City of Tempe Hearing Officer Meeting Transcript: October 21, 2025
City of Tempe Hearing Officer Meeting - October 21, 2025
The City of Tempe Hearing Officer convened on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, to review the minutes from the previous September 30th meeting and consider two requests for 180-day open abatements regarding public nuisance violations at properties owned by Dixie Felix. Inspector Lara Reyes and Code Compliance Manager Jack Schofield presented findings on inoperable vehicles, trash, debris, and landscape issues, while the property owner, Ms. Felix, testified regarding recent family deaths, health crises, and storm damage that impacted her ability to clear the properties.
Consent Calendar
- The Hearing Officer approved the minutes from the September 30, 2025, meeting as an accurate reflection of the proceedings.
- The MARC property abatement item was removed from the agenda as the property has already been brought into full compliance.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Dixie Felix (Property Owner): Ms. Felix expressed deep personal hardship, noting her husband's death from Alzheimer's one year ago and her granddaughter's recent rescue from sexual trafficking and hospitalization. She stated that her nephew had recent suicidal episodes which prevented her from completing cleanup tasks scheduled for that week. She explained that vehicles previously stored on the properties provided hope for her late husband who intended to donate them, not sell them. Ms. Felix expressed partial support for regulatory compliance but requested extensions due to family tragedy, storm damage causing debris, and delays with Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) registration for three historic cars her grandchildren wish to keep. She clarified that two cars were removed that day, others would be out within a week, and remaining debris was partially caused by a storm involving large tree branches.
- Jack Schofield (Code Compliance Manager): Mr. Schofield expressed sympathy for Ms. Felix's situation but supported the necessity of the abatement to maintain code compliance standards.
Discussion Items
- Felix Property (315 East Broadway Road): Inspector Reyes requested an abatement for inoperable/unregistered vehicles, trash, debris, and landscape debris. Jack Schofield clarified that the landscaping is currently in compliance and only debris and vehicles require abatement. The Hearing Officer noted the property owner's consistent effort to communicate and progress.
- Felix Property (321 East Broadway Road): Inspector Reyes presented evidence of eight visible inoperable vehicles (down from an initial complaint of nine) and storm-related debris in the front yard. Ms. Felix clarified that debris in the front was intentionally placed to address a bee infestation during removal efforts. The Hearing Officer noted the owner's progress and ongoing relationship with code inspectors.
- Procedural Clarification: The Hearing Officer clarified that a 14-day window exists post-decision for owners to bring properties into compliance before physical abatement occurs, and the abatement acts as a monitoring tool rather than immediate enforcement.
Key Outcomes
- Approval Request 1 (315 East Broadway Road): The Hearing Officer approved a 180-day open abatement (Case CE251750) for inoperable/unregistered vehicles and trash/debris, subject to the modification that landscaping is not currently under abatement as it is compliant. The abatement will remain in place as long as the owner continues to make progress, with Code Compliance staff monitoring.
- Approval Request 2 (321 East Broadway Road): The Hearing Officer approved a 180-day open abatement (Case CE251749) for inoperable/unregistered vehicles and trash/debris. The decision allows for continued monitoring and work by the owner, with the expectation that the property will be brought into compliance within the next few weeks.
- Future Actions: The Hearing Officer noted the next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4th, 2025. Property owners have until 3 p.m. on November 4, 2025, to file appeals with the Board of Adjustment.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. Today is Tuesday, October 21st, 2025. This is the only hearing this month for the City of Tempe Hearing Officer. My name's Vanessa McDonald, and I'll be conducting the hearing this afternoon. We have a pretty brief agenda, but before we um go into our cases, I'm going to go ahead and read something into the record. The City of Tempe Hearing Officer is authorized by Arizona revised statutes and the City of Tempe zoning and development code. The hearing officer is granted the authority to conduct public hearings to decide upon the abatement of code violations occurring on properties within the city. These violations include deteriorated pools, structures, or landscaping, storage of junk or refuse, and storage of inoperable or unregistered vehicles. Abatement actions are brought before the hearing officer by the city's code compliance division, typically after numerous attempts at contacting the property owner to obtain voluntary compliance with the code. The cost of the abatement is the responsibility of the owner of the property where the violation occurs and is collected as an assessment against the property in violation of the code. On today's agenda, we have three items. We have a set of minutes from September 30th, 2025, and two property abatements. Which was scheduled for abatement, the MARC property. That property has been brought into compliance, so it's no longer on the agenda. Any property owner who's agreed by a decision of the hearing officer may file an appeal within 14 calendar days after the hearing officer has made a decision. The deadline for appealing any decision rendered today is 3 p.m. on November 4th, 2025. These appeals are heard by the Board of Adjustment, after which they may also be appealed to Superior Court. A property owner has 14 days after the hearing officer's decision to either file an appeal or bring their property into code compliance. If an appeal isn't filed or the property is not brought into compliance within this 14-day time frame, the property will be abated by the city. Joining me this afternoon from community development are Sean DeFara and Drew Yochim to my left. Thank you guys for being here. And now we can jump right into our agenda. The first item on the agenda is a set of minutes from September 30th, 2025. I had a chance to review the minutes when they were sent to me after that hearing, and I believe that they accurately reflect what took place at that hearing. So I'm going to approve the minutes of September 30th, 2025. As I mentioned previously, agenda item number two is now in compliance, so we'll be moving to agenda item number three. This is a request for approval to abate public nuisance items at the Felix property. This property is located at 315 East Broadway Road. The applicant is the City of Tempe. This is case CE251750. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Thank you, Madam Hearing Officer. There is Lara Reyes Coin Inspector with the City of Tempe Community Enhancement Division. I'm here this this evening to request 180 day open abatement for the property located at the 315 East Broadway Road. Tempe Arizona Fi-282 owner, Dixie Felix. 2025 of this year for trash, lid and debris, the theory and landscape and in upper barn registered vehicles in the backyard. The property was inspected on March 24th. Stating that she was not going to have all vehicles removed by April 24th. So I provided an extension with the agreement that improvements will be made. I also met the owner of the property on April 24th, and another extension was requested and approved. I went back to the property on May 8th. There were no improvements made to bring the property into compliance. There was some trash did and debris and some more high grass and wheats at this time. Final notice to come to comply was mailed out. I contacted the owner on May 22nd, and Miss Felix was still waiting for assistance from family members to remove the vehicles. On June 5th, a citation was issued for inoperable and vehicles in the backyard. Owner requested a civil hearing. This is the front of the property.
openpublica.com