2026-10-14 - Economic Development and Arts Subcommittee

00:00You make our state much so much

00:01stronger. Thank you.

00:52Give it up again for Congressman Greg

00:54Stanton.

01:01>> All right, the next speaker that I'm

01:03going to have come up really needs no

01:05introduction. I'm going to give him a

01:06little one anyway. Y'all heard his name

01:09quite a few times. I he he sent me

01:11something. I was so amazed at at how

01:14many different things in the city that

01:16AP has had his hands in. He's the

01:18founder and chairman and CEO of AP

01:21AP and Associates.

01:23A Phoenix branding and and strategy

01:25firm, founder of the Hero Zone

01:27Foundation, Army veteran, Gulf War

01:30Desert Storm, serves on the City of

01:32Phoenix Aviation Advisory Board, and the

01:34Phoenix Military Veterans Commission. A

01:37partner on this building and and he

01:39co-leads the tour. Give it up for Alan

01:42Powell.

01:44>> [applause]

01:50[applause]

01:50>> So, the hard thing is going behind my

01:52favorite mayor and Congressman Greg

01:53Stanton. And then when they took

01:55everything I was going to say, so now I

01:56got to

01:58go through this hyper and skip around.

02:00But I want to say good morning to

02:01everybody and I want to thank Dr.

02:03Traynham.

02:04Me and me and Dr. Traynham been friends

02:05about 13 years. I actually recruited Dr.

02:08Traynham to come to Arizona and she

02:10she's done a great job.

02:12She she she doesn't give up and she's

02:14going to keep on pushing and keep on

02:16pushing. She don't take no for answer.

02:18So you know her and I want to thank Ryan

02:20too because he's been instrumental in

02:22running the Charlotte Black Chamber. You

02:23know they I mean I love everything about

02:26Chambers, but this is a little different

02:27for me because I remember Michelle when

02:30she was at the Chamber she was like,

02:31"Hey AP,

02:32I need somebody that I want to replace

02:34to take over. I'm getting too old for

02:35this." She said, "Do you know somebody

02:37that's really really instrumental in the

02:39community that could make a difference?"

02:40I said, "I got the perfect person." So

02:42there's Megan. So it works out.

02:47>> [applause]

02:50>> So

02:51I had to skip through this real quick.

02:53You took everything I was going to say,

02:54you and

02:55>> [laughter]

02:56>> So I got a couple people I want to thank

02:58that was instrumental.

02:59I want to thank

03:01District 8 Councilwoman Vice Mayor

03:03Keisha Askew-Burton. She was

03:04instrumental in supporting me to help

03:07put this off for me and Dr. Traynham.

03:09She's been on the front lines with me

03:11every day. So I'm not into the politics,

03:13but I know it's election season, but I

03:15hope she doesn't go anywhere cuz I keep

03:17her need to keep her around.

03:18I also want to give a shoutout to my

03:21pastor, Pastor Warren Stewart Singer.

03:23He's a very modest today, but he paved

03:26the way for a lot of this stuff for all

03:28these nonprofits. You know he was

03:29actually on the front line for Martin

03:30Luther King holiday. A lot of these

03:32things would never happen without him,

03:33Art Hamilton. And a couple guys that we

03:36I'm going to miss is Dr. Gene Blue and

03:38and Mr. Dean. Those are two of the

03:40pioneers in this town that made a major

03:43difference. So you know, I know we got

03:44the everybody's always talking about the

03:45new guard, but old guard is still alive

03:48too. So don't get don't get too carried

03:50away. God. And I want to give a special

03:52thanks to my wife, Latoya Powell,

03:55my

03:57>> [applause]

04:00>> my daughter and Leah who is a recovering

04:02engineer and now she is the program

04:05manager of the city of Phoenix for

04:08people development. And I I want to give

04:10a shout out to my aunt who came here

04:11from Louisville, Denise Bailey. She was

04:14the first female

04:17let me get it right city council pro tem

04:18in our state of

04:20Kentucky and Louisville in my hometown.

04:23>> [applause]

04:26>> One of one of my

04:28one of my and me and Jeff was just

04:30laughing because Jeff is so confident.

04:32One of my main guys from the

04:33entertainment business is here today. He

04:34flew in to support me, Michael Harry

04:36O'Harris. He is the founder of community

04:39first action in LA. He's the founder of

04:41Godfather Entertainment, Death Row

04:43Records. He was the one that was

04:44instrumental create Snoop, Dre and

04:47Tupac. So if you don't know about it he

04:50knows that but his main thing is he was

04:52actually the one that gave Denzel

04:53Washington his start. He's the first one

04:55to finance a play in Broadway for

04:57African American.

04:58>> Oh wow.

04:59>> [applause]

05:04>> So it looks like my speech got cut short

05:06because everybody took everything I was

05:07going to say. And O.D. thanks for being

05:09on your best behavior today. I

05:11appreciate it. I know you can get a

05:12little sideways but I appreciate you

05:15keeping her Leah. So may God continue to

05:17bless the state of Arizona and the

05:19United States of America. But before I

05:20close, where is Chad at?

05:23Chad McCauley is

05:26is a front line guy. So I never really

05:28understood government until I got

05:29involved with Chad. I was on the board

05:31for eight years and this was the most

05:33challenging building in the world to

05:35get. And Chad had to go to DC. He had to

05:38have meetings with the FAA because

05:40the airport had a partnership with the

05:42FAA with this building. When it caught

05:44on fire, the city and FAA was in some in

05:46a partnership. so Chad had to get the

05:48FAA to release the building. So, it was

05:50very, very challenging and uh Chad, he

05:53he he hung in there and that's why we're

05:54here today.

05:56Because uh without Chad,

05:58this would never happen.

06:01So,

06:03and I'll say someone who's not here

06:04today and uh Chad, I know you miss her,

06:06is Chris Mackey. Uh Chris Mackey was

06:08very instrumental with me and Chad uh to

06:10push the Front Line to make this thing

06:12happen. I miss Chris and she's moved on

06:13to greater, better things in life, but

06:16uh once again, thank you for coming

06:18today. We appreciate you.

06:19>> Sure.

06:22>> All right.

06:25Give it up again for AP, Alan Powell.

06:31>> What do we got?

06:32>> Last song time. All right, next I would

06:34like to call up Chris Dobson, president

06:37of SRP. He's the president of SRP, our

06:40presenting sponsor, elected April of

06:422026, in office since May of 2026. SRP

06:46guests, Jessica Mayor, Buchanan-Davis,

06:49and Tony Bell. Thank you so much.

06:55>> [applause]

06:57>> Thank you. Again, it's an honor to be

06:59here.

07:00And you know what? AP, I understand

07:02everybody said everything that I was

07:04going to say in my speech,

07:05so I'm going to go a little bit off the

07:07cuff here. You know, I really wanted to

07:09echo Dr. Thelma Trehams comments about

07:12the youth and what this provides,

07:14especially the young black youth, to

07:16give them the keys and the opportunities

07:19to open up those doors. We need more

07:21jobs for that, the economic development

07:23and if you look at the statistics with

07:25the young black youth, we're struggling

07:26in that. We cannot we cannot look away

07:29at that and I'm here, SRP's here to help

07:33and promote that and I really, really

07:34mean it and I love that. And it's just

07:37it's just something that I've always

07:39had, you know, just to help other

07:42different

07:44groups, whether it's Latino or Hispanic

07:47or the Asians.

07:49You know, we all need to help. But,

07:51looking at the

07:52the the young black youth and where

07:55they're at, we need to be here and we

07:57need to stand with you. And I'm just

07:59letting you know, I'm here and even

08:00after my role after this, I'm still

08:02going to keep fighting on.

08:03>> I love that.

08:07>> [applause]

08:11>> Now, I'm going to go on my script now.

08:12As many of you as you know, SRP is a

08:14non-for-profit utility serving more than

08:172 million Arizonans with reliable,

08:19affordable water and power. But, our

08:21commitment extends beyond that.

08:24It It We believe in communities are

08:27built through strong partnership.

08:29And that means investing in the

08:30organizations that create pathways and

08:33economic mobility and long-term

08:35prosperity. That is one of the many

08:37reasons SRP is proud to partner with the

08:39Black Chamber of Arizona for more than

08:41two decades. The Chamber has been a

08:43powerful advocate for small businesses,

08:46entrepreneurs, and historically

08:49underserved communities across our

08:50state. This work helps businesses owners

08:53gain access to valuable resources,

08:56networks, and the tools needed to grow

08:58and compete.

08:59The Chamber's vision of helping create

09:01pathways to 100,000 Arizona jobs by 2035

09:05is ambitious,

09:06and it's exactly the kind of bold

09:07thinking our state needs. The Arizona

09:10Legacy Center will provide a lasting

09:11foundation to help advance the vision

09:14that it has.

09:15Today, we're not just celebrating a new

09:17building, we're celebrating

09:18opportunities

09:20that will be created here inside.

09:22Congratulations to the Black Chamber

09:25of Arizona.

09:26It's truly remarkable what you have

09:28done, and we still have a lot more work

09:30to do. Thank you.

09:38>> [applause]

09:41>> I'm Renna Raw, here to state employees.

09:43There's a few other shout-outs that I

09:44must give. We also have the state

09:47commander of the American Legion, as

09:49well as the

09:51uh finance director of the Legion,

09:52Jarvis

09:53uh Nomic, I believe. But, we have the

09:55state commander for the American Legion.

10:04Renna Raw here reads We also have Jeff

10:06Glover, the first African American

10:08director of the Arizona Public Safety

10:10Commission.

10:18And I'm going to keep the names coming.

