MAY 2014 REPORT TO CITIZENS Community Development Delivers Customer Service, One-Stop Shop County Looks Internally for Innovation, Sustainability In 2013, the Coconino County Community Development Department underwent an external review to determine how it could operate more efficiently. What resulted is a streamlined building permitting process and increased customer service. After the 2008 Great Recession, Coconino County looked internally to streamline operations and work smarter, while enhancing sustainability, efficiency and maximizing cost-savings for taxpayers. PAGE 3 PAGE 7 County Parks: Year Round Destinations Coconino County Roads Report Whether visitors are soaring through the trees, hiking, biking, taking in a concert, enjoying the County Fair or visiting Santa’s Workshop, Fort Tuthill County Park has become a year-round destination for the entire family. Roads throughout Coconino County are degrading and gas tax revenues are falling short, as state and federal funding for repairs and routine maintenance is cut. County maintained roads are vital to the local economy and commuters, but a budget divide is growing. PAGE 8 PAGE 11 COCONINO COUNTY Dear Coconino County residents, It’s hard to believe that five years have passed since we last issued our Report to Citizens in 2009. We are excited to once again share this Report to Citizens to convey the successes, challenges and vital programs that help keep our communities resilient and healthy. Over the past several years, Coconino County has been in a state of transformation and transition. Last year, we welcomed District 1 Supervisor Art Babbott onto the Board of Supervisors and Cynthia Seelhammer as our new County Manager. These two additions, in conjunction with the hiring of new directors in key departments, have positioned the County to increase efficiency, while preparing for an uncertain future. Through detailed financial planning and employing innovative ideas, the County has worked to absorb much of the financial shortfalls that hit other local governments in the economic downturn. However, we are always looking at new opportunities to increase efficiencies, while continuing to deliver the quality services that our residents have come to expect. As you will see in this report, the single largest issue the County is facing is a $100-million budget shortfall over the next 10 years if we fail to address our growing transportation funding gap. Funding critical infrastructure is an issue not only impacting Coconino County, but communities across the nation. In addition, the County continues to increase energy efficiency and sustainability throughout the organization with significant organizational changes, including the installation of solar panels at County facilities. We’ve also listened to you and have employed multiple changes to increase customer service and responsiveness at our Community Development Department. We continue to be amazed by the resiliency of our residents, businesses and county staff as we all rise to address the many issues facing our communities. It is our hope that you will find this Report to Citizens a resource to keep you informed on some of the key services, highlights and issues that impact our communities. Sincerely, —The Coconino County Board of Supervisors and County Manager Table of Contents 4 How to obtain a birth certificate 5 Public Health District Dental Clinic, WIC 6 Building local businesses and supporting careers 10 CJCC combines efforts, resources to combat crime 15 Where can I take my trash, recyclables and tires? 16 A guide to property taxes 18 County Attorney’s Office: Serving the public by advocating for justice 19 Mental Health Court and Veteran’s Court rehabilitating, mentoring offenders 20 Exodus Program: Helping inmates rebuild their lives 21 Sheriff’s Office arms residents with data 22 County Library system, locations 23 Need job search support? Join a Job Club 2 May 2014 www.coconino.az.gov Art Babbott Supervisor - District 1 Liz Archuleta Supervisor - District 2 Matt Ryan Supervisor - District 3 Mandy Metzger Supervisor - District 4 Lena Fowler Supervisor - District 5 Cynthia Seelhammer County Manager REPORT TO CITIZENS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Increases Customer Service, Delivers One-Stop Shop C ustomer service has always been a key consideration to every program offered by Coconino County, but there’s always room for improvement. On occasion, your best efforts can only be improved by inviting an outsider to step in and provide insight on how procedures and staff can work more efficiently and improve customer service in the process. Last year, the County did just that with our Community Development Department, which recently underwent an organizational restructuring to streamline the development experience for contractors and residents to develop their homes and properties. The changes, some of which are still being implemented, are outlined in the 268-page “Organizational Assessment of Community Development” report by Zucker Systems. The Zucker Report, as it’s known, provided County leadership with a roadmap to enhance the current levels of service and offered 364 recommendations for improving procedures within the department. While not all recommendations were employed, the report and input from industry stakeholders allowed the County to take a step back to see how it could conduct business more efficiently for our customers. The Zucker Report also came as the department was in a state of transition in leadership. Our new director, Jay Christelman, moved back to Flagstaff in September from the Tucson suburb of Marana, where he worked on a similar task of helping make the development process less onerous and improving customer service. Christelman is a graduate of Northern Arizona University. More than just streamlining procedures, Christelman, along with Deputy County Manager Larry Dannenfeldt, has worked to usher in a culture change within the department. Since last year, the department has worked to condense building permit applications and forms to simplify the permitting process for large-scale developers and residents looking to simply remodel their kitchen or add onto their existing home. Applicants are now assigned a permit technician or case manager, who routes their permit application through the department to ensure the project has the proper approvals in a timely manner. Under the application approval process before, staff aimed to return comments to applicants within the previously advertised 90 days. Today, about 90 percent of applicants have department comments returned within 15 days. Staff members that were once assigned to the County's Public Works Department Engineering Division and Public Health Services District Environmental Quality Division were reassigned to Community Development to potentially prevent applicants from having to drive to two different county offices for projects involving septic systems or grading. Community Development also hired a code compliance manger to enhance code enforcement coordination. Customers are now given a time range when building inspectors will be available to examine a structure. In addition, the department’s website at www.coconino.az.gov/ communitydevelopment recently underwent a complete redesign to make it easier for users. While the County continues to further enhance our service levels, county officials and members of the Board of Supervisors have received positive feedback from professional developers and do-it-yourself homeowners. For additional information, visit the department’s website or call (928) 679-8850 or toll-free at (800) 559-9289. www.coconino.az.gov County Considers ORDINANCE REGULATING STORMWATER RUNOFF T he Coconino County Board of Supervisors is considering an ordinance from the County Community Development Department that would regulate the quality of stormwater runoff within the County. The proposed ordinance is the result of action in 2002 that gave the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) primacy over Phase II of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit program in Arizona (AZPDES). The program addresses stormwater discharges from small municipal separate storm sewer systems. Based on the 2000 census data, the City of Flagstaff and some adjacent county subdivisions reached the minimum threshold population of 50,000 people. That required the approval from ADEQ to discharge runoff from these systems into the streams and washes in the area. For these stormwater systems to be used, the County was required to submit a Notice of Intent to discharge and a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) to ADEQ. The SWMP must address all the ADEQ permitting requirements for stormwater discharges. The ADEQ general permit is divided into six program elements, including: • • • • • • Public Education and Outreach Public Involvement and Participation Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Construction Site Runoff and Pollution Control Post-Construction Runoff and Pollution Control Pollution Control/Good Housekeeping Three of the General Permit program elements: Illicit Discharges, Construction Site Runoff Control and Post-Construction Runoff Control specifically state that the County must enforce these program elements using an ordinance or other regulatory mechanism. Since the County has no other regulatory mechanisms in place that fully address these ADEQ General Permit requirements, it was necessary to develop a Coconino County Stormwater Quality and Runoff Control Ordinance. May 2014 3 COCONINO COUNTY Coconino County Community Services NEED A BIRTH CERTIFICATE? ACCEPTING FINANCIAL DONATIONS TO AID POOR The Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) offers certified copies of Arizona birth certificates at several locations