News is not for coming

Jen Fifield, Arizona Republic Published 10:10 a.m. MT Nov. 8, 2018 | Updated 3:14 p.m. MT Nov. 9, 2018
‘Seeing the whole view’
Wingenroth, Surprise’s departing city manager, has known Frazier since the 1980s, when Wingenroth worked in Phoenix’s finance department.
He plucked Frazier for the assistant city manager role as soon as he could, he said.
“He is really strong in terms of seeing the whole view,” Wingenroth said. “I think a lot of that has come from years of working with people as a police officer. He always sees not just both sides of the issue but most sides of the issue.”
Since starting as city manager, Wingenroth said, Frazier has led five departments and taken on special projects such as the overseeing the rollout of the city’s latest bond election and project.
As city manager, Frazier said, he will work on accountability. He said he has always thought about things methodologically.
“I have always believed you could put all the programs into place, but if you aren’t monitoring it, you haven’t accomplished anything,” he said. “Everybody will tell you they are busy, but you have to wonder, ‘Are you busy doing the right things?'”
He said he thinks the city is generally headed in the right direction. He called Surprise a “diamond in the desert.”
Young said, if history proves true, Frazier will be extremely dedicated to the city in his new role.
“I’m sure the man doesn’t sleep,” Young said. “It could be midnight, 1 o’clock in the morning, and I’ll call and he’ll answer it on the first ring, like he’s waiting for me to call. … He’s on 24-7.”
Reach reporter Jen Fifield at jen.fifield@azcentral.com or 602-444-8763. Follow her on Twitter @JenAFifield.

The City of Surprise Community and Recreation Services Department is responsible for recreational and special event programming, facility operations and ground maintenance of existing facilities and city parks.

Mission Statement
It is the mission of the City of Surprise Community and Recreation Services Department to enrich and complement the lives of Surprise residents through stewardship of our resources while providing responsive programs which promote and prioritize diversity, cultural, neighborhood, family, education, recreation and wellness opportunities.

A Matter of Statewide Concern? The Legislature and Charter Cities
By Joni Hoffman
League General Counsel

Whatever the policy reasons for and against such legislation, this idea is yet another challenge to the principle that cities and towns should determine what is best for their own governance. Is this kind of legislative proposal even constitutional? Perhaps not. In fact, with respect to charter cities, the Arizona Constitution grants them specific power to control issues that are purely a matter of local control. This proposed legislation appears to be counter to that constitutional guarantee.

A Matter of Statewide Concern? The Legislature and Charter Cities
By Joni Hoffman
League General Counsel

A recent article in the Arizona Capitol Times reported that the Arizona chapter of Americans for Prosperity is going to seek legislation next year to require cities to hold their elections at the same time as the statewide general election. The proponents of this idea believe that city elections held in conjunction with statewide elections will lead to increased voter turnout. They posit that lower voter turnout leads to increased influence by labor unions, which they oppose. League Executive Director Ken Strobeck counters that there are good reasons for having municipal elections separate from statewide elections, including keeping partisanship out of these elections and avoiding municipal issues from getting lost among a large statewide election ballot.

http://surpriseaznews.com

Surprise is a city in Maricopa County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. The population was 30,848 at the 2000 census; however, rapid expansion has boosted the city’s population to 117,517 at the 2010 census, an increase of 281%. Wikipedia

Weather: 72°F (22°C), Wind SE at 3 mph (5 km/h), 23% Humidity
ZIP code: 85374, 85378-85379, 85387-85388
Local time: Wednesday 2:30 PM

City of Surprise News
Posted on: November 20, 2018
Surprise Fire-Medical hosts series of fire station open houses

The Surprise Fire-Medical Department is holding a series of open houses at city fire stations. Residents can come out and meet the firefighters, check out the living and eating quarters, walk through the bays and see the fire trucks! Attendees will also get a look at the medical equipment, firefighting gear and tools used on emergency calls.

Dates for the open houses are as follows:

Saturday, December 8 – Station 307, 16171 W. Cactus Rd.
Saturday, January 5 – Station 302, 18600 N. Reems Rd.
Saturday, January 19 – Station 304, 24900 N. 163rd Ave.
Saturday, February 2 – Station 305, 15517 N. Parkview Pl.
Saturday, February 16 – Station 306, 16645 W. Clearview Blvd.
Saturday, March 2 – Station 303, 15440 N. Cotton Ln.

