Enhanced Municipal Services District

From planting trees and supporting the arts to hosting events and telling the stories affecting our city, our team is committed to making Downtown Phoenix a place you love.

The Downtown Phoenix Enhanced Municipal Services District (EMSD) is funded by an assessment on all property owners within the 90-square-block area of the Downtown Core – the hub of activity for one of the most dynamic downtowns in the country. The boundaries for this district are Seventh Street on the east to Third Avenue on the west, and Fillmore Street on the north to the Union Pacific tracks (south of Jackson Street) on the south. There are additional properties outside the EMSD that services through fee-for-service contracts.

Formed in 1990, the EMSD exists to strengthen Downtown Phoenix development and to encourage an environment of activity, energy and vitality. To accomplish this, Downtown Phoenix Inc. provides a variety of enhanced services to this core area through the provision of direct services, marketing and economic development.

Services:

●     Hospitality + Homeless Outreach (Ambassadors)

●     Streetscape + Urban Design (Clean + Green Team)

●     Transportation + Parking Coordination

●     Marketing + Advertising

●     Branding

●     Public Relations

●     Event Facilitation

●     Business Support + Development

●     Community Development

The EMSD was created under Arizona State Statute 48-575 and is also referred to as a Business Improvement District. Assessments are controlled by the City of Phoenix, which chooses to contract with Downtown Phoenix Inc. for the provision of these services. Downtown Phoenix Inc. is guided by a volunteer EMSD advisory board representing a cross-section of downtown stakeholders, including property owners, tenants, merchants, cultural and nonprofit organizations, city and county management, and elected officials. The EMSD work plan and budget are approved annually by the EMSD Advisory Board before undergoing the formal approval process, including a public hearing, by the Mayor and City Council.

Ruben Alonzo
Executive Director
Community & Municipal Relations, Arizona State University

Nickie Casciaro
Proprietor
NC Bookkeeping Service & Downtown Phoenix Resident

Caroline Berger
Director, Corporate & Community Relations
University of Arizona

Tracy Stoltz
General Manager
Renaissance Downtown Phoenix Hotel

John Chan
Deputy City Manager
City of Phoenix

Dr. Maria Chavira
Chancellor
Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix

Tara Ereth
Regional Manager, Arizona
Parallel Capital Partners

Ed Hermes
Partner
Snell & Wilmer

Commander Brian Freudenthal
Central City Precinct Commander
Phoenix Police Department

Bill Gates
Supervisor, District 3
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors

Debra Stark
Vice Mayor, District 3
City of Phoenix

R. Neil Irwin
Chair Emeritus
Partner
Bryan Cave, LLP

Scarlett Spring
Executive Director
Phoenix Bioscience Core

Ralph Marchetta
General Manager
Footprint Center

Mike Medici
Managing Partner/President
Smith Group Architects

Jeff Moloznik
Vice President of Development
RED Development

Jen Pokorski
County Manager
Maricopa County

Amilyn Pierce
Vice President of Government Affairs
Arizona Diamondbacks

Ginger Spencer
Deputy City Manager
City of Phoenix

Guy Labine
CEO
Arizona Science Center

Richard Romane
General Manager
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown

Ray Schey
Publisher
Phoenix Business Journal

Billy Shields
Managing Partner
Hansji Corporation

Ross Simon
Owner, residential property
Owner, Bitter & Twisted and Little Rituals

Mark Mettes
President & CEO
Herberger Theater Center

AJ Sulka
President & Managing Partner
Majerle’s Sports Grill

Faith Burton
Director of Special Projects
Reliance Management

Allison Otu
Executive Director of Marketing & Communications
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication, ASU

Perry Monge
Owner
Perry Monge Salon Spa

Jerry Harper
Director
Phoenix Convention Center