Surprise meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Surprise planning commission backs battery storage rules; arts commission elects leaders

The Surprise Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend approval of a zoning text amendment for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), including a 100-foot separation distance. The recommendation now goes to the Mayor and City Council. In other recent action, the Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission elected new officers.

Planning and Zoning Commission

The commission voted 5-0 on Aug. 6 to recommend approval of the BESS zoning text amendment (Case FS23-1041) with a 100-foot separation distance. The item will be considered by the City Council at a future meeting.

The commission also tabled approval of its July 16, 2026 meeting minutes until the next meeting. The vote to table was 4-0 with one abstention.

Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission

The Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission met Aug. 5 and elected Hassan Rasul as Chair and Katherine Dunphy as Vice-Chair. Both elections passed 5-0 with two abstentions. The commission also approved its June 3, 2026 meeting minutes by the same vote.

The commission discussed deaccessioning artwork and adding artists to the muralist roster, but took no formal action on those items.

City Council meeting (Aug. 4)

The City Council met Aug. 4, but minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions are available. The agenda included:

• A rezone of 3.11 acres from Rural Residential to Community Commercial at 163rd Avenue and Happy Valley Road
• Liquor license recommendations for Vogue Bistro, The Grove Restaurant and Bar, Arizona Traditions Golf Club, Great Eagle Golf Club, and Circle K Store #9616
• A GOHS grant award for DUI enforcement and a $58,500 budget amendment
• An Original Townsite Incentive Program payment of $22,405.69 for Shaughnessy Promenade
• A Wireless Provider Master License Agreement with Cox Communications Arizona, LLC

Veterans, Disability and Human Services Commission (Aug. 12)

This commission met Aug. 12, but minutes are not yet published. The agenda included selection of a chair and vice-chair, approval of June meeting minutes, discussion of Project 24 Seven, and selection of the 2026 Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal.

Coming up

Library Commission – Aug. 20. The agenda includes approval of June 11 meeting minutes, selection of a chair and vice-chair, and staff reports on the American Library Association 2026 Annual Conference and the 2026 Summer Reading Program, “Unearth a Story.” No public hearings or major financial decisions are listed.

Planning and Zoning Commission – Aug. 20. Public hearings are scheduled for:

• A Conditional Use Permit for Clean Freak carwash at the southeast corner of Cactus Road and Sarival Avenue (Case FS24-1579)
• A Conditional Use Permit for a Circle K fueling station at the same location (Case FS24-1580)
• A Comprehensive Sign Program Amendment for Asante Trails at the southwest corner of 163rd Avenue and Pat Tillman Boulevard (Case FS25-1042)
• A Minor General Plan Amendment and rezone for Happy Valley Biz-Tech Park (7.52 acres) near the southwest corner of Happy Valley Road and 157th Avenue (Case FS25-1081), from Rural Residential to Regional Commercial with a PUD overlay

The agenda also includes approval of minutes from two prior meetings and an executive session.

Surprise arts commission elects new chair, vice-chair; council agenda includes rezone, liquor licenses

The Surprise Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission elected new leadership at its Aug. 5 meeting. Hassan Rasul was chosen as chair and Katherine Dunphy as vice-chair, each by a 5-0 vote with two abstentions. The commission also approved the minutes from its June 3 meeting by the same margin. No other formal action was taken; the commission discussed deaccessioning artwork and adding artists to the muralist roster but did not vote on those items.

City Council agenda (Aug. 4)

The regular City Council meeting on Aug. 4 was held on an agenda-only basis; minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions are recorded. The council considered several items, including:

• A rezone of 3.11 acres from Rural Residential to Community Commercial at 163rd Avenue and Happy Valley Road.
• Liquor license recommendations for Vogue Bistro, The Grove Restaurant and Bar, Arizona Traditions Golf Club, Great Eagle Golf Club, and Circle K Store #9616.
• A GOHS grant award for DUI enforcement and a $58,500 budget amendment.
• An Original Townsite Incentive Program payment of $22,405.69 for Shaughnessy Promenade.
• A Wireless Provider Master License Agreement with Cox Communications Arizona, LLC.

These items were up for consideration but no votes or outcomes are available in the published record.

Planning and Zoning Commission (Aug. 6)

The Planning and Zoning Commission met Aug. 6 with an agenda that included a public hearing on a proposed Zoning Text Amendment (Case # FS23-1041) related to Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). The commission also had on its agenda approval of the July 16, 2026, meeting minutes. As with the council meeting, minutes from this session have not yet been published, so no decisions are recorded.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents can check the city's official meeting calendar for future agendas and minutes.