Patrice Horstman — March 2022 District One Newsletter

Each year, the Board of Supervisors elects a Chair and Vice Chair, and on February 22, the Board unanimously elected Supervisor Horstman as Chair of the Board and Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez, District 2, as Vice Chair. Chair Horstman is grateful to serve with wonderful colleagues on the Board of Supervisors. The Board is an outcome-oriented team that is focused on the needs of our residents across all areas of Coconino County.

Supervisor Ryan did a great job as Board Chair navigating the County’s COVID Response and overseeing the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.  His leadership has been very much appreciated and valued. Chair Horstman also wants to thank Supervisor Fowler for her service as Vice Chair and thank them both for their service during a challenging period. Chair Horstman looks forward to building on the successes we achieved during their tenure.

Every 10 years, the State and County are required to redraw voting district boundaries based in census information. Coconino County has begun this process and is seeking public input on 5 proposed redistricting maps. Following the public input process, the Board looks forward to adopting a final map at the April 12, 2022, Board Meeting. It is the intent that this final map will meet the Board’s criteria for redistricting and will preserve the voting strength of historically under- represented groups, preserve communities of interest, and maintain traditional geographic and political boundaries to the extent possible. Supervisor Horstman encourages residents to review the proposed maps and submit their comments.

As the Board considers the draft maps, public input is crucial to provide the Board your input prior to adopting the final maps. For Draft maps, more information on the process, and virtual public input sessions, please visit coconino.az.gov/redistricting.

Join an input session at zoom.us/j/95293783691 or call 833-548-0276 (toll free) webinar/meeting ID: 952 9348 63961. The meeting can also be streamed and viewed on the County YouTube site at youtube.com/ coconinocnty

Redrawing our county supervisor districts to reflect one person, one vote is an essential duty of the Board. Supervisor Horstman thanks County Manager Steve Peru and staff for assisting with this important process.

Supervisor Horstman had the distinct pleasure of meeting with Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Ed Keable and staff at the Desert View Watch Tower and Inter-Tribal Cultural Heritage Site. Grand Canyon National Park is a model for co-management of National Parks across the country. The Park is partnering with the Inter-Tribal Working Group, tribal members, the Grand Canyon Conservancy on a strategic plan that will create opportunities for tribal members to gather within the park, showcase their artistry, and provide first-voice interpretation of the Grand Canyon.

Superintendent Keable explained how important is that first people of this land are the first people visitors see when they visit Grand Canyon and that the tribes continue to care for and preserve these lands. For more information on the collaboration between Grand Canyon National Park and the Traditionally Associated Tribes visit https:// www.nps.gov/grca/learn/historyculture/associated-tribes.htm

The first phase of Desert View Inter-Tribal Cultural Heritage Site is under construction. Supervisor Horstman met the Grand Canyon NPS Trail Crew that is working on the new amphitheater and viewed the mural restoration in the Desert View Tower.

Superintendent Keable emphasized how the County could partner with the Park, local communities, and tribal entities to improve and create housing opportunities within the Park for employees and construct affordable housing in communities near the National Park. The Superintendent and Supervisory Horstman also discussed staffing shortages, extending hiring preference to residents on contiguous tribal lands, and tackling regional transportation needs.

The county flood control district is currently in the design phase of providing critical sediment reduction measures that will be constructed on the edge of and below the Museum Fire burn scar. As previously discussed, the county received approximately $7 million dollars in federal monies to assist the county in grade stabilization and watershed restoration work to reduce sediment on the USFS land above and below the Mount Elden Estates area and in the private and municipal lands in Mt Elden Estates and Lockett Ranches areas. The county is also constructing sediment basins within the City limits just north of Linda Vista.

The County and it’s engineering consultant, Natural Channel Design, are working diligently to complete the construction of the Mount Elden Estates and Locket Ranches projects before this year’s monsoons. However the sediment basins, given their complexities, may not be completed until Fall 2022.

Supervisor Horstman will provide periodic updates on the settlement reduction and mitigation efforts as they proceed. Continued thanks to the United States Forest Service and the Natural Resource Conservation Service for its financial assistance and support.

Residents of Coconino County have long witnessed the positive influence and social and economic impact of Coconino Community College throughout our county. Access to educational opportunities leads to better paying jobs and creates a higher quality of life for our residents. Our communities are more vibrant and resilient because of the education programs that CCC provides.

Since its establishment in 1991, CCC has been a key educational institution in Coconino County. The College’s tax rates have never been reset and the College can no longer continue to rely on a funding mechanism that is 30 years old and meet the evolving educational needs of our communities.

A “YES” vote on Proposition 438 will provide critically needed funding for Coconino Community College (CCC) to deliver workforce development and life-long learning opportunities for county residents. CCC is a critical partner in laying the foundation for new businesses and providing needed job and career training. It will expand CCC’s ability to offer new career, technical education, and training programs to prepare county residents for better jobs and a higher quality of life. The funding increase will also allow CCC to better serve our rural and tribal communities.

Short-term rentals are under the jurisdiction and control of independent municipalities. The areas where the County has authority regarding short-term rentals is outside of city limits. Substantial changes need to be made to the short-term rental laws so that local residents have the ability to control their own neighborhoods.

There are currently 4 bills pending before the state legislature which, to varying degrees, provide a return to local control and allow Coconino County to better regulate short-term rentals and vacation rentals. Each bill contains an incremental approach we support to address the problem, but some are better than others in terms of policy and approach.

For a summary of each bill and the County’s position on it, click here. To view the emails and phone numbers for the entire Arizona State House of Representatives, click here. For the Arizona State Senate, click here.

The Flagstaff/Coconino County Public Library is issuing a call for volunteers to help with technology instruction and resume and job application tutoring. For more information click here: www.flagstaffpubliclibrary.org/about/volunteer.html.