The Tempe City Council generally holds a Work Study Session on one Thursday each month, with the exception of July, at 4:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers (31 E. Fifth Street, Tempe, Arizona). The City Council also generally holds a Regular Council Meeting on a different Thursday each month, at 6:00 p.m., in the same location.  

View the current Tempe City Council Meeting Schedule (PDF).

In addition to the Work Study Sessions and Regular Council Meetings, the Council holds quarterly Housing Authority meetings and occasionally holds special meetings on certain topics, including the tentative and final Operating and Capital budgets and the Rio Salado Community Facilities District. All of these meetings are open to the public and the agendas, action summaries, and minutes can be found online at https://tempe.hylandcloud.com/AgendaOnline. 

PLEASE NOTE:  To view an individual agenda item, click on  next to the Meeting Date, rather than the icon.  While viewing the agenda, click on the title of the item and the Supporting Documents will display in a listing on the right side of the screen.

View the documents from Tempe City Council meetings prior to July 2, 2009

All public City Council meetings follow the order of business presented in the agenda. The agenda is typically available the Friday afternoon prior to the Thursday meeting at https://tempe.hylandcloud.com/AgendaOnline. Public Meeting Notices are also posted on electronic display panels located near the main entry of the Tempe Council Chambers located at the Harry E. Mitchell Government Complex, 31 E. Fifth Street, Tempe, Arizona. The electronic board is accessible to the public twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week. 

PLEASE NOTE:  The Council may vote to adjourn to hold a confidential executive session meeting to obtain legal advice on any matter listed on the agenda. This meeting is not open to the public. 

City of Tempe Guidelines Conduct at City Council Meetings (PDF)

Government meetings are considered limited public forums, enabling the City of Tempe to impose content-neutral restrictions on the time, place, and manner of expression, to achieve the governmental purpose of such meetings. During the meeting, civility and order will be imposed in order to carry out the public business of the City of Tempe and to ensure that the public has a full opportunity to hear and view the deliberative process. Members of the public shall refrain from making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks and from becoming boisterous while addressing the City Council or while attending the meeting.

Public Appearances/Call to the Audience

Regular Council Meetings, Work Study Sessions, and Housing Authority Quarterly Meetings provide for public appearances. Public input is encouraged and appreciated.

Rules of Decorum

Tempe rules of decorum governing public appearances include: A three (3) minute limit on the duration of remarks.

Remarks shall be addressed to the Council as a whole, and not to City staff or any member of the general public.

During the Call to the Audience at Work Study Sessions or Housing Authority Quarterly Meetings, members of the public may only address the City Council on items that are listed on the agenda.

During the Public Appearances, members of the public should address the Council on subject matters that would fall within the jurisdiction of the City of Tempe.

Advocacy for or against candidates for City Council and/or ballot or initiative measures are prohibited by Arizona law, as well as any other expression made for the purpose of influencing the outcomes of elections.

Personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks, including profanity are prohibited, as is any other disorderly conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of any Council meeting.

Becoming boisterous while addressing the Council or attending the meeting is prohibited. In addition, unauthorized remarks from the audience, as well as clapping, stomping of feet, yelling, or any similar demonstrations are also prohibited, as is other behavior that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of any Council meeting.

Enforcement of Rules of Decorum

Violations of these rules will result in a warning by the Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer may direct the member of the public to be silent and/or orderly.

If the disruption continues, the Presiding Officer may direct the member of the public to leave the meeting. If the person does not leave willfully, the Presiding Officer may have the member of the public removed. Such person may be subject to arrest under State law (A.R.S. §13-2904 - Disorderly conduct; classification, posted at https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/02904.htm).

Removal from a meeting will result in the member of the public being prohibited from further attendance at the meeting.

Public Appearances Procedure

Members of the public must fill out a speaker card with their name, city of residence, and the subject of the comment. Speaker cards are turned in to the City Clerk prior to the comment. All speaker cards are public record and subject to disclosure under Arizona law.

Council

The Mayor and Councilmembers are prohibited by Arizona’s Open Meeting Law from discussing or acting on any matter unless it is specifically listed on the agenda. The City Council may respond to criticism, ask staff through the City Manager to review a matter, or ask that a matter be placed on a future agenda.

Arizona’s Defamation Law

The City of Tempe is unaware of any legal exception that would provide protection to a speaker for comments made during a public meeting, if such comments constitute slander or defamation under Arizona law. Members of the public are encouraged to consult their own attorney for further guidance.

The City of Tempe reserves the right not to televise, re-publish, and/or rebroadcast any meeting or portion(s) of any meeting, in its sole discretion.

All speakers are expected to refrain from personal attacks on the Mayor or Councilmembers, City staff, or other members of the audience.

Work Study Sessions and Housing Authority Meetings – public input is limited to agenda items only. 

Regular Council Meetings – public input is open to input for public hearing items, non-consent agenda items, or general input (Public Appearances) at the beginning or end of the Council meeting.   

