Attachment A - Feb. 14, 2024 EDH Minutes.pdf

Attachment A 
 
Phoenix City Council 
Economic Development and Housing (EDH) Subcommittee 
Summary Minutes 
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024 
City Council Chambers 
200 W. Jefferson St. 
Phoenix, Ariz. 
Subcommittee Members Present                  Subcommittee Members Absent 
Chairman Kevin Robinson, Chair 
 
Vice Mayor Debra Stark 
 
Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari 
 
Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington 
 
 
CALL TO ORDER 
Chairman Robinson called the Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee to 
order at 10:00 a.m. with Vice Mayor Debra Stark, Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari and 
Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington present.  
 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC 
None. 
MINUTES OF MEETINGS 
 
1. Minutes of the Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee Meeting 
Vice Mayor Stark made a motion to approve the minutes of the Jan. 10, 2024, 
Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee meeting. Councilwoman Ansari 
seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
CONSENT ACTION (ITEMS 2-6)  
 
Items 2-6 were for consent action. No presentations were planned, but City staff was 
available to answer questions. 
 
2. National Endowment for the Arts Grants for Arts Projects 
Consent only. No Councilmember requested additional information. 
 
3. Artist Contract for Lone Mountain Park Public Art Project 
Consent only. No Councilmember requested additional information. 
 
4. Request Approval of the Head Start Birth to Five 2024-25 ERSEA Plan Updates 
Consent only. No Councilmember requested additional information.

5. Authorization to Annually Apply for Five Year (2024-2029) Head Start Birth to 
Five Grant, Accept 2024-2029 Head Start Birth to Five Funds and Enter into or 
Extend Contracts 
Consent only. No Councilmember requested additional information. 
 
6. Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant for Marcos de Niza Public Housing 
Community 
Consent only. No Councilmember requested additional information. 
 
Councilwoman Ansari made a motion to approve Consent Items 2 through 6. Vice 
Mayor Stark seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
INFORMATION ONLY (ITEMS 7-9) 
7. Housing Department Capital Improvement Program Update 
Information only. No Councilmember requested additional information. 
 
8. Head Start Birth to Five Monthly Report - December 2023 
Information only. No Councilmember requested additional information. 
 
9. Office of Innovation Access to Chilled Drinking Water Pilot Update 
Information only. No Councilmember requested additional information. 
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION (ITEMS 10-11)  
 
10. 2024 NCAA Men’s Final Four Update 
Phoenix Convention Center Director Jerry Harper, Phoenix Final Four Local Organizing 
Committee CEO Jay Parry, and City Major Events Administrator Eric George presented 
on the item.  
 
Ms. Parry showcased the 2024, NCAA Final Four video narrated by Charles Barkley 
promoting Final Four events in Phoenix between April 4 to 8, 2024. She then shared 
details on the Final Four Legacy Project at Eastlake Community Center opening April 2, 
2024, and the upcoming Women’s Final Four in 2026 at Footprint Center Arena.  
 
Chairman Robinson expressed support for the item.   
 
Councilwoman Ansari commented about nonprofits stationed around Hance Park in 
receiving notifications about event. She then asked what the City and NCAA is doing to 
accommodate impacted nonprofits in the area.   
 
Ms. Parry stated meetings have taken place with nonprofit groups.  
 
Mr. George added key objectives have been made known to keep impacted groups 
informed along with working with them to minimize any negative impacts of the events 
as well as opportunities for community groups to be involved with event production.

Vice Mayor Stark asked for further details about security measures.  
 
Ms. Parry stated public safety measures will be moving forward with a multi-
jurisdictional approach and multi-agency communication center similar to past events 
like the Super Bowl.    
 
Deputy City Manager John Chan added more than 20 City Departments are involved in 
planning and execution of the events. He then stated City staff will be presenting an 
item on public safety planning for Final Four at the Public Safety and Justice 
Subcommittee in March.  
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington noted the importance to communicate messaging in 
a timely manner to impacted businesses and nonprofits.   
 
11. Phoenix Convention Center Booking Update 
Mr. Harper, President and Visit Phoenix CEO, Ron Price, Vice President of Insights and 
Development at Visit Phoenix Eric Kerr, and Chief Sales Officer of Visit Phoenix Lorne 
Edwards presented on the item.  
 
Chairman Robinson commented on key needs to remain competitive and having the 
support of the City to move forward.  
 
Vice Mayor Stark commented on the value of having Government Property Lease 
Excise Tax (GPLET) and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) as tools to compete with other 
cities in order to get those types of facilities in our downtown areas.  
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington complimented the resident survey portion of the 
presentation.  
 
Councilwoman Ansari asked what is missing to bring hotels to the downtown core.  
 
Mr. Price responded a Request for Proposal for the Entertainment District in creating a 
vision is needed as a next step.  
 
Mr. Chan noted there is a need for future expansion of the convention center, additional 
hotel rooms, and hospitality amenities.  
 
Mr. Price stated Phoenix is in high demand and the convention center and hotel 
package need to happen together.  
 
Chairman Robinson expressed support for the item.  
Community and Economic Development Director Christine Mackay stated the City is 
doing regular outreach to national convention hotel developers on future expansion 
opportunities.

DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION (ITEM 12)  
12. Entertainment District Consulting Services Contract Award – RFP-CED23-
EDCS  
Ms. Mackay, Deputy Community and Economic Development Director, Xandon Keating 
and Community and Economic Development, and Procurement Manager Jennifer 
Holland presented on the item.  
 
Vice Mayor Stark discussed meeting with existing resorts in Phoenix and how they 
might interact with downtown.  
 
Ms. Mackay agreed with Vice Mayor Stark.  
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington made a motion to approve the item. Councilwoman 
Ansari seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. 
 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC  
 
Miesha Fish discussed her request with the Equal Opportunity Department to deliver a 
formal complaint regarding ongoing discrimination practices in Phoenix. She then 
requested the support of Council to investigate the matter.  
 
Linda Simmonds commented on the Source of Income Discrimination Ordinance 
needing to be enforced along with the need of housing complaints be easier to navigate 
especially for disabled individuals. 
 
Catherine Wilkins shared her concerns with cost-of-living and home rental increases 
and expressed her support for the Source of Income Discrimination Ordinance.  
 
Michelle Ashton stated her position as a transitional housing program manager for 
individuals 50 years or older experiencing domestic violence or elder abuse as well as a 
member serving on the Source of Income Discrimination Ordinance Committee. She 
stated her submitted report closed May 2023 as unfinished regarding a racial 
discrimination aspect remaining uninvestigated. Ms. Ashton discussed the barriers to 
advocate for citizens when reporting to the Equal Opportunity Department.  
 
Evelynne Castillo expressed her support of the Source of Income Discrimination 
Ordinance.  
 
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 
Councilwoman Ansari requested an information item on the Source of Income 
Discrimination Ordinance.  
 
Councilwoman Hodge Washington requested an information item on the Housing 
Phoenix Plan.

ADJOURNMENT 
Chairman Robinson adjourned the meeting at 11:33 a.m. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
Johnathan Gates 
Management Fellow