Tempe City Council Regular Meeting – June 4, 2026
Tempe City Council Regular Meeting – June 4, 2026
The Tempe City Council held its regular meeting on June 4, 2026, at approximately 6:15 PM. The meeting included routine approvals, proclamations, a bike hero award, public appearances, and a contentious second public hearing on the Marshall on Spence development, which was ultimately continued for six months. Councilmember Adams was initially absent but later returned; Councilmember Hodge arrived late. The meeting adjourned at 8:12 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Approved meeting minutes (4A1) and board/commission minutes (4B1–4B11) unanimously (6-0, Hodge absent).
- Approved the consent agenda (items 7A1–7A2, 7B1–7B14, 7C2–7C10) 6-0, with item 7C1 pulled for separate consideration.
Public Comments & Testimony
First Public Appearances (Item 6):
- Mario Martinez (Tempe resident) criticized Mayor Woods for alleged failure to uphold civil rights, referencing the "Queen Circe" bomb threat incident and council's approval of a raise for the city manager. He claimed political retaliation and stated that the council's actions were a reason two members would not return after July 1.
- Carl Strife (Tempe, president of Shalomar Association) thanked the council for supporting the Shalomar neighborhood in a rezoning fight against developer BB Living. He warned that the developer intends to use a new ADU law (SB 2720) to build 160 rental homes on the property, which the neighborhood opposes. He expressed willingness to collaborate but stated they would fight if the developer proceeds.
- Noah James Markham (Tempe resident) advocated for mental health care, support for Flock cameras, concern over fish deaths at Shalomar golf course, opposition to transgender women in women's sports, support for both Israel and Palestine, and requested removal of smoke shops downtown and restoration of a New Year's Eve party.
- Hugh Hallman (former Tempe mayor) recited a quote from Theodore Roosevelt about the value of striving and serving, praising the council and staff for their work.
- Chris Plitt (Chandler resident, business owner on Mill Ave) expressed strong support for the Marshall on Spence project, calling it responsible infill growth that addresses housing demand.
Second Public Appearances (Item 10): No speakers.
Discussion Items
Marshall on Spence (Item 8C1) – Second Public Hearing The applicant (Aptitude Development) presented a revised plan for a seven-story, 105-unit student housing building at 1026 East Spence Avenue, with 269 bedrooms and 89 parking spaces (0.31 spaces per bed). Key changes since the last meeting included: a seventh-floor stepback, restricting the Spence driveway to entrance-only (all exit traffic routed through the adjacent phase one to Apache Boulevard), two short-term pullover spaces, a bus waiting area, and improved architecture. The Development Review Commission and city staff recommended approval.
Public Testimony:
- William Rodriguez (Phoenix, nearby property owner) supported the project, citing its alignment with Tempe's growth and the quality of the developer's previous work.
- Peter Maines (Tempe) supported the project, praising density and low parking ratios.
- Phil Amarosi (50-year Tempe resident) opposed, calling the building too tall (90 ft) for a narrow residential street, criticizing the 120 sq ft ATM as a mockery of the retail requirement, and arguing the traffic and density are incompatible with the neighborhood.
- Christian Curry (former Tempe Micro Estates resident) opposed, stating the developer did not meaningfully engage with residents (only collected signatures from tenants), and that the traffic and density remain problematic.
- Noah James Markham (Tempe) expressed support, highlighting proximity to transit and desire for affordable housing.
Council Deliberation:
- Councilmember Chin questioned the retail component (120 sq ft ATM) and criticized it as insufficient and disrespectful of zoning intent. The applicant explained the space could be used for a canteen store but defended the small footprint.
- Vice Mayor Garland and Councilmember Amberg expressed concerns about the building's stepbacks (limited by fire code) and the potential for traffic and ride-share congestion on Spence, despite the revised traffic plan. Both stated they would vote no.
- Councilmember Keating argued forcefully for approval, citing the housing crisis and the project's alignment with the city's transit-oriented development vision along Apache Boulevard. He moved for a six-month continuance to allow the applicant to address concerns after new council members take office, given that the vote appeared likely to fail.
- Councilmember Adams seconded the continuance motion. Several other members (Chin, Amberg, Garland) indicated they would vote no on the project as proposed. Councilmember Hodge noted she was on the fence but saw the writing on the wall.
- The mayor noted that at the previous meeting, the council had agreed this would be the final hearing with no further continuances. However, a motion to continue is procedurally allowed.
Other Discussion Items (First Hearings and Routine Approvals):
- Item 8B3 (First and Farmer LLC, Gonzalez Martinez House) – First public hearing. Speaker Darlene Justice (Tempe) expressed strong support for the transfer and historic preservation. No council discussion. Second hearing set for June 11, 2026.
- Item 8B2 (TOD Parking Update) – First public hearing. Speaker Peter Maines supported the parking reduction as a tax on housing and urged commitment to transit. Second hearing set for June 25, 2026.
- Item 8A1 (Downtown Enhanced Services Improvement District assessment) – No public testimony. Approved 6-0.
- Item 882 (Armed/unarmed security contracts) – No discussion. Approved 6-0.
- Item 8B1 (Code amendments – Violations) – First hearing, no testimony. Second hearing June 25.
- Item 8B4 (Easement abandonment at Sky Harbor Innovation Park) – First hearing, no testimony. Second hearing June 25.
- Item 8C2 (Legend City District at Papago Park Center) – Second hearing. No public testimony. General Plan amendment passed 5-0-1? Actually required two-thirds of total council (5 of 7); all present (6) voted yes, so passed. Zoning amendment passed 7-0 (with Adams returned).
- Item 8C3 (Zoning and development code updates) – Second hearing, no testimony. Passed 6-0 (Adams absent).
- Item 8C4 (Tempe Construction Code adoption) – Second hearing, no testimony. Passed 7-0.
- Item 8C5 (Easement abandonment at OMP Tempe Industrial Park) – Second hearing, no testimony. Passed 7-0.
Key Outcomes
- Marshall on Spence (Item 8C1): Motion to continue for six months (made by Councilmember Keating, seconded by Councilmember Adams) passed 6-1, with Mayor Woods voting no. The applicant will have the opportunity to revise the project and present to the new council after July 1, 2026.
- Election Canvass (Item 7C1): Resolution declaring results of the May 19, 2026 general election adopted 6-0, with congratulations to councilmembers-elect Brooke St. George and Bobby Nichols.
- Legend City District (Item 8C2): General Plan amendment (land use to mixed-use high) approved with the required two-thirds supermajority (7-0? Actually 5 of 6 present? Record shows 7-0, so Adams likely present). Zoning map amendment and amended PAD approved 7-0.
- All other second-reading items (8C3, 8C4, 8C5) and first-reading introductions passed without objection, scheduled for final hearings on June 11 and June 25, 2026.
- Proclamations declared June 2026 as Pride Month and June 19, 2026 as Juneteenth in Tempe.
- Bike Hero Award presented to Nancy Puffer for her volunteer work with Bike Saviors and Third Wheel Bike Art.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Tempe City Council regular council meeting agenda. Just a couple of notes here. Councilmember Keating is attending virtually this evening. Councilmember Adams is also attending virtually this evening. And Councilmember Hodge is on her way. She's stuck upstairs doing something, but she will be here shortly. So, let's go to item number one, call to order. Council meetings can be watched in real time because Cox Cable Channel 11 and at Tempe.gov slash Tempe11. Members of the public may also attend the meeting through my 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 the 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 these 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 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. 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. Thank you very much. We're now going to play a video conveying the City of Tempe's native land acknowledgement statement. So we can't hear it. It stretches far beyond the boundaries of our city. Embodying cultural values that are integral to their identity and way of life. So all right, so all right. Next up, item number four. Uh our meeting minutes. We're going to be assisted this evening by Councilmember Keating. Councilmember Keating. Thank you, Mayor. I move the approve item 4A1. It's been moved by Councilmember Keating to have a second. Seconded by Councilmember Chin. Please vote. Yes. Yes. Okay. And that item passes six to zero with Councilmember Hodge absent. Next up, item four B acceptance of board commission and committee meeting minutes. Councilmember Keating. Thank you, Mayor. I move. We approve items 4B1 through 4B11. Okay, it's been moved by Councilmember Keating to have a second. Seconded by Councilmember Amber, please vote. Yes. Yes. And Councilmember Chin. Oh, and that item passes six to zero with Councilmember Hodge absent. Next up, I'm going to move a couple of items out of order this evening just to make sure we can get to a couple of things. The first item I'm going to move up is the consent agenda, so which is item number seven. All items listed on the consent agenda will be considered as a group and will be enacted with one motion by the city council unless an item is removed for separate consideration. Members of the public may remove public hearing items for separate consideration.
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