WEEKLY UPDATE OF TOWN ACTIVITIES

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 

What is the Shop Queen Creek program and how can residents participate?

The Town of Queen Creek, in partnership with the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce, developed the new Shop Queen Creek program to support local businesses. The program educates residents about the Town’s boundaries and encourages shoppers to make their purchases within the community.

A map detailing the Town’s boundaries, shopping centers within the boundaries, and special promotions from participating businesses are all available at www.queencreek.org. Links to all participating business’ Web sites are also available on the Town’s Web site. A Shop Queen Creek for the Holidays campaign will also be introduced later this year for holiday shopping specials.

Supporting local businesses strengthens the economic base, encourages entrepreneurship and keeps sales tax dollars in the community. These tax dollars are critical in the funding of public safety, parks and recreation, neighborhood preservation and street maintenance. 

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HOT TOPICS

Water rate adjustments go into effect July 1
The second of three annual water rate adjustments will go into effect on July 1. The rate plan approved last year by the Town Council includes three incremental increases over three years, beginning in July 2008 and increasing in July each year through July 2010.

The rate adjustments will help finance the operating costs of the utility including debt service payments and assist in paying for system improvement costs. Additionally, the increase helps the Town maintain quality service and keep up with the mandates that state and federal government agencies continually require of water utilities.

The Town’s three-tier rate structure rewards water conservation; those who use less water will pay less. To view the rate adjustment schedule, please visit www.queencreek.org.

QCPAC presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat June 26, 27 and 29
Queen Creek Community Theatre at the Queen Creek Performing Arts Center presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat June 26, 27 and 29! This dynamic musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Weber will send your feet tapping and your heart soaring in this exciting retelling of the Biblical story.

The Queen Creek Performing Arts Center is located at 22149 E. Ocotillo Road on the campus of Queen Creek High School. Ticket prices are $11 for children and $15 for adults. Call 480-987-SHOW (480-987-7469) Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. or go to www.qcpac.com for showtimes and to purchase tickets.

Transportation Advisory Committee seeks new members
The Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) is seeking new members. The TAC meets the first Thursday of every month from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Development Services Building (behind Town Hall). If you are interested in joining, please fill out a Notice of Interest Form and mail it to the address on the form.

The Transportation Advisory Committee meets monthly to discuss and make recommendations to the Town Council regarding overall Town transportation planning. The committee looks for methods of improving traffic flow in and through the Town, and reviews the Town’s budget, CIP Program and any other relevant transportation issues.

Monsoon Madness taking place July 11
Splash into summer at the annual Monsoon Madness event. From tiny tots to moms and dads, Monsoon Madness includes a variety of ways for the whole family to cool off, beat the heat and have a blast!

The Town of Queen Creek brings the water park home with event festivities including a selection of inflatable water slide attractions, 100-foot Soap and Slide, human car wash and Queen Creek’s signature Monsoon MudSlide. MudSlide participants must provide a waiver signed by a parent or guardian and  wear laced tennis shoes at all times.

Included in the excitement is the return of the Itty-Bitty Play Zone, an area specially tailored for children ages four and under. Itty-Bitty attractions include a variety of water toys, an exclusive water inflatable, bubble mania and a discovery dig where toddlers search for hidden treasures.

The event will also feature Queen Creek’s second annual Mad Mud Volleyball (MMV) tournament. The muddy, one-day tournament will be conducted as a six-versus-six, double-elimination battle to determine the best mud volleyball team in Town. The deadline to register is June 25. If you register your team by June 11, each player will receive an official 2009 MMV T-shirt. A maximum of twelve teams will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Team registration is $100.

Monsoon Madness is sponsored in part by Salt River Project, the UPS Store, Custom Dream Homes, Wal-mart, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center and the Queen Creek Tribune. Admission to the event and participation at the Monsoon MudSlide are free- additional activities and food vendors have nominal fees.

For more information or to obtain MudSlide waiver forms, visit www.queencreek.org or call the Queen Creek Parks and Recreation Department at 480-358-3700.

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SURVEYS

As topics arise that the Town Council would like to get public feedback on, surveys will be posted on the Surveys page to help gather that feedback. If you have a few minutes, we would appreciate any feedback you provide.

June survey asks about Water Division services
The June survey asks residents how we are doing in providing customer service related to water services.

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TOWN COUNCIL

The Town Council meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 5:30 for the work study session and 7 p.m. for the regular session at Town Hall, 22350 S. Ellsworth Road. Agendas, results and minutes can be found on the Town Council pages.

The next Town Council meeting is June 17. If you can't make it to the meeting, you can watch live streaming of the Council Meetings on our Web site or see archives of previous meetings.

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TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE

Expect traffic congestion, delays, lane detours and reduced posted speed limits along these areas due to ongoing construction, road improvements and utility projects. Please note that all dates are subject to change.

Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)
The next TAC meeting is scheduled for July 9 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. in the Development Services Building – San Tan Room.

