9-28 EDE Minutes.pdf

0Phoenix City Council 
Economic Development and Equity Subcommittee 
Summary Minutes 
Wednesday, September 28, 2021 
City Council Chambers 
200 W. Jefferson St. 
Phoenix, Ariz. 
Subcommittee Members Present                    Subcommittee Members Absent 
Councilwoman Laura Pastor, Chair 
         
Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari  
Councilwoman Ann O’Brien 
Councilwoman Debra Stark  
 
CALL TO ORDER 
Chairwoman Pastor called the Economic Development and Equity Subcommittee to 
order at 10:02 a.m. with Councilwomen Stark and O’Brien present.  
Councilwoman Ansari joined the meeting at 10:18 a.m.  
CALL TO THE PUBLIC 
None. 
MINUTES OF MEETINGS 
1. Minutes of the Workforce and Economic Development (WED) Subcommittee 
Meeting 
 
Councilwoman Stark made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 23, 2021 
Workforce and Economic Development (WED) Subcommittee meeting. Councilwoman 
O’Brien seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 3-0. 
CONSENT ACTION (ITEMS 2-3)  
 
Items 2-3 were for consent action. No presentations were planned, but staff was 
available to answer questions. 
Chairwoman Pastor removed Item 3 from consent action. 
Councilwoman Stark made a motion to approve Consent Item 2. Councilwoman O’Brien 
seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 3-0. 
2. Alliance for Innovation Annual Membership for the City of Phoenix

Councilwoman Stark made a motion to approve the Alliance for Innovation Annual 
Membership for the City of Phoenix. Councilwoman O’Brien seconded the motion which 
passed unanimously, 3-0. 
3. 2022 Downtown Enhanced Municipal Services Work Plan and Budget  
Deputy City Manager Ginger Spencer introduced Community and Economic 
Development Director (CED) Christine Mackay, CED Deputy Director Xandon Keating, 
and CED Program Manager Joseph MacEwan to present on the item. 
Councilwoman O’Brien asked for background on the Enhanced Municipal Services 
Work Plan.  
Ms. Mackay responded that the Enhanced Municipal Services Work Plan was created in 
1990 at the request of property owners for beautification and reinvestment to draw 
interest in redevelopment and events to their area. She explained the Downtown 
Phoenix Partnership had overseen the district for the City of Phoenix since 1990. She 
added that Downtown Phoenix Partnership’s board was made up of area property 
owners. 
Councilwoman O’Brien asked whether all property owners had a say in Downtown 
Phoenix Inc./ Downtown Phoenix Partnership.  
Ms. Mackay responded that all city of Phoenix property owners, by state statute, were 
notified of this budget and property tax each year, with meetings and minutes publicly 
posted and open to members of the public. She noted no complaints on this process 
had been received so far. 
Chairwoman Pastor called for a motion of approval. Councilwoman O’Brien moved 
approval and Councilwoman Stark seconded the motion. The motioned passed 4-0 
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION (ITEMS 4-5)  
4. Key Phoenix Economic Indicators Quarterly Report  
This item was continued to the October 27, 2021 meeting of the subcommittee. 
5. Downtown Digital Kiosks  
This item was continued to the October 27, 2021 meeting of the subcommittee. 
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION (ITEM 6-9)  
6. Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Bioscience Healthcare Strategic Initiative

Deputy City Manager Ginger Spencer introduced Community and Economic 
Development Director (CED) Christine Mackay and CED Program Manager Claudia 
Whitehead to present on the item. Ms. Mackay began by sharing information regarding 
the approval of last year’s bioscience strategic initiative. She discussed how Phoenix’s 
Bioscience Healthcare Strategic Initiative was designed to attract and retain both 
companies and talent to Phoenix to strengthen and grow the industry, with focus on: 
1. Research & Development 
2. Entrepreneurs 
3. Precision Medicine 
4. Healthcare Delivery 
5. Education 
6. Marketing  
 
