WESTMARC: Governor Jan Brewer's West Valley State of the State Luncheon 2012 - January 12, 2012

Please See Attached Form for Sponsorship and Registration!

For questions please contact Amity Bravo, 623-435-0431 x 202 or amity@westmarc.org


Westmarc.gov.2012.Registration

John McCain: Meghan went ‘to the dark side’

John McCain Jokes About Meghan’s MSNBC Gig: ‘She’s Gone Over To The Dark Side’




by Nando Di Fino
11:05 am, November 28th, 2011




CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO!

John McCain joined Fox Business Network’s Don Imus on his Imus in the Morning show Monday morning, and, in a nine-minute segment, the duo hit on everything from Pakistan to a plane crash at Superstition Mountain. But McCain and Imus excelled when talking on topics that had a lighter tone; namely, MSNBC’s hiring of the senator’s daughter, Meghan McCain, and the greed associated with college football realignment.



Imus began the segment by saying what a great guest Meghan McCain had been during her appearances on his show, then bemoaned the fact that she might not be able to come on any longer because of her contract with MSNBC.

“She went over to the dark side, I guess,” McCain said, laughing. “I hope she’ll [still] be coming on. I’m very proud of her. I’m sure she’ll do well. She’s feisty, also, as you know.”

ROMNEY V. GINGRICH? NOT SO FAST! DICK MORRIS TV: LUNCH ALERT! BY DICK MORRIS

Published DickMorris.com on November 29, 2011

Dear Friend,


In this video commentary, I discuss how the evangelicals and Tea Party are yet to be heard from and could still shake up this race.


Click Here to give me your thoughts and continue the discussion.


This Dick Morris Lunch Alert! sponsored by Stansberry Research. Check out their practical advice - Go Here.


CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO!

Welcome to the first 'Twitter election' by Brendan Sasso - The Hill

November 30, 2011

Already, 2012 is shaping up to be the first “Twitter election,” but the social media site presents both pitfalls and opportunities for political campaigns.

The rise of new Internet services has been a game changer in recent campaign cycles. In 2006, a YouTube video of then-Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) using the term “macaca” helped sink his reelection bid, and in 2008, Barack Obama, energized his young supporters through Facebook.






In 2012, the Web phenomenon most likely to change the political dynamic is Twitter, the social networking site that creates a real-time loop of communication among its users.

Patrick Hynes, a communications consultant who worked for John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign and Tim Pawlenty’s Political Action Committee in 2011, said Twitter can be an effective tool for pushing stories onto the media’s radar.

“If they tweet the story, you’re nearly guaranteed to get a couple hundred re-tweets,” Hynes said. Once a story goes viral on Twitter, he said, it becomes impossible for mainstream media outlets to ignore it.






While the potential for a story to explode on Twitter can be a powerful tool for campaigns, it also creates new challenges.

“Traditionally, before Twitter, stories ran in the morning. You had time to get to reporters,” said Jason Miner, director of public affairs for the Glover Park Group and a former research director for the Democratic National Committee. “Now that conversation takes place in real-time, in a matter of minutes. That piece of news is out there without full context.”

He noted that can be a good thing if a campaign is trying to spread positive stories about themselves — or attack their opponents.






“The drawback is, if you’re on defense, it doesn’t give you much time to get your ducks in a row,” he said.






According to Hynes, the best way for a campaign to fight back against a negative story on Twitter is with a rapid Twitter response.






“You need to kill the narrative, and even better, turn it on your opponent,” Hynes said.






Both Hynes and Miner said campaigns should keep close tabs on what topics and campaign messages are trending on Twitter.






Hynes said the site offers campaigns a “live-action focus group” on what voters are thinking. “You can take the pulse real-time of how people are talking about things,” Miner said.






But many politicians still resist fully embracing Twitter. Emily Zanotti, a social media consultant who works for Hynes at his firm, Hynes Communications, said many politicians are afraid of making a gaffe on the fast-paced social networking site.

“As soon as you put something out there into the Twitterverse, it’s gone,” Zanotti said. “It makes Twitter a wild, wild West of social media.”

She said people expect politicians to be informal and candid when they’re tweeting from their own accounts. “You can’t be a carefully calculated image on Twitter,” she said.






