[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6279395,"mediaKeyId","2623702-c737c22cfcad9229004a062f91416547","parentId",2623702,"title","Draft Downtown Mesa micro‑mobility and parking plan promotes more bike lanes, clearer signage and added on‑street parking","audioSeconds",4292,"startMs",4869000,"endMs",9161000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2623702-c737c22cfcad9229004a062f91416547&start=4869&end=9161","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2623702-c737c22cfcad9229004a062f91416547/thumbnail_4869000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6279395/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Draft-Downtown-Mesa-micromobility-and-parking-plan-promotes-more-bike-lanes-clearer-signage-and-added-onstreet-parking","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279395-d294d049485fa0547140fa7e19114a5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146980&Signature=YKyh2nlNa32pYRs4ZtUjcI8rqmK2~Tq7wmIDuG6J8OsBrh4gpTCcNMfA44ocUQVR9fTTS9lYHPdp7g-tTr2swpXffbe819ckRcwHRhCGXgnuerY98omdmaH3bHtwElPgwLwjEZ3e9h98dnLM~paxoyXzpjbZxXI2ZZrUJsfmJrdr5-g3CsP1RnOrCk~eJtlZzpgPMNvgQ3ReHhOf9P4Sz~DIb1~4ApPDAMnC-eAGKG3R4735MNb~RiVlHFEyxIvXVXLb-hF0mmXpdJsDIfbloz4g4US~BroAocPr3W3TfX9PAbDHD2L~tRPYgIfnPHhKek7JPwScEzEVkw9uy7wYWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Mesa, AZ","date","2025-03-13T20:14:50Z","article","City urban‑transformation staff and consultant Stantec presented a draft Downtown Mesa micro‑mobility and parking plan that recommends reconfiguring several downtown streets to add protected bike lanes, improve pedestrian comfort and add on‑street angled parking in targeted locations.

Jeff McVay, manager of Urban Transformation, introduced the team and consultant Ralph Denizchio of Stantec explained the plan’s goals: foster a welcoming downtown, integrate parking solutions, improve multimodal infrastructure, enhance safety and add clear wayfinding. \"Downtown is the place where a city, any city, should come together,\" Denizchio said, urging a people‑first approach that preserves vehicle throughput while expanding safe walking, cycling and parking options.

Stantec reported an inventory of roughly 12,000–13,000 public parking spaces in downtown and a parking utilization study showing that at peak midday counts the public on‑street and off‑street inventory was generally less than 50% occupied in the core. The consultant and staff cautioned that the raw supply figure does not remove unused private lots or reserved locations and that perceptions of poor parking remain a barrier to visitation. To address that perception the plan recommends simplifying on‑street time limits in the core to consistent 3‑ or 4‑hour limits, standardizing public parking signs and opening some permit lots to the public at predictable times.

The consultant recommended \"rightsizing\" several streets by reducing vehicle lane widths or counts where traffic volumes do not require multiple travel lanes, adding protected bike lanes on both sides of select corridors, and converting parallel curb parking to angled stalls on streets such as West First Avenue to generate an estimated net gain of 200–300 on‑street spaces while preserving automobile throughput. Stantec also proposed coordinated bike and scooter parking hubs and geofenced pickup/drop‑off and micromobility parking areas.

Staff demonstrated a beta version of a smart parking app managed by parking staff; the app currently covers three garages and one street and reports live availability for those assets. Parking staff said the beta is about 95% accurate and could be expanded to additional garages and on‑street counts; later phases could identify temporarily available reserved spaces when assigned vehicles vacate spots.

Council members raised sight‑line, shade and signage concerns and asked about implementation sequencing and funding. Transportation staff said the city has a multi‑year pavement preservation plan to mill and overlay downtown streets over the next several years and that coordinating striping and low‑cost corridor changes to coincide with resurfacing is the preferred approach to limit disruption. Staff indicated some recommended items (restriping, signage and wayfinding, and app expansion) can proceed under annual transportation budgets and identified more capital‑intensive items (moving signal infrastructure or curb realignment) as projects that would require additional design and capital funding.

Denizchio said the plan documented public feedback and that the public meeting reaction was largely positive, with detailed questions about tree selection, sight lines and parking regulation clarifications. Staff said next steps include refining recommendations with council and transportation staff, developing an implementation and prioritization schedule timed against the pavement preservation program, and returning to council with a final plan.

