OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Phoenix City Council Formal Meeting - October 30, 2024

City Council — Wednesday, October 30, 2024
BodyPhoenix, Arizona
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, October 30, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:37

Good afternoon.

0:38

Welcome to Phoenix City Council Chambers.

0:40

We'll begin today with an invocation.

0:43

Please rise for police chaplain John Taylor.

0:51

Please join me in prayer.

0:53

Dear wise and loving father, first let me say thank you on behalf of all who are gathered here today.

0:58

Thank you for your many blessings and thank you for life itself.

1:01

Thank you for the ability to be involved in useful work and for the freedoms that we enjoy in this great nation.

1:07

You have said that citizens should obey the governing authorities since you have established these very authorities to promote peace and order and justice.

1:14

And so I pray for our mayor for the various levels of city officials, and in particular for this assembled council.

1:20

I'm asking that you would graciously grant them wisdom to govern, a sense of the true needs and welfare of our people, a confidence in what is good, just and right, the ability to work together in harmony, personal peace in their lives, and joy in their work.

1:35

I pray for the agenda set before them today.

1:37

Please give them assurance of what would please you and what would benefit those who live and work in and around our beloved city of Phoenix.

1:44

It's in your blessed name I pray.

1:46

Amen.

1:49

Thank you for the beautiful words.

1:51

Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:53

I pledge allegiance.

2:00

One nation under God.

2:14

Thank you.

2:16

I'll now call to order the formal meeting of the Phoenix City Council.

2:19

Will the clerk call the roll?

2:21

Councilman Ganin de Alvida.

2:23

Here.

2:23

Councilwoman Guardado.

2:25

Here.

2:25

Councilwoman Hodge Washington.

2:27

Here.

2:28

Councilwoman O'Brien.

2:29

Here.

2:30

Councilwoman Pastor.

2:32

Councilman Robinson?

2:34

Here.

2:34

Councilman Waring.

2:36

Vice Mayor Stark.

2:38

Here.

2:38

Mayor Gallego.

2:39

Here.

2:42

Daniel Feliciano and Elsie Duarte are here to provide interpretation.

2:46

Could you please introduce yourself and your team?

2:49

Thank you, Mayor.

2:50

Hello, my name is Daniel Feliciano, and together with my colleague Elsie Duarte, we'll be serving as Spanish interpreters for today's city council formal meeting.

2:59

I will take I will take a moment to introduce ourselves to our Spanish speaking audience and review some guidelines.

3:44

Thank you, Mayor.

3:45

Thank you so much.

3:46

Will the clerk read the 24-hour paragraph?

3:48

The titles of the following ordinance and resolution numbers on the agenda were available to the public at least 24 hours part of this council meeting, and therefore may be read by title and agenda item only.

3:57

Ordinances number G7314 and S51355 through 51379.

4:03

Thank you.

4:04

Will the city attorney please explain the role of public comment?

4:07

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

4:08

Members of the public may speak for up to two minutes to comment on agenda items.

4:12

Comments must be related to the agenda item and the action being considered by the council.

4:17

General comments that go beyond the scope of the agenda item must be made in the citizen comment session at the end of the agenda.

4:23

The city council and staff cannot discuss or comment on matters related to pending investigations, claims, or litigation.

4:30

Additionally, any member of the public who appears before council in their capacity as a lobbyist must, as required by Phoenix City Code, disclose this fact before addressing council.

4:40

The City Code requires speakers to present their comments in a respectful and courteous manner.

4:44

Profane language threats or personal attacks on members of the public, council members, or staff are not allowed.

4:55

Thank you.

4:56

We'll now go to approval of the meeting minutes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████28%
Public Engagement████████████████████████████28%
Parks and Recreation███████████11%
Animal Welfare████████8%
Education███████7%
Public Safety██████6%
Liquor Licensing████4%
Historic Preservation████4%
Transportation Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Phoenix City Council Formal Meeting - October 30, 2024

The Phoenix City Council convened a formal meeting on October 30, 2024, with all nine members present. The agenda included approval of prior meeting minutes, boards and commissions appointments, liquor license recommendations, multiple ordinances and resolutions, and a citizen comment session. All votes were unanimous except where noted.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: Approved unanimously for August 28, 2023, September 6, 2023, and November 21, 2023.
  • Boards and Commissions: Mayor and City Council recommendations approved unanimously.
  • Liquor Licenses (Items 5-11): Approved unanimously.
  • Ordinances and Resolutions (Items 13-42): Approved unanimously, excluding Items 20, 26, and 31, which were considered separately with public comment.