All open houses will be conducted from 9 a.m. to noon.

For more information, please call the Surprise Fire-Medical Department administration line at 623.222.5000.

Has anybody seen Skip lately?

High school junior and soccer player Giovanni Calderon thought he was just going to an interview for a scholarship application. Instead he got a visit from New York Red Bulls defender Aurelien Collin.
Collin presented Calderon with a $5,000 college scholarship, tickets to the second leg of the Red Bulls’ Eastern Conference final against Atlanta United on Thursday and a trip to the MLS Cup.
“This is crazy,” said Calderon, a center back. “It is just so overwhelming.”

Read more here: https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/article222291755.html#storylink=cpy

D4 Community Meetings Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Join Councilmember Remley at the Surprise Community Center, 15832 N Hollyhock Street, at 6:00 p.m., on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Get your questions answered, share ideas and learn more about your city
Date:
November 28, 2018 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Location: Surprise Community Center Address: 15832 N Hollyhock Street

Surprise, AZ 85378

Surprise City Gov

Surprise is pleased to announce the selection of Tracy Montgomery as the city’s first-ever Emergency Operations Manager. In her new role, Montgomery’s focus will center around aspects of safety and security, emergency management, preparedness and planning, and organizational resiliency.
http://bit.ly/2qWtGlD

Check the web-site at the bottom of this article.

I would like to hear more from these guys.

The right time to leave.

View story at Medium.com
When you know it is the right time to leave an organization
There comes a point when you realize it is time to leave one place and move towards the other for good. The outcome, you cannot predict but at that moment it seems like the right decision.

Surprise Party 2018 Friday, November 30, 2018

It’s time to party in Surprise! Free admission with canned food or toy donation to Sanderson Ford Operation Santa!

Musical Performances by “The Chadwicks” Balloon glow (weather permitting), skydivers, tree lighting ceremony, live music, Santa’s workshop, roaming entertainment, and fireworks.

Date: November 30, 2018
Time: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Location: Surprise Recreation Campus 15850 N Bullard Ave

Cost: Free admission

Five Surprise employees spent $15,500 on a trip to Toronto, including a four-star hotel stay, late last summer.
That stay and others reviewed by The Arizona Republic exceeded a federal government guideline for lodging costs. The expense limits that are in place for federal government employees can be used as a guideline for other government employees.
Economic Development Director Jeanine Jerkovic and four employees in the department were in Canada for the International Economic Development Council, where economic developers network and strategize how to attract businesses to their cities.
Jerkovic said the trip allowed staff to market Surprise while receiving advice from experts on what Canadian businesses look for in a city. The group also gave the city three awards for economic development projects.
Taxpayers paid $276 per night for Jerkovic’s six-night stay at the Grand Hotel & Suites, a four-star hotel near the conference in downtown Toronto. The federal maximum at the time for Toronto was $181 per night.

>http:surpriseaznews.com

Michael Frazier our new city manager has the qualities on becoming a great administrator in running the city of surprise, wonder who his assistant will be?

Surprise operates under a council-manager form of government. Under this system the city council determines city policy, passes ordinances, and approves a balanced budget each year.

The city manager is responsible for carrying out the council-created policies, and directing the day-to-day operations of city government. The manager reports directly to the city council, and is subject to council performance reviews. The city manager is also responsible for drafting a balanced budget for council review and approval each year.

The Surprise City Council appointed Michael Frazier as City Manager in November 2018. He has been the city’s Assistant City Manager since July 2015 and the Police Chief prior to that beginning in February 2011. Read Bio

The City Manager’s Office is supported by an Assistant City Manager.

A birds-eye view of Ottawa University Arizona’s Spirit Field in the Surprise Civic Center and the site just to the west, where construction has begun on the Ottawa University Athletic Facility for Indoor and Outdoor Athletics. [Photo Courtesy Ottawa University Arizona Athletics]

Ottawa University vs Olivet Nazarene Richard Smith West Valley Preps Their last-minute touchdown drive against Texas Wesleyan meant more to Ottawa Arizona football than a nice finish to their first season. A 21-yard touchdown throw from Austin McCullough to Brandon McLaughlin in the back corner of the end zone sealed the 35-29 victory with 16 seconds […]

Ottawa University  vs Olivet Nazarene  Richard Smith
West Valley Preps
Their last-minute touchdown drive against Texas Wesleyan meant more to Ottawa Arizona football than a nice finish to their first season.
A 21-yard touchdown throw from Austin McCullough to Brandon McLaughlin in the back corner of the end zone sealed the 35-29 victory with 16 seconds left.

