Notes for February 2008
Minorities, women make city employment gains
WorldFEST highlights Phoenix sister cities
Neely elected vice mayor
Watch TV, catch a criminal
Be sure to make your point
City offers business services
Tax credit aid available
Hazardous waste collection planned
Solid waste fee increases
St. Pat's parade March 15
Eight honored for promoting justice
International Women's Day March 6
Orpheum seeks volunteers
Business workshops planned 
Minorities, women make city employment gains
The number of minorities and women working for the city of Phoenix continues to grow, emphasizing the municipality's ongoing commitment to equal opportunity and a diverse work force.Of the 14,393 people working for the city at the start of the current fiscal year in July, 40.1 percent were minorities and 32.2 were women, according to the latest study of the Phoenix work force conducted by the city's Equal Opportunity Department.
Both percentages are improvements from the previous fiscal year when minorities made up 39.1 percent of the staff and women accounted for 32 percent.
The city conducts the review annually to measure how the organization is doing in the hiring of minorities and women in comparison to their presence in the labor force in Maricopa County.
According to the study, whites made up the bulk of the work force at 59.9 percent, while Latinos accounted for 27.9 percent, African-Americans 7.2 percent, Asian-Americans 2 percent and American Indians 1.1 percent.
Overall, the total number of city employees grew by 471 during the period.
Latinos experienced the largest gain during the fiscal year with 231 new hires. The highest growth of minority employment occurred in the professional job category, which advanced to 31.8 percent from 30.9 percent the previous year. For women, the biggest gain came in the civilian law enforcement area with an increase to 31.5 percent from 20.7 percent.
A copy of the Equal Employment Opportunity Report is available at phoenix.gov/eod/eodrpt.html or by calling 602-262-7716 or 602-534-1557/TTY.
WorldFEST highlights Phoenix sister cities
Valley residents will be able to experience the cultures of Phoenix's 10 sister cities at the third annual WorldFEST celebration.The free event sponsored by Phoenix Sister Cities Commission and Pro's Ranch Market will be from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at Margaret T. Hance Park, 1134 N. Central Ave.
Activities for the entire family will be featured on both days, including live music, multicultural entertainment, international arts and crafts, educational exhibits, children's activities and ethnic food. In addition, adults will be able to taste beers from around the world in the international beer garden until 11 p.m. both days.
On Saturday, Irish step dancers, Israeli folk singers, Chinese lion dancers, mariachis and a variety of youth performing groups will take the stage and children will be taught how to rope a steer, paint masks, use chopsticks, do calligraphy and play international games.
For more information, visit phoenixsistercities.org or call 602-534-7358.
Neely elected vice mayor
District 2 Councilwoman Peggy Neely is the city's new vice mayor.The two-term council member was named to the post by the City Council and will serve in the position until the end of the year.
Neely, who has been on the council since 2002 and was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2005, is chair of the council subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure and is a member of the Downtown, Economy and Aviation Subcommittee. Last year she chaired the Housing and Neighborhood Committee and sat on four other subcommittees.
Prior to joining the council, she was chairwoman of the Paradise Valley Village Planning Committee and a member of the Phoenix Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee.
Neely is a real estate broker and owner of Arizona Home Team, which is affiliated with the Phoenix Association of Realtors, Arizona Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors and the Women's Council of Realtors.
Watch TV, catch a criminal
Phoenix residents can help police catch some of the city's most wanted criminals just by watching television.The Police Department now has a weekly television public service announcement that includes information about people wanted by police.
The announcement airs at various times on local television channels and on PHX 11, the city's television and information station that can be seen on cable channel 11. If you miss the showing on television, you'll find a list of wanted persons at silentwitness.org.
You also may call 480-W-I-T-N-E-S-S (948-6377) to anonymously report the whereabouts of someone you believe is being sought by the police.
Be sure to make your point
Don't miss your opportunity to vote for a new Phoenix Point of Pride.From more than 60 sites that were nominated by area residents, the Phoenix Pride Commission has trimmed the list to 10 finalists.
In the running to become the city's 31st Point of Pride are: ASU at the West campus; Burton Barr Central Library; George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center; Cesar Chavez Park; Chase Field; Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center; Murphy Bridle Path; North Mountain Visitor Center; Pioneer Living History Museum; and Royal Palms Hotel.
You may vote online from Feb. 11 to March 21 at phoenix.gov/pride2008 or by mailing a postcard with a single nomination to: City of Phoenix PIO (MC), 200 W. Washington St., 12th floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Your name and address must appear on both the postcard and online ballots and only one vote per person may be made for each site.
For more information, call 602-744-2474.
City offers business services
Need help understanding how to start a business in Phoenix or which city regulatory processes will be required? Do you have a suggestion on how the city could improve the services it provides businesses?If so, then get in touch with the city's Business Customer Service Center.
The center offers free resources and information for new and existing businesses in the city, including help with starting a business, information and referrals to city departments and government agencies and guidance in navigating city regulatory processes. Businesses also may submit suggestions via email on how to improve business services offered by the city. Located on the first floor of City Hall, 200 W. Washington St, the center welcomes walk-in business, but advises making an appointment to assure appropriate time can be spent discussing your business concerns.
