.
>>> WITH 28 THOUSAND HOMES TO BE
SOMEWHAT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF
50 TO 70,000 IN GROWTH.
>> LOCAL LEADERS FROM ALL OVER
THE STATE GATHER IN TUCSON FOR
AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
>> PROJECTED TO BE 20,000 HOMES,
WITH SOMEWHERE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF 50 TO 70 IN
GROWTH.
>>> HOW THE LEAGUE OF ARIZONA
CITIES AND TOWNS CONNECT
COMMUNITIES.
>> THIS IS OVER A THOUSAND
PEOPLE ATTENDING THIS CONFERENCE
EVERY YEAR.
AND IT REALLY HAS BECOME A MUST
ATTEND FOR PEOPLE IN THE
GOVERNMENT SECTOR.
>> FROM THE J.W. MARRIOTT TUCSON
AND SPA RESORT, THIS IS "ARIZONA
WEEK."
>>> HELLO, AND THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
WE'RE IN WEST TUCSON AT THE J.W.
MARRIOTT TUCSON SPA, THIS WEEK
LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE ARE
HERE FOR THEIR ANNUAL CONCERTS.
ARIZONA, 91 MUNICIPALITIES ARE
REPRESENTED.
HERE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE
LEAGUE OF CITY AND TOWNS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YES, MY PLEASURE.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THE
SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO THE
PEOPLE WHO COME HERE, THE
MUNICIPALITIES THIS WEEKEND.
>> WELL, THIS CONFERENCE HAS
REALLY GROWN OVER THE YEARS TO
BE THE PREMIER GOVERNMENT
CONFERENCE, NOT JUST CITY AND
TOWN, BUT PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY FROM
THE STATE AND COUNTY
GOVERNMENTS, FROM BASICALLY
TODAY EVEN FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
THEY ALL LIKE TO COME HERE
BECAUSE THIS IS SORT OF WHERE
YOU CAN CATCH UP ON EVERYTHING
THAT IS GOING ON IN THE PUBLIC
SECTOR AT EVERY LEVEL OF
GOVERNMENT.
AND IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE NUMBER
OF CLASSES, BREAKOUT SESSIONS
THAT WE HAVE, WE USUALLY HAVE
FIVE OR SIX GOING AT ANY ONE
TIME AND FOUR OF THOSE SESSIONS
OVER THE COURSE OF THIS
CONFERENCE.
SO THERE ARE MANY, MANY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE TO
REALLY DRILL DOWN IN THE THINGS
THAT ARE CHALLENGING, THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND HAVE ANSWERS AND
OF COURSE HAVE LOTS OF
OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH OTHER
CITY LEADERS WHO ARE GOING
THROUGH THE SAME CHALLENGES THAT
THEY'RE EXPERIENCING.
THIS IS OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE
ATTENDING THIS CONFERENCE EVERY
YEAR.
AND IT'S REALLY BECOME A
MUST-ATTEND FOR PEOPLE IN THE
GOVERNMENT SECTOR.
>> WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF
SMALLER GOVERNMENTS HERE WHO
WILL SAY THEY FEEL SUPPORTED BY
BEING EXPOSED TO ALL OF THESE
OTHER BIG CITIES.
IS THAT WHAT YOU WOULD SAY IS
MAYBE THE GOAL OF SOMETHING LIKE
THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT IS ONE OF
THE GOALS.
BUT THERE IS ALSO THE VALUE BIG
CITIES GET OUT OF THIS, TOO,
WHICH IS TO TALK TO OTHER CITIES
AND SMALL CITIES WHO ARE HAVING
THE SAME CHALLENGES THEY ARE
JUST ON A DIFFERENT SCALE.
BUT WE TRY TO HAVE ENOUGH
PROGRAM VARIETY THAT IT APPEALS
TO EVERYONE, WHETHER YOU'RE FROM
A LARGE CITY OR SMALL CITY.
AND BY AND LARGE WHEN YOU GET TO
THE ISSUES THAT DEAL WITH
MUNICIPALITIES AND SHARED
REVENUE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AND TRANSPORTATION THOSE ARE ALL
THE SAME ISSUES THAT EVERY CITY
FACES THEY'RE JUST SCALED A
LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING
ON YOUR POPULATION AND LAND MASS
SIZE.
>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
ARIZONA'S OVERALL ECONOMIC
PICTURE?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S BETTER
THAN IT WAS AND IT'S NOT WHERE
IT SHOULD BE YET.
IT'S RECOVERING BUT IT'S
RECOVERING AT A SLOWER PACE.
AND ESPECIALLY WE'RE SEEING THAT
AT THE CITY AND TOWN LEVEL.
