Friends of Flagstaff’s Future update for Jan. 17

In This Issue

  • New Arts and Culture Center in Flagstaff? It’s up to YOU!
  • Wayside Horns a Livability Issues for East Side Residents
  • How Can the City Protect Trailer Park Residents?
  • Climate Action Planning is Looking for Your Input
  • Council Talks Budget Priorities for 2019
  • A Letter from Board President Mike Caulkins
  • Welcome Luna!
  • Community Events
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New Arts and Culture Center in Flagstaff? It’s up to YOU!
The Flagstaff Arts Council has hired the consulting firm ArtsMarket to conduct a feasibility study to explore the potential for development of new arts, culture, and/or science venues in Flagstaff. The study is underway and will continue through spring 2018.

They want YOUR input to help complete the study!

Input from the community is essential to help ArtsMarket develop a realistic path for new or updated facilities in the arts sector. They need to understand the demand that exists and what you, as patrons of the arts, want to see in arts programming, venues, and operations. The survey asks you how often you attend events and what your existing level of arts participation is. It also asks for your opinion about the need for new venues.

The survey takes a few minutes to complete and will help this important effort considerably. Please take a moment to complete the survey at this link.

Everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a drawing to win a gift certificate of $100 to Whole Foods Market.

Complete the Flagstaff Cultural Facilities Survey >

Thank you!

Wayside Horns on Fanning Drive and Steve Boulevard

Petition – Wayside Horn Inequity; Diminished Quality of Life.

Last Tuesday, council saw a presentation about options to remove the wayside horns at Fanning Drive and Steves Boulevard as a result of a citizens petition to have them removed to improve quality of life around these intersections.

You may have noticed that the train still uses it’s horn periodically downtown even though Ponderosa, Butler and Cherry are “quiet zones.” So, when are horns still used in current “quiet zones?”

  • Trespassing • Wildlife • Maintenance work or Crossing Warning System malfunction

What is necessary according to federal regulation to make a crossing a “quiet zone” where horns are not used routinely? One of the criteria below must be met:

  • Medians to prevent gate circumnavigation – As we see at Ponderosa. This is one proposed change for Fanning Drive and Steves Boulevard. This has a very significant price tag, which is why it was not perviously explored for Fanning and Steves. Ponderosa was built this way originally which is why is was done there.
  • Four-Quadrant Gate System – Also a proposed change for Fanning Drive and Steves Boulevard. Also has a steep price tag.
  • Converting a two-way street into a one-way street – As we see on San Fransisco and Beaver. This is not an option for Fanning and Steves because of the traffic logistics.
  • Permanent closure of crossing – This was rejected by business owners on Steves and Fanning when Flagstaff first established “quiet zones” on Beaver, Cherry, and Ponderosa.
  • Wayside horns – Currently in use at Fanning Drive and Steves Boulevard (lower decibel than train horn which is110-120 decibels and multi-directional a wayside horn is 90-100 decibels and limited in direction). This was the least costly option at the time.

The wayside horns at Fanning and Steves have proved to be a much less than ideal solution for the residents of these neighborhoods. A Citizen’s Petition brought this issue before council.

After the presentation of options and associated costs, the council was in agreement that the first step should be looking at the wayside horns and seeing if the noise they make can be altered or shortened and the decibel level can be lowered. Maybe even try a newer horn that is more amenable to residents of the east-side. This solution is preferred because of costs.  If this does not work, council will revisit the other options. 

Requiring “For Sale” Signs for Trailer Parks

Mayor Evans brought forward the idea of requiring “For Sale” signs at entrances of mobile home parks and written notification to tenants as soon as the owner begins the sale process.

  • Right now, residents and prospective residents must be informed 180 days prior to sale according to Federal Law. Sometimes, people purchase a home before this 180 day, but after the owner of the park has already begun the sale process.
  • Not only are relocation fees high, but often restrictions at other parks prevent owner from moving older mobile homes all together. The Mayor asked if potential purchasers can be warned about the issues of relocating a trailer more than 10yrs old. 
  • There are restrictions due to the Federal Law, but council directed staff to continue to explore options for how mobile home buyer can be protected from purchasing a home that quickly becomes a burden when the park is sold, especially if they’ve purchased an older mobile home.

