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OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
COUNCIL MINUTES
July 20, 2026
The City Council of the City of Mesa met in the Study Session room at City Hall, 20 East Main Street, on
July 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
COUNCIL PRESENT
COUNCIL ABSENT
OFFICERS PRESENT
Scott Somers
Rich Adams
Jennifer Duff
Francisco Heredia
Dorean Taylor
Mark Freeman
Alicia Goforth
Scott Butler
Holly Moseley
Jim Smith
Vice Mayor Somers conducted a roll call.
Vice Mayor Somers excused Mayor Freeman and Councilmember Goforth from the entire
meeting.
1.
Review and discuss items on the agenda for the July 20, 2026 and July 27, 2026 Regular Council
meetings.
All of the items on the agenda were reviewed among Council and the following was noted:
Conflict of interest: None
Items removed from the consent agenda: None
Councilmember Taylor reminded the public regarding agenda Item 5-a, (Levying the amount to
be collected by a secondary property tax and the rate upon each one hundred dollars
($100) of assessed valuation of property subject to taxation within the City of Mesa for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. (Citywide)), on the July 20, 2026 Regular Council agenda,
that Mesa is lowering the amount collected by secondary property tax rate from 0.8582% to 0.85%
due to the successful development expanding the tax base. She emphasized that Mesa does not
have a primary property tax or a food tax, and the City's secondary property tax funds capital
improvement bond repayments.
In response to multiple questions from Councilmember Taylor regarding agenda Item 5-b,
(Approving and authorizing the City Manager to enter a Memorandum of Understanding
with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to participate in the Safe Streets Task Force
(SSTF). (Citywide)), on the July 20, 2026 Regular Council agenda, Police Commander Jason
Study Session
July 20, 2026
Page 2
Reno explained the existing relationship that the Mesa Police Department (PD) has with the
Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and noted the new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
expands cooperation to violent crimes for the remainder of the gang unit within Mesa, providing
overtime reimbursement for investigations and four additional vehicles. He added that the MOU
does not have a specific end date and can be terminated at any time with a 30-day written notice
to the FBI. He stated if the MOU is not approved, police operations would continue unchanged;
however, the department would lose access to overtime reimbursement that the MOU currently
provides. He discussed MOUs with other federal agencies and added that the agreement
formalizes existing partnerships to improve resource sharing and efficiency. He said daily policing
operations will remain the same, with Mesa police officers continuing to be housed at Mesa
facilities and under Mesa supervision.
Councilmember Duff commented that Mesa police officers will continue performing the same work
and that the MOU expands reimbursements, deputizes additional gang detectives, and provides
more vehicles. She clarified the MOU does not involve FBI, Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE), or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) taking over local policing.
Commander Reno explained that the current FBI agreement covers two deputized detectives, a
sergeant, and three vehicles, while the new MOU expands participation to six deputized gang
detectives under a Safe Streets Task Force, a sergeant, a lieutenant, and four vehicles.
Vice Mayor Somers shared his positive experience with the FBI Citizens Academy and said the
MOU strengthens Mesa's partnership with the FBI while helping fund violent crime investigations
and prevention.
Councilmember Adams praised the Planning and Zoning staff for addressing his concerns
ensuring all seven Planning and Zoning Board members are participating in recommendations
through the use of alternate members.
Assistant Planning Director Mary Kopaskie-Brown stated the new Planning and Zoning board will
be in place on July 22, 2026.
Responding to multiple questions posed by Councilmember Taylor regarding agenda Item 6-a,
(Amending Table 1 entitled Mesa Development Impact Fees in Mesa City Code, Title 5,
Chapter 17 to remove the Public Safety Impact Fee Category column to confirm the
discontinuation of this fee. (Citywide)), on the July 27, 2026 Regular Council agenda, Office
of Management and Budget Director Brian Ritschel explained that a 2012 state law changed
impact fee requirements. He stated that Mesa chose to continue collecting impact fees at the
same rate only until eligible debt to build those public safety projects was repaid, after which the
fees automatically expired. He indicated staff are now in the process of selecting a consultant to
evaluate new impact fees under current state requirements.
City Attorney Jim Smith advised that the current code states that impact fees automatically end
upon payment of the debt.
City Manager Scott Butler emphasized that the City is actively pursuing a new impact fee study
to ensure future development pays for its own infrastructure costs, consistent with state law, so
existing residents are not burdened with those expenses.
Study Session
July 20, 2026
Page 3
2-a.
Appointments to various boards and committees.
It was moved by Councilmember Heredia, seconded by Councilmember Duff, that the Council
concur with the Mayor’s recommendations and the appointments be confirmed. (See Attachment
1)
Upon tabulation of votes, it showed:
AYES – Somers–Adams–Duff–Heredia–Taylor
NAYS – None
ABSENT – Freeman–Goforth
Vice Mayor Somers declared the motion carried unanimously by those present.
3.
Acknowledge receipt of minutes of various boards and committees.
3-a.
Planning and Zoning Study Session held on May 13, 2026.
3-b.
Planning and Zoning Public Hearing held on May 13, 2026.
3-c.
Planning and Zoning Study Session held on May 27, 2026.
3-d.
Planning and Zoning Public Hearing held on May 27, 2026.
It was moved by Councilmember Adams, seconded by Councilmember Heredia, that receipt of
the above-listed minutes be acknowledged.
Upon tabulation of votes, it showed:
AYES – Somers–Adams–Duff–Heredia–Taylor
NAYS – None
ABSENT – Freeman–Goforth
Vice Mayor Somers declared the motion carried unanimously by those present.
4.
Current events summary including meetings and conferences attended.
Vice Mayor Somers and Councilmembers highlighted the events, meetings, and conferences
recently attended.
5.
Scheduling of meetings.
City Manager Scott Butler stated that the schedule of meetings is as follows:
Monday, July 27, 2026, 5:15 p.m. – Study Session
Monday, July 27, 2026, 5:45 p.m. – Regular Council meeting
Study Session
July 20, 2026
Page 4
6.
Adjournment.
Without objection, the Study Session adjourned at 5:22 p.m.
____________________________________
SCOTT SOMERS, VICE MAYOR
ATTEST:
_______________________________
HOLLY MOSELEY, CITY CLERK
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Study Session
of the City Council of Mesa, Arizona, held on the 20th day of July 2026. I further certify that the meeting
was duly called and held and that a quorum was present.
_______________________________
HOLLY MOSELEY, CITY CLERK
lr
(Attachments – 1)
July 20, 2026
TO:
CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
FROM:
MAYOR MARK FREEMAN
SUBJECT:
Appointments to Boards and Committees
The following are my recommendations for appointments to the City of Mesa Advisory
Boards and Committees:
Planning & Zoning Board – Seven-member board with three alternate members
including new appointments.
Alexis Kay Wagner, District 6. Ms. Wagner was a program manager in the technical
training program at U-Haul. She earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in
political science from Arizona State University. She currently serves as an
alternate member and is being appointed to fill a recently vacated regular member seat.
Her partial term will expire June 30, 2027.
Study Session
July 20, 2026
Attachment 1
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