[00:00:02]
>> [BACKGROUND] EVERYONE, WE WILL BEGIN IN JUST A MOMENT.
[1. Call to Order NOTICE OF OPTION TO RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.02, notice is hereby given to the members of the City Council and to the general public that, at this work session, the City Council may vote to go into executive session, which will not be open to the public, for legal advice and discussion with the City’s attorneys for legal advice on any item listed on the following agenda, pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(3).]
>> I'M CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
TODAY IS TUESDAY, JUNE 13TH, 2023.
IT IS THE CITY COUNCIL'S WORK SESSION.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT AT THIS WORK SESSION, THE CITY COUNCIL MAY VOTE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHICH WILL NOT BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR LEGAL ADVICE AND DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY'S ATTORNEYS ON ANY ITEM LISTED ON THE FOLLOWING AGENDA. CAN I'VE A ROLL CALL?
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HOUSE, WOULD YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE?
>> AS IF YOU ARE ABLE PLEASE STAND.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MCCARTHY, WOULD YOU STATE OUR MISSION STATEMENT?
THE MISSION OF THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF IS TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL.
>> VICE MAYOR, OUR LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
>> FLAGSTAFF CITY COUNCIL HUMBLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE ANCESTRAL HOMELANDS OF THIS AREA'S INDIGENOUS AND AGES AND NATIONS AND ORIGINAL STEWARDS.
THESE LANDS STILL INHABITED BY NATIVE DESCENDANTS, BORDER MOUNTAIN SACRED TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.
WE HONOR THEM, THEIR LEGACIES, THEIR TRADITIONS, AND THEIR CONTINUED CONTRIBUTIONS.
WE CELEBRATE THEIR PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS WHO WILL EVER KNOW THIS PLACE IS HOME.
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE MOVING DOWN TO ITEM NUMBER 4 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
[4. Public Participation Public Participation enables the public to address the council about items that are not on the prepared agenda. Public Participation appears on the agenda twice, at the beginning and at the end of the work session. You may speak at one or the other, but not both. Anyone wishing to comment at the meeting is asked to fill out a speaker card and submit it to the recording clerk. When the item comes up on the agenda, your name will be called. You may address the Council up to three times throughout the meeting, including comments made during Public Participation. Please limit your remarks to three minutes per item to allow everyone to have an opportunity to speak. At the discretion of the Chair, ten or more persons present at the meeting and wishing to speak may appoint a representative who may have no more than fifteen minutes to speak.]
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ENABLES THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ABOUT ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE PREPARED AGENDA.PUBLIC PARTICIPATION APPEARS ON THE AGENDA TWICE AT THE BEGINNING AND AT THE END OF THE WORK SESSION.
YOU MAY SPEAK AT ONE OR THE OTHER, BUT NOT BOTH.
ANYONE WISHING TO COMMENT AT THE MEETING IS ASKED TO FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD AND SUBMIT IT TO THE RECORDING CLERK.
WHEN THE ITEM COMES UP ON THE AGENDA, YOUR NAME WILL BE CALLED.
YOU MAY ADDRESS THE COUNCIL UP TO THREE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE MEETING, INCLUDING COMMENTS MADE DURING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
PLEASE LIMIT YOUR REMARKS TO THREE MINUTES, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE A TIMER UP HERE.
FIRST STEP WE HAVE NATE SPANGLER.
>> IN CASE YOU DIDN'T HEAR I'M NATE SPANGLER, I'M HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AT FALA AND A MEMBER OF FALA'S ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION.
ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S CLIMATE PROFILE, COCONINO COUNTY IS ON A TRACK TO EXPERIENCE GLOBAL WARMING AT A FASTER PACE IN THE REST OF THE WORLD.
AND GLOBAL WARMING WILL DAMAGE MOST LIVES WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE YOUNG TODAY AND WHO WILL BE AROUND LONGER TOMORROW TO EXPERIENCE MORE WARMING.
I'M TURNING 16 THIS MONTH, AND THAT MEANS THAT AT THE TIME I'M TURNING 43, FLAGSTAFF WILL BE 4-5 DEGREES WARMER THAN IT IS NOW.
BY THE TIME I'M IN MY 90S, IT'LL BE AS MUCH AS 10 DEGREES WARMER.
THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN LOST ON YOU.
YOUR RECENT DECISION TO APPROVE ANY HS SPECIFIC PLAN WITHOUT LEAD NET ZERO CERTIFICATION, WITHOUT EVEN A STATEMENT ON THEIR EMISSIONS.
JUST DOES NOT DEMONSTRATE ANY COMMITMENT TO ACTION.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO TAKE THE STEPS THAT YOU NEED TO.
IT SEEMS GLOBAL WARMING IS BEING TREATED AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT.
I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU'LL RECONSIDER THAT DECISION AND JUST TAKE WHAT STEPS YOU NEED TO PROTECT MY FUTURE AND THE FUTURE OF MY PEERS BY ENABLING FUTURE CITY COUNCILS TO PUSH FOR THE 2030 NET ZERO GOAL.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU HERE SEEKING REAL ACTION, THEN I'LL INCLUDE YOU.
SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS, PLEASE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
[00:05:02]
>> HELLO, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.
I'M GOING TO BE A JUNIOR AT THIS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND I WISH TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE INJUSTICE THAT WILL OCCUR IF YOU CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NORTHERN ARIZONA HOSPITALS, ZONING, AND RELOCATION.
AS OF YET, NAH HAS NOT PROVIDED AN ESTIMATED CARBON EMISSIONS.
THE ESTIMATED CARBON EMISSIONS FOR THIS BILLION-DOLLAR PROPOSAL.
BUT WE CAN GUESS THAT DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTIONS, ASSUMABLY LARGE CARBON EMISSION CONTINUING WITH THIS PROJECT WILL UNWIND FLAGSTAFF'S EFFORTS TO BE CARBON NEUTRAL BY 2030, WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU, IS ONLY SEVEN YEARS AWAY.
IN THE NEUTRALITY PLAN ITS STATES, THAT WE WILL STRENGTHEN EXISTING COMMUNITY SYSTEMS TO CREATE RESILIENCE, BOTH SHORT-TERM SHOCKS AND LONG-TERM CHANGE.
IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THIS PLAN TO RELOCATE THE HOSPITAL IS ACHIEVING SUCH A GOAL BECAUSE OF THE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS THAT WILL OCCUR IF WE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THIS.
I KNOW THAT THIS ASK IS NOT EASY, BUT DOING THE RIGHT THING OFTEN ISN'T.
I VALUE THIS PLANET. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GROW OLD HERE.
I KNOW THAT THIS SEEMS LIKE JUST A SMALL IMPACT IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, BUT THE LITTLE THINGS ADD UP.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT I AM PROUD OF THE CITY THAT I LIVE IN FOR TAKING STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THIS PLANET WILL BE HABITABLE IN THE FUTURE.
BUT IF WE CONTINUE MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE YOU TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL. HOW ARE YOU TODAY? MY NAME IS JOHN EDMONDS.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF FLAGSTAFF FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.
I SPLIT MY TIME BETWEEN FLAGSTAFF AND PHOENIX.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS TO YOU TODAY IS ABOUT THE PICKLEBALL DECISION YOU GUYS MADE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WHICH WAS VERY EXCITING.
I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.
APPARENTLY, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE RIGHT WORD, BUT DUDE, THE REASON I KNOW THIS BECAUSE 10 YEARS AGO I BUILT A PICKLEBALL COURT IN PHOENIX IN MY OWN BACKYARD AND I HAD TO GO TO A VARIANCE HEARING.
I WATCHED THE HEARING THAT YOU GUYS HAD AND VERBATIM THE EXACT SAME SUBSTORIES THAT WERE BROUGHT TO YOU.
THERE'S ALL THESE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND YOU CAN'T LET JOHN BUILD A PICKLEBALL COURT.
THE EXACT SAME THING THE CITY OF PHOENIX THAT THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
YOU CAN BUILD A PICKLEBALL COURT AND I PUT MY PICKLEBALL COURT, THE LONG STORY SHORT, IT COST ME A TONS OF MONEY AND TONS OF TIME.
JUST AS IT IS THE CITY OF PHOENIX, IT'S COSTING YOU GUYS TONS OF TIME AND TONS OF MONEY IF YOU'VE LOST A CONTRACT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR CLOSE TO FOUR YEARS.
IT'S NOT A MATTER OF PICKLEBALL IS GOING TO BE PLATED, PUSH MASTER PART.
PICKLEBALL IS GOING TO BE BUILT PLAYED THERE.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF UPGRADING THE FACILITIES OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE USING THAT ON A DAILY BASIS.
PRETTY MUCH BETWEEN 50-100 PEOPLE AT DAY USE THAT FACILITY TO PLAY PICKLEBALL.
YOU SAW NUMEROUS PEOPLE COME BEFORE YOU AND TELL YOU HOW WONDERFUL PICKLEBALL WAS AND WHAT A POSITIVE INFLUENCE IT BROUGHT INTO THEIR LIFE.
THE MISSION STATEMENT YOU WROTE READ JUST BEFORE THIS MEETING BEGAN, FITS THAT TO A T. I GUARANTEE YOU AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THIS, IF YOU ALLOW THOSE PICKLEBALL COURTS TO BE BUILT THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE BUILT.
YOU CAN NEVER GET MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK.
IN A RECREATIONAL FIELD AND THE PICKLEBALL COURT, WHEN EACH GETS FOUR PEOPLE, IT'S SOCIAL, IT'S HEALTHY, IT'S INVIGORATING, AND WE'LL MAKE THAT PART NOTHING BUT BETTER.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND I JUST WISH YOU THE BEST I KNOW IT'S A TOUGH JOB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> HI. THAT'S A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW.
I WANT TO ADDRESS Y'ALL BECAUSE FIVE YEARS AGO, I WAS HERE WHEN CORAL WAS AT THE HELM.
FIVE YEARS AGO, I CAME TO CITY COUNCIL WITH A REAL LEGITIMATE PROBLEM.
I SERVE ON A COMMISSION, THE CF FLAGSTAFF HOUSING COMMISSION, AS A SECTION 8 VOUCHER HOLDER, REPRESENTING PEOPLE LIKE ME.
FIVE YEARS AGO, I CAME IN WITH 100 REDIRECTIONS FROM PROPERTIES I QUALIFIED.
I HAD THE INCOME WITH MY VOUCHER.
[00:10:02]
I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COUNTING AS MY INCOME.THE CITY OF TUCSON ALLOWS IT, MARICOPA COUNTY ALLOWS IT.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, WITH MY CREDIT, WE'VE ALL HAD HITS IN DURING COVID.
I'M EVEN MORE ON RENTABLE, WHICH IS WHY A LOT OF US ARE ON SECTION 8 HOUSING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I'M TRYING TO BETTER MYSELF AND PULL MY FAMILY UP.
THIS CLOSE IN MY SECTION 8 HOME IN RIO HOLMES WAS SOLD BY HOUSING SOLUTIONS OF NORTHERN ARIZONA TO BUILD ANOTHER HOTEL FOR TRANSIENTS AND HOMELESS PEOPLE.
SO WHEN I GO OUT INTO THE MARKET, I'M TOLD BY PROPERTY MANAGERS, "SORRY, THERE'S NO LAW THAT SAYS WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT AS INCOME," WHICH PUTS ME AT A LOSS.
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ALONE, THREE HOMES THAT USED TO BE FOR FAMILIES AND WALKING DISTANCE FOR KINSEY ARE NOW AIRBNB'S VACATION HOMES.
I HAVE TWO FLAT HOUSES, ALL A REAL HOMES, WHICH WAS FOR FAMILIES LIKE ME, IT'S A STUDENT HOUSING.
WE NEED TO OFFER AN INCENTIVE FOR PROPERTY OWNERS $10,000 A YEAR THAT WE TAX TO THE AIRBNB'S AND VACATION HOMES MAKING $3,000 A WEEK.
OR PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WANT TO RENT TO STUDENTS, MAKING $1,500 AHEAD EVERY SINGLE MONTH.
BUT THE ONE THING YOU CAN DO IS MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO CONSIDER CREDIT AS A DETERRENT AND TO NOT CONSIDER THAT VOUCHER AS FULL INCOME.
I LOOKED AND DID MY RESEARCH AND RIGHT NOW, LET ME FIND IT REAL QUICK.
A TWO-BEDROOM HAS GONE UP BY 18% IN A YEAR.
A THREE-BEDROOM THAT I RENT ITS FAIR MARKET VALUE IS $1,868.
IF YOU LOOK ONLINE, THAT'S $3,000.
FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR GENERATIONS ARE HAVING TO MOVE OUT BECAUSE OF HOUSING.
THERE IS NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN TO HOLD PROPERTY OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE AND GIVE THAT INCENTIVE.
IF I GOT $10,000 FOR OPENING MY HOME TO SECTION 8 RESIDENTS AND I COULD TAX IT, OF THOSE MAKING $5,000 A WEEK.
I WOULD DEFINITELY RECONSIDER. THANK YOU.
I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY ON ANOTHER SUBJECT RELATED TO PICKLEBALL.
I SECOND, THE OPINION OF THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS UP HERE BEFORE.
WE'RE ALL DISAPPOINTED THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING OUR COURTS WHEN WE THOUGHT WE WERE.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS ONE SUBJECT AND THAT'S THE COLLECTION OF DATA.
I WAS A TEST OFFICER FOR THE INTELLIGENCE SCHOOL AS WELL AS THE ELECTRONICS PROVING GROUND.
OUR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AND PLANNING FELL UPON COLLECTION OF EMPIRICAL DATA THAT IS OBSERVED DATA.
I HAVE SEEN NONE OF THAT HERE.
THE PICKLEBALL ASSOCIATION HAVE TAKEN AT TIMES NUMBERS OF PEOPLE PLAYING.
TWO WEEKS AGO WE HAD 80 PEOPLE PLAYING FROM 8-12 ON EIGHT COURTS, 32 PEOPLE AT A TIME.
THAT WAS A LOT OF WAIT TIME FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
HALF OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THERE, WE'RE COMING UP AS VISITORS FROM OTHER LOCATIONS.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND I'VE HEARD A LOT.
NUMBER 1, WE DO NOT SHARE THE COURT WELL WITH BASKETBALL PLAYERS.
TOTALLY UNTRUE. I'VE BEEN PLAYING HERE FOR FOUR YEARS.
AT THE MOST, WE WILL ASK IF WE COULD SHIFT DOWN ONE COURT OR ANOTHER FOR, EITHER ONE OF US TO PLAY.
SCHOOL GROUPS THAT COME IN AND PLAY, WE MOVE ASIDE, WE LET THEM HAVE IT.
THERE'S NO DATA EXCEPT FOR WHAT SOMEBODY HAS SAID THAT, "HEY, WE DON'T SHARE WELL." ANOTHER THING IS SOUND.
YOU HAVE 100 TRAINS THAT GO THROUGH HERE EVERYDAY.
THE DECIBEL LEVELS ARE VERY HIGH.
I WORKED ON THE FIELD TESTS FOR ARMY EQUIPMENT, FOR DECIMAL TESTING AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S ONE OF YOU THAT HAS A SKILL IN THAT AREA OR KNOWS ABOUT IT.
SO RUN SOME SOUND TESTS DOWN THERE, FOR YOURSELF.
BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE EMPIRICAL DATA AND NOT BIAS.
NOT JUST THE WORD OF THIS PERSON OR THAT, BUT I WOULD ASK YOU, COLLECT SOME EMPIRICAL DATA SO YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DECISION. THANK YOU.
[00:15:01]
>>THANK YOU. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE ATTEMPTS TO BRING A FIRST RATE PICKLEBALL VENUE TO FLAGSTAFF HAD BEEN A YEARS LONG EFFORT.
YET SOME CITY OFFICIALS CONSTANTLY TREAT THIS HOPE AS AN ANOMALY OR PASSING PHASE BY A SMALL GROUP OF FREAKS HELL BENT ON RAISING KANE.
LET'S CALM DOWN AND NOT LOSE FOCUS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PICKLEBALL FOR GOODNESS SAKE, NOT AN IMPENDING HAZMAT SITE.
THE SIMPLE REQUEST HERE IS TO UPGRADE THE CURRENT FACILITIES AT BUSHMASTER PARK AND ADD EIGHT MODERN DEDICATED COURTS, A DESIGN THAT CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY EMBRACE.
FOR EXAMPLE, JUST IN THE LAST YEAR, TUCSON BUILT PICKLEBALL FACILITIES IN THREE PLACES, HUMMEL PARK, GUNNY PARK, AND PIMA WEST.
WHY DOES AN UPGRADE AT BUSHMASTER PARK CAUSE SO MUCH HAND-WRINGING? LET'S NOT LOSE FOCUS.
THE FACILITIES AT BUSHMASTER ALREADY EXIST AND THE FLAT GROUND ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING COURTS IS PERFECTLY SUITED TO PROVIDE FLAGSTAFF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WITH AN IMPRESSIVE PICKLEBALL VENUE.
IN THE TIME REMAINING, I WANT TO ADDRESS MEMBER MCCARTHY.
MR. MCCARTHY, YOUR OPPOSITION TO THIS PROJECT IS SO CATACLYSMIC THAT YOU NEED TO RECUSE YOURSELF FROM THE NEXT VOTE ON THE MATTER.
NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE AT ADMITTED HARD, NO.
THOUGH BY DEFINITION, A REPEATED HARD NO.
DEMONSTRATES THAT YOU CAN NO LONGER BE IMPARTIAL REGARDLESS OF THE FACTS.
LAST WEEK AFTER ONE OF THE PETITIONERS FINISHED HER REMARKS, AND BY THE WAY, SHE NEVER MENTIONED ONCE THE WORD NOSE.
USER KEPT HER AT THE PODIUM AND ASKED HER "IS THERE MUCH NOISE OVER THERE?" THEREBY GIVING HER A GREEN LIGHT TO PURSUE TALKING POINTS THAT YOU WANTED TO INJECT IN THE RECORD.
IN A JURISPRUDENCE, THAT'S CALLED LEADING THE WITNESS AND THAT'S WHY YOU NEED TO RECUSE YOURSELF FROM FUTURE VOTES.
IN CLOSING, LET ME RESPECTFULLY REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE THE FACILITY ALREADY.
YOU'VE ALREADY APPROVED IT ONCE AND PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS IS JUST PICKLEBALL.
>> MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY A QUESTION.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IF I'M ATTACKED UP HERE, THAT I HAVE A CHANCE TO BRIEFLY RESPOND; IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I JUST LIKE TO SAY THE IDEA THAT I SHOULD RECUSE MYSELF IS RIDICULOUS.
WHY DO I HAVE AN OPINION? BECAUSE I WENT OUT THERE AND I LISTENED AND I HEAR THAT [NOISE] THAT'S WHY I'M OPPOSED TO PICKLEBALL AT THAT LOCATION.
I AM NOT OPPOSED TO PICKLEBALL.
I WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE WHEN IT CAME UP AT PUTTING PICKLEBALL IN THORPE PARK, AT THE DOG PAR.
ANYWAY, IF ANYBODY THINKS I'M GOING TO RECUSE MYSELF, YOU'RE KIDDING MYSELF.
IT MAY BE THAT THE COUNCIL RULES AGAINST ME, BUT WE WILL SEE. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I LIVED DOWN IN CHANDLER AND I COME UP HERE TO GET OUT OF THE HEAT ONE OR TWO MONTHS OVER THE SUMMER, MANY OF MY FRIENDS COME UP.
WE EXPRESSLY COME TO PLAY PICKLEBALL AND I WAS SO PLEASED THAT YOU GUYS APPROVED THE UPGRADE OVER IT, BUSHMASTER, WHICH I THINK IS A GREAT LOCATION, IT'S VERY CENTRAL.
I KNOW DOWN IN CHANDLER MY OWN HOA CONVERTED OUR OLD TENNIS COURTS TO PICKLEBALL.
WE HAVE HOUSES ALL AROUND THE PERIMETER.
THERE HAS BEEN NO COMPLAINTS AT ALL ABOUT THE NOISE.
JUST LIKE DOWN IN THE VALLEY, WE DON'T PLAY DURING THE DAY BECAUSE IT'S TOO HOT UP HERE IN THE WINTER.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE PLAYING THERE DURING THE WINTER BECAUSE IT'S TOO COLD.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE 24/7 ALL YEAR.
CHANDLER HAS BEEN REALLY FORWARD-THINKING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND BUILDING COURTS, NOT ONLY IN EXISTING PARKS, THEY'RE ADDING PICKLEBALL COURTS.
THEY'VE ALSO PUT IN PICKLEBALL COURTS AT OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WERE NOT PREVIOUSLY PARKED.
AGAIN, THEY'RE GETTING TONS OF USE.
THE COMMUNITY IS SO HAPPY, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET PEOPLE OUT, STAY HEALTHY, STAY ACTIVE, STAY COHESIVE, AND THE COMMUNITY PICKLEBALL.
[00:20:02]
I'VE BEEN PLAYING FOR 12 YEARS AND IT'S JUST BEEN A LIFE CHANGER.I'VE MET SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE, IT'S SOMETHING I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING TO DAILY.
I KNOW THAT IF YOU DO EXPAND THE FACILITIES UP HERE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE FROM THE VALLEY THAT WANT TO COME UP HERE AND SPEND THEIR TOURISM DOLLARS AND BE PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
[NOISE] MY NAME IS ARIF CALLAHAN, AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE COUNCIL'S DECISION TO RECONSIDER ITS DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DEDICATED PICKLEBALL COURTS AT BUSHMASTER PARK.
THE PRACTICAL EFFECT OF THIS DECISION, IS IT NO PICKLEBALL COURTS WILL BE BUILT ANYWHERE THIS YEAR.
THE CITY WILL HAVE TO GET A NEW BID AND START THE PROCESS OVER WHICH WILL COST THE CITY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY WITH THE EXPECTED PRICE INCREASES.
IF THE COUNCIL HAD STUCK TO ITS 6-1 DECISION, IT WOULD HAVE BENEFITED THREE SPORTS THIS YEAR.
THE PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY HAS WORKED WITHIN THE SYSTEM IN FLAGSTAFF FOR OVER FIVE YEARS TO GET PICKLEBALL COURTS.
WE HAVE COMMUNICATED EXTENSIVELY WITH SEVERAL CITY COUNCILS, WITH THE PARKS AND REC COMMISSION, THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP FACILITATE GETTING THESE COURTS WHILE PLAYING AT BUSHMASTER PARK FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST TO MINIMIZE THE ISSUES THAT ARISE FROM THE FACT THAT WE ARE PLAYING ON THE TENNIS AND BASKETBALL COURTS.
BUT THAT IS A PROBLEM, AND WE WOULD ALL MUCH RATHER BE PLAYING ON DEDICATED PICKLEBALL COURTS.
THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTS WHO ARE OPPOSING THE COURTS HAVE REPEATEDLY CALLED BUSHMASTER THEIR PARK.
THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY BRAGGED ABOUT HOW THEY KEPT US SOCCER OUT OF THE PARK.
I REALLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT, THAT IS SOMETHING ANYBODY IN FLAGSTAFF SHOULD BE PROUD OF.
SEVERAL OF THEM HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE ARE CHALLENGES TO LIVING NEXT TO A PARK.
LIVING NEXT TO A PARK IS A CHOICE THEY HAVE ALL MADE.
AS FLAGSTAFF HAS GROWN AND CONTINUES TO GROW, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ANYONE COULD HAVE A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT THE CITY'S PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, SHOULDN'T CONTINUE TO ADD AND ENHANCE THE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WHEREVER IT CAN IN ALL OF ITS PARTS TO MEET THE GROWING NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE FLAGSTAFF COMMUNITY.
BUSHMASTER IS MY PARK, IT'S YOUR PARK, IS EVERYBODY'S PARK AS MUCH AS ANY ONE OF THEIR PARKS.
I HAVE SEEN THE FLAGSTAFF CITY COUNCIL APPROVE HUGE MULTI-STORY APARTMENT COMPLEXES.
I'VE SEEN YOU APPROVE VAST NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS IN EVERY DIRECTION.
I'VE NOW SEEN YOU APPROVE A MASSIVE NEW HOSPITAL CAMPUS.
AS YOU CONTINUE TO APPROVE GROWTH.
YOU NEED TO KEEP UP WITH THE RECREATIONAL NEEDS THAT COME WITH THIS GROWTH.
YET IT SEEMS THAT YOU CAN'T FIGURE OUT A SET OF PICKLEBALL COURTS.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEONE AGAINST ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO AND THE COUNCIL OF ALL PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT.
I AM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS DECISION TO RECONSIDER AND THE PRACTICAL EFFECT IS HEARD.
I PROMISE YOU, EVERY FUTURE CITY COUNCIL MEETING THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH PICKLEBALL, WE WILL PACK THIS PLACE AND WE WILL SPEAK TO YOU FOR HOURS ABOUT PICKLEBALL COURTS BECAUSE FLAGSTAFF NEEDS THEM. I'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
>> THANK YOU. RANDY SCHILLING.
>> MAYOR DAGGETT, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. RANDY SCHILLING.
I LIVE AT 192 NORTHLAKE HILLS DRIVE, AND I'VE BEEN PLAYING PICKLEBALL HERE IN FLAGSTAFF FOR MANY YEARS AND FIND IT TO BE A GREAT AMENITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE SO MANY RELATIONSHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT AND GREAT FRIENDSHIPS HAVE BEEN BUILT IN THE GREAT EXERCISE THAT WE GET AS WELL.
I WAS VERY PLEASED WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED 6-1 IN FAVOR OF BUILDING NEW PICKLEBALL COURTS AT BUSHMASTER PARK.
IT'S A GREAT FACILITY FOR PICKLEBALL.
THOSE OTHER COURTS THAT WE'VE BEEN PLAYING AND ALSO NEED TO BE REFURBISHED.
I LEARNED JUST RECENTLY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CHANGED ITS MIND AND DECIDED TO HOLD OFF ON MOVING FORWARD WITH PICKLEBALL.
MY URGING TO YOU TODAY IS GO BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL DECISION AND THAT IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH BUILDING NEW PICKLEBALL COURTS AT BUSHMASTER PARK AND REFURBISHING THE OLD CARTS.
I THINK IT'D BE A GREAT BENEFIT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I'M HERE TO ALSO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT AT YOUR DECISION TO RECONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE PICKLEBALL COURTS AT BUSHMASTER.
[00:25:07]
I WANT TO MAKE THREE POINTS.FIRST, I LISTENED WITH INTEREST DURING THE DISCUSSION OF THE HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN WHERE YOU SAID WISELY, DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ AND HEAR.
WELL WITH REGARD TO THIS TOPIC, I HOPE YOU EXERCISE THE SAME DISCRETION, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF FLOATING AROUND, IT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
SECONDLY, THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY IS WAY BEHIND, WOEFULLY BEHIND OTHER CITIES IN ARIZONA WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING THIS RECREATIONAL AMENITY.
AS OTHERS HAVE SAID PREVIOUSLY, WE DO NEED TO GET THIS DONE, WE NEED TO GET FOCUSED, GET SERIOUS, AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.
THIRD, I HOPE YOU HEED THE ADVICE AND ALL THE RESEARCH, THAT COMES FROM YOUR PARKS DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM FOR MANY YEARS TO TRY AND FIND A WORKABLE SOLUTION.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PUT THIS BACK ON THE AGENDA, AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE AND LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.
ONE LAST THING, THE SOUND OF OUR SPORT DOESN'T SOUND ANYTHING LIKE COUNCILMAN MCCARTHY BEATING ON THE DESK. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR DAGGETT, COUNCIL MEMBER HOUSE.
I GET IT, IT'S INTIMIDATING WHEN PEOPLE GET UP HERE AND RANT, AND RAVE, AND THREATEN LAWSUITS.
IT MAKES ONE DOUBT THEIR OWN DECISIONS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WAS THE INTENTION, DELIBERATE INTIMIDATION, DARE I SAY, MANIPULATION AND IT WORKED.
FOUR YEARS OF DELIBERATE, WELL-CONSIDERED PLANNING BY THE PARKS AND REC DIVISION WAS STOPPED, DEAD IN ITS TRACKS.
A PLAN THAT WAS VETTED AND APPROVED BY THE PARKS AND REC COMMISSION, NO LESS THAN THREE TIMES DATING BACK AS FAR AS OCTOBER OF 2021, DEAD IN ITS TRACKS SO NOW WE WAIT.
IN THE TIME BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEEK OUT THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE A DECISION.
WHILE DIRECTOR HAGAN HAS ALREADY TOLD YOU, WHY BUSHMASTER IS THE BEST AND ONLY LOCATION FOR THIS PROJECT.
LET ME EMPHASIZE ONE POINT, EVEN IF ANOTHER LOCATION COULD BE FOUND FOR THIS PROJECT, THE CITY'S $920,000 WILL GO MUCH FARTHER AT BUSHMASTER PARK THAN IT WILL ANYWHERE ELSE IN THIS CITY.
AT BUSHMASTER PARK THAT FIGURE DELIVERS A 16 COURT PICKLEBALL COMPLEX, FOR ESSENTIALLY THE PRICE OF EIGHT NEW COURTS, AND PROVIDES FOR BRAND NEW DUAL STRIPED TENNIS AND BASKETBALL COURTS, BENEFITING THREE SPORTS INSTEAD OF JUST ONE.
MOVING THE PROJECT ANYWHERE ELSE, MEANS THE DUAL STRIPE TENNIS AND BASKETBALL COURTS WILL NOT BE RESURFACED, LEAVING THEM IN A DILAPIDATED AND HAZARDOUS STATE.
IN CASE YOU'RE UNAWARE, THE BUSHMASTER BASKETBALL COURTS ARE THE ONLY LIGHTED BASKETBALL COURTS IN THIS TOWN.
SO MOVING THE PICKLEBALL PROJECT ELSEWHERE WOULD BE A REAL SHAME FOR THE BASKETBALL COMMUNITY.
PIVOTING NOW I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER SOMETHING.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE SOUND OF PICKLEBALL, THE NOISE, IS BEING EXAGGERATED AS A MEANS TO AN END.
THOSE OPPOSED TO THE NEW PICKLEBALL COURTS HAVE PROUDLY STATED IN THE NEWSPAPER, AND A TWO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT THEY HAVE STOPPED BOTH SOCCER AND SOFTBALL FIELDS, FROM BEING DEVELOPED AT BUSHMASTER IN THE PAST.
THINK ABOUT THAT. THEY'VE STOPPED TWO OTHER SPORTS, AND NOW THEY'RE STOPPING PICKLEBALL.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE NOISE, OR THE LIGHTS, OR THE TREES, BUT RATHER THAT IT'S ABOUT RESISTANCE TO CHANGE ABOUT CONTROL.
CONSIDER THAT IN THE FIRST THREE AND A HALF YEARS THAT PICKLEBALL WAS PLAYED AT BUSHMASTER, THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE NOISE COMPLAINT.
CONSIDER THAT ON MAY 16, YOU WERE TOLD THAT THE NOISE WAS UNBEARABLE, A CONSTANT NOISE ALL DAY LONG, EVERY DAY ABSOLUTELY INCESSANT.
YET LAST TUESDAY YOU HEARD THAT WHEN A NEIGHBOR WALKS BY THE COURTS IN THE AFTERNOON THEY'RE EMPTY, AND WHEN SHE WALKS BY IN THE EVENINGS THEY'RE EMPTY.
CONSIDER THAT THE CITY PUT TWO DEDICATED PICKLEBALL COURTS IN SUNNYSIDE AT PONDEROSA PARK, MUCH CLOSER TO HOME THAN BUSHMASTER.
IN FACT, ONE IS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE COURTS, AND THERE'S NOT BEEN A SINGLE NOISE COMPLAINT.
THIS REALLY ISN'T ABOUT THE NOISE, IT'S ABOUT CONTROL.
I ASK YOU, HOW LONG WILL YOU ALLOW BUSHMASTER PARK TO BE HELD HOSTAGE? WE CAN DISCUSS THE HYPOCRISY OF THE TREES THE NEXT TIME.
>> THANK YOU. I SEE WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE COMMENT ONLINE.
>> YES, MAYOR THAT IS CORRECT.
[00:30:03]
EILEEN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO UNMUTE, YOU CAN OFFER YOUR COMMENTS NOW.>> HI, EVERYONE, EILEEN TAGGART.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
THANK YOU, MAYOR DAGGETT AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WANT TO SAY THAT I'M HERE WITH DEEP RESPECT.
I THINK YOU HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ANGRY AT WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR DECISIONS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB.
THAT YOU HEARD ENOUGH FROM PEOPLE TO GIVE YOU PAUSE, AND REALIZE THAT YOU WANTED TO RECONSIDER SOMETHING, THAT AS EVERYONE ELSE HAS POINTED OUT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED TO THE MAX OVER YEARS UNAPPROVED.
I'M GOING TO SIT HERE AS A VOICE OF SOMEBODY WHO NEGOTIATES FOR A LIVING, AND UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE DOES COME A TIME WHEN YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF AND THE OTHER SIDE, UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS CAN WE MAKE THIS WORK FOR EVERYONE? I'M NOT A CULT PICKLEBALL PLAYER.
THERE'S ALL COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WE'RE A CULT AND WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE OVER.
I'M A REAL ESTATE AGENT WHO REPRESENTS A TOWN, WHOSE PRICES HAVE SKYROCKETED.
THAT'S PRICING EVERY COMMON PERSON OUT OF OUR AREA, AND THERE IS VERY LITTLE FREE STUFF THAT WE CAN OFFER.
I SAID THIS LAST TIME, ARE WE IN A LEAD COMMUNITY WHO SAYS, IF YOU WANT TO PLAY THE SPORT, YOU HAVE TO JOIN A CLUB? I THINK THE ANSWER IS NO.
YOU'VE HEARD ALL OF THIS FROM "OUR SIDE" WHY WE THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS WOULD THE OTHER SIDE SAY YES? AS JEN JUST SAID, IF THERE ARE NO CONDITIONS, IT'S NOT A TRUE NEGOTIATION.
I THINK THAT IS THE QUESTION, UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS IS IT A YES? AFTER ALL OF THE YEARS SPENT ON THIS WITH YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, AND YOUR TIME COMING TO THIS CONCLUSION IS THERE A SHIFT IN CONDITIONS? IS THERE NEW CONDITIONS THAT WILL MAKE THIS WORK? I THINK EVERYBODY IS HERE WITH THAT.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, I COULD NEVER DO YOUR JOB.
I RESPECT ALL OF YOU AND I WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
IS THERE A CONDITION THAT WOULD MAKE THIS WORK FOR THE OTHER SIDE THAT WE CAN ALL WORK TOWARDS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE OTHER ONLINE COMMENTS?
>> I DO NOT AT THIS TIME, MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE REVIEWING
[5. Review of Draft Agenda for the June 20, 2023 City Council Meeting Citizens wishing to speak on agenda items not specifically called out by the City Council may submit a speaker card for their items of interest to the recording clerk.]
THE DRAFT AGENDA FOR JUNE 20TH, 2023. COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? HEARING NONE, I'M GOING TO MOVE ON.[6. Proclamation: Juneteenth]
WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR JUNETEENTH AND A PROCLAMATION FOR WASTE AND RECYCLING WORKERS WEEK.IF WE HAVE ANYONE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO IS HERE TO ACCEPT THE JUNETEENTH PROCLAMATION, PLEASE COME DOWN.
>> MAYOR, I DO HAVE JEAN TONER ON LINE FOR THE JUNETEENTH PROCLAMATION.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S MY HONOR TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
WHEREAS JUNETEENTH, ALSO KNOWN AS JUNETEENTH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY, JUBILEE DAY, FREEDOM DAY, AND EMANCIPATION DAY RECOGNIZES THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE EVENTS OF JUNE 19, 1865, WHEN UNION MAJOR GENERAL GORDON GRANGER LED SOME 2,000 UNION TROOPS INTO GALVESTON BAY TEXAS, TO READ THE ORDER ANNOUNCING THAT THE MORE THAN 250,000 ENSLAVED BLACK PERSONS IN THE STATE AND OTHER STATES "IN REBELLION AGAINST THE UNITED STATES" WERE FREE BY EXECUTIVE DECREE.
WHEREAS JUNETEENTH IS THE OLDEST KNOWN PUBLIC CELEBRATION OF THE END OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES AND CELEBRATES AND COMMEMORATES BOTH THE LEGACIES OF BLACK LIBERATION, ENDURANCE, AND JOY, AND THE BROADER LEGACY OF AMERICAN FREEDOM.
WHEREAS JUNETEENTH MARKS BOTH THE END OF MOST BLACK AMERICAN ENSLAVEMENT AND THE START OF AN ERA OF GREAT HOPE, RESILIENCY, UNCERTAINTY, AND CONTINUED STRUGGLE FOR NEWLY FREED BLACK PERSONS IN AMERICA.
WITH IT COMES THE CALL TO REFLECT, REMEMBER, AND NEVER REPEAT THE HISTORIC DEHUMANIZING IMPACTS OF SLAVERY, SEGREGATION, RACIAL VIOLENCE, VOTER DISENFRANCHISEMENT, OR THE OTHER HISTORIC AND PERSISTENT EXAMPLES OF
[00:35:03]
INJUSTICE WITNESSED THROUGHOUT AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY.WHEREAS COLLECTIVELY, JUNETEENTH REMINDS US ALL OF THE INVALUABLE, INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, AS WELL AS THE PRECIOUS PROMISES OF FREEDOM, EQUITY, AND OPPORTUNITY CORE TO SO MUCH OF WHAT OUR NATION HOLDS DEAR.
WHEREAS AS STATED BY THE END OF NAACP, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE FIGHT FOR TRUE FREEDOM SINCE THE DAYS OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATIONS, DELAYED AND ADMITTEDLY INCOMPLETE PROMISES HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUS AND FULL OF BARRIERS.
WE JOIN THEM IN DECLARING THAT FREEDOM IS A THREAD AND A FIGHT WOVEN THROUGHOUT THIS NATION'S HISTORY AND CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE.
