Dear Friends and Neighbors, In recent months, our community experienced the destruction, fear and challenge of a terrible fire Office of the Board of Supervisors Coconino County 219 E. Cherry Ave. Flagstaff, AZ 86001 season. Our citizens responded with grace and and individuals who responded to the fire and to our community’s needs. The caring attitudes and spirit demonstrated during the Woody, Brins and Warm Fires exemplify the strength of our community. US Postage PD Permit No. 113 Flagstaff, AZ strength, from the front lines of the fire to the evacuation shelters. Thank you to all the agencies PRSRT STD * * E C RW S S * * Postal Customer Coconino County (CONT. FROM COVER) As the fires illustrated, emergency preparedness is essential. While the avian flu virus has yet to become a pandemic, it is important to recognize the possibility and plan for it. This year, the County collaborated with municipalities, school districts, medical providers and community-based agencies to develop a Pandemic Flu Preparedness Plan (see page 17). This has been an exciting year for Coconino County. The opening of the Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill County Park in May was a wonderful event, complete with excellent local talent and a great turnout. The Amphitheater is a wonderful addition to the performing arts scene in Northern Arizona and has brought people from throughout the County—and the entire Southwest—out to enjoy live music. We are also proud of our TeenWorks program and another highly successful year (see page 7). Teens aged 14 and 15 are paid to work in their communities for the summer. There are TeenWorks crews throughout the County, including Page, Leupp, Williams, Fort Valley, Mountainaire, Doney Park and Flagstaff. Look for these youth work crews and their achievements in your neighborhood! Other collaborations include continued work with the Alliance For The Second Century, a public agency partnership; and the Coconino County Water Plateau Advisory Council. The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council remains strong and active, bringing together the courts, jail and law enforcement agencies throughout the County to enhance our award-winning criminal justice system (see page 11). A critical issue facing the County this year is the Jail District deficit. We want to thank the Citizens Committee for spending many, many hours reviewing the Jail District’s financial situation and operations. Based on the Committee’s recommendations, the Jail District Board of Directors (Board of Supervisors) placed two questions (Questions 1 & 2) on the September 12 ballot—one that asks voters to consider raising the Jail District Sales Tax by 2/10 of a cent, and one that extends the tax for another 15 years. The increased sales tax will eliminate the Jail District deficit and fund a new In-Custody Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program. We encourage you to review the information on pages14 and 15. We are proud of the County’s accomplishments and ask for your continuing support as we work to improve the health and safety of our communities, our families and our environment. Sincerely, COCONINO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS The County continues to embrace a systemic and collaborative approach to addressing community issues. We are working in your community, and in every community throughout the County, collaborating with agencies and individuals to create real change. This year, we have undertaken such endeavors as the Intake Triage Unit, Sustainable Economic Development Initiative, Meth Task Force, and preservation of Picture Canyon. Matt Ryan, Chairman, District 3 Louise Yellowman, Vice Chairman, District 5 Elizabeth Archuleta, District 2 Deb Hill, District 4 Carl Taylor, District 1 WHAT’S INSIDE? Board of Supervisors Letter to Citizens.............................................................. 1- 2 Letter from Interim County Manager Steve Peru....................................................3 Letter From Sheriff Pribil...........................................................................................3 Amphitheater Opens to Rave Revues!.....................................................................4 Friends of the Parks.................................................................................................4 Picture Canyon........................................................................................................4 Sawmill Park & Willow Bend Environmental Education Center................................4 The Loop Trail.......................................................................................................... 5 Sheriff’s Inmate Crews Work at Fort Tuthill.............................................................5 End of Summer Events............................................................................................5 Coconino Rural Environment Corps (CREC)........................................................5-6 2006 Fire Season............................................................................................ ........6 Arizona Strip Economic Alliance...............................................................................7 TeenWorks—Connecting Communities..................................................................7 Youth Workforce Council Teen Job Fair..................................................................8 KKONA—Grandparents Raising Grandchildren......................................................8 Employer Services Team.........................................................................................8 Elections—Lots of Changes in 2006!......................................................................9 New Voter ID Requirements....................................................................................9 Transportation Services Transitions to NAIPTA......................................................10 Law Library/Self-Help Center................................................................................ 10 DUI/Drug Court.....................................................................................................10 Sheriff’s Meth Grant...............................................................................................11 DUI/Drug Court Meth Report................................................................................11 Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Update......................................................11 Sheriff’s Office Boat Patrol....................................................................................12 Cold Case Squad....................................................................................12 SWAT/Tactical Team................................................................................12 New Vehicle Graphics.............................................................................12 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).................................... 13 Search & Rescue.................................................................................... 13 Domestic Violence Division.................................................................... 13 Phlebotomy Program...............................................................................13 Jail District Sales Tax Information.....................................................................14-15 2 Coconino County Budget .....................................................................................16 Understanding Property Taxes...............................................................................17 Online Food Handler Certification..........................................................................17 Pandemic Flu Planning...........................................................................................17 Health Department Photo Voice Project................................................................18 Teen Maze Helps Teens Answer Tough Questions...............................................18 Health Department Offers Copies of Birth Certificates.........................................18 Take Time for Teeth—It’s a Family Matter..............................................................19 Senior Services.....................................................................................................19 Volunteer Opportunities ........................................................................................19 Moving Beyond Poverty .......................................................................................20 Justice 2025 Project Moves Forward.....................................................................20 Genesis X—Adult Probation Partners with Communities......................................20 County Attorney Services..................................................................................... 21 Public Defender & Legal Defender Work Together................................................21 County Mission Statement....................................................................................21 Public Works Build Partnerships for a Better Community.....................................22 Public Works Road Maintenance............................................................22 Recycling.................................................................................................22 Household Hazardous Waste Collection.................................................22 Noxious Weed Eradication......................................................................22 Forest Materials Collection.....................................................................23 Community Clean-ups............................................................................ 23 Engineering Services...............................................................................23 County Values Statement.....................................................................................23 Kachina Village Improvement District (KVID).........................................................24 Emergency Preparedness—Got Plans?................................................................24 Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)......................................................25 GIS Online Mapping Website Enhancements........................................................25 County Vision Statement......................................................................................25 Service Directory..............................................................................................26-27 County Website New Look...................................................................................28 Electronic Maps Now Available.............................................................................28 Tracking Permits and Licenses Online...................................................................28 “We see our diversity as part of what makes our County a tremendously rich place to live and it gives us a competitive edge in the marketplace.” Dear Citizens, It is my pleasure to present the 7th Annual Report to Citizens. I am excited to return to the County Manager position and to continue the good work of former County Manager John Holmes. The Board of Supervisors and County staff appreciated his enthusiasm and genuine concern for the employees and our citizens, and we wish him well in his retirement. It has been a year of change for the County. We have partnered and collaborated with a variety of service providers to more effectively and efficiently deliver our programs and services. In a year characterized by fires, pandemic flu preparedness, soaring costs of living, increasing health care costs, and a growing demand for social services, we continue to rely on the commitment of our staff and partnerships with other regional organizations to systemically address these challenges. At the same time, we continue to seek opportunities to consolidate our services and make them more accessible to our citizens. Arizona. By offering our employees greater choices in their health care options, flexible benefits and outstanding training opportunities, we give back to the community by investing in our people. Our commitment also extends to the representation and acknowledgment of the diversity of the County— in our staff and on our many citizen Boards, Commissions, Committees and Councils. We see our diversity as part of what makes our County a tremendously rich place to live and it gives us a competitive advantage in the marketplace. We seek to reflect our diversity in everything we do We continue to work with our Alliance partners—City of Flagstaff, Coconino Community College, Flagstaff Unified School District and Northern Arizona University to develop proactive approaches to attract the best and brightest talent to northern If you haven’t logged on yet, I encourage you to visit the Resource Action Network of Northern Arizona (RANNA) website at www.coconino.az.gov/resourcedirectory This “one stop” guide to social services in northern Arizona includes hundreds of local programs and services. Sheriff Bill Pribil has been an inspiration with his commitment to internal efficiencies and improvements and for his leadership role with the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC). Led by Presiding Superior Court Judge Fred Newton, the CJCC includes members of the criminal justice system who focus on the shared goal of moving people quickly through the system, while administering justice fairly, and providing programs and support to people suffering from substance abuse, mental health issues and other challenges. As you flip through the pages of this newsletter, you will see a number of accomplishments that demonstrate our commitment to working with other leaders to tackle some of the big issues affecting citizens and families of northern Arizona. Together with thirty other partners, the County has taken a lead role in developing strategies to address long-term water use on the Coconino Plateau. The recently formed Coconino Plateau Water Partnership includes local, state, federal, tribal and municipal water managers who have come together to develop strategies to manage our water re s o u rces and implement conservation practices to ensure the best use of this precious resource. Our Online Permit Center is another example of how we have combined “like” services in one central location so citizens can avoid making a trip, or multiple trips, to County offices to conduct business. Check out the Permit Center at www.coconino.az.gov/cocopal and will continue our efforts to provide our materials and information in languages that reflect our area’s population; and provide services that meet the diverse needs of our citizens. Our strategic planning process is helping us anticipate future service needs and find innovative ways to deliver them. Our updated website reflects a more user-friendly approach with a new look and search functions to provide customers with easy access to County services. If you haven’t already done so, log on to www.coconino.az.gov and tell us what you think. Dear Friends and Neighbors, In just a few weeks, on September 12, voters will be asked to decide whether or not to increase and/or extend the Jail District Sales Tax. The Jail District serves all of Coconino County, including the cities and towns within the County—Flagstaff, Page, Williams, Sedona, Fredonia and Tuba City. Voters will be asked to authorize an increase of 2/10 of one cent in the Jail District Sales Tax rate; and to extend the term of the Jail District Sales Tax for an additional 15 years. When the new jail was planned ten years ago, a Citizens Committee did an extensive jail study and recommended a 1/2 cent Jail District sales tax to support the construction and operation of the new jail. The Board of Supervisors chose to be fiscally conservative and asked for a vote on a 3/10 cent sales tax instead of the full 1/2 cent. The voters approved this tax and the new jail was built. The lower tax saved County taxpayers over $28 million over the ten year period, but has resulted in a deficit in the funding and operation of the jail today. While this was a great first step for our community, the jail could not be funded through sales taxes alone. To supplement revenues and cover jail operation costs, the Jail District rents jail beds to other jurisdictions. While bed rentals While it has been a year of challenges, I am personally excited and renewed by the enthusiasm and ability of our employees to work in partnership and collaboration to tackle the big challenges our community faces. And they do it with a spirit of ingenuity and commitment to our citizens that characterizes Coconino County. Sincerely, Steve Peru Interim County Manager have generated over $11 million in the last five years, the Jail District can no longer rely on renting beds to support it financially; bed rentals are cyclical and an unreliable source of revenue. As we are well aware, substance abuse is a serious problem for our community. Drug and alcohol related crimes and behaviors contribute significantly to our jail population. An intake triage unit (detox center) is currently being developed and jointly funded by Flagstaff Medical Center, City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, The Guidance Center, Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority (NARBHA) and tribal governments. However, there is no jail program to address substance abuse issues for incarcerated individuals because there is no funding available. An In-Custody Substance Abuse Treatment Program would enhance the detox center program and could contribute to a successful outcome for these individuals. This program is currently being developed and, if the sales tax increase is passed, we will implement the program in the jail. Coconino County is not alone in addressing the increasing challenges of our criminal justice system. Our jail is at a critical juncture in balancing budgets and providing the level of service needed to adequately protect and serve our community. A properly functioning jail is vital to maintaining the quality and security of our community. Please take some time to review the information about the Jail District Sales Tax initiative on pages 14 and 15. In commitment to serving you and the community, Sheriff Bill Pribil 3 Spend a Little Time in Jail. You’ll Learn A Lot. Are you curious about what goes on behind the doors of our community’s detention facility? Sheriff Bill Pribil invites you to visit the Coconino County Jail in Flagstaff and learn about the upcoming Jail District Sales Tax referendum. Find out how the County proposes to use additional Jail District Sales Tax revenues to maintain community safety throughout the County and implement the new In-Custody Drug & Alcohol Treatment Program. Flagstaff Jail Open Houses Thursday, Aug 24................6:00pm Saturday, Aug 26................3:00pm Tuesday, Sept 5..................6:30pm Wednesday, Sept 6.............6:00pm The Flagstaff Jail Open House is at the Law Enforcement Administrative Facility, 911 E. Sawmill Road, Flagstaff, AZ. The Open House program and tour will take approx. 