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Greg Mengarelli

Celebrating Prescott’s Heritage

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The Fourth of July is coming and I couldn’t be more excited. Sure, July 4 often involves barbeques and beautiful weather, but here in our community, there are many other things that I eagerly anticipate.

In Prescott, we enjoy a high population of retirees, many of whom are veterans. These proud men and women can often be found donning their military caps, displaying the branch and war in which they served. It is truly an honor to be part of a community rich in patriotism and history, that deeply values our veterans; what a joy to celebrate Independence Day surrounded at patriotic events with such amazing living examples, such heroes, who displayed bravery, love of these United States and freedom for its citizens.

Speaking of heroes, I am also excited that Prescottonians and visitors alike will be able to continue to honor the Hotshots in a new, meaningful way. The Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew Learning and Tribute Center at our own Prescott Gateway Mall tells the story of the 19 firefighters who lost their lives in the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30, 2013. The displays of artifacts, memorabilia and accounts serve to educate and inspire visitors. The center also educates visitors on fire prevention and firefighting. I encourage everyone to take in this experience and take a moment to remember and honor these men. For hours and information, go to GMIHC19.org.

One of the greatest parts of the Fourth of July, in my opinion, is the opportunity it gives us all to take time to reflect on the blessings we enjoy and on how fortunate we are to celebrate the birthday of this beautiful nation we call home. I also reflect on the thankfulness and joy I feel when I am surrounded by family and being able to share so many moments of fun with those I love.

In particular, we have the honor of hosting the World’s Oldest Rodeo every year around the July 4, and the myriad of events that coincide with the rodeo never fails to impress. I love the Prescott Frontier Days Parade. Sure, traffic may increase, but so does the camaraderie. Prescott residents, as well as many from other Yavapai County cities and the Valley come together to cheer, wave flags, clap and celebrate the various community groups that help make this city great. Whether the entries are youth organizations, cool cars, equestrian groups, cultural groups or those who serve our city, the parade route is packed with families, visitors, neighbors and new friends. This year, we will host the World’s Oldest Rodeo from July 1-7, celebrating the parade on Saturday, July 6, dance the night away at the Rodeo Dance, which is hosted each evening from July 4-6, and spend a day or two enjoying our Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza filled with artisans for the Arts & Crafts Show, July 5-7.

Of course, there is the traditional Fourth of July pastime of fireworks, and they are certainly a wonderful way to celebrate the season. This year, the fireworks over beautiful Watson Lake will fill the skies with light, our ears with patriotic music and loud bursts of sound, and our hearts with thankfulness for freedom.

As I think about all of these celebratory moments, I realize what an honor it is to serve as the mayor of Prescott. I am honored to be part of this community and to share that with my family. Sheila and I recently became grandparents and this year, for the first time, I’ll be able to share my thankfulness with our grandson. He fills our hearts with joy and our phones with pictures. But this year, he will fill our July 4 with childlike wonder as well.

I hope that you, too, will have a great holiday filled with family, reflection and celebration.

I pray God’s blessings on each of you for a safe and happy July 4! QCBN

By Greg Mengarelli

Greg L. Mengarelli is the mayor of the City of Prescott.

Welcoming a Season of Activities, Offerings

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We are fortunate. Prescott is bustling right now with all of the summer activities. Prescottonians live in a city rich in art, culture, history, beauty and a friendly atmosphere. One can hardly drive by the Courthouse Plaza without seeing folks of all ages walking, talking, laughing, connecting and enjoying the sites and local businesses. We consider the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza to be part of the heartbeat of this great city, and something unlike any other Arizona town. In fact, Expedia Viewfinder named Prescott “One of the Coolest Downtowns in North America.”

We are fortunate. There are so many things to do in Prescott! Some of the most popular outdoor activities include hiking, shopping, mountain biking, boating, canoeing, golfing, rock climbing, swimming, sunbathing and horseback riding. The beautiful topography and ever-changing foliage create a beautiful backdrop for camping, RVing, viewing of wildlife, photography, bird watching and relaxing. The cooler weather brings those from the Valley flocking to our higher elevations to enjoy our mild climate.

