1 00:00:03,280 --> 00:00:09,760 Okay. >> Good afternoon. 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:12,559 Sorry, we we're starting a little late. We didn't have our name tags and 3 00:00:11,519 --> 00:00:14,960 » we don't know who we are. >> We don't know who we are if we don't 4 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:20,640 have those. >> So, welcome to the Mesa City Council 5 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:25,199 study session for August 17th, 2026. M uh Mayor Freeman is out of town and 6 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:32,000 excused and council member Adams is excused. All other council members are 7 00:00:29,039 --> 00:00:36,160 present. Uh item number one is to review the agenda for tonight's meeting. I know 8 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:43,480 we went through this agenda previously, but there are there any additional 9 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:43,480 questions or followup. 10 00:00:46,559 --> 00:00:53,039 Wow. Seeing none, item number two is to acknowledge the 11 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:58,320 receipt of board minutes. Do I have a motion? Motion 12 00:00:55,760 --> 00:01:02,399 from council member Heredia, second me from council member Taylor. All in favor 13 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:05,920 say I. >> I. 14 00:01:02,879 --> 00:01:10,799 » Any opposed? Motion passes unanimously with the mayor and council member Adams 15 00:01:08,320 --> 00:01:15,200 excused. All right. Well, at our last meeting, I 16 00:01:13,439 --> 00:01:19,920 think we were pressed against time, so we couldn't get through things. But 17 00:01:16,799 --> 00:01:24,000 today, we have a little bit of time. So, con current events and conferences 18 00:01:21,759 --> 00:01:30,439 attended. We have a few minutes. Who would like to start? 19 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,439 » Somebody went to a conference. 20 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:42,000 » All right, I'll start then. So on uh Wednesday, we I attended an annual 21 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:46,320 breakfast at Summit at Sunland Springs. They do a celebration of the first 22 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:50,960 responders. Police and fire comes in attendance there. Uh so they they host a 23 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:56,640 breakfast for all the first responders. the crews rotate through uh and get to 24 00:01:53,840 --> 00:02:02,240 meet uh uh with the folks who are at the summit and better circumstances than 25 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:07,280 they would otherwise have to attend. Uh today uh there was a big one today. So 26 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:11,280 today we met with the fire department, members of the police department. We 27 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:17,200 have a young lady in our community that we celebrated uh 16-year-old 28 00:02:14,959 --> 00:02:24,480 Leia Jackson. She taught herself CPR at the age of 10, 29 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:30,879 watching videos and practicing on a teddy bear. Uh, unfortunately, there was 30 00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:36,720 a member of the Wisconsin National Guard who was visiting our community who 31 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:42,080 collapsed. Leia went immediately into action and began CPR. I got to tell you, 32 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:48,239 if you saw this young lady, she's this tiny framed young lady and the soldier 33 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:55,760 is giant and the fact she did effective CPR uh just showed a lot of leadership 34 00:02:52,879 --> 00:03:00,560 and what it means to be in a community to to be safe because I'll tell you this 35 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:06,080 touches me in a couple ways. One, I'm a veteran of the military myself is is a 36 00:03:02,879 --> 00:03:10,800 tight-knit community. So, the fact that she took action like that, my wife is 37 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:14,159 also a veteran of the military. She grew up in Wisconsin, so we had that 38 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:18,319 connection. By the way, my wife outranked me. I'm legally obligated to 39 00:03:16,239 --> 00:03:23,360 tell you all that. It was in our wedding vows. [laughter] 40 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:27,599 Um, but you know, in addition, as a firefighter and a paramedic, uh, you 41 00:03:25,920 --> 00:03:32,720 know, I've been on many of calls like like this where no one takes action. 42 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:38,400 Maybe they called 911, but when you show up on a call and somebody's doing CPR, 43 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:43,519 you look at that and go, we have a shot at this one. And so for her to take 44 00:03:40,959 --> 00:03:48,720 action like that was absolutely 16 years old to teach herself CPR was act 45 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:55,840 absolutely incredible. Uh, Brigadier General um Brian Anderson and his entire 46 00:03:52,560 --> 00:04:00,879 command staff uh flew out from Wisconsin to present her with an award which was 47 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:04,319 absolutely fantastic. So, uh, I see Chief Camelly out here. Uh, I know that 48 00:04:02,879 --> 00:04:08,080 I think your social media has posted some photos. If you're interested in 49 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:13,200 seeing the story, I do recommend it. Uh, but it shows that that first chain in 50 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:18,400 the in the link of the link in the chain of survival is critical because we we 51 00:04:16,799 --> 00:04:23,440 and we really appreciate our own community uh, investing in our public 52 00:04:21,199 --> 00:04:27,759 safety and we see some of that today. We're going to be voting on some 53 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:32,639 communications equipment which ties in uh Lucas device which performs CPR for 54 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:38,880 our people. All of this is an investment in our community, but it starts with 55 00:04:35,280 --> 00:04:44,639 young ladies like uh Miss Johnson. So, now that I've gone way beyond my time, 56 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:49,040 who else has something? >> I'll No. Are are you ready? Okay. Um 57 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:54,000 I'll talk about a few things that happened last week, the week before 58 00:04:50,880 --> 