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End of Session Wrap Up
As previously reported, the 100-day state legislative session came to a close at 5:25 a.m. on April 20. Phoenix staff tracked a number of bills and amendments throughout the process. Attached is the end of session report that was provided to the Mayor and Council this week. The report contains descriptions of bills that are relevant to City operations as well as a budget recap, special session summary, and an outlook for 2012. Check it out!
Source: P.L.A.N.
As part of her announcement, Phoenix City Councilwoman Peggy Neely laid out her plan for an administration focused on creating jobs, trimming the City budget and making City Hall business more transparent to residents. Click to watch the video below.
Source: Peggy Neely for Phoenix Mayor
Two weeks ago, I unveiled my public policy plan. In traveling around the city and listening to our residents, it has become clear to me that a vision that is both broad and bold is needed. As such, I offer this policy plan entitled “The Phoenix We Want,” to address the concerns that have been expressed to me as I have listened to people from throughout the city.
Now, I need your help to bring jobs to Phoenix.
I believe one of the most critical needs is a plan to diversify our jobs base. We can’t rely on construction alone to fuel our future. Instead, we must help existing businesses expand and then work with them to leverage new relationships with companies looking to relocate. I am no stranger to attracting businesses to Phoenix. During my time on the city council, District 2 has been a strong leader in job creation attracting companies such as Republic Services, Mayo Clinic Hospital, W.L. Gore and Associates, American Express, Axway, APL, Ryan Companies, and Penske Automotive Group/ Chauncey Ranch Auto Boutique developing thousands of jobs and attracting regional and national headquarters to Phoenix.
I am asking for your support.
If we can commit to attracting new jobs and businesses, we will put ourselves on a path toward recovery and sustainability. It’s a path we can and will walk as one of America’s greatest cities and one I hope we decide to walk together.
Please click here now to make a contribution of $500, $250, $100 or whatever you can afford.
I ask that you make this contribution within the next 48 hours so I can begin to put together our campaign plan to create the Phoenix you want.
Source: Peggy Neely for Mayor
It is time for leaders to listen -- to work with the citizens of our great city to chart a course for a prosperous future. Phoenix should no longer accept a back seat in the area of public policy.
I pride myself as a problem solver who will get people together to help resolve conflict. Leadership also requires the ability to listen, discern and act in the best interest of the residents of Phoenix.
In traveling around the city and listening to our residents, it has become clear to me that a vision that is both broad and bold is needed. As such, I offer my policy plan entitled “The Phoenix We Want,” to address the concerns that have been expressed to me as I have listened to people from throughout the city.
However, I also want to hear more from you. That is why I asking you “What’s the most important issue facing our city?”
*****
It is time for leaders to LISTEN -- to work with the citizens of our great city to chart a course for a prosperous future. Phoenix should no longer accept a back seat in the area of public policy. I am proud to present this comprehensive public policy document called "The Phoenix We Want" Here are the critical issues:
Attract Jobs and New Businesses
The most critical need is a plan to diversify our jobs base. We can’t rely on construction alone to fuel our future. Instead, we must help existing businesses expand and then work with them to leverage new relationships with companies looking to relocate.
Build a Business Reputation - - We should build a world reputation in one or more business sectors. In addition, we should cluster economic development efforts on growing areas such as biomedical, healthcare, solar, and other industries to diversify our economy.
Attract high-wage employers - - Develop policy and tools to attract high-wage employers to invest in Arizona. Efforts such as a uniform sales tax could benefit businesses and reduce bureaucracy that limits their ability to expand.
Develop each area to its full potential - - I believe in growth with a purpose, but not growth for growth’s sake. Just as the village concept serves our diverse planning needs, we must create a similar approach for business development that clearly outlines the businesses and opportunities we agree would best fit each area of the city.
Expand our tourism opportunities - - While downtown is still an important destination, we must also promote the rest of Phoenix as a tourism attraction rich in recreation amenities like golf, hiking, biking, parks, soccer, world-class resorts, and breathtaking open space.
Protect key revenue generators - - We must continue to support our key sources of revenue such as Sky Harbor Airport. In addition, we cannot stand idly by as other states seek to lure our spring training baseball teams from Phoenix. They generate much-needed annual revenue that cannot easily be replaced.
