Opinions

Jack Hastings: Surprise City Council District 5 – July Newsletter

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By Jack Hastings | Surprise city councilmember

OPINION — As we welcome July, I hope you and your family are enjoying a safe and memorable summer. This month brings opportunities to celebrate Independence Day, spend time with loved ones, and take advantage of the many events and programs our community has to offer. With monsoon season now underway, I also encourage everyone to stay weather-aware by preparing for sudden storms, avoiding flooded roadways, and signing up for local emergency alerts. In this month's newsletter, you'll find updates on City initiatives, upcoming events and helpful resources. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve our community, and I wish you a safe, happy, and enjoyable July. 

Inside This Issue: 

Current Events

  • Landscape & Water Efficiency Workshops
  • Surprise Arts 2026-2027 Season Announcement
  • Fire First Fridays
  • City Council Meetings

News & Updates

  • Community Legend Award Nominations
  • Safe Exchange Zone

Save the Date

  • Surprise Day of Service

CURRENT EVENTS 

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.

  • 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.
  • Aug 6 | Vegetable Gardening in the Low Desert – Hydrate Series | 6 p.m.
  • Aug 8 | Eye-Catching Plants for the Desert Garden | 9 a.m.
  • Aug 29 | Landscape Design for Reduced Maintenance | 9 a.m.

Surprise Arts 2026 – 2027 Season Announcement

The City of Surprise invites the community to the 2026 - 2027 Surprise Arts Presents season, launching this fall at The Vista Center for the Arts. The lineup brings a range of live performances to Surprise, offering opportunities to experience music, comedy, dance and theater close to home.

Surprise Arts features professional touring artists beginning in September and continuing through May. The season opens with Sons of Serendip on September 26, a Billboard-charting classical crossover quartet known for reimagining contemporary music through vocals, harp, piano and cello. This opening performance sets the tone for a season focused on fun, engaging live experiences.

Additional highlighted performances include Ambrosia on October 24, bringing decades of rock, pop and progressive hits to the stage, and Mariachi Herencia de México: A Mariachi Christmas on December 19, a holiday performance that blends mariachi tradition with seasonal music.

The season also includes several all-ages and family-friendly performances with earlier start times that make attending more convenient for families. Highlights include John Bishop: Straight Up Magic, featuring large-scale illusions; Cirque Kalabanté: Africa en Cirque, combining acrobatics, live music and movement inspired by West African culture; and The Little Mermen and the Princess Pals, a live concert experience featuring Disney favorites performed with a rock and pop-inspired twist.

2026 - 2027 Season Lineup
 The full season includes a mix of nationally recognized performers and unique live experiences:

  • Sons of Serendip - September 26
  • Jason Bishop: Straight Up Magic - October 17
  • Ambrosia - October 24
  • Greg Fitzsimmons: Comedy - November 6
  • Cirque Kalabanté: Afrique en Cirque - November 7
  • Mariachi Herencia de México: A Mariachi Christmas - December 19
  • Alfreda Sings: Divas of Soul with the West Valley Symphony - January 16
  • The Little Mermen and the Princess Pals - February 13
  • The Odd Couple: Produced by Arizona Frontline Theater - February 13 & 14
  • Good Times Bad Times: The Led Zeppelin Experience - February 27
  • Andy Woodhull: Comedy - April 16
  • Convergence Ballet Company - April 17
  • Good Co. - May 1

Get tickets at 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. 

Stop the Bleed & Narcan Classes – Participants will learn the basic skills needed to save someone in the event of a deep-penetrating injury and the proper technique needed to deliver Narcan. Classes are on the first Friday of each odd-numbered month. Due to the holiday, the next class is on July 10.

CPR Classes – Take a free non-certifying CPR class. Participants will learn the basics of CPR, including chest compressions, AED use and rescue breathing. Classes are on the first Friday of each even-numbered month. The next session will be on August 7.

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.

City Council Meetings

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

The next City Council meeting is on August 4 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. 

NEWS & UPDATES

Community Legend Award Nominations

The City of Surprise Veterans, Disability & Human Services (VDHS) Commission invites our community to nominate those making a difference in our city for the annual Surprise Community Legend Awards.

The City of Surprise is accepting nominations through July 22 at 5 p.m., for individuals and groups who have contributed to improving the quality of life of others by:

  • Measurably improving the lives of vulnerable Surprise residents through grassroots efforts.
  • Promoting quality of life, accessibility and equity for all residents of Surprise.
  • Linking residents to programs that offer the support needed for a fuller, safer lifestyle.   

Nominees must fall into one or more of the following four categories:

  • Individual Legend (Must be a Surprise resident for at least two years)
  • Outstanding Youth (Must be age 18 or younger)
  • Volunteer of the Year (Organizational affiliation must be in the application) 
  • Organization of the Year (Private, non-profit or faith-based)

More information on the Community Legend Awards program, including the online nomination form, can be found at surpriseaz.gov/CommunityLegend.

Safe Exchange Zone

The Surprise Police Department has established a new Safe Exchange Zone to provide residents with a secure, neutral location for child custody exchanges and other lawful person-to-person transactions.

The Safe Exchange Zone is located in the parking lot in front of the Surprise Police Department at 14250 W. Statler Plz. The designated area is clearly marked with “Safe Exchange Zone” signage. The zone is available to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is monitored by 24-hour video surveillance.

This initiative reflects the Surprise Police Department’s commitment to support community safety by offering a well-lit, convenient location where individuals can conduct exchanges with greater peace of mind.

For more information about the Safe Exchange Zone, contact the Surprise Police Department at 623.222.4000.

Jack Hastings, Surprise, City Council, newsletter, District 5