Local Politics
  1. Home
  2. US
  3. Arizona
  4. Mesa
  5. Meetings

2026-09-14 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official minutes and the staff presentation attached to them. No video is posted, so there is no transcript or timing.

  • Called to order at 5:48 PM and adjourned at 7:26 PM; all seven members present, Mayor Freeman presiding.
  • Consent agenda approved 7-0 (motion Somers, second Heredia): IT managed service provider limit increase to $550,000 a year, police IT account manager ($260,000 a year), two landscape maintenance contracts ($480,000 and $548,000 a year), electrical supplies (up to $3,520,000 a year), a fiber right-of-way license, Proposition 202 funds from the Gila River Indian Community, a Foreign Trade Zone 221 operator agreement and an annexation of county right-of-way on Signal Butte Road.
  • Cannon Beach Hotel retail tax incentive resolution adopted 7-0.
  • Legacy Park and Gateway Crossing: annexations, rezone, retail tax incentive agreement and Theme Park District all adopted 7-0 in one motion after a public hearing with 13 public speakers (nine in favor, four opposed).
  • One resident spoke in citizen comment on the Fourth Amendment and support for police.

Cannon Beach Hotel Tax Incentive

  • Resolution 12570 makes the findings required by state law and approves a retail development tax incentive agreement for the Cannon Beach Hotel at the southeast corner of Power and Warner Roads. Moved by Somers, seconded by Goforth; passed 7-0 (five votes were required).

Legacy Park Development

  • Ordinances 6029 and 6030 annex 5.2 and 196.3 acres near Williams Field Road and State Route 24 and Ellsworth Road; ordinance 6031 rezones the 196.3 acres from light industrial to a Planned Community District. The Planning and Zoning Board had recommended approval 7-0.
  • Staff: Basford presented the timeline of public engagement over two and a half years and the economic impact (full buildout: about $58.8 billion over 30 years, 13,511 jobs, $1.4 billion in city gross tax revenue; minimum buildout: $545.1 million and 1,687 jobs). She said eligible public improvements (about $76.4 million plus 4 percent simple interest) are reimbursed only from tax revenue generated on site, and quality standards would be held for 15 years. Butler called it the largest mixed-use hospitality, retail and housing project in Mesa's history and said reimbursements come only from on-site revenue. City Attorney Smith said no Mesa water will be used for the lake or park (the developer will use Type 2 water rights and its own well) and that the city receives the park and its operation and maintenance for free.
  • Developer: Andrew Cohn of Levine Investments and David Larcher of Vestar Communities spoke for the project; Vestar committed to GreenStar sustainability standards and a luxury resort partner.
  • In favor: Sally Harrison for the Chamber of Commerce and eight Mesa residents (Victor Atlasman, David Giarrizzo, CJ Sembaluk, Zachary Palmer, Brandon Sembaluk, Meagan Palmer, Abraham Elmore, Alexandra Schober) who cited local dining, entertainment, hotels, jobs and sales tax.
  • Opposed: Jillian Ryan (drought and water, affordability, wages, wanted more time), Margaret Schultz of Worker Power (transparency, reimbursements and the reimbursement cap), Angelica Delgado Navarro (incentives, theme park district bond risk, need for affordable housing) and Shannon Woods (incentives, reimbursement process and the Theme Park District).
  • Council: Adams, Taylor, Heredia, Duff, Goforth, Somers and Freeman all spoke in support. Duff noted Vestar agreed to 75 percent shade coverage and 120,000 square feet of Class A office; Heredia noted Mesa has no primary property tax and named traffic as a priority; Somers compared it to the Gaylord Hotel concept that drew 82 percent voter support in 2009.
  • Vote: ordinances 6029, 6030 and 6031 and resolutions 12571 (retail tax incentive agreement) and 12572 (Theme Park District) adopted 7-0, moved by Somers, seconded by Adams.

Legacy Park Theme Park District

  • Resolution 12572 forms the Legacy Park District, a theme park district on about 428 acres, elects two councilmembers to its board and approves a development and intergovernmental agreement. Passed 7-0 with the Legacy Park package above.
  • Butler said the City would have no liability for the district's debt; Smith explained the district is governed by state statute.

Other business

  • Minutes approved on consent for study sessions on July 16 and August 13, 17, 27 and 31, special meetings on August 10 and 27, and the regular meeting on August 31.
  • Deputy City Attorney Whittemore co-presented the Legacy Park package with staff.

Sources