Prescott eNews

Prescott Mayor Jack Wilson

Prescott Mayor Jack Wilson is dead set on getting federal funding for the Verde River Basin Partnership to finance scientific studies.

He wants it so badly that he ignored direction from his fellow council representatives to wait to proceed until he gets support from Prescott Valley Council.

He wants it so badly that he ignored the written response from Prescott Valley Mayor Harvey Skook explaining why, at this time, he can not sign off on the letter Wilson suggested both municipalities send to Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl, as well as the rest of the Arizona Congressional Delegation.

Mayor Wilson's Letter to Senators McCain and Kyl

On August 29, 2008, Wilson sent the following letter to McCain and Kyl:

"Please see the attached letter from Congressional Representatives Ed Pastor and Raul Grijalva to USGS Director Mark Meyers supporting $750,000 in funding in fiscal year 2009 for the Verde River Basin Partnership.

"You have previously received letters from the Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee and the Upper Verde River Protection Coalition in support of this funding. Those organizations represent cities and towns on both sides of Mingus Mountain.

"Given that you both sponsored the legislation that authorized the Verde River Basin Partnership I feel a similar joint letter from you would carry significant weight with USGS Director Mark Meyers. I am requesting that you send a letter with similar content to Director Mark Meyers."

The attached letter Wilson refers to from Pastor and Grijalva states:

"As you know, in November 2005, the Northern Arizona Land Exchange and Verde River Basin Partnership Act of 2005 was signed into law by President Bush. Title II of this law authorizes the USGS to assist in a collaborative and science-based water-resource planning and management partnership for the Verde River Basin.

"We are requesting that you consider using $750,000 of Fiscal Year 2009 funding in the Water Resources Investigation account to support the first year of work specified in the report, 'Hydrology Science Plan to Support Title II of the Northern Arizona Land Exchange and Verde River Basin Partnership Act of 2005' as prepared by USGS Arizona Water Science Center, in cooperation with the Verde River Basin Partnership, in December 2006.

"This funding supports the first of a four-year scope of hydrologic work specified in the legislation and elaborated upon in the above referenced plan. Specified deliverables include (1) a water-budget analysis of the Middle Verde River Basin and a report of a preliminary analysis of potential long-term consequences of various water-use scenarios within 14 months after the date of enactment of the Act; (2) a preliminary report submitted by the Partnership that sets forth findings and recommendations of the Partnership regarding the long-term availability of water supply within the Verde Valley within 16 months after the enactment of the Act; and (3) a final report four years after enactment of the Act that summarizes results of water-resource assessments conducted under Title II.

"The planned work will provide critical data needed to address issues related to water resources in central Arizona, and to protect the health of the Verde Valley. We are hopeful that you will see fit to set aside funding for this important project. Should Fiscal Year 2009 funds not be available, we support efforts to include the necessary funds in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget to be submitted to Congress next year."

What Did the Prescott Council Vote For on August 12, 2008?

After much discussion during the Prescott City Council meeting on August 12, with a 4-3 vote, his fellow councilmembers narrowly supported Wilson's request to send the letter, but only if Prescott Valley Council also supported these regional efforts.

"I'll make the motion that we go forward with this letter [supporting federal funding of Verde River studies] with the proviso that we get concurrence from Prescott Valley, with dual-signatures from both me and Harvey Skoog when authorized," said Prescott Mayor Jack Wilson in a compromise measure.

The "Historical" Joint Council Meeting

Ironically, just an hour- and a-half before Prescott Council voted on whether Wilson should proceed with the letter, they met in what they considered "a historical joint council meeting with Prescott Valley leaders" at the Hassayampa Inn. Prescott Councilman Jim Lamerson referred to this meeting during the Prescott Council session later that day as a "love in" to work together on solving the monumental challenge of ensuring a water supply for the Prescott and Prescott Valley communities.

But, in addition to serving as the Mayor of Prescott, Wilson has served on the Verde River Basin Partnership committee since its inception. It was at his request that the following item appeared on the August 12 City of Prescott Council Agenda (Item III, D):

III, D. Approval of letter from City of Prescott to Arizona’s Congressional Delegation in support of federal funding of scientific studies as proposed by the Verde River Basin Partnership.

So, when Prescott Councilwoman Mary Ann Suttles publicly questioned whether the Yavapai- Prescott Indian Tribe plans to send a similar letter of support as well as actions intended by leaders of other surrounding communities, it became the catalyst for discussion that led to amendments to the initial measure proposed by Prescott Mayor Jack Wilson.

Prescott Councilwoman Lora Lopas followed up with a suggestion to ask Prescott Valley Council members to sign off on the support letter since the two cities are now the formal partners in the Big Chino Water Ranch importation pipeline project. Councilman Jim Lamerson agreed with her.

"I don't want to derail what we've got going or have our new partners think we would do anything without them being involved," Lamerson said. He voted for the amended motion asking Prescott Valley to sign off with the City of Prescott, as did Lopas, Wilson and councilman Bob Luzius.

Later Lamerson explained, "It would be rude to exclude our partners and just send the letter off ourselves. I want to hear from Prescott Valley specifically before we make any moves because they are our financial partners on the pipeline. If Prescott Valley says 'No, don't send the letter,' we won't!"

