August 16 – September 5, 2014 www.SanTanSun.com
Longtime resident named City’s communications director BY JOAN WESTLAKE
Matt Burdick, formerly the communications director for the Arizona Department of Transportation, is Chandler’s new communications and public affairs director, replacing Nachie Marquez, who was promoted to assistant city manager in March. In the new position since Aug. 11, Burdick oversees the Mayor and City Council Office; Public Information; Video Production and Print; Mail and Graphics divisions; as well as Web coordination; publications; and the responsibility of enhancing Chandler’s image locally, regionally and nationally. Raising his family in Chandler for nearly two decades, Burdick brings a wealth of knowledge about the community, its people and amenities. While at ADOT, he worked closely with Chandler for the development, construction and operation of the Price and Santan freeways and its related projects. He has experience in all facets of communication, including public involvement, public affairs, media relations, marketing and crisis communications. Burdick earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and master’s degree in mass communications from Arizona State University. “We chose Chandler to raise our family because of the quality of life, education, jobs, recreation and people,” Burdick says. “The quality of the schools and teachers in the Chandler Unified School District, along with the safe neighborhoods and
BY SCOTT SHUMAKER
Crews are raising solar arrays over 140 parking spaces at Chandler’s Downtown Library this summer, and residents will only have to wait until Aug. 30—or sooner—to enjoy the shade. The City of Chandler approved at an April council meeting a $461,183 deal to install the panels with SolarCity, a San Mateo, Californiabased residential and commercial solar developer. The City approved a similar $239,095 deal to place solar
The City of Chandler is looking for proposals to create a dynamic, mixed-use statement at the northern entrance to downtown. The City’s Request for Proposals is for the 4.6-acre property located on the southwest corner of Chandler Boulevard and Arizona Avenue, designated as Site 1-2-3. Acting as a gateway to Chandler’s downtown, it holds potential to expand the commercial and retail offerings as well as residential and all the amenities that are desired by those living and working in the area. Downtown Redevelopment
COMMUNICATIONS FAMILY: Longtime resident and new Chandler Communications Director Matt Burdick and his wife, Laura, relax at a Chandler park with daughter, Olivia, son, Quinn, and a furry buddy. Submitted photo
variety of youth activities were big factors. Several members of my wife’s family live in Chandler, so that is how we were first exposed to the city. My wife is a registered nurse and worked for several years at Chandler Regional Hospital.” Burdick points out there are countless ways community members might know him and his family. Athletics and running are longstanding parts of their lives. He and his wife have played coed softball for more than a decade at Snedigar and Folley parks. He coached a traveling softball SEE COMMUNICATIONS
DIRECTOR PAGE 6
Manager Kim Moyers explains that during the past decade, the area has become such a thriving destination that now an extremely low-vacancy rate is preventing new businesses from locating here. The Chandler downtown office vacancy rate of 4.4 percent, and retail and restaurant vacancies at about 2 percent are in stark contrast with Metro Phoenix’s office vacancy of 20 percent and retail of 10. The RFP is asking for approximately 40,000 square feet of restaurant, retail and entertainment; 50,000 square feet of office and office services; and the rest of the area as a combination of
GOOD DAY SUNSHINE: Patrons of the Downtown Library are leaving the facility a little cooler, thanks to a new parking lot solar project. STSN photo by Ron Lang
ROLLING AT SKATELAND
POSSESSED TO SKATE: Madisyn Dickson and Zoie Zimpleman let the “walkers” do the work so they can chat with each other STSN photo by Tim Sealy For more photos of Skateland see page 50
SEE PROPOSALS PAGE 4
SUMMER SPECIAL ROC: 280175, Southwest Holding Group Co.
arrays at the Police Property and Evidence Building. The money paid by the City purchases 12 million kilowatts of electricity from SolarCity at a fixed rate of 3 1/2 cents per kilowatt—less than the government pays for power from APS, according to Marian Norris, assistant to the Chandler city manager. SolarCity, chaired by business mogul and Tesla Motor CEO Elon Musk, will install, own and operate the library’s panels for the duration of the 20-year deal. The company is one of SEE SOLAR PAGE 4
Officials request development proposals for downtown gateway BY JOAN WESTLAKE
Solar-power deal adds covered parking to library
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F E AT U R E STO R I E S Drive with caution by ongoing road work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5 California Closets specializes in custom storage systems . . .BUSINESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 15 Parks and Rec offers variety of new classes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .YOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 24 Child-abuse coalition achieves nonprofit status. . . . . . . . . . . .NEIGHBORS . . . . . . . . . . . Page 41 Acoustic artist yearns for that interaction with audiences. .ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 51
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More Community . . . . . . 1-14 Business . . . . . . . . 15-22 Youth. . . . . . . . . . .23-34 Opinion. . . . . . . . 39-40 Neighbors. . . . . . .41-50 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . .51-60 Spirituality . . . . . .61-63 Directory . . . . . . 64-65 Classifieds. . . . . . 66-67 Where to eat . . . 68-70