FINAL PSJ 3.11.20 Minutes.pdf

Phoenix City Council 
Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee 
Summary Minutes 
Wednesday, March 11, 2019 
City Council Subcommittee Room 
Phoenix City Hall, Assembly Rooms A, B, and C 
200 West Washington Street 
Phoenix, Arizona 
Subcommittee Members Present                    Subcommittee Members Absent 
Councilman Nowakowski, Chair 
Vice Mayor Guardado 
         
Councilwoman Williams 
Councilmember Garcia 
 
Call to Order 
Chairman Nowakowski called the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee meeting to 
order at 9:03 a.m. with Vice Mayor Guardado, Councilwoman Williams, and 
Councilmember Garcia present. 
Call to the Public 
None. 
1. For Approval or Correction, the Minutes of the Parks, Arts, Libraries and 
Education Subcommittee Meeting on April 24, 2019 
Councilwoman Williams made a motion to approve the minutes of the Feb. 12, 2020 
Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee. Vice Mayor Guardado seconded the motion 
which passed unanimously, 4-0.  
Items 2-6 were for consent action. No presentations were planned but staff was 
available to answer questions. 
2. FY 2020 Community Policing Development Microgrant  
Councilwoman Williams made a motion to approve consent items 2-6. Vice Mayor 
Guardado seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
3. Authorization to Amend Current Agreement and Payment Ordinance with the 
Arizona Criminal Justice Commission for the FY 2019 Paul Coverdell Forensic 
Science Improvement Formula Grant Program   
4. Arizona Project Sage Neighborhoods Program Grant 
 
5. Authorization to Purchase Specialized Rifles for the Airport Bureau

6. Authorization to Enter into an Agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, 
through the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, the Federal Bureau of 
Investigations, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Immigration and 
Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and the International 
Rescue Committee 
 
7. Appointment of Phoenix Municipal Court Judges 
Chairman Nowakowski began Item 7 with testimony from the public. 
 
Janet Weinstein spoke in support of Aryka Radke.  
 
Ashley Halvorson spoke in support of Mina Mendez. 
 
Manuel Silvas spoke in support of Barbara Parascandola. 
 
Wanda Wright spoke in support of Patricia George. 
 
Kara Hyland spoke in support of Mina Mendez. 
 
Vianey Kristina Hurtado spoke in support of Alex Navidad. 
 
John Phelps spoke in support of Frankie Jones. 
 
Jessica Sanchez spoke in support of Mina Mendez. 
 
Nathan Smith spoke in support of Patricia George. 
 
Adrian Ruiz spoke in support of Barbara Parascandola.  
 
Khonnie Silivongxay spoke in support of Patricia George.  
 
Gerald Richard spoke in support of David Allen and Frankie Jones. 
 
Candidate David Allen: 
 
Chairman Nowakowski asked David Allen to share information about himself. Mr. Allen 
shared background about his volunteerism, education and family. 
 
Vice Mayor Guardado asked Mr. Allen about the most challenging issue he has faced. 
Mr. Allen shared information about a previous case he prosecuted that involved his 
decision to dismiss the case. 
 
Vice Mayor Guardado asked Mr. Allen how someone on the opposing side would 
describe him. Mr. Allen stated others describe him as balanced, measured and relaxed 
in court.

Councilmember Garcia asked for an example when Mr. Allen implemented systematic 
change. Mr. Allen provided the example of when he coordinated a volunteer legal clinic 
for members of the deaf community. 
 
Councilwoman Williams asked how Mr. Allen would evaluate the current practices at the 
Municipal Court and make recommendations for improvements. Mr. Allen stated he 
would evaluate current practices and outcomes to determine the success of each 
practice assessed. 
 
Councilwoman Williams asked how Mr. Allen views a judge’s role in managing the case 
load and calendar docket. Mr. Allen stated a judge’s role is to maintain the schedule to 
achieve efficiency and ensure everyone receives a fair amount of time in court. 
 
