OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Phoenix Council Meeting Summary for November 5, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, November 5, 2025
BodyPhoenix, Arizona
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, November 5, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:06:58

Transcript — Verbatim
0:44

Good afternoon and thank you for joining us.

0:48

We begin today with an invitation from police chaplain Fesmeyer.

1:01

You are welcome to join me in prayer.

1:03

Almighty God, Heavenly Father.

1:06

We pause in the busyness of life and work to find peace in your presence and taking comfort in your eternal promises.

1:13

We thank you for your provision for every good and perfect gift comes from you.

1:18

One of those good gifts comes in the us to us when the good leadership given through our good leaders.

1:26

Lord, thank you for those who ensure the protection of your blessings.

1:30

All of us have a role and responsibility in the civic arena of today's busyness.

1:35

May we prioritize that which matters most as we work through our tasks of this day given by you, for we pray all these things in your most precious and holy name.

1:46

Amen.

1:50

Thank you.

1:51

Please remain standing.

1:52

Councilman Robinson, could you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?

2:14

Thank you.

2:15

I will call the meeting to order.

2:16

Will the clerk call the roll?

2:19

Councilwoman Guardado here.

2:22

Councilwoman Hernandez here.

2:25

Councilwoman Hodge Washington.

2:26

Here.

2:27

Councilwoman Pastor.

2:29

Here.

2:30

Councilman Robinson.

2:31

Here.

2:32

Councilwoman Stark.

2:33

Here.

2:34

Councilman Waring.

2:36

Vice Mayor O'Brien.

2:38

Here.

2:38

Mayor Gallego.

2:41

Here.

2:42

Due to connectivity issues, I will now turn it over to the Vice Mayor.

2:46

Thank you so much, Mayor.

2:47

I'm going to um take a point of personal privilege before we start with our regular agenda.

2:53

Um, Jeff, I was elected to this council in 2020, also known as the Time the World Turned Upside Down.

3:01

You were doing double duty as budget director and deputy city manager when COVID 19 hit.

3:07

And I remember you telling the council we're flying a little bit blind.

3:11

A 28 million dollar surplus had just vanished, and no one knew what was coming next.

3:17

But what struck me besides the uncertainty was how you guided us through it.

3:24

Calm, honest, and grounded.

3:27

Those weren't just professional qualities.

3:32

From someone you called your shining star, your angel, your grandmother, Rachel Barton.

3:39

She understood the importance of integrity, truth, and education.

3:50

But I have no doubt she's been watching over you.

3:53

Jeff, you decided early on to put your family first, deliberately taking time to be a husband and father, not letting a job pull you away from what mattered most.

4:38

Yes, Councilwoman Gardner, no.

4:41

Yes.

4:41

Jeff, I met you in 2019 when you were still budget director.

4:46

And I remember all of our different conversations about different things that we were working on.

4:52

And then I remember when you became city manager.

4:55

You know, I thought I knew you, but I guess I didn't know you.

5:00

I remember when I walked into your office and seeing the pride that you carried with all the pictures, Malcolm X, all everyone up there, and just seeing, you know, and just feeling that you were one of us.

5:12

And everything that you have done for working class families, that for the record, prior priority had not been done, at least not in my district.

5:22

So I just want to thank you for bringing life to the West Side and all the great things that you did that you put together.

5:28

And that you did the things that no one else was willing to do.

5:31

Um, doing the bond programs, doing everything we had to do to keep to keep our budget whole and for us to be able to do all the great things that are coming.

5:40

I hope that you will come back when we do the Raven Cutting for the Aquatic Center, when we do the ribbon cutting for other different splash pads that we will have throughout the district and all the great things that you have done, and obviously um station 15 when that opens a year from now.

5:55

I'm hoping um that you will take this as an invitation and to come back and be a part of that.

6:02

So I think um, you know, everything that we have done, 589, I believe, million dollars that we've invested into our city employees is thanks to you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing████████████████████████████████████36%
Historic Preservation████████████████████████24%
Procedural██████████10%
Land Use█████████9%
Personnel Matters█████5%
Public Engagement███3%
Community Engagement███3%
Workforce Development███3%
Ethics And Transparency██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Phoenix Council Meeting Summary for November 5, 2025

The City Council convened for a meeting focused on the transition of City Manager Jeff Barton, extensive discussions on middle housing zoning, executive session pre-authorization, and public comments regarding airport wages and industrial rezoning. The meeting highlighted a significant divide between council members and residents regarding the implementation of state-mandated middle housing laws in historic neighborhoods.

