Inside Glendale - Mid-April 2026

BIKE RIDE BRINGS JOY TO CITY Our Transportation Department, with assistance from other city departments and Mayor Jerry P. Weiers rolled out another fun and successful Glendale Family Bike on April 12. It drew almost 900 people to Sahuaro Ranch Park, where they pedaled on different routes in celebration of Valley Bike Month.

People of all ages and abilities rode through scenic bike paths, bridges, trails and other areas, then enjoyed coffee, Kona Ice, ice cream and other snacks afterwards at Sahuaro Ranch Park. Children played on inflatable rides and adults and kids had a chance to repurpose their old bicycle helmets, transforming them into planters. Diverse health and wellness booths combined with music to create a carnival-like atmosphere for riders to explore at the park after completing their routes.

Great job to all employees who made this event possible!

COMING UP IN THE CITY Get ready for the next Pop In with Patrick live Teams chat featuring our City Manager Patrick Banger on April 30.

During this chat, Patrick will talk about the Classification and Study Overview, including methodology, process and high-level outcomes.

This discussion will not be recorded. Click here to join the chat at 10 a.m. that day.

LEARN ABOUT BENEFITS AHEAD OF OPEN ENROLLMENT Remember that open enrollment will take place from May 4 to 15. All benefits-eligible employees must either enroll or waive coverage for medical, dental, vision, supplemental life insurance and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) by May 15.

Learn more about benefits, enjoy a FREE lunch and compete for raffle prizes at our Benefits Wellness and Education Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 7 at the Civic Center. There are several informational sessions where you may ask questions about benefits, too. The next one is from 10 to 11 a.m. on April 16 in room 219 at Glendale Regional Public Safety Training Center (GRPSTC). You must register through NEOGOV for these sessions. To find other dates for the open enrollment meetings, also check out NEOGOV.

Explore the many great benefits our city offers on this webpage.

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You also may drop-in to these sessions without an appointment for help: May 6 from 9 a.m. to noon in room 104 at the Adult Center, May 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in room 104 at the Adult Center and May 14 from 2 to 5 p.m. in room 102 of the Adult Center.

INNOVATION IN ACTION EMPLOYEES ‘LEAN’ INTO TEAMWORK, EFFICIENCY AT SUMMIT

Energy was high as employees built Lego figures in fastpaced competitions aimed at developing teamwork and efficiency, while fostering creativity at our Organizational Performance Department’s 2026 Glendale Lean Summit on April 8 at the Civic Center.

About 30 employees from various city departments competed on three teams, as they strived to assemble a Glendale “G” logo without defects. The goal was to learn how to improve processes and work collaboratively to solve problems while having fun.

The following employees were given special coins to celebrate their successful leading of Lean projects: Green Belt Project Leader Coin Recipients: Jeff Daukas, Police Kimberly Mackert, Field Operations Natalie Menges, Community Services Brian O’Dell, Innovation and Technology Matt Smith, Transportation Black Belt Project Leader Coin Recipients: Lisa Esquivel, Water Services Keri Konold, Parks and Recreation

Want to learn more about the Glendale Lean Academy?

Click here.

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GIVING THANKS IN GLENDALE CITY HONORS AND CELEBRATES POLICE, FIRE PERSONNEL Our Councilmember Lauren Tolmachoff teamed up with city employees, volunteers and community partners to recognize our Police and Fire departments.

Councilmember Tolmachoff provided lunch from Babbo Italian Eatery to 306 on-duty employees from both departments recently as a way to thank them for their selfless service to our community. And lunches were given to 24 others - city employees, Glendale Rotary Club members and Bell Bank officials - who helped assemble the boxed meals, deliver lunches and provide other assistance. Many Police and Fire personnel picked up their meals from the restaurant during their shift, and city employees, Rotary Club members and Bell Bank workers delivered meals to some police and fire stations and other facilities.

Councilmember Tolmachoff started hosting this lunch annually in 2023 and said it is “a tangible way to show my appreciation to these important individuals within our community.” Planned Cholla District funds covered the cost of the lunches. Bell Bank purchased Gatorade, soda, water and other drinks that were available for Police and Fire employees.

