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 March 2023
Greetings District 3 Neighbors!
There are few places better than Mesa, Arizona in March. The weather is beautiful, spring is in the air, and we have exciting things happening in our City! Spring Training is in full swing; we have launched a new initiative as part of our Climate Action Plan, and the application for Mesa College Promise Program is now open! In this newsletter you'll find more information about these and other important news and happenings. Scroll down to learn more!
As always, please contact my office if you need any assistance: District3@mesaaz.gov or 480-644-3003.
~Vice Mayor Francisco Heredia
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Spring Training is in Full Swing!
Spring Training has begun! We had a sold out opening day at Sloan Park with the Chicago Cubs this past weekend — it's a great chance to interact with your favorite players and even get baseballs signed. Mesa is home to two spring training teams – the Chicago Cubs, which have been part of the fabric since the early 1950s, and the Oakland A’s, a team that recently returned to our city and planted roots for decades to come.
Check out the upcoming games and stop by Downtown Mesa to support local businesses for a bite to eat and drinks after the game. For ticket info and a spring training activities check out the link below, courtesy of Visit Mesa!
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Mesa High School Seniors Encouraged to Apply for Mesa College Promise Program
The Mesa College Promise is a commitment from the City of Mesa to its residents that all eligible graduating Mesa high school students can attend Mesa Community College for two years with Arizona resident tuition and fees fully funded. The Mesa College Promise provides financial support to students with demonstrated financial needs but who have not received enough Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) funds or other scholarships to completely cover the cost of college.
FAFSA + Scholarships + Mesa College Promise = Fully Funded MCC
- Applications will be accepted starting March 1, 2023 for Fall 2023.
- The priority deadline for applications is May 15, 2023.
The final deadline for applications is July 15, 2023.
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Mesa Hosts Its First Read On Mesa Literacy Summit
Read On Mesa, the City's community literacy initiative, is hosting its first Read On Mesa Literacy Summit Saturday, March 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the newly renovated Dobson Ranch Library, 2425 S. Dobson Road. Read On Mesa is comprised of a wide range of community partners including the City of Mesa, Mesa Public Schools, Mesa United Way and Southwest Human Development, among many others.
The literacy summit is an opportunity for residents to learn about, access and engage with literacy programs and resources available in our community. Families can sign up to volunteer in the community, get a library card, drop off book donations, attend readings from special guests, enter a raffle to win prizes and much more!
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ICYMI: Mayor Giles Announces New Community-Wide "Trees Are Cool" Initiative
During his State of the City, Mesa Mayor John Giles announced the "Trees are Cool" initiative to increase shade across Mesa, lower the urban heat island effect in our neighborhoods and cool our communities during the hot summer months. "Trees are Cool" challenges residents and businesses to help increase the City's tree canopy coverage to 15 percent over the next 27 years. To reach this crucial milestone, Mesa has set a target of planting 1,000,000 trees in Mesa by 2050.
As part of the "Trees Are Cool" initiative, Mesa launched an online tool to record newly planted trees, including planting locations. This data, in tandem with the assessment of existing trees, will help the City track its efforts to reach the goal of 15 percent tree canopy coverage (and 1,000,000 million trees planted). Additionally, the page features a map showing Mesa neighborhoods at greater risk of heat impacts - which often correlates with lesser amounts of tree canopy - and provides helpful information on choosing, planting and caring for trees.
I'm proud to be a strong advocate of this initiative and I look forward to working with residents, stakeholders, and partners to make this goal a reality!
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Incentives Up to $1,000!
Xeriscape landscapes save water, create shade, help clean the air and offer habitat for wildlife. If you are thinking about replacing your water-thirsty grass with a lush, low-water-use Xeriscape, we have an incentive for that!
Apply to remove established grass and replace it with a water-thrifty Xeriscape landscape and you may qualify to receive up to $1,100 from the City of Mesa. Two levels of incentives are available: 500 - 999 square feet of grass conversion is eligible for $750, and more than 1,000 square feet is eligible for $1,000. Add an eligible tree or two as part of your Grass-to-Xeriscape project for up to $100 more.
