Attachment A - SW Excise Tax Outreach.pdf
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ATTACHMENT A Stormwater Excise Tax Outreach and Communication Representatives from the Stormwater Management Program comprised of staff from the Office of Environmental Programs, Planning and Development, Street Transportation, and Water Services Departments, conducted extensive public outreach to present information, answer questions, and obtain feedback for the proposed increase to the Stormwater Excise Tax (SET). During the months of March – June 2023, the representatives engaged in the following efforts: Budget Hearings Staff participated in all 12 budget hearing meetings with an informational table containing a SET fact sheet and educational materials. https://www.phoenix.gov/budgetsite/Documents/2023_City_of_Phoenix_Budget_Heari ng_Location_List.pdf Public Community Meetings Staff from the Stormwater Management Program conducted a joint presentation with the Water Services Department at the following seven meetings: Date Location Time Format April 27 Virtual 6:00 pm English May 4 Paradise Valley Community Center 6:00 pm English & Spanish May 9 Devonshire Senior Center 6:00 pm English & Spanish May 15 Virtual 6:00 pm Spanish May 23 Maryvale Community Center 6:00 pm English & Spanish May 25 South Mountain Community Center 6:00 pm English & Spanish June 10 Burton Barr Library 11:00 am English & Spanish Video recordings of public meetings in English and Spanish are available on www.phoenix.gov/proposedrates. Village Planning Committees (VPCs) Meetings Staff from the Stormwater Management Program conducted a joint presentation with the Water Services Department at all 15 village planning committee meetings: Date Village Type of Meeting March 20 Laveen VPC Virtual March 21 Estrella Village VPC Virtual March 28 Alhambra VPC Virtual April 3 Encanto VPC In-person April 4 Desert View VPC In-person April 11 South Mountain VPC In-person Date Village Type of Meeting April 12 Maryvale VPC In-person April 13 North Gateway VPC In-person April 17 Central City VPC In-person April 19 North Mountain VPC In-person April 20 Deer Valley VPC In-person April 24 Ahwatukee Foothills VPC In-person May 1 Paradise Valley VPC In-person May 2 Camelback East VPC In-person May 9 Rio Vista VPC In-person Meetings By Request Date Requestor Location Time April 20 City Council District 3 Shadow Mountain Senior Center 8:30 am April 24 City Council District 1 Deer Valley Community Center 6:00 pm May 22 Arizona Chapter of Associated General Contractors / City of Phoenix Joint Cooperative Committee Phoenix City Hall and Virtual 3:00 pm May 30 City Council District 4 Encanto Park Clubhouse 6:00 pm May 31 City Council District 1 Cholla Public Library 10:00 am June 7 City Council District 4 Bret Tarver Learning Center 6:00 pm Public Education and Communication • Website - A new webpage was created and continuously updated to provide meeting information and detailed information on the proposed rate increases and SET: phoenix.gov/proposedrates. • E-mail address was advertised to the public for comments and concerns: wsd.esd.outreach@phoenix.gov • Fact Sheet – One-page informational sheet with versions in English and Spanish, explaining the history of the SET, new and expanded permit requirements requiring the increase, and proposed new rates. • Report – Per Administrative Regulation 1.98, a report was prepared by staff to explain and justify the increased fee. This comprehensive report is available in both English and Spanish: https://www.phoenix.gov/public-notice-tax-and-fee-changes Media and Public Outreach • 60-Day Notice of Intent to Modify a Fee – https://www.phoenix.gov/public-notice-tax-and-fee-changes - March 2023 • Social Media – Twitter, Facebook, NextDoor • Phoenix At Your Service (PAYS) Article (English and Spanish) – April and May • City Services Bill Messages - April and May • Postcard - Sent to all residential and commercial customers who receive their City Services bill by mail in English and Spanish • Direct E-mail - E-mail sent to all customers who receive their bill electronically • City of Phoenix News Release – March 17, 2023 • Newsletter articles in the Library and Neighborhood Services publications • Phoenix City Hall elevator and lobby digital displays • Utilized a website public comment form asking people for feedback about the proposed rate increase. • 15-Day Notice of intent to Modify a Fee – June 13, 2023 Media Promotions • North Central News – digital story on March 1, 2023 • Public Now – digital story on March 16, 2023 • All About Arizona News – digital story on March 17, 2023 • KTAR – digital story on March 19, 2023 • Phoenix Independent – digital story on March 19, 2023 • ABC15 Arizona – television interview and digital story on March 20, 2023 • Fox10 – news coverage and digital story on March 20, 2023 • Your Valley – digital news story on March 20, 2023 • AZ Family – digital news story on March 20, 2023 • District 3 Newsletter – March 30, 2023 • Foothills Focus – digital story on April 27, 2023 • AZ PBS – digital news story on April 27, 2023 • Arizona Capital Times – digital story on April 28, 2023 • 12 News – digital article on May 3, 2023 Overall Feedback Between March and June 2023, staff reached over 400 participants at public meetings which generated 33 written and verbal comments. Overall, there was an understanding of the need to fund this permit-required program. Most of the comments and questions from in-person meetings centered around regulatory and permit requirements, city budget structure, flood mitigation, stormwater harvesting, and green stormwater initiatives. Written comments submitted through the website were more procedural in nature with residents requesting clarification on regulatory requirements and use of funds while also expressing concern about inflationary pressures.