Thank you to Councilmember Tolmachoff and all the city employees and community partners who made this event possible!

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CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY FAMILY RESOURCE FAIR OFFERS SUPPORT FOR BASIC NEEDS Our city’s heart for helping residents was evident when our Community Services Department hosted Glendale’s 12th Annual Family Resource Fair on April 4 at the Glendale Elementary School District System of Care Center.

City employees helped 300 attendees at this free, one-stop event where residents could access support for various needs, including food, healthcare and employment. Children received free haircuts. Free dental exams and blood-pressure checks were also offered to attendees.

Our Parks and Recreation Department provided crafts activities and video games for children to play. And our Emergency Management, Fire, Police, Water Services and Transportation departments set up tables to serve residents.

ALL AMERICAN GAMES ARE SLAM DUNK FOR CITY Our city further cemented its status as a hotspot for budding, talented athletes when the 49th Annual McDonald’s All American Games hit the court at Desert Diamond Arena.

This event brought the top 24 high school boys and 24 girls basketball players to Glendale, and it was the first time these games were played in the Valley. These elite players showed off their skills at Desert Diamond Arena on March 31, and participated in a 3-point contest, dunk competition and skills challenge called Sprite Jam Fest at Millennium High School in Goodyear on March 30.

Justin Susan, Digital Content Specialist in our Economic Development Department, created a video highlighting the Games shown to the left.

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COMING UP IN THE CITY EMPLOYEES’ FEEDBACK DRIVES CITYWIDE ACTION PLAN Your voice makes a difference in city operations!

The results of our citywide employee survey are in, and your feedback told us we are moving in the right direction. In a recent email to employees, our City Manager Patrick Banger said his office wanted to understand more about employees’ feedback, so it organized focus groups. In these groups, employees shared what they believe is working in Glendale and where our city can improve.

An independent external partner facilitated the groups to protect everyone's privacy. Banger said what was heard in the focus groups revealed that “you care deeply about this city, your colleagues, and the people you serve every day.” His office has developed an action plan based on the feedback.

Some highlights of the plan include: Sharing clear “why” messaging in all citywide communication to explain the reasoning behind citywide changes Launching the virtual “Pop in With Patrick” meeting to share updates, offer context behind decisions and answer questions in a live session Make Excellence Awards easier and more accessible for all departments to provide Launch a citywide Essentials of Supervision course that equips supervisors with the core skills they need to cultivate a positive and productive work environment Develop a citywide calendar of city events and activities Check out the full survey results on a dashboard here.

CELEBRATE SENIORS DURING OLDER AMERICANS MONTH

May is Older Americans Month and there are some special events where you may recognize and support our senior residents. Join the Employee Giving Committee for these events, which qualify as “civic duty leave.”

May 5: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Westgate Village Independent Senior Living at 8847 W. Glendale Ave. May 11: 1 to 3 p.m. at the Glendale Adult Center May 21: 1 to 3 p.m. at the Glendale Adult Center There will be games, storytelling and music! Register for one of these gatherings here.

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR KIDS CAN COMBINE POETRY AND ART It’s National Poetry Month, and a great time for creative selfexpression!

Our Library Services Department will be hosting Blackout Poetry Artwork from 4 to 5 p.m. on April 16 at the Main Library. Library Programming Assistant Cristián Martinez will lead this fun workshop aimed at children ages 9 to 11. Younger children may attend it if they are accompanied by an adult. It’s a drop-in program and no registration is required.

The library will provide the materials for participants to create their own custom blackout poetry artwork with words and images. An example of this type of artwork is in the photo to the left. Learn more about this event here.

EXPLORE MANY WAYS TO GO ‘GREEN’ Earth Day is April 22 and there are many ways you may celebrate the environment and learn how to practice sustainability here in Glendale all year.

Our Water Conservation Specialist Anne Stahley will teach residents how to work with the forces of nature to create attractive, wildlife-friendly gardens that thrive in the desert during a class from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on April 23 at the Main Library. There are many ways people can save money when they permanently reduce the amount of water used at their single-family residential properties. Learn about our Water Services Department’s water rebate program here.

