by Michael Clancy – Jun. 3, 2011 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
The outline of a voluntary moratorium on billboard construction is taking shape as the Phoenix City Council won agreements from a developer and a billboard company to hold off on their plans until a city committee can consider revisions to the city’s billboard ordinance.
The council on Wednesday was considering the John F. Long property called Algodon, which runs along both sides of Loop 101 between Thomas and Camelback roads in west Phoenix. The Algodon plan included four 110-foot billboards along the freeway…
…Councilman Bill Gates then asked American Outdoor to drop its legal action against Phoenix. The company had appealed the city’s April rejection of its plans to put a billboard at Bell Road and Arizona 51, arguing that it was being held to different standards than a previously approved board at Loop 101 and 32nd Street.
American Outdoor, with Morris noting that the request was “highly unorthodox,” agreed to drop the legal action…
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2011/06/03/20110603phoenix-billboards-freeze.html#ixzz1OBrK7yto
Below is the link to watch the Phoenix City Council Policy session
regarding the 2011-2012 budget. While there are several good things about
the budget that I am happy with, I ultimately voted against the budget
because I believe we need to have an in-depth and open discussion about
the “longevity and merit” pay that was disclosed after the original budget
hearings had taken place.
There are two more opportunities to vote on the budget, and I hope you
will take the time to share your thoughts with myself and the City Council.
Click here to view the policy session and be sure to select the “May 24,
2011 Council Budget Decision on 2011-12 Recommended Budget.”
by Lynh Bui – May. 25, 2011 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
After two hours of deliberations speckled with boos, cheers, gripes and tense exchanges between city management and elected officials, the Phoenix City Council voted 6-2 to approve City Manager David Cavazos’ proposed spending plan for the 2011-12 fiscal year.
The plan includes $11.6 million in merit-pay increases and $17.3 million in longevity awards to employees, controversial inclusions that dominated much of the meeting. Continue reading →
Residents’ ideas add $329,000 in spending
by Lynh Bui – May. 12, 2011 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
Eight public pools that have been closed for the past two summers will reopen in May 2012, and no new fees or taxes will be levied on the public under Phoenix City Manager David Cavazos’ proposed budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year.
Cavazos also has proposed restoring or adding more than $300,000 in programs and services to the coming year’s budget based on input from residents who attended 15 citywide budget hearings held in April. Continue reading →
Dental, vision care added to free card that can save 65%
by Lynh Bui
The Arizona Republic
A free prescription-drug card promoted by Phoenix will expand to provide savings on dental, hearing and vision care.
The program also will expand so that three of the largest school districts in the city will start distributing the card, which can save users up to 65 percent off the price of selected medications.
Phoenix has been marketing the Coast2Coast Rx Card since November as part of a partnership with Financial Marketing Concepts. In exchange for marketing and distributing the card, Phoenix receives royalty fees each time patients use the card.
So far, Phoenix has earned more than $18,000 in royalties and people using the card have saved more than $714,000 from discounts.
Councilman Bill Gates said the program benefits the city and residents who need help paying for medicine.
“We want to turbo-boost the program and get the message out to the entire community,” Gates said.
Read more at AZCentral.com
by Lynh Bui – Apr. 27, 2011
The Arizona Republic
In Phoenix, officials hope to save money by spending money.
In an effort to give government a recession-style makeover, Phoenix is considering commissioning several studies that could make the city more efficient or increase its tax base.
The city could shell out more than $1.8 million for at least six studies that would review the Fire Department, Police Department, courts, the city’s pension system, employee pay and economic development.
The cost could grow as officials prepare to commission an efficiency review of the city’s Water Services Department, which the City Council requested after approving a controversial 7 percent water-rate increase in February. Continue reading →
Homeowners see valuations continue to fall
by Lynh Bui – Apr. 28, 2011 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
Many Phoenix residents probably will pay less in city property taxes as a result of dropping home values.
The city has again proposed keeping the property tax rate at $1.82 per $100 of assessed value, but residents will pay less because property valuations in Maricopa County have fallen four years in a row.
The average Phoenix resident will owe about $234 in city property taxes for the 2011-12 fiscal year, which begins July 1. That’s down 26 percent from the $316 estimated for the current year, according to the city’s Finance Department. Continue reading →
Restrictions on flashy billboards applied unevenly, foes say
by Michael Clancy – Apr. 24, 2011 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
Three recent billboard requests have thrust electronic outdoor advertising into Phoenix politics, forcing the City Council to reconsider a billboard ordinance that observers say has been overlooked, ignored and only informally applied. Continue reading →
PHOENIX, AZ (March 29, 2011) – Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery commends the ongoing efforts by the City of Phoenix to ensure that victims of crime are accorded the dignity, respect and services to which they are entitled under Arizona’s Constitution. These efforts were highlighted at a March 23rd, 2011 hearing held by the city’s Finance Efficiency and Innovation Subcommittee chaired by Phoenix City Councilman Bill Gates. Other Subcommittee members include Vice Mayor Thelda Williams, Councilman Tom Simplot and Public Safety Subcommittee Chairman Claude Mattox. Continue reading →
by Lynh Bui – Mar. 24, 2011 03:52 PM
The Arizona Republic
Phoenix officials will need to close a $59 million budget deficit for the 2011-12 fiscal year, but they’re calling it good news.
After waves of painful cuts to programs, staff and services amid the recession, closing the coming year’s general-fund shortfall is expected to have little impact on residents, City Manager David Cavazos said.
It’s a huge turnaround compared with the past year, when officials implemented a 2 percent food tax, raised millions in fees, and cut more than $63 million in programs and services to shore up a $277 million general-fund budget deficit for 2010-11. Continue reading →
