east valley
Volume 3 Issue 31 Mesa, AZ
February 14, 2021
City aid helps Mesa bakery keep making pasties BY TOM SCANLON Tribune Managing Editor
W
IN THE BIZ
hen the pandemic hit, leading to closures of restaurants and then reopenings with tight restrictions, it was hard enough for established restaurants who built up loyal customers over years. Imagine being a newer operation, like Sonson’s Pasty Company, which Julie Mercer opened at 6060 E. Brown Road about a year-and-a-half before Gov. Doug Ducey ordered all restaurants to close last March. Nearly a year later, Mercer is baking heart-shaped treats for Valentine’s Day, while sharing her heartfelt appreciation for the assistance that helped her business survive 2020. “We were very lucky we had a lot of support from our community to keep us going,” Mercer said. “And the city of Mesa has been fantastic. They offered up so much help to local businesses.” A visit from Sally Harrison, president/ CEO of the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, helped Mercer and Sonson’s get connected. “We reached out to all the local businesses,” Harrison said. “I went into Sonson’s for the �irst time, met Julie and said to her, ‘Have you signed up for the Mesa CARES program?’ She said, ‘The what?’ “She signed up that evening.” It quickly turned out to be bene�icial, Mercer said. “Through the Mesa CARES program, I had computer classes, they gave me a laptop at the end of classes. I got help with Public Notices ............... page 3 © Copyright, 2021 East Valley Tribune
Sonson's Pasty Company is grateful for the federally-funded pandemic relief program Mesa implemented to help businesses get through a rough time last year. (Special to the Tribune) personal protection equipment, supplies, hospital sprays so we could clean the whole place,” she said. The program also coached her through an application for federal Paycheck Protection Program funding. Technically, the program offers loans, but most do not have to be paid back if guidelines are followed. Compared to the millions larger employers received, the $6,000 in PPP funding Mercer received was miniscule — but, she said, crucial at a time when the catering portion of Sonson’s cratered. “PPP helped us through (the pandemic) …. That helped immensely,” she said. “The year before the pandemic, we used to do $3,000-5,000 (monthly) in events. They almost stopped when the pandemic started. It was hard for us to keep people employed,” Mercer said. “Without the Pay(USPS 004-616) is published weekly
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(480) 898-6500 Steven Strickbine, publisher Paul Maryniak, executive editor
check Protection, it would have been hard to keep them.” After receiving the funding, she was able to keep her �ive employees on staff. The Sonson’s Pasty Company website describes the unique eatery and Mercer’s back story: “We are a Cornish cafe serving authentic Cornish pasties with vegan options … I was born and raised in beautiful Cornwall, England where I lived for the �irst 32 years of my life. Mum and I worked together for many years in a bakery in Helston, Cornwall making the best pasties in the county. “I feel like I’m the luckiest person alive to be given the opportunity to start my own business.” When the pandemic hit, Mercer said her business model quickly shifted to “take and bake” orders. Subscriptions are $26 for 2 years, $14 for one year. Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, AZ 85026.
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After funding from the Paycheck Protection Program and Mesa CARES helped her business make it through the pandemic, Julie Mercer received a city grant to build a patio at Sonson’s Pasty Company. (Special for the Tribune) The city of Mesa continues to come through, Mercer said: “We got a $7,000 grant to help us put (a patio) out front,” she said. Permits for the project went through “super fast,” she added. After taking a break to serve a customer chicken and green chilli pasties, Mercer explained the grant will enable her to expand a tiny outdoor seating area for a patio for 16 people. The city approved the plan for turning four parking spaces in front of Sonson’s into a patio. “It should be done by the middle of February, maybe the third week,” she said. Harrison noted several other downtown businesses have utilized the patio grant, as the city encourages pandemic-friendly outdoor dining and shopping.
“I’m glad we had a patio grant available,” Harrison said. “A handful of businesses downtown took advantage of that. “I’m grateful we’re in Mesa where we were able to get CARES money to help businesses,” she added. Now that the business portion of Mesa CARES funding has ended, “I’m praying there is more CARES money going to be available for small businesses. We haven’t been told what that’s going to look like. “The program ended in December, but people are still struggling and there’s still a need.” She said the chamber has helped businesses in a variety of non-monetary ways. “We were grateful we could step up … Different chamber members provided everything from legal help to web development, personal protective equipment, sig-
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nage,” Harrison said. “Our staff worked at home and started making phone calls — every single member got called. We would say, ‘What can we do to help?’ We learned a lot,” Harrison said. “People were struggling and scared.” The chamber of commerce continues to reach out to businesses and continues to hear a mixed bag. Some businesses are doing well, Harrison said, while others continue to struggle. While she was happy to hear a new program will help residents with rent and utility assistance, Harrison said more funding assistance is needed for the business community. “I get that rental assistance is important,” Harrison said. “But if there’s no businesses that means there’s no paychecks and you can’t pay your rent.”
