SURPRISEAZ.GOV/PROGRESSMAG • SUMMER 2023 + Your recreation programming guide has moved to Progress Magazine! P. 20-31CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS Held at: Surprise City Council Chambers, Surprise City Hall, 16000 N. Civic Center Plaza When: First and third Tuesday of the month•6 p.m. Work Sessions•4 p.m. Note: Council does not meet in July due to summer break. Call: 623.222.1200•surpriseaz.gov/citycalendar PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION Held at: Surprise City Council Chambers When: First and third Thursday of the month•6 p.m. Call: 623.222.3154•surpriseaz.gov/pz-commission P&Z COMMISSION MEMBERS VETERANS, DISABILITY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION Held at: Surprise City Council Chambers When: Second Wednesday of the month•6 p.m. Meeting playbacks are available with Closed Captioning surpriseaz.gov/surprisetv Call: 623.222.3243 •TTY: 623.222.1002 PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION 623.222.2240 ARTS & CULTURAL ADVISORY COMMISSION 623.222.3243 LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION • 623.222.1036 Surprise Progress is published by the City of Surprise Marketing & Communications Department. Read it online at surpriseaz.gov/progressmag. Comments? Call 623.222.1431 or email us at communications@surpriseaz.gov. Virginia Mungovan Amanda Steele Nichole Wiley Lorena Cano Muriel M. Sawicki PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS GRAPHIC DESIGN | PHOTOGRAPHY MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, CHIEF EDITOR SUMMER 2023 | Volume 23 | No. 3 DISTRICT 1 Nick Haney DISTRICT 2 Aly Cline DISTRICT 3 Patrick Duffy DISTRICT 4 Ken Remley DISTRICT 5 Jack Hastings VICE MAYOR, DISTRICT 6 Chris Judd MAYOR Skip Hall CITY MANAGER Bob Wingenroth - 623.222.1100 Matthew Keating Ken Chapman Mitchell Rosenbaum Dennis Bash CITY COUNCIL - 623.222.1300 Dennis W. Smith Jared Holland Jay Leonard LIVE TELEVISED MEETINGS YOU CAN WATCH ON surpriseaz.gov/surprisetv/cityofsurprise Printed on paper with a portion of post-consumer waste. PRINTED WITH SOY INKS Summer is the perfect time to try Minimum age to ride unaccompanied is 13 through September 1. (Usually16+) Free rides through August 31! surpriseaz.gov/WeRide 2 surpriseaz.gov | Summer 2023 1. New and/or widened roads (88%) 2. Build police and fire stations (87%) 3. Buy land in growth areas for future City facilities (74%) 4. Build more parks and sports fields (66%) OVERALL PERCEPTIONS WHERE WE SHINE This year, our City conducted a NCS – a scientific benchmarking survey that provides a comprehensive and accurate picture of livability and resident perspectives, as well as comparisons with hundreds of communities around the nation. Surprise typically commissions this survey every two years. This is a selection of results from the 2023 survey. PLACE TO LIVE QUALITY OF LIFE QUALITY OF CITY SERVICES 91%88% CONFIDENCE IN CITY GOVERNMENT The following percentages are for resident ratings of Excellent or Good . WHERE WE CAN DO BETTER The following percentages are for resident ratings of Excellent or Good. All of these ratings fell below the national benchmark. OVERALL QUALITY OF TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM K-12 EDUCATION 89% 96% 93% 33%52% WATER RESOURCES 41% FUNDING GROWTH Priority Projects Residents were asked which projects the City should focus on funding in the next five years as we grow. Given four choices, the High/Medium priority project ranking was as follows: WHERE DO RESIDENTS GET CITY NEWS & INFORMATION? LIBRARY SERVICES SAFETYinneighborhood UTILITY infrastructure quality ECONOMICHEALTH of the city The following percentages are for resident ratings of Excellent or Good . 