Phoenix City Council Meeting - January 22, 2025

The meeting began with an invocation, pledge of allegiance, and roll call. The council approved consent items, liquor licenses, and a package of planning and zoning cases. Key discussions focused on eviction legal services, the Phoenix Children's Museum expansion, and a contested rezoning at 21st Street and Turney. The public comment period covered transit, parks, homelessness, and animal welfare.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Meeting minutes from August 26, 2024, approved unanimously.
• Item 2: Boards and commissions nominations approved unanimously; new commissioners sworn in.
• Items 3–17: Liquor license items approved unanimously.
• Items 18–39 (except 27 and 39): Omnibus vote on planning and zoning cases approved 9–0. Item 26 (eviction legal services) and item 27 (Children's Museum) were pulled for separate votes; item 39 (21st Street/Turney rezoning) went to a public hearing.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Eviction Legal Services (Item 26): Teresa Hill spoke to ask whether the contractors provide no-cost eviction services and questioned the ease of access for residents in crisis. She thanked the council for posting materials.
• Rezoning at 21st Street/Turney (Item 39): Multiple speakers testified. Lee Busenbark (opposition) argued the project undermines neighborhood character, traffic capacity, and affordability, and accused the applicant of manipulating traffic counts and the public process. Roberta Candelaria (support) stated she owns property adjacent to the site and that the development would improve a troubled area. Chad Lafferty (support) said traffic concerns are exaggerated and that the project contributes to solving the housing shortage. Jackie Rich (opposition, representing neighborhood association) requested R4 zoning with specific stipulations, including workforce housing pricing. Steve (opposition) criticized the process and vowed to scrutinize construction. John Paletta (opposition) recounted past successful community opposition to high-density projects. Robert Greenberg (opposition) stated the developer admitted he could profit under R3, and called the request for R5 disrespectful. Kathy Delorie (opposition) asked to deny R5 to protect neighborhood character. Ashley Marsh (applicant) rebutted, noting over 170 letters of support, multiple meetings, revisions to height and density, and traffic studies showing sufficient capacity.
• Citizen Comment Session: Diane Barker praised transit and urged attention to air quality and homelessness. Jerry Van Ghess criticized the Parks Board for lack of public notification on South Mountain heat closures. Cappy Matt urged keeping shelters open using general funds for the elderly homeless. Jarrett, Wendy Morris, Christy Margaret, Missy Pruitt, and Linda spoke about the feral cat overpopulation crisis, lack of funding for trap-neuter-return (TNR), need for police training on animal cruelty laws, and the connection between animal abuse and violence against humans. Michael Norton asked for tree planting on dormant park parcels and fire prevention on city-owned land. Elizabeth Venable urged funding shelters from the general fund given the expiration of ARPA money, highlighting cost savings. Tim Surikowski called for Parks Board meetings to be televised.

Discussion Items

• Item 26 - Eviction Legal Services: Staff explained the program adds two new providers (total of three) for no-cost legal mediation, representation, and post-eviction sealing of records. Eligibility requires Phoenix residency or city water service, eviction risk, and income at or below 80% of area median income (approx. $54,000 for a family of four). Referrals come through the Human Services Department. Council members expressed support, emphasized data tracking (monthly reporting on cases and outcomes, client satisfaction surveys at 30 days and housing stability checks at 6 months), and noted the program is funded through federal, state, and local partnerships. The item passed 9–0.
• Item 27 - Phoenix Children's Museum Expansion: Council praised the project as a bond-funded investment in youth and historic preservation. Passed 9–0.
• Item 39 - Rezoning at 21st Street and Turney: The applicant requested a change from R3 to R5 for a 64-unit, four-story apartment building on 1.8 acres (1.5 developable). After opposition and a motion by Councilman Robinson, the council rejected the R5 request and approved R4A with modifications. The approved R4A zoning includes stipulations: a 40-foot building setback along north and east property lines, no rooftop decks along the north and east perimeter, notifications to neighborhood associations for any future modification requests, and the developer working with the city on speed hump petitions along 21st Street and Turney Avenue (funded by the developer). The motion passed 9–0.

Key Outcomes

• Item 26: Approved 9–0 to add two legal service providers for eviction assistance.
• Item 27: Approved 9–0 for Phoenix Children's Museum expansion.
• Item 39: Motion passed 9–0 to deny R5 and approve R4A with additional stipulations (40-foot setback, no rooftop decks, notification requirements, speed hump improvements).
• Boards and Commissions: Unanimous approval and swearing-in of new commissioners.
• Liquor Licenses: Unanimous approval.
• Consent Agenda (excluding items 27 and 39): Passed 9–0.