CG News

A page for various announcements and news about the community

(Earlier stories are in COMMUNITY ARCHIVE)

                                                     -:-

(Posted Aug. 20, 2019)

The city posted this announcement today:

The City of Casa Grande is excited to offer residents a new online service request portal which will include a new mobile app. 

This new system will provide citizens with a new and improved way to submit service requests, track ticket progress, and submit additional feedback directly to city departments ensuring better customer service. 

Residents who see a non-emergency issue that needs to be addressed, such as a pothole, graffiti, non-working street light, uncontained trash pick-up, abandoned vehicle, illegal dumping, or other code violation can submit a request through the portal or mobile app. 

Users are also able to include the pinpoint location and a photo of the request when submitting a ticket, allowing city officials to receive and resolve the request quickly and efficiently. 

The city evaluated the prior system and decided it was time to upgrade to include a mobile app, allowing citizens an easier way to communicate to city staff in a timely matter.

Other benefits of this new app include a modern, simplified interface to enhance user experience, improved GPS mapping of service location, quick access to city news and social media. City staff will be able to monitor how quickly requests are being addressed and provide the customer with status updates.

Citizens can also send reports HERE. 

The SeeClickFix mobile app is available for download on Android and iPhone. 

For more information, including instructions on how to create an account or report an issue, call the Public Works Department at 421-8625.  

(Posted Aug. 20, 2019)

Further information, including rehab guidelines and application form, is available on the city’s website at

https://casagrandeaz.gov/owner-occupied-housing-rehabilitation-program/

Casa Grande is seeking $310,000 in state funds for the city’s owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program.

As outlined to the City Council during Monday night’s session, it’s a competitive process with other cities.

To boost the city’s chances of receiving the $310,000, Grant Coordinator Mary Allen told the council, Casa Grande will add other money available to it.

That includes $50,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds, $15,000 from the county Human Action Human Resources Agency for weatherizing of homes, and other sources for a total, with the state funding, of $465,000.

If that total amount is available, Allen said, the city hopes to rehabilitate four to six homes during the next year.

“We have an application process, we do determine eligibility financially,” Allen continued. “Also they have to live in their home for at least a minimum of six months.

“We are actually prioritizing the elderly, the physically disabled and it definitely has to be low to moderate income.”

The council vote was unanimous to approve applying for the state grants and to accept the updated housing rehabilitation guidelines.

(Posted Aug. 19, 2019)

The current General Plan is found at:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4vKG2urQq2OMDd5X0dSSWZBRjA/view

The scope of update work is HERE

The update costs breakdown is HERE

The citizen participation plan is HERE

The citizen advisory group list is HERE

Every 10 years, Casa Grande updates its General Plan, a guide to the future.

Final City Council approval was given Monday night to a $200,000 consultant contract with PLAN*et consultants for the latest update, going through 2030.

The council also adopted a public participation plan for the update and appointed a steering committee of residents from various business and community backgrounds.

As the current document says, the General Plan is a lengthy, comprehensive document that “includes elements that provide guidance for future growth and development” and “should be referred to when considering requests for rezoning and new development within the Casa Grande municipal limits and planning area. Each element includes goals, policies, strategies, maps and figures”s

During initial approved of the PLAN*et contract two weeks ago, Planning and Development Director Paul Tice said, “I might note that PLAN*et was involved with the last General Plan update. Leslie Dornfeld, the principal at PLAN*et, was highly involved as the project manager for our last General Plan and she has a consultant team consisting of a number of staff who were also involved with the last General Plan.

“Many of those same plan member, team members, were actually involved with the assistance team that recently visited for our downtown project, as well.”

According to the staff report, “The adopted public participation plan calls for the creation of a community-based steering forum whose role is to help steer the direction of the General Plan update process and to act as ambassadors and champions of the update to the various community groups/interests that they represent.

“Due to the large size of this group (25+) of people who are active in a number of different community affairs it is recommended that a quorum for meeting business purposes be defined as a minimum of 10. The meetings of the steering forum will be public meetings and as such staff will post notice of the meetings as well as take minutes that will be forwarded to City Council for acceptance.”

The number is actually 29 on the citizen committee.

“This formally creates this committee,” Tice told the council Monday night.

Final council approval for the items was unanimous.

(Posted Aug. 6, 2019)

The staff report is HERE

The presentation material is HERE

Video of the one hour, 19 minute discussion is item K2 at https://casagrandeaz.swagit.com/play/08052019-1123

(NOTE: An earlier version misidentified those voting no. That has been corrected.)

Action to eventually end the irrigation system within the Evergreen Historic District was put on hold Monday night by the City Council pending further discussion.

The vote was 5-2, with councilwomen Mary Kortsen and Donna McBride opposed.

No date was set for future action or appointing a city/Evergreen users committee to discuss the problems.

Before the council was a staff recommendation to refund the $1,019 assessment to users made during repairs to the system pump in 2014.

As the staff report puts it, “The city will continue to operate the Evergreen Irrigation system with the current well, current pump and current flow of water until June 30, 2020, or if the system fails, whichever comes first. At that point, the system will be discontinued. With this refund, the city agrees to operate the system with no further capital repairs to the system.”

In the 1980s, the staff report continues, there were approximately 50 users of the system. In 2014, the number of users dropped to 26. Of those, 22 customers agreed to pay the $1,019 assessment to continue as users. There are currently nine active users in the system.

The report shows that during 2018, revenue was $13,318 versus $26,507 in expenses. So far this year, the report says, revenue is $5,356 versus expenses of $22,422.

The well, originally drilled in the 1920s, has had problems and the water delivery system also needs work, the council was told. 

The system now is able to deliver about 100 gallons of water a minute, far below what is needed. In some cases, the council was told, that is barely enough to reach some users, or not enough to even water some properties.

“The costs of drilling a new well range from $394,893 to $592,408 depending upon the specifications desired,” the staff report says. 

“This includes the cost of drilling the well and adding a new turbine pump assembly. This is assuming that the well could be drilled upon the current location; however, there are several other potential issues at the current location based on the size of the lot and proximity to houses. Any new well drilled would have to be permitted by the Arizona Department of Water Resources. 

“Public works has estimated the costs for new underground pipes to the delivery system at an additional $480,000 to $770,000, depending upon exact locations of pipe and construction methods necessary for installation.

“Under the provisions of the 1986 ordinance, if council assessed only the active users of the property, each property would need to be assessed between approximately $97,000 and $155,000, depending on the final cost of repairs to the system in order to drill a new well and upgrade the delivery system”

An alternative to closing the system, the report says, would be approving $1.4 million to completely rebuild the system, including $592,000 to drill a new well, $770,000 for a new delivery system, and $38,000 for contingency.

(Posted Aug. 5, 2019)

Banner Casa Grande Medical Center announced this today:

Banner Casa Grande Medical Center will begin work on a $10 million Emergency Department and Wound Clinic expansion this fall.

The expansion, part of an ongoing commitment to update the hospital, will add more than 3,300 square feet to the existing Emergency department, creating private triage areas and 12 more patient rooms to bring the total number of ED beds to 28.

The project will also put a second CT scanner in the ED, add more public restrooms, and expand staff storage and work space.

“As more people continue to move to our community, we want to make sure our Emergency department can handle their needs,’’ said Brian Kellar, CEO of Banner Casa Grande. “It’s our responsibility to make sure people have the best possible access to emergency medicine now and in the future.

“This expansion allows us to provide even greater access to emergency-care services.’’

The Banner Casa Grande Emergency department records more than 4,000 visits a month, making it the busiest ED in Pinal County.

The project’s first phase will move the current Wound Clinic to a more accessible space in the medical office building next to the hospital on Florence Boulevard. The second phase calls for the former clinic space to be remodeled into additional space for the Emergency department, Kellar said.

Planning and design have already begun, with construction expected to be finished by November 2020.

Emergency services will not be affected by the construction, Kellar said. Parking and ED access will remain the same.

The ED expansion is the latest phase in Banner’s updates to the Casa Grande campus, Kellar said. Since 2014, Banner Health has invested millions in facility upgrades, including opening a new Women’s and Infant Services unit and expanding the hospital’s pharmacy.

(Posted July 12, 2019)

Now that Casa Grande has terminated its recycling program (in which only about 26 percent of customers participated), the city has posted this list of places that will take some recyclable items:

• City of Casa Grande Landfill

5200 ChuiChu Road

Scrap metals, appliances, electronic-waste, paints

Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-4 p.m.

