Downtown Voices Coalition

The Downtown Voices Coalition Steering Committee has voted to support the renovation of Talking Stick Resort Arena with the stipulation that future Arena revenue be earmarked to the following priority areas:

• Enhance our urban parks and park system
• Restore and reuse our few remaining historic buildings and sites 
• Maintain our existing public art investments and bolster our arts industry

Here is our letter to Mayor Thelda Williams and Members of Council:

Join us for the first Downtown Voices Coalition Steering Committee meeting of the new year on Saturday, January 12, 2019, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Roosevelt Commons Clubhouse, 825 N. 6th Avenue. Here’s the agenda:

1. WELCOME, INTRODUCTIONS, & ANNOUNCEMENTS ~ Jeff Sherman, Chair
2. DEVELOPMENTS & ADVOCACY
   • ASU Downtown Campus updates ~ Rick Naimark (15/15 minutes)
   • APS Evans Churchill Substation update ~ Kendra Lee (10/10 minutes)
   • Duo GPLET action item from December meeting ~ Jeff (10 minutes)
   • State Legislature watch items ~ Ryan Boyd (5 minutes)
   • Upcoming City elections and DVC involvement (5 minutes)
   • Other ~ (15 minutes)
3. GENERAL BUSINESS
   • DVC bylaws revisions discussion & vote ~ Jeff / Ryan (10 minutes)
   • DVC Strategic Planning Process ~ Jeff / Jim McPherson (10 minutes)
   • DVC meeting time ~ Jeff (5 minutes)
   • DVC subcommittees (Arts Issues, Codes & Plans, Affordability, Officer Nominations)
4. UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
5. ADJOURNMENT

Note: For downtown events and activities, visit Phoenix Urban Guide https://phoenixurbanguide.com/calendar/ and Downtown Phoenix Inc.’s Events Calendar http://dtphx.org/calendar/. For a list of community, neighborhood, and city hall meetings, visit DVC’s Downtown Phoenix Advocacy Calendar https://downtownvoices.org/calendar/

The Downtown Voices Coalition Steering Committee held their monthly meeting and holiday celebration on Saturday, December 8 at Roosevelt Commons, 825 N. 6th Avenue. Here’s a recap of what transpired.

WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS

Steering Committee chair Jeff Sherman thanked Dave Krietor for his five years and nine months (or 69 months or 2,100 days) as president & CEO of Downtown Phoenix Inc. Dave has been a tireless and effective advocate for a stronger, more inclusive downtown community, and a regular attendee of DVC’s second Saturday of every month meetings. He was presented with a street sign – “Dave Krietor Way” – which can be taken geographically or philosophically! Everyone wished Dave the best of luck and success in his retirement, and all were invited to Dave’s informal retirement shindig at the Crescent Ballroom on Monday, December 17, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

GENERAL BUSINESS

Kyle Foxcroft and Nate Sonoskey spoke to the group for a few minutes about their involvement in the community (Kyle in the Oakland neighborhood and Nate in Evans Churchill) and their interest in serving on the Steering Committee. After motions were made and seconded, both were elected unanimously and welcomed enthusiastically. (Note: if you or someone you know are interested in serving on the Steering Committee, complete theonline nomination form for submission.)

DEVELOPMENTS

Developer Jeff Jacobs, zoning attorney Nick Woods, and City of Phoenix Community and Economic Development manager Nathan Wright presented on the proposed Duo residential and mixed use project at 3rd Avenue and Fillmore in the Roosevelt neighborhood. View the presentation here. No action was taken as project proponents have not presented the latest plan to the Roosevelt Action Association. RAA meets on Tuesday, December 18, starting at 6 p.m. at Urban Living 2, 650 N. 2nd Ave. View RAA’s agenda and other news here.

The matter of the proposed financial agreement to renovate Talking Stick Resort Arena was brought up and discussed. After discussion, a motion was made and seconded to draft a letter of support to the Mayor and City Council for the adaptive reuse of the Arena with the stipulation that future Arena revenue be directed to the following quality of life and tourism priority areas: parks, historic preservation, and arts and culture. Motion passed. Read the full letter here.

ARTS DISCUSSION

The DVC Arts Issues Subcommittee, chaired by Steve Weiss and Louise Roman, presented the results of DVC’s autumn survey of the top issues facing artists and arts organizations in downtown Phoenix. Sixty-plus individuals in the community responded to the online survey. View the survey results here. The next steps are to communicate the survey results to stakeholders, publicize the survey results via our external communication tools, maintain dialogue with stakeholders about setting priorities and next steps, and plan an event/activity during Art Detour 31 in March 2019.

Catrina Kahler, board president of Artlink Phoenix, provided an update on the organization’s current activities and priorities for the new year, including Art Detour 31/Art d’Core Gala, Articipants, Creative City Symposium Series partnership, First Friday/Third Friday, Juried Exhibition, Mixed Media Happy Hour, Park Central partnership, and Phoenix Urban Guide (PUG).