We are fortunate. Prescott is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Arizona. Its rich history, echoes of the Wild West, pleasant dining and hospitality, and varied offerings contribute to the delight and satisfaction of our tourists. In fact, a recent study by the Arizona Hospitality Research and Resource Center at Northern Arizona University uncovered that visitors ranked the “Satisfaction Level” of their trip through Prescott at 90%  – a truly outstanding number! The travel industry is booming in Prescott and the millions of dollars spent by these visitors add depth, both directly and indirectly, to our fiscal landscape.

We are fortunate. As a father of nine, my wife and I are thrilled that our children have so many options in the summer. They have a plethora of wonderful summer offerings put on by various schools, theaters, athletic organizations, churches and groups from which to choose.

Despite varying political perspectives, religious practices, personality types, educational backgrounds, socioeconomic histories, gender and cultural differences, we are fortunate to have one another in this town. We make each other stronger. We band together to celebrate the town we love. We see one another at parades, festivals, school programs, theater events and town council meetings, and despite our differences, we practice kindness and civility. We enjoy all that Prescott has to offer and are thankful we live in this city.

We are fortunate. We are Prescott. QCBN

By Greg Mengarelli

Enjoy the summer! For information on upcoming happenings, please go to: visit-prescott.com and prescottaz.gov for dates and details.

Greg L. Mengarelli is the mayor of the City of Prescott.

Water is Life in Prescott

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Stunning natural beauty. Authentic Western hospitality. Unbeatable quality of life. There are countless reasons we are proud to call Prescott home. 

I believe that shared pride helped create the sound public policy and personal conservation efforts that will protect this spectacular place – and its critical natural resources – for years to come. 

About a year ago, the city manager and I began a review of the city’s water portfolio in its totality. With a large infrastructure project on the horizon and an ongoing drought dominating state news, we wanted the latest data to serve as the foundation for important policy discussions. 

We hired one of Arizona’s foremost water experts, Gary Woodard, to study our water demand, and his preliminary findings were presented to City Council in February. 

The bottom line is this: Prescott’s long-term water portfolio is in very good shape. 

Yes, I know this is hard to believe given the steady stream of negative news coming out of Phoenix, so let me elaborate. 

There are three very specific reasons Prescott’s water supply is on solid footing. 

The first reason is you. Despite the city’s growth of roughly 2 percent per year, residents and businesses are using less water today than they were more than a decade ago. In fact, since 2004, we’ve added 4,000 new water users but we’re using 1,300 fewer acre-feet of water. Households are smaller and include fewer children and teens who use more water than adults. Appliances are more efficient – low-flow toilets and efficient dishwashers and washing machines are now the norm. And, landscaping is more environmentally friendly. These small changes make a big difference in the amount of water being used. 

Second, the city’s reclamation and recharge efforts are working. In fact, almost 80 percent of Prescott homes and businesses are on the city’s sewer system. The city’s wastewater is treated, recharged, and returned to the aquifer.

Third, in the past two decades, the City Council and staff prioritized critical infrastructure maintenance. Our water lines are constantly monitored, maintained and improved, and the results are clear. Beneath our historic buildings lay some equally old infrastructure. However, through aggressive monitoring and maintenance, Prescott has less than a 6 percent loss rate (when water escapes from a leak or broken pipe), well under what is allowed by the State of Arizona. 

If you’re still reading, you’re probably wondering what the catch is. Perhaps you’re trying to figure out what I’m really trying to say.

So, here’s the punchline: THANK YOU.

Thank you for helping to ensure Prescott is on the right track. Thank you for supporting managed and responsible growth. Thank you for conserving water in your homes and businesses. Thank you for electing leaders who take seriously their responsibility to protect fiscal and natural resources. Thank you for sharing pride in this great city, and helping to preserve it.

