[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,87,98],{"_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",6231870,"mediaKeyId","3428185-b7e7c2acdd8453f1c0d71fb3c349d3c1","parentId",3428185,"title","Subcommittee backs 2024 Phoenix Building Construction Code; council directs more talks on elevator provision","audioSeconds",2702,"startMs",3843000,"endMs",6545000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3428185-b7e7c2acdd8453f1c0d71fb3c349d3c1&start=3843&end=6545","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3428185-b7e7c2acdd8453f1c0d71fb3c349d3c1/thumbnail_3843000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6231870/Phoenix/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Subcommittee-backs-2024-Phoenix-Building-Construction-Code-council-directs-more-talks-on-elevator-provision","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231870-c7e59b4d7286259bd9845832d2198d87/orig.mp4?Expires=1775393747&Signature=QXG5l-ixIT53erPL2GrrrZ8UaNxaUdJ2G53cUidaGAzcfGrQvntApT~T0wvIHDxJCQDm-fYRZJK1k43JaJfhg2nJltUiErL9qGJR2BjBPSgHQTzZ8~-5Grb95bGd9XPeNJONo9kTx3upE0nlIkBxU8FmpfUiZukcAQ41R~9a8VwTRpeJ59G158vARWuJHHrmt2fmu4NjSvGKd-JPzqJjGWD4PB6V-FZMM8CfBYQKY0eUpDnt1MKxIOAP4s8Z~Y5C~xPmLYQuEd409h9up6m2rcp6E0H8Gt3ZG2iBMVLQVsWlseZhfL2nsEMpPC348FRWvsPUcrgS-Li~hFjT90u9SA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Phoenix, AZ","date","2025-05-21T19:09:53.053Z","article","PHOENIX — City staff and stakeholders on May 21 presented the proposed 2024 Phoenix Building Construction Code to the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee and the panel voted to recommend the code to City Council, with a direction that staff continue working with the elevator industry on potential language changes to one elevator‑safety amendment.

Planning and Development Director Joshua Bednar introduced staff who led the 18‑month review and public outreach process. \"We are happy to present our proposal for the adoption of the 2024 Phoenix Building Construction Code,\" Assistant Director Jason Blakely said, adding that staff notified more than 600 stakeholders and held Development Advisory Board and subcommittee meetings during the review.

Staff outlined substantive proposed changes: provisions to require conduit paths and a rough‑in box for future electric‑vehicle charging in one‑ and two‑family dwellings (consistent with the Transportation Electrification Action Plan), updated water‑efficient fixtures to meet EPA WaterSense standards, national code changes that enable limited use of mass timber, streamlined permitting for storage shipping containers and fence replacements, eased refrigerant‑line installation rules for multifamily housing, and updated fire‑separation and elevator evacuation measures. The staff memo set a proposed effective date of Aug. 1 and a council hearing date of June 18.

A major policy change under debate was the Inclusive Home Design Amendment. JJ Prosca, the acting building official, described the standard as including no‑step single entrances, minimum interior circulation widths (36 inches in most paths; 32 inches for doors), accessible operable part heights, hidden wall backing for future grab‑bar installations and a requirement that at least one restroom on the first floor provide minimum clear floor space. Staff said the amendment follows ordinances enacted earlier by Pima County and the city of Tucson.

The home‑builder industry registered concerns. \"There are significant floor plans being built today in the city of Phoenix that are very popular and diverse floor plans that would not be permitted under this mandate,\" James Ashley of the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona told the committee and urged exemptions for existing standard plans. In contrast, disability advocates and aging‑advocacy groups strongly supported the inclusive design change: Daryl Christiansen said the amendment is a \"low cost for high impact\" change because accessible homes enable independence and may reduce institutional care costs, and Dana Marie Kennedy of AARP Arizona urged the council to \"prioritize housing that is livable for everyone.\" Nicole Anderson, chair of the mayor's commission on disability issues, described personal experience asking a builder to include wider doorways and a zero‑threshold entrance.

