d40503CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 4 NOVEMBER 2004 NEWSLETTERCity of Phoenix, Arizona Official Municipal Web site - Council District 4 A Newsletter from Phoenix Councilman Tom Simplot - March 2005
Welcome to the second issue of Heart of the City! I'm glad to report that the District 4 council office has been hard at work, meeting with residents and addressing concerns in our community. I've met with some of you at neighborhood community forums, Block Watch events, and our ever popular breakfast meetings at the Golden Gate Community Center and Panino's Restaurant. At every event, I am reminded of what a wonderful city Phoenix is to call home. And hopefully this newsletter will keep you informed about how my staff and I are working to keep it that way.
Through the last few months, we've been working on a variety of important issues. In January, the district partnered with Maricopa County to acquire land near the I-17/Black Canyon freeway. The purchase accelerated the creation of a flood retention basin in the area---especially useful in light of the heavy rains the Valley has experienced. Thanks to this special arrangement, the county will be reimbursing us for half of the funds we used, allowing the money to be applied to future projects.
There are a number of other changes set to improve our district. Two building projects are getting underway. The city soon will break ground on a learning center at the southwest corner of McDowell Road and 35th Avenue. We also are
seeking money from the federal government to build a pedestrian bridge for the students of Isaac Middle School and nearby residents.
Additionally, we are continuing the effort to improve life in your neighborhood in fun and practical ways. Steele Indian School Park will host our next Movie Night in April, which you can read more about inside. Also, we held our second
Crime Summit at Burton Barr Central Library. And a change to the urban camping ordinance, which the city adopted on Jan. 1, will make our parks more family friendly.
Of course, we addressed all these issues because of suggestions we received from you. Your effort on behalf of our neighborhoods is the most important part of making Phoenix a great place to live. I hope in the upcoming months you will continue to bring your concerns to our attention and volunteer your time and energy. If I can be of any assistance, please call my office at 602-262-7447 or send an e-mail to council.district.4@phoenix.gov.
Westside Revitalization Study Released, City asks for Comment
In response to requests from Mayor Phil Gordon and Westside councilmembers Tom Simplot, Claude
Mattox, Doug Lingner and Dave Siebert, the city released Phase 1 of a study late last year, measuring how city
departments deliver services to Westside residents.
Review of city departments found that although Westside residents were receiving comparable or higher levels of
service in some areas compared to other parts of the city, some services lagged behind.
For purposes of the study, the boundaries of the Westside are Dunlap Avenue south to Van Buren Street, and the 101 Freeway to 19th Avenue.
The City Council approved the first phase of the study, which recommended that more than $1.1 million from several
city departments be used to fund 13 new positions, to increase Westside service levels.
Issues for further action that were cited in the Westside study included cruising, the proliferation of illegal structures, the clustering of sex offenders in particular neighborhoods and a lack of a citywide rental code to address problem rental properties.
The first of several town hall meetings on the Westside revitalization study was held Jan. 24 at Isaac Middle School at 35th Avenue and McDowell Street. Another District 4 town hall meeting was held on Feb. 23 at the same school. Future town hall meetings will gather resident input to implement Phase 2 of the Westside Revitalization Study.
After two wildly successful events last year, Moonlight Movies in the Park is back! On Saturday, April 16, visitors will be treated to a free showing of the 1939 classic, "The Women."
"The Women" will be shown at the Steele Indian School Park, Third Street and Indian School Road, at 7 p.m. in the
park's amphitheater. So gather your friends and family, grab some blankets and pack a snack. Have fun courtesy of
District 4 and please thank our corporate sponsors: Cox Cable, SRP, Phelps Dodge, Southwest Gas, Wal-Mart, and the
city of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department.
Business owners along Indian School Road, between Seventh and 12th streets, have gathered
for meetings to discuss starting a merchants association in the neighborhood. Led by Councilman Simplot, who
organized the initial gathering, attendees have discussed a variety of areas for improvement, including
vagrancy issues and nighttime lighting.
Forming the merchants association also is the first step in creating a business Block Watch program, where businesses
watch out for each other, helping to reduce crime throughout the area.
