6-4-2026 BUDGET MTG MINUTES.PDF
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NOTE: MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND WORK STUDY SESSIONS ARE PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES. THESE MINUTES ARE INTENDED TO BE AN ACCURATE REFLECTION OF ACTION TAKEN AND DIRECTION GIVEN BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND ARE NOT VERBATIM TRANSCRIPTS. DIGITAL RECORDINGS OF CITY OF TEMPE MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.TEMPE.GOV/TEMPE11. Tempe City Council Harry E. Mitchell Government Center Tempe City Hall – City Council Chambers 31 East Fifth Street, Tempe, Arizona Thursday, June 4, 2026 – 6:00 PM CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING MINUTES Members of the City Council may attend virtually or by electronic means. Minutes of the City of Tempe City Council Special Budget Meeting held on Thursday, June 4, 2026, immediately following the Regular City Council Meeting, which begins at 6:00 p.m., in the Harry E. Mitchell Government Center, Tempe City Hall, City Council Chambers, 31 East Fifth Street, Tempe, Arizona, and virtually through Microsoft Teams. MEETING VIDEO MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL ATTENDING IN PERSON: Mayor Corey Woods; Vice Mayor Doreen Garlid; Councilmember Nikki Amberg; Councilmember Arlene Chin; Councilmember Berdetta Hodge MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL ABSENT: Councilmember Jennifer Adams; Councilmember Randy Keating CITY STAFF ATTENDING IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY: Greg Ruiz, Interim Chief Deputy City Manager, on behalf of Rosa Inchausti, City Manager; Lisette Camacho, Deputy City Manager – Chief Financial Officer; Keith Burke, Deputy City Manager; Eric Anderson, City Attorney; Kara DeArrastia, City Clerk; Nicole Harding, Assistant City Clerk; Various Department Heads or their representatives 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Woods called the Special Budget Meeting to order at 8:15 p.m. ___________________________ 2. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 2A. Hold a public hearing to adopt a resolution adopting the fiscal years 2026/27 through 2030/31 Capital Improvements Program. (Resolution No. R2026.54) City Council Special Budget Meeting Minutes Thursday, June 4, 2026 2 Mayor Woods inquired whether Councilmembers had any questions for Staff regarding Agenda Items 2A through 2D; none were offered. Mayor Woods introduced Agenda Item 2A; opened the public testimony portion of the hearing on the adoption of the Fiscal Years 2026/27 through 2030/31 Capital Improvements Program (CIP); and invited comments from the audience. There being no requests to speak, the public testimony portion was closed. Mayor Woods invited Council discussion, but no comments were offered. PASS Motion to Approve Item 2A made by Councilmember Hodge and seconded by Vice Mayor Garlid Aye: 5; Nay: 0; Abstain: 0; Absent: 2; Recused: 0; For: Mayor Woods, Vice Mayor Garlid, Councilmember Amberg, Councilmember Chin, Councilmember Hodge Absent: Councilmember Adams, Councilmember Keating The Fiscal Years 2026/27 through 2030/31 Capital Improvements Program was adopted. ___________________________ 2B. Hold a public hearing as required under the State’s Truth in Taxation statute, and adopt a resolution indicating the City's intention to adopt a primary property tax levy that, excluding amounts related to new construction, will be greater than last year's primary tax levy. (Resolution No. R2026.55) Mayor Woods introduced Agenda Item 2B and opened the public testimony portion of the hearing on the adoption of the Primary Property Tax Levy. Mario Martinez, Tempe resident, spoke in opposition to the proposed Property Tax increase and expressed concerns regarding various City expenditures, prior Council actions, and the proposed increase in the Primary Property Tax Levy. There being no additional speakers, the public testimony portion of the hearing was closed. Mayor Woods provided remarks regarding the voter-approved General Obligation Bond Program in November 2024. He explained his understanding that the Bond Program and the Primary Property Tax Levy serve different purposes and requested clarification from Municipal Budget Director Robert Baer regarding the purpose of the proposed Levy increase. City Council Special Budget Meeting Minutes Thursday, June 4, 2026 3 Director Baer explained that the Truth in Taxation item specifically related to the City’s Primary Property Tax Levy, which is used to support day-to-day operations. He noted that Arizona law limits increases to the Levy on existing properties and that approval of the item would generate approximately $462,000 for the General Fund. He further explained that failing to approve the Levy would require additional budget-balancing measures. Mayor Woods invited Council discussion, but no comments were offered. PASS Motion to Approve Item 2B made by Vice Mayor Garlid and seconded by Councilmember Hodge Aye: 5; Nay: 0; Abstain: 0; Absent: 2; Recused: 0; For: Mayor Woods, Vice Mayor Garlid, Councilmember Amberg, Councilmember Chin, Councilmember Hodge Absent: Councilmember Adams, Councilmember Keating The Primary Property Tax Levy was adopted. ___________________________ 2C. Introduce and hold the first public hearing to adopt the fiscal year 2026/27 Property Tax Ordinance. The second and final public hearing is scheduled for June 25, 2026. (Ordinance No. O2026.26) Mayor Woods introduced Agenda Item 2C and opened the public testimony portion of the first hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Property Tax Ordinance. Darlene Justus, Tempe resident, spoke in support of the proposed Property Tax Ordinance and expressed support for maintaining City services, programs, and public safety resources. There being no additional speakers, the public testimony portion of the hearing was closed. Mayor Woods invited Council discussion, but no comments were offered. Mayor Woods noted that the second and final public hearing on this item is scheduled for June 25, 2026. The second and final public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Property Tax Ordinance was scheduled for June 25, 2026. ___________________________ City Council Special Budget Meeting Minutes Thursday, June 4, 2026 4 2D. Hold a public hearing to adopt a resolution containing estimates of proposed expenditures by the City of Tempe for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, and to declare that such shall constitute a final budget for the City of Tempe for said fiscal year. (Resolution No. R2026.56) Mayor Woods introduced Agenda Item 2D; opened the public testimony portion of the hearing on the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026 through 2027 Final Budget; and invited comments from the audience. There being no requests to speak, the public testimony portion was closed. Mayor Woods invited Council discussion, but no comments were offered. PASS Motion to Approve Item 2D made by Councilmember Hodge and seconded by Councilmember Amberg Aye: 5; Nay: 0; Abstain: 0; Absent: 2; Recused: 0; For: Mayor Woods, Vice Mayor Garlid, Councilmember Amberg, Councilmember Chin, Councilmember Hodge Absent: Councilmember Adams, Councilmember Keating The Final Budget for the City of Tempe for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027, was adopted. ___________________________ 3. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Woods announced that the next scheduled City Council Special Budget Meeting is June 25, 2026, and adjourned the meeting at 8:28 p.m. I, Kara A. DeArrastia, the duly-appointed City Clerk of the City of Tempe, Maricopa County, Arizona, do hereby certify the above to be the minutes of the City Council Special Budget Meeting of June 4, 2026, by the Tempe City Council, Tempe, Arizona. ________________________________ Corey D. Woods, Mayor ATTEST: ________________________________ Kara A. DeArrastia, City Clerk