The Arizona Republic
This week’s question: What was the most important lesson the city learned from the economic boom and bust and how will that knowledge affect how the city manages growth and plans for the future?
Elected officials in Buckeye, El Mirage, Litchfield Park, Tolleson and Youngtown did not respond to the question.
SURPRISE
MAYOR SHARON WOLCOTT
“We learned that bedroom communities are not a sustainable growth model for cities. We must manage future development in a more balanced manner and move away from the sprawling bedroom community mind-set city leaders once had. The City Council must remain steadfast on creating business centers and attracting jobs enabling our residents to work in their hometown.”Furthermore, Surprise needs to develop new and creative approaches in collaborating with homebuilders to include employment elements as part of their respective residential developments.
“This will put Surprise on a path toward a sustained prosperity in becoming a more balanced and robust community.”