THERE ARE MANY CITIES THAT HAD
MAJOR CUTBACKS DURING THE HEIGHT
OF THE RECESSION.
AND THEY'RE STILL FOR THE BACK
TO PRE-RECESSION LEVELS IN THEIR
BUDGETS OR EVEN IN THEIR
STAFFING LEVELS.
PART OF THAT HAS CAUSED PEOPLE
TO HAVE TO DO MORE WITH LESS, BE
MORE EFFICIENT AND INNOVATIVE
AND THAT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN
BETTER USE OF TAX DOLLARS SO
THAT WAS NOT ALL ENTIRELY BAD.
BUT STILL WHEN THE PROGRAMS ARE
CUT AND NOT BROUGHT BACK YOU
KNOW THE PUBLIC MISSES OUT ON
SOMEWHERE THINGS.
SO I THINK WE'RE CAUTIOUS THAT
THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER.
BUT WE ALSO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
SOME OF THE POLICY DECISIONS
MADE AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT ARE
STILL AFFECTING CITIES AND
TOWNS.
>> A BIG COMPONENT OF THIS
CONFERENCE IS TALKING
LEGISLATIVELY WHAT THE
LEGISLATOR CAN DO FOR A
COMMUNITY.
>> RIGHT.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE
MAJOR TAKEAWAY FROM THOSE
DISCUSSIONS AT THIS POINT?
>> YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER ONE
THING THAT WE WOULD TELL THE
LEGISLATURE IF THEY WOULD JUST
DO NOTHING AS FAR AS CITIES AND
TOWNS ARE CONCERNED.
BECAUSE USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN CITY AND TOWN LEGISLATION
COMES UP, IT'S SOMEBODY THAT
WANTS TO LIMIT AUTHORITY AND
TAKE AWAY BENEFITS, BENEFIT
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS.
SO FOR THE MOST PART WE OPERATE
QUITE WELL ON OUR OWN AND WE
LIKE TO DO THAT.
WE PROVIDE VERY DIFFERENT
SERVICES THAN THE STATE AND
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
AND GENERALLY, WE OPPOSE
LEGISLATION RATHER THAN RUN
LEGISLATION.
SO IT -- WE'RE TENDING TO PLAY
DEFENSE MOST OF THE TIME.
SO THE NUMBER ONE ADVICE I WOULD
SAY IS IF YOU SEE A BILL THAT
AFFECTS CITIES AND TOWNS IT'S
PROBABLY NOT SOMETHING THAT IS
DOING MORE GOOD FOR CITIES AND
TOWNS THAN THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE
IN THEM.
>> IS THERE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN
LEGISLATORS AND CITY LEADERS
THEN?
>> IN MANY WAYS IT'S A MATTER OF
JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING.
BECAUSE SO FEW STATE LEGISLATORS
HAVE HAD LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EXPERIENCE.
SO A LARGE PART OF WHAT MY STAFF
AND I END UP DOING IS SIMPLY
EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT HERE IS
HOW YOUR CITY OPERATES, HERE IS
WHAT THEY DO AND GET THEIR
REVENUE.
BECAUSE WE GET DIFFERENT REVENUE
FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES THAN THE
STATE GETS REVENUE.
SO THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF THE
IMPACT OF THEIR DECISIONS.
SO A LOT OF WHAT WE DO IS
EXPLAIN WHAT AND HOW WE'RE DOING
IT TO STATE LEGISLATORS.
>> EARLIER YOU MENTIONED
TRANSPORTATION.
HOW BIG A COMPONENT IS THE
TRANSPORTATION FOR A LARGE CITY
OR SMALL CITY?
>> IT IS CENTRAL TO EVERYTHING
THAT GOES ON IN CITIES AND
TOWNS.
AND FOR YEARS WE HAVE HAD THE
BATTLE ABOUT THE FUNDS AND THE
CONSTANT REDUCTION OF FUNDS,
DIVERTING THAT L-TAFF AND OTHER
FUNDS ELIMINATED THAT USED TO
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR MASS
TRANSIT OR FOR DIAL-A-RIDE OR
LOCAL BUS SERVICES, THINGS LIKE
THAT.
SO NOT ONLY ROAD MAINTENANCE AND
STREET MAINTENANCE BUT ALSO THE
OTHER KIND OF TRANSPORTATION
SOURCES HAVE BEEN DRYING UP OVER
TIME.
AND THAT REALLY DOES AFFECT THE
QUALITY OF LIFE, LIVEABILITY OF
COMMUNITIES.
>> SPEAK OF QUALITY OF LIFE
EDUCATION CONTINUES TO LAG IN
THE NUMBERS THROUGHOUT THE
STATE.
