Arizona State Parks Board

Viewpoint: Good ideas, responsible cuts needed at Arizona State Parks

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Red Rock State Park Sedona Arizona
Red Rock State Park, Sedona

[Source: Camp Verde Bugle] — The Arizona State Parks Board meets again today to discuss shutting down or providing limited use of several parks.  With Parks Director Ken Travous’ latest suggestions for the closure list, there is a sense of machination or at least gamesmanship.  There has been enough waving of red flags.

The formula for shifting Red Rock State Park into the top five parks listed for closure (by considering only the percentage of visitors who are Arizona residents) is highly questionable.  The Sedona area is what it is — a very popular tourist destination for people all over the world.  It naturally follows that RRSP will be pulling in a majority of out-of-state visitors.  To wave the threat of closure at Red Rock is a great way to get Sedonans riled up and protesting the stinginess of the state Legislature.  It is certainly not responsible.  There are eight other state parks on the list that are harder on the State Parks budget than Red Rock is.

The suggested closure of Jerome State Historic Park and Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is only a good idea if it is temporary during repair work.  If “repair” closure is just a step toward permanent closure, that will only start a firestorm.

At its previous meeting, the State Parks Board had asked Travous to come up with more ideas other than shutting down parks.  If simply adding three more to the possible-closures list is all the director’s office came up with, the board needs to look in another direction.

Most residents of Arizona understand the current constraints on the state budget and the likelihood of more deficits and more cutting in the future.  State Parks will not avoid this.  Completely closing down some parks — especially those that are expensive to run and receive few visitors — is an understandable option if it is done responsibly.  Today, we hope the State Parks administration can look through the politicking and red flags and provide ideas of its own.

Agenda set for Feb. 20 Arizona State Parks Board; fate of 11 parks, grants & contracts up in the air

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Notice is hereby given to Members of the Arizona State Parks Board and the general public that the Board will hold a meeting, open to the public on Friday, February 20, 2009, at 9 a.m. in the Peoria City Council Chambers, 8401 W. Monroe Street, Peoria, AZ 85345.  The Board may elect to hold an Executive Session for any agendized item at any time during the meeting to discuss or consult with its legal counsel for legal advice on matters listed on this agenda. Items on the Agenda may be discussed out of order, unless those items are specifically noted and set for a time certain.  Public comment will be taken. The Board will discuss and may take action on the following matters.

AGENDA (items may be taken in any order unless set for a time certain)

A. CALL TO ORDER – ROLL CALL – 9 A.M.

B. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Upon a public majority vote, the Board may hold an Executive Session, which is not open to the public for the following purposes:

  1. To discuss or consult with its legal counsel for legal advice on matters listed on this agenda pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03.A.3. (a) Ramifications of suspending grant contracts, (b) Ramifications of closing parks, deed restrictions, covenants.
  2. Discussions or consultations with designated representatives of the public body in order to consider its position and instruct its representatives regarding negotiations for the purchase, sale or lease of real property matters listed on this agenda pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03.A.7. (a) Contact Point Recreation and Public Purpose Lease.
  3. To discuss or consider employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, demotion, dismissal, salary, discipline or resignation of a public officer, appointee or employee of any public body pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03.A.1. (a) Hiring an Executive Director, (b) Personnel Actions, Including Lay-Offs, Reductions-In-Force, and Furloughs.

C. INTRODUCTIONS OF BOARD MEMBERS AND AGENCY STAFF

  1. Board Statement — “As Board members we are gathered to be the stewards and the voice of Arizona State Parks’ Mission Statement: Managing and Conserving Arizona’s Natural, Cultural, and Recreational Resources, Both In Our Parks and Through Our Partners for the Benefit of the People.”

D. CONSENT AGENDA – The following items of a non-controversial nature have been grouped together for a single vote without Board discussion.  The Consent Agenda is a timesaving device and Board members received documentation regarding these items prior to the open meeting.  Any Board member may remove any item from the Consent Agenda for discussion and a separate vote at this meeting, as deemed necessary.  The public may view the documentation relating to the Consent Agenda at the Board’s office: 1300 W. Washington, Suite 104, Phoenix, Arizona.

  1. Approve Minutes of January 9, 2009, Arizona State Parks Board meeting
  2. Approve Executive Session Minutes of January 9, 2009, Arizona State Parks meeting
  3. Approve Minutes of February 3, 2009, Arizona State Parks Board meeting

E. DISCUSSION ITEMS

  1. Discussion on Issuance of the Off Highway Vehicle Licenses by Motor Vehicle Division
  2. Composition of the Off Highway Vehicle Sub-Committee
  3. Contact Point request from Lake Havasu City regarding BLM lease
  4. Governor’s Task Force on Arizona State Parks
  5. Update on the hiring of the Executive Director
  6. Executive Director’s Hiring Subcommittee report
  7. Legislative Update
  8. Budget update on Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010
  9. Fiscal year 2009 Arizona State Parks Budget reduction measures – Including but not limited to; Park closures, reduction of park hours/days of operation, personnel actions, furloughs, reduced work schedules, hiring freezes, salary reductions, reductions in force for covered employees, layoffs for uncovered employees, reducing administrative expenses (Phoenix Office), suspension of grants and the legal ramifications, alternative funding including capital funds, Heritage Funds, Law Enforcement Boating Safety Fund, Off Highway Vehicle “sticker revenue”

