This report presents to the City Council the 2025 update to the City of Phoenix Heat
Response Plan, which outlines the programs and services designed to protect
residents and visitors from heat-related illness, death, and other severe health
consequences resulting from both indoor and outdoor heat exposure. The plan
includes critical actions to enhance Phoenix’s heat response efforts, focusing on public
health and safety.

Staff are seeking approval of the 2025 Heat Response Plan and requesting
authorization to proceed with four related items:

1. Authorization to Lease Real Property Located at 20 W. Jackson Street from Sunrise
Equities, LLC.
2. Authorization to Enter into Contract with Community Bridges, Inc. for Heat Related
Respite Operator and Supportive Services.
3. Retroactive Authorization to Amend and Extend the Term of Intergovernmental
Agreement 160361 with Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
4. Agreement with Community Bridges, Inc., for Police Security Services at the 24/7
Heat Respite Center.

THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.

Summary
Extreme Heat and Public Health
Each year, the City of Phoenix implements a comprehensive Heat Response Plan to
address the significant public health impacts of extreme heat. In 2024, there were 602
confirmed deaths in Maricopa County, down from 645 in 2023, despite record-breaking
summer heat. Known risk factors for heat-related deaths in Phoenix include substance
use, homelessness, and non-functioning air conditioning. In addition to fatalities,
extreme heat leads to thousands of medical incidents requiring emergency response
and exacerbates both physical and mental health challenges. A robust response is
essential to address the impact of extreme heat on the community.





Enhanced Heat Response Efforts in 2024
Several key milestones were achieved in 2024. These included the opening of
Phoenix’s first 24/7 heat respite and navigation center at the Burton Barr Library
former Cafe space, the only location to offer 24/7 heat relief services in Arizona.
Phoenix also offered overnight heat respite at the Senior Opportunities West Senior
Center and extended cooling center hours at Harmon, Cholla, and Yucca Libraries.
These efforts were coordinated by a cross-departmental HeatReady Unified Command
Team and involved partnerships with several City departments, Community Bridges,
Inc., Terros Health, and Arizona State University Nursing. The HeatReady Unified
Command Team oversaw operations of the extended hour respite sites and cooling
centers, ensuring coordination across departments, behavioral health, medical
services, and communications. Weekly reports tracked operational status and
community impact.

The 2024 heat season set multiple records, including 70 days above 110°F, 39 nights
above 90°F, and 113 consecutive days over 100°F. These unprecedented conditions
heightened public health risks and underscored the need for continued heat relief
efforts in 2025.

Impact of 2024 Heat Response Programs
The five new extended hour and overnight heat relief locations averaged more than
200 visits per day, cumulating in more than 35,000 visits throughout the heat season.
These sites served over 5,000 unique individuals, yielding significant public health
benefits. Nearly 900 individuals were placed into housing, shelter, or related services
as a result of visiting a Phoenix heat relief location. Despite record-breaking heat, 911
calls for heat-related emergencies decreased by 20 percent, and for the first time in
more than a decade, Maricopa County reported a year-over-year reduction in heat-
related deaths.

These positive outcomes, along with operational data from the 2024 season, informed
updates to the citywide 2025 Heat Response Plan (Attachment A). Key insights
shaping the 2025 plan include a continued focus on high-need areas like downtown
Phoenix and the I-17 corridor, and the importance of pedestrian, bicycle, and public
transit access. More than 70 percent of visitors walked or biked to sites last year.
Prioritizing services for individuals experiencing homelessness is also a top priority, as
they comprised 91 percent of visits to heat relief locations. These insights emerged
from a comprehensive after-action review coordinated by the Office of Emergency
Management at the end of the 2024 heat season. The summary after-action report is
included as Attachment B. Findings from the after-action report and ongoing data
analysis are guiding Phoenix’s approach to effective and accessible heat relief in 2025.



Heat Response Plan Updates for 2025
The 2025 plan builds on 2024’s lessons, with expanded services, data-driven
adjustments, and stronger partnerships, ensuring enhanced coordination, accessibility,
and outreach to protect residents during extreme heat events. Key updates to improve
heat relief services include:
· Continued 24/7 Heat Respite Location: Once again, the City will operate a 24/7 heat
respite and navigation center. This center is proposed for 20 W. Jackson Street,
providing greater capacity, accessibility, and proximity to public transit. Burton Barr
Library and the Senior Opportunities West Senior Center will remain in their
traditional roles as cooling and hydration centers during normal operating hours.
· Full Library Services at Extended Hour Cooling Centers: Cholla, Harmon, and
Yucca Libraries will again function as cooling centers and will now offer full library
services until 10 p.m. daily, with navigation services provided by Community
Bridges, Inc. during extended hours. This change will enable visitors during
extended hours access to all services and enhance general community access.
· Employee Education: New content in the online training platform PHXYou will
increase City of Phoenix employee awareness of heat safety programs and
resources available to the public.

Budget Impact
In 2024, the total cost for enhanced services was $3,809,644, funded through General
Funds, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, Maricopa County Department of
Public Health, and the Arizona Department of Housing funds. The 2025 estimated
need for the operation of the 24/7 Heat Respite and three Extended Hour Cooling
Center sites is $4,944,000, funded through ARPA, Opioid Settlement, and Maricopa
County Department of Public Health funds.

Concurrence/Previous Council Action
· On October 12, 2021, City Council approved the Phoenix Climate Action Plan.
· On March 2, 2022, City Council adopted the 2021 Maricopa County Multi-
Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
· On February 21, 2024, City Council approved Arizona Department of Housing Grant
Funding (Ordinance S-50603).
· On February 27, 2024, City Council reviewed the 2024 Heat Response Plan.
· On March 20, 2024, City Council approved IGA with Maricopa County (Ordinance S
-50701).
· On March 20, 2024, City Council approved amendments to Emergency
Shelter/Heat Related Respite Operator and Supportive Services Qualified Vendor
List and authorized use of the QVL to contract with Community Bridges, Inc.



(Ordinance S-50706).
· On March 29, 2022, City Council adopted Phoenix's citywide Heat Response Plan.
· On June 26, 2024, City Council approved amendment to IGA with Maricopa County
(Ordinance S-51114).
· On October 30, 2024, City Council approved retroactive agreement with Community
Bridges, Inc. for security services (Ordinance S-51378).
· On November 13, 2024, City Council approved reallocation of $650,000 ARPA
funding to support 2025 overnight summer heat respite services.

Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Managers Lori Bays and Inger Erickson,
Deputy City Manager Gina Montes, the Phoenix Fire Department and the Offices of
Emergency Management, Heat Response and Mitigation, Homeless Solutions and
Public Health.





ATTACHMENT A




2025 Heat Response Plan




DRAFT
FOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
3/25/2025




Table of Contents
Executive Summary 3
Purpose and Planning Process 4
Weather and Climate Assessment 6
Health Assessment 8
Heat Response Programs and Services 10
Table of Strategies and Actions 11
Strategy 1: Equip First Responders for Effective Heat Response 12
Strategy 2: Provide Publicly Accessible Cool Space 13
Strategy 3: Increase Access to Drinking Water 15
Strategy 4: Support Cool and Safe Home Environments 16
Strategy 5: Support Cool and Safe Mobility and Recreation 17
Strategy 6: Implement Heat Safety Measures for Workers 18
Strategy 7: Engage with the Community to Build Heat Readiness 19
Strategy 8: Collaboratively Work Across Department and Agency Boundaries 22
Acknowledgements 24





Executive Summary
The Heat Response Plan details the programs and services that Phoenix delivers to residents
and visitors to prevent illness, death, and other serious and immediate adverse health outcomes
associated with indoor and outdoor heat exposure. Heat-related deaths in the City of Phoenix as
reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health have risen substantially since
2014, peaking at 395 during 2023. Preliminary Reports from Maricopa County Department of
Public Health for 2024 show the first year-over-year reduction in heat-related deaths observed
in Maricopa County since 2014. The Heat Response Plan is revised annually to ensure that the
City’s approach is adapted to meet evolving community needs in the pursuit of reductions in
heat-related illnesses and deaths.

The 2025 Heat Response Plan contains 30 specific heat response actions for which the City
holds a leadership role, organized into eight broad strategies:

1. Equip first responders for effective heat response.
2. Provide publicly accessible cool space.
3. Increase access to drinking water.
4. Support cool and safe home environments.
5. Support cool and safe mobility and recreation.
6. Implement heat safety measures for workers.
7. Engage with the community to build heat readiness.
8. Collaboratively work across department and agency boundaries.

Updates to the plan for 2025 include:

1. Operation of a 24/7 heat respite center at a new location
2. Offering full library services at extended hour cooling centers
3. Conducting outreach to mobile home communities in partnership with the Red Cross
4. Building new heat-focused educational resources for City of Phoenix employees

The 2025 plan draws from 2024’s lessons learned, with expanded services, data-driven
adjustments, and stronger partnerships, ensuring enhanced coordination, accessibility, and
outreach to protect residents during extreme heat events.





Purpose and Planning Process
The City of Phoenix Heat Response Plan outlines programs and services intended to protect
public health and quality of life from the threats of hot weather. Extreme heat is a leading cause
of weather-related deaths in the United States and exerts a significant public health burden in
Phoenix. The most acute impacts include heat-caused and heat-related fatalities, as well as
heat-related illnesses that require emergency medical service and hospital care. Many other
health challenges are also known to be related to prolonged, frequent, or severe heat exposure
but are not systematically documented. These challenges include cases of heat illness that are
unreported, disrupted sleep patterns, and anxiety over high electricity bills.

While everyone is potentially vulnerable to heat-related illness, certain communities account for
a disproportionately high share of the public health burden of extreme heat. Public health
reports in Arizona point to people experiencing homelessness and substance users at especially
high risk of adverse heat-related health outcomes. Studies also show that rates of heat-related
illness and/or death are higher in communities that have lower incomes, lower quality housing, a
higher prevalence of elderly individuals, a higher prevalence of people of color, and other
indicators of social vulnerability.

Managing the public health risks associated with extreme heat is an integral component of
hazard preparedness for the City of Phoenix owing to its geographic positioning in the Sonoran
Desert. Prolonged, hot summers are a part of the regional climate. However, the experience of
summer heat is highly variable between different neighborhoods in Phoenix and between
individual residents. Historical development patterns and varying topography across Phoenix
lead to neighborhood-to-neighborhood air temperature differences of 10°F or more on summer
days. Personal heat exposure is even more variable depending on daily activity patterns and
access to air-conditioned spaces. Over time, the severity of summer heat in Phoenix is being
amplified beyond background conditions by urban development and global-scale climate
change. Summer daytime and nighttime temperatures have increased in the City of Phoenix for
several decades and temperatures are projected to continue to rise.

To address the significant, inequitable, and growing public health risks associated with extreme
heat, the Phoenix City Council unanimously passed the City’s first Heat Response Plan in 2022.
This document is the third annual update to the Heat Response Plan.

The process to update the Heat Response Plan began in late summer 2024, and was
coordinated by an Executive Heat Response Leadership team. This team is comprised of senior
staff from Emergency Management, Fire, Public Health, Homeless Solutions, and Heat
Response and Mitigation. The Executive Heat Response Leadership team initiated several
different types of program evaluation to identify opportunities for improvement toward the goal
of preventing heat-associated illness and deaths. Those evaluation activities included a formal
after-action analysis of the City’s enhanced efforts during summer 2024 and review of
operations with city departments and regional stakeholders that operate programs and services
relevant to the heat response mission.


The 2025 Heat Response Plan contains 30 specific heat response actions for which the City
holds a leadership role, organized into eight broad strategies:

1. Equip first responders for effective heat response.
2. Provide publicly accessible cool space.
3. Increase access to drinking water.
4. Support cool and safe home environments.
5. Support cool and safe mobility and recreation.
6. Implement heat safety measures for workers.
7. Engage with the community to build heat readiness.
8. Collaboratively work across department and agency boundaries.

The goal of the Heat Response Plan is to enhance public health and community resilience by
alleviating adverse effects of heat. Key performance indicators include:

• Heat-related mortality: Strive for year-over-year reductions in the number of fatalities
attributed to heat exposure in the City of Phoenix

• Heat-related illnesses: Strive for year-over-year reductions in the number and severity of
medical service calls related to heat exposure in the City of Phoenix.

Year-over-year reductions in heat-related deaths and heat-related illnesses in Phoenix were
realized in summer 2024, which was measured as the hottest in the City’s history.

The City of Phoenix also implements and invests in a wide range of other programs and
services that support the goals of the Heat Response Plan but are not specifically activated or
emphasized for the heat season, and as such are not listed as actions in this document.
Examples of those related initiatives include:
• Investments in affordable housing units and shelter beds
• Operation of housing repair and weatherization programs
• Installation of shade structures at transit stops and in the public right of way
• Increases in urban tree canopy
• Adoption of the new Shade Phoenix Plan by City Council in November 2024
• Updates to Phoenix’s Climate Action Plan





Weather and Climate Assessment
The City of Phoenix Heat Response Plan defines May through September as the operational
season for heat response efforts. However, October 2024 experienced unprecedented late-
season heat, including the first 110°F days in October in Phoenix’s recorded history, motivating
the addition of October data to support planning.

Heat Season 2024 Review

The 2024 Heat Season in Phoenix set many records with respect to the severity and duration of
extreme heat conditions. The most notable records from 2024 included new all-time highs for
the number of days with temperatures reaching 110°F (70) and the number of nights with
temperatures failing to drop below 90°F (39). The 2024 season also set a record for the number
of consecutive days with temperatures reaching at least 100°F (113). Average high and low
temperatures for June, September, and October all set historical records; average low
temperatures in August were also record-setting. The figure below shows daily high
temperatures from the 2024 heat season as compared to climatological normals, and the table
provides a month-by-month summary of daily average high and low temperatures.




2024 Normal 2024 2024 Normal 2024
Month
Avg. High Avg. High* Rank** Avg. Low Avg. Low* Rank**
May 96.7°F 94.5°F 16 70.9°F 69.5°F 13
June 109.4°F 104.2°F 1 84.6°F 78.6°F 1
July 112.3°F 106.5°F 2 89.8°F 84.5°F 2
August 109.4°F 105.1°F 3 88.1°F 83.6°F 1
September 106.6°F 100.4°F 1 82.5°F 78.1°F 1
October 97.9°F 89.2°F 1 71.1°F 65.6°F 1
*per the official 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals adopted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
**out of 129 recorded years; 1 indicates hottest on record



Climate Data for Planning

The table below presents weekly averages, ranges, and probabilities of exceedance based on
2015–2024 observations from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Statistics are based on the previous
ten years rather than the official 30-year normals established by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to ensure that the most recent observations are used and to
acknowledge non- stationarity in regional temperature trends. Data are presented for each week
of the 2025 Heat Season starting on Sundays.


