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STATE OF
THE CITY ADDRESS FEBRUARY 16, 2011 CITY OF GLENDALE, ARIZONA
MAYOR ELAINE SCRUGGS AND STEVE ELLMAN SPEAKING
Steve Ellman and Glendale Mayor
Elaine Scruggs
Photo by Ed Sharpe Glendale Daily Planet / KKAT-IPTV
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GLENDALE
MAYOR ELAINE SCRUGGS’ STATE OF THE CITY
ADDRESS FEBRUARY 16, 2011 CITY OF GLENDALE, ARIZONA
 
Photos by Ed Sharpe Glendale Daily
Planet / KKAT-IPTV
WHEN WE LOOK OBJECTIVELY AT
THE PAST YEAR WE SEE SUCCESSES THAT WERE ACHIEVED IN A TIME OF ECONOMIC
ADVERSITY FOR BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.
19 COMPANIES MOVED IN TO
GLENDALE AND 3 EXPANDED THEIR OPERATIONS IN OUR CITY DURING THE PAST YEAR.
THESE ACTIONS RESULTED IN 1,776 NEW JOBS BEING CREATED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THESE CORPORATE LOCATES AND
EXPANSIONS FILLED MORE THAN 1.4 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF EXISTING INDUSTRIAL
AND OFFICE SPACE.
HUMANA IS ONE OF THE
COMPANIES NOW CALLING GLENDALE HOME. HUMANA RELOCATED THEIR OFFICES INTO A
NEW THREE-STORY OFFICE BUILDING THAT HAD BEEN VACANT MOST OF THE PREVIOUS
TWO YEARS DUE TO THE RECESSION. IN ADDITION TO THE 300 JOBS HUMANA MOVED
FROM TEMPE TO GLENDALE, THEY HAVE PLANS TO ADD 150 MORE EMPLOYEES THIS
YEAR.
WE ARE EXTREMELY PLEASED
AND PROUD THAT HUMANA --- WHICH IS A FORTUNE 100 COMPANY --- HAS INVESTED
IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WERE ALSO EXTREMELY
PLEASED TO WELCOME De VRY UNIVERSITY TO GLENDALE LAST YEAR. IN A UNIQUE
BUSINESS STRATEGY, DeVRY LOCATED IN 18,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE/RETAIL
SPACE IN WESTGATE. THEY CAN SERVE 500 STUDENTS AT THIS LOCATION.
BASED ON THE FACT THAT 96
OF THE FORTUNE 100 COMPANIES CURRENTLY EMPLOY DeVRY GRADUATES, WE FEEL
SURE THEIR PRESENCE WILL BE YET ANOTHER GLENDALE AMENITY.
WE APPRECIATE DeVRY’S
INVESTMENT IN THE CITY OF GLENDALE.
LAST YEAR, THE WATEROUS
COMPANY CONSOLIDATED ITS ARIZONA OPERATIONS INTO A 51,000 SQUARE FOOT
INDUSTRIAL BUILDING IN GLENDALE. WATEROUS IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S LEADING
2
MOBILE FIREFIGHTING
EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS. IN ADDITION TO 32 NEW JOBS, GLENDALE WILL REALIZE
MORE THAN $700,000 IN DIRECT REVENUE OVER 10 YEARS.
EXPANSION OF BUSINESSES
ALREADY DOING BUSINESS IN GLENDALE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO OUR ECONOMIC
VITALITY AS BRINGING IN NEW BUSINESSES. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE TWO OF
THOSE THAT CONTINUE TO GROW IN SIZE AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
2010 MARKED THE COMPLETION
OF BANNER THUNDERBIRD MEDICAL CENTER’S $290 MILLION PROJECT THAT ADDED
200 IN-PATIENT BEDS, A NEW EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FOR ADULTS, AN EMERGENCY
ROOM JUST FOR CHILDREN, A HEART AND VASCULAR CENTER, A NEW SURGICAL AREA,
– AND -- THE WEST VALLEY’S FIRST PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT .
BANNER THUNDERBIRD NOW
EMPLOYS MORE THAN 3,000 PEOPLE – MAKING IT OUR CITY’S LARGEST PRIVATE
EMPLOYER.
WE THANK THE BANNER HEALTH
SYSTEM FOR THEIR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN THE CITY OF GLENDALE.
