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.
First Public Appearances (Item 6):
Second Public Appearances (Item 10): No speakers.
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:
Council Deliberation:
Other Discussion Items (First Hearings and Routine Approvals):
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.