Week Date Daily High Temperatures Daily Low Temperatures
Average Highest 100°F or 110°F or Average Highest 90°F or
(°F) (°F) above* above* (°F) (°F) above*
1 4/27 91.5 104 14% 0% 65.9 75 0%
2 5/4 92.7 108 24% 0% 67.3 77 0%
3 5/11 94.5 106 29% 0% 69.2 82 0%
4 5/18 93.4 104 24% 0% 69.2 78 0%
5 5/25 98.2 112 47% 3% 72.0 84 0%
6 6/2 103.6 115 79% 11% 77.3 87 0%
7 6/8 104.2 114 79% 16% 78.6 90 3%
8 6/15 107.5 119 94% 36% 80.3 92 10%
9 6/22 108.7 117 97% 44% 83.9 95 17%
10 6/29 107.7 116 97% 34% 84.5 93 7%
11 7/6 110.1 118 99% 64% 86.8 95 33%
12 7/13 108.7 118 97% 41% 87.4 95 37%
13 7/20 107.1 119 91% 34% 86.4 97 33%
14 7/27 107.3 118 91% 41% 85.7 95 27%
15 8/3 108.3 116 94% 46% 86.3 93 26%
16 8/10 105.6 117 83% 29% 83.9 93 16%
17 8/17 105.5 115 86% 26% 83.7 93 17%
18 8/24 106.9 117 94% 27% 84.5 93 13%
19 8/31 105.1 116 87% 14% 83.3 93 1%
20 9/7 104.2 114 79% 17% 82.4 93 6%
21 9/14 101.9 109 64% 0% 78.3 86 0%
22 9/21 97.8 113 47% 3% 75.1 84 0%
23 9/28 97.8 117 41% 6% 74.2 88 0%
24 10/5 94.8 113 26% 4% 70.4 82 0%
25 10/12 92.4 105 16% 0% 67.8 78 0%
26 10/19 89.7 104 6% 0% 65.6 74 0%
27 10/26 85.4 100 3% 0% 61.4 76 0%
*Probabilities of exceedance indicate the percent of days within the given week that temperatures have reached the
indicated temperature over the past decade.





Health Assessment
Heat-related deaths are tracked in Maricopa County by the Maricopa Department of Public
Health (MCDPH), in partnership with the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner.
Heat-related deaths include those that are directly attributable to heat exposure (heat-caused
deaths) and those where heat played a contributing role but was not the primary cause of death
(heat-contributed deaths). The Maricopa County heat-health system is widely recognized as a
national and international best practice. Heat-related deaths have been recorded using
consistent methods since 2006.

Heat-related deaths have increased considerably in Maricopa County since 2014. Particularly
large year-over-year increases were evident from 2015 to 2016 (+83%), 2019 to 2020 (+62%),
and 2021 to 2022 (+25%). Another large increase is evident from 2022 to 2023, with an
increase of more than 47% to the record high of 625 cases in Maricopa County that was
recorded that year. However, heat-related deaths declined in Maricopa County from 2023 to
2024.Countywide deaths dropped to 602 (with 8 cases pending). City-specific totals for 2024
will be released by MCDPH at later date.





MCDPH produces comprehensive annual reports that detail key risk factors and characteristics
of heat-associated deaths, including demographic information, details about housing status, air
conditioning availability, and indications of drug/alcohol use. The preliminary report for the 2024
heat season was released in March 2025 and shows that county-wide risk factors for heat-
related death remain generally consistent with prior years. Among the findings of the preliminary
report:

• A total of 602 heat-related deaths occurred in 2024, a reduction from 645 reported in
2023 and the first year-over-year reduction reported since 2014. 8 cases remain under
investigation as of March 2025.

• 61% of reported deaths were heat-caused and 39% were considered heat-contributed.
Heat-caused deaths are those in which heat was directly involved in the sequence of
conditions causing deaths.

• 79% of heat-related deaths were among males.

• 55% of heat-related deaths were among persons 35–64 years of age

• 77% of heat-related deaths had an outdoor place of injury, with 66% of outdoor cases
occurring in an urban area

• Among indoor heat-related deaths, 62% occurred in a house and air conditioning units
were present 88% of the time, but often not functioning

• People experiencing homelessness accounted for 50% of heat-related deaths

• Substance use was involved in 58% of deaths, and the vast majority of substance use
deaths involved stimulants.

Another key lesson learned from MCDPH and Arizona State University (ASU) analysis of heat-
associated death and illness data is that serious health impacts from heat are not confined to
only the hottest summer days. While the hottest days do bring the highest risk of heat-
associated death and illness, cases begin to be seen at temperatures that would be considered
mild by most Phoenicians. In 2024, 45% of heat-related deaths in Maricopa County occurred on
days with the HeatRisk was designated by the National Weather Service as Major or Extreme,
and 55% of deaths occurred on days when the HeatRisk was designated as Moderate, Minor, or
None. These findings imply that a seasonal approach to heat management, rather than one only
focused on intermittent “heat waves” is necessary.





Heat Response Programs and Services
In 2025, the City of Phoenix will take the lead or play a significant role in operating 30 heat
response programs and services. This comprehensive portfolio comprises a mix of ongoing
programs continuing from previous years, revised existing programs, and new initiatives
introduced for the summer of 2025. The responsibility and support for these programs and
services, encompassing budget and staffing needs, are distributed across more than 15
different City departments and functions. While many actions in the plan continually evolve and
improve from year to year, there are 8 notable updates and/or additions for this year.

• Providing full library services during extended hour cooling center operations (Action 2.2)
• Relocation of the 24/7 heat respite and navigation center to 20 West Jackson Street
(Action 2.3)
• Expansion of the public chilled drinking water fountain pilot program (Action 3.2)
• Expansion of the trailhead heat safety outreach program (Action 5.1)
• Modifications to the City’s trail closure policy for heat safety, as adopted by the Parks
and Recreation Board (Action 5.2)
• Development of new educational resources to build heat response program knowledge
among City employees (Action 7.7)
• Deploying outreach teams to share heat resources and information in mobile home
communities (Action 7.8)
• Supporting the regional Urban Heat Leadership Academy (Action 7.9)


The subsequent pages feature an inventory of all programs and services organized by strategy,
presented in table format. Following the table, a short narrative is provided for each action to
provide a more complete perspective of the components of the Heat Response Plan.





Strategies Actions Lead Depts.
Equip First 1.1 Activate summer heat protocols including cold immersion techniques FIRE
Responders
2.1 Designate City Facilities as Heat Relief Network Cooling Centers LIB, OHRM
Provide 2.2 Offer Extended Hours at City of Phoenix Cooling Centers (UPDATED) UCT
Publicly 2.3 Operate a 24/7 Respite and Navigation Center (UPDATED) UCT
Accessible
Cool Space 2.4 Operate Safe Outdoor Space OHS
2.5 Provide Shade and Cooled Rest Areas at The Key Campus OHS
Increase 3.1 Designate City Facilities as Heat Relief Network Hydration Stations PRD, HSD,
Access to OHRM
Public 3.2 Expand Chilled Drinking Water in Public Spaces Initiative (UPDATED) INNOV
Drinking
Water
4.1 Promote and Enforce Cooling Ordinance for Rental Housing Units NSD, HSD,
Support Cool COMMS
and Safe
Homes 4.2 Provide Emergency Utility Assistance HSD
4.3 Offer Low-flow Water Services Program WSD
5.1 Deploy Outreach Teams to Select Trailheads (UPDATED) PRD, OHRM,
Support Cool
FIRE
and Safe
5.2 Close Select Trailheads on Extreme Heat Warning Days (UPDATED) PRD
Mobility and
Recreation 5.3 Operate City Pools and Splash Pads for Cool Recreation PRD

Implement 6.1 Implement Heat Safety Plans in City Departments HR
Heat Safety
Measures for 6.2 Promote and Enforce Heat Safety Ordinance for City Contractors FIN, LAW, HR,
Workers OHRM
7.1 Operate a Comprehensive Heat Response Public Education Campaign COMMS
7.2 Provide Heat Relief Grants to Community Partners OHRM
7.3 Support Media Requests Related to Heat Response COMMS
7.4 Equip Homeless Outreach Teams with Cooling Resources OHS, OHRM,
Engage the OPH
Community 7.5 Improve Engagement Strategies for People Who Use Substances OPH, ORHM,
to Build Heat OHS, COMMS
Readiness 7.6 Attend Community Events to Share Heat Safety Resources OHRM
7.7 Create Heat Response Educational Resources for City Employees (NEW) OHRM, HR
7.8 Deploy Heat Outreach Teams to Mobile Home Communities (NEW) OHRM
7.9 Support the Greater Phoenix Urban Heat Leadership Academy (NEW) OHRM, OEM
8.1 Implement Unified Command Team to Coordinate Extended Hour Sites OEM
Collaborate
8.2 Convene Departmental Liaisons to Improve Plan Implementation OHRM
Across
Department 8.3 Collect Comprehensive Evaluation Data to Support Heat Response UCT, OHRM, IT
and Agency 8.4 Provide Weekly Updates on Heat Response Programs OHRM
Boundaries
8.5 Participate in Cross-Agency Work Groups OHRM, OPH

Department key: UCT – Unified Command Team; OHRM – Office of Heat Response and Mitigation; PD – Police; COMMS –
Communications; VOL – Volunteer Programs; OAC – Arts and Culture; HSD – Human Services; Human Resources – HR; NSD –
Neighborhood Services; OPH – Public Health, OEM – Office of Emergency Management; Public Works Department – PWD; Parks
and Recreation Department – PRD; Water Services Department – WSD; Public Transit Department – PTD; Light Rail Transit - LRT.





