City News

PHOENIX COMPLETES LED STREET LIGHT CONVERSION, ESTIMATING $3.5 MILLION IN ENERGY SAVINGS PER YEAR

PHOENIX RESIDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING IMPROVED VISIBILITY ON CITY STREETS AFTER THE CONVERSION TO LED STREETLIGHTS. The city of Phoenix completed a citywide conversion of nearly 100,000 standard streetlights to energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) units. This conversion is one of the largest completed by any U.S. city.

“As the fifth largest city and fastest growing city in the nation, I want to make Phoenix a model of sustainability for communities across the country,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “These new LED streetlights not only bring us one step closer to that goal, they also provide tremendous annual cost-savings for residents.”

The conversion was approved by Phoenix City Council after several years of testing and evaluation of various LED streetlights. Based upon community input and the evaluations, Phoenix adopted 2,700 kelvin as the standard kelvin level for Phoenix’s new LED streetlights, which is considered a warmer color temperature for LED lights. dioxide a year -- the equivalent of taking 3,800 cars off the road.

LED streetlights also have longer lifespans and produce better light quality than the previously used high pressure sodium streetlights. In addition to substantial energy savings, the LED fixtures will reduce maintenance expenses over their service life. Each of the nearly 100,000 new fixtures comes with a ten-year warranty.

LED technology can also improve roadway visibility and safety due to the improved distribution of light compared to high pressure sodium streetlights. Improved visibility has been linked to a reduction in crime and increased pedestrian safety.

The new LED streetlights are anticipated to save the city approximately $3.5 million in annual energy costs. By switching to more energy efficient LED fixtures, the city reduced the amount of electricity needed to illuminate the streets by approximately 53 percent. This reduction prevents emissions of up to 18,000 metric tons of carbon The city encourages the public to report streetlight outages, repair requests and other concerns to phoenix.gov/atyourservice by clicking on the “Streetlight Repair Request” form or by calling the streetlight hotline at 602-495-5125. Learn more about the Street Transportation Department at phoenix.gov/streets and follow the department on Twitter @StreetsPHX.

CLOSURE OF TWO LOOP 101 RAMPS AT SEVENTH AVE. THROUGH MARCH SCHEDULED TO REOPEN IN MARCH AS PART OF FREEWAY WIDENING PROJECT

TWO OF THE LOOP 101 (PIMA FREEWAY) RAMPS AT SEVENTH AVENUE IN PHOENIX ARE GOING TO BE CLOSED THROUGH MARCH TO ALLOW WORK TO ADVANCE ON THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION’S FREEWAY WIDENING PROJECT IN THE NORTH VALLEY. The westbound Loop 101 off-ramp and eastbound onramp at Seventh Avenue are scheduled to reopen in March. ADOT started the $185 million project to add lanes and make other improvements along 13 miles of Loop 101 between Interstate 17 and Pima Road. The entire project is scheduled for completion in early 2021.

The westbound on-ramp and eastbound off-ramp at Seventh Street closed previously as part of the project. They also are scheduled to reopen in March. The ramp closures allow crews to widen bridges and reconstruct ramps between Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street to accommodate additional lanes. Drivers on westbound Loop 101 can exit at Seventh Street and enter westbound Loop 101 at Seventh Avenue via the westbound frontage road (Beardsley Road), while eastbound Loop 101 drivers can exit at Seventh Avenue and enter at Seventh Street via the eastbound frontage road.

MAJOR ELEMENTS OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE:

• Adding one general purpose lane in each direction between I-17 and Pima • Adding an auxiliary lane in each direction between Seventh Street and Cave Creek Road • Constructing a new overpass structure at the future Miller Road alignment • Modifying freeway ramps and frontage road connections at 11 interchanges

Additional components include construction of noise or retaining walls where warranted, improvements to drainage and new rubberized asphalt resurfacing and pavement markings. This project is utilizing the design-build (D/B) method of delivery to help reduce the overall project timeline. This delivery method differs from the more traditional design-bid-build approach in which the project is completed in two phases (designed and then constructed).

The D/B method involves pairing civil engineering firms with construction contractors to create “design builders” who work synergistically from beginning to end. This creates more opportunities for innovation and can reduce costs. The D/B method of delivery is most advantageous when transportation improvements are needed immediately to reduce high traffic volume or chronic congestion. For more information on the D/B method, go to azdot.gov/ node/7485.

To learn more about these improvements, please visit azdot.gov/Loop101Improvements.

