Planning ActivitiesAn overview of MAG planning activities follows. These are divided into federal related, state related and local related activities.
Planning Activities
An overview of MAG planning activities
follows. These are divided into federal related, state related
and local related activities.
Federal Related Activities:
In 1973, the Federal Transportation Act established a requirement that each urbanized area establish a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The MPO would be responsible for Section 134 of the United States Code which required continuous, comprehensive and cooperative (3C) planning as the basis for any request for federal funding in transportation. On December 14, 1973, MAG was designated as the MPO by Governor Jack Williams.
For aviation planning, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires in accordance with Order 5100.38 that "when it exists the MPO designated by the Governor shall be the sponsor or cosponsor for metropolitan and/or regional system planning projects."
The MAG Regional Aviation System Plan (RASP) was updated in December 1993. This Plan evaluated the need for expansions to existing airports and the construction of new airports. A major objective of the RASP Update was to meet the air transportation needs of the region to the year 2015. When local airport FAA funded projects are being considered, the FAA utilizes the RASP in evaluating the local projects.
In 1974, Governor Jack Williams designated MAG as the water quality planning agency for Maricopa County. This designation was in response to Section 208 of the Water Pollution Control Act of 1972. In this capacity, MAG develops an area wide water quality management plan. The MAG Water Quality Management Plan describes the preferred waste water treatment system for this region. In this analysis, waste water flows, water conservation, waste water reuse, and sludge management are examined. The MAG member agencies provide their plans for future waste water facilities, which are considered for the regional plan. In order for waste water treatment plants to receive a permit for construction and operation from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality or Maricopa County, they must be consistent with area wide water quality management plans. In the Maricopa County area, this plan is the MAG 208 Water Quality Management Plan.
On February 7, 1978, Governor Wesley Bolin designated MAG as the lead air quality planning organization for this region. As the air quality planning agency, MAG, working with its member agencies, determines which elements of a revised Air Quality Implementation Plan will be planned, implemented and enforced by the State and local governments in Arizona.
As the lead air quality planning agency, MAG produces air quality plans for carbon monoxide, particulates and ozone. The commitments for implementing these plans are sought from the MAG member agencies and the State. Through the MAG process, local governments determine which measures they can implement.
On January 10, 1979, Governor Bruce Babbitt designated MAG as the regional agency responsible for undertaking area-wide solid waste management planning. This designation was in response to Section 4006(b) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976. The MAG Regional Solid Waste Management Plan, the most recent planning effort, was completed in December 1993.
In October 1997, MAG was designated as the Maricopa Region Clean Cities Coalition. The purpose of the coalition is to increase alternative fuel use, increase the number of alternative fuel vehicles in use, encourage construction of alternative fuel infrastructure, and educate the public about alternative fuels.
State Related Activities:
On March 3, 1976, the MAG Regional Council authorized the development of a county-wide human services plan. This plan includes locally identified human services problems and provides recommendations to DES on federal Social Services Block Grant (Title XX) funds.
On July 1, 1976, the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) contracted with the Maricopa Association of Governments to develop the annual regional human services plan, which is the result of collaboration between all the planners, funders, DES and local governments in Maricopa County. It includes funding recommendations made to DES for approximately $5.5 million in federal funds. These funds are contracted to local agencies providing social services to children, adults, elderly, and persons with physical and developmental disabilities in Maricopa County.
The Homeless Task Force, created by the MAG Regional Council in 1986, has developed a regional plan to address homelessness in Maricopa County. This plan stresses a partnership between federal, state, local and county governments and the private/religious sectors. It includes strategies focusing on homeless individuals, families, substance abusers, mentally ill, elderly and persons with disabilities.
In 1975, in response to mandates in the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDP), the Regional Council formed a Technical Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice. The purpose of the Committee was to develop a plan dealing with the deinstitutionalization of status offenders from the juvenile justice system. This activity has evolved into review and recommendation of JJDP funds to units of local government and non-profit agencies to prevent or minimize the involvement of children in the juvenile justice system. In July 1995, the Governor's Office for Children informed MAG that the selection process for the JJDP funds has been centralized at the State level, and the involvement of MAG will be through the State committee.
