CITY INVESTS IN SPEED ENFORCEMENT TOOLS
The wheels are in motion for innovative technology that will help our Police Department boost public safety.
Our City Council recently approved a $600,000 investment to outfit all 150 Police Department patrol vehicles with state-of-the-art moving radar systems. Glendale will be one of the first cities in the Valley to equip all police department vehicles with this kind of speed detection technology. The moving radar systems, which will be mounted to the front and rear of the vehicles, will allow our officers to measure cars’ speed regardless of the vehicles’ position relative to the officers’ location.
Speed-related collisions involving pedestrians have already exceeded the totals from the past two years, with more than half of 2025 remaining. Serious injuries from speed-related crashes have steadily declined, with more than 100 incidents reported in 2023 and 2024 combined. In 2023, Glendale was among the cities in Maricopa County with the highest traffic fatalities, reporting more than 40 deaths
The rollout of this radar system is expected to be done by the end of this summer.
Our forward-thinking city is already generating much media attention for the radar systems. Check out the stories about them below.
NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW
CITY LEADERS SHARE STORIES OF FIRST WORKPLACES
Years before they rose to the ranks of leadership in the city, our leaders worked their first jobs. Find out what they did to earn their first paychecks in the video to the right!
EXPLORE BENEFITS, FIND PLANS DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD
The open enrollment period is in full swing, and it runs through May 16! That means it is time for all eligible employees to enroll in health insurance, retirement plans, life insurance and other benefits, even if they are not making any changes or waiving coverage of the city’s plans.
The city will be increasing the employer contribution to the Health Savings Account (HSA) from $1,000 to $2,000. You can learn more about the HSA when you attend a live webinar on May 6. Register today here for the HSA webinar!
Get in the game at the benefits, wellness and education fair from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8 at the Civic Center. You can ask questions of benefits companies’ representatives, check out educational institutions and wellness vendors and even receive FREE chair massages, audio testing and lunches. The theme of this year’s fair is “Score Big with Benefits” and all employees are encouraged to wear a T-shirt or jersey showing off their favorite team. Employees can register for a time to get the audio testing here
Anyone who would like one-on-one assistance with enrolling in benefits can attend sessions May 12-15 at the Adult Center. Check out the GRID Benefits page to learn more.
Don’t delay! Find the best benefits plans for you and your family today!
DEXABODY SCREENINGS TO OFFER VALUABLE HEALTH INFORMATION
A DexaBody screening gives people a detailed look at how much fat, lean muscle and bone mass is in their body, which is critical for enhancing one’s health and fitness.
Our city will provide DexaBody screenings from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 1 and 15 in a van parked in the back (employee) parking lot at Glendale Adult Center. These screenings offer body composition analysis, including muscle, body fat and bone mass. These are not diagnostic bone density screenings.
Appointments for the screening are required. See the GRID calendar or click the link below to schedule a 20-minute appointment.
DEXABODY SCREENINGS
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
SUPERHEROES TO SHINE AT FREE COMIC BOOK DAY
“Faster than a speeding bullet,” superheroes and sidekicks will converge at the Free Comic Book Day that our Velma Teague Library and local comic book shop Drawn to Comics will hold from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the library at 7010 N. 58 Ave. and the shop at 5801 W. Glendale Ave. Learn more in this video our Video Team created.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, TAP INTO UNIVERSITY DISCOUNTED TUITION
Our city is thrilled to announce Claremont Lincoln University is our newest education partner!
This university will have staff members at our upcoming Benefits Fair, but it is also offering a unique chance to meet one-on-one with its team for more information about the programs it offers for a Donuts and Degrees event from 9 to 9:30 a.m. on May 9 in training room 104 at the Glendale Adult Center.
Claremont Lincoln will provide a 10% scholarship discounting tuition to any city employee enrolled in one of the university’s online degree programs or professional certificate programs. The discount can be extended to the eligible employee’s spouse, registered domestic partner or eligible dependents. To RSVP for the May 9 Donuts and Degrees event, visit the link below.
DONUTS AND DEGREES
CELEBRATE OLDER AMERICANS’ CONTRIBUTIONS AT THREE SITES
Did you know there are 46,446 citizens ages 60 and older who live in Glendale? They improve our community through intergenerational relationships, community service, civic engagement and many other activities.
Join our Employee Giving Committee again this month as we celebrate Older Americans Month by recognizing our senior residents at one of the following volunteer opportunities:
May 12: 1 to 3 p.m. at the Glendale Adult Center
May 21: 9 to 11 a.m. at Westgate Village Independent Senior Living
May 29: 1 to 3 p.m. on May 29 at the Glendale Adult Center
Some of the activities may include storytelling, playing bingo and listening to music. Our City Manager Kevin Phelps has approved the use of Civic Duty Pay for employees who want to volunteer for any of those activities. Please work with your supervisor to ensure there isn’t an impact to operations. Click the jotform below to register for one of the events.