IN 2010 MIDWESTERN
UNIVERSITY CONTINUED CAMPUS EXPANSIONS AS THEY CELEBRATED THEIR 15-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY IN GLENDALE. FROM 144 STUDENTS IN THEIR FIRST MEDICAL CLASS IN
1996, MIDWESTERN IS NOW HOME TO 2,464 STUDENTS AND FIVE COLLEGES OFFERING
12 DEGREES.
MIDWESTERN HAS INVESTED
MORE THAN $300 MILLION IN GLENDALE AS IT HAS CONSTRUCTED 33 BUILDINGS
TOTALLING MORE THAN ONE MILLION SQUARE FEET.
MIDWESTERN EMPLOYMENT HAS
GROWN FROM 50 IN 1996 TO 560 FACULTY, STAFF AND MEDICAL RESIDENTS TODAY
--- AND AN ADDITIONAL 50 JOBS ARE PLANNED FOR 2011.
MORE THAN 4,100 STUDENTS
HAVE GRADUATED FROM MIDWESTERN’S GLENDALE CAMPUS IN THEIR 15 YEARS HERE
AND OVER 40% OF MIDWESTERN’S STUDENTS STAY IN ARIZONA TO PRACTICE.
WE THANK MIDWESTERN
UNIVERSITY FOR THEIR CONTINUED INVESTMENT ---NOT ONLY IN THE CITY OF
GLENDALE BUT ALSO IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA. 3
THESE EXAMPLES OF QUALITY
JOB GROWTH IN SUCH DIFFICULT TIMES ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT OUR ECONOMY
IS SHOWING INDICATIONS OF SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT. THERE IS REASON FOR CAUTIOUS
OPTIMISM.
DURING THIS TIME WHILE SO
MANY PROJECTS REMAIN ON HOLD WE MUST CONTINUE OUR PLANNING EFFORTS IN
ORDER TO BE READY FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES. TRANSPORTATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN
AND WILL ALWAYS BE KEY TO ECONOMIC SUCCESS FOR CITIES IN THIS METROPOLITAN
REGION. FOR THAT REASON I AM HAPPY TO SHARE POSITIVE NEWS ABOUT THE
LONG-AWAITED NORTHERN PARKWAY.
MORE THAN A DECADE AGO
GLENDALE’S TRANSPORTATION AND PLANNING STAFF DEVELOPED THE IDEA OF
WIDENING NORTHERN AVENUE INTO A PARKWAY. I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT
FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS RECENTLY GAVE FINAL APPROVAL TO FUND A
LARGE PORTION OF THIS $330 MILLION PROJECT. CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN SOON
ON THE FIRST PHASE OF THE 12.5 MILE PARKWAY, WHICH WILL TURN NORTHERN
AVENUE INTO A HIGH-CAPACITY ACCESS-CONTROLLED, SIX-LANE EXPRESSWAY RUNNING
WEST TO EAST FROM LOOP 303 TO GRAND AVENUE. WE EXPECT THE FIRST FOUR MILES
TO BE COMPLETED FROM LOOP 303 TO DYSART ROAD WITHIN TWO YEARS.
THIS NEW ROADWAY WILL NOT
ONLY HELP COMMUTERS --- IT WILL ALSO BE A MAJOR ECONOMIC BOOST FOR OUR
ENTIRE REGION.
TRANSPORTATION IS A
CRITICAL ELEMENT OF EVERY CITY’S ECONOMIC PLAN FOR PROSPERITY. THERE ARE
FEW BETTER EXAMPLES OF THIS THAN LOOP 101 AND THE SURROUNDING MAJOR
ARTERIAL CORRIDORS WHICH HAVE PROVIDED WESTERN GLENDALE AND OTHER WEST
VALLEY COMMUNITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO FINALLY PARTICPATE IN ONE OF ARIZONA’S
LARGEST INDUSTRIES --- TOURISM.
WESTGATE CITY CENTER AND
THE SPORTS VENUES IN GLENDALE MOST LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED WITHOUT
THE EASE OF ACCESS TO THESE ATTRACTIONS.
TOURISM IS DEFINITELY A
DYNAMIC BUSINESS SECTOR IN GLENDALE TODAY. 4
THE MOST RECENT MEGA
TOURIST EVENT HELD IN OUR CITY WAS COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BETWEEN THE #1 AUBURN TIGERS AND THE #2 OREGON DUCKS.
78,603 ATTENDED THE GAME IN
GLENDALE. THAT WAS A NEW STADIUM RECORD. TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE WERE IN
RESTAURANTS IN AND AROUND WESTGATE. GLENDALE HOTELS OPERATED AT 100%
OCCUPANCY.
IN THE WEEK-AND-A-HALF
LEADING UP TO THE GAME, OUR GLENDALE’S GOT GAME WEBSITE HAD ALMOST
400,000 VISITORS.
