Mesa City Council Meeting – March 10, 2026

This regular Mesa City Council meeting began with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance led by Boy Scout Troop 484. Councilmember Adams was absent and excused. The council approved the consent agenda (with several items removed for separate discussion) and subsequently voted on six pulled items, all passing unanimously. Public comment included three speakers on police militarization, privacy, and the 287G immigration agreement with ICE.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of minutes from previous meetings.
• Acting liquor license for Zach's Cigar Bar (7310 East Main Street).
• Dollar limit increase for landscape maintenance services term contract.
• Term contract for traffic signal loop detection installation services.
• Cooperative contract for pavement management services.
• Items 4B, 4C, 4F, 5A, 5B, 6A, and 7A were removed from consent and considered separately.

Public Comments & Testimony

On Agenda Items

• Reggie Braun (data engineer, Mesa resident) spoke on 4B (safety/medical supplies), 4C (ballistic helmets), 4F (traffic management video wall), and 7A (code amendments). He expressed concern that safety and medical supplies contracts include tactical items like ballistic helmets and face masks, characterizing the purchases as prioritization of militarization. He noted that violent crime has been reduced but the sexual assault clearance rate is less than 12%, arguing resources are misallocated. On the video wall, he asked whether data interfaces with federal enforcement; Transportation Director Eric Kaderian confirmed feeds are shared with the police department and real-time crime center but could not track further use. Braun also criticized delays in public records requests (over 70 days overdue) and requested greater transparency.
• Noah James Markham (Tempe resident) spoke on 4B, 4C, 5A, 5B, and 6A. He expressed distrust of the Mesa Police Department, particularly regarding treatment of people with disabilities, and opposed the safety/medical supplies contract. He supported the solar power purchase agreement (5A) but opposed the intergovernmental agreement with Gilbert Unified School District (5B) due to lack of trust in Mesa handling waste collection in Gilbert. He rejected the RV/boat storage zoning case (6A) as uninteresting. His remarks referenced the 287G agreement multiple times.

Items from Citizens Present

• Leanne McGelvy (Mesa resident, originally from Texas) urged the council to end the 287G agreement with ICE, stating it destroys community trust and public safety. She cited the economic benefits of immigrants and quoted Proverbs 31:14.
• Adela Ramos (junior high student, Mesa resident) asked the council to cancel the 287G agreement, arguing that fear of police among immigrant families makes Mesa less safe for everyone. She appealed to the council's conscience and cited historical figures (Lincoln, MLK, Cesar Chavez).
• Michelle Cleveland (Mesa resident, naturalized citizen) expressed support for the 287G agreement and urged police to enforce all laws. She stated that illegal immigrants disrespect those who waited in line legally and that supporting illegal immigration creates an underclass. She emphasized that many Mesa residents share her view but are too busy to attend meetings.

Discussion Items

Item 4B – Safety and Medical Supplies Contract Increase

• Reggie Braun questioned the inclusion of ballistic helmets and shields under a safety/medical supplies contract, suggesting a priority on militarization. He also noted the contract’s language obfuscates details.
• Noah James raised concerns about face masks resembling those used by ICE; the mayor clarified they are for biohazard protection similar to hospital use.
• Outcome: Motion to approve passed unanimously (Adams absent).

Item 4C – Replacement of 200 Ballistic Helmets

• Reggie Braun reiterated his concern about funding helmets when sexual assault cases remain unsolved at a low clearance rate. He argued the $400,000 increase could be better spent on rape kits, research, or counseling.
• Outcome: Motion to approve passed unanimously (Adams absent).

Item 4F – Traffic Management Video Wall Upgrade

• Reggie Braun asked whether the system’s video feeds interface with federal enforcement agencies. Transportation Director Eric Kaderian confirmed feeds are shared with police and the real-time crime center but could not say where they go after that.
• Outcome: Motion to approve passed unanimously (Adams absent).

Item 5A – Power Purchase Agreement with Panel Solar

• Noah James asked if the company was related to Pinal County; after clarification, he expressed support for solar energy and hoped it would help Pinal County, which he praised over Mesa.
• Outcome: Motion to approve passed unanimously (Adams absent).

Item 5B – Intergovernmental Agreement with Gilbert Unified School District for Solid Waste Collection

• Noah James opposed the agreement due to distrust of Mesa; Vice Mayor Summers clarified that the schools are physically located within Mesa city limits.
• Outcome: Motion to approve passed unanimously (Adams absent).

Item 6A – Zoning Case: Mesa Premier RV & Boat Storage Phase Two

• Noah James rejected the storage facility as unnecessary and unexciting.
• Outcome: Motion to approve passed unanimously (Adams absent).

Item 7A – Code Amendments (Chapters 1–87 of Title 11)

• Reggie Braun expressed concern that the amendments reduce administrative overhead but noted his own public records requests are overdue, implying a lack of compliance with state law. The mayor stated the changes are mandated by the Arizona Revised Statutes.
• Outcome: Motion to approve passed unanimously (Adams absent).

Key Outcomes

• All six items pulled from the consent agenda were approved by unanimous votes (Councilmember Adams absent).
• No amendments or directives were issued beyond the approvals.
• The council adjourned without further business.