Attachment A - April 9, 2025 EDH Minutes.pdf

Phoenix City Council 
Economic Development and Housing (EDH) Subcommittee 
Summary Minutes 
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 
City Council Chambers 
200 W. Jefferson Street 
Phoenix, AZ 
Subcommittee Members Present     
 Subcommittee Members Absent 
Vice Mayor Ann O’Brien, Chair 
  Councilman Kevin Robinson 
Councilwoman Debra Stark 
Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington 
CALL TO ORDER 
Chairwoman O’Brien called the Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee to 
order at 10:12 a.m. with Councilwoman Stark and Councilwoman Hodge Washington 
present. 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC 
None. 
MINUTES OF MEETINGS 
1. Minutes of the Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee Meeting
Councilwoman Stark made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 26, 2025,
Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee meeting. Councilwoman Hodge
Washington seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 3-0.
INFORMATION ONLY (ITEMS 2-3) 
2. Naloxone Program Quarterly Update (December 2024 to February 2025)
Information only. No councilmember requested additional information.
3. Head Start Birth to Five Monthly Report - February
Information only. No councilmember requested additional information.
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION (ITEMS 4-6) 
4. Phoenix Public Library’s 2025 Summer Reading Program
Library Services Director Erin MacFarlane and Librarian IV Wendy Resnik presented
the item.
Councilwoman Stark expressed appreciation of the program. 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington stated she hopes there is greater participation in the 
program this summer. 
ATTACHMENT A

Chairwoman O’Brien highlighted the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program and 
noted that Culture passes, which grant free admission to various cultural performances 
and exhibits, available for free in the libraries. 
 
5. Mental Health Awareness Month 
Human Services Director Jacqueline Edwards presented the item. 
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington said it was important to highlight mental health, and 
said the campaign was needed and  will address stigma around seeking help for mental 
health. 
 
6. Urban Street Activation Development Codes and Retail Vacancy Rates 
Deputy City Manager Alan Stephenson, Planning and Development Director Josh 
Bednarek, Community and Economic Development Director Christine Mackay, and 
Deputy Community and Economic Development Director Xandon Keating presented the 
item. 
 
Councilwoman Stark stated while the focus on development has been to occupy the 
ground floors of buildings with retail, it needs to shift towards creating a lively and safe 
atmosphere for pedestrians in the Downtown and Midtown area. 
 
Ms. Mackay agreed the ground floor of building development should not be filled with 
solely commercial retail, but more of the space should be filled with commercial retail 
with greater activation of the ground floor space with greater level of pedestrian traffic.  
 
Councilwoman Stark said it was not realistic to occupy ground floor spaces with solely 
commercial. She also noted the importance of maintaining flexibility in what is placed on 
the ground floor spaces and ensuring safety for pedestrians. 
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington asked if there was anything the City should do to 
reduce the vacancy rate in the areas discussed in the presentation. 
 
Ms. Mackay answered there were several dense residential complexes in the process of 
development which will help reduce the vacancy rate. She said in the interim, staff will 
develop ideas for activating the area around 7th Street. Ms. Mackay added she is 
working with Mr. Stephenson to discuss with the owners of the building to create a more 
comfortable environment for pedestrians. 
 
Mr. Stephenson explained the Midtown area has seen a natural evolution of urban 
areas with standalone buildings getting redeveloped into high-rise, mixed-use 
developments. 
 
Chairwoman O’Brien asked if it is a requirement for ground floor of these buildings to be 
occupied by retail.

Mr. Bednarek answered it is not a requirement to have retail on the ground floor for 
these buildings. 
 
Chairwoman O’Brien inquired if a gym or leasing office can be placed on the ground 
floor. 
 
Mr. Bednarek said it can be. 
 
Chairwoman O’Brien asked what level of density would lead to a greater placement of 
retail on the ground floors of buildings. 
 
Ms. Mackay answered while it is difficult to point to a threshold number, the typical 
density nationwide is 36 square feet of retail per capita, while City of Phoenix has 54 
square feet of retail per capita. 
 
Chairwoman O’Brien inquired if businesses take the Phoenix Convention Center, 
Phoenix Suns, and Arizona Diamondbacks into account when deciding on where to 
locate their retail. 
 
Ms. Mackay explained there is a significant amount of activity in retail around the 
Phoenix Convention Center and downtown area when there is an event in the 
Convention Center and sports events. 
 
Chairwoman O’Brien asked what steps are needed to start and expand business in the 
downtown area. 
 
Ms. Mackay answered the entertainment district study approved by the City Council will 
give direction on how to help further expand business in the downtown area.  
 
Mr. Stephenson added the adoption of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan, and the 
Downtown Code text amendments addressed some of the challenges that existed 
around the development of the downtown area, which is the result of the Council 
providing directions on this matter for the past few years.  
 
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION (ITEM 7-8)  
7. Phoenix ToolBank Partnership 
Deputy City Manager Alan Stephenson, Deputy Neighborhood Services Director Yvette 
Roeder, Neighborhood Services Program Manager Greg Gonzales, and Phoenix 
ToolBank Executive Director Jana Ferraro presented on the item. 
 
Councilwoman Stark asked if the partnership would lead to cost savings for the City. 
 
Ms. Roeder answered the City will see cost savings and data from the partnership will 
help compile information and shed light on the cost savings from the program.

Councilwoman Stark stated this partnership will be beneficial for neighborhood 
associations that can take advantage of the program. 
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington expressed appreciation for the partnership 
established for the program. 
 
Mr. Stephenson recognized Greg Gonzales for championing the idea and forming the 
partnership with the Phoenix ToolBank. 
 
Councilwoman Stark made a motion to approve Item 7. Councilwoman Hodge 
Washington seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 3-0. 
 
8. GPEC Amendment 
Community and Economic Development Director Christine Mackay, Economic 
Development Program Manager Bryan Smith, GPEC Senior Vice President of Business 
Development Thomas Maynard, and GPEC Vice President of Corporate Development & 
Community Engagement Tim Bourcet presented on the item. 
 
Councilwoman Stark made a motion to approve Item 8. Councilwoman Hodge 
Washington seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 3-0. 
 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC  
None. 
 
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington requested an update on eviction legal services to be 
on the agenda for the next EDH meeting. 
 
ADJOURNMENT 
Chairwoman O’Brien adjourned the meeting at 11:17 a.m. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
Brian Seo 
Management Fellow