We're coming to the end of my first term, the beginning of my second term and a new mayoral administration. First, I want to thank all those folks in District 5 for their votes of confidence and support. As many of you know, I make myself available regularly throughout the district to meet and talk to you about
district and citywide issues. I'd like to see you at the district forums, breakfasts and mobile office visits.
I want to thank my staff for the great constituent
service and follow-up. Without their knowledge and responsiveness, we could not address the many requests for service. In my opinion, we are fortunate to have the best district staff on the City Council.
I look forward to working with our new mayor,
Phil Gordon, with whom I have had a good working
relationship since joining the Council in January 2000.
I'd like to congratulate Mayor-elect Gordon and all the City Council members who were re-elected: Dave Siebert (District 1), Peggy Bilsten (District 3) and Doug Lingner (District 7), and welcome to our new councilman,
Tom Simplot, in District 4.
To Mayor Skip Rimsza, thank you for nine years of
service to the city of Phoenix. Through his leadership, we have grown to be the sixth largest city in the United States and have the pieces in place (Transit 2000,
Parks and Preserve Initiative, Civic Plaza Expansion
and the 2001 Bond Program) to keep Phoenix moving forward providing constituent services, transportation
opportunities, preserving desert and mountain lands
and attracting tourism and business to Phoenix for
many years into the future. We are fortunate to have leadership who has the foresight to address our current situation and anticipate our future needs.
We have a few issues coming up in the next year
that will affect District 5. In the spring of 2004, we
will be asked to extend the half-cent sales tax for
transportation throughout Maricopa County. Our Transit Department will be doing alignment studies and holding meetings for input on the extension of the light rail from Spectrum Mall to Metrocenter. You should be receiving
information on these items as they move forward.
This year will be another tight budget year, and we are looking to maintain current funding and service levels. State-shared revenues will be on the state's budget table, as well as other city funds that are dispersed through the state. We will continue to monitor and work with the Legislature to protect our funding. We will also be
submitting legislation on cruising and sex offender group homes, again looking for state support to address these difficult neighborhood problems.
It's the holidays, and here's wishing you and your
family a safe and happy holiday season from Pat, Rebecca, Edward, Michelle and me.
Councilman Mattox presented a $10,000 check to
the United Phoenix Firefighters "Help Us Protect Them Adopt-A-Fence" program. This program provides life-saving pool fences to families who otherwise would not be able to afford them. Mattox raised an additional $10,000 at the Margarita Bash, his September fundraiser sponsored by Bank of America and the Hard Rock Cafe, for the Maryvale UNITE Jacori Rufus Memorial Scholarship Fund. Named in honor of a student who died, the scholarship funds further education for Maryvale High School students.
What can you do to help safeguard your community?
The city of Phoenix has taken extraordinary measures
to prepare for the latest homeland defense initiatives
and is willing to come to your neighborhoods and share them with you. If you would like to schedule a presentation for your neighborhood group, call the
community action officer at your local police precinct.
Design on the light rail project continues. Currently, the design is about 65 percent complete with some elements ready for construction. Utility companies have already begun moving lines to make room for the light rail. This process will be complete by the second quarter of 2004, except for water and sewer lines, which occurs
concurrently with light rail construction.
Light rail will open in phases, with the first phase
from Central Station in downtown Phoenix to downtown Tempe. The second phase begins operation from 19th Avenue and Bethany Home Road to Tempe. The third phase completes the 20-mile light rail line. Construction is scheduled to begin next spring.
The first extension of the light rail system north from Spectrum Mall to the Metrocenter area is in the works. The planning process includes a corridor study and determining the alignment for the extension and location of stations. Public meetings will be held in early January 2004 where various alternatives will be reviewed and public comment welcomed.
If you have any questions about light rail planning, call 602-322-4481.
Route 41 into Avondale and Route 51 into Glendale are now making it more convenient for West Valley residents to travel by bus. The two routes make easier connections to institutions of higher learning - Route 41 to Estrella Mountain Community College and Route 51 to ASU West.
