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.