Opinion

Earle Greenberg: Surprise City Council District 2 — July newsletter

Posted
By Earle Greenberg | Surprise vice mayor

I hope you're finding ways to stay cool and enjoy some quality time with family and friends this summer. Whether you're taking a vacation or simply relaxing close to home, I hope you have a safe and enjoyable season. I look forward to seeing everyone when City Council returns from its summer recess. Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter!

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 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.

Community Meetings

My next monthly Community Meeting will be August 5 at 10 a.m. at The Grand in the Palm Center Room, 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.

  • 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.

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.

JUNE HIGHLIGHTS

Meeting with Surprise Youth Interns

We had the best time with our Surprise Youth Interns. It was great to hear the students’ questions and interest in learning about park land planning, higher education in the modern world and city government.

Group photo of City of Surprise leaders and youth summer interns standing together in front of U.S. and Arizona flags inside City Hall. City leaders welcome participants during a Student Youth Internship Program meet-and-greet, speaking with a group of students inside City Hall.

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.

Photo of a designated Safe Exchange Zone in a City of Surprise Police Department parking lot, with marked parking spaces and signs indicating the area is reserved for child exchanges under Arizona law and monitored by 24-hour video recording.

Monsoon Awareness Safety Tips

Mayor Kevin Sartor proclaimed June 7-13 as Monsoon Awareness Week in Surprise, encouraging residents to be prepared for this unpredictable and severe weather season.

The monsoon season is typically observed from June 15 through September 30 and often brings increased thunderstorm and lightning activity along with high winds, dust storms and flash floods. While the severity of weather can vary each season, Surprise residents are encouraged to have a monsoon safety plan to prepare for all possible weather-related occurrences.

Residents can download the My Surprise phone app, to easily submit pictures and reports of downed trees, roadway debris, clogged storm drains or other non-emergency situations. These reports help the City with storm recovery actions. The app is available in both the Apple and Android stores or online at surpriseaz.gov/MySurprise. Outside normal City Hall business hours, it is recommended to call the Police non-emergency line for the fastest response at 623.222.4000.

Dark monsoon storm clouds release heavy rain over a mountain range, with a visible rain shaft stretching across the desert landscape.

Monsoon season preparation tips:

At home: Staying indoors is the safest plan during a significant storm. If you are at home, turn off all unnecessary power equipment to prevent damage from power surges or outages. Ensure your home has an emergency preparedness kit that includes flashlights, batteries, bottled water, non-perishable food items and first aid supplies.

While driving: Dust storms and heavy rain can decrease visibility and increase road hazards. If you are driving during a storm, slow down, and if necessary, pull off to the right side of the road as far as possible. Then turn off your engine and lights and take your foot off the brake pedal. Never attempt to drive through flooded intersections or roadways! Even shallow flowing water has enough power to sweep a vehicle off the road or stall an engine. If you approach a flooded area, safely turn your vehicle around and find an alternate route.

Flash floods: Monitor weather reports and pay attention to flood alerts. Knowing where to find sand and sandbags is essential to protecting your home and family when flooding is imminent. Sand and bags are provided free of charge to Surprise residents at multiple locations throughout the city, but you must bring your own shovel to fill the bags. Visit surpriseaz.gov/Monsoon to find your closest sand and bag location.

Stomp & Chomp Summer Reading Kickoff Party

The official Summer Reading Kickoff Party was a roaring good time! I was fortunate to be there to celebrate dinosaurs and hand-on discovery at Surprise Regional Library as patrons signed up for our Surprise Public Library System Summer Reading Program and got ready to read their way to amazing prizes. I had a lot of fun and can’t wait to see how many minutes our community reads this summer.

A person wearing an inflatable dinosaur costume playfully holds a toy dinosaur while standing beside another person inside a library decorated for a summer reading event.

St. Mary’s Food Bank

St. Mary's Food Bank has been a lifeline for numerous Surprise families and continues to make a difference every day. Through assistance, volunteer opportunities and community partnerships, St. Mary's helps ensure that our neighbors have access to the nourishment they need.

I was honored to donate most of my discretionary funds to this outstanding non-profit organization.

Vice Mayor Greenberg presents a $750 donation check to a representative from St. Mary's Food Bank while standing beneath the organization's wall logo.

SAVE THE DATE

Surprise Day of Service

Join us August 12 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 at 623.222.1612.