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 Community Newsletter
September 2023
Happy September Neighbors!
I hope your summer has been great and you are staying cool! Council recently convened after summer break, and it's good to be back in session.
In observance of September 11 National Day of Service, the City of Mesa is joining with JustServe to inspire volunteerism through many great service project opportunities in Mesa. You can turn a day of tragedy into a day of doing good and love your city by choosing one of many projects taking place at local Mesa schools, city facilities and nonprofits from September 9 through September 20. In the volunteer section of this newsletter a link to sign up for a project is provided. In addition, you can express gratitude for our first responders by creating thank you cards at the Mesa Public Library, or you can drop off one of your own. Let's continue to spread kindness in Mesa!
It is my commitment to serve you and be your voice in City decision making to help shape a community that is sustainable for generations to come. 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
The Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum (MCAM) will open its fall exhibit to the public in October. As previously intended, the fall exhibit will feature a collective of artists and the group exhibition “Just Cause: The Power of Contemporary Art in Civics Engagement.” An exact date will be announced in the coming days once staff has finalized the logistics for the delivery and installation of the artwork.
Mesa values and supports artist expression in all its forms. The exhibit’s brief pause allowed Mesa to evaluate whether current policies and procedures uphold the values of respect and integrity of our organization, protect artists and balance the needs of our community.
Since the postponement, the City of Mesa determined it needs to update its artist contracts, exhibit curation policy and the annual prospectus submission process. The guidance provided by those processes and continued updates of best practices will allow more time and accountability. Mesa is currently searching for a new Arts and Culture Director who will lead the review and implement much-needed department process improvements.
Read more about the MCAM fall exhibit.
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Google has announced a new $600 million data center in Mesa and will use state-of-the-art technology to air cool the facility. This will be the company’s first physical presence in the state.
Google's continued investment in technical infrastructure, including its data centers, plays a critical role in supporting the company's AI innovations and growing Cloud business. The new Mesa data center will help power popular digital services - like Google Search, Gmail, Maps, Google Cloud, and others - for people and organizations worldwide. Other industries rely on data center computing power as well–including healthcare, the public sector, manufacturing, financial services, retail and more–in order to serve customers and provide key services to local communities.
Since 2017, Google has matched 100% of its annual electricity use with renewable energy. Today, the company is pursuing net-zero emissions across its operations and value chain by 2030, supported by an ambitious clean energy goal to run all its offices, data centers and cloud regions on carbon-free energy every hour of every day.
An important piece of this clean energy goal is Google’s climate-conscious approach to cooling data centers. This strategy prioritizes minimizing net climate impact and using natural resources responsibly, both today and in the future. In line with this approach, the Mesa data center will make use of air-cooled technology.
Beyond its operations, Google is committed to improving local watershed health where its office campuses and data centers are located and replenish 120% of the water it consumes, on average. As part of its commitment in Arizona, Google is announcing a $150,000 donation to help fund Salt River Project’s (SRP) effort focused on watershed restoration and wildfire risk reduction for surrounding rural communities. SRP is the largest provider of water to the Phoenix metropolitan area serving about 2.5 million people.
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Many residents, businesses and homeowner’s associations (HOAs) are deciding whether or not to overseed their lawns. And the City of Mesa is encouraging all water customers to consider limiting or forgoing the overseeding of grass areas. While winter snowpack has slightly improved conditions on the Colorado River and its reservoirs, we live in a dry, arid climate and water conservation is a necessity.
Choosing not to overseed bermudagrass with winter rye saves water. It allows your summer lawn to rest – making it stronger for new spring growth. Customers can also save money on the avoided costs of seed, labor and gasoline for mowing, and save time by not having to mow and care for the grass all winter long.
Need more help to decide whether or not to forgo the winter lawn? See the list of 10 great reasons to skip overseeding along with information on low-water-use plants, landscape watering guidelines and helpful conservation tips at https://www.mesaaz.gov/conservation.
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Mesa Electric Smart Peaks is a voluntary program designed to assist customers in reducing electricity use during periods of high demand while helping the reliability of the grid. To participate, you must be a residential customer in Mesa's electric service territory (see map). SRP customers, please visit their website.
Participating allows the Mesa electric utility to use technologies that manage energy demand during “peak hours,” when usage increases significantly. The program is designed to govern peak demand and reduce strain on the grid during the hottest parts of the day and may improve reliability. This can lower energy costs, with the savings passed on to our customers.