WE JOIN ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE NAACP AND FLAGSTAFF'S OWN LIVE BLACK EXPERIENCE COMMUNITY PROJECT AND CELEBRATING THE RESILIENCY OF BLACK AMERICANS, WHO CONTINUED TO THRIVE IN SPITE OF ATTEMPTS TO LIMIT VOTING RIGHTS, ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT, AND BASIC CIVIL RIGHTS, HISTORICALLY AND INTO THE PRESENT.
WHEREAS WE TAKE UP AND EXTEND THE CALL TO ACTION TO CELEBRATE AND ENSURE TRUE FREEDOM FOR ALL, DOING OUR PART TO COLLECTIVELY STRIVE TO CLOSE GAPS OF IMMEASURABLE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, AFFIRM THE PROMISES OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, REJECT ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERSTAND AND LEARN FROM OUR FRANK, YET COMPASSIONATE, CHALLENGING, YET COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS.
NOW THEREFORE, I, ON BEHALF OF BECKY DAGGETT, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF, RESPECTFULLY JOINED MUNICIPAL LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN SPIRIT AND SOLIDARITY, AND BY PROCLAMATION, IN DECLARING JUNE 19, 2023, JUNETEENTH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY, AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO HONOR THIS DAY AS A DAY OF REFLECTION, CULTURAL, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, ERNEST ASSESSMENT, PLANNING, AND COMMITMENT TO END SYSTEMIC RACISM AND ALL FORMS OF DEHUMANIZATION WHICH THREATENED EQUITY AND FREEDOM FOR ALL.
>> JEAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANY WORDS?
>> JUST A FEW WORDS, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THE READING OF THE PROCLAMATION, COMMEMORATING AND CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH.
THE NATIONAL JUNETEENTH OBSERVANCE FOUNDATION PRESIDENT, STEVEN WILLIAMS SAYS, "NO MORE THAN EVER, JUNETEENTH IS NEEDED AND DEMANDED BY THE PEOPLE.
JUNETEENTH, NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY, ALONG WITH THE 4TH OF JULY, INDEPENDENCE DAY, COMPLETES THE CYCLE OF FREEDOM FOR AMERICA'S INDEPENDENCE DAY OBSERVATIONS.
JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATION BRINGS BALANCE TO AMERICA'S FREEDOM CELEBRATIONS." IT IS MY HOPE THAT BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR OUR CITY WILL BE JOINING PHOENIX, TUCSON, TEMPE, SCOTTSDALE, AND GOODYEAR IN DESIGNATING JUNETEENTH NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY AS AN OFFICIAL CITY HOLIDAY.
WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO BE LOOKING FOR A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE WILL SOON BE FORWARDING TO MAKE THIS FORMAL RECOMMENDATION FOR DESIGNATION OF JUNETEENTH AS AN OFFICIAL HOLIDAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
[7. Proclamation: Waste & Recycling Workers Week]
>> DO WE HAVE SOME EMPLOYEES POSSIBLY WHO ARE HERE FOR THE WASTE AND RECYCLING WORKERS WEEK? [APPLAUSE] COME ON UP HERE.
[BACKGROUND] SO BEFORE I START, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT OUR STAFF SHOWED TREMENDOUS RESILIENCE AND CREATIVITY AND PATIENCE WITH THE ABRUPT SHIFT IN RECYCLING.
[00:40:08]
IF WE COULD GIVE THEM ALL ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE [APPLAUSE].THAT FELT LIKE NOTHING SHORT OF MIRACULOUS TO ME THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO PICK UP AND CARRY ON WITH THE RECYCLING SO THANK YOU.THE NATION CELEBRATES THE WEEK OF JUNE 17TH AS THE WASTE AND RECYCLING WORKERS WEEK.
THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF SOLID WASTE SECTION PLANS IMPLEMENTS, COORDINATES AND DIRECTS PROGRAMS FOR THE SAFE AND COMPLIANT COLLECTION, RECOVERY AND DISPOSITION OF SOLID WASTES AND RECYCLABLES, INCLUDING THE OPERATION OF THE SENDER LAKE LANDFILL AND HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS CENTER.
THE MEN AND WOMEN EMPLOYED BY THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF SOLID WASTE SECTION PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELFARE OF CITIZENS.
THE PROPER COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE AND RECYCLABLES IS VITAL TO THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, THE ERADICATION OF MANY DISEASES IN THE WESTERN WORLD IS DOING LARGE PART TO HIRE PUBLIC SANITATION STANDARDS RESULTING FROM EFFECTIVE GARBAGE DISPOSAL.
THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF VALUES AND CELEBRATES OUR SOLID WASTE PROFESSIONALS AND ALL OTHERS EMPLOYED IN THE SANITATION INDUSTRY THAT SERVE OUR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND VISITORS.
NOW THEREFORE I, BECKY DAGGETT, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AS MAYOR OF FLAGSTAFF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF JUNE 17TH AS WASTE AND RECYCLING WORKERS WEEK AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE IN OPPORTUNITIES TO THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE SANITATION INDUSTRY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION TO THE ENTIRE TEAM AND SOLID WASTE IS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE AS DISCUSSED IN THE PROCLAMATION.
ME BEING RELATIVELY NEW TO THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF, I'M HONORED TO WORK WITH A TEAM THAT'S EXTREMELY HARD WORKING, DEDICATED, AND IS DOING THE BEST THEY CAN TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY CLEAN AND SAFE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF SO THANKS VERY MUCH.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. [APPLAUSE]
[8. Lone Tree Overpass Integrated Art Elements Hear and see presentation on artist selection, community input and design process, and developed art concepts; Consider art concepts; Provide responses.]
>>ALL RIGHT, MOVING DOWN TO ITEM NUMBER 8, LONE TREE OVERPASS INTEGRATED ART ELEMENTS.
>> THERE WE GO. YOU HAVE TO HAVE ONE FINGER ON THE BUTTON HERE.
ALRIGHT, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? ALL RIGHT. GREAT. THANK YOU.
MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, GREETINGS FROM THE BEAUTIFICATION ARTS AND SCIENCE PROGRAM.
I WILL BE PRESENTING THE INTEGRATED ART ELEMENTS FOR THE LONE TREE OVERPASS FOR THIS VERY LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, WHICH CONNECTS ROUTE 66 BUTLER AVENUE, PASSING OVER THE RAILROAD, THE RIO DE FLAG AND AN ENVISIONED COMMUNITY SPACE IN THE SOUTH SIDE PLAN.
WE KEPT FOREFRONT THE PUBLIC ART GOAL OF HUMANIZING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND EVOKING A STRONG SENSE OF PLACE IN THIS PARTICULAR PLACE IN FLAGSTAFF IS A CROSSROAD OF NAU STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS LIVING AT SAWMILL MIGHT HOP ON A BIKE BOUGHT FOR MY REI AND CONNECT TO THE FOOT'S TRAIL.
THIS IS A CONNECTION OF LONG-TIME RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH SIDE.
THEN THERE'S GONNA BE MANY VISITORS AND COMMUTERS AS BEFITS,
[00:45:04]
A LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, THE ART ELEMENTS WEAVE INTO THE ENGINEERING OF THE STRUCTURE ITSELF.I REALLY WANT TO THANK CHRISTINE CAMERON, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS MANAGER, WSP, WHEAT DESIGN GROUP IN AIMS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND ACHIEVING THIS LEVEL OF DESIGN.
IN THIS PRESENTATION, I WILL QUICKLY COVER THE PUBLIC ART PROCESS, THE PAST WORK AT THE SELECTED ARTISTS AND OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
OUR BUDGET ISN'T FINALIZED BUT I WILL GO OVER THE PARAMETERS.
I WILL SPEND THE BULK OF OUR TIME ON THE ART ELEMENTS THEMSELVES.
BECAUSE THE LONE TREE PROJECT WAS UNDERWAY WHEN OUR PROGRAM BEGAN TO BE INVOLVED IN ORDER TO HAVE AN ARTIST JOIN THE DESIGN TEAM AND HAVE IMPACT.
WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH CAPITAL PROJECTS TO HAVE THEIR COMPETITIVELY BID DESIGNER HIRE THE ARTIST DIRECTLY.
FIVE ARTISTS WERE INTERVIEWED AND LAURIE LUNDQUIST WAS CHOSEN.
THIS PROGRAM STILL ADHERE TO THE BEST PRACTICES OF THE FIELD, AND HAVING AN ARTIST ON THE DESIGN TEAM IS CRITICAL FOR INTEGRATED ART ELEMENTS.
WE CONDUCTED OUR SPECIALTY COMMUNITY INPUT, JOINED IN THE PROJECT PUBLIC MEETINGS AND [INAUDIBLE] INVOLVED.
I WILL RUN QUICKLY THROUGH SOME OF THE PAST WORK OF LAURIE LUNDQUIST SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THE BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE THAT SHE BROUGHT TO THIS PROJECT, WHICH UNDERLINES WHY SHE WAS CHOSEN.
THIS IS THE FIRST OF THE PEDESTRIAN OVERPASSES IN PHOENIX.
IT'S PAESTO FREEWAY WITH THE ARTISTS USED A STANDARD CHAIN LINK, WHICH IS FLEXIBLE AND STRETCHED IT OVER GALVANIZED PIPE, VERY INEXPENSIVE TO CREATE A LOCAL MOUNTAIN OUTLINE.
THIS IS AN OVERPASS ON THE 101 IN CHANDLER AND NEARBY PARK WHERE MODEL AIRPLANES ENTHUSIAST GATHERED, IS THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS DESIGN.
A SIMILARITY TO LONE TREE IS THAT THIS BRIDGE HAD TO CROSS OVER ACCESS ROADS AND OTHER THOROUGHFARES.
THIS IMAGE SHOWS HOW THE ARTIST APPROACHES WORKING IN SKETCH-UP TO GET A SCALE.
BUT NOTICE ALSO THE SPLIT PEER.
THIS IS AN IDEA THAT WAS CONTRIBUTED BY THE ARTIST AND IT LOWERS THE FOOTPRINT ON THE GROUND AND ADDS DYNAMISM.
YOU WILL SEE A SIMILAR APPROACH IN THE LONE TREE ELEMENTS.
THIS IS IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA AND IS SIMILAR TO THE LONE TREE AND THERE'S A VERY GENEROUS PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY WITH VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IN THE MIDDLE AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THE ARTIST WORKS WITH LIGHT AND SHADOW.
YOU CAN SEE HOW HER SKETCHES TRANSLATE INTO REALITY.
BECAUSE TONIGHT YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO SEE SKETCHES SO JUST SO THAT YOU CAN START TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION TO HOW IT WILL ACTUALLY LOOK.
THE ARTISTS ADDED THESE INTERNALLY LIT BALLARD THAT FEATURED A LOCAL FLOWER AND BINDS WITH THAT FLOWER WILL EVENTUALLY GROW INTO THE FONTS THEY'RE PLANTED BELOW THE STRUCTURE SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE A FEW YEARS, BUT IT WILL BE THERE.
THIS IS IN SANTA FE, A SIGNATURE UNDERPASS WHERE AN OPEN AND SAFE FEEL WAS THE DESIGN CRITERIA.
SO LIGHTING ON THE INTERIOR WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
THE ARTIST WORK WITH THE TEAM TO CREATE A GREETING TO THE SKY ABOVE, TO ADD SUNLIGHT DURING THE DAY AND A FOCAL INTEREST AT NIGHT WHEN IT'S LIT, WHICH YOU CAN SEE HERE.
IN OLD ORANGE GROVE, WAS REMOVED TO CREATE A PRIVACY SOUND WALL TO PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM AN EXPANDED ROADWAY IN TEMPE.
WITH A NOD TO MEMORY, THE ARTIST CREATED THIS ABSTRACTED GROVE DESIGNED TO HUMANIZE THE WALL.
AGAIN, JUST MAKE IT VISUALLY COMFORTABLE TO BE AROUND.
THE DESIGN WAS CREATED JUST FROM SOME VERY SIMPLE ELEMENTS.
POWDER COATED STEEL, AGAIN, EXEMPLIFYING THE VALUE, THINKING OF THIS ARTIST.
AN ENTRY FEATURE TO A PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY ALONG ONE OF THE CANAL SYSTEMS IN GLENDALE IS SHOWN HERE.
IT HAD HISTORICALLY IRRIGATED COTTON.
THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE DESIGN MOTIF.
IN SCOTTSDALE, SOME OPEN TERRACES, SIMPLE PAINT AND SAND BLASTING DIRECT CYCLISTS TO DIVE IN AND TAKE A SWIM UNDER THE CANAL.
HERE ARE THE ARTISTS WORKED WITH THE BRIDGE ENGINEER VERY CLOSELY TO CREATE SOME MAGIC WITH LIGHT AND FORM ON A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE THAT CROSSES THE TEMPE TOWN LAKE TO THE ART CENTER.
DETAILS LIKE THIS IN THE GROUND PLANE MAKE THE DESIGN HOPE HOLISTIC AND THAT'S THE END OF THE PAST WORK THAT I'M GOING TO SHOW.
[00:50:02]
ASSIST THE ARTIST IN A COMMUNITY SENSE OF PLACE.WE HAD A COMMUNITY FORUM SURVEY THAT WE PUT OUT THERE.
THE FOCUS WAS ON THE FEELING RATHER THAN THINKING BECAUSE IT ELICITS CONNECTIVE RESPONSES THAT THE ARTISTS CAN USE MORE.
THE OVERPASS HERE IS QUITE A CONJUNCTION OF THE SKY, VIEWS, AND THEN ALL THESE MULTIPLE ADJOINING AREAS AND WE TRIED TO ADDRESS THAT IN ALL THE 14 QUESTIONS THAT WE PUT OUT THERE.
THE PROGRAM CONDUCTED CREATIVE EXERCISES WITH A FOCUS GROUP THAT INCLUDED A SOUTHSIDE RESIDENT, SOUTHSIDE BUSINESS OWNER, A MEMBER OF THE COCONINO COUNTIES INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ADVISORY COUNCIL IN AU FACULTY AND REI MANAGER AND IT PUTS TRAIL USER PLUS AN ARTIST FABRICATOR WHOSE STUDIO IS IN THE PROJECT AREA UNDERNEATH.
WE HAD A LOT OF GREAT CONVERSATION WITH THESE EXERCISES.
TAKING THE AREA AND ASSIGNING AN ANIMAL TO IT AND EXPLAINING WHY.
I WILL SAY THAT I'M SHOWING YOU THE RESPONSES JUST OF ONE PARTICIPANT.
I WILL SAY THAT THE ANIMAL MOST USED TO DESCRIBE THE SAWMILL MALL AND HIGH-RISE RESIDENCES WAS THE DESIGNER DOG.
THE DOUBLE DOODLE STOOD OUT IN THOSE DESCRIPTIONS.
THE ARTIST ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE PROJECT PUBLIC MEETINGS AND TOOK SOME EARLY IDEAS OUT FOR RESPONSE.
THIS ONE LAST JULY AND AFTERWARDS MET WITH SOME MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION TO HAVE SOME ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS.
STAFF IS WORKING WITH THE DESIGN TEAM ON COSTING OUT THE ART ELEMENTS.
THIS INVOLVES DETERMINING THE COST WITH THE ART ELEMENTS, THEN SUBTRACTING OUT THE BASE COST OF THE SAME ELEMENT WITH A STANDARD DESIGN AND OUR PRELIMINARY RANGES RIGHT NOW ARE 750,000-1,250,000.
THE COST OF THE ELEMENTS WILL BE IN THE MULTIPLE CONTRACTS THAT WILL BE BROUGHT BY CAPITAL PROJECTS TO YOU FOR YOUR APPROVAL, AND WILL FALL OVER MORE THAN ONE FISCAL YEAR.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE $900,000 TARGETED IN FY24 FOR THIS PROJECT, BUT WE HAVE MORE IN FY25 AND THAT CAN BE INCREASED IN THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.
NOW FOR THE ART ELEMENTS THEMSELVES, WHICH WE HOPE WILL HUMANIZE THIS INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE OF TRAVELING ON THIS ROADWAY.
THE LONE TREE OVERPASS CONNECTS BUTLER TO ROUTE 66, AS YOU ALL KNOW.
IT GOES ACROSS THE RELOCATED RIO DE FLAG DRAINAGE AND THE BNSF RAILROAD.
THE ARTIST WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS THE AESTHETIC ASPECTS OF THE CONSTRUCTION.
THE THEMES THAT SHE CHOSE WERE FLAGSTAFF'S UNIQUE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE FRIENDLY DESIGN OF THE OVERPASS, THE DYNAMIC OF THE RAILROAD IN THE RIO DRAINAGE THROUGH THE HEART OF THE CITY AND THE FEELING OF WIND AND SKY.
AND JUST TO ORIENT OURSELVES BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO UP, DOWN, AND ALL AROUND.
THE OVERPASS ELEMENTS ADDRESSED IN THIS PRESENTATION ARE LOCATED ON THIS PLAN.
THEY INCLUDE IN RED, THE RETAINING WALLS ON THE SOUTH, IN BLUE, THE NORTH ABUTMENT WALLS IN ORANGE, THE OUTSIDE EDGES OF THE PARAPET OR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY WALLS, IN THE DOTTED WHITE, THE INSIDE OF THOSE WALLS, IN DASHED PURPLE, THE FENCING REQUIRED BY BNSF OVER THEIR TRACKS.
IN DARK RED, THE FOOTPATH RAILING, IN DASHED YELLOW, THE PEERS THAT SUPPORT THE BRIDGE SPANS AND IN GREEN, THE ENTRY FEATURES AT BOTH THE SOUTH AND THE NORTH ENDS OF THE OVERPASS.
SO FIRST UP, IS THE LARGE RETAINING WALLS THAT THE BEGINNING THE SOUTHSIDE AT ABUTMENT AND RISE OVER 30 FEET AND KIND OF CURVE TO THE EAST FOR ABOUT 400 FEET.
WE START WITH THESE SOUTH RETAINING IN ABUTMENT WALLS.
THE IMAGERY IS INSPIRED BY THE PONDEROSA FOREST IN FLAGSTAFF LUMBER HISTORY.
YELLOW OCHER, BURNT SIENNA, CERULEAN BLUE, CLASSIC COLORS THAT HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME AND WHICH ARE HARMONIOUS WITH FLAGSTAFF'S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, WERE CHOSEN AS A DOMINANT PROJECT COLORS.
ON THE EAST RETAINING WALL ARE OVERSIZE STYLIZE TREE PATTERNS INSPIRED BY THE UNIQUE PONDEROSA BARK.
THE PATTERNS ARE INSET, SO IT'S A FLAT WALL.
THESE PATTERNS THAT YOU'LL SEE THROUGHOUT ARE INSET, THOUGH NOT SHOWN IN THIS RENDERING, THE FIRST 10 VERTICAL FEET WILL HAVE A RIDGE LIKE VERTICAL FORM LINE OR PATTERN.
[00:55:06]
AND THAT'S TO DETER GRAFFITI FOR THE FIRST 10 FEET AND THAT WILL GO THROUGHOUT ALL THE DESIGNS.RECIPROCATION PATTERNS ARE DEFINITELY REPEATABLE AND THAT'S TO FIT WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION BUDGET.
OVERSIZED STYLIZE, TREE RINGS FLOAT ON THE WEST WALL.
THE STYLIZATION HAS A DECORATIVE QUALITY.
THE WALLS CONNECTING THE EAST AND WEST RETAINING WALLS UNDER THE OVERPASS UNITES THE FOREST AND LUMBER MOTIFS.
AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE ARTIST UNDERSTANDS IT IS THE COMMUNITY'S WISH THAT THIS AREA WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY SPACE AND HAVE ART THAT REFLECTS THE SOUTHSIDE'S VISION, AND THAT'S WHY YOU'LL SEE THE BLANK SECTION BETWEEN THE CONNECTING ELEMENTS.
BUT STILL THAT FIRST 10 FEET WILL HAVE THAT LINEAR KIND OF VERTICAL PART THAT WILL DETER GRAFFITI SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT THE AREA BEFORE THE COMMUNITY AREA CAN BE DEVELOPED.
108 FOOT ABUTMENT WALL PERPENDICULAR TO THE OVERPASS SUPPORTS THE OVERPASS ON ITS NORTH END AND A FOOTPATH RUNS ALONG THIS WALL.
HERE WE SEE THE MOUNTAIN MAKE ITS APPEARANCE PERPENDICULAR TO THE OVERPASS AGAINST STYLIZE AND HAS A NATURAL RUSTICATED CONCRETE ON A BLUE BACKGROUND.
THERE'S A FOREGROUND BACKGROUND AMBIGUITY TO THAT PORTION AND LASER CUT BICYCLE STEEL WHEELS WILL RANDOMLY APPEAR AS A NOD TO THE CYCLING LIFESTYLE IN FLAGSTAFF.
CIRCULAR ARCS SWEEP ALONG THE FOOT'S, A PATH RAILING, ECHOING THE BICYCLE AND TRAIN WHEELS AND WEATHERED STEEL.
THIS TIES IN WITH THE DESIGN ABOVE, WHICH WE'LL SEE A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.
GOING ON TOP, THE SAFETY PARAPET WALL RUNS THE LENGTH OF THE OVERPASS ON THE OUTSIDE EDGES.
ON THE INSIDE, WE CONTINUE THE BLUE OF THE NORTH ABUTMENT WALL WITH SILHOUETTES OF PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, SAND BLASTED RANDOMLY.
USERS THAT WE KNOW WILL BE THERE.
THE ARTIST SUGGESTED THIS STYLE OF LIGHTING ALONG THE PARAPET WALL, IT IS SKY COMPLIANT.
WE NOW MOVE TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE PARAPET WALL.
THE THREE BRIDGE SPANS THAT TRAVERSE THE TRACKS, THE RIO DRAINAGE, AND THE FUTURE COMMUNITY SPACE ARE RUSTICATED AND PAINTED WITH STYLIZE SHAPES THAT VARIOUSLY REPRESENT TRAIN MOVEMENT AND WATER.
ON THE PARAPET ABOVE THE SOUTH RETAINING WALLS, THERE WILL BE GIANT PINE NEEDLE FORMS AND POWDER COATED STEEL THAT ARE ATTACHED RANDOMLY OFFSET FROM THE WALL SO THAT SHADOWS ARE CREATED THAT MOVE WITH THE SUN THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
EIGHT FOOT CYCLONE SAFETY FENCING IS REQUIRED BY THE NSF OVER THEIR TRACKS.
THE ARTIST IMPACTED THE SHAPE OF THE FENCING INTO A SAWTOOTH DESIGN TO CONTINUE A STRONG SENSE OF MOVEMENT.
THE FENCING IS FURTHER ACTIVATED WITH ABSTRACT SHAPES INSPIRED BY THE TRAINS, WIND, AND CLOUDS.
THE IMAGES ARE CREATED BY A SERIES OF SMALL FLAGS MADE FROM A DURABLE AND COLOR FAST FABRIC LIKE MATERIAL AND WE WILL BE TESTING OUT REAL MATERIALS.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT, MYLAR IS ONE OF THEM.
THERE'S SOME OTHERS THAT WE'LL BE CREATING SOME SAMPLES AND TESTING THEM OVER TIME, WHY THEY DO THE FIRST YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION, SO THAT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT CAN LAST.
THEN THE FLAGS WILL BE ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE FENCE WITH PERMANENT FITTINGS AND THAT FLUTTER WITH THE WIND.
MAYBE WHEN THE TRAINS GO OFF, THEY'LL FLUTTER, WHEN THE WINDS GO OFF, THEY'LL FLUTTER, SO THERE'LL BE A SENSE OF MOTION AND MOVEMENT.
THE SPACE BETWEEN THE FLAGS CREATE TRANSPARENCY AND ALLOW A LOT OF VISIBILITY.
THIS FEATURE WILL BE VERY VISIBLE FROM THE FOOTPATH AND OUT 66.
THE ARTIST HAS IMPACTED THE DESIGN INTO AN ACTIVATED V-SHAPE, AGAIN, LEAVING MORE ROOM AT THE BOTTOM TO ALLOW MORE USE OF THAT SPACE.
THE PIERS ARE PAINTED AND RUSTICATED WITH SHAPES SIMILAR TO
[01:00:03]
THE TRAIN WHEEL AND MOVEMENT SHAPES SEEN ON THE PARAPET ABOVE, WITH FORM LINERS ADDING SOME TEXTURAL INTEREST.THEN WE HAVE ENTRY IDENTITY ELEMENTS THAT ARE PROPOSED FOR BOTH THE SOUTH AND THE NORTH END ENTRY WAYS.
THE SAW MILL INTERLOCKED CIRCLES OF TREE RINGS, THE TRAIN BICYCLE WHEELS COME TOGETHER IN AN ENTRY LASER CUT STEEL ELEMENT AND A FREESTANDING FENCE SECTION MARKS A RESTING NICHE ON THE SOUTH SIDE ENTRANCE IN A DIFFERENT VERSION OF THIS SAME ELEMENT TOP SECTION OF THE PARAPET WALL ON THE NORTH ENTRY.
NATURE AND THE CITYSCAPE ITSELF WILL PROVIDE INCREDIBLE VIEWS TO THE USERS OF THIS OVERPASS.
THE ARTIST DESIGNED THE ELEMENTS THAT YOU SAW HERE TONIGHT TO ENHANCE THAT TRAVEL EXPERIENCE, NOT TO REPLACE IT.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOUR RESPONSES AND QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT I KNOW WENT INTO THIS, COLLECTING INPUT AND SEARCHING FOR AN ARTIST.
THIS WILL BE A CENTRAL ELEMENT IN THE CITY, SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET IT RIGHT.
COUNCIL, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER SWEET.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS SO EXCITING.
I'VE BEEN ALONG ON THE JOURNEY WITH THIS AND THE PRESENTATION IS MAKING ME VERY HAPPY.
YOU KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING? IT'S ALMOST LIKE THIS IS AN ART INSTALLATION AND PEOPLE FROM FLAGSTAFF AND BEYOND ARE GOING TO COME JUST TO BE HERE TO LOOK AT THIS.
IT'S INCREDIBLE. I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF HARD WORK.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE B-BACK TEAM FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MCCARTHY THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HAUS.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. WELL, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
I GUESS WE'RE JUST SO LUCKY THAT WE HAVE THE BBB TAX TO HELP US PAY FOR THINGS LIKE THIS.
YOU SHOWED US A LOT OF SLIDES AND THERE'S ONLY ONE THAT RUBBED ME THE WRONG WAY.
[LAUGHTER] WELL, THERE WAS ONE THAT LOOKED LIKE A BICYCLE WHEEL BECAUSE THEY HAD LIKE A HUB AND THEN IT HAD SPOKES.
BUT THEN IT HAD GEARS ON THE OUTSIDE.
THAT'S NOT PART OF A REAL BICYCLE.
THERE'S GEARS ON A BICYCLE AND THERE'S WHEELS ON A BICYCLE.
I WOULD SUGGEST SOME EDITING OF THAT.
OUT OF ALL THOSE SLIDES, SO THAT'S MY ONLY NEGATIVE COMMENT. THAT'S PRETTY POSITIVE.
[LAUGHTER] NO, I'M GENERALLY VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU.
>> JENNA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PRESENTING THIS.
I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE THOUGHTFULNESS THAT'S GONE INTO BOTH THIS AND THE DOWNTOWN PROPOSALS.
JUST THE LEVEL OF THOUGHTFULNESS, CREATIVITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT GET FOCUSED ON INTO THESE PROJECTS IS REALLY MEANINGFUL.
I THINK IT REALLY DOES FOCUS IN ON ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR PRESENTATION, WAS THAT SENSE OF PLACE AND THE CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY AND ALL OF THOSE ASPECTS.
TO SEE IT VISUALLY REPRESENTED IN THIS WAY FOR THIS PROJECT, THAT IS A PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE COMMUNITY AND TELLING THE COMMUNITY'S STORY I THINK IS REALLY MEANINGFUL AND I HOPE THAT THE COMMUNITY ALSO SEES AND FEELS AND RECOGNIZES THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT EVERYONE SAID.
I WAS THINKING BACK AT THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS GIVEN ON THE CONNECTION CENTER AND JUST THE EXCITEMENT OF THINKING WHAT OUR CITY IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN A FEW YEARS WITH THIS PURPOSEFUL, WELL-THOUGHT-OUT ART.
JUST WE'RE NOT BUILDING OR IMPROVING AREAS, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY ADDING TO SOME ELEMENT OF OUR CHARACTER AND JUST WHO WE ARE ABOUT.
I KNOW THIS HAD TO HAVE TAKEN QUITE A LOT OF WORK AND EFFORT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M EXCITED TO SEE THEM ALL BE COMPLETED AND DONE WITH. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOU ALWAYS HIT IT ON THE PARK WITH THESE PRESENTATIONS.
[01:05:02]
I KNOW A LOT OF WORK GOES INTO JUST THE PRESENTATION.WHILE IT'S ALWAYS BUZZ KILL TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN ART.
[LAUGHTER] IF YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN THE JOKE, IT'S NOT FUNNY.
IF YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN THE POEM, THEN YOU'RE GETTING AWAY FROM THE POINT OF IT.
YOU DO A GOOD JOB OF GIVING US THAT PRESENTATION, SELLING US, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THE PUBLIC, ON THE CONCEPTS.
OF COURSE, AS AN ARTIST MYSELF, I'LL ALWAYS SAY THIS, I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE DETAILS OF MICRO-MANAGING OR PROVIDING AESTHETIC GUIDANCE.
THIS IS VERY MUCH AN ART PROJECT.
I'M NOT THE ARTIST AND SO MY OPINIONS DON'T REALLY MATTER.
I WILL SAY THAT I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO LOOK STUNNING.
FROM THE INCEPTION OF THE LONE TREE OVERPASS, I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED IT TO BE A BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT.
I'M VERY EXCITING TO SEE THAT MOVING FORWARD, IN SPITE OF MY OWN OPINIONS ON IT, OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SYNERGISTIC WITH THAT THINKING.
THIS ISN'T JUST A TRAFFIC AMENITY, IT IS NOW A COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AMENITY.
I THINK IT'S POSTCARD READY AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BECOME AN ATTRACTION.
I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT FLAGSTAFF WOULD DO WELL WITH SOME LANDMARKS THAT COULD GO ON POSTCARDS AND WE'VE GOT ONE NOW OTHER THAN THE GRAND CANYON.
I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, VERY ENTHUSIASTIC AND VERY SUPPORTIVE.
>> ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MOVING DOWN TO ITEM NUMBER 9, PART 1,
[9. Part 1- Streets and Parks Snow Operations Discussion General review and healthy discussion about city snow operations. ]
STREETS AND PARKS, SNOW OPERATIONS DISCUSSION.>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS SCOTT OVERTON PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR HERE AT THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF.
THIS EVENING WE'RE HERE FOR A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT REASON.
MOST OF THE TIME IT IS FOR AN ACTION ITEM OR SOME VERY CLEAR DIRECTION VIA A VOTE, BUT TONIGHT REALLY IS A DISCUSSION.
TONIGHT IS WHAT WE HOPE, NOT ONLY INFORMATIONAL FOR YOU ALL, BUT WILL BECOME A GOOD DIALOGUE THIS EVENING.
EARLIER THIS YEAR WE, OF COURSE, HAD ONE OF THE LARGEST WINTER SEASONS ON RECORD IN FLAGSTAFF.
IT'S GENERALLY MORE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 100-110 INCHES OF SNOW.
THIS LAST SEASON, CLEARLY A VERY SUBSTANTIAL SNOW SEASON AND WE VISITED WITH ALL OF YOU, AND A NUMBER OF YOU WERE ABLE TO COME ALONG WITH PUBLIC WORKS CREWS OR PARKS CREWS AND HOW WE ADDRESS SNOW OPERATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.
DURING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND DURING THE SEASON, WE ALSO HEAR FROM CUSTOMERS AND RESIDENTS AND YOU ALL ABOUT HOW OPERATIONS WORK AND HOW WE'D LIKE TO WORK THROUGH SOME DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND TONIGHT, YOU HAVE WHAT ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ARE HERE AT THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF.
I'M JOINED BY SAM BECKETT OUR STREETS DIRECTOR WHO IS CONVENIENTLY LEFT THE ROOM AND IS NOW IN THE BACK, BUT ALSO REBECCA SAYERS OUR PARKS RECREATION OPEN SPACE DIRECTOR AND AMY HAGIN THE PARKS RECREATION OPEN SPACE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
THIS EVENING WE'RE HERE TO TALK THROUGH A NUMBER OF ISSUES.
I WANTED TO SET THE STAGE THAT WE ARE HERE FOR A SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS.
THE FIRST ONE THIS EVENING, PART 1 WILL BE SPECIFIC TO PUBLIC WORKS STREETS OPERATIONS.
THE SECOND ONE THIS EVENING WILL BE MORE FOCUSED ON MULTIMODAL BIKE AND PED TYPE INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT FOOTS TRAILS AND OUR PARKS TEAM TAKES CARE OF.
THEN NEXT WEEK WILL BE OUR FINAL PRESENTATION, THE THIRD INSTALLMENT ON WHICH WE'LL FOCUS ON DOWNTOWN OPERATIONS AND ALLEYWAYS WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR INDULGENCE IN THESE PRESENTATIONS.
WE WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS AND YOUR DIALOGUE, BUT THESE EXPERTS ARE HERE TO WALK YOU THROUGH WHY THINGS WORK, HOW THEY WORK, AND WHY WE MIGHT NEED TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY IN THE FUTURE, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO SAM IF HE'S BACK.
[01:10:36]
>> WELL, SORRY ABOUT THE DELAY THERE.
THAT'S ME, AGAIN, SAM BECKETT SECTION DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS IN PARTICULAR TODAY IT'LL BE FOR STREETS AS WE WALK THROUGH THIS DISCUSSION HERE.
I THINK WE'RE JUST FAR ENOUGH OUTSIDE THE SNOW SEASON WHERE WHEN I OPENED THE FREEZER, I DON'T GET AS MUCH PTSD, SO IT'S GOOD THAT WE'RE HAVING IT NOW AND I CAN ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT THIS WITHOUT TWITCHING A LITTLE BIT.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION.
TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THE PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES HERE'S THE START TO KICK US OFF, BUT ULTIMATELY THE GOAL IS TO REFLECT ON ALL WINTER OPERATIONS.
I KNOW THIS WINTER HERE BROUGHT ITS OWN CHALLENGES.
SOME OF THOSE OBVIOUSLY WE CAN DISCUSS, SOME OF THEM ARE JUST WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE A LARGE WINTER EVENT.
OTHERS ARE WHAT DO WE DO EACH YEAR? HOW DO WE WALK THROUGH THAT PROCESS? HOW DO WE PREPARE FOR SNOW OPERATIONS EACH YEAR, AND HOW DO WE ACTIVATE, RESPOND, AND IN A SENSE RECOVER FROM EACH EVENT? SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO SEE HERE TODAY ARE WE'RE GOING TO SOME OF THE DETAILS THINGS THAT WE WOULDN'T NORMALLY GET INTO WITH COUNCIL.
AS WE WERE ASKED, IS THE GOAL WAS TO COME IN HERE AND HELP GIVE A REALLY A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT CITY SNOW OPERATIONS LOOK LIKE, NOT JUST THAT LARGER STRATEGIC VISION THAT WE NORMALLY GIVE, BUT MORE THAT IN THE WEEDS IF YOU WILL, OF THOSE OPERATIONS, HOW THEY HAPPEN.
I THINK MANY OF YOU HAVE ALSO HAD THE, I'D SAY LUXURY, BUT THE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING OR DO A RIDE ALONG WITH THE CREWS AND SEE THAT FIRSTHAND OPERATION AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
WE'LL GO THROUGH SNOWPLOWING EQUIPMENT, WE'LL GO THROUGH STREET STAFFING, WE'LL GO THROUGH PARKS SNOWPLOWING EQUIPMENT, PARKS STAFFING, CURRENT SNOW OPERATIONS AND OUR POLICIES THAT WE WORK OFF, AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS.
WE'LL ALSO LOOK AT WHAT THE COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS ARE.
THOSE SEEM TO CONTINUALLY EVOLVE EVERY YEAR, AND UNDERSTANDING HOW WE TRY AND MEET THOSE EXPECTATIONS, AND HOW THEY ALSO WORK OR COINCIDE WITH OUR CURRENT POLICIES.
THEN POST EVENT OPERATIONS AND THEN LAST WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS, WHAT THIS IS EVERY YEAR AND WHAT THAT VARIABLE LOOKS LIKE.
THESE ARE REALLY THE PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES FOR TODAY.
AT ANY POINT AS WE GET THROUGH THIS, WE'LL GET TO THE END HERE, WE'LL GO THROUGH QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK SCOTT SAID IT HERE TOO.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO PIECES OF THIS TODAY.
THIS FIRST PRESENTATION IS REALLY FOCUSED ON OVERARCHING CITIES SNOW OPERATIONS.
AS WE GET FURTHER INTO THE PRESENTATIONS, IT'LL BE LIKE PULLING AN ANNEX OUT OF THOSE SNOW OPERATIONS AND DISCUSSING THOSE DETAILS, MULTIMODAL.
NEXT WEEK, WE'LL EVEN GET INTO SOME DOWNTOWN ALLEYWAYS.
WE'LL PULL THOSE ANNEXES OUT, BUT RIGHT NOW, THE FOCUS IS ON THAT LARGER SNOW OPERATIONS CITYWIDE.
AGAIN, WHEN WE BREAK IT DOWN AND LOOK AT WHAT STREETS PROVIDES FOR STREET SNOWPLOW OPERATIONS.
THEY HAVE 20-10, WHEEL SNOWPLOW TRUCKS, 4-6 WHEEL SNOWPLOW TRUCKS, NINE MOTOR GRADERS, FIVE FRONT-END LOADERS, TWO BOBCAT TOOLCATS AND I'M SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN IT.
IF NOT, WE HAVE A LARGE SNOWBLOWER.
