OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Phoenix City Council Formal Meeting February 5, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, February 5, 2025
BodyPhoenix, Arizona
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, February 5, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:55

Good afternoon.

0:56

It is February 5th, 2025, and we welcome you to Phoenix City Council Chambers.

1:00

We'll begin with an invocation from police chaplain Jim Williams.

1:10

Madam Mayor, City Council and Staff, thank you so much for what you do.

1:16

Would you all join me in a prayer of invocation?

1:19

Lord, I come to you reaching out and requesting your participation in our city council meeting today.

1:42

Father, I ask you to draw the mayor and council close to you, gathering them in favor.

1:49

Wash them with your wisdom and discernment as only you can.

1:53

Father, I ask that you protect our city leaders, our employees, our fire and police, thus keeping keeping them healthy and safe.

2:02

Lord, I thank you in advance for your grace and discernment and love extended to all of our city leaders.

2:09

To you, Father, we give all the praise and all the glory.

2:13

Amen.

2:16

Councilman Galinda Elvira will lead us in the pledge.

2:41

Thank you, Chaplain Williams, and thank you, Councilman.

2:43

I'll now call the formal meeting to order.

2:45

Will the clerk call the role?

2:47

Councilman Galindo Alvida.

2:49

Here.

2:49

Councilwoman Guardado here.

2:51

Councilwoman Hodge Washington?

2:53

Here.

2:53

Councilwoman Pastor?

2:55

Here.

2:55

Councilman Robinson?

2:57

Here.

2:57

Councilwoman Stark.

2:59

Here.

2:59

Councilman Waring.

3:01

Vice Mayor O'Brien.

3:02

Here.

3:03

Mayor Gallego.

3:04

Here.

3:05

We'll begin with the meeting.

3:07

Uh but this we'll begin with the interpretation.

3:09

And uh Mario, would you introduce your team?

3:12

Yes, Mayor.

3:12

Thank you.

3:14

Good afternoon.

3:14

My name is Mario Rajas, and together with my colleague El C Duarte.

3:19

We're going to be serving as uh interpreters for our Spanish speaking residents at this meeting.

3:24

I'm going to take a moment now to introduce ourselves to our Spanish speaking residents and review a couple of uh guidelines of with them.

3:31

When I started Mario Barajas, informales como siempre on par de pautas que la interpretación commentario publicas de this and commentarios telephonos distractions.

4:18

Thank you, Mayor.

4:20

Thank you, Mario.

4:20

Glad to have you with us.

4:21

Will the city clerk please read the 24 hour paragraph?

4:24

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.

4:32

Ordinances number G7351 through 7359 and S five one six one six through five one six three five.

4:41

Thank you so much.

4:42

Will the city attorney explain the role of public comment?

4:44

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

4:45

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

4:49

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

4:54

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.

5:00

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

5:06

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

5:16

The city code requires speakers to present their comments in respectful and courteous manner.

5:21

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

5:26

A person who violates these rules will lose the opportunity to continue to speak.

5:31

Thank you so much.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement█████████████13%
Arts And Culture█████████9%
Parks and Recreation█████████9%
Affordable Housing████████8%
Historic Preservation███████7%
Environmental Protection█████5%
Land Use████4%
Public Health████4%
Economic Development████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Phoenix City Council Formal Meeting - February 5, 2025

The Phoenix City Council met on February 5, 2025, beginning in the afternoon, to consider consent agenda items, liquor licenses, an airport ordinance amendment, rezoning requests, and a citizen comment. All nine council members were present. The council approved the meeting minutes, board nominations, consent calendar items, and most of the planning and zoning agenda, and continued one zoning case to March 5, 2025.

