Tempe council approves contracts, bonds and policy introductions in 6-0 votes; nuisance ordinance amendments set for May hearing

Tempe City Council on a series of motions approved a slate of contracts, professional services agreements, and bond resolutions and introduced several ordinance changes during its regular meeting; most measures passed unanimously, 6-0, with Councilmember Keating absent.

Key votes included authorization to enter formal negotiations with a development team for roughly 6.73 acres at Apache Boulevard and Dorsey Lane, multiple contract renewals for employee benefits and technical services, awards of professional services and construction contracts for public‑works projects, and the adoption of resolutions authorizing general obligation and excise‑tax revenue bonds.

The council voted 6-0 to authorize the city manager or designee to enter formal negotiations with Urban Development Partners LLC and Palindrome (with Richmond Group as a secondary option) on a proposed lease and redevelopment of city‑owned land near Apache Boulevard and Dorsey Lane. Phil Amarosi, representing Citizens for the Apache Corridor, spoke in support of combining affordable housing with grocery retail at the site.

Other approvals that passed unanimously included: - A one‑year renewal with Cigna Dental Health Plan of Arizona to provide dental coverage for eligible city employees and dependents. - Use of a five‑year State of Arizona cooperative contract with Oracle Corporation for cloud‑based utility billing licensing and support, and a contract increase…