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Mesa District 1 Strategic Priorities 2026 Presented by Councilmember Adams The 30,000-Foot View Success Defined: Adopt a proactive, enabling permitting approach that facilitates redevelopment, and the adaptive reuse of underutilized buildings. Replace overly restrictive and inflexible regulatory barriers with a “how can we” framework and attitude that supports responsible development rather than discourage these activities through excessive regulation. Vision Statement: Legacy values, future opportunities, and minimal regulation coupled with a “yes we can” attitude. Priority 1: Keep Mesa Safe and Strengthen Our Neighborhoods Smart Growth: Manage infill development to protect existing neighborhood character. Insure that Code Compliance efforts are fair and non-discriminatory. Strategic Economy: Attract ecomonic development that compliments and respects the character of existing neighborhoods. Innovative Housing: Advance community-based models such as The Other Side Village that are not primarily taxpayer funded and address the root causes of homelessness. Priority 2: Protect Our Land Through Responsible Growth and Stewardship Mesa will promote stable, livable neighborhoods by balancing private property rights with the preservation of community character through responsible infill. Adaptive reuse is neither restricted nor overly regulated. By streamlining the development process to ensure accountability and speed, the city will eliminate overly burdensome permitting and regulatory barriers to growth while actively facilitating new homeownership opportunities. This balanced approach ensures that all new development respects existing residents, assures that developer commitments are met, and strengthens the overall community. Priority 3: Promote Economic Growth That Supports Our Community Sustainable growth depends on consistent policies that support investment while protecting the quality of life for residents. Mesa should project the attitude that we are “Open for Business” and therefore be supportive of small businesses in particular. We should reduce or eliminate regulatory practices that hinder and restrict small business growth unreasonably. Success Defined: Business attraction and retention is dependent upon these policies as well as on maintaining high levels of public safety.Mesa enjoys a stable, predictable environment where new businesses are welcomed, and businesses are confident to invest. Infrastructure and services are maintained that keep pace with growth, and new economic activity encourages quality jobs. Consistent policies are in place that ensure balanced growth, support long-term prosperity, and protect the quality of life for residents. Partnerships & Resources Collaboration: The Office of Management & Budget is key, plus Public Safety, Development Services, Neighborhood Services, Economic Development, and Housing & Community Development. Community Partners: Local neighborhood associations, urban farming and community gardening organizations, organizations that deliver effective solutions to homelessness without primarily relying on public funding, developers committed to responsible infill, affordable housing advocates, and business groups that support economic growth initiatives. Barriers: Finance and budget is the main limiting factor. Revenues and expenditures must be brought into balance, and reserve thresholds set by Council must be observed. The practice of uniform, across-the- board reductions, applied without regard to function or value delivered is ineffective and should be abandoned. Essential functions may warrant increased funding, while activities that do not meet core objectives should be reduced or eliminated. Financial discipline requires deliberate choice. In District 1 we Elevate Mesa by… …prioritizing safety, responsible growth, and sustainable economic development, these initiatives raise the standard for Mesa by creating safe, vibrant, and livable neighborhoods. They ensure development aligns with community character while supporting homeownership, affordable housing, and a business climate that attracts investment and quality jobs. Together, they strengthen community connections, enhance shared spaces through urban farming and gardens, and reflect a fiscally responsible, targeted approach to budgeting that supports thoughtful, inclusive, and sustainable growth. Questions & Discussion