Surprise, AZ (January 11, 2022) Want to learn about the structure of city government, get updated on local issues and get to know your city leaders? Register for the 2022 Surprise City Academy!

The eight-session academy offers the opportunity to learn about the City directly from the mayor, councilmembers, city manager and upper-level city staff.

The Surprise City Academy begins on February 28 and will meet weekly on Mondays from 6 – 8:30 p.m. through April 18. Most classes will be held in the City of Surprise Public Safety Auditorium, 14250 W Statler Plaza.

The agenda for the January 18, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting has been posted at:

https://www.surpriseaz.gov/agendas

Surprise, AZ (January 11, 2022) Due to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, City of Surprise sanitation customers ONLY are reminded there will be a modified schedule that will postpone collection by one day. Monday, January 17 collection will be picked up Tuesday, January 18; Tuesday collection will happen Wednesday and so on.

Surprise, AZ (January 7, 2022) More than 2,000 dogs will strut their stuff in Surprise for the Copper Classic Dog Show, Friday, January 28 through Sunday, January 30.

Surprise, AZ (January 6, 2022) Fore! Come join us on January 15 for the Itty Bitty Open. This is a great way to introduce children to the game of golf. This FREE event has three clinic times starting at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Juniors and their parents will learn the basic skills of golf taught by qualified PGA and LPGA professionals.

Surprise, AZ (January 3, 2022) The City of Surprise presents the return of Sunday in the Park events in January, February and April!

The first event in the series is happening January 23 and will feature live music by The 8-Tracks, various food trucks, an assortment of beers and wines, entertainment and more!

Surprise, AZ (January 4, 2022) The City of Surprise is looking for experienced vocalists, musicians and Color Guards to perform the National Anthem at Surprise Stadium for Cactus League Spring Training games, February 26 – March 26, 2022.

Surprise, AZ (January 4, 2022) Happy Valley Rd. will be closed between 183rd Ave. and195th Ave. from Jan. 10 to Feb. 18 for improvements. Detour routes are 195th Ave. to Jomax to the north and 195th Ave. to Deer Valley to the south.

Surprise, AZ (January 6, 2022) The 20^th annual Surprise Spring Training Season will kick off on Saturday, February 26 with the annual Surprise Sundancer Charity Game at Surprise Stadium, featuring home teams – the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals.

Jeff Mihelich began as Bozeman’s City Manager on May 26, 2020. Jeff is an International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Credentialed City Manager with 28 years of experience in large cities, small towns, and counties including his most recent term as Deputy City Manager and Chief Operating Officer of the City of Fort Collins, Colorado….Jeff use to work for Surprise. This is what Jeff said about Surprise …
I found Surprise, AZ (sub of Phoenix) with a population of about150,000 and a 300 sq mile planning area. This was a place where 40% of all homes were in foreclosure and I would have to lay off 40% of the staff. This process was very, very painful, but gave the Surprise a chance to reset the foundational processes and allowed remaining staff to take on several responsibilities and expand their core competencies to really accomplish many things. In the end, I took the challenge and helped Surprise, AZ adapt, and gave my kids the resources to become amazing track athletes in college.

Dec. 10 – 18:

Autoshow Ave. (Cactus Rd. to just south of Sweetwater Ave.)

The road will be closed to through traffic at Waddell Rd. Business traffic will be maintained to all dealerships. A detour to Cotton Ln. will be posted.

Dec. 18 – Jan. 8: 

Cotton Ln. (Cactus Rd. to Legacy Traditional School entrance)

The road will be closed to through traffic at Waddell Rd. Local and school traffic will have access south to the Legacy Traditional School entrance. A detour to Autoshow Ave. will be posted.

View the latest road closures and traffic restrictions at surpriseaz.gov/roadwork.

Thanks,

Surprise, AZ (December 9, 2021) Season ticket and mini plan packages for the 2022 Spring Training Season will go on sale at SurpriseStadium.com starting Monday, December 13 at 10 a.m. (MST). Each ticket option will offer unique perks, savings over the individual game ticket price, choice of the best available seating locations and exclusive access to special season ticket plan holder event and pre-sale opportunities.

The agenda for the December 7, 2021 Regular City Council Meeting has been posted at:

https://www.surpriseaz.gov/agendas

Surprise Party schedule of events and activities

S‌urprise, A‌Z (December 1, 2021) Experience stories of Arizona history and culture at a series of virtual speaker events presented by the Surprise Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission in partnership with Arizona Humanities in 2022.