Our Field Operations Department provides many opportunities for recycling in the city. To learn more recycling, click here. And remember you may help the environment when you carpool, telework and/or use public transportation. Learn more about all the public transportation options in our city here. Discover more about sharing rides and traveling to work in a sustainable way by clicking ShareTheRide.com.

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ENRICHING ACTIVITIES FOR EMPLOYEES GAIN TIPS FOR MANAGING STRESS In today’s busy world, feeling stressed is a common issue.

Luckily, you may learn how to deal with stressors in a Stress Management webinar from noon to 1 p.m. on April 29.

In this Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona webinar, you will learn how your thoughts affect your stress levels, as well as how to use stress to your advantage. Participants will even practice various mindfulness exercises. It’s Stress Awareness Month, a time for people to understand how stress affects their health and how to manage it better.

Register for the April 29 webinar here. Check out many resources and tips on stress management anytime on the employee portal.

COMIC BOOKS WILL COME TO LIFE AT LIBRARY EVENT Our Library Services employees are working “faster than the speed of light” to gear up for Free Comic Book Day! The mix of superheroes and other animated characters, paired with comic books, cosplayers, games, crafts and vendors will assemble like the Avengers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Velma Teague Library and Drawn to Comics bookstore on May 2.

This popular, family-friendly gathering will feature FREE comic books for attendees, more than 30 vendors selling a variety of fun, fandom-inspired items, a huge Barbie-style-box where people can pose for photos and cosplayers in action, including a Shopkins Cupcake Queen delivering a K-pop performance. There will be many games and crafts projects including creation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle nunchucks at Velma Teague, Pokémon-style basketball, a “How to Tame Your Dragon” themed scavenger hunt and “fairy bottle” necklace creations.

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Drawn to Comics bookstore is located at 5801 W. Glendale Ave. Admission to the event at the library and bookstore are FREE. Learn more by clicking here.

OUT AND ABOUT WITH ART SPECIAL BINGO GAME TO HIGHLIGHT ART, LIBRARIES Our Library Services and Office of Arts and Culture teams are working together to provide a fun game aimed at inspiring joy for anyone in the city.

Public Art Bingo will kick off April 19 and run through May 23, overlapping with National Library Week (April 19-25). To participate, people of all ages may pick up bingo cards at any of our library branches.

The bingo cards list several sculptures, murals, decorative wall designs and other public art installations to find around the city. Once someone finds all the public art, they may take their completed bingo card to any city library to pick up a PRIZE. Find out more about this program and other library events by clicking here.

Discover where to find public art installations in our city on this webpage.

Enjoy photos of some of our city’s public art on this page.

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EDUCATION AND ENHANCEMENT ADVANCE CAREER WITH DEGREE Would you like to advance your career, but you need to complete a bachelor’s degree to do so?

There’s good news because Claremont Lincoln University is launching a new tuition model designed with you in mind.

Find out about how the university can meet your needs during a 30-minute webinar at 11 a.m. on May 13 over Zoom. During the webinar, you will learn about the university’s Course-Based Cost Model, a predictable and transparent pricing approach that replaces tuition uncertainty with affordability and clarity. The university has a flat-rate model priced at $270 per course. Details about new master’s degree programs that just launched this spring also will be shared.

Claremont Lincoln University offers online program flexibility tailored to fit the lives of busy, mid-career professionals. Register for the webinar here.

CITY COMPETITION HEATS UP The heat is on, not just outside, but among employees competing in the Move More Department Challenge.

This friendly competition kicked off April 15 and runs through May 26. The Golden Shoe will be awarded to the team that averages the most steps per day throughout the challenge. And the Silver Sneaker will go to the secondplace team, while the Bronze Bootie will be given to the third-place team.

Lace up your sneakers and prepare for a virtual island hop as part of the challenge! You may experience the feel of the Hawaiian islands virtually, tracking your minutes of activity or daily steps using a pedometer, fitness device or smartphone app. Those who take at least 7,000 steps per day will earn a total of 5,000 bonus points towards the annual wellness incentive. Register for the challenge here.

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