2 hours. Must be 18 or older. For more info, call 928-226-5012 1-800-338-7888 ext. 5012 or visit www.coconino.az.gov/jailtax “Parks and Recreation is so pleased with the results and looks forward to an even better second season!” AMPHITHEATER AT FORT TUTHILL OPENS TO RAVE REVUES! The Amphitheater’s first season is already a proven success. High caliber shows like Los Lobos, String Cheese Incident and Dwight Yoakam have brought in huge crowds. Even our free community events, such as the July 3 Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra POPS concert and the May 20 Community Grand Opening, brought in equally large crowds. Parks and Recreation is so pleased with the results and looks forward to an even better second season! stage is protected from the elements by the large Douglas Fir glue-laminated beams. This is the best venue in Northern Arizona and is one of the largest—with a capacity of 2,500. Performers, fans and patrons have all marveled at its splendor. What to Expect In April, the County entered into a contract with Pine Mountain Amphitheater LLC to manage the Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill County Park. This partnership will allow for many exciting seasons at the Amphitheater, with high quality entertainment and fun for all. Walking up to the Amphitheater, the first thing you see is a beautiful wooden beam foyer that connects the restrooms and concessions/box office area. Grassy lawn seating among the Ponderosa Pines gently slopes toward the large canopy covering the permanent seating. Past the seating is a large area used for extra seats or to stretch your legs on the dance floor. The stone facade of the enormous The History The Amphitheater was made possible through the Coconino County Parks & Open Spaces Program, a tax initiative passed by voters in 2002, and two Arizona Heritage fund grants. For tickets and schedule information, visit www.pinemountainamphitheater.com For more information about the Amphitheater, log on to www.coconino.az.gov/parks.aspx?id=410 Visit the Amphitheater soon and experience this premier entertainment venue for yourself! FRIENDS OF THE PARKS Are you interested in becoming involved in the preservation, protection and promotion of County parks and open spaces? Become a member of Friends of Coconino County Parks! We are looking for dynamic, motivated people to help the non-profit Friends of Coconino County Parks help Parks and Recreation through advocacy, volunteerism and fundraising. If you’re interested, call (928) 679-8000. PICTURE CANYON Picture Canyon is a unique yet little known landmark located on the east side of Flagstaff. Its name reflects the many petroglyphs on the beautiful cliff walls. The canyon is an excellent place for bird watching and is a spectacular wildlife habitat, with reclaimed water flowing from the Wildcat Treatment Plant (the birds don’t seem to mind!). grant proposal and hopes to obtain funding to restore the natural stream bed and native vegetation. While Picture Canyon is located within the Flagstaff City limits, it is owned by the State Land Department; and the two entities have consulted on short and long term protection measures (such as vandalism and future development). This year, concerned citizens and organizations joined forces with a common goal of protecting the canyon and restoring the ecosystem. Archaeologists and NAU students recorded the rock art and researched previous archaeological studies (dating back to 1921 and the work of Museum of Northern Arizona founders, Dr. Harold and Mary Russell Ferrell Colton). Many agencies and organizations are participating in the effort to preserve and protect Picture Canyon, including Arizona Game and Fish, Arizona State Land Department, City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, Museum of Northern Arizona, Northern Arizona University, NAU Centennial Forest, Natural Channel Designs, Natural Resource Conservation District, and Northern Arizona Audubon Society. Also underway is the preparation of an application to list Picture Canyon on the National Register of Historic Places. The City of Flagstaff prepared a For more information, call Parks and Recreation at (928) 679-8000; toll-free (800) 559-9289. Photo by Scott Harger SAWMILL MULTICULTURAL ART & NATURE PARK AND WILLOW BEND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER The small two-acre park found on Lone Tree Boulevard in Flagstaff is home to habitat gardens, playground, art mural, large sculpture garden, and the non-profit Willow Bend Environmental Education Center. Willow Bend and Parks and Recreation work together to provide a learning laboratory for folks of all ages. There are many volunteer opportunities in this park—ranging from weed pulls, mural painting, and working with Willow Bend as an educator. For more information, or to volunteer, call (928) 679-8000; toll-free (800) 559-9289. 4 LOOP TRAIL Parks and Recreation, City of Flagstaff, Coconino National Forest and Flagstaff Biking Organization have partnered to create a 42 mile non-motorized trail encircling the community of Flagstaff. Known as the Loop Trail, it links existing trails with some new trails to provide access for non-motorized users across many land jurisdictions. Look forward to trail building and maintenance volunteer opportunities this summer! Tools, education, training and complimentary food is provided! Given the multiple jurisdictions, Coconino County, Flagstaff Biking Organization and Coconino National Forest have signed a Trails Management Cooperative Agreement to work together with the community to implement the goals of the Flagstaff Area Open Space and Greenways Plan and other regional plans for mutually beneficial trail systems. For more info, call (928) 679-8000; toll-free (800) 559-9289. SHERIFF’S INMATE CREWS WORK AT FORT TUTHILL Getting County parks ready for the season requires a lot of work. In cooperation with the Sheriff’s Office, Parks and Recreation has used inmate crews to complete various tasks at Fort Tuthill County Park. For the Community Grand Opening of the Amphitheater, they built a buck and pole fence and several asphalt sidewalks, and have done a great deal of landscaping, including hydro-seeding and rock layout. Future projects include more park preparation and park enhancement through the summer season. :::::::::::::::::: END OF SUMMER EVENTS ::::::::::::::::::: COCONINO RURAL ENVIRONMENT CORPS (CREC) As you read this article, members of the Coconino Rural Environment Corps (CREC) are out on your public lands, implementing a variety of conservation projects for a diverse group of land managers. CREC, an AmeriCorps program and traditional conservation corps, partners with local, state and federal land management agencies to implement some of the most critical environmental conservation projects in northern Arizona. The CREC mission is “to promote environmental stewardship, encourage personal development, and carry on the tradition of the Civilian Conservation Corps with hard work, dedication and pride”. Currently, five crews of eight young adults are helping protect rural communities from the threat of wildfire, reduce the ecological impacts of invasive plant species, and maintain our recreational trails. Based in Flagstaff, CREC corpsmembers are ready to tackle any conservation challenge throughout the County and State, and have the track record to prove it. CREC’s 2005 field season proved to be a banner year for the program. In February, at the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps’ (NASCC) annual forum in Washington, DC, CREC received several awards, including Corpsmember of the Year to Afton McKusick. miles south and east of Flagstaff were targeted to receive restorative treatment. Project work began in 2002 and, since then, approximately 18,000 acres have been treated. Monitoring already shows significantly increased pronghorn populations and habitat ranges. Another CREC program, the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), offered opportunities for teens, ages 16 to 18, in Flagstaff and Williams this summer. The crews began their season with a five-day training session that included educational, team-building and skills training experience at the Junior Forester Academy, in cooperation with Northern Arizona University’s Centennial Forest. The group also received the National Service Project of the Year award for its large-scale Anderson Mesa pronghorn antelope habitat restoration work in partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. With the help of 1,912 vegetation maps and 1890-era surveyor records as guides, approximately 1,600 square 5 The training is followed by seven weeks of community and conservation work throughout Coconino County. CREC is excited about the addition of three crews and the opportunity it presents for Flagstaff youth. (CONT. ON PAGE 6) (CREC CONT.) For information on becoming a CREC corpsmember, call Kevin Wiesmann at (928) 522-7987 email: kwiesmann@coconino.az.gov YCC members will also have the opportunity to participate in CREC sponsored conservation and community service projects throughout the year. Corpsmembers’ living stipends have also been increased to $500 every two weeks. For information on the YCC program, call Matt Mrazek at (928) 522-7981 email: mmrazek@coconino.az.gov YCC is improving and growing every year so stay tuned for the addition of even more crews around the County next year! For information on project scheduling, call Dustin Woodman at (928) 522-7974 email: dwoodman@coconino.az.gov Visit us online at www.crecweb.org 2006 FIRE SEASON Sedona. The fire was located in the rugged terrain west of Oak Creek Canyon, and the close proximity to hundreds of residents, homes and businesses created a serious threat. Within three weeks this summer, Coconino County experienced three major fires that challenged our fire fighters and public safety personnel, threatened our homes, and showed the fortitude and perseverance of our greater County communities. These fires also serve as a reminder that many of us in the County choose to live amidst fire-adapted ecosystems, and we need to be prepared for the consequences. The Woody Fire started from the sparks of a blown tire along I-40 on the western edge of Flagstaff. The fire quickly ignited nearby grasses and winds rapidly moved the fire toward the forest. The quick and organized response by the Forest Service, Flagstaff Fire Department and other agencies was a testament to their long-standing efforts to routinely train and exercise these types of emergencies. As members of the Ponderosa Fire Advisory Council (PFAC), they have been working on wildland fire planning, prevention, operations and education in the Flagstaff area for the past 20 years. Within an hour of the start of the fire, these agencies worked together to provide fire suppression, neighborhood evacuations, road closures, detours, an emergency operations center and Red Cross shelters. The emergency first responders, government leaders and the community responded to the emergency with relative calm. Forest thinning in areas adjacent to the Woody Fire helped keep the fire from spreading and efforts over the past ten years to thin and prescribe burn within the Wildland Urban Interface are paying off. On June 18, the Brins Fire started as a result of an abandoned campfire within three miles of A series of sirens were activated to alert residents and business owners of the need to evacuate. Sedona Fire District firefighters, Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies, Department of Public Safety and Arizona Department of Transportation personnel directed community members out of Oak Creek Canyon. Years of planning between public safety agencies were put to the test that night, resulting in an orderly evacuation. Two shelters were established at either end of the Canyon—in Sedona and Flagstaff. The American Red Cross did a commendable job in their quick response and set up. The Warm Fire on the North Kaibab Ranger District began as a lightning strike. The initial conditions allowed fire officials to manage the fire as a wildland use fire, which allows the fire to burn slowly and clear the underbrush, thus creating a healthy forest for timber and wildlife. The fire crews herded the fire for several weeks and kept it from moving toward the Grand Canyon or Jacobs Lake. However, on June 24, the weather created havoc and the fire blew up due to erratic winds. Within 24 hours, 30,000 acres were burned. In areas of mixed conifers, the fire had its most destructive effect. The Northern Arizona Incident Management team was mobilized and the strategy shifted to suppression. Visitors and community residents on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park were escorted out on secondary roads because Highway 67 access was cut off due to the fire. The North Rim closed for several days. As the summer monsoons bring moisture to the parched forest, and the extreme fire danger One of the lessons learned from the evacuation of Oak Creek Canyon is to have essential personal property readily available. As these residents will attest, when there are only a few minutes to gather important property, knowing what to take and having them together in one place simplifies a quick departure. The challenge and jumbled topography, coupled with the effects of the drought and erratic fire weather, made the Brins fire difficult to contain. Incident Management Teams organized and managed the fire throughout the ordeal. Their priorities were to protect the residents and businesses, keep the fire from crossing Oak Creek Canyon, and limit the spread to the north. The fire was declared contained on June 28 at a size of 4,317 acres. 6 diminishes, these close calls need to serve as a reminder that, as long as we live near the forest in these “urban interface areas”, we share responsibility to protect and prepare our homes and families. For more information, call Coconino County Emergency Services Manager Sherrie Collins at (928) 526-2735; toll-free (800) 790-1990. Photos by David Sunfellow “The teens learn about teamwork, work ethic and leadership skills; and explore local careers.” ARIZONA CANYON REGION FORMS ECONOMIC ALLIANCE The Arizona Strip is a large plateau between the Grand Canyon and the cliffs of the "Grand Staircase" of southern Utah, and encompasses 2.8 million acres in the northwest corner of the state. In June 2005, a significant milestone for the Arizona Strip region was reached when the Arizona Department of Commerce designated the Arizona Strip as part of the Canyon Economic Region. At the same time, the Canyon Region Economic Development Alliance was formed. A preliminary multi-agency meeting was held in Fredonia, Arizona to review previous efforts of the Utah Arizona Action Team (UAAT). The mission of the UAAT, and the purpose of this meeting, was to recognize the urgency of addressing several major issues, including the need to plan for economic transformation of the region. As a result of this meeting, the Canyon Region Economic Development Alliance was created. Management, Greater Flagstaff Economic Council and Arizona Public Service Company. The Alliance has since grown to include officials from Mohave County, Arizona; Washington and Kane Counties in Utah; Kaibab Paiute Tribe, Pipe Springs National Park, Grand Canyon National Park and the City of Page, Arizona. After reviewing the UAAT 1998 strategic plan, the group discussed several major issues, including workforce statistics, economic conditions, tourism, local business expansion efforts, industrial recruitment, and the possible formation of a regional Main Street program. There was also interest in designating the Arizona Strip as a National Heritage Area by the U.S. Congress, and qualifying the area for the Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI), which provides direct assistance to rural communities in organizing an economic development program and evaluating community resources. For more information about the Alliance, call Supervisor Taylor at (928) 779-6697 or toll-free (800) 559-9289. Participants included previous members of the UAAT, Coconino County District 1 Supervisor Carl Taylor, former Town of Fredonia Mayor Steven Winward, and representatives of the City of Kanab, Utah; Town of Fredonia, Arizona Department of Commerce, Kaibab National Forest, Bureau of Land Photos by Terry Alderman TEENWORKS : CONNECTING COMMUNITIES Coconino County TeenWorks is sponsored by the Board of Supervisors, with support from the Cities of Williams, Page and Flagstaff, and funds teen summer job crews to work on improvement projects in their neighborhood and community. In addition to working on the following projects, the teens learn about teamwork, work ethic and leadership skills, and explore local careers. Mountainaire/Kachina Village Crew • Horse Race set-up • Highlands Fire Department (Kachina Village/Mountainaire) fire fuel removal • Raymond Park clean-up, fence staining • Trail maintenance Doney Park/Timberline/Fernwood Crew • Elden Pueblo trail maintenance/restoration • Summit Fire Station re-stained • Peaks View Park clean-up, other small projects, playground wood chips • Cromer School benches built • Prairie Dog burrow mapping Page/LeChee Crew • Public Safety Department landscaping • LeChee Chapter House clean-up; built a fountain • LeChee Senior Center tree planting • Community College landscaping • Graffiti removal Greenlaw Crew • Mount Elden Middle School landscaping mural developed • Elden Pueblo trail maintenance • Graffiti removal • Sinaqua High School classrooms painted • Housing Authority sites landscaping Fort Valley Crew • Pioneer Museum clean-up and forest fuels removal • County Administration benches refinished; Marshall Elementary school benches painted • Head Start landscaping, clean-up, flower box construction; sign rebuild • Lowell Observatory forest fuels removal • Museum of Northern Arizona landscaping Williams Crew • Skate park work • City clean-up • City parks clean-up, landscaping • Senior Center landscaping, new hummingbird garden Flagstaff Crew • Coconino High School landscaping, clean-up; patio restoration • County Administration benches refinished • City Parks & Recreation projects • Vietnam Veterans Memorial retaining wall built Leupp/Bird Springs/Tolani Lake Crew • Little Singer Greenhouse refurbishing, clean-up, landscaping, replant flowers and vegetables • Leupp Fire Substation trailer scraped and re-painted • Leupp trash clean-up, weed removal • Chapter House painted • Leupp Day Care playground clean-up, landscaping For more information, call (928) 522-7900; toll-free (877) 358-6714. 