Scottsdale approves Marcato Village rezoning to 235 condos, Fairmont hotel expansion with 155 rooms

Scottsdale Approves Mixed-Use Condo Rezoning and Hotel Expansion; Audit Confirms AAA Financial Health

The Scottsdale City Council took decisive action on three major items at its December 4, 2024 meeting, approving a long-contested 6.64-acre mixed-use development with for-sale condominiums, unanimously clearing a 36-year-old resort expansion with a 44% parking reduction, and accepting a clean financial audit that underscores the city's fiscal strength despite looming state revenue cuts. The decisions reflect the council's commitment to its General Plan 2035 and to preserving local control over land use in the face of state legislative pressure on residential zoning.

Key Speeches

The debate over Marcato Village crystallized the tension between neighborhood preservation and growth policy. Councilman Tom Durham framed the vote in terms of the adopted General Plan:

"The General Plan determines what the citizens want to see in Scottsdale, and I feel obligated to follow it. This plan meets the General Plan more than almost any project we've voted on in the last four years." — Councilman Tom Durham

Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas echoed that sentiment while acknowledging the project's difficulty:

"You have responded to that opposition and you have neutralized the opposition. I'm very impressed with that. I have not been able to do that." — Jan Dubauskas Mayor Barry Graham, the sole dissenter, expressed concern about the enforceability of the condo restriction and the traffic impact:

"This area is unlike any area in the city in that its congestion for traffic is uniquely high and those things just give me pause for concern." — Vice Mayor Barry Graham

Councilwoman Solange Whitehead rebutted concerns about government overreach, noting the switch to condos was a major concession:

"I have to admit I'm a little bit shocked that councilman Barry Graham wants the city to overreach to that extent into the free market and into a private development agreement and a private business." — Solange Whitehead the Fairmont expansion, Councilman Tom Durham noted the resort's track record and the success of the parking strategy:

"They have been operating this hotel for 36 years; they don't have any parking problems. Only 27% of the resort guests today have cars... and only 8% of conference users do not stay at the hotel." — Jordan Rose, representing Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Hotel

Timeline

Marcato Village General Plan Amendment and Rezoning

• Prior action: Project was continued from November 12, 2024 meeting at the applicant's request to allow reworking of the proposal.

• Applicant presentation: Kurt Jones (Tiffany & Bosco, representing Caliber Company CEO Chris Laugher) presented the revised project with three key changes from the prior iteration: (1) reduction in unit count from 255 to 235 dwelling units; (2) switch from rental apartments to for-sale condominiums only, with a restrictive deed restriction recorded on the property; (3) enhanced design with two-story street frontage along 92nd Street stepping back to three stories. Staff Planner Jeff Barnes walked through the zoning, site plan, emergency access, traffic circulation, open space (29%, exceeding the 10% PUD minimum), and the signalized intersection at Cois and 92nd Street.

• Key project features: 6.64-acre site on the east side of 92nd Street south of Shea Boulevard; 235 for-sale condominiums; 13,142 sq. ft. of co-work and live-work space; three-story design with two-story street frontage; underground parking; 29% open space; cross-access easements to support truck traffic from adjacent Sprouts shopping center and to allow future development to the east; International Green Construction Code compliance via stipulation.

• Public comment: Lee Kulite (3 miles away, frequents the shopping center) and Ryan Anita (2 miles away, has children at Cois School) both spoke in support, noting the project's walkability, its proximity to Honor Health employees, and the need for housing near employment centers.

• Council discussion: Dominated by land-use policy and traffic concerns. Councilman Tom Durham noted the General Plan's call for "housing within walking distance of employment and services" and pointed to collision data showing the 92nd/Shea area was not in the top traffic hotspots. Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas praised the applicant's responsiveness to opposition. Councilwoman Solange Whitehead questioned the applicant on condo construction cost (approximately 20% higher than apartments) and the nature of the truck traffic solution. Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield reversed her initial opposition, noting "all the things I didn't like have been fixed." Mayor David Ortega highlighted the context: Honor Health's expansion to 460 parking spaces for 100+ new jobs, and the multi-million-dollar Italiano Restaurant investment at the adjacent Sprouts Center, showing neighborhood momentum. Vice Mayor Barry Graham raised the issue of private deed-restriction enforceability—the city would not be able to enforce a condo-only restriction if the developer later chose to convert to apartments—and expressed concern that a development agreement would be preferable but equally unenforceable. City Attorney Sheryl Scott confirmed that only private parties grieved by a conversion could sue.

