Mid-March 2025 Caboose

MID-MARCH 2025

CITY MANAGER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT AFTER PRODUCTIVE DECADE Curious to see how you are making a difference around the city?

Enjoy the latest City Manager’s Report.

Our City Manager Kevin Phelps will be retiring next year after steering our city towards economic prosperity and building an inclusive culture where employees are valued. He announced at the City Manager’s Informational Meeting on March 11 that he would not be renewing his contract after it ends in January. Find out more about his plans in his City Manager Transition Plan Announcement. In related news, discover all the great work we accomplished in the city last year in this Accomplishments video.

ARTISTS CAN SUBMIT PROPOSALS TO HELP ENHANCE CITY HALL While workers continue to make exciting strides on the Downtown Campus Reinvestment Project (DCRP), our city is looking for artists to create captivating artwork to enhance the aesthetic appeal of this modern structure downtown.

Our Economic Development Department issued a national call for individual professional artists or teams of artists to submit proposals for artwork that will play an integral role in boosting the city’s identity and producing a “visually dynamic environment for residents, businesses, and visitors.”

The art installation will be displayed on the south building facade of City Hall, facing Glendale Avenue.

The selected artist(s) will work with our city, the architect of record and community stakeholders to create a meaningful art piece that will augment the beauty of this newly renovated building and enhance Glendale’s identity.

To learn more about submitting a proposal for the artwork, visit this Calls to Artists webpage.

Mid-March 2025

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR LEARN HOW MOVEMENT CAN HELP GUT HEALTH Did you know you could improve your digestion by moving more?

Health coach Dana Bufalino will reveal how physical activity supports gut health and share simple strategies to fit movement into the day during this WellStyles Webinar: Move for Your Gut from 4 to 5 p.m.

MARCH 26

You will earn 300 WellStyles points and have a chance to WIN a wellness item worth up to $50!

Visit the WellStyles portal or click the link below to register for this webinar.

MOVE FOR YOUR GUT

ENJOY LIONS, TIGERS AND SELFIES FOR A BARGAIN Don’t forget to “paws” from your busy schedule and enjoy an adventure at a discount from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park at 16501 W. Northern Ave. in Litchfield Park.

MARCH 29

City employees can bring their flock to the park for these deals that day: $30 for Adults (Regular price is $48), $15 for Children ages 3 to 12 (Regular price is $27), Kids ages 2 and Under are FREE and a Free onion ring appetizer in Dillon’s KC BBQ with every purchase.

Show your city ID card to obtain the discounts. Click the link below to learn more about the park.

WILDLIFE WORLD ZOO

EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLETE POLICY UPDATES TRAINING COURSE MARCH 31

Our Human Resources & Risk Management Department has updated several policies this spring, including the Benefits, Employment, Compensation & Classification, as well as the Workplace Harassment, Discipline and CDL documents. City employees need to review and understand these policy changes and how they impact our work.

All employees MUST COMPLETE the Policy Updates training course in NEOGOV

by March 31. Here is what you need to know: The policy updates training has been assigned to you through NEOGOV. Using the NEOGOV link found on the GRID, login with your city email and password, and find the course link on your login dashboard.

Mobile-Friendly: The training in NEOGOV is accessible via tablet or cell phone. Login using the NEOGOV Link on the GRID to access the course.

Time Commitment: The training takes 7 to 10 minutes to complete. You can pause and resume it as needed, but all training windows must stay open for the system to track progress. If you are stopping, log out and then log back in when you are ready to continue.

Updated policies can be found attached to the course in NEOGOV or in the Policy Portal on the GRID. Do you have any questions? Contact Organizational Development: Trish Wright, x5987 or Shannon Rodriguez-Yaeggi, x2271.

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MORE GREAT EVENTS IN GLENDALE LEARN TO EXPRESS YOURSELF CREATIVELY IN POETRY WORKSHOPS APRIL 3, 17 & 24

April is National Poetry Month, a great time to participate in a threepart workshop that poet, teaching artist and rapper Sean Avery Medlin will lead.

Check out these FREE events for anyone ages 15 and older from 6 to 7:30 p.m. these dates at our Foothills Library: To Inhabit Another Voice (Persona & Personification) on April 3: Deep-dive into using these devices to build imagery, character and metaphor Ancestral Affirmations: Poetry & Nonfiction on April 17: Draw upon the memory, honor and admiration of our “ancestors” to heal On Self-Love and Celebration on April 24: Inspired by poet Ariana Brown’s workshop “On Love, Names, and Odes,” this event focuses on the subject of many poems, love itself.

Enrollment for each workshop begins one week before each one. Learn more at the link below.

POETRY WORKSHOPS

REGISTER FOR FUN, FITNESS-FRIENDLY FAMILY BIKE RIDE APRIL 6

Grab your helmets and get ready for the FREE annual Glendale Family Bike Ride that gets rolling at 8 a.m. at Sahuaro Ranch Park.

Choose one of three routes - 7 miles, 15 miles or 23 miles, through neighborhoods that highlight the city’s bike lanes and pathways. Snacks and water will be provided. There will be bike check-up stations and safety information, as well as music, games for kids, along with food and coffee trucks and health and wellness booths.