Transform Phoenix into a major industrial and shipping hub - - Phoenix should spearhead a regional taskforce to foster a Mexican deep water port alternative to Los Angeles allowing goods to be shipped to Phoenix for distribution across the country. Mexico is Arizona’s number one trading partner – efforts such as this and others should be implemented to strengthen that relationship.
Make Phoenix business friendly - - All City of Phoenix departments should be customer oriented to help citizens and businesses alike. A Jobs Task Force could meet quarterly with business and development leaders to hear their concerns and ideas about how to make Phoenix more business friendly.
Emphasize shopping in Phoenix - - I will work with business owners and the leaders of the “shop local” efforts to ensure that residents understand the added value of spending their money in the city.
Attract venture capital and foreign investment to Phoenix - - I want to develop a plan to encourage business beyond the incubation stage by finding innovative ways to lure more venture capital to our community.
Balance City Budget and Reduce the Size of Government
Phoenicians want leaders capable of managing their tax dollars. They expect us to weigh the benefits of programs and initiatives. Precious public funds must be spent wisely. We should agree that future budgets will deliver core city services at a level that our residents can afford. We must do a better job of setting priorities. Once those are funded, then we should look to reduce taxes, and spend remaining funds on other desired services on a pay-as- you-go basis to minimize debt.
Zero based budget - - For the City’s Enterprise Funds – Aviation, Water, Wastewater, Golf, Solid Waste, and in part the Civic Plaza fund - - we should start fresh every year with a clean budget slate. No more starting from last year’s budget to decide future spending.
Implement cost saving measures - - We must comb through each department looking for ways to reduce costs. We should look at best practices from cities nationwide for new ways to reduce spending.
Pension reform - - The mayor and city council should have greater oversight of the pension board and the process. Employees should be compensated fairly, but we must address pension reform and issues such as “double dipping.”
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 2.5 percent. We also should require that these funds be spent before considering any city tax increase.
Increase Efficiency - - Mayor, City Council and staff should work to implement recommendations of the Efficiency Task Force. We must also make it a practice of rewarding employees for operational efficiency ideas and customer satisfaction.
Regionalization of public services - - Phoenix is the biggest city in the state and therefore bears significant responsibility when it comes to encouraging regional cooperation. Public services such as transportation should be regionalized to increase efficiency. Even with Phoenix paying its fair share to operate the system, it should reduce costs.
Preserve bond ratings - - Phoenix has a long track record of maintaining a positive bond rating and currently has some of the highest ratings in the country. We must develop financial policies that maintain that record.
Protect Public Safety
Although we face budgetary issues, our top priority should always be public safety, a critical element to maintaining our quality of life and attracting businesses. Those who protect our neighborhoods should not have to worry about budget cuts or job losses because their leaders couldn’t manage a budget. Likewise these departments should be expected to be efficient with funds available. By working together, we can serve the public safety needs of the community, and increase accountability, without reducing public safety.
Transitional response vehicles - - Many Phoenix fire calls are medical emergencies. Sending a full fire truck requires additional manpower and causes wear and tear on expensive vehicles. Partnering with local healthcare providers, we should find ways to send smaller response teams and vehicles on medical emergencies and offer more help in the field to reduce emergency room visits.
Police social response - - Many Phoenix police calls are from people in need of social services or support. We should develop a program for dispatching social workers instead of police officers when appropriate.
Implement recent Police Task Force recommendations - - We should improve police officer accountability by implementing the recommendations of the recent task force. Suggestions such as requiring patrol officers to carry business cards with their badge numbers and supervisors' contact information will help them improve relations in the community and lead to more citizen cooperation in fighting crime.
Enforce immigration laws - - We should expect the City of Phoenix to uphold and enforce all state laws, including SB1070, as efficiently and effectively as possible. While I have concerns about any legislation that may come with unfunded mandates, as a public servant, I am committed to upholding the law.
Demand border security - - Phoenix should be using its influence as a leader in the southwest to do more to demand border security and enforce our immigration laws. I will work with the Governor, Mayors and others to demand that the Federal government do its job to ensure that our border is secure.
Increase Accessibility and Transparency
Transparency and accessibility are critical for citizens to have confidence in their government. They are important now more than ever, especially when we are making tough decisions that lead to reductions in services or the allocation of scarce funds. As elected leaders we must be open and transparent in everything we do. Emergency tax hikes, bureaucratic red tape, and confusing websites shut the citizens out of the process and foster mistrust in the way government is being operated.