• Vote: 6-1 approval. Vice Mayor Barry Graham dissented.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Hotel Master Plan Update and Ground Lease Amendment

• Applicant presentation: Jordan Rose (Rose Law Group, PC) and Jack Miller (VP/General Manager, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess) presented the resort's expansion: 155 new guest rooms in a new guest wing; 10,000 sq. ft. restaurant featuring renowned Chef Michael Mina with a farm-to-table concept; 35,000 sq. ft. conference center with a 25,000 sq. ft. ballroom; new rotisserie; replacement of the existing event tent with a structure; underground parking garage (1,100 spaces) supplementing the loss of 1,638 surface spaces. Building height increases from 36 ft to 48 ft for the guest wing. The applicant is seeking a 44% parking reduction (similar to the Four Seasons' 42% reduction). Neighboring HOAs (Maravilla, Crownpoint) submitted letters of support.

• City engineer presentation (Item 22 — Ground Lease Amendment): Alison Timm (City Engineer) explained that the 1986 99-year ground lease with FMT Scottsdale Owner LLC requires amendment whenever the number of hotel keys or commercial square footage increases. The Fifth Amendment clarifies annual rent calculation (2% of gross revenue, unchanged since 1986), corrects legal descriptions, addresses maintenance of three buildings that encroach over the property line, and increases liability insurance requirements from $5 million to $10 million.

• Public comment: None.

• Council discussion: Councilman Tom Durham asked about the gross revenue calculation and confirmed it has been flat at 2% since 1986 with no ceilings or deductions. He raised concerns about parking sufficiency during peak events, particularly the five-week Christmas at the Princess season. Jordan Rose responded with a detailed analysis showing that only 27% of resort guests have cars, only 8% of conference attendees do not stay at the hotel, and the property has had no parking complaints in its 36-year history. Vice Mayor Barry Graham expressed discomfort with the 44% reduction, wishing for a 15–25% reduction instead, but acknowledged the hotel's 36-year track record and indicated he would support the application. Councilwoman Maryann McAllen and Councilwoman Solange Whitehead criticized the city's parking code for requiring excessive parking for multi-use facilities (e.g., requiring parking for each separate use—hotel, restaurant, coffee shop—as if users would not overlap). Both called for a future review of the parking ordinance. Solange Whitehead noted that only the applicant (the hotel) would suffer if parking proved insufficient, not the public or neighborhoods.

• Votes:

  • Item 21 (Master Plan Update): 7-0 approval.
  • Item 22 (Ground Lease Amendment): 7-0 approval.

FY 2023-24 Financial Audit and Compliance Report

• Audit presentation: Britney Williams (audit partner, Heinfeld Meehling) reported a clean (unmodified) opinion on the city's annual comprehensive financial report, federal single audit, state highway user revenue fund, and component units (four CFDs and the municipal property corporation). No significant deficiencies or material weaknesses were found. The federal grants audit (CDBG, housing voucher cluster) was clean, with the housing program clearing all prior-year findings. Federal awards totaled $15.5 million.

• City Treasurer presentation: Sonia Andrews presented key financial metrics:

  • Fund Balance: General fund balance exceeded $200 million; liquidity ratios remain strong.
  • Bond Rating: AAA maintained.
  • General Fund Reserve: 25%+ (state minimum compliance).
  • Assets: Total assets increased; cash and investments grew; capital assets total $6.6 billion (land, water/sewer systems, streets, storm drains, buildings).
  • Debt: Total outstanding debt is $722 million (very manageable given $6.6 billion in assets); approximately $190 million of Bond 2019 remains to be issued.
  • Pension Liability: Public Safety Pension System (PSPRS) liability has declined through a combination of active paydown and investment returns; the city still faces approximately $50 million more in paydown to reach a sustainable cost level. The PSPRS charges the city 7% annual interest on outstanding liability.
  • Revenue Trends: Sales tax growth has normalized after pandemic-era anomalies (99.7% growth in 2023, -3.4% in 2024); moving forward, the city expects slower growth due to elimination of residential rental sales tax (state action), state income tax reductions, and slower consumer spending. The city is currently at 94% of its state-imposed expenditure limitation (annual population- and inflation-adjusted spending cap). Proposition 491 (voter-approved increase to the expenditure limitation effective FY 2525-26) and Proposition 490 (community facilities district for parks/outdoor spaces) were highlighted as critical to future fiscal flexibility.
  • Context on Major Projects: Mayor David Ortega emphasized that several projects drawing headlines (Pima Road expansion, $30+ million, 71% county-funded; Scottsdale Road including Dynamite intersection, $43 million revised estimate, $30 million federally funded; Fire Academy building, $20 million, funded through a combination of general fund and Bond 2019) represent strong stewardship: the city either captured external funding (county, federal) or used accumulated general fund reserves strategically rather than issuing unnecessary debt.

• City Manager Jim Thompson: Affirmed strong financial position, noting the fund balance grew from $30 million upon his arrival (eight years prior) to over $200 million; PSPRS contributions have been strategically reduced as a percentage of payroll (from 41% per dollar earned to the current level) through effective paydown. Highlighted tourism growth (from 9 million to 12 million visitors annually, ~25% increase) and the competitive advantage of Fashion Square Mall as one of the last major enclosed shopping centers in the region.

• Council remarks: Mayor Ortega and Councilwoman Solange Whitehead celebrated the city's fiscal discipline and noted Scottsdale is "the gold standard of the valley." Councilwoman Maryann McAllen pointed out the irony that inflation benefited city revenues (people spending more on taxable goods) while the city's costs rose, yet public discourse focused only on the cost side. Solange Whitehead noted that despite the election cycle criticism of fiscal mismanagement, the city has maintained or grown service levels even as the workforce has shrunk from 2010 levels.

• Public comment: None.

• Vote: 7-0 approval (unanimous).

Opposition

Marcato Village Opposition:

• Number of speakers against: Zero public speakers testified against the project on December 4. However, the brief analysis notes that McCormick Ranch and Cactus Quarter homeowner associations, along with residents, had lodged substantial opposition in prior proceedings.

• Main concerns (from prior record and council discussion):

  1. Traffic congestion on 92nd Street, already one of the city's most congested corridors (101 to 96th Street segment).
  2. Collision and safety concerns, though Councilman Durham's review of traffic data indicated the 92nd/Shea intersection was not in the top collision hotspots and collision rates had been declining.
  3. Concern that apartments would add significant transient population and lack of community investment.
  4. Fear of precedent-setting for height (the prior four-story proposal was withdrawn; the final proposal is three stories with two-story street frontage).
  5. Loss of existing retail/employment uses; developer addressed by confirming Sprouts and other tenants remain.
  6. Impact on quality of life in nearby mature residential communities (McCormick Ranch, Cactus Quarter).
  7. Parking and circulation impacts on the shopping center to the north.

• Most compelling arguments: The traffic concern was acknowledged by multiple council members as legitimate; Barry Graham emphasized that the area's congestion is "uniquely high" in the city. However, council ultimately relied on: (1) the traffic signal at Cois and 92nd, funded by the developer; (2) the cross-access easements allowing truck traffic to bypass the residential portion and use the signalized intersection; (3) expert traffic analysis indicating the project generates less traffic than an office or alternate use; and (4) the General Plan's explicit call for mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods near employment centers.

• Organized groups: McCormick Ranch Property Owners Association and Scotch Ranch Property Owners Association were referenced; McCormick Ranch provided a letter of support for the revised project after the developer addressed design concerns (setbacks, landscaping, signalized intersection).

Support

Marcato Village Support:

• Number of speakers in favor: Two public speakers (Lee Kulite, Ryan Anita).

