Water Adequacy

Coconino County will be initiating a stakeholder outreach for a draft ordinance regarding water adequacy issues. AZ Senate Bill 1575 requires proof of water adequacy for future subdivision development. We already have this program in the urban areas of Arizona-called Active Management Areas where developers, water providers or municipalities need to prove 100 year water supply for development to occur.

The County Board of Supervisors must vote on whether to assume authority over the equivalent for rural areas. The twist to this ordinance will be that it only involves subdivisions. Much development that occurs in the county are lot splits. There is also debate of whether there would be a water hauling exemption. If the county does not adopt this unanimously, the cities within the county can choose to adopt it. If it does not get adopted than it is business as usual (growth without consideration of our water supply).

The pro to this bill is that it is a consumer protection measure. Current and future residents would have assurance that there would be at least a 100 year supply of water associated with growth.

The con is that this is not a growth management measure despite what we would think to be true. Developers want the stamp of approval and will seek out communities that can prove water adequacy. Without it, their development will be deemed inadequate.

This is a very complex ordinance and outreach will begin soon. We need F3 input. For more information on specifics, contact Cynthia at 556-8663.

Give us your thoughts or questions!!!

Land Use Planning-Open Space and Wildlife

March 19th 5-6pm there is a team of people meeting at AZ Game and Fish at 5pm to discuss Open Space issues and wildlife issues as they relate to the Regional Plan and Land Development Code. We are forming action teams around issues to advocate on behalf of F3 and citizens concerned about preservation, conservation, wildlife, and open space.

Please attend if you are able and stay tuned via the city website www.flagstaff.az.gov/regionalplan for schedules of public meetings.

Land Development Code focus groups will occur through various commissions including Open Space, Water, P&Z and there will others starting in April. Sign up for a focus group through Roger Eastman by this Friday!!! 779-7631 Ext 7606 or reastman@flagstaffaz.gov
Focus Groups include Design Guidelines, Housing, Building and Fire codes, Economic Dev., Resource Preservation, Landscaping, Downtown, Fire/Wildland Issues/Trees. Contact Roger for a full list!

Energy Codes

There will be a Roundtable Forum on March 25th regarding Energy Codes at 4pm-6pm at the City Hall Conference Room. Please attend if you can. This is a meeting to discuss requested changes to the current city code including increasing energy codes that better match the International Energy Codes. For more information, please contact me at 556-8663 and I can send you some suggested changes.

Action Alert-Energy Codes

On February 10th, City Council will be addressing increased energy codes during their Work Session.
Please attend after 5pm. For agenda go to www.flagstaff.az.gov and click on Agendas and Minutes (not posted yet for next week) or contact me at the number below.
If you are unable to make it to the work session, please send a letter of support to the city council highlighting the following:
We support increasing the current energy codes to that more closely match the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Those include:
1. Floor R-Value= R-30 (currently R-19) The higher the R-value, the higher the efficiency.
2. Basement Wall R-value: R-10 continuous/R-13 cavity
3. Slab R-value and depth: R10 and from the top of the block stem wall down 4 feet or down and under slab in any continuous combination to equal 4 feet
Crawl space wall R-value: R-10 continuous/R-13 cavity
Foam board will be extruded polystyrene.
Air leakage sealing
"Airtight" and "IC" (Insulation contact) for all recessed lighting.
In addition to the IECC, we would like future furnaces to be condensing furnaces (which are more efficient) and CFL and LED lighting in high use areas, and Energy Star refrigerators and appliances.
Energy efficient homes protect homeowners from rising prices. Energy prices are in a long-term upward trend (natural gas has risen 150% since 2000 in Flagstaff).
Coconino County has already adopted most of the IECC. Isn't it time Flagstaff gets on board?
Contact me for more details. Thanks!

Post Carbon Future Workshop

We've joined the One Community Sustainable Lecture Series as workshops. Our next workshop is February 23rd at 7pm-Driving For More Gas Efficiency at Willow Bend Environmental Education Center.

Post Carbon Future-Transition Series

Hey, have you heard about Peak Oil? The world's oil demand is at its peak and there will be less and less over time. What is Flagstaff doing about it? Holding a Transition Series to help the community prepare for less oil dependence. Sponsored by F3, the first workshop will be January 26th at Willow Bend off Sawmill Road at 7pm. Refreshments provided, demonstration on how to heat a house more efficiently will be given. There will be time for plenty of discussion!

Your vision for our community

Please write in your ideas about what kind of community you want to live in (i.e. I want to live in a community where I can walk to work, enjoy nature and wildlife near my house, etc...)