OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Mesa City Council Meeting - June 2, 2026

City CouncilTuesday, June 2, 2026
BodyMesa, Arizona
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, June 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Welcome to the Mesa City Council meeting for June 1st, 2026.

0:03

All of our council members are present.

0:06

We'll begin the meeting with an invocation by Reverend Tani Garcia from the First Christian Church.

0:11

And following her prayer, we'll be doing the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:14

So would you please stand?

0:21

Let us pray.

0:23

God of wisdom and grace.

0:26

Thank you for the gift of this city we call home and for the people who make Mesa such a special place.

0:33

Thank you for our neighborhoods, schools, businesses, parks, churches, and community organizations.

0:40

Thank you for the many people who quietly serve others every day and help this city thrive.

0:46

Tonight we lift up Mayor Freeman, the members of the City Council, city staff, and all who serve the people of Mesa.

0:53

Give them wisdom for the decisions before them.

0:56

Remind them that they represent people who are counting on them.

1:00

Help them listen well, even when they disagree, and keep the well-being of our community at the center of all their work.

1:22

As this meeting begins, guide the conversations and the decisions that will be made here.

1:28

May this be a place where people work together to make our city stronger, safer, and more connected.

1:34

Thank you for this community and for the opportunity to work together for its amazing future.

1:39

In your mighty name we pray.

1:41

Amen.

1:43

Thank you, Reverend.

1:44

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:46

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

2:04

Thank you.

2:12

And before the congratulations is swearing in, I'm going to ask for a motion to appoint Mr.

2:17

Brown as a city manager magistrate.

2:20

Is there a motion to that effect?

2:21

Thank you, Mr.

2:22

Reddy.

2:23

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

2:24

Please cast your vote.

2:30

Thank you.

2:30

Council votes unanimously.

2:32

Congratulations, Judge Brown.

2:34

If you and Judge Umblee will come forward for the swearing in, and we'll do that up here in front.

2:45

All right, Mr.

2:45

Brown, please raise your right hand and repeat after me.

2:49

I state your name.

2:50

I, Jacob Brown, do solemnly swear, do solemnly swear.

2:54

That I will support the Constitution of the United States.

2:57

That I will support the Constitution of the United States.

3:00

And the Constitution and Laws.

3:03

And the Constitution and Laws of the State of Arizona, of the state of Arizona.

3:07

That I will bear true faith that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and allegiance to the same.

3:13

And defend them against all enemies and defend them against all enemies.

3:18

Foreign and domestic.

3:19

Foreign and domestic.

3:20

And that it will faithfully and impartially, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties, discharge the duties of the Office of City Magistrate, of the Office of City Magistrate, of the City of Mesa, Arizona, of the City of Mesa, Arizona, according to the best of my ability, according to the best of my ability, so help me God.

3:41

So help me God.

3:43

Congratulations.

3:50

Okay, Council, let's go down for a photo with our new judge and our chief magistrate.

3:58

And after which, uh Judge Brown, you you'll say a few words.

5:17

No funny stuff, Scott.

5:21

Well, thank you, Judge Brown.

5:24

You have some words you'd like to share with us.

5:27

Yes, thank you, Mayor Council, and thank you for the trust that all of you have placed in me and allowing me to serve the citizens of Mesa.

5:36

Um I'm I'm standing here humbled by the opportunity to continue to serve.

5:44

And what I'm committing to do is to follow the code that applies to all judges in the state of Arizona, that a judge shall act at all times in a matter that promotes public confidence in the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary.

6:01

How we handle specifically the primary purpose of the municipal court in Arizona is the criminal justice system, along with protecting those that are most vulnerable in our in our city.

6:14

And how we handle those duties says so much about who we are as a society.

6:19

The first duty of society is justice, as Alexander Hamilton said.

6:24

And that is what I've done for the last 13 years as a prosecutor.

6:28

It's what I will continue to do as a judge here in the city of Mesa.

6:33

Um, I'm excited for this opportunity, and I commit to do my best as I continue.

6:38

Thank you.

6:39

Thank you, Judge Brown.

6:42

Congratulations on this professional achievement in your life, and we welcome you to the city of Mesa, your hometown.

6:48

Great.

6:48

You bet.

6:50

Okay, before we start the consent agenda, Miss Mosley, could you say the names of the three people who have been selected to speak for items citizen present?

6:59

Yes, Mayor.

6:59

So we have randomly selected Crystal Price, Noah James Markham, and Jim Bannon to speak on item nine A when we get to that point of the agenda.

7:11

Okay, thank you.

7:12

Who was the third?

7:13

Jim Bannon.

7:17

All right, that with Mr.

7:18

Christopher, if you'll come forward, there's one, two, three, four.

7:22

Six items off the consent agenda.

7:24

Do you have those?

7:24

Yes.

7:26

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

7:27

These are the items of the consent agenda.

7:29

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

7:34

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

7:41

Item three, approval minutes of previous meetings as written.

7:44

Item four A has been removed from the consent agenda.

7:47

Item five A, approving three-year term contract with two year renewal options for private security guard services for various city facilities.

7:53

Item 5B, approving three-year term contract with two-year renewal options for on-site vehicle glass services for the Fleet Services Department.

8:00

Item 5C, approving 10 month use of a cooperative term contract with four one-year renewal options for the purchase of bus shelter cleaning services for the Transit Services Department.

8:09

Item 5D, approving contract for North Hickley lift station and Thomas Road Sewer Project, guaranteed maximum price number one of one.

