You’ve probably seen the brick building in downtown Chandler with the big glass windows. Maybe you’ve even walked past the courtyard on a Monday night while looking for a place to grab a taco. But for most people living in this corner of the East Valley, the Chandler City Council is just a group of names on a ballot every few years. It’s one of those things you don't think about until a new apartment complex goes up behind your house or your water bill takes a weird jump.
Local government is gritty. It isn't the flashy, high-stakes drama of D.C., but honestly, it matters way more to your daily life. We're talking about who decides how fast the police respond, which potholes get filled first, and how many giant semiconductor plants get to set up shop in our backyard.
Who Is Actually Running the Show?
The Chandler City Council operates under a council-manager form of government. Basically, the Mayor and the six Councilmembers are the board of directors. They aren't the ones out there physically paving Arizona Avenue. They hire a City Manager—currently Joshua Wright—to be the CEO who executes their vision.
The current lineup includes Mayor Kevin Hartke, who’s been a fixture in Chandler leadership for ages. Then you’ve got Councilmembers like OD Harris, Christine Ellis, Mark Stewart, Jeremy McClymonds, Jane Poston, and Angel Encinas. It’s a mix of business owners, long-time residents, and people who really, really care about zoning laws. They serve four-year terms. They’re staggered. This prevents the entire council from being wiped out in a single election cycle, which keeps some semblance of institutional memory in the room.
It is easy to assume these folks are just "politicians." But in Chandler, these are non-partisan roles. You won't see an "R" or a "D" next to their names on the ballot. While everyone has their own leanings, the focus is supposed to stay on things like trash collection and park maintenance rather than national culture wars. Sometimes it stays that way. Sometimes it doesn’t.
The Intel Effect and the Business of Tech
Chandler likes to call itself the "Community of Innovation." It sounds like a marketing slogan because, well, it is. But there’s a massive reality behind it. When the Chandler City Council meets, a huge chunk of their long-term planning revolves around the Price Corridor.
Think about Intel. They are the 800-pound gorilla in the room. The council has to balance the massive tax revenue and jobs that come from Intel’s Ocotillo campus expansion with the fact that these plants use an ungodly amount of water. In a desert. During a drought.
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It’s a tightrope walk. You want the high-paying jobs so Chandler doesn't just become a "bedroom community" where everyone leaves at 7:00 AM to work in Phoenix or Scottsdale. But you also have to make sure the infrastructure can handle it. The council spends a lot of time on "Economic Development Agreements." These are basically the deals that tell companies, "If you build here and hire this many people, we will help with the infrastructure."
The Budget is Where the Real Power Lives
If you want to know what the Chandler City Council actually values, don't listen to their speeches. Look at the budget. Chandler’s budget is over a billion dollars. That is a lot of zeros.
A huge portion goes to public safety. We're talking Chandler Police and the Fire Department. People in Chandler expect a certain level of service. If you call 911, you want someone there fast. The council has to figure out how to fund new stations in the south part of the city where growth is exploding, without neglecting the older neighborhoods in North Chandler.
Then there is the "Capital Improvement Program" (CIP). This is the boring name for the most important list in the city. It’s the 10-year plan for every road widening, every new library book, and every pipe under the street. When you see orange cones on Queen Creek Road, that’s the CIP in action. The council debates these items one by one. It can get tedious. It can also get heated when one neighborhood feels like another is getting all the "cool" stuff like new pickleball courts or splash pads.
Zoning: The Battleground of Neighborhoods
Most residents only show up to a Chandler City Council meeting for one reason: Zoning.
Specifically, they show up when a developer wants to put high-density apartments next to a neighborhood of single-family homes. This is where the councilors earn their keep. They sit in those high-backed chairs while residents line up at the microphone to vent.
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"Not in my backyard" (NIMBY) is a real force in Chandler. People moved here for the suburban feel. But the council knows that if they don't allow for more housing, the prices will keep skyrocketing, and their own kids won't be able to afford to live here. It’s a constant friction. The council has to decide if a "General Plan Amendment" is worth the political heat.
The Meetings: How to Actually Participate
There’s a misconception that you need an invitation to talk to the council. You don't.
