4.2.2.b City Services Discussion

1. B.1 Emergency Services
1. 1.1. Fire
  1. 1.1.1. Training
  2. 1.1.2. New Technology
2. 1.2. Police
  1. 1.2.1. Jail Facilities
  2. 1.2.2. Deterrent devices
3. 1.3. Medical
  1. 1.3.1. Service Level
  2. 1.3.2. Trauma centers
  3. 1.3.3. Private Funding
2. B.2 Library
1. 2.1. Location
2. 2.2. Change in technology/new media
3. 2.3. Change in desired services
3. B.3 Community Centers
1. 3.1. Public/Private Partnerships
2. 3.2. Public/School Partnerships
3. 3.3. Location
4. 3.4. Use
4. B.4 Specialty Recreation Centers
1. 4.1. Uses
2. 4.2. Location

This chapter lists the major services provided by the city and the issues related to examining future needs and desired levels of service. Some services may be discussed in other portions of the Surprise General Plan 2030 (ex. community recreation). As other services develop or new issues arise, the plan will be amended to include them for analysis.

B.1 Emergency Services

Fire

The city of Surprise fire department currently provides services through seven fire stations and an administrative office that includes a HazMat team, a ladder truck, public event first aid teams, CPR and CERT training, Lockbox services, volunteer victim’s assistance, and education through Fire Pals and the Citizen’s Training Academy (to better educate kids and adults about fire safety). Current fire stations are shown on the city fire stations map (Map 4.2A). With future growth, more fire stations will be required to provide protection to under-served portions of the city. The city will work with developers to plan for proper fire and emergency coverage and services in accordance with the City of Surprise Fire Department Master Plan.

Training

The city of Surprise will need to work constantly to provide the latest techniques and training for fire fighters. The city currently works with other area municipalities to provide a joint training center. As technology increases the city must ensure fire fighters are receiving the latest information from this facility or through independent training methods.

New Technology

As new technology is created to save victim’s and fire fighter’s lives, it is important for the city to provide for it. This technology is not only the latest fire fighting equipment to be used by fire fighters, but new building construction techniques and equipment placed in every home or business. As these issues arise, the city will review them for placement into the city code.

Police

The city of Surprise provides police service through patrols, community education, and neighborhood programs. These services are currently provided from a central location at the Public Safety Building shown on the services map (Map 4.2B). Police services will require expansion with the growth of the population. The service not only needs to grow in the number of patrol officers and vehicles, but in the methods and techniques used to protect and serve the public and in the locations the public can easily interact with law enforcement for education and reports. Higher density portions of the city may be better served through foot, equestrian, or neighborhood electric vehicle patrols. Higher density areas may also be better served with police substations for easier reporting and interaction by residents, as well as a central work station for the officers.

Jail Facilities

The city of Surprise currently contracts with Maricopa County Sherriff’s Office for jail facilities. To ensure this service is maintained, the city will continue the contract or may review options in the future such as a joint West Valley facility or city run facility. Operating a city run facility does increase issues as far as location, security, and manpower.

Deterrent devices

To better serve the public the police department can use modern technology to enforce laws and solve crimes. Deterrent devices like photo radar and red light cameras can

increase safety at hazardous locations throughout the city. Having retail stores install newer video technology will allow police detectives to better serve the public by having quality video that can positively identify suspects and aid in their arrest.

Medical

Hospital service covers multiple cities and all provide different services or specialties. Currently city hospital and ambulance services are provided by private entities. Most service is provided by Del Webb Hospital and Boswell Hospital as well as Southwest Ambulance. A Catholic West Hospital is expected to begin construction within the Surprise city limits near SR 303 and Waddell Road. As Surprise and its neighboring cities grow, it will be important to consider where future hospitals should be located to provide the best service to the region.

Service Level

There are several levels of service in the medical field, general practitioners, care centers, hospitals, trauma centers, and specialty facilities. These services can often be combined in one building. Your general care doctor may have their own office, or may be located inside a larger hospital or clinic. At the same time, a hospital or clinic may offer trauma care or specialty care. Within Surprise a market study would be required to determine the level of care being provided at every level.

Trauma centers

Trauma centers are hospitals able to care for serious injuries depending on their designated level of service. The service levels are from 1 (provides any emergency care) to 4 (provides fewer services, may stabilizes and transfers patients if needed). In the Phoenix metro area, there are five class one centers. The nearest service for the west valley is John C. Lincoln near 2nd Street and Dunlap Avenue. With no class one center west of I-17, Surprise becomes a prime location for future services to the region.

