|
|
| April - June 2009 |
Vol 2, Issue 2 |
|
|
|
| Building a Better District 1
City of Mesa
Council District 1 Newsletter | |
|
|
| Dear District 1 Neighbor, |
There are those who complain and those who do something about it. Did you know that in the past year, the City of Mesa had nearly 6,000 volunteers participate in over 262,000 hours of community service projects throughout the City? This adds up to a cost savings of over $5,000,000!
The District 1 Top 2 Bottom event (pictured above) proved what can be accomplished in a single day when residents come together to clean up and beautify their neighborhoods. The following results are from the Top 2 Bottom event on February 28:
690+ volunteers participated
16+ projects around District 1
2,760 hours of service
$53,847 value (calculated with the independent sector rate of 19.51 an hour @ 4 hours per volunteer)
13.19 tons of trash collected
900+ signs collected
60 tires collected
Nearly 150 gallons of paint used to paint bridges and walls
The City of Mesa strives to make our community a safer, cleaner environment in which to live, learn, work and play. To achieve this goal, we need committed volunteer leaders like you.
There are many places to volunteer in the City of Mesa. The City even has volunteers who have been contributing their time and talents for over 30 years!
Volunteer Opportunities Include, but not limited to:
Neighborhood Services
Mesa Arts Center
Arizona Museum for Youth
Museum of Natural History
Parks and Recreation
Library
Fire
Police
Volunteering with the City of Mesa is easy. Call Volunteer Coordinator Katie Brown at (480) 644-3705 or email katie.brown@mesaaz.gov to find out how you can help to make a difference in your neighborhood.
Get out there, make a difference - Volunteer!
-Dave Richins
District 1 Councilmember | |
 |
| 4 for Mesa - New business hours |
City Hall and administrative services are now open Monday-Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed Fridays) to offer services to you in the early mornings and evenings. This is part of an effort to maximize limited resources and to enhance customer service accessibility.
Note: Essential services (public safety, utilities) and quality of life services (parks, arts, libraries, airports) will not be impacted by this new schedule and will continue operating as they do today.
| |
|
| Mesa Grande Ruins designated Arizona Centennial Legacy project |
 The Arizona Historical Advisory Commission has designated Mesa Grande as an Arizona Centennial Legacy Project. Mesa Grande is a major prehistoric Hohokam site that flourished from about 1000-1450 A.D. The main feature of Mesa Grande is a large platform mound, about 27 feet high and covering the size of a football field. The site is located within the City of Mesa and administered by the Arizona Museum of Natural History.
"It is appropriate that Mesa Grande has been designated an Arizona Centennial Legacy Project," Arizona Museum of Natural History Director Dr. Tom Wilson said, "because what could be more central to the legacy to the state of Arizona than its Native American heritage and living cultural presence?" Mesa Grande was one of the main Hohokam sociopolitical centers in the Salt River Valley and controlled much of the great irrigation canal systems on the south side of the river.
To be eligible for such designation, Mesa Grande met the requirements of accurately portraying a significant aspect of Arizona history: Being accessible to large numbers of visitors; demonstrating collaboration in planning; producing a product that will endure after 2012, including educational components and developing a plan for implementation.
The museum is planning to interpret Mesa Grande for the general public and open the site to visitors. A diverse planning team with representatives from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Gila River Indian Community, University of Arizona, Arizona State University, University of Advancing Technology and Pueblo Grande Museum is working with the Arizona Museum of Natural History to interpret and open Mesa Grande.
On March 7, more than 600 people attended the third annual Mesa Grande open house at the site.
Mesa Grande Cultural Park is funded by the City of Mesa, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the Arizona Heritage Fund and other contibutors. For more information, visit the Arizona Museum of Natural History online. |
| Mesa PD Citizen Observer |
 Welcome to our newest community safety project: Citizen Observer. The Alert Network allows the Mesa Police Department to instantly update you about crimes, emergencies and other important information. All Alerts are delivered via e-mail and/or via text message on your cell phone.
Citizen Alerts inform all registered users of public safety concerns in your area. The Alerts contain information about crime trends, descriptions of suspects, missing persons, crime prevention, as well as information about current fraud schemes and scams.
- Business Alerts are targeted to specific business types, so you will receive information about crimes that are pertinent to your business type.
- Case Alerts allow law enforcement to automatically disseminate information about open cases to all registered Citizen Observer users.
- Watch Group Alerts allow law enforcement to send targeted alerts to specific neighborhoods with information about crimes that are happening in their immediate area.
Probably the biggest benefit of the Alert Network is the way it makes two-way communication possible between law enforcement and the public. Law enforcement can update citizens on situations that require their attention. As citizens learn about fugitives, missing persons and unsolved cases, they can provide tips directly to the officer assigned to the case.
Help create a stronger community by signing up to receive Alerts. You'll get information directly from the Mesa Police Department that impacts your community. There is no limit to what we can accomplish if we all work together, stay alert and stay connected!
