Phoenix trailhead parking fees city council vote

[Moovyoaz]

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I would like to remind you that the Phoenix City Council votes this week on enforcing the Parks Board's recently approved fee to park at preserves. This would be yet another new fee placed upon the taxpayer in Phoenix, while very little of the burden to balance the budget has been felt within the city's organization -- all so Phoenix can afford an average cost of labor of almost $100,000

The council needs to see and hear from you about your position on this new fee before it is too late. Round up all your neighbors and come to the council's Formal meeting this Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the City Council Chambers (200 W. Jefferson Street). There will be an opportunity to speak if you would like, and even if you cannot stay until the end, you can fill out a card stating your position. Please see my column below that outlines why I will vote against this fee.
Respectfully,
Sal DiCiccio
Councilman District 6 - Ahwatukee, Arcadia, Biltmore and North Central
602-262-7491 council.district.6@phoenix.gov
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The latest citizen sacrifice: Hikers
The city of Phoenix is getting ready to bleed yet another passionate segment of its citizenry, hitting them up for a few more dollars because they truly care about a narrow aspect of city life and are willing to pay more for it.
Then the city will turn around and give that money to its employees. There is insufficient backbone to say no.

This time it’s the hikers
You’ve seen this movie before: Threaten to kill or severely cut some service with passionate (or desperate) supporters. Offer up a disaster scenario if more money isn’t produced. Then, after the initial wailing and public apoplexy, come up with a slightly lesser fleecing of this group to gain public compliance. Hey, it’s only a few bucks and it will keep our (fill in the blank) hiking trails, softball fields, library hours, etc. etc. etc.

The Oscar for this performance came during the budget hearings, where police, firemen, libraries and seniors centers were offered up as sacrifices to the fiscal gods if the public didn’t approve a $50 million food tax. Take a wild guess where all the public hearings were held? Libraries and senior centers, naturally.

The ugly truth is that the $100 million in new taxes and fees Phoenix has already imposed on its citizenry in the past seven months is not necessary to keep those services and protections. It’s to find enough money to pay for 14,000-plus union-represented employees who average $100,000 a year in compensation.

The parking fee – at trails you already pay for three ways – came about after the city drastically cut services and hours for parks, then gave the parks board the notion that if it didn’t raise money for the general fund, much more would be cut. That’s where the $5 a day parking fee came up (later reduced to $2 – hey, a comparative bargain). Then the city management promised that all the new dollars would go to parks.

First off, management can’t guarantee that. Even the Council can’t guarantee that.

On Sept. 15, the Phoenix City Council will be asked to approve enforcing this latest rummage through your pockets (3 p.m., Council Chambers, 200 W. Jefferson). No Council approval, no new fee. I say it’s time to separate the taxing-and-spending addict from its drug, which is your money.

If you want to learn more, contact us. Or show up at the Council meeting and tell Phoenix it has enough of your money already. And be sure to send this around to your email list.

Councilman Sal DiCiccio represents District 6, which includes Ahwatukee, Arcadia, Biltmore, East Camelback and North Central. He can be reached at council.district.6@phoenix.gov.

[Dave1]

@Bradshaws
Well then the next step would be meters run by a private company, such as Redflex.

[Bradshaws]

@Dave1
That is a perfect example. That made a ton of money "on paper" but when it came time to cash in the City of Phoenix made almost NOTHING. The City of Phoenix thought it was a winning lottery ticket but when they scratched it all off, they lost money.

[RowdyandMe]

Does not get much more "touristy" then first water

Come on now from First Water you have so many hikes to chose from. As a matter of fact the only person I saw on the trail was Zack and that doesn't count just because we were hiking together.

From Camelback and Piestewa how far can you hike with out seeing somebody?

[chumley]

@Widowmaker
Ignore the guy who prefers to drive a minimum of 6 hours before going on a hike.

[Nighthiker]

Why don't they put parking meters at the city owned golf courses ? Let those folks figure out how long to play a round.

[big_load]

@Bradshaws
Well then the next step would be meters run by a private company, such as Redflex.

By the way, it was announced today that American Traffic Solutions (oops, not Redflex) would have to void over 17,000 tickets NJ. In 2013, they reached a settlement that voided over 500,000 tickets.

[John9L]

I encourage everyone to call or email the city to voice your concerns if you have any. They included an email and phone number. Who knows if it will make any difference but it's worth a shot.