It can also make it difficult for politicians to control their message.






Last month, Republicans co-opted President Obama’s slogan, "We Can't Wait," which he had been using to push his jobs bill on Twitter. Republicans used the hashtag “WeCantWait” to instead promote their bills that would roll back government regulations.






Miner emphasized that campaigns should not treat Twitter as separate from the rest of their communication strategy.

“Ultimately, Twitter is a tool and a tactic,” he said. “It’s only as effective as your core messaging and core strategy.”

Hynes said participating in the constant conversation of Twitter has become a necessity for campaigns.

“Any campaign that’s not doing that at some level is not going to succeed,” he said.

NEWT HAMPSHIRE BY ROBERT ARIAIL

Governor Jan Brewer Lights Capitol Christmas Tree

PHOENIX – Governor Jan Brewer today participated in the 2011 Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in the Executive Tower lobby at the State Capitol.

 

The tree is a 20-foot, 45-year-old White Fir retrieved from the Tonto National Forest. It is the Capitol’s tallest Christmas tree in memory, and its first live tree since 2004.

All decorations – including 300 ornaments, 2,000 LED lights, poinsettias of 50 assorted colors and sizes and 12 feet of fabric at the tree’s base – were generously donated by The Home Depot, Gardener’s World and Sew & Vac, respectively

Governor Jan Brewer, Area Hospitals Unite for Health Care Initiative

Plan Leverages Federal Dollars to fund Uncompensated Care, Hospital Improvements




CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO


PHOENIX – Governor Jan Brewer and executives from three of the state’s largest health institutions came together today to announce a plan that will offset hospital costs in providing care to the uninsured, fund service improvements and allow nearly 20,000 Arizona children to join KidsCare.


And all at no state cost.

“Creative, collaborative solutions are a must in these times of tight budgets and growing costs,” said Governor Brewer. “I’m proud that Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Maricopa Integrated Health System and the University of Arizona Health Network have joined us to make this plan a reality. The fact that we can accomplish this with no cost to the state is just icing on the cake.”

Last spring, Governor Brewer signed into law SB 1357, which enabled AHCCCS to use local government funds in order to provide care to individuals no longer covered by Medicaid. Under the plan announced today, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Maricopa Integrated Health System and the University of Arizona Health Network will put forward $113 million. This funding, routed through MIHS and Pima County, will serve as the state match in order to draw down more than $229 million from the federal government.


This funding will be used to:

· Help offset spiraling hospital costs in providing care to the uninsured; and

 
· Fund a two-year, time-limited statewide enrollment of 19,283 additional Arizona children in KidsCare, a state program that provides quality, affordable coverage to children of working parents who pay monthly premiums to insure them.

Additionally, a large portion of the funding will be devoted to needed service and infrastructure improvements for the three hospital institutions. Phoenix Children’s Hospital plans to enhance its teaching programs, plus improve the efficiency and capacity of its pediatric Level 1 Trauma Center and Emergency Department. MIHS will develop an e-records system. UA Health Network plans to do likewise, and will establish new trauma services in a medically-underserved area.

“Governor Brewer recognizes the immense strain the economic downturn has put on our health care system, especially safety net hospitals,” said Bob Meyer, President and CEO of Phoenix Children’s Hospital. “Without this funding, it would be even more difficult for Phoenix Children’s Hospital to fulfill its mission to provide high quality, cost-effective care for Arizona children.”

“Safety net hospitals like Maricopa Medical Center play a vital role in providing health care to the underserved in our community,” said Betsey Bayless, President and CEO of the Maricopa Integrated Health System. “Hospitals like ours also bear a growing financial burden in caring for the uninsured. This plan will help Maricopa Medical Center remain a strong and growing pillar of the community.”

“Caring for the indigent and underserved is one of the special hallmarks of teaching hospitals like The University of Arizona Medical Center,” said Karen Mlawsky, CEO of the hospital division of The University of Arizona Health Network. “More than one-third of our patients are on AHCCCS or have no insurance at all. This proposal shows that, by working together, we can continue providing medical care to the Arizonans who need it most.”

The Governor’s funding plan has been submitted to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for approval.


