City of Buckeye Police Officers Michael Miklus and Jeff Lumadue discuss how they went above and beyond the call of duty serving a resident of Buckeye on Channel 3, Your Life A to Z.

Preparing Mesa’s future generation for a globally competitive workforce is a crucial undertaking, and Mayor Scott Smith has it covered.

Both the city’s Mayor and Vice Mayor Alex Finter joined Cities United for Science Progress (CUSP), a partnership between The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and DuPont, at Keller Elementary School and Roosevelt Elementary School for the Mesa’s “Science in the School Day.”

Nearly 70 fourth graders and 80 fifth graders worked side by side to build “puff mobiles,” a fun hands-on project exploring basic engineering principles that derived from the popular children’s television show ZOOM. Mayor Smith and Vice Mayor Finter joined the students as they built their mobiles using everyday materials like drinking straws, lifesavers, paper, scotch-tape and paperclips.  The council members closed the program by having the students race their inventions to determine the “fastest puff mobile in the school” and presented the winner with a prize.

Mayor Smith highlighted how events like “Science in the School Day,” while fun and interesting, are far from a simple spin on the typical science lesson: “As Mesa continues to grow,” he said, ” it must prepare our future leaders with a strong math and science background. The students in Mesa will no longer compete with Dallas, but with Mumbai and Beijing.  We anticipate that this experience will spark an interest in our students to consider a career in math or science, and perhaps one day aspire to become engineers.”

CUSP is a partnership between The U.S. Conference of Mayors and DuPont.  Through the $5.5 million Lead-Safe…for Kids’ Sake grant program and the acclaimed Science in the School Day initiative, over 55 cities have received grants, 250 cities have been visited, and over 40,000 elementary school children have participated in the USCM-DuPont partnership.  CUSP provides assistance to mayors in promoting and inspiring student’s interest in science and engineering.

Goodyear Ballpark is gaining notoriety as one of the best spring training facilities in the country and is in contention to be named as the best Spring Training facility in the country.

USA Today’s latest 10 Best Reader’s Choice Travel Award Contest is in the newly-formed Best Spring Training Facility Category and the spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians is one of the frontrunners.

The newspaper’s expert panel nominated Goodyear Ballpark for the honor of giving everyone four weeks to vote for their candidate of choice. A person can vote once a day for the run of the contest, which ends Monday, March 24.

Goodyear Ballpark, which has been the spring training home of the Cleveland Indians since 2009 and the Cincinnati Reds since 2010, is a 10,300-seating facility, and was voted the Best Place to See a Spring Training Game in Arizona by readers of the Phoenix New Times for two of the last four years. The ballpark is known for hosting special events for families and fans of all ages. Last summer, the ballpark seta Guinness World Record by holding the largest event with people wearing false mustaches.

To vote for Goodyear Ballpark as your favorite place to catch a Spring Training game, visit http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-spring-training-facility. A person can vote once a day for the run of the contest, which ends Monday, March 24.

Winners will be announced Wednesday, March 26 on 10Best on www.usatoday.com and in USA Today.

The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) announced that the Town of Clarkdale was selected to receive both of WIFA’s Project of the Year awards. This is the first time in WIFA’s history that both the Clean Water (for wastewater infrastructure) and Drinking Water Project of the Year awards went to the same entity. A special awards presentation will take place at the Town of Clarkdale Council Meeting on March 25th.

The 2013 Clean Water Project of the Year was for Clarkdale’s Broadway Reclamation Facility, a $5.5 million infrastructure project to replace an outdated lagoon treatment system with a recycled and refurbished mechanical wastewater treatment facility. After it was determined that their original plans to construct a new plant were cost-prohibitive, Clarkdale officials decided to purchase and refurbish a decommissioned wastewater treatment plant from a subdivision in Surprise.

“What an incredibly innovative and sustainable solution to improve water infrastructure and protect water quality,” said WIFA Board Chairman Henry Darwin, who is also Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. “Clarkdale staff really thought outside the box on this one and deserve this award.”

The outdated lagoon system posed significant water quality threats to the adjacent Verde River, designated by Congress as a Wild and Scenic River. The new wastewater treatment plant is enclosed and eliminates any potential discharge to the Verde River. The project was selected based on the significant improvements made to protect water quality, the highly innovative practices employed and excellent project management.