(520) 421-8628

www.casagrandeaz.gov

• Metal Solutions

1551 N. VIP Blvd.

Aluminum cans, aluminum, electronic, metals, pallets

(520) 876-5784

www.metalsolutionsaz.com

• Recycle Cans and Plastics

852 W. Gila Bend Highway

Cans and clear plastics only

(520) 560-5711

• Timeless Recycling

401 W. Main Ave.

Aluminum cans, plastic #1, copper, brass, electrical wire, Christmas lights, batteries

(520) 836-2075

• Wellington Salvage

1429 N. Grant Ave.

Aluminum cans, aluminum, electronic, metals, pallets

(520) 413-0839

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(Posted July 15, 2019)

Reactions from neighbors

City Council staff report

P&Z staff report, with charts

P&Z minutes

A proposal for a single-story skilled nursing facility at the southeast corner of a vacant area at Trekell and Kortsen roads is a step closer with City Council initial approval of changing zoning there.

The north part of the vacant land is now zoned as general business and the south as commercial office.

City Planner James Gagliardi told the council during its July 8 meeting that the present zoning categories would not allow a nursing facility.

“It can only be accommodated in other zone districts such as the R2, which is conditionally permitted,” he said.

Because the proposed project butts up to the Cottonwood Ranch neighborhood, several comments were received from neighbors, Gagliardi continued.

(See link above to written comments)

“People definitely did not want to see multi-family, a lot of people requested that there be a limit of height at 20 feet,” Gagliardi said. “There was concern about proximity of parking areas to the back, also some questioning in regards to type of landscaping and screens to be created between Cottonwood Ranch and this new development.”

There is now a 30-foot landscape buffer on the Cottonwood Ranch side, he continued, and the 20-foot buffer on the nursing home side would effectively create a 50-foot buffer.

There were also questions about pedestrian access and an emergency access road, Gagliardi said, things that would have to be detailed by the developer as the process moves on.

“As a result of those concerns, staff came up with a list of recommended conditions that would be imposed on the zone district that would help minimize those concerns and help make this a compatible site with the Cottonwood Ranch neighborhood,” he continued.

They are:

• Except for single-family dwellings on individual lots, a major site plan shall be required to be considered for approval by the Planning Commission prior to construction of any use on this property. 

• Development is limited to single-story structures with a maximum height of 20 feet for principally permitted uses and a maximum height of 28 feet for conditionally permitted uses.    

• All buildings, other than accessory, shall be setback a minimum distance of 75 feet from this property’s south and east boundary. Accessory structures shall have a minimum setback of 20 feet.     

• A minimum 20 feet landscape buffer shall be provided along this property’s south and east boundaries.  Quantity, minimum spacing, and varietal type of landscaping, as well as any wall design and placement, shall be determined at the time of major site plan/preliminary landscape plan consideration by the Planning Commission. 

• The site design shall address the concern regarding pedestrian access between this subject site and Cottonwood Ranch Tract ‘P’.    

• Four-sided architecture is required, which is to include the use of masonry; door and window detail such as pop-outs, recesses, or ledges; and wall articulation of on all sides of principle buildings.    

• Prior to any development, the subject property shall be placed in its own parcel or parcels, all of which shall be completely contained within the new R-2 zone boundary.  

• Vehicular, utility and emergency access easements to the property, where needed, meeting City standards shall be recorded prior to the issuance of any building permits on this property.

Almost all of the vacant land is under the same owner, Gagliardi said, so there’s no issue with access, but the city want to make sure the access easements are created before issuing a building permit.

“Should this request for zone change be approved,” he continued, “the next step for the applicant is to go forward with a major site plan and conditional use permit to build their skilled facility.”

Voting for the initial zone change approval (with final approval expected during the next meeting) were council members Mary Kortsen, Dick Powell, Matt Herman, Bob Huddleston and Lisa Fitzgibbons. Mayor Craig McFarland abstained from voting and Councilwoman Donna McBride was on an excused absence.

(Posted July 10, 2019)

The staff report is HERE

The construction timetable is HERE

A $765,100 expansion of Casa Grande’s Main Library at 449 N. Drylake St. was given initial approval Monday night by the City Council. Final approval is expected during the next council meeting.

The construction timeline for the project to add meeting rooms and widen a hallway show initial work beginning this month and final completion in early January of next year. The changes will be on the east and north sides of the present building.

Development impact fees of $720,000 and a $45,100 grant from Arizona State Library will pay for the work.

Steve Hardesty, community services director, told the council that, “The goals of the expansion project are several.

“It will provide additional meeting space for the public, provide additional rooms which currently are not available at the Main Library, it will provide staff with more flexibility and ability to serve public requests with more efficiency and it will invest our historical development impact fees into something that the citizens can realize.”

In showing the council sketches of the outside and interior work, Hardesty said the furniture shown will not necessarily be what is finally chosen.

“The actual furniture that will be selected has not been selected yet so the room could be configured into several different ways to utilize for the public,” he said.

Hardesty noted that there are study rooms at the Vista Grande Library “that are heavily utilized and our staff feels it would really expand our programs to have these study rooms available” at the Main Library.

Responding to a question from Councilman Matt Herman about landscaping not being in the construction contract, Hardest said, “We’re trying to value engineer the project to meet the budget, so that’s an area, landscaping, you can spend a lot of money, which our (city) staff can do utilizing their skills. It will not be less landscaping.”

(Posted July 9, 2019)

(Click on an organization name for services provided)

Community grants totaling $301,650 were approved Monday night by the Casa Grande City Council.

They are:

• Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth - $25,000. 

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Arizona - $140,000.

• Casa Grande Main Street - $39,150.

• Casa Grande Valley Historical Society - $34,000. 

• Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce - $43,500.

• Pinal County Water Augmentation Authority - $20,000.

The staff report accompanying the agenda item points out that grants are the same as last year, except that, “The funding request for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Arizona increased by $30,000 due to an expansion of service. The Boys and Girls Clubs will oversee a Teen Program at the Community Recreation Center.”

The report adds that, “Each of these organizations provides a direct benefit to residents of the city of Casa Grande. Historically, each of the organizations listed has previously applied and been awarded funding support from the city. 

“The city made applications available to the organizations for the upcoming fiscal year as well.

Each service organization submitted an applicant package which included a funding request, an outline of the services provided and a copy of their most recent financial statement audit.

“As shown in years past, the value of the impact that each of the services organizations provides greatly outweigh the monetary value, and represent a great investment to our community.

“The funding composition for this request includes $161,650 from the General Fund and $140,000 from the Youth Services - Dedicated Sales Tax Fund.”

(Posted June 12, 2019)

Pinal County made this announcement today:

We are sending this out as a courtesy to ACRL

Arizona’s Center for Rural Leadership, commonly known as Project CENTRL, distributed select awards during its annual CENTRL Celebration June 8, 2019 at the Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino in Chandler.

The 2019 Outstanding Alumni Award for Civic Impact was given to Casa Grande resident and Pinal County employee Donna McBride, who was a member of CENTRL’s Class 18 from 2005-07

More than 150 people in attendance represented leaders from across the state who are alumni of the program, graduates of Class 27, the newly selected participants in Class 28 and members of the board of directors.

The Civic Impact Award recognizes someone who has taken the skills and networks they built during CENTRL and works to improve the common good of the community. Coincidentally, this year’s winner is from one our featured classes: Class 18.

She has dedicated her professional and volunteer life to public service. She currently is the mayor pro tem of Casa Grande, serving on the city council since 2016. What started as a volunteer position in Pinal County Juvenile Court, turned into a 15-year second career working with Court Appointed Special Advocate Unit. She helped create the Casa Grande Youth Commission and has been a part of just about everything in Casa Grande from the mayor’s reading to drug prevention (Casa Grande Alliance board president) to the Parks/Recreation and Police Advisory boards. As a reflection of her efforts, she was appointed to the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism.

In the words of one of her nominators: “she is a caring and generous person who is always going 100 miles per hour and works from sunup to sundown to help improve the lives of others.”

Project CENTRL is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to improving the development of Arizona’s rural leaders and establishing a network of problem-solvers, decision makers and spokespersons for rural Arizona. 

