Inside Mesa

We all have agreed earlier in the year when going through the budget scenarios, that safety comes first. I think I can safely say we agree our children and their safety is at the top of the list.It appears to me that we need to take care by placing police officers or resource officers - at the schools most vulnerable. Police at our junior high schools and perhaps more than one at the high schools. The recent news about an attempted 17 year old girl being abducted near a high school is a loud cry for help and a warning.Finding funds to protect our children seems a priority. Looking into more potential avenues for funding that can provide the public safety - police officers, that is required at our schools to keep it safe - is more urgent in my mind than building a swimming pool at every junior high. We can never replace a child - material things, a pool - can be replaced, substituted, or done without.

I attended one of the first public forums at Red Mountain CC regarding Mesa’s transportation plans for Light Rail…..including the Bus Rapid Transit service, Super Grid Bus Service, with displays of such and freeways. All to unfold in the years 2006-2026.I was also pleased to meet the new Transportation Director - a much needed addition to keep Mesa on top of our fast growing situation.The transit plans take into account the City of Mesa connecting to other communities - but not commuters from Gold Canyon, Queen Creek/Pinal County, Johnson Ranch, and a future community - Superstition Vistas, a new city. We have a population explosion already on our hands, in Mesa and/or traveling through Mesa with inadequate methods to meet those needs.The light rail to be completed to Mesa at Sycamore and Main St. by 2010 (perhaps as early as Dec. ‘08).A second phase 2011-2015 links Main St. to Mesa Drive. Then possibly Main to Power Rd. The bus services supplements transportation.The new super grid bus service covers well with routes that touch Mesa.Phase I 2008 ASU to SSC (Superstition Springs Center), 2009 Gilbert Rd.-Chandler Airport to Thomas Rd., 2010 Baseline/Southern Dobson-91st Ave. to SSC.Phase II 2011 University Dr.-SMCC to Ellsworth, 2012 Broadway-35th Ave to SSC, 2012 Elliot Rd-48th St. to SSC, 2013 Alma School to 1st St, 2014 Power Rd.-Williams Gateway Airport/ ASU East to Loop 202 park-and-ride, 2015 Ray Rd-48th St. to WGA/ASUE.Phase III nothing new for Mesa.Phase IV 2023 Greenfield Rd-Williams Field Rd to McDowell Rd.The express/Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) expands to far reaching, region-wide communities; fifty miles of arterial and freeway BRT improvements offering connections between suburban communities, central Phoenix, connections between suburbs. I counted 17 that would connect to Mesa’s Central Station - quite an elaborate plan beginning 2007 to 2023.There are plans for 13 new park-and-ride lots and 13 new transit centers, 1200 improved bus stops, 5 bus operations and maintenance facilities.Buses - it all sounds grand - but what about the freeways? Many don’t have the "extra" time to spend on a bus, adapting to it’s schedules making a longer day, so opt to drive their cars. Buses won’t reach communities listed in the 3rd paragraph because they’re Pinal County. However, a great number of vehicles come from those areas to travel to work.Moving forward with Loop 202 by WGA seems imperative, widening currently in progress on US 60 will alleviate some traffic - but inadequate.What happened to the vision? What happened to the grand plans for Williams Gateway Area that will be like a city? Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away, it’s happening. Why aren’t we listening to the expert consulting team? - We paid for their advice. Hopefully, the recent proposed 5-story research complex at the Williams Gateway area will be approved. Scott Morrison, developer, explained the height - which is over height limits for industrial districts - is required for small research companies and could attract other high-tech and possibly "wet labs" to the complex.What is holding Mesa back? Where are the answers? Time to get on board!

It’s always a good idea to find what would be helpful to ensure your child has a safe and "treat-worthy" evening when going out into the night for Halloween!The best newsletter I’ve seen on practical advice and preliminary caution for Halloween is published on the City of Mesa Police Department web site.Look for Halloween Newsletter to be the safest possible as you send your children out and prepare for Halloween night.Some of the topics discussed are:- Costume suggestions- Trick or Treat safety- Safe alternatives to Trick or Treat- Treats safety check- What to tell children- Safety around the house- Pets on Trick or Treat (good one!)Check it out - it’s great to have guidelines.

Fred Taylor wrote an opinion in the East Valley Tribune, 10/20/06, regarding the positive effects of voting by mail. Proposition 205 makes it a reality.I agree with Mr. Taylor’s views and believe it’s a positive influence and opportunity that more Arizonan’s will take advantage of. Voting by mail benefits in many ways:o Business wins by not losing business hours in order to allow their employees to go to the polls.o Disadvantaged populations such as those with disabilities and the elderly are more likely to vote because it’s convenient and accessible, whereas now it may be a burden and prevent many from voting.o Since property taxes pay for the election process, Taylor mentions Proposition 205 could benefit residents by capping those taxes. According to Taylor, when compared to Oregon who adopted this method in 1999 - reports saving over $3 million per year with voter participation tripled - Arizona having 2 million more residents could save between $6 - $7 million dollars per year. o The AZ Secretary of State Pamphlet on Propositions gives more information. If Proposition 205 passes, it would eliminate the current required sample ballot to every household with a registered voter - saving the state about $1.7 million in election years. The cost to send a ballot to each voter would increase, but city and county governments would experience a savings because of the reduction in polling sites and related expenses. The voter would benefit by the postpaid ballot.o Voters will be better educated - having 15 days to read the ballot and decide how they want to vote before mailing it in.o University of Oregon survey revealed their state’s participation went up dramatically. Female voters up 32.9% - Working voters up 33% - Voters 18-38 up 40% - Disabled voters up 48% - Homemaker voters up 51.6% - Minority voters up 78%. That’s significant!o Another startling statement in the AZ SOS Pamphlet was Oregon no longer will have only 20% of the voters determining the candidates and for city bond elections only 6% of the voters deciding how much their property taxes will be. Two states currently use vote-by-mail and are satisfied; Washington and Oregon and would not recind it. To me it’s practical, potentially gives greater access to voters that would vote-by-mail more readily than having to go to a polling station. Perhaps more importantly - it makes the voting process and outcomes more fair and balanced - not left up to a few.

I attended the Zoning Board meeting yesterday which started at 4:00 pm but had to leave the meeting at 6:00 pm.When I returned home at night which was around 10:00 pm, the zoning meeting was still going on! I watched it on cable TV til the meeting ended at about 12:15 am. I guess I need to get a life. The cases covered at last night’s meeting will have a great impact on Mesa’s future. Those cases included developing industrial and mixed use employment land around Williams Gateway Airport to large residential developments in north and northeast Mesa. All in all, if you include the study session which strated at 3:00 pm, most of those board members discussed cases for over nine hours. Great going board members!