Earle Greenberg: Surprise City Council District 2 — June newsletter

OPINION — As summer arrives, June brings longer days, warmer temperatures and countless opportunities to connect as a community. I’m excited to share community updates, upcoming events, helpful resources and ways to stay connected.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding District 2, please reach out to me anytime at earle.greenberg@surpriseaz.gov. You can also follow me on Facebook for frequent updates, and to receive my newsletter by email each month, please visit surpriseaz.gov/Subscribe and sign in or create an account. Then select text and/or email for "District 2 Council Updates" and any other news you may want to receive.

CURRENT EVENTS

City Council Meetings

The next City Council Meeting is June 16 at 6 p.m. The public is welcome to attend in person, or you can tune in on surpriseaz.gov/SurpriseTV, the City of Surprise Government Facebook page at facebook.com/CityOfSurprise or on Cox channel 11.

Community Meetings

My next monthly Community Meeting will be June 3 at 9 a.m. at The Grand at the Palm Center, 19726 N. Remington Dr.

Landscape & Water Efficiency Workshops

Water conservation classes are being offered to help residents understand desert adaptive plants and how to properly take care of them. Classes are held at the Surprise Water Education Center, 16126 N. Civic Center Plz. unless otherwise noted. 

Registration is required to attend. For more information visit surpriseaz.gov/WaterConservation.

• June 13 | Fresh Ideas for Desert Containers | 10 a.m.
• June 20 | Become a Master Gardener | 9 a.m.
• July 6 | Designing a Water Harvesting Landscape | 6 p.m. 
• July 13 | Native Landscape Care | 6 p.m. 
• July 20 | Selecting Native Plants for Multiple Benefits | 6 p.m. 
• July 30 | Cultivating Native Edibles | 6 p.m.

Surprise Arts

Surprise Arts would like to invite residents to enjoy featured events at The Vista Center for the Arts. Join us for a vibrant lineup of performances, from live music and theater to dance and community events. As a cornerstone of arts and culture in Surprise, Surprise Arts offers something for all ages to enjoy in a welcoming and inspiring setting.

Upcoming Performances

• June 6 | Dry Bar Comedy LIVE! | 7 p.m.
• July 3 | America’s Sweethearts | 7 p.m.

For more tickets and information, visit surprisearts.com.

Fire First Fridays

The Surprise Fire-Medical Department is offering free life-saving knowledge and training. These classes aim to provide attendees with basic emergency response training in a comfortable and stress-free environment so community members will know how to start helping while waiting for emergency crews. 

To register and get more information, visit surpriseaz.gov/FireFirstFridays. Please note, registration forms open two weeks before the class date. The maximum class size is 40 people for each session. Participants must be 12 years old or older, and a registered adult must accompany attendees aged 12 - 17.

Heat Relief Stations are now available in Surprise

As we move towards the high temperatures of summer, the City of Surprise wants our residents and visitors to know we are a Heat Relief Network partner. Starting today, May 1, through September 30, Surprise has several locations providing free hydration and indoor refuge stations for those needing a place to cool off during the year's hottest months.

Locations:

• Surprise Resource Center - 12425 W. Bell Rd., Building A, Suite 124
• Hollyhock Library - 15844 N. Hollyhock St.
• Surprise Regional Library - 16089 N. Bullard Ave.
• Asante Library - 16755 W. Vereda Solana Dr.

The Heat Relief Network is a regional initiative to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths. This support network of service providers, faith-based groups, municipalities, businesses and caring citizens works to help people in need. 

The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) coordinates an interactive map with more than 200 locations countywide where people can find indoor cooling and respite centers, hydration stations or donation sites. The network is available at azmag.gov/heatrelief.

Anyone can experience heat illness or death, regardless of age, health, fitness level or how long they’ve lived in Arizona. The three stages of heat illness are heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Learn the signs and symptoms of heat related illness and when it’s time to seek medical attention on the Maricopa County Department of Public Health website. 