PUTTING AN END TO ROBOCALLS WITH THE TRACED ACT By Congressman David Schweikert Commission (FCC) to expand civil penalties of up faced by the people of Arizona. These calls are to $10,000 dollars for telemarketers who violate I AM EXCITED TO REPORT CONGRESS legal call restrictions and accommodates the FCC by HAS FINALLY PASSED THE TELEPHONE allowing more time to administer these laws. It also ROBOCALL ABUSE CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT puts legal responsibility on telephone companies to AND DETERRENCE (TRACED) ACT, verify incoming phone calls. LEGISLATION CREATING STRONGER AND MORE ROBUST POLICY TO COMBAT ILLEGAL I am proud of the work my colleagues and I were ROBOCALLS. able to accomplish by working across party lines to pass thoughtful and effective legislation, and I am Now that this legislation has been signed into grateful to have been a part of this effort. To take law, phone companies will be held responsible for greater preventive measures, I have included below verifying calls, and criminals working behind illicit links to resources for you to use to learn more about robocalls will be held accountable. what Cox Communications in Arizona is doing and Robocalls have become an incessant problem about how you can stop receiving unwanted calls. information from the National Do Not Call Registry likely telecommunications providers or can entail If you are a Cox Communications customer, they fraudulent activity. Do not call lists are proving to are providing free access for you to a third-party app be ineffective, and I have been working to advocate called NoMoRoBo. This app can be set up easily at For more information on how the do not call for increased transparency and higher penalties cox.com/residential/support/setting-up-nomorobo. registry works, the steps to add your number to for unauthorized calls. After introduction, I knew I html the list, and how to report a robocall, you can visit needed to co-sponsor the TRACED Act because it www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0108-national-dowas strong, bipartisan legislation that would provide To add your number to the do not call registry, not-call-registry. Alternatively, you can call 1-888a solution from Arizonans. This legislation increases visit the National Do Not Call Registry online at 382-1222, but you must call from the telephone the authority of the Federal Communications donotcall.gov. number you would like to add to the list.

Upcoming Community Events

The following events are free and open to the public. Please join us!

STAR PARTIES

Nov. 21, 2019 Jan. 23, 2020 Feb. 20, 2020 Mar. 19, 2020 Apr. 16, 2020

JAZZ CONCERTS

Apr. 16, 2020

STEAMtastic

Mar. 5, 2020

More Info: paradisevalley.edu/blackmountain 34250 North 60th Street Scottsdale, AZ 85266 602.493.2600

The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or national origin in their programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information visit: http://www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.

CITY NEWS

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE DESSERT CHALLENGE RETURNS FOR SIX WEEKS EACH YEAR, GIRL girlscoutsaz.org/dessert-challenge. locations include: million cookie customers. GSACPC SCOUTS IN ARIZONA PARTICI- The dessert with the most votes at the • Different Point of View at Pointe sold over 2.8 million packages of PATE IN THE LARGEST GIRL-LED end of the challenge in central and Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort (Hotel/ cookies last year. This year’s goal is 3 ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAM IN northern Arizona regions will each be Resort), 11111 N. 7th St. million packages. Here is a snapshot THE WORLD: The Girl Scout Cookie crowned the 2020 Girl Scout Dessert • LOVECRAFT, 3128 E. Cactus Rd. of the season at a glance: Program. From January 20 - March Challenge Champion in early • Ocean Prime Phoenix, 5455 E. 1, more than 10,000 girls in central March. High St. The Cookie Lineup and northern Arizona will be walking • PHX Beer Co. – Scotts- • New! Lemon-Ups: Crispy lemon around neighborhoods and boothing in A portion of proceeds dale Restaurant, 8300 cookies baked with inspiring messagfront of local stores learning entrepre- are donated back N. Hayden Rd. es. $5 neurial skills while selling delicious to GSACPC, and • Proof, an Amer- • Thin Mints: Mint flavored with a cookies. some participants ican Canteen at delicious chocolaty coating. Vegan. $5 provide cookie Four Seasons • Tagalongs: Layers of peanut butter And for the seventh year in a row, boothing space Resort Scottsdale with a rich, chocolaty coating. $5 participating chefs from restaurants on their proper- Troon North • Samoas: Caramel and toasted cocoacross central and northern Arizo- ty. The friendly (Hotel/Resort), nut-covered cookies. $5 na will go head-to-head to create a competition 10600 E. Cres- • Trefoils: Iconic and delicious shortwinning dessert with one of the Girl provides a great cent Moon Dr. bread cookies. $5 Scout Cookie flavors including Thin opportunity for local business- • Rusconi’s American Kitchen, • Do-si-dos: Crisp and crunchy oatMints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-Si-Dos es to support and inspire future 10637 N. Tatum Blvd. meal outside and creamy peanut butter or Trefoils. entrepreneurs — Girl Scouts! inside. $5 The Girl Scout Cookie Program is • Girl Scout S’mores: Crunchy graham The creation will be featured on their GSACPC is pleased to announce that the largest girl-led entrepreneurial sandwich cookies with creamy chocomenus during February and, for the this year is its biggest-ever event, with program in the world, generating over late and marshmallowy filling. $6 second year, GSACPC will offer an 36 participating venues – including $700 million in annual sales. Nearly • Toffee-tastics: Buttery (and gluonline poll for everyone to vote for 11 hotels and resorts and six northern 200 million boxes of Girl Scout Cook- ten-free) cookies with sweet, crunchy their favorite! To vote, fans can visit Arizona participants. Neighborhood ies are sold each year to more than 50 golden toffee bits. $6

