
Interested in how land use, affordability, water, transportation, and climate change are interrelated in Flagstaff?
Come to F3’s Community Forum!

It’s a perfect partnership.
Coconino Community College needs to offer real-world experience to the students in the Construction Technology Management program. Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona needs workers to help build affordable homes for Flagstaff.
In late May, leaders for the two organizations got together and made the arrangement formal. CCC CTM students will help HFH build the first of, with hope, many “starter homes” for the Flagstaff community beginning this fall.
“We want to encourage workforce development and retention to keep that talent in the community,” said Eric Wolverton, executive director of HFH. “Starter homes are an asset that keep giving. They will be a community asset serving multiple families.”

The following email was sent to Museum Flood Area residents (the evening of July 18):
Below is a summary of today’s activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff related to the Museum Flood Area.
– Storm Activity: The National Weather Service is forecasting increased thunderstorm activity through Thursday with particularly increased chance of significant rainfall between Tuesday and Thursday this week. Although major thunderstorms were expected today, the thunderstorm cells missed the burn scar.
– Sandbags: Residents are reminded NOT to remove sandbags from existing flood mitigation efforts. Removing sandbags from barriers and the other mitigation measures places your home and others at greater risk for flooding.

The following email was sent to Museum Flood Area residents (the evening of July 15:)
Below is a summary of today’s activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff related to the Museum Flood Area and the nearby neighborhoods susceptible to monsoonal flooding:
– States of Emergency: Today Flagstaff Mayor Paul Deasy and Coconino County Chair of the Board of Supervisors Matt Ryan declared States of Emergency on behalf of the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County due to the impacts of monsoonal flooding to the Museum Flood Area and other parts of Flagstaff, which started July 13, 2021. Declaring a State of Emergency allows the City and County to expend emergency funds from all available sources and request assistance from the State of Arizona.

Flagstaff Mayor Paul Deasy and Coconino County Chair of the Board of Supervisors Matt Ryan have declared States of Emergency on behalf of the city of Flagstaff and Coconino County due to the impacts of monsoonal flooding to the Museum Flood Area and other parts of Flagstaff, which started July 13, 2021. Declaring a State of Emergency allows the city and county to expend emergency funds from all available sources and request assistance from the State of Arizona.

CCC&Y, in partnership with One•n•ten and Flagstaff Public Library, convened several Coconino youths to lead a youth pride event. Nine youth between the ages of 12-24 years old eagerly joined the planning team! During the initial meeting, the youth brainstormed several ideas possible event themes. After a short deliberation, the youth agreed to plan a paint night!
They created the flyer to advertise the event and determined what materials would be provided to participants. They promoted the event within their networks. They brainstormed conversation starters to get youth interacting during the event.

Our Tuba City office is open but operating remotely, with limited in-person services. When possible, please conduct business by phone or email.
Office Hours:
Monday to Thursday | 10 am to 4 pm
Closed Fridays
If you need assistance, please call: 928-283-4518 or email Miranda at mmorales@coconino.az.gov

The Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff are preparing for possible flash flooding this week in the Museum Flood Area.
The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting a moderate threat of flooding over the next several days from monsoon storms, including scattered thunderstorms and rain showers in Flagstaff with the greatest threat on Tuesday. These storms may impact the Museum burn scar and cause flooding to downstream neighborhoods.

The 2021 Museum Flood Preparedness & Mitigation Guide is now available in Spanish on the Museum Flood area web page at www.coconino.az.gov/MuseumFire/FloodArea web page or directly via www.coconino.az.gov/GuiaDeInundaciones2021.
The Guide offers flood preparation guidelines and resources to help keep you and your family aware, informed, and safe during monsoon season. In addition, the Guide has information regarding emergency notification, sandbag maintenance preparation, what to do after a flood and flood preparation activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff.

