[{"_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",6117568,"mediaKeyId","2729592-7dd2bc906b5403678c76ed4f66326bdc","parentId",2729592,"title","Mesa moves forward with protected bike‑lane pilot on Extension Road; council gives direction to proceed","audioSeconds",1915,"startMs",6401240,"endMs",8316320,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2729592-7dd2bc906b5403678c76ed4f66326bdc&start=6401&end=8316","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2729592-7dd2bc906b5403678c76ed4f66326bdc/thumbnail_6401240.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6117568/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Mesa-moves-forward-with-protected-bikelane-pilot-on-Extension-Road-council-gives-direction-to-proceed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117568-b492ddbf0f74e5936c7f0b4787c3d904/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104068&Signature=i7MHG8HDl29fOok~Mx2MInlIul5-b1IDqKvgUy~OJI6YcCSVZ-JOuy3~Jp3BdIDAzL1ohYiZrRCZTe2XH-PNqCsKECeRUSlogiKIQHt3ZgBomXrNsFwvd8E3k87Whr8iNAgX2uHfi8ZKZXkLwYSmsGxqpg1DOP03RUBs6woRhff-ei5zcObyEfGez3S1zqcgQ01I2Lry-nJEImMqS4NNm70WGLu9WIyy9GdVviLuIXw0PIheW8UEo1WBALkbuuY7ypA35jEADjPjVFSMl4oQ3lKXEMZ-OcZmirNWq52pLWBZlWEM1rVrUA9GkGLLnE1meSrti~uIekR-NmZlFBO61Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Mesa, AZ","date","2025-03-20T18:25:30Z","article","Eric Guderian, assistant transportation director, asked council for direction on an operational project to add enhanced bike lanes along Extension Road from Baseline to Main Street following a previously directed citywide review of lower‑cost bike lane projects.

Guderian said the corridor is roughly 2.5 miles and currently functions as a four‑lane collector with a center turn lane; traffic counts peak at about 14,000 vehicles per day in segments of the road. The staff proposal includes two primary design approaches:
- Separated bike lanes (protected by spaced vertical delineators) through the corridor’s more activity‑intensive stretches (parks, schools and the Fiesta area). Guderian said the delineators would be spaced roughly every 20 feet and that placement would pull back at driveways and intersections.
- Buffered bike lanes (striped buffer only) for segments north of Broadway where a railroad crossing and heavier industrial truck activity make reconfiguring lanes and vertical protection impractical.

The recommended cross‑section for the main segment would preserve a center turn lane, maintain two southbound travel lanes and reduce the northbound side to a single travel lane, providing room for a wider, protected northbound bike lane. Guderian said the city’s smallest street sweeper requires 8 feet of horizontal clearance, a maintenance constraint that helped determine whether vertical delineators were appropriate in particular locations.

Council members asked about operational impacts and safety near schools and industrial driveways. Vice Mayor Summers and several council members called for outreach to businesses on the north end of the corridor, noting heavy truck activity there. Some members said they want the project to serve as a pilot that could be adapted for other collector streets and eventually extended to the stadium connector.

Guderian said a city mill‑and‑overlay maintenance project is scheduled for 2025, which creates a near‑term opportunity to add striping and delineators with lower capital cost; staff requested council direction to proceed with ordering materials and incorporating the striping into the pavement work. Several council members expressed support and the meeting record shows staff received direction to move forward; no formal ordinance or capital appropriation was approved at the meeting.

The presentation included visual examples of separated lanes, buffered lanes and intersections with delineators. Staff noted delineators are effective and comparatively low cost but require a maintenance plan because they concentrate debris and can be damaged by vehicles. For the railroad crossing stretch and industrial north end between Broadway and Main, staff proposed buffered paint only to avoid creating conflicts with truck access and rail operations.