HOW DO YOU SORT OF RALLY THE
LEGISLATORS TO TELL PEOPLE THAT
THIS IS STILL THE PLACE TO MOVE
TO?
>> WELL, EDUCATION IS VITALLY
IMPORTANT TO THE HEALTH OF OUR
TOWNS.
BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT
CITIES HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER IN
ARIZONA.
SO I THINK THE MOST WE CAN DO IN
EDUCATION IS TO HELP RALLY
PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR QUALITY
EDUCATION AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT
HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS REALLY
WHERE CITIES AND EDUCATION
INTERFACE.
>> BENTON IS A SMALL TOWN ALONG
INTERSTATE 10 AND THE POTENTIAL
FOR GROWTH IS LOOMING.
TONY KING, THE MAYOR OF BENSON
AND BILL STEVENS, THE CITY
MANAGER.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> BILL, LET'S START WITH YOU.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE
ECONOMY IN BENSON?
>> LIKE MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS
AMERICA, THE DOWNTURN IN OUR
COUNTRY HAS IMPACTED BENSON, AS
WELL.
BENSON IS A SMALL COMMUNITY.
SO THE DIVERSITY OF BUSINESSES
IS NOT AS GREAT AS IN A LARGER
COMMUNITY.
SO IT PAID A HEAVY TOLL
INITIALLY.
THE GOOD NEWS IS, OUR ECONOMY IS
BEGINNING TO SLOWLY RECOVER,
EVEN GETTING BETTER HERE IN THE
LAST YEAR AND A HALF.
AND IT'S ALSO IMPROVING IN
BENSON, AND THE EXCITING PART
ABOUT BENSON, RELATIVE TO THE
ECONOMY IS THAT IT'S KEY AND
LOCATED CENTRALLY RIGHT ON
INTERSTATE 10.
AND IT'S BETWEEN SIERRA VISTA
AND TUCSON.
SO YOU CAN GO IN EITHER
DIRECTION.
SO WE HAVE THE STATE PARK AND
HAVE A NUMBER OF VISITORS THAT
COME THERE.
SO OUR ECONOMY IS BEGINNING TO
IMPROVE QUITE A BIT.
AND I BELIEVE -- AND WE'LL TALK
A LITTLE LATER ABOUT SOME OF THE
THINGS GOING ON IN BENSON THAT I
THINK ARE BEGINNING TO IMPROVE
THE PROJECTED ECONOMY FOR THE
FUTURE, HOPEFULLY FOR THE NEXT
15 TO 20 YEARS AT LEAST.
>> MAYOR KING, YOU HAVE BEEN
THERE A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN
BILL.
>> YES, I HAVE.
>> YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE
AND I IMAGINE YOU'RE QUITE
HOPEFUL FOR THE SHORT-TERM AND
LONG-TERM?
>> OH, YES, IF YOU DON'T MIND ME
SAYING, IT'S BEEN MY DREAM FOR
YEARS.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WE HAD --
IN MID-2007 AND 2008 BEFORE THE
DOWNFALL OF THE ECONOMY, WE HAD
A DREAM OF THE COMMUNITY AND
THEN THE DOWNFALL CAME IN AND IT
ALL LEFT.
NOW, I'M IN MY 14th YEAR.
THE DREAM HAS COME BACK, AND I
BELIEVE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT IT
IS SOMETHING THAT WILL HAPPEN.
AND I THINK THAT IT WILL ENHANCE
THE COMMUNITY TO THE POINT WHERE
IT WILL BE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
>> YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE
TUSCAN STYLE LIVING.
I BELIEVE 28,000 HOMES IS THE
PROJECTION, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IT IS.
>> SLIGHTLY CONTROVERSIAL, THERE
IS A CONCERN OVER THE WATER
RESOURCES IN THAT COMMUNITY.
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE
REALLY EXCITED FOR WHAT THIS
COULD MEAN FOR THE FUTURE AND
ECONOMY AND OVERALL GROWTH OF
THE TOWN?
>> YES, AND ON THE WATER SIDE OF
IT, WE HAVE HAD MANY STUDIES
DONE ON THE WATER SIDE OF IT.
I'M VERY CONFIDENT AS MAYOR --
AND I WOULDN'T SAY IT UNLESS I
TRULY MEAN IT, THAT THE WATER IS
THERE.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE A
LASTING THING FOR BENSON.
VERSUS 60,000 HOMES AS
ORIGINALLY PLANNED DOWN TO
28,000, THERE WAS A HUGE
CONSERVE -- PART OF CONSERVING
WATER RIGHT THERE.
WE'RE BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE
IN WHAT WE'RE DOING SO THERE IS
A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WAS
ORIGINALLY PLANNED.
