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As required by the Federal and State Constitutions, and consistent with federal law regarding apportionment, the City Code requires the City Council to revise council district boundaries to equalize population distribution at least once every 10 years based on the decennial census. The current council district boundaries became effective in January 2003 following the 2000 decennial census. District population, based on the 2010 census, varies from the smallest at 150,919 (District 4) to the largest at 261,458 (District 7). To equalize district population, the ideal population size for each is 180,704. To achieve this, most districts will need to gain population, with a few losing population, while maintaining minority voting strength.
The City’s public process will begin with public meetings conducted in each Council District between January 31 and February 17, 2012 to provide residents with information about the redistricting process, to distribute redistricting materials, and to obtain input from residents regarding communities of interest. Additionally, the City’s redistricting website will contain all materials provided in the public meetings and an online mapping program to allow residents to draw proposed boundary lines, see statistical data on the proposed boundaries, and submit proposed district maps for review and analysis. The City encourages you to participate in the public meetings and also make use of the redistricting website and online mapping tool located at http://www.phoenix.gov/redistricting.
Based on input received from the public and the mapping consultant team will compile several draft maps for consideration by the Mayor and Council. A second round of public meetings will occur for public feedback on these draft maps. This second round of meetings is planned for late April and early May. Based on the public feedback, the maps will be refined and the Mayor and Council will vote on a final map that will be submitted to the Department of Justice for preclearance.
Please share this information with your friends and neighbors. If you have any questions or comments, please contact the City’s redistricting hotline at (602) 256-4357 or by e-mail at redistricting@phoenix.gov.
Redistricting meeting schedule - first round (locations closest to the Phoenix Central Neighborhood boundaries):
6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N. Central Ave. (Technical Workshop)
6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, Sunnyslope Community Center, 802 E. Vogel Ave.
1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, Burton Barr Central Library Auditorium, 1221 N. Central Ave.
Source: Cris Meyer, City Clerk
Waiting and Watching Washington
Passage by Congress of the Budget Control Act last week has state and local governments watching carefully. The Act calls for two phases of federal deficit reduction -- the first phase reduces just under $1.0 trillion in spending over the next decade; the second phase creates a special committee of Congress to recommend additional deficit reduction measures of up to $1.5 trillion. Members of the special committee, including Arizona Senator Jon Kyl, must agree before Thanksgiving on a legislative package that meets that goal; then the full House and Senate must vote on the package by December 23.
Phoenix receives significant funding from the federal government for programs that benefit Phoenix residents, so staff is watching closely so that the city is prepared for any changes to those programs. Short term impacts are minimal. We all will know more as the special committee completes its work.
Superior Court Decision Upholds Health Care Cuts
On Wednesday, the Maricopa County Superior Court upheld the State's decision in its fiscal 2012 budget to cut up to $500 million from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) through changes in eligibility criteria. The ruling stemmed from a claim that the legislative act violates Proposition 204, an initiative approved by voters in 2000, that expanded AHCCCS coverage eligibility. Barring a successful appeal, the state budget is estimated to be on track to finish only $32 million in the red by the end of the fiscal year.
Source: P.L.A.N.
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer today announced her enthusiastic endorsement of Peggy Neely as the next Mayor of Phoenix.
“I have admired Peggy Neely’s record of job creation and her devotion to government reform,” stated Governor Brewer. “With the passage of Arizona’s economic competitiveness package and the creation of the Arizona Commerce Authority, Arizona needs experienced leaders who are dedicated to public-private partnerships and job creation.
“Peggy fits that bill and has my full support. I look forward to working with her on Arizona’s comeback.”
Former Phoenix City Councilwoman Neely said, “I am extremely honored by our Governor’s support. Governor Brewer has been a model for making hard decisions and standing by them. I will work hand-in-hand with her administration to make Phoenix and Arizona number one in job creation.”
Source: Peggy Neely for Phoenix Mayor
Overview
The City of Phoenix will be implementing Voting Centers for the Mayor and City Council Election in August 2011. The change to Voting Centers was approved by the Mayor and City Council and the U.S. Department of Justice.
The 26 Voting Centers will replace the traditional 128 polling places, making voting more convenient, flexible, and accessible. Voting Centers will ONLY apply to City of Phoenix elections.
The Early Voting process does not change. In City Elections, over 90% of ballots are cast by mail. Under State law, any registered voter may request to be on the Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) to automatically receive a ballot by mail for all elections.