###

DOUG DUCEY - State Treasurer's Quarterly Financial Update

Click here to download the current version of our quarterly newsletter, Inside the Vault.

Click here to download the Treasurer's Office FY 2011 Annual Audited Financial Statements.

It’s no secret Arizona has been hit hard by this economic downturn.

To put it in perspective, not too long ago the State of Arizona was borrowing an average of $733 million every day to pay teachers and fill pot holes. People were using words like bankrupt, insolvent and structurally broken to describe our state finances. We were living way beyond our means.








Although we have been navigating through some difficult times, my outlook for Arizona is positive:

• In October 2011 the State of Arizona averaged $667 million in operating cash. Compared to averaging negative $733 million for the entire month in December 2009, that’s a $1.4 billion swing to the positive.

• For this fiscal year we have a balanced budget for the first time since 2007 and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee is even talking about having a potential surplus at this time next year if revenues continue on their projected path.

• Unemployment and our local economy are showing signs of life and has been moved from intensive care to critical condition.

If you read the paper or turn on the TV you can find any number of reports that will tell you the sky is falling. It might not feel like we’re making progress, but the fact is that the numbers show we are slowly moving in the right direction.






There aren’t any quick fixes – this will take some time – and there’s still plenty of work to be done. As we move into our next legislative session I encourage all Arizona taxpayers to continue their demand of financial responsibility from our Governor and Legislators. We may be heading in the right direction, but we still don’t have a rainy day fund for the next financial crisis we may face and there’s a mountain of debt we must begin to pay down.






Please make sure to download our newsletter and annual report using the links above. If you would like to know the daily cash balance of the state or want more frequent updates and commentary you can go to www.aztreasurer.gov or follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dougducey.






I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and joyous holiday season. Thank you for your ongoing support.






Sincerely,



 

 

Paid for by Doug Ducey for State Treasurer.THIS COMMUNICATION WAS NOT PAID FOR WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS.







THIS COMMUNICATION WAS NOT PAID FOR WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS


Copyright © 2010 Doug Ducey for Arizona State Treasurer. All rights reserved.

THE SHAPE OF THE PRES RACE BY DICK MORRIS

Published on DickMorris.com on November 27, 2011







Printer-Friendly Version

To understand the Republican Presidential race, grasp first that the party is one of ideas. One is born into the Democratic Party. If you are black or Latino or poor or gay or become a single mother, your partisan identity is often spoken for. But you become a member of the Republican Party by agreeing with certain ideas. So there are several distinct groupings within the Republican Party merged together by shared ideals but with sharply different priorities and perspectives. Imagine that each sector of the party is like a division in the NFL or in Major League Baseball, with its own separate playoffs or pennant race and its own separate champion. Then, the winners of the divisions meet in the primaries. We are still in the pre-runoff phase.


Start with the Economic Conservative Division. These folks are deeply committed to free market economics. Often from big companies and corporations, they tend to be well off and to believe in capitalism and oppose redistribution of wealth. In their division, the candidates were Mitt Romney, Donald Trump, Tim Pawlenty, Chris Christie, and Mitch Daniels. Mitt is the only one left. He is the champ of that division which guarantees him a berth in the runoffs.

Closely allied to them is the Establishment Republican Division. This was the group that rallied to Bush-43 and impelled him to the nomination. They have to choose between Romney, Perry, and Gingrich. They can't back Cain or Bachmann because both are too much outsiders. Perry has disappointed them so they are going largely for Mitt. But some will probably end up for Newt.

Then go to the Evangelical Division. They are motivated by religious and social issues like abortion, gay marriage and such. The candidates were Mike Huckabee, Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, and Rick Perry. Huck didn't run. First Bachmann surged, then Perry and then Cain. But Cain fell back because of the sex harassment charges. This block can't support Romney (although they will if he is nominated) because he is Mormon and flip flopped on abortion. They are reluctant to back Gingrich because of his personal issues. So they must choose among Perry, Cain, Bachmann, and Santorum. They haven't chosen yet. But they will. One of these candidates has to be in the runoffs because this group has to have a candidate.

