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home / Government
City Council -- air quality and federal funds are focus
Doris Fightmaster
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
One of the presentations during the January 20th City Council Work Sessions was about air pollution. City Director Billingsley and Vice Mayor Murphree recently attended a meeting regarding Pinal County air quality, PM10. Particulate Matter (PM) is fine, tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas, and according to the definition on Google, may be in the form of fly ash, soot, dust, fog, and fumes and is caused by diesel engines 90% of the time. These tiny particles are responsible for the smell and dirt associated with traffic pollution.
According to Billingsley, the EPA established standards for air quality PM10 back in the ’70s and monitors are in place to measure limits within a 24-hour period. If an area has four or more days a year over the limits, that area is eligible for an unattainment designation. The two monitors in Maricopa have exceeded these limits, but Billingsley doesn’t know if the designation given will be serious or moderate unattainment. Either way, he wants to get to work and present a pro-active State Improvement Plan (SIPS) when the time comes and get a head start in improving the air quality. Current Legislation has passed: Senate Bill 1550, stating clean air must be achieved by 2013.
Billingsley will be meeting with different groups to get an inventory to model that has to be economically viable. Murphree said the rock companies, agricultural districts, and developers will all be working internally and will be right there in establishing the improvement plans.
Mayor Smith reminded us that the recent Maricopa-Casa Grande Hwy. shoulder work was to help eliminate the PM10 air pollution, and that our street sweepers are certified for PM10. Director Billingsley told the Council that he would return with a plan and will be at the forefront to present it to the State.
Council Member Farrell gave a presentation from a recent Central Arizona Association of Governments (CAAG) meeting held concerning the Federal Stimulus Package project funding and priorities. According to Farrell, there is $1B given to AZ for transportation and $3M of that will go to Pinal County. When the initial “wish list” was made for Pinal County, Maricopa wasn’t a City, but Maricopa has submitted some projects that should be on the list. Farrell said that he hasn’t heard from any State Legislator about what was submitted.
All projects selected in the next six months must be shovel ready sites, ready to go. Many of our streets are not on the list, but there are two things, according to Farrell, that should be included in the Stimulus Package money: the grade separation project and the expansion on 347. Councilman Farrell was asked if it would help if people could get hold of legislators on these two items. He answered by saying we should encourage citizens to write in or contact them and be very specific in their requests. AZ House of Representatives for district 23 are Barbara McGuire and Frank Pratt. Rebecca Rios is our Senator and David Snider is our County Supervisor.
Mayor Smith invited some Maricopa athletes to attend the Council Meeting. 150 people from Maricopa ran in the Rock & Roll Marathon and ½ Marathon. Over $14,000 was given to our community for children’s programs.
An agreement was passed that allowed Economic Development Manager Danielle Casey to move forward in the creation of a Maricopa Economic Development Corporation. This action approved a professional service agreement with Greenberg Traurig Law for the creation of this 501 entity. The background information on this tax-exempt nonprofit entity says that its structure will permit it to engage in the development of future real estate through acquisition or received through donations. These kinds of corporations have also been able to join forces with private investors to form a limited liability company in order to provide below-market financing to local businesses. According to Ms. Casey, the department had a 2009/10 top priority of completing their tool kits and this is the last tool kit needed. Also, the City would not retain this council, as they are only used for the creation of the corporation.
Two items were approved for the Public Library. One allowing the money set aside to be used to complete the construction and furnishings for the new public library and the other to complete the interior of the library. This bid from D.L. Withers offered a bid alternative: a motion-activated sliding glass door to enter the library. “It is a 75-90 day schedule with a rock solid company that has built several schools in the area,” said Director McDonald.
Another item that passed, which involved Community Services Director Martin McDonald, was the Pacana Park Expansion Amendment that includes the construction of a restroom and maintenance building on the 10-acre expansion of the park. In the background material for this item it was written that the City Council has shown a strong commitment to improving the quality of life for Maricopa residents with this expansion. It will allow community events to expand and offer things that the general public is asking for (specifically, a southwestern-theme art show as part of the Maricopa Salsa Festival).
A parking variance was passed in the Shops at Maricopa Village that requested the reduction of the minimum parking spaces required for the location of religious assembly uses, for the ACTS Christian Center.
According to Mayor Smith, there will be a Spring Leadership Program for 25 people during March and April. Many of the graduates of the Leadership Academy are active in City commissions and community organizations such as school boards and HOAs. Check the City Website at www.maricopa-az.gov for details.
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Doris Fightmaster
Billingsley said monitors have exceeded PM10 limits.
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