FUNDPHX LETS YOU LEARN ABOUT THE DOLLARS AND SENSE IN PHOENIX’S BUDGET ARE YOU INTERESTED IN DIVING That’s possible through a new tool, from youth recreation activities to The city of Phoenix is known for one INTO THE DOLLARS AND SENSE called FundPHX, that takes the reading programs and senior services of the most transparent and participaBEHIND WHAT MAKES THE CITY city’s $1.4 billion General Fund in your neighborhood. The tool is tory budgeting processes in the counOF PHOENIX RUN? operating budget and brings it loaded with General Fund budgets try. Over the years, staff has looked directly to your device – computer, for departments or city functions. for ways to include more people in the Now you can learn more about all smart phone or tablet. All the city’s Each of those areas is also linked budgeting process, especially those the programs and services the city programs are there, with costs and to the city’s Inventory of Programs, who are not able to attend the city’s provides, and what it costs to bring descriptions, so you can learn about which provides more detail on a budget hearings. This tool allows them to you every day. what it takes to provide everything department- and program-specific people to participate at their own pace, level. on their own schedule, in conjuncWith FundPHX you can provide com- process. The FundPHX software lets ments directly on the budget, and let you see for yourself what each service the city know what you think is impor- costs, and how much it would cost (or tant. You can add funding to programs save) when you change service levels. you’d like to see grow, and reallocate funding from programs that you feel With a budget that size, supporting the could be used elsewhere. Once you’ve fifth largest city in the country and 1.7 made your choices, save your work, million residents, it can be a chaland share it with the city. lenge to understand everything that An essential part of planning for the help residents better understand how city of Phoenix is the development our budget is created, the Budget & of its annual budget every year. The Research Department has added a new more than $1.4 billion General Fund tool to gather feedback and help you operating budget includes everything see what makes Phoenix run. from police and fire services, to parks, tion with the city’s traditional budget goes into the services you receive. To libraries, and senior services. Visit phoenix.gov/fundphx for more.

CITY NEWS $601K AWARDED TO AZDPS BY THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY FOR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND EQUIPMENT

WITH AN INFLUX OF WINTER RESIDENTS AND VISITORS — AND ALL THE EVENTS THAT MAKE THE VALLEY A VERY DESIRABLE PLACE TO BE — THERE IS NEW FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS OF TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND EQUIPMENT TO KEEP ROADS SAFE. The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) has been awarded over $601,000 in grant funding from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). The grants will help with overtime costs for troopers and dispatchers during driving under the influence (DUI) enforcement details, targeted distracted driving enforcement operations, and seatbelt enforcement details. The grants will also allow for the purchase of Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) speed measurement devices and other speed measuring radars to be used for traffic enforcement by troopers. Additionally, the grants will be utilized to purchase a fully equipped police vehicle, drones and drone equipment, bike helmets and rear safety lights to enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety education throughout the state of Arizona. One of the grants will also provide money for the state crime labs to purchase materials and supplies to further support their mission.

The following is a breakdown of grant money allocated from GOHS:

• $10,000 for Dispatchers assigned to DUI Enforcement Details • $244,280 for Selective Traffic Enforcement Program and Materials • $30,000 for Distracted Driving Enforcement • $75,000 for the State Crime Lab • $100,000 for DUI Enforcement • $30,000 Seatbelt Enforcement Details • $1,055 for Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety • $52,134 for DUI Impaired Driving Equipment • $59,000 for Drone Materials, Software and Equipment

“Thanks to the continued support of the GOHS, the Highway Patrol Division will be able to enhance enforcement of distracted driving, seatbelt usage, aggressive driving and DUI, all of which continue to be large factors in injury and fatal collisions,” said Lt. Col. Jenna Mitchell, Assistant Director, Arizona Department of Public Safety, whose mission is to protect human life and property by enforcing state laws, deterring criminal activity and providing vital support to the State of Arizona and its citizens.

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