Good evening. Welcome to the Mesa City Council meeting for July 20, 2026. Now that the World Cup is over, this is the hottest ticket in town, or at least I've been told. Obviously, I am not Mayor Freeman. He is traveling internationally, so he is excused for this meeting. Council member Go forth is also absent and excused. All other council members are present. We'll start with an invitation by Reverend Kelsey Martin. of celebration of life Presbyterian Church followed by the pledge of allegiance. Reverend, would you please stand? >> Good evening, council members. Let us pray. Almighty God, we look across the desert floor during a storm and tremble at the magnitude of your creation. At the same time, we look to the faces of our children and see blessings who are made with intentional care by our creator. A God who carves the Grand Canyon and knows the numbers of hairs on our heads. We know that you are good and gracious, and we know that you forgive our sins. But we know that we must repent and strive to do better. We ask that you forgive us for the hatred in our hearts towards people different from us. That you forgive us for the things that we worship above you. and we and that you forgive us for the ways that we don't treat your creation as you would like us to. May you have mercy on us and let our lives be a testimony to the work that is righteous for the betterment of the community members of Mesa. Amen. >> And we have Sterling Stapley who will step forward and do the pledge of allegiance. He's from Boy Scout Troop 54. Sterling will be joined by assistant scout masters Wayne and Sarah Lines. Sterling, >> will you please join me in the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. You may be seated. Well done. Before we do uh the consent agenda, Miss Mosley, could you say the names of the three people that will be speaking under the items by citizens present? >> Yes. So, I randomized the drawing and we have first speaker to be Thomas Aster, second will be Stephanie Verona, and third will be James Delatso. >> Okay. I'll probably ask you to call those out for me again at the end. I appreciate it. Uh, with that item number one is the consent agenda. Mr. Christopher, would you please read the consent agenda? Good evening, vice mayor and council members. These are the items on the consent agenda. All items listed with an asterisk will be considered as a group of the city council and will be enacted with one motion. There will be no separate discussion unless a council member or a citizen request in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered as a separate item. Item two, approval minutes of previous meetings as written. Item 3A, act on liquor license application for Ash and Ale, 2709 West Guadalupe Road. Item 4 A, approving contract for Central Mesa Reuse Pipeline Project at East Mesa Interconnect Pipeline Project. Construction manager at risk guaranteed maximum price number seven of seven. Item 4 B, approving use of a cooperative contract for the purchase of an electric underground cable puller for the fleet services and energy resources departments. Item 4 C, approving one-year use of a cooperative term contract with two one-year renewal options for the purchase of field and turf irrigation, landscaping products, and specialty conditioners and soils for the parks, recreation, and community facilities department. Item 4 D, approving three-year term contract with two-year renewal options for seasonal ice rink construction, installation, and removal services for the parks, recreation, and community facilities department. Item 4E, approving four-year use of a cooperative term contract with a one-year renewal option for the purchase of wastewater bio augmentation for the water resources department. Item 5 A, approving resolution loving the amount to be collected of a secondary property tax for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2027. Items 5B and 5 C have been removed from the consent agenda. Item 5D, approving resolution to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Queen Creek Unified School District to provide Mesa Police officers perform school resource officer duties for schools located within the city of Mesa. Item 5E, approving a resolution to enter into a foreign trade zone operator agreement for foreign trade zone 221 with Aero Global Supply Chain Services at three adjacent sites. Item 6A, introduction of ordinance amending table one, title five, chapter 17 of the Mesa city code to remove the public safety impact fee category column to confirm the discontinuation of this fee. Item 6B, introduction of ordinance amending sections 10-4-5 and 10-4-6 of the Mesa City Code to modify the existing speed limit from 40 to 35 miles per hour on Mesa Drive from Bates Street to Lehi Road and from 35 to 30 mph on Mesa Drive from Bates Street to the North City limits as recommended by the Transportation Advisory Board. Item 6 C, introduction of ordinance amending sections 10-4-5 and 10-4-6 of the Mesa City Code to modify the existing speed limit from 40 to 35 mph on Horn from Brown Road and Mckelps Road and from 35 to 30 mph on Horn from Mckelps Road to the North City limits as recommended by the Transportation Advisory Board. Item 6D has been removed from the consent agenda. Item 6E, introduction of ordinance for zoning case 26-333 for property located at 3761 South Power Road. This is for council use permit and modification of conditions of approval of ordinance number 4646 from zoning case 6-88 to allow for construction of a private school. Item 7 A, approve resolution declaring documents filed with the city clerk titled 2026 zoning code refinement text amendment to be a public record. Item 7B, introduction of ordinance regarding proposed amendments to the Mesa City Code. Title 11, pertaining to zoning code refinement text amendments. Item 8A, approving resolution according to document filed to the city clerk titled option one, section 11-31-40, fleetbased services to be a public record. Item 8 B, introduction of ordinance regarding proposed amendments to chapters 67,8 31 and 86 of the Mesa City Code pertaining to fleetbased services and service stations. Item 8 C approving resolution declaring the document filed with the city clerk titled option two section 11-31-40 fleetbased services to be a public record and item 8D introduction of ordinance regarding proposed amendments to chapter 6 7 8 31 and 86 of the Mesa city code pertaining to fleetbased services and service stations. Vice Mayor and council members these are the items in the consent agenda. >> Thank you Miss Mosley. Do we have any other items that public has requested be removed? >> Uh, no other items. >> All right. Any other speakers? I have six for 5B. >> We have seven for 5B now. >> Okay. >> Uh, one for 5C and 11 for 60. >> Okay. We'll get to those after the consent. >> Vice Mayor. >> Yes. >> We're introducing all four ordinances 8A through 8D. We're not cleaning that up. We're introducing all. >> Yeah, because it's only introduction. Um, all of those are still on for introd and then we'll have a discussion with those next week and have to pick one for final adoption. Would that be correct, Mr. City Manager? >> Yes. U vice mayor and and council members. Uh that that's the suggestion from staff especially with the mayor and council member Goforth not able to join uh this evening. Is this just for introduction tonight? So, um suggestion would be to introduce and then next week council can can choose which um one that they would like to forward. >> Yeah, I think that leaves all our options on the table for for discussion. >> I thought we had to make a an action today and I see this just for introduction which is good. Um okay, we'll just leave it. >> Okay. Yeah. And then the documents also become public today with that. So, we'll be everybody be able to see all the option. >> Didn't we introduce it on like June 8th or something? early June. >> No, we just >> we had a presentation on it. Okay. But it wasn't introduced. Okay. >> Okay. Any other comments, questions? >> No. In that case, I'll entertain a motion on the consent agenda. Have a motion from council member Heredia. Second from council member Adams. Please vote. with Mayor Freeman and council member Go forth absent. The motion carries 5 to zero. All right. First item not on the consent agenda is item 5B, which is approving and authorizing the city manager to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to participate in the safe streets task force. That's a citywide resolution. We had some discussion about this downstairs. Mr. Butler, can we give uh have somebody come up and do a brief summary about what we discussed and what this program is and maybe what it isn't? >> Yeah, absolutely. Um, Vice Mayor, we've got staff ready to to um update council on that. >> Good afternoon, Vice Mayor, Council, Commander Reno's coming up from the police department. I think it's important to give some context and some information not just to vice mayor and council but obviously our our citizens present and watching online. This is to deal with and to prosecute the worst violent crimes that happen in our city. Murder, rape, driveby shooting, robbery, kidnapping both of adults and kids. And this is this is an item that formalizes a relationship that the Mesa Police Department already has with the FBI. It's a local office. So there's there's some question downstairs about is this have anything to do with Phoenix. This is all Mesa violent crime. These are officers that will be operating under our policies for the Mesa Police Department. Um those agreements that are in place are say you do have a murder and the murderer flees the state or flees the