Tempe City Council Regular Meeting – May 22, 2025
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Tempe City Council Regular Meeting – May 22, 2025
The Tempe City Council met on May 22, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Harry E. Mitchell Government Center. The meeting included proclamations, public appearances, a consent agenda, and several public hearings on licensing, development, and city ordinances. Key actions included unanimous approval of a 29-story mixed-use development on 7th Street, introduction of a general business license ordinance, and a first hearing on heat safety standards for outdoor workers.
Consent Calendar
- Approved City Council meeting minutes and board/commission minutes (7-0).
- Approved a transfer from General Fund contingency for a termination payment related to the FABRIC Tempe lease termination.
- Approved three liquor licenses (Series 06 for Fat Tuesday, Series 12 for Buzzed Goat and Yatai Ramen) after public hearings.
- Approved contract renewals and awards: Rimini Street (PeopleSoft support), Xylem Vue (Kona software), NASPO cooperative contracts (Apple, Dell, HPI), Hyland Software (document management), TriStar Risk Management (workers’ comp claims), Propel (wellness program), Hartford Life (insurance), Mercy House Living Centers (non-congregate shelter services via Phoenix cooperative), Lightpath telecom license, Consulting Engineering (bike lane/pedestrian improvements on Scottsdale Road), and Aztec Engineering (downtown streetscape addendum).
- Approved resolutions: purchase of ADOT right-of-way at I-10 & Broadway, license agreement with Friends of Clark Park Community Garden, acceptance of $5,000 from Tempe Tourism for July 4th event, and IGA with Phoenix for waste processing.
- Item 7B8 (non-congregate shelter) was removed from consent at staff request.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mario Martinez (Tempe resident) criticized the city’s handling of DUI enforcement, citing a case involving Officer Zachary Hale.
- William Fox (Tempe resident, Shalomar neighborhood) opposed rezoning of Shalomar Golf Course, citing threats to neighborhood stability, wildlife, and traffic.
- David Sokolowski (Tempe resident) opposed the city’s density bonus program, arguing it does not address the housing shortage and would displace residents.
- Corey Pechtel (Tempe Parks, Recreation, Golf, and Double Butte Cemetery Advisory Board) thanked city employees for their service.
- Dr. Maria Hertz (Tempe resident, Shalomar) opposed the golf course rezoning, accusing the developer of using “scorched earth” tactics and urging council to reject the proposal.
- Phil Amorosi (50-year Tempe resident) opposed a 7-story student housing project on Spence Street, citing insufficient parking and traffic concerns.
- Steve Bartell (Tempe resident) supported Shalomar residents, noting the historic value of the nine-hole golf course and asking council to preserve it.
- On the general business license (8B1): Gabe Hagen (Tempe business owner) spoke in support, citing benefits of data and communication. Jill Forte (Tempe resident, small business owner) opposed, citing administrative burden and privacy concerns. Melissa Harlan (Tempe business owner) supported, arguing it would help the city support businesses. Robert Arredondo Savage and Tom Binney (Tempe Chamber of Commerce) supported. Jesse Shank (Tempe resident, business owner) supported. Eric Fowler (Maricopa County Libertarian Party chair) opposed, calling it a revenue grab. Jason Turnquist (Tempe resident, business owner) opposed.
- On heat safety ordinance (8B2): Melissa Harlan (Tempe Sustainability and Resilience Commission) expressed strong support. Alana Billingsley (Tempe resident) also supported.
- On 7th Street development (8C1): Omar Abdallah (attorney for Islamic Community Center of Tempe) thanked applicant for accommodating concerns. Nick Bastion (Tempe resident) thanked developers for preserving the historic church.
Discussion Items
- 8A1 – College Avenue ADU Appeal: The applicant withdrew the application. Council voted 7-0 to vacate the DRC decision and dismiss the appeal as moot.
- 8A2 – Downtown Tempe Enhanced Services Improvement District FY2025-2026 Assessment: Council held a public hearing and unanimously adopted Resolution R2025.57.
- 8A3-8A10 – Various contracts and resolutions: All approved 7-0, including Express Scripts (pharmacy benefits), Sun Life (stop loss insurance), job order up to $3.3M for South Tempe Water Treatment Plant, Carollo Engineers (professional services), Combs Construction (bike lane/pedestrian improvements on Scottsdale Road), PCL Construction (Kyrene Water Reclamation Facility reactivation), FPS Civil (job order for water treatment plant), and Achen-Gardner (Smith Road infrastructure change order).
- 8B1 – General Business License Ordinance (First Hearing): Introduced and first public hearing held. Second hearing scheduled for July 1, 2025. No vote taken.
- 8B2 – Heat Safety Standards for Outdoor Workers (First Hearing): Introduced and first public hearing held. Second hearing scheduled for June 5, 2025.
