|
 Community Newsletter
March 2023
Happy March Neighbors!
Spring is a beautiful time in Mesa. Downtown Mesa boasts great outdoor dining, a weekly farmer's market, and arts and culture activities for residents of all ages. Spring Training is in full swing, with the Chicago Cubs and the Oakland A’s calling Mesa home for the next few months. There are also numerous opportunities to engage with the City of Mesa this month through Neighborhood Leadership classes, residential tree planting, Tomorrow's Mesa community events and surveys, and City Council meetings.
I’m especially looking forward to the upcoming Fun in Escobedo Park event on March 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. sponsored by Mesa PD. This event is free to the public and includes food, music, safety displays from Mesa PD, Mesa Fire and Park Rangers, a bicycle raffle, and much more. I'm looking forward to seeing you there!
If you ever have any questions, want to share about issues that are important to you, or if I can be of assistance, please reach out to me at district4@mesaaz.gov or 480-644-3004. My door is always open.
-Councilmember Jenn Duff
|
|
 This March we celebrate Women's History Month. I'm honored to be one of three women currently serving on Mesa City Council and pay my respect to all of the women who have served the Mesa community before me.
I remember, several years ago, a young girl waited for me after an event wanting to take a photo with me. While we were taking the photo, she said to me that she had never seen a woman mayor. I explained that I was not the mayor, yet she was still memorized by the idea of a woman being mayor or serving as an elected official. I'll never forget that moment of awe in her eyes. It inspired in me a drive to continue to advance roles for women in leadership and set an example for all young girls that they too have a place in any career or discipline they want to pursue.
This month (and every month), let's honor the women in our lives by recognizing their efforts and providing resources to better support them and elevate their voice in our community.
|
|
|
The City of Mesa is asking residents, businesses and stakeholders to provide input to shape Tomorrow's Mesa. Every ten years, the City updates the General Plan, as mandated by the State of Arizona. Public participation and community input shape this effort, providing a vision and setting the City's future priorities.
You can participate in the Tomorrow's Mesa effort in person by attending a public meeting or visiting their tent at various community events, such as:
- Eastmark Safety Day, Eastmark Great Park 5100 S. Eastmark Parkway, Saturday, March 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Downtown Mesa Farmer’s Market, Mesa Arts Center, 1 E Main, Saturday, March 25, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Another way to get involved is by completing a brief five-minute online questionnaire. In addition to the General Plan, Mesa is updating its Transportation, Transit, Water, and Balanced Housing Master Plans. For more information about Mesa's General Plan update and a complete list of community engagement activities, please visit TomorrowsMesa.com
|
|
|
Thinking of getting rid of your grass? City of Mesa incentives have increased! 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. Completed projects are ineligible. Find out if your qualify!
Two BIG Water Conservation & Landscaping EXPOS! Get amazing landscape ideas, meet experts, get discounts, and more at these two events coming up in early March!
-
2023 SRP Water Conservation Expo in Tempe Saturday, March 4, 8 a.m. to Noon. This event is free for SRP customers and includes amazing discounts on smart irrigation controllers. Get a Rachio 3 or Hunter Controller for $60+tax (retail value is $199 and $528 respectively). Attend classes on how to use the controllers and desert landscaping, and visit exhibitors. Mesa's Water Conservation staff will be there, and the AZ Plant Lady will be there talking about landscaping at the Water - Use It Wisely booth. Advance registration is highly recommended.
-
4th Annual Sustainable Landscapes EXPO in Tucson Saturday, March 11, 10 a.m. to Noon. This free, family-friendly event that will include over 40 exhibits to increase knowledge on efficient water usage and sustainable landscaping in the Southern Arizona desert.
|
|
 |
To encourage young students to learn more about their City’s past, the Mesa Historic Preservation Board is sponsoring a Historical Essay and Visual Arts Contest. The historical essay competition is open to all fourth, fifth and sixth-grade students regardless of whether they attend public, private, charter or home school. There is also an essay and visual arts contest for all seventh through twelfth graders living in Mesa. Both contests allow students to learn more about Mesa’s history while practicing their writing or visual skills as they create a story around a historic event in the City. The contest is open until March 10.
The essay and visual arts contests will be judged and awarded separately. Every contestant will receive a certificate of participation. There will be cash awards given to the first ($50), second ($30) and third ($20) place contest winners in each category. Mesa City Council will recognize the top three essay writers and visual arts creators in each category during Historic Preservation Month in May. To learn more or submit an entry form, visit The Historic Preservation Office’s webpage.
|
|
|
Mesa high school students can apply for funds and support services of the Mesa College Promise program March 1 through July 15, 2023. 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. Fall 2023 will welcome the third group of students into the program. Full details and a link to the application are available at mesacc.edu/mesa-promise.
|
|
 "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. Plant a tree, then record your new tree, by visiting the City of Mesa Trees Are Cool page.
|
|
I was honored to be a part of the We Run Mesa celebration at Edison Elementary! Thank you Nicole Leyba, City of Mesa Police Department, and Mesa Fire and Medical Department for organizing and supporting such a great program that teaches our youth the importance of being active!
|
The i.d.e.a. Museum new exhibition, “Desert Roots: Story of a Seed” is now open. This interactive exhibition features more than 24 local Arizona artists and includes hands-on activities for children & families. The exhibition runs through August.
|
I joined my colleagues, ASU at Mesa City Center leadership, and community members at the ASU MIX Center in Downtown Mesa to celebrate Black History Month with a mural unveiling and moving tribute to film legend Sidney Poitier.
|
I had the opportunity to experience firsthand the work that Mesa Fire & Medical does everyday. We did various hands-on scenarios including a rescue scenario, vehicle fire, vehicle extrication, and an EMS response to a cardiac arrest. My gratitude to MFMD for their commitment to service!
|
|
|
March 3 & 4 - 2nd Annual South Pacific Island Festival
12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Free event for the family. Feel and taste the Aloha Spirit through island food, music, dance, workshops, arts and crafts. 56 E. Main St., Mesa, AZ. |
|
March 5 - Mask Alive Festival of Masks @ Pioneer Park
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Families of all ages will enjoy an afternoon in the park at this free festival that celebrates the global artistic tradition of storytelling through masks. |
|
Every Saturday - Downtown Mesa Farmers Market @ Mesa Arts Center
Hours - 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Located at the Mesa Arts Center Campus in downtown Mesa, you'll find fresh produce, delicious food and treats, beautiful handcrafted goods, live music and more! Stop by and support local small businesses. |
|
March Council Meetings
Monday, March 6 - 5:45 p.m.
Monday, March 20 - 5:45 p.m.
March Study Sessions
Thursday, March 2 - 7:30 a.m.
Monday, March 6 - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 9 - 7:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 16 - 7:30 a.m.
Monday, March 20 - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 23 - 7:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 30 - 7:30 a.m.
Audit, Finance & Enterprise Council Committee Meeting
Thursday, March 23 - 8:00 a.m.
*- Meetings subject to start time changes
The Mesa City Council holds two Council meetings a month, in addition to weekly study sessions. The process for public participation in meetings can be found here.
Mesa broadcasts its council and study session meetings live on Mesa Channel 11's YouTube page and Facebook.
Council agendas are available Here.
|
|
|
|
|