Participants will receive a $50 digital gift card after being accepted in the program and a $50 digital gift card for each subsequent year of continuous enrollment. In addition, participation can improve the stability of the grid and lower the cost of purchased power.
Read more about the program and enroll today!
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The 17th Annual Mesa Hydration Donation Campaign started June 5 and runs through September 29. The city works with nonprofit agencies and businesses to collect the bottles of water which are distributed through United Food Bank to numerous agencies in the valley, including A New Leaf, Paz de Cristo and Mesa United Way.
The campaign is a life saver for the less fortunate during the hot summer months. Since the campaign began in 2007, more than 5.2 million bottles of water have been donated. $5 or less buys a case of water. We need your help in reaching our goal!
You can donate bottles at 20 drop-off sites across the city or donate money online.
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The 2050 General Plan update is underway! The General Plan is a community-initiated policy document that is used to guide Mesa’s vision for the future. The plan helps direct decisions on development, land use, transportation, open space and recreation, cultural amenities, the environment, city services and more!
The City of Mesa Planning Division wants to know; how do the students of today envision the future of Mesa? Students are encouraged to express their innovative ideas through their preferred form of visual art, showcasing their take on Mesa in the year 2050.
The contest is open to Mesa students in 6th-12th grade. Submissions due by September 30. View entry and prize information.
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Join us at The Plaza at Mesa City Center, 56 E. Main St., for a FREE NEON Skate Party. The event will take place on Saturday, September 9 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. We will have skating demos and safety information presented by Arizona Rollergirls and skate rentals from ZoniGirls. The movie Trolls will also be displayed on the large exterior screen at ASU MIX Center at 7:00 p.m. Don't forget your lawn chairs and blankets!
Phoenix Children's Hospital is donating helmets and gear for kids attending the Skate Party. You do not want to miss this opportunity! FREE helmets and safety gear will be provided on a first come first served basis while supplies last.
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September is National Preparedness Month - Be prepared before an emergency strikes!
Electric Emergency
- Stay away from downed power lines.
- If a power line comes into contact with your vehicle, remain inside the car until help arrives.
Call 911 and,
- City of Mesa Electric: 480-644-2262
- SRP: 602-236-8811
Natural Gas Emergency
If you suspect a natural gas leak:
- Smell a rotten egg odor.
- Hear an unusual sound coming from a pipeline or appliance.
- See dirt blowing in the air or bubbles forming in the standing water.
Get to a safe area, call 911, and:
- City of Mesa: 480-644-4277
- Southwest Gas: 877-860-6020
Learn more about utility emergencies.
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Join the City of Mesa, 911Day.org and JustServe.org in commemorating the 9/11 National Day of Service by volunteering in your community on a project of your choice September 9 through September 16. You can turn a day of tragedy into a day of doing good. It's also a great way to show you "Love Your City!" Sign up for a project
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September 8 - Mesa Arts Center Season Kickoff
6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Mark your calendar for Season Kickoff Festival - We Create the Future! This free all-ages event features live music, tasty food, interactive activities and more! |
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Downtown Mesa Farmers Market
Every Saturday - 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Downtown Mesa Farmers Market is a year-round market showcasing Arizona's best farmers, food artisans and makers at Inspire Farms.
Downtown Mesa Sunset Market
Every Third Thursday - 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
A variety of 30+ local vendors specializing in fresh grocery products, tasty hot food, artisan goods, and so much more! Including live music and demonstrations every market!
Upcoming Markets:
September 21, 2023
October 19, 2023
Special Holiday Markets:
November 30, 2023
December 7, 2023
December 14, 2023
December 21, 2023
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September Council Meetings
Monday, September 11 - 5:45 p.m.
Monday, September 18 - 5:45 p.m.
September Study Sessions
Thursday, September 7 - 7:30 a.m.
Monday, September 11 - 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, September 14 - 7:30 a.m.
Monday, September 18 - 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, September 21 - 7:30 a.m.
Thursday, September 28 - 7:30 a.m.
Sustainability and Transportation Committee Meeting
Thursday, September 14 - 8:00 a.m. (or immediately following Study Session)
*Meetings subject to start time changes
The Mesa City Council holds two Council meetings a month, in addition to weekly study sessions. Learn more about the process for public participation in meetings.
Mesa broadcasts its council and study session meetings live on Mesa Channel 11's YouTube page and Facebook.
Council agendas.
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