City Council Formal Meeting - Regular Meeting

I work with children in the unhoused community. I'm involved with the Swift Youth Foundation where I work with foster kids. Through Loving Library I work with children in the hospital and then I also tutor refugee students and I feel like all around working with students of such diverse backgrounds has turned me into a more well-rounded person. It's made me more empathetic and I just think that gaining a more diverse worldview is really important especially when you're in high school.

Step into history. And into the future. In the heart of downtown Phoenix, the Orpheum Theater opened its doors in 1929. Having hosted theater productions, concerts, comedy shows, movie premieres, high generations, It starts with immersion. Taking a step back in time, we looked at the Orpheum's original hand-drawn plans. They gave us context of a grand design and an intent to fully immerse the audience. An atmospheric garden oasis was beautifully created in this space. Surrounded by Spanish medieval Baroque-style architecture, Murals of mountains and forests under a deep blue domed sky. It was hailed an architectural and artistic marvel, expressing modern theater at its finest. We were inspired to marry today's technology to that original intent. Taking a step forward, we gathered sounds that are true to Arizona. Mixing and layering hours of recordings. achieving realism to surround our audience. The dome sky is further brought to life, where advanced lighting and visuals are meticulously synced to captured sounds. Witness dusk till dawn and the expanse of our universe. All this magic to honor the Orpheum's original intent for audiences to lose themselves in this garden oasis. and be drawn closer to the performance. These efforts are a nod to the Orpheum's history and performances past, present, and future. As stewards of this historic space, we look forward to welcoming you and walking beside you one step into history, one step into the future.

My name is Destiny Sire. I'm a management assistant in the director's office of the Human Services Department. The City of Phoenix Management Fellowship Program is a year-long program that allows folks with any graduate degree to come in and it's like an introductory program for folks looking to get into local government. Throughout the time you have three different rotations and you have interdepartmental projects as well that you assist in as well as assisting in council projects. It really just gives you a feel of what it's like to work in the public sector for those with limited experience before and to develop your leadership skills. You know, my My background is largely in social work so I have my master's in social work and I have my master's in public administration and so I really wanted to get into macro level work and it really allowed me to utilize both my social work skills and my public administration skills like to a T. Especially within this position and everything I was working on during my management fellowship was very enjoyable and like I am so grateful for it. since it's been around for 75 years, you find prior fellows that have been here 25 years plus that started in the fellowship program and are like wanting to support you and hear you out and help you. last year the city of phoenix and mayor kate gallego it was really important for them to focus on mental health and so us as a department had our community resource fair at our travis l williams family service center and we brought together over 20 agencies from around the community we had over 200 people come to the resource fair to get resources we were able to really cover it all and had a really good turnout for the first time ever. So it was very, very neat. That was probably one of my favorite projects. I feel like the fellowship is so unique where you don't need to come from a public administration background. What I think is important about the fellowship program is that it allows a route for everyone to come in. No matter your background, you can still find your place in the city. And it's important that you do. I just really think the City of Phoenix Management Fellowship is so special for those that are looking to impact their community. And it really puts you in a position to just keep on growing and learning more in your career, especially if you're looking to stay in local government. So what I would say to someone that's applying is just to reach out. We're excited to talk to you, excited to have the community learn more about the program because we're really looking for Everyone, we're looking for you.

The City of Phoenix Partner with a Principal program pairs local leaders with school principals to spark ideas, build relationships, and create real impact for students across the city. And after a day in the life experience, everyone gathered at GCU to continue discussions on how to turn inspiration into action, building partnerships that strengthen our schools and future workforce. Here's a look at some of those partnerships.

Last year was my first year of doing the Partner with a Principal program through the City of Phoenix, and it led to a wonderful partnership with At the Outlet, who ended up coming to work with us and our students every Friday. We're at our Family Choice Friday.

This was our first time being part of this program. We got to come and take a tour. Principal Schnecklaus told us some of the things that she was looking for, and it seemed like we were a good match and a good fit, and we got right to work.

Students had wonderful opportunities through the arts, whether it was palm, dance, vocal, drumline, but they build in a lot of life and social skills within their musical and arts instruction that the students really benefited from and just absolutely loved the experience.

They teach us dances. They help us if we don't know. If we forget, they help us and help us until we actually know it.

I think it's a good practice because I want to be a singer and a dancer. And all the coaches were supportive. And we always had a performance in front of our parents in the school. And it felt so good because they would clap for us.

Once they start seeing that they're good at something, they start excelling at other areas as well because it helps boost their confidence.

They weren't just working on the skills of the arts, they were also bringing in that social and character development throughout their instruction, and I think that's where those relationships truly get built.

We get to actually practice what we preach, right? And then it's a win-win because we actually saw the difference it made for the students. It led to other opportunities. We were able to do a halftime show for the Rattlers, and some of these students got to do that.

I may not have known about at the outlet, which is a nonprofit literally just right down the street if I hadn't applied for a partner with a principal. So it really brings our eyes open to people right in the community, right in our neighborhood that want to support us. And just as the school, we want to support them.

I would encourage other businesses to get involved with the Partner with a Principal program so that you can see firsthand what's going on in our public school settings and be part of the difference that the students need.

Kitchell came in today to do a beautification project here at William R. Sullivan Elementary with the Murphy School District and they are painting our beautiful walls in the Literacy Hub. They're also doing an improvement with our bulletin boards with the different quotes.

Not only does Kitchell want to be known as a great real estate company, but we want to be known as really a Phoenix institution that cares about those that we serve.

They brought in the resources and everything that we needed and it was done within a few hours.

We really made quick work of our tasks that were ahead of us. We think the classroom looks great. We like the bulletin boards and everything. So yeah, overall we're just really excited with how it turned out.

I know that our students are going to love it. I could already imagine their little faces when they come in. The more resources that we have, the more resources that we're able to provide to our students to help them improve with their literacy, with their academics, so then our students can get that additional support from our partnerships that we have.

It's very important that we emphasize that the youth of today are the future leaders of tomorrow. And therefore, we have to do all that we can to help make sure the kids have the right learning environment they need to succeed.

This was a great opportunity to partner with the principal and it has been wonderful. I have been coming over to Vista College Prep now, it's been one year and it's been amazing working with Principal Roy. She immediately was so supportive and

I'm not really sure what we can provide for you. And she was like, no, it's not about me.

What can we do for your school, for your team? I know that some other corporations, they have a lot of funding that's available to create all these programs. And I was like, oh my gosh, I would love to do that kind of stuff, but I don't have that. So in talking to Principal Roy, I did say, so what do you guys need? Like, what can we do that's, I guess, inside of my realm? Our teachers are hungry all the time. We love snacks. I said, snacks? Are you really? She goes, yes. The teachers love snacks because they work long days, hard days, and they're not always able to just go break away and have a meal, especially if they're here, you know, late in the evening. And I said, well, wait a minute now. We can do snacks. I solicited the help of the community, like through LinkedIn, friends, family, Facebook. I'm like, look, look, these teachers need snacks. They're amazing. They're great. And everybody's like, you know what? I'm donating because teachers do need that extra layer of love. And so it was so easy to get it. So we set up a snack station in the leadership office.

That's where it started. And then she said that she had some experience in public speaking and wellness. And I said the other thing that I really think my staff would appreciate is just some self-care tips. We practiced many different skills and danced and we journaled and had some breathing exercises.

We gave techniques on how to take care of yourselves because we know the teachers are always taking care of the littles. And sometimes it's easy not to just, you know, embrace themselves and say, this is what I need.

And then she reached out again.