THE GAME WAS CARRIED ON
ESPN AND WAS WATCHED BY 27,316,000 VIEWERS --- MORE THAN ANY PROGRAM IN
THE HISTORY OF CABLE TELEVISION.
THROUGHOUT THE GAME AS WELL
AS THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO IT AND SEVERAL DAYS AFTER IT, THE NAME GLENDALE
ARIZONA WAS BEING SAID AND READ ABOUT AND HEARD THROUGHOUT THE UNITED
STATES.
NAME IDENTITY … BRANDING
… SEPARATING YOURSELF FROM THE PACK … IT’S VERY EXPENSIVE AND VERY
DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH.
YOUR BUSINESS, YOUR STORE,
YOUR LAND AND YOUR INVESTMENT IS IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA.
GLENDALE IS HELPING TO
ACHIEVE THAT DISTINCTION AND COMPETITIVE EDGE FOR YOU IN OUR BUSINESS
COMMUNITY AS WELL AS FOR OUR CITY. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS FIGURE OUT HOW TO
LEVERAGE OUR EFFORTS INTO GREATER SUCCESS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATIONS.
THE POSITIVE IMPACT FROM
EVENTS IN OUR SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT REACH BEYOND OUR WESTERN
AREA.
ONE EXAMPLE IS OUR GLITTER
AND GLOW EVENT HELD THE SATURDAY BEFORE THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. A
CROWD OF 100,000 PEOPLE ARRIVED IN DOWNTOWN GLENDALE TO ATTEND OUR ANNUAL
BLOCK PARTY. THEY WERE HERE FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES; THEY WERE
HAPPY; AND THEY WERE SPENDING MONEY FREELY. 5
MANY DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS
REPORTED RECORD SALES --- MEANING RECORD SALES IN THE HISTORY OF THEIR
BUSINESSSES IN OLD TOWNE AND CATLIN COURT.
BUT WE ARE NOT RELYING ON
THE LAST BIG GAME THAT CAME TO TOWN. WE ARE CONTINUALLY LOOKING FOR WAYS
TO KEEP GLENDALE GOING FORWARD.
TRANSFORMING OUR
10-YEAR-OLD GLENDALE VISITORS CENTER INTO A STATE-SANCTIONED CONVENTION
AND VISITORS BUREAU LAST YEAR IS ONE OF THE WAYS WE ARE MORE AGGRESSIVELY
MARKETING GLENDALE AND OTHER WEST VALLEY HOT SPOTS.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 32
MILLION TRAVELERS VISIT THE WEST VALLEY EACH YEAR TO ATTEND PROFESSIONAL
AND COLLEGE FOOTBALL, HOCKEY AND SPRING TRAINING GAMES, NASCAR, TENNIS
TOURNAMENTS, CONCERTS, PERFORMING ARTS, SIGNATURE SPECIAL EVENTS,
CONFERENCES, TRADESHOWS AND OTHER RELATED EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES. THE
GLENDALE CVB ALLOWS THE ENTIRE WEST VALLEY TO COMPETE IN THE NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL TOURISM MARKETPLACE AND PROMOTE OUR PREMIERE DESTINATIONS TO
AN EVEN WIDER AND MORE DIVERSE AUDIENCE.
WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE
TWO WEST VALLEY CITIES AS MEMBERS OF THE FIRST CVB WEST OF I-17. THE CITY
OF SURPRISE AND ITS SURPRISE RECREATION CAMPUS FEATURING THEIR BEAUTIFUL
TENNIS COMPLEX, SPRING TRAINING FACILITY, AND OTHER AMENITIES IS NOW A
MEMBER. AND THE CITY OF PEORIA AND ITS VERY POPULAR PEORIA SPORTS COMPLEX
HAS JOINED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS EXTRA WAY TO INCREASE TOURISM
REVENUE.
IF YOU SEE HOW YOUR
BUSINESS CAN BENEFIT AS A MEMBER OF THE GLENDALE CVB, YOU CAN EASILY GET
INFORMATION ON OUR VISITGLENDALE.COM WEBSITE. WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING FROM YOU.
AS WE BEGIN THIS NEW YEAR,
OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE GLENDALE
CENTERLINE PROJECT WHICH WE LAUNCHED IN 2008. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS
TO 6
CREATE A REDEVELOPMENT
STRATEGY FOR THE GLENDALE AVENUE CORRIDOR FROM 43RD TO 67TH AVENUES
BETWEEN OCOTILLO ROAD AND MYRTLE AVENUE.
