Attachment A - Nov. 18, 2025 CSE Minutes.pdf

Phoenix City Council 
Community Services and Education (CSE) Subcommittee 
Summary Minutes 
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 
City Council Chambers 
200 W. Jefferson St. 
Phoenix, AZ 
Subcommittee Members Present                           Subcommittee Members Absent         
Chairwoman Kesha Hodge Washington 
Vice Mayor Ann O’Brien                
Councilwoman Anna Hernandez 
Councilwoman Debra Stark 
 
CALL TO ORDER 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington called the Community Services and Education 
Subcommittee (CSE) to order at 10:02 a.m. with Councilwoman Stark, Vice Mayor 
O’Brien, and Chairwoman Hodge Washington present. Councilwoman Stark and Vice 
Mayor O’Brien attended the meeting virtually. Councilwoman Hernandez joined the 
meeting in person at 10:04 a.m. 
 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC 
Ginnie Ann Sumner asked Council members to review Code of Conduct for parks and 
camping ordinances. 
MINUTES OF MEETINGS 
1. Minutes of the Community Services and Education Subcommittee Meeting 
Councilwoman Stark made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 22, 2025 
Community Services and Education Subcommittee meeting. Councilwoman Hernandez 
seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
CONSENT (ITEM 2) 
2. Authorization to Request a Carryover of Head Start Birth to Five Program Fiscal 
Year 2024-25 
No presentations were planned, but staff was available to answer questions. 
Councilwoman Hernandez asked why there were unspent funds at the end of the fiscal 
year for the Head Start Birth to Five Program. 
Human Services Department Director Jacqueline Edwards clarified that there were 
leftover funds because of vacancies for teacher positions and transitions in services 
from homes to classrooms.

Councilwoman Hernandez asked if there will be unspent funds for the current fiscal 
year. 
Director Edwards shared that her department is on track to use all Head Start funds this 
year, but noted it was usual for there to be a small amount of funds leftover that can be 
applied to one-time expenses, such as capital project expenses. 
Councilwoman Hernandez asked whether leftover funds could go towards addressing 
issues impacting attendance such as meal programs, transit passes, or gas assistance. 
Director Edwards shared carryover funds could be used for allowable expenses 
dependent on what Head Start at the federal level allows. 
Councilwoman Hernandez asked if there was any reduction in participation due to 
eligibility concerns with the new administration. 
Director Edwards shared that new applications were slow to come in at the beginning of 
the year, but classrooms are now full, with children on waitlists as well.  
Councilwoman Stark moved to approve. Councilwoman Hernandez seconded the 
motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
INFORMATION (ITEM 3) 
3. Head Start Birth to Five Monthly Report – September 2025 
No presentations were planned, but staff was available to answer questions.  
Councilwoman Hernandez asked for information on possible program delays for Head 
Start in Arizona due to federal action. 
Human Services Department Director Jacqueline Edwards clarified there were no 
changes in the application process, but the program practices may be impacted by the 
court’s final decisions and federal guidance around legal status requirements.  
Councilwoman Hernandez asked how many families would be impacted if there were 
changes in program requirements from the federal level. 
Director Edwards shared that while other factors are tracked, the status of families is not 
tracked. She offered to follow up with an updated number of potential families that could 
be impacted if requirements for the program change. 
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION (ITEMS 4-6)   
4. Federal Programs Update 
Human Services Department Director Jacqueline Edwards presented this item.

Director Edwards shared information on federal funding impacts on Phoenix social 
services programs, the most notable being the disruption of federal funding for the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Director Edwards shared SNAP 
benefits are no longer delayed due to the State of Arizona action to fund SNAP through 
the rest of the year. She discussed actions the City of Phoenix took to support SNAP 
participants, including creating a webpage of resources, sharing educational materials 
and holding a citywide food drive. 
Councilwoman Stark highlighted the initiative that Council Offices have taken to raise 
money and gather food donations. 
Councilwoman Hernandez highlighted the importance for the City of Phoenix to support 
its residents through federal funding pauses to continue critical services. She suggested 
an emergency response planning committee to address similar issues that may arise. 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington thanked staff for their work supporting resident needs 
through the longest federal shutdown and protecting vulnerable communities. She 
expressed support for an emergency response plan to deal with similar situations in the 
future that may occur.  
Director Edwards conveyed the importance of quick action by the City and shared that 
the new food help webpage will continue to exist and be updated. 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington highlighted the importance of assessing how effective 
outreach was and continuously improving the City’s preparation and response for 
potential future federal funding disruptions.  
5. Housing Repair Program Update 
Neighborhood Services Department Director Spencer Self and Neighborhood Services 
Department Deputy Director Matt Utyro presented this item. 
Director Self listed the various Housing Repair programs that Neighborhood Services 
Department (NSD) offers including owner-occupied housing rehab, homeowner 
assistance, weatherization assistance, Lead Safe Phoenix, and rental rehab. 
Mr. Utyro shared an overview of the Housing Repair programs. He stated NSD used 
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to replace Low Income Housing 
Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding due to funding gaps, increasing pressure 
on CDBG funding. 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington thanked staff for providing an overview of resources 
for residents.