Note: contact our Water Conservation Division before you start. The program is not retroactive.
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Congratulations to the Dobson Ranch Association!
Dobson Ranch is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year! It was the first master-planned residential development in Mesa and is a great example of an active community that engages its residents and works side-by-side with the City of Mesa. I look forward to continue with this partnership. Cheers to 50 years!
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THINK Spot Opening. We celebrated the grand opening for the most significant renovation at Dobson Ranch Library since it opened in 1987. The construction project expands the library's footprint by 1,600 square feet and adds a THINKspot makerspace for community innovation and networking. Come check it out!
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Fire OPS 101. I attended a Fire OPS 101 event at our Public Safety Training Facility along with other elected officials. We were provided with a hands-on opportunity to better understand the complexities of what firefighters and emergency medical personnel do daily.
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Recognition at Heritage Academy. I was proud to recognize Heritage Academy teacher Ms. Skouson, student Marco G., our Dispatcher Nedzbala, and the Fire Engine 2203 and Medic 2201, who responded to an emergency call that saved the life of a student. It was truly a humbling experience.
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Dobson Ranch HOA Annual City Breakfast. It was a pleasure attending the Dobson Ranch HOA Annual Breakfast. I had the opportunity to share important updates in west Mesa. Special thanks to volunteers and Dobson Ranch team members who made this event possible.
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Engineering Week at Crismon Elementary. I joined City of Mesa engineers at Crismon Elementary. They spent the week with 6th graders building popsicle bridges and showing them what careers in engineering look like for Engineering Week. It was a pleasure to visit with the students and check out their bridge designs!
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March 3 & 4 - Second Annual Pacific Island Festival
Enjoy this FREE event for the community full of activities, educational workshops, demonstrations, arts & crafts, food vendors, continuous stage performances and more! The Festival will take place 3/3 and 3/4 from noon to 9:00pm at the Plaza at Mesa City Center.
March 4 - Read on Mesa Literacy Summit
You're invited to Read On Mesa's first Literacy Summit at the newly renovated Dobson Ranch Library! Learn about the role of literacy in your child’s education, connect with community resources and programs, drop off book donations, sign up to volunteer in your community, obtain a library card, participate in crafts and activities, enter a raffle to win prizes, and much more! Plus, join our special guest-reader storytimes at 10:30am, 11am, and 11:15am in the new THINKspot makerspace.
March 5 - Cultural Coalition's 6th Annual Mask Alive! Festival
Join us Sunday 3/5 2-5 pm at Pioneer Park. Families of all ages enjoy an afternoon in the park at this free festival that celebrates the global artistic tradition of storytelling through masks. Featuring live performances of dance and music representing cultures from around the world including Mexico, Japan, West Africa, Egypt, and more! One of the most culturally diverse events open to the public for free, Mask Alive! is always a great time that is fun for the whole family!
March 24 - Free Microchipping Event
City of Mesa Animal Control will be hosting a FREE microchipping event for residents in Council Districts 1, 3, and 4 on Friday, March 24, 2023, from 8:00AM - 4:00PM at 200 S Center. For more information, please contact Animal Control at 480-644-2268.
March 28 - Resident’s Guide to Building Community
In this free 90-minute class, you will:
- Create an action plan and walk away with tangible next steps to connect with more people in your neighborhood
- Learn how Block Watch, neighborhood clean-ups, neighborhood registration can strengthen your community
- Receive guidance from key City staff about your neighborhood
- Receive an invitation to join our online Neighborhood Network Facebook group
For more info and to sign up, click 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.
February Council Meetings
Monday, March 3 - 5:45 p.m.
Monday, March 20 - 5:45 p.m.
February Study Sessions
Thursday, March 2 - 7:30 a.m.
Monday, March 6 - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 9 - 7:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 16 - 7:30 a.m.
Monday, March 20 - 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, March 23 - 7:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 30 - 7:30 a.m.
*- Meetings subject to start time changes
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