throughout the County, including: Tax-deductible donations help struggling families, communities F or more than 36 years, the Coconino County Community Services Department has served as the region’s designated Community Action Agency, providing support to extremely poor residents to ensure they become self-sufficient. FLAGSTAFF: Health and Community Services Building The majority of those assisted by Community Action Agencies nationwide fall below 75 percent of the federal poverty threshold or $9,735 for a family of three (the average family size for those served). Location: 2625 N. King St. Hours: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. and noon - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday PAGE: CCPHSD Northern Region Office Funding for Community Action comes from federal, state and local governments, as well as foundation grants and individual donations. Community Services is a public nonprofit that accepts tax-deductible financial donations to invest in our communities and provide a better future for generations to come. Location: 467 Vista Ave. Hours: Second Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Navajo interpreter available.) TUBA CITY: County Supervisor Lena Fowler’s office Contributions received help to: • • • • Location: 46 Maple St. Hours: First and third Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Navajo interpreter available.) Fight homelessness. LEUPP: Leupp Chapter House. Fight hunger by helping to provide seniors with hot, nutritious meals and homecare assistance. Hours: First Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Navajo interpreter available.) Fight oppression by providing oversight of personal funds for court recognized disabled individuals who have no one else to care for them. Records are available for births that occurred in Arizona from 1950-present. CCPHSD cannot issue certificates for Arizona births that occurred prior to 1950. Promote self-sustainability by leveraging and matching recipient and federal dollars for Individual Development Accounts. Donations to Coconino County Community Services are federal income tax-deductible. Working poor tax credits can be taken in addition to school tax credits. To obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate from another state, contact that state’s Office of Vital Records. Payment in the form of cash, cashier’s check, money order Community Services is a qualifying charitable organizations and a donation can reduce your state income tax dollar-for-dollar up to $200 for an individual or $400 for a married couple filing jointly. For more information, visit the County Community Services webpage at www.coconino.az.gov/communityservices or call (928) 679-7426. or personal check is accepted. Applications are available at Health District offices or visit www.azdhs.gov/vitalrcd/forms. htm. For more information, call the CCPHSD at (928) 679-7272 or toll-free at (877) 679-7272 or visit www.coconino.az.gov/health. COMMUNITY SERVICES By the Numbers FY 2013 SENIOR PROGRAMS 4 SOCIAL SERVICES • Served and delivered 37,434 nutritious meals • 3,840 households served (11,351 family members) • Provided 150 seniors with information, referral and benefits check-ups for coordinated services • 1,291 households received utility assistance (3,876 family members) • 4,560 units of in-home services, including respite and housekeeping services and 429 units of case management • 287 households received housing assistance (861 family members) • 1,579 households participated in Case Management Services, which helps move people from crisis situations May 2014 www.coconino.az.gov REPORT TO CITIZENS Coconino County DENTAL CLINIC ENSURES HEALTHY SMILES T he Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) Dental Clinic offers a wide range of services to meet the dental needs of our community. The clinic serves the uninsured or those on Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) / Kids Care and who are below 250 percent of Federal Poverty Level guidelines. Services are provided on a sliding fee scale at the clinic located at 304 S. Humphreys St. Please call (928) 679-7825 for more information. For more information about AHCCCS and Kids Care, call (877) 764-5437. CCPHSD DENTAL CLINIC SERVICES INCLUDE: • • • • • • • • • • • • • Emergency and walk-ins Comprehensive exams X-rays Cleanings Dental sealants Fluoride treatments Fillings (silver amalgam and tooth colored) Tooth extractions Root canals (no molars) Removable partial dentures Complete dentures Consultations Referrals TIPS FOR BETTER DENTAL HEALTH: • • • • • • Bring your child for a check-up six months after their first tooth. Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. Cut back on sugar such as sodas, juices and candy. Avoid allowing infants to use a feeding bottle as a pacifier, unless it contains only water. Floss daily. Visit the dentist every six months. COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT WIC Program Promotes Nutrition, Healthy Families F or four decades, the Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) has helped millions of our nation’s families meet the daily nutritional needs of infants and toddlers. Today, the Coconino County Public Health Services (CCPHSD) WIC program provides supplemental foods, health care referrals and nutrition education for multiple families in need. WIC participants receive a variety of services including information about nutrition and weight gain during pregnancy, tips for feeding infants and children to create healthy habits for a lifetime, breastfeeding information, referrals to other community resources and access to healthy foods. In the 40 years that WIC has been available as a resource in the County, our communities have grown stronger through programs aimed at promoting optimum growth and development for our children. There have also been some recent new and exciting changes to WIC. www.coconino.az.gov Spring began the kickoff of the new Arizona Farmers’ Market Nutrition season for women and children who participate in WIC. As part of the Program, WIC moms in Flagstaff and their children receive $30 worth of Arizona Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program checks to spend at an approved farmers’ market. This is an important part of the WIC Program obesity prevention efforts and helps 10,000 WIC participants in Arizona eat more fruits and vegetables. For more information, contact the Public Health Services District WIC office at (928) 679-7250 or toll-free at (800) 252-5WIC (252-5942). For more information and to learn of eligibility requirements, call the Coconino County Public Health Services District at (928) 679-7250 or toll free (877) 679-7272 or visit www.coconino.az.gov/health. May 2014 5 COCONINO COUNTY BUILDING LOCAL BUSINESSES T he Coconino County Community Services Department’s Basic Business Empowerment (BBE) program trains budding entrepreneurs with the fundamentals of jumpstarting their own business. Since the program began in 2007, more than 225 participants from throughout the County have completed the small business training course and 58 new businesses have opened their doors. The department is certified to offer small business development training using the Kauffman Foundation’s Operation Jump Start Curriculum. The program provides a step-by-step process in which participants learn how to create a feasibility plan defining their product or service and how to set up an LLC, analyze the local market, to project future cashflow and profits for a three-year period of time. Coaching through the BBE program continues for participants after graduation, as needed. Upon completion of the program, participants will have a completed business plan, which is ready to be presented to a lender, private investor or grantor. Some participants may also be eligible for the Individual Development Account (IDA) program. For additional information regarding the BBE program, call (928) 679-7458 or visit www.coconino.az.gov/bbe “By assisting emerging entrepreneurs, we are helping each of them to invest in the local economy and successfully serve the communities in which they live.” —Community Services Assistant Director Norma Gallegos COCONINO COUNTY CAREER CENTER: SUPPORTING EMPLOYERS, STARTING CAREERS T he Coconino County Career Center is a leading resource for both employers and job seekers, and is designed to maximize employment and training opportunities. Project Open, a business service arm of the Career Center, provides numerous opportunities to enhance connectivity between our local workforce, employers and community partners. Work experience can be tough to get without opportunities that connect mentors and community leaders who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise. BUILDING ON INTERNSHIPS Recent trends show that many employers are hiring interns who have proven their value to a company. The Career Center recently began a partnership with Terra BIRDS, a nonprofit organization that educates and empowers youth through gardening to help 6 May 2014 prepare them as stewards of a sustainable future. Terra BIRDS and the Career Center are working to offer a multi-faceted, handson educational program to encourage interns to pursue “green” careers upon completion of their internships. AIDING EMPLOYERS All too often the cost of training new employees becomes too burdensome for businesses that must remain cost-efficient to maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace. For those switching careers or entering the workforce for the first time, getting hired in a new field may be difficult because employers may see them as too costly to properly train. Project Open offers a viable solution. The Career Center has sponsored on-the-job trainings for a number of local employers that have hired well-qualified, yet