Disclaimer: The comments in this blog are my personal opinion and may or may not reflect an adopted position of the city of Glendale and its city council.
It seems whenever there is a city holiday I can play catch up and find the time to write. Monday, January 15, 2018 is MLK Day and a national holiday. Fortunately I’ve already received the material for our next council workshop scheduled for Tuesday, January 23rd and have done my ‘homework’. Please remember that now city council only meets two Tuesdays a month and they double up on the meetings that day. Now on those two Tuesdays council meets at 12:30 PM for workshop followed by an Executive Session if needed. Then on the same day it reconvenes at 5 PM for its voting meeting. Please note this is an hour earlier than previously scheduled. It makes it more difficult for the public to attend if they work and don’t get off until 5 PM.
The only workshop public agenda item is staff’s request for direction from city council regarding naming Bethany Home Road between 83rd Avenue and 99th Avenue as well as Loop 101 freeway signage as Cardinals Way. This is a Council Item of Special Interest (CIOSI) raised by Mayor Jerry Weiers.
The facts of the request include renaming 12 highway signs by the Arizona Department of Transportation at a cost of $75,000. Five Glendale city street signs would also be renamed at a cost of $5,000. The total of $80,000 would have to be paid by the city.
The Arizona Tourism and Sports Authority (AZSTA) has offered to contribute but they have not specified how much they would pay.
This is all of the information city council has received on the issue. So pretend you are a city councilmember and have to give direction (we don’t vote at workshops) to move forward or not to move forward and stop it. I’d be interested to see how all of you would weigh in if you were the decision maker. I’ve put a new poll to the left of this column. Please take a moment to cast your decision.
Last week the Arizona Republic published a story that APS is seeking approval from the Arizona Corporation Commission for a rate decrease. Who would have thunk?? Here is the link to the story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/energy/2018/01/09/aps-now-seeking-rate-decrease-thanks-federal-tax-cuts/1018865001/ . APS is seeking a cut of, “… about $4.70 from the average residential customer’s monthly bill thanks to the tax changes that President Donald Trump signed into law last month.” Unfortunately, SRP customers will not see a similar rate reduction due to the tax changes. It is an Agricultural Improvement and Power District, and does not collect federal income tax through its customers. Municipalities that provide water are not for profit and like SRP do not pay federal taxes. The expectation is other for-profit utility and water providers in the state and nationally may also offer rate reductions due to the reduction of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%.
© Joyce Clark, 2018
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When our streets are in such disrepair and desperately need repaving sooner rather than later, does Glendale City Council really think that spending that kind of money on renaming a street is justified? I sometimes just shake my head at the lack of logic.
Cardinals Way?’?!
NO WAY!!!
Spending $80,000 on signage is just the beginning; additionally, expenses reprinting maps, etc. will be incurred.
What a stupid idea! This IS NOT how I want to see my “tax dollars at work”!
There is so much more to say on this subject, but for now….
‘nuf said!
A p.s. to my previous post:
APS will be reducing my bill by about 4 bucks a month?
Whoo-Hoo!!!
now I can buy that island in the Caribbean I’ve had my eye on!
I agree with Connie and DiNaslo- it’s a stupid waste of money. Just goes to show how deeply some council members are into the Card’s checkbook.
Spend the money on finishing the sidewalks along 83rd ave and Bethany Home Rd. Interesting the city has money for other issues except finishing Heroes Park. Not sure if i will be alive to see it finished. What a shame
$80,000 is a full time police office and benefits, or sidewalks and road repair, (have you ridden on Glendal just east of the landfill)?
$80,000 for signs that the bulk of Glendale citizens will never see. Government waste at Its finest.
My guess is this will pass though because so many Glendale Citizens don’t actually pay attention to what council does unless it specifically applies to them.
I hope Joyce, that you are as concerned with silly spending in the future as you have been with the past few issues.
Spending tax money for things not needed should always be called out by council. I think council has a fiduciary responsibility to be good stewards of monies entrusted during their elected tenure.
Thanks for at least taking the time to bringi this to the attention of Glendale Citizens who subscribe to your blog.
Bud Zomok
I am in full agreement with the majority of the above comments. But, how about a compromise and rename 95th Ave which runs right next to the stadium and would only require some minor road sign changes? A few signs and probably 10% of the cost. Bethany Home needs to remain as is and not confuse our out of town guests nor cost the local citizens with unnecessary costly changes.
Sonny, if it’s only about 10% of the cost I bet a few dozen fans would be willing to donate to get this signs… 100 foks x $80 each and it’s paid for…
Joyce:
It appears that your poll shows a unanimous vote against the expenditure of $80,000 on this ludicrous idea.
Good!
I know you are really good at follow-up, so will you please keep us posted on whether the Council decides to move forward or put a stop to the Cardinals Way issue?
I look forward to your blog after the workshop on the 23rd.
Thanx!
Will definitely follow up.
I’m sure fans pay more than $80,000 a game on hotel taxes and food taxes- and we don’t have to pay the Coyotes to stay we can handle this