To text an anonymous tip: Send tip to 847411 (tip411) and start your message with "mesapd," followed by your crime information. If successful, you will receive a confirmation message. Find out more about the Mesa Police Department alert network and anonymous tips.
|
| Light Rail public meeting |
 The next exciting phase for the Light Rail is already on the horizon. METRO and the City of Mesa are getting ready to begin the public comment process for the preliminary recommended locally preferred alternative. The locally preferred alternative will identify the technology (light rail or bus rapid transit) and the alignment.
A public meeting is scheduled for April 16 from 6 pm - 8 pm (presentation at 6:45 pm) at the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT), 1601 W. Main Street, Mesa. The public is encouraged to attend to ask questions and provide feedback to the project team. The Mesa City Council will likely adopt a locally preferred alternative this Spring. Adopting a locally preferred alternative is a major milestone in applying for federal funding.
For more information about the Light Rail extension into central Mesa, visit METRO online. |
| United Food Bank virtual food drive |
 Now, more than ever, the United Food Bank in Mesa needs your help. Food bank supplies are low as more and more people are struggling to make ends meet and feed their families. You can make a difference by helping to stock the shelves of the food bank. Donate, volunteer, or sponsor a food drive. Call the United Food Bank at (480) 926-4897 to find out how you can help.
New Feature! United Food Bank makes it easier to help the hungry through their new Virtual Food Drive. No bags to carry or deliver! |
| Meet your Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator - Cynthia Garza |
 Cynthia Garza is the Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator who oversees council districts 1 and 3. Cynthia has been with the City of Mesa for 12 years and has seen Mesa grow into a large city with many changes over the years. Cynthia works closely with residents, schools, businesses and community organizations to build partnerships and help organize and energize Mesa's neighborhoods.
A Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator is a neighborhood specialist who understands Mesa's diverse neighborhoods and history. Cynthia's job is to help resolve issues. She'll take your question, get an answer and get back to you. If the issue is beyond the scope of city government, Cynthia will put you on the right track and provide resources to assist with your particular need. Whether you need a streetlight replaced, want to report graffiti, blight or crime, a simple phone call to your Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator provides solutions and resources to assist with the problems that challenge your neighborhood.
Cynthia also works with neighborhoods to become more active and organized, empowering neighborhoods and encouraging support and communication. Several times a year, the Neighborhood Outreach Office conducts door-to-door surveys to get a better understanding of what is taking place within our neighborhoods. As a result of the survey processes, the Building Strong Neighborhoods initiative is launched to increase awareness of City services and programs as well as to preserve and strengthen Mesa neighborhoods. The next Building Strong Neighborhoods initiative will take place in the historic Fraser Fields neighborhood with a kickoff meeting on May 28, 6:30 pm at Edison Elementary.
If you would like to get in touch with Cynthia Garza to discuss how your neighborhood could become more active, call (480) 644-5889 or email cynthia.garza@mesaaz.gov. |
| Mesa goin' green |
Solid Waste Recycling Options
Did you know the City of Mesa Blue Barrel program now accepts plastic cups and containers #1-7?
Post this flyer with a list of acceptable blue barrel items on your refrigerator or near your recycling bin for easy reference.
Want to learn more about recycling? Visit www.earth911.org or call the City of Mesa Recycling Hotline at (480) 644-2222. |
| Call before you dig |
 Safety tip - One easy call helps you locate what's underground
April is National Safe Digging Month. No matter the size of the project, before you dig, grade, or excavate, the law requires you to call for all underground utilities to be located. One easy phone call to 811 from anywhere in the country starts the process to get underground utility lines marked for free. Comply with state law and avoid injuries, hazards, costly construction delays and damages by calling 811 before you dig. For more information call (480) 644-4444. |
| Upcoming events |
Light Rail Extension Public Meeting
Thursday, April 16
6 pm - 8 pm
EVIT
1601 W. Main Street
Friday, April 10
6 pm - 10 pm
Downtown Mesa
Saturday, April 18
8 am - 12 pm
2412 N. Center Street
City Hall at the Mall
Saturday, May 9
10 am - 3 pm
Fiesta Mall
Alma School Rd. & US 60
Fraser Fields Building Strong Neighborhoods Kick-off
Thursday, May 28
6:30 pm
Edison Elementary
545 N. Horne
Every Saturday
10 am - 4 pm
Oct 2008 - May 2009
Mesa Arts Center
First Sunday of the month
Noon - 5 pm
Various Museums
For more upcoming community events, please visit the City of Mesa Web site at www.mesaaz.gov |
| Contact us |
 Dave Richins, Councilmember District 1 20 E. Main St. Ste. 750
PO Box 1466
Mesa, AZ 85211-1466
(480) 644-4002
Kathy Macdonald
City Council Assistant
(480) 644-5296
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
