[{"_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",6574018,"mediaKeyId","3124167-016bdd587127df385e3180a3819fd952","parentId",3124167,"title","Arts and Culture details revenue steps, modest cuts and rebranding investments to absorb budget reduction","audioSeconds",1377,"startMs",4603090,"endMs",5980305,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3124167-016bdd587127df385e3180a3819fd952&start=4603&end=5980","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3124167-016bdd587127df385e3180a3819fd952/thumbnail_4603090.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6574018/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Arts-and-Culture-details-revenue-steps-modest-cuts-and-rebranding-investments-to-absorb-budget-reduction","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574018-b3a06026f519dfe8189a6796c6fbb0a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185275&Signature=cfSNO1f-8XxMVpdk22-nE7ZPzgBpPCYGb-dz7Omw0yPuMc55YbedGNau8~OWyMKJylTLNnZdvwhZzNcRAul7I0VHf1lw~7vXQK4E7q5TZk9UU7eWUNvTWWREyhbqGykjSibUOrOoqPkVX3NhYFSrL4frdUpZ~l1a0FQpjAl7iaBHdB~bE0ulB0Un~UUWB54ga2dbfvn~B9RSgHPDL1lMOFPze81TWFLrqbACieUzp3-ORJZ6mUxMx9h-DrpDIdDv43o4pbO0VeUCYCj~Mt1EP0f3MbWudNtJEq4LDSQ~9oZCyHtAxXFQZsfMdZJp0r~bTzjCrh102RIG5xFzEgi0OQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-24T21:01:13Z","article","Acting Arts and Culture Director Ilya Riske and senior fiscal analyst Kelly Farrow presented the department’s operating picture, current programs and a plan to meet a required general‑fund reduction of about $204,000.

Riske said the department oversees three institutions — Mesa Arts Center, the IDEA Museum and the Arizona Museum of Natural History — and that participation is a key performance indicator. Attendance at the IDEA Museum rebounded strongly after a short renovation closure; the Natural History Museum opened a new exhibit called Thrive in February and the Mesa Arts Center added a new Art, Light & Technology festival and a Broadway touring series this season.

Why it matters: the department produces cultural events and museum programs that bring visitors to downtown Mesa and other parts of the city; earned revenues for admissions, classes and rentals cover a significant portion of the department’s operating costs. Changes in pricing and programming affect local cultural access and also the city’s budget outlook.

Revenue adjustments and operating items
Farrow described the department’s funding mix: staff said about 47% of arts and culture expenses are supported by general governmental contributions and 47% by earned revenue, with the remainder from grants and contributed funds. To meet the 2% reduction target the department plans a mix of small price increases and expense adjustments:

- Increase the Museums for All discounted admission from $2 to $4 (the program offers reduced admissions to SNAP/EBT cardholders); staff said $4 remains below comparable area museums.
- Increase Mesa Arts Center studio class prices by 25¢ per hour (a 50¢ total increase was described elsewhere in the presentation as the department’s class pricing change).
- Increase ticket handling fees at Mesa Arts Center by $1 and raise theater rental rates by 5%.

Farrow said those steps, combined with a small reduction in equipment replacement at MAC and other adjustments, achieve the department’s target without cutting the core exhibits and most public programs.

Program investments and one‑time needs
Riske described a list of one‑time and ongoing items the department plans to fund from earned‑revenue resources. These include funds to support marketing for the Thrive exhibit at the Natural History Museum, temporary staff for exhibit builds at the IDEA Museum, a consultant to support a MAC rebranding effort, and a new booking‑agent position to support performing live programming and touring Broadway shows.

Riske also noted the department’s recent marketing success: the Natural History Museum won statewide advertising awards for campaigns tied to the Thrive exhibit and the museum is experimenting with late‑night Wednesdays and an expanded speaker and engagement calendar to drive attendance.

Quality of life sales tax and allocations
Councilmember questions focused on how the arts fund interacts with other city funding. Department staff and finance staff explained that the quality‑of‑life sales tax originally supported construction of the Mesa Arts Center and related projects; for years general‑fund resources covered operations. With recent revenue improvements the city is beginning to shift a portion of the quality‑of‑life sales tax back to support operations as originally envisioned. Staff said indirect and some capital life cycle costs are handled outside the arts operating fund and can be shown separately on request.

