July 25th, 2025

If you have any concerns that you'd like to talk with me about, please email me at LBaldenegro@GLENDALEAZ.com, or you can contact me by phone at: (623) 930-2244

Whether he’s assisting with programs at the Glendale Community Center, connecting with residents at O’Neil Park Recreation Center, or hosting BINGO with local seniors, Councilmember Baldenegro is always happy to meet with constituents to discuss any questions, comments, or concerns.

To schedule a time to connect, feel free to reach out by phone at 623-930-2244 or via email at lbaldenegro@glendaleaz.com.

Councilmember Message

Recently, I had the privilege of attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly remodeled Fire Station 153 in Glendale, Arizona. It was an honor to witness the completion of this important project alongside the brave men and women who will call this state-of-the-art facility their home while on duty.

This modernized fire station includes a range of thoughtful, health-focused additions aimed at supporting the physical and mental well-being of our firefighters. As we know, firefighters often work extended shifts, sometimes spanning several days. This facility was clearly designed with their demanding schedules in mind.

It features dedicated training areas, a spacious eat-in kitchen, functional workstations, private sleeping quarters, and a comfortable communal space with seating and a TV—offering a place to unwind, recharge, or catch a game during downtime. In addition, several wellness technologies have been incorporated to aid in recovery and stress management.

Some of these therapeutic amenities include:

• Light Therapy – Known to reduce inflammation, increase circulation, and support healing.
• Infrared Sauna – Helps alleviate stress, improve sleep, aid recovery, and detoxify the body.
• Cold Plunge/Ice Bath – Reduces inflammation and muscle soreness, enhances recovery, and boosts mental resilience.

Another innovative feature is the station’s zoning system, designed to minimize chemical contamination from firefighting gear. The station is divided into:

• Green Zone: Living and training areas
• Red Zone: Where contaminated equipment is handled
• Yellow Zone: A transitional area between the two

This zoning helps reduce potential exposure to harmful substances, further protecting the health and safety of Glendale’s firefighters.

Thank you to everyone involved in bringing this exceptional facility to life—and above all, thank you to our firefighters for your unwavering service and dedication to the community.

To watch this week's Councilmember Message video on YouTube, click here!

To watch the Fire Station 153 Ribbon Cutting on Instagram, click here!

Next City Council Meeting: August 12th, 2025

On Saturday, July 12th, Downtown Glendale came alive with festive cheer during the annual Christmas in July event. Shoppers were able to beat the heat in an air-conditioned bus that stopped at multiple shopping locations throughout Downtown. The community gathered in high spirits to celebrate a joyful occasion filled with food, shopping and family-friendly activities.

The event brought together residents, local businesses, and visitors for a day of fun and connection, transforming the heart of Glendale into a lively holiday-themed celebration that reminded everyone of the magic of the season — even in the middle of summer.

A couple of the highlights of the event were pet adoptions and a Back-to-School donation drive. Attendees were invited to contribute donations that will help provide essential supplies to students in need as they prepare for the upcoming school year. This meaningful aspect of the event reinforced the community’s commitment to supporting its youth and assisting children with the tools they need for success. And furry friends were able to find fur-ever homes, which is a true gift for man's best friend.

Overall, Christmas in July was a wonderful occasion that combined celebration with giving, showcasing the spirit and generosity that make Downtown Glendale such a special place.

To learn more about upcoming events in Downtown Glendale, click here!

The Glendale Community Alert System powered by Everbridge is the mass notification system Glendale uses to keep you informed about critical information and important events within the community.

This system will be used for emergency alerts, as well as non-emergency incidents that may have significant impacts on residents. This service allows city public safety officials to send out emergency notifications by phone, text, email and other contact methods to thousands of residents and businesses within a short amount of time.

Visit the City of Glendale Community Alert Portal or download the Everbridge mobile app from the App Store or Google Play Store to sign up. For more information on Community Alerts, click here!

For information on the Mobile Gaming Adventure, click here!

For information on the Kokeshi Doll Workshop, click here!

Glendale Community Center

Located in the heart of downtown Glendale at 5401 W. Ocotillo Drive, the Glendale Community Center is a small, vibrant neighborhood hub offering various free community programs. The center caters to all age groups, including youth, teens, adults, and seniors. Programs encompass educational, recreational, and fitness activities, aiming to enhance community engagement and well-being.

Program Highlights: 

Youth Programs: Activities designed to foster learning and social skills.

Teen Programs: Engaging activities that promote personal development and community involvement.

Adult Programs: Educational and recreational activities tailored to adult interests and fitness.

Senior Programs: Programs focused on social interaction, learning, and physical wellness for seniors.

After School Programs: Free, drop-in Afterschool Program for youth ages 6-14 that provides supervised recreational activities, crafts, games, sports, clubs, homework help, and special events. This is a non-licensed program and will run from August 2024 through May 2025, Monday through Friday. Daily meals from St. Mary's Food Bank will be provided to participants and any other youth in the community. Registration required, for more information click here!