inexperienced workers, to fill key positions within their companies. The Career Center has teamed with these employers to reimburse them for half of the new employee’s wages during this rigorous training period to help ease the burden on partner companies. Teams serve large high profile employers, as well as premier niche employers, broadening the number of employees deemed eligible for hire. Increasing employment opportunities helps Coconino County residents remain local and broadens the applicant pool for our local employers. www.coconino.az.gov REPORT TO CITIZENS County Looks Internally for INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY S hortly after the economy slowed in 2008 and government budgets began to shrink, Coconino County officials asked employees for what the County could do better to work smarter and cheaper, while enhancing sustainability and efficiency. The recommendations covered everything from standardizing document fonts to save printer ink and paper to a vacation-sellback program that allows employees to sell personal days off back to the organization. One simple, yet cost-saving, idea came from Facilities Management Trades Worker Henry Lopez. After a morning restriping a county parking lot and running low on paint, Lopez returned to his truck and settled in for lunch. Between bites of his sandwich, he thought: “Why do we need to paint the whole line?” Everyone already knows how to park between the lines. So why paint the entire line?” he thought. After checking with his supervisor, Lopez began painting two-foot stripes at the front of and rear of each parking space, saving both time and paint. The practice spread to other county parking lots and Facilities Management saw a 54-percent reduction in the area painted and a 49-percent decline in the amount of paint used. Overall, the department saves about $500 per year depending on the number of lots painted. Going Green by increasing energy efficiency The County is also furthering its “green” initiatives by increasing energy efficiency and moving into alternate sources of energy, which will help save taxpayers millions of dollars in energy costs over decades. Facilities Management has also finetuned and upgraded climate control systems to ensure they are running as efficiently as possible. Crews also properly sealed windows and doors to maintain comfortable temperatures throughout buildings. Facilities Management uses thermal imaging tools to find weaknesses in facilities to target and reduce energy waste. The County has even installed low-flow and waterless plumbing systems in many buildings to conserve water. This year, the County will venture into the use of solar photovoltaic energy by installing solar panels at the County Public Health Services District and Community Services building, the Flagstaff/Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Administrative Facility (LEAF), the County Jail www.coconino.az.gov and Juvenile Services buildings. The Flagstaff region receives about 165 clear, sunny days per year, making these facilities prime locations to harness solar energy to help reduce the organization’s $623,000 yearly electricity costs. The four sites selected for solar panels account for more than 60 percent of the County’s electricity consumption. By employing solar at these locations the County expects to cut its energy bill by about one-third. Sustainable Building Program However, the push for sustainability and efficiency doesn’t stop inside the organization. For several years, the County has partnered with local developers and homeowners looking to build sustainable structures through the County’s Sustainable Building Program (CCSBP). As of February 2014, there were 21 residential and commercial projects utilizing resources available under the program. CCSBP partners with the Willow Bend Environmental Education Center in Flagstaff to offer free monthly educational sessions on the latest sustainability methods, tools and resources available to all community members. The County also works with partners such as the U.S. Green Building Council to develop tools for local governments to monitor their overall sustainability efforts. “Remaining innovative and efficient is important for our future,” said County Manager Cynthia Seelhammer. “However, we must ensure we are relying on solutions that are sustainable and continue to work over the next 10, 25 or 40 years.” May 2014 7 COCONINO COUNTY Fort Tuthill County Park Becomes YEAR ROUND FAMILY DESTINATION C oconino County Parks and Recreation, together with the Board of Supervisors, continue to turn Fort Tuthill County Park into a year-round destination for locals and visitors from throughout the state and region. In addition to the Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill County Park, which provides multiple popular concerts and other family friendly events, the County has entered into agreements with Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course and North Pole Experience. By entering into these public-private partnerships, the County Parks and Recreation Department has not only delivered on its promise to residents to expand its offerings at the park, but each venue provides additional funding for the County through revenue-sharing agreements with each business. The Board of Supervisors and Parks and Recreation have responded to calls for more diverse, family friendly activities at our County parks. Stay tuned for more additions planned for Fort Tuthill County Park. PEPSI AMPHITHEATER Since the Amphitheater opened its doors, the venue, now named Pepsi Amphitheater at Ft. Tuthill County 8 May 2014 Park, has generated approximately $400,000 in revenue for the County. However, a 2011 financial-impact study by Northern Arizona University found the Amphitheater helped to pump more than $2 million into the local economy. A broad range of concerts and events have attracted tens of thousands of visitors – most of whom travel from the Phoenix area. Out-of-town visitors filled local hotels, restaurants and businesses. For additional information on upcoming shows, visit www.pepsiamp.com or call (866) 977-6849. FLAGSTAFF EXTREME ADVENTURE COURSE Since opening in May 2012, the Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course has hosted nearly 40,000 visitors. The success and popularity of the aerial adventure course generated more than $30,000 for the County in 2013 alone. The course allows teens and adults to test their skills and agility as they navigate dozens of aerial challenges suspended high in the ponderosa pine trees. Visitors must cross cable bridges, swing on Tarzan ropes, zip lines www.coconino.az.gov or climb ladders. The course also includes an adventure course for kids. For additional information, visit www.flagextreme.com or call (888)259-0125. NORTH POLE EXPERIENCE In fall of 2012, Santa packed up his workshop from Greer and relocated to Fort Tuthill County Park. Since then, the North Pole Experience has been a great success with parents and awestruck children who get to work alongside elves and Santa himself. Families marvel at the colorful lights as they are picked up at the Little America Hotel in Flagstaff and embark on a trolley ride to the North Pole through a magic portal, as they are transported to Santa’s Workshop. In 2013, with 25 event-days, the North Pole Experience sold 23,393 tickets and generated more than $42,000 to the County. For additional information, visit www.northpoleexperience.com or call (480) 779-9679. FORT TUTHILL COUNTY PARK 2446 Fort Tuthill Loop, at Exit 337 off of Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff REPORT TO CITIZENS FORT TUTHILL COUNTY PARK Event Calendar May 2014 May 14-15 May 16-18 May 17 June 2014 CELEBRATING 65 YEARS OF THE COUNTY FAIR LABOR DAY WEEKEND, AUG. 29 – SEPT. 1 Coconino County Fairgrounds at Fort Tuthill County Park T he Coconino County Fair is Northern Arizona’s largest event and this year fairgoers will celebrate its 65th birthday. The Fair features four days of live entertainment, food, livestock shows, carnival rides, exhibits, activities for kids and adults and more than 100 vendors. This year, the Fair is “Grand and Alive at 65” and brings back old favorites, as well as new and exciting entertainment and attractions. Enjoy the Friday Dollar Day and a homebrew competition, in addition to microbrew and craft beer tasting and themed days packed with family friendly June 5-8 June 5-8 June 7 June 13-15 June 13-15 June 20-22 Flagstaff Kennel Club Dog Show | Fairgrounds Copper State Horse Show | Grandstands, Round Arena Flagstaff Wine & Food Festival | Amphitheater Shoes N’ Brews Horseshoe Charity Event | Navajo Ramada High Country Round Up AZ Versatility Ranch Horse Show | Posse Arena The Big Heap Antique Show | Commercial Bldg. June 25-30 Flagstaff Pro Rodeo | Grandstands, Round Arena July 2014 entertainment. It’s also the place to showcase hobbies, special talents and homegrown produce. Leading up to the annual event, look for the 2014 Fair Book for additional information on the event and how to enter an exhibit. Copies of the Fair Book will be available at Coconino County Parks & Recreation office in Fort Tuthill County Park, at Coconino County offices and many local businesses. For additional information, call (928) 679-8000 or visit www.coconino.az.gov/countyfair. Pine Forest Track & Field Day | Peaks View Soccer Field AZ Collectibles Gun Show | Commercial Bldg. Northern AZ Horseman’s Assoc. Gymkhana | Posse Arena July 3 July 10-13 July 19-20 UV Splash Run | Fairgrounds, Trails AZ Antique Show | Commercial Bldg. Northern AZ Horesmans Assoc. Gymkhana | Posse Arena July 24-29 FLG X Mud Run | Trails, Flagstaff Extreme August 2014 Aug. 2 Aug. 8-10 Aug. 14-18 Aug. 14-18 Aug. 23-24 Aug. 27- Sept. 1 Machine Solutions Run | Trails Tail Waggn Agility