country or there's a robbery or there's a a victim that gets uh taken across state lines. these these accelerate those type of resources that you get whether it's forensics whether it's analytical whether it's interstate help that you need and Mesa is one of the safest cities the safest city our size in the country and it's because you put these type of resources in place so I just wanted to set the stage for the types of crimes that this deals with um so vice mayor and council kind of have a clear understanding and our community have understanding of of what this city's resources is going to um and Commander Reno's here to uh answer any questions as well. >> Excellent. Council. >> Yes, council member. Just want to I read the section of theou so this is correct that this is this is to pro or hopefully prosecute right people that are responsible for drug trafficking money laundering crimes of violence such as murder aggravated assault robbery violent street gangs um and as well as to intensely focus on the apprehension of dangerous fugit fugitives. That's correct. >> Yes, vice mayor and council. That is correct. >> Okay. Thank you. That's all I just wanted to confirm. >> I I'll just add on to that. I had made some comments um downstairs, but um I appreciate and I understand, you know, the voices that we hear and all the reports that we see on the TV weekly of um violence conducted by ICE, DHS regarding immigration issues. And this is a separate issue. This is Mesa PD doing their gang violence and everything. It is not the same with the work that we've already do for, you know, and our police work is a reimbursement for it. Now, ICE, DHS, um, FBI, they can be here on their own accord without any permission from Mesa PD. So, I believe that we need to continue to do the work that we already do and get reimbursements so we can stretch our public safety dollars. But this does not give us any extra permissions. It does not engage us with those federal um entities within Mesa. So, this is Mesa police officers doing MESA work and and to separate the two issues. Thank you. Any other comments or questions from staff? All right. Just to be clear, um, Mr. Butler or protect maybe our city attorney, >> thisou is only with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. No other entity, agency or is involved in this. >> Okay. >> With that, we have seven uh public comments. I will remind you, you must stick to the item that's before us. That is theou with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. No other entity, agency or issue can be discussed. If if you do that, we're just going to shut it down. Okay. So, with the FBI, we have seven people that want to discuss it. Who do we have first? >> Uh, yes. We have first Leanne McKelby. >> Leanne. And who's who's after that? >> And next will be Zach White. >> So Zach, you're up second. Leanne, are you here? >> Going once, going twice. No. All right. Uh, Zack. And who's after Zach? >> Following Zack will be Samuel Wandler. >> Samuel, you're up next. >> After Zack. Yes, sir. >> And Samuel, you'll be next if you're in the room. All right. Good afternoon. I'm here to oppose agenda item 5B, which would allow the FBI to participate in the so-called safe streets task force. Our streets are made safer by investing in the housing, education, and welfare that our citizens need. The FBI is not going to be the right avenue to police our cities. This is the same FBI that waged illegal wars against Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement. This is the same FBI that targeted student protesters during the Vietnam War. This is the same FBI that is currently being implicated in corruption and scandals. Mesa already has a long and bloody history of law enforcement overreach. Our city is notorious and known across the country for instances of police brutality and uses of excessive force. And this will only expand these issues and make it worse. I'd like to very briefly quote a scripture. Jesus asked, "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and ignore the plank in your own?" And I think our law enforcement would do well to do the same. Why should we give our law enforcement more power over our population when they have so many issues of their own? And that's all I have to say. >> All right. Thank you. one one statement I heard uh the FBI would be policing our streets. Can we speak to that? This is going to be our officers that are going to be in reimbursement of our officers u time on these >> vice mayor council. Yes, these are these are these are Mesa officers and I'll let uh commander Reno expand on that. >> Yes, vice mayor and council. These are our officers. Um they will they're in our building. They're under our supervision. Um, we will be making the operational decisions. So, we have control over what our officers do. They will abide by our policies and procedures. >> Okay. Thank you very much. I just hope that that clarifies that one point. Who's our next one? I'm sorry. >> Yes. Next, we have Samuel Wandler followed by Rashio Patino. Russia. [clears throat] Thank you for the opportunity for me to speak today. I want to start by saying God bless America, the city of Mesa, and its citizens. My name is Samuel Wler. I live in Gilbert Gilbert along the Mesa border and I do a lot of shopping in Mesa and I'm uh confused by the safe streets task force SSTF bill because I've always felt safe in Mesa even after dark. I thought maybe it's just me. So I looked up the crime statistics on measaz.gov and here's what it says verbatim. Among compatible cities that have a population between 500,000 and 650,000 people, Mesa has the lowest violent crime rate and the lowest property crime rate." End quote. Could you explain to us if you think that Mesa PD is either lying about the statistics, incompetent, or if it's if this bill is a Trojan horse for government overreach? makes us all too familiar with government overreach because of 287G agreement. I want to be clear, I'm opposed to SSTF and 287G. They actually are the opposite what they claim to be and make ma Mesa less safe. They're destined to silence communities, criminalize poverty, property, excuse me, criminalize poverty, villainize immigrants, and make black and brown people afraid to live their lives. My privacy and safety are more important than some imaginary threat. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh Rachio, am I pronouncing that correctly? I'm sorry if I'm butchering. >> Oh, I butchered it. Terrible. Who's next? >> And next will be Adam Wendes. >> All right, three minutes. >> All right. Good evening, council. My name is Rosio Patino and I am a proud East Valley resident and a fighter for my community and I hate to see it in distress. We are angry. We are tired. Yet here we are fighting again so that Mesa mayor and you know all the city council doesn't bring us to even closer to authoritarianism. You boasted about how Mesa economy, MESA's economy is booming and the crime rate is exceptionally low. And in the same breath, you turn around and cry wolf to validate 287g agreement and now the safe streets task force. Make up your mind. Is this the greatest country in the world like you've claimed or not? Are you proud of the work you've done here in Mesa or do you need the FBI to come and and clean up your mess? The SSTF will mean you require extreme government overreach to run your city for you. Don't force your constituents to to deal with those consequences. Right now, outside of these doors, there are real problems that need to be addressed. Real problems that you need to address. Instead of wasting our limited resources on government overreach, fund the things MESA residents actually need and have been begging for while you ignore them. Fund our schools, our public transport and our hospitals. Fix the potholes on the road. Plant some trees to shade our scorching sidewalls. Help us in real ways rather than policing us more and more until we leave in a genuine surveillance state. You got what you asked for. Mesa is a strong city with virant community and because of that your injustices will never go unnoticed or done in silence. Do not go forward with this. Thank you. >> Okay. [applause] All right. Keep it down. Keep it down. Adam, are you in? Where you at? There you are. And who's after Adam? >> After Adam is Jesse Hernandez, followed by Rachel Henadel Pates. Jesse and then Rachel. >> All right, Adam, three minutes. >> Hey, uh, my name is Adam. I am a resident of District 6. I oppose agenda item 5B. I am uncomfortable with what this will do to our communities. I've seen very little details about what it even is besides the other examples seen in cities like Memphis and DC or how this continues to help us with public safety or how it helps to improve our communities. We we are consider as many as many of the people that before me have said we are considered one of the safest cities compared to cities with our similar population and density and we've seen that investing in our community like what the speaker before talked about before invest building uh planting some trees and uh covering up some pothole covering up potholes other other stuff like that that is what improves our community that's what makes makes it a better place. Uh this is this is the most blatant example of government overreach and it is something I feel very uncomfortable with us adopting. It invites mass surveillance, racial profiling. It threatens our friends, our neighbors. This works to keep people scared. This is a terrifying precedent that you're setting. And they they they the police can say whatever they whatever they want about it, but you you're going to hear it from other people of like I don't