INITIATIVES WILL BE
DIRECTED AT EFFORTS TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND LOCAL BUSINESSES, CREATE HOUSING
OPTIONS AND IMPROVE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. THE GLENDALE CENTERLINE OVERLAY
DISTRICT WHICH PROVIDES NEW STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS WILL BE
PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION IN LATE MARCH.
ALTHOUGH THE ECONOMY HAS
KEPT CENTERLINE FROM PROGRESSING AS RAPIDLY AS WE HOPED, THERE IS RECENT
GOOD NEWS.
SOUTHWEST AMBULANCE MOVED
ITS WEST VALLEY HEADQUARTERS INTO A VACANT 18,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING AT
52ND AND GLENDALE AVENUES. CURRENTLY 60 EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING OUT OF THAT
FACILITY AND BRINGING NEW COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY TO OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES.
SOUTHWEST AMBULANCE HAS
ALSO RECENTLY ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT TO MOVE INTO THE PROMENADE AT
PALMAIRE, WHICH IS JUST WEST OF THIS BUILDING.
SOUTHWEST AMBULANCE WILL
FILL THE REMAINING VACANT SPACE AT THE PROMENADE WITH THEIR 24-HOUR
DISPATCH CENTER. THEIR 70 EMPLOYEES WILL GENERATE NEW SPENDING AT DOWNTOWN
BUSINESSES.
WE THANK SOUTHWEST
AMBULANCE FOR LOCATING TWO VITAL COMPONENTS OF THEIR BUSINESS ALONG OUR
CENTERLINE CORRIDOR AND FOR PLACING THEIR CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN THE
VISION WE HAVE CREATED FOR THE AREA.
MORE GOOD NEWS FOR OUR
DOWNTOWN IS THAT THIS CITY-OWNED CIVIC CENTER BROKE ALL ATTENDANCE RECORDS
THIS PAST YEAR --- HOSTING MORE THAN 70,000 GUESTS IN 2010. ONCE AGAIN,
OUR CIVIC CENTER WAS NAMED ONE OF THE BEST VENUES IN THE STATE FOR
MEETINGS, EVENTS, WEDDINGS AND CONFERENCES IN THE "RANKING
ARIZONA" COMPETITION SPONSORED BY THE PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL. 7
THIS MAKES THE FOURTH YEAR
WE’VE BEEN RANKED AMONG THE TOP FIVE CONFERENCE FACILITIES IN THE STATE.
I WANTED TO LEAD OFF MY
REMARKS TODAY WITH INFORMATION ABOUT GOOD AND POSITIVE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
THAT HAVE COME TO GLENDALE IN THE PAST YEAR. I THINK ALL OF US ARE PRETTY
TIRED OF HEARING CONSTANT NEGATIVE STORES. AT THE SAME TIME WE CAN’T
IGNORE THE ECONOMIC REALITIES THAT HAVE BUILT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE REASON TO
THINK WE HAVE WEATHERED THE WORST OF THE RECESSION, THE FACT REMAINS THAT
OUR CURRENT REVENUES REMAIN AT 2005 LEVELS.
PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN
ONCE SAID, "YOU
CAN’T ESCAPE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TOMORROW BY EVADING IT TODAY."
I AM PROUD TO TELL YOU THAT
GLENDALE CITY GOVERNMENT HAS FACED UP TO OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND HAS BEEN
TAKING CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO MAINTAIN A BALANCED BUDGET DURING SEVERE
ECONOMIC DECLINES.
OVER THE PAST THREE FISCAL
YEARS WE HAVE CUT $249 MILLION FROM OUR TOTAL CITY BUDGET. THIS 27%
DECREASE WAS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A VARIETY OF METHODS INCLUDING A 15%
REDUCTION OF BUDGETED GENERAL FUND POSITIONS FROM 1,412 DOWN TO 1,202; AN
EMPLOYEE FURLOUGH PROGRAM WHICH IS THE EQUIVALENT OF A 5% PAY CUT TO
EMPLOYEES; REDUCTIONS IN DEPARTMENT OPERATING BUDGETS RANGING FROM 10% TO
27%; REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION OF SERVICES FOR WHICH DEMAND HAS DIMINISHED;
AND THE DELAY OR TOTAL CANCELLATION OF CAPITAL PROJECTS.
NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE
BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR DEDICATED CITY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
DELIVERING THE HIGHEST QUALITY SERVICES AND PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL CARE FOR
ALL CITIZENS --- AND DOING IT WITH FEWER RESOURCES.