F. BOARD ACTION ITEMS

  1. Appoint new members to the Off Highway Vehicle Advisory Group (OHVAG) – The committee recommends that the following two individuals be appointed to fill the vacancies on OHVAG: R. Hank Rogers and David L. Moore and that they each serve a three-year term beginning January 9, 2009.
  2. Contact Point – The Board will take action on Lake Havasu City’s request for approval of their application to the Bureau of Land Management.
  3. Fiscal year 2009 Budget revisions.  The Parks Board will take actions regarding the FY2009 budget.
  4. The Board may decide to take action regarding hiring an Executive Director.

G. PRESENTATIONS

  1. Morrison Institute – Grady Gammage, Jr.
  2. Recognition for Service
  3. 2009/2010 Budget Options

H. TIME AND PLACE OF NEXT MEETING AND CALL FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

  1. Staff recommends that the next Arizona State Parks Board Meeting be on April 3, 2009 at the Old City Hall of Yuma Council Chambers located at 180 W. First Street, Yuma, AZ.
  2. Board members may wish to discuss issues of interest to Arizona State Parks and request staff to place specific items on future Board meeting agendas.

I. CALL TO THE PUBLIC – Consideration and discussion of comments and complaints from the public.  Those wishing to address the Board must register at the door and be recognized by the Chair.  It is probable that each presentation will be limited to one person per organization. Action taken as a result of public comment will be limited to directing staff to study or reschedule the matter for further consideration at a later time.

J. ADJOURNMENT

More Arizona state parks eyed for closure

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Tonto Natural Bridge State Park added to closure list.

[Source: Associated Press] — Three more state parks are being considered for closure because of state budget cuts, bringing to 11 the number that could be shuttered in coming weeks.  Parks Director Ken Travous told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he is adding the three additional parks to a list of eight others previously identified as being considered for closure.

Travous identified the three as Red Rock State Park in Sedona, Jerome State Historic Park in Jerome, and Tonto National Bridge State Park near Payson.  Jerome State Historic Park centers on the Douglas Mansion, a landmark built in the former mining community that overlooks the Verde Valley.  Red Rock State Park, originally part of a ranch, is a 286-acre nature preserve and environmental education center.  Tonto Bridge is a natural geological feature located in a valley in pine country below the Mogollon Rim.

The state Parks Board will meet Friday in Peoria to consider cost-cutting measures that include park closures, seasonal closures and reduced hours of operations.  Other options include grant cancellations, shifting expenses to other accounts, and layoffs and unpaid time off for employees.  The board on Feb. 3 declined to take immediate action on park closures but voted to have Travous’ department proceed with planning possible economy moves, including alternatives to closures.

Travous said he has already effectively laid off approximately 65 seasonal employees, including some who had been slated to go on the payroll but now will not.  Parks previously identified as being considered for closure were: Fort Verde State Historic Park in Camp Verde, Homolovi Ruins State Park in Winslow, Lyman Lake State Park in Springerville, McFarland State Historic Park in Florence, Oracle State Park in Oracle, Riordan Mansion State Historic Park in Flagstaff, Tubac Presidio State Historic Park in Tubac, and Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park.  Travous said those were chosen for possible closure because of low visitation rates.  [Note: To read the full article, click here.]

Viewpoint: Arizona state leaders apparently don’t value parks, historic sites

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[Source: William C. Thornton, Special to the Arizona Daily Star] — My wife and I recently had vastly different experiences at two state-operated parks.  The first was Judge Roy Bean State Park situated miles from nowhere in the tiny west Texas town of Langtry.  It was one of the nicest little museums we’ve ever seen and tells the story of the self-appointed “Law West of the Pecos” in a series of interactive dioramas that come alive before your eyes.

The original wood structure where Bean dispensed his own brand of justice on the Texas frontier sits behind the well-kept museum and visitor center.  When court was not in session, it was the center of community life, i.e. saloon, poker room, and pool hall.  A small botanical garden features native plants and picnic tables under shade trees.  Admission charge?  Zero.  I asked volunteers at the information desk if we couldn’t at least put a few bucks in a donation box.  They explained that the park is fully funded by the state of Texas and does not take donations.

A day-and-night opposite experience awaited us at McFarland State Park up the road in Florence.  The park honors Ernest McFarland, whose service as governor, U.S. senator, and Supreme Court justice makes him the only American to ever serve in all three branches of government.  He is perhaps best remembered as one of the authors of the G.I. Bill, which opened college doors to millions of veterans coming home from the battlefields of World War II.  The park’s centerpiece, Arizona’s first courthouse, dates from 1878 and combines traditional southwest adobe walls with an Anglo American wood-shingled pitched roof and wooden porch.

The years have taken their inevitable toll. Adobe walls are crumbling, rock foundations need shoring and wood porches need repair.  The building was closed and renovation began in October 2008.  We visited the museum and vowed to return when repairs to the courthouse are complete.  [Note: To read the full op-ed piece, click here.]