Hey, what do you still need? Well, Microwaves? Microwaves? She goes, yeah, ours are old and, you know, they don't have the numbers. We don't know how long the food has been there. The teacher's like, can we get ones that have like the plate that spins? And I said, you know what? We've got that. We went out and we bought a couple of microwaves. I'm so excited that they love the microwaves. You know, that's just proof that sometimes it's just the small things that make a really, really big impact.

We've just been really blessed to have LaShonda and Not just her, but again, the community behind her, her sorority sisters. That means the world to us.

I would just encourage anyone, everyone, if you're interested, to participate in this program. It is so important to pour into our young people at a very early age. But with that, we can't pour into them without pouring into the teachers.

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ADOT Connecting Arizona From the snow-capped mountains of northern Arizona to the arid desert and lush farmland of the central and southern regions of our state, Arizona's natural beauty is diverse and breathtaking. Residents and tourists alike certainly enjoy our scenic state. Unfortunately, sometimes a closer look reveals litter.

I found my socks.

ADOT spends about $8 million a year cleaning up litter along our state highways. Removing litter from our roads and highways is a time-consuming and costly job that threatens to get worse as Arizona's population grows.

Thank you for participating in the Adopt-a-Highway program.

So we greatly appreciate the help of Arizona citizens like you who volunteer in our Adopt-a-Highway program.

Give yourself a hand.

Your group has graciously agreed to clean up litter along a specific section of highway for a period of two years. As you begin your efforts, please keep in mind that a public highway can be dangerous. and some basic safety issues must be considered before you start work. So, are you ready to tackle the trash?

I'm ready. We ready.

It is important that you properly prepare yourself for the work day. Proper clothing and hydration are two priorities. When it comes to water, ask yourself these questions and plan accordingly for your water supply. How many people will be in your group? How many hours do you plan to work? How many miles do you plan to cover? What is the forecast temperature for the day? Now, think about your location. Does your cell phone get service where your adopted road is in case of emergency? How far is the nearest medical facility? Next, think about what to wear. Since most everything in Arizona has thorns, long-sleeved shirts and pants are recommended because of the harsh terrain, cactus, reptiles, and insects you may encounter. Wear protective gloves and strong-soled shoes or boots. Avoid sandals or loose-fitting shoes. Don't forget your sunscreen, and you'll probably want a hat, too. Congratulations, you're ready to pick up trash. Your group should carpool as much as possible to keep the number of cars on site to a minimum. And always remember to park as far away from the roadway as possible. Next, your group coordinator will conduct a safety meeting for all group members. Each person must wear a safety vest at all times. Safety vests along with trash bags will be supplied to you by ADOT. Remember, no children below the age of 12 or pets are permitted in the program or in the work area. For your safety, do not utilize music players. Your ears are often the first thing to warn you of imminent danger. Appoint a lookout for your group. Work facing oncoming traffic, and remember to stay at least five feet from the pavement edge. The fewer distractions for the traveling public and your group, the better. Now, when it comes to trash, know what you're picking up. If you cannot identify it, don't pick it up. This brings us to the topic of hazardous waste.

Methamphetamine is the number one drug abused in the United States and Arizona today and is responsible for a lot of our violent crime. Each pound of meth that is manufactured produces five to six pounds of hazardous materials as waste. So when you're out here on the roadway, don't pick up things that have tubing that is red, ice chests that are red, or red chemical bottles. Bad guys throw them out here because they don't want to get caught with them. Also, leave those corroded propane bottles alone. Used car batteries, needles, syringes, or anything that you don't know what it is. The best rule of thumb is if you are uncertain, don't touch it and inform local law enforcement. Remember, be alert.

Also, do not enter pipes or culverts. The danger is too high, so let the pros deal with that. You should pick up small items made of paper, cardboard, plastic, styrofoam, wood or rubber. Glass items in small empty containers are okay if they do not have sharp edges. Tie your bags securely shut and place the filled bags at least six feet from the pavement edge. Do not overfill or overstuff the bags. ADOT workers must lift these bags into their trucks. Place large or heavier items like tire debris or any items that would tear a bag near the filled bags. Remember, don't move anything that could cause you or your team members physical harm. ADOT will remove your filled trash bags from the roadside after the cleanup is complete. Avoid overexertion and drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Adopt-a-Highway program encourages recycling, so collect the recyclables and take them with you. Make sure your group has enough water and that on-site first aid is available. Leave snakes alone. People are bitten because they try to kill a snake or get a closer look at it. Keep hands and feet out of areas you cannot see. Don't pick up rocks or firewood. Be cautious and alert at all times. If you or a group member is bitten, wash the bite with soap and water. Immobilize the bitten area and keep it lower than the heart and get medical help. Remember, you signed a permit to do this. That permit has terms and conditions. It is very important that you read and abide by them. Inform your ADOT Adopt-a-Highway contact at least five days prior to the cleanup efforts. We need to make sure your dates don't conflict with other highway uses, so it's very important to know who your Adopt-a-Highway contact is and that they have your contact information. We need to know as quickly as possible if a new coordinator is appointed or if you change any of your contact information. Make sure everyone in your group fills out a volunteer registration form before each cleanup. The Arizona Department of Transportation wants this to be a rewarding and safe experience for all of you. Volunteers like you make this program successful by giving your time and energy to make a positive impact on the environment. Your efforts are appreciated, very much so, not only by ADOT, but also by the citizens of Arizona and the visitors who will enjoy a cleaner state because of your hard work. So spread the word. Arizona, keep it grand.

My name is Brian Song. I'm a Management Assistant II at the Planning and Development Department at the City of Phoenix. The Management Fellowship program is a year-long program for people that have interest in being in local government, or City of Phoenix for that matter, to get to really experience what and how the City of Phoenix works. I was considering a career change into local government, so I felt a little nervous making that jump from academia to practice. And I felt like the management fellowship program was a great way to make that jump, be okay to take risks, but be able to get access to really try to learn and absorb and really do a deeper dive on how local governments work. If I were to describe the Management Fellowship program, I would say it felt like a classroom where I could really study and engage in whatever I wanted to do. And we had great teachers and mentors that could navigate me through the process. What I really appreciate about the program is that I was given really the fullest level of access to everybody that you could think of in the city of Phoenix, which is a wide range of diversity of people. A lot of great people that we got access to got to interact with them and really learn from their expertise and receive great advice from them along the way. The Manager Fellowship Program really gave me confidence that if I really put my head down and really try to understand how the city works, how things operate, how people operate. I can learn great things and I can achieve great things throughout my career at the City of Phoenix. The City of Phoenix set me up on a career of lifelong learning, which I really enjoy doing. So I'm just going to never run out of opportunities to learn at the City of Phoenix. If you're as curious as I am, if you're excited about learning new things and learning about public service and learning about what local government does to service people, I can't think of a better way than the Management Fellowship Program to do that.

What a wonderful day it is to be here as we welcome China Airlines with the first ever nonstop service from Taipei to Phoenix, Arizona. What a great day it is.

It was an honor to be on that inaugural flight from Taipei, Taiwan to Phoenix. It is indicative of what I know is a tremendous partnership that is really going to propel this region, the relationship between the two countries. This new route is more than just a connection between two cities. It's a bridge between two dynamic regions. The economic impact of this year-round service is expected to exceed $100 million on an annual basis. Passenger traffic between Phoenix and Taipei has surged by more than 400% since 2019, highlighting the growing demand for this connection. We are thrilled to welcome travelers from the Silicon Island to the Silicon Desert. The future is bright, and this is just the beginning.

This flight is not only about tourism, it's about forging more collaboration in our industries, in our technologies, in our exchanges in education and in all fronts.

We truly believe in this city's potential and look forward to building even stronger partnerships together in here. The milestone is possible because of your dedication.

