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January 15th, 2016

DISTRICT 1 NEWS & EVENTS:

DEAL REACHED TO END BUS STRIKE Service to resume Saturday if deal approved by drivers The Phoenix Public Transit Department has learned that a tentative agreement has been reached between Transdev and leaders of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1433, and bus drivers will return to work Saturday, Jan. 16 if union members approve the deal during a Friday vote. "I'm pleased that ATU and Transdev negotiators showed leadership and stayed at the table to find a way to common ground. This strike disrupted the lives of tens of thousands of Phoenix residents so it’s critical that service returns to 100 percent as quickly as possible," said Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton. Members of the ATU have been on strike since last Friday, Jan. 8, affecting 34 Transdev-operated routes, about 60 percent of Phoenix’s bus service. Since the strike began, the city has worked with Transdev to provide limited service on some of the city’s highest ridership routes, which will continue Friday, Jan. 15. Once drivers return to work Saturday, all routes will resume their normal schedules moving forward. For schedule information, please visit valleymetro.org, or call Valley Metro Customer Service at 602-253-5000 and for more information about the Phoenix Public Transit Department visit www.phoenix.gov/publictransit. Transdev-operated routes: 0-Central Avenue; 1-Washington/Jefferson streets; 7-Seventh Street; 8-Seventh Avenue; 10-Roosevelt/32nd streets; 12-12th Street; 15-15th Avenue; 16-16th Street; 19-19th Avenue; 27-27th Avenue; 28-Lower Buckeye Road; 35-35th Avenue; 39-40th Street (north Phoenix); 44-44th Street/Tatum Boulevard; 50-Camelback Road; 52-Roeser Road; 60-Bethany Home Road; 70-Glendale Avenue/24th Street; 80-Northern Avenue/Shea Road; 90-Dunlap Avenue/Cave Creek Road; 106-Peoria Avenue; 122-Cactus Road; 138-Thunderbird Road; 154-Greenway Road; 170-Bell Avenue; 186-Union Hills Drive/Mayo Boulevard; SMART (Sunnyslope) circulator; DASH (downtown) circulator; and all RAPID commuter routes, including: Central South Mountain East; Central South Mountain West; I-10 East, I-10 West, I-17 and SR-51.

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For more information about the Public Transit Department, visit phoenix.gov/publictransit and follow@PhoenixMetroBus on Twitter.

DISTRICT 1 COMMUNITY BREAKFAST The speakers for the January 29th breakfast are Elizabeth Banta and Carol Houselog from Duet. For more than 30 years, Duet has worked diligently to improve the quality of life for older adults across the Valley. Duet focuses particular attention on the needs of homebound elders and adults with disabilities, family caregivers, and grandparents raising grandchildren. Elizabeth Banta has served as Executive Director with Duet for twenty years. She received a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Certificate in Gerontology from Arizona State University. Prior to serving with Duet, she assisted elders through the Senior Adult for Independent Living program and the Arizona Long Term Care System. Providing compassionate, free-of-charge help to older adults, family caregivers, and grandparents raising grandchildren drives Elizabeth’s career vision. Carol Houselog has been with Duet since 2001, providing administrative and computer support. Before joining the staff at Duet, she was an outreach assistant for the Thomas J Pappas School for homeless children. Carol has been a resident of District 1 for over 30 years and has two children who graduated from Moon Valley High School.

WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS

The Washington Elementary School District is proud to announce that one of its principals has been selected as a 2016 Rodel Exemplary Principal! Shannon Bonnette, principal of Richard E. Miller Elementary School, is one of four principals in Maricopa County selected for this honor, one of eight statewide. She is in her fifth year as principal at Richard E. Miller. Prior to that, she was assistant principal at Shaw Butte Elementary School.

