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Notes for February 2007
City pursues energy-saving programs
City pursues energy-saving programs
Phoenix's strong commitment to being a good steward of the environment has been a hallmark at City Hall for more than 20 years.And the effort is certain to become even more pronounced in the years ahead.
Since the 1980s, the city's citizen-based Environmental Quality Commission and the City Council have been developing policies and recommendations to shape city environmental programs.
Combined with a dedicated work force that is environmentally savvy, they have produced programs that have gone well beyond state and federal government regulatory requirements and that have won national recognition.
While the city continues those efforts, it also is turning its attention toward sustaining its commitment to protecting the environment by appointing a special Sustainability Task Force to review existing programs and develop recommendations for the future.
The expanded move is aimed at making certain that the actions the city takes today meet the current needs while not compromising the ability of further generations to meet their needs.
The past city efforts have addressed a variety of environmental issues ranging from the development of brownfields properties to paving streets with rubberized asphalt to recycling hazardous wastes.
A key project was redirecting the city's General Plan to focus even more on issues involving the environment and natural resources. The plan serves as a blueprint for sustainability and responsible growth.
Other city programs and projects that have proved successful include:
- The brownfields program, which involves the cleaning of contaminated properties so they can be used for commercial developments. It has led to the restoration of 270 acres, investment of $264 million and creation of 3,000 jobs.
- An infill program that establishes lower development fees for projects in inner city areas. It has assisted more than 4,100 housing units.
- The development of Reach 11, which not only serves as a water retention facility to protect the Central Arizona Project canal from flood damage, but also provides recreation opportunities for residents. It has 18 miles of multi-use trails, an equestrian center and lighted soccer fields.
- A program that provides residents with an opportunity to dispose of household hazardous wastes. Last year, more than 66,000 gallons of wastes, 3,203 tires and 1,777 batteries were turned in at collection events.
- A program promoting the use of clean city buses has put 355 buses on the streets that are powered by natural gas. That's 77 percent of the transit fleet.
- A road resurfacing program that uses asphalt made from recycled rubber tires.
- An energy-saving program that has replaced more than 8,400 incandescent traffic signal bulbs with light-emitting diode devices, which use about 90 percent less electricity.
Meantime, the city is working on a variety of other programs that are expected to have the same favorable results.
They include the light rail system that will remove thousands of cars from the city streets; construction guidelines designed to eliminate "heat islands" from building developments; and converting of methane gas found at city landfills to electricity.
For more information, visit phoenix.gov/sustainability.
'Change a Light'
Here's your chance to lend your support to a civic organization and save a little electricity at the same time.Valley Forward is urging 250 of its members to take the "Change a Light, Change the World" pledge to change one light bulb in their home to a compact fluorescent light bulb.
You can join in the campaign by logging onto energystar.gov.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs use about 70 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs.
By inspiring just 250 people to take the pledge, $7,050 in energy costs will be saved and 111,500 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions will be eliminated.
Explorer program offers look at police work
Do you know a young person who is interested in a career in law enforcement?Young people between the ages of 14 and 21 can find out what it would be like by joining the Phoenix Police explorer program.
New members are being sought for Explorer Post 2906 where they can learn what it takes to become an officer while challenging themselves and making new friends.
For more information on how to join, visit phoenix.gov/police/explor1.html or call 602-262-7331.
March, April hazardous waste collections set
Phoenix residents can dispose of common hazardous wastes and other items at Household Hazardous Waste collections from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 15 - 17 at Paradise Valley Community College, 18401 N. 32nd St., and April 12 - 14 at Palmcroft Baptist Church, 15825 N. 35th Ave.In addition to batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze, pesticides and pool chemicals, the events will accept five road tires per household, computers and household appliances that use refrigerants, including refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and heat pumps. Commercial loads will not be accepted.
The city also will pick up household appliances at your home for a fee. Call for a collection appointment. For information, call 602-262-7251, send e-mail to pwserve@phoenix.gov or visit phoenix.gov/publicworks.
Women's Day celebration features PepsiCo president
Indra Nooyi, president and chief executive of PepsiCo, one of the world's largest beverages and convenient foods companies, will be the featured speaker at next month's Phoenix celebration of International Women's Day.The 16th annual luncheon - "Women of Courage: Perspectives on a Changing World" - will be Tuesday, March 6, at the Phoenix Convention Center South Ballroom, Third and Jefferson streets.
Activities will include a silent auction and entertainment at 11 a.m., followed by the luncheon at noon. Proceeds will benefit the International Women's Day Scholarship Fund, which provides education scholarships for women in need.
Tickets are $75 for individuals and $45 for students and seniors. For more information or to register, call 602-261-8242 or visit phoenix.gov/phxwomen/luncheon.html. For disability or language accommodations, call 602-534-1557/TTY.
Downtown Post Office remains open
Although Arizona State University's move downtown and the construction of the light rail nearby has led some people to believe that the U.S. Post Office downtown branch has closed, nothing could be further from the truth.The Post Office, located on Fillmore Street between Central and First avenues, is open for business just like it has been for the past 70 years.
