Governmental Mall Commission (repealed)
Agency Contact Information
Arizona Legislature, Legislative Council
Authority (Transferred)
The Governmental Mall Commission was established in 1985. Commission authority was dissolved and its responsibilities were transferred to the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) by Laws 2018, Chapter 279. In 2022, jurisdiction for management of Wesley Bolin Plaza, authorization and oversight of monuments and memorials within the governmental mall, and administration of the State Monument Memorial Repair Fund was transferred from ADOA to Legislative Council. Current statutory authority is found at A.R.S. §§ 41-1362 through 41-1365.
Function
Until 2022, ADOA was required to develop a comprehensive, long-range general plan for development of the government mall; review and either approve or disapprove requests to develop structures or sites within the mall; review planning activities within the mall boundaries; and publish an annual report on issues that come before ADOA.
The governmental mall is composed of the area within 19th Avenue on the west, all lots abutting Van Buren Street on the north, 7th Avenue on the east and the Harrison Street alignment on the south. Monuments or memorials located outside Wesley Bolin Plaza in which a political subdivision has a contractual interest are not governed by the following provisions.
Legislative authorization is required to locate a monument or memorial in the governmental mall. Statute outlines the process to obtain approval, states that costs for design and construction are the sole responsibility of the proponents, and authorizes relocation of monuments or memorials located in the governmental mall.
History
Background
Until 2022, ADOA was required to develop a comprehensive, long-range general plan for development of the government mall; review and either approve or disapprove requests to develop structures or sites within the mall; review planning activities within the mall boundaries; and publish an annual report on issues that come before ADOA.
The governmental mall is composed of the area within 19th Avenue on the west, all lots abutting Van Buren Street on the north, 7th Avenue on the east and the Harrison Street alignment on the south. Monuments or memorials located outside Wesley Bolin Plaza in which a political subdivision has a contractual interest are not governed by the following provisions.
Legislative authorization is required to locate a monument or memorial in the governmental mall. Statute outlines the process to obtain approval, states that costs for design and construction are the sole responsibility of the proponents, and authorizes relocation of monuments or memorials located in the governmental mall.
Session Laws
Laws 1952, Chapter 107 appropriated $3 million from the state general fund to defray the costs to purchase land and to construct an addition the state capitol building. Responsibility for construction was vested in the State Building Commission, a temporary commission consisting of the Governor, Secretary of the State, State Auditor, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives. Laws 1954, Chapter 146 reallocated $1.5 million appropriated in 1951 for capitol building construction (See Laws 1951, First Special Session, Chapter 1, subdivision 6, appropriating $1.5 million for purchase of lands and construction of buildings).
The State Planning and Building Commission was established in 1956 to act as a coordinating body to formulate and recommend current and long-range project and improvement programs for all state agencies. The measure also directed the Commission to prepare a program of improvements for the existing capitol buildings and grounds, reallocated appropriations made in 1952 and 1954 for the improvements, and required progress reports to be submitted to the Legislature and Governor by December 31, 1956. See Laws 1956, Chapter 65.
Laws 1960, Chapter 97 established the State Department of Public Buildings Maintenance, outlined its powers and duties and provided for a superintendent appointed by the Governor to a five-year term. The Superintendent was responsible for maintenance, alteration and renovation of the existing capitol buildings and grounds, including the House and Senate wings and the annex to the state capitol building. The Superintendent was also responsible for the state office building located in Tucson and 25 specifically named offices.
Laws 1962, Chapter 70 authorized the State Planning and Building Commission to erect a monument on the state capitol grounds to honor three Arizona war heroes: Ira Hayes, Sylvester Herrera and John Henry Pruitt. The measure included an appropriation of $5,500. The monument is located on the grounds of the Senate and House.
Laws 1966, Chapter 95 transferred the duties of the State Planning and Building Commission to the Department of Finance. The measure created a State Planning Division, within the newly created Department of Finance and transferred records, furnishings, equipment and other property from the Commission to the Department effective July 1, 1967. Statutory provisions for the Commission (Title 41, Ch 3, Article 5.1) were repealed as well.
Laws 1972, Chapter 141 established the Department of Administration (ADOA) and combined several agencies into the new Department. The measure transferred all records, furnishings, equipment, property, unexpended and unencumbered funds from the Department of Public Buildings Maintenance to the new ADOA. The measure included similar transfers for other agencies that were incorporated into ADOA.
ADOA was organized into six divisions: public buildings maintenance; data processing; finance; library, archives and public records; personnel administration; and surplus property. The Public Buildings Maintenance Division was responsible for public buildings and adjacent grounds and was also responsible for security, regulation of traffic and parking, centralized telephone services; and a state motor vehicle pool.
Laws 1985, Chapter 23 established the Legislative Governmental Mall Commission, consisting of eight members, “to provide for the orderly and beneficial growth and development of the governmental mall in a manner that promotes the interest and welfare of this state.” (Purpose). The measure outlined Commission powers and duties and established the boundaries of the mall.
Laws 1986, Chapter 277 changed the boundaries of the Governmental Mall and required the City of Phoenix to inform the Governmental Mall Commission of new major development projects and infrastructure improvements within the downtown area redevelopment plan. The boundaries were modified again the following year. See Laws 1987, Chapter 344.
Laws 1988, Chapter 160 modified the membership of the Commission, removing the Governor as a member and adding two members appointed by the Governor. The measure also provided that the general plan of the Governmental Mall took precedence over nonconforming state agency plans.
