Tempe Council Unanimously Approves La Victoria Commons, 123 Affordable Housing Units

Tempe Council Unanimously Approves Landmark Affordable Housing Project Amid Developer Intimidation Controversy and Police Misconduct Allegations

The Tempe City Council voted unanimously to approve La Victoria Commons, a mixed-income affordable housing development on Apache Boulevard near light rail, on March 17, 2023—a victory for housing advocates arguing that the city must aggressively address its shortage of affordable units. Yet the otherwise routine consent vote was overshadowed by a contentious public hearing period in which speakers accused an out-of-state investor in the Coyotes stadium deal of silencing ballot-measure opponents through legal threats, and in which two residents alleged that Tempe police officers violated their constitutional rights to record public activity and apply city ordinances arbitrarily against activists.

The council meeting lasted one hour 49 minutes. All seven voting members attended.

Key Speeches

"I don't think Tempe City staff should be doing backflips to build as low density as possible and still make projects pencil out. MU-4 done that sounds a lot easier than entire year of community input for 130 units on a light rail station. Why shouldn't this project be high density?" — David Sokolowski, virtual public commenter, advocating for higher-density development as a housing solution

"When someone arrives from out of town, an investor who says he or she wants to be here in our town, suddenly likes our values and suddenly wants to be part of this community, and then bullies his or her opposition with legal threats, who takes a nuclear option when it looks like he or she may not get what he or she wants—how does what does that hint about the future behavior?" — Tom Brown, South Tempe resident, criticizing cease-and-desist threats sent to ballot-measure opponents

"When someone erects a sign or signs all over the City of Tempe telling the Tempe residents don't vote right for these three propositions vote no on proposition 301 302 303 because my client is a criminal that's not intimidation when we send a letter telling them to stop. That is nothing more than a reprehensible, sinister attempt to lie about a man whose integrity outshines any of the people who are opposing us." — Corey D Woods, attorney representing Alex Morello (Coyotes developer), defending the cease-and-desist letters as legitimate protection against defamation

"I've been assaulted by a police officer named Anthony Nardini out on the street with a door, his car door. I've got a scar on my leg from it. There's a video on YouTube. I tried to press charges. The police department failed to contact me, failed to contact witnesses, told to take any evidence, failed to take any statements from me, anything. Told me that it's not a crime for a police officer to strike me with the door." — Chris Ruff, public commenter, alleging excessive force and constitutional violations by Tempe Police

"I have a client who's paying fair market value for the property with cash: 40 million dollars up front, non-refundable earnest money. We are taking on responsibility for 240 million dollars worth of contamination. That contamination today is the obligation of the City of Tempe and its residents. But we are taking on that liability and that responsibility, all of it. It's not costing the city of Tempe or any of its residents any money. Not only that, but each year the city will be receiving seven million dollars in cash plus about 13 million dollars in cash equivalent benefits." — Corey D Woods, defending the Coyotes stadium deal terms against criticism

Timeline

La Victoria Commons (Item 8A1 – Development Agreement; Items 8C1 – General Plan & Zoning)

• Applicant presentation: Darren Sanderson, Ascender Associates, presented at first hearing on March 2; no new presentation required at March 17 vote, as item moved directly to second reading and final adoption.
• Staff recommendation: Project received Design Review Committee approval.
• Public comment: None during the March 17 public hearing portion of the land-use votes. (Housing crisis commentary by David Sokolowski was delivered during open public appearances, item 6.)
• Council discussion: Councilmember Garland emphasized appreciation for the mixed-income model, stating "Copa Health was very interested in Tempe even back then... this is probably four or five years ago at this point... seeing 104 affordable for-rent apartments and 19 affordable for-sale units is exactly the kind of development we want in Tempe."
• Vote: General plan amendments (resolution): 7-0. Zoning and PAD ordinance: 7-0.