NEXT MONTH, THE CITY
COUNCIL WILL BEGIN HEARING OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM’S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
GLENDALE’S FISCAL YEAR 2011-2012 BUDGET. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EXPECT A
NO-FRILLS, STRAIGHTFORWARD FINANCIAL PLAN. 8
IN ADDITION TO BUDGET
ISSUES, GLENDALE IS INVOLVED IN TWO MAJOR CHALLENGES AND TODAY’S STATE
OF THE CITY SPEECH WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT DISCUSSING THOSE.
THE FIRST ISSUE BEGAN TWO
YEARS AGO …. LEADERS OF THE TOHONO O’ODHAM NATION INFORMED CITY AND
STATE LEADERS THAT THEY WOULD BE FILING AN APPLICATION WITH THE UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR TO TAKE LAND INTO TRUST NEAR 91ST AND
NORTHERN AVENUES IN GLENDALE. THEIR APPLICATION WAS TO TURN IT INTO AN
INDIAN RESERVATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING A CASINO ON THE SITE.
THAT APPLICATION WAS FILED THE NEXT DAY, JANUARY 29, 2009.
OTHER THAN THIS LAND WITHIN
THE EXTERIOR BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF GLENDALE, THE LANDS OF THE TOHONO O’ODHAM
NATION ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE SONORAN DESERT IN SOUTH CENTRAL ARIZONA.
BOUNDARIES BEGIN SOUTH OF CASA GRANDE AND ENCOMPASS PARTS OF PINAL, PIMA
AND MARICOPA COUNTIES BEFORE CONTINUING SOUTH INTO MEXICO. CLOSEST TO
GLENDALE IS THE NATION’S SAN LUCY DISTRICT LOCATED NEAR THE CITY OF GILA
BEND.
THE GLENDALE LAND THAT THE
TOHONO O’ODHAMS NOW WANT INCLUDED AS A PART OF THEIR RESERVATION IS THE
ABORIGINAL LAND OF THE AKAMEL O’ODHAM PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW PART OF THE
GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY. THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE FOR THEIR
COMMUNITY.
THE LAND WAS PURCHASED BY
THE TOHONO O’ODHAM NATION ON AUGUST 21, 2003 UNDER THE NAME RAINIER
RESOURCES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION WITH A SEATTLE MAILING ADDRESS. IT
WAS HELD IN THIS ASSUMED NAME FOR SIX YEARS WHILE THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITY DEVELOPED, INCLUDING A HIGH SCHOOL ACROSS THE STREET. THE TRIBE
NEVER MENTIONED ONE WORD ABOUT THEIR LAND OWNERSHIP NOR THEIR PLANS.
AFTER SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS
AND MEETINGS BETWEEN VARIOUS CITY OFFICIALS AND THE TRIBE, THE GLENDALE
CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERED LEGAL, SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL ANALYSES OF IMPACTS TO
OUR CITY IF THE TOHONO O’ODHAM NATION’S APPLICATION WAS APPROVED.
ON APRIL 9, 2009 AFTER
VARIOUS MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS ON THIS TOPIC, THE GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVED A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE CITY’S OPPOSITION TO THE CREATION
OF AN INDIAN RESERVATION ON A PARCEL WITHIN THE GLENDALE MUNICIPAL
PLANNING AREA. 9
I WANT TO DRAW YOUR
ATTENTION TO THE WORDS, "OPPOSITION TO THE CREATION OF AN INDIAN
RESERVATION."
THE TOHONO O’ODHAM
INITIALLY PROPOSED A COMPLEX THAT INCLUDED A HOTEL, CONFERENCE CENTER,
SPA, AND OTHER COMMERCIAL USES IN ADDITION TO A CASINO. OF ALL OF THOSE,
ONLY A CASINO REQUIRES THAT THE LAND BE CONVERTED INTO AN INDIAN
RESERVATION --- WHICH IS A SOVEREIGN NATION REMOVED FROM STATE AND LOCAL
LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT NON-TRIBAL BUSINESSES AND DEVELOPERS FOLLOW FOR
THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF ALL OTHER RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
GLENDALE REMAINS WILLING
AND EAGER TO WORK WITH THE TOHONO O’ODHAM NATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THEIR PROPERTY AS ALL OTHER PRIVATELY OWNED LANDS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED –IN
COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF GLENDALE, MARICOPA COUNTY
AND THE STATE OF ARIZONA. IN THAT WAY ALL OF THE JOBS BEING PROPOSED WILL
COME TO FRUITION --- AND THERE WILL BE REVENUE GENERATED AND PAID TO THE
JURISDICTIONS PROVIDING THE SERVICES TO THE PROJECT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE TRIBE
HAS RECENTLY REVISED THEIR PROPOSAL AND THE CASINO IS NOW THE ENTIRE FIRST
PHASE OF THEIR PLAN --THE ONE ENDEAVOR THAT REQUIRES THE LAND TO BE
CONVERTED INTO AN INDIAN RESERVATION. IT IS VERY IMP0ORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
THAT THE TOHONO O’ODHAM HAS WITHDRAWN ITS REQUEST FOR FEDERAL APPROVAL
OF GAMING. ALL THEY HAVE REQUESTED IS CREATION OF A RESERVATION AND NOT
APPROVAL FOR A VERY LARGE GAMING FACILITY.