10:21But, next we have

10:23our Vice Mayor, Kate Gallego Washington,

10:26Vice Mayor of Phoenix and District 8

10:28Council Member. The center is in her

10:30district. The first African American

10:32woman elected to the Phoenix City

10:34Council in 2023. Vice Mayor says 2026.

10:38Previously, an attorney for 20 years,

10:40including an assistant attorney general.

10:43Please give it up for Vice Mayor Kate

10:45Gallego Washington.

10:53>> Good morning, everyone.

10:55>> Good morning.

10:56>> It is beyond a pleasure to welcome you

10:58to the District 8, of course, and to

11:01celebrate the opening of the Arizona

11:03Legacy Center. The center sits right

11:05here in district in the district where I

11:07have the pleasure of representing. And

11:09that makes today particularly special.

11:12Um District 8, it's still the

11:13entrepreneurs, small businesses,

11:15families, community leaders who are

11:17helping to shape Phoenix's future. And

11:19this center adds another place where

11:22those ideas, ambitions, and

11:23opportunities can come together.

11:27Economic opportunity Economic

11:28opportunity and economic development are

11:31my priorities because its impact

11:33ultimately falls in the neighborhood

11:34levels. I want Phoenix to be where

11:37residents can see themselves in our

11:38city's growth.

12:31>> Good morning.

12:33>> [clears throat]

12:33>> I'd like to call this meeting to order.

12:35Welcome to the October 14th, 2026

12:38Economic Development and the Arts

12:40Subcommittee.

12:43I'd like to introduce City Attorney

12:45David Benton. Mr. Benton, please explain

12:47the role of public comment if you would,

12:49please.

12:50>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good morning,

12:52members of the subcommittee. During

12:54citizen comment, members of the public

12:55may address the subcommittee for up to 3

12:57minutes on issues of interest or concern

12:59to them.

13:00The issues being addressed, however,

13:02must be subject matters that fall within

13:03the jurisdiction of the council

13:05and upon which the city

13:07city council has power to act. The

13:09Arizona Open Meeting Law permits

13:10subcommittee members to listen to the

13:12comments, but prohibits members from

13:14discussing or acting on matters

13:15presented.

13:17Thank you, Mr. Chair.

13:18>> Thank you. I would also like to

13:20introduce our interpreter, Mario

13:22Barajas. Mr. Barajas, would you please

13:24provide a brief comment?

13:27>> Yes, Mr. Chair. Thank Good morning. My

13:29name is Mario Barajas. I'll be serving

13:31as today's Spanish interpreter.

13:33I'll take a moment now to introduce

13:35myself to our Spanish-speaking audience.

14:03Thank you, Mr. Chair.

14:05>> Thank you, Mr. Barajas.

14:07We'll start this subcommittee meeting

14:08with a call to the public.

14:10And I do not believe we have any

14:12speakers.

14:14Thank you very much for that. Okay, item

14:16one is approval of the Economic

14:18Development and Arts minutes

14:20>> I move.

14:21>> from September 9th, 2026.

14:23>> I'm sorry. I move to approve.

14:25>> We have a motion and a second. Motion

14:27and second. All those in favor, say I.

14:29>> I.

14:30>> Chair votes I. Passes unanimously. Thank

14:32you very much.

14:36Item two is a presentation

14:39by the Arts and Cultural Culture Office

14:42on the upcoming events and programs at

14:44the City of Phoenix Arts and Culture

14:45facilities. We'll welcome Frank McCune,

14:48Deputy City Manager, Frank Philip

14:50Dunlap, Arts and Culture Director, to

14:52the table who will introduce our guests

14:54this morning. So, Frank and Phil, thank

14:56you very much.

14:57>> Thank you, uh thank you, Chairman

14:58Robinson and committee members. We're

15:01excited today to continue our program

15:03featuring arts and culture organizations

15:06in the Valley that, um, we work with and

15:09support from the city and, um,

15:12their programs, what they're working on,

15:14and highlight some of their activities.

15:15So, today I want to introduce uh Philip

15:18Dunlap, our Arts and Culture Director.

15:20This, I think, is his first presentation

15:23to the subcommittee. So, welcome Phil.

15:25And I'm going to have Phil introduce the

15:28members who are going to come over and

15:29join us at the table and hand it over to

15:32Phil now. Thank you all.

15:36>> Uh thank you, Frank. Um

15:38Chairman Robinson, members of the

15:39subcommittee, thank you for having us

15:42here today.

15:43Um

15:45I'm joined by my colleagues from the

15:47Phoenix Center for the Arts, Arizona

15:50Opera, Valley Youth Theatre, and Phoenix

15:53Theatre Company.

15:54Um who will be providing information on

15:57events, programs, and activities

15:58happening in their facilities. And we

16:01are short one um member so far to uh

16:04present from our facilities. So, uh

16:06hopefully that uh person arrives safe

16:08and sound. But if not, then we'll be

16:10hearing from three of of the four.

16:13Um I also want to thank Kerry Brown and

16:16uh my office for her leadership as

16:17interim director, but also um

16:20for organizing uh the speakers in this

16:22presentation today. So, thank you,

16:24Kerry.

16:25Um the Office of Arts and Culture is one

16:27of several city departments that manage

16:30cultural facilities.

16:32Our small but mighty team oversees 11

16:34facilities throughout the city, a

16:36majority of which are funded through

16:37voter-approved general obligation bonds.

16:41Through the bond program, the city of

16:42Phoenix has developed, grown, and

16:45sustained a vibrant mix of cultural

16:47facilities that engage and serve

16:49residents throughout

16:51the city through education, outreach

16:54programming, and world-class

16:56performances.

16:57In addition to enriching the lives of

16:59residents, these cultural assets help to

17:01attract new business development and

17:03attract more than 6 million total

17:05attendees each year.

17:07Equally important is how these

17:09facilities function to support the

17:10thousands of musicians, dancers,

17:13artists, cultural practitioners,

17:15stagehand, lighting and sound

17:16technicians, fundraisers,

17:18administrators, marketing professionals,

17:20and so many more that make our cultural

17:22ecosystem vibrant and important to our

17:24city's identity and economic vitality.

17:29The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture

17:30manages the cultural facilities listed

17:32here.

17:33The department primarily manages the

17:35physical building and property and is

17:37not responsible for tenants programming,

17:39services, and administration with the

17:41exception of the Set of Aki Museum and

17:43Archaeological Park, which is operated

17:46by staff in the Office of Arts and

17:48Culture. And with that, I would like to

17:50turn it over to our first

17:53presenter.

17:55Um somewhat new to the Phoenix

17:56community, Angelique is from Baltimore,

17:58Maryland, and I had the pleasure of

18:00spending a couple hours at the Phoenix

18:02Center for the Arts last week and

18:04getting to know her and the

18:05organization. So, with that, I'm going

18:07to turn it over to Angelique.

18:10>> Thank you, Phil.

18:11Um

18:13I'll just jump right in. Uh so, I'm the

18:16Executive Director of the Central Arts

18:18Alliance, and we operate Phoenix Center

18:21for the Arts and the Thunderbird Arts

18:23Center.

18:24Um so, first I want to say thank you,

18:26Chairman and Councilwoman, for having us

18:29here.

18:30Um

18:30and I'll jump right in. So,

18:34in FY26,

18:36we had 13 employees,

18:39um 63 teaching artists, and

18:44137

18:46volunteers with an average monthly

18:49volunteer hour um amount of 180.

18:53So, we are very proud to say that we are

18:56a community arts center between the two

18:58locations. And as you'll see, um

19:00we have our main campus, which is

19:02downtown, located at 1202 North 3rd

19:05Street, and our North Phoenix location,

19:08the Thunderbird Arts Center, which is um

19:11in District 3. So, thank you so much for

19:13your advocacy and support, Councilwoman

19:16Stark. Um, and in our facility, we have

19:20had 12 resident non-profit

19:22organizations. And like the Office of

19:26Arts and Culture, these arts non-profits

19:29provide their own programming, but they

19:31call us home. And we offer them space,

19:33resources,

19:35um, and sometimes we partner with them

19:38in programming. Uh, and we have five

19:41ongoing programs, and one that I'm very

19:44proud to share a little bit more about.

19:46Our Canvas of Courage program just was

19:48awarded, um, a very large federal grant.

19:51And of that, we've had 747

19:54unique arts instruction activities, um,

19:58in last fiscal year.

20:01And between the two campuses, there were

20:0338,725

20:06visitors. So, we're quite busy, um, and

20:09that is something that I'm extremely

20:11proud of.

20:13And we can go to the next slide, please.

20:17Um, and I mentioned one of our programs,

20:19which is Canvas of Courage. It is fairly

20:21new.

20:22It is a veteran-focused expressive art

20:24therapy program,

20:26um, and we have just been awarded,

20:30um, $672,000,

20:33um, for FY27 to facilitate this program,

20:37um, from the US Department of Veteran

20:39Affairs. So, it's something that we're

20:41very proud of. It is a veteran-led

20:43program, um, and at Phoenix Center for

20:46the Arts, we [clears throat] do believe

20:48in the transformative power of the arts.

20:50Um, and we treat it as we treat the arts

20:53as a proactive public health strategy,

20:56um, and I'm very happy to hear that our,

20:59um,

21:00federal government, uh, sees it

21:03the same. And I want to go quickly so

21:06that I can answer any questions if they

21:09if you have any.

21:11Um and

21:12starting today, um we have a PFA Idol

21:16event. So, every year we host the

21:19Phoenix Festival of the Arts in Heritage

21:21Park. And this is our performer

21:24selection

21:25um activity. We really want to encourage

21:29uh participants, performers to come from

21:32the community. So, this is happening

21:34today at 5:00 p.m. Um it is designed

21:38after American Idol, but every don't

21:41tell them, I guess they'll see, but

21:42anyone who shows up, we're going to

21:44extend an invitation, but this is an

21:47exercise so that they can get artist-led

21:49feedback to improve as artists and in

21:53their performances. And then a couple of

21:55things we have coming up, Panels and

21:56Pages. This is our version of a

21:58Halloween event, um which is

22:02a playground um for creatives. And the

22:06Phoenix Festival of the Arts coming up

22:08in December that I mentioned, and we do

22:10have ongoing fall class registration.