I look forward to the final water study, which will be presented to council in the coming weeks. From there, we will continue to study ways to take what’s working and expand on those programs and policies.

After all, the Native American adage stands true – water is life. And Prescott is a perfect place to enjoy life. QCBN

By Greg Mengarelli

Greg L. Mengarelli is the mayor of the City of Prescott.

Preparing for Wildfire, Even After Wet Winters

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Fire season is fast approaching. Although the winter and spring are on track to receive added moisture when compared to the past few years, it in no way means we can let our guard down. In fact, Prescott Fire Chief Dennis Light pointed out to me that historically, some of the biggest campaign fires that have occurred in Arizona come immediately following a wet season.

The purpose of my column this month is to review the resources available to us to prevent and fight wildland fires, and what you can do to protect your property.

One of our key partners in managing wildfire suppression is the Prescott National Forest, which manages the public lands surrounding our city. In addition to the Bradshaw Ranger District fire personnel, the Prescott National Forest has the Henry H. Kim Fire Center at the Prescott Regional Airport. This facility holds a large cache of supplies. The expert staff there is primarily responsible for all of Arizona, New Mexico and part of west Texas. At peak season, the Fire Center can have as many as 60-70 professionals specializing as pilots, communications specialists, supply management teams, logistics experts and firefighters – including the Prescott Interagency Hotshot Crew, established in 1973.

The Fire Center is capable of hosting a number of aircraft of various sizes, from helicopters to the large air tankers. This is an extremely well-equipped facility that hosts local, regional and national suppression resources. The Fire Center and the Prescott National Forest are part of a large network of fire suppression resources that can be mobilized for short and long distances to support communities and natural resources threatened by wildfire, and it is literally in our own backyard.  

In an effort to mitigate wildfire hazards, prevent wildfires and suppress unwanted wildfires, the City of Prescott and the Prescott Fire Department also partner with Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management and the Bureau of Land Management. When the need arises, we call upon these local agencies, and sometimes those from around the Southwest to provide for the suppression of fires in our wildland urban interface and other forested areas.

An important part of maintaining positive stewardship of our wildland interface comes about as a result of this interagency cooperation. Twice annually, stakeholders assemble to review the various area fuel reduction projects being pursued, thus ensuring that one agency’s work complements or enhances the other agencies’ work.

Citizens are important and vital partners in prevention and protection. It is important to keep your property clear of debris, to maintain a defensible space around your home, and to plant shrubs and trees away from your home.

Help our firefighters do their jobs and help yourself by actively managing the defensible space around your property and homes. Prescott Area Wildland Interface Commission (PAWUIC) is a great educational resource to help citizens manage the risk of fire damage to their property. To learn more, go to yavapaifirewise.org

In closing, I want readers to feel as confident as I do in Prescott’s capacity to reduce risk and fight wildland fires. The facilities, the agencies and particularly the people involved in keeping our city safe are simply the best. QCBN 

By Greg Mengarelli

Greg L. Mengarelli is the mayor of the City of Prescott.

Looking Ahead to a Prosperous New Year

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All indicators point to another productive and prosperous year in 2019 in our city and region. There are several key issues that the Prescott City Council will be taking up in the first quarter.

 

Airport Success

Because of your dedicated support, Prescott Regional Airport had just over 10,000 enplanements in 2018. This makes available $1 million dollars in federal funding for capital projects at the airport. It will also put Prescott in good position for additional grants from the federal government. We hope to have a groundbreaking ceremony on a new terminal in September, and expect 25,000 enplanements in 2019. Thank you for your support of United Express flights to Los Angeles and Denver.

 

Hilton Garden Inn

One of the most exciting projects expected to begin in 2019 will be the Hilton Garden hotel project at Montezuma and Sheldon Street. As you may know, this will be built on a currently vacant city parking lot, and will positively impact Granite Creek Park, the historic Sam Hill Warehouse, the railroad trestle and the former APS utility yard. We feel this will be a catalyst project, with the opportunity to lead the way to revitalizing the Granite Creek Corridor. In fact, the city just received a $79,000 grant to cover the cost of a master plan for the area.