You had the confidence to make sure that this day happened, and I just want to thank you and the entire China Airlines team for allowing us to make that today possible.

My name is Destiny Dominguez. I'm an Administrative Assistant II in the Public Works Solid Waste Division. The Phoenix Management Fellowship Program is a year-long program where you rotate through three different departments, four months each. And during that time, you really just have the opportunity to learn about different things happening in that department. And it all kind of ties back to the city manager's office, which is where you're housed. You're learning from these top-level staff. It's just such a year-long learning opportunity. The goal of the Phoenix Management Fellowship then, and I think now, since it's been around for 75 plus years, has been to help really just gain exposure to city operations. I grew up in Phoenix, and so when I began studying public service, public policy, and then eventually public administration, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in local government. And so during one of my undergrad classes, I heard about the Phoenix Management Fellowship program. and so thankfully I got it really just about giving back to the community that gave so much to me growing up and then obviously I mean Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the United States largest council manager form of government like who doesn't want to be a part of that I was seeking a couple of things I was seeking mentorship just support and then experiences that would be able to kind of carry me through my career hopefully with the city of Phoenix and thankfully I'm here now today but that was all here at the City of Phoenix. I think people are often kind of worried about how large Phoenix is, 1.7 million people, 15,000 employees, but truly you have such a diverse group of people here at the city to learn from who are willing to just help you get through anything and just willing to be there. So I think that commitment to just building up the Phoenix of tomorrow is what really intrigued me to be here and I'm so thankful that I'm still here contributing to that. One of my favorite memories is really the community budget hearings, sitting in on those, listening to the community. The staff was always willing to listen. Them just being able to kind of have those conversations with them was really, really good to hear. interacting with field staff, just administrative staff on a day-to-day basis, and the incredible executive team that we have here at the City of Phoenix, it's unparalleled. Having gone through the program through that entirely crazy year has prepared me now here because the amount of connections that you have, the amount of resources that you're able to provide that a lot of people aren't aware of, I think it's a big benefit to to me. I knew coming into the program that this was my calling but now I know more than ever that it is and I'm so thankful to be here at the City of Phoenix. Phoenix has it all and this is the place to be. Who wouldn't want to be here at the Phoenix Management Fellowship Program?

Semiconductor industry is becoming the future of the world. We're establishing something new in the country, something new that will generate the pipeline of future talent for TSMC.

Who doesn't want to be part of probably the biggest company that's coming? And plus, I really needed a career, and thankfully I found my career here.

It's truly been a privilege to establish this apprenticeship program here at TSFC. We started with eight apprentices. The apprenticeship program overall is between 18 and 24 months. The apprenticeship is structured in two cycles. This is the completion of cycle one.

I'm a water apprentice. I'm really excited and looking forward to the next step or second phase of the program. They have four departments here. They have electrical, water, mechanical, and gas and chem. And throughout the first phase of the program, we moved around to each department for approximately four months. They show us a lot of the basics that we need to know getting into an industry like this. We have on-the-job training, and we're also going to school. School is over at Westmec, so we get hands-on training over at school. And then here at CSMC as well, we're working with our mentors, with technicians, all of our supervisors. us, help us, and they give us everything that we need to succeed.

The staff here is one of my favorite things. They show you what it is.

Good afternoon. Thank you for attending today's meeting. If you could please find your seats, we will begin in one minute. Thank you very much.

Good afternoon, thank you so much for joining us today. We will have a formal city council meeting, but first, we will have two meetings of the community facilities district, and since he has stood up, we will begin with Police Chaplain Harry Sexton for an invocation.

Madam Mayor, Honorable Council Members, my prayer today is based upon Proverbs 2, verse 6, which reads, For the Lord gives wisdom, from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. Let us pray. Father, I pray for the leaders of our city. May they seek your wisdom in every decision that they make. Let them be discerning in their judgments, understanding the impact of their actions on the lives of others. Father, fill them with your truth and knowledge so that they may lead with both justice and mercy. Father, I pray for peace to fill the hearts of these men and women who are in positions of authority. May they experience both your calm and serenity, even amidst the chaos of their responsibilities. Father, help them to approach every situation with peace, seeking both unity and reconciliation. Father, let your peace guide their actions and decisions, and as a result, bring your peace to our community. Amen.

Thank you, Chaplain. Please remain standing if able for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAPLAIN SEXTON, FOR STARTING US OFF. I'LL NOW CALL TO ORDER THE PARK CENTRAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT. WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLE? NEW SPEAKER. NEW SPEAKER. NEW SPEAKER. NEW SPEAKER.

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NEW SPEAKER. NEW SPEAKER.

Board Member Robinson?

Here.

Board Member Stark? Here. Board Member Waring? Here. Vice Chair Hodge-Washington? Present. Chairwoman Gallego?

Here. Board Member Conlon, do you have a motion on item three?

I do. I move that the motion on the table be considered and passed by the council.

Second. We have motion and a second, and for our team, does that motion meet our needs?

Sorry.

It does? All right. Any comments? Roll call.

Yes. Aye. Whatever.

Kalman? Gervais?

Yes.

Guardado? Hernandez? Yes. O'Brien? Yes. Pastor? Yes. Robinson?

Yes.

Stark? WHERING? YES. HODGE WASHINGTON? YES. GALLEGO?

YES.

PASSES 10-0.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO BOARD MEMBER CONLIN AND GERVESE FOR JOINING US. WE ARE ADJOURNED. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. WE NEXT MOVE TO OUR VERDIN COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING. I'LL CALL THAT MEETING TO ORDER. WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL?

BOARD MEMBER GUARDADO? Board Member Hernandez? Here. Board Member O'Brien?

Here.

Board Member Pastor? Here. Board Member Robinson?

Here.

Board Member Stark? Here. Board Member Waring? Here. Vice Chair Hutch-Washington?

Here.

Chairwoman Gallego? Here. Vice Chair Hodge-Washington, do you have a motion on item three?

I do. Motion to approve resolution V-09 to approve the proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 and calling for a public hearing on that budget. Second.

We have a motion and a second from Board Member O'Brien. Any comment? Roll call.

Hernandez? Yes. O'Brien? Yes. Pastor? Yes. Robinson?

Yes.

Stark? Waring. Hodge Washington. Yes. Gallego.

Yes.

Passes 8-0.

That concludes our business. I will adjourn this board meeting. Thank you so much for joining us. And now I will convene the formal meeting of the Phoenix City Council. Will the clerk call the roll?

Councilwoman Guardado. Councilwoman Hernandez. Here. Councilwoman O'Brien.

Here.

Councilwoman Pastor.

Here.

Councilman Robinson. Here. Councilwoman Stark.

Here.

Councilman Waring. Here. Vice Mayor Hodge-Washington.

Here.

Mayor Gallego.

Here. Mario Barajas is with us to provide Spanish interpretation. Mario, would you introduce your team?

Yes, Mayor. Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Mario Barajas. I'll be serving as one of the two interpreters. I'll be working along with Elsie Duarte as Spanish interpreters for today. I'll now take a moment to introduce ourselves to our Spanish speaking residents. Buenas tardes. Yo soy Mario Barajas y voy a estar trabajando junto con Elsie Duarte. Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Mario. Will the city clerk read the 24-hour paragraph?

The titles of the following ordinance and resolution numbers on the agenda were available to the public at least 24 hours prior to this council meeting and therefore may be read by title or agenda item only. Ordinance is number G7515 through 7516, S52847 through 52901, and resolutions 2237 through 22379. Thank you. I'll turn to the city attorney to explain public comment.

