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Notes for March 2008
Help is available for Phoenix homeowners
Help is available for Phoenix homeowners
Phoenix homeowners who are struggling to keep up with increases in their adjustable mortgage rates or who are facing possible foreclosure on their homes now have help available.The city's Housing Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development say homeowners can get assistance from several government agencies and private organizations.
In Arizona, more than 24,000 loans - many of them in Phoenix - were either in foreclosure or seriously delinquent toward the end of last year and industry experts are predicting that one in five sub-prime loans is likely to end in foreclosure.
The following could help people save their homes:
- FHASecure gives credit-worthy homeowners who are now in default a second chance with a FHA insured loan. To qualify, homeowners must have a non-FHA insured adjustable rate mortgage or ARM that has reset, sufficient income to make the payments, and a history of on-time payments before the loan reset. To apply, visit www.fha.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FHA (225-5342) for more information.
- HOPE NOW provides information and resources to distressed homeowners. English- and Spanish-speaking counselors can be reached at 1-888-995-HOPE (4673) and more information is available at hopenow.com.
- Local Phoenix housing counseling agencies also are available to explore options. Included are: Arizona ACORN, 602-253-1111 or acornhousing.org; Chicanos Por La Causa, 602-253-0838 or cplc.org; Community Housing Resources of Arizona, 602-631-9780 or communityhousingresources.org; and Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix 602-258-1659 or nhsphoenix.org.
City joins Earth Hour campaign
Phoenix is joining other cities from across the globe to promote sustainable practices by participating in Earth Hour on Saturday, March 29.On this day, residents and businesses in Phoenix are encouraged to turn off their non-essential lights from 8 to 9 p.m. to demonstrate how people working together can make a positive impact on the environment.
City Hall and the Calvin C. Goode Building downtown are among city government buildings that will go dark for that hour. However, the city will not turn off essential lights that are necessary for public safety and will encourage residents and businesses to do the same.
Phoenix is one of four U.S. cities partnering with the World Wildlife Fund in the effort. Chicago, Atlanta and San Francisco are the others.
Earth Hour is modeled after a successful event that took place in Sydney, Australia last year that achieved a 10.2 percent drop in energy use for that hour - equivalent to taking 48,000 cars off the road for an hour. For more information or to join the effort, visit www.earthhour.org.
You can vote early in city election
Phoenix voters can vote by mail in the May 20 special election on a ballot measure that would extend the existing sales tax for parks and preserves that is scheduled to expire in 2009.In 2007, state law on early voting was amended to create a permanent early voting list for all elections.
Previously, voters had to submit a mail ballot request for each election. Now, those on this list will receive an election notice and automatically receive a ballot by mail unless they check the "opt out" box on the notice and return it stating they do not want a ballot for that election.
The election notices for the Special Election in May were mailed in February to all city of Phoenix voters who are on the permanent early voting list.
Voters not on the permanent list also can vote early by submitting a request for a ballot by mail. Mail ballot request forms are available at phoenix.gov and at city public service counters and city libraries. Your signed request must be received by the City Clerk no later than Friday, May 9.
Early ballots will be mailed beginning April 21.
The election is open to all Phoenix residents who are registered and reside within the city limits at least 29 days prior to the election.
In addition to voting by mail, residents may cast early ballots between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays beginning April 21 through May 16 at the City Clerk Department in Phoenix City Hall, 15th Floor, and at other early voting locations. For locations, see the Sample Ballot and Publicity Pamphlet that will be mailed to all voters in April, visit phoenix.gov or call the City Clerk Department.
For voters who may need accommodations in the voting process, accessible voting devices that permit voters with disabilities to vote independently will be available at early voting sites.
For more information, visit phoenix.gov or call 602-261-VOTE (8683) or 602-534-2737/TTY.
Salute to women vets
The public is invited to join Mayor Phil Gordon and the Phoenix Military Veterans Commission at City Hall, 200 W. Washington St., from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, for the fifth annual Salute to Veterans. The event will pay tribute to Phoenix's women veterans who served in the Armed Forces from WWII to present day.
City targets weeds, brush, debris
The Fire, Public Works and Neighborhood Services departments are teaming up again this year in a campaign to reduce the number of weed, brush and debris fires in neighborhoods.Firefighters next month will begin surveying neighborhoods for brush and debris fire hazards and forwarding the location of possible violations to the Public Works and Neighborhood Services departments for city code compliance.
The city requires that property owners keep lots, properties, alleys and easements free from litter, garbage, overgrown vegetation, dead trees, brush, weeds and other conditions that present health, fire or safety hazards.
Film Festival April 3 - 10
Movie lovers are in for a treat next month.The 2008 Phoenix Film Festival April 3 - 10 will feature more than 100 independent films, as well as world premieres, filmmaker discussions, celebrity events, educational seminars and parties.
The weeklong festival, which will be held in Phoenix at Harkins Scottsdale 101 Theaters, 7000 E. Mayo Blvd., has become Arizona's largest film festival.