Items Removed for Separate Consideration

  • Item 20 – Grant from Ford Foundation for Tree and Shade Master Plan: Leonard Clark spoke in support, emphasizing the need for shade and heat safety. Councilman Galindo de Avila thanked staff for the plan. Approved 9-0.
  • Item 26 – IGA with Community College District for EMT/Paramedic Preceptorships: Councilwoman Pastor did not participate. Approved 8-0.
  • Item 31 – Ordinance Amending Speed Limits at 27 Locations: Approved 9-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Diane Barker (District 7): Discussed environmental cleanup, recycling, and the importance of creating jobs near affordable housing. Suggested the city explore holistic corridors for zero waste and employment.
  • Beatriz Contreras: An ESL tutor at Smith Park, she requested continued support for educational programs due to loss of sponsors; noted that four courses have been completed.
  • Leonard Clark: Commented on speed limits, expressing concern about lack of enforcement. In citizen comment, he called for updated plaques at Phoenix Indian School Park and asked for transparency on the number of indigenous children who died at the school.
  • Coco Garcia (Founder of Handover Rover): Advocated for a law prohibiting confinement of animals in spaces too small for free movement, citing behavioral and health risks.
  • Missy Pruitt (Founder of Lagatara Cat Cafe): Highlighted a cat crisis with over 500,000 cats on the streets and requested city funding for animal rescue.
  • Paul (Country Gables resident): Opposed the Valley Metro bus reroute onto his street, citing safety concerns and a petition signed by 21 of 23 affected homeowners. Noted that the city previously spent $292,000 on a traffic calming device at that intersection.
  • Emily Stirrup (Board member, Handover Rover): Shared how volunteering with animal rescue improved her own health and urged support for community involvement.
  • Erlinda Calderon (Director at Smith Park): Expressed disappointment over the closure of Smith Park, stating that the community had self-funded programs and asking for continued support. Criticized Councilman Carlos Galindo for not supporting the Latino community.
  • Victoria Gonzalez Gomez: A student at Smith Park, she expressed sadness over the closure and hoped the programs could continue.
  • Teresa Martinez: A former student who earned her GED through Smith Park programs, she urged the city to preserve educational opportunities there.

Key Outcomes

  • All votes were unanimous 9-0 except Item 26 (8-0, Pastor recused).
  • Item 12 (liquor license) was disapproved 9-0 due to the applicant's failure to complete the required paperwork.
  • The citizen comment session was limited to 30 minutes, with two speakers unable to speak due to time constraints.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon. Welcome to Phoenix City Council Chambers. We'll begin today with an invocation. Please rise for police chaplain John Taylor. Please join me in prayer. Dear wise and loving father, first let me say thank you on behalf of all who are gathered here today. Thank you for your many blessings and thank you for life itself. Thank you for the ability to be involved in useful work and for the freedoms that we enjoy in this great nation. You have said that citizens should obey the governing authorities since you have established these very authorities to promote peace and order and justice. And so I pray for our mayor for the various levels of city officials, and in particular for this assembled council. I'm asking that you would graciously grant them wisdom to govern, a sense of the true needs and welfare of our people, a confidence in what is good, just and right, the ability to work together in harmony, personal peace in their lives, and joy in their work. I pray for the agenda set before them today. Please give them assurance of what would please you and what would benefit those who live and work in and around our beloved city of Phoenix. It's in your blessed name I pray. Amen. Thank you for the beautiful words. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance. One nation under God. Thank you. I'll now call to order the formal meeting of the Phoenix City Council. Will the clerk call the roll? Councilman Ganin de Alvida. Here. Councilwoman Guardado. Here. Councilwoman Hodge Washington. Here. Councilwoman O'Brien. Here. Councilwoman Pastor. Councilman Robinson? Here. Councilman Waring. Vice Mayor Stark. Here. Mayor Gallego. Here. Daniel Feliciano and Elsie Duarte are here to provide interpretation. Could you please introduce yourself and your team? Thank you, Mayor. Hello, my name is Daniel Feliciano, and together with my colleague Elsie Duarte, we'll be serving as Spanish interpreters for today's city council formal meeting. I will take I will take a moment to introduce ourselves to our Spanish speaking audience and review some guidelines. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you so much. Will the clerk read the 24-hour paragraph? The titles of the following ordinance and resolution numbers on the agenda were available to the public at least 24 hours part of this council meeting, and therefore may be read by title and agenda item only. Ordinances number G7314 and S51355 through 51379. Thank you. Will the city attorney please explain the role of public comment?

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com