Date: June 18, 2025. The subcommittee, chaired by Councilwoman Stark, met to discuss routine approvals, a landfill operations update, and a citizen petition regarding high visibility crosswalk markings and stop bars. The meeting lasted approximately from 6:15 PM to an unknown end time.
State Route 85 Landfill Update: Public Works Director Philippe Bamareno, Assistant Director Lori Zelda Steller, and Deputy Director Chris Fine presented on the SR85 landfill in Buckeye. The landfill, opened in 2006, serves 420,000 single-family residential customers and processes about 1 million tons of garbage annually. Key highlights included:
High Visibility Crosswalk Markings and Stop Bars: Brandy Council and Brianna Valez from the Street Transportation Department presented in response to a May 2025 citizen petition. Current Phoenix standards use transverse markings for signalized intersections and ladder-style high visibility markings for mid-block crossings on arterials. For collector roads, high visibility markings are applied during repaving but only about 30% converted. A cost analysis showed converting all signalized intersections (1,200) to high visibility with stop bars would cost ~$33.6 million, plus additional repaving costs. The department proposed a path forward: continue current practices, and identify 16 locations for upgrades over the next year focused on school zones and high injury network. Public speakers (Ed Hermes, Vision Zero chair; Stacey Champion; Nicole Rodriguez) criticized the 16 locations as insufficient, citing research showing high visibility crosswalks reduce pedestrian crashes by up to 42% and the city's rising pedestrian fatalities. Council members debated, with Councilwoman Pastor making a motion: all new paving projects must include high visibility crosswalks and stop bars; currently paved streets are grandfathered until repaving; the Street Transportation Department shall develop a five-year plan with timeline, phasing, cost, community engagement, and involvement of the Vision Zero Committee; the plan to be presented to the subcommittee by November 2025. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Hodge Washington and passed unanimously (3-0). Council member comments also stressed the need for objective criteria (scoring sheet), mapping of greatest needs, and neighborhood association input.
Good morning. Um, welcome to the June 18th Transportation Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee. Um, I know Councilwoman Pastor is headed over, but we might as well get started. I'm calling the meeting to order. And can we please have the city attorney explain public comment? Yes, good morning. Thank you, Madam Chair. Members of the public may speak for up to two minutes to comment on agenda items to be discussed. Comments must be related to the agenda item and the action being considered by the subcommittee. General comments that go beyond the scope of the agenda item must be made in the call to the public session at the end of the agenda. Members of the subcommittee and staff cannot discuss or comment on matters related to pending investigations, claims, or litigation. Additionally, any member of the public who appears before the subcommittee in their capacity as a lobbyist must, as required by Phoenix City Code, disclose this fact before addressing the subcommittee. The city code requires speakers to present their comments in a respectful and courteous manner. Profane language, threats, or personal attacks on members of the public, subcommittee members, or staff are not allowed. A person who violates these rules will lose their opportunity to continue to speak. Thank you. Thank you. Next, we have our interpreter. Yes, good morning. Thank you, Madam Chair. I will now address our Spanish speaking audience. Buenos días, my number is El C Duarte, interpretando las a nuestra audiencia de Hablispana durante esta sesión de transportación infraestructura y planificación. Las personas que passen al frente para hacer su comentario putran libremente sin interrupciones durante el tiempo disponible. Sus comentarios serán interpretados al momento que usted termine de hablar. Gracias. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Our next item is approval of minutes. Do I have a motion? I move to approve the May 21st, 2025 meeting minutes. And I will Madam Chair. I'm sorry to interrupt. We have a quorum. We're only a committee of three. Are you now a committee of three? Sorry. Okay. Sorry to interrupt. When Carlos left, they didn't replace. So I think we can move forward. So all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed. The ayes carry. Next item is State Route 85 landfill update. Madam Chair, for item two, State Route 85, we have public works director Philippe Bamareno, who's going to introduce his team on this item. Good morning, Madam Chair, members of the subcommittee. So here with me today to discuss operational efficiencies that are landfill and innovative strategies that we've implemented at the landfill. Our assistant public works director, Lori Zelda Steller, and Deputy Public Works Director over our post-collection operation, Chris Fine. I'll turn over to Lori.