Regional Council Activity Report
May 23, 2001
Oliver Cromwell, who never lost a single battle in his war efforts to reform England’s government, once said: “He who stops being better stops being good.”
In an effort to enhance the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), the MAG Regional Council has approved the establishment of a Regional Governance Task Force to pursue ways to further engage MAG in the community. The Task Force will study issues of regional governance, the role and responsibilities of MAG, and MAG membership – including voting membership of the Regional Council and other MAG committees. Potential areas of study could include private sector participation, expansion of membership beyond Maricopa County boundaries, additional public sector participation, voting procedures, and MAG’s regional planning responsibilities, including transit planning.
Under the adopted motion, the Task Force will be comprised of 11 members, including mayors and city managers, who will be appointed by the Regional Council Chairman. No city or town will be allowed more than one representative on the committee. The motion also called for the creation of a subcommittee of the Task Force that will include representatives of the business community, the state legislature and the public, so that their input on governance will be considered in discussions by the Task Force.
During discussion of the motion, many Regional Council members expressed their support for broadening participation in MAG, yet calling for careful deliberation before significant structural changes are made. The Task Force will prepare a progress report within 60 days of its first meeting, and a final report will be due no later than the end of the calendar year. The Task Force may request consulting services once the scope of work is more clearly defined.
This should be viewed as an important step forward by our organization.
Change is not always easy to instigate – or to embrace. The
creation of this study committee is an important step toward adapting
to our rapidly-changing times. It is heartening to know that we
are in sync with an evolving region, and willing to look at ourselves
to see how we can complement that evolution.
Council approves Closeout of Federal Funds
The MAG Regional Council has approved the interim closeout of
FY 2001 MAG federal funds, which must be obligated in this fiscal
year. For this phase of the closeout, approximately $13.8 million
was available, with over $16 million in project requests received.
The approval of the recommendations will allow for additional
and accelerated transportation projects to be funded in the MAG
region. Projects cover a wide range of improvements, including
construction of pedestrian and bicycle improvements, the purchase
of PM-10 certified street sweepers, a Commuter Rail Study, and
regional studies for the Southeast, Southwest and Northwest areas
of the Valley.
For more information,
contact Paul Ward, MAG Transportation Programming Manager, (602)
254-6300.
Budget and Work Program Approved
Each year MAG develops a Work Program and Annual Budget for the
coming year. The document provides funders, staff and the public
with the Regional Council’s policy direction and fiscal commitments
in the agency’s regional planning efforts. The Council approved
the FY 2002 Unified Planning Work Program and Annual Budget. The
Regional Council also asked for two seminars to be held when the
document is put together in FY 2003. One seminar would examine
policy requirements and new projects, the second would examine
allocating funds in the budget.
For more information
contact Rebecca Kimbrough, MAG Fiscal Services Manager, (602)
254-6300.
Finalists Selected for Desert Peaks Awards
Finalists have been announced for the Fourth Annual Maricopa Association
of Governments Desert Peaks Awards. More than forty nominations
were received for consideration for the prestigious annual awards.
Judges rated the entries on a variety of factors, including whether
they demonstrate a commitment to regionalism. Finalists were named
in five categories.
In the Public Partnership Category, finalists include:
In the category of Public-Private Partnership, finalists include:
Distinguished Service Award finalists include:
In the category of Regional Partnership, finalists include:
A single finalist was named in the Regional Excellence category: the Honorable Frank X. Gordon, Chief Justice, Arizona Supreme Court (Retired).
Recipients of the awards will be announced during the Fourth
Annual Desert Peaks Awards ceremony Thursday, June 21 at the Phoenix
Airport Marriott Hotel, 1101 N. 44th Street, Phoenix. The awards
evening will follow the MAG Regional Council Annual Meeting. A
reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the dinner and
program at 6:30 p.m. MAG Chairman Skip Rimsza will deliver the
annual State of the Region address during the awards dinner. The
emcee for the evening will be Jeanne Rohrer, Anchor, KNXV-TV ABC
15. Desert Peaks reservations may be made by calling (602) 254-6300.
Cost is $45 per person.
For more information
contact Kelly Taft, MAG Communications Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Next Regional Council Meeting
The next Regional Council meeting will be the MAG Annual Meeting
to be held on Thursday, June 21, 2001 at 5:00 p.m. at the Phoenix
Airport Marriott Hotel, 1101 N. 44th Street, Phoenix. Agenda items
are expected to include election of officers; requested changes
to the Regional Freeway Program; Draft 208 Plan Amendment for
the City of Phoenix North Gateway Water Reclamation Plant; and
amending the FY 2001 Unified Planning Work Program and Annual
Budget to add $35,000 in Social Services Block Grant Funds to
develop a Web site for Human Services Planners and Funders. The
Regional Council meeting will be followed by the Desert Peaks
Awards Evening.
For more information
contact Dennis Smith, MAG Assistant Director, (602) 254-6300.