Tempe City Clerk Brigitta Kuiper recognized as AMCA Clerk of the Year at Tempe City Council Meeting with Mayor Mark Mitchell and Councilmembers Lauren Kuby, Kolby Granville, Joel Navarro & Robin Arredondo-Savage.

Tempe City Clerk Brigitta Kuiper was named the “Clerk of the Year” by the Arizona Municipal Clerks’ Association (AMCA).  The award recognizes an AMCA member who has made significant contributions to the municipal clerk profession.

“Brigitta is one of the best city clerks I’ve known in my 15 years as an elected official,” said Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell.  “She is constantly looking at ways to make her office the most efficient it can be.  The City of Tempe is lucky to have her.”

Tempe City Manager Andrew Ching described Brigitta as a “24 hour professional” and emphasized that “the level of professionalism that Brigitta and her staff exhibits is the sort of silent service that all too often goes unrecognized.”

Kuiper was hired as the Tempe city clerk in June 2010.  She was previously employed by the City of Yuma for 18 years – 12 years as its city clerk.  She is an active member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) and is past president of AMCA.  Kuiper holds a Master Municipal Clerk Certification through IIMC, and a Certified Public Manager designation from Arizona State University’s Public Manager Program. She is a graduate of Arizona State University. These accomplishments reflect her belief in advanced education and professional development through lifelong learning.

Beginning Thursday, Oct. 1, workers from the U.S. Census Bureau will start knocking on residents’ doors to determine Goodyear’s population – and ultimately define the city’s portion of state-collected tax dollars.

In an effort to receive the best count possible, residents are urged to answer their doors and respond to basic questions.

All Census employees will have an official- U.S. Census Bureau picture ID badge, have been fingerprinted and passed an FBI background check. The Census workers, known as enumerators, are expected to continue working through November. The information residents provide is secure.

The count is critical because the state of Arizona collects tax dollars then distributes back to cities an amount proportionate to their population. Goodyear’s current allocation is based on population figures from the 2010 census at which time Goodyear had 65,275 residents. Due to the number of new dwelling units constructed since 2010, city officials now estimate the population to be closer to 77,000.

As a result of this increase, the city could see its annual state-shared revenue increase by as much as $1.5 million from its current $16 million. The money goes into the general fund to provide services such as police, fire and recreation.

“I’m asking Goodyear residents to please take the time and answer the door,” Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord. “Just a couple minutes of your time could mean millions of dollars back into our community for these vital services.”

For more information, call (623) 882-3100, email census@goodyearaz.gov or visit the website: www.goodyearaz.gov/census.

Iconic Mill Avenue serves up a collection of local businesses, new restaurants and nightlife that brings students and residents together in community. Photo from the City of Tempe.

Right in the heart of Arizona State University sits the eclectic and unique downtown of the City of Tempe. Boasting an iconic nightlife, an array of unique local businesses, tech companies, lakefront property and an unparalleled history, downtown Tempe is truly the place to be.

Downtown Tempe is home to the iconic Mill Avenue, a street marked with local businesses, new restaurants and nightlife that bring students and residents together in community. Just north of Mill Avenue sits Tempe Town Lake, a top attraction in the state of Arizona, drawing visitors to its water and waterfront parks for community events and recreational activities.

The newest location of Postino is housed in the former ASU Art Annex. Along with Snooze AM Eatery, this restaurant has led to a new crowd of visitors along College Avenue, expanding the idea of the Tempe Downtown. Photo from the City of Tempe

As Tempe continues to grow and evolve, the definition of downtown is changing. New businesses are coming to make the city home and development is continuing to change the blueprint of Tempe Town Lakefront. Up-and-coming local restaurants are claiming territory in Tempe, forever changing the landscape of downtown, like Culinary Dropout at Farmers Art District and the Postino Art Annex on College.

With new projects taking place daily and an eye towards a bright future, the Tempe Downtown will always be at the center of it all.

Tempe Town Lake light rail bridge connects the Phoenix-area METRO Light Rail with the downtown Tempe area. Behind, sits the Tempe Town Lake Pedestrian Bridge. Photo from the City of Tempe.

Tempe Town Lake and the Tempe Beach Park serve as the main gathering place in downtown Tempe, with concerts, festivals and events like Fourth of July Tempe Town Lake Festival occurring throughout the year. Photo from the City of Tempe.

Yuma’s historic downtown is the hub of shopping, dining and entertainment. Photo from the City of Yuma

Main Street in Downtown Yuma has always been the heart of “old Yuma,” dating back to 1849, when more than 60,000 California-bound gold-seekers came through the area.

A peek inside Yuma’s Lutes Casino. Photo from the City of Yuma

The holidays light up Downtown Yuma. Photo from the City of Yuma

Now Yuma’s historic downtown is the hub of shopping, dining and entertainment. Visitors and residents can enjoy films and live performances at the Historic Yuma Theatre, take a course or stroll through galleries at the Yuma Art Center, and visit a variety of businesses and restaurants.

Yuma Art Center Photo from the City of Yuma

An evening glimpse at Downtown Williams. Photo from the City of Williams

Route 66 conjures thoughts of rich history, neon lights, classic cars and fun for the whole family.  Williams was the last town in America on Historic Route 66 to be bypassed by the I-40 freeway in October 1984.  Only in Williams will you enjoy the beauty of a mountainside town, the best-preserved stretch of Route 66, outdoor adventure to suit every need, a railway to get you to the Grand Canyon in style, an outdoor drive-thru wildlife park, a true western setting with cowboys swaggering through town, and a friendly atmosphere greeting you the moment you arrive and bidding you farewell when you depart.