22:14And I'll stop there to answer any

22:17questions. I know I covered it quite a

22:18bit.

22:20>> Thank you, Angelique.

22:22Uh and uh now I would uh like to

22:24introduce Brian DeMaris, the president

22:26and general director of Arizona Opera. I

22:28had the pleasure of attending their

22:30opening um with um their opening opera

22:32at the Herberger,

22:34um

22:34Ginsburg and Scalia, which was a great

22:37um a great opera, and uh this is one of

22:40our jewels of a cultural organization in

22:42the community. So, uh turn it over to

22:44Brian.

22:45>> Thank you, Phil. Uh thank you, members

22:47of the subcommittee. Appreciate this

22:49invitation to talk about our activities

22:51in this community. Arizona Opera is

22:53celebrating its 55th season. We were

22:56established in 1971 in Tucson, Arizona.

22:59We remain one of the three opera

23:01companies in the US that performs for

23:03multiple cities. We're a statewide arts

23:05institution and we present opera

23:07throughout Arizona.

23:10We moved through

23:11a bond initiative in 2010 to a

23:14city-owned facility at North Central

23:16here in Phoenix and we are still like

23:20many arts organizations recovering and

23:22returning and discovering a new normal

23:25post-pandemic. Our season was reduced

23:27two years ago from five productions to

23:29three uh to two actually. We did three

23:33last year. We are back to four this year

23:35and hoping to aim to return to five

23:38productions through collaboration with

23:39other arts organizations and civic

23:42organizations, scaled back productions,

23:45family-friendly programming and

23:46contemporary work. Uh for the next next

23:49slide there. Our current season, we

23:51opened a couple weeks ago at the

23:52Herberger Theater Center with Derrick

23:54Wang's Scalia/Ginsburg about the two

23:57Supreme Court justices' friendship and

24:00shared mutual love of opera despite

24:02their differing stances on

24:04interpretation of the Constitution. And

24:07it was a tremendous success.

24:09We will next month be presenting El Gato

24:11con Botas or Puss in Boots, a

24:13Spanish-language family-friendly opera

24:16at the Arizona Opera Center. And in the

24:18spring we return to Symphony Hall with

24:21Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of

24:23Penzance, another family-friendly opera

24:26operetta and Verdi's La Traviata. We're

24:29also presenting a new works festival at

24:31the Arizona Opera Center in April.

24:34We

24:35employ 18 full-time year-round

24:37employees, but when we are in production

24:39we have over 200 employees representing

24:42three separate unions.

24:44We

24:46What I'm most proud of actually is not

24:48the work we do in Symphony Hall and

24:49grand opera, but the children's operas

24:52that we do throughout the state each

24:54year reaching over 30,000

24:56students per year in K through 12

24:59schools throughout the state. Over 95%

25:02of those are Title 1 schools.

25:04Uh

25:05150 schools each year. And in our own

25:08pay what you want or free programming,

25:10we reach over 40,000 people per year

25:12collaborating with other arts and

25:14culture institutions throughout the

25:16state,

25:17uh including our programming at the

25:19Arizona Opera Center on North Central.

25:22Thank you again.

25:24I'll pass it back to Phil.

25:29>> Thank you, Brian.

25:31Um next, I'd like to introduce LeAnne

25:34Doll, the executive director of Valley

25:35Youth Theatre. I also had the

25:37opportunity to see their opening

25:39production of Percy Jackson the

25:42Lightning Thief uh this past weekend at

25:44their facility and uh take it away,

25:47LeAnne.

25:48>> Thank you so much, uh Phil. Thank you,

25:51Chairman Robinson and uh committee

25:53members for being here today and

25:54inviting us. Uh we are all so very

25:57passionate about what we do. I love what

25:59I do at Valley Youth Theatre. Valley

26:01Youth Theatre was started in 1989.

26:04Um and we have been the premier uh

26:09place for young people to go to not only

26:12discover them their voices through the

26:14performing arts, but to learn

26:16collaboration

26:18and time management and how to work with

26:20each other. Uh don't tell the kids, but

26:23we're not making better actors, we're

26:26actually making better people. Just

26:27don't tell them though, they all think

26:29they're going to be Emma Stone, Valley

26:30Youth Theatre alumna.

26:32Um we have an amazing season. Our

26:342026-2027 season kicked off at the

26:37Herberger Theater Center. Now, we do

26:39have a facility. Uh our facility is at

26:42First and Fillmore. However, it's cozy.

26:45Um and we welcomed uh tens of thousands

26:49of people uh each year. So, we do six

26:52shows per year. Two of them are at the

26:54Herberger Theater Center because of

26:56demand. Uh, we cannot fit them in our

26:59theater. So, we started out with

27:01Matilda. Now, Matilda the Musical, uh,

27:03that's a logo that you may know, but it

27:05may look a little bit different for you.

27:07Uh, what you see here is our lead

27:09actress, 10-year-old Reyma Co. Reyma

27:11came to our show, Diary of a Wimpy Kid,

27:14with her dad. She wanted to be on stage,

27:18but she'd never auditioned for a Valley

27:19Theater show before. She said to her

27:21dad, "I want to do what they're doing."

27:23Watching the kids up there. She came,

27:25her parents were a little bit nervous

27:27because as you can see, Reyma is a

27:28wheelchair user. We didn't have any

27:31problem with that, encouraged her to

27:33come out, and her talent, acting, and

27:35singing took over, and she was cast as

27:37Matilda in Matilda the Musical. And she

27:40ran the entire month of August as our

27:42opening, uh, show of this of this 26-27

27:46season. She was phenomenal and actually

27:49brought a lot of new, interesting ideas

27:52to the show that haven't been explored

27:53before. And it was something that the

27:55entire cast of 40 young people under the

27:57age of 20 were able to interact and be

28:01there with a person that maybe they

28:03haven't interacted with before. So, it

28:05was an amazing experience not only for

28:07the young people, not only for the

28:08children in the audience, but for

28:10everyone in the cast as well. So, that

28:12was actually the opening of our 26-27

28:14season at the Herberger Theater Center.

28:16But, we have a lot more going on. As,

28:18uh, Philip said, opened up The Lightning

28:21Thief to a sold-out audience at our

28:22theater at First and Fillmore. Uh, it

28:25runs through the month of October. I

28:27hope you can all come out and see it.

28:29It's an amazing show. This is the 100th

28:32year of Winnie the Pooh, and it's the

28:3430th year, the 30th, uh, year that

28:36Valley Theater is doing a Winnie the

28:38Pooh Christmas Tale. It is, uh,

28:41historical event for a lot of people.

28:43Last year, one of the young people, uh,

28:46he portrayed um a woodland friend. His

28:50mom was the very first Kanga 32 years

28:52ago in our show. Um it's a tradition. We

28:56have a sing-along, and we also do

28:59um a closed event just for service

29:02people and their family where

29:04the big man himself, Santa Claus, stops

29:06by. So,

29:08uh we do that every year for a Winnie

29:09the Pooh Christmas Tail. In February,

29:11we're doing Anne of Green Gables, which

29:12is a play. Uh we go back with our

29:14musicals uh Year with Frog and Toad in

29:17April. And then we do go back to the

29:19Herberger Theater Center in June, Center

29:21Stage, for the full Broadway musical

29:24done by all young people under the age

29:26of 20, uh Disney's Frozen. So, we're

29:29very excited about our season coming up.

29:32Along with our season, what we do is we

29:35have a whole bunch of outreach programs.

29:37So, it's not just Valley Youth Theater

29:39does amazing shows starring young people

29:43under 20, which we do and we do very

29:45well, but we have outreach programs. In

29:48fact, for a lot of schools around town,

29:50Valley Youth Theater has become their

29:52arts program. We go in after school, and

29:56our trained um our trained theater

29:59artists will teach young people um

30:02all of the things that they are learn

30:04when they come to our classes and camps

30:07Youth Theater.

30:08>> [snorts]

30:08>> Um Valley Youth Theater treats each

30:10child holistically. We know that not

30:13every child is going to be on stage, and

30:15that's okay. But every child can get an

30:18amazing opportunity just by sitting in

30:20an audience and looking at a young

30:22person on stage and seeing that young

30:25person sing and dance, which inspires

30:27something in them. Valley Youth Theater

30:29kids grow up to be a whole number of

30:32things. Like I said, maybe you're going

30:34to be two-time Oscar winner Emma Stone.

30:36But more importantly, you're probably

30:38going to be

30:39a lawyer or a doctor or a community

30:41leader or an amazing mom and dad. And

30:44that's what we do at Valley Youth

30:45Theatre through our camps and classes,

30:48through our kids on stage, and through

30:50our training backstage as well. Yes, all

30:53of our people backstage, those are young

30:55people as well. And the reason why I can

30:57speak to this is I'm not only the

30:59executive director of Valley Youth

31:00Theatre, but in 1991 at 16 years old, I

31:04was a Valley Youth Theatre kid as well.

31:06Please don't do the math. Yes, it puts

31:08me

31:08quite up there. Thank you very much for

31:12asking us to come here today and tell

31:13you about it, and I hope to see you at

31:14the theater sometime soon. Back to you,

31:16Phil.

31:18>> Thank you, Leanne. And wrapping up our

31:20presentations from the the Phoenix

31:23Theatre Company, I have not had the

31:25pleasure of coming to a performance yet,

31:26but it's definitely on my list. But we'd

31:28like to welcome Marissa Butler, director

31:30of development.

31:32>> Thank you. Thank you so much, Phil. It's

31:34a pleasure to be here today. This is the

31:36first time that I have had the pleasure

31:37and honor of presenting on behalf of the

31:39Phoenix Theatre Company.

31:41Um I apologize, our executive director

31:43Vincent Van Fleet was not available

31:45today, so I am pinch hitting, and now I

31:47know where this building is, and

31:50um I think that's going to serve me well

31:51in the future.

31:53Um the Phoenix Theatre Company is

31:56one of the oldest, certainly the largest

31:58regional companies in the Southwest.

32:01Um we started playing for audiences back

32:04in 1920. So we are currently celebrating

32:07our 107th season,

32:09um starting with the tail end of Les

32:12Misérables.

32:14That show has been running

32:16um

32:18for the tail end of last season and into

32:20this season, closing this weekend. If

32:22you haven't had a chance to see it, you

32:23certainly should because regional

32:25companies don't get to produce Les Mis

32:27very often.

32:29This is the Phoenix Theatre Company's

32:30third time getting to produce this show

32:33over the last 15 years, primarily

32:36because when they set the tour down,

32:39they call about six companies across the

32:42country that they trust and they love to

32:44do this project well, and we have a

32:46track record of doing it well with our

32:48intimate stages and our fantastic

32:51full-time artisan staff.

32:53So, if you get a chance to see it, it

32:54does run through this weekend, and

32:57tomorrow's matinee at 3:00 p.m. or 1:00

33:00p.m. will signify its 100th performance

33:04at the Phoenix Theatre Company during

33:06this run, which is a first.

33:09And it's hard to come across firsts for

33:11us being as old as we are.

33:14But, we are headed into a bold new

33:16season. Um, we primarily feature

33:19musicals,

33:20um, but we also do new works and of

33:22course focus on classics and family

33:25favorites.

33:27One of the things that we have been busy

33:29with is a large expansion to our campus

33:32with the new state-of-the-art 500-seat

33:35Stevenson Theatre.

33:37Uh, we have been building this theater

33:40for

33:42probably about 20 years now. Uh, we had

33:45a few setbacks with 2008's economy and

33:48then 2020's

33:50pandemic. Um, but we have soft opened as

33:54of September of 2025 with the production

33:57of Frozen. So, good luck. I'm so glad

33:59you're doing it. It's going to be

34:01fantastic.

34:03Um, and then we officially opened, um,

34:07it with a new work Ever After in the

34:10Stevenson Theatre at last season.

34:13What this expanded capacity allows us to

34:16do is bring in more audience members.

34:20Now, we have three theaters on campus.

34:23So, the Stevenson just under 500. We

34:26have the Hormel Theatre, which is 378.

34:29And then we have, uh, the Hardt Theatre,

34:31which is about 178, which is more of our

34:34cabaret style space.

34:36It allows us to introduce new

34:38programming and incredible storytelling

34:41from a lot of new voices

34:44and bring new people to the theater.

34:47Frozen saw one of our largest new to

34:49file shows

34:52in our history. It was over 80% new to

34:55file. So, people who had never been to

34:57the Phoenix Theater Company prior to

34:59that coming in to the Stevenson. So,

35:02this is a theater where they said if you

35:04build it, they will come and we are so

35:06far, knock on wood,

35:07showing that that is the case. People

35:10have been very excited and Les

35:11Misérables playing in the Stevenson

35:13theater has also welcomed over 75% new

35:16to file patrons.

35:18So, people are active. They're getting

35:20out in the arts and culture community

35:22and we are happy to welcome them.

35:25We have um

35:29I was going to say year-round

35:30programming, but also

35:33we focus on education and um

35:38programs for both youth and elderly. So,

35:42one of the things that the expansion has

35:43allowed us to do is to bring in more

35:46summer camp kids ages 4 through 17 who

35:50do eight weeks of camp in the summer

35:53who also do spring and fall classes

35:56throughout the season.

35:58We are well past our pre-COVID camp

36:02numbers now building back over several

36:05years with this program

36:07and

36:08we have allowed employees and counselors

36:11and teachers with the camp program

36:13opportunities for them to work

36:15full-time.

36:17Partners that Heal is a program where we

36:20have

36:21um

36:22innovative theatrical improvisational

36:25actors who go into child crisis

36:27facilities, children's hospitals, as

36:30well as elder communities to provide uh

36:34improvisational interactions with

36:36patients, allowing them to

36:39get a sense of control in choosing what

36:42the stories and skits and songs are

36:44going to be about. Uh it promotes them

36:47as heroes and really the central

36:50characters to their own stories that are

36:52made up by the partners right on the

36:53spot. It brings joy, comfort, and relief

36:57to these families whose children have

36:59been in the hospital for long periods.

37:02And recently, we just moved into Hospice

37:05of the Valley Dementia Center and are

37:07working with the elders in that

37:10community and the young visitors that

37:12come to see them. I don't know if you've

37:14ever been to uh a place where it's a

37:17convalescent home and [clears throat]

37:18you've had to interact as a young person

37:21with somebody in your family that may or

37:23may not recognize you or may or may not

37:25know who you are. But for children and

37:28their families, it can be a traumatic

37:30experience

37:31and awkward.

37:33The partners go in and they create songs

37:36and movements and

37:39skits and stories that connect and

37:43provide an opportunity for them to

37:45interact and connect with each other in

37:47an environment that doesn't necessarily

37:49always provide that.

37:51The amazing thing is that when the kids

37:54are coming back to visit their family

37:56members, even if

37:59even if the patients don't exactly know

38:01who they are, they start doing the

38:03movements, they start doing the

38:05gestures, and they remember the

38:07connection through the song and the

38:10improvisational techniques. Partners

38:12That Heal is an amazing program, and so

38:14we're very thrilled to be expanding that

38:16as well.

38:18I talked a little bit about new works.

38:21So, the Stevenson provides us an

38:22opportunity not just to bring in new

38:25audience members, but also to expand the

38:27programming that we're able to produce

38:29on stage. So, the Phoenix Theatre

38:32Company produces everything that you

38:33see. We have shops on site, so

38:36everything you're seeing is being built

38:39and curated and sewn and designed and

38:42lit by our full-time staff. It's

38:45wonderful to have everybody together

38:47creating and collaborating in that kind

38:48of environment. And it makes the show

38:50more intimate for all of the people who

38:52get to attend.

38:54But, one of the things that the

38:55Stevenson is also doing is it's allowing

38:58us to expand into our new work and

39:00pre-Broadway development.

39:03So, we had Ever After, as I mentioned,

39:05in the Stevenson last season, and we

39:07have two shows coming up this season,

39:10um Unlocked being one of them, that is

39:12also a new work being brought to us by

39:15Broadway producers that we've

39:16established relationships with in New

39:18York who are looking for a city

39:21to try out their shows for, let's say, 1

39:24to 2 million dollars before they decide

39:26to take it to Broadway and invest 10

39:28million dollars.

39:30Regional companies have always played a

39:32substantial role in the development of

39:34new work for the American Theatre Canon,

39:37and the Phoenix Theatre Company is

39:39poised and proud to now be one of the

39:42companies

39:43uh that producers are standing in line

39:46waiting to

39:47come and produce in because of this

39:50savvy audience here in Phoenix, Arizona,

39:52and because of the interest and passion

39:56that our community has for arts and

39:59culture in this city. So, from an

40:01economic standpoint, we are thrilled

40:03about what we can do with pre-Broadway

40:05work, and we've got our Festival of New

40:08American Theatre coming up this

40:10December. Uh one of which the shows, The

40:13Human Comedy, is being brought to us by

40:15Jack Viertel, who is known as the

40:18Broadway doctor of shows. He's an

40:20extraordinary writer

40:22and has produced many shows on Broadway

40:25and we just met with him in New York

40:27last week and he's very much looking

40:28forward to putting the human comedy in

40:30front of Phoenix audiences to get a

40:32really great glimpse into what it can

40:35do. We also

40:37um

40:38have a production that started in our

40:39New Works Festival about 2 years ago and

40:42became a fully realized run on our world

40:45premiere stage, Let the Good Times Roll.

40:48That is also looking for a theater

40:50actively right now to be produced on

40:53Broadway. So, more to come on that

40:55front, but if you're interested in

40:58getting in on some of the new work

41:00that's coming down the pike for the New

41:01American Theatre Canon,

41:03tickets go on sale for the festival this

41:06October.

41:07I appreciate your time, everyone. Thank

41:09you so much for allowing me to speak and

41:12it's wonderful to be here with my

41:13cohorts.

41:15>> Thank you and

41:17thank you, Chairman Robinson and members

41:18of the subcommittee. That concludes our

41:20presentation.

41:22>> Thank you very much.

41:24Excuse [clears throat] me. Before I make

41:25any comments, I'll check with my um

41:27subcommittee members and Councilwoman

41:29Stark.

41:31>> Thank you. Thank you for this great

41:32presentation

41:34and I'm glad you gave a shout out to

41:36Thunderbird Art Center. It's fabulous.

41:39Uh

41:40you know, if it weren't for the arts,

41:43that's what makes memories. I remember

41:45my mother-in-law had season tickets to

41:48the Phoenix Theatre and she took me to

41:50some of the plays, she took my kids and

41:53it's just those wonderful memories. Art

41:56really does bring value to the city of

41:59Phoenix and we're really blessed to have

42:00organizations like you and

42:03there are other great art organizations

42:06like the museums. So, I say thank you

42:09and I appreciate all the hard work you

42:10guys do to make

42:13art important in our city.