IDM Fountainhead (Item 8C1 – Introduction & First Hearing)

• Applicant presentation: Cassandra Ayers, Barry Riddell LLC; presented full site plan and design renderings.
• Staff recommendation: DRC approval received Tuesday prior to council meeting.
• Public comment: No speakers objected or supported during public hearing portion.
• Council discussion: Vice Mayor Jennifer Adams pressed on EV charging: "What you're doing is great, but 10 [total charging stations] out of a thousand [parking spaces] is pretty small. I would hope to see that number go up significantly." Ayers committed to follow-up. Councilmember Garland asked about market-rate rents and affordable housing component; Ayers noted they are in discussions regarding Hometown for All contributions. Berdetta Hodge requested investigation of whether any units could be designated affordable or workforce housing.
• Vote: First hearing passed; no vote taken. Second hearing and final vote scheduled for April 20, 2023.

Krispy Kreme & El Pollo Loco (Item 8B2 – Introduction & First Hearing)

• Applicant presentation: JD Berryman, Looker and Cappello Architects, representing WKS Restaurant Group. Krispy Kreme proposed to open 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; El Pollo Loco 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Staff recommendation: No formal recommendation stated.
• Public comment: None during public hearing.
• Council discussion: Councilmember Navarro noted that Krispy Kreme hours (4.5 hours in morning) should extend to match McDonald's breakfast window (approximately 10:15–10:30 a.m. market). Berdetta Hodge praised project. Randy Keating joked about adding Fazoli's. Councilmember Garland praised native landscaping and rejuvenation of former Claim Jumper site, requested consistency with existing mall landscape palette.
• Vote: First hearing passed; no vote taken. Second hearing and final vote scheduled for April 20, 2023.

Opposition

Coyotes Stadium Deal & Cease-and-Desist Letters:

• Number of speakers against: 3 primary speakers (Tom Brown, Chris Ruff, Darian Barrett) raised concerns; 2 written comments (Gail Shanks, Ron Pies) entered into record by City Clerk.

• Main concerns:

  1. Developer Alex Morello sent legal cease-and-desist letters to citizens who placed signs opposing propositions 301, 302, 303, silencing free speech and intimidating voters.
  2. Opponents accuse Morello of having serious financial and legal problems with his casinos, banks, and other holdings that should disqualify him from the stadium deal.
  3. The RFP selection process has been tailored to favor Morello rather than conduct fair competition; council voted unanimously to hold a special election but has not held a single public information meeting.
  4. Morello's willingness to use legal threats signals future bullying behavior if the deal proceeds.
  5. Citizens have the right to call out investors' records and character without facing defamation suits; the developer is spending millions on PR while suppressing grassroots speech.
  6. The decision should be deferred to voters; council should not pre-emptively endorse Morello's characterization.

• Most compelling arguments:

  • Tom Brown: "This is democracy with free speech, even if you don't like what you hear. This is not Miami Beach. It's not Las Vegas." His argument that cease-and-desist letters from an outside investor unwilling to debate on the merits signals poor governance and future misconduct resonated with the council's discomfort, though no council member directly addressed the point.
  • Ron Pies (written comment): Noted that the RFP was "tailored for one bidder" and that the city has failed to hold a public information meeting to educate voters, leaving them reliant on a developer-funded PR campaign to understand the deal.

• Organized groups: "Tempe First" (volunteer citizen committee) organized opposition and paid for signs identifying Morello as a criminal. No formal anti-Coyotes organization name was stated, but the comments suggest grassroots coordination.

Police Misconduct Allegations:

• Number of speakers: 2 primary speakers (Chris Ruff, Darian Barrett) delivered extended public comment; one speaker (Jim Freedom) raised related constitutional concerns about free speech restrictions in council rules.