Since October, passengers have been able to use a
single bus to travel that route; when first introduced,
they needed to use an auxiliary bus for travel between Desert Sky Mall Transit Center and Estrella Mountain Community College. Phoenix and Glendale cooperated to create the new Route 51 that travels from Roosevelt Street on the south to Thunderbird Road on the north.
Sex Offender and Cruising Legislation
We will continue to work with State Rep. John Nelson in
crafting legislation to prohibit the clustering of sex offenders
in neighborhoods, as well as dealing with the cruising
problem in West Phoenix. Stakeholder meetings on these
two issues have been taking place during the past several months with recommended legislation expected in December.
Half-Cent Transportation Tax
The city of Phoenix is supporting legislation in 2004 which would allow voters in Maricopa County to extend the current half-cent transportation sales tax - which is set to expire on December 31, 2005 - an additional 20 years. If authorized
by the Legislature and approved by the voters in a May 2004 election, Phoenix would receive funding for freeway and general street improvements, in addition to light rail
and bus expansion.
State-Shared Revenues
The city of Phoenix thanks the governor and Legislature
for not tapping into the city's state-shared revenues during their recent regular session. State-shared revenues, a voter-approved measure, requires the state to share a portion of its income and sales taxes with all of Arizona's cities and towns. These monies help fund many vital services (Police, Fire, Libraries, Parks, etc.). With the state expecting a budget deficit in the area of $600 to $800 million for 2004, protecting state-shared revenues will be the city's top priority.
Fences May Require City Permits
In response to the growing neighborhood issue of front yard fences being built too high or in right-of-way areas, the city
is considering requiring permits for residential walls and fences. The city is evaluating further recommendations on permit fees, procedures for lessening the impact of new
housing developments and standardized methods of
measuring wall height.
Now that the temperatures are cooler, you've probably put away your beach towels and bathing suits for the year. Just make sure you don't "put away" your attention to children around water!
Did you know that last year, more than half of the drowning incidents (50) occurred before or after the traditional summer swim season? In fact, almost half of the drowning incidents that have occurred this year have happened either before Memorial Day or after Labor Day.
The holidays can also prove to be a very busy time for families. People get distracted as decorations are put into place, big meals are prepared and visitors come in and out of the house. It's the perfect time for toddlers to escape to the back yard and find their way into the pool. Don't let a tragedy ruin your holidays.
Put an approved barrier (pool fence) between
the house and the pool.
Keep doors leading to the back yard and pool
gates locked.
Know where children are playing in your home.
Make sure that anyone who visits your home knows
the rules about water safety.
Learn Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation.
(Several children have been saved this year, thanks
to bystanders performing CPR!)
Councilman Mattox received the Molina Precious Mineral Award for his participation in "Operation Tone-Up's Fittest City Challenge." Earlier in the year the councilman visited Peralta, Desert View and Garden Lakes elementary schools promoting healthy eating
and proper exercise. In this year's fittest city challenge, Phoenix students showed the most improvement.
Phoenix has enough water to meet the city's needs, but not a drop to waste. We're now into our sixth consecutive year of drought and it appears that it may be quite awhile before Mother Nature supplies us with the amounts of snow and rain we need over our watersheds to end this drought. Water usage restrictions may be coming our way at some point, but for now, please
make water conservation a lifestyle choice. Everyone's water-saving actions start by simply thinking about how you use water every time you turn on the tap, both inside and outside of your home and business. Check out the website www.wateruseitwisely.com. Also, call the city
of Phoenix's Water Conservation Office at 602-256-3370, or e-mail them at office.water.conservation@phoenix.gov, for more conservation, leak detection, landscaping
and irrigation tips.
On Oct. 8, Councilman Mattox joined students, parents and teachers from Westwind Primary School
for International Walk to School Day. Officers and firefighters from the Phoenix Police and Fire departments provided safety tips during a walk through the neighborhood for the annual event to promote pedestrian safety.
Remind your young ones to always cross at the traffic signal or crosswalk, stop before stepping out into the street to look left, right and left again before crossing,
and always obey the "Don't Walk" signal.
