Tempe City Council Regular Meeting – September 3, 2025
Tempe City Council Regular Meeting – September 3, 2025
Note: The agenda listed the meeting as September 2, 2025, but the user-provided date is September 3, 2025. This summary uses the latter for consistency with the instruction.
The Tempe City Council met virtually on September 3, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. due to a credible security threat that canceled the prior in-person meeting. The meeting included a major reconsideration and rescission of Ordinance O2025.25 (amending the amusements and parks code), unanimous approval of a large consent agenda, several public hearings, and administrative actions. All votes were 6–0 with Councilmember Keating absent.
Consent Calendar
- Unanimously approved meeting minutes (Council Special Budget Meeting June 5, July 1, 2025) and minutes from 14 boards/commissions.
- Approved 10 new appointments to the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Commission (voted earlier in the meeting).
- Approved appointments to the Family Justice Commission, Veterans Commission, and Public Safety Personnel Retirement System Boards.
- Approved a Final Subdivision Plat for Miller Plat at 1200 North Miller Road.
- Held public hearings and recommended approval of 9 liquor license transfers/new licenses (Aramark at Mountain America Stadium and Desert Financial Arena, Extra Mile, Spark by Hilton, Roll It Up #2, Carmen, Life Cafe, Night Owl, Vincitorio’s Restaurant).
- Ratified or approved 37 bids/contracts covering advertising, memberships, office supplies, custodial services, signage, janitorial supplies, networking equipment, security systems, a lease for a coffee shop at City Hall, heat relief services, housing rehabilitation, theatre seating, stage equipment, firefighting equipment, bus stop solar lighting, landscape maintenance, street sweeper, bucket trucks, streetlight maintenance, traffic signal heads, truck utility bodies, water/wastewater equipment, water meters, activated carbon, AMWUA membership, disinfection system maintenance, water plant electricians, insertion flow meters, fuel system services, landscape vehicles, a telecommunications license, roundabout design (College Ave & McKellips Rd), interior space planning (BEAM), Double Butte Cemetery study, and a sewer collection system change order.
- Adopted 16 resolutions: Maryanne Corder Neighborhood Grant agreements, Kyrene School District IGA for Experience Corps, Kiwanis donation, ACJC grant for CARE 7, Tempe Diablos Charities grant, LSTA library grants, arts donation policy, updated TCA rental rates, Last Call Foundation grant for Fotokite camera system, Flixbus use agreement, ASU IGA for Flash bus service, 2026 primary/general election (March 10, May 19, ballot-by-mail), opioid settlement authority, amended Personnel Rules, and amended Long-Term Disability and Disability Protection Plans.
Public Comments & Testimony
- On Ordinance O2025.25 (before reconsideration): Five speakers urged rescission. Bobby Nichols (Tempe resident, lawyer, referendum author) described gathering nearly 5,000 signatures and called for good-faith engagement. Mandy Everett (Tempe resident) said the July 1st vote ignored community input and that the referendum showed widespread opposition. Catherine Dorn (Tempe resident) argued the ordinance criminalizes homelessness and urged council to stop anti-homeless policies. Samuel Teidelbaum (Tempe resident, ASU faculty) thanked council for reconsidering and hoped for broader community conversation. Dylan Wilde (Tempe resident, Phoenix Metro DSA co-chair) condemned the threat against the council, supported repeal, and offered to collaborate on a new ordinance.
- Public Appearances (non-agenda items): Speakers addressed: the Minneapolis and Belgaum terror attacks (Anjali Swami, Tempe resident, urged condemnation); allegations of improper campaign tactics against the petition drive (Mario Martinez, Tempe resident, criticized Mayor Corey); housing shortage and need for density bonuses (David Sokolowski, Tempe resident); city manager’s salary increase (Deborah Zayak, Tempe resident, questioned the 38% raise over two years); a comprehensive plan for areas outside downtown (Ali Barnett, Tempe resident, proposed a ULI-like study); opposition to rezoning the Shalomar golf course (Curtis Wood, Tempe resident, Shalomar Association treasurer); and support for disability awareness and parks (Noah James Markham, Tempe resident).
Discussion Items
- Reconsideration of Ordinance O2025.25 (Item 8A8): City Attorney Eric Anderson explained that the July 1, 2025 vote adopted the ordinance; a subsequent referendum petition was certified, placing it on the March 2026 ballot. The related lawsuit has been dismissed, removing urgency. Council could either let the referendum proceed or reconsider the vote. Mayor Corey expressed preference for rescission and a new community process. Councilmembers Chin, Garland, Amberg, and Hodge supported rescission to allow more public input. Chin moved to reconsider and vote against adoption, effectively rescinding the ordinance. The motion passed 6–0. The ordinance is now withdrawn.
