Phoenix City Council Formal Meeting – July 2, 2025

The Phoenix City Council held a formal meeting on July 2, 2025, starting at approximately 10:00 a.m. and ending after 4:00 p.m., following a brief recess. The agenda included routine approvals, liquor license decisions, a lawsuit settlement, property tax levy adoption, amendments to the heat safety ordinance, a contract for Keys to Change homeless services, police equipment procurement, traffic safety camera authorization, and adoption of new regulations for data centers. Extensive public testimony was heard on the heat ordinance and data center regulations. The council passed most items with near-unanimous votes, with two notable dissents on the property tax levy and police equipment.

Consent Calendar

• Boards and Commissions (Item 1): Approved unanimously.
• Liquor Licenses (Items 2–29): Approved as a block, except Items 10 and 27 pulled for individual consideration. Items 9, 11, 21, 26, 28, and 29 were revised and approved.
• Other Consent Items (Items 30–108): Adopted en bloc, excluding Items 45, 46, 47, 57, 58, 59, 60, 65, 78, 93, and 104–108 which were heard separately. Items 43 and 61 were also excluded for public comment. Item 66 was withdrawn, and Item 92 was corrected.
• Valley Youth Theater (Item 59): Approved 9–0.
• Senior Bridge Affordable Housing (Item 60): Approved 9–0.
• Arts Grants (Item 61): Approved 9–0.
• Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds (Item 65): Approved 9–0.
• Motel Conversion for Senior Housing (Item 93): Approved 9–0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 10 – Glenrosa Beer and Wine: Zane Raman spoke against a new liquor license, stating the area already has many licenses and does not need another.
• Item 27 – Grow Room: Barbara Domniani (40+ year resident) and Patrick (57-year resident, former paramedic) opposed combining a marijuana club and liquor license, citing risks of increased DUIs, traffic accidents, and proximity to schools. Applicant Matthew Davidson countered that the organization is an educational group for growing cannabis and does not allow on‑site consumption.
• Item 43 – Lawsuit Settlement: Stacey and Nicole criticized the $150,000 settlement for a pedestrian fatality at 46th Avenue and Thomas, noting the city ignored prior safety recommendations (high‑visibility crosswalks) that would have cost $173,000. They called for systemic change.
• Item 45–46 – Property Tax Levy: Orla Bobo opposed the increase, asserting it is deceptive about fire response times; Anne Ender supported the levy, praising the budget focus on public safety.
• Item 47 – Heat Safety Ordinance: A series of airport and construction workers testified to ongoing inadequate AC, limited water access, and fear of retaliation. Speakers included Bile Bunger (climate justice director), Biniam Hailu (Sky Chefs driver), Filiberto Lares (Sky Chefs driver), Alondra Morales Sanchez (daughter of an outdoor worker), Maxwell (union rep), Trina David (American Airlines crew chief), Cecilia Ortiz (warehouse employee), and Sergio Rodriguez (EMT). They called for stronger enforcement, whistleblower protections, and expanded coverage.
• Item 58 – Keys to Change: CEO Amy Schwabenlender and board chair Myron Hamas responded to financial concerns; they offered a non‑voting seat on the finance committee instead of the board.
• Items 107–108 – Data Centers: Minda Abeg (Levine VPC), Chris Green (International Association of Firefighters), Christopher Murphy (Phoenix Fire), Ginger Sykes Torres (Local First Arizona), Ben Graf (American Express), Will Green (Southwest Energy Efficiency Project), Nick Wood (Menlo), Samantha Damas (Rose Law Group), Michael Duffy (fire captain), and others spoke. Firefighters detailed risks: lithium‑ion thermal runaway, toxic smoke, difficult egress, and potential for on‑site nuclear reactors. Community members urged regulation to prevent unchecked sprawl. Staff confirmed the new rules require special permits and site‑specific studies.

Discussion Items

• Items 10 & 27 – Liquor Licenses: Item 10 approved after staff explained no background issues. Item 27 disapproved based on Phoenix Police Department recommendation: signature dates missing, membership discrepancy (172 vs. 300+ claimed), and concerns over public alcohol sales combined with private marijuana use. Both votes were unanimous.
• Item 43 – Lawsuit Settlement: Council heard criticism but approved the $150,000 settlement 9–0.
• Item 45–46 – Property Tax Levy: Public hearing closed; the levy was adopted 8–1. Mayor Gallego noted the vote was actually unanimous (correcting the record), but the previous roll call showed 8–1.
• Item 47 – Heat Safety Ordinance: Councilwoman Guardado led the discussion, adding a directive to bring back additional reforms (including whistleblower protections and expanded coverage) in fall 2025. Airport Services Director Chad Mikowski committed to daily checks of air conditioning in tarmac vehicles. Approved 9–0.
• Item 58 – Keys to Change: Vice Mayor O'Brien raised concerns about a multi‑year deficit, unpaid vendors, and billing errors. He moved to approve the contract with four conditions: (1) a non‑voting city seat on the finance committee, (2) monthly meetings with OHS and council, (3) invitation to board meetings, and (4) a 60‑day notice to amend bylaws for a non‑voting board seat if needed. Councilwoman Hodge Washington offered a substitute: adopt conditions 1–3 and schedule a review at end of Q3 2025. Approved 9–0.
• Item 72 – Police Equipment: Councilwoman Hernandez strongly opposed the $3 million contract for firearms and tactical gear, citing DOJ findings of unconstitutional violence. Motion passed 8–1 with Hernandez voting no.
• Item 78 – Traffic Safety Cameras: Supporters (Vice Mayor O'Brien, Councilwoman Stark) cited data: only 28 motor officers for 5,000 miles of streets, red‑light cameras reduce fatal T‑bone crashes by >20%, and speed cameras near schools reduce speeding >70%. Councilwoman Hernandez opposed, arguing the cameras target vulnerable communities and do not fix infrastructure deficiencies. Passed 8–1 with Hernandez dissenting.
• Items 107–108 – Data Center Regulations: Staff presented the urgent need due to massive power‑grid strain (15+ gigawatts in APS/SRP queues), water use (up to 1 million gallons/day per facility), and fire risks. The new rules require a special permit, performance standards, and a Prop 207 waiver process. After extensive testimony, both the general plan amendment and zoning ordinance were approved 9–0.

Key Outcomes

• Item 1 (Boards & Commissions): Approved unanimously.
• Item 10 (Glenrosa Beer and Wine): Approval motion passed unanimously.
• Item 27 (Grow Room): Motion to disapprove passed unanimously.
• Consent calendar (Items 30–108, bulk): Approved unanimously.
• Item 43 (Lawsuit settlement): Approved 9–0.
• Item 46 (Property tax levy): Approved 8–1 (one dissenting vote; later corrected as unanimous).
• Item 47 (Heat safety ordinance): Approved 9–0 with directive for fall review.
• Item 58 (Keys to Change contract): Approved 9–0 with conditions (items 1–3 and Q3 2025 review).
• Item 72 (Police equipment): Approved 8–1 (Councilwoman Hernandez dissenting).
• Item 78 (Traffic safety cameras): Approved 8–1 (Councilwoman Hernandez dissenting).
• Items 57, 59, 60, 61, 65, 93 (various unanimous approvals): Each passed 9–0.
• Item 107 (Data center general plan amendment): Approved 9–0.
• Item 108 (Data center zoning ordinance): Approved 9–0.