WEEKLY UPDATE OF TOWN ACTIVITIES

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 

Why are there Gilbert and Mesa fire trucks responding to emergency calls in the Town of Queen Creek?

When the Town of Queen Creek established its own municipal fire department on January 1 of this year, it leased fire apparatus and equipment from the Town of Gilbert in order to respond to emergency dispatches. Although the trucks have Gilbert logos on them, they are being staffed by Queen Creek fire crews.

As a new municipal fire department, Queen Creek Fire belongs to an automatic aid system that represents all of the fire departments in the Valley. This system (using a satellite Geographic Positioning System (GPS)) sends the closest unit(s) to 911 emergencies regardless of jurisdiction.

Since our closest automatic aid partners are the Gilbert and Mesa Fire Departments, fire trucks from our neighboring jurisdictions will continue to respond to calls in Queen Creek so that response times remain low. In fact, the automatic aid system (that now has Queen Creek as a member) allows the Town to be protected by 25 stations that are 10 miles or less from the Town’s jurisdictional boundaries. So the current and ongoing practice of Gilbert and Mesa fire crews assisting Queen Creek’s two advanced life support engine companies translates to a very high level of performance for emergency services in the Town.

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HOT TOPICS

Citizen input needed - Two new surveys now online
Two new surveys asking for residents' input are now online.

The Queen Creek Community Character Questionnaire is an informal survey to gather perceptions about Queen Creek for marketing and branding. Please take a minute to complete the questions and let us know what you think about the character of your community.

Beginning this past Monday, Queen Creek residents can now conduct business at Town offices from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Town offices will be closed on Fridays, but this closure will not affect any public safety or emergency services. This trial period will last until Sept. 1.

The Town is soliciting resident and customer feedback about the extended hours and Friday closure during the two month trial period. Please let the Town Council know how you feel about these changes by completing the Town Hall Office Hours survey.

Town Manager's Weekly Update moving to Thursdays
Beginning June 30, Town Hall hours will be changing to 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Thursday and closed on Friday during a trial period lasting until Sept. 1. As a result, the Town Manager's Weekly Update will be sent out on Thursday's during the trial period. Subscribers should see the first Thursday Update on July 3. No changes are necessary to continue your subscription.

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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. Results and minutes from previous meetings can be found on the Town Council pages.

The next Council meeting is scheduled for July 16 at 7 p.m. 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 improvement, and utility projects. Please note that all dates are subject to change.

Road closures/detours in the Queen Creek area

• Traffic Alert Map: July 3-10

Gilbert/Chandler CAP line
Various traffic restrictions are in place related to the installation of the Gilbert/Chandler CAP line. To learn more about the project, go to www.gilbertwaterline.com.

Traffic Signals

• Maricopa County, in cooperation with the Town of Queen Creek, is currently making improvements at the intersection of Riggs and Power roads. Improvements include the construction of a traffic signal, left turn lanes on all four approaches, and drainage work. Improvements are expect to be completed in summer 2008.
  
• Maricopa County, in cooperation with the Town of Queen Creek and Queen Creek School District, is currently making improvements at the intersection at Riggs and Sossaman roads. Improvements include the construction of a traffic signal, left turn lanes on all four approaches, and drainage work. Improvements are expect to be completed in summer 2008.

Street Improvements 

• Realigned Rittenhouse east of Sossaman Road is expected to open by mid-July.

Ellsworth Road – Cloud Road to the Loop Road
Ellsworth Road widening between Cloud and the Loop roads will start when SW Gas Completes installation of their new 6-inch line at the edge of the existing pavement. The project will extend the six-lane Ellsworth Loop Road to Cloud Road. The improvements will be striped to transition traffic back to the existing two through lanes at Cloud Road.

Ellsworth Road – Queen Creek Road to Germann Road
Construction is underway and is scheduled to be completed in July.

Ellsworth Loop Road Project 
Ellsworth Loop Road is scheduled to open for through traffic under the railroad tracks by July 31, barring monsoon delays. For construction updates and schedules, visit the project Web site or e-mail your comments, questions or suggestions to info@ellsworthlooproad.com.

