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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Mesa City Council Meeting Summary - November 3, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, November 3, 2026

BodyMesa, Arizona

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, November 3, 2026

StatusNEW · FILED

Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:01

Welcome to the Mesa City Council meeting for Monday, November for Monday, November 2nd, 2026.

0:10

I know today's Monday.

0:11

I don't know why we don't say Monday, but anyway, November 2nd.

0:14

All council members are present.

0:16

Before we get started, I'd like to recognize our mayor's youth committee who is here with us today, and thank you for joining with us.

0:23

We'll begin this meeting by an invocation by Dr.

0:27

Derek Elliott, if he's here.

0:29

Dr.

0:29

Elliott, if you're here, thank you.

0:31

And then after Dr.

0:33

Elliott, I will have a pledge of allegiance led by our mayor's youth committee.

0:36

So with that, uh Dr.

0:38

Elliot, the time's yours.

0:39

Thank

Unassigned speaker

0:40

you.

Speaker 1

0:41

Please stand.

Speaker 2

0:47

Please join me in prayer in your tradition as I pray in mine.

0:54

Gracious and loving God.

0:58

We gather this evening with gratitude for the city of Mesa, for the people who call this community home, and for those entrusted with the responsibility of servant leadership.

1:15

In a nation where differences too often become division, where fear sometimes speaks louder than compassion, and where challenges seems too greater to overcome.

1:37

Oh God, remind us.

1:40

Remind us that our shared humanity is stronger than the things that separate us.

1:49

Bless our mayor, our city council, and all who serve this community.

1:58

Grant them wisdom to listen before speaking.

2:07

And humility to remember that they are called to serve the public.

2:17

As they consider the needs of this growing city, oh God.

2:22

Remind them that behind every budget, there is a family behind every policy, there is a person behind every decision is a community whose future is being shaped.

2:38

Help us, O God.

2:41

Help us build a mesa where every children can flourish, every senior can live with dignity, every neighbor can find opportunity.

2:55

Oh God, as our nation approaches another election.

3:02

Remind us that democracy calls for participation, respect, and commitment to the common good, even when we disagree.

3:16

Bless this council, oh God.

3:18

Bless this community, and bless all who labor for peace.

3:24

I pray this in your son Jesus'

Unassigned speaker

3:27

name.

Speaker 2

3:28

Amen.

Speaker 1

3:29

Amen.

3:29

Thank you, Reverend Elliot.

Unassigned speaker

3:32

If

Speaker 1

3:32

the mayor's youth committee would come

Unassigned speaker

3:34

up,

Speaker 1

3:35

come up here to the microphones, close, and lead us on the Pledge of Allegiance.

3:40

Thank

Unassigned speaker

3:41

you.

Speaker 3

3:48

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Speaker 1

4:01

Thank you, ladies.

4:05

Alzheimer's affects millions of individuals and families, touching every part of our community.

4:11

Alzheimer's Awareness Month gives us an opportunity to recognize those living with the disease, honor their caregivers, and raise awareness about the importance of early detection research and support.

4:24

We're proud to recognize this month and reaffirm our commitment to building a compassionate and supportive community.

4:29

With that, I would like to turn it over to Councilmember Haredi to say a few words.

Speaker 4

4:34

Thank you, Mayor.

4:35

I'm proud and to sponsor this proclamation because I want Mesa residents living with Alzheimer's and the families caring for them to know that their community sees them and supports them.

4:53

Spouses, children, friends often take responsibilities they never expected.

Unassigned speaker

5:00

Balancing caregiving with work, raising children and their own health.

Speaker 4

5:03

Alzheimer's awareness month is an opportunity to gain strength from those experiences.

5:08

Encourage people to seek support and recognize the caregivers who give so much of themselves.

5:14

And tonight I want uh pleased introduce uh a longtime uh carriage uh uh carries lane uh resident uh uh Kathy Norris Willem uh and Alzheimer's advocate and ambassador who knows these challenges personally.

5:31

Uh Kathy cared for her wife Jean, uh, who was diagnosed with uh younger onset uh Alzheimer's at just 55 years old.

5:39

Uh since Jean's passing, Kathy has continued to share her story and advocate for others.

5:45

So we really appreciate Kathy being here.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Historic Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████57%

Procedural██████████████18%

Miscellaneous█████████11%

Public Safety██████7%

Arts And Culture████5%

Technology and Innovation██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Mesa City Council Meeting Summary - November 3, 2026

The Mesa City Council held a regular meeting on November 3, 2026. The meeting began with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance led by the Mayor's Youth Committee. The Council approved the consent agenda, which included multiple liquor licenses, intergovernmental agreements, and zoning cases. A proclamation was read recognizing November as Alzheimer's Awareness and Caregiver Month. The Council discussed and unanimously approved updates to the city's Historic Preservation Text Amendments and Design Guidelines. During public comments, residents spoke about concerns regarding automated license plate reader technology and an upcoming holiday event at the Mesa Arts Center.

