Yes, y'all.

Councilmember Adams, this is Jason Wolf.

We're doing an audio check.

Could you please unmute yourself and uh I'd like to see if we can hear you inside the council chambers, please.

Yes, can you hear me, Jason?

I can hear you loud and clear.

Thank you so much.

Good evening, everyone.

Welcome to the Tempe City Council regular council meeting.

Just want to note too.

Item one is called order.

Council meetings can be watched in real time via Coxcable Channel 11 and at Tempi.gov slash Tempe Eleven.

Members of the public may also attend the meeting virtually through Microsoft Teams.

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'd now like to invite everyone who is able and willing to stand and join me in a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

The ancestral land of the author and the stretches far beyond the boundaries of our city.

Oh yes.

The landscape is sacred to them.

Embodying cultural values that are integral to their identity and way of life.

The author MPOS 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.

Okay, thank you very much.

Next up, item number four tonight will be assisted by Councilmember Hodge for the meeting minutes.

Council Member Hodge.

Yes.

I move to approve the city council meeting minutes.

Item 4A1 through 4A3.

Okay, it's been moved by Councilmember Hajj to have a second.

Seconded by Councilmember Amberg, please vote.

Yes.

And Councilmember Adams.

Yes.

Yes.

Sounds good.

Thank you.

That item passes 6 to 0 with Councilmember Chin absent.

Next up, item 4B, acceptance of board, commission, and committee meeting minutes.

Council Member Hodge.

Yes.

I move to accept the board, commissions, and committee meetings, and item four A1 through 4B3.

Excuse me, 4B1 to 4B3.

Excellent.

That's what I was just about to say.

Okay.

So it's been moved by Councilmember Hodge to have a second.

Seconded by Vice Mayor Garville.

Please please vote.

Hi.

Yes.

And that item passes six to zero with Councilmember Chin absent.

That brings me to item number five reports and announcements.

First of all, I have item 5A1, which is our 2026 community survey.

I'd like to take a moment to encourage our residents to participate in the City of Tempe's 2026 community survey.

At the City of Tempe, we value the partnership and input of our community.

Hearing directly from residents helps us better understand the needs, priorities, and concerns of the people that we serve.

Beginning June 1st, which is already passed, but surveys will be mailed to residences throughout the city of Tempe.

The survey will remain open through August 1st, and residents can return their completed survey using the enclosed postage paid envelope.

Residents also have the option to complete the survey online by visiting Tempe.gov slash surveys or by scanning the QR code included in the printed survey.

Participation in the survey is important because the results help guide City Council decisions on key services and programs that affect our community every day.

This includes public safety, parks and recreation, economic development, code enforcement, and other essential community services.

We encourage all residents to take a few moments to complete the survey and share their feedback.

Your voice matters and your input help shape the future of Tempe.

Which brings me to item 5A2, United Arizona Employees Association, employees of the Quarter.

So I'd like to invite Joel Guy up.

Come on up.

Hello, Tempe City Council.

My name is Joel Guy, and I'm the president of UAEA, the City of Tempe's largest employee association.

I'm here today to recognize the work of the incredible work of City of Tempe employees over the last year.

UAEA started an employee of the quarter program last year to recognize the incredible work of our members.

Every quarter, our board recognizes three to five employees who are either self-nominated or nominated by their peers for exemplary performance in their area.

We represent hundreds of different job titles and recognize that exemplary performance can vary quite significantly depending on what work you do every day.

As such, we leave it up to employees to nominate and dictate what they consider meaningful from the work done by the peers in their area.

Some areas have nominated employees whose incredible attitudes help improve the morale of their entire work group, while others have nominated people who are tirelessly reliable, stepping in whenever they are needed to help their peers finish their work every single day.

With staffing vacancies across the city, employees who go above and beyond to deliver incredible results and keep the city functioning deserve all the plaudits we can give them.

We were last here in May of 2025, so I have four quarters worth of winners to announce.

Not all of them can make it tonight, but many are in the audience, as well as their supervisors, which I really appreciate.

And I would appreciate if they can stand or mainstanding when I call their name.

From the third quarter of 2025, we have Tim Lee, an IT admin with IT.

I don't mean to undercut the enthusiasm.

I do have 16 names.

So maybe we should say applause for the end.

Fair enough.

Thanks for the warning.

Rosmo Garcia, Principal Parks Maintenance Technician with Community Services.

Roxana Easley, an arts and culture specialist with community services.

Lance Novisad, a senior fire inspector with Tempe Fire.

From the fourth quarter of 2025, we have Andrew Harmson, a solid waste operations coordinator for public works.

We have Megan Herrick, a librarian with community services.

We have Chelsea McGregor, a record specialist with Tempe Police.

We have Megan Hernandez, an administrative assistant with Tempe Police.

And we have Cameron Hort, a senior ITS signal technician with transportation and sustainability.

Oh, there's more coming.

From the first quarter of 2026, we have Alan Van Bleet, a solid waste container shop lead for public works.

We have Sophia Flocken, an arts and culture specialist with community services.

