Council Executive Report - Sierra Vista Business...2016/01/02 · City's property formerly known as the Kings Court Tennis Center. As you know, the intent of the partial sale is to

P a g e | 1 Council Executive Report, January 2016

Council

Executive Report

Charles P. Potucek, City Manager January 2016

Highlights A.L.I.C.E. training, conducted

by the Police Department, is demonstrating significant success.

In the past two months, 72% of open code enforcement cases have been closed.

60th Anniversary celebration plans underway, with "My Sierra Vista Sixty" community video program in the works.

Cyr Center Park closed Jan. 1 for intensive repairs. Scheduled to reopen in September with soccer season.

Community Tailgate Party planned for February 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Mall at Sierra Vista.

Departments Page Police 3 Fire and Medical 6 Community Development 8 Leisure & Library 10 Public Works 12 Economic Development 15 Marketing & Public Affairs 18 Administration 21

City Manager's Message

I appreciate the valuable feedback I have received from the Mayor and City Council regarding this report. Discussion of this month's Executive Report will be scheduled for your regular work session of February 23. Please note that your work sessions will be returning to a 3:00 p.m. start time as a result of discussion by the Council at the January retreat.

December City Manager Highlights

SB1268 has been filed by Senator Gail Griffin, co-sponsored by Representatives Gowan and Stevens. This bill would remove the ability for a county to take a regulatory action otherwise delegated to a local government, and give the elected bodies in the county an opportunity to determine on their own whether they wish to be subject to A.R.S. 32.2181. The bill was scheduled for a committee hearing on February 1, but at the request of ADWR, it was postponed. ADWR has requested some minor changes, and Triadvocates is working on the City's behalf to have an amendment prepared. We anticipate it being rescheduled for Senator Griffin's committee again in the near future.

Starting February 4, an invitation for bids (IFB) will be advertised in the Sierra Vista Herald for a portion of the City's property formerly known as the Kings Court Tennis Center. As you know, the intent of the partial sale is to secure funds to reinvest into the remaining six courts in order to meet the City Council's strategic direction to have a neighborhood park at that location. Proposals are due on February 25, and once evaluated, I will let the Council know if there was a successful submittal.

My staff is in the process of preparing an application for the City of Sierra Vista to be considered for a national award sponsored by the Association of Defense Communities (ADC), the Great American Defense Community award. It will be the first year this award is


Upcoming Council Meetings (City Hall Council Chambers except where noted) Feb. 9, 3:00 p.m. - Work Session • Cybersecurity Market and

Targeted Industry Analysis • CDBG Annual Action Plan and

Upcoming Grant Process • Proposal for Board and

Commission Task Force • Update on Development Fee

Study Feb. 11, 5:00 p.m. - Council Meeting

Feb. 23, 3:00 p.m. - Work Session • Council Executive Report

Feb. 25, 5:00 p.m. - Council Meeting

Other Meetings and Events Feb. 9, 6:00 p.m. - CDBG Public Meeting, American Legion, 12 E. Theater Drive

Feb. 7, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Community Tailgate Party, Mall at Sierra Vista Parking Lot

Feb. 11, 7:00 a.m. - Good Morning Sierra Vista Informational Networking Breakfast, Thunder Mountain Activity Center

Feb. 13, 10:00 a.m. - Cochise County Law Enforcement Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Sierra Vista Police Department

Feb. 15 – Offices are closed in observance of Presidents’ Day

Feb. 16, 2:00 p.m. - CDBG Public Meeting, City Manager Conference Room

City Manager's Office Contacts [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 520-439-2147 www.SierraVistaAZ.gov

offered, and ADC intends to select ten recipients. The award is intended to recognize those communities that show exceptional support to service members, their families and veterans. We have reached out for letters of support from federal, state and local officials as well as the Fort. The application is due on February 11 and the ADC expects to name the successful awardees within a short time following the deadline.

You may have seen in the news that Bob Gent has been very active in getting some excellent publicity regarding the proposal to make the Chirichaua National Monument a national park. Congresswoman McSally intends to file legislation to make the change. Based on the resolution passed by the City Council supporting the proposal, the Marketing and Public Affairs Division will contribute the City's support through existing city communication mediums as appropriate.

At the request of the School District, City staff reviewed and approved the establishment of a school crosswalk across Avenida del Sol north of Snyder Blvd. The neighborhoods on the east side of Avenida del Sol are technically within a short enough distance to the Pueblo del Sol elementary school to restrict bussing, but without a staffed crosswalk, it is too dangerous. The crosswalk will be installed during spring break, and the District will begin having a crossing guard the following week. Families in the neighborhoods will be encouraged to walk their children to school, and the SVMPO will assist the District in developing a plan to do so. Starting next school year, those neighborhoods will not receive bus service.

