After months without a council meeting the Tempe council will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31 to conduct city business and listen to the public’s concerns. The meeting with be held in the City Council Chambers at Tempe City Hall at 31 E. 5th Street. The meeting will be streamed on Tempe 11 and available on YouTube the next day.
Below are a few things to expect at the meeting.
Property changes:
The Tempe Bank building, once home to nightclub venue Darkstar at 526 S. Mill Ave., will soon find a tenant, though the city has not disclosed what that will be.
“City staff have been exploring opportunities to attract tenants to bring unique concepts to the downtown core,” a report summary says.
Mayor Corey Woods says that he is looking forward to getting more small businesses to Mill Avenue and hopes that city-owned buildings will help businesses find more affordable rent. The Tempe Bank Building has almost 10,000 square feet of available commercial space.
The old Tempe Hardware Building, next door to the bank, is home to consignment store Tempe Toes. The business could see an expansion, however city staff are also open to other prospective tenants.
The building currently has about 2,000 square feet available and has been owned by the city since June 30.
Liquor license applications:
New restaurants Shabu Shabu and French Toast Café have applied for liquor licenses.
Previous discussions have led city staff to offer a recommendation of approval for French Toast Café and no recommendation for Shabu Shabu.
Staff give no recommendation for Shabu Shabu as the application was not filed in the appropriate time frame.
“The next scheduled Tempe City Council meeting is Aug. 31, 2026, which falls after the statutory deadline. Because certain required reviews and processes involve agencies and timelines outside the city’s control, staff was unable to complete all necessary reviews and present the application to the City Council within the required timeframe,” the report said.
The council is slated to vote on a recommendation to the state liquor board for either the approval or denial of the licenses.
Water easements:
Tempe has several items on the meeting agenda that involve abandoning waterline easements across the city.
The council will discuss abandonment of easements on Baseline Road, Priest Drive and Rio Salado Parkway.
To learn more about each agenda item, visit View Meeting - OnBase Agenda Online and click on an agenda item.
To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
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.
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