It also clinched the team’s participation in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Victory Bowl Invitational. The Spirit will host the game at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, welcoming C from Bourbonnais, Illinois to Spirit Field.

“It kind of fits everything we’ve done the last two years. We just keep shooting for it. I keep laughing because our kids find a way to win,” OUAZ coach Mike Nesbitt said Tuesday night.
Something clicked in the Spirit’s shocking 73-28 win against new rival Arizona Christian on Oct. 6, and the team has not lost since.
Those four straight Sooner Athletic Conference wins allowed OUAZ to finish its first season with a 6-3 record.
Though the Spirit are members of the NAIA in football, they are not eligible for the postseason until next season.

Utility Rate Study

To continue delivering the high quality, health and safety supporting solid waste services Surprise customers expect and deserve while meeting future development demands, the city must periodically adjust utility base rates to sufficiently recover the costs incurred to operate, maintain and provide these services.

After reviewing the city’s solid waste utility services funds balances, city staff is recommending an increase of the base utility rate for this service.

The city reviews the rates and creates five-year structure schedules based on the revenues required to operate utilities and maintain infrastructure while also considering asset replacement and emergency funding needs; the previous Rate Study was conducted in 2014. Economic influences such as increases in operational resources and future growth are also considered when adjusting the rates.

Bullard Ave traffic switch planned for 11/28, signals active week of Dec 3

Work to substantially complete the Bullard Ave project this month continues the week of November 26 with work focusing on landscape establishment and roadway adjustments.
Traffic is scheduled to be switched to the lanes adjacent to the medians on Wednesday, November 28 so crews can work on adjustments to the protected bike lanes, including clearing debris.
Work hours for this week are Monday – Sunday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.; traffic barricades along the roadway are scheduled to be removed on Sunday, December 2.
Looking ahead, the first phase of lane striping along Bullard Avenue is planned for the week of December 3; thermoplastic striping will be placed late December.
The traffic signals at the Acoma Drive and Sweetwater Avenue intersections are tentatively scheduled to be activated on Monday, December 3. Barring changes to the schedule, signals will flash for 48 hours through Tuesday, December 4; traffic signals, featuring flashing yellow arrows on north and south signal pole masts, will be fully operational on Wednesday, December 5.
The speed limit in the construction area remains 25 mph, except in school zones where the speed limit is 15 mph. Please proceed with caution through the project area and remember to Drive Wise, Surprise!
For project-related questions, contact Suneel Garg at 623.222.6130.
To learn more about the Bullard Ave project, visit surpriseaz.gov/bulla

Surprise HOA Academy
Monday, November 26, 2018
The goal of the Academy is to provide expert information for HOA residents, board members and managers. Topics include contracts, fiduciary duty, CC&R enforcement and code compliance.

Time:
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Time Details:
6-8:30 p.m.
Location:
Public Safety Building Auditorium

