20260304 NEIGHBORHOODADVISORYCOMMISSIONMINUTES.PDF
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Minutes of the Neighborhood Advisory Commission (NAC) Meeting held on Wednesday,
March 4, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. as a hybrid meeting with in-person attendance option along with
virtual component option via Microsoft Teams platform
(MEMBERS) Present: Brandon Abrahams, Joe Caudill, Ray Devine, Jan Doughty, Gavin
Hamilton, Eric Johnson, John Kozel, Stacy Novis, Caitlin Rynn, Casey Thomas, Suri Wall
(MEMBERS) Absent: Lane Carraway, Kaylyn Smith, Joel Stern, Angie Taylor
City Staff: Shauna Warner, Neighborhood Services Director; Elizabeth Thomas, Neighborhood
Services Specialist; Keith Burke, Deputy City Manager; Diana Kaminski, Principal Planner
Community Development Planning Division; Lindsay Post, Senior Transportation Planner; Chase
Walman, Principal Transportation Planner
Guests: Diane Melrose
Agenda Item 1 – Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:32 p.m. by Chair Kozel
Agenda Item 2 – Public Comment
None.
Agenda Item 3 – Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes: February 4, 2026 Neighborhood
Advisory Commission Meeting
There was a motion to approve the February 4, 2026 minutes as presented by Commissioner Devine and
seconded by Vice Chair Caudill. The motion passed unanimously with a vote of 10 ayes.
Commission Member Ayes: Brandon Abrahams, Joe Caudill, Ray Devine, Jan Doughty, Eric
Johnson, John Kozel, Stacy Novis, Caitlin Rynn, Casey Thomas, Suri Wall
Absent: Gavin Hamilton (joined meeting at 5:45 p.m. after minutes vote), Lane Carraway, Kaylyn
Smith, Joel Stern, Angie Taylor
Agenda Item 4 – Transportation Plan 2050, Lindsday Post, Senior Transportation Planner
The Tempe Transportation Plan 2050 is a strategic document that outlines how people and goods will move
in the City. It serves as Tempe's roadmap for developing and managing the City's roads, public transit,
bicycle, rolling and pedestrian system. Following Phase 1 Existing Conditions Analysis, the Transportation
Plan 20250 update is now in Phase 2 Need and Gaps. Second public meetings were held in-person and
virtually on February 25. The survey remains open through March 18 at transportationplan2050.tempe.gov.
Outreach and engagement has been extensive and varied ranging from participation in local events like
Tempe Juneteenth Celebration, Tempe Time Machine, G.A.I.N. Kick off and Tempe Tardeada to numerous
bike clubs, community rides, pop-up tabling and presentations.
Open ended questions yielded 708 unique responses about topics like:
•
Active transportation
•
Safety
•
Transit
•
Funding/priorities
•
General (additional input)
The map attracted over four hundred unique responses.
Minutes
Neighborhood Advisory Commission
March 4, 2026
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Expected outcomes of the plan:
➢ Improved mobility and accessibility making travel across the City and region more efficient
➢ Better access to jobs, schools, healthcare, and services
➢ Increased transportation options
➢ Improved safety
➢ Environmental benefits including lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced air and noise
pollution
➢ Economic development
➢ Greater equity and inclusion
➢ Long-term resilience
➢ Planning for future growth, climate change, and new technology (e.g., autonomous
vehicles)
➢ Land use and urban design impacts
Over 60% of survey respondents drive as their primary form of transportation with transit at just
over 17%, biking at 14.5% and walking/mobility device at 4.2%. Rideshare usage is 1.5% and
carpool at 1%.
Top responses for prioritization of transportation needs:
•
Enhancing and improving bicycle travel – need more shade, lighting and better separation
from vehicles, separated on street bike lanes, signalized intersections for bikes and peds,
developing the BIKEit to be the foundation of continuous low stress bike networks, traffic-
calming bike infrastructure, safe and comfortable crossings at intersections, high speed
cooridors and freeway interchanges
•
Improving safety for all users – address missing sidewalks and connections to schools,
parks and bus stops, continuous sidewalks/off street paths, more shade, improve the
distance between safe crossing locations
•
Maintaining and improving roadways - green arrow left turns, signal timing, signalized
intersections for active transportation crossings
•
Improving transit – more destinations, bus stop amenities, improve service speed, address
the gaps between transit propensity, frequent service and destination hubs
•
Improving travel to/through key destinations - prioritize areas with highest traffic volumes,
put improvements in areas that are more disadvantaged, greatest population growth
Survey respondents have requested walkability (47%) be the primary transportation focus with
bicycle facilities (42%) and transit (34%) following.