Thank you, mayors. Members of the public may speak for up to two minutes to comment on agenda items. Comments must be related to the agenda item and the action being considered by the council. General comments that go beyond the scope of the agenda item should be made during the citizen comment session at the end of the agenda. The city council and staff cannot discuss or comment on matters related to pending investigations, claims, or litigation. Additionally, any member of the public who appears before the council in their capacity as a lobbyist must, as required by Phoenix City Code, disclose this fact before addressing the council. The City Code states that speakers must express their comments respectfully and courteously. Use of profane language threats or personal attacks on members of the public, council members, or staff are not allowed. Such comments are disruptive and unrelated to the council's business. Any person who violates these rules may lose their opportunity to speak further and could be asked to leave. Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you to our city attorney. Boards and commissions, item one. Vice Mayor, do we have a motion?

Motion to approve the mayor and city council's boards and commission nominations. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Councilwoman Hernandez.

Thank you so much, Mayor. I just want to make a couple comments on one of the commissioners who's going to be sworn in. Dr. Anjoli LaFleur is a co-founder and co-executive director of Siwa Patli Collective. She is a grandmother, a mom, a tia, a psychologist, hype, HYPNOTHERAPIST AND DEATH MIDWIFE, A TRUE ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR HER COMMUNITY, PUBLIC SERVANT, ENVIRONMENTALIST AND HUMANITARIAN. WE ARE TRULY LUCKY AS A CITY TO HAVE HER JOINING US ON THE HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. NEW SPEAKER THANK YOU. ROLL CALL.

NEW SPEAKER HERNANDEZ. NEW SPEAKER YES.

NEW SPEAKER O'BRIEN.

NEW SPEAKER YES. NEW SPEAKER PASTOR. NEW SPEAKER YES.

Yes.

Stark? Yes. Waring? Yes. Hodge-Washington? Yes. Gallego?

Yes. Passes 8-0. Thank you and congratulations to our new commissioners. We'll now conduct a swearing-in. Please come forward.

Thank you.

Please raise your right hand. I state your name. Do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the state of Arizona, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and defend them against all enemies, foreign and domestic, And I will faithfully and impartially. And I will faithfully and impartially. Discharge the duties of the office of.

Discharge the duties of the office of.

State your office. According to the best of my ability.

According to the best of my ability. So help me God.

So help me God. Congratulations and thank you for your service to our city. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR COMMISSIONERS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY. THE CITY OF PHOENIX PROVIDES AN ADVISORY ROLE TO THE STATE OF ARIZONA ON LIQUOR LICENSES AND WE'LL TURN TO THAT PORTION OF OUR AGENDA. BY SMEAR DO WE HAVE A MOTION?

NEW SPEAKERS MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 2 THROUGH 14 EXCEPT FOR ITEM 13. NEW SPEAKERS SECOND. NEW SPEAKERS THANK YOU.

WE DO HAVE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 7 AVAILABLE TO SPEAK IF NECESSARY. ROLL CALL.

NEW SPEAKERS HERNANDEZ. Yes. O'Brien? Yes. Pastor? Yes. Robinson?

Yes.

Stark?

Yes.

Waring? Yes. Hodge-Washington? Yes. Gallego?

Yes.

Passes 8-0.

All right. Item 13, I'll turn to Vice Mayor Hodge-Washington.

Thank you. Respect to item 13, motion to not send a recommendation to the Arizona State Liquor License Board. Second.

And if I may, Vice Mayor, it is a no recommendation is what we would be sending?

Yes, no recommendation.

Thank you. Hernandez? Yes. O'Brien?

Yes.

Pastore?

Yes.

Robinson?

Yes.

Stark? Yes. Waring? Yes. Hodge-Washington? Yes. Gallego? Passes 7-0. THANK YOU.

WE'LL MOVE ON. ARE WE READY FOR ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, NEW BUSINESS AND PLANNING?

YES, VICE MAYOR.

Vice Mayor, do we have a motion? Yes, motion to approve items 15 through 81, except for the following. Items 20, 30, 32, 35, 46, 53, 80, and 81. Noting that item 30 is as corrected to reflect that item is only in Council District 8. Item 78 through 81 are add-on items. And can the clerk confirm if there are any other items that should be excluded for in-person public comment?

Yes, Mayor, Vice Mayor, also excluding items 50 and 61. That would be items 50 and 61.

Second.

Thank you.

Roll call.

Hernandez? Yes. O'Brien? Yes. Pastor? Yes. Robinson?

Yes.

Stark? Yes. Waring? Yes. Hodge-Washington? Yes.

Yes. Yes. Passes 8-0. Item 20 is a settlement of claim. Vice Mayor. Thank you, Mayor.

I have a couple questions before we move to approval of item 20. I'm going to ask the streets department to come down, please. Thank you and welcome. Thank you, Marcus, for joining us, Mr. Coleman. Can staff walk us through what has already been done to address the underlying infrastructure or maintenance issues that may have contributed to this claim?

Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of the council, this accident or this situation happened back in 2021. Following the occurrence of this incident, the street transportation department worked closely with the school district and specifically the superintendent and the principal of Betty Fairfax. Some of the things that we were able to do during that time within our right of way, we were able to put a berm on the west side of 59th Avenue. One of the things that we saw was a contributing factor was that during the school hours drop off and pickup hours that several vehicles would wait or queue on the west side of 59th Avenue in the dirt area there. which would require students to travel across that street at a non-marked crossing. And so we put a berm there to discourage individuals parking there and queuing there for a drop-off and pickup. We also put some no-stopping signs along the west side of 59th Avenue as well, just to make sure that people knew from a visual standpoint not only did the berm stand there, but also the signage also reaffirmed that we did not want any stopping at any time during the day. Additionally, we worked on South Mountain Avenue, did some striping there to accommodate some turning movements there that were some kind of choke points that we were seeing. And then And then we also gave some recommendations to the school of how they could do some modifications to their site to enhance the onsite queuing on their actual property themselves. In addition to that, from a long-term standpoint, we also identified funding within our CIP and started the design, and now we're completing the construction of a hawk signal at the canal. There's a little north of the school location there.

Thank you so much. Thank you for the comprehensive list of the actions that we have taken. Can you tell us a little bit about the systems that are currently in place for neighborhoods and or schools to report street safety concerns or maintenance needs directly to the city?

So we have several Mayor, vice mayor, members of the council, sorry about that. We have several elements and items, resources that we have available in our street transportation department to address these concerns. Some of them being for residential streets, such as speed tables, speed humps, things of that nature. We also, in some situations, will even look to restrict lane widths. We have seen that that also slows traffic as well as we come to our council and on an annual basis and look to reduce speeds on some of those streets. These are just some of the elements that we use. As specific to schools, some of the things that we do specifically there, we work with our schools throughout the city of Phoenix. We have over 500 schools that we do an annual inspection of those schools. We go out to those sites. We look at signage. We look at crosswalks. We also look at school zones. We try to start that at the beginning of the calendar year, and that will normally run into the summer. with the objective of making sure that we've identified any repairs that are needed so we can We can respond to those requests or those needs during the summertime so that by the time school is ready to start again, that we are in a condition to where all signage, all signals, all striping is in good shape. And so those are some of the things that we do. It includes looking at our crosswalks, understanding that school zones are specific to elementary schools. High schools do not have school zones. That is something that is governed by the state handbook. However, for elementary schools, we do have that. They come with a yellow sign and also a crossing guard. High schools, however, we will put in crossing crosswalks and high visibility crosswalks whenever possible. And so those are some of the things that we do. We constantly make sure that we keep a line of communication open with our schools. We have a school safety coordinator that works closely with the schools to help them identify even things that they can do on their own site to improve safety as well.