• Main arguments:

  1. Alignment with General Plan 2035: Multiple council members (Durham, Jan Dubauskas, Solange Whitehead, Kathy Littlefield) emphasized the project meets the voter-approved General Plan's objectives to integrate housing in mixed-use neighborhoods, support job-to-housing balance, provide walkability, and accommodate workforce housing near major employers.
  2. Employment proximity: Honor Health is Scottsdale's largest employer; housing within walking distance addresses a real need, particularly for nurses and medical staff working shifts.
  3. Walkability and urban services: Adjacent to Sprouts, Starbucks, Chompies, Portillo, Barnes & Noble, restaurants, and medical services—the project allows residents to live with reduced car dependency.
  4. Responsiveness to opposition: The applicant reduced units (255 to 235), switched to for-sale condominiums (addressing concerns about transience and community investment), enhanced design with street-front setbacks, funded a traffic signal, and provided cross-access easements.
  5. Remediation of blight: The site has been vacant/underutilized for 15 years; redevelopment is preferable to ongoing vacancy or a less-regulated use.
  6. State legislative pressure: Councilwoman Solange Whitehead noted that Arizona's recent adaptive reuse law (allowing residential by right where commercial has failed) would eventually preempt local control; approving a well-designed project now preserves the city's ability to negotiate quality standards.
  7. Precedent in comparable projects: Councilwoman Maryann McAllen noted that the council had just approved a multi-family apartment project the prior evening with the same attributes (three stories, reduced units, protected retail), making opposition to this condo project inconsistent.

• Organized support: Letter from McCormick Ranch Property Owners Association (business portion) after the developer addressed design concerns; verbal support from adjacent businesses and Honor Health.

Project Details

Marcato Village Mixed-Use Development

• Case numbers: Case 1 GP 2024 (General Plan Amendment); Case 1 ZN 2024 (Rezoning)
• Applicant / Developer: Caliber Company, CEO Chris Laugher
• Attorney: Kurt Jones, Tiffany & Bosco, 2525 East Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85016
• Location / address: East side of 92nd Street, south of Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale
• APN: Not stated in transcript.
• Current zoning → Proposed zoning: Portion of site: Commercial (C3 PCD) → Mixed-Use Neighborhoods (General Plan); C3 PCD zoning → PUD PCD zoning. Remainder of site already zoned PUD PCD.
• Density / units / square footage: 235 dwelling units (reduced from 255); 13,142 sq. ft. co-work and live-work space; 29% open space (exceeds 10% PUD minimum); two-story street frontage along 92nd, stepping back to three stories; underground parking.
• Changes from previous version: Unit count reduced from 255 to 235; switched from rental apartments to for-sale condominiums; restrictive deed restriction recorded; enhanced design with two-story street frontage and landscaping; signalized intersection at Cois and 92nd (new); cross-access easements for truck traffic and future development.
• Conditions/Stipulations: International Green Construction Code (IGCC) compliance per stipulation 11; adherence to Scottsdale Green Building Codes; condo-only designation (private deed restriction, not enforced by city).

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Hotel Expansion

• Case number: 5ZN 2015 number 2
• Applicant / Operator: FMT Scottsdale Owner LLC; Jack Miller (VP/General Manager, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Hotel)
• Attorney: Jordan Rose, Rose Law Group, PC
• Architects: Matt Cesar, Michael Colin, and light to house partners
• Traffic Consultant: Paul Basher, Summit Land
• Location / address: East Princess Boulevard (south side), with surrounding uses including state land (north), Holiday Hotel and Residences (east), golf course (south), senior living and offices (west)
• Zoning: Central Business Plan Community District (supports hotel, restaurant, retail, business services)
• Current improvements: 36-year-old resort with existing conference facilities (Palamino Conference Center), event tent, guest rooms, pools, multiple restaurants/bars.
• Proposed improvements:
  • 155 new guest rooms in a new guest wing (3-4 story).
  • 10,000 sq. ft. new restaurant with farm-to-table concept by Chef Michael Mina.
  • 35,000 sq. ft. conference center addition with 25,000 sq. ft. ballroom, connected to existing Palamino Conference Center.
  • New rotisserie (coffee house, internal to the site, no external traffic generation expected).
  • New event lawn (outdoor gathering space between new conference center and Palamino).
  • Underground parking garage (1,100 spaces) replacing 1,638 surface parking spaces.
  • New driveway/access along East Princess Boulevard.
  • Building height increase: Guest wing from 36 ft to 48 ft.
• Parking reduction: 44% reduction requested. Code would require 3,234 spaces; applicant is providing approximately 1,855 spaces (calculated as 1,100 new underground + retained surface spaces). Comparable to Four Seasons' 42% reduction.
• Density / units / square footage: 155 new rooms; 10,000 sq. ft. restaurant; 35,000 sq. ft. conference space; total resort footprint approximately 66 acres.

