The Phoenix City Council convened on May 4, 2026, at 10:45 AM. The meeting opened with an invocation by Rabbi Levratov, the Pledge of Allegiance, and memorials for two prominent community members: Michael Peterson, a former city staff member, and Dr. Gene Blue, a civil rights leader and educator. The council then proceeded through a lengthy agenda, including a significant discussion and vote on a residential solid waste rate increase, approval of a K9 services contract with PetSmart, multiple affordable housing projects, and a contract for accessible visual inclusion services at Sky Harbor Airport.
Contract with PetSmart for Canine Units (Item 11):
Motel Conversion to Senior Affordable Housing (Item 12):
Special Meeting for Presiding Judge Appointment (Item 15):
Federal Home Funds for Affordable Housing (Items 32 & 33):
Rio Fresco Emergency Shelter Operations (Item 34):
Solid Waste Service Rate Increase (Item 48):
SRP Street Light Installation (Item 51):
Phoenix Connected Active Neighborhood Program (Item 55):
Thank you so much. We'll begin today's meeting with an invocation from police chat from Levrotov. Thank you, Rabbi Levratov. Almighty God, during this period between Passover and the Festival of Weeks, the Jewish community reflects on a tragic moment in our history. The Talmud tells us that thousands of students of the great sage, Rabbi Akiva, were lost in a short span of time. A loss our tradition attributes to their failure to treat one another with respect. Each person deserves. You remind us, Almighty God, that disagreement is not a weakness, but a sign of engagement, of care, of responsibility. But debate must be carried with dignity. When respect is lost, even truth itself becomes harder to hear. Here in this chamber, where decisions shape the lives of so many. Let us learn from what was lacking in the students of Rabbi Akiva and choose a better path. Teach us to speak with honesty, never at the expense of another's dignity. When disagreements arise, grant us the strength to listen not only for flaws, but for understanding, and to seek not victory over one another, but wisdom together. Let disagreement refine us rather than divide us. And help us remember that the person across from us is not an obstacle, but a fellow bearer of your image. Almighty God, we ask you also to bless and protect those who serve beyond this chamber, the men and women of our armed forces who stand guard over our freedoms, as well as our civil servants, first responders, and law enforcement officers who dedicate themselves each day to the safety and well-being of our city. Watch over them and their families, grant them strength, protection, peace, and the comfort of knowing their service is meaningful and valued, and bless Almighty God, the mayor, and the honorable members of this city council and their families who share in the burdens and sacrifices of public service. Grant them wisdom and clarity, courage and humility. May they lead with integrity, treat one another with respect, and serve this community with a deep sense of responsibility and care. Finally, bless all who are gathered here today and all the residents of this city with health, peace, and prosperity. May we be ever mindful that we are exactly where you have placed us with the opportunity to bring more respect, more understanding, and more goodness into the world, and let us say Amen. Thank you, Rabbi. Um Councilwin O'Brien, would you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Thank you, Councilwoman, and thank you, Rabbi Levratov. We have lost several important members of our community since we last convened. Thank you, Mayor. Last week we lost uh Michael Peterson in Kervaya. He worked, he was uh worked in my office. Um he was uh a brother. Um we called, we teased and we talked to each other. We were he was my work husband. Um but together we were Cagney and Lacey. Um and so we lost him, and I just want to pay uh my respects uh and honor him in the sense that what he gave to the city and the community. Uh he worked tirelessly on constituent uh issues, solved a lot of issues, and then also um made sure that everybody was okay. I do want to thank him for discovering and really bringing uh Brian Beck's family to the forefront. Uh Brian Beck was a firefighter who was uh battling cancer, uh a work cancer, and he his family contacted contacted us and was losing the battle. And in that time, the one thing that uh Brian Beck's family had asked for was he wanted his uh workman's comp to make sure that his family was taken care of. And that's when the story began on the cancer work that we all started and continue to do as we move forward for our public safety, in particular our firefighters. I bless his soul. I miss him every day. He would be texting me right now and saying, uh, your hair is a little off, the lipstick's not on, um, that color looks great. Maybe try another one. Uh, because when he uh retired, and uh he would watch the council meetings to give me critiques. And so I know he's here today in spirit, and I know he is watching over all of us because he cared for each one of our uh council members and their staff, and really had a laughter that you could carry through the 11th and the 12th floor. You could hear every conversation going on, and he had a smile that radiated throughout our building. In addition to that, what he also brought was Nobu and Cleo. Uh, it was our emotional pets, and it was at first I was very cautious, but then I realized because they were in our office, many people from many different departments would just come down and visit. So thank you for listening. Thank you.