TRANSCOMMTGMINUTES 5.12.2026.PDF

Minutes of the meeting of the Tempe Transportation Commission held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 7:30 a.m. via Teams and at 
the Tempe Transportation Center located at 200 E. Fifth Street, Tempe AZ 85281. 
 
Members’ Present 
Jacob Cox 
Kelsey Files 
Kendra Flory 
Dawn Hocking  
Claire Lauer 
Stevie Milne 
Amanda Nelson 
 
Members’ Absent:  
Sasha Pachito 
Andrea Chalmers 
 
 
Roy Peterson 
David Sokolowski 
Anthony Strait 
Samuel Thiele    
Chris Watts 
Mark Richwine 
 
   
   
   
City Staff Present: 
 
Eric Iwersen, Transportation & Sustainability Director 
Shauna Warner, Neighborhood Services Director 
Riley DeGroot, Transportation Maintenance Manager 
Cathy Hollow, Principal Civil Engineer 
Greg Bacon, Lieutenant 
Brianne Fisher, Sustainability Division Manager 
Emily DelRoss, Principal Planner 
Mary Kate Nacke, Public Information Officer 
Brendan Wagner, Transportation Planner 
Sue Taaffe, Admin 
 
Guests Present 
Kate Boligitz 
John Federico 
Patrick Stone, MAG 
Mike James, CivTech 
Robert Baer, Municipal Budget Director 
Shelly Seyler, Deputy Transportation & Sustainability 
Director 
Chase Walman, Principal Transportation Planner 
Sam Stevenson, Transit Manager 
Morgan Kennedy, Neighborhood & Community 
Engagement Specialist 
Mitchell Willard, Transportation Planner 
Kevin DiDomenico, Budget & Finance Analyst 
 
 
Minutes 
City of Tempe Meeting of the Transportation Commission 
May 12, 2026

2 
 
Julie Cameron 
Rachel Andrews, MAG 
 
Commissioner Dawn Hocking called the meeting to order at 7:31 a.m. 
 
Agenda Item 1 – Public Appearances 
None 
 
Agenda Item 2 – Approval of Meeting Minutes 
Dawn Hocking introduced the minutes of the April 14, 2026 meeting of the Transportation Commission and asked for a motion for 
approval. 
 
Motion: Commissioner Kelsey Files 
Second: Commissioner Amanda Nelson 
 
Decision: Approved by Commissioners 
Jacob Cox 
Kelsey Files 
Kendra Flory 
Dawn Hocking  
Claire Lauer 
Stevie Milne 
Amanda Nelson 
Roy Peterson 
David Sokolowski 
Anthony Strait 
Samuel Thiele    
Chris Watts 
Mark Richwine 
   
Dawn Hocking introduced the minutes of the April 30, 2026 meeting of the Transportation Commission and asked for a motion for  
approval. 
 
Motion: Commissioner Sam Thiele 
Second: Commissioner Jacob Cox seconded with the following amendment: 
 
Deputy City Manager Lisette Camacho addressed the Commission following the vote noting that the recent (April 28th) Transportation  
Commission Meeting discussion and two failed motions was shared with the City Council and caused some concern and she  
encouraged the Commission to apologize and make amends to Council and staff and that if they were in favor of the initiative  
to attend the Council meeting and speak to the Council. 
 
Decision: Approved by Commissioners 
Jacob Cox 
Kelsey Files 
Kendra Flory 
Dawn Hocking  
Claire Lauer 
Stevie Milne 
Amanda Nelson 
Roy Peterson 
David Sokolowski 
Anthony Strait 
Samuel Thiele    
Chris Watts 
Mark Richwine 
Commissioners Cox stated that he did not appreciate the Commissioners being bullied and coerced at the April 30 meeting. He 
believes that the public comment was solicited and the closing comments made by Deputy City Manager Lisette Camacho were 
inappropriate. He also expressed concerns with the roll out of this process and questioned the purpose and values of the 
Commission. Commissioner Milne agreed with Commissioner Cox’s statements.  
 
