Planning for effects of coronavirus on city budget - City of Tempe
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May 2020 Making Waves in the Desert
IN THIS ISSUE
2020 CENSUS BUSINESS FREE COUNSELING ARTS GRANTS
ASSISTANCE
Planning for effects of coronavirus on city budget
The City of Tempe is keeping residents informed about the budget impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and how
they will be able to participate in budget discussions.
In mid-March, the city closed facilities and canceled events, programs and classes, which left about 495 active
temporary employees without jobs to do in the near term. These temporary employees are a valuable part of city
operations because they provide a cost-effective, streamlined way to staff the city’s many events and programs.
These employees have been temporarily furloughed until city operations return to normal. When needed again in
the future, they will not need to re-apply for their positions.
About 200 additional active temporary employees have been retained at this time because they still have work
to do for city departments.
The City Council was scheduled to meet April 22 to begin considering budget impacts of the coronavirus
pandemic through the remainder of fiscal year 2019-20 and fiscal year 2020-21, which begins July 1.
All cities anticipate losing an undetermined amount of sales tax and hotel bed tax revenues with the closure
of businesses and reductions in travel. It is also not yet known the amount of any state or federal financial
assistance that any Arizona city may receive.
Tempe takes pride in a collaborative and thoughtful approach to planning city budgets that incorporates
feedback from employees and residents at every stage.
Three in-person budget meetings and an online input opportunity took place this past fall and winter. Community
members can track the progress of the ongoing budgeting effort, including details about future public meetings
and input opportunities, at tempe.gov/BudgetPlan.
Connect, move and learn – virtually!
with Tempe at Home
Parks and Recreation, Tempe Public Library, Tempe PRE, Arts Engagement, Tempe
History Museum and Tempe Center for the Arts are bringing you Tempe at Home,
a collection of digital content that mirrors many city classes and offerings. Follow
their social media channels for daily activity ideas, exercise videos, arts and crafts
instruction, learning tasks and more to help keep the family active and connected
during this time of physical distancing. Check out tempe.gov/TempeAtHome for
access to all virtual content.
Editor’s note: This issue of Tempe Today went to print on April 20 and is mailed throughout May. Please excuse any information
that may be outdated by the time you receive this newsletter. For the latest information on the city’s coronavirus response,
visit tempe.gov/coronavirus.
Free counseling and online
mental health resources
The city’s CARE 7 crisis response team is continuing
to support the community with its full range of
services during the coronavirus pandemic. In
addition, CARE 7 is also offering services specific
to the pandemic through a new effort called COVID
Care. They include:
• Online mental health resources. Community
members will find information about counseling
options, strategies for stress management, help
for families concerned about meeting basic needs,
connections to services for veteran and seniors, and
more.
• Free counseling. Tempe residents can receive free
stress management counseling through CARE 7’s
licensed counselors and social workers as well as
counseling interns from Arizona State University.
Up to three sessions are available focusing on
Shop Now. Save Local.
understanding stress, developing coping skills and COVID-19 has affected everyone, especially our local
finding hopeful solutions to manage life in the time businesses. The City of Tempe, Tempe Industrial
of coronavirus. Sessions are open to people age 18 Development Authority, Tempe Tourism Office,
and older. Call CARE 7 at 350-8004. Tempe Chamber of Commerce and Downtown
Tempe Authority have come together with an
• Help for teens and youth. CARE 7’s youth specialists innovative program to help local businesses stay
who normally work in Tempe high schools and afloat – and you can help. You can buy a support
middle schools are providing social and emotional voucher though Hownd, a Tempe-based company.
support to students via text, email and calls. It’s easy.
Find more information at tempe.gov/CARE7. Download the MyHownd app on your phone. Scroll
through deals offered by local companies and
pick one out. When you buy a gift card or support
voucher, you are helping to keep your favorite
Webinars for businesses businesses open and your neighbors employed.
The City of Tempe Economic Development Office You’re also getting something wonderful for yourself
is hosting regular webinars to help neighborhood – often at a great price.
businesses improve skills, learn about federal Tempe is working with local businesses to offer
and state relief programs, and make the most of vouchers to the community, paying for the service
community programs, such as the Hownd and fees that merchants would need to pay Hownd.
