Clarkdale AZ

Clarkdale to look at ways to pay for development

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[Source: Philip Wright, Verde Independent] –The Clarkdale Town Council will hold a work session Tuesday night on possible ways to fund new development without creating a financial burden on current citizens. The work session will be on the agenda of the June 12 regular meeting, which begins at 6 p.m.

New state legislation reduced the town’s ability to collect impact fees. Consequently, Town Manager Gayle Mabery suspended the collection of all development impact fees effective Jan. 1. Town staff has been looking into ways to cover costs of new development. One idea being considered is the use of a capacity fee for water and wastewater, which allows a customer to buy into the system. A staff report to the council states that the town attorney believes the collection of water and wastewater capacity fees would be in compliance with state law.

The council also will approve in the consent agenda an intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona State Parks Board. To move ahead with the Arizona Fish and Game Heritage Fund Grant public access project, which will provide handicapped access to the Verde River, the town must have site control of the three parcels owned by the Parks Board and known as the Tuzigoot River Access Point.

Another consent agenda item will approve the town becoming an inaugural member of the Healthy Headwaters Alliance, organized by Carpe Diem West. The alliance works to educate stakeholders and decision makers about the critical need to protect and restore the watersheds that provide water security and ecologically vibrant landscapes for communities across the West. A staff report states that the alliance does not lobby, but only educates, promotes and informs. There is no cost to the town for joining the alliance. Tax-deductible contributions are used to fund the alliance.

Clarkdale moves ahead with river access project Town and State Parks Board form agreement

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[Source: Philip Wright, Verde Independent] – The town and the State Parks Board will work together to expand access to the Verde River. The Town Council voted unanimously during a special meeting March 15 to approve an intergovernmental agreement with the state to develop the Tuzigoot River Access. “The IGA is a huge benefit to the Verde River at Clarkdale plan,” said Mayor Doug Von Gausig. “It gives us an anchor location that will be where most people park to be transported up-river with their kayaks, and a place for picnics and community gatherings.” Von Gausig said this access point at Tuzigoot Bridge will once again give Clarkdale an outdoor recreation site like Peck’s Lake was years ago.

In a staff report to the council, Jodie Filardo, community/ economic development director, stated that for the town to move forward with a Heritage Fund Public Access project to expand access to the Verde River for mobility challenged individuals, site control of three parcels owned by Arizona State Parks is required. The town is currently seeking a grant from the Heritage Fund for $40,500. Filardo explained that the purpose of the IGA is to cooperatively manage and operate the site in question to develop enhanced public river access. Under the IGA the town and State Parks Board will work together to accomplish the enhanced river access. Clarkdale will provide for staffing, operation and routine maintenance of improvements made by town.

Von Gausig said that after looking at all possible locations, the town approached Deputy Parks Director Jay Ream with the idea several months ago. “We decided the best and most practical solution for Clarkdale and for State Parks would be a cooperative agreement that allows Clarkdale to manage the 70-acre Tuzigoot Bridge property,” Von Gausig said. He explained that the agreement would provide for Clarkdale to make some improvements and anchor the town’s project at the site.

“He liked it,” Von Gausig said. “We worked with Jay and others to finalize the terms of the IGA. It’s finally done.” Von Gausig said this will be the first in what the town hopes is a string of facilities along the Verde River as it flows through the Verde Valley. He said the facilities would support recreational boaters, hikers, birding enthusiasts and people who just want to get a little peace and quiet in their lives.

“This is a huge step forward for the Verde River at Clarkdale and for the Verde River,” Von Gausig said. He explained that the grant will be used for master planning the area near the Tuzigoot Bridge, to include architectural plans, roadway improvements and some fundamental improvements to the area that will enable better, more accessible recreational opportunities.

Cities and towns are vital to Arizona’s economic recovery

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[Source: Arizona Capitol Time.com, Guest Opinion, 2/10/12] – While Arizona has endured one of longest and deepest recessions in American history, the League of Arizona Cities and Towns has stepped forward to be a strong partner with Gov. Jan Brewer and state lawmakers as they sought solutions to reverse our fiscal crisis. Arizona’s 91 cities and towns cut their spending by nearly 30 percent on average. We have responded to this crisis by doing more with less.

Now that our state’s economy is starting to emerge and grow again, cities, large and small, will be absolutely vital to Arizona’s economic recovery and future prosperity. From Tucson to Phoenix to rural towns like Clarkdale — where I’m proud to serve as mayor — Arizona cities and towns have provided healthy economic environments that generate 93 percent of all state sales tax revenues. That business-friendly climate helps drive Arizona forward.

Those dollars enable families to enjoy the most efficient and directly accessible services provided by government — like police and fire protection, safe roads, clean water, parks, senior centers, pools and reliable garbage collection. It sounds like a cliché, but only because it’s true — healthy cities make a healthy Arizona.

The good news is our cities and towns are well positioned to do the heavy lifting. Our state, especially in rural Arizona, is open for business and creating jobs. But we must be careful not to impede our recovery by limiting local control or hurting the quality of life that makes Arizona so attractive to entrepreneurs. Local elected leaders stand on the front lines of business recruitment efforts, and they help create the healthy and profitable business environments that attract new employers. For example, if you search for “Payson economic development” on the Internet, you are directed to the town’s website.

I am excited that both House Speaker Andy Tobin and Senate President Steve Pierce represent rural Arizona. I trust they understand, like I do, that imposing unfunded mandates only hurt our ability to attract and retain high quality jobs. In fact, unnecessary mandates only make us spend taxpayer money on things that don’t benefit the public’s quality of life. The best decisions are the ones made at the local level in response to residents and taxpayers. We deliver the daily services that people count on every day.

Since 1937, the League of Arizona Cities and Towns has stood for the principle that local government is the most efficient, most responsive and most economical way to provide services to our residents. We have never wavered from those principles in good times or bad.

So, as the Legislature goes back to work, the League of Arizona Cities and Towns once again stands ready to partner with our state lawmakers to preserve and protect what matters most to residents in our cities and towns. If we work together, I’m confident we can make this happen.

— Doug Von Gausig is mayor of Clarkdale and president of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns.

Grants could help Verde River at Clarkdale Arizona project

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[Source: Philip Wright, Verde Independent] – When the Town Council meets at 3 p.m. Tuesday, it will consider a request by staff to go after two grants from the Heritage Fund of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The process would begin with two pre-applications for two lottery funded grants for Urban Wildlife and for Public Access.

A report prepared by Jodie Filardo, director of development and project manager for Sustainable Clarkdale, explains that the state has $112,500 available for Urban Wildlife and $50,000 for Public Access grants. “Our Verde River @ Clarkdale project aligns well with two specific granting focus areas: Urban Wildlife and Public Access,” Filardo stated. Filardo further explains that Melody Reifsnyder of Sage Consulting will put together the grant applications for the town.

“She is being funded on a fee-for-service basis from Walton Family Foundation grant funds established to hire professional services to write two separate pre-applications,” Filardo stated. If the grant applications are approved, Reifsnyder also will complete the full applications process for the town.

In a related matter, Mayor Doug Von Gausig has sponsored an agenda item calling for the council to consider approving Resolution 1376. That resolution would support The Verde Compact, a statement confirming dedication to the well-being of the Verde River and Valley. In a staff report on the item, Kathy Bainbridge, Town Clerk and Finance Director, stated that the Verde Compact “…has been endorsed by The Nature Conservancy and more endorsements have been pledged from other environmental organizations.” John Neville, president of Sustainable Arizona, will make a presentation regarding the Value the Verde Ecotourism Initiative.