Commissioner Nelson stated that the Commissioners all support public transportation and that there were varying reasons for 
dissent at the April 28 Commission meeting including funding and intent.

3 
 
 
Commissioner Sokolowski reiterated that the purpose of the Commission is to be an independent voice, not to be pressured into 
making recommendations.  
 
Agenda Item 3 – Proposition 479 Update 
Patrick Stone with the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) provided an update on Proposition 479. Topics included: 
• 
Background 
• 
40-year legacy of regional transportation investments 
• 
Regional transportation network: Pre-1986 
• 
Regional transportation network: Proposition 300 (1986 – 2005) 
• 
Regional transportation network: Proposition 400 (2006 – 2025) 
• 
Investment Plan Overview 
• 
Project Implementation 
• 
Study Schedule 
• 
Freeway Overview 
• 
Prop 479 Arterial Overview 
• 
Prop 479 Transit Overview 
• 
Budget 
• 
Next Steps 
 
Discussion included the widening of Rural Road Bridge at Salt River, rail and bus investment, legislative involvement in ballot 
language, locally funded financial match, bus rapid transit, jurisdictional equity, performance-based model, and regional and 
federal funding. 
 
Agenda Item 4 – Budget Update 
Robert Baer provided a budget update related to Transportation. Topics included: 
• 
Transit Fund 
o Operating 
o Forecast 
• 
Transportation Fund 
o Operating 
o Forecast 
• 
Capital Improvement Program 
 
Discussion included highway user revenue funds (HURF), pavement preservation, Tempe’s daytime population and pass through 
city status, what other cities are doing to address HURF shortfall, and transit investment. 
 
Agenda Item 5 – Bike Hero 
Commissioners were provided with the list of Bike Hero nominations for 2026.  
 
A motion was made to select Nancy Puffer as the 2026 Bike Hero. 
 
Motion: Commissioner Amanda Nelson 
Second: Commissioner Sam Thiele

4 
 
Decision: Approved by Commissioners 
Jacob Cox 
Kelsey Files 
Kendra Flory 
Dawn Hocking  
Claire Lauer 
Stevie Milne 
Amanda Nelson 
Roy Peterson 
David Sokolowski 
Anthony Strait 
Samuel Thiele    
Chris Watts 
Mark Richwine 
   
Agenda Item 6 – Department & Regional Transportation Updates 
This agenda item was skipped. 
 
Agenda Item 7 – Future Agenda Items 
Commissioner Nelson requested that the Commission receive a budget update twice a year. Commissioner Sokolowski 
expressed his concerns that the Commission is not voting on enough topics but instead getting information only. Specifically, he 
asked how Commissioner opinions are communicated to the City Council.  
 
Commissioners Files asked how agenda items are determined including timing and how Commissioners can assist in the process 
including working with ASU. 
 
The following future agenda items have been previously identified by the Commission or staff: 
• 
June 9  
o College Ave Traffic Calming Update (including results from the speed cushion installation)  
o City Speed Cushion Process/Traffic Calming Tools  
• 
July 14  
• 
August 11 
o Tempe Transportation Plan 2050  
• 
September 8  
• 
October 13  
o Tempe Transportation Plan 2050  
• 
November 10  
o Annual Report 
o Tempe Transportation Plan 2050 
• 
December 8  
o Commission Business – acknowledge outgoing commissioners 
o Transit Survey Results – WestGroup Research 
• 
January 12  
o Commission Business – elect Chair and Vice Chair and welcome new commissioners 
• 
February 9 
• 
March 9 
• 
April 13 
• 
May 11 
• 
TBD: 5th and Mill Crosswalk Update  
 
The next meeting is scheduled for June 9, 2026. The July 14 meeting has been cancelled. The meeting was adjourned at 9:08 
a.m. 
 
Prepared by: Sue Taaffe 
Reviewed by: Shelly Seyler