Mesa City Council Meeting – February 24, 2026
Mesa City Council Meeting – February 24, 2026
The Mesa City Council met on February 24, 2026, for a regular meeting. The meeting opened with an invocation by Dr. Pamela Anish Nader of the Islamic Social Services Association, given via Zoom, who offered a prayer during the holy month of Ramadan. The council approved the consent agenda unanimously, then considered several items removed from consent, including off-track betting licenses and vendor contracts. Public comment addressed gambling addiction, homelessness, vendor oversight, and the city's 287(g) agreement with ICE.
Consent Calendar
- Approved by unanimous vote. Items included approval of minutes, liquor license applications (Mango Mini Mart, Aldi), off-track betting license applications (O'Kelly Sports Bar and Grill, RTO Solomon's), purchase of computers and a paint striping truck, resolution on pay district board membership, and two items on administrative review code amendments. Items 4A, 5A, 5B, 5D, and 5E were removed for separate discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Reggie Braun spoke on multiple items. On Item 4A (Turf Paradise off-track betting license), he opposed gambling, citing $9,393 per person in societal costs, 30% of homelessness linked to gambling, and concerns about FanDuel's near-miss psychology. On Items 5D and 5E (stadium lighting and video display screen contracts), he criticized the no-compete clause with Daktronics and urged investing in multi-use fields like soccer to generate year-round revenue, referencing the Oakland A's contract coming up in 2036 and the Ohtani effect. He also spoke during general public comments on the 287(g) agreement, stating the city was out of compliance with ARS for not providing public records in a timely manner (62 days), questioned the cost ($650,000–$1 million per year for few violent offenders), and suggested the program harms Mesa's brand.
- Jason Smithson spoke on Items 5A and 5B (vendor contracts for plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and window cleaning), raising questions about contract terms, pricing safeguards, vendor performance metrics, due diligence on Imperial Window Cleaning (which had little online presence), and transparency of RFP documents. He also thanked Mesa Police for a recent school incident.
- April Joy spoke against the 287(g) agreement, citing research by criminologists Baumer and Shi that it does not improve safety, and accused the council of complicity in ICE violence. She called for the agreement's termination.
- Mary Pritchard, a Mesa resident, opposed the 287(g) agreement, stating it erodes trust in police and results in detainees not receiving basic medical care. She said council's claim of contact with affected communities was false.
Discussion Items
- Item 4A – Off-track betting license for Turf Paradise: The council heard public comment and then approved the license unanimously. Mayor noted Arizona voters approved gambling, so the city must comply.
- Items 5A & 5B – Vendor contracts (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, window cleaning): Mr. Smithson's questions were addressed by city staff (Mr. Butler and Ed), who explained procurement policies, term rationale (standard three years with renewals, but one-year used for volatile markets), CPI/PPI protections, and confirmed Imperial Window Cleaning is active. Councilmember Adams added personal knowledge of vendor reliability. The council approved both items unanimously.
- Items 5D & 5E – Stadium lighting and video display screen contract dollar limit increases: Public comment from Reggie Braun criticized the no-compete clause and spending on facilities used only ~30 days a year. The council approved both items unanimously.
- General Public Comments (non-agenda): Multiple speakers addressed the 287(g) agreement with ICE. No council discussion or action followed.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved unanimously.
- Item 4A (Turf Paradise off-track betting license) approved unanimously.
- Items 5A and 5B (vendor contracts for plumbing, electrical, HVAC, window cleaning) approved unanimously.
- Items 5D and 5E (stadium lighting and video display screen contract dollar limit increases) approved unanimously.
- No action taken on the 287(g) agreement or other public comments.
- Meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you for being here this evening. Mesa City Council meeting for February 23rd, 2026. All of our council members are present. We'll begin this meeting with an invocation by Dr. Pamela Anish Nader from the Islamic Social Services Association via Zoom, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. So if you'd please stand. Dr. Nader, time is yours. Okay. Thank you so much. Thank you for having me, Mayor Freeman and Council members. I apologize for not being with you in person today, a little under the weather. Let us pray. This Mila Rana Rahim. In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful. Dear God, during this holy month of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the month in which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset. This year being from February 17th to March 20th, we come together to ask for your guidance, wisdom, and support of our mayor and city council members. Please help our city leaders engage in meaningful discussion to make good decisions on behalf of the residents of our city, the city of Mesa. Please grant them an empathetic heart and wise judgment. Help them as they consider ways to improve the economy, housing, health care, mental health, and the well-being of the residents of our diverse city. Bless our leaders to foster a community that is concerned about our children, our families, our elders, our homeless community members, those who are refugees, those who are impacted by the justice system, and those who are concerned about family members who are being oppressed at home and abroad. Bless our small business owners, those who are doing well, and those who are struggling each day to make ends meet. Please bless our leaders to sow seeds of peace. Bless them to grow closer as leaders, no matter their various perspectives for the good of our city and its residents. Bless our leaders to stand firmly for justice and to nurture the bonds of community. Amen. Thank you for your invocation. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, individual with liberty and justice for all. Okay, item one is on the consent agenda. Mr. Christopher, would you please forward to read from what I have is 4A, 5A, 5B, 5D, and 5E. Is that changed? Sorry, Miss Mosley. Has sorry, Mayor. No, that is off consent. That is not changed. Those five items. Yes. Okay, thank you. Go ahead. Good evening, Mayor and Council members. These are the items on the consent agenda. All items listed with an asterisk will be considered as a group by the city council and will be enacted with one motion. There will be no separate discussion unless the 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 3A, acting on liquor license application for Mango Mini Martin, 760 South Almond School Road. Item 3B, Act on Liquor License Application for Aldi, 1045 South Gilbert Road. Item 4A has been removed from the consent agenda.
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