Next steps
Staff said ongoing monitoring of earned revenues and attendance will guide whether further adjustments are necessary. No immediate program closures were proposed; the department’s plan relies on modest price adjustments and targeted investments in marketing and earned‑revenue initiatives to sustain programming while meeting the council’s reduction target.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council Study Session - 4/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Arts and Culture briefed council on attendance trends, a new Thrive exhibit, IDEA Museum renovations, an expansion of performing live programming including Broadway shows, and small revenue and price adjustments to meet a 2% reduction target in the general governmental contribution.","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},6574023,"Mesa Public Library outlines Gateway opening timeline, bookmobile rollout and operating costs",918,3637815,4556740,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3124167-016bdd587127df385e3180a3819fd952&start=3637&end=4556","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3124167-016bdd587127df385e3180a3819fd952/thumbnail_3637815.jpg","/articles/6574023/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Mesa-Public-Library-outlines-Gateway-opening-timeline-bookmobile-rollout-and-operating-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574023-7ec205cbe6d9160231c943c8c073e939/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185275&Signature=KwiuGDv8mWWbmTZBdQVwe7LPWIiXkox-RGvFb9O3iUPd-08F0SUSHSV6i48~j3Dcce84MzJP0r2T2FX~aDMXEX8nVsbBHLza6FBO0gZg-eDyMe9UC3Yw7z3ptDISnzvLKH0C0BoH1jRxB3AfIKGri7c7rOipfLHH9-TXLH1z8FmTHf7JEtuB1qU9R5EHYTsLWFQFVlTTI1ZmZ8BjqatngHydEdXtughZJIpsJyJhfgTakx2cbaHYkJwtSN54AfD5NisZMeyrfdzkXbc-mPfCtH7GeHGJIjWh6RjHbbuneR1bZZb3URJdaHXRNKTBEL4DYJ8R7i7kYIyabIS1DA3p3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Polly Bonnet, director of Mesa Public Library, told council the system is preparing to open a new Gateway branch this fall and is rolling out expanded outreach including a new bookmobile called the Read Runner.

Bonnet said the Gateway library project is on track for a fall opening and staff hiring is underway: the presentation said gateway staffing should be complete by June 2025, staff will move materials into the branch in August and the library is targeting a public opening in the fall (staff said Oct. 18 is a target date).

Why it matters: the new branch and outreach work expand library service coverage across Mesa. Staff said about 28% of Mesa residents live outside current branch service areas, and the Gateway branch plus a bookmobile aim to reach those residents.

Opening‑day and budget details
Bonnet said the Gateway opening includes significant one‑time costs for an opening day collection, furniture, fixtures and equipment. The presentation listed an opening‑day collection cost of about $1,100,000 and a broader outfitting and FFE (furniture, fixtures and equipment) package that drives a spike in the current year’s revised budget. The library’s 2025–26 proposed operating budget was described as an ongoing $11.9 million to run four full‑service branches, the automated Mesa Express location, the Read Runner bookmobile and the outreach team.

Bonnet said fiscal year 2023–24 year‑end actual spending was about $8.8 million; the revised 2024–25 budget shows a one‑time increase (the Gateway FFE and opening‑day collection) that pushed the revised budget higher. Staff said they expect to move roughly $2.5 million of those one‑time costs into the next fiscal year to match the timing of vendor deliveries and installation.

Read Runner and outreach
The library launched the Read Runner bookmobile this spring. Bonnet said the service carried about 1,500 books and the first public outreach day drew approximately 588 attendees who checked out material; staff plan 12 stops on a recurring route and will publicize dates and locations. The Read Runner is intended to provide curated collections, seed‑library items and other services in neighborhoods that do not have a full branch.

Mesa Reads and performance measures
Bonnet also highlighted the year‑long Mesa Reads initiative, part of a citywide reading effort. The library reported surpassing an initial goal of 1 million minutes read and reaching 2 million minutes, and staff increased the goal to 5 million minutes citywide.

Operational notes and efficiency
Library staff reported about $700,000 in vacancy savings during 2023–24 as the library created a new outreach team and shifted staffing; those savings contributed to the year‑end actuals. Staff also noted recurring investments in the collection: the library’s annual book‑collection budget was reported at about $506,000. Bonnet said Mesa library checkouts saved residents an estimated $24,000,000 in market value of materials loaned during calendar year 2024, a calculation staff use to show community value.

