Greater Phoenix Forward is a project of the ASU College of Public Programs to provide Phoenix and Maricopa County policy leaders and practitioners with expert analyses to meet the challenge of supplying adequate human services to the rapidly growing population of this region. The project will help ensure that Greater Phoenix is known not only for its economic development and growth, but also for its attention to human and social potential.

OTHER INFORMATION

On April 9, 2008, the Phoenix City Council approved $50,000 in funding to support the research, reporting and dissemination of the current status and future trends for human and social services in Maricopa County.

Phase one of the project has produced an in-depth analysis of twelve core dimensions within the greater Phoenix social and human services infrastructure. This report was authored by experts from ASU’s School of Social Work, School of Community Resources and Development and the Morrison Institute for Public Policy.

The dissemination of the findings of the report to the Phoenix City Council, as well as other policy making entities and community stakeholders, represents the second phase of the project.

The full report can be obtained through the at the ASU College of Public Programs website: http://copp.asu.edu/do/from-the-dean/greater-phoenix-forward/GPF-LR.pdf

RECOMMENDATION

This report is for information only.

CITY COUNCIL REPORT
POLICY AGENDA
TO:	David Krietor Deputy City Manager	AGENDA DATE:		December 9, 2008
FROM:	Donald L. Maxwell Community and Economic Development Director	ITEM:	3
SUBJECT:	2008-09 SHOP PHOENIX COMMUNICATION PLAN

This report provides information to the City Council on the Community and Economic Development Department’s (CEDD) 2008-09 Shop Phoenix Communication Plan.

THE ISSUE

The local economy continues to decline. Although it is very early in the 2008-09 Fiscal Year, the numbers are not good. Retail sales tax is down 12.2% for the City and down 10.4% for the state. Total City sales tax revenue received for this past July was 7% below July 2007 and total state-shared sales tax revenue for this period was 9.8% below last year. City- and state-shared sales taxes comprise about 55% of the General Fund revenues. When there is a significant decline in these areas, every City department suffers.

Since sales tax revenue accounts for a substantial portion of the General Fund, the importance of maintaining and increasing this revenue source is critical to providing many essential City services, such as Police and Fire protection services, Parks and Libraries. CEDD has developed, in partnership with the Public Information Office (PIO), a Shop Phoenix Communication Plan to communicate accurate and timely information to internal and external audiences about the importance of sales tax revenue to the General Fund.

COMMUNICATION APPROACH

CEDD and PIO have developed a proactive communication strategy designed to inform employees, residents and other key stakeholders about the impact sales tax revenue has on Phoenix services. The Plan is designed to regularly encourage residents to shop within city limits. By expanding the message to traditional shopping days or holidays throughout the entire calendar year, the message will be delivered during times when consumers are likely to purchase products and services. The message will remind and encourage them to make their purchases in Phoenix.

ACTION ITEMS

The first action in the plan includes development of a new website address that directs visitors of the Phoenix.gov webpage to a specific Shop Phoenix website where users may identify key shopping destinations in each Council district. Drafting key messages to be used in all internal and external communications is another important action item. These key messages will be placed in the City Connection, as well as the Notes newsletter in City mailings, and will be scheduled to run in the winter, spring, summer and fall publications.

CEDD and PIO will supply an article for each Council newsletter promoting shopping in Phoenix. The Neighborhood Services Department also distributes an annual newsletter; we will include an article in this newsletter stressing the importance of keeping sales tax dollars in Phoenix in order to support essential services.

The Shop Phoenix Communication message will be tailored so each Councilmember has the option of including this message in their “On The Issues” Channel 11 program. The message will simply state that sales tax revenue is important to the City’s future operations. Additionally, CEDD is developing a power point presentation that may also be used in Council Roundtable discussions. The same presentation may also be used in Village Planning Committee meetings and West Phoenix Revitalization Area meetings.

There is no available funding source for the Shop Phoenix Campaign. Therefore, the proposal is based on actions that may be completed without any additional costs to existing budgets. If funding is identified, additional marketing, such as placing advertisements and printing collateral material, may be incorporated into the Plan. Public Service Announcements being aired on Phoenix 11 could also be used to deliver the message on how important it is for Phoenix residents to shop in Phoenix.

KEY MESSAGES

· Shop Phoenix!

· Shop Phoenix all year round.

· Keep your sales tax dollars in your community by Shopping Phoenix.

· The largest single revenue component for funding these basic services is sales tax.

· How to ‘Shop Phoenix’:

o Shop in your neighborhood, close to home.

o Shop near where you live, in Phoenix, and save on gas.

o Take a “staycation” and spend your holiday here. (STAYCATION: a vacation that is spent at one's home enjoying all that home and one's local community has to offer.

o Dine at a local restaurant and the taxes from a delicious dinner goes right back to the city where you live.

o If you are a City employee who does not live in Phoenix make a special effort to make major purchases in the City.

RECOMMENDATION

This report is for information only.

CITY COUNCIL REPORT
POLICY AGENDA
TO:	Frank Fairbanks City Manager	AGENDA DATE:		December 9, 2008
FROM:	David Krietor, Deputy City Manager Ed Zuercher, Deputy City Manager	ITEM:	4
SUBJECT:	SPECIAL REVENUE TASK FORCE UPDATE

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on efforts to implement recommendations from the Special Revenue Task Force and to recommend the City Council approve the additional steps to collect delinquent City taxes.