Climate Action Planning: January Update

Climate Action Planning: January UpdateThe committee has a strong engagement plan and intends to rely heavily on community input as they move forward and make a Climate Action Plan. F3 will pass on information on ALL information about upcoming opportunities for public input (see Community Events)

Council Priorities for 2019 Budget

Council and staff are continuing to refine the language on this list of priorities. If you have thoughts on these priorities, projects to help see them accomplished, or other priorities you would like to see, email council at council@flagstaffaz.gov

Economic Development

  • Address impacts from development/tourism (i.e., trash, traffic, etc.) in a multi-division effort
  • Expand outreach to Mexican market with a multi-season focus
  • Work with Downtown Business Alliance (DBA) in other areas of Flagstaff (i.e., 4th Street Corridor) to strengthen businesses
  •  Explore options (i.e., farming, solar energy, etc.) for large parcel revenue production (i.e., Red Gap)

Affordable Housing

  • Affordable Housing bond question and continued community dialogue (comprehensive revolving fund consideration)
  • Examine ECONA report recommendations with staff recommendations – next steps
  • Explore more subsidies/incentives to increase the number of affordable homes (including agreements with developers)
  • Revisit our current stock and determine current best uses (redevelopment options, etc.)
  • Improve/strengthen path from rental to ownership of homes
  • Create partnerships (i.e., United Way) for relocations such as for those impacted by the closure of trailer parks
  • Subsidize new infrastructure (i.e., sewer, etc.) for Affordable Housing and receive agreements with the development community

Social Justice

  • ICF Strategic Plan funding consideration
  • Indigenous community marketing funds to produce an event (i.e., pow-wow)
  • Improve relationship between Mexican Consulate and City (i.e., staff time, insurance, rental fees)
  • Explore expanding cultural awareness training to other City staff
  • Address lack of downtown public restrooms – staff plan and recommendations
  • Explore ongoing funding revenue sources to support programming for those with disabilities in the community
  • Address social impacts (i.e., public safety) of the daytime needs of the homeless and loitering community and facilities – explore options from CJCC, etc.
  • Additional staff/funding for social service issues

Transportation and Other Public Infrastructure

  • Revisit impact fees (align with needs of the community)
  • Wayside Horns community policy development and budget discussion
  • Support Courthouse funding options (i.e., IGA, building proposals, etc.)
  • Core Facility completion emphasis
  • Explore the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) – what does future look like
  • Additional equipment for Fleet (i.e., plows, graders, etc.) – levels of service (i.e., snow removal, bulk trash, etc.)
  • Actively advocate for infrastructure projects at the State/Federal level (i.e., lobbyist) to get the programmed money into our community
  • Continue working towards 75% recycle rate
  • Add infrastructure to open up city lands for development
  • Address lack of downtown public restrooms – staff plan and recommendations

Building and Zoning/Regional Plan

  • Recommendations for code changes (internal staff vs external resources)
  • Effort to link all documents (i.e., Regional Plan, Resource Plan, Neighborhood Plan, Zoning Codes, etc.)
  • Succession plan and talent retention preparedness to keep the level of services in place – capture under Administrative section

Climate Change

  • Align the City’s organizational structure with Council’s priority of Climate Change – elevate the Sustainability division (provide tools and decision making ability)

Water Conservation

  • N/A 8. Environmental and Natural Resources
  • Allocate resources for litter clean-up – explore options/evaluate resources (i.e., public campaign, commercial properties, construction sites, etc.)
  • Dedicated staff for robust Dark Skies management

Personnel

  • Strategically evaluate the needs and priorities of police (i.e., additional officers, funding, retention, recruitment, etc.) – consider how to communicate public safety issues with community (i.e., statistics with narrative)
  • Ensure additional four officers are hired/approved to reach the total of six positions approved in FY 2018 budget
  • Maternity/paternity leave policy
  • Fire Station 2 reopened with some type of activity
  • All paramedics receive assignment pay
  • Strategic Plan for Fire/Police
  • Partnership with NAU for fire services (training for non-emergency situations)
  • Plans for high occupancy dwelling units – strategically identify options for addressing those areas
  • Solution to addressing problems and issues with public intoxicants
  • Cost sharing with NAU x Council salaries/travel allowance and travel & expense budget