Local experts from Arizona Humanities’ AZ Speaks program will present on the following topics via Zoom:

January 26,11 a.m. – Noon

Western Pulp Fiction (Speaker: Steve Renzi)

Surprise, AZ (November 8, 2021) Surprise trash collection zones will change beginning Monday, January 3, 2022, to balance the number of homes serviced on each collection day as the city continues to grow.

Not all residents will see changes to their trash collection schedule. These changes apply to city of Surprise sanitation customers only; and some neighborhoods will retain their current collection day.

Surprise, A‌Z (November 9, 2021) Watch a livestream view of Surprise City Center through a new web camera located on top of the Surprise City Hall Parking Garage.

Surprise, AZ (November 22, 2021) The community is invited to a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in celebration of two Surprise fire stations built in 2021 – Fire Station 304 in our northern area and Fire Station 308 in southeast Surprise!

The ceremony will be held:

Tuesday, December 14 at 3:30 p.m.
Fire Station 308, 13771 W. Cactus Rd., Surprise

Surprise, AZ (November 22, 2021) As you search for the perfect gifts this holiday season, don’t forget that shopping locally helps to shape your community – so, “Shop Surprise, Shape Surprise!”

Surprise, AZ (November 23, 2021) Join City of Surprise for the 5^th annual Deck the Hock holiday event! This free, family-friendly celebration will be held on Wednesday, December 8 from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Surprise Senior Center, 15832 N. Hollyhock Street. It includes performances by local school choirs, hot cocoa, sweet treats, tree decorating, holiday crafts, snow play and more!

Surprise, AZ (November 3, 2021) The unofficial results of the November 2 election are in, and Surprise voters have approved an EPCOR franchise extension.

Surprise, AZ (November 24, 2021) Surprise Parks & Recreation and Bravous Esports are teaming up again to offer another Fortnite Esports Tournament on December 11 from 2-5 p.m.!

Surprise has three available water sources: groundwater, reclaimed water, and Colorado River water (surface water from the Central Arizona Project). Currently, Surprise relies solely on groundwater for drinking water purposes.

S‌urprise, A‌Z (November 17, 2021) The Surprise City Council approved an ordinance that prohibits the feeding of wild animals on city-owned property, including city parks, at Tuesday evening’s Regular Council Meeting.

It goes without saying, Surprise AZ is one of the safest places in the country to live. Total crime in Surprise is 47% lower than the rest of Arizona and 36% lower than the national average. Even better, the crime rate has plummeted by an additional 17% just this year.Jul 12, 2021

Surprise, AZ (September 28, 2021) The city of Surprise welcomes baseball players of all ages this fall, as multigenerational competition lands at the Surprise Stadium Complex. These events will welcome 280 teams, with over 4,200 participants from across the country to our top-tier facilities, making a large impact on our city’s economy.

Arizona Senior Fall Classic Baseball: September 29 – October 3

What is the cost of living in Surprise Arizona?Surprise cost of living is 104.2

COST OF LIVING	Surprise	Arizona
Grocery	97.4	96.1
Health	92.2	95.2
Housing	112.7	107.8
Median Home Cost	$359,300	$349,300

Surprise, AZ (September 23, 2021) Celebrate our city’s cultural heritage with good food, music and fun at the eighth annual Surprise Fiesta Grande!

Surprise, AZ (September 14, 2021) Drivers can anticipate lane restrictions while the city performs pavement preservation activities on Bell Road, weather permitting:  

• Bell Road
• Bell Road, Loop 303 to just west of Reems Road – September 26-October 1; October 4-8; October 28 

Both milling and paving work will be done between the hours of 7 p.m. – 5 a.m.   

Surprise, AZ (September 22, 2021) The month of October truly is for baseball, and with the start of the Arizona Fall League, the City of Surprise sets the stage for baseball’s future breakout stars.

Surprise, AZ (September 23, 2021) The city of Surprise is hosting the Sun Health Foundation 5K for Women’s Health on Sunday, September 26 at Surprise Stadium, located at 15850 N. Bullard Ave.

For the safety and convenience of participants, Bullard Avenue will be closed between Paradise Ln. and Greenway Rd. from 6 a.m. through approximately 10 a.m.

This street-style celebration, presented by the City of Surprise Parks & Recreation Department in partnership with 101.9 FM Radio La Campesina, will be held Saturday, October 9 from 5 – 10 p.m. in the Original Town Site, located on Hollyhock Street, north of Grand Avenue. Event admission and parking are free!