Dog Event | Navajo Ramada ADA Mountain Air & Dressage in the Pines | Grandstands, Round Arena Pine Country Classic - USTRC | Posse Arena Fair Horse Show | Posse Arena Sunrise Lions Club Demolition Derby | Grandstands, Motor Sports Arena For additional information on County Parks and Recreation, visit www.coconino.az.gov/parks. NAVAJO INTERPRETIVE SITES at Antelope Canyon, Grand Falls and Little Colorado River Overlook www.coconino.az.gov P arks and Recreation is working with the Cameron, LeChee, and Leupp Navajo Tribal Chapters, the Navajo Nation Tourism Department and the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department to develop design concepts for Interpretive Areas at Antelope Canyon, Grand Falls and the Little Colorado Overlook. Improvements are anticipated to include interpretive signage and shade ramadas. These projects are funded by Coconino County Parks and Open Space Program. May 2014 9 COCONINO COUNTY Coconino County CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL P eople always speak of the “criminal justice system,” but Coconino County has taken a system-wide problem-solving approach to a new level with its participation in the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC). The CJCC was formed in 2005 to improve the local justice system through collaboration with multiple regional stakeholders and law enforcement partners. The past year has been one of innovation and successes as its members collaborated on several diverse cutting edge research and projects to find new ways to reduce crime and improve citizen access to substance abuse and mental health services in our community. The CJCC was formed with guidance from the National Institute of Corrections and unprecedented participation from local governments and nearly every regional criminal justice agency. Leaders from throughout the community immediately recognized the benefit of this innovative way of addressing and studying common social issues within the juvenile and criminal justice systems within the County to identify areas for improvement and formulate policy, plans and programs for change. What resulted was a nationally recognized CJCC model of efficient collaboration. CJCC was selected as one of 12 organizations nationwide by the Justice Management Institute network of leading coordinating councils. In addition to its coordinating function, the CJCC operates subcommittees that work to address behavioral health and substance abuse, system performance matters and juvenile issues. Last year the CJCC went further and expanded its focus to include groups dedicated “CJCC continues to successfully identify and address county-wide concerns regarding our criminal justice system. Because there is an exceptionally strong collaborative effort among all the members of the CJCC, we have been recognized nationally as a model to follow.” 10 May 2014 – CJCC Chairman Judge Dan Slayton CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • to improving the delivery of services to victims of crime. With this new expanded focus the CJCC expects to make an even larger impact in the lives of citizens throughout the County by using this collaborative approach that has proven so successful in other areas. www.coconino.az.gov • • • • Adult Probation Chief Probation Officer Arizona Department of Public Safety representative City of Flagstaff Chief of Police City of Flagstaff Chief Prosecutor City of Flagstaff Manager City of Flagstaff Mayor or City Council representative City of Flagstaff Municipal Court Administrator City of Flagstaff Municipal Court Presiding Judge City of Flagstaff Public Defender Coconino County Attorney Coconino County Board of Supervisors member Clerk of Coconino County Superior Court Coconino County Juvenile Court Coconino County Manager Coconino County Presiding Justice of the Peace Coconino County Justices of the Peace Coconino County Justice Courts Court Administrator Coconino County Jail Detention Commander Coconino County Legal Defender Coconino County Public Defender Coconino County Public Health Services District Director Coconino County Sheriff Coconino County Superior Court staff and judges Coconino County Superior Court Administrator Coconino County Victim Witness representative Drug Court Coordinator Flagstaff Unified School District School Board member Juvenile Probation Chief Probation Officer Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority representative Northern Arizona University Criminal Justice Department representative Northern Arizona University Police Department representative Page City Court Presiding Judge The Guidance Center Director Two members of the public CoConino REPORT TO CITIZENS County Revenues Plummet State and Feds Allow Gas Tax to Stagnate While County Roads Decay Road maintenance in the U.S. is largely funded by the gas tax. A gas tax was first established in the 1940s to fund maintenance and expansion of roads and other transportation systems. There is both a federal and state gas tax. In Arizona, the gas tax is 37.4 cents per gallon. Why are the County’s gas tax revenues at near 1998 levels? • State & Federal officials have not raised the gas tax level since the early 1990s • The gas tax is flat and not indexed to inflation • The gas tax does not reflect the cost of gas • State officials have swept County gas tax revenues to fund State programs • Overall, the gallons of gas sold is declining due to increased fuel efficiency, even though more cars are driving more miles The gas tax revenues are 70% of the County’s overall road maintenance funding. The County does not have the authority to raise gas taxes. In addition, $1.5 million in federal funding for rural road maintenance has not been re-reauthorized by Congress. “ county roads are fundamental to our economy and daily lives. The way we fund road maintenance is broken. These roads belong to all of us, and the county does not have enough money to maintain them. The county’s road system is our taxpayers’ largest asset valued at $100 Million and is at risk.” – cynthia Seelhammer coconino county Manager The Bottom Line …Services at Risk Without significant additional revenue, service cuts will include: In coconino county, an average year’s snow removal costs $1.5 million • Snow plowing only from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. and only for major roads during storms • 50% drop in frequency of grading dirt roads • No $ for paved road repair • No $ for equipment replacement $4 MILLIO Impacts: • • • • Longer commute times Lower speed limits Higher car repair costs Lower property values Gas Tax – NOT adjusted to inflation since 1993. In 2014, this alone = $13.6 million in lost revenues SINce 200 STaTe SweePS fuNDING 9 $ $1.5 MILLION IN N $ feDeRaL fuNDIN G cuTS 70% Gas Tax Revenue is of the Road Maintenance Budget Gas Tax Has NOT increased since 1993 Gas Tax: No increase since 1993 • Not indexed to inflation • State sweeps $4 million • Property taxes DO NOT fund road maintenance www.coconino.az.gov www.coconino.az.gov May 2014 2014 Report to Citizens 13 Our Roads: Old and exhausted The County recently commissioned an assessment of all 320 miles of paved roads maintained by the County. The independent study conducted by Kimley-Horn and Associates found that 35% of County paved roads are in poor or severe condition. KimleyHorn also estimated the cost to address the roads rated as poor and severe is about $70 million. Without maintenance, the cost to remedy these near-failing roads will escalate to almost $109 million in five years. good Roads = good economy every day about 20,000 county residents travel to flagstaff for work. Most use county roads to access state highways that enter flagstaff. Townsend-Winona Road – severe Condition facing up to Our failing Roads Coconino County is not alone. Throughout the United States, roads have fallen into disrepair. The American Society of Civil Engineers grades the condition of the nation’s roads through an annual Report Card. In 2013, the Society graded the condition of roads a ‘D’. This near-failing grade is evidenced by the many road and bridge failures experienced in the last 10 years. POOR ROaDS cOST aRIzONa MOTORISTS $205 in repairs aNNuaLLy american Society of civil engineers’ RePORT caRD for arizona • 52% of Arizona’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition. • Arizona has 60,439 pu blic-road miles. • Arizona’s highway ve hicle-miles traveled in 2009 was appr oximately 9,366 per capita, ranking it 35th in the nation. • Arizona’s gas tax of 19 cents per gallon has not been increased in 23 years. Coconino County maintains 930 miles of roads with 460 miles owned by the County, 212 miles owned by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and 258 miles owned by the U.S. Forest Service. 