City of Peoria Press Release
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City Manager Swenson Passes the Gavel as Chair
Fulfills Year of Service as Chairperson of Management Committee for Maricopa Association of Governments
6/21/2011
PEORIA, Ariz. (June
20, 2011) -- On June 8, Carl Swenson, city manager for Peoria, stepped down as chairperson
of the Management Committee for the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG).
His year of leadership at the organization was marked with accomplishments.
As the chairperson, Swenson provided guidance for the Management Committee. This
group of government leaders was instrumental in the policymaking decisions at
MAG. The Committee is responsible for receiving input from technical committees,
analyzing the technical and policy implications, and providing recommendations
to the MAG Regional Council. The Management Committee consists of the chief
administrators from each member agency, such as the jurisdiction’s city or town
manager. Under Swenson’s direction, the Management Committee was a key player in the
region’s efforts to address dust pollution, taking a proactive leadership
approach to prevent PM-10 (particulate matter 10 microns in diameter or less)
exceeding accepted levels at monitoring stations and throughout the region. The
region is at a critical point in this battle. If the monitors remain clean
through December, it will give the Valley the three years of clean data needed
to reach attainment (clean air standards through the EPA). Many of the cities
and towns have adopted a Rapid Response Action Plan in order to take immediate
action when dust levels at the monitor begin to rise. In addition to protecting
public health, attaining the federal standards for PM-10 is important for
economic reasons, since penalties for not meeting the standards can include
sanctions on business and industry and the loss of millions in federal highway
funding. In February, Chair Swenson initiated the idea for a multimodal transit tour of a
MAG Peer Region city. The tour will be held this October in Utah. The purpose
will be for regional leaders to gather information and investigate the benefits
of the connectivity between bus transit, light rail, and commuter rail. The Utah
Transit Authority (UTA) was selected for the tour as the best example of an
integrated transit agency that offers daily, multimodal connectivity in the
Intermountain West, overseeing more than 100 local, bus rapid transit, express,
ski and circulator bus routes; four light rail lines; and a 44-mile commuter
rail line. At his final meeting as chair in June, he helped launch an effort to work with
ADOT on graffiti control on the freeways.
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