OLDER AMERICANS
WAYS TO GROW IN GLENDALE
GAIN GUIDANCE ON SAVING FOR RETIREMENT
Join Empower retirement advisor Abbi Brown for the second of four webinars on financial wellness, Give Yourself a Raise: Boost Your Retirement Contributions Today from 11:30 to 12:30 over Zoom.
This month, Abbi will provide you with guidance on how you can take advantage of an increase in income to improve your retirement savings.
A question and answer session will follow the webinar. Register in NEOGOV Learn via the link below.
RETIREMENT SAVING
DONATE SHOES, OTHER SUPPLIES TO KEEP DOGS SAFE IN SUMMER
The hot Arizona summers are not just difficult for human beings, but also for furry friends. That is why our Community Services Department is participating in a donation drive with IncrediBullStella to help homeless dogs stay safe and comfortable in the hot months.
You can donate dog shoes, pet-safe sunscreen, cooling pads and vests, as well as reflective collars and leashes, wipes, collapsible water bowls, dog food and treats and light blankets and towels through May 15 at the Main Library at 5959 W. Brown St. or the Glendale Elementary School District (GESD) System of Care Center (in a box in the welcome center) at 7677 W. Bethany Home Road. Anything pet-related will be accepted.
IncrediBullStella, a non-profit organization that rescues pit bulls, will bring our city’s donations to the Arizona Faith Network to give to visiting pets. Can’t make it to one of the drop-off spots? Donate online through the IncrediBullStella Boots on the Ground wish list via Amazon.
PET DRIVE AMAZON LIST
TAKE CHARGE OF HEALTH WITH SKIN CANCER SCREENING
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. If it is caught early, the five-year survival rate for melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer that begins in cells known as melanocytes, is 99 percent.
Experts recommend skin cancer screenings for everyone age 35 and older and earlier ages for anyone who is at high risk of developing skin cancer.
Our city has partnered with Skin IO to offer FREE on-site skin cancer screenings for employees. Skin IO provides a total body imaging on-site in about 10 minutes. A dermatologist reviews the results, which will be securely delivered to employees’ email within two to three days.
The screenings will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on May 20 at Field Operations in the Make Ready Shop and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 21 at the Glendale Adult Center, in Room 102. Employees need to bring an ID to the screenings. Those who have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona should bring their BCBSAZ ID card Anyone who is not on the BCBSAZ plan should bring a city ID
MORE GREAT EVENTS IN GLENDALE
TAP INTO SUPPORT DURING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
It’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and all employees are encouraged to learn about mental well-being and to take a mental health screening.
There are many programs, tools and resources the city offers to help people enhance their mental health, including the Employee Assistance Program and the WellStyles portal.
Our city also is providing a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on June 18 in the Literacy Center (Library) at the System of Care Campus at 7677 W. Bethany Home Road. With this training, participants will learn the signs of a mental health crisis so they can help a person in immediate need. Anyone interested in attending the workshop should email Ali WaelchliBrooks, our Wellness Program Manager, by May 14 at AWaelchliBrooks@glendaleaz.com.
Mental Health First Aid is one of the critical ways Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona helps Arizona residents connect with care and resources that decrease the impact of mental illness.
STRESS LESS
LEARN WAYS TO MANAGE EMOTIONAL UPS AND DOWNS
MAY 28
Sometimes life can feel like an emotional rollercoaster, and this Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona webinar - Managing Your Emotional Wellness - can help! Participants will gain recommendations on ways to manage emotional wellness, especially in hard times, in this Zoom discussion from noon to 1 p.m.
To register for this webinar, visit the link below.
Join the fun as Glendale Public Library kicks off Maricopa County
participants log how much they have read, nts, complete challenges and explore the county prizes. “Color Our World” is this year’s theme as ity and the ways art inspires everyone. Participants earn a prize for every 250 minutes they read.
Program registration starts TODAY and participants can start logging their reading on June 1. Start your summer adventure by visiting MaricopaCountyReads.org (English) or CondadoDeMaricopaLee.org (Spanish)!
MORE GREAT EVENTS IN GLENDALE
‘ENVISION ENCORE’ PROJECT GENERATES BUZZ
Momentum for the “Envision Encore” project that would include high-density multifamily housing, commercial uses and potentially hotels across from State Farm Stadium is generating much media attention. That’s after our City Council last month approved the rezoning of the 39-acre site traditionally used for farming near 99th Avenue and Ballpark Boulevard.
Media outlets captured the exciting vision for the project that is intended to feature diverse commercial employment with retail, hospitality services, hotels and other land uses that strive to augment our city’s sports and entertainment area, according to our Planning Department. Check out the stories the media have produced on this planned development below.
