Elections

 Committed to “Preserve the past and embrace the future,” the Prescott Good Governance Committee kicked off its 2015 campaign with a pledge to help support and pass the City of Prescott General Plan, which will come before voters Nov. 3.

More than 40 community residents met in late January to formulate the committee’s campaign strategy.

Committee Chair Cecelia Jernegan said that the group’s purpose is to “provide educational opportunities about Prescott General plan, to promote increased voter registration and to encourage voters to turn out for the election.”

Jernegan replaced outgoing commitee chair Elisabeth Ruffner, who had guided the committee for the past 20 years.

The organization is a registered nonpartisan political action committee.

Before discussing in-depth strategies, the committee would follow to meet its goal of “fostering civil discussion leading to civil action to build a better Prescott,” those present first adopted standing rules that would define its actions for the year.

Organization Endorses Prescott General Plan Elements

Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended in 2002 and 2004, require that communities throughout the state must develop and adopt a general plan that reflects the “Growing Smarter, Growing Smarter Plus” legislation initially approved in 1998.

Consequently, community leaders adopted a General Plan in 2003. Voters ratified it in 2004. In 2014, a group of 12 local citizens drafted a revised Prescott General Plan, which will go before the voting public.

Lindsay Bell, a former Prescott City Council member (1995-1999), was actively involved in creating the first General Plan. She distributed a two-page statement, which she called a “Community Vision” that detailed the principles and values included in the proposed plan.

“The General Plan to be voted on is made up of chapters called ‘elements,’” Bell said. “The plan to go before voters this fall has two more elements than the plan had, which was adopted 10 years ago.”

Elements in the proposed plan include the following:

• Land Use – the identification and distribution of land uses within the city.
• Growth Management and Cost of Development – planned growth, construction of necessary infrastructure, and design of multi-modal transportation also requires any new development to pay its fair share of the demand for public services.
• Circulation-Transportation – goals and strategies to ensure efficient movement of people, goods and services within the community and region.
• Open Space – the protection and enhancement of natural and scenic beauty and defines and inventories public and private open space.
• Environmental Planning – addresses and identifies the impact other plan elements have upon air quality, water and other natural resources.
• Water Resources – stipulates that surface, ground and effluent water supplies be identified and analyzed in anticipation of future population growth.
• Economic Development Planning – reflects a strong emphasis upon the city’s economic well-being, character and vitality.
• Community Quality – addresses aspects of the community, which sustain and support a sense of community spirit, including the natural environment, arts and culture, historical preservation and education and healthcare assets.

Community Vision Awareness

Bell emphasizes that it is critical for the voting public to be aware of what the plan does and how it addresses future challenges facing the city.

She told those present, “I think it’s important that voters understand the changes that have happened in Prescott in the last several years. This committee is going to do all it can to stimulate awareness of the plan and why it’s important to pass it. We need a major voter turnout – more than the 50 percent we had in 2013.”

Bell was echoed by Elisabeth Ruffner. “Our citizens need to understand and accept their responsibilities. They need to get out and vote.”

Ruffner said that if the proposed General Plan did not pass, the old plan would remain in place. “But we need to educate everyone about how important this new plan is for our future.”

Jernegen urged those present to tell others of the need for awareness of the Prescott General Plan. She stressed that it was especially important that voters realized the Nov. 3 election will be by mail ballot only. “Ballots will be mailed 29 days in advance, so we need to stress that people get registered to vote well in advance of the election. Then, they certainly need to cast ballots. “

She explained that the committee would meet the fourth Tuesday of every month in the conference room of the Yavapai Title Agency at 1235 E. Gurley Street. “We want to be a group of concerned citizens who commit ourselves to being directly engaged in helping move our city into a dynamic future.” QCBN

By Ray Newton

Quad Cities Business News

The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) praised the Yavapai College Radiologic Technology program following a recent site visit that is part of the all-important accreditation process for the program.

During an exit review following a 2-day site visit, the JRCERT team informed the College that its radiology program met all six standards and all 53 objectives set by the accreditation service. Rich LeClair, director of the YC radiology program, noted that the JRCERT surveyors “appreciated meeting with the clinical instructors and felt that their quality and their commitment to the program made it as strong as it is. They also mentioned that the quality of the students…was evident. They were impressed with all areas of the college in terms of…support for the program and the resources available to students. All in all,” LeClair concluded, “they were very impressed with the program.”

The site visit team will now present its report to the JRCERT board for review and approval. A final report is due later this year.

Yavapai College offers an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Radiologic Technology that prepares students for entry-level positions as radiographers. The program includes classroom and laboratory instruction as well as hands-on clinical experience at imaging facilities throughout Yavapai County. It provides a thorough educational foundation and professional preparation that prepares students to enter the workforce as independent practitioners.

The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), headquartered in Chicago, promotes excellence in education and elevates the quality and safety of patient care through the accreditation of educational programs in radiography, radiation therapy, magnetic resonance, and medical dosimetry. The JRCERT monitors performance measures of programs and makes this information available to the public. More information is available on the organization’s web site, http://www.jrcert.org/.

45.62% of registered voters participated in Yavapai County’s by-mail election

For the City of Prescott’s council position Greg Lazzell won with 6295 votes compared to Ellie Laumark’s 5488 votes.

For the Chino Valley School District #51 Bond approval, 55.66% voted No, defeating the measure.

Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary School District #6 – Special Election Budget Override Continuation passed with 57.10% voting yes.

For Humboldt Unified School District #22 Budget Increase  was defeated with 73.01% voting No.

Mingus Union High School Budget Override  was passed with 58.83% voting in favor of the continuation.

Prescott Unified School District #1 Question 1 Bond Approval was defeated with 53.71% voting no.    Question  2 Budget Increase was also defeated with 9767 people (or 57.74%) voting it down.