7 More and more grandchildren are no longer calling their grandparents “Granny or Granddad”. YOUTH WORKFORCE COUNCIL TEEN JOB FAIR In May, the Coconino County Youth Workforce Council sponsored a well-attended Teen Summer Job Fair. Over 200 teens and their parents were able to apply for jobs and volunteer opportunities, investigate military careers, and learn about training options offered by Job Corps, Americorps, Second Chance Animal Shelter and Coconino County TeenWorks summer internships. Americorps and Chamber of Commerce members helped teens complete applications and learn techniques for effective interviews, applications, job search and resumes. What sets this event apart was that it was planned for teens by teens, with the support of the Youth Workforce Council. This is an example of adult mentoring at its best—helping youth develop leadership skills by planning and organizing a successful community event to benefit their peers. Sponsors for the event included Qwest, Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, Coconino County Career Center and NAU Americorps. were in charge! This will become an annual event for the Council. Developing the leaders of the future can start with a simple event such as a Job Fair. For more information, call the Coconino County Career Center at (928) 522-7900 or toll-free (877) 358-6714. Teens were involved in designating a site, deciding the best date and time, contacting employers to attend, staffing the entry table, designing tee shirts for event staff, and a massive publicity campaign that included TV, newspaper articles, cold calls, radio, and flyers to be posted at schools and other teen hangouts. Adults on the Youth Council learned much from the experience of letting teens lead, and all acknowledged that the teens were full of great ideas, meetings were more fun, and ended sooner when the teens KINSHIP KARE OF NORTHERN AZ (KKONA) GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN More and more grandchildren are no longer calling their grandparents “Granny or Granddad” because their grandparents now fill the role of parents and have primary custody and care of their grandchildren. In Coconino County, an estimated 1,700 grandparents are caring for their grandchildren because parents are unable to care for children due to a drug addiction, incarceration, advanced schooling or other issues that interfere with parenting. The 2000 Census ranked Arizona fourth in the nation for the greatest increase in grandparent-headed households. To address these issues, Kinship Kare of Northern Arizona (KKONA) was formed in 2002 to offer educational programs and support for these families. The program now reaches 450 grandparents and 319 grandchildren in Coconino County. In a blameless, mutual learning environment, grandparents learn effective strategies from other grandparents raising grandchildren. KKONA provides education, support and advocacy to any relative raising other relatives’ children so they may provide more cost effective care than foster care—and in a potentially less damaging environment than if the children were returned to parents who are unable to care for them. KKONA’s grandparents and relatives raising a family member’s child/children range from age 20 to 70 and older. Grandparents/relatives are raising an average of two children per household. This rise in grandparent-headed households impacts our community’s financial resources, education and health and social services; and yet many organizations that provide services for both generations are not prepared to deal with these special needs. Grandparents are often reluctant to ask for assistance because of their unfamiliarity with social services and possible embarrassment about raising their children’s children. The result is that grandparent/relative households go without services that are critical to their health, safety and well-being. Programs that help grandparents develop skills to keep their grandchildren, rather than turn them over to the state, benefit communities through lower costs associated with family care. Everyone benefits when grandparents know how to secure services and ask for help. KKONA is a program of the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service. For more information, call Coconino Cooperative Extension at (928) 774-1868, extension 15. CAREER CENTER EMPLOYER SERVICES TEAM Several local employers have recently joined the Employer Services Team: The Coconino Career Center Employer Services Team was developed in July 2005 to promote the success of local employers through services such as workshops, internships, and on-the-job training opportunities. The Team is well informed on issues that impact employer success, including local labor market information, applicant screening and lay-off aversion techniques. The goal of the Team is to increase partnerships with local businesses to enable them to cut the cost of doing business through better trained applicants ready to move into open positions in their organizations; and provide retention tools to help new employees stay in these positions. • W.L. Gore and Associates has hired qualified Coconino Career Center clients. We share a common interest in assisting spouses whose partners have found employment in northern Arizona; with the goal of finding suitable local employment for spouses that fully utilizes their skills and abilities. • Sturner and Klein provides the venue for Career Center management and employee workshops that enhance their workplace teams. Through a cooperative effort, Career Center clients are placed into internships which lead to employment within their company. 8 • The Arizona Daily Sun is an effective partner in media exposure and through internships in several different departments within the organization. • Coconino Community College and the Career Center have enjoyed a long-term successful relationship. In September 2005, we expanded our partnership to include space for the Career Center office on the Page campus. Proximity to students has increased Career Center clientele and allows any student access to career skills when they are ready for employment. The Coconino Career Center hopes to expand collaboration with businesses throughout Coconino County and looks forward to adding new partners. For more information, call the Career Center at (928) 522-7900 or toll-free (877) 358-6714. ELECTIONS : LOTS OF CHANGES IN 2006 There have been many changes this year in elections procedures and equipment used at the polling places in our County. These changes came about as a result of the 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and Proposition 200, an initiative passed by Arizona voters at the November 2, 2004 General Election. Another big change this year is the implementation of the voter identification requirements for those who vote at the polling place on Election Day. Because the procedures are complicated, we have added another poll worker position, “ID Checker”, at each polling place. Under the new procedures, no voters will be turned away from voting because they do not have proper identification. For more information, call the Elections office at (928) 779-6589; toll-free (800) 793-6181. As you may know, we can thank HAVA for replacing our old punch card voting system in 2004 with a precinct count optical scan system. Feedback from poll workers and the voters has been very positive. In addition to requiring our County to replace our punch card voting system, HAVA requires us to have a voting system in place in 2006 that will allow disabled voters the ability to vote independently and in secret. The September 12 Primary Election will be the first election in which we will use this new equipment. The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office formed a committee of local election administrators and members of the disabled community to evaluate vendor bid proposals. The committee selected the Diebold touch screen voting system for disabled voters in Coconino County. The funding for the additional touch screen voting system is provided by the federal government through HAVA. Important 2006 Election Dates to Remember: • September 12..........................Primary Election Early voting begins..................August 10, 2006 Last Day to Register................August 14, 2006 • November 7.............................General Election Early voting begins..................October 5, 2006 Last Day to Register................October 9, 2006 The touch screen voting equipment does not replace our existing optical scan voting equipment—it supplements it. This means that every polling place will have both types of voting equipment available to voters. NEW VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS Acceptable Identification: ONE of the following photo identification documents; it must include the voter’s name and address and match the information on the signature roster: At the November 2, 2004 General Election, Arizona voters passed Proposition 200. Proposition 200 included two provisions that affected voting in Arizona. The first provision, which was defined in the language of the proposition, requires all new registered voters in our County to provide proof of U.S. citizenship. This requirement went into effect in January, 2005. The second provision was a requirement that every voter who votes at a polling place must provide acceptable identification before they can be issued a ballot. This provision was not implemented immediately because the proposition did not include language that defined “acceptable identification”. • Valid Arizona driver’s license; OR • Arizona non-operating state identification; OR • Tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification; OR • Valid federal, state or local government issued identification If the voter does not have one of the acceptable photo identification documents, they must present TWO of the following forms of identification (without a photograph) bearing the voter’s name and address: • Utility bill dated within ninety days of the date of the election; utility bill may be for electric, gas, water, solid waste, sewer, telephone, cell phone or cable TV • Bank or credit union statement dated within 90 days of the date of the election • Valid Arizona Vehicle Registration • Indian Census card • Property tax statement of the elector's residence • Tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification • Vehicle insurance card • Valid federal, state or local government issued I.D. • Voter Registration Card/Recorder's Certification • Any Official Election Material mailing bearing the voter’s name and address The Secretary of State, State Attorney General and the Governor went through a lengthy process to come to an agreement on what is acceptable identification for voting. After an agreement was reached with these state elected officials, the U.S. Department of Justice reviewed the acceptable identification and procedures. They approved the identification with an additional requirement that any voter who does not have the proper identification must be allowed to vote a “conditional” provisional ballot and have an opportunity after the election to present acceptable identification and have their “conditional” provisional ballot counted. The voter identification requirements do not apply to voters who vote early by mail or at an early voting location. The Secretary of State developed a procedure that allows conditional provisional voters three business days after an election (federal general elections have five business days) to come to offices designated by the County Recorders and present their acceptable identification. The conditional provisional ballot can only be counted if the voter presents acceptable identification during that time period at a designated office. The Elections Office is currently developing the new procedures and conditional provisional ballot envelope for this change. Over the next several months, the Elections Office will implement a public information campaign to educate voters on the new identification requirement. Our goal is to ensure that, when voters go to the polls on Election Day, they are prepared and have the proper identification. For more information, call the Elections Office at (928) 779-6589; toll-free (800) 793-6181. 9 TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TRANSITIONS TO NAIPTA “Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.” ~ Chief Joseph Cooperation between governments is not only a powerful tool, it is required for citizens to receive the finest service possible. Like police and fire services, public transportation needs to cross jurisdictional boundaries. With leadership from Coconino County, the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA) was formed with Yavapai County, NAU, and the Cities of Flagstaff, Sedona and Cottonwood. NAIPTA will allow local governments to join forces to create the finest transit system possible for its citizens. While NAIPTA will be largely invisible to the public, it will provide a structure for collaborative planning, sharing costs, transfer of liability, and collective clout in attracting additional grants. The power of decision making will remain with local governments as NAIPTA will not have taxing authority. For example, the City of Flagstaff will continue to fund the Mountain Line fixed route bus system, Coconino County will pay for a portion of VanGo service, and the City of Sedona will pay for the Road Runner transit system. NAIPTA will simply operate the systems for the benefit of partner members. NAIPTA formation also provides an excellent structure for the future. As communities in northern Arizona consider further expansions, NAIPTA will continue to be a tool for collaborative planning, risk management, and excellent public service. For more information, call NAIPTA General Manager Jeff Meilbeck at (928) 679-8709. FREE LEGAL FORMS AT THE LAW LIBRARY The Coconino County Law Library and Self-Help Center make free legal resources more accessible to citizens and legal professionals. The Self-Help Center’s free legal forms and instructions make basic court procedures available to people who don’t have the option of hiring an attorney. To make the courts more accessible to the Spanishspeaking population, the Self-Help Center is creating Spanish versions of its fifty-two legal packets. Currently, thirty-four packets are available in Spanish. Spanish-speaking patrons should note that the Self-Help Center staff does not speak Spanish. The packets are easy to find, but you may wish to bring an English-speaking friend or family member to help with questions. The packets are also available in a fill-in-the-blank format at www.coconino.az.gov/forms The Basics Self-Help Center Resources Law Library Resources County Courthouse, 200 N. San Francisco St., Flagstaff, AZ 86001 Free forms and brochures: • Legal Forms • Family Law • Arizona and Federal Law • Protective Orders • Rules of Court • Landlord-Tenant Law • Court Opinions (928) 779-6656 or toll-free (877) 806-3187 www.coconino.az.gov/lawlibrary Open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; closed weekends and holidays • Guardianship/Conservatorship DUI/DRUG COURT IN ITS 6TH YEAR DUI/Drug Court is a ten month program designed to reduce crime associated with alcohol and drug dependency by engaging offenders in intensive outpatient treatment with judicial supervision. Program staff primarily works with serious repeat felony offenders with chronic addictions, with the most common being alcoholism and methamphetamine dependence. In order to graduate from the program, participants are required to complete treatment, be clean and sober for a minimum of six months, and pay all associated fines and fees. Those who fail to abide by the rules of the program may be terminated. In 2005, the program had a sixty-seven percent graduation rate, with a thirtythree percent termination rate. The overall graduation rate is sixty-nine percent and the termination rate is thirty-one percent. DUI/Drug court operates on funding received from grants. In 2005, the one-year DUI abatement grant expired, but the program received a two-year expansion grant from the Office of Justice Program through the U.S. Department of Justice. The expansion grant helps fund the program for 2006 and 2007 and includes funding for planned expansion. The program has also received a grant from the Arizona Supreme Court. These two grants have helped DUI/Drug Court provide additional services such as housing, sweat lodges, talking circles, transportation (bikes, bus passes), GED/job training services and vitamins/supplements. They have also helped increase the capacity of the program. In 2005, 10 DUI/Drug court had 111 participants and, in 2006, the expected growth is to serve 130 to 140 people. The court’s current capacity is 70 participants at any given time, and anticipated to grow to 80 by the end of 2006. The DUI/Drug Court uses a team approach with Superior Court Division Three, the offices of the County Attorney, Public Defender and Adult Probation; and the Guidance Center. The court also works collaboratively with Norchem Drug Testing Lab, Flagstaff Police Department, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Coconino County Career Center, Foundation House, Department of Public Safety and Arizona Department of Transportation. For more information on the DUI/Drug Court program, call (928) 226-6057. 26% of DUI/Drug Court participants reported methamphetamine was their “substance of choice”. COUNTY AWARDED $20,000 ANTI-METH GRANT The Sheriff’s Office was recently awarded a $20,000 Anti-Meth Initiative Grant from the State of Arizona, Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families. The grant is a collaborative effort among Coconino County, the Sheriff’s Office, and Citizens’ Against Substance Abuse (CASA). County Methamphetamine Task Force will work on identifying additional resources and solutions to the problem. For more information, call the Sheriff’s Office at (928) 226-5012; toll-free (800) 338-7888. These funds will be used to help identify contributing factors to methamphetamine (meth) use/abuse in Coconino County. At the same time, the newly established DUI/DRUG COURT 2005 METH REPORT • DUI/Drug Court had 107 participants, of which 28 reported their substance of choice was methamphetamine (26% of the program population). • 12 participants tested positive for methamphetamine at least once, indicating 43% of the participants have relapsed. Of methamphetamine participants, 57% have remained clean for their entire time in DUI/Drug Court. • Methamphetamine participants take urinalysis tests three times a week, EVERY WEEK in the minimum ten-month program. • 64% of participants addicted to methamphetamine reported regularly using at least one other substance (commonly alcohol or marijuana; prescription drugs and heroin were also indicated) prior to entering the program. • The total population of DUI/Drug Court provided 4,621 urinalysis tests at Norchem Drug Testing Lab. Of the specimens tested, 48 were positive for methamphetamine, which represents 1% of total urinalysis tests taken. Methamphetamine Population in Drug Court by Age Methamphetamine Population in Drug Court by Ethnicity 18 to 20....................21% 21 to 25....................29% (ages 18 to 25 account for 50% of the population) 26 to 30....................14% 31 to 35....................29% 36 to 42......................7% Caucasian..............................46% Hispanic.................................39% African American....................7% Native American......................7% CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL CONTINUES TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS Due to the growing size and complexity of the criminal justice system, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) was formed in 2005. The Council is made up of representatives of the courts, prosecution, defense, sheriff, police departments, city and county administration and executive boards, probation and community mental health agencies. The mission of the Council is “to promote the safety of the citizens of Coconino County, and the efficient and just treatment of offenders; and to work toward prevention of crime and the reduction of recidivism”. 