Wow, summer is over and school has started again. I hope you all have had a safe and enjoyable summer with your family and friends. As I attend events in the district and throughout the city, I am constantly reminded of the great level of commitment of our District 5 residents. We are not afraid to roll up our sleeves and get to work, and great results are occurring in the district due to all the efforts. It is a pleasure to work along side such a
committed group of people, and I really appreciate all your hard work.
There has been a lot of activity recently in District 5. In the western portion of the
district, there have been many improvements, including Camelback Road from 99th to 107th avenues; the new Home Depot at 99th Avenue and Camelback Road which is the first built with
the big box ordinance; and ground has been broken for Fire Station 54 at Campbell and 99th avenues. The upcoming 51st Avenue cleanup project from Indian School to Camelback roads, Maryvale Park improvements and a new Westside Senior Center are just a few of the other exciting things going on.
The northeastern portion of the district has made great progress with the Violence Impact Project (see related article on page 3) and the blight elimination program from 19th to 27th avenues and Bethany Home Road to Northern Avenue. After the Alhambra Village Planning Committee makes its presentation and recommendations, the plan will be forwarded to the City Council for final approval and implementation.
As chairman of the Natural Resources Subcommittee, I continue to keep the drought situation at the top of my list of priorities. City staff is researching and exploring what restrictions may need to be implemented in the next year if the drought continues.
As a member of the Transportation Subcommittee, I want to make sure you are aware that the extension of the one-half-cent sales tax for transportation will be voted on in the Nov. 2, 2004 General Election as Proposition 400. If passed by the voters, the city of Phoenix and District 5 will receive much needed resources to enhance transportation services in our area.
I have been meeting with the city's Intergovernmental staff regarding issues for the next legislative session which begins in January. We will again ask state legislators to address the ongoing problems neighborhoods face with the clustering of sex offenders within their neighborhoods. I encourage you to continue contacting your state legislators to convey your views on this topic. In order to make a difference, we will need the support of the
State Legislature to help solve this issue.
The West Phoenix Revitalization project is starting to gear up. At my request, the city manager formed a task force consisting of representatives from several city departments, including Budget and Research, City Manager, Community and Economic Development, Development Services, Historic Preservation, Housing, Neighborhood Services, Street Transportation, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Police to formulate a Westside revitalization strategy. The area is bounded by 19th Avenue on the east, the 101 Freeway on the west, Dunlap Avenue on the north, and Van Buren Street on the south. Over the summer, staff has been working internally on
a survey of current city service delivery levels to the westside. We expect a presentation on this important issue to the Council in September. Once that is concluded, we will move into Phase II of the project which will define targeted areas, set community priorities and propose medium-term projects. This is the point where we will need community input. During this time,
the city will be available to make presentations to neighborhood groups, and we will keep you posted on the community meetings.
As always, if you have any issues or concerns you would like to discuss, please call my office at 602-262-7446 or e-mail me at council.district.5@phoenix.gov.
Phoenix has adequate water supplies. But water restrictions and the need to change from a water
conservation lifestyle to more serious drought-related water saving measures appear to be on their way.
Long-range planning and proactive water management techniques have helped Phoenix weather drought for most of the past decade. Yet, it appears that Mother Nature is ready for a long fight as drought is expected to continue for several years.
So, when will Phoenix enact water restrictions and how will they impact you? Well, Phoenix continues to analyze its water supply and will give you plenty of time to understand water restrictions before they are implemented. But, restrictions could be in place within the next year - sometime in 2005. Many drought response measures that may be required from residents and businesses involve outdoor water use. Possible restrictions include: shutting off decorative fountains, irrigating only on certain days, banning new grass areas and increasing costs for excessive water use.
While we can't control how much snow and rain falls on our watershed areas north and east of Phoenix, we can control our individual actions when it comes to conserving water. City officials directed city employees to reduce water usage by about 11 percent last year. Join us, by taking it upon yourself to Think About Water...Every Time You Use It. Start now by not over watering native plants, understanding how your irrigation system works, fixing those leaky faucets and toilets, and simply taking a second to Think About Water.
To assist you with understanding the drought and identifying ways to save water, the City of Phoenix Water Services Department has created Phoenix In Drought. Just log onto phoenix.gov and click on Phoenix In Drought on the right side of the page. Also, if you receive Phoenix Channel 11 on your TV, be sure to watch WATERways. The newest video focuses on our water supply, drought, water conservation and our many years of public awareness programs. And, remember, Think About Water...Because It's Precious.
As the city of Phoenix grows, so does the need for timely emergency medical and fire assistance. District 5 residents on the western edge of the city are about to get a new fire station located at the northeast corner of 99th and Campbell avenues.
Construction has begun on the new Phoenix Fire Station #54, which is expected to begin providing emergency service in the Spring of 2005. Funding for this project is provided by the voter-approved 2001 bond program.