“Shannon is truly focused on meeting the academic, social and emotional needs of her students,” Paul Stanton, Ed.D., superintendent of the WESD, said. “She leads by example and is grounded in her role as a servant leader. You will not find a more humble human being. We are extremely proud of Shannon and the accomplishments of the Richard E. Miller team.” The Head Start PLUS program at Sunburst Elementary School has received a five-star rating (the highest rating possible) from Quality First, a signature program of First Things First. The Head Start PLUS program, taught by preschool teacher Jill Mirza, is a full-day preschool program offering the highest-quality early learning experience to better prepare children for kindergarten. Quality First, a signature program of First Things First, partners with regulated child care and preschool providers to improve the quality of early learning across Arizona. Quality First participating providers work with a coach to assess their programs

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and implement quality improvement plans in areas that research shows help young children thrive. Programs are rated on a five-star scale based on how well they meet quality standards; a rating of five stars means the program far exceeds quality standards. The WESD will host its sixth annual Parent University on the campus of Cholla Middle School, 3120 W. Cholla, on Saturday, January 23, from 7:45 a.m. to noon. Parent University is a free, half-day educational opportunity designed to help parents and guardians assist their children with academics and behavior as well as provide important health and human service information and support. The event begins with breakfast, then parents/guardians may attend up to three breakout sessions. Lunch is offered at the conclusion of the even and free child care is available. For complete information on Parent University and to register, visit the WESD Web site at www.wesdschools.org.

THE ULTIMATE INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE - REACHING AND RESCUING TEENAGERS IN CITIES ACROSS AMERICA The 99 is coming to Phoenix, Arizona for four consecutive weekends, January 29th – February 21st, 2016. The 99 is a 20,000 sq. ft. air inflated structure, reality walk through theater, which focuses on the leading causes of death to teenagers and young adults. According to national statistics an average of 99 young people die every day from the following causes:

• 31 will die in auto related accidents, many involving alcohol or drugs

• 16 will die from domestic violence or homicide

• 12 will commit suicide

• The remainder die from a lack of consequence, death from diseases and natural causes

The 99 is positioned to handle 20,000 to 30,000 people over a four weekend period. They will be located at The Metro Center Mall. The 99 will be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. 250,000 discount tickets will be distributed throughout the city. These discount tickets allow you to get in for $3.00 instead of the $10.00 ticket price (a savings of $7.00 per ticket). For additional information, please visit http://www.whatisthe99.com/.

CITY NEWS & EVENTS

UPCOMING PUBLIC CITY MEETINGS • Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee Meeting – Tuesday, January 12th, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. in Assembly Rooms A, B and C, Phoenix City Hall, 200 West Washington Street.

• Public Safety and Veterans Subcommittee Meeting – Wednesday, January 13th, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. in Assembly Rooms A, B and C, Phoenix City Hall, 200 West Washington Street.

• Zoning Adjustment Hearing – Thursday, January 14th, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. in Assembly Room A, Phoenix City Hall, 200 West Washington Street.

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For more information on these and all other public City meetings visit: https://www.phoenix.gov/cityclerk/publicmeetings/notices. City Council meetings are live on Cox Cable Channel 11 and streamed live on phoenix.gov and facebook.com/cityofphoenix. Past City Council meetings are posted to YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/cityofphoenixaz.

FOLLOW COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS ON TWITTER! Thelda is tweeting! Follow her @TheldaWilliams1.

TTTTRANSPORTATION RANSPORTATION RANSPORTATION RANSPORTATION TTTTRIVIARIVIARIVIARIVIA How many miles of streets are within the City of Phoenix (arterials, collectors and locals)?