Mayor Mueller and I attended the most recent Installation Planning Board (IPB) on Fort Huachuca in January. This is the second time we have been invited to attend, with the goal of keeping the City better informed on IMCOM's priorities for the installation. The IPB involved all the various commanders as well as other community partners, such as Cochise County and the Sierra Vista Unified School District.

You may have already heard, but in April, Pam Weir will be starting a new position as Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Goodyear. We have already started recruiting for the position in hopes of attracting someone who can start prior to her departure. She is striving to get a significant portion of the budget completed before she leaves. Although we are sad to see such an accomplished professional leave the City, we are happy to see her progress in her chosen career of city management and will send her off with our best wishes.

Chuck Potucek, City Manager


Police Department Last month, the Sierra Vista Police Department (SVPD) focused on providing information regarding year-to-date data of calls for service, accident data, and 911 call data. Full year 2015 data indicates a continuation of the trends for calls for service identified in last month’s report, with a slight increase in vehicle burglary and burglary calls in the month of December. Crime statistics are still being analyzed as crime reports are being closed out and, as a result, information regarding Uniform Crime Report (UCR) data will be provided in the department’s year-end report. As stated in last month’s report, the department has developed a two-year strategic plan that complements the Council’s strategic plan by focusing on two of the identified critical success factors: efficient and accountable city government; and a safe and welcoming community. The department identified three major law enforcement outcomes that affect these two critical success factors:

1) Community safety and security; 2) Community perception of safety and security; and 3) Community confidence, trust, and satisfaction.

The department is involved in many programs, community partnerships, and initiatives that impact all three law enforcement outcomes. This month's report will introduce the council to four specific programs and partnerships; A.L.I.C.E active threat training, school district training exercises, the adopt-a-school program, and the Eagle Scout Cochise County Law Enforcement Memorial partnership. A.L.I.C.E. Training In 2014, former Chief Tom Alinen directed personnel at the police department to explore A.L.I.C.E. training for active shooter response. A.L.I.C.E. stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate. This training brings a new mindset in school personnel response to an active threat and provides options instead of just the standard lockdown procedures. The department contacted the

Cochise County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and began a partnership with the goal of training every school district in the county in this new response. As of the end of December 2014, SVPD and CCSO have jointly trained 37 schools or churches in the AL.I.C.E. response methods. A total of 1,233 people have actively

participated in the training. During the training, the participants engage in exercises involving each of the types of responses to include the use of a shooter with Airsoft pellets. The graph represents statistics gathered during all of the training exercises and demonstrates the effectiveness of the A.L.I.C.E. options. Using only the standard lockdown procedures employed in most schools before this training, 86% of participants were shot. Using responses that include

0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 60.00% 80.00%

100.00%

Shot during Standard Lockdown

Shot during Barricade Procedure

Shot during Evacuate

Procedure

Shot during Counter

Procedure

Chance of being shot

using A.L.I.C.E. Options

86.00%

3.65% 1.87% 4.00% 3.17%

A.L.I.C.E. Success Rates


barricading, evacuating, and countering, the chances of being shot were considerably reduced to under 4%. We believe this training will significantly save lives if the unthinkable occurs in our community. School District Training Exercise

As part of the continuing efforts to ensure that our community is prepared for the unthinkable, the department is partnering with the Sierra Vista Unified School District to conduct a full-scale active shooter training exercise. Department personnel began planning for the exercise in late 2014 and kicked off with a table-top exercise in January 2016 that included staff from the school district, fire department, and police department. This tabletop was designed to cover response plans and procedures of each entity in order to better coordinate a unified response. The next step in this process is a

multi-agency training exercise that will take place over a 2-day period on March 7-8, 2016, at Buena High School. Participants will include the City of Sierra Vista, Sierra Vista Police Department, Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, United States Border Patrol, Sierra Vista Fire and Medical Services, and the Sierra Vista Unified School District. This will be one of the first exercises of its kind in Arizona, and members of the Arizona Department of Education will be present to observe the exercise. Adopt-a-School Program The Sierra Vista Police Department remains committed to the Sierra Vista Unified School District to provide School Resource Officers (SRO) at the high school and middle schools. Unfortunately, due to staffing shortages, the department removed the full-time SRO from the Joyce Clark Middle School; however, the officer still teaches the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) program on a part-time basis at all of the elementary schools. A full-time SRO remains at Buena High School. In order to ensure for increased police presence at all of the schools, the department implemented an adopt-a-school program in the patrol bureau. During the fall semester of 2014, the day shift patrol sergeant assigned each officer a school that they were to “adopt.” The officers began close patrolling these schools on a regular basis to provide a more visible police presence. The officers work traffic issues and walk around the schools, interacting with students and teachers. This


