Attachment A - EDA Subcommittee 09.10.25 Minutes.pdf

Phoenix City Council 
Economic Development and the Arts (EDA) Subcommittee 
Summary Minutes 
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 
City Council Chambers 
200 W. Jefferson St. 
Phoenix, Arizona 
Subcommittee Members Present 
     Subcommittee Members Absent    
Vice Mayor Ann O’Brien, Chair       
  Councilman Kevin Robinson 
Councilwoman Debra Stark 
Councilwoman Laura Pastor 
CALL TO ORDER 
Vice Mayor O’Brien called the Economic Development and the Arts Subcommittee to order at 10:07 
a.m. with Councilwoman Laura Pastor present. Councilwoman Debra Stark attended virtually.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC 
None. 
MINUTES OF MEETINGS 
1. Minutes of the Economic Development and the Arts Subcommittee Meeting
Councilwoman Stark made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 12, 2025, Economic
Development and the Arts Subcommittee meeting. Vice Mayor O’Brien seconded the motion which
passed unanimously, 2-0.
Councilwoman Pastor abstained from voting on the June 12, 2025, meeting minutes as she was not 
present at the subcommittee meeting. 
CONSENT ACTION (ITEMS 2-4) 
Items 2-4 were for consent action. No presentations were planned, but staff were available to answer 
questions.  
2. One Stop Operator Services Contract – RFP-CED25-OSO-Request for Award
Consent only. No Councilmember requested additional information.
3. 2026 Downtown Enhanced Municipal Services District Work Plan and Budget
Consent only. No Councilmember requested additional information.
4. Maricopa Community College Foundation’s Venture Café Events Programming Sponsorship
Amendment
Consent only. No Councilmember requested additional information. Councilwoman Pastor declared a
conflict of interest on item 4.
ATTACHMENT A

DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION (ITEM 5) 
5. Fiscal Year 2025-26 Bioscience Healthcare Strategic Initiative 
Community and Economic Development Deputy Director Nathan Wright and Program Manager 
Claudia Whitehead presented the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Bioscience Healthcare Strategic Initiative. 
 
Councilwoman Stark noted that Phoenix had gained a strong recognition in the bioscience industry 
internationally. Councilwoman Stark voiced her support for this item.   
Councilwoman Pastor expressed interest in whether the MindCrowd study could expand to explore 
how neurodivergent brains in youth, such as those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder 
(ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), develop over time. She emphasized supporting 
associations are essential to advancing research needed to proactively address and combat the 
diseases we face today. 
Vice Mayor O’Brien thanked Nathan Wright and Claudia Whitehead for their presentation, and she 
expressed her support for this item. 
Vice Mayor O’Brien highlighted Arizona’s rapid growth in the life sciences sector, noting it now ranks 
second in the nation for job growth in the field and eighth for the economic impact of clinical trials. 
She noted that roughly 80 percent of the state’s clinical trials take place in Phoenix, where 
groundbreaking treatments are being developed. Vice Mayor O’Brien emphasized the importance of 
continued global engagement, such as participation in BIO and BIO International, to maintain 
Phoenix’s competitive edge and attract high-paying bioscience jobs. 
Vice Mayor O’Brien made a motion to approve the item. Councilwoman Pastor seconded the motion 
which passed unanimously, 3-0. 
 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC  
None. 
 
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 
Councilwoman Stark suggested an update on the activities of the Sister Cities program, including 
potential plans to establish new sister cities in Africa. Councilwoman Stark noted TSMC as one of the 
most significant success stories but highlighted that many other initiatives were helping to raise 
Phoenix’s international profile. 
 
ADJOURNMENT 
Chairwoman O’Brien adjourned the meeting at 10:38 a.m. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
Dayana Rosas 
Management Fellow