Attractions and activities include a classic car show, authentic Mexican food, flavorful food trucks, festive beverages, free kids’ play zone, piñata plaza and a vendor village, organized by local contributing organizations and sponsors.

Surprise, AZ (September 23, 2021) Volunteers are needed to provide free tax return preparation for low-to-moderate income individuals and families through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. No prior tax preparation is needed; training will be provided.  

There are a variety of volunteer opportunities within the VITA program: 

The Surprise Fiesta Grande entertainment lineup will include live Latin musical performances at the listed times:

S‌urprise, A‌Z (September 22, 2021) In coordination with their selected third-party recruiter, Surprise City Council is postponing the recruitment for the next city manager.  

“Our current City Manager Mike Frazier is not retiring until after the new year, so our council has some time to explore all our options,” said Mayor Skip Hall. 

Surprise, AZ (September 20, 2021) Surprise Parks & Recreation invites you and your family to watch Disney Pixar’s “Coco” at the Movie Night in the Park on Saturday, September 25! 

Surprise, AZ (September 10, 2021) Surprise Parks & Recreation is excited to host their second Esports Open! Players ages 7-17 are invited to register for the Saturday, September 25 event for friendly video-game competition featuring Super Smash Bros.

Surprise, AZ (September 9, 2021) Surprise Parks and Recreation will be offering a one-week Fall Break Camp, October 18-22, 2021. Fall Break Camp registration will begin Tuesday, September 14, for Surprise residents and Tuesday, September 21 for non-residents.

S‌urprise, A‌Z (September 22, 2021) In coordination with their selected third-party recruiter, Surprise City Council is postponing the recruitment for the next city manager.  

“Our current City Manager Mike Frazier is not retiring until after the new year, so our council has some time to explore all our options,” said Mayor Skip Hall. 

City Council wishes to thank all applicants that applied for the position.

Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Regularly scheduled Planning & Zoning Commission meeting.

---

For agenda information, call 623.222.3154

Surprise Parks & Recreation is excited to host their second Esports Open! Players ages 7-17 are invited to register for the Saturday, September 25 event for friendly video-game competition featuring Super Smash Bros.

The city’s Esports Open is a casual-competitive gaming event focused on engaging high volumes of players with exciting presentation. The city’s partner, Bravous Esports, provides all the gaming equipment and presentation for a seamless, flowing, competition. Professional commentators will be on-site to make gameplay exciting and accessible!

Surprise, AZ (September 15, 2021) Tennis season has officially arrived in Surprise and the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex is in full swing as it prepares to welcome approximately 2,400 players, competing in several United States Tennis Association (USTA) League National Championships this fall.

With more than 320,000 tennis players taking part each year, USTA League is the country’s largest adult competitive tennis league. Top teams from local league play earn the chance to compete in district and/or sectional championships, with the winners of sectionals advancing to USTA League National Championships.

Surprise, A‌Z (September 3, 2021) Registration is open for the popular Surprise HOA Academy! Fall 2021 classes will be held virtually via WebEx. Please join us for a four-week series of informative, interactive presentations.

The goal of the Academy is to provide expert information for HOA residents, board members and managers. Topics include roles & responsibilities, managing the community, contracts, emerging trends, code compliance and more.

Class #1: Wednesday, October 6, 6 – 8 pm

Surprise, A‌Z (September 15, 2021) Surprise residents can begin scheduling appointments next week to have hazardous waste picked up directly from their homes during the city’s fall Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event, September 22 – October 1.

Scheduled pickups will occur Monday, October 4 – 14. To streamline the process, households north of Bell Road will have scheduled pickups October 4 – 8. Households south of Bell Road will have their scheduled items picked up October 11 – 14.

Surprise, AZ (September 14, 2021) Surprise will host a series of tournaments for the fast-growing sport of pickleball, welcoming over 1,900 participants to the city.

The following tournaments will take place at the Surprise Pickleball Courts, located at 14534 W. Tierra Buena Ln. Admission is free, so come out and watch the action!

Surprise, AZ (September 14, 2021) Drivers can anticipate lane restrictions while the city performs pavement preservation activities on Bell Road, weather permitting:

Bell Road, Cotton Lane to the Loop 303 – September 20-24
Bell Road, Loop 303 to just west of Reems Road – September 26-October 1; October 4-8; October 28

Both milling and paving work will be done between the hours of 7 p.m. – 5 a.m.