>> BILL RIGHT NOW THERE ARE
28,000 PEOPLE LIVING IN BENSON.
28,000 HOMES, COULD MORE THAN AT
LEAST DOUBLE THE POPULATION.
HOW DOES IT CHANGE THE DYNAMICS
OF THE TOWN?
>> THE DYNAMICS DO CHANGE, SUCH
AS IN THE CITY OF MARICOPA
COUNTY, THEY GREW TO A LITTLE
OVER 45,000 IN POPULATION AND
BENSON IS PROJECTED WITH 28,000
HOMES TO BE SOMEWHERE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF 50 TO 70,000
GROWTH, TOTAL POPULATION TO THE
TIME 15 TO 20 YEARS ELAPSES.
AND OF COURSE IT DEPENDS ON THE
TERMS OF THE ECONOMY IN HOW FAST
IT WILL OCCUR.
BUT NEVERTHELESS WE'LL CHANGE
THE DYNAMICS.
WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE PHONE
CALLS FROM POTENTIAL INVESTORS
AND BUSINESS OWNERS WHO WISH TO
COME TO TOWN.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
WE HAVE FOUR PART STORES THAT
SELL AUTOMOTIVE PARTS IN OUR
CITY.
I'M GETTING OTHER PARTS FROM THE
STORE COMPANIES THAT WISH TO
COME TO BENSON.
DESPITE THE COMPETITION THEY CAN
SEE THE POTENTIAL AND THE RISE
AND IMPACT.
MANY OF THEM WANT TO BE THERE.
>> MAYOR, WHO ARE YOU EXPECTING
TO COME?
ARE THESE RETIREES AND FAMILIES
WITH YOUNG CHILDREN?
>> I'M EXPECTING QUITE A BIT OF
RETIREES.
BUT I'M ALSO EXPECTING FAMILIES.
AND THAT IS MY DREAM, IS TO SEE
MORE FAMILIES COME TO BENSON.
I LOVE MY RETIREES.
I LOVE THEM.
THEY HAVE DONE ABSOLUTELY
AMAZING.
THEY COME IN EVERY YEAR FROM --
OCTOBER THROUGH --
>> ROUGHLY MARCH.
>> ROUGHLY MARCH.
>> STAY OVER INTO APRIL.
>> INTO APRIL.
AND I LOVE IT WHEN THE CITY
GROWS AND THEY COME IN.
I LOVE IT.
BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE
FAMILIES COME IN.
WITH THE HOUSES BEING BUILT, I
VISION JOBS COMING TO -- AS BILL
SAYS, WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF
CALLS ALREADY.
AND REMEMBER, THIS IS AT THE
BEGINNING STAGE.
AGAIN, DIVISION IS THERE TO SEE
WITH THE HOUSES, THE JOBS ARE
GOING TO BE THERE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE A
VARIETY OF PEOPLE THAT WILL BE
COMING.
BUT I'M HOPING THAT MORE
FAMILIES COME DOWN.
WE HAVE A GREAT -- ONE OF THE
BEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE
STATE AS YOU KNOW ALREADY.
THEY OUT-MATCHED BELL IN THE
LAST QUARTER.
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT AND
WE ENVISION MORE SCHOOLS BEING
BUILT.
AND OF COURSE OTHER THINGS BEING
BUILT IN BENSON.
SO I'M HOPING THAT WE HAVE A LOT
MORE FAMILIES COME IN.
>> AND BILL, YOU HAVE ALREADY
RECEIVED RECOGNITION FROM THE
TUCSON COMMUNITY.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN
TUCSON AND DRIVE HOME TO BENSON
BECAUSE IT'S GETTING OUT OF THE
CITY LIFE.
>> SURE, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, ARIZONA STATE HAS HAD
AN INFLUX OF RESIDENTS, MANY OF
WHOM CAME FROM CALIFORNIA, FOR
EXAMPLE.
IN CALIFORNIA, AND I'VE LIVED
THERE -- IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO
COMMUTE TWO TO THREE HOURS ONE
WAY.
AND FORTUNATELY THAT'S NOT THE
CASE HERE FOR SOMEONE TO LIVE IN
BENSON AND COMMUTE, SAY TO
TUCSON.
IT'S APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR.
THERE IS IMPROVEMENT RIGHT NOW
BY THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, BETWEEN THE
EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND LANES
BETWEEN TUCSON.
SO IT'S JUST GOING TO GET BETTER
OVER TIME.
INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT THAT INFLUX OF
INDIVIDUALS.
BUT TO GET A JOB IN EITHER IS
YOUR VISTA -- IN SIERRA VISTA,
SO THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DO THIS
EVEN BEFORE GROUND BREAKS.
