Phoenix City Council approves transit grants, a settlement and local speed-limit changes; residents raise airport-layoff and rezoning concerns

The Phoenix City Council conducted its Oct. 29 meeting in which it approved multiple agenda items, including federal grant submittals for transit, authorization to pursue the Low/Zero Emission Bus and Bus Facilities competitive program, a settlement in the Garcia case, and a local ordinance adjusting speed limits at nine locations.

Council members also approved board and commission nominations, multiple liquor-license advisory items and an omnibus set of ordinances and resolutions. Several items were separated from the omnibus for discussion and recorded roll-call votes.

Councilwoman Salem Hernandez described the Low/Zero Emission Bus program as an environmental equity and health measure. "Electrifying our bus system is one step that the city can take to do its part to improve our air quality," Hernandez said, and she urged continued conversations with transit about converting the fleet.

On item 13, a settlement in the Garcia case proposed by city staff, Hernandez offered condolences and called on the city to prevent similar incidents in the future. The settlement was approved on roll call.

City officials moved and passed ordinance G 7,438 to amend Chapter 36 of the city code and adjust local speed limits at nine locations. The council approved the ordinance by roll call vote.

During the public-comment period, Maxwell Yulin, an attorney with Unite Here Local 11, said roughly 180 Sky Chefs workers face layoffs next week and that about 60 of those workers have not been placed with successor employers. "We would like to thank the city... for collaborating with us to help secure jobs for about 120 of those members," Yulin said, and he urged the city to adopt a worker-retention policy to reduce disruption during contractor transitions.

A virtual petitioner, Tamara, spoke against rezoning case Z-139-24-1 and associated general-plan amendments (GPA N G-120-41 and GPA NG-224-1, as reported verbally), saying the proposed project represented overdevelopment, traffic and environmental harms, and special-interest influence; she asked the council to deny or significantly scale back the application and to commission a review of related conduct dating to 2019.

Votes at a glance

- Boards & Commissions nominations (item 1): approved and new commissioners sworn in (roll call recorded as passed). - Liquor-license advisory items 2–10: approved as moved (vote recorded as 8–0). - Special-event liquor license, Phoenix Public Library Foundation (item 8): approved (8–0). - Collective Coffee (item 9): approved (8–0). - Settlement in Garcia case (item 13): approved (roll call recorded as 8–0). - FTA grant submittals (item 26): approved (motion and roll call recorded). - Low/Zero Emission Bus grant authorization (item 28): approved (8–0); councilmembers cited air-quality and equity benefits. - Ordinance G 7,438 (item 31) amending local speed limits at nine locations: approved (8–0). - Citizen petition by Jared Maupin (item 40) and staff recommendation: approved (vote recorded as 7–1).

The meeting concluded after a public-comment period that included tributes to a community volunteer and calls for policy changes from labor and neighborhood speakers. The council adjourned after the citizen comment session.