00:05:00,240 last. I attended Arizona Forward Water Rising to the challenge. Um some and 59 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:05,280 council member Taylor was there. Was Adams there? I'm not. 60 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:12,160 » Yes. And Adams was there. Um and it was a discussion about the impending cut 61 00:05:08,639 --> 00:05:16,160 cuts um on the Colorado River. Um so it was a really um good discussion because 62 00:05:14,479 --> 00:05:23,039 the information had just been released that there's going to be cuts to our 63 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:30,080 state and our city. Um um that week also we many of us attended the 233 grand 64 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:35,120 opening on West Maine. East Maine. East Maine. I have to get used to things 65 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:39,759 opening up on the east side. So we had a big celebration for Crust, which is a 66 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:43,840 restaurant, Italian restaurant. Yes, they have pizza, but all kinds of pastas 67 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:50,400 and salads and yummy food. They have a speak easy called Night and Gale. um a a 68 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:57,199 little shop that sells uh bombolinos that sells coffees, gelato, uh bakery 69 00:05:53,680 --> 00:06:02,960 items, um Italian bakery items. Very good. And unscripted by Hyatt. And so 70 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:06,960 all of those we just had the cut the ribbon for all of those to officially 71 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:13,039 open. They've had us off opening in July, so they're officially open now. Um 72 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:20,960 the Hyatt shared with me that reservations for the first year um were 73 00:06:17,840 --> 00:06:24,400 20% off. So they were telling me even during spring training if there is a 74 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:30,560 spring training [laughter] that room um will be like under $100 a 75 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:35,759 night. So like they said but once we fill that quota we'll be done. So, it's 76 00:06:32,639 --> 00:06:40,319 a great way to stay in downtown, be acquainted to these restaurants a short 77 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:46,400 walking distance of the Mace Arts Center and the rest of downtown. I'm very glad 78 00:06:42,479 --> 00:06:54,479 to have um them on board. So, 233 East Main Street. Um on that Friday, I also 79 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:58,880 attended the 226-1 paramedic graduation. Trying to remember who was there. Were 80 00:06:56,479 --> 00:07:01,199 you there summers? No, >> no, I was. 81 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:05,759 » Okay. I think Adams was for a little while. and the mayor was there. So, the 82 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:13,120 paramedic graduation uh last week on Tuesday, I attended the 83 00:07:09,199 --> 00:07:17,840 um there was a a roundt on the road to housing bill that was passed by Congress 84 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:23,440 and these are incentives um from the federal government to increase housing 85 00:07:20,319 --> 00:07:31,039 um and ways to for cities to obtain additional CDGB dollars for affordable 86 00:07:25,919 --> 00:07:35,520 housing um in in a competitive way. So there will be information coming out on 87 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:41,120 that. The cities have not been briefed. I don't think we've received guidelines 88 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:46,800 directly on exactly how this is going to work. It's just more of an incentive to 89 00:07:43,759 --> 00:07:52,880 build more housing um 90 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:59,919 and ways that we can encourage the the building of housing. And then, oh, um, 91 00:07:56,639 --> 00:08:06,000 over the end of last week, I went to the ASU summer policy summit. ASU puts on 92 00:08:02,879 --> 00:08:10,639 the, um, Morrison Institute puts on an annual summit and talking about all 93 00:08:09,199 --> 00:08:17,759 kinds of critical issues. We talked about water, housing, 94 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:22,879 Alicia, that you were there. Um, there was a couple um, data centers. We 95 00:08:19,919 --> 00:08:26,960 talked about air quality. um there might be something else. So, it 96 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:32,000 was a day and a half of in-depth conversations from experts and 97 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:36,479 professors and industry professionals on these subjects. And over the weekend, 98 00:08:34,399 --> 00:08:40,159 there's the Mesa Film Festival in downtown at the convention center. Um 99 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:45,440 all kinds [clears throat] of independent films. This has been coming to our city 100 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:53,360 annually. I really appreciate all the work that goes into holding this event 101 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:53,360 in in downtown Mesa. That's it. 102 00:08:54,480 --> 00:09:01,200 Yeah, that was a great um public policy summit at uh that the Morrison Institute 103 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:05,040 put on for a couple of days. Good discussion on Thursday and then panels 104 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:08,320 on Friday. And I also attended on Thursday, I believe the cones with a 105 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:13,040 cop. Just wanted to give a shout out to the Chick-fil-A on Power and Mckelps as 106 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:18,320 well as Mesa Police Department for always showing up for the the community 107 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:22,560 we made and gave away free ice cream cones. So that was a big hit. So, thank 108 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:26,800 you to all the officers and Don Blake for organizing that. Amy Sailor. So, 109 00:09:25,680 --> 00:09:30,720 » Council Member Taylor. >> Yeah, 110 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:35,440 » thank you. Uh, I'm going to go back a little while. Um, at the end of July, 111 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:40,000 Council Member Duff and Mayor and I got the opportunity to visit the United Food 112 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:45,519 Bank because Niagara Bottling Company had donated, I think it was like almost 113 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:48,800 