If you are a business owner in the area and would like to attend the meetings, or would like information about
starting your own business association, please contact our office at 602-262-7447, or e-mail council.district.4
@phoenix.gov.
Urban Camping Ordinance Frees Phoenix Parks for Resident Use
Recently, the Phoenix City Council voted to approve amendments to the city's Urban Camping ordinance. The
ordinance was originally adopted for Patriots Square Park at Central Avenue and Washington Street downtown to deal
with a high number of transients at the park. When Councilman Simplot met with residents of the Colter Park area,
they expressed concerns that they were being forced out of parks by transients. To address this problem, the
councilmembers amended the Urban Camping ordinance to broaden its scope.
The reworded ordinance makes it unlawful to camp at any Phoenix park or preserve without a special-use permit. That
arrangement allows for organizations and families to enjoy nighttime events, without making a permanent home in
public space.
Making urban camping illegal does not address one of the root causes of urban camping--homelessness in Phoenix.
While this ordinance will address a symptom of homelessness, Councilman Simplot will continue to look for ways to
address homelessness through shelters, work programs and other city services.
If there are problems with transients in a park near your home, please contact the city of Phoenix Police Department's non-emergency line, 602-262-6151.
District 4 held its second Crime Summit on Saturday, Feb. 26. The summit let residents voice their concerns about crime issues, and provided personal interaction with law enforcement officials.
Joining Councilman Simplot was recently elected Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and new Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris. The event included break-out groups to discuss crime issues and develop strategies for making District 4 an even safer place to live.
The forum was a follow-up to the crime summit held a year ago.
Residents who call the District 4 office will be greeted by a new voice--that of Matthew Heil. Heil has joined Councilman Simplot's staff as a council aide.
Heil previously worked as assistant editor for Echo Magazine. While at Echo, Heil won several awards from the Arizona Press Club, the state's print news media association. In 2003, he was named first runner-up Community Journalist of the Year. The award recognizes journalism from smaller and community-based publications.
Heil is a graduate of Arizona State University's creative writing program, where he earned his master's of fine arts in
poetry in 2002. Simplot praised Heil's writing skills and enthusiasm.
"Matthew is an excellent writer, who has a real passion for this community and its issues," said Simplot. "As a journalist, he pursued stories that made life better for the Valley's residents. Now, as a District 4 staff member, he can
continue to help our residents."
PHOTOS: (Top) Councilman Simplot, Jim Brown, Mayor Phil Gordon
and State Representative Martha Garcia (below) at the recent 33rd Annual
Community Recognition Awards Dinner. Garcia was honored with the Community
Services Division Award for more than 20 years of service to the West Valley.
Brown won the organization's highest honor, the Golden Heart Award, for his work
with Phoenix Police, the Alhambra Planning Committee and the Graffiti Busters
Program.
Councilman Simplot attended the groundbreaking for Chicanos Por La Causa on Nov. 30. As part of the ceremony,
the councilman discussed the city's role in affordable housing.
Join me for coffee at my monthly breakfast meetings at two locations. Guest speakers are scheduled each month to provide you with the latest information on what's going on in the district. Call my council office at 602-262-7447 to confirm your attendance at these meetings.
The next regularly scheduled meeting dates and locations are:
Golden Gate Community Center
1625 N. 39th Ave.
(second Thursday of the month at 8 a.m.)
March 10
April 14
Panino's Restaurant
5202 N. Central Ave.
(third Thursday of the month at 7:30 a.m.)
March 17
April 21
Dear Community Member
Welcome to the second issue of Heart of the City! I'm glad to report that the District 4 council office has been hard at work, meeting with residents and addressing concerns in our community. I've met with some of you at neighborhood community forums, Block Watch events, and our ever popular breakfast meetings at the Golden Gate Community Center and Panino's Restaurant. At every event, I am reminded of what a wonderful city Phoenix is to call home. And hopefully this newsletter will keep you informed about how my staff and I are working to keep it that way.
Join me for coffee at my monthly breakfast meetings at two locations. Guest speakers are scheduled each month to provide you with the latest information on what's going on in the district. Call my council office at 602-262-7447 to confirm your attendance at these meetings. 
