ANDY BIGGS...Tweet-of-the-Week + Some of his latest

 FIRST OF ALL ---- FACT-CHECK THIS! 

Tweet of the Week

Securing Arizona's Water Future 

Earlier this month, I introduced the Colorado River Basin Water Security and Infrastructure Act to expand water supplies, accelerate critical infrastructure projects, and strengthen long-term water security throughout the Colorado River Basin.

After its introduction, the Arizona Farm Bureau came forward with its appreciation of the legislation. 

The Bureau stated, “Arizona Farm Bureau supports efforts to strengthen Colorado River water security and advance the infrastructure investments necessary to protect the long-term water needs of Arizona and the entire Basin. We appreciate Congressman Andy Biggs’ leadership in introducing the Colorado River Basin Water Security and Infrastructure Act and his recognition that addressing the Colorado River’s challenges requires meaningful action, long-term planning, and solutions that expand our water resources."

Meetings and District Events

I was pleased to meet with members of the Arizona Automotive Dealers Association. We discussed the issues facing this industry. Thank you for your time and insightful conversation!

It was great to meet with Strive Pharmacy, one of the largest compounding pharmacies in Arizona, to discuss lowering healthcare costs and continuing innovation in the medical field. I appreciate all you do to ensure the health and well-being of Arizonans!

==

TOP HEADLINES: MesaNow

mesanow.org is the Mesa Now digital newsroom and community information portal for the City of Mesa, Arizona. 

• It serves as the city's local news and events hub, featuring top headlines, event calendars, newsletters, a photo gallery, and links to city services. 
• It works alongside the main city website (Mesaaz.gov) and the MesaNow mobile app, which provides access to utility accounts, news, and other city services.

Council Approves Landmark Development Agreement for Legacy Park and Gateway Crossing 

Mesa Hydration Donation Campaign Still Needs Water

RELATED CONTENT FROM MESAZONA ARCHIVES June 2017

Mesa’s Elliot Road Technology Corridor Snags Water-Bottling Facility

Niagara Bottling will add 450,000-square-foot facility in Mesa

Posted June 2, 2017 by AZ Business Magazine

Niagara Bottling, LLC, the largest, private-label bottled water supplier in the U.S., announced today it will establish a $76 Million 450,000-square-foot, highly automated manufacturing and bottling operation in the City of Mesa’s Elliot Road Technology Corridor.*
Where will the water come from?

Blogger's Note: *NOT INCLUDED in the announcement  is the dollar amount of tax incentives from local tax entities or for how many years or the source of water. 
In January 2017 Niagara made a capital investment of $96 Million in The State of Utah. 

• The Niagara Bottling project will create up to 76 new jobs at their location in Brigham City, retaining 35 jobs from their existing facility. 
• Niagara received a 15-year tax incentive from local tax entities . [See the link: http://www.utahbusiness.com below]

Brian Hess

At least two other cities in other states have rejected applications by Niagara citing these concerns to  put a real value on the water that is being sold to a private company and prevent local  EDSCs from giving private companies discounts on water that has been improved through processes paid for by taxpayers. Groups have also downplayed the 38 jobs that would initially be created as "low wage" employment that "does nothing to provide area residents with meaningful work" and says the $4.1 million tax abatement will be a burden on taxpayers who will have to make up the difference. Cited in the report: The agreement calls for a 100 percent abatement on taxes on the facility for the first three years, 85 percent the next two years and 50 percent for the final two years.
According to an article in the Rivard Report on October 7, 2016 

City Says No Thanks to Niagara Water Bottling Deal  
Ten days ago, a rezoning application by California-based Niagara Bottling to build a water bottling plant at Brooks City Base was fast-tracked for City Council approval by the Zoning Commission, but the deal is now dead.
The first phase of the Niagara Bottling plant would have brought 75-100 jobs in 2016, and 200 jobs by 2019, but most would have been low wage, hourly positions. Niagara would have required 2,500 acre-feet of water annually for its bottling and manufacturing operations, or about 830 million gallons of water. Other sources said the plant could have used just under 1% of SAWS’ annual pumping volume. . . The request by Niagara to establish a bottling facility in South Texas, where cyclical droughts, growing urban populations and high agricultural pumping all stress the current water supply, was strongly opposed by area environmental organizations
Niagara Bottling has launched a multi-regional expansion across the country in a continuing endeavor to produce high quality bottled water at affordable prices, all while leading the industry in environmental sustainability. As the largest private label water supplier in the U.S., Niagara carries more than 50 years of experience in advanced bottling technology. The family-owned and operated company has 19 facilities nationwide. Each remains operational 365 days a year, 24 hours a day for continuous production and shipping.     

