welcome again to the Mesa city council meeting for the first of May of 2023. all of our council member Duff is not with us today she's traveling and is excused vice mayor Heredia is attending this meeting by a zoom all other council members are present we will begin the meeting with an invocation led by Pastor Gene Lambert with Red Mountain United Methodist Church by a zoom following the invocation I will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance so please stand for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance [Music] well good evening it's a privilege to be with you online as you conduct the business essential to the city of Mesa I am the senior pastor at Red Mountain United Methodist Church my name is Jennifer Lambert I am a proud Arizona native uh proud Mesa resident and a proud mama of a daughter graduating from Red Mountain High School later this month I invite you to settle in take a deep breath and join me in an attitude of Prayer gracious and loving God thank you for those who are gathered together to conduct the business essential for the city of Mesa thank you for the leaders the staff members and the volunteers who come together to make things happen for so many thank you for your Abundant Blessings thank you for life itself for the measure of Health we need to fulfill our callings for sustenance and for friendship thank you for the ability to be involved in useful work and for the honor of bearing appropriate responsibilities your boundless and gracious nature love every one of us in the scriptures you've said that citizens ought to obey the governing Authority since you have established those very authorities to promote peace and Order and justice therefore I pray for our mayor for the various levels of City officials and in particular for this assembled Council I pray that you would grant them wisdom to govern among the conflicting interests and issues of our times a sense of the welfare and true needs of our people a keen thirst for justice and rightness confidence in what is good and fitting the ability to work together in harmony even when there is honest disagreement personal peace in their lives and joy in their task I pray for the agenda set before them today May their work please you and benefit those who live and work in and around our beloved City may this group know your peace and work in unity may they experience your grace may they be blessed beyond measure in these seconds of Silence we breathe in your spirit amen amen thank you Pastor Lambert please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance I pledge allegiance 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 first item on our agenda are Awards and recognitions we'll begin with the Arizona forward environmental excellence awards program is a benchmark for economic and environmental accomplishments across Arizona leaders and teams are taking are taking their vision for better Arizona and turning it into action this year the city of Mesa won the 2023 award for distinction for historic preservation and adaptive reuse for the studios at Mesa City Center here to tell us more is downtown transformation manager Jeff McVay congratulations Mr McBain good evening mayor council Jeff manager of downtown transformation uh quickly just to give you a little overview a few of you on the on Council probably remember the studios at Mesa City Center as the city's first Public Library I think it was built originally in 1959 it's gone through quite a few different iterations since it was retired as a library it then became uh I think maybe just a data storage center for our RIT building and then once all of our data went up onto the cloud it became game just an empty vacant building that needed some new life I'd like to take credit for this but we had a great design team and Gensler a great Contracting team in Oakland construction and really a great engineering project management team that really saw the project through currently it is it's home to asu's Edson Jay Edson Jay Orden Edson Institute for entrepreneurship and Innovation they currently program the space but we are also in the final design stages and currently out to bid for the second phase of construction for the second floor and basement which will be home to our small business resource center run by the economic development office well thank you again I I take a lot of pride in this building I am one of the old timers that remembers when this was a much beloved City library and so it was it's so fun to see this return to active use it's a beautiful mid-century architecture building with some some amazing architectural features so I'm not at all surprised that it won an award so congratulations Mr Brady to everybody on your team who did such a great job uh bringing this this wonderful building Back to Life Council please join me at the podium and we'll take a picture of Mr McVeigh to commemorate this maybe we need one more personal there we go I know come on Mr Brady you want to direct traffic all right we'll go with this there we go oh now we're here all right thank you that's a beautiful word uh we're not quite done celebrating some awards next the Arizona Association for economic development honors significant contributions to the advancement of Economic Development by recognizing exceptional organizations and people in that industry this year the city of Mesa Office of Economic Development was presented the 2023 large organization of the Year award and the 2023 William Lamkin award for long-term excellence in Economic Development award was presented to our director of Economic Development Mr Bill jebjiniak here to tell us more about the awards is the man himself economic development director bill jebjiniak Bill congratulations thank you mayor thank you members of council we brought those along for show and tell but um thank you to all of you for your vision your support uh and working with the staff to get all this conflict because there's really three things that make both of these Awards possible and that starts with your support and your vision um the second thing is um support for management economic development is very much a team sport Chris has assembled a team of professionals across the entire city you know we get out and sell it but then you know if I can't get something through a planning process where's Nana when I need or marry uh or working with water and others that's important and to have Christmas support for what did we say the other night Chris 17 plus years you've been doing this in the city of Mason and city manager years that's a long time but having that support working together you can see the results starting to prove itself and the third part of the leg is is one of the more important ones and that's to have a very deep talented and high performing staff and we've been able to have that for multiple years and seeing them perform at a high level and I meant mentioned it's on even on an international basis and to have two young Professionals of the Year Economic Development young Professionals of the Year back to back is a major accomplishment several