March 28, 2024 4:47 PM
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Prescott Mayor Phil Goode’s Update for October 3, 2022

Photo: Granite Creek Corridor

The City of Prescott is about to undertake the update and adoption of the 2025 General Plan.  The General Plan is the public document that guides the future of a city. Per Arizona Revised Statutes, a city’s land development decisions must be consistent with the adopted General Plan.

To undertake this effort, the City has created a General Plan Project Team led by the Planning Division within the Community Development Department. This Project Team consists of City staff from all Departments. We will also include  input from our regional partners such as the Town of Prescott Valley, the Town of Chino Valley, Yavapai County, the Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization, and other local and regional organizations.

To assist the Project Team, the City Council has appointed an eleven citizen General Plan Committee. This Committee will play an integral role in the extensive public outreach process planned for 2023, to ensure that the updated General Plan represents the vision of all of Prescott residents.

Committee Members are:
Don Michelman
Deborah Thalasitis
Ted Gambogi
Gary Worob
Andre Carman
James McCarver
Ralph Hess
Mary Fredrickson
Jim Huffman
Rod Moyer
Terry Sapio

I want to thank the General Plan Committee members right now for their willingness to serve on this very important Committee.

The Council Liaisons are Councilmen Eric Moore and Brandon Montoya.

Following extensive public outreach, the Project Team will utilize the input gathered from Prescott residents and develop a draft document for the General Plan Committee to review. This document will then be considered by the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission, and then the City Council for approval.

With that approval, the General Plan must then be ratified by the residents of Prescott to become effective. The ratification follows the same process as a referendum. The voters of Prescott will have the General Plan on the ballot in the City’s primary election, August of 2025.

The City’s General Plan from 2015 can be found HERE.

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the Prescott Police Department is selling Pink police shoulder Patches to raise funds for the Dignity Health YRMC East Breast Care Center. Various community events will take place to support this effort, and you may even see a Prescott Police Car wrapped in pink driving around town.

Patches are $5 each and can be obtained at the Police Station or at one of the Community Events.

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After Council heard from the staff regarding the WaterWorks Engineering contract for a Study & Design Concept Report and Alternative Analysis for the Remediation of PFAS and arsenic, it was decided to postpone a decision on the matter.

While I think that this proposal is certainly something that we want to pursue to be able to identify what the best remediation is, I think the scope of this report is far too large. I would suggest that we go back and have them sharpen their pencils.

It is likely that this proposal can be cut down by $30,000 or more, and we can still end up with a good report that the city can work with.

Council has asked that the Public Works Department go back and rework the contract with WaterWorks Engineering to get the cost down to a more reasonable amount.

We will consider this matter at a later time.

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The Granite Creek Corridor Master Plan & Improvements Project is about to get underway. This is a project that has been in the planning stages for four years.

This will include improved access to the corridor itself, and to the trail. It will add lighting under the bridges, and also improvements to the creek flow, reduce erosion and undercutting and enhance natural channel design.

There will be a strategic removal of some trees within the creek itself, which should potentially help with flooding. Eventually trees that are not native, will be considered for replacement with trees that are native to our area.

Work will begin in October and should be completed by April, 2023. The project starts at Aubrey Street and continues north to Granite Creek Park.

I am also happy to report that the City has been awarded a one million dollar grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to be used to help fund this project.

We look forward to seeing this project completed.

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The final Open House for the Airport Vicinity Overlay proposal is on October 5th from 3 PM to 5 PM at the Prescott Regional Airport Terminal.

You may arrive any time during the allotted time period. There is not a formal presentation, but this provides opportunities to speak one on one with staff members who can answer your questions.

After this final Open House is held, the Planning & Zoning Commission will continue a public hearing on this issue Thursday, October 13 at 9 AM in the City Council Chambers at 201 S. Cortez.  For more information, click HERE

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Also, please mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 18th at 1 PM. The Prescott Council will hold a special meeting to review the top two bidders for the potential redevelopment of the current Prescott City Hall site.

Come see what is being considered for this iconic location in our community. Click HERE for more information.

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