FEDERAL AND STATE ADVOCACY REVIEW COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE – APRIL 27, 2026 MEETING MINUTES.PDF
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Minutes of the Federal and State Advocacy Review Council Subcommittee meeting held on April 27, 2026 at 11 a.m., Hybrid Meeting- Tempe City Hall, 31 E. 5th St. 3rd Floor Large Conference Room and virtually through Microsoft Teams. Members Present: Councilmember Nikki Amberg – Chair Vice Mayor Doreen Garlid City Staff Present: Jonathan Shuffield, Director, Government Relations Keaton Hill, Council Assistant Melissa Westbrook, Council Assistant Jared Morris, Director, Information Technology Shelly Seyler, Deputy Director, Transportation Brianne Fisher, Sustainability Division Manager Chase Wallman, Principal Transportation Planner Vanessa Lopez, Council Assistant Quincy Carrillo, Council Assistant Ty Lee, Council Assistant Keith Burke, Deputy City Manager Lisette Camacho, Deputy City Manager/CFO Eric Anderson, City Attorney Eric Iwersen, Director, Sustainability & Transportation Dr. Jacqueline Webster, Deputy Director, Community Health & Human Services – Social Services Jessica Jupitus, Deputy Director, Community Services – Library Services Wydale Holmes, Director, Strategic Management and Innovation Alex Jovanovic, Deputy Director, Community Services – Parks Kimberly Sotelo, Senior Management Assistant Tim Burch, Director, Community Health & Human Services Ryan Levesque, Deputy Director, Community Development – Planning Shawn Wagner, Deputy Director, Community Services – Recreation Tanya Chavez, Director, Mayor and Council Relations Minutes Federal and State Advocacy Review Council Subcommittee April 27, 2026 Stakeholders/Members of the Public: Don Jongewaard, AZDC Consulting Deb Zajac Agenda Item 1 – Call To Order Meeting called to order at 11:03 a.m. Agenda Item 2 – Public Appearances No comments. Agenda Item 3 – Approval of March 24, 2026 Meeting Minutes Vice Mayor Doreen Garlid motioned to approve the March 24, 2026 meeting minutes and Councilmember Amberg seconded. Minutes approved. Agenda Item 4 – Municipal Priorities Presentation: Regional Transportation, Transit, Sustainability, and Infrastructure Funding Eric Iwersen, Director of Transportation and Sustainability, opened with an overview of Tempe’s municipal and federal grant landscape, emphasizing the strong connection between sustainability and transportation through efforts like urban cooling, Rain to Roots, and expanded shade. He noted that these initiatives are largely grant-funded, with the City seeing strong success in securing outside resources. Brianne Fisher, Sustainability Division Manager, highlighted the City’s mix of active grants and those still in development. A central funding source is the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECB), which has provided $236,650 across multiple cycles. While traditionally used for municipal buildings, Tempe is piloting expanded uses, including energy equity programming and a mobile home retrofit pilot for 15 units. These upgrades include structural repairs, foundation improvements, insulation, and air sealing, paired with data tracking to evaluate energy savings and the return on investment. The City is also advancing resilience planning through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s grant: Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities efforts. This includes a microgrid feasibility study to identify priority sites and define service continuity during outages. Regionally, the Maricopa Association of Governments is leading a long-term electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure study to guide future development over the next 30 years. Vice Mayor Garlid emphasized the need for proactive planning with consultants, staff, and stakeholders to identify gaps and opportunities. The City’s broader portfolio includes multiple United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants, a Department of Transportation (DOT) Thriving Communities award, and MAG funding for EV planning, while a $10 million Environmental Protection Agency Climate Pollution Reduction Grant application was not selected. Staff are increasing outreach to better leverage funding, though county funding remains limited. Federal formulas often favor colder climates, but Rep. Stanton and Arizona’s Federal Senators are working to better account for extreme heat, alongside advocacy from the National League of Cities. At the state level, the Governor's Office of Resiliency is a key partner, while the Arizona Corporation Commission plays a major but complex role in utility decisions. The Salt River Project advisory board and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality EV oversight also contribute to implementation and planning. Chase Walman highlighted that shifting federal priorities influence which projects move forward, then summarized key transportation investments. Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ)-funded projects — including Kyrene/Roosevelt/Farmer (improving crossings over Baseline to Kiwanis Park), Country Club Way, Grand Canal, Scottsdale Road bike lanes, 8th Street Streetscape, and Information Technology (IT) upgrades — focus on multimodal connectivity and air quality, and are funded through Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG). Work at Clark Park was briefly delayed due to an archaeological discovery requiring coordination with four Southern Native American tribes but is now nearing completion. Shelly Seyler noted that while federal grants cover most costs, required matches and long-term maintenance have led the City to be more selective to protect the Transit Fund. Programs like Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), supporting projects such as Elliot/Kyrene, are especially valuable because they often require no local match and have minimal maintenance obligations. Other major investments include Broadway Road rehabilitation, College/Southern and Elliot/Kyrene safety upgrades, the Baseline Road safety project, and the Tempe Streetcar (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity [RAISE]-funded, no local match for preliminary engineering). The Upstream Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge secured $25M in federal funding with a $5M match but still needs $22M to construct. Now in permitting, the project will connect to the Indian Bend Wash path and must secure full funding by June 30, 2027, with design completed by May 30, 2029. Approved as a phased project after five attempts, it received support from the past two Administration’s. Councilmember Amberg requested a cost breakdown, which staff will provide. Potential