Each year it competitively selects 16 participants connected to rural Arizona for a 12-month, tuition-free training program delivered in Arizona’s rural communities, Sonora, Mexico, and Washington D.C. Participants build personal leadership skills, learn about the issues facing the state and connect with experts and other leaders. More than 650 people have graduated from program including six serving in Arizona’s 54th Legislature. 

Visit www.centrl.org for more information.

(Posted July 26, 2017)

Banner Health issued this press release today:

Banner Health is adding an online feature that will increase comfort and convenience for patients receiving care at Banner Urgent Care facilities across the Valley, including in Casa Grande. The new online reservation system allows patients to virtually “save their spot in line,” thus avoiding the need to sit in waiting rooms when they aren’t feeling well.

Banner Urgent Care in Casa Grande will begin using this feature on Aug. 1 at its location at 1676 E. McMurray Blvd., Suite 1.

Patients using the online check-in system can reduce their wait to as little as zero time up to an average of 15 minutes, depending on the location. Traditionally, urgent care clinics have operated on a walk-in basis, with no way to make an appointment or reserve a time to see a healthcare provider.

The process is quick and easy. By visiting www.bannerhealth.com/urgentcare from a desktop computer, smartphone or tablet, patients can book an online reservation at one of the participating Banner Urgent Care clinics. Patients simply type their name and why they are visiting the clinic.

Patients can schedule a visit daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., search by locations by ZIP code, by a range of distances up to 30 miles from their location and by clinics with a lab and diagnostic imaging on site. After selecting a reservation time and opting to receive text message updates, patients will receive alerts as the reservation time approaches. When patients arrive at the clinic, they check in electronically and can monitor where they stand in the queue or “line” on a screen in the lobby.

“We greatly value our patients’ time and busy schedules, and aim to do all we can to make their lives easier,” said Banner Urgent Care CEO Rob Rohatsch, MD. “Minimizing their wait in our facility can mean a great deal to someone who’s juggling many demands, facing a hectic day or simply not feeling well enough to sit in a waiting room.”

To view wait times or make a reservation for any of the 43 participating urgent care locations in Arizona, visit www.bannerhealth.com/urgentcare.

Banner Urgent Care provides a close, convenient and affordable treatment option for patients with non-life threatening illnesses and injuries such as cold and flu; ear, eye and throat infections; fevers; skin rashes; and sprains, strains and lacerations. Banner Urgent Care is open every day of the year, and accepts most insurance plans. 

(Posted June 19, 2017)

Submission of gambling money grant requests by local groups to the Tohono O’Odham and Ak-Chin Indian communities was approved Monday night by the City Council.

To view the complete request from each group, click on these links and then on the names in blue at the bottom of the document:

TOHONO

AK-CHIN

The groups applying and the amounts requested are:

TOHONO

• Against Abuse, Inc.­

$84,250 for domestic violence services.

• Boys and Girls Clubs of the Casa Grande Valley­

$25,000 for scholarships.

• Casa Grande Lion’s Club

­$11,472.69 for vision programs.

• Casa Grande Main Street

­$16,500 for mural design and commemoration event.

• Central Arizona College­

$10,000 for Young Advanced Academy.

• Honoring, Hiring, Helping Our Heroes­

$166,400 for Eagles Landing Veteran Center.

• Pinal Hispanic Council­

$10,000 for Cesar Chavez scholarships.

• Seeds of Hope­

$6,314 for hot lunch program.

• The Museum of Casa Grande­

$50,000 for Heritage Hall repairs.

City of Casa Grande projects:

• Animal Care and Adoption Center­

$35,000 for intake and receiving shade structure. 

• Arts and Humanities Commission­

$10,000 for art mini grants.

• Rodeo grounds canopy­

$150,000.

• Dorothy Powell Senior Center

­$8,728 for equipment improvements.

• Fire Department

­$34,000 for active shooter and rescue task force.

• Community Development

­$40,000 for emergency housing and repair assistance.

AK-CHIN

• Boys and Girls Clubs of the Casa Grande Valley

­$25,000 for scholarships.

• Casa Grande Lion’s Club­

$5,998 for vision programs.

• Casa Grande Main Street­

$10,000 for Highway 84 mural and Sunset Court neon sign.

• Honoring, Hiring, Helping Our Heroes

$83,200 for Eagles Landing Veteran Center.

• Pinal Hispanic Council­

$7,000 for Cesar Chavez scholarships.

• Seeds of Hope

$34,493 for hot lunch program.

• The Museum of Casa Grande­

$50,000 for Heritage Hall repairs.

City of Casa Grande Projects:

• Arts and Humanities Commission­

$10,000 for Dieciseis de Septiembre Fiesta.

• Dorothy Powell Senior Center­

• $8,728 for equipment improvements.

• Community Development­

$40,000 for emergency housing and repair assistance.

• Rodeo grounds canopy­

$150,000.

The staff reports point out that under Prop. 202, Arizona tribes agreed to share a portion of their revenues with the state of Arizona. 

“Of the revenues shared,” they say, “12 percent is made available to cities, towns, or counties for the purpose of benefiting the general public through either direct distribution to the local governments or in the form of a deposit to the state of Arizona’s Commerce and Economic Development Commission’s Local Community Fund.

“As all applications to the tribes require a resolution of the city of Casa Grande if awarded, the city created a procedure to collect all Prop. 202 requests at the same time, review them to be sure they address tribal target areas and dollars are spent or benefit Casa Grande residents. This process is intended to consolidate the requests, review them together, and take to the City Council once a year.

“The city of Casa Grande would be responsible for the pass through of these funds. We anticipate this would take approximately 10 hours of staff resources with an approximate cost of less than $500.”

(Posted June 16, 2017)

The Casa Grande Fire Department issued this announcement today:

Extreme high temperatures over the next few days means risks for heat related illness and dehydration. Please stay hydrated. 

There are places throughout the city that will be providing water for those in need of hydration. Those locations and the hours are on this map.

Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• Faintness or dizziness.

• Nausea or vomiting.

• Heavy sweating often accompanied by cold, clammy skin.

• Weak, rapid pulse.

• Pale or flushed face.

• Muscle cramps.

• Headache.

• Weakness or fatigue

Heat exhaustion can quickly turn to heat stroke, which can be deadly.

Warning signs of heatstroke are:

• Red, hot and moist or dry skin.

• No sweating.

• A strong rapid pulse or a slow weak pulse.

• Nausea.

• Confusion.

• Headache.

• Strange behavior.

(Posted Sept. 22, 2015)

Emergency service by Southwest Ambulance in Casa Grande has degenerated to the point where the city will apply to the state for a certificate of necessity to operate its own service through the Fire Department.

The situation and what it means was outlined to the City Council during a study session Monday night.

"About 10 months ago, we started noticing that we didn't have the coverage in the city that we needed for response to medical calls," Fire Chief Scott Miller told the council. 

"We started keeping track of times we were at Level One, which meant we only had one ambulance in the city, or Level Zero, where we had no ambulances; in other words, there was none that could response to an emergency call if it was to occur."

It is not uncommon to hear emergency dispatchers for the city advise that Southwest is at certain levels or that it is a Level Zero, bringing in an ambulance from Coolidge or Maricopa, or sometimes as far away as Maricopa County.

"Deputy City Manager Rains and myself have had meetings over the last eight to 10 months with Southwest Ambulance vice president and their operations person," Miller continued, "and we have been discussing and looking at this kind of agreement and we've finally gotten to this point where we're both good with moving forward on it.

"It was basically to look at the coverage within our community that just wasn't there."

The memorandum of understanding, Miller said, "commences a series of steps that will allow the city of Casa Grande Fire Department to have local control over continuity of care and provide a level of coverage to our customers in our community."

Under the proposed agreement, Southwest and the city would both provide basic and advanced life support ambulance service but Southwest would be basically limited to inter facility calls.

"Inter facility calls is running from hospital to hospital and maybe from a nursing home to the hospital or from a doctor's office," Miller said. "They will continue to do that."

Reaching a new emergency ambulance transport agreement with Southwest and getting a certificate from the state for the city's ambulance service will be a lengthy process, the council was told.

Answering a question from Councilwoman Lisa Fitzgibbons, Miller said, the memorandum of understanding with Southwest (approved by the council during the regular meeting Tuesday night) will go to RuralMetro/Southwest Ambulance for its signature.