Ending: Council members broadly supported moving toward an implementation plan tied to transportation’s resurfacing schedule and asked staff to return with prioritized phasing, estimated costs and a communications plan to publicize parking locations and the smart‑parking app.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council Study Session - 3/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff and consultant Stantec presented a draft Downtown Mesa micro‑mobility and parking plan recommending reconfigured curb space, expanded protected bike lanes, standardized parking signage, a smart parking app pilot and coordinated implementation timed with pavement preservation.","taxTitle","Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",2210,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6279400,"City treasurer presents $168M general‑obligation and $307M utility financing targets; timeline aims for April sale",2201,1617000,3818000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2623702-c737c22cfcad9229004a062f91416547&start=1617&end=3818","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2623702-c737c22cfcad9229004a062f91416547/thumbnail_1617000.jpg","/articles/6279400/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/City-treasurer-presents-168M-generalobligation-and-307M-utility-financing-targets-timeline-aims-for-April-sale","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279400-513993abf002332d3b14321c5cede745/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146980&Signature=De~HGg7YJ2W31JXf1ePA87A5-g24AP3ab5UiboIavtOVdnu~gp7RqqqBhO2AgBnDYkdz14K-Q37pPG1Y2-R1f4k8dQB6M3LZbToLJxoZO4YbZ9M0v~5PI9JVpv3lZkTO9lgn3OuCXOWiKeu5IJrtNunCvAQgy68Ad9SmP3O4mUHu4q8JAjrorfvE4VJDFUPTN1l0lCr4x8iKfc9854iVYnMWL3nGReJZXFNteIGgIZtRvcNh4AXSlxfPDQaD8rtsHuu9Loz1inx3ZvePGI~B5K1kbAnOK5eQPzmNdJm96IF34rrJa-10M~ZlhbPrjj~iUwCv-80DCwu9l8lNm1lkhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mark Hute, the city treasurer, briefed the council on the city’s 2025 financing plan, describing how the city uses debt to finance major capital projects and presenting draft target proceeds of $168 million for general obligation (G.O.) financing and $307 million for utility system revenue obligations.

Hute said the G.O. target would fund libraries, parks, public safety and transportation projects, with about 63% of the proposed G.O. proceeds budgeted for public safety projects. He described the financing process—from capital improvement planning to voter authorization for qualified G.O. issuances—and said the new issuances have a maximum maturity of 25 years and are being prepared with a standard 10‑year noncallable period to improve market competitiveness.

Hute noted the utility obligations would fund electric, gas, water and wastewater projects, with roughly two‑thirds of the utility proceeds directed toward water projects and the largest single utility items named in the presentation were the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) program, the Central Mesa reuse pipeline and expansion of the Signal Butte Water Treatment Plant.

On timing, Hute proposed council authorization followed by a bond sale in the week of April 21 and receipt of proceeds in mid‑May. Bond counsel Zach Sakas of Greenberg Traweg and finance staff participated in the presentation; the city’s finance team and outside advisors will continue work with rating agencies and refine sale timing and structure. Hute and bond counsel explained the rationale for a noncallable window as a market strategy: giving investors certainty typically lowers interest cost.

Council members asked questions about the bond capacity calculation, timing of issuances, the effect on the secondary property tax rate, and whether the city could prepay or defease debt. Staff said some planned proceeds will reimburse prior city expenditures and that federal tax rules limit issuing tax‑exempt debt for projects that are not yet ready to spend; staff described managing the issuance schedule to smooth taxpayers’ secondary levy rather than producing large spikes. Finance staff said the city currently holds reserves and that one near‑term change in the payment schedule reflects applying some available principal payments in the current year.

No bond sale or issuance was approved at the study session; the presentation was informational and staff indicated they would return with sale details and final recommendations for council consideration during the authorization process.