Safety is a top priority. Dynamic online mapping documents that 53% of Fatal and Serious Injury
(FSI) crashes occur at mid-block locations with 47% of FSI crashes at intersections. Fifty percent of
intersections in the High Injury Network (HIN) are located along mid-block HIN corridors.
Phase 3 Project Recommendations and Prioritization is expected from mid-March through June
and will include ongoing internal discussions with both a Core Working Group and a Technical
Advisory Group (TAG), made up of twenty-one representatives across 11 Departments, working to
assess and draft policy statements.
Proposed Evaluation Criteria:
Traffic Safety
Transit Performance
Bike Connectivity
Pedestrian Connectivity
Equity Models (Equity Priority Zones)
Environment (Shade/Heat Evaluation Tools)
Traffic Congestion
Cost (Estimate Models)
Right-of-way
Feasibility (ROW Needs/Implementation Timeline/Utility Challenges)
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NAC Member comments and questions included:
? Regarding the need to add more shade, why did the city place cacti along a bike path on the
recent Smith Road project?
A: Existing utility locations prevented the addition of more trees. Working with neighbors to seek
out additional plantings to offer more shade.
? Why aren’t there signs for Neighborhood Circulator/Orbit stops?
A: Many are flag zones.
Many new to area residents do not even know the Neighborhood Circulators exist. There needs to
be more education and awareness of the service and the flag zones and areas and destinations of
high activity need to be identified.
A: Thank you for this comment, I will carry it forward.
Agenda Item 5 – Proposed Zoning and Development Code Text Amendments, Diana
Kaminski, Principal Planner CD - Planning
Principal Planner, Diana Kaminski, provided a brief overview of multiple proposed corrections,
clarifications, updates and modifications to the 2005 Zoning and Development Code. This process
is part of an ongoing effort to address the most frequent questions or challenges within the code for
applicants and staff.
Updates are proposed to the Sign Ordinance and to Part 3 of the Code which include items like
Permitted Land Use Tables and clarifications to accessory structures and existing two-story single-
family residences and to Part 4 of the Code with clarifications and updates to specific sections of
Development, Parking and Landscape Standards.
One example is that second story criteria were relocated because people were missing it and
overlooking mandatory requirements. Criteria for Use Permit Standards were moved to Chapter
3/Section 6-308 Applications to make it easier to find. Another example is regarding parking
standards, parking ratios did not change but tables were updated correcting prior alphabetizing
errors.
The Development Review Commission provided input to the proposed changes at their February
10 meeting and the Ordinances remain in review with City Attorney’s Office.
Expected next steps:
➢ Development Review Commission Hearing March 26, 2026
➢ City Council Introduction and First Hearing April 16, 2026
➢ City Council Second Hearing April 30, 2026
➢ Effective Date May 30, 2026
NAC Member comments and questions included:
? My old business sign remains intact 15 years after I closed the business. Is there anything I can
do to get it removed? There have been subsequent tenants after I moved out but the sign remains
the same.
A: Thank you for this inquiry. I will need to look into this question further and circle back with you.
Comment: I hope you are uploading pictures of old signs to Tempe History Museum, comes in very
handy when you need a business name and can’t recall it.
A: We have created a Commercial Table to help track these requests received that do not fit within
the Code.
There should be some sort of tie in with business licenses.
? What about school districts?
A: Code does not apply.
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? What about an existing shed? Will it be grandfathered in?
A: Setbacks have not changed, the first section of the table was simplified to clarify that 0 to 9’ tall
height structures require a 3’ setback. If existing, and permitted at time it was built, it would be
grandfathered. If never permitted, you must adhere to existing code standards.
? What about circular driveways like those off Hardy making access onto and off Hardy easier? Is
that in there?
A: Driveway can be no more than 35% of frontage.
Agenda Item 6 – Neighborhood Awards Discussion and Voting and Ratings and Voting and
Neighborhood Celebration Event Planning and Updates
Lead by Chair Kozel, staff recorded NAC member’s initial scores for each of the thirteen nominees
and members then engaged in some initial discussions, particularly regarding those nominees with
the highest overall ratings. (Staff note: Members Lane Carraway and Joel Stern were not able to
attend the meeting and had provided their ratings prior to the meeting for consideration.)