Then we go to the national security people. They are focused on defense, support the war in Afghanistan and back tough protections against terrorism. Their possible candidates are Gingrich, Bachmann, Perry, Romney, or Santorum. They won't back Cain because of his inexperience and they disagree with Paul and Huntsman. Gingrich's strong debate performance turned them on, but Romney is making a strong play for their votes. Santorum could gain traction, but likely not. Perry wants their votes, but he hurt himself by his lack of familiarity with the issues. They will probably split between Newt and Mitt. Between their votes and those of the party establishment Newt can pick up, it virtually assures Gingrich of a runoff birth.

Then there are the Tea Party folks. They focus on the federal deficit, the national debt, reining in spending, holding down taxes, opposing Obamacare, and reducing government regulation. They had, initially, to choose among Daniels, Christie, Gingrich, Santorum, Perry, Cain, and Bachmann. They won't support Romney because of Romneycare in Massachusetts (although they would if he is the nominee). With Christie and Daniels out, they first went Bachmann because of her battle in Congress to cut spending. Then they were seduced by Perry but his immigration position turned them off so they went for Cain. Now they are worried about Cain and are looking at Gingrich or Bachmann or maybe still Cain.


So that's the state of play. Romney has an assured runoff berth but nobody else does. If Newt doesn't stumble over his consulting practice or personal issues, he will likely make the runoff as the National Security candidate with good support from the Party Establishment and Tea Party Divisions.


But that would still leave the Evangelicals out there. They can't back Romney due to his religion or Newt because of his personal issues. So they will back someone else - Cain, Perry, Bachmann, or Santorum. And a lot of Tea Party people - who overlap with the Evangelicals - will also be looking at these candidates. One of these four is going to be in the final mix.

 

Then it will likely be a three way fight: Romney, Gingrich, and an Evangelical/Tea Party candidate to be named later.

This is the context of the Iowa caucuses. It is first and foremost a way to sort out the Evangelical/Tea Party conundrum and come up with their candidate. That's what January 3rd will be all about.


Subscribe to Dick's Newsletter

Cartoon of the Day: Great Political Messages, Occupy Wall-Street Version

IT'S OFFICIAL....DENNIS ERICKSON FIRED AS ASU FOOTBALL COACH!

Burns & Gambo just announced that ASU Head Football Coach Dennis Erickson has been fired! 

Erickson, who came to ASU in 2007 & started 8 - 0, finished his ASU career with a 31 - 30 overall record.  The 2011 season was suppossed to be 'the year' for ASU.  The Sun Devils started 6 - 2, but lost their last 4 games.  Looks like ASU is headed for the Las Vegas Bowl & Erickson will coach his final game (Thank God)!

Who will be the new ASU Head Football Coach?  Take our poll:

RELATED ARTICLES:

Official: Arizona State's Dennis Erickson out – USATODAY.com

ASU football's Dennis Erickson will be fired - The Arizona Republic

Dennis Erickson out as coach of Arizona State Sun Devils, source says - ESPN

Dennis Erickson is out as coach at Arizona State - latimes.com

HEATHER CARTER FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE RECEPTION - THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2011 @ 6:30PM

Please join Bryan and Lynn Jeffries

to honor and help keep

Heather Carter


Arizona State House Representative LD-7


Thursday December 1, 2011
@ 6:30PM
Catered by Postino’s


At the Home of


Bryan and Lynn Jeffries
6415 E. Everett Dr. Phoenix


In Kierland (64th street and Greenway)





Please RSVP to……..:bjeffries@unitedmesaff.com

Paid for By Heather Carter for State Rep

D'Adamo: Baby Boomers' skills benefit non-profits

by Gene D'Adamo, columnist - Nov. 24, 2011 12:00 AM


The Arizona Republic




Help Wanted: Passionate volunteers who want to make a difference. Need adults, ages 50-plus, to share their experiences and wisdom. Training provided. Full- or part-time. Compensation will exceed expectations. To apply: www.experience mattersaz.org.

More than 1.2 million Arizonans answered this call for help last year. Volunteers have always been critical to the social sector, but the need is even greater as non-profit agencies are experiencing an unprecedented increase in the demand for services while financial contributions are staying flat or decreasing.

Like never before, these groups are relying on volunteers to help them carry out their missions.




With more than 15,000 public charities in Arizona, there is literally an agency for every interest, and you can devote as much -- or as little -- time as you want, from single projects to yearlong programs.