CITY NEWS

PHOENIX CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO INCREASE WATER AND WASTEWATER

RATES On January 6th, City Council voted to approve a rate increase and it is the first in almost four years for water and six years for wastewater. This plan includes a recommendation for an overall rate adjustment of 3 percent for Water and 2 percent for Wastewater effective March 2016, and an adjustment of 2.0 percent for both Water and Wastewater in March 2017. Both of the rates are still among the lowest in the nation. Per Council action, an independent rate consultant has reviewed and evaluated the Water Financial Plan and determined the financial plan information supports rate adjustments that are reasonable and are consistent with rating agency standards. If rates were not raised, the water and wastewater utilities would need to cut investment in infrastructure to avoid depleting fund balances. Because the majority of the current capital improvement program is related to rehabilitation and replacement of aging infrastructure, this could put the operational reliability of the utilities at risk. Over the past two months the Water Services Department in conjunction with the Finance Department has sought public input on the Water Services Financial Plan in a variety of ways to include establishing an email address for information, several open house meetings across the City, presentations at the Village Planning meetings, at our District 1 monthly breakfast and through other outreach tools. Based on feedback gained during public outreach efforts, it appears that residents generally are understanding of the reasons for the City’s proposed rate increases.

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APRIL 2016 BUS SERVICE CHANGES The Public Transit Department is focused on improving the efficiency of Phoenix’s transit services to best serve passengers’ needs. The Department reviews its services semiannually to determine if improvements can be made to improve the system. For April 2016, the proposed changes are the first improvements related to the voter-approved Proposition 104 transportation plan. In total, the staff-recommended April 2016 bus service changes are expected to have an annual net cost of $709,700 for the bus program. The following proposed changes were discussed with the community through a formal public outreach process from November 1 – December 2, 2015. New Route 32 (32nd Street) and Modification to Route 10 (Roosevelt/32nd Street) Staff proposes to create a new route extending from Camelback Road and 28th Street (at Camelback High School) along 32nd Street to Washington Street, with the route ending at the 44th Street platform and the Sky Harbor International Airport Sky Train. This would allow the elimination of the current Route 10, as the proposed new route will provide improved service connections to Route 1 (Washington/Jefferson), Route 3 (Van Buren Street), and light rail. Staff proposes to extend the route to the 44th Street platform for a direct connection to the Sky Train. Staff proposes to combine Route 10 with Route 1 (Washington/Jefferson) to provide a more efficient service. Route 10 will become part of Route 1 and will be renamed as such. New bus service on 32nd Street to connect to light rail builds the transit network and was included in the Transportation 2050 Plan. It is also an action element in the Reinvent PHX Gateway Transit Oriented Development Plan for the Van Buren Corridor/32nd Street Area. Schedule and Frequency Adjustment to Route 19 (19th Avenue) As part of the start-up of the Northwest Extension of light rail in the spring of 2016, staff proposes to increase the off-peak service frequency in the higher ridership segment of the route. Route 19 extends from Baseline Road to Pinnacle Peak Road (27 miles) and will underlie light rail for four miles from Camelback Road to Dunlap Avenue (spring 2016). Currently, the light rail segment along 19th Avenue has 12-minute frequency during peak service times and 24-minute frequency during off-peak times. To improve connectivity to light rail service on 19th Avenue, staff proposes to improve the off-peak frequency of Route 19 from 24 minutes to 15 minutes. This meets the Transportation 2050 Plan element that the majority of transit routes have peak service of 15 minutes. The improved frequency would extend from Union Hills Drive to Jefferson Avenue which is the busiest portion of the route. The overall impact is reduced wait times for the bus-to-light rail and light rail-to-bus connections.

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The following table provides the cost of the proposed April 2016 service changes.

Route Annual Cost Bus Service Improvement 1 (Washington St/Jefferson St) $ 688,700 Merged with Route 10 (segment on

Central Ave/Roosevelt St)

10 (32nd St/Roosevelt) $ (1,210,100) Eliminate segment from Camelback Rd to Roosevelt St (replaced with new Route 32); Roosevelt segment merged with Route 1

32 (32nd St) - New Route $ 913,700 New route - Camelback Rd to Washington St/Light Rail at 44th St

19 (19th Avenue) $ 317,400 Increase frequency off-peak frequency from 24 minutes to 15 minutes (related to light rail extension to 19th Ave/Dunlap Ave)