Coconino County Emergency Management (CCEM) activated an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in response to the fires impacting Coconino County. Below is a summation of activities:
The County EOC will remain activated likely through Friday July 2, 2021.
County Call Center hours are 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. until further notice.
For specific fire related questions and updates, call the Rafael Fire Public Fire Information Line at 928.421.4579

Due to extreme fire danger, the city-sponsored fireworks display scheduled for Sunday, July 4 at the Oakmont restaurant is been cancelled.
The city is currently under Stage 4 Fire Restrictions, which prohibits the sale or use of fireworks within the city. For more information on all fire restriction stages visit the city website at http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/2981/Fire-Restriction-Stages.

Coconino County has opened the Willard Springs Transfer Station for free green waste-only disposal between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. through Sunday, June 27 to support residents’ efforts to remove pine needles, branches, leaves, brush, and other green waste from their properties and create defensible spaces due to high wildfire activity. The station will still not be accepting household trash or bulk waste.

The city of Flagstaff will enter Stage Four fire restrictions at 8 a.m. on June 23, 2021 in an effort to reduce the potential for unintentional human-caused wildfires within the city limits. The city of Flagstaff cooperates with local, county, state and federal fire management agencies to ensure a coordinated effort is made in fire restrictions actions across jurisdictions.

From the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office: Due to wildfire, residents in all areas south of 1-40 and west of I-17 including University Heights, Kachina Village, Forest Highlands, Pine Dell, Woody Mountain Road are in SET status.
In addition, South Garland Prairie and Pine Aire Estates and residents in between are in SET status, Residents should begin preparing for possible GO order to EVACUATE. Follow local news and official social media channels for updates. This means there is danger in the area. Residents are advised to locate your emergency go kit and be ready to evacuate if notified from public safety officials. This is NOT an evacuation notification.

Highway 180 has reopened following a week-long closure caused by the Slate Fire, which is located 23 miles northwest of Flagstaff and is now at 11,012 acres and at 16 percent containment.
While Highway 180 has reopened, motorists are asked to reduce their speeds and keep an eye out for crews still working in the area. Additional portions of the Coconino National Forest are closed to the public for safety reasons.

Are you Ready to Live United? Are you at least 16 years old? Do you have a couple of hours to spare this Saturday between 7:30 am and 4 pm?
If the answer to all of the above is yes, we’d like to ask your help assisting the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County with replenishing sandbags protecting hundreds of homes and businesses in the Museum Flood Area.

F3 needs you to tell City Council that you support the draft Carbon Neutrality Plan. This plan has been written with much knowledge and passion by the Flagstaff Sustainability Program to address our Climate Emergency and outline our strategy to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.
Flagstaff needs to reignite the energy and support shown in January 2020 when 300 people and three hours of comments were provided in support of declaring a Climate Emergency. We need your voice! If you are able, comment at the meeting by doing the following:
At least one hour before the meeting on May 25, which begins at 3 pm, send an email to publiccomment@flagstaffaz.gov with the following information.

Affordable, accessible and decent housing is of critical importance to a community’s health and viability. On December 1, 2020 the Flagstaff City Council declared a Housing Emergency in Flagstaff, prioritizing affordable housing within City operations to create safe, decent and affordable housing opportunities for all community members. The Housing Plan will define the housing emergency in Flagstaff and will provide policies and strategies to reduce it.

In May 2021, the city of Flagstaff’s Building Safety Section will participate in the 41st annual Building Safety Month, a worldwide campaign presented by the International Code Council, its members and partners to promote building safety. This year’s campaign, “Prevent, Prepare, Protect. Building Codes Save,” will be held virtually this year, raising awareness about the importance of building codes in ensuring safety in the spaces in which we live, work and learn.

The City of Flagstaff’s 10 Year Housing Plan is underway and the Housing Section is asking all members of the community to participate by taking the City of Flagstaff Housing Survey.
The goal of the survey is to garner the most responses and to gather statistically valid housing data from a fair sampling of people.

Coconino County announced today that updated, digital flood hazard maps for the Kachina Village and Mountainaire areas are available for public review and comment.
The maps, known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), show the extent to which areas recently re-mapped in Kachina Village and Mountainaire are at risk for flooding. Used to help determine flood insurance and building requirements, the new flood maps replace maps that were based on studies more than 25 years old.