Special Meetings – generally public input is only accepted for items labeled as PUBLIC HEARING items.

If you are unable to attend, you may provide your written comments to the City Council by 2 p.m. on the scheduled meeting day, by selecting the appropriate option on the Speaker/Comment card.

PLEASE NOTE:  Members of the City Council can only discuss matters listed on the meeting agenda for discussion and legal action and may not respond to the public on any matters not specifically listed on the agenda, under State law.

For more information on Open Meeting Laws, consult the Arizona Attorney General Open Meeting Information webpage.

People may speak publicly during the Call to the Audience portions of the Work Study Sessions or Housing Authority Quarterly Meetings, or the designated Public Hearing items or Public Appearances portion of the Regular and Special Council Meetings.

Individuals wishing to address the City Council for items open to public input must complete and submit the City of Tempe Speaker/Comment Card, no later than 2 p.m. the day of the City Council meeting - make sure to select the "I will be attending the meeting virtually to personally comment" option on the form.

When it is your turn to speak, the Mayor will call your name and your microphone  will enabled  so you can turn your mic on and unmute yourself in the Teams meeting. Please make sure to state your name and city of residence for the record and direct your comments to the Mayor and Council. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you wish to address Council virtually, you must submit an electronic Speaker/Comment card no later than 2 p.m. the day of the meeting.  Due to other support functions required, staff is not available to monitor incoming Speaker/Comment Cards after the deadline.

The HAND-RAISE function in Microsoft Teams is NOT moderated during the live City Council meeting.  You may email councilcommunicator@tempe.gov to reach the Mayor and Council outside of the meeting process, attend a live meeting, OR submit an electronic speaker card at least two hours in advance of the meeting at www.tempe.gov/clerk.

Comments provided to the Mayor and Council will be included as part of the meeting record.  

PLEASE NOTE:  Members of the City Council can only discuss matters listed on the meeting agenda for discussion and legal action and may not respond to the public on any matters not specifically listed on the agenda, under State law.

For more information on Open Meeting Laws, consult the Arizona Attorney General Open Meeting Information webpage.

The Tempe City Council values and welcomes public input on Public Hearing items or during Public Appearances or a Call to the Audience.  

Work Study Sessions and Housing Authority Meetings – public input is limited to agenda items only. 

Regular Council Meetings – public input is open to input for public hearing items, non-consent agenda items, or general input (Public Appearances) at the beginning or end of the Council meeting.   

Special Meetings – generally public input is only accepted for items labeled as PUBLIC HEARING items.

Please fill out and submit the Speaker/Comment Card, no later than 2 p.m. the day of the City Council meeting.  If you plan to attend the meeting virtually, please select the "I will be attending the meeting virtually to personally comment" option on the card.  Members of the public may also attend the Council meeting physically in the Council Chambers.  Council meetings can also be watched in real time via Cox cable channel 11 and at tempe.gov/tempe11.

At the bottom of the Speaker/Comment Card, please fill out your email address so you can receive a copy of your form when you submit it.

All speakers are expected to observe common standards of decorum and courtesy. Personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks, including profanity, are prohibited, as is any disorderly conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the City Council meeting. Becoming boisterous while addressing the City Council is prohibited. Any conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the City Council meeting will be grounds, at the discretion of the Mayor, for ending a speaker’s time.

City of Tempe Guidelines Conduct at City Council Meetings English and Spanish

PLEASE NOTE:

Comments provided to the Mayor and Council will be included as part of the meeting record.  If an item is not listed on the meeting agenda, the City Council may not act on the information, but may choose to refer the matter to the City Manager for follow up.  Due to other support functions required, staff is not available to monitor incoming Speaker/Comment Cards after the deadline.

City Council meetings are broadcast live on Tempe Channel 11, the City’s government access channel, and rebroadcast throughout the following week.  You can also watch City Council meetings live on tempe.gov/tempe11; video replays of City Council meetings are available online the next day.

• View past Work Study Sessions

• View past Regular Council Meetings

• View past Special Meetings

The City Council agenda is generally set by the City Manager in consultation with the Mayor. Certain agenda items are required by law, and others are selected based on the City Council’s established goals. Members of the City Council can request items to be placed on future agendas upon consensus of at least two members. The Mayor has discretion to delete or add items to the agendas, except those items specifically requested by Councilmembers in conformance with the Tempe City Council Rules of Procedure posted at tempe.gov/clerk.

 

Consent Agenda Items on Regular Council Meeting Agenda

All items listed on the Consent Agenda are considered as a group by the City Council and are enacted with one motion by the Council. There is no discussion of the agenda items unless a Councilmember removes an item for separate consideration or a member of the public requests that a Public Hearing item be removed for separate consideration. Public Hearing items are designated as "PUBLIC HEARING ITEM" at the beginning of the item title on the agenda. Each speaker addressing a Public Hearing item has a three (3)-minute time limit.