ANNUAL NET BUS COST $ 709,700

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UBER AND LYFT AT THE AIRPORT At the State of the State address, Governor Ducey said the following: “More than 40 million passengers enter our state through Sky Harbor International Airport every year. But you can’t order an Uber or Lyft because unelected bureaucrats at city hall are protecting special interests. Sky Harbor may be a city airport, but it’s an Arizona vital resource used by citizens all over the state, and our economy is dependent on its success. I call on Phoenix city government to lift these unnecessary regulations immediately.” Deborah W. Ostreicher, Assistant Aviation Director, noted the following facts: Any Uber driver can drop off at Sky Harbor. Uber drivers who have undergone the appropriate background checks can also pick up. In this current security environment, we want to continue to ensure that all parties who are given a “trusted” airport status are appropriately background checked because they have the ability to linger and access areas that the public cannot. The Airport has proposed making many changes to the ground transportation system to create a level playing field for all parties running for-profit, ground transportation and parking businesses at Sky Harbor. This would also allow Uber and Lyft to join the already 650 ground transportation companies and 4,000 permitted drivers. The only thing the Airport is now proposing security-wise for drivers wanting to pick up curbside is that all drivers (including Uber) submit to an approved electronic background check with a Security Threat Assessment. The current check conducted by Uber does not meet this requirement. Note: They do not have to present in-person for this check; it can be done electronically. Councilwoman Williams would like to thank all of the Uber and Lyft drivers who have already volunteered to undergo the fingerprinting and background checks, allowing them to operate at Sky Harbor Airport.

REQUEST TO AMEND CITY CODE – CHANGES IN PHOENIX SPEED LIMITS Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Street Transportation Department requested to revise City of Phoenix Speed Limit Ordinance Section 36-158. Further, request authorization to establish lower speed limits for different times of day, different types of vehicles, varying weather conditions, special events, work zones for construction, maintenance or other activity in the roadway and other factors bearing on safe speeds. The lower limits will be effective when posted on appropriate fixed, variable or portable signs. Speed limits are established under Arizona Revised Statues, Section 28-703, which requires an "engineering study and traffic investigation," which has been completed. The Phoenix City Code and Charter require that all speed limits be approved by City Council in the form of an amendment to the Speed Limit Ordinance. Revisions are necessary due to changing conditions and are based on traffic investigations. Of the six changes in speed limits, three involved lowering the speed limit. The other three involved clarification or correction from the previous ordinance.

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REGIONAL FREEWAY AND HIGHWAY PROGRAM CONSTRUCTION PROJECT UPDATE The MAG Regional Transportation Plan identifies $2.1 billion in construction projects between fiscal years 2016 and 2020. This will be the busiest period for implementing the Regional Freeway and Highway Program under Proposition 400. Projects under construction include the addition of lanes on three major freeways, including Loop 303 from US-60 to Happy Valley Road, Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) from Shea Boulevard to Loop 202; and Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) from Loop 101 to Broadway Road. Future widening projects will include Loop 101 north from Shea Boulevard west to I-17; Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) from Broadway Road to Val Vista; Loop 101 (Price Freeway) from US-60 to Loop 202; and I-10 (Maricopa Freeway) from Loop 202 to Riggs Road. Intersection improvements along Grand Avenue from Loop 303 to Loop 101 will begin next year. The Regional Transportation Plan calls for additional work to extend Loop 303 south of I-10 to MC-85 in preparation for the new State Route 30. Work continues on the environmental clearance for SR-30, which runs between the South Mountain Freeway and Loop 303.

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Staff noted that the design-build-maintain public/private partnership (P3) procurement process for the South Mountain Freeway is underway. ADOT received statements of qualifications last year from five potential builders, and have shortlisted them to three firms. Bids were due in November 2015, and they are under technical and fiscal review. The announcement of the selected developer is anticipated for February or March 2016. Staff noted that this is the first time there will be a fixed price for constructing a freeway corridor in the MAG region. There is a court challenge on this project. Court activity is scheduled for early summer. The I-10/I-17 Corridor Master Plan (Spine Study) is being conducted, and near term improvements have been identified. Other projects include Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), Freeway Management System, and landscaping improvements.

REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN – HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT CORRIDOR, SCHEDULE CHANGES Transportation 2050 is Phoenix’s 35-year, multi-modal transportation plan recommended by citizens, adopted by the City Council and approved by Phoenix voters in August 2015. The plan invests in Phoenix’s immediate and long-term transportation needs, including street improvements, expanded bus service, enhanced Dial-a-Ride service, new light rail miles, bicycle lanes and sidewalks. Transportation 2050 ensures Phoenix residents have transportation options to meet their needs. It is also a critically-important component to furthering the City’s economic development, sustainability and accessibility goals. Funding for the plan includes local sales tax and transit fare revenue, which will leverage federal grants and other regional funds. The passage of Transportation 2050 provides an ability to accelerate expansion of the region’s HCT system previously approved by voters in 2000 (Transit 2000) and again in 2004 (Proposition 400). Additional HCT corridors were approved by Phoenix voters with Phoenix Transportation 2050. The table below illustrates the original, existing and proposed completion dates as a part of implementing Phoenix Transportation 2050.

Corridor

Original

Existing

Proposed Completion

Northwest Phase II 2012 2026 2023 West Phoenix/Glendale 2017 2026 2026 Capitol/I-10 West Phase I 2019 2023 2023 Capitol/I-10 West Phase II 2019 2023 2030 Northeast Phoenix 2025 2034 2034 South Central - 2034 2023 ASU West - - 2044

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The recommended corridor schedule changes are necessary for a variety of reasons, described below. Northwest Extension Phase II: The second phase of this corridor is proposed to be advanced from 2026 to 2023. The City of Phoenix and Valley Metro conducted a Project Definition Study to assess the feasibility of extending the light rail from Dunlap Avenue and 19th Avenue to the vicinity of Metrocenter Mall. Given the significant regional destination and potential for ridership, continued development and redevelopment in the area, the corridor is recommended to be accelerated. South Central Extension: This corridor is proposed to be advanced from 2034 to 2023. The City of Phoenix and Valley Metro completed a corridor study to identify a preferred alignment and technology in South Phoenix, which were approved by the City Council in 2013. In 2014, the City of Phoenix received a U.S. Department of Transportation Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant to complete the environmental review process and conceptual engineering. Subsequently, the South Central project received national attention by being recognized as one of seven transportation projects included in USDOT Secretary Foxx’s LadderSTEP Transportation Empowerment program. This program provides USDOT support in advancing transportation projects that can empower, connect, and revitalize communities. Given the significant transit ridership in this corridor, revitalization and development opportunities, growing regional and national interest and the project’s ability to compete for federal funding under the existing FTA guidance, this corridor is also recommended to be accelerated. Proposed HCT Corridor Prioritization

