Attachment A - Nov. 15, 2023 TIP Minutes

Attachment A 
 
Phoenix City Council 
Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning Subcommittee 
Summary Minutes 
Wednesday, November 15, 2023 
City Council Chambers 
200 W. Jefferson St. 
Phoenix, Ariz. 
Subcommittee Members Present                    Subcommittee Members Absent 
Councilwoman Debra Stark, Chair 
         
Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington 
Councilwoman Ann O’Brien  
Councilwoman Laura Pastor   
 
CALL TO ORDER 
Chairwoman Debra Stark called the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning 
Subcommittee to order at 10:03 a.m. with Councilwoman Ann O’Brien, Councilwoman 
Laura Pastor, and Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington present.  
MINUTES OF MEETINGS 
1. Minutes of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee 
Meeting 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington made a motion to approve the minutes of the Oct. 
18, 2023, Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning meeting. Councilwoman O’Brien 
seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
INFORMATION ONLY (ITEMS 2-4) 
2. Metro, Regional Public Transportation Authority and Maricopa Association of 
Governments Meetings 
Information only. No councilmember requested additional information. 
3. Citizens Transportation Commission Meetings 
Information only. No councilmember requested additional information. 
4. Freeway Program Update 
Information only. No councilmember requested additional information. 
There were two e-comments on this item with one opposed and one with no position.

INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION (ITEM 5) 
5. Parks and Recreation Master Plan 
Parks and Recreation Director Cynthia Aguilar introduced the Parks and Recreation 
Master Plan presentation. 
Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Martin Whitfield provided an overview of the 
Master Plan project. 
Parks and Recreation Special Projects Manager Felicita Mendoza presented strategies 
for engaging the community and city stakeholders. She also introduced the future 
Master Plan website and informative video. 
Chairwoman Stark opened the item for public comment. 
Jerry Van Gasse supported the item and asked for the Master Plan’s cost. 
Ms. Aguilar mentioned staff is finalizing the contract and expects the cost to be around 
$800,000 to $900,000, with confirmation pending by the end of the year. 
Mr. Van Gasse asked for the funding source. 
Ms. Aguilar answered it was the Phoenix Parks and Preserve Initiative Program (3PI). 
Timothy Sierakowski stated his opinion that 3PI funds cannot be used for the Master 
Plan and questioned if the plan covers 10 or 25 years. 
Ms. Aguilar said the Master Plan was for 10 years. 
Mr. Sierakowski questioned why the plan was limited to 10 years, asserting it was not a 
Master Plan. 
Chairwoman Stark referenced working on a General Plan being updated every 10 
years. She supported the 10-year duration, citing compliance with state law. 
Jessica Dobbs discussed Cholla Trail improvements and requested improved 
accessibility for the Master Plan website due to difficulty in finding it. 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington expressed concern about maintenance and staff. 
Ms. Aguilar highlighted the Master Plan's role in assessing park amenities and 
conditions.  
Councilwoman Hodge Washington stated she was able to find the website and inquired 
about the outreach scope. 
Ms. Aguilar stated it was a soft launch for the website and staff plan to officially launch it 
in early 2024, promoting it extensively on social media and in communities.

Councilwoman Hodge Washington inquired about the feedback collection process, 
referencing a survey on the website. 
Ms. Aguilar mentioned monthly data collection and staff will keep City Council and the 
website updated with information. 
 
One e-comment was received in support of the item. 
 
6. Text Amendments to Phoenix Zoning Ordinance Work Plan 
Deputy City Manager Alan Stephenson introduced the Text Amendments to Phoenix 
Zoning Ordinance Work Plan presentation. 
Planning and Development Deputy Director Tricia Gomes provided an overview of the 
Text Amendment Work Program. 
Chairwoman Debra Stark suggested considering consultants to expedite projects, 
particularly for the electric vehicle charging text amendment, which also helps 
addressair quality and lighting concerns. 
Planning and Development Director Josh Bednarek stated staff would look at that and 
stressed the value of internal staff and the need for meaningful discussions with 
stakeholders.  
 
Chairwoman Debra Stark stated the need to expedite electric car initiatives due to air 
quality concerns.  
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington proposed streamlining processes by consolidating 
related subjects to stay ahead proactively. 
 
Mr. Bednarek stated staff will create priorities, such as partnering across initiatives, 
departmental reorganization, and incorporating council and stakeholder feedback to 
optimize efficiency. 
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington advocated prioritizing housing initiatives for summer 
2025 and requested accelerating its consideration. 
 
Chairwoman Stark expressed support to consolidate categories. 
 
Councilwoman O'Brien asked about vacancies in the Planning and Development 
Department, including those related to text amendments. 
 
Mr. Bednarek stated he did not have an exact number and there is no dedicated staff 
solely overseeing text amendments.  
 
Mr. Stephenson noted projects were prioritized project over text amendments due to 
staffing shortages, leading to a backlog. 
Councilwoman O'Brien sought confirmation that text amendments were deprioritized.

Mr. Stephenson confirmed amendments were deprioritized. 
 
Councilwoman O'Brien sought clarification on whether the staff is now able to address 
text amendments. 
 
Mr. Stephenson confirmed increased staff capacity is expediting work.  
 
Councilwoman O'Brien inquired about department vacancies. 
 
Mr. Bednarek confirmed several vacancies and active recruitment is ongoing.  
 
Mr. Stephenson noted the vacancy rate reported previously was 18 percent.  
 
Councilwoman O'Brien acknowledged the department's work and City growth. She 
expressed concern about the seven-year timeline, using housing and storefronts in 
2027/2028 as an example.  
 
Councilwoman Pastor advocated for more streamlined initiatives. She called for her 
colleagues help to fill vacancies and highlighted swift action on multifamily parking and 
accessory dwelling units due to the state legislature. She recommended reevaluating 
text amendments and emphasized faster community input, especially regarding lighting 
and signs.  
 
Chairwoman Stark stated she will consult with her colleagues, gather comments, and 
rework the plan for a review in a few months. She expressed concern about the final 
timeline date of 2030. 
 
Mr. Stephenson noted two general fund-supported positions dedicated to working on 
text amendment existed prior to the Great Recession but not any longer. 
 
Councilwoman O’Brien asked why text amendment positions must be budgeted in the 
General Fund. 
 
Mr. Stephenson stated text amendment positions are budgeted in the General Fund 
since the Development Fund must be allocated for staff involved in permit-related work.  
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington inquired about the percentage breakdown of time 
dedicated to creating the text amendment, public outreach, and revisions. 
 
Ms. Gomes replied approximately 50 percent of the process involves public outreach.  
 
Chairwoman Stark requested sharing a flow chart to understand and facilitate the 
passage of text amendments. She acknowledged potential shared challenges with sign 
ordinances in other cities but stressed the need to address and resolve the issues to 
initiate processing promptly.

CALL TO THE PUBLIC  
Jerry Van Gasse discussed a 13-year-old Parks and Recreation Master Plan by the 
same consulting firm, highlighting unmet goals within the allocated two years. 
 
Timothy Sierakowski requested staff stop using 3PI funds for the Master Plan and 
advised staff to seek legal validation through his attorneys. He also proposed a 
dedicated 3PI website for transparent monthly spending updates. 
 
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 
None. 
 
ADJOURNMENT 
Chairwoman Stark adjourned the meeting at 11:07 a.m. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
Kat Consador 
Management Fellow