>> I WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE THIS
IS NOT JUST A SUDDEN 28,000
HOMES COMING IN.
THIS IS OVER A 20-YEAR PERIOD.
SO WE ARE VERY VERY CAUTIOUS ON
HOW WE DO THIS.
WE'RE BEING VERY RESILIENT IN
MAKING SURE WE MAKE ALL THE
RIGHT CHOICES.
AND I FEEL THAT IF WE DO IT
RIGHT THIS FIRST TIME WHEN
SOMETHING ELSE COMES IN WE LEARN
AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE GOT IT RIGHT THROUGHOUT.
>> OKAY, NOT RULING OUT THE
SMALL TOWN CHARM.
MAYOR, AND THE ADMINISTRATOR,
BILL STEVENS, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.
>>> DOUGLAS IS A BORDER TOWN
WHOSE FISCAL HEALTH IS DEPENDENT
UPON THE ECONOMY.
>> THERE IS NEGATIVE NEWS COMING
OUT OF THE BORDER TOWNS RIGHT
NOW, THE BANKS, THE HOSPITAL,
LET'S START WITH THE HOSPITAL.
HOW DO YOU SEE IT AS AN
IMMEDIATE IMPACT TO THE
COMMUNITY?
>> OBVIOUSLY, WE SEE IT AS AN
IMMEDIATE IMPACT, WE NO LONGER
HAVE EMERGENCY SERVICES.
FROM THE HOSPITAL PERSPECTIVE,
IT'S NOT SIGNIFICANT.
THEY WOULD NOT SEE AS MANY
PATIENTS, PROBABLY AVERAGING
BETWEEN TWO TO THREE PATIENTS A
DAY IN TERMS OF STAYING AT THE
HOSPITAL.
AS MOST OF THEM EITHER TRAVEL TO
BISBEE TO SIERRA VISTA AND
ULTIMATELY TO TUCSON TO RECEIVE
THEIR CARE.
THAT IS FROM AN ACUTE CARE
PERSPECTIVE.
OBVIOUSLY, FROM A STANDPOINT OF
THE HOSPITAL CLOSING IT REALLY
GIVES US A SENSE OF INSECURITY.
A SENSE OF REALLY NOT HAVING
OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE THAT
WE USED TO HAVE IN THE PAST.
AND IT ALSO CREATED AN IMPACT
FOR US TRANSPORTING THE PATIENTS
OUT OF TOWN TO THE CLOSEST
FACILITY WHICH IS BISBEE.
AND ULTIMATELY IF WE NEED TO
TAKE THEM THE SERVICE THAT IS
WHAT THE IMPACT IS.
SO IT'S BASICALLY OUR TURNAROUND
TIME TO DELIVER THE PATIENTS AT
THE HOSPITAL AND BACK TO THE
STATION.
IT WENT FROM 30 MINUTES OR 20
MINUTES DOWN TO AN HOUR.
AND SO THAT IS CERTAINLY AN
IMPACT TO US.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO REACT AND
TRYING TO PREPARE OURSELVES
DEPENDING ON WHAT WE HAVE TO DO
IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
>> THE TOWN RECENTLY LOST A BANK
OR TWO.
WHAT HAPPENED THERE?
>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY, SOME OF THE
BANKS ARE CONCERNED IN TERMS OF
REALLY WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE
BANK -- OBVIOUSLY, WE DO A LOT
OF TRADE BACK AND FORTH.
LEGAL TRADE BACK AND FORTH.
THE ISSUE, THEY DIDN'T REALLY
HAVE THE RESOURCES TO TRACK THE
MONEY ALL THE WAY IN TERMS OF
NOT JUST THE PERSON BUT BEYOND
THAT, MAKING THE TRANSACTION.
AND IT REALLY BECAME A LIABILITY
FOR THEM, AND YET THE RETURN TO
REALLY PROTECT THEIR -- THE
RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT AND THE
EFFORT WAS REALLY NOT THERE.
SO AS A COMPANY, AS A
CORPORATION, THEY SAID WE
PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE
BANK BUSINESS IN THE BORDER.
SO THAT IS WHERE THEY RELOCATED
NOT ONLY OUT OF DOUGLAS BUT
SEVERAL COMMUNITIES IN ARIZONA.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY DID
THE SAME THING PRETTY MUCH IN
OTHER STATES.
SO IT OBVIOUSLY CREATED SOME
SORT OF INSECURITY AND HEY,
WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS INSTEAD OF
REALLY MOVING FORWARD.
