Above is a video of highlights from the 4th annual Public Safety Appreciation Day that I hosted on Wednesday, April 4. Over 300 meals were provided to on-duty police and fire personnel as a small way to show appreciation to the men and women who serve our community each and every day. | | | |
Cholla District Weekly Update
April 16, 2026
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Dear Cholla Residents,
City Council meets twice monthly, generally on the second and fourth Tuesday for a Council Workshop "study" session to review and discuss important issues, staff projects and future Council meeting agenda items. Workshop takes place at 12:30 PM. Council Meetings are held on the same day at 5:30 PM where official action takes place.
Council Workshops are a good way for citizens to learn about issues being discussed between the City Council and City Staff before the issue is potentially brought to a voting meeting. No official action is taken at Council Workshop; therefore, audience comments on agenda items are made only at the request of the Mayor. Citizen comments are permitted during regular Council Meetings. Click here to learn more about City Council Meetings, Workshops, and Citizen Comments.
Here are some of the highlights from this week's Glendale City Council Workshop held on April 14, 2026:
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- Community Services presented recommendations made by the Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) regarding the allocation of FY 2026-27 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and reallocation of prior-year funds. CDAC recommendations were based on 3 primary goals of affordable housing assistance, homeless services, and public services for vulnerable populations. Consensus was provided by the Council to proceed with the recommendations as presented by the advisory committee.
- Transportation staff discussed potential amendments to the City Code, Chapter 26.5 regarding outdoor or exterior lighting. The current ordinance has remained unchanged for 38 years, and staff requested to amend the ordinance to account for new lighting technology and smart features. The Mayor and several Councilmembers expressed concerns with some of the language within the amendments and implications for private development and suggested a less restrictive approach. Council consensus was not given, and the recommendations were tabled for the time being.
- The next two items centered around current bulk trash performance and set out schedules. In March 2025, I had requested an evaluation of bulk trash set-out schedules as a Council Item of Special Interest because of resident concerns regarding wind-blown litter, scavenging and unsightly neighborhoods during the monthly bulk trash collection period. An audit evaluation of the City's bulk trash practices found that while residents think highly of the service, primary areas of concern included scheduling and routing driven by highly variable participation and current practices not being aligned with best practices around the valley, particularly allowing materials to remain at the curb for extended time. Staff recommendations to address all of these concerns included increasing the enforcement fee to deter residents from setting out bulk trash earlier than the allotted time period, reducing the number of days items can be placed out at the curb prior to collection, reducing the pile size accepted, and potentially moving either to smaller bulk trash section sizes or moving to an appointment-based pick up system. I along with several Councilmembers expressed concern about reducing pile sizes because of varying lot sizes around the City. While it may work for a typical suburban residential home, those with larger acreage may struggle with a reduced pile size. Consensus was not given on reducing the pile size. Consensus by the Council was given for examining the enforcement fees. Several Councilmembers expressed concern about moving to an appointment-based system. While I was open to staff doing some more research and cost comparisons to other cities that have moved to this approach, consensus was not given on an appointment-based system at this time.
- The final item on the agenda for Workshop was regarding a CIOSI introduced by Councilmember Turner on March 20, 2026, to consider changes to any City items with references and commemoration of Cesar Chavez. There are 4 signed intersections along 59th Avenue from Maryland to Orangewood Avenue with honorary street names. Council provided consensus to bring this item to a voting meeting for removal of the signs and potentially renaming the area with attributions to the farm worker movement in general. Staff noted that there are currently 20 books and 1 streaming video in the library system referencing Cesar Chavez. Staff recommended allowing the Library Advisory Board to review and make recommendations later regarding these library materials. I am not generally in support of removing books from the library. The farm workers movement as a whole is a significant part of history and should remain a part of the library system. Council provided consensus for this portion of the item to go to the Library Advisory Board for discussion and provide recommendations back to Council at a future date. Finally, there are no future or upcoming City events referencing Cesar Chavez. Council provided consensus on no future participation or hosting of named events until further notice.
Towards the end of the Council Workshop, Councilmembers can introduce new Council Items of Special Interest (CIOSI). I requested a new CIOSI regarding adaptive recreation program options through the City. I recently met with a Cholla resident serving on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission who expressed concerns about inquiries to the City regarding adaptive recreation programs and residents being referred to programs outside the City. Staff will be reaching out to me soon to schedule a scoping meeting for this item.
The regular Council Meeting took place at 5:30 PM, and the full agenda of voting items and video can be viewed online.
| | Last Friday, I was able to attend a charitable basketball game between Glendale Police and Deer Valley High School staff. Students attend and watch by donating a dollar to Special Olympics. Glendale Police have participated in this charitable event for the past several years and it's an amazing event for a great cause. I was honored to donate a trophy that was presented by Police Chief Brandt to the team. | | |
April 27 is the deadline to register for the May 7 Cholla District Public Safety District Meeting. Come and enjoy complimentary hot dogs, hamburgers, snacks, and drinks at 5 PM. At 5:30 PM, you will have the opportunity to participate in interactive mini sessions provided by Glendale Police, Fire, and Emergency Management staff on a variety of public safety topics. After the sessions end, residents will participate in drawings to win tickets to various upcoming events at Desert Diamond Arena in the city suite, as well as other items. See the flyer in this newsletter for all the details. Register online on or before April 27.
My office is always open and ready to assist you. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns that you may have. I value your input and opinion.
