[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,74,86],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6574314,"mediaKeyId","3086802-edc9620615926689e4c2af9cedc2d9c9","parentId",3086802,"title","Residents speak in favor of nondiscrimination ordinance; request more public-comment slots","audioSeconds",543,"startMs",909000,"endMs",1452000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3086802-edc9620615926689e4c2af9cedc2d9c9&start=909&end=1452","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3086802-edc9620615926689e4c2af9cedc2d9c9/thumbnail_909000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6574314/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Residents-speak-in-favor-of-nondiscrimination-ordinance-request-more-public-comment-slots","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574314-e941e17666b888d8291b08430bb7198b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179019&Signature=RuriFgmGmbZPz3AneEV9nsAD7kDQ9KxiEWCa3Cu1B4F~SRk9u95-vxmQigEAwWzfGtnfPaOeHcsovLrtHoJVpSN6Y9A8tWcE0eDjRlqE5z830hpnYPbGwxgVBHbXSWeYe4iH2ddS~ZBPOlpHtUFVXNoVtwSG4ciuIMKmF-7jng1roD3uAeIIEHOS7Lqj3RVr1uOfc2Qxpq2ymbp30IW6QDhHD3u9gd05JXNvpKokzPOx-HZ2QiDAJQpEq8uZ~Nwc~45LIT32HhEi7fLuxS147O7fR3OGzryEadyrX56HLohHzYYb0R1eWYWWeOMtC04xNuUGc1AOYq3BOhA6~qFRlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-23T00:09:01.433Z","article","Three members of the public addressed the council April 21, offering support for Mesa’s nondiscrimination ordinance and urging changes to the council’s public-comment limits.

Rebecca Temp, who identified herself as a resident of District 2, said she has become acquainted with transgender people and urged protection and respect. “I believe that transgender citizens and transgender individuals are worthwhile and they are valid people and they deserve our respect and our, protection,” Temp said. She told the council she is “grateful to live in a city that has an ordinance to protect these citizens.”

Eric McDonald, who described himself as a Mesa resident and a managing shareholder at a local law firm, thanked the council for adopting the nondiscrimination ordinance (NDO). “The NDO, which ensures civil rights and civil protections for all people, including the LGBT community, does not even apply to these spaces,” McDonald said, referring to churches, closely held small businesses, schools and private homes as spaces the ordinance does not cover. He argued that local enforcement provides a timelier remedy than litigation in federal or state court and thanked the council for “making policy that encourages good behavior towards our fellow businesses, employees, and patrons.”

Alex Vrancik, who identified himself in the record with a District 5 designation, asked the council to consider increasing the number of speakers allowed during the citizen-comment portion of the meeting. “We understand that there's a limit of 3 people at the end for 3 minutes at a time,” Vrancik said. “We'd like to ask city council to consider increasing the 3 to possibly 6 or more so that in the event that there are more people that would like to speak, that they don't feel like they have to race against each other to try to get in line.”

Ending: Council members acknowledged the public comments and the mayor noted that staff and council sometimes follow up with speakers after the meeting, but there was no council action or formal direction recorded on changing the public-comment limits at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - 4/21/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Three residents addressed the council to express support for Mesa’s nondiscrimination ordinance and to ask the council to increase the number of allotted public-comment speakers.","taxTitle","Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",2210,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6574317,"Mesa council unanimously approves consent agenda, authorizes city manager contract",300,578000,878000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3086802-edc9620615926689e4c2af9cedc2d9c9&start=578&end=878","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3086802-edc9620615926689e4c2af9cedc2d9c9/thumbnail_578000.jpg","/articles/6574317/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Mesa-council-unanimously-approves-consent-agenda-authorizes-city-manager-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574317-169d2c7008ca1873b56da7eefb116260/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179019&Signature=OnfqGYcjB7scLKVL5Kqz1yytSZdP9pib7vKNI142-MUZ2a6wcQJedaIjisEZpSQlwJwLPQljSjBWkcLG~xea8Li3233AMFzf0fJJozT2YPmeu8JSr4K5WpPC~BH2XJ0TcYsutb5bJOBCtI7SPq7oPx6tJtPChggv6HiMWmmQal--mAR6AR65wTDXQBiqon~Ncg9APfM7x~sUnZ5fAU3vwT9tyvy4BV8~ytm0ewIUTOtchhsZG6GOpEw4r4of28FonZhiGxU9ARZ2ao-ZzcJIoxsi6hpKGfnwyCKJREDiAjBjYT~wX6NF1ipCrX77~2ANwcsRNDH2SZ~Yx6gWqI8qww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mesa City Council unanimously approved the consent agenda at its April 21 meeting, enacting a package of procurement contracts, grant-authority resolutions, land-use items and an employment contract for a new city manager.

Vice Mayor Summers moved approval of the consent agenda and Councilmember Reddy seconded; the motion “passes unanimously,” the mayor announced.

The consent package, as read into the record by council staff, contained the following notable items:

- Liquor-license applications for multiple businesses, including Mesa Drummer Bar and Grill, Tipsy Chicken, Bambada Cajun Seafood and Dozer's Grill (addresses read into the record).

- Construction and procurement contracts, including approval of Signal Butte Park Phase 2 under the 2018 general-obligation parks bond program and several multi-year term contracts for storm-drain parts, LED streetlight fixtures, communications cabling systems, weed and landscape management for water-treatment sites, and filtration media purchase for the Southeast Water Reclamation Plant.