Station #54 will be a "Green Building," which means that it will be designed to be environmentally friendly and energy efficient!
Homes along 51st Avenue are about to receive a makeover. The city of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department and local residents, in partnership with John F. Long, are working together to improve the Òcurb appealÓ of homes between Camelback and Indian School roads.
As one of the first subdivisions built by John F. Long, the 50-year-old homes are in the heart of the Maryvale community. They sit along 51st Avenue and provide a gateway to the community.
Despite their age, many of the homes are in good shape and just need a little sprucing up. The city is thrilled to be able to partner with John F. Long on this exciting project.
Residents who live along the stretch of road are eligible for funding that can assist with the cost of painting, landscaping or fixing other exterior problems.
In all, 37 homes are eligible for the program and the city and John F. Long Properties are looking for local businesses that might be interested in assisting with the project.
The project is expected to be completed some time this fall. For more information about city of Phoenix home rehab programs or to inquire about the 51st Avenue project, contact the Neighborhood Services Department at 602-262-7344.
Building permits protect you, your family, friends, neighbors and neighborhoods from work that does not meet minimum construction standards. A permit helps ensure that the work performed on your property is safe, meets environmental standards and complies with the city's Zoning Ordinance and construction codes. A permit also will protect your investment and minimize liability or problems during a future sale of your property.
Remember, you must obtain a permit for construction work including:
new homes and buildings
demolitions
carports
room additions
garage or carport conversions
porch enclosures
patio covers
fences and walls, retaining walls
gas, electric and plumbing work
roof replacement or roofline extensions, including replacing wood or asphalt shingles with a tile roof (If the same type of material is used to replace the roof -- i.e., shingles to shingles -- no permit is required.)
new driveways or alteration of existing driveway if work is being done in the right-of-way
For a complete list of projects that require a permit or for more information, contact the city's Development Services Department at 602-262-7811 or visit www.phoenix.gov.
VIP stands for Violence Impact Project and was designed by the Phoenix Police Department to address the growing number of violent crimes in our community. The goal of the program is to enhance communication, develop a strong commitment and promote better coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Boundaries for the first project are 19th to 35th avenues and Indian School Road to Glendale Avenue. The Cactus Park Management Team, under the supervision of Commander Quill, has created eight action plans to attack the criminal element in the target zone.
Since July 1, 2004, the officers in the Cactus Park Precinct have accomplished the following results:
1879 staff hours
107 recovered vehicles
1,300 citations
7 warrants
11 knock and talks
533 field interrogations
523 felony arrests
765 misdemeanor arrests
$9,239 seized
45 handguns seized
2 shotguns seized
2 rifles seized
4 other weapons seized
This project is very exciting. With numerous agencies working together toward a common goal, this project will continue to have a positive impact on reducing crime in the area.
A new Community Center and library in Maryvale Park is due to be completed in early 2005. The 27,000-square-foot Community Center and Palo Verde Library, located at 51st and Campbell avenues, includes a gymnasium, weight room, senior and teen lounges, two dance rooms with bars and mirrors, multipurpose room, small kitchen and auditorium. There is also an indoor walking track above the gym on the second floor. The new library will be larger and provide more services as well.
Earlier this year District 5 was awarded approximately $600,000 from 2001 Bond Program funds to eliminate blight. At my request, a Blight Elimination Subcommittee was formed as part of the Alhambra Village Planning Committee to identify and prioritize blight concerns in the area of 19th to 27th avenues, Bethany Home Road to Northern Avenue and to identify opportunities to leverage other funds and grants to increase the investment.
The subcommittee made nine recommendations ranging from property acquisition near a future city
park, to street paving, and development of vacant parcels. City staff and members of the subcommittee and the public did an outstanding job of coming up with these recommendations and including other funding opportunities as well with such diverse departments as Parks, Streets, Neighborhood Services and the Phoenix Arts Commission. The next step will be approval by the City Council. As we all know, eliminating blight is a community-driven effort, and we all look forward to implementing this plan to help eliminate blight in this area.
In early 2004, you may have experienced traffic delays in the western portion of District 5 near 99th Avenue and Camelback Road as the city worked on street improvements in the area. Because of the restricted lanes and the traffic generated by Loop 101, the new development in the area, the coming Coyotes Arena and Cardinals football stadium, I am pleased to announce
that the city has completed the widening and striping of Camelback Road between 99th and 107th avenues. The improvements widened Camelback to four lanes with a center turn lane and the newly striped road consists of a two-way left turn lane and two lanes for eastbound and westbound traffic. This should relieve the traffic congestion in this area. A traffic signal was installed at 103rd Avenue and Camelback Road as part of the first phase of the ongoing Camelback Road widening between 99th and 107th avenues.