Commissioners were again reminded that beginning in 2024, NAC transitioned from multiple
separate categories to one universal, online form. Only the Neighbor of the Year category was
chosen to remain intact as a separate, specific award designation. Nominators selected a
Neighbor of the Year box on the nomination form if they wanted their nominee considered for that
honor. For all other “categories”, members discussed options and ultimately selected six honorees
to recognize at the April 11, 2026 Neighborhood Celebration and chose naming of each honor.
Neighbor of the Year
Motion: Commissioner Thomas made a motion to award Jacque Colegrove the Neighbor of the
Year Award
Second: Commissioner Novis seconded the motion
Result: The motion was approved by a unanimous vote of those present, 11 - 0
Commission Member Ayes: Brandon Abrahams, Joe Caudill, Ray Devine, Jan Doughty, Gavin
Hamilton, Eric Johnson, John Kozel, Stacy Novis, Caitlin Rynn, Casey Thomas, Suri Wall
Absent: Lane Carraway, Kaylyn Smith, Joel Stern, Angie Taylor
Community Contributor
Motion: Commissioner Rynn made a motion to award Steven Gerner the Community Contributor
Award
Second: Commissioner Devine seconded the motion
Result: The motion was approved by a unanimous vote of those present, 11 - 0
Commission Member Ayes: Brandon Abrahams, Joe Caudill, Ray Devine, Jan Doughty, Gavin
Hamilton, Eric Johnson, John Kozel, Stacy Novis, Caitlin Rynn, Casey Thomas, Suri Wall
Absent: Lane Carraway, Kaylyn Smith, Joel Stern, Angie Taylor
Community Event
Motion: Vice Chair Caudill made a motion to award Burrito League with the Community Event
Award
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Second: Commissioner Rynn seconded the motion
Result: The motion was approved by a 10-0 vote of those present with 1 abstention
Commission Member Ayes Brandon Abrahams, Joe Caudill, Ray Devine, Jan Doughty, Gavin
Hamilton, Eric Johnson, John Kozel, Stacy Novis, Caitlin Rynn, Casey Thomas
Abstention: Suri Wall
Absent: Lane Carraway, Kaylyn Smith, Joel Stern, Angie Taylor
Neighborhood Event
Motion: Vice Chair Caudill made a motion to award Maple Ash Neighborhood Circus with the
Neighborhood Event Award
Second: Commissioner Rynn seconded the motion
Result: The motion was approved by a 10-0 vote of those present with 1 abstention
Commission Member Ayes: Brandon Abrahams, Joe Caudill, Ray Devine, Jan Doughty, Gavin
Hamilton, Eric Johnson, John Kozel, Stacy Novis, Caitlin Rynn, Casey Thomas
Abstention: Suri Wall
Absent: Lane Carraway, Kaylyn Smith, Joel Stern, Angie Taylor
Community Impact
Motion: Commissioner Thomas made a motion to award Tempe Community Action Agency with
the Community Impact Award
Second: Commissioner Devine seconded the motion
Result: The motion was approved by a unanimous vote of those present, 11 - 0
Commission Member Ayes: Brandon Abrahams, Joe Caudill, Ray Devine, Jan Doughty, Gavin
Hamilton, Eric Johnson, John Kozel, Stacy Novis, Caitlin Rynn, Casey Thomas, Suri Wall
Absent: Lane Carraway, Kaylyn Smith, Joel Stern, Angie Taylor
Neighborhood Inspiration
Motion: Commissioner Devine made a motion to nominate Holly Einspahr of the Bell de Mar Block
Watch with a Neighborhood Inspiration Award
Second: Vice Chair Caudill seconded the motion
Result: The motion was approved by a 10-1 vote of those present
Commission Member Ayes: Brandon Abrahams, Joe Caudill, Ray Devine, Jan Doughty, Eric
Johnson, John Kozel, Stacy Novis, Caitlin Rynn, Casey Thomas, Suri Wall
Nay: Commissioner Hamilton
Absent: Lane Carraway, Kaylyn Smith, Joel Stern, Angie Taylor
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Agenda Item 7 – Proposed Future Agenda Items and Member Shares
Staff confirmed that the Utility Rate Study is slated for the April 1 NAC meeting.
Agenda Item 8 – Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 7:21 p.m.
Prepared by: Elizabeth Thomas