Mesa City Council Study Session - October 29, 2026

The Mesa City Council held a study session on October 29, 2026, to discuss proposed changes to the Large Water User Ordinance and an updated Water Shortage Management Plan. The meeting also included review of the upcoming November 2 council meeting agenda, brief remarks on historic preservation guidelines, and acknowledgment of board minutes.

Consent Calendar

• Council unanimously approved receipt of board minutes (item 3).

Discussion Items

Agenda Review for November 2 Council Meeting

• City Manager Butler noted that item 4C (McFlood) currently displayed placeholder language that would be updated later in the day with corrected numbers from Maricopa County. Council also corrected a district designation error on item 4A. The council agreed to postpone the historic preservation guidelines and text amendments presentation to the Monday study session to allow for better public viewing, with Councilmember Taylor expressing support for the simplified new handbook and noting it clarifies that the overlay can be declined by property owners.

Large Water User Ordinance Enhancements

• Water Resources Director Joe Judice, Kathy McDonald, Lauren Whitaker, and Nicole Petker presented recommended enhancements to the Large Water User Ordinance (adopted 2019, updated 2024). Proposed changes include lowering the demand ceiling from 330 acre-feet to 224 acre-feet, aligning with Phoenix and Tucson. Mayor and staff emphasized that Mesa has had no new water-cooled data centers since 2021; only two exist in Mesa. The ordinance has driven innovation among large users, including advanced cooling treatment and air-cooling technologies.
• The proposal expands allowable water resources customers can bring to meet allowance requirements (currently only long-term storage credits) to include groundwater rights and other acceptable supplies. A conservation plan would be required with permit applications. Permit terms could be adapted (3, 5, or 10 years), with longer terms requiring the user to provide water for the demand ceiling as well. Schools and hospitals remain excluded; landscape irrigation meters for excluded uses are still subject to the ceiling.
• Councilmembers discussed flexibility options: Councilmember Duff inquired about smart meters and rebates for schools (staff noted non-residential irrigation equipment rebates exist); Councilmember Adams asked about groundwater rights mechanics; Councilmember Taylor questioned how business expansions are handled (demand ceiling not increased; allowance adjusted). Mayor proposed that council should have voting oversight when large users seek to increase their allowance beyond the ceiling. City Attorney Smith confirmed staff is developing details and will return for ordinance adoption later in fall 2026.
• Vice Mayor raised concerns about externalities of air-cooling (noise, heat island effects) and chemical discharges into wastewater. Councilmember Duff emphasized the need for innovation funding and federal/state help for expensive water infrastructure. Councilmember Heredia suggested exploring whether customers could pay for infrastructure instead of providing credits, but staff noted capacity fee legislation now falls under impact fee statute.

Water Shortage Management Plan Update

• Nicole Petker presented an updated framework for Mesa's Water Shortage Management Plan, moving from single-source shortage planning to a portfolio-based evaluation. The framework uses four stages (currently Stage 1: awareness and voluntary efficiencies). Key principles: protect essential services first, act proportionately, communicate clearly, and adapt based on performance. The plan does not automatically trigger mandatory responses; it allows voluntary, phased, or mandatory measures depending on severity.
• Examples of potential savings measures (from independent consultant) include AMI leak alerts, landscape optimization, watering schedules, and winter overseeding limits. Staff emphasized they would not impose all measures at once; they would start with communication and voluntary actions.
• Council discussed HOA and community engagement. Councilmember Duff asked about adding a water rate surcharge for HOAs while considering differentiating useful vs. ornamental turf. Joe Judice confirmed they are working on rate proposals and will discuss with council in a few weeks. Councilmember Taylor raised the citrus sub-area plan requiring high-water-use orange trees; City Manager agreed to work with planning on options to allow replacement with lower-water-use plants. Councilmember Duff requested a community survey to gauge preferences on conservation measures, which staff supported. Councilmember Heredia noted the need for community input on potential restrictions like winter overseeding.

Key Outcomes

• Staff will return later in fall 2026 for ordinance adoption on both the Large Water User Ordinance updates and the Water Shortage Management Plan.
• Council asked that future proposals include details on council oversight for large allowances and on community input (e.g., survey) regarding conservation measures.
• The City Manager indicated the team will review landscape requirements for citrus grove areas to allow HOA flexibility for water conservation.
• The next study session is scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026, with a council meeting at 5:45 PM; the November 5 study session is canceled.

Current Events & Future Meetings

• Councilmembers reported on attended events: Youth Climate Action Fund ($50,000 from Bloomberg Philanthropies), One Community spotlight on success, Virgin Galactic's first Delta rocket departure from Mesa Gateway Airport, Halloween event at Red Mountain Library, ASU flight simulator tour, and semiconductor industry roundtable. City Manager noted six strong candidates for fire chief are being interviewed.
• No further business; meeting adjourned.