Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 195

10 Wednesday, February 10, 1999 The Arizona Republic EV 11 HOSPICE A voter's stadium district primer There is a great demand for hospice volunteers, including professionals such as retired nurses and chaplains, and lay people to offer emotional and care-giving support to the dying and their families. The following is a list of agencies that train and place hospice Ballot on May 18 crucial to Los Arcos Mall plan Lutheran Healthcare Hospice Chandler, 497-5536. East Valley Samaritan Hospice Mesa, 835-0711. Hospice Family Care, Phoenix 331-9200. Hospice of the Valley, Phoenix 530-6900.

Scottsdale Memorial I lospice Scottsdale, 994-1001. SlSfeJ i i' By Alexa Haussler The Arizona Republic SCOTTSDALE It's been called a monster, a Pandora's box and a gift to developers. It is Arizona's stadium district law, and a developer wants to use it to help finance a $624 million sports, conference and entertainment complex in south Scottsdale. Much of the emotional debate surrounding the project at Scottsdale and McDowell roads, to be anchored by a Phoenix Coyotes arena, has centered on the 1997 stadium district law. Arena foes say it grants unchecked powers that a small, politically appointed group can unleash at any time.

But backers say it is a sound way to attract and keep tax dollars in the city. On May 18, voters will have to make the decision whether Scottsdale should form a stadium district. The following is a primer on a stadium district. Why did lawmakers enact the stadium district law? i Its approval, in part, was due to lessons learned from the volatile public reaction over Bank One Ballpark. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors imposed a quarter-cent sales-tax increase in 1994, without voter approval, to finance construction of the major-league baseball stadium.

What is a stadium district? Two or more Arizona municipalities in the same county can join to form a stadium district after a vote by their city councils. Scotts-dale's partner municipality has yet to be named. The district then could ask their voters to approve a tax break or a new tax to fund a project that is designed to accommodate sporting, entertainment, cultural, civic, meeting or convention events. How is a stadium district formed? Once the city councils in each city in the district vote to form the district, the councils each appoint two members to the stadium district's board of directors. What specific powers does the district have? The district has broad powers, similar to that of a city.

They include: 1. The authority to levy taxes, subject to a public vote. The district can ask voters to approve a new tax to fund a stadium project. The Los Arcos developers have said they will not ask for a new tax. The group will ask voters whether developers can keep 50 percent of the state sales tax revenues generated by the project to pay for parking structures, roads and other public facilities.

2. The power to condemn property, with the approval of the City Council. 3. The district also could levy taxes aimed at tourists, including Tim KoorsThe Arizona Republic The site of Los Arcos Mall, at McDowell and Scottsdale roads, will be transformed should voters approve a stadium district. The district would use its broad powers, similar to that of a city, to oversee a proposed $624 million complex.

Coyotes are proposing a arena, a hotel and conference center, and a movie theater complex. The 92-acre redevelopment project also would include shopping, restaurants, free parking and a public skating rink. How much will it cost? The developer estimates it will cost $624 million to build, $219 million of which the developer estimates will be paid for with public money. Besides Los Arcos, where else is the stadium district law being used? surcharges on rental cars. 4.

When the Scottsdale City Council voted to form the district, it voted that the district's decisions regarding zoning, condemnation and other land-use issues will be subject to council approval. Does property within a stadium district's boundaries pay property taxes? No, it is exempt from property taxes. What is being proposed for Scottsdale and McDowell roads? The Ellman which owns Los Arcos Mall, and the Phoenix Mesa has teamed with Queen Creek and Gilbert to form a stadium district to build the $1.8 billion Rio Salado Crossing football stadium and convention center. Voters in the three cities will go to the polls May 18 to decide whether to approve the project, but only Mesa voters will be asked to approve a 20-year, quarter-cent sales tax increase to help pay the city's $500 million share of construction costs. Alexa Haussler can be reached at 444-7481 or at alexa.hausslerpni.com via e-mail.

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The group spoke to youngsters and covered such topics as what happens when adults betray children and personal boundaries. "And being in control of their own personal space," said Rosemary Leclair, director of programs for EMPACT-SPC. A second crisis intervention team, TERROS, also was contacted to help teachers. "We felt the teachers needed someone to talk to about their feelings and concerns," Basnett said. "Ron had been there six years.

He worked closely with these people." Shannon Zetich, a resident of Longview' East, said she was shocked because she and Ruelas have teamed up and attacked neighborhood issues. "What a horrible tragedy this will be whether he's found guilty or not," Zetich said. "Either way, Ron loses. I will always like Ron for the person I know him to be, and I know that I am not alone in that statement." Sylvia Spotted Elk, president of the Longview Parent-Teacher Association, said she would not comment because school officials urged them not to speak to the media. Betty Reid can be reached at 444-8885 or at betty.reidpni.com via e-mail.

By Betty Reid The Arizona Republic PHOENIX Students and teachers at Longview Elementary School were so shocked when counselor Ron Ruelas was accused of molesting young boys that the district turned to three outside agencies for help. Members of the Longview East neighborhood, parents at Longview Elementary School and district officials described' Ruelas as a contributor to the community. Ruelas' friends and associates said he helped with neighborhood cleanups and food drives, and delivered food, clothing, heaters and blankets to needy people. That's all the more reason they were surprised when police arrested Ruelas, 31, Jan. 19 on suspicion of molesting two boys.

He is charged with one count of furnishing pornographic material to a minor and one count of indecent exposure. "It's a shocking kind of thing, and they are feeling very bad about the whole thing," Superintendent Wilma Basnett said. To help cope with the nightmare, Basnett arranged with three Valley crisis intervention groups so that counseling is available for her staff and students. In the works is a districtwide session that will be available at all six Osborn campuses. The district contacted the Center Against Sexual Abuse to help educate its staff and students.

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