Buckeye City Council unanimously approved several agenda items in a single vote during its Sept. 17 meeting.
Most notably, it entered an intergovernmental agreement with Buckeye school districts to staff specific sites with school resources officers. According to the agenda packet, the city will provide police officers to assist with the "development and implementation of the School Safety Program in the district." The school districts agree to reimburse the city for the officers' salaries and overtime.
Verrado and Canyon View High Schools in the Agua Fria Union High School District will each receive an officer. An undetermined number of SROs will also be provided to schools in the Buckeye Union High School District.
Two SROs will be assigned to cover Bales, Marionneaux, Inca, Buckeye, John McCain and Sundance Elementary Schools.
"Having SROs at schools is beneficial for the safety of the students and faculty, as well as for the education of the students, as SROs are required to meet a set amount of law-related education hours," reads the Council Action Report. "Additionally, having officers assigned to the school frees patrol officers from having to respond to the school for a variety of calls for service. Finally, partnering with the district will result in reimbursable salary savings for the Buckeye Police Department."
The agreements will be in effect until June 3o.
The council also approved the following consent agenda items:
- Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Maricopa County's Human Services Department for the Community Development Block Grant program. The grant provides up to $605,413 for improvements to 10th Street and its alleyways. According to the agenda packet, the street, located adjacent to a residential area, is frequently traveled by heavy equipment and public facilities vehicles. "Enhancing the travel lanes will improve safety for residents and reduce fugitive dust emissions by mitigating pollution sources," reads the packet. Estimated construction costs are $779,396.
- Approved a request from the Chipotle Mexican' Grill on Indian School Road for a series 12 restaurant liquor license.
- Accepted the resignation of Nick Hudec from the Planning and Zoning Commission. He will be moving out of state. Sebastiano Trupiano will take his place in District 6.
During council's open comment portion of the meeting, Mayor Eric Orsborn noted of the El Grito, in the West Mexican Independence Fiesta which took place Sept. 13 with the Consulado General de Mexico’s office in Phoenix. Approximately 40% of Buckeye residents and 70% of Buckeye Elementary School District students are Hispanic, he said.
Orsborn additionally invited Buckeye residents to attend the “Bond Road Show” community meetings throughout the city in September and October. The events will provide information about the GO Bond and the future of Buckeye Fire Medical Rescue Department and the Parks and Recreation Department. Meetings will be hosted on the following dates:
- Sept. 18 at 6 p.m., West Park Elementary
- Sept. 24 at 6 p.m., Coyote Library
- Sep. 25 at 10 a.m., Senior Center
- Sept. 28 at 12 p.m., Sundance Active Adult Center
- Oct. 16 at 6 p.m., Desert Sunset Elementary School
- Oct. 21 at 6 p.m., Verrado Center on Main
- Oct. 22 at 6 p.m., Festival Fire Station
