The Mesa City Council will consider a vote on a contract award that would provide furniture and other related services for an upcoming city-owned property at 6733 E. Main St. at an upcoming meeting.
The vote to continue the item to a later date passed 5-1 with Councilmember Jen Duff voting no and council member Francisco Heredia absent on Nov. 17.
The contract would be awarded to Goodman’s Interior Structures valued at $430,000.
However, members of the Mesa council expressed concern at multiple study sessions on if the city was paying a fair price for the furniture that would be used via the contract.
City Manager Scott Butler ultimately suggested at the Nov. 17 study session that the council vote to continue the matter to a future meeting to give enough time to weigh different options and possible bids.
“We would like for the council to take action to continue to an indefinite time with the item,” Butler said. “We would like further time to evaluate it and look at different options and get back to the council.”
A public information officer for the city said that no date is currently set for the future council meeting where this would be discussed.
Council documents say the contract would provide necessary furniture for the city’s upcoming Sunaire Property that would house members of Mesa’s vulnerable populations when it opens in spring 2026.
“Goodman’s products are solid, durable and functional, and meet the needs of Mesa’s vulnerable population served at Sunaire,” council documents stated. “Furniture includes leak-proof mattresses, bed bug resistant materials, easy to clean surfaces and a 10-year warranty. Goodman’s also provides office and meeting room furniture which will be used by staff and for common area spaces.”
The Rev. Sandy Johnson, pastor at Red Mountain United Methodist Church in the East Valley, spoke at the meeting and thanked the council for their work on the project.
“We’d like to express our appreciation to the council for your ongoing support of Sunaire Off the Streets Housing and to recognize and honor the hard work you’ve put into this project,” Johnson said. “Your commitment to this project will make a vital difference in the lives of our families.”
In a statement from her office, councilmember Jen Duff explained that she voted no out of frustration for the purchase not being approved.
“Item 4C on last night’s council agenda did not have enough support to pass. It is continued indefinitely,” Duff said. “I believe wholeheartedly in the Sunaire project and used my ‘no’ vote to illustrate my dismay that we weren’t approving the furniture expenditure.”
The contract would last until Aug. 31, 2026, and would be funded by the ARPA related interest income fund.
Correction: This article was updated to state that the council voted to continue the item to a later meeting, as well as to include a statement from Duff explaining her no vote as well as a quote from the city manager explaining the decision to continue the item rather than approve it.
After graduating from Arizona State University's Cronkite School in spring 2022, Connor Van Ligten spent a little over year as a reporter for WWL-TV in New Orleans before finding themselves back in Phoenix in October of 2023. Now back in the Valley and writing for the Mesa Independent and the Daily Independent, Connor is ready to tell meaningful stories and report on important civic issues facing Mesa. Connor is a big fan of the 49ers, Warriors, pro wrestling, anime, dogs and fighting video games.
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