Arizona sun., 1947-02-14
Uda|I-Denniis
Commission
Platform

people, promote the sound growth
and permanent development of the
community, provide the masses OF
our citizens with the widest range
and most effective varieties of mu-
nicipal services, adequate trans
portation, proper housing, public
safety, and sanitation, relieve the
burden of taxation on the individu-
al taxpayer through the most jul
dicious expenditure of the public
funds and the early expansion OF
the city limits to take in wide areas
of outlying improved districts and
subdivisions, we propose, as mem
bers of the Phoenix City Commits
sion, immediate adoption of pro-
gram to include certain definite
and specific measures and policies
designed to bring about rapid i'm
provement of our municipal admin
istration and relief from conditions
which if permitted to endure
would seriously hamper the prog
ress and well-being of rapidly
growing city.
In this connection, we have no
wish to find fault with, or be criti-
cal of, your present City Commits
sion. During the past year, despite
the close attention which it has of
necessity had to give to number
of pressing emergency problems, it
nevertheless has been able to make
marked progress in laying a ground
work for numerous progressive
measures to which it was commit
ted when it took office, but much
more planning and execution are
needed if Phoenix is to take and
hold its proper place as leading
metropolis. In community which
has been-and still is-growing by
leaps and bounds, the task ahead
of us, in order to keep apace, is
formidable. In resolving our exist
ing problems of government and
preparing for the future, we have
not as yet much more than
scratched the surface. "A big job
remains to be done, one that de-
mands quick action, hard work,
and vision.
1. The first of these tasks is to
complete at the earliest moment
a project already launched but not
yet perfected by the present City
Commission, revision of the Char
ter to provide for more repreSen-
tative form of government, to give
voice in municipal administra-
ton to all districts and all neigh
borhoodS.
In this connection, pending actual
charter revision by vote of the
people, it seems essential that the
system of citizens advisory COM
mittees inaugurated by the pres
ent City Commission, whose men,
bership now numbers some $50 per-
sons, be Immediately and widely
expanded in order to hasten the
studies upon which sound charter
revision may be founded. AS Phoe-
nix grows, the need for this re-
vision becomes more and more
imperative.
2. The present contracted city
limits, now encompassing only IL
square miles of area, should be
Immediately expanded to take in
all improved outlying districts,
along lines encompaSsing more
than 36 square miles of area. Ac-
cording to studies of the City Plan
ming Commission as of November
1, 1916, this would add some IT,
485 houses to the city's present
limitations and increase the popu-
lation by some 57,7OO, would raise
the population resident within the
city limits proper to a figure ap-
preaching 100000 persons. It would,
further, add millions of dollars of
assessed valuation to the present
city tax rolls, thereby materially
reducing the present tax bill of the
individual property owner. A city
of 100000 is far more attractive
to new industries seeking locations
than city of less than 100000.
AS an indcuement to outlying
districts to become a part of the
City may offered Zoning protec-
tion, additional water and sewer
services, police protection, city
street cleaning and garbage dis
posal, fire protection, and a num-
Der of others.
Without considering future de-
velopment the Phoenix city limits
should be extended from South
Mountain Park north beyond Cam
elback Road, and east and west
from 10th street to Lateral Is,
which would take in the site of
the Reynolds aluminium plant.
3. We are committed to a policy
designed to obtain for the States
incorporated municipalities their
rightful share of all excise taxes
collected within the City tself, and
to devote these proceeds principally
to a greater street improvement
program.
4. We are committed to eter-
nal vigilance to insure that no city,
owned property is squandefed for
any purpose or by any persons
whatever-a guarantee that the
City retain title to and control of
all the increasingly valuable lands
which it now owns, such as the So
called Fox Theater parking lot and
the transit terminal station land
at Bird Ave-, and Washington St.,
from which a substantial annual
income may be derived.