Balanced budget tops West Valley mayors' concerns

Mayors of West Valley towns and cities had a unified message Tuesday for those at the West Valley Women’s monthly luncheon meeting: Call the governor and state legislators. Tell them to work together to balance the state budget.

"Balancing the budget is critical. The cities are at the mercy of the state government. I urge you to call the governor and the state Legislature about the budget," Youngtown Mayor Mike LeVault said during the session at Skye Restaurant in Peoria.

Tom Shoaf, mayor of Litchfield Park, echoed LeVault: "The city budgets and the county budgets are all down in this economy, but they’re all balanced. Not the state, though.

"We depend on businesses to do their jobs to help the economy. We need to urge the state government to do their job as well."

This was the second Meet the Mayors luncheon staged by WVW. The purpose of the meeting is to allow West Valley mayors to meet women who live, work and conduct business in the West Valley and allow them a brief amount of time to talk about their communities. All but three of the invited mayors attended.

Lisa Platt, director of WVW, said the mayors of El Mirage, Tolleson and Wickenburg did not respond to the luncheon invitation.

As universal as the bad economic news was, there were bright spots and good news.

Surprise Mayor Lyn Truitt announced that his city filled 11 vacant police officer positions because public safety was of key importance to the City Council and residents.

Manny Martinez, vice mayor of Glendale, had a list of good news about his city’s economy. The first, a project to reclaim methane gas from the landfill and convert it to electricity to be added into the electrical grid, will serve approximately 950 homes. Also, New Jersey-based Conair in the Glendale Air Park announced it was doubling in size, adding 350 jobs and estimating a $300 million economic impact, Martinez said.

Midwestern University is undergoing a $140 million expansion, including both dental and optometry schools, making it the largest medical school in the state, with 2,000 students and 110 faculty members. Finally, Martinez said, there will be a pedestrian bridge built over the Loop 101 at 63rd Avenue. The design, he said, will make it an instant "classic landmark."

Goodyear Mayor James Cavanaugh began his remarks with the statistic that 70 percent of residential real estate sales last year were distressed properties. He added the economy also has delayed the construction of a planned mall for the second time, now scheduled for completion in 2013-2014.

Money coming into the city’s coffers is down, too, due to an 80 percent drop in construction sales tax revenue. All news was not gloomy, however, as Cavanaugh celebrated the recently announced deal that will bring China-based solar panel manufacturer Suntech Power Holdings to Goodyear, which will be the company’s first U.S. site. He also was happy about the "all Ohio" spring training duo of the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians, which will call Goodyear home in March.

Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck spoke about growth in his town, which now is ranked ninth-fastest growing city in the U.S. When he was born in 1941, Meck said, Buckeye’s population was 1,200. Now, it’s 45,000.

"That’s not necessarily a good thing," Meck said. "We don’t have as much (economic) growth as other cities, but we are supportive of everything positive that happens in the West Valley. Because what benefits one (city) is good for me and for Buckeye," he said.

That esprit de corps was reiterated by Marie Lopez Rogers, Avondale’s mayor. She said the mayors meet monthly to discuss events in their towns and cities and to support each other. Avondale benefits twice a year from NASCAR events that come to Phoenix International Raceway. This year, she added, the city will begin its partnership with American Sports Centers. Avondale will build the center, which will be the site of family basketball, soccer and other recreational tournaments, and ASC will manage the center and the events.

Lopez Rogers also echoed remarks made by other mayors about how much they appreciated the opportunity to speak to West Valley Women.

Truitt said, "We work together the same way you do. We build relationships to build business."

"I’m so energized by this meeting and this group of women," Lopez Rogers said.

FYI
Contact West Valley Women by calling Lisa Platt, director, at 602 235-2370 or e-mailing lisa@westvalleywomen.org.
The next monthly meeting will be March 2, “Spotlight Our Members,” at Skye Restaurant in Peoria. RSVP to Platt.