Executive Director’s Report

At the July Regional Council meeting, it was announced that the MAG Municipal Aging Services Project, which was approved by the Regional Council in June, was sent to the White House to be considered for inclusion in an “urban innovators” event. This August event is being sponsored by the White House Office of Public Engagement and the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation. The goal of the event is to showcase new partnerships or technologies that are solving old problems and leveraging human and financial capital to improve families’ lives and economic prospects. Although we do not know if our project will be selected, it is a great honor to even be considered for this program.

The MAG Municipal Aging Services Project is one of five that was also selected by the MetLife Foundation for the City Leaders Institute on Aging in Place Project. Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton is on the leadership team for the MetLife project. The Municipal Aging Services Project is overseen by the MAG Human Services Coordinating Committee.

A brief reminder on why this project is important:

• MAG survey results show that 73 percent of baby boomers who are entering the senior population are not utilizing senior facilities. The Maricopa County baby boomer population that is aged 65 or older is now 462,641. By 2020, the population is projected to be 700,000, a 51 percent increase.
   
• Slightly more than one out of ten people said they currently go to senior centers. It is projected this will increase to one out of five in the next ten years. Our senior centers will need to dramatically change their service delivery to meet the needs of a more technology-savvy clientele. These senior centers will need to do even more to have a broader appeal that resonates with the rest of the boomer generation.
   
• Two main areas of concern emerged from 19 focus groups conducted by MAG with 206 participants. Overwhelmingly, people expressed a firm commitment to remain in their homes, or to age “in place.” At the same time, people are more concerned than ever about their ability to remain in their home, given the impact of the recession.
   
• People are working longer than expected. Half of survey respondents aged 55 to 59 years indicated they were dissatisfied with their employment opportunities. Two thirds of people aged 85 to 89 years expressed the same dissatisfaction.
   
• Health represents three out of the four key issues that concern adults aged 55 years and over the most. Seventy-nine percent of survey respondents indicated they are very concerned or concerned about the affordability of health care. Sixty-eight percent are concerned with losing the ability to drive, 67 percent are concerned with personal health issues, and 65 percent are concerned with the health issues of their spouses. One of the causes of soaring health care costs is the rate of readmittance to hospitals due to the lack of adequate community-based support networks.

This issue is now upon us. We are hoping that the MAG Municipal Aging Services Toolkit and the MetLife project will be a start in re-framing senior services.
For more information, please contact Dennis Smith, MAG Executive Director, (602) 254-6300.

Meeting Report for Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Action Items

Phoenix West Light Rail Extension
The Regional Council voted to accept the Phoenix West Alternatives Analysis for a locally preferred alternative for the Phoenix West extension of light rail from downtown into the West Valley. Under the recommendations, light rail would be extended 11 miles—from downtown Phoenix, through the State Capitol area, to approximately 79th Avenue and the I-10 freeway. The project represents METRO’s first freeway corridor project, providing the growing West Valley with a higher-capacity and more efficient transit option by 2023.

Valley Metro Rail (METRO), in partnership with the City of Phoenix and the Federal Transit Administration, initiated a study in 2007 to analyze potential high-capacity transit improvements in the west Phoenix area. The project underwent an alternatives analysis in which several modes and alignments were evaluated.

The study recommends a light rail alignment along I-10 from 79th Avenue to I-17; southbound along the I-17 southbound frontage road; east along Van Buren Street to 18th Avenue; southbound along 18th Avenue to Jefferson Street and then east to downtown Phoenix along Jefferson. The recommendation included a Corridor Advanced Transit Opportunities Program that consists of near-term improvements and investments to “improve existing mobility, enhance transit service, and lay the groundwork for future high capacity transit (HCT) service within the study area.” The set of proposed projects includes construction of a direct HCT access ramp from I-10 to I-17, expansion of the 79th Avenue park-and-ride, identification and development of new park-and-ride stations, and construction of direct connection I-10 high occupancy vehicle (HOV) ramps on the west side of 79th Avenue. It also includes future consideration for increased transit service for areas within and west of the study area as identified in MAG’s Regional Transit Framework Study, through the regional transportation system planning process.
For more information, please contact Eileen Yazzie, MAG Transportation Planning Project Manager, (602) 254-6300.

Air Quality Conformity Finding
The MAG Regional Council approved a new Finding of Conformity for the FY 2011-2015 MAG Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Regional Transportation Plan 2010 Update, as amended. In July 2010, the Regional Council approved a conformity finding, but since that time, an amendment was proposed that includes project modifications resulting from the rebalancing of the MAG Regional Freeway and Highway Life Cycle Program, Arterial Life Cycle Program, the northwest light rail extension, and other projects. MAG conducted a regional emissions analysis for the amendment and the results of the analysis, when considered together with the TIP and Plan as a whole, indicate that the transportation projects will not contribute to violations of federal air quality standards.
For more information, please contact Lindy Bauer, MAG Environmental Director, (602) 254-6300.

Information Items

Arizona-Mexico Commission Update
The Regional Council received an update on activities of the Arizona-Mexico Commission. The commission held its 2012 summer plenary session in June. The event united people who share a common interest to further enhance the relationship between Arizona and Sonora, including Arizona Governor Janice Brewer and Sonora Governor Guillermo Padres.

Executive Director Margie Emmermann told the council that the Arizona-Mexico Commission promotes a strong, cooperative relationship with Mexico and Latin America through advocacy, trade, networking and information. The commission has 15 binational committees that act as industry and community advocates in partnership with the Commission Sonora-Arizona (from Sonora, Mexico) to facilitate cross-border trade, business, networking, and binational information sharing. The work helps Arizona and the U.S. economy benefit from enhanced trade opportunities and an open relationship with Sonora’s public and private sector.
For more information, please contact Denise McClafferty, MAG Management Analyst, at (602) 254-6300.

Arizona Transportation and Trade Corridor Alliance
The Regional Council was also provided an update on the activities of the Arizona Transportation and Trade Corridor Alliance. Governor Brewer created the Alliance to strengthen the state’s ability to compete for economic development and jobs through a focus on trade, logistics, infrastructure and energy. It is led by the Arizona Department of Transportation and is working with the Arizona-Mexico Commission and Arizona Commerce Authority in a strategic planning effort to bring together public and private sector entities to assess viable opportunities for Arizona. The Alliance will evaluate infrastructure needs and identify investment strategies that are consistent with the MAG long-range transportation plan to improve Arizona’s economic competitiveness.
For more information, please contact Denise McClafferty, MAG Management Analyst, at (602) 254-6300.

Next Meeting

The August meeting of the Regional Council has been cancelled. The next meeting of the MAG Regional Council will be held on Wednesday, September 26, 2012, at 11:30 a.m. at the MAG offices, 302 N. 1st Avenue, Phoenix, second floor, Saguaro Room. Agenda items are pending.
For more information, please contact Dennis Smith, MAG Executive Director, (602) 254-6300.