Chairman Nowakowski asked Mr. Allen what unique skills or perspectives he would 
bring to the municipal judge bench. Mr. Allen stated the diversity of his experience 
across the legal system at the local level makes him a unique candidate for the position. 
 
Candidate Patricia George: 
 
Chairman Nowakowski asked Patricia George to share information about herself. Ms. 
George shared information about her personal background and professional experience 
developing numerous programs at the veteran’s court.  
 
Vice Mayor Guardado asked Ms. George about the most challenging issue she has 
faced. Ms. George shared information about a case she worked on with a veteran 
suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.  
 
Vice Mayor Guardado asked Ms. George how someone on the opposing side would 
describe her. Ms. George stated others describe her as fair and focused on ensuring 
individuals going through the justice system can be a supportive member of society. 
 
Councilmember Garcia asked for an example when Ms. George implemented 
systematic change. Ms. George stated her role in creating the veteran’s court and 
developing the court’s programs as an example of implementing systematic change for 
good.  
Councilwoman Williams asked how Ms. George would evaluate the current practices at 
the Municipal Court and make recommendations for improvements. Ms. George stated 
her expertise would assist in improving the court’s practices including establishing a 
more robust domestic violence court.  
 
Councilwoman Williams asked how Ms. George views a judge’s role in managing the 
case load and calendar docket. Ms. George stated the importance of a judge taking

each case into consideration in determining the appropriate amount of time needed for 
the specific situation while ensuring efficiency. 
 
Ms. George concluded her presentation by emphasizing her dedication to restorative 
justice.  
 
Candidate Frankie Jones: 
 
Chairman Nowakowski asked Frankie Jones to share information about herself. Ms. 
Jones shared background on her personal and professional experiences.  
 
Vice Mayor Guardado asked Ms. Jones about the most challenging issue she has 
faced. Ms. Jones stated the most challenging cases she has considered involve 
substance abuse due to the broader impact it has on society. 
 
Vice Mayor Guardado asked Ms. Jones how someone on the opposing side would 
describe her. Ms. Jones stated others would describe her as fair and considers cases 
thoroughly and objectively. 
 
Councilmember Garcia asked for an example when Ms. Jones implemented systematic 
change. Ms. Jones stated when she requested her staff to evaluate cases based on 
future impacts at the County Attorney’s Office.  
 
Councilwoman Williams asked how Ms. Jones would evaluate the current practices at 
the Municipal Court and make recommendations for improvements. Ms. Jones stated 
she would focus on crime data, the results before the court and community involvement 
to guide her considerations. 
 
Councilwoman Williams asked how Ms. Jones views a judge’s role in managing the 
case load and calendar docket. Ms. Jones stated a judge manages the calendar to 
achieve efficiency but must rely on their team to ensure fair access to justice. 
 
Chairman Nowakowski asked Ms. Jones what unique skills or perspectives she would 
bring to the municipal judge bench. Ms. Jones stated her diverse experience in dealing 
with felony cases has provided her with a unique perspective on how to address issues 
before reaching the felony level. 
  
Candidate Mina Mendez:  
 
Chairman Nowakowski asked Mina Mendez to share information about herself. Ms. 
Mendez shared background on her personal and professional experiences.  
 
Vice Mayor Guardado asked Ms. Mendez about the most challenging issue she has 
faced. Ms. Mendez stated the most challenging issue she faced involved a do-not-
resuscitate order for a six-month old child.

Vice Mayor Guardado asked Ms. Mendez how someone on the opposing side would 
describe her. Ms. Mendez stated others would describe her as thorough, enthusiastic 
and willing to listen. 
 
Councilmember Garcia asked for an example when Ms. Mendez implemented 
systematic change. Ms. Mendez provided the example of a case when she assisted a 
victim of domestic violence which led to the Superior Court no longer denying people 
services based on immigration status. 
 
Councilwoman Williams asked how Ms. Mendez would evaluate the current practices at 
the Municipal Court and make recommendations for improvements. Ms. Mendez stated 
her dedication to reviewing and improving customer service functions. 
 
