The Phoenix City Council held a regular meeting on April 9, 2025, beginning at approximately 10:30 AM. The meeting featured an invocation, approval of minutes, multiple consent items, and a lengthy planning and zoning agenda. Key highlights included the approval of a development impact fee update, several affordable housing projects, a ceremonial street naming for Mary Rose Wilcox, and a motion to issue an RFI for the Pastor Transit Center. Councilman Galindo Alvira was recognized for his service as this was his last formal meeting.
Good afternoon. Thank you for attending today's meeting. If you could please find your seats, we will begin in one minute. Thank you very much. Good afternoon and welcome. We will begin with our invocation, and welcome Chaplain Rabbi Levi Lever Levi Levertoff. Jewish families will sit down to the three thousand three hundred and thirty-seventh annual Seder, and will follow your commandments to teach the children how you took us out of Egypt. You told us to answer the questions of three different kinds of children, the clever and interested, the defiant, and the younger simple, giving each the sort of answer they need. And you included a fourth kind of child who is not curious enough to ask. To this child, we are to tell them and teach them unprompted. The Lababitchar Rebbe, whose birthday is today, and whose legacy, Governor Hobbes is honored by proclaiming today to be education and sharing day. The Rebbe insisted that education is not about the pursuit of knowledge as a stepstool to a career, but rather to prepare a child for life in its entirety, a life of purpose, benevolence, justice, and morality. He pointed out that this teaching of the four children leaves out a fifth kind of child, the child who is absent and is not present to be taught. The children who have been so alienated that they drop out, or that they are so neglected that it never occurs to them to be present in the first place. They are at least present to learn. It is infinitely more difficult to teach those who are not present and don't even know that there is anything to be learned. The community can create a conducive atmosphere for learning. Letting them know that there is such a wealth of knowledge waiting for them if they will only open themselves to it. That is why, at the height of his world influence, the Rebbe would devote hours at a time to meet people of all sorts face to face. And it is why the Seder, perhaps the most important Jewish ritual, is held not in synagogues, but at home around the dinner table. On a personal note, as this is Councilman Galinda Alvira's last formal meeting, Councilman Galindo Alvira has shown and exemplified this very trait to the citizens of this great city, and particularly to those who live and work in District Seven. The councilman has gone out of his way to reach each person individually, devoting his time to better our city. On behalf of this great city, thank you, Councilman, for your service. May God grant the councilman much success as he returns to being a private citizen and effecting change and betterment of our city from the bottom up. Almighty God, bless our mayor and council members with the peace of mind to fulfill their sacred duties. Help them in their mission as they reach out to each person with care, compassion, and kindness to remind even those who are not present and have not even the wherewithal to seek that they really do matter and allow themselves to be helped. Bless our mayor and council members with health, clarity, wisdom, and compassion to do their important work. Finally, grant them success and guide them as they convene to fulfill your very guidance to establish just laws. And let us say Amen. Thank you, Rabbi Levratov, for that very special invocation. Today is also the one year anniversary of Councilman Glindal Elvira's appointment to the Phoenix City Council, and I'll ask him to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, Councilman. I'll now call the meeting to the order. Will the clerk please call the roll? Councilman Garindo Elvida. Here. Councilwoman Guardado. Here. Councilwoman Hodge Washington. Here. Councilwoman Pastor. Here. Councilman Robinson. Councilwoman Stark. Here. Councilman Waring. Vice Mayor O'Brien. Here. Mayor Gallego. Here.