In 1996, ASU’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy began asking residents and leaders in Greater Phoenix, “What does quality of life mean to you, and how do you measure it?” After an 18-month process, the first volume of What Matters was published in September 1997, creating a baseline of opinion and data about “quality of life” and what it means to the people who live here. The report was quickly recognized both within the region and nationally among indicator projects for its simple, yet unique presentation of public perception (survey) data and regional statistical, or indicator, data.

Bullying and violence in K-12 schools have been in the policy spotlight in Arizona for almost a decade. However, current indicators and recent traumatic events show that a range of anti-social behaviors on school campuses remain a major threat to student well-being and learning. This briefing was distributed at panel discussion on bullying and safe school environments, focusing on such issues.

Community protection and preparedness is a critical step toward mitigating immediate fire hazards and restoring adjacent wildlands. A combination of fuel management, FireWise standards, and appropriate wildfire suppression response across ownerships within and adjacent to at-risk communities will reduce threats to life and property, protect values-at-risk, and create a safe context for the use of fire in subsequent forest ecosystem restoration efforts. This plan outlines actions needed to prepare and equip the community to live and thrive within our fire-adapted ponderosa pine forests.

Beginning with the 1988 Doney Park Area Plan as a foundation, the Area Plan Committee took an in-depth look at how needs had changed in the ten years since that original Plan was written. After countless hours of discussion and debate, a formal survey of every resident in the planning area, and many public open houses, the Committee created a draft version of this plan, which was submitted to the public for comment. The final version was approved by the County Planning and Zoning Commission in May 2001, and by the County Board of Supervisors in June of that year. While this Plan does not replace the County Comprehensive Plan or Zoning Ordinance, it does provide additional information for decision-makers when faced with issues of growth and development in the Doney Park Timberline-Fernwood areas. Most especially what this Plan does is to represent what residents want to see for their area of the County.