42:17>> Okay, thank you very much. Um

42:18Councilwoman O'Brien.

42:20>> Thank you, Chairman Robinson.

42:22Um and I'd like to thank you all for

42:24being here this morning and and for

42:26continuing these presentations. It's

42:28incredibly important for us to

42:29understand um the rich culture of our

42:33city and you all help to make it even

42:36more rich and I'm

42:39incredibly honored to hear too about how

42:41you take it out into the community that

42:43we don't just expect the community to

42:44come here. So, thank you for your

42:47dedication, passion, and commitment to

42:50um all of our community members, no

42:52matter where they are. Thank you so

42:54much.

42:55>> Thank you. Councilwoman Gardatto.

42:58>> Thank you. I apologize for for being

43:00late. Um just we had late school start

43:03for one of for one of my kids, but I

43:05just you know, I know that Angelica,

43:07I've been with you. I'm with there with

43:09with the mayor and with our children and

43:11such amazing work um that all of you

43:14guys do for our families. Um hearing um

43:17that some of you um come from that

43:19environment is so is so great to hear.

43:21Um thank you guys so much for the work

43:24that you guys do every day for our

43:25children to try to keep our kids active.

43:28I know that we're we all try to get very

43:30creative on how do we keep them off the

43:32screens and doing something different

43:34and for

43:35our elderly, I know that it's also very

43:37important to making sure that that we

43:40try to continue to help everyone and

43:42keep everyone engaged. So, I'm very

43:44grateful for all the work that you guys

43:46do. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman.

43:47>> Thank you.

43:48Now, I'm going to join my colleagues in

43:50thanking each and every one of you. The

43:51presentation was exceptional. It's um it

43:55it's

43:56it's very gratifying

43:58to hear what all you are doing, but it's

44:02equally as gratifying to know how how

44:04much people appreciate what you're doing

44:06cuz they they do come out. And speaking

44:08of which of those 11 facilities and

44:11programs that are listed on the second

44:13slide, I I've been to 10 of them. I'm

44:15not going to say which one we have not

44:17been to, but I will say this in in all

44:19seriousness, it is on our calendar for

44:22later this year. So, I will have a

44:251,000% batting average before too long.

44:28Um the only other thing I wanted to

44:29mention

44:31dealt with

44:32and actually I think

44:35I think Marissa, you mentioned it from

44:37an economic standpoint.

44:39From an economic standpoint, what I have

44:41read in talking to a lot of you at

44:43different times is that

44:46per program, per arts program that we

44:49have, and I think I have may have had

44:50this conversation with Philip, is that

44:53the what is

44:55turned back into the economy is roughly

44:57$35 per person. You know, I don't know

44:59if that's still true or if it's gone up

45:01a little, gone down a little bit, but

45:03that has been the the standard. So, for

45:05each and every production, everything

45:07that you do, that's what is poured back

45:10into the economy. So, for those of you

45:12who are employing a lot of folks, really

45:14grateful for all that. And Marissa, I

45:16will tell you, Deb Shumway, the CEO over

45:18at Hospice of the Valley, cannot say

45:20enough nice things about the program

45:23that you guys have over there cuz had an

45:25opportunity to spend some time with her

45:26recently, known her for a long time, but

45:28she went on and on, you know, about that

45:31partnership and what it does for their

45:33clients. So, what you guys are doing is

45:36great. And at every level. So, thank you

45:38very much. Philip, thank you for the

45:40presentation. Keep up the good work. And

45:43the next time I see all of you, I will

45:45be at 100% with regard to

45:48the facilities that we manage. So, thank

45:51you very much.

46:00Okay, our final presentation today will

46:02be provided by the economic development

46:03director Ryan Toohill and internal

46:06international relations administrator

46:09Joseph McEwen. They're providing an

46:11overview on Sister Cities opportunities,

46:13global connections, and the successes.

46:27>> Mr. Chairman, members of the

46:29subcommittee, great to be with you this

46:30morning.

46:31Um and thanks for allowing us to give an

46:33update on the Phoenix Sister Cities

46:35program uh during an especially busy and

46:38important time or season of of the

46:41organization. Um as you mentioned, I'm

46:43joined today by Joseph McEwen, president

46:46CEO of Phoenix Sister Cities. I want to

46:48also just take a a moment um

46:51uh Mr. Chairman to recognize our Phoenix

46:53Sister Cities staff, uh Cindy, Mariana,

46:57and Grace, um you know, who we could not

46:59be successful without the work of Joseph

47:02and his team, and we really appreciate

47:05all the dedication that they they put

47:06into the programs that we run. Um today

47:09in the audience, we also have uh Sandy

47:11Caseman, who's a member of our Phoenix

47:14Sister Cities uh board and commission,

47:16and um you know, the board also is

47:18another uh group of individuals who we

47:20cannot um thank enough uh given their

47:24their volunteer service, their vast

47:26networks that they bring into Phoenix

47:28Sister Cities, and and of course their

47:30the time, money, and energy that they

47:32that they um provide to the program. And

47:35and finally, I'll thank mayor and

47:37council, uh current mayor and council,

47:39and and past mayors and councils uh for

47:41the for the more than 50 years of

47:43support that we have been provided as a

47:46program, which has allowed us to really

47:48um develop deep connections uh that

47:51support cultural exchange, education,

47:53and diplomacy.

47:54>> [snorts]

47:55>> Um before I hand it over to Joseph, I'll

47:57just say that, you know, as Phoenix

47:59Sister Cities, we continue to help build

48:01uh strong economic ties, as well. Uh and

48:04that and those ties are helping to um

48:07generate greater investment, jobs, and a

48:10better quality of life here in Phoenix,

48:12but also in our sister communities. And

48:13that's something that we're continuing

48:15to uh push into, and we'll talk a little

48:17bit more about that in the presentation.

48:19So, today we'll give a quick program

48:21overview. Um, we'll talk about some

48:23highlights from a very active 2026, and

48:26then I'll conclude with a few thoughts

48:27on where we see the program going over

48:30the next uh few months, and and some of

48:32the um exciting work we'll be doing in

48:342027. So, with that, Joseph, I'll hand

48:37it over to you.

48:41>> Thank you, Ryan. Uh Mr. Chairman,

48:44members of the subcommittee, good

48:45morning. Uh as Ryan mentioned, and as

48:48you know, Phoenix Sister Cities has been

48:50around for some time.

48:51So, it was established in 1972.

48:55The model today combines the authority

48:58and strategic direction of the city

49:01with the flexibility and the community

49:04outreach of a nonprofit.

49:06Uh we connect residents and students,

49:10businesses, universities, government

49:12leaders, diplomatic partners.

49:15And as you know very well, in

49:17international work, relationships are

49:20infrastructure.

49:22And Phoenix Sister Cities helps Phoenix

49:25maintain that infrastructure,

49:27and then use it when there is a clear

49:30city objective.

49:35Phoenix has 11 sister cities

49:38uh across North America, Europe, and

49:41Asia.

49:42But these are not 11 identical

49:45relationships.

49:47Right? Some are strongest in youth and

49:49culture, others government,

49:52institutional, and economic connections.

49:55Some span

49:57across all of those areas, and as you

49:59can imagine,

50:00the world changes a lot in 50 years, so

50:03these relationships evolve as well.

50:06Mayor, council

50:08members of the subcommittee,

50:10you help steward those relationships as

50:13well. Chair Robinson with Catania,

50:16Councilwoman O'Brien with Taipei,

50:19Councilwoman Stark with Prague and

50:21Grenoble, and of course, Councilwoman

50:23Guardado with Hermosillo.

50:26Your involvement helps keep these

50:29relationships alive, incredible, and

50:32con- with continuity over decades.

50:37Now, at at its core, Phoenix Sister

50:40Cities looks to convert those

50:42relationships into action across five

50:45main focus areas, which I'll go over

50:48here.

50:49First is the actual Sister City

50:51relationship management, maintaining

50:53Phoenix's international partnerships and

50:56networks.

50:58Second is delegations, exchanges, civic

51:01diplomacy.

51:02We organize official visits, exchanges,

51:06protocol, meetings, follow-up. And

51:09important here is that that role for us

51:11extends beyond the Sister City

51:14relationships themselves.

51:16So, any ambassador, consulate, foreign

51:19official, international partner that is

51:22interested in the city of Phoenix and

51:24wanting to meet with us, we help

51:25facilitate that as well.

51:28Third is economic diplomacy and global

51:30engagement.

51:32Uh opening doors, providing context,

51:35connecting the right businesses and the

51:36right partners, and important here is

51:39complementing the work that our city

51:42business development team and CED does.

51:46Four is programs, events, and public

51:49engagement. That includes youth

51:52education, cultural programming,

51:54community facing events.

51:56And it was very fitting

51:58that we just had Angelique with the

52:00Phoenix Center for the Arts and Brian

52:01with Arizona Opera, who we have been

52:03working closely with both of them

52:06this year on stronger partnerships in

52:09our arts and culture community to help

52:12deliver better and effective programming

52:15for all of the communities that we

52:16serve.

52:18And finally, uh governance and

52:20administrative support. So, of course,

52:22the nonprofit governance, the board, the

52:24budgeting, all the things that help make

52:26sure that we deliver all these

52:28activities responsibly.

52:32Uh now, the partnership with the city

52:34works very well, as I mentioned earlier,

52:37because of the flexibility of the

52:40nonprofit, but coupled with the city's

52:43direction.

52:45And because our work involves very

52:47important official city relationships

52:50and engagement that extends well beyond

52:52the sister cities themselves, that

52:54coordination is especially important.

52:57We have a board.

52:59Thank you, Sandy, for being here.

53:01Uh but official positions, international

53:04travel, government relationships,

53:07uh those activities must align with city

53:10priorities and be coordinated not only

53:12with CED, but the mayor's office and

53:15city council.

