Attachment A - Draft 5.3.23 CCI Minutes.pdf

Phoenix City Council 
Community and Cultural Investment (CCI) Subcommittee 
Summary Minutes 
Wednesday, May 3, 2023 
City Council Chambers 
200 W. Jefferson St. 
Phoenix, Ariz. 
Subcommittee Members Present     
 Subcommittee Members Absent 
Councilwoman Betty Guardado, Chair     
Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari 
Councilwoman Debra Stark 
Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington 
CALL TO ORDER 
Chairwoman Guardado called the Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee 
to order at 10:04 a.m. with Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari, Councilwoman Kesha Hodge 
Washington, and Councilwoman Debra Stark present.  
Chairwoman Guardado welcomed Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington to CCI. 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC 
Jerry Van Gasse distributed copies of a blight complaint he filed with the Neighborhood 
Services Department on April 19, 2023. He encouraged the staff to collaborate with the 
City of Tempe to preserve and improve Papago Park.  
MINUTES OF MEETINGS 
1. Minutes of the Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee Meeting
Vice Mayor Ansari motioned to approve the minutes of the April 5, 2023, Community 
and Cultural Investment Subcommittee meeting. Councilwoman Stark seconded the 
motion, which passed unanimously, 4-0.  
CONSENT ACTION (ITEMS 2-6) 
2. 2023-24 Housing and Urban Development Consolidated Plan Annual Action
Plan
Consent only. No Councilmember requested additional information. 
3. Annual Community Development Block Grant Public Service and Public Facility
Grant Awards
ATTACHMENT A

Consent only. No Councilmember requested additional information. 
 
4. 2023-24 Neighborhood Services Department Housing Rehabilitation Programs 
 
Consent only. No Councilmember requested additional information. 
 
5. 2023-24 Community Development Block Grant Neighborhood Economic 
Development Programs 
 
Consent only. No Councilmember requested additional information. 
 
6. 2023-24 Community Development Block Grant Neighborhood Enhancement 
and Infrastructure Programs 
 
Consent only. No Councilmember requested additional information. 
 
Vice Mayor Ansari motioned to approve consent items 2-6. Councilwoman Hodge 
Washington seconded the motion, which passed unanimously, 4-0.  
 
INFORMATION ONLY (ITEM 7) 
 
7. Head Start Birth to Five Monthly Report - March 2023 
 
Information only. No Councilmember requested additional information. 
 
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION (ITEMS 8-9) 
 
8. Strategies to Address Homelessness Plan Update 
 
Deputy City Manager Gina Montes introduced Office of Homeless Solutions Director 
Rachel Milne, Neighborhood Services Director Spencer Self, and Assistant Housing 
Director Aubrey Gonzales. Ms. Montes also acknowledged the following people who 
were in attendance: Darlene Newson, former executive CEO with the United Methodist 
Outreach Ministries, Bill Morlan from the Madison Pioneers Coalition, and Jerome 
Parker with the Healthy Giving Council.  
 
Ms. Milne provided the outcome of the City’s strategies to address homelessness as 
recommended by the appointed task force, including outreach and resources, shelter, 
housing, and neighborhoods. Ms. Milne reported that 71 percent of the 
recommendations had been completed or are in ongoing phases, while 18 and 11 
percent are in the progress and planning phases, respectively. 
 
Chairwoman Guardado asked which Council district are the homeless shelter beds.

Ms. Milne replied that Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) and the Human 
Services Campus – Respiro are located in District 7, while the Washing Relief Shelter 
and the CBI – Rio Fresco Hotel Conversion shelter are in District 8.   
 
Chairwoman Guardado asked to name the Council districts with future development of 
shelter beds.  
 
Ms. Milne answered future shelter beds will be located at the City-owned lot with sprung 
structures and non-congregate shelters in District 7 and the Lutheran Social Services - 
I-Help is in all districts. She also noted the locations of the following shelters: CASS - 
the Haven in District 5; CBI – North Mountain Healing Center in District 3; and St. 
Vincent de Paul - Ozanam Manor II, UMOM – New Day Center and Salvation Army are 
all in District 8.       
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington asked if the Qualified Vendor List the City uses to 
contract with new shelter and heat relief projects is open to new inquiries. 
 
Ms. Montes replied that the vendor list is not open at this time.   
 
Ms. Gonzales discussed strategies to address homelessness and the need for 
affordable housing, including preserving housing units, identifying non-governmental 
sources, and convening housing experts to evaluate the City-owned parcels.    
 
Chairwoman Guardado noted the list of City-owned properties suitable for development 
into affordable housing was published three years ago. She asked how many Requests 
for Proposal (RFP) solicitations have gone out to vendors and the number of parcels 
ready to be built.    
 
Ms. Gonzales answered staff had released one RFP and additional releases are 
planned.  
 
Chairwoman Guardado questioned why only one RFP was released, given it has been 
about three years since Council approved the list.   
 
Ms. Montes replied she understood the urgency of the housing issue and that staff are 
working diligently to coordinate with Council offices and the community to ensure the 
release of additional RFPs. 
 
Chairwoman Guardado emphasized the need to expand affordable housing projects 
throughout the City to find lasting solutions for the homeless crisis.       
 
Councilwoman Stark suggested staff look into what nonprofit organizations are doing 
with respect to housing projects.