Key dates related to the early voting process:
May 2 – Notice mailed to voters on the Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL); voters may also begin to request early ballots
August 4 – Early Ballot mailing begins and Early Voting starts at Phoenix City Hall
August 13 and August 20 – Early Voting sites will be open throughout the city
August 19 – Last day to request an early ballot by mail
August 26 – Last day for on site Early Voting at Phoenix City Hall
How Voting Centers Work
26 Voting Centers will be open for three days – on Saturday, August 27, Monday, August 29 and Tuesday, August 30 (Election Day), replacing 128 polling places in the City.
Any voter may cast a ballot at any location; voters are not limited to one designated polling place.
Voters can replace or drop-off an early ballot at any Early Voting or Voting Center location.
Benefits of Voting Centers
Continue popular Early Voting process and retain an in-person voting option.
Greater convenience for voters to be able to cast a ballot at any of the 26 voting center locations over three days – close to home, work or other activities.
Improved sites, service and support – Most Voting Center locations are accessible by public transportation, near business or shopping cores, and along major streets. Improved service and support at each location from fewer facilities to staff.
Lower cost than traditional polling place elections or an all mail election.
For More Information
For further information on the Voting Centers, the Early Voting process, or for other City election-related questions, please use one or more of the following resources:
Website – http://phoenix.gov/ELECTION/elect.html
Email – elections@phoenix.gov
Phone – 602-261-VOTE (8683)
Fax – 602-495-5080
TTY – 602-534-2737
Source:
Cris A. Meyer
City Clerk
The Voting Centers will be in effect for the August Mayor and Council election and all future city of Phoenix elections. Now, we would appreciate your help to spread the word about Voting Centers and how they work.
The concept is simple. For city of Phoenix elections, 26 Voting Centers will replace the traditional 128 polling places. Voters can go to any Voting Center to cast their vote and will no longer be limited to a specific polling place. The Voting Centers also will be open for three days – on Saturday, August 27, Monday, August 29, and Tuesday, August 30 (Election Day). These significant changes will make voting more convenient, flexible and accessible for the public.
Also, the Early Voting process, including voting by mail and the Permanent Early Voting List, will remain the same with Voting Centers.
Please note that Voting Centers ONLY apply to City of Phoenix elections. It will not yet be used for federal, state and county elections.
Click here to download the map of voting center locations.
Representatives from our Elections Division will be available to make a presentation about Voting Centers, if needed. Please contact me at 602-262-6558, or via email at cris.meyer@phoenix.gov, if you have any questions or comments.
Source:
Cris A. Meyer
City Clerk
A.W.A.R.E. – 12 Charter Reform Ideas for 2012
Accountability, Wisdom, Accessibility, Representation, & Ethics
The City of Phoenix was established as an incorporated city in 1881. In 1913, Phoenix was established by charter as a council manager form of government with a population less than 20,000 making it one of the first cities in the country with this form of government. Today, Phoenix has a population of approximately 1.5 million making it the largest council manager form of government city in the country. The charter itself is meant to be a living document that would be amended to change with the evolving city. The last major changes to the charter occurred in 1983 and resulted in the creation of districts to elect the city council.
The form of governance only works if it truly reflects the will and needs of the people it serves. The time has come to have a comprehensive review of the city’s charter to help change the culture at City Hall. We need to ensure that city government continues to serve the residents of the City of Phoenix and not the entrenched interests of government unions, influential zoning attorneys, and companies who have made their business around relationships with municipal service areas. In short, we need to focus on making sure that City Hall serves the taxpayers of Phoenix – not itself.
We cannot wait. It is time to act. If elected, I will use the momentum of this election process to carry forth the most wide-ranging reform of our municipal government in nearly 30 years. The goal will be to comprehensively review the charter and modernize it to reflect the realities of today and the prospects and opportunities for tomorrow. These reforms should focus on accountability, wisdom, accessibility, representation and ethics (A.W.A.R.E.) and focusing on opening up City Hall to a greater degree of public scrutiny and fostering a more open and transparent dialogue among elected and appointed leaders. Phoenix residents should have the opportunity to be more aware of what is going on in their community.
One of my first actions as Mayor will be to set a public process made up of citizens of Phoenix who are the taxpayers all of us in public service are here to serve, to take the comprehensive review of the City’s Charter, not lobbyists, special interest, city insiders and/or those who can earn their living doing business with the city.
