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 September 2022
Hello District 3 Neighbors!
Hope you have stayed safe through our share of monsoon storms in Mesa. Monsoon season runs through September, as a reminder here are some resources that might help. Fall is approaching, and with it, we will finally enjoy cooler weather. This also means the city will be offering a lot of fun events and opportunities, so be on the look out in the upcoming months to take advantage! In this newsletter, you will find exciting Mesa news and a sneak peek of the great things coming to Mesa. Scroll down for more!
As always, please contact my office if you need any assistance: District3@mesaaz.gov or 480-644-6275.
~Councilmember Francisco Heredia
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Hispanic Heritage Month is annually celebrated from September 15th to October 15th to recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements to the United States. In Mesa, we kick off this celebration with a Proclamation from Mayor Giles followed by a month long of diverse events, including our award-winning Día de los Muertos Festival.
Tune in to my social media channels for special features, and events regarding this special celebration: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Stay tuned!
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AT&T Expanding Fiber Internet Service to Arizona
AT&T plans to expand its award-winning fiber internet service to bring reliable, high-speed broadband to the Mesa, AZ area. Service is expected to be available to local residents in 2023.
Why is this important?
Mesa is one of the largest and fastest growing cities in America, so AT&T sees a great opportunity to deliver better access to education, jobs, healthcare and more through the power of fiber connectivity. AT&T expects to offer speeds of up to 5-Gigs of fiber-based broadband to more than 100,000 homes in and around the Mesa area. AT&T's previously provided capital investment guidance is unchanged.
AT&T also has a long and productive business relationship with Corning Incorporated, its largest fiber manufacturing supplier. Corning's recent investment in a new optical cable manufacturing facility in the Mesa area will help produce the fiber-optic cable needed to help millions of Americans connect to new opportunities and further close the digital divide.
Mesa area residents can be the first to know when AT&T Fiber is available in their area by visiting: att.com/NotifyMe
Mesa College Promise
During the announcement, AT&T also presented a $50,000 check to Mesa College Promise. The program provides financial support to students with demonstrated financial needs who have not received enough FAFSA funds or other scholarships to completely cover the cost of college. Eligibility includes a 2.0 or better high school GPA, Mesa residency and a commitment to taking a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester. Full details and the application link are available at www.mesacc.edu/mesa-promise.
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Extension Bike Lane Project is moving forward!
The City of Mesa sought input from citizens regarding a potential active transportation project on Extension Road for separated bike lanes. Residents provided largely positive feedback through a public survey that was available April 25, 2022 - May 9, 2022 and installation is expected to begin in spring of 2023.
To learn more and view the survey results visit: Separated Bike Lanes | City of Mesa (mesaaz.gov)
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Mesa Celebrates National Library Card Sign-Up Month
September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a national effort to ensure every child signs up for their own library card. Mesa Public Library is joining the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide to remind parents, caregivers and students that signing up for a library card is the first step toward academic achievement and lifelong learning.
During National Library Card Sign-Up Month in Mesa, current Mesa Public Library cardholders can exchange their old card for a newer design at no cost. New members can visit any branch with a photo ID and register for a card. Lost cards can be replaced for free during National Library Card Sign-Up Month, usually a two-dollar charge, as long as there are no fines or fees on the account.
Mesa Public Library has three branches:
* Main Library, 64 E. First St.
* Dobson Ranch Library, 2425 S. Dobson Road
* Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Road
To sign up for a library card or to learn more about the library's resources and programs, please visit www.mesalibrary.org.
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Meet El Yori Hotdogs & Grill!
The District 3 Council Office is going on the road to highlight local restaurants within the district! Follow my social media accounts to check out our features. This past month, I visited El Yori Hotdogs!
I had the pleasure to meet Celsa and Damian. They started out offering authentic Sonoran hotdogs in a cart along Broadway and Stapley, here in Mesa. After several years, they decided to offer a better experience to their customers, and that's when they decided to open up their own restaurant location: 753 S Alma School Rd Ste 5 Mesa, AZ 85210.
I highly encourage you to give them a try! They offer authentic Sonoran Hotdogs with a variety of toppings, and a welcoming atmosphere.