They hold "Study Sessions" and "Regular Meetings."
- Study Sessions: This is where they do the homework. They ask the city staff questions. No final votes happen here. It’s the "thinking out loud" phase.
- Regular Meetings: This is the formal show. This is where the votes happen.
Every regular meeting has a "Scheduled Public Appearance" or a general call to the public. You get three minutes. Three minutes to talk about anything—from the stray cat problem in your alley to your thoughts on the municipal tax rate.
Honestly, it’s some of the best free theater in the city. You see the pulse of the community. You see the people who are obsessed with the "historic character" of downtown and the people who just want more streetlights.
Water: The Invisible Crisis
We can't talk about the Chandler City Council without talking about the Colorado River. Chandler has done a better-than-average job of diversifying its water portfolio. They use a mix of Salt River Project (SRP) water, Colorado River water, and reclaimed water.
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But the council is the body that has to approve "Drought Management Plans." They are the ones who have to decide when it’s time to tell people they can't water their lawns on certain days. It’s a terrifying prospect for any elected official. So far, Chandler has avoided the "draconian" measures seen in other parts of the West, mostly because the city has been recharging its aquifers for decades. They’ve been "banking" water underground since the 90s. That’s the kind of long-term council planning that doesn't get a lot of headlines but keeps the city alive.
The Growth Dilemma
Chandler is almost "built out." There isn't much empty dirt left.
This changes the job of the Chandler City Council significantly. For thirty years, the job was "How do we grow?" Now, the job is "How do we redevelop?"
You see this in the North Arizona Avenue corridor. Old industrial sites are being turned into "mixed-use" developments. It’s much harder to scrape and rebuild than it is to build on raw desert. It requires more complex incentives and tougher conversations with current landowners. The council is currently navigating how to keep the city "modern" without losing the parts of Chandler that make it feel like home to the people who have been here since it was mostly cotton fields.
Misconceptions About the Council
- They make six figures: Nope. These aren't full-time jobs. Most council members have regular day jobs—they are realtors, business consultants, or retired professionals. They get a stipend, but nobody is getting rich off a council seat.
- They control the schools: This is a big one. The Chandler City Council has almost zero control over Chandler Unified School District (CUSD). Schools have their own elected board and their own budget. If you're mad about a school boundary, the City Council can't help you.
- Everything is decided behind closed doors: Arizona has very strict "Open Meeting Laws." If a quorum of the council (four or more) discusses city business, it must be a public meeting. They can't even "reply all" to an email about city business without risking a legal violation.
How to Get Involved (The Real Way)
If you actually want to influence what happens in the city, don't wait for the general election. By the time a project gets to a final council vote, the "cake is mostly baked."
- Watch the Planning and Zoning Commission: These are the folks who see the projects first. They make recommendations to the council. If a project gets shot down here, it’s much harder for it to pass the council later.
- Sign up for the "Public Hearing" notices: You can get emails when something is proposed within a certain distance of your house.
- Email them directly: They actually read their emails. Since it's a local office, a well-reasoned email from a constituent often carries more weight than a hundred generic form letters.
Actionable Insights for Chandler Residents
- Check the "Consent Agenda": At every meeting, there is a list of items passed in one big batch without discussion. These are usually "routine" items, but sometimes big contracts are tucked in there. It’s the first place to look if you want to see where the money is going.
- Use the "Chandler Throw" app: If you see a pothole or a broken streetlight, report it there. It creates a digital paper trail that the council uses to track department performance.
- Review the General Plan: The city is currently operating under the "Chandler Southeast" and "General Plan 2026" frameworks. These documents are the blueprint for the next decade. Reading the executive summary will tell you more about the city’s future than any news clip.
- Attend a Budget Workshop: These usually happen in the spring. They are sparsely attended, which means if you show up, your voice is extremely loud.
The Chandler City Council isn't a monolith. It’s seven individuals trying to manage a city that grew too fast and is now trying to figure out what it wants to be when it grows up. Whether you’re worried about the tech boom or just want your trash picked up on time, knowing how this body operates is the first step in actually having a say in your community.