Here are some tips to stay heat safe:

• Stay hydrated; drink water before you feel thirsty. 
• If you’re sweating heavily or active for long periods, consider drinks with electrolytes to help replace salts and minerals.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and a wide-brimmed hat.
• Use air conditioning whenever possible. Fans alone are not effective when temperatures exceed 95°F.
• Check on older adults and people living alone often. If something increases their risk, like losing power or air conditioning, you can help them move to a safer, cooler place.
• Never leave children, pets, or anyone else in a parked car.

Free Paper Shredding Events

Protect your personal information and safely dispose of sensitive documents at Surprise’s free paper shredding event on June 24, 25 & 27, from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Public Works North Yard - 17274 N. Litchfield Rd.

Residents can bring up to three banker boxes (15x12x10 in.) of paper for secure off-site shredding. City staff will oversee lockable bins for easy and safe drop-off.

NEWS & UPDATES

City Expands Partnership to Help More Families Secure Affordable Healthcare

The City of Surprise Human Service & Community Vitality Department continually seeks opportunities to better meet the needs of our community members. Recently, they partnered with Helping Families in Need (HFIN) to expand appointment opportunities for local families who need assistance in gaining and navigating healthcare coverage options.

The organization assists community members with applying for AHCCCS, SNAP, Marketplace (Affordable Care Act) and other health-related resources.  

Appointment Hours:
Surprise Resource Center, 12425 W. Bell Rd., Ste 124
Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fridays | 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Surprise Senior Center, 15832 N. Hollyhock St.
Saturdays | 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Appointments are required for services. To schedule, please contact HFIN at 1.800.298.4346.

Alert Surprise Emergency Notification System

Alert Surprise is a text, email and/or voice call emergency notification system powered by Smart911. The system allows for one-way direct communication from the City to subscribers in potentially life-threatening situations. It’s a free service designed to keep those who live, work or visit Surprise informed and connected when it matters most.

Through Alert Surprise, subscribers can choose to add address information to receive targeted emergency alerts based on locations they choose, such as home, work or school.

Registration is simple and secure. Follow the instructions at surpriseaz.gov/AlertSurprise, or download the Smart911 app in the Google Play or Apple App Store to create a personalized safety profile. To quickly sign up for text alerts ONLY, opt-in by texting the word SURPRISE to 67283. Please note that online signups at surpriseaz.gov/AlertSurpriseallow for more notification options and account preferences.

MAY HIGHLIGHTS

Surprise Police Department Breaks Ground on First Substation

The Surprise Police Department held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 12 to commemorate the start of construction on the department’s first substation, which will be located in northwest Surprise at the northwest corner of 163^rd Avenue and San Ysidro Road. 

The nearly 32,000 square foot substation is designed to accommodate approximately 60 sworn officers and civilian support personnel and will function as a fully equipped operational hub supporting patrol, investigations and community policing functions. 

The facility’s location has been strategically selected based on service area demand, projected growth patterns, and response time modeling – allowing for more efficient deployment of patrol units and optimized sector coverage. By reducing travel distances and improving geographic distribution of resources, the substation will help maintain target response times while increasing proactive policing capacity. 

The substation design incorporates dedicated spaces for report writing, briefings, evidence processing, police officer wellness and public art, reinforcing both operational efficiency and opportunities for direct interaction between officers and the surrounding community.

Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2027.

This project was made possible through bond funding approved by the voters of Surprise. 

Photos of the groundbreaking event are available at flickr.com/photos/CityOfSurprise.

FY2027 Tentative Budget Prioritizes Public Safety

The Surprise City Council approved the City’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Tentative Budget at their May 5 Regular Meeting, which focuses revenue increases on public safety needs.   

While revenues increased year-over-year, they are not keeping pace with the rising costs of maintaining current service levels across all areas. As a result, the City is making difficult but necessary decisions to create a balanced budget. Some programs and services will be reduced or eliminated based on their alignment with the City’s core mission, community impact and financial sustainability. Consistent with City Council’s top priority, the majority of this year’s General Fund budget increase is dedicated to public safety.