THE ISSUE

The Special Revenue Task Force was created by the City Manager at the request of the Mayor and City Council in the summer of 2008. At its September 23, 2008 Policy meeting, the Mayor and City Council approved 10 ideas to be pursued by staff over the following months for implementation. The goal is to raise an additional $7.5 million in City revenues through June 2010.

OTHER INFORMATION

The top ten items are as follows:

Top Ten Item		Progress Update
1.	Refine the tax collection process to encourage on-time payments and increase collections	Recommendations for this item are provided below.
2.	Review parking meter rates	A working group from Police, Street Transportation, Finance and the City Manager's Office are finalizing recommendations for City Council review at its December 17, 2008 Formal meeting. Depending on the options chosen, revenues could be increased by up to $700,000 to $1.5 million per year.
3.	Fully charge for use of City Rights of Way	The Streets Transportation and Budget & Research Departments are completing a review of City policies and will have recommendations for the Council in January 2009.
4.	Advance reimbursement of Federal grant draws	A team from the Finance, Police, Neighborhood Services, Community and Economic Development, Housing, and Human Services Departments is completing an assessment of grants that could be moved from monthly to bi-monthly cash draws to minimize the amount of federal and state funds temporarily provided by the City's General Fund. Once the review is completed, the Finance Department will calculate potential savings (increased cash balances in city treasury) of implementing the new draw procedures. A recommendation should be ready for the City Council by January 2009.
5.	Review the City Surplus Auction for ways to increase sales, particularly with an online component	The Finance Department is reviewing ways to enhance the current auction process, including on-line bids. A report on implementation is expected in January 2009. By way of reference, current auctions can generate up to $400,000, depending on the number and condition of available vehicles.
6.	Review cost recovery opportunities in the Police and Fire Departments	The Budget and Research Department is working closely with Police and Fire to identify fees that do not meet cost recovery, and to recommend increases where feasible. A full report is expected by February 2009.
7.	Review underused City land or buildings for lease or sale	The Finance Department has narrowed its review to the 80 most promising properties that would have an impact on the General Fund. A full report and recommendations are expected in February 2009.
8.	Create a City of Phoenix affinity credit card similar to those used by university alumni clubs to generate revenue	The Finance Department is engaged in discussions with banks offering credit cards. It is expected return on this item would be minimal - perhaps in the $100,000 range. Staff is continuing to review financial terms with banks; however, and will make a recommendation by March 2009.
9.	Review opportunities to lease City-owned property for cell tower use	A staff team led by Community & Economic Development, and including Parks & Recreation, Fire, Street Transportation and Information Technology Services Department staff is reviewing opportunities for using City-owned properties for cell site leases. A recommendation is expected by March 2009.
10.	Seek naming rights, advertising and licensing opportunities to raise revenues	The Public Information Office is working with a multi-departmental team, reviewing opportunities to raise revenue through corporate marketing partnerships, advertising and sponsorships. The group is discussing approximately 18 different target areas, ranging from on-line advertising to naming rights for city facilities. The goal is to present the scope of work for a draft Request for Proposals for a marketing consultant to City Council by the end of January. The committee is looking at best practices nationally and learning about what has worked well in San Diego and other cities which have initiated major marketing programs.

Tax Collection Refinements

There are currently over 15,000 City tax accounts with either missing tax returns; delinquent tax payments; or past due tax license fees. In many of these cases, the business has collected the City tax from their customer, but has not remitted the tax to the City. The Finance Department is proposing a number of changes to enhance our ability to collect these delinquent amounts and to cover the additional cost of collecting these delinquencies.

Ÿ	A new computer system being implemented early in calendar year 2009 will give us the ability to automatically contact each delinquent taxpayer through a series of statements and letters beginning with accounts 15 days past due.

Ÿ	With the assistance of private sector collection agencies, we will use interactive voice response technology (IVR) to contact taxpayers and receive payments.

Ÿ	We will be submitting an ordinance for City Council approval as soon as possible in January to allow for a collection fee to be charged on all tax accounts delinquent 45 or more days. The fee is designed to cover the cost of the city collection and legal staff, as well as private sector collection services needed to pursue these delinquent accounts. We believe this collection fee will also be an additional incentive to pay taxes on time.

Ÿ	Tax liens will be filed on accounts that are delinquent 90 days.

It is estimated these additional steps will increase our collection rate by $650,000 per year.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends City Council authorization to enhance the City’s ability to collect delinquent City taxes by adding contacts to delinquent taxpayers, developing an ordinance to allow for a collection fee to be charged on all tax accounts delinquent 45 or more days and file tax liens on accounts delinquent 90 days.

1.	Council Information and Follow-up Requests/Consent Agenda/Call for E-Session
2.	Greater Phoenix Forward Project
3.	2008-09 Shop Phoenix Communication Plan
4.	Special Revenue Task Force Update

CITY COUNCIL REPORT
POLICY AGENDA
TO:	Rick Naimark Deputy City Manager	AGENDA DATE:		December 9, 2008
FROM:	Gloria Hurtado Human Services Director	ITEM:	2
SUBJECT:	GREATER PHOENIX FORWARD PROJECT

Official Web Site of the City of Phoenix