Coconino County will reopen the Willard Springs Transfer Station for the new season on Friday, April 2, for free green waste-only disposal to support residents’ efforts to clean up their properties before wildfire season.
As with last year, the station will not be accepting bulk waste due to COVID-19 cash handling and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and local health authorities’ social distancing protocols.

What a difference a day makes.
For our state’s nonprofits, including United Way of Northern Arizona, 24 hours can have a huge impact on the programs we provide and the partners we support.
That’s why we are so proud to be participating in this year’s Arizona Gives Day on Tuesday, April 6. During the past nine years, this event has raised more than $23 million for Arizona nonprofits, including a record $6.1 million last year.
It’s a special day that unites supporters of big and small nonprofits to celebrate and increase philanthropy in Arizona through online giving.
You don’t have to wait until April 6 to participate, however.

Joseph Moreno, senior lecturer in the Department of Ethnic Studies, published the article, “A Mexican and Latina/o Indigenous Perspective on The Current Global Coronavirus Pandemic” in the Journal of Global Indigeneity. The article examines how various U.S. Mexican and Latina/o Indigenous populations have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the economic, health, social and political impacts.

The city of Flagstaff, city of Sedona, and Coconino County, the nonprofit group Solar United Neighbors (SUN) announced the launch of the Northern ArizonaSolar Co-op to help area residents go solar.
“The co-op will enable northern Arizona homeowners and business owners to join the growing community of people saving money by harnessing solar power,” said Bret Fanshaw, Arizona program director for SUN. “Together, we’re building a movement to create a more sustainable electricity system that directly benefits households and small businesses in the community.”

This coming Saturday, September 25, the Coconino County Sustainable Building Program is hosting the 17th annual Sustainable Building Tour.
This coming Saturday, September 25, the Coconino County Sustainable Building Program is hosting the 17th annual Sustainable Building Tour, in partnership with the Flagstaff Festival of Science, Willow Bend Environmental Education Center, and the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Program.

The city of Flagstaff has a Treecyling program to address the issue of Christmas trees sent to the landfill. Residents with curbside trash service can place their tree curbside by 6 a.m. on Jan. 4. The city’s Solid Waste Section will pick up trees throughout the city through Jan. 8. All tinsel, lights and ornaments need to be removed before the tree is placed on the curb.
Residents living in multifamily housing can also participate by bringing their trees to one of the following locations until Jan. 17:
Old Public Works Yard: 419 N. Mogollon St.
Continental Little League Field: 5700 E. Old Walnut Canyon Rd.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, various cities and companies suspended utility shut-offs in an effort to help struggling residents. Now, as shut-offs are beginning to resume, residents are being encouraged to seek financial assistance or work with their utility company to develop a payment plan if they are unable to pay their bills.
Contact your utility company as soon as possible if you anticipate being unable to pay your bill for any reason. Your utility company will walk you through available assistance options such as setting up a payment plan, applying to one of their programs, or applying for aid through a local agency.

Operations are ending on the first phase of steep slope treatment on the Bill Williams Mountain Restoration Project.
The Bill Williams Steep Slope 1 Project successfully thinned 300 acres of dense standing trees and removed dead and down trees on the mountain located just outside of the City of Williams utilizing ground-based, helicopter and hand thinning operations.

The Flagstaff City Council declared a Housing Emergency at their meeting on Dec. 2, 2020 with the passage of Resolution 2020-66. The declaration recognizes the need to make housing a leading priority within city operations and the community. Mayor Coral Evans said, “Flagstaff has simply become used to living with this housing crisis and because of that, our community does not recognize how dire the current the conditions are for our community members.”

The Flagstaff City Council adopted the High Occupancy Housing (HOH) Zoning Code Text Amendment at their meeting on Nov. 17, 2020. Effective on March 1, 2021, the adopted amendment is the first Zoning Code Text Amendment to implement the HOH Specific Plan. This amendment impacts most residential and mixed-use (residential and non-residential) developments by regulating the number of bedrooms and the number of dwelling units that are allowed with and without obtaining separate approval (a Conditional Use Permit) from the city. Developments that are required to obtain Conditional Use Permit will be considered a HOH Development or Mixed-use HOH Development.

