Update on COVID-19 and steps the Town of Paradise Valley is taking

Dear Friends:

I want to share with you directly what the Town of Paradise Valley is doing in response to the Coronavirus.  The Town continues to take all appropriate measures to protect public health and safety.   These actions began many weeks ago and include implementing best practices with our first responders and at Town Hall, publishing a Town webpage with reliable sources of up-to-date information for the public, and ongoing communication and vigilance in concert with County, State, and Federal agencies and officials.  We are observing best practices for preparation and precaution (and never ignorance or fear) to navigate this situation with prudence, steadiness, and common purpose.

While our Town, like many other smaller municipalities, is not organized to run point on large-scale public health matters, we are plugged in with our valuable governmental partners at the County, State, and Federal levels and therefore integrated into a team-based, common approach.  This has served and will continue to serve us very well, and eliminates conflicting messages, needless duplication of effort, and other inefficiencies.

Rest assured that, as your Mayor, I am actively staying on top of this evolving situation together with the Town’s very seasoned and accomplished senior professional staff, and I am ready and prepared to take any and all necessary actions for the Town and our community, along with the Town Council and professional staff.  I am likewise mindful of the need always to act responsibly and thoughtfully and in the best interests of the public – which clearly includes avoiding confusion of message or causing unnecessary alarm.  In short, we have a plan we are following, we have our eyes and ears open, we’re prepared to act as appropriate, we are united and unafraid, and we will neither overreact nor bury our heads in the sand.

Last, if you have not already done so, let me remind you to register online for the Town’s free AlertPV system. This system improves our first responders’ connectivity to citizens during any kind of emergency situation, and also works to notify citizens of Town updates.

We will continue in our mission to promote the health, safety, well-being, and enjoyment of everyone living, visiting, working, or doing business in our great Town.  As we get through this challenge together, please continue to do your part to follow the excellent and timely advice coming from national experts on this issue to stay healthy, informed, and reduce the chances of spread.   

A focused renewed, a look forward at Paradise Valley Town Hall

From the Town of Paradise Valley Independent

The nights are cooling down, and the days are not quite as long.

Some of us have celebrated the summer here, while many of us have sought cooler climates or ventured to special places near and far with family or friends. School has started.

And, after activity at Town Hall in June, July and August by our hardworking staff and important engagement from your Town Council over the summer, we are back in session, on our regular schedule, and moving forward.

Last week at our first official, regular meeting back — we held two limited public meetings over the summer, one to help address a roadway question related to the Five Star development projects, the other to successfully amend our ordinances to allow for construction of important cell phone infrastructure — I gave public remarks outlining some goals and objectives for the next few months. I wanted to share some of those remarks with you so that you know about some of our latest plans.

We have a lot to look forward to this term.

In furtherance of our top and unwavering priorities of public safety, excellent quality of life in our exceptional residential community, limited, accountable, and open government that does not require a property tax to balance budgets and provide quality services, and maintaining beneficial relationships with our resorts, schools, religious institutions and neighboring communities, last year we established some excellent goals and objectives.

As I reported to you at the end of last term, I am so pleased we have already accomplished many of the goals we set. For this term, in addition to our regular “operational” activities, some of our goals that are in progress or we will start working on will include:

• Continuing to Support the Preservation of our Mountains and Natural Open Spaces (An update on some of these efforts was recently published in the Independent; more exciting news on this soon).

• Working with our professional staff to continuously improve the town’s communications to citizens and stakeholders, and fostering opportunities for meaningful citizen and stakeholder input and engagement.

• Exploring the development of a voluntary Resident “Mediation Program” to assist neighbors in resolving issues cooperatively.

• Continued Enhancement of our Town’s Volunteer Board Procedures and Training.

• Examining the Council’s rules and policies to ensure we keep current with best practices.

• The formalization of the town’s Legislative Recognition Program, to continue to show appreciation to those lawmakers at the regional, state, and federal level who support the town’s values and objectives.

In addition to these council-approved agenda topics that have carried over from last term, I asked the council for support on a few other fronts that are relatively modest in time commitment and resource commitment, but that I believe are very important and impactful:

1. I have asked our schools and community members to refer to us young people who have made positive contributions in our town. This includes academics, athletics, civic service and other “good deeds.” It is a great honor for me to turn over the duty of leading the Town Council in the pledge of allegiance to these amazing young community members at our public meetings so that the council and the public can recognize them for their achievements.

2. Also, with the council’s support, I will be looking to focus on enhancing safety, as well as communication, relationships and the sense of community by hosting a periodic forum with the public and private schools in our town. We all recognize the importance of education and community, and I feel that we can do even more to help create meaningful connections among the schools, the town, and our community members.

3. Last, but certainly not least, the town’s hard-working and excellent professional staff achieve so much for us all. But, to stay on top we must always continue to push ourselves and foster excellence. This is why we will be finding new ways to both enhance and recognize customer service, innovation, and cost savings in our town government. I have spoken with Town Manager Jill Keimach about this, and we agree that there is positive opportunity in these areas, and I know the council agrees that these measures will be an important ingredient for the Town’s continued success and excellence. Stay tuned.

Thanks for the privilege of serving as your Mayor, and here’s to making this the best year yet for the Town of Paradise Valley!

As always, I can be reached at jbienwillner@paradisevalleyaz.gov.

Town Council Works Toward Successes in First Six Months

As Paradise Valley’s Town Council recesses for the summer, I wanted to express my thanks to everyone involved for a great first six months of this Council term.  It has been an absolute privilege and pleasure to serve as your Mayor for the past six months.  Your Council and Town staff, with valuable public input, has done a lot of excellent work to serve you.