“The investment that Niagara Bottling is making in Mesa is a very significant one and I could not be happier that they have chosen to make it in District 6,” District 6 Councilmember Kevin Thompson said. 

“The Elliot Road Technology Corridor is such an important area for our region and they will be a tremendous addition.”

Niagara Bottling will invest $76 million in the facility and will create 45 to 55 new jobs with a total payroll of more than $2.5 million annually. The company expects to begin construction in June this year and commence production in the first quarter of 2018.

“Niagara Bottling, LLC is a responsible family-owned company that is committed to supporting our local community, our team members and our environment. We are very proud to announce Mesa, Arizona as the home of our newest beverage manufacturing facility and look forward to maintaining leadership in the areas of innovation, supply chain efficiencies, and overall environmental stewardship,” Brian Hess, Executive Vice President at Niagara, said.

“We are very proud of our efforts to provide healthy beverages to our customers,  first responders, and charitable partners.” Hess further commented, “We are very appreciative for the City of Mesa’s support and warm welcome and look forward to being an integral and productive member of the local community.”

Niagara Bottling supplies major retailers across the nation, like Costco and Target. 

Headquartered in Ontario, California, the company began as a family business in 1963 by offering five-gallon containers for home and office delivery.

Niagara expanded in the early 1990s to offer single-serve private label bottled water for grocery, club, convenience, and wholesale customers and has established itself as a national leader in high-quality, affordable bottled water.

 

“Niagara is the latest in a string of manufacturing firms selecting Arizona, joining a thriving industry that provided more than $24 billion to our state’s economy in 2016,” Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, said. 

“We applaud Niagara’s commitment to 100 percent of its bottles and caps being recyclable and we thank them for their commitment to and investment in Arizona.”

“The new Niagara Bottling manufacturing facility in Mesa will add quality jobs and tens of millions of dollars in capital investment in our communities,” Chris Camacho, President and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, said. “We join our partners in welcoming Niagara to Mesa, Arizona, and look forward to their future success.”

The City of Mesa, Arizona Commerce Authority, and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council worked in partnership to bring Niagara Bottling’s manufacturing facility to Mesa’s Elliot Road Technology Corridor.

_______________________________________________________

 

Here's an announcement about Niagara's expansion in Utah five months ago

Niagara Bottling to Expand Operations in Box Elder County

Press Release Jan 12, 2017            

Salt Lake City—Niagara Bottling and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah) today announced that the family-owned beverage bottling company will expand to Box Elder County, retaining 35 jobs and adding up to 76 jobs and $95 million in capital investment to the community.

“EDCUtah is thrilled to have a family-operated business like Niagara Bottling expand in Utah,” said Michael Flynn, Interim Chief of Staff at EDCUtah. “The manufacturing industry thrives in Utah and a technologically advanced and successful company like Niagara Bottling will bring great opportunities to the community in Box Elder County.”
Niagara Bottling was founded in 1963, in Irvine, California. The company is innovative with high speed manufacturing and state-of-the-art bottle design. Niagara Bottling produces high quality affordable bottled water and is the industry leading private label bottled water supplier in the Western United States. Niagara is currently the largest family-owned and operated water bottle company in the United States.
> The Niagara Bottling project will create up to 76 new jobs at their location in Brigham City, retaining 35 jobs from their existing facility. Water bottling facilities, like Niagara Bottling, are highly automated but bring a significant capital investment to the state. Niagara bottles both under their own label and private label bottling for companies like Costco, Wal-Mart and Target.
“Niagara has a great goal of sustainability and strives to empower their employees to greater achievements,” said Flynn. “They are exactly the type of company that we want to do business in Utah. We congratulate them on their expansion and wish them long-term success at their new facility.”
Niagara received a 15-year tax incentive from local tax entities
Niagara Bottling, working closely with the local community, has decided its expansion will be located in Brigham City. The company will be building a new facility on a 35-acre lot for their manufacturing plant.
“It’s great to see a quality company like Niagara choose Brigham City as its newest expansion location,” said Tyler Vincent, Mayor of Brigham City, ” We appreciate the close working relationship that we’ve developed with Niagara, and we believe that they will find that Brigham City is an excellent place to do business. We are thrilled with the way Niagara treats its people and the communities in which they do business, and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