Councilwoman Hernandez asked how many households were served through the 
hardship assistance program and whether demographics or neighborhood information 
were tracked. 
Director Self clarified that it is difficult to share numbers for the hardship assistance 
program because it falls under the owner-occupied rehab program. He shared that the 
number may be low due to new code enforcement staff and a new system that will soon 
be implemented. Mr. Self confirmed that neighborhood information is tracked. 
Councilwoman Hernandez asked if there was an outreach plan to ensure residents 
were aware of NSD programs.  
Director Self shared that NSD works closely with community partners including faith-
based organizations and the Human Services Department in outreach efforts. Director 
Self also noted that NSD shares information for Council Offices to share with the 
community. 
Councilwoman Hernandez asked how much has been spent on the programs.  
Mr. Utyro shared that costs fluctuate every year for each program depending on the 
number of applications and federal funding changes. Mr. Utyro highlighted, for example, 
the hardship assistance program is typically around $400,000 a year, however, it is 
dependent on the amount of CDBG funds received from Housing and Urban 
Development (HUD). 
Councilwoman Hernandez asked whether the rental rehab program works with renters 
or rental property owners. 
Director Self clarified the rental rehab program works with rental property owners, but 
there was also an opportunity for renters to initiate the process. 
Councilwoman Stark asked how the City works with nonprofits to fill funding gaps. 
Director Self shared there were limited partnerships with nonprofits. 
Councilwoman Stark requested a list of potential nonprofit partnerships to consider and 
asked how Council Offices can assist. 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington asked how long these rehabilitation programs take to 
complete and what barriers may cause delays. 
Mr. Utyro shared that timelines for rehab project completion are determined based on 
the extent of repairs needed. He noted NSD must meet federal procurement and 
environmental guidelines for these programs, which can lengthen the timeline. 
Director Self shared that, for example, hot water heaters are quickly done versus roof 
repairs which may take longer.

Mr. Utyro shared rental rehab takes six months to a year, weatherization takes five 
months due to the need for testing, and that Lead Safe Phoenix takes 60 days. 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington asked for information on federal requirements and how 
Council Offices can assist these programs. 
Director Self shared that in the future, it would be helpful to discuss this, however, for 
now, maintaining current program funding is a priority. 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington asked what metrics are tracked through this program. 
Director Self shared that there are reporting requirements for rental rehab, such as 
income level reporting. 
Mr. Utyro shared there is an effort to track metrics and make this information more 
accessible.  
Director Self shared that gathering information is a challenge for these programs since 
some residents prefer not to provide information. 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington asked if there was any initial policy support that could 
be helpful to increase the program impact for the City. 
Director Self agreed that it would be helpful to have further discussions on policy. 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington expressed thanks to staff and partners. 
6. City of Phoenix Housing Department Homeownership Programs and Initiatives 
Overview 
Housing Director Titus Mathew and Assistant Housing Director Aubrey Gonzalez 
presented this item. 
Housing Director Mathew provided an overview of housing affordability in Phoenix and 
the importance of homeownership. Director Mathew highlighted the City of Phoenix 
Open Door Down Payment Assistance Program which assists with down payments. 
Assistant Housing Director Gonzalez shared information on the Section 32 
Homeownership Program, Section 18 Homeownership Program, Family Self-Sufficiency 
(FSS) Program, and the Community Land Trust Program.  
Councilwoman Hernandez asked how much program information could be found on the 
City of Phoenix Housing Department website and whether the 2024 Housing Needs 
Assessment could be shared. 
Housing Director Mathew stated the 2024 Housing Needs Assessment is posted on the 
Housing Department’s website.

Councilwoman Hernandez spoke about the importance of housing options in Phoenix 
and thanked staff for their work. 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington thanked staff and asked if there was a higher demand 
for the program. 
Housing Director Mathew noted the increased demand for these programs since 
interest rates have decreased and shared the importance of down payment assistance. 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington asked if there was any opportunity to donate homes to 
the Community Land Trust Program. 
Housing Director Mathew shared that he would conduct research on whether home 
donations are possible. 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington emphasized the importance of affordable 
homeownership opportunities. 
Vice Mayor O’Brien thanked staff for their work. 
 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC  
None. 
 
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 
None. 
 
ADJOURNMENT 
Chairwoman Hodge Washington adjourned the meeting at 11:30 a.m. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Cecilia Alcantar-Chavez 
Management Fellow