Mesa council approves Planned Parenthood pass-through grant despite vocal opposition

Mesa City Council on April 20 approved a resolution to act as a pass-through sponsor for a $20,000 grant application submitted by Planned Parenthood to a tribal nation, a decision that drew extended public comment and a pointed dissent from Council Member Taylor.

The item (5E) was presented as a pass-through application — staff and the mayor emphasized the city would not be the direct grantee and that the city would not receive financial benefit unless the city itself applied for the award. “We do not unless it’s specifically a grant that we’ve submitted,” a city staff member told the council when asked whether Mesa gains revenue from pass-through grants.

During public comment, a speaker identified as Mary (who introduced herself in remarks) urged the council to oppose the resolution, saying the $20,000 pass-through would support Planned Parenthood services for an estimated 167 low-income patients in Mesa. “Please do not adopt this resolution,” she said, citing the organization’s national role in abortion services and asking whether the city receives any financial cut from pass-through grants.

Council Member Taylor framed opposition on moral and institutional grounds, arguing municipal sponsorship amounts to an endorsement. “I would argue it should not, nor should it ever,” Taylor said in an extended statement urging colleagues to decline to act as a pass-through sponsor for an organization she described as “morally indefensible.” Taylor cast the lone recorded 'no' vote on the item.

Council then took a separate vote on 5E after approving a bundle of other tribal pass-through items. The motion to approve 5E passed with recorded yes votes from other council members and a single no from Taylor.

The city’s description of pass-through practice, provided by staff during the meeting, said the city historically evaluates whether a nonprofit provides services in Mesa or is a Mesa-based nonprofit before acting as sponsor, and that tribal nations make final funding decisions. The staff member told council that political positions of nonprofits are not a staff-level criterion for sponsorship.

The resolution does not obligate city funds; it authorizes the city to act administratively so the tribal nation can consider the grant application. The council approved the resolution and the pass-through sponsorship will move forward per the tribal nations’ application process.