Without a doubt, volunteers of all ages are needed, but the social sector is looking for more Baby Boomers, who have years of experience and critically important skills to share.

Enter Experience Matters, an organization whose mission is to connect those of us in our encore years, age 50 and older, with civic and non-profit organizations. And with more than 1.5 million Boomers in Arizona, there's a lot of human capital waiting to be harnessed for the greater good.

Through a program called Your Experience Counts, people like Carlos Garcia are making a huge difference in our schools. With contagious enthusiasm, Carlos volunteers four days a week at Shaw Elementary School in downtown Phoenix.






"Those kids light up my day," he told me, but I'd say it goes both ways as the school's third-graders eagerly await his visits so they can practice their reading.






Your Experience Counts matches "experienced talent" (aka, people 50-plus) with third- through seventh-grade students in under-resourced schools to give extra help in reading, writing, math or science. With at least 30 years of professional experience of some kind under our belts, Boomers have a wealth of knowledge that makes us a huge asset in the classroom. You don't need teaching experience, just a desire to give back.






Want to volunteer but not sure the classroom is the place for you? Experience Matters has you covered with a new program called Service by Design. This project-based volunteer opportunity matches your skills with the unique needs of a non-profit.






As Nora Hannah of Experience Matters says, "It's impossible to find someone who's 50-plus and doesn't have a skill that can be shared with an agency."






The Service by Design professionals are experts at uncovering your unique skills and placing you with an organization that has been trained to maximize what you bring to the table.






Linde Harned, the go-to person for this program, can be reachedat Lharned@experiencemattersaz.org.






Tutoring, collecting/distributing food and mentoring youth are three of the most popular volunteer activities in Arizona. The fourth is fundraising, which is always a critical need for non-profits, particularly in this economy.






If you spent your career in sales, business development or marketing, fundraising could be a natural fit for you now.






The spirit of generosity is heightened during the holiday season, evidenced by agency waiting lists to serve food on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Because of the overwhelming generosity of donors like you, The Arizona Republic/12 News Season for Sharing campaign (sharing.azcentral.com) distributed $2.66 million last year, and more than $46 million over the past 18 years. The challenge for all of us is keeping that passion and commitment alive 365 days a year.

For more information, go to www.experiencemattersaz.org or www.handsonphoenix.org.






Gene D'Adamo is vice president of community relations for The Arizona Republic, 12 News and azcentral.com.

NOTE:  GENE & I ARE BOTH PROUD GRADUATES OF STS. SIMON & JUDE CLASS OF 1975!

Councilwoman Thelda Williams Weekly Email Bulletin

Events

District 1 Community Breakfast






The next District 1 Community Breakfast will be held on January 27, 2012. Breakfast begins at 7:30, the speakers will start around 7:45. Breakfast will be available for $3.99 and the District 1 office will pay for your drink.






Date: January 27, 2012


Time: 7:30 a.m.


Location: Deer Valley Airport Restaurant – 702 West Deer Valley Road






Coffee with a Cop






Cactus Park Precinct:






Date: December 7th


Time: 8:00 am


Where: Mimi’s Café


Address: 10214 N Metro Pkwy West






Black Mountain Precinct will not be holding a Coffee with a Cop in December. The Black Mountain Coffee will return after the holidays in January.






A day at Phoenix City Hall






Join the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce for a day at Phoenix City Hall! Are you interested in learning more about what happens at Phoenix City Hall? Have you ever had a city related issue and wondered where to turn for help? If these topics resonate with you, mark your calendar for the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce’s “Day at Phoenix City Hall” on Tuesday, December 13th. Take this opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in Phoenix City Hall, learn what it takes to do business with the City of Phoenix and get to know some of the top decision-makers. The program will include an opportunity to meet with elected officials, hear from top levels of management on what’s new and improved, learn about the historical relationship of the Chamber and City Hall and share an in-depth discussion on how to leverage a Chamber membership at the City.