Consent Calendar

The Council approved the consent agenda unanimously. Items included approvals of minutes, liquor license applications (Valley Liquors, Gin Barbecue, two Walmart locations), development agreements (Grove at Lehigh Community Association, Sossman Road/Germain Road intersection improvements with Queen Creek and Maricopa County, Pecos Road Basins and Storm Drain Improvements), a zoning case for an industrial development at Thomas Road and 54th Street, and a zoning case for a convenience market with a service station at Crisman Road and Hampton Avenue.

Public Comments & Testimony

Alzheimer's Proclamation: Councilmember Heredia sponsored a proclamation recognizing November as Alzheimer's Awareness and Caregiver Month. Kathy Norris Wilhelm, an Alzheimer's advocate and caregiver for her late wife, shared her personal story of caregiving and advocacy, highlighting advances in research and treatment, and emphasizing the need for community support for caregivers.
Jericho Trimble: Expressed concerns regarding the city's use of Flock automated license plate reader technology. Trimble cited a recent court ruling in Oklahoma that found the system violated the Fourth Amendment, safety hazards from improperly installed poles, and lawsuits against other cities. Trimble requested the council conduct a separate investigation and provide greater transparency regarding the system's audits and usage.
Chris Hamlet: Voiced strong opposition to an upcoming "Drag Queen Christmas" event scheduled at the city-owned Mesa Arts Center. Hamlet characterized the event as an "abomination" and called on the council to stop the event and implement policies to prevent similar events in the future, arguing against the use of taxpayer dollars for such programming.

Discussion Items

Historic Preservation Text Amendments (Item 7A): Assistant Planning Director Rachel Phillips and Historic Preservation Officer Matthew Kriegel presented a comprehensive update to the city's historic preservation regulations. The amendments consolidate policies scattered across the zoning ordinance into a single chapter (Chapter 74), clarify definitions, and streamline the certificate of appropriateness process. The amendments extend the demolition moratorium from six months to one year and align city criteria with national standards. The Historic Preservation Board and Planning and Zoning Board unanimously recommended adoption of the amendments.
Historic Preservation Design Guidelines (Item 7B): Phillips and Kriegel presented an update to the city's historic preservation design guidelines, the first major update in over 25 years. The new document was reduced from roughly 200 pages to approximately 100 pages and is designed to be a user-friendly digital resource. It provides guidance for rehabilitating historic buildings, constructing additions and new construction within historic districts, and signage. Staff emphasized that historic designation in Mesa is an entirely opt-in process. The guidelines were developed with extensive community outreach over several years.
Council Discussion: Councilmember Adams inquired about the two-year gap in the project timeline; staff explained the delay was due to turnover in the historic preservation officer position. Councilmember Duff praised the new format for being easier to navigate. Councilmember Taylor asked about the opt-in nature of historic designation, which Kriegel confirmed. The Mayor added that homeowners can register with the state for designation and potential tax advantages.

Key Outcomes

Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
Items 7A & 7B (Historic Preservation Text Amendments and Design Guidelines): Approved unanimously. The new design guidelines are available on the city's historic preservation website.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned unanimously following public comments.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the Mesa City Council meeting for Monday, November for Monday, November 2nd, 2026. I know today's Monday. I don't know why we don't say Monday, but anyway, November 2nd. All council members are present. Before we get started, I'd like to recognize our mayor's youth committee who is here with us today, and thank you for joining with us. We'll begin this meeting by an invocation by Dr. Derek Elliott, if he's here. Dr. Elliott, if you're here, thank you. And then after Dr. Elliott, I will have a pledge of allegiance led by our mayor's youth committee. So with that, uh Dr. Elliot, the time's yours. Thank you. Please stand. Please join me in prayer in your tradition as I pray in mine. Gracious and loving God. We gather this evening with gratitude for the city of Mesa, for the people who call this community home, and for those entrusted with the responsibility of servant leadership. In a nation where differences too often become division, where fear sometimes speaks louder than compassion, and where challenges seems too greater to overcome. Oh God, remind us. Remind us that our shared humanity is stronger than the things that separate us. Bless our mayor, our city council, and all who serve this community. Grant them wisdom to listen before speaking. And humility to remember that they are called to serve the public. As they consider the needs of this growing city, oh God. Remind them that behind every budget, there is a family behind every policy, there is a person behind every decision is a community whose future is being shaped. Help us, O God. Help us build a mesa where every children can flourish, every senior can live with dignity, every neighbor can find opportunity. Oh God, as our nation approaches another election. Remind us that democracy calls for participation, respect, and commitment to the common good, even when we disagree. Bless this council, oh God. Bless this community, and bless all who labor for peace. I pray this in your son Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Reverend Elliot. If the mayor's youth committee would come up, come up here to the microphones, close, and lead us on the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, ladies. Alzheimer's affects millions of individuals and families, touching every part of our community. Alzheimer's Awareness Month gives us an opportunity to recognize those living with the disease, honor their caregivers, and raise awareness about the importance of early detection research and support. We're proud to recognize this month and reaffirm our commitment to building a compassionate and supportive community. With that, I would like to turn it over to Councilmember Haredi to say a few words.

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