The 2013 Drinking Water Project of the Year award was for Clarkdale’s Twin 5s Water Main Replacement project. Clarkdale borrowed $1.6 million from WIFA, which included $800,000 in forgivable principal, to replace and relocate two above-ground 5-inch steel water mains.

The 90-year old exposed water mains were vulnerable to natural disasters and introduction of chemical or biological agents. By implementing these improvements, the Town of Clarkdale has eliminated the security risk and resolved operation and maintenance issues. The project was selected for the award based on Clarkdale’s exceptional dedication to the project and the significant improvements made to protect public health.

Georgia Lord, Mayor of Goodyear Arizona, and AZ Cities @ Work appeared on Channel 3’s Your Life A to Z on Saturday, March 8, 2014 touting the benefits of Cactus League Spring Training to our cities and towns and the state.

Smithsonian Exhibit Journey Stories

The Smithsonian Exhibit “Journey Stories” is here to stay until April 5th, and residents of Sierra Vista are loving it.

Culture influences, automobile evolution, and what has driven Americans from coast to coast are just a few of the engaging topics covered at this unique presentation, which is open Monday-Saturday, free of charge, at the city’s Henry F. Hauser Museum.

The idea that “everyone has a story” is a central theme of Journey Stories. The tales of travel to America-whether in hopes of a better life, by force, or original settlement-carry significant impact in the country’s history and formation, and the continuing diversification of its modern-day culture.

The Exhibit is a collaboration between both the Smithsonian Institution and State Humanities Councils, and is made possible by Arizona Humanities Council. It has been displayed in nearly 100 communities located in 18 different states. Nancy Krieski, the Hauser Museum curator, was quite instrumental in pulling together the countless events and activities complementing the exhibit on its opening day. Engaging speakers, a variety educational entertainment, and local storytelling were among a lengthy list of other complementary attractions residents enjoyed on February 22. Krieski expressed gratitude and appreciation of volunteers and donors that made a memorable opening day possible.

Those who missed the excitement from the February exhibit opening needn’t worry, as there are a variety of complementary events scheduled until the end of March. Aviation & Military Enthusiasts will love the presentation of Douglas Army Air Field, previously “one of Arizona’s largest and most important training bases.” Railroad buffs will appreciate the upcoming “tales and truths” session about railroads in Cochise County, set to take place on March 15. A tour and presentation of the unique Camp Naco historic site will happen on March 29, and a delightful “Children’s Music Maker” workshop is scheduled for March 30.

For more information, call the Museum at 439.2306 or visit www.SierraVistaAZ.gov.

Phoenix City Clerk Cris Meyer was named the 2013 Clerk of the Year by the Arizona Municipal Clerks’ Association (AMCA) at its annual conference..  The Municipal Clerk of the Year award is given annually to a deserving candidate selected by the AMCA’s Executive Board to recognize an AMCA member who has made significant contributions to the profession.  In addition to advising clerks across the state, Meyer serves as the AMCA Legislative Committee Chair and does training on campaign finance law at each annual elections conference.

“Cris consistently finds new and improved ways of serving the public,” said former Phoenix City Manager David Cavazos.  “Those innovations have become models for other local governments.  He is a tremendous asset to the city of Phoenix and is well-deserving of this honor.”

Meyer has been involved in Phoenix elections in various capacities since he joined the city in 1985 and has participated in conducting more than 30 elections.  He has managed the development and implementation of Phoenix’s successful early voting by mail program that now accounts for more than 90 percent of all ballots cast.  Most recently, he managed the launch of the city’s innovative voting centers, which is the first in the nation to offer three days of voting, with one of those days being a Saturday.

He is the recipient of several public service awards, including the Governor’s Excellence Award in 1994 for coordinating a state interagency effort to better handle child support cases.  He also received a City Excellence Award in 2011 and 1997.

Meyer has a law degree from the University of Illinois and is a member of the Bar in Arizona and Illinois.  Prior to joining the city of Phoenix, he worked as a law clerk in federal district court and as assistant attorney general in the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

The success of a cleanup in December 2013 has prompted the City of Buckeye to host a second cleanup event near Skyline Park, an 8,675 acre mountain preserve set to open in 2015. The City of Buckeye is seeking volunteers and community groups to participate in the second cleanup to remove trash and debris that has accumulated from illegal shooting and dumping occurring on Arizona State Trust Land just south of the future park entrance.  The first cleanup kicked off an educational campaign to inform the public the area known informally as “Shotgun Alley” is closed to shooting and dumping.  During that event, 200 volunteers removed over 37,000 pounds of trash.

“During the first cleanup, we filled eight 20-yard dumpsters with trash, and the work done by all those volunteers made a huge impact.  You can definitely see a difference,” Wisener said.  “But there’s more work to be done to bring that area back to its beautiful desert foothills setting.”

A major part of the effort to restore that setting will be to continue an educational campaign by Buckeye police to turn away target shooters who previously had used the State Trust Land illegally.  “The area had become a popular place to shoot, with people bringing old TVs, appliances and glass bottles to use as targets and then leaving the trash behind,” Wisener said.     “We were starting to see the shooting and dumping spill onto the future Skyline Park and wanted to get the issues under control before the park opens in 2015.”

Police Chief Larry Hall said off-duty officers have been stationed at the end of the paved access road to the site on weekends.  “This is an area that will be used by Buckeye residents to access the future Skyline Park, so we want to make sure the public knows it is illegal to use any firearms there,” Hall said.   “Skyline Park will be a beautiful place for everyone who enjoys the outdoors, and we want to make sure it is a safe place for people of all ages to do just that.”

Buckeye is leasing the 8,675 acres from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as part of the Recreation and Public Purpose Act, which allows BLM to lease lands at no cost if it will benefit the public.  Improvements slated to be constructed by the City of Buckeye as part of Phase I include trailheads/parking areas with connections to existing trails, a gatehouse/entrance station, restrooms, camping sites, picnic areas and an environmental education programming area.  Construction will begin during the latter part of 2014 with the grand opening expected in 2015.

For additional information on the Cleanup on March 8^th, please visit www.buckeyeaz.gov/events or contact Robert Wisener at 623-349-6621 or at rwisener@buckeyeaz.gov.

Mesa City Manager Chris Brady at “Celebrate Mesa” event with wife Shawna and daughter Whitney

At the Arizona City/County Management Association’s Winter Conference Awards Ceremony, Mesa City Manager Chris Brady  was awarded the John J. Debolske Award, the highest honor that ACMA bestows upon an active Arizona city or county manager.  The namesake of the award, Jack DeBolkse, was the Executive Director of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns for 40 years, and was an advocate for the council-manager form of government.

Chris was recognized for his 25 years of service to the local government profession, and most notably his outstanding accomplishments in Mesa by partnering with the Mesa City Council, city staff and our residents in creating transformational projects to build a better Mesa.  As city manager, Chris steered Mesa through some of the most difficult economic times in recent history.  He made certain that Mesa would be in a stronger position to progress during and after the recession. Even during these times, in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2013 the city was successful in having Mesa voters approve bonds for public safety facilities, utility infrastructure, streets, parks and cultural facilities to enhance the lives of Mesa residents.

Mesa has recently achieved great economic development success in extending light rail through downtown Mesa which will open in 2015 with another 2-mile extension planned to open in 2018;  recruited five liberal arts colleges to Mesa,  housing some of them in once vacant buildings; retained the Chicago Cubs and just opened the new Cubs Spring Training Complex and adjacent spectacular Riverview Park;  came to an agreement with the Oakland Athletics to rehab the Cubs former stadium so they can begin Spring Training in 2015; and brought an Apple manufacturing facility to Mesa. Through Chris’ leadership, these successes have gained Mesa national and international recognition as being tactically bold and forward thinking.

Chris was also recognized for creating a leadership pipeline, fostering the next generation of local government leaders and ensuring the future success of the city of Mesa by developing all levels of the organization. Chris regularly meets with college students to share his expertise, has created internship and full-time employment opportunities for recent college graduates, created the Executive Manager Program which rotates four city employees per year through the city manager’s office, and regularly shares Mesa’s best practices with other communities at national and state conferences.

“This is an incredible and unexpected honor.” Brady said, “I have devoted my professional life to public service and my experience in the city of Mesa over the last 8 years has been both challenging and rewarding. The community, city employees and elected officials have worked hard to bring many successful projects and initiatives to fruition.”