1. Physical materials - books, DVDs, activity kits (83%) 2. E-resources - e-books, audiobooks, research databases (80%) 3. Children's programming - story time, classes, activities (75%) To 3 ioritie 020406080100 CITY WEBSITE TOP 3 88% LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS 82% SURPRISE PROGRESS MAGAZINE* 75% *When only “Major Source” is considered, the magazine ranks 2nd. 56%80% View the full results: surpriseaz.gov/NCS 2023 NATIONAL COMMUNITY SURVEY (NCS) Summary Summary Summer 2023 | surpriseaz.gov 3 Summer 2023 | surpriseaz.gov 3Summer is a time for fun in the sun, but it's important we stay safe and vigilant around water. The City kicked off swim season with our Surprise Safety Splash event, where residents were able to watch a mock water rescue, learn CPR and get other safety tips. The most important thing to remember is it’s all of our responsibility to stay vigilant and always watch our children around water. Don’t forget to register for swim lessons at surpriseaz.gov/swimlessons. If you are unable to afford swim lessons, we have programs that can assist you. Have a safe and happy summer, Surprise! Nick Haney Ken Remley Patrick Duffy Chris Judd Vice Mayor Aly Cline Jack Hastings Improving traffic congestion has been a focused effort of Council. The budget we passed in June included a signifi- cant investment in Cactus Road improvements. The City has already begun design efforts for building out Cactus Road from Reems Road to Cotton Lane to include three lanes in each direction with medians and new signals at Prasada Parkway and Greer Ranch Parkway. Construction is scheduled to begin by the end of 2023 and finish early 2025. Additional sections of Cactus Road and other roads could be improved if residents decide to authorize G.O. Bond funding in the November election. Learn about the projects and election on pages 8-13. There are a lot of great ways to find your fun this summer! Youth sports can help keep kids busy with clinics and leagues. Plus, there are options for adult sports. Teens can get together and enjoy safe and organized fun with teen field trips, sports tournaments and Rec Nights with music, dancing and games. Swimming at our local pools is a perfect option for the whole family. However, if you’re looking to stay on dry land, the newly improved pond at Dick McComb Park will allow remote control toy boats late this summer. Stay tuned for details at surpriseaz.gov/Parks. surpriseaz.gov/district1 I am excited to share that Surprise is bringing back its curbside recycling program! I know this is something District 5 residents have been asking for, and I can’t wait to see our blue recycle bins go back into service. Before officially resuming curbside recycling, the City is starting with a pre-launch program to remind residents what can and can’t be recycled. During this time, recycling trucks will pick up blue bins curbside and inspectors will note improper recycling. However, materials will be taken to the landfill until the program officially starts. Check out program details on page 6. surpriseaz.gov/district5 surpriseaz.gov/district2 surpriseaz.gov/district4 surpriseaz.gov/district3 surpriseaz.gov/district6 Did you know the City has been working to expand our transportation options in Surprise? WeRIDE and RideChoice are on-demand transportation options to get you around town. WeRIDE is a shared ride service that operates like other popular rideshare apps in a specific zone of our City, while RideChoice is a taxi service for qualified seniors and people with disabilities. Both services can be used to travel to nearby destinations. Head to page 2 for more information on a WeRIDE summer promo! Find more information at surpriseaz.gov/publictransit. D 1 D 4 D 3 D 6 D 2 D 5 We’re officially into summer and that means residents may be searching for some relief. It could be relief from the heat or the high utility bills this hot weather causes. Either way, the City has some excellent resources that can help. If you need help with your utility bills, there are discounts and programs to assist you, and our Surprise Resource Center can help connect you to all of them. Also, if you are a senior looking for relief from the heat, you can visit the Surprise Senior Center for daily programs and meals. Learn more about both options at surpriseaz.gov/HSCV. 4 surpriseaz.gov | Summer 2023 THE COUNCIL UPDATE his is an exciting time to be a resident of Surprise. It’s a season of shaping. Resi- dents have been involved in a number of future building plans and initiatives this past year and have oppor- tunities for even more involvement on decisions that will impact Surprise for years to come. Community input has steered our General Plan update, which will guide our decisions on social, economic and development decisions for the next decade. Residents offered feedback on City Council district boundaries during our recent 10-year