Regional Council Activity Report
October 1, 1999
Executive Director’s Report
As a busy summer comes to a close, September brings with it even more activity for the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) and our region. Many of the issues and projects we have been working on for the past several months are now entering high gear.
During the months of October and November, the Valley Vision 2025 Committee will host 12 public forums. These forums will be held in locations across the Valley to provide additional opportunities for public input into the vision process as well as to solicit citizen response to the goals already developed by the Committee. The forums will be conducted using a “nominal group process,” meaning that after a brief explanation and overview of the process, participants will break out into small groups of 7-10 people. Members of the Regional Council and member agencies are invited and encouraged to attend these forums. A list of forum dates and locations was provided at the Regional Council meeting and are available by contacting Kelly Taft or Jason Stephens at 602-254-6300. It is important to note that a 12th public forum has been added to that list to accommodate individuals who rely on public transit. That forum is scheduled for Monday, November 15, 1:00-3:00 p.m. in the Saguaro Room here at MAG.
Progress continues in our efforts to ensure that our region receives an equitable return of federal transportation dollars. The Resource Allocation Advisory Committee (RAAC) continues to meet in an effort to arrive at a consensus for distributing the additional dollars which have become available through the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). I have briefed both the Regional Council Transportation Subcommittee and the Executive Committee about the RAAC’s progress to date, and I am confident the dialogue will continue to be focused and productive.
MAG has initiated work on a study with the Arizona Department of Transportation to select a route for the CANAMEX corridor through the Maricopa region. Presentations on the corridor have been made to the Governor’s Transportation Vision 21 Task Force and the Regional Council Transportation Subcommittee. A series of stakeholder forums is being planned to receive input on the corridor. A final CANAMEX route is expected to be identified by March 2000 for inclusion in the Long Range Transportation Plan.
Speaking of the Governor’s Transportation Vision 21 Task Force, a joint meeting with the MAG Regional Council has been scheduled for November 4, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in the MAG Saguaro Room.
A joint meeting has also been scheduled between the Maricopa Association of Governments and the Pima Association of Governments on Wednesday, October 27 at 10:00 a.m. at the Francisco Grande Resort in Casa Grande. Members of the MAG Regional Council Executive Committee and the Regional Council Transportation Subcommittee will meet with members of the PAG Regional Council to discuss common issues of interest to both organizations.
Council Approves Conceptual Framework for Grant Anticipation
Note Agreement
Acceleration of the MAG Freeway Program to 2007 requires issuing
Grant Anticipation Notes (GANs) against future federal funds.
Under the proposed plan, the Arizona Department of Transportation
(ADOT) would issue GANs pledging future ADOT federal funds. ADOT
would be repaid using MAG federal funds already committed to the
Regional Freeway Program. ADOT is planning the first GAN issue
of approximately $25 million for late October or November of this
year. Although the GANs will be backed by the pledge of ADOT federal
funds, an agreement between ADOT and MAG is needed to ensure that
funds allocated to the Regional Freeway Program remain committed
to repay ADOT. At its September 22nd meeting, the MAG Regional
Council approved a conceptual framework for this agreement and
granted the authority for the MAG Executive Director to execute
the agreement within the approved framework.
For more information, contact Dennis
Smith, MAG Assistant Director, 602-254-6300.
Council Vote Paves Way for Videoconferencing Project
The Regional Council approved a recommendation from the MAG Telecommunications
Advisory Group authorizing MAG to issue a Request for Proposals
for a regional videoconferencing system. The system will enable
MAG’s 27 member agencies to participate in MAG meetings via
videoconferencing. The contract award will come back before the
Council at a later date.
For more information, contact Heidi
Pahl, MAG Videoconferencing Planner, 602-254-6300.
Growing Smarter Commission
The Growing Smarter Commission has concluded its work and adopted
its final report on September 1, 1999. Because of a number of
changes to the report from its last Regional Council review, representatives
from MAG member agencies will meet October 4th to revisit MAG’s
position on the Commission’s report.
For more information, contact Corey
Cox, MAG Regional Development Manager, 602-254-6300.
MAG Hosts Foreign Delegations
The Maricopa Association of Governments has had the unique opportunity
in recent months to host several overseas delegations interested
in American planning practices. In July, MAG hosted the Chengdu
Delegation and presented a comprehensive overview of MAG’s
regional planning activities. In the month of September, MAG also
gave presentations and tours to planning delegates representing
Bulgaria. The visits have presented MAG with a valuable opportunity
to share information and learn more about the differences and
similarities in regional planning practices across the globe.
For more information, contact Dennis
Smith, MAG Assistant Director, 602-254-6300.
MAG Receives Domestic Violence Grant
Efforts to implement MAG’s Regional Domestic Violence Plan
received a boost last week, when the Governor’s Office for
Domestic Violence Prevention awarded MAG a $51,850 grant through
its Innovative Prevention Programs. The money will be used to
support a full-time staff position as part of a regional coordinating
body to oversee implementation of the plan. The plan incorporates
41 recommendations and potential strategies to address the serious
issue of domestic violence in our region.
For more information, contact Carol
Kratz, MAG Human Services Manager, 602-254-6300.
MAG Begins Roadside Travel Survey
Motorists entering and leaving the Phoenix metropolitan area are
being asked to participate in a roadside study that will help
determine future road improvements. The Maricopa Association of
Governments, with the cooperation of Maricopa County and ADOT,
is conducting the “MAG External Travel Study.” The
study consists of 15 roadside surveys on the edge of the metropolitan
Phoenix area.
The survey is designed to take less than two minutes. An interviewer
asks each motorist to describe his or her trip by identifying
where the trip started, where the trip will end, the reason for
making the trip and how many people are in the vehicle. To ensure
confidentiality of those surveyed, interviewers do not ask for
the driver or passenger names and the vehicle license is not recorded.
The study will allow MAG to obtain data about travel that goes
through the Phoenix metropolitan area, and will enable engineers
and planners to get the data needed to make the best choices for
spending billions of dollars over the next 20 years on transportation.
Planning for the survey has taken more than a year, with safety
a primary concern in evaluating potential survey sites.
For more information, contact Mark
Schlappi, MAG System Analysis Program Manager, at 602-254-6300.
MAG Recognizes Employee Achievements
On September 17, 1999 MAG held an Employee Appreciation Luncheon
to recognize employee accomplishments. The awards recognized 15
MAG employees, who together have provided a total of 221 years
of dedicated service to our organization and the region.
For more information, contact Audrey
Evans, MAG Office Services Supervisor, 602-254-6300.
Governor Hosts Thank-You Breakfast for Ozone Alert Program
Participants
Governor Jane Dee Hull will extend a personal thank-you to employers
and agencies who participated in the Governor’s Ozone Alert
Program. The breakfast will be held October 6 from 7:30-9:00 a.m.
at the downtown Hyatt. MAG will be recognized at the breakfast
for its role in providing $300,000 in funding to support a media
campaign informing residents about the ozone program.
For more information, contact Kelly
Taft, Public Communications Program Manager, 602-254-6300.
Next Regional Council Meeting
The next Regional Council Meeting will be held November 3, 1999.
There is no meeting in October. Agenda items are expected to include
MAG funding of cable median barriers as well as the Draft MAG
208 Water Quality Management Plan Amendment for the City of Mesa
Southeast Water Reclamation Plant, which was moved from the September
22nd agenda.
For more information, contact Dennis
Smith, MAG Assistant Director, 602-254-6300.