Road closures/detours in the Queen Creek area

• Traffic Alerts: June 25- July 2

Roadway Improvements 
Staff is aware of the importance of enhancing traffic circulation as much as possible. Staff continuously seeks the best routes and schedules to assure the best traffic flow with as few project disruptions as possible.

• Ellsworth Road (Loop to Cloud) – Final walk to be completed with the contractor by end of June. Staff identified a couple of additional punch list items to be addressed prior to the project closeout.
• Ellsworth Road (Queen Creek to Germann) – The contractor has been directed to extend the project limits beginning at Queen Creek Road and ending approximately 500’ south of Superstition Drive. Due to the project scope increase, the contractor will be required to obtain a Maricopa County Dust Control Permit. This process has delayed the start of the project for 2-3 weeks. The project is now intended to last approximately 1 week and traffic will be restricted to one southbound travel lane during non-peak hours.
• Town Center - Ellsworth Road from Ocotillo to Rittenhouse roads – The storm drain design to the Ocotillo and Ellsworth intersection 90% design was submitted on June 18. Town departments reviewing plans have been requested to have comments complete by July 6.
• Queen Creek Road  Sossaman Estates offsites – Final Pay application has been approved. Project will close out by June 29.
• Ocotillo Sidewalk and Roadway Widening –  The utility work is anticipated to be complete by the end of June; the Town will then begin the work on the sidewalk on Ocotillo Road west of 205th and on Ellsworth Road in front of Founder’s Park. At which time, staff will proceed with the final widening of Ocotillo between Ellsworth Loop & 205th Place.
• Ellsworth Road (Cloud to Empire) –  Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is currently working on right-of-way (ROW) acquisitions and utility relocation coordination in cooperation with Town staff. Maricopa County has begun the emminent domain process for unresolved right of way parcels. Pinal County’s improvements to the intersection of Empire and Ellsworth have been added to the Town’s construction project. An amendment to our current IGA with Pinal County to add this work may be on the July 15 or Aug. 5 Town Council agenda.
• Riggs-Meridian-Rittenhouse-Gary – The Notice to Proceed (NTP) has been issued.    

Intersection Projects

• Ocotillo/Signal Butte signal design – An NTP with design has been issued.  
• Rittenhouse/Cloud Intersection – Final adjustments to the design have been completed and a copy of the plans sent to MCDOT for review. Once approved, a Work Order will be presented to the Town Council for approval. Construction should begin the end of July.

Storm Drain & Wash Improvements

• Sonoqui Wash - Chandler Heights to Crismon roads – The draft predesign report was reviewed by the Town and Maricopa County Flood Control District (MCFCD). Stanley is proceeding to 30% design. The channel is on the south side of Riggs Road from Crismon to the existing dip in Riggs at the wash and then northwesterly along the existing wash to Chandler Heights Road. MCFCD and Town staff members are working on an IGA for construction responsibilities. If approved, it is possible that the wash and channel west of Ellsworth Road could go to construction in 2010. One public meeting has been held, and the last public meeting is scheduled for Sept. 15, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Queen Creek Library in the Zane Grey Room. The third meeting of the Project Aesthetic Advisory Committee (PAAC) will be held on July 14, from 6-7:30 p.m. in the same room. PAAC is an informal committee consisting of theMCFCD Project Manager, the Town’s Project Coordinator, a representative from the Town’s Parks Department, and any members of the public that might show up. PAAC is charged with providing input on landscaping, trail system access, and ease of use by the public.
• Cloud and Sossaman Basin & Outfall Stormdrain – The Dibble contract is anticipated to be presented to the Town Council in August for approval if workload allows.
• Riggs Road Bridge at Sonoqui Wash – This is a MCDOT project. The final Design Concept Report (DCR) process is in progress.

Wastewater/Water Projects

• No updates at this time.

Street Maintenance
If there is a street/signal/sewer related emergency, please contact the emergency on-call number at 480-358-3131.

Pavement Maintenance

• G&G Construction applied oil to the millings on Appleby Road early Tuesday morning. This completes the construction of a half-mile dust-free drive on Town owned right-of-way, where previously there had been only gravel.
• G&G Construction will begin Monday, June 29 to adjust utilities and survey monuments on Ocotillo Road covered by recent paving activities. Millings are being added to the shoulders to allow traffic diversions around the work zones, and they will remain afterwards to aid in should stabilization.

PM-10 Program

• No updates at this time.

Regional Transportation Information
The Town of Queen Creek Web site contains links to several state and regional transportation sites.

Weekend Freeway Restrictions
For highway closures or restrictions across Arizona, visit ADOT's Travel Information site or call 5-1-1. Please buckle up, observe speed limits and never drink and drive.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Economic Development Department is available to assist individuals looking for retail, office, industrial or land sites. Business resource and demographic information is also available. Please contact Doreen Cott at 480-358-3522.

Visit the Economic Development page for updates on retail, service and construction projects both in and around Queen Creek as well as additional information on our shovel-ready sites or other available sites.

Latest News
The Town of Queen Creek, along with the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce, would like to introduce a program initiated to support local businesses in Queen Creek.