We have Marjorie Lawrence, a senior court services specialist with Tempe Court.

And we have Shannon Campodonico, a crisis support specialist for community health and human services.

From the second quarter of 2026, we have Helene Tack, a sustainability program coordinator for transportation and sustainability.

We have Albert Weatherspoon, a solid waste uncontained division lead for public works, and we have Jacob Epps, a senior court services specialist for the Tempe Court, who showed up unfortunately last week thinking that that was the announcement, and we'll probably photoshop him into the photo.

Again, I want to extend our congratulations to the winners.

They are incredible employees who peer sphere field.

They go above and beyond to make our city special.

If you're interested, we have more information on our website on our hall of fame that goes into detail about why they were nominated and why they were selected.

So with that, winners, can you join me up front for a quick photo?

And if possible, could council members come down.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

All right, next up item 583, Tempe Professional Development Network, James L.

Alexander Scholarship for Excellence presentation.

So if there's any TPDN board members, can you please step forward at this time?

Just as a note too for people watching at home and those of the audience, the Tempe Professional Development Network is an employee club dedicated to promoting professional excellence with a mission to support employee learning and success in our organization.

In recognition of former city manager James Alexander's service to Tempe and his commitment to excellence, the Tempe Professional Development Network awards two scholarships, the amount of 1,000 each to graduating high school seniors and current higher education students who are children of City of Tempe employees.

All of the scholarship recipients demonstrated service and excellence throughout their school years.

First, we have our graduating high school recipient, Venice Lee, who's graduating from Chandler High School, and is the child of Sarah Valdez in human services.

Venice will be attending the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University and majoring in AI in business.

Next is our higher education recipient, Silas Butler is currently attending Baradonters College at Arizona State University, majoring in environmental engineering, and is the child of Aaron Kirkpatrick in community services.

Congratulations to our winners, and also we appreciate everyone who applied to receive this procedure scholarship.

So with that said, we're gonna go ahead and grab a quick photo.

Council.

Congratulations.

Very nice.

Everybody can actually show it this way.

Or maybe it's not.

Oh no, I wonder why the other side of the cover.

That could have been very embarrassing.

Alright, congratulations.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Alright.

Next up here, item five B City Managers' reports and announcements.

Madam City Manager.

Nothing this evening, Mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

So tonight's agenda has a number of items that the city council must consider in order to conduct city business.

Guidelines for conduct to city council meetings are on the table near the entrance for those in attendance at tonight's meeting.

We will now play a video with the proper protocol for ensuring the appropriate conduct at city council meetings.

Speakers will generally be taken in the order in which they have signed up to speak.

No visual aids or pre-recorded materials are allowed.

People may speak once during public appearances for up to three minutes.

If there is a large number of speakers, the mayor may limit the amount of time allotted for each person.

The city council as a whole is prohibited by state law from discussing, responding to, or taking action on matters that are not on the current agenda.

However, an individual council member may respond to criticism made by those who have addressed the public body, may ask the staff to review a matter, or may ask that a matter be put on a future agenda.

The City Council rules of procedure provides everyone with an opportunity to speak.

However, rules of decorum are in effect, and behavior that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of any city council meeting is not permitted.

This includes behavior at the podium inside or adjacent to the council chambers.

Speakers shall refrain from name calling, making personal or insulting comments or slanderous remarks while addressing the city council or while attending the meeting.

Should a speaker become disorderly, action will be taken.

First, the mayor may issue a verbal warning, and if the speaker continues disruptive behavior, the speaker will forfeit any remaining time for public comment and will be asked to leave the podium.

Further disruption beyond that may result in removal from the council chambers, and the mayor may ask security officers to remove the speaker.

If the speaker refuses to leave, security will warn the speaker that they are now trespassing, and the next step is an arrest for disorderly conduct, trespassing, or both.

If necessary to maintain order, the mayor may recess the meeting.

These rules are intended to create an atmosphere that is conducive to thoughtful public speech.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Alright, we're gonna go ahead and get on with public appearances then.

Once again, I'm gonna call these in the order in which I received the cards.

Just as a note, too, if you submitted a card for a specific agenda item, you will come up to speak during that item when that is called.

But these are just general public appearances under item six.

The first speaker I have this evening is virtual, and it's David Sokolowski.

Yep, I can hear you.

Please state your name and city of residence.

You have three minutes.

It's important for city council to approve housing as quickly as possible.

I think the city is underestimating the need for housing, but the city claims we need 22,000 housing units by 2030.

Sadly, the city is losing hundreds of units because of zoning and local control.

The Leo project lost 100 units, the food city lost 120.

300 units of student housing on Apache.

The city has lost more than 1,000 housing units while trying to reduce a 22,000 unit shortage.

The city has lost millions in permit fees.

Money that could be used for low-income housing.

Also property tax each year.

Money that would help balance the budget.

Tempe still suffers from chronic NIMBYism.

And I have to point out that other cities are not going to add 22,000 housing units to their own problems.