We recently unanimously passed a balanced budget that funds all of our Town’s needs in a responsible and disciplined way.  In addition, I am very pleased that the Council unanimously supported an additional significant payment into the Police Pension system before the end of the fiscal year, which will be up to a $3 million contribution toward the pensions of our police officers.

We also unanimously approved the Town’s first ever Strategic Revenue Plan, an initiative that I advanced and worked to develop. The Strategic Plan is not geared at raising revenues.  Rather, it is an important tool that examines possible threats to the Town’s existing revenue streams to guide the financial decision-making of this Council and future Councils, including resisting the temptation to overspend during good economic times, and ensure that we are achieving our mission of limited, efficient, and effective government.  You can find all of these financial documents on the Town’s website:  www.paradisevalleyaz.gov. 

There are many other achievements to celebrate in these first six months, but the most significant to me is that a strong majority of this Council has risen to defend the long-standing and unique low-density, residential character and values of our Town. 

Our great Town was founded nearly sixty years ago by a determined group of visionary people who wanted to preserve a one-home-per-acre, residential lifestyle and limited government where they lived.  Like us, they respected and greatly appreciated their neighboring communities, but desired to maintain a different lifestyle and community setting for themselves. It is beyond dispute that these foundational Town values have been to the great benefit of every Town resident.  Put simply, we all enjoy among the highest property values, and lowest crime rates, in the entire region.  This is no accident. 

I sought elected office to protect these values and the resulting benefits to our citizens from them, and I will continue to do so.  In the face of a number of proposed projects this year that would ask us to stray from the Town’s traditions, I am proud to have been joined by a solid group of colleagues who share in this commitment, and want to express particular appreciation for our senior Councilmembers who have consistently worked with me, as your Mayor, to preserve the Town’s long-standing values — Vice Mayor Scott Mayor Moore, Councilman Paul Dembow, and Councilwoman Julie Pace. 

The Council and Town staff have important work ahead of us, and I’m looking forward to a continued fantastic future for our Town.  As always, I welcome your contact, feedback, and ideas, and you should feel free to reach me anytime at:  jbienwillner@paradisevalleyaz.gov.   Thank you for the honor of serving as your Mayor, and have a great, safe, and relaxing summer!

Paradise Valley deserves the best leadership possible for a bright future

By Jerry Bien-Willner

Vice Mayor  |  Candidate for Mayor

When you take a step back and think about it, we are truly privileged to live in a remarkable community.

It’s a place where the incredible beauty of our scenery is matched by an unparalleled quality of life, and where we have found a balance between responsible growth and unique character. Ours is one of the most affluent communities in America, and yet its operations can be funded without a property tax.

Paradise Valley is one-of-a-kind, and the attributes that make it an incredible place to live deserve and need protection.  That’s why I have decided to run for Mayor in the August 2018 primary election.

By way of background, I grew up in Paradise Valley.  I moved away for my education, and then worked on both coasts as a successful professional.  I met my soulmate in New York City, where my wife-to-be worked in the corporate world of fashion.  My wife (who was raised in California) and I decided to return to P.V. to raise our family – we have never looked back or had a single regret.  

I have served on the Paradise Valley Town Council since 2014 and served prior to that on the Town’s Planning Commission. I have always worked diligently to establish a track record of promoting and protecting Paradise Valley’s unique character and status, building consensus, working to solve key community issues, and responding effectively to resident concerns.  Like most Paradise Valley residents I have spoken with over the years, we chose Paradise Valley because we love our Town.  I have therefore always been committed to the principle that actions taken by the Town’s government should be well-considered, necessary, transparent, geared toward success, and, most importantly, enjoy the support and backing of our residents.

As my second consecutive term as your Vice Mayor concludes, I’m excited to run for Mayor with the goal of ensuring our exceptional quality of life and our community’s wonderful character continue to thrive well into the future. 

My top priorities if I am chosen your Mayor will be consistent with the vision our community’s leaders have had for decades:

• Maintaining our exceptional quality of life and our traditional, unique residential character in Paradise Valley.

• Ensuring police and fire service is as efficient and effective as possible in keeping us safe.

• Open government and working with people throughout the community to build consensus around key issues.

• Limited, accountable, and transparent government that does not require a property tax to balance budgets and provide quality services.

• Preserving and strengthening our Town’s sense of community and unique character.

•  Beneficial and strong relationships with our Town’s resorts, schools, religious institutions and neighboring communities.

As I have experienced first-hand in my service as a Councilman and your Vice Mayor, there will be challenges ahead for our community and to our way of life.  If privileged to serve as your Mayor, I will continue to dedicate my energy, skills, knowledge, and experience to the Town and its residents by providing the kind of responsible and determined leadership, vision, and consensus-building I have worked hard to exhibit throughout my past five years of volunteer service on the Town Council and Planning Commission.  Along with my passion for our Town and my civic experience, I will also bring to bear for our residents my valuable professional experience as a lawyer and entrepreneur. 

I am honored to have earned the support of those who have worked closest with me, including the past two mayors of Paradise Valley — Michael Collins and Scott LeMarr — as well as many esteemed colleagues from the Town Council. I have greatly enjoyed working with and learning from them over the past several years. Moving forward, I’m excited about what our Town Council can accomplish as a successful team working together on behalf of our residents!

I invite any and all Paradise Valley residents to let me know if they have questions, comments, ideas or concerns about the Town’s services and its future. For more information on my campaign, feel free to contact me directly at jerry@jerryformayor.com or visit www.JerryForMayor.com.

Paradise Valley has a rich history and a bright future. I am asking for your continued support so I can keep working to protect our incredible quality of life as Mayor.