City accepting applications for vacated D5 council seat
Surprise, AZ (November 21, 2018) The city of Surprise is currently accepting applications for the position of Councilmember District 5 (Palm) due to the selection of the incumbent, Skip Hall, as Mayor at the November 20th City Council Meeting.
Mayor Hall will serve in the mayoral capacity until December 31, 2020, fulfilling the remaining mayoral term vacated by Sharon Wolcott on November 16, 2018.
All District 5 applicants must reside within District 5 boundaries.
The term expiration for the appointment will be December 31, 2020, and the remainder of the four-year term will be placed on the next scheduled Council election in August 20, 2020 per ARS 9-235 (The council shall fill a vacancy that may occur by appointment until the next regularly scheduled council election if the vacancy occurs more than thirty days before the nomination petition deadline. This subsection does not apply to a charter city). The Interview/Selection process is as follows:
Section 2-22 of the Surprise City Code – Council/District Vacancy:
(1) Vacancies in district office will be advertised beginning no later than 14 days from the date the vacancy is created when caused by death, and seven days from the date the vacancy is created in all other cases. The city clerk will advertise all vacancies in at least one newspaper with local circulation, on the city website, and in all designated posting locations during the application acceptance period. (Date of Advertisement – Monday, November 26, 2018).
(2) All eligible persons interested in filling the district vacancy must submit an application to the city clerk’s office prior to the close of the acceptance period. The application acceptance period will end at 5:00 p.m. on the 14th day following the placement of the advertisement as required by subsection (1) of this section. (Monday, December 10th, 2018).
(3) No later than the end of the business day following the close of the application acceptance period, the city clerk will forward to the mayor and council and post on the city website a copy of all applications submitted during the application acceptance period (Tuesday, December 11, 2018).
(4) The council will interview each applicant at a public hearing held no later than ten days following the close of the application acceptance period, followed by a seven-day period during which public comment may be submitted to the city clerk’s office (Interview/Public Hearing – Thursday, December 20, 2018 – 4:00 p.m. & Close of Comments (Thursday, December 27, 2018 – 5:00 p.m.).
(5) No later than the end of the business day following the close of the public comment period, the city clerk will forward to the mayor and council and post on the city website a copy of all comments submitted during the comment period (Friday, December 28, 2018).
(6) A district candidate must be selected no later than the second regularly scheduled council meeting following the public hearing (Thursday, January 3, 2019 or Tuesday, January 15, 2019 – 6:00 p.m.).
Applications are available for pick up the City Clerk’s Office, 16000 N. Civic Center Plaza, starting on Monday, November 26, 2018 – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday, and the closing date will be Monday, December 10, 2018 – 5:00 p.m.
Interviews will be scheduled for Thursday, December 20, 2018 at a Special Council Meeting (4:00 p.m.).
Selection of the applicant will take place on Thursday, January 3, 2019 or Tuesday, January 15, 2019, 6:00 p.m. Regular Council Meeting. Applications are also available online @ www.surpriseaz.gov, under City Clerk section.
Please submit applications to the City Clerk’s Office.

Bob Vukanovich former council member and vice-mayor will try to up date all the news in the City of Surprise as the editor of surpriseaznews.com. and http://insurprisetoday.com/

A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT AND A FREE SOCIETY CAN ONLY BE SUCCESSFUL IF YOU HAVE A FREE PRESS. WITH THIS FREE PRESS YOU MUST HAVE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS AND OUTSIDE GROUPS MONITORING THE ACTIONS OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, EITHER NATIONALLY OR LOCALLY.ARE LOCAL PAPERS SUPPRESSING INFORMATION THAT IS CRITICAL TO OUR WELL BEING. WE MUST BE INFORMED ON LOCAL ISSUES.

The below was taken off of the council-mans web-site

Todd Tande, City Council Member – District 6, City of Surprise, Arizona
November 13 at 3:09 PM ·
The City now has its own app!
Developing this App was one of my recommendations to staff so that residents can directly report concerns and get status and news updates directly.
The My Surprise app is now available for download in the Apple Store and Google Play for Android devices! Why should you download My Surprise?
How about for city trash pick-up reminders (you know Surprise-observed holidays always throw you off) and to report city-maintained service issues like flooded roadways, downed trees or broken street lights.
Plus, you can link to your Surprise water bill and view city news – all in the app!
Download it today! http://bit.ly/2PqvCBj

Put this in you browser: Images for http://bit.ly/2PqvCBj

It appears that the web site http://bit.ly/2PqvCBj is owned by the councilman.

We have two days for getting deals–Black Friday and Cyber Monday. On Giving Tuesday, we have a day for giving back. Together, people are creating a new ritual for the annual calendar. Giving Tuesday, which is November 27, is the opening day of the giving season.

As you know, Honor Flight Arizona is a 100% volunteer organization. Our volunteers spend thousands of hours each year planning all aspects of every trip to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey. Due to our location on the west coast, our three-day trip is in contrast to the east coast hubs that travel out and back in one day. As a result of the need for accommodations and a longer flight, our cost for one veteran is $1,150.
” In the last 86 years, I can think of no better time or fonder memories than I have had in the last three days while on Honor Flight AZ. All of this is because of people like your volunteers and their hard work and vehicles for our (Veterans) entertainment. You guys are the greatest. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.” –Don, recent trip Veteran

Join in the movement to help more Veterans take the trip of a lifetime!

How many living in Surprise believe that the selection of Skip Hall (dry-toast) as mayor, was decided before the council meeting last Tuesday?