• Main concerns:

  1. Officer Anthony Nardini assaulted Chris Ruff with a car door in August 2022, causing a scar; Ruff attempted to press charges but police failed to contact him, witnesses, or collect evidence, and stated it is "not a crime for a police officer to strike me with the door."
  2. The same officer, Nardini, arrested Ruff a week before the March 17 meeting for "running around him with a flashlight," and the same group of officers has been arresting Ruff's friends as they film police activity.
  3. Tempe Police Department is arbitrarily and unconstitutionally applying city code provisions (delay and obstruct ordinance) against activists recording police; these ordinances, when applied to film-the-police activities, violate the First Amendment.
  4. Officer Kevin Austin Maloof has abused his authority by "doxing" Darian Barrett (revealing his home address) during a live stream, which Barrett took as a threat.
  5. Police investigations of misconduct (e.g., Nardini's assault allegation) are conducted by the department that employs the officer, resulting in findings of "no wrongdoing" and perpetuating impunity.
  6. Recent incidents in March 2023 show pattern: officers arrested a Black man and a Mexican man based on general descriptions while detaining activists (Barrett and a friend) who were filming the police search.

• Most compelling arguments:

  • Chris Ruff: His detailed account of a documented assault (scar, YouTube video) combined with the police department's failure to investigate and the same officer's subsequent arrest of Ruff raised credibility. His statement that "everything isn't okay out there" and that "our rights are being violated daily" framed the issue as systemic, not isolated.
  • Darian Barrett: His claim that Tempe Police have attracted "hundreds of thousands if not millions of viewers" to misconduct videos in the past six months suggests a reputational liability; his statement that "there's a lot of problem officers in the department" and his direct notice to Chief Glover that he does not want Officer Maloof in his neighborhood escalated the tone to a formal warning.

• Outcome: Mayor Corey D Woods and council members took notes. The mayor did not interrupt most remarks (except to request language modification from Jim Freedom regarding profanity). City Clerk recorded the comments for the record. No council member formally responded or committed to investigation, though the lack of response itself may indicate discomfort.

Support

La Victoria Commons:

• Number of speakers in favor: 1 primary speaker (David Sokolowski, virtual); no in-person supporters testified at the March 17 vote, as it was a second reading with no new public hearing.
• Main arguments:
  1. Tempe is facing a housing crisis and should build high-density, mixed-income housing near transit, not single-family-focused low-density projects.
  2. Developers Ascender Associates "did everything they could to keep the zoning and density as low as possible" out of respect for the neighborhood, but this is backwards—the city should be building 270,000 units statewide and using inclusionary zoning, rent caps, and trust funds like California, not negotiating down individual projects.
  3. Nexa apartments (MU-4, near cultural resource area) and other recent projects (Gracie's Village, Apache Central) have set precedent for higher density; La Victoria Commons at light rail should follow the same standard.
  4. California's housing crisis persists despite inclusionary zoning and rent caps; Arizona and Tempe cannot solve housing 100 units at a time and must aggressively zone and approve multi-family housing.

Coyotes Stadium Deal:

• Number of speakers in favor: 1 (Joe Forte).
• Main arguments:
  1. Council members do not receive enough positive feedback and support; Forte wanted to balance the opposition narrative.
  2. Remediating the landfill and realizing public benefits (e.g., potential major events, economic activity) outweigh opposition concerns.

IDM Fountainhead & Other Projects:

• No organized support statements; council members' comments (e.g., Berdetta Hodge asking for dog park, Councilmember Garland praising the site's revitalization) indicated baseline support.

Project Details

La Victoria Commons

• Case number: Not explicitly stated in transcript; referred to as item 8A1 (development agreement), 8C1 (general plan and zoning).
• Applicant / developer: Copa Health Incorporated, Newtown Community Development Corporation.
• Attorney: Darren Sanderson, Ascender Associates.
• Location / address: 2320 and 2314 East Apache Boulevard, Tempe, Arizona.
• APN: Not stated in transcript.
• Current zoning → Proposed zoning: CSS (Commercial Service Strip), TOD (Transit-Oriented Development), and R-16 (residential) → MU-4 TOD-PAD and R-1 PAD.
• General plan changes: Residential to mixed-use; medium density and cultural resource area to high density; cultural resource area to medium-to-high density.
• Density / units / square footage: 2.6 acres total. 19 for-sale affordable units (single-family). 104 for-rent affordable units (mixed-use with ground-floor commercial on Apache Boulevard). Total: 123 units. Density not explicitly stated but implied to be significantly higher than prior neighborhood context.
• Changes from previous version: This was second reading and final adoption on March 17; first hearing was March 2. No changes reported from first to second hearing.