Consent Calendar

  • Unanimously approved liquor license items 1 through 17.
  • Approved Ordinances and Resolutions 18 through 52, with specific exclusions: Items 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 35, 46 through 49, 51, and 52 were excluded from the blanket motion; Item 44 was withdrawn, Item 49 was revised, and Item 50 was continued.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Executive Session Authorization (Item 20):

    • Councilwoman Hernandez expressed strong opposition, arguing that pre-approving a year of executive sessions violates open meeting laws and erodes public trust, stating she would vote "no."
    • Public speaker Jeremy Thacker, a plaintiff in a pending open meeting law case, urged a "no" vote, citing potential personal liability for council members and noting that legal precedents require executive sessions to be contemporaneous with a specific purpose, not pre-authorized.
    • Councilwoman Hodge Washington inquired whether legal strategy discussions could occur without executive sessions; City Attorney clarified statutes allow such sessions for legal advice and labor negotiations.
    • Councilwoman Pastor sought clarification on the purpose of pre-authorization; she was informed it merely establishes calendar holds for future notices.
    • The item passed 9-0.

  • Middle Housing Legislation (Items 51 & 52):

    • Support Positions:
      • Councilwoman Hodge Washington expressed full support, viewing the projects as critical steps for affordable housing and economic stability.
      • Councilwoman Guardado expressed support, highlighting the Helen Drake Village project's value to seniors.
      • Councilwoman Hernandez expressed support, praising developments in the Southwest and the Moreland One project for its affordable units.
      • Councilwoman Pastor expressed support, emphasizing the city's commitment to honoring President Jimmy Carter and expanding affordable housing.
      • Councilwoman Stark supported the legislation, praising City Manager Barton's leadership legacy.
      • Speakers Jacob Armer and Micah Cades expressed full support for citywide middle housing, arguing it is essential for affordability and that historic preservation will not be compromised.
      • Speakers Evelyn Castillo, Laura Boyajan (initially), and Melissa Boyle expressed support or concern for affordable housing, with some arguing for citywide expansion to prevent gentrification and displacement.
      • Senator Annalise Ortiz expressed support, sharing her personal struggle to find affordable housing and noting the law was a legislative requirement.
      • Speakers Andrew Luna, Neil Haddad (via coalition), and Nicole Martinez expressed support, framing middle housing as a necessity for workers, teachers, and community stability.
      • Speaker Kyle Tash (Mike Yale) expressed support for increasing housing options.
    • Opposition Positions:
      • Councilwoman Hernandez (regarding the scope) voiced concern about the process and the specific one-mile radius targeting historic districts, though she noted the state law was a coalition demand.
      • Speaker Beth Joy Boris expressed strong opposition, arguing the amendment encourages unchecked development without infrastructure safeguards and threatens historic neighborhood character.
      • Speaker Laura Boyajan expressed strong opposition, stating the bill allows for the rapid demolition of historic homes and lacks local oversight.
      • Speaker Melissa Boyle expressed opposition, fearing the destruction of neighborhood history and unique architecture.
      • Speaker Dr. Robert Cannon expressed strong opposition to being labeled a NIMBY, emphasizing the community's long-standing preservation efforts.
      • Speaker Joanne Kaufman expressed strong opposition, fearing the violation of covenants with historic neighborhoods.
      • Speaker Arthur Cortez expressed strong opposition to the targeted area, demanding citywide implementation and questioning the planning process.
      • Speaker Susan Edwards expressed strong opposition, warning of investor exploitation and short-term rentals.
      • Speaker Kieran Goff expressed support for expansion but concerned about the targeted nature of the current proposal.
      • Speaker Bill Kubenka expressed opposition to the specific location, arguing the pressure on historic districts is misplaced.
      • Speaker Jim Huntwork expressed strong opposition to the targeted demolition of properties in historic districts.
      • Speaker William Kubenka (reiterated) expressed support for citywide application to dilute impact on historic areas.
      • Speaker Michael Barsinkowitz expressed strong opposition to the one-mile radius, urging citywide application.
      • Speaker Dustin Moreno expressed strong opposition to the lack of transparency and the targeting of historic districts.
      • Speaker Sasha Robinson expressed strong opposition to the concentration of burden, advocating for citywide expansion to protect historic districts.
      • Speaker Jeremy Shachter expressed strong opposition, arguing the measure is not affordable housing and that down payment assistance is a better solution.
      • Speaker Charles Seavard expressed strong opposition, calling the state law an unconstitutional overreach and urging a legal challenge.
      • Speaker Sterling Sauer expressed support for middle housing but concerned about the specific zoning application.
      • Speaker Opal Wagner expressed strong opposition, calling for a delay and an expert study.
      • Speaker Jason Barr (virtual) expressed strong support for citywide implementation.
      • Speaker Nicole Sanderson expressed support but urged expansion beyond the one-mile radius.
      • Speaker Brent Kleinman expressed strong opposition to passing immediately, urging a delay for further study on historic preservation and short-term rental clauses.
      • Specific Concerns:
        • Multiple speakers expressed concern that the zoning does not guarantee affordability and fears investor-led short-term rentals (Airbnbs) will dominate.
        • Speakers expressed fear that historic preservation rules only apply to the home, not the property, allowing for demolition.
        • Speaker expressed concern regarding infrastructure strain (sewers, traffic) in the Willow and Encanto Palmcroft areas.