Thank you. You anticipated my next question, and now you already answered it about the school safety assistance. So thank you, Mayor. I wanted to understand that this item related to a legal settlement. I also wanted to acknowledge the broader context behind these types of claims. and the importance of continuing to strengthen how we manage infrastructure safety across the city. Many of these cases unfortunately somehow reflect how residents experience our street sidewalks and transportation infrastructure on a daily basis. And because of that, I thought it was important that we continue to not only focus on a resolution, but also on prevention, early identification of issues before they escalate. I also wanted to emphasize that neighborhood safety is deeply connected to how quickly residents, including schools, can report their concerns and see timely responses from the city. So continuing to strengthen those connections remain critical to building trust and improving outcomes. So thank you for that. And with that, I will move for the approval of item number 20. Second.

Motion and a second. Roll call.

Hernandez? Yes. O'Brien? Yes. Pastor? Yes. Robinson? Yes. Stark? Yes. Waring? Yes. Hodge-Washington?

Yes.

Gallego? Yes. Passes 8-0.

We next go to item 30, which is related to Cesar Chavez artwork. Vice Mayor, do you have a motion?

Motion to approve item 30.

Second. We have a motion and a second, and I'll recognize Councilwoman Hernandez for comments on artwork.

Thank you so much, Mayor. I just wanted to thank the Arts and Culture Office for briefing my team last week on the details of these three changes to public art that is connected to Cesar Chavez. I have stressed to them that I expect our city to continue to honor the spirit of the farmworkers movement that was at the heart of these art pieces. And I will continue to push the city to honor this spirit as we look to rename our streets, plazas, parks, and other art pieces. So with that, I will be supporting this item. Thank you so much. Thank you, roll call.

Hernandez? Yes. O'Brien? Yes. Pastor? Yes. Robinson?

Yes.

Stark? Yes. Waring? Yes. Hodge-Washington? Yes. Gallego?

Yes. Passes 8-0. Item 32 is related to the contract with the Human Services Campus known as Keys to Change. Vice Mayor, motion to approve item 32? Second. We have a motion and a second. Any comments? Councilwoman Hernandez.

Thank you so much, Mayor. I just want to continue to voice my support for all the really critical work that is being held at the Keys to Change campus. I want to thank Amy specifically for your willingness to hold such a consistent and open relationship with us at the City of Phoenix. YOU HAVE ALL BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT WITH US IN OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS AND OUR TRULY GREAT PARTNERS. KIESA CHANGE IS THE ONLY 24-HOUR WALK-UP SERVICE AND SHELTER PROVIDER FOR SINGLE ADULTS IN THE CITY OF PHOENIX. SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS WORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. NEW SPEAKER ROLL CALL.

NEW SPEAKER ERNANDEZ. NEW SPEAKER YES. NEW SPEAKER O'BRIEN. NEW SPEAKER YES. NEW SPEAKER PASTOR. NEW SPEAKER YES. NEW SPEAKER ROBINSON. NEW SPEAKER YES. NEW SPEAKER STARK. NEW SPEAKER YES. NEW SPEAKER WARREN. NEW SPEAKER YES. NEW SPEAKER HODGE WASHINGTON. NEW SPEAKER YES. NEW SPEAKER GALLEGO.

Yes. Passes 8-0. Item 35 is authorization to amend the emergency shelter and heat-related respite operator and supportive services qualified vendor list and increase authority. Vice Mayor, do we have a motion? Motion to approve item 35. Second.

Councilman O'Brien. Thank you, Mayor. If I could have Director Milne come to the table. At previous meetings, we have heard from some residents and clients raising concerns about conditions at the safe outdoor space. And our residents deserve clear, direct answers RACHEL MILNE, WHO LEADS OUR OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS, IS AT BEST POSITIONS TO PROVIDE THEM. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED ON THE RECORD AND IN THE RIGHT FORUM. OFTEN WE'RE NOT ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE BECAUSE THEY COME AT THE END OF A MEETING DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. YESTERDAY WE HEARD FROM SOME FOLKS WHO stay at the safe outdoor space. And there was a claim specifically that somebody, that people have died at the safe outdoor space. Could you please address that?

Mayor, members of council, Councilman O'Brien, that is not a correct statement. We have not had a heat-related death recently at the safe outdoor space.

Okay, and additionally, equally concerning is there was a claim that an animal died at the campus due to heat. Could you please address that as well?

Yes, Councilwoman O'Brien, thank you. We do allow pets at the safe outdoor space. That's one of the things that makes it a special space. And certainly we often have pets that pass away. We did have a pet pass away on May 13th. I got some information from the team today that that animal had been very sick, had spent the day and evening in the kennels inside the office space at the safe outdoor space, which is air conditioned. At the time that the staff brought the dog back to its owners, it did die later that morning. It did spend an afternoon and overnight inside though. We have no information on whether or not, we do know that the dog was sick. We do not know if the dog died from heat-related illness.

Thank you for sharing that information. I was incredibly concerned to hear about those comments yesterday, and I appreciate you providing us additional information and context. Additionally, in previous meetings, we've heard from a client who said he's lived at the safe outdoor space since September of 2024, and he expressed concerns that he was being forced out. I don't want you to tell us private or confidential information specifically about that person, but could you explain what the Office of Homeless Solutions does to support people who are living at our safe outdoor space?

Certainly, Mayor, members of Council, Councilwoman O'Brien. So not only the Office of Homeless Solutions, but we have two partners that help us operate the Safe Outdoor Space, Keys to Change and Community Bridges, Inc. And so every individual at the Safe Outdoor Space has a team of people that they're working with to help them end their homelessness. And I did want to first state that the purpose of the Safe Outdoor Space is really to be a temporary, short-term site to meet people where they are, to allow them to have a space that is not an unsheltered space, to help them either from the safe outdoor space obtain housing or go into a safer indoor space. So that is really the purpose, to help people move into, certainly to end their homelessness, but if not, to move into a safer indoor shelter. And we have a 33% what we consider positive exit rate, which would be moving people into housing or moving people into, a safer indoor shelter space.

Thank you. I think it's important for the public to hear that the space was designed and intended to be a transitional space, a safe bridge, not a permanent address. Our goal is always to move people towards stability, whether that's shelter, housing, treatment, or reunification with family. Having a case manager sit down with a client to build an employment and housing plan is exactly what this program is supposed to do. We also have heard concerns about the showers potentially containing mold. Can you tell us more about that, please?

CERTAINLY, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN O'BRIEN. YES, WE HAVE TESTED THE SHOWERS AT THE SAFE OUTDOOR SPACE. AS YOU KNOW, WE UTILIZE MOBILE SHOWERS AT THAT SPACE. JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, I BELIEVE, WE HAD OUR CITY OF PHOENIX FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ENGINEER, ENVIRONMENTAL Our programs coordinator came out and looked at those areas. We also had a third party contractor come and test all of the showers and there was no mold found. I will say that there has been vandalism in all of the showers. There are burn marks on the ceilings of the showers, which could be misinterpreted as mold, but there is no mold in the showers.

Okay, to just reiterate what you've said. So we've had two independent assessments that have found no mold. That is correct. I appreciate you addressing these, respecting these concerns and then also responding so quickly to them. We've also heard concerns about flooding bathrooms and the overall cleanliness of the site. Can you walk us through a maintenance schedule and protocols that are in place to handle that?

Certainly, Mayor, members of council. We currently have 18 restrooms and two ADA restrooms for a total of 20. We are currently installing an additional two restroom trailers, which will bring us actually to 22 regular restrooms and four ADA restrooms. All of the restrooms are cleaned by the janitorial staff, who's a hired vendor from Keys to Change. They're cleaned six times per day. I will say that these are also mobile restroom trailers, so not permanent structures. We do often have clogs and what have you. So not only my team, Keys to Change team, and then Keys to Change also has a vendor who is frequently called when we have clogs to come out on site and to help us manage those clogs.

