Attachment A - 4.8.26 EDA Minutes.pdf

Attachment A 
 
Phoenix City Council 
Economic Development and Arts (EDA) Subcommittee 
Summary Minutes 
April 8, 2026 
City Council Chambers 
200 W. Jefferson St. 
Phoenix, Arizona 
Subcommittee Members Present                    Subcommittee Members Absent         
Councilwoman Ann O’Brien, Chair 
Councilwoman Laura Pastor  
Councilman Kevin Robinson 
Councilwoman Debra Stark 
 
CALL TO ORDER 
Chairwoman O’Brien called the Economic Development and the Arts (EDA) to order at 
10:05 a.m. with four members present.  
CALL TO THE PUBLIC 
None. 
MINUTES OF MEETINGS 
1. Minutes of the Economic Development and the Arts Subcommittee Meeting 
Councilwoman Stark made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2026, 
Economic Development and Arts Subcommittee meeting. Councilwoman Pastor 
seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
CONSENT ACTION (ITEM 2) 
Item 2 was for consent action. No presentations were planned, but staff were available 
to answer questions. 
2. Arizona Department of Economic Security Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund 
Grant and Advanced Manufacturing Employer Contracts 
Councilwoman Stark made a motion to approve Item 2. Councilwoman Pastor 
seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION (ITEM 3) 
 
3. Downtown Phoenix Entertainment District Implementation Plan

Assistant City Manager Ginger Spencer shared the item was continued from the 
previous meeting and asked for the item to be withdrawn and brought back at a later 
date to give staff time to do additional stakeholder engagement. Chairwoman O’Brien 
asked Assistant City Attorney David Benton if the item is withdrawn the speaker would 
not be heard.  
 
Mr. Benton replied yes. 
Councilwoman Pastor asked to make a motion to withdraw the item and recommended 
it be brought back in May.  
Chairwoman O’Brien stated staff would need more time.  
Ms. Spencer explained the motion is to withdraw the item today and staff understands 
the Council’s request to bring the item back. She reiterated staff would need more time 
to do the additional work necessary.  
Councilwoman Pastor explained this item has been delayed with high expectations for it 
to be presented in April. She explained it is a high priority item, and she is hoping it will 
be here in May. 
Councilwoman Pastor made a motion to approve withdrawing the item. Councilman 
Robinson seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION (ITEMS 4-6)  
Chairwoman O’Brien informed Subcommittee members and staff that Item 5 
Opportunity Zones Guidance will be taken out of order. 
5. Opportunity Zones Guidance 
Councilwoman Stark shared because of the Opportunity Zone (OZ) the Paradise Valley 
Mall area was designated as an OZ and now an IKEA is there, which brings in sales tax.  
Ms. Spencer introduced Community and Economic Development Director Ryan Touhill 
and Research Manager Jasmin Lombera to present. 
 
Mr.Touhill updated the Subcommittee on the Federal OZ program. He explained the 
Federal Government has issued new guidance on the program and requires the City to 
establish a new OZ map. He stated staff will outline the process to select OZ’s which 
will be brought forward for Formal Council action in April.  
 
Ms. Lombera shared in 2017, the Jobs Act established the Federal OZ Program, which 
provides tax incentives to investors who reinvest into Qualified Opportunity Funds. She 
explained 42 qualified census tracts were designated as OZ’s in Phoenix and the tracts 
must meet the Federal criteria: a poverty rate higher than 20 percent; Median Family 
Income (MFI) at or below 80 percent of the Metropolitan Statistical Area; or up to five 
percent of tracts could be designated if they were adjacent to a tract that was less than 
or equal to 25 percent of the MFI. Ms. Lombera shared examples of development in or

adjacent to OZ’s such as the Mack Innovation Park and Union Apartments at Roosevelt. 
She announced the 2027 OZ 2.0 Program requires the State to re-nominate up to 25 
percent of eligible tracts and Phoenix is expected to submit 33 eligible tracts.  
Mr. Touhill presented the review process with Phase One being identification and 
analysis of eligible census tracts, Phase Two being City Council briefings to finalize the 
33 qualified tracts and Phase Three being City Council approval of the new OZ map at 
the April 22, 2026, Formal Meeting, which will be submitted to the State by the May 8, 
2026 deadline to the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) .  
Councilman Robinson asked if the Council should engage their districts to gather input 
from the community.  
Mr. Touhill replied staff encourage the Council to engage the community and staff can 
help facilitate those discussions.  
 
