MAYOR MONTHLY REPORT 

By Mayor Al Gameros

FINAL BUDGET APPROVAL

A public hearing was held before approving the final budget for FY 2022-2023 on July 26th.  After the closing of the public hearing, Council approved the final budget in the amount of 42,541,669.00.     

The actual total operational expenditure budget is $12,635,329.00.  The rest of the budget allows for capital improvement projects, matching contributions, anticipated grants, and contingency unrestricted funds.  Included in the total amount is a 3,000,000.00 restricted contingency fund balance and a $4,177,897.00 unrestricted contingency fund balance.

PROPERTY TAX LEVY

Council approved Ordinance 883 to adopt the property tax rate adjustment for FY 2022-2023.  The new rate will be lowered from $1.2618 to 1.2468 levied on each one hundred dollars of the assessed value of all property, both real and personal, within the corporate limits of the City of Globe.  

TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND FUNDING

City Engineer Jerry Barnes made a presentation on the status of future projects.  The Upper Pinal Creek Bridge (Connies) will go out to re-bid in September of 2022.  The City of Globe initially received 2.8 million from state funding for the project.  Funds already spent are for the design and the railroad crossing are $723,088.81.  Additional future costs for railroad signalization are $350K, and bridge demolition is 150K.  Like all projects statewide, there have been continued issues with supply and demand and a lack of contractors to bid on the project.

Other future projects include the Hill Street Corridor, with the design at 100% complete.  This project will tie into the Connie’s Bridge intersection.  The Cottonwood Bridge project is at 95% design completion with negotiations ongoing with ADOT.  The Jesse Hayes sidewalk project is under consideration for funding under the 2022 Rural Transportation Advisory Council proposal.  Our staff is also in the process of developing a conceptual block-by-block sidewalk improvement plan to develop estimates and priorities for future funding.

COMMUNITY CENTER SEWER LINE PROJECT

Council approved for staff to move forward with the invitation to bid for the Globe Community Center sewer line replacement project.  The cost amount for this project is estimated at 700K and was submitted under the wastewater WIFA program that allows for a forgivable amount under the loan.  This project will eliminate the septic system at the Community Center and other City of Globe-owned properties.  In addition, this newly updated sewer line will allow other city residents to tap into the sewer line.  

BROWNFIELDS ASSESSMENT COALITION

Council approved for staff to move forward with a Memorandum of Understanding between Gila County, Pinal County, Town of Superior, Town of Miami, and Town of Winkleman regarding the management of Brownfield sites.  

The Copper Corridor Blight Busters Brownfields Program seeks to access brownfields sites – sites that are abandoned or underutilized where reuse is complicated by perceived or actual environmental contamination, so they can repurpose and be revitalized into productive private or public properties using funding through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Brownfield’s benefits include reducing environmental hazards, creating business opportunities, increasing tax revenue, and restoring unkept areas (blight).

PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

New playground equipment is now available to the public at City Hall and the Community Center.  The delay in opening was due to the supply and availability of wood chips.  We are continuing to work towards funding to help install some shade canopies to help keep them cool during the summer months.  

CITIZENS ACADEMY

The next Citizens Academy’s tentative date was September 21, 2022, through October 26. 2022.  If you are interested in learning more about our city government and operations, please consider attending this seven-week course.  The class is held every Wednesday for two hours.    

STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

The next State of the City Address is scheduled for Thursday, September 29, 2022 at 5:30 pm at Veterans Park.  Mark your calendar to attend this event.  There will also be live entertainment and food trucks.

COVID WEEKLY REPORT

Covid case updates are now only reported weekly every Wednesday by the Arizona Health Department.  Here are the numbers for the week of July 20th thru July 27th.  In Arizona, there were 17,249 new cases recorded and 70 deaths and a PCR% of 12.5%.  In Gila County, there were 191 new cases and zero deaths recorded and a PRC% of 9.2%.  You can still schedule an appointment to get your vaccine or booster at the Gila County Health Department by calling the Vaccine Hotline at 928-910-4009 and choosing option 1.   

FIRST FRIDAY EVENTS AND DOWNTOWN CRUISE

The “First Friday” events continue to grow each month with more participation from downtown businesses, vendors, and cruisers.  Everyone is invited to participate in the downtown cruise at 6 pm.  We invite the community to come downtown and support the participating businesses and enjoy live music, food trucks, and vendors.  Anyone wishing to set up a vendor booth during any First Friday event may do so at no cost by contacting Linda Oddonetto.   

UPCOMING EVENTS

August 23 Council Meeting (6 pm)

September 2 First Friday

September 21 Citizens Academy begins (September 12 – October – 26)

September 29 State of The City Address