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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Mesa City Council Meeting - January 27, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, January 27, 2026

BodyMesa, Arizona

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, January 27, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:12:27

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

Good evening.

0:01

Welcome to the Mesa City Council meeting for January 26, 2026.

0:06

All members of our city council are present.

0:09

As we usually do, we're going to begin the meeting with an invocation by Reverend Mindy Tucker from the Unity of Mesa, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:18

The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by U.S.

0:20

Army Lieutenant George Papa, who served as the Alpha Company Platoon, leader of the Americal Division in South Vietnam.

0:29

So with that, would you please stand for our invocation?

0:37

Sweet Spirit, we come together with humility and grace, holding the highest and best for our beloved city, knowing that with wisdom in our minds and love in our hearts, that we are guided.

0:58

We are guided to serve and protect our beloved families, our elders, our youngers, our in-betweens, so that everyone can receive what they need and deserve with dignity.

1:17

With great gratitude for attention to safety and respect.

1:24

We say thank you, God and amen.

1:28

Amen.

1:42

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

1:51

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

1:58

Thank you.

1:58

You may be separate.

2:02

Thank you, uh Reverend Tucker and Lieutenant Papa.

2:06

Thank you.

2:06

You're excused.

2:10

Item one is the consent agenda.

2:12

Mr.

2:12

Christopher, you'd like to come forward and read the consent agenda.

2:16

And then I'll ask Miss Mosley if we got everything off the consent.

2:21

Go ahead, sir.

2:22

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

2:23

These are the items on the consent agenda.

2:25

All items listed with an asterisk will be considered as a group by the city council and will be enacted with one motion.

2:30

There will be no separate discussion unless a council member or citizen request, and in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered as a separate item.

2:38

Item two, approval of minutes of previous meetings is written.

2:41

Item 3A, Act of Liquor License Application for Udon Shin, 138 South Dobson Road.

2:46

Item 3B, Acting Liquor License Application for University Market, 1931 West University Drive.

2:52

Item 4A has been removed from the consent agenda.

2:54

Item 4B, approving one-year term contract with four one-year renewal options for bronze water service valves, fittings, and hydrants for the materials and supply warehouse for the water resources department.

3:04

Item 5A has been removed from the consent agenda.

3:07

Item 5B, approving resolution authorizing the sale of certain city-owned real property located at 159 North Phyllis, and enter into a purchase and sale agreement for sale of the property.

3:17

Item 5C has been removed from the consent agenda.

3:19

Item 5D has been removed from the consent agenda.

3:22

Item 6A, act on introduction of ordinance of zoning case 25-256 for property located east of the northeast corner of Southern Avenue and Single Butte Road.

3:31

This is a major site plan modification and amended conditions of approval of ordinance 3884 for development of a minor automobile vehicle service and repair facility.

3:39

Item 6B, introduction of ordinance for zoning case 25-219 for property located west of the southwest corner of Hampton Avenue and Crisman Road.

3:47

Rezone with planned area development overlay and site plan review to allow 102 lot attached single residence development.

3:54

Item 7A, approving resolution declaring proposed titles and schedules of terms, rates, fees, charges for non-residential water utility services to be a public record.

4:03

Item 7B, introduction of ordinance adopting titles and schedules of terms, rates, fees, charges for non-residential water utility services.

4:10

Item 8A, approving resolution declaring amended terms and conditions for the sale of utilities to be a public record.

4:16

Item 8B, introduction of ordinance proposing and adopting amended terms and conditions for sale of utilities.

4:22

Item 9A, approving ordinance, proposing amendments to chapter one of Title One and Chapters 66 and 67 of Title 11 of the Mesa City Code pertaining to the organization and duties of the Planning and Zoning Board and Design Review Board.

4:35

Item 9B, approving ordinance for zoning case 25-397 for property located at the northeast corner of University Drive and 80th Street.

4:42

Site plan modification and amending conditions of approval of ordinance number 2354 to allow for an office development.

4:49

Item 9C, approving ordinance for annexation case 25-889 to de-annex public right of way located at the intersection of Brown Road and Crisman, subject to approval by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

5:01

This de-annexation is to accommodate Maricopa County's right-of-way requirements.

5:05

Item 10A, approving ordinance for zoning case 24-525 for property located at 8839 East Main Street, rezoned with new plan area development overlay, a site plan review and council use permit to allow for a boat in RB storage facility.

5:18

And item 10 B approving resolution to enter into an amended and restated development agreement to facilitate development of a boat and RV storage facility related to zoning case 24-525 on property located on the southwest corner of Main Street and the loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway.

5:34

Mayor and Council members, these are the items on the consent agenda.

5:37

Thank you, Mr.

5:37

Christopher.

5:38

Uh Miss Mosley was everything requested off the consent.

5:42

Yes, Mayor, that was all of the requests.

5:44

Okay, great.