IDM Fountainhead

• Case number: Item 8C1 (introduction and first hearing).
• Applicant / developer: Barry Riddell LLC (IDM).
• Attorney: Cassandra Ayers.
• Location / address: 2750 South Priest Drive, Tempe. Site also described as southwest corner of Priest and Alameda Drive.
• APN: Not stated.
• Current zoning → Proposed zoning: GID (General Industrial District) → MU-4 (Mixed-Use High Density).
• General plan changes: Medium density to medium-to-high density on part of the site.
• Density / units / square footage: ~25 acres total. 566 for-rent residential units (market-rate). Four existing office buildings and two parking structures (to remain). 8.24 acres for new residential component. Height: 64 feet (70 feet allowed under PAD). Density: 23 dwelling units per acre for the multi-family portion.
• Parking: Six-story parking garage (Podium style, five internal floors plus rooftop). 1,000+ spaces for residents and guests. 10 EV charging stations total (raised as insufficient by Jennifer Adams). 500+ bicycle parking spaces.
• Changes from previous version: First hearing; no prior version.
• Next steps: Second hearing and final vote April 20, 2023. Council requested: (a) increased EV charging station count, (b) breakdown of unit rents and affordability mix, (c) investigation of Hometown for All contribution, (d) feasibility of including affordable or workforce units, (e) dog park feasibility on adjacent property.

Krispy Kreme & El Pollo Loco

• Case number: Item 8B2 (introduction and first hearing).
• Applicant / developer: WKS Restaurant Group.
• Attorney / architect: JD Berryman, Looker and Cappello Architects.
• Location / address: 1530 West Baseline Road, Tempe (south end of Arizona Mills shopping center, on former Claim Jumper site).
• APN: Not stated.
• Current zoning → Proposed zoning: Existing PAD → amended PAD.
• Square footage / layout: 6,022 sq ft of commercial use on 2.13 acres. Two drive-through restaurant buildings. Krispy Kreme: west side, two drive-throughs (one for normal use, 15-car capacity; one for high-volume periods with on-site order-taking). El Pollo Loco: east side, two-way drives around building.
• Operating hours: Krispy Kreme: 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. El Pollo Loco: 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Council member Navarro noted Krispy Kreme hours may be too short; applicant to revisit.)
• Parking: 86 spaces provided (80 required).
• Sustainability: Dual carpool lanes; double the code-required bicycle parking; native landscaping on perimeter to match Arizona Mills master plan; light-colored stucco with green accents; all mechanical and rooftop equipment screened.
• Next steps: Second hearing and final vote April 20, 2023. Council requested clarification on extended operating hours for Krispy Kreme to capture broader breakfast window.

Vote Breakdown

La Victoria Commons – General Plan Amendment (Item 8C1, first vote – resolution):

• Final: 7-0 (unanimous)
• Yes: All seven council members present (Mayor Corey D Woods, Vice Mayor Doreen Garlid, Councilmember Jennifer Adams, Councilmember Nikki Amberg, Councilmember Arlene Chin, Councilmember Berdetta Hodge, Councilmember Randy Keating)
• No: None
• Abstentions / absences: None

La Victoria Commons – Zoning & PAD Ordinance (Item 8C1, second vote – ordinance):

• Final: 7-0 (unanimous)
• Yes: All seven council members
• No: None
• Abstentions / absences: None

Sewer Line Easement Abandonment (Item 8C2):

• Final: 7-0
• Yes: All seven council members
• No: None

Water Line Easement Abandonment (Item 8C3):