Non-Consent Agenda Items on Regular Council Meeting Agenda

All items listed on the Non-Consent Agenda are considered separately. Agenda items scheduled for introduction and first public hearing are heard but are not voted upon until after the second and final public hearing, typically held at the subsequent Regular Council Meeting. Items that are introduced with an emergency declaration will only have one public hearing. Each speaker addressing a Public Hearing item has a three (3)-minute time limit.

Call to the Audience on Work Study Session or Housing Authority Quarterly Meeting Agenda

Members of the public can address the City Council during the Call to the Audience portions of the Work Study Sessions and Housing Authority Quarterly Meetings.  A person may speak only once pertaining to any one agenda item when addressing Council during the meeting and there is a limit of three (3) minutes per speaker.

Public Hearings are designated to discuss a specific topic as noted on the agenda and are identified as "PUBLIC HEARING ITEM" at the beginning of the item title. During a Public Hearing, a maximum of three (3) minutes is provided for public comments directly related to the specific issue before the Council prior to its vote or action. 

The general format for a Public Hearing item is as follows: 
 
1) City staff’s presentation (if applicable) – typically includes a brief background on the item and any known issues. 

2) applicant’s initial presentation (if applicable) – no time limit.
 
3) public hearing – members of the public may express their opinion on the item for up to three (3) minutes.
 
4) applicant’s final presentation (if applicable) – no time limit.
Councilmembers may ask questions of the various speakers throughout the public hearing process.

Members of the public are welcome to speak during Public Appearances to address the City Council on any issue within the jurisdiction of the City Council. There is a three (3)-minute time limit per speaker. Speaker cards are required to be filled out so that accurate minutes can be kept, as required by State law.
 
During the Public Appearances portion of the City Council meeting, the Council is prohibited by State law from taking action on, commenting, or discussing a matter raised by a member of the public, even if asked to do so by a member of the public, so long as the subject discussed by the speaker is not listed as a specific agenda item for Council’s consideration for discussion and legal action.  

At the conclusion of the Public Appearances portion of this meeting, individual members of the City Council may respond to criticism made by those who have addressed the Council, or may ask staff through the City Manager to review a matter, or place a matter on a future agenda. However, members of the City Council shall not discuss or take legal action on matters raised during Public Appearances unless the matters are properly noticed for discussion and legal action. Please refer to Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 38-431.01(H) at https://www.azleg.gov/ars/38/00431-01.htm, for more information.

The City of Tempe endeavors to make all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. Special assistance can be provided for sight and/or hearing-impaired persons at public meetings.

If you require reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, please speak to a staff member of the City Clerk’s Office at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the meeting by calling (480) 350- 8243 (voice) or 7-1-1 (Relay users), or emailing clerk@tempe.gov. 

A lobbyist is any person who is compensated to communicate with any public official (Tempe City Council, a Board or Commission member, or a Hearing Officer) to influence official action. All lobbyists are required to register with the City Clerk’s Office prior to lobbying or within ten calendar days after first lobbying. Lobbyist registrations must be renewed annually, between January 1 and January 31. If you have any questions regarding registration, please visit tempe.gov/lobbyist or contact the City Clerk’s Office by calling (480) 350-8242 or emailing clerk@tempe.gov. Please note that City Clerk staff is unable to render legal, financial, or other professional advice.

Other opportunities to provide input to Councilmembers include email, public forums, telephone calls, and scheduled meetings.

Tempe 311

Tempe’s Customer Relations Center, also known as Tempe 311, provides a convenient way for community members to connect with their City government. To report a neighborhood or City issue or to find an answer to a question twenty-four (24) hours a day, please visit tempe.gov/tempe311 or call (480) 350-4311, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can also download the Tempe 311 app on your Android smart phone or iPhone, free of charge. Please visit tempe.gov/tempe311 for more information.  

PLEASE NOTE:  Tempe 311 is for non-emergency requests for service or information. In case of emergency, please call 9-1-1. For a Police non-emergency, please call (480) 350-8311.

E-Mail

Send an e-mail to the Mayor, City Council, and support staff via the Council Communicator at councilcommunicator@tempe.gov. 

PLEASE NOTE:  According to Arizona State law, all e-mail communications with the Mayor and City Council are public records and may be requested by, and provided to, members of the public or to the media.   

Phone

Call (480) 350-8110 to leave a voice message that will be automatically forwarded to the Mayor and all Councilmembers.

Postal Mail

All correspondence addressed to the Tempe City Council is distributed to all Councilmembers. The mailing address is P.O. Box 5002, Tempe, AZ 85280.

Tempe City Hall News

Visit https://email.tempe.gov/tempe-city-hall to sign up to receive:
   • news and updates from Tempe's elected officials
   • notifications about Tempe City Council meetings and agendas
   • legislative alerts and information about Tempe elections

View Current Listing of Mayor and City Council