"After that," Miller continued, "then we would start working on our certificate of necessity application.

"The CON application is probably two inches thick, where it's a document that we have to put together and there's a chapter of items that we would have to submit.

"We're estimating that putting that application together will take four to six months in order to get that application.

"Included in that application would be the letter of support from Southwest Ambulance for us to receive a CON. 

"It goes to the state Department of Health Services. DHS currently has six to 12 months in order to hear it and have it out. Right now, the director has indicated that if nobody intervenes in it, we have the letter of support from Southwest, they can go ahead and waive any CON hearings and they will have that done within a six-month period.

"So you're looking first at four to six months and then six months at DHS, so you're talking almost 12 months out, right there.

"And then from there we have to make a determination on when are we going to launch and go operational."

As part of the memorandum of understanding, Southwest promises a letter of support for Casa Grande getting a certificate of necessity and promises that neither it nor any subsidiary will intervene against the CON request.

Other parts of the memorandum, to be refined during a final ambulance emergency transport agreement, include:

• The city may contract out claims processing and billing.

• The city will continue to be compensated for when a Fire Department person rides along to the hospital during a Southwest advanced life support call.

• The city will still provide dispatch services.

• Southwest will adhere to response times as set forth in its CON.

• The city will rent space at fire stations for Southwest ambulances, to be determined in the final agreement.

• The final agreement with Southwest will be for six years.

What the city now has

Answering a question from Councilman Dick Powell, Miller said the Fire Department now has one ambulance transport unit "and we have another one in our budget this year for purchasing. Conceptually, we're looking at three 24-hour cars that would be out there eventually for coverage dedicated in the city."

In addition, Miller said, "Part of the bigger picture of when we do apply for a CON is that we have had discussions with the Eloy Fire District and we're going to enter into an intergovernmental agreement that we will back each other up and help each other in ambulance transportation. So that's another piece."

Why would Southwest agree?

Councilwoman Mary Kortsen asked what benefit would Southwest get from agreeing to the changes. "Why would Southwest do this?" she asked.

Miller responded that, "Well, one of their business models that they're looking at, it allows it to show to their investors within their company that they have a six-year commitment, six-year guaranteed contract with agencies out there."

RuralMetro, the parent company of Southwest, has only recently emerged from bankruptcy.

Service area

Southwest's certificate of necessity covers Casa Grande, Florence, Coolidge and the city of Maricopa.

"What we're going after for our CON," Miller said, "is our jurisdictional boundaries of the city, and as the city grows that CON grows with the city."

(Posted April 12, 2017)

The complete staff report is HERE

The La Cocina Facebook page is HERE

Approval of a temporary use permit Tuesday night for continued operation of food truck court and festival in downtown Casa Grande sets the stage for expansion of activities in the old city.

With only minor changes, the Board of Adjustment approved the request by George and Esmeralda Orono for the operation at 280 E. Third Street, just south of Reed Mashore Park.

It’s been a process of more than a year for the Oronos.

According to the staff report accompanying the agenda item, the couple purchased the property in June 2015.

“In December of 2015,” the report continues, “the owners applied for a temporary use permit to operate Feli’s Y Sol Food Truck at the site. Sometime after the food truck was in operation, the owners started a food truck court and festival at this location to determine the viability of operating the La Cocina Food Truck Festival. 

“The festival offers a place for people to congregate in an outdoor setting, providing tables and chairs, a variety of food vendors and an entertainment stage for live music.

“Upon discovering that construction was commencing on the site, Code Enforcement issued a stop work order and informed the owners to visit with staff to determine the requirements for operating a food truck court and festival.”

(Posted March 22, 2017)

The Casa Grande Arts & Humanities Commission is partnering with Casa Grande schools to distribute available funds “that will enrich students' concepts of the arts and humanities,” the city announced today. 

“The commission has set aside funds to award mini grants to K-12 teachers for art related projects incorporating art into science, technology, engineering and math curriculums during the 2017-2018 school year.  “Grants vary from $250 to $1,500 each and are funded by the Ak-Chin Indian Community.

“It is the Commission's goal to award as many grants as possible.”  

Grant awards vary from $250 to $1,500 each, and are funded by the Ak-Chin Indian Community.

The mini grant application is HERE.

For more information or questions, contact City Clerk Gloria Leija at 421-8639, or by email at gloria_leija@casagrandeaz.gov. You may also contact Deputy City Clerk Anna M. Guerra at 421-8600, ext. 1100, or by email at AGuerra@casagrandeaz.gov.

filed an annexation petition on Dec. 19, eventually signed by two of the three property owners involved.

“One … is approximately 40 acres except for a little strip along Thornton Road, which is being left out because we can’t annex the entire right of way of Thornton Road at this time, so we have to leave a little intervening strip,” Tice said. “The same thing with the other 40-acre site. 

“At the very south boundary of the annexation is 33-foot wide strip of land needed to be in the city so we can make the Selma Highway improvements. That would be the southern terminus of the Selma Highway rights of way at this time and the north part of the right of way would come from the property to the north.”

The city was required to file a development and infrastructure services plan for the area.

“Obviously, because this property is so close to other existing development, services and infrastructure are going to be immediately available,” Tice said.

“Selma Highway, the south boundary of the site, and Thornton Road, which is the eastern boundary of the site, will both be improved into arterial standards. There would be some additional right of dedication required as the Lucid projects moves forward and then there would be a development agreement with Lucid that will specify the roadway improvements that would be made to Selma and Thornton.”

At an earlier discussion, John McGuire, speaking from the audience, asked what would happen if county negotiations to purchase the western property fail. That part of the meeting was omitted from the Casa Grande Dispatch story.

“Is there any risk to the city involved with us annexing this if that falls through in the future?” McGuire asked.

City Attorney Brett Wallace replied, “We are moving forward with this annexation and our conversations with the property owners, our conversations with staff, is that it is an area that we do want annexed into the city of Casa Grande, irrespective of what ends up happening. 

“If we do forward with the annexation and the project doesn’t come, there will be an extra area that we’ll service but it’ll be an extra area in our industrial area.

“And obviously, we certainly hope and anticipate the project will come.”

Councilman Dick Powell also replied that, “The comment I would make is, this belongs in Casa Grande. 

“If we’re trying to create this general industrial area, which we’re getting off to a very successful start in doing, that piece is key. It’s on Thornton Road, and Selma Highway once it goes through instead of ending on a ditch bank you have to cross over and then double cross, that’s going to create more development out on the west side of that.

“I think that piece is essential and probably the most important piece of ground in Casa Grande right now.”

During the Jan. 17 meeting when the annexation and rezoning received initial approval, Nick Wood, an attorney with the Snell & Wilmer law firm representing Lucid, said, “I’ve been in zoning land use for what seems like about a hundred years and during that time every once in awhile a project comes forward that is truly transformative for a city. 

“What that means is, it becomes an economic engine that not only creates significant new jobs for the city but it also becomes a catalyst to attract other businesses that brings quality jobs. And that results in quality growth and that’s what cities are always trying to achieve.

“The Lucid project is one of those transformative projects.”

Lucid has said the facility, projected to cost $700 million, will break ground in the first half of 2017, with initial hiring of about 400 people, and starting a training process involving Central Arizona College and technical and community colleges in Maricopa and Pinal counties. 

Lucid said that by 2022 it hopes to have more than 2,000 full-time employees.

Wood said city officials were essential in working out the details.

“It’s been a team effort, as far as being a very complicated effort,” he said. “We’re not quite to the finish line yet, but this is a very major step. So again, I want to thank you all for your leadership and your assistance.”

Mayor Craig McFarland told Wood, “If I could ask you to do something, go back to your client, Lucid, and please explain to them that we are on board with this project and want to see it to fruition. So any help they can give, also, in making this come full circle would be much appreciated.”

Wood replied, “Will do, mayor, thank you.”

Monday night’s final approval was under the consent agenda, with no discussion.

(Posted Jan. 8, 2017)

Video of the study session is HERE

The Casa Grande Teen Center, opened about 10 years ago in Camino Mercado, has fallen on hard times, with zero attendance on some days.

The question is, what to do?

During Tuesday night’s City Council study session some background was presented and suggestions offered.

The bottom line is that the present center, leased from Central Arizona College for $1 a year, will eventually be phased out.

Recreation Superintendent Matt Jankowski told the council that the center has been open for after-school activities Monday through Friday, with some hours on Saturdays.

