Attachment A - Jan. 31, 2024 TIP Minutes

Attachment A 
 
Phoenix City Council 
Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning Subcommittee 
Summary Minutes 
Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 
City Council Chambers 
200 W. Jefferson St. 
Phoenix, Ariz. 
Subcommittee Members Present                    Subcommittee Members Absent 
Vice Mayor Debra Stark, Chair 
         
Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington  
Councilwoman Ann O’Brien  
*Councilwoman Laura Pastor  
 
CALL TO ORDER 
Chairwoman Stark called the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning 
Subcommittee to order at 10:01 a.m. with Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington and 
Councilwoman Ann O’Brien present.  
CALL TO THE PUBLIC 
None. 
MINUTES OF MEETINGS 
1. Minutes of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee 
Meeting 
*Councilwoman Pastor joined the meeting at 10:03 a.m. 
Councilwoman O’Brien made a motion to approve the minutes of the Nov. 15, 2023, 
Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning meeting. Councilwoman Hodge 
Washington seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
CONSENT ACTION (ITEMS 2-6) 
Chairwoman Stark proposed advancing to consent action items 2 through 6, but due to 
Councilwoman Pastor's questions on items 3 and 6, those were set aside for separate 
discussion.  
2. Amend Phoenix City Code Chapter 4 Aviation Commercial Use Permit 
Consent only. No Councilmembers requested additional information.  
4. Airport Custodial and Floor Care Services Contract Award 
Consent only. No Councilmembers requested additional information.

5. Approval of Phil Gordon Threatened Building Grant 
Consent only. No Councilmembers requested additional information.  
 
Councilwoman O’Brien made a motion to approve items 2, 4, and 5. Councilwoman 
Hodge Washington seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
3. Concessions Consulting Contract Award 
Assistant Aviation Director Roxann Favors presented the concession consulting 
contract, outlining its strategy to improve concession offerings by updating existing ones 
and evaluating new concepts for financial viability and passenger appeal through two 
targeted contracts. 
Councilwoman Pastor asked about the role and purpose of concession stands within 
the initiative, underscoring their significance in creating a vibrant airport that meets 
customer needs and maximizes space utilization. 
Ms. Favors responded consultant groups evaluate concession proposals to ensure 
financial viability and alignment with airport goals, facilitating decision-making for 
updating existing concessions and introducing new ones, without directly selecting 
concessionaires. 
Councilwoman Pastor emphasized the importance of selecting contractors diligently to 
provide financial analysis, ensuring that the airport's concessions meet customer 
preferences and maximize space utilization. 
 
Ms. Favors confirmed the accuracy of these points, highlighting the strategic approach 
to concession management and improvement. 
 
Councilwoman O’Brien made a motion to approve. Councilwoman Hodge Washington 
seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
6. Approval of Historic Preservation Exterior Rehabilitation Grants 
Councilwoman Pastor expressed gratitude to City staff about grants, recognizing the 
importance of preserving history while modernizing. 
 
Councilwoman Pastor made a motion to approve. Councilwoman Hodge Washington 
seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
 
INFORMATION/DISCUSSION (ITEM 7) 
 
7. Shared Micromobility 
Deputy City Manager Alan Stephenson introduced the discussion, accompanied by 
Street Transportation Director Joe Brown and Assistant Street Transportation Director 
Briiana Velez, who presented an update on the Shared Micromobility Program and its 
potential expansion. He also welcomed representatives from Spin and Lime. 
 
Chairwoman Stark opened the floor to public comment.

Richard Hauk expressed opposition the micromobility program due to nuisances like 
improperly discarded scooters and suggested expansion should include strictly enforced 
parking corrals near bus stops and businesses. 
 
Patrick McDaniel expressed support for the expansion of the micromobility program into 
specific areas while raising concerns about its extension into equity zones and the 
accessibility of operator systems.  
 
Councilwoman O’Brien inquired for clarification regarding an increase in operations 
within an equity zone. 
 
Mr. McDaniel from Phoenix Community Alliance clarified there was a decrease in 
operations within the equity zone. 
 
Charlie Mastoloni from Lime thanked Council staff, highlighted City staff efforts in 
presentations, reaffirmed Lime's commitment to collaborating with the council to 
enhance mobility in Phoenix, and welcomed questions or discussions. 
 