IT'S AN OLD MONSTER TRUCK WITH A GIANT SNOWBLOWER ON THE FRONT OF IT.
IT IS A LITTLE BIT OLDER, BUT IT STILL WORKS REALLY WELL AND FOR AS MUCH AS WE USE IT, IT SERVES ITS PURPOSE.
BUT FOR EQUIPMENT ITSELF, THIS IS THE OVERALL BREAKDOWN WHAT WE USE IN A GENERAL SNOW OPERATION.
WHEN WE BREAK IT DOWN INTO STREET STAFFING, THIS ONE HERE IS STREETS AS A WHOLE.
IF STREETS WAS FULLY STAFFED, THEY HAVE 32 TOTAL STAFF MEMBERS.
THAT INCLUDES AN ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST, THE MANAGER, FOUR SUPERVISORS, OUR TECHNICIAN 3S, 2S AND 1S.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR TRAFFIC SIGNAL TECHNICIANS IN THERE, AND THEN IF ALL GOES WELL IN SNOW SEASON, WE ALSO BRING IN SNOW TEMPS AS WE GET THOSE.
THE BEE SIGN NOTE ON HERE IS THROUGH MOST OF THE WINTER WE ACTUALLY WENT.
I BUMPED THE NUMBER UP FROM WHERE WE WERE AT THE END OF WINTER.
WE SPENT MOST OF THE WINTER STAFFED AT 22 STAFF VERSUS 32 STAFF MEMBERS, WHICH DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT, BUT AS WE BREAK DOWN SNOW SHIFTS AND HOW THAT GETS DIVIDED OUT, YOU'LL SEE HOW THAT ADDS UP AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK, TO RECRUIT, AND BRING IN THOSE NEW OPERATIONS TECHNICIANS.
[01:15:08]
THIS ONE HERE IS JUST A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A SNOW OPERATION LOOKS LIKE.OUR DAYTIME SNOW OPERATIONS RUN FROM 10:00 AM TO 10:00 PM.
THEY'RE 12 HOUR SHIFTS, THEY RUN TO SNOW SHIFT SUPERVISORS.
THERE'S AN EAST SIDE SNOW SHIFT SUPERVISOR, AND A WEST SIDE.
WE DO THAT JUST BECAUSE THE COMPLEXITY OF RUNNING THESE SNOW OPERATIONS.
IF YOU HAVE A SINGLE INCIDENT ON ONE SIDE OF TOWN AND THEN HAVING A SUPERVISOR TIED UP ON ONE SIDE, LEAVES THE OTHER SIDE WITHOUT ANY SUPERVISION PER SE.
THE GOAL IS TO ALWAYS HAVE TWO SNOW SHIFT SUPERVISORS AT ANY GIVEN POINT, ONE COVERING EACH SIDE OF TOWN.
WE ALSO TRY AND HAVE NINE OPERATORS FROM OUR CITY STAFF UP AND RUNNING AT ANY GIVEN POINT PER EACH SIDE OF TOWN, WE DIVIDE THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT.
NINE OPERATORS WOULD BE FOR JUST OUR CITY STAFF THE WAY WE BREAK IT OUT.
THEN AS YOU SEE BELOW HERE OUR SNOW TEMPS REALLY DO ANCHOR OUR SNOW OPERATIONS.
IF WE DON'T HAVE SNOW TEMPS, WE REALLY ONLY PROVIDE NINE STAFF MEMBERS ON A SINGLE SHIFT, DIVIDED EAST AND WEST, YOU'RE TALKING FOUR SNOW PLOW OPERATORS PER EACH SIDE OF TOWN.
WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS MORE OF A STRUGGLE TO GET IN OUR SNOW TEMPS, I'D SAY 10 YEARS AGO WE SAW A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THAT.
SIMPLY BECAUSE MORE OPERATION SHUT DOWN THROUGH THE WINTER THEN.
WE'RE SEEING NOW MORE CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES LATE INTO THE WINTER, EARLY INTO SPRING.
WE'RE JUST NOT SEEING THE APPETITE FOR WINTER SNOW TEMP OPERATIONS.
COMPETITIVENESS AND THE REGIONAL PAY IS ALSO A HUGE FACTOR IN THAT.
OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE ALL NINE OPERATORS, 3-5 SNOW TEMPS PER SHIFT.
THEN AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, IF EVERYTHING WORKS WELL, WE HAVE 12 SNOW PLOWS RUNNING, FIVE MOTOR GRADERS ON THE DAY SHIFT, AND THEN THOSE TWO TOOLKITS, IF EVERYTHING WORKS WELL.
THIS YEAR HERE WE AVERAGED NINE SNOW PLOWS AND ON OUR DAY SHIFT, WE AVERAGED 3-4 MOTOR GRADERS.
WE TRY AND DIVIDE THE SHIFTS OUT AS EQUALLY AS POSSIBLE.
HAVING SAID THAT, WE WILL TRY AND PULL FROM TIME-TO-TIME SOME OF OUR GREATER OPERATORS AND MOVE THEM INTO THE NIGHT SHIFT.
WE DO THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE EFFECTIVE.
WHAT WE FIND IN THE DAYTIME IS WE'LL GET INTO IT LATER.
THERE'S A LOT OF DISTRACTIONS, THERE'S A LOT OF IMPACTS FROM TRAFFIC, JUST GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS THAT ARE COMING IN, THAT WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM ROADS OR WHATEVER.
WE HAVE TO PULL PEOPLE OFF OF SHIFTS.
WE'RE JUST MORE EFFECTIVE ON OUR NIGHT OPERATIONS.
WE TRY AND BALANCE THAT ONE WE CAN.
BUT OBVIOUSLY OUR OVERALL STAFFING IS USUALLY THE CHALLENGE ON THIS, BUT WHEN WE'RE FULLY STAFFED, WE CAN USUALLY MEET THE MINIMUM EXPECTATIONS.
THIS HERE IS AGAIN, JUST A QUICK BREAKDOWN.
DAYTIME OPERATIONS VERSUS NIGHTTIME OPERATIONS.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE A MUCH LARGER OPERATION WHEN IT'S OUT THERE UP AND RUNNING, IT'S NOT.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHO'S WORKING IN THE DAY SHIFT VERSUS THE NIGHT SHIFTS, YOU HAVE LESS THAN 20 PEOPLE MANAGING A SNOW SHIFT AT ANY GIVEN POINT, AND 20 PEOPLE IS PROBABLY ON THE HIGH END.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BE EXTREMELY HONEST HERE.
THAT 15-20 PEOPLE IS ALL WE HAVE SPLIT OVER 12 HOUR SHIFTS, 24 HOURS A DAY ON THE STREET SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
NOW, WHEN WE GET INTO THE SNOW RESPONSE POLICY EACH YEAR, THIS GETS REVIEWED.
YOU CAN SEE IN THE BOTTOM CORNER RIGHT THERE, THERE'S A READINESS OPERATIONS MANUAL.
THAT MANUAL GOES OUT TO THE STREETS AND PARK STAFF EVERY YEAR.
WE GO THROUGH AND MAKE SURE THAT THE DATA IS ACCURATE, A GIS LAYERS ARE ACCURATE, THAT ANY NEW ROADS THAT HAD BEEN ADOPTED INTO OUR NETWORKS OR ANYTHING THAT PARKS HAS ITS NEW ADOPTED INTO THEIR NETWORKS, GETS ADOPTED INTO THERE.
THEN WE REVIEW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STILL STAYING WITH THOSE INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND MAKING SURE THOSE SNOW OPERATIONS ARE AS EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE.
THESE HANDBOOKS GET HANDED OUT PRIMARILY TO OUR INTERNAL STAFF FIRST.
THEN THE GOAL IS TO HAVE ONE OF THESE HANDED OUT TO EVERY ONE OF OUR SNOW TEMP OPERATORS, SO THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO REVIEW.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE, AND WHAT THEIR PIECE OF THE OPERATION LOOKS LIKE.
AGAIN, HERE, IT'S AN OPERATIONAL GUIDE.
AGAIN, EACH YEAR THE GOAL HERE IS TO REVISE IT.
YOU CAN SEE THE 2022 WAS REVISED, I THINK WE'VE PUBLISHED IT IN OCTOBER.
OUR GOAL IS TO USUALLY HAVE IT UP AND RUNNING BEFORE THANKSGIVING, JUST TO HAVE IT REVISED IN CASE WE SEE SOME EARLY SNOW OPERATIONS.
BUT THIS REALLY IS OUR BACKBONE OF STANDARDS SET AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE NEED TO GO EVERY YEAR.
[01:20:04]
AS WE GET INTO THAT GUIDE A LITTLE BIT HERE, WE JUST PULL OUT SOME OF THE KEY POINTS.FIRST AND FOREMOST IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY AREAS WE HAVE EVERYBODY REVIEW OUR PRIORITY ROUTES AND WHAT THAT MEANS.
THESE ARE ALSO BACKED UP BY THOSE GIS LAYERS WE TALKED ABOUT AND WE'LL GET INTO THOSE.
I HAVE A FEW EXAMPLES HERE, BUT IT IDENTIFIES MAIN ROUTES, ARTERIAL ROUTES, MAJOR HILLS, THE DOWNTOWN CORE AREA, FUSD, AND MOUNTAIN LION BUS ROUTES.
THOSE ARE WHAT WE HAVE LISTED FOR PRIORITY ROUTES.
NOW, IT SEEMS VAGUE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO TIE IT TO THAT GIS MAP BECAUSE MOUNTAIN LINE ROUTES ARE QUITE EXTENSIVE AS WE KNOW.
HAVING A TEMPORARY OPERATOR TO COME IN AND SAY, WELL, JUST FOLLOW THE MOUNTAIN LION ROUTES.
WELL, HAVING THOSE PRINTOUTS IS REALLY KEY.
THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
SECONDARY ROUTES ARE CONSIDERED RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND CUL-DE-SACS.
THE GOAL IS TO KEEP UP WITH THE PRIORITY ROUTES AS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH SNOW OPERATIONS.
IN THE THICK OF IT, WHEN WE'RE SEEING ACTIVE SNOW OPERATIONS, REALLY THEIR GOAL IS TO JUST KEEP UP WITH THE PRIORITY ROUTES.
RARELY DO THEY GET INTO THOSE SECONDARY ROUTES WHEN WE'RE SEEING HEAVY ACTIVE SNOW.
WELL, WHEN YOU GET BACK-TO-BACK DAYS OF THAT, THE STRUGGLE ALONE OF KEEPING UP WITH PRIORITY ROUTES IS SIGNIFICANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN STAFFING PLAYS INTO FACTORS.
UNDERSTANDING HOW TO BALANCE THAT OUT, AND THEN TRYING TO GET INTO THOSE SECONDARY ROUTES AS OFTEN AS WE CAN, REALLY UTILIZING THOSE NIGHT OPERATIONS TO MAKE THE MOST PROGRESS.
ONE OF THE LISTINGS UNDER SECONDARY PRIORITY ROUTES IS THE RESIDENTIAL STREETS ARE NOT PLOWED UNTIL PRIORITY ONES ARE COMPLETED.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY THAT POLICY HAS BEEN DRAFTED.
IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
RIGHTFULLY SO, WE TRY AND KEEP THOSE ROADS THAT ARE HEAVILY TRAVELED OPEN, PASSABLE, AND AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE, AND REALLY THAT'S THE GOAL.
TO KEEP THOSE OPEN, AND THEN AS WE CAN GET INTO THOSE SECONDARY ROUTES, WE WILL.
WE'LL GET DOWN INTO THE BREAKDOWN OF RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND CUL-DE-SACS.
RESIDENTIAL STREETS ARE NOT PLOWED UNTIL PRIORITY ONES ARE DONE.
THIS HERE NOTES THAT FOUR INCHES OF SNOW ROUTES ARE NOT COMPLETED UNTIL FOUR INCHES OF SNOW HAVE ACCUMULATED RESIDENTIAL ROADWAYS.
REALISTICALLY AS IF THEY WERE STAYING UP WITH THE PRIORITY ONE ROUTE, WE HAVE A ONE-INCH STORM EVENT, TWO-INCH STORM EVENT COMES IN.
WE'VE SEEN THOSE BEFORE EARLY IN THE SNOW SEASON, USUALLY WHERE WE GET THOSE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS, EVERYTHING GETS COVERED WITH THAT HALF-INCH INCH LAYER OF SNOW.
REALLY THEIR GOAL IS TO JUST TRY AND GET THE MAINS CLEARED UP IN HOPES THAT ONE OF OUR BEST EMPLOYEES LIKE MR. OBITAN ALWAYS SAYS IS, THE SUN COMES OUT, GIVES US A HAND, HELPS US OUT WITH THOSE SECONDARY ROUTES.
REALLY, IT'S PRETTY INEFFICIENT AND HARD ON THE EQUIPMENT TO GO OUT THERE AND TRY AND PLOW A ONE INCH OR HALF-INCH SNOW EVENTS.
THIS REALLY IS A KEY STANDARD HERE IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT THOSE OPERATIONS LOOK LIKE.
THEN WHEN WE LOOK AT SECONDARY ROUTES, SECONDARY ROUTES WILL BE COMPLETED WITHIN 12 HOURS AFTER UP TO EIGHT INCHES OF ACCUMULATION.
THE NEXT ONE HERE IS WITHIN 18 HOURS AFTER 8-12 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION.
THEN LASTLY HERE, WITHIN 36 HOURS AFTER 12 OR MORE INCHES OF ACCUMULATION.
I THINK THIS PIECE IS REALLY IMPORTANT HERE.
THIS IS A PRETTY SOLID INDUSTRY STANDARD ACROSS THE BOARD, AND MOST PEOPLE HONESTLY DON'T EXCEED THAT 18.
WHEN WE DOVE INTO IT QUITE HEAVILY, OF COMPARABLE CITIES THROUGHOUT THE NATION WHO RECEIVED SNOW, WHO ALSO MAINTAIN THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE DO AND PROVIDE THE SERVICE TO THE ROAD NETWORK SIZE THAT WE DO, WE HAVE YET TO FIND A COMPARABLE CITY.
THERE'S MANY COMPARABLE CITIES THAT RECEIVE A TON OF SNOW THAT WILL ONLY MAINTAIN 100 MILES OF ROADWAY.
EVEN MANY OF OUR COLORADO REFERENCES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, WE'VE EVEN LOOKED IN OREGON. WHERE WAS THE OTHER ONE? SIOUX FALLS WAS SIMILAR, BUT AGAIN, 350 MILES OF MAINTAINED ROADWAYS.
WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THOSE COMPARABLES AND THEN MATCH IT AGAINST INDUSTRY STANDARDS, AND THEN WE ALSO SEE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER SNOW AVERAGES OUT OF EACH STORM.
WHEN WE START COMPARING THOSE, THAT'S WHERE WE GET THESE BULLET POINTS HERE IN THE STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE SET FORTH AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THOSE EXPECTATIONS ARE.
THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE GET BACK INTO WHAT COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS ARE.
BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, LIKE WE SAW THROUGH THIS WINTER HERE, WE HAVE LARGE EVENTS, 12 INCHES OR MORE, AND WHEN WE START MEETING THOSE EXPECTATIONS OF A 36-HOUR WINDOW, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT WHEN THE EXPECTATION GETS SET FORTH BY THE COMMUNITY TO BE MUCH SHORTER,
[01:25:03]
IT REALLY MAKES IT DIFFICULT ON THE OPERATORS WHO WE'VE HANDED THESE HANDBOOKS ON AND SAID, MEET THESE EXPECTATIONS.IT'S TOUGH TO CHANGE THOSE WITH EACH STORM.
WE TRY AND KEEP THIS STANDARD AND HOLD THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. HERE'S THOSE MAPS.
I PERSONALLY DON'T LIKE PUTTING MAPS UP HERE.
ONE CAN'T SEE THEM, BUT TWO, THEY DON'T TELL THE STORY.
BUT I'M GOING TO TELL A LITTLE BIT OF THE STORY HERE AS WE LOOK THROUGH IT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A LOT OF COLOR-CODING ON HERE.
YOU CAN SEE EVERY VEHICLE HAS A ROUTE.
IF ONE VEHICLE COMES UP SHORT OR IS BROKE DOWN, THAT ROUTE HAS TO BE COVERED BY SOMEBODY ELSE.
THESE ROUTES ARE AT THEIR MAX.
IN FACT, THE STUDY THAT WAS DONE BACK IN 2018 BY LA CONSULTANT SHOWS THAT NOT ONLY OUR ROUTES AT THEIR MAX, THEY HAVE FAR EXCEEDED WHAT A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL SNOW PLOW OPERATION SHOULD BE DOING.
THAT ROUTE SHOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY SHORTER THAN WHAT IT IS.
NOW MOST OF THEM NOT ONLY MEET WHERE THEY SHOULD BE, THEY FAR EXCEED WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.
THERE'S A FEW THAT WE TRY AND SHRINK DOWN A LITTLE BIT TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, BUT IT PULLS THEM OUT OF COVERAGE FOR ANOTHER ROUTE.
WE DO OUR BEST TO BALANCE THIS OUT, BUT FRANKLY, WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE EQUIPMENT AND STAFFING ARE JUST LIMITED.
WE MAP IT OUT AS FAR AS WE CAN AND THEN WE ASSIGN THE ROUTES.
THIS IS JUST SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU THAT EAST AND WEST SIDE OF TOWN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE ROUTES LOOK LIKE AND HOW LARGE THEY REALLY ARE FOR COVERAGE.
I THINK THE OTHER THING TO NOTE HERE IS THAT THESE ARE NOT DESIGNED RANDOMLY.
SNOW OPERATIONS ARE DESIGNED TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT. HOPEFULLY THAT MAKES SENSE.
EVERYTHING YOU DO WHEN YOU GO INTO A ROUTE IS DESIGNED TO TAKE A RIGHT-HAND TURN AND CONTINUED TO MAKE RIGHT-HAND TURNS.
AS YOU LOOP THROUGH YOUR ROUTE EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU'LL OVERLAP TO GET BACK THROUGH THE ROUTE.
AT ANY POINT IF WE WERE TO CALL AN OPERATOR OFF OF THEIR SHIFT TO TAKE CARE OF AN EMERGENCY CALL OR A COMPLAINT THAT COMES IN, THEY START TO TRY AND CATCH UP ON THAT ROUTE AGAIN.
IF IT'S ACTIVELY SNOWING, THEY HAVE TO JUST START FROM THE BEGINNING AND GO AGAIN.
WHEN EVERY TIME WE PULL SOMEONE OFF A ROUTE TO MANAGE A COMPLAINT OR TO DEAL WITH AN INCIDENT OR AN ACCIDENT, THE END OF THAT ROUTE GETS PUSHED OUT, ANOTHER SNOW SHIFT, MAYBE MORE, JUST TRYING TO GET CAUGHT BACK UP, SO IT'S REALLY TOUGH.
OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP THEM ON ROUTE ALL THE TIME.
BUT EVERY TIME WE HAVE TO PULL ONE, IT DOES PUT THAT ROUTE BEHIND.
NOW THIS ONE HERE, I'LL SPEAK TO IT.
BUT REALLY I WANTED TO HAVE AMY GO THROUGH THIS.
I DON'T WANT TO BUTCHER ANYTHING IN HERE, REALLY IT'S PRETTY EASY TO READ, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE YOU, I STRUGGLE WITH THAT ALONE.
I'M GOING TO HAVE AMY TALKED ABOUT PARKS REAL QUICK AND THEN I'LL HOP BACK IN.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. FOR THE PARKS SNOW EQUIPMENT AND STAFFING.
WE HAVE 10 PLOWS ON THE PICKUP TRUCKS THAT ARE USED OBVIOUSLY IN THE OTHER SEASONS.
WE HAVE ANOTHER TOOLCAT ON THE WAY.
HOPEFULLY IT ARRIVES, I BELIEVE IN AUGUST, NEXT TWO MONTHS, WE HAVE ONE CINDER SPREADER.
THAT'S JUST A DEVICE THAT GOES INTO THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK WHEN THERE'S A NEED FOR THE PARK STAFF TO SPREAD CINDERS.
WE HAVE SIX WHAT WE'RE CALLING A MULTI-PURPOSE LANDSCAPE TRACTORS OR BACKHOES.
THEY DO HAVE COMPETING OPERATIONS, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR CITIZENS CEMETERY THAT WE RUN WHILE SNOW OPERATIONS IS OCCURRING.
WE HAVE SIX OF THOSE IN TOTAL.
THEN WE DO HAVE FOUR SNOW THROWERS.
THEN AS MR. OVERTON ALLUDED TWO YEARS AGO, A BUNCH OF SHOVELS.
[LAUGHTER] THAT'S OUR EQUIPMENT IN THE PARKS SECTION, STAFFING.
WE HAVE FOUR PARKS SUPERVISORS.
WE HAVE 10 PARK'S TECHNICIANS AND 12 PARKS MAINTENANCE WORKERS.
WE TYPICALLY IN THE WINTER MONTHS, WE'LL HAVE SIX SEASONAL OR TEMPORARY STAFF.
RIGHT NOW, TODAY WE HAVE TWO CURRENT VACANCIES IN OUR PARKS MAINTENANCE WORKER, AND 5-6 IN OUR TEMPORARY.
THIS PAST WINTER SEASON THOUGH, WE HAD A VACANCY RATE OF 35-40%.
JUST FOUR FIGURES SINCE THEY DIFFER FROM WHAT'S UP THERE TODAY.
OH, I STILL HAVE ANOTHER SLIDE.
THIS IS OUR PARKS SNOW APP AND WE'LL DIVE INTO THAT IN THE NEXT SEGMENT OF THIS MULTI-GROUPING OF DISCUSSIONS TONIGHT.
BUT THIS INDICATES WHAT OUR SNOW STAFFING IN OUR SHIFT LOOKS LIKE FOR US, THE OPERATION IS ESSENTIALLY 24/7, BUT WE TEND TO DO THINGS IN 12-HOUR SHIFTS.
OR SHIFTS TYPICALLY BEGIN AT 04:00 AM, 06:00 AM, AND 09:00 AM DEPENDING ON WHEN THAT SNOWSTORM, THE TIMELINE OF THAT, AND WHAT THE ACCUMULATIONS ARE.
WE DO ALSO AS THE SNOWSTORM IS PROGRESSING, HAVE A 02:00 AM HAULING.
[01:30:01]
A HAULING OPERATION OF HAULING SNOW OUT OF DOWNTOWN, OUT OF HERITAGE SQUARE AND OUT OF ONE OF THE PARKING LOTS JUST PERPENDICULAR TO LIVE THROUGH.WE'LL DIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THAT IN THE NEXT PRESENTATION.
WE DO HAVE OVER 340 ASSIGNMENTS WHEN WE BREAK THEM DOWN FOR US IN THE PARK'S WORLD, THERE'S THE PARKING LOTS AT CITY-OWNED BUILDINGS THAT 63 PARKING LOTS TODAY.
THERE ARE CITY-OWNED SIDEWALKS ALSO, INCLUDING THE FOOT SYSTEM AND ON THE FOOT SYSTEM, THAT'S WHERE IT'S THE CONCRETE OR ASPHALT OR A HARD SURFACE THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT 24 MILES IN TOTAL OUT OF THE 59.
WE HAVE HERITAGE SQUARE DOWNTOWN.
THOSE ARE THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN TOWN SITE AND THERE ARE SOME IN THE SUNNYSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE EVER COURTESY BERM REMOVAL PROGRAM.
WE'RE GOING TO DIVE INTO THAT DEEPER TOO.
THOSE ARE OUR MAIN PRIORITIES.
THEN AS THOSE ARE GETTING ACCOMPLISHED OR SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE, WE START TO ROLL INTO SOME OF THESE OTHERS WHICH INCLUDE, THE APPROACHES OR ENTRANCES TO THE FOOT SYSTEM WHERE THERE'S THEN THE AGGREGATE SURFACE BACK OF THAT, SO THERE'S THE CONCRETE APPROACH, SO WE START TO GO AROUND AND CLEAR THOSE TO MAKE THAT ACCESS EASIER.
WE HAVE OUR PARKING LOTS AT SOME OF OUR SMALLER PARK LOCATIONS.
NOT OUR LARGER PARKS LIKE THORPE PARKER, FOX GLEN, BUT THERE ARE SOME OF OUR SMALLER NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS THAT HAVE SOME PARKING SPACES.
WE'LL GO TACKLE THOSE ASSIGNMENTS AND THEN STAIRWAYS, WALKWAYS, AND SOME FURNISHINGS WITHIN OUR PARK SYSTEM AND CIVIC SPACES LIKE BENCHES, BICYCLE, RACKS, TRASH CANS.
SOME OF THOSE ITEMS WE START TO CLEAR OFF AS SOME OF OUR LAST ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SNOW EVENT.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK TO SAM.
>> COOL. THANKS, AMY. IF WE GET BACK INTO STREETS RESPONSIBILITIES, AGAIN, I THINK WE'VE ALL HEARD IT MANY TIMES.
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PLANNING OVER 700 LANE MILES, BUT THAT IT EQUATES TO IS ABOUT 2,600 MILES TRAVELED.
WHEN YOU START ACCOUNTING FOR CENTER LANES, EMERGENCY LANES, WHEN YOU GET INTO THE SHOULDERS, TURN LANES, THINGS LIKE THAT, I THINK YOU DID GIS FOR PULLING UP ALL THIS DATA, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO DO SNOW OPERATIONS AND COMPLETE THE ROUTE ONE TIME, SO THAT'S 2,600 MILES TRAVELED FOR ONE PASS ON ALL SNOW OPERATIONS.
ICE CINDERS ARE APPLIED. REALLY WHAT WE ASK IS ICE CINDERS ARE APPLIED AFTER THE SNOWFALL ENDS, WHAT WE'VE FOUND AND IT'S ACROSS THE STANDARD, IT'S ACROSS THE NATION.
PUTTING DOWN ICE CINDERS WHILE IT'S ACTIVELY SNOWING IS A WASTE OF ICE CINDERS.
THEY NO LONGER SERVE THEIR PURPOSE AND THEY JUST GET SCRAPED OFF ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AS TRUCKS CONTINUE TO COME THROUGH.
SO THE GOAL IS TO APPLY CINDERS AFTERWARDS.
BUT AS WE SEE CONTINUALLY BACK-TO-BACK STORMS AND LINGERING ICE, YOU SEE A LOT OF ICE CINDERS BEING APPLIED LIKE WE SAW THIS YEAR HERE.
WHAT THE CREWS WILL DO IS THEY'LL GO BACK-TO-BACK SHIFTS, 12-HOUR SHIFTS, 24 HOURS A DAY, THEN THEY HAVE TO GO BACK IN.
THEN WE HAVE TO REMOVE THOSE CINDER BOXES OUT OF EVERY TRUCK.
WE WON'T DO EVERY TRUCK, BUT WE'LL DO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE TRUCKS, AND WE REMOVE THE SNOW PLOW BLADES THEMSELVES.
IT TAKES THEM A FEW HOURS ON EACH TRUCK TO WHAT WE CALL THE STRIP THEM DOWN.
THEN WE'LL USE THOSE TRUCKS TO GO BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY ON OUR NIGHT SHIFT WHEN PARKING ORDINANCE HELP US OUT GREATLY, OUR FRIENDS IN PD HELP US OUT GREATLY.
THEN WE'LL GO BACK INTO KEY AREAS AND START DOING OUR HAUL OUT OPERATIONS.
WE START DOING THINGS LIKE DOWNTOWN CORE AREA, BUTLER THIS YEAR.
WE DO NOTE IN HERE CUL-DE-SACS ARE LISTED AS SNOW ALL OPERATIONS, BUT THERE ARE 345 CUL-DE-SACS.
THIS YEAR ON AVERAGE, IT WAS TAKING ABOUT 20 TRUCKS PER CUL-DE-SAC TO REMOVE THE SNOW.
UNFORTUNATELY, I'M TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THAT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE SO WE JUST TRY AND PICK AN AREA THAT HAD THE LEAST MOBILITY IN THE AREA AND GET IN THERE FIRST AND THEN WORK OUR WAY THROUGH OTHER COMMUNITIES.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO EVERYTHING BEFORE ANOTHER STORM COMES IN AND BEFORE WE HAVE TO PREP THE TRUCKS TO GET BACK INTO SNOW OPERATIONS, IF WE KNOW ANOTHER STORMS COMING, WE HAVE TO CUT IT SHORT ON SNOWING HAULING OPERATIONS SO WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET THE TRUCKS PREPPED AND READY TO GET BACK INTO SNOW PLOWING OPERATIONS.
THIS ONE HERE IS IMPORTANT, THE DAY TIME SNOW DEVIATIONS, AND IT'S NOT JUST US.
WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS ACROSS THE NATION.
MANY COMMUNITIES ARE ACTUALLY GONE TO A HEAVILY REDUCED DAYTIME SNOW OPERATION BECAUSE OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THEIR OPERATIONS, THEY ARE JUST NOT AS EFFECTIVE BETWEEN TRAFFIC IMPACTS, PARKING IMPACTS.
[01:35:04]
DAYTIME IS JUST A BUSY TIME, SO WHEN YOU PUT LARGE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT LIKE THIS INTO AREAS WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO CLEAR OUT SNOW, IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT.WE'RE EVEN TOYING WITH THE NOTIONS OF WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO REDUCE THOSE OPERATIONS IN THE DAY TIME AND BEEF THEM UP THROUGH THE NIGHTTIME, WOULD WE MAKE MORE PROGRESS? UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S A BIG GAMBLE TO TAKE, NOT KNOWING THE OUTCOME.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH IT, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH SOME OF OUR OTHER PARTNERS AND UNDERSTAND HOW THEY'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR OPERATIONS.
UNFORTUNATELY, MOST WHO HAVE DONE THIS ONLY MAINTAIN ABOUT HALF OF THE LANE MILES THAT WE DO FOR SNOW OPERATIONS.
THEY ALSO RECEIVE LESS THAN 50% OF OUR SNOW AVERAGE.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO THEY COMPARE TO WHAT WE DO.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE WATCH FOR IS THE SUSPENDED OPERATIONS FOR SAFETY.
YOU'LL SEE FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN IT IS SNOWING SO HEAVY THAT YOU CAN'T SEE OUTSIDE, OUR OPERATORS CAN'T SEE OUTSIDE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'LL STAND BEHIND ALL DAY IS IF THEY CAN'T SEE, I'VE ASKED IN MULTIPLE TIMES TO PULL OVER AND STOP BECAUSE NOW THEY'VE BECOME 50,000 POUND BATTERING RAM AND I CAN'T JUSTIFY THAT.
WHEN THINGS GET REALLY BAD, WE WILL PULL OPERATIONS.
WE HAD TO DO IT SEVERAL TIMES THIS YEAR, AND WE JUST HAVE THEM A PARK AND SIT IN PLACE WITH THEIR LIGHTS ON AND WAIT UNTIL THEY CAN GET TO A POINT WHERE THEY CAN SEE AND GET UP AND MOVING AGAIN.
IT'S PRETTY DANGEROUS TO BE OUT THERE OPERATING IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT DO WE SEE WHEN SCHOOL KICKS OFF? EVERYBODY'S HEADING TO WORK IN THE MORNING, EVEN A TWO-HOUR DELAY.
WE SEE EVERYBODY OUT THERE, 10 O'CLOCK, EIGHT O'CLOCK, WHATEVER THAT TIME-FRAME IS, IT DOESN'T REDUCE USUALLY THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WE SEE ON THE ROAD, IT JUST CHANGES THAT TIME-FRAME.
WHAT WE FIND IS WHEN WE HAVE THE TWO-HOUR DELAY, WE ALSO RUN INTO SCHOOL OPERATIONS AT THE SAME TIME.
IT AFFECTS HOW MANY VEHICLE ARE ON THE ROAD.
THEN WE RUN INTO ACCIDENTS, SITUATIONS LIKE WE SEE ON SOUTH 4TH STREET, FOREST HILL.
AS YOU'LL KNOW, WE'VE PROACTIVELY CLOSED FOREST HILL BECAUSE IT TAKES SO MUCH EFFORT FROM ONE SINGLE VEHICLE TO KEEP THAT ROAD OPEN.
WE FOUND IT'S JUST LESS EFFECTIVE ON ALL OF THOSE OPERATIONS THAT GENERAL REGION.
IF WE LEAVE IT OPEN, SO WE JUST CLOSE IT PREEMPTIVELY, WE TRY ONLY HAVE ACCESS TO THE LOCALS, BUT WE'VE HAD PRETTY GOOD LUCK WITH THAT, TRYING TO STAY AHEAD OF THOSE.
THEN WORKING WITH SIGNALING THE INTERSECTIONS AND ISSUES THERE.
EVERY TIME WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION, WE HAVE ONE QUALIFIED SIGNAL TECHNICIAN WHO IS ALSO A SNOW SHIFT SUPERVISOR, WHO WORKS ON THE SNOW SHIFT AT NIGHT.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN HE GETS OFF SHIFT, IF WE HAVE A DAYTIME ISSUE, WE HAVE TO CALL THEM IN AS WE'RE STILL WORKING TO RECRUIT FOR OUR SIGNAL TECHNICIANS.
IT'S LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT, UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S NOT JUST NO OPERATIONS.
WE HAVE EMERGENCY CALLS, WE HAVE TO PULL PEOPLE OUT OF TRUCKS, PUT THEM INTO OTHER EQUIPMENT TO GO TAKE CARE OF THOSE EMERGENCY CALLS, THEN PUT THEM BACK INTO THEIR OPERATION.
WE HIT ON THIS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, BUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE, WE TRANSITION OUT AND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS WAS THEM WORKING OUT OFF OF FREMONT AND CHESHIRE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY DROVE THAT.
THEY HAD QUITE A NICE SNOW FEATURE OUT THERE.
IT WASN'T REALLY DESIGNED BY JANNA, BUT WE DID OUR BEST TO MAKE IT LOOK NICE AND TO FIT IN WITH THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT AT THE TIME.
BUT ULTIMATELY OUR GOAL IS TO GET THAT CLEARED OUT OF THERE, GET THE ROAD OPENED UP FOR SAFETY.
ONE, REDUCE IMPACTS TO DRAINAGE IN THE AREA AND ULTIMATELY JUST KEEP THE COMMUNITY MOBILE.
WE TRY AND DO OUR BEST TO PUSH BACK INTERSECTIONS, BUT WHAT WE FIND IS, AS WE DO OUR SNOW OPERATIONS, THE GOAL IS TO GET THE SNOW AS FAR OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD AS WE CAN WITHOUT IMPACTING SIDEWALKS.
WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THIS IN THE MULTI-MODAL PIECE OF IT, BUT IT ALSO COMES INTO CORNERS AND INTERSECTIONS AND WE START PUSHING BACK ROADS TOO FAR OR WE CAN'T SEE EXACTLY WHERE WE'RE GOING AND SNOW GETS PUSHED TOO FAR.
NOW WE START IMPACTING SIDEWALKS.
WELL, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT MULTI-MODAL OR BIKE LANES OR TO MOST OF OUR CYCLIST TRAVEL BEYOND THE EDGE OF THE ROAD? WELL, IF WE PUSH THE SNOW BACK COMPLETELY WHERE WE WANT IT TO, THERE'D BE NO PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AT ALL, SO WE HAVE TO FIND THAT FINE BALANCE OF GETTING THE SNOW FAR ENOUGH BACK TO ALLOW FOR MULTI-MODAL AND VEHICLE USE, BUT NOT COMPLETELY IN HIGHLIGHTS SIDEWALKS WHICH WE ASK OUR COMMUNITY UNDER CITY CODE TO MAINTAIN.
TRYING TO FIND THAT BALANCE IS SOMETIMES TOUGH WHEN YOU HAVE CHANGING VARIABLES LIKE SNOW OPERATIONS.
[01:40:01]
JUST BECAUSE WE'VE TRANSITIONED TO SNOW HAULING DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T HAVE ICE IMPACTS.THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS HERE, EVEN THIS ROAD HERE AS THEY CLEARED THAT OUT, BEFORE THEY LEFT THAT NIGHT, THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH AND CINDER THE ENTIRE AREA KNOWING IT WOULD FREEZE AND THESE ROADS HADN'T DRIED OUT YET AND IT WOULD BE A SHEET OF ICE.
ICE CINDERS IS A CONSTANT OPERATION.
THEN UNFORTUNATELY, WE GET RIGHT BACK INTO SWEEPING OPERATIONS.
OUR STREET SWEEPERS ARE ALSO SNOW PLOW OPERATOR'S.
AS THEY GET OUT OF THEIR SNOW SHIFT, THEY DO CLEANUP OPERATIONS AND THEY GET BACK INTO THEIR SWEEPERS.
THOSE SWEEPERS ALSO HAVE DIFFICULT TIME RUNNING AT NIGHT.
SWEEPERS DO RUN WITH ONBOARD WATER SYSTEMS. THEY DO THAT FOR DUST CONTROL AND OTHER VARIOUS OPTIONS.
WHEN THEY'RE RUNNING AT NIGHT, THEY FREEZE.
WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS AND WHEN WE DEPLOY THOSE SWEEPERS, THEY CAN'T BE RUNNING OUT THERE WHEN WE'RE SEEING THOSE PROLONGED TEMPERATURE AS WELL UNDER THE FREEZE LIMIT, WE START SEEING HEAVY IMPACTS ON OUR STREET SWEEPERS.
FRANKLY, THEY ARE ALREADY A HIGH MAINTENANCE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, SO WE TRY AND DO OUR BEST TO KEEP THEM UP AND RUNNING.
AS IT SITS, WE'RE CURRENTLY DOWN TO ONE STREET SWEEPER OUT OF FIVE, THREE OF THEM HAVE MAJOR MECHANICAL FAILURES THAT JUST AREN'T GOING TO BE FIXED ANYTIME SOON.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE WE TRY AND PROTECT THEM WHENEVER WE CAN.
WHEN WE SEE THAT FREESTALL, WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAR OUT SNOW, ONE OF THE BIG IMPACTS WE SEE IN TRYING TO GET SNOW OUT OF THERE TOO, IS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF STANDING WATER ON THE ROADWAYS.