- 8B3 – Conveyance of City-Owned Properties to Tempe Coalition for Affordable Housing (First Hearing): Introduced and first public hearing held. Second hearing scheduled for June 5, 2025.
- 8B4 – Alley Abandonment at 1328 E. Apache Boulevard (First Hearing): Introduced and first public hearing held. Second hearing scheduled for June 5, 2025.
- 8C1 – 7th Street Residential (Second Hearing & Final Adoption): Council approved a zoning map amendment, PAD overlay, and development plan for a 29-story mixed-use building with 818 dwelling units and commercial space at 108 E. 7th Street. The project includes preservation of two historic buildings. Council voted 7-0 after discussion of retail activation and parking adjustments (height increased to 325 feet, parking ratio at 0.195 per bed).
- 8C2 – Easement Abandonment at 1125 E. Rio Salado Parkway (Second Hearing & Final Adoption): Council voted 7-0 to adopt the ordinance.
Key Outcomes
- Approved all consent agenda items (with item 7B8 removed) unanimously.
- Approved Lightpath telecommunications license (7B9) unanimously after separate consideration.
- Dismissed the College Avenue ADU appeal after applicant withdrawal (7-0).
- Adopted the Downtown Tempe Enhanced Services Improvement District assessment (7-0).
- Approved all non-consent contracts and resolutions (8A3-8A10) unanimously.
- Introduced four ordinances (business license, heat safety, property conveyance, alley abandonment) with second hearings scheduled for June 5 or July 1, 2025.
- Approved the 7th Street residential development (8C1) and the easement abandonment (8C2) unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
This is a Tempe Eleven audio check. For those of you online, uh, please signify by letting me know that you can hear us, especially Council Member Adams. Uh, let me know if you are able to hear you. I can hear you, Jennifer. That sounds great. Thank you so much. Perfect. Thanks, Jason. Thank you. Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Tempe City Council regular council meeting. Item number one, call to order. Council meetings can be watched in real time via Cox Cable Channel 11 and at Tempe.gov slash Tempe Eleven. Members of the public may also attend the meeting virtually through Microsoft Teams. Also want to note that Councilmember Adams is also attending virtually this evening. Also, if you've signed up to speak on items later on in the agenda, please know that as the presiding officer, I have the discretion to introduce items out of their regular order as listed on the agenda. I may change the order of items from time to time to accommodate scheduling to allow us to address items with a large number of speaker cards. So those wishing to speak on those items don't have to wait until later in the meeting or to otherwise expedite the business of the meeting. If you wish to speak with an agenda item and you haven't filled out a speaker card yet, please make sure to fill out and submit your completed card to the city clerk prior to the item coming forward for council discussion. Also, for those who may be here regarding the appeal hearing for the College Avenue ADU project, which is listed this evening as item eight A1 on this evening's agenda. Please note that the original applicants have submitted a formal request to withdraw their application. As a result, while the hearing is being continued, no public testimony will be taken this evening as the public comment portion of the hearing was previously closed. So I'd now like to invite everyone who's able and willing to stand to join me in a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Into the Republic for which it stands. The City of Tempe welcomes public comment at this time. Disruptive behavior will not be allowed. Continued disruptive behavior will lead to removal from the council chambers. We need to be able to hear everyone in the room. Behavior that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of any city council meeting is not helpful and is not permitted. This includes behavior both inside and outside of the council chambers. Should individuals inside the council chambers become disruptive so that city business is not able to be conducted. The mayor will first ask that the individuals allow city business to be completed. There will be time for public comment during the call to the audience portion of the meeting. If no cooperation, the mayor will issue a verbal warning and let them know that the continued disruptive behavior will lead to removal from the council chambers. If there is still no cooperation, the mayor will issue a second verbal warning and let them know that the continued disruptive behavior will lead to removal from the council chambers. If there is no cooperation after asking and two verbal warnings, then the mayor will ask security officers to remove only those individuals who were causing the disruption. Security personnel should not engage in any way, but only escort them from the council chambers. If individuals refuse to leave, security personnel shall warn them that they are trespassing, and that the next step will be arrest by a Tempe police officer. Tempe officers may have to arrest if individuals refuse to leave. Charges for trespass and disorderly conduct may apply, as well as other charges. Should anyone be asked to be removed, the mayor will recess the meeting. Thank you very much. We're now going to play a video conveying the city of Tempe's native land acknowledgement statement. We wish to acknowledge that Tempe is the homeland of the native people who have inhabited this landscape since time immemorial. These ancestral lands of the Aotham, known as Pima, Peepash, known as the Mericopa, and their ancestors extend far beyond our city. This land continues to be spiritually connected to the Aatham of the Salt River Pima, Maricopa Indian Community, and Gila River Indian Community. We accept the responsibility of stewarding those places and solemnly pledge to consider this commitment in every action. All right, thank you. This evening we're going to go to item number four of this, which are our meeting minutes, and tonight I will be assisted by Councilmember Chin. Councilmember Chin.
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