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home / Government
City Council: 'Shop local' program and department audit
Doris Fightmaster
Thursday, March 15, 2012
At the March 6, 2012 meeting, City Council approved a new shop locally initiative. Presenter Danielle Casey from the Economic Development Department said the new incentive program for local shopping will run from April to November, and will have monthly prize drawings. Citizens who frequent participating businesses can submit receipts of $250 in non-retail and have a chance to win a $100 gift card. The cards will be good at any of the participating businesses. Submit $500 in receipts and automatically get a $10 gift card. According to Casey, all participants will receive an eco-friendly City bag.
The new initiative will encourage people to shop locally, investing in small businesses in town, and keeping tax dollars in the community. According to the presentation, “$73/$100 spent at a locally owned business remains in the community as opposed to only $43 in non-locally owned.” The new program will be evaluated in December through surveys of citizens and businesses who participate.
Presented by City Manager Brenda Fischer and approved by Council, Zucker Systems will conduct a comprehensive review of the Development Services Department. This audit will take about 15 weeks, and will cost $51,500, that will include 100-150 findings and recommendations the company will present to Council near the end of the fiscal year. Manager Fischer said the City desires findings that detail the strengths and positive features as well as information and recommendations for problem areas. Zucker Systems will interview all department heads within the City and Council members as well as conduct focus groups and surveys. Then they will review and compare all workings within the department to best practices and other cities’ work. This second department audit falls in line with Manager Fischer’s first year goals as presented to Council soon after accepting the position.
Mayor Smith again reminded everyone to get their City election ballot in the mail so it arrives by 7:00 P.M. March 13th. Residents can bring them to City Hall by 7:00 P.M. on that same day. Residents who recently moved and did not get a ballot can seek information on how to vote at City Hall, or go to the Pinal Council Elections office in Casa Grande. The Mayor also announced that there are vacancies on three different boards/commissions within the City -- one each on the Transportation Advisory Board, the Industrial Development Authority, and the Public Safety Personnel Retirement Board. Contact Council member Marquisha Griffin for the Transportation Advisory Board and City Hall for the other two openings.
During regular business, Council approved the installation of traffic signals at the intersections of Glennwilde Drive at Honeycutt Road and Regent Drive at Bowlin Road. Road maintenance and construction jobs were passed as Council approved various concrete repairs throughout the City and road crack seal services. Another contract approved installation of modified tire rubber for certain City streets. The big item of the night was approved; the City will apply again to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery IV (TIGERIV) for $60 million, for the grade separation at SR 347 and the Union Pacific Railroad crossing. This grant was not awarded during the last application process. According to Grants Manager Mary Witkofski, she added enhancements to the application and broke down a budget, showing benefits of each phase of the project.
An Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) was passed between the City and Maricopa Unified School District (MUSD) for the purpose of a School Resource Officer (SRO) to be placed at Maricopa High School. A Maricopa High School administrator and the Maricopa Police Department will evaluate the performance of the SRO annually jointly. Some of the duties of the SRO are listed in the agreement and include these items:
- Assist the school staff with classroom instruction of law-related education.
- Make both formal and informal contact with students.
- Assist with developing programs to control truancy, identify students who may be under the influence, and deter weapons or potential weapons on school campus.
- Help instill a sense of security and self-esteem in a positive way.
- Relate with students as a role model.
- Fulfill his/her duties as a sworn law enforcement officer for the State of Arizona.
During the work session prior to the regular meeting, staff sought guidance into two areas. One involves the usage and rental of a City-owned stage that many area groups would like to use. Council agrees that the stage is owned by the residents, but week-end usage would involve paying overtime for workers to move and set up the stage, then take down and put back in storage. Staff will work on rental agreements that would just recoup any costs to the City.
The other item involves perhaps making a change in City sign codes to allow different kinds of signs that could promote the City slogans or special events. Signs could also be used to promote service clubs and charities that are in the City, and other signs to encourage customers to visit local businesses. At the same time, signs could not distract drivers or interfere with right of way or flow of traffic. During the presentation, Council was able to see some signage used by other cities that seem to work for them, and saw some signs that were cluttered. Council members agreed that they do want to investigate some options for entry signs/monuments and leaned toward a collaborative or public/private and community effort. During discussion, it was brought up that a well placed sign could let people know about City events and festivals, as more traffic will be along SR 347 with the Ak-Chin Family Entertainment facility being constructed south of the City.
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Shelley Gillespie / CopaNews.com
Economic Development Director Danielle Casey presented a new "shop local" incentive program.
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