When in doubt, the law favors open meetings

This was my questions to the city attorney of Surprise, “Are the committees and subcommittees meetings open to the public ? How, when and where do these committees receive the agenda’s on what information or reconmendations the city councils wants “?
He cannot answer the questions so I am asking our Mayor Skip Hall.

Surprise, AZ (August 31, 2021) Work to trim palm trees in the medians on Bell Road, Litchfield Road to 183rd Avenue, will require single lane restrictions beginning Tuesday, August 31 thru Monday, September 13.  

Work hours are 8 p.m. – 6 a.m., Monday through Friday.

Surprise, A‌Z (August 30, 2021) City of Surprise administrative offices will be closed Monday, September 6 due to Labor Day.

Also due to the holiday, City of Surprise trash customers ONLY are reminded there will be a modified collection schedule that week that will postpone collection by one day. There will be no service Monday. Collection will resume on Tuesday, September 7.

Surprise, AZ (September 1, 2021) Surprise Parks and Recreation is now accepting entries from clubs, organizations, groups and residents who want to participate in the city’s 5th Annual Veterans Day Parade and honor those who have bravely served our country.   The parade will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, November 11, and will run along Bullard Avenue between Paradise and Tierra Buena lanes.

The City of Surprise interpentation of Opinion 183-050……………….The Arizona Attorney General in published Opinion I83-050 (1983),  concluded that this provision extends to not only current appointees, but permits a governing body to interview and discuss/evaluate applicants for appointment even though the applicant may not be currently employed by the public body.

I cannot find where it say’s
applicant may not be currently employed by the public body.

Surprise, AZ (August 27, 2021) Surprise is excited for the return of the annual Surprise Fiesta Grande – in-person!

The Surprise Fiesta Grande street festival celebrates the city’s cultural heritage and features mariachi music, a piñata plaza, games, food, music, dancing, kids’ zone, classic car show, live entertainment and more.  

The celebration will be held on Saturday, October 9 from 5 – 10 p.m. at the Villanueva Recreation Complex, located at 15660 N. Hollyhock Street in the Grand Avenue corridor. 

City of Surprise Seeking Applications for Voluntary Commission Vacancies

The City of Surprise is currently accepting applications for the following Board/Commissions.  All Board/Commission positions are voluntary and you must reside in the City of Surprise.   

• Board of Trustees (1 vacancy)  – Term Expiration June 30, 2024
• Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission (1 vacancy) – Term Expiration June 30, 2023

Surprise, A‌Z (August 26, 2021) Surprise residents looking to prune your landscape or clean out your garage – it’s the perfect time! Take advantage of the Residential Waste Cleanup Event on Saturday, September 11.

Surprise residents can drop off up to 2,000 pounds of non-hazardous, residential waste free-of-charge at the Northwest Regional Landfill, 19401 W. Deer Valley Rd., from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is a limit of one load per household.

Surprise, A‌Z (August 26, 2021) Looking to “fall” into the arts in the next couple of months? You can find amazing arts and cultural events – from theater performances to poetry readings here in Surprise. Check out what’s coming up, and mark your calendar to attend!

Register Now

Join us via Zoom – it’s free to attend! The Arizona Legislature expanded gaming and approved sports betting this year, and, for the first time in state history, residents can place their bets in September – just in time for the NFL season. How will sports betting work in Arizona? How is the new industry shaping up? What can residents expect in the coming weeks? What benefits will the state accrue? Tune in to the conversation – it’s free to attend!

Surprise, A‌Z (August 12, 2021) The city of Surprise will hold a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 8:30 a.m.

Surprise, AZ (August 9, 2021) The Surprise Parks & Recreation department will soon begin accepting registrations for Fall Adult Co-Ed and Men’s Softball League Divisions, Co-Ed and Women’s Kickball, Men’s Basketball, Co-Ed Indoor Volleyball, and Adult Flag Football. 

Motorcycle Safety Class & Interactive Course presented by Surprise Police Department, September 19

Critical home rehabilitation funds available for eligible Surprise residents

Weather Alert
Excessive Heat Warning issued August 25 at 12:56PM MST until August 27 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Phoenix

Surprise, AZ (August 16, 2021) The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation today announced a Tier 1 shortage for Colorado River operations for 2022, meaning less water supplies available to Arizona. See the announcement, here. Due to Arizona’s priority system, our city supplies will not experience a reduction. This shortage declaration does not mean a shortage at your tap. See the response from Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and the Central Arizona Project (CAP), here.

Surprise, AZ (August 17, 2021) The City of Surprise is recruiting new members for the Surprise Youth Justice Project (SYJP). SYJP is comprised of high school students committed to increasing the availability of restorative justice opportunities for young people.