“Over the last year, we have seen a pretty steep in decline in both daily visits, as well as special events that are offered at the facility,” Jankowski said.

“As it sits right now, there are many days where we don’t get any participants. Good day we get sometimes three kids. Our daily average for the month is actually under two people per day, so we are not seeing very many people attend out there on a daily basis. 

“We do a number of special events out there. We used to do one a month, now we’re trying to do about one a quarter, but even those are having very few people attend them, in general.”

When the center was opened, a complaint was that its location was so far away that many teens, especially those with parents working during the day, would be unable to get there. At that time, there was no building in the center of the city that would accommodate a center and the Boys & Girls Clubs was geared only for younger children at its location next to City Hall.

“What we find out there is the location of the Teen Center has been the biggest challenge with it,” Jankowski said. “It’s kind of out of the way, it’s by the Florence Boulevard and I-10 interchange, so having a way out there after school has seemed to be the biggest issue.”

For almost three years beginning in 2010 for almost three years grant funding was used to provide transportation.

“We transported students from Casa Grande, Cactus and Villago middle schools via a 15-passenger van that was driven by a staff member,” Jankowski said. “They would stop at each one of these schools, pick up students and take them out to the teen center.

“In 2013, that service ceased because we were no longer getting any riders there. We were getting between zero and two a day, typically closer to zero.

“So, we’ve been seeing a very steady decline over the last couple of years, but we have taken a little bit more of a focused look at it over the last year.”

Jankowski said the center has ping pong and air hockey tables and other such games, plus televisions.

“There’s definitely things for people to do out there, but for whatever reason we’re not getting much participation from the local teenagers.”

It has been pointed out that over the past 10 years, many homes now have gaming stations for use over television sets, streaming videos and other offerings.

“We’ve done rides, we have tried to do special events, so we are just in a position right now where it’s getting a little bit more difficult to justify providing the programming that’s out there without anybody attending,” Jankowski said.

(Posted Jan. 4, 2017)

The march route map is HERE

The staff report is HERE

The route for Jan. 13th’s Fourth Annual Unity March by students has been approved by the City Council.

The event will take place between 12:30-3 p.m., causing the closing of some streets.

According to the staff report, staging will be around Len Colla Recreation Center on Amarillo Street between Second and Third streets, Third Street between Galloway Avenue and Amarillo and Galloway between Third and Fourth streets.

The closures will begin at noon, with streets reopening about 1 p.m.

The walk will go west on Fourth Street from Galloway to Cameron Avenue and then north on Cameron to City Hall.

About 500 students from Villago Middle School will participate, the staff report says.

When they arrive on the lawn in front of City Hall, it continues, “they will listen to various speakers discuss the importance of this year’s theme. Winning photos and essays from the Villago Middle School Unity contest will be on display in front of City Hall for this event.”

Councilman Dick Powell requested that the request be discussed by the council rather than having it automatically approved on Tuesday night's consent agenda.

“The junior highs have primarily been involved in the march and I think that we have speakers that speak to the process of unity in our community,” he said, “so I thought it was important just to mention it.”

Councilwoman Mary Kortsen said she tries to attend the march each year.

“There’s just something about we close Cameron Avenue and the kids come from Len Colla, so we’re all standing here by the fountain (in front of City Hall) and then all of a sudden you just see these kids all along on the street and coming up,” she continued. 

“I don’t think there’s anybody there that can stand there and not get influenced watching that and seeing that and letting our children participate in this. I know it has an impact on them.”

Councilman Ralph Varela said, “And also, it’s just the whole issue of respecting and honoring the cultural diversity of the city and the diversity of all the students that come. It’s just an amazing event. And they have so much energy and they’re so well behaved and the messaging is all about students and diversity.”

Powell said the events at City Hall are open to the public.

“Absolutely,” Kortsen added. “We encourage anybody and everybody.”

(Posted Dec. 30, 2016)

As the Community Services Department continues to refine the master plan for improvements at Carr McNatt Park, changes have been made for a wider walking track, additional parking and two tennis courts rather than a pickleball area.

Interim Director James Burke told the City Council during a study session Dec. 19 that the changes came after the council saw the original master plan and then directed that there be more community outreach.

The master plan is for improvements over time as funds allow, not immediate changes.

Recreation Superintendent Matt Jankowski gave a brief summation of the proposed changes.

“The walking track was one of the big items that was discussed,” he said. “The original master plan had a 10-foot-wide walking path, this one is now 14 feet wide, so it’s able to accommodate more people.

“In the southwest portion of the park there are two tennis courts there. Originally, we had four pickleball courts. Based on feedback from both pickleball players and tennis players, a new tennis court area was more desirable at this site, so we took that into consideration.

“Another item that has kind of changed the location, essentially, in the northern part of the park next to the pool there is a playground area there that was originally shifted a little bit more toward Desert Winds High School. That’s now right next to the pool area and that’s also where the splash pad will sit. So it’s a little bit closer to that water feature that we have there at the pool, we’ve got the restroom building as well as the locker room there for future development if we’d like to do anything with that.”

The walking track would be decomposed granite, the council was told, similar to the one at Grande Sports World but not as wide.

“On each side of it there is some area lighting,” Jankowski said. “To the left side of it away from the fields is security lighting, so that would be pedestal lighting.

“One of the big items discussed was safety, making sure that when people are walking during all hours of the day or evening while the park’s open that they could do so safely and lighting is essentially the best way to do that.

“Essentially, with the southern fields there will be a number of light standards. They do have the capability to have area lighting set off of them so there will be lighting on both sides of the walking path.”

In addition, Jankowski said, there will be an additional playground structure and the addition of 166 parking spaces.

“Anybody who has ever been to Carr McNatt Park on a week night in the fall or for a special event knows parking is absolutely a premium,” he said. “So by adding these parking spaces there we hope to alleviate some of the stress on that neighborhood area, as well, which we feel would be very beneficial.”

Inside of the track area would be space for three sports fields. “You could fit full sized soccer games or football games on these fields,” Jankowski said.

Burke said the three old signs on the property will be kept and eventually restored. Low-level bleachers are planned for various areas of the park, he added.

When the walking track is extended to a third of a mile from the present quarter mile, the maintenance facility at the southeast corner of the park will be demolished and a smaller building built near the southwest corner.

“It will be the maintenance for this park itself,” Burke said, “and then the larger operation we’re evaluating and working with Public Works on looking at the South Operations Center (south of Main Street). We believe that’s adequate to size the entire parks facility, it’s not that far away so the drive time won’t be really difficult.”

Burke also outlined the reasons for two tennis courts rather than a pickleball area.

“Bringing tennis here actually has a twofold benefit for us,” he said. “It helps separate some of the activity that’s going on at Dave White Park between tennis and pickleball. It will free up the facility out there so we can dedicate that to pickleball, where we can go in and make renovations, completely restripe and put in permanent posts so they don’t have to have the temporary and I think that’s a better facility.”

Track renovation

The walking track took up a major part of the presentation by Burke and Jankowski.

“We had folks talk about wanting to keep the track, people wanted the walking experience, people who like the plan as we presented it,” Burke said.

“I also worked with the Public Works Department and had their materials experts come out and look at that track. And the fact is, there’s two layers of track there, one that was originally built and a replacement that was put on top of that, and that’s creating some issues.

“We also looked at it with the parks staff and the recreation staff and we really think it’s beyond its useful life, it needs immediate attention.”

The proposal is for the Public Works Department to use a pavement machine to do a test area for use of decomposed granite.

“Where 100-yard dash begins,” Burke said, “we’d like to start there and come in with a machine and demolish that and chew it up in place and grind it down and then compact those millings and see if that would be a sufficient walking surface that you could continue to have the walking activity but in a better situation. If that demonstration works, we propose to do it for the entire track and then keep that in place for a couple of years.”

Don’t put on your running or walking shoes just yet.

“The reason I say a couple of years,” Burke continued, “is we have to do the phasing plan, we have some other things we’re going to do first and second before we get to the southern zone of the park.

“We’re building a new recreation center and as part of the recreation center is a commitment to have the indoor walking track. So our proposal would be not to remove this McNatt track until after that other (rec center) space is built and operational for the community, so we’d have a direct tradeoff.”

Jankowski told the council that the next step for the master plan is to detail a phasing plan, cost estimate for the entire project and a schedule for moving forward.

