Regional Council Activity Report
May 3, 2000
Executive Director’s Report
The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) has long recognized
the indivisible links between the planning areas of land use,
transportation and air quality, as each impacts the other in countless
ways. With our population expected to double in the next 25-30
years, we will see effects on land use, transportation, housing,
air quality, water use and infrastructure costs. Without careful
planning, these impacts may threaten the economic vitality of
this region. It is imperative that we put regional strategies
in place that balance adequate development with the protection
of open space and our native environments.
Now, thanks to a $295,000 grant awarded to MAG under the Transportation and Community and System Preservation Program (TCSP), building these sustainable communities will be a little easier. The Growing Smarter Plus bill signed into law in February 1999 includes a provision for cities and towns to coordinate their planning efforts. The TCSP grant will help MAG assist member agencies with implementing the planning requirements for growing smarter and create an integrated approach to smart growth planning at the regional level.
The MAG region has some of the best-run cities and towns in the world, which are now simultaneously updating their General Plans to comply with the Growing Smarter Act. Through the TCSP project, MAG can provide analysis to facilitate transportation, infrastructure and open space investment decisions. The plan will have four primary goals:
With the completion of the 2000 Decennial Census, the updating of local land use plans for growing smarter and the development of key regional plans, our region has an excellent opportunity to collaborate in developing a blueprint for the future. The TCSP grant provides an opportunity to integrate local plans into a cohesive regional program. To quote author Ken Blanchard: "No one is as smart as all of us." This grant and planning effort provides an opportunity for all of us to make the smartest choices for the future.
Council Approves Two Projects for Squaw Peak Freeway
The MAG Regional Council approved a request by the Arizona Department
of Transportation (ADOT) to extend noise walls along State Route
51 between Sweetwater and Greenway Roads. ADOT said the project
is needed to mitigate the noise levels along that section in order
to meet the federal noise standard. The Council unanimously approved
the request.
In a separate request, the City of Phoenix requested that the
segment of State Route 51 connecting Union Hills to the Pima Freeway
interchange be accelerated, so that it is completed at the same
time as the Bell Road to Union Hills project. Phoenix has applied
for a loan from the Highway Expansion and Extension Loan Program
(HELP) to provide the necessary financing for the project. The
segment was originally planned to be completed in June 2005. Under
the new request — unanimously approved by the Council —
the scheduled completion date is December 2003.
For more information contact Eric
Anderson, MAG Freeway Program Manager, (602) 470-1107.
Council Delays Action on Open Space Issues
The MAG Regional Council voted to postpone its decision on two
agenda items involving regional development — the Desert
Spaces Plan Implementation Task Force Final Report and the Environmentally
Sensitive Development Areas Policies and Design Guidelines. The
Council agreed to delay consideration of the two issues for 30
days, in order to give development and homebuilding representatives
more time to provide comments on the plans. Both issues will be
considered at the next Regional Council meeting on May 24, 2000.
For more information contact Corey
Cox, MAG Regional Development Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Elimination of Smog Dogs Could Impact CO Plan
On April 28, Governor Jane Hull signed a bill into law that ends
the Valley's "Smog Dog" program. House Bill 2104 repeals
the statute that created the roadside emissions inspection program.
The program is part of Arizona's vehicle inspection and maintenance
(I/M) program. It involves the use of remote sensors often called
"Smog Dogs" for their ability to "sniff" the
air for dirty tailpipe emissions. The sensors are contained in
roadside vans that are placed on freeway ramps to read the exhaust
of passing vehicles and identify polluting cars.
There is concern among MAG and other clean air advocates that
elimination of the program may impact the Valley's ability to
meet federal standards for carbon-monoxide pollution, and jeopardize
approval of MAG's Serious Area Carbon Monoxide Plan. The Valley
has gone nearly three straight years with no carbon monoxide violations.
The EPA has until September 9, 2000 to approve the MAG carbon
monoxide plan.
For more information contact Lindy
Bauer, MAG Environmental Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Clean Fuels Forum A Success
Whether attracted by the tax incentives that cut a vehicle's cost
by up to 75 percent, or simply by the good feeling that comes
with cleaning up the Valley's air, about 200 participants turned
out April 25 for "Arizona Alternatives: Clean Fuels for Clean
Cities." Sponsored by MAG, the first-ever statewide fuels
forum was designed to promote, celebrate and showcase alternative
fuel programs. The conference featured events and discussions
aimed at alternative fuel providers, fleet managers, Clean Cities
stakeholders and other decision makers. Information booths and
displays were open to the public in an effort to inform motorists
about alternative fuels and how they can be used.
The most popular display featured a ‘ride and drive' where participants could drive or be driven in a number of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles. The clean cars ranged from a hydrogen Geo to bi-fuel pickup trucks to a hybrid electric Toyota Prius and Honda Civic. There was even a retrofitted electric Porsche brought in by students from Shadow Mountain High School.
The purpose of the forum was to demonstrate that owning and
driving an alternative fuel vehicle is not much different from
owning any other vehicle in terms of appearance, handling and
performance. Instead, the difference lies in the cleaner emissions
that come out of the tailpipe, which can be critical to cleaner
air.
For more information contact Lindy
Bauer, MAG Environmental Manager, or Kelly Taft, MAG Communications
Program Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Judges Selected for Desert Peaks Awards
A distinguished panel of judges from across the region has been
assigned the difficult task of selecting recipients of the Third
Annual Desert Peaks Awards. The judges, who represent a diverse
cross section of interests and experience, were selected for their
insight and knowledge of regional issues. The seven member panel
includes: Sandy Black, Community Relations Manager at Intel Corporation;
Alfredo Gutierrez, President of Jamieson and Gutierrez and former
state senator; the Honorable Jeff Hatch-Miller, State Representative;
Ginny Hildebrand, Executive Director of the Association of Arizona
Food Banks and 1999 Desert Peaks Award recipient; Pam Johnson,
Senior Vice President and Executive Editor of the Arizona Republic;
Ray Kellis, former Peoria School Superintendent; and Kathryn Lincoln,
President of Lincoln Foundation, Incorporated.
This year 45 nominations were received for the five award categories of Public Partnership, Public Private Partnership, Distinguished Service, Regional Partnership and Regional Excellence.
The Desert Peaks Awards program will be held at the Phoenix Airport Marriott Hotel on Wednesday, June 21, 2000. The awards ceremony will follow the MAG Annual Meeting, which begins at 5:00 p.m. at the same location. A reception will be held from 5:30-6:15 p.m., with the dinner and awards ceremony taking place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Highlights of this year's event will include a State of the Region address by current MAG Chairman Neil Giuliano and a look at the challenges ahead for the region by MAG Vice Chairman Skip Rimsza.
The cost is $40 per ticket for reservations and payments received
before June 6, 2000. Reservations received after the deadline
will be made on a space available basis.
For more information contact Kelly
Taft, MAG Communications Program Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Next Regional Council Meeting
The next Regional Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May
24, 2000 at 5:00 p.m. at the MAG offices, 302 N. 1st Ave., Suite
200. Agenda items will include the Desert Spaces Implementation
Task Force and Environmentally Sensitive Development Standards,
which were carried forward from the April 26, 2000 Regional Council
meeting. Additional agenda items will include a requested change
to increase the project budget for the Pecos Road connection for
the Santan/I-10 Traffic Interchange; consideration of the Interim
Closeout and Amendment to the FY 2000-2004 MAG Transportation
Improvement Program; N-1-1 (specially designated three digit dialing
codes) Telephone Service recommendations; the Incarceration of
Municipal Prisoners Working Group Interim Report; the Homeless
Continuum of Care Recommendations; and adoption of the FY 2001
MAG Unified Planning Work Program and Annual Budget.
For more information contact Dennis
Smith, MAG Assistant Director, (602) 254-6300.