For more information, visit phoenix.gov/BCSC, email us at bcsc@phoenix.gov, or call 602-534-2000 or the city TTY relay at 602-534-5500.
Tax credit aid available
Last year, thousands of Phoenix residents who were eligible for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) failed to claim it on their 2006 tax returns.As a result, they missed out on thousands of dollars.
If you earned less than $39,783 last year, you may be entitled to claim an EITC credit of as much as $4,716 on your 2007 return.
The city is working with the Internal Revenue Service and community partners to help working families and individuals get the credit by offering free tax preparation assistance at more than 16 sites throughout the city.
For more information, call 602-262-4520.
Hazardous waste collection planned
Phoenix residents can dispose of common hazardous wastes and other items at Household Hazardous Waste collections from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 13 -15 at Paradise Valley Community College, 18401 N. 32nd St., and April 10 - 12 at North Phoenix Baptist Church, 5757 N. Central Ave.In addition to batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze, pesticides and pool chemicals, the events will accept five road tires per household, computers and household appliances that use refrigerants, including refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and heat pumps. Commercial loads will not be accepted.
The city also will pick up household appliances at your home for a fee. Call for a collection appointment. For information, send e-mail to pwserve@phoenix.gov, visit phoenix.gov/publicworks or call 602-262-7251.
Solid waste fee increases
The monthly residential solid waste fee increased by $1 on Jan. 14 to $25.45 from $24.45. The increase was necessary to keep pace with growth, inflation and fuel costs. For information call 602-262-7251.
St. Pat's parade March 15
Marching bands, step dancers, bagpipers and floats will highlight this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade Saturday, March 15.The 25th annual parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Third Street at Virginia Avenue and move south to Hance Park at Culver Street where there will be an Irish Faire featuring food, drinks, arts and crafts, inflatable rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, a climbing wall and a stage for children's entertainment.
Admission to the faire, which will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., will be $10 for persons 12 years and older, $1 for children 6 to 12 and free for children under 6.
For more information, visit phxirish.org or call 602-280-9221.
Eight honored for promoting justice
Eight individuals have been honored for their efforts to create a compassionate and socially just community.The late Rev. Dr G. Benjamin Brooks Sr., founding pastor of Southminster Presbyterian Church, received the Calvin C. Goode 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award, which is presented annually by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee and the Phoenix Human Relations Commission.
Also honored with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Living the Dream awards were: Deedra Abboud, executive director of Muslim American Society of Arizona Freedom Foundation; Dr. Rufus Glasper, chancellor of Maricopa County Community College District; Imran and Yasmine Hafiz, co-authors "The American Muslim Teenager's Handbook;" Fatimah Halim, founder of Life Paradigms Inc.; Isabel McMahel, founder of Whole Life International Foundation; and Yvonne Watterson, principal of GateWay Early College High School.
For more information, visit phoenix.gov/calendar/awardwin.html or call 602-261-8242 or 602-534-1557/TTY.
International Women's Day March 6
Martha Beck, a columnist for O: The Oprah Magazine and a frequent guest on national television talk shows, will deliver the keynote address at the 17th annual International Women's Day luncheon March 6.Tickets for the event, which will be at noon at the Phoenix Convention Center South Ballroom, Third and Jefferson streets, are $75 for individuals and $45 for students and senior citizens. They are available by visiting phoenix.gov/phxwomen/luncheon.html, calling 602-261-8242 or 602-534-1557/TTY. Corporate and community organization sponsorship opportunities also are available.
The event, which celebrates the struggle of women to improve their lives, raises scholarship funds to help women realize their educational dreams.
Orpheum seeks volunteers
Interested in helping out at the historic Orpheum Theatre?The Friends of the Orpheum Theatre is looking for men and women over the age of 18 to fill volunteer positions as ushers and docents and in retail cart sales at the downtown Phoenix theater.
To inquire about the next scheduled training date, call 602-257-4300 or send e-mail to info@friendsoftheorpheumtheatre.org. More information is available at friendsoftheorpheumtheatre.org.
Business workshops planned
Minority, woman and small business owners in Maricopa County can learn about the city's business certification programs and how they can lead to business opportunities by attending free workshops held by the city throughout the year.The Equal Opportunity Department offers the series of monthly educational workshops to help business owners complete the application process for certification with the city as a minority-, woman-owned or small or disadvantaged business enterprise (M/W/S/DBE).
Upcoming workshops will be: March 25, Burton Barr Central Library, 4th Floor, lecture room, 1221 N. Central Ave., 5:30 p.m.; April 16, Pecos Community Center, 17010 S. 48th St., 10:30 a.m.; May 13, Paradise Valley Community Center, 17402 N. 40th St., 6 p.m.; June 21, Deer Valley Community Center, 2001 W. Wahalla Lane, 11 a.m.; July 9, Phoenix City Hall, assembly room A, 200 W. Washington St., 2 p.m.
Call 602-262-6790/voice or 602/534-1557/TTY for more information or to reserve a seat at one of the workshops.