53:17And of course, important to note here,

53:18the city does give resources and staff

53:22towards the success of Phoenix Sister

53:24Cities.

53:26And the goal of the partnership, again,

53:27is to have enough flexibility to act

53:29effectively,

53:31but enough accountability to act

53:33responsibly on behalf of the city of

53:36Phoenix.

53:38Now, with that overview, I would love to

53:40highlight a few of the major activities

53:43that brought this work to life this

53:45year. One example of that is major

53:48milestone with Himeji. 50 years with

53:52Himeji is not just an anniversary. It's

53:54a reflection of the trust and connection

53:57between our cities over the decades. In

54:00May, we welcomed Mayor Kumamoto and a

54:03delegation from Himeji for meetings,

54:06cultural programming, and the 50th

54:08anniversary dinner

54:09that was hosted at the Foundry Hotel. I

54:12want to recognize Mayor Gallego, Vice

54:15Mayor Hodge Washington, as well as Chair

54:17Robinson, Councilwoman O'Brien,

54:20and Councilwoman Pastor for being there

54:21with us welcoming the delegation and and

54:24helping mark that marking that important

54:27milestone.

54:29And of course, we couldn't do this

54:31without our community partners. In this

54:33case, the Japanese Friendship Garden who

54:36helped make this possible.

54:40The Phoenix Global Forum in partnership

54:42with the International Economic Forum of

54:44the Americas

54:45is one of the clearest examples of the

54:47business and economic development side

54:51of our international platform.

54:53In its third year, this forum in May

54:56brought together more than 400

54:58participants.

54:59That included government leaders and

55:01business executives around conversations

55:04that ranged from supply chains, AI,

55:07quantum, water, energy,

55:11all the things that are driving the the

55:13world's economy forward, but it also

55:16allowed us to showcase why and how

55:18Arizona and Phoenix is leading the way

55:21in those industries.

55:23The In fact, the Arizona Association for

55:26Economic Development just awarded this

55:29their event of the year,

55:32which is a testament again to the

55:34quality of work that our team and and

55:36effort really that our team has put

55:38forward for events like this.

55:40Uh Mayor Gallego joined us as a speaker

55:42and and Councilwoman O'Brien, thank you

55:44again for joining us there and

55:46supporting the forum. Uh the visible

55:48engagement by city leadership uh is a

55:52very meaningful

55:54uh aspect of the work that we do to our

55:55international partners.

55:58>> [snorts]

55:59>> The Global Links luncheon earlier in the

56:02year is another example of a

56:04business-focused convening,

56:06intentionally smaller and targeted. We

56:08brought around 130 business and

56:10community leaders together

56:12uh around

56:13two outstanding speakers. Uh uh AI,

56:17space technology, it was perhaps a

56:20little too sci-fi for most people, uh

56:23but at the end of the day, I think what

56:24it showcased is that the world is

56:26changing ever so rapidly and it it

56:30emphasized the need that Phoenix needs

56:32to evolve right along with it and how it

56:35can.

56:36Mayor Gallego joined us again there and

56:38and and gave her business awards. I want

56:40to thank Vice Mayor Hodge Washington,

56:42Chairwoman Robinson, Councilwoman

56:44O'Brien, and Councilwoman Guardado for

56:46being there. Again, your support and

56:48presence means a lot at these events.

56:53Those same international platforms can

56:57and do show up in a very different way

56:59uh at a community level and El Grito is

57:01a a fantastic example of that. So,

57:04Phoenix Sister Cities was was a

57:06supportive role here uh uh for two

57:09celebrations this year. Uh Councilwoman

57:11Guardado's uh District 5 event brought

57:14thousands of people to downtown Phoenix.

57:17Food, family activities, the traditional

57:20El Grito celebration capped off with

57:22fireworks over downtown Phoenix. And

57:25then Councilwoman Guardado

57:26>> 18,000 to be exact.

57:27>> 15,000. 18,000. I'm going to write that

57:30down.

57:34A massive

57:36undertaking, so thank you for that.

57:39Councilman Hernandez and District 7, of

57:41course, in partnership with the

57:42Consulate General of Mexico

57:44hosted a celebration inside City Hall.

57:47It was not 18,000 people.

57:49Bringing together community, government,

57:52and business leaders. So, again, thank

57:54you, Councilwoman Guardado, for your

57:56leadership in growing that celebration.

57:59Helping keep Phoenix's connection to

58:01Mexico alive and and grounded in the

58:04community. It certainly doesn't hurt to

58:06also have fireworks.

58:10Now, I would say nothing makes this work

58:13more tangible than our youth ambassador

58:16exchange program. On my side, it is

58:19quite nerve-racking sending students all

58:21around the world. Uh but this summer we

58:24sent 17 Phoenix students to eight

58:27countries. That is up from six that we

58:30had last year.

58:31And then we welcomed their international

58:34counterparts to Phoenix. So, that made

58:36for quite a big group for Grace to

58:39manage on our team. Trips to the Grand

58:43Canyon and such.

58:45But that this program develops

58:47confidence, independence, cultural

58:50fluency,

58:51friendships that truly last a lifetime.

58:53We hear stories from past youth

58:55ambassadors all the time about how

58:57meaningful this was.

58:59It is a formative experience for these

59:02youth. It changes how they see the

59:04world. That is the point. In fact, I I

59:07can speak to that from personal

59:08experience having grown up overseas.

59:10This is one of the more impactful things

59:13that we could be doing for our

59:14community.

59:19Now, Double 10, I would say maybe the

59:21clearest example of culture, community,

59:24and economic growth all converging. We

59:28just hosted this year's celebration and

59:30I will stand corrected. Councilwoman

59:32O'Brien and District 1's office hosted

59:35uh this year's celebration on October

59:373rd bringing thousands of people

59:39together. I I believe around 7,000

59:42uh to celebrate Taiwanese culture and

59:45community.

59:46Um and the scale of the event,

59:48Councilwoman O'Brien, that you've under

59:50your leadership um building upon the

59:53Phoenix-Taipei relationship the it

59:55reflects the trust you have built with

59:57the Taiwanese community here in Phoenix.

1:00:00And the timing of this was especially

1:00:02meaningful just 2 days after

1:00:05uh Taiwan officially opened its new

1:00:08Taipei Economic and Cultural Office here

1:00:11in Phoenix, which is a very significant

1:00:14new presence to have here supporting

1:00:16Taiwanese business and culture.

1:00:18And that progression

1:00:20from major community event and

1:00:22celebration to a permanent diplomatic

1:00:25and economic presence is a powerful

1:00:27example

1:00:28of how we can grow these relationships.

1:00:32And last but not least,

1:00:34Mayor's International really brings the

1:00:37full portfolio of all of this together.

1:00:41So, in just 2 days,

1:00:42uh Friday this Friday, we will bring

1:00:45Phoenix's global community together in

1:00:47one room at Chateau Luxe.

1:00:49From our sister cities to diplomatic

1:00:51partners,

1:00:52business and civic leaders, this year is

1:00:55especially meaningful because we are

1:00:57honoring 50 years with uh Phoenix and

1:01:01Hermosillo sister city relationship. So,

1:01:03we will be hosting and welcoming Mayor

1:01:05Astiazarán and a delegation from

1:01:08Hermosillo

1:01:09uh for not just a full day, Friday's a

1:01:12Friday's a busy day, full day of

1:01:14programming and activities and

1:01:16presentations, but of course

1:01:17>> [clears throat]

1:01:18>> uh honoring them at the the event itself

1:01:20on Friday.

1:01:22Mayor Gallego will also recognize Dr.

1:01:24Dr. John Shufeldt, Mayo Clinic, and the

1:01:27Flynn Foundation for her Global Awards,

1:01:30and the Phoenix Symphony will be there

1:01:32as well.

1:01:33Um this event is co-chaired by Oscar De

1:01:36las Salas and Gary Jackson, and if you

1:01:38know the two of them, you know that it

1:01:40can only be an incredible event.

1:01:44Um and I want to thank uh your offices,

1:01:47uh Chairman Robinson and and

1:01:48Councilwoman O'Brien, not only for your

1:01:50ongoing support of Phoenix Sister

1:01:52Cities, but your support of the event as

1:01:54well.

1:01:59Actually, I'm going to go back one. Uh

1:02:00for those tuning in, um a little

1:02:03shameless plug here. Very importantly,

1:02:05drawing tickets are still available uh

1:02:08for purchase. We do have this year some

1:02:11outstanding prizes.

1:02:13It is a long list, and it includes

1:02:15round-trip international airfare on Air

1:02:18Canada, China Airlines, Aeroméxico, Air

1:02:21France, StarLux. We have a necklace from

1:02:24Hamra Jewelers, a hotel spa, and other

1:02:28travel experiences. And so, this is an

1:02:30easy way for folks tuning in to support

1:02:32the work that we do.

1:02:34And if you're unable to attend,

1:02:36importantly, because

1:02:38winners do not have to be present.

1:02:42Now, speaking of airfare, I do want to

1:02:45touch on very briefly two upcoming city

1:02:48trips. So, next week Councilwoman

1:02:50Guardado will join Ryan Juan Batres and

1:02:53and me in Hermosillo for their World

1:02:55Solar Energy Forum.

1:02:57Ryan will present Phoenix's

1:02:59sustainability

1:03:00and advanced manufacturing story, and

1:03:03our team will participate in some

1:03:05targeted meetings with companies who

1:03:08have a presence in Phoenix or are

1:03:09looking to to expand into Phoenix.

1:03:12We are grateful again, Councilwoman

1:03:13Guardado, for your presence there.

1:03:15Again,

1:03:16your participation, our city leadership

1:03:18participation gives trips like these

1:03:21civic credibility.

