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Record of Proceedings

Phoenix City Council Regular Meeting – June 4, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, June 4, 2025
BodyPhoenix, Arizona
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, June 4, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:49:21

Original source
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0:34

Good afternoon, thank you for attending.

0:36

We will begin in about one minute.

0:37

If you could please find your seats, thank you.

1:16

Thank you, Marlon.

1:18

Good afternoon.

1:19

Thank you for joining us on June 4th, 2025.

1:22

We'll begin with an invitation from police chapman Will Chaplin Williams.

1:34

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

1:36

I want to thank you, the council and staff for all your dedication, time and support.

1:41

Would you please join me in a prayer of invocation?

1:44

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

1:50

I live to you our mayor, our city council, and their staff members.

2:01

These are precious and willing individuals that constantly share their leadership and talents.

2:06

Father, I ask you to draw the mayor and council close to you and granting them favor, wash them with your wisdom and discernment as only you can.

2:15

Father, I also ask that you protect all of our city leaders, our city employees, thus keeping them healthy and safe.

2:22

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

2:29

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

2:32

Amen.

2:35

Thank you.

2:36

Chaplain, please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:38

I pledge allegiance.

3:00

Thank you.

3:00

We'll now call the formal meeting to order.

3:03

Will the clerk call the roll?

3:05

Councilwoman Guardado.

3:08

Here.

3:08

Councilwoman Hernandez.

3:10

Here.

3:11

Councilwoman Hodge Washington.

3:12

Here.

3:13

Councilwoman Bastore.

3:15

Here.

3:15

Councilman Robinson?

3:17

Here.

3:17

Councilwoman Stark?

3:19

Here.

3:20

Councilman Waring.

3:22

Vice Mayor O'Brien.

3:23

Here.

3:23

Mayor Gallego.

3:25

Here.

3:27

Mario Barajas and Elsie Duarte are with us to provide interpretation.

3:30

Mario, would you please introduce your team?

3:32

Yes, Mayor.

3:33

Thank you.

3:34

Good afternoon.

3:34

My name is Mario Bajas.

3:36

I'm going to be serving as an interpreter alongside with uh El C Duarte.

3:40

I'll now take a moment to introduce ourselves to our Spanish speaking audience and review a couple of guidelines with them.

4:28

Thank you, Mayor.

4:30

Thank you, Mario.

4:32

Will the city clerk please read the 24-hour paragraph?

4:36

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.

4:45

Ordinances number G7390 through 7393 S five one nine five eight through five two zero four two and resolutions two two three zero six through two two three one one.

4:57

Thank you.

4:57

And can our legal team please explain public comments?

5:00

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

5:01

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

5:05

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

5:09

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.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety████████████████████20%
Homelessness███████████████15%
Child Care█████████████13%
Procedural████████████12%
Public Comment██████6%
Pending Litigation█████5%
Public Engagement████4%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Budget Equity Analysis██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Phoenix City Council Regular Meeting – June 4, 2025

The Phoenix City Council met on June 4, 2025, at 10:30 AM (local time) to consider a full agenda including consent items, the fiscal year 2025-26 budget, contracts for homeless services, public safety agreements, airport childcare, and land‑use proposals. The meeting lasted approximately 3.5 hours.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved formal meeting minutes from February 19, 2025.
  • Approved Mayor and City Council boards and commission nominations.
  • Conducted a swearing‑in ceremony for new board members and re‑appointed Municipal Court Judge Alex Navidad.
  • Approved liquor license items 4‑16.
  • Approved ordinances/resolutions 17‑124 (with exceptions noted) including a response to the NCAA Women’s Final Four support.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Stacy Champion (volunteer outreach) criticized Community Bridges’ contract for Rio Fresco shelter, citing high CEO pay, low staff wages, and lack of accountability. She urged the city to open bidding to other providers.
  • Teresa Christensen (Bright Beginnings Preschool) alleged the airport childcare RFP process was unfair, claiming the winning bidder omitted required design sections and misrepresented qualifications.
  • Joe Clute (Small People Preschool/Phoenix Skycare) stated the RFP process was flawed, alleging the city pre‑selected KinderCare and ignored rule violations. He noted pending litigation.
  • Bob Kirsting (witness) contradicted the city’s version of a phone call used to disqualify Clute.
  • Lynette Bolt (parent) shared a personal tragedy involving a KinderCare bus incident, urging council not to contract with the company.
  • Josh Grable (attorney for Clute) requested a two‑week delay due to a June 20 hearing on the matter.
  • Leonard Clark expressed concerns about federal emergency preparedness and constitutional protections.
  • Frank Urban (Fund for Empowerment) advocated for reallocating police funding to housing and homeless programs.
  • Several residents – Estela Varela, Brianna Valencia, Miros, Ben Laughlin – spoke in support of a citizen petition to limit police stops and reduce racial profiling.