Ground Lease Amendment (Item 22)

• Agreement number: 25-CE1-A5, Fifth Amendment to the 1986 99-year ground lease with FMT Scottsdale Owner LLC.
• Key changes:
  • Increases allowable hotel keys and commercial square footage to match zoning approval.
  • Clarifies annual rent calculation: 2% of gross revenue (unchanged since 1986, applies to both city-owned and privately-owned portions of the resort).
  • Corrects legal descriptions and property depictions (originally dated 1986, updated to reflect current boundaries).
  • Clarifies maintenance responsibilities for three buildings encroaching over the property line between city and private parcels.
  • Increases liability insurance requirement from $5 million to $10 million.

Vote Breakdown

Marcato Village General Plan Amendment and Rezoning:

• Final: 6-1
• Yes: Mayor David Ortega, Councilman Tom Durham, Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas, Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield, Councilwoman Solange Whitehead, Councilwoman Maryann McAllen
• No: Vice Mayor Barry Graham
• Abstentions / absences: None

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Hotel Master Plan Update (Item 21):

• Final: 7-0 (unanimous)
• Yes: All council members

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Ground Lease Amendment (Item 22):

• Final: 7-0 (unanimous)
• Yes: All council members

FY 2023-24 Financial Audit and Compliance Report:

• Final: 7-0 (unanimous)
• Yes: All council members

Outcome & Next Steps

Marcato Village:

The rezoning was approved 6-1. Resolutions and ordinances adopted:

• Resolution 13243: Minor General Plan Amendment (Commercial to Mixed-Use Neighborhoods on 2 acres).
• Ordinance 4648: Zoning District Map Amendment (C3 PCD to PUD PCD on 2 acres).
• Resolution 13244: Marcato Village Development Plan approval.

The project now proceeds to the Design Review Board process for detailed architectural and site plan review. The applicant recorded a private deed restriction limiting the property to for-sale condominiums (not enforceable by the city, but serves as a contractual commitment to the developer's stated intentions). Key conditions include signalization of the intersection at Cois and 92nd Street, cross-access easements for truck traffic and future development, compliance with International Green Construction Code, and adherence to Scottsdale Green Building Codes.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess:

Both the master plan update (Item 21) and ground lease amendment (Item 22) were approved unanimously. Ordinance 4659 amends the development plan to allow the expanded guest rooms, restaurant, conference space, and building height increase. Resolution 13305 declares the development plan a public record. Resolution 13297 authorizes the Fifth Amendment to the ground lease agreement (25-CE1-A5). Vice Mayor Barry Graham suggested the applicant consider adding an additional level to the parking garage in the future, though no formal condition was imposed.

Financial Audit:

The audit was accepted unanimously. The city is required to present a compliance report regarding the state-imposed expenditure limitation. The audit cleared the city on all fronts: clean opinion, AAA bond rating maintained, $200M+ fund balance, 25%+ general fund reserve, and clear federal grant audit (housing program cleared prior findings). The city treasurer and city manager will continue to recommend additional PSPRS pension liability paydown in future budgets to reduce the public safety personnel cost burden (currently 50+ cents per dollar earned; comparable cities are at 65+ cents or dollar-for-dollar). The council is expected to revisit the parking code in future sessions to better accommodate hotel and multi-use projects that do not impact public parking or neighborhoods.

Controversies & Context

Marcato Village:

The rezoning has been before the city for multiple years, with substantial and vocal opposition from McCormick Ranch and Cactus Quarter homeowner associations. The primary concern has been traffic on the 92nd Street corridor, which residents and some council members acknowledge as one of Scottsdale's most congested segments. However, data reviewed by Councilman Tom Durham indicated the 92nd/Shea intersection is not a top collision hotspot, and collision rates have been declining. The applicant's willingness to switch from apartments to for-sale condominiums significantly reduced opposition, as did the inclusion of a signalized intersection, cross-access easements, and enhanced design with street-front setbacks.

