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 January 2022
Hello District 3 Neighbors and Hello 2022!
Hope everyone had a joyous holiday season, and a healthy & safe start to the year. As we continue recovering from these past challenging years, I wish you a year full of blessings and success. Let's make 2022 our year!
The Mesa City Council will reconvene session on Thursday, January 6th. I invite you to watch the council meetings/study sessions and participate in the decision-making process. It is our people who make our city great, and I highly encourage you to get involved!
As we begin this new year, please take advantage of events, programs, and resources. Scroll down to learn about exciting things coming to our city!
Stay safe and if you ever need assistance, you can contact my office: District3@mesaaz.gov or 480-644-6275.
~Councilmember Francisco Heredia
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Christmas Tree Recycling Program
Take advantage of one of the many options available to recycle your Christmas tree after the holiday season. Collected trees are taken to the Salt River Landfill and chipped into nutrient rich mulch and composting products. Benefits from recycling these trees include extending the life of the landfill and reusing natural and limited resources.
***NOTE*** Please remember to remove all nails, tree stands, lights and decorations. These items damage the grinding equipment. Also, wreaths, snow flocked trees and artificial trees cannot be recycled. Small items can be placed in the black barrel and a bulk item pickup can be requested for larger items.
Drop-off Collection Sites
The following Christmas tree drop-off sites will be open 24/7 from December 26, 2021 through January 16, 2022.
- East Mesa Service Center, 6935 E. Decatur St.
- Fitch Park, 651 N. Center St. (enter off of 8th St.)
- Superstition Springs Police/Fire Station, 2430 S. Ellsworth Rd.
- Mountain View Park, 845 N. Lindsay Rd. (enter off of Adobe St.)
- Dobson Ranch Park, 2363 S. Dobson Rd.
***Drop-off collection sites are for residential use only. Tree lot vendors are prohibited. Vendors are asked to call (480) 644-6789 for recycling options.
Visit the Christmas Tree Recycling Program site for more info!
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New City Council District Boundaries in Mesa
By unanimous vote, Mesa City Council has approved the recommended map for the new City Council district boundaries. The new map, recommended by Mesa's nonpartisan Redistricting Commission, takes effect immediately and is available to view at www.mesaaz.gov/government/redistricting.
The Redistricting Commission, a five-member citizen panel created by mandate of the Mesa City Charter, held a series of public outreach meetings, an online survey, an online mapping tool and other forms of community outreach to complete the recommended map for new Council district boundaries, based on how local populations have changed.
Every ten years, local governments, including the City of Mesa, use new census data to redraw their City Council district lines based on population shifts. Delivery of U.S. Census Data by the federal government was delayed several months compared to prior decades due to the pandemic. Learn more here!
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Need a Fresh Start to the New Year?
Begin 2022 by decluttering/cleaning up your home and take advantage of the City of Mesa Bulk Item Collection Program! Curbside collection of bulky items and smaller bundled, boxed, or bagged items that do not fit into the black trash barrel is available to current City of Mesa solid waste customers for an additional charge and must be scheduled in advance. This service includes the collection of items such as prepared or bundled yard waste, furniture, mattresses and other large household items. Items such as refrigerators, stoves and washers can be picked up through the Appliance Recycling Program.
For a list of acceptable items, please click here!
How much does it cost and how do I schedule a pickup?
Bulk item collection charges vary, depending on the amount of material to be picked up, and start at $25.00 per load* for City of Mesa solid waste customers (load size is approximately 4'x8'x4').
To schedule a bulk item pickup or for more information, please call Solid Waste at (480) 644-6789. Customer service representatives are available Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m., and Fridays, 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
Residents may also submit an online request.
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New Mesa Business License Enables Enhanced Communication Aimed at Supporting Businesses
To better serve and support local businesses, the City of Mesa will begin issuing a general business license on Jan. 3, 2022. The first 1,000 eligible small businesses to apply and receive a Mesa Business License will be offered a two-year membership to the Arizona Small Business Association (ASBA) - a $198 value - through the City's Office of Economic Development.
The Mesa Business License, which has been in discussion for years and is supported by the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, will enable the City to provide timely information and essential news for operating a business, especially in times of emergency. Additionally, the license will serve as a starting point for obtaining other permits and code requirements to do business in Mesa.
The Mesa Business License application will be posted online. Licenses are valid 12 months from the date of issuance. Most businesses that collect sales tax, service businesses and home-based businesses will need to obtain the license. Some exemptions apply, including casual business activity and businesses called out by Arizona state statute.