- An authorization for the mayor to enter into an employment contract with Scott Fowler for the position of city manager, effective June 1, 2025.

- A resolution to enter an intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Public Safety to assign one Mesa Police Department detective to the Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force with up to 75% reimbursement.

- A batch of resolutions authorizing submittal and acceptance of grant applications and awards passed through multiple agencies and nonprofit partners listed in the record (Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation; New Leaf; Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children; Boys & Girls Clubs; Child Bridal, Arizona; Jean Lewis Boxing Club and Youth Center; Maggie's Place; Native American Fatherhood and Families Association; Toothpods — names reported as read by staff).

- Land-use items: introduction of an ordinance adjusting posted speed limits on Val Vista Drive as recommended by the Transportation Advisory Board; rezoning case 24-7-56 for property south of the southeast corner of McCallops Road and Valdez Drive; ordinances regarding municipal-court monitoring fees and authority for the city manager to extinguish and grant easements; and a subdivision plat of dedication for PHX 065 at the northwest corner of Pecos Road and South 106th Place.

The council took no separate roll-call discussion of any consent item; no items were pulled for separate consideration from the consent agenda during the meeting.

Votes at a glance: the council approved the entire consent agenda in a single unanimous vote; the meeting record shows the motion by Vice Mayor Summers and second by Councilmember Reddy and the mayor declared the motion passed unanimously. The transcript does not list individual yes/no votes by name beyond that announcement.

Ending: With the consent agenda approved, the council proceeded to the public-comment portion of the meeting.","The Mesa City Council approved a broad consent agenda April 21 that included liquor-license approvals, multiple public-works and procurement contracts, a grant-resolution batch, land-use ordinances and an employment contract for Scott Fowler as city manager effective June 1, 2025.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6574322,"Mesa marks Arbor Day, highlights volunteer Tree Stewards and urban canopy goals",323,197000,520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3086802-edc9620615926689e4c2af9cedc2d9c9&start=197&end=520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3086802-edc9620615926689e4c2af9cedc2d9c9/thumbnail_197000.jpg","/articles/6574322/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Mesa-marks-Arbor-Day-highlights-volunteer-Tree-Stewards-and-urban-canopy-goals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574322-09b0bff4c53b64e3614aa987bf74d842/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179019&Signature=noJOy4kFz7LtXmYRe8YU~wCneHqQw4DuaLgzfHv4wPsuLc6DF955aPSaFGenAG2YCXxDyQ1H7U8TJKvqHq77yyRufu~qKl~X7tYwf~IsJd8NgRdsFDUfao-8P4xUoBGb6pe7hxZ-5BpZ3gt4GEeiuoNdv5oFSTvwRaI~fsirhGZ8e6i-GRYk0xvcSYi1eiDghGN4osbx~IyG1rQ7zH-Zt8i9sybCcU84Dr4xa5ibFWDiG0DGYFnaHlXY4yexlb1~2c-ShQOLmwLQGI0pff38A7rvGLX4bmuhsTfuERv~-cDJV4wE8~W8cznXWXJeuj768actZ1pB9wNLGd8X8ojeqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mesa recognized Arbor Day at its April 21 council meeting and highlighted volunteer and partner efforts aimed at expanding the city’s tree canopy.

Stefan Addison, the city official who introduced the recognition, said Mesa is “celebrating Arbor Day and our fifteenth year as being recognized as a Tree City USA.” He thanked volunteer groups and partner organizations supporting tree plantings across the city.

Ashley, a project organizer with the Mesa Tree Stewards program, described the volunteer training and planting work. “The Mesa Tree Stewards are a dedicated group of volunteers who complete hands on training courses focused on the installation, care, and maintenance of trees,” Ashley said. She said graduates contribute 10 hours of volunteer service annually and that cohort plantings target neighborhoods identified using a climate and economic justice screening tool.

Ashley reported planting numbers for two cohorts: she said Cohort 1 completed a planting at Sherwood Park with a total of 94 trees and that planting directly served about 3,400 residents within a 10-minute walk; she said Cohort 2 planted 77 trees between Whittier Elementary School and nearby neighborhoods, directly serving 486 students and about 20 homes. Ashley also used the phrase “this is a total of a 71 trees so far,” an apparent inconsistency in the figures reported.

Jake, director of Southwest Urban Forestry with American Forests, said his group is partnering with Mesa on longer-range canopy goals. “We look forward to working with mayor, council, the urban forestry team to to put together a clear cohesive vision for the million tree initiative in 2025 and beyond,” Jake said. He added that a healthier tree canopy delivers “cleaner air, cooler streets, and stronger communities.”

City officials said volunteer programs and partnership funding are central to the city’s strategy to increase canopy cover, and they invited residents to learn about future volunteer cohort opportunities. The city did not provide a precise current canopy percentage or an exact target timetable in the remarks at the meeting.

Ending: Council members and the presenters paused for a photo after the recognition and directed residents interested in volunteering or cohort participation to follow up with the presenters after the meeting.","Mesa officials and partner organizations celebrated Arbor Day, noted the city’s 15-year Tree City USA recognition and highlighted the federally funded Mesa Tree Stewards volunteer program and a partnership on a million-tree initiative.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents speak in favor of nondiscrimination ordinance; request more public-comment slots

Mesa council unanimously approves consent agenda, authorizes city manager contract

Mesa marks Arbor Day, highlights volunteer Tree Stewards and urban canopy goals