Consent Calendar

  • Motion to approve meeting minutes from September 4, 2024 passed unanimously.
  • Boards and commissions nominations approved; new commissioners were sworn in.
  • Items 3–16 (liquor licenses) approved, including item 16 which was initially submitted for disapproval but the finance department now recommends approval.
  • Items 17–46 (ordinances, resolutions, new business, planning/zoning) approved 9-0, excluding items 25, 44, and 46. The mayor noted the total agendized housing units amounted to 992.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Armando Felix, owner/operator of Felix Plaza for 30 years, opposed item 44 due to dangerous conditions at 39th Avenue and Grand, citing a 135-degree angle, frequent speeding tickets, and past deaths/injuries. He expressed support for affordable housing but not at the expense of safety.
  • Ben Graf, representing UMOM, stated the developer is fully committed to safety, with no direct site access from Grand Avenue, and will comply with traffic impact assessment stipulations.
  • On item 46: Monica Brooks, a nearby property owner, opposed the proposal, citing traffic dangers and its proximity to a school crossing; she asked for a deferral. Richard Pasquale said he no longer opposes the request after agreeing to a strong sign stipulation. Rika Caracenudo, a Shea Boulevard resident, opposed commercialization and said residents have been ignored. Lauren, a local developer and resident, supported the project for providing medical services.
  • Missy Pruitt, founder of She's All Cat, during citizen comment, stated Phoenix has an estimated 500,000 to 1 million homeless cats and criticized the mayor's office for not responding to her meeting requests for two months.

Discussion Items

  • Item 25: Ordinance G7358 amending Phoenix City Code Section 4-114 regarding fueling/defueling of aircraft at city airports was approved 9-0 after a roll call vote.
  • Item 44 (District 5): A rezoning/project on Grand Avenue. Councilwoman Guardado moved approval. Testimony highlighted intersection safety concerns. Councilmembers noted stipulations requiring a traffic impact assessment and coordination with ADOT before site plan approval. The item passed 9-0.
  • Item 46 (District 2): Rezoning at 56th Street and Shea Boulevard from RA-43 to CO for two medical office buildings. Staff recommended approval. Councilman Waring expressed concern that residents only learned of the case recently and were confusing it with a 2023 case. Applicant Jason Morris described the site as surrounded by non-residential uses, with residential-scale design and deed restrictions. Waring moved to continue the item to March 5, 2025; the motion passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • All council members present: Galindo Elvira, Guardado, Hodge Washington, Pastor, Robinson, Stark, Waring, O'Brien, Gallego.
  • Approved meeting minutes, board nominations, consent calendar items 3–16, items 17–46 (with exclusions), and ordinance G7358 (item 25).
  • Approved item 44 (9-0) with traffic study stipulations.
  • Continued item 46 to March 5, 2025 to allow the applicant to meet with concerned residents.

The 24-hour rule was read for ordinances G7351–7359 and S51616–51635. The meeting adjourned after the citizen comment session.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon. It is February 5th, 2025, and we welcome you to Phoenix City Council Chambers. We'll begin with an invocation from police chaplain Jim Williams. Madam Mayor, City Council and Staff, thank you so much for what you do. Would you all join me in a prayer of invocation? Lord, I come to you reaching out and requesting your participation in our city council meeting today. Father, I ask you to draw the mayor and council close to you, gathering them in favor. Wash them with your wisdom and discernment as only you can. Father, I ask that you protect our city leaders, our employees, our fire and police, thus keeping keeping them healthy and safe. Lord, I thank you in advance for your grace and discernment and love extended to all of our city leaders. To you, Father, we give all the praise and all the glory. Amen. Councilman Galinda Elvira will lead us in the pledge. Thank you, Chaplain Williams, and thank you, Councilman. I'll now call the formal meeting to order. Will the clerk call the role? Councilman Galindo Alvida. Here. Councilwoman Guardado here. Councilwoman Hodge Washington? Here. Councilwoman Pastor? Here. Councilman Robinson? Here. Councilwoman Stark. Here. Councilman Waring. Vice Mayor O'Brien. Here. Mayor Gallego. Here. We'll begin with the meeting. Uh but this we'll begin with the interpretation. And uh Mario, would you introduce your team? Yes, Mayor. Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Mario Rajas, and together with my colleague El C Duarte. We're going to be serving as uh interpreters for our Spanish speaking residents at this meeting. I'm going to take a moment now to introduce ourselves to our Spanish speaking residents and review a couple of uh guidelines of with them. When I started Mario Barajas, informales como siempre on par de pautas que la interpretación commentario publicas de this and commentarios telephonos distractions. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Mario. Glad to have you with us. Will the city clerk please 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 G7351 through 7359 and S five one six one six through five one six three five. Thank you so much. Will the city attorney explain the role of public comment?

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