update process, and City Council voted on a new map in June to ensure equal represen- tation for our residents. City Council also passed the Fiscal Year 2024 budget in June – shaping the next year of priori- ties for the City. We focused on addressing our city’s increased needs due to growth, providing operational and capital funding for infrastruc- ture, and increasing programs and amenities that maintain the quality of life you have come to expect in our beautiful city. When building the budget, Council also exam- ined a five-year Capital Improvement Project program. Our budget allowed us to support a number of exciting quality of life enhancements, such as a new public pool, new park and the purchase of two new ambulances. We were also able to fund improvements to support the City’s water and wastewater treatment facilities, a fire station and roadway improvements. However, there weren’t enough funds to budget for all the priority projects identified to help relieve traffic congestion and improve safety. That’s why City Council decided to send two questions to a November Special Election ballot. This is another opportunity for you to shape our city’s future by deciding “yes” or “no” on funding for transpor- tation and public safety projects through a General Obligation Bond. I invite you to learn more about bond funding and the proposed projects on pages 8-13, and I hope you will exercise your right to vote and power to decide our city’s future on November 7. Mayor Skip Hall surpriseaz.gov/ Mayor Don't Know Your District? T D 2 D 5 D 1 D 3 D 6 D 4 surpriseaz.gov/mysurpriseaddress New Council District boundaries in effect! Summer 2023 | surpriseaz.gov 5Water Conservation Classes Join us for our summer water conservation series in partnership with EPCOR. These FREE in-person classes can help individuals and HOAs get the most out of their yards. All classes are being held at the Water Education Center next to the Surprise Xeriscape Garden, located at 16126 N. Civic Center Plz. from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Water Harvesting Landscape Design JULY 26 Selecting Native Plants for Multiple Benefits AUGUST 2 Native Landscape Care AUGUST 16 Irrigating with Greywater AUGUST 23 As the City prepares to reintroduce a curbside recycling program, we want to get residents back in the habit of recycling wise with a pre-launch program that will help inform residents on what can and can’t be recycled. Starting late July, the City will begin collecting residents’ blue recycle bins with a recycling truck rather than a trash truck. Residents are encouraged to prepare and separate their recyclables into their blue recycle curbside bins at this time. These bins need to be at the curb by 6 a.m. and will be picked up on regularly scheduled trash pickup days. Although the materials should be prepared to go to a recycling facility, they will continue to be landfilled until the curbside recycling program officially begins. This will give the City’s Public Works team the opportunity to check recycling bins for unacceptable materials and leave educational tags on them to help residents avoid violations when the recycling program officially begins. During this pre-launch period, the City’s drop-off recycling program will remain available for those who want their items recycled. TRANSITIONING BACK TO curbside recycling Here are some tips on how to “Recycle Wise” Cardboard Paper Shredded paper ONLY must be contained in a CLEAR plastic bag Glass Bottles Plastic Lids are only recyclable if screwed onto containers Learn more about drop-off and curbside recycling at surpriseaz.gov/Recycle Aluminum & Tin Cans Register for these classes and learn more about water conservation at surpriseaz.gov/waterconservation Garbage Yard Waste Plastic Bags THANK YOU Styrofoam ® DO NOT RECYCLE DO NOT PUT YOUR RECYCLABLES IN A BAG Photo: Southern Arizona Rain Gutters AUGUST 9 Sizing and Installing Rainwater Storage TanksIT IS A TIME OF DREAMING BIG AND BRAINSTORMING POSSIBILITIES WITH OUR COMMUNITY! The Multigenerational Community Resource Center is in the Schematic Design Phase, and the team is working on developing the new facility's future shape, fit and feel. The building is currently a conceptual 36,000-square-foot site that will help serve the Northwest Valley by bringing