Louise Roman outlined the need to help the City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture document and seek financial support for the repair and maintenance of public art pieces throughout the city. Two suggestions were brought up: (1) visit and discuss with staff of the Office of Arts and Culture, including their new director Mitch Menchaca, and (2) proactively report damaged public art via Phoenix At Your Service.

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

There are so many holiday inspired events and activities happening in our downtown. To learn more about them all, visit Phoenix Urban Guide and Downtown Phoenix Inc.’s Events Calendar. For a list of community, neighborhood, and city hall meetings, visit DVC’s Downtown Phoenix Advocacy Calendar.

Dave Krietor noted that DVC Steering Committee members and friends may want to watch their inboxes for the announcement of the 2018 Phoenix Community Alliance Center City Starr Awards as “someone you know” may be honored. Lo and behold, two days later, PCA issued a press release that read in part: “Since 1993, Phoenix CommunityAlliance (PCA) has recognized men and women from the public, private, and non-profit sectors who have made outstanding contributions to advance the quality of life and further the renaissance of Central Phoenix andDowntown. Originally named the Center City Champion Award, the name was changed in 1998 to honor longtime PCA President Barry Starr, who passed away in 1997 after a life of public service. The 2018 Center City Starr Award winners are Beatrice Moore and Dan Klocke.”

Beatrice is a founder of DVC and long-time advocate for the arts, historic preservation, and neighborhoods. Dan has been active and involved in downtown development and support for neighborhoods (most notably Garfield, Evans Churchill, and Roosevelt) and the Phoenix Public Market. He often attends DVC’s monthly meetings. At the PCA Annual Meeting on Thursday, December 13, DVC Steering Committee member Tim Sprague summarized Beatrice’s contributions to our community and Kurt Schneider summarized Dan’s. Congratulations to Beatrice and Dan!

TIS THE SEASON…

Attendees contributed 60 pounds of non-perishable food items to St. Mary’s Food Bank, and spent the rest of the morning catching up and enjoying holiday food and drink brought by attendees. Happy holidays to you and yours!

Join us at the next Downtown Voices Coalition Steering Committee meeting on Saturday, September 8, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Roosevelt Commons Clubhouse, 825 N. 6th Avenue. If you have an agenda item you would like discussed, send us a note.

WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS ~ Andie Abkarian, Vice Chair

DEVELOPMENTS

ADVOCACY ISSUES

STRATEGIC PLANNING UPDATE

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

OTHER/NEW BUSINESS

ADJOURNMENT

Note: For downtown events and activities, visit Phoenix Urban Guide https://phoenixurbanguide.com/calendar/ and Downtown Phoenix Inc.’s Events Calendar http://dtphx.org/calendar/. For a list of community, neighborhood, and city hall meetings, visit DVC’s Downtown Phoenix Advocacy Calendar https://downtownvoices.org/calendar/

If you were unable to attend the August 8, 2018 Strong Towns – Phoenix lecture and Q&A, don’t be sad. Thanks to Local First Arizona and Arizona State University, the event was taped and now available for you to watch. We encourage you to share your comments and ideas about “next steps” in our community. Drop us a note!

Join us at the next Downtown Voices Coalition Steering Committee meeting on Saturday, August 11, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Roosevelt Commons Clubhouse, 825 N. 6th Avenue.

WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS ~ Jeff Sherman, Chair

• Thanks to everyone who attended our Strong Towns event on Aug. 8

DEVELOPMENTS

• Unsolicited RFP Part 2 community discussion (20 minutes) ~ Jeff
• 6th St. & Pierce UA properties (5/10 minutes) ~ Jennifer Andrews
• Edison/Eastlake Park Affordable Housing project (10 minutes) ~ City of Phoenix
• Garfield Neighborhood’s desire for affordable housing (5 minutes)

ADVOCACY ISSUES

• South Central Project Update (10 minutes ) ~ Julie Cruz
• Urban Heat Island/Tree & Shade Subcommittee (5 minutes)
• APS Substations (5 minutes)
• Possible GPLET (ex., Duo at 3rd & Fillmore) (10 minutes)
• Murals Issue in Willo (08/21, Burton Barr, 5:30 p.m.) (5 minutes)
• Mayoral Debate (09/26) topics (10 minutes) ~ Jeff

STRATEGIC PLANNING RECAP & DISCUSSION (15 minutes)

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

• Go around the room to hear of any big events coming up (10 minutes)

OTHER/NEW BUSINESS

• September 8, 2018 DVC Meeting
• Grand Avenue Festival (11/11) participation (5 minutes) ~ Jeff
• Other

ADJOURNMENT
Note: For downtown events and activities, visit Phoenix Urban Guide https://phoenixurbanguide.com/calendar/ and Downtown Phoenix Inc.’s Events Calendar http://dtphx.org/calendar/. For a list of community, neighborhood, and city hall meetings, visit DVC’s Downtown Phoenix Advocacy Calendar https://downtownvoices.org/calendar/