Tempe Hearing Officer Approves Abatement Orders for Two Properties on June 2, 2026
Tempe Code Compliance Hearing – June 2, 2026
The City of Tempe hearing officer, Vanessa McDonald, conducted a public hearing on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, to address code violation abatement requests for two properties. The hearing began in the afternoon. The officer approved minutes from the May 5, 2026 hearing and granted 180-day open abatement orders for both properties under consideration.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from the May 5, 2026 hearing. The hearing officer determined the minutes accurately reflected proceedings and approved them.
Discussion Items
Garcia Perez Property – 1523 East Stevens Drive
- Code Compliance Inspector Melissa Ensing presented a request for a 180-day open abatement due to deteriorated landscape, uncultivated vegetation in the alley, and dead trees. Violations initiated September 11, 2025; one citation issued January 30, 2026. The owner had made significant progress: removed a dead tree and maintained front landscaping, but two dead palm trees remained in the backyard. Ensing noted ongoing contact with the owner. The hearing officer approved the abatement order to provide a tool to ensure compliance, noting the owner had 14 days to either appeal or complete corrections.
Hall Property – 1314 South Martin Lane
- Code Compliance Inspector Michael Moreno requested a 180-day open abatement for deteriorated landscaping, trash and debris, and a homeless encampment. Case initiated December 17, 2025. After multiple notices and a citation, owner Daniel Hall pled responsible on March 25, 2026, and fines were paid. Weekly meetings involving Tempe PD, Care 7, Adult Protective Services, and an APS-referred realtor helped make progress. Photos showed remaining trash, appliances, overgrown vegetation, and miscellaneous junk. The homeless encampment had been reduced from three individuals to one person in an accessory dwelling unit pending eviction (next court date June 8). The hearing officer approved the abatement order.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Daniel Hall (property owner) testified that he allowed a tenant couple who collected excessive junk onto the property. At 88 years old, he struggled to evict them. He acknowledged the city's help (especially Michael Moreno and Andrea Francis) and said progress was made. The tenant Torby Worthin had a parole order to stay off property but occasionally visited.
- Andrea Francis (Queen Creek) stated she attended court with Mr. Hall that day for eviction of Lorena Osinko. A restitution order is expected June 8, after which a constable can remove her. Mr. Hall would need to hold her belongings for 21 days. Francis noted that much of the debris is landscaping and not related to the tenant.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the minutes from May 5, 2026 hearing.
- Approved a 180-day open abatement for 1523 East Stevens Drive (Case CE255454) – Garcia Perez property.
- Approved a 180-day open abatement for 1314 South Martin Lane (Case CE257949) – Hall property.
- Property owners have 14 calendar days (by June 16, 2026) to either appeal or bring properties into compliance; otherwise, the city will abate.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. Today is Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026, and my name's Vanessa McDonald. I'm the hearing officer for the City of Tempe. This is our first hearing of the month. I'm going to go ahead and read something into the record before we jump into our agenda this afternoon. 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 junker refuse, and storage of inoperable or unregistered vehicles. Any property owner who is aggrieved by a decision of the hearing officer may file an appeal within fourteen calendar days after the hearing officer has made a decision. The deadline for appealing any decision rendered today is 3 p.m. on June 16th, 2026. Appeals are heard by the Board of Adjustment after which they may also be appealed to the 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 isn't brought into compliance within this required 14-day time frame, the property will be abated by the city. Joining me this afternoon to my left are Cassidy McFarrin and Sean DeFara from Community Development. Excuse me, community development. Thank you guys for being here and setting up the hearing today. As I mentioned, the first item on our agenda is a set of minutes from the May 5th, 2026 hearing. I had a chance to review the minutes when they were sent to me after the May 5th hearing, and I believe that they accurately reflect what took place at that hearing. So I'm gonna go ahead and approve the minutes from May 5th, 2026. The next item on our agenda is a request for approval to abate public nuisance items at the Garcia Perez property located at 1523 East Stevens Drive. The applicant is the City of Tempe represented this afternoon by Code Compliance Inspector Melissa Ensing. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Thank you, Madame Hearing Officer. My name is Melissa Insing, and I'm a code compliance inspector with City of Tempe Code Compliance Division. I am here this evening to request a 180-day open abatement for the property located at 1523 East Stevens Drive, Tempe, Arizona 85283. This case was initiated on September 11, 2025 for deteriorated landscape. Uncultivated vegetation in the alley, and dead trees in the backyard. One citation was issued to the owner on January 30th, 2026. The owner filed to appear in court. At this time, I would like to present photos taken today of the existing violations. Thank you. This is the front of the property. The owner did correct the violations. He had grass and weeds in the gravel, but he's maintained them since I sent the notices. I have been in contact with him. There was a dead tree in the backyard that he did remove that was right here. Currently, there's still two dead trees remaining in the rear, and then the uncultivated vegetation in the alley. As stated before, I'm seeking a 180-day open abatement for the deteriorated landscape and uncultivated vegetation located at 1523 East Stevens Drive, Tempe, Arizona, 85283. Thank you. I'm happy to see the progress that the homeowner has made. The pictures that were in my packet were dated April 10th, and so from these photos to what I just saw today, he has made significant progress, but the two dead palm trees still remain. The dead tree off to the side in the backyard has been removed as well as the stuff up front. Nevertheless, I do think that you need the tool, the 180-day open abatement tool, just to help him stay on top of the property. I'm gonna ask Mr. DeFar, is there anyone on the line wanting to talk about this agenda item? Madam Hearing Officer, no one online. Okay. And I believe everyone here in the chamber is either a city of Tempe staff or here related to the second abatement case for the next property. Can you nod if that's correct?
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