“What we’d like to do is go ahead this fiscal year and get the design going and try to get that implemented as soon as possible in the new year,” Burke said.

(Posted Oct. 22, 2016)

The Pinal County Public Health Department is joining with Sun Life Family Health Center for a community health needs assessment.

The county announcement said Sun Life is conducting the survey “to identify gaps and areas that need improvement in health care delivery systems in Pinal County.”

The county said the survey takes five to 10 minutes to complete and is available online at the below links until Oct. 31.

English Version: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YZ8BFR3english 

Spanish Version: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GDGVNNSspanish

Paper surveys, accepted until Oct. 31, will also be available at Sun Life offices throughout the county and can be completed and turned in at that office's front desk or mailed directly to 865 N. Arizola Road, Casa Grande, 85122, ATTN: Renee Louzon-Benn. 

Sun Life has offices in Apache Junction, Casa Grande, Coolidge, Florence, Eloy, Maricopa, Oracle, and San Manuel. 

(Posted Oct. 17, 2016)

How the program works is HERE

The agreement is HERE

The criteria sheet is HERE

You can register by clicking on the PENS logo HERE

Casa Grande is joining Pinal County’s regional mass notification system to reach residents during emergencies.

Approval was given during Monday night’s City Council meeting. The request was part of the consent agenda, items that are approved without discussion,

According to the staff report, the Everbridge system:

• Includes reverse 911.

• Can call out staff and key officials.

• Allows real-time monitoring of social media and weather. 

• Can reach citizens through existing 911 databases or through voluntary sign up.

•  Notifications can be wide or targeted by means such as ZIP code or GIS mapping. 

• Two-way notifications allow staff to respond, providing operational feedback. 

• Monitors weather and social media feeds for established alerts or keywords to be used then notify officials. “This feature will allow real time situational awareness from field personnel or the public through the upload of picture or video back to your PC or EOC,” the report says. 

“There is an ease with the application, since the system can be activated by computer, smartphone or tablet.”

Overall, the report says, “The goal of this project was to greatly enhance the community preparedness, continuity of governmental operations, response and recovery capability and common operating picture for each jurisdiction in the region. 

“The objective of this project was to deploy a web­-based, efficient and effective system that can make critical, life­saving notifications to the public through various means, as well as communicating to personnel and groups about an incident and instructs them on proper next steps to take, along with providing situational awareness.”

The system is now operating in the county.

“Our communications manager has met with the various city department heads to set up our internal user groups for interacting with the system,” the report says. 

“Once this agreement is approved, the switch will be turned on for Casa Grande to utilize this important mass notification system.”

There will be no cost to the city, the report says, noting that a $146,250 grant from the Arizona Department of Homeland Security paid for Pinal, Gila, Greenlee and Graham counties to purchase the system. The counties are responsible for renewal fees.

(Posted Oct. 6, 2016)

The presentation is HERE

When pushing Fifth Street through from Marshall to Drylake streets as it was years ago was first proposed, the thought was that it would be a straight road, providing better access to Peart Park.

That has changed.

As City Traffic Engineer Duane Eitel told the City Council during Monday night’s study session, “After looking at this and looking more at the project, we thought maybe we can do more than just have a road go through with a parking lot. We’re looking for a real sense of place between the library, Peart Park, downtown.”

A technical advisory committee of members from the community, along with city departments, hashed out three concepts, choosing the one presented Monday night.

The briefing was not the final word. It was pointed out that the project team is going to take this concept and put in some more design work.

A public outreach session, with no date yet given, will be held. 

The construction start could be sometime next year and it could be a phased work, depending upon final costs versus the project budget.

(NOTE: The concept plans presented to the council are subject to change as further design work is done. Illustrations of amenities in the park are to show how things might look, not a guarantee that they will be added exactly as shown.)

“Where Fifth Street intersects on to Marshall there would be some improvements along Marshall,” Ferreira  said. “Essentially a two-way street on Fifth and there would be some adjustments there to integrate Fifth Street and Marshall. There’s some bulb-outs, trying again to control traffic.”

“This view (B) really gets into the primary of the street,” Ferreira continued. “You can see that we have the angled parking in both directions, we have sidewalks on both sides of the street that are easily connected by the cross connectors across the street. 

“You can see the curve of the alignment of the street. You can also see that we have optimized the secured parking for the police dispatch and the library employees there, so that becomes one large secured location.”

Ferreira pointed out that there are no bicycle lanes in the plan.

“It is somewhat European in nature where there are people and cars that are operating in the same location,” he said. “Here, because we have people and we have cars, we have no stripes for bicycles. All those modes of transportation will be operating in the same location.

“That’s what generally would be considered a traffic calming measure and much more a unique approach to streetscapes here in the city.”

The rendering above (C), Ferreira said, “is actually the heart of this concept that we have for you here.

“The thing that I’d like to point out first is that the area in tan is what is a traffic calming measure, which is a raised platform. Essentially, the street comes up to curb height there and it becomes a big flat area. It can be considered a traffic calming area but it is also creating a sense of place because you’re slowing down traffic.

“That whole area, the street, the courtyard in front of the library and the landscape space in the park all become one space. It makes it a very useful space for events, festivals, any kinds. 

“It was really intended for the library to have outdoor space so they could have outdoor classrooms and learning activities, so this space has all been configured to operate as a single space.

“Again here, the primary point that I want you to be aware of is that the plaza, the raised plaza or the raised platform, does slow down the traffic and create that space for those activities.”

There would be a covered plaza space nearby, Ferreira said. It has been suggested that a sail-like fabric material be used, but that is not final, he added.

“That event space, again, would be used primarily by folks who come to the park,” Ferreira continued. “There’s a multiple number of uses there. You could have library users go out into the park, read, come back. You could have a second event in the park, because you already have an amphitheater, so you could have two things happening at one time there. “And you could have parents who could be watching their children at the playground just east of there.”

Stormwater retention included

Pointing to the numbers 6 in the upper left of the rendering, Ferreira said that would be a landscaped area incorporating displays and acting as a stormwater retention basin.

“These are areas that we intend to develop as outdoor learning environments where they could learn the plants, they could learn conserving water in the desert, environment education,” he said. 

“And it would also will serve a functional use because it will have drainage off the street that we need to collect. We really don’t want to send it anywhere else, we want to try to keep it in relationship with the park and with the development. Those areas would have somewhat of a retention capability that would be enhanced.”

That concept is known as low-impact development, Ferreira said

“This low impact development concept is a stormwater collection and management tool,” he continued, “so these landscape areas would be functional as well as esthetic, serve a number of different purposes there.”

In summation, Ferreira said, the project “involves a number of different planning approaches, low impact development, traffic calming, event space, developing a space that is recognized and used for multiple purposes. That is the concept, so far.”

Questions from the council

(answers from Eitel or Ferreira)

Bicycles, street closing

Councilwoman Mary Kortsen said she had concerns about no bicycle lanes, plus wanted to know how the new street could be shut down for special events.

Answer: The idea is that the speeds will be so low that you would want the bikes and the cars to be moving together and sharing the road.

Closing down the street for special events is possible, much like streets are closed for other events in the old downtown.

Lighting

Councilwoman Lisa Fitzgibbons had questions about lighting, asking if it would be brightly lighted, given that that part of the park is dark.

Answer: We had planned on putting lighting in. There were some concerns about that part of town, so we did have lighting. You see a lot of trees there, we’re trying to make sure it’s still open so you don’t feel closed in there or anything.

A lot of the trees that show up on the plan are already there, we tried to save as many trees as we could.

It’s primarily planned as a pedestrian space for the most part. You have to accommodate all of the lighting. There would be a combination of up lighting, street lighting, pedestrian scale lighting brought in, all of the new lighting techniques that you can do these days to accomplish all of that.

The idea is it would be more pedestrian friendly than just a standard street.

Sense of place 

“I really like the sense of place concept,”Councilman Ralph Varela said, adding that parks he has seen in Santa Fe are places that families can gather.

“This really allows that,” he continued, “and the flowing of the traffic I think is really good, because it makes it designed for folks that are going to go there and enjoy the park.

“What kind of other amenities are you planning that will kind of bring families into it, have families kind of take ownership of the park, like either a Saturday or a Sunday type of gathering, just families to be there and enjoy it?

