Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez District 2 Newsletter — 12th Edition

12th Edition

Sup. Vasquez volunteering at the Tunnel Fire recovery events hosted by United Way of Northern Arizona. Thank you to all that have spent time and energy to give back to the community during this difficult time.

• Message from Jeronimo
• Tunnel Fire
• Event Highlights
• Service Positions Open in District 2
• Services and Programs
• And more!

Hello Everyone,

The months of April and May have been a mix of emotions as we respond and recover from the tunnel fire that has impacted the District 2 community. My heart goes out to all impacted by the fire and especially to those who have lost everything. As we move into recovery from the tunnel fire I want to thank all of the agency partners who were instrumental to the safety and well-being of all the residents. Thank you to Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Coconino County Health and Human Services, Coconino County Emergency Management, Office of the Navajo Nation President, United Way of Northern Arizona, Summit fire, High Country Humane, Coconino Humane Association, American Redcross, Flagstaff Family Food Center, Salvation Army and an array of community members who supported one another through this trying time. There is still work to be done in the community and the County will be along side all who need assistance. Below you will see updates on the recovery response and contact information for resources.

Even with an emergency, District 2 has been busy in other areas of the county. There has been an uptick with in-person events and community meetings, such as: the Timberline Fernwood neighborhood watch meeting, the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association Board meeting and the Board of Supervisors budget hearings to finalize the county budget for fiscal year 2023. Although it has been busy, it has been amazing to connect with the community and build relationships that will strength the support we give to one another in times of grief and joy. I look forward to working more closely with community partners as well as all of you taking the time to read this newsletter. As always, contact me whenever you need to. You can reach my office at 928 679-7162 or email me at jvasquez@coconino.az.gov

Thank you to the volunteers who participated in the recovery efforts for property owners impacted by the Tunnel Fire. Giving your time and energy to this community has really made a positive impact.

United Way of Northern Arizona has scheduled three more Saturday volunteer events in the Timberline neighborhoods on May 21, June 4 and June 11. To sign up please click here or go to unwna.volunteerhub.com

Tom and Hattie Kolb, a forester and an arborist, respectively, are donating their time Friday, May 27 to assess damaged trees and landscaping in the Tunnel Fire Area. Tom and Hattie can provide recommendations on which trees and shrubs may or may not survive based on the fire damage they sustained.

Call Coconino County Public Works at 928-679-8300 to schedule a time. Please note that we are focusing this service on those families that had a total loss of their homes and request that those that sustained partially damaged properties to contact a local arborist for support. Please click on the following links for information on How to Hire a Tree Expert and how to contact Northern Arizona Arborists.

Siren Warning System

The City of Flagstaff (City) and the Coconino County Flood Control District (District), with significant financial support from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, have begun installing a siren alerting system to help warn residents of imminent flooding in neighborhoods downstream of the Museum Fire burn scar. Four elevated high power speaker arrays will be installed throughout the Grandview Homes and Sunnyside neighborhoods and will emit alarm sounds and voice messages when rain thresholds are triggered within the Museum Fire burn scar.

The installation of the elevated speakers will continue throughout May. Testing, training, and public awareness of the siren alerting system will take place at various times throughout the month of June. When specified rainfall thresholds are met, the siren alerting system will emit an alarm sound, followed by a voice message repeated three times in both English and Spanish, concluding with a wind down siren sound signifying the end of that message.

When residents receive the Emergency Notification Alert text message (free and confidential signup at http:// www.coconino.az.gov/ready) or hear the siren alerting system, they should immediately follow all safety instructions. Children should never play in drainages.

For more information about these and other projects please visit Museum Fire Flood Projects (museumfloodprojects.com)

Here are some tips for residents to keep in mind:

• Only broken sandbags on the outside of sandbag walls need to be replaced. Sandbags that are broken but are inside of a sandbag wall can remain in place.
• Cinders from broken sandbags can be put in the designated trash bins provided, returned to the sandbag station at 2625 N King Street, or taken to Cinder Lake Landfill. Residents are asked to not dump cinders into street gutters or put sandbags in residential City trash cans. Old sandbags or cinders are not eligible for City bulk pickup and should not be placed curbside.
• Flood mitigation should be continuous with no gaps. Removal of any sections of mitigation from an individual property may compromise effectiveness and result in liability if upstream or downstream properties are impacted.
• The maintenance of sandbag walls and the disposal of sandbags is exclusively the responsibility of residents.
• Residents are encouraged to enlist the help of family and friends in repairing their sandbag walls as there are limited staffing and volunteer resources available to assist residents. The City and the Flood Control District continue to work with the United Way and other partners to secure volunteers, but these resources will be directed toward residents who are elderly or have a disability.
• Residents are encouraged to review how to properly re-stack sandbags that are replaced. For more information on sandbagging, visit coconino.az.gov/2134/Sandbag-Information.

The threat of flooding is real, and residences in the Museum Flood area will remain at high risk for post-wildfire flooding for several years. Residents are encouraged to purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Flood insurance is the only way for residents to be compensated for flood damage on private property. If a resident’s insurance agent is not aware of the procedures for selling flood insurance policies, residents can contact NFIP at 1-877-336-2627 for a referral. A local insurance agent can also be identified by visiting www.floodsmart.gov.