program has had the effect of increasing police presence at all of the schools despite the decrease of one full-time SRO. The department has also adopted the criminal justice program classroom at Buena High School. As part of this program, the department assists with teaching criminal justice classes and interacting with the students. In addition, the department is partnering with the criminal justice program to run a camp over spring break to give the students an idea of what the life of a police officer is like. We hope this effort will spur the next generation to dedicate themselves to the service of others as police officers. Eagle Scout Cochise County Memorial Partnership In 2014, Eagle Scout candidate Zachary Chrzanowski approached the department with the idea of building a memorial to Cochise County law enforcement officers that have been killed in the line of duty. Zach’s idea was to build the memorial in front of the police department. With the support of the police department, Zach contacted the Arts and Humanities Commission for input. After many long hours of planning and building, the project is nearing completion. A dedication ceremony is planned for February 13 at 10 a.m. at the Sierra Vista Police station, and will include a joint honor guard and speakers from the agencies that have officers represented on the memorial. We are grateful for Zach’s thoughtfulness and dedication to this memorial to officers that have given the ultimate sacrifice, and invite all to attend to honor those officers and Zach’s efforts.


Fire and Medical CARE Program The CARE program has been busy during the month of January. Even though some of the clients have been a "one time" visit, i.e., home safety inspection, we have continued to see four of our already enrolled clients through to the end of the 30 day out-of-ER period. Two clients gained a new found confidence in their disease processes because of the CARE program and have discontinued services. The program is designed to be available to our clients for any purpose, be it medical, home inspection, or simply emotional support. Six new referrals were sent in January; four hospital referrals and two field referrals. Fire and Medical staff went to the community and presented information about the CARE program to 70 people. Response Data - December As of the end of December, the total calls received and responded to by Sierra Vista Fire and Medical Services and the Fry Fire District year-to-date was 8,468, a 7% increase from the total calls in 2014. A further review of the data shows that the trend of increasing medical-related calls can be attributed to most of the increase. The automatic aid agreement with Fry is helping to ensure that as the call load increases, citizens are still receiving quick responses. During the month of December, 729 calls were responded to by the two fire departments. A break-out of the data is in the chart to the left. Approximately 91% of the calls were EMS, and over 54% of those calls required transport to Canyon Vista Medical Center.


Annual Awards Banquet Each year, the department honors the best of its department in an annual awards banquet. This year's banquet was held on January 30 at the Windemere hotel. A number of the department's excellent employees were nominated for these prestigious awards, and we are proud of the work of them all.

The award recipients for 2015 were as follows:

Capt. Brad Dever -- Firefighter of the Year Capt. Brad Dever -- Paramedic of the year Firefighter Brett Scheib -- EMT of the Year

Firefighter Michael Quarto -- Special Recognition Award


Community Development Planning & Zoning Administration Ordinance 2015-109 (Building and Property Maintenance) was adopted by City Council on December 17, 2015, and is now in effect. Staff is in the process of implementing the vacant building/foreclosure registry which will require a separate resolution to be passed establishing the fee schedule. Ordinance 2016-001 (FH, Flood Hazard) was approved by City Council on January 28, 2016, and took effect upon adoption. The City's floodplain management measures now fully comply with federal requirements for National Flood Insurance Program communities. Resolution 2016-001 (General Update to Development Code) was approved by the City Council on January 14, 2016. The proposed amendments, primarily relating to the reorganization and standardization of district regulations and performance standards for certain uses, are in a public comment period. Staff anticipates the implementing ordinance to be placed on the Council's February 25 agenda. Code Enforcement Over the past six months, overgrowth cases (grass and weeds exceeding 12-inches in height) comprise 62% of the complaints received by Code Enforcement with the highest volume during the rainy season. This category is followed by sidewalk and clear vision obstructions, and litter, debris, and dumping. Code Enforcement Staff has increased the rate of voluntary compliance through enhanced communication and outreach efforts. In the past two months, 72% of open cases have been brought into compliance. In January, Staff completed an existing conditions assessment of six of the ten mobile home parks within the city limits. This documentation phase is anticipated to be wrapped up in February. Community Development Block Grant Program Administration

The Veterans Memorial Park ADA Construction was completed in January. In January, the 2016 CDBG Notice for two public meetings and one public hearing was published in the Herald, posted on the web site, posted on the notice boards, e-mailed to the Continuum of Care members, and e-mailed through the Cenpatico e-mail list to Cochise County agencies (approximately 600 organizations and individual providers are on the list). This is the second year that the City will allow requesters for funding will be given the opportunity to complete a form and send it in rather than attend a meeting. Public meetings are scheduled for February 9 and 16, and the Council will hold a public hearing on March 10.