Community Outreach

  • Mobile streaming for non-City Hall council meetings
  • Closed captioning for meetings
  • Neighborhood Services division/personnel for City (i.e., staff position, strategic position)
  • Structure of City’s website – steps to make easier to use (functionality, accessibility, update links and documents)

Town and Gown

  • Impact of NAU and student population on Public Safety
  • Funding for Community Forum with NAU and citizens
  • Internship stipends/compensation/fees
  • Lobby state for funding the Rio de Flag project

Code Compliance

  • Strengthen code enforcement with Police and Fire resources (moved from Personnel)
  • Funds for graffiti outreach and abatement (revisit ordinance)
  • Funds for litter removal in City
  • Proactive in talking to neighborhoods and streets affected by parking districts
  • Identify areas for graffiti where it would be appropriate
  • Revisit codes for better enforcement and ensuring they serve the purpose as intended

Council and staff are continuing to refine the language on this list of priorities. If you have thoughts on these priorities, projects to help see them accomplished, or other priorities you would like to see, email council at council@flagstaffaz.gov

A Letter from New Board President Mike Caulkins 

Hello all! This is Mike Caulkins, the new Board President of Friends of Flagstaff’s Future. I am excited to step into this new role here at F3, and work alongside Dawn Tucker, the board, and all of our members, volunteers, and community partners as we strive to make Flagstaff a more livable place. I am keen to continue our important work together, and I aim to re-invigorate folks who might want to step up and volunteer their time with us in this potent political climate we find ourselves in. Thanks for your continued support of our work, and I look forward to seeing you around town to talk and take action on the pressing challenges facing our fair city.

– Mike Caulkins

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Welcome Luna!

Hello! My name is Luna, and I am a senior at NAU studying Environmental Sustainability, Women’s & Gender Studies and Civic Engagement. My favorite activities include cooking food with my friends, making music, smashing the heteropatriarchy, and snuggling my cat, Cosmo. I grew up in Chicago, and moved to Flagstaff after I graduated high school in order to pursue my dreams, find community, and foster a stronger relationship with nature. I am deeply passionate about environmental justice, intersectional feminism, community organizing and democratic practice. I am so excited to be interning with F3 and exploring the ways in which democracy and civic engagement intersect with pressing issues of environmental and social injustice that we so extensively face, both locally and nationally. I am enamored and inspired by Flagstaff’s powerfully engaged local community, and am eager to help further the struggle towards a more just and sustainable future!
Community Events

* Image and information from the City of Flagstaff

The High Occupancy Housing Plan process is entering the public hearing and adoption phase. The Citizen’s Review Session is the first and a very important step for the plan. This is a critical opportunity for your input.

The Citizen’s Review Session draft of the High Occupancy Housing Plan is available here.
You can also review all the public comments received during the 60 day public review.
More information is available on the project website at www.flagstaff.az.gov/hohplan.

Schedule of upcoming public meetings

Event

Date

Time

Location

City Council

Tues, February 6

6:00pm

City Hall

You can also stream all of these meetings at www.flagstaff.az.gov/streaming.

Make your voice heard in a commission meeting, see the schedule below

We want to hear from you!

If you have thoughts on any of the above, please e-mail Executive Director Dawn Tucker, dtucker@friendsofflagstaff.org so she can make sure YOUR VOICE is heard through F3!

Thank you for your membership, participation and advocacy! 

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future Board of Directors
David McCain, Emily Melhorn, Michael Caulkins, Emma McVeigh, and Eli Cohen
We need YOUR support to continue our work for a livable community 
Our mission is to promote an environmentally sustainable, socially just and economically prosperous Flagstaff through community education, citizen engagement, and advocacy.http://friendsofflagstaff.org/support/donate
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