Brit Moller from Spin expressed readiness for questions, thanked City staff for their 
report, and expressed eagerness to strengthen the Mobility Program in collaboration 
with the City. 
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington thanked the chair and raised concerns about the 
lower utilization rate compared to the national average, questioning if it was due to the 
24/7 availability of other programs. 
 
Mr. Brown stated the lower utilization rate to were attributed to factors like population 
density compared to other cities. He suggested improvements and emphasized the 
need for a better link to mass transit. 
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington noted a decline in usage during hotter days and 
inquired about suggestions to make the apparatuses more user-friendly during those 
times. 
 
Mr. Brown committed to reviewing and improving strategies to maintain higher usage 
numbers during summer months. 
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington raised concerns about scooter nuisances and blight 
issues, seeking solutions for safe returns as the program expands. 
 
Mr. Brown discussed strengthening regulations akin to San Diego and considering 
signage to address scooter-related issues. He suggested the possibility of implementing 
signage and discussed personal experiences with scooter-related issues, emphasizing 
the need to address the broader context, including privately-owned scooters.

Councilwoman Hodge Washington expressed concerns about the 24-hour rental 
procedure for bikes, proposing streamlined options to encourage spontaneous use. 
 
Councilwoman O'Brien sought clarification on procedures for managing scooters left in 
unauthorized areas. 
 
Mr. Moller outlined Spin’s procedure for dealing with misparked devices, aiming for a 
one to one-and-a-half-hour response time to relocate them upon receiving complaints, 
prioritizing the safety and clearance of public pathways. 
 
Councilwoman O'Brien requested data regarding the frequency of calls Spin receives 
and their response time for handling misparked devices. 
 
Mr. Moller confirmed Spin provides monthly data reports to City staff, which include 
metrics such as the number of public reports or parking relocation requests. 
 
Councilwoman O'Brien inquired whether complaints regarding misparked devices are 
directly received by Spin or if they go through the City. 
 
Mr. Moller stated complaints about misparked devices can reach Spin directly or via the 
city. Spin aims to promptly relocate these devices, typically within about an hour, 
providing photo confirmation. 
 
Councilwoman O'Brien emphasized the need for an education campaign on reporting 
misparked scooters and requested data on complaints and responses from vendors. 
She also sought clarification on how equity zones are determined. 
 
Mr. Brown explained were determined by five factors: percentage of households below 
the poverty line, median household income, percentage of households without vehicles, 
percentage of households spending over 30 percent of their income on housing, and 
percentage of people of color. 
Councilwoman O’Brien asked if the information came from the Census. 
 
Mr. Brown confirmed yes. 
 
Councilwoman O’Brien then asked if staff computed utilization rates for each equity 
zone. 
 
Mr. Brown noted some areas had over 40 percent ridership, while others had rates 
below one percent. He suggested utilization rates were likely higher in districts with 
higher ridership and clarified staff track the percentage of total use in the program rather 
than specific utilization rates for each area. 
 
Councilwoman O’Brien asked if there is an exact utilization rate for each area.

Mr. Brown clarified staff track the percentage of total use in the program. 
 
Councilwoman O'Brien questioned if eight of the areas are at one percent or lower. 
 
Mr. Brown confirmed yes. 
 
Councilwoman O'Brien added some areas are at approximately 40 percent. 
Mr. Brown confirmed yes. 
Councilwoman O'Brien inquired about the required percentage of the current fleet that 
vendors must deploy in equity zones. 
 
Mr. Brown clarified there is no requirement, but the goal is to have 15 percent of the 
current fleet deployed in equity zones. 
 
Councilwoman Pastor provided her perspective of the history of the micromobility 
program, expressing frustration with its implementation and the focus on profitability 
over equitable access. She highlighted the need to address existing issues before 
expanding the program and proposed a motion for several directives to improve its 
operation.  
 
Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua clarified the agenda item was posted for 
information and discussion rather than action. However, he emphasized that staff 
sought input from the subcommittee members to gather their perspectives. 
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington sought clarification regarding the proposed 
expansion of a two-mile radius around the light rail system. She specifically inquired 
whether the expansion would encompass the newly opened northwest extension of the 
light rail system and how it would interact with the existing zones. 
 
Councilwoman Pastor confirmed the proposed expansion would include the newly 
opened northwest extension of the light rail system. She reiterated the importance of 
maintaining equity zones within this expansion. 
 
