Governmental Mall Commission

ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE

LEGISLATIVE GOVERNMENTAL MALL COMMISSION

Minutes of the Meeting

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

3:00 p.m., Senate Hearing Room 1

Members Present:

Tom Smith, Chair	Representative Nancy McLain
Senator Jake Flake	Joy Rich
Thomas Chapman	David Richert
Kevin DeMenna Donald Keuth, Jr.	Lynne Smith

Members Absent:

Heidi Birch

LeRoy Brady

Roger Dee Manny

Staff:

Amber O’Dell, Senate Assistant Research Analyst

Chairman Smith called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. and attendance was noted.

Approval of Minutes

Chairman Smith moved the minutes of October 18, 2006 be approved. Without objection, the minutes were approved.

Presentation of Background Information on the Capitol Mall

Martin L. Schultz, Pinnacle West Government Affairs, Vice President, told the Committee that when the Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA) embraced the central city or downtown Phoenix decades ago, it demonstrated how a private partnership works. He stated that about seven years ago, PCA attempted to bring together all levels of government. Today, Mr. Schultz remarked, would hopefully be the last time the Committee heard a Capitol Mall plan. He said that leading up to the plan to be presented today, it was acknowledged that as long as the homeless continued to populate the area, the Capitol Mall Plan would never work. He remarked that due to this, $24 million was raised to create the Human Service Campus, which is a refuge of sorts for the homeless people who tend to populate the Capitol Mall. He stated that there was real interest and energy towards this new plan and that now was the time to move forward with this project.

Presentation of the Capitol Mall Centennial Plan

Steve Gervais, Pinnacle West Public Affairs, stated that today’s presentation on the Capitol Mall Centennial Plan (Attachment A) was a culmination of work. Phase 1 involved students from the Arizona State University (ASU) College of Design studying the existing Capitol Mall, other Capitol Malls from different places and making a recommendation for the improvement of Arizona’s Capitol Mall. Phase 2 involved focusing on the plan. He said that one of the first items on the agenda was to engage the stakeholders. Mr. Gervais told the Committee that Phoenix was the largest capital city in America with arguably the least desirable Capitol Mall. He remarked that the plan for a new mall has been in motion for some time now and was ready to move forward at a much faster pace starting today with this Governmental Mall design. He stated that this new plan could be implemented by the Centennial which was less than five years away. One of the goals to be accomplished by this plan was to connect the Capitol Mall with what is going on in downtown Phoenix and make it the showcase for the State. This would invite people to come and participate in their government and see how it operates. Mr. Gervais introduced Duke Reiter.

Duke Reiter, Dean, College of Design, Arizona State University, stated that the College of Design was involved in this plan because it is one of their charges, investing in the greater good of the community. He concurred with Mr. Gervais’ analysis of the potential for Arizona’s Capitol complex to be great. He opined that the upcoming Centennial celebration should create a sense of urgency to take action on this project. Mr. Reiter remarked that the ASU College of Design created the Phoenix Urban Research Laboratory (PURL) located in downtown Phoenix, which looks at improving the face of the downtown area. He stated that during a meeting two years ago, Senator Flake remarked that architecture can have a direct effect on legislation if, for example, it enabled Members to see each other more frequently. Mr. Reiter introduced Professor Petrucci.

Darren Petrucci, Director, School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, ASU College of Design, gave an overview of the images found in Attachment A. He remarked that there are a series of different stakeholders in the Capitol Mall and a way to connect them was through the streets. He stated that this plan was designed to be done in stages, allowing for realistic development goals concerning funding and accessibility. He explained that the main focus points of the plan were connectivity, sustainability, responsibility, functionality and feasibility.

Mr. Smith asked if a timeline had been created for the development of the phases set forth in the plan. Mr. Petrucci replied that although the plan was designed to accommodate different phases, the exact timeline had not been proposed but could easily be done.

Mr. Gervais stated that with the issue of financing this project, it was essential to engage each stakeholder, the private sector and also to explore various financing alternatives.

Mr. Reiter remarked that there was a way, creatively, to accomplish construction while carrying on business as usual.

Thomas Chapman thanked everyone for their presentation and for attending the meeting.

Lynne Smith thanked everyone who has worked on this project. She said that the plan was ambitious yet practical.

Mr. Smith stated that this was the most complete plan he has seen in years.

Joy Rich complimented the presenters not only for the product they produced but also for the process they followed to get to this point. She stated that the County looks forward to being part of the implementation strategy and that it was incumbent upon everyone to make sure that this happens.

Mr. Gervais said that redesigning the House and Senate buildings should be done in the first phase of construction.

Representative McLain asked if there were any projections on cost for the first phase. Mr. Gervais replied that although the plan had not reached that point, it would be very easy to do.

Donald Keuth, Jr. stated that a great urban planner named Daniel Burnham always said, “Make no small plan.” He opined that now was the time to go forward with this plan, given the arrival of the Centennial.

David Richert told the Committee that the plan presented today was a great catalyst to put the idea into motion.

Mr. Smith offered his congratulations to the presenters adding that this plan was the best one he has seen in years. He stated that it was the most complete and the most realistic and said that this Committee finally had something to work with.

Mr. Gervais suggested that the Chairman appoint or take volunteers for a subcommittee so that the first phase of the plan could be explored.

Senator Flake remarked that the Executive Branch should be engaged in this process and now that the elections have recently passed, it would be a good time to move forward.

Mr. Chapman volunteered for the subcommittee.

Mr. Smith appointed Senator Flake as the Chairman of the subcommittee.

Mr. Richert and Ms. Rich volunteered for the subcommittee.

Mr. Smith appointed Lynne Smith to the subcommittee.

Public Testimony

John Saccoman, representing self, resident of the Woodland Historic Neighborhood, remarked that he felt very enthusiastic about today’s presentation. He pointed out that in regards to the Capitol Mall area homeless population, it still remains an issue. He stated that although Madison Street has been cleaned up, most of the homeless activity once there has been pushed into the residential neighborhoods to the North, South and West.

Kevin DeMenna told the Committee that it would be useful to present some of today’s presentation to the Joint Committee on Capital Review and also begin to engage the Joint Legislative Budget Committee along with the Governor’s Office. He stated that a critical step for Senator Flake as the subcommittee chairman was to start creating financial boundaries.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeff Turner

Committee Secretary

(Tapes and attachments on file in the Secretary of the Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115.)

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Legislative Governmental

Mall Commission

November 15, 2006

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