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Notes for August 2007
Graffiti law toughens penalties
Graffiti law toughens penalties
Juveniles across the state convicted of committing graffiti vandalism will face stiffer fines under a new state law that was sought by city's the Neighborhood Services Department.Under the statute, which state legislators adopted during this year's session, juvenile violators will be fined between $300 and $1,000, including an 80 percent surcharge for court costs. If a juvenile is unable to pay the fine, the individual will perform community service at the rate of one hour of service for each $10 fined.
Neighborhood Services worked with state legislators to write the law, which amended a statute that gave judges discretion on whether to impose fines on convicted juvenile vandals. The new fines will become effective next month.
More information about the city's graffiti- and blight-busting efforts is available online at phoenix.gov/nsd/index.html or by calling 602-495-0323.
Get up, get out, get healthy at Sports Explosion
Getting healthy while having fun. Is that possible?Yup, and you can learn how to do just that when Sports Explosion celebrates the "Phoenix Day of Play" next month.
The Sept. 29 event - 8 a.m. to noon at Paradise Valley Park on 40th Street north of Bell Road - will feature professional and Olympic athletes who will lead clinics and speak about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle through fun and fitness.
Regular physical activity can help individuals maintain a healthy weight, have normal blood pressure, reduce stress and increase self esteem, note the organizers.
In addition to the clinics and demonstrations, the event will host booths that will offer information on nutrition, health, fitness and club sports - all aimed at raising sports, fitness and play awareness and highlighting the myriad of sports and fitness opportunities available in the state.
Participants will receive a "passport to sports" card when they arrive that will encourage them to visit as many booths as possible and make them eligible for drawings that will be held throughout the day. The event supports Mayor Phil Gordon's Annual Day of Play Proclamation and is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and hosted by the Phoenix Women's Sports Association, Maricopa Council on Youth Sports and Physical Activity, Healthier Phoenix Initiative Ad Hoc Committee and the city's Parks and Recreation Department.
Vendor and participant information is available at dayofplay.org.
New water treatment plant opens
A new water treatment plant featuring advanced technologies that treat water to meet or surpass a multitude of regulatory requirements and help ensure a reliable supply of high quality tap water for decades to come is now in operation.The Lake Pleasant Plant, which treats Central Arizona Project water, has an initial treatment capacity of 80 million gallons per day and can be expanded to handle as much as 320 gallons.
It is the city's largest capital improvement project to date, with design and construction costs totaling $228 million.
The city's Water Services Department, which is celebrating its 100th year, operates six water treatment plants, two wastewater treatment facilities and a reclaimed water treatment plant. It serves 1.5 million Phoenix customers with water and 2 million Valley customers with wastewater services through 7,000 miles of water lines and 4,500 miles of sewer lines over more than 500 square miles.
Learn more about water and wastewater by watching "WATERways" on the city's public television station, PHX 11, or phoenix.gov/waterservices.
You can still vote early
If you're interested in casting an early ballot in the Sept. 11 Mayor and City Council election, there's still time.Request forms to vote by mail were mailed to all registered voters in mid-June.
If you have not yet requested a ballot, the necessary forms are available at phoenix.gov and at city public service counters and libraries, or by calling 602-261-VOTE (8683). Requests must be received by the City Clerk Department by 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31.
Voters in Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7 will elect city council members and all voters in the city will elect a mayor and decide six propositions, including setting the annual salary for the mayor and council members, a sales tax increase for public safety, an alternative spending limitation measure and three election-related Charter amendments.
If a candidate in any race does not receive a majority of the votes cast, a runoff election between the two candidates receiving the most votes will be held Nov. 6.
Mailing of the Sample Ballot and Publicity Pamphlet to registered voters is being done this month.
You also can vote an early ballot at several locations in the city Monday through Saturday, from Aug. 13 to Sept. 7, excluding Labor Day. Locations and hours are listed in the Publicity Pamphlet and on phoenix.gov, or you can call the City Clerk Department.
Accessible voting devices that permit voters with disabilities to vote independently are available at the early voting sites and other locations. Call for a complete list of locations.
If you've already requested or received an early ballot be sure to return it by 7 p.m. on election day. They may be returned by mail, delivered to the City Clerk Department or dropped off at any city polling place on election day. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The election is open to residents who are registered voters and reside in Phoenix at least 29 days before the election.
For more information, visit phoenix.gov or call 602-261-VOTE (8683) or 602-534-2737/ TTY.
Surplus goods auction Sept. 15
Surplus materials ranging from furniture to cars will be sold by the city at an auction Saturday, Sept. 15.Gates to the auction yard, 2820 S. 22nd Ave., south of Lower Buckeye Road, will open at 6:30 a.m. and the sale will begin at 8 a.m. The cashier will remain open until 1:30 p.m. and the gates will close at 3 p.m.