Membership:

Enjoy a FREE Membership at the Glendale Community Center! This membership grants you access to a variety of classes and programs for all age groups, including youth, teens, adults, and seniors. By signing up, you'll receive updates on everything happening at the center, including a monthly calendar of classes and events.

For more information or any questions about the programs, click here please call the Glendale Community Center directly at 623-930-4700.

O'Neil Recreation Center

The O'Neil Recreation Center is conveniently located on 67th Avenue and Missouri and offers a variety of free community programs for all ages. Some programs include Stay & Play hours for young families, Virtual Fitness classes and board & card games for adults/seniors, Afterschool and Teen programs, and more! For more information, click here!

Program Highlights: 

Youth Programs: Activities designed to foster learning and social skills.

Teen Programs: Engaging activities that promote personal development and community involvement.

Adult Programs: Educational and recreational activities tailored to adult interests and fitness.

Senior Programs: Programs focused on social interaction, learning, and physical wellness for seniors.

After School Programs: Free, drop-in Afterschool Program for youth ages 6-14 that provides supervised recreational activities, crafts, games, sports, clubs, homework help, and special events. This is a Non-Licensed program and will run from August 2024 through May 2025, Monday through Friday. Daily meals from St. Mary's Food Bank will be provided to participants and any other youth in the community.

Membership:

Enjoy a FREE Membership at the Glendale Community Center! This membership grants you access to a variety of classes and programs for all age groups, including youth, teens, adults, and seniors. By signing up, you'll receive updates on everything happening at the center, including a monthly calendar of classes and events.

For more information or any questions about the programs, click here or call the O'Neil Community Center directly at (623) 640-0893.

A few weeks ago, my office had the opportunity to experience El Califa de León — the world’s first and only Michelin-starred taqueria — right here at Westgate in Glendale, AZ 🔥

Thank you for the invite and bringing these unique events to Glendale!

To watch the Instagram video, click here!

If you would like to participate in the City of Glendale Community Survey, click here! The survey should take approximately 17-18 minutes. Please share this link with your friends and family to ensure participation by a wide variety of residents. Your responses are confidential and no identifying information will be shared.

Please note that once you have answered the questions, you will be asked to provide your email and zip code. This is optional, however, registering will help us be sure we are hearing from each person only once and see which respondents live inside or outside of the city. Additionally, the City hopes to continually engage with the community and periodically ask for your input on pressing topics, new ideas and initiatives, or other important issues.

Thank you for your participation!

The July Cookies with a Cop event was a sweet success with the Glendale Police Department!

We’re so grateful for the chance to connect with our local officers during events like this that bring our community closer and help build bonds—one cookie at a time! 💙

Thank you, Great American Cookies, for hosting to everyone who came out to show support for our Glendale Police Department!

To watch the Instagram video, click here!

Councilmember Baldenegro is giving away 3 tickets to the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire event on Sunday, August 3rd, 2025 at 2:30pm at the Desert Diamond Arena!

To enter: ⬇️

1) You must be an Ocotillo District resident and 18 years old+

2) Email Jenny at: jbrown2@glendaleaz.com your name, address, phone number and Instagram and/or Facebook username BY Wednesday, July 30th, 2025 = 1 entry for drawing

3) Follow @ocotillodistrictaz on Instagram = 1 entry for drawing

4) Follow @ocotillodistrictaz on Facebook = 1 entry for drawing

Following Social Media pages will keep you up to date on the district and downtown happenings!

***Entries lacking the above info will not be considered, response must be received by 10am Wednesday, July 30th 2025, drawing will be random, tickets are non-transferable, tickets are issued electronically, tickets are a gift and should not be sold or used for financial gain, taxes and parking are the responsibility of the recipient***

*Photo credit Desert Diamond Arena

If you are a Glendale resident looking for a way to serve your community, have a special interest or are an expert in a particular field, consider applying for one of the City’s Boards or Commissions.

For more information on the roles and responsibilities of members, please review each board or commission’s page.

If you are interested in serving, applications are always accepted. Annual appointments are made every January. Appointments are also made throughout the year as vacancies occur. Applications will be kept on file for two years and you will be contacted if your application has been recommended by one of our City Council members.

For more information on a specific Board or Commission, please click here!

• The Pavement Management Program here is COMPLETE for the current Fiscal Year. City staff is currently and actively pursuing commitments and schedules from our contractors to address the remaining miles in the Ocotillo District for the next fiscal year.

If you have any questions or want further information, please get in touch with the 24/7 Project Hotline at 602-532-6250. A map for 2024-2025 Pavement Management Program is now available on the Pavement Management website.

IMPORTANT LINKS (CLICK BELOW!)