Gordon,
Neely applaud bond success
by Ambria Hammel
PHOENIX - Despite only a 15.75 percent voter turnout during the
March 14 special bond election, City of Phoenix leaders are still
praising its success. Voters overwhelmingly passed all seven propositions,
providing $878.5 million through 2011 for major capital expenditures
to benefit residents.
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon addressed the effects of the bond program
at Councilwoman Peggy Neely's monthly Issues & Info breakfast
March 24, giving a broad overview of the city's future.
City voters have historically supported bond programs, approving
$3.7 billion of the $3.9 billion requested since 1957, excluding
the 2006 figures. As to where Phoenix is going from here, the mayor
said the building process will start right away.
A specific time line was not available from Phoenix's Budget and
Research Department for any of the projects approved in the election,
but residents should see developments to the Reach 11 Sports Complex
at Cave Creek and Deer Valley roads through 2011. Voters approved
$11.5 million earmarked for the facility. Construction of a soccer
stadium is scheduled to begin in the next fiscal year, with financing
for phase two of the complex available in fiscal year 2009.
At build out, the complex will house over 20 sports fields, 10 lighted
soccer fields, bleachers, a scoreboard, walkways and trails. One
of the soccer fields will be a state of the art synthetic grass
field, the second of its kind in the city of Phoenix. Josh Bednarek,
assistant to Councilwoman Neely, recognizes the popularity of field
sports throughout the Valley and envisions the completed complex
serving as host of larger tournaments.
Gordon said passage of the bond measure ensures that the quality
of life for Phoenix residents will move forward for the next decade.
"We defined our future," he said. The mayor ranked knowledge,
education and research opportunities as important pieces of that
future, citing the expansion of the Mayo Clinic and Arizona State
University as examples.
Other District 2 projects financed by the bond program include $900,000
for land acquisition to establish a police precinct at the northeast
corner of Cave Creek Road and Smokehouse Trail. Neely ranked this
project as one of her top priorities. Under the same proposition
addressing police and homeland security, voters approved $5.4 million
for Fire Station #72. The specific location is not yet selected,
but it will be constructed somewhere north of Pinnacle Peak Road
between 40th and 56th streets.
Approximately $3 million will be used toward land acquisition in
the northern portion of the Sonoran Preserve. More than $16 million
is set aside for full improvement of the Pinnacle Peak Road and
Tatum Boulevard intersection. Bond monies could fund projects such
as drainage and storm sewers, additional lanes and new signals.
Reach the reporter at ambria@thedesertadvocate.com.
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