BUT BASICALLY IT WOULD HAVE
REALLY PROVIDED THE FOLKS LEFT
BEHIND THE OTHER INSTITUTIONS
REALLY, THEY WERE ABLE TO PICK
UP MORE ACCOUNTS AND BE MORE
PROFITABLE THAN THEY WERE
BEFORE.
SO REALLY IT'S JUST A MATTER OF
-- JUST EVEN THINGS OUT FOR
THEM.
>> MAJOR GROCERY CHAIN PULLED
OUT A FEW YEARS BACK.
THEN THE BANKS, NOW THE
HOSPITALS.
THAT HAS TO BE TOUGH AS FAR AS
PROMOTING THE CITY.
SO WHAT DO YOU TELL PEOPLE THAT
IS POSITIVE THAT MAY MAKE PEOPLE
THINK WE DO WANT TO REINVEST IN
THAT TOWN?
>> WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE
THINGS IS WE HAVE TO BE
REALISTIC IN WHO WE ARE.
OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE
CITY, THE POPULATION 18,000
RESIDENTS.
I THINK THE BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR
US IS REALLY TO CONTINUE TO
FACILITATE CROSS-BORDER TRAFFIC.
WE ESTIMATE THAT OVER 70% OF OUR
CITY SALES TAX REVENUE COMES
FROM ACROSS THE BORDER.
SO THAT IS A BIG COMPONENT OF
THAT.
THE OTHER INDUSTRY THAT WE HAVE
WHICH IS NOT REALLY AN INDUSTRY
BUT A MAJOR SECTOR IN THE
ECONOMY, IT'S GOVERNMENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE GOVERNMENT
SPENDING IS NOT INCREASING.
IT'S ACTUALLY DECREASING AT A
LEVEL OF MUNICIPAL, STATE AND
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND WE'RE HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON
THAT INDUSTRY.
SO YOU LOOK AT PRIOR TO THE
RECESSION, A LOT OF FOLKS WERE
SEEING AN INCREASE IN TERMS OF
CITY SALES TAX, CONSTRUCTION, WE
DIDN'T SEE THAT.
WE WERE AT THE TAIL END OF THAT.
SAW A LITTLE BIT OF AN
IMPROVEMENT BUT WE REALLY DID
NOT SEE A WHOLE LOT.
NOW, MOVING FORWARD WE'RE SAYING
WELL, THE ECONOMY IS PICKING UP.
RIGHT NOW WE MAY SEE AN INCREASE
IN TERMS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
THE U.S.
BUT REALLY, IT'S COMPENSATED
AGAIN BY THE PESO DEVALUATION
ACROSS THE LINE.
SO NOW WE MAKE A REDUCTION IN
THE TERMS COMING ACROSS AND
SHOPPING DOUGLAS.
THAT WILL BE AN IMPACT.
WE FEEL THAT WE GET THE SHORT
END OF THE STICK, NOT ONLY WHAT
HAPPENS IN THE U.S. ECONOMY BUT
ALSO WHAT HAPPENS IN THE MEXICAN
ECONOMY.
>> YUMA IS KNOWN FOR ITS HEAT,
AGRICULTURE AND MILITARY.
AND SOME SAY IT'S MORE THAN A
PIT STOP TO SAN DIEGO.
>> DESCRIBE YUMA TO ME.
>> WELL, YUMA IS A COMMUNITY --
I'M ORIGINALLY FROM THE MIDWEST.
AND YUMA HAS REALLY GROWN TO BE
A BIG COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER IT STILL MAINTAINED THE
FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE.
PEOPLE IN YUMA WORKED TOGETHER
LIKE NO OTHER PLACE I'VE BEEN.
OBVIOUSLY, THE PATRIOTISM AND
THE SUPPORT OF THE MILITARY THAT
IS REALLY KIND OF THE HEART OF
THE COMMUNITY.
EVERYBODY WORKS TOGETHER IN A
VERY PATRIOTIC COMMUNITY.
>> YUMA OFTEN GETS A BAD RAP.
IF YOU WERE TO DESCRIBE WHAT IT
REALLY MEANS AND WHAT IT MEANS
FOR YOU?
>> IN THE CITY OF YUMA OUR
EMPLOYMENT RATE IS 70% -- WE
TALK ABOUT SAN LUIS, WHICH IS A
BORDER TOWN.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES THERE ARE
HIGHER.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE
REALLY IS THAT WE'VE TRIED TO
WORK ON IS WE BROUGHT IN A JOINT
EDUCATIONAL DISTRICT.
TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE IN THE
RIGHT JOBS.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THE OTHER
THING IS WE ARE A HUGE AG
COMMUNITY, $3.2 BILLION A YEAR
IN AG PRODUCE.