Councilwoman Stark shared she had the chance to look at the OZ’s in District 3 and 
would like to touch base with the landowners. 
  
Councilwoman Pastor shared there are 10 or more OZ’s in District 4 and she will not be 
able to get to all of those by April 22, 2026. She asked if she cannot engage all of those 
10 communities by April 22, 2026, if the item could be pushed to May.  
 
Mr. Touhill replied, if staff misses the April 22 deadline, then they would miss the 
deadline to submit the OZ map to the ACA and offered to assist with outreach.  
Councilwoman Pastor asked for the deadline.  
Mr. Touhill replied May 8, 2026.  
Ms. Spencer explained the presentation today is to provide an update on the guidance 
received and staff will consult with City Council to confirm their selected OZ areas. She 
emphasized there are two Formal Council meetings remaining before the May 8 
deadline, one being April 22 and one being May 6.  
Councilwoman Pastor pointed out there are a number of things happening in the 
community such as the Food Ordinance and Budget Hearings. She questioned if the 
May 6 meeting will require City Council to approve the list and then submit. She 
explained Council may need additional time to engage stakeholders.  
Ms. Spencer stated staff will do all they can to make April 22 work if not May 6 to give 
Council and staff enough time to meet the May 8 deadline.   
Chairwoman O’Brien thanked staff for the presentation and agreed they do not want to 
miss the deadline. She reiterated Councilwoman Pastor’s concern with the amount of 
community engagement happening at this time and will appreciate staff assistance with 
retrieving stakeholder feedback.

4. Upcoming Events and Programs at Cultural Organizations 
Arts and Culture Interim Director Carrie Brown introduced the item and provided an 
update on the cultural facilities funded by the General Fund and General Obligation 
(GO) Bond. She noted the facilities shown on the slide are funded and managed by the 
Office of Arts and Culture.  
Jami Kozemczak presented on the investment into community engagement volunteer 
opportunities, and philanthropy events held at Ballet Arizona.  
Kate Wells listed statistics the City makes possible. She indicated the Phoenix 
Children’s Museum hosted 360,563 visitors, 623 volunteers, and 38,792 field trips. Ms. 
Wells shared expansion of the Museum with the assistance of GO Bond funds and 
expected completion in 2027. She explained the expansion will include a full-service 
pre-school, early literacy center, eight to ten new exhibits and seven reimagined 
favorites.  
Jeremy Mikolajczak presented the demographics of visitors from the Phoenix Arts 
Museum, which model the Maricopa County Index. He announced the museum has 
awarded over $1 million to local Arizona artists and programs for internationally 
recognized artists. Mr. Mikolajczak noted collaborative methods with national partners 
and the Sister Cities programs. He announced upcoming renovations of the Asian Wing 
and Family Center this fall, as well as the hosting of Nike Form Follows Motion in 2027 
which is an international museum exhibition dedicated to Nike.  
Nicole Armstrong-Best shared the Phoenix Arts Museum is different in being operated 
by the City. She announced the Harmony: Balancing Past and Present fundraising 
event on April 18 which is an immersive Sonoran Desert experience to taste, learn, and 
connect to the site of the Ancestral Sonoran Desert People. Additionally, she 
announced the Indigenous Identity Exhibit, opening this fall, and repurposing exhibits 
using a satellite approach to travel exhibits to other locations such as the South 
Mountain Visitor Center, City Hall and the airport.   
Shonna James shared the Shemer Art Center operates out of a historic home and 
focuses on supporting and showcasing Arizona artists through education and 
experiences. Ms. James explained the Center holds 11 exhibitions every year including 
the New Horizon High School exhibition which showcased the top two exhibitions from 
over 46 high schools across the valley. She shared the Center also hosts five festivals 
every year and will host the Expansion and Legacy Campaign of Martha Shemer this 
year. Ms. James specified the center has raised over 75 percent of its goal for the 
campaign.   
Councilwoman Stark shared one of her constituents dreams of having a Sesame Street 
exhibit, noting one of the show’s creators was born in Phoenix and the creator’s 
grandfather, a former Mayor of Phoenix, established the City’s first professional Fire 
Department.