FEBRUARY 14, 2021
Public Notice CITY OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA CEMETERY NORTH EXPANSION PHASE IIB AND URN/SCATTER GARDEN 1212 N. CENTER STREET PROJECT NO. CP0583CEP2B-2 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received until Thursday, February 25, 2021, at 1 p.m. All sealed bids will be received electronically at En-gineeringBids@ mesaaz.gov. Bids must be submitted as an unencrypted PDF attachment with a maximum size limit of 20MB. Any bid received after the time specified will be returned without any consideration. This contract shall be for furnishing all labor, materials, transportation and services for the construction and/or installation of the following work: • Construction of turf covered plot areas, access roads, retaining walls, ornamental site walls, trees, shrubs and associated landscape irrigation improvements as shown on construction documents and specifications. • To be completed at City’s sole discretion is Bid Alternate 1 – Urn/ Scatter Garden. Construction will include a scatter garden, in-ground urn vaults, rose garden reflection areas, trellis structures, trees, shrubs, artificial turf, benches, an art structure, sidewalk and associated landscape irrigation improvements. • To be completed at City’s sole discretion is Bid Alternate 2 – Sod: Construction will include the deletion of the intended installed turf grass seed specified in the Base Bid and will replace with sod installation. The Engineer’s Estimate range for the Base Bid (only) is $800,000 to $1,000,000. For all technical, contract, bidrelated, or other questions, please contact Donna Horn at donna. horn@mesaaz.gov. Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified above. Contractors desiring to submit proposals may purchase sets of the Bid Documents from ARC Document Solutions, LLC, at https://order.e-arc.com/arcEOC/ PWELL_Main.asp?mem=29. Click on “Go” for the Public Planroom to access plans. NOTE: In order to be placed on the Plan Holders List and to receive notifications and updates regarding this bid (such as addenda) during the bidding period,
an order must be placed. The cost of each Bid Set will be no more than $41, which is non-refundable. Partial bid packages are not sold. You can view documents on-line (at no cost), order Bid Sets, and access the Plan Holders List on the website at the address listed above. Please verify print lead time prior to arriving for pick-up. For a list of locations nearest you, go to www.e-arc.com. One set of the Contract Documents is also available for viewing at the City of Mesa’s Engineering Department at 20 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ. Please call 480-644-2251 prior to arriving to ensure that the documents are available for viewing. In order for the City to consider alternate products in the bidding process, please follow Arizona Revised Statutes §34.104c. If a pre-bid review of the site has been scheduled, details can be referenced in Project Specific Provision Section #3, titled “Pre-Bid Review of Site.” Work shall be completed within 180 consecutive calendar days, beginning with the day following the starting date specified in the Notice to Proceed. Bids must be submitted on the Proposal Form provided and be accompanied by the Bid Bond for not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid, payable to the City of Mesa, Arizona, or a certified or cashier’s check. PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL SURETY BONDS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. The successful bidder will be required to execute the standard form of contract for construction within ten (10) days after formal award of contract. In addition, the successful bidder must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self-Service (VSS) System ( h tt p : / / m e s a a z . g ov / bu s i n e s s / purchasing/vendor-self-service). The successful bidder, simultaneously with the execution of the Contract, will be required to furnish a Payment Bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, a Performance Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and the most recent ACORD® Certificate of Liability Insurance form with additional insured endorsements. The right is hereby reserved to accept or reject any or all bids or parts thereto, to waive any informalities in any proposal and reject the bids of any persons who have been delinquent or unfaithful to any contract with the City of Mesa. BETH HUNING’ City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen, City Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune Feb. 7, 14, 2021 / 36165
the Mesa City Council Chambers, 57 East First Street. 1. ANX20-00463 (District 6) Annexing a portion of South 222nd Street and East Williams Field Road right-of-way (6.74± acres). 2. ANX20-00464 (District 6) Annexing a portion of South Meridian Road right-of-way (2.5± acres). DATED at Mesa, Arizona, this 14th day of February 2021. DEE ANN MICKELSEN, City Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune, Feb. 14, 2021 / 36xxx