A Quick-Jab Back at Fake News from Mesa City Hall

Fast punch? Your MesaZona blogger wants to hit-back at lame, weak so-called 'news' about economic development that is not open, transparent and accountable

See who is landing jobs and a $76M automated production center near Apple in Mesa Jun 8, 2017, 11:27am MST

Here's the link to a report in Phoenix Business Journal used in the latest issue of the City of Mesa's 3rd Quarter 2017 Economic Reporter Newsletter from the Office of Economic Development > http://www.mesaaz.gov 
    

You can't see anything . . .
You get 're-directed' to Mike Sunnuck's article that's behind a pay-wall!
That really SUCKS, Bill!

There were two articles about this highly automated manufacturing facility posted on this blog site on June 2/June 12, 2017.
Take a look at some of the background and context for Niagara Water Bottling in the biggest expansion for bottling water in the Southwest - is there something wrong, impure or unsafe with the tap water supplied by the City of Mesa to homes here?
Is Niagara planning to build a pipeline from Niagara Falls on the Canada-U.S. to sell spring-fed water, or are they getting special rates for the same clean and pure water provided by the same infrastructure pipelines to supply waters to homes here?

How many thousands of gallons per day will the facility use from the same source and same multi-million dollar taxpayer-financed pipeline - do they get "a special deal' while residents pay utilities use charges, fees and taxes?

Who's landing jobs?? Whose land did Niagara buy and why?
Highly-automated manufacturing jobs are usually neither 'high-quality jobs' nor even approaching paying the median salary levels, no matter what the article announces . . .

Mesa City Council Monday 14 September 2026

City Council Study Session

City Council Regular Session

View all meeting information details. 

The agenda will be available at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting at: http://mesa.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and in the City Manager’s Office.

Mesa Weighs $3B Legacy Park Mega-Project, Largest in City's History

By Taylor Johnson

Published on September 14, 2026

Source: Google Street View

Mesa's City Council is set to vote Monday on a proposal that would reshape 197 acres of southeast Mesa into the largest mixed-use development in the city's history: a $3 billion project called Legacy Park. The plan, pitched by Phoenix-based developer Vestar, calls for a luxury resort hotel, office towers, apartments, retail and a man-made lake on land that once served as a General Motors proving ground.

The council's vote, scheduled for Monday, covers a package of approvals that includes annexing the land into Mesa, zoning changes, a development agreement and a special taxing district, according to KTAR News 92.3 FM. Vestar and Mesa city staff first laid out the development proposal for council members during a study session on September 10. Ryan Ash, Vestar's senior vice president of asset management, told the council that the company plans to break ground on public infrastructure, amenities and traffic improvements in January 2028, start vertical construction in June 2028, and open the project's first phase in October 2029.

What's Actually Being Built

At full buildout, Legacy Park is planned to include 300,000 square feet of upscale retail and restaurants, 2,500 multifamily residential units, a 600-room luxury resort hotel, 3.4 million square feet of Class A office space, and a 20-plus-acre urban park anchored by that lake, according to a release carried by PR Newswire. The hotel component will be developed by The Athens Group, a Phoenix-based hospitality firm whose portfolio includes the Four Seasons Hualalai, Montage Laguna Beach and Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, as reported by Arizona Foothills Magazine.