Chairwoman Stark expressed the need for dialogue with cities like Scottsdale, which are 
more like Phoenix in terms of density, regarding their micromobility programs. She 
questioned the comparison with larger cities like Chicago and New York City. She noted 
the presence of scooters and bikes on sidewalks in Scottsdale, indicating potential 
provisions for such usage. She also raised concerns about the adequacy of three 
community meetings, particularly in her district. 
Councilwoman O'Brien expressed support for leaving the number of meetings to the 
discretion of the district Councilmember. She also advocated for seeking a different 
vendor for traditional bikes and studying expansion into the Biltmore District. Also, she 
inquired about the utilization rates of different equity zones from the vendors.

Mr. Mastoloni responded he would need to follow up with the office with the data 
requested. 
 
Councilwoman O'Brien expressed a desire for micromobility to be available in equity 
zones but also highlighted the need to address any issues hindering utilization. She 
suggested allowing vendors to offer the appropriate amount of micromobility in these 
zones and increasing it as the utilization rate rises. 
 
Councilwoman Pastor concurred, emphasizing the importance of staff analyzing the 
data to determine appropriate micromobility allocations in equity zones while 
maintaining a robust program across all areas.  
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington emphasized the importance of considering 
connectivity to other parts of the transportation system in equity zones, particularly in 
areas awaiting completion of the South-Central extension of the light rail. She cautioned 
against solely basing decisions on utilization data without accounting for differences in 
infrastructure setups. 
 
Councilwoman O'Brien expressed agreement, highlighting the potential impact of 
incomplete light rail extensions on utilization rates in certain areas.  
 
Councilwoman O’Brien asked if there were any other items Councilwoman Hodge 
Washington would like to Council staff to look at. 
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington expressed the need to understand why users in 
equity zones are not utilizing the light rail, suggesting factors such as convenience and 
weather may play a role. She called for a thorough evaluation by the department to 
determine the reasons behind this behavior. 
 
Chairwoman Stark agreed with Councilwoman Hodge Washington's suggestion, 
proposing the city collaborate with the micromobility providers to gather additional 
insights on the factors affecting usage in equity zones.  
 
Mr. Stephenson acknowledged the importance of considering user rates and other 
factors impacting equity zones. He mentioned as part of staff’s plan for September, they 
would present their evaluations and potential changes for discussion, subject to the 
direction of the subcommittee. 
 
Chairwoman Stark inquired if they could proceed with considering the addition of those 
areas without a formal motion, or if there was a need for one. 
 
Mr. Stephenson stated staff can proceed with incorporating most of the provided 
directions into their plan and outreach efforts and will request formal Council approval 
when necessary.

Councilwoman O'Brien requested details on sidewalk riding feasibility in different areas 
and urged quicker action on expanding the two-mile radius and extending operating 
hours, suggesting a more phased approach for implementation. 
 
Chairwoman Stark agreed and emphasized the need for careful analysis, noting the 
differing traffic conditions in various areas such as Scottsdale. 
 
Mr. Stephenson sought clarification on the hours of operation, asking whether 
expanding to 4 a.m. should only apply to existing boundaries or also to expansion 
areas. He emphasized the need for clarity on the subcommittee's direction. 
 
Councilwoman O'Brien expressed her support for expanding the hours of operation 
within the current contract. 
 
Councilwoman Pastor advocated for a pilot program to assess the feasibility of a 24/7 
operation, emphasizing the importance of capturing various data metrics to inform future 
decisions. 
 
Mr. Stephenson proposed conducting a pilot program within existing boundaries to 
collect data and assess the viability of a 24/7 operation. 
 
Councilwoman O'Brien confirmed the plan to conduct a pilot program within the current 
contracted area. 
 
Mr. Stephenson suggested a six-month duration for the pilot program, noting the 
importance of including the summer months for assessment. 
 
Chairwoman Stark agreed with the proposed pilot program duration, noting that it would 
cover part of the summer months. 
 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC  
Diane Barker expressed concerns about accessing an event at the DoubleTree Hotel 
due to not being allowed to access the event that had been publicly posted for a 
potential Council quorum, emphasizing the need for accurate event announcements 
and respectful treatment of citizens. 
 
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 
Councilwoman Pastor proposed a future agenda item to study traffic patterns from 15th 
or 19th Avenue to 7th Street, possibly extending to 16th Street, focusing on the core 
area, and neighboring districts to assess the impact of new developments and the 
impact on reverse lanes. 
 
ADJOURNMENT 
Chairwoman Stark adjourned the meeting at 11:23 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, 
 
Kat Consador 
Management Fellow