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COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Civil traffic violations represent the largest number of offenses cited into the Phoenix Municipal Court. Some of the more commonly cited offenses, such as driving without insurance or a current motor vehicle registration, have mandatory fines established by state law. In addition to the base fines imposed, state law imposes additional financial assessments that can significantly increase a defendant’s financial obligation. Pursuant to state law, when a person fails to pay a financial obligation ordered by a court, the court must notify the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). MVD then suspends the individual’s driving privileges until such time as the outstanding financial obligation is satisfied. When a defendant fails to meet the terms of his or her payment agreement, the Court has traditionally required the defendant to satisfy the outstanding financial obligations in full prior to notifying MVD that the person is in compliance. It has become apparent that for some individuals who owe significant financial obligations, payment in full is not feasible. Thus, the individual remains non-compliant with the Court’s orders and is ineligible to have his or her driving privilege reinstated. In January 2016, the Court is implementing a new Compliance Assistance Program that will assist individuals who want to become compliant with the Court’s orders and have their driving privilege reinstated. The program will permit an individual to make a significantly smaller down payment to the Court than the full amount of the outstanding obligation, will waive the majority of collection costs, and will put the defendant on a new payment plan with a mutually agreed monthly payment amount within financial reach. When the down payment is made, the Court will notify MVD that the individual is compliant with the Municipal Court so that driving privileges may be reinstated once all other MVD requirements are met. The Court has considered carefully the impact of current policies on defendants facing difficult financial circumstances as well as the Court’s resources and potential impacts to City finances. The down payment amount established for the program takes account of the Arizona Supreme Court’s priority of payment regulations, and is designed to require a reasonable payment that incorporates cost recovery. Accordingly, the down payment amount includes recovery of the default fee of $40 added to delinquent fines pursuant to Phoenix City Code Art. III, Sec. 2-97(A). The Court anticipates that the new program will open the door for a large number of people to correct outstanding, delinquent court financial obligations and become compliant without having to pay a large balance owed all at once. Additionally, the Court believes that the program will provide significant efficiency benefits because entry to the program is based on a formula that calculates the down payment amount. Using a simple formula to calculate the required down payment amount will enable Court staff to help individuals quickly and directly, and will also ensure that all individuals are treated consistently. The primary purpose of the program is to assist individuals who desire to become compliant with the Court’s orders. Although revenue enhancement is not the goal of the program, it is anticipated the Court’s recovery of outstanding financial obligations will be enhanced as it assists individuals who currently are non-compliant. Using this method, the Court will still recover 100 percent of the ordered obligations. As an important component of the program, negotiating reasonable ongoing payment terms should better facilitate long-term compliance with the Court’s financial orders.

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CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION CEDD staff met with representatives from Arizona State University, Markle Foundation and LinkedIn to discuss a project called Rework America Connected. This coalition is building a virtual workforce development hub that connects individual job seekers to educational opportunities that lead to in-demand certificates and credentials which will help fill skill gaps in the labor market. The objective of meeting was to learn more about the work that takes place at the centers and the best way to integrate these new tools into them. CEDD staff facilitated the organization of a recent job fair for Empereon-Constar. The company partnered with City of Phoenix, Phoenix Workforce Connection, Maricopa Skill Center, GateWay Community College and Goodwill Industries to fill positions at its Phoenix call center. Positions ranged from entry-level to management in customer service, customer care, collections, tech support and back office support. The job fair resulted in 78 participants and 28 job offers. Empereon is still interviewing additional candidates. The job fair was highlighted on CBS Channel 5, 3 TV, and Tucson News. CEDD staff met with EMCOR to discuss their current job openings. EMCOR is interested in having a recruitment at the South One Stop and will be hiring 25 Customer Service Representatives and one plant operator. The recruitment event is targeted for the month of January 2016. CEDD staff and a Department of Economic Security Veteran’s Representative, coordinated a meeting with a group of 11 service members who are within 6 months of separation from Luke Air Force Base and work on the flight line and service the airplanes. They will begin the Airframe and Power Plant (A & P) class Jan. 4 at WestMec Training Facility. In order for service members to become competitive in the civilian workforce, it is crucial that they have a license to work at an airport or other facility which services airplane engines. An A & P license provides the service member not only with validation of knowledge in the field, but can make the difference in wages of $10 - $15 more per hour.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND LIVABILITY Street Transportation Department staff hosted a community meeting regarding the City’s Residential Permit Parking Program (RPPP) near the ASU West Campus on Jan. 7. The neighborhood requested the City study the impact of ASU student vehicles parked on residential streets during the week. RPPP is a tool to address neighborhood parking issues and only allows parking of vehicles displaying a City-issued permit. A license plate study has been performed. On Dec. 29, Sunnyslope Senior Center staff and volunteers participated in an Adopt-A-Street cleanup. Over the past three years, Sunnyslope Senior Center’s members and staff have keep Mountain View Road clean of debris from Central Avenue to 12th Street. The first annual Career Online High School graduation will be held on Jan. 23 from 1:30-3 p.m. in the Pulliam Auditorium at Burton Barr Central Library. Invitations to the event have been sent to students, funders, and partners.