HEALTHY STRIDES TAKE SPOTLIGHT
Our city is in the spotlight for its focus on good health and outstanding wellness programs
The “Phoenix Business Journal” recently ranked Glendale as 8th best for Large Firms in the newspaper’s 2025 Healthiest Employers list. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona was named the top organization in that category. There were 57 companies and organizations selected as finalists for these honors.
The distinguished companies were recognized last month for prioritizing health and wellness in the workplace and beyond.
CITY EMPLOYEES PROVIDE TOUR, INSIGHT INTO DAILY OPERATIONS
Did you know 33 residents recently explored our city, getting a behind-the-scenes look at the hard work and passion for service our employees demonstrate every day?
They were the latest graduates of Glendale University, a free program that Arizona State University sponsors, where adults meet for 10 weeks to learn the inner workings of city services.
Many of our employees gave informative and entertaining presentations about our City Manager’s and Mayor’s offices, along with our City Attorney’s Office and Budget & Finance, Parks and Recreation, Communications, Police, Intergovernmental Programs and other departments of our city.
The residents toured our Field Operations, Foothills Recreation and Aquatics Center (FRAC), Glendale Regional Public Safety Training Center (GRPSTC), Foothills Library, Media Center and Oasis Water Treatment Plant. To participate, attendees must be at least 18 years old and a resident of Glendale or own a business in Glendale.
Great job to everyone who shared their knowledge and enthusiasm for their work with the students!
GREAT NEWS IN GLENDALE
CITY BREAKS GROUND ON SUSTAINABLE, EFFICIENT NEW DEVELOPMENT
Technology and sustainability are coming together in a new development that our Mayor Jerry Weiers, City Council and Economic Development Department broke ground on last month.
Aligned Data Centers, a technology infrastructure company that provides innovative, sustainable and adaptive Scale Data Centers and Build-to-Scale solutions, broke ground on its PHX-13 facility on April 15. The Glendale campus spans 100 acres at 8907 N. Reems Road and signifies a major expansion of Aligned’s data center footprint. This site will feature a 72 MW data center that is one of four planned facilities on the campus. It will incorporate a new, 230-kV transmission line that Arizona Public Service (APS) provides.
Aligned’s Delta air cooling arrays will be used in PHX-13 to capture and remove heat at the source. The property, once home to a rose farm, has been transformed into a modern data center campus, resulting in more than a 73% reduction in water use per year.
Great job to everyone in the city who helped make this development possible! Check out the media coverage of this unique project below.
A new development will bring more dining choices and commercial businesses to the 91st Avenue corridor and enhance our city’s economic vitality.
Our Mayor Jerry Weiers and City Councilmembers recently joined Diversified Partners, LLC and our Economic Development Department, in breaking ground on Shops at the Cardinal on 9 acres at the southeast corner of 91st Avenue and Cardinals Way. This $20 million Diversified Partners project will house Swig, Señor Taco, Bonchon, Starbucks, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice and other businesses just steps from State Farm Stadium. Check out the media coverage of this development below.
EMPLOYEE CELEBRATIONS
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW EMPLOYEES
· Benjamin Baratko - Police
· Michele Borowsky - Community Services
· Andre Brim - Field Operations
· Raymond Bush - Water Services
· Jocelyn De La Cruz - Community Services
· Brogan Edgell - Police
· Allissa Goins - Development Services
· Brayden Kellums - Transportation
· Christopher Kunch - Budget and Finance
· Jesse Leedham - Police
· Nehemiah Lindo - Police
· Gerri Mesker - Police
· Shaun Mockoski - Communications
· Michael Narup - Development Services
· Jeremy Pickering - Parks and Recreation
· Isela Rivas - Mayor and Council Office
· Juan Rodriguez - Innovation and Technology
· Alyssa Sandoval - Police
· Christopher Schmidt, Jr. - Police
· Nancy Sikorski - Community Services
· Anne Smith - Community Services
· Bryan Stratton - Police
· Joshua Urps - Police
· John Zumph - Innovation and Technology
HAPPY WORK ANNIVERSARY
Your hard work, dedication and loyalty are appreciated!
HAPPY 25 YEARS
· Maria Clay - Community Services
HAPPY 20 YEARS
· Glenn Campbell - Police
· John Doe - Police
· Derrick Johnston - Police
· Nicholas Lively - Police
· Louis Maklary - Water Services
HAPPY 10 YEARS
· Brittany Butcher - Police
· Omar Vallejo - Field Operations
· Chris Wallace - Water Services
· Michelle Woytenko - Field Operations
HAPPY 5 YEARS
· Scott Baxa - Development Services
· Brittney Brown - Police
· Alessandro Cozzolino - Police
· Frank Ranger - Field Operations
· Klaudia Trennepohl - Police
Want to acknowledge an employee who went above and beyond in their job? Post praise on the Employee Kudos page on the GRID in the link below!