1:03:23And then just 2 weeks after that in

1:03:25November, Vice Mayor Hodge Washington

1:03:27will be leading a small city team to

1:03:29Japan.

1:03:30The trip is anchored around the World

1:03:33Conference of Historical Cities in

1:03:35Himeji. We will have additional business

1:03:37and government meetings

1:03:39both in Himeji and in Tokyo.

1:03:42And I would say here these these trips

1:03:44have very clear objectives to use our

1:03:48time in those markets as efficiently and

1:03:51effectively as possible

1:03:53to help advance the city's initiatives.

1:03:56And so with that, I am happy to hand it

1:03:58back it over to Mr. Twohill to continue

1:04:02the presentation.

1:04:04>> Thank you, Joseph. I know that there's

1:04:06several competing Mayors International

1:04:08tables in the room, but table 13 will be

1:04:11the most fun table at Mayors

1:04:13International. So, stop by table 13 on

1:04:16on Friday night.

1:04:17Um

1:04:18more on a more serious note, we we are

1:04:22as you saw, we are we've we're doing a

1:04:23ton of events this year. We're also

1:04:26um planning events for next year. But in

1:04:30between those those periods over the

1:04:33last year uh CED working with Joseph and

1:04:36his team talking to council offices and

1:04:38talking to the mayor's office and and

1:04:41board members we've we've identified

1:04:44four priorities that we've been working

1:04:46on kind of in the background and I'd

1:04:49like to just kind of briefly touch on

1:04:50those today. This is much more of a

1:04:52preview. Um we have some analytical work

1:04:56and some research that's going on, some

1:04:58conversations that are still taking

1:04:59place that we anticipate wrapping up

1:05:01towards the end of the calendar year.

1:05:03So, Mr. Chairman, we've talked about

1:05:04coming back maybe in the beginning of

1:05:062027 for an update on some of these

1:05:09topics. So, but I wanted to give the

1:05:11committee kind of a sense of

1:05:13some some things that we're looking

1:05:14into. We of course would welcome

1:05:16feedback or direction if you think

1:05:18there's something we should expand on or

1:05:20that might be missing from our list. But

1:05:22I'll just briefly kind of go through

1:05:23these four topics um

1:05:26uh today.

1:05:27We've been work supporting this work

1:05:29by experts at Bloomberg and Associates

1:05:31and they're really helping us to kind of

1:05:34sharpen our focus on on some of these

1:05:36topics. Um

1:05:38First on the list is

1:05:41the Phoenix Sister Cities Board Retreat

1:05:43which is scheduled for December 4th. And

1:05:46this annual gathering traditionally

1:05:47helps provide the board an opportunity

1:05:50to provide guidance and input on

1:05:53Sister Cities programs and and the plan

1:05:56for the future such as our events.

1:05:59But this year we've also added

1:06:02Bloomberg joining that meeting so they

1:06:04can facilitate a conversation about

1:06:06closer collaboration between Sister

1:06:09Cities program and CED particularly

1:06:11around our work on international

1:06:13economic development. And so we're

1:06:15excited that to bring that topic to the

1:06:17board retreat this year and get the

1:06:19input of our board and commissioner

1:06:21board members and commissioners.

1:06:23Um next in consultation with the mayor

1:06:25and council and the board we've started

1:06:28to discuss future outbound delegation

1:06:31trips for 2027.

1:06:33Um we are

1:06:35we know we we've we've been on a little

1:06:37bit of a pause

1:06:38um and we understand that those

1:06:40delegation trips

1:06:42um are critically important to

1:06:43maintaining our established

1:06:45relationships with the communities that

1:06:47we have a Sister Cities relationship

1:06:49with overseas. And so we'll

1:06:51continue that planning and discussion

1:06:53and be looking forward to bringing back

1:06:55some some suggestions

1:06:57for 2027 and then looking beyond to

1:07:00years where we might have upcoming

1:07:02anniversary milestones.

1:07:05Um we also know a strength of the

1:07:06program is over the the since 1972 has

1:07:10been the expansion of the program to add

1:07:13more sister cities as as we've evolved.

1:07:16Um, so again working with Bloomberg and

1:07:18with input of all of our stakeholders,

1:07:20we're exploring new sister cities and

1:07:23looking for communities that align with

1:07:26Phoenix from a cultural and economic and

1:07:28a diplomatic standpoint. And those no

1:07:31decisions on expansion have been made

1:07:34and and following the input we'll be

1:07:36bringing those back for

1:07:39consideration and approval by mayor and

1:07:41council.

1:07:42Um, and then finally kind of the last

1:07:44two items

1:07:46since since joining

1:07:48CED last year been really pushing and

1:07:50asking our team of how we can better

1:07:53leverage

1:07:55the unique value that the sister cities

1:07:58program brings to our economic

1:07:59development work and how we can better

1:08:01sharpen and define the roles and

1:08:03responsibilities between sister cities

1:08:05and CED when it comes to

1:08:09economic development efforts. And that's

1:08:10particularly around international

1:08:12business development. Identifying

1:08:15companies overseas that that we want to

1:08:17try to attract to Phoenix. Um, the goal

1:08:20here as Joseph said is really to

1:08:22complement each other's work not

1:08:24duplicate work.

1:08:26And so as I mentioned in our

1:08:28presentation last month about our five

1:08:31core priorities which were building into

1:08:33a broader strategy the work of Phoenix

1:08:35sister cities touches on several of

1:08:37those. It's about building our global

1:08:39relationships, attracting more

1:08:41investment and jobs to Phoenix and and

1:08:44just the basics of learning from peer

1:08:46cities overseas who might be challenged

1:08:49with an issue similar to what we face in

1:08:50Phoenix and then learning from them to

1:08:53understand solutions that we might want

1:08:55to bring here here to home. Um

1:08:58and so and so with that we anticipate

1:09:01that work wrapping up with Bloomberg

1:09:04at the near the end of the year and

1:09:05we'll be be excited to bring to mayor

1:09:08and council and the subcommittee

1:09:11overview of that work and kind of a a

1:09:13better sense of our direction going

1:09:15forward into 2027.

1:09:18Mr. Chairman, with that I'll I'll end my

1:09:21presentation. I would just want to again

1:09:23thank

1:09:24the mayor and council for the tremendous

1:09:26support you all provide

1:09:28in this program. It's an honor for us to

1:09:31partner with you on on events and

1:09:33activities that you all host and we look

1:09:36forward to continuing to do so

1:09:38into the future. So, thank you.

1:09:41>> Thank you. Thank you, Joseph. Thank you,

1:09:43Ryan. Sandy, thank you for being here

1:09:45and anybody any other sister city board

1:09:48members who are probably on the phone

1:09:50listening.

1:09:51Thank you for your engagement. Let me

1:09:53check with my colleagues and see if

1:09:55anybody has any questions. Councilwoman

1:09:56Guardado.

1:09:58>> Thank Thank you, Chairman. Not so many

1:09:59questions, just some more comments. I

1:10:01just wanted to say thank you, Joseph,

1:10:04for all of your hard work and everything

1:10:06that you just hit the floor running in

1:10:08this role. So, thank you so much for all

1:10:10of your hard work and everything that

1:10:12you do every year and including all of

1:10:14us, which I think is important.

1:10:17Ryan as well, you've been with us for

1:10:19almost a year and I feel like you've hit

1:10:21the floor running as well. You had some

1:10:23big shoes to fill and I think you got

1:10:25there. So, thank you so much for all of

1:10:28the hard work that you guys do every

1:10:30year and the support that you guys give

1:10:32all of our offices and this I can speak

1:10:35for my office.

1:10:36I think El Grito event could never ever

1:10:39happen again without Grace. Grace from

1:10:41your guys's team has been amazing to

1:10:44work with every year for the last couple

1:10:46of years. So, thank you guys for all the

1:10:47support there. For the support that you

1:10:49guys give us around Mexican Baseball

1:10:51Fiesta as well.

1:10:53Putting that event together and how

1:10:55important that is for us and you know, I

1:10:58don't want to talk too much about the

1:10:59Brewers but thanking the Brewers as well

1:11:01for all of their for all of their hard

1:11:04work and everything that they do to

1:11:05continue to support

1:11:07bringing community together in District

1:11:105. So very grateful for the hard work

1:11:12that you guys are doing and looking

1:11:14forward to seeing what's coming up for

1:11:16the for the following year. So thank you

1:11:18guys all so much.

1:11:20>> Thank you. Councilwoman O'Brien.

1:11:23>> Thank you, Chair.

1:11:24Um thank you for this presentation. I

1:11:26appreciate

1:11:28that we're getting the opportunity to

1:11:30highlight this incredible program. And

1:11:32if you could elaborate a little bit more

1:11:34on the youth

1:11:37exchange because I think that's just so

1:11:39fundamental to growing these these

1:11:43continued cultural and business

1:11:45relationships.

1:11:48>> Happy to.

1:11:49Chairman Robinson, Councilwoman O'Brien.

1:11:52Yeah, I I couldn't agree more. I think

1:11:54that the youth and education program or

1:11:56our ambassador exchange program is one

1:11:59of the longest running that we have

1:12:01operated and so we we see today

1:12:05and I continue to run into folks in all

1:12:08walks of industry at all levels who will

1:12:11share, "Did you know that I was a youth

1:12:13ambassador

1:12:1540 years ago and I went to Himeji and I

1:12:18still maintain those friendships. I just

1:12:21went back and I met with the family who

1:12:24hosted me and I joined their wedding of

1:12:26their daughter." These are an example of

1:12:30on-the-ground long-running relationships

1:12:32between all of our sister cities and we

1:12:34hope to continue to expand that program,

1:12:38bring in more students if we can

1:12:42financially and staff-wise

1:12:44cover those those resources and manage

1:12:47that. But the point here is that while

1:12:51we do a lot of work internationally at

1:12:54the economic level with our business

1:12:56leaders,

1:12:57we are equally trying to do the same

1:13:00with our youth because it is about

1:13:02bringing a global perspective

1:13:04to our youth as they grow up in an

1:13:06ever-evolving world, one that is so

1:13:10connected, more connected than we ever

1:13:12have been, and as I've talked with some

1:13:14of the students, quite frankly, feels

1:13:16even more disconnected than we've ever

1:13:18been. The only information we get about

1:13:21the world and about our sister cities is

1:13:24a headline on our phone.