• Final: 7-0
• Yes: All seven council members
• No: None

Consent Agenda (Items 7A1-7C11, excluding 7A10, 7B11, 7C3):

• Final: 7-0
• Yes: All seven council members
• No: None

Diversity Unity Grant Program (Item 7A10):

• Final: 6-0 (with Berdetta Hodge abstaining due to conflict as Tempe Union High School governing board member)
• Yes: Six council members (all except Berdetta Hodge)
• Abstentions: Berdetta Hodge (conflict of interest)

Automatic Aid Agreement Renewal (Item 7C3):

• Final: 7-0
• Yes: All seven council members
• No: None

Resilient Tempe Master Plan Contract (Item 7B11):

• Final: 6-0 (with Randy Keating absent)
• Yes: Six council members present
• Absent: Councilmember Randy Keating

IDM Fountainhead (Item 8C1 – First Hearing):

• Vote: No vote taken; first hearing only. Second hearing and final vote scheduled for April 20, 2023.

Krispy Kreme & El Pollo Loco (Item 8B2 – First Hearing):

• Vote: No vote taken; first hearing only. Second hearing and final vote scheduled for April 20, 2023.

Outcome & Next Steps

La Victoria Commons: Approved unanimously (all three votes: general plan amendment resolution 7-0, zoning ordinance 7-0, development agreement 7-0). Project may proceed to construction phase; Copa Health Incorporated and Newtown Community Development Corporation hold rights to develop 123 affordable units (19 for-sale, 104 for-rent) on Apache Boulevard near light rail. Councilmember Garland stated the approval was "exactly the kind of development we want in Tempe" and noted that Copa Health's interest in the site predated the formal proposal by four to five years.

IDM Fountainhead (566 units, 25 acres, Priest Drive): First hearing completed; no vote taken. Second hearing and final vote scheduled for April 20, 2023. Council requested applicant to return with: (1) significantly increased EV charging station count (current proposal of 10 is insufficient), (2) unit-type breakdown and market rental rates, (3) confirmation of Hometown for All contribution, (4) feasibility analysis for affordable or workforce housing mix, (5) dog park option on adjacent property. The project is on track for approval but contingent on addressing council feedback.

Krispy Kreme & El Pollo Loco (6,022 sq ft, Arizona Mills): First hearing completed; no vote taken. Second hearing and final vote scheduled for April 20, 2023. Applicant to revisit Krispy Kreme operating hours (currently proposed 5:30 a.m.–10:00 a.m. a.m., flagged as too short by Councilmember Navarro to capture the 10:15–10:30 a.m. breakfast market window). Project otherwise tracking toward approval.

Coyotes Stadium Deal & Propositions 301/302/303: Referred to voters via special election. No council action taken on March 17. Corey D Woods cease-and-desist letters to ballot opponents remain outstanding. City Clerk entered written comments from Gail Shanks and Ron Pies (both opposed) into the official record; neither speaker was present to deliver remarks in person.

Police Misconduct Allegations: Comments from Chris Ruff and Darian Barrett entered into the public record. No formal council motion or commitment to investigate. Mayor Corey D Woods and council members took notes. The allegations concern Officer Anthony Nardini (alleged assault with vehicle door, August 2022, and arrest of Ruff for "running around [him] with a flashlight," March 2023) and Officer Kevin Austin Maloof (alleged doxxing/revealing of Darian Barrett's home address). Chief Glover was present in the chamber and directly addressed by Barrett ("I've sat down with you and Chief Glover before... reach out for more information"). No formal response or investigation commitment was made during the March 17 meeting.

Controversies & Context

Coyotes Stadium Deal & Developer Legal Threats:

The Tempe City Council referred three ballot propositions (301, 302, 303) related to the Coyotes hockey arena/entertainment district to voters on March 2, 2023, after unanimously approving a development and disposition agreement with Alex Morello (investor) and Bluebird development. The deal includes a 40 million dollar cash payment, assumption of 240 million dollars in environmental remediation costs (currently the city's liability), and annual public benefits worth approximately 7 million dollars cash plus 13 million dollars in equivalent value.