2006 CJCC Projects and Improvements: • Implementation of a web-based jail population analysis program to analyze jail population trends and assess system issues • Establishment of a “mental health court” in the Flagstaff Municipal Court • Investigation into a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) in conjunction with the Flagstaff Police Department, Guidance Center and Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority (NARBHA). CITs provide patrol officers with specific training in handling contacts with mentally ill persons. • A Failure to Appear pilot project in the Flagstaff Justice Court involved placing reminder phone calls to misdemeanor out-of-custody offenders, and successfully reduced the number of Failures to Appear at initial hearings from over 25% to 13%. • Creation of a Jail Liaison position to improve the provision of mental health and substance abuse services to persons in custody at the County jail; funded and directed by The Guidance Center 11 • Identification of new funding sources, including federal reimbursements for incarcerated undocumented persons, and for prosecution of potential federal offenses in the County court system • Development of a criminal justice system strategic plan The CJCC has identified four priority areas to focus on over the next two years. The following priorities will help form the core of the Strategic Plan and guide the CJCC in future efforts: • Development of a coordinated, comprehensive system of mental health and substance abuse treatment delivery to offenders, both in and out of custody • Criminal justice system performance improvements • Crime prevention and reduction of recidivism • Increased citizen involvement and education The CJCC meets every other month and the meetings are open to the public. For more information, call Criminal Justice Consultant Wendy White at (928) 525-9255. “In 2005, the Sheriff’s Office investigated 205 domestic violence cases, resulting in 149 arrests.” SERVICE TO COMMUNITY PAGE BOAT PATROL The Sheriff’s Office initiated the Boat Patrol Program in 1986. At that time, State Attorney General James Corbin determined that Sheriff’s Offices were the primary responsible agency for law enforcement on all navigable waterways in Arizona. Arizona State Parks initiated a grant, funded in part by boat registration fees, to enhance waterway law enforcement efforts. The grant is known as the State Lake Improvement Fund. The Boat Program operates primarily out of the Page Substation and services Lake Powell and portions of the Colorado River. Two deputies are assigned to the program, which currently operates with a 27-foot all-weather Boston whaler, a 23-foot Koffler jet drive boat for patrol on the Colorado River, and two jet skis for harbor and low water patrol. and water safety classes for elementary students are also being conducted in the Page area in conjunction with Arizona Game and Fish. Every year, the Sheriff’s Office partners with other water law enforcement agencies to host an Operating Under the Influence (OUI) check point on Lake Powell. The goal of the program is to increase public safety by removing boaters from the lake who are intoxicated or under the influence. Over a three to four hour period, an average of three to four OUI boaters are arrested and 60-70 citations are issued for everything from expired registrations to overloaded vessels and other safety violations. Since the inception of the program, the Boat Patrol has performed many water rescues in inclement weather, rescues from sinking vessels, and recoveries of drowning victims. In addition to the rescue component of the boat patrol, the officers actively enforce all Title 5 watercraft operation laws. The Sheriff’s Office recently launched the “I Got Caught Wearing My Life Jacket” program, in which T-shirts are given to children who are wearing their life vest and to those who were ticketed last year for life vest violations. Boating safety classes Photos by Ron Anderson NEW COLD CASE SQUAD The Sheriff’s Office is pleased to have retired Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) agent Chuck Jones and nurses Leora Harsh and Pam Turner as part of our new Cold Case Squad. Over the next two years, the squad will review approximately 28 unsolved County homicide cases that date back as far as 1955. All cases not currently being actively investigated will be reviewed by the squad. The goal of the Cold Case Squad is to be able to state with confidence that everything that could be done to try to solve a case is being done or has been done. Whenever possible, evidence from these cases will be re-examined using the newest scientific methods. Currently, the Cold Case Squad is working to identify a 2003 female homicide victim who was discovered off Devil Dog Road, west of Williams. One of their first goals is to identify the woman, who is also known as “Devil Dog Doe.” Efforts to identify her include numerous interactions with national and international law enforcement agencies. The case and an artist’s rendition of her have appeared in the Arizona Republic and the Arizona Daily Sun, and on websites such as the National Center for Missing Adults, the Doe Network, and America’s Most Wanted. With the assistance of the FBI Violent Crime Analysis Unit, this was the first homicide case to be published in the Academy of General Dentistry. SWAT/TACTICAL TEAM This past year, Sheriff’s Office Deputies became members of the Flagstaff Police Department Multi-Agency Tactical Team. Five Deputies were selected to join the team after passing a rigorous physical fitness test and interview process, and receiving two weeks of basic SWAT training. Members of the Flagstaff Fire Department also serve as paramedics on the team. In addition to regular physical fitness and weapons training, the team practices for hostage rescues, situations where a subject may be barricaded, or an officer may be in danger, and specialized entries into buildings. In March 2006, the multi-agency team used an old home in Williams for tactical practice. Specialized tactical team equipment was purchased through Homeland Security grant funds. The Flagstaff Police Department has always been responsive when the Sheriff’s Office has requested assistance from their SWAT/Tactical team. The inclusion of Sheriff’s Deputies on the team will expand the team’s ability to respond throughout the County. The departments work well together, and the Sheriff’s Office is proud to be part of this joint venture. NEW VEHICLE GRAPHICS We hope you’ve noticed the new graphics on our vehicles this past year. A group of Sheriff’s Office and Detention Facility employees volunteered to work with Public Works Mechanical Services staff and a graphic designer to develop the new look. The new graphics sport gold and black stripes along the sides of the vehicle and reflective lettering on the back— designed to increase vehicle visibility during traffic stops. 12 “The changes are in part about safety and community outreach. We want to be sure community members can easily recognize our officers on patrol,” said Sheriff Bill Pribil. The new graphics can be seen on patrol vehicles in all Sheriff’s Office substations—Flagstaff, Williams, Tusayan, Page, Fredonia, Tuba City, Forest Lakes, Blue Ridge and Sedona. Photo by Lisa Coffey COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (CERT) The Sheriff’s Office is pleased to introduce Gerry Blair as our new Volunteer Program Planner and Coordinator. Many of you may know Gerry through his years as a Flagstaff Police Department Officer. Gerry will continue to work with the Flagstaff Police Department/Sheriff’s Office joint Citizens’ Academy and will also work closely with the Sheriff’s Office Reserve Officers, Volunteers in Policing, and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). During the April 8 multi-agency fire drill, members of CERT helped pass out evacuation and emergency preparedness information to residents in the University Heights subdivision. Sheriff Pribil presents Achievement Awards to volunteers Herb Johnson, Ron Boan and Greg Ribas (not shown) Volunteering with the Sheriff’s Office and/or Detention Facility is a great way to serve your community. If you are interested, call Gerry Blair at 928-226-5089. SEARCH & RESCUE . . . . “THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE” The Search and Rescue (SAR) Unit is a volunteer branch of the Sheriff’s Office. Under State statute, the Sheriff’s Office is responsible for conducting and coordinating County SAR operations. Sgt. Randy Servis recently retired after many years of service as SAR Coordinator, and was followed by current Coordinator Sgt. Aaron Dick. Aaron has been working diligently with this dedicated group of volunteers to ensure they are well trained and ready. subject. Maps can then be generated to assist the team in determining their next steps in locating and rescuing lost or injured persons. GPS technology has also been helpful in coordinating activities with other agencies, including Arizona Department of Public Safety (helicopters), fire departments and emergency medical teams. However, just as you should not rely solely on cell phones or GPS units, SAR volunteers are also trained with solid map and compass skills to augment and backup GPS technology. The SAR unit also has volunteers in the Sheriff’s Office Mounted Program. Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and training allows the SAR team to accurately report the location of clues, evidence, hazards and the search If you are interested in becoming a SAR volunteer, call Sgt. Aaron Dick at (928) 226-5050; toll-free (800) 338-7888. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION In January 2006, Detective Larry Thomas was assigned to the newly resurrected Domestic Violence unit within the Criminal Investigations Division of the Sheriff’s Office. Thomas’ primary responsibility is to conduct follow-up investigations on felony offenses committed in domestic relationships. All domestic cases are reviewed for past convictions, additional charges or enhanced punishment, and to identify potentially volatile situations. Detectives recently conducted a class for agencies that are mandated to report domestic violence, such as educators and health care workers. The Domestic Violence unit has also presented to the Domestic Violence Impact Panel and the Citizens Police Academy, and also works with the Coconino County Response Team. In 2005, the Sheriff’s Office investigated 205 domestic violence cases, resulting in 149 arrests. Statistical information is captured and utilized by Victim Witness Service for grant applications and to allow them to continue to secure funding for victims’ services. This information is also available to other social service providers and the public. For more information, call the Sheriff’s Office at (928) 226-5012; toll-free (800) 338-7888. PHLEBOTOMY PROGRAM The Sheriff’s Office has recently begun using phlebotomy as a tool in identifying Drivers Under the Influence (DUI). If a person suspected of DUI refuses to blow into a breathalyzer machine, officers can collect a blood sample, which is then analyzed for the presence of drugs or alcohol. Blood draws can be performed through consent or by a search warrant if necessary. In Arizona, phlebotomy has become an increasingly effective tool that often leads to the successful prosecution of DUI cases. Phlebotomy is useful not only for DUI cases, but also in collecting evidence for DNA analysis in homicide, assault and sexual assault investigations; and may also be used to conduct blood draws at the scene of a crime or motor vehicle accident. 13 In September 2004, the Sheriff’s Office, Flagstaff Police Department, Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, and Arizona Department of Public Safety partnered with Flagstaff Medical Center and Coconino Community College (CCC) to develop specialized phlebotomy training for law enforcement. CCC tackled the challenge of creating a one-week, fast-track course designed to meet the same academic and clinical requirements as a full semester’s curriculum. The class has become recognized statewide as a first-class law enforcement phlebotomy course. A special thanks to Sgt. Paul Wible, who was instrumental in facilitating the phlebotomy program, and who continues to look at other ways to partner with the community in enforcement and education opportunities. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety was also key to this program by providing funding for training, equipment and program development. JAIL DISTRICT SALES TAX INCREASE AND EXTENSION ON SEPTEMBER 12 BALLOT On September 12, 2006, Coconino County voters will be asked to authorize: • An increase in the Jail District Sales Tax rate of 2/10 of one cent; and • An extension of the term of the Jail District Sales Tax for an additional fifteen (15) years. Background In 1996, voters established the Coconino County Jail District and authorized a 3/10 of a cent countywide sales tax to pay for the construction, maintenance and operation of the jail. Prior to the creation of the Jail District, the County Board of Supervisors appointed a Blue Ribbon Citizens Committee to study the existing jail, parts of which date back to 1925, and to make recommendations to the B o a rd re g a rding how to proceed. The c o mmittee ultimately recommended a 1/2 cent sales tax and the construction of a new 350 bed jail facility. The1/2 cent sales tax rate is the maximum permitted by State law. the Board requested only a 3/10 cent sales tax, rather than the recommended 1/2 cent, and limited the tax to 15 years. This decision was based on their analysis that the jail operations could be funded for several years with the 3/10 cent sales tax revenues, bed rental monies, and the County’s “Maintenance of Effort” transfers from the County General Fund, which are mandated and determined by state law. The Board also realized that the 3/10 cent sales tax would not support jail operations indefinitely. Purpose Of The Tax Monies from the Jail District Sales Tax will be used for acquiring, constructing, operating, maintaining and financing the County jail and jail systems. The tax collected for the Jail District is restricted by law and can only be used for jail operations that serve cities and communities within Coconino County. The proposed tax increase will be used to eliminate the current Jail District deficit and to fund a new In-Custody Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program (see page 15). The decision by the Board in 1996 to request a 3/10 cent sales tax, rather than the full 1/2 cent, saved Coconino County taxpayers over $28 million. Rate Of The Tax The Jail District Sales Tax is collected on the same purchases and in the same manner as the state sales tax, which excludes groceries. The proposed increase is 2/10 of one cent, which is 20 cents on a $100 purchase, and is estimated to produce approximately $4.4 million per year in additional revenues. In addition, rental of jail space to other jurisdictions has generated over $11 million to help fund jail operations since 1996. Since 1996, the jail system, which includes the jail in Flagstaff and holding facility in Page, has operated primarily on the sales tax monies, bed rental income, and the Maintenance of Effort transfers. However, in the last two years, these revenues have not been enough and the jail district has run a deficit. If the deficit continues, County General Fund monies that support other critical services will have to be reallocated to fund jail operations. Length Of The Tax The Jail District Sales Tax is currently set to end in 2012. If the extension is approved, the County Jail District Sales Tax cannot be extended beyond June 30, 2027 without voter approval. For more information on the Jail District Sales Tax referendum, visit: www.coconino.az.gov/jailtax The Board accepted the committee’s report and submitted the question of a countywide Jail District sales tax to the voters. However, 2006 CITIZENS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS In 2006, the Board appointed a new Citizens Committee to review the District’s current operations and finances. The committee reviewed expert analyses, financial and operational information, and discussed the future circumstances of the jail system. Highlights of their final report include the following conclusions: • Since 1996, jail operating costs have steadily risen due to increasing costs for health insurance, employee retirement system contributions, food, supplies, and other essential items. • While sales tax revenues have grown, bed rental revenues were less than expected due to insufficient state/federal inmates or insufficient inmates of the appropriate classification for the jail. The report concluded that the Coconino County Jail “is operating efficiently, effectively and responsibly, even though it is under adverse financial conditions.” 14 With a vote of 12-1, the Citizens Committee recommended that the dedicated Jail District sales tax be increased by 2/10 of one cent, bringing the total sales tax to 1/2 cent, the legal maximum; and that the sunset on the tax be eliminated. The Board and Sheriff agreed to ask for the 2/10 cent increase, but felt the voters should have another opportunity to review the District’s operation and, therefore, submitted a 15 year extension of the sales tax to the voters, rather than a permanent extension. The Committee also recommended that the County and criminal justice system move forward with the proposed In-Custody Drug and Alcohol Treatment program to be funded as part of the tax increase initiative. There was a belief within the committee that, while this program will not solve the financial issues of the detention facility, it is an important step in reducing the rate of recidivism and addressing substance abuse issues. Once in place, the County and criminal justice system need to work together to ensure long-term support for the program and the implementation of regular reporting. • C O C O N I N O Booking Agency – Five Year Average C O U N T Y J A I L Major Reasons for Incarceration S T A T S • Jail District Sales Tax Savings Flagstaff Police............................................56% Crimes Against Persons..........................17% Flagstaff...........................................$4,400,000 Page Police....................................................9% Crimes Against Property.........................10% Page.................................................$2,100,000 Williams Police...............................................3% Drug/Alcohol Offenses...........................17% Williams...............................................$100,000 Coconino County Sheriff...............................9% Failure to Appear/Comply......................23% Fredonia................................................$24,000 Dept. of Public Safety (Highway Patrol).......7% Probation Violations.................................9% Federal and Others.......................................7% Public Order Offenses..............................5% Non-Law Enforcement (Courts).................. 10% Other Jurisdictions’ Warrants/Holds......16% TotaL...............................................$6.6 million* *Since the opening of the new jail Other Reasons...........................................3% IN-CUSTODY DRUG & ALCOHOL TREATMENT PROGRAM Substance abuse has a major impact on the jail population and on community safety. Drug and alcohol offenses account for 17% of incarcerations. Failure to Appear/Failure to Comply offenses account for 23% of incarcerations—many of these were originally drug and alcohol related offenses. Substance abuse also contributes to the high level of property crimes in Flagstaff. To address these issues, the Sheriff, working with the Jail District Board of Directors, is developing an In-Custody Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program for the Coconino County Jail. Several highly regarded programs are being researched and studied to determine the best combination of services and procedures to treat Coconino County Jail inmates. The Sheriff’s Office and other community experts will be visiting several successful programs and reporting to the Jail District Board throughout the summer months as their research and analysis continues; and will be ready to implement the program on January 1, 2007. Funding for the In-Custody Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program will be contingent on the passage of the Jail District Sales Tax initiative on the September 12, 2006 ballot. The In-Custody Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program would be part of the larger community’s continuum of care for addressing substance abuse. The positive results of in-custody treatment programs have been seen in other communities. Research in California found that for every $1 spent on treatment, $7 is saved over the long-term. Substance abuse treatment reduces repeat crimes by 2/3 and hospital visits by 1/3 (CALDATA STUDY, 1994). Over the long term, the program could reduce the jail population and improve community safety. THE COCONINO COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM The criminal justice system is made up of local police departments, sheriff, county attorney, courts, adult and juvenile probation, and other related agencies. For several years, these groups have been communicating and cooperating through the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, whose mission is “to promote the safety of the citizens of Coconino County, and the efficient and just treatment of offenders; and to work toward prevention of crime and the reduction of recidivism”. The integrity and quality of Coconino County’s criminal justice system has been recognized many times by the State of Arizona. Just since 2000, the County has received six State Chief Justice Awards for outstanding performance and programs, including the Criminal Case Re-Engineering Project to improve criminal case processing and the Justice 2025 Long-Range Strategic Plan. An essential part of the criminal justice system is the Coconino County Jail, which serves the entire County, including the cities of Flagstaff, Page, Williams, Sedona and Fredonia. In the past seven years, the centralization of the jail has saved local cities $6.62 million. Growth in the local jail population mirrors growth rates in Arizona and throughout the country. Coconino County faces unique pressures and high incarceration rates because the County welcomes a large number of visitors and is traversed by several major interstates. Current efforts by the County to implement a variety of cost controls and efficiencies are part of the continual process of improving our criminal justice system. Ensuring the fiscal security of the jail allows the entire criminal justice system to operate responsibly and effectively. 