 Activate Summer Heat Protocols Including Cold Immersion Techniques Action 1.1
The City of Phoenix Fire Department responded to more than 1,400 calls for heat emergencies
in the 2024 Heat Season. The life-saving measures taken by the Fire Department for heat
emergencies include cold water immersion, chilled intravenous therapy, and other innovative
strategies designed to reduce case severity. The Fire Department Heat Stress Management
Standard Operation Procedure (MP 206.19) provides a robust framework for minimizing the
effects of heat stress on first responders, which would have a cascading adverse impact on the
community. The framework focuses on health assessments, rest, hydration, and temperature
regulation for personnel exposed to high temperatures. Protective directives engage when
temperatures exceed 105°F, deploying additional resources and implementing enhanced
rehabilitation measures. Training exposures comply with ADOSH guidelines, further ensuring
the well-being of personnel.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) FIRE
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. https://www.phoenix.gov/fire/publications/standard-operating-procedures





 Designate City facilities as Heat Relief Network Cooling Centers Action 2.1
The regional Heat Relief Network is coordinated by the Maricopa Association of Governments
(MAG) and consists of Respite Centers, Cooling Centers, Hydration Stations, and Donation
Sites. Cooling Centers are indoor, air-conditioned locations that also offer hydration. 17 City of
Phoenix Library locations served as Cooling Centers throughout the 2024 Heat Season and the
City will continue this commitment in 2025. All participating City facilities are listed on a publicly
accessible web map and directory hosted by MAG.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) LIBRARY, OHRM
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. https://azmag.gov/Programs/Heat-Relief-Network




 Offer Extended Hours at City of Phoenix Cooling Centers Action 2.2
Updated for 2025. Participating facilities in the regional Heat Relief Network typically provide
services coincident with their normal hours of business operation. This model creates gaps in
network availability, particularly in the late afternoon and evening hours, as well as on
weekends. To address this deficiency, the City of Phoenix will extend the hours of three Cooling
Centers to 10pm each day of the week and add capacity from noon to 10pm on Sundays
throughout the heat season. The three locations identified for this mission based on analysis of
public health and community vulnerability data as well as operational capabilities are Cholla
Library, Harmon Library, and Yucca Library. Staffing and operational models will be monitored
and revised throughout the heat season by the Incident Management Team. For the 2025 heat
season, full library services will be offered at these locations during the extended operating
hours, increasing services provided to the entire community from what was offered in 2024.
Additional staffing support will be provided by Community Bridges, Inc., during the extended
hours periods.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) UNIFIED COMMAND TEAM
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. N/A





 Operate a 24/7 Respite and Navigation Center Action 2.3
Updated for 2025. To further address deficiencies in regional Heat Relief Network availability,
the City of Phoenix will operate a 24/7 Heat Respite and Navigation Center for the entire heat
season. This location will serve as a safe, cool indoor space for refuge from the heat and
provide water. They will also provide resources for people experiencing homelessness including
navigation and transportation, to help people access the wide range of other City of Phoenix
services. The location identified for this mission based on analysis of public health and
community vulnerability data as well as operational capabilities is a property available for lease
at 20 W. Jackson Street. This location improves 24/7 heat respite capacity from the 2024 heat
season and continues to provide high accessibility for pedestrians and bicyclists and proximity
to public transportation. The 24/7 site will have staffing and security support from Community
Bridges, Inc., and the Phoenix Police Department. Sites used for 24/7 and overnight respite in
the 2024 heat season (Burton Barr Café and Senior Opportunities West Senior Center) will
return to their traditional roles as cooling and hydration stations during normal operating hours.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) UNIFIED COMMAND TEAM
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. N/A




 Operate the Safe Outdoor Space Action 2.4
The Safe Outdoor Space at 1537 W. Jackson St. is a key component in the city’s strategy to
address homelessness around the Key Campus. It is designed as an alternative for those not
yet ready for indoor shelter during enhanced engagements, and provides a safer, shaded
environment with essential services to aid individuals in ending their homelessness. The unique
property, procured with grant funding awarded by the Arizona Department of Housing, offers
both outdoor and indoor spaces. The operation of the Safe Outdoor Space aligns with
recommendations from the Strategies to Address Homelessness Task Force recommendations.
TARGET POPULATION PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) OHS
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. N/A




 Provide Shade and Cooled Rest areas at The Key Campus Action 2.5
Multiple City of Phoenix investments made over the past several years are providing shade and
cooled space to individuals experiencing homelessness at the Key Campus. These investments
include shade structures and evaporative coolers that are activated on the Campus during the
heat season. Phoenix coordinated and funded the recent construction of a new cooling tower at
the center of the Campus that is now operational.
TARGET POPULATION PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) OHS
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. N/A





 Designate City Facilities as Heat Relief Network Hydration Stations Action 3.1
The regional Heat Relief Network is coordinated by the Maricopa Association of Governments
(MAG) and consists of Respite Centers, Cooling Centers, Hydration Stations, and Donation
Sites. Hydration Stations are indoor or outdoor locations that offer bottled water and may offer
other heat relief resources. 46 City of Phoenix facilities served as Hydration Stations throughout
the 2024 Heat Season and the City will continue this commitment in 2025. All participating City
facilities are listed on a publicly accessible web map and directory hosted by MAG.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) PRD, HSD, OHRM
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. https://azmag.gov/Programs/Heat-Relief-Network



 Expand Chilled Drinking Water in Public Spaces Initiative Action 3.2
Updated for 2025. Access to chilled drinking water is a fundamental need that is essential for
maintaining overall health and well-being. This project aims to expand access to chilled drinking
water across the city. In 2023, the Office of Innovation partnered with Bloomberg Associates
and Downtown Phoenix Inc. to design and deploy a pilot initiative focused on access to chilled
drinking water. The project takes a data-driven approach to understand the needs of the
Phoenix community to have access to chilled drinking water. Three water fountains were
deployed in Downtown Phoenix in 2023 and 2024 that will continue to be monitored and
evaluated throughout the 2025 heat season to inform future design, implementation, and
operational needs. Six additional fountains are currently under construction that will also serve
residents this year.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) OFFICE OF INNOVATION
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. https://www.phoenix.gov/innovationsite/Pages/Chilled-Water-Systems.aspx





 Promote and Enforce Cooling Ordinance for Rental Housing Units Action 4.1

The Neighborhood Services Department enforces the City’s cooling ordinance, which sets
minimum temperature requirements for cooling systems in all single and multi-family rental housing
units. Each rental housing unit must be able to safely cool all livable rooms to 86°F when using
evaporative cooling and 82°F when using air conditioning. The Human Services Department also
oversees a Landlord-Tenant education program that helps parties understand their rights and
responsibilities concerning this ordinance and the Arizona Residential Landlord-Tenant Act. The
City actively promotes these and related programs throughout the Heat Season.
TARGET POPULATION RENTERS
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) NSD, HSD, COMMS
https://www.phoenix.gov/nsdsite/Documents/NPD%20Documents/Cooling%20Ordinance%2
RESOURCES / MORE INFO.
0Flyer.pdf