Storm Drain & Wash Improvements
No Updates at this time.

Wastewater/Water Projects

Power Road Sewer – Chandler Heights Road to Riggs Road
Construction began at Chandler Heights and will proceed to Riggs Road. Completion is anticipated for August.

Cloud Road Sewer – Ellsworth Road to 214th Street
SRP conversion is complete, and Qwest is anticipated to finish their conversion from overhead to underground by July 3. FNF was awarded the bid on this project on May 7, 2008, and the contracts are executed. Construction of the detour road will begin on July 9, 2008, the notice to proceed (NTP) date. Construction of this 21-inch and 15-inch trunk sewer main is expected to start a couple weeks later and be completed within 75 days after NTP.   

Ocotillo Road Sewer & Metering Vault
All field work is complete; as-built plans are forthcoming.

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 at www.az511.com or call 5-1-1. Please buckle up, observe speed limits and never drink and drive.

• Map of weekend freeway closures

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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.

Latest News
Construction has begun on the Queen Creek Fiesta, a 73,000-square-foot retail project developed by DeRito Partners, located across from Queen Creek Marketplace on Ellsworth Loop Road. Proposed tenants include McDonald's, Arby’s, El Pollo Loco, KFC, IHOP, AmTrust Bank, Discount Tire Co. and Brake Masters. Additional space is available. For leasing information please contact Brian Gast, 602-553-2924, DeRito Partners or visit the retail developments page.

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Town Commercial Permitting Activity

Commercial Building Permits submitted:

• Cactus Plaza (Demising Walls) – located at 21820 S. Ellsworth Road in Cactus Plaza
• Shell Building B – Address to be assigned – located in Queen Creek Crossroads
• Shell Building C1 – Address to be assigned – located in Queen Creek Crossroads
• Shell Building C2 – Address to be assigned – located in Queen Creek Crossroads

Commercial Building Permits issued: 

• Jack In The Box – located at 21292 E. Ocotillo Road in Cornerstone at Queen Creek

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:

• Peach Tree Dental Group – located at 21582 S. Ellsworth Loop Road, Suite 126 at Queen Creek Marketplace
• Neilsen Associates – located at 21321 E. Ocotillo Road, Suite B104 at Queen Creek Professional Village
• Broadstone Apartments Clubhouse – located at 20934 E. Ocotillo Road at Broadstone at Queen Creek

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.

• Arco AM-PM/Carwash (SP08-080/CU08-081) - This is a submittal for a site plan and conditional use permit to have a carwash at the Arco AM-PM gas station, to be located at PAD H, Lot 10 of the Queen Creek Fiesta retail center, which is located at the southeast corner of Rittenhouse and Ellsworth roads. The assigned case planner, Chris Ramos, can be reached at 480-358-3091.

Town Building Safety Statistics

Permits issued:

• Weekly total: 20 permits, of which there was 1 new single family home permit and 1 commercial
• June total: 112 of which there were 26 new homes and 5 commercial
• July total: 2 of which there were 0 new homes and 0 commercial
• Fiscal year total '07-'08 (July 1 through reporting date end): 1,686 permits of which there were 268 new homes and 156 commercial
• Fiscal year total '08-'09 (July 1 through reporting date end): 2 permits of which there were 0 new homes and 0 commercial

Plan reviews completed:

• Weekly total: 16 
• July total: 2 
• Fiscal year total (July 1 through reporting date end): 2

Inspections completed:

• Weekly total: 286 residential inspections, 69 commercial inspections and 10 fire inspections for a total of 365 with an average of 73 per day 
• June total: 1,482 
• July total: 88 
• Fiscal year total (July 1 through June 30, 2008): 22,458 
• Fiscal year total (July 1, 2008 through reporting period): 88

Town Neighborhood Preservation Statistics

• Total violation cases this week: 22 of which 7 were closed and 15 were new (weeds, property maintenance, illegal parking of vehicles for sale, illegal sign issues and information requests)
• Illegal sign removal: 165
• Violation letters issued: 5

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PARKS & RECREATION

Latest News

Special Event – Monsoon Madness
Saturday, July 12
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Founders’ Park, 22407 S. Ellsworth Road

Cool off, beat the heat and have a blast at the wettest and muddiest Town of Queen Creek Monsoon Madness event, presented by Splash Zone.

