Inviting Everyone to the Table
One of our accomplishments probably didn't show up on any newscasts or in
the newspaper but it's the activity of which I'm most proud. We promised that
everyone would have a seat at the table when discussing the future of District
8 and we've kept that promise. We've attended and held hundreds of meetings
in the district in which everyone had their say. We've discovered our similarities
and hopes for the future are far greater than our differences. We'll continue
to use these neighborhood meetings as the best way to address small issues
before they become big problems.
District 8 is a thriving, diverse part of Phoenix that is once again on
the rise. We will revitalize downtown to make it work for everyone. We'll
keep helping those who have traditionally been left out of the decision
making process. We'll push for even more improvements in our District. We'll
keep working with law enforcement to make our streets and our neighborhoods
safer.
While I am honored to be your representative on the Phoenix City Council,
know that we wouldn't have achieved anything without your help. My sincerest
"thank you" to everyone who has attended neighborhood meetings, volunteered
for any of the hundreds of ongoing citizen projects, joined neighborhood
associations and Block Watch groups, contacted my office with your concerns
and advice, and kept your eyes open to help us keep our streets safer.
If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to get involved
in any City of Phoenix volunteer projects, please give my office a call
at 602-262-7493. We would love to hear from you.
Working together, we can make District 8 and Phoenix a better place for
us today and for our children tomorrow. Again, thank you so much for all
your help.
Michael E. Johnson
Councilmember, District 8
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Hello District 8 Neighbors and Friends!
Phil Gordon
Mayor of Phoenix
|
I couldn't be more pleased and excited by all that is
going on in District 8! You will be equally excited when you read about
the progress we are already making and the plans that are looming for
even more great things. Please let us know how you feel about District
8 - and don't hesitate to share your own ideas with us. In the meantime,
Councilman Johnson and I will continue to do everything we can to ensure
that Phoenix is the best, safest, most livable city in America. |
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Baseline Road Paving, Watermain & Bus Bay Project:
7th Street to 40th Street
In March 2004, the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department began
construction of a street improvement project in the area of Baseline Road
from 7th Street to 40th Street.
To date, the contractor has completed installation of a new water line
from 7th Street to 40th Street and installation of a 36-inch storm drain
from 16th Street to 24th Street. The contractor has been working with SRP
to remove overhead power lines along Baseline Road from 16th Street to 32nd
Street. Cox Communications and Qwest have also been removing overhead service
lines. All of these utilities are being placed underground on the north
side of Baseline, which will enhance the visual appeal of the area.
It is the goal of the Project Team to complete the section of Baseline
Road at 24th Street as soon as possible to provide access to the new shopping
center anchored by Target and Fry's Food Store, which are scheduled to open
in October. When the new realignment of 24th Street is completed, access
to the old 24th Street will be closed, and it will become a dead end street.
Base course paving of Baseline Road from 20th Street to 24th Street and
from 14th Street to 16th Street is scheduled to be completed by October.
Construction of this project is currently on schedule, with 40% completed
to date and final completion tentatively scheduled for September 2005. In
order to expedite project progress, extended hour construction has been
implemented. Please expect continued traffic restrictions and delays along
Baseline Road from 7th Street to 40th Street.
The City of Phoenix maintains a 24-hour project hotline to assist the
community with any questions or concerns regarding this project. The hotline
number is 602-248-4211 or 602-757-0910 para espaņol. Please call for further
information.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as these improvements are
constructed in our neighborhood. We look forward to a successful project!
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Four Corners Project and the Neighborhood Resource
Center
The Four Corners Conceptual Plan was developed through input from
the residents of South Phoenix Village and Target Area B and approved
by the Phoenix City Council. When completed, this project will have
redeveloped the intersection of 24th Street and Broadway into a "true
gateway" entrance to South Mountain. The project will encompass three
commercial sites and one community campus, providing much needed retail
and office space for commerce, business and community services.
The Four Corners Project is a tribute to the hard work of South Mountain Village
residents, Community Excellence Project, Target Area B Citizen Advisory Committee
and the City of Phoenix.
The first phase of the Four Corners Project will be a Neighborhood Resource
Center (NRC), a 13,000 square foot facility that will provide office space
for Neighborhood Services Department and a neighborhood Police unit. The
NRC will also serve as a site for city-sponsored community meetings, programs
and events. The facility will be located on the southeast corner of 24th
Street and Broadway. Site preparation has already begun and building construction
will begin in the Fall of 2004.
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Hispanic Community Update
The Hispanic community in Phoenix witnessed some watershed moments in the
last few months. Perhaps the biggest one of these was in June when 20,000
Hispanics converged at the Phoenix Civic Plaza to attend the 2004 Annual Conference
of the National Council of La Raza. It is estimated the economic impact of
this prestigious conference poured more than $6 million into the community.
Among the highlights was the appearance of and speech by Democratic Presidential
candidate John Kerry. Additionally, the informational fairs hosted on a regular
basis by the Latino Institute continue to draw large Hispanic families and
crowds. The Back to School Informational Fair at the Golden Gate Community
Center in August attracted more than 1,000 individuals and families interested
in services and programs beneficial to them. One of the popular components
of the event was the health section, which included providing free immunizations
that were administered by the Phoenix Fire Department. Of course, every year
we also celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month that runs during the September to
October season. The Hispanic Heritage Festival celebrated in October at Heritage
Square allows the community to experience and learn about the Hispanic historical
and cultural presence in the United States and throughout the world. This
year, Arizona Hispanics in the Armed Forces were honored for their valor and
service.
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Phoenix Convention Center Expansion
Construction is well underway on the
exciting expansion of the Phoenix Civic Plaza. The $600 million project
will triple the amount of rentable space, positioning Phoenix as a top destination
for 85 percent of all conventions and elevating if from the 67th largest
convention center in the United States to the top 20.
The Arizona Legislature and Governor Janet Napolitano approved $300 million
in funding for the expansion in June of 2003, matching the $300 million
approved by Phoenix voters in 2001.
When completed, the expanded Phoenix Convention Center will enhance downtown
Phoenix by offering the capability to handle large-scale conventions and
to stage multiple shows and conventions simultaneously.
The project will generate jobs as well as tax revenues even before completion.
During the five-year construction period, the expansion will create an estimated
1,500 jobs, the State of Arizona will collect approximately $25.5 million
in state construction tax revenues and the City of Phoenix will collect
approximately $5.2 million.
The expansion is taking place in three phases so that the Phoenix Civic
Plaza can remain open for convention business throughout the project. New
buildings open in 2006 (West Building) and 2008 (North Building), followed
by interior renovations of the existing South building.
Reflecting the City's strong commitment to the inclusive participation
of minority and women-owned firms in its business opportunities, the City
of Phoenix hired Hunt/Russell Alvarado (HRA) as construction manager for
the expansion. Mike Russell of H.J. Russell Company and Linda Alvarado of
Alvarado Construction represent minority and women-owned (M/WBE) businesses,
plus, HRA is committed to subcontracting a minimum of 20 percent of expansion
work to M/WBE subcontractors.
For more information,
visit www.phoenixconventioncenter.com
e-mail Phoenix.Convention.Center@phoenix.gov,
or call 602-534-7633.
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Rancho Ventura Neighborhood Association
The Rancho Ventura Neighborhood Association started in January 1992 when neighbors
were worried if a nearby corporation was contaminating the water - it wasn't.
That issue caused neighbors to talk with other neighbors and soon worries
about crime surfaced. Later a Block Watch started with groups patrolling the
neighborhood in cars and on bicycles, and neighborhood monthly meetings grew
into potlucks, followed by Christmas parties, Halloween hay rides and spaghetti
dinners.
However, the interest in Block Watch died out and the monthly meetings
dwindled to about 20 people. A year and a half ago a new approach was launched
and quarterly meetings are now held at a neighborhood restaurant. With attendance
now hovering around 50, there are only four meetings a year, with speakers
including Councilman Johnson, a representative from Central City Precinct
as well as Neighborhood Services.
A return from a survey which was distributed with the last newsletter
corroborated the board's thinking about the issues in which neighbors are
interested. The top two areas of concern were the upkeep of property and
crime. Other areas of vigilance are to beware of commercial encroachment
and zoning violations. There are several ways that the RVNA board uses to
work on these issues:
- Newsletter - which has now grown to 12.
- The board has designated one neighbor to maintain an e-mail list which
has grown to over eighty people. It is used exclusively to alert neighbors
about issues of immediate importance such as a break in or a lost child
or animal. It is also used to announce City of Phoenix and neighborhood
news.
- A website is under construction which will have the RVNA newsletters,
important city phone numbers, local school news, real estate information,
and contact information for the RVNA board.
- A kiosk is used to display the newsletter and other neighborhood information.