Tempe wouldn't count Scottsdale's housing shortage, even though Scottsdale told me an Axon employees can live in Tempe.

That's why all cities need to take responsibility for their own housing supply.

The city can't maintain the status quo because Tempe is facing pressure, including state and federal intervention to increase housing supply.

If Tempe can deny housing, then Scottsdale or Chandler or any other city can do the same.

There needs to be a better reason to deny housing than because seven floors looks bad on Spence.

But Tempe can't approve projects being proposed.

It's not because of labor or construction materials or financing or any other excuse.

It's because it doesn't fit the character of the area.

I think it's obvious that affordability will take precedent over neighborhood character.

How long is Tempe going to be in denial about that?

And how much longer do you think the state will tolerate it?

We need 22,000 apartments, and that's like trying to build 60 high-rise towers.

If this was California, state law would allow Marshall to go up to nine floors.

If the city is doing the best it can, then we have a serious problem because the state thinks it can do better than the city of Tempe.

In my opinion, you're not setting a very good example.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you.

Okay, the next speaker I have this evening is Philip Amorosi.

Please come forward, state your name and city of residence.

You have three minutes.

Bill Amorosi, 50 year resident of Tempe.

Sorry, David.

At your June 4th meeting, it was the second hearing for the Marshall and Spence project.

It was a humongous rent-by-the-room student housing project, not for the general public.

It was a small neighborhood street.

It's been announced that after a year of five continuances by the developer, they weren't going to get another continuance.

But it's clearly coming to a vote that this body was going to deny the zoning amendment and the PAD because there were just too many issues the developer never addressed after a year.

Right before the vote, councilman from Andy Keating, who never met a developer he didn't like, made a motion for a continuance.

And what was more egregious was that he got an enthusiastic second from councilwoman Jenna Adams.

And then four other members joined in, not the mayor, thanking Mr.

Mayor.

The six decided to ignore their previous vote and agree to a continuance of another six months for a developer that could care less about the harm he's going to do to two neighborhoods.

The overwhelming majority of Gentiles in Hudson Manor, sorry, David, thought our nightmare of staring at a seven-story, 90 foot high 269-bed housing unit would be over.

But no, like council elect Bobby Nichols said in his campaign, the council can never disagree with each other.

Even with the continuance motion being clearly out of line, they could have voted it down, but no.

And now you can say that you care about neighborhoods, out of option time, and you do.

But what you don't say is that you care about developers more because that's what it looks like.

Now you gave me adjustable for the next six months.

Italians don't like agenda.

I'll see you on the 25th.

Thank you.

Okay, the next speaker I have is Mario Martinez.

Please come forward, state your name and city of residence.

You have three minutes.

My name is Amario Martinez.

I live in Tempe.

If I am not interrupted, I can complete my sent uh my statement quickly.

A probable raise for a city manager Rosa and Shausty was originally scheduled on the council agenda.

The council already voted seven to zero to raise uh the city manager up to three hundred and seventy thousand dollars per year.

Considering a higher salary for the city manager is not acceptable.

In a best case scenario, the city manager's lack of police oversight skill is appalling.

Uh, in in the most pro in a uh in a more probable worst case scenario, the police who indirectly serve over the city manager have pursued the social media opponents of the city manager with unprecedented vengeance and incompetence.

Kate I Tierney was charged with being a queen Cersei inspired terrorist who threatened to blow up this city hall, police chief uh Kenneth McCoy wasn't smart enough to prove it.

Some hysterical council members were evidently terrified of this incident.

These same council members were not smart enough to prove that it really was a bomb threat.

In fact, the only explosives involved in the incident were the bullets in the gun chambers and the ammunition clips of the assault weapons that the SWAT team used to arrest an unarmed woman.

When McCoy suggested to the Arizona Republic that law enforcement may not have recommended charges had Ms.

Turnai proved her uh proved that uh uh uh turned herself in prior to the arrest, McCoy publicly proved what a loser he is.

The city manager stated that because their family is from Cuba, they cannot be part of a uh authoritarian police state.

During the Central American Wars, I effectively provided uh human rights information used in federal immigration court.

The council evidently approved taking an unarmed woman using potentially lethal force and jailing her across the street on the basis of a bogus security threat.

In doing so, the council directly took a page out of the banana republic handbook on human rights abuses to defend democracy, Corey and Rosa's banana republic style police actions must be denounced, confronted, and resisted.

Tempe citizens are proud to do so.

On that passing note, Corey, what are your standards for police oversight or managerial confidence competence?

Do you have any?

Apparently not.

Thank you.

All right, that's the uh last speaker I had this evening that was on my list.

Is there anyone else wishing to address the council tonight?

If so, can you get my attention?

All right, seeing that I'll close that section of the agenda.

I'm actually gonna move items up a little bit this evening because we've got a couple of council members who are virtual, so I want to make sure that I can get this in.

So the first item I'm gonna actually take this evening is 8C1, which is on the non-consent agenda.

So let's see.