Vestar is co-developing the project with Pacific Proving LLC, the landowning entity led by Andrew Cohn and Bill Levine that controls 1,805 acres in Mesa previously used as a General Motors testing ground, per Commercial Property Executive. Vestar designed the retail and dining core to benchmark against Scottsdale Quarter, the open-air lifestyle center in north Scottsdale where Vestar also serves as a strategic operating partner, according to the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce.

Site Sits Across From Gateway Airport

Legacy Park would rise at the northeast corner of Ellsworth Road and Williams Field Road, directly across from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and near Arizona State University's Polytechnic campus and Arizona Athletic Grounds, according to AZBEX. The same outlet reports that Vestar has separately filed plans for Gateway Crossing, a 40-acre commercial project formerly known as Legacy Towne Center, located directly across Williams Field Road from the new development.

The megaproject lands amid a broader regional building boom. Metro Phoenix had 2.2 million square feet of retail space under active construction as of late 2025, ranking as the fourth-largest retail development pipeline in the country amid rapid population growth, according to CoStar News.

The Fiscal Case Mesa Officials Are Weighing

An independent economic impact analysis presented during the council's study session projected that Legacy Park will generate $58.8 billion in total economic impact, $1.4 billion in direct tax revenue for Mesa, and more than 13,500 jobs over a 30-year period, per meeting records posted on Open Publica. City officials cited the capture of lost sales tax revenue that Mesa residents currently spend in neighboring East Valley cities as a primary fiscal driver behind the proposal, particularly following Arizona's statewide elimination of municipal residential rental taxes, the meeting records show.

Mesa city leaders view the public-private partnership as a strategy to recapture sales tax dollars that residents currently spend in cities like Gilbert and Queen Creek, per the same account. While the city-commissioned analysis projects significant long-term returns and thousands of jobs, open questions remain around local utility impacts, including long-term water allocation, traffic infrastructure around Ellsworth Road and State Route 24, and the precise financial mechanics of the proposed taxing district.

Not to Be Confused With the Old Legacy Park

The name Legacy Park may ring a bell for Mesa residents for the wrong reason. It's shared with Mesa's former Legacy Park sports complex, originally known as Bell Bank Park, where two former executives were sentenced to prison in September 2025 for a $300 million municipal bond fraud scheme. That facility defaulted on its bonds in 2022 and was later sold in bankruptcy — a separate saga entirely from Vestar's new mixed-use proposal.

Vestar's push into southeast Mesa follows a string of large East Valley retail projects the company has pursued in recent months, including a mall proposal near TSMC in north Phoenix and the completed Vineyard Towne Center in Queen Creek. Mesa's own SR-24 corridor has also been ramping up with new commercial development, adding further momentum to the region's building spree ahead of Monday's council vote.