Guiding Principles Sustainability • Invest in Climate-Resilient and Future-Ready Infrastructure Advance infrastructure that strengthens resilience to extreme heat, flooding, and energy disruptions, while leveraging federal and state programs to integrate green infrastructure, electrified mobility, and grid modernization. • Ensure Equitable Access to Energy, Mobility, and Essential Services Expand access to affordable clean energy and transportation, particularly for low-income and heat-vulnerable communities, and advocate for modernization of programs like Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Weatherization to reflect regional climate conditions and housing diversity. • Drive Innovation and Stewardship for Sustainable Growth and Development Support innovation in clean energy, local food systems, alternative fuels, and high- performance building materials while advancing pilot programs, partnerships, and conservation strategies that deliver long-term community benefit. Transportation • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) & Barrier-Free Access Ensure transportation systems and facilities are fully accessible for all residents. • Equity in Transit and Transportation Facilities Expand affordable, reliable transportation options in historically underserved areas of Tempe. • Proposition 479 Implementation Coordinate with regional partners to deliver priority transit and transportation investments under the new sales tax initiative. • Transportation Funding Stability Support policies that strengthen local transportation funding and protect resources such as the Highway User Revenue Fund from diversion or loss. • Regional Transportation Coordination and Planning Advance regional freeway, transit, and mobility projects in alignment with City priorities and long-term growth needs. Agenda Item 5 – Municipal Priorities Presentation: Information Technology and Digital Infrastructure Jared Morris, Director of Information Technology (IT), presented. He talked about how state and federal decisions continue to significantly impact Tempe’s technology operations, compliance requirements, and infrastructure planning. The City currently receives about $300K in combined federal and state support for public safety and cybersecurity tools, which provide important capabilities that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive. However, these benefits come with increasing audit and compliance demands from agencies such as the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and Department of Public Safety (DPS), adding staff workload and system requirements. Cybersecurity remains a key focus, with Tempe exceeding Council priority 5.12 for The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) compliance. Upcoming federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II requirements also require full The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) compliance by April 2027, with funding needs expected to be integrated across departments since Information Technology (IT) supports multiple functions. Councilmember Amberg inquired about additional funding support, and staff indicated this is likely to be addressed through cross-department coordination. Proposed state legislation presents mixed impacts: SB1804 may reduce storage costs but limit investigative access; SB1520 introduces new regulatory and financial burdens related to data sharing; HB2532 could add reporting requirements that create barriers for existing programs; HB2917 increases audit and reporting obligations; and HCR2004/SCR1004 could affect traffic enforcement tools and Vision Zero goals by requiring periodic voter renewal of intersection cameras. Overall, while state and federal partnerships continue to provide valuable funding and tools, they also introduce growing compliance and administrative demands that require careful coordination and integration across City operations. Potential Guiding Principles 1. Leverage External Funding While Managing Long-Term Sustainability Maximize state and federal investments in public safety, cybersecurity, and technology, while carefully weighing long-term operational and maintenance costs to ensure financial sustainability across City systems. 2. Strengthen Compliance Through Integrated, Cross-Departmental Planning Proactively meet evolving federal and state requirements — such as cybersecurity (NIST), ADA/WCAG accessibility, and audit standards — by coordinating across departments and embedding compliance into existing workflows and systems. 3. Protect Core City Services While Advancing Data-Driven Safety and Equity Goals Ensure that new legislation and regulatory requirements do not hinder critical functions such as public safety operations, Vision Zero goals, or equitable service delivery, while maintaining flexibility to adapt to changing legal and policy environments. Agenda Item 6 – Federal Priorities Presentation: Transportation, Transit, and Emerging Technology Jonathan Shuffield, Director of Government Relations, presented on behalf of AZDC Consultant, Don Jongewaard, who was traveling and unable to attend. He noted an emerging opportunity to incorporate autonomous vehicle services such as Waymo into Tempe’s broader transportation strategy, including potential integration with public transit systems like the Valley Metro Ride Choice program and coordination with Community Development to support first/last-mile connections. He outlined updated transportation and technology priorities focused on leveraging federal and regional partnerships to advance mobility, infrastructure, and connectivity, including: • Supporting continued and expanded federal funding for transportation infrastructure, including roads, bridges, transit, and resilience projects. • Advocating for expanded electric vehicle funding, infrastructure deployment, and procurement opportunities. • Promoting policies that improve transit connectivity, accessibility, and first/last-mile solutions across all populations. • Supporting the safe development and deployment of autonomous vehicle technologies and their integration into the broader mobility network. • Advocating for local authority and flexibility in small cell and 5G deployment while enabling continued technology advancement. • Supporting federal programs that expand broadband affordability, access, and digital equity. Agenda Item 6 – Future Agenda Items None at this time. The next meeting will focus on Police, Fire, and Courts. Agenda Item 7 – Meeting Adjourned This meeting adjourned at 12:07 p.m. Prepared by: Melissa Westbrook, Council Assistant, (480) 350-8635 Reviewed by: Tanya Chavez, Mayor and Council Relations Director, (480) 858-2215