Archive for March, 2010
East Valley mayors at odds on state tax hike
Surprise officers’ hearings set for next week
The Spring Surprise Super Swap Meet is Saturday, April 10, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., at the Surprise Aquatic Center Parking Lot, 15831 N. Bullard Avenue. Vendor spaces are now available for rent. For $35, plus $5 refundable cleaning deposit, residents or vendors can rent a 16-foot by 16-foot outdoor space. Proceeds from the rental fees support senior programs. Parking and admission are free and the event will be advertised in local newspapers, on the City’s website and government access television channel. It’s a great opportunity for City residents to clean out their garages and closets and sell any surplus and a fun way to recycle used treasures. Space is limited and reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. The ever popular community-wide garage sale, sponsored by the Surprise Senior Center Site Council, has been happening every spring and fall for the past seven years. For more information, or to reserve a space, please call 623.222.1500 or visit the Surprise Senior Center at 15832 Hollyhock Street. Space reservation is also accepted at the Community and Recreation Services Office, 15960 N. Bullard Avenue.
The City of Surprise is looking for patriotic parade entries for the 4th Annual Memorial Day Parade, Saturday, May 29, at the Surprise Recreation Campus. The parade, which will honor our active and retired military personnel, will run along Bullard Avenue beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Prizes will be awarded for the following entry categories: Best Motorized, Symbolism, Best Overall and Best Youth Entry. The 2009 Winners were: Best Motorized Entry- Stars & Stripes Volunteer Fire Department Symbolism - Tribute to Arizona/Oasis Baptist Church
Best Overall- Arizona Military Vehicle Collectors Club Best Youth Entry- Valley Vista High School Spirit Line
Last year, the parade had over 80 entries including the Luke Air Force Base Honor Guard, Valley Vista High School Marching Band and the ever popular “Fire Up Freedom” fire truck.
Show your patriotic spirit by becoming a parade entry! For an entry form please contact Travis.ashby@surpriseaz.gov or call 623.222.2263. Registration deadline is May 15, 2010.
New web site
City Web site .gov conversion coming in April
Surprise AZ (March 24, 2010) In April, the city’s official www.surpriseaz.com web address will change to www.surpriseaz.gov, aligning the city more closely with the way government web sites are branded.
“Traditionally .com is reserved for commercial sites and most cities and government entities use .gov,” says Interim Assistant City Manager George Kolb. “Internet searches will still easily find the city’s site and anyone typing in .com, will be automatically redirected to surpriseaz.gov.”
The conversion follows the recent change in all city staff and elected officials’ email addresses, also ending in .gov.
The city’s commercial sites will remain .com sites. They include www.surprisespringtraining.com; www.aztechcelerator.com and www.surprisecitystore.com.
Attend a meeting
The City of Surprise will host two Open House events next week regarding the General Plan 2030 and an update to the Transportation Plan.
All residents are invited to attend one of the following meetings to learn about the long-range growth plans for the city:
Willow Canyon High School Cafeteria
17901 West Lundberg Street
Surprise, AZ
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Between 4-7 PM
Northwest Regional Library
16089 N Bullard Avenue
Surprise, AZ 85374
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Between 4-7 PM
Surprise officers to ask for jobs back
Ariz. tribe sues for casino application approval
Please note that Ladies Night is Tuesday, March 30, not Thursday as was stated in the earlier release I sent last week. I apologize for the error. Thank you!
The Surprise Marketing and Communications Department and Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce have produced a new show highlighting chamber events and businesses in Surprise.
“The Chamber Minute,” is hosted by Surprise Regional Chamber President and CEO David Moss.
The TV & internet video spots update residents on chamber activities and spotlight membership benefits. Viewers are also urged to visit the chamber’s new Web site www.surpriseregionalchamber.com.
“We’ve added a searchable directory of all businesses licensed to do business in Surprise, including non-chamber businesses,” says Moss.
Visitors will also have access to an inclusive community calendar.
“That calendar is a great partnership tool for the community,” says Marketing and Communications Director Ken Lynch. “The city’s Web calendar is for city events only, now residents can contact the chamber to help promote their community events on the chamber’s community calendar.”
“The Chamber Minute,” can be seen on Surprise 11, or online at www.surpriseaz.com/surprise11.
For more information about the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce, visit www.surpriseregionalchamber.com or call 623.583.0692.
Chamber of Commerce
The City of Surprise since September 2007 has given approximately $200.000 to the Chamber of Commerce and it appears that they are receiving an additional $50,000 a month.
Because the US Chamber of Commerce is politically active, they should not be subsidized by a city.
There will be major changes in the City of Surprise.
Some claim that citizens have apathy in regards to what is happening in the City of Surprise. The City Officials have shut us out in taking an active part in discussions in their workshops. we cannot address or take part in their agenda items. When I was on the Council, citizens were engaged in our workshops.
During this time members of the public may address City Council on any item not on the agenda. At the conclusion of the open call, City Council may respond to criticism, may ask staff to review the matter or may ask that the matter be put on a future agenda. No discussion or action shall take place on any item raised.
It was good that the City of Surprise failed in their attempt to sell Bonds. Look at what is happening with the City of Glendale and their Pipe Dreams.
I believe if we had plans for good thoroughfares in and out of the city, the bonds for only those projects would pass.
Surprise trio stumps for city transportation priorities in D.C.
transportation priorities in D.C.Comments 0 | Recommend 0 YourwestValley.Com
Vice Mayor Richard Alton, Councilwoman Sharon Wolcott and Intergovernmental Relations Director Michael Celaya have visited with senators John McCain and Jon Kyl, as well as congressmen Trent Franks and Ed Pastor.
They also met with the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, James Oberstar, and Congresswoman Betty McCollum, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, to discuss commuter rail.
During the meetings, the group advocated for:
• Commuter rail along the Grand Avenue Corridor.
• Statewide Foreign Trade Zone to provide a boost in local employment opportunities.
• Maricopa Association of Governments new federal incentives partnership for growing metropolitan areas more than 1 million in size.
• Impact of bringing the F-35 training mission to Luke Air Force Base.
“The time has come to move forward on commuter rail, from just being a topic of discussion at local transportation meetings, to a reality where neighbors ride together on a daily basis to and from their workplaces across the Valley,” Wolcott said.
Surprise submitted appropriations requests to begin substantial improvements to the southern end of Litchfield Road and funding for technology improvements for the police department.
The group will now shift its focus to the annual National League of Cities Conference, where they will meet with other municipal leaders, federal agency leaders and legislators to discuss how cities can work toward economic recovery at the local level.
2010 Census
In Surprise it’s hard to miss the “Census 2010: Count Me In” message, promoted prominently on Bell Road and across the city on the sanitation fleet, just as the forms are arriving in resident mailboxes.
Eastbound Bell Road drivers crossing the Friendship Bridge can now see a massive Census 2010 promotional billboard, encouraging them to fill out and return their Census forms immediately. The location was determined based on the more than 70,000 vehicles per day that pass by.
“It’s big, bold and people instantly get the message of why participating in the Census is crucial for Surprise,” says Community Development Director Jeff Mihelich. “Simply put, our population is tied to federal funding and congressional representation, so we need our residents to get counted.”
It is estimated that each Surprise resident counted by the Census equals $1,300 in federal funds for local transportation, hospital and school needs.
In support of the city’s 2010 Census Complete Count Committee recommendation, the city also added Census 2010 signage to the city’s sanitation fleet.
The billboard and the fleet signage direct people to www.surpriseaz.com/census2010, where they can see the 10 Census questions; learn how to receive a form in another language; or connect to a series of Frequently Asked Questions about the Census.
City-produced Census public service announcements are also running during Spring Training games at the Surprise Recreation Campus- Surprise Stadium throughout the month of March. And the local business, retirement, education and faith-based communities are helping to promote Census participation.
The form takes about 10 minutes to complete and answers are confidential. The forms should be completed by all full-time, part time and non-American residents and mailed back to the
The City of Surprise will host two Open House events next week regarding the General Plan 2030 and an update to the Transportation Plan. All residents are invited to attend one of the following meetings to learn about the long-range growth plans for the city:
Willow Canyon High School Cafeteria 17901 West Lundberg Street Surprise, AZ
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Between 4-7 PM Northwest Regional Library
16089 N Bullard Avenue Surprise, AZ 85374 Wednesday, March 24, 2010 Between 4-7 PM
Staff and exhibits will be on site to explain details of the General Plan, the roadmap for ensuring vibrant and solid growth for the city over the next 20 years. The open house will offer residents a chance to learn more about how the General Plan affects their daily lives and have their questions answered. For more information call 623.222.3155.
Polls
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