The problem is, it is not getting much business.
Postal officials say patrons have been frightened off by the light rail construction and the takeover of part of the building by ASU, which opened a campus in the area last year.
The branch is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Post office box access is available 24 hours a day.
Sister Cities Worldfest March 23 - 24
The community will have an opportunity next month to experience the cultures of Phoenix's 10 sister cities at the Phoenix's Sister Cities WorldFEST.The free event, 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 23, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at Margaret T. Hance Park, 1134 N. Central Ave., will feature hands-on activities for kids, arts and crafts, ethnic foods and music.
For more information, visit phoenixsistercities.org or call 602-534-7358.
Cesar Chavez celebration March 22
Dolores Huerta, co-founder with Cesar Chavez of the United Farm Workers, will be the keynote speaker at the sixth annual Cesar E. Chavez luncheon celebration in Phoenix next month.The event will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22, at the Phoenix Convention Center, West Building, Third Floor, 100 N. Third St.
Tickets are $85 per person and $850 for government and nonprofit tables. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 602-272-0080, extension 1.
Seven honored for promoting justice
Bishop Henry Barnwell, retired pastor of the First New Life Missionary Baptist Church, is the recipient of the Calvin C. Goode 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award presented annually by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee and Phoenix Human Relations Commission.The award, named for former City Councilman Calvin C. Goode, honors an individual who has helped unify the community.
Those receiving Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Living the Dream awards were: Helen Drake, retired city of Phoenix employee; Rory Gilbert, manager of diversity initiatives, Maricopa Community College District; Tony Lopez, diversity director, Maricopa County; Andrew "AJ" Miller, director of African-American outreach, Arizona State Democratic Party; Hubert A. Ross Sr., founder and director, Career/Leadership Development Program; and Dr. Raul Yzaguirre, executive director and presidential professor of practice, The Center for Community Development and Civil Rights at ASU.
For more information, visit phoenix.gov/calendar/awardwin.html, call 602-261-8242 or 602-534-1557/TTY.
Our new look
After looking pretty much the same for many years, Notes has changed its appearance with this month's edition.The makeover includes a new masthead at the top of the front page and new type throughout, giving it a fresher and more modern look.
Check out the publication monthly for important city government news and information about special activities and events.
Water and wastewater rates rise
Phoenix residents who receive city water and wastewater services will see a slight rise in their bill in March.The average customer's monthly cost for water and wastewater services will increase $3.73 to $44.41 before taxes.
Most of the new revenues will be used to fund rehabilitation and replacement of aging water and wastewater lines, treatment plant improvements, security enhancements and continuous attention to increased public health and environmental standards.
Even with the increase, Phoenix's water and wastewater rates remain the second lowest among 10 cities in the Southwest and they are comparable to other cities in the Valley.
Under the new schedule, the average single-family water bill will increase from $23.34 to $25.35. The fixed monthly service charge, which allows for a basic amount of water use and recovers the costs for billing, collections and meter maintenance, will remain the same.
The new water rate applies to the volume of water used beyond the amount included in the fixed monthly service charge and is based on a single-family residential customer using 11,344 gallons of water per month.
For the low usage months of December, January, February and March, the per unit (748 gallons) rate goes from $1.50 to $1.65; for the medium months of April, May, October and November, it goes from $1.77 to $1.97; and for the high months of June, July, August and September, it goes from $2.24 to $2.50. Also, the environmental charge, which relates to federal regulatory requirements, goes from 23 cents to 25 cents per unit.
The new rate plan also increases the average single-family wastewater bill from $17.34 to $19.06. The charge is based on the average water consumption for the months of January, February and March. The fixed monthly service and environmental charge will remain the same.
City Average Monthly Bill San Diego $92.64 Austin $84.90 Fort Worth $69.54 Dallas $66.75 San Jose $66.39 Oklahoma City $59.39 Kansas City $57.10 Tucson $47.23 Albuquerque $44.80 Phoenix $44.41 San Antonio $39.94
Sewer charge covers operation, maintenance, new facilities
If you are connected to the city sewer system, your monthly municipal service bill also includes a sewer service charge to recover costs for operations, maintenance and new facilities.The following table (based on rates effective in March 2006) shows the percentage of the total monthly charges attributed to operation and maintenance (O&M) of the system. The remainder pays for new facilities. A total of 41.72 percent of the sewer environmental charge is used for operation and maintenance of the system, while the remainder covers new environmental facilities costs.
The information is based on March 2006 rates..
User Percent of O&M Residential Single-Family Residence 33.33 Multi-Family Residence 33.33 Commercial Domestic Strength 33.46 - With Dining 33.89 Laundries/Commercial 35.96 Mortuaries 38.64 Restaurants & Bakeries 35.91 - With Dining 37.01 Public Federal Buildings 33.49 - With Dining 33.62 All Other Public Buildings 33.49 - With Dining 33.62
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