Warm Regards,
Lauren Tolmachoff
Glendale City Council, Cholla District
623-930-2247
LTolmachoff@GlendaleAZ.com
| | CHOLLA DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS | | |
Old-Time Music Jam at Foothills Library: Saturday, April 18, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
This Old-Time Music Jam focuses on traditional instrumental music, including Appalachian fiddle tunes, Celtic and Canadian reels, jigs, hornpipes and other roots music. Players of all ages and ability are welcome to join. Click here for more information.
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Teen Enchanted Library Escape Room at Foothills Library: Friday, April 24, 6:30 PM
Chaos has erupted at the Enchanted Library. The librarian is missing, there is a storm brewing in the stacks, and it sounds like there is a monster trapped in the rare tomes room. The library needs the help of valiant young magic users to put it right. While participants wait for their turn in the escape room, they can enjoy crafts, magical trivia, and games of adventure. Registration is required and begins April 17 at 10:30 AM. Open to teens ages 12-18. Click here for more information.
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Daddy Daughter Dance: Saturday, Jun. 20, 6 PM - 8 PM (REGISTRATION NOW OPEN)
Aloha! Get ready for dancing, a photo booth, and games. Girls ages 3-15 bring your dad, grandfather, uncle, or any special male guest. It's $20 per Dad/Adult and $20 per daughter. Registration opened on April 1. Click here for more information and to register online. (Select Youth Activities from the top colored tabs and scroll for the Daddy Daughter Dance info.)
| | THUNDERBIRD CONSERVATION PARK CONSTRUCTION | | ROAD CONSTRUCTION & TRAFFIC ALERTS | | |
Loop 101 Current and Upcoming Closures & Restrictions
The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for the following closures as part of the Loop 101 widening project. You can subscribe to automatic project updates with this link.
Upcoming Traffic Control, Closures & Restrictions:
- The westbound Loop 101 closure originally scheduled April 17-20 has been postponed.
- The northbound I-17 on-ramp at Deer Valley Road will be closed for approximately 50 days beginning 11:30 PM Sunday, April 19.
- DETOUR: Drivers may continue on the northbound frontage road from Deer Valley Road to enter northbound I-17 at Pinnacle Peak Road.
- The north and southbound I-17 ramps to westbound Loop 101 will be closed nightly from 9 PM to 5 AM beginning Sunday, April 19, and ending Wednesday morning, April 22. Westbound Loop 101 will be narrowed to two lanes between I-17 and 51st Avenue, and the westbound Loop 101 on-ramp at 27th Avenue also will be closed during this time.
- DETOUR: Southbound I-17 drivers may consider using Deer Valley Road to 35th Avenue to access westbound Loop 101. Northbound I-17 drivers may consider using Union Hills Drive to 51st Avenue to access westbound Loop 101.
- North and southbound 35th Avenue will be closed in both directions at Loop 101 from 10 PM Thursday, April 16 to 5 AM, Friday, April 17, and again nightly from 10 PM to 5 AM beginning Monday, April 20, and ending Friday morning, April 24.
- DETOUR: Drivers may consider using the east and westbound frontage road (Beardsley) to navigate around the closure.
- Southbound and northbound 75th Avenue near Loop 101 will be closed from 10 PM, Friday, April 17, to 5 AM, Saturday, April 18 in order to perform curb construction activity.
- Westbound Loop 101 will be closed between I-17 and 51st Avenue from 10 PM Friday, April 24 to 5 AM Monday, April 27. The westbound Loop 101 on-ramps at 7th Street and 7th Avenue will also be closed. The westbound Loop 101 ramps to north and southbound I-17 will be closed. The eastbound Loop 101 HOV lane will be closed between 51st and 27th Avenues.
Ongoing Restrictions & Closures:
- 75th Avenue will continue to be narrowed to one through lane in each direction between Rose Garden Lane and Arrowhead Clubhouse Drive through May.
- DETOUR: Drivers may consider using 67th or 83rd Avenues to access 75th Avenue via Deer Valley Road or Union Hills Drive.
- The eastbound Loop 101 frontage road is reduced to one lane between 37th and 35th Avenues through mid-April.
Ongoing Long Term Ramp Closures:
- The eastbound Loop 101 off ramp at 59th Avenue is closed until late May.
- DETOUR: Drivers may consider exiting at 67th Avenue and using the eastbound frontage road to reach 59th Avenue.
- The eastbound Loop 101 on ramp at 67th Avenue is closed until mid-May
- DETOUR: Drivers may consider taking the eastbound frontage road (Beardsley) to 59th Avenue to access Loop 101.
- The westbound Loop 101 off-ramp at 75th Avenue is closed until early May.
- DETOUR: Westbound drivers may exit at 67th Avenue and travel north to Deer Valley Road or south to Union Hills Drive to reach their destination. 75th Avenue will have ongoing lane restrictions between Loop 101 and Rose Garden Lane that are expected to end in mid-April.
Drivers should use caution and be prepared to slow down and merge safely when approaching and traveling through any work zones.
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67th Avenue Corridor Improvements Project Update (City of Peoria)
The City of Peoria's 67th Avenue Corridor Improvement Project, Pinnacle Peak Road to Happy Valley Road will widen 67th Avenue to three travel lanes in each direction and includes bike lanes, curb, gutter, sidewalk, streetlights, and drainage components to complete the streetscape. As this area is adjacent to the Cholla District, click here for all the latest construction updates to see how it impacts your drive.
| | CITYWIDE HIGHLIGHTS & CALENDAR | | | | |
