Inside Glendale - Mid-July 2025

MORE STREAMLINED GOOD LIFE WELLNESS EXPERIENCE COMING

Are you wondering what’s new for the 2025-26 fiscal year?

As part of our continued commitment to improve the employee wellness program, all incentives will be available exclusively through the WellStyles portal starting with the 2025–2026 plan year. This transition provides a more convenient, integrated platform to: Earn up to $600 in premium discounts and up to $100 in Rewards Cash Access wellness tools and programs in one place Thanks to the Tobacco-Free Incentive, employees have successfully quit using tobacco, which is a significant achievement. Being tobacco-free lowers the risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and COPD, as well as increases life expectancy.

The city is committed to supporting your wellbeing, and with WellStyles you can achieve your health goals in a way that works best for you. Earn wellness points for activities, including: Obtaining physicals (including CDL, Fire, or PCP visits) Taking part in “Know Your Numbers” health screenings offered on-site in the fall Getting eye exams, dental cleanings and cancer screenings Start earning points NOW for your full incentive, which starts July 1, 2026! Good Life Wellness is here to support you.

To learn more: Visit the tobacco cessation page on the GRID Contact Wellness Program Manager Ali Waelchli-Brooks at 623-930-2467

MARK YOUR CALENDAR HELP STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL If you would still like to donate much-needed items for the Glendale Employee Giving Committee’s 4th Annual Back-to-School Drive, the deadline to drop off school supplies for students in grades kindergarten through eighth is July 18.

Check out a complete list of the supplies needed here.

Drop off donations in the bins at the Glendale Adult Center, Glendale Regional Public Safety Training Center (GRPSTC), Field Operations (P Building), Main Library and Velma Teague Library.

Want to help but don’t have time to shop? Contact Deputy Director of Community Services Michelle Yates at myates@glendaleaz.com.

TEENS CAN SOAK UP FUN, COOL OFF Looking for a fun, FREE activity your preteen or teen can enjoy this month? The Teen Afterhours: Water Wars event will offer entertainment for those ages 12 to 18 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on July 18 on the teen/adult patio at the Heroes Regional Park Library.

Expect water guns, water balloons and epic games on this ultimate battlefield. Participants are encouraged to bring a towel and shoes.

Guardians will be required to sign their child out with a library employee after the event ends. Registration for the Water Wars is required. Sign up your child here.

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MORE UPCOMING EVENTS ENJOY NAVAJO COOKING DEMO Come to a family-friendly cooking demonstration where you will learn about the rich flavors of Navajo food.

Check out Food talk for Families from the Fancy Navajo from 11 a.m. to noon on July 26 at the Heroes Regional Park Library. Alana Yazzie, a Diné (Navajo) lifestyle and food blogger from Phoenix, will talk about the ingredients, cooking techniques and cultural significance behind some of the most beloved Navajo dishes. Yazzie also wrote “The modern Navajo kitchen: homestyle recipes that celebrate the flavors and traditions of the Diné.”

This project is possible due to the support of the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

EARN POINTS FOR DRINKING WATER Don’t forget to fill your cup with water and join the Stay Refreshed Challenge, which will last through July 31.

Earn WellStyles points when you track how much water you drink an average of four days a week. It’s important to stay hydrated year-round and especially in the summer heat. Water regulates body temperature, protects spinal cords and helps to lubricate and cushion joints.

Register for this challenge on Personify Health.

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WAYS TO GROW IN GLENDALE TRACK READING TO EARN PRIZES There is still time to participate in our Glendale Public Library's Summer Reading program! Sign up for the "Color Our World" program at MaricopaCountyReads.org or http://condadodemaricopalee.org.

Finish logging your reading by Aug. 1 to be automatically entered into a grand prize drawing. Keep track of your reading minutes on the website as you go. When you hit milestones, including having read 250, 500, 750, or 1,000 minutes, visit any city library to claim prizes. You can log a traditional, print book or paperback or listen to an audiobook to earn rewards.

Learn more about this program on our library webpage.

BIG BENEFITS BOOST KICKS OFF SOON Whether you are planning ahead or intend to retire soon, an exciting change will launch on Aug. 1. That’s when the city will roll out the Glendale Triple Advantage Plan (GTAP), a new way to maximize the value of your unused sick (and in some cases) vacation time when you separate employment from the city.

This plan impacts EVERYONE with 10 or more years of service.