456,000 visitors annually recreate on National forests in coconino county. flagstaff employers: Nestlé Purina w. L. Gore & associates Northern arizona university flagstaff Medical center Joy cone and more... “ Tourism is a major part of the economy. In some years, tourism can generate as much as 50% of our sales tax revenue and creates thousands of jobs. If residents and visitors cannot readily access our National forests from county-maintained roads, then revenues from tourism and outdoor recreation activities will plummet, hurting us all. ” – Rich Bowen economic collaborative of Northern arizona AgIng RoAdS and Long-TeRm deCLIne In gAS TAx Coconino County Owned Roads – 460 Miles (49%) Townsend-winona • espee Road • campbell ave. • Koch field • Kachina Village • Stardust • Pinewood Blvd. • Mountainaire • South Snowbowl • Leupp Road • and more May 2014 www.coconino.az.gov N16 why can’t we Get Money elsewhere? Over $2 Million in Permanent cost Reductions Funding from the County’s General Fund is the only source that could be legally tapped for road maintenance. The General Fund supports most of the County’s basic, state-mandated services. For example, most of the criminal justice services are covered by the General Fund, including Sheriff patrol, courts, County Attorney, Public Defender, Adult Probation, and Juvenile Justice. The reality is that 90% of the General Fund revenues are capped by state or voter initiatives. The remaining 10% represents STaTe fuNDING cuTS revenue from fees imposed by the County fOR STaTe MaNDaTeD for some services it offers, such as building PROGRaMS & cOST ShIfTS permits. However, fees can only be levied $14.5 for certain services, and the level of each million fee cannot exceed the cost of providing since 1999 the service. Using the General Fund to make up the lost gas tax and to address dilapidated roads means eliminating about $12 million in law enforcement, Courts and other statemandated services. The General Fund is also under pressure because the State has shifted about $14.5 million in statemandated program costs to the County over the past 13 years. If we fund road maintenance out of the general Fund, services will be cut by 20%. In 2009, Coconino County took immediate steps to reduce road maintenance expenditures and began expediting improvements to increase efficiency. Immediate cost reduction efforts included not filling most vacant positions, and nearly eliminating all investments in paved road maintenance and equipment replacement. In effect, the county stopped investing in paved road maintenance and equipment to avoid drastically reducing service levels. These actions insulated most County residents from the impacts of the decline and reduced the impact to the road maintenance fund reserves. Short-Term Strategies • Kept 32 positions vacant • No investment in paved roads • No investment in road maintenance equipment Long-Term Strategies • Eliminated positions • Extended equipment replacement life cycle • Balanced equipment utilization • Reduced fleet size • More efficient snow plan 35% of paved roads are in severe or poor condition. Paved road repair costs: The county maintains 930 miles of roads. 320 miles are paved and 610 miles are dirt/gravel. Bureau of Indian Affairs – 212 miles (23%) • N21 • N6210 • N6260 • N6270 • N70 • N6331 • N6720 • N6730 • N6732 • and more U.S. Forest Service Roads – 258 miles (28%) Lake Mary Road • Garland Prairie • Perkinsville • Leupp Road • Townsend-Winona • Spring Valley Road • and more www.coconino.az.gov May 2014 county Supervisors Value Public Input Voter Survey Results • 55% support increasing County sales tax to maintain current road service levels • 60% supported a 1/4-cent sales tax increase for road maintenance • 69% favor a tax increase to maintain roads NOW vs paying MORE LATER for future repairs • 59% support a sales tax increase knowing the County and the City of Flagstaff are coordinating their road maintenance plans To gain input regarding the road maintenance issue and possible solutions, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors requested the County Manager form a Citizen Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) and conduct a survey with likely County voters. Input from the CTAC and County voters indicates support for addressing the serious road maintenance funding issue. appointed committee: Brad andes, Flagstaff Doug Ballard, Parks Richard Bowen, Flagstaff Donovan carr, Navajo Nation Jeff coker, Flagstaff Guillermo cortes, Flagstaff Gioia Danesi-Goodrum, Williams albert Dexter, Flagstaff Dick Drinen, Munds Park Terry fallon, Bellemont Scott Gold, Morman Lake Tim Kinney, Flagstaff Rosie Lamberson, Flagstaff LaVelle Mccoy, Flagstaff Mary McKell, Flagstaff frank Moraga, Kachina Village Siri Mullaney, Doney Park Kimberly Pagano, Flagstaff Jim Parks, Doney Park Steve Peru, Flagstaff Greg Sampson, Flagstaff Brett Slavens, Page ernie Strauch, Sedona Nat white, Flagstaff Jason yazzie, Navajo Nation “ This is not just a local issue. It’s statewide and it’s national, and we’re all faced with the issues of deferred maintenance of our infrastructure. Given all of the information that we were presented, we came to the conclusion – based upon very compelling evidence – to recommend that the Board of Supervisors go to the voters so they can consider a sales tax for our roads.” – LaVelle Mccoy, co-chair, cTac Old Route 66 – severe Condition where are we Now? Comments made to the County Board of Supervisors, Jan. 14, 2014 5600 E. Commerce Avenue • Flagstaff, AZ 86004-2935 928.679.8300 • 800.790.1990 • www.coconino.az.gov/countyRoads May 2014 The County Board of Supervisors continues to gather input from staff and citizens about the road maintenance issue and is considering the CTAC recommendation. In addition, CoConino the Board continues to pressure state and federal officials to address the fundamental issue, which is the stagnant level of the gas tax. Residents are encouraged to stay informed about this critical issue through www.coconino.az.gov/CountyRoads. www.coconino.az.gov County REPORT TO CITIZENS WHERE CAN I TAKE MY TRASH AND RECYCLABLES? NON-COUNTY WASTE FACILITIES CITY OF FLAGSTAFF CINDER LAKE LANDFILL Recyclables Household trash Green waste COCONINO COUNTY WASTE FACILITIES *Facilities are generally closed on major observed holidays. Please call ahead. MORMON LAKE TRANSFER STATION Phone: (928) 679-8300 Location: On the Mormon Lake Loop, ¼-mile west of the north entrance of FH-3 Hours: Winter (Nov. 1 - April 30), 9 am to 4 p.m. Sundays Summer (May 1 – Oct. 31), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays Household trash: $15 a cubic yard Recyclables: metal, paper and plastic are free Refrigerators, A/C units, water coolers, $30 fee *No hazardous waste materials or waste tires accepted WILLARD SPRINGS TRANSFER STATION Phone: (928) 286-1866 Location: 17 miles south of Flagstaff on I-17, Willard Springs Exit 326 Hours: Winter (Nov. 1 - April 30), 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday Summer (May 1 – Oct. 31), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Monday Household trash: $15 per cubic yard Forest materials: $5 per cubic yard Recyclables: metal, paper and plastic are free Refrigerators, A/C units, water coolers, $30 fee *No hazardous waste materials or waste tires accepted Phone: (928) 213-2125 Address: 6770 E. Landfill Road, Flagstaff Hours: 7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday to Friday (4:30 p.m. last load) 7 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Saturday (4 p.m. last load) FLAGSTAFF LANDFILL’S HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS CENTER Phone: (928) 527-9005 Address: 6770 E. Landfill Road, Flagstaff Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday CITY OF WILLIAMS TRANSFER STATION Phone: (928) 635 -9108 Address: 800 N. Airport Road Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday Household Waste: $ .04 per pound Green Waste: $10 per pickup load *No hazardous waste materials accepted NAVAJO NATION FACILITIES NAVAJO NATION CHAPTER TRANSFER STATIONS Leupp: (928) 686-3227 Cameron: (928) 679-2323 Tuba City: -(928) 283-3284 Tonalea: (928) 283-3430 The Gap: (928) 283-3493 or (928) 283-3494 LeChee: (928) 698-2800 Kaibeto: (928) 673-5850 or (928) 673-5851 Schultz Flood Mitigation Projects Continue WHERE CAN I TAKE MY TIRES? COCONINO AND NON-COUNTY TIRE WASTE FACILITIES COCONINO COUNTY WASTE TIRE YARD Phone: (928) 679-8300 Address: 5701 East Penstock, Flagstaff Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays only • Car tires are free • Off-road tires with inside diameter of 25 inches or less: $20 • Off-road tires with inside diameter of 26 inches or more $ 50 *Tires with rims are not accepted *Composting bins are available for $40 CITY OF WILLIAMS TRANSFER STATION Phone: (928) 635 -9108 Address: 800 N. Airport Road Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday Waste Tires: $3 Each *No hazardous waste materials accepted PAGE TIRE YARD Phone: (928) 645-3601 Address: 2045 Industrial Drive Hours: Open by appointment only FREDONIA TIRE YARD AND TRANSFER STATION Phone: (928) 643-7241 Address: 45 South Juniper Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. *Waste Tires by appointment only Free Community Cleanups T his spring will be another busy season for flood mitigation construction in the Schultz Flood area with more than $8 million in projects under construction. By the end of June, the County Flood Control District and its federal funding partners (Natural Resources Conservation Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Forest Service) will have invested more than $20 million in Schultz Flood Area mitigation projects, including these log rundown structures, which are designed to help floodwater drop its sediment. ommunity Cleanups are one-day events that offer Coconino County residents the opportunity to dispose of household waste, yard debris and other materials free of charge at designated collection areas. For more information on Schultz Flood mitigation projects, visit the County’s Schultz Flood web page at www.coconino.az.gov/SchultzFloodInformation. For more information on Community Cleanups, please call (928) 679-8300 or visit www.coconino.az.gov/SolidWasteDivision. C www.coconino.az.gov May 2014 15 COCONINO COUNTY A GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING YOUR PROPERTY TAXES Valuation Time Period • • • • Begin the valuation process in September 2012 using sales information from the prior 18 months (January 2011 through June 2012) for the 2014 tax year. Sales information is analyzed and preliminary values are submitted to the Arizona Department of Revenue for review to assure statutory compliance by December 1. After it is determined they are in compliance, final values for 2014 are set and approved by the Arizona Department of Revenue for all properties