Item 8C1 is hold the second and final public hearing to adopt an ordinance authorizing the transfer and or abandonment of various property interests and authorizing the city manager to execute an amended development agreement and additional documents associated with first and farmer LLC and the project located at First Street and Farmer Avenue, and authorizing the waiver of any reversionary considerations with respect to zoning and development case number DS 23061 PL 230127, ZON 230008, PAD 23010.

Council members, any comments or questions for staff on item 8C1.

Okay, um, so okay, this is also a public hearing item, so I'm gonna open this up.

Is there anyone in the audience who wishes to address the council on item 8C1?

Okay, seeing that I'll close the public testimony portion of the public hearing.

Uh, council members, any comments or discussion?

It just as a note to uh this is as I always say this is a second public hearing, so we did have a full presentation of this item uh during the first public hearing for public transparency purposes.

Uh the council, any further comments or questions on item 81.

Okay, it's been moved uh by council member Hodge.

Seconded by Council, seconded by council member Adams.

Okay.

That's correct.

Yes.

Yes, it is.

Um, any further comments or questions from council?

Yes.

Yes.

You have you'll okay.

Okay.

I mean, no questions.

I'm just voting yes.

Thanks.

All right, okay.

Okay, I've got a yes vote from council member keating, a yes vote from council member Adams.

I'm gonna go ahead and click mine as well, which means uh that we have a six to zero vote with council member Chin absent.

All right.

All right, we're gonna go back to the uh non-actually.

Let me see if I can do yeah, I've got two items here where I've got folks who want to speak.

So let me just do this.

Um these are both on 8b2.

So I'm gonna take 8v2, uh, which is to introduce and hold the first public hearing to adopt an ordinance amending the Tempi City Code Chapter 19 related to motorized and electric mobility services devices in sections 19-1B, 19-183, 19-184AB, 19-212 DE, 19-21E 213A, and 19-214.

Council members, any comments or questions for staff regarding item 8b2.

Okay, seeing none, this is also a public hearing item, so I'll open up the public testimony portion.

I do have a couple of cards here, and the first card I have is from Kim Gaffney Loza.

Oh, 8B1.

Oh, okay.

Alright, well then I will put this aside then.

Thank you very much.

Uh, but I do have uh Julie Buffkin.

I think we can also 8B1 is the adoption of the minute.

Is that okay?

Which so which items perfectly.

That would be the adoption of the um electronic vehicle subcommittee minute.

Okay, so that's probably on the consent agenda, I'm assuming this Mr.

Anderson.

So, you know, let's okay.

Let's do let's do this.

Um, I'll just finish this one and then I will find that item, but I'll bring you on up, I promise.

So, and so both and uh Miss Gaffi Loza, you had the same item that Ms.

Buffman was talking about, kind of on the minutes for the oh, okay.

No, you were for Oasis.

Okay, got it.

All right, let's do this then.

Let's knock out 8v2, uh, which I read before, and because of all those numbers, I I don't want to read again.

Um, but this is a public hearing item.

So if there's any public testimony on item 8v2, could you get my attention at this time?

Okay, seeing none, I'll close the public testimony portion of the public hearing.

Council members, any comments or discussion?

Okay, actually, it's not.

No vote, actually, no vote.

So can we rescind that motion?

Yes, perfect.

You got it, no worries.

All right, so just want to note that the second and final public hearing on this item is scheduled for June 25th, 2026.

No worries, no worries.

All right, so now here's what we're gonna do here.

Uh let's go to, since it's close, item 8b1, which is under is under ordinances and items for introduction in first hearing.

So this is to introduce and hold the first public hearing to adopt an ordinance to establish development standards for a planned area development overlay in the MU4 district for Tempe Oasis, consisting of an adaptive reuse from motel to multifamily located at 1635 North Scottsdale Road.

The applicant is Camber and True LLC.

Uh is there a presentation here on item 8v1 since this is a first public hearing just as a note here as you come up, uh, and thank you, Mr.

Anderson.

Ums Buff, Miss Buff, can you talk?

You were talking about, I believe.

Let me just go back in my agenda while they're getting all set up here.

You I think we're discussing something in item four, which I'm sorry.

Okay, so that was approved already under the minutes that uh Councilmember Hodge did earlier.

But do you but do you want to stay for public appearances at the end?

Because we have a second one coming up.

Okay, sounds good.

I'll keep you, I'll keep you in the queue then.

Thank you.

Alright, perfect.

Yes, how are you?

Good evening.

Good evening.

Mayor, vice Mayor, council members.

My name's Deborah Silva with Camber and True Collective.

I am a resident of Scottsdale.

My office is here in Tempe.

This is the Tempe Oasis apartments.

We are excited to renovate the current Tempe Oasis Motel into multifamily housing.

This is the property at 1635 North Scottsdale.

It was formerly a Ramada Inn once upon a time back in the 70s.

This building has been around for a long time.

This is what the building looks like today.

And our intention is to maintain the existing buildings but give a complete facelift.

Around the perimeter of the site, we will be adding parking to what's already there.

We'll be adding security gates for resident parking as well.