Business owners can find more information and a list of frequently asked questions on the City's licensing page: mesaaz.gov/business/licensing.
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The District 3 Council Office is going on the road to highlight local restaurants within our district! Follow my social media accounts to check out our features! This past month, I visited La Casa de Las Flores!
La Casa de las Flores is the newest addition to West Mesa, located on Guadalupe and Dobson. I encourage you to give it a try and enjoy some delicious Mexican food accompanied by a delightful atmosphere. Thank you Carmen and Enrique for your hospitality!
Let us know about your favorite spots in District 3 and we will come visit!
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🎁 The Annual District 3 Toy Drive was a success! 🙌🏽
My most sincere gratitude goes out to East Valley Firefighter Charities for partnering with me once again and making this event possible.
Special thanks to Ross • Big Lots • AT&T • Santander Consumer USA • Dobson Ranch HOA • Dobson Ranch Golf Course • Gammage & Burnham • Crescent Crown • Vice Mayor Jenn Duff • Councilmember Julie Spilsbury • and especially our Mesa residents for your contributions. Without your generosity, this toy drive would not be possible.
Let's do this again next year!
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It was a pleasure joining the Mesa Hispanic Network and the Arizona Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators holiday gathering with amazing local government leaders!
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Paz de Cristo provides many services to our community, including providing over 50,000 meals each month. Mayor Giles, Vice Mayor Jenn Duff, Councilmember Mark Freeman, Councilmember Julie Spilsbury and I, were pleased to volunteer for the meal prep and service to help those in need get back on their feet.
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 January 8 - FREE Dino Preschool Party
Presented by First Things First, this is a free program for children 0-5 years old and their families. Enjoy crafts, activities, and resources from a variety of community partners all geared toward child development. This event will take place at the AZ Museum of Natural History on 01/08/2022 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM. For more information, please call 480 644 5662 or email Ali.Smurawa@MesaAZ.gov.
January 11 - Mesa FAFSA Drive-up
High school seniors and their families are invited to join us from 3-6pm for assistance submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a college application. Completing the FAFSA will help students access financial aid and scholarships to help pay for college.
Register for an appointment: http://bit.ly/MesaFAFSA. Limited slots will be available for those without an appointment.
January 17 - Mesa-East Valley MLK Parade and Festival
The Community is invited to join the City of Mesa and the Mesa MLK Committee as we celebrate the Dream of Martin Luther King Jr. on January 17, 2022. Community groups, organizations, businesses, churches, dance groups, bands, and regional cities will stroll in Downtown Mesa for the MLK Parade from 11am to 12pm.
The festival will convene immediately after the Parade with music, art, and love celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The festival will be located on Macdonald Street, just north of Main Street in Downtown Mesa from 12-4pm.
For more information and to be a vendor, please contact info@mesaevmlk.org or visit or visit the MLK Jr. Parade page
January 29 - Asian District Night Market
A nocturnal food and entertainment event focusing on bringing culinary creativity and diversity to Arizona. Centered on Asian Pacific American community, this event celebrates cultural diversity, cuisine, art, and music. This is a one-night FREE entry event that will be held at AZ International Marketplace on Jan 29, 2022 - 1920 W Broadway Rd, Mesa, AZ 85202. Click here for more info!
February 5 - Asian Festival & Unveiling of Asian District Signage at Sycamore Station
The Asian Festival will be celebrated in conjunction with the unveiling of the Asian District signage at the Sycamore/Main St Light Rail Station on Saturday, February 5, 2022, from 9 am to 5 pm. The City of Mesa and Valley Metro are partnering with Asian Festival for this celebratory event. Join me and Mayor Giles, along with State Representatives, Valley Metro Board Members, and community & business Leaders. Visit www.asianfestivalaz.com to learn more!
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The Mesa City Council holds two Council meetings a month, in addition to weekly study sessions. City Council and advisory board meetings will operate on a hybrid system. Public participation will be available using either blue comment cards found in the City Council chambers or by submitting an online comment card through the video and audio-conferencing platform Zoom. The process for citizens to participate in the meetings can be found here.
Mesa will also continue to broadcast its council and study session meetings live on Mesa Channel 11's YouTube page and Facebook.
The agendas are available here.
January Council Meetings
Monday, January 10 - 5:45 p.m.
Monday, January 24 - 5:45 p.m.
January Study Sessions
Thursday, January 6 - 7:30 a.m.
Monday, January 10 - 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, January 13 - 7:30 a.m.
Thursday, January 20 - 7:30 a.m.
Monday, January 24 - 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, January 27 - 7:30 a.m.
*- Meetings subject to start time changes
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