As the City Manager of Goodyear, Brian Dalke is always thinking about how to make the city better into the future. His forward-thinking attitude has been the guiding aspect for recently adopting a new city strategic plan and implementing a city-wide performance measure program.

He is also focused on the city’s residents, working with city employees to ensure that they are satisfied with the work their city is doing. He works closely with the Human Resources Department to develop an employee appraisal tool that is aligned to core customer service values. He has also started an initiative for Priority Based Budgeting, which will help facilitate meaningful communication between Council and staff about resources and their city initiatives.

Before becoming City Manager, Brian spent twenty years working for the city, learning the culture of Goodyear. He joined as an Economic Development Director, leading the small city as it made its mark in the West Valley. In his role there, he helped charge on many development agreements and projects that still continue to sustain the city.

His role in development continued as Deputy City Manager, where he oversaw key projects like the Estrella Falls Regional Mall agreement, which is slotted to bring a 1.2 million square-foot regional shopping center to the West Valley in 2016. In addition, the was instrumental in the development of the Goodyear Ballpark and Recreational Development Complex, which serves as a year-round economic engine for the community, and a venue for many events for the community to enjoy.

Brian likes to say that in Goodyear, they are in the “forever business,” and his guidance is ensuring Goodyear will be prosperous for many years to come. He is one of the many reasons Arizona Cities Work!

On October 26^th the City of Coolidge, Arizona celebrated Make a Difference Day and Arizona Cities and Towns Week with three different service projects directed by the Coolidge Rotary Club.

These projects aimed at beautifying the city included: applying landscaping to the area next to Arizona Boulevard in front of the Hohokam RV Park, cleaning up and landscaping around the sign that welcomes people to Coolidge and cleaning up the property of Boulevard Bob’s auto shop on Arizona and Kensworthy.

Rick Miller, a Rotarian and director of the city’s growth management department was in charge of the service project. In addition, volunteers included people from Coolidge High School, Imagine Prep and many others from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Taking pride in our municipalities the main theme for Arizona Cities and Towns week.  Miller States, “when people come into town, you don’t want them to see graffiti, you don’t want them to see trash, you don’t want them to see junk cars…

You want them to come into town and say that there is a community of people here who care, and it shows.”

Arizona Cities and Towns Week is set aside each year to provide citizens with important information about the services and programs provided by their city/town.

Thank you City of Coolidge for participating in Arizona Cities and Towns week!

George Royer is a  key member of the Oro Valley Police Department as the Director of Volunteer Patrol for the department’s Citizen Volunteer Assistants Program.

George works every Friday at the front desk. He patrols weekly, and is part of the rotation for fingerprinting duty at the main station, and works special events including traffic control. Since 2003 George has donated over 5,594 hours of service to the department.

George has the “good guy” syndrome.  He is the person who knows everyone’s name and is always greeting every volunteer that comes in with a smile and hand shake.  He works hard to make the program a success by keeping an upbeat outlook, and being a “can do” type of role model for everyone involved in the program.

George is an even-tempered, helpful person with a positive attitude and a willingness to serve the Town of Oro Valley.  George is an upbeat guy who speaks so highly of others in the volunteer program and rarely receives credit for what he has done.

Many times, a resident’s main interaction with their city or town will involve making a  telephone call or taking a trip to a city facility to pay a bill. In the City of Prescott, there are five women who make sure this is always a pleasant experience for their residents.

The City of Prescott’s Utility Billing Crew is made up of four employees and a supervisor. Becky, Denise, Janne, Kim and Patty make themselves available all day, every day, to explain the services Prescott offers. They help residents set up accounts, let them know what can be done if there is a billing problem and explain how to look for water leaks.

Citizens who may be grumpy about their bills are welcomed with the kind, patient and compassionate voices on the other end of the phone. The Utility Billing Crew helps them through their problems; even offering staff to help find solutions to water overuse issues and leak detection. A smile can be heard in their voices, as well as seen on each of their faces daily.

Since February 2005, Jo Van Loo of Phoenix has been a familiar face to those passing through Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Several times a week, she volunteers her time as an Airport Navigator answering questions and providing directions to those visiting the state. She is one of more than 400 Navigators who give their time to welcome over 100,000 travelers to Arizona every day. The Navigators’ smiles and helpful attitudes are often the first encounters visitors have with the state.

Jo enjoys being a volunteer because she loves helping people. She also volunteers with other organizations in the Valley of the Sun including the Musical Instrument Museum and Reap What You Sew, which makes quilts for charity. Several times a year, Jo also volunteers in Nicaragua to teach residents there how to sew.

For more information on the Navigator volunteer program, visit http://skyharbor.com/volunteer

Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord has garnered one of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council’s (GPEC) top honors.

Mayor Lord has been selected as the recipient for GPEC’s Distinguished Service Award.   Mayor Lord has been active with Greater Phoenix Economic Council since she was first elected to Goodyear City Council in 2005.

“It’s quite an honor to receive the award and be recognized among my peers,” Mayor Lord said. “More importantly, it’s critical that communities throughout the Valley work together to strengthen the region through economic development while supporting legislation that allows cities and industries to remain strong so we can continue to provide strong services and quality of life for our citizens. GPEC has been a great asset to our communities.”