Many of us were taught or developed a belief that depending on others is a weakness. I believe, as do many others, that interdependence is a strength!
I invite you to take a moment for yourself to breathe a few deep breaths. Then ask yourself, how am I feeling? What do I need? Who can help?
Have you ever helped someone without expecting anything in return? How did it feel? Many of us feel good when we are helping others. Why, then, do we often not allow others the opportunity to feel that goodness by helping us?

Coconino County will keep the Willard Springs Transfer Station open two extra weekends this year to help residents maintain defensible spaces against wildfire around their homes.
Coconino County will keep the Willard Springs Transfer Station open two extra weekends this year to help residents maintain defensible spaces against wildfire around their homes. The station normally closes for the winter season on the last Saturday of October; however, because the threat of wildfire remains extremely high, the station will remain open during its normal hours on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. through Saturday, November 14 for the free deposit of green waste only.

Drills whir. Circular saws throw up dust. The instructor works to be heard over the noise.
“This helps you cut in a straight line with a circular saw,” he says, sawdust in his hair.
The Coconino Community College Construction Technology students are starting simple by building tool boxes, but by the end, they will build a 5-foot by 8-foot shed that will contain everything necessary for the building of a house.

Never has a September been more important to American democracy than this year with the deadline approaching (Sept. 30) to fill out U.S. Census forms and to do everything possible to make sure your VOTE COUNTS in during the Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 general election
During the next few weeks we will highlight the need for our reading audience to take action as these deadlines rapidly approach.

When we started the COVID-19 Fund back in March, our goal was to quickly turn your donations into support for local organizations meeting the basic needs of our residents during this unprecedented time. Our expertise means we can cut down on the ‘red tape’ and rapidly get money to agencies that are highly skilled at meeting this moment.
Your generosity has allowed us to distribute almost $400,000 to local nonprofits including food banks, child care providers and homeless shelters. Often, your gifts have helped communities and populations that are overlooked or underserved.

The City of Flagstaff will enter Stage One fire restrictions at 8 a.m. on August 14, 2020 in an effort to reduce the potential for unintentional human-caused wildfires within the city limits and to lower the impacts of emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The city of Flagstaff cooperates with local, county, state and federal fire management agencies to ensure a coordinated effort is made in fire restrictions actions across jurisdictions.

Flagstaff’s Mayor Coral Evans is joining mayors across the country in challenging their residents to conserve water, energy and other natural resources on behalf of their city through a series of informative, easy-to-use pledges online by taking part in the annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. Residents are encouraged to pledge online at mywaterpledge.com.

Coconino County currently has a response rate of 41.6% for the 2020 Census.
If you have not yet filled out the 2020 Census, please do so!
In times of crises, communities need funding, data and representation in order to support their people, and respond to the challenges. Coconino County needs your support to make sure we able to tackle the challenges we face today, and for the next ten years.
By filling out the 2020 Census, you’re helping to make sure that our community continues to receive federal funding for Medicare and Medicaid and support for the health centers we rely on to serve our people. Billions of dollars in federal aid come into our state each year for these programs, and completing your Census ensures that we continue to receive our share.
It also ensures that you are represented in government at the local, state and federal levels, and that the data collected helps your elected representatives to make informed decisions.
Make sure your voice is heard and your community is supported for the next decade. Respond today at www.2020Census.gov or call 844-330-2020 for English or 844-468-2020 for Spanish.
I count. You count. Together we can make a difference for Coconino County.

Coconino County has lifted all fire restrictions on private lands in the unincorporated areas of the County in coordination with similar actions by the national forests and other agencies in the area, effective July 28 at 6:00 PM.
Coconino County has lifted all fire restrictions on private lands in the unincorporated areas of the County in coordination with similar actions by the national forests and other agencies in the area. The lifting of the fire restrictions is effective July 28 at 6:00 PM.