Reductions and program impacts
Tony Garvey and Bonnet outlined several base adjustments and small reductions, including a decision not to renew one press‑reader subscription that performed below expectations and minor staffing adjustments affecting shelving capacity and turnaround times. Staff said the library will preserve the core program schedule and outreach while using volunteers and process adjustments to reduce direct personnel costs where feasible.

Quotes and next steps
Bonnet said of the Read Runner launch: “We had 588 people attend or check out our bookmobile and meet with our outreach staff that day.” She added staff will return with a final master‑plan report next month. No formal council action was required on the budget presentation; staff will return with detailed budget materials and implementation steps as part of the normal budget review process.","Library staff described plans for the Gateway branch opening this fall, the new Read Runner bookmobile route, performance measures and budget shifts tied to one‑time opening costs and ongoing operating needs.",{"_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},6574028,"Mesa community services outlines heat-relief, homelessness and housing aid plans as federal voucher risk looms",3551,31349,3582535,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3124167-016bdd587127df385e3180a3819fd952&start=31&end=3582","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3124167-016bdd587127df385e3180a3819fd952/thumbnail_31349.jpg","/articles/6574028/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Mesa-community-services-outlines-heat-relief-homelessness-and-housing-aid-plans-as-federal-voucher-risk-looms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574028-10b8c4616f2f9e57f1102369ec7bdb35/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185275&Signature=WoWMVRBl5XWgkT8DOzU5fS6dqktv~nlV1SHmBzjb7~8BAZqAUny4HgKik5g4oDuwMqAx7Za07u36vykZ8M-iK7EsGfHJgeJlAV5KZH--QPYd9TMWDgR0dXlTojc8lYOHCm~m~kgNO6H0DHDFN5CrabpYoZYRJ0v1vFi4wp~Ec1du6DpAWXfNerDqXqUL28mKsO6W1vFIa4E4KI~dF8X3chAXbBOlKSthsM9JejKgmpH2f4rs4Kw~KEla-W5ccPgFgfso7hoVkpXC58Aw1bwH-l~UMWoqlpJP9W3byImqXW9jPsdRF6~ccmgssY0QcgT0zj5gZEO5G9t5RdeZ0hZLNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Community Services Director Ruth Giese told the City Council that the department is asking for a set of budget adjustments and is continuing several city programs that address housing stability, heat‑safety and homelessness.

The presentation outlined existing programs and near‑term requests: the homeowner emergency rehab grant (up to $25,000 per household), results from a new trap‑neuter‑return animal program, a one‑time request to support summer heat‑relief services, continued case management and street outreach funding, and a transition plan for the city’s temporary shelter program as a privately owned motel is converted into a longer‑term facility.

The homeowner emergency rehab program is funded with Community Development Block Grant dollars, Giese said, and provides grants “up to $25,000 per household.” She said the department has allocated “over $2,000,000 for 27 projects” to date and that 94% of recipients in the program are elderly and about 45% report a disability.

Why it matters: the items discussed affect residents who are houseless or at risk, elderly homeowners, renters who rely on federal vouchers and neighborhoods that need heat‑safety supports. Several items affect the city budget in 2025–26: personnel and program costs, a $900,000 near‑term general fund impact tied to the shelter transition, and ongoing operating costs that city staff say will be funded in part by previously awarded federal relief (ARPA) and other dedicated grants.

Housing assistance and voucher risk
Michelle Durkovic, the department’s senior fiscal analyst, explained that Mesa’s Housing Authority receives federal funds monthly to disburse to landlords. Giese said the department “receive[s] about $2,000,000 in disbursements directly from the federal government” each month for vouchers.

Deputy Director Lindsay Balenke flagged a narrower risk: COVID‑era emergency vouchers issued during the pandemic are time‑limited. Balenke said the emergency voucher funding was scheduled to run through 2030 but is now projected to “spend down its money by 2026.” She said staff are already working with the local HUD representative to seek a waiver that would allow regular housing vouchers to be used if the emergency voucher funding is no longer available.