15 THE 2006 COCONINO COUNTY BUDGET IS $147,690,000 WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM Revenue Highlights: • Sales taxes continue to be Coconino County’s major source of revenue to fund government operations. • It is estimated that the County general purpose sales tax collections for the recently completed fiscal year will total approximately $11.46 million. This represents approximately 24% of all General Fund revenues. • Only 14% of County revenue is collected from property taxes. • The Fiscal Year 2007 primary property tax rate of $46.22 per $100,000 of assessed valuation is actually lower than the previous tax year’s rate of $47.53 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. • Coconino County depends heavily on Intergovernmental Revenues to supplement the General Fund and other program functions to provide services to citizens, most notably for public works and health and social service activities. *Intergovernmental Revenues include State Shared Sales Tax, S t a t e L o t t e ry, Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT), and all grants and contributions received from outside sourc e s . **Taxes include County sales taxes, property taxes and vehicle license taxes. WHERE THE MONEY GOES Expenditure Highlights: • The total adopted budget for Fiscal Year 2006-2007 is $147.69 million and the County has worked conservatively to not increase expenditures beyond the projected revenues. • 35% of all County funds go toward funding the County’s Public Safety and Just ice System. This comprises 43% of the County’s total General Fund expenditures. • The County continues to work with its partners at the national and state level to ensure costs for mandated services are not shifted to the local level. Such additional mandated costs for FY07 include Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) cost increases, Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) increases, Title 36 mental health care costs, Department of Revenue data processing charges, and payment of Court Audits conducted by the state. WHAT HAPPENS TO MY PROPERTY TAXES Coconino County collects property taxes on behalf of all governmental agencies, education and special districts, and distributes them to these agencies. NOTE: Tax rates may vary depending on where you live. Special district taxes vary depending on the special district assessment in each area. The breakdown (to the left) is an example of a tax dollar allocation for a household located in the City of Flagstaff. 16 “Anyone interested in training and testing for a Food Handler Certificate online may log on to www.coconino.az.gov/health” UNDERSTANDING PROPERTY TAXES As a result of a strong demand for housing, prices in Coconino County, like many other places across the nation, have been increasing rapidly. The Arizona property tax system uses market-determined property values as the starting point for computing annual property tax bills. Therefore, as home values increase due to market forces, their values for property tax purposes also increase. However, property values alone do not determine property tax bills. Property tax bills are the product of both property values and tax rates. The tax rates for property taxes are set every year by the various governmental agencies that rely on property tax revenues. These include schools, cities, counties, community colleges, and special purpose districts like fire and water districts. The Arizona Constitution provides a number of powerful protections for property taxpayers. These protections include limitations on the amount of property tax increases that may be levied by cities, counties and community colleges for general operations. There are also limits on how rapidly the tax value of residential properties may increase for computing these taxes, as well as school taxes, which is defined as the limited property value. Overall, these constitutional protections combine to help protect homeowners from dramatically increasing property tax bills. In addition to these constitutional protections, the Arizona legislature has enacted several additional property tax protections and reforms. Property values of homes for tax purposes are assessed at 10% of their full cash value (market value). By contrast, most businesses are assessed at 24.5% of their full cash value. The result is that a larger portion of the property tax is paid by businesses compared to homeowners. In addition, the “homeowner’s rebate” is a program that provides State General Fund monies to reduce homeowners’ school district property taxes. Again, the result is that homeowners’ property taxes are reduced compared to all other properties. The Coconino County Board of Supervisors lowered the County primary property tax rate from $0.4753 for 2005 to $0.4622 for 2006. This lower tax rate will help to offset some of the effects of higher property tax values on property tax bills. Finally, this year the Legislature eliminated the $0.4358 education equalization property tax rate, which will help lower property taxes (and increase the State’s General Fund assistance to local schools). So, while property values are increasing, higher property values do not translate directly into higher tax bills. Ultimately, property tax bills are determined by the combined amount of property tax collections required by each of the several governmental agencies that rely on them for their operations. But, as discussed, both the Arizona Constitution and state law provide important protections for homeowners. For more information, call the Board of Supervisors office at (928) 779-6693. For information on property valuations, call the Assessor’s office at (928) 779-6502; toll-free (800) 559-9289. NEW ONLINE FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATION Getting a Food Handler Certificate just got easier for food service workers in northern Arizona. The Health Department and the Arizona Hospitality Research and Resource Center (AHRRC), a division of the Northern Arizona University School of Hotel and Restaurant Management have teamed up to develop a new user-friendly online training and certification program. Thousands of County workers are required to get a Food Handler Certificate each year. This includes restaurant workers, food workers at retail outlets, and non-profits—such as schools, churches and civic groups. The certificate is valid for three years. from the secure site or through direct payment to the Health Department), the applicant may proceed through the course at their own pace. At the end of the course, the user will take the exam and be issued an official Food Handler Certificate. Until now, the process required applicants to travel to the Health Department, pay a fee, pick up a study guide, then make another trip to take the test. Perhaps the most innovative feature of the new program allows users to switch from English to Spanish – instantly, at the touch of a button! Even those with minimal computer experience will find this new program easy to use. The nationally recognized content will eventually be used throughout the country. Anyone interested in training and testing for a Food Handler Certificate online may log on to www.coconino.az.gov/health.aspx and follow the link to the NAU website; or go directly to the AHRRC site at www.az-hospitality.org. Users will find easy-to-follow instructions. Once the $18 County fee is paid, (either by credit card directly The new system has been available since April and feedback has been very positive. For more information, call (928) 226-2741 or toll-free (877) 522-7800. PANDEMIC FLU PLANNING Since the discovery of the avian influenza outbreak in Asia and Europe, numerous stories have been reported on avian (bird) flu and pandemic flu—many with an alarming tone. While it is important not to exaggerate these reports, it is essential to recognize that the spread of the H5N1 avian flu virus is cause for concern. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new type of flu spreads rapidly to affect people in most countries and regions around the world. The avian flu H5N1 that has recently killed large numbers of poultry and other birds in several countries in Asia and has spread into Europe has caused concern that this strain of flu could result in a pandemic outbreak through a mutation in the existing virus. Mutations in flu viruses are fairly common. Is a world-wide outbreak of a deadly human strain of influenza a real possibility? Pandemics have occurred periodically throughout history, every 30 years on average. Past pandemics have varied in their severity but history shows that pandemics can result in many deaths and social disruption. While there is no way to determine when a pandemic may occur, advanced planning is important to ensure our community is prepared for a possible outbreak. In an effort to prepare for this type of event, the Coconino County Health Department (CCHD) hosted two pandemic flu planning meetings in January. Elected officials, key community and business leaders, and emergency response personnel attended. The meetings were designed to provide information about 17 avian and pandemic flu and to solicit input regarding the community’s preparedness. Information from the planning meetings is being used to prepare a CCHD Pandemic Flu Plan. For more information, call CCHD at (928) 522-7800; toll-free (877) 522-7800; or visit www.coconino.az.gov/health, www.pandemicflu.gov or www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic Would You Like to Volunteer? CCHD continually recruits medical and non-medical volunteers for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program. If you are interested call (928) 522-7848 or toll-free (877) 522-7800. The Coconino County Health Department now offers certified copies of Arizona birth certificates. HEALTH DEPARTMENT PHOTO VOICE PROJECT In order to set intelligent priorities for a changing environment, strategic planning for the next five years is underway at the Coconino County Health Department (CCHD). As in any planning process, the first phase involves collecting information about the current situation. CCHD has found an innovative way to collect information—by creating pictures—with visual images, ideas and information about the public health system, the health of County residents, the forces of change within the County, and citizens’ perceptions of the strengths and issues in their communities. Through the Photo Voice Project, County citizens of all ages and backgrounds were given disposable cameras and asked to take pictures of places, people and things that represent the strengths and problems in their communities. Posters that capture the themes in each community will be displayed this summer in public buildings in Williams, Tusayan, Page, Fredonia, Happy Jack, Sedona and Flagstaff. To further complete a picture of the issues that will help formulate the five-year plan, other vital information has been collected. In October 2005, nearly 200 doctors, nurses, school teachers, social workers, religious leaders, firefighters and business owners participated in a Public Health System Assessment. These stakeholders rated Coconino County’s effectiveness in providing essential public health services. Although plenty of room for improvement was identified in all ten areas, overall, the County rated highest in “diagnosing and investigating health problems and hazards,” and lowest in “evaluating the effectiveness, accessibility and quality of personal and population-based health services”. In the spring of 2006, small groups of active citizens from each community came together to identify the changes they expect to see in the next five to ten years. Each community identified its own unique forces of change, such as political uncertainty, reduced school funding, impacts of drought, and pending land development. Others that are common to most of the County included an aging population, increasing housing costs and growth. Arizona in 2003 and 2004. Some of the highlights of that study include: • 50% of toddlers in Coconino County experience tooth decay. • Nearly 20% of residents are unable to receive health care when they need it. • Marijuana use among youths is higher in Coconino County than in Arizona as a whole. • 20-28% of pregnant women in Coconino County do not receive prenatal care in their first trimester. CCHD hopes to capture more information of this nature from citizens in the smaller towns and unincorporated areas of the County in the near future. To view these pictures and reports, visit www.coconino.az.gov/health and click on Strategic Planning. For more information, call CCHD at (928) 522-7800; toll-free (877) 522-7800. To find out what residents feel make a healthy community, and how they rate their own community, CCHD conducted a random community survey in July. The survey results will be available this fall. To better understand the health status of the citizens in our County, CCHD supported a Health Status Survey conducted by United Way of Northern TEEN MAZE HELPS TEENS ANSWER TOUGH QUESTIONS Today’s teenagers face many challenges and require help and guidance to make good decisions. In an effort to help teens navigate through some of the tough life choices, the Health Department, in partnership with area organizations, sponsored the Coconino County Teen Maze in Flagstaff and Page in May of this year. The Flagstaff Teen Maze was held at the Northern Arizona University (NAU) Walkup Sky Dome and in Page at the High School gymnasium. Partnering with the NAU Department of Health Sciences allowed the Health Department to utilize campus resources for an even more dynamic education Focus areas included Responsible Sexual Behavior, Physical Activity and Nutrition, Substance Abuse, Peer Violence Prevention, Career Planning, and 40 Developmental Assets. Picture a life-size game board where teenagers can “try on” the potential outcomes of life choices involving various risky behaviors. Would it have an impact on their future decisions? Realistic and creative scenarios at various stations help simulate consequences of risky behaviors, provide accurate information and offer positive alternatives. The Teen Maze concept is very dynamic and can be molded to fit the specific needs of a community. The Maze looked a little different this year. More schools were involved and it was open to the public for all ages to participate. A total of 292 teens from Williams, Flagstaff and Leupp schools and social service groups attended the event. The Page Maze experience was a little different than the maze in Flagstaff, focusing on three areas suggested by the school: Responsible Sexual Behavior, Substance Abuse Prevention and Physical Activity and Nutrition. All 10th grade students participated, as well as students from Tse’ Yaa’ To Accommodation School. In all, 254 teens experienced the Maze. Thank you to all agencies and individuals who helped make the 2006 Teen Maze such a success! opportunity for local teens. Many NAU student groups and classes worked to help plan portions of the maze and facilitate the experience for teens. BIRTH CERTIFICATES The Coconino County Health Department now offers certified copies of birth certificates (Arizona births only). The cost ranges from $10 to $23, depending on the year of the birth and the necessary paperwork required. Call (928) 522-7800; toll-free (877) 522-7800; or visit www.coconino.az.gov/health.aspx for more information. 18 For more information about the Teen Maze, call the Health Department at (928) 522-7816 or toll-free 877) 522-7800. TAKE TIME FOR TEETH : IT’S A FAMILY MATTER The Coconino County Health Department (CCHD) recently sponsored the “Take Time for Teeth ~ It’s a Family Matter” campaign, in observance of National Children's Dental Health Month. The campaign was an effort to increase awareness of the importance of good dental health practices for infants and toddlers, and to stress making dental health a family matter. participants. Results of the survey are being used to design and implement community programs and services. Establishing good brushing habits is essential for a lifetime of healthy smiles. According to the American Dental Association, children whose parents practice good dental care are more likely to follow their lead. Tooth decay occurs faster in children than in adults. By age three, more than 30% of children in Arizona already have tooth decay. In Coconino County, that number increases to 49%. Tooth decay is a preventable disease caused when sugar or starch from food is combined with acid-producing germs. As part of the Take Time for Teeth campaign, surveys were distributed to parents to assess the current level of oral health and knowledge among the During the campaign, CCHD dietitian and nutrition counselors offered group education on the importance of oral health care to Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program parents and caregivers. The classes, conducted in English and Spanish, addressed feeding and oral hygiene practices that contribute to tooth decay. Informational brochures and toothbrushes were distributed to parents and an interactive classroom activity was presented at area schools. Take Time for Teeth will be an annual effort to encourage parents and caregivers to take an active role in children’s dental health. For more information, call (928) 522-7800 or toll-free (877) 522-7800. SENIOR SERVICES : MEALS ON WHEELS, INFORMATION & REFERRAL, CASE MANAGEMENT, HOME CARE,VISITING NURSE SERVICE The Senior Services division of Community Services operates two senior centers—in Flagstaff at Thorpe Park, and the Bill Williams Senior Center in Williams, next to the Safeway store. The centers offer daily lunches for seniors and Meals on Wheels for homebound seniors. Weekly social events are scheduled each week at the centers and often include shopping trips. paid by the State AHCCCS program. Called “Medicare Cost Share”, eligible low-income citizens can save thousands of dollars each year. Medicare Part D drug coverage can be difficult to understand. Senior Services staff is available (by appointment) to help seniors navigate through the system, or seniors can also log on to the internet to research the best deal. Each person will have unique circumstances based on their income, prescriptions and current coverage. Anyone age 60+ can join in the fun for a $2 donation at the centers. Donations, grants and County General Fund money support these programs. Meals on Wheels participants are determined eligible by case managers in all areas of the County. There are also two non-County operated centers in Sedona and Page that request a slightly higher donation to cover their costs. For more information, or to speak with a Senior Services Case Manager, call (928) 522-7979 or toll-free (866) 822-9298. Computer savvy seniors can obtain benefit information online at home, or at the local library, by visiting these sites: • All Benefits Checkup – www.benefitscheckup.org Senior Services case managers screen seniors and disabled adults for in-home assistance with daily activities, such as bathing, cleaning and shopping; and for visiting nurse services. Not all services are available in all areas of the County. Priority is given to seniors and disabled adults who are located in the coverage area, are low-income, without in-home assistance, and/or are the most at-risk of institutionalization. • Medicare help and licensed nursing facilities – www.medicare.gov • Find a physician – www.azmd.gov • Find an elder law attorney – www.azbar.org • No cost advance directives from the Arizona Attorney General – www.azag.gov/seniors Case managers also travel county-wide to help seniors obtain benefits they are eligible to receive. One of the least known benefits is the opportunity for Medicare participants to have their premiums, deductibles and co-payments • Help with electric bills from Arizona Public Service – www.aps.com • Help with propane bills from Unisource – www.uesaz.com * VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT THE COUNTY * In June, the Board of Supervisors adopted the new Coconino County Volunteer Policy. This exciting step has opened the door for citizens to engage in their government in a whole new way. There are several volunteer opportunities available; here are just a few: • To find out about fun outdoor opportunities with Parks and Recreation, call (928) 679-8022. • To put your caring heart to work, call the Health Department at (928) 522-7800. • If you’re interested in helping seniors, call Community Services at (928) 522-7998. • If you have time, talent and an interest in helping your fellow citizens, please consider donating a few hours each month to make Coconino County an even better place to live. • If you like working in a high energy atmosphere, the Sheriff’s Office offers exciting volunteer opportunities. Just call (928) 226-5089. For more information, call Community Services at (928) 522-7979; toll-free (866) 822-9298. 