A strong supporter of the military community, in 2010 Mayor Lord was part of a group of GPEC members who was instrumental in securing the F-35A Lightning II Fighter Jet Training Program at Luke Air Force Base, which will be implemented next year.

Mayor Lord has been an integral part of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council over the years. In 2009, she became Chair of the GPEC Ambassadors and helped launch the Certified Ambassador Program, which allows members to raise an awareness of GPEC’s efforts to improve business climate and the state’s competitiveness. During that first year, seven Ambassadors earned their certification, and in the five years of Mayor Lord’s leadership, the program grew in popularity and this year, with nearly 1500 Ambassadors, 63 of whom earned their certification.

In addition to being an advocate for local policy issues that affect the economic development of the region, Mayor Lord has worked with GPEC representatives to advocate for the renewable energy industry by working on state legislation and by traveling to D.C. to testify in opposition to proposed federal tariffs on solar cells.

– GOODYEARAZ.GOV –

Contact: Mike Sakal, Public Information Officer

Office:  623-882-7053; michael.sakal@goodyearaz.gov

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb9YCVJUEHY&feature=youtu.be

Congratulations & Happy Birthday, City of Maricopa!

The City of Maricopa is celebrating the 10^th anniversary of its incorporation today. On October 15, 2003, a community of 1,040 residents became Arizona’s 88^th municipality. Now, a community of more than 45,000 will celebrate the city’s 10^th birthday.

To commemorate their first decade in local government, the city has been having celebrations throughout the week including history events, shop local events and a digital photo contest. They are also dedicating their brand new City Hall and Chamber of Commerce buildings today.

This weekend, the City of Maricopa will be celebrating its anniversary at their annual Stagecoach Days event, which celebrates the founding city and rich cultural background of Maricopa’s residents.

Read all about the City of Maricopa’s history, upcoming events and find out the Top 10 Reasons why Maricopa Matters at www.maricopa-az.gov.

This October, you might notice a bit more color while walking through the streets of Phoenix or Glendale. Both cities are decorating in pink and purple colors to commemorate good causes.

Downtown Phoenix is turning purple to bring awareness to Domestic Violence Month. City landmarks and buildings like Tovrea Castle, Phoenix City Hall and Phoenix Convention Center will be lit up purple for the month of October. Additionally, a section of First Street will be painted purple, while garbage trucks and fleet vehicles will be outfitted with posters and magnets displaying information about domestic violence. A “purple flash mob” was filmed in Phoenix Cityscape and Phoenix City officials have filmed PSAs about the importance of detection and prevention of Domestic Violence.

The City of Phoenix is committed to becoming a national leader in preventing and responding to domestic violence. It is one of the most widespread and dangerous health and safety challenges facing our community today.

“I hope this display of purple during October serves as a reminder that stopping domestic violence is a priority for our community,” said Mayor Greg Stanton.  “We must be vigilant about maintaining the effort year-round by continuing to invest real resources to fight domestic violence, including better training for police officers allowing them to detect signs of abuse when responding to calls.”

Meanwhile, in downtown Glendale, merchants are painting the city pink to show support for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Downtown Glendale businesses are decorating storefronts in the signature pink breast cancer color. In addition, select businesses will be offering special discounts, merchandise and menu items to benefit Susan G. Komen Central and Northern Arizona (Komen CAN AZ) and other local breast cancer programs.

Glendale residents and visitors will have the chance to participate in the showing of support by voting for their favorite pink business. Community members are asked to vote for their favorite shop by leaving a dollar donation collection jars that benefit Komen CAN AZ.

Downtown Glendale merchants will also show their support for the 21^st Annual Susan G. Komen Phoenix Race for the Cure®, taking place in Phoenix on Sunday, Oct. 13, by displaying event posters and brochures and by joining the Glendale Goes Pink team.

Avondale Police Officer Justin Iwen recently became the 2013 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Officer of the Year.

Officer Iwen received the award at MADD’s annual event, which recognizes the commitment made by individuals to help make Arizona’s streets safer, by stepping up impaired driving enforcement and continuing the public’s education on the hazards of drinking and driving.

He was bestowed this honor because of his commitment to recognizing the importance of driver’s safety by detecting and removing impaired drivers from the streets of Avondale. Officer Iwen has participated in almost all the West Valley DUI Task Forces, and is always willing to offer his assistance with DUI investigations or accidents. Iwen also received a MADD DUI Enforcement Award for his enforcement efforts in Fiscal Year 2012/2013, conducting over 600 traffic stops, issuing over 240 citations and arresting over 50 individuals, all who were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Lieutenant Albert Bates, who supervises Avondale’s Traffic Division stated, “Officer Iwen has displayed a tremendous commitment to the safety of drivers. There is no doubt his enforcement efforts have made our streets safer.”

Officer Justin Iwen is a member of the Traffic Division for Avondale, and has been “Serving with Honor” for the Avondale Police Department since 2008.

Lieutenant Albert Bates, who supervises Avondale’s Traffic Division stated, “Officer Iwen has displayed a tremendous commitment to the safety of drivers. There is no doubt his enforcement efforts have made our streets safer.”

Officer Justin Iwen is a member of the Traffic Division for Avondale, and has been ‘Serving with Honor” for the Avondale Police Department since 2008.

The mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is to “stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.” MADD is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking.