Regional Council Activity Report
November 8, 1999
Executive Director’s Report
During his history-making climb of Mount Everest in 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary lost his footing — and nearly his life. He was saved by his guide, Tenzing Norkay, who held the line taut and firmly planted his axe in the ice. Tenzing was heralded as a hero, but he refuted the glory, saying: “Mountain climbers always help one another. It’s a routine part of their profession.” It’s a quality other professions would do well to master.
It has been a period of remarkable relationship-building for the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG). From the Regional Council’s decision to allow the City of Apache Junction to sit at the table as a non-voting member, to meetings with the Pima Association of Governments and the Governor’s Vision 21 Transportation Task Force, MAG continues to develop the key partnerships we will need to help bring us into the new millennium.
There is no doubt in my mind that such partnerships are critical to the future success of our region. As we enter the 1999-2000 legislative session, we will soon find ourselves once again confronting issues which require the efforts of a coalesced, unified organization. The partnerships that we have made and continue to make will only enhance those efforts.
Along with those mentioned above, other relationship-building activities of late have included our participation in the Arizona Town Hall “Uniting a Diverse Arizona,” the Global Cities Regional Conference, and serving as a member of the Executive Directors Conference and the Census Advisory Committee. Additionally, MAG recently hosted a number of foreign delegations interested in American regional activities, began hosting twelve Valley Vision 2025 public forums, and held a MAG Manager’s retreat. Some of the upcoming activities MAG has planned to strengthen our relationships include meetings with the Four Corners States Urban Council of Governments (COG) Directors; luncheons with legislative and Governor’s staff members; and separate retreats for City Managers and the Regional Council.
MAG is committed to these ongoing efforts to educate and inform a variety of groups, businesses and individuals about our regional role. After all, there will always be new mountains to climb.
Council Allows Apache Junction Seat at Table
In a split vote, the Regional Council approved the City of Apache
Junction becoming a non-voting member of the Council. The move
enables Apache Junction, which includes residents in both Pinal
and Maricopa Counties, a seat at the Regional Council table to
discuss issues of shared concern. Apache Junction is subject to
the MAG air quality conformity analysis and is included in the
MAG PM-10 Non-Attainment Area. Apache Junction falls within the
Phoenix urbanized area as defined by the U.S. Census, and its
population is used in calculations made by the federal government
in determining MAG transportation funds. The area including Apache
Junction is considered when planning for the MAG Long Range Transportation
Plan and Transportation Improvement Program, and the city is fully
integrated into the MAG 9-1-1 System. The Regional Council vote
included a provision asking MAG staff to explore whether MAG by-laws
need to be amended to allow the change.
For more information contact Dennis
Smith, MAG Assistant Director, (602) 254-6300.
MAG Approves Funding for Freeway Median Cable Barriers
After a series of tragic accidents involving fatal crossovers
on urban freeways, the MAG Regional Council unanimously approved
a request to fund median cable barriers on all new freeways (including
new freeways under construction) with MAG freeway funds. The proposal
included a plan to fund median cable barriers on all existing
freeways with Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Hazard
Elimination Safety funds. In addition, the proposal called for
an amendment to the FY 2000-2004 MAG Transportation Improvement
Program to include seven initial median barrier projects, and
encouraged ADOT to provide for the maximum landscaping feasible.
For more information contact Terry
Johnson, MAG Transportation Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Cuts in Social Services Grants Threaten Lives
Proposed congressional funding cuts, which would reduce federal
Social Services Block Grant funds by more than $600,000 in the
Maricopa Region, may have life-threatening impacts, according
to the MAG Human Services Committee. Recommendations for the cuts,
which would go into effect in July 2000, could result in an immediate
reduction in social services contracts in the region. The continuous
reduction in funds for the Social Services Block Grant impacts
the Valley’s ability to provide critical survival services
to the region’s neediest citizens — including meals
for the elderly, services for homeless people, domestic violence
programs, adult day care and home care, as well as case management
services provided through the Valley’s 18 community action
programs. Scheduled for discussion at the Management Committee
meeting November 17, the MAG Human Services Committee is urging
member agencies to give serious thought to how to prevent these
cuts from turning into a regional crisis.
For more information contact Carol
Kratz, MAG Human Services Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Move Over, Make Room
Not that anyone needs actual numbers to confirm the Valley’s
growth, but we have them — and the MAG Regional Council has
approved them. The Council approved the July 1, 1999 Maricopa
County Resident Population Update prepared by the Arizona Department
of Economic Security (DES), with input from MAG. DES shows that
Maricopa County’s population has swelled to 2,913,475, an
increase of 107,375 residents in the past year (3.8%). The State
of Arizona population is tabbed at 4,924,350.
For those wanting to know how much their own cities have grown,
MAG staff has prepared its draft July 1, 1999 Municipality Resident
Population Updates. The Updates were prepared using data supplied
and verified by MAG member agencies, and will be presented to
the MAG Management Committee for approval November 17th.
For more information contact Harry
Wolfe, MAG Socioeconomic Program Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Valley Vision 2025 Public Forums Nearing Completion
Nine down, three to go! The final three Valley Vision 2025 public
forums will take place over the next two weeks. Forum No. 10 will
take place in Gilbert on Tuesday, November 9, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The forum will be held in the Assembly Room of the Southeast Regional
Library, 775 North Greenfield Road. Forum No. 11 is scheduled
the next day, Wednesday, November 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Rio Salado
College in Tempe. The college is located at 2323 West 14th Street
and the forum will be held in Room 2A. The final forum is slated
for Monday, November 15, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Maricopa Association
of Governments, 302 N. 1st Avenue, Ste. 200. Children’s activities
are available at each of the forums and your participation is
welcomed and encouraged.
For more information contact Kelly
Taft, MAG Public Communications Program Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Next Regional Council Meeting
The next Regional Council Meeting will be held Wednesday, December
8, 1999. Agenda items are expected to include a funding request
by the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Managers for equipment;
approval of the July 1, 1999 Municipality Resident Population
Updates; request for approval of the MAG Comprehensive Annual
Financial Report and Single Audit Report for 1999; discussion
and recommended approval of the MAG Pedestrian Plan 2000; discussion
of the FY 2000 MAG Enhanced Early Phase Input Opportunity Report;
an update on state planning requirements; and a discussion of
reductions of Social Services Block Grant Funds. The meeting will
be held at the MAG office, 302 N. 1st Avenue, Phoenix, in Suite
200 (Saguaro Room).
For more information contact Dennis
Smith, MAG Assistant Director, (602) 254-6300.