Building & Inspection Services The City has averaged 77 permit applications per month over the past six months. Over the past two months, the City averaged 65 permits per month, resulting in eight inspections per day. The inspection load has been covered by the Acting Building Official and Building Inspector. However, to maintain the current staffing level and effectively utilize our on-call building inspector as needed, Staff has revised the Department's inspection policy to establish 5:00 p.m. as the cut-off time for next day inspection service (previously, a contractor or homeowner could request same day inspection service by calling in prior to 8:30 a.m.).

Community Involvement

On January 17, 2016, Community Development Staff joined forces with the Cochise Bicycle Advocates Group to pick up trash along Highway 90 east and west of Moson Road. Several bags of litter and debris were collected to keep our highway beautiful and free of potential safety hazards.


Leisure and Library December Dashboard

Library circulation 28,239 Total Monthly revenue

$79,912

Library program attendance

1,016 Leisure class/program registration

4,710

Library patron count

13,470 Facility/field/room rentals

2,445

New library cards 225 Library meeting room use

72 groups

The Cove: Back in Action December was a tough month for the Cove with an unexpected motor failure in the circulation pump just before Thanksgiving. Since the plumbing and concrete were built around the existing pump, just installing a new motor wasn't possible without extensive remodeling, and the health code prevents a pool from operating without circulating water. Staff worked diligently with the motor company to encourage expedition wherever possible, and the length of time was unfortunately extended when some of the parts were difficult to locate. In the meantime, a number of maintenance items were addressed while the pool was closed which will shorten the length of time it will be closed in the spring for the bulkhead replacement. A replacement of the bearings in the wave machine motor, a repair that had been scheduled before the issue with the circulation pump occurred, delayed the operation of waves for open swim on January 9, but the Cove was otherwise open for business as normal. Waves returned for open swim the following week, and the Cove is once again fully operational. The bulkhead replacement will take place later this spring. When the new bulkhead is installed, staff expects the shutdown to last 1-2 weeks, excluding any unforeseen circumstances.

Children's Holiday Party Volunteer Recognition At the January 12 SVUSD Board meeting, the Buena groups and clubs who supported the 2015 Leisure Services Children's Holiday Party were recognized by Ken James, Recreation Supervisor (far right). From left to right: CTE Photography Club, JROTC, BHS 4-Seasons Catering, Criminal Justice Club, HOSA Nursing, Buena Performing Arts Center, Education Professionals and the National Honor Society (bottom). The free event was staffed by the student volunteers, and drew an estimated crowd of 2,000 people.


Sierra Vista 60th Anniversary Celebration The Sierra Vista Historical Society, Henry F. Hauser Museum, and Sierra Vista Public Library are planning some fun and exciting exhibits, contests, and programs to celebrate Sierra Vista's 60th anniversary this year. A special exhibit at the museum will showcase Sierra Vista's evolution from incorporation in May 1956 to the present day with "60 Objects in 60 Years" and "60 Photographs for 60 Years." The exhibit open house will be held on Saturday, May 21. Beyond the museum exhibit, there will be two opportunities offered for residents to join in the fun, and become a part of history. The first opportunity will be a video contest where participants are invited to submit a short video titled, "My Sierra

Vista Sixty," showcasing what Sierra Vista means to them in sixty seconds. In addition to a video competition, library staff will be hosting a writing contest to describe Sierra Vista in a sixty word essay. Sixty of the best essays will be chosen as part of a "60 Words for 60 Years" booklet, and the contest is open to all ages.

February Events

February 2: Amazing Arizona – B-Troop 4th Cavalry Regiment – "A Most Distinguished Past", 1-2 p.m., SVPL

February 13: Community Garden – Soil Preparation: Will anything grow now?, 10:30 a.m., SVPL

February 3, 10, 17 & 24th: Conversational Spanish, 2-3 p.m., SVPL

February 13: Valentine Dance, 7-10 p.m., Teen Center

February 6, 20: STEAM Saturday, 11-12 p.m, SVPL

February 13: Using Your Camera: Pt 2, 1-3 p.m., SVPL

February 9: Tuesday Talks - Wounded Knee, 1 p.m., SVPL

February 17: Medicare 101 Presentation, 10-12 p.m., EBC

February 10: Wild Horse Pass Casino trip, EBC

February 22, 24, 26-29, March 2, 4: Lifeguard Training Class, The Cove

February 11: Dine-A-Night, 4:30 p.m., Hibachi Grill

February 28: Sunday Concert: SV Community Band, 2-3 p.m., EBC

February 29: LEGO club, 3:30 p.m., SVPL

Hwy 90/92 Intersection – 1970s

Pueblo del Sol golf course – 1970s

Page 12 Council Executive Report, January 2016 P a g e | 12

Public Works Parks and Park Facilities Eddie Cyr Park. Eddie Cyr Park was completely closed for all reservations starting January 1st, and the closure will remain in effect until September 2016 for intensive field maintenance. Heavy use due to a year-round soccer schedule caused the condition of the field to deteriorate rapidly, and the City was receiving a lot of complaints regarding the patchy and uneven playing surface. The intensive maintenance will help to restore the playing surface and alleviate safety concerns noted by the local soccer league. Other City fields have been striped to accommodate soccer use, so the impact to the leagues from the closure of Eddie Cyr should be minimal. Cove Repairs. The Cove reopened on Monday, January 4th, after a one month shut-down due to failure of the main circulation pump. Other updates were included under Leisure and Library Services. City Facilities