Thank you very much. There was also testimony suggesting the food provided is inadequate. Can you describe what clients receive and how it compares to what's provided at other city-operated shelter facilities? Yes.

Councilwoman O'Brien, Keys to Change holds a contract with St. Vincent de Paul for the food provided at the safe outdoor space. They do provide three meals per day. We have similar contracts at all of our other city owned sites, including Washington Shelter and the Phoenix Navigation Center. as well as other shelters within the community also utilize St. Vincent de Paul. So St. Vincent de Paul requires that each meal have a carbohydrate, a vegetable, and a protein included in each meal. So that is their nutritional standard, and they also have a portion size control. So the clients at Safe Outdoor Space are getting the same meals that is being served at other indoor shelters.

And they are receiving three meals a day. Correct. Wonderful. Thank you for sharing that. Some testimony that we've also heard over the last few months is that the water is unsafe to drink because the filter light is red. Can you explain a little bit about that filter and what that red light means? I know that in my own home I have a filter and I get a light, but we keep drinking the water sometimes, so.

Yes, Councilwoman O'Brien, we do have two bottle filling stations at the safe outdoor space, one inside and one outside. Everyone is provided a reusable bottle. We also have plastic bottles at security at the walk-up gate in case someone is dehydrated after being outside and walking outside. some distance. So yes, those filters get changed very frequently. As you can imagine, we have roughly 250 individuals staying there and people use those frequently. So we have a stockpile of filters and we change them when necessary. And my team let me know that they were actually just changed two days ago, and the red indicator light had malfunctioned. It is not working, but the date on the filter is client-facing, so people can see the date that that filter expires. And I will say we will continue to monitor and make sure that that filter is changed. However, even when the light changes to yellow and red, as you mentioned, the water is still safe to drink. It just means the filter needs to be replaced.

Thank you. Another concern that was raised was relative to ice and the availability of ice to the clients staying there. Can you address that for me? Yes.

Councilwoman O'Brien, we do have an ice maker. We have had an ice maker at the safe outdoor space. So we do, the Keys to Change staff puts out a cooler or a cambrio filled with ice so clients can access ice themselves. That cooler gets filled up multiple times a day. This summer, the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation also provided us with our ready ice freezer, which is bagged ice. So we haven't had to use that ice yet. Our ice maker has kept up with demand so far, but when needed this summer, we will also be able to take a bag out of that ice freezer and utilize that if our ice maker is not able to keep up with demand.

Excellent, so my last question is about participation. Will you please address whether people choose or are required to stay at the safe outdoor space?

Mayor, members of the council, Councilwoman O'Brien, participation at all of our sites, including the safe outdoor space is completely voluntary. We certainly want individuals to utilize our sites and to utilize all of the services that we provide at our sites, but it is not mandatory. We do ask at most of our sites that you be working towards housing if you're staying there. However, at the safe outdoor space, we do not have any 90-day requirements as some shelters in our community do. People can stay there as long as they are there for the reason of, you know, seeking shelter and seeking to eventually be housed.

So thank you, Rachel, for helping to address many of the concerns and stating on the record that it is a voluntary program. I also want to thank you and your staff, as well as Amy and the Keys to Change for their management of the SOS or the safe outdoor space. While this program, and I should also say thank you to the community that we have worked hand in hand with to have this partnership where this space is for folks who don't always feel comfortable going into a regular shelter. And so this is a different option that has different rules per se for entry. While the safe outdoor space is not perfect, no program serving people in crisis I think ever is, but it is safe, it is sanitary, and it is a structured environment with dedicated staff working every day to move people toward permanent housing. Thank you for answering all my questions. Mayor, thank you for the time this afternoon.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Important information. Vice Mayor.

Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted, since OHS was at the table, I wanted to publicly give accolades. I know many times when residents come to the podium and they talk about their experience, many times OHS staff will go and connect with them. and many times you are able to provide them with resources and i think that doesn't always get stated so i just wanted to say thank you i know just earlier this week you were able to help one of the individuals that came and helped them find placement so i just want to say thank you for that and also wanted to indicate or and highlight our point in time count showed that although we are not yet there we have been making strides as a community when it comes to addressing the number of individuals we've THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT. SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THOSE PUBLIC ACCOLADES TO THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR WORK.

NEW SPEAKER THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ.

NEW SPEAKER THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. I ECHO WHAT THE VICE MAYOR JUST SAID. I REALLY AM HAPPY TO SEE THAT OUR RESIDENTS THERE COME AND FEEL TRUSTING ENOUGH TO COME AND SHARE ANY CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE AND HOW QUICKLY YOU MOVE TO ADDRESS THOSE SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. ALSO JUST WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC AND TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT YOU AND I ARE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE SITE SINCE IT IS IN DISTRICT 7. I HAVE VISITED THE SITE MULTIPLE TIMES. I CONTINUE TO STAY UP TO DATE ON ANYTHING HAPPENING AT THE SITE SO I KNOW LIKE THERE'S CONSTANT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN US. between keys that also manages the property. So, and, you know, I have scheduled visits and plans to continue to make, be a physical presence there just to make sure that the clients there and the residents know that, you know, we, just really value the work and the services that are happening there. So again, thank you so much for everything you're doing. D7 office is super involved on this for the public. We're over any concerns we hear from there. I don't know how many times I talked to Rachel about all the things that are happening. But thank you so much for the support. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you. Thank you to the Vice Mayor for bringing up the point in time count. We did get updated information about where Emergency and shelter facilities are in our county. City of Phoenix, 36% of our county, 78% of the shelter beds. It's amazing to think what progress we could make if other communities participated at the same rate we did. Councilwoman Pestor.

Yes. I want to go back to the water station. Did I hear correctly that we have two water stations for 250 people?

Mayor, members of council, Councilwoman Pastor, yes, we have two bottle filling stations, one inside in the day room and then one outside in the tent area. And then we also have bottled water available at the security gate as people walk into the site.

Is it possible to add more filling stations? Because I think I'm visualizing this and I visualize it in a school. on how there's 250 kids and we only have two water stations. And then yes, they can get a bottle of water at the station, but that's 250 people trying to survive at that moment in heat. And so I'm trying to give more resources so that to the community or to the center so that then we're not having these type of issues in front of us.

Councilman Pastor, that's definitely something we can look into for sure. Thank you. Okay.

I do want to thank you for the two additional ADA bathrooms because that was heard at District 4 and I kind of just shut down the... my district meeting and said, we will do the two ADA bathrooms. So I want to thank you for following through and making sure that happened. My other question is, I hear often, and I know the answer to this, so I want to say it publicly, that there are pallets of water that they would like to have or drink. What are the pallets of water for?

mayor members of council councilman pastor thank you for asking that question so back in march in late march when we when we saw the very high temperatures we had 15 pallets of water delivered to the safe outdoor space and that was our distribution site for all of our outreach workers the ohs outreach workers and our partners so we did a distribution event of water and heat relief supplies with those pallets of water so that our outreach teams when engaging with people unsheltered could offer those. We did that relatively early this summer since it was so hot. That water has all been distributed and there are no longer pallets of water just sitting in the day room at the safe outdoor space.

And the purpose of them sitting at the day room was because of?

Those pallets were delivered for distribution. So they were sitting there just to be distributed, so yes.

And my understanding is it's because we had the space there to be able to then distribute them from that area to hit all the different distribution areas in addition to those that were there.

That's exactly correct. I should have stated in previous years, we would have used our heat relief center at 20 West Jackson. It was because it was so early in the summer in March that we utilized the space at the safe outdoor space. Thank you.