Private Funding

Currently the hospitals and ambulance services are providing a desired service level and are expected to keep pace with growth and service needs. If the level of service fails to meet resident expectations, the city may consider providing funding or providing service of its own to maintain desired levels.

B.2 Library

The City of Surprise currently has two Maricopa County Branch libraries. The facility has been provided by the city while service is being provided by the county. At this time there is no set desired level of service for libraries within Surprise. The level of service in regards to the library collection is handled by Maricopa County. The city will need to set a desired level of service to determine if residents are adequately served by community libraries. The library locations are shown on the services map (Map 4.2B).

Location

Libraries built in the future should become a central part of the community. The library is no longer a place where people check out books; now it is a research center, art display, continuing education center, and any other use the public may have. A location that can provide this much to a community becomes a central piece in making a public place.

Change in technology/new media

As technology and media forms change from video tape to
DVD and now from DVD to High Definition DVD and into formats of the future, libraries must keep pace. Adequate funding will be required to provide these new formats. Space to store the format as well as staffing to handle them may also become issues. This may require libraries to adjust their collections or expand to allow for the new formats.

Change in desired services

With changes in technology and changes in public desires, there will be a need to provide for upgrades in library collections and services. Today’s libraries not only provide books, magazines, audio and video entertainment; but community education, art, computer labs, and live entertainment as well. These are just a few of the changes occurring today, in the future there may be more demand for a particular format or the need to adapt to new formats and services. Libraries will have to set levels of service and receive additional funding if they are to adapt and remain an important part of the city’s future.

B.3 Community Centers

Community centers are locations that provide the neighborhood or village with all manners of services, entertainment, or information. These centers should be centrally located in communities throughout the city and tailored to meet the needs of the public in the area. Community centers are not always public funded facilities. Many of the active retirement communities within Surprise provide their own recreation centers and provide education and information about their community. For the city of Surprise there are four public and several private community centers. The community centers are shown on the city services map (Map 4.2B). As the city grows, a desired level of service for community centers should be set. At this time city zoning codes encourage the placement of community centers with few developers taking advantage of them.

Public/Private Partnerships

For those community centers that are privately sponsored, the
city of Surprise should establish a working relationship to provide citywide information to the residents who use these facilities. The city may also work with larger private and non-profit groups such as the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association), the Boy’s and Girl’s Club, fraternal orders (Lion’s Club, etc.), and veteran’s groups (VFW–Veteran’s of Foreign Wars, American Foreign Legion, etc.) to provide expanded locations, services, and they may provide an additional source for funding and maintenance of the community centers.

Public/School Partnerships

Schools are a central location for many neighborhoods. As such they can play a vital role in providing community activities, education, and information. Partnerships between the city and local school district should be expanded to include summer recreation services, youth and adult sports leagues, and youth and adult continuing education.

Location

As the city grows, locations will need to be planned in advance for future community centers. These community centers should be detailed in the village planning process. The center itself can be dedicated to the city for development, or may be created by a private developer or organization.

Use

As locations for centers are planned, a level of service with desired uses in each village should also be laid out. In cases where the community center is developed by a private organization, it should be determined if said center must include agreements for more public services. In cases offraternal orders or other non-profit organizations, they serve their need, but through a partnership may provide information, education, or services to the general public. Privately developed community centers may be opened to the public at large through partnership with the city.

B.4 Specialty Recreation Centers

Specialty recreation centers are community centers that provide a specific service that is needed within the city, but have a larger service area to serve multiple villages or neighborhoods. The city currently provides aquatic centers, a major league baseball stadium, a professional tennis facility, and Dreamcatcher Park, the state’s first fully accessible baseball field. These locations are shown on the services map (Map 4.2B). Like community centers, more specialty centers will be required in the future. It will be difficult to determine levels of service due to the variety of services that may be desired by residents. These may include a performing arts center, civic center, and other recreation and sports facilities. City staff and residents must work together to determine the importance of any future facilities and where they can be placed in the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget. In cases where a private or non-profit facility can be provided, the city should work to properly locate these services.

Uses

As the city grows and changes over time in both population and desired services, it will be important to constantly work with the public to discover what new facilities may be desired. If older facilities are no longer serving the public need (i.e. the use is no longer a popular activity), plans should be made to renovate or replace the facility with those that meet current demand.

Location

As the city expands, it may become necessary to plan for specialty recreation sites. These sites should be detailed in future village plans. Once located, developers should be encouraged to dedicate the land to the city with development agreements in the same manner fire station locations are reserved.