Staff is currently in the process of updating the 5-year capital maintenance and replacement plan, based on the additional funding allocated by Council for the current fiscal year and the new challenges that have emerged as the year has progressed. One area which is likely to need attention in the coming area is the translucent roof over the library entrance and atrium. A portion of the roof on the exterior of the building was destroyed in a storm several years ago and has not been replaced due to funding limitations. Unfortunately, the same roof system over the atrium saw some significant leaks during a storm on January 4th. Large-scale repairs are likely to be needed in the near future as the roof system approaches the end of its useful life.

Street Maintenance Crack Sealing. Streets Maintenance crews are currently working on crack sealing on those streets which will not be part of the more intensive annual street maintenance program. Crack sealing helps to fill gaps which develop as pavement ages. If left unfilled, these gaps allow water to saturate the roadway base and can lead to bigger problems like potholes. Crack sealing is an important part of a comprehensive street maintenance program and helps to prolong the life of this important City asset.


Weed Control. Crews also continue to work on weed control throughout the City. Tasks include right-of-way and detention basin mowing, wash maintenance, and spraying pre-emergent to help control weeds before they sprout. The wash maintenance process in particular is very time consuming and will be ongoing for the next few months. In order to be as fair as possible, the maintenance order will remain relatively unchanged from last year. A higher priority is typically given to drainage ways bordering Fort Huachuca since the upland area is largely undeveloped, and the drainage culverts provide a means for fire to spread into the City. Engineering Projects Annual Street Maintenance. The first phase of the City’s annual street maintenance project will be going out to bid within the next few weeks. The first phase includes preparatory work such as patching and crack sealing on roadways that will be chip sealed later in the spring. North Garden. Engineering recently selected a design consultant for the North Garden Improvement Project, and the consultant is working on refining three conceptual plans to be presented at a public meeting on Monday, February 8th, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at Garden Place Suites. All three plans include features such as “green infrastructure” to help manage stormwater, enhanced landscaping, and roadway narrowing. However, the consultant will be looking to get input from the public on items such as the remaining roadway width, plant density and appearance, and other desired amenities. After a preferred concept is selected, the consultant will move into a full design of the first phase of the project.

Coronado Drive. The Coronado Drive Expansion Project is expected to go out for bids within the next few weeks. The project will widen the roadway between Busby and Crestwood Drives from two to five lanes. The existing pavement will be completely rebuilt as part of the project. Traffic signals are tentatively planned at the intersections of Coronado/Busby and Coronado/Golf Links, although the installation of the signals will be contingent on available funding. The project is being constructed using development impact fees.

Commercial Recycling

City staff continues to promote recycling opportunities to large commercial customers. During the month of January, recycling education site visits were provided to the following commercial customers:

Ace Hardware New Frontier Animal Center La Casita SSVEC

These businesses are ready to join the growing list of commercial recycling partners that have been contributing to increased diversion of materials from the solid waste stream.


Airport Part 139 Inspection

The Sierra Vista Municipal Airport will be participating in a Part 139 inspection scheduled for February 25-26. This inspection is conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration who will audit the airport to assure that it meets the minimum standards for maintaining and operating the physical airport environment. A Part 139 certificate is required for the airport to provide commercial airline service, and although commercial service is not currently present at the SVMA, maintaining the Part 139 certificate helps to ensure that the option remains open should the opportunity arise. Transit Services Ridership and Fare Revenues both declined slightly during the second quarter of FY16 when compared to the previous year.

Wastewater Bureau of Reclamation Report

The “BOR report” is a required yearly submittal to substantiate the quantity of treated effluent recharged at the City’s Environmental Operations Park. The 2014 Sierra Vista Water Reclamation Facility Monitoring Report was submitted to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) on March 26, 2015. On January 15, 2016, the City received comments back from the BOR which will be reviewed and incorporated into the 2014 report. The 2015 report is currently in development and will be submitted to the BOR no later than March 31, 2016. Wastewater Treatment Factoids FY16 - Second Quarter Statistics (October – December 2015)

Cleaned 122,595 feet (23.1 miles) of sewer lines. Inspected 141,383 feet (26.7 miles) of sewer lines.