throughout the County. Notices of Value are printed and mailed by the statutory date of March 1, 2013. Jan. 2011June 2012 Sept. 2012Nov. 2012 Jan. 2013 Feb. 2013 April 2013 Aug. 2013 Valuation Time Period Assessor Market Analysis Statutory Valuation Date Notification to Taxpayers of 2014 Values Taxpayer Appeal Deadline Assessor’s Deadline to Respond to Taxpayer Appeals HOW 2013 PROPERTY TAXES WERE DISTRIBUTED Coconino County General Fund: $8,303,326 CITIES FIRE DISTRICTS Williams $ 597,894 Majestic Views Water Williams Facilities FIRE DISTRICTS EDUCATION Sedona $ 2,481,986 Summit $ 3,283,148 Highlands $ 2,657,118 Pinewood $ 1,711,724 Forest Lakes $ 525,991 Greenhaven $ 121,171 Mormon Lake $ 96,389 Sherwood Forest $ 90,710 The Woods $ 3,131 Kaibab Estates West $ 65,991 Blue Ridge $ 520,416 Junipine $ 66,600 Tusayan $ 321,788 Ponderosa $ 552,362 Westwood Estates $ 62,286 Flagstaff Ranch $ 162,157 Lockett Ranch $ 138,044 Fire District Assistance $ 1,533,065 Public Health Services District $ 3,832,663 Williams Hospital District $ 1,134,447 Page Hospital District $ 1,451,996 Forest Lakes Water $ 252,831 Flagstaff USD Coconino Community College Page USD Williams USD Sedona-Oak Creek USD Grand Canyon USD Main Consolidated SD Chevelon Butte USD Caviat Joint Tech District Fredonia-Moccasin USD Ash Fork USD Valley Academy Ed District NATIVE Joint Tech District Mountain Institute Joint Tech County Education District Education Equalization Flagstaff $ 11,050,626 16 May 2014 Taxpayer Appeals Process $ 34,000 $ 7,500 • • • • $ 53,524,250 $ 8,947,824 $ 6,498,010 $ 4,388,472 $ 4,241,848 $ 1,517,082 $ 1,766,859 $ 1,102,403 $ 657,678 $ 970,717 $ 392,398 $ 61,566 $ 5,821 $ 2,693 $ 3,894 $ 7,808,357 • A Notice of Valuation is sent to each property owner by March 1, 2013 for the next tax year (2014). The property owner has 60 days from the deadline date, as printed on the Notice of Valuation, to file an appeal with the County Assessor’s Office. The Assessor must rule on all appeals no later than August 15, 2013. If the owner does not agree with the Assessor’s decision, he/she may appeal to the Board of Equalization within 25 days from the postmark on the Assessors decision or directly to the Tax Court before December 15, 2013. The Board of Equalization decision will be mailed to the property owner no later than October 19, 2013. W? O N K U y has the O Y D I D ount oC est na! w o l d secon x rate in Arizo in Cocon OTHER SPECIAL DISTRICTS Library District Flood Control District ty ta roper p y t n u $ 3,918,515 $ 2,469,330 Co www.coconino.az.gov REPORT TO CITIZENS YOU ARE HERE (MAY 1) • • • 2014 tax notices will be mailed in September. 2014 Notices of Value have been sent and the appeals process is closed. 2015 valuation time period is closed. Notification of 2016 values will be mailed in February 2015. WHERE DOES MY TAX DOLLAR GO? The Coconino County General Fund keeps less than 6 percent of all taxes collected. These taxes support a broad range of general government services, including public safety and justice systems, health services, social services, community development and parks and recreation. *Percentage of tax distributions and taxing districts vary by property location. The percentages above represent the total distribution of all taxes collected by the Coconino County Treasurer’s Office. Education – 66% Other Special Districts – 11% Cities and Towns – 9% Coconino County Special Districts – 8% Coconino County General Fund – 6% Feb. 2014 July 2014 Aug. 2014 Sept. 2014 Oct. 2014 Oct. 2014-May 2015 Net Assessed Values Provided to Taxing Entites Taxing Entities Submit Tax Rates and Levy to County County Board of Supervisors Adopts Tax Rates for All Juristictions County Treasurer Mails Tax Notices First Half of 2014 Taxes Due to County Treasurer County Treasurer Collects Taxes and Distributes Payments to All Taxing Entities Taxing Entities Set Rates • • • When it comes to setting tax rates, each taxing entity is responsible for setting their own rates through the public hearing process. For example, school taxes are determined by the elected school board of each individual school district. Fire district governing boards also set their own rates for taxpayers living within their boundaries and receive their services. Once tax rates are adopted by those agencies, they are forwarded to Coconino County to be used in calculating the property tax bill of each property owner. Coconino County also holds a public meeting, including a Truth in Taxation hearing, on the second Tuesday in July to set the property tax levy that will be assessed for the County General Fund. COUNTY TREASURER: PROPERTY TAX NOTICES The Coconino County Treasurer, by statute, is responsible to bill, collect and disburse property taxes to each of the taxing jurisdictions within the County. Each taxing jurisdiction adopts their individual budget and approves their own tax rate. The benefit of the County Treasurer serving as the ex-officio tax collector is that it relieves individual taxing jurisdictions from having to bill and collect their own taxes and relieves taxpayers from receiving multiple tax bills (one from each jurisdiction). Annual real and personal property tax notices are issued for the calendar year during the middle of September. All property owners will receive a tax notice and it is their legal responsibility to ensure all property taxes are paid. If a mortgage company pays the taxes, the notice may be issued via post card www.coconino.az.gov and is a courtesy notification to the owner. Mortgage companies will request an electronic tax file for all their clients and will send the payment electronically. The annual tax notice shows the assessed values being used to calculate the property taxes, as well as the primary and secondary rates. TWO PAYMENT COUPONS Taxpayers have the option to pay their annual taxes in two equal installments. The first installment is due by Nov. 1 and the second installment is due by May 1 of the following year. They can also pay in one full payment by Dec. 31. If a property owner finds it easier, the Treasurer’s Office will also accept partial payments to work toward the amount due by each payment date. For additional information or any questions, contact the Treasurer’s Office at (877) 500-1818 or (928) 679-8188. May 2014 17 COCONINO COUNTY ­COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE: SERVING THE PUBLIC BY ADVOCATING FOR JUSTICE D avid Rozema was elected as Coconino County Attorney on November 1, 2008, and he took office on January 6, 2009. Previously, Rozema served as Chief Deputy for the office from 1996-2008. Rozema is a strong advocate for collaborating with the community on prevention efforts and other types of community service. He has served Coconino County in many capacities for more than 20 years, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Way, Flagstaff Leadership Program, Citizens Against Substance Abuse and the Western Navajo-Hopi Meth Task Force. Rozema received a bachelors degree in Social Work (Outstanding Graduate) from Arizona State University in 1983, where he also graduated from the College of Law in 1986. He is past president of the Coconino County Bar Association and is also a licensed attorney with the Navajo Nation, where he previously served as an elected Commissioner with the Navajo Nation Bar Association. Rozema has lived in Arizona for 45 years. He and his wife Linda moved to Flagstaff in 1988 where they raised four daughters. The Coconino County Attorney’s Office is made up of two divisions: criminal and civil. Civil Division The Civil Division aims to provide cost-effective legal services to the Board of Supervisors, County Manager’s Office, County departments and special districts, including representing the County in different types of litigation. While some of our attorneys’ performances can be measured by the successful results obtained in claims and lawsuits brought against the County and in civil prosecutions, the greatest impact of our work is found in claims and lawsuits that were not filed. Often, advice from staff attorneys helps to prevent unnecessary liability exposure, while protecting the County’s interests in contracts and intergovernmental agreements. There are also several statutory roles for the County Attorney’s Office, which generate a high volume of cases for the Civil Division, including: • Petitions for mental health treatment. • Civil commitments of sexually violent persons. • Adoptions. • Petitions to protect the public health. • Petitions to establish guardianship and/or conservatorships on behalf of the Public Fiduciary. The County Attorney’s representation in these matters helps to ensure community safety and welfare. 