250923_AGEFRIENDLYPLAN MEETING MINUTES.PDF

City of Tempe — Regular City Council Meeting (2026-01-08)

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Minutes of the Age-Friendly Plan Council Subcommittee meeting held on Aug. 26, 2025, 
4:00 p.m., Hybrid Meeting - Pyle Recreation Center, 655 E. Southern Ave. and virtually 
through Microsoft Teams 
 
Members Present: 
 
 
 
 
 
Vice Mayor Doreen Garlid – Chair 
Councilmember Randy Keating 
Councilmember Nikki Amberg 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
City Staff Present: 
Mary Mezey, Deputy Director, Community Health and Human Services 
Megan Wilson, Program Manager, Community Health and Human Services 
Camden Sahlinger, Coordinator, Community Health and Human Services 
Tanya Chavez, Mayor and Council Relations Director 
Melissa Westbrook, Council Assistant 
Keaton Hill, Council Assistant 
Parrish Spisz, Council Assistant 
Kimberly Sotelo, Sr. Management Assistant 
 
Stakeholders: 
Dr. Johannah Uriri-Glover 
Lisa Zyriek 
Susan Stephenson 
 
Members of the Public: 
Brook St. George 
Paul Pascual 
 
Call to Order: 4:00 p.m. 
 
 
 
 
 
Agenda Item 1 – Public Appearances 
No public appearances 
 
Agenda Item 2 – Approve Aug. 28 Meeting Minutes 
Councilmember Keating motioned to approve minutes, Vice Mayor Garlid seconded. Minutes 
approved 3-0. 
 
 
Minutes 
Age-Friendly Plan Council Subcommittee 
Sept. 23, 2025

Agenda Item 3 – Age-Friendly Action Team Update 
Mary Mezey cited that an age-friendly community is Council’s Performance Measure 3.30 
(Achieve the Age-Friendly Community Designation for livability from AARP). The action team is 
working on updating the plan using the eight domains of livability as a framework for the plan. 
We are currently in the assessment phase. This phase includes the survey that opened Sept. 1 
and closes Sept. 30. Response has been low. The Subcommittee suggested keeping the survey 
opened an additional week or two. They also suggested more outreach to locations like 
Friendship Village and Mirabella and help with an iPad or laptop. Staff will work on implementing 
this suggestion.  
 
Megan Wilson, Community Health and Human Services Coordinator, stated that all eight 
domains will be evaluated but highlighted that the action team sees opportunities to improve the 
city’s 2024 Age-Friendly Livability Score of 51 through improvements in housing, 
neighborhoods, and transportation. Tempe’s score is higher than the national average of 48 but 
lower than Scottsdale – 53 and Tucson – 54. Boulder has a score of 63. The Committee 
recognized that there are other factors and limitations in achieving a higher score.  
 
 
Agenda Item 4 – AARP Livability Index Presentation 
Mary Mezey, Deputy Community Health and Human Services Director, provided an overview of 
the AARP Livability Index that outlines the eight domains used in the plan. These indicators give 
us a baseline for identifying our strengths, challenges, and what we can do to be proactive. It 
offers the opportunity to measure our progress and compare it nationally. 
 
Agenda Item 5 – Future Agenda Items 
Subcommittee requested a discussion on Age-Friendly Livability Goal and Category Indicators. 
 
Next meeting date: Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 4p.m.  
 
 
Meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m. 
Prepared by:   Parrish Spisz, Council Assistant, (480) 350-8599 
Reviewed by: Tanya Chavez, Mayor and Council Relations Director, (480) 858-2215