The Tempe City Council discussed a potential economic stimulus plan and formally recognized the city transit department for its efforts in reducing air pollution at a meeting Thursday evening.
The Maricopa Association of Governments' staffers in Washington, D.C., are reporting talks of an economic stimulus package to be brought before Congress early next year, said Amber Wakeman, Tempe's government relations director.
The package would allocate part of the $700 billion bailout package passed this fall to local government agencies for the funding of public works and infrastructure projects in the hopes of providing Americans with jobs.
Wakeman and Public Works Manager Glenn Kephart discussed the possibility with the council, which set aside the Mill Avenue and Lake District Committee meeting in January as a time to allocate funding, pending the package's approval by Congress.
“The idea is that we could improve infrastructure, put people to work and stimulate the economy,” Kephart said.
Councilman Ben Arredondo said he hoped to use the funding as an opportunity to work on public works projects like roads and bridges in Tempe, rather than as a stopgap to the budget shortfall.
“I'm in favor of improving our infrastructure, rather than giving money back to [city departments],” Arredondo said.
The budget shortfall was one topic noticeably absent from meeting minutes, as the council has planned to meet at the Tempe Public Library on the morning of Dec. 1 to make final decisions on which departments, employee positions and city services to cut.
The city's transit department, Tempe in Motion, was recognized for its efforts that led the Maricopa Association of Governments to grant its Livable Cities Award to Tempe.
The association bestows the award to cities in Maricopa County that have made successful efforts to reduce air pollution.
The award was the culmination of a 10-year program that built up bus routes, pedestrian paths and bike lanes throughout Tempe, said Vice Mayor Shanna Ellis. She also said marketing and advertising campaigns by Tempe in Motion also helped increase the public transit and reduced air pollution.
“The purpose of these programs is to cut down on air pollution by encouraging citizens to use alternative forms of transportation,” Ellis said.
Reach the reporter at derek.quizon@asu.edu.