 Provide Emergency Utility Assistance Action 4.2
The Human Services Department operates the City’s utility assistance program for residents,
which aids in covering costs for electricity, water, and gas services. Assistance is provided
through federal, state, and local utility assistance funding initiatives. Funding is provided on a
first come first served basis; however, those who meet emergency criteria are able to receive
funding, if available. The emergency criteria covers priority populations, including seniors,
families with children under 24 months, individuals who've experienced domestic violence, and
those facing an imminent eviction or utility disconnection. The utility assistance program
operates year-round and is promoted as a heat response strategy during the heat season.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) HSD
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. https://www.phoenix.gov/humanservices


 Offer Low-Flow Water Service Program Action 4.3
The Water Services Department is continuing its innovative Low-Flow Water Service Program.
This program provides a vital lifeline for customers experiencing difficulty paying their water
bills, offering essential water services for up to three months. By ensuring continued access to
water for basic needs, such as hydration, while residents work to resolve challenges with bill
payment, the City strives to alleviate burdens associated with extreme heat and financial strain.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) WSD
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. https://www.phoenix.gov/waterservices





 Deploy Outreach Teams to Select Trailheads Action 5.1
Updated for 2025. The Office of Heat Response and Mitigation will support the "Take a Hike. Do
it Right." outreach program at the selected trails with restrictions by organizing specialized
volunteer groups, such as the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Park
Stewards. Volunteers will be stationed at select trailheads at Camelback Mountain, Piestewa
Peak, and South Mountain every Saturday from May 1 to September 30, between 7-10 a.m.,
providing heat safety education and distributing cold water to trail users.
TARGET POPULATION HIKERS
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) PRD
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. N/A




 Close Select Trailheads on Extreme Heat Warning Days Action 5.2
Updated for 2025. The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board first voted to implement
trail restrictions for heat safety in October 2021. The policy has been periodically modified since
its initial adoption. In fall 2024, Board voted to modify the Phoenix Trails and Heat Safety
Program to include all trails at South Mountain Park and Preserve and shift the start time for
trail restrictions to begin at 8 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. The program already included the Echo
Canyon and Cholla Trails at Camelback Mountain, along with the Piestewa Peak Summit Trail
and trails at the Phoenix Mountains Preserve and restricts trails when the National Weather
Service issues an Extreme Heat Warning. Additional action to modify the program further may
be taken by the Parks and Recreation Board at their March 27, 2025 meeting


TARGET POPULATION HIKERS
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) PRD
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/take-a-hike-do-it-right to receive alerts



 Operate City Pools and Splash Pads for Cool Recreation Action 5.3
The Parks and Recreation Department operates a network of public pools and splash pads
throughout the city that provide heat relief and safe summer recreational opportunities for
residents. The Department “Kool Kids” program eliminates cost barriers to enter select city pools
for Phoenix youth.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) PRD
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/pools





 Implement Heat Safety Plans in City Departments Action 6.1
The Human Resources Safety division has developed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Plans
with departments whose employees face extreme heat safety dangers during their work duties.
These plans work to minimize or eliminate employee exposures to heat related hazards that
may lead to serious injuries, illnesses or death. These plans outline each department’s safety
controls and policies to mitigate heat-related hazards, procedures to follow should a heat related
illness or injury occur and training to ensure employees are familiar with their department’s plan.
TARGET POPULATION CITY EMPLOYEES
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) HR
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. N/A



 Promote and Enforce Heat Safety Ordinance for City Contractors Action 6.2
In April 2024, the City Council adopted a heat safety ordinance that applies to businesses that
have contractual, leasing, or licensing relationships with the City of Phoenix. The ordinance
requires these businesses to have compliant heat safety plans that ensure appropriate measures
to protect employees are in place. At the time of ordinance adoption, the City Council also directed
staff to create an advisory committee to guide the implementation of the ordinance.
The advisory committee was formed in early summer 2024 and meets monthly. The committee is
currently working to develop a recommended model heat safety plan to provide to businesses.
TARGET POPULATION WORKERS
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) HR, LAW, FINANCE, OHRM
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. N/A





 Operate a Comprehensive Heat Response Public Education Campaign Action 7.1
The City will continue increase the modalities and reach of public messaging related to heat
response in 2025 through a comprehensive public education campaign. The goal of the
campaign is to maximize community awareness of heat illness symptoms, available resources,
and opportunities to participate in heat response initiatives. Historically, the City has shared heat
safety and cooling resource information through print and digital communication channels,
including social media. The City also hosts multiple websites with heat safety information and
links to related resources, including phoenix.gov/summer. These resources will be updated and
new resources will be created for the 2025 heat season to more effectively engage with heat-
vulnerable populations and the community at large. Key content of the communication
campaign includes information about the Heat Relief Network and the City’s 24/7 and extended
hour locations, safety messaging for transit riders, outdoor workers, and people engaging in
outdoor recreation, relevant ordinances including those pertaining to outdoor workers and
cooling standards at rental properties, and resources concerning utility programs and
disconnection policies.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) COMMS
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. https://www.phoenix.gov/pio/summer



 Provide Heat Relief Grants to Community Partners Action 7.2
In 2023, City Council allocated funding to the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation to
establish a Heat Relief Grant program to support community organizations whose efforts
aligned with the goals of the Heat Response Plan. The grants were intended to augment the
efforts of community organizations that offer a wide range of services to meet the needs of heat-
vulnerable residents. Heat relief grants for the 2023 and 2024 heat season were awarded to 18
community organizations. To date, grantees have reported more than 65,000 engagements with
community members related to this funding. Community members have received heat relief
supplies, accessed cooled space, and received case management through this funding. Staff
are soliciting feedback from previous grantees and other local stakeholders to inform updates to
the funding priorities and administrative processes of the grant program for 2025.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) OHRM
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. N/A





 Support Media Requests Related to Heat Response Action 7.3
City staff help build public awareness of heat safety strategies and community cooling resources
by participating as subject matter experts in requested interviews. Media requests related to
heat response programs are coordinated by the Communications Office and filled by
departments as appropriate to the request. The City also hosts a pre-heat season media event
coincident with Arizona Heat Awareness Week with a wide range of city departments and
external partners available for interviews, and provides periodic media pool availability through
the heat season. In 2024, the Communications Office coordinated more than 100 requests from
local, national, and international outlets related to the City’s Heat Response Plan and programs.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) COMMS
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. https://www.phoenix.gov/pio



 Equip Homeless Outreach Teams with Cooling Resources Action 7.4
The City proactively engages with people experiencing homelessness through the daily work of
professional outreach specialists from the Office of Homeless Solutions. In the 2025 heat
season, these outreach teams will be equipped with heat relief resource kits including water and
other heat relief supplies and information about community cooling resources. This effort is
supported with a three-year grant to the City of Phoenix from the Gila River Indian Community.
In 2024, more than 3,500 people received approximately 10,000 supplies that helped protect
them from the heat through this initiative.
TARGET POPULATION PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) OHS, OHRM
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. N/A



 Improve Engagement Strategies for People Who Use Substances Action 7.5
The Office of Public Health, in partnership with the Communications Office and Offices of Heat
Response and Mitigation and Homeless Solutions, will continue efforts to improve heat related
outcomes for people who use drugs and alcohol. Substance use is a factor in approximately
75% of heat-related deaths in the City of Phoenix. Efforts in 2025 will include the continuation of
the naloxone program through heat outreach and cooling centers, and education on overdose
signs, symptoms, and response, including in training modules for staff and volunteers
supporting heat relief sites. In addition, staff will develop and implement heat risk messaging
and tools in partnership with overdose and disease prevention agencies and services
supporting people who use drugs.
TARGET POPULATION SUBSTANCE USERS
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) OPH, OHRM, OHS, COMMS
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. https://www.phoenix.gov/healthsite/Pages/Naloxone.aspx