Ms. Mackay noted Phoenix was now ranked fifth in the nation among Emerging Life 
Science Markets in CBRE’s 2020 Life Science Report. She then introduced CED 
Program Manager Claudia Whitehead to discuss the outcomes of last year and the 
coming year’s goals.  
Ms. Whitehead discussed the annual BIO Digital International Convention, which was 
held virtually in June. She explained the convention was the world’s largest gathering of 
BIO leaders and an important opportunity to highlight Phoenix’s bioscience industry. 
She also explained how the City deployed a multimedia bioscience communication 
strategy to tell the Phoenix bioscience story.  
Ms. Mackay discussed proposed funding to attend the BIO 2022 in San Diego, noting 
the total funding amount would be $105,000 and would have no impact on the General 
Fund. She recommended the subcommittee approve the Bioscience Healthcare 
Strategic Initiative.   
Councilwoman Stark thanked Chairwoman Pastor and Ms. Mackey for their continued 
work on the initiative.  
Councilwoman Stark motioned approval of the $105,000 for the Bioindustry Association 
membership and participation at the annual BIO International Convention. 
Councilwoman O’Brien seconded the motion. The motioned passed 4-0. 
7. Community Colleges Foundation Collide Arizona Events Programming 
Sponsorship 
Chairwoman Pastor noted a conflict of interest with this item and asked Councilwoman 
Stark to carry it.

Councilwoman Stark introduced Community and Economic Development Director 
(CED) Christine Mackay and CED Program Manager Claudia Whitehead to present on 
the item. 
Ms. Mackay gave a brief overview of the potential sponsorship with Maricopa 
Community Colleges Foundation and Venture Cafe, noting this program was being used 
in other cities across the country. Venture Café is a global network that connects 
businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities together to discuss how to grow the 
community and their businesses.   
Ms. Whitehead discussed the Collide and Venture Café programs. She noted Collide 
supported Phoenix’s Bioscience Healthcare Strategic Initiative and the Phoenix 
Biomedical Campus.  
Ms. Mackay requested approval for Founder Circle membership, costing  $50,000 per 
year for three years. She explained this membership would give Phoenix leadership on 
the Collide council and provide visibility and activation for the Phoenix Biomedical 
Campus. She noted there was no General Fund impact, with funds coming from the 
Bioscience Genomics fund.  
Councilwoman O’Brien motioned to approve the request, and Councilwoman Ansari 
seconded the motion. The motioned passed 3-0, with Chairwoman Pastor abstaining 
from the vote. 
8. Acceptance of Funds from Suns Legacy Properties LLC. 
Deputy City Manager Ginger Spencer introduced Planning and Development Director 
(PDD) Alan Stephenson and Historic Preservation Officer Michelle Dodds to present on 
the item. 
Mr. Stephenson thanked Councilwoman Ansari for her help and leadership on these 
items. He also noted the two items would require separate approvals.  
 
Ms. Dodds provided a brief history of Hotel St. James and how the Suns Legacy 
Properties LLC bought the property in 2007. She explained that in 2012 Suns Legacy 
Properties requested demolition of three-quarters of the building with plans to repurpose 
the remaining portion. She stated that in May of 2021 the Suns requested demolition of 
the remaining portion of the hotel, with demolition being completed on August 3, 2021.. 
She noted Sun Legacy Properties agreed to contribute $20,000 toward interpretive 
signage, including bricks and signage from the demolished building, and to activate the 
parking lot for activities such as food trucks and farmer markets. Ms. Dodds added that 
Community and Economic Development funds up to $30,000 were being requested for 
remaining costs.

Ms. Dodd stated the Historic Preservation Commission recommended acceptance of 
the $20,000 from the Suns Legacy Properties for the interpretive signage on August 16, 
2021, by a vote of 6-0. She explained the Historic Preservation Commission also 
recommended approval of up to $30,000 of Community and Economic Development 
department funds for the interpretive signage on August 16, 2021, by a vote of 6-0.  
 
Mr. Stephenson recommended the subcommittee approve acceptance of $20,000 of 
funds from Suns Legacy Properties LLC for interpretive signage related to the Hotel St. 
James, specifying this related to Item 8. He then recommended approval of up to 
$30,000 of Community and Economic Development Department funds for interpretive 
signage related to the Hotel St. James, specifying this motion referred to Item 9.  
 
Councilwoman Ansari motioned to approve Items 8 and 9. Councilwoman O’Brien 
seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
 
9. Approval of Community and Economic Development Funds for Interpretive 
Signage 
This item was heard with Item 8. 
 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC  
None. 
 
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 
 
Historic Preservation Impact Study (PDD) 21/21 Tourism Hospitality Advisory Board  
Disposition of City Owned Former First National Bank of Arizona Building  
Downtown Building Signage Study  
Housing Phoenix Plan Update  
RFP for Development on City-Owned Land in the Lynwood Neighborhood  
 
ADJOURNMENT 
 
Chairwoman Pastor adjourned the meeting at 10:43 a.m. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
Grant Harrison  
Management Intern