Patrice Horstman — April 2022 District One Newsletter

Dear District 1 Resident,

We certainly are hoping for April showers to bring May flowers and provide much needed moisture to Coconino County. April is also the month we celebrate Earth Day. Since 1970, April 22nd marks the day that is referred to as the birth of the modern environmental movement. This year’s theme is “Invest in our Planet” and in keeping with that theme and the importance of us all working together to build a healthier and more sustainable planet, Coconino County has a number of “Earth Month” events including litter cleanups, climate action and renewable energy programs. Go to http://www.coconino.az.gov/2884/Earth-Day-Schedule for more information.

Coconino County has witnessed first-hand the affects of climate change and has invested in restoring and managing our National Forests and adopting drought mitigation efforts to minimize the continued threat of wildfire plaguing the west. Coconino County’s Forest Restoration Initiative won the Environmental Excellence Award from Arizona Forward for our county-wide Forest Restoration Initiative.

Likewise, recognizing that Arizona and Coconino County continue to suffer from a megadrought that has dipped water reservoirs in Lake Mead and Lake Powell to historic lows that have resulted in the first-ever shortage of Colorado River water allocations. Coconino County has joined other rural counties in calling for the governor and legislature to implement legislation for a Rural Water Management Area to allow rural communities to develop plans to conserve, protect and manage groundwater resources and plan for community development with water availability as part of local decision making.

Preparing and planning for our climate-change-fueled drought future and undertaking management of forests and our water supply is part of our Earth Day pledge to invest in our planet. Together, we can work for energy efficiency and conservation. Together, we can invest in our planet and create a sustainable future. Let’s all be a part of investing in our planet!

Onward together.

Patrice

Every ten years, consistent with the new census, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors reviews and updates the supervisory boundaries to create supervisory districts that have substantially equal population, with up to +/- five percent population deviation. After the last census, the Board found that two districts, 4 and 5 where under populated and two districts, 1 and 3 were overpopulated. This prompted a review and redrawing of boundary maps that would meet the substantially equal population requirement and also would not dilute the minority voting population.

This week at a regular board meeting, and after months of analysis, developing five potential maps, holding four virtual public hearings, receiving over 106 written comments, and through hours of comparing, reviewing, and contemplating, contemplating, the Board of Supervisors voted to accept Map F as the new district boundaries for the County’s five supervisory districts. The new map is not perfect, but Map F best reflects the preferences and interests of our community and best preserves communities of interest while upholding the statutory and constitutional mandates for redistricting.

Every year the Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Award Program honors municipalities and organizations that have developed planning or programs that represent a benchmark for promoting sustainability and making Arizona communities healthy, sustainable, and economically vibrant. This year, the biggest winner was the Coconino County Forest Restoration Initiative! Not only did Coconino’s Forest Restoration Initiative take the President’s Award for Excellence and Environmental Health, the County was also awarded the top honor of the evening, the President’s Award for Excellence. Arizona Forward declared the County’s Forest Restoration Initiative as the most consequential program benefiting the health and welfare of Arizona.

The Forest Restoration initiative commenced in 2017 when supervisors identified catastrophic wildfires and post wildfire flooding as the number one public safety risk for citizens in the County. This resulted in the County developing a County-wide Forest restoration initiative aimed at restoring forest fire resistant state and create flood management infrastructure. These efforts included partnerships with the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests and other partners. Coconino County’s Forest Restoration Initiative and strategies and partnerships significantly reduces the threat to Coconino County and serves as a model for other counties across Arizona and the western United States.

At a recent Coconino County Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board adopted a resolution requesting the Arizona Governor and Legislature to pass legislation on rural management areas in the 2022 Legislative Session.

Because rural areas are not legally able to manage their groundwater, this groundwater is being over pumped, community water supplies are being depleted, and declining surface water resources pose threats to rivers, streams and springs. Coconino County joins with other northern Arizona rural counties in calling for new legislation that would grant rural counties authority to regulate groundwater.

MetroPlan, our local transportation organization, is bringing communities together to build our region’s long-term transportation plan, Stride Forward. MetroPlan is made up of partners from across Flagstaff area who are planning transportation investments over the next 20 years to create an integrated and efficient transportation system for today and into the future.

Helping people move through town efficiently and sustainability increases the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. Public transportation provides access and accessibility within the community and contributes to economic vitality. For these reasons, supervisors Horstman and Vasquez serve on the MetroPlan Executive Committee. Transportation is central to our daily lives. Stride Forward is a journey into transportation planning and is important for anyone who lives or works in the area. Visit www.metroplanflg.org/strideforward to learn more about MetroPlan, transportation in the region, and how you can contribute to Stride Forward.

For more information, contact David Wessel, MetroPlan Planning Manager, at david.wessel@metroplanflg.org.