8:17

Item 6A, approving resolution to enter an amendment to an intergovernmental agreement of the flood control district of Maricopa County for design and construction of drainage improvements.

9:13

Item 6I has been removed from the consent agenda.

9:15

Item 6J, approving resolution modifying and adding new fees and charges for the Development Services Department.

9:21

Item 6K, approving resolution, modifying fees and charges for the municipal court.

9:26

Item 6L, approving resolution, modifying fees and charges for the Office of Urban Transformation.

9:31

Item 6M, approving resolution modifying fees and charges for the Transportation Department.

9:35

Item 6N, approving resolution designating the general election date as November 3rd, 2026.

9:41

And the purposes of the general election, including submitting to the voters to bond questions and to Mesa City Charter Amendments.

10:00

Item 6Q approving resolution designating the chief financial officer to submit the city's 2026-2027 fiscal year expenditure limitation report to the Arizona Auditor General as required by state statute.

10:12

Item 7A, approving ordinance repealing the existing personnel rules applicable to City of Mesa employees, and adopting new personnel rules.

10:19

Item 7B, approving ordinance for amendments to Mesa City Charter, Section 211 relating to ordinances to conform with state law modernization efforts.

10:26

This is subject to approval by qualified electors of the city of Mesa.

10:29

Item 7C, approving ordinance for amendments to Mesa City Charter, Section 209-A relating to council meeting procedures to conform with state law.

10:37

This is subject to approval by qualified electors of the City of Mesa.

10:41

Item 7B, or excuse me, item 7D has been removed from the consent agenda.

10:45

Item 7E, approving ordinance for zoning case 25-635, known as Ascension, located at the Northeast Corner of Brown Road and 32nd Street.

10:53

This is for a rezon with planned area development overlay to allow for a 46-lot single residence development.

10:59

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

11:02

Thank you, Mr.

11:03

Christopher.

11:04

Mr.

11:05

Smith, did we miss anything?

11:07

Okay.

11:09

Miss Mosley.

11:11

I have no other request for consent agenda items.

11:14

Okay.

11:14

Council then we'll go ahead with consent agenda.

11:17

Um a motion.

11:25

6G.

11:27

I have a 6G.

11:30

Let me refresh the screen.

11:32

No, the last uh comment was at 5 55 p.m.

11:37

I have 6B.

11:38

I don't have a 6G.

11:49

Online before you like the online comments, don't come in through here.

11:53

The kiosk is the request to speak, yeah?

11:59

I guess it can be up to the mayor.

12:00

I don't have it's not on our online system.

12:03

Well, I'm not hearing the conversation.

12:04

I'm sorry.

12:05

6G.

12:06

She said that she submitted a request to speak on 6G on consent.

12:16

So we could we could remove 6G and we can have her comment on 6G.

12:21

Okay.

12:21

Thank you.

12:25

Okay.

12:26

Counsel other than 6G is off consent along with the others.

12:33

Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda?

12:37

Please cast your vote.

12:38

Thank you, Miss Duff.

12:40

Thank you, Miss GoFord.

12:44

Motion passes unanimously.

12:46

Great.

12:46

Thank you.

12:47

All right.

12:48

Uh Mr.

12:49

Smith is okay.

12:50

Can I listen to all the speakers that have taken agenda items off and then we'll uh vote on the encompassing all seven of these.

13:00

Okay, thank you.

13:01

All right.

13:02

First, uh, we have item four A off consent agenda.

13:04

Uh Noah James Markham has wish to speak on uh this item.

13:10

Noah, if you'd come forward.

13:12

That's the China City Super Buffet.

13:18

I hope you like Chinese food.

13:22

Aloha Mayor.

13:24

Um, and to the rest of the city council.

13:26

Yes, um, I really saw this on the agenda, and I really think we need this as a um uh Chinese American um because they really represent America too.

13:38

And um, I really like seeing more Chinese um stuff here.

13:42

So thank you so much, Mahalo.

13:44

Thanks.

13:44

Thank you, Noah.

13:45

This is to approve a liquor license.

13:48

They do serve lunch and dinner there, so you can go any time you like.

13:52

Okay, with that, uh item six B.

13:54

I have a Reggie Braun, followed by uh Jeff Netmeyer.

14:00

Netmeyer.

14:01

Uh so Reggie, you're up.

14:02

You have three minutes, please.

14:03

Thank you.

14:04

Roger Brown District 4, data engineer risk analysis.

14:07

I'm speaking directly to item six B regarding the police department's ASU crime analysis amendment.

14:13

This amendment alters the analytical data infrastructure of the Mesa Police Department.

14:17

Every dollar and resource allocated to this data data sharing system represents a choice in how this city tracks public safety telemetry.

14:26

Currently, our crime analysis frameworks mask a severe resource misallocation, prioritizing specialized analytical parameters while failing to allocate sufficient tactical data, integrated to resolve and prevent physical human sexual assault that keep violent crime within municipal borders.

14:41

For instance, uh, we may think sex crimes might include incest, statutory rape, and uh other nonviolent non-petrick crimes.

14:51

They are sex crimes, but not considered violent crimes.

14:55

The public statement issued by the city of Mesa is hiding information loops, specifically 287G fiscal obtification.

15:02

In June 8th, 2020, a MOA completely altered our operational liabilities, eliminating contract expiration dates to avoid public votes, stripping out requirements to pursue local charges, change charters to completion, enforcing a mandatory local 48-hour detention hole that shifts housing costs directly out to the municipal budget.

15:21

Since 2014, we spent 12 million dollars to MCSO to detain.