People who didn't go to the meeting can still give their two-cents' worth by calling 602-261-8318 or emailing pks.phoenix.mountain.preserves.parking@phoenix.gov

[FOTG]

@Widowmaker
Ok ok no judging heck I am going in Peralta myself this weekend...but hit first water in dec or jan might as well be camel back ;)

[RowdyandMe]

@friendofThundergod
I would like to do a shuttle. Leaving a car at First Water and being dropped off at Fr213 and hiking to Tortilla Ranch then jump on Peters Trail #105 to Charliebois Spring and the Dutchman back to First Water. And odds are I would never see another living person.

[jimmyjam]

Ridiculous. It's like that line in The Beatle's "Taxman".........If you take a walk I'll tax your feet....

[Thoreau]

One of these days people will wake up and rein in the absurd growth of governments at all levels. Increasing revenue for ANY aspect is not the answer so much as eliminating tax-eating crap that the government needn't be a part of in the first place. That list is far too hefty to try and type outbhere. =)

[outdoor_lover]

I would like to do a shuttle. Leaving a car at First Water and being dropped off at Fr213 and hiking to Tortilla Ranch then jump on Peters Trail #105 to Charliebois Spring and the Dutchman back to First Water. And odds are I would never see another living person.

Make sure you wait for another 110 Degree day to do that...And you need to take another person...Zack, are you in??? :STP: :kf:

[Bradshaws]

@Outdoor Lover NOPE!....I think I got that hiking in 100+ degree weather out of my system ;)

[Tough_Boots]

One of these days people will wake up and rein in the absurd growth of governments at all levels. Increasing revenue for ANY aspect is not the answer so much as eliminating tax-eating crap that the government needn't be a part of in the first place. That list is far too hefty to try and type outbhere. =)

you can't go anywhere without some generic anti-government rhetoric regurgitated at you these days...

or there's the fact that if these parks weren't publicly owned and maintained, they would be privately owned blights of development that we would never dream of hiking on. Just look at what Utah and Nevada are trying to do-- reclaim federal lands so that they can sell them to developers and corporate interest. What a disaster that would be!

I'm in support of charging a parking fee as long as there is a very inexpensive yearly pass option. If nothing else, it would limit some of the crowds and make it more pleasant.

[sidhayes]

I will not pay anything.

[Craigbhikin]

Give them an inch, and they will take a mile. Do we not pay taxes to cover parks like this, and Phoenix does not manage the money correctly so the people have to pay more taxes. On top of that how much will the city spend on covering this, and court fees for people that do not pay?

[Thoreau]

One of these days people will wake up and rein in the absurd growth of governments at all levels. Increasing revenue for ANY aspect is not the answer so much as eliminating tax-eating crap that the government needn't be a part of in the first place. That list is far too hefty to try and type outbhere. =)

you can't go anywhere without some generic anti-government rhetoric regurgitated at you these days...

or there's the fact that if these parks weren't publicly owned and maintained, they would be privately owned blights of development that we would never dream of hiking on. Just look at what Utah and Nevada are trying to do-- reclaim federal lands so that they can sell them to developers and corporate interest. What a disaster that would be!

I'm in support of charging a parking fee as long as there is a very inexpensive yearly pass option. If nothing else, it would limit some of the crowds and make it more pleasant.

Who said anything about the parks not staying publicly-managed? I sure didn't. (re-read the 'at all levels' portion for verification.)

The only reason the city gets away with dude poo mess claims of needing more money for the parks is because they're wasting other money elsewhere and the populace is too dense to realize it, or is unwilling to accept reality. The mention of municipal golf courses further back in the thread would be a fantastic example, but take your pick.

You can keep on supporting more fees for something you're already paying for, but I for one am sick of the fleecing. You're welcome to pay for my 'very inexpensive' pass though if you think it's worthwhile. =)

[Tough_Boots]

The only reason the city gets away with pumpkin claims of needing more money for the parks is because they're wasting other money elsewhere and the populace is too dense to realize it, or is unwilling to accept reality.

well, good luck working with the city to revamp their budget. That's going to be a long hard road but I commend your efforts-- or you could just complain about it instead, I guess ;)

[joebartels]

City park fees today, city toll roads tomorrow. Best kill it at the ground level.

[BEEBEE]

Or you can follow the Svengalis and cheer this on like a clapping seal