The first 500 riders that register and attend will receive an event T-shirt and ALL RIDERS that complete the ride will receive a keepsake medal. All bicyclists must wear helmets. Register for the bike ride at the link below.

FAMILY BIKE RIDE

KIDS CAN GROW, CELEBRATE EARTH MONTH AT CRAFTS EVENT APRIL 12

Looking for a fun way for your child or teen to celebrate Earth Month and Jane Goodall’s birthday?

Check out the Roots and Shoots: Celebrate Earth Month event from 10 a.m. to noon geared towards those ages 11 to 14 in the Hummingbird Room at the Foothills Library. Participants will create reusable party decorations out of repurposed supplies.

Roots & Shoots USA is the youth action program of the Jane Goodall Institute aimed at empowering young people to be the change in their communities.

Registration for this event will be open from 10 a.m. on April 5 until 10 a.m. on April 12. Learn more by clicking the link below.

ROOTS AND SHOOTS

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CONTINUOUS GROWTH IN THE CITY LEARN WATER SAFETY TIPS AT FREE FIRE DEPARTMENT EVENT APRIL 26

You can learn essential tips to protect yourself and your loved ones at the Fire Department’s Water Safety Workshop from 9 a.m. to noon at Glendale Community College at Glendale Community College at 6000 W. Olive Ave. Our Parks and Recreation Department will share resources and education about the importance of swim lessons.

Child Crisis Arizona will talk about the value of pool fences, self-closing doors and other barriers around water. Our Fire Department will teach how to administer CPR. There will be a mock drowning at the event.

WATER SAFETY

This FREE event is open to the public and geared towards adults. To register, visit the link below.

WATER SAFETY

PREPARE FOR MICROSOFT UPDATES, CHAMPIONS WILL HELP Get ready for a technological update! Microsoft is retiring the Windows 10 operating system and will no longer offer free software updates or security fixes after Oct. 14.

Department Champions are helping our Innovation and Technology Department coordinate upgrades by Oct. 1. Your timely cooperation will assist with a seamless transition and will minimize disruptions to our daily operations.

The great news is Windows 11 has many near features, improvements and a redesigned layout.

This new operating system provides enhanced capabilities, along with better integration with Microsoft services and improved security features.

If you have any questions, contact your Department Champion(s). You also can call the Service Desk at x.3449 or email servicedesk@glendaleaz.com.

Check out the Windows 11 webpage to learn how to save files, data and documents ahead of the transition and other useful tips, and find out who the Champion is for your department.

BRING THE ‘OFFICE’ TO HOME WITH KITS Our city is making it easier for employees to work from home.

City employees who have an approved, up-to-date teleworking agreement on file with Human Resources, may request a Work From Home Kit. The kit consists of one of each of the following: 24-inch monitor, a docking station, a power adapter, a wireless keyboard and a wireless mouse. Every kit will be issued as a set.

If you would like to request a Work From Home Kit, visit IT Self-Service.

Contact the Service Desk at x3499 if you have any questions.

Mid-March 2025

APPLICATIONS AND SOFTWARE

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GOOD NEWS IN GLENDALE COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR EARNS ‘TRAILBLAZER’ AWARD Our Community Services Director Kimberly Hall is on a roll, paving the way for other leaders, while continuing to demonstrate her dedication to serving the community.

The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) recently honored Hall, pictured in the center of the photo in red, with one of the Exceptional Women Leaders Trailblazer Awards at the organization’s symposium at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Conference Center. Tempe Councilmember Berdetta Hodge also received this award at the event.

“It’s an honor to be considered in that space,” Hall said. “My heart is for service. It’s always very humbling when others acknowledge that.”

Her passion for serving others began early in life when she volunteered to help homeless residents at age 13. Before joining the city, Hall spent decades working for Goodwill Industries throughout multiple states, including most recently as Chief Executive Officer at Goodwill Southern Los Angeles County. She even helped with the Hurricane Katrina clean-up efforts in 2007.

Hall met the Special Assistant to the National President of NOBLE, Andre C. Anderson, a former Glendale Police commander, previously through equity work she did while at Goodwill. Anderson, who is now the Police Chief of the Ann Arbor Police Department in Michigan, nominated Hall for the award.

NOBLE, which has more than 4,800 members, offers solutions to issues in Black law enforcement. The organization has 60 chapters in the United States, Canada the Caribbean and Africa. Its mission is to ensure equity in the administration of justice in providing public service to all communities, as well as to serve as law enforcement members’ conscience by being dedicated to justice by action.

To learn more about the organization, visit the NOBLE website.

COUNCILMEMBERS ARE GREAT SPORTS AT SPRING TRAINING Our City Councilmembers are having a ball helping to promote the fun of spring training!

Our Video Team recently filmed City Councilmembers Leandro Baldenegro, Lupe Conchas and Dianna T. Guzman representing the city at the Spring Training game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch. The Councilmembers received recognition on the field before the game and Councilmember Baldenegro had the honor of throwing the ceremonial first pitch. They also met Tony La Russa, pictured on the top right, a renowned former baseball player, coach and manager.

Enjoy the video below on the left showing highlights of their appearance.