Council discusses budget, police department needs and demolition

The budget for fiscal year 2007-08, some new equipment for the debuting police department and the proposed demolition of the former Maricopa Mercantile Building were among the items discussed at the Tuesday evening city council meeting.

Several new capital improvements mean a rise in the city’s budget from a year ago. The thought is that as the city grows, these capital upgrades will facilitate an investment in Maricopa of needed services and infrastructure for public safety and traffic concerns.

The greatest single expenditure change to the budget is the public safety budget with the addition of the fire department and the development and deployment of the city’s police department. The two departments, including the city magistrate’s department, represent more than 22 percent of the entire budget.

Finance Director Roger Kolman reported to council that the requested budget for the coming year is $93.5 million. The budget is the largest in the city’s short history since incorporation. Councilman Edward Farrell pointed out that Maricopa’s first approved budget as an incorporated city in 2003 was $500,000.

According to Kolman some 1,000 manpower hours were put into working on the 2007-08 budget. Vice-Mayor Brent Murphree applauded the work that went into the budget, noting, “This is an amazing job done compared to last year.”

As the budget discussion highlighted, growth continues to be favorable in the city. For the 2007 calendar year in the housing market single family home building permits are averaging in excess of 270 per month, with total permit activity greater than 390 per month. This activity continues to be much stronger than other communities in growth areas. Recently, though, analysis points to a leveling off effect on the construction-related areas of the budgeted revenue forecasts.

Transportation improvements account for 33 percent of the total budget. Kolman noted that the city plans to complete some 32 transportation related projects in multiple funds throughout the fiscal year. Facilities management accounts for 18 percent of the budget, with eight percent going to parks, recreation and libraries.

In other matters, several councilmen spoke out against a proposed liquor license that Tacos N’ More, 19171 North John Wayne Parkway, is seeking for its restaurant. Among their concerns was that the facility is located right across the street from Santa Cruz Elementary School (inmaricopa.com will have more coverage on this issue later this week).

With the new police department going “live” at the beginning of next month, several planned equipment purchases came up for discussion during the meeting.

The police department and the information technology department requested that they be able to enter into a one-year service agreement with Sprint Solutions for Sprint to provide a dedicated secure Internet connection for the police. The city’s police computers will use Sprint air cards to gain Internet connectivity to both access and transmit sensitive data. The data will move from laptop computers through the Sprint wireless network and then return through a landline to the police department’s server room. After a brief discussion, council approved the measure.

The police and IT departments also requested and gained council approval that they be able to purchase 20 additional Panasonic Toughbook laptop computers.

The request to buy the hardware from CLH International represents the second purchase of computers for the police department’s sworn officers. Of the first 20 laptops purchased, the police department has allocated 15 to designated officers hired or in the process of being hired and will need four of the remaining five for officers added to the force next month.

The additional 20 computers represent the approximate number of Toughbook computers that will be needed for 15 more officers to be hired in August and September. The five remaining computers will be held as backups.

The laptops will allow officers to have instant information when they are responding to calls or conducting investigations.

“Having access to warrant information, stolen vehicle information and information for the National Crime Information Center as well as the Arizona Crime Information Center will be at the fingertips of the Maricopa officers while on the streets and in or on their vehicles,” Chief Patrick Melvin told inmaricopa.com. “I’m pretty sure all of the progressive agencies in Maricopa County have in-car computers or laptops; Panasonic or Motorola. Phoenix even has them on their motorcycles,” Melvin added.

Finally, it looks like the former Maricopa Mercantile Building, formerly the Mayfair Market, will be coming down as soon as July.

The council approved a request to demolish the building at 19643 N. John Wayne Parkway. The construction contract came in at just under $32,000 for the demolition and removal of debris by Arizona Discount Demolition in Maricopa. Others who bid on the demolition were Phoenix Demolition & Salvage, KNK Diversified Inc., and Barnett & Shore Construction.

The city acquired the property back in April. Demolition of the building is reportedly necessary because the city wants to widen the intersection at SR 347 and Honeycutt.

In some paperwork items, council approved canceling the July 3 regular meeting. Council also approved amending the city code to hold regular city council meetings at the Global Water Facility, beginning July 17.

Photos by Joyce Hollis