People planning to attend the auction may register online and receive their bidder card when they arrive at the sale. Just go to phoenix.gov/invmgt, click on "online registration" and follow the instructions. Registration continues to be available at the auction.
Inspection of the auction items will be allowed at the yard from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, and Friday, Sept. 14.
For more information, call 602-534-0828.
Dog license fee increases
If your dog is due for a new license soon, expect to pay a little more this time.The fee has been raised to $16 from $12.
The increase was proposed by Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, which handles the city's animal control services under a contract.
County officials said the increase was necessary to offset the rising cost of fuel and other operating expenses and to help fund a new shelter that is needed to replace the 40-year-old Durango Shelter.
For more information, call 602-506-7387.
City hosts equal opportunity workshops
City residents can learn how to protect themselves from sexual harassment and job discrimination and learn about fair housing practices at free two-hour workshops planned over the next few months.Sessions on fair housing will be at 10 a.m. Sept. 15 at the Cholla Branch Library, 10050 Metro Parkway East, and 2 p.m. Dec. 10 in assembly room A at Phoenix City Hall, 200 W. Washington St. A session on equal employment will be 9 a.m. Nov. 6 in assembly room A at Phoenix City Hall.
To register or obtain more information, call 602-262-7486 or 602-534-1557/TTY.
Hazardous waste collections planned
Phoenix residents can dispose of common hazardous wastes and other items at Household Hazardous Waste collections from 7 a.m. to noon Sept. 13 - 15 at Cesar Chavez Park, 7858 S. 35th Ave., and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 11 - 13 at Paradise Valley Community Center, 17648 N. 40th St.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.
South Mountain holds 'Silent Sundays'
If you're planning to motor up South Mountain on a Sunday afternoon, you might want to bring your hiking shoes or bicycle along.The Summit Road and other roads past the South Mountain Park and Preserve's main gatehouse on Central Avenue will be closed to motor vehicles one Sunday of each month through the remainder of the year for the Parks and Recreation Department's popular "Silent Sundays."
The closures - 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aug. 26, Sept. 23, Oct. 28, Nov. 18 and Dec. 23 - will reserve the day for non-motorized uses and help promote alternative modes of transportation and recreation.
Each event also will feature free park-ranger guided interpretive programs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South Mountain Environmental Education Center near the park's main entrance. Free parking is available next to the center.
Other access points and parking areas, including trailheads at Pima Canyon, Desert Foothills, Beverly Canyon and the Mormon Trail, will remain open.
For more information, call 602-534-6324.
Bilingual volunteers needed
More than 300 non-medical volunteers are needed to help with the annual Arizona Coalition for Tomorrow Health Fair, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at Phoenix Preparatory Academy, 735 E. Fillmore St.Because 70 percent of the families are Spanish speaking, bilingual volunteers are needed urgently, although others are welcome.
The volunteers will assist about 1,200 children and their families through the process of receiving dental, hearing and vision examinations, physicals, immunizations, and TB and blood tests.
Volunteers must be at least 17 years old, pre-register, produce a photo ID on site and be available during all fair hours.
Registration deadline is Sept. 5. To sign up, visit www.acthealthfair.org, where forms can be filled out on line. For more information, e-mail acthealthfair@cox.net or call 602-588-0028.
City inspectors join TV crew
You can go behind-the-scenes of ABC television's "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" on the next "Building Phoenix," a new television show from the Development Services Department that airs next month on PHX 11, the city's news and information station available to Cox and Qwest Cable subscribers.Viewers will see what it takes to build a dream home in just a few days from the perspective of two city residential inspectors who joined the television crew on location in northeastern Arizona. Inspectors Ray Scarla and Jeffrey Stirek were responsible for ensuring quality construction and a safe final product.
For air dates and times, visit phoenix.gov/11 in September or call 602-261-8937.
Citizens get close look at law enforcement
Business and community leaders interested in getting an inside look at law enforcement will have their chance next month.The Police Department's Citizen Police Academy is looking for people to attend its next class, which will begin in mid-September.
The classes, which the department has been conducting since 1986, will introduce participants to K-9 units, the special assignment unit, precincts, ethics, discipline policies and philosophy, radio communications, drug enforcement, gang enforcement, traffic laws and drunken driving laws.
Classes meet at various police facilities from 6 to 9 p.m. each Thursday for nine weeks, with graduation on the final week.
For more information, visit phoenix.gov/police or call the Public Affairs Bureau at 602-534-5050. Your completed application can be faxed to 602-534-4831.
Four more neighborhood parks open
Phoenix residents have four new neighborhood parks to enjoy.The latest to be opened by the Parks and Recreation Department were: Dove Valley Park, 4740 E. Rancho Paloma Drive; Indian Bend Wash Park, 37th Place and Thunderbird Road; Tramonto Park, 35425 N. 32nd Drive; and Winifred Green Park, 17th and Peoria avenues.
The department now manages more than 200 parks throughout the city.
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