Tempe holds state of the city address, announces restoration of Hayden Mill, impact of Prop. 424 failing

By Madeline Bates
Mail

The Tempe Center for the Arts was packed with business owners, political figures and city staff Nov. 13 to celebrate the city and discuss what is yet to come at the 28th annual state of the city address.

Mayor Corey Woods also announced that the city will be starting the process in restoring Hayden Flour Mill, a centuries old mill where the city’s main downtown avenue got its namesake and was in operation until 1998.

“Before there were towers along the lake, before generations of Sun Devils made their memories downtown, there was the mill. Mill Avenue carries its name, our city grew around it,” Woods said in his address.

The city is currently looking for a company to evaluate the machinery and equipment inside the mill. Woods says that this along with a structural assessment will understand how to fund the project and create a timeline.

Woods also spoke about the financial situation of the city following the voters' Nov. 3 rejection of Proposition 424, or the increased sales tax proposal.

“This is significant, but we are prepared to do the work, explain the choices and see it through,” he said.

The council attended a work study session on Nov. 12 that discussed changes to the budget and the potential to cut or change the Orbit bus routes throughout the city.

The bus route costs over $15 million to operate and the city’s deficit is over $25.7 million.

Woods said in his speech that he and the other city leaders are committed to transparency and public outreach during this time.

“We will be clear about the options we are considering, the savings they could produce and the effects they could have on our community,” he said.

But Woods wasn’t the only one speaking in praise for the city as several sponsors spoke about their love for the people, services and educational options in the city.

Quintin Boyce, a professor and leader at Arizona State University, said he was proud to live in a city where education was a priority.

Boyce also runs Thrive in Tempe, an organization that helps connect schools and businesses to help foster education in all forms.

“From ABC’s to PhD’s Tempe is a place where education matters, and we invest in our young people,” Boyce said.

Madeline Bates
Reporter | Tempe/East Phoenix

mbates@iniusa.org

Meet Madeline

Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).  

Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.

Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.

Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.

Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.