15:27

Where's this programming infrastructure directly kills local economic development?

15:31

Stanford Institute Research and Independent Fiscal Audits confirm that 287G agreements generate widespread workforce disruption.

15:39

Up to 70% staff inshortages for local commercial employers, 90% delay in construction, as seen in Peadle County, and a contraction of local gross product.

15:48

Taxpayers are funding an agency data framework that intentionally operates hidden data silos and maintains a deeply unpopular federal enforcement framework that repels overseas investment.

15:58

Reggie?

15:59

Yes, sir.

16:00

You need to be talking about the crime analysis here you're talking about a totally different budget.

16:06

This amendment modified data analysis infrastructure.

16:08

Mr.

16:08

Smith, can you weigh in?

16:09

Within the Mesa Police Department, pointing out that our current police databases are actively suppressing fiscal telemetry and ignoring public record requests goes directly to the operational integrity of the tracking systems.

16:20

We are voting to amend.

16:21

I am an SME in this.

16:25

So I ask for 174 days since my formal municipal public records request in December 2025.

16:32

I've received slow rolling by the administration and suppression telemetry.

16:37

Clean database silos, published fiscal audit trail before approving intergovernmental analytical amendments.

16:43

Thank you.

16:45

Thank you, Reggie.

16:46

We have a Jeff Netmeyer.

16:48

Jeff, are you Joe?

16:50

Pardon?

16:51

Joe.

16:52

I have a Jeff here.

16:53

You're Joe?

16:54

Yeah.

16:54

Okay, Joe.

16:56

Sorry about that.

16:56

No, you're good.

16:58

Um yeah, so my questions are uh I understand the concept of having you know increasing our public safety and using tools to better help our law enforcement to um effectively use our resources, uh implement them, and so that uh we can be a little bit more efficient and not wasting money.

17:15

Um one of my questions would be is that with the integration of all these different cameras with over um, I believe there's 5,000 uh public school cameras that are gonna be implemented into this program potentially.

17:28

Uh, how do you protect the data and protect minors from misuse of this information or misuse of this data?

17:37

Um one of the big issues that's kind of going on right now is flock and everything with their cameras and how their data systems are not very secure.

17:44

So, how do you guys first secure the data that it's not being misused, and how do you protect the minors from being viewed and watched and everything of that nature?

17:53

Now, if they're committing crimes, I understand that, but you know, there's a big blanket statement, and people can abuse happens within those uh big blanket statements.

18:05

And so um what I would ask is that the city manager uh prepare uh print and present a full public report at the next council meeting.

18:13

Mayor, everyone this is connected either.

18:15

This this the speaker hasn't said one thing in relationship to this agenda item yet that I can see.

18:20

You guys so Joe, you need to talk about the agenda item, which is the crime analysis that our police department is doing.

18:27

Okay, well, this is going to be a part of it.

18:29

So, how are you going to secure ASU from implementing or securing the data?

18:35

Is it a portal system that they're going to be logging into that they have credentials?

18:39

Um also have you looked at possibly hiring actual crime professional and analysts to view it in-house instead of outsourcing it to ASU, where you just have two graduate students being supervised by a professor.

18:54

So, you know, it seems like a pretty nice uh paid internship for these graduate students.

19:00

Why aren't we getting it for free?

19:02

And they should be paying us or something for this information.

19:06

You know, um so I I just want to know how you guys are going to protect this information, but and also how are you going to uh look at the aspects of the in-house costs versus the outsourcing um and contracting with um with ASU.

19:28

So thank you.

19:29

So uh Joe, do you answer your question?

19:31

We'll have our police chief up and and he can answer some of your questions and then uh we have some analysis so we could do some offline too once we uh end our council meeting, we could talk to you as well.

19:43

Okay.

19:44

So we had an in-depth discussion downstairs in our study session.

19:47

Coming in from worth uh candidates.

19:49

Okay.

19:50

Thank you.

19:50

Chief Butler, would you like to come forward and just share anything about or Chief Nesbitt or whomever both of you?

19:57

You could take a seat, Joe.

19:58

Thank you, Mayor.

19:59

Thank you.

20:04

So the question typically about crime analysis, why we're using ASU and not uh employees or other professional staff.

20:12

Sure, mayor, vice mayor, members of council uh appreciate the opportunity to come and talk about that.

20:17

Uh we do have full-time employees.

20:19

Um, I believe it's about 13 full-time employees that work entirely across the city, so each one of our patrol stations has an employee.

20:27

Um the relationship with Arizona State University is in addition to that.

20:32

So the analysts that come, they're not at Arizona State University, they actually come and work in our buildings.

20:39

They go through uh comprehensive background investigation as well.

20:42

Uh we call it a level four clearance.

20:45

Um so they are vetted by the state by state law, state statute in order to come and access the data while in our buildings to analyze crime that is occurring in the area and help us with our targeted mission area.

20:57

Um in addition to that, I mean it is one of the, and we spoke about this downstairs.

21:01

It is one of the reasons that we are the safest major city of our population side and size in the entire country.

21:07

Every day when crimes occur, we are analyzing the areas where crimes are occurring and we're deploying resources.

21:14

Patrol officers each day get credit for being in the mission area where we know crimes have occurred or or are likely to occur to prevent those crimes prior to them occurring in the future.

21:26

One of the questions was how do we protect data, you know, crime data from the analysis?

21:31

Uh so the crime data is our data, it's the the police department's data.

21:36

Um, when those contract employees, that's kind of how we can we can envision them, come and work with us, they have all the proper clearances the same as every other City of Mesa police department employee.