From tiny tots to moms and dads, Monsoon Madness offers a variety of fun and wet activities for the whole family! Slip across inflatable water slides, slide down Queen Creek’s signature Monsoon MudSlide, glide along a 100-foot Soap & Slide, and relax in the shade as your family soaks up the hot summer days. Included in the excitement is the return of the Itty-Bitty Play Zone, an area specially tailored for children ages 4 and under. Itty-Bitty attractions include a variety of water toys, exclusive water inflatable, bubble mania and a discovery dig, where toddlers can dig for hidden treasures.

Laced shoes and signed waiver forms are a must for the Monsoon MudSlide! Duct tape is highly recommended for keeping shoes on. Download forms off of our Monsoon Madness Web site.

This year’s event will also feature Queen Creek’s inaugural Mad Mud Volleyball (MMV) tournament. The MMV tournament will be conducted as a six vs. six, double elimination battle to determine the best mud volleyball team in Town.

Monsoon Madness is sponsored in part by Queen Creek Marketplace, the UPS Store, Uncle Bear’s Grill & Bar, Salt River Project and the Gilbert Republic. Admission to the event and participation at the Monsoon MudSlide are free; additional activities and food vendors have nominal fees.

To obtain MMV forms or for more information, visit the Special Events Web page or call the Queen Creek Parks and Recreation Department at 480-358-3700.

Community Center extends hours, offers variety of fun activities for youth and teens during school district summer break
The Town of Queen Creek will be extending Community Center hours during the Queen Creek Unified School District's summer break from Monday, June 2 through Friday, July 25. Free daily programs for youth and teens include arts and crafts, movies, sports, staff vs. kids challenges, and open playtime. Extended hours are as follows:

Youth (ages 6-12): Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Teens (ages 13-17): Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

The Community Center Youth and Teen Program also includes a variety of field trips for participants. Youth field trips include bowling, laser tag and ice skating. Teen field trips include Cosmic Skateland and a Diamondbacks game. For detailed information about scheduled trips, including dates, times and prices, check out the field trip calendars on the Town Web site. More »

Town seeks sponsors for upcoming special events
The Town of Queen Creek Parks and Recreation Department is seeking sponsors for two of the community's signature annual events, Monsoon Madness and Trunk or Treat. In addition to providing area businesses with unique opportunities to market their products and services, sponsorship contributions also supply vital support to the community, allowing the Town to meet the growing demands of a thriving community.

Trunk or Treat offers a safe and inexpensive evening of Halloween-themed family fun in a festival atmosphere! The event will be held from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31 at Desert Mountain Park, 22201 S. Hawes Road. More »

Town seeks leisure class instructors for new Recreation Annex
The Town of Queen Creek is gearing up for the opening of the Recreation Annex in the new Queen Creek Library by accepting proposal applications for instructors to teach special interest leisure classes. The Recreation Annex is a wing of the new library which will be utilized exclusively for recreation classes, programs and reservations.

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. The first session of classes held in the new annex is expected to begin in the fall of 2008. More »

Senior Program
Join the fun from 9 a.m.-noon every Tuesday at the Queen Creek Community Center, 22407 S. Ellsworth Road at Founders’ Park, and 9 a.m.-noon every Wednesday at Queen Creek Town Hall, 22350 S. Ellsworth Road. For monthly program calendars and information on field trips, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 480-358-3700 or go to our Web site.

Volunteer Opportunities

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 or keri@themeansteam.net if you are interested in helping children in the community.

Calling all special groups and community service oriented people who would like to volunteer!
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 leisure 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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