GTAP provides powerful tools to turn your accrued time into retirement income, tax-free healthcare savings or both uses.

Schedule time today with the Benefits Team to explore how GTAP will apply to you. You will want to learn more so you can: Boost your Nest Egg - Put unused sick days to work for your future Experience Tax-Advantaged Growth - Stretch savings farther with smart savings Gain Expert Guidance - Explore your options Learn more by visiting the Retirement Plans page.

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GETTING ACTIVE IN GLENDALE PLAY PICKLEBALL FOR A CAUSE Looking for a fun way to exercise while supporting the Special Olympics Arizona?

Join our Police Department for the second Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Pickleball Tournament at 8 a.m. on Aug. 2 at The Pickleball Space at 5665 W. Bell Road. Our Police Department is helping run the family-friendly tournament while The Pickleball Space is hosting it. Glendale Police Motors will do demonstrations during this double-elimination tournament. There will be men’s, women’s and co-ed divisions and children may play. It costs $65 for the 1st Division and $40 for the 2nd and 3rd divisions.

All proceeds from the event will go to the Special Olympics of Arizona. The deadline to register for this tournament is July 27.

Register here TODAY!

EXPLORE MANY WAYS TO PLAY AT FOOTHILLS PARK As we continue to celebrate Parks and Recreation Month, our Communications Department is shining the spotlight on a fun, FREE place to play with loved ones while enjoying exercise.

Check out Foothills Park, a beautiful site with a variety of outdoor offerings, including a three-field sports complex, a dog park, pickleball courts, ramadas with grills and a skateboard park.

Our Communications Strategist and Content Creator Jessica Mensch, pictured to the left, and videographers in our Communications Department, produced a fun video highlighting the attractions in this park. Watch the video by clicking on the photo to the left.

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NEWS YOU CAN USE SHARE INPUT VIA EMPLOYEE SURVEY Something important will be arriving soon in your inbox. Please take 10 minutes to complete the 2025 Employee Engagement survey. Your feedback is valuable in helping us continue our goals to strengthen workforce development and culture.

The survey will run from Aug. 4 to 15. This survey will come in an email from noreply@quantumworkplace.com with the subject line of Take Glendale’s Employee Engagement Survey.

It might go to your junk inbox.

If you have any questions, concerns, or need some help, please reach out to Business Intelligence and Analytics Officer Stephen Gushue at sgushue@glendaleaz.com or 623-9304139, or Director of Organizational Performance Jenny Durda at jdurda@glendaleaz.com or 623-930-2241.

CAPITAL ASSET RULES CHANGE Did you know that there are some changes to the capital asset reporting rules and requirements? These changes, which took effect July 1, are designed to make the process easier and more efficient.

What is changing?

Higher reporting thresholds: the threshold has increased from $5,000 to $25,000 (or $5,000 to $10,000 for assets funded by a federal grant) New digital forms: the forms are now online and route to the necessary people The updated policy and reported guide is available on the GRID.

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GOOD NEWS IN GLENDALE CITY SCORES ANOTHER HEALTHY WORKPLACE AWARD There is more evidence our city puts its best foot forward when promoting health and wellness. Our city received the Platinum Award for the 2025 Healthy Arizona Workplace Awards, the fifth consecutive year of Glendale earning this honor, on June 17.

A Platinum Level Award is given to businesses and organizations that make an impact within and beyond their walls tackling at least one health challenge affecting communities in Arizona. Award winners have demonstrated data-driven programming and are using cross-sector collaborations or partnerships to enhance the health, wellbeing and equity of their communities.

The cities of Peoria and Goodyear, as well as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, also won Platinum Level awards this year.

Organizations that want to apply for this award must submit a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Worksite Health ScoreCard that evaluates the extent to which they have carried out evidence-based health promotion interventions. They also must complete a healthy workplace training and obtain letters of support from leadership, among other requirements.

Our Wellness Program Manager Ali Waelchli-Brooks and Recreation Coordinator Susie Cummings, pictured above, accepted the award for the city.

You can learn more about these awards on the Healthy Arizona Worksites website.

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MORE GOOD NEWS IN GLENDALE CITY LANDS TV COVERAGE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY UPGRADES Our city is drawing attention for its dedication to enhancing public safety.