THERE ARE MANY COMPLEX
ISSUES RELATED TO THE SUBJECT OF GAMING ON THIS LAND OWNED BY THE TOHONO O’ODHAM
NATION. FOR THAT REASON ARIZONA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL AND LEGISLATURE,
ALONG WITH THE GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY, HAVE FILED LEGAL ACTIONS.
THIS IS NO LONGER JUST A
GLENDALE ISSUE. IT IS A STATES’ RIGHTS ISSUE. THIS WAS MADE CLEAR WHEN
GOVERNOR BREWER FILED A LEGAL BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF GLENDALE AND
ISSUED THIS STATEMENT: "THIS MASSIVE CASINO PLAN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN
URBAN AREA IS EXACTLY WHAT ARIZONA VOTERS SOUNDLY REJECTED IN 2002. THE
PROPOSED CASINO NOT ONLY UNDERMINES THE 10
LIMITED GAMING MODEL THAT
THE STATE AND TRIBES AGREED UPON IN ENTERING THE COMPACTS, IT ALSO
VIOLATES FEDERAL LAW."
THIS ISSUE IS ALSO OF GREAT
CONCERN TO OTHER ARIZONA INDIAN NATIONS. HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE
STATEMENTS FROM RESOLUTIONS AND OTHER OFFICIAL ACTIONS PASSED BY VARIOUS
ARIZONA INDIAN NATIONS IN OPPPOSITION TO THE TOHONO O’ODHAM’S PROPOSED
CASINO:
"IT VIOLATES THE
SPIRIT OF PROPOSITION 202 THEREBY FUELING SUPPORT FOR OFF-RESERVATION AND
NON-INDIAN GAMING."
"IT IS IN OPPOSITION
OF THE INITIATIVE PREPARED BY THE 17 ARIZONA TRIBES AND COMMUNICATED TO
THE VOTERS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA THAT VOTED TO APPROVE THAT
INITIATIVE."
"THE TOHONO O’ODHAM
NATION HAS NEITHER AN ABORIGINAL CLAIM, NOR HISTORIC OR CULTURAL TIES, TO
THE AREA WHERE IT IS SEEKING TO PLACE A MAJOR CASINO. ITS ACTIONS ARE AN
ABUSE OF TRIBAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY, AND INCONSISTENT
WITH THE UNDERSTANDINGS AMONG TRIBES IN ARIZONA."
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS
IS A VERY COMPLEX AND VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. I WOULD GUESS THIS IS THE FIRST
TIME YOU HAVE HEARD A LOT OF WHAT I HAVE SAID TODAY. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO
VERIFY THESE STATEMENTS FOR YOURSELF. THEY ARE ALL IN PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
MOST CAN BE FOUND ON OUR GLENDALEAZ.COM WEBSITE.
I FERVENTLY HOPE YOU WILL
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE FUNDAMENTAL
CHANGES IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.
I FEEL SURE YOU CAN GUESS
THAT THE SECOND MAJOR CHALLENGE FACING THE CITY OF GLENDALE AT THIS TIME
INVOLVES THE CITY-OWNED JOBING.COM ARENA AND THE COYOTES HOCKEY TEAM.
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE
BACKGROUND INFORMATION WHICH SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW AND SOME HAVE NEVER
HEARD BEFORE. 11
IN 2001 THE GLENDALE CITY
COUNCIL ENTERED INTO VARIOUS AGREEMENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING A
HIGH-QUALITY MAJOR ECONOMIC CENTER CONSISTING OF OFFICES, HOTELS,
ENTERTAINMENT, RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS. AS PART OF THIS ACTION THE COUNCIL
ENTERED INTO A RELATED AGREEMENT FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FORMER
MANISTEE TOWN CENTER INTO WHAT IS NOW THE VERY SUCCESSFUL NORTHERN
CROSSING RETAIL DEVELOPMENT LOCATED AT 59TH AND NORTHERN AVENUES.
