Frank: My vision for Maricopa includes Prop 415

Oct 18, 2016

By Dan Frank

The outcome of the General Election is critically important for Maricopa. In just a few weeks, voters will make extremely important decisions that impact local growth and development, like who will be elected to City Council as well as approval of our city’s General Plan, Proposition 415.

As a candidate, I’ve attended city council meetings, community events and candidate forums and gone door-to-door to talk with voters. Those experiences enabled me to speak with hundreds of people, listen to their concerns, and answer their questions. I’ve also been able to tell them why I feel I’m the best candidate for city council and to share my vision for our future.

As I was finishing my last term on city council, I was appointed by Mayor Price to serve as chairman of the 2040 Vision Committee. The goal of the committee was to plan the future of Maricopa by establishing the city’s direction for the next 25 years. The resulting 2040 Vision Strategic Plan is the primary reference for updating and revising Maricopa’s General Plan, which must be approved by voters, and is on the November ballot as Proposition 415. Prop 415 is not about raising taxes or annexation. It’s an updated plan for intelligent, systematic and responsible planning of Maricopa’s future and it’s a future I want to help deliver! As chairman of the 2040 Vision Committee, I am proud of the effort that city staff has put into developing the General Plan and thank them for all of their hard work and for developing a great product.

Our city is growing and new homes bring revenue, but they also come with increased demand for services. New businesses are also coming, yet we need more commercial and retail sales taxes to support the local economy. We need more local higher-paying jobs to reduce or eliminate commutes and we need to support our locally owned small businesses. Maricopa’s population is growing, but the necessary infrastructure must be prioritized and planned. We still face significant obstacles, such as floodplain mitigation and its direct correlation to economic development. We must advocate to state and federal representatives on the importance of local control and receiving revenues that enable us to provide vital public safety and other services.

We need better transportation options into, out of and through Maricopa. The RTA is a work in-progress, but there are myriad issues and concerns that come with a project like this; such as additional funding, right-of-way limitations and voter-approval. Maricopa has a great many challenges, but we have even more opportunities. A well planned multimodal transportation system is key to a thriving City.

I will work hard for Maricopa to help mitigate or reduce these challenges and capitalize on opportunities wherever they exist. My background as a Civil Engineer as well as my combined experiences and expertise make me the ideal candidate for City Council.

My vision for Maricopa is the same as the 2040 Vision – “The City of Maricopa is a family friendly, vibrant community that offers diverse opportunities in culture, technology, education, business, entrepreneurship, transportation, entertainment, and recreation for all ages. A close knit community of committed leaders, engaged citizens, and diverse partners with pride in our history, and a shared vision for a prosperous future.”

Please vote “YES” on Prop 415, and I humbly ask you to vote Dan Frank for city Council. Thank you.

Dan Frank is one of four candidates running for two seats on the Maricopa City Council.