Mayor Phil Goode’s Weekly Update for July 29, 2024

According to Prescott City Code 3-10-14, outdoor spray irrigation and airborne water are only permitted between the hours of 8 pm and 8 am. These restrictions are in effect each year from April 15 to November 1.

Be sure to check out the website, which has more tips and tricks on outdoor watering conservation.
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The City of Prescott Solid Waste Division Annual Bulk Item Collection Event will start August 19 and continue through October 4, 2024.

This event is exclusively for City of Prescott residential trash customers. Our crews will visit each neighborhood one time only to pick up the large household items that cannot fit in regular containers. Items may include mattresses, furniture, bikes, yard debris and more.

All items need to be BAGGED, BOXED, BUNDLED, or TIED and neatly placed at the curb by 6 a.m. on the MONDAY of your designated week.

Each route will start on Monday and finish by Friday of that week, or the week after if needed.

Now is the time to start gathering and preparing those items. Go HERE to see the schedule.

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On Wednesday, July 31, 2024 there will be a General Plan Review Committee meeting at 2 PM in Council Chambers. That’s the only city meeting scheduled this week.

Our next City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, August 13th, as the Prescott City Council has a reduced summer schedule during the months of July and August. Council will resume the normal cycle of meetings twice a month starting in September. All City operations will continue as scheduled.
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The Office of Tourism: Experience Prescott is considering a downtown beautification contract, which will be brought to the Prescott City Council. Their goal is to provide civic enhancements that benefit residents and visitors alike.

They have created an online survey for our residents to voice their opinions and help elevate the future of downtown Prescott. I hope you will take this survey and share your input.
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For the next several months, I will be providing facts and information about the Prescott Public Safety Needs in my weekly update as they relate to Prop 478.

No Fire Stations have been built in the city since 1995. Since then our city population has increased about 60% and the 911 call volume has grown about 200%. Our 911 response time has dropped from about 6 minutes to over 11 minutes.

Prop 478 will provide the necessary revenue to catch up on this critical need. The revenue generated will be used solely for building, equipping, and staffing these new fire stations, adding several police positions, and building a new police evidence storage facility.

In sharing this information with you, please understand that these statements are meant to be factual and informative in nature, and are not intended to support or oppose any ballot measures.
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I was saddened to learn of the passing of a very distinguished Prescott resident, Jerry Welna, a World War II veteran who survived 17 wartime engagements including the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Jerry served as a torpedoman crewman aboard the USS Barton, a destroyer providing close support for the US Army Ranger Group, leading to their capture of Pointe du Hoc.  He later served in the South Pacific on the destroyer USS Sterett during the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the Battle of Okinawa. His ships also survived a Japanese Kamikaze suicide pilot who crashed his plane into the side of his ship.

Jerry earned six battle medals with five battle stars, the U.S. Navy Combat Ribbon and the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation badge for his service in the liberation of the Philippine Republic from the Japanese. He also received three citations from the French government, including the French Medal of Honor, all awarded for his service in the liberation of France from the Nazis beginning in June 6, 1944.

Jerry wrote a book based on his wartime experiences titled, “A Destroyer Sailor’s War: The True Story of a Destroyer Sailor’s Life at Sea During World War II.”

Jerry was a longtime resident of Prescott.  I first met him about nine years ago, and we became close friends.  In September 2023, I was honored to speak as we celebrated his 100th birthday. Jerry’s story served as an inspiration to me, as I am sure it is to all citizens. He will be greatly missed.

Here is a short video interview with Jerry that was made before he passed away. It is at the Vision of Vets website.