trust it. And and I can vouch for a lot of people that feel the same way. Yeah, I mine was pretty brief. >> No, that's fine. Thank you very much. Good job. All right, Jesse, you ready? And then after Jesse is Rachel. Uh, good evening, council. Thank you for allowing me to speak today. My name is Jesse Hernandez and I'm a lifelong Mesa resident. I am here to oppose uh item 5B. As I have read already that Mesa is already a very safe city for its size and the data has the data from your own police department has shown a steady decline in violent crime over the years. Uh in a survey with Mesa residents about how they feel about safety in their city conducted by ASU back in 2024, more respondents stated they believe homelessness was a bigger issue than crime. and a large number of residents responded they would like the city to focus more on mental health professionals being available to respond to crisis calls. Formalizing this cooperation is the wrong approach. This collaboration opens the future to the future possibility of overpolicing, racial profiling, and the mass mobilization of federal agents onto our communities. As we have seen in other cities, over policing and mass mobilization of federal agents has only been a disaster. Investing in our people through housing assistance and mental health services is a more effective way of lowering crime rates. Investing in our people grows strong communities, not distrust. So that's why I urge you all to reject this memorandum and pro and keep our city safe and trustful for all residents. Thank you. >> And Rachel, is there anyone after Rachel or? >> No, Rachel is the last for this item. >> Rachel's last. All right. Betting cleanup. Rachel, three minutes. >> Good evening all present. My initial reaction after reading theou for this agenda item was confusion. Confusion that something such as a safe street task force was even being considered. Not because this council is above entering into unnecessary agreements with federal agencies whose actions have already destroyed community trust. That part was unfortunately right in character. No. My confusion was from the thought that we need an SSTF at all since it's been this council's continuous and only argument to still be enrolled in the 287G program under the GIS that it has helped make Mesa one of the safest cities in the US. Why then would we need another federally backed agency to do the same thing? We don't. the RA the residents of Mesa already under a federal interdep departmental 287G program and the handful of other cities across the US that have SSTF programs have found minimal reductions in crime. They have however had a dramatic increase in racial profiling and overpolicing, neither of which Mesa needs any more help with. By enrolling into another one of these agreements, more local law enforcement officers will once again become deputized as federal agents at a time when security agencies are now trained to follow political instructions about imaginary domestic threats and do not investigate actual crimes. That fiction is dangerous and has been proven to be nothing but a barely thinned veil to excuse federally backed racial profiling, assaults, and now death. We've already seen what task forces have claimed to be working on the most violent offenders are actually focusing their efforts on. And it's not safety, rather terror management of our communities. Any claims otherwise are only illusions of success. In short term, it's an intimidation effort. In long-term, it's an attempt to normalize the average citizen to live in a militarized and controlled state. Now, at a time when the FBI has just stated that they will no longer be investigating ICE incidences of overreach and constitutional rights violations, how are we expected to trust them in our communities to hold themselves and deputized Mesa officers accountable? If your true intentions for our city and your constituents is safety and a better quality of life, instead invest these efforts into proven reducers of crime, such as addressing food and housing insecurities, developing employment programs, working towards better relationships and transparencies with Mesa PD by immediately exiting the 287G program, and more accountability for bad policing, further funding for youth mentorship, employment after school classes and more social programs to further connect the peoples of these communities. >> All right. >> All right. So, we'll open it up for council comments or questions if you want to follow up. If not, Mr. Butler, is there anything else you want to add to that? Oh, yep. Mr. Adams. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. Um, question for uh either Mr. cost or uh Commander Reno, whoever would like to address it. Um I I want to be clear, Commander Reno, this is not a new thing, is it? We've we've had this agreement in place for some time. Is that correct, >> Vice Mayor and Council? Yes. We've had aou with the FBI for for many years, approximately 13. Thisou before council and our citizens today is just to add to an already um current relationship with the FBI. And thisou will will reimburse overtime for our officers who are investigating those violent crimes such as homicide, kidnapping, um drug trafficking, armed robbery, aggravated assaults, firearms related crime. It'll also provide uh four vehicles for our detectives and the FBI will not be housed with us. Our our detectives will be deputized, but the FBI will not be housed in our buildings. So, >> so no federal officers on our streets, no federal officers in Mesa police vehicles, no federal officers anywhere other than Mesa police officers who have been deputized as federal agents. Correct. >> Yes. Our detectives will be deputized. Now, if FBI agents want to to come in the city, similar to other federal agencies, I mean, they they're allowed to do that and without notifying us. Uh this enhances our communication with the FBI um and just makes it more efficient for our our reduction of violent crime efforts. So if FBI is here, we will know and they will be with us. >> However, going back on something you said a moment ago, if FBI wants to come here, they can, right? >> Supremacy clause, they're federal law enforcement. They can they can be here or not >> without our permission. >> Yes, that is correct. >> Okay. So, this is essentially a cost reimbursement program, correct, >> vice mayor and uh council member. Yes, that is >> commander. Thank you, commander. Appreciate it. >> Okay, council member. >> Yeah, thank you so much, Commander Reno. Um, I would just like to point out that we're talking about how safe Mesa is and that we've consistently been rated the safest city for our size. And there's a reason why we consistently are rated one of the safest cities for our size. It's because we make privy decisions that protect our residents. And we are not crimeless. Let me be clear. There's just a stabbing in Los Angeles this week. So it's not as if there's no crime, but the reason we have a reduction in crime is because we have safe streets programs because we have the 287 G agreement. I I don't disagree with these things at all. I've made myself extremely clear. But for people to come up and say, "Oh, you're so safe. You don't need these things." Well, let's put the the dots to together. We're safe because we have these programs. This is what continues to keep our city safe. And again, there are no [clears throat] federal agents on our streets. These are Mesa police officers who we should be very grateful are taking their time to go out and do the job that they do. So, thank you so much. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Council members, Council Member Duff. >> Yes. Um, I just want to say that, you know, I don't want Mesa to become a a police state. I don't believe in the 287g agreement and we don't exercise [clears throat] it. What ICS DHS, there's statistics. We're glad to share those. what ICE, DHS, um are doing in our FBI are doing in our communities is not in conjunction with Mesa Police Department. This agreement allows us to have reimbursement for the activities that we've always done and always will do. So, it's just a financial transaction. It is not an engagement anymore than just seeking reimbursement. I don't like what's going on either about the immigration issue. I totally am opposed to it, but I don't see this as part of that equation. So, I'll be voting to approve this reimbursement. Thank you, >> Council Member Heredia. I think uh Commander Reno, what's the uh there was mention on racial profiling and these these items. How how do we look at kind of monitoring those pieces that in the Mesa Police Department um to make sure that doesn't happen? Um h how can we make sure we are accountable for potential issues like that? So, the vice mayor and council operationally and things of that nature, we continue to do what Mesa Police does and how we do business following our policies and our guidelines and um we attend training for racially profiling and all those things. Um and you know to make traffic stops we have to have reasonable suspicion you know things like probable cause. So, we follow our policies and we follow our guidelines and standards, >> not the FBI's. >> All right. Um, >> I'll just like to add on this is not the same. I mentioned it downstairs, but this is not the same as the Memphis Safe Streets Task Force. This is a completely different thing. That was a different initiative, a different avenue. It is not the same thing. Don't compare it. I saw that in some of the emails. I just want to let you know. Thank you. >> Thank you for bringing that up as that was something that was on here as well. Um I just want everybody to know that some of the ideas you brought up were good ones s such as the mental health. We don't ignore that in this city. As a matter of fact, we we were one of the first cities to adopt mental health uh in our dispatching center. And as we combine our dispatching center to include both police and fire and the reorganization under Mr. Butler's leadership, you're going to see uh an increased use of that. I had pulled some numbers. These are a couple months old, but the number of 911 calls that were sent from instead of sending a police officer or fire truck and they sent behavioral health, the the resource that was needed by that individual, 8,185 calls were diverted since 2023. That's not a small number. Matter of fact, I believe that's an award-winning uh program as well. So, we're not only not ignoring it, but we're growing that program. This is specifically as was stated about violent crime. Safest city of our size doesn't come by luck. It comes by a lot of hard work by the men and women that are in this room protecting everybody here. So with that, I will entertain a motion. Oops. On item 5B, approving and authorizing the city manager to enter a into a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to participate in the Safe Streets Task Force Program. I have a motion by Council Member Adams, a second by Council Member Taylor. Please vote with the mayor and council member Goforth absent. Motion carries. 