For tickets, which range in price from $10 to $425, visit phxfilm.com or call 602-955-6444.
Check out library book sale
More than 200,000 books, videos, CDs, DVDs and magazines priced at $2 or less will be on sale at the Friends of the Public Library book sale next month.Proceeds from the annual sale, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 26, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 27, at the library warehouse, 1330 N. 29th Drive, will be used to support the Phoenix Public Library.
On Sunday, all merchandise will be one-half off.
For more information, visit www.plfriends.org.
Get your bike in gear
It's time to check out your bike and get it ready for the road.Valley Metro and its city partners will celebrate Valley Bike Month in April with several special events.
Among them is Bike-a-Polooza, a free bicycler's expo and safety fair featuring bicycles and parts for sale or trade, a 13-mile community ride, obstacle-course training for kids, and demonstrations about how to load your bike on the bus for commuting. It will be held from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 5, in Tempe at Kiwanis Park, 6111 S. All American Way.
Also, the Great Bike Chase - a three-mile ride to see the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres play baseball at Chase Field - will be Sunday, April 20. Riders will meet at Margaret T. Hance Park, 1134 N. Central Ave., between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and the ride will begin at 11 a.m. The cost is $14, which includes a game ticket.
For more information, visit ValleyMetro.org or call 602-262-7433 (RIDE). The Web site also contains a complete list of the month's Bike Week activities.
Library fines help feed needy
You can make good on your library fines next month and help restock the pantries of Valley food banks.During Phoenix Public Library's annual "Food for Fines" program April 13 - 26, 50 cents will be deducted from your overdue book fines for each non-perishable food item (homemade food cannot be accepted) you donate at any of the 15 libraries.
The donated food will be distributed to St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance and Desert Mission Food Bank. For more information, visit phoenixpubliclibrary.org or call 602-262-4636.
Hazardous waste collection planned
Phoenix residents can dispose of common hazardous wastes and other items at Household Hazardous Waste collections from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 10 - 12 at North Phoenix Baptist Church, 5757 N. Central Ave., and May 15 -17 at Los Olivos Park, 2802 E. Devonshire 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, send e-mail to pwserve@phoenix.gov, visit phoenix.gov/publicworks or call 602-262-7251.
Holiday trash collection notice
City offices will be closed and there will be no collection of garbage or recyclables on Monday, March 31, in observance of the César Chávez holiday. Monday's collections move to Tuesday and Tuesday's collections move to Wednesday. City transfer stations will be open.
Water and wastewater rates rise
Phoenix residents who receive city water and wastewater services will see a rise in their monthly bill this month.The average customer's monthly costs for the services will increase by $4.38 to $48.79, which still will be among the lowest of comparable cities nationwide and in the Valley.
Most of the additional revenue will be used to rehabilitate and replace aging water and wastewater lines, improve treatment plants, enhance security, add new customer services technologies, meet or surpass increased public health and environmental standards, and pay for unfunded federal mandates.
The fixed monthly service charge, which allows for a basic amount of water and recovers the billing, collections and meter maintenance costs, will not change.
The new water rate applies to the volume of water used beyond the amount included in the fixed monthly service charge and the average increase is based upon a single-family residential customer using 11,344 gallons of water per month.
Under the new schedule, for the low usage months of December, January, February and March, the per unit (748 gallons) rate goes from $1.65 to $1.83; for the medium months of April, May, October and November, it goes from $1.97 to $2.20; and for the high months of June, July, August and September, it goes from $2.50 to $2.81.
Also, the environmental charge, which funds federal government required activities taken to enhance the environment, goes from 25 cents per unit to 31 cents.
The wastewater charge is based on the average water consumption for the period of January, February and March. The fixed monthly service charge of $1.22 and environmental charge of 46.21 cents will remain the same.
City Average Monthly Bill San Diego $93.66 Austin $81.40 San Jose $69.72 Fort Worth $67.67 Dallas $64.72 Kansas City $63.01 Oklahoma City $61.47 Tucson $50.39 Phoenix $48.79 Albuquerque $44.22 San Antonio $38.83
Sewer charge covers operation, maintenance, new facilities
If you are connected to the city's sewer system, your monthly municipal service bill also includes a sewer service charge to recover operation, maintenance and new facilities costs.The table below shows, by major user type, the percentage of the total monthly charges attributed to operation and maintenance (O&M) of the system. The remainder pays for new facilities costs. The information is based on rates effective in March 2007.
User Percent of O & M Residential Single Family Residence 34.78 Multi-Family Residence 34.78 Commercial Domestic Strength 33.33 - With Dining 35.66 Laundries/Commercial 40.78 Mortuaries 42.36 Restaurants & Bakeries 41.43 - With Dining 42.61 Public Federal Buildings 33.26 - With Dining 35.03 All Other Public Buildings 33.26 - With Dining 35.03
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