A newsletter from Phoenix City Councilman Claude Mattox, District 5 - May 2005

A Message from Councilman Claude Mattox

Water water everywhere. This last fall and winter certainly had a huge impact on our water situation, both good and bad. The rains and snow pack have filled our reservoirs, and we've removed our Stage 1 drought alert. But, those same rains caused high water releases in the Salt and Verde rivers causing high turbidity and a boil water alert, highlighting the need for improvement for our communications, emergency responses and water plant designs. I continue to remind everyone to watch kids around water - every second. We've already had several drownings this year and summer is still to come. To help address this problem, the Phoenix Association of Realtors has donated $20,000 to the United Phoenix Firefighters Adopt-a-Fence Program. We just completed a very successful Margarita Bash 2005, raising an additional $15,000 for the pool fence program. The Violence Impact Project (VIP) in the southern Cactus Park area is taking a big "bite out of crime," to quote McGruff.

Things are moving along on our West Phoenix Revitalization Program. I appreciate all of you who attended the community meetings and gave us input. Now, we must map out a strategic plan to accomplish the revitalization. As I've said, it took us 20 years to get here, so we can't turn it around overnight, but this program has gotten us started. There will be more opportunities to participate as we move ahead.

A partner in this revitalization program is the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. They are already doing surprise inspections in the West Phoenix area looking for illegal work and bad contractors.

Finally, we want to highlight the good things we've done in the district to provide better services and facilities. The Homestead Park was recently opened and is a part of the Glendale Avenue Gateway Project to improve the area between 19th and 27th avenues. The long-awaited Maryvale Community Center complex and Palo Verde Library should be opening by fall. And, for those who have been asking about the status of Camelback Ranch, it is going into the design phase this fall, with construction starting in the summer of 2006.

Thank you for your continued support. Enjoy your summer and be safe.

Sincerely,

Councilman Claude Mattox

District 5 Council Staff: (from left to right) Council Aide
Matt Rihs, Council Aide Rebecca Woods, Council Assistant
Pat Severance, Councilman Claude Mattox, Administrative
Coordinator Jesus Sapien.

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Rain Doesn't Wash Away Need to Conserve Water

The City Council did act in April to end the official "water alert."

But with some of the Valley's major water sources still running low and no guarantee of rain in upcoming years, conservation is still crucial.

Phoenix is continuing all of its programs and publicity to encourage water conservation, while looking for new, creative ways to save water.

The city is creating a permanent "Water Efficiency Action Team" to monitor water use by city departments and act as a role model for residents.

You can help at home. Take a few minutes to learn how your irrigation system works and how much water to give your plants. Remember to turn off your irrigation when it rains and avoid using water for such chores as rinsing your sidewalks.

Indoors, just use common sense. Wash full loads of dishes and clothes, take short showers and don't let the water run when brushing your teeth.

For more information, visit wateruseitwisely.com or phoenix.gov/waterservices.

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Police Precincts Get New Commanders

Cmdr. Joseph Yahner now heads the Maryvale Precinct and Cmdr. Tracy Montgomery leads the Cactus Park Precinct.

Yahner most recently served as commander of the Property Crime Bureau. Prior to that he was commander of the Traffic Bureau and earlier served as the city manager police liaison. The Maryvale Precinct covers an area of about 58 square miles, with a population of 250,000.

Montgomery previously headed the Police Airport Bureau at Sky Harbor International Airport. Cactus Park also has a population of about 250,000 residents. It covers 135 square miles, an area larger than the city of Glendale.

For non-emergency calls, contact the Maryvale precinct at 602-495-5008 and the Cactus Park Precinct at 602-495-5009.

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New Park Opens in District 5

The five-acre park features a children's playground, ramada, open-play area, benches, picnic tables, grills, walking path, parking lot and security lighting.

The Longs donated the land that was their original homestead for the park. Funding to build it came from several different sources, including the 2001 bond program and Parks and Preserves Initiative.

A bit west, work has begun on a 40-acre, yet-to-be-named park at 51st and Sweetwater avenues, adjacent to the Arizona State University West campus, where many District 5 residents attend classes.

The initial phase, due to be completed in about a year, will include two soccer fields, a parking lot, a restroom and landscaping. Two softball fields, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts and an amphitheater will be added later as funds become available.

Councilman Mattox with the Long family
at the grand opening of the John F. and
Mary P. Long Homestead Park.

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City Moves to Avoid Water Problems

The city has taken a series of important steps in an effort to avoid a repeat of problems encountered at a water treatment plant in January that led to the issuance of an advisory for residents to boil water before using it. Working with an independent engineer, Water Services officials are making operational changes at the Val Vista Water Treatment Plant that will allow for the more effective treatment of water that contains a high buildup of sediment, which caused the earlier problems. Additionally, they have enhanced their capability to respond to such incidents, improved internal and external communications, and made management-related changes.

The improvements followed an extensive review led by the Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee chaired by Councilman Mattox.

The problem developed after a series of heavy rain storms stirred up too much sediment - mud, silt and other particles - in the water supply, clogging the plant's filtering system. The incident came at a time when only two of the city's five treatment plants were operating.

While the city has more than enough capacity with its five plants to serve city residents, a sixth plant is being built to help it stay ahead of its demand. The new plant will have the capacity to serve 300,000 households when completed in 2007.

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Interest Strong in West Phoenix Revitalization

Hundreds of people, from high school students to senior citizens, attended a series of community forums, urging the city to continue advancing the program.

The meetings were held to inform residents about the program and solicit suggestions from them on what they would like to see done to improve the area bounded by 19th Avenue and the 101 Freeway, from Dunlap Road to Van Buren Street.

The City Council in November approved several immediate service projects, including cleaning alleys, assigning more park rangers to the area's busiest parks and stepping up the establishment of more neighborhood associations.

Staff now is studying the many diverse recommendations offered by residents and trying to determine how they could be accomplished. Among them are short-term actions, such as installing more left-turn arrows at busy intersections and resurfacing streets and long-term projects, including building more libraries and public swimming pools.

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Keeping Watch for Water Safety

The key is as easy as "ABC:"

Adult supervision - always know where your children are and keep eye contact with them at all times when they are in or near water.

Barriers - block access to the pool with a fence, a pool cover and/or a net. Double- and triple- lock doors that lead to the backyard, with at least one of the locks higher than the kids can reach.

Classes - take your kids to swimming classes and learn CPR to save their lives.

For more information, visit the Phoenix Fire Department Web site at phoenix.gov/fire.

We also want to thank Home Depot for recently installing a pool fence for a needy family in west Phoenix and for offering free pool fence clinics at all their Valley stores in April.

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Police Target Neighborhood Crime

Using the Violence Impact Project (VIP), in which police join with other law enforcement agencies and neighborhood leaders and target specific areas to get criminals off the streets, they have been able to reduce incidents of crime.

Their latest VIP target is the Black Canyon area bounded by 19th Avenue, Indian School Road, 35th Avenue and Glendale Avenue.

Police have worked a number of special details in the area that took aim at burglaries, prostitution, assaults, drugs, robberies and homicides. Just a few weeks ago, they conducted a daylong roundup of suspects that led to the arrests of 92 individuals.

Since VIP began in the area about six months ago, property crime has declined by 19 percent and violent crime has dropped by 12 percent. Homicides are off 31 percent.

"We've been very successful so far," said Assistant Police Chief Don Swanson. "Our biggest success, though, has been working with and establishing relationships with other law enforcement agencies and neighborhood leaders."

He said that after the roundup, neighbors attended the initial court appearances of the suspects and urged the judge not to release them. "They were successful in every case, too," Swanson added.

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District 5, Registrar of Contractors Partner to Fight
Unlicensed Contracting Scams

In the past two years, more than 4,500 Arizonans filed complaints of violations of state contracting laws. Arizonans lost nearly $50 million of their hard-earned money as a result of home remodeling or repair scams. Seniors in particular are often the targets of unscrupulous, unlicensed scam artists who are looking for ways to take advantage of unsuspecting people by convincing them they need the work done now.

In March, the state Registrar of Contractors (ROC) office conducted a neighborhood sweep in Council District 5. In the two-day period, the teams inspected 36 job sites, finding 16 licensed contractor violations, including improper signage at work sites and unlicensed contracting violations.

Homeowners should always check with the ROC to make sure the person they hire is properly licensed before hiring a contractor. For more information or to report a contracting violation or suspicious activity, call the ROC at 602-542-1525.

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District 5 Outstanding Young Man and Woman of the Year

The Phoenix Youth and Education Commission recently announced the winners of the program to recognize outstanding youths throughout the city.

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Newsletter Distribution Information

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.

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