Councilman Robinson asked Ms. Kozemczak about their upcoming event. 
Ms. Kozemczak confirmed an event would be held that upcoming Friday at the Desert 
Botanical Garden.  
Councilman Robinson asked Ms. James about their upcoming event.  
Ms. James stated Valley in Bloom would be held in the next few weeks in partnership 
with Desert Botanical Garden.  
Councilman Robinson asked Ms. Wells about the Children Museum’s upcoming 
fundraiser.  
Ms. Wells explained the gala will be in November and the Museum is bringing in the 
Daniel Tiger Traveling Exhibit of the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh from September 
to January.  
Councilman Robinson acknowledged Ms. James efforts with preservationists and a 
homeowner, which resulted in the Al Beetle Exhibit on Shermer Center grounds and 
preservation of parts of the home. He thanked the directors for their work.  
Councilwoman Pastor thanked the presenters, and shared arts and culture brings life to 
the community. She recalled a previous experience where worked on programs that 
brought museums to public schools and designed curriculum tied to experiences.  
Chairwoman O’Brien thanked Ms. Brown for bringing everyone together and highlighted 
the movement to children and adults with Parkinson’s disease, her tour with Ms. Wells, 
and the pre-school’s impact. She praised Phoenix Art Museum’s visitor demographics 
and noted she would encourage District 1 residents to visit the Museum. Councilwoman 
O’Brien highlighted the historical preservation of the indigenous community and shared 
she looks forward to attending the upcoming events.  
6. Phoenix Economic Overview and Update: Part 3 – Land, Real Estate, and 
Economic Geography 
Mr. Touhill introduced part three of the Economic Development Series focused on land, 
real estate and geography. He shared Phoenix is one of the few major cities with 
available and developable land. Mr. Touhill shared the tools to support growth include 
transit-oriented policies, partnerships, and General Obligation Bond investments.  
Community and Economic Development Deputy Director Xandon Keating presented the 
capacity of land availability and growth. He emphasized the City has shifted from a 
reactive growth model to targeting key industries and investments, which shifted the 
City for long term competitiveness. Mr. Keating noted the 16 percent population 
increase since 2010 which demands jobs and services. He explained development 
strategies include greenfield development and infill redevelopment. Mr. Keating noted 
those development strategies focused on walkability, housing, entertainment and

community spaces. He highlighted Park Central, Paradise Valley mall, and the 
Metrocenter as examples of mixed-use development.  
Mr. Touhill stated the department is focused on building great places including mixed-
use and walkable environments. He shared the developments improve quality of life for 
residents through housing, jobs, and entertainment. Mr. Touhill also mentioned sales 
tax as a fiscal benefit. 
Chairwoman O’Brien expressed her appreciation for the presentation and the work 
being done.  
CALL TO THE PUBLIC  
None. 
 
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 
Councilwoman Pastor requested the Entertainment Land District be presented by June.  
 
Councilwoman Stark requested to hear from the Science Museum in September.  
 
ADJOURNMENT 
Chairwoman O’Brien adjourned the meeting at 11:16 a.m. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
Taniya Williams  
Management Fellow