Industry witnesses and elevator manufacturers raised objections to a separate proposed amendment to the ASME A17.1 elevator code (section 2.7.5.11). Staff explained the amendment intends to clarify that language about preventing \"unexpected vertical car movement\" applies to \"any work\" performed on top of an elevator car, replacing the phrase \"maintenance or inspection\" because of inconsistent interpretations in litigation elsewhere. Safety‑industry witnesses asked for further review. Billy Taylor of the National Elevator Industry trade association and Lawrence Taylor of Schindler said language changes could inadvertently bar technological designs that safely mitigate movement; Schindler representatives reported their installed intelligent systems have not produced incidents and asked for more stakeholder review.

After public testimony and council questions, Councilwoman Stark moved to recommend approval of the 2024 code per the department memo and directed staff to continue working with the elevator industry on potential modifications to the ASME A17.1 amendment; another councilmember seconded the motion. The subcommittee recorded a unanimous vote in favor of the recommendation to council.

The staff packet and presentation propose a grace period and grandfathering for certain projects: standard residential subdivision plans that received preliminary site plan approval prior to adoption may be exempt, and projects that have begun development processes may elect to submit under the prior (2018) code. Staff said requests for code interpretations or code modifications will remain available to permit equipment‑specific approvals for elevator systems that demonstrate compliance with the intent of the safety provisions.

The subcommittee vote forwards the package to City Council for consideration on June 18 with a proposed effective date of Aug. 1, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning (TIP) Subcommittee Meeting - May 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff and stakeholders presented the 2024 Phoenix Building Construction Code to the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee on May 21; the committee recommended approval to City Council but directed staff to continue talks with elevator manufacturers on one safety amendment.","taxTitle","Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",2207,"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},6231874,"Phoenix amends regional fare collection contract, staff clarifies city and Valley Metro roles",261,1134000,1395000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3428185-b7e7c2acdd8453f1c0d71fb3c349d3c1&start=1134&end=1395","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3428185-b7e7c2acdd8453f1c0d71fb3c349d3c1/thumbnail_1134000.jpg","/articles/6231874/Phoenix/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Phoenix-amends-regional-fare-collection-contract-staff-clarifies-city-and-Valley-Metro-roles","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231874-9ec1a4d35637e011f40c2aef2ffc2109/orig.mp4?Expires=1775393748&Signature=Ve1B~z9gahd3tDV67-3AzxTiFkijb1ZGK1G2oQ2vyharauiC2O7N6qTnr~pBRl17v~KFOHYEZ7Kp4UQOT0ZkXaKR3y0hIvg8K~Rgxr85wrKkkTkI0GqaNneXspWKidEMQpVUG6ya1-fvDSE5208xJQj6kWiYMJnldiLu2Jk4VY5~uLAuBzerGoYV7DpbJnPbi1y07FDreXQXFYoknkQbbVZh2jt2ghY4L-HxgZGxvWc7XXJP~syn--M4wZxB5GiSIbjDFxYF6TwqVurFYtaw8xo0XJcDkUHpJzvlWG7Q77HjsqO2W-MPQt2ETRBuJpvVxh6KpaAIPm1koxpQEKnESQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","PHOENIX — The Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee unanimously approved consent items on May 21 that included an amendment to the regional transit fare collection system contract to add funds for continued operation and maintenance.

Council members asked staff to clarify which agencies oversee parts of the fare‑collection ecosystem. A city staff member explained, \"So it is a hosted system. So the vendor does a lot of the support for it, but it does ride on the city's infrastructure. And then Valley Metro does have some contracts for the customer service elements and other elements with the same vendor. But for the technical portion, that's with the City of Phoenix.\" The staff member described the city‑managed portion as the VIX system (the technical back‑end), while Valley Metro separately owns and maintains the cash boxes used on buses.

Committee members said the exchange was intended to create a clear record of responsibilities so future upgrades and maintenance would avoid finger‑pointing between agencies. A council member said the chief objective of the amendment was to secure modernization and maintenance so the system could operate at the expected level.

The consent motion to approve items including the fare collection amendment was moved and seconded during the meeting and passed unanimously.