What weighs just a few ounces and can help protect our Lumberjack community? You guessed it—a mask. Masks should be worn for safety reasons, but that doesn’t mean we can’t turn them into a fashion statement. Show off your mask and let us know how you are keeping our community safe with our #maskupjacks challenge.

Dressed in yellow, green and tan, they form a line and work up the hill. Hot sun beats down on them while they heft Pulaskis and fire rakes. Their work kicks up dust as they make a fire line up the hillside.
“Keep it moving,” yells out one of the students.
Making a fire line was one of several exercises that 19 students in Coconino Community College’s Wildland Firefighter class participated in this summer. The week-long class gets students certified to help them get an entry-level job in wildland fire suppression. The next class at CCC begins Sept. 15.

The Museum Flood Preparedness & Mitigation Guide is now available in Spanish on the Museum Flood area web page at www.coconino.az.gov/MuseumFire/FloodArea web page or directly via www.coconino.az.gov/GuiaDeInundaciones2020.
The Guide offers flood preparation guidelines and resources to help keep you and your family aware, informed and safe during monsoon season. In addition, the Guide has information regarding emergency notification, sandbag maintenance preparation, what to do after a flood and flood preparation activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff.

The city of Flagstaff operates a small network of radio-telemetered gauges that transmit rainfall and streamflow information in real-time. The primary function of these gauges is to monitor and document severe rainfall and flooding events and to make this information available to emergency responders and stormwater engineers.

The Flagstaff Unified School District Governing Board approved a recommendation to have all students begin the 2020-2021 school year, on August 17, 2020, in Flexible Remote Learning and Distance Learning options only and delay the start of In-Person Learning at school sites at least through the first quarter (October 9, 2020). The recommendation to move entirely to online remote learning was based on significant levels of spread and positive cases of COVID-19 in local communities and the state of Arizona, and the District’s commitment to the health and safety of students, FUSD staff, and vulnerable members of our communities.

CCC&Y’s Webinar Part B Historical Trauma now available by clicking here.
In Part B, culturalist and historic trauma specialist Iya Affo takes us deeper into the impact historical trauma has on so many of our community members. A topic that is not always openly discussed and well understood in mainstream society, historic trauma is often not considered when designing helping programs, systems or overall prevention programming and worse when placing judgements against groups of people.

Coconino County families and individuals struggling to pay their utility and/or rental/mortgage bills may qualify for assistance from Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS).
The CCHHS Office of Community and Career Services, a Community Action Agency, administers a Utility Assistance Program called the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), as well as a Rental/Mortgage Assistance Program to help County residents.

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors voted today to enact Stage Two Fire Restrictions effective immediately.
The ordinance applies to private lands in unincorporated areas, which are private lands outside of cities and towns.
The Board enacted a campfire ban in late April to protect the health and safety of firefighters during the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce the impact of poor air quality on those suffering from or at risk of COVID-19.

Evacuations in the Jacob Lake area due to Mangum Fire burning on the Grand Canyon North Rim.
Evacuations in the Jacob Lake area began due to the Mangum Fire Burning on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Coconino County Sheriff’s Office along with the United States Forest Service Personnel began evacuations of the Jacob Lake Area, to include the Jacob Lake Inn and Campgrounds to the north and south of the Inn at the Junction of Hwy 89a and Hwy 67, after Forest Service officials deemed the Mangum Fire had reached a point where it became a threat to residents and Visitor safety.

The Coconino County Flood Control District (FCD) and the City of Flagstaff are helping Museum Flood area residents prepare for the 2020 monsoon season by placing pallets of new sandbags throughout the neighborhoods, which residents can use to repair their sandbag walls.The sandbag placement will run through June 17, 2020.

As our region tentatively enters into its economic recovery, it is encouraging to know a new enterprise is coming to Flagstaff and planning to hire more than 80 workers.
Highgate Senior Living, a new assisted living facility under construction on 3.3 acres of McMillan Mesa, is starting to fill positions in advance of its grand opening next spring.