Mesa City Council Meeting - December 2, 2025: BESS Setback, Utility Rates, and Public Comments
Mesa City Council Meeting - December 2, 2025
The Mesa City Council met on December 2, 2025, with Councilmembers Duffin and Heredia excused. The meeting included a consent agenda, public hearings, and discussions on battery energy storage system (BESS) regulations, utility rate increases, and public comments on immigration enforcement. The council approved most items, with notable votes on BESS and utility rates.
Consent Calendar
- Approved all consent agenda items (Items 2–6) as a group, including approvals for contracts, cooperative agreements, code adoptions, and intergovernmental agreements. Items 7A–7D, 9A, and 10A were removed from the consent agenda for separate discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): Multiple speakers addressed the proposed setback requirements. Mary Mabinow (District 5 resident) opposed the 1,000-foot setback, citing fire hazards, noise, and visual impacts. Jeff Crockett (attorney for renewable energy companies) urged adoption of the 400-foot option (7C/7D) and supported the 1,000-foot option (7A/7B). Autumn Johnson (Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association) opposed the 1,000-foot setback as excessive, recommending 100–150 feet based on national standards. Court Rich (Rose Law Group, representing IPA Power) thanked staff for the ordinance but noted it is strict. Matt Quinn (fire protection consultant) stated the 1,000-foot setback lacks justification and recommended NFPA 855 standards. Sepand Alzadeh (Arizona Technology Council) urged a reasonable setback, noting the rigorous permitting process.
- Utility Rate Increases: Several residents spoke in opposition. Carrie Davis pointed to the $9.4 million increase in the utility fund transfer to the general fund and suggested excluding that amount. Mark Kimball, Reed Gottschuk, Mark Hunsaker, Nathan Scott, Nancy Thompson, Leslie Wilson, Bradley Bitoncourt, and Mary Mabinow all opposed the rate increases, citing financial hardship and lack of transparency. Leslie Wilson noted the $16 million obligation for the Chicago Cubs facility and urged a no vote. Bradley Bitoncourt (Dobson Ranch HOA president) cautioned that commercial rate increases affect HOA assessments.
- Citizens Present (Item 11): Reggie Braun opposed the 287(g) agreement with ICE, citing liability risks and diversion of police resources. Elizabeth Lee (nurse and candidate) urged transparency and data publication on ICE referrals. Noah James made comments on religion and urged removing the ICE agreement and supporting the Fiesta Mall project.
Discussion Items
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (Items 7A–7D): The council debated two options: Option 1 (7A/7B) with a 1,000-foot separation from residential areas and 400 feet from sensitive receptors, and Option 2 (7C/7D) with a 400-foot separation from all. Staff presented the rationale for the 1,000-foot residential setback, citing quality of life, while the Fire Marshal confirmed that NFPA 855 sets a 100-foot minimum from equipment to property line, which is separate from the zoning separation. Councilmember Adams argued for a 1,000-foot residential setback, citing fire experience and community safety. Councilmember Taylor questioned why sensitive receptors such as schools were not also given a 1,000-foot setback. The council voted to introduce only 7A and 7B (the 1,000-foot option) for a future vote; 7C and 7D were not moved.
- Utility Rate Increases (Items 10A–10E): Staff presented a revised proposal reducing the residential increase from 5.5% to 2.5% after council discussion, while increasing commercial rates to achieve equity. The adjustment was part of a broader effort to smooth rates over time. Councilmember Adams noted he proposed a zero increase but accepted the compromise. Councilmember Taylor stated she would vote no, citing a $54/month increase for her household and calling for more creativity in budgeting. Vice Mayor Goforth supported the gradual increase as necessary for infrastructure and long-term water security. The council voted to approve all five utility rate items (10A–10E) with the 2.5% residential increase.
- Capacity Fee (Item 9A): Passed without discussion after brief public comment from Noah James on water scarcity.