BestCompaniesAZ job resources. Check tempe.
gov/EconomicDevelopmentEvents to check for It will remind people that those businesses are
upcoming webinars. Businesses can also go to still open and potentially help them attract new
tempe.gov/coronavirus and click on For Business to customers. For more information, visit tempe.gov/
get information specific to their needs during this time. BuyNowSaveLocal.
2020 Census: respond now!
Due to impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the Census Bureau now will not knock
on doors until June 1. So now’s the time to self-respond to the count.
The U.S. Constitution mandates everyone living in the country gets counted every
10 years. If you don’t take part, a Census employee visits your residence to take
information about your household. To self-respond, use one of these options:
• If you received a paper questionnaire, fill it out and mail it back. Need help?
There are guides in 60 languages.
• Go to my2020census.gov and fill it out in one of 14 languages.
• Call a language line. A Census employee can take your information in 14 languages.
Phone numbers and help guides are listed at tempe.gov/census. If you have questions, contact Tempe city staff
at census@tempe.gov.Apply now for Tempe PRE Have an arts idea?
Tempe PRE, the city’s full-day preschool program, is Apply for a grant
continuing to accept applications for the upcoming The deadline for two of Tempe’s arts grants offerings
school year. All students must be age three or four is May 18 and virtual, one-on-one mentoring is
by July 31 and fully potty trained to be eligible for available to people who would like to submit.
preschool.
The new Museum Series will award up to $500
The program serves 360 children at 12 established for a community-hosted experience at Tempe
neighborhood schools in the Tempe Elementary and History Museum that incorporates a performance or
Kyrene school districts. Free, half-tuition and full- presentation and audience participation. These series
tuition options are available depending on eligibility must be highly creative with an emphasis on history,
requirements. arts and culture. Recipients will receive cash towards
Due to the high number of applications for financial their project, free space at the museum, audio-visual
assistance, the city will choose applicants by lottery. support, mentorship and marketing assistance. This
Families paying full tuition will be selected in the order series is open to artists, non-profits, local businesses
applications are received. and arts collectives.
For information about applying: tempe.gov/ The Tempe Creative Series will award up to $500
TempePRE. To contact staff: pre-k@tempe.gov or call to individual artists or artist teams with workshop
480-858-7735. ideas that will help other artists develop some
entrepreneurial savvy. The workshop concepts should
be hands-on, with guidance that can immediately be
put into practice by artists. These workshops are free
for artists to attend. This series is open to individual
artists or artists teams.
The submission deadline for Tempe’s other two grant
offerings, Vibrant City and Tempe Arts, has been
moved to July 6. Visit tempe.gov/ArtsGrants for all
submission information.
College Connect
offers info hub
for families
College Connect has
compiled all the information students and parents
Enjoy city parks while practicing need to stay on track with college and post-
physical distancing secondary education plans. Visit tempe.gov/
CollegeConnect.
City parks are open, but amenities are closed for now
and physical distancing guidelines are still in place.
However, there are plenty of options for enjoying Water conservation goes virtual
parks, as long as you are staying 6 feet apart and not Tempe Water Conservation is still helping residents
congregating in groups of 10 or more. Here are a few save water and money with one-on-one virtual
examples: consultations, digital resources, online landscape
Go fishing at Kiwanis Park or Tempe Town Lake. workshops and the WaterSmart Customer Portal.
Take your permitted boat or kayak out on Tempe Learn more at tempe.gov/conservation or call
Town Lake. 480-350-8351
Have a picnic lunch. Find a grassy area away from
others and enjoy being outdoors. Benches, tables and June is Garbologist Month
ramadas are closed so bring a blanket. Tempe’s garbology experts (Solid Waste staff) take
Move through the park. Go for a walk, a bike ride or pride in their work. Their efforts help keep Tempe
a jog. Leave plenty of space and give people a verbal clean by collecting solid waste and recycling each
heads-up as you pass them on trails and pathways. week. We know how special a neighborhood’s
Read, draw, relax. Find a secluded tree and set up an relationship can be with its “Garbologist” – even the
easel to draw, read a book or just enjoy the outdoors. smallest Tempe kids love to wave and watch them
Need indoor ideas too? Check out Tempe at Home at work! If this fits you and your neighbors, take a
virtual offerings at tempe.gov/coronavirus (click on moment to show your appreciation in June. Visit
the Things to Do section). tempe.gov/garbologist for ideas.Wipe out graffiti
Tempe is committed to removing graffiti on public property as soon
Tempe City Council as possible and encourages private property owners to do the same.