Utility Payment Assistance
Public Information Officer Virginia Mungovan from City of Surprise · 8 Jun 16
Utility payment assistance is available for eligible families in Surprise & El Mirage through the Surprise Resource Center’s Community Action Program (CAP). Get more information by calling 623-222-4673 or visiting www.surpriseaz.gov/resourcecenter.

The Community Action Program (CAP) is a partnership between Maricopa County, Surprise and El Mirage that provides support services that foster self-sufficiency and stability during unexpected financial crises by providing limited temporary assistance with utility and eviction prevention for qualifying Surprise and El Mirage residents.

Residents seeking assistance will need to schedule an appointment and complete an application with a Resource Center staff member. The following information is required to complete the application:

Social Security cards for all household members
Documentation of U.S. Citizenship (birth certificate) or lawful residency of application
Documentation of household income received in the last 30 days prior to and including the appointment date for all family members
Latest utility bills for gas and electrical usage of residence including shut off or disconnect notices
Documentation of rent or mortgage payment including delinquency, eviction or foreclosure notices
Appointments are required for program consideration. Individuals who need an appointment should call on Mondays at 8:00 a.m. and leave a message that includes the following:

Address, including city and zip code
If there are children in the home
If there is someone with a disability living in the home
Type of assistance requested
Contact information
Program staff will respond to messages within 48 business hours, depending on the number of requests. Weekly appointments are limited and assistance is based on available funding.

Call and leave a message to schedule your appointment at 623.222.HOPE(4673)

Visit www.surpriseaz.gov/socialservices to view additional resources and programs that are available to support you.

Social Services

The city of Surprise is committed to linking residents to programs that provide the help people need in many facets of life, programs that offer the support needed for a fuller, safer, more community-oriented Surprise life.

Here you will find resources ranging from fire safety to flu shots, from emergency clothing to employment assistance. Some of the programs are provided directly by the City, others are provided by other regional assistance agencies.

(Surprise Community Resource Guide) put this in google

A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT AND A FREE SOCIETY CAN ONLY BE SUCCESSFUL IF YOU HAVE A FREE PRESS. WITH THIS FREE PRESS YOU MUST HAVE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS AND OUTSIDE GROUPS MONITORING THE ACTIONS OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, EITHER NATIONALLY OR LOCALLY.ARE LOCAL PAPERS SUPPRESSING INFORMATION THAT IS CRITICAL TO OUR WELL BEING. WE MUST BE INFORMED ON LOCAL ISSUES.

Skip Hall selected as City of Surprise Mayor
Surprise, AZ (November 20, 2018) The Surprise City Council unanimously selected Skip Hall to serve as the city’s next mayor.

Mayor Hall will serve in this capacity until December 31, 2020, fulfilling the remaining mayoral term vacated by Sharon Wolcott on November 16, 2018.

Hall has served on the city council since 2008 and was most recently re-elected to the District 5 seat in the 2018 Primary Election. He served as vice mayor in 2011 and 2014. He also served three years as a city Planning and Zoning Commission member before being elected to the city council.

As a councilmember Hall has been engaged in growing the city’s water portfolio, supporting transportation improvements throughout the city, attracting new employers to Surprise and engaging the city’s youth in developing the city’s future leaders.

Prior to his service to Surprise, Hall held executive leadership roles in the hospitality and real estate industries.

He is a Vietnam War Veteran and was awarded the Bronze Star in 1969-1970. Hall grew up in Idaho and received a business degree from Seattle University.

Hall’s appointment to the mayor’s seat triggers a vacancy in District 5, setting the stage for an appointment process for that district with a term expiration of December 31, 2020. The City Clerk will open the application period on Monday, November 26, 2018.

The next election for the mayor’s seat will be the August 20th Primary Election in 2020, and the winning candidate would then begin a new four-year term on January 1, 2021.

Skip

There was a courageous citizen that appeared before the city council on an open hearing agenda and was told that the council could not respond to her question. Because the council said they couldn’t respond, you would be surprised how many citizens of Surprise believe this too be true, which it is not.

The city because there will be more open hearings should explain this on their web-site.

The city council workshop of surprise, what a difference, members can make. In previous work shops the discussions were between concerned council members and their constituents, nothing like that anymore. The other night’s workshop had agendas like a council meeting and you are kept quiet, council members hardly talked.