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Sentinel Award
Last month, I was honored with
the Sentinel Award from the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce for my efforts
to reduce burdensome regulation and promote government efficiency since joining
the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. I was thrilled to receive the honor
with fellow awardees Arizona State Senator Steve Pierce and Superintendent of
Public Instruction John Huppenthal (not pictured). I will continue to champion efforts that
ensure our state’s business climate is competitive.
Marc Community Resources
 Marc Community Resources is a nonprofit
organization that provides educational, rehabilitation, and social services to
over 8,000 children and adults with developmental, physical, or behavioral
challenges each year. I was afforded an opportunity to tour Marc’s facility in
Mesa with Marc’s President and CEO, Randy Gray; Marc Board of Directors member
Diane Hough; and former Maricopa County Supervisor and current Marc Board of Directors
member Tom Freestone. I was humbled by the work Marc employees do and by the invaluable
services they provide to so many throughout my district and the entire county.
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State
Route 24 Ribbon Cutting
As many East Valley residents may know, the new section
of State Route 24 opened to motorists this spring, providing a direct
connection between the Santan Freeway and Ellsworth Road. Adequate infrastructure is essential in continuing to grow a vibrant community
and economy, especially as business and residential growth continues in the East
Valley.
I was honored to
participate in the ribbon cutting for this exciting project that will enhance
access around southeast Maricopa County and the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. Here, my sons Grant and Will are pictured with me and Supervisor Denny Barney from District 1.
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Welcome Home Ceremony
for Gilbert Veterans
 I was honored to attend and participate in a
welcome home ceremony for three returning Gilbert veterans with Mayor John Lewis, Town Councilmember Jenn Daniels, Supervisor Denny Barney, and Maricopa
County Attorney Bill Montgomery.
Operation Welcome Home, in partnership with the Town of Gilbert, hosts the events
to recognize these brave men and women and show appreciation for their service
and sacrifice. With the support of veterans organizations, service groups,
and employers the returning veterans are reintroduced to
the community. I valued the opportunity to show my personal
appreciation and remain ever grateful for the service
of the men and women who serve this country both at home and abroad.
Red Mountain High
School Junior ROTC Pass and Review Ceremony
In April, I was able to attend
the Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) Lion Battalion of Red Mountain High School’s Pass and Review
Ceremony with the families of the students and community leaders from Mesa. I enjoyed the ceremony and respect the students’ leadership and dedication to the program. Here, I’m pictured with Councilman David
Luna of Mesa and other event participants.
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Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
(S.T.E.M.) Grant Programs at District 2 Libraries
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Through a grant made possible by President Diane Enos and the Salt River
Pima Maricopa Indian Community, two libraries in my district – the Southeast
Regional Library in Gilbert and the Fountain Hills Branch Library – received
funds to create science-based programs and activities for children. The
libraries received S.T.E.M.-themed books, hands-on science kits, and additional
related programming for the children of these communities.
My son Grant and I
attended one of the science events at the Fountain Hills Branch Library, one of
many that seeks to bring these critical subject areas to children in an
innovative way. The Maricopa County Library District is focusing this summer’s
reading program entirely to science – visit www.mcldaz.org for more
information.
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Maricopa County Farm
Bureau Farm-City Partnership Breakfast
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Each spring, the Maricopa County Farm Bureau
organizes an event in my district to include local farmers, members of the
agriculture community, elected officials, and others to discuss issues of
importance to the farming community. It
was a great opportunity to visit
with so many long-time East Valley farmers and growers and I will continue to work to preserve agriculture’s place in the county.
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Dedication of Verde
Villas Housing Community
This spring, I attended the dedication of Verde
Villas, a new Catholic Charities-owned housing community that will serve
veterans and the formerly homeless. Maricopa County was a partner in this
important project and I was honored to participate in the dedication with Bishop
Thomas Olmsted of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix.
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VerdeXchange
Visionary Panel
I was pleased to be invited to participate in a
panel discussion on growth and the future of the metro Phoenix region as
part of the second annual VerdeXchange Arizona Conference. The
panel brought together elected officials, community leaders, and private sector
organizations to discuss ways the region can work to promote and protect those
things that make Arizona special, while working to ensure we are growing
smarter as a region to preserve our resources. The panel was part of the
multi-day conference that brought together hundreds of people for these
important discussions and I appreciated the opportunity to share my views on
the important role the county plays in creating a thriving local economy that
can continue to encourage private sector growth.