Here’s how you can get rid of graffiti:
Tempe’s Graffiti Referral Program – remove graffiti from your home
or business by using Graffiti Protective Coatings, Inc., a licensed,
bonded and insured removal service. Find out more at tempe.gov/
OpenMind.
Tempe 311 – report graffiti on city property to Tempe 311 by using
the phone app, calling 480-350-4311 or visiting tempe.gov/311.
Tempe’s golf courses are open
Ken McDonald and Rolling Hills golf courses are open for play.
Pre-book tee times at tempe.gov/GolfTempe or by phone: Ken
Mark W. Mitchell McDonald at 480-350-5250 or Rolling Hills at 480-350-5275.
Mayor Pre-paying by phone prior to arriving at the course helps speed
up check-in. An onsite payment method is also available. Staff has
Lauren Kuby implemented social distancing guidelines to prioritize customer
Vice Mayor and staff safety.
Jennifer Adams
Councilmember New, centralized payment system
Tempe’s new payment system will allow you to pay for Kid Zone,
Robin Arredondo-Savage utilities and court fees in one place. It features enhanced security to
Councilmember protect your information. It’s mobile-friendly with text alerts and it
Arlene Chin offers online accounts, autopay and one-time pay. When Kid Zone
Councilmember re-opens, the new payment system will be in place. Look for more
information in the coming months at tempe.gov or in your utility bill.
Randy Keating
Councilmember Dump the Pump on June 18
Joel Navarro On June 18, join Tempe, the American Public Transportation
Councilmember Association and public transportation systems across the country,
in celebrating the 16th Annual National Dump the Pump Day. Tempe
residents are encouraged to leave their cars at home and take the
Andrew Ching bus, light rail, walk or bike – instead of driving.
City Manager Tempe makes it easy to dump the pump, with a comprehensive
multi-modal transportation system that includes more than 215
To contact the Mayor and Council, miles of bikeways, nine light
call 480-350-8110. rail stops, 16 bus routes,
June 2020 Items may three express routes, one
Check tempe.gov/clerk for be placed for
updated schedules of City
Mixed Bulk & Green Organics collection no free Flash route and six
earlier than free Orbit neighborhood
Council meetings and agendas Collection Schedule 10 days prior circulator routes. Tempe buses
or call 480-350-4311. Meeting and no later are wheelchair accessible
June 1-4
dates are subject to change. than 6 a.m. and have bicycle racks
June 8-11 on Monday of accommodating up to two
June 15-18 your collection
Meetings are aired live on bicycles.
June 22-25 week
Tempe 11 and streamed live at Riding public transit, biking
tempe.gov/tempe11. tempe.gov/smart 480-350-4311 and walking saves energy,
improves air quality and eases
RURAL RD
McCLINTOCK DR
traffic congestion. All Tempe
Tempe Today editor Nikki Ripley
PRIEST DR
McKELLIPS RD buses run on alternative
nikki_ripley@tempe.gov fuel or are hybrid and the
480-350-8846 or CURRY RD
480-350-8400 (TDD) TEMPE TOWN
light rail system produces
62 percent less greenhouse
LAKE
RIO SALADO PKWY
Area A Area B
UNIVERSITY DR
gas emissions than single
APACHE BLVD
occupancy vehicles. For more
BROADWAY RD
information, visit tempe.gov/
RURAL RD
MILL AVE
TempeinMotion.
ALAMEDA DR
Area C Area D SOUTHERN AVE
SUPERSTITION FWY
BASELINE RD
T DRYou can also read