Vice Mayor Ansari asked Ms. Gonzales to clarify what it means to create or preserve 
50,000 housing units.  
 
Ms. Gonzales stated creating would be the construction of new housing units while 
preserving could come in different forms, such as the Neighborhood Services 
rehabilitation program and funding rehabilitation projects. 
 
Vice Mayor Ansari asked about the breakdown of newly created and preserved housing 
units. 
 
Ms. Gonzales replied as of March 2023, 29,627 were created or maintained towards the 
City’s goal of developing 50,000 homes by 2023. Of those in the affordable category, 
1,845 were housing units created, while 3,242 were preserved. 
 
Mr. Self discussed the City’s resources to help impacted neighborhoods, public safety 
plans, private property cleanup, and gated alley programs.     
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington asked how many shelter beds the City expects to 
have by the end of the year. 
Ms. Milne answered staff anticipates having about 400 beds before the end of the 
calendar year.    
Councilwoman Hodge Washington inquired about developing a structured campground 
safe outdoor space.   
 
Ms. Milne replied the project is still being discussed 
 
Vice Mayor Ansari highlighted the importance of building more affordable housing units. 
She asked about the barriers to implementing the City’s shelter beds in the plans.   
 
Ms. Milne responded it is mostly staffing resources for the builders and the time it takes 
to construct new shelters.   
 
Vice Mayor Ansari inquired about the internal process for evaluating potential sites to 
house unsheltered individuals.    
 
Ms. Milne replied it is mostly capacity and affordability.  
 
Chairwoman Guardado asked Planning and Development Director Joshua Bednarek to 
discuss the City’s housing initiative regarding the usage of Accessory Dwelling Units 
(ADUs) as an affordable housing option. 
 
Mr. Bednarek responded staff is coordinating with the Village Planning committees to 
review a new ADUs draft language. He added staff had studied various ADUs adopted

across Arizona and noted that some of the languages used in those have yet to result in 
many ADUs being developed. He stated staff hopes legislation will be adopted before 
the end of the session that aligns with the planned ADU duplexes and triplexes text 
Amendment.    
 
Chairwoman Guardado asked to be briefed on what the City plans to propose with 
respect ADUs.   
 
Mr. Bednarek replied he would be scheduling briefings with Mayor and Councilmembers 
on this matter. 
 
Chairwoman Guardado commented on the City’s Housing Voucher Program, noting that 
it does not meet the level of needs. She asked about the City’s plan for housing 
vouchers.  
 
Ms. Montes replied staff would look into this issue. 
 
9. Vacant Property Registry 
 
Deputy City Manager Gina Montes introduced Neighborhood Services Director Spencer 
Self and Neighborhood Services Deputy Director Anamaria Ortega. Ms. Ortega 
discussed item 9, noting common problems related to vacant properties, including blight 
vegetation, litter debris, trespassing, and vandalism. 
 
Mr. Self presented a new framework that requires commercial properties with 10,000 
square feet or more and residential properties with 50 or more units to register if vacant 
over 30 days.  
 
Councilwoman Stark noted she had recently been in the Desert Ridge area and 
observed various vacant parcels in state-owned land and homeless encampments. She 
asked how the City plans to address that issue.    
 
Mr. Self replied the new framework and the code enforcement process will help address 
some of those issues.  
 
Ms. Montes added state-owned vacant properties might require a separate process, but 
staff will work with the commissioner over state land to examine the City’s authority to 
take action on those properties.      
 
Vice Mayor Ansari inquired about the City’s policy toward private properties left 
unoccupied or idle for an extended period.  
 
Mr. Self responded the City does not have such a policy, but staff would explore it with 
the Law Department.

Councilwoman Hodge Washington asked if the vacant property’s new framework can be 
extended to infill lots.  
  
Mr. Self replied staff would be looking to find appropriate ways to address those issues.   
 
Chairwoman Guardado commented on the former Village Inn vacant property located 
on the 27th Avenue and Northern Avenue intersection.    
 
Mr. Self answered the Village Inn was a problematic vacant property for many years 
until the City took action through code enforcement, resulting in abatement and 
demolition.                
  
Chairwoman Guardado asked if staffing resources are still an issue for the 
Neighborhood Services Department.       
 
Mr. Self responded yes.  
 
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION (ITEM 10) 
 
10. Proposed Code Enforcement Policy Updates 
 
Deputy City Manager Gina Montes introduced Neighborhood Services Director Spencer 
Self to discuss item 10. Neighborhood Services Deputy Director Anamaria Ortega gave 
an update on the City’s Code Enforcement Policy, including simplifying the pre-
notification letter, the definition of recidivism to 12 months, and clarifying exceptions 
regarding episodic and egregious violations. Mr. Self provided an update on the 
Statement of Intent and the timeline of Notice of Ordinance Violation re-inspection.                              
 
Chairwoman Guardado motioned to approve item 10 to recommend City Council 
approval of staff-recommended changes to the Neighborhood Services Department 
code enforcement policy based on the annual review. Vice Mayor Ansari seconded the 
motion, which passed unanimously, 4-0.   
 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC  
None. 
 
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington requested a revised list of housing opportunities.   
 
ADJOURNMENT 
Chairwoman Guardado adjourned the meeting at 11:39 a.m. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Yusuf Dirow, Management Fellow