For the Week Ending

March 27, 2026

Town Council Meeting

March 26, 2026

Pictured above (clockwise from top left): Vice Mayor Christine Labelle, Mayor Mark Stanton, Councilmember Anna Thomasson, Councilmember Karen Liepmann, Town Clerk Duncan Miller, Chief Financial Officer Leslie DeReche, Management Analyst Amy Rebenar, Town Manger Andrew Ching, Town Attorney Andrew McGuire, Councilmember Ellen Andeen-Keller, Councilmember Julie Pace

The Town Council considered the following items at last night's meeting.

Study Session

Discussion of Healthcare Request for Proposals – Based on the results of the RFP, the recommendation is to stay with the current provider.
Discussion of Fiscal Year 2026 Compensation and Classification Study - The Town contracted with Public Sector Personnel Consultants to conduct a study of compensation and classification data comprising over 60 positions and approximately 121 employees and compared them to the Town’s designated market set.
Discussion of Fiscal Year 2027 Departmental Budgets – Department Directors presented their budget requests for the next fiscal year.

Consent Agenda

Approved a contract with MR Tanner Development and Construction, LLC to install ADA ramps on Mockingbird Ln at Hummingbird Ln and Cheney Dr. in the amount of $56,817.
Approved a contract with The HVAC Company for replacement of HVAC equipment at the Town’s Fire Stations in the amount of $60,000.

Action Items

Approved the Mockingbird Lane (56th St to Invergordon Rd) Improvement Project and authorized the Town Manager to execute the following contracts:

Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Amendment to the CMAR agreement with Achen-Gardner Construction, LLC, in the amount of $17,523,846.14, for project construction.
Construction Administration Agreement with Tristar Engineering and Management, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $480,184.72. Tristar will provide construction management and inspection services during the project.
Material Testing Services Agreement with Quality Testing, LLC, in an amount not to exceed $99,770.00. Quality Testing will perform all construction material testing required as part of the project’s quality assurance program.

Action Summary

Video

PV Arts Board Studio Tours

Pictured above: Artwork by Rotraut on display at the Desert Botanical Garden in 2022. Photo source: rotraut.com

The PV Arts Board is thrilled to invite you to participate in the annual Studio Tour. The Arts Board will be visiting the studios of William Daggett, Deborah Garland and Rotraut.

WILLIAM DAGGETT

William Daggett collaborates with nature to

create inspired pieces through his connection to the twisted branches of the juniper tree. His abstract birds, flames, and other elements embody soaring movement and emotion. Daggett has recently been casting his wood sculptures in precious metals and has donated one of these special sculptures to benefit Parkinson’s research to honor art as a force for healing and hope.

View a sample of works here:

WoodWhisperings.com

BranchesOfLightFoundation.org

DEBORAH GARLAND

Deborah Garland creates unique works from porcelain and black clay. She is inspired by ancient artifacts, nature and the timeless beauty of simplicity. She prefers wood firing, allowing the fluid and natural alchemy of fire and ash to create movement and variation. Each piece expresses its own experience of transformation. A second generation ceramicist, Deborah has trained with master ceramicists from all over the world.

View a sample of works here:

StudioGarland.com

ROTRAUT

Rotraut is world renowned for her vibrant non-objective paintings and monumental sculptures. Her work features organic cosmic-inspired forms. She is part of the post World War II European avant-garde movement along with her brother Günter Uecker and her first husband, Yves Klein. Her sculptures have been exhibited at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix and in London, Paris, and San Francisco.

View a sample of works here:

Rotraut.com

The Studio Tours will be held on Sunday, April 12, 2026 from 12:45 - 4:15pm

*Due to limited parking and safety concerns, shuttles will be provided. Individual cars will not be permitted at the studios.

To register for the tour, click here: Register

*Space is limited and will be offered on a first to respond basis.

Bicyclist Advisory

Avoid Mummy Mountain During Construction

As the road maintenance work is underway at the north and east side of Mummy Mountain, Public Works is cautioning the cyclist community to avoid these mountain routes. The roads are going to be milled, where the surface of the road will be rough, not suitable for most bicycles. Please find alternative routes for the next several weeks. The roads shown on the map that are highlighted red are the roads impacted by this project and are the roads to avoid.

If you have questions, please call the MR Tanner project manager Joseph Rodriguez on 480-881-2451.

Operation: Mummy Mountain Lights

Pictured above: Corporal Fisk (left) and Officer Nava (right)

Pictured upper right and lower right: lights on Mummy Mountain

Over the past several months, the Town and PVPD have received a number of inquiries regarding mysterious multicolored lights appearing near the top of Mummy Mountain. While not an urgent public safety issue, the consistency of the sightings—and the curiosity surrounding them—made it worth a closer look.

So, after the Community Budget Forum, Chief Carney and the night shift launched “Operation Mummy Mountain Lights.”

The operation began with an aerial approach, deploying one of the PVPD drones to get a better vantage point. With a little assist from patrol vehicle spotlights illuminating the hillside, PVPD was able to identify three separate light sources spread across the area (see attached photo). At that point, PVPD determined two things:

It wasn’t our old radio tower, and
It was time to take the investigation to the next level-on foot.

After hiking up the mountain in the dark, two members of D Squad located the source—what appeared to be solar-powered decorative outdoor lights placed in multiple locations. By the time PVPD reached them, some of the lights had lost their charge and were no longer illuminated. The officers collected the items, and we are hopeful that all of them were retrieved. While the origin and intent behind the placement remain unknown, there is no indication of any malicious activity.

Either way, the mystery of the Mummy Mountain lights has been solved. The operation was conducted under the cover of darkness, and was successfully completed without any injury.

PVPD appreciates both the community’s vigilance and D Squad’s initiative in tracking this down—especially Corporal Fisk and Officer Nava, who took it upon themselves to see this through to the end.

Bola Wrap Instructor Course

Pictured above: (Left) Brian Ong - Paradise Valley PD Training Coordinator. (Middle) A. Quiles - Clarkdale Police Department Officer. (Right) M. Stewart - University of Nevada, Reno Police Department Officer

The Paradise Valley Police Department hosted a Bola Wrap Instructor Certification Course, led by PVPD Training Coordinator Brian Ong. Our agency proudly opened this instructor-level training to outside agencies, reinforcing our commitment to regional collaboration and professional development. Attendees included Officer George of the El Mirage Police Department, Officer Quiles of the Clarkdale Police Department, Officer Stewart of the University of Nevada, Reno Police Department, along with Paradise Valley Community Resource Officer Sagovnovic and Corporal Clement.

The Bola Wrap is a handheld, remote-restraint device designed to safely and effectively limit a subject’s movement by deploying a Kevlar tether that wraps around the subject’s lower extremities. This tool provides officers with a valuable less-lethal option, particularly in situations involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, those who are non-compliant but not actively aggressive, or scenarios where de-escalation is a priority. Its ability to reduce the need for higher levels of force makes it an excellent addition to our department’s use-of-force continuum.

The certification course included comprehensive classroom instruction on device functionality, departmental policy, and best practices for training others to use it. Participants also engaged in practical, hands-on deployment exercises to build confidence and proficiency in operating the Bola Wrap. This combination of classroom learning and live scenario training ensures that instructors are well-prepared to safely and effectively implement this tool within their respective agencies.

PVPD Virtual Reality Training Implementation

Pictured above: Chris Fox - Paradise Valley PD Officer #256.

The Paradise Valley Police Department also conducted AXON virtual reality-based training this week, coordinated by Training Coordinator Brian Ong. This innovative training platform utilizes immersive, scenario-based technology to simulate real-life situations officers may encounter in the field.

Virtual reality training allows officers to practice decision-making, communication, and de-escalation techniques in a controlled, repeatable environment. Scenarios can be adjusted to reflect a wide range of situations, allowing officers to refine their responses and receive immediate feedback.

This type of training is both practical and effective, enhancing officer readiness while reinforcing consistent, professional responses. Incorporating advanced training methods, such as virtual reality, reflects the department’s ongoing commitment to using modern tools and techniques to best serve the Paradise Valley community.

Community Budget Forum

The second community budget forum hosted by Town staff has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 15th from 5:30 to 7:00pm. This forum is open to members of the public who wish to learn more about the Town's budgeting process and proposed budget for fiscal year 2027.