years ago we finished runner-up to organization of the year on an international scale that's been huge so these awards are just representative of the hard work that the whole team does and we appreciate your support along the way well thank you Bill we're used to to your you and your office receiving Awards and um they're they're well well deserved Council let's go take a photo here and then I'd invite you to stay we have a request for a photo from a young man at Hughes Elementary School with Flat Stanley so we'll do that right now that got a bigger reaction than Bill's award I'm going to include my staff if that's all right with you man all right yes please thank you thank you we are a little white on this side you might have to come over here yeah you don't want to hold these things you guys they're good that's happened thank you okay thank you congratulations again thank you congratulations [Applause] thank you hey Julie before you we're going to do one more quarter okay here we go I want to be on the front row with Flat Stanley so this is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Flat Stanley we want the kid in the picture too apparently he just wants the photo got it I love Blackstone I know I remember that yes it's still a thing okay [Music] let's do like a silly one too first and second graders like silly ones you're supposed to pass Flat Stanley along I don't think anybody wants to take on that assignment or work on it all right thank you next item on our agenda is the consent agenda Mr Christopher would you please come forward and read the consent agenda good evening mayor and council members these are the items of the consent agenda all items listed with an asterisk will be considered as a group by the city council and will be enacted with one motion there will be no separate discussion unless a council member or citizen request and which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered as a separate item item two approval of minutes of previous meetings is written item 3A approving reappointment of City magistrate Stephen Appleby to his second two-year term beginning July 1st 2023 and ending June 30th 2025. item 4A act on liquor license application for the Dobson Association for a one-day event May 12th at 2719 South Reyes items 4B and 4C act on liquor license applications for urban legend Beer Company 150 West Main Street item 4D act on liquor license application for chupacabra Tap Room 14 North Robeson item four e act on liquor license application for the lounge Social House 1440 South Country Club Drive item 4f act on liquor license application for bocce Italian Bistro 8830 East Germain Road item 5A approving contract for Northwest Water Reclamation plant food to energy program phase one flared to fuel project construction manager at risk guaranteed maximum price number two item 5B approving renewal of the term contract for the open data platform solution for the Department of innovation and Technology item 5c approving three-year term contract with two years for new options for automotive batteries so the fleet services and utilities departments item 5D approving three-year term contract with two years renewal options for commercial electrical contractor and electrical testing services for the parks recreation and Community facilities Department item 5e approving three-year term contract with two years of renewal options for painting services for the parks recreation and Community facilities Department item 5f approving three-year term contract with two years of renewal options for plumbing services for the parks recreation and Community facilities Department item 5G approving three-year term contract with two years of renewal options for masonry and metal fencing and gate installation repair and supplies for the parks recreation and Community facilities Department item 6A approving resolution to submit the city of Mesa annual action plan for fiscal year 2023-2024 to HUD and to enter enter into agreements to disperse Community Development block grant emergency Solutions Grant home investment partnership program and Human Services funds received by the city item 6B approving resolution to enter into a grand Award of the Federal Communications Commission emergency connectivity fund to accept funds reimbursing the purchase of home internet routers for Mesa residents that were distributed through the Mesa Public Library and eligible Partners item 6C approving resolution to enter into a memorandum of understanding fiscal years 2023 through 2026 with the Mesa Police Association item 7A introduction of ordinance for zoning case 22-1271 for property located south of Elliott Road in the east of Power Road a rezone and site plan reviews to allow for commercial development item 7B introduction of ordinance for zoning case 22-1278 for property located north of Germain Road and East of Ellsworth Road major site plan and modifications to allow for an industrial park item 8A approving ordinance for zoning case 21-1072 for property located north of Baseline Road and West of Gilbert Road this is for a rezone of the planet area development overlay and cite plan review to allow for townhouse development item 8B approving ordinance for zoning case 22-1214 for property generally located west of Alma School Road on the north side of Southern Avenue major site plan modifications to allow for a restaurant of the drive-through item 8C approving ordinance for zoning case 22-10-15 for property located east of Power Road and south of Warner Road rezone the planar development overlay a modification of an existing planned area development and major site plan modification for a commercial development items 9A 9B and 9C are being continued to the June 19th 2023 city council meeting these items involve an annexation zoning ordinance and development agreement pertaining to the proposed development Legacy Gateway hotels located north of williamsfield Road and West of the state route 24 Gateway freeway again these items are for continuance to the June 19th city council meeting and item 10A approving subdivision Air Park 202 for property located east of the susman road alignment on the south side of Warner Road mayor and council members these are the items on the consent agenda there are a lot of important things on our consent agenda but I would like to highlight one item item 3A is the we are reappointing one of our city magistrates and I think judge Stephen hump will be are you present with us sir welcome congrats congratulations to uh there is quite a involved process that we go through with our judicial Advisory board that evaluates the performance of our city magistrates we have a very High performing group of magistrates in the city of Mesa so it really is uh quite we've got some very qualified people judge uh hump will be being one of them so sir congratulations on on being on the agenda for your reappointment and thank you for your service thank you you bet do we have any additional request to speak on an item on the consent agenda no man no man thank you I see then we have a motion made by Mr Freeman seconded by Mr Summers please vote