Attachment A - Oct. 6, 2021 CCI Minutes

Attachment A  
 
Phoenix City Council 
Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee 
Summary Minutes 
Wednesday, October 6, 2021 
City Council Chambers 
200 W. Jefferson St. 
Phoenix, Ariz. 
Subcommittee Members Present                    Subcommittee Members Absent 
Councilwoman Betty Guardado, Chair 
        Vice Mayor Carlos Garcia  
Councilwoman Debra Stark 
Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari  
 
CALL TO ORDER 
Chairwoman Guardado called the Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee to 
order at 10:02 a.m. with Councilwomen Ansari and Stark present.  
CALL TO THE PUBLIC 
None. 
MINUTES OF MEETINGS 
1. Minutes of the Land Use and Livability Subcommittee Meeting 
Councilwoman Stark made a motion to approve the minutes of the May 19, 2021, Land 
Use and Livability Subcommittee meeting. Councilwoman Ansari seconded the motion 
which passed unanimously, 3-0. 
CONSENT ACTION (ITEMS 2-7)  
Items 2-7 were for consent action. No presentations were planned, but the staff was 
available to answer questions.  
Councilwoman Stark motioned to approve the Consent Action Items. Councilwoman 
Ansari seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 3-0. 
2. Amendment to Consolidated Plan Citizen Participation Plan 
3. Neighborhood Stabilization Program Action Plan Amendment  
4. 2022-23 Consolidation Annual Action Plan Process  
5. Household Hazardous Waste at Home Services

6. Annual Application for Arizona State Library’s State Grant-In-Aid (SGIA) Funds 
Chairwoman Guardado called on Maria Staubs for public comment 
Ms. Staubs asked how these funds were reaching out to minority communities. 
City Librarian Rita Hamilton explained the funds would combat illiteracy in underserved 
neighborhoods.  
Chairwoman Guardado asked Ms. Hamilton if she had a list of focus areas.  
Ms. Hamilton said she did not have a list available but could provide the committee with 
one. 
Ms. Erickson stated that she could follow up with Ms. Staubs as well. 
Councilwoman Stark added that the staff report noted the funds would go to libraries in 
council districts 5,7, and 8. 
Ms. Staubs followed up by asking if there was a process for how the funds were being 
allocated.  
Ms. Hamilton said staff used school literacy data to determine funding allocations. 
7. Authorization to Request a Carry Over of Head Start Birth to Five Grant Funds  
INFORMATION ONLY (ITEMS 8-11)  
8. Head Start Birth to Five Monthly Report-July 2021 
Information only. No Councilmember requested additional information. 
9. Head Start Birth to Five Monthly Report-August 2021 
Information only. No Councilmember requested additional information. 
10. Head Start Birth to Five Self-Assessment Report 
Information only. No Councilmember requested additional information. 
11. Read on Phoenix Initiative 
Information only. No Councilmember requested additional information.  
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION (ITEM 12-13)  
12. 2022/23 CDBG Public Service/Public Facility Process  
Neighborhood Services (NSD) Director Spencer Self gave a brief introduction about the 
Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG) and its goal to provide public

services that promote equity for vulnerable residents. Mr. Self introduced NSD Deputy 
Director Wathsna Sayasane. 
Ms. Sayasane described the process by which nonprofit organizations could apply for 
funding for facility improvements that serve low and moderate-income families in 
Phoenix. She explained the program priorities were reflective of the five-year 
consolidation plan, annual action plan, feedback from residents and the Mayor’s 
Community Development Review Community. Ms. Sayasane detailed the RFP timeline 
and funding award process. 
Mr. Self requested subcommittee approval of the CDBG 2022-23 Public Service and Public 
Facility RFP process. 
Councilwoman Ansari asked Mr. Self how many organizations would be supported by 
the funds. 
Mr. Self stated funding typically supported 12 to 14 public service awards and three 
facility awards.  
Councilwoman Ansari motioned to approve the item. Councilwoman Stark seconded the 
motion which passed unanimously, 3-0. 
13. Rental Rehabilitation Program Project reward 
Neighborhood Services Director (NSD) Spencer Self explained that Council approved 
funds last year to expand the rehabilitation rental program as a goal of the Housing 
Phoenix Plan.. Mr. Self announced the first recommended award from that process. 
Then Mr. Self introduced NSD Deputy Director Kimberly Dickerson.  
Ms. Dickerson explained that the rental rehabilitation program was funded with 
Community Development Block Grant funds (CDBG). She detailed the terms of the loan 
program, including income and fair market rent requirements and limits on rent 
increases. She explained the program addressed neighborhood blight and helps to 
preserve existing structures. Ms. Dickerson then provided details on the first project 
award, located on Roeser Road,  
Mr. Self requested that the subcommittee approve the expanded rental rehabilitation 
project.  
Councilwoman Stark expressed support for the program. 
Chairwoman Guardado commented on the impact of the program on the community.  
 