 Attend Community Events to Share Heat Safety Resources Action 7.6
The Office of Heat Response and Mitigation will help raise awareness of heat response
initiatives by supporting requests to participate in community gatherings and outreach events
throughout the heat season. Staff will provide an information booth and engage with attendees
to raise awareness about heat safety measures, distribute educational materials, and provide
guidance on accessing community cooling resources.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) OHRM
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. N/A



 Create Heat Response Educational Resources for City Employees Action 7.7
New action for 2025. The City will develop and implement new content in PHXYou to help build
employee awareness of the full suite of heat safety programs and resources available to the
public. This content will include information about programs and tools available through other
local partners including the National Weather Service and Maricopa County Department of
Public Health.
TARGET POPULATION EMPLOYEES
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) OHRM, HR
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. N/A



 Deploy Heat Outreach Teams to Mobile Home Communities Action 7.8
New action for 2025. The City will partner with the Red Cross to coordinate a volunteer-led
outreach program for residents of mobile and manufactured homes. The partnership will focus
on educating residents about available resources and promoting heat safety.
TARGET POPULATION MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) OHRM
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. N/A



 Support the Greater Phoenix Urban Heat Leadership Academy Action 7.9
New action for 2025. The Urban Heat Leadership Academy is a local heat education and
capacity-building program led by the Nature Conservancy of Arizona’s Health Cities Program.
Beginning in 2025, with support from a FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
Grant, the City of Phoenix will partner with the Nature Conservancy to help implement this
program, supporting curriculum development, resident engagement, and facilitating
opportunities for impactful heat resilience projects completed by program participants.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) OHRM, OEM
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. N/A





 Implement Unified Command Team to Coordinated Extended Hour Sites Action 8.1
The City of Phoenix will adopt an Incident Management Team (IMT) framework to coordinate
operations and logistics related to the extended hour and overnight heat relief locations
throughout the Heat Season, following the successful first implementation of this model in 2024.
The Office of Emergency Management is well suited to lead a unified command approach.
Implementation of an IMT will effectively provide a command-and-control element to
systematically coordinate and manage the collective resources and personnel involved with the
24/7 and extended hour heat relief network locations.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) OEM
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. N/A


 Convene Departmental Liaisons to Improve Plan Implementation Action 8.2
The Office of Heat Response and Mitigation will convene monthly meetings with liaisons of
departments represented in the Heat Response Plan. The goal of these coordination meetings
is to raise collective awareness of the entire portfolio of heat response programs and services
offered by the City and identify opportunities for program improvements.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) OHRM
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. N/A




 Collect Comprehensive Evaluation Data to Support Heat Response Action 8.3
The City of Phoenix will continue its efforts to meaningfully gather and analyze a wide range of
data related to the actions outlined in the Heat Response Plan for 2025. This effort includes
weekly meetings of a heat data team throughout the heat season to analyze evolving trends and
patterns and make recommendations for program adjustments. End-of-season evaluation
efforts include outcome and process measures, along with qualitative feedback from program
administrators, community partners, and individuals receiving city services. The summary after-
action report from the 2024 extended hour and overnight heat relief initiatives is included as an
appendix to the Heat Response Plan.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) OHRM
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. N/A





 Provide Weekly Updates on Heat Response Programs Action 8.4
The Offices of Emergency Management and Heat Response and Mitigation will continue to
collaboratively publish a weekly status report throughout the 2025 Heat Season, offering
insights into the ongoing implementation of heat response programs and services. This report
will include highlights, recommendations for program adjustments as needed, and summaries of
relevant weather and health data. In response to feedback from city staff and external partners,
the format and content of this report have been updated for 2025. All weekly heat reports are
posted and archived online.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) OHRM, OEM
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. https://www.phoenix.gov/heat




 Participate in Cross-Agency Work Groups Action 8.5
The City will continue to participate in and lead heat response initiatives across a wide range of
governance scales to ensure that resources are deployed as effectively as possible. Phoenix
was a member of multiple county- and state-level coordination teams in the 2024 heat season
and participated in the end-of-season Arizona Heat Summit held in October. City staff will
continue to serve on the steering committee for the Arizona Heat Resilience Work Group, which
meets biweekly during the heat season.
TARGET POPULATION CITYWIDE
LEAD DEPARTMENT(S) OHRM, OPH
RESOURCES / MORE INFO. https://www.phoenix.gov/heat





Acknowledgments
The City of Phoenix appreciates the efforts of all community partners who are working to reduce
the adverse impacts of extreme heat. The organizations listed below participate in actions listed
in the Heat Response Plan, have provided guidance on the City’s heat response strategies, or
have published plans and reports from which the Heat Response Plan draws content and
inspiration.

Office of Mayor Kate Gallego
Office of Vice Mayor Ann O’Brien, District 1
Office of Jim Waring, District 2
Office of Debra Stark, District 3
Office of Laura Pastor, District 4
Office of Betty Guardado, District 5
Office of Kevin Robinson District 6
Office of Carlos Galindo-Elvira, District 7
Office of Kesha Hodge Washington, District 8

Arts & Culture, Aviation, City Manager’s Office, Communications, Environmental Programs,
Fire, Heat Response and Mitigation, Emergency Management, Homeless Solutions, Housing,
Human Resources, Human Services, Innovation, Library, Light Rail Transit, Neighborhood
Services, Parks and Recreation, Police, Public Health, Public Transit, Public
Works, Sustainability, Volunteer Programs, and Water Services.

Local, Regional, and National Partners
Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona Faith Network, Arizona Heat Resilience Work
Group, Arizona Public Service, Arizona State University, Bloomberg Associates,
C40 Cool Cities Network, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chispa AZ,
Community Bridges, Inc., Crisis Response Network, Healthy Giving Council, Keys to
Change, Maricopa Association of Governments, Maricopa County Department of Emergency
Management, Maricopa County Department of Public Health, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service Phoenix Forecast Office, Nature
Conservancy Arizona Healthy Cities Program, Phoenix Community Emergency Response
Team, Phoenix Parks Foundation, Phoenix Revitalization Corporation, Red Cross, Salt River
Project, Sustainable Cities Network, University of Arizona, Valley Metro, and Valley of the Sun
United Way.

Funding Partners
The City of Phoenix Heat Response initiatives benefit from financial resources made available
through grant programs offered by the Gila River Indian Community and Maricopa County
Department of Public Health.





$77$&+0(17%

CITY OF PHOENIX
UNIFIED HEAT RESPONSE
2024 - AFTER ACTION REPORT




Unified Heat Response
The purpose of this After-Action Report is to provide city leadership with an overview of the City of
Phoenix’s preparation and emergency response to the 2024 extreme heat season.




May 2024 was the first month of the operational heat
response period and was characterized by
temperatures that were generally near historic highs.
The last week of May marked a transitional
period from normal to above-normal
temperatures with daily high temps consistently
reaching mid-100s by June 1 (Figure 1). The first
four weeks of the operational period was a modest
4.6% reduction in citywide heat-related 911 calls
(Figure 2).

The first Excessive Heat Warning was issued on
June 5, and the first 110-degree days fell on June 6
and 7.


PFD heat-related Calls for Service




Figure 2. Weekly heat-related calls as recorded by the Phoenix Fire
Figure 1. Medium-range weather forecast for the Department Electronic Patient Care Records system, May 1 – 31.
first week of June



2024 – After Action Report 2

Throughout the summer multiple records were broken
from prior years including record number of daytime
highs 110+ (70 – 2024 vs. 55 – 2023), record number
of overnight lows 90+ (39 – 2024 vs. 35 – 2023),
consecutive number of days 100+ (113 days 5/27-
9/16), and an unprecedented late-season heat into
October.

Daily high temperatures averaged 6 degrees above
climatological normal for the first half of June.
Unfortunately, this sharp rise in temperatures correlated
with a significant increase in heat-related 911 calls Figure 3. Sample screenshot from the heat-related 911
call dashboard used to support decision-making during
compared to prior weeks. the 2024 operational heat season. Each red symbol
indicates a heat-related 911 call as reported to the
The Heat Ready Unified Command Team leadership Phoenix Fire Department dispatch system.
directed additional data analysis and communication
efforts. Office of Homeless Solutions outreach teams
were directed to canvas hotspot locations for heat
related calls (Figure 3) and information about cooling
and respite centers was amplified through multiple
communication channels. Additional health and medical
services were offered at the Burton Barr Respite Center
during this period.