5-0. All right. Thank you everyone. Uh item 5C is approving and authorizing the city manager to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Mesa Unified School District number four to provide Mesa police officers to perform school resource officer duties. We have Leanne one just one person on this one. Um, actually this is Jason Smithson, but yes, >> Jason Smithson. I apologize. Jason, >> Vice Mayor, and council members, first I'd like to address a misconception I've read online about this agenda item. Arizona School Safety Program established under ARS 15-154 is a competitive state grant program that has been around for 32 years. These funds do not come out of classroom education budgets. They are dedicated state dollars that support not only SRO's but also schools counselors and social workers. I also want to express my respect and appreciation for the Mesa Police Department. Law enforcement officers have an incredibly difficult job and the overwhelming majority serve our community with professionalism, integrity, and a genuine desire to protect. That said, I have concerns about the proposed IGA with Mesa Public Schools is as it is currently written. Those concerns stem from what occurred at Mesa High School involving former principal Kirk Thomas and former athletic director David Clea after an alleged weapon report in 2025. No weapon was found and an initial report was completed by the SRO. 13 days later, the SRO submitted a revised statement. Although the district initially closed the investigation, the matter was later reopened a year later. Both men were placed on administrative leave due to the revised statement and their contracts were not renewed before the investigation was concluded. In the end, the city prosecutor declined to file charges and the Arizona Department of Education cleared both men of wrongdoing. My purpose today is not to revisit that case. It's to protect the in integrity of the SRO program moving forward. The officer who revi whose revised statement became central to that case is on the Brady list. Regardless of anyone's opinion about the underlying events, I believe SRO should meet the highest standard of credibility and public trust. When an officer's credibility has been formally called into question to the point that they are Brady listed, they should not be assigned as an SRO. The consequences in this case have been significant. Although Mr. Cleo was cleared of wrongdoing. He has been unable to return to his profession despite applying applying to numerous schools. Reputational damage often remains long after investigations have ended. Tonight, I respectfully ask the council to amend this agreement to prohibit Brady listed officers from serving as SRO's. Doing so protect protects the integrity of the program and strengthens the trust of students parents, educators, and our community. Thank you. >> Questions, comments from council? Is there anything we addressed on that? >> No. Mayor, uh, vice mayor and council, um, we do have representatives from MPD that could speak to the SRO program. Um certainly we're not going to speak to the um to the instance that was cited because that's subject to litigation and and would not be appropriate to comment on that. But we can talk about the SRO program and and how we operate with with the school district and um I'm glad to glad to have staff come up and speak to that if that would be helpful. >> Okay, let's hear that and how people are assigned perhaps. >> And that's uh Commander Daravan that's coming up to speak to that. Hello commander. >> Hi commander. >> How are you? >> Good. You >> any specific questions or >> I think a general overview and then how officers are assigned to that and trained would be sufficient. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh vice mayor and councel. So our school resource officer program is a collateral duty or so sorry officers. It's a specialty assignment that officers have to put in for and then they do go through a testing process with the school resource officer supervisors. Many of them also work part of the school safety officer program in an offduty capacity. So a lot of that's where a lot of our members come from who end up putting in for SRO full-time. They are Mesa police officers subject to our same policies and procedures and disciplinary standards. If we um locate or we identify uh bad behavior, we immediately remove them from and we have had a couple in the last few years where we removed them from that assignment. We will not allow them to return to that assignment. So um I guess I feel strongly. >> So basically you have a disciplinary procedure that that spreads >> not just specifically to this but across the entire >> across the entire department. Correct. And if officers >> and that would apply in potentially >> any assignment but yes officers who put in for the SRO program are subject to those same standards. >> Council member. >> Thank you and thank you commander. Um, it is it safe to say that it would be a a wise decision to consider the proposed amendment? I was and actually let let me ask you this. I was looking up what constitutes being a Brady listed officer and I see sustained findings of dishonesty lying in reports, evidence tampering, excessive force um, tied to credibility issues, bias, discriminatory conduct. I have a hard time even imagining if somebody exhibited these behaviors that they would be allowed to return back as a school resource officer. Do we allow for that even now? Is that something that would happen? Uh, honestly, uh, vice mayor and council member, I don't know all of the officers. I don't have personal knowledge of all of the officers on the Brady list. It is certainly something that I would also be concerned about as far as amending thisou um, or IGA. I don't know if that's something we can do easily right now, but it certainly is something that we can take into consideration for practice. We can choose not to uh employ officers in that capacity >> if they're on the Brady list. Something we can look at. I I would be concerned about amending a contract because this sounds like a personnel issue and that would have to go through an entire review with the city manager and a police chief uh on how you handle this from a personnel issue because there are other positions as well that can be impacted. >> Yeah, absolutely, Vice Mayor. Um I think to that point, um you're exactly right. That's something that we can handle administratively. That's that's something that we don't have to amend thisou to reflect. That's something that we can work with the chief and the commander and others who oversee the program and and see if there's any additional safeguards that we need to put into the process, but we can handle that as something internally and does it need to be reflected? >> Yeah, my my concern on amending uh a specific contract would be then we start to tangle it with personnel rules and disciplinary procedures and then it gets really ugly over time. But the concern is noted. >> Understand? Yes. And >> I agree, [clears throat] >> Vice Mayor. >> Yes. Uh, >> please. >> Oh, no. I have no other questions. >> No fighting. Uh, Mr. Smith, is is it going too far a field if I ask Commander Daran a couple of uh additional questions about Brady listing? >> Vice Mayor and Council. No, you can you can ask additional questions regarding that. >> Okay. Uh, Commander, I you know, you learn something new every day, and I'm I'm learning something new here about Brady listed officers. If someone's if an officer's name appears on this list, and I don't know where the list is maintained, did it get there through um uh legal action? Was there a trial? Was was there a finding by a court? Is it just simply suspicion? Uh what are what are the factual what is the factual basis of an officer being so listed? Vice Mayor, Council Member Adams, I am certainly not a Brady expert, but no, there's no trial involved with it, but there are if there are allegations of misconduct, there are certain allegations of misconduct and certain findings of misconduct that can be subject to being listed on the Brady list, and I do not have the full list of that, but we could get in further information on that to you. >> Well, fair enough. We're we're learning something together here. I uh so it could be an internal disciplinary procedure uh by whatever police department or agency that might cause it. So okay. Okay, that's all I had. Thank you. >> I think I have to ask one last question. >> You you have one last question. >> Okay. >> This is more for our city manager and our city attorney. Um assuming we we move forward with this if we found later we wanted to amend something that's an option. Am I correct? Yeah, we um >> or have a discussion. >> Yeah, vice mayor um council member, we definitely could always amend anou with the school district if if both agreed that that was in our interest, but I think to the points raised, that's something that's well within our control that we can handle administratively within the police department and and certainly Commander Deran's heard this. I know the chief is is watching and so we'll we'll be able to have those conversations. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Commander. Anything else? >> That's it. Thank you. >> Appreciate it. Any other comments or questions? Seeing none, I'll take a motion on item 5C, approving and authorizing the city manager to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Mesa Unified School District number four to provide police officers to perform school resource officer duties. I have a motion from council member Duff, a second from council member Taylor. Everyone, please vote. with the mayor absent and council member Go forth absent. Motion passes 5-0. Thank you. Item 6D. [clears throat] This is a zoning case for San Antonio tire shop. It's for reszoning. Um for there are 11 speakers on this. >> Yes, vice mayor. The first speaker >> for the 11 speakers today. I just want everybody else this is the introduction of the ordinance. It is not the final adoption of the ordinance that will happen next week or not. So this is by introducing this on this vote. This just puts us in motion for a final vote. With that knowing that um any comments from council first you want to listen to the listen. >> We'll listen. Okay. Who's first and who's >> uh first we have Tess Taylor followed by Reed Dunn. Uh Reed, was it >> Reed? Yes. Reed. >> Hi, Tess. You have three minutes. >> All right. I'm also representing the group. Does that give me an extra few seconds? >> Are Are you representing all 11 people? Are you their only speaker? >> I'm willing to negotiate. >> I beg your pardon? >> I'm willing to negotiate if you want to speak for the entire group of 11. And remember, this comes back next week. if if they all would like you if that would be all right. Is that with my discretion? >> Uh so >> sorry you um I think she's a spokesperson for a different group, not the other 10 speakers. >> Not the other 10. Okay. >> Okay. >> Not precisely, Miss Holly. Um a number of the people here today are part of the group that I represent. Does my speaking uh obviate or uh prohibit them from speaking? >> No. So, you'll get three minutes and if all 11 would like to speak, they each get three minutes. >> Okay. The only question then is do I get an extra few minutes because I'm representing the group? >> No, it just be three minutes. >> Okay. Well, um in that case, can we start me at three minutes? >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh, good evening, Vice Mayor Summers and Council members. Tess Taylor here, Mesa resident and adjacent property owner, born, bred, and buttered in this neighborhood. So, I understand that it's a first of two readings, but it seems important that you get the full force of our opposition today rather than next week, although we may make another showing. So, government's first responsibility is to protect the people from which it deres its authority and its legitimacy. This includes enforcing zoning requirements, maintaining residential quality of life, and respecting the underlying purpose of urban planning. I and our neighborhood residents here today ask that you deny these applications for four reasons. Number one, the applicant has not justified his proposal. The burden of proof falls on the applicant and not to the neighborhood to disprove the applicant's rationalizations. There is no market study, no demand analysis, no evidence that another tire shop is needed, and no evidence that 24-hour operations are necessary, and no demonstrated public benefit to justify these extraordinary requests. In fact, the applicant already operates other tire shops in Mesa, and another tire shop already exists immediately adjacent to this property. The evidence does not support zoning and must therefore be denied. Number two, this project asks the city to change the law to accommodate the applicant's overuse ambitions. Applicant admits that this 39 acre parcel is undersized and constrained. Yet, instead of reducing the project intensity, the application requests a general plan amendment, reszoning, a biz overlay, reduced parking, and 24-hour operations. This is gross overreaching and tonedeaf to the neighborhood and the long-standing rights of homeowners and residents. Number three, these entitlements would permanently change our neighborhood. 24-hour operations mean overnight traffic, customer activity, noise from air tools and compressors, bright lighting, and continuous commercial activity when nearby residents expect and are entitled to peace and quiet. These adverse impacts would be permanent, cumulative, and significant. Finally, in considering this matter, you must not place the applicant's profit and the city's revenue generation above the interests of residents, homeowners, taxpayers, and the voters to whom you all owe your fiduciary duty. Some of you may feel that zoning applications are subject to almost automatic and presumptive approval and only subject to objections that the planning staff may express. That is backwards. This is ultimately harmful to maintaining Mesa as a healthy and balanced community. Council's responsibility is to protect the public interest, preserve the integrity of Mesa's urban planning, and safeguard its residential neighborhoods because, for among other reasons, your primary duty is to the voters who live here. For those reasons, and for those contained in my memorandum to you of June 10th included in your agenda packet tonight, we ask you deny these applications. Thank you. >> Yeah, that was three minutes. Reed, you're up. And then who's on deck? Reed, are you here? >> Reed Don is followed by Don Clinkert. >> Don. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Hi, Don. You have three minutes. >> Don. >> Don. >> Don. >> Oh, we butchered that one, too. I'm over two. >> No, it's Reed. Don. The other one is done. >> Oh, okay. >> Sir, three minutes. >> I'm here to speak against this particular thing. I'm a 92year-old native of Mesa. I've been around a while, seen a few things. I still feel very strongly that it's the government's job to serve the people, not be served. That's why I vote. I would suggest that you remember strongly that there is a necessity of understanding the data that's being fed to you people. You have our highest regards but you have also the responsibility of knowing the data. It's so very important. Defective data dictates disastrous decisions. I thank you. >> Thank you, sir. And I believe Don was next. >> Yes, Don Clinkert, followed by Sandy Don. >> Don and then Sandy, you're on deck. Hello. >> Hello, Don. Three minutes, sir. >> My name is Don Claver. I've been Mesa resident since 78. And I hate to follow those two people. I didn't come prepared. I just came to witness. But I do believe they're right. And I hope you it gets in your head what they said, not just fly over your head. Thank you. >> Absolutely. Thanks, Don. Sandy followed by Hold on just a moment. Sandy followed by Carol West. >> Carol West. >> Hi Sandy. Three minutes. >> I don't really have anything to add to it. I completely agree with Tess and Mr. Done that uh you need to take a good look at what's being talked about here. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> See anytime Carol and then following Carol. >> Following Carol is James Adamic. >> Hi, my name is Carol West and I've lived for 48 years on fourth place just one block north of the San Antonio tire shop. So I stone throw distance. I want you to know that I totally agree and support everything that Chess Taylor said. We had a meeting. We discussed all of the negative aspects of it along with some of the other things that go along with 24 hours. There's a lot of issues with with people doing legitimate things. If you Google search 24-hour tire shops, you get a lot of very negative things. And we, this is not something we want in our neighborhood. I've lived there 48 years. It's a wonderful neighborhood. I don't plan to leave, but we really do want to keep it the way that it is and not have these things changing it. And this would be a terrible, terrible thing for our neighborhood. So, I really hope that you do not approve the changes because it's not necessary and it won't help our neighborhood. Thank you. >> Okay, James. >> James followed by Jarrett Butler. >> Jarrett. >> Hi, James. 