What: A Day at Phoenix City Hall


Date: December 13, 2011


Time: 9 am – 2:30 pm


Where: Phoenix City Hall – 200 West Washington St


Cost: $20 Chamber members / $40 non-members






To RSVP visit www.phoenixchamber.com/cityhall. For more information contact Amy Bratt at abratt@phoenixchamber.com or 602.495.6464






Next Week’s Public City Meetings






City Council Meetings


City Council Formal Meeting – Wednesday, November 30 at 3:00 pm in the City Council Chambers


Planning Meetings


Zoning Adjustment Hearing – Thursday, December 1 at 9:00 am in Assembly Room C, Phoenix City Hall


Board of Adjustment Meeting – Thursday, December 1 at 12:00 pm in the City Council Chambers


For more information on these and all other public City meetings visit http://phoenix.gov/PUBMEETC/indxhtml.html. You can watch City Council Policy Meetings on Channel 11 or on the internet at http://phoenix.gov/citygovernment/phx11/programming/policysession/index.html. You can also listen to all meetings held in the City Council Chambers by calling 602-495-0614.






Community






Trivia






What new name did U.S. Representative Lucas Miller of Wisconsin propose for the ever-expanding United States in 1893?






Public Records






The Public Information Office (PIO) teamed up with the City Clerk and Information Technology System’s PhxWeb on a "one-stop shop" webpage, using the short URL phoenix.gov/publicrecords, containing contact information for some of the most commonly requested public records, a link to City Clerk's online records search, as well a link to the PIO Public Records Request form.






This page has a high position on the website, accessible by only one click from the homepage via the "Search for Public Records" link in the red eServices promo box.






Season of Safety Patrol






Starting November 25th, the Cactus Park Precinct will increase the visibility and presence by using officers from patrol squads, neighborhood enforcement squads, the Reserve Bureau, and the Community Action Squad to patrol three popular shopping centers, in marked patrol cars, on bicycles and on foot. The patrol officers will patrol the shopping centers in their assigned area during normal business hours.






The precinct is calling upon the Cactus Park’s "eyes and ears" ie. The Phoenix Neighborhood Patrol (PNP), volunteers to help provide high visibility and increase the number of people watching the parking lots. This project will continue through Christmas Eve. Metrocenter Mall; Wal-Mart Center (3500 W. Bethany Home Road); Fry’s Electronics and Best Buy (I-17 to 3100 W. Thunderbird Road) will all be included in the increased patrols.






Holiday traveling tips






The holiday’s are here and traveling will be busy at the airport, so Sky Harbor is offering the following travel tips to make your trip easier and less stressful:


Get to Airport two hours before your flight departs, especially if you are parking in economy areas or checking bags.


Bring a snack or meal for the plane. Food may be carried through security and beverages may be purchased past security and brought onto the aircraft.


Liquids and gels must be in 3 oz containers or less to pass through security. Bring a zip top bag to consolidate small quantities of liquids. Larger quantities of medically necessary liquids are allowed only at the discretion of TSA screeners.


If you’re planning to park, visit skyharbor.com/parking for options, prices and space availability. You may also call the 24-hour parking hotline at 602-273-4545.


If you park in the Economy Parking lots, look for a sign to scan a QR Code. Use your phone to scan it and you will be sent a note reminding you where you parked.


If you have questions about security screening, visit tsa.gov or contact the Transportation Security Administration at: 866-289-9673 or TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov.


Wear shoes that are easy to remove at the checkpoint.


Remove large electronics from your carry-on bags and place them in their own TSA bin.


Have your claim check or ID ready at baggage claim when you return to Phoenix so that if you are approached by staff, you won’t be delayed looking for this information.


Mark your bags and electronics clearly so you recognize them immediately.


Use the free cell phone lots to wait for arriving passengers and avoid circling the terminals.






ASU West Park






In early 1995 the Parks, Recreation and Library Department was approached by the Vice Provost at ASU West concerning the possibility of a joint-use facility on the campus. At that time, ASU West had just completed a campus master plan and a recommendation of the planning process was to develop 40 acres in the southwest corner of the campus as a community park. The cities of Phoenix and Glendale were asked to participate. The three organizations formed a study group and in 1996, prepared a feasibility study. The study measured public interest, evaluated each entity’s ability and interest in the project, and presented a master plan for the park. In April 1996, the Parks and Recreation Board approved the feasibility study and authorized staff to negotiate an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) with ASU West and the City of Glendale.