19 MOVING BEYOND POVERTY If northern Arizona communities were to experience a catastrophe like the one caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, what would we see on TV about those who live in poverty here? What message would we send to those watching about how we care for our most vulnerable citizens? Poverty is an all-encompassing condition defined by the absence of food, clothing, shelter and/or health care; as well as a lack of opportunities to improve one’s life. Poverty is a vicious cycle. It limits one’s access to resources and makes them more susceptible to abuse, violence, exploitation and discrimination. Children who live in poverty often grow up to be adults living in poverty. Per the 2000 Census, 8,751 people live below the Federal Poverty Guideline in the City of Flagstaff— 17.4% of our population. The national average is 12.4%. What does that mean in terms of dollars? For a family of three, it means an income of $16,092 per year. Produced by the Children’s Action Alliance in 2002, the Self Sufficiency Standard “measures how much income is needed for a family of a given composition in a given place to adequately meet it’s basic need—without public or private assistance”. The index includes the cost of housing, child care, food, transportation, health care and miscellaneous expenses. In Flagstaff, a parent with an infant and a preschool age child would need to earn $39,140 per year to manage their costs without assistance— over twice the poverty level. participant leadership meetings, circles of support, seasoned facilitators, car donations, cash assistance loan programs, and dream job coaching. Last year, Community Services hosted a forum, Left Behind? A Portrait of Poverty in Coconino County, that resulted in a core group of people serving on the Community Action Board and on a task force to establish a Beyond Poverty program in Coconino County. As Community Services moves forward with Beyond Poverty, community meetings will be held to provide information, seek input and encourage people to get involved. For more information, call Community Services at (928) 522-7979 or toll-free (866) 822-9298. Community Services has been looking at a program called Beyond Poverty—a program that builds community by focusing on six core features— JUSTICE 2025 PROJECT MOVES FORWARD Last November, the Coconino County Court system sponsored an all day strategic planning forum with individuals and agencies outside the court system. The purpose of the forum was to seek input and assistance in determining the types of services the courts should provide by the year 2025. The ideas and input received at the forum will be used by court leadership to develop a project implementation strategy for improved services for court system customers. include the implementation of a DUI/Drug Court; development of the courts website; customer service surveys; minority citizen town halls; classes on how to represent yourself in court; and improved customer service for jurors. For more information, call Court Administration at (928) 779-6804. The five focus areas that were addressed include Quality and Access to Justice; Structure and Administration; Facilities and Operations; Information and Technology; and Community Outreach and Partnerships. The strategic planning forum was attended by 119 stakeholders, including judges, members of the Flagstaff City Council and Coconino County Board of Supervisors, court staff, City and County staff, attorneys, professors, private citizens and high school students. Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court Ruth McGregor was the keynote speaker. This strategic planning forum was a follow-up to similar forums held in 1999 and 2000. Some of the projects that came to fruition as a result of the prior forums GENESIS X PROJECT : ADULT PROBATION PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITIES Adult Probation is partnering with the Sunnyside Community Association and Southside Neighborhood Association in a project called Genesis X. It is a re-entry program for offenders being released from jail or prison to integrate them back into their neighborhoods in the Sunnyside and Southside areas of Flagstaff. The project provides social work services with job referral, career assistance, emergency assistance and other immediate needs of persons being released from incarceration. A part-time social worker in Adult Probation assists officers with their clients by providing additional resource referrals needed to help them successfully transition to life on the “outside”. 20 The Genesis X Project is part of the “Weed and Seed” strategy for the Sunnyside and Southside neighborhoods. It is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. For more information, call Adult Probation at (928) 226-5650; or toll-free (800) 559-9289. “Adult Probation is partnering with the Sunnyside Community Association and Southside Neighborhood Association in Project Genesis X”. “THE ONLY CONSTANT IS CHANGE” ...COUNTY ATTORNEY TERRY HANCE Six years into the new millennium, legal services provided by the County Attorney’s Office have come to reflect the ancient maxim, “the only constant is change”. The office is constitutionally mandated to provide legal services to County residents and County departments in the most effective and efficient manner possible—while dealing with changing laws, budget constraints, and a growing number of cases. This year, the Criminal Division is expected to review over 2,500 cases for felony charges, prosecute 1,200 misdemeanor cases, and review and refer over 2,800 cases to Juvenile Court. The Civil Division advises 33 County agencies and the Board of Supervisors; litigates and defends civil claims on behalf of the County; and advises school boards, fire districts, sanitary districts and improvement districts. Civil attorneys also prosecute mental health cases and provide adoption services free to County residents. The recent growth in housing in the County has been particularly demanding in providing services for Community Development and the County Assessor in defending tax appeals. With the leadership changes in the Sheriff’s Office, Flagstaff Police Department, Williams Police Department and Juvenile Services, there are many opportunities and challenges to form new relationships within the criminal justice system. The County Attorney’s Office is also a major proponent and participant in the newly formed Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (see page 11). As a result of a recent strategic issues retreat, measures to attract qualified prosecutors have been proposed, a change in criminal case processing is being investigated, and a dialogue with the courts concerning case management has been initiated. The vast majority of cases in Coconino County, as in the rest of the country, will be resolved through plea agreement, adopting best practices and recruiting high quality staff. In an effort to provide better statistical data, the County Attorney’s Office has made changes in its case management system. In coordination with the National College of District Attorneys, performance measures are being compared using ten prime indicators to ensure maximum performance for time invested in prosecution. “I am confident that the investment our office is making in these changes will result in a more streamlined, efficient process,” said County Attorney Terry Hance. In addition to these direct services, the County Attorney’s Office has a strong working relationship with Victim Witness Services for Coconino County, Safe Child Clinic, DUI/Drug Court, METRO Task Force, Flagstaff Unified School District ATTEND program, and other community partners. For more information, call the County Attorney’s Office at (928) 779-6518; toll-free (800) 559-9289. PUBLIC DEFENDER AND LEGAL DEFENDER WORK TOGETHER The Public Defender and Legal Defender provide legal counsel, when appointed by the courts, to those accused of criminal offenses who cannot afford a lawyer. Criminal offenses may include felonies, misdemeanors and criminal traffic offenses, referred by Superior Court or Justice Court. Representation is also provided to children charged in Juvenile Court, to individuals facing involuntary commitment for mental treatment, and to the parties in child dependency and termination of parental rights cases. The Bill of Rights, adopted in 1791 as the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, established that persons accused of committing a crime have the right to be represented by lawyers. Since that time, the U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted that right to mean that, if a defendant cannot afford to hire an attorney, the court will appoint one to represent him or her at government expense. In 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the right to counsel applies in all cases where the defendant faces a jail term, whether the case is a felony or a misdemeanor. It has also been decided that certain legal proceedings, such as the severance of parental rights, are so important that counsel should be provided for indigent persons. There are many legal conflicts that prohibit the Public Defender from representing certain individuals. If there are multiple defendants in a case, it would be a conflict of interest for the Public Defender to represent more than one defendant. In conflict situations for indigent persons, the Legal Defender provides representation in all cases in which the Public Defender has a conflict. The Legal Defender’s Office also contracts with private counsel for cases that neither the Public nor Legal Defender may ethically defend. There are currently seventeen full-time attorneys in the Public and Legal Defender offices, who seek to provide “quality and cost-efficient legal representation to indigent persons” when the courts determine that representation is constitutionally required. For more information, call the Public Defender’s office at (928) 779-6663 or the Legal Defender’s office at (928) 779-6816. • COCONINO COUNTY MISSION • Coconino County is a land of vast and endless beauty, and home to many cultures. With energy and enthusiasm, we commit to: • Conscientiously serve our community and provide our citizens with accessible local government • Provide the most effective and efficient delivery of services • Be sensitive to the needs of ALL citizens in our changing world • Challenge, recognize and support our employees because they are the backbone of the County • Protect, preserve and care for our environment In our second century of public service, we envision our citizens and staff proud of their government and its accomplishments. We look forward to the future—confident that working together in an atmosphere of cooperation and trust, we will meet each new challenge with creativity and integrity. 21 PUBLIC WORKS BUILDS PARTNERSHIPS FOR A BETTER COMMUNITY The past year has been a busy time for Public Works—performing road maintenance, building new infrastructure projects, transporting solid waste, and more. Much of this work was done through partnerships with community groups, other County departments and governmental agencies. Here are some of the highlights of the past year and a look at things to come. ROAD MAINTENANCE The Road Maintenance Division repaired flood damaged roads from last year’s unusually wet winter (approximately $1.5 million funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency). Approximately 40,000 cubic yards of fill and surfacing materials were used to perform washout repairs and replace culverts. At the same time, crews did extensive work on the modification of the intersection at Old Munds Highway and the Mountainaire access road. This project was funded through a partnership with local residents. Crews continue to provide scheduled maintenance and snow removal on approximately 1,200 miles of County roads, including Forest Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs (Reservation) roads. Newly paved subdivision roads have also been added to the list of roads maintained by the County. Drainage maintenance projects are ongoing throughout the County and crews chip sealed approximately 50 lane miles of paved roads. Also, since this summer has brought heightened concerns about forest fires, Public Works crews are prepared to provide support to wildfire suppression crews when needed. RECYCLING Coconino County has entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Flagstaff for recycling. The County will deliver all recyclable materials to the Flagstaff Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and will recover a cost share from the sale of the recyclable materials. Cost share revenues are determined by the market price of recyclable materials. Recyclable materials are accepted free of charge at all County transfer stations and recycling information flyers are available to County transfer station users. Recyclable materials may be taken to any of the nine County-operated transfer stations. Recycle containers have also been placed at locations throughout Coconino County, including the Flagstaff Cinder Lakes Landfill. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION The Household Hazardous Products Collection Center is operated by the City of Flagstaff and is located at the Flagstaff Cinder Lakes Landfill on N. Hwy. 89. The site is open on Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to Noon. Coconino County provides 31% of the funding for the center. The facility accepts petroleum oils, antifreeze, fluorescent tubes, batteries, lawn and garden products, hobby chemicals, household cleaners, paint, solvents, drain cleaners, pesticides/herbicides, polishes, chlorine, bromine, acid, poisons and caustic materials. NOXIOUS WEED ERADICATION In an effort to eliminate the infestation of non-native plants (noxious weeds) in the County, Public Works contracts with Enviro Systems Management Incorporated. Eradication methods used by Enviro Systems are governed by the U.S. Forest Service National Environmental Policy Act. The program is administered collaboratively with the Northern Arizona Weed Council and the San Francisco Peaks Weed Management Coordinator. The Willard Springs, Mormon Lake and Long Valley transfer stations are included in the noxious weed eradication program, which includes access roads and areas immediately adjacent to the transfer stations. 22 FOREST MATERIALS COLLECTION Public Works utilizes an air curtain destructor, a machine that burns forest materials in a controlled environment. The U.S. Forest Service also provides material pits where citizens may deposit forest materials. Mormon Lake Transfer Station—Public Works has expanded the Transfer Station Special Use Permit to include a forest materials collection area at this site. Willard Springs Transfer Station—Coconino County collects approximately 12,000 cubic yards of forest materials per year at this site. The station now accepts forest materials from commercial hauling vendors. A $3 per cubic yard fee is charged for forest materials delivery. Moonset Pit—Public Works and the U.S. Forest Service jointly operate a forest materials collection operation twice a month from now through the month of September. Long Valley—Public Works and the U.S. Forest Service jointly operate a forest materials collection operation at the Little Bly Pit, located on Highway 87, 1.6 miles east of the entrance to Starlight Pines. Approximately 3,000 cubic yards of forest materials are collected per year at this site. For more information, call (928) 526-2735, extension 34; toll-free (800) 790-1990. COMMUNITY CLEAN-UPS The Community Clean-Up Program offers citizens in County subdivisions and unincorporated areas the opportunity to clean up debris on their property, eliminate vector-breeding areas, and reduce the threat of a fire by disposing of potential fire hazards at no charge. 40-cubic yard containers are delivered to designated staging areas or to nearby transfer stations. Public Works employees and contractors provide staff to assist with unloading vehicles. Recyclables, forest materials and large appliances are also accepted at the clean-ups. In order to accommodate summer residents, clean-ups are scheduled from May through August each year. Due to the large number of subdivisions and unincorporated areas in the County, these areas are scheduled for a clean-up once every two years. For more information call, (928) 526-2735, extension 34; toll-free (800) 790-1990. ENGINEERING SERVICES The Public Works Engineering Division expanded this year, with new positions in Construction Management, Engineering, Project Design and Right-of-Way. These additional staff members have greatly increased the County’s ability to design and manage projects in-house. Projects completed during the past year include paving and drainage improvements in Mountainaire, Kachina Village, Forest Lakes and Doney Park; and drainage projects in Pinewood, Blue Ridge, and Kaibab Estates. Looking ahead, Engineering Services has a number of projects in the design phase that are scheduled for construction in the coming months. Plans are close to completion on the Campbell Avenue paving and drainage project, which was conceived and designed with input and guidance from area residents. This project, along with the reconstruction of approximately ten miles of Leupp Road, is scheduled this summer. Because of the impact these road and drainage projects have on communities, Public Works staff makes every effort to involve citizens in the planning and design process. Citizens who have questions or suggestions concerning specific projects are encouraged to call County Engineer Dale Wegner at (928) 526-2735, extension 18. • COCONINO COUNTY VALUES • We are responsible and accountable to all, and our actions are guided by these core values: • Honesty – Everything we say and do is based in truth. • Respect – We value differences and treat everyone with kindness and civility. • Integrity – We honor our commitments. • Responsibility – We take ownership of our actions and their results. • Community – We share goals, solve problems cooperatively, and promote a spirit of belonging within the organization. 