Regional Cooperation Nets Awards

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PHOENIX (June 22, 2000) - From a program aimed at preventing childhood deaths and injuries, to an intergovernmental revenue-sharing agreement between two cities - the Maricopa Association of Governments honored those committed to regionalism at its Desert Peaks Awards last night.

The awards honor excellence in regional cooperation between MAG member agencies, citizens, public agencies and the private sector. Individuals and organizations throughout the Maricopa region vied for awards in five categories. The winners of each category are outlined below:

PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP.
Mesa Gang Intervention Project. Mesa's gang problem has grown from just over 500 documented gang members in 1994 - to more than 15-hundred in 2000. The Mesa Gang Intervention Project takes a team approach in providing encouragement and assistance for gang-involved youth to abandon criminal gang lifestyle and criminal activities. The project found that many kids join gangs because it gives them a place to belong. Team members developed strategies for helping gang-involved youth find jobs, continue their education and repair relationships with families - giving them a new place to belong: back in society. Components of the program include the Mesa Tattoo Removal Program, family counseling, employment partnerships, Young Women's Group, Young Men's Group, mural arts program, a GED/Literacy Computer Laboratory, and various outreach programs - all to persuade gang-involved youth to abandon criminal gang lifestyle and criminal activities.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
SAFE KIDS Coalition of Maricopa County. The SAFE KIDS Coalition is dedicated to the reduction of unintentional childhood deaths and injuries across the region. The coalition conducts training and workshops focusing on various areas of injury prevention, including bicycle safety and proper helmet use. Coalition members sponsor special events - such as bike rodeos, health fairs, car seat safety checks and demonstrations - to help prevent pediatric deaths and injuries. The coalition is represented by members from a variety of organizations, including: Barrow Neurological Institute; Emergency Room Nurses Association; Maricopa County Department of Public Health Services; Mayo Clinic; Phoenix Children's Hospital; Prudential Companies; and the police and fire departments of Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe. The National Safe Kids Campaign has announced that from 1987 to 1996, unintentional childhood injuries have been reduced by 30-percent, proving that the SAFE KIDS Coalition is making a difference.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE.
Norris Nordvold, Intergovernmental Affairs Director, City of Phoenix. Norris Nordvold has served for more than ten years as the Intergovernmental Affairs Director for the City of Phoenix. Every year he leads the greater Phoenix urban agenda at the state legislature, fighting to preserve state-shared revenues, protect local authority, and inform state lawmakers about the needs and concerns of Maricopa County voters. He has championed transit and directed Phoenix federal lobbying resources toward securing millions in federal transportation funding. Recently, he helped the city achieve higher participation than expected in the 2000 Census. He consistently takes a leadership role in negotiating consensus among cities on tough regional issues. He has traveled the world on multiple public service projects, and has had a strong influence over an ever-growing corps of leaders by giving them a meaningful internship experience early in their careers. In nominating Nordvold for this award, Mayor Skip Rimsza and City Manager Frank Fairbanks noted his strong creative abilities, enthusiasm, sense of humor, candor, and lack of cynicism in a political environment as keys to his success.

REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP.
Intergovernmental Agreement - Revenue Sharing. In 1996, the towns of Gilbert and Queen Creek signed an agreement defining the boundary line between the two communities. However, in 1999, Maricopa County granted a zoning request for a 13-hundred acre master planned golf and resort development called "Seville." Unfortunately, the Seville development sat directly on top of the boundary line, straddling the two communities. Because it didn't make sense to have two town addresses and two municipalities providing services to the same project, the towns entered into a unique intergovernmental agreement. Queen Creek agreed to let Gilbert annex the extra property, while Gilbert agreed to give Queen Creek a share of the sales tax revenues that will be generated by the golf course and resort - a true model of regional cooperation.

REGIONAL EXCELLENCE.
Michael S. Ellegood, Chief Engineer & General Manager, Flood Control District of Maricopa County. In his three years with the Flood Control District, Mike Ellegood has shown that protecting citizens from floods can also mean unique opportunities for enhancing the environment and improving our communities. His visionary efforts to utilize flood control channels as open space have resulted in projects such as El Rio, the West Valley Recreation Corridor, the Superstition San Tan Corridor and Tres Rios. In fact, about half of the 225-mile Maricopa Trail Program will be built on flood control channels as a result of Ellegood's efforts. He's been behind environmental milestones such as the Skunk Creek Channelization Project, which connects three of Glendale's parks. "We are trying to provide the maximum amount of public safety with the highest quality of life at the lowest possible cost," said Ellegood in accepting his award. "We are trying to create flood control facilities which will allow future generations to enjoy the beauty of our undisturbed desert."

The recipients were announced during a ceremony at the Airport Marriott hotel in Phoenix. For more information on any of the above projects or to arrange interviews, please contact Kelly Taft at (602) 452-5020. Video and photographs of the awards program are also available.