In November 1997, the City of Glendale formally backed out of the agreement. The City of Phoenix continued to work with ASU West on the IGA. In April 2005, the official groundbreaking took place and kicked off the development and construction of Phase One ($1.1 million), which included two soccer fields, trail, open play area and other various park amenities.






The City and ASU previously entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement, dated November 5, 2004 to address the planning, development and operation of this property. The growth of the ASU West campus has created the need for the university to expand its infrastructure in order to fully serve its growing student population. Specifically, ASU West intends to develop two new multi-use intramural turf fields and expand its existing parking lot on the east portion of the parcel.






On May 26, 2011 the Parks and Recreation Board directed staff to inform the public of the proposed changes. Local residents and user groups received post cards and staff made phone calls to user group organizers. In addition, residents were invited to attend an open house event, hosted by the City of Phoenix along with ASU on September 20, 2011 at the ASU West Campus. One resident attended the meeting and staff received one email response. On October 27, 2011 the Parks and Recreation Board recommended the City Council approve amending to allow ASU to develop two multi use fields and to initiate a new IGA for construction of a new shared use parking agreement.






Based on the recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Board, the Seniors, Families and Parks Subcommittee recommended the City Council approve and amended IGA allowing Arizona State University West Campus to develop two new multi-use intramural turf fields and execute a new IGA to construct a new shared use parking lot.






City News






Home Detention Program






During Fiscal Year 2010/2011 and the first three months of Fiscal Year 2011/2012, persons were sentenced to the Home Detention Program for terms of 1 to 180 days. During this time, the Home Detention Program served a total of 1,960 defendants who served a total of 55,640 days of home detention. The program saved the City a total of $4,118,790 in jail costs.






One hundred four defendants had one or more monitoring violations reported to the City Court during this time frame. The most common violation was alcohol monitoring violations. In violation cases, the court sets an Order to Show Cause hearing for the next day, and the judge decides whether to remove the defendant from the program or allow the defendant to continue.






Since the program was implemented in April of 2006, the city of Phoenix has saved $10,162,218 in jail costs with another $1,722,528 in potential savings once defendants in the active and pending category conclude their Home Detention Program.






Berkshire Report


There are about a dozen recommendations from the Berkshire Report on Police Efficiency in which possible solutions have been identified, however, a final decision will be deferred until a new police chief is selected due to the nature of the recommendation and the level of organizational change involved. Some of the recommendations include shifting from a 4/10 work schedule in patrol to a 5/8 schedule or a 3/13 schedule; changing mandatory rotation of commanders from three to five years; civilianizing specific functions currently being performed by sworn employees; and reorganizing the Police Department along functional lines. Nonetheless, evaluations of these specific recommendations are being performed to aid in the eventual decision making process.






The Police Department has also started work on a comprehensive response document that summarizes the Berkshire recommendations along with the subcommittees’ evaluation summaries and the Department’s desired course of action for each. This report is expected to be completed by the first of the year.






Phoenix receives $2.9 million grant from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development






This week Ophelia Basgal, regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), announced a $2.9 million Sustainable Communities Grant to the city’s Planning and Development Department to fund a program to promote transit-oriented development along the light rail line. Congressman Ed Pastor, Mayor Phil Gordon, Mayor-Elect Greg Stanton and City Manager David Cavazos joined Administrator Basgal, community members, business partners and other stakeholders for the morning announcement at the light rail station at 24th and Washington streets.






The Reinvent Phoenix: Cultivating Equity, Engagement, Economic Development and Design Excellence with Transit Oriented Development Program includes area research, short- and-long-range planning, community engagement and development incentives to set the foundation that will encourage commercial and housing development along the light rail. The city of Phoenix received the fourth-largest grant amount during this funding cycle. HUD received more than $500 million in funding requests from communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico for the $96 million in available funding.