Public Notice CITY OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA NOTICE OF VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING RED MOUNTAIN PARK EXPANSION Project No. CP0932 Please join us for this live online Virtual Public Meeting to learn about the City of Mesa, Red Mountain Park Improvements Project. There will be a presentation showing renderings of the site layout, sports fields, lighting, etc. This will then be followed by a Q&A session where you can provide your input or have your questions answered. This meeting will be specific to the Red Mountain Park expansion located on Brown Road between 80th Street and N Sunvalley Blvd. in Mesa, AZ. The project was made possible by Mesa voters in the 2018 General Obligation Bond Election. We hope you register and attend this on-line meeting! You are invited to attend a Virtual Public Meeting where City staff will be available to answer your questions. A SHORT PRESENTATION WILL BE GIVEN FOLLOWED BY A QUESTIONS AND ANSWER SESSION Date: Thursday, February 25, 2021 Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm Location: Register online at mesaaz.gov/engin eering If you have any questions or concerns regarding this project, please contact Curt Albright Michele Arrollado, Lucy Lopez and Juanita Gonzales with the City of Mesa Engineering Public Relations De-partment at (480) 644-3800. Published: East Valley Tribune Feb. 14, 21, 2021 / 36325
Public Notice City of Mesa Housing Authority Public Notice Notice of Availability of the Proposed Public Housing Authority FY 2021/2022 Annual Plan Notice of 45-Day Public Comment Period February 14, 2021 – March 1, 2021 Notice of Virtual Public Hearing Proposed Public Housing Authority FY 2021/2022 Annual Plan April 1, 2021, 7:30 a.m. Date of Publication: February 14, 2021 Mary Brandon
Public Notice CITY OF MESA PUBLIC NOTICE The Mesa City Council will hold a public hearing concerning the following ordinances at the February 22, 2021 City Council meeting beginning at 5:45 p.m. in
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Housing Services City of Mesa P.O. Box 1466 Mesa, AZ 85211-1466 480-644-5852 Notice of Availability of the Proposed Public Housing Authority FY 2021/2022 Annual Plan The 1998 Federal Housing Act requires all Public Housing Authorities to complete and submit an Annual Plan to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and that the public be given the opportunity to provide comments. The purpose of the Plan is to outline the goals, objectives, and methodology the agency will use to provide assisted and affordable housing through the use of federal funds in Mesa. Beginning on February 14, 2021, the Mesa Housing Authority’s proposed FY 2021/2022 Annual Plan will be available electronically for review by the general public and can be found on the City’s Housing Services website at: https://www. mesaaz.gov/housing Notice of 45-Day Public Comment Period February 14, 2021 – March 31, 2021 A 45-day public comment period regarding the Housing Authority’s proposed FY 2021/2022 Annual Plan will begin on Sunday, February 14, 2021, and conclude at the end of business on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Public comments will be accepted anytime during the 45-day public comment period. Concerned residents should submit their comments to the: City of Mesa Housing Services by fax at 480644-2923 or email to housing.info@ mesaaz.gov. Written comments regarding the Plan will be accepted before April 1, 2021. Notice of Public Hearing (Proposed Public Housing Authority FY 2021/2022 Annual Plan April 1, 2021, 7:30 a.m. A public hearing will be held to review and solicit comments from the general public regarding the Mesa Housing Authority’s proposed Public Housing Authority FY 2021/2022 Annual Plan. The hearing will occur at a meeting of the Housing Governing Board on Thursday, April 1, 2021, at 7:30 a.m. Public participation will be available electronically. To request to speak at the meeting, please contact Mary Brandon at 480-644-5852 or at mary.brandon@mesaaz.gov by March 30, 2021. The City of Mesa endeavors to make all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. If you are a person with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in programs and services offered by the City of Mesa Housing Authority, please contact Mary Brandon at 480644-5852 or at mary.brandon@ mesaaz.gov. Hearing impaired individuals should call 711 (Arizona TDD Relay). To the extent possible, accommodations will be made within the time constraint of the request, and you may be re-quired to provide information to support your reasonable request. Mary Brandon Housing Services February 14, 2021 East Valley Tribune / 36339
FEBRUARY 14, 2021
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