AS THE WATER FREEZES, IT GETS INTO THE CRACKS OF THE ROADWAY AND IT EXPANDS.
THAT'S WHAT STARTS TO CAUSE THOSE POTHOLES THAT YOU SEE POPPING UP.
THIS YEAR HERE, WE EVEN SAW SOME ANOMALIES IN AREAS THAT WE HADN'T PREVIOUSLY SEEN THE IMPACTS FROM POTHOLES.
UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK WE ALL SAW AND FELT THOSE IMPACTS THIS YEAR, SO KEEPING UP WITH THOSE ARE VERY DIFFICULT.
IN-BETWEEN SNOW OPERATIONS, IT'S A WHOLE ANOTHER OPERATION IN ITSELF TO TRY AND MANAGE, AS WELL AS THE MATERIAL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO LAY DOWN WHEN IT'S COLD.
WE DO HAVE SOME TRUCKS THAT ARE ABLE TO HEAT THE MATERIAL AND TRY AND LAY IT DOWN, BUT AS WATER GETS IN THERE AND THE ROADS HOLD WATER, WE IN A SENSE, ALMOST THROW THE MATERIAL AWAY.
THIS YEAR WE HAD TO GET CREATIVE AND START USING OLD ROADWAY MILLINGS TO TEMPORARILY PATCH THE ROADWAYS UNTIL THEY DRIED UP ENOUGH WHERE WE COULD GET AN ERROR, SOME GOOD ASPHALT PATCH.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS, I'VE HEARD IT A COUPLE OF TIMES AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE OPERATIONAL IMPACTS ARE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT STREETS, OPERATIONAL HEALTH IMPACTS, SO HALF AS HIGHWAY USER REVENUE FUNDS.
WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT MAINTENANCE DOLLARS GO TO.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT A FEW WEEKS AGO WITH MY SEPARATED PILOT BIKE LANES.
STREETS ONLY HAS $50,000 FOR SNOW OPERATIONS EACH YEAR OUTSIDE OF PERSONNEL.
IF YOU TAKE PERSONNEL OUT OF IT, THE ONLY MONEY IS LEFT, WE HAVE $50,000 FOR ICE HINDERS, FOR GENERAL SUPPLIES NEEDED, FOR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE IN RELATION TO SNOW OPERATIONS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INVESTING $60,000, $70,000 IN A SINGLE PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE, NOW WE'VE FAR SUPERSEDED WHAT WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR THE ENTIRE CITY IN A SINGLE FISCAL YEAR.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE CAPITAL DOLLARS, WHICH COULD BE A GRANT, THOSE ONETIME MONIES THAT CANNOT BE USED AS ONGOING VERSUS WHAT WE CAN ACTUALLY BUDGET FOR.
THEN THE OTHER PIECE OF IT WHERE WE TRY AND PUT FOR OUR GENERAL MAINTENANCE, THAT COMES BACK TO $118,000 A YEAR.
BETWEEN THE TWO, I'M NOT GREAT AT MATH HERE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ABOUT $168,000 A YEAR THAT WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR SNOW OPERATIONS IN GENERAL MAINTENANCE.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE COSTING $60,000, $70,000, $100,000 IN MAINTENANCE, THAT'S EATING UP TWO-THIRDS OF OUR MAINTENANCE FUNDING EACH YEAR.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE IMPACTS ARE AND WE DO OUR BEST TO BUDGET FOR THEM, BUT WE BUDGET BASED ON WHAT WE RECEIVE.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR BUDGET TEAM AND OUR ACCOUNTANTS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS. I'M NOT GOING TO LIE TO YOU.
I DON'T THINK HE'S HERE, BUT I DO PUSH THOSE LIMITS EVERY YEAR TO TRY AND INCREASE THAT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE JUST NOT SEEING THE REVENUES.
JUST UNDERSTANDING WHAT THOSE FINANCIAL IMPACTS ARE.
I WANTED TO LEAVE WITH THIS HERE TO UNDERSTAND THAT STREETS IS REALLY WORKING IN DEVELOPING WHAT WE'RE CALLING AS OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND VISION. WHERE DO WE WANT TO GO? HOW DO WE WANT TO GET THERE? WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET US THERE? THESE WERE SOME OF OUR TOP THREE ITEMS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW TO PROVIDE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND SAFE SNOW OPERATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS ONE HERE IS REALLY FOCUSED ON WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
[01:45:04]
ENHANCED BEST PRACTICES THROUGH TRAINING, PROPER EQUIPMENT AND STAFFING.THEN OUR 3-5 YEAR GOALS ARE TO MEET STAFFING NEEDS OF OUR CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO TRY AND BETTER SUPPORT CITY OF FLAGSTAFF.
RIGHT NOW IF WE WERE TRYING TO MEET INDUSTRY STANDARDS OF WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE VERSUS WHAT OUR MAINTENANCE OBLIGATION IS, WE'RE FALLING SHORT BY ABOUT 15 STAFF MEMBERS.
I WAS DOING THE MATH WITH SCOTT THIS MORNING ON THAT, SO IT'S FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT ONGOING MONEY'S EACH YEAR, ALREADY LOOKING INTO $600,000, $700,000 ONGOING EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S MY BIG PUSH AND THAT'S WHAT I'LL CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR IS TO TRY AND GET THOSE STAFFING NUMBERS UP.
THAT WILL GET US TO A POINT WHERE WE MEET OUR CURRENT MAINTENANCE OBLIGATIONS IN OUR CURRENT SNOW MAINTENANCE OBLIGATIONS, THAT IS NOT ADDING ANYTHING ADDITIONAL AS OF TODAY.
IF SOUTH 4TH STREET CAME ONLINE TODAY, IT IS JUST GOING TO BE PLUGGED IN AND WE'RE GOING TO PULL PEOPLE OFF OF OTHER ROUTES TO TRY AND PICK THAT UP.
THINGS LIKE THAT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING OUR PART AND WORKING WITH MANY OF OUR PARTNERS ACROSS THE NATION TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE INDUSTRY STANDARDS SHOULD BE AND HOW DID WE GET THERE, BUT I'M PRETTY EXCITED TO SEE THAT THE OTHER PIECE OF PUBLIC WORKS IS WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION ACCREDITATION PROCESS.
IT'S ACTUALLY A VERY PRESTIGIOUS PIECE.
IT IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST, I GUESS, IF YOU WILL, COORDINATION PROCESSES YOU CAN GO THROUGH FROM A PUBLIC WORK STANDARD.
WHAT THAT REALLY DOES IS IT PUTS TOGETHER AND ALIGNS ALL OF OUR SOPS.
IT GETS REVIEWED AND RANKED FROM A BOARD THAT IS MADE UP FROM EVERYBODY IN THE NORTH AMERICA, INCLUDING CANADA, PUBLIC WORKS ORGANIZATIONS, THEY HELP REVIEW THEM, THEY HELP US UNDERSTAND WHERE WE CAN BE BETTER OR SOME PROCESSES MAY NOT FIT WITH WHAT WE CURRENTLY DO.
AS WE FINALIZE AND WORK THROUGH THIS ACCREDITATION PROCESS, I THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO SET FORTH, MAYBE, A NEW LOOKING PUBLIC WORKS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS.
WE'RE RIGHT NOW GOING THROUGH THE EVALUATION PROCESS, BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE PIECES THAT SNOW OPERATIONS REALLY TIES TO THAT.
WITH THAT, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO JUMP STRAIGHT INTO THE NEXT ONE, BUT IF WE HAD ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO THIS, THAT HIGHER ARCHING SNOW OPERATIONS, WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DISCUSS THOSE.
>> COUNCIL, QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER MCCARTHY.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. WELL, I THINK I'LL GO FROM THE GENERAL TO THE SPECIFIC.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, I SEE A FROWN ON THE CITY MANAGER'S FACE.
WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT AND IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME, MORE RESOURCES, LET ME PUT IT THAT WAY, TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN THE WAY THAT THEY EXPECT TO BE.
WHEN I HEAR THAT, IF WE GET 12 INCHES OF SNOW, IT MIGHT BE 36 HOURS BEFORE WE GET TO PLOW THROUGH THERE, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF WHAT YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH AND THAT'S MAYBE THE REAL-WORLD.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF WE HAVE FOUR INCHES IS STILL ON YOUR STREET, IT'S LIKE FINE IF WE CAN LET IT GO FOR FIVE DAYS OR WHATEVER.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE 12 INCHES OF SNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF VEHICLES THAT CAN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THAT.
I SEE THAT AS A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM.
THEN THE LAST THING AND MAYBE WE WANT TO BRING THIS UP LATER, JUST TELL ME, I'VE TALKED TO YOU AND SCOTT ABOUT IT.
THE ICE BERM PROBLEM IS LIKE A BIG DEAL TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SOMETIMES I WISH YOU GUYS JUST WOULDN'T PLOW MY STREET AND THEN I WOULDN'T GET THAT ICE DAM THAT BLOCKS MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE I CAN GET THROUGH LIKE SIX INCHES OF SNOW, BUT I CAN'T GO THROUGH AN ICE DAM.
I GUESS I'LL START WITH A QUESTION.
I BELIEVE THE CITY BOUGHT A DEVICE THAT CAN BE ADDED ONTO THE SNOW PLOWS THAT WILL COME DOWN OR OVER OR WHATEVER, SO THAT WHEN YOU GO IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY'S DRIVEWAY, IT WILL REDUCE, MAYBE NOT ELIMINATE BUT REDUCE THE ICE DAM BUILDUP.
THEN AS SOON AS YOU GET BY THE DRIVEWAY, YOU LIFT IT OR MOVE IT, WHATEVER, AND THEN THAT SNOW GETS DUMPED BETWEEN THE DRIVEWAYS.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS, DID WE BUY A DEVICE THAT'S DESIGNED TO DO THAT AND HAVE WE BEEN ABLE TO TEST IT?
>> NO, WE DO NOT HAVE A DEVICE THAT DOES THAT, IT WAS NOT PURCHASED.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE A TON OF RESEARCH ON.
I'VE DONE EVEN MORE RESEARCH HERE RECENTLY.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR EMPIRE DEALER.
[01:50:01]
THEY ARE THE ONLY DEALER IN THE REGION WHO WOULD PRODUCE OR SELL THROUGH A VENDOR.IT'S CALLED HANKY. THEY ACTUALLY DO OUR SNOW PLOW WINGS SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY A PRETTY REPUTABLE COMPANY.
SOME OF THE BEST SNOW PLOW WINGS THAT YOU CAN PURCHASE ARE DEVELOPED THROUGH THEM.
CAT EMPIRE WOULD BE THE ONLY VENDOR.
WE HAVE TALKED WITH THEM ON WHAT THEY CALLS A SNOW GATE.
THEY ARE A TOOL THAT CAN BE MOUNTED ON WHAT THEIR PREFERENCES IS A MOTOR GRADER, YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE WING OFF OF THE GRADER, THEN YOU WOULD ATTACH THIS DEVICE TO IT.
THEY DO COME WITH SOME, I GUESS WE'LL CALL THEM STIPULATIONS.
THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS VERY NICE ABOUT IT.
ULTIMATELY, HE'D LOVE TO SELL US 25 OF THEM IF THAT WAS THE NEED.
HE DID WANT US TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEIR LIMITATIONS ARE ON THEIR TOOLS.
AS WE LOOK THROUGH THAT, WE STARTED DECIDING WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THIS.
THEIR BEST RECOMMENDATION RIGHT NOW WITH THAT TOOL IS THEY RECOMMEND IT FOR COMMUNITIES WHO SEE A SNOWSTORM WITH AN AVERAGE OF SIX INCH OR LESS.
IF IT'S UNDER SIX INCHES, IT HAS PRODUCED A HEAVIER OR SLUSHY SNOW IMPACT.
THEY WOULD RECOMMEND YOU DON'T USE THEIR PRODUCT, MAINLY BECAUSE THE WEIGHT THAT IT PUTS ON IT, IT'S DESIGNED TO HANDLE STORMS, AGAIN, A STANDARD SNOWSTORM WITH LESS OF THAT MOISTURE BUILDUP AND IN THAT HEAVY SLUSHY SNOW.
THE WAY IT'S DESIGNED IS ON THE, LET'S SEE IF WE HAVE A PICTURE OF A MOTOR GRADER ON HERE.
IT'S TOUGH TO SEE IT IN THAT PICTURE.
ON THE MOTOR GRADER, THERE'S A BLADE, RUNS UNDERNEATH IT IN THE MIDDLE.
AS YOU'RE PUSHING SNOW, THE GOAL IS TO KEEP IT AS TIGHT AS POSSIBLE.
WE CALL IT TIGHT AS POSSIBLE, BUT AS ARTICULATED AS POSSIBLE.
AS YOU START TO SQUARE IT UP, IT WILL LITERALLY BRING THAT GRADER TO A STOP CARRYING THAT MUCH WEIGHT.
WHEN YOU TRY AND SQUARE UP, PEOPLE SAY, WHY DON'T YOU SQUARE UP WHEN YOU GET TO THE DRIVEWAY? IT ACTUALLY WILL BRING THAT GRADER TO A STOP AND THEN AS WE KNOW IN THOSE START AND STOP LOCATIONS WITH GRADERS, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT PILE OF SNOW.
WHEN YOU START TO LOSE SPEED, BUILDS A HIGHER BERM.
WHAT THEY RECOMMEND, WHAT THEIR TOOL IS, AS IT GOES ON THE EDGE OF THAT BLADE, IT STOPS ALL THAT SNOW.
BUT ONCE IT STARTS EXCEEDING A CERTAIN WEIGHT CAPACITY, IT WILL BREAK THAT PIECE OFF OF THE GRADER.
THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS, IS IF WE RUN INTO AN AREA WHERE WE'RE SEEING STORMS THAT ARE ON AVERAGE WELL ABOVE THE SIX INCH RANGE, WHICH FROM WHAT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TELLS US WE'RE IN THAT 8-12 INCH STORM RANGE, OUR AVERAGED SNOW STORM, THAT THEY WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT HERE, BUT OF COURSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO STOP US FROM BUYING THEM.
WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THIS IS ACROSS THE NATION, THERE ARE HANDFUL OF COMMUNITIES THAT ARE USING THEM. YOU CAN RESEARCH THEM.
SIOUX FALLS WAS ONE OF THE BIG ONES.
I THOUGHT THEY HAD ONE OF THE BETTER APPROACHES.
EVERY COMMUNITY WHO'S GONE TO THIS, I HAVEN'T FOUND A COMMUNITY THAT UTILIZES THESE IN AN AREA WHERE THEY MAINTAIN OVER 300 LANE MILES.
THEY'VE ALSO GONE DOWN TO ONLY PLOWING RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND THEY CONTRACT OUT THEIR MAINS AND ARTERIALS.
BECAUSE IT'S CAUSED SUCH A REDUCTION IN TIME IN SNOW OPERATIONS, THEY ARE ALSO SAYING THAT MAIN ROADS WOULD REDUCE THEIR SERVICE FROM A 12-HOUR SNOW OPERATION ON A MAIN ARTERIAL TO 36 HOURS.
WHAT IT DOES IS IT CUTS THE TIME FRAME OF THE TRAVEL OF THE VEHICLE IN HALF.
ON AVERAGE, THESE MOTOR GRADERS TRAVEL AT ABOUT 9-10 MILES AN HOUR.
THEIR RECOMMENDED SPEED SHOULD NOT EXCEED FIVE MILES AN HOUR.
WE JUST TAKE A LOT LONGER TO GET THERE AND THEN IF WE GET OVER THAT POINT OF SIX INCHES THEY ASK THAT WE DON'T USE THAT ANYMORE.
WHICH UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK WHAT WE SEE IS THE SNOW BERMS ARE REALLY MORE IMPACTFUL IN STORMS OVER SIX INCHES.
YOU GET A SIX INCH STORM, YOU GET A SNOW BERM, IT'S USUALLY NOT AS BAD.
NOW WE GET A 12 INCH STORM, YOU GET A SNOW BERM, NOW YOU'VE GOT A REAL PROBLEM.
THAT'S WHERE THIS COMPANY HERE, AND HONESTLY, THERE'S ONLY ONE OTHER COMPANY THAT CREATES A PRODUCT SIMILAR TO THIS, AND THEY DON'T HAVE A VENDOR ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THE REGION AND THEIR EXPECTATIONS ARE THE SAME THING.
USE THEM IN STORMS UNDER SIX INCHES.
SIX INCHES AND UNDER, THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE VERY BENEFICIAL IN THOSE TYPES OF STORMS. HONESTLY SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE'VE SEEN, THEY'VE HAD SOME VERY GOOD LUCK WITH THEM IN SMALLER STORMS, BUT AGAIN, YOU LOSE THAT WING ON THERE.
IF WE HAD TO COME BACK THROUGH, WHEN WE GO THROUGH AND PLOW WITH THE MOTOR GREATER, THE GOAL IS TO WIDEN EVERYTHING OUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
WHEN WE CAN, WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE MULTIPLE PASSES IN EVERY COMMUNITY TO GET IT BACK TO THAT POINT.
THERE'S PROS AND CONS WITH IT, AND THEN UNDERSTANDING WHAT OUR REGION RECEIVES AS FAR AS WEATHER, AND THEN WHAT OUR MAINTENANCE OBLIGATION IS.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT DISCUSSION.
[01:55:05]
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SAME COIN IS THAT THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT IT TAKES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO REMOVE THAT SNOW BERM FROM THEIR FRONT DRIVEWAY, MULTIPLIED BY HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DOING IT ACROSS THE CITY.WE MIGHT BE JUSTIFIED IN MAYBE TAKING MORE TIME TO GET THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S REALISTIC AND I'M ONLY ONE GUY ON COUNCIL.
I FIGURED THAT OUT FINALLY, [LAUGHTER] THAT MAYBE WE COULD MAYBE BUY ONE AND TRY IT AND SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
ANYWAY, I'M NOT GOING TO MICROMANAGE, BUT I DO SEE IT AS A REAL ISSUE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
IF WE COULD, EVEN IF WE COULDN'T ELIMINATE IT, IF WE COULD JUST SOMEHOW MAKE THE BERM HALF AS HIGH AS IT IS, THEIR HALF IS MUCH MASS AS IT IS NOW.
THAT WOULD BE A BIG BENEFIT, SO I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT FOR NOW, BUT I'LL GO BACK TO MY FIRST STATEMENT.
REGARDLESS IF WE DO ANYTHING ON THIS OR NOT, IT DOES SEEM THAT WE'D NEED MORE RESOURCES FOR SNOW REMOVAL.
AND I ALSO REALIZE IT'S ONLY FOR PART OF THE YEAR, WHICH MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT.
IF WE COULD JUST AVERAGE THE SNOW OUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE YEAR, THEN YOU CAN PLAN FOR IT, BUT IT MAY BE THAT WE NEED TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT THAT WE PAY OUR ATTEMPTS OR OUR REGULAR STAFF SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE EMPTY SEATS, SO TO SPEAK.
SO THAT WE CAN FILL ALL THOSE TRACTORS AND GRADERS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS AND BOBCATS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
MAYOR, I THINK I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT FOR NOW. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
>> I WILL SAY THAT I LOOKED INTO THOSE WINGS, AND SPOKE TO SCOTT ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT DURING SOME OF THE STORMS. FROM WHAT I COULD SEE, IT WAS REALLY MEAN JUST LIKE WHAT YOU SAID, SAM, A MIXED BAG.
ONE COMMUNITY THAT BOUGHT THEM AND TRIED THEM HAS THEM SITTING SOMEWHERE IN A WAREHOUSE NOW BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T REALLY WORK FOR THEM.
BUT I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT THE BERMS ARE A PROBLEM, AND THERE ARE PROBLEM FOR ALL OF US, TOO.
WE ALL GET BUMMED, OUR HOUSE AND WE SEE THOSE SNOW BERMS AT THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAYS.
CAN YOU REMIND ME HOW MANY VACANCIES YOU HAVE?
>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE STAFFED AT 24 OUT OF 32.
>> THROUGH THE WINTER, WE HAVE RIGHT AROUND 22 STAFF MEMBERS NOTING THAT ONE IS ADMINISTRATIVE AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE MANAGER WHO REALLY TRIES TO KEEP EVERYTHING IN LINE.
BUT BY TIME YOU TAKE OUT THE FOUR SUPERVISORS, THE ONE MANAGER, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, IT REALLY CHANGES THAT OPERATION LEVEL.
>> OKAY. DO I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY THAT THE POSITION OF A CDL IS ONE OF THE ROADBLOCKS TO RECRUITING STAFF?
>> YEAH. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE GOT A LITTLE CREATIVE WITH TO TRY AND BRING ON SOME NEW STAFF MEMBERS.
I'M NOT MAKING ANYBODY MANDATORILY GET A CDL UNTIL AFTER THEY PUT IN AT LEAST SIX MONTHS WITH US.
GIVES THEM TIME TO GET THEM IN THE DOOR, UNDERSTANDING THAT IT MAY NOT HAVE A CDL COMING IN.
WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR THE PEOPLE WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE WHO FRANKLY WANT TO TAKE ON SOMETHING DIFFERENT OR MORE OR LESS THAN WHAT THEY MAY HAVE HAD BEFORE.
THEN WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO INVEST IN THEIR COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE.
LAST YEAR WE INVESTED $40,000 INTO GETTING SIX PEOPLE, A CDL.
IT WAS A LARGE INVESTMENT FOR US.
IT CAME OUT OF THOSE MAINTENANCE DOLLARS, BUT IF THAT'S WHAT WE GOING TO DO AND ACTUALLY EVERY ONE OF THOSE STAFF MEMBERS ARE STILL WITH US.
TO DATE AND THEY'RE THRIVING, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT AS WE GO.
IT JUST COMPETITIVE ACROSS THE MARKET IS THE TOP POINT THAT IT TOOK PLACE RIGHT NOW.
>> THANK YOU. WERE ANY NEW POSITIONS ADDED IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET?
>> YEAH. THAT WAS THE BEAUTY OF IT.
AGAIN, IT WAS GETTING A LITTLE BIT CREATIVE AND WORKING WITH JEFF, WE WERE ABLE TO FUND TWO STREET LIGHT TECHNICIANS THROUGH THIS LEDS PROGRAM.
THAT LEDS PROGRAM IS GOING TO CARRY THOSE TWO TECHNICIANS FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
HOWEVER, WITH THE PROJECTION OF HERF, WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE UP IN FOUR YEARS TO KEEP THOSE TWO TECHNICIANS.
WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH HR TO GET THOSE POSITIONS FINALIZED,
[02:00:01]
AND CREATED SO WE CAN GET THEM POSTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT THEY WOULDN'T BE COMING OUT OF HERF DOLLARS BECAUSE IT CAN'T ABSORB THEM RIGHT NOW.BUT THAT'S ABOUT AS CREATIVE AS I COULD GET, THE TWO STAFF MEMBERS IN A SINGLE BUDGET CYCLE WAS EXCITING FOR US.
>> IT IS THE DARK SKY LED TRANSITION.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET ALL THE MONEY FOR THE DARK SKY LEDS.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANY STAFF TO PUT THEM IN.
THE GOAL WAS TO HAVE TWO STAFF MEMBERS RUNNING ONE BOOM TRUCK ALL DAY, EVERY DAY AS THEY WORK THROUGH TRANSITIONING OUT THAT 3,800 STREETLIGHTS IN FIVE STAFF TO DARK SKY COMPLIANT LEDS.
ON THE PLUS SIDE, THEY WILL HAVE COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE, AND THEY MAY OR MAY NOT WIND UP IN THE SNOW PLOW.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE WE ALSO HEAR FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FRUSTRATED THAT LIGHTS HAVEN'T BEEN REPLACED IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> I WILL, I DON'T WANT TO SAY WE'RE COMPLETELY.
I'LL GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO STEPHEN HILL, WHO IS THE SUPERVISOR FOR THAT GROUP.
HE'S BEEN OUT THERE DAY IN, DAY OUT TRYING TO REPLACE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK, THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLACE 70 IN ONE WEEK.
THAT WAS HIM IN ONE OF OUR WHAT WE'RE CALLING AN APPRENTICE, ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO GOT HIRED LAST YEAR WITHOUT A CDL.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD AROUND THE CLOCK TO TRY AND GET THAT CAUGHT UP, BUT WE'RE ABOUT 400 BEHIND RIGHT NOW.
>> DO YOU FEEL WE HAVE FOUND THE SOLUTION FOR PARKING ENFORCEMENT? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PARK FLAG HELPING WITH THAT.
WE HAD FRUSTRATION ON ALL SIDES WITH CARS STILL PARKED ON THE STREET AND NOT BEING ABLE TO REMOVE THAT SNOW.
>> I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR PD AS WE WALKED THROUGH THIS.
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PD ACTUALLY THIS YEAR, I THINK EVERY YEAR HAS JUST BEEN PHENOMENAL, BUT THIS YEAR HERE WE WERE ABLE TO REALLY TEAM UP ON SOME AREAS LIKE THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
WHEN WE WENT AND DID SNOW CLEANUP OPERATIONS ARE ABLE TO GET THEIR NIGHT CREWS IN THERE AND HELP US.
THAT WORKED TREMENDOUSLY WELL.
WHAT WE DO RUN INTO IS OUR DAYTIME OPERATIONS.
WHERE UNFORTUNATELY THINGS CONTINUE TO HAPPEN IN THE DAYTIME, FAR BEYOND SNOW OPERATIONS AND OUR FRIENDS IN PD ARE JUST OVERWHELMED.
AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR HIM, BUT MUCH LIKE WE ARE, WE DO OUR BEST TO GET AS MANY AS WE CAN, BUT THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES PARKED IN THE ROADWAY AND THAT ROADWAY WILL GET SKIPPED.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID RUN INTO A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF BUMPS AND BRUISES ALONG THE WAY THIS YEAR OF OUR SNOW-PACK OPERATORS DOING WHAT THEY DO, BELIEVING THAT THEY ARE THE BEST, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE BEST AND ATTEMPTING TO PUSH THROUGH WHEREVER THEY COULD PUSH THROUGH, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE RAN INTO SOME INCIDENTS.
I HAD TO COME BACK AND REEVALUATE AND THEN WE HAD TO PUT A HARD STOP TO ANYBODY ATTEMPTING TO GO DOWN A ROADWAY OR A VEHICLE MAY EVEN LOOK LIKE IT IMPEDES THEIR VEHICLE FROM GETTING THROUGH THERE BECAUSE THEY SMALL SLIDE LEADS TO A BIG INCIDENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO HAVE TO SKIP ROADS QUITE OFTEN, AND THOSE ROADS WILL NOT BE HIT AGAIN UNTIL THE NEXT SNOW SHIFT BECAUSE THEY HAVE LARGE ROUTES THAT THEY HAVE TO COVER.
I KNOW THEY'VE DONE THEIR BEST TO STAY AHEAD OF IT.
EVERY TIME WE'VE CALLED, THEY'D BEEN VERY RECEPTIVE, AND IF THEY CAN GET SOMEBODY OUT THERE, THEY GET THEM OUT THERE AS QUICK AS THEY CAN.
BUT BY THE TIME THE CALL ROUTES AND THEY GET SOME A DEPLOYED, IT COULD BE 20, 30 MINUTES IF THEY'RE NOT ON A ANOTHER CALL.
SO IT'S TOUGH FOR AN OPERATOR TO SIT THERE AND WAIT FOR THE ROAD TO BE OPENED.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS A POLICY OF SKIPPING THE ROAD AND COMING BACK WHEN WE CAN GET TO IT.
>> NOW WE UTILIZING PARK FLAG?
>> PARK FLAG, I THINK REALLY ONLY OPERATES IN THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR.
WHEN WE START LOOKING AT OUR COMMUNITY IMPACTS.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A WHOLE LOT THEY CAN DO FOR US OUTSIDE OF THEIR UNLESS I'M MISSING SOMETHING, MAYBE THEY'RE ONLINE.
>> I REMEMBER THAT WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THEM HELPING OUT ON THE SOUTH SIDE?
>> YES. THEY DO HELP IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
I INCLUDE THE SOUTH SIDE IN THERE.
THEY'LL GO AS FAR AS THEY CAN, BUT REALLY THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT.
THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITIES OUTSIDE OF I THINK THEIR REGULATED AREAS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS.
>> A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND IT IS ABOUT PARKING AND ENFORCEMENT.
IF WE HAVE A POLICY THAT SAYS YOU NEED TO REMOVE YOUR CARS, NO STREET PARKING AFTER CERTAIN TIME, BLAH BLAH BLAH, AND WE DON'T GO DOWN A STREET BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME CARS THERE THAT'S BLOCKING AND WE HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY,
[02:05:02]
AND SOMEBODY CAN'T GET OUT.WHAT DO WE DO? HOW DO WE GET A TRUCK OR AMBULANCE DOWN THAT STREET TO THAT PERSON?
>> WE'VE HAD THESE COMMUNICATIONS BEFORE AND I DON'T KNOW IF GPI IS ON BOARD.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT DEPUTY CHIEF MANSFIELD IN THE BACK.
WE'VE COORDINATED WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS NUMEROUS TIMES, AND HONESTLY, THEY FIND A WAY.
IF THEY RUN INTO AN ISSUE WHERE WE HAVE THAT, WE NOW HAVE INTEROPERABLE RADIO CAPABILITIES, AND FLAG DISPATCH HAS A DIRECT LINE TO THE STREETS CHANNELS AND ACTUALLY THEY DO DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS TO THE STREET SUPERVISORS.
AS PD HAS AN ISSUE, ONE OF THEIR OFFICERS CALLS IT INTO A DISPATCHER AND THAT DISPATCHER JUST FLIPS OVER TO OUR CHANNEL AND SAYS, THEY NEED SOMEBODY HERE.
IF THEY NEEDED SOMEBODY AND THEY SAID, THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH, OUR TRUCKS WILL DO THEIR BEST TO ATTEMPT AT LEAST TO GET THEM AS FAR IN AS THEY CAN, BUT THEY JUST CAN'T GET PAST THE VEHICLE.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU [OVERLAPPING].
>> NEXT QUESTION ALONG THOSE LINES ARE WITH THAT AND PLEASE DON'T HEAR ME TRYING TO GRILL YOU BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M DOING.
WHAT I'M DOING IS TRYING TO SEE HOW WE CAN RESOLVE THESE ISSUES.
IF THE POLICY IS THAT YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO PARK ON THE STREET, DO WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH TOWING AGENCIES, AND DO THEY NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO COME AND REMOVE THAT CAR?
>> JET TOWING IS, I THINK THE PRIMARY CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF, AND FRANKLY, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF VEHICLES, EVERY SINGLE SNOWSTORM.
I KNOW THEY'RE RUNNING OUT THERE.
I'VE SEEN HIM CREATIVELY PULLING SMALL VEHICLES WITH VERY LARGE TOW TRUCKS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY HAD AVAILABLE AT THE TIME.
THEY ARE ALSO WORKING IN OTHER INCIDENTS, BUT RIGHT NOW THAT'S OUR PRIMARY TOW COMPANY AND THEY DO THEIR BEST.
BUT ULTIMATELY WE RUN ALL THAT THROUGH PD TICKET FOR THE ENFORCEMENT.
>> WE WAIT FOR PD TO DECIDE THAT THE CAR SHOULD BE TOWED AND THEN THEY CALL THE TOWING COMPANY?
>> YEAH. YOU SEE ON THE STREETS JUST DOESN'T HAVE ANY REGULATORY AUTHORITY.
>> BUT YOU CAN REPORT THAT THAT STREET IS THERE.
WHATEVER THE STREET IS, DUPONT, WHATEVER THAT IT'S BLOCKED, IT CAN'T GET THROUGH THEIR CARS THERE.
THEN MY NEXT QUESTION AND THIS IS PROBABLY NOT FOR YOU IS PROBABLY FOR SOMEONE ELSE AND SOMEBODY ELSE CAN JUMP IN THERE IF THEY WANT TO.
WHAT DO WE DO TO LANDLORDS WHOSE RESIDENTS LIVE IN THOSE HOMES WHERE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PARKING.
IS THERE ANY PENALTY FOR THAT OR IS THAT JUST TOO BAD? YOU'VE WRITTEN INTO A PLACE THAT DIDN'T HAVE A PARKING SPACE FOR YOU AND TOUGH.
IS THAT PRETTY MUCH HOW IT GOES?
>> I WISH I HAD THE ANSWER TO THAT.
I THINK MY HOPE WOULD BE IT'S MORE OF THE ENFORCEMENT ACTION, BUT I FEAR THAT IT MAY NOT BE, BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT. WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH A COUPLE OF RIDE ALONG THIS WINTER, AND IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU ALL DO, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE SMALL CREW AND THE AMOUNT OF SNOW THAT WE HAD, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
DID YOU SAY THAT WE HAD ONE OUT OF FIVE STREET SWEEPERS WORKING?
>> IT'S NOT A NOT A NUMBER WE'RE PROUD OF RIGHT NOW.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAD TWO MAJOR ENGINE FAILURES AND THEN ANOTHER THAT WAS HONESTLY WAS AN ACCIDENT.
WE HAD ONE OF OUR NEW TRAINEES BREAK THE HOPPER OFF OF ONE OF THEM, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE SHOULD BE AN EASY FIX BUT A DRIVE SHAFT THAT IS ON A SIX-MONTH BACKORDER, SO IT'S THERE.
WE'RE RUBBING PARTS AROUND AND KEEP THEM UP AND RUNNING.
BUT YEAH, THAT'S WHERE WE CURRENTLY SIT.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME AN ESTIMATED COST OF BUYING ONE?
>> WE JUST PURCHASED ONE LAST YEAR.
WE DO HAVE ONE COMING IN WHAT'S PROJECTED TO BE AT THE END OF JUNE HERE IS OUR ELECTRIC SWEEPERS THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT SMALLER THAN OUR NORMAL SWEEPERS.
IT'S A DEMO, AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE DEMOING ONE WE HAVE BUDGETED NEXT YEAR TO PURCHASE ANOTHER SWEEPER.
WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO BUDGET FOR IS GOING TO FIT IN THAT RANGE OF THESE SMALLER ELECTRIC SWEEPERS.
WE ALSO THINK IT'S GOING TO BE MORE EFFICIENT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
HAS A SEPARATE ATTACHMENT FOR CLEANING OFF THE EDGE OF A CURB OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THAT UP AND RUNNING.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH THESE DEMO PROCESSES AND GET INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR BEFORE WE CAN GET THERE.
BUT THE ONE THAT'S UP AND RUNNING RIGHT NOW IS THE ONE WE PURCHASED LAST YEAR,
[02:10:03]
SO KNOCK ON WOOD THIS JUST IN CASE BECAUSE THEY ARE OUT RUNNING RIGHT NOW.>> THANK YOU. AMY, I THINK WE'RE READY FOR YOU.
[10. Bicycle and Pedestrian (Multi-Modal) Snow Operations Discussion on current snow operations and expectations]
[LAUGHTER] DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU TOO ARE TWINS EASE TODAY? WAS IT PLANNED?I'M GOING TO ESCAPE OUT OF SAM'S PRESENTATION AND OPEN UP, WHICH IS APPROPRIATELY CALLED PART 2.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN I'M NUMBER 2, BUT IT MEANS I'M PART 2.
[LAUGHTER] WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED IN WHAT'S LABELED PART 2 AND IT'S THE PROSE, THAT'S THE ACRONYM FOR THE PARKS, RECREATION, OPEN SPACE, AND EVENTS DIVISION, AND ALSO MULTI-MODAL SNOW OPERATIONS.
YOU'RE GOING TO NOTICE AS I GO THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION, IT'S NOT PACKED WITH A BUNCH OF TEXT, AND THAT'S DONE BY DESIGN.
BOTH SAM AND I COLLABORATED ON THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO TAKE SOME TIME AND LET'S DISCUSS EACH ONE OF THESE SLIDES OR IF IT ELICITS ANY QUESTIONS THAT CAME FROM THE PRESENTATION THAT JUST OCCURRED BECAUSE THESE THINGS GO HAND IN HAND NATURALLY.
THERE'S GOING TO BE I'M SURE PLENTY OF PUNS THAT VICE MAYOR YOU'LL CATCH ME ON, WE ALL KNOW HE'S GOOD AT THAT, SEE, AND THERE'S PLENTY OF GUARDRAILS TO HELP US KEEP ON POINT AS WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS, BUT WE CAN GO BACKWARDS, FORWARDS, YOU NAME IT.
THESE ARE THE MAIN BULLET POINTS WE'RE GOING TO COVER.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO GLANCE OVER THIS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DIVE INTO EACH ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALLY AND I'D LOVE IT IF THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS, WE'LL HIT EACH ONE OF THESE SLIDES AS AN INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION, AND AGAIN, SEE HOW THEY COLLABORATE WITH EACH OTHER.
SO I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO READ WHAT'S ON THAT ONE.
IT'S PLENTY OF PRETTY PICTURES TOO.
WE'VE BEEN CONSTANTLY SHIFTING, I THINK, THE LAST HANDFUL OF SNOW SEASONS, AND BECAUSE WE'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO SHIFT ESSENTIALLY WITH WHAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS GONE THROUGH.
WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF GROWTH, WE'VE HAD SOME CHANGES AND SOME EXPECTATIONS, SO WE KEEP SHIFTING.
WE HAVE TO SHIFT DEPENDING ON ACCUMULATION, AS SAM WAS JUST DISCUSSING EARLIER, DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE STORM, WE HAVE TO SHIFT WHEN THERE ARE DIFFERENT TIMELINESS EVENTS OF A STORM.
IT'S HONESTLY CONSTANT WITH US.
THERE'S BEEN CHANGES IN CLIMATE, THERE'S BEEN CHANGES IN ACCUMULATION, ESPECIALLY THIS LAST SNOW SEASON THAT WE ALL EXPERIENCED, AND WE'RE EXPERIENCING SOME MORE DIFFERENT IN SEVERE WEATHER OR DIFFERENT EVEN POST-STORM SEVERE WEATHER.