21:48

So it is our data.

21:49

Now, if we're lucky at the end of it, they'll have a really cool project that we assign them to, and they can go back to Arizona State University and present on what they learn as a capstone project or something along those lines as they're graduating from their program.

22:04

And even more likely to happen is we get an opportunity to see these graduate students, and we have hired them on to full-time staff when we have openings as well.

22:13

So it's a nice pipeline for us to be able to vet out future employees and to give them opportunities to be full-time employees of the police department.

22:20

Good.

22:21

Thank you, Chief.

22:22

Any questions, Council?

22:25

Okay, thank you.

22:27

All right, we'll move over to item six F, uh, Mary, maybe no, and six G.

22:34

Mary Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

22:50

Um, first I'm gonna talk about just the justification that um you want us you want to give for raising fees and taxes, and then I'm gonna do an actual thing on the arts and crafts.

23:02

Um so one of the parts gee.

23:10

Hold on.

23:23

You're fine.

23:24

The time's just running, that's all.

23:26

Yeah.

23:26

Okay, I'll go fast.

23:27

Okay, first of all, I do applaud you for one need to lower the secondary property tax by one percent, and for making the two percent budget cuts in each city department.

23:36

But I have to question in light of these department cuts, why are you now looking to raise a lot of rates and fees relating to certain departments?

23:43

The push now in the Arizona legislature is to cap fee raises, uh, increases in rates to what they currently are now in order to make it easier for hardworking Arizonians to deal with the high cost of living, which I'm sure is also your concern for Mesa residents.

24:01

Um where's my time?

24:03

I don't even know what time it is.

24:04

Oh you're fine.

24:05

Um one of the reasons described for budget chart hauls falls, and for the necessity of raising fees, taxes, and rates was due to decreased revenue.

24:15

Cities complain this was because of the flat tax law pass and the elimination of rental taxes, leading to a higher deficit problem.

24:24

However, the other side of that coin was that when Governor Ducey signed the flat tax law, the Arizona legislature increased the general fund distribution that cities now get from urban revenue sharing from 15% to 18%.

24:39

And also, lest we forget in 2019, municipalities were able to start receiving online sales taxes, which they never got before this time.

24:51

So again, where's the real justification for raising fees and rates?

25:00

On this particular agenda item for arts and culture, one part concerns raising admission fees to the idea museum from $10 to $12, and then to $15 in 2028 for individuals age one and up.

25:14

So a family with two kids would be paying instead of $40, $60 the more kids a family has, it's going to be getting terribly expensive.

25:24

Apparently, the only exception would be if a person has an EBT card.

25:29

Then it would only cost them $4 a person to get in.

25:33

That's really nice, but it doesn't seem fair or equitable in light of all the belt tightening, families not on welfare, are going through now.

25:44

This should be a no vote.

25:45

Thank you for listening.

25:46

Thank you.

25:47

You want to stay there for G?

25:48

I do.

25:49

Okay.

25:50

Okay.

25:51

Um 6G is concerning the business services department.

25:56

One of the one of the parts on this agenda item is adding a dollar fifty fee if residents want a paper utility bill mailed to them instead of electronic building billing.

26:10

It kind of seems like your nickel and diming residents at this point.

26:14

We have a lot of older residents who may not have a computer or printer and prefer getting their bills the way they've always gotten them.

26:24

On a side note, I thought the smart meters were so much more economical, since employees don't have to go around every month reading analog meters.

26:36

Look, I'm just trying to be an advocate for the little guy, the ones most affected by this nickel and diming, the ones who feel they don't have a voice, the ones on fixed incomes, and to whom every dollar matters to them.

26:51

Please keep this in mind before you vote.

26:54

Thank you for listening.

26:55

Thank you, Mary.

27:08

If you so, Mayor and Council, each year we go through a comprehensive effort that's vetted by council at subcommittee, and then ultimately up to to the council where uh all of our departments evaluate their fees and charges and look at what is the fair and equitable rate, depending on the service provided, and you can imagine throughout all our different departments that's different.

27:29

It could be the price for renting a Ramada, it could be, as in this case, uh entry into the idea of museum.

27:36

So staff had looked at uh similar facilities and also the increased operating cost of the facility.

27:42

This is uh, and you can think of this as a partial offset from the users of the facility that are helping uh offset those cost of operations.

27:51

And so instead of it being worn by every taxpayer, um, then this is part of looking at a fee structure that helps offset that so users pay their fair share along along the way.

28:04

So that's what we look at.

28:05

Of course, we're very cognizant of um of what we look at in overall fee structure, and that's why um we do our due diligence at the staff level of vetting this.

28:16

That's why it goes to the Island Finance Committee for scrutiny each year, and then ultimately up to the city council.

28:22

So uh we don't raise any fee or charge lightly.

28:25

We understand the burden that folks are are under, but depending on the fee, it's also allowing the user to bear some of that cost than the general taxpayer.

28:33

So um with that mayor, um that that's the overall um philosophy that we use when we when we have to go this route.

28:42

So it was is vetted pretty in-depth, not only by the respective boards and but through council audit and finance, everything comes through.

28:51

That's correct.

28:54

Okay.

28:55

All right.

28:56

The next item I have is six.

28:58

I think it's I.

29:00

Uh Reggie Braun.

29:08

I'm speaking directly to item six I regarding the modification of fees and charges for the code compliance department under the statutory declosure fees of ARS 9499.15.

29:18

Every fee adjustment in this packet directly funds an admin enforcement system that has failed a basic transparency audit.

