Our city is moving full speed ahead with an exciting rebrand for Glendale’s Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) that was marked with a high-energy celebration featuring go-kart racing, marching bands, a drone light show and other entertainment.
The turbocharged festivities earlier this month marked the CVB renaming itself to Experience Glendale as part of the city’s continued efforts to promote the city around Arizona, nationally and internationally as a preeminent destination for tourism and hospitality. Our Mayor Jerry Weiers, City Councilmembers and city employees were revved up for the launch of the rebrand at an event that drew more than 2,000 visitors during the Andretti Indoor Karting & Games grand opening week.
The community block party featured Arizona-themed activations, mascot meet-and-greets, marching bands, influencer appearances and other fun at the new business on North 99th Avenue, just south of Maryland Avenue. Racing legend Mario Andretti and his family opened the expansive, new business that houses powerful electric go-karts, Virtual Reality (VR) experiences, bowling, arcade games, laser tag and other entertainment. This rebrand fuels our Economic Development Department’s larger strategy to attract new visitors, conferences and events while engaging and encouraging people to do more than just visit the city but also experience the great dining, retail and entertainment attractions that make Glendale a hotspot.
Our dedicated city employees collected donations for Glendale’s Hope For Hunger Food Bank as part of the event. Great job to everyone in the city who made this transformation possible!
Check out the Experience Glendale video our Video Team created and the media coverage of the rebranding and the business opening.
CITY DRIVES ENERGY, FUN AT CVB REBRANDING EVENT
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Energy was high at the Annual Benefits, Wellness and Education Fair, where employees got in the game gaining valuable information and enjoying fun activities and camaraderie with their colleagues on May 8 at the Civic Center.
Wearing black-and-white referee-style shirts and sports jerseys to represent their favorite teams to match the “Score big with your benefits” theme, employees in many departments shared information about the many great benefits available, while giving goodies. Representatives from health insurance companies, Grand Canyon University (GCU), medical offices and other businesses shared how city employees can hit home runs with their services and programs.
Prizes were raffled off and chair massages were provided, adding to the fun atmosphere. Employees stopped to take selfies and play cornhole. Food trucks offered delicious food to help city employees refuel. Employees took advantage of hearing screenings offered in a Banner Mobile Unit outside. Thunder, the GCU mascot, mingled and added to the festivities.
While the benefits fair has passed, there is still time for city employees to score a touchdown with their benefits. The open enrollment period continues through tomorrow, May 16. All benefit-eligible employees MUST log into Employee Self Service (ESS) to confirm, change or waive elections by the end of the workday tomorrow. No benefits will be automatically rolled over
The city will be increasing the employer contribution to the Health Savings Account (HSA) from $1,000 to $2,000. Another grand slam in Glendale is that city employees will not see any increase in medical, dental or vision insurance premiums for the 2025/26 fiscal year.
You can dive into all the benefits the city offers in this comprehensive Employee Benefits Guide 2025-26.
Find more useful information about enrolling in benefits on the GRID Benefits Page. You also can contact our Benefits Department at 623-930-2860 with any questions regarding the plan options. Don’t delay!
MAY 20 & 21
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
GET SCREENED FOR SKIN CANCER AT CONVENIENT SITES
Remember there are two opportunities in the city to get screened for skin cancer, which is the most common type of cancer in the country.
Our city has teamed up with Skin IO to offer FREE on-site skin cancer screenings for employees.
The screenings will be held 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. Skin IO offers a total body imaging on-site in about 10 minutes. A dermatologist reviews the results, which will be securely sent to employees’ email within two to three days.
If you have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona through the city, you should bring your BCBSAZ ID card to the screening Anyone who is not on the BCBSAZ plan should bring a city ID with them
Register for an appointment through the link below.
SKIN CANCER SCREENINGS
TAKE TIME TO CELEBRATE SENIORS AT FUN VOLUNTEER EVENTS
MAY 21 & 29
Spots are still available for three special city events to celebrate Older Americans Month!
Join our Employee Giving Committee again this year as a volunteer to recognize senior citizens at these three events:
May 21: 9 to 11 a.m. at the Westgate Village Independent Senior Living at 8847 W Glendale Ave May 29: 1 to 3 p.m. at the Glendale Adult Center
Some activities at these events might include playing Bingo, listening to music and storytelling.
