MesaZona > Table of Contents : Here's The Menu. Enjoy

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Community Input For ASU @ Mesa City Center + Studios @ Mesa City Center

Better late than never, or after the fact of making the sales pitch to Mesa taxpayers to approve about $175,000,000 to pay for this or that, huh?
A COMMUNITY DESIGN WORKSHOP
Sure sounds real nice . . . Who's on that "Building Design Team"??
The Studios @ Mesa City Center will go into the existing 1970's old City IT Building and the new three-or-four-or-multi story 115,000 sq ft will get squeezed in right next on the back side in that parking lot at the NWC Pepper Place/Centennial?

. . . Could get very interesting

City of Mesa: Open, Transparent & Accountable. NOPE

Here's a flashback from almost four years ago:
What Works Cities initiative

Post Date:08/05/2015 8:32 AM

"Mayor John Giles announced today that Mesa is one of the first cities selected to participate in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ What Works Cities, a $42 million initiative to help 100 mid-sized American cities enhance their use of data and evidence to improve the lives of residents.

John Giles, Alex Deshuk and Jeff McVay

Mesa is one of eight cities that will receive expert on-the-ground support and peer-to-peer learning opportunities to make local government more effective. Since the launch of the What Works Cities initiative in April 2015, mayors from every region of the country have expressed their desire for assistance to address local challenges using data and evidence and within the first six weeks alone, 112 U.S. cities across 41 states applied. . . "

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WHAT HAPPENED

. . .and then this more than two years later:

08 December 2017

Mesa City Council Study Session > OPEN DATA PORTAL = A Failure So Far

New Administrator named for the not-so-successful Mesa Open Data Portal > Evan Allred.

Presentation of the 'new' platform BUT PLEASE READ THE ORIGINAL HYPE FOR WHAT WHATWORKSMESA was supposed to do two years ago

THE GOAL =?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Discussion of Open Data Portal introduced by Mayor John Giles - the portal has been "in a trial basis" for the last two years - the contract is ending and a new contractor is announced in 6 months April 2018

What Works City Feature: Mesa, AZ

Data and evidence as the building blocks in the foundation of the new NextMesa

Source: https://whatworkscities.bloomberg.org/works-city-feature-mesa-az/

Setting the Stage

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October 2015

The city’s Open Data Management Policy, which was signed by City Manager Chris Brady last October, affirms Mesa’s commitment to joining the open data movement. Meeting the majority of Sunlight’s open data policy guidelines, it firmly establishes

processes for the collection and release of quality data,
takes major steps to ensure that data release is timely
is prioritized based on city priorities and public feedback.
It also mandates an annual open data report and review process — an activity that will be fundamental in the effort to achieve the policy’s ultimate goals.

[City Manager Chris Brady is shown in the image to the right signing the Open Data agreement]

Here's a excerpt from the article from The Sunlight Foundation :

Mesa is streamlining cross-departmental data sharing by "eating their own dog food"

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The Certification program launched in April 2017, and U.S. cities with populations of 30,000 and higher are eligible to participate.

TODAY 24 April 2019

Bloomberg Philanthropies Announces the American Cities Best at Using Data to Improve Residents’ Lives in 2019

Second Annual What Works Cities Certification Recognizes Seven New or Advancing Cities that Are Using Data and Evidence to Solve Local Issues and Prepare for Future Challenges

Thirteen Cities Have Received Certification Since 2018

New York, NY – Today, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced the seven cities to achieve 2019 What Works Cities Certification, a national standard of excellence in city governance. What Works Cities Certification rates how well cities are managed by measuring the extent to which city leaders incorporate data and evidence in their decision-making. This year, the Certification recognizes Arlington, TX; Kansas City, MO; Louisville, KY; Memphis, TN; Philadelphia, PA; Scottsdale, AZ; and Washington, DC.
“Data helps city leaders understand problems and measure success, and it helps citizens hold government accountable for meeting public needs on all the big challenges we face – from promoting health and safety to fighting climate change,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and three-term Mayor of New York City.
Three cities (Kansas City, MO; Louisville, KY; and Washington, DC) achieved Certification at the gold level, moving up from silver in 2018.
Four cities (Arlington, TX; Memphis, TN; Philadelphia, PA; and Scottsdale, AZ) are newly certified and achieved the silver level.
Additional accomplishments can be found here. No city achieved platinum in 2019, the highest level of Certification.
To date, a total of thirteen cities have achieved Certification:
Arlington, TX (2019 Silver), Boston, MA (2018 Silver), Kansas City, MO (2019 Gold, 2018 Silver), Los Angeles, CA (2018 Gold), Louisville, KY (2019 Gold, 2018 Silver), Memphis, TN (2019 Silver), New Orleans, LA (2018 Silver), Philadelphia, PA (2019 Silver), San Diego, CA (2018 Silver), San Francisco (2018 Silver), Scottsdale, AZ (2019 Silver), Seattle, WA (2018 Silver), and Washington, DC (2019 Gold, 2018 Silver)

Mesa City Council Study Session Thu 25 April 2019: Hear More Budget Presentations

The Final Meeting Agenda was just published yesterday - one day in advance of this "Study Session".
Is that really enough time for the public - or any member of the Mesa City Council - to find out about this public meeting ahead of time: a 24-Hour Notice??? . Four city department budgets to hear the presentations and to discuss and to provide direction on? All done in an hour-and-a-half?

