The City of Glendale and the Arizona Host Committee have each submitted bills in the State Legislature to get the state to recompense entities for associated expenses. Here is the link to the story: http://www.azcentral.com/community/glendale/articles/20140116glendale-super-bowl-group-ask-funds.html?nclick_check=1 .
The bills differ from one another. Glendale’s is narrowly focused solely asking for support for public safety expenses incurred. The Host Committee bill is broader and asks for support in all areas related to hosting the Super Bowl. My Daddy always said, “Ask for more and be happy with a little.” Glendale appears to be timid and perhaps would have been better served in supporting the Host Committee’s bill for there is more to hosting the Super Bowl than public safety expenses. Don’t overlook transportation heavily involved in any Super Bowl effort as well as sanitation, parks and recreation and marketing. So many city departments have a role to play in hosting an event such as this.
There is support in the legislature to pass some version of this concept. Something has to be done. At the last Super Bowl Glendale lost $2 million dollars. This time around it can ill afford to do so and if passage does not occur it may be the catalyst for its refusal to host in the future.
The legislature needs to step up to the plate on this one. Major events such as a Super Bowl, Barrett-Jackson or the TCP Golf Tournament attract visitors nationally and internationally. It cannot be denied that the entire state benefits from these events.
On another note, IceArizona’s Anthony LeBlanc hosted Mayor Weiers on a recent trip to Canada. Here’s what Glendale’s mayor did for grins and giggles. Expect to see Weiers sporting a Calgary Flames hockey jersey at a council meeting as the Flames beat the Coyotes.
In Calgary w @MayorWeiers and @seanchucalgary: loser of @phoenixcoyotes v @NHLFlames wears jersey at Council mtg! pic.twitter.com/nffikLUKJC
Lastly, I submitted an application to serve on Glendale’s newly created citizen Planning Steering Committee that will shape the city’s next General Plan. Do you think I will be appointed to serve? Nahhh…
Check out my latest informal poll to the left of this column as well as your opportunity to sign up for future blog notices at the right of this column.
© Joyce Clark, 2014
FAIR USE NOTICE
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which is in accordance with Title 17 U.S. C., Section 107. The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democratic, scientific and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law and who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use,’ you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Joyce I think you would be a great pick for the general plan review committee but I agree with you they may not consider you. You are to smart for that group, just look at what they are doing with the current General Plan. The P&Z Commission and City Council are showing total disregard for the current plan, a few months ago the approved a sand and gravel mining operations next to the airport in exchange for an empty promise from the land owner that they will develop the northern half of the property as an industrial park. You may say that’s a good trade until you find out that they have not current viable prospect and on timetable for such development. Another sub-division east of 91st and south of Bethany Home road is in the process of being approved with a much higher density than the general plan calls for. At last check the City is trading the higher density in exchange for no apartments, something they were not entitled to have anyway. What a way to make a deal exchange them something they never had for something they are not entitled too. Maybe this would please you, since I know you think there are enough apartments in this area. It would be interest to see if the city requires them to build the much needed Bethany Home Road between 83rd and 91st avenues. Maybe they would allow the city to build the road them in exchange for they support of the PAD amendment to Bellavalago.
You see the City is in such bad shape financially that they are about to allow a single M-1 use on this property along the Loop101 and 99th avenue while still calling it a PAD to allow for more billboards to be erected is our “Special Billboard Zoning District”. This large furniture warehouse was hinted at by council member Sherwood at the budget meeting a few weeks ago. Some other questions to ask ourselves about this project are; well the city pay for the improvements along 99th avenue to get this furniture warehouse store? Will the city use our Transportation Fund to pay for any traffic signals need by this intense use? Who else in the City will benefit from these improvements? Will the city wave other development fees? When will we stop giving away money we do not have as we cut services to the community?
Very good observations and excellent questions.