Phoenix City Council Formal Meeting - September 4, 2024

The Phoenix City Council held a formal meeting on September 4, 2024, beginning with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation included prayers for two Phoenix police officers shot in the line of duty the previous night. The council then proceeded through the agenda, which included approval of minutes, liquor licenses, ordinances, resolutions, and several land use items. Key discussion items involved a proposed self-storage facility with retail at 41st Street and Baseline Road (Item 58) and a residential development at 36th Avenue and Pinnacle Peak Road (Items 59 and 60). The meeting concluded with a citizen comment session covering police oversight, the South Mountain Speedway, animal welfare, and homelessness.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes from previous formal meetings (items 1, 2, 5, 3, 4, 6) unanimously.
• Approved boards and commissions nominations (item 7) unanimously.
• Approved liquor license items 8 through 21, noting item 21 as revised, unanimously.
• Approved ordinances and resolutions items 22 through 61, excluding items 32, 33, 36, 46, 49, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, and noting item 58 had additional information and item 61 was an add-on. (Vote 9-0)

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 58 (41st Street and Baseline): Public testimony included opposition and support. Lori File, a neighborhood representative, argued the land use was improper despite design improvements, noting a 10-0 village vote against and a 5-4 planning commission vote for. Brian Harvey claimed hundreds of opposition letters. A village planning committee member (Greg) changed his stance to support due to design changes. Trent Marchuk, village chair, noted the revised design satisfied village handbook points. Catherine Knoppley criticized the process and felt residents were ignored. Darlene Jackson supported approval citing developer compromises.
• Items 59 & 60 (36th Avenue and Pinnacle Peak Road): Scott Anderson represented 970 homeowners opposing the project, citing master planning, noise from nearby go-kart tracks, and underutilized commercial nearby. Phil Moss requested an independent acoustic study. Tom (Friends of Deer Valley) and Scott Hinsey (commercial developer partner) expressed support. The applicant's rebuttal highlighted noise study results and earned non-objection letters from existing track operators.
• Citizen Comment: Eric Nielsen criticized the DOJ consent decree and suggested police investigate federal misconduct. Terrence and AJ Imperial (Valley of Sun Quarter Midget Association) pleaded for the return or relocation of the South Mountain Speedway, a youth racetrack demolished by the city. John Courtney praised police but asked for leniency toward homeless. Tony questioned police oversight. Christy Margaretio raised animal welfare enforcement failures, citing dogs kept in boxes deemed legal. Christopher proposed an advocacy program for shelter clients. Deborah criticized shelter staff training and favoritism. Kate Sivalola (Poverty Pets) reported animal cruelty cases ignored despite a 2023 ordinance. Elizabeth Venable shared her personal health journey with hyperparathyroidism and urged considering medical causes for mental health issues.

Discussion Items

• Item 32 – Grants from Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community: Approved unanimously. Mayor celebrated partnerships and the reopening of Cedovaki Museum on October 17, 2024, with a new exhibition on indigenous farming.
• Item 33 – Community Court Funding: Approved unanimously. Councilman O'Brien thanked staff for ASU partnership funds to support housing for homeless individuals in community court, which started in January 2024.
• Item 36 – Lease Revenue Bonds for Mayo Clinic and Brooks Rehabilitation: Approved unanimously. Mayor highlighted Mayo's growth, the opening of a new education and research building, and the city's need for more primary care physicians (only 40% of needed and a projected shortage of 8,000 by 2030).
• Item 46 – Work with ADOT: Approved unanimously. A public commenter initially spoke out of order about tax issues; the mayor redirected him to citizen comment.
• Item 49 – Water Services Department and Phoenix College Pilot Degree Program: Approved 8-0 (Councilwoman Pastor did not participate). Mayor emphasized supporting employee education and removing unnecessary degree requirements.
• Item 56 – Southwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Sweetwater Avenue: Approved 9-0 after a public hearing where Dave Rickert requested deletion of sidewalk requirements. Planning commission had declined that request; council upheld the stipulations.
• Item 57 – Northeast corner of 7th Avenue and Van Buren (Mylam property): Approved 8-1 to deny per planning commission recommendation. Councilman Galindo made the motion; Councilwoman Pastor voted no.
• Item 58 – Southeast corner of 41st Street and Baseline Road (Safe Store self-storage with retail): Approved 9-0 after extensive discussion. Applicant Nick Wood detailed compromises: 24-foot building height, dedicated turn lanes on 41st Street, multi-use trail bridge, and 2,500-5,000 sq ft of retail. Councilwoman Hodge Washington highlighted the community's input and recognized Brian Harvey's work.
• Items 59 & 60 – Southwest corner of 36th Avenue and Pinnacle Peak Road (Paseo Heights): Approved 8-0 on each vote. The items included a General Plan Amendment and rezoning for a 294-home residential community on 80 acres. Applicant Stephen Anderson noted lower density than neighboring properties, support from staff, village (8-1), planning commission (unanimous), Deer Valley School District, and Friends of Deer Valley. Councilwoman O'Brien made the motion, citing housing needs and the land's existing residential zoning.

Key Outcomes

• Votes: All consent items and liquor licenses passed unanimously. Items 32, 33, 36, 46, 49, 56, 58, 59, 60 were approved unanimously or near-unanimously. Item 57 was approved 8-1 (Pastor opposed).
• Directives: For Item 58, stipulations require retail space, a pedestrian bridge, and traffic improvements. For Items 59/60, 40 stipulations from the planning commission were adopted.
• Public Commitments: The city will follow up on the South Mountain Speedway issue and consider animal welfare ordinance revisions as recommended by advocates.
• Next Steps: The self-storage applicant cannot change stipulations without further public hearings. The commercial portion of Paseo Heights will require a separate public process for site plan approval.