3 minutes. >> Good evening. >> Uh, I don't have 40 years in the neighborhood. Uh, but I'm actually probably the most recent person who's moved into the culdesac down there. Uh, and I picked it very specifically because uh, my neighbor next to me raises chickens and then I can take a two-mile Uber south and I can get to the light rail and go downtown for the ballpark. It's uh, Mesa has a very unique zoning and the the way that the neighborhood is there, you can't really find anywhere else in Arizona. If I wanted a super compact, you know, area, I'd move to Phoenix. I'd move to Scottsdale. I I would have stayed in Tempee. Uh, so I'm I'm I'm more troubled by I I'm not against new things being built. I'm just more troubled by 24-hour operations when nothing else in that area operates at that frequency. And then also amending the general plan to change the place type from urban residential to an urban center. Um everything around it is residential. So the place type doesn't match with what we're proposing here. And that only invites future large companies to move in. And once you have a little foothold of something like an urban center, it becomes easy to maybe force other newer and bigger things in that still don't belong in an urban residential area. So, thank you for your time. >> Excellent. Uh Jared Butler. Jared. After Jarrett, we have Matt Taylor. >> Matt Taylor. Matt, are you here? Anyone want to be Matt? >> No. >> Next we have Darcy Meyers. >> Darcy. Darcy Meyers. >> Oh, >> going once. Going twice. Next we have Nathan Taylor. >> Nathan Taylor. Was it something I said? >> And the last on the list is Nolan West. >> Nolan. Mr. West. Hello. Three minutes when you get up, sir. >> Thank you. I appreciate your time today. I al along with my wife, I've lived in the neighborhood for 48 years. And when the tire shop moved in there and they started showing that they were open 24 hours, I was really concerned about that. That especially that is a very small parcel that they're on. And so they are right up against the other houses there. And to be open 24 hours a day, it's not fair for those people that live that close. And we're a block north of there, but I'm still concerned about that. and and so I would really like to encourage you not to uh vote for these uh this ordinance. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Was that the last >> That is the last speaker for this item. Yes. >> Just as a reminder, this is the introduction of the ordinance. So the folks uh who couldn't stay to speak on the issue, if they want to come back next week, we'll be discussing this further. Also, I would encourage the um the applicant to be present. They might be present here today. Yeah, I can see him. Uh to to show up next week to do a presentation, I think would be >> Yeah, Vice Mayor, it might be helpful though. I think Kevin Balmer's um prepared to to maybe clarify some of the points, especially as it relates to the good neighbor policy and the 24hour operation that's been alluded to there. There's it's more nuanced than that. So, Evan can maybe give you an overview of that. >> Mr. Bomber again. >> Uh, good afternoon, Mayor. Excuse me, Vice Mayor Council. So, a couple points that came up. The 24-hour operation, um, the the actual business hours where it functions just like a normal tire shop would be 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. That's drive up, they they service your car between, I should say after 8:00 p.m., it's essentially emergency roadside assistance. And so if you get a flat on the side of the road, um you call this company, they come out, they they pick up your tire, they bring it back, they change the tire, they might take the car back and and fix it, but it's not open like you can drive up at 10:00 at night and and get your tires changed. So it's kind of an emergency response after that. The good neighbor policy, which is a condition of approval, kind of outlines how the site should should function. So all the noise generating uses need to be located inside the building. It doesn't allow for outdoor storage of of tires or equipment. Um, lighting needs to be shielded. The applicant did did a good job with their good neighbor policy and staff actually added conditions of approval to that and then specific conditions within the good neighbor policy to ensure that this development fits within its within its scope. It also runs with the land. So if if this were to be approved and this tire shop moves out eight months from now and another tire shop moves in, those conditions would also be be binding on that on that uh new new owner. Were there other questions? >> Any questions from council? >> Thank you. Evan, is there is that a normal like their emergency? I know you're not a tire shop expert, but is that a like a similar uh how they operate in other tire shops around the city? >> That vice mayor, council member Heredia, that might be a question better directed to the applicant. I I am not um familiar with that. I know Discount Tire has kind of standard business operations. Um, and again, this is just kind of an emergency service, so it wouldn't be a all the time thing. >> Okay. Is the applicant present? >> Is the applicant's representative present? Representative. >> So, you want to pose the question again for the >> Yeah, I think uh just curious if that's a similar uh other operation like tire shops that operate emergency after hours is that uh and what Mr. Balmer mentioned as far as, you know, being emergency, somebody can't pull up, you know, a after 8:00 p.m. and and get service, right? So, just to clarify those pieces if you if you have that. >> Yes. Thank you, Vice Mayor and Council, Alex Hayes, 2121 East Highland Avenue for uh the applicant. Yes, there are this is not an uncommon um business practice. There are tire shops that have this kind of mobile service operation and you know are available in those kind of emergency situations. And again that would be the only really use uh kind of after primary business hours would be to service that mo mobile operation and and maybe some rare instance uh actually service a vehicle on site. >> I think the other piece that uh maybe was a mention around parking I think Mr. Balmer uh or there is some notes on the on the planning uh and zoning uh meeting um around parking. I know that there's there's uh the good name of your policy states, you know, uh if if there is violation that they're they're going to um have to remedy that that violation and work with uh uh maybe the nearest church or something or is that something that uh is being worked on or you all aware as applicant? >> Yeah, thank you vice mayor, council member. We did hear some concern from the neighbors about the requested parking reduction and the operations of this use at the planning and zoning board meeting. And we did take the you know interim six weeks to work with planning staff on a condition of approval. Uh that would essentially say if there is any it's a conditional approval of of the parking um condition requested and if there are any adverse conditions as a result of the parking reduction that an alternative parking compliance plan would be required uh and and that that conditional approval of the parking reduction would would be extinguished. >> And Mr. Bomber, what's the history of this location? And I know, you know, previously it was like a carpet. Uh and then there was it gas station or it has that that that feel. >> I think it has it's had various uses over time, right? So >> it it has had a a various various uses. So Vice Mayor, Council Member Heredia, the zoning on the property is the same zoning that was there when it was annexed. Um and I believe that was in the 50s if I'm remembering off the top of my head. Um and and that was the same zoning that were on all four of the other corners of that intersection. In the intervening years, all those other corners were reszoned um to limited commercial zoning. But this specific property has been a gas station. It has been a wholesale um flooring um distributor. It's it's it's the tire shop. So, it's actually been a number of uses and and frankly, not many of them were were compliant with the zoning. So really this reszoning is to acknowledge one a small site and two the uses that have occurred might might not be in conformance with with the zoning on the site or kind of at the larger intersection when you look at it a little bit larger. >> And council member if I may I mean we'll look forward to a more robust discussion next week but this tire shop has been operating for over two years and without incident or complaint. So I think we do have some kind of demonstration of of what the impact of this might be. And the reality is going through this entitlement process will require additional um and significant investment in the property to redevelop it and bring it up to uh code as best it can you know with an infill adaptive reuse site like this. But it will be a significant improvement to this commercial corner based on its current condition. >> Yes, council member. Are there current hours of operations right now open until 8:00 PM? >> That's correct, council member. It is >> pretty outside of the norm. Most places are closed between 5 and 6 p.m. So, this emergency services, does that mean that if I have a flat tire, they're sending a truck out and they're changing my tire like a AAA service would, or are they bringing back my vehicle, they're working on it at the location? vice mayor, council member, they would be servicing it on site if they're able to, and I think in rare circumstances, they'd be brought back to the the site for additional repairs. And they also have other sites if there are more repairs that are needed um that they could service the vehicle there. >> Okay. Um why why did we reszone it to being I think a city center, is that right? Um, why did we reszone it to being a different type of zoning? I don't understand that part. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor, Council Member Taylor. The property has has never been reszoned. So, when it was annexed in, it was annexed in as um C1 at the time, which is which is office commercial. There's a companion case to this, which is a general plan amendment, and that will come back um next week with action for the zoning case. That's to change the place type on the property from urban um residential to urban center. Urban center allows for um convenience services and it's consistent with with the zoning proposed on the site. >> Is it is it factual what James said where we could actually have larger expansion in that area because of the place type change? the vice mayor, council member Taylor, the place type would be specific to this um 4/10en of an acre parcel. So it um I suppose it could redevelop to to something else in the future. It is a very small parcel though. If other properties wanted to change their place type to urban center, they would go through the same process that this applicant has and council would have the discretion on that. Did the city decide to recommend that place type change or was that the the client or the tire shop owner who wanted to change it to that based on what they might want to develop in the future? I'm actually wondering if there something something more vertical could end up happening based on that place type. >> It it's possible that something more vertical could happen there in the future with the way that the zoning is is structured and the conditions of approval that would require council approval as well. So the way that this request is structured, there's conditions that ensure that it develops as as described in the narrative and as shown on the site plan. So if the plan were to change and it came in with um you know a threetory multiple residence or or something along those lines, they would need to come back and amend the zoning. >> But they're not planning on building any additional stories to their building. Is that correct? Vice Mayor, council member know that they're uh have a adaptive reuse plan to reuse the existing building. >> Okay. >> Um Vice Mayor, so we are just voting on basically bringing this to the table tonight. >> Yes. This is just an introduction so that we'll have another week to chew on it, come up with some questions. If we have to, we can meet a little earlier on our Monday study session. >> Can chime in. >> The residents will have an opportunity as well. >> Mr. Adams, did you have a question comment? Thank you. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. I I have a few and thank you for reminding us this is just introduction, but some of these might need a week or so to far it out some answers. >> Y >> um so um I noticed from my my Google Street View and you indicated, sir, that the tire shop has been operating now for what a couple years. I think those views were November 25. Um so Mr. Balmer is the current use nonconforming. >> That is correct, Council Member Adams. >> Then why why are we why are we tolerating it? >> There there is a code case. Um it was it was related to the sign on the site. So as part of the code case, the the code officers allowed the property owner to work with planning to see if there's anything that can be done with the zoning to address that. >> Okay. Um uh one moment. My computer just decided to go away on me here. Okay, there we go. Um I'm curious and maybe we can ferret these things out between now and next Monday. I'd like to know, have there been any code additional code violations? What the status of those? Uh when did this business start operating as San Antonio Tire Shop? I mean, it looks like it's a full full, you know, it's it's a going concern here in November 25. So, um, have we had any, uh, unusual police activity for any reason? Um, is there any A gentleman spoke earlier about data, so I'm I'm trying to seek some data here. Um, do we have any any factual indication that the shop has been operating 24 hours a day? I mean, it's one thing to say it, but you know, can we can someone say, "Well, yes, I saw activity going on there at 2:30 a.m. on whatever date." >> Vice Mayor, [clears throat] council member, the the site has not been operating 247. >> And you you not aware of any information? No one's called and said, "Hey, why are you doing that?" or whatever. I I'm curious if we have any code complaints with respect to operations outside of what we would call a normal business day and maybe we could look at that between now and Monday. That would be very helpful to me in in evaluating this from the data standpoint or PD issues. So, it it's your position, your statement that this shop would operate essentially 8 am to 8:00 PM and any other type of operations would be conducted via a service truck. >> That's correct, Council Member. >> Okay. Well, let me Okay. Um, Mr. Bomber. I notice on the the corner, I think it's to the east, we have the Paneda tire shop, which would be a com a competing operation, I suppose. Um, are you aware of or maybe we can have code look at that. Have there been any complaints of a similar nature to what the neighbors are alleging with respect to the peneta tire shop? And I'd kind of like to know what their operating hours are. Um, I'm looking for things like noise complaints against that property. Uh, does it operate 24 hours? What are its hours? I guess I'm trying to be fair. It doesn't seem like anyone is complaining about the Peneta Tire Shop, which is just across the street. So, in fairness, if it's operating, I can see why someone might have wanted to establish a competing business across the street. But um and you're the representative of the applicant, sir. >> Correct. >> Okay. Um maybe maybe the applicant would need to answer this question. Why would they why would they either buy, purchase, lease, or whatever require the opportunity to operate a business there without complying with with city code? Why would they do that? >> This may surprise you, council member, but they were told by a broker that their use was permitted. And of course that's not an excuse, but that's just the reality of how they arrived at the site. And I think part of it is they looked at the existing history of of the uses on the site and looked the other three corners of the site and they just assumed or of the of the intersection. They assumed that the use was permitted when in fact it wasn't. And that's what brings us through the process where >> do they have a Mesa business license to operate? >> They do. >> Okay. And council member Adams, if I if I could, it's important to note that just on the north side of um of the street, it is actually the place type is neighborhood commercial. So there is commercial on all four of these corners. I see. And so in looking at this site when it had the code violation for the sign, what we identified was that they didn't meet the zoning code requirements, the general plan requirements. And so typical for what we do when there's a code violation is we try to work with the property owner to bring the property up to code. So that's how the that's how the the the case p started and that's why we're here today is to bring the case the existing business up to code. >> So we're would it be a fair statement to say that we're trying to [sighs] the business exists so we're trying to find a way to fit it into the code? We're trying uh council member Adams, we're trying to find a way to ensure that the business as it exists today is meeting the code requirements and there are some that it can re can meet. So, for example, no outdoor storage of tires. So, what we've done is we've worked with them to identify a way to get those tires inside so that those are screened or or they're in a in a screened outdoor area. some things they they can't meet like the parking requirements and that's why the biz is being requested to bring this up to compliance with the code. >> Maybe maybe this is an unfair question and it requires a little bit of speculation but what if council denies this then what happens? I would imagine they'd be out of business and move forward with the code, council member, then the use wouldn't be permitted and the business would go away. >> And if I may just offer one thing as it relates to the impact of this business. We heard from uh one of the neighbors, Miss Taylor, that she's the adjacent resident uh to this property. There's actually only one adjacent resident to this site and that person wrote a letter of support for this project or in this proposal. I think Miss Taylor lives about a thousand feet away. And so I think if you're looking at the actual impact of this use, look no further than the directly adjacent neighbor and and the fact that they're willing to write a letter of support for this. I think that speaks to its compatibility with the area. >> Okay. Thank you. I have not read that and I will. I'm uh Okay, that that concludes my questions. I I hope we can have that uh code violation, police call, other points that I raised available for us to consider >> next week if not sooner. That would be very helpful. So, thank you. >> I've got notes. We'll look into it. >> Thank you. I appreciate you. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. >> I'd like to correct something. >> There's one more comment and then we'll I'm going to ask for a motion. Council member, >> uh, this is just a correction, but I think it's really important that you know that San Antonio's currently has Google Places reviews, and they are listed as 24 hours a day right now. And people are saying, "Awesome, guys. Help me out in a bind. Try to help out an elderly gentleman on the side of the road at 10 p.m. Found out that these were open 24/7, took the rim out, put a new one on in 15 minutes." I mean, there's a handful of reviews that are saying the same thing. So it says it's the one right here in downtown or in Mesa. So I just I don't know if they're misrepresenting themselves, but I think it's important that you know they're listed as 24 hours now and you said they weren't. Um and that people are literally leaving reviews about them. So I think that's important for us to consider um if we're going to listen to the residents and consider the business. >> Okay, this is an introduction only as a reminder. So, we still have another week. Uh, I expect you will be back next week with some more information. Mr. Butler, I don't know, but you might want to consider discussing this with the mayor and deciding if we want to do a little bit earlier, >> uh, study session prior so we can get some of these questions answered for us. >> Sure. Wait. Um, Vice Mayor, we we certainly we've heard you on on those requests that um, of information followup. Why don't we, you know, take the next several days and and get that information out of that and then make a decision if we if you need that. I leave that to you and the and the mayor. It's your prerogative. All right. Thank you, gentlemen. >> With that, uh, for the motion for an introduction of this ordinance. I'll take a motion. I have a motion from Council Member Heredia, second from Council Member Duff. Please vote. with the mayor absent and council member Goforth absent. It passes 5-0. All right. See you next week. With that, I think that's the rest. That's the end of our agenda. Save for item number nine, which is items from citizens present. Uh we allow up to three speakers to speak for up to three minutes each because the topic speakers raised are not on our agenda. State law generally prevents council from responding to the speaker. So our first speaker is >> uh vice mayor. We have Thomas Easter followed by Stephanie Verona followed by James Detoso. [snorts] >> Okay, Stephanie, you're on deck. >> All right. Hello everyone. Uh hello Mayor and councel. My name is Thomas Ier and I'm a resident and homeowner in Mesa District 6 for 83. I've lived in Mesa for nearly a decade and I love my city. Um, we have a wonderful and unique downtown and some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet. I'm proud to call Mesa my home. However, some of the decisions made by this council lately I am not proud of. The council's recent decision to close the Sun Air Women's Shelter before it could even open is my primary issue today. We already spent the grants to purchase and refurbish Sun Air. By closing Sun Air, we have put this city in a position where we may have to repay those grants. But worse than that, you've cut families off from emergency housing this city desperately needs. Oop, sorry, lost my spot. [laughter] We didn't want Sunire to be a financial investment. We want our people, our women and children to be safe and housed, especially in times of crisis. Councelor Taylor, you stated the reason you voted not to continue with Sun Air is because people didn't get to vote on it, which is very ironic [snorts] because you voted it down in a study session that allowed zero public comment. By your own words and logic, we should be able to bring 287g to the floor. The people clearly want to vote on that just like they should have been allowed to vote and sorry to comment on sunair. Have some consistency in your governing city council. [snorts] The sign ban is an I'm going to talk a little bit about the sign ban. It is an it is an example of actively suppressing opposition. Since concerned citizens started asking about the 287G agreement to be cancelled, you stop turning the cameras to the audience. You don't want anyone to see how many people show up every meeting demanding this agreement be canceled. Mayor Freeman has given special treatment to those who agree with him. The woman who complained about the signs at the previous city hall meeting was immediately given a private meeting. Council, I know you cannot respond directly to my comments, but it's clear that you care more about the theater of politeness than you do about actual human lives, and that speaks volumes. Shame on you. >> All right, [applause] Stephanie. And then followed by James. >> Hi, council. My name is Stephanie. I am a Mesa resident in district 1. I am here to talk about data centers and specifically the NT global data center that you have denied the on the agenda for the second time since June. Um the last minute changes to the agenda cause disruption for people who want to speak on these uh topics spec specifically for why we don't want data centers in Mesa or anymore at least. Um, we know that there is trouble with getting water for our citizens, let alone for more data centers. We know that the data centers, especially in Utah, that claim they're on a closed loop system are actually taking fresh water from the reservoirs that they have there in that state. We also know that the electricity demand for data centers is incredibly high and we have no way to garner that, especially with our dam being uh almost at the level where it won't be able to generate electricity for us. There are many open questions to data centers, why these companies need them, where that money is coming from to build them, and there are little answers or accountability for the companies after those data centers are built. I would ask that this council think about putting in a memorandum or a moratorum on data centers until we know the demand is there that they will actually create jobs because the jobs that they have created are minimal at best only construction and then after that just a few people made to maintain the buildings and then we also need to make sure that we're able to hold these companies accountable afterwards because the problem that we're seeing in states across the United States right now is these companies say one thing they they'll create 200 jobs, there'll be a closed loop system and then once those data centers are up and running, that's not the case. It's about two to three people who maintain the servers in those warehouses and then it is actually taking that fresh water. I also would like to add that I am opposed to the um sign uh banning as well. I think that that is a really good way for us to uh show our first amendment rights and also like not everyone gets a chance to speak or is brave enough to speak as well. Thank you for your time. >> And then James, Mr. Butler, I think she had a question about the scheduling snafu and how that happened. If you have somebody from staff that can tell her what's up with that. >> Yeah, Vice Mayor, we're >> not even a snafu. I shouldn't even >> Yeah, Vice Mayor, we're we're glad to clarify that it was never on the agenda. So, misinformation was out there, but that was not on the part of the city. >> Yeah. So, we'll we'll get with you on what what that was about. >> James, three minutes, sir. I have some good news for you. That's why I'm here. >> I love good news. >> It was interesting seeing this environment and everything was going on, community involvement. So, I'm now a Mesa resident in District 1. Although I've been a snowbird in Arizona since the 70s when I took a winter break from the Moody Blues, who I spent many, many years with, and other bands and television and other production and biosciences. But I had a special project and something I developed that I decided to look around where I could test it out. And my parents who are lifetime members with St. Vincent Depal and worked as executives for many years suggested Mesa, Arizona, St. Vincent Depal at the corner of Broadway and McDonald. So we set up a sound garden there. used our laboratory investigation skills to measure whether sounds that we were creating was actually having an effect on plants and could we teach others how to do it. Well, that all worked out. Sound does have an effect on plants and we can capture that lightning, put it put it in a bottle, show other people how to do it and it's able to make food day after day after day after day. for example, the dining hall for 200 people. We have a garden that's about the size of this room, maybe a little bit bigger. Uh, Councilman Adams has been to visit us. Maybe he remembers it as being maybe this big. Well, we supply food for 200 people every day that came to the attention of these people that I want to tell you about today because we helped we helped people that need food. You helped us do that. The library, the parks department, the volunteers that came and we've been recognized as has the city of Mesa been recognized by the US House of Representatives. And I'm going to read to you what we now have from the United States Congress House of Representatives, Certificate of Commenation presented to Society of St. in St. Paul Mason Mesa Urban Farm in recognition of its outstanding commitment to combating food insecurity and strengthening the Mesa Arizona community through sustainable agriculture and service. Since its founding, the Mesa Urban Farm has transformed a 3,000 square foot space built on a parking lot into a vital source of fresh nutritious nutritious nutritious >> 20 seconds, sir. Sorry. >> Thank you. 500 pounds of food each month to the dining hall and through its dedication farm. We've nursed these families and we're happy to continue to do it. Dated this 9th of April, 2026. We intend to expand this and to teach others how to do it. The Red Cross, FEMA, we've been training and we're now moving our headquarters to base Arizona to do it. Thank you. >> I would love it if you would share that with our city manager or his designate. Uh, your time is up, but thank you so much for bringing that good news to us. I love ending a meeting on good news. >> Very good. >> All right, with that, do I have a motion to adjourn? Council member Heredia, Council Member Adams is a second. All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? Didn't think so. We are adjourned. Thank you. Heat. Heat. N.