Guderian invited additional community comments and said staff will follow up on concerns about school drop‑off queuing, truck access and timing for implementation tied to the 2025 mill‑and‑overlay schedule.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council Study Session - 03/20/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Transportation staff presented plans to add separated and buffered bike lanes along Extension Road between Baseline and Main Street, including reconfiguring travel lanes and using delineators for protection. Council members gave direction to proceed and asked for follow‑up on industrial traffic and school safety.","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},6117573,"City presents draft HUD consolidated plan emphasizing affordable housing and homeless services; public comment period set",1782,4662100,6444485,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2729592-7dd2bc906b5403678c76ed4f66326bdc&start=4662&end=6444","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2729592-7dd2bc906b5403678c76ed4f66326bdc/thumbnail_4662100.jpg","/articles/6117573/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/City-presents-draft-HUD-consolidated-plan-emphasizing-affordable-housing-and-homeless-services-public-comment-period-set","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117573-8c0d57d2a8647c5a11a51060f04d3e4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104068&Signature=bHVuZqNJvH5kQAdfGmOO0PgPNTxE~JQSMEbuaw1L6-DaakB1yzw8BYKqqULV9k-~~zFPa1c6SvmM8ESz9T7mUHNG2kW43N9HHAJSwdRZUUrToezAhDlxZyedRUgy080om85ePXfPO-LjoWPj~ITE4kd4A3HE9BrZvkxRfbbH9yygueJxx2DlSTb5yupeJfq1SrLLjQlu~uNcqZDockGHrA5jHFkrI7YTmaTvZIeC9pL64cbVNZQMfj-NNNBcu7LuZmGirleMoTR4ymXLVtIuGoGXVyIJ9gTy4QSiFKhvZZfIFM9Dypjsrtmn1ECn~zytt997x5oY-ngfidkBtNWmEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Justin Boyd, the city’s housing and community development administrator, and consultants from Civitas presented a draft five‑year consolidated plan (2025–2029) and the city’s annual action plan required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The consolidated plan is the federally prescribed document that sets priorities and spending plans for three HUD entitlement grants the city receives annually: the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the HOME Investment Partnerships program (HOME) and the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). Boyd told the council the federal continuing resolution leveled funding and staff expects allocations for the coming cycle to be similar to the prior year.

What the draft prioritizes:
- CDBG: staff told council the draft emphasizes public facilities and infrastructure (sidewalks, ADA improvements and community facilities) and public services, with affordable housing identified as a high priority in public feedback.
- HOME: the draft directs HOME funds primarily toward affordable housing activities that can include housing rehabilitation and new construction subsidies for affordable units (HOME typically acts as one source among several for new development), plus tenant‑based rental assistance where applicable.
- ESG: the draft focuses ESG dollars on homelessness response activities: shelter operations, street outreach, rapid rehousing and prevention programs.

Staff summarized public input from surveys and stakeholder outreach. According to the presentation, respondents ranked affordable housing and supportive services as the top priorities; service categories receiving the most support included homeless services and mental‑health supports. Boyd emphasized that the consolidated plan format is prescribed by HUD and that staff consulted other recent city housing studies and plans to inform the draft.

Council discussion focused on two recurring questions: whether economic development should be funded through CDBG and how staff track leveraged funds. Vice Mayor Summers and Councilmember Adams asked why economic development — a top priority on the public survey results — is not set out as a primary CDBG funding priority. Staff and consultants explained that direct economic‑development grants to businesses are difficult to administer under HUD’s national‑objective rules and are rarely used by comparable cities; they encouraged alternative approaches, such as workforce development, business incubator facilities and other local programs funded from other sources. Staff also said the city tracks all leveraged funds and required matches, reporting those figures in annual performance reports.

Key schedule and next steps from staff:
- The draft will be posted for a 30‑day public comment period that staff said opens March 30 and runs through April; staff will consolidate comments and return to council with a final submission for HUD review.
- HUD requires submission and then typically releases funds for the new program year by July 1; staff said they will refine numbers after HUD issues final allocations.

No final council vote on the consolidated plan occurred at the meeting; staff sought and received council feedback and said they would return after the public comment period with any recommended changes.","City staff and consultants outlined Mesa’s draft 2025–2029 HUD consolidated plan and annual action plan priorities — focusing on affordable housing, housing rehabilitation and emergency shelter services — and opened a 30‑day public comment window as required by HUD.",{"_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},6117578,"Mesa Council hears study recommending upgraded convention center, amphitheater and hotel improvements to boost downtown events",4802,47695,4849745,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2729592-7dd2bc906b5403678c76ed4f66326bdc&start=47&end=4849","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2729592-7dd2bc906b5403678c76ed4f66326bdc/thumbnail_47695.jpg","/articles/6117578/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Mesa-Council-hears-study-recommending-upgraded-convention-center-amphitheater-and-hotel-improvements-to-boost-downtown-events","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117578-2fbd56b475099b05b5ddcac07dddd585/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104068&Signature=ieI3Wi-P~zbKmxSTe8aloX5RiRxoGViPoyGsrmFYpsIa4HGBP5Is2xe~sHMb~wc4ukhhqH7Xcag~z5sxaIyAxD6np3Xznn9wAcejmlvrv5At3GxfYISDVtJMWgkaGldYq9Qsdqz8MaHTFFIi0xx~XnnKay89TbEiFvObOcKvH2BxNqslIyvVT9h09l1yVaGX4~cW4vniEfvpQ8PnEANTUWToTuQQFHxFeW~DT~Mk0DystMpK85jGayu374nLpeFyH2HNGtPhSuijBCD-Cj6u9ljqV~lnqvwaPh1PSgjVQeEsuFpmvhl8MqsO04UPbG-Yvn2-kQU3ydpfWBpsNrUvUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Andrea Moore, director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, told the City Council that staff and outside consultants completed a yearlong facility improvement study for the Mesa Convention Center and Mesa Amphitheater and were presenting “an overview of the facility improvement study” and a draft report available in the meeting agenda materials.