18 May 2014 Criminal Division The Criminal Division includes many assigned duties that many constituents are aware of and others that are not as widely known. Charging Attorneys on the Felony Charging Team review police reports and evidence, to determine whether felony charges should be filed. The team considers charge requests from 17 law enforcement agencies throughout the County. Felony Prosecution The felony attorneys prosecute defendants accused of serious crimes. Some cases require extensive litigation or trial to resolve appropriately. Misdemeanor Prosecution The Misdemeanor Prosecution Team prosecutes misdemeanor citations issued by the Coconino Sheriff’s Department, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Fredonia Marshalls Office, Northern Arizona University Police Department, Sedona Police Department, Arizona State Parks, National Park Service, Coconino National Forest Service, Page Police Department, Williams Police Department, Department of Public Safety, Animal Control, Registrar of Contractors and the Arizona Liquor License and Control. Juvenile Justice The primary goal of the juvenile system is rehabilitation. This concept seeks to decrease recidivism and encourage youth in our communities to avoid criminal or delinquent behavior and become productive members of society. www.coconino.az.gov The Road Ahead The current role of the prosecutor continues to change. The County Attorney’s Office is becoming more involved in addressing the social issues that lead to criminal activity, such as mental health, substance abuse and veteran’s issues. Many challenges remain to addressing these issues and adapting to the needs of a changing criminal justice system. The County remains committed to addressing these issues through innovative solutions such as problem solving courts including: DUI/Drug Court; Mental Health Court, Veterans Court and Probation Revocation Court. These specialized courts address specific types of cases and are one part of a larger collaboration designed to address important problems such as domestic violence, homelessness and substance abuse. These courts are redefining the roles of everyone involved in the prosecution of criminal cases, especially the roles of judges and prosecutors. The County Attorney’s Office is fortunate to work alongside many talented professionals and organizations whose goal is to keep criminals from reoffending. For more information, call the County Attorney’s Office at (928) 679-8229 or visit www.coconino.az.gov/CountyAttorney. REPORT TO CITIZENS VETERAN’S COURT: COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH COURT PAIRS OFFENDERS WITH TREATMENT The Mental Health Court program was created to provide an offender, whose untreated severe mental illness contributed to their crime, with the proper treatment needed to address their disorder. The program encourages offenders to comply with their mental health treatment plan to better their lives and help make our community safer. Coconino County Mental Health Court began in May 2012 and is presided over by Flagstaff Justice of the Peace Judge Howard Grodman. Cases are assigned to Mental Health Court from both the Justice and Superior Courts. By having this alternate means to prosecute certain offenders, County taxpayers are often spared the high costs of competency evaluations and competency restoration treatment. Offenders are encouraged to continue their treatment through close court monitoring. Every two weeks, court officials, attorneys, probation officials and a mental health case manager meet to discuss each participant’s compliance and progress in treatment. A defendant who is in compliance and benefitting from treatment is allowed to remain in the program. However, those who are not can be sanctioned and removed from the program entirely. Those successfully completing treatment may have their charges dismissed, have the severity of their charges reduced from felonies to misdemeanors or may be granted suspended jail sentences. An offender who is removed from the program may face the maximum sentence for the charges they face. Supporting, Mentoring our Vets I n 2012, the Coconino County Veteran's Court was established in an effort to better serve members of the military and veterans entering the criminal justice system. The initiative began as an effort to help rehabilitate military veterans facing criminal misdemeanor and felony charges within the County and pair them with the appropriate behavioral health and social services. Most cases result in veterans entering a tailored rehabilitation program that aims to identify any potential behavioral health issues and factors that caused the veteran to enter the criminal justice system in the first place. In addition to the prosecutor, defense attorney and probation officer, Superior Court Judge Cathleen Brown Nichols, who presides over Veteran's Court, all have specialized training in the issues facing service members and veterans. Each work collaboratively with the Northern Arizona Veterans’ Administration Health Care System and community agencies to develop a case management plan that is personalized for each participant. The County’s Adult Probation Office then monitors a veteran’s progress through a case management plan. The program aims to help veterans address whatever issues may be hindering their ability to become a healthy, productive member of society and to pursue their dreams. After two years into the program, Veteran's Court has helped to strengthen families, while helping others to remain on the correct track to gain steady housing and employment. For more information about Veteran's Court, call (928) 679-7514. For additional information on Coconino County Courts, visit www.coconino.az.gov/courts. www.coconino.az.gov May 2014 19 COCONINO COUNTY EXODUS PROGRAM Helps Inmates Rebuild Their Lives I n 2007, as part of Coconino County’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life of our communities and to aid inmates returning to the community, the Sheriff’s Office implemented its highly successful Exodus program. The in-custody drug and alcohol treatment program is based on the Matrix Model, which is proven to be effective in treating dependence on alcohol, methamphetamine and other commonly addictive substances. It is recognized by the National Institute on Drug Abuse as a comprehensive treatment program that uses a scientifically based approach. As multiple offenders have graduated from the program and its successes grew, it was expanded to allow additional inmates incarcerated at the County Detention Facility to participate. The program now has a total number of 48 seats for men 22 seats for women. In 2011, the Sheriff’s Office was awarded a residential substance abuse treatment grant through the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, which allowed specific inmates being held on probation violations to participate in the program. Funding for the in-custody portion of the program is generated by revenue from the County Jail District sales tax. Funding for the out-of-custody and continuum of care portions of the program comes primarily from grants and community partnerships. Re-Entry to the Community The benefit of the continued development of Exodus is that as the program grows, additional classes and programs are developed to benefit other eligible inmates held in the County Detention Facility. 20 May 2014 Classes offered help inmates develop skills to re-enter the community and stay drug and crimefree, including general literacy classes, high school education classes, as well as religious and spiritual programs. In addition, inmates can also participate in parenting classes, courses to practice stress-reducing skills, good health and hygiene and classes to assist individuals with maintaining family budgets. Each course offered to inmates is designed to help each better their – and their family's – lives to become model members of society. It’s the hope of the Sheriff’s Office that inmates will take advantage of 12-step programs, job-building skills such as food handler certifications, resume writing and interviewing and other basic life-skills courses that can help them make good decisions regarding their health and well-being. In-custody treatment is an important component for rehabilitating our inmates. Success is measured as each person is released back into the community and refrains from committing crime and using drugs and alcohol. Before an inmate in the Exodus program is released, he or she meets with a counselor for an exit interview and a transition plan is developed. Community partnerships for housing, continued substance abuse treatment, continued health care and plans for job placement are outlined and serve as an important part of the transition plan. The Sheriff’s Office is constantly looking for ways to apply many of the re-entry programs used in Exodus to the general inmate population. This is done to meet the office’s obligations to provide the tools to help inmates redirect their lives and enhance the quality of life in our communities. EXODUS PROGRAM GOALS: • To provide educational and therapeutic services to assist inmates in making a decision to avoid alcohol and drug use in the future. • To provide alcohol and drug treatment to inmates that may have difficulty accessing treatment through other means. • To provide a behavioral-management tool that helps to control inmate behavior and decrease disruptive activities. • To reduce healthcare costs associated with substance abuse/ dependence. • To create a program that requires some inmates to engage in a productive routine while in custody. • To provide a proactive response to substance abuse related crime rather than a reactive response. • To require inmates to develop an alcohol- and drug-free life plan for release. www.coconino.az.gov REPORT TO CITIZENS ARMING RESIDENTS WITH DATA TO PROTECT FAMILIES, PROPERTY RAIDS Online provides mapped crime data, Offender Watch website tracks sex offenders RAIDS Online the Sheriff’s Office uses to partner with the community and to have a positive impact in our neighborhoods. In 2011, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office began using RAIDS Online. The web-based crime mapping program is free to the public and provides residents with crime information occurring in their community. Users can view and search for various crimes by type, location and date range. Data from the County’s Records Management System is uploaded daily to the RAIDS Online website. Some incidents that occur in remote locations, such as forested areas or rural areas, may not be available due due to lack of an ad dressing system. To help protect victims of crime, locations on RAIDS Online are listed to the block level of the street. For crimes such as sexual assaults, the location is randomly offset slightly on the map. RAIDS Online helps to keep the public informed and involved with what’s going on in their