Councilwoman Stark made a motion to approve the item. Councilwoman Ansari 
seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 3-0. 
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION (ITEMS 14)

14. Strategies to Address Homelessness Plan Update  
Chairwoman Guardado announced multiple departments would speak on this item, 
starting with Deputy City Manager Gina Montes.  
Ms. Montes announced that presenting with her would be Housing Director Titus 
Matthew, Human Services Director Marchelle Franklin, and Neighborhood Services 
Director Spencer Self. In addition, Ms. Montes wanted to acknowledge Lisa Glow with 
Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) and stated she would be available to answer 
questions about Project Haven. 
Ms. Montes provided an overview of the Strategies to Address Homelessness Plan and 
the creation of a task force for its implementation. She explained the plan addresses 
factors that influence homelessness and impacts to neighborhoods. She indicated the 
task force began work in January 2020 and was finalizing recommendations to be 
brought to City Council later this year.  
Mr. Matthew recapped the goal of the Housing Phoenix Plan of persevering or creating 
50,000 homes by 2030. Mr. Matthew gave an update on the permanent supportive 
housing portion of the Housing Phoenix Plan. He discussed the Landlord Incentive 
Program and its retention of 999 landlords since their inception. Mr. Matthew also 
discussed additional federal grant and housing voucher awards.  
Ms. Franklin discussed new positions created to support homelessness initiatives in the 
downtown area. She discussed a pilot program with local nonprofits and the Salt River 
Project to assist residents experiencing homelessness, including the recently approved 
Phoenix Works, in which program participants will conduct landscaping and cleanup 
throughout the city. Ms. Franklin also discussed the mental health, substance abuse, 
and other health services included in the plan, noting heat maps would be used to 
determine the greatest areas of need within the city. She noted efforts to screen 
individuals for Medicaid eligibility and the expansion of the civilian-based Community 
Assistance Program. She also discussed new Emergency Solutions Grant funds for 
organizations to provide emergency shelter, repaid rehousing, and homelessness 
outreach and prevention. Finally, Ms. Franklin discussed Project Haven, which provides 
housing and supportive services to seniors and those vulnerable to contracting COVID-
19.  
Mr. Self then discussed Community Development Block Grant funding awards to 
Community Bridges (CBI) and CASS to increase the availability of emergency shelter 
beds. He indicated CASS’s purchase of the Phoenix Inn would add 200 emergency 
shelter beds, while the award to CBI would allow it to add 50-70 beds. He also 
discussed remaining funding options, such as the creation of a new shelter facility.  
Mr. Matthew discussed the Council's approval to support the United States Veterans 
Initiative (U.S. Vets) with the voluntary acquisition and sale or lease of a vacant hotel 
within Council District 1. Mr. Matthew indicated U.S. Vets took over the property on Aug.

1 through an operating lease with the City and would be making renovations and 
updates to the property in coming months. He added case management and job skills 
training would be provided to residents once the renovations were complete. 
Ms. Montes discussed the City’s collaboration with the Maricopa Associations of 
Government (MAG) on a regional response to homelessness. She noted its focus on 
short and long-term strategies and that the plan was still being finalized. She also 
documented regional efforts to develop transitional housing and other services.  
Chairwoman Guardado opened the floor for public comment. 
Jeff Spellman commented that his neighborhood was excited to receive the first small, 
specialized shelter. He thanked Chairwoman Guardado and Deputy City Manager 
Montes for their hard work.  
Caroline Lobo discussed homelessness issues in the Hatcher Road corridor in 
Sunnyslope, the history of social services provided in the area, and the need for quality-
of-life improvements. She indicated CBI had not reached out to the community and 
noted her desire to engage with them. She requested that a new shelter not be placed 
in Sunnyslope. 
Cynthia Graber stated the community was not taken into consideration when planning 
the move of Saint Vincent de Paul from Sunnyslope to Northwest Phoenix. She also 
stated that Sunnyslope did not need a shelter but more and improved housing. She 
expressed opposition to the CBI shelter in Sunnyslope.  
Nadine Alauria discussed the impacts of homelessness on the Sunnyslope community 
and expressed opposition to another shelter being located there. She stated other areas 
in Phoenix needed to share service provider locations equitably. 
Chairwoman Guardado thanked the speakers for their comments and moved to 
councilmember comments.   
Councilwoman Stark stated she wanted CBI to reach out to the community and wanted 
to thank the task force for their continued work. She asked about a timetable for the 
Community Assistance Program (CAP).  
Deputy City Manager Inger Erickson called on Deputy City Manager Ginger Spencer to 
answer the question.  
Ms. Spencer said she would return to the City Council with a full update on CAP at the 
Oct. 26 City Council Policy Session.   
Councilwoman Ansari expressed gratitude to the task force, Chairwoman Guardado, the 
partnership with U.S. Vets, and staff for their efforts. She then asked Mr. Self about his 
preference on how to spend the remaining CDBG funds.

Mr. Self answered that he would support any action that the City Council would take and 
that he would like to meet with each council member about potential options.  
Ms. Montes added that she would like to give a more detailed briefing on the options at 
a later subcommittee date.  
Councilwoman Ansari asked whether any of these project facilities dealt with addiction 
issues. 
Ms. Franklin responded with two of the facilities addressed substance abuse issues.  
Chairwoman Guardado asked Lisa Glow to the table. She asked Ms. Glow to walk 
through the community engagement process. 
Ms. Glow responded by saying the organization had tried to be as transparent as 
possible with the community. They conducted tours of the facilities for members of the 
public.  
Chairwoman Guardado commented on the importance of community input. She 
discussed the program’s success and how it might be expanded to assist more of the 
community. 
 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC  
None. 
 
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 
This item was discussed.   
ADJOURNMENT 
Chairwoman Guardado adjourned the meeting at 11:07 a.m. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
Grant Harrison 
Management Intern