This year, an estimated 3,000 schools in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and 28 countries took part in the walk.
District 5 Mobile Office Coming to a Park Near You
In an effort to get to know more of you, Councilman Mattox will be visiting you in the city's mobile office trailer. We are scheduled to be at parks throughout
the district during certain hours on Saturday mornings.
Feel free to drop by anytime to discuss city issues or
just to say "hi." (See Calendar of Events on back page for schedule.)
If you're interested in applying for a position on a
city board or commission, go to www.phoenix.gov/CITYGOV/bdcomm.html for a description of the vacant positions. For information about state boards and
commissions, go to www.governor.state.az.us/bc or call 602-542-2449.
Between January and December 2003, the District 5 office opened 1,284 constituent cases and closed 1,169 cases.
As always, our office is ready to help you with any of your neighborhood issues. Feel free to call us any time we can be of assistance to you at 602-262-7446, or send an e-mail
to council.district.5@phoenix.gov.
WESTMARC's annual Best of the West Awards recognize outstanding contributions to the image, lifestyle and
economic development of western Maricopa County. Two of this yearŐs winners are: the Phoenix Fire Department for their command training center, which uses a system for fire simulations and tactical emergency scenarios; and Gerald Abmont for keeping Maryvale free of graffiti. He has covered up more than 12,000 miles, cleaning up graffiti six days a week. Congratulations!
"Westside Story" is posted on the city's Web site at www.phoenix.gov.
For alternative format/reasonable accommodations, call 602-262-7176 or TTY
602-534-5500.
Your comments, suggestions and story ideas are welcome by calling Councilman
Mattox at 602-262-7446, e-mail council.district.5@phoenix.gov or mail to City of Phoenix, 200 W. Washington St., 11th Floor, Phoenix, AZ
85003.
Message from Councilman Claude Mattox 
We're coming to the end of my first term, the beginning of my second term and a new mayoral administration. First, I want to thank all those folks in District 5 for their votes of confidence and support. As many of you know, I make myself available regularly throughout the district to meet and talk to you about
district and citywide issues. I'd like to see you at the district forums, breakfasts and mobile office visits.
We have a few issues coming up in the next year
that will affect District 5. In the spring of 2004, we
will be asked to extend the half-cent sales tax for
transportation throughout Maricopa County. Our Transit Department will be doing alignment studies and holding meetings for input on the extension of the light rail from Spectrum Mall to Metrocenter. You should be receiving
information on these items as they move forward.
Design on the light rail project continues. Currently, the design is about 65 percent complete with some elements ready for construction. Utility companies have already begun moving lines to make room for the light rail. This process will be complete by the second quarter of 2004, except for water and sewer lines, which occurs
concurrently with light rail construction.
Route 41 into Avondale and Route 51 into Glendale are now making it more convenient for West Valley residents to travel by bus. The two routes make easier connections to institutions of higher learning - Route 41 to Estrella Mountain Community College and Route 51 to ASU West. 
Now that the temperatures are cooler, you've probably put away your beach towels and bathing suits for the year. Just make sure you don't "put away" your attention to children around water!
Phoenix has enough water to meet the city's needs, but not a drop to waste. We're now into our sixth consecutive year of drought and it appears that it may be quite awhile before Mother Nature supplies us with the amounts of snow and rain we need over our watersheds to end this drought. Water usage restrictions may be coming our way at some point, but for now, please
make water conservation a lifestyle choice. Everyone's water-saving actions start by simply thinking about how you use water every time you turn on the tap, both inside and outside of your home and business. Check out the website www.wateruseitwisely.com. Also, call the city
of Phoenix's Water Conservation Office at 602-256-3370, or e-mail them at office.water.conservation@phoenix.gov, for more conservation, leak detection, landscaping
and irrigation tips.
In an effort to get to know more of you, Councilman Mattox will be visiting you in the city's mobile office trailer. We are scheduled to be at parks throughout
the district during certain hours on Saturday mornings.
Feel free to drop by anytime to discuss city issues or
just to say "hi." (See Calendar of Events on back page for schedule.) 