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000

10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000 18,000

Oct Nov Dec

Passengers

2014

2015

$0.00

$2,000.00

$4,000.00

$6,000.00

$8,000.00

$10,000.00

$12,000.00

Oct Nov Dec

Passenger Revenues

2014

2015


Economic Development Retention and Entrepreneur Mayor’s Visitation Program (MVP). In January, the economic development Division held a number of firsts. The Mayor’s Visitation Program (MVP) launched with the Mayor and staff spending time with tenant representatives at the Mall at Sierra Vista. Holiday sales seemed to be a mixed bag, with some stores reporting lower sales than last year and others saying their revenue had increased. Nationwide, holiday sales increased 3% to $626.1 billion. Online and other non-store holiday sales grew 9 percent to $105 billion. Les Orchekowski with Ace Hardware hosted the second Mayor’s visit of the month. He started in the business at 14 when he worked in his now father-in-law’s Ace store, and has owned the Sierra Vista Ace Hardware for 35 years. With many long-time employees, Les emphasized the need to shop local to keep sales tax dollars within our community and support those who in return give back to the local community. West End Business Walk. On January 21, the Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce and the City's

Economic Development Division held the first business walk. At the end of the morning, it was deemed a success by all. 18 volunteers from the Sierra Vista City Council, West End Commission, Chamber of Commerce and City staff, along with Chamber of Commerce and Southeast Arizona Workforce Connection employees, talked to 40 businesses in the West End. The business walk was all about establishing relationships and opening lines of communication along with collecting essential data to better understand how business-support organizations can improve their offerings. A short survey was included during the walk. Preliminary results show that the primary programs businesses are interested in include marketing, advertising, business training, simpler permitting, tax abatement, and labor force training. Major obstacles or barriers to business expansion include building space, parking, funding, the closing of the main gate, and landlord rent. When asked, “What do you think is the most important factor to help your business grow,” respondents said foot traffic, additional customers, signage and advertising, and clean up and improvements. City staff is following up on specific questions and concerns expressed by owners and employees.

Collaborative Class Portal. In an effort to create additional collaboration with existing partners offering a variety of business classes, the City ED Division has researched a number of Internet platforms that would create one portal to all classes offered in the region. In this way, interested businesses could see all offerings in one place. Additionally, a collaborative platform would allow the partners to better understand the most requested topic areas and look for gaps. Course Storm has been identified as having a web-based software program that will satisfy the need. Their customers include the State of Maine and a large number of agencies within the state. Currently, the partners are completing their review and will begin loading up the data. A formal launch will begin soon.

Mayor's Visit at the Mall at Sierra Vista


Upcoming events Superbowl Tailgate Party - In an effort to help promote local business and create a fun family-friendly event, the ED Division is working with Distinctive Soirees, LLC, and community volunteers to host the first Super Bowl Tailgate party at the Mall at Sierra Vista. The fun begins at 10:00 am on Sunday, February 7, and ends at 4:00 p.m., just before game time. Already, more than 30 vendors have signed up for the free event and local bands have been booked. Good Morning Sierra Vista – The Sierra Vista Chamber and City ED Division have partnered to create Good Morning Sierra Vista (GMSV). This networking event will occur on the second Thursday of each month and is designed to bring together the entire Sierra Vista community. Business owners, community leaders, non-profits, and their staff members can benefit from attending. This breakfast will include City, Fort, community, and Chamber updates and be a great networking opportunity. The first GMSV will be Thursday, February 11, at 7:00 a.m. at the Thunder Mountain Activity Centre. The program begins at 7:30 a.m. Business Recognition – On February 25, the Council will recognize Eric Potvin and Kristine Wolfe at Hoppin’ Grapes as the business of the month.

Cyber Security. On February 8, the ED Division, along with Tom Rainey and Associates, will present the Cybersecurity Market and Targeted Industry Analysis to the City Council in their work session. The report will provide an overview of the market and an analysis of how Sierra Vista can create a cybersecurity business cluster, which would help to create high-paying jobs within Sierra Vista. Sierra Vista Leadership Forum. In January, the Sierra Vista Leadership Forum met for the second time. The Forum acts as an advisory group for economic development within Sierra Vista. An update on economic development was presented along with an overview of the City’s tourism efforts. Ideas for the City’s future vision as well as possible obstacles and challenges were discussed. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). SEAGO (SouthEastern Arizona Governments Organization) has started to revise the CEDS for the County. This is a once every five-year process. The CEDS will provide a roadmap for County efforts. It is important to the City in that our projects must appear in the CEDS to receive future Economic Development Agency funding in the future. Video. The City has partnered with NCI, a local defense contractor, to produce a series of videos that will be used to promote the City as a potential location for new businesses and to help existing businesses within Sierra Vista recruit new employees to the area. In January, the team spent two days interviewing a variety of residents along with obtaining B-roll (video used behind the announcer). The videos will be completed in February and posted on the City business website. The videos will also be available to any business or organization that is interested in using them for their own efforts. Customer Relationship Management and Metrics. In order to establish and monitor metrics along with

being able to share information within the Division, ED has purchased Sales Force. In February, the program will be customized to the Division needs and information will be uploaded. When completed, Sales Force will provide a detailed tracking mechanism. Partnerships Small Business Development Center - Shark Tank. The city is working with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to help deliver Shark Tank classes, a program that will help potential entrepreneurs develop their business case. Training on developing your pitch or big idea will consist of five training sessions. At the conclusion of the training, a select few will move on to Cochise College’s first Shark Tank in July 2016. One of the winners will receive six months of free rent from the Economic Development Foundation (EDF).