a million bottles of water for their um, million meals for the summer. So, I just 114 00:09:47,279 --> 00:09:52,880 wanted to say thank you again publicly to Niagara Bottling for being so 115 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:57,519 generous and shipping in tons of water through the United Food Bank. Also, the 116 00:09:54,880 --> 00:10:01,360 United Food Bank is a local food bank operating operating out of um the 117 00:09:59,279 --> 00:10:05,600 downtown Mesa area and they feed they have fed over a million families this 118 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:09,279 summer. So, I think that's a pretty big deal. They are a big um community 119 00:10:07,680 --> 00:10:12,880 outreach entity. It's a not for-p profofit and I encourage anybody if you 120 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:17,680 have some time you want to volunteer, they always need volunteer hands to put 121 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:22,079 their um their bags together to send out into the communities. And then I 122 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:25,680 attended the Arizona Forward Water Symposium with Council Member Duff and 123 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:28,640 Adams. Yep. I'll just mirror what Council Member Duff said. It was very 124 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:32,880 educational. We had just learned about the cap cuts and I think we're going to 125 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:36,959 continue to learn more. We haven't officially got the results, but they're 126 00:10:35,519 --> 00:10:42,160 pretty solidified at this point. just what's coming down the pipeline, no pun 127 00:10:38,959 --> 00:10:46,480 intended. Um, and then lastly, I was very excited. I attended a ribbon 128 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:50,079 cutting for um, Brookfield in my district. It's a senior care facility, 129 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:54,480 but I thought this was pretty awesome. They've been open for a while, but they 130 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:58,640 had all of their staff kind of regardless of the position that you're 131 00:10:55,839 --> 00:11:02,800 in um go through essentially a heart health certification so that when some 132 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:06,240 of the senior citizens that are there might feel like they have some chest 133 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:11,200 pains, may exhibit symptoms of having a heart issue, instead of them immediately 134 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:15,200 rushing them to the emergency room and potentially, you know, utilizing beds 135 00:11:13,279 --> 00:11:19,600 that might otherwise need to be used by somebody else, they their staff is more 136 00:11:16,959 --> 00:11:22,160 qualified to understand what are these symptoms, what are the conditions 137 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:26,640 they're coming from, and address them there on site. So, they kind of had like 138 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:30,000 a second grand opening for this very celebratory moment that everyone had 139 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:33,360 been certified at such a kind of a prestigious level. So, that was the 140 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:36,720 Brookfield in my district and I was just really proud of everybody for all the 141 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:40,880 work that they had put in to basically offer these individuals exceptional 142 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:44,320 care. And then I had the pleasure of visiting the Boeing facility which I 143 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:47,600 thought was pretty amazing and I got to see where the Apache helicopters are 144 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:51,360 made and I just >> I will not take up this entire session 145 00:11:49,279 --> 00:11:57,600 but I have to say I think my jaw was on the floor and the just the sheer process 146 00:11:54,640 --> 00:12:02,880 in the in the way that it is um articulated so perfectly and it all 147 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:07,040 happens here in Mesa. They walked me through Howard Hughes acquiring the 148 00:12:04,560 --> 00:12:10,959 land. I mean you guys it's amazing. So anyhow, I was very grateful that Boeing 149 00:12:08,959 --> 00:12:14,399 gave me the time to, you know, tour the facility and learn more about the 150 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:17,680 incredible manufacturing that's taking place there and how special it is. So 151 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:22,320 yeah, thank you. >> Absolutely. 152 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:29,760 All right. My wife just text me that I'm in trouble. Okay. Thank you, Sergeant. 153 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:33,440 Uh Mr. Butler, future meetings and absolutely. Well, it's hard to follow 154 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:37,519 that and and I know the Boeing seeing the facility is Yeah. pretty amazing. 155 00:12:35,680 --> 00:12:39,680 We're so honored to have Boeing. >> Flight. 156 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:41,120 » Oh, I'm sure I'm sure they'll take you up on that. 157 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:44,000 » Yeah, >> I'm here for you. 158 00:12:42,399 --> 00:12:48,639 » Well, speaking of things that'll keep you busy over the next few days, uh we 159 00:12:46,560 --> 00:12:52,639 uh are cancelling study session this coming Thursday morning because several 160 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:56,959 of you will be attending along with a thousand plus of your favorite elected 161 00:12:54,959 --> 00:13:01,920 officials from across the state the Arizona legacies and uh towns conference 162 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:05,760 at the Arizona Builtmore. So, uh, we will not be meeting this Thursday so 163 00:13:03,519 --> 00:13:10,639 that, uh, council can participate in that, but we'll be back here a week from 164 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:16,800 that Thursday, Thursday, August 27th for a study session that morning at 7:30. 165 00:13:13,279 --> 00:13:22,320 So, thank you, Vice Mayor. All right, that's the end of our agenda. 166 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:28,560 Is there a motion to adjurnn? Motion by council member Taylor, second by council 167 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:33,560 member Goforth. All in favor say I. >> I. We are adjourned. See you upstairs.