Discussion Items

  • Item 54 (Community Bridges contract): Councilwoman Hodge Washington questioned accountability measures and oversight. Staff (Office of Homeless Solutions) described monthly billing reviews, annual fiscal audits, and a forthcoming city auditor audit. Councilwoman Pastor expressed frustration with system tracking and requested a public system map. Councilwoman Hernandez linked homelessness to poverty. The contract was approved 9‑0.
  • Item 56 (Qualified Vendor List): Approved 9‑0 after similar discussion.
  • Item 63 (Phoenix Forge expansion): Partnership with Maricopa County Community College District. Councilwoman Pastor recused. Approved 8‑0.
  • Item 70 (FEMA partnership with Valleywise Health): Public speaker Leonard Clark urged support due to federal uncertainty. Approved 9‑0.
  • Item 74 (ADHS agreement): Councilwoman Hernandez opposed, citing police overtime and racial profiling concerns. Approved 8‑1 (Hernandez no).
  • Item 82 (SRO funding agreements): Vice Mayor O’Brien highlighted a new law allowing retired officers as SROs. Councilwoman Hodge Washington noted district‑level choice. Councilwoman Hernandez opposed, citing school‑to‑prison pipeline. Councilman Waring did not vote. Approved 7‑1 (Hernandez no).
  • Item 84 (License plate reader – NVLS): Councilwoman Hernandez and Hodge Washington raised privacy and immigration enforcement concerns. Councilwoman Pastor moved to continue to June 18 with a directive to develop audit protocols. Approved 9‑0 (continuation motion).
  • Item 93 (Airport Childcare Provider): Councilwoman Guardado championed the project. Staff confirmed the facility will serve airport workers with hours 6 AM–6 PM, but councilwoman suggested extending to 8 PM based on a survey. Councilwoman Hodge Washington questioned procurement fairness; staff noted two independent panel reviews and a pending court hearing on June 20 (temporary restraining order denied). Approved 9‑0.
  • Item 94 (CapEx light rail property acquisition): Staff said the action does not lock in a final design. Councilwoman Pastor stressed stakeholder engagement. Approved 8‑1 (Waring no).
  • Item 96 (Light rail operations funding): Approved 8‑1 (Waring no).
  • Item 104 (Indian School Road safety study): Public speaker Stacy Champion called for quicker action. Councilwoman Hodge Washington asked for a timeline. Approved 9‑0.
  • Item 107 (Children’s Museum expansion): Funded with $4M GO Bond. Approved 9‑0.
  • Items 122‑123 (64th St & Mayo Blvd – 1,400 housing units): Approved 9‑0.
  • Item 124 (Citizen petition – Kim Baker): Staff recommendation approved 8‑0.

Key Outcomes

  • Budget votes (Items 28‑32):
    • Capital Improvement Program (2025‑2030): Adopted 8‑1 (Hernandez no).
    • Tentative Annual Budget (FY2025‑26): Adopted 8‑1 (Hernandez no, citing underinvestment in housing/mental health and over‑policing).
    • Capital Funds Budget: Adopted 8‑1.
    • Reappropriated Funds Budget: Adopted 8‑1.
  • Community Bridges contract (Item 54): Approved 9‑0 with direction to improve system accountability.
  • SRO agreements (Item 82): Approved 7‑1 (Hernandez no).
  • NVLS contract (Item 84): Continued to June 18, 2025, with instruction to develop audit protocols for data usage.
  • Airport childcare (Item 93): Awarded to KinderCare; approved 9‑0 despite pending litigation.
  • Light rail property (Item 94): Approved 8‑1 (Waring no).
  • Light rail operations (Item 96): Approved 8‑1 (Waring no).
  • Citizen petition (Item 124): Staff recommendation adopted; councilwoman Hernandez requested follow‑up contact with petitioner.

Citizen Comments (30‑minute session)

Speakers urged the council to prioritize housing, oppose police budget increases, resist federal immigration enforcement, and approve a resolution for community safety (petition filed but not acted upon per open meeting law). No council discussion or action was taken on comments.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, thank you for attending. We will begin in about one minute. If you could please find your seats, thank you. Thank you, Marlon. Good afternoon. Thank you for joining us on June 4th, 2025. We'll begin with an invitation from police chapman Will Chaplin Williams. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I want to thank you, the council and staff for all your dedication, time and support. Would you please join me in a prayer of invocation? Lord, I come to you reaching out and requesting your participation in our city council meeting today. I live to you our mayor, our city council, and their staff members. These are precious and willing individuals that constantly share their leadership and talents. Father, I ask you to draw the mayor and council close to you and granting them favor, wash them with your wisdom and discernment as only you can. Father, I also ask that you protect all of our city leaders, our city employees, thus keeping them healthy and safe. Lord, I thank you in advance for your grace, discernment, love, and extension to all of our city leaders. To you, Father, we give all the praise and glory. Amen. Thank you. Chaplain, please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance. Thank you. We'll now call the formal meeting to order. Will the clerk call the roll? Councilwoman Guardado. Here. Councilwoman Hernandez. Here. Councilwoman Hodge Washington. Here. Councilwoman Bastore. Here. Councilman Robinson? Here. Councilwoman Stark? Here. Councilman Waring. Vice Mayor O'Brien. Here. Mayor Gallego. Here. Mario Barajas and Elsie Duarte are with us to provide interpretation. Mario, would you please introduce your team? Yes, Mayor. Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Mario Bajas. I'm going to be serving as an interpreter alongside with uh El C Duarte. I'll now take a moment to introduce ourselves to our Spanish speaking audience and review a couple of guidelines with them. Thank you, Mayor.

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