Ending: Staff will continue coordination with bond counsel, the city’s financial advisor and rating agencies. Council members signaled interest in continued discussion of timing, project prioritization and the operational impacts of added capital assets; Hute said staff would return with further details when market timing and structure are set.","City Treasurer Mark Hute reviewed the city’s 2025 financing plan, proposing up to $168 million in tax‑supported general obligation proceeds and $307 million in utility system revenue obligations, and describing voter authorization, debt structure and a timeline to sell bonds in April and receive proceeds in May.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6279405,"Mesa parks director outlines fee changes; aquatics lane‑heating fee moves from school district to city",1459,79000,1538000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2623702-c737c22cfcad9229004a062f91416547&start=79&end=1538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2623702-c737c22cfcad9229004a062f91416547/thumbnail_79000.jpg","/articles/6279405/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Mesa-parks-director-outlines-fee-changes-aquatics-laneheating-fee-moves-from-school-district-to-city","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279405-f0babdbe7ce92c90bad25f0c2d0cb64b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146980&Signature=EOTZ2Id4qvwmq5kE00irevJqRb2rFZPQo4T6xRq5A-lEXXwi09I~l591OsxkAgITK3wtQrAY8ymw9yq6ol6Dfn7cATaXaiNCdhAF0sW~SQ9MawGgtcX7Z4G6SJ6hhRQ1sZExifc3tzSZNKjNhmoJ1OTsGBY4GqC3~jd~HTAzeOfjIvx8VEMbqkJLLDbWWqU1oRijrfTYy1FwcrMwZoNJsJe5-bWyUrx7JSX~~y5TVckbG3enWwsJ237JrJ1V4rLks99g8zfmVyZXpb9K4RyT~r~xvw7FmMp4Kz0Ru-41r6MjnS57LOHNg9Om24Tr6s5SRsY3Pag5L50KM7sbMeMjQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Andrea Moore, director of Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, outlined proposed revisions to the department’s fees and charges during the council study session, saying the department follows a schedule that must be set before summer registration for camps and aquatics.

Moore said the department reviewed neighboring cities’ fees, cost of service and market conditions with a subcommittee of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and the board recommended approval of the proposed changes. \"We reviewed other communities' charges, compared them to ours, went through our entire fee structure with a subcommittee of the parks board, and then reviewed the changes that we're recommending to you with them,\" she told council.

The most significant fiscal change identified in the presentation is an aquatics pool‑heating fee the city will now assess directly. Moore said groups that rent pools had previously paid a heating fee to Mesa Public Schools; with the city taking over utility accounts for pools under the intergovernmental agreement implemented last year, the city will now bill a $1.50 per lane per hour heating charge only during seasons when pools must be heated. The department estimated that change will produce roughly $50,000 in additional annual revenue but stressed the fee is not new to users: \"We do not expect them to see a change,\" Moore said, noting the new charging method switches assessment from a per‑participant seasonal charge to a lane‑hour charge.

Council members asked how other parks and recreation charges compare to market rates and whether increases could push groups away. Moore said the department uses ranges to accommodate seasonal and program length differences and that the higher field supervision fees—intended to cover rising staff costs—target groups that rent fields, not everyday users. \"The field preparation fees are the things that would ... have a direct impact to the groups that are renting the fields,\" Moore said.

The presentation also described changes to commercial facility fees. The Post—Mesa’s downtown event venue—had discounted introductory rates its first year to encourage use. Moore said the draft schedule formalizes a reduced “city” rate for city‑sponsored events (she cited an internal rate of $25 per hour for city events) while restoring higher private‑rental rates for the main room (presented examples: about $250 per hour in regular business hours and higher overtime rates for evenings/weekends). Moore said nonprofits working directly with the city could still qualify for the lower rate if the city is a sponsor or partner.

Other, nonfiscal changes listed in the draft include clarifying language (for example, removing a packaged birthday offering and listing a simple room rental instead) and updating definitions. Moore said the department aims for clarity and to eliminate unused fees.

Council members also asked about a proposed $1,500,000 cooperative contract to buy replacement playground components (slides, panels, climbing‑wall parts) rather than to construct new parks. Moore described the contract as intended solely for parts and repairs: \"At $1,500,000, that's not enough to construct a park,\" she said. The presentation said construction of new courts or courts added from scratch would use separate job‑order or construction contracts.

Moore said renovation funding for the historic Post came from a mix of general fund cash and park bond authorizations, referring to the 2012 and 2018 bond packages as sources identified during the project planning.

Council members asked about next steps; Moore said the changes follow the board process and are timed ahead of the department’s April 1 implementation date for summer programming. Additional, specific fee adjustments and any implementation items would be returned to council for formal action as part of the budget and fees schedule process.

Ending: The report was informational; no formal council vote on the schedule occurred at the study session. Staff said they would return with final ordinance or fee schedules and that department staff will continue to work with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and other stakeholders on final wording and implementation.","The city presented proposed fee and charge updates for Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, including a $1.50 per lane‑per‑hour aquatics heating charge now assessed by the city (previously charged by Mesa Public Schools), higher field supervision fees and revised rental rates for The Post.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Draft Downtown Mesa micro‑mobility and parking plan promotes more bike lanes, clearer signage and added on‑street parking

City treasurer presents $168M general‑obligation and $307M utility financing targets; timeline aims for April sale

Mesa parks director outlines fee changes; aquatics lane‑heating fee moves from school district to city