Answer: One of the objectives that we’re trying to accomplish here is not just to develop this for the street, but by activating that whole area we now will get more use of the park. Certainly we realized that the more you can interject elements that people come to comfortably, they will come.

The park itself right now is pretty basic. It really doesn’t offer much for people coming, except with present the amphitheater. And that’s going to be critical, because from a design standpoint the opportunity here for this development would also be the park, because by the time you add benches and other things you will have more places for people to come and feel more comfortable.

Varela also wanted to know if artwork could be added to the park.

Answer: There are plenty of opportunities in this plan to incorporate art. Artists work in different media, some work on patterns and on ground, others to vertical art, some integrate their art into benches and lights and all kinds of other stuff, so the opportunity to include that into the project is pretty significant.

Opening up area

Councilman Dick Powell pointed out that the street change is primarily a transportation issue, so there

is not a lot of money at this time for some of the park extras.

“I’m really happy to see Fifth Street go all the way through to the other end,” he continued. “You’ve seen people drive drive by the park and wonder how I ever get into it. You know, you come around, you come around, you turn, there’s no turn to go into it. Unless they know to go clear back and come up on Drylake, people miss a lot of things, I think. 

“I think that’s really important and I think we’ve got a lot of bang for the buck by being able to include some of these amenities in the street itself. My compliments, I think you guys did a great job on it.”

Powell added that pushing the street through means that it would “open up that area to the downtown instead of making them have to go clear back around.”

Mayor Bob Jackson agreed.

“I think that one of the reasons the park has been underutilized for years is that the south end of the park is so isolated nobody knows that’s there,” he said. “It’s kind of dark with all the trees. So kudos to you guys for coming up with a plan.”

Splash pad

Earlier this year, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board heard a presentation about a splash pad for the southeast corner of the park. Later, it was announced that the idea was on hold until details for pushing Fifth Street through were known.

“Is that still a possibility if we do this the right way for safety reasons, maybe a four-foot fence?” Councilman Matt Herman asked. “I know that was one of the issues. We’ve been trying to build these splash pads for as much as eight years that I can remember and I think that would be something at this park that would bring people there, especially in the summer. Go to the library, go to the splash pad and that do that. I know we’ve talked about it a lot but I don’t know how far it go.”

Answer: A splash pad is not in the present concept plan, but could be added in the future.

Councilwoman Kortsen added that, “I didn’t realize this, there’s so many requirements for a splash pad. It’s not like you just put in the plumbing and the pad. The big challenge is water quality. Arizona has this requirement that it has to be drinking quality, if I understand this correctly, because kids tend to drink it. So to be able to do that, that’s why we have those challenges with a splash pad.”

Eucalyptus trees

“The concern I have,” Mayor Jackson said, “is I know that there’s some really old eucalyptus trees in there. I’m assuming that you’ve done all you can to avoid getting into those. But I also know that you’ve got to be really careful of the ground cover you put around them. And so I just put that out there as a caution as you look at your final design guide. I don’t know if any of those large, old eucalyptus trees are in the primary design area there, but we need to make sure that we don’t kill those trees in the process.”

Answer: We’ve looked at several ways of trying to save as many of those trees as possible. Unfortunately, there’s kind of a row in part there where we end up getting a couple of those, but the attempt has been made to minimize damage to the park and all the sidewalks there, the larger sidewalks of the park have all been left alone. We have made those attempts. The kind of planting that would go underneath them and the old issue of how we’re going to irrigate those trees and irrigate the plants that might go under, those things have been studied.

(Posted Sept. 25, 2016)

The agreement is HERE

The staff report is HERE

The GIITEM website is HERE, with links to various topics

Neighborhood Gang Prevention & Awareness Brochure

The Casa Grande Police Department is teaming with the Arizona Department of Public Safety to be part of the Gang Immigration and Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission, or GIITEM.

The Pinal County part of GIITEM will be headquartered in Casa Grande, Police Chief Mark McCrory told the City Council during its last meeting, making it easier for coordination and sharing of resources.

He added that the department detective who had been assigned to the U.S. Marshals Task Force will be transferred to GIITEM.

McCrory saidthe Marshals Service had begun redeploying more and more of it people to the federal courts system “and it really wasn’t the needs that we thought we needed for our city. We mutually agreed to remove our detective from the task force.

“They have pledged to work with us regarding fugitive apprehensions, as well as technical assistance on cases that we need, so we’re really not losing anything with that.”

The Police Department has worked with GITTEM in the past with gang problems, but it was pointed out that there was some concern that lately the group was focusing more on border problems than on gang problems in cities. 

McCrory said GIITEM has just gone through a major overhaul, including new commanders, adding that he and department personnel, including Criminal Investigations Division commander Capt. Angel Leos, met with GIITEM about becoming part of the revamped operation.

“We had some concerns by looking at some of the work they’ve been doing when we weren’t a member of GIITEM that they really weren’t helping our community the way we felt they could,” McCrory continued.

“We addressed these very bluntly with them and discussed these at length and we decided on mutual goals, some ideas for some mutual strategies that would help our community, and we got a commitment from them to bring people in, initially 60 days, to focus on some of our problems that are starting to just creep to the top and cause calls for service, shots fired calls, things like that.”

Although the local GIITEM division includes all of Pinal County, McCrory said, “We did receive a commitment from every one of their command, all the way down to their sergeant who will be running that, that Casa Grande will definitely be the major focus of this task force.”

McCrory told the council that “the last three shootings and shots fired calls that we have here, they have been gang related and it’s our belief that this partnership will enhance our ability to deal with gang and narcotics issues better within the city and sharing intelligence and the force multipliers.”

Advantages

McCrory pointed out what he said are advantages to the partnership.

• “The whole concept of this task force is really accomplishing a very common objective that’s important to all law enforcement within our county to do it as a task force concept.”

• “The DPS will reimburse our agency on a monthly basis 75 percent of the detective’s payroll expenses. This includes salary, benefits, workers’ comp, Social Security, vacation and sick leave. They will also provide a vehicle and all related equipment for this detective to be a member of the task force and reimburse any travel expenses associated with the task force.”

• “They will also allow us to access their intelligence analyst. They can work with the intel analyst that we currently have in our department on better tracking crime syndicates, cartels and gang activity within our county.”

• “There will be a force multiplier when it comes to helping our narcotics officers, anything with a gang nexus or a cartel nexus that would bring people into our community, to help work with us, which is a great help for us since we have a smaller narcotics unit.”

• “They can also provide us with air resources, and they have the technical assistance that we don’t have available.”

• “Their office is actually located within our city and their commander and supervisor are housed out of this office. That’ll make meetings, plantings, briefings and things like that a lot easier for our people to attend. Our command staff can get involved in some of these intel briefings and strategy sessions.”

There are a couple of disadvantages, McCrory said.

• “It is a two-year commitment with one-year extension.”

• “Realistically there will be times that our detective will be pulled away from our city to assist in other locations within our county if they have gang issues. Our detective would not be housed in-house, it would be housed outside our agency.”

The major part of the partnership, McCrory said, is that, “We plan to to add this detective to the GIITEM Task Force. He’s experienced with task force work, having come from the Marshals Service, he’s very good at relaying information to our field troops and to our detectives, so it’s not going to be just somebody carrying around a bunch of knowledge, it’s going to be shared knowledge. We plan on running joint gang and narcotics investigations with them, to be centered out of our city.

“And as a followup, we worked out with them where our command staff will meet with the GIITEM command staff a minimum of two times a month to review the strategies, to review the pros and cons of activities that we’ve taken on, look at results and plan future operations.”

Answering a question from Councilman Ralph Varela on goals, McCrory said, “What we’d like to be able to do is use them as a force multiplier when they’re in our city and they can work with our people so that if we have a lot of activity, when we have calls for service like shots fired that will draw a lot of our resources, well, that leaves a lot of our area uncovered. What we’re hoping to use mainly on this is a force multiplier so that we can use their networks and their people to come into our community and help us out with some hot spots.”

Always gangs

Capt. Leos told the council that, “Our gang problem is always continuing. If you’re not dealing with it and showing them that we’re out there and we’re going to have zero tolerance toward gang activity it will increase. “You’ve saw that with the drive-shootings, starting to have narcotics issues. We kind of let that go by the side, for lack of manpower, leadership change, so now we need to get on that. 

“In ’07, ’08, we were having shootings every weekend just about. The DPS, having them come in and help out.”