Pallets of new sandbags and trash bins have been placed throughout neighborhoods downstream of the Museum Fire burn scar for residents to use for emergency sandbag mitigation. If you are unable to make necessary repairs to your sandbag walls due to being elderly or having a disability, please call 928-213-2102 to request assistance. For more information visit: https://www.coconino.az.gov/2134/ Sandbag-Information

The Crown

Flagstaff Shelter Services opening of the Crown on April 29. Flagstaff Shelter Services mission is to provide individuals experiencing homelessness with crisis stabilization and tools they need to achieve housing stability; regardless of faith, mental health, sobriety, or COVID-19 status. Housing is healthcare. Congratulations Flagstaff Shelter Services for opening up this resource for those in need of housing! The Crown offers expanded emergency shelter and will eventually become affordable, permanent supportive housing for our community. Thank you for working on such an important issue in our community.

For more information contact Flagstaff Shelter Services at 928-225-2533 or visit https://flagshelter.org

Viola Awards 2022

The 14th Annual Viola Awards took place on Saturday, April 30th at the Orpheum Theater in downtown Flagstaff. It was great to see all of the incredible work happening in our community. I was honored to present the award for the Community Impact Organization. Congratulations to Tynkertopia on winning the Community Impact Organization Award, and to all the other nominees and winners for 2022. Thank you Creative Flagstaff for providing a space to celebrate art in our community.

CHAC Diversity Book Drive

The Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) hosted a diversity book drive in early May. The book drive in collaboration with the flagstaff library collected and donated 74 diverse books to the libraries collections. Thank you to all who donated.

Graduation 2022

Hispanic and Latine Convocation at NAU on May 5. The convocation is a cultural celebration recognizing the achievements and accomplishments of Hispanic/Chicano/Latine graduates and their families. Coconino Community College Convocation at CCC on May 6. Congratulations to the all the students and thank you to President Colleen Smith for her work at CCC. Enjoy Retirement!

It was an honor to celebrate these students and I look forward to seeing what they all accomplish next.

STEM Celebration at FT. Tuthill

The 9th Annual Community STEM Celebration is an opportunity for all of Flagstaff to engage with the STEM community (K-12, college and university educational institutions, businesses, government agencies, non-profits, and others).

Hands-on activities, demonstrations and conversations excite participants, expose the community to STEM educational and career opportunities in Flagstaff and celebrate Flagstaff’s designation as “America’s First STEM Community.”

NACo WIR Conference

The NACo Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference brings together county officials from across the nation to focus on pressing issues facing counties and our residents. Each year the conference is hosted by a county within the fifteen Western states. Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. This year it was hosted in Anchorage County, Alaska. The conference provides attendees with the opportunity to interact with federal, state and regional policymakers, participate in educational sessions and take home tools to address challenges. These interests include public land issues (use and conservation), community stability and economic development, and the promotion of the traditional Western way of life.

Coconino County Fires Restriction Information:

In coordination with our partners at the State and Federal partners, Coconino County will elevate to Stage 2 restrictions on Thursday, May 26th at 8:00AM. For more information about the most current restrictions please visit the following link.

www.coconino.az.gov/firerestrictions

Have questions about the “dos and don’ts” during fire restrictions? Like…does the County’s Wildfire Defense Ordnance apply to private property? (Sneak peek-YES! It applies to all property in unincorporated areas, not including federal, state, or tribal lands.)Learn more at https://www.coconino.az.gov/Docum…/ View/51210/FAQs-2022-04

USFS Fire Restriction Information:

Coconino NF to implement Stage 2 fire restrictions May 26. Due to warmer weather conditions, increased fire danger, and for public safety, U.S. Forest Service – Coconino National Forest will implement Stage 2 fire restrictions beginning 8 a.m. Thursday, May 26.The forest has been under Stage 1 fire restrictions since May 5, which prohibit campfires across the forest and limits them to developed recreations sites only. However, with warmer and windy weather, as well as key criteria being met, stricter fire restrictions will be implemented across the entire national forest–including developed recreation sites.

View the official Stage 2 Forest Order: https://www.fs.usda.gov/…/ FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1025646.pdfSee full news release: https:// www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/news-events/…Learn more about local weather conditions with US National Weather Service Flagstaff Arizona: https://www.weather.gov/fgz/

Healthy Families is a voluntary, free support program serving families in their quest to be the best parents they can be. The program offers child development information, group activities, community resources, and ongoing supportive visits for up to five years in your home. The Healthy Families Arizona program will help you:- Be prepared for your baby’s birth- Be a successful parent- Communicate with and understand your baby- Help your child learn about the world through playIf you would like more information regarding eligibility and participation, please contact us at (928) 679-721

Local services list: This is a list of local organizations with details about their offerings for assistance. Please look over for yourself or to refer to people you may know that need help. https:// www.coconino.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/35228/COVID-19- Social-Safety-Net-Services-Coalition-Resource-Guide-V9_