I'M GOING TO JUST A KEEP DIVING THROUGH WHAT THE EXACT ASSIGNMENTS ARE FOR THE PROSE DIVISION BECAUSE THEY DO DIFFER FROM OUR PARTNERS IN STREETS AND PUBLIC WORKS.
I'M GOING TO DIVE INTO THOSE HERE A LITTLE BIT FOR US.
THE INITIAL ASSIGNMENTS, WHEN THAT SNOWSTORM HITS, WE'VE GOT THOSE THAT WE ARE TO GET SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE.
THOSE INCLUDE GOING OUT TO THOSE 63 PARKING LOTS FOR THOSE CITY-OWNED BUILDINGS, WHERE PARK STAFF ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEARING THOSE.
THERE'S A TIMING COMPONENT IN THERE, THERE'S AN ACCUMULATION COMPONENT IN THERE.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM CLEARED AND OPEN SO THAT OUR COWORKERS CAN PARK SAFELY AT WORK.
AT THE SAME TIME THAT THAT'S HAPPENING, THEN WE'RE ALSO SENDING INDIVIDUALS OUT TO THE FOOT'S TRAIL.
NOW, IT'S NOT THE ENTIRE 58.5 OR 59 MILES OF THE FOOT'S TRAIL, IT'S THE 24 MILES THAT ARE ASPHALT OR CONCRETE.
A LOT OF THOSE ARE COMMUTERS SEGMENTS, BUT THEN THERE'S SOME SMALLER SEGMENTS OR CHUNKS OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM THAT MAYBE EVEN CONNECT TO AGGREGATE THAT WE'RE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEARING.
BUT THOSE STAFF IN THOSE 10 PLOW TRUCKS, THOSE SIX TRACTORS, BACKHOES, YOU NAME IT, THEY HEAD OUT AND THEY START GETTING OUT AT THE EXACT SAME TIME THAT THEY'RE GOING TO THOSE PARKING LOTS.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE ALSO DEPLOYING STUFF TO HERITAGE SQUARE.
WE'RE GOING TO GET SNOW OFF THE SQUARE, WE'RE GOING TO GET SNOW OFF THOSE SIDEWALKS, AND THAT'S AN INTERESTING OPERATION IF ANYONE'S EVER EXPERIENCED THAT WITH US.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO START SENDING OUT INDIVIDUALS WITH THOSE SNOW THROWERS, MAYBE ONE MINI TRACTOR THAT WE HAVE THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO TIP OVER EVERY TIME I SEE IT MOVE AND THOSE HAND SHOVELERS, AND WE'RE GOING TO HIT THE CITY-OWNED SIDEWALKS.
SOMETIMES THOSE DOUBLE AS AN URBAN TRAIL FOR US, BUT MANY TIMES THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE OUT IN FRONT OF OUR CITY BUILDINGS OR SOME OTHER LOCATIONS, SO THAT SAME DEPLOYMENT OCCURS AT THAT SAME TIME.
WE'RE OUT THERE AND WE'RE DOING ALL OF THIS CONCURRENTLY WHILE STREETS IS PLOWING THE STREETS, SO IT'S QUITE THE OPERATION TO WATCH AS COUNCIL MEMBER SWEET MENTIONED, WE PUT HER IN A TOOLKIT WITHIN INDIVIDUAL THAT HIT PORTIONS OF A SIDEWALK IN THE URBAN TRAIL AND IT'S TREACHEROUS [LAUGHTER] WHEN YOU'RE
[02:15:01]
RIGHT NEXT TO THE STREET AND IT CAN GET A LITTLE WILD.THEN WE START TO PEEL INTO SOME OF THOSE LOWER PRIORITIES.
WELL, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A BIGGER DISCUSSION ON JUNE 20TH, BUT WE DO HAVE DEDICATED ALLEYS.
THAT IMPACTS OUR DOWNTOWN ALLEYS, TOWN SIDE, AND THERE'S I BELIEVE THREE ALLEY SECTIONS IN THE SUNNYSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT PROSE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PLOWING.
THAT ALSO HAPPENS IN THAT FIRST PRIORITY IF YOU WILL.
THEN WE PEEL INTO THOSE SECOND PRIORITIES.
WE START HITTING UP SOME OF THIS, ALTHOUGH THE STAIRS AT CITY HALL ARE A TOP PRIORITY, BUT SOME OF THOSE STAIRS IN OUR PARK GROUNDS, THOSE SMALLER PARKING LOTS IN OUR PARK GROUNDS, THOSE FURNISHINGS, BENCHES, BICYCLE RACKS, TRASH CANS, YOU NAME IT, THEN WE START BEING ABLE TO CLEAR SNOW OFF OF THOSE.
WE ALSO HIT THOSE APPROACHES TO THE URBAN TRAIL, THEY ARE CONCRETE, BUT THERE MAY BE APPROACHES TO AGGREGATE TRAIL SEGMENTS.
WE TRY TO CLEAR THOSE BECAUSE NORMALLY WHAT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THEM IS A SIDEWALK.
SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CLEAR EVERYTHING FOR BETTER FUNCTIONALITY.
AFTER THOSE FIRST LARGER PRIORITIES ARE COMPLETED, WE TEND TO START TO ORGANIZE A HAULING OF SNOW AT A DOWNTOWN.
ALL THAT SNOW THAT COMES OFF THE SQUARE HAS GOT TO GO SOMEWHERE AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A PARKING LOT WITH A HANDFUL OF ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPACES PERPENDICULAR TO [INAUDIBLE] IN-BETWEEN ROUTE 66 AND ASPEN SO PARK STAFF CLEAR THAT PARKING LOT.
SNOW STORAGE EVENTUALLY BECOMES A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM.
THERE'S ALSO THAT ALLEY RIGHT THERE WHICH IS THE ACCESS INTO THOSE PARKING SPACES.
ALL THAT SNOW, WE EVENTUALLY START TO ACCUMULATE IN SOME OF THE PARK FLAG SPACES TO HAUL OUT THAT OPERATION.
IT IS A GREAT TIME AT 2:00 AM IF ANYONE'S EVER INTERESTED FOR THAT RIDE ALONG.
[LAUGHTER] YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH ALL OF THOSE ASSIGNMENTS AND THEN WITH THE ASSIGNMENTS THAT PUBLIC WORKS AND STREETS IS PERFORMING, THEN THERE'S THOSE POST-STORM OBSTACLES.
IT'S THAT FREEZE-THAW, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT MANY TIMES, THAT THAT'S A NUISANCE FOR ANYONE AT THEIR HOME, THAT'S A NUISANCE IN ALL OF THESE ASSIGNMENTS.
THERE ARE OTHER OBSTACLES TOO ESPECIALLY IN OUR ALLEYWAYS AND I KNOW WE'LL DIG INTO THAT NEXT WEEK, BUT UTILITY BOXES, GAS METERS, PARKED CARS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS WAS JUST REFERENCING, THOSE CAN ALL BE OBSTACLES DURING THE SNOW BUT ALSO DURING THE SNOW EVENT, BUT THEY ARE POST-STORM OBSTACLES FOR OUR STAFF TO, WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAR THIS.
I'M NOT MOVING FROM THIS SLIDE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE SHIFT OR HOW WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO SHIFT AND HOW WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO CHANGE ANYTHING IN OUR OPERATIONS THAT WE CAN TO MEET THE GROWING NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY? NO QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
FUTURE GROWTH AND GROWTH WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT DOES THIS REALLY RESEMBLE FOR THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SNOW OPERATIONS? LET'S DISCUSS WHAT IS OUR STRATEGY, BUT ALSO WHAT IS OUR FINANCIAL MODEL.
WE WERE REFERENCING SOME OF THAT IN SAM'S PRESENTATION EARLIER.
AS ADDITIONAL MILEAGE OF THE URBAN TRAIL, WHETHER IF IT'S A HARD SURFACE OR NOT, COMES INTO OUR SYSTEM, HOW ARE WE GOING TO MANAGE THAT SNOW OPERATION AS THESE ADDITIONAL MILES OR ADDED, WE'VE GOT MANY MORE PLANNED MILES TO COME.
NOW, HOW DOES SNOW OPERATIONS GROW AS THE COMMUNITY GROWS? WE MAY NOT GET ALL THE ANSWERS ON THIS SLIDE TONIGHT, BUT I DO THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT.
LET'S KEEP THIS ONE IN THE BACK OF OUR MIND AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE OTHER TOPICS.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCCARTHY HAS SAID IT A COUPLE TIMES TONIGHT, WE HAVEN'T INCREASED THOSE RESOURCES AND THAT'S A FUTURE SLIDES.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO GROW WITH THE COMMUNITY? COMMUNITY HAS GROWN SO OUR RESOURCES AND MAYBE HOW WE THINK ABOUT SNOW OPERATIONS NEEDS TO GROW.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS SLIDE? I HAVE A FEELING WE'LL CIRCLE BACK TO THIS ONE.
>> I SPOKE TO SAM, COUNCIL MEMBER MCCARTHY.
>> TEXT AND CLAY IS STARTING THIS SLIDE.
BUT JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU TRIED TO GET THE SNOW OFF THE PAVED FOR ITS TRAILS, BUT THE GRAVEL OR AGGREGATE, THOSE, THEY JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO MELT OR WHATEVER. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. THOSE ARE NOT PLOWED.
>> UNDEFINED EXPECTATIONS, THAT WAS A BULLET POINT.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UNDEFINED EXPECTATIONS THAT IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY, THAT IMPACTS OUR STAFF.
MANY TIMES UNDEFINED EXPECTATIONS THAT CAN EASILY CREATE DISJOINTED OPERATIONS.
IT CAN CREATE CHAOS, AGAIN FOR THE COMMUNITY OR EVEN FOR OUR STAFF PERFORMING THE OPERATION.
[02:20:03]
IT CAN CERTAINLY CREATE SOME NEGATIVITY WE JUST NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I THINK, AS A PART OF THIS PROCESS.BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO MITIGATE THOSE UNDEFINED EXPECTATIONS BECAUSE IT'S CLEARLY A TOP-FIVE WORK STRESSOR OUR STAFF WERE HEAVILY STRESSED THIS LAST SEASON, WE WERE SHORT-STAFFED, AND STILL HAD MASSIVE ACCUMULATION TO MANAGE.
IT CREATED A LOT OF THOSE UNDEFINED EXPECTATIONS POTENTIALLY.
I THINK WE NEED TO CHALLENGE OURSELVES ON WHAT CAN WE CHANGE? HOW CAN WE EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY? HOW CAN WE DEFINE ANY OF THOSE UNDEFINED EXPECTATIONS? I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO HAVE A HEALTHY DISCUSSION ON THAT.
WAS THERE A QUESTION COUNCIL MEMBER HOUSE? I SAW SOMETHING COME ACROSS MY SCREEN. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS SLIDE ARE WHAT THESE UNDEFINED EXPECTATIONS MEAN.
THEY'RE UNDEFINED, THEY'RE OUT THERE.
WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO TO DEFINE THEM? WHAT DO WE WANT TO CHANGE? THOSE ARE SOME HEFTY QUESTIONS.
>> I THINK THAT WHAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS IS DEFINING THOSE EXPECTATIONS AND ALSO COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC.
WE JUST GOT SO MUCH FEEDBACK THIS LAST WINTER.
IT'S CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO DECIDE ON WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE GOING TO BE AND HOW WE CLEARLY COMMUNICATE THEM TO THE PUBLIC.
>> AGREE. THE TASK THEY DO NOT DIMINISH, AND SOMETIMES THEY CAN INCREASE IN COMPLEXITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE SEE A HIGHER ACCUMULATION.
HOW DO WE CHANGE AND HOW DO WE ENCOURAGE OUR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO DO BETTER AT THEIR JOBS BY DEFINING THOSE EXPECTATIONS? I THINK THAT IS A BIG CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US.
I HAVE A FEELING WE'RE GOING TO HANG OUT ON THIS SLIDE FOR A LITTLE BIT.
THE PROS PROGRAM, IT OFFERS US A BERM RELOCATION PROGRAM.
IT IS FOR RESIDENTS WITH PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS WHO ARE PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO REMOVE THE BERM OF SNOW, BLOCKING THEIR DRIVEWAYS.
AFTER A STORM HAS SUBSIDED AND ALL STREET CLEARING HAS BEEN COMPLETED THE PARKS TEAM WILL GO OUT AND ASSIST WITH THOSE SNOW BERM RELOCATION OF THOSE THAT ARE ON OUR LIST, AND THEY'LL CLEAR THAT BERM SNOW, GREAT IMAGE OF WHAT WE EXPERIENCED, I THINK IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND I BELIEVE A LITTLE BIT IN MARCH.
WITH THAT PICTURE OF THAT SNOW BERM THERE, THE PROGRAM HAS INCREASED DRASTICALLY.
IN THE 2021-2022 SNOW SEASON, WE HAD 86 RESIDENCES SIGNED UP FOR THE PROGRAM.
AT THE END OF THIS 2023 SEASON, EVEN WITH SOME BACK-AND-FORTH WITH SOME RESIDENCES, WE HAVE 165.
NOW THAT'S 165 DRIVEWAYS THAT THIS TEAM GOES OUT AND CLEARS THAT HORRIFIC ICE BERM THAT I'M SURE OUR BACK STILL HAVE NOT RECOVERED FROM.
YOU PROBABLY THINK I'M CRAZY FOR SAYING THAT'S GREAT NEWS BECAUSE OUR RESOURCES HAVE AN INCREASE.
BUT IT MEANS THAT THE PROGRAM MEANS SOMETHING TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT TRULY NEED IT.
I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CELEBRATE.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT AS THESE ASSIGNMENTS INCREASE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO GUESS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE AN ADDITIONAL INCREASE THIS NEXT SNOW SEASON, WE MAY WANT TO START TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THOSE IMPACTS TO OUR RESOURCES REALLY ARE.
THIS LAST SNOW SEASON, THE TEAM WAS FORCED TO COME UP WITH SOME INNOVATION AND WE DID.
I WANT TO SAY IT WAS AFTER I THINK THE MARTIN LUTHER KING WEEKEND SNOWSTORM, THAT SNOW WASN'T MELTING AND THEN THE NEXT SNOWSTORM CAME DUE TO SOME COLDER TEMPERATURES THAT THIS WINTER.
WE JUST DECIDED TO THINK ABOUT IT DIFFERENTLY.
WE NORMALLY WOULD SEND OUT, I THINK IT WAS ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, A REGULAR PICKUP TRUCK WITH EITHER A V BLADE OR A FLAT BLADE ON IT.
WE COULDN'T ARTICULATE THE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT OR THE PLOW IN A GRID ENOUGH DEGREE TO STACK THE SNOW PROPERLY TO GET IT OUT OF INDIVIDUALS DRIVEWAY.
WE TOOK THAT MAGICAL TOOL CAT, ONE BIG SNOWSTORM.
WE WERE ABLE TO HIT ALL 165 ADDRESSES AND FIVE HOURS.
IT HAS CHANGED OUR PERSPECTIVE ON HOW WE CAN DO THIS.
AGAIN, THAT UNDEFINED EXPECTATION FORCE CREATED THE INNOVATION.
WE TRIED SOMETHING NEW AND IT ACTUALLY WORKED.
[02:25:03]
NOW WE HAVE THIS SECOND TOOLKIT COMING.THAT WILL JUST HELP US OUT EVEN MORE NEXT SEASON OR THE SEASON THEREAFTER AS I HAVE A FEELING, WE SEE THESE COURTESY BERM RELOCATION RESIDENCES INCREASE.
>> I'M NOT CLEAR ON WHAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT YOU USED WHEN THE SLIGHTEST GO ROUND WITH THE SNOW BERM REMOVAL. COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT?
>> I COULD. IT IS A BERM-CAT TOOL CAT, MORE OF A UTILITARIAN VEHICLE, NOT AN ATV WHERE YOU CAN PUT A DIFFERENT ATTACHMENTS ON THE FRONT, IT CAN BE BLADES, IT CAN BE A SNOW THROWER.
STREETS USES THEM IN THE SEPARATED BICYCLE LANES ON BEAVER IN BUTLER.
IT'S A MUCH SMALLER PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
THE NICE THING IS IT CAN TRAVEL ABOUT 22 MILES PER HOUR ON A ROAD.
IT'S REALLY NOT THAT MUCH SLOWER THAN A PICKUP TRUCK WITH A FLAT EIGHT-FOOT OR SEVEN-FOOT BLADE.
IT REALLY CHANGED HOW WE COULD MANAGE THIS PROGRAM MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY.
>> YOU'RE USING A BOBCAT AND THEN WHERE DO YOU USE A BLADE ON THE FRONT OF IT TO JUST MOVE THE SNOW?
>> I THINK WHEN IT'S THAT THREE TO EIGHT-INCH STORM, WE CAN USE JUST A BLADE AND PUSH IN MANEUVER THE SNOW.
THERE'S TIMES THAT WE WILL HAVE TO USE A BUCKET AND ACTUALLY SCOOP AND START TO CREATE THOSE SNOW STORAGE LOCATIONS LIKE IN THIS IMAGE ON THE SIDE.
A SNOW THROWER, I DON'T THINK IS A GOOD RESOURCE FOR THE COURTESY BERM PROGRAM.
WE CERTAINLY USE A SNOW THROWER AROUND THE FOOT'S TRAIL THOUGH, SO THAT WAY WE CAN TOSS IT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
>> I HAD THE DELIGHT OF GOING OUT WITH ONE OF YOUR STAFF MEMBERS FOR BERM REMOVAL.
I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED AT THE USE OF GIS TO KEEP TRACK OF WHO NEEDED THE REMOVAL AND THE ABILITY FOR HIM TO CHECK IT OFF THE LIST SO THAT OTHER DRIVERS KNOW WHO WAS TAKEN CARE OF.
I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE EXPANDED USES FOR THAT.
ONE THING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE COMMISSION ON INCLUSION AND ADAPTIVE LIVING IS AN APP THAT RESIDENTS COULD USE.
THIS IS MORE FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT PROBABLY.
BUT TO POINT OUT PROBLEM AREAS WHERE MAYBE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOME MOBILITY ISSUES OR FINDING SOME DIFFICULTY IN ACCESSING THE SIDEWALK AND SO FORTH.
BUT I JUST THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF USES FOR THAT GIS DATA.
I WAS JUST REALLY IMPRESSED BY HOW QUICKLY HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE OUT THE SNOW AND THAT HE KNEW EXACTLY WHO HE STILL NEEDED TO GET TO AND WHO HAD ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
AS WE WENT BACK AND FORTH THIS LAST WINTER, LOTS OF STAFF AND I ABOUT BEEFING UP A VOLUNTEER PRESENCE TO HELP WITH SNOW REMOVAL ON SIDEWALKS AS WELL AS BERMS. I KNOW THAT THE SUSTAINABILITY DIVISION IS REALLY WORKING ON BUILDING THEIR SNOW ANGEL PROGRAM.
I WOULD HOPE TO SEE CHURCH GROUPS AND BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL SCOUTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE SIGNING UP FOR THAT, MAYBE IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT THEY HAVE TWO OR THREE RESIDENTS THAT THEY KNOW TO CHECK ON WHEN WE HAVE A STORM SO THAT THEY CAN CLEAR THEIR SIDEWALKS AND HELP WITH THE SNOW BERM.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I APPRECIATE THE KUDOS ON THE GIS AND THAT IS AN UPCOMING SLIDE.
IT'S LIKE YOU'VE READ MY MIND.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE COURTESY BERM RELOCATION PROGRAM? AGAIN, I THINK THAT THE OUTLOOK LOOKS GREAT.
I KNOW THE NUMBERS SEEM CRAZY WHEN WE INCREASE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE FOUND A WAY TO MORE EFFICIENTLY SERVICE THIS MANY ADDRESSES.
FUTS, MULTI-MODAL, THOSE TRAILS, THOSE SIDEWALKS, THIS IS A BIG TOPIC.
THE FUTS IS MULTI-MODAL TO PROSE, TO OUR DIVISION.
I KNOW THAT WHEN WE SAY MULTI-MODAL IN GENERAL AND I KNOW MARTIN INCE IS HERE.
THAT CAN MEAN MUCH MORE BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SNOW OPERATION FOR THE PROS DIVISION, MULTI-MODAL IS THE FUTS TRAIL.
IT'S THOSE 24 MILES OF THAT HARD SURFACE THAT MEANING ASPHALT OR CONCRETE THAT ARE PRIMARILY ARE COMMUTER ROUTES OF THE FUTS TRAIL.
[02:30:04]
THERE'S SOME ROUTES THAT ARE NOT COMMUTERS, SEGMENTS THAT MAY BE ASPHALT OR CONCRETE THAT WE DO PLOW.WE DO BRING THOSE UP TO THAT HIGHER PRIORITY.
SOME OF THOSE MIGHT BE IN SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, SOME OF OUR SUBDIVISIONS, JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT CONSIDERED A COMMUTER TRAIL DOES NOT MEAN WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO PLOW THEM.
WE DO TACKLE THOSE TWO IN THAT HIGHER PRIORITY FOR THE DIVISION.
AS I THINK MOST OF YOU KNOW MAPS, I LOVE THIS [LAUGHTER] MAP BECAUSE IT SHOWS THE IMPACT OF WHAT THIS TRAIL DOES MEAN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THERE'S MORE TO COME, WHICH IS GREAT.
I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO ASK OURSELVES, LIKE WHAT COULD WE CHANGE ABOUT THE PLOWING OPERATION ON THE FUTS AND WHAT SHOULD WE CHANGE.
WE'LL BOUNCE AROUND BACK-AND-FORTH ON THIS AND TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE PEER CITIES THAT SAM AND I HAVE RESEARCHED AND DISCUSSED.
THE CITY OF BOULDER HAS, I BELIEVE IT'S 73 MILES IF MY SLIDE IS CORRECT HERE IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES OF THEIR PATHS SYSTEM OR THEIR TRAIL SYSTEM, THEY PLOW ALL OF IT, WHETHER IF IT'S A HARD SURFACE OR AGGREGATE.
I START THINKING ABOUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR OUR RESOURCES, OUR OPERATORS, IF WE WERE TO MAKE A CHANGE LIKE THAT, IF WE THINK THAT WE SHOULD MAKE A CHANGE LIKE THAT.
WE COULD SURE, BUT SHOULD WE? I THINK THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THOSE OTHER ASSIGNMENTS ARE AND WHAT ARE THOSE OTHER PRIORITIES.
IS THERE A CONTRACT OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO PLOW THOSE 63 CITY PARKING LOTS? THEY GET OPENED FOR CITY STAFF.
IF THE DIRECTION WAS LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW TO PLOW OUR 58.5 MILES OF AN URBAN TRAIL, THERE MIGHT BE SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT DON'T WANT TO SEE THOSE AGGREGATE TRAILS PLOWED.
I'M PRETTY SURE THERE'S A LOT OF FUN SNOW SHOEING, CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING, OR THERE'S NO ACTIVITIES AND WHEN THE SNOW IS ON THOSE.
HOW DO WE BALANCE THAT? HOW DO WE HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WHEN THE TRAIL IS A RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITY? I KNOW BOULDER HAS STRUGGLED WITH THAT AND TALKING WITH THEIR TEAM THERE SINCE THEY DO PLOW ALL 73 OF THEIR MILES.
ANOTHER PEER CITY WITH A SIMILAR PATH SYSTEM WOULD BE THE TAHOE REGIONAL AREA, IF YOU WILL.
THAT'S SOUTH LAKE TAHOE CITY, KINGSBURY INCLINE VILLAGE.
THERE'S A ASPHALT PATH THAT GOES PRIMARILY AROUND THAT LAKE.
IT SOMETIMES CONNECTS TO OTHER SIDEWALKS, JUST LIKE OUR FUTS TRAIL COULD DOUBLE AS A SIDEWALK IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS.
IT'S PLOWED AND THAT'S MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS DEALING WITH THAT TOGETHER SOMEHOW.
THEY'RE UNABLE TO REALLY ATTEST TO HOW QUICKLY THAT'S A PRIORITY BECAUSE THEN THERE'S ALSO ONE HIGHWAY THAT GOES AROUND THAT LAKE THAT THEY'RE ALL PLOWING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAD 15 FEET, I BELIEVE [LAUGHTER], THIS SPRING, SO I DON'T THINK IT'S AS HIGH OF A PRIORITY THAT ARE URBAN TRAIL IS FOR US OR OUR MULTI-MODAL FUTS TRAIL SYSTEM BUT IT'S SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT AND I'D LOVE ANY FEEDBACK ON THAT.
WHAT COULD WE DO? YES, WE CAN PLOW IT, BUT WHAT SHOULD WE DO? IS A TOUGH QUESTION?
>> HOW MUCH USAGE DO THESE FUTS TRAILS GET DURING THE WINTER? IF NOBODY'S USING THEM, THEN IT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THEY'RE GETTING A LOT OF USAGE OR YOU WOULD GET A LOT OF USAGE IF THEY WERE PLOWED.
>> I COULD. WITH OUR TRAIL COUNTERS AT A HANDFUL OF THESE LOCATIONS, BUT IT'S A SMALL HANDFUL.
WE DO HAVE SOME DATA TO DIVE INTO.
I'D BE MAKING IT UP IF I TOLD YOU IS SAY WHAT THE ACCOUNTS WERE IN JANUARY BUT BUFFALO PARK, THAT'S [LAUGHTER] STRANGE LOOKING SHAPE THERE AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN.
THAT TRAIL IT'S TWO MILES AGGREGATE NOT PLOWED, IT'S USED NO MATTER IF THERE'S SNOW ON THE GROUND OR NOT, WE WERE STILL SEEING AN UPWARDS OF 300 USERS PER DAY, EVEN WITH SNOW ON THE GROUND.
THEY'RE USED. I THINK THEY'RE USED AS A MEANS BECAUSE I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE HAVE THESE PRIVATE SIDEWALKS THAT MAYBE HAVEN'T BEEN SHOVELED, THAT IMPEDES POSSIBLY YOUR PATH TO GET SOMEWHERE.
THAT'S WHERE THIS MULTI-MODAL SYSTEM REALLY COMES INTO PLAY AND MAYBE THAT IS AN IMPORTANT FEATURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY IF THAT WAS A WAY TO GET AROUND.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT, WHEN I DID MY RIGHT ALONG, WE WERE OUT IN PONDEROSA TRAILS AND I SAW SNOWSHOE ACTIVITY AND CROSS-COUNTRY SKIERS AND THEY WERE LOVING IT JUST AS FEEDBACK.
>> IT'S A GREAT RECREATION OPPORTUNITY WHEN IT SNOWS HERE AND THAT'S A SAFE AREA TO GO DO THOSE ACTIVITIES, SPOT ON.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS SLIDE?
[02:35:03]
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE HAD ANY PUNS YET TEST THEN THE VICE MAYOR, [LAUGHTER] I'LL COME UP WITH ONE.[LAUGHTER] WE'RE GOING TO TALK IMPACTS AND RESOURCES AND THERE'S ONE OF THE STREETS, GRADERS, THERE'S THAT BLADE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, SAM.
OUR IMPACTS OF INCREASED YEAR-OVER-YEAR IN THIS COMMUNITY.
OUR RESOURCES, THEY CERTAINLY HAVE NOT MATCHED THAT GAME PLAN WHATSOEVER.
I DON'T THINK EITHER OF OUR DIVISIONS HAVE DONE MUCH WITH OUR RESOURCES IN A COUPLE OF DECADES TO MATCH THAT GROWTH THAT HAS OCCURRED OR THOSE IMPACTS.
I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO DISCUSS WHAT IS A FINANCIAL MODEL TO COVER THESE IMPACTS? ARE THESE CHANGES TO OUR RESOURCES THAT WE MAY DECIDE TONIGHT OR EVEN NEXT WEEK WITH THE DOWNTOWN DISCUSSION, BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO KNOW HOW TO MANAGE THIS BEST.
WE'VE GOT OUR BEST PRACTICE TOOLS, WE'VE GOT OUR EFFICIENCIES AND OUR INNOVATION BUT AT SOME POINT, I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A BREAKING POINT ON THE IMPACTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED AS OUR COMMUNITY HAS GROWN AND HOW WE HAVE NOT INCREASED THOSE RESOURCES.
ANY DISCUSSION POINTS ON THIS SLIDE?
>> ALL RIGHT, PEER REVIEW BEST PRACTICES AND I'M CLEARLY AT A COOL PHOTOS TO SHOW AT THIS POINT.
I DID SOME DIGGING WITH OUR PEER CITIES AND GUESS WHAT? AS SAM SAID, NOT MANY ARE IN A GOOD OR AN EXACT MATCH TO FLAGSTAFF, BUT I DO WANT TO DISCUSS THOSE PORTIONS THAT WE'VE TOUCHED ON ALL READY A LITTLE BIT.
CITY OF BOULDER IN COLORADO AND THEN THAT TAHOE REGIONAL AREA.
BOULDER DOES HAVE THOSE 73 MILES OF A PATH.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT, IS THAT SOMEWHERE THAT WE WANT TO GO OR DO WE WANT TO SPEAK WITH MULTI-MODAL AND DISCUSS? MAYBE IT'S BEYOND JUST THOSE HARD SURFACES.
ARE THERE SOME COMMUTERS SEGMENTS THAT ARE AGGREGATE THAT MAYBE GET FROM SUBDIVISION TO SUBDIVISION TO DOWNTOWN THAT WE WANT TO CONSIDER? MAYBE IT'S NOT ALL NEARLY 59 MILES OF OUR URBAN TRAIL SYSTEM, IS IT JUST SOME OTHER SEGMENTS? BUT AGAIN, THAT GOES BACK TO THAT IMPACTS AND RESOURCES CONVERSATION.
WE NEED TO HAVE THAT INCLUDED IN THERE.
THAT TAHOE REGIONAL TRAIL, IT'S 50 MILES WITH THOSE MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS.
JUST ABOUT AS IT GOES AROUND, AGAIN, COMBOS WITH SOME SIDEWALKS WHICH WE DO HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY TOO, SO SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
I THINK JUST LIKE OUR ROADWAYS, MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT THEY TYPICALLY WILL CREATE THEIR SNOW OPERATIONS OF PRIORITY LEVELS. WE DO TOO.
THERE'S MANY TIMES THERE'S GOING TO BE EMERGENCY ZONES THAT'S GOING TO BE HIGH PRIORITY OR EVEN HOW THAT OPERATION IS POSSIBLY HANDLED.
I NOTICED SOME OF OUR PEER COMMUNITIES DO AN ACCUMULATION METHOD.
MAYBE IF THERE'S SO MANY INCHES DOWN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PLOW A CERTAIN PART OF THEIR TOWN.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE, SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT BECAUSE AS WE TALK ABOUT THOSE IMPACTS AND RESOURCES, THEN THAT STARTS TO BRING THAT PENDULUM THE OTHER WAY.
IF WE TAKE AWAY CERTAIN IMPACTS BASED ON IF AN ACCUMULATION METHOD, WE JUST INCREASED OUR RESOURCES TO GO AND TACKLE A DIFFERENT ASSIGNMENT, IF YOU WILL.
AS MAYOR ALREADY ALLUDED TO GIS MAPPING OR SOME TYPE OF TELEMATICS IT'S THE BEST TOOL OUT THERE TO INFORM AND EDUCATE.
ONE OF MY PROPOSALS OR DISCUSSION ITEMS FOR THIS GROUP IS THAT WE HAVE FOUR SEASONS UNDER OUR BELT ON THIS GIS NO APP THAT WE CREATED IN PARKS.
IT HAS A DASHBOARD, JUST AN INDIVIDUAL SCREEN.
SOMEONE FROM OUTSIDE OF INTERNAL CANNOT MANIPULATE, BUT THEY COULD VIEW IT.
THEY COULD CLICK ON ONE OF THESE OVER 340 ASSIGNMENTS THAT PROSE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, SEE IF IT'S BEEN COMPLETED AND WHAT TIME IT WAS COMPLETED, IF THERE WAS AN OBSTACLE, SAY THERE'S A VEHICLE PARKED IN THE ALLEY.
OUR OPERATOR USUALLY THEY CAN PAUSE OR DECLINE THE ASSIGNMENT, EVEN TAKE A PHOTO AND IT ATTACHES TO IT.
THE PUBLIC COULD SEE THAT IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO ENTERTAIN, I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS THAT WITH OUR PARTNERS IN IT AND SEE HOW COULD WE DO THAT AS A PILOT PROJECT.
WELL, I KNOW OUR PARTNERS IN PUBLIC WORKS BEGIN ON SOME OTHER TELEMATICS OR GIS MAPPING TOOL FOR OUR ROADWAYS.
MAYBE THAT'S A GOOD INTRODUCTORY TO START TO INFORM AND EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ON SNOW OPERATIONS IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO GO THERE.
>> THANK YOU. THAT WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF MY QUESTIONS I HAD EMAILED AND I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN HAVING A REAL-TIME UPDATE, WHETHER IT'S SOMEONE WANTS TO JUST KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON OR MAYBE THEY'RE USING ONE OF
[02:40:04]
THE AREAS AS A COMMITTING TOOL THAT WAY THEY CAN GET ON THERE AND KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, EVEN JUST AS A PILOT TO KICK IT OFF.
THEN WE'LL GET TO YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MATTHEWS.
THIS LAST NEW SEASON, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF IN PROSE USED THE DASHBOARD AND THE TOOL TO BE ABLE TO PROPERLY DISCUSS THAT COURTESY BERM PROGRAM WITH THOSE 165 RESIDENCES SO THEY WOULD KNOW, MAYBE THEY WERE AT WORK AND THEY WERE CALLING IN TO ASK, "DO YOU BY ANY CHANCE KNOW IF MY BERM'S BEEN HIT?" THEY COULD GO ON IT BECAUSE IT UPDATES EVERY SECOND AND LET THEM KNOW.
YES, NO, OR POSSIBLY EVEN BE ABLE TO SEE, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, OUT ON YOUR RIGHT ALONG, THAT THE OPERATORS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S POSSIBLY NEXT ON THE LIST OR IT'S COMING UP THING.
SO I THINK THAT PUT A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT EASE THIS PAST WINTER, SO DEFINITELY I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN THAT
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND MAYBE A QUESTION BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF BUDGET NEED FOR STAFF AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE OVERALL OPERATION THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN NOW.
I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SWEET THAT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, OFF MARY ROAD, PEOPLE WAIT FOR THE SNOW TO COME ON, THE FOOT TRAILS, AND OTHER PLACES TO GET OUT THERE.
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS AND THEIR SNOW SHOES, IT'S LIKE WAITING FOR THE POND TO FREEZE OVER SO THEY CAN ICE SKATE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST, BUT I KNOW ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I WAS NEEDING TO GO, OR WANTING TO GO, IN PERSON TO A MEETING, AND I WASN'T QUITE SURE WHEN THE SNOW PLOW WAS COMING.
UNLESS IT'S JUST LIKE INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE, IT'D BE REALLY GREAT TO BE ABLE TO CLICK ON THE MAP.
IT'S LIKE UPS, YOU LOOK AT IT WAITING FOR A PACKAGE AND IT SAYS, "YOU CAN SEE WHAT STREET IT'S ON." AND COMING DOWN, SO I KNOW IT'S USED OUT THERE, BUT IT HELPS IN PLANNING.
DO I NEED TO JUST HUNKER DOWN AND JUST GO ONLINE, OR DO I KNOW THAT I CAN LEAVE, PROBABLY IN AN HOUR, BECAUSE MY STREETS COULDN'T BE PLOWED? IF THAT'S SOMETHING TO MAYBE INVESTIGATE TO SEE IF IT'S COST-EFFECTIVE, I THINK A LOT OF CITIZENS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, AND THAT WOULD REDUCE THEIR FRUSTRATION LEVEL IF THEY ARE LIKE, "OH, THE SNOW PLOW IS COMING IN HALF AN HOUR SO I DON'T HAVE TO STRESS OVER JUST WAITING, WAITING, WAITING."
>> JUST FROM THE SNOW PLOW OPERATIONS, I AGREE WITH THAT COMMENT 110%.
I BELIEVE TECHNOLOGY IS REALLY LEADING US INTO THE FUTURE.
I THINK THERE'S MANY THINGS THAT WERE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND ON.
STREETS IS IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSITIONING FROM OUR CURRENT WORK ORDER ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO SOMETHING MORE ROBUST.
IT MAY HAVE THOSE CAPABILITIES.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH FLEET.
FLEET IS GOING TO BE A BIG ONE AS THEY MANAGED THE TELEMATICS FOR THE CITY.
OUR CURRENT TELEMATICS, WHILE IT'S GOOD, IT DOES ITS BASIC FUNCTION FOR WHAT FLEET NEEDS, SO WE'RE ALSO PARTNERING WITH THEM TO SEE HOW WE ENHANCE THAT, BUT MY ULTIMATE GOAL WOULD BE TO HAVE A DASHBOARD THAT IS LIVE THAT SHOWS JUST STREETS OPERATIONS AND WHERE THEY CURRENTLY ARE.
THAT WOULD BE OUR ULTIMATE GOAL.
IT'S IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND HONESTLY, IT'S A COUPLE OF YEARS OUT BEFORE WE GET THERE, IT'S A MUCH LARGER INVESTMENT ON THE AMOUNT OF EQUIPMENT WE HAVE, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY ON THE LIST AND WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS IT.
>> THANK YOU AND JUST ONE LAST STATEMENT OR A COMMENT IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH COCONINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE ON SOME EDUCATIONAL ASPECTS FOR ANOTHER ISSUE, BUT I BELIEVE THEY'RE ROLLING OUT IN THE FALL TO ANYONE THAT CURRENTLY MAKES UNDER, I THINK THE BENCHMARK IS $65,000 FREE TUITION, AND THEY DO OFFER A CDL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM, SO THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD FOCUS TO HAVE FOR THE CITY TO ENCOURAGE THEIR PEEPS WHEN IT COMES ONLINE AND THEY'RE ABLE TO GO WITH FREE TUITION TO GET THAT CERTIFICATE ON A CDL LICENSE.