We can see the presentation for four department budgets.
That's 4 City Department budgets
all at the same time in the allotted time
07:30 - 09:00 a.m

Code Compliance
Transportation
Transit Services
Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities [PRCF]

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What is BUDGET HEARING?

A meeting that is usually open to the general public to discuss a business or government budget.
Individuals from the community can openly
ask questions
and they will be answered by the business or government representative.

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It is Item 1-a 19-0407 with links to four attachments farther down. Here are extracts from the four Power Point slides provided in the presentations by the different departments

CODE COMPLIANCE

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FY 2019/20 PROPOSED BUDGET APRIL 25, 2019

Presented by: Lt. Ryan A. Russell, Code Compliance Administrator

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Budget
FY 17/18 Actuals

FY 18/19 Current Budget

FY 18/19 Year End Estimate

FY 19/20 Proposed Budget Development Services Code Compliance

$1.2 M $1.6 M $1.5 M $1.6 M

*In Millions and for all funds

• Code Compliance is 100% staffed.

• 12 Code Officers, 2 Code Supervisors and 1 Administrator.

TRANSPORTATION
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FY19/20 Transportation Budget Presentation

RJ Zeder, Transportation Director

Erik Guderian, Deputy Transportation Director

April 25, 2019

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BLOGGER NOTE: Please take the time to take a closer look at these - all of them

Smart Cities Initiatives
1. Adaptive Traffic Signal Control –Traffic signal timing dynamically changes based on real-world traffic conditions in the Fiesta District and Superstition Springs Mall areas
2. Traffic Signal Systems Network –Dedicated fiber optic and radio network for Mesa’s Intelligent Transportation System connected to all 466 traffic signals and 16 pump stations
3. Pilot Global Positioning System (GPS) Emergency Signal Preemption with Mesa Fire and Medical Department –Use of GPS preemption emitter technology (rather than traffic light strobes) on emergency vehicles to preempt traffic signals during emergency calls
4. Streetlight Master Plan –Review of citywide lighting levels, dimming schedules, technology and LED conversion costs
5. Smart Irrigation Controller–Cloud-based controllers that allow wireless access and monitoring, 12% converted

FY19/20 Proposed Budget by Funding Source
Local Streets Fund (LSF) $18.7M
Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF) $21.1M
Environmental Compliance Fee (ECF) $ 4.5M
Enterprise $ 0.6M All Others $ 0.3M Total $45.2

PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES
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Operational Overview and Budget Discussion

Marc Heirshberg, Director
April 25, 2019
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> PERFORMANCE MEASURES PARTICIPATION NUMBERS FOR RECREATION PROGRAMMING BY SEASON

> DOBSON RANCH GOLF COURSE CURRENT FINANCIAL PICTURE

Over the last 4 fiscal years City expenses have ranged from $1.9M-$2.5M 

Current forecast estimates a loss to the City of $684,000 in FY19 
Fy20-23 forecasts a total combined loss of $3.8M

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO BUDGET
Additional funding support
Cemetery landscape renovation project from previous storm damage 
Geographical Information Systems Specialist to help manage PRCF Data 
Parks Trees Facilities Automated Building Energy Management Systems

TRANSIT SERVICES
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FY 19/20 Budget
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
APRIL 25, 2019
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Gilbert Road Extension Grand Opening

Saturday, May 18 9am –noon
Gilbert Road Park and Ride
Community event featuring carnival style games and activities
Food from local businesses

Light Rail Ridership [15] Ridership numbers are down

Valley Metro Provided Services

Numbers are net funding amounts.

Estimated fares and other revenues have been deducted.
Transit Financial Summary

Light Rail $6.9 M $8.5 M $8.5 M $12.4 M

NOTE:50% Increase for next year

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File #:

19-0407

Type:

Presentation

Status:

Agenda Ready

In control:

City Council Study Session

On agenda:

4/25/2019

Title:

Hear a presentation, discuss, and provide direction on the following department budgets: 1. Code Compliance 2. Transportation 3. Transit Services 4. Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities

Attachments:

1. Code Compliance
2. Transportation
3. Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
4. Transit Services

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Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Phallus Envy: Let The Good Times Roll

Pic du jour: Fat Hands + French Cuffs [Axios again]

Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

President Trump colors with crayons on pages from a coloring book with children during the 141st Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House.