On or before March 17, 2023, attorney Corey D Woods (representing Morello) sent cease-and-desist letters to citizens who had placed signs in the community stating "vote no on proposition 301 302 303 because [the developer] is a criminal." Corey D Woods characterized these signs as defamation per se and threatened civil litigation against any party who did not remove the signs immediately.

Public speakers Tom Brown, Gail Shanks (written), and Ron Pies (written) objected to the legal threats, arguing that:

1. Citizens have First Amendment rights to criticize a developer's record and character.
2. The signs conveyed factual information about Morello's known business controversies (regulatory issues with gaming licenses, bank ownership, radio/TV station ownership—all of which require government approval and would be jeopardized if the owner faced criminal or corruption findings).
3. The cease-and-desist strategy exemplified bullying and signaled that Morello would suppress dissent if the deal proceeded.
4. The city had failed to hold a public information meeting to educate voters, leaving them reliant on Morello's PR campaign and grassroots opposition signs.

Corey D Woods response, delivered during public appearances, defended the letters as necessary to prevent defamation of Morello's character and integrity. He stated that Morello's gaming, banking, and broadcast licenses would be revoked if he were a criminal or corrupt, implying that regulatory scrutiny proves his innocence. Corey D Woods framed the cease-and-desist letters as a legitimate exercise of legal rights to protect his client's reputation, not intimidation.

The propositions remain scheduled for a special election; no council vote was taken on March 17 to alter the referendum process or address the cease-and-desist letters directly.

Police Misconduct Allegations & Constitutional Claims:

Two speakers, Chris Ruff and Darian Barrett, alleged a pattern of excessive force, constitutional violations, and arbitrary enforcement by Tempe Police:

1. Assault with vehicle door (August 2022): Officer Anthony Nardini allegedly struck Chris Ruff with a police car door during a street encounter, causing a scar. Ruff stated he attempted to press charges, but the police department failed to contact him, witnesses, or collect evidence. The department allegedly told Ruff "it's not a crime for a police officer to strike me with the door."

2. Retaliation arrest (March 2023): The same officer, Nardini, arrested Ruff a week before the March 17 meeting for "running around him with a flashlight"—an activity Ruff characterized as exercising his constitutional right to record police activity. Ruff framed the arrest as retaliation for his attempt to press charges regarding the August 2022 assault.

3. Arbitrary application of city ordinances: Both Ruff and Barrett alleged that Tempe Police have been using city code provisions (e.g., "delay and obstruct" ordinance) to arrest activists recording police and then dismiss or defang the charges through department-level investigation, in which the employing agency investigates its own officers and finds "no wrongdoing."

4. Doxxing and intimidation: Darian Barrett alleged that Officer Kevin Austin Maloof "doxed" him (revealed his home address) during a live stream, which Barrett took as a threat. Barrett delivered a formal notice to Chief Glover that he does not want Maloof in his neighborhood or in contact with Maloof's affiliates.

5. Discriminatory stops: Barrett alleged that during a police search in March 2023, officers arrested a Black man and a Mexican man based on general descriptions, while detaining Barrett and another filmmaker who were recording the search.

6. Reputational impact: Barrett stated that Tempe Police have attracted "hundreds of thousands if not millions of viewers" to misconduct videos in the past six months, suggesting a pattern of incidents captured on camera and shared widely online.

Council members took notes during the comments but did not formally respond, commit to an investigation, or ask follow-up questions. The lack of direct council engagement with the police allegations stands in contrast to councilmembers' expressions of support for the police department in their closing announcements (e.g., Councilmember Navarro: "I do support you, I do protect you, and I appreciate what you guys do out there"; Berdetta Hodge: "we do appreciate you and I know you have our back").