","The Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee approved a consent package that included an amendment adding funds to the regional fare collection system contract and heard staff clarify which agency manages the technical system versus cash‑box maintenance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_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":73,"_74":73},6231879,"Phoenix parks department outlines expanded summer camps, 20 pools to open amid staffing efforts",0,1878000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3428185-b7e7c2acdd8453f1c0d71fb3c349d3c1&start=1878&end=1878","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3428185-b7e7c2acdd8453f1c0d71fb3c349d3c1/thumbnail_1878000.jpg","/articles/6231879/Phoenix/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Phoenix-parks-department-outlines-expanded-summer-camps-20-pools-to-open-amid-staffing-efforts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231879-07b2b2f04828490da17d0e7f808ffed8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775393748&Signature=gn3ofavNi0kZU4f~7Vp~zcyMzG8w5PlAmYe7GrHxrFzzjwms-L1Q2dU5xe9NCMcaSGYMdcSzGHs8SmEeMWLtCX5orma69YdrujAO9wLPkwyg4MWakrVWYPL48HvQYUkm22F4NXdCgJsBccm0xw1VnJv1EMcxsn3ok6szLg~mLlVNCET-atzitGXWPTRA-T~R8tFFH1IdVM4TF2GLvwLjDLjZCC9bDY-EZbcwXMF-yiUyEdX6ymckJJFmjeksW0LRSkSQRdXg2X01c1JOKG6mmMvLRrqZDhaS2ry2~7MnAMFVP7vfcJRNKS1DOc4yMoVZpPW~riE~kTInTxat4iGkeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","PHOENIX — At a Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee meeting on May 21, Phoenix Parks and Recreation presented plans for the 2025 summer season that include 26 Phoenix Place summer camp sites, 20 city pools opening this year and expanded swim‑lesson capacity.

The presentation focused on access, affordability and staffing. \"The Phoenix Place summer camp is an indoor program facilitated at 26 Phoenix community and recreation centers spread throughout the city,\" Deputy Parks and Recreation Director Daniel Polvoromo said. He told the subcommittee camps run eight to 10 weeks, sites typically accommodate 40 to 50 participants, and the department maintains a 1‑to‑15 staff‑to‑participant ratio.

Those details matter because camps and public pools provide low‑cost child supervision and recreation across neighborhoods. Phoenix staff said camps include pre‑ and post‑week coverage, teen volunteer opportunities for 13‑ to 15‑year‑olds, weekly newsletters in English and Spanish, and a new weekly registration option introduced this year after parent surveys.

Parks and Recreation reported the city has 29 pools in its inventory. Aquatics Supervisor Becky Kirk said preparations included recruitment and training that began in March 2024. \"This year the city is employing more than 400 lifeguards, of which 246 are certified swim instructors, 26 assistant pool managers, 17 pool managers and 48 cashiers,\" Kirk said. The department expects 16 pools to be open all summer and four additional pools to be open for part of the season, bringing the total to 20 open pools for 2025. Eastlake Pool remains under renovation, expected to finish in late fall.

Staff acknowledged persistent staffing shortages that limit openings. To address that, the department described an accelerated assistant‑manager training program, a new head lifeguard development track intended to prepare second‑ and third‑year employees for management roles, and hiring incentives ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 depending on position. The department said 65% of last summer’s aquatic staff returned this year.

The presentation included programming and partnerships: five pools were identified for conversion to neighborhood splash pads under a voter‑approved general obligation bond (Grama, University, Alkiar, Maryview and Holiday, per the presentation), and telephone pioneer pool will reopen this summer through a partnership with Ability360. Salt River Project and the Milwaukee Brewers provided more than $70,000 in combined donations to the Cool Kids program; the Arizona Diamondbacks and a partner program will double discounted swim‑lesson slots.

Phoenix emphasized swim safety and affordability: staff said pools recorded more than 267,000 visits in 2024 and offered about 12,000 swim‑lesson slots that year. For 2025, the department said it will provide about 12,700 lesson opportunities at 19 locations; a standard two‑week session is $15 (about $1.88 per day) and about 1,600 heavily discounted slots will cost $3 (about $0.38 per day). The department also added limited August lessons for ages 3 to 5 aimed at self‑rescue skills.

During council questions, members pressed staff on capacity and access. Councilwoman Hodge Washington asked whether registration would remain open throughout the summer; staff said spaces remain available at most sites and registration continues while capacity exists. When asked about total camp participation, staff said 2024 totaled just under 2,400 youth across Phoenix Place sites.

