Title
Phoenix ToolBank Partnership Update and Proposal to Enhance Service - Citywide
Description
This report request the Community Services and Education Subcommittee recommend to City Council approval to extend the City’s current partnership with Phoenix ToolBank and expand its service offerings to Phoenix neighborhoods.
THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
Report
Summary
In September 2025, the Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) and Phoenix ToolBank (ToolBank) formalized a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding to expand neighborhood access to tools and equipment that support community improvement projects and events. Through this partnership ToolBank allows NSD-listed neighborhood groups to borrow a wide range of tools and equipment for cleanups. This includes City-owned inventory, at no cost or a reduced cost, making it easier to complete beautification projects, host community events and support volunteer-driven activities. Since its inception, the partnership has grown steadily, providing neighborhood organizations with convenient, affordable access to resources that strengthen engagement, beautification efforts and neighborhood-led initiatives.
To date, 55 neighborhood organizations have registered with ToolBank and utilized its lending inventory to support community projects. For 2026 alone, 84 neighborhood cleanups have been recorded through Toolbank, 46 percent reserved City-owned inventory at no cost, 21 percent reserved a mix of City-owned equipment and special cleaning equipment for additional fees, and the rest reserved all specialized cleaning equipment and tools at a nominal cost.
ToolBank has also become a valuable partner in supporting 30 Getting Arizona Involved in Neighborhoods (G.A.I.N.) events by providing essential party supplies such as chairs and tables, for a reasonable price. On average, neighborhood groups spent between $150-$400 to reserve event equipment, depending on their event’s size. Some G.A.I.N. events used tents, yard games, cones and generators, which ToolBank was able to provide at a reasonable cost.
The success of the existing partnership has demonstrated both the demand for these services and Phoenix ToolBank's capacity to deliver them efficiently. Building on the current partnership, NSD and Phoenix ToolBank have identified a new opportunity to further strengthen community support by expanding the partnership to include the management of the City’s Tool Trailer Program.
Background and Proposed Enhancement of Service
The City’s Tool Trailer Program provides neighborhood organizations with mobile access to tools, equipment and supplies needed for large-scale community cleanups and beautification projects by delivering equipment directly to event locations using City-owned trailers. NSD staff coordinate with neighborhood organizers and the Public Works Department (PWD) on scheduling the drop-off and pick-up of the trailers. PWD staff checks the inventory of supplies in the trailer, delivers the trailer to the designated location and picks it up when the event is completed.
ToolBank proposes to assume full operational management of storing, stocking, delivering and picking up the tool trailers. ToolBank would streamline service delivery previously administered by NSD and PWD by leveraging its existing staffing, distribution centers, reservation and inventory systems, and its established success managing the City’s Tool Lending Program.
Key responsibilities Phoenix ToolBank will assume:
- Coordinate with City staff on all trailer reservation details (locations, contacts, timing).
- Store four trailers and their inventories at ToolBank’s warehouse.
- Inspect, restock and prepare each trailer prior to deployment, supplementing with ToolBank inventory as needed.
- Deliver trailers to event sites and retrieve them after events.
- Clean, repair and reset tools after each use.
- Track and report delivery data, tool usage and community impact quarterly.
- Provide vehicles, staff and safety equipment for deliveries.
- Monitor trailer condition and report maintenance needs to the City, including maintaining logs.
NSD staff will handle initial request and coordination for a tool trailer, and will communicate any scheduling details with ToolBank. Additionally, NSD will supply event consumables such as trash bags and two-cycle oil, be responsible for the trailers’ preventative maintenance and repairs, and renew the trailers’ registrations.
For the operational management of the program, ToolBank proposes an annual service cost totaling $9,000 to cover their labor, vehicle use, insurance, fuel, trailer preparation and storage, inventory management and repair, reporting and administrative support.
PWD and NSD agree to divide the proposed annual cost equally.
Agreement Term
The term starts on or about January 1, 2027 for one year, with two optional one-year extensions.
Financial Impact
The annual expenditure will be $9,000, divided equally between NSD using general funds, and PWD using Solid Waste funds. Funds are available within the respective department budgets.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Managers Cynthia Aguilar and Alan Stephenson, and the Neighborhood Services and Public Works departments.