Friends of Flagstaff’s Future update for Oct. 25 — Candidates Discuss the Climate Action Plan

How high of a priority is implementing the City’s new Climate Action and Adaptation Plan when approved?
Austin Aslan: It’s an essential, urgent priority. I have a master’s degree is in Conservation Biology, and I am the recipient of a prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. I understand the authenticity of the threat posed by climate change. Our community, our future resource availability, and our environment which gives Flagstaff such high quality of life are all at risk. Implementing the new Climate Action and Adaptation Plan is absolutely essential. The Plan is being developed with input from the top climate and sustainability scientists in our region and represents the kind of forward-thinking pro-activity our City, region, state, and world require.

Paul Deasy: It is very important to implement the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, and we need to make sure the most important elements are prioritized. Our forests are still not sufficiently thinned around town to protect us from wildfire. The Rio de Flag flood control project still hasn’t been started, putting our town at risk of severe flooding. We need to focus on protecting our city from the existential threats of climate change. This should be a priority not just within the plan, but in our city discussions and operations in general.

Regina Salas: Climate change is a universal issue and calls for state, federal, and international actions. The incumbent City Council has included Climate Change in their 2017-2019 Goals. It is the City Council’s authority to enact local legislation, adopt budgets, determine policies and appoint the City Manager who shall execute the laws and administer the government of the City. I will study and take a closer look at the proposed Climate Change Action and Adaptation Plan from a local policy-making perspective, identify what and how much it will take to implement it. Community engagement and support, participation of key stakeholders, grant funding, and private-public partnerships will be integral in the process of approval and implementation of a local Climate Change Action Plan.

Alex Martinez: I believe that implementing the City’s new Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, if approved, is of highest importance. The two words we do not want to hear are “too late!”

Dennis K Lavin:  I understand that the City leaders are looking at other solutions to this document. I am not sure how this Plan follows the voter approved “The Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030”. I am hesitant to make this a priority unless I receive more details. As a member of the Museum of Northern Arizona, I am impressed with the work they perform as to educating our Community as to our precious resources.

Adam Shimoni: I have been following the CAAP since they began and am eager to see their findings and recommendations. I’m very excited to see their online draft plan, which I think is very innovative. I look forward to a final draft presentation to council. The plan is already implemented in certain ways but should be supercharged once it is approved. This plan focuses on the future wellbeing of our parks, community, environment and much more. It gives us clear guidelines to how we can best develop as a town while maintaining a positive relationship with the environment around us.

Mayor Coral Evans: As a member of the Flagstaff City Council who supported this (the creation of a City Climate Action & Adaptation Plan) as a council priority I am looking forward to its implementation (once it is approved by council). Its implementation will be a priority of mine.

Alex Martinez: I fully support updating the city’s Energy Code so that new construction must be built to be more energy efficient to reduce greenhouse emissions. My decisions are data based and all the current research clearly points out that our current climate changes are man made.

Regina Salas: I would support updating the City’s Energy Code to encourage voluntary participation of builders and property developers and owners to construct new buildings to be more energy efficient to reduce greenhouse emissions. Sustainable energy-efficient practices in the construction industry are already in place and espoused by industry leaders. Best practices like Green Buildings have been showcased in the City and throughout the state. Voluntary participation, success stories of green buildings and their impact to community vitality are the main key toward long-term sustainable and energy-efficient construction.

Adam Shimoni: I would support updating the city’s Energy Code. We are in 2018 and currently operating under the 2009 code. Council has repeatedly passed over updating the code due to concerns regarding the cost to homeowners. If on Council, I would work to both update the codes and ensure homeowner financial savings. Meeting the Department of Energy standards for new housing reduces emissions. These buildings do have up-front costs but more significantly, they have larger long-term energy and financial rewards. I support putting codes into place to encourage if not necessitate building within high standards of energy efficiency.

Dennis K. Lavin: I believe the free market drives the energy efficient building/construction markets. Folks are aware of our precious resources and want to be part of the solution. We all want clean air and a beautiful forest. A question in this survey, refers to our high cost of living, so the more regulations we have the more costly it is to build. From what I can determine, the City is making great strides in energy efficiency.

Austin Aslan: Climate change is already impacting our region. Our droughts are more extreme, our forests more flammable, and our snowpack less reliable, impacting our public safety and future water resources. Climate change will bring a wave of new settlers to Flagstaff as climate refugees flee southern Arizona over the coming decades. This is a critical problem affecting our future quality of life and impacting Flagstaff’s character and resources. I strongly support an update to the City’s Energy Code and requiring that our community take immediate responsibility for our contribution to climate change and do what we can to mitigate it.

Mayor Coral Evans: Climate change is already impacting our region. Our droughts are more extreme, our forests more flammable, and our snowpack less reliable, impacting our public safety and future water resources. Climate change will bring a wave of new settlers to Flagstaff as climate refugees flee southern Arizona over the coming decades. This is a critical problem affecting our future quality of life and impacting Flagstaff’s character and resources. I strongly support an update to the City’s Energy Code and requiring that our community take immediate responsibility for our contribution to climate change and do what we can to mitigate it.