New Development Under Construction

• Southwest Gas • Arizona Auto Spa • Cochise College Downtown Center

Completed • Fed Ex • Chiricahua Community Health Dental

Resources & Reading. Recently, the University of Arizona Eller School of Management presented their Economic Outlook for 2016-2017. While the presentation was Tucson centric, there is some good data for both the region and the state. See the slides here: https://ebr.eller.arizona.edu/research/presentations/economic-outlook-2016-2017.pdf Stats Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ Economy at a Glance

Labor Force Data June July Aug Sept Oct Nov 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015

Civilian Labor Force (1) 51.3 51 50.7 50.3 50 (P) 49.9 Employment (1) 47.4 47 46.7 46.5 46.4 (P) 46.5 Unemployment (1) 3.9 4 4 3.8 3.6 (P) 3.5 Unemployment Rate (2) 7.6 7.9 8 7.6 7.2 (P) 7.0

Footnotes (1) Number of persons, in thousands, not seasonally adjusted. (2) In percent, not seasonally adjusted. (P) Preliminary

http://www.bls.gov/regions/west/az_sierravista_msa.htm Ombudsman Activities Number of Activity Businesses Identification of potential additional space: 3 Possible West End Loan program application: 3 Marketing assistance: 1 Relocation assistance: 1 Workforce assistance: 1 SierraVistaAZBusiness.com

November 1 to November 30 386 Sessions 330 Users

https://ebr.eller.arizona.edu/research/presentations/economic-outlook-2016-2017.pdf

http://www.bls.gov/regions/west/az_sierravista_msa.htm


Marketing and Public Affairs Public Affairs Latest VISTAS. The February/March edition of VISTAS was inserted in the Sierra Vista Herald on January 27. The content for each edition is planned to reflect at least one of the City Council’s strategic goals. This edition reflects the goal of ensuring that Sierra Vista is a safe and welcoming community that “makes a positive impression on residents and visitors, providing visible and respectful public safety services, safe and appealing neighborhoods, and opportunities for engagement.” To that end, the publication showcases work the City has done on building the new Sierra Vista brand and how it's been leveraged to increase awareness of Sierra Vista, economic development, public safety, and more. In addition to the newspaper insertion, VISTAS is distributed to more than 30 locations around the community, including Fort Huachuca. Brand Expansion to Community. The revised Graphic & Brand Standards were finalized and made public (available on the City’s website) to encourage businesses to utilize and engage with the City’s brand. Other Communication Project Highlights.

New branded Community Overview for Economic Development

Advertisements for recycling and tourism Promotion for the Library’s Borrow-a-Bike program Promotion of Fire Department’s bike helmet program 16 press releases Redesigned Fire Department patch, incorporating brand elements

Mayor’s Arts & Humanities Awards collateral Door hangers for Code Enforcement and Public Works Annual PAFR Assisted Economic Development in planning a community Tailgate Party for February 7

Designed logo for Good Morning Sierra Vista

Tourism Market Segment Update. In December, staff participated in the second Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT) World Tour, in which media representatives from six of AOT’s key international markets presented advertising and communications information. Key takeaways which will be incorporated into the City's strategy include:

Canadian travelers are seeking to “recharge, regroup and return” to Canada. Use a value proposition.

French travelers prefer advertising with “glamor shots” of beautiful scenery without people. Provide suggested itineraries.

United Kingdom travelers respond to videos and high resolution images. Interested in history of the West.

Mexican travelers are seeking weekend getaways. German travelers primarily travel between June and September. Interested in Old West history. Promote our ties to Germany, including culture, restaurants and Oktoberfest.


Chinese travlers are interested in ecotourism, nature, and cultural and historic attractions. The most common port of entry is Los Angeles, and visitors rent a vehicle upon arrival to travel to their vacation destinations.

