Notes for August 2008
Dogs must be on leash
Surplus goods auction Sept. 20
DASH around downtown
Hazardous waste collections return
Low-income youth offered training
Still using plastic bags?
Jail tax increases by $1
Bilingual volunteers needed
Center hosts variety of classes
City offers certification workshops
Got permits?
City draws all A’s for environmental efforts
City promotes fall prevention
Brown Bag features race, gender, politics 
Dogs must be on leash
If you want your pet dog to run loose, then you’ll have to take it to one of the city’s dog parks.That’s because letting it run free in the city is against the law.
The city’s leash law, with few exceptions, requires that dog owners keep their pets confined on their property or on a leash that does not exceed six feet in length.
Break the law and you could be in for a stiff fine and possibly even some jail time.
Violators can be assessed a civil penalty of up to $250 if their pet is licensed. If it isn’t licensed, the owner can be charged with a misdemeanor crime that could cost them a fine of up to $2,500, six months in jail and three years probation.
Enforcement of the ordinance is handled by Phoenix park rangers who patrol the Phoenix Mountain Preserves and city parks, and Maricopa County Animal Care and Control officers who respond to animal problems throughout the county. Animal Care and Control can be reached at 602-506-7387.
For residents who want to interact with their dogs off leash, the city has five specially designed and fenced dog parks where the animals are allowed to romp and play freely. Each of the parks has separate areas for large and small dogs.
You can find them at Washington Park at 21st and Maryland avenues; Pecos Park at 48th Street and Pecos Parkway; Grovers Basin at 20th Street and Cave Creek Road; Rose Mofford Sports Complex on 25th Avenue north of Dunlap Road; and Steele Indian School Park on Seventh Street north of Indian School Road.
Two other dog parks have been proposed, one at Reach 11 Recreation Area, just north of the Central Arizona Project canal between Cave Creek and Scottsdale roads, and the other at Deem Hills Recreation on the 51st Avenue alignment north of Happy Valley Road.
To learn more about the dog parks and the leash law, including revisions that were made last year, visit phoenix.gov/parks/dogparks.html.
Surplus goods auction Sept. 20
Surplus materials ranging from furniture to cars will be sold by the city at an auction Saturday, Sept. 20.Gates to the city auction yard, 2820 S. 22nd Ave., south of Lower Buckeye Road, will open at 6:30 a.m. and the sale will begin at 8 a.m. The cashier will remain open until 1:30 p.m. and the gates will close at 3 p.m.
People planning to attend the auction may register online and receive their bidder card when they arrive at the sale. Just go to phoenix.gov/invmgt, click on "Online Registration" and follow the instructions. Registration also is available at the auction.
Inspection of the auction items will be allowed at the yard from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, and Friday, Sept. 19.
For more information, call 602-534-0828.
DASH around downtown
Prefer not to walk or drive your car to get around the downtown area? Try hopping aboard a free DASH shuttle bus.The circulator service, which the Phoenix Public Transit Department has been running since 1990, was expanded recently so you can visit many more restaurants, shops, offices and other places than ever before.
DASH now runs two separate routes – a government loop that connects the downtown to the State Capitol and a downtown loop that covers much of the rest of the business district.
Buses on the government loop travel from Central Station at Van Buren Street and Central Avenue, south on First Avenue to Washington Street and then west through the State Capitol complex to 19th Avenue. They return to the bus station by way of Jefferson Street and Central Avenue.
Downtown loop buses circle the main business district, but also serve the Arizona State University campus on First Street, medical research and education facilities on Fifth Street, neighborhoods on Portland and Roosevelt streets west of Central and the warehouse district on Jackson Street.
Stops on both routes include several light rail stations, so you can ride the train after it opens in December and then switch to the DASH when you arrive in the downtown area.
Both routes operate on 12-minute intervals from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and the downtown loop continues running at 20-minute intervals until 8 p.m.
For more information, visit www.valleymetro.org or call 602-253-5000.
Hazardous waste collections return
The city’s Household Hazardous Waste collections return next month following a two-month summer break.Phoenix residents can dispose of common hazardous wastes and other items at collections 7 a.m. to noon Sept.18, 19 and 20 at Cesar Chavez Park, 7858 S. 35th Ave., and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 16, 17 and18 at Paradise Valley Community Center, 17648 N. 40th St.
The events accept batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze, pesticides, pool chemicals, computers, five road tires per household 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.
Low-income youth offered training
The city YouthBuild Phoenix Program is seeking applicants for its full-time construction and occupational training and education program targeted to low-income city residents who have dropped out of high school or have a GED or diploma but want to increase their basic skills.The three- to eight-month program, which serves men and women ages 17 to 24, includes training in construction and other occupational skills, academic instruction, GED preparation and leadership development. It also includes a stipend of up to $337.50 every two weeks.
For more information or to apply, call 602-534-3687 or visit phoenix.gov/youthbuild.
Still using plastic bags?
Are you still having your grocer bag your groceries in plastic bags?If so, it might be time to consider switching to your store’s reusable cloth bags that you can bring with you each time you go shopping.
The call for the switch comes from the city’s Public Works Department, which continues its campaign to get residents to reduce their use of plastic bags and recycle the ones they do use.
Plastic bags are not accepted in the city blue recycle bins, but they can be taken to your local grocery store for recycling. Just look for recycling containers with the “Bag Central Station” logo that are located near the front of the store.
Remember, keeping plastic bags out of the blue barrels makes Phoenix Recycles more efficient and effective.
