Attachment A- Sept. 30, 2020 LUL Minutes.pdf

Phoenix City Council 
Special Land Use and Livability Subcommittee 
Summary Minutes 
Wednesday, September 30, 2020 
City Council Chambers 
200 West Jefferson Street 
Phoenix, Arizona 
Subcommittee Members Present   
 Subcommittee Members Absent 
Councilwoman Debra Stark, Chair 
Councilmember Carlos Garcia 
Councilwoman Betty Guardado 
Councilwoman Thelda Williams 
CALL TO ORDER 
Chairwoman Stark called the Land Use and Livability Subcommittee to order at 10:00 
a.m. with Vice Mayor Guardado, Councilmember Garcia, and Councilwoman Williams
present via Webex.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC 
None. 
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION (ITEM 1) 
1. City of Phoenix Homelessness Outreach Plan Update
Deputy City Manager Inger Erickson introduced Human Services Director Marchelle
Franklin, Housing Director Cindy Stotler and Neighborhood Services Director Spencer
Self to present an update on the feedback received on the City of Phoenix
Homelessness Outreach Plan.
Ms. Franklin introduced the item by providing an overview of the current state of 
homelessness in the City and the programs that have been funded and implemented 
during the COVID-19 pandemic with various agencies and community partners. She 
also briefly mentioned the programs and initiatives that have been in place since City 
Council’s approval of $9.6 million to homelessness efforts through the Coronavirus 
Relief Fund. 
Ms. Erickson described the methods by which staff has collected feedback on the 
homelessness outreach plan, through meetings, surveys, and a website.  
Ms. Franklin provided an overview of the outreach and resources section of the plan 
and shared that the two primary areas of feedback were racial equity and special 
populations. She said staff saw the highest levels of support for the mental health 
section, including the need for mental health professionals to serve as first responders, 
Attachment A

increased funding and better coordination. She mentioned the State of Arizona is in the 
position to fund mental health programs.  
 
Ms. Franklin discussed feedback to the workforce development section, including 
comments supporting improved access for serving individual jobseekers facing barriers 
to employment and identifying employer partners to hire those jobseekers.  
 
Ms. Stotler shared feedback on the Housing section and shared there were more than 
800 comments on this section. She highlighted comments supporting eviction 
prevention, more affordable housing and more housing options.  
 
Mr. Self provided an update on the PHX CARES program and discussed the challenges 
faced by Community Bridges. Inc. (CBI) and their Navigator staff. He shared feedback 
received on the cleanup section, including comments recommending enhanced 
marketing, accessible metrics for the program, and resources for cleanups.  
 
Mr. Self discussed the feedback received on the policy section, including comments 
reflecting mixed opinions about code of conduct.  He explained feedback encompassed 
concerns about safety and accessibility, street feeding, encampments, and 
criminalization.  
 
Mr. Self provided information on feedback to the communication section, including the 
need for increased transparency, sharing data, and talking about success. He also 
shared feedback that the neighborhood section needed more comments, best practices 
for engaging with service resistant individuals, support for improving infrastructure, and 
opposition to the gated alley program. He mentioned there was interest from community 
members in participating in the plan as well as implementation, but some 
neighborhoods that were not happy with the language of the plan implying a call to 
action. 
 
Ms. Erickson concluded the presentation by discussing next steps to refine the 
homelessness strategic plan and further opportunities to gather feedback and 
comments on the plan. She stated staff would present the revised plan at the Oct. 27 
Policy Meeting.  
 
Bill Morlan, resident and Madison Pioneers Coalition representative, commented there 
is a need for smaller, specialized facilities and oversight of all facilities assisting people 
experiencing homelessness.  
 
Angela Ojile, resident, expressed support for the plan, advocated for neighborhood 
representatives to take part in the development of the strategic plan, and expressed the 
need for smaller, specialized shelters and facilities. She also mentioned zoning 
expansion and shared they would like to have meetings in person.

Elishyah McKinley, resident, shared concerns about the budget and cleaning in 
camping areas, and expressed her support for smaller shelters for seniors and others 
experiencing homelessness.  
 
