Recap of December Pinal Partnership Government Relations Committee meeting – reflect and look ahead
For the December Pinal Partnership Government Relations Committee (PPGRC) meeting, Co-Chairs Rebecca Timmer with Wilson & Company and Ben Bitter with the Town of Florence, put together a wonderful meeting to celebrate all the committee has accomplished this year.
The committee discussed our 2020 Year in Review, 2021-2022 AZ State Legislative Committees, review and approve the committee’s 2021 Action Plan, and brainstormed on future committee topics in preparation for 2021. Some of the topics we plan to hear updates and discussion on in 2021 include water and transportation. You can review our 2020 meetings below.
Senator and Representative-Elect Frank Pratt, PPGRC member, is officially the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, among serving on other committees. Once he is officially in the House, he will serve on four committees. Check out the breakdown of all committees here.
Co-Chairs Rebecca and Ben would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday season and look forward to all the 2021 has in store – which we hope will include our committee’s annual December Pancake Breakfast with Representative Pratt flipping the jacks for us!
Our next meeting is scheduled for January 26, 2021 via Zoom. Rebecca and Ben will host a Legislative Outlook with Representative Frank Pratt as well as an update from Tami Ryall with Pinal County on legislative proposals, including those sponsored by the County Supervisors’ Association. Committee meetings are open to all members of Pinal Partnership. Please contact Melissa Johnson if you would like information to join the committee and/or join as a member of the Partnership.
2020 PPGRC Meeting Topics
January
- Sen. Frank Pratt led us in a discussion about bills, budgets, what’s currently happening at the Capitol and what is predicted for the rest of the Session.
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B7l2_n5nmvD/?igshid=tnr4i4js5ek0
February
- State Budget proposals for transportation projects / gas tax discussion – Paul Jepson will provide insights from the Capitol
- General Legislative Update – What’s impactful to the County?
- Census Update – What’s the latest?
- PRTA Update – Any new news since the January Breakfast?
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B8xfTv_HcsZ/?igshid=795rz79t4tvb
March – No meeting, COVID strikes
April
- Discussion on important issues the committee is tracking and staying engaged in.
- Census 2020
- Legislative update from Representative T.J. Shope
- Updates from Resolution Copper, University of Arizona, Local First Arizona, and Central Arizona College
- https://pinalpartnership.com/updates-pinal-partnership-government-relations-committee-meeting/
May
- Senator Frank Pratt joined us to discuss what is currently happening at the Capitol
- Roundtable Discussion regarding “How COVID-19 has Affected Your Business”
- https://pinalpartnership.com/recap-from-may-pinal-partnership-government-relations-committee/
June – No meeting, summer break
July
- Updates from the Capitol, Census 2020, Impacts of Covid-19, and the Elections.
- https://pinalpartnership.com/update-july-pinal-partnership-government-relations-committee-meeting-elections-2020-census-covid-19/
August
- Walter Richter, Administrator/Public Affairs and Blaise Caudill, Analyst II/Public Affairs from Southwest Gas provided us with an update on recent activities in Pinal County, along with a general company overview that includes community involvement, sustainability initiatives, capital investment and time for Q&A.
- https://pinalpartnership.com/recap-pinal-partnership-government-relations-committee-meeting-southwest-gas-census-2020-pinal-county-elections-covid-19-relief-programs/
September
- 2020 Mesa Moves Bond Program – Mesa Mayor John Giles and Mike Hutchinson, East Valley Partnership
- Proposition 452 – the Southwest Gas Franchise with the City of Maricopa – Pinal Partnership Board Resolution Update – Janeen Rohovit, SRP, PPGRC Board Liaison
- 2020 Census Lawsuit Update – Ben Bitter, Town of Florence
- Community Business Grants Program Update – Community Representatives
- https://pinalpartnership.com/pinal-partnership-september-government-relations-committee-meeting-recap-mesa-bond-2020-census-small-business-grants-board-liaison-updates/
October
- Elections Updates – Nick Ponder, League of Arizona Cities and Towns
- Additional Water Resources for the Town of Queen Creek, Request for Letter of Support (attached) – Heather Wilkie, Town of Queen Creek
- 2020 Census Update – Ben Bitter, Town of Florence
- https://pinalpartnership.com/october-pinal-partnership-government-relations-committee-meeting-recap-elections-updates-queen-creek-water-2020-census-updates/
November
- PRTA Interim General Manager Dan Marum, Wilson & Company provided an overview and update on the Pinal Regional Transportation Authority.
- Ben Bitter, Town of Florence will provide us with an Election Recap.
- https://pinalpartnership.com/pinal-partnership-november-government-relations-committee-meeting-recap-prta-election-updates/
December
- Year in Review
- Update on Legislative Committees
- Review/approve 2021 PPGRC Mission and Action Plan
- 2021 Topics of interest
- Members updates