The RVNA board is committed to continue its vigilance and its work to
keep the neighborhood informed and protected. Rancho Ventura residents have
long considered it one of the cities best kept secrets because of its wonderful
central proximity, its lovely mature landscaping and large lot sizes. Recent
real estate transactions lead them to believe their secret may have been
found out.
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Garfield Neighborhood Youth Tour Luke Air Force Base
38 youth from the Garfield Neighborhood toured Luke Air
Force Base in July as part of the Drug Education For Youth (DEFY) summer
leadership program. Youth participated in hiking, horseback riding and
swimming as well as leadership development activities. The DEFY Program
is part of ongoing Weed and Seed efforts in Garfield that is a partnership
between Parks & Recreation, Police and Neighborhood Services Departments.
The Transit Department assisted by providing two city buses that transported
youth to the Air Force Base and later to a Diamondbacks game at Bank
One Ball Park.
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Los Olivos Senior Center
Representative J.D. Hayworth visits the Los Olivos Senior Center.
Phoenix voters in the 2001 City Bond Election approved
funding to provide new facility construction for the Squaw Peak Senior
Center. City staff and senior center participants determined the best
use of the bond funds would be to expand the Los Olivos Senior Center
facility to incorporate the programs and needs of the Squaw Peak Senior
Center. Participants from both centers agreed to recommend the new and
expanded center to be given the name, Devonshire Senior Center. The
Human Services Department and Parks and Recreation Department have worked
together to make sure this project becomes a reality. On June 1 the
Los Olivos Senior Center was closed to begin construction. The remodeled
section of the center is slated to open sometime after the first of
the year and the expansion section is to be opened up shortly after.
The Recreation programs from Los Olivos have been relocated to varies
locations at both senior centers and recreation centers from both departments.
Watch for further updates of the new Devonshire Senior Center.
President Bush visits the Los Olivos Senior Center to discuss issues that
are important to senior citizens.
For more information please call
the Central City District Office
at 602-256-3220.
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Constituent Concern Calls
Here's an outline to follow when you experience a problem or have a concern
in your neighborhood:
- Call your complaint/concern in to Neighborhood Services @ 602-262-7844.
- When you call in, be sure to have the address where the violation(s)
has taken place and describe the violation(s) as best you can.
- A case number will be assigned once the information is received. Record
the case number and ask for the name and telephone number of your assigned
Area Inspector. Please allow two weeks for an inspector to respond to
your complaint. If there is no action or response to your complaint/concern,
call the area inspector with the case number to inquire about the status.
- Our Police Department can also assist in handling some of your concerns
or complaints such as:
-
- Speeding
-
- Drug Activity
-
- Abandoned Vehicles
- Some Neighborhood disputes may also be handled by the Police Department.
Once you contact the Police Department, ask for the name of your Community
Action Officer and then give him/her a call to proceed.
Remember, to keep updated on what is going on in your community, and to
meet your Community Action Officer and Area Inspector, we encourage you
to participate in your neighborhood meetings such as Block Watch, Fight
Back and Neighborhood Association meetings. To find out the time and place
of these meetings, you may contact the City Council, District 8 offices
at 602-262-7493.
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New Homes Fight Back
Councilman Michael Johnson officially announced the designation of New Homes
Neighborhood, boundaries from Buckeye Road to I-17, 15th to 19th Avenue, as
a new Fight Back Program in District 8 on Wednesday, August 25, at Bethune
Elementary School. This group is eager to implement short term solutions that
have long term sustainable results. Efforts will focus on crime, blight and
revitalization of the neighborhood since the program offers specialized support
over a limited period of time to assist resident-driven improvement efforts.
New Homes Fight Back group have already established a working partnership/relationship
with Bethune School which is encouraged to strengthen their program.
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On The Issues
Councilman Johnson hosts a television show called "On The Issues". On his
first show of the new season which aired September 27 through October 1, he
welcomed fellow Councilman Greg Stanton in a discussion regarding an upcoming
Neighborhood Summit jointly hosted by the two respective council districts.
Also highlighted was the upcoming AIDS Walk Arizona 2004, the Do Right Track
Team (which recently returned from a national competition in Oregon), and
Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun, a non-profit organization that promotes
volunteerism. Councilman Johnson's next show is scheduled to air October 30th
through November 12th. Please check the District 8 website for specific dates
and times at www.phoenix.gov/DIST8NA/dist8idx.html.
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