Program Enhancements for 2024
The unified heat response plan operated under an Incident Management
Team for overall planning and operational oversight and management of
extended hour and overnight respite locations. The Heat Ready Unified
Team follows a FEMA compliant unified command structure.



• Creation of dedicated intelligence dashboard under the Situation Unit
Leader for all data aggregation and dissemination of reporting.
• Development of a comprehensive and robust Communications Plan.
• Implementation of 3-extended hour cooling centers at Yucca, Cholla,
and Harmon Libraries.
• Opening of an overnight respite and cooling center at the Senior
Opportunities West seven days a week.
• Opening of the city’s first 24/7 cooling,
respite, and navigation center at Burton
Barr Library.




2024 – After Action Report 3

Strategies Implemented
Following the conclusion of the 2023 heat season, a Heat Response
Executive Committee was assembled consisting of the Office of
Emergency Management, Office of Heat Response and Mitigation, Office
of Public Health, and Phoenix Fire Department. The Heat Ready Unified
Team purpose was to provide a structured level of oversite for the five
extended hour and overnight locations.




Based on the data analysis from the 2023 season, the five heat relief sites
were strategically selected based on three key criteria: geographic
proximity to heat related calls, the availability of suitable existing
infrastructure, and their alignment with humanitarian objectives.

To better support the community’s needs, the City of Phoenix contracted
with Community Bridges Inc. (CBI) to staff all five locations with behavioral
and network specialists who provide navigation and case management
services to those in need. Additional services were provided at Burton Barr
café to include twice-weekly mobile medical services by Terros Health
and once a week support
between the months of June
through August by the ASU
School of Nursing.




2023 – After Action Report 4

Evaluation and Recommendations
Upon conclusion of 2024 heat operations, the Office of Emergency Management initiated a comprehensive
feedback process. The planning team identified challenges experienced and areas for improvement.

• Staffing –The high volume of staff required for operations and the staffing coordination proved
challenging due to the extended summer-long operational period. Ensuring appropriate
staffing levels at each location to account for day-to-day gaps in coverage required
additional staff scheduling, which over time strained available personnel.
Recommendation: Revise the staffing models for locations to incorporate built in redundancies;
review the roles and responsibilities for all staff to more equitably distribute workloads; and
evaluate if it is necessary to have contract CBI staff at all locations.
• Training – A change to work under the ICS structure, a system most of the involved city
departments had never had exposure to, resulted in a steep learning curve. There have been
multiple requests for additional ICS training prior to next year’s heat season.
Recommendations: Revise in-briefing and initial training to include anyone staffing locations or
supporting the heat respite/cooling center operations. Additionally, role specific training for all
sections and locations, and making sure that training is available prior to the start of the heat
operation.
• Logistics – Logistics proved to be a challenge throughout the summer. Logistics encountered
challenges with orders from each of the five locations from “right sizing” the deliveries to
ensure no location would run out of supplies, utilizing city vendor contracts to improve
order efficiency, and storage and supply of heat relief kits.
Recommendations: Evaluate purchasing and tracking protocols, maintain real-time inventory
levels, build a transportation and delivery infrastructure, explore locations that offer on-site
storage of water and supplies to reduce delivery demands, consolidate heat relief supplies and
naloxone into one distribution.
• Planning – With the implementation of the ICS model, the planning section worked
throughout the heat relief operation to address any questions of confusion about the
operating model, addressed inefficiencies and made any adjustments to the process flow
in real time, maintained scheduled meetings and supported all facets of operations in the
field.
Recommendations: Evaluate current organizational structure, deconflict internal meetings to
ensure minimum redundancy, implement a formal and disciplined approach to meeting cadence,
and provide additional ICS training.
• Finance – The addition of the finance section in the 2024 heat response operation was critical
for documenting and tracking all costs. This was challenging
due to multiple funding sources, specific expenditure
protocols by source, and overall volume of individual
accounts established. Budget allocation and tracking
across multiple departments is both time-consuming and
complex.

Recommendations: Clarify approved line items with outside
funding sources to maximize operational flexibility, review
cost tracking systems, and include fiscal representatives in
the early planning stages.

2024 – After Action Report 5

Evaluation and Recommendations (continued)
Feedback (continued)

• Situational Awareness/Intelligence – The Heat Ready
Unified Team relied on intelligence collected to drive the
operational decision-making for the deployment of personnel
and resources into the field. The Situation Unit was used to
aggregate data and provide a centralized collection point
for a variety of data sets used by the team. Efficient data
collection and reporting to other participating county and
state partners was key.
Recommendations: Integrate all data collection requirements
from internal and external partners before the start of
operations to ensure consistent data collection, clarify end of
shift report questions to ensure the needs of the locations are
addressed, identify alternate onsite staff to collect data,
integrate climate and health dataset for routine decision
making.

• Communications – The communications team remained
adaptive and ready to provide appropriate messaging
throughout the summer. They supported and pivoted as
locations had emergency closures, changes in hours of
operation and more. In preparation for next year’s heat
season the team will work on singular messaging and
speaking with one voice for information dissemination.
Recommendations: Streamline approval processes to reduce
delays in time-sensitive communication, ensure translation of
materials in Spanish and other languages, prioritize
communication accessibility including plain clear language,
multiple formats and color contrasts.

• Coordination – The ICS structure helped set the stage for
increased coordination. The multi-departmental nature of
the operation highlighted the importance of clear
protocols for collaborative efforts under the unified
command structure.
Recommendations: Evaluate all participating departments
roles and responsibilities, ensure that the formal coordination
procedures are clearly outlined, identify and clarify roles and
purpose of the Resource Working Groups (RWGs).




2024 – After Action Report 6

Summary of Success and Planning Assumptions for Summer 2025

During the 2024 summer heat season, the integration of
an Incident Management Team allowed a successful
and efficient heat response in the City of Phoenix.
• The Office of Homeless Solutions in
coordination with CBI partners placed 893
citizens who were experiencing homelessness.
• The Office of Public Health, Office of Heat
Response and Mitigation, and Office of
Homeless Solutions distributed 1,505 Naloxone
kits.
• The Office of Heat Response and Mitigation
distributed 153,864 bottles (6,411 cases) of
water to extended hour and overnight heat relief
locations as well as 6,571 heat relief kits.
• The Phoenix Fire Department reported a 20%
reduction in heat-related calls for service, when
compared to the same time of year 2023 (Figure
1).


The City of Phoenix will reactivate the Heat Ready
Unified Team to coordinate critical components of the
city’s comprehensive heat response plan. This team will
manage the planning, resource coordination, and
personnel deployment necessary to deliver effective
heat relief and support services to our community.



Figure 4: 2023 Heat Related Calls for Service and
open C.A.R.E.S. cases are depicted above which drove
the selection of the 2024 heat relief locations.




2024 – After Action Report 7




Report

Authorization to Lease Real Property Located at 20 West Jackson Street from
Sunrise Equities, LLC. (Ordinance S-51722) - District 7

Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a lease with
Sunrise Equities, LLC. for use of improved property located at 20 W. Jackson Street to
provide a heat respite site for the Office of Homeless Solutions. Further request
authorization for the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item.

Additionally, request the City Council to grant an exception pursuant to Phoenix City
Code § 42-20 to authorize inclusion in the documents pertaining to this transaction of
indemnifications and assumption of liability provisions that otherwise would be
prohibited by Phoenix City Code § 42-18, as tenancy agreements include such
provisions.

THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.

Summary
20 W. Jackson Street has approximately 21,048 square feet and will be used as a 24/7
heat respite site during the summer of 2025 for individuals and families in need of
cooled, indoor space.