Key Outcomes
- BESS Setback: Approved introduction of Option 1 (7A and 7B) with a 1,000-foot separation from residential areas and 400 feet from sensitive receptors. The motion passed, with Councilmember Taylor voting no. Option 2 (7C and 7D) was not introduced. Final adoption will occur at a future meeting.
- Utility Rate Increases: Approved all five rate ordinances (10A–10E) with the following increases: electric (2.1% for 2023-24, 1.9% for 2024-25, 1.7% for 2025-26), natural gas (smooth adjustments), water (2.5% residential, higher commercial), wastewater, and solid waste. All motions passed, with Councilmember Taylor voting no on the water rate increase (10C).
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
- Next Steps: The final adoption of BESS regulations (7A/7B) is scheduled for the December 8 council meeting. Utility rate adjustments will take effect on April 1, 2026, for non-residential rates, with a notice of intent for additional commercial increases to be considered on December 8.
Meeting Transcript
For December 1st, 2025. Council members Duffin Heredia are unable to attend and are excused from this meeting. Other all other council members are present. With that, we'll begin our meeting with an invocation by Pastor Corey Moore from the Holy Trinity Community AME Church, followed by a pledge of allegiance. Would you please stand? Pastor Kemp Ford. Would you join me in a moment of silence? Thank you. Thank you. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. We have some youth here to do that from the Mayor's Youth Committee. Thank you, ladies. Start us off. And to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, ladies. Item one is the consent agenda. Mr. Christopher, if you'd like to come forward with the consent agenda. And I know 7A and 7B. See. 9A. And 10A. Is that what you have so far? Yes. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor and Council members. These are the items of the consent agenda. All items listed with an asterisk will be considered as a group by the city council. And I'll be removed or it would be enacted with one motion. There will be no separate discussion unless a council member or citizen request, in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered as a separate item. Item two, approval of minutes of previous meetings as written. Item three A, approving three-year term contract with two year renewal options for legal processing services for the Mesa Police Department. Item 3B, approving 10 month use of a cooperative term contract with renewals for heavy duty fleet, construction and agricultural industrial parts, service and accessories for the fleet services and Mesa Fire and Medical Departments. Item 3C approving use of a cooperative contract for the purchase of one asphalt paper for the fleet services and transportation departments. Item 3D, approving five-year term use of a cooperative contract for the purchase of library equipment maintenance and support for the library services department. Item three E approving two year use of a cooperative term contract with renewal options and dollar limit increase for HVAC services for citywide facilities for the facilities management department. Item 4A, approving resolution to execute a waiver of ADOT's four-year notice provision for right-of-way abandonment as required by state law. This will allow ADOT to proceed with the abandonment and transfer to the city of previously identified traffic interchanges along the Super System Freeway between Krisman Road and Signal Butte Road. Item 4B, approving resolution to execute a project agreement with Meg for the Mountain Road, State Route 24 to Pecos Road Project and related reimbursement. The city is eligible for reimbursement of 70% of the project cost. Item 4C, approving resolution designating the authorized applicant agent and alternate agent for filing applications with the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs for disaster relief funding. Item 4D, approving resolution to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the FBI to participate in the Central Arizona Safe Trails Task Force. Item 4E, approving resolution to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Panao County Sheriff's Office for cooperative law enforcement training. Items 5A through 5S involve resolutions and ordinances pertaining to the 2024 editions of technical codes with international family of codes and amendments to those codes and introduction of ordinances pertaining to Mesa City Code, Title Four for Building Regulations. 5A is introduction of ordinance amending chapter 1 Mesa Administrative Code. 5B's approving resolution declaring 2024 International Building Code and certain dependencies to be a public record. 5C is an introduction of an ordinance amending chapter 2 Mesa Building Code. 5D is approving resolution declaring 2024 International Residential Code and certain dependencies to be a public record. 5E is introduction of ordinance amending chapter 3 Mesa Residential Code. 5F is approving resolution declaring amendments to the 2023 National Electric Code to be a public record.
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