Trap‑neuter‑return and animal services
Giese described the new trap‑neuter‑return (TNR) program for community cats, which launched in February. “In 6 weeks, we have altered 75 cats,” she said, and reported 38 resident participants and that the program has added a third participating veterinarian in East Mesa.

Heat relief and portable air‑conditioning loans
Balenke described the department’s one‑time budget request of $89,800 to support heat‑safety work next summer. She said the request will fund a mix of services including continued operation of the primary heat‑relief center run in partnership with Maricopa County Public Health Department and Resurrection Street Ministries; a portable air‑conditioning loan program; transportation to cooling sites; outreach materials; and coordination with non‑profits and first responders.

Balenke said the partnership with Maricopa County has funded the primary center and that the site serves mainly people who are unsheltered. The city also intends to continue a portable air‑conditioner loan program; Balenke told council the program “was started last summer and we were able to serve 56 individuals/households” with loaned units. The department said it will sustain weekend coverage and has adjusted the center’s schedule to expand access.

Street outreach navigators
Balenke outlined funding for a six‑person street outreach navigator team that operates in Mesa. The total contract amount combines federal CDBG dollars and local funds; staff said the combined total for the contract is $574,806, with CDBG offsetting part of the cost. Balenke said the navigators are dedicated to Mesa, are highly visible in the community with marked vehicles, and work closely with police, park rangers and fire personnel to connect people to services.

Off the Streets shelter transition and capacity
Balenke walked council through the city’s “Off the Streets” shelter program. The city currently rents 85 rooms at the Windermere Hotel under a contract that costs about $3.1 million annually. Work is underway to convert the former Grand Hotel (rebranded in the presentation as Sunair) into a smaller, fenced campus with interior‑entry rooms. Staff said the Sunair site will operate more like a controlled campus and restrict admissions to certain vulnerable populations.

Under staff recommendations the Windermere contract would end as Sunair opens. Staff said Sunair would operate 64 rooms with a projected annual cost of $2.5 million and that the first‑year transition would carry a $900,000 impact to the general fund that is expected to be offset by ARPA funds in 2025–26. Beginning in 2026–27 the program operating cost is estimated at $2.5 million and would rely on ongoing general‑fund support once ARPA is exhausted.

Council members pressed staff on who would qualify for Sunair. Staff said the property’s council‑use permit limits the facility to seniors, families and domestic‑violence survivors. Balenke said about 80% of people served at Windermere in 2024 would meet the Sunair criteria and about 20% would not. Staff provided calendar‑year 2024 figures: 820 people served in the program, including 471 family members, 234 children and 84 seniors; staff said 5% of those served—about 37 people—were single women who would not automatically qualify under the current council‑use permit criteria.

Council members asked whether the permit conditions could be changed; staff said changing admissions criteria would require returning to council to amend the council‑use permit. Staff also noted that single men who do not meet the Sunair eligibility could be referred to the East Valley Men’s Center and that the city will continue to coordinate regionally to find placements for people who do not meet Sunair’s criteria.

Budget context and funding sources
Michelle Durkovic reviewed the department’s budget profile. Staff said the department’s proposed 2025–26 budget totals about $65.2 million across fund sources, of which under 15% is general fund. In addition to HUD and CDBG funding, the department manages American Rescue Plan Act funds and opioid settlement distributions. Staff said Mesa has received roughly $4.5 million so far from opioid settlement distributions and that the state distributes funds to local governments on a formula basis; staff plan to return to council in the coming month with a community grant program and recommendations for spending those opioid settlement funds.

Discussion vs. decisions
Most of the council discussion was informational and preparatory. Staff said they will return to council with more detailed proposals on opioid‑settlement grant criteria and on implementation steps for the Sunair transition. No new binding policy was adopted at the meeting; the formal council actions taken during the session were procedural (receipt of minutes and adjournment).","Community Services presented budget adjustments and program updates including a $89,800 one-time heat‑relief request, a plan to transition the city shelter from the Windermere to the Sunair property, continued use of ARPA and federal housing vouchers, and early results from a trap‑neuter‑return pilot.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Arts and Culture details revenue steps, modest cuts and rebranding investments to absorb budget reduction

Mesa Public Library outlines Gateway opening timeline, bookmobile rollout and operating costs

Mesa community services outlines heat-relief, homelessness and housing aid plans as federal voucher risk looms