Strategic Initiatives

  1. City of Chandler
  2. Government
  3. City Manager's Office
  4. Strategic Initiatives
Arizona State Capitol

Strategic Initiatives executes the Federal and State policy agenda of the City of Chandler to serve the interests of our community. The division works with regional agencies such as Maricopa Association of Governments, Valley Metro, Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, PHX East Valley and the League of Arizona Cities and Towns to represent Chandler’s priorities throughout the State.

This team also encompasses Transportation Policy and Grant Management which works to identify and secure local, State and Federal transportation funding for city projects, provides guidance surrounding the management of transportation activities, coordinates ADA compliance and oversees the city’s transit system.

Grant Management assists city departments to leverage programs with grants that are aligned with the city’s Strategic Initiatives and are vital to the economic development and resilience of our community.

Legislative Priorities and Advocacy 

Each winter, the Government Relations Division, in coordination with key staff and the Mayor and Council, establishes legislative priorities to outline the city’s broad framework when it comes to advocacy at the state and federal levels. The city’s fundamental priorities are to preserve the authority to make decisions at the local level, protect revenue sources, and oppose state efforts to impose additional responsibilities without funding.

These priorities guide the city’s activities during the legislative session. In partnership with The League of Arizona Cities and Towns, the city annually tracks hundreds of proposed bills that could affect Chandler residents or services the city provides.

  • Pursue federal funding for City projects and programs
  • Support CHIPS Act implementation and funding
  • Encourage regulatory actions that support Chandler’s housing initiatives
  • Support Low-Income Housing Tax Credit expansion
  • Encourage increased investments in the Chandler Airport
  • Support the preservation of municipal bond tax exemptions

Legislative Principles

  • Protect Local Authority
  • Preserve Local Revenues

Economic Development

  • Support efforts that enhance Chandler's economic success and strengthen Chandler’s economic ecosystem
  • Encourage the establishment and diversification of economic development tools, particularly to help infill, redevelopment, and adaptive reuse projects
  • Preserve local authority on development projects

Fiscal Sustainability

  • Preserve current State-Shared Revenue and support enhancements to city resources
  • Protect authority of the City of Chandler and its local elected officials to determine and establish appropriate revenue sources
  • Encourage the Legislature to consider the fiscal impact of unfunded mandates

Land Use Planning

  • Protect local authority in land use planning
  • Support efforts that promote organized growth
  • Oppose efforts that seek to obstruct growth management

Neighborhoods

  • Support measures that enhance the quality of life in Chandler's neighborhoods
  • Protect the rights of residents to actively engage with their local governments in public policy matters

Public Safety

  • Preserve and strengthen the ability of local governments to strategically plan for and respond to emergencies

Transportation

  • Support locally coordinated transportation planning efforts
  • Defend against actions that seek to limit local consideration in the transportation decision-making process

Water & Environmental Resources

  • Support the wise use and conservation opportunities regarding our natural resources
  • Preserve Chandler’s long-term investments and planning for water resources and infrastructure
  • Protect Chandler’s ability to provide safe and reliable water resources and wastewater services to our residents
  • Assured Water Supply Program: Protect Arizona’s Groundwater Management Act and support the efforts of the Arizona Department of Water Resources to administer the Assured Water Supply Program based on scientific facts and reliable data

Lobbying Expenditures

Quarterly lobbying expenditure reports are filed with the Arizona Secretary of State's Office. Archived reports for the City are also available.

The City is also a member of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, a taxpayer-funded lobbying association. 

Getting Involved

There are many ways that you can be involved in the legislative process, and Government Relations staff is here to answer questions about bills moving through the legislature and how to meaningfully navigate the legislative process.