Councilwoman Williams asked how Ms. Mendez views a judge’s role in managing the 
case load and calendar docket. Ms. Mendez stated the first obligation of a judge is to 
fairly evaluate the case in front of them but must maintain efficiency as well by relying 
on their staff. 
 
Chairman Nowakowski asked Ms. Mendez what unique skills or perspectives she would 
bring to the municipal judge bench. Ms. Mendez stated the totality of her experience 
provides a unique perspective and has allowed her to be relatable and welcoming in the 
courtroom. 
 
The Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee went on recess at 10:48 a.m. and 
reconvened at 11:03 a.m. 
 
Candidate Alex Navidad: 
 
Chairman Nowakowski asked Alex Navidad to share information about himself. Mr. 
Navidad shared background on his personal and professional experience. 
 
Vice Mayor Guardado asked Mr. Navidad about the most challenging issue he has 
faced. Mr. Navidad stated the most challenging issue he has faced involved his defense 
of a young man that was innocent but pleaded guilty to get out of prison.  
 
Vice Mayor Guardado asked Mr. Navidad how someone on the opposing side would 
describe him. Mr. Navidad stated others would describe him as a true professional with 
a calling to public service and has a collaborative nature. 
 
Councilmember Garcia asked for an example when Ms. Navidad implemented 
systematic change. Mr. Navidad stated he created an immigration advisory service for 
undocumented individuals going through immigration court.  
 
Councilwoman Williams asked how Mr. Navidad would evaluate the current practices at 
the Municipal Court and make recommendations for improvements. Mr. Navidad stated

he would collaborate with colleagues throughout the municipal court and work to 
improve the efficiencies associated with translation services. 
 
Councilwoman Williams asked how Mr. Navidad views a judge’s role in managing the 
case load and calendar docket. Mr. Navidad shared numerous ideas for implementing 
scheduling efficiencies each day. 
 
Chairman Nowakowski asked Mr. Navidad what unique skills or perspectives he would 
bring to the municipal judge bench. Mr. Navidad stated his life experience as an 
immigrant led to a unique work ethic, humility and cultural perspective that will make 
him a valuable asset to the bench. He also stated his professional experience in private 
practice has provided him with a unique perspective for the bench as well. 
 
Mr. Navidad concluded his presentation by emphasizing his dedication to public service. 
 
Candidate Barbara Parascandola:  
 
Chairman Nowakowski asked Barbara Parascandola to share information about herself. 
Ms. Parascandola shared background on her personal and professional experience. 
 
Vice Mayor Guardado asked Ms. Parascandola about the most challenging issue she 
has faced. Ms. Parascandola stated the issues that impact the community beyond the 
individual level are the most challenging, such as environmental pollution.  
 
Vice Mayor Guardado asked Ms. Parascandola how someone on the opposing side 
would describe her. Ms. Parascandola stated others would describe her as fair, 
professional, respectful and willing to listen. 
 
Councilmember Garcia asked for an example when Ms. Parascandola implemented 
systematic change. Ms. Parascandola stated she assisted with instituting that attorneys 
emphasize to witnesses that they must be truthful. 
 
Councilwoman Williams asked how Ms. Parascandola would evaluate the current 
practices at the Municipal Court and make recommendations for improvements. Ms. 
Parascandola stated she has significant experience in process improvement but would 
focus on implementing new technologies for the court to engage with the public. 
 
Chairman Nowakowski asked Ms. Parascandola what unique skills or perspectives she 
would bring to the municipal judge bench. Ms. Parascandola stated her demeanor, 
patience, empathy, diligence, competence and communication skills would make her a 
unique addition to the bench. 
 
Candidate Aryka Radke: 
 
Chairman Nowakowski asked Aryka Radke to share information about herself. Ms. 
Radke shared background on her personal and professional experience.

Vice Mayor Guardado asked Ms. Radke about the most challenging issue she has 
faced. Ms. Radke stated the most challenging issue she encountered included a case 
dealing with an individual with severe mental and physical impairments and an 
overprotective guardian.  
 
