Wednesday, March 18, 2020

75-Minute Mesa City Council Meeting Mon 16 March 2020

A state of emergency but it's far different than events after September 11 2001, as Hizzoner John Giles stated at the start after his own invocation due to a problem with speakers downstairs in the Lower Chamber. 
2 Council members are absent (one, Kevin Thompson, on-the-phone); David Luna not present again.
If you haven't been reading a number of posts on this blog prior to Monday's meeting, separate from other important items on the agenda, the strategies of city officials to circle-the-wagons in response to questions over the handling of revenues and accounting standards are clearly in-view.
The state of emergency is the city finances in changing market conditions and questions over long-standing city policies for accounting practices, revenue sources and how funds are raised and used. There are internal audits prepared as well as required independent reviews for oversight. 
All too often city officials have been "eating their own dog food" expecting the public to swallow it without a smell test . 
The issue of Affordable Utilities (and whether citizens have the authority to approve any increases in fees/use charges) championed by District 2 Council member Jeremy Whittaker to gather signatures on a petition ballot for the General Election - has been hijacked by actions of the Mesa City Council taken on Monday.

Controversial utility measure before Mesa Council | News ...

www.eastvalleytribune.com › news › controversial-utility-measure-befor...

4 days ago - Mayor John Giles and Councilman Jeremy Whittaker, a potential ... City Charter initiative, dubbed Yes on Affordable Utilities, which Giles has ...

Mesa's use of utility money for general spending faces scrutiny

www.azcentral.com › story › news › local › mesa › 2020/02/10 › mes...

Feb 10, 2020 - City Councilman Jeremy Whittaker is leading a citizen initiative to change ... His “Vote Yes on Affordable Utilities" initiative would amend the city ... 
"Proud to announce our website is complete and we have started a new initiative to modify the City of Mesa charter. It’s called “Yes on Affordable Utilities”. 
This will push to preserve our utilities by making sure adequate investments are made into their financial sustainability. 
More details can be found on the website,https://voteyesonaffordableutilities.com
utility rates in Mesa. 
“Yes on Affordable Utilities” is a community-driven effort to reduce your City of Mesa utility rates, this includes your water, wastewater, sewer, trash, and electric. 
Today for every $100 you spend on these Mesa utilities $32 is skimmed off the top to balance the budget and pay for unrelated expenses like a subsidized private airport, golf course, professional sports complexes, and ASU campuses. This has led to uncontrollable water costs and utility rates in Mesa. 
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LINK to Council, Committee & Board Research Center tap here 
Here's all the study sessions and regular meetings so far for the month of March 2020
City Council3/16/2020Export to iCalendar5:45 PMCouncil Chambers - Upper LevelMeeting detailsAgenda AgendaNot availableNot available
City Council Study Session3/12/2020Export to iCalendar7:30 AMCouncil Chambers - Lower LevelMeeting detailsAgenda AgendaNot availableVideo Video
City Council Study Session3/5/2020Export to iCalendar7:30 AMCouncil Chambers - Lower LevelMeeting detailsAgenda AgendaNot availableVideo Video
City Council3/2/2020Export to iCalendar5:45 PMCouncil Chambers - Upper LevelMeeting detailsAgenda AgendaNot availableVideo Video
City Council Study Session3/2/2020Export to iCalendar5:15 PMCouncil Chambers - Lower LevelMeeting detailsAgenda AgendaNot availableVideo Video
HERE'S A RUNDOWN OF EVENTS ON THE OFFICIAL CALENDAR THROUGH JUNE 2020 FOR NEXT YEAR'S CITY BUDGET


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City Council Meeting - 3/16/2020

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3
City Council approves ordinance formalizing affordable utility programs and changes to use of utility revenues
March 17, 2020 at 9:59 am 

The requirements set in the new ordinance take effect July 1, 2020 to coincide with the beginning of the 2020/2021 fiscal year.
Public Information and Communications
Contact: Steve Wright
Tel. 480-644-2069
steven.wright@mesaaz.gov


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