Over the past year of the pandemic, more than 3,600 unique volunteers have dedicated in excess of 55,000 hours to the pandemic response! They answer questions from the public in our call center. They staff vaccination events. They deliver supplies to stakeholders including schools and long-term care facilities. And much more.
With critical months ahead, will you be one of our Public Health volunteer heroes? Join the fight and visit GetInvolvedMaricopa.org to sign up!
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Arizona is expected to have widespread, significant wildfire danger by June. According to the Department of Forestry, more than 2,500 wildfires burned roughly 978,000 acres of federal and tribal lands in 2020. Of those fires, investigators say 82% were human caused. This year, it's expected to be worse with significant wildfire danger expected by June.
- The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department will initiate its annual fire ban on Saturday, May 1, 2021. For more information, click here.
- Have an emergency plan created and a Go Bag packed. Visit: Maricopa.gov/preparedness for more tips on how to create a plan and a Go Bag.
- Visit the Natural Fire Protection Association websiteto learn how to create defensible space around your home.
- Design and landscape your home with wildfire safety in mind. Select materials and plants that can help contain fire rather than fuel it.
- Trim tree branches away from your home. Ask the power company to clear branches from power lines.
- Keep wood piles away from your home.
- Keep handy household items that can be used as fire tools: a rake, axe, handsaw or chain saw, bucket, shovel, and hose.
- Make sure your home address is visible from the roadway.
- For more information visit: ready.maricopa.gov/wildfires
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The County is focusing on Work Zone awareness in April. Here's how you can help.
Drive Safe - when approaching a work zone, always slow down, follow all posted signs, be alert and stay calm.
Work Safe - is a reminder that work zone safety begins with workers dedicated to safety.
Save Lives - if we all work together, we can achieve safer roads and work zones.
Here are some resources, including a texting challenge, to see how much you actually take your eyes off the road when texting.
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With temperatures already soaring well into the 90s, plans have been activated to transition people experiencing homelessness from the temporary Safe Outdoor Space, located at 12th Avenue and Jefferson Street, to safe, cooled indoor space, protecting them from extreme summer temperatures.
Originally opened in April 2020 as a temporary solution to provide physically distanced shelters for people experiencing homelessness, the Safe Outdoor Space was a collaboration between the Maricopa County Department of Human Services and the Human Services Campus. The temporary living area provided security, hand washing stations, cold drinking water and lavatories that were available to all people in the area.
County staff started communicating with people living on the lots and around the Human Services Campus about the change in late March. Staff has also coordinated with local sheltering services to secure indoor placements for people. Some of the previously secured motel space used to shelter people diagnosed and suspected to have COVID-19 will be converted to transitional housing. More leased rooms will be added to accommodate additional people during the summer months. In addition to offering a cooled, indoor space to shelter, the new locations offer meals and case management services to assist with a more permanent living situation.
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This week, Maricopa County Library District (MCLD) moved into its next phase of reopening by bringing back full browsing access at all 18 of its library branches. In this next phase, customers can now stop by the library during Pop-In Pickup hours to browse every shelf and all sections to find their next checkout.
Since initially closing its libraries in March 2020, MCLD began operating in a phased reopening plan. In early phases, the library system launched new contactless and virtual services to safely meet community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2020, MCLD began to bring back more traditional library services with the launch of Pop-In Pickup, a more limited and curated browsing experience. Beginning April 26, Pop-In Pickup will no longer limit customers to just the curated shelves while inside the library. This new phase will open up full browsing access to the collection, a step closer to the traditional library experience. For more information, click here.
Last week the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) unveiled a new helicopter. On April 16th the new helicopter was dedicated to Deputy Kenneth Blair who was shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence incident in 1995. The new helicopter has heavy rescue capability which will allow the Department to conduct hoist operations, as well as being more efficient and better suited for warm weather and high altitudes. The Board approved the expenditure for the new MCSO helicopter.
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On November 2, 2020, Cave Creek Town Council passed Resolution No. R2020-27 authorizing a special election for ratifying the 2021 Town of Cave Creek General Plan to be held on May 18, 2021. A publicity pamphlet with information on Proposition 461; Town of Cave Creek 2021 General Plan will be mailed to every household with a registered voter in the Town of Cave Creek. Included in that pamphlet are arguments for and against the 2021 Town of Cave Creek General Plan: Informational Pamphlet and Special Ballot.
 The Petco Foundation is sponsoring adoption fees for dogs weighing at least 30 pounds at both Animal Care and Control shelter locations through April 30.
Visit MCACC's website to preview available pets, make your appointment to visit the shelter, and adopt your new best friend! The next adoption special is the Bissell Pet Foundation, Empty the Shelters event, May 5–9.
With over 300 shelter pets, “There’s Someone for Everyone.”
Sincerely,
Steve Chucri, Supervisor
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, District 2
www.maricopa.gov/steve
602-506-7431
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