Council appoints new board, commission members | News

The Peoria City Council appointed residents as new members to three different boards and commissions at a recent meeting — adding to its already 100 members. 

“We are a great city, but we wouldn’t be as good if we didn’t have these volunteers,” said Councilmember Bill Patena of the Ironwood District. “They give the gift of their time and the gift of their expertise in each board and commission they belong to.” 

The three community members appointed were Anna Raitu to the Economic Development Advisory Board, Nathan Cottrell to the Planning and Zoning Commission, and Edward Molina to the Industrial Development Authority. 

Each of the newly designated members had their name read off by Patena and was presented with a plaque. Raitu was the first one called. 

Raitu has been a Peoria resident for the past 20 years in the Mesquite District and wanted to join the Economic Development Advisory Board in order to keep her finger on the pulse as to what’s coming in and what residents want to see in Peoria. 

The Economic Development Authority that Raitu became the newest member of advises and assists in matters related to the economic development and planning of the city. 

“We are essentially ambassadors of the city and of our community,” Raitu said. 

“We will help facilitate communication between the city and small businesses and residents of the community.” 

Raitu’s background includes a master’s degree in education, real estate, as well as being a business owner for the past 20 years. 

“I understand what those hurdles are in order for a business to grow or flourish in our city,” Raitu said. “So, I definitely want to have a voice in making sure that the businesses that come to our city have sustainability within our city.” 

She said she joined the board because she wanted to see more responsible and cultural growth — as a female, minority business owner herself. She added that with the increase in people moving into the state, she wants to make Peoria more known. 

“My vision would be to see that our city would be familiar to other people,” Raitu said. 

“When I say Peoria, I kind of have to explain that it’s 30 minutes from Phoenix and northwest of Phoenix. I would love people to just recognize the city’s name and that Peoria would be familiar to people outside of our state and even internationally.” 

The Economic Development Authority is important, she noted, as it facilitates communication between the city and businesses while encouraging businesses from outside the city or even outside the state to move their operation to Peoria. 

“That, in turn, impacts our city positively, because we are spending more money within our city instead of going out to get those same (business) and dining experiences,” Raitu said. 

“I’m really in this role because I want to have a voice representing the Peoria business owners and residents. And I want to understand more about the economic development in our city and pass my understanding back to the community.” 

The Planning and Zoning Commission gained a new member in Cottrell, who has not only served on Avondale’s commission but whose job revolves around development and zoning. 

“It’s an interest of mine being on the commission. It helps keep me involved with the city of Peoria and makes me feel like I’m doing my part for the city,” Cottrell said. 

The Planning and Zoning commission reviews development projects and proposed zoning changes and acts as an initial review body, which then makes recommendations to the city council for approval. 

Cottrell said he feels as though his experience on Avondale’s commission and from his job will aid him in being a successful member, as he knows which rules apply, which don’t, and the general guidelines of what people can and can’t say. 

“I think it allows me to step right in without too steep of a learning curve,” Cottrell said. 

“I think my experience will help put me in the right positions to ask the right questions to make sure that they are being held to the standards that the citizens want.” 

The commission is the initial guidance for developers and city staff and allows the members as citizens to say yes, they like that or no, they don’t, and ensure the city is growing the way citizens want to. 

“It’s important to keep some of those initial tasks off of city council. We can dig a little deeper and make those recommendations so that city council has an extra set of information for them to look at to make that ultimate decision,” Cottrell said. 

The third and final resident appointed was Molina to the Industrial Development Authority (IDA). Molina, like Cottrell, has served on other boards before and also has a background in business development — having owned his own company that operated in 22 states and two foreign countries. 

“Whatever I can do to help stimulate (the city’s economy)” Molina said. “In my view, getting that economy going helps raise the standards of living and help increase the tax base for the city that allows the city to provide more services. So that’s kind of the reason I gravitate to that kind of stuff.” 

The authority, according to the city’s website, is responsible for approving secured or unsecured loans in order to finance or refinance the acquisition, construction, improvement or equipping of privately owned projects. 

“The IDA doesn’t help out these large track developers. … In my view, they don’t really need IDA’s assessments,” Molina said. “The IDA does have the ability to support and provide private entities assistance.” 

Molina feels that his understanding of what is needed for businesses to get started and get operations going will help the authority. 

He noted that over the past 12 to 18 months, he has seen a large expansion of business within the city and hopes while with and learning from the authority to facilitate a large Level I trauma center — as currently the closest one is 20 minutes away. 

“(I am) putting myself in a position where those opinions, those ideas might actually get implemented,” Molina said. 

“Even if they’re not implemented, if they cause the other members of the authority to say … ‘There are some good nuggets in there, so let’s incorporate that into a bigger picture.’” 

Joining the authority is Molina’s way of trying to make the change he wants to see in the city, and he encourages others to do the same. 

“There’s always complaining about what’s being done or not being done, but people are not willing to step up and get involved,” Molina said.

“That’s the reason I want to get involved. I don’t want to sit here and complain about something without providing recommended solutions.”