AND JUST THAT CYCLE OF THE
UNEMPLOYMENT HURTS US AND THAT
IS JUST KIND OF THE NATURE OF AG
COMMUNITIES.
OUR EMPLOYMENT IS MUCH BETTER
FROM APRIL WHEN THEY'RE IN FULL
SWING.
>> AND YOU ALSO MENTIONED 3%
GROWTH IN SOME AREAS?
>> YEAH, FOR THE PAST THREE
YEARS WE HAVE HAD A 3% GROWTH IN
SOME AREAS.
SO WE'VE PRETTY MUCH RECOVERED.
THE RETAIL IS THE HIGHEST IT HAS
EVER BEEN.
ALL THE AREAS HAVE REALLY
RECOVERED EXCEPT FOR
CONSTRUCTION, AND CONSTRUCTION
WAS WAY, WAY OUT THERE.
AND WE DON'T EXPECT TO COME
BACK.
EVEN THAT IS COMING BACK SOME.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING PRETTY
GOOD RIGHT NOW.
>> YUMA ALSO HAS ITS FAIR SHARE
OF WINTER VISITORS, HOW
IMPORTANT ARE THEY FOR YOU?
>> WELL, THAT IS OUR NUMBER TWO.
YOU KNOW, FOR OUR ECONOMY.
THE CITY OF YUMA GOES FROM ABOUT
100,000 TO PROBABLY BEEN 150 TO
160,000.
AND THEN THE WHOLE AREA PROBABLY
INCREASES POPULATION, BY ABOUT
80 TO 90,000.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY BRING IN A HUGE,
HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO THE
ECONOMY.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL WEATHER IN YUMA
IN THE WINTER.
AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS ARE
HAPPENING ALL WINTER, SO THEY
ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR
ECONOMY COMING IN FROM CANADA
AND ALL OVER THE U.S.
>> AND THE MARINE CORPS STATION,
REALLY IMPROVING THE AREA --
WHERE WOULD YOU BE WITHOUT
MILITARY INSTALLATION, PERIOD?
>> RIGHT, WHEN YOU COME TO YUMA,
WE'LL SHOW YOU THE CITY OF YUMA
AIRPLANE AND TELL YOU HOW WE
BROUGHT BACK THE MARINE CORPS
AIR STATION AFTER IT HAS BEEN
SHUT DOWN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY THE HEART
OF THE COMMUNITY.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SO
SUPPORTIVE OF THE MILITARY, IT'S
A FIRST BASE TO GET THE NEW F-35
JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER.
AND NOW IT'S THE FIRST PLACE TO
HAVE AN OPERATIONAL SQUADRON.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE MARINES
THERE AND THE THINGS THAT THEY
DO.
ALL THE TRAINING THAT GOES ON
THERE WITH WEAPONS AND TACTICS
AND CONSTRUCTION COURSE.
AND IT'S THE BUSIEST BASE IN THE
MARINE CORPS.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
WOULDN'T THINK OF YUMA FOR SO
MANY DIFFERENT FACETS OF THE
ENVIRONMENT, LIFE-STYLE.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THAT?
>> I WOULD SAY COME AND VISIT.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING AND PUT IN
ABOUT $10 MILLION INTO A RIVER
FRONT.
THREE NEW BEACHES.
WE HAVE WETLANDS, BEAVER, A LOT
OF PEOPLE COME THERE YOU WOULD
NOT THINK.
BUT THEY COME THERE TO DO BIRD
WATCHING.
WE HAVE THE YUMA TERRITORIAL
PRISON, WHICH THE CITY NOW RUNS,
QUARTER MASTER DEPOT.
TONS OF GOLF COURSES, SO A LOT
OF THINGS HAPPEN THERE.
PEOPLE ARE SWIMMING ON THE RIVER
ALL THE TIME.
IN THE WINTER WE HAVE THE BLUES
FESTIVAL.
THERE ARE JUST A LOT OF THINGS
GOING ON.
PEOPLE NEED TO GET OFF THE
INTERSTATE AND COME AND SEE WHAT
IT IS ABOUT.
>> IN BETWEEN THE GRAND CANYON
AND FLAGSTAFF, PAGE MAY BE A NEW
THING FOR MANY.
HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE PAGE TO
PEOPLE?
>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL TIME RIGHT
ON THE STATE LINE OF UTAH.
WE HAVE LAKE POWELL, THE TOUR I
AM COMMUNITY.
>> #,000 PEOPLE --
>> DESCRIBE THE SITUATION, THE
RETIREES --
>> WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF
RETIREES, FAMILY-ORIENTED, THE
SERVICE COMMUNITY.
>> AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE MINES STILL,
IN COLORADO.
HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR
COMMUNITY?
