Attachment A - Dec. 16, 2025 CSE Minutes.pdf

Attachment A 
 
Phoenix City Council 
Community Services and Education (CSE) Subcommittee 
Summary Minutes 
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 
City Council Chambers 
200 W. Jefferson St. 
Phoenix, Ariz. 
Subcommittee Members Present                           Subcommittee Members Absent         
Chairwoman Kesha Hodge Washington 
Vice Mayor Ann O’Brien                
Councilwoman Anna Hernandez 
Councilwoman Debra Stark 
 
CALL TO ORDER 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington called the Community Services and Education 
Subcommittee (CSE) to order at 10:02 a.m. with Councilwoman Stark and Vice Mayor 
O’Brien present. Councilwoman Hernandez joined the meeting in person at 10:08am. 
 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC 
None. 
MINUTES OF MEETINGS 
1. Minutes of the Community Services and Education Subcommittee Meeting 
Councilwoman Stark made a motion to approve the minutes of the November 18, 2025 
Community Service and Education Subcommittee meeting. Vice Mayor O’Brien 
seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 3-0. 
CONSENT (ITEM 2) 
2. Request Approval of the Head Start Birth to Five Child Care Reporting Policy 
No presentations were planned, but staff was available to answer questions. 
 
Councilwoman Stark made a motion to approve the minutes of the November 18, 2025 
Community Service and Education Subcommittee meeting. Vice Mayor O’Brien 
seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 3-0. 
INFORMATION (ITEMS 3-4)

3. Head Start Birth to Five Monthly Report – October 2025 
No presentations were planned, but staff was available to answer questions. 
4. Naloxone Program Quarterly Report (August – October) 
No presentations were planned, but staff was available to answer questions. 
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION (ITEMS 5-7)   
5. Housing Department Wi-Fi and Digital Initiatives 
Assistant Housing Department Director Aubrey Gonzalez, Deputy Housing Department 
Director Angela Duncan, and Housing Department Manager Courtney Anderson 
presented this item. 
Director Gonzalez spoke about the Housing Department’s Phoenix Housing Connect 
program and ConnectHome program history. 
Ms. Duncan spoke about the importance of digital access for the community including 
for students’ education, remote work, and access to essential services. Ms. Duncan 
shared affordable internet, accessible devices, and digital skills training were core 
components of the Phoenix Housing Connect program. She spoke about the 
department’s partnership with the Institute of Digital Inclusion Acceleration (IDEA) for 
The Hive digital learning centers. Ms. Anderson also highlighted the partnership with 
Cox Communities which connected over 37,000 households to in-home internet service. 
Ms. Anderson shared additional program information about The Hive digital learning 
centers created in partnership with IDEA, such as one-on-one technology assistance 
and training, technology programming for 3D printing and virtual reality, and internet 
safety classes. 
Director Gonzalez shared information on upcoming milestones such as expanding 
device distribution.  
Councilwoman Stark thanked staff for their work on senior-focused digital literacy 
program. 
Vice Mayor O’Brien thanked staff for their work and expressed support for continuation 
of the programs. 
Councilwoman Hernandez thanked staff for their work and mentioned the importance of 
internet connectivity in the community. 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington thanked staff for their work on the Phoenix Housing 
Connect program and noted that programs to install home internet had helped students 
improve grades.

6. Memory Café Update 
Human Services Department Director Jacqueline Edwards and Assistant Human 
Services Department Director Tracee Hall presented this item. 
Director Edwards shared information on programs offered by the Human Services 
Department’s Senior Programs Division, including Senior Center activities such as 
Memory Café. 
Ms. Hall shared information about the Memory Café program including its history, staff 
training, classes, and program outcomes. Ms. Hall explained Memory Cafe is a program 
to offer support and activities for seniors experiencing memory loss and dementia. Ms. 
Hall provided information on program attendees, highlighting the growth in attendees in 
2025 compared to 2024. She also spoke about the program’s funding through the 
Human Services Department budget after the rest of American Rescue Plan Act 
(ARPA) funding was utilized by December 2024.  
Vice Mayor O’Brien asked what plans have been made for program continuation since 
ARPA one-time funding was spent by December 2024. 
Director Edwards stated the Memory Cafe program was integrated into the 
department’s Senior Programs Division budget to continue the program at Senior 
Centers with existing budget. 
Vice Mayor O’Brien asked if fees assist in covering program costs. 
Director Edwards confirmed that, yes, the fees have helped. 
Councilwoman Stark thanked staff for their work.  
Chairwoman Hodge Washington asked for more information on the memory screening 
that is conducted and what resources participants are referred to. 
Ms. Hall shared that staff are trained to detect early signs of dementia during memory 
screenings they conduct with participants, and that participants are connected with city 
and community resources to assist with any other needs, including medical issues. 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington thanked staff and highlighted the importance of early 
memory screening. 
7. Phoenix Public Library 2026 – 2029 Strategic Plan 
Library Services Director Erin MacFarlane presented this item. 
Director MacFarlane shared information on how the Library Strategic Plan was 
developed, including creating a new mission statement and engaging with the 
community through surveys, focus groups, poster engagement, and interviews. Director

MacFarlane shared the results from community engagement were used to organize the 
department's strategic plan into four pillars: respond to the evolving needs of the 
community, champion better collections and better access, create inspiring spaces, and 
to inspire thriving minds and embrace lifelong learning. 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington asked how the Library Services Department ensured 
there was feedback from underserved communities and library non-users to develop the 
strategic plan. 
Director MacFarlane responded there were 500 non-user survey responses intentionally 
included. Director MacFarlane also shared that the department hosted focus groups 
with marginalized and underserved members of the community, such as with individuals 
sheltered with St. Vincent de Paul to ensure the department received feedback from 
unsheltered individuals.  
Ginnie Ann Sumner spoke in support of this item and expressed interest in her 
community alliance’s partnership with Saguaro Library. 
Vice Mayor O’Brien thanked staff for their work and asked for examples of possible 
steps taken to address the first pillar of the strategic plan. 
Director MacFarlane answered that pillar one, could be addressed by working with 
partners to provide services like hiring social workers to address the complex needs of 
some library users. 
Vice Mayor O’Brien thanked staff for acknowledging the needs of community members 
that go beyond basic library services and for creating partnerships to meet these 
additional community needs. Vice Mayor O’Brien asked what concrete steps can be 
taken to address pillar two. 
Director MacFarlane answered one step to address pillar two was to identify areas 
where additional libraries are needed in the community. Director MacFarlane highlighted 
the Book Mobile to help address library service needs for some communities, such as 
access to books. 
Vice Mayor O’Brien inquired about plans to expand College Depot to other library 
branches outside of Burton Barr Library. 
Director MacFarlane highlighted College Depot is currently hosting programs at different 
libraries due to construction at Burton Barr Library. Director MacFarlane shared that 
College Depot expansion has been discussed with the budget in mind. 
Vice Mayor O’Brien asked what might be most challenging to implement the strategic 
plan and how City Council offices can assist.

Director MacFarlane shared receiving direction from City Council offices on what to 
prioritize and focus on would provide helpful guidance.  
Vice Mayor O’Brien thanked staff for the presentation. 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington thanked staff for the presentation and highlighted that 
the numerous survey responses received shows how critical libraries are for the 
community. 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington highlighted the importance of access to libraries.  
 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC  
None. 
 
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 
None. 
 
ADJOURNMENT 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington adjourned the meeting at 11:00 a.m. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Cecilia Alcantar-Chavez 
Management Fellow