Phoenix City Council Formal Meeting, November 13, 2024
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Phoenix City Council Formal Meeting, November 13, 2024
The Phoenix City Council convened on November 13, 2024, at 9:30 AM for a formal meeting. The meeting included the invocation, pledge of allegiance, approval of minutes and nominations, a swearing-in ceremony, approval of consent agendas, a discussion and vote on the Shade Phoenix Plan, a public hearing on impact fees, a vote on rezoning application processes, and public comments. All votes were unanimous (8-0) where taken.
Consent Calendar
- The council unanimously approved the formal meeting minutes (items 1, 2, 4) and continued item 3 to November 20, 2024.
- Approved Mayor and City Council boards and commissions nominations.
- Approved liquor license recommendations (items 6-15, except item 8 continued to December 18, 2024).
- Approved ordinances and resolutions (items 16-79, excluding items 33, 37, 38, 72, 79; items 73, 74, and 75-78 continued to specified dates).
- Approved the 2025 Downtown Enhanced Municipal Services District Assessment (item 38) and the rezoning application review time frame and written protest petition exemption (item 79).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Blue Crowley (Citizen): Criticized lack of bus facilities in freeway expansions, questioned why shade plan does not include bus shelters, and claimed Phoenix controls MAG.
- Diane Parker (District 7 resident): Expressed support for the shade plan, mentioned an upcoming EPA hearing on the Motorola Superfund site, and urged oversight of contractors.
- Shana Brown (Citizen): Urged council to work with animal rescues (Handover Rover, Poverty’s Pets, Sky Sanctuary) to address animal welfare.
- Timothy (Neighborhood resident): Complained about garbage and gravel on streets (specifically East Thomas Road), requested more waste baskets and an ordinance requiring gravel barriers.
- Renee Domingas (Homedale resident): Opposed the continued contract of a dance organization at Smith Park, alleged noncompliance and lack of youth activities, requested a new performance evaluation.
- Coco Garcia (Founder, Handover Rover): Described severe stray animal overpopulation in lower-income areas, requested city support for mobile spay/neuter clinics.
- Christy Margario (Concerned citizen): Presented statistics showing exponential reproduction of unaltered pets, argued that animal welfare contracts do not include spay/neuter, and urged council to invest in prevention.
- Missy Pritt (Cat advocate): Shared stories of animal cruelty, called for city programs like Tempe's community cat program, stressed the crisis is a human rights issue.
- Elizabeth Venable (Citizen): Encouraged sustainable funding for homeless programs, criticized reliance on ARPA funds, supported general fund allocations.
- Frank Urban (Fund for Empowerment): Expressed support for using Prop 312 funds for mental health and housing solutions rather than barriers.
- Terry Perez (Homedale resident): Supported Renee Domingas’ comments about Smith Park, highlighted lack of after-school programs and community center services, urged city action.
Discussion Items
- Shade Phoenix Plan: Jessica Bueno (Chispa Arizona) expressed support and noted community feedback; she asked about workforce development for non-English speakers. Council members expressed support, emphasized maintenance of trees and shade structures, and requested attention to existing trees and community concerns.
- Development Impact Fees (Item 72): Public hearing on land use assumptions and infrastructure improvement plans. Staff and committee chair presented the 10-year growth projections and projected $1.6 billion in revenue. Council members discussed cost impacts on development, state land challenges, and the need for affordability considerations. Public comment from Patrice raised concerns about reimbursement and land use changes.
Key Outcomes
- Shade Phoenix Plan approved unanimously (8-0). The plan includes $60 million investment over five years to plant 27,000 trees and build 500+ shade structures.
- 2025 Downtown Enhanced Municipal Services District Assessment approved unanimously.
- Rezoning application review time frame exemption approved unanimously.
- Impact fee public hearing held; no action taken. Next steps: council action on December 18, 2024, public hearing in January, and final action in March-April 2025.
- All other consent items approved unanimously.
Next Steps
- Various continued items scheduled for upcoming meetings.
- Impact fee program updates to be brought back for action in December 2024 and January 2025.
- Staff directed to respond to public concerns raised regarding shade plan and animal welfare.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. We'll begin today with an invocation from police chaplain Levritov. Almighty God. This week in synagogues throughout the world, we read the story of Abraham, who discovers God through reasoning that there is a power above and beyond all the visible forces of nature, a power who had created them. Behind the limited power of all nature, young Abraham perceived the unlimited and timeless existence of God. Then God made himself known to Abraham and taught him the right way of living. In turn, Abraham shared with everyone he encountered the noble values and ethics to making this world a better place. A world that is home to God with peace, justice, hospitality and sharing, and respect for all mankind. Abraham's legacy and teachings continue to impact mankind to this day. As God declared, I cherish Abraham because he instructs his children and his household after him to keep God's ways by acting with righteousness and justice. Almighty God, grant our mayor and the honored members of the Phoenix City Council the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to govern our great city. May they be guided by the Almighty's hands in enacting dictates that serve the citizens of Phoenix well now and in the future. May the mayor and the good members of this council continue to embody and encourage a spirit of cooperation, respect, and peace amongst all citizens of Phoenix, and act with righteousness and justice as Abraham taught. And may they continue to serve as positive role models for our beautiful community. Finally, bless our mayor, council members, as well as each of us assembled here, the citizens of our city, state, and this great nation with good health, peace, and prosperity, and let us say amen. Thank you, Rabbi. Councilwoman Hodge Washington will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Galinda La Vira. Mayor, thank you for recognizing me. I want to thank um Rabbi Levertov for that beautiful invocation uh prayer that invoked um Abraham and the blessing that he bestowed upon us. Thank you, Rabbi. We'll now call to order the formal meeting of the Phoenix City Council while the clerk call the role. Councilman Galin Delvida. Here. Councilwoman Guardado. Councilwoman Hodge Washington. Here. Councilwoman O'Brien. Here. Councilwoman Pastor. Here. Councilman Robinson. Here. Councilman Waring. Vice Mayor Stark? Here. Mayor Gallego. Here. Daniel is here to provide interpretation. Would you please introduce yourself? Thank you, Mayor. Hello, my name is Daniel Feliciano, and together with my colleague El Carty, we'll be serving as Spanish interpreters for today's city council formal meeting. I'll now take a moment to introduce ourselves to our Spanish speaking audience and review some guidelines. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Well, the city 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 prior to this council meeting and therefore may be read by title or agenda item only. Ordinances number G 7315 through 7323 S51380 through 51423 and resolutions 2260 through 22262. Thank you. I'll now turn to our city attorney.
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