Housing Crisis Framing:

David Sokolowski's public comment articulated a housing policy argument that differentiated La Victoria Commons from opposition to other projects in Tempe. Sokolowski argued that Tempe should prioritize high-density, mixed-income housing near transit (particularly light-rail stations) rather than negotiating developers down to lower-density, single-family-focused projects out of "NIMBY" deference to neighborhood opposition. He invoked California's failed inclusionary zoning policies and gubernatorial statements about the perils of NIMBYism, arguing that Arizona cities must move forward boldly or risk the same housing crisis California faces. This framing positioned La Victoria Commons as a modest step in the right direction but potentially insufficient without systemic change in zoning and development standards.

Councilmember Garland's closing comment on La Victoria Commons affirmed this direction: "knowing my River meeting you several years ago at Rula Bula, back in the day before this project was even being talked about... I know that Copa Health was very interested in Tempe even back then... seeing 104 affordable for-rent apartments and 19 affordable for-sale units is exactly the kind of development we want in Tempe."

Duration

• This item (La Victoria Commons): Approximately 15 minutes (presentation at first hearing on March 2; second reading and vote on March 17 took approximately 5 minutes with no new presentation).
• IDM Fountainhead: Approximately 30 minutes (applicant presentation, council questions, public hearing).
• Krispy Kreme & El Pollo Loco: Approximately 20 minutes (applicant presentation, council discussion, public hearing).
• Public appearances (Item 6): Approximately 40 minutes (eight speakers, three minutes each; some exceeded time limits).
• Total meeting: 1 hour 49 minutes (7:00 p.m. to 9:49 p.m., per the transcript).

Other Notable Items

Proclamations & Recognitions:

The council presented three proclamations during the opening ceremony, honoring community members and local institutions:

1. Tracy Dempsey Day (March 16, 2023): Mayor Corey D Woods proclaimed March 16, 2023, as "Tracy Dempsey—a Tempe Treasure" day, honoring the pastry chef and founder of Tracy Dempsey Originals bakery and retail shop on University Avenue. Dempsey has provided desserts to fine-dining restaurants throughout the Phoenix valley for over 20 years and opened her retail shop in 2017, selling CSA boxes, wine subscriptions, and supporting local artisans and nonprofits.

2. Zuhair Mahmoud Katib Day (February 4, 2023): Corey D Woods proclaimed February 4, 2023 (with the proclamation read on March 17), as a day honoring Zuhair Mahmoud Katib, founder of Haji Baba Mediterranean restaurant and grocery store in Tempe. Katib, who immigrated from Syria, built Haji Baba into a 33-year institution that won 21 community awards. He passed away before the March 17 meeting; the proclamation was read in his memory and honored his contributions to the community, his philanthropy, and his family values.

3. Lily Rice Day (March 24, 2023): Corey D Woods proclaimed March 24, 2023, as "Lily Rice Day" in honor of the Tempe Public Library staff member's retirement after 28 years of service (since 1995). Rice championed the Caitlyn Benson collection of books celebrating diversity and inclusion; the collection has grown to nearly 400 titles. Caitlyn Benson, a young girl who died at age nine and a half, inspired the collection in 2000 through her joyful spirit and determination despite living with differences and exceptionalities.

Historic Preservation Commission Appointments (Item 5A3):

Corey D Woods announced the reappointment of Redline Williams and Kyle Woodson and the new appointments of Andres Endres, Gene Robinson, and Aaron Davis to the City of Tempe Historic Preservation Commission.

City Manager & Council Announcements (Item 5B and Item 9):

The council conducted an extended announcements segment (Item 9) in which councilmembers highlighted upcoming events, committee meetings, and community initiatives:

• Councilmember Navarro: Announced Human Services and Crime Safety meeting (March 18, noon, virtual and in-person); proposed tobacco ordinance public meetings (March 20, noon virtual and 6 p.m. at Tempe Public Library); highlighted recent Wastewater Committee meeting with utilities across the valley and CDC funding for continued Fentan