IN MY EARLIER REMARKS I
TALKED ABOUT OUR ARENA AND WESTGATE AND ALL THAT THEY HAVE DONE TO CREATE
NEW REVENUE FOR OUR CITY AND HELP US DEVELOP INTO A TOURISM DESTINATION.
THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE THE MEMBERS OF THE GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL IN 2001
RECOGNIZED WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A STRONG, ECONOMICALLY VIABLE
FUTURE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND SO THE AGREEMENTS WERE APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS
VOTES IN APRIL 2001.
UNEXPECTEDLY IN MAY 2009
THE FORMER TEAM OWNER FOR FEDERAL BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION.
UP UNTIL THAT TIME GLENDALE’S
INVESTMENT WAS MEETING ALL FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS AND ATTRACTING ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT TO THE AREA.
DURING THE BANKRUPTCY
PROCEEDINGS, THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PURCHASED THE ASSETS OF THE
COYOTES BUT DID NOT ASSUME THE ARENA MANAGEMENT, USE AND LEASE AGREEMENT.
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS CITY
MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH POTENTIAL BUYERS OF THE COYOTES TO
STRUCTURE AN ARRANGEMENT THAT WOULD KEEP THE TEAM IN GLENDALE. THAT WORK
HAS ALWAYS BEEN WITH THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL.
THE CRITERIA SET BY THE
COUNCIL INCLUDED KEEPING THE TEAM IN GLENDALE FOR THE FULL LENGTH OF THE
LEASE, KEEPING THE EXISTING ARENA REVENUES INTACT, AND PROVIDING
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO SHARE IN NEW REVENUE STREAMS WHEN FEASIBLE.
DURING THE SPRING OF 2010
THE GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED TWO SEPARATE AGREEMENTS
WITH TWO POTENTIAL BUYERS OF THE PHOENIX COYOTES HOCKEY TEAM. NEITHER
POTENTIAL BUYER MOVED FORWARD WITH VIABLE PLANS TO PURCHASE THE TEAM. 12
NOW A NEW ENTITY WISHES TO
PURCHASE THE HOCKEY TEAM AND MANAGE OUR ARENA.
DEBATES ABOUT WHY THE CITY
OF GLENDALE IS TRYING TO KEEP THE COYOTES HOCKEY TEAM IN GLENDALE HAVE
BEEN RAMPANT FROM THE BEGINNING.
HERE ARE THE FACTS OF THE
MATTER.
THE CITY OF GLENDALE OWNS
THE ARENA AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS AND
FOR ENSURING THAT EVENTS AND PERFORMERS ARE BOOKED SO THE BUILDING
CONTINUES PRODUCING REVENUE.
THE PROJECTED EXPENSES
ASSOCIATED WITH MANAGING THE ARENA ARE APPROXIMATELY $17 MILLION PER YEAR.
THAT AMOUNT IS CURRENTLY OFFSET BY THE REVENUE EARNED BY HAVING THE
COYOTES AS THE ARENA’S MAIN TENANT. IF THE TEAM VACATES THE ARENA, THE
EXPENSES WOULD REMAIN. HOWEVER A SUBSTANTIAL SOURCE OF FUNDS TO PAY THE
EXPENSES WOULD BE ELIMINATED.
DURING THE BANKRUPTCY
PROCEEDINGS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE COYOTES TO
THE CITY OF GLENDALE WAS APPROXIMATELY $511 MILLION. THE AGREEMENT BY THE
COYOTES NOT TO RELOCATE DURING THE TERM OF THE ARENA LEASE AND MANGEMENT
AGREEMENT HAS BEEN INDEPENDENTLY VALUED AT BETWEEN $270 MILLION AND $338
MILLION.
WHAT THIS SAYS IS THAT THE
AGREEMENT NOT TO RELOCATE THE TEAM --- WITHOUT FACTORING IN ALL OF THE
OTHER FEES, RENT, ETC. --- HAS A VALUE TO THE CITY TODAY --- RIGHT NOW ---
OF BETWEEN $270 MILLION AND $338 MILLION. EVERYBODY IS AGREEING TO THAT
AND THE TEAM IS AGREEING THAT IS THE VALUE OF THE DAMAGES THEY WOULD HAVE
TO PAY IF THEY BROKE THE LEASE AND MOVED.
SEEMS IT WOULD BE HARD FOR
SOMEONE TO DISPUTE THAT – BUT THEY DO.