1:13:26And there's nothing that teaches you

1:13:27more about the world and about other

1:13:30cultures than being there. And I think

1:13:32that is such an impactful part of the

1:13:34program.

1:13:37>> Uh Mr. Chair, Councilwoman O'Brien, if I

1:13:39may just add two two things. One is um

1:13:42we are also very proud that that

1:13:44our our city employees who often serve

1:13:47as our best ambassadors, we've had

1:13:49employees one this year in our office

1:13:51who's whose son was part of the program.

1:13:53And so that's just building those strong

1:13:55connections between our government, our

1:13:58communities, and our and our communities

1:14:00overseas. And then maybe Joseph if I may

1:14:02just ask if

1:14:04to explain a little bit how people can

1:14:05get involved and when the next sign up

1:14:07is, if you don't mind, Mr. Chairman.

1:14:09>> Excellent. Thank you uh Brian for that.

1:14:11That's I should have touched on that. Uh

1:14:13Chair Robinson, Councilwoman O'Brien, so

1:14:16we are in in the opening stages here of

1:14:18applications for the new round of youth

1:14:21ambassadors. So those are open through

1:14:24towards roughly the end of the year, so

1:14:26you can visit our website

1:14:28um to submit applications. Sophomores

1:14:31and juniors in high school are the age

1:14:34group that we target. Um and so that

1:14:38they they have an opportunity to uh

1:14:41apply, and then in the coming year we do

1:14:44interviews, we meet with parents, and we

1:14:47we essentially go through quite an

1:14:49extensive exercise to determine where in

1:14:51the world would be the best fit for them

1:14:54and and and hopefully select more than

1:14:5717 students next year.

1:14:59>> And it so if I have a uh

1:15:02high school age student, sophomore or

1:15:04junior,

1:15:05and I don't,

1:15:06>> [laughter]

1:15:06>> they're much older than that,

1:15:08but they think, oh, I'm not smart enough

1:15:10or I don't know enough or I don't have

1:15:12the right GPA, is this that kind of

1:15:15program or is it anybody can apply and

1:15:18and like you said, you you have those

1:15:20interviews to see where the right fit

1:15:21is, and

1:15:24are there any limitations to who can

1:15:26apply?

1:15:27>> No limitations, Councilwoman O'Brien,

1:15:29very good question, and that includes

1:15:30financially. So, we we support where we

1:15:34can students and families who need it

1:15:37in sending their students overseas, and

1:15:39so we we look to ensure that this is as

1:15:42open as possible to those in our

1:15:43community to join.

1:15:45>> Excellent. And and so I if you could

1:15:47share that information with

1:15:50certainly my office, but I would think

1:15:51all of our offices, I would like to make

1:15:53sure we get it out to our community

1:15:54members, so

1:15:56there are

1:15:57this opportunity is made available to as

1:15:59many of our kids as possible. It is an

1:16:02incredible program. I too have talked to

1:16:04people who

1:16:06did this youth ambassador exchange many

1:16:09years ago. I won't say decades, but I'm

1:16:11sure it was decades in some cases, and

1:16:12they do still talk with

1:16:15their

1:16:16their

1:16:17sister or the person they exchanged with

1:16:19and people they met, and it's

1:16:20incredible. I also want to

1:16:23acknowledge that the success of our

1:16:27fifth double 10 celebration this year

1:16:29was

1:16:31largely thanks to my office, but it

1:16:33could not have occurred without Phoenix

1:16:36Sister Cities and your entire staff, and

1:16:38we are grateful to ASU West Valley for

1:16:41hosting. It is a team effort. We would

1:16:45could not have imagined that we would

1:16:46start in a ballroom

1:16:485 years ago with about 200 people and

1:16:50and less than 10 vendors and and grow to

1:16:52this. We're thrilled that our Phoenix

1:16:56community has embraced the Taiwanese

1:16:58community and that we're able to do this

1:17:01programming with your your help, of

1:17:03course. I'm excited. While you were

1:17:05giving your presentation, I did some

1:17:07calculations on some major celebrations

1:17:10coming up with our sister cities as an

1:17:12anniversary. So, I can't wait for us to

1:17:15go back to those delegations going back

1:17:19and forth, especially the delegations

1:17:21traveling from Phoenix

1:17:23to other locations. So, I look forward

1:17:25to hearing about that and and about how

1:17:28we continue to grow this program and

1:17:30expand it to other cities where we have

1:17:34good connectedness and and mutual

1:17:36benefit. It is

1:17:38not just about what is good for Phoenix.

1:17:40It's also about what is good for another

1:17:43city in another country and and how we

1:17:46unite us and give business opportunities

1:17:49and cultural and friendship

1:17:50opportunities. So, thank you

1:17:52Sandy and and to Joseph and Rayan for

1:17:55your work and and the board for Phoenix

1:17:57Sister Cities and thank you, Chair, for

1:17:59bringing this before us.

1:18:01>> Thank you, Councilman Stark.

1:18:03>> Thank you.

1:18:04My best friend's son was in the Youth

1:18:06Ambassador Ambassador program.

1:18:10And

1:18:11I will tell you he went to Chengdu and

1:18:14learned a lot and then they hosted a

1:18:17a young man from Chengdu and they had a

1:18:19going away party. It was first time I

1:18:20ever tried hot pot. Wow,

1:18:23it was great.

1:18:24Um

1:18:26I think that the Sister Cities program

1:18:28really proves the power of economic

1:18:31development.

1:18:32Before I had the two Sister Cities I

1:18:34have now, I had Taipei and I remember

1:18:37going with Mayor Gallego.

1:18:40And lo and behold, um

1:18:42while I was touring the city and hosting

1:18:45the delegation and getting to know a

1:18:47little bit about their government, she

1:18:50was busy wooing a very important partner

1:18:54that came to District 1, and that is

1:18:56TSMC. So, that shows you the power of

1:18:59our Sister Cities program.

1:19:01I think we benefit a lot. We learn about

1:19:04other cultures. We have an opportunity

1:19:06to share what

1:19:08we have learned and what we can do to

1:19:10help other countries. I think it's just

1:19:13so powerful. It really is uh

1:19:16a real important asset to economic

1:19:19development. So, thank you,

1:19:21Mr. Chair.

1:19:22>> Thank you, Councilwoman. Um you know,

1:19:24I'm going to echo what my colleagues

1:19:25have all said. Excellent presentation.

1:19:28It's great having this information.

1:19:31And

1:19:32Ryan had [clears throat] mentioned that

1:19:34we've spoken several times about where

1:19:37we hope to go, what we hope to do. Um

1:19:40one of the main focuses, obviously, and

1:19:42you hit on it, has has to deal with um

1:19:45economic diplomacy. Cuz that

1:19:47connectivity is really important. Um

1:19:50last month, I think it was last month,

1:19:52Ryan and I had an opportunity to, while

1:19:55while in London, meet with

1:19:58I think by my last count was about 12,

1:20:0110, 12 different

1:20:03companies, businesses, organizations

1:20:05who, through um just that internet those

1:20:09international relationships, want to

1:20:11have greater connectivity with Phoenix.

1:20:13And so, we're obviously moving on those

1:20:15types of issues. It's really important.

1:20:17So, as you guys move forward in all the

1:20:19training that you're doing, all the um

1:20:23reviews that you're going to be doing, I

1:20:25truly hope that we continue to keep that

1:20:27economic development at the forefront. I

1:20:30I you will. Um

1:20:32as Councilwoman Stark stated, you know,

1:20:34you go on some of these delegations,

1:20:35they're wonderful. They're truly

1:20:37opportunities to really learn about

1:20:39other cultures. I've been to at least

1:20:41three of the different sister cities,

1:20:44and it's just really important in the

1:20:46work that you guys are doing. All of the

1:20:47work is is critically important. The

1:20:50last thing I will add is um,

1:20:53I think you kind of hit on everything.

1:20:56I'll [clears throat] make mention that

1:20:56we will be bringing

1:20:58additional information in the fourth in

1:21:01a I think it's in January we decided in

1:21:03our January subcommittee meeting.

1:21:05There's some work after the

1:21:08office meets with Bloomberg and they

1:21:11have their board retreat and some other

1:21:13things. I think we'll have some more

1:21:14information for folks as we move forward

1:21:17with everything. But again, Ryan,

1:21:19Joseph, thank you very much. Sandy,

1:21:21thank you for being here.

1:21:23And if there are no other questions,

1:21:26seeing none, thank you guys very much.

1:21:31Okay, that was the last item today.

1:21:32Right now, the last Well, actually, the

1:21:33last item That was the last

1:21:35presentation. The last item is a call to

1:21:37the public. We have no one, so there are

1:21:40no additional registered speakers or

1:21:42anything.

1:21:43And can I ask outside of what we already

1:21:46have listed, are there any requests for

1:21:48future agenda items?

1:21:53I'm just looking it over.

1:21:54Hearing seeing none.

1:21:58Um, okay, thank you very much. The time

1:22:00is 11:10. This meeting is adjourned.

1:22:02Thank you very much.