The study, led by consultant Tyler Oton of Convention Sports & Leisure with input from HMC Architects and others, recommends a set of targeted, phased improvements rather than a full replacement. The plan aims to raise the quality of events Mesa can host, increase hotel room nights downtown and improve the amphitheater’s artist and fan amenities so the district generates more economic activity for Mesa’s downtown.

Why it matters: consultants told council members that Mesa has increased convention activity in recent years but still trails newer, higher‑amenity venues in the region. Planners reported that the number of high‑impact conventions held in Mesa rose from about 15 in 2019 to 26 in 2024, and study participants said a lack of modern meeting and food‑function space limits Mesa’s ability to attract higher‑spending events.

Key findings and recommendations from the study include:
- Event space limits: the convention complex has a main hall of about 15,000 square feet but the primary hotel ballroom is constrained at roughly 9,700 square feet, which limits the venue’s ability to host large food‑function general sessions that many associations require.
- Hotel room supply: the anchor hotel identified in the study has about 274 rooms, which consultants said is adequate for many mid‑size events but leaves Mesa less competitive for citywide events that require multiple downtown headquarter hotels.
- Planners’ familiarity: of 65 event planners interviewed, consultants said 86% were familiar with Mesa as a place but were not familiar with the convention facility; many described the building as dated and in need of upgrades.
- Place‑making and technology: the report recommends new, larger lobbies (7,000–8,000 square feet), digital placemaking (LEDs, projection mapping and other immersive technologies) and improved downtown wayfinding and lighting to better connect attendees to nearby destinations such as the ASU Mix Center.
- Outdoor, flexible event space: the study highlights strong promoter interest in an indoor‑outdoor patio/terrace for banquet and general‑session use (consultants said roughly three‑quarters of planners expressed high interest) and includes concept visuals for a three‑season space with retractable doors, high‑end AV and lighting.
- Amphitheater upgrades: recommended improvements include expanded backstage hospitality/green‑room space, enhanced rigging capacity to accommodate modern touring production needs, additional shading/overhead canopies to lengthen seasonality, VIP seating and better concessions.

Randy McGrane, owner/manager of the Delta Hotel and representative of the Ensemble Group, said the hotel and convention center must be planned as one complex. McGrane told council he has invested about $15 million in the hotel since 2018 and described negotiations with Marriott to upgrade the hotel brand and the hotel’s food and beverage offerings to better support the convention market.

Consultant Tyler Oton summarized the economic case the report offers, saying a full suite of coordinated improvements to the hotel, convention center and amphitheater could generate substantial downtown spending. The draft report estimates a 20‑year net present value of new direct spending in the downtown area (the consultants presented figures for direct and indirect impacts in the presentation materials).

Council questions focused on cost and financing. City staff and the consultant said the presentation was intended to establish a preferred program of improvements and that a separate, detailed financing and phasing plan would be prepared for council review. City Manager staff noted the city’s general fund currently subsidizes convention center operations and that additional capital funding would require a separate council decision on financing sources.

Council reaction was broadly supportive of further study. Several members said they liked the focus on a phased, executable plan rather than an overly large master plan; others emphasized the need to return with clearer funding options. No formal action or vote on capital funding was taken at the meeting.

The presentation included examples from other markets and visuals prepared by HMC Architects; consultants said a longer draft report (about 190 pages) is available on the council agenda for review. The council moved on to the next agenda item after the study Q&A.","City staff and consultants presented a yearlong facility-improvement study recommending targeted upgrades to the Mesa Convention Center, Mesa Amphitheater and a partnering hotel to attract higher‑value conventions and concerts and increase downtown economic activity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mesa moves forward with protected bike‑lane pilot on Extension Road; council gives direction to proceed

City presents draft HUD consolidated plan emphasizing affordable housing and homeless services; public comment period set

Mesa Council hears study recommending upgraded convention center, amphitheater and hotel improvements to boost downtown events