Phoenix-Real Estate & Development

Mayor Mark Freeman



Mayor of Mesa

Councilmember Rich Adams
District 1 Councilmember

Councilmember Dorean Taylor

District 2 Councilmember

Councilmember Francisco Heredia
District 3 Councilmember

Councilmember Jenn Duff
District 4 Councilmember

Councilmember Alicia Goforth
District 5 Councilmember

Vice Mayor Scott Somers
District 6 Councilmember

MEETING DETAILS 17 Meeting Items

Meeting Name: City Council Agenda status: Final Meeting date/time: 9/14/2026 5:45 PM Minutes status: Draft   Meeting location: Council Chambers Published agenda: Agenda Accessible Agenda Published minutes: Not available   Agenda packet: Not available Meeting video: Not available   Attachments: Meeting Items (17) 17 records Group Export Show: Legislation only File # Agenda # Type Title Action Result Action Details 26-0041 2 Minutes Approval of minutes of previous meetings as written.     Not available 26-0728 3-a Contract Dollar Limit Increase to the Cooperative Contract for Managed Service Provider for Innovation and Technology Contractor Services for the Department of Innovation and Technology (Citywide) This contract provides a managed service provider that gives the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) flexibility to supplement internal staffing resources as technology needs, project demands, and organizational priorities evolve. Contract services may include coordinating IT related purchases, serving as a liaison between DoIT and Procurement Services, providing administrative, operational, project management, and architectural systems support, delivering consulting and training services, and providing support for the Topaz Regional Wireless Cooperative (TRWC). The dollar limit increase is needed to provide sufficient contract capacity to address current and anticipated service needs while preserving flexibility to scale support as demand evolves. Approval of the contract dollar limit increase does not increase the DoIT or TRWC budgets. The Department of Innovation and Technology and P     Not available 26-0796 3-b Contract Five-Year Use of a Cooperative Term Contract for Information Technology Temporary and Professional Services for the Mesa Police Department (Citywide) This contract will provide a dedicated Technical Account Manager (TAM) to support body-worn camera redaction and digital evidence sharing. The TAM will be on-site four days a week and will assist with ongoing system set up and configuration, account maintenance, data analysis and reporting, and provide technical assistance. The Mesa Police Department currently fills these roles through Axon, which has discontinued this temporary staffing function and transferred it to Insight Global, LLC. Transitioning the functions preserves program knowledge and prevents a gap in support for body-worn camera and digital evidence redaction operations. The Mesa Police Department and Procurement Services recommend authorizing the purchase using the Omnia Partners cooperative contract with Insight Global, LLC in an amount not to exceed $260,000 annually, with an annual increase allowance of up to 5% or the adjusted Consumer Price Index.     Not available 26-0794 3-c Contract Three-Year Term Contract with Two-Year Renewal Options for Landscape Maintenance-City Facilities (Zone 3) for the Facilities Management Department (Districts 1, 2, 5 & 6) This contract will provide landscape maintenance services for various City facilities in Zone 3, which encompasses 16 non-secured properties located in Council Districts 1, 2, 5 & 6. These services will help ensure that landscaped areas and plant life at City facilities are attractive, well-maintained, and safe, providing a welcoming environment for residents, visitors and City employees at Mesa’s libraries, museums, venues and other public facilities. A committee representing the Facilities Management Department and Procurement Services evaluated responses and recommend awarding the contract to the highest scored proposal from Santa Rita Landscaping, LLC dba Four Peaks Landscape Management (a Mesa business) in an amount not to exceed $480,000 annually, with an annual increase allowance of up to 5% or the adjusted Consumer Price Index.     Not available 26-0795 3-d Contract Three-Year Term Contract with Two-Year Renewal Options for Landscape Maintenance-City Facilities (Secured Sites) for the Facilities Management Department (Citywide) This contract will provide landscape maintenance services for 18 secured City facilities throughout Mesa, such as the Communications, Falcon Field, two reservoirs, Municipal Court, and 13 Police and Fire Facilities. These services will help ensure grounds remain safe, orderly, accessible and free from overgrown vegetation and other potential hazards, while supporting the operational needs of each facility. Due to the security requirements of these locations, this contract is separate from the other Landscape Maintenance contracts. A committee representing the Facilities Management Department and Procurement Services evaluated responses and recommend awarding the contract to the highest scored proposal from Santa Rita Landscaping, LLC dba Four Peaks Landscape Management (a Mesa business) in an amount not to exceed $548,000 annually, with an annual increase allowance of up to 5% or the adjusted Consumer Price Index.     