On Wednesday, the Phoenix City Council convened in a formal meeting. Here’s a rundown of items that affect downtown Phoenix:
Body Worn Cameras
The City Council authorized City Manager Ed Zuercher to partner with Axon Enterprise, Inc. to provide body worn cameras for the Phoenix Police Department. The total annual cost will be approximately $2.4 million to run the program with 2,000 cameras. With different training, trials, and deployment of cameras over the next eight years, the Police Department will build upon their new technology to ensure the effective management of new cameras throughout Phoenix.
Call of Special Election Pertaining to the Light Rail
City Council scheduled the election regarding future light rail extensions for Aug. 27. The ballot initiative, submitted by Building a Better Phoenix, would stop light rail expansions detailed in Prop. 104 and instead use the funds toward other infrastructure improvements. The petition was submitted on September 21, 2018 with over 40,000 signatures, almost double the roughly 20,500 needed to qualify.
RELATED: Light rail opponents inch closer to potentially stopping extensions
Authorization to Amend Lease with Bright Horizons Children’s Centers
City Council granted the request to authorize Zuercher to amend the lease for Bright Horizons Children’s Centers, LLC. Lease 135637 will extend to five years with one five-year option to renew. Bright Horizons is located on 150 N. 4th Ave and has been leasing about 12,000 square feet of city-owned property since 2013. The facility provides child care and development services. Bright Horizon’s starting rent of the new term will be $11.85 per square foot per year and will be annually adjusted by 3 percent.
Amendment to the Housing Department’s Annual Agency Plan
City Council approved the adoption of a significant amendment to the Housing Department’s 2018-2019 Annual Agency. By adding provisions to implement the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program, the amendment will include transitions to “contract management for Washington Manor, submitting a RAD/Section 18 blend application for Foothills Village, and acknowledging the $30 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant award,” according to the Council meeting’s agenda.
Development Agreement with Duo on Fillmore, LLC
City Council granted the request for Zuercher to enter into a development agreement with Duo on Fillmore, LLC. In June of 2018, Duo requested the City’s consideration of a Government Property Lease Excise Tax, or GPLET, agreement for the high-rise development project located on 601 N. Third Ave. The site serves as a parking lot for the Arizona State University downtown campus. A 17-story high rise will be developed with 275 structured parking spaces and 34 of them will be available to the public. The development will bring approximately $58.2 million to the downtown community, and create approximately 300 construction jobs and 30 permanent jobs according to city figures.
Issuance of Education Facility Revenue Bonds
City Council approved the issuance of $11,200,000 worth of Education Facility Revenue Bonds for the Arizona School for the Arts Project, Series 2019. The Arizona School for the Arts pays for certain costs related to revenue bonds and refinances the land and buildings that are used as charter school facilities in the city.
Orpheum Theatre Audio System Replacement
City Council authorized Zuercher to partner with 3G Productions, Inc. for the one-time purchase of $675,000 worth of replacement audio equipment for the Orpheum Theatre.
Lisa Diethelm is the Politics editor for the Downtown Devil while she studies at The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in downtown Phoenix. She grew up in California and started her journalism career in high school.