We have currently planned to have 131-bedroom units, five studio apartments, and seven two-bedroom apartments.

That's an increase from the number of hotel rooms that's currently there.

We're using some common spaces and turning them into housing.

This is what it's going to look like when we're done.

So we're giving it a little bit of facelift, some curb appeal, and in addition, in the southwest corner, the southwest building, we're gonna be bringing in a coffee and sandwich concept.

That's in that red box here.

This has been in coordination and collaboration with city staff with the police department as well.

That this seemed to be like the best corner for everybody that gives visibility, activity on the site, and some energizing to the overall area.

We want to bring in some vibrancy.

So I'd like to bring him up for just a quick second.

Danny.

I'm the member of HK 24th Street, the OSCE that owned the TB Oasis Hotel.

And I'm here today because this hotel is um is uh very special to me.

I bought this hotel in 2019 with the intention to turn it around.

My background is in retail.

Um I start with World Green in 1993.

At the age of 21, I want a faster employee to reach the manager within four years.

Uh at that time, Royal Green averaged 27 years and a half to become a manager, do hard work, and principles.

I opened Dollar Depot, the discount store in Arizona within three years.

We want name from ASU Business School, the retail store, uh the state.

Uh every year, uh ASU select four company outstanding company from over a hundred companies that uh uh anticipate and we won one of them uh in 2001.

In 2002, we also select to be uh a retailer per year in uh front page of Arizona Republic and the Sister Paper in Sacramento, also because of the service uh that we give to the neighborhood with the good price with the goods service and the best uh clean store in the state.

After that, I went to City of Paradise Valley I become a first-time uh construction uh GC and I built the green luxury home in the state and it's also what named the best luxury home in Arizona by Homer Garden in 2008.

Past forward I went to build 50 units townhouse that was abandoned in the city of Glendale for three years and I I turned I finished that project and make it a beautiful complex and um and the city of Glendale acknowledged that and appreciate what I have done and a few projects with Phoenix also in the same situation at Tembi at the Ramada when I took over I didn't know with my experience over 20 years in retail and apartment I thought I seen it all I was underestimate about the Ramada the day I took over the detective of City of Tampi came and met with me and let me know what I have in my hand the Ramada was named the worst hotel in the city of Tampe.

Across the street is the motel seats and the Ramada is a lot worse because we have a hundred forty rooms and that when I know I have a lot of work to do I spent the last seven years improved the property turned it around from the last the worst hotel in Tampe this year we just received from the third party we ran number one hotel in Tampi based on shadow faction we have over a thousand reviews within the first year the fastest reach a thousand five star review in Expedia we have achieved many things that the neighborhood the neighbor neighbor abortion in the last 40 years that the hotel was there.

I put my life on this property same day a week average 16 hour day for the last seven years at time my wife was worried that sometime I might not make it home.

My record through 40 years in business is all about principles I never go after revenue first I could have selled a hotel in cash out I had many offer I choose to stay I choose to stay to make a difference in the neighborhood and in the city 10 become my kids went to ASU.

So with the recommendation of the city uh planner I'm the only one the only owner in the whole block agree to convert it to the apartment which they have over 20 years with the best record of turn every single apartment project around and this place will be no different.

I put up my heart and soul into this.

And if you speak to the city uh police department, city of Tambi, police and fire department.

They all know my name.

And they thank me every day because they they seen it before and after.

And just two days ago, I got two officers to thank me because I call them to the property.

I'm also the only owner that is willing to sacrifice revenue over safety.

I call Tembi police almost one a week.

It used to be five times per day when I first took over Ramada.

From five times a day, now we do about 10, 15 times a year.

And the reason is we don't allow any illegal activity in our hotel.

And the city 10B police really, really appreciate that.

She'll be the only one, I'm the only one doing that.

Nobody else, or the hotel owner or manager will sacrifice the revenue over this.

When I first took over the Ramana, it went 93.5% occupancy, which is an unheard of number percentage in the state of Arizona.

That's because the previous owner for 10 years, he allowed everything, and everyone in the hotel do an archive illegal business.

That he occupied.

And we also contribute and and build the place, the landscaping, the surrounding, and working with the neighborhood to make sure this one will after convert to the apartment will never ever be turned back to the hotel again.

And by the way, the previous owner that ran this hotel to the ground, have approached me multiple times to buy back the hotel.

And the answer is no, because I am not here just not only for an investment, but I want to make a difference.

This is my record for the last 40 years.

Everything I do, I put my heart and show in this.

And I want you to do it right.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

This is also a public hearing item.

So I'm gonna go ahead and open up the public testimony portion of the public hearing.

And I know I have one card here from Kim Gaffney Loza, so please step forward, state your neighbor and city of Residence.

You have three minutes.

Good evening, Mayor and Council, Kim Gaffney Loza, North Tempe.

Until I looked at the agenda today, I did not know that this problematic property was going to be converted.

I was hoping it was going to be a different owner.

I had met Mr.

Fang years ago along with Darlene Justice, and we watched the prostitutes come in and out.