29:24

I'm glad that people are concerned about dollars and nickels and dimes important everyone, and that the city is uh saying that they are approving everything as it goes along.

29:33

I want to know where my money is spent.

29:35

So if we are arresting violent criminals and voting 287G, I want to know how much it costs to house them, how much it costs to send them away.

29:43

And who are paying for the people?

29:45

There's no connection between that.

29:47

It's a statutory fee hearing under ARS 949 and 15 concerning the cost recovery metrics of our enforcement and that's not related to this fee.

29:55

Modifying and adding new fees and charges.

29:58

I'm going to ask you to stand down if you do not stay on this item.

30:01

Okay.

30:01

I answered.

30:02

Do you have that?

30:03

This is too much.

30:04

I will ask you to stand down if you do not address this one budget item.

30:09

This is the other subjects, this one item.

30:13

Sir, fees and charges.

30:15

This involves code compliance.

30:17

So uh mayor, if the speaker can't um stay on that, we would ask him to sit down or channel 11 can cut the um microphone.

30:25

But what is code compliance except for complying to what we do operationally?

30:31

Code compliance is in our community services division.

30:35

Correct.

30:35

That's it.

30:36

Correct.

30:37

There are uh engagement efforts that our co-compliance department oversees, none of which deal with the subjects that you're talking about right now.

30:45

Those are law enforcement matters, not co-compliance matters.

30:52

All right.

30:53

Um how about administrative fees for requests for PRRs?

30:58

Those are also not covered by uh this department as well.

31:03

So if you have an issue with that, that is not covered by our code compliance department, which these fees and charges that you're speaking to are related to.

31:11

Okay.

31:12

Thanks for letting us know.

31:14

It is difficult to understand everything as it's put out there as they change.

31:18

And as citizens, we're trying to participate in this process.

31:22

So you can go to you could go to Mesa Az.gov and go to code compliance, and you could list everything they do.

31:28

It lists everything right there as a drop-down menu.

31:31

Thank you, sir.

31:32

And we could also all read our terms of agreement for everything we do.

31:35

That's a difficulty.

31:37

But I I understand.

31:38

Appreciate you for educating me, sir.

31:39

All right, thank you.

31:40

Thank you, Reggie.

31:41

Uh, next we'll hear uh from Mr.

31:44

Wynn Stanley on item 60.

31:48

Calling a special bond election to submit qualified electors to the city of Mesa.

31:52

Mr.

31:53

Wynn Stanley.

31:59

Thank you, Mayor and Council staff.

32:01

Thank you for letting me speak.

32:02

Uh I'm speaking in favor of the transportation bond.

32:06

We do need the the improvements that are there.

32:08

But the reason I'm speaking is I also spoke in favor of Mesa moves in 2020, much to the chagrin of my conservative colleagues when I speak in favor of a bond.

32:19

Um, and so I will have two requests.

32:22

One is Mesa Moves was improved in 2020 for 160 million dollars.

32:27

But because I'll say we couldn't get the job done, it held on until inflation overused the money.

32:35

I think the uh amount that was estimated for those is now over 300 million dollars.

32:39

Do is there lessons learned so that we can make sure that these get done in a timely fashion?

32:45

Uh on the way here, I pulled up to guess what?

32:48

Ray Road and Ellsworth.

32:50

My favorite thing for which I got the plans from the city traffic engineer in 2022 because I was that's my favorite subject.

33:00

Here we are, it's still sitting.

33:02

I understand it's SRP again, but you understand my concern.

33:08

Number two, I would like to ask, and I've already had this discussion with Eric.

33:12

Um, if you would re-review this the uh shared use paths, um, and in particular the gateway three uh shared use path.

33:21

I don't think that's an appropriate use of our money.

33:23

It will not get used.

33:24

I'm a big bike rider.

33:26

I won't use it.

33:27

I can't get to it.

33:29

Um my suggestion is have a little bit more uh community input, use the transportation advisory board to review those uh and and make a final determination.

33:38

I understand this decision is how much, and you'll decide the details later.

33:42

I'm just asking for a little bit more review.

33:44

Thank you.

33:45

Thank you, Mr.

33:46

Withstanding.

33:46

You can work with your vice mayor too about the gateway shared use path.

33:50

Yep.

33:50

Okay, great.

33:52

Thank you.

33:53

Uh next we'll move over to item 7D.

33:56

7D, I have a Reggie Braun, and that is the new life fellowship hall on Broadway and South Dobson.

34:05

Reggie, you have three minutes followed by Noah James Markham.

34:08

I want to apologize for that heat exchange, Mr.

34:10

Butler.

34:11

You are the highest what $350,000.

34:14

You are very well paid.

34:15

You must know your stuff.

34:16

I apologize.

34:20

So for this one, before we get into saying that whether or not this is appropriate, does this cover land use violations on municipal land and Mesa property?

34:34

Please stop my time if you're answering.

34:36

What was your question?

34:37

Does this mayor want to get into it?

34:39

It's not a deposition.

34:40

He doesn't, he can he can make a statement.

34:42

He doesn't get to depose the city mayor.

34:44

I'm asking because before you return to the case.

34:48

Okay.

34:50

Item 7D is a zoning case.

34:52

So it relates to a land use issue.

35:01

On May 2nd, I witnessed animal abuse, puppies in Eaton reported it, and it was considered a non non-issue by Mesa Pity.

35:11

At that time, mayor again, this has no connection to this land use or the rezoning case.

35:15

Reggie?

35:15

Yes, sir.

35:16

But we're talking about the case.

35:17

Reggie, please stay on the topic.