Discussion Items

  • Retirement Tribute to City Manager Jeff Barton:

    • Council members Guardado, Hodge Washington, Hernandez, Pastor, Stark, Waring, and Mayor Gallego praised Barton's fiscal stewardship, integrity, and commitment to working-class families and bond programs.
    • Mayor Gallego commended Barton's auditor background and problem-solving skills.
    • City Manager Barton acknowledged his roots, thanked his family, staff, and the council for their partnership in making hard fiscal decisions, and highlighted the work of the Budget and Research Department.

  • Middle Housing Ordinance (Items 51 & 52):

    • Staff presented the state-mandated requirement to allow middle housing within one mile of downtown and in 20% of new 10+ acre subdivisions to avoid losing all zoning authority citywide by January 1, 2026.
    • Councilwoman Pastor moved to continue Items 51 and 52 to November 19, 2025, to allow time for further vetting of legal concerns, infrastructure impacts, and potential amendments.
    • Councilwoman Stark inquired about the legal requirement to "authorize" the ordinance by the deadline, confirming the January 1, 2026, date for both adoption and authorization.
    • Councilwoman Stark expressed concern regarding the Minneapolis precedent where duplex construction has been low despite policy changes, suggesting a need for more study on incentives.
    • Councilman Robinson questioned if the two-week delay would be sufficient for ASU/Morrison Institute analysis.
    • Councilman Pastor noted that while state law limits local authority, the city would still maintain historic preservation safeguards (one-year demolition stay) if the ordinance passes.
    • Councilwoman Guardado seconded the motion to continue, emphasizing the need to address poverty wages and ensure community ownership.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to Continue Items 51 & 52: Passed unanimously 9-0 to continue the middle housing text amendment and rezoning to November 19, 2025, allowing for further legal review and potential study by ASU/Morrison Institute.
  • Executive Session Authorization: Passed 9-0, establishing the calendar hold for future executive sessions as planned.
  • Affordable Housing Approvals: Unanimously approved (9-0) several specific affordable housing developments including the 2026 Downtown Enhanced Municipal Services District assessments (Item 25), Moreland One (Item 27), Helen Drake Village (Item 28), and the Jimmy Carter Way street sign dedication (Item 35), as well as Planning Commission recommendations for items 46, 47, 48, and 49.
  • Public Comments on Airport Wages: Speakers Ezra Davis and Jacqueline Massanabera advocated for a $25/hour living wage for airport service workers and expressed concern over recent layoffs by Sky Harbor contractors; the Council noted these items were discussed but did not vote on specific wage legislation during this session. Other speakers raised concerns regarding the North Park/TSMC industrial rezoning, urging a delay and community meeting before the December vote; the Council did not take immediate action on the rezoning but acknowledged the concerns.
  • Legislative Strategy: Councilwoman Hernandez clarified that the one-mile radius limitation in HB 2721 was a demand from the Arizona League of Cities and Towns lobbyists, not a decision by the Phoenix Council.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon and thank you for joining us. We begin today with an invitation from police chaplain Fesmeyer. You are welcome to join me in prayer. Almighty God, Heavenly Father. We pause in the busyness of life and work to find peace in your presence and taking comfort in your eternal promises. We thank you for your provision for every good and perfect gift comes from you. One of those good gifts comes in the us to us when the good leadership given through our good leaders. Lord, thank you for those who ensure the protection of your blessings. All of us have a role and responsibility in the civic arena of today's busyness. May we prioritize that which matters most as we work through our tasks of this day given by you, for we pray all these things in your most precious and holy name. Amen. Thank you. Please remain standing. Councilman Robinson, could you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Thank you. I will call the meeting to order. Will the clerk call the roll? Councilwoman Guardado here. Councilwoman Hernandez here. Councilwoman Hodge Washington. Here. Councilwoman Pastor. Here. Councilman Robinson. Here. Councilwoman Stark. Here. Councilman Waring. Vice Mayor O'Brien. Here. Mayor Gallego. Here. Due to connectivity issues, I will now turn it over to the Vice Mayor. Thank you so much, Mayor. I'm going to um take a point of personal privilege before we start with our regular agenda. Um, Jeff, I was elected to this council in 2020, also known as the Time the World Turned Upside Down. You were doing double duty as budget director and deputy city manager when COVID 19 hit. And I remember you telling the council we're flying a little bit blind. A 28 million dollar surplus had just vanished, and no one knew what was coming next. But what struck me besides the uncertainty was how you guided us through it. Calm, honest, and grounded. Those weren't just professional qualities. From someone you called your shining star, your angel, your grandmother, Rachel Barton. She understood the importance of integrity, truth, and education. But I have no doubt she's been watching over you. Jeff, you decided early on to put your family first, deliberately taking time to be a husband and father, not letting a job pull you away from what mattered most. Yes, Councilwoman Gardner, no. Yes. Jeff, I met you in 2019 when you were still budget director. And I remember all of our different conversations about different things that we were working on.

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