WE WILL SOON REACH THE
CONCLUSION OF THIS ALMOST THREE YEAR SAGA. AND, HOWEVER IT TURNS OUT, WE
WILL KNOW THE CITY OF GLENDALE HAS DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN AND HAVE BEEN 13
ASKED TO DO. WE HAVE STAYED
WITHIN THE BOUNDS, LEGAL AND FINANCIAL, IN MAKING DECISIONS IN THE BEST
INTERESTS OF THE CITY OF GLENDALE.
GLENDALE RESIDENTS AND OUR
BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN ALL PARTS OF OUR CITY BENEFIT FROM REVENUES
GENERATED BY THE SUCCESS OF OUR SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT --- AND
THE NEW AGREEMENT WITH MR. HULSIZER WILL CONTINUE TO HELP CREATE JOBS,
INCREASE GLENDALE’S TAX BASE AND STIMULATE ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT
OPPORTUNITIES.
AS WITH THE PREVIOUS TOPIC,
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK OUT THESE FACTS AND DRAW YOUR OWN INFORMED
CONCLUSION ON THIS ISSUE WHICH WILL AFFECT YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS IN SOME
WAY FOR YEARS TO COME.
AND NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE
TO WELCOME OUR GUEST, MR. STEVE ELLMAN, TO THE STAGE.
STEVE’S VISION OF HOW 220
ACRES OF FARMLAND BETWEEN 91ST AND 99TH AVENUES FROM GLENDALE AVENUE SOUTH
TO MARYLAND AVENUE COULD BE DEVELOPED TO TRANSFORM GLENDALE FROM A BEDROOM
COMMUNITY INTO A NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN DESTINATION CITY WAS
THE CATALYST FOR ALL THAT WE KNOW TODAY AS GLENDALE’S SPORTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
IT’S PRETTY EASY TO RIDE
WAVES OF SUCCESS --- BUT FEW ARE WILLING TO BE THE FIRST TO INVEST THEIR
OWN MONEY AND BEGIN WITH A BLANK CANVAS. EVEN FEWER HAVE THE FINANCIAL
RESOURCES TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON IDEAS.
STEVE ELLMAN HAD THE VISION
--- HE HAD THE RESOURCES ---AND HE STAYED THE COURSE EVEN THOUGH THE
EVENTS OF 9/11 INTERVENED BETWEEN THE APPROVAL OF OUR PRELIMINARY
AGREEMENT IN APRIL 2001 AND THE APPROVAL OF OUR FINAL AGREEMENT IN
NOVEMBER 2001.
MR. STEVE ELLMAN (UNSCRIPTED
LISTEN TO MP3 FOR ELLMAN'S SPEECH)
(Mayor Scruggs closes the
event)
THANK YOU, STEVE, FOR YOUR
INSIGHTS INTO THE EVOLUTION AND GROWTH OF WESTGATE AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED
BELIEF AND INVESTMENT IN GLENDALE’S SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
14
WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT IN A SHORT TIME SPAN AND WE HAVE LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR
ONGOING SUCCESS.
GLENDALE IS NOW THE 72ND
LARGEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES. YES, WE HAVE GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY. BUT
WE HAVE ALSO GROWN SMARTLY.
WE CHOOSE TO CONTINUE
INVESTING IN OUR CITY BY BUILDING THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE
COMPETITIVE AS WE EMERGE FROM THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.
WE CHOOSE TO PROVIDE
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
AS I HAVE STATED MANY TIMES
BEFORE, ACCOMPLISHING MORE DOES NOT COME WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES.
WE HAVE BUILT A SOLID
FOUNDATION AND CREATED A STRONG VISION. OUR ECONOMY IS MORE DIVERSIFIED
THAN EVER AND CONTINUES TO GROW.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO BALANCE
PRIORITIES DURING LEAN TIMES AND KEEP OUR CITY POSITIONED AS A LEADER IN
THE REGION AND THE STATE. WE SINCERELY HOPE YOU WILL WORK WITH US AS WE
CONTINUE TO MOVE GLENDALE FORWARD TO OUR BEST POSSIBLE FUTURE. THANK YOU
FOR ATTENDING TODAY. I WISH YOU SUCCESS IN ALL YOUR ENDEAVORS IN THE YEAR
AHEAD.
STEVE ELLMAN'S SPEECH
WAS WITHOUT SCRIPT BUT LISTEN TO MP3
Steve Ellman Speaks - Photos
by Bette Sharpe Glendale Daily Planet / KKAT-IPTV
VIDEO TO FOLLOW LATER THIS WEEK!
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