The Economic Development and Arts Subcommittee of the Phoenix City Council met on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 9:00 AM to discuss a range of topics including arts in private development, the Smart City Phoenix initiative, the Phoenix-Hermosillo trade office, and the disposition of city-owned properties. The meeting was called to order by Vice Mayor O'Brien (Chair) and included members Councilwoman Stark, Councilwoman Pastor, and Councilman Robinson.
Good morning and welcome to the economic development and the arts subcommittee meeting on this Tuesday, October 14th, 2025. I'd like to call the meeting to order. And then I will turn to our city attorney, David Benton, to explain public comment. Morning, Madam Chair, members of the subcommittee. During citizen comment, members of the public may address subcommittee for up to three minutes on issues of interest or concern to them. Citizen Comment session is limited to 30 minutes. The Arizona Open Meeting Law permits the city, the subcommittee to listen to the comments but prohibits members from discussing or acting on matters presented with regards to agenda items. Members of the public committee speak up to two minutes on and comment on agenda items to be discussed. Comments may be must be related to the agenda item and action being considered. General comments go beyond that go beyond the scope must be made during citizen comment. 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 subcommittee in their capacity as lobbyists must be required to disclose that fact uh during the comment period. Thank you, madam chair. Thank you so much, sir. Next we will allow our interpreter to induce introduce herself, Elsie Duarte. Madam Chair O'Brien, my name is El C Duarte, and I will be providing Spanish interpretation during today's economic development and arts subcommittee session. I will now take a moment to address our Spanish speaking audience. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Elsie. Second. I have a motion and a second. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none, the motion passes unanimously. For our second agenda item, art and private development. We will invite Mitch Manchaka from Arts and Culture, our Arts and Culture Director, Carrie Brown, the Deputy Arts and Culture Director, and Josh Badner, our planning and development director. Thank you so much for joining us all today to talk about this very important topic. Well, good morning, Chair O'Brien and members of the subcommittee. I'm Mitch Manchaka, Arts and Culture Director, and I am joined by colleagues Carrie Brown, Deputy Arts and Culture Director, Josh Bednerick, Planning and Development Director, and we're here to discuss art and private development. The arts inspire and bring joy to residents. They beautify public spaces, strengthen community pride, help students success, create solutions for civic issues, and bolster the economy. For municipal arts agencies like the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, public art is funded by public funds created through a public process and four public spaces. The Phoenix Public Art Program was created through an ordinance that allocates 1% of the city's annual capital improvement CIP budget to public art projects. The Phoenix Public Art Collection comprises over 250 outdoor site specific pieces, like this piece, Shadow Play that's on Roosevelt Road that adds shade, solar power, and also art that was done by the Streets Transportation Project to add to the pedestrian experience on Roosevelt Row. Public art often serves as an iconic landmark that defines the character of urban spaces. It can also enhance the aesthetic appeal of public spaces, significantly increase property values, making it more attractive to buyers and investors. This piece known as a path to water on Sixth Street and Butler, which was done through the Water Services Department. During the community engagement and fabrication process, we saw neighbors clean up their yards and paint their homes to welcome the new public artwork. They also create vibrant environments that attract businesses to establish an aesthetically pleasing location, thereby boosting local economies. Art and private development or AIPD is another opportunity to invest in public art where developers allocate a percentage of their project's construction cost to original site specific public art. The art becomes an accessible public amenity, enhancing urban landscapes, creating a sense of place and benefiting both the surrounding community and again the local economy. The image here is a large scale mural on the side of the Majestic Theater in Tempe as part of the City of Tempe's art and private development program. Art and private development goes beyond murals. Artwork can also include sculptures, integrated architectural elements, landscape designs, and again digital new media, just like our CIP program. The piece shown here is an integrated lighting installation of stainless steel lotus flower that provides shade and a visual focus as it hangs over the center courtyard of the Medallion Building Project in Los Angeles. This is part of the LA Department of Cultural Affairs Art and Private Development Program. At night, the sculpture changes color and intensifies as people walk below it. So how does art and private development or AIPD work in most cities? In most cities, public art has a requirement.