Chandler’s commitment to an exceptional quality of life has spanned generations and created the safe and beautiful community residents and businesses enjoy today. Maintaining an unparalleled quality of life includes a renewed focus on arts, culture and recreation. Public safety is essential as first responders protect, serve and respond to the needs of the community.
Chandler Public Library
Sunset Library Reopened
In August 2021, Sunset Library was damaged due to an explosion at a nearby business. It was open to the public only to pick up reserved materials and drop off checked out materials starting in September 2021 while repairs were made to the facility. The Sunset Library reopened to the public in February 2022.
Library Launched New Website
Chandler Library launched a new website with an improved digital experience. The new mobile-friendly site features easy search capabilities, improved online registration for events and programs, reading recommendations from staff and other cardholders and highlights of new releases.
Overdue Fines Eliminated
The City of Chandler Library Board voted to eliminate overdue library fines at its May 2022 board meeting. Studies have shown that eliminating fines provides more equitable access to the services that libraries provide, especially for households with economic hardships.
Arts and Culture
Chandler Center for the Arts
Through the nonprofit partnership with Chandler Cultural Foundation Chandler Center for the Arts received $190,000 in grants to support programs to serve the community.
Grantors included the Virginia G. Piper Trust, Ruth McCormick Tankersley Charitable Trust, Cox Charities, and the Arizona Commission on the Arts.
First Artist Residency at CCA
The Chandler Center for the Arts hosted its first artist residency. Michael Mwenso, musician, dancer and educator, came to Chandler to immerse himself in the community, engaging with local artists, leaders and students.
The week concluded with an ancestral community listening event at The Ostrich. The multi-year residency continues in 2023 with more engagement with students and the community along with a performance at the CCA.
Vision Gallery Exhibits and Education
Visual arts staff oversaw 12 exhibitions of local and regional artists on display at Vision Gallery and the Gallery at the CCA, and six “Make and Take” artist engagements, four art socials at downtown businesses.
The Vision Gallery provided 981 youth with 19 free visual arts classes taught by local professional teaching artists.
Public Art Projects
Several public art projects were completed in 2022, including the Police Department Memorial, INFLUX project and the Zora Folley mural, which was funded in part by a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
There are several upcoming projects that have an artist and design chosen, including the Fire Department Memorial, the Pueblo Alto/High Town mural, Downtown Library artwork and new downtown benches.
Museum Exhibits and More
Chandler Museum opened the signature exhibit “Picturing Home: Dust Bowl Migrants in Chandler” along with five nationally traveling exhibits and Tier 2 exhibits.
The Chandler Museum Foundation Endowment Fund was established with a $250,000 gift from the Chandler Historical Society. The Chandler Museum Foundation began receiving the proceeds of the Chandler Museum Rental program and the Chandler Museum Store.
Emergency Medical Response
The Chandler Fire Department implemented a 4-year agreement with Maricopa Ambulance in January 2022 to enhance emergency medical response in Chandler by increasing the number of ambulances in use and equipping each ambulance with new technology, including automated CPR machines.
Emergency Response Training
Following the horrific school shootings in Uvalde, Texas, the Chandler Police and Fire department hosted an Active Shooter Response Event attended by 150 residents. Community members were informed of emergency response protocol and equipped with lifesaving skills in the event of an active shooter incident.
The Chandler Fire and Police departments hosted a mass casualty training program attended by first responders from multiple agencies across the Valley. The six-week training program unified police and fire departments to respond to major incidents involving mass casualties.
Chandler Fire hosted a regional Fire Academy and Paramedic Program with firefighters from the cities of Chandler, Scottsdale and Maricopa.
Prioritize Behavioral Health
Behavioral Health Unit
In 2022, the Chandler Police Department prioritized Mental Health and Wellness, to include establishing a Mental Health Coordinator position, crisis counselors embedded in the 9-1-1 Communications Center and began the creation of the department’s Behavioral Health Unit.
- Five-person Police Behavioral Health Unit formed in 2022
- Focus on calls for services involving a person in crisis
- Embedded Solari crisis counselors in Police 9-1-1 Communications Center
Mental Health Conference
Partnered with LifeLines, Compass Christian Church, Chandler Unified School District, and Dignity Health to host the inaugural Breakthrough: A Community Mental Health Conference. This free, community wide mental health conference equipped Chandler students in Junior High and High School, along with parents and other adults who are struggling with the mental health issues of depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and self harm.
Specialized Court Programs
Chandler’s justice system adapted programs that address unique needs to keep the community safe.
Veterans Court
A regional effort by the East Valley Municipal Courts sharing resources to connect veterans charged with a criminal offense with veterans services. Chandler Municipal Court refers about 45 cases per year to the Veterans Court.
Court Partners with Domestic Violence Shelter
Chandler Municipal Court has partnered with My Sisters’ Place to enable victims in the domestic violence shelter to file protective orders and be seen by a judge without appearing at the court in person.
Online Chat
A regional effort by the East Valley Municipal Courts sharing resources to connect veterans charged with a criminal offense with veterans services. Chandler Municipal Court refers about 45 cases per year to the Veterans Court.
Specialized court calendar dedicated to working with defendants who are experiencing homeless to resolve their criminal charges with the assistance of navigators and justice partners. Since it started in November 2021, the court has seen approximately 30 cases.
This is a treatment court offered to connect individuals who have been charged with a criminal misdemeanor that are experiencing mental health issues with behavioral services offered by Mercy Maricopa. The court presides over 25 cases per month.
Pursued and recovered approximately $665,622.55 for damages to City property and resolved three litigation cases through settlement and dismissal. Prosecuted more than 8,900 criminal cases in the Chandler Municipal Court, which included attending 495 criminal bench trials and 2 criminal jury trials.
Recreation Programs, Projects & Facility Improvements
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Hosted the inaugural All-City Softball Tournament, featuring 12 teams from the Town of Gilbert and the City of Chandler.
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Tennis Center locker room renovations included the addition of a family restroom and ice machine.
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Collaborated with Human Resources to host two Recreation hiring events, bringing skilled entry-level positions to support various programs.
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Launched of Tumbleweed Recreation Center Expansion Project. Phase 1 of the project included citizen input and design concepts.
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Implemented a secure HIPPA compliant cloud-based emergency network for youth programs that allows staff to access and communicate emergency information via an internet connection.
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Renamed the Environmental Education Center to Chandler Nature Center to align with expansion of recreation classes and events that can be offered in a dynamic outdoor setting.
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Hosted the inaugural All-City Softball Tournament, featuring 12 teams from the Town of Gilbert and the City of Chandler.
-
Tennis Center locker room renovations included the addition of a family restroom and ice machine.
-
Collaborated with Human Resources to host two Recreation hiring events, bringing skilled entry-level positions to support various programs.
-
Launched of Tumbleweed Recreation Center Expansion Project. Phase 1 of the project included citizen input and design concepts.
-
Implemented a secure HIPPA compliant cloud-based emergency network for youth programs that allows staff to access and communicate emergency information via an internet connection.
-
Renamed the Environmental Education Center to Chandler Nature Center to align with expansion of recreation classes and events that can be offered in a dynamic outdoor setting.