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Sanders: District 5 Newsletter — July

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As always, it is my goal to email you a monthly newsletter with information regarding current events and items that may be of interest to you. In addition, you can find me at www.facebook.com/district5councilmansanders for regular updates.

Due to COVID-19, I have not been able to hold my Facebook LIVE events with local businesses for the last few months. However, with the reopening of Surprise and its businesses I will begin to do those soon. Be on the lookout! You can always reach me at david.sanders@surpriseaz.gov or 623-222-1325. Also, please feel free to visit my webpage at https://d5.surpriseaz.gov. As always, it is my distinct honor to serve you.

Ribbon Cutting Contest

As you know, I am pro-business, and very proud of our businesses in the city of Surprise. The city’s Virtual Ribbon Cutting program, initiated to help support the re-opening of businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, was a great success. Now, the Economic Development Department wants your help to pick the best Virtual Ribbon Cutting video. Participants can also be entered into a drawing to win a $30 gift card! Please visit www.surpriseaz.gov/ribboncutting to view and vote on your favorite restaurant or retail business video, and get entered into the gift card drawing by answering fun questions related to the videos. New videos will be posted each Monday for five weeks, so be sure to check back for new videos. The winning business will receive a trophy! This is another great way to support our local businesses. Thanks Surprise.

City Council Meeting Schedule

There are no Council meetings scheduled for July. Our next regularly scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, August 18 at 6 p.m. While our meetings are still not open to the public, you can always watch them live on Surprise TV at www.surpriseaz.gov/surpriseTV and find instructions to participate in the online agendas.

As always, I am available via david.sanders@surpriseaz.gov or 623.222.1325. Please feel free to reach out. I always want to hear from my constituents.

Recycling Update

Drop-off recycling will be available on July 7 at the city’s Public Works North Yard, located at 17274 N. Litchfield Road. The city has been working hard to find a cost effective and sustainable solution to recycling and this is the first step towards that goals.

Residents will be able to drop-off recyclable materials Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. A city staff member will be available to help sort materials and ensure that recyclables are not contaminated. Residents are encouraged to pre-sort recyclable materials before arriving at the center to expedite the process. At this time, the acceptable materials are plastic bottles #1 and #2 (these may include: milk, soda, condiment, water, shampoo, detergent, etc.). Lids must either be screwed on the bottle, or completely removed. If the lids are removed, please do not recycle the lids. Cardboard, aluminum and tin cans will also be accepted.

Solid Waste and Stormwater Utility Rate Increase

Single family residential solid waste (trash) customers will pay a monthly base rate of $23.40 beginning on July 1. This rate is scheduled to increase by $0.10 each fiscal year beginning in 2021, bringing the rate to $23.70 on July 1, 2023. This rate change was part of a Utility Rate Study that was approved in February 2019. This study created a five-year structured schedule to obtain revenues required to operate utilities and maintain infrastructure while also considering asset replacement and emergency funding needs.

In addition, single family residential homes in Surprise will see a $0.75 increase on your utility bill for stormwater, bringing your stormwater utility fee to $2.75 each month. A stormwater hotline has been set up for individuals that have questions about this increased fee. The hotline number is 623.222.6200.

For more information on the utility rate study, please visit surpriseaz.gov/utilityratesinfo. To learn more about the Stormwater Utility, please visit surpriseaz.gov/stormwater.

Roadwork

Litchfield Road and Bell Road

  • APS is still working along Bell Road, but anticipates finishing work over the next couple of weeks.
  • The remainder of the City’s project, consisting of all the signal improvements at the intersection, will begin early August. The work is anticipated to be completed by the beginning of September.

Litchfield Road Improvements

  • The majority of the Litchfield Road widening project is completed.
  • In July, the contractor will be completing punchlist items and finishing the signal at Litchfield Road and Sweetwater Avenue.

Please check www.surpriseaz.gov/100/ for more information on this project timeline.

Virtual Meet and Greets

Thank you to those of you who reached out and requested that I continue my Meet and Greet sessions during this time. Until CDC guidelines change, I will be using Facebook LIVE to host my monthly meetings. My next monthly meeting is scheduled for July 25 at 9 a.m. Please check the City of Surprise website, at www.surpriseaz.gov for updates to this meeting schedule.