Williams was the last town in America on Historic Route 66 to be bypassed by the I-40 freeway. Photo from City of Williams

Some of those same motor hotels from back in the day have been revitalized with all the comforts modern travelers expect and the storefronts of Main Street are preserved as a designated National Historic District. With its preservation of an authentic small town atmosphere and history, Williams is the perfect place to “Get your kicks on Route 66” before you visit the Grand Canyon and after!

Williams has the best-preserved stretch of the Historic Route 66. Photo from the City of Williams

A sign and statue greet visitors on U.S. 60 entering Downtown Wickenburg. Photo from the Town of Wickenburg

Wickenburg boasts one of the American West’s classic downtowns, featuring unique shops, eateries, public art, and activities. Decades of investment in streetscape improvements by the town have made Wickenburg a popular destination among tourists and Arizona natives alike, who flock to the community for its cowboy culture and Western charm.

Ben’s Saddlery is one of the longest-operating businesses in downtown Wickenburg. Photo from the Town of Wickenburg.

The Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe steam locomotive No. 761 sits near the original train depot, which now serves as the Wickenburg Visitor Center and Chamber of Commerce offices. Photo from the Town of Wickenburg.

Visitors can explore the downtown’s public art, including life-size sculptures depicting scenes of the old west. The Desert Caballeros Western Museum, a world-renowned fine art institution, also resides downtown just a short walk from the visitor center in the old train depot. During the busy season, team roping at two nearby arenas is in full swing, and popular events such as the annual Gold Rush Days celebration fill the downtown with excitement.

The Hassayampa River Walk, completed earlier this year, is an adaptive reuse of the 1962 ADOT bridge over the Hassayampa River that hosts downtown events. Photo from the Town of Wickenburg.

In May 2015, the town completed the Hassayampa River Walk, an adaptive reuse event space overlooking the Hassayampa River.

A statue sits in the roundabout connecting US 93 and US 60 at the entrance to downtown Wickenburg. Photo from the Town of Wickenburg.

Welcome to Old Town Scottsdale. Photo courtesy of Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau

Downtown Scottsdale is among the most vibrant and unique urban centers in the American Southwest.

It provides a mix of specialty retail, art galleries, dining to suit every taste, legendary nightlife and public art and cultural attractions with broad appeal. It is also home to one of the most successful shopping centers in the southwest – Scottsdale Fashion Square.

The LeKae Gallery in Downtown Scottsdale. Photo Courtesy of Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Scottsdale’s Downtown is also known for hosting lively events throughout the year such as farmers and artisan markets, art walks, festivals, parades, concerts and block parties.

But Downtown is more than a visitor destination. It’s also the city’s second largest employment center and a budding hub for technology and health care companies like Yelp, Weebly, Zenefits, McKesson Pharmaceuticals, ZIVELO, ZocDoc, Digital Air Strike and ReplyBuy.

This employment hub has brought an increased demand for residential projects, so people can live near their jobs. Downtown Scottsdale provides a sustainable live, work and play lifestyle for residents within a vital urban environment.

The Scottsdale Waterfront, conveniently located near the Scottsdale Fashion Square, includes high-rise living and favorite local shops and restaurants. Photo Courtesy of Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

A birds-eye view of Downtown Prescott. Photo from the City of Prescott

In the center of Prescott’s picturesque downtown area is the historic tree-lined Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza, around which the town was designed and built.  Known as the “jewel” of downtown Prescott, the plaza is a majestic, man-made urban forest in the heart of a historic commercial district. For more than 140 years it has served as a gathering place for celebrations, commemorations, campaign kick-offs, concerts, movies, and festivals.

Yavapai County Courthouse in Downtown Prescott. Photo from the City of Prescott.

Adjoining the courthouse plaza are fine establishments including a large assortment of locally owned and operated bars, breweries, coffee shops, restaurants, art galleries and museums.  The main street in town, Montezuma Street, includes a one block historic area known as “Whiskey Row,” the town’s center of recreation during the early days of the wild west, when cowboys, miners, gamblers and brawlers reigned over the cluster of rustic saloons and put the “wild” in Wild West.

The Wild West will always be part of Downtown Prescott. Photo from the City of Prescott

The City of Prescott’s famous Whiskey Row. Photo from the City of Prescott

Skyline view of Downtown Nogales. Photo from the City of Nogales

At the southern point of Arizona, just a stone’s throw from Mexico, the City of Nogales is a center of culture and connection. Downtown Nogales is filled with historic architecture, unique local stores and restaurants, and picturesque views.

Morley Avenue is home to classic boutique department stores and local shops, serving as the nucleus of the Nogales Downtown. Owners of the shops hail from all over the world, each with a unique story and collection of goods. Avenida Obregon is a peek at another world of shopping – small shops, vendors, restaurants and clubs give this area character of “Old Mexico” and many annual festivals are held right here.

Nogales City Hall serves as the political center of the city. Photo from City of Nogales.

The park in front of City Hall boasts the Santa Cruz County Wall of Honor, a splash pad for children, and an LED fountain. Photo from City of Nogales.

Visitors will also experience history and architecture, with the Historic 1904 Courthouse and Old City Hall and Pesqueria and Ochoa Plazas offer areas of activity, arts and culture for visitors and residents alike.

Historic 1904 Courthouse, an architectural masterpiece that houses a gorgeous period courtroom. Photo from the City of Nogales.