Charter reforms will be presented to the public in an open and transparent process, debated, and adopted or referred to the ballot in 2012. Everyone should come to the table with suggestions – I am offering twelve ideas I support that should start this reform process. This is not meant as a comprehensive list of reforms, but as a starting point to use during this election cycle to start a community discussion and debate that will lead to action if I am fortunate enough to be elected:
* Mandatory discussion period and public hearing schedule on all tax increases: Any actions to levy taxes should be done with proper notices, not merely to meet the technical requirements of the open meeting law but ensuring that sufficient time is given to all the taxpayers so that thoughtful debate and discussion takes place before any tax levy is made.
* Zero based budgeting and increased budget transparency: We should start fresh every year with a clean budget slate. No more starting from last year’s budget to decide future spending. In addition, we should implement better reporting mechanism to the public on the finances of the city and frequency of such reports in a public setting where the taxpayers and residents can express their views to the elected representatives. The City’s checkbook should be online and easily accessible and easy to explore.
* Strengthen the ethics policy: Develop a stronger and clearer conflict of interest and ethics policy statement that will clearly point out the minimum requirements any elected official and those appointed by the elected body are to abide by. I would also include those who serve on boards and commissions. There should be no loophole, ambiguity or general lack of clarity that all of us who serve the will of the people should be expected to follow. In addition, there should be strong monetary sanctions and the risk of removal from the position imposed on anyone found to be guilty of violating the public trust in their capacity as public servants.
* Increased council control of debt financing and budget tools: The fiscal stewardship of the City rests with the city manager and not the city council. The Mayor and Council approve the budget and purchases over a given dollar amount but the preparation of the budget and fiscal day to day stewardship rest with the city manager. There needs to be increased City Council accountability for any debt financing and budget tools used to balance the budget – it should not be “take it or leave it” as part of the budget adoption process.
* Unified election cycle: Voters should decide if we should vote on the unification of the election cycle so that the Mayor runs concurrent with all council districts and the candidates for municipal offices appear on the same ballot and in the same election cycle as state and county officials. The potential cost savings would be over $1 million per election.
* Additional city council districts: It is time to debate the merits of additional members to the city council, if they can be added with a net zero change to the council budget.
* Increased citizen representation on healthcare and pension boards: The City works for the taxpayers – they are our boss. However, the healthcare and pension boards are set where the employees basically govern themselves. The taxpayers should have an increased say on how their money is being spent on the healthcare and pension of the employees who work for them.
* Planning commission reform: The appointees and how the appointments are made should be explored and adjusted as necessary. City council members should have more direct input on the planning commission and commission members should have more requirements in the disclosure of conflicts.
* Increased campaign finance transparency: Candidates should file their campaign finance reports electronically and the results should post immediately. Citizens should be able to search the reports for donors, expenditures, and other information instead of downloading large documents with hard to find information.
* Lobbyist reform: Lobbyist registrations should be posted online in a searchable database by lobbyist and by client. The database should also include increased financial reporting requirements – for example, gifts and meals for commission members should be reported just as they are for elected officials.
* Required council votes: Make the City Council more accountable by requiring council votes on critical issues instead of deferring hard choices to unelected citizen committees formed to diffuse responsibility.
* Strengthen rainy day fund: We should agree to save more money in good years by increasing the annual rate of contribution to the city’s “rainy day” fund above 3 percent. We also should require that these funds be spent before considering any city tax increase.
We need better checks and balances that ensure stronger financial stewardship that places the taxpayers and their elected representatives in charge and accountable – not bureaucrats. The public can no longer be an afterthought in this process. This is the pledge I make to you, the residents of Phoenix who we are all here ultimately to serve, not the bureaucrats and union bosses who flock to the city and have ingrained themselves in the system. The doors will be made wide open for you to not only peer into but to examine and demand nothing less than the best from your elected and appointed leaders.
Source: Peggy Neely for Phoenix Mayor
Independent Redistricting Commission Works on New Legislative District Boundaries
Arizona's Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) is currently working to adjust the State's federal and state legislative districts in time for the 2012 election cycle.
Following each U.S. Census decennial census, states use the new population data to redraw their legislative lines. Since the last census in 2000, population has shifted as people moved within and between states. "Redistricting" adjusts boundaries to account for those shifts, with the goal of ensuring that each district continues to have as equal a number of residents as possible. In Arizona, voters approved Proposition 106 in the 2000 General Election, giving the responsibility of drawing these lines to the IRC, a five-member board consisting of 2 Democrats, 2 Republicans, and 1 Independent.
To follow the IRC's work, follow this link for meeting and mapping information: http://www.azredistricting.org/default.asp. Your input is needed!
Source: P.L.A.N.
