Tempe City Council Regular Meeting - March 5, 2026
Tempe City Council Regular Meeting - March 5, 2026
The Tempe City Council held a regular meeting on March 5, 2026, at approximately 1:00 PM (MST), conducted both in person and virtually. The meeting began with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a land acknowledgement. Council approved minutes, a consent agenda, and several non-consent items unanimously (7-0). Key actions included vacating a development review commission decision (rendering an appeal moot), awarding contracts for enterprise resource planning software, landscape maintenance, and sewer rehabilitation. Public comment addressed topics including Flock Safety cameras, the Shalomar golf course, traffic safety, and disability concerns. Proclamations recognized volunteerism, lifesaving actions, Women's History Month, and Procurement Month.
Consent Calendar
- Approved city council meeting minutes (items 4A1–4A3) and board/commission/committee meeting minutes (items 4B1–4B12) by a 7-0 vote.
- Approved the consent agenda (miscellaneous items 7B1–7B3, bids/contracts 7B1–7B23, resolutions 7C1–7C12) as a group by a 7-0 vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mario Martinez (Tempe resident) criticized the police chief and city manager regarding an alleged terrorist bomb threat investigation involving former official Connor Culver, describing charges as unfounded and calling for accountability.
- Catherine Dorn (Tempe resident) urged council to cancel the Flock Safety contract, citing data security vulnerabilities and potential for misuse by outside agencies like ICE. She expressed support for well-secured red-light cameras.
- Noah James Markham (Tempe resident) raised concerns about disability services, heat-related shirtless ordinances, historical injustices (Japanese internment, Native land), and requested a New Year's Eve event at Mill Avenue. He also urged protection of Tempe's water resources and supported the city's stance against ICE.
- Maria Hertz (Tempe resident) thanked council for listening to community input on Shalomar golf course, emphasizing the importance of balancing development with open space and neighborhood character.
- Kelly Morin (Tempe resident) shared personal memories of living near Shalomar golf course and urged council to reject rezoning, highlighting the ecological and quality-of-life benefits of preserving green space.
- Tim Palmer (Tempe resident since 1963) criticized traffic safety enforcement despite Vision Zero efforts, urging increased police presence and enforcement beyond intersection cameras.
- Peter Kovex (former Tempe resident, now Phoenix) announced Hungarian Independence Day (March 15) and invited council to a Hungarian festival.
- Dalid Burgess (Tempe resident since 1991) urged rejection of Shalomar golf course rezoning, citing ecological harm, heat island effects, and loss of mature trees. He praised council's prior leadership on sustainability.
Proclamations & Recognitions
- Just Serve City Designation: Cheryl Andrew presented an award recognizing Tempe’s national distinction for volunteerism and community service.
- Desiree Sloat Appreciation Day: Mayor Woods declared March 5, 2026, as Desiree Sloat Appreciation Day, honoring her lifesaving CPR actions at Ken McDonald Golf Course and her coordination of employee CPR training.
- Women’s History Month: Mayor Woods proclaimed March 2026 as Women’s History Month in Tempe, recognizing the Tempe Women’s Club and Women for Women Tempe.
- Procurement Month: Mayor Woods proclaimed March 2026 as Procurement Month, honoring the city’s procurement professionals.
Discussion Items
- 8A1 – ADU Appeal (36 East Cairo Drive): Community development staff reported that the original applicant (3C Contracting) revised plans from a two-story to one-story ADU and formally withdrew the use permit. Council voted 7-0 to vacate the Development Review Commission’s decision and dismiss the appeal as moot. No public testimony was taken as the hearing was previously closed.
- 8B2 – Commission on Disability Concerns Youth Members: Council held a first public hearing on an ordinance to add youth members to the commission. One speaker (Noah James Markham) supported the change. Council will hold a second hearing on March 26, 2026.
Key Outcomes
- Approved 7-0: Vacating the DRC decision and dismissing the ADU appeal (8A1).
- Approved 7-0: Award of contracts for enterprise resource planning software (Graviton and Oracle America), landscape maintenance (Artistic Land Management), electrical supplies (Border States Electric), activated carbon supply (Calgon Carbon), construction services for interior space planning (job order up to $3.3M), job order award (Chase Building Team), and sewer rehabilitation (BNF Contracting) – items 8A2–8A8.
- Introduced ordinances for second hearing on March 26, 2026: Sewer line easement abandonment (8B1) and adding youth members to Commission on Disability Concerns (8B2).
- Future meetings: Next regular council meeting scheduled for March 26, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Tempe City Council regular council meeting. Item number one is called 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. If you have 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 on 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. I will call your name when it is your turn for public comment. So I'd now like to invite everyone who is able and willing to stand to join me in a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you so much. Tonight's agenda has a number of items that the city council was considered order to conduct city business. Guidelines for conduct at City Council meetings are on the table near the entrance for those in attendance at tonight's meeting. Should individuals inside the council chambers become disruptive so that city business is not able to be conducted. 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. We acknowledge that Tempe lies on the ancestral land of the Native peoples who have lived here since time immemorial. The ancestral land of the author and stretches far beyond the boundaries of our city. The landscape is sacred to them. Embodying cultural values that are integral to their identity and way of life. The author MPosh continue to maintain a deep spiritual connection to this land. We embrace the responsibility of caring for these places and vow to uphold this commitment in all our actions. Thank you very much. I'm now going to turn to item number four meeting minutes. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I move to approve the city council meeting minutes in items 4A1 through 4A3. It's been moved by Councilmember Adams. Do I have a second? Seconded by Councilmember Keating, please vote. Hi, Mayor. And that item passes seven to zero. Next up. Item 4B, acceptance of board, commission, and committee meeting minutes. Councilmember Adams. I move to accept the board, commission, and committee meeting minutes in items 4B1 through 4B 12. Okay, it's been moved by Councilmember Adams. Do I have a second? Seconded by Council Member Hodge, please vote. And that item also passes seven to zero. That brings me to item five reports and announcements by they are mayor's reports and announcements. And actually, I've got several this evening. And council, if you'd like to join me at least for the first four, that'd be appreciated. I know it's more than three. Less than five. Do you like your study? Sure.
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