As Councilman Karl Montoya sees it, “It’s good to see GIITEM get back into town, get refocused to where they are going. I think they kind of got lost with the border portion of that. 

“It’s good to see that they’re already back in town. They’re doing good work and putting a soldier with them is going to only enhance them. We know back from the past where they’ve helped us with manpower and other accessories that go along with the job. 

“I’m glad to see you guys take the initiative in doing that, because I think that’s what’s kind of missing the last time was having those monthly meetings and getting more involved at the top to give that direction.”

As a result of past anti-gang, anti-drug operations, several people were sent to prison, Montoya said, but “a lot of those people are starting to come out of jail and we’re starting to see a lot of difference. It’s a new policing out there and if we don’t stay on top of it, it’s our own fault. So I’m glad to see this coming back and you guys being proactive with it.”

Councilman Matt Herman said he had previously seen a presentation by a Police Department officer where “he put together the whole family tree of gangs in Casa Grande. I hope you guys go to him for some resources, because he took a lot of his own time, I know, and put together this entire report, pretty impressive.”

McCrory answered, “He is involved in every strategic plan that we have. Very few people know this city on the crime side and the networks like he does. He is actively involved in every strategic plan that we have.”

(Posted Aug. 1, 2016)

The city issued this announcement today:

Casa Grande's Community Services Department is seeking resident input regarding the proposed features of the master plan for Carr McNatt Park.  

Members of the public are encouraged to participate in this process by viewing a draft of the proposed plans and submitting their feedback online. 

The period to provide feedback will begin on Aug. 1 and close on Aug. 31. 

Located at 1115 N. Brown Ave., Carr McNatt Park was part of the former union high school campus until 1997. 

With increased community use and few accompanying improvements, the park has demonstrated a need for modernization and an enhancement of its facilities. 

Among the proposed amenities to be phased in are the addition of pickle ball courts, a basketball court, walking paths, football practice areas, lighted multi-use field areas, and a restroom and concession building.  

A draft of the proposed master plan, detailed map and description of features, as well as a link for residents to submit their feedback, can be found at www.casagrandeaz.gov/carrmcnattmasterplan.

For questions or additional information, contact Recreation Superintendent Matt Jankowski at 421-8677.

(Posted June 30, 2016)

Grant applications staff report is HERE

Links to the individual applications, with explanations of requests, are at the bottom of the staff report

Casa Grande and several community organizations are requesting $671,441 in grants from the Tohono O’odham Nation, money that comes from tribal casino profits.

Approval to submit the applications is on the agenda for Tuesday’s City Council meeting, held a day later because of the Fourth of July holiday.

The community requests are:

• Boys and Girls Club of the Casa Grande Valley, $25,000 for teen program.

• Casa Grande Alliance, $16,000 for Making Our Students Think (MOST) program.

• Casa Grande Rotary Foundation, $30,000 for scholarship program.

• Casa Grande Main Street, $5,700 for cultural exchange.

• Central Arizona College Foundation, $75,000 for Promise for the Future scholarship program.

• Casa Grande Lions Club, $12,806 for vision screening equipment and services.

• Pinal Hispanic Council, $10,000 for Cesar Chavez scholarship program.

• Ride for the Warrior, $60,000 Ride for the Warrior community events.

• Vista Grande Football Booster Club, $11,960 for concussion and injury prevention.

City of Casa Grande applications:

• Casa Grande Arts and Humanities Commission, $60,000 for railroad art plaza.

• Casa Grande Fire Department, $93,000 for technical rescue project.

• Casa Grande Police Department, $81,975 for Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).

• Casa Grande Housing Division, $40,000 for housing rehabilitation program.

• City of Casa Grande, $150,000 for rodeo grounds canopy project.

Under Prop. 202, approved several years ago, Arizona tribes with casinos are required to set aside 12 percent of profits for community projects in cities, towns or counties.

Casa Grande will be responsible for the pass through of grant funds, estimated to take about 10 hours of staff time at a cost of less than $500.

(Posted June 7, 2016)

You’ll find the Sun Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization, with studies and other information, HERE

The scope of the study is HERE

The staff report is HERE

Information on Central Arizona Regional Transit, including the Casa Grande route, is HERE

Coolidge’s in-city transit route map and information is HERE

the money.

City Traffic Engineer Duane Eitel answered, “The $200,000 total is to do a study on transit for the city of Casa Grande, so it’s a real extensive public involvement. We’re going to work a lot with the public to see where they want to go if we have a transit system.

“We want to work with businesses to see what their interest is in a transit system. For instance, we would go out and visit with the Walmart Distribution Center and Tractor Supply and all those companies out that way (on the southwest side of the city) see what their interests are and what they think their employees’ are.

“And we’d do a lot of on-line public involvement that would get more people involved than just having a few public hearings where maybe seven or 10 people show up.”

Eitel added that if the decision is made to start a system, “we get about $850,000 of federal transit money a year that we can use to help run a transit system.”

Kortsen said it seems that the emphasis would be getting residents to employments areas and back, to school and back.

“That’s quite a bit of it but that’s not all of it,” Eitel responded.

“We’re also going to want to get people to the hospital, out to the mall, to Walmart, shopping, different things like that.  It’s a whole bunch of different things.

“But I think the business part of it will really help the economic development. I think I mentioned in the (May) study session, some of the development that wants to come to town one of the first things they ask is if we have a transit system to get employees to work.”

Councilwoman Lisa Fitzgibbons, looking at reaching the public, said, “I really hope that when we do these community outreaches, to really try to go into some of the neighborhoods that might not come generally to a meeting like this, to get the input from them, too. You maybe do a session with Spanish-speaking community members.

“But I really hope we get out to the general population.”

That’s the plan, Eitel responded, “because originally ADOT was talking $120,000 grant. We talked them into  $200,000, just because we wanted to ensure that we met with as many people in Casa Grande as we could, as possible.”

Councilman Dick Powell said he feels the study “is excellent to do” because he believes it “will show us that we’d be wasting an awful lot of money trying to run a bus.

“I think there’s other things we can study in transit that definitely would be valuable to us,” he continued. 

“It requires huge subsidies and this probably is not the time in our history of Casa Grande for subsidizing for things.

“People can’t get to a bus stop to catch them, anyway. That’s one of the problems you have, five bus stops scattered around town and how do people get there?

“And they want you to take them home and this and that and it would nice, but, as I say, it’s a money hole and I think that the study will prove that. So I’m looking forward to it.”

Eitel said the study would consider more than just buses.

Powell responded, “That’s what I’m saying, we can study the other opportunities, absolutely.”

During the rollcall vote on the resolution, Councilman Ralph Varela said, “I look forward to it and I vote yes. I think it’ll be a way to be creative about transit and I’m sure there is a need and it’s long overdue.”

Kortsen said, “I’m voting yes, and also to reiterate what council member Varela had said. 

“Transit isn’t just buses. We’ve got a bus system that does exist in Coolidge and it could be maybe we support that. There’s different ways to look at it, and that’s what we need to do, that’s where we invent something that’s specific to our community needs.”

Powell said, “I’d be remiss if I voted without making a statement.

“I’m glad that we’re doing the study and I think it will show other ways that we can embellish transit in the area. I don’t think we’re going to find out that that’s a bus, but there’s a lot of other things that we can do. So I’m happy to vote yes for it.”

The council vote was unanimous.

(Posted June 2, 2016)

The city’s proposed action plan is HERE

Casa Grande is seeking input on how residents feel money from the federal Housing and Urban Development should be used.

A public hearing will be held July 18 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 510 E. Florence Blvd.

“The city is expected to receive approximately $318,914 of Community Development Block Grant funds from HUD in FY16,” the announcement said. “The funds must be used to benefit low income persons and areas, alleviate slum and blight or address urgent need. 

“After the 30-day review period (which ends June 30), the public hearing will be conducted by the City Council on the 2016 Annual Action Plan for review and approval.

“This document is a federal requirement which implements the activities that were prioritized in the city’s 5-Year Consolidated Plan.”

For more information about the hearing, grievances or the CDBG program; or to receive assistance in formulating prospective project ideas for presentation at the hearing, contact:

Leila DeMaree, city community development and housing manager, at 421-8630, ext. 3030, or by fax at 421-8638. Her email is ldemaree@casagrandeaz.gov.