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On Dec. 14 and 15, Neighborhood Services Department staff attended a community partner’s meeting and the Phoenix Mayor’s press conference regarding the $5 million expansion of the NeighborhoodLIFT Program. The program, offered by Wells Fargo and Trellis Community Development provides up to $7,500 in matching down payment assistance to eligible homebuyers in Maricopa County. An event open to prospective homebuyers will be held Jan.15 and 16 at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel where they can receive information and apply to qualify for assistance.

FINANCIAL EXCELLENCE The Office of Arts and Culture this week received a $6,000 Preservation Assistance grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The grant will support the hiring of a professional conservator to conduct the first-ever assessment of the City’s Municipal Art Collection. This assessment is an important next step in conserving the City’s historic collection and will help provide training to improve handling, display and storage of artworks. The week of Dec. 21, Facilities Management Division staff received $14,000 in rebates from APS for recently-completed projects with the Parks & Recreation and Water Services Departments. The projects consisted of lighting efficiency upgrades at 29 park locations and at the 23rd Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant. Facilities Management Division staff also received an $8,200 rebate last week from APS for a recently-completed project with the Library Department for an interior lighting efficiency upgrade at Burton Barr Central Library.

SOCIAL SERVICES DELIVERY Each of the 15 Phoenix senior centers participated in a “Sock Drive” to benefit veterans during the months of November and December. More than 675 pairs of socks were donated by senior center members for the “Stand Down for Maricopa County Veterans” cause.

INFRASTRUCTURE Water Services employees are working to clean extremely corroded pipes at three locations: Thunderbird Road at 56th Street, Thomas Road between 54th Street to 56th Street, and SR-51 southbound entrance ramp off of Glendale Avenue. All of these pipes will require careful cleaning and removal of tuberculation without significantly damaging the existing pipe prior to lining. Planning and Development staff met with Banner and their design team to discuss the approval of a 17-story tower to construct on top of their Emergency Department (ED) building which is currently under construction. The tower was included in the ED design and labeled a future project pending availability of the funding. The timing is critical for this portion of the project because the contractor wants to keep the steel erection continuous between the ED and tower phases. Construction documents were submitted for the proposed three-story, 116,187-square-foot expansion to the existing Phoenix Children’s Hospital tower. This expansion will provide additional space for emergency trauma patients and their care.

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Planning and Development staff reviewed a pre-application submittal for phase one of the Norterra Planned Unit Development, which covers undeveloped land adjacent to and surrounding the USAA campus. Phase one consists of a 386-lot subdivision, with a mixture of single-family detached and attached dwelling units. The developer is working with several City departments to obtain approval of reduced street cross section widths, which will promote a more pedestrian and active streetscape. A follow-up, pre-application meeting is planned. The Planning Commission recently initiated a General Plan Amendment (GPA) for the Northern Infrastructure Sequencing Plan (NISP). The proposed GPA will replace the existing Infrastructure Limit Line and Phasing Overlay (ILL) that was established in 1999 to coordinate efficient infrastructure expansion and to leverage infrastructure investments by the City and private development. The NISP would continue the key concepts of the ILL and update the infrastructure sequencing strategy for all growth areas north of the Central Arizona Project canal. Planning and Development Department staff will be seeking input on the proposal from Village Planning Committees and other stakeholders over the next several months. It is anticipated that a final plan and recommendation will be forwarded to the Planning Commission in the spring of 2016. Street Transportation Department staff will be removing 21 parking meters from Madison Street between 3rd and 5th Avenues on Jan. 25. These meters now reside on Maricopa County-owned property and cannot be enforced by Phoenix Police and the Municipal Court. The County has asked for meters to be kept in place until Jan. 25. The Sonoran Desert Drive on Interstate 17 to North Valley Parkway project is expected to be completed by the end of January 2016. This project will provide direct access to Interstate 17 and State Route 303. Project improvements include a six-lane bridge over Skunk Creek Wash, four barrel box culverts for drainage, curb and gutter, sidewalk, street lighting, landscaping, storm drain, and a six-lane roadway.