Ethics policy - - We must establish an ethics policy that fosters openness, trust and integrity when interacting with citizens, employees, and others.
Lobbyist reform - - We must require lobbyists to file their reports sooner than they do today and make those reports available to the public on the Internet immediately.
Increased financial disclosure - - I believe we should make available online yearly financial disclosure forms from all candidates, council members and the Mayor – in the same way campaign finance reports are available to the public.
Online campaign finance reporting - - We should transform our online campaign finance report system from scanned documents to an electronic filing program improving access for candidates and citizens alike.
Tax discussion period - -We must formalize a process that requires a thorough public discussion any time a tax increase is being considered by the Council. We must never approve another tax hike of any kind without a full public debate.
Improve the City of Phoenix website - - I want to work with citizens, business owners, and news media to improve city website accessibility and usability.
Encourage Quality Education
Education is a cornerstone of our quality of life. As a mother, my first priority was to ensure a quality education for my daughters. That is why I became actively involved in the United Parents Council. We can’t afford to keep a hands-off approach to education and expect things to change. If we are to attract business and investment to Phoenix, we must offer quality K-12 education for their families and university education that produces highly trained and skilled workforce to fill their needs.
Promote academic innovation and competitive education - - We must foster and encourage choices in public education to boost competition and build an abundant, talented workforce to attract business.
Support quality university education - - We must capitalize on our higher education opportunities building on our relationships with local universities and actively attracting other institutions to locate in Phoenix.
Recognize and encourage success - - Recognize quality teachers and successful students on a regular basis and connect educators and administrators with local government and business leaders to understand what is working and what needs improvement.
Encourage student participation - - Foster student participation and engagement in local government in areas such as developing policy, expanding volunteerism, and creating a sustainable city.
Support Strong Neighborhoods
Our neighborhoods are filled with people who work every day, focus on raising their families, take care of loved ones and connect at a very personal level in the areas of the city that they live, work and play. The interactions they have with city government on a daily basis are somewhat limited. They expect that the garbage will be picked up on time, the water they use is safe, the parks are clean, and their neighborhoods are free of crime and police and fire will arrive if called. We must ensure that Phoenix remains neighborhood friendly by meeting and exceeding the expectations of our residents.
Community policing - - I want to work with our police and fire departments to encourage their officers and firefighters to stay engaged in the community as a way to build public confidence in our unsung heroes.
Neighborhood advocate - - I will designate a position on the Mayor’s staff that will be a clearinghouse for neighborhood issues affecting the city. This person would interact with city departments to make sure neighborhood concerns are heard and factored into any decisions that are designed to improve the City.
Neighborhood and business cooperation - - Part of strengthening neighborhoods is understanding what leads to decline. Business and industry being chased away leads to more vacancies in strip shopping centers and malls, reducing jobs and revenue and displacing homeowners who lose their jobs. This does not do anything to strengthen neighborhoods. Strong neighborhoods can and should be compatible with strong business and industry.
Source: Peggy Neely for Phoenix Mayor
Library operations . . . Outsourced.
Planning and zoning . . . Outsourced.
Domestic violence services. . . Outsourced.
Neighborhood code enforcement . . . Outsourced.
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Over the last several weeks, we've been informing P.L.A.N. subscribers about Senate Bill 1322: Managed Competition; City Services, a measure introduced by Tucson Senator Frank Antenori that dictates how City of Phoenix services are procured.
Recent amendments mandate Phoenix to spend taxpayer dollars to undertake an outsourcing, bidding process for municipal services that cost more than $500,000 (sworn Police/Fire personnel, City attorneys/prosecutors, City judges, and the City manager and clerk's offices are exempt).
The City strives to operate every program and service with an eye towards fiscal discipline and accountability. We also recognize that the private sector can and should play a role. This is why Phoenix currently outsources $432 million over 350 service areas. Senate Bill 1322 ignores this fact and instead has the state legislature overriding the Phoenix Council, Manager and voter-approved Charter which governs the City. Your elected Mayor and Council would have no say in the matter.