Laws 1995, Chapter 70 modified the membership of the Commission, increased the number of members from eight to twelve, revised the powers and duties of the Commission and adopted several measures applicable to future monuments and memorials. It modified the boundaries of the Government Mall, required legislative authorization to place a monument or memorial in the Governmental Mall, outlined procedures, established an approval process and set a timeline for completion of a project. The measure also provided that fund-raising to cover design and construction was the sole responsibility of the proponents.
Laws 1998, Chapter 100 authorized placement of a World War II monument in the Wesley Bolin Plaza.
Laws 1998, Chapter 128 allowed the state to consolidate parcels of land near the state capitol and assume control of certain alleys from the City of Phoenix in order to provide security around state buildings, enhance the value of state property and allow construction of a state health laboratory. See Purpose. The measure also repealed session law from 1976 and 1997 which authorized ADOA to exchange state owned land for private land.
Laws 2000, Chapter 195 authorized placement of memorials to Morris K. Udall and Barry M. Goldwater in Wesley Bolin Plaza. The measure also rewrote the authority, originally enacted in 1998, to place a World War II monument in the Wesley Bolin Plaza.
Laws 2001, Chapter 91 allowed a member of the Governmental Mall Commission who is over 100 years of age to vote by proxy.
Laws 2003, Chapter 72 authorized placement of a September 11, 2001 commemorative monument in Wesley Bolin Plaza. Laws 2006, Chapter 35 extended the deadline to complete the memorial.
Laws 2004, Chapter 44 authorized placement of a police canine memorial in Wesley Bolin Plaza.
A second measure enacted in 2004 authorized placement of a chaplain’s memorial in Wesley Bolin Plaza. See Laws 2004, Chapter 56.
A third measure enacted in 2004 authorized placement of an Enduring Freedom memorial in Wesley Bolin Plaza. The deadline to complete the memorial was extended in 2006, and a second extension was authorized in 2008. A measure enacted in 2009 allowed monies in the Veterans’ Donation fund to be used for the Enduring Freedom memorial. See Laws 2004, Chapter 206; Laws 2006, Chapter 31; Laws 2008, Chapter 92; and Laws 2009, Chapter 111.
Laws 2006, Chapter 314 authorized placement of a monument in Wesley Bolin Plaza dedicated to the soldiers who fought and died at the World War II Battle of the Bulge.
Laws 2006, Chapter 350 authorized placement of a monument in Wesley Bolin Plaza dedicated to the commemoration of the federal Bill of Rights. The deadline to complete the memorial was extended by Laws 2008, Chapter 92 and again by Laws 2009, Chapter 111.
Laws 2007, Chapter 250 outlined a process for a monument or memorial to be modified or altered. The provision states that it applies to any alteration or modification completed pursuant to A.R.S. §41-1363, adopted by Laws 1995, Chapter 70. Laws 2007, Chapter 250 also established the State Monument and Memorial Repair Fund. ADOA is required to separately account for monies deposited for a specific monument or memorial.
Laws 2012, Chapter 5 authorized a monument to commemorate the commencement of World War II at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and the signing of the surrender by Japan on September 2, 1945.
Laws 2013, Chapter 51 authorized placement of a memorial dedicated to firefighters and emergency medical technicians in Wesley Bolin Plaza.
Laws 2014, Chapter 227 authorized placement in Wesley Bolin Plaza of a memorial dedicated to U.S. submarine veterans. Laws 2016, Chapter 344 extended the deadline to complete the memorial.
Laws 2015, Chapter 42 authorized placement of a memorial dedicated to fallen state Department of Corrections employees in an area in the governmental mall bordered by 17th Avenue, Jefferson Street, 16th Avenue and Madison Street.
Laws 2018, Chapter 279 repealed the Governmental Mall Commission and transferred its authority and responsibilities to ADOA. The measure established the Capitol Mall Consolidation Fund and appropriated monies from the proceeds of the sale of specified state-owned properties to the Fund. The measure also required the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to approve or deny contracts that would place a light rail station within the governmental mall.
Laws 2022, Chapter 357 transferred jurisdiction for the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza and oversight of monuments and memorials in the Governmental Mall from ADOA to Legislative Council.
Sources
- Arizona Revised Statutes §§ 41-1362 through 41-1365
- Session Laws
- Laws 1951, First Special Session, Chapter 1
- Laws 1952, Chapter 107
- Laws 1954, Chapter 146
- Laws 1956, Chapter 65
- Laws 1960, Chapter 97
- Laws 1962, Chapter 70
- Laws 1966, Chapter 95
- Laws 1972, Chapter 141
- Laws 1978, HJR 2003
- Laws 1979, Chapter 158, §1, Subdivision 1
- Laws 1985, Chapter 23
- Laws 1986, Chapter 277
- Laws 1987, Chapter 344
- Laws 1988, Chapter 160
- Laws 1995, Chapter 70
- Laws 1998, Chapter 100 and Chapter 128
- Laws 2000, Chapter 195
- Laws 2001, Chapter 91
- Laws 2003, Chapter 72
- Laws 2004, Chapter 44, Chapter 56 and Chapter 206
- Laws 2006, Chapter 31, Chapter 35, Chapter 314 and Chapter 350
- Laws 2007, Chapter 250
- Laws 2008, Chapter 92
- Laws 2009, Chapter 111
- Laws 2012, Chapter 5
- Laws 2013, Chapter 51
- Laws 2014, Chapter 227
- Laws 2015, Chapter 42
- Laws 2016, Chapter 344
- Laws 2018, Chapter 279
- Laws 2022, Chapter 357
Related Collections at Arizona State Archives
- Record Group 008 – Department of Administration
- Record Group 015 – State Auditor (precursor to Department of Finance)
- Record Group 033 – Board of Curators
- Record Group 062 – Board of Control (precursor to Public Buildings)
