Nikki Ripley
City of Tempe
480-350-8846
nikki_ripley@tempe.gov
Tempe, Arizona – This winter and spring, the City of Tempe is inviting community members to participate in public meetings about everything from how people get around to what the community should look like.
Mayor Mark Mitchell encourages community members to attend what interests them. Each public meeting has a distinct and vital purpose, he said. Together, they serve an overall goal to improve our community.
“We are shaping the future of Tempe in many ways right now,” Mitchell said. “It is critical that we engage residents, businesses and other community members to get their opinions, ideas and feedback.”
General Plan 2040
Tempe’s General Plan 2040 will provide guidance about development, land use, sustainability, transportation, mass transit, recreation, public art, human services and more. It is referred to when the city gets zoning requests, issues building permits or designs roads, parks and public facilities.
The first open house for General Plan 2040 was held last September, with a second open house in January. In addition, a 23-member Community Working Group has been meeting monthly to assist city staff with the updated plan. The first phase of the planning process continues through May, with opportunities for community members to provide input that will be used to develop the Draft Plan. The Draft Plan will be presented at public meetings on May 29 (6 p.m.) and June 1 (9 a.m.) at the Tempe History Museum, 809 E. Southern Ave. The public will be invited to review and provide input through October. Tempe residents will vote on the final General Plan 2040 in May 2014. For more information, visit www.tempe.gov/gp2040.
Capital projects budget
In preparation for the 2013-14 fiscal year budget, Tempe wants to ask community members about the type of capital projects they would like to see over the next five years. The capital budget is separate from the city’s operating budget. It funds things like construction of new facilities, repairs to existing facilities, new equipment and more.
Two public meetings will be held in February. They will be Feb. 20, from 5:30-7 p.m., at the Tempe Police South Substation, 8201 S. Hardy Drive and Feb. 26, from 5:30-7 p.m., at the Tempe Transportation Center, second floor Don Cassano Community Room, 200 E. Fifth St. For more information, visit www.tempe.gov/budgetplan.
Changes to bus routes
Residents have been encouraged to attend public meetings about potential changes to bus routes 56 (Priest), and 108 (Elliot). The purpose is to get passenger input on changes that may occur in July. Maps of the proposed changes are available for comment from Feb. 1-18 at www.tempe.gov/tim. The next public meeting is Feb. 9 at 10 a.m. at the Tempe Police Substation at 8201 S. Hardy Drive.
Preventing roof rats
Learn how you and your neighbors can work together to prevent and control roof rats on Tuesday, Feb. 12, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Arizona Community Church, 9325 S. Rural Road, in Building G, Room 5. The city and Valley roof rat expert Barry Paceley will provide suggestions for tackling existing roof rat problems, as well as how to prevent them. For more information, visit www.tempe.gov/roofrats.
Hardy/University Streetscape Open House
Tempe will hold an open house on Wednesday, Feb. 20, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., to talk with residents, neighbors and businesses about two adjacent projects. The city is gearing up to improve pedestrian, bicycle and transit facilities, and enhance the streetscape on Hardy Drive between University Drive and Broadway Road, as well as on University Drive between Ash Avenue and Priest Drive. The open house will be at Gililland Middle School, 1025 S. Beck Ave.
Beginning Feb. 12, comment online about the projects and view the preferred design concepts at www.tempe.gov/hardydrive and www.tempe.gov/universitydrive.
Broadway Streetscape Meeting
Tempe wants to redefine the character of Broadway Road between Mill Avenue and Rural Road to a street with reduced vehicular traffic, speed limits and noise, and improved bicycle lanes, walls, landscaping and pedestrian facilities. As part of the city’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan, a variety of public meetings and neighborhood discussions were held over the last several years with neighbors and businesses near Broadway Road. The meeting will be held Feb. 25 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Community Christian Church, 1701 S. College Ave. Beginning Feb. 25, comment online about the project and view the design concepts at www.tempe.gov/broadwayroad through April 1.
Improvements at arts and culture facilities
The Tempe Center for the Arts, the Tempe History Museum and the Tempe Public Library want public opinion on the quality and types of current and future events, services and programs. The surveys welcome the input of all who value these institutions, whether they have used the facilities or not, whether they live in Tempe or not. There are three surveys, one for each venue. Visit www.tempe.gov/culturalsurveys to provide input and ideas on all three. The survey results will be used, in part, as a basis for strategic planning for each venue. The surveys will be available through Feb. 28.
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