Not available 26-0797 3-e Contract Five-Year Term Contract for Electrical Equipment, Part & Supplies for Various Citywide Departments (Citywide) This contract will provide industrial and non-industrial electrical equipment, parts, and supplies, as well as data communications products, to support various projects citywide. Most common items include fuses, distribution panels, conduit fittings, breakers, relays, overloads, contactors, sensors, lighting and electrical supplies, intrusion and access control parts, and motor control equipment. The City partnered with the AXIA Cooperative to lead the solicitation that created this term contract. The contract will be available to over 30,000 public agencies nationally through AXIA’s cooperative purchasing program. As part of the agreement, the City will receive a rebate based on all sales against the contract. A committee representing the Water Resources, Department of Innovation and Technology, Energy Resources, Engineering, Facilities Management, Park, Recreation & Community Facilities, and Transportation Departments and Procurement Services evaluated responses and     Not available 26-0678 4-a Resolution Approving and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Right of Way Occupancy License for MMR Fiber Solutions Communications, LLC. (Citywide) Resolution No. 12573     Not available 26-0704 4-b Resolution Approving and authorizing the City Manager to accept Proposition 202 funds from the Gila River Indian Community and administer awarded funds. (Citywide) Resolution No. 12574     Not available 26-0782 4-c Resolution Approving and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Foreign Trade Zone Operator Agreement for Foreign Trade Zone 221 with JX Advanced Metals USA, Inc. at 10036 East Germann Road. (District 6) Resolution No. 12575     Not available 26-0624 5-a Ordinance ANX25-00725 - Annexing 0.38± acres of county right-of-way along South Signal Butte Road approximately 1,250± feet south of the southwest corner of South Signal Butte Road and East Williams Field Road. (District 6) Ordinance No. 6032     Not available 26-0810 6-a Resolution Making findings required by A.R.S. § 9-500.11 (version 2) for the City to enter into, and approving and authorizing the City Manager to enter into, a development agreement that is a “retail development tax incentive agreement” under A.R.S. § 9-500.11 (version 2), for the development of the project known as the “Cannon Beach Hotel,” generally located at the southeast corner of Power Road and Warner Road. (District 6) (5 votes required) Resolution No. 12570     Not available 26-0787 7-a Ordinance ANX25-00682 - Annexing 5.2± acres located at the southwest corner of East Williams Field Road and State Route 24. This request has been initiated by Dennis Newcombe, Gammage and Burnham, for the owner, Pacific Proving, LLC. (District 6) Ordinance No. 6029     Not available 26-0776 7-b Ordinance ANX25-00893 - Annexing 196.3± acres located at the northeast corner of South Ellsworth Road and East Williams Field Road. This request has been initiated by Dennis Newcombe, Gammage and Burnham, for the owners, Pacific Proving, LLC, and Mesa BA Land, LLC. (District 6) Ordinance No. 6030     Not available 26-0756 7-c Ordinance ZON25-00891 "Legacy Park" 196.3± acres located at the northeast corner of South Ellsworth Road and East Williams Field Road. Rezone from Light Industrial to Planned Community District (PC). This request will allow for the development of a mixed-use planned community. Pacific Proving LLC, Owner; Susan Demmitt/Dennis Newcombe, Gammage & Burnham, Applicant. (District 6) Ordinance No. 6031 Staff Recommendation: Approval with conditions P&Z Board Recommendation: Approval with conditions (Vote: 7-0)     Not available 26-0817 7-d Resolution A resolution making findings required by A.R.S. § 9-500.11 (Version 2) for the City to enter into a “retail development tax incentive agreement” and approving and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a development agreement that is a “retail development tax incentive agreement” under A.R.S. § 9-500.11 (Version 2), related to the development of certain improvements constructed for a project generally located west and south of State Route 24, east of South Ellsworth Road, north of East Williams Field Road, south of a portion of East Williams Field Road, and west of the future South Crismon Road alignment. (District 6) (5 votes required) Resolution No. 12571     Not available 26-0818 7-e Resolution A resolution approving the formation of the Legacy Park District, a theme park district pursuant to Arizona law, on approximately 428 acres of land wholly within the boundaries of the City, generally located north of East Pecos Road, east of South Ellsworth Road, west of the South Crismon Road alignment, and west and south of State Route 24; electing two City Councilmembers to serve on the District Board of Directors; approving the form and authorizing the execution and delivery of a Development and Intergovernmental Agreement by and among the City, the District, a Developer, and the owners of land within the District; and approving and authorizing additional actions in connection with such District. (District 6) Resolution No. 12572     Not available 26-0016 8-a Public Hearing Items from citizens present. (Maximum of three speakers for three minutes per speaker.)     Not available

City Council Study Session  

Meeting Agenda - Final  

Mayor Mark Freeman  

Vice Mayor Scott Somers - District 6  

Councilmember Rich Adams - District 1  

Councilmember Dorean Taylor - District 2  

Councilmember Francisco Heredia - District 3  

Councilmember Jennifer Duff - District 4  

Councilmember Alicia Goforth - District 5