35:19

This is a land use, a zoning rezone for the new life fellowship hall.

35:23

That's all it is.

35:24

We're not talking about pets or anything like that.

35:27

Uh, under this civil sanctions violations, double just misdemeanors on this land.

35:32

If it's not supposed to be addressed for why, this is a land use issue of zoning case, so this is not on topic.

35:41

It's up to you.

35:43

Reggie, you need to stay on this topic.

35:46

The topic was for the idea of some violations that are repeated.

35:51

That if it is that you have the power under Jerry's law to enforce the protection of dogs and animals and heat.

35:59

Reggie, again, this is a zoning case only.

36:02

I understand that in our interpretation.

36:04

I appreciate your time.

36:05

I'll be back.

36:06

See you.

36:07

Um I also want to applaud John Duff for meeting with me.

36:11

Mesa Commander, Carl Santos, Officer Middle Hernandez real.

36:15

Good people.

36:15

Thank you.

36:16

Thank you, Reggie.

36:17

Okay, council.

36:19

I will entertain a motion to approve items 4A, 600.

36:23

Mayor Freeman.

36:24

I'm sorry, we have one more for item 70.

36:26

Noah James asked to speak to you.

36:28

Oh, I'm sorry.

36:28

Noah James Markham.

36:29

Please.

36:30

Noah, are you still here?

36:32

You're gonna be speaking on the same item, the new live fellowship hall building, a zoning case.

36:40

This isn't my favorite kind of stuff.

36:42

Aloha mayor into the rest of the city council.

36:46

Um, you know, I I love God.

36:48

Is he isn't he great?

36:50

Um as a Democrat.

36:52

I um, you know, I I love this stuff, but I I I want to make sure that when we are doing this kind of stuff, that people are worshiping God, you know, and they are trying to change their lives when they come out of this church.

37:09

I've only heard one pastor, not even in this um the state that has really talked like this pastor, and um it's really awesome to hear that pastor.

37:20

But um, yeah, so I really like that we are um doing this, and um yeah, we really do need more of the Lord here because uh but yeah, um please approve it.

37:31

Thank you so much, Mahada.

37:33

Thank you, Noah.

37:35

Ms.

37:35

Mosley, have I missed any?

37:37

No, that was the last one.

37:38

Okay, thank you.

37:39

Council and a motion to approve items 4A, 6B, 6F, 6G, 6i, 60, and 7D.

37:46

Is there a motion that back?

37:47

Thank you, Mr.

37:48

Adams.

37:49

Thank you, Ms.

37:49

Reddy.

37:50

Please cast your vote.

37:53

Passes unanimously.

37:55

Thank you, everyone.

38:01

Okay, for our first speaker tonight for our items from citizen present.

38:06

I meet public, yeah.

38:12

Back one.

38:17

Items eight and eight B are to conduct a public hearing and take action on the proposed five-year capital improvement program for fiscal years ending 2027 to 2031.

38:26

I declare the public hearing open.

38:28

Miss Mosley, do you have any requests to speak?

38:32

I do not have any requests for this item.

38:34

No one to speak.

38:36

Nobody speak for the public hearing, no.

38:37

Okay.

38:38

Do any council members want to address this item?

38:41

Okay.

38:41

Hearing done, I declare the public hearing closed.

38:44

Is there a motion to approve item 5b 8b, the five-year capital improvement program resolution?

38:49

I see a motion by Miss Duff.

38:51

Thank you, Mr.

38:52

Summers.

38:52

Please cast your vote.

38:57

But passes unanimously.

39:00

Um next is item nine, items from Citizen Presents.

39:04

We allow three speakers, three minutes to speak.

39:07

Can you remind us who our speakers are?

39:10

Yes.

39:10

So the first speaker is Crystal Price, followed by Noah James, followed by Jim Bannon.

39:17

Okay.

39:20

Hi.

39:22

Good afternoon.

39:24

Is it this one?

39:26

Um, good evening, council members, mayor.

39:29

Um, I'm happy to be here tonight.

39:32

Speaking in behalf of my neighborhood.

39:34

I live on the 400 block of North Matlock near Staply and University.

39:38

And uh since uh 2024, so two years ago, um, a house was foreclosed on that is adjacent to where I live, and my neighbor who's also here with me tonight, Ray Um Portalis.

40:00

And that foreclosed property has been occupied illegally since then from uh we know of one person, uh we know him by name, and he's subletting, and there's been all kinds of traffic in that in and out of that um home for two years.

40:11

And we're we're talking not just a little bit of traffic, but like all hours of the day, all kinds of vehicles and not the same vehicle, different kinds of vehicles.

40:22

So we come before you and uh we plead with you to help us.

40:27

Um Rich Adams, you're our council member, and especially we we petition, we took a petition to all of our neighbors um to join in solidarity in the problem that this has become in our neighborhood.

40:41

We need support, we need action.

40:43

We've sent a demand letter to the mortgage company um asking them to uh take ownership or uh v you know vacate the premises and um help us out.

40:55

We suspect that there are um many illegal things happening there.

41:00

We've had many police incidences, we've had a SWAT team out there, we've had um an illegal substance uh found in the driveway of my neighbor.

41:10

Um lots of we've even had a seen a child there, um, which was really disturbing.

41:17

Uh we suspect prostitution is happening there as we see the um occupants coming in and out, and it is not something that I think any of you would want to live next to.

41:30

I we don't have a homeowners association.

41:33

We live in um a part of Mesa that we want to keep uh safe and dignified neighborhood.

41:41

And so we come before you tonight to request some help as we um we've we've talked to the code compliance, and we um petition you to help us do a full inspection, um, initiate a formal nuisance abatement proceedings and help us remove the unauthorized occupants who are paying taxes and want to um claim ownership of that property and um help the uh the owners the mortgage company um secure the premises.

42:16

Thank you so much for all that you do.

42:18

We appreciate you.

42:19

Thank you.

42:20

It's on our radar.

42:22

Yeah, Mayor, if um if she would not mind staying after uh the session adjourned, staff would love to follow up with her.

42:28

Um thanks to Councilmember Adams and some of you on the dais were very aware of this property, and we can give an update on how we're working through some of the legal um ramifications of being able to take action on this property.

42:41

Okay.

42:42

Noah.

42:43

Um aloha mayor and to the rest of the uh city council.

42:47

I don't usually win the lottery, but I I guess God wanted me to win today because uh I didn't win any money, but okay.

42:57

Um but okay.

42:58

So let's talk about the flock cameras because I know people are really I I don't understand it because I I think people are afraid of them.

43:08

I don't know, maybe they're doing something bad, and so they don't want people to have the flock cameras, and that's why.

43:14

I think that's the the purpose why people are getting mad about it.

43:18

And I think we really do need these flock cameras.

43:21

It's a good thing to have in Mesa and other parts of this uh uh estate too.

43:28

Um also there and you know, there's this thing that it's really tiring because you know there is a Palestinian thing going on right now with Israel, and I am for both of them.

43:43

I'm for Israel and Palestine, and people have been very aggressive over Israel, and um I'm not okay with that.

43:50

And I hopefully you guys are standing up for Israel too, and not just Palestinians.

43:56

They both matter.

43:57

Also, I I I think that um ice matters in Mesa, and thank you so much.

44:02

But I I'm thankful for Greg Stanton and what he's doing and telling us about the the crazy um the crazy facilities here, the ice facilities here in Mesa.

44:14

That he's been um talking about it a lot, um, and I'm so thankful that he's my uh congressman and um is awesome to see.

44:22

Also um I would like to talk about one more thing, and this is the absurd thing, and I know that people are not gonna like this either, but we may have to talk about this, and that's private restrooms and uh restaurants and grocery stores that we need to please get this done, and we need to protect our transgender people, even though I don't believe that they should be playing in women's sports.

44:47

And uh uh, you know, as having six sisters, I I believe that a trans person is not a woman, it is a man.

44:55

Um, and uh thank you for taking care of the water here, and also please we need to make sure we take care of our electricity here too.

45:04

Um, and the power doesn't go out in Mesa.

45:06

Thank you so much, Mahala.

45:08

Thank you, Noah.

45:10

Next speaker, Jim Bannon.

45:13

There we go.

45:20

I am a seldom effusive with my compliments.

45:25

I've watched your earlier session, I've listened.

45:28

You are blowing me away with a professionalism.

45:32

My name is Jim Bannon.

45:33

I'm not gonna ask you if you watch the January 6th hearings.

45:37

I did every minute.

45:39

I am on Adam Kinsinger's country first.com on three committees, and yes, I'm the good bannon.

45:46

And it took me and my friends nine years to get the other one in prison.

45:50

Now I can get to the governor, I can get to both senators, I can get to a lot of powerful people, and obviously my friend Mark Lamb is in the news.

45:58

I cannot get to Dan Butler, and he doesn't know that I have long ago set to make him the most famous sheriff in America.

46:09

So I am formally asking him to give me an appointment.

46:13

Um I was hoping you would be the first police department, Miami is.

46:18

I created hashtag beloving, my friend is a cop, and I've not been able to present it to him.

46:25

Uh Jerry Sheridan, Phoenix Police, Globe, Kearney, Superior, they're all blocking or marching to my office.

46:34

And I went to see Mr.

46:36

Butler, and I ended up in shackles, and the judge threw me out of core civic.

46:41

So I again am trying to meet with Dan Butler so I can present a program that'll make him the most famous sheriff in Mesa, the most famous police department in America.

46:54

Thank you very much.

46:55

Thank you, sir.

46:57

Miss Mosley, is that all we have for tonight?

47:00

That ends the citizens.

47:03

Okay, that's all the items for this meeting.

47:05

Is there a motion to adjourn?

47:07

Thank you.

47:07

Thank you, Mr.

47:08

Ray.

47:08

Please cast your vote.

47:09

Aye.

47:10

Aye.

47:11

All right, we're adjourned.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety██████████████████████████26%
Procedural███████████████████████23%
Public Engagement███████████████15%
Budget Equity Analysis██████████10%
Technology and Innovation███████7%
Zoning And Land Use██████6%
Arts And Culture████4%
Transportation Safety████4%
Engineering And Infrastructure███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Mesa City Council Meeting - June 2, 2026

The Mesa City Council met on June 2, 2026 (the transcript references June 1, 2026), with all members present. The meeting opened with an invocation by Reverend Tani Garcia and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the unanimous appointment and swearing-in of Jacob Brown as City Magistrate. The council then addressed the consent agenda, public hearings, and items removed from the consent agenda, before hearing citizen comments. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda included approval of previous meeting minutes, contracts for private security guard services, vehicle glass services, bus shelter cleaning, a sewer project, intergovernmental agreement amendments, fee modifications for multiple departments (Development Services, Municipal Court, Office of Urban Transformation, Transportation), designation of the general election date (November 3, 2026) with bond questions and charter amendments, the city's expenditure limitation report, new personnel rules, charter amendments (sections 211 and 209-A), and a rezoning case (Ascension, 46-lot single residence). Items 4A, 6B, 6F, 6G, 6I, 6O, and 7D were removed for separate discussion. The remaining consent agenda was approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Noah James Markham (supporting liquor license for China City Super Buffet, item 4A): Expressed support for Chinese American representation.
  • Reggie Braun (against item 6B): Argued crime analysis data infrastructure masks resource misallocation, criticized 287G agreements, and claimed public record requests were suppressed.
  • Joe (Jeff Netmeyer) (on item 6B): Questioned data security for integration of school cameras and suggested hiring in-house analysts instead of contracting with ASU.
  • Mary (speaker on 6F and 6G): Questioned the justification for fee increases given budget cuts and the flat tax law; opposed raising admission fees to the i.d.e.a. Museum and adding a $1.50 fee for paper utility bills.
  • Reggie Braun (on item 6I): Attempted to discuss code compliance fees but was redirected; raised concerns about transparency.
  • Wynn Stanley (in favor of item 6O, transportation bond): Supported the bond but urged timely project completion and recommended reviewing shared-use paths, specifically Gateway Three.
  • Reggie Braun (on item 7D): Raised unrelated animal abuse complaint; stayed briefly on zoning case.
  • Noah James Markham (on item 7D): Expressed support for the church zoning case.
  • Crystal Price (citizen comment, item 9): Described illegal occupancy and crime at a foreclosed property near her home; requested code enforcement and nuisance abatement.
  • Noah James Markham (citizen comment): Spoke in favor of Flock cameras, voiced support for Israel and Palestine, praised Congressman Greg Stanton for addressing ICE facilities, and advocated for private restrooms for transgender people.
  • Jim Bannon (citizen comment): Complimented the council, claimed he has been unable to meet with Police Chief Dan Butler to present a program, and requested an appointment.

Discussion Items

  • Item 6B – ASU Crime Analysis Amendment: Reggie Braun and Joe (Netmeyer) raised concerns about data transparency, security, and outsourcing. Chief Nesbitt responded that analysts work in-house, undergo background checks, and the program contributes to Mesa being the safest major city of its size. He noted the partnership also serves as a hiring pipeline.
  • Item 6F & 6G – Fee Modifications: Mary opposed fee increases. City staff explained that fees are reviewed annually by subcommittee and reflect cost recovery from users rather than general taxpayers.
  • Item 6I – Code Compliance Fees: Reggie Braun attempted to discuss unrelated enforcement issues; council redirected him to the specific fee item.
  • Item 6O – Special Bond Election: Wynn Stanley supported the transportation bond but requested lessons learned from past delays and a review of shared-use path priorities.
  • Item 7D – New Life Fellowship Hall Rezoning: Reggie Braun was redirected for off-topic comments; Noah James Markham supported the rezoning. No opposition was voiced.

Key Outcomes

  • Jacob Brown was unanimously appointed and sworn in as City Magistrate.
  • The consent agenda (as modified) was approved unanimously.
  • All seven items removed from the consent agenda (4A, 6B, 6F, 6G, 6I, 6O, 7D) were approved as a group by a unanimous vote.
  • The five-year capital improvement program for fiscal years 2027–2031 (items 8A/8B) was approved unanimously following a public hearing with no speakers.
  • Staff committed to follow up with Crystal Price regarding the foreclosed property issue.
  • Council adjourned without further business.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the Mesa City Council meeting for June 1st, 2026. All of our council members are present. We'll begin the meeting with an invocation by Reverend Tani Garcia from the First Christian Church. And following her prayer, we'll be doing the Pledge of Allegiance. So would you please stand? Let us pray. God of wisdom and grace. Thank you for the gift of this city we call home and for the people who make Mesa such a special place. Thank you for our neighborhoods, schools, businesses, parks, churches, and community organizations. Thank you for the many people who quietly serve others every day and help this city thrive. Tonight we lift up Mayor Freeman, the members of the City Council, city staff, and all who serve the people of Mesa. Give them wisdom for the decisions before them. Remind them that they represent people who are counting on them. Help them listen well, even when they disagree, and keep the well-being of our community at the center of all their work. As this meeting begins, guide the conversations and the decisions that will be made here. May this be a place where people work together to make our city stronger, safer, and more connected. Thank you for this community and for the opportunity to work together for its amazing future. In your mighty name we pray. Amen. Thank you, Reverend. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Thank you. And before the congratulations is swearing in, I'm going to ask for a motion to appoint Mr. Brown as a city manager magistrate. Is there a motion to that effect? Thank you, Mr. Reddy. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Please cast your vote. Thank you. Council votes unanimously. Congratulations, Judge Brown. If you and Judge Umblee will come forward for the swearing in, and we'll do that up here in front. All right, Mr. Brown, please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I state your name. I, Jacob Brown, do solemnly swear, do solemnly swear. That I will support the Constitution of the United States. That I will support the Constitution of the United States. And the Constitution and Laws. And the Constitution and Laws of the State of Arizona, of the state of Arizona. That I will bear true faith that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and allegiance to the same. And defend them against all enemies and defend them against all enemies. Foreign and domestic. Foreign and domestic. And that it will faithfully and impartially, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties, discharge the duties of the Office of City Magistrate, of the Office of City Magistrate, of the City of Mesa, Arizona, of the City of Mesa, Arizona, according to the best of my ability, according to the best of my ability, so help me God. So help me God. Congratulations. Okay, Council, let's go down for a photo with our new judge and our chief magistrate.

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