>> YEAH, WE'VE BEEN WATCHING SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS AS THEY POP UP RIGHT NOW.
AGAIN, IT'S A STANDALONE, FEDERALLY MANDATED PROGRAM, IT'S NOT LISTED AS A CEU THROUGH CCC.
THEY'RE JUST HOUSING IT RIGHT NOW, BUT IF THEY ADOPT THAT IN THERE, THAT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY BIG TURNING POINT FOR US.
I THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S ABOUT $6,500 AN EMPLOYEE TO OBTAIN IT.
YEAH, DEFINITELY WE'VE BEEN WATCHING ACROSS THE BOARD WAITING FOR SOME RELIEF IN THIS PROCESS, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> YEAH, I THINK THEY'RE COMING OUT WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT SOON.
[02:45:02]
I'M WORKING WITH THEM ON OUR PERSONAL PROGRAM, BUT I KNOW THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON IT JUST CITYWIDE.>> THANK YOU, AMY. IN TERMS OF OUR PUBLIC INTERFACE IDEA, I HAD A THOUGHT LIKE THIS IN ANALOG FOR A LONG TIME, HOW WONDERFUL IT WOULD BE TO HAVE AN APP THAT LETS YOU KNOW WHEN TRAINS ARE COMING AND WHAT ROUTE TO TAKE THROUGH TOWN.
SHOULD I TAKE THIS WAY OR SHOULD I BRAVE THE TRAIN TRACKS? I'VE OFTEN DREAMED ABOUT THAT, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, RIGHT? I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION.
IT SOUNDS VERY DREAMY THOUGH AND FANTASTICAL.
MY CAUTION WOULD BE THAT IF WE IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS, OBVIOUSLY WILL DO IT ON A PILOT PROGRAM BASIS FIRST.
WE NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE CLUNKY AND WONKY, AND POTENTIALLY INACCURATE.
EVEN WITH THOSE CAVEATS, I THINK IT HAS A LOT MORE POTENTIAL TO CREATE FRUSTRATION THAN IT DOES TO ALLEVIATE FRUSTRATION.
WE'VE SEEN THAT NEW TECHNOLOGIES ARE LIKE PETS, IF YOU DON'T FEED THEM, THEY DIE.
MAYBE IT'S BETTER TO SAY THEY ARE LIKE PLANTS, IF YOU DON'T WATER THEM THEY WILT.
[LAUGHTER] BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THESE THINGS ONCE YOU INVEST IN THEM, BECOME A HEAVY LIFT TO MANAGE AND KEEP RUNNING.
AS SOON AS THE PUBLIC CATCHES WIND OR GETS IT IN THEIR HEADS THAT IT'S NOT WORKING, IT'S GOING TO BE IGNORED AND YOU CAN HAVE A MOMENTUM PROBLEM IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
SO BE SURE THAT THE TESTING IS WORKED OUT, ALL THE BUGS ARE TAKEN CARE OF, AND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE RESOURCED STEADILY SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN COME TO LEARN THAT THEY CAN RELY ON IT.
OTHERWISE, IT'LL JUST BE A FANCY BELL AND WHISTLE, A NOVELTY THAT WILL QUICKLY GET FORGOTTEN, AND WE'RE PUTTING ALL THESE RESOURCES INTO SOMETHING THAT'S A, NOT WORKING AND B, BEING IGNORED.
IT TAKES A LOT OF DUE DILIGENCE WITH TECHNOLOGY TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT POSSIBLY SOUNDS ON THE SURFACE, AND JUST TO BE CAUTIOUS AND WORRY ABOUT IT.
>> APPRECIATE THAT CAUTION BECAUSE WE'RE LUCKY IN PARKS TO HAVE THIS SNOW APP.
IT'S GONE THROUGH FOUR SEASONS AND WE BEAT IT UP.
WE'VE EXPERIENCED EVEN THE NOVELTY WEAR-OFF, AND THEN WE'VE MADE CHANGES TO IT.
IT LITERALLY IS AS SIMPLE AS THE OPERATOR PULLS UP TO THEIR ASSIGNMENT, THEY CLICK START.
WHEN THEY'RE DONE, THEY CLICK FINISH, AND IT UPDATES THE DASHBOARD AND SAYS WHEN IT'S COMPLETED.
NOW, WHAT IT CAN'T TRACK FOR YOU IS THAT OPERATOR JUST FINISH THAT ASSIGNMENT, SOMEONE COMES BY AND DUMPS SNOW ON IT, IT DOESN'T KNOW THAT.
THE OPERATOR HAS MOVED ON, THEY'VE GONE ON TO THEIR NEXT ASSIGNMENTS.
WE MAY RECEIVE A PHONE CALL THAT THE SIDEWALK JUST WAS COVERED UP OR THE URBAN TRAIL WAS COVERED UP, AND IF YOU WENT ON THE DASHBOARD, IT'S GOING TO SHOW THAT IT'S COMPLETE.
THERE ARE THOSE OBSTACLES THAT YOU APPROPRIATELY POINTED OUT.
SO THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT EDUCATION AND INFORM AND IT'S NOT A PERFECT MODEL.
BUT THE QUESTION IS, DOES IT PROVIDE SOMETHING? MAYBE WE DO IT JUST ON ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES OF ASSIGNMENTS PER PARK, AS A TEST OR MAYBE IT'S JUST ON THE URBAN TRAIL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT YOU BRING UP VERY VALID POINTS, VICE MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE AGAIN THAT I'M NOT A FAN OF SHINY BRIGHT PROJECTS, SO I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS SOUNDS FUN, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE EASY, WE ALREADY HAVE A SMALL COMPONENT OF IT WITH THE SNOW BERMS AND I SEE UPS, AGAIN, USING IT AND SO THEY'VE WORKED OUT SOME OF THE BUGS, I'M SURE, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FOCUS AND ENERGY IS IN GETTING THE STAFF AND THE EQUIPMENT BECAUSE OVERALL, THE CITIZENS IN FLAGSTAFF CARE MORE ABOUT THEIR STREETS GETTING PLOWED THAN BEING ABLE TO SEE IT ONLINE WHEN THEY'RE COMING.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO ADD THAT IN THE FUTURE ONCE WE ADDRESS OUR SHORTAGES BECAUSE THAT, ADDED TO THE STRESS OF THE EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS US NOT SO MUCH AS SPLIT THE EMPLOYEES,
[02:50:03]
BECAUSE THEY COULD SEE ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS AND CRITICISMS, AND COMPLAINING AND THEY WERE LEGITIMATE, BUT WE CAN ONLY DO WHAT WE HAVE RESOURCES FOR.I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR FOCUS IS ON THE REAL CORE ISSUES AND THEN WE CAN ADD THESE SHINY BRIGHT OBJECTS.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION THAT IS JUST THROWN OUT TO ALL STAFF.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS A ROLE FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN SNOW OPERATIONS.
I KNOW THAT SCOTT RUNS THE INCIDENT COMMAND, AND AS I'M SAYING THIS ACTUALLY, I'M THINKING, "EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AS PART OF THAT INCIDENT COMMAND." IS THAT CORRECT?
>> NOW I'LL JUMP IN. YEAH. I SERVE AS THE INCIDENT COMMANDER FOR OUR IMT TEAM WHEN IT IS STOOD UP OUR INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM.
TRADITIONALLY FOR FLOODED, WE DID UTILIZE IT DURING THE SNOW EVENTS OF MLK DAY AND THAT HOLIDAYS WINTER EVENT.
STACY BRESLER NAGS, AND DANIEL KELLY ARE REALLY YOUR BEST CONTACT FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
BUT I THINK YOUR COMMENT IS SPOT ON THAT.
WHEN WE SEE LARGER SCALE EVENTS OR THINGS THAT MIGHT BE PROLONGED OR UNEXPECTED, WE OFTENTIMES WILL BUILD DIFFERENT STRUCTURES TO RESPOND.
THE MLK STRONG WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
A LARGER EVENT, PROLONGED, DIFFICULT CONDITIONS.
AT THAT TIME, UTILIZING THAT INCIDENT MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE HELPED US JUST DISPATCH RESOURCES MORE EFFECTIVELY, WORK IN A MORE COMMUNICATIVE MANNER.
WE TYPICALLY USE THAT FOR LARGER EVENTS, MAYBE A SPECIAL EVENT OR A BIG NATURAL DISASTER OF SOME SORT.
DANIEL IS FAIRLY NEW TO THE CITY.
STACY VK IS NEW TO THAT ROLE, BUT CLEARLY, WE'RE ALL INTRICAL WITH OUR RELATIONSHIPS OF POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AS IT ESCALATES OR BECOMES EVEN BIGGER, WE WOULD OF COURSE START TO INCLUDE OUR COUNTY PARTNERS FOR MORE RESOURCES.
THEN IT EXTENDS EVEN FURTHER INTO STATE, AND FEDERAL RESOURCES DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE EVENT. THAT GOOD QUESTION.
WE DO HAVE AN ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, WOULD IT BE ALRIGHT WITH YOU.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A COMMENT TO MAKE, BUT I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BETWEEN COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANKS. LET'S TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. OUR FIRST COMMENTER IS SAM MAYOR.
SAM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE, YOU CAN GIVE YOUR COMMENTS NOW.
>> WONDERFUL. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I JUST WANT TO COMMENT AS A CITIZEN AND AS A PERSON WHO DOESN'T OWN A CAR, AND HAS TO TRAVEL THE CITY BY WALKING AND BIKING.
THAT THE CONDITIONS WE SAW, I AGREE WITH MAYOR DAGGETT.
WHAT I WANT FROM THIS CITY, IS ACTUALLY JUST TO BE ABLE TO GET AROUND.
FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IS IN EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY ISSUE.
I'M AN ABLE-BODIED PERSON, BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT.
SOME PEOPLE ARE DEPENDENT ON WHEELCHAIRS TO NAVIGATE SIDEWALKS OR OTHER AIDS TO HELP THEM GET AROUND, AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE THIS WINTER AS A PEDESTRIAN, AS A PERSON TRYING TO USE SIDEWALKS.
I'M SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW DOWNTOWN AT MANY MAJOR CROSSINGS WHERE WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WALKING ACROSS SAN FRANCISCO AND BIRCH ACROSS BUTLER.
OTHER PLACES LIKE THAT, THE BERMS WERE SO HIGH THAT PEOPLE WERE STANDING ON SIX FEET OF SNOW, TRY TO GET TO THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK.
THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME AS A RESIDENT.
IT FORCES PEOPLE INTO VEHICLE TRAVEL LANES, INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF ACCIDENTS.
DRIVERS ARE ALREADY HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH PARKING, WHICH I'M SURE YOU DISCUSSED.
THAT AGAIN, INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN INCIDENT WHICH ISN'T IN LINE WITH THE CITY'S GOALS AS FAR AS VISION ZERO, AND TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WE REDUCE VEHICLE FATALITIES AND COLLISIONS.
I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU VERY BRIEFLY SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE SHARED WITH ME AT NAU LAST WINTER WHEN THE SNOW WAS NOT QUITE SO BAD, WHICH WAS THAT HE WAS A PERSON WHO WORKED FOR ANY NEW FACILITY SERVICES, AND SO IT'S VERY ACQUAINTED WITH HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO REMOVE SNOW.
HE SHARED THAT PREVIOUS TO HAVING THAT JOB, HE HAD SOLD ASSISTIVE DEVICES TO FOLKS WHO HAD TO OPERATE THOSE DEVICES.
THAT DURING THE WINTERS IN FLIGHT STAFF, PEOPLE THAT HE KNEW HIS CLIENTS COULDN'T GET TO THE GROCERY STORE, COULDN'T GET TO THEIR DOCTORS, COULDN'T GET TO SEE THEIR FAMILY, WERE COMPLETELY ISOLATED BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T
[02:55:03]
NAVIGATE THE SIDEWALKS ON MAJOR ROADS SUCH AS THEATER.I JUST REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS, AND THAT IT'S NOT A LUXURY TO CLEAR PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE IS FUNDAMENTAL.
WHEN PEOPLE GET OUT OF THEIR CARS, THEY NEED TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO.
WE ALL NEED THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, SAM. WE HAVE AN IN-PERSON.
>> THERE IS ONE MORE. I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
>> ADAM SHIMON IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
ADAM, IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE, YOU CAN GIVE YOUR COMMENTS NOW.
>> THANK YOU. CITY CLERK, MAYOR DAGGETT, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, LEADERSHIP AND STAFF.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION AND ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE RAISING.
I AM SPEAKING TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF FLAGSTAFF, LIKING ORGANIZATION.
I JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS TO SHARE.
HOPEFULLY, EVERYONE GOT A CHANCE TO READ OUR LETTER THAT WE SENT YOU ALL YESTERDAY.
BUT THIS PAST WINTER WAS A HISTORIC WINTER.
PEOPLE HERE IN FLAGSTAFF RIDE ALL YEAR LONG AS YOU KNOW, AND THAT THERE'S TWO KEY COMPONENTS TO ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO RIDE.
ONE IS HAVING SEPARATED HOLISTIC BIKE WAYS NETWORKS, AND THE OTHER ONE IS PROPER MAINTENANCE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT SPECIFICALLY THROUGH THE WINTER.
NO ONE'S GOING TO RIDE THEM, UNLESS, I GUESS, UNLESS IT'S AT BUFFALO PARK.
BUT THE CITY HAS OVER 700 MILES OF VEHICLE LANES THAT WE PRIORITIZE, AND HAVE POLICY FOR, AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAINTAIN.
THERE'S LIKELY SOME 20 OR SO KEY PRIORITY BIKE ROUTE LANES IN OUR HIERARCHY, TRAVEL ROUTES OR CYCLISTS THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE ELEVATED.
I'M HOPING THIS COUNCIL DIRECTION TO ELEVATE THOSE THROUGH POLICY, AND PRIORITIZE THOSE AS WE DO WITH THOSE TOP TIER VEHICLE TRAVEL AIDS.
THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL THAT I WAS A PART OF, WE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A PYRAMID SHIFT THAT PRIORITIZES PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS ABOVE CARS WITH OUR ROAD DESIGNS.
THE THOUGHT WAS THAT, MAINTENANCE WOULD FOLLOW SUIT.
NOT SURE IF THAT'S HAPPENED YET, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S HAPPENING, SO VERY EXCITING TIMES.
I THINK COMMUNICATION THEY ARE TO YOUR POINT, IS IMPORTANT THROUGHOUT THE WINTER, AND THEN SEE ENOUGH COMMUNICATION.
PERSONALLY AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC FROM THE CITY.
EVEN IF THE COMMUNICATION IS NOT POSITIVE AND JUST THAT THE BIKE LANES ARE NOT PASSABLE.
I THINK CYCLISTS WILL APPRECIATE THIS BETTER COMMUNICATION IN REAL TIME, MORE REGULARLY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS.
THEN RECREATION VERSUS TRAVEL, IT'S GREAT THAT PEOPLE RECREATE AND OUR SNOW SHOEING AND WHATNOT ON OUR FOOT FROM A TO B, AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER MENTIONED.
IT'S ALL ABOUT COMPROMISES AND TRADE-OFFS WHICH EMMY WAS SPEAKING TO.
YOU CAN'T PLEASE EVERYONE AND EVERY NEED THERE IS OUT THERE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME HARD DECISIONS ABOUT WHO GETS PRIORITIZED, AND WHAT TRADE-OFFS YOU WANT TO MAKE.
I HOPE THAT CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS, THROUGH THE LENS OF EQUITY AND INCLUSIVITY GET HIGHER PRIORITIZE AND A HIGHER PRIORITY AND ALL THIS.
IF WE WANT TO SUPPORT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION IN FLAGSTAFF, WE REALLY NEED MAINTENANCE TO UP ITS GAME AND REALLY NOT JUST FOCUS ON CARS, BUT ALL OF US.
THANK YOU, AND REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REST OF THE DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU, ADAM. WAS THAT THE LAST ONLINE COMMENTER? WE HAVE AN IN-PERSON COMMENTER, SEAN CHESHIRE [BACKGROUND].
>> HI. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES JUST TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.
I'VE BEEN HERE TWO YEARS AND THIS IS GOING TO BE MY FOREVER HOME BECAUSE I REALLY LOVE IT HERE.
I'M AN INJURED US ARMY VETERAN, FORMER PARAMEDIC AND PARALYMPIC ATHLETE.
THE ONLY REASON WHY I MENTIONED THAT IS BECAUSE I'M VERY ACTIVE AND I WALK LITERALLY EVERYWHERE AND I'M SURE MAYBE SOME OF YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN MY GUIDE DOG, NICK AND I, WE'RE EVERYWHERE.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU NOT TO FORGET ABOUT SOMEONE LIKE ME WHEN YOU GUYS ARE MAKING PLANS AND ADDRESSING ISSUES.
BECAUSE IT ABSOLUTELY AFFECTS ME AND MY ABILITY TO HAVE INDEPENDENCE,
[03:00:01]
WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND I WORK REALLY HARD TO BE INDEPENDENT.I WAS STATIONED AT FORT DRUM, NEW YORK, AND LIVED IN SYRACUSE FOR MANY YEARS AND WE GET DUMPED WITH SNOW.
I UNDERSTAND, ESPECIALLY LISTENING HERE.
I'VE STAYED HERE THE WHOLE TIME JUST SO I COULD HAVE UNDERSTANDING.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU GUYS ARE MAKING DECISIONS AND TALKING ABOUT STUFF, THERE ARE SO MANY DANGERS OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT GETTING ADDRESSED OR ENFORCED OR WHATEVER THE CHALLENGE IS.
I'M NOT 100% SURE ON ALL THE DETAILS.
BUT THIS IS MY HOME, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY HI AND INTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SEAN. IF YOU WOULD STAY THERE FOR JUST A SECOND.
CAN YOU TELL US MAYBE TWO OR THREE OF YOUR TOP FRUSTRATIONS DURING THE WINTER?
>> [LAUGHTER] I HAVE FRIENDS HERE THAT ARE ORIGINAL, I CALL THEM ORIGINALS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR GENERATIONS, AND THEY HAVE SHARED WITH ME THAT THERE USED TO BE CODE ENFORCEMENT.
IF THERE WERE CITY CODES OF THE CITY WAS HOLDING RESIDENTS OR BUSINESS OWNERS RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING SIDEWALKS CLEAR, AND SOMETIMES I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT SNOW BECAUSE SOMETIMES OTHER THINGS END UP ON SIDEWALKS OR SOMEONE DOES CONSTRUCTION BUT DOESN'T PUT SOMETHING THERE TO KEEP ME FROM FALLING IN THE HOLE OR HITTING MY HEAD ON SOMETHING THAT'S LEANING ACROSS THE SIDEWALK.
THEY'VE TOLD ME THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT USED TO BE A THING.
IT'S NOT SO MUCH A THING ANYMORE.
I THINK THAT'S ONE IS JUST NOT BEING ABLE TO NAVIGATE SAFELY ON THE SIDEWALKS.
I THINK SAM, THE CALLER, SHE NAILED IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD FOR THIS PAST WINTER.
I FEEL LIKE I'M TRYING TO LOOK AT IT FROM THE BIG PICTURE OF IT'S A LOT OF THINGS.
IF CARS DON'T GET OFF THE ROAD AND THEY STAY THERE, THEN THE SNOW PLOWS CAN ONLY COME THROUGH ONCE.
THEN PEOPLE ARE NOT SHOVELING THEIR SIDEWALKS, EVERYTHING ENDS AT THE CORNER.
NOW, I'M IN THE ROAD WITH CARS WHO HAVE NOWHERE TO GO TO GO AROUND ME AND MY DOG.
I THINK IT'S A LOT OF THINGS FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH JEFF AND TRAFFIC.
THERE ARE SOME PLACES THAT I GO TO REGULARLY THAT DON'T HAVE A SAFE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING FOR ME TO GET FROM A SIDEWALK ACROSS A PARKING LOT TO MEDICAL BUILDING.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THEY'VE BEEN AMAZING TO WORK WITH IN TRYING TO HELP ME COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE COMPLAINTS OTHER THAN FROM A CODE ENFORCEMENT TO KEEP SIDEWALKS CLEAR OR PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS SAFE FOR ME BECAUSE THAT'S MY PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF WAYS FOR ME TO GET TO WALGREENS ON MILTON WHEN I LIVE ON BEAVER STREET OTHER THAN WALKING AT MILTON.
THERE WAS NO WAY THAT WAS HAPPENING THIS YEAR BECAUSE NOTHING GOT DONE ON THOSE SIDEWALKS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS AT THE END OF THE DAY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU GUYS TO JUST OTHER THAN SIGHTED PEOPLE USING BIKES AND WALKING TO GET TO WORK BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A CAR, I DON'T HAVE AN OPTION.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO?
>> I'M SORRY, I WAS JUST TELLING THE MAYOR THAT THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND I WILL TRY AND BE AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE.
I WOULD STACK OUR CITY STAFF UP AGAINST ANY STAFF IN THE COUNTRY.
IF THERE WAS A COMPETITION WHERE CITY STAFF HAD TO GO AND DO SOME OLYMPIC THING, I WILL PUT MY MONEY ON OUR CITY STAFF IN A MOMENT.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE I WANT OUR CITY STAFF TO KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO ASK A WHOLE BUNCH OF QUESTIONS AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS AND YOU'RE GOING TO TELL ME I CAN DO IT OR WE CAN'T DO IT AND CITY MANAGER WILL KEEP ME IN CHECK.
BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE SNOW ISSUE.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE CAR PARKED ON THE STREET.
[03:05:05]
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT EQUITY IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.I WANT TO TALK ABOUT US CLEARING THE SNOW OFF OF THE SQUARE DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS IMPORTANT, AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT CLEARING THE SNOW OFF SOME OF THIS CITY PROPERTIES, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.
BUT I ALSO WANT US TO NOT JUST SAY, THE CARS ARE THERE AND WE CAN GET DOWN THE STREET.
I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE GET THOSE CARS OFF THE STREET AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE? NOT JUST SAY, COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS WILL LOOK INTO THAT.
I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT A PLAN OF HOW WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN SO THAT THE CARS IN BOW AND ARROW, OR THE CARS ON DUPONT STREET IN THE SOUTHSIDE, OR THE CARS ON WHATEVER STREET IN SUNNYSIDE.
THOSE CARS GET TOWED IMMEDIATELY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IN PONDEROSA TRAILS, I CAN TELL YOU, I CAN DRIVE DOWN THOSE STREETS WHEN I CAN GET OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AND THAT'S ANOTHER WHOLE ISSUE AND WE WON'T TALK ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.
BUT I CAN DRIVE DOWN THOSE STREETS AND I DON'T SEE ANY CARS PARKED ON THOSE STREETS, NOT DURING THOSE HOURS, SO IF I COME HOME LATER AT NIGHT.
WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY BECAUSE FOLKS ARE LOOKING AT US AND SAYING, WELL, THEY GOT THE SNOW OFF OF THE SQUARE, BUT THEY DIDN'T GET THE SNOW OFF THE STREET IN WHATEVER.
I THINK THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS BEING, WHERE IS OUR CITY MISSION, TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL.
I KNOW, I HAVEN'T MEMORIZED THAT.
THAT PEOPLE REALLY TAKE THAT TO HEART, THAT IT MEANS THEM.
IT MEANS THAT THAT'S AN ISSUE.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO PUT ON HOLD.
WE PRIORITIZE. I GET THAT, AND I THINK EVERYBODY DOES.
BUT I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUES, I TALK TO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY.
IF IT'S A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE, EVERYTHING ELSE TAKES A BACKSEAT.
BECAUSE YOU MIGHT SAY, WELL, MAYBE THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE AN EMERGENCY.
WE CAN'T PREDICT WHEN THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
I WOULD HATE FOR THIS LAST WINTER, WE COULDN'T GET THOSE STREETS PLOWED, AND SOMEBODY ON THAT STREET WAS IN EMERGENCY CRISIS AND WE HAD TO WAIT FOR SOMEBODY TO COME AND CLEAR THAT DRIVE AND THAT PERSON DID NOT MAKE IT, THAT WOULD BE AWFUL.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS, BUT I AM GOING TO GET ADAMANT THAT WE LOOK INTO HOW DO WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN, AND SO WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE HAVE TO DO, PUT A GROUP OF US ON IT, THINK ABOUT IT.
DEFINITELY, FROM MY ROLE IN SOUTHSIDE, I CAN THINK OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AS AN ASSOCIATION TO TRY AND HELP.
WE CAN'T LET PEOPLE PARK IN THE PARKING LOT OVERNIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE IT CLEARED.
IF THERE ARE CARS IN THERE, THEN WE CAN GET IN THERE IN THE MORNING BECAUSE THE DRIVEWAY CAN'T.
THAT'S NOT AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE TO PARK IN THE WHOLE PARKING LOT.
I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT ISSUE BECAUSE I DRIVE THROUGH SOUTHSIDE EVERY DAY WHEN I COME TO WORK AND WHEN I LEAVE AT NIGHT, I DRIVE THROUGH THERE, AND IT'S IN THE WINTERTIME AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THOSE CARS ARE THERE WHEN I LEAVE AND THERE THERE PROBABLY WHEN I COME BACK AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN MOVED.
THAT'S MY $0.20 WORTH. THANK YOU.
>> DID YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THAT? AND THEN JUST COUNCIL MEMBER MATTHEW.
>> QUICK COMMENT, HONESTLY YOU'RE PASSIONATE AND THAT IS 100% ALIGNS WITH WHERE WE ARE.
IF YOU COULD LISTEN TO THE RADIO CHATTER FROM OUR OPERATORS ARE VERY PRIDEFUL.
THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO BECAUSE THEY COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER.
I THINK IT'S HEALTHY COMPETITION AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE CONTINUE TO CULTIVATE AND WE WANT TO SEE THRIVE IN THE CULTURE THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE.
PART OF THAT IS IT KILLS THEM TO LEAVE A ROAD BEHIND.
BUT THEY ALSO KNOW THE RISK OF ATTEMPTING IT
[03:10:03]
AND CAUSING AN INCIDENT WHICH THEN REFLECTS DIRECTLY BACK ON THEM.WE ARE TRYING TO BALANCE THAT OUT.
I DO WANT TO FIND A BETTER SOLUTION TO THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE DOUBLED DOWN ON COMMUNICATIONS THIS YEAR.
I WANT TO THANK SARAH AND HER TEAM FOR TRYING TO HELP DRIVE THAT.
I KNOW THAT PD BROUGHT IN ADDITIONAL STAFF JUST TO PUT OUT FLYERS WARNING PUPIL STOP PARKING IN THE STREETS, TRY TO GET ADDITIONAL NOTIFICATIONS OUT THERE.
BUT I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, WE HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IS.
BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, IT IS REALLY HARD ON THESE OPERATORS TRYING TO REMEMBER WHICH ONES DO WE MISS? UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEBRIEFS THAT WE HEAR IN BETWEEN SHIFT CHANGE ISN'T, I DID THIS AND IT WENT REALLY WELL.
NINETY PERCENT OF THE CONVERSATION IS THERE WAS A CAR PARKED ON THIS ROAD AND I DIDN'T GET TO IT.
THIS ROAD AND THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THE MAP TRYING TO REMEMBER EVERYONE THAT THEY HAD AND THE SUPERVISORS MATCHING IT UP WITH ALL THE CALLS THAT THEY RECEIVED AND THEN TRACKING IT.
HONESTLY, MOST OF THE TIME THEY'RE JUST TRACKING IT ON PAPER AND TRYING TO CALL IT INTO PD DISPATCHES SOON AS THEY CAN.
I AGREE WITH YOU, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS YET.
BUT I AGREE WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.
>> NOT LIKE A COMMITMENT FROM US TO THINK ABOUT HOW THAT HAPPENS, SO WHATEVER.
LIKE I SAID I'M NOT BLAMING ANYBODY AND I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID ALL THAT I SAID, BUT I SAID IT.
IT'S TOO LATE TO TAKE IT BACK [LAUGHTER] I'LL GET MY HANDS SLAPPED ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE DO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR DRIVERS DON'T HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT, CAN I GET DOWN THAT STREET? WE SHOULDN'T PUT THEM IN THAT SITUATION.
THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO EVEN WORRY ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S WHERE I'M TRYING TO GET US.
>> I AGREE WITH YOU AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT'S ALL.
>> I THINK THEY DO A GREAT JOB.
THIS LAST YEAR, I HAVEN'T SAID A WHOLE LOT ABOUT IT, BUT I DEFINITELY SAW THE JOB THAT WE DID.
PEOPLE WERE REALLY GOOD ABOUT GETTING STREETS CLEARED AND ALL OF THAT STUFF.
I APPRECIATE WHAT OUR STAFF DOES EVERY DAY.
BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I DO THINK WE HAVE TO GET ON RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A LOT OF YEARS THAT, THAT NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN DEALING WITH STUFF. THANK YOU.
>> I AGREE WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF KEY NEIGHBORHOODS.
NO, I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS EARLIER AND I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
THEN WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS BROUGHT IT UP, THERE ARE SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR THINGS.
SOMETIMES IF WE DO WANTING TO REACH SOME GOALS.
I KNOW THAT THE CITY IN THIS COUNCIL HAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT REDUCING PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
IN PONDEROSA TRIALS, NOBODY'S ON THE STREETS BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE DRIVEWAYS AND GARAGES.
AS WE MOVE TOWARDS LESS PARKING, I SEE ON NEXT DOOR LOT OF STUDENTS LIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE ONLY UP HERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND THEY'RE SCREAMING AND YELLING, GOING, OH MY GOSH, WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY CAR? BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A PARKING SPACE BECAUSE THEY SHARE A ROOM.
I'M NOT SAYING BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE WILL STILL GO TOWARDS REDUCING PARKING BECAUSE THAT'S THE MAJORITY SENTIMENT, BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO WORK COLLECTIVELY WITH, LET'S SAY YOUR DEPARTMENT AND CODE ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE AS MORE DEVELOPMENT IS BEING DEVELOPED WITH FEWER PARKING.
THIS PROBLEM IS JUST GOING TO GET WORSE.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COMMUNICATING ALL THE DEPARTMENTS TOGETHER.
AS DEVELOPMENT IS COMING UP ONLINE AND WE SEE THAT IT'S ONLY 50% PARKING PER UNITS OUT THERE, THAT SHOULD TRIGGER SOMETHING WITHIN OUR BUDGET TO SAY, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH ALL THESE? ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE STUDENTS THAT AREN'T GOING TO YIELD TO OUR OVERALL VISION BECAUSE THEY'RE ONLY UP HERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND MOM AND DAD GOT IN A CAR AND STUFF AND THEY'RE GOING TO PARK ON THE STREET AND IT'S JUST GOING TO GET WORSE.
MAYBE WE NEED TO BEEF UP CODE ENFORCEMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT INCREASING THE BUDGET IN YOUR DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THOSE ISSUES AND SITUATIONS ARE JUST GOING TO GET WORSE OVER TIME BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LESS AND LESS PLACES FOR THESE VEHICLES TO PARK.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE
[03:15:01]
AN ANSWER JUST FOR TODAY BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A GROWING ISSUE.>> THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU AND TO THE WHOLE CITY STAFF AND APPARATUS FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT TO DO THIS.
I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING CONVERSATION.
SOME SOUL SEARCHING, SOME TROUBLESHOOTING, SOME LAUGHING, SOME CRYING.
IT'S A PROBLEM AND COLLECTIVELY WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE IT.
I DO HAVE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TAKE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MATTHEW'S THAT I WAS GOING TO BRING UP ANYWAY, THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE BACK-AND-FORTH IN OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT PARKING MINIMUMS. BUT I WANTED TO GIVE VOICE.
WE'VE SEEN FROM PUBLIC SPEAKERS LIKE SEAN CHESHIRE HERE TODAY, HOW ELEMENTAL AND IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO GET THIS RIGHT FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE AN OPTION.
SHE'S NOT THE ONLY PERSON ON OUR COMMUNITY IN THAT SITUATION.
EVEN IF IT IS OPTIONAL, THOSE PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO USE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE THAT CHOICE AVAILABLE TO THEM YEAR ROUND FOUR SEASONS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BIG SHIFT AND PART OF THAT IS REDUCING PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
I DO BELIEVE WE NEED TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE VEHICLES IN TOWN WHO DON'T NEED VEHICLES.
WE WANT TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE LEAVING THEIR CARS SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I'M NOT GIVING THEM PLACES TO PUT THEIR CARS THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO USE.
I DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THAT PARKING LOT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I THINK THE RELEVANCE TO THIS CONVERSATION IS ABOUT THE BIG SHIFT AND IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO GET THAT RIGHT.
IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US UP HERE TO SHOW LEADERSHIP TOWARDS THAT END AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY APPARATUS, STAFF AND LEADERSHIP TO TAKE THAT MANDATE IN THAT CHALLENGE AND GO AND MAKE IT WORK.
I DON'T THINK IT WORKED WELL THIS PAST WINTER.
I THINK THIS PAST WINTER WAS EXCEPTIONAL IN THE WAY THAT IT CHALLENGED ALL OF US.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF US ARE ENTITLED TO HAVE EVERYTHING WORKED PERFECTLY AFTER EVERY WEATHER EVENT.
I THINK WE GET INTO THE MODE OF THINKING THAT WE'RE ENTITLED TO A PERFECTLY HIGHLY FUNCTIONING SYSTEM, EVEN IN THE FACE OF GREAT ADVERSITY.
WE SHOULD CHECK THAT EXPECTATION.
BUT WE DO NEED TO HAVE THIS SOUL-SEARCHING MOMENT WHERE WE'RE MAKING A DETERMINATION AND A COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET OUT OF CARS.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT MAKING CARS AT BOOGIE MAN, CARS ARE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY IN FLAGSTAFF.
WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE USING CARS.
WE ALWAYS HAVE PRIORITIZED CARS.
WE DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT CARS IN GENERAL, EVEN DURING THESE BIG EVENTS, CAN GET FROM PLACE A-B.
THE BIG SHIFT IS ABOUT TAKING THAT PHILOSOPHY, THAT MODE, THAT PARADIGM, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME BEGINNING TO INCLUDE OTHER FORMS OF MODALITY.
WE REALLY NEED TO INVEST IN THAT, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK IF WE ARE GOOD AT IT SOMETIMES, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME.
FOR US TO REALLY EMBRACE THIS NEW CULTURE SHIFT, AND FOR US TO REALLY EMBRACE THIS NEW METHOD OF MODALITY, WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE IT AND STRATEGIZE AROUND IT WITH JUST AS MUCH EMPHASIS AND SENSE OF PRIORITY AND URGENCY AS WE DO THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS TREATED CARS.
THERE'S A PLACE FOR BOTH IN OUR TOWN, BUT THERE IS A PLACE FOR BOTH IN OUR TOWN, AND I'M ENCOURAGED BY THIS CONVERSATION.
I THINK WE'RE DEMONSTRATING THAT WE'RE HERE, WE'RE WILLING TO ENGAGE THOUGHTFULLY IN HOW TO DO THIS BETTER.
THIS PAST WINTER, WITH CLIMATE CHANGE UPON US, IT'S INCREASINGLY TRUE THAT THE PAST IS NO LONGER A PREDICTOR OF THE FUTURE.
WE CAN'T KNOW THE WAY THAT WE USED TO HOW EACH YEAR IS GOING TO GO, BUT I DO THINK WITH CLIMATE WEIRDING, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IS JUST AS MANY, IF NOT STRONGER AND MORE FREQUENT, WINTER EVENTS LIKE THE ONE WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR OFF AND ON, IRREGULARLY IN YEARS TO COME.
[03:20:03]
AND SO IRONICALLY, AS THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING, WE'RE IN THE END LIKELY TO SEE LESS SNOW IN THE REGION WHICH HAS ITS OWN CHALLENGES.WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR CRAZIER SNOW EVENTS AND WITH FREQUENCY THAT WE'RE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO IN THE INTERIM DECADES AS WE DO THAT.
SO IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR.
AND JUST LIKE I SAID EARLIER ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND MAKING SURE THAT'S ON LINE AND IT'S WORKING NICELY.
UNDER MY BREATH, WHAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT THERE WAS THE ROLLOUT OF THE OBAMACARE AND THE INSURANCE COVERAGE PLATFORM, WHICH WAS A DISASTER, AND THE PUBLIC KNEW THAT RIGHT AWAY AND IT CREATED A LONG-TERM PROBLEM FOR THE SUCCESS OF THOSE APPROACHES.
WE DO NEED TO GET THIS RIGHT IF WE'RE GOING TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR VEHICLES USING OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, AND WE NEED TO INVEST IF WE EXPECT OTHER PEOPLE, PUBLIC TO INVEST IN THESE NEW METHODOLOGIES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS, YOUR OPENNESS, YOUR TRANSPARENCY HERE, IT'S A CONVERSATION, WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.
I JUST WANT TO LIFT UP THAT WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF LUXURY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF LOCALS LIKE SHANE, BUT ALSO FROM A COMMITMENT TO TRANSITION INTO A NEW PARADIGM, AND THAT HAS TO WORK AND IT HAS TO WORK ALL THE TIME.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MCCARTHY AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS.
>> WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I WANT TO TALK TO THIS PROBLEM ABOUT WE CAN'T PLOW OUR STREET BECAUSE CARS ARE PARKED DOWN.
AND THE WAY I'M GOING TO START IS I'M GOING TO TELL YOU A STORY.
I HAVE A RENTAL PROPERTY IN THE TOWN HOMES THAT BELT BOLDER POINT.
AT ONE TIME, I WAS THERE JUST FOR 10 MINUTES AND I PARKED DOWN THE STREET, BUT YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO PARK ON THE STREET.
THIS WASN'T IN A SNOWSTORM, THIS WAS IN GOOD WEATHER.
ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS CALLED THE TOW TRUCK AND TOW TRUCK WAS LITERALLY BACKING UP TO TOW ME AWAY.
NOW I JUMPED IN MY CAR AND DROVE AWAY BEFORE HE CAN GET HIS HOOK OUT, BUT WHAT WAS THE LESSON LEARNED? I'VE NEVER PARKED ON THE STREET AGAIN.
WHEN I GO DOWN THERE, I PARKED MY RENTERS DRIVEWAY, AND I TELL MY RENTERS, DON'T HAVE YOUR FRIENDS PARK ON THE STREET BECAUSE YOU'LL GET TOWED, OR IF THERE'S MAINTENANCE, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
MAINTENANCE TRUCK PARK ON THE DRIVEWAY OR YOU WILL GET TOWED.
MY POINT IS WE ONLY HAVE TO TOW A FEW CARS, THE WORD WILL GET AROUND THAT IF YOU PARK ON THE STREET, YOU'RE GOING TO GET TOWED.
IF THERE'S 100 CARS OUT THERE AND YOU ONLY TOW TWO OR THREE, THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A BIG EFFECT.
SO IT MIGHT MAKE SENSE TO START TOWING A FEW CARS.
MR. ASMA, I JUST APPRECIATE A LOT OF YOUR COMMENTS; THANK YOU.
WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS ALONG THAT LINE.
EARLIER TONIGHT DURING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, WE HEARD SEVERAL MEMBERS TALK ABOUT, THE HOSPITAL, WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT CARBON NEUTRALITY.
WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS WE COULD DO ABOUT CARBON NEUTRALITY IS GET PEOPLE TO WALK WHEN THEY CAN, BICYCLE WHEN THEY CAN, TAKE THE BUS WHEN THEY CAN, AND INCIDENTALLY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THE BUS, YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO WALK HALF A MILE OR SO TO GET FROM WHEREVER TO THE BUS.
I THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO PROBABLY INCREASE ITS IMPORTANCE, AT LEAST THE WAY IT THINKS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WALKABILITY ACROSS SIDEWALKS, ON SIDEWALKS, ACROSS STREETS, AND ENFORCING PEOPLE GETTING THE SNOW OFF OF THEIR DRIVEWAY OR THEIR SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE.
I WON'T GO DOWN THE WHOLE LIST OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO START TAKING THIS MORE SERIOUSLY AS WE PUSH TO EVOLVE INTO A HIGHER DENSITY, MORE WALKABLE, MORE BICYCLE RIDABLE COMMUNITY.
THOSE ARE MY MAJOR POINTS. THANK YOU.
[03:25:02]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON THE COMMENTS ABOUT TOWING.
I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT OUR TRAFFIC CODE AND I JUST WANT TO LET COUNCIL KNOW THAT WE WILL LOOK INTO THAT.
I'LL WORK WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN MARYANNE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO THERE, AND IF WE NEED TO POSSIBLY AMEND THAT CODE TO MAKE IT EASIER TO TOW OR TO MAYBE SPEED UP THAT PROCESS, BUT I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT.
BEFORE WE START TOWING PEOPLE, LET'S PUT EITHER TICKETS OR NOTIFICATIONS ON THEIR WINDSHIELDS SAYING THAT IF YOU DON'T MOVE THIS CAR, YOU'RE GOING TO GET TOWED.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
DEPUTY CHIEF MAN, FLAGSTAFF POLICE DEPARTMENT.
NOVEMBER 1ST COMES AROUND, THAT'S WHAT WE DO, WE HAMMER ENTIRE CITY WITH WARNINGS FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO.
AFTER WARNINGS, WE START DOING TICKETS.
I USUALLY BRING IN POLICE AIDS TO HELP US DO THAT BECAUSE IT'S FROM MIDNIGHT TO 07:00 AM.
MIDNIGHT TO 07:00 AM IS VERY BUSY FOR US.
MIDNIGHT TO 07:00 AM, IF WE'RE LUCKY, WE HAVE A SERGEANT AND FIVE OFFICERS TO COVER THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF.
LET'S BE HONEST, IT'S NOT A HIGH PRIORITY FOR US.
THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING IN POLICE AIDS TO TRY TO HELP US OUT WITH THAT STUFF.
AS FAR AS VEHICLES PARKED ON THE STREET, YES, AT NIGHTTIME IT DOES OCCUR, BUT LET'S ALSO REMEMBER THAT SOME OPERATIONS ARE OCCURRING IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS 17 HOURS OUT OF THE DAY WHEN THEY'RE ALLOWED TO PARK ON THE STREETS.
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I DON'T THINK I EVER HAD A PLOW TRUCK COME IN FROM MIDNIGHT TO SEVEN, AND IF THEY PARKED ON THE STREET, THEY WERE LEGALLY PARKED.
LET'S ALSO KEEP THAT IN MIND THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A NIGHTTIME PLOWING ISSUE, THIS IS ALSO A DAYTIME PLOWING ISSUE WHERE THEY'RE ILLEGALLY THERE, THEY CAN PARK.
KEEP THAT IN MIND. WE ALSO DO A TON OF PR ANNOUNCEMENTS.
WE WORK WITH SARAH LANGLEY, SHE DOES AN ANNOUNCEMENT THROUGH HER CITY PIO OFFICE.
WE DO ANNOUNCEMENTS THROUGH OUR PIO OFFICE, WE DO MEDIA RELEASES, WE DO SOCIAL MEDIA RELEASES,, AND IN ADDITION TO THE WARNINGS AND THE CITATIONS, WE DO ALL THAT WELL IN ADVANCE, WE USUALLY DO IT ABOUT THE WEEK PRIOR BECAUSE IF YOU DO IT ANY EARLIER, YOU FORGET ABOUT IT.
WE DO A LOT OF THOSE THINGS, AND I KNOW SOMEONE MENTIONED PONDEROSA TRAILS AND THEY DON'T PARK ON THERE.
WELL, PONDEROSA TRAILS, HOA ALSO HAMMERS OUT HOA LETTERS. I LIVE THERE.
I GET THEM, THEY CITE THE STATUTE, THEY TALK ABOUT WHEN YOU CAN PARK, THEY'RE NOT PARKED THERE, TALK ABOUT BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
A LOT OF THIS IS A NEIGHBOR ISSUE TOO.
BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, DON'T PARK AND GET IN THE WAY OF SNOW OPERATIONS AND AFFECTING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
A LOT OF THAT ALSO NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED AS WELL.
TOWING. LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.
SAM CALLS ME PROBABLY TWICE A YEAR, I THINK THIS YEAR WAS TWO TIMES, THREE TIMES, I CAN'T REMEMBER.
WE DO TOW CARS, WE'D USUALLY DO IT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
HE USUALLY WOULD CALL ME TWO TO THREE DAYS IN ADVANCE BECAUSE I NEED TO GET OFFICERS, MOST OFFICERS, I GET OFFICERS ON OVERTIME DETAIL BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE OFFICERS TO SIT THERE FOR TWO TO THREE HOURS TOWING VEHICLES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WHICH IS USUALLY JUST A HANDFUL, NOT HUNDREDS.
TOWING HUNDREDS OF VEHICLES, AND YOU GUYS WANT TO DO THAT, I'LL PROBABLY ASK YOU FOR ABOUT 40 MORE OFFICERS.
WE ARE LIMITED ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
WHEN WE DO THESE COORDINATED EFFORTS DOWNTOWN, I GET OFFICERS OFF DUTY, THEY DO IT ON OVERTIME, WE TRY TO GET A HOLD OF THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES, DON'T GET A HOLD OF THEM, WE TICKET THEM, WE TOW THEM, AND WE DO THAT TWO TO THREE TIMES A YEAR, USUALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. A LOT OF OUR RESPONSES OTHER THAN THE PROACTIVE HANGING OF THE WARNINGS AND THE TICKETS, WE ALSO HANDLE SEVERAL CITIZEN COMPLAINTS REGARDING PARKING AND WHATNOT.
WE TRY TO HAMMER THAT OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR PATROL OFFICERS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TICKETS WE'VE WRITTEN THIS YEAR.
I STILL HAVE THAT NUMBER OFFHAND, BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE WROTE QUITE A FEW, ESPECIALLY WHEN I BROUGHT IN THOSE POLICE AIDS AND HAD THEM HAMMER THOSE THINGS OUT.
IDEALLY, IT'D BE GREAT IF WE DIDN'T HAVE PEOPLE PARKED ON THE STREETS.
[03:30:02]
I'M BORN AND RAISED HERE.I KNOW THAT PROBLEM'S BEEN HERE FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.
IF WE CAN COLLECTIVELY COME UP WITH ONE, I'M ALL FOR IT AND I'M IN.
LET'S DO IT. BUT IT IS A TASK.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
>> KEVIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LOOKING AT THAT SO QUICKLY AND LOOKING AT THERE'S AN ORDINANCE AND THAT WE NEED TO BEEF THAT UP.
BUT LET'S GO BACK AND BE VERY CLEAR.
I DEFINITELY CARE ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENTLY ABLED AND WHO HAVE CHALLENGES OR I WOULDN'T SAY CHALLENGES, BUT WHO NEED CERTAIN THINGS TO GET AROUND SAFELY IN THE CITY.
BUT I'M GOING BACK TO THE EQUITY ISSUE, AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO GET LOST IN THE CONVERSATION.
WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE ALL OF THAT OUT.
CARBON-NEUTRAL, ALL OF THAT WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT.
BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT EQUITY, AND THIS IS AN ISSUE OF EQUITY IN MY MIND AND SO THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE FRONT AND CENTER COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, ABSOLUTELY.
I WANTED TO JUST REFRAME SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT WITH A FEW MINUTES TO SIT AND LISTENING TO COUNCIL MEMBER MCCARTHY.
IN TERMS OF THE PARKING CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE DANCING AROUND, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL PARKING SPOTS, FUNDAMENTALLY, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
IT'S ONLY GOING TO INDUCE DEMAND FOR MORE PARKING.
JUST TO FRAME IT DIFFERENTLY, I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IS THAT ENFORCEMENT ASPECT AND THAT HARD HAND OF THE LAW AND GETTING THE WORD OUT THAT THIS ISN'T WHERE YOU CAN PARK.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS THAT IF WE'RE BEING HARD ABOUT THAT, IT'S ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET IT RIGHT WITH THESE ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF MODALITY.
IF WE'RE INCENTIVIZING PEOPLE NOT TO BRING THEIR CARS WITH THEM INTO THE CENTER OF TOWN, THEN WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE A WAY TO GET AROUND IN THE CENTER OF TOWN THAT DON'T REQUIRE CARS.
THAT'S JUST A REFRAMING I WANTED TO REVISIT A LITTLE BIT.
>> THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT DISCUSSION AND I'D LIKE TO REITERATE TO STAFF, YOU DID A PHENOMENAL JOB THROUGH THIS VERY CHALLENGING YEAR.
NOT ONLY DID YOU HAVE A CHALLENGING YEAR ON THE STREETS, BUT THEN YOU WERE HEARING FROM US CONSTANTLY AND YOU HANDLED ALL OF THAT COMMUNICATION WITH GRACE AND SPEED, WHICH I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE.
WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT WE HAVE A COMMUNITY-WIDE ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH.
MOVING FORWARD, I'M LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE OUR SIDEWALKS ARE CLEAR, MAKE SURE THERE AREN'T CARS PARKED ON THE STREET, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY HAS THE MEANS TO GET AROUND TOWN.
IN SAYING THAT, I THINK I JUST LIKE TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN THAT LET'S NOT FORGET OUR OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE WHEN WE'RE DOING SNOW REMOVAL FROM THE STREETS.
I THINK WE ALL TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY WHEN OUR BIKE AND FOOT COMMUTERS TELL US THAT THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL WHEN THERE'S STORMS. I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TREATING OUR SIDEWALKS AND OUR BIKE LANES THE WAY WE'RE TREATING OUR CAR LANES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS DISCUSSION AND DISCUSSION OF RESOURCES AND WHAT YOU ALL NEED TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH WHERE THIS COMMUNITY IS GOING BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB WITH WHAT YOU HAVE.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? LET'S TAKE A 15-MINUTE BREAK.
HEY, WE'RE GETTING READY TO GET STARTED.
[03:35:02]
[BACKGROUND] WE'RE DOWN TO ITEM NUMBER 11,[11. Update and Discussion on Building and Property Care Ordinance and associated Code Amendments Discussion of proposed amendments and review of the updated schedule. ]
[BACKGROUND] UPDATE AND DISCUSSION ON BUILDING AND PROPERTY CARE ORDINANCE AND ASSOCIATED CODE AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU.>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DAN FOLKE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
THIS EVENING I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON OUR BUILDING AND PROPERTY CARE STANDARDS.
THIS IS A PROJECT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SOME TIME.
THE LAST TIME WE WERE IN FRONT OF COUNCIL I BELIEVE IT WAS IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR.
FOR SOME OF YOU, THIS IS A NEW TOPIC.
WE'VE GOT SOME NEW MEMBERS SINCE SEPTEMBER.
WHAT I'M GOING TO DO TONIGHT IS I'LL DO A BRIEF RECAP OF WHAT THE CITY HAS DONE JUST IN THE LAST 10 YEARS ON PROPERTY CARE STANDARDS.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME DRAFT STANDARDS TONIGHT.
WE DID GET DIRECTION IN SEPTEMBER, AND SO THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT DIRECTION.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME AMENDMENTS THAT WE DID DO SOME SECTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THE PROPERTY CARE STANDARDS.
I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, AND THEN I HAVE SOME RECOMMENDED NEXT STEPS.
TONIGHT REALLY IS INTENDED AS AN UPDATE AND SOME GUIDANCE.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL BE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU WITH SOME THINGS THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER ADOPTING.
LAST YEAR WE HAD A TEAM THAT DID THE WORKING GROUP MEETINGS OVER THE SUMMER.
WE'VE NOW TRANSITIONED TO A GROUP THAT'S HELPING ME DRAFT THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE TIFFANY ANTOL, KEVIN FINCEL, WHO'S HERE THIS EVENING'S BEEN GREAT, MARK REAVISE, AND REGGIE, OF COURSE, OUR CODE COMPLIANCE MANAGER.
THIS IS THE TEAM THAT'S CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE ORDINANCE.
WHY ARE WE CONSIDERING IT NOW? IT WAS BACK IN 2012, THERE WAS A MULTIYEAR EFFORT FOR WHAT I WOULD CALL A VERY TRADITIONAL PROPERTY CARE ORDINANCE.
THE CODE OF COUNCIL ACTUALLY PUBLISHES ONE THAT YOU COULD JUST ADOPT RIGHT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE.
IT COVERS INTERNAL AS WELL AS EXTERNAL COMPONENTS OF A BUILDING AND PROPERTY.
WHAT HAPPENED BACK IN 2011, 2012 IS I WOULD SAY WE DID A VERSION LIGHT.
IT REALLY FOCUSED ON THE OUTDOOR CONDITIONS.
IN THE END, THE COUNCIL IN 2012 DECIDED NOT TO ADOPT THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE ORDINANCE.
AGAIN, FINALLY, LAST SUMMER, I PUT TOGETHER THIS WORKING GROUP AND WE CAME BACK IN SEPTEMBER WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AND SOME DIRECTION, WHICH I'LL REVIEW AGAIN TONIGHT, AND THEN HERE WE ARE TONIGHT WITH THE WORK SESSION.
IN GENERAL, WHAT IS A PROPERTY MAINTENANCE ORDINANCE? AGAIN, IT'S RULES FOR MAINTAINING LAND AND BUILDINGS, SO STRUCTURES, BUILDINGS, PROPERTY.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL OF THIS TO YOU, BUT THESE ARE WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON.
I WOULD SAY PARTICULARLY THE LAST FEW BULLETS, HAZARDOUS AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS, DETERIORATING STRUCTURES, AND ABANDONED PROPERTIES AND VEHICLES.
REALLY THAT'S WHAT THIS VERY COMPREHENSIVE CODE DOES.
THINGS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO BE CONSIDERING REALLY WITH ALL CODE AMENDMENTS.
BUT THIS IS A SLIDE I SHARED LAST TIME AS WELL.
OBVIOUSLY, THE TWO EMERGENCIES ALWAYS NEED TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE PRISM OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
THIS CAN BE A GREAT TOOL FOR NEIGHBORHOOD AND HERITAGE PRESERVATION.
THE TOPIC OF SOCIAL EQUITY IS IMPORTANT.
I'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE THAT I BELIEVE PMOS HAVE BEEN USED IN THE PAST BY NOT FLAGSTAFF BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY AS A WAY TO DISPLACE LOW-INCOME FOLKS.
IT'S A WAY TO SOMETIMES AT LEAST THE GENTRIFICATION.
YOU DISPLACE LOW-INCOME FOLKS FOR WHATEVER REASON USING THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE AND THEN IT GETS REDEVELOPED FOR MUCH HIGHER INCOME FOLKS.
THAT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF.
THEN AGAIN, WE'RE DOING THIS MAINLY FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
IN ORDER TO KICK OFF LAST SUMMER'S EFFORT, WE DID A SURVEY.
I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THIS AGAIN WHAT THE PRIORITIES WERE.
IT WAS NOT A SCIENTIFIC SURVEY.
IT WAS JUST VOLUNTARY FOLKS WHO LOGGED IN AND PARTICIPATED.
THE TOP ISSUES YOU CAN SEE WERE THINGS ABOUT GENERAL JUNK ACCUMULATION, TRASH, AND WASTE, NON-WORKING VEHICLES, AND THEN BUILDING DETERIORATION WAS IN THERE AS WELL AS GENERAL DEBRIS AND ACCUMULATION.
WE REALLY HAVE FOCUSED ON THINGS LIKE LITTER, DEBRIS, ABANDONED PROPERTIES IS A BIG ISSUE.
[03:40:05]
THEN THIS IS SOME OF THE WRITTEN COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED.JUST AS WE GO INTO THIS I WANTED TO REMIND US THINGS WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND.
SOME OF THE CONCERNS WE'VE HEARD AND I THINK SOME OF THE REASONS IT WASN'T APPROVED BACK IN 2012.
THE IDEA THAT IT'S INEQUITABLE, WHAT IS THE ABILITY OF DIFFERENT FOLKS TO COMPLY WITH RULES? WE HAVE A LOT OF EXISTING ORDINANCES THAT DEAL WITH THIS TOPIC SO WHY DON'T WE JUST USE THE ORDINANCES WE HAVE THAT WAS A BIG TALKING POINT DURING THE SIX WORKING GROUP MEETINGS.
THE CONCERN ABOUT SUBJECTIVITY AND THEN OF COURSE, THAT THIS IS TOO MUCH BEING LIKE A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.
WE DON'T WANT HOA TYPE RULES, I CALL IT THE PAINT POLICE.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE WRITING TICKETS BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS PEELING PAINT.
IN SEPTEMBER WE GIVE YOU THIS BACKGROUND AND THIS IS A SUMMARY OF THE APPROACH THAT WE RECOMMENDED AND WAS ENDORSED IN SEPTEMBER.
LET'S CREATE SOME SIMPLE AND CLEAR STANDARDS FOR BUILDINGS AND LAND.
LET'S SUPPORT THOSE WITH OUR EXISTING CODE AND SO WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW, THESE ARE THE PRIMARY ONES THAT I BELIEVE ARE APPLICABLE.
REVIEWING THE SECTIONS ON LITTERING NUISANCES, WHICH IS ACTUALLY ABANDONED BUILDINGS IS WHAT NUISANCES ARE, ABANDONED VEHICLES AND THEN OUR BUILDING CODE IS REALLY THE MAIN TOOL WE USE FOR DANGEROUS BUILDINGS RIGHT NOW.
WE TALKED ABOUT TRADING IN AN APPENDIX.
OUR RESOURCE, HOW WOULD YOU COMPLY WITH THE STANDARDS? IMPROVE YOUR PROPERTY.
OBVIOUSLY CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE LEAGUE AND NEIGHBORHOODS, I THINK THERE WERE THE IMPETUS FOR THE FAIR ITEM AND SO WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE THREE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE IN THE LEAGUE OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEN ANOTHER DISCUSSION POINT THAT CAME OUT OF THE WORKING GROUP WAS THAT WE REALLY SHOULD HAVE A PROGRAM, A PROPERTY CARE PROGRAM.
THE IDEA IS THAT, BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY HAS RESOURCES OR THE ABILITY TO INVEST IN THEIR PROPERTY MAYBE THERE'S A PROGRAM TO HELP CERTAIN PROPERTY OWNERS STAY IN THEIR HOMES, INVEST AND IT'S REALLY AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN YOU INVEST IN PROPERTIES.
THESE ARE THE STANDARDS THAT WE PRESENTED IN A DIFFERENT FORMAT.
THIS IS WHAT IS NOW WHAT I WOULD CALL A PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENT.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THIS WOULD GO IN DIVISION 7 OF OUR CITY CODE.
IT WOULD BE A NEW CHAPTER CALLED BUILDING AND PROPERTY CARE STANDARDS.
THE PURPOSE AND INTENT STATEMENTS, THESE ARE WHAT I PRESENTED TO YOU BACK IN SEPTEMBER.
WE'VE JUST NOW PUT THEM IN CODE FORMAT WITH THE SECTION OF THE CODE.
I'LL JUST POINT OUT A FEW THINGS, A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT IS IN HERE.
AGAIN, WE'RE FOCUSING ON EXTERIOR STANDARDS SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE INTERIOR OF BUILDINGS.
FOCUSING ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE, PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE.
THEN AGAIN, ALSO PROTECTING AGAINST HAZARDS, HAZARDS AND DETERIORATING CONDITIONS.
THE INTENSE STATEMENT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE WORKING GROUPS SO THE IDEA THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE OVERLY AGGRESSIVE, GIVE PEOPLE TIME TO COMPLY WITH THE CODES, ACTUALLY PERHAPS PROVIDE RESOURCES TO OWNERS THAT NEEDED RESOURCES, FUNDING POTENTIALLY TO HELP IMPROVE THEIR PROPERTY AND SO THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE INTENT STATEMENT.
YOU DO HAVE THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE IN THE PACKET AND IT'S ATTACHED AS WELL.
I'M GOING TO GO OVER WHAT WAS IN THE PACKET AT THE BEGINNING.
THERE'S A SERIES OF DEFINITIONS I DID NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THEM.
BUT MY POINT HERE WAS ONE OF OUR THINGS IS WE WANT TO SIMPLIFY THE DEFINITIONS.
WE AGREED TO USE THINGS RIGHT OUT OF THE DICTIONARY.
WE BELIEVE THESE EXAMPLES THEY'RE SIMPLE, WE THINK THEY'RE UNDERSTANDABLE.
CURRENTLY THE CODE HAS DEFINITIONS FOR LIKE REFUSE AND IT INCLUDES WORDS LIKE PURCHUSABLE AND NON PURCHUSABLE.
I ALWAYS FELT LIKE IF YOU HAD TO LOOK UP A WORD IN THE DEFINITION MAYBE THE DEFINITION WASN'T THAT USEFUL.
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT PURCHUSABLE MEANS THAT'S OUR WORD OF THE NIGHT, PURCHUSABLE.
>> IT'S A PLAY BY ARTHUR MILLER.
>> I BELIEVE IT'S BASICALLY LIKE ORGANIC.
IF IT'LL BREAK DOWN IT'S PURCHUSABLE OR NON PURCHUSABLE WILL WOULD BE LIKE NON-ORGANIC.
THAT'S MY LAYMAN'S DEFINITION I'M SURE IT'S MORE TECHNICAL THAN THAT.
AGAIN, WE THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT, SIMPLIFYING THE TERMS. THEN HERE WE ACTUALLY GET INTO THE ACTUAL STANDARDS.
THIS FIRST SECTION FOCUSES ON PROPERTY, SO NOT BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES BUT JUST THE LAND ITSELF LET'S SAY.
IT FOCUSES ON NUMBER 1, REQUIRED TO HAVE ADEQUATE STORAGE FOR YOUR GARBAGE, YOUR DEBRIS, YOUR LITTER, DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THAT ACCUMULATION OF DEBRIS AND LITTER ON A PROPERTY WHETHER IT'S IMPROVED OR WHETHER IT'S VACANT.
TALKS ABOUT INOPERABLE EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES BEING
[03:45:02]
STORED OUT OF SIGHT AND THEN PREVENTING HAZARDS, THINGS THAT WILL CREATE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD.THE LAST ITEM TALKS ABOUT SECURING THE PROPERTY AND POSTING IT.
I DID GET SOME COMMENTS FROM COUNCILOR MCCARTHY, THANK YOU FOR THAT, I HAVE NOT INCORPORATED THOSE CHANGES.
I THINK IT WAS HIS RECOMMENDATION THAT IT SHOULD START WITH SECURING THE PROPERTY AND THEN PERHAPS POSTING IT THERE'S NO TRESPASSING.
BUT THE BASIC STANDARD IS TO SECURE THE PROPERTY.
>> WELL, I GUESS MY POINT WAS THAT IT SAID OR, IT SAID YOU COULD POST IT OR IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU PUT UP A NO TRESPASSING SIGN, THE DOOR COULD BE LEFT OPEN AND PEOPLE COULD WALK IN AND RAISE HELL IN THERE, WHATEVER THEY DO.
>> THE REAL REQUIREMENT IS TO SECURE THE PROPERTY.
THESE NUISANCE PROPERTIES THAT ARE ABANDONED AND PEOPLE KEEP BREAKING INTO THEM AND THEY'RE SQUATTING, THE CURRENT STANDARD IS YOU HAVE TO SECURE IT.
YOU BOUGHT UP THE DOOR, YOU BOUGHT UP THE WINDOWS, USUALLY LASTS FOR A FEW MONTHS, THEN WE COME BACK AND CONTACT THE PERSON AGAIN TO DO IT.
PROBABLY THE NEW PART WOULD BE THE NO TRESPASSING.
THAT'S REALLY UP TO THE PROPERTY OWNER WHETHER THEY WANT TO POST IT OR NOT.
>> I THINK POSTINGS SHOULD BE OPTIONAL, BUT SECURING SHOULD BE MANDATORY.
>> YEAH. I THINK THAT'S THE GENERAL AGREEMENT OF THE WORKING GROUP.
THIS AGAIN, IS ON PROPERTY, NEXT I'M GOING TO GO TO THE ONE ON STRUCTURES.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON ANYTHING I'VE SHOWN YOU HERE? MOVING ONTO BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES, AGAIN, FOCUSING ON WINDOWS AND DOORS.
NOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE STAFF HAS PUT IN WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT CAME OUT OF THE WORKING GROUP.
NUMBER 1 SAYS, WINDOWS AND DOORS SHALL BE MAINTAINED IN PROPER WORKING CONDITION, WHERE DAMAGED WINDOWS AND DOORS REQUIRE REPAIR REPLACEMENT.
TEMPORARY SECURITY MEASURES MAY BE INSTALLED FOR NO MORE THAN 30 DAYS.
THAT IS I THINK STAFF WE'VE DECIDED, LET'S START THE CONVERSATION HERE.
THE WORKING GROUP WE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
IN A STANDARD PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE IT'S TYPICALLY 180 DAYS THAT YOU CAN HAVE BOARDS INSTEAD OF AN ACTUAL DOOR OR WINDOW.
OUR CURRENT CODE IS REALLY INDEFINITELY YOU CAN JUST BOARD IT UP.
I THINK, INCLUDING THIS AS A STARTING POINT WE BELIEVE THAT PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE ARE THE ABANDONED BUILDINGS, THEY'D BEEN THERE FOR 10, 20, 25 YEARS.
I THINK IF ONE THING COMES OUT OF ALL THIS I'D LIKE TO SEE IS THAT WE TAKE A NEW APPROACH TO THOSE ABANDONED BUILDINGS BECAUSE THEY REALLY ARE CREATING ATTRACTIVE NUISANCES AND IMPACTING NEIGHBORHOODS.
YOU COULD BOARD IT UP FOR 30 DAYS AND THEN AFTER THAT YOU'D HAVE TO PUT IN AN ACTUAL DOOR OR WINDOW.
THERE'S A STANDARD HERE ABOUT GENERAL MAINTENANCE TO PREVENT DETERIORATION.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT OUR INTENT TO BECOME THE PAINT POLICE BUT TO OFFER STANDARDS ON HOW YOU CAN MAINTAIN YOUR PROPERTY AND TRY TO PREVENT TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S DETERIORATING AND IT BECOMES DANGEROUS.
THEN AGAIN, THE THIRD ITEM IS SIMILAR TO THE LAST ONE ABOUT SECURING THE PROPERTY AND POSTING IT.
I THINK WE WOULD PROBABLY WANT SIMILAR LANGUAGE IN THESE TWO SECTIONS ON THAT LAST ITEM.
AGAIN, I THINK THIS WILL BE OUR BIG DECISION POINT IN MY MIND IS HOW LONG DO YOU WANT TO ALLOW FOLKS TO SECURE THE BUILDING? DO YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT STANDARD WHICH IS INDEFINITELY OR SHOULD WE DO SOMETHING ELSE WHERE THE PROPERTY ACTUALLY COMES BACK TO LIFE A BIT.
EXEMPTIONS WERE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE WORKING GROUP.
AS WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE CITY THAT IMPACT PROPERTY RIGHTS OF FIRES, FLOODING, COMMUNITY EVENTS SO THIS ALLOWS THE CITY TO SUSPEND ENFORCEMENT DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL.
THAT'S REALLY THE NEW SECTION.
THEN I WAS JUST GOING TO GO OVER THE SECTION WHERE WE'VE WORKED ON SOME AMENDMENTS WHICH IS THE ONE SECTION ON LITTERING.
WE HAVE CREATED SOME NEW DEFINITIONS AND SO THIS IS ALSO AN ATTACHMENT I KNOW IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE CONFUSING.
THE PROPERTY CARE STANDARDS, THIS WOULD BE ALL NEW LANGUAGE IN OUR CODE.
THEN THE SECTION ON LITTERING THAT WE PROVIDED IS REALLY TAKING THE EXISTING SECTION WHICH IS IN CHAPTER 6,
[03:50:06]
WHICH ARE THE POLICE REGULATIONS.WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO GO INTO CHAPTER TITLE 7, WHICH IS HEALTH AND SANITATION, WHERE THE NEW BUILDING AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE STANDARDS WOULD GO.
ONE AVAILABLE CHAPTER IS 711, IT'S AN AVAILABLE NUMBER RIGHT NOW.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE TAKEN WHAT WAS IN CHAPTER 6 AND WE'VE MADE ALL THE CHANGES.
WE'VE STRUCK OUT THE LANGUAGE WE'RE RECOMMENDING DELETING AND THE BOLD LANGUAGES, THE NEW LANGUAGE WE'RE RECOMMENDING IN THIS CHAPTER.
AGAIN, STARTING WITH DEFINITIONS, TRYING TO SIMPLIFY DEFINITIONS, GET RID OF ONES THAT WE THINK ARE UNNECESSARY OR DUPLICATIVE.
>> CITY MANAGER HAS A QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU, DAN, GOING BACK TO THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT BUILDINGS, THE EXEMPTION STATED THAT IN THE EVENT OF FIRES AND FLOODS AND NATURAL DISASTERS AND SO FORTH, AT THE CITY'S DISCRETION, THERE COULD BE SUSPENSION OF THESE REGULATIONS.
AN EXAMPLE COMES TO MIND THAT I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD CLARIFY HOW IT WOULD FIT WITHIN THESE NEW PROPOSED STANDARDS AND ABANDONED BUILDINGS.
ON 4TH STREET, WE HAVE A BUILDING THAT'S MOSTLY BURNED, IS CHARRED, IS JUST REMNANTS, SKELETON OF AN OLD BUILDING AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR YEARS AND I'M JUST WONDERING, WHAT ARE THE REGULATIONS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED WOULD PURPORT TO REQUIRE THAT BUILDING TO BE TAKEN DOWN BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY CANNOT BE JUST, DRESSED UP WITH DOORS AND WINDOWS.
HOW DO YOU SEE THIS EXEMPTION WORKING IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE?
>> I THINK THE IDEA IS JUST ALLOWING THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT'S REASONABLE FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
IF SOMEBODY HAS A FIRE TO THEIR STRUCTURE, YOU'RE RIGHT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO REPAIR IT IN 30 DAYS, BUT FIVE YEARS IS PROBABLY TOO LONG.
WE REALLY WERE THINKING MOSTLY ABOUT ALL THE FIRES AND THE FLOODING THAT HAS HAPPENED AND HOW IT IMPACTS PROPERTIES AND PEOPLE JUST TRYING TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
BUT I THINK IT REALLY IS, IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION.
I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THOSE PROPERTIES WHERE THERE WAS A FIRE 10 YEARS AGO AND IT'S STILL SITTING THERE RIGHT NOW WE JUST SAY SECURE IT.
BUT SHOULD WE DO SOMETHING ELSE? SHOULD REQUIRE THEM AT SOME POINT TO REMOVE IT.
I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS AT THE END, BUT IN THE NUISANCES SECTION, WHICH IS ABOUT DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, THERE'S AN ADOPTED PROCESS WHERE A COUNCIL MEMBER OR THREE CITIZENS CAN REQUEST THAT, I THINK IT'S THE CITY ENGINEER, THE FIRE CHIEF, AND ONE OTHER PERSON GO OUT, INSPECT THE PROPERTY, PREPARE A REPORT FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THE RECOMMENDATION CAN BE THAT THAT BUILDING BE REMOVED BECAUSE IT'S DANGEROUS, AND IT'S HAZARDOUS.
WE DON'T USE IT. WE USE OUR BUILDING CODE SECTION WHICH SAYS, SECURE DANGEROUS BUILDING.
PART OF WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT OVER THE SUMMER IS, SHOULD WE JUST START USING THIS SECTION? DO WE NEED TO CHANGE THIS SECTION ON NUISANCES? WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION.
IT'S BEEN IN THE PACKET EACH TIME I'VE TALKED ON THIS TODAY, THERE'S A PACKET OF EXISTING CODE THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS AND SO AGAIN, WE HAD A PDF OF EXISTING CODES AND SO YOU'LL SEE THIS SECTION, NUISANCES.
IT'S RIGHT HERE. IT TALKS ABOUT ABATEMENT OF NUISANCES AND WHAT I JUST SUMMARIZED IS WRITING OUR CODE.
THIS IS A PROCESS WE CAN USE TODAY.
ONE OF YOU CAN ASK THAT WE DO THIS ON A PROPERTY THAT'S BEEN SITTING THERE FOR 20 YEARS.
>> AND CAN I INTERRUPT YOU? KEVIN HAS A COMMENT.
>> A QUICK FOLLOW-UP, IF I MAY, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, KEVIN.
BACK TO THE BURNT BUILDING SCENARIO.
I KNOW YOU'RE SPEAKING A LOT TO PUBLIC NUISANCE WHICH I THINK WE CAN ALL UNDERSTAND A BIT.
IT ALSO BRINGS ABOUT A QUESTION OF A POTENTIAL ISSUE, A BLIGHT IN THE COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOODS IN THIS EXAMPLE WHERE YOU HAVE A DETERIORATED BUILDING THAT'S SURROUNDED BY A NUMBER OF OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE TRYING TO MAKE A GO AT IT.
IT'S PRETTY ARGUABLY THAT THE APPEARANCE OF THAT AREA IS PROBABLY DETRACTING
[03:55:02]
FROM THE OVERALL HEALTH AND VIBRANCY OF THAT PARTICULAR COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.STATED DIFFERENTLY, IF THE BUILDING WAS GONE, IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN HAVING THE REMNANTS OF A BURNT BUILDING, BE BEING THE FIRST THING THAT A PASSER-BY SEES IN THAT AREA.
WE'RE NOT, IN THAT INSTANCE TALKING ABOUT ONE FAIRLY COMING DOWN ON PROPERTY OWNERS, ESPECIALLY IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT MIGHT BE UNDERSERVED, BUT RATHER, ADDRESSING SITUATION OF DETERIORATION AND A WHAT WOULD BE AN ECONOMICALLY VIABLE AREA AND HOW WE WOULD LOOK UPON THAT.
I'M JUST WONDERING OF LIGHT ALSO FACTORS INTO THAT CONSIDERATION. THANKS.
>> I TRY NOT TO USE THE WORD BLIGHT JUST BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN POLITICIZED.
AGAIN, IT'S BLIGHT, IS A TERM I'VE TALKED ABOUT IN PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS IS TIED WITH URBAN RENEWAL AND URBAN RENEWAL HAS HAD A HISTORY OF DISPLACING LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT NEVER REALLY CREATED JOBS OR THE PROMISES OF THE '60S AND '70S.
BUT YEAH, BLIGHT IS THE RIGHT TERM.
IS THE IDEA BUT I WOULD SAY UNDER YOUR EXAMPLE, CITY MANAGER ABOUT THE FIRE IN THE BUILDING THAT'S SITTING THERE, BORED IT UP.
WE HAVE THE TOOL NOW ABOUT ABATEMENT OF NUISANCES AND ACTUALLY WHAT IT SAYS IS THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL SO IT'S THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION.
THEN IT WOULD BE THE HEALTH AUTHORITY, THE CITY ENGINEER AND THE FIRE CHIEF WOULD GO OUT AND DO AN INSPECTION AND THEN PROVIDE A REPORT BACK AND ACTION CAN BE TAKEN.
GETTING BACK TO CHAPTER 7, AGAIN, I GAVE THE EXAMPLE OF THE DEFINITIONS.
WE'RE GETTING RID OF REFUSE AND RUBBISH WHERE WE TALK ABOUT PETRUSABLE AND NON-PETRUSABLE.
WE'VE ELIMINATED SECTIONS THAT WE THOUGHT WERE UNNECESSARY SO THERE WAS A SECTION ABOUT ACCUMULATION OF GARBAGE ON A PROPERTY WITH A BUILDING AND THEN GARBAGE ON A VACANT PROPERTY AND IT'S LIKE WE DON'T NEED TWO SECTIONS.
LET'S JUST SAY ALL PROPERTY, WHETHER IT'S IMPROVED OR NOT.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE CHANGES LIKE THAT TO WE LIKE TO SAY, PUT IT ON THE SLIM FAST PROGRAM OR CITY CODE, LOSE A FEW PAGES HERE.