33 New Positions
The Tentative Budget includes an increase of 33 full-time positions along with the supplies and services associated with those positions. Nineteen of those positions will be funded from the City’s General Fund, which is the City’s main operating account. This includes 13 public safety positions, two transportation/streets positions, two public works positions, one human resource position and one community service position. Another 13 positions will be funded from the Enterprise Fund, which includes water, sewer and trash services that are paid for by fees. One position in Sports, Entertainment & Culture will be funded from sports and tourism revenues. 

Public Safety & Transportation Capital Improvements
A five-year capital improvement program that supports Council’s strategic goals is also included in the tentative budget. This includes the continuation of General Obligation (GO) Bond funding for transportation and public safety projects. Bond projects included in the FY2027 tentative budget are a police substation and new fire station in north Surprise, and several transportation projects throughout the city. The City is also dedicating funding to asset replacement, pavement preservation and vehicle replacement to maintain the City’s existing infrastructure and equipment. 

$1.02 Billion Tentative Budget 
These operational and capital increases result in a FY2027 tentative expenditure budget of $975.9 million and transfers between funds of $45.7 million for total uses of $1.02 billion. Of that total budget, $289.6 million is dedicated to the General Fund, $387.0 million is dedicated to Capital Projects, $199.3 million is dedicated to the Enterprise Funds. The remaining $145.7 million is dedicated to other governmental funds.

Final Budget Adoption
Once approved, the FY2027 budget will begin July 1, 2026, and conclude June 30, 2027. 

Follow the budget process at surpriseaz.gov/Budget.

AZ Diner Grand Reopening Ribbon Cutting

The City of Surprise was proud to welcome AZ Diner for their official Grand Reopening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on May 6. This beloved local spot continues to serve up great food and community spirit right here in Surprise!

The ribbon was cut by co-owners Samantha and Joe Nguyen, and Mama Gail, alongside Vice Mayor Earle Greenberg and Councilmember Johnny V. Melton.

We’re excited to see AZ Diner continue to thrive in our community. Be sure to stop by at 13765 N. Litchfield Rd.

Surprise Arts Launches with Performances at The Vista!

Spinphony took the stage at The Vista on May 16 as the grand opening event for Surprise Arts! This wasn’t your typical string quartet. With high-energy choreography, bold mashups like “Bach in Black” and “Don’t Stop Beethoven,” and a sound that blends Vivaldi with Bruno Mars, this show truly had the audience captivated.

For more Surprise Arts events, visit surprisearts.com!

SAVE THE DATE

Surprise Day of Service

Join us on June 10 at St. Mary’s Food Bank to assist with sorting and packing food, assisting clients and packing Kid's Cafe meals. Volunteer opportunities start at 7:15 a.m., 9:45 a.m. and noon. Youth ages 12 and over are invited to participate, however all participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration is required through St. Mary’s Foodbank; this process will require you to create an account on their website first. For questions about this event or volunteer opportunities, please call Daisy Vargas at 623.222.1612.

Independence Day Celebration

Celebrate your Fourth of July with spectacular fireworks, entertainment, delicious food and fun. Each year we offer multiple ways to celebrate before the big show, including music and a pool party!

When to Watch

Saturday, July 4, 2026
Fireworks will begin at 8:45 p.m.

Where to Watch

• Surprise Community Park
    16089 N. Bullard Ave.
• Mark Coronado Park
    15960 N. Bullard Ave.

Both parks offer great views, open space for gathering, and will have a DJ and food trucks available. Be sure to arrive early to secure your viewing spot and bring blankets or chairs. We strongly encourage everyone to stay hydrated; please bring plenty of water. Coolers will be subject to search.

Independence Day Pool Party

The Red, White and Pool Party is sure to be a splash! Surprise residents can join us from 6 - 9 p.m. for games and swimming and then stay to enjoy a poolside view of the fireworks! Tickets are $6 per person and go on sale June 8. Registration is limited to the first 400 residents. When registration opens, head to surpriseaz.gov/SurpriseRec and click ‘Aquatics.’ Registration is required!

FRIENDLY REMINDER

There are no scheduled Council meetings in July during the annual summer recess.