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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet - Meeting Date: 6/8/2004 MINUTES OF THE 2004 INSTALLATION CEREMONY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GLENDALE, MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA HELD TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 2004 AT 7:00 P.M. Present: Mayor Scruggs, Vice Mayor Eggleston, and Councilmembers Clark, Frate, Goulet, Lieberman and Martinez Also Present: Ed Beasley, City Manager; Pam Kavanaugh, Assistant City Manager, and Pamela Hanna, City Clerk. The "National Anthem" was performed by Bob and Maury Messenger. Ms. Julie Waters welcomed those present and introduced dignitaries in the audience. OATH OF OFFICE - ELAINE M. SCRUGGS, MAYOR The Honorable Elizabeth R. Finn, Presiding City Judge, administered the Oath of Office to Elaine M. Scruggs, Mayor-Elect. Mayor Scruggs introduced members of her family, thanking them for their support and understanding of the time commitment required to be in public office. Mayor Scruggs thanked the citizens, noting this is the sixth time she has been elected to the office of Mayor. She said there have been incredible challenges and incredible successes. She stated the types and number of opportunities the city has had in the last ten years will likely never occur again in the City of Glendale. She said they have made improvements to existing city facilities and added new infrastructure and amenities at an amazing pace. She explained the city has expanded and modernized its water treatment plants and wastewater treatment plant as well as constructed a second wastewater treatment plant. She said they also implemented a curb-side recycling program, adding years to the life of the city's landfill and taking an important step forward toward its commitment to preserve the environment. She assured the citizens that the city will continue to provide the highest quality of services to meet all basic needs, noting the city has opened three new, fully staffed fire stations and added a second engine company to Station 151. She said they also opened a new public safety complex, which provides the first police substation in almost two decades. She stated homeland security and emergency preparedness have required the city to create new layers of protection against threats never before imagined. She said the city has not only met, but exceeded those requirements 1 and succeeded in becoming a national model in how to prepare to respond should an event occur. She stated the city annexed Luke Air Force Base, setting the stage for Glendale to take the lead in developing landmark legislation to prevent encroachment from undermining a military base's mission. Mayor Scruggs stated the city truly shines in terms of its quality of life. She noted more than one-third of the city's 55 neighborhood parks have been added in the past ten years, with features being added or renovated in almost every existing park. She reported an 88 acre parcel of land was purchased and will be used as a campus of city buildings in west Glendale, noting the regional park at that location is already under construction. She stated they doubled the size and programming of the Glendale Community Center and created a new adult center with a focus on serving the city's senior citizens. She said they built the city's first two dog parks and first skate park, reflecting their efforts to keep up with the citizens' interests and desire for recreational opportunities. She said the city opened a new library, greatly augmented the information collections at all libraries, and adopted a policy to ensure available materials keeps up with the demand brought on by population growth. She said they have recognized and honored Glendale's rich history and heritage, acquiring and renovating the Sine Hardware Building, working in partnership with the Glendale Historic Society to save Manistee Ranch, and providing financial assistance to protect and preserve Sahuaro Ranch. Mayor Scruggs said it is important to recognize and acknowledge past accomplishments, noting she is often told by elected officials in other cities that what Glendale has done and it is doing is nothing short of phenomenal. She said, unfortunately, the city's accomplishments are not given much notice by local press. She stated, however, new business and new ideas are always coming forward. She shared her immediate priorities for this term, stating they fall into two categories; greater citizen involvement and economic development. She said one of her greatest joys during her tenure as Mayor has been to see the creation and success of Glendale University. She said the program has met and exceeded all of her expectations, with over 400 citizens having graduated from the Basic City Government 101 course. She stated her goal, now, is to encourage and inspire citizens to understand the role of state government. She said much of what citizens want their city to do is really the responsibility of the state government and much of what the citizens' want protected is often at great risk at the State Legislature. She said, therefore, the city will provide information to its citizens to allow them to step forward and be heard. As a first step, she said a community conversation with candidates for office in every legislative and congressional district will be held on July 31 at Midwestern University. She stated over the next few months residents will find out ways to get to know the Legislators and learn what they