Air

A

Transportation

A

Open space/recreation

A

Water

A

Land use

A-

Valley Forward gave Phoenix an “A” for air quality. As a city we’ve worked to develop programs for dust control, alternative fuel, rideshare and ozone reduction. As a community we can be proud of our improved air quality, but we must work together to continue improving. April marks the beginning of the ozone season; this is the time of year when ground-level ozone pollution, or smog, is caused by the interaction of sunlight with many pollutants generated by automobiles, gas-powered lawn equipment and other sources. During the hot summer months the effect of ozone pollution is magnified as the pollution along with the heat, seem to settle into the Valley.

There are a few simple things you can do to minimize ground-level ozone: fill your gas tank during the cooler evening hours, make sure your car’s tires are properly inflated and aligned to optimize your car’s performance, telecommute, carpool, ride the bus, walk or bicycle—simply put, reduce driving, especially on hot summer days.

The city is also committed to providing transportation options. The city’s RAPID bus service is expanding to allow residents in the outskirts of Phoenix a fast way to travel to the downtown area. We recently replaced 46 older diesel powered bus fleet vehicles with cleaner burning models and the city of Phoenix took the lead role in developing the Valley’s light rail system. Alternative forms of transportation is not a trend, it is a necessity in this ever expanding city. You can be assured that the “A” we received from Valley Forward for our transit plan is one that is well deserved and we will continue to strive for high marks in this area.

In a growing metropolitan city such as Phoenix, it is easy to loose our precious open space, but my colleagues and I at the city of Phoenix have made it a priority to pursue open space and recreation opportunities for our residents. Finding a natural balance with urban necessities such as canals and stormwater control devices, the city created canal paths and flood control channels to provide walking, biking and running trail connections throughout the city. We have also incorporated a pedestrian-friendly design in our street construction and zoning requirements. The “A” we received from Valley Forward for open space and recreation recognizes the city’s innovative use of such urban trails and other recreational opportunities. In addition to the urban core innovations, we will continue to preserve our open space by protecting our preserves and planning for more recreational opportunities.

Water is undoubtedly a precious resource. As we enter the ninth year of drought, managing our water resources continues to be a high priority and maintaining our top “A” grade will still require much work. Meeting our future water needs requires effective management of our resources now. The city of Phoenix is currently under Phase 1 of our drought plan. We have asked residents to conserve water and required all city departments to reduce water use by five percent. We are working proactively to secure funding to pay for infrastructure and capital improvements. We also continue work to improve the taste and quality of our city’s water.

If you have comments or concerns about the environment or any other issue, as always, please feel free to call my office at 602-262-7491, send an e-mail to greg.stanton@phoenix.gov or visit my Web site at www.phoenix.gov/DISTRICT6.

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