PHOENIX TEAM Staff continues to improve online services for customers. Customers no longer have to visit City Hall for information on historic properties. Customers can review and confirm Historic Preservation guidelines in advance and submit their plans for permits online. In addition, customers are now able to pay fees online for both plan review and permits with credit adjustments.

TTTTRANSPORTATION RANSPORTATION RANSPORTATION RANSPORTATION TTTTRIVIARIVIARIVIARIVIA How many miles of streets are within the City of Phoenix (arterials, collectors and locals)? The City of Phoenix has 4,856 miles of Arterial, Collector and Local Streets. That is more mileage than going from Phoenix to New York City and back!

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METROCENTER WALK ‘N TALK EVENTS Purpose Statement: To create a fun and healthy framework to encourage exercise in a safe, convenient and

climate controlled environment. To provide educational opportunities and information that promotes healthy lifestyles. FREE Presentations will be provided monthly in the Metrocenter Community Room on the 1st Thursday of each month at 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. (Located at the end of the hallway leading to the restrooms by the Food Court). Please note: Presentations are for the purpose of providing FREE

information. Presentations ARE NOT for the purpose of sales pitches.

Feb. 4, 2016 “Community Programs” presented by Ben Brock, Manager of Community Programs, Optum Health Community Programs

Walker’s etiquette

First, check with your doctor to make sure you are healthy enough to walk regularly.

• As of January 1, 2015 the Metrocenter Mall opens at 10:00 A.M.

• Stay clear of any work that may be in process in the mall or mall parking lot.

• Watch out for your fellow walkers.

• Please patronize the mall merchants! Enjoy the cuisine at the Food Court!

• Call 911 immediately if there is a medical emergency, and then contact mall security.

• For any other issues please contact Metrocenter Security at 602-944-0970.

• Finally… have fun! Note: If you walk entirely around the upper level of Metrocenter Mall (including mall entrance corridors) you will have walked 2/3 of a mile!

Healthy Lifestyles for a Healthy Life! We are always seeking presentations to serve your needs. Please send your requests and ideas to MetrocenterWalkNTalk@gmail.com.

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GREAT ANIMAL CHARITIES TO DONATE TO: ANIMAL CRUELTY TASK FORCE: Need cases of water, 5 lb. bags of dog/cat food, bowls, towels, collars and leashes. Bring items to our DVPNBWO / BMCA Meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the DVCC or drop them off anytime at the Black Mountain Precinct at 33355 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix AZ, 85331. ARIZONA PAWS & CLAWS www.azpawsandclaws.com FETCH FOUNDATION: please go to the following site: www.fetchfoundation.com/Newsflash/the-fido-bag-program M.A.I.N. What We Do - M.A.I.N. - Medical Animals In Need, Dog Rescue in Phoenix Arizona Kelly Ferreira 480-245-9203 President / Medical Animals In Need www.medicalanimalsinneed.com Together we save lives! MINI MIGHTY MUTTS For more information, contact Angie Crouse at 480-304-5654 or info@minimightymutts.com Also check out our website at www.minimightymutts.com Mini Mighty Mutts is a 501(c) 3 organization. We rescue the underdog!

CONTACT DISTRICT 1

Councilwoman Thelda Williams

City of Phoenix 200 West Washington Street

11th Floor Phoenix, Arizona 85003-1611

(602) 262-7444 council.district.1@phoenix.gov