Let us know about your favorite spots in District 3 and we will come visit!
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Fall Celebrate Mesa is Upon Us!
The City of Mesa will be hosting Celebrate Mesa on Saturday, October 8 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Red Mountain Soccer Complex located at 905 N. Sun Valley Blvd.
We will have live music, a tot spot, inflatables, and food trucks all while highlighting what the City of Mesa has to offer.
Mark your calendars now!
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Back-to-school Supply Drive. We raised over $11k worth of supplies and funds combined. Our original goal was to reach $5k! I'm deeply grateful for the generosity of our residents and partners. This was a collaborative effort between businesses, partners, volunteers, and our residents. Special thanks to Mesa Public Schools and Mesa Public Schools Foundation for a wonderful partnership!
Watch the full video here!
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Business Engagement Program Visit. As part of the Mesa Business Engagement Program, our Office of Economic Development visits with businesses to identify needs and potential partnerships so our businesses can thrive. We visited the AT&T Mesa Campus and had great conversations surrounding their future plans and ways they can continue to have a positive impact in our community.
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Mesa College Promise. We welcomed the second cohort of the Mesa College Promise Program! This program is a partnership between the City of Mesa, Mesa Community College, and community/business partners to provide a path to college for eligible students in Mesa. I have always been a strong advocate for this initiative and I'm glad to welcome these students!
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Meet & Greet with Delegation from Sonora. It was a pleasure to join Councilmember David Luna and Mayor John Giles in welcoming a delegation of Mayors visiting from Sonora, Mexico. We had meaningful discussions and shared more about the great things the City of Mesa is doing. We also learned about their rural communities. Having these types of gatherings is an important step in building good relationships and strengthening our cultural bonds with cities in Mexico.
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September 5 - Labor Day, City Offices Closed.
Refuse and recyclables will be collected, but there will be no bulk-item pick-ups. Police, fire and 9-1-1 emergency services will be available.
September 9 - Season Kickoff Make Your Mark
Mark your calendar for Season Kickoff Festival Make Your Mark on Fri, Sep 9! This free all-ages event features live music, tasty food, interactive activities, new art exhibitions and more! Walk through our campus and enjoy the ambiance of live music or grab a bite to eat from one of our many vendors, take a seat and enjoy a show! Visit the Mesa Arts Center site for more details.
September 14 - Mesa Fire and Medical Monthly Immunization Clinic
Mesa Fire and Medical Department supports monthly immunization clinics the second Wednesday of the Month (except: no clinic in December) 5:00pm - 7:00pm. Location: Superstition Springs Center 6555 E. Southern Ave. Mesa, AZ 85206.
The clinic location within the mall is subject to change, please text the mall concierge service at (480) 409-7900 or speak with a mall representative at (480) 924-5050 to get an exact location before arrival.
Visit the immunization page for additional details and upcoming clinic schedule.
September 17 - Women in Law Enforcement info session
This session is available to anyone that is considering a career with the Mesa Police Department but we will be focusing on female-specific topics. There will be a job fair and various activities to get a better insight of the department. The job fair will include individuals from: professional staff, communications, crime lab, cadets, volunteers and sworn officers. With activities such as: Virtra, driving track demonstration, K-9 demonstration, and POPAT overview.
It is Free to signup on Eventbrite. Click here be directed to the signup page.
September 28 - Resident’s Guide to Taking Care of Your Neighborhood
In this 90-minute class you will learn about free City services that can benefit you and your neighborhood, how to easily report issues from graffiti to potholes, and how to find the contact information for your Community Engagement Coordinator, Code Officer, and Crime Prevention Officer. Sign up here!
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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.
September Council Meetings
Monday, September 12 - 5:45 p.m.
Monday, September 19 - 5:45 p.m.
September Study Sessions
Thursday, September 8 - 7:30 a.m.
Monday, September 12 - 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, September 15 - 7:30 a.m.
Monday, September 19 - 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, September 22 - 7:30 a.m.
Thursday, September 29 - 7:30 a.m.
*- Meetings subject to start time changes
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