>> WE'RE ON THE SHORES OF LAKE
POWELL, IT IS IN OUR WATER
SYSTEM BUT SHOULD DISSIPATE
BEFORE IT EVEN COMES TO PAGE.
>> IS THAT A CONCERN IN YOUR
COMMUNITY?
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED
BUT WE'RE NOT CONCERNED.
>> SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THE
LEAGUE OF ARIZONA AND CITIES AND
TOWNS, HOW DOES THAT HELP MAYBE
NETWORK YOU WITH OTHER CITY
LEADERS AND EXPOSE YOU TO THE
COMMUNITIES?
>> I REALIZE COMING TO THESE
THINGS, ARIZONA IS TWO HOURS
NORTH OF FLAGSTAFF.
PEOPLE THINK THAT FLAGSTAFF IS
THE END OF THE STATE.
>> OR PAGE.
>> OR PAGE, SO I LIKE TO REMIND
PEOPLE PAGE IS UP HERE, AND GET
DOWN HERE, WE'RE FOUR HOURS FROM
THE CAPITAL.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE PEOPLE THAT WE
NORMALLY SEE.
>> ARE YOU ABLE TO LEARN A LOT
ABOUT THE WAY CITIES AND TOWNS
RUN?
>> THAT IS ONE OF OUR THINGS,
WHAT WE CALL BEST PRACTICES,
WHAT IS WORKING IN YOUR TOWN AND
OUR TOWN.
WE CAN'T COPY ALL THE ORDINANCES
BUT WE CAN FIND THE ONES THAT
WORK FOR OUR TOWN.
>> WHAT SORTS OF THINGS IS PAGE
EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW?
ARE THERE GROWTH, CHALLENGES?
>> OUR INTERNET CAPABILITIES
HAVE NOT BEEN THE BEST.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON BRINGING
INFRASTRUCTURE TO PAGE.
>> FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY WANT TO
VISIT PAGE WHAT IS THERE FOR US
TO SEE?
>> WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL THINGS.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS IS
HORSESHOE BAND, WE TALK ABOUT
THE GRAND CANYON.
THE PICTURE IS ACTUALLY
HORSESHOE BEND, WHICH IS
ACTUALLY IN PAGE.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STILL
RECOVERING FROM THE RECESSION,
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE
ECONOMY?
>> WE'RE A TOURISM ECONOMY AND
GET LOTS OF EUROPEAN AND ASIAN
TOURISTS.
WE DO VERY WELL, SINCE THE
AMERICAN DOLLAR IS DOWN WE'RE
DOING REALLY GOOD WITH FOREIGN
TOURISTS.
>> ANY PROJECTIONS FOR GROWTH IN
THE NEXT YEAR OR SO?
>> WE'RE PRETTY LANDLOCKED SO I
DON'T SEE A LOT OF GROWTH AS FAR
AS RESIDENTS.
BUT WE NEED WORK ON AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND GET SOME YOUNG
PROFESSIONALS BACK IN THE TOWN.
>> BEING NEXT TO THE NAVAJO
RESERVATION ARE THERE CHALLENGES
YOUR TOWN FACES?
>> WE ARE A BORDER TOWN, AND
AGAIN THAT IS FEDERAL LAND.
SO AGAIN WE'RE SURROUNDED BY THE
FEDERAL LAND THAT MAKES US
LANDLOCKED.
AGAIN, THE RESERVATION IS ONE OF
THEM.
WHAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO IS
REACH OUT TO TUBA CITY.
I GREW UP IN PAGE, SO I WRESTLED
WITH THEM IN HIGH SCHOOL.
>> WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO GAIN
WHEN YOU REACH OUT?
>> WORKING TOGETHER, NO ALCOHOL
IS ALLOWED ON THE NAVAJO
RESERVATION.
SO WE GET A LOT OF THEIR
POPULATION IN TOWN.
>> TOURISM IS A BIG PART OF
PAGE'S ECONOMY.
ARE THERE APPROPRIATE
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE GROWTH
THAT YOU HAVE SEEN?
>> SO WE HAVE HAD THREE HOTELS
OPEN THIS LAST TWO YEARS, AND
WOULD LIKE TO OPEN MORE, AND THE
HOTEL SAN DIEGO, WE WOULD LIKE
TO GET MORE HOTELS IN THERE.
THE PRICES ARE KIND OF EXPENSIVE
BUT WE HOPE THE HOTELS WILL
BRING THE PRICE DOWN.
THERE IS SOME BEAUTIFUL SCENERY.
AND THE NEXT TOWNS ARE 160 MILES
AWAY.
WE HAVE LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL LAND
AROUND US FOR SCENERY.
LOTS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM.