Community Services Advisory Board

CITY OF BUCKEYE ~ Community Services Advisory Board Meeting BUCKEYE .A. ~ I l O f\ A October 1, 2025 Minutes HYBRID MEETING City Hall 530 E. Monroe Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85326 6:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order/ Pledge of Allegiance/Roll Call Community Services Advisory Board Chair, Terry Vrabec called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. Board Members Present: Chair Terry Vrabec, Vice-Chair Kathleen Rossetti, Sebastian Trupiano (V), Anastazia McMurray, Matthew Dudley, Caleb Elms, Garnett Sailor (V), Jim Roth, Riley Quinlan (V), Holly Rohl Board Members Absent: Joanna Brace, Jack Lynch, Nathan Madden, Randal Kidd City Staff Present: Deputy Director, Robert Wisener; Deputy Director Kelby Mieras; Parks Manager, Mark Bianco; Senior Center Manager, Phil Yabes; Library Manager, Elizabeth Garcia; Library Supervisor, Peter Grant; Administration & Project Manager, Sarah Hughes; Recreation Manager, Jessica Thompson; Arts and Culture Manager, Ilana Lydia Holden; Management Assistant, Chelsea Furman- Kosut; Recreation Superintendent, Adam Melle; Youth Programs Coordinator, Gina Neria; Sports and Aquatics Coordinator, Samantha Deatherage 2. Comments from the public No public comments received. 3. Approval of Minutes 3A. Community Services Advisory Board to approve minutes from July 16, 2025 meeting. Motion made to approve the minutes by Matthew Dudley, seconded by Jim Roth. Motion approved unanimously. 4. New Business 4A. Revision to Reevaluation of Library Materials Policy Liz Garcia, Library Manager, provided background on the Reevaluation of Library Materials Policy, originally written and approved in September 2022 and revised in October 2023 to shift review responsibilities from library staff to the Library Advisory Board. In January 2024, the Board approved bylaw updates establishing the Subcommittee for Reevaluation of Library Materials, with members appointed in May 2024. Liz presented a proposed policy revision to limit eligibility for submitting reevaluation requests to residents of the City of Buckeye, replacing the previous language allowing “anyone” to do so. The rationale for this change includes alignment with regional library systems (e.g., Surprise, Avondale, Glendale, Peoria, and Phoenix), all of which restrict such requests to residents or those within their service areas. Liz emphasized that Buckeye’s collection development policy is intended to reflect the local community, funded by residents’ tax dollars, and this adjustment supports stewardship of public funds for community benefit. 10/1/2025 Community Services Advisory Board Meeting  Motion made to approve revision by Holly Roehl, seconded by Anastazia McMurray. Motion approved unanimously. 4B. Summer Programming Report Peter Grant, Downtown Library Supervisor, reported on the 2025 Summer Reading Program (June 1–August 1), which encouraged daily reading and prevented summer learning loss. Over 3,700 participants logged 3.3 million minutes, with 15,130 meeting the 1,000-point goal. Weekly performances, STEAM activities, dual storytimes, and adult art sessions attracted nearly 10,000 attendees. Supported by over 1,000 volunteer hours, $13,000 from the Friends of the Library, and $6,000 in sponsorships, the program concluded with the Summer Colorful Carnival celebrating 500 readers. Jessica Thompson, Recreation Manager, summarized summer recreation programs and staff training. The May 8 orientation prepared 135 seasonal employees across aquatics, sports, and youth programs through eight hours of training, including CPR/first aid certification for 50 staff. Nineteen returning staff marked five or more years of service, and 30 new hires joined through referrals. In total, staff completed 4,000 training hours to ensure safe, high-quality programs citywide. Erin Fort, Sports and Aquatics Superintendent, reported that youth basketball served nearly 700 participants across 70 teams, supported by volunteer coaches contributing 7,800 hours. Adult sports and Special Olympics programs continued to grow, with new events in track and field and expanded swim sessions for 27 athletes. Erin highlighted the strong sense of community among parents, staff, and volunteers. Gina Neria, Youth Programs Coordinator, shared that the “Kaleidoscope” summer theme inspired creativity and variety across programs. Full-day licensed camps at Bales and Jasinski Schools served 242 participants, while non-licensed Summer Rec programs engaged 5th–8th graders at four sites. The Little Squirts preschool program operated at full capacity with 36 children and a waitlist. In total, staff provided 2,000 hours of care, facilitated 80 field trips, and served over 600 children, emphasizing enrichment and family support. Adam Melle, Outdoor Recreation Superintendent, reported that Skyline Regional Park hosted 546 participants through hikes, stargazing, and school trips. Special Interest Classes at Sundance Recreation Center served 1,124 participants across 17 programs, while general recreation programs expanded family offerings. The Joe Foss Shooting Complex reopened August 16, welcoming over 1,000 visitors, with archery renovations underway. Finally, Erin Fort reported that the Buckeye Aquatic Center served more than 65,000 visitors over 130 days, offering swim lessons for 2,200 participants, a swim team of 182 youth, and 46 private rentals. Junior lifeguards contributed nearly 1,000 volunteer hours, and partnerships with the library and senior center expanded programming. Erin shared a success story of a junior lifeguard who used training to save a sibling, underscoring the impact of the City’s safety education. 5. Community Services Director’s Report Bob Wisener, Deputy Director, reported that City Council approved a $500,000 project to replace the Kell Park playground near the Downtown Library, improving safety, accessibility, and creative play. Construction begins this fiscal year with completion expected in 2026. Program highlights included the Downtown Library’s third annual Teen Art Reception on August 5 and the Coyote Library’s Back-to-School Bash on August 7, which drew 305 attendees—triple last year’s turnout—and provided backpacks, health resources, and car seat safety information. The Joe Foss Shooting Complex hosted a soft opening August 9–10 and a grand opening August 16, attracting 175 attendees. Bob also noted completion of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and Annual Report, both shared with City Council. 10/1/2025 Community Services Advisory Board Meeting  The Buckeye Aquatic Center earned a three-star rating in its unannounced StarGuard Elite audit, improving from last year. Board Chair Terry Bray was honored as Volunteer of the Year by the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association. The department achieved full reaccreditation from CAPRA, meeting all 154 national standards and remaining one of only 234 accredited agencies nationwide. It also received two International Festival and Events Association awards—a Silver for Best Pin/Button and a Bronze for Best Printed Material. Looking ahead, Movie in the Park events are scheduled for October 4 and 11, and the Arts and Culture Subcommittee meeting was moved from October 13 to October 20 at 1 p.m. 6. Comments from Board Members Chair Terry Vrabec: Thank you for the amazing presentation tonight, it was a great meeting. Vice Chair Kathleen Rossetti: I’m personally really appreciative of all the programs you have. My granddaughter’s done ballet, gymnastics, and swim lessons. She participated in everything the library has to offer! If it weren’t for all you offer, we would have to go to Goodyear or Avondale, because there aren’t any private businesses offering anything close. Thank you. Nathan Madden: Absent. Sebastian Trupiano: Great news about the summer programs and accreditation. Holly Roehl: A lot of good information tonight. Very proud of all of you. Jim Roth: It’s impressive to see these numbers. Living in Tartesso I don’t necessarily see the activity. It’s nice to be reminded of how many people are making use of the facilities and programs that we have and why it’s so important that we have them. Randal Kidd: Absent.. Caleb Elms: It was great hearing from the team. Anastazia McMurray: If you hadn’t received 5 stars I would have been offended. You really should have got 6 or 7 with all of the amazing work you do. Matthew Dudley: Thank you for everything, and for putting together the Arts and Culture Subcommittee, we’ve seen some really great art that I think everyone will enjoy. Riley Quinlan: Congrats, Terry. Thank you staff. The quality and variety of programs make a real difference in the community. The team’s efforts are greatly appreciated and the future looks bright. Garnett Sailor: Thank you everyone for all you do, congratulations on the summer programs being such a success, and congratulations on the reaccreditation. Joanna Brace: Absent. Jack Lynch: Absent. 7. Adjournment Community Services Advisory Board Chair, Terry Vrabec, adjourned the meeting at 7:09 p.m. Terry Vrabec ___________________________________________ Terry Vrabec, Board Chair ATTEST: ____________________________________________ Chelsea Furman-Kosut, Management Assistant I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the Community Services Advisory Board Meeting held October 1, 2025. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present. 10/1/2025 Community Services Advisory Board Meeting *
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