning behind the colorful dots and patterns used in this art form. The Aboriginal Australians created this form of art for storytelling and cultural expression. Participants ages 10 to 18 will learn how to use this technique to express themselves or they can paint a desert landscape that reflects where they live. All materials will be provided.
Registration starts at 10 a.m. on Aug. 21 on the library website.
EXPLORE GRAND CANAL LINEAR PARK
Searching for a scenic spot to unwind, get some exercise and engage in friendly competition with your loved ones before or after work? Our Content Creator Jessica Mensch and our videographers captured the beauty and outdoor entertainment options at Grand Canal Linear Park in the video to the left.
Jessica walked through the park that runs from 75th Avenue and Camelback Road to New River Trail, showcasing the playground and disc golf amenities in the 4.5-mile trail. This park is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Learn more about this park and all our city’s other great outdoor areas to play on our Parks and Recreation Department webpage.
GREAT NEWS IN GLENDALE
FIELD OPERATIONS SCORES AWARDS
Recent prestigious awards in our Field Operations Department are fueling excitement and well-deserved recognition.
The Fleet Division of Field Operations recently was ranked number three of the Leading Fleets for 2025 at the Government Fleet Expo & Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Government Fleet” magazine and the American Public Works Association select 50 Leading Fleets in North America every year that perform at a high level, especially in fleet leadership, competitiveness and efficiency, as well as planning for the future and overcoming challenges.
Craig Croner, deputy director of Field Operations, pictured on the left, was honored at the conference as a member of the Public Fleet Hall of Fame. Every year up to two professionals in the industry are inducted for this tremendous distinction. Honorees must have at least 20 years’ experience in the industry and demonstrated that they significantly contributed to the public fleet profession. Industry members choose them through online voting.
COMING SOON: REVAMPED CAR WASH
Keeping city vehicles looking sharp will be easier than ever once the revitalized car wash on the Operations Campus opens later this month.
Our videographers created a video, accessible on the left, demonstrating how employees can visit the campus to reap the benefits of the car wash to clean the inside and outside of city heavy-duty trucks and utility trucks with racks, as well as regular vehicles.
Check out the video narrated by videographer Mike Harris to the left. The car wash will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be operated for city vehicles with key fobs.
MORE GREAT NEWS IN GLENDALE
TRANSPORTATION, POLICE TEAMS PUSH FOR CONCERT SAFETY
Chart-topping country music artist Morgan Wallen drew big crowds to Glendale, while our Police and Transportation departments were the behind-the-scenes stars that worked hard to try to keep residents and visitors safe.
Wallen’s highly anticipated “I’m the Problem” Tour drew thousands of fans to State Farm Stadium July 18 and 19. About 100 Police employees, including 78 sworn officers, patrolled July 18. Officers made two DUI arrests and one disorderly subject arrest that day. There were 75 sworn officers and several civilian employees who worked for the event on July 19, and officers made two DUI arrests that day. Police Department officers patrolled busy areas near the stadium, including the Media Center, Desert Diamond Arena, Westgate and Tanger Outlets, as well as intersections.
Our City Traffic Engineer Tony Abbo, pictured on the left, was interviewed about driving and using rideshare services ahead of and after the shows, for stories on Fox10 Phoenix and in “The Arizona Republic.” Check out the media coverage of our city on T.V. stations and in the newspapers and digital publications to the left and below.
WAYS TO GROW IN GLENDALE
USE NEW PLATFORM TO SPARK PROCESS CHANGES
There is an easy, new way to share ideas about how you would like to enhance how our city works and serves residents, including suggested process improvements, technological fixes and any other bold, innovative recommendations. Our Organizational Performance Department has launched Ideas Generating New Innovation Toward Excellence (IGNITE), a new platform for city employees to make suggestions online.
You can find it on the GRID and soon on the new Employee Portal once it goes online later this month.
Knowing our work is helping residents’ dreams come true makes our jobs even sweeter. Alma Corrales, our Community Services Success Coach, is featured in a video our videographer Mike Harris made about how a resident, Jose, was able to purchase a home thanks to the Family SelfSufficiency Program within the THRIVE Program, which is offered by the Glendale Housing Authority. Check out the video to the left.
Experts say it’s important for leaders to have emotional intelligence so they can better understand, manage and motivate their team members.
Luckily city employees may enroll in the five-course Leading With Emotional Intelligence Series offered in NEOGOV. In the introductory class, participants will discover the power that emotional intelligence offers supervisors and their teams, along with the risks groups of employees face when they don’t have it. To learn more about this series, visit NEOGOV.
GAIN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE VIA NEOGOV
EMPLOYEE CELEBRATIONS
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW EMPLOYEES
Kennedy Abril - Transportation
Sonia Benitez - Community Services
Clinton Boyd - Field Operations
Renee Crenshaw - Innovation and Technology
Francisco Gamboa IV - Police
Andrew Kashmark - Development Services
Vanessa Macias - Field Operations
Andres Montelongo - Transportation
Bryce Musgrave - Field Operations
Paul Padilla, Jr. - Innovation and Technology
Joy Pollock - Human Resources
Justin Porter - Water Services
Megan Portillo - Police
Lorena Ramirez - Human Resources
William Rand - Innovation and Tecchnology
Genevieve Romero - Human Resources
Briceida Rodriguez - Development Services
Tristan Thaw - Police
Jhamie Wallace - Community Services
Ronin Williams - Police
Kris Zafonte - Budget and Finance
HAPPY WORK ANNIVERSARY
Your hard work, dedication and loyalty are appreciated!
The July 1, 2025 “Inside Glendale” newsletter accidentally included work anniversaries from July of 2024. The following is the correct list of employees who marked anniversaries in July of this year.
HAPPY
25 YEARS
Victor AbrilTransportation
Manuel FigueroaTransportation
Patrick Giambanco - Police
Raymond Haleman, Jr.Police
William KeeblePolice
Robert Schmuck II - Police
Cecilia TorresPolice
Cynthia WilbornCity Court
HAPPY 10 YEARS
Kyle Borg - Fire
Douglas Carrington - Fire
Ray Gonzales IIITransportation
Oliver Hansen - Fire
Timothy HooverTransportation
Steven Konik - Fire
Joe LiBrandi - Fire
Sean McGary - Parks and Recreation
Tyler Shelton - Fire
Michael SiebertTransportation
Jolene Villalpando - Water Services
William Young - Fire
HAPPY 5 YEARS
Steven Brady - Innovation and Technology
Hunter Brown - Fire
Nicholas Caporrimo - Fire
Jesse Conklin - Fire
Jacob Matheson - Fire
Marc Miles - Water Services
John Murphey - Engineering
Deshawn Ortmeier - Fire
Mary Ortiz - Budget and Finance
Blake Phebus - Fire
Taylor Rowland - Fire
Andrew Saldana - Fire
Emilio Sanchez - Fire
Michael Thorp - Fire
Kevin Weis - Fire