2022 State of the City: Moving Forward

Jackie A. Meck Water Campus Dedication

WELCOME! I am so proud to serve as your Mayor, and along with the entire City Council, help guide Buckeye into a bright future. The past year has given all of us new challenges to face, but it also provided us with some incredible opportunities and accomplishments.

As we move forward into 2022 and begin to see the end of the pandemic, I am happy to report the city of Buckeye is strong, resilient and thriving.

Thanks to the hard work from city staff, Buckeye continues to have a strong, sound financial foundation to provide you with the quality city services you expect and deserve.

To date, o u General Fu r n d revenues have exceede expenses d our by app $23 millio rox. n!

We will continue to invest heavily in the city’s infrastructure, our services and employees. A few examples of our progress in the last year include: Completing the Jackie A. Meck Water Campus to improve water quality •

Beginning construction on Sundance Park Phase II that includes a 3.2 acre fishing lake

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Enhancing the intersections of Miller and Broadway and Miller and Southern, including the installation of traffic signals, dedicated turn lanes and more • Preliminary designs underway

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Coordinating efforts with other agencies to improve Jackrabbit Trail between Indian School and Van Buren (ADOT, MCDOT and FCDMC)

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Receiving nearly $1.7 million dollars in grants to improve the Buckeye Municipal Airport, a future economic engine for aviation and industrial growth

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Ensuring the start of, and overseeing ADOT’s widening of I-10 from SR 85 to Verrado Way

Indian School Rd. & Jackrabbit Trail

Recently, City Council approved projects to improve some of the city’s busiest intersections, including: • Yuma Road and Verrado Way • Watson and Broadway roads • Indian School Road from Jackrabbit Trail to Sunrise Lane 2

Sundance Park Phase II fishing lake

KorePower Press Confererence (left to right) Mayor Eric Orsborn, Governor Doug Ducey and KorePower CEO Lindsay Gorrill

N E W JOBS! This past year, nearly 5,000 new jobs came online or were committed to after several employers announced they were relocating to Buckeye. This is a 33-percent increase in jobs since 2020.

• KORE Power – 3,000 jobs to manufacture lithium ion battery cells • Construction to begin this summer and the facility is scheduled to open in early 2024 •

Ross Dress for Less distribution center – 1,300+ jobs • Construction beginning soon, and plan to open in 2024

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Five Below distribution center and retail store is now open • 150 jobs now, another 150 in the next few years

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Funko distribution center – 300 jobs • Opening in April 2022

Five Below Distribution Center & retail store

These new jobs are a result of the hard work from our Economic Development Department. In November, the team won two distinguished awards - Economic Development Organization of the Year and Member of the Year by the Arizona Association for Economic Development.

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S USTAINABLE VAL L EY Buckeye is positioning itself to become “the place” for industrial development, especially along the SR 85 corridor, and the area surrounding the Buckeye Municipal Airport.

In the last year alone, over 20 million square feet of new industrial buildings have been proposed in the SR 85 corridor.

Here is a great example of Buckeye’s future In Dec. 2021, Arizona Land Consulting and their affiliates purchased 200-acres of land along SR 85 and Baseline Road, near KORE Power, the first U.S. company to manufacture lithium-ion battery cells. The goal of this land deal is to transform the region it into a “Sustainable Valley,” showcasing a clean energy supply chain hub. Buckeye is proud to be emerging as a leader in green energy.

Work is already starting on the Sustainable Valley. Next ERA Energy is constructing the “Sonoran Solar” project. A $600 million solar energy and storage project near the KOREPlex.

This facility will have the capacity of producing up to 260 megawatts of clean, renewable, solar energy, and the ability to store that energy.

To show you how significant this facility is to Buckeye, 260 megawatts is enough energy to power every existing home in the city!

Over the next few years, more than 25 million square feet of industrial space are in the works to support advanced manufacturing, logistics and green energy companies. These industries are focusing on several areas in the city: • SR 85 Corridor • Perryville Road, between McDowell Road and Van Buren Street • Dean Road, south of I-10 • Miller Road • Buckeye Municipal Airport • Sun Valley Parkway

EN OU G H W AT E R With all the growth the city is experiencing recently in all areas of development - residential homes, retail businesses and new employers we are very well aware of the need to acquire additional water sources to ensure we are sustainable now and as we forge ahead into the future.

To that end, the Water Resources Department is looking ahead, and not just for the next few years, but for the next 20 to 40 years. Recent accomplishments include: • Acquiring an additional 2,786 acre-feet of surface water from the Central Arizona Project • Partnering with Salt River Project to help fund and increase the height of Bartlett Dam, resulting in a potential new water supply for the city • Updating our Water Conservation Codes to ensure we have adequate water supplies to support both current and future residents and businesses • Investigating other opportunities for water resources such as desalination and transporting water from the Harquahala Valley, partnering with other public and private entities on water exchanges, reverse osmosis treatment and the acquisition of surface water supplies

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SHOP BUCKEYE! In addition to bringing new jobs to Buckeye, we know getting more retail stores, restaurants, services and health care to the city are equally important to you.

Early this year, Abrazo Community Health Network closed on 27-acres of land located on the southwest corner of I-10 and Verrado Way. Plans include a medical office building, ambulatory service and an acute care hospital.

The initial phase is expected to break ground later this year. Other medical facilities are in various phases of development as well.

New retail b opened or co usiness and services rec ming soon to ently B Marriott Ho uckeye includ tel e: Mod

Aldi Boot Barn Robek’s Macayo’s Dutch Bros Jersey Mike s Hometown Ace Hardware Jimmy John’s (Verrado)

Pizza Salad N Go Ebb & Flow Popeye’s West Valley Pediatrics Apex Physica l Therapy Five Below R etail Store Yogurtini Brakes Plus O’Reilly Auto Parts UPS Store NVA Veterin arian

Black Rock C offee Next Care U rgent Care Kahoots Fee d & Pet Greulich’s Gastro Pub Cali Tacos Herbal Nails Bosa Donuts PostNet Denny’s MICI Itali an Bobazona

In addition, major retail shopping is p Economic De lanned for th velopment is e Verrado Wa working with Parkway and y and I-10 are local grocers in downtown a. to build alon Buckeye. g Sun Valley

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GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE Buckeye continues to provide you with excellent services, fantastic events and quality recreational programs and opportunities. In fact, our Youth Sports Division earned the Better Sports Kids Quality Program Provider Award by the National Alliance for Youth Sports. This award demonstrates Buckeye is a leader in ensuring a safe, quality, playing environment for our children.

The 2022 Buckeye Air Fair was bigger and better than ever this year! A special thanks to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for their support and participation in the 2022 Buckeye Air Fair. Their displays and educational forums were a big hit with both pilots and aviation enthusiasts.

We also opened the Sundance Recreation Center this past Fall, at the city complex near Yuma and Dean roads. Before we even cut the ribbon at this facility, classes were booked with waiting lists.

The Community Services Department continues to provide you and your family a ton of options to stay healthy:

Over 30,000 spectators attended the event and saw: • The best stunt pilots in the country choreograph an all-new air show • More unique aircraft on display, thanks to larger participation in the Copperstate Fly-In • Exciting STOL Drag Races (Short Take Off & Landing), a big hit with spectators • Incredible displays of military vehicles courtesy from the Arizona Military Vehicle Collectors Club • Expanded Sci-Tech Fest for hands-on activities to create interest in the aviation industry

Fitness in the Park

• Fitness in the Park is a free workout class with certified instructions, three days a week at Sundance Park

Nearly 400,000 visitors • Various recreation programs and the popular Before and took a hike or mountain After School Enrichment program (BASE) expanded to biked at Skyline Park last include John McCain and Westpark Elementary Schools year!

• Youth sport leagues now available in the Tartesso and Festival communities More than 1,600 elementary students got a behind-the-scenes look at aviation and the importance our airport has on the city’s economy the Friday before the “official” Air Fair started.

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• Skyline Park continues to be the top destination to “get away from the city” in our own backyard • Sundance Park expansion is underway, with a 3.2-acre lake, basketball courts, sports fields and more opening later this year

E D U C ATION

As we continue to grow, so do our choices in educational opportunities for our children. All 9 school districts that serve Buckeye are embracing a collaborative learning environment, focusing on STEM and STEAM programs.

This approach exposes students to a variety of topics and interests. Students get to focus more on a specific curriculum that suits their interests, while still learning all the basics too. The result is a well-rounded, educated adult that is ready for college, a trade school or going straight into the workforce.

Congratulations to West-MEC for earning a Best of the West award, Quality of Life Enhancement in Education from WESTMARC in Oct. 2021.

BUCKEYE’S NEWEST SCHOOLS • Blue Horizons Elementary • John S. McCain III Elementary • Desert Sunset Elementary School in Tartesso (opening in August) • Great Hearts Academy (opening in August) • Sequoia High School (opening in August)

CON CLUS I O N We are off to a great start in 2022 with our accomplishments so far, but we are only on the ground floor of a fantastic future. We will continue to make progress with strategic planning, investing in the city’s infrastructure and hiring the best people to manage our growth and ensure our sustainability.

These plans need your input to ensure the future of Buckeye continues to grow at a healthy and steady pace.

To ensure your voice is heard on these and other projects, follow me @Mayor Eric Orsborn and @Buckeye, AZ City Government on social media. We share all of the city’s news and articles of interest here and on the city’s website – buckeyeaz.gov to remain transparent with all the inter-workings of the city.

We love Buckeye as much as you do, and we are working hard to make sure this city remains the best place for you to raise your family, work, retire or spend time with family and friends.

BREAKING NEWS!

Banner Health is planning construction for a new hospital right here in Buckeye! The fourstory, 330,000-square-foot hospital will be located on the northwest corner of Verrado Way and the I-10 freeway. It is slated to open in 2024.

Buckeye’s future is progressing quickly with exciting new developments, more employment opportunities and great amenities for you and your family. The entire Buckeye City Council is proud to be charting the course for tomorrow, and will continue Moving Forward to ensure a better tomorrow for you.

Thank you.

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530 E. Monroe Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85326

buckeyeaz.gov Join us on our YouTube channel at

CITY COUNCIL

ERIC ORSBORN MAYOR

TONY YOUNGKER DISTRICT 1

PATRICK HAGESTAD DISTRICT 4

youtube.com/BuckeyeArizona

to view the 2022 State of the City video.

JEANINE GUY DISTRICT 2

CRAIG HEUSTIS

VICE MAYOR, DISTRICT 5

MICHELLE HESS DISTRICT 3

CLAY GOODMAN, PHD DISTRICT 6