>> KEVIN STILL HAS A COMMENT AND THEN WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF OTHER COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
>> I WAS ACTUALLY JUST WRITING A COMMENT TO SAY YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO INTERRUPT HIM.
I WAS JUST GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON THE CITY MANAGER'S COMMENT AND DAN TOUCHED ON THIS A LITTLE BIT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT NEW SUBSECTION, WE DO HAVE A CODE, THE ABATEMENT OF DANGEROUS BUILDINGS AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT WOULD ADDRESS BETTER WITH THE CITY MANAGER IS TALKING ABOUT, OF COURSE, DAN HERE IS TALKING MORE ABOUT THE PROPERTY CARE STANDARDS LIKE THE LITERATE PEOPLE JUST NOT KEEPING UP THEIR PROPERTIES.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THE BUILDING THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT, BUT THE WAY HE'S DESCRIBING IT, A BUILDING THAT'S HALF BURNED DOWN.
IT'S BEEN BURNT DOWN FOR 5,10 YEARS THAT PROBABLY FALLS UNDER OUR ABATEMENT OF DANGEROUS BUILDINGS.
OR THE OTHER SECTION DAN IS TALKING ABOUT THE NUISANCE, ALTHOUGH THAT'S A LITTLE MORE CLUNKY OF A SECTION THAT WE'D PROBABLY WANT TO UPDATE AND I KNOW THAT'S IN DAN'S PLANS ONCE WE HIT THE ETHOS THROUGH SOME STEPS HERE.
BUT I JUST WANT TO LET YOU NOW THERE IS SOMETHING OUT THERE WE CAN LOOK AT AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS?
>> BUT YOU EXPLAINED THE PROCESS THAT IT HAS TO BE A MOTION BY THE MAYOR.
>> IT SAYS THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MAY ON ITS OWN MOTION OR UPON COMPLAINT BEING MADE IN WRITING BY THREE OR MORE PERSONS.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ON AN AGENDA AND YOU WOULD TALK ABOUT IT.
THERE'S NO FORMAL WAY TO DO THAT.
HOW WOULD I KNOW THAT A BUILDING HAD A FIRE AND IT'S BEEN EMPTY FOR FIVE YEARS?
>> I JUST ASSUMED BECAUSE YOU'VE OBSERVED IT, YOU HAVE LIVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOU JUST DRIVE BY IT EVERY DAY AND SO YOU KNOW THIS HAS BEEN LIKE THIS.
>> THEN I'LL COME BACK HERE AND SAY SOMETHING.
>> IT'S THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MAY ON ITS OWN OR UPON A COMPLAINT FROM CITIZENS, SO YOU CAN DO IT ON YOUR OWN, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I IMAGINE MAYBE IT WOULD START AS A FAIR ITEM.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. DAN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
YOU SAID CURRENTLY IN OUR CODE, THERE IS AN INDEFINITE TIME THAT SOMEONE CAN BOARD UP THEIR PROPERTY WITH NO CONSEQUENCE, WHEN THIS NEW UPDATE GOES INTO EFFECT AND WE HAVE A DATE WHERE THEY CAN ONLY BOARD UP THEIR PROPERTY FOR 30 DAYS OR 180,
[04:00:06]
WHATEVER THAT COMES TO BE.WOULD THAT IMPACT ANY USE PROPERTY ON MILTON OR IS THAT NOT CONSIDERED BECAUSE IT'S ON STATE PROPERTY?
>> I'M NOT GOING TO ATTEMPT TO ANSWER THAT LEGAL QUESTION.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT I'LL I'LL TAKE A PASS.
I'LL LOOK AT OUR ACTING DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY.
>> I WAS SHOWING GREG THE NUISANCE SECTION, SO I TOTALLY MISSED THAT COMMENT.
>> JUST SAY ABOUT ENFORCING OUR CODES ON THE STATE, SO ON ANY PROPERTY.
>> ON ANY PROPERTY, BUILDINGS THAT ARE BOARDED UP, IF WE CHANGE THE CODE TO WHERE YOU CAN'T, RIGHT NOW IT'S INDEFINITE.
YOU CAN BOARD UP YOUR WINDOWS AND DOORS AND DEFINITELY, AND THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCE AND THIS NEW CODE CHANGE, THERE'S GOING TO BE A DATE LIKE 30 DAYS OR 180 DAYS AFTER THAT.
IS THAT ENFORCEABLE ON THAT GRANNY'S.
>> NO. I'M GOING UP THE TOP OF MY HEAD HERE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE NO.
WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T GO THAT ROUTE.
>> THOSE HIGHER JURISDICTIONS, SO LIKE AID AT NEU, THINGS THAT ARE BOUGHT FROM THE STATE, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THEM A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.
BUT IT'S A GOOD CONVERSATION TO HAVE WITH THEM.
I HAVE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THOSE PROPERTIES.
IT HASN'T BEEN RECENTLY BECAUSE WE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THEIR LONG-TERM PLANS ARE.
THE ONE THING I WOULD ADD ON WHAT KEVIN WAS JUST SAYING ABOUT THE DANGEROUS BUILDINGS SECTION, SO THAT IS IN OUR BUILDING CODE AND THAT'S WHY I'D MENTIONED REVIEWING OUR BUILDING CODE AND REALLY THE STANDARD IN THE BUILDING CODE IS YEAH, YOU ELIMINATE THE DANGER AND SO THAT COULD BE REMOVAL, THAT CAN BE SECURING THE PROPERTY, WHATEVER WE DETERMINED IS YEAH, THE DANGER IS NOW ELIMINATED AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE RELY ON RATHER THAN THIS NUISANCE SECTION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE I FINISH UP?
>> I THINK YOU'RE SAFE TO CONTINUE.
>> THEN THE LAST THING WE DID IN THIS SECTION ON LITTERING IS TRYING TO MAKE ALL OF OUR PENALTIES CONSISTENT.
THIS CHAPTER HAS A WHOLE LONG SECTION ON PENALTIES AND PROCESS.
WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS LET'S USE THE GENERAL PENALTIES SECTION, WHICH IS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CITY CODE AND SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING, REPEALING THAT STRIKED OUT IN THE VERSION IN YOUR PACKET.
NEXT STEPS, I HAVE CONTACTED THE WORKING GROUP.
I'D LOVE TO COME BACK TO THEM THIS SUMMER.
IT WAS AN INFORMAL WORKING GROUP.
THERE WERE JUST BASICALLY OPEN MEETINGS AND WE JUST INVITED PEOPLE TO COME AND PARTICIPATE.
WE HAD SIX MEETINGS LAST SUMMER.
I'VE BEEN KEEPING THEM UP TO DATE ON WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS COME BACK TO THEM WITH THIS UPDATE WE'VE JUST DONE.
I'D LIKE TO WORK THROUGH THE OTHER SECTIONS WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT YET.
SPECIFICALLY NUISANCES, WHAT WE'VE JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT, WHAT I CALL ABANDONED AND DANGEROUS BUILDINGS.
THEN THERE'S A SECTION ON ABANDONED VEHICLES AND WE NEED TO FIX SOME INCONSISTENCIES WITH STATE LAW AND SOME OTHER THINGS. THOSE ARE THE TWO SECTIONS.
I'D RECOMMEND THAT YOU GIVE US DIRECTION TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON, RE-ENGAGE THIS WORKING GROUP.
I'VE TALKED WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT SOME OF THE DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS AND IF IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO AS LIKE I'M DOING TONIGHT, GIVE AN UPDATE TO SOME OF THESE COMMISSIONS AND SEEK SOME INPUT.
WE HAVEN'T QUITE IDENTIFIED WHICH ONES MIGHT BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THEY NEED TO CONSIDER AS WELL.
I THINK GETTING THAT INPUT FROM YOUR COMMISSIONERS IS IMPORTANT.
THE ONES THAT IT WOULD BE RELEVANT TO.
IT GIVES YOU MORE CITIZEN INPUT.
THEN I BELIEVE WE CAN PACKAGE ALL OF THIS TOGETHER AND COME BACK TO YOU WITH ONE AND ORDINANCE TO CREATE A NEW SECTION, THE BUILDING AND PROPERTY CARE STANDARDS AND THEN SOME AMENDMENTS TO THESE SECTIONS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET BACK TO YOU IN THE FALL, I'D REALLY LIKE TO BE BACK IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER AND TRY TO HAVE SOMETHING WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE.
THAT'S MY LAST BULLET FOR TONIGHT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HOUSE, THEN VICE MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU, MARY, AND THANK YOU, DAN.
I REALLY JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE HOW MUCH I APPRECIATED THE FOCUS THAT YOU PUT ON PAST USES OF PROPERTY CARE, ORDINANCES TO DISPLAY SLOWER INCOME FOLKS AND SOMETIMES STIMULATE GENTRIFICATION.
JUST UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATING THE FOCUS THAT YOU PUT ON
[04:05:03]
COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND NEIGHBORHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE WAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN REFORMATTED AND RE-PRESENTED.I THINK IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT SHIFT PARTICULARLY AND MOVING IT TOWARDS A CARE STANDARD VERSUS A CARE ORDINANCE.
IT MAY SEEM LIKE A SMALL WORD EXTERNALLY TO OTHER FOLKS, BUT UNDERSTANDING THE IMPLICATIONS THAT COME UNDER AN ORDINANCE VERSUS CREATING A STANDARD THAT IS RESOURCED AND FINDING WAYS TO RESOURCE UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS AND POPULATIONS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE.
I WOULD SAY IN TERMS OF THE PRESENTATION TO SELECT COMMISSION'S DEFINITELY AGREE ON THAT POINT.
TO THAT END, I THINK THE HOUSING COMMISSION WOULD DEFINITELY BE A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE.
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PERSPECTIVE THERE IN TERMS OF HOW THESE ORDINANCES HAVE BEEN USED IN THE PAST AND CAN BE DONE IN A MORE RESPONSIBLE AND PRODUCTIVE WAY UNDER THIS FORMAT.
I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE CONTINUED CONVERSATION AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE TO GET THIS TO THIS POINT.
>> WHO DID I SAY CAME NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER, NO, VICE MAYOR. SORRY.
>> I THINK SO. [NOISE] THANK YOU. I LIKE IT.
I'M PREPARED TO GO WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
I KNOW YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO LIKES TO TALK ABOUT COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT.
THERE'S THAT WORD ENFORCEMENT AGAIN.
I THINK FOR ME, IT'S A GORILLA IN THE ROOM.
HOW GOOD ARE WE AT ENFORCING WHAT WE'VE GOT ON THE BOOKS? NOT JUST HERE, BUT WITH OTHER CODE ENFORCEMENT ON ALL LEVELS.
WHAT'S THE POINT OF GETTING ALL THIS CODIFIED IF WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE THE SAME RESPONSE IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT.
I INVITE YOU TO EXPLORE IT A LITTLE BIT.
>> THIS WAS A TOPIC THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT AT THE WORKING GROUP MEETINGS LAST SUMMER.
IT WAS PROBABLY THE MAIN TOPIC IS HOW WE DO ENFORCEMENT.
IT REALLY IS OUR CODE COMPLIANCE MANAGER, REGGIE EGGLESTON, WHO'S PUT THAT INTO MY HEAD.
HE LIKES THE PROGRAM TO BE CALLED CODE COMPLIANCE.
I'LL TRY TO EXPLAIN TO YOU, AND IT'S REALLY IT IS REGGIE'S PHILOSOPHY AND I SUPPORT IT.
IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING CODE ENFORCEMENT, CODE COMPLIANCE.
WHEN THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE THERE'S A REAL CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER AND SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IMMEDIATELY WE'RE VERY AGGRESSIVE.
THIS IS DANGEROUS YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF IT VERY SHORT TIMELINE.
WE TRY TO RESOLVE THOSE THINGS QUICKLY.
THINGS LIKE BLOCKED SIDEWALKS CAME UP.
WE ARE AGGRESSIVE ON CLEARANCE OF SIDEWALKS, SEES ALL SEASON LONG, WHETHER IT BE SNOW OR BUSHES THAT ARE BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK, WHATEVER.
BUT ON OTHER THINGS THAT MAYBE DON'T PRESENT SUCH A CLEAR AND PRESENT HAZARD I'LL SAY.
THE APPROACH IS MORE ABOUT EXPLAINING THE SITUATION, SEEKING VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE RATHER THAN WRITING A TICKET.
I HATE TO PUT THIS ON REGGIE, BUT THIS IS THE WAY HE EXPLAINS IT IS THAT WE HAVE FINITE RESOURCES.
WE COULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY WRITING TICKETS, GO INTO THE MUNICIPAL COURT, GO INTO A JUDGE.
WE HAVE MIXED RESULTS WITH THAT SOMETIMES, WE DON'T DO IT VERY OFTEN.
HE BELIEVES WE HAVE MORE SUCCESS OVERALL WITH SEEKING VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.
OVERALL HE BELIEVES WE'RE HAVING MORE OF AN IMPACT AND I AGREE WITH HIM.
VERSUS REALLY FOCUSING ON A FEW THINGS AND PUTTING A LOT OF ENERGY INTO WRITING TICKETS AND TAKEN TO COURT.
I DO THINK WE CAN BE MORE AGGRESSIVE ON CERTAIN THINGS.
I'M VERY RESPECTFUL OF HIS APPROACH BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HIM ON THIS FOR MANY YEARS AND IT IS A UNIQUE APPROACH.
AT SOME POINT WHEN WE GET A NEW CODE COMPLIANCE MANAGER, THE PHILOSOPHY MAY CHANGE AND WE MAY BECOME MORE AGGRESSIVE IN WRITING MORE TICKETS.
BUT THAT'S WHY HE LIKES THE WORD COMPLIANCE BECAUSE WE'D LIKE TO EMPHASIZE VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE RATHER THAN THREATENING PEOPLE WITH, WE'RE GOING TO WRITE YOU A TICKET AND YOU'RE GOING TO START GETTING DAILY FINES.
AGAIN, THE IDEA IS WE CAN ACHIEVE MORE RELATING TO PEOPLE ON A HUMAN BASIS AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THEIR SITUATION.
THAT'S ANOTHER PIECE OF IT, IS UNDERSTANDING THE SITUATION.
WHAT IS THEIR ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THE SITUATION? IT'S A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES THAT WE DEAL WITH.
WE DO GET NEIGHBORS WHO ARE FRUSTRATED THAT WE'RE NOT GIVING TOO MUCH TIME AND THE PROBLEM ISN'T BEING RESOLVED QUICKLY ENOUGH.
[04:10:07]
HAVE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION? THAT'S MY EXPLANATION OF OUR APPROACH.>> WELL, IT WASN'T OPEN-ENDED QUESTION.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR APPROACH AND I RESPECT IT IN LOT OF WAYS.
THE OTHER THING I JUST WANTED TO SAY IS I FIND IT INTERESTING, THE POWERS THAT YOU'VE POINTED OUT THAT WE HAVE AS A COUNCIL, IT BRING THINGS FORWARD NOW.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'D LIKE TO STATE I'D BE WILLING TO ENGAGE WITH THAT.
BUT AS COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS POINTED OUT, SOMETIMES WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.
IF ANYONE WANTS TO COME FORWARD WITH THE PROPERTY, THEY'D LIKE LOOKED AT I'D BE HAPPY TO UTILIZE THIS TOOL THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS.
>> WE DO MAINTAIN A LIST OF WHAT I WOULD CALL THE PROBLEM.
I CONSIDER THEM ABANDONED PROPERTIES.
THEY'RE JUST NOT OCCUPIED, THEY'RE BOARDED UP.
NOBODY'S REALLY DO ANYTHING WITH THEM.
REGGIE'S OUT THERE AND HIS TEAM QUITE OFTEN RE-SECURING THEM.
THERE'S ONE ON CATCH THAT COMES UP A LOT.
WE DID CLEAN THAT ONE UP ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO.
WE ACTUALLY CLEANED IT UP AND PUT A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY FOR THE COST OF THAT CLEANUP.
>> OR GRAB YOUR LIST AND LET'S GO OUT.
>> WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE THE SAME THING WITH SIDEWALKS THIS WINTER.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A CONTRACTOR, WE'VE HIRED DECLARE SIDEWALKS AND THEN WE BUILD THE OWNER THINGS ON COMMERCIAL ROUTE, SCHOOL ROUTES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THAT WAY.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS THEN COUNCIL MEMBER MCCARTHY.
>> I APPRECIATE REGGIE'S STANCE ON HOW TO GET PEOPLE THE CARE RATHER THAN THE STICKS, SO I LIKE THAT.
BUT HOW LONG DO WE DANGLE THE CARROT? THAT'S JUST SOMETHING FOR US TO THINK ABOUT.
WE COULD DANGLE THE CARED FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND IT GETS US NOWHERE.
THEN THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT IS THAT IF WE'RE USING OUR RESOURCES TO GO BACK ONCE A WEEK, ONCE A MONTH TO CHECK WITH THE PERSON.
I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN SET SOME SYSTEM IN PLACE WHERE WE MAKE PROGRESS TOWARD THE PERSON TELLS US WHAT I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY.
IS THERE SOME ORGANIZATION THAT WE CAN CALL TO SAY HERE'S THE PERSON THAT YOU NEED TO TALK TO SO THAT YOU'RE NOT USING YOUR RESOURCES OVER AND OVER FOR THE SAME THING AND GETTING NOWHERE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DEAL WITH THAT BECAUSE THAT'S TIME AND MONEY THAT HE AND HIS STAFF COULD BE DOING SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT TO WHAT END DO WE DO THAT CARROT APPROACH AND HOW OFTEN DO WE EXTEND THAT CARROT? ANYWAY.
>> I WAS JUST LOOKING TO SEE IF REGGIE WAS ON.
HE WAS GOING TO MAYBE LISTENING TONIGHT.
WE DO SOME OF THAT, SO WE DO HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT CAN HELP OUT.
WE GET GROUPS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEER PROJECTS.
WE'LL HAVE THEM DO A CLEAN UP.
I'M TRYING TO THINK OF SOME OF OUR OTHER EXAMPLES WHERE WE HAVE MATCHED PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES TO TRY TO HELP THEM.
WE'VE ACTUALLY RESOLVED A NUMBER OF HOARDING SITUATIONS, WHICH IS A VERY, IT'S A PRIVACY ISSUE.
WE DON'T TALK A LOT ABOUT IT, BUT THAT'S WHERE REGGIE REALLY WILL START TO FIND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS THAT CAN HELP THE SITUATION.
AGAIN, A HUMAN APPROACH TO IT.
BUT WE NEED [OVERLAPPING] TO FIND A TIME TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE, I THINK.
RIGHT TO TAKE IT AND I THINK WE JUST NEED TO FIND WHEN IS THAT.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH REGGIE'S APPROACH OF TRYING TO GET SOME VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.
HOWEVER, THERE COMES A TIME WHEN THAT DOESN'T WORK AND YOU HAVE TO GO TO ENFORCEMENT.
I WASN'T GOING TO MENTION SPECIFIC PROPERTIES, BUT YOU MENTIONED THE HOUSE ON, HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE IT? CATCH.
>> CATCH. IT WAS PROBABLY TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO THAT SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS INVITED ME TO COME OVER AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT PROPERTY.
AT THAT POINT, THE FRONT DOOR WAS OPEN.
IT WASN'T JUST UNLOCKED, IT WAS LITERALLY OPEN.
OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE BEEN LIVING THERE USING THE FLOOR AS A BATHROOM.
YOU COULD SMELL IT AND IT WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
WELL, SINCE THEN THEY BOARDED IT UP.
BUT THE NEIGHBORS ARE EXTREMELY UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS.
[04:15:01]
I CAN'T IMAGINE A HOUSE LIKE THAT BEING NEXT TO MY HOUSE.THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE NEED IN THE ORDINANCE.
BUT WHAT I'M HEARING TONIGHT IS ACTUALLY WE HAVE TEETH IN THE ORDINANCE ALREADY WHERE WE COULD ADDRESS THAT CERTAIN PROPERTY.
>> BUT I GUESS MY MAJOR POINT IS THAT WE NEED AN ORDINANCE THAT CAN EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS PROPERTIES LIKE THAT.
BUT AS YOU POINTED OUT, WE DON'T WANT TO BE THE PEELING PAINT POLICE AND BE NITPICKY.
I THINK I REMEMBER WHEN THIS CAME UP TO COUNSEL.
THERE WAS CONCERN THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE THE HOA NANNY POLICE OR WHATEVER.
WE JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THESE SERIOUS ISSUES LIKE WE SEE ON CATCH.
IF SOMEBODY'S GOT SOME MINOR ISSUES, IT'S LIKE, HEY, MOVE ON.
WE GOT BETTER THINGS TO DO WITH OUR LIFE.
ANYWAY, IN SUMMARY, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN NOT GETTING INTO NITPICKY STUFF.
THEN AS I SAID IN MY EMAIL, I HAD A COUPLE SUGGESTIONS ON ONE OF YOUR DEFINITIONS AND STUFF THAT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL.
>> I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
>> HOPEFULLY YOU INCORPORATE THAT.
THEN IN ALL HONESTY, I HAVEN'T READ THOROUGHLY EVERY PART OF THE PACKET.
BUT I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THE NEXT SENTENCE COMES BACK.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. REGGIE JUST TEXTED ME AND HE SAID HE IS LISTENING, BUT HE'S HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE LINK, SO HE'S UNABLE TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT DAN'S POSING TO HIM, BUT HE DID ASK ME TO SAY IT AND I WORK WITH REGGIE.
I'M THE ATTORNEY WHO WORKS WITH CODE COMPLIANCE, AND I'VE WORKED WITH REGGIE FOR YEARS NOW.
I WILL SAY THAT HIS APPROACH 99% OF THE TIME WORKS.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES ENFORCEMENT DIFFICULT AND WHY WE'RE FINALLY GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE NOW, WHICH IS REALLY WORKING WITH SOME OF THESE CODE PROVISIONS.
BECAUSE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS, I WOULD HEAR FROM REGGIE ON A CITATION TYPE ISSUE ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS.
THEN WE'D HAVE TO DISCUSS AGAIN HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, WHICH PROCESS WE'RE GOING TO USE.
DIG INTO THE CODES, REALIZE THAT THEY DON'T REALLY PROVIDE THE ENFORCEMENT TOOL THAT WE WANT OR IT MAKES IT A LITTLE DIFFICULT.
THEN HE WOULD END UP GETTING A SOLUTION AND WE'D FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO CITE.
THEN THREE YEARS LATER HE WOULD ASK ME AGAIN, HEY, NOW I HAVE TO CITE AGAIN AND THAT JUST SHOWS YOU THAT HIS PROCESS, I THINK WORKS. I AGREE WITH DAN.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME TIMES WHERE WE CAN BE A LITTLE MORE ENFORCEMENT ORIENTED, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY HE DOES SUCH A GOOD JOB.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT SOMETIMES IS BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT PROCESS IN PLACE.
THAT'S PARTIALLY ON OUR OFFICE AS WELL AS THE CITY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT THROUGH THIS PROCESS WITH DAN.
THEN ALSO WITH RESPECT TO THE NUISANCE CODE THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OR THIS SECTION OF THE CODE. IT IS THERE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO UTILIZE IN SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS LIKE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE LET DAN FINISH THIS PROCESS BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WITH STARTING WITH THESE PROPERTY CARE STANDARDS, LEANING ON SOME OF THESE SECTIONS.
THEN MY REQUEST HAS BEEN TO TWEAK SOME OF THESE SECTIONS.
AS I WAS POINTING THIS OUT TO GREG EARLIER, IF YOU LOOK AT WHEN THAT NUISANCE SECTION WAS ADOPTED, IT WAS, I THINK 1936.
THERE'S A REASON WHY SOME OF THE LANGUAGE [LAUGHTER] IN THERE IS A LITTLE OFF, SOME OF THE THINGS THEY REFER TO.
THAT'S MY REQUEST OF DAN IS LET'S GET THROUGH THIS FIRST PART AND THEN LET'S GO INTO THOSE SECTIONS AND CLEAN THEM UP A BIT.
IF WE DO WANT TO USE THEM, THEY MAKE MORE SENSE FOR HOW OUR COURTS ARE CURRENTLY STRUCTURED NOW OR HOW ARE PROCESSES CURRENTLY STRUCTURED.
BECAUSE REALLY, THERE'S NO REASON WHY THAT SHOULDN'T BE ADMINISTRATIVE AND WE SHOULDN'T BE HAVING TO DO A FAIR ITEM WITH COUNCIL TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT REALLY SHOULD FALL UNDER OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL IN MY OPINION.
BUT DAN AND I CAN TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT.
AT THE END OF THIS, IT SAYS ORDINANCE 297101436.
I GUESS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN OCTOBER 14, 1936 WHEN ORDINANCE 297 WAS-
>> DOES THAT MEAN THAT WAS THE 297TH ORDINANCE IN THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF?
>> YEAH. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
STACY SITTING BACK THERE, SHE WOULD KNOW FOR SURE IF SHE'S PROBABLY NODDING HER HEAD.
BUT IF YOU RECALL, WHEN WE DEALT WITH THE SIDEWALK ORDINANCE, IT WAS THE SAME THING.
SCOTT CAME IN AND TALKING ABOUT THAT.
WE DO HAVE SOME ORDINANCES ON OUR BOOKS THAT WE NEED TO CLEAN UP, AND THIS JUST HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THEM TO UPDATE.
IT'S UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE A FEW THAT WE'LL LOOK AT, BUT WE'LL GET ON TOP OF THOSE AND BRING THEM BACK AND GET THOSE AMENDED.
[04:20:01]
>> THANK YOU. DAN, I'M HOPING THAT THE COMMISSION ON INCLUSION AND ADAPTIVE LIVING IS ON YOUR LIST.
I THINK THAT MANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WOULD HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? ANYBODY? DAN, THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE ONE CLOSING COMMENT.
IT IS THAT, REGGIE HAS TAUGHT ME THESE THINGS.
I HATE SAYING THIS IS REGGIE'S WAY OF DOING THINGS.
IT'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS WAY OF DOING THINGS.
AGAIN, I JUST, I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM HIM AND HIS APPROACH TO THIS, AND IT IS VERY UNIQUE.
I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL APPROACH, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR.
I WOULD SAY IT'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS APPROACH.
>> I THINK EVERYONE THINKS REGGIE IS A ROCKSTAR.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT PUTTING THEM ON THE HOT SEAT.
THANK YOU ALL. WE'LL SEE YOU LATER THIS YEAR.
>> I DON'T SEE ANY PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS TO FROM MAYOR,
[13. Informational Items To/From Mayor, Council, and City Manager; future agenda item requests]
COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER.FUTURE AGENDA ITEM REQUESTS? COUNCIL MEMBER MATTHEWS?
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A FEW THINGS.
I'M EXCITED TO ATTEND THE SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, SECOND ANNUAL JUNETEENTH GALA ON FRIDAY.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, AS WELL AS POLICE APPRECIATION DAY TOMORROW.
I HAD A COUPLE OF REALLY GREAT MEETINGS LAST WEEK WITH NICOLE AND GINNY FROM SUSTAINABILITY AS WELL AS JANET DEAN AND STACY DERSTENE, THE VP OF APS, TALKING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALL THOSE GREAT THINGS.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AN ARTICLE THAT I RECEIVED.
I'M ALWAYS ABOUT FOREST HEALTH AND HOW THAT NEEDS TO STAY IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR OUR CARBON NEUTRALITY GOALS AND OUR VERY OWN SCOTT GETS FROM NYU AND SOME VERY PRESTIGIOUS COLLEAGUES OF HIS FROM UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA AND WCS ARGENTINA, CONSERVATIVE INTERNATIONAL, UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND JUST PUBLISHED A PAPER WHICH THE RESEARCH WAS A LITTLE OVER MY HEAD ABOUT FOREST HEALTH AND HOW IT AFFECTS CARBON EMISSIONS WHICH IS FAIRLY BASIC.
BUT THEY CAME UP WITH SOME REALLY AMAZING NEW STUDIES.
AND ONE THING THAT I THOUGHT REALLY JUMPED OUT AT ME WAS, THIS PARAGRAPH THAT SCOTT WROTE IN HIS SUMMARY THAT SAID, THE STUDY HIGHLIGHTS THE URGENCY OF PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF BIODIVERSITY, CONSERVATION, AND CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AS EMPHASIZED BY THE LATEST REPORT BY THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE.
THE IPCC FOUND THAT NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS SUCH AS REDUCING THE DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS AND OTHER ECOSYSTEMS, RESTORING THEM AND IMPROVING THE MANAGEMENT OF WORKING LANDS, SUCH AS FARMS ARE AMONG THE TOP FIVE MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR MITIGATING CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2030.
SO I JUST BRING THAT UP BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF GOALS IN DIFFERENT PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON, BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT BACK IN TO THE FOREFRONT THAT OUR FOREST AND OUR FOREST HEALTH IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST, MOST EFFECTIVE THINGS WE CAN DO TO MITIGATE CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2030.
AND IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN THE ARTICLE AND THE RESEARCH STUDY, I'M HAPPY TO FORWARD IT TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS.
>> YES, I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
SO I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORY LESSON.
JUNETEENTH IS THIS SATURDAY, AT LEAST WE'RE CELEBRATING IT THIS SATURDAY.
PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T KNOW, BUT WE'VE BEEN DOING A JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR PROBABLY OVER 60 YEARS.
FOR A LOT OF THOSE YEARS, IT WAS DONE AT THE COGDILL RECREATION CENTER AND IT WAS PUT ON BY CITY STAFF, DANNY NEIL, CRYSTAL WARDEN, AND TYRONE JOHNSON FOR MANY YEARS.
AND WHEN THAT CENTER WAS TURNED INTO A BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, GREAT IDEA, THEY THEY ALL GOT DISBURSED TO DIFFERENT PLACES AND SO IT WAS HARD FOR THEM TO CONTINUE.
SO THE SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION AND THE
[04:25:01]
COCONINO COUNTY AFRICAN DIASPORA ADVISORY COUNCIL TOOK THE PROJECT ON.WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR THE LAST 10 OR 12 YEARS, I BELIEVE.
WE'VE BEEN HOSTING IT AT THE MURDOCH COMMUNITY CENTER.
HUGE THANK YOU TO NAU BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND SO WE HAD TO CHANGE OUR VENUE, AND NAU HAS GRACIOUSLY GIVEN US THE SOUTH BEAVER SCHOOL.
THANK YOU TO THEM AND I HOPE THAT WHEN CITY STAFF HAS THAT OPPORTUNITY OR ANYONE, PUBLIC HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SOMEONE FROM NAU THAT THEY ALSO THANK THEM FOR US.
ALSO A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR CITY STAFF AND I THINK THEY LEFT, PROS LEFT, BECAUSE WE DID NOT REALIZE THAT WE NEEDED A PERMIT FOR THE STREETS, BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THE STREETS BELONGED TO NAU.
WELL, A LOT OF THINGS BELONG TO NAU, BUT THE STREETS DON'T.
WE HAD TO GET A PERMIT IN A VERY SHORT TIME AND OUR PRO STAFF HAVE BEEN AMAZING TO HELP US GET THAT DONE.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO EXTEND THE INVITATION TO EVERYONE TO COME TO JUNETEENTH AT THE SOUTH BEAVER SCHOOL ON SATURDAY FROM 10:00 AM-4:00 PM.
I HOPE THAT I CAN SEE ALL OF YOU THERE AND HAVE SOME FUN WITH US. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. IT'D BE EXCITING TO BE INSIDE SOUTH BEAVER SCHOOL AGAIN.
>> BUT WE CAN GO INSIDE TOO IF WE NEED TO.
>> IT'D BE EXCITING TO SEE THE SCHOOL. VICE MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. I'LL BE BRIEF.
I MISSED LAST WEEK'S COUNCIL MEETING BECAUSE I WAS IN ALBUQUERQUE WITH DAN FOLKE AND GEOFF BELLMAN REPRESENTING THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF AT THE INVITATION OF THE US NAVAL OBSERVATORY.
LOWELL OBSERVATORY WAS ALSO IN ATTENDANCE WITH US.
AT THE AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY'S SEMI-ANNUAL CONFERENCE, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT ON A ALL DAY LONG PANEL DISCUSSION ON DARK SKIES LIGHTING.
THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE INVOLVED WITH IT.
SOME OTHER EVENTS IN THE EVENING ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SOME HORIZONTAL LEARNING AND INSPIRATION FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES LOOKING TO DARKEN THEIR NIGHT SKIES.
IT WAS A HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE INVITED TO BE A PART OF THAT AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE PERKS OF THE WORLD GETTING TO SPREAD GOOD POLICIES AND PRACTICES THROUGH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE MADAM MAYOR, FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE THERE FOR THAT.
SAD TO MISS THE MEETING, BUT THAT WAS SCHEDULED A LONG TIME AGO AND I WASN'T ABOUT TO RENEGE ON THE US NAVAL OBSERVATORY IN THEIR REQUEST AND THEIR INVITATION.
IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL CONVERSATION ALL WEEK LONG AND LOOKING FORWARD TO REPEATING AND REPLICATING THAT IN OTHER AREAS AND OTHER AVENUES. THAT'S ALL FOR TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCCARTHY.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS WONDERING IF THE HOUSING STAFF COULD FOLLOW UP ON THE COMMENTS OF THE WOMAN THAT SPOKE DURING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WERE SOME MAYBE RULES THAT COULD BE CHANGED THAT WOULD HELP PEOPLE GET INTO HOUSING.
I DIDN'T FOLLOW ALL THE DETAILS OF IT, BUT IT SOUNDED INTERESTING ENOUGH THAT IT WOULD BE WORTHY OF SOME FOLLOW-UP.
THAT'S MY ONLY ITEM FOR TONIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SWEET.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WENT OUT TO RED GAP RANCH WITH AARON YOUNG.
IF YOU ALL HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.
IT WAS GREAT TO SEE IT IN PERSON AND UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT WE'RE DOING OUT THERE.
TOMORROW THERE IS THE FLAGSTAFF POLICE DEPARTMENT APPRECIATION DAY.
IT'S FROM 8:00-10:00 OUT OF THE POLICE STATION ON SAWMILL.
I WILL BE MAKING HAND DONE OR HAND BAKED CINNAMON APPLE ROLLS.
I'M DOING THAT TONIGHT WHEN I GET HOME, SO HOPEFULLY THEY'RE GOOD, I'M PRETTY TIRED.
THEN I LEAVE TOMORROW FOR TELLURIDE FOR MY 30TH YEAR OF BLUEGRASS, SO I'M PRETTY EXCITED.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A FAIR TO INTRODUCE TONIGHT.
THE CHAIR OF CODA, JEAN TONER HINTED AT THIS EARLIER.
I JUST WANT TO START BY THANKING CODA FOR DOING A LOT OF WORK ON THIS ALREADY.
THE FAIR IS IN REGARDS TO JUNETEENTH.
IT WAS DESIGNATED AS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY IN 2021 AND IT'S SLOWLY BEEN
[04:30:01]
ADOPTED AS AN OFFICIAL STATE AND LOCAL MUNICIPAL HOLIDAY ACROSS THE NATION EVER SINCE.TONIGHT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE A FAIR ITEM FOR OUR CONSIDERATION OF JUNETEENTH AS AN OFFICIAL HOLIDAY FOR THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF.
THE COMMISSION ON DIVERSITY AWARENESS HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK ON THIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INDIGENOUS COMMISSION ON THE RECOMMENDATION FOR JUNETEENTH AS WELL AS THE RECOMMENDATION FOR AN OFFICIAL COMMEMORATION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY, AND SO I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE AT LEAST THE FIRST PART OF THAT RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST, TOMORROW NIGHT, DOWNTOWN MILE, PUBLIC MEETING, 5:30 HERE AT CITY HALL.
IT'D BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND HEAR SOME OF THE DETAILS OF WHAT THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
THERE'S A POLLINATOR FEST ON SUNDAY FROM 10:00-2:00 AT THE ARBORETUM, AND THIS IS POLLINATOR AWARENESS MONTH SO I HOPE MANY OF YOU CAN ATTEND THAT.
TOMORROW, I'M TAPING A PODCAST ALONG WITH THE COCONINO COALITION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, AND IT'S REGARDING THE VITALYST SYSTEMS CHANGE GRANT, WHICH IS A THREE-YEAR GRANT THAT THEY RECEIVED.
THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND MANY ORGANIZATIONS IN FLAGSTAFF ARE GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING WITH THEM TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM SO THAT FLAGSTAFF CAN BECOME KNOWN AS A TRAUMA-INFORMED COMMUNITY AND THERE WILL BE WAY MORE INFORMATION COMING ABOUT THAT.
I SPENT SOME TIME WITH FIREFIGHTERS AT STATION 3 ON FRIDAY LAST AND SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS REALLY GETTING TO KNOW THEM AND TALKING TO THEM ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS AND WHAT THEY SEE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
LAST WEEK, HAD A PRETTY QUICK MEETING WITH ARIZONA TREASURER, YEE.
AN INTERESTING THING, I HAD A MEETING WITH THE GUIDANCE CENTER STAFF AND THEY WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT THEY OFFER AND YET THE COMMUNITY TENDS TO ONLY THINK OF THEM AS THE PLACE WHERE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BEING INVOLUNTARILY COMMITTED OR SEEN BY PSYCHIATRIC MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS GO, BUT THEY OFFER ALL KINDS OF COUNSELING SERVICES AND THEY'LL EVEN TAILOR COUNSELING SERVICES.
THEY HAVE A TRUCK THAT'S FULLY LOADED WITH ALL KINDS OF MATERIALS.
THEY'LL GO OUT TO SCHOOLS AND DO COUNSELING.
THEY'LL SET UP GROUPS FOR ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN A REGULAR GROUP AROUND ANY TOPIC.
SO I DIDN'T KNOW ALL OF THAT AND I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY INTERESTING.
CITY MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
>> SO WE'RE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.