2026-08-31 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official minutes. No video is posted, so there is no transcript or timing.

Called to order at 5:45 PM and adjourned at 6:05 PM. Vice Mayor Somers presided; Mayor Freeman and Duff were excused for the whole meeting, leaving five members present.
The entire consent agenda passed 5-0 (motion Heredia, second Taylor). No item was pulled.
Consent items included eleven liquor license items, an Elliot Road widening contract, two aquatic complex pre-construction contracts, four smaller contracts and the introduction of the Legacy Park annexation and rezoning ordinances.
Three residents spoke in citizen comment on city priorities, the drag-themed Christmas performance and Flock cameras.

Contract awarded to HEI Civil for $17,143,737.55 plus a 10 percent change order allowance of $1,714,373.76, a total of $18,858,111.31, to widen Elliot Road from the East Maricopa Floodway to Ellsworth Road from two lanes to a six-lane arterial. Funded by the local street sales tax, with 94.3 percent to be reimbursed by a federal STBG grant.

Sun Eagle Corporation selected as construction manager at risk for both the Eastmark Aquatic Complex and the Red Mountain Aquatic Complex, with a pre-construction services contract of $136,295.00 for each, paid from the 2024 Parks and Culture general obligation bond.

Ordinance 6028 sets a continuous 45 mph limit on Ellsworth Road from the north to the south city limits, lowering the section south of Elliot Road from 50 mph, as the Transportation Advisory Board recommended. Passed on consent.

Ordinances 6029 and 6030 (annexations of 5.2 and 196.3 acres), 6031 (rezone of the 196.3 acres to a Planned Community District) and 6032 (a small annexation on Signal Butte Road) were introduced on consent, with the public hearing set for September 14, 2026. The Planning and Zoning Board had recommended the rezone 7-0.

Resolution 12569 sets the public hearing on continuing the district for five more years for October 26, 2026 at 5:45 PM. The district was established October 7, 1985.

Jerrica Trimble cited reports of misuse and inaccurate license plate reads and suggested a full audit and investigation.

Mary Maybeno raised concerns about the upcoming performance at the Mesa Arts Center, including its appropriateness for a publicly funded facility, age restrictions, community standards and the city's nondiscrimination ordinance.

Jillian Ryan raised water resources, development, data centers, the 287(g) agreement with federal immigration enforcement, public comment procedures and Council conduct, and urged Council to rebuild community trust.
Other consent contracts: wind screens and netting ($245,000 a year), helicopter pilot training for police ($164,000 a year) and a vehicle washing limit increase to $125,000 a year.
Minutes approved for the May 28 strategic planning session, the June 1 special meeting, study sessions on June 1, July 20 and July 27, and the August 17 regular meeting.