Sept. 5 - Sept. 18, 2015 www.SanTanSun.com
New museum to offer larger space, interactive activities BY ALISON STANTON
After being on the City of Chandler’s wish list for more than 30 years, a new museum is on track to open, with construction slated to begin in fiscal year 2017-18. The facility will be built in conjunction with the Chandler Museum at McCullough-Price House, 300 S. Chandler Village Dr., said Jody Crago, museum administrator. It will offer a much larger space and more interactive activities than the current museum. The new museum, he said, will feature history, art and cultural programming for people of all ages to gather and learn. “It will have programs for different ages and families and some meeting spaces. It’s intended to be a place that the entire community can utilize.” Crago said a Chandler citizens’ taskforce identified the need for a new museum in 1982. He said City officials recently finished accepting statements of qualifications from design firms interested
Museum visitor Richard Roberts listens to the secrets told by Chandler’s past. STSN photo by Tim Sealy
in the project. “We had an open request for qualifications and the City will review
Voters overwhelmingly approve change to election dates BY KEN ABRAMCZYK
Voter turnout wasn’t very large in the City’s first all-mail ballot election, but those who participated overwhelmingly favored a charter amendment to change election dates. By a tally of 20,115 to 1,859, voters approved Proposition 484, which will move election dates from May to November for mayor and councilmember offices. Officials will begin their terms in January, instead of June. The 17 percent turnout was lower than anticipated, according to City Clerk Marla Paddock. About 130,000 ballots were mailed out. The all-mail ballot was “a simple way for voters to be engaged in the voting process,” Paddock said. Only about 100 voters visited the clerk’s office on
Election Day (Aug. 25) because they either misplaced the ballot or it was too late to mail it. “It helped that councilmembers and the City were getting the word out,” Paddock said. Most voters understood the election was an all-mail ballot. “I did answer several phone calls,” Paddock said. “Some people were questioning why this election was necessary.” The election was called because Chandler has conducted its City election cycles in the fall, following a state law that was later struck down. Chandler moved elections to the fall in 2008 to conform to a change in state law that required cities, including charter cities, with a population over 175,000 to hold regular candidate elections then.
the architects and design firms and a committee will start the selection process,” Crago said.
In 2004 and 2007, Crago said voters passed two bond elections in support of a larger museum. “We do not need additional funding, but the budgeted money that is part of the City Capital Improvement Program will become available in the fiscal year 2017-18.” The Chandler Museum was originally run by the Chandler Historical Society, Crago said, before being taken over by the City of Chandler in 2008. Since then, Crago said the City has worked to evolve the museum into a community gathering place. Crago said he is excited that plans are in place to build the new museum. “I was hired by the City in late 2007 to assist in building the new museum but the economy got in the way in 2008,” he said. “After that, the City was cautious in how it would move forward, but we are finally to the point where we have the great opportunity and plan to move forward to provide the type of museum people have been looking for for over 30 years. I’m looking forward to meeting the needs of our residents.” Martin Sepulveda, president of the Chandler Historical Society, said the new museum will definitely become the pride of the community. “From the Chandler Historical Society’s perspective, this is an incredibly exciting time,” he said, adding that it will be a great resource for Chandler and the East Valley. “This new museum is the culmination see MUSEUM page 4
Five candidates to interview for city manager job Five candidates will interview for Chandler’s City Manager position, following a national recruitment that resulted in more than 50 applications. “We are excited to be moving forward with this process,” Mayor Jay Tibshraeny said. “We have a terrific community and expect to soon bring aboard a city manager who will carry on our vision to keep Chandler one of the premier cities in the Southwest.” A series of interviews will be conducted on Monday, Sept. 21, with the following candidates: • Majed Al-Ghafry, assistant city manager in El Cajon, California. He has 25 years of experience in city management, public works and engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in civil,
traffic and traffic operations. • Paul Grimes, village manager in the Village of Orland Park, Illinois. He has 20 years of city management and private sector experience in administrative, business and economic development. • John Kross, town manager in Queen Creek. He has more than 25 years of city experience in management, community development, planning and economic development. • Kevin Phelps, deputy county executive in Pierce County, Washington. He has 30 years of private and public sector experience as a business entrepreneur, economic development, management and city councilmember. see CANDIDATES page 4
see VOTERS page 4
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