During the next three years, the Reinvent Phoenix Program will promote, encourage and provide incentives for transit-oriented development along the light rail line to provide all residents with safe, convenient access to quality, affordable housing, well-paying jobs, education and training programs, fresh food and healthcare services. Core partners include: Arizona State University, St. Joseph’s Hospital, St. Luke’s Health Initiative, Mountain Park Health Center, METRO, Discovery Triangle Development Corp., Urban Land Institute, American Institute of Architects, American Society of Landscape Architects, Southwest Autism Resource & Research Center, Arizona Bridge to Independent Living, Phoenix Union High School District, Maricopa County Community Colleges, Art Link, Local First Arizona, Native American Connections, Gorman and Co., Inc., Cloudbreak Phoenix LLC, Bethel Development Inc., NRP Group, Desco Inc.






Youth Firesetter Program


The Youth Firesetter Program continues to be a success with its new features that include updated training material, new videos, parental involvement, educational material on fire related laws and recommendations for problem solving. The program team includes Karen Warrington, Captain Victor Campbell, Retired Captain Ron Howell, Abel Parra and Captain Ray Dyer. Below are some of the most recent comments from parents attending the program.


Ability to speak with fire personnel was very helpful and we enjoyed the very telling personal stories. It also helped making kids think about how fires affect others.


Preparing the fire escape plan was very helpful. We enjoyed the interaction with the children and like the ‘Truth and experience’ exercise.


Learning about penalties and fines was extremely helpful. It was also helpful showing the kids the trouble they could get into and the consequences.


The most important lesson for the children was that burn scars will never go away and changes your life forever.






Budget and Tax Committee


Government Relations staff attended Monday's Budget and Tax Committee at the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. Three items were discussed: proposed sales tax factor changes for private educational long-distance services, the Arizona Tax Research Association's (ATRA) 2012 legislative agenda, and efforts by the Arizona Retailers Association to establish a nexus for online retailers for the purpose of collecting state sales tax.






Occupy Phoenix


The Phoenix Police Department continues to take prudent and thoughtful action in response to the Occupy protest in Cesar Chavez Plaza. Their actions since the beginning of the Occupy Phoenix movement have helped avoid issues that are facing other Occupy movements across the country. The removal of Occupy camps in New York, Oakland and Portland have caused problems for all three jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction allowed people to set up camps even though by law they were not allowed, giving protesters a foothold in public spaces. PD has also been using on duty resources, saving a considerable amount of overtime. PD continues to monitor upcoming events and are planning accordingly. On December 4, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) and the NAACP plan to march from the Convention Center to Chavez Plaza to support the Occupy Phoenix movement. PD Community Response Squad has been in contact with the organizers to ensure a safe event.






Terminal 4 Food and Beverage


Interviews were conducted and RFP proposals were reviewed for the Terminal 4 Food and Beverage Package 2 contract opportunity. Three proposals were received from Areas USA PHX, LLC, Host International, Inc., and SSP America, Inc. The evaluation panel evaluated the proposals based on published evaluation criteria and unanimously recommended SSP America, Inc. This recommendation will be presented to the Business and Development Subcommittee and the Phoenix Aviation Advisory Board in December and the Downtown, Aviation and Economy Subcommittee and City Council in January 2012.






New book store at airport to replace Borders


A new book store in the lobby of Terminal 4 (Level 3) is scheduled to open on November 18. The new book store, Hudson Book Sellers, will be operated by Hudson News and will replace the previous Borders book store that closed.






100 Years 100 Ranchers


Scott Baxter’s 100 Years 100 Ranchers exhibit has been installed in the Terminal 4 Gallery. A reception to celebrate the opening of the exhibit is scheduled for November 19. Approximately 100 people are expected to attend the event.






Solar at Paradise Valley Unified School District


Staff is coordinating a plan review and permitting for 13 new photovoltaic systems in the Paradise Valley Unified School District. The locations are throughout the school district and include installations of photovoltaic panels on parking canopies, shade structures, and rooftops. The plans will be submitted in groups of four locations, starting November 15, with permits for all locations expected to be issued by December 29. Funding for this project is dependent on the projects obtaining permits by this date, although construction is not scheduled to begin until February 2012. No estimated value was given at the meeting. However, past installations have been valued at approximately $1,000,000 per location.






Trivia Answer


The United States of the Earth. Miller reasoned that new states might join the union “until every nation on earth has become part of it.” There were 44 states in the union at the time.




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Council District 1, 200 W. Washington St., 11th Fl., Phoenix, AZ 85003 or call 602-262-7444.