together resources under one roof. This includes the Surprise Resource Center, the Senior Center, Hollyhock Library and Headstart Program. This means incorporating everything from fitness space and classrooms to a full kitchen and dining space. Outside, designers are looking at possibilities ranging from playgrounds and a basketball court to patio space and plenty of ideas in between. To help the dream move forward into design and construction, the City held a community outreach meeting in mid-May at Villanueva Recreation Center, near the planned building area in the Original Town Site. This open house-style meeting allowed residents to learn more about the design process and interact with displays showing the draft site plan and floor plans. Plus, attendees were able to provide their suggestions and feedback. Construction is set to begin in the summer of 2024, and the building is expected to be completed at the end of 2025. More information and project updates can be found at surpriseaz.gov/MCRC. THE CITY IS EXCITED TO BEGIN PLANNING AND BUILDING a multi- faceted project that will include a new City pool, park and fire station. Design is underway for this 19-acre parcel of land at Cactus and Perryville roads, along with Cactus Road improvements to assist with increased traffic. The new aquatic center and adjacent park will have many amenities for residents to enjoy, including a 50-meter competitive swimming pool, a recreation pool designed for family fun and aquatic programming, and a fire station-themed splash pad! Not only will this be an oasis for residents to enjoy, it will also give Surprise the ability to host meets for local high schools and national swim clubs such as USA Swimming and collegiate meets. The goal is to break ground by the end of 2023 with an opening date slated for summer 2025. Keep an eye out for new, more detailed renderings as this development evolves through the design process. Planning begins for new Multigenerational Community Resource Center Competitive pool » Ability to switch between eight lanes (50-meters) or 23 lanes (25-meters) » Seven- to eight-feet-deep » Heated » Shaded spectator seating Recreational pool » Beachfront entry » Water spray features » Multiple slides Diving pool/warmup pool » Two one-meter spring boards » Six 25-yard lanes » Pool climbing wall Park » Fire station-themed splash pad » Playground » Group ramada area » Accessible and adaptive areas Fire Station Summer 2023 | surpriseaz.gov 7 *Preliminary layout. Subject to change. On November 7, 2023, residents of Surprise will vote on two ballot questions that will decide funding for $66 MILLION IN TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND $34 MILLION IN PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECTS. NOV 7 8 surpriseaz.gov | Summer 2023 BOND CITY OF SURPRISE 2023 ELECTIONTransportation Projects Public Safety Projects QUESTION 1 QUESTION 2 unding for these projects would come from General Obligation or G.O. Bonds – a type of financing local governments can use to fund large capital improve- ments. They require voter approval and can only be used for the purposes expressed on the ballot. The projects included in the questions are based on identified community needs and are intended to reduce traffic congestion, increase traffic safety and maintain public safety levels of service and response times. F Project details on pages 10-11 Project details on page 12 NO TAX RATE INCREASE It is not expected that property owners will see a secondary property tax rate increase due to the passing of one or both 2023 G.O. Bond questions. Due to significant residential and commercial growth across Surprise, the City expects it can issue additional bond debt without increasing the rate. (Rate details on page 13) 5-YEAR PROJECT TIMELINE If approved by the voters, the projects will be designed and constructed in a phased schedule over Fiscal Years 2025-2029. Fiscal Year 2025 begins in July 2024. PUBLIC MEETINGS PLANNED Educational public meetings will be scheduled ahead of the November 7 Special Election. Meeting dates and locations will be posted on the City’s 2023 G.O. Bond website. G.O. BOND INFORMATIONAL WEBSITE Get more information on the projects, funding, election, meetings and more at surpriseaz.gov/Bond Summer 2023 | surpriseaz.gov 9Next >