5:45

All right, we'll have a motion for that.

5:50

Thank you, Miss Redia.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Transportation█████████████████████████████████████████████54%

Governmental Procedures███████8%

Technology and Innovation█████6%

Economic Development█████6%

Public Safety████5%

Fiscal Sustainability████5%

Public Engagement████5%

Procedural███4%

Budget Equity Analysis███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Mesa City Council Meeting - January 27, 2026

The Mesa City Council met on January 27, 2026, to consider a consent agenda, three items removed from consent, a presentation on the city's annual financial report, and public comments. Key discussion centered on funding agreements for bus and light rail transit services, with extensive public testimony opposing the light rail subsidy. The council approved all items except the light rail funding agreement passed 6-1.

Consent Calendar

Items approved unanimously: minutes of previous meetings, liquor license applications for Udon Shin and University Market, contracts for water service valves and vehicle telematics (removed), property sale at 159 North Phyllis, zoning cases for a vehicle repair facility and residential development, utility rate schedules, organization of planning boards, office development, de-annexation, and a boat/RV storage facility.
Items removed from consent: 4A (AVL telematics contract), 5A (communication license agreement), 5C (bus transit agreement), and 5D (light rail funding agreement).

Public Comments & Testimony

Item 4A (Telematics): Reggie Braun expressed concern about data privacy, noting that city telematics data could be sold if the vendor goes bankrupt. He suggested keeping data on local servers. No other public comment.
Item 5A (Communication License): No public speakers; item approved unanimously.
Item 5C (Bus Transit Agreement): David Winstanley asked the council to postpone the vote, citing difficulty finding cost data and questioning the value of bus routes with low fare recovery (about 5% of costs). He suggested reviewing Valley Metro's performance. Council and staff responded that the agreement is annual, part of a seven-year contract, and that bus routes serve tens of thousands of riders monthly. Mr. Winstanley later requested staff provide detailed cost data.
Item 5D (Light Rail Funding Agreement): Seven speakers opposed the 15.1 million general fund subsidy:
- Bob Hathcock (District 2) called light rail a "massive waste of taxpayer dollars" and asked how long the city will continue funding it.
- Reggie Braun (briefly) noted that future generations may not drive and that light rail attracts investment.
- Mary Mabineau opposed expansion, citing high costs and crime concentration near stations.
- Linda Patrick Hayes linked light rail to a "15-minute city" concept she associated with the Soviet Union.
- David Winstanley suggested renegotiating with Valley Metro and exploring other technologies.
- Alex Rennie (spoke later on item 5D) urged a no vote, proposing a $5 million cap and innovation.
- Kathy Carlson (District 5) described poor rider experience, low fare enforcement, and high crime.

Discussion Items

Item 4A (Telematics Contract): Scott Kahn (CIO) explained the contract consolidates six existing AVL systems into one vendor, saving money and improving efficiency. Council approved unanimously.
Item 5C (Bus Transit Agreement): Staff (Jody) detailed the $4,997,487 annual cost for four bus routes and circulators, plus paratransit and ride choice services. The agreement is the first year of a seven-year contract. Council discussed termination clauses (60-90 days), Title VI requirements, and the impact of a no vote (cessation of all bus, paratransit, and ride choice services in Mesa). Councilmember Adams noted the contractual obligation to riders. Approved unanimously.
Item 5D (Light Rail Funding Agreement): The $18,043,000 operating cost with $2.93 million in revenue leaves a $15.1 million general fund impact. City Attorney Smith clarified the city is contractually obligated as a co-owner of Valley Metro Rail. Councilmember Taylor argued the subsidy is unfair and voted no, requesting a cap on exposure and a corridor study. Councilmember Adams voted yes reluctantly, citing integrity of contracts. Councilmember Duff emphasized light rail's role in downtown density and economic development. Councilmember Heredia highlighted $1 billion in private investment and 1.8 million annual riders. The vote was 6-1 (Taylor dissenting).
Item 11A (Annual Comprehensive Financial Report): Jean Dietrich (Clifton Larson Allen) presented a clean audit with no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies. The city adopted GASB 102 for risk disclosures. Council approved unanimously.
Item 12 (Citizens Present):
- Jason Smithson proposed a partnership between each council member and a Mesa high school, with annual visits to engage students in civics.
- Noah James Markham (Tempe resident) criticized the length of light rail discussion and lack of infrastructure and urged action on disability services.
- Bob Hathcock reflected on the past year, noting increased transparency and council independence, and encouraged continued stewardship.

Key Outcomes

Consent agenda and all items except 5D approved unanimously.
Item 5D (Light Rail Operating Agreement) approved 6-1, with Councilmember Taylor voting no.
City received an unmodified audit opinion for the 2025 fiscal year.
No formal action taken on citizens' proposals; council thanked speakers and noted the suggestions.
Staff directed to provide additional data on bus and light rail costs to council and residents.

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