 Arizona Department of
Homeland Security Central Region Advisory Council Meeting
I was honored to be appointed by Governor Jan Brewer to the Arizona
Department of Homeland Security’s (AZDOHS) Central Region Advisory Council
earlier this year. Arizona’s regional approach to homeland security includes
five regional councils that identify resources and needs throughout the state
to avoid duplicative purchases and makes the best use of limited federal
funding. These regional councils strengthen our ability to work together at all
levels to address common threat and vulnerability issues and encourage the
sharing of resources across town, city, county, and tribal lines. In April, I
participated in my first meeting as a member of the council and look forward to
serving in this important capacity.
In addition to the AZDOHS Central
Region Advisory Council, I was also recently appointed to the Arizona National
Livestock Show Board of Directors, the Downtown Phoenix Partnership Advisory
Board of Directors, and the Community Bridges Advisory Board of Directors. I am
eager to participate in these organizations throughout my term.
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Process
Improvements at County Regulatory Agencies
As outlined in past newsletters
and press releases, the task force created last fall to identify and address
areas for improvement at the Maricopa County Planning and Development
Department was a tremendous success. Following in that same model, industry
stakeholder groups were formed to evaluate the processes in place at our Environmental
Services Department and Flood Control District. In varying stages,
those committees have or will present their recommendations to the Board for approval and
implementation. I campaigned on the idea that government processes
should be more streamlined and business-friendly and am enthusiastic about the progress this Board and county leadership
have made in that endeavor.
Pillars of Honor
 In May, the Board of Supervisors recognized 29 county employees with at least 30 years of service to Maricopa County. Combined, that totaled nearly 1,000 years of dedicated public service – a staggering number that underscores the commitment and dedication of our employees. I believe in bringing a “Best in Class” mindset to our functions at Maricopa County and that starts with each of our employees – I appreciate the service of these men and women who worked so diligently on behalf of the residents of the county.
Environmental Protection Agency Approval of Maricopa County Dust Plan
Earlier this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it has approved the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) 2012 Five Percent Plan for PM-10 dust emissions. This is great news for our region and a significant milestone – the first time in over 30 years that Maricopa County has achieved compliance with the health-based standards for dust. As the Board representative on the MAG Regional Council, I applaud the collaborative effort by government entities and stakeholders that participated in this long process.
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As part of my continued efforts to regularly
engage with the other elected officials in my district, I enjoyed my meetings
with Mayor Alex Finter of Mesa, Mayor Scott LeMarr of Paradise Valley,
and Mayor Vincent Francia of Cave
Creek this quarter, as well as the visits I’ve had with other East and North
Valley mayors I’ve seen at community events. Maintaining strong working
relationships with our municipal partners is critical in developing and continuing partnerships that
reduce government redundancy and provide efficiencies to the taxpayer.
Adoption of FY 2015
Budget
Last month, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the tentative budget for Fiscal Year 2015.
The final product represents months of work under the Chairman’s
leadership with Board offices, department heads, and county leadership
to develop a conservative budget that reflects the true needs of the
county. The longstanding criminal justice needs were a critical
component of this year’s budget, as more than 50% of our budget is
devoted to public safety. In order to handle the increased volumes in
the complex justice system, this budget will add additional resources to
address those needs. The budget was developed in coordination with our
fellow elected officials throughout Maricopa County and is one that
reflects our collective vision for the county’s strategic priorities. I
look forward to finalizing the budget next week with my colleagues on
the Board.
 ASU
Internships at Maricopa County
This fall, students
at Arizona State University will have an opportunity to apply for internships
with Maricopa County under a new program approved by the Board. The Maricopa
County Leadership and Education Advancing Public Service program, MCLEAPS, will be open to all ASU students and will
be administered through the ASU School of Public Programs and individual county
departments. The program offers a paid
stipend of $4700 for the semester, a waiver of the semester’s tuition and fees,
and academic credit towards a degree, depending on the degree requirements of
the students’ major. This is an exciting program that offers the county an
opportunity to help train and develop the next generation of public servants.
For more information, students can visit copp.asu.edu/mcleaps.
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Sincerely,
Steve Chucri, District 2
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
www.maricopa.gov/steve
602-506-7431
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