Jail tax increases by $1
Most Phoenix residents will see their monthly municipal services bill increase by $1 this month as the city moves to offset a mandate by the State Legislature that is expected to cost the city about $6.1 million this fiscal year.Lawmakers in June approved legislation requiring motorists convicted of extreme drunken driving to serve at least 30 days in jail. In the past, they could be released after serving 10 days of the 30-day sentence.
The city pays a daily fee for city prisoners held at Maricopa County Jail and recovers some of the money by charging single-family residences an excise tax of $1 a month on their city services bill. Multifamily and commercial customers who have larger water meters pay between $2.50 and $50.
Under the new schedule approved by the City Council in July, the jail tax doubled for all classes of customers, increasing the residential rate to $2 and the other rates to between $5 and $100. It marks the first increase in the tax since 1990.
The municipal services bill also includes charges for water, sewer and solid waste collection services. The jail tax and other taxes appear on the bill under the heading "State and Other Taxes."
Bilingual volunteers needed
More than 300 non-medical volunteers are needed to help with the 18th annual Arizona Coalition for Tomorrow Kids Health Fair on Saturday, Sept. 20, at Phoenix Preparatory Academy, 735 E. Fillmore St.Because most of the families are Spanish speaking, bilingual volunteers are needed urgently. Others are welcome, including those who speak English or languages of countries on the Pacific Rim.
Volunteers, who must be at least 18 years old, will need to pre-register by 5 p.m. Sept. 5. To sign up, visit actkidshealthfair.org or send e-mail to actkidshealthfair@cox.net for more information.
Center hosts variety of classes
If you’re among the many baby boomers who want to switch careers rather than retire, a panel discussion next month might be just for you.“Passion and Purpose: Finding Flexible and Meaningful Opportunities” is among several free discussions and seminars that will be held during September at Paradise Valley Community Center, 17402 N. 40th St.
The discussion for boomers, which will be at 5:45 p.m. Sept. 9, will feature panelists who have made major career changes telling how they either found new opportunities or created their own. Other sessions during the month will feature such topics as laughter, legal rights and writing. All of the classes require registration.
For more information, call 602-534-2011.
City offers certification workshops
Minority, woman and small business owners in Maricopa County can learn about Phoenix’s business certification program by attending free workshops.The city’s Equal Opportunity Department offers a yearlong 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.
Upcoming two-hour workshops will be: 10:30 a.m. Sept. 10, Goelet A.C. Beuf Community Center, 3435 W. Pinnacle Peak Road; 1:30 p.m. Sept. 23, Pecos Community Center, 17010 S. 48th St.; 11 a.m. Oct. 18, Mesquite Library, 4525 E. Paradise Village Parkway; 2 p.m. Nov. 18, Washington Activity Center, 2240 W. Citrus Way; and 11 a.m. Dec. 10, South Mountain Environmental Education Center, 10409 S. Central Ave.
For more information or to reserve a space, call 602-262-6790/voice or 602-534-1557/TTY.
Got permits?
Beginning this month, homeowners who receive violation notices from the city for doing renovations to their homes without the proper permits will have a grace period in which to make things right.Under a pilot program, homeowners will be given 30 days in which to obtain the necessary permits. If they fail to do so, they will be subjected to higher permit fees of at least $700 and possibly higher depending on the value of the work.
The program will concentrate on both active construction projects and work that already has been completed. Homeowners who are believed to be in violation of building codes or ordinances will be sent letters informing them of their need to obtain a permit.
Those with completed work will qualify for the 30-day grace period, while those involved in active construction project that require permits will not.
Common projects that require permits include removing or adding walls, updating the electric system, major plumbing, fences and enclosing patio covers and carports.
For more information, contact 602-262-7884.
City draws all A’s for environmental efforts
Phoenix is a straight A city when it comes to protecting the environment.The Valley Forward Association gave the city all A’s in its annual analysis of how individual communities address environmental issues that impact the quality of life for residents now and in the future.
The report card, which focused on air, land use, transportation and water, cited city programs that reduce airborne dust, promote the use of solar and renewable energy sources, plan for periods of drought and improve public transit operations.
To read the entire report, visit valleyforward.org/issues/reportcards.php. To learn more about the city’s sustainability program, “Phoenix: Living Like it Matters,” visit phoenix.gov/sustainability.
City promotes fall prevention
The city’s Human Services Department has created a special program to help people avoid an injury related to falling.The program, which is being offered at seven senior centers, includes a presentation of fall prevention, a medication review and a low-impact activity program, A Matter of Balance. Participants may take part in one or all of the activities, although the low-impact balance activity is limited to 15 registrants per class. Contact one of the participating centers to register.
The centers offering the program are: Devonshire, 2802 E. Devonshire Ave.; Marcos de Niza, 305 W. Pima Road; Paradise Valley, 17402 N. 40th St.; Senior Opportunities West, 1220 S. Seventh Ave.; South Mountain, 212 E. Alta Vista Road; Senior Services East, 1818 S. 16th St.; and Shadow Mountain, 3546 E. Sweetwater Ave.
For more information, visit phoenix.gov/fallprevention or call 602-262-7379.
Brown Bag features race, gender, politics
Race, gender and American politics will be examined at the next Faces of Diversity Brown Bag series from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at the Phoenix City Council Chambers, 200 W. Jefferson St.Dr. Matthew C. Whitaker, associate professor of United States history, African-American studies and justice and social inquiry at Arizona State University, will examine the history of race and gender in the American political landscape and discuss how America's tendency to exploit racial and gendered fears has been a fundamental organizing principle of politics, and how the current presidential election has influenced this mindset.
The free series is sponsored by the Phoenix Human Relations Commission and the city’s Equal Opportunity Department.
For more information, call 602-261-8242 or 602-534-1557/TTY or visit phoenix.gov/eod/bbag.html.