community. Information sharing through crime mapping is another tool To access the crime map information for Coconino County, visit www.raidsonline.com. Offender Watch The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office also uses the Offender Watch website to allow Internet users to search for sex offenders within the County. In addition to the Sheriff’s Office, the site is also used collaboratively by the City of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University, Williams, Page and Fredonia police departments. The site allows local police to provide important information to the public and other law enforcement agencies throughout the nation regarding sex offenders. Public information can be accessed at: www.communitynotification.com/cap_main.php?office=55100. ORDINANCE ON USING DEVICES WHILE DRIVING BEGINS MAY 22 Last month the Coconino County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed County Ordinance 2014-03: Regulation of Portable Communication Devices and Texting While Operating a Motor Vehicle. The ordinance goes into effect May 22 and states that “a person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using a portable communications device to engage in a call unless that device is configured to allow hand-free listening and talking, and is used exclusively in that manner while driving. Texting and typing are banned while operating a motor vehicle.” The ordinance does not apply when: • The driver uses a hands-free mobile device. • The purpose of the call is to communicate an emergency to a police or fire department, a hospital or physician’s office, or an ambulance corps. • Operating an authorized law enforcement or emergency vehicle in the performance of official duties. • A person who holds a valid amateur radio operator license issued or any license issued by the Federal Communications Commission and is operating an amateur radio under the direction of authorized first responders in the event of an emergency. • A person is driving a motor vehicle on private property. • A driver has pulled off of the traveled portion of the roadway in a safe and legal location and placed the vehicle in park in order to operate a handheld portable communications device. For additional information, visit www.coconino.az.gov/health. www.coconino.az.gov May 2014 21 COCONINO COUNTY REVAMPED PARCEL VIEWER PROVIDES ENHANCED ACCESS TO PROPERTY INFORMATION COCONINO COUNTY LIBRARIES C oconino County Geographic Information Systems (GIS) rolled out an updated version of the Online Parcel Viewer, an interactive map that allows the public to query parcel related information in a quick and easy manner. Users can click on any parcel property on the interactive map and utilize multiple customized tools to search property information, which is linked to the County Assessor’s and Treasurer’s offices. Visitors also have access to tax summaries, permits, zoning and district information. The Parcel Viewer works on any device, including personal computers, tablets or smartphones. FLAGSTAFF CITY-COCONINO COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 300 W. Aspen Ave. EAST FLAGSTAFF COMMUNITY LIBRARY 3000 N. Fourth St., Suite 5 GRAND CANYON COMMUNITY LIBRARY 208 Navajo St. PAGE PUBLIC LIBRARY 479 S. Lake Powell Blvd. SEDONA PUBLIC LIBRARY 3250 White Bear Road FOREST LAKES COMMUNITY LIBRARY 417 Old Rim Road TUBA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY 78 Main St. FREDONIA PUBLIC LIBRARY 118 N. Main St. WILLIAMS PUBLIC LIBRARY 113 S. First St. FREE ENTERTAINMENT, EDUCATION AND FUN AT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY! C Visit the website at: http://gismaps.coconino.az.gov/parcelviewer 22 May 2014 oconino County residents can enjoy family time together and increase their knowledge in a single visit to one of the many public libraries located throughout the County. The City of Flagstaff/Coconino County Library District has a long-standing, successful partnership consisting of 14 libraries. Each library is unique and strives to best serve the needs of its community members. The main library is located at 300 West Aspen Ave. in Flagstaff and offers a wide array of books, audio books, e-books, DVDs, CDs, programs for all ages, computers, internet access and other resources. Flagstaff’s eastside branch is located at 3000 N 4th St. and offers similar services. In addition to participating in various programs, browsing collections and periodicals, checking out materials, accessing computers or receiving computer training, patrons can access the library’s online database resources, including online GED preparation, A-Z Maps, www.coconino.az.gov USA Phone books (business and residential), EBSCO (hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles), online magazines, Consumer Reports, online educational resources and more. Libraries are located throughout the County in Flagstaff, Forest Lakes, Fredonia, Grand Canyon, Page, Sedona, Tuba City and Williams. Coconino County Law Library and a nonpublic Corre ctional Facility Library are also supported. The PALSmobile, a Preschoolers Acquiring Literacy Skills Bookmobile, travels to preschools and Head Starts. The Flagstaff City- Coconino County Library Bookmobile travels throughout the County. Check out the schedule at http://www.flagstaffpubliclibrary.org For more information on any of the libraries or their services, visit the library website or call (928) 213-2330. REPORT TO CITIZENS NEED JOB SEARCH SUPPORT? Join a Job Club J ob Clubs offer an opportunity for job seekers to come together on a weekly basis with career professionals to provide support, advice, job trends and motivation to help gain the needed momentum. Job Clubs offer a flexible format with members who are either unemployed or under-employed. Those who attend Job Club come from various industries and backgrounds. Anyone who has sent multiple resumes and received little to no response knows the feeling of frustration and helplessness. By joining together with other job seekers and guided by the Coconino County Career Center’s Professional Workforce Development staff, job seekers can be assured they’re in good hands to receive practical advice and effective strategies. The combination of support, networking and job search strategies makes Job Club participants more successful at finding a job than those searching alone. Join the Career Center to network and to share strategies, frustrations and triumphs as you journey toward your next career success. Camping near Sand King on Lake Powell. Josh Biggs/Arizona Daily Sun Stay connected and informed about your community. Follow US! www.coconino.az.gov facebook.com/CoconinoCounty youtube.com/CoconinoCnty Job Club is held every Monday from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. at the Coconino Career Center, 2625 N King St, 2nd Floor, Birch Room. Coconino County Manager's Office 219 E. Cherry Ave. Flagstaff, AZ 86001 www.coconino.az.gov twitter.com/CoconinoCounty Switchboard: (928) 679-7120 or (877) 679-7120 Nathan Gonzalez, Public Information Officer (928) 679-7172 ngonzalez@coconino.az.gov May 2014 23 REPORT TO CITIZENS COCONINO COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE 219 E. CHERRY AVE. FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86001 * * ECRWSS * * Postal Customer Coconino County PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID FLAGSTAFF, AZ PERMIT NO. 113 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: Create a Plan, Receive Emergency Notifications Coconino County Emergency Management encourages residents to be prepared for extreme events that can disrupt our lives for short or long-term periods of time. Severe weather events (extreme cold, heat, high winds, and drought), wildland fires and flooding are just a few hazards facing our communities. We encourage county residents to prepare for and practice to handle emergencies and disasters. Below are some of key items to consider: How evacuation alerts and warnings are delivered How to find evacuation routes and shelter location information How evacuated residents will contact family members and friend. Planning ahead for care of livestock and pets, and take steps to help secure your home and property. There are four easy steps you can follow to ensure you’re prepared: 11. Have a family emergency evacuation plan, including escape routes, a designated meeting point and a relative or friend to report to if your family gets separated. 22. Prepare a “Go Kit” to supply your need of food, water, clothing medications, pet food and miscellaneous personal items for the next 72 hours. 3. 3 Stay informed during the emergency via the Emergency Alert System (EAS) through the radio, television, NOAA weather radio and the County’s Emergency Notification System, Code Red. Residents can also call the Emergency Hotline at (888) 679-8393 (operational during emergencies). 4. 4 Volunteer your time as part of our disaster response. Citizens can become part of a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) or become involved with the American Red Cross. Registering with our new CodeRED Emergency Notification System makes staying informed with the latest emergency updates and notifications easy. Users can receive the latest updates on home and cell phones or via text and e-mail messages. Go to www.coconino.az.gov/emergency and click on the CodeRED banner at the bottom of the page to set up an account and choose how you want to receive your emergency alerts. Opting into the CodeRED Weather Warning will allow you to receive notifications on potentially dangerous weather conditions like tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods. Those with questions about CodeRED or needing assistance when signing up for the free service can contact the Coconino County Emergency Management Division at (928) 679-8311.