Prescott eNews

Today's joint Council meeting will not be the first; this meeting was held in August 2008 regarding the project.

Some historic decisions are expected to be made today and tomorrow by local councils in special meetings and retreats.

Members of the press will be given a “heads-up” briefing by Regional Programs Director Craig McConnell this morning prior to a 2 p.m. joint Prescott-Prescott Valley Council Special Session at Prescott Public Library.

The special session agenda calls for votes from both councils on an agreement between both communities and Salt River Project on the Big Chino Water Project.

This follows six years of debate, public forums, hearings and court proceedings regarding whether Prescott and Prescott Valley have the right to build a pipeline north of Paulden to import water from outside the Prescott Active (Water) Management Area to reach safe yield in the future.

“On December 7, 2004, the Town of Prescott Valley entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Prescott to participate in the Big Chino Water Project. As the Project has moved forward, various administrative and legal complaints have been filed against it, including the Salt River Project,” states Prescott Valley Town Manager Larry Tarkowski in the town’s agenda on this special meeting.

“In response to those objections (and, in accordance with the IGA) the Town has joined with the City of Prescott in a number of administrative and legal actions defending the Project,” he further states. “Recently, representatives from the two communities and SRP entered into settlement of the objections filed by SRP. An Agreement-in-Principle among the City of Prescott, the Town and SRP that will lead to further negotiations has been developed and is now proposed for consideration by the Town Council.”

The Fiscal Analysis portion of the agenda states, “The Town has long recognized the benefit of this Project for its long-term future. This Agreement-in-Principle helps move the project forward. In the short-term, it may also result in reduced expenditures towards defense in the objections raised.”

PV Council Session

Prescott Valley Council then plans to meet at 5:30 p.m. tonight for their regular voting session at the Prescott Valley Civic Center, 7501 E. Civic Circle Drive.

Major issues up for vote include:

Approving a $55,552 contract with Markham Contracting for finishing touches along the Bison Lane Multi-Use Path; connecting local schools to the town center. The Safety Project involves building a rock lining along the roadway drainage ditch for a physical barrier between traffic and the path. Plans call for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new, federally-funded path to take place at 1:45 p.m. next Tuesday at Bison Lane and Pine View Drive, off Glassford Hill Road and Lakeshore Drive.

Approving a 25-acre zoning amendment on Fain and Cattle Co. land south of Long Look Drive and east of Glassford Hill Road. The rezoning request is intended to allow the property to be developed for retail, restaurants and offices. The Town’s agreement calls for a one-story, 24-foot maximum height of all buildings constructed on the property within 200-feet from Long Look Drive and a 30-foot green space buffer.

Retreats

Prescott and Dewey-Humboldt Councils plan separate budget retreats tomorrow. Both councils are expected to discuss major needs in their communities and what funding they have available to meet those needs. This annual process generally determines staff and council priorities, spending direction for the rest of the fiscal year and a path to be taken for the coming fiscal year.