Participation in these events qualifies as Civic Duty Pay for employees. To register for these opportunities, fill out the jotform that is below.
OLDER AMERICANS
LEARN HOW TO BOOST EFFICIENCY IN LEAN SIX SIGMA CLASS
MAY 23
There is still time to sign up for the next round of the Lean Six Sigma Training Yellow Belt Certification course.
The deadline to register for the class is May 23, and the class will run from May 28 to July 30 This course is for employees who are new to Lean Six Sigma Training. The purpose of the Glendale Lean Academy is to inspire a culture of continuous process improvement throughout the city. To register, visit the Glendale Lean Academy webpage.
MORE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES IN GLENDALE
POOLS AND SPLASH PADS TO OPEN SOON FOR FUN, EXERCISE
The weather is heating up, which means it is almost time for our city’s pools and splash pads to open to offer fun ways to cool off and exercise.
Recreational swim at our Foothills Recreation and Aquatics Center (FRAC) and Rose Lane Aquatics Center will kick off from 1 to 5 p.m. on May 24, 25 and 26.
After Memorial Day weekend, the pools will be open from June 3 to July 26, operating from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. The pools are closed Sundays and Mondays for maintenance.
Our splash pads will be open from May 24 to July 27, Mondays through Sundays from noon to 7 p.m., and then from July 28 to Sept. 1 on Saturdays and Sundays and Labor Day from noon to 7 p.m. The splash pads are at Greenway Granada, Heroes Regional, O'Neil, Sunset Palms and Sycamore Grove parks. Learn more about the pools and splash pads, including classes and costs on our Parks and Recreation Department aquatics page.
ARTS WILL COME TO LIFE THROUGH GRANT PROGRAM
Do you know an artist or organization that deserves applause?
For the fifth consecutive year, our city’s Arts and Culture Division is excited to provide the Performing Arts Grant Program.
This competitive funding is available to performing artists, schools, colleges and other performing arts organizations within the city limits of Glendale. Financial support of up to $4,000 per applicant is available for projects in the fields of theater, dance, music and interdisciplinary performing arts. The deadline to apply for a grant this year is May 31.
Our city believes a healthy and vibrant cultural arts scene enhances the quality of life in communities. Learn more about the grant program and apply for a grant through the link below.
ARTS GRANT PROGRAM
ENDANGERED SPECIES ARE SUBJECT OF FUN PUPPET PLAY
Grab your children, grandchildren and anyone young at heart and get ready for a fun, educational show at our Velma Teague Library!
The storied Great Arizona Puppet Theatre has partnered with the Glendale Department of Water Conservation and the Library to offer Creepy, Crawly, Wild, and Woolly, a play about four animals on the threatened or endangered species list in Arizona
This entertaining performance from 2 to 3 p.m. will introduce kids and families to these animals and the challenges they face
This fun play is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are released one hour before the program. Check out the link below to learn more.
CREEPY CRAWLY
AWARD WINNERS IN GLENDALE
A longtime water industry professional has earned recognition for her exemplary work Amy Baker, our Environmental Program Manager in the Water Services Department, recently received the Arthur Sydney Bedell Award from the Water Environment Federation (WEF), an honor given to a WEF member for exceptional personal service.
An award winner must demonstrate organizational leadership, administrative service, membership activity and stimulation of technical functions or similar participation. This distinction was named for Bedell, WEF's second president for his long devotion and service to the New York Sewage and Industrial Wastes Association, which is now the New York Water Environment Association Baker received the award at the Annual AZ Water Conference at the Phoenix Convention Center last month.
The award is given annually to one person at the conference. There are 45 WEF member associations in North America, and each one can nominate an individual for the honor.
Amy has worked in the water industry for 23 years and for the city for five years. Her role is to support many city facilities, mostly Water Services structures, to help them remain in compliance with local, state and federal environmental regulations She mainly focuses on protecting Arizona’s groundwater and surface water quality through programs related to reclaimed water, water reuse, stormwater and spill prevention.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPER WINS AWARD FOR MAJOR IMPACT
One of our Office of Economic Development employees is in the spotlight for being a rising star in the profession. José Contreras, MPA, received the Emerging Economic Developer of the Year award from the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) at the organization’s annual Spring Conference in April in Tucson.
The Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) Awards were established nearly five decades ago to recognize the outstanding work of AAED members This prestigious honor recognizes an individual’s overall economic impact to their community, the development of strong relationships, as well as the innovation and creativity used in the process and contributions to the economic development profession. Additionally, the award also is given to a recipient based on their contributions to the advancement, involvement and empowerment of future economic developers
Contreras joined our city’s Office of Economic Development in early 2024 and has since immersed himself into his work with passion and purpose. In his role as Business Attraction Program Manager, Contreras has teamed up with state and regional organizations to land major projects and champion new tools like internal GIS systems for more efficient site planning. He is also working towards his AZED Pro certification and was profiled in AZ Big Media’s “The Road to the Future” supplement, published last year. Congratulations, José!
GOLDEN MOMENTS IN GLENDALE
Thank you to everyone for your hard work and passion serving Glendale residents. One occasion to express gratitude for contributions was Public Service Recognition Week, May 4-10, a national recognition of the federal, state, local and tribal governmental employees who help communities thrive
Our Community Services Department celebrated employees’ dedication to service with a fun, 1990s-themed party that featured staff members dancing the electric slide and Macarena and eating pizza, submarine sandwiches, fruit cups and other school cafeteria-type foods Many employees dressed in ‘90s-style clothes, including as the characters Screech from the TV show “Saved by the Bell” and Cher from the movie, “Clueless ” They also posed for photos with inflatable cell phones and made paper “fortune tellers “
Other city departments, including Field Operations and Water Services, plan to treat employees with fun goodies, including coffee, ice cream, chair massages and lunches during Public Works Week and breakfast burritos during Arizona Water Professionals Appreciation Week this month.
CITY CELEBRATES FUN, NEW AMENITIES AT HEROES REGIONAL PARK
City employees, our Mayor Jerry Weiers, City Councilmembers, residents, some of our Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission members and business partners were “tree-mendously” happy to unveil beautiful enhancements at Heroes Regional Park during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 13.
A crowd gathered to celebrate the 30-acres of newly developed space in the popular park that totals 81-acres at the northeast corner of Bethany Home Road and 83rd Avenue.
More playful activities are available because of the $22 million upgrades that include eight new pickleball courts, our city’s first lighted synthetic field, two natural grass multi-use fields, a dog park, a play structure for adventurous and creative activity and more parking spaces. Speakers at the event shared their excitement about the fun amenities that will allow residents and visitors to build memories for generations to come and stressed how great teamwork made it all possible.
Our Parks and Recreation Department Director John Kennedy did an excellent job touting the project in interviews on TV stations. Check out the media coverage here and our Video Team’s coverage here. Great job to everyone in the city who helped make this project possible!
GIVING BACK IN GLENDALE
Employees in many different departments demonstrated their passion for giving back when they teamed up with the Glendale Elementary School District to pack food boxes and distribute them to the community.
These 91 city workers rolled up their sleeves and packed the food and handed it out to those in need over several days in April as part of the Employee Giving Committee initiatives.
Their hard work allowed 939 food boxes to be provided to families, ensuring meals for 4,543 individuals. St. Mary’s Food Bank provided the food.
This is the second year our city’s employees have helped the school district with the food distribution. Great job to everyone in our city who showed their hearts for service!
CODE COMPLIANCE HELPS ELDERLY RESIDENT
Before After
An elderly woman is grateful to our Code Compliance Division for helping bring her front yard into compliance and creating a more aesthetically pleasing environment.
Our Code Compliance team learned that she had a code violation for having a dirt front yard. The resident had few resources and did not have any relatives in Arizona. Our Code Administrator George Nieto had previously been approached by a landscaping company that wanted to donate materials for a landscaping project. He reconnected with the business and then coordinated with the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department to provide labor. George also arranged for a Code Compliance tool trailer to be on the site to offer the necessary tools to perform landscaping. Other Code Compliance staff members worked on a Saturday morning to help with the project. The resident’s yard now has outstanding curb appeal and the violation has been corrected.
Thank you to Code Compliance employees for brightening this resident’s life!
With summer here in the Valley and temperatures steadily rising, our city is urging local businesses and organizations to be prepared, be kind and be generous. Check out this video our Video Team created featuring our Deputy City Manager Rick St. John encouraging them to keep extra water to provide if they see someone in need.
Learn about our Community Services Department’s heat relief sites helping the community here.
