We had a vigorous discussion last week during the Study Session as we listened to a Presentation from the Mayor’s Charter Review Commission regarding proposed amendments for the November 7th 2023 General Election Ballots.
Several Charter amendments are being proposed. Council will be discussing them once again during the voting meeting on June 27th. We will decide which amendments to place on the general election ballot, and possibly fine-tuning the ballot language.
I highly recommend you read through these proposed amendments and review them carefully. Go HERE and scroll down.
Fire Chief Durre also spoke regarding a Fire Adaptive Community (FAC) framework to raise awareness of the need for a more comprehensive approach to living and thriving in the wildland urban interface.
Chief Durre explained why hiring a Wildland Risk Management Supervisor is important to the effort of building community coalitions, increasing the reach of education efforts, conducting a Fire Adaptive Community pathways assessment, developing a 3-5 year wildfire mitigation plan, and undertaking critical policy and regulation review and development. In addition, the position will continue to seek funding for the projects of the city’s forestry crew through grants at the state and federal levels.
Living in a mountain forested community, it is important that each individual remain vigilant regarding community safety and to firewise your home.
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During the voting meeting, Council adopted the tentative budget for FY 2024 and voted to accept 3 grants from the Arizona Department of Transportation to support airport related projects.
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On June 30, 2013, 19 members of Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew lost their lives battling the Yarnell Hill Fire. The City of Prescott, Prescott Fire Department, agencies and organizations from around the state will remember the Granite Mountain Hotshots with commemorative events and activities to mark the 10th anniversary of the tragedy.
On WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2023 at 11:30 AM there will be a Hotshot Tribute Mural “Reveal” at the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, 117 West Goodwin. Artist Katia Von Kral with the TV Show “The Reveal” is unveiling a tribute mural to the Hotshots which will reside on the side of the Chamber building facing Montezuma Street.
THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 at 11:30 AM the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew LEARNING AND TRIBUTE CENTER 5TH ANNIVERSARY CEREMONY will take place. It will feature comments from Prescott Fire Chief Holger Durre and, yours truly, Mayor Phil Goode, and a performance by the Central Arizona Pipe and Drum Corps. Surviving hotshot Brendan McDonough will be on hand to sign his book. The Center is located at Prescott Gateway Mall, 3250 Gateway Blvd.
Finally, on Friday, June 30, 2023 at 3:00 pm – A very meaningful public commemoration will be conducted on the South side of Courthouse Plaza. Officials from around the state will be in attendance including the governor. Former hotshot Brendan McDonough will deliver the hotshot prayer, and Ryder Ashcraft, the son of one of the fallen hotshots, Andrew Ashcraft, will deliver brief remarks. The ceremony will conclude with a ringing of the courthouse bells and a flyover of military jets from Luke Air Force Base. Following the ceremony, Yavapai County Courthouse bells will ring 19 times at 4:42 p.m. in honor of the fallen heroes. The commemoration will take place on Goodwin Street between Montezuma and Cortez.
For more information about events and activities around the 10th Anniversary of the Granite Mountain Hotshots tragedy, go to this website.
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Last Friday, a bear attack was reported near Groom Creek. Although the victim was flown to a valley hospital, sadly, he did not survive. According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, “The bear has been killed so there is no further threat to the community.”
Later, The Sheriff’s Office added, “Please do not shoot any bear unless there is an immediate threat. It is against the law to shoot any bear unless there is a threat to your safety or the safety of others.”
This is a good time to remind local citizens that, according to Prescott City Ordinance 5-3-16B, “Feeding or Attracting Wildlife is Prohibited. It is unlawful for any person to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly feed wildlife or to attract wildlife.”
Please do not leave food out for any wildlife, including, but not limited to, bears, javelina, deer, coyotes and/or mountain lions. Any feeding is bound to attract predators.