So I just want to add clarity to that only because it's like anybody, like me, if I see water, There's a bunch of water. All of a sudden I want water and why can't I have it? So I think we had to add clarity to why the pellets were there and where they were going because it is for distribution. Water is going out to our community and there is water available when needed. So thank you for that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Roll call.

Hernandez? Yes. O'Brien? Yes. Pastor? Yes. Robinson? Yes. Stark? Yes. Waring? Yes. Hodge-Washington? Yes. Gallego?

Yes. Passes 8-0. Item 46 is Pratt & Whitney Engine Repairs and Services. Vice Mayor?

Motion to approve item 46.

Second. Councilwoman Hernandez.

Thank you so much, Mayor. I just have a couple quick questions for the chief or probably Chief Benza. No, Chief Lee. And?

Commander Reagan.

Commander.

I can't keep track of everyone's names all the time. Sorry. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CHIEF LEE, ON THIS ITEM, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS ITEM IS THAT WE ARE AUTHORIZING THE EXTENSION OF THIS CONTRACT AND THE DISBURSEMENT OF ALL THE FUNDS NOT TO EXCEED $2.1 MILLION. HOW MUCH HAVE WE ALREADY SPENT ON THIS CONTRACT?

COUNCILWOMAN HERNANDEZ, CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW THIS WAS A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT. SO FAR The money that had been spent, the last overhaul was conducted in 2018. That was conducted on the fixed-wing aircraft. We only have two aircraft in the fleet that have this particular engine. One is a fixed-wing, one is a helicopter.

Okay, thank you. And sorry, that was kind of going to lead into my next question, that the taxpayer dollars used for this is to fix a rescue helicopter and single-engine airplane? That is correct. And is this rescue helicopter different from the regular Phoenix PD helicopters that we regularly see flying through the city?

Mayor, members of council, Councilwoman Hernandez, yes, that is a specific aircraft that is what we classify as a twin engine helicopter. That is the one that we partner with the fire department to be able to perform mountain rescues. It is a heavy duty, heavily equipped unit that we can use to be able to transport multiple people. In this case, if they were trying to do a rescue on a mountain, they would have to transport several firefighters. And that's really the main purpose for that particular aircraft.

Okay, thank you. And it's like you read my mind on what my last question was going to be on what was it used for. So thank you for elaborating on that. That is all my questions. Thank you so much, Mayor. Thank you. Roll call.

Hernandez?

No.

O'Brien? Yes. Pastor? Yes. Robinson?

Yes.

Stark? Yes. Waring? Yes. Hutch Washington? Yes. Gallego? Yes. Passes 7-1.

Thank you. Next, we have item 50 related to Phoenix Goodyear Airport new apron and taxiway connector. Do we have a motion? Motion to approve item 50. Second. Second from Councilwoman O'Brien. And we do have one speaker here, Cesar.

good afternoon mayor gallego vice mayor hodge washington and members of the council my name is caesar corral and i'm here on behalf of labor unions across arizona regarding item 50 the phoenix goodyear airport new apron and taxiway connector project as a city considers major public infrastructure investments we believe it is important to prioritize strong workforce standards local hiring skilled apprenticeship training and safety When projects invest in local workers, these dollars stay in Arizona communities, supporting local families, small businesses, and the long-term growth of our workforce. And although Arizona's union trades have a strong track record of delivering complex aviation and public work projects, training the next generation of skilled workers through registered apprenticeship programs is our proudest accomplishment. Why, you may ask? Because these projects create real career pathways and help ensure public investments benefit the communities helping fund them. We encourage the city to continue prioritizing responsible workforce practices and opportunities that maximize local economic impact as it considers item 50. Thank you for your time. And sorry, I am out of breath. I just came up the stairs from the bathroom.

Thank you. Good cardio here. Roll call. Hernandez? Yes. O'Brien?

Yes. Pastor? Yes. Robinson? Yes. Stark? Yes. Waring? Yes. Hodge-Washington? Yes.

Gallego? Yes. Passes 8-0. Next is Item 53, Vehicle Movement Area Transponders Contract Amendment.

Motion to approve Item 53. Second.

We have a motion and a second. This item will help us bring more transponders to vehicles on the tarmac at the airport. In another state, there was a really difficult crash, and many people think additional transponders might have helped everyone see the airfield better and understand it. We're doing a lot of things to keep the airfield safe at Sky Harbor, and I'm so thankful we were able to move this forward. A huge thank you to Sarah Demery, from our aviation department to Chief Grice from the fire department and everyone who worked in procurement to get this moving and to do our part on safety. Really appreciate it.

Roll call. Hernandez? Yes. O'Brien? Yes. Pastor? Yes. Robinson?

Yes.

Stark? Yes. Waring? Yes. Hodge-Washington? Yes. Gallego? Yes. Passes 8-0.

We next move to roadway safety action plan number 61. Council, or Vice Mayor, do you have a motion?

Motion to approve item 61.

Motion and a second. Diane Barker, come on down.

Good afternoon, Sunny Day Mayor, Council, and I'm still in District 7. I'm a Hernandez. This caught my eye because it has to do with public safety and it should concern everybody here. It's well known that unfortunately the City of Phoenix has high pedestrian and vehicle deaths. I got to speak with Streets and so I just want to say that they're on top of what got passed to Board of Supervisors today. It was an IGA with Valley Metro and it has to do with a certain database that is being used to help move the traffic and to be in tune with real time with traffic signalization all over Maricopa County. I guess that there are at least 265 miles in Phoenix. Your item here today has five districts, but apparently this vehicle, which is called a connectivity vehicle acceleration zone that Maricopa-McDot has. it would be in all of your districts. And so it's because we have so many crashes and what we have, and this is terrifying to think that we would have our emergency vehicles tied up in a crash when they're on the way to be a reliever of another disaster. So I applaud the streets for contacting me today and letting me know that this has been brought up in the transportation. I feel better that you're on top of this. And my efforts of going to these different jurisdictions is for collaboration. Thank you. Thank you.

Seeing no questions, roll call. Hernandez? Yes.

O'Brien? Yes.

Yes.

Pastor? Yes. Robinson?

Yes.

Stark? Yes. Waring? Yes. Hodge-Washington? Yes. Gallego? Passes 7-0.

We now move on to item 80, which is fireworks, sorry, fire code fireworks amendment. Can I have the clerk read the title?

Item 80 is for Ordinance G7515, an ordinance authorizing amendments to Phoenix City Code Chapter 15, Sections 202 and 5601.1.3 relating to fireworks and permissible consumer fireworks.

I move to approve Item 80.

Second. I'm gonna start off with comments from Councilman Stark. Thank you. I just wanted to say it seems like every January 1st and every July 4th, I get inundated with calls from residents complaining about fireworks. I hear everything about PTSD, about animals frightened because of the fireworks. People can't go to bed, they can't sleep. But one of the things that really does concern me is we get a lot of comments about the fireworks around the preserves. And in July, I know those preserves can be like tinderboxes, and that really does frighten me. And so I want to thank staff for stepping up and trying to address these issues. I know I'm not the only district that gets complaints, but I think it's important, especially from a fire safety perspective, that we do this ordinance. So I want to thank everyone that worked on it. I want to thank the police department, and I want to thank the fire department. I am full support of this. Thank you for what you've done.

Thank you, Councilman. I too would like to extend my gratitude to our city staff and our public safety partners and the community for getting us here. Like Councilman Stark, we hear so much from our community regarding fireworks. We consistently hear these concerns, including the fire safety risk in some of our drier climates, times of year, the impact on families, pets, veterans, and just the broader quality of life in residential communities. So I do appreciate that this update is responsive to what our residents have been experiencing on the ground. If there are no other questions, I'll call for roll call.