Although Suttles and councilmen Bob Roecker and Bob Bell voted against the motion, they say they have a valid reason for doing so. It isn't because they do not choose to include Prescott Valley. They say they believe Chino Valley, Dewey-Humboldt, the Yavapai-Prescott tribe and the lead water watchdog group in the region formed by the county supervisors should have a say-so as well.

According to Roecker, "We shouldn't be taking any unilateral actions on water. We shouldn't exclude Chino Valley, the tribe or Dewey- Humboldt, even though they (Dewey-Humboldt) are not technically in the Prescott AMA but are on the same aquifer. There is nothing in this letter asking for action to support funding of these hydrological studies that is not already in a letter to legislators from the WAC."

Where Do Council Members Stand?

Don't let this 4-3 vote confuse you. Prescott Council members are on the same page when it comes to partnering with neighboring communities to provide enough water for future generations in the greater Prescott area to live comfortably and reach safe yield.

The Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee (WAC), formed by the County Supervisors, Roecker refers to was the first of more than 20 water watchdog groups formed in this region. In addition to being a Prescott City Councilman, Roecker is a member of this committee, too. WAC has asked representatives of the Upper Verde River Basin Partnership to serve as a sub-committee since they have not accomplished anything significant from the time they received McCain's written promise several years ago to try to sway congressional leaders to provide funding to get the scientific studies underway. And up to this point, McCain has not been able to fulfill that promise.

County Supervisor Carol Springer

Coalition Chairwoman and Yavapai County Supervisor Carol Springer has pointed this out several times in public recently. It's been a proverbial chicken bone stuck in the throats of WAC members and the Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition as they attempt to reach safe yield without federal funding in working to satisfy what they see as an overwhelming state mandate.

Regardless, Mayor Wilson says the partnership has been identified as the vehicle to get federal funding for the scientific studies and every member on the Prescott Council agrees this would greatly benefit the area and is a goal worth moving toward.

However, there are members on both councils who agree with leaders of the Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee and the Upper Verde River Basin Coalition that the Verde River Basin Partnership has not accomplished what it set out to and the clock is ticking on their time-line to do so.

According to Springer, the group has run out of time designated in the Title II agreement and has not been cooperative with the other water groups striving toward similar safe yield goals. In fact, she says it's time for the Partnership to become a sub-committee of the water advisory committee or cease and desist.

Springer has said this numerous times over the summer at various municipal council sessions in the area, as well as to various regional water groups, and she is not the only local leader with this view.

Prescott Valley Mayor Harvey Skoog Responds to Mayor Wilson

And so, on August 13, at the direction of his councilmembers, Mayor Wilson sent an email to Prescott Valley Mayor Harvey Skoog, requesting that they add their signatures to his proposed letter, which he attached.

Prescott Valley Mayor Harvey Skoog

But Prescott Valley Mayor Skoog had concerns, and sent the following letter, dated August 19, in response to Wilson:

"The intent of the letter has merit. However, to write on behalf of the Verde River Basin Partnership remains questionable. There are several reasons for our concern.

"Until the committee working with the VRBP has concluded their meetings, we question whether any action is in order.

"Also, we have several concerns about the VRBP. It lacks composition of elected officials who, by the authority of their office, are designated stewards of public assets. The VRBP leadership has approached the Yavapai County Water Advisory Council about becoming a sub-committee in which the intent seems to be to gain public structure and stewardship.

"This has not been finalized.

"Should the VRBP be reorganized as a publicly-run entity, meaning by the stewardship of those elected by the citizens, and have public scrutiny and accountability, its viability would certainly be enhanced.

"It has also been mentioned that the Yavapai County Water Advisory Council has submitted a proposal to Senator Kyl and Senator McCain to consider funding through that agency. Accordingly, it may be that any other request would be redundant."

Prescott Valley Council members have mentioned during a handful of work-study sessions over the last several years they do not support the Partnership as membership and voting weight is not equally distributed among municipalities in the north central Arizona region.

Wilson Justifies His Actions

How does Wilson justify proceeding with the letter without support from either Prescott or Prescott Valley Council members?

"Because I'm the mayor and the First Amendment gives me the right to say anything I want to say as the mayor. I didn't speak for the city of Prescott, I spoke as the mayor, Jack Wilson, and I have the right to do that," he said.

Yet, even though the letter Wilson sent to McCain and Kyl is signed by him, the names of the rest of the council members appear in the top right corner of the letter, and there is no indication that he is writing as an individual, instead of a representative of the Council as a whole.

So, here we are, back in a chess game of water. Those representing communities in the greater Prescott area, as well as on the other side of Mingus Mountain in the Verde Valley (where the partnership was formed), are expected to pay close attention to the next step taken in these regional water wars.

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Not very smart IMO.
written by Prescott citizen, September 29, 2008

Mr. Wilson sending that letter on City of Prescott letterhead without fullfilling the counsel's vote/wishes says one thing to me: he's really not cut out to be the leader of a municipality this big. An active citizen that means well, but not cut out for this job (and that's been shown many times recently).

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vote him out!!!
written by ACG, September 29, 2008

I agree he seems to have his position twisted. What kind of authority does he really have?? To make decision that is this overtly could be a good indicator that he is doing other thing behind folk’s backs. And I would say we need to keep a close eye on him.

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