Northwest Citizens Group meets with Surprise staff

The Northwest Citizens Group invites the public to attend its monthly meetings with city of Surprise staff to discuss a variety of issues and topics that affect residents living within Surprise’s planning area.

The group meets monthly and comprises 13 members who live north of Surprise in the Wittmann, Morristown and Circle City area. All meetings are open to the public at Saguaro Jane’s Community Center, 21802 W. Wilson Ave., Wittmann.

At the Aug. 10, 2009 meeting, the group discussed ways to enhance communication efforts with residents in the area. There was a consensus to begin this effort with a press release to local papers, a monthly newsletter to be distributed locally and e-mail updates provided to those individuals requesting to be kept informed.

On Sept. 28, Surprise presented information on the updated annexation policy. A summary of this meeting will be published in October. Future meeting topics will include traffic and transportation issues and BNSF Railroad.

The Northwest Citizens Group will provide a forum for public involvement, communication, consensus and planning for the unincorporated areas of Wittmann, Nadaburg, Morristown, Circle City and the vicinity of northwest Maricopa County between the cities of Surprise and Wickenburg. More specifically the purpose will be to:

 Provide input to the consultants and professional staffs of the City of Surprise:

• Act as a conduit for information between city staff and the citizens in this area.
• Provide input to city general planning efforts and represent the interests of the public living in the unincorporated area.
• Report to stakeholders and citizen organizations on a regular basis with the intent of building general consensus on planning approaches in the communities and among the citizens of the area.
• Inform the consultants and city staff of issues, concerns and opportunities that result from communication with the public.

For information about the Northwest Citizens Group, e-mail deborah.perry@surpriseaz.com or call 623-222-3154.