Attachment A - CSE Subcommittee Minutes June 24 2026.pdf

ATTACHMENT A
Phoenix City Council
Community Services and Education (CSE) Subcommittee
Summary Minutes
June 24, 2026
City Council Chambers
200 W. Jefferson St.
Phoenix, Arizona
Subcommittee Members Present Subcommittee Members Absent
Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington, Chair Councilwoman Ann O’Brien
Councilwoman Debra Stark
Councilwoman Anna Hernandez
CALL TO ORDER
Chairwoman Hodge Washington called the Community Services and Education
Subcommittee (CSE) to order at 10:07 a.m. with three members present.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC
None.
MINUTES OF MEETINGS
1. Minutes of the Community Services and Education Subcommittee Meeting
Councilwoman Hernandez made a motion to approve the minutes of the May 27, 2026,
Community Services and Education Subcommittee meeting. Councilwoman Stark
seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 3-0.
CONSENT ACTION (ITEM 2)
Item 2 was for consent action. No presentations were planned, but staff was available to
answer questions.
2. Request Approval to Apply for a Head Start Birth to Five Non-Federal Share
Waiver
Councilwoman Stark made a motion to approve Item 2. Councilwoman Hernandez
seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 3-0.
INFORMATION ONLY (ITEM 3 )
3. Head Start Birth to Five Monthly Report
No presentations were planned, but staff was available to answer questions.
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION (ITEMS 4-9)
4. Library Culture Pass
Deputy Library Director Karl Kendall presented on the Library’s Culture Pass. Mr.
Kendall explained library cardholders can access any Culture Pass kiosk to retrieve a

pass, giving them free entry to more than 20 cultural institutions statewide. He noted
passes may be limited to general admission or available seasonally, depending on the
institution. Mr. Kendall announced the program launched in 2013 and remains one of
Library’s most popular services, with over 18,000 passes checked out last year and
nearly 8,000 already used through May 30. He emphasized the passes are searchable
in real time through the library catalog and highlighted strong community demand for
this long-standing program.
Councilwoman Hernandez suggested staff find a way to expand the program.
Chairwoman Hodge Washington announced the reading challenge and thanked staff for
the presentation.
5. Strategies to Address Evictions
Human Services (HSD) Director Jacqueline Edwards presented eviction filing trends
from Maricopa County Justice Courts and provided an update on the City’s Eviction
Legal Services Program. She noted 766 applications since January 2025, with 436
eligible for referral, 260 incomplete and 70 ineligible. Ms. Edwards reported 67 percent
of referrals required legal representation and 25 percent of closed cases resulted in
negotiated settlements. She explained representation cases secured an average of 42
additional days for tenants to move out with back rent reduced. Ms. Edwards
announced the Maricopa County Housing Stability Stakeholder Workgroup, the Eviction
Diversion Pilot launching in August 2026 and the City’s Stability Assistance Program.
She outlined three future strategies: a preferred landlord program, a landlord risk
mitigation fund and a one-stop stabilization appointment. Ms. Edwards emphasized
funding for these programs have not yet been identified and encouraged residents in
crisis to access available resources through the City’s website.
Councilwoman Stark thanked the Vice Mayor for her efforts and stated evictions are a
county-wide issue. She shared her excitement for the Maricopa County partnership.
Councilwoman Hernandez asked if there are any outreach steps to let residents know
about the program.
Ms. Edwards explained staff sent postcards to landlords, marketed via social media,
attended community events and posted flyers in areas with high eviction rates. She
added the Housing stabilizing Stakeholder Workgroup has resource guides containing
City information.
Councilwoman Hernandez stated the one-stop stabilization plan is a great approach
and solution. She asked for more information on the City Stability Assistance Program.
Ms. Edwards replied stabilization goals will be in specific domains driven by family
needs such as housing, education, employment and budgeting.

