Mesa leaders urge residents to attend budget hearings; note e‑bike safety outreach and advisory‑board openings

Council members used the March 9 study session to remind residents about upcoming public budget meetings and to encourage attendance and questions of department staff. City staff (Mr. Butler) said a meeting will be held at Gateway Library (District 6) Wednesday, March 11 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with a west‑side meeting the following evening, also 6 to 7:30 p.m. "If you're in district 2, you better come," said Miss Taylor, who identified herself as a council member for District 2.

Council members also described recent outreach and education on e‑bike safety led by Don Blake and the Superstition Division. A council member said the department held five safety sessions and that "you can expect some enforcement to start ... which will be more of a soft enforcement," meaning officers will focus on education and outreach before issuing stricter penalties.

Officials noted low turnout at a recent Northeast Mesa budget hearing — "unfortunate we only had four residents," a council member said — and encouraged residents to use the remaining scheduled meetings to ask questions of staff. City staff also announced openings on Mesa advisory boards and committees for the July 1 fiscal year and invited residents to apply online and list committee preferences. No budget decisions or votes were taken during the study session; the regular council meeting was scheduled to follow the study session upstairs at 5:45 p.m.