Elizabeth Venable, resident, stated the budget is not sufficient for the plan and 
advocated for better capacity planning for facilities. She added she does not support the 
seizure, destruction of property, or violations of constitutional rights.  
 
Anne Ender, resident, expressed support for staff’s work on the plan and advocated for 
smaller facilities to address mental health and substance abuse rehabilitation. She 
shared her support for the purchase of St. Luke’s Hospital. 
 
Lisa Glow, resident, expressed her support for thinking strategically and acting quickly 
with more housing. She requested City Council set aside more Coronavirus Relief 
Funds to address homelessness and advocated for new models for shelter and 
housing, greater flexibility with housing rental assistance, and more specialized 
services. 
 
Jeff Spellman, resident, expressed support for previous comments and stated his 
recommendations were shared with staff in a letter. 
 
Eva Olivas, resident, requested more feedback from residents and neighborhoods on 
the neighborhood strategy section, and more funding for the PHX CARES program. She 
stated she is opposed to the significance placed on the gated alley program and 
supported a system that could be applied to every Council district. 
 
Vice Mayor Guardado expressed her support for gathering community input and 
recommended staff to include community members in the refinement of the plan before 
presenting the final product to the City Council. She recommended the creation of an ad 
hoc committee to address homelessness in the City to ensure the perspectives of 
service providers and the public would be included. She stated she would also like to 
see an oversight committee established to ensure greater transparency and 
accountability. She added that she would like to expand Workforce Development 
staffing to two positions and coordinate with homeless providers to create a robust job 
pipeline. She concluded by stating staff should consider the aspects of the Mesa model 
than can be implemented in Phoenix, including ways to improve coordination with 
courts.  
 
Councilmember Garcia explained he voted against the plan in previous meetings 
because he wanted to see feedback from the community before implementing the plan 
and shared his support for the update and feedback. He highlighted key themes that 
stood out to him such as more affordable housing, more resources for mental health 
and substance abuse assistance, decriminalization, and creating plans for specialized 
populations. He mentioned LGBTQ and race were missing and advocated for different 
plans for those experiencing homelessness differently. He stated the City can support 
non-profits through more metrics and greater measurable impacts.  He emphasized the

importance of incorporating neighborhood and resident voices more and wanted to hear 
an update on Project Haven. He concluded by stating the City should commit to finding 
new funding sources and incorporating more neighborhood voices and reminded City 
Council that the City is in a state of crisis and more evictions are coming in December.  
 
Councilwoman Williams advocated for greater funding for case management and 
discussed smaller shelters in the northern part of the City. She discussed incorporating 
aspects of the Mesa model and increasing funding to allow for longer treatment while 
individuals are going through the court system. She stated she would like staff to find a 
way to contact those who are living in alleys and on the street, and advocated for 
greater education for neighbors. 
 
Chairwoman Stark inquired if staff has had the chance to talk to surrounding cities and 
share the plan. 
 
Ms. Erickson responded by explaining staff has participated in working groups with 
Maricopa County and the State of Arizona with other cities. 
 
Chairwoman Stark stated she hopes staff will continue to refine the plan based on the 
comments that have been heard.  
 
CALL TO THE PUBLIC  
Note: Additional speakers registered for Call to the Public but spoke during public 
comment for Item 1. 
Marylou Obrochta, resident, expressed support for the plan but stated she is not in favor 
of the Mesa model. She advocated for a roundtable panel to create a new plan. 
Sheila Harris, resident, recommended more supportive housing units and affordable 
housing units.  
Ash Uss, resident, submitted a request to speak but was not on the line. 
Joel Coplin, resident, submitted a request to speak but was not on the line. 
John Westervale, resident, expressed his support of the Mesa model and advocated for 
more homelessness metrics.  
Craig Tribken, resident, expressed his support for creating new models of shelter, 
raising some restrictions and implementing specialized services.  
Ian Francis, resident and Madison Pioneers Coalition member, recommended a low-
barrier shelter in an area that does affect residents or businessowners, advocated for 
separating large shelters into smaller facilities, and expressed support for the use of St. 
Luke’s Hospital.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 
None. 
 
ADJOURNMENT 
Chairwoman Stark adjourned the meeting at 11:15 a.m. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Adeoffer-Marie Rabusa 
Management Intern