On July 1, 1988, Governor Rose Mofford signed Executive Order 88-10 which provided for the preparation of population estimates and projections for the State of Arizona. In this Executive Order, regional councils are provided a role in developing population estimates and projections. On February 10, 1995, a revised Executive Order 95-2 was issued by the Governor, indicating that only one official set of population projections would be developed each five years.
Each year, MAG recommends to the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) the population updates for July 1 of the current year. These updates are utilized by the State for planning purposes and also for the distribution of the lottery funds to local government. In addition to providing population updates to DES, MAG also produces long-range population projections for this region every five years. These projections are used by State agencies for planning purposes. They are also used by MAG for regional planning and serve as the foundation for the transportation planning process.
In January 1992, the MAG Regional Council established the MAG Fiscal Analysis Unit. This unit was recommended in the Performance Audit of the Arizona Department of Transportation's Urban Highway's Program for Maricopa County. Principal duties of the Fiscal Analysis Unit include monitoring the implementation of the MAG Freeway Program by ADOT, developing an Annual Report on the MAG Freeway Program and conducting public hearings on the Report.
Local Related Activities:
When MAG was formed in 1967, one of the first issues addressed was local building codes. The MAG Building Codes Committee makes recommendations on the development, interpretation and enforcement of building codes in Maricopa County. The Committee is currently examining sound attenuation standards for building codes in residential areas around Luke Air Force Base.
SPECIFICATIONS AND DETAILS FOR PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION
The desire for the uniformity of building specifications for public works construction, predated the formation of MAG. The cities came together in 1966 to produce a set of documents to encourage uniformity. MAG subsequently accepted the sponsorship and responsibility of keeping the documents current and viable. The Specifications represent the best professional thinking of representatives of several public works departments which are reviewed and refined by members of the construction industry. The goal of the Specifications is to eliminate conflicts and confusion, lower construction costs, and encourage more competitive bidding by private contractors. The Specifications assist smaller communities and agencies who often cannot afford to promulgate such standards for themselves. Currently the Specifications are being converted to the metric standard to assist local agencies in complying with new federal transportation laws.
911 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER
In the late 1970's, MAG formed a committee to implement the 9-1-1 emergency telephone number system in Maricopa County. This system became operational on September 9, 1985. A MAG committee comprised of the public safety answering point managers meets on a regular basis to make recommendations regarding operational issues and to guide the purchase of new equipment to insure system compatibility. The City of Phoenix serves as the Contract Agent for the system.
In 1987, the Management Committee created the MAG County Library District Task Force to respond to a law enacted by the Legislature in 1986 which allowed counties to establish their own library districts. Maricopa County formed a District, and the MAG Task Force developed recommendations to the Management Committee and Regional Council regarding the distribution of the funds to cities and towns. On October 26, 1995, the Regional Council approved the report, Funding for Local Government Libraries: FY 1993-FY 2000. This report represented the first long term regional library report for this region.
In June 1989, the Regional Council established the Regional Development Policy Committee (RDPC) to assist in addressing the urban growth related issues in the MAG planning effort. Several key studies have been completed to assist in developing an urban growth strategy for this region. These include the Open Space Management Plan, Urban Form Study and the Congestion Management Plan. The Regional Council has recently approved a plan to develop a vision for the future of the Region in the year 2025. This will encompass a major two year effort involving the entire region. The vision will include all major aspects of the region's development and future environment.
On February 23, 1994, the Regional Council recommended that MAG assume a greater role in the regional coordination and planning related to the positive development of youth. The MAG Youth Policy Advisory Committee, its technical counterpart and task forces were created to assume the tasks. The first completed tasks are the Model Regional Curfew Ordinance and the Inventory of Municipal Prevention, Intervention and Public Safety Programs. The Committee is now working on programs to address graffiti.
In September 1994, the Regional Council formed the MAG Telecommunications Advisory Group to coordinate the connection of the MAG member agencies to the Internet and to facilitate the communication among the transportation and air quality agencies. Several member agencies have made connections, and an E-Mail directory has been developed.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
At the request of the MAG Regional Council, the Human Services Coordinating Committee will develop a regional plan to address the central issue of domestic violence.