Mesa City Council Study Session – October 2, 2025
Mesa City Council Study Session – October 2, 2025
The Mesa City Council held a study session on October 2, 2025, primarily to review items on the agenda for the October 6 council meeting and to receive a presentation on a proposed revitalization program in the Washington Escobito Heritage neighborhood. Staff provided updates on procedural changes to liquor license recommendations, transit bus stop shade structures, and a speed limit adjustment on Extension Road. The council also approved minutes and shared updates on community events.
Agenda Review for October 6, 2025
- Liquor License Recommendation Denial (Item 3E): Leanne, a staff member, explained that due to a procedural change by the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control (DLLC), which reduced the extension period from six months to 60 days, the city will see more initial denial recommendations for liquor licenses. The current denial is expected to be withdrawn once the applicant provides missing information. Councilmembers acknowledged the change.
- Mesa Arts Center Labor Contracts (Item 4C): Councilmember Summers asked about the nature of contracts for shows at the Mesa Arts Center. Staff clarified that the city provides labor for some shows and recovers those costs through agreements with touring productions, making the city a pass-through with a small revenue margin.
- Micro Shelters for Bus Stops (Item 5B): Councilmember Spilsbury inquired about the micro shelter project. Staff confirmed that these modular shade structures are being placed at stops with insufficient space for full-size shelters. The project will install 40 to 50 shelters using federal funding, aiming to achieve shade coverage at over 80% of bus stops. A map of proposed locations will be provided.
- Speed Limit Reduction on Extension Road (Item 6A): Councilmember Summers asked about the speed limit change from 40 to 35 mph on Extension Road between Baseline and Southern. Staff explained that this reduction is part of a bike lane project that will restripe the road after a mill and overlay maintenance project. The northbound lane will be reduced to one lane. Delineators similar to those on First Avenue, but white, will be installed at 25-30 foot spacing.
Presentation: Sale of City-Owned Properties and Revitalization Partnership with Habitat for Humanity
- Proposal Overview: Jeff Robbins, Redevelopment Administrator, presented a plan to sell three city-owned vacant parcels in the Washington Escobito Heritage neighborhood (owned since the 1980s) to Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona. The partnership aims to build 3 to 6 owner-occupied affordable homes and fund a home repair program for existing homeowners.
- Lasting Affordability Model: Habitat CEO Todd Rogers and COO Deborah Bradley described a "lasting affordability" model using a 99-year renewable ground lease. Homes will be sold to families earning 30-80% of Area Median Income (AMI) at below-market prices. Homeowners will build equity through 1.5% simple interest annually and zero-interest mortgages. When selling, they must sell back to Habitat at a restricted price, keeping homes affordable permanently. Homebuyers commit to 400 hours of sweat equity.
- Home Repair Program: Mirabella Sacedo explained that Habitat's Neighborhood Revitalization program will provide affordable health-and-safety repairs (roofing, HVAC, electrical, etc.) to existing owner-occupied homes in the area. Since the census tract is low-to-moderate income, homeowners automatically qualify, and they may participate in sweat equity.
- Community Engagement: Cynthia Escura reported outreach to about 150 homes via door-to-door flyers in English and Spanish, text reminders, and a meeting with 20 residents. A survey showed overwhelming support for both the housing proposal and the repair program, with no opposition. Residents expressed appreciation for addressing vacant lots and fears of gentrification.
- Financial Structure:
- Negotiated sale price: $40,000 per parcel ($120,000 total).
- City contribution: $400,000 to support construction.
- Estimated construction cost for three units: $1.2 million (Habitat will cover additional costs if more units are built).
- Sale proceeds will be reinvested into the neighborhood revitalization program, making the deal cash-neutral for the city.
- Next Steps: Council directed staff to draft a development agreement and purchase and sale agreement for return early 2026. Construction could begin as early as late 2026 into 2027. Habitat also offered volunteer team-build slots for city employees.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (Item 3): Councilmember Spilsbury moved to approve the minutes, seconded by Councilmember Adams. The motion passed unanimously.
Councilmember Reports and Events
- Several councilmembers reported attending community events, including the Peace Pole dedication at MCC, Coffee with a Cop, the Arizona Natural History Museum fundraiser, Domestic Violence Awareness Night, and a walk for alopecia. Councilmember Adams noted the renaming of Mountain Vista Medical Center to Four Peaks on Honor Health.
Key Outcomes
- Council agreed to proceed with the Habitat for Humanity partnership and directed staff to prepare agreements for formal consideration early 2026.
- The minutes of previous meetings were approved.
- The study session adjourned with a motion from Councilmember Duff, seconded by Councilmember Spilsbury, passed unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. Welcome to the Mesa City Council study session for October 2nd, 2025. Most of our council are present. So he is excused for this meeting today. Other all other council members are present. Item number one on the agenda today is to review and discuss items on the agenda for October 6, 2025. And while we while you do that, I see we have three E as a recommendation from denial on a uh liquor license. Yeah, Vice Mayor and Council, why don't we have Leanne come up? There's been some procedural changes at the state that may lead you to see more recommendations for denial, but Leanne can talk through that and tell you why you may be seeing more of those. Good morning, Vice Mayor Council. We do have one for denial. Um this time we're expecting them to withdraw because the liquor license applicant is a different entity than who is operating here in Mesa with all their other licenses and permits. We're trying to get it cleared up, but they haven't had a chance to yet. And they've told us they were gonna withdraw this. They haven't as of today. So it is still up for denial for this one. In addition, the reason why we're seeing more of initially incomplete information, possible denials when it's initial on your um the agendas is because the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control, which is known as the DLLC, in the past has allowed us to request a up to six month extension on allowing the applicant to get us the information that we require. Currently, the it provides a 60 days only, and they're holding us to the 60 days. Okay, does that change anything for the from a council's perspective? Other than we're gonna probably see more denial. Yeah, and more that might start as a denial and flip and if they get it into us by the day of canceling. Once they fix it. Yeah, so you'll just see more inconsistency on that. I thought I saw an earlier um version of our agenda where 3G was a denial too. Did that work through its process or is that a very that could very well be the case, especially when we do get you the agendas so early? Sometimes you'll see, you know, when it's 10 days before the actual meeting, uh Leanne and her office will be. Which I very much appreciate, but I know you do. So uh that that is one of the one of the things that represents a bit of a challenge because you you see a lot of movement in those items over the that 10 day period. So yeah, but however, 3G is good to go. They have provided us everything. And that's what I would expect for the most of these when they if they're missing the paperwork, don't check all the boxes, they're gonna get a recommendation denial that they can fix. Yes. As they go through. It was just odd because Walmart failing to get their boxes checked in time is a little odd. That's why they had an outstanding bill of us. Clearly, they have gotten it together already. They're just a little late. So uh, yeah, and we do make uh constant connection with these applicants to encourage them and what they need to do from all the different departments. So that's fantastic. That's good to know. Clearly, it won't change it from our perspective, and sounds like we'll just be able to get those fixed before they get to the state board. Yes. Uh any items, yes, ma'am. Um, I just have like some pretty simple quick questions, but that I wasn't able to call and talk to the right person yesterday. But on 4C. So I don't know if who's here from Arts and Culture. I was just wondering. Um, this is probably just more of a matter of I don't know how things work, but I feel like the um the shows that come to the Mesa Arts Center would do this kind of stuff. So I'm I just am kind of trying to figure out what the contracts look like or what that looks like when we're I mean it things like makeup and hair, like I would just think that all the shows would do that themselves. So can you just kind of explain how that works?
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