Programs and services that would be up for bid include:
Domestic violence services
Library operations
Planning and zoning administration
Neighborhood code enforcement
Graffiti busters
Civilian components of the City's Homeland Security Operation
Unsworn personnel in the Police crime lab
Water and wastewater treatment facilities
Certain operations at Sky Harbor International, Goodyear and Deer Valley Airports
Emergency utility assistance
Homeless shelters and prevention programs
Senior center services
Budget management
Small business development program
Equal opportunity functions
Human resources and employee discipline
The bill is so sweeping that the City would even have to bid out the procurement office that would then implement the mandatory procurement functions for the rest of the City's services.
The Phoenix City Council voted to oppose this measure, yet it is now just one step away from the Governor's Office. Please contact the following Phoenix State Senators and the Governor's Office and ask them to please oppose this costly preemption of local control.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
The Honorable Jan Brewer
Governor of Arizona
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
602-542-4331
E-mail
Senators Representing the Phoenix Central Neighborhood
Kyrsten Sinema
Legislative District 15
Email: ksinema@azleg.gov
(P) 602-926-5058
Source: P.L.A.N.
Legislature Agreed on 2011-2012 State Budget
Last week a state budget for FY 2011-2012 (with adjustments to FY 2010-2011) was unveiled, debated, approved, and sent to Governor Brewer for her signature. The House started by deliberating and passing the Senate's budget bills with minor modifications in order to address Arizona's $1.7 billion deficit. Most reductions in the bills focus on K-12 education ($183 million), universities ($198 million), and AHCCCS ($510 million). House members worked through the night and sent the budget package to the Senate on Friday morning, where senators debated and passed the package and transmitted it to the Governor that day.
While this state budget will impact the City, revenue sharing (voter-approved dollars that pay for about 30 percent of Phoenix's general fund) was held harmless. The State will have Phoenicians pay $2 million in new fees to fund its Department of Water Resources. In addition, the budget plan sweeps about $12 million in Highway User Revenue Funds from the City that otherwise would help pay for street construction and maintenance projects.
Phoenix Budget Condition
Also last week, the Phoenix City Council approved a proposed Trial Budget for the City, which will be discussed in 15 community budget hearings this month. Because the city budget is developed with input from the Mayor and City Council, residents, city employees, city management and all city departments, the result is a budget that closely reflects the community's highest priorities.
Residents can provide input on the 2011-2012 City budget, as well as on the draft Phoenix Strategic Plan, by attending any of the community budget hearings beginning April 7.
What can you do?
Attend your community hearing to tell your City Council member and city management what programs and services are most important to you.
Contact your State Senator and State Representatives to thank them for protecting Shared Revenues for cities and towns. Click on "Link to the P.L.A.N." below to go to your "My PLAN" page to find your legislators' contact information.
Source: P.L.A.N.
SB 1322 -- A Very Bad Deal for Phoenix Taxpayers Senate Bill 1322: Cities;Towns; Managed Competition (Sen. Frank Antenori, R-Tucson) would mandate that the cities of Phoenix and Tucson put out most city services for competitive bidding, and award contracts to the lowest bidder who can do the work, even if they're out of state or out of the United States. What would be the cost to the City of Phoenix to comply with the mandated competitive bidding requirements of SB 1322? The city's Finance Department estimates that the average cost for a typical, simple procurement is somewhere between $22,000 and $42,000. A complex procurement, such as Phoenix already conducts for services like solid waste, towing, and banking, costs considerably more -- in the $100,000 to $150,000 range -- because consultants with expertise are needed to help structure the scope of work, monitoring requirements, etc. The most complex procurements, like a water treatment plant or airport, would cost the city millions of dollars because of the very detailed contract provisions requiring input from engineers and other specialists in these highly regulated operations. How many of these procurements would the City would be required to do should SB 1322 be enacted? It is safe to say that it would be in the thousands. Phoenix's total operating budget in fiscal year 2010-2011 including enterprises such as Aviation and Water Services was over $3.5 billion -- $432 million of that is already outsourced to private sector firms. To bid out and manage contracts for the other $3.1 billion in operations would cost Phoenix taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. For the upcoming fiscal year 2011-2012, Phoenix projects an estimated General Fund deficit of about $59 million. Clearly Phoenix does not have the money or other resources needed to comply with the unfunded mandates of SB 1322. Please call or email your legislator today -- why is the State even considering this? Source: P.L.A.N.