Chairwoman Hodge Washington thanked staff for the presentation. She encouraged
staff to find funding beyond the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to continue the
program. She asked when the City Stability Assistance Program will open to residents.
Ms. Edwards replied the program will open to residents in July.
Chairwoman Hodge Washington asked why the one stop stabilization appointments are
done post-eviction.
Ms. Edwards replied the appointments are post-eviction to mitigate the services staff
can provide to families if eviction cannot be avoided.
6. Social Work Internship Program Overview
Housing Director Titus Mathew introduced the presentation and Assistant Housing
Director Aubrey Gonzalez.
Ms. Gonzalez announced for more than 20 years, the City has partnered with Arizona
State University (ASU) and Grand Canyon University (GCU) to provide accredited
Bachelor’s and Master’s field placements. She noted interns rely on the City for
supervised real-world learning in both direct practice and administrative tracks. Ms.
Gonzalez stated this partnership strengthens City capacity by supporting staff
development through supervision and evaluation responsibilities, while also improving
response times and individualized support for Phoenix residents. She added the City
welcomes additional collaboration with other educational institutions.
Deputy Housing Director Zona Pacheco stated the Library internship program began in
2025 and has connected 146 residents to services, and the Fire Department accepts up
to seven interns annually. She announced the Housing Department has had 210 interns
since 2002, with 592 households served through case management, navigation support
and community engagement. Ms. Pacheco explained interns benefit from hands-on
experience and potential job opportunities, and announced the department currently has
10 former interns on staff.
Chairwoman Hodge Washington thanked staff for the presentation and stated these
types of programs strengthen the workforce pipeline and expands the City’s ability to
serve residents.
Councilwoman Hernandez asked if staff is only working with ASU and GCU.
Mr. Mathew replied yes.
Councilwoman Hernandez asked if the participating departments have a waitlist for
interns.

Mr. Mathew stated he is unsure about other departments but the Housing department
does not have a waitlist.
Councilwoman Hernandez asked if the program poses costs to the Housing
Department.
Mr. Mathew replied there is no cost.
Councilwoman Stark thanked staff for their presentation.
7. Naloxone Program Quarterly Report
Public Health Advisor Yanitza Soto shared a quarterly update on the Citywide Naloxone
program and the launch of the opioid overdose alert system, reporting activity from
February through April 2026. She noted library branches accounted for over half of all
kits distributed, followed by Public Health and HSD. MS. Soto highlighted distribution
growth across more than 54 sites, with four new Housing sites added. She stated more
than 5,200 overdose-reversal kits were distributed this quarter, a 65 percent increase
from the previous quarter. Ms. Soto added nearly 2,000 boxes were supplied to Phoenix
shelters and the Safe Outdoor Space since the pilot began in November 2025, noting
38,785 kits have been distributed since program launch in August 2023. She
announced the annual evaluation will return to subcommittee in the fall.
Public Health Special Projects Administrator Kelli Kostizak announced the launch of the
Phoenix Opioid Overdose Alert System on May 1, 2026 explaining it is a surveillance
tool designed to detect spikes in suspected overdoses using daily data from the Fire
Department. She described how the system identifies anomalies based on historical
trends and notifies the Office of Public Health, which then sends alerts to partners. She
noted the system was developed with ASU and now partners with Oakland University.
Ms. Kostizak explained an internal secure dashboard allows approved City departments
to view alert levels and incident maps to support targeted responses. She shared the
overdose alerts are now being sent to OHS and the Community Assistance Program.
Chairwoman Hodge Washington shared she is encouraged by the expansion of
Naloxone kits to distribution sites and shared her appreciation of staff.
8. 602 Day Recap
Public Information Officer Athena Sanchez explained 602 Day was established in 2024
to celebrate Phoenix pride while supporting local businesses, based on community
feedback gathered through ZenCity. She reported the 602 Day outreach team contacted
nearly 800 businesses and organizations through in-person visits, calls, emails, social
media and neighborhood meetings. Additionally, she noted outreach included dedicated
Spanish-speaking outreach. Ms. Sanchez announced 602 Day 2026 was the largest
yet, growing from 100 participants in 2024 to more than 450 in 2026.

Deputy Communications Director Ashley Patton presented 602 Day marketing
strategies. She noted broadcast TV and radio coverage reached an estimated 10 million
viewers or listeners, while City social media platforms generated more than 500,000
views. She highlighted the use of print materials, newsletters, kiosks, digital billboards
and a brand kit shared with participants which helped achieve 75 percent positive online
sentiment. Ms. Patton announced an interactive map showcasing 130,000 page views
at the event’s website, supported by the Information Technology Services Department.
City Manager’s Office Management Assistant Shenal Hooks presented the department
and employee engagement strategies. She explained each year City departments
create engaging 602 Day events to showcase programs or new services. Ms. Hooks
highlighted participation from Library, Fire, Streets, and Parks departments. She
reported 602 Day swag helped build civic pride along with workplace events featuring
food, booths and activities. She announced planning for 602 Day 2027 is already
underway, with a goal of engaging at least 602 participants.
Chairwoman Hodge Washington shared her appreciation for the event’s contribution to
the local economy. She thanked staff, participating businesses and community partners
for their efforts.
Councilwoman Stark stated the event exemplifies why Phoenix is special.
Councilwoman Hernandez suggested the sticker packets be distributed to businesses
sooner with a uniform social media marketing template. She also suggested there be
filters added to the interactive map next year.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC
None.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairwoman Hodge Washington adjourned the meeting at 11:22 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Taniya Williams
Management Fellow