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 Community Newsletter
April 2025
Happy April Neighbors!
I hope this message finds you well as we step into another exciting month in our community. Spring is in full swing, bringing fresh opportunities to connect, grow, and make a positive impact together.
In this edition of our newsletter, you'll find updates on Mesa's Electric Smart Peaks program, summer program registration, and upcoming community events and workshops.
Mesa remains committed to making higher education more accessible through the Mesa College Promise, which provides eligible residents with two years of fully funded tuition and registration fees at Mesa Community College. This program supports students with demonstrated financial need who have not received enough federal student aid (FAFSA) or scholarships to cover tuition costs. To get started, attend an MCC FAFSA Workshop, where financial aid advisors offer hands-on assistance.
We're also looking for dedicated volunteers to serve on our Advisory Boards and Committees, a great opportunity to contribute your expertise, collaborate with city leaders, and help shape Mesa’s future. Check out the list of vacancies and submit your application today!
Lastly, April marks the beginning of budget season, when all City departments will present their proposed budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. I encourage all residents to participate in this important process by tuning into our Study Sessions and Council Meetings for the latest financial updates. Your input is invaluable as we make decisions that will shape the future of our city. Our meeting calendar, agendas and presentations are readily available at https://mesa.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx, and you can watch meetings live at mesa11.com. We are also planning to host two public input and education events in May so keep an eye out for information about those events as the date gets nearer.
If you ever have any questions, want to share about issues that are important to you, or if I can be of assistance, please reach out to me at district4@mesaaz.gov or 480-644-3004. My door is always open.
Best regards,
Councilmember Jenn Duff
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Summer Program Registration Opening Soon!
Get ready for an unforgettable summer! Registration for our summer programs opens at 8 a.m. on April 7 for Mesa residents and April 14 for non-Mesa residents. Don't miss out on the exciting activities and events planned for all ages!
The summer Mesa Parks and Rec PLAYBOOK is live today! Explore all the programs we have lined up for you this coming season.
Mark your calendars and prepare for an amazing summer with us!
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Celebrate our first responders with a family skate night.
Join Mesa Police Officers, Mesa Fire & Medical personnel and Stitch for a skate-tastic evening.
- Take pictures in a Mesa fire truck and police car
- Play trivia
- Win free merch from Police and Fire & Medical
- Win a free pizza party for your class
- $4 admission fee per person, $5 skate rental
Thursday, April 3, 2025
5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Skateland, 7 E Southern Ave, Mesa, AZ, 85210
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Celebrate Mesa will be held on Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pioneer Park, 526 E. Main St. What can you expect at this FREE family event?
- Games, music, petting zoo, food trucks, bounce houses
- Living Green Village and Earth Day activities
- Playground, Water Wall and Splash Pad
- Tot Spot
- Carnival rides ($5 wristband for unlimited rides)
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Join us at the Mesa for All Bar Crawl, on Thursday, April 3 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., to raise awareness for Autism Acceptance Month!
The bar crawl is part of the official launch party for the annual Spectrum IPA, a special collaboration between Visit Mesa, 12 West Brewing, and Chupacabra Taproom. Part of the proceeds from the sale of this beer also benefit the Mesa For All Foundation.
The bar crawl will feature Spectrum IPA as well as a variety of award-winning brews and specialty cocktails from over 10 Downtown Mesa bars, breweries, and taprooms.
Featured beverages will be $5 at each participating location.
Purchase your tickets today!
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The Easter Eggstravaganza is coming to Downtown Mesa! The Easter Bunny is egg-cited to hop all the way to Downtown Mesa on Saturday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a FREE day of egg-citing family fun and celebration at a new location, The Plaza located at 56 E. Main Street in Downtown Mesa!
After the egg hunt, join the rabbit of the hour, the Easter Bunny, for free eggs-clusive photos! Kids of all ages can create egg-dorable Easter crafts at the Arts & Crafts station or play some fun Easter games.
Then, hippity-hoppity down the Main Street bunny trail to hunt for Easter eggs in participating downtown businesses. Just look for the colorful balloons on their front doors!
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Celebrate Safe Digging Month with us! April is the perfect time to tackle your outdoor projects. Remember to notify Arizona 811 at least two full working days before you start digging to have underground utility lines located and marked. The depths of utility lines vary, and multiple lines may exist in the same area. This simple step can help prevent injuries, property damage, and service outages.
Once you’ve called 8-1-1:
- Wait until you receive responses from all the facilities listed on your ticket to begin digging.
- Hand-dig within two feet of marked facilities, supporting and protecting exposed facilities.
- Keep all locate marks visible and valid (15 days) for the duration of your project.
Remember, safety is everyone’s responsibility. Contacting Arizona 811 is easy, free, and it’s the law.
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I am thrilled to share that BioBuddy Wellness and Weight Loss has opened its first location in Arizona, right here in #MesaDistrict4!