Mr Heredia how do you vote aye thank you thank you the consent agenda passes unanimously with the council member Duff excuse and absent next item on our agenda is items from citizens present we do have three cards three requests to speak so I'll invite you these three individuals come forward at this time and each of you will have up to three minutes to share with us whatever you'd like first we'll hear from Bill Voigt welcome Mr Boyd hello again everybody I was here a few weeks ago and it's in regards to Brother Steve he's back again and last time I mentioned about how God only Whispers as loud as we can hear and he's back and talking about personhood and I think we need to do what he recommends or it's important to consider it when you think about you know my father was 57 when I was born and my mother was 40. my sisters are 9 and 10 years older than I was and I'm around today I have four children two sons have been all over the world in the tech industry and I have a daughter who's a really good musician and another daughter who's a farmer over in Bellingham Washington and we were told that my daughter before she was born it's going to be a mongoid and we went to the doctor and we got a second opinion and I remember this doctor's name is Dr gabisiak and my wife is older and he said well you have a one and something a chance to like that and it was like totally different from what the other doctor said and we got this second opinion and my daughter came out right so everybody here is here because uh your parents chose to chose to have you and the same with everybody back here too so let's listen to brother Stephen and uh there's good reason he's here that's what I have to say thanks for listening thank you Mr Voight uh next we'll hear from Stephen Gerard saidlovski beloved mesa city council mayor and citizens I'm Lee Brothers Steven Gerard solovski and by the way you're hearing from Billy and soon to be Bruce who are dear friends of mine we've done petitioning together in the United States uh beloved mayor and city council I think I'm appearing for the second time I'm here because we've got upcoming Mother's Day and Father's Day it's a perfect time to visit and to read this new Declaration of personhood this new possibility of a resolution for even the city of Mesa I'd like to comment that some of the language from this resolution has already been approved and passed by another city in New Mexico I've modified it a little bit so you'll get your wonderful City attorney to make sure that the modifications still withstand the test of constitutionality also on the back I'm now providing a new uh personhood strategic action plan I did complete my MBA at Xavier University in Cincinnati Ohio and they taught us the importance of strategizing and so you're going to learn that it doesn't matter if you're the mayor and city council it doesn't matter if you're a church or Community leader and it doesn't matter if you're a citizen or a business owner everybody has the responsibility to amplify the new possibility of personhood I'd like to add that's why am I here why I'm before all of you why do I travel to all these states throughout the United States well really it's the Dobbs decision of the use U.S Supreme Court that's given me more improved traction for this new possibility so I will make the request that you will agendize the personhood resolution somewhere between Mother's Day and Father's Day I would welcome to be invited back to answer any questions on the council's parts and I'm sure the citizens themselves will have some particular questions this is just the first step for personhood however I just come from Prescott Arizona and I've learned that beloved mirror you can establish a charter review commission and that Charter review review commission actually becomes vital for the future Declaration of personal language is a preamble in your city Charter that would be step two okay since I've taught country western dance it's a step one step two two-step approach okay uh and I will just uh close with a simple song let the beating hearts let the Beating Heart show you there is life in the womb thank you I look forward to the agenda of personhood thank you God bless you thank you Mr sedlowski next uh Bruce R gorsche beloved mayor esteem Council my name is Bruce gorsey I live on Lindsay I'm a Mesa resident I'm here on behalf of my feelings I'm going to do a little bit of time travel here back in the 1800s in California during a Gold Rush era there were Bandits black Bart three fingers Jack whose hand is actually in the Smithsonian by the way and during that time frame they were doing robberies all over the state just like they were doing in Wyoming with the hole in the wall game Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid go on and on but in regard to California during that time frame there was a rumor that big red was coming to town up in Sonora and word spread that this villain was going to demolish and Destroy rape pillage what was going on in Sonora rumors spread got worse and worse until finally one day the town basically evacuated and only the bravest the brave were left in the little Saloon at the edge of town in Sonora well early one morning there was a rumbling at the edge of town the brush spread the trees were knocked over and down through the middle of town was a bull with this gigantic Behemoth of a man with red flowing hair riding down the center of town everyone knew that this was big red and they were all terrified so the Cowardly they huddled in the bar and he rode up to the bar wrapped up his bull walked into the bar went up to the barkeep and said barkeep give me a whiskey and make it a dirty glass so he gave him a gave him a whiskey slammed it down said give me another one and make it fast I hear big red is coming to town and the reason I give that story it's perception sometimes perception is all there is we live and die with perceptions very powerful so I'm here to talk about personhood and about perceptions you have social media you have the Press you have the everyone has opinions but when it comes down to facts about The Unborn the facts are very clear when the when the fetus can feel pain and what I'm trying to do here is I have one question will you please put personhood on the docket and what I what I'm also going to say is there are two modes of thought in regard to personhood you have the lock laconian Theory and that personhood represents time after a baby is born it can actually com you know function so you get into infanticide in some of those cases the other side is the aristolian view from Aristotle who basically says it is at uh conception or the potential of life so from that perspective an embryo or a living being in in the womb has the potential of life we need to protect life I ask that you go with your heart and please put it on the docket thank you very much for listening thank you Mr Gorsuch welcome that concludes everything that's on our agenda for this meeting council is there a motion to adjourn thank you Mr Summers all in favor please say aye aye thank you we are adjourned foreign [Music]