The Shop Queen Creek program is designed to encourage and educate residents to make their purchases within Queen Creek. Supporting local businesses strengthens our economic base, encourages entrepreneurship and keeps sales tax dollars in the community in which we live and do business! These tax dollars are critical in funding parks & recreation, neighborhood preservation, public safety, street maintenance and community outreach.

The Town will promote Shop Queen Creek through banners, flyers, promotional items, cable channel QC 11, print media and at various community events. Visit the prorgam's Web page to see a list of participating businesses, link to their individual Web sites and find special promotions. The Chamber of Commerce will also promote the program through their membership drive, newsletter and events.

For more information, contact Kim Moyers at 480-358-3523.

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Town Commercial Permitting Activity

Commercial Building Permits submitted:

• US Charter School- located at 22721 S. Ellsworth Road in Parcel 3 of the Villages.

Commercial Building Permits issued: 

• Del Piero at the Queen Creek Olive Mill (restroom remodel) – located at 25062 S. Meridian Road.

Building Certificate(s) of Occupancy issued:

Temporary Certificates of Occupancy:

• None during this reporting period.

Certificates of Compliance:

• None during this reporting period.

Final Certificates of Occupancy:

• Town Center Apartments (Building 8)- located at 22280 S. 209th Way in the Town Center Apartment Complex.

New Pre-Application Submittals
Town staff arranges Pre-Application Meetings to discuss possible new land use and zoning cases with applicants prior to them actually being filed. Representatives of all departments and utilities are invited to comment on the proposal.

• None during this reporting period.

New Tech Review Submittals
Town staff arranges technical review meetings for representatives of all departments and utilities to review land use and zoning cases before they go to the Planning and Zoning Commission and Town Council.

• None during this reporting period.

Town Building Safety Statistics

Permits issued:

• Weekly total: 41 of which there were 16 new homes and 2 commercial 
• June total: 102 of which there were 36 new homes and 6 commercial
• '08-09 Fiscal year total (July 1 through reporting date end): 846 permits of which there were 173 new homes and 55  commercial

Plan reviews completed:

• Weekly total: 9
• June total: 41
• Fiscal year total (July 1 through reporting date end): 523

Inspections completed:

• Weekly total: 173 residential, 19 commercial and 20 fire inspections for a total of 173 with an average of 35 per day 
• June total: 600
• '08-'09 Fiscal year total (July 1 through reporting period): 11,635

Town Neighborhood Preservation Statistics

• Total violation cases this week: 57 of which 26 were closed and 31 were new (weeds, property maintenance, illegal parking of vehicles for sale, illegal sign issues and information requests)
• Violation Letters Issued: 2
• Illegal Signs Removed: 63

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PARKS & RECREATION

Latest News

Vendors, sponsors needed for Monsoon Madness event
The Parks & Recreation Department is seeking vendors and sponsors for its annual Monsoon Madness event. Participating businesses will be helping to support one of the Town's signature events. The fun will take place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, July 11 at Founders' Park, 22407 S. Ellsworth Road.

Monsoon Madness is Queen Creek's wettest and muddiest event of the year, offering a great way to beat the heat this summer. This exciting event features plenty of cool activities for the entire family, including water slides, Monsoon MudSlide, 100-foot Soap & Slide, Mad Mud Volleyball tournament, Itty-Bitty Water Play Zone and Discovery Dig!

For more information about sponsor and vendor opportunities, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 480-358-3700 or visit the Monsoon Madness pages.

Spots still available in Parks and Recreation Classes ... Register today!
Come join a wide variety of recreational classes being offered by the Town of Queen Creek. Activities for all ages are offered at the Library Recreation Annex, located north of Ocotillo Road on Ellsworth Road. Classes include dance, arts and crafts, Tai Chi, karate, sculpting, oil painting, and a whole lot more!

For more information about classes and to download a registration form, please contact Aimée O’Malley at 480-358-3700 or visit the Classes page.

Parks and Recreation Classes instructors needed
The Town is looking for qualified instructors to teach adult, teen and youth classes in a variety of areas including fitness, dance, arts and crafts, and general education. Go to the Classes page for more information.

Volunteer Opportunities

Community Center After-School Program seeks adult volunteers
The Queen Creek Community Center After-School Program needs adult volunteers to teach, instruct and assist with youth programs. Adult volunteers must complete an application and background check and have a fingerprint card on file before beginning any programs. If you're interested in becoming an adult volunteer or have an idea for future youth programs, please contact the Queen Creek Parks and Recreation Department at 480-358-3700.

The Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley - Queen Creek Branch needs you!
The Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley - Queen Creek Branch is looking for volunteers to be Friends of the Board. Please contact Keri Means at 480-213-2473 if you are interested in helping children in the community.

Volunteer to make a difference in the community
Would you like to work a special event, make a difference in a child's life or impact a child with your gift of teaching sports or a recreation class? This is your opportunity to help us in "Building a Strong Future" for your community. For more information, call 480-358-3700.  We look forward to working with you!

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