Mesa City Council Meeting – April 22, 2026
Mesa City Council Meeting – April 22, 2026
[Note: The meeting transcript states the date as April 20, 2026, but the provided timestamp is April 22, 2026. This summary uses the instructed date.]
The Mesa City Council convened for a regular meeting with all council members present. The meeting opened with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the consent agenda and public comments. Key actions included approvals of various contracts, liquor licenses, development plans, and grant pass-through resolutions, with significant debate on a Planned Parenthood grant application.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was read by Mr. Christopher. Several items were removed for separate consideration (3B, 4A, 4C, 5B, 5E, 5H, 5O, 5U, 5V, 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B, 9A, 9B). The remaining consent items were approved unanimously. (See Key Outcomes for details on items removed.)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Noah James Markham (Tempe resident) spoke in favor of multiple items including 3B (liquor license for Babu Jomak), 4A (water reclamation improvements), 5E (Planned Parenthood grant), 5I–5K (autism research), 6A/6B and 7A/7B (development and annexation), 9A/9B (baseball player housing). He also spoke during Citizen Present about conditions at the Mesa ICE facility, calling them inhumane and referencing a congressional visit.
- Nathan Allen spoke on 4C (private security contract extension), expressing concern about using security guards instead of police officers and recounting past issues with security guards harassing homeless individuals.
- Mary Mabino (Mesa resident near Brown and Recker) spoke against item 5E (Planned Parenthood grant), arguing that the organization is a profitable abortion provider and that Mesa should not associate with it. She asked if the city receives financial benefit from pass-through grants (staff confirmed no financial benefit).
- Lindsay Andres (Mesa homeowner and business owner) spoke on item 5U (MOU with Mesa Police Association), criticizing lack of police transparency and citing incidents involving a truck driving through protesters and the Barraza case. She expressed distrust in the system.
- Kerry Davis spoke in opposition to items 9A and 9B (Rio Salado minor plan), arguing that high-density multifamily units contribute to higher crime and that Mesa should focus on single-family homes. He compared Mesa's ranking to Chandler and Gilbert.
- Dorothy O'Brien (Encore/Eastmark resident) addressed council during Citizen Present about funding priorities. She was appalled by Mayor's suggestion to shift funds from social programs to code enforcement and redevelopment, urging that CDBG funds remain for low/moderate income individuals and that quality-of-life funds and overtime reductions be used instead.
- Jeremy Spielsbury spoke about the Mesa ICE facility, describing inhumane conditions and drawing parallels to historical segregation in Mesa. He expressed solidarity with immigrant neighbors and urged council to act.
Discussion Items
- Item 5E – Planned Parenthood Pass-Through Grant: Staff explained that historically the city passes through grant applications to tribal nations without political judgment, based on whether the nonprofit serves Mesa. Councilmember Taylor strongly opposed, arguing that sponsorship is an endorsement and that the city should not facilitate an organization that provides abortions. Councilmember Goforth supported the item. After debate, a separate motion was made.
- Items 9A and 9B – Rio Salado Minor Plan and General Plan Amendment: Council discussed the unique nature of the site adjacent to Sloan Park, which is being developed for a hotel and residential building for professional baseball players (full-time use by minor league players). City Manager Mr. Butler and Councilmembers Taylor and Goforth clarified that the site is not suitable for single-family homes, that access constraints limited commercial development, and that the project strengthens the relationship with the Chicago Cubs. Councilmember Adams noted his usual preference for owner-occupied housing but supported this as a specialty use.
- Citizen Present – ICE Facility: Multiple speakers raised concerns about overcrowding and conditions at the Mesa Gateway Airport ICE facility, citing a recent congressional delegation visit.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda (remaining items): Approved unanimously.
- Item 3B (Liquor License – Babu Jomak): Approved unanimously.
- Item 4A (Northwest Water Reclamation Improvements): Approved unanimously.
- Item 4C (Private Security Contract Extension for Police): Approved unanimously.
- Items 5B, 5H, 5O, 5V (Various Grant Pass-Throughs and Others): Approved unanimously as a bundle.
- Item 5E (Planned Parenthood Pass-Through Grant): Passed with Councilmember Taylor voting no and Councilmember Goforth voting yes. (Motion passed; only two council votes are recorded but the result was approval.)
- Items 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B (Development and Annexation): Approved unanimously as a bundle.
- Items 9A and 9B (Rio Salado Minor Plan and General Plan Amendment): Approved unanimously.
- Meeting Adjourned: Motion to adjourn passed unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you for your patience. Tonight we'll welcome you to the Mesa City Council meeting for April 20th, 2026. Council members go forth and tailor participating by Zoom. Otherwise, all their council members are present. We'll begin this meeting with an invocation by Reverend Caleb Collins from the Church of Transfiguration, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Would you please stand? Reverend Comforting Bless us. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and the members of the City Council. Honorable mayor and members of the City Council and all gathered here today. I invite you to center yourselves and prepare to observe a moment of silence and to pray in the manner according to your faith, spiritual, or existential tradition. Let us pray. I offer prayer in the name of God, of whom we have many understandings. Asking and inviting God's presence into this space that the breath of God may move within our hearts, inspiring us to make informed decisions based on the well-being of our community. In my tradition, I pray in the name of Jesus, who taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves. When asked, who is my neighbor, Lord? You taught us that even an enemy, even one who hates us is a neighbor to be loved. God, pour out your loving inspiration upon us all that the city of Mesa may be a place of hope and livelihood for all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, language, national origin, employment, housing, sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation. God, help us to show mercy to all in need of mercy, to those who are afraid and anxious in these times. Help us to show your mercy. I ask God's blessing upon the city of Mesa and upon all. In the name of God, Amen. Thank you, Reverend. 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, indivisible with liberty of justice for all. Okay, thank you. We'll have the reading of the consent agenda. Mr. Christopher, there's quite a few things off the consent agenda. This we'll pick compare notes as you go through it. All right. 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 requests, in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered as a separate item. Item two, approval minutes of previous meetings as written. Item three A, acting on liquor license application for Babu Jomak, 2909 South Dobson Road. Item 3B has been removed from the consent agenda. Item 3C, acting on liquor license application for against the grain, 124 West Main Street. Item 4A has been removed from the consent agenda. Item 4B, approving contract for Mesa Public Safety Communications, Preconstruction Services and Construction Manager at Risk. This project's funded by 2024 Public Safety Bonds. Item 4C has been removed from the consent agenda. Item 5A, approving resolution, enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Fort McDowell Yavapine Nation relating to fire apparatus maintenance and repair services. Item 5B has been removed from the consent agenda. Items 5C and 5D are resolutions authorizing submittals of grant applications by the following agencies to the auction Indian community and accepting subsequent awarded funds as passed through grants. 5C's from Boost to Foster Family. 5D is from the Child Crisis Arizona. Item 5E has been removed from the consent agenda.
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