It’s always exciting to see innovative businesses choose Mesa, and we’re proud to welcome BioBuddy to our community. Their commitment to wellness and weight loss solutions will be a great addition to our city!
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The City of Mesa Police Department hosted a fantastic neighborhood gathering at Escobedo at Verde Vista this month! It was wonderful to see families come together to enjoy activities, great food, and meaningful connections with our officers. Community events like these make our city stronger!
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The Mesa Arts Center hosted its first-ever altFEST, a spectacular celebration blending art, light, and technology into an immersive outdoor experience! Myself and several community members had the pleasure of joining in on the excitement, exploring vibrant live performances, mesmerizing exhibitions at the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, interactive art installations, and augmented reality activities.
Events like these highlight why the Mesa Arts Center is a hub for creativity, culture, and community! A huge thank you to everyone who made this incredible night possible.
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This past weekend, I had a wonderful time celebrating expectant parents at our Community Baby Shower! 👶💕 Thanks to our amazing Mesa Family Resource Center and community partners, families enjoyed fun games, essential baby supply giveaways, and helpful resources to support their journey into parenthood. Cesar Chavez believed in the power of service, and this event was a beautiful way to uplift Mesa families while honoring his legacy.
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I had the pleasure of attending the Farm-City Breakfast last week, connecting with community members, County Supervisors, and local leaders on important agricultural and policy topics that impact us all.
Agriculture plays a vital role in our county’s economy, food security, and sustainability efforts. Engaging in these conversations helps bridge the gap between urban and rural communities, fostering collaboration and understanding.
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April 4 - Arizona Bicycling Summit 2025
8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
The Arizona Bicycle Summit is an annual conference for leaders, educators, advocates, cyclists of all kinds and the bicycle community in Arizona. Located at ASU MIX Center, 50 N. Centennial Way. Register today!
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April 5 - CycloMesa @ Plaza at Mesa City Center, 56 E. Main St.
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
The CycloMesa Festival hosted by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program is designed to bring our community together and is perfect for all ages. The festival encourages our community to use alternative modes of transportation, like bicycling, and will feature live music, food trucks, BMX stunt shows, a rock wall and much more! Register today! |
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April 5 - Family Fun Fair @ Mesa Community College
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Celebrating Week of the Young Child, the event is hosted by Mesa Community College and sponsored by First Things First Southeast Maricopa Region Family Support Coalition who was formed to allow family services agencies to enhance and coordinate resources that assist families across the Southeast Region. The event will have activities for children and families as well as resource information for families. |
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April 8 - Resident's Guide to Heat Safety
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Join us for an informative 60-minute heat safety webinar where you will learn to recognize the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and discover practical ways to provide assistance. The session will also cover strategies to prevent these illnesses and minimize heat exposure. The webinar will feature experts from Mesa Fire and Medical and the Office of Homeless Solutions and include a Q&A session.
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April 9 - Coffee with a Cop @ Starbucks, 1939 N. Gilbert Rd.
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Join Mesa Police Officers and staff for coffee. It’s a great way to meet in an informal setting and talk about concerns, share ideas and ask questions with no agenda. |
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April 16 - Bike to Work Day @ Mesa City Center, 50 E. Main St.
7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Bike to Work Day hosted by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program encourages everyone to utilize an alternative mode of transportation to work and brings everyone together for a breakfast and social hour. This event will kick off with a group ride to the event from Lehi Sports Park at 7 AM and is open to the public. We ask that everyone participating bring their own bicycles and helmets. |
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April 19 - Spring Breakfast @ Greenfield Park, 4105 E. Diamond Ave.
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Join Councilmember Spilsbury for a free celebration of all things spring! Attendees of all ages will enjoy a pancake breakfast, bounce houses, petting zoo, arts and crafts, and an Easter egg hunt at 9:00 a.m.!
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Downtown Farm to Mesa Market
Every Saturday - 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Located at 104 E. 1st Ave. in Downtown Mesa, you'll find fresh produce, delicious food and treats, beautiful handcrafted goods, live music and more! Stop by and support local small businesses.
Downtown Mesa Sunset Market
Every Third Thursday - 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
A variety of 30+ local vendors specializing in fresh grocery products, tasty hot food, artisan goods, and so much more! Including live music and demonstrations every market!
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April Council Meetings
Monday, April 7 - 5:45 p.m.
Monday, April 21 - 5:45 p.m.
April Study Sessions
Thursday, April 3 - 7:30 a.m.
Monday, April 7 - 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, April 10 - 7:30 a.m.
Thursday, April 17 - 7:30 a.m.
Monday, April 21 - 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, April 24 - 7:30 a.m.
Sustainability & Transportation Committee Meeting
Tuesday, April 8 - 8:30 a.m.
*Meetings subject to start time changes
The Mesa City Council holds two Council meetings a month, in addition to weekly study sessions. Learn more about the process for public participation in meetings.
Mesa broadcasts its council and study session meetings live on Mesa Channel 11's YouTube page and Facebook.
Council agendas.
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