- Notice of Intention to Increase Water, Wastewater, and Solid Waste Rates (Item 8A1): Unanimously adopted. Public hearing set for November 6, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
- Excess Insurance Renewal (Item 8A2): Ratified unanimously.
- ERP Software Project Management (Item 8A3): Ratified contract with Vertosoft LLC unanimously.
- Cisco Networking Contract Renewal (Item 8A4): Approved unanimously.
- Temporary Staffing Services (Item 8A5): Approved unanimously.
- Furniture Products Contracts (Item 8A6): Approved unanimously.
- Valley Metro Light Rail/Streetcar Funding (Item 8A7): Approved unanimously.
- Lease for Facilities Services/IT Operations (Item 8A9): Approved 5-year lease at 2404 West 14th Street unanimously.
- First Public Hearings (Items 8B1–8B6): Introduced ordinances on floodplain management, youth members on Human Relations Commission, budget transfers (water/wastewater to solid waste, solid waste to CIP, transit to CIP), and partial waterline easement abandonment. No public testimony. Second hearings scheduled for September 18, 2025.
- Second Public Hearing and Final Adoption (Item 8C1): Approved lease of city-owned property at 34 East 7th Street unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Ordinance O2025.25 (amusements and parks code amendments) was rescinded by a 6–0 vote after reconsideration. The council will develop a new ordinance with extended community input.
- Notice of Intent to increase water, wastewater, and solid waste rates was adopted; a public hearing will be held November 6, 2025.
- All consent agenda items (appointments, contracts, resolutions) were approved unanimously.
- All non-consent routine items (insurance, contracts, lease, Valley Metro agreement) were approved unanimously.
- First-read ordinances were introduced; final votes will occur on September 18, 2025.
- The lease for 34 East 7th Street was finalized.
- The next regular council meeting is scheduled for September 18, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Tempe City Council regular council meeting on Tuesday, September 2nd. The time is now officially 6 p.m. Just as a note, uh, council meetings can be watched live on Cox Cable Channel 11 and at Tempe.gov slash Tempe11 and virtually through Microsoft Teams as you are this evening. Just a couple of quick notes here regarding item 8A8. If you submitted an electronic speaker card to speak on item 8A8, discussion and possible reconsideration regarding the July 1st, 2025 vote on ordinance number 02025.25, which was amusements and parks and recreation code amendments. Please note that public comment will take place after council and staff discussions on that item, which will be moved up in the agenda to be considered immediately after we get done with city managers' announcements. Also just want to note, too, that speakers will be called in the order in which our speaker cards were received and will state their name and city of residence for the record. Also, regarding public appearances, which is item number six. If you submitted an electronic speaker card to speak on a matter that's not on tonight's agenda, you will be recognized in the order in which your card was received during the public appearances portion of the meeting. Just as a note, too, if you speak on an agenda item during public appearances, that will be your only opportunity to speak on that topic. You may not speak again when the scheduled item comes up later in the meeting. Also, instructions for public speakers this evening. So if you visit www.tempe.gov slash council comment. So once again, www.tempee.gov slash council comment and complete the electronic speaker card and select the first option. Uh I will be attending the meeting virtually to personally comment. When it's your turn to speak, I will call your name. You will be then given the ability to unmute your microphone, and you'll have up to three minutes to address the city council. A countdown timer will be visible on the screen to help you keep track of your time. For tonight's meeting, we kindly ask that you submit your card no later than 6 15 p.m., so 12 minutes from now or 11 minutes from now to ensure the smooth operation of this virtual meeting. Please note that uh when Microsoft Teams, which is the vehicle that we're using for tonight's meeting, the hand raise function is not monitored during city council meetings, as it is not practical for staff to manage that while trying to run the meeting at the same time. Submitting the electronic speaker card at once again www.tempe.gov slash council comment is the best way to guarantee your place in the speaker queue. So I'd now like to invite everyone to join me in a moment of silence followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Next up, item number three, the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Tonight's agenda has a number of items that the city council must consider in order to conduct city business. We will now play a video with the proper protocol for ensuring the appropriate conduct at City Council meetings. 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 are 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. 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 Otham, known as Pima, Pipash, known as the Maricopa, and their ancestors extend far beyond our city.
openpublica.com