Surprise, AZ (August 25, 2021) Cactus Road is closed just east of 175th Avenue due to a sinkhole in the westbound lane of the roadway.

Surprise, AZ (August 19, 2021) The City of Surprise presents the return of Sunday in the Park events in September, October and November!  

The first event in the series is happening September 19 and will feature live music by Music II Muzic, various food trucks, an assortment of beer and wine, and family-friendly entertainment such as bounce houses, face painting, a trackless train and more! 

There is a hard closure of Cactus Road from west of the Legacy Traditional School entrance to 175^th Ave; and a soft closure, allowing local traffic only, from the school entrance to the west side of the Cactus Road and Cotton Lane intersection.

The roadway is estimated to remain closed for one week until repairs are complete.

Surprise, AZ (August 16, 2021) The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation today announced a Tier 1 shortage for Colorado River operations for 2022, meaning less water supplies available to Arizona. See the announcement, here. Due to Arizona’s priority system, our city supplies will not experience a reduction. This shortage declaration does not mean a shortage at your tap. See the response from Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and the Central Arizona Project (CAP), here.

Surprise, AZ (August 23, 2021) Surprise is currently seeking event exhibitors and sponsors for the 2021 SciTech event that will take place from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 6, 2021, in the Surprise City Hall Courtyard, 16000 N. Civic Center Plaza. 

Surprise, AZ (August 25, 2021) Surprise voters will be asked to approve a franchise extension with EPCOR Water in the November 2021 election, and voters must register by October 4 to cast a ballot.

EPCOR is one of six water providers in the city of Surprise, and this election will not change EPCOR’s service area. Approval would allow EPCOR to construct, maintain and operate a potable water delivery system and a wastewater collection, treatment and disposal system throughout the city public rights-of-way. The franchise does not grant authority to change your utility rate. 

S‌urprise, A‌Z (June 16, 2021) Surprise City Council voted at their June 15 meeting to reappoint Surprise City Court Presiding Judge Louis Frank Dominguez and Associate Judge Catherine A. Gaudreau to new four-year terms beginning July 1, 2021.

Surprise, AZ (June 15, 2021) Mayor Skip Hall, proclaimed June 13-19 as Monsoon Awareness Week in Surprise during tonight’s Regular City Council Meeting and encouraged residents to be prepared for severe weather during the unpredictable season.

Surprise, A‌Z (June 14, 2021) A traffic pattern change is coming to two intersections of 175^th Avenue in Surprise. Four-way stops will be added at Surprise Farms Loop North and Surprise Farms Loop South on Monday, June 28.

In partnership with the Arizona Coalition for Military Families (ACMF), Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, Northern Arizona University (NAU), Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, and Rio Salado Community College, the City of Surprise is proud to offer the West Valley Military and Veteran Success Center a new home within the Surprise Resource Center at the AZ TechCelerator Campus, located at 12425 W. Bell Road, Suite 124. The center includes a variety of military and veteran support services and resources, made possible by the generous support of partner organizations and all West Valley cities.

S‌urprise, A‌Z (April 16, 2021) City Manager Mike Frazier’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Recommended Budget,

Surprise, AZ (July 6, 2021) Surprise Parks & Recreation Department is now registering for youth soccer, tee-ball, baseball, softball and volleyball leagues as well as sports skill classes and camps. Youth pickleball and tennis programs are also available. Regular registration for our 2021 Fall Sports leagues, camps and classes runs today through July 23. Late registration begins July 26…………….For more information, please call 623.222.2000 or visit surpriseaz.gov/recreation.

If congress can pay farmers not to raise crops, why can’t we pay congress not to raise taxes?

• The Constitution. supreme body of laws that govern our country.
• Statutory law. written or codified law such as legislative acts, declaring, commanding, or prohibiting something.
• Common or Case Law. …
• Civil Law (Private law) …
• Criminal Law. …
• Equity Law. …
• Administrative Law.

Maybe this country would not be in such a mess today if the Indians had adopted more stringent immigration laws.

If the law of supply and demand is responsible for existing prices it ought to be repealed.

We fight for freedom and then start making laws to get rid of it.

Nothing makes a man the boss of his house like living alone.

The City of Surprise cannot give us a map of the Saguaro Acres Community Facility District or how many acres it contains. They must have the answers.

When the Town of Surprise incorporated in 1960 the population was one thousand five hundred and seventy-four ( 1,574 ), as of April 1, 1960.