Council members also suggested using the heated Eastlake Pool as a year‑round training and programming site to help build the lifeguard and manager pipeline. Staff said they are pursuing targeted recruitment and training to expand openings in future seasons.

Less urgent details: some larger centers such as Desert West and Longview offer gyms and multipurpose rooms for bigger groups, while smaller sites (for example Sunnyslope Youth Center) host smaller cohorts and two field trips are generally included in the program calendar. The department said it will continue post‑season surveys to refine offerings.

The subcommittee did not take formal action specific to the presentation; Parks and Recreation asked the panel for questions and to note the department’s progress ahead of the summer season.

","City staff told a City of Phoenix subcommittee on May 21 that the Parks and Recreation Department will open 20 pools this summer, operate 26 community-center summer camps and expand swim lessons and partnerships while continuing targeted recruitment for lifeguards and pool managers.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6231865,"Residents say Piestewa Peak trail was 'obliterated' and a 40‑foot bridge built without permits; call for answers",289,6911000,7200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3428185-b7e7c2acdd8453f1c0d71fb3c349d3c1&start=6911&end=7200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3428185-b7e7c2acdd8453f1c0d71fb3c349d3c1/thumbnail_6911000.jpg","/articles/6231865/Phoenix/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Residents-say-Piestewa-Peak-trail-was-obliterated-and-a-40foot-bridge-built-without-permits-call-for-answers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231865-061a25d005180c953fb0786d57c11a53/orig.mp4?Expires=1775393748&Signature=WY-nMJoEHIhHbxZXlbH6Fx2HSjLs5hmufdin8olYaCWoi6a7PnTVmpfnxwXoXaFGrDJelZyF2~Tpu-mEETYCSz3U7MNlzFqI1KButGHU~PCOIWjezUhdLqh~TSKJF80fwG4bm8atXvAhmsv6ASwxY6EDgyT0-y6FR~QJSJ~4ln6vaTt5YQlduXcvbqhRwLxjN~GKKrKVkB6Z2Ay8h7bgLiwBz83zvVQAntyzpXX~GP9JcarDtNhKh9lRvmoAJxC0-vvtTZjmg2UrCyFyjQRVJmQE3LefB6m-emMzT6LkgiOiGijgoKhLLyCX4PYVvuPEBfOqs9O-pIKbTxbDMdYuoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","PHOENIX — During public comment at the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee meeting on May 21, two residents raised concerns about construction work at Piestewa Peak they described as unpermitted and insensitive to the landmarked trail name.

\"There's a project going on out there. We call it a mystery project because we haven't seen any authorization, any contract, any building permits,\" speaker Jerry Van Guest told the subcommittee. He said the work began shortly after an annual sunrise service and that the earliest activity involved removing a nature trail labeled \"Piestewa Nature Trail.\" \"The drawing here of the bridge has a notation that they're building above it saying, 'existing trail to be obliterated,' \" he said, adding that he and others believe the Piestewa family had not been notified.

Another speaker, Tim Serakowski, described visual impacts: \"You're going to Piestewa... you're parking your car, and suddenly you look north and you see a 40 foot bridge. Now, just imagine, you're in a park system...and you see a 40 foot bridge.\" He asked the city to provide the contract and building‑permit documents the speakers said they had requested but not received.

Both commenters said Parks and Preserve Initiative funds were being used and urged the subcommittee to provide documentation and public explanation. The speakers requested clarity about who authorized the work, how the project was approved, and the amount of funding devoted to it.

The subcommittee did not take immediate action during the meeting; staff were not recorded offering a response on the public record during the comments. The speakers said they had previously provided a flyer and a drawing to city members and requested the documents be released.

","Two public commenters told the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee on May 21 that work at Piestewa Peak included demolition of a nature trail and construction of a 40‑foot bridge without visible contracts, permits or family notification. They asked the city for documentation and transparency.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Subcommittee backs 2024 Phoenix Building Construction Code; council directs more talks on elevator provision

Phoenix amends regional fare collection contract, staff clarifies city and Valley Metro roles

Phoenix parks department outlines expanded summer camps, 20 pools to open amid staffing efforts

Residents say Piestewa Peak trail was 'obliterated' and a 40‑foot bridge built without permits; call for answers