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Zach Colick
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| Joined: | Mon Jan 15th, 2007 |
| Location: | Sun City |
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Posted: Tue Jun 2nd, 2009 06:08 pm |
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Editor's note: The following story appears in the June 4 Scottsdale Independent. Post comments by hitting reply in the upper right-hand corner. Comments will be posted in an upcoming issue of the Scottsdale Independent.
Budget cuts force resource center to close
Neighborhood facility is second to close in 30 days
By Zach Colick
Independent Newspapers
Massive budget cuts for the 2009-10 fiscal year have force the city to close yet another Scottsdale neighborhood resource center, forcing many residents to search for other avenues to enjoy essential city services they have grown accustomed to receiving for many years.
The closure is the second city resource center to close within a month.
Kit Weiss, the city’s neighborhood services director said the closure means some may have to travel a short distance to receive services ranging from picking up passports and getting documents notarized to paying monthly utility bills and dropping off library materials.
One of Scottsdale’s two neighborhood resource centers closed at the end of April and the second — located in the Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road — closed May 30.
While residents can still receive services offered at various other city locations, Ms. Weiss said she sympathizes with those who will have to travel an extra few miles or even longer distances than they are accustomed.
“Serving our citizens is still our No. 1 priority,” Ms. Weiss said. “Access to these various services may not be quite as convenient, but they are still available at other locations. In some cases, they may be offered in the same building housed by our Granite Reef Resource Center.”
A list of locations where citizens can access services include:
• Passport Services: Scottsdale City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, by visiting http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/passports or calling 480-312-PASS.
Residents also have three other options, including the U.S. Post Offices, visiting http://www.usps.gov or calling 1-800-ASK-USPS; Arizona State University, 951 S. Mill Ave., Suite 198 (Student Services Building) or calling 480-965-0877; or visiting Phoenix Northeast Regional Court, 18380 N. 40th St., or calling 602-506-3360.
• Notary Services: Banks/financial institutions. Residents are encouraged to search the Internet or telephone books.
• Utility Bill Payments: By mail — City of Scottsdale, P.O. Box 1300, Scottsdale, AZ 85252-1300; by credit card — call 480-312-2461 or visit http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/utilities/utilityonline.asp; in person — visit 7447 E. Indian School Road, Suite 110, or 9379 E. San Salvador Drive, Suite 100; or call 480-312-2461 for more information.
• Library materials drop off: Visit the Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road. Other Scottsdale-area libraries include the Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.; Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th St.; Palomino Library, 12575 E. Via Linda; and Appaloosa Library (opening in November) at 7377 E. Silverstone Drive.
Books only may be returned to free-standing, metal book drops located at: Paseo Village Shopping Center, 8100 E. McCormick Parkway; Pinnacle Peak Village, 8711 E. Pinnacle Peak Road; and Sundown Plaza, northwest corner of Shea Boulevard and Scottsdale Road. Call the Library at 480-312-7323 for more information.
• Bus and transit services, including bus pass sales, are also available at Loloma Station, 7084 E. Second St.; and Tempe Transit Store, 200 E. Fifth St. Call Phoenix Transit at 602-495-5795 or visit http://www.valleymetro.org.
• Transit IDs can be purchased at the Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road; Via Linda Senior Center, 10440 N. Via Linda; and the Tempe Public Library, at the southwest corner of Rural Road and Southern Avenue.
• Cab connection applications are available at the Granite Reef Senior Center and the Via Linda Senior Center. Residents can also visit http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov and search “cab connection” or call the city of Scottsdale Transit Division at 480-312-8747.
• Adopt-a-Road are available by calling the city’s Neighborhood Services department at 480-312-3111 for more information.
• Food and clothing drives are still taking place at various city community centers. Call Vista del Camino Social Services at 480-312- 2323 for the nearest location.
Ms. Weiss said there is no telling how many residents actually take advantage of the city’s various services and how many may not continue using Scottsdale as a community resource for such services vs. other nearby municipalities.
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