Um I also saw all the after the hotel was closed because we were told there were no rooms available to rent when we saw buses of um Navajo children being brought in and out of the hotel.

Um I have no problem with it being converted into apartments.

Um I wish there was more shade trees.

I don't like the palm trees personally because I don't think they add anything to the neighborhood.

The landscaping has been terrible over the years, the property's been terrible over the years.

If this was a different owner, I'd have a different opinion, but I don't trust this owner, and I don't believe that it's going to be a good property for the neighborhood.

And I'm surprised that there wasn't more information about a public meeting for the neighborhood since I live half a mile away.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else in the audience here wishing to address the council on item 8B1?

If so, can you please get my attention?

Okay, I will close the public testimony portion of the public hearing.

Uh I'm gonna look to the council to see if there are comments by Smayor Garland.

You know what?

If I didn't know the history of things that have happened at this hotel, I would look at this and say, yeah, this could be great, you're gonna convert it.

My concern is when they said the owner was gonna come up and speak.

I was hoping it was somebody who just got here in the last couple of years when I started noticing and started bringing to the attention of our council and our city um the sober living issues where they were kidnapping and taking um Native Americans off the reservation or outright out of jails and throwing them into sober living facilities and collecting money for them.

This motel, this location was one of the ones that we went to.

Councilmember Hodge had gone there also, and because she works with the school, um, she's a governing board member, went there specifically and saw kids coming getting dropped off there in groups.

I tried getting entrance getting into this building, getting in there to go see for myself where these kids were going, not so much the kids, it was more the adults, because I knew the sober living issues were happening there, and they wouldn't let us in, and I don't think they let they let her in either.

So I have I have a lot of concerns about what this might look like in the future and how this might end up turning into something that I would be afraid that it's that it has been in the past.

Um, I don't have an awful lot of confidence right now.

I'm a little nervous.

Um again, I I think it's we need the apartments.

We definitely that's something we need in our community.

Um, I'm just I'm just a little bit I'm just a little bit nervous about this because the sober living issue happened there, and it was only been in the last three years that we've had this issue.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Uh, Council Brahaj.

Yeah, I do can I do I have the same concerns you do, Vice Mayor, because I remember when I did try to go in, there was an arm person at the door blocking me from coming in, and that's a big concern to me.

And it was a big concern with the school district with the kids coming in and out, and they were talking about they were withhold food.

So I'm I'm very concerned what what's gonna happen next in this situation.

I just want to put it on record.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else further comments or questions?

So, I have some concerns too that obviously were raised.

Um, I guess maybe maybe some questions for staff, I guess, might be helpful here, Mr.

Levake.

If you've got a couple minutes.

So, so in terms of what this is being converted into in terms of what this proposal is, what confidence do we have that it's going to be fully executed as presented to council this evening?

Good question.

Um, mayor, council members.

So the requirements for this process, as we, you know, we initiated uh about three years back a rezoning process for it, uh required a general plan amendment and rezoning to ME4.

So right now we have ME4 zoning on this property that doesn't have any established density.

The applicant is going through this process to seek that that density as well as some parking reductions for the for the site.

If approved, their next step is then to finalize the design approval, which you saw in the elevations is those enhancements for the site.

There will be um some new refresh in the site, new security uh gating for the property, which is right now it's a very open concept.

Um there will be new straight trees with the canopy trees as part of the whole package for the design review process.

Then at that time, the applicant is required to submit for actual building permits for those TI improvements for the site, review of authorized those, and then they can move forward with those changes.

Um, if if the only potential concern is maybe if the applicant or the property owner doesn't proceed with those, they still they don't have the ability to use the site for residential uh long-term rental uses until those permits are sought for those improvements.

So, quick question too, regarding uh Miss Gaffdy Lowe's question regarding community meetings and saying, you know, why wasn't I invited given the fact that I'm only about roughly a half a mile away from the property?

Do we know if there have been any public or community meetings that have been held up to this point?

Yeah, the um the applicant was required to hold and we had participated in uh neighborhood meeting uh early in the process, earlier in the year.

Um the property has a 600 foot property owner notice as well as we do uh quarter mile notification for all neighborhood associations and HOA represented in there.

Okay, so quarter miles.

Okay, included on that, as well as uh sign notification for the site.

Okay.

So the neighborhood media as well as the public hearings are are posted for that information.

And I guess my question too, um, I guess it's probably more for the applicant, but I should ask you since you're already here.

Uh she raised concerns regarding the trees and saying, hey, I don't think this is gonna provide any real shade canopy, and it's not really gonna add much to the project and not going to add a whole lot to the neighborhood.

Um, is there any way, frankly, to change those trees, or would that be something that staff might support if the applicant is willing to do so?

Yeah.

Yeah, I think so.

The I think the uh the rendering shown there with the depiction of the palm trees, I think is just for illustrative purposes.

There are there are probably an integration of both palm trees as well as shade canopy trees that are a requirement of the code.

Okay.

Sounds good.

Anyone else have any questions for staff while they're up here?

Okay, sounds good.

Thank you so much.

All right, council.

Uh, any other comments or discussion?

Once again, this is only the first uh hearing here, so we're not actually gonna vote until June 25th, but any last comments or questions?

Yeah, Vice Mayor Garland.

So, um, in the updating of this building and the facility to apartments, as the developers and the designer, are you gonna be looking at um uh green codes like adjusting anything, updating anything?

We have a voluntary green code um with the city of Tempe.

I'm just wondering what that was going to uh, if you were gonna be doing any of those things.

Vice Mayor, yes.

Our intention is to take a look at that green code.

We are so early in the process, this is just conceptual at this point.

We haven't gotten into any detail of those specifics, but that yes, that is our intention as well.

We'd appreciate it because that's something that we really look for um when we look at developments also, and the other one is uh the cost for these rooms, the the rental cost for the apartments.

Do you have that?

Is that still too early to even be?

I'm just curious what the cost approximate rental.

That would be a question for the property owner, but I don't know that uh cost has been established quite yet for the rental rate.

Okay, thank you.

Sounds good.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

All right, anyone else?

Any final comments or questions for the applicant or staff?

All right, seeing none, the second and final public hearing on this item is scheduled for June 25th, 2026.

All right, let me take then the last item under 8B, which is 8B3, which is to introduce and hold the first public hearing to adopt an ordinance relating to public health and safety by amending the Tempe City Code Chapter 6, Article 1, relating to animals in general, including section 6-21 and 6-34 and Article 2, Division 2 relating to animal impoundment, including sections 6-49 through 6-5-0.

Council members, any comments or questions for staff regarding item 8b3.

Alright, seeing none.

This is also a public hearing item.

So I'm going to open this up and see if there's any public testimony.

I do have one card here from Ed Buffard.

Would you like to come forward?

Please.

I see also, no, Mr.

Buffett.

Uh, there's a button on the right hand side if you'd like to lower the table.

What makes you think I need to lower it?

I'm just saying, I just I was just trying to be helpful.

But also, please state your name and city of president that you have three minutes.

Well, I'll tell you what, I've been doing some quick writing because of the three minutes, and because I had not expected this forum.

I don't I was expecting some other type of meeting, but I still would like to address this.

Um I've been here 76 years, so Tempe is my town.

The population was 7,000, and my family of 10 was over 0.1% of the entire population at that time.

So we're really members of the society here in Tempe, and I really appreciate all the work you guys have done.

I spent a little bit of time removing uh all the slander or disruptive behavior I was going to uh have after you made the announcement, so I appreciate that.

I wanted to say to Jennifer and Birdetta and Lauren Kuby from A4 and Miss Garland and other people, whoever the people have been, that uh caused there to be a dog park on the north side of Kowanas Park, and uh who started the animal welfare department in the city.

Very nice considering the previous 72 years prior to that.

Um I do hope that growth continues.

Am I on topic?

I don't know.

I hope so, because uh I just saw the word animals and I thought, well, that must be it.

Um I hope the growth continues.

Uh, still far too many untagged and unlicensed dogs in our city.

I've been told that it's impossible to enforce the state laws, and uh which require identification in the form of a county dog tag.

People say it can't be done, it can be done.

I went over to Downey, California, where they have city employees literally canvas and volunteers under the auspices of the city, and uh auspices.

I didn't even write that word down, I just simply used it.

In Downey, they literally have city employees and volunteers go door to door to remind citizens of the law.

I'm not quite sure I understand why we can't do something like that, but I certainly was not able to uh convince the uh Board of Supervisors to do that now.

Of course, I only had two minutes to speak there, and it's three here, so I can get a lot more communicated with my city council.

But what we're doing right now regarding that can be in improved.

Regarding cats, we myself we feed around 30 cats, all TNR, trapped, neutered, and and returned.

And but you know what?

It's just simply it's not sustainable.

We feed dirty cats, and uh it's expensive.

We are volunteers doing that to be part of this cat colony program.

And I'm happy to do oh, that's my beat.

So I did a pretty good job.

I am looking forward to seeing which uh city council members will be taking the mantle from Jennifer and Birdetta, and I'm hoping to be a lot more involved in it.

And thank you to you guys for everything that you have done.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Buffett.

Appreciate it.

Also, the word of this evening is auspices, just in case anyone wants to know.

All right, uh, any other public testimony on item 8b3?

If so, could you please get my attention?

Okay, seeing that I'll close the public testimony portion of the public hearing.

Council members, any comments or discussion?

All right.

Seeing none, the second and final public hearing on this item is scheduled for June 25th, 2026.

All right, let me now go back.

I'm just gonna go ahead and knock this out then.

Item 8A, which is approved and authorized Deputy City Manager Greg Reese to execute the settlement agreement between the Office of Inspector General and the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the City of Tempe for the purpose of paying the settlement amount to OIG and a budget appropriation transfer for the emergency medical transportation fund contingency to the emergency medical transportation fund operations budget.

Council, any comments or discussion?

Okay.

If there are an I will look for a motion on item 8A1.

So it's been moved by Vice Mayor Garland and seconded by Councilmember Hodge.

Please vote.

Is Council Member Keating still there?

No?

Okay.

All right.

Well then that item passes.

Let's see.

Really?

Wow.

Four to zero.

All right.

I had to check my eyes again with Councilmember Adams, Councilmember Keating, and Councilmember Chin absent.

I literally thought I was reading it wrong at first.

All right.

So that's gonna take us back to the consent agenda, which is item number seven.

All items listed on the consent agenda will be considered as a group 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.

Public hearing items are designated as public hearing item at the beginning of the item title.

Council members will remove any item for separate consideration or to declare a conflict of interest.

If a council member would like to declare a conflict at this time, the city clerk will provide the council member with a disclosure form.

If you wish to speak on a public hearing item, please fill out a speaker card and submit your completed card to the city clerk prior to the agenda item coming forward for council discussion.

I will call your name when it's your turn for public comment.

This evening the consent agenda is listed as miscellaneous item 7A1, awards of visiting contracts, no items, and resolutions item 7C1 through 7C2.

Once again, any agenda item designated as public hearing item can be removed by a member of the public for separate consideration.

If anyone would like to have a public hearing item removed, please get my attention now.

Okay, seeing none, I'll move to my council colleagues and see if there are any agenda items that you'd like to have removed from the consent agenda for separate consideration.

Okay, it's been moved to move forward with the consent agenda by council member Hodge to have a second.

Seconded by Councilmember Amberg, please vote.

And that item passes four to zero with council member Adams, Councilmember Chin, and Councilmember Keating absent.

That brings me to item number nine.

Current events, council announcements, and future agenda items.

Once again, council members may request that an agenda item be added to a future council meeting during their allotted time, but in accordance with the open meeting law, there should be no discussion on the item other than to clarify the request.

So I now call upon the council members for their comments and or request to add an agenda item to a future council meeting.

This evening I'm gonna start with council member Hodge.

No, okay.

Next up, Councilmember Amberg.

You're no?

Okay.

Next up, Vice Mayor Garland.

No items, thank you.

Okay.

And I don't have any items either, which means that section is also closed now, and I'm gonna get to public appearances.

Item number 10.

Rules for speaking during the second public appearances shall be the same as stated earlier for the first public appearances item.

I've got one card here from Julie Bukkin.

Yes.

You got it.

Come on forward.

I wish we could have done it earlier.

I apologize, but I'm thank you for being here.

Okay, fun to see the process.

You got it.

Just please state your name and city of residence.

You have three minutes.

Sure, my name is Julie Buffkin.

I'm a Tempe resident of 11 years.

Um I'm also spent 20 years as a resident in Chandler where I'm from.

Uh my dad would bike to ASU where he was a student and worked.

So it's kind of something that runs in the family.

Um so I'm here to speak about the um motorized uh I want to say bikes, but it is inclusive of other things like scooters.

But I really kind of speak just about bikes.

Um, so I apologize if uh I don't use that language exactly.

Um I also participate in the Tempe Bike Action Group as well as bike bus and bike cats.

I also volunteer at the elementary school with the engineering classes for kids.

While also, you know, being essential for other people.

Anyways, uh let me go on.

My mom didn't e-bike, or she didn't bike because they didn't have them back then.

Uh, it is my primary mode of transportation, so I'm very defensive of policies that are related to it.

Uh vision zero is great.

I like the education, engineering and enforcement outline for it.

Um, but I will say I'm a little worried about a tendency of motor vehicle operators to unintentionally or deliberately kind of hit us or just not see us or otherwise be occupied.

Um, I should know I got a ticket for uh going a little too fast, turning right through a stop sign on my regular bike a couple years ago.

Um I took the courses, I thought they were great, but they really didn't um do justice to the threat that can be caused by vehicle operators.

Um, I'm also a vehicle operator, so anecdotally I know the difference between um the threat to myself on my bike and the threat I pose to others as a vehicle operator.

I think that gets lost on a lot of people.

And e-bikes are a very great opportunity for people through all walks of life to get more outdoor physical activity, the thing that I do this for.

So, anyways, um I'm hopeful the subcommittee will continue to promote voices of scientists and engineers like Ellie Veloson and folks on the transportation subcommittee, or sorry, the transportation uh commission.

There we go.

Um, the recent speed bumps on college in Alameda are great.

Um, it's been really fun watching that roll out.

Thank you for supporting that.

It even forces me to be more thoughtful and slow down, so thank you for that.

Um, I hope infrastructure-wise, we can have more frequent testing of motor vehicle operators.

Um, I do support uh video surveillance because it seems to be working.

And we must.

Thanks.

Thank you so much, appreciate it.

All right, is there anyone else in the audience which should address the council on item number 10?

If so, please get my attention.

All right, seeing that I'll go ahead and close that section of the meeting and move to item number 11, which is adjournment.

The next scheduled regular city council meeting will be on June 25th, 2026.

We are adjourned at 7 11 p.m.

Have a good evening, everyone.