The term of the lease will begin April 14, 2025, through September 30, 2025, with an
automatic option continue thereafter on a month to month basis until terminated upon
30 day notification by either Party. The rental rate is $40,000 per month, plus
applicable taxes, which is in the range of market rents as determined by the Real
Estate Division. The City is responsible for utilities and maintenance. The lease may
be canceled pursuant to Arizona Revised Statute 38-511. The lease may contain other
terms and conditions deemed necessary by the City.

Contract Term
The term of the lease is five months, beginning April 14, 2025, through September 30,
2025, with an automatic option to continue thereafter on a month to month basis.

Financial Impact
Rent during the term of the lease will be $40,000 per month, plus applicable taxes.



Funding is available through Office of Homeless Solution's American Rescue Plan Act
and County grant funds.

Location
20 W. Jackson Street
Council District: 7

Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes, the Office of Homeless
Solutions and Finance Department.








Report

Authorization to Enter into Contract with Community Bridges, Inc. for Heat
Related Respite Operator and Supportive Services (Ordinance S-51723) -
Districts 1, 4, 7, 8 and Citywide

Request authorization for the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into contract with
Community Bridges, Inc. (CBI) to operate heat relief and cooling centers and to
connect people experiencing homelessness to services. The total contract value will
not exceed $2,900,000. Additionally, CBI is a vendor on the Emergency Shelter/Heat
Related Respite Operator and Supportive Services Qualified Vendor List (QVL) and
pursuant to City Council Ordinance S-50419, section 2, staff is seeking Council
approval. Further request authorization for the City Controller to disburse all funds
related to this item for the life of the contract. Funding is available in the Human
Services budget.

THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.

Summary
The Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS) provides support and services for persons
experiencing homelessness and is committed to ending homelessness through a
comprehensive, regional approach to housing and services. The City of Phoenix
remains committed to supporting annual heat relief activities for individuals
experiencing homelessness. This commitment includes ensuring people experiencing
homelessness have access to adequate hydration and cooling through temporary,
emergency heat respite and cooling centers throughout Phoenix during the hot
summer months.

OHS contracted with CBI for these services for summer of 2024. OHS seeks to
contract with CBI to operate four centers during the 2025 summer heat season, as well
as provide navigation services which include but are not limited to supportive services,
connecting people experiencing homelessness with housing resources, mental and
behavioral health services, and other resources. The four centers consist of three
cooling centers operated within Phoenix Public Library facilities and one leased, 24/7
heat respite site:

· Cholla Library - 10050 N. Metro Parkway East (cooling center);


· Harmon Library - 1325 S. 5th Avenue (cooling center);
· Yucca Library - 5648 N. 15th Avenue (cooling center);
· 24/7 Heat Respite Location - 20 W. Jackson Street (daytime and overnight respite).

Contract Term
The term of the contract will begin on or about May 1, 2025, for a term of at least five
but no more than 14 months, as determined by the City Manager or designee in light of
available funding and operational need.

Financial Impact
The total cost of the contract will not exceed $2,900,000. Funding is available in the
Human Services budget.

Concurrence/Previous Council Action
· On January 25, 2023, the City Council approved the QVL with Ordinance S-49352.
· On May 15, 2023, the City Council approved additional $10.5 million in funding with
Ordinance S-50884.
· On June 28, 2023, the City Council approved an additional $13.3 million in funding
with Ordinance S-49924.
· On December 13, 2023, the City Council approved an additional $6,752,847 in
funding with Ordinance S-50419.
· On March 20, 2024, the City Council approved an additional $1,388,933 in funding
with Ordinance S-50706.
· On January 15, 2025, the City Council approved an additional $15,000,000 in
funding with Ordinance S-51541.

Locations
Cholla Library, 10050 N. Metro Parkway East
Harmon Library, 1325 S. 5th Avenue
Yucca Library, 5648 N. 15th Avenue
24/7 Heat Respite Location, 20 W. Jackson Street
Council Districts: 1, 4, 7, 8 and Citywide

Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Office of
Homeless Solutions and the Human Services Department.








Report

Retroactive Authorization to Amend and Extend the Term of Intergovernmental
Agreement 160361 with Maricopa County Department of Public Health
(Ordinance S-51724) - Districts 1, 4, 7, 8 & Citywide

Request retroactive authorization for the City Manager, or his designee, to amend
Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) 160361 with Maricopa County (County) to extend
the term of the IGA through December 31, 2026, and increase funding by $2,218,222
for a new total IGA value not to exceed $3,857,120. Further request to authorize the
City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this
item. Funding is available from the County.

THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.

Summary
Funding was awarded to the City from the County in March 2024, to be utilized to
increase the number of heat relief locations, expand daytime heat relief services, and
add overnight heat relief services in Phoenix. Expansion included extended hours at
three daytime sites and the addition of two overnight heat relief centers for people in
need during summer 2024.

The County has added additional funding for the 2025 and 2026 heat seasons,
necessitating this retroactive extension and amendment request. For the 2025 heat
season, the City will operate four centers, consisting of three cooling centers operated
within Phoenix Public Library facilities and one leased, 24/7 heat respite site:
· Cholla Library - 10050 N. Metro Parkway East (cooling center);
· Harmon Library - 1325 S. 5th Avenue (cooling center);
· Yucca Library - 5648 N. 15th Avenue (cooling center);
· 24/7 Heat Respite Location - 20 W. Jackson Street (daytime and overnight respite).

Contract Term
If approved, the IGA will be extended through December 31, 2026.

Financial Impact
The amendment will increase the authorization for the IGA by an additional $2,218,222



for a new not-to-exceed total value of $3,857,120 over the life of the IGA. Funding is
available from the County. There is no impact to the General Fund.

Concurrence/Previous Council Action
· On March 20, 2024, the City Council approved the IGA (Ordinance S-50701).
· On June 26, 2024, the City Council approved an additional $100,000 in funding with
Ordinance S-51114.

Location
Cholla Library - 10050 N. Metro Parkway East (cooling center);
Harmon Library - 1325 S. 5th Avenue (cooling center);
Yucca Library - 5648 N. 15th Avenue (cooling center);
24/7 Heat Respite Location - 20 W. Jackson Street (daytime and overnight respite).
Council Districts: 1, 4, 7, 8 and Citywide

Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Office of
Homeless Solutions.








Report

Agreement with Community Bridges, Inc. for Police Security Services at the 24/7
Heat Relief Respite Center (Ordinance S-51725) - District 7 & Citywide

Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to allow the Police
Department to enter into an agreement with Community Bridges, Inc. (CBI), to provide
police security services at the 24/7 Heat Relief Respite Center located at 20 W.
Jackson Street. The financial impact will not exceed $700,000, and Community
Bridges, Inc. will cover the cost of police services. Further request authorization for the
City Treasurer to accept and disburse all funds related to this item.

THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.

Summary
The Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS) provides support and services for persons
experiencing homelessness and is committed to protecting residents and visitors from
heat-related illnesses, death, and other severe health consequences resulting from
both indoor and outdoor heat exposure. During months of extreme heat, the focus is to
provide respite for vulnerable populations through temporary, emergency heat shelter
and cooling centers. OHS has requested authorization to enter into an agreement with
Community Bridges, Inc. to operate five centers during the extreme heat. To ensure
public safety, police services are requested at the 24/7 respite center, located at 20 W.
Jackson Street. Uniformed officers will be deployed to the respite center in a marked
police vehicle, seven days a week, during peak hours, to maintain public safety, deter
crime, and answer calls for service. The cost for these services will be paid by CBI.

Contract Term
The contract would begin May 1, 2025 through October 31, 2025.

Financial Impact
Community Bridges, Inc. will pay the cost of police services at the 24/7 respite center.
The financial impact will not exceed $700,000.

Concurrence/Previous Council Action
provided at the 24/7 heat relief respite center during the 2024 extreme summer



months.

Location
20 W. Jackson Street
Council District 7

Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Police Department.