The city of Phoenix Street Transportation Department did a great job! This project included coordination between the cities of Phoenix and Glendale and Salt River Project. Even though many of the improvements are temporary, a new storm sewer will be requested in the next city bond election. On 103rd Avenue on the south side of Camelback Road, a new residential
development is being designed in conjunction with the Camelback Road improvements. Additionally, the Home Depot Store on the southwest corner of 99th Avenue and Camelback Road had its Grand Opening on June 24 and is now open for business.
Matt Rihs is the new City Council Aide in my District 5 Council Office. Matt Rihs, a native of the Phoenix metropolitan area, previously worked as a contract employee for Salt River Project in the State and Local Government Relations Department. As a Council Aide, Matt will act as my constituent services representative at various district meetings. Matt looks forward to
becoming more acquainted with the constituents in District 5 and working with the councilman for the benefit of the community. You can reach Matt at 602-262-7446.
I am pleased to announce that just before we broke for our summer break, the Phoenix City Council adopted an amendment to the Party Ordinance. The amendment addresses concerns over the control of a large party, gathering or event on private property when there is a clear threat to the peace, health, safety and the general welfare of the public.
The changes adopted by the council increases the current fine amount from $250 to $1,000 if Police have to respond to the same location more than once in a 60-day period. The first time Police respond to a complaint, a warning notice is given informing the person responsible for the party that they are violating the City Ordinance and could receive a fine if officers are called back within 60 days.
Phoenix Police will conduct a public relations and education campaign that will coincide with the implementation of the code revisions which became effective on Aug. 1..
Dog owners are reminded that under the Phoenix City Code, dogs are not permitted to run loose. A dog is not considered loose if it is confined to the owner's property or it is on a leash and under the control of the owner. It is important for the safety and health of others to keep dogs confined and under control.
The Maricopa County Animal Care and Control acts as the city's enforcement agent for loose dogs and vicious animals and also collects dog license fees and operates animal shelters. For more information, contact the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control at 602-506-7387.
"West Side Story" is posted on the city's Web site at www.phoenix.gov. For information, disability accommodations or materials in alternate formats, call 602-262-7446
or 602-534-5500/TTY.
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 
The West Phoenix Revitalization project is starting to gear up. At my request, the city manager formed a task force consisting of representatives from several city departments, including Budget and Research, City Manager, Community and Economic Development, Development Services, Historic Preservation, Housing, Neighborhood Services, Street Transportation, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Police to formulate a Westside revitalization strategy. The area is bounded by 19th Avenue on the east, the 101 Freeway on the west, Dunlap Avenue on the north, and Van Buren Street on the south. Over the summer, staff has been working internally on
a survey of current city service delivery levels to the westside. We expect a presentation on this important issue to the Council in September. Once that is concluded, we will move into Phase II of the project which will define targeted areas, set community priorities and propose medium-term projects. This is the point where we will need community input. During this time,
the city will be available to make presentations to neighborhood groups, and we will keep you posted on the community meetings. 
Phoenix has adequate water supplies. But water restrictions and the need to change from a water
conservation lifestyle to more serious drought-related water saving measures appear to be on their way.
Homes along 51st Avenue are about to receive a makeover. The city of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department and local residents, in partnership with John F. Long, are working together to improve the Òcurb appealÓ of homes between Camelback and Indian School roads.
Building permits protect you, your family, friends, neighbors and neighborhoods from work that does not meet minimum construction standards. A permit helps ensure that the work performed on your property is safe, meets environmental standards and complies with the city's Zoning Ordinance and construction codes. A permit also will protect your investment and minimize liability or problems during a future sale of your property.
Earlier this year District 5 was awarded approximately $600,000 from 2001 Bond Program funds to eliminate blight. At my request, a Blight Elimination Subcommittee was formed as part of the Alhambra Village Planning Committee to identify and prioritize blight concerns in the area of 19th to 27th avenues, Bethany Home Road to Northern Avenue and to identify opportunities to leverage other funds and grants to increase the investment. 
In early 2004, you may have experienced traffic delays in the western portion of District 5 near 99th Avenue and Camelback Road as the city worked on street improvements in the area. Because of the restricted lanes and the traffic generated by Loop 101, the new development in the area, the coming Coyotes Arena and Cardinals football stadium, I am pleased to announce
that the city has completed the widening and striping of Camelback Road between 99th and 107th avenues. The improvements widened Camelback to four lanes with a center turn lane and the newly striped road consists of a two-way left turn lane and two lanes for eastbound and westbound traffic. This should relieve the traffic congestion in this area. A traffic signal was installed at 103rd Avenue and Camelback Road as part of the first phase of the ongoing Camelback Road widening between 99th and 107th avenues. 
I am pleased to announce that just before we broke for our summer break, the Phoenix City Council adopted an amendment to the Party Ordinance. The amendment addresses concerns over the control of a large party, gathering or event on private property when there is a clear threat to the peace, health, safety and the general welfare of the public.
