El Mirage to break ground on 1st phase of $3 mil park

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[Source: Lily Leung, Arizona Republic] — Construction of a $3 million park in El Mirage began this month and will be marked with a groundbreaking ceremony this week. Heritage Park, a two-phase city project, will sit on 13 acres south of Peoria Avenue, between El Mirage and Dysart roads.  The John F. Long Estate donated the acreage for the park, which is expected to be finished by January 2010.

The groundbreaking is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Thursday, and the public is invited. “The city is committed to improving the quality of life for our residents,” El Mirage City Manager BJ Cornwall said.  “It will offer amenities for everyone in our community to enjoy.”

Half of the cost of the $1.5 million first phase will be paid for with help from the Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund, for which $20 million of Arizona Lottery revenue is set aside annually to build and maintain parks, trails, natural, and historic areas and wildlife-conservation activities across the state.  The first phase of the park includes construction of a central pavilion for concerts and community events, amphitheater lawn seating, multiuse fields, a playground, and picnic areas.  The first phase is scheduled to be completed in January.  [Note: to read the full article, click here.]

Arizona’s 2008 legislative session: a marathon of missed opportunities

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[Source: Grand Canyon Chapter, Sierra Club] — The 2008 Legislative Session is best characterized as too long with too little accomplished.  After 164 days -– the fourth longest on record -– there was little to point to in the positive column for environmental protection, and much time was wasted waiting for legislators to come to agreement on a budget, the only thing they absolutely have to do.  The Legislature missed a great opportunity to do something significant relative to energy efficiency and did little to promote renewable energy, but they did pass a bill to constrain Arizona’s ability to limit greenhouse gas emissions, a measure that was later vetoed.  “We were very disappointed that in the waning days of the legislative session, Senate leadership was unwilling to bring an important energy efficiency measure to the floor for a vote -– despite the fact that there was strong support for it,” said Sandy Bahr, Chapter Director for the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter.  “At a time when we should be doing all we can to promote renewable energy and invest in energy efficiency, legislators instead focused on undercutting the Governor’s ability to work to limit climate change.”

Once again, the bad environmental legislation outweighed the good.  The worst of the environmental bills did not advance, however, and several bills were vetoed, including the terrible greenhouse gas bill.  A measure which would have undercut science-based wildlife management was defeated in the House Committee of the Whole early in the session, thanks to the efforts of Representative David Lujan and other members in the House.  Finally, while the budget will not promote a lot of environmental protection nor adequately fund implementation of key programs, the Legislature did refrain from raiding the Heritage Fund.  The Heritage Fund provides dollars for parks and wildlife.  No measures advanced to undercut the initiative process, but, unfortunately, a citizen initiative has been filed that will do so.  The Legislature also did not refer a measure to compete with the citizen initiative on conservation of state trust lands.  “We were happy to see a bill to help protect lands from off-road vehicle abuses advance through the process and be signed into law by the Governor,” said Bahr.  “The bill will provide dollars for law enforcement, mitigation, and restoration of public and private lands.  It can also help facilitate some needed closures of sensitive areas.  This was a small bright light in an otherwise lackluster session.”

Overall, at a time when the country is focusing on energy issues and the need to promote conservation, efficiency, and renewable sources, the Arizona Legislature came up short.  The lack of leadership and lackluster performance is reflected in the grades on this year’s report card.  In the Senate, there were eight senators who received failing grades and ten who earned a “D.”  In the House, 28 representatives — nearly half the body — failed, and another four got a “D.”  On a positive note, one senator and four representatives got an “A+,” which means they voted 100% pro-environment and also did not miss a vote on the key bills we scored.  One senator and 16 House members received an “A.”

Arizona State Parks budget among the losers

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Budget cuts...ouch!

[Source: Mary Jo Pitzl, Arizona Republic, July 6, 2008] — Winning and losing is sometimes a matter of perspective.  In terms of the state budget, it is more accurately measured in terms of who got funding and who didn’t.  Some details from the fiscal 2009 state budget approved in late June:

HAVE NOT: State Parks Department.  A fund used to pay for improvements at state lakes, such as docks, moorings, and other infrastructure, is cut by $6.3 million.  In addition, the department must cut $250,000 from its operating budget.

[Note: To read the full article, click here.]

Off-highway vehicle bill passes Arizona Senate, goes to Governor

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[Source: Arizona Game & Fish Department, June 24, 2008] — Long-awaited legislation that will help better manage off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation and protect wildlife habitat passed the Arizona Senate yesterday and has been sent to the Governor.  Senate Bill 1167, also known as the “Off-Highway Vehicle Bill,” passed the Senate by a vote of 16-7, with 7 members not voting.  The bill has been transmitted to Gov. Janet Napolitano and awaits her signature.  SB 1167 will provide long-overdue resources to better manage issues created by the dramatic increase in OHV use in Arizona (347 percent in the last decade). Irresponsible riding has damaged habitat and created the potential for closures of some areas.

With the passage of SB 1167, revenue raised through an estimated $20 annual user fee (exact amount to be determined through a public rule making process) on off-highway vehicles will help provide funding for additional law enforcement, trail/facility maintenance and reconstruction, rider education and information (including identification of lawful places for operators to ride), and mitigation of resource damage from OHVs.  This “user play, user pay” approach is similar to that used by hunters and anglers, where sportsmen pay license fees to support their hunting and fishing opportunities and benefits.  In this case, OHV users will pay the annual user fee to support the sustainable management of their recreational opportunities and resource protection.  “We’re thrilled to see this legislation pass,” said Arizona Game and Fish Commission Chairman Bill McLean.  “Balancing the protection of wildlife habitat with opportunities for responsible OHV recreation has been a priority of the Game and Fish Commission.  We worked hard on this bill with sponsor Rep. Jerry Weiers and the coalition of supporters, and we’re looking forward to its implementation.”

“This was drastically needed to keep up with the explosive growth of OHV use in our state,” said Mike Senn, assistant director for field operations for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.  “It provides beefed-up tools—information/education efforts on responsible riding, trail development and habitat mitigation, new laws to address irresponsible riding, and seven new OHV law enforcement officers — to better manage OHV recreation and protect wildlife habitat.”

The bill passed through the Arizona House of Representatives in April by a vote of 42-13.  Key supporters in the Legislature were Rep. Jerry Weiers (R-District 10) and Sen. Linda Gray (R-District 12).  The bill was supported by a diverse coalition of organizations, including the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition, Responsible Trails America (Arizona Chapter), Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife, Arizona Power Sports Industry Association, Wildlife Conservation Council, Apache County ATV Roughriders, Sierra Club (Grand Canyon Chapter), Arizona Motor Sports Association, Arizona Wildlife Federation, Drew and the Crew Motor Sports, National Rifle Association, Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, Sonoran Institute, Arizona State Parks, and Arizona State Land Department, among others.  When signed by the Governor, the OHV bill would become law on Jan. 1, 2009.