are planning to introduce as possible legislation and how to analyze the effects of that legislation on their every day lives. Mayor Scruggs stated, in an attempt to achieve greater 2 voter participation, she plans to propose that the Glendale City Council study the advantages to be gained by moving city elections to the fall. She said, while early balloting has become popular, the percentage of people who actually vote is dismal. She suggested moving the election to the fall will allow it to coincide with statewide elections as well as the Arizona Governor's race or the U.S. Presidential election. Mayor Scruggs stated there is no higher priority than that of economic development. She said economic development has two different focuses; the creation of more high-paying, quality jobs throughout the city and sustained and concentrated efforts in the downtown and city center areas. She noted 71 percent of all jobs in the greater Phoenix area pay wages that are below the national mean, stating Glendale must do better. She said the city must continue to build on its downtown festivals, civic center, and the Bead Museum. She stated the sports facilities in west Glendale will draw hundreds of thousands of visitors, but after the visitors go home, the city center remains. She said the downtown will face extraordinarily trying times in the coming year-and-a-half as long-needed improvements to Grand Avenue are finally made. She encouraged everyone to do what they can to support downtown businesses until they can reap the benefits of a vastly improved transportation corridor. She noted she will reinstitute the Mayor's Business Roundtable program this fall. Mayor Scruggs concluded her speech, thanking the audience for allowing her to speak and asking everyone to join her in making sure Glendale achieves its best possible future. OATH OF OFFICE — H. PHILIP LIEBERMAN, COUNCILMEMBER - CACTUS DISTRICT The Honorable Elizabeth R. Finn, Presiding City Judge, administered the Oath of Office to H. Philip Lieberman, Councilmember-Elect. Councilmember Lieberman thanked his wife for her companionship and support. He also thanked members of the audience who worked, often late into the night, to get him re-elected. Councilmember Lieberman agreed much has been accomplished in Glendale. He said he recently visited the city's occupational center, stating the huge shops are beautiful. He expressed his opinion whatever the city does, it does better than any other city. He said he does not believe the city's growth rate will slow over the next few years and that much still needs to be accomplished, particularly in terms of economic development. He said a new approach needs to be taken with regard to automotive row to make it once again a productive part of the city. He noted Glendale is the fourth largest city in the State and the third largest in Maricopa County. 3 Councilmember Lieberman said he has truly enjoyed his time on the Council, having served 13 years already, and looks forward to the next four years. He said credit should be given to the citizens for the accomplishments made within the City of Glendale, stating their support and assistance made it all possible. OATH OF OFFICE — STEVEN E. FRATE, COUNCILMEMBER — SAHUARO DISTRICT The Honorable Jean M. Baxter, City Judge, administered the Oath of Office to Steven E. Frate, Councilmember-Elect, Sahuaro District. Councilmember Frate thanked the voters for affording him the honor of serving another term. He introduced members of his family, thanking them for their unwavering support and love. He said his parents taught him the secret to his success, hard work, persistence and community and, while those attributes are still very much a part of his life, he has learned the importance of professionalism, risk taking, involvement, diversity, and energy. He spoke about the professionalism of city staff and citizens, as well as the need to take calculated risks to achieve even greater accomplishments. He stated involvement of both city staff and citizens is imperative and that the diverse community found and celebrated in Glendale contributes to its success. He said Glendale has the best Police and Fire Department in the valley and the Mayor is continuously recognized as a leader in the valley. Councilmember Frate said he is grateful for the lessons he learned over the past four years and for the opportunity to serve once again. He stated he will continue to put in the time and energy required and to pass on to his constituents that he has the privilege and honor to serve. He promised to continue to serve with professionalism, be prudent when taking risks, reward community involvement, recognize and include diversity and provide the energy needed to do the job he has been elected to accomplish. OATH OF OFFICE — JOYCE V. CLARK, COUNCILMEMBER - YUCCA DISTRICT The Honorable Elizabeth R. Finn, Presiding City Judge, administered the Oath of Office to Joyce V. Clark, Councilmember-Elect. Councilmember Clark thanked her family. She said there will be many opportunities for her to share her grand vision and strategy, but tonight she wants to thank the many people who have supported her over her terms on the City Council. She stated she enjoys serving on the Council, especially the opportunity it affords her to help people. She also thanked city staff members for their support and assistance. 4 The meeting ended with "God Bless America" performed by Bob and Maury Messenger. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. AD Pamela Hanna— City Clerk 5