City Council honors Hispanic residents (video)

Maricopa Mayor Christian Price proclaimed Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 to be Hispanic Heritage Month for the city of Maricopa during the City Council meeting Tuesday night.

To add to the occasion, Cecilia Estrada-Ash and Becky Bandin were honored in front of the council for their contributions to the city of Maricopa as Hispanic members of the community. Both were presented with a rose and received standing ovations from community members in attendance.

Estrada-Ash served on the industrial development board for the city and board of Maricopa Economic Development. She was president of the Maricopa Rotary Club and a member of the Maricopa Parks and Recreation and Libraries Committee that helped bring Copper Sky to Maricopa. Outside of work, Estrada-Ash is also a cancer survivor.

Bandin moved to Maricopa in 1959. She dedicated 38 years of her life to the Maricopa Unified School District. Two years ago, she retired and has spent her golden years residing in the city she has called home for over 50 years.

Lastly, Jake Romero came to the podium to deliver a speech on Hispanic Heritage and what it means to America.

“Most of us in this room are immigrants, children of immigrants or grandchildren of immigrants,” Romero said. “Our ancestors moved here looking for freedom, security and just a better life. They, along with people from all over the world, have formed this modern sociological successful experiment called America.”

The mayor was later joined at the podium by MUSD Governing Board member, and anti-domestic violence advocate, Torri Anderson to proclaim the month of October to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Price proclaimed, “Whereas, this community recognizes the vital importance of increasing the general public’s awareness and support of agencies providing services to domestic violence victims and perpetrators; and whereas, we hold forth a vision of a community free from domestic violence; now, therefore, I, Christian Price, Mayor of the City of Maricopa, do hereby proclaim the month of October, 2015, as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the City of Maricopa.”

Once the floor opened up to the public, Maricopa Flood District Board candidate Dan Frank took the podium to remind residents of the board’s election taking place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 7. Frank let attendees know votes can be cast the day of the election at servicing location or on early balloting provided through the mail. Only those who own property within the flood control district are eligible to vote for the board.

The council later voted to approve the purchase of three 2016 Ford Escapes in an amount not to exceed of $60,000 from Chapman Ford to be used by the City’s Building Safety division, provide consent to submit three grant applications to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Victims of Crime Act, Crime Victim Assistance grant in a total amount for the three projects not to exceed $300,000, approve the signing of a Letter to the Editor by Mayor Christian Price in conjunction with six other Mayors on the importance of participation by residents in a Special Census being conducted by the cities and towns of Maricopa, Chandler, Gilbert, Peoria, Queen Creek, Goodyear and Buckeye, and authorize the collection of fees for the rental of the aquatic center amenities at the Copper Sky Multigenerational Aquatic Center Recreational Facility.

The council also approved a seventh amendment to the existing contract with Jacobs Engineering Group for engineering services, but it was not unanimous. The approval increased the agreed amount to $233,000. Council Member Nancy Smith opposed the change in the contract to avoid dipping into the city’s contingency money. However, the rest of the board approved the item.

The Maricopa City Council will reconvene in three weeks on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.