Council gives consensus to advance heat-safety ordinance for public and contract workers to regular agenda

A City Council subcommittee working on a proposed heat-safety ordinance for Tempe public and contracted workers asked the full council to forward the measure for formal consideration; the council signaled consensus to do so.

Councilmember Hodge, who leads the subcommittee, summarized meetings with labor, public-health organizations and city departments and said two committee meetings and public input produced strong support. "Over the few past months, we engaged with labor, public health organizations, review policy over Arizona cities, and collaboration with city departments to ensure our ordinance is both meaningful and practical," Hodge said. She reported that more than 53 public respondents expressed support and that 96% of those respondents backed moving forward with an ordinance.

Hodge requested the council’s support to place the ordinance on the May 22 regular council meeting agenda for formal consideration. The city attorney confirmed the item was on the tentative agenda and that the clerk would rely on council consensus to publish it. Councilmembers verbally indicated support; the mayor and staff concluded there was consensus to move the item forward.

No ordinance text was adopted during the work study session. The subcommittee’s next steps are to place the proposed ordinance on the regular meeting agenda for formal consideration and potential formal action by the council.

Councilmembers praised the subcommittee’s work and thanked staff and community members who participated in the drafting process.