ABC-15 recently produced a story on how Glendale is spending millions of dollars this fiscal year to try to make roads safer for drivers and pedestrians. Flashing yellow arrows will be installed at additional intersections around the city. Evidence shows this type of signal phasing has led to a decreased number of left-turn crashes. ABC-15 interviewed our Director of Transportation Ryan Lee about the flashing yellow arrows and our Police Public Information Officer Moroni Mendez about how all police vehicles will be equipped with new speed detection technology to increase enforcement, as well as to enhance road safety. Check out the ABC-15 story here.

DONATE DOG PAW BOOTIES TO PROTECT FURRY FRIENDS These hot summers are not only hard for humans but also challenging for our furry friends. That’s why our Police Department, in partnership with the Arizona Humane Society, is collecting dog paw booties that our police officers will give to unhoused residents who have dogs.

Anyone can drop off dog paw booties of any size between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at our Police Department’s Main Station or Foothills or Gateway substations. Check out the video to the left with our Crime Prevention Specialist Caitlyn Pence and Arizona Humane Society President and CEO Dr. Steven R. Hansen talking about the collection.

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CITY TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT POLICE OFFICERS ENGAGE IN ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING Our Police Department has been generating positive publicity for its efforts to prepare officers to stop active shooters and protect innocent people during unpredictable incidents.

Several TV stations, a radio station and newspapers produced stories about the department’s active shooter training at Deer Valley High School. The goal of the multi-week training was to teach officers the appropriate skills and strategies needed to quickly respond to a shooter incident on a school campus. Officers were told to move as quickly and efficiently as possible in order to try to save lives, being urged to sacrifice their own personal well-being more than they usually do to protect students.

An officer fired a weapon from somewhere inside the high school and actors screamed for help and ran from the scene to simulate an active-shooter situation. Officers tried to find the shooter using clues including running crowds, shell casings, gunshots and gunsmoke.

Great job to everyone in our Police Department who took part in the training and thank you to the Deer Valley Unified School District for hosting it.

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WAYS TO PLAY IN GLENDALE GEAR UP FOR FALL PARKS AND REC CLASSES, SPORTS The Glendale @ Play Recreation Magazine is designed to help residents and community members connect with the city, stay active and enjoy all that our city’s leisure and recreation programs have to offer. It’s also a great way for employees to find convenient classes, leagues and events to enjoy with their families and friends while getting exercise.

The magazine is published three times a year and is available in both print and digital formats.

Did you know there are after-school programs and a variety of special-interest classes, as well as sports leagues for children and adults?

You can find the fall Glendale @ Play Recreation Magazine online and receive it in your home on Aug. 1. To subscribe to the magazine to be delivered to your home or view the digital version online, visit the Parks and Recreation Department’s Glendale @ Play Recreation magazine webpage.

DIAMONDBACKS TICKET DISCOUNTS ARE A GRAND SLAM Remember that thanks to our Glendale Employee Engagement Committee (GEEC), you can obtain discounted Arizona Diamondbacks tickets.

The Diamondbacks play at Chase Field at 401 E. Jefferson St. in Phoenix. There are many games you can attend through Sept. 25, when the home team will take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at 12:40 p.m.

You can buy your tickets on this webpage.

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ENLIGHTENING EMPLOYEES INCLUSION NETWORK EVENT REVEALS HISTORY Nearly 160 city employees gained valuable insight into our country’s history during our Inclusion Network’s Juneteenth event last month in our Main Library.

This event was held to commemorate an important moment, June 19, 1865, when slavery ended in the United States. Our Inclusion Network Chair LeJeune Boone, pictured on the left, who is also a city HR Business Partner, served as emcee at the event. Dr. Matthew C. Whitaker, founder and CEO of Diamond Strategies, LLC., pictured below LeJeune, talked about the history and significance of Juneteenth as part of America’s past. Diamond Strategies is a premier and award-winning, Better Business Bureau A+ rated, National Minority Supplier Development Council (NSDMC) certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE).

Videographers from our Communications Department filmed the Juneteenth event. Check out the video here.

LIBRARIES OFFER 3D PRINTING FOR COOL CREATIONS Employees in our city libraries work hard to provide more than print books to the public but to also offer the latest technology.

One of the many benefits our libraries offer is 3D printing.

Anyone can fill out a request online to order 3D printing, which is done at our Foothills, Heroes Regional Park and Main libraries.

Learn how it works from librarian Michael Schmidt in the video our Communications Department’s videographers created to the left. To learn more about the process, visit our library webpage.

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