1 Big Thing = China's Road To Global Dominance

The Peoples Republic of China is now delivering 300% more growth in Gross Domestic Product year-after-year than our own "We The People" American Capitalism, ruled by a legion of elites hell-bent on waging endless global warfare all over the planet and outer Space
Both China and Russia are looking more like Super Powers all the time in our Multi-Polar Universe.
From Axios.com today
Later this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping will show the world how far he's come in his 30-year plan to make his country the world's supreme power, Axios World editor Dave Lawler writes.

Upwards of 40 world leaders will join him in Beijing for the second international gathering on his Belt and Road Initiative, a plan to build a massive network of ports, roads and railways across some 65 countries.

Why it matters:
When you can get that many powerful people to come to you in Beijing, you're starting to look a lot like a superpower.
THE BOTTOM LINE
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The U.S. remains the world's leading economic, military and technological power. But with Beijing’s investments, massive market and willingness to work with democrats and dictators, when Xi calls, much of the world is willing to come

Maricopa County is Growing Fast > Risks to Public Health Living Here

PRESS RELEASE

Health Watch issued for ozone effective April 24, 2019, in Maricopa County

Under the Environmental Quality Act of 1986, the Arizona State Legislature established the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality in 1987 as the state agency for protecting and enhancing public health and the environment of Arizona.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is issuing a Health Watch (HW) for ozone effective April 24, 2019, in Maricopa County. ADEQ recommends that people limit outdoor activity while the HW is in effect, especially children and adults with respiratory problems.

Ground level ozone forms when two types of pollutants—volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and nitrous oxides (NOx)—react in sunlight. These pollutants come primarily from automobiles, but also from other sources including industries, power plants and products such as solvents and paints. Generally, the highest levels of ozone occur in the afternoon.

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BACKGROUND

High Pollution Advisory (HPA) | Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is forecast to exceed the federal health standard.

Health Watch (HW) | Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is forecast to approach the federal health standard.

Check the Hourly Air Quality Forecast | View >

Discipline For The Mesa Police Department & Its Excessive Use-of-Force Culture

Sorry guys - you really need to be more transparent than that and held accountable in the eyes of the public. Just like the case of Sheriff Joe that's now cost Maricopa County taxpayers more than $120,000,000 in the last six years, taxpayers here in Mesa have to pay one way or another for the actions of uniformed officers seen in incident-after-incident.

Whether pending or un-resolved in-the-courts or in out-of-court undisclosed settlements - or in the court of public opinion - there are a lot of damages to get paid.
Reports like this article in AZ Central today just make everything OK. Only 2 incidents?
4 Mesa officers to be disciplined in excessive-force case,
3 others cleared
by Bree Burkitt @ 06:00 a.m.

"Multiple Mesa police officers will face discipline for repeatedly punching and kneeing a man before pulling him to the ground in a May 2018 incident.

The announcement comes nearly a year after Mesa officers punched and kneed 35-year-old Robert Johnson as he stood in the hallway of an apartment complex. The incident was captured on a surveillance camera and publicly released by Chief Ramon Batista.

Officials said the allegations against Officer Ernesto Calderon, Officer Jhonte Jones, Officer Rudy Monarrez and Lt. Timothy Wahlberg were sustained in connection with the beating of Johnson.

Irene Mahoney
(Police Media on linkedin)

Monarrez was given a written reprimand for violating the department's code of conduct, according to department spokeswoman Irene Mahoney. Wahlberg, who was the supervisor that night, sustained a "non-discipline corrective action." Mahoney said it's more akin to a performance plan detailing how the incident should have been handled.

Both men have since returned to their full duties. . .

"We are anxious for us to be able to get past this and focus on putting in our new practices and focus on the community," Mahoney told The Republic.

"We’ve been really grateful for the support we’ve gotten from the community. They’ve been very supportive of the department and our officers. We feel that’s the most important piece to policing. . . "

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> ". . . Batista called for the two excessive-force cases to be investigated on both criminal and administrative levels in June.

Scottsdale police investigated the cases and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office ultimately decided not to file any charges against any of the officers involved.

Taylor has filed a $1.97 million notice of claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, against Mesa.

In August, the FBI told Mesa police it would conduct civil-rights investigations into the cases.

> The department also made improvements to the process for opening an internal investigation in connection with an excessive-force allegation. Batista said that anyone, including people internally or externally, who wants to report a potential police brutality case can do so online, over the phone by calling 480-644-2010, in person or through a notice of claim.

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