251204_CEC MEETING MINUTES.PDF

Minutes of the Community Engagement & Connection Council Subcommittee meeting 
held on Dec. 4, 2025, 4:00 p.m., Hybrid Meeting – Tempe City Hall, 31 E. Fifth St., 3rd floor 
conference room and virtually through Microsoft Teams 
 
Members Present: 
 
 
 
 
 
Vice Mayor Doreen Garlid – Chair 
Councilmember Arlene Chin 
Councilmember Nikki Amberg 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
City Staff Present: 
Rosa Inchausti, City Manager 
Eric Anderson, City Attorney 
Kara DeArrastia, City Clerk 
Keith Burke, Deputy City Manager 
Maegan Pardue, Public Information Officer 
Jared Morris, Director, IT 
Jessica Jupitus, Deputy Director, Community Services 
Shawn Wagner, Deputy Director, Community Services 
Denise Rentschler, Recreation Coordinator 
Eric Iwersen, Director, Transportation & Sustainability 
Craig Hayton, Director, Community Services 
Kris Baxter, Director, Communications & Marketing Office 
Shauna Warner, Neighborhood Services Director 
Melissa Westbrook, Council Assistant 
Quincy Carrilolo, Council Assistant 
Ty Lee, Council Assistant 
Parrish Spisz, Council Assistant 
Kimberly Sotelo, Sr. Management Assistant 
Tanya Chavez, Mayor and Council Relations Director 
Zeena Kilani, Vice Mayor Garlid Intern 
 
Stakeholders: 
Julie Kent 
Franklin Zyriek 
Suri Wall, Neighborhood Advisory Commissioner 
Lane Carraway, Neighborhood Advisory Commissioner 
Minutes  
Community Engagement & Connection Council 
Subcommittee 
Dec. 4, 2025

Gace Wombacher, Mayors Youth Advisory Commissioner 
Braden Castaneda, Mayors Youth Advisory Commissioner 
Elisa Kawam, ASU Professor of Social Work 
 
Members of the Public: 
None. 
 
Call to Order: 4:00 p.m. 
 
 
 
 
 
Agenda Item 1 – Public Appearances 
None. 
 
Agenda Item 2 – Approve Meeting Minutes from Oct. 8 and Nov. 10 
Councilmember Amberg motioned to approve the meeting minutes from the subcommittee’s 
October 8 and November 10 meetings with a second from Vice Mayor Garlid. Minutes approved 
3-0. 
 
Agenda Item 3 – Review current methods for community engagement and connection 
Shauna Warner, Neighborhood Services Director, presented the Department’s current methods 
and practices used to engage the Tempe community. With the goals outlined in Performance 
Measure 2.15, to promote Tempe values of “equitable community engagement in decision-
making processes,” a commitment to a standardize approach using the Public Involvement 
Manual (adopted in 2007), these allow for consistency in providing information to the public and 
eliciting input and feedback on a variety of projects. These projects range from planning, long-
range planning, service changes, and ordinances. The Department practices are to 
communicate with the public and set expectations on how their input will be used. Follow-up 
communication is then shared with the public after projects are completed.  
 
Many outreach tools are used: signage, surveys, mailers, door-hangers, social media posts, 
emails, project webpages, and public meetings. Translation services are provided as necessary. 
Messages are customized to the audience based on specific projects. Renters are included in 
the outreach as well. The Department is very active with Neighborhood Associations, HOAs, 
and affiliate groups. They also leverage partnerships with other organizations to optimize their 
reach into the community. The Neighborhood Grant Program, GAIN Night, Legislative Day, and 
the Awards Celebration are all a part of the Department’s community engagement efforts. 
 
Agenda Item 4 – Future Agenda Items 
Continue review of City methods for community engagement and connection. 
 
Next meeting date: Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026  
 
Meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m. 
Prepared by:   Parrish Spisz, Council Assistant, (480) 350-8599 
Reviewed by: Tanya Chavez, Mayor and Council Relations Director, (480) 858-2215