Barry Graham primary concern was the lack of enforceability of the condo-only deed restriction. He noted that if the developer later determined condos were not economically viable, the city would have no mechanism to prevent a conversion to apartments. A development agreement was considered but rejected by city staff because it would not solve the enforceability problem (the city would still be unable to compel the developer to build condos or prevent a subsequent conversion). The applicant indicated the condo model is intended to be permanent, citing Caliber Company's long-term Scottsdale presence and the higher construction cost and quality inherent in the condo product.

State Legislative Pressure:

Councilwoman Solange Whitehead and Councilwoman Maryann McAllen referenced Arizona's recent adaptive reuse law, which allows residential development by right in commercial areas without local land-use review. Scottsdale currently falls within a "loophole" that may be closed in the next legislative session. If the law is amended to include Scottsdale, the property owner could return and develop by right (without city approval) as apartments, stripping the city of its ability to negotiate quality standards, design, parking, traffic mitigation, or any other community benefits. Approving a well-designed condo project now preserves local control.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess:

The parking reduction of 44% was the primary point of contention, though no council member voted against it. Vice Mayor Barry Graham expressed discomfort, wishing for a smaller reduction (15–25%). However, the applicant's 36-year track record of successful operations without parking complaints, combined with data showing only 27% of guests have cars and only 8% of conference attendees do not stay at the hotel, provided confidence. Multiple council members (Solange Whitehead, McAllen) noted that the city's parking ordinance is overly stringent for mixed-use facilities, requiring parking for each separate use as if patrons would not overlap. A future review of the parking code was encouraged.

Councilman Tom Durham also asked whether the 2% ground lease rent could be updated, given inflation and the resort's success. City Engineer Alison Timm confirmed the rate has been flat since 1986 with no escalation clause. No motion to amend the lease terms was made, and the 2% rate was accepted as part of the amendment.

Financial Audit and Fiscal Context:

The FY 2023-24 audit is clean, but the treasurer's presentation highlighted significant near-term revenue headwinds: elimination of the residential rental sales tax (state action), state income tax reductions, and normalization of sales tax growth (from the pandemic-era 99.7% growth in 2023 to -3.4% in 2024, reflecting the prior year's Super Bowl-driven spike). Proposition 491 (voter-approved increase to the expenditure limitation, effective FY 2525-26) and Proposition 490 (community facilities district) are critical to maintaining fiscal flexibility. The city is currently at 94% of the state-imposed expenditure limitation and faces pressure to contain costs even as PSPRS pension liability remains a concern (the city pays approximately 50+ cents per dollar earned in public safety wages toward the pension; comparable cities in the valley pay 65+ cents or dollar-for-dollar).

Mayor Ortega emphasized that several high-profile projects (Pima Road, Scottsdale Road, Fire Academy building) have been successfully managed through strategic use of federal and county funding, as well as judicious deployment of general fund reserves. The city's AAA bond rating, $200M+ fund balance, and 25%+ general fund reserve position it as the strongest fiscal entity in the valley—a narrative that stands in stark contrast to election-cycle criticism of financial mismanagement.

Duration

• Marcato Village item: Approximately 90 minutes (including presentations, public comment, and full council discussion).
• Fairmont Scottsdale Princess items (21 and 22): Approximately 60 minutes (combined).
• Financial Audit item (23): Approximately 45 minutes (brief vote; full presentation deferred to work study).
• Work Study: Approximately 90 minutes (city treasurer and city manager presentations on financial health, fund balance, PSPRS liability, revenue trends).
• Total meeting duration: Approximately 5 hours.

Other Notable Items

Dog Park Etiquette Signage Petition (Public Comment): Steve Sutton, a frequent user of Cholla Dog Park, presented a petition requesting city installation of large-format dog park etiquette signs (approximately 3/4 the size of a 6-ft by 7-ft fence panel) in the dog park to encourage owners to manage their dogs' behavior and reduce conflicts. The sign's dual message (primary command, secondary explanation) is intended to serve as a communication tool among users, helping prevent escalation to dangerous confrontations. Sutton argued the signs are more effective than small, text-heavy regulatory signs and noted that incidents of verbal and physical assaults among owners (over dogs' behavioral conflicts) have occurred. The council took no action; the petition was presented for consideration.