Hernandez? Yes. O'Brien? Yes. Pastor? Yes. Robinson?

Yes.

Stark?

Yes.

Waring? Yes. Hodge-Washington? Yes. Gallego? Passes 7-0.

Moving on to item 81, which is a city code fireworks amendment. Can I ask the city clerk to read the title?

Item 81 is for Ordinance G7516, an ordinance repealing Phoenix City Code Chapter 23, Article 2, Division 5, entitled Consumer Fireworks in its entirety and replacing it with a new Chapter 23, Article 2, Division 5, entitled Fireworks and Permissible Consumer Fireworks.

I move to approve Item 81. Second.

All right.

Go ahead and roll call. Hernandez. Yes. O'Brien. Yes. Pastor. Yes. Robinson.

Yes.

Stark. Yes. Waring. Yes. Hodge-Washington.

Yes.

Gallego. Passes 7-0.

Next, we will move on to our public comment as city attorney to explain public comment.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. During citizen comment, members of the public may speak to the city council for up to three minutes on issues of interest or concern. However, the matters addressed must be within the jurisdiction of the Phoenix City Council and on which the council has the authority to act. The citizen comment session is limited to 30 minutes. The Arizona Open Meeting Law allows the city council to listen to comments that prohibits council members from discussing or acting on the issues presented. However, council members may respond to criticism. Thank you.

Thank you. We'll begin with Lou Anne Arrington, followed by Missy Pruitt.

Lou Anne Arrington Mayor, City Council, thank you for having me. My name is Lou Anne Arrington. I am a Phoenix native, District 6.

Yay!

I am here just to thank you and to celebrate Phoenix Feline Education and Awareness Day. It's officially tomorrow. Some of us are here to celebrate today, and I would just like to thank you all for creating that amazing day. And just as a Phoenix native, I've just seen the feral cat problem in Phoenix and the valley. It's just out of control, and we need help. And I think just this Awareness Day is going to help a little bit. But any kind of support, anything that you can do for us to help get this problem under control, it would be greatly appreciated. So once again, I just want to say thank you. And just remember that tomorrow is Phoenix Feline Education and Awareness Day.

Yay! Thank you. Thank you. Missy is next, followed by Peter.

Hi, council. Hi, mayor. So the proclamation you guys did was for last year. And I just want to read it. That's all I want to do is read it today. So if that's OK, if I can read it, it's from the mayor, but I'm going to read it so that everybody else can hear it because it was never read out loud. So this is from the City of Phoenix. Millions of cats, both owned and unowned, are part of our communities and their well-being is tied to the neighborhoods in which they live. Education is a vital tool in addressing the root causes of feline overpopulation, neglect and misunderstanding, and fostering responsible pet ownership and humane care for all cats. Initiatives focused on Trap New to Return, TNR, shelter partnerships, and educational outreach are essential components in creating humane, sustainable solutions for maintaining community cat populations. Local shelters, rescues, organizations, and compassionate individuals dedicate their time and resources to support the health and well-being of cats in our city. For these groups, it is especially important to inform and empower the public, especially the youth, on feline welfare through workshops, resources, and community engagement. Children are the next generation of advocates and programs that educate youth, young people on kindness, responsibility, and advocacy have long-lasting impacts on both animals and human lives. So then Kate, the mayor, proclamated it. So I won't read that. But Phoenix Feline Awareness and Education Day was officially proclamated May 21st, 2025 throughout Phoenix. So we just want to thank you for doing that. It was a big deal for everybody. And we are having an event tonight to celebrate cats and the city and all the things that we do. And we appreciate everything that you guys are going to hopefully do in the future and just acknowledging and hopefully we can work together in the future. There is a huge problem of kittens right now. We have an overabundance. I have brought each one of you a kitten. But don't worry, they're spayed and neutered already.

So there's one for each of you.

I will set them here.

Thank you. Have a great day.

Thank you. Peter will be our final speaker. Peter, if you are here, could you indicate? Oh, are you good? Okay. Thank you.

Hi, I'm Pete Nagy, and if I would have known gifts were allowed, I would have brought you Easter golf ball because I'm here to talk about Phoenix golf. I've been in Phoenix golf for 20 years and enjoyed it very much. Play a lot of golf, 80, 90 rounds a year. And I play predominantly at Cave Creek, probably once a week at least for the last 20 years. And I just want to talk to you a little bit about the conditions of city golf courses, maintenance, and funding, because we get a lot of play. Cave Creek's got 64,000 rounds of golf this year, and with 64,000 rounds of golf, Maintenance is an important issue. Improvements are an important issue. And all the courses, like I played at Gila, they do a pretty good job. Cape Creek tries hard, but they could use a little bit more in the area of funding. All the city golf could use more in the area of funding. And if there's anything that the city could do to move things along to get more funding, however they could make Phoenix Golf more enjoyable for the hundreds of thousands of us to play golf every year at Phoenix. And that's all I wanted to say. Thank you.

Thank you for that important testimony. Mimi will be next.

Hi, everyone. I'm not used to hearing my voice in a microphone. I'm not a public speaker. It's very awkward for me to be up here, as it probably is for many who want to speak who don't take the opportunity. But I'm going to be brave. It's my first time ever doing this. And I want to thank you, mayor, vice mayor, members of council, and anyone here who's willing to listen. So I'm super awkward. I'm probably going to bomb and mess up. But this is something very important to me. And I know it's something very important to many, many people. In fact, I've been counting on the Facebook groups, different groups, many different rescues, how many people in Arizona, in Phoenix, are on these pages every day posting about the epidemic of major problems with cat overpopulation in Phoenix. It happens in warm places, so Florida has issues, Texas has issues. I moved from Oregon in 2019. I never had heard of anything like this. I once found a cat that got hit by a car. I picked up the cat, took it to the vet. It was a rare occurrence. Right now when I'm driving and I'm paying attention, I used to not do this, but people, once I got involved in the cat community here, which was completely by accident, I'm allergic to cats. I love animals, I'm humanitarian, but I started noticing them. They're hiding in the bushes, they're flat on the ground in the street. Today, pay attention, on your way home, if you're taking the bus, if you're walking, if you're driving, you'll see them. If you pay attention, there are many in the street, and these are the ones that don't make it, but there are many, many that are surviving on the kindness of people willing to feed them, willing to give them water, and the reason some of us do this, and I just have gotten involved, I totally didn't want to do this, I'm telling you, but it's very important to me because Well, let me just back up. I moved here in 2019 from cold Oregon. Got here, I love the sun, so do cats. What ended up happening is the pandemic started. My daughter was a freshman in high school. She begged us to foster cats. I took allergy medicine every day, twice a day. I still have extreme allergies. We ended up foster failing. We fostered 75 cats over a few years. Meanwhile, even during the pandemic, I was a volunteer with the International Rescue Committee every single Friday night, the least favorable shift. No one would take it. My husband and I worked the showers, also worked with St. Vincent de Paul, brought food over, fed hundreds of people every night at this location in Phoenix. What ended up happening is it shut down last year. There was no more, there were a lot of things that closed it down, but the IRC moved out of the ANOT school where we were doing our volunteer work. We actually were asked by the employees, not the volunteers, if we could help as volunteers Okay. Well, we need a TNR program just like Mesa, just like Tempe, because everything is on the shoulders of us. Thousands of people. Check it out on Facebook. Look up feral cats. You'll see. We're doing the work every day, and it's a never-ending cycle. Mesa has a successful program. Thank you for the important testimony.

I believe that is our final speaker. We are adjourned.

A program encourages recycling, so collect the recyclables and take them with you. Make sure your group has enough water and that on-site first aid is available.