Vice Mayor Guardado asked Ms. Radke how someone on the opposing side would 
describe her. Ms. Radke stated others would describe her as fair, impartial and capable 
of running a professional and productive courtroom. 
 
Councilmember Garcia asked for an example when Ms. Radke implemented systematic 
change. Ms. Radke stated she established a community engagement protocol leading 
to greater customer satisfaction. 
 
Councilwoman Williams asked how Ms. Radke would evaluate the current practices at 
the Municipal Court and make recommendations for improvements. Ms. Radke stated 
she would review court practices from the perspective of the consumer of the court’s 
services. 
 
Councilwoman Williams asked how Ms. Radke views a judge’s role in managing the 
case load and calendar docket. Ms. Radke stated a judge needs to work with their team 
to move cases through the system as quickly and effectively as possible.  
 
Chairman Nowakowski asked Ms. Radke what unique skills or perspectives she would 
bring to the municipal judge bench. Ms. Radke stated her diverse set of experiences 
including six years as a judge, has provided her with an ability to leverage her skills that 
will be a unique asset to the court. 
 
Candidate Bob Smith: 
 
Chairman Nowakowski asked Bob Smith to share information about himself. Mr. Smith 
shared background on his personal and professional experience. 
 
Vice Mayor Guardado asked Mr. Smith about the most challenging issue he has faced. 
Mr. Smith stated the most challenging issue he faced involved considerable outside 
pressure from the public that he was able to overcome to ensure charges were not 
made without probable cause. 
 
Vice Mayor Guardado asked Mr. Smith how someone on the opposing side would 
describe him. Mr. Smith stated others would describe him as calm, reasonable and 
open to ideas.  
 
Councilmember Garcia asked for an example when Mr. Smith implemented systematic 
change. Mr. Smith stated he led efforts to assist individuals with services while they 
were in jail to prepare them for release to alleviate the frequency of reentry.

Councilwoman Williams asked how Mr. Smith would evaluate the current practices at 
the Municipal Court and make recommendations for improvements. Mr. Smith stated he 
would evaluate metrics, such as the size of dockets and case results, then determine 
which efficiencies can be implemented without reducing fairness or limiting access to 
justice. 
 
Councilwoman Williams asked how Mr. Smith views a judge’s role in managing the case 
load and calendar docket. Mr. Smith stated he has high personal accountability and 
would rely on his team to be efficient and remain on schedule.  
 
Chairman Nowakowski asked Mr. Smith what unique skills or perspectives he would 
bring to the municipal judge bench. Mr. Smith stated his diversity of experience in the 
courtroom and in the community would make him a unique addition to the bench. 
 
Rachel Frazier Johnson spoke in support of Frankie Jones and Mina Mendez. 
 
Councilwoman Williams made a motion for the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee 
to enter into Executive Session. Vice Mayor Guardado seconded the motion, which 
passed unanimously 4-0. The Subcommittee entered Executive Session at 12:18 p.m. 
 
Vice Mayor Guardado made a motion for the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee to 
return to Regular Session. Councilwoman Williams seconded the motion, which passed 
unanimously 4-0. The Subcommittee returned to Regular Session at 1:06 p.m. 
 
Councilwoman Williams made a motion for the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee 
to recommend the Phoenix City Council appoint Alex Navidad and Patricia George as 
judges of the Phoenix Municipal Court and, if a vacancy occurs within the next 60 days, 
the Subcommittee recommends Frankie Jones be appointed as Phoenix Municipal 
Judge as well. Vice Mayor Guardado seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 
4-0.  
Call to the Public  
None. 
Future Agenda Items 
Assistant City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. stated future agenda items include 
immigration enforcement, the air fleet consultant report, a neighborhood block watch 
update and a discussion on homeless court. 
Vice Mayor Guardado requested a presentation from the Block Watch Super Moms 
organization as a future agenda item.  
Adjournment 
Chairman Nowakowski adjourned the meeting at 1:11 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, 
Zack Wallace  
Management Intern