F3’s 2022 Accomplishments — Thanks for Your Support!

Accomplishments 2022

We want to share with you F3’s major accomplishments in 2022. We gave close attention to a wide variety of issues effecting our Focus Areas, providing input to Council and staff on numerous site-specific projects, proposals, and policies. Three major issues were the focus of a significant portion of this year’s work:

Flagstaff’s “Big Shift“

To meet Flagstaff’s carbon neutrality goals by 2030, the city must transform our current transportation system to allow for increased safe multi-modal transportation (walking, biking and other wheeled transport), increased public transport, and the reduction of fossil fuel use. This can be accomplished by implementing the newly adopted Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP) to provide sidewalks, trail connections, bike lanes, and protected intersections. 

• F3 successfully advocated for safety measures for pedestrians and bicyclists in design of newly planned intersections at Lone Tree & Butler and the roundabout at Fourth & Cedar.
• F3’s Executive Director joined Mountain Line’s Transportation Advisory Committee, advocating for the expansion of bus routes into newer residential areas such as Woody Mountain Road.

The Proposed Hospital Relocation

F3 is working on two fronts:

• While F3 supports the concept of a regional hospital, we have been working to ensure that NAH makes clear commitments to the city to provide for the needs of the community including a financial commitment to cover increased costs in public transportation (to provide a bus line to the new hospital), necessary road improvements given the expected increase in traffic near the new location,  funding for city fire department needs related to a larger and taller hospital, and design that is sustainable and aligns with the City Carbon Neutrality Plan. The rezoning application from NAH is expected to be sent to the Planning & Zoning Commission and to Council for a public hearing in early 2023.
• F3 has been advocating for the last year for the development of a neighborhood plan for the existing hospital campus (if the hospital moves). The plan would outline the community’s needs related to the re-purposing of the existing hospital campus. F3 has met numerous times with Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) and their contractors to convey our concern that any redevelopment project benefits the social well-being of the broad community.

Civic Engagement & Flagstaff’s Midterm Elections
Throughout the election cycle, F3 provided members and residents of Flagstaff with important information to assist in voting in the primary and general elections, including:

• A Mayoral Candidate Forum with all three candidates prior to the primary election;
• A City Council Candidate round-table forum with six candidates including write-in candidates;
• Written responses from the city candidates to F3’s carefully crafted questions highlighting areas of concern related to our focus areas. These were made available on our website;
• A short, well-researched and easy-to-read Voter’s Guide to Local and State Propositions with F3’s recommendations, and additional information and explanations about each proposition, available on our website.

F3 will continue our successful Council Watch Program. This program entails keeping abreast of City Council’s working calendar and weekly draft and final Council agendas. In this way, F3 is ready to respond to any agenda item via letters to the mayor and council members and/or speaking at Council meetings. F3’s Executive Director attends every Council meeting (in person or virtually) throughout the year, as well important portions of every Council Budget Retreat. The Council Watch Program allows F3 to stay up to date with the City’s latest projects and policies, council discussions, and public comments.

F3 will continue our advocacy work related to the NAH proposed relocation of the hospital. The rezoning and site specific plan applications are expected to be accepted by the City and will then move to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council for approval or non-approval with associated public hearings. F3 will update you on the status in future newsletters and/or Action Alerts.

Arguably, the most important project of the upcoming year is the development of the Flagstaff Regional Plan Update 2045. The Regional Plan provides city government and staff with a blueprint for Flagstaff’s future. We cannot overstate the importance of citizen involvement in this project!

The City has hired a team of consultants with expertise in scenario planning, spatial analysis and public engagement. A technical advisory group of citizens is being formed and F3’s Executive Director has been invited to be a member of this group. A series of public meetings will be held during the scenario planning process and will be the community’s chance to weigh in on important future land use and public policy decisions that will affect Flagstaff for the next 20 years.

F3 will work to help the community understand the issues and imagine the kind of community we want to create for the next generation. We will share additional information about the public meetings as those details become available. More information about the Regional Plan update is available here.

Don’t forget to renew your membership! If you’re not yet a member of F3, please consider becoming one here.

Your support allows F3 to continue our important work in the community and is greatly appreciated!

We seek accountability and transparency from our local leaders through meeting with city staff, council members, and community organizations, following and participating in local and regional planning, and communicating what we learn to our members and the public.

We encourage you to join F3 if you are not yet a member. We gain strength with more members. Help F3 do important work in the Flagstaff community!