23 “How well a community is prepared is based on three facets—public safety preparedness, government leadership, and community and personal readiness.” KACHINA VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT The Kachina Village Improvement District (the District) is a self-supporting political entity that receives all its operating and capital funds from the residents and businesses of Kachina Village. The District’s mission is to provide optimum services at the lowest cost, protect the health and well-being of our customers, and ensure the protection of the environment. Electrical Power Savings Electrical power is a significant cost to the District and reduction of these costs presents the greatest opportunities for increased efficiencies in the areas of wastewater treatment and disposal. Over the past year, the District has saved over 60 megawatt hours. The District's bottom line has already reflected this savings but, until the Arizona Corporation Commission sets the Arizona Public Service Company rates, it is uncertain what impact they will have on future electrical usage. Sludge Handling Savings Savings of approximately $30,000 per year have resulted from changes to the sludge (dead bacteria resulting from wastewater treatment) handling processes. With the updating of existing equipment, the utilization of modern day polymers, and improved efficiency, the amount of aeration required in the treatment ponds has decreased. Electronic Meter Reading The District is very close to completing a multi-year project of replacing standard visual-read water meters with electronic touch-read meters. Two years ago, 32 to 50 person hours per month were required to read the meters and an additional 12 to 16 hours for bill processing. Today, less than 12 person hours per month are required to read the Village meters, with bill processing time reduced to less then 6 hours per month. Wastewater SCADA The District’s Board of Directors has approved funding of a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system for control of the aeration blowers and monitoring of aeration pond contents. replacement of newer pipes and appurtenances and through the use of advanced materials and coupling techniques. Additionally, pumps, tanks, valves and other equipment continue to need maintenance, upkeep and, in some cases, replacement. Into The Future In the next fiscal year, starting July 1, 2007, the District will update its practices, methods, policies and procedures. Significant changes are anticipated in the wastewater treatment plant and many infrastructure improvements, including: • Installation of fine bubble diffusers in the wastewater aeration ponds • Automated control of the RAS (return activated sludge) system • Continued improvements and cost reductions in sludge handling and disposal • Improvements in the pipeline to the wetlands to reduce pumping costs • Establish agreements for the reuse of the produced reclaimed water This system will further reduce the power usage at the wastewater treatment plant and improve system efficiency. We anticipate another 20 megawatt hour savings per year as a result. The Down Side : Aging Infrastructure On the less than cheery side is the advancing age of the infrastructure within the Village. Although past accomplishments have improved the infrastructure, we are still in need of additional work and construction. This year in particular, the District has experienced an inordinate number of leaks in pipes throughout the Village. These issues are being addressed with the installation and All improvement plans are evaluated using common business cost/benefit analyses and only those projects that will produce an adequate return on investment will be undertaken; with the exception of those mandated by regulatory agencies and those necessary to protect the health and safety of the residents and District employees. For more information, call (928) 525-1775, or stop by our office at 540 Jadito Trail. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Photo by George Sereno EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS : GOT PLANS? Emergency managers at the local, state and federal level can have the most well thought-out emergency operations plan but, if community members are not prepared and ready to take action during a disaster, the plans are not as effective. Coconino County is exposed to a wide variety of hazards, both natural (earthquakes, fires, severe storms, power outages) and man-made (acts of terrorism). We need to work together. How well a community is prepared is based on three facets—public safety preparedness, government leadership and community/personal readiness. If any of these cornerstones to the emergency preparedness triangle are not strong, the community’s ability to respond and recover from disasters is diminished. Public safety agencies, such as law enforcement, fire departments/districts, public works and health departments, continually work, train and plan for disasters. Organizations such as LEPC (see page 25) work to ensure collaboration and cooperation among all public safety agencies. during critical incidents in order to provide essential services to its citizenry. The third facet is the community and its residents and businesses. Every resident is encouraged to set some time aside to develop family emergency plans for evacuation and sheltering in place. Imagine that you have NO electricity, gas, water and telephone service. Imagine that all businesses are closed and you are without any emergency services. What will you do until help arrives? Can you survive for 72 hours? If your home or neighborhood is evacuated, do you know where you will go, what essential items you need to take with you? How will you reunite with family members? Do you have a central call-in phone number (relative or family friend)? Do you have pets? Livestock? What plans do you have in place to move them? There are several excellent web sites that can help you develop your plans. Visit www.coconino.az.gov/emergencysvcs.aspx or the American Red Cross web site at www.redcross.org For more information, call Coconino County Emergency Services Manager Sherrie Collins at (928) 526-2735; toll-free (800) 790-1990. Government leadership has the responsibility to ensure that government will sustain itself 24 LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE (LEPC): A PARTNERSHIP TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is a volunteer emergency planning organization made up of representatives from public and private sectors. This program took root in the 1986 Title III Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA). This legislation requires local planning by businesses and response agencies whenever hazardous materials are involved. SARA also required the establishment of a system in each community that informs citizens of chemicals used, manufactured or stored locally. The LEPC has the responsibility of developing and maintaining a Hazardous Materials Response Plan for Coconino County, which includes public education efforts and establishing the group as the repository for Tier II reporting forms for hazardous materials stored in facilities within the County. The diverse membership includes professionals in public safety and environmental services, as well as elected state and local officials, law enforcement, emergency management, fire departments and districts, health and emergency medical services, hospitals, transportation personnel, public works, community groups and owners/operators of facilities subject to the reporting requirements of SARA Title III. In 2004, the Committee adopted an all-hazard approach to emergency planning, thus expanding the role of the committee. This partnership serves as a focal point in the community for information and discussion about hazardous substance planning, health and environmental risks, and natural disaster planning. To date, the LEPC has developed a regional HAZMAT response team, a County Emergency Operations Plan (and Hazardous Material Annex), a Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan and the I-40 Commodity Flow Study. The Committee also prioritizes all Homeland Security grant projects to ensure the greatest needs and allocations throughout the County are recognized. In the upcoming months, the group will be involved in a regional full-scale Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) exercise and will host several additional exercises throughout the County. For more information, call Coconino County Emergency Services Manager Sherrie Collins at (928) 526-2735; or toll-free (800)790-1990. GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS): ONLINE MAPPING New Data Available New data layers include the Flagstaff Metropolitan Planning Organization (FMPO) boundary, Justice of the Peace districts, and updated aerial photos of Kaibab Estates West. The One-Stop Shop tool, the quickest way to get all available data for a parcel, now displays parcel and ownership history. This tool allows users to find parcel data if parcel number, owner name or property address is known. To directly access this tool, citizens may log on to http://gis-map.coconino.az.gov/website/coconino/getgisdata.asp Other Enhancements Users may now view and print sales data for all parcels that have sold within a user-specified area around a given parcel. Other enhancements include the option to print larger maps, greatly improved scanned Assessor’s maps, quick links to layer metadata (layer description, layer attributes, list of tools pertinent to the layer, etc.), and instructions for converting mapping site coordinates to GPS coordinates. Over the past year, the GIS Mapping Website, located at http://gis-map.coconino.az, has received several enhancements to improve and expand the site. Where to Start What Does the Website Offer? The site offers 24 hour access to GIS-based interactive data—digital land maps with layers that include parcels, roads, Assessor maps, aerial photos, contours, zoning, school districts, voting precincts, fire districts, subdivisions, road districts, political and administrative boundaries, and more. Maps can be created by overlaying any of the available layers. Only public information is available on the site. For a fee, GIS maps may be ordered at www.coconino.az.gov/gis/maprequest.asp or by calling (928) 679-7800. Also for a fee, training on the use of the site is available. The website contains a “How do I?” section with instructions for the most commonly used functions. A summarized tutorial or the complete user manual may be viewed online or downloaded from the website. Website Disclaimer The information on the County’s GIS website is provided for general planning purposes only. It is not a legal description and, due to the source of some data, may contain inaccuracies. Users are asked to report any identified inaccuracies to the GIS Department at (928) 679-7800, or toll-free (800) 559-9289. • COCONINO COUNTY VISION • In partnership with our residents, Coconino County is a dynamic community connected by shared values of sustainability, cultural appreciation, environmental stewardship and a spirit of progressiveness. We are a strong, diverse organization that is flexible, responsive and innovative. 25 (All addresses are Flagstaff, Az. 86001, and the area code is 928, unless otherwise noted; Courthouse address is 200 N. San Francisco St.) GENERAL INFORMATION: 774-5011 or Toll Free (800) 559-9289 County Website: www.coconino.az.gov Adult Probation, Jim Buzard 222 E. Birch Ave. . . . . . . . . . . . .226-5674 Assessor, Chris Mazon 110 E. Cherry Ave . . . . . . . . . .779-6502 Board of Supervisors 219 E. Cherry Ave . . . . . . . . . . 779-6693 District I ,Carl Taylor 219 E. Cherry Ave . . . . . . . . . . 779-6697 District II, Liz Archuleta 219 E. Cherry Ave . . . . . . . . . . 779-6798 District III, Matt Ryan 219 E. Cherry Ave . . . . . . . . . . 779-6764 District IV, Deb Hill 219 E. Cherry Ave . . . . . . . . . . 779-6696 District V, Louise Yellowman 219 E. Cherry Ave . . . . . . . . . . 779-6699 Tuba City Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .283-4518 Career Center, Carol Curtis 2625 N. King St., 86004 . . . . .522-7900 Clerk of the Superior Court, Deborah Young 200 N. San Francisco St. . . . .779-6535 Community Development, Bill Towler 2500 N. Ft. Valley Rd. #1 . . . .226-2700 Community Services, Verna Fischer 2625 N. King St., 86004 . . . . .522-7980 Constable, John Weybright 200 N. San Francisco St. . . . .779-6834 Cooperative Extension, Beth Tucker 2304 N. 3rd. St., 86004. . . . . .774-1868 County Attorney, Terry Hance 110 E. Cherry Ave . . . . . . . . . .779-6518 County Manager (Interim), Steve Peru 219 E. Cherry Ave . . . . . . . . . . 7 . 79-6691 Deputy County Manager (Open) 219 E. Cherry Ave.. . . . . . . . . . 779-6859 Deputy County Manager, Jerry Flannery 219 E. Cherry Ave.. . . . . . . . . . 779-6854 Assistant to County Manager, Brenda Grey 219 E. Cherry Ave .. . . . . . . . .779-6695 Clerk of the Board, Wendy Escoffier 219 E. Cherry Ave.. . . . . . . . . . 779-6694 Court Administration, Gary Krcmarik 200 N. San Francisco St . . ..779-6804 Elections, Patricia Hansen 110 E. Cherry Ave.. . . . . . . . . . 779-6589 Facilities Management, Jody Gilbert 2500 N. Ft. Valley Rd. #2 . ..226-2705 Finance, Mike Townsend 219 E. Cherry Ave.. . . . . . . . . . 779-6895 Geographic Information Systems (Open) 211 N. Agassiz St . . . . . . . . . .226-6032 Health, Barbara Worgess 2625 N. King St., 86004 . . . . 522-7810 Human Resources, Jane Emberty 219 E. Cherry Ave.. . . . . . . . . . 779-6701 Information Technology, Larry Dannenfeldt 211 N. Agassiz St.. . . . . . . . . .779-6795 Justices of the Peace Flagstaff, Brian Kolb 200 N. San Francisco, Flagstaf, 86001..........779-6806 Fredonia, Mark Baron 112 N. Main St, Fredonia, 86022.. . . . . . . . . . . 643-7472 Page, Donald Roberts 547 Vista, Page, 86040... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 645-8871 Williams, William Sutton 700 W. Railroad, Williams, 86046. . . . . . . . . . . 635-2691 Juvenile Court, Bryon Matsuda 1001 E. Sawmill Rd.. . . . . . . . 226-5400 Margaret McCullough, Pres.Juv. Judge 1001 E. Sawmill Rd .. . . . . . . . 226-5400 Legal Defender, Gary Pearlmutter 201 E. Birch Ave., Ste. 2. .. . 779-6816 Parks and Recreation, Todd Graeff Ft. Tuthill (Exit 337 & I-17).....774-5139 Public Defender, Allen Gerhardt 110 E. Cherry Ave.. . . . . . . . . .779-6663 Public Fiduciary, Nancy Mueller 2625 N. King St., 86004. .. . 522-7997 Public Works, Klara Fabry 5600 E. Commerce Ave., 86004..526-2735 Recorder, Candace Owens 110 E. Cherry Ave.. . . . . . . . . . 779-6585 Sheriff, Bill Pribil 911 E. Sawmill Rd.. . . . . . . . . . 226-5012 Superintendent of Schools, Cecilia Owen 121 E. Birch Ave. #201. . . . . . 779-6591 Superior Court Judges Division I, Danna Hendrix 200 N. San Francisco St.......779-6861 Division II, Fred Newton, Presiding 200 N. San Francisco St......779-6598 Division III, Mark Moran 200 N. San Francisco St.......779-6801 (and Drug Court) Division IV, Charles D. Adams 200 N. San Francisco St . . . . 779-6784 Division V, Dan Slayton, Pro Tem 200 N. San Francisco St.......779-6546 Treasurer, Bonny Lynn 110 E. Cherry Ave. . . . . . . . . . 779-6615 GENERAL INFORMATION 774-5011or Toll-Free (800)559-9289 Abandoned Vehicles/Junk Cars Private Property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226-2700 Public Property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....774-4523 ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6704 Adult Probation Flagstaff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226-5650 Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .645-9676 AHCCCS Eligibility (Department of Economic Security) Flagstaff (Eastside). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-0246 Flagstaff (Westside). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-0327 Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .645-8131 . Tuba City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .283-4511 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)/Mediation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6805 Animal Management (2500 N. Ft. Valley, #1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226-2717 Animal Bites, Animal Control, Animal Cruelty, Barking Dogs, Dog Licenses, Rabies,Strays Domestic livestock–State Livestock Inspector. . . . . . . . . toll-free (800) 294-0305 Wildlife–Arizona Game and Fish. . . . . . . . . . . 774-5045 or toll-free (800) 352-0700 Animal Shelter (Coconino Humane Association) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 526-1076 Bad Check Prosecution (County Attorney’s Office). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6645 Bail Bonds (Posting M-F, 8-5) Flagstaff Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6806 Fredonia Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 643-7472 Page Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... 645-8871 Williams Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 635-2691 26 Birth/Death Certificates (Arizona Office of Vital Records). . . . . . . . . (602) 364-1300 Board of Equalization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6694 Budget(Finance Department). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6895 Buildings Inspections and Permits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226-2700 Inspections For Property Value Assessment, Report A Change In Use Of Property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6502 Buildings, Unsafe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226-2700 Bus Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..779-6624 Fixed Route (Mountain Line), Para-transit for Disabled/Elderly (VanGo) Campgrounds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .774-5139 Ft. Tuthill County Park (group and family campsites and stables camping) Cataract Lake Campground Cats (See Animal Management) Child Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6541 Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6694 Agendas & Meeting Minutes; Boards, Commissions, Committees and Councils; Land Sale Coconino County Fair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774-5139 Coconino County Cooperative Extension Office (4-H). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774-1868 Coconino Rural Environment Corps (CREC). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7982 Collections Enforcement Unit (Courts). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6804 Community Clean-Ups (Solid Waste). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 526-2735 Community Services Offices Flagstaff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7979 Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 645-3105 Williams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 635-2628 Community Services Programs: Emergency Shelter, Rent/Mortgage/Utility Assistance, Employment (age 55 & over), Senior Services (see Senior Services), Public Fiduciary Services Conciliation/Mediation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6805 Damage Claims Against the County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6742 Defensive Driving School Flagstaff Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6806 Fredonia Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 643-7472 Page Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..645-8871 Williams Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 635-2691 Disabled Services TDD (see TDD) Van Go paratransit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6624 ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6704 Discrimination Complaints. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6701 Dogs (See Animal Management) Drainage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .526-2735 Drug Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226-6057 Dust Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 526-2735 Education Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6591 Adult Education, Citizenship, ESL (English As A Second Language), GED, Teacher Certification (forms and fingerprint cards only) Elections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6589 Candidate Filing, County Initiative, Referendum & Recall Process, Early Ballots (Absentee Ballots), Voting Locations Emergency Services (Disaster Preparedness). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .526-2735 Emergency Services (Utility Shut-off/Eviction Prevention). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7979 Employment Workforce Investment Act (WIA). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7900 Law Enforcement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . ..779-6702 Older Americans Act (Title V). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 522-7979 Environmental Health/Environmental Quality (2500 N. Ft. Valley Rd. #1) Restaurant inspections, Food Handler/Food Manager classes. . . . . . . . 226-2741 Wastewater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226-2768 Equal Opportunity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . ..779-6701 Fine Enforcement/Judicial Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6804 Fireworks Permits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .779-6694 Floodplain Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .226-2700 Fort Tuthill County Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 774-5139 County Fair, Horse Races, Special Events, Campgrounds, Trails, Parks Headquarters Geographic Information Systems (GIS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6625 NEW Interactive GIS Mapping Site at www.coconino.az.gov/gis) Health (Programs/Services). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . toll-free (877) 522-7800 Animal Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . ..226-2717 AzEIP (Early Intervention). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 522-7889 Childbirth Education Classes (Labor Preparedness, Daddy Boot Camp, Perinatal Fitness, Newborn Care, Couples Skill Building. . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7819 Communicable Disease Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 522-7920 Dental Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214-7169 Environmental Health/Environmental Quality Services Food Handler/Food Manager Classes, Restaurant Inspections. . . . 226-2741 Wastewater (Septic systems). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 226-2768 Family Planning (STD Testing/Treatment). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .522-7888 (HEALTH SERVICES CONTINUED) Food Plus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7850 Health Start (Page). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 645-9400 Healthy Families. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7932 HIV Testing & Counseling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 522-7925 Home Health Care. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7947 Immunizations/General Clinic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .522-7920 Injury Prevention. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 522-7871 KidsCare Eligibility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .522-7891 Maternal and Child Health Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7816 Medical Examiner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226-2715 Newborn Intensive Care and Nursing Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7957 Nutrition Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .522-7872 Page-Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 645-9400 Promoting Lifelong Activity For Youth (PLAY). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7868 Teen Wellness Clinic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7930 Tobacco Prevention/Cessation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 522-7880 Traumatic Brain Injury Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. 522-7889 Tuberculosis (TB) Control Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7920 WIC (Women, Infant & Children) Nutrition Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7850 Horse Races. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .774-5139 Household Hazardous Waste. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 526-2735 House Number Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 226-2700 Illegal Dumping (Public & Private Property). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774-4523 Injunctions Against Harassment (workplace or personal) Flagstaff Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6806 Fredonia Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 643-7472 Page Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 645-8871 Williams Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 635-2691 Internet Site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . www.coconino.az.gov Jail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226-5015 Jury Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6535 Kachina Village Improvement District (KVID). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525-1775 Labor Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6702 Landlord/Tenant Issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6806 Landfills/Dumps/Transfer Stations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. 526-2735 Land Records. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6585 Easements, Ownership Information, Subdivision & Lot Restrictions, Survey & Subdivision Plats Land Sale Clerk of the Board (also at www.coconino.az.gov/bos). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6693 Treasurer’s Tax Lien Sale (also at www.coconino.az.gov/treasurer). . . . .779-6615 Law Library (200 N. San Francisco St., Flagstaff). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6656 Legal Services (Civil Cases, Landlord/Tenant Issues, Domestic Relations)......774-0653 Legal Defender (Court Appointed Criminal Defense-Adult and Juvenile) . . . . . . 779-6816 Library (Public) City/County Library, Main (Flagstaff). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-7670 East Branch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..774-8434 . Law Library. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6656 Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..645-4270 Sedona. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .282-7714 Tuba City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .283-5856 Williams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .635-2263 Liquor Licenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6693 Lot Splits/Combinations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6502 Marriage Licenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6535 Meals on Wheels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .522-7979 Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6805 Medical Examiner (2500 N. Ft. Valley Rd. #3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226-2715 Mountain Line (fixed route transportation within City of Flagstaff). . . . . . . . . 779-6624 Open Spaces (Coconino Parks and Open Spaces Program). . . . . . . . . . . . . 774-5139 Orders of Protection (no divorce filed) Flagstaff Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6806 Fredonia Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .643-7472 Page Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..645-8871 Williams Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 635-2691 Parks and Recreation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774-5139 Cataract Lake Campground (near Williams), Fort Tuthill County Park (Exit 337 and I-17), Peaks View County Park (Koch Field Road, Doney Park), Raymond County Park/Pumphouse Greenway (Kachina Village), Sawmill Multicultural Art and Nature County Park (Sawmill Road, Flagstaff), Willow Bend Environmental Education Center (at Sawmill County Park) ............779-1745 Passports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6535 Permits (NEW Online Permit Tracking Center at www.coconino.az.gov/cocopal/) Building, Electrical, Gas, Manufactured Home, Temporary. . . . . . . . . . . . . .226-2700 Septic/Wastewater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..226-2768 Planning & Zoning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226-2700 Private Property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6502 Legal Descriptions, Lot Dimensions, Lot Splits/Combinations, Ownership Information, Rights-of-Way (Forms available at Assessor’s Office or Community Development) Public Defender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6663 Public Fiduciary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7997 Conservator, Guardianship Purchasing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6712 Bids, Prospective County vendors Recycling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .526-2735 Road Conditions (Arizona Department of Transportation). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .774-1491 Roads Dust, Potholes and Road Repairs, Snow Plowing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 526-2735 Easements, Rights-of-way. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 226-2700 Road Districts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6576 Speeders (Sheriff). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774-4523 27 Schools (Superintendent of Schools). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6591 Adult Education Programs, Home Schooling (See Education Programs), Teacher Certification (Forms and fingerprint cards only) Teacher Certification Information Phoenix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (602) 542-4367 Tucson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(520) 628-6325 Self-Help Legal Services Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 779-6656 Senior Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7979 Case Management, Congregate Meals, Home Care, Home Delivered Meals, Nutrition Education, Respite Services, Senior Job Development, Social Activities, Additional Services (See Community Services) Septic Systems (Wastewater). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .226-2768 Sheriffs Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226-5012 Emergency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dial 911 Sheriffs Office Substations Blue Ridge, Forest Lakes, Fredonia, Grand Canyon, Sedona, Tuba City............774-4523 Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..645-8873 Williams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .635-4487 Small Claims (claims less than $2,500) Flagstaff Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6806 Fredonia Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 643-7472 Page Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..645-8871 Williams Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .635-2691 Solid Waste. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 526-2735 Special District Payments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 779-6730 Special Districts Improvement, Paving, Road Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6576 Fire, Lighting, Sanitary, Water. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 226-2700 Special Event Liquor Licenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 779-6693 Tax Lien Sale. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6615 Taxes Assessed Valuation, Exemptions, Tax Bill Corrections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6502 County & City Tax Rates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 779-6707 Deadlines (for Tax Payments), Real and Personal Property (mobile homes and commercial equipment) Tax Bills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6615 TDD Services (for the hearing impaired) Elections/Voter Information, Human Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226-6073 Sheriff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774-4523 Tire Disposal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 526-2735 Traffic Citations (Highways and County) Flagstaff Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 779-6806 . Fredonia Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 643-7472 Page Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..645-8871 Williams Precinct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .635-2691 Trails. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..774-5811 Transfer Stations (Solid Waste). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 526-2735 Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6624 Mountain Line (Fixed Route bus), Van Go (Para-transit Service) Trash Services (Solid Waste). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 526-2735 Tuba City Office (Board of Supervisors). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283-5357 or 283-4518 VanGo (Para-transit service within City of Flagstaff). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6624 Volunteers Career Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7900 Community Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .522-7979 Cooperative Extension. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .774-1868 Voter Registration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779-6589 Wastewater (septic systems). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 226-2768 Website. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.coconino.az.gov Youth Programs Career Center............. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 522-7900 Community Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .522-7979 Cooperative Extension. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 774-1868 Juvenile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .779-6772 Zoning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226-2700 Conditional Use Permits, Enforcement, Rezoning Applications, Variances Toll-free numbers: Career Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (877) 358-6714 Community Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .(866) 822-9298 Elections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 793-6181 General County Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . (800) 559-9289 Health Department Flagstaff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (877) 522-7800 Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(888) 645-2283 Law Library and Self-Help Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (877) 806-3187 Page, Kaibeto, Fredonia Health Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 645-2283 Public Defender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (886) 290-2466 Public Works. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 790-1990 Sheriff’s Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(800) 338-7888 Treasurer’s Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .(877) 500-1818 COUNTY WEBSITE : NEW AND IMPROVED Over the past year, the County website has undergone a complete visual makeover and now offers new and improved user functionality. Citizens now have easy access to many programs, services and databases that previously required a phone call or a trip to a County office. The website address has also been changed to www.coconino.az.gov services (online permit center; Resource Action Network of Northern Arizona (RANNA) directory, vendor bidder service, weekly Superior Court calendars, courts streaming video tutorials, interactive GIS mapping site, election information, Board of Supervisors meeting agendas and minutes) • Community Wildfire Protection Plans • Parcel and property information locator; ownership history records New and updated features include: • Delinquent tax sale lists • Services & Programs page; Keyword Search; “How do I…?” section • Emergency Broadcast Notification System • Regular County-related news; event calendar • Contact e-mail and phone lists • Employment information • “Area Info” section with links to attractions, resources and recreation • Direct links to a growing list of online citizen For more information, e-mail webmaster@coconino.az.gov, or call (928)779-6882; toll-free (800) 559-9289. ELECTRONIC MAPS NOW AVAILABLE The Recorder’s Office has been busy this year with the implementation of an upgrade to its recording system. In February, Eagle Recording Systems introduced a new program called Eagle Recorder/Eagle Web, which makes it possible to scan recorded maps so they are available to the public in the same way copies of recorded documents are available. Currently, all plat/subdivision and survey maps from 1983 to present have been scanned and are available at www.coconino.az.gov/recorder.aspx. The next phase of the project involves the indexing and scanning of all plat and survey maps from 1891 to 1983. This phase, scheduled for completion by January, 2007, will be more labor intensive due to the age of the maps and the types of material that was used to make them. This new technology will eliminate paper copies and free up valuable space in the Recorder’s Office, as well as preserve the original maps for future generations. By next year, the public will be able to access these maps via the internet or by logging on to the public computers in the Recorder/Assessor joint public viewing area. For more information, call the Recorder’s Office at (928) 779-6585; toll-free (800) 793-6181. TRACKING PERMITS AND LICENSES ONLINE In May 2005, a new permit tracking system was introduced to the public on the County website. Three County departments issue permits—Community Development, Health and Public Works, and many permits are directly related to each other. For example, some building permits cannot be issued by Community Development until a septic permit is issued by the Health Department, or an encroachment or grading permit is issued by Public Works. There is also a public portal that allows citizens to access the following permit information: Just log on to www.coconino.az.gov/cocopal and check the status of your permits! The new permit tracking system allows these departments to more efficiently manage and coordinate the issuance of interdependent permits. For more information, call Community Development at (928) 226-2700 or toll-free (800) 559-9289. • View specific permit details • Check the status of a permit, including reasons why it may be on hold • Request an inspection • View inspection results the same day they are performed • Run several permit-related reports All this can be done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without having to call or visit the County. 28