Staff presented tips on becoming “Bicycle Friendly” at the January SEAHA meeting to help the hospitality industry understand what simple amenities can be provided to bicyclists to encourage positive word-of-mouth within this market niche. The booklet is available online here. Staff presented the economic impact of tourism at the state and local level, highlighted program accomplishments, and communicated the current marketing strategy at the Mayor’s Economic Forum on January 22. Feedback from the group is already being incorporated into the FY16-17 tourism marketing plan. The PowerPoint slide deck is available upon request. Sister Cities. On January 31, staff traveled to Cananea to represent the City of Sierra Vista at the opening ceremony for a grueling mountain bike race from downtown to the observatory. Cochise County Tourism Council. Staff is working with Cochise County and the other members of the CCTC to evaluate the partnership's effectiveness and develop a revised plan for the future, including strategic marketing objectives. Visitor Center. In addition to managing inventory and fulfilling information requests, the visitor center assisted the following guests in December:

Advertising. December tourism ads, designed and managed by the Public Affairs team, were submitted to Cochise Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering (CCP & MG) program and Phoenix Magazine. The CCP & MG ad will appear in the program and reflects the event’s theme while encouraging attendees to stay longer (or return) to explore our local culture. The Phoenix Magazine ads (“Discover Arizona” issue) will appear in print and online, reaching nearly 80,000 readers and 13,000 online subscribers. January submissions include the Arizona Republic.

0 50 100 150 200 250

Local

AZ (not local)

Out of State

Foreign

Telephone

December Visitors

http://www.sierravistaazbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/10-Bike-Friendly-Business-Tips-for-business.pdf


Press Coverage. Public relations efforts netted Sierra Vista-specific press coverage in several areas, but most notably, saw a print circulation of 511,000 in the AAA Highroads Magazine with a print listing for the Cochise Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering. The Gathering was included in the Highroads online calendar of events as well. The Arizona Republic also ran an article about birding and the Folklore Preserve on January 16, and reached 374,000 readers. Additionally, regional coverage (not included) was earned through participation in Cochise County Tourism Council projects.


Administration

Sales Tax Collection. Gross privilege tax collections for December 2015 are $212,273, or 15% higher than last December. This increase can be largely attributed to a one-time, $143,000 audit finding in the bar restaurant classification. The all other category, which is mostly retail, was up $182,000 over last year, but only $80,000 is due to sales growth while $101,000 is due to the new privilege tax rate. Construction activity is still down in the area, and December’s construction tax revenues were $54,000 below last year’s. The chart below provides a monthly comparison of FY16 actual, FY16 budget, and FY15 actual. The discrepancy between the FY16 budget and actual numbers is largely attributed to the fact that the numbers lag by one month, so we do not yet have data following the increase to the sales tax rate taking effect.

Public Surplus Auctions. The City lists obsolete items for sale on the Public Surplus website. To view items for sale, please visit www.publicsurplus.com and search for City of Sierra Vista. The items are listed for sale in cycles, meaning that we list, close, collect, and have items picked up in one auction cycle prior to beginning another. Procurement has streamlined the process by requiring users to pay for their successful products online and requiring pickups to be conducted by appointment, reducing the burden on staff. During the months of December 2015 and January 2016, the City collected more than $58,000 in revenue from selling obsolete items online, with more inventory getting ready to be listed.

NAPA Integrated Business Solutions. NAPA moved into the City's Fleet shop in January and is now available to provide parts services support to the City. In addition to filling part request orders, they are separating our current parts inventory and identifying usable items from obsolete ones with our fleet management staff. Obsolete parts that can be converted to Napa parts will be sold back to Napa at fair market value. All other obsolete items will be sold on the Public Surplus Auction website. Usable parts will continue to be used by the city until depleted at no cost and Napa will re-stock the items as they are used. All new inventory items will be stocked at the vendor's expense until requested by City personnel. It is anticipated that the new system will reduce shrinkage, duplication, surplus, and obsolescence issues.

Napa has been given a list of area vendors who have been used by the City of Sierra Vista for years, and Napa will continue to reach out to those businesses to stock the store. The Integrated Business Solutions program will streamline the process for acquiring needed items and reduce invoice processing from the fleet division from approximately 120 invoices per month to 3 invoices per month, saving considerable staff time all around.

$0

$500,000

$1,000,000

$1,500,000

$2,000,000

Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

FY15 Actual FY16 Actual FY16 Budget

http://www.publicsurplus.com/


File Collaboration. Box has been implemented and is being utilized by almost all city departments. Employee feedback has been great. This application has expedited collaboration/ communication with external agencies and other organizations, allowing employees to become more proficient in accomplishing tasks.

Enhanced Cyber Security. This task has been completed. The additional real-time protection has already proven to be very effective, as it has detected an additional 3,300 nefarious threats in the month it has been deployed.

Spillman Regional Dispatch. Preliminary meetings and discussions are being scheduled. This project will combine both the County and City dispatch centers into one datacenter. Initial discussions will serve to lay the foundation for how this can best be accomplished.

Documents

Council Executive Report - Sierra Vista Business...2016/01/02 · City's property formerly known as the Kings Court Tennis Center. As you know, the intent of the partial sale is to