 

Arizona Eco Development

It’s no surprise that the city has been in extensive conversations with Arizona Eco Development to come up with an annexation agreement that conserves as much of our beloved Granite Dells as possible, while still allowing the property owner to exercise his private property rights. There have been some concerns about how long this process is taking. Let me assure you that the time we have taken is a good thing. This is a very complex and important development. The city and Arizona Eco want to do this right the first time, and present council with the best plan for Prescott. We hope to see this come forward in the first quarter of the year.

 

A Review of City Water Policy

City staff, lead by City Manager Michael Lamar, has asked the council to take a new look at how the City of Prescott uses and conserves water. To that end, the city has hired a consultant to review the water portfolio, past water usage and projections for the future. Findings will be presented to the council within the next month and we think that citizens will be surprised with some of the results.

 

Pension Fund

The Public Service Pension Retirement System (PSPRS) just provided the annual actuarial valuation for the city’s pension trusts, and it is good news for Prescott. Since the Prop 443 0.75 cent sales tax went into effect last January, Prescott has contributed more than $17 million to pay down our unfunded liability during the period of the actuarial valuation. This is in addition to the Annual Required Contribution (ARC), which comes from operating funds (General Fund). Prescott’s liability is funded at nearly 50 percent, up from around 30 percent a year ago. The council’s goal is 100 percent fully funded by June 30, 2028.

 

On behalf of my fellow City Council members, the entire City of Prescott staff, and my family, I would like to wish you a Happy New Year! QCBN

 

By Greg Mengarelli

 

Greg Mengarelli is the mayor of Prescott.

 

An Opportunity to Honor All Veterans

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The holiday season is right around the corner, starting with Veteran’s Day on Nov. 11.

Veterans Day is a time for Americans to reflect on the service and sacrifice of our veterans. Originally, it was named Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I, when the treaty was signed on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, in 1918. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans, but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.

I am proud of how our community honors veterans and active duty military service members. Earlier this year, we were named Most Patriotic City in Arizona, in part because of how we honor our veterans every day of the year. To honor those military service members who have recently been deployed, we have attached a yellow ribbon on city hall.

This year, Prescott will celebrate with the annual Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, Nov. 10. Opening ceremonies are at 10:30 a.m., and the parade begins at 11 a.m. We are holding the parade on the Nov. 10, because Nov. 11 falls on a Sunday this year. The parade goes from Willis, south down Cortez, turns on Goodwin, then heads back north on Montezuma.

There will be over 90 entries, many representing every branch of the military, and organizations like American Legion, VFW, Eagles and other supportive veteran organizations. Area businesses and non-profits will be represented as well.

This year, we remember World War I on the 100th anniversary of the war’s end. We will read the names of Yavapai County World War I veterans who died in the war during the opening ceremonies. There will also be a special banner for Ernest A. Love, the Prescott aviator who died after being shot down over the skies of France, just months before the war ended.

Recreation Services Coordinator Michelle Stacy-Schroeder, who is also a veteran, heads up a committee that puts this great event on every year. Thanks to all of the committee members, including  Patti Ezell, Denise Mackey, Barbara Boyer, Rick Grey, Robert Milligan, Lynn Denison, Penny Fincher, Patrick Kuykendall, Darla Deville, Mary Dillinger, Dan Tillmans, Clarence (Sherm) Scott and Traci Peters.

The parade is a partnership between the city, the Northern Arizona VA and various community sponsors.

The Veterans Day Parade really shows our community’s pride and care for our veterans, active duty military and their families. Please come out and help us kick off the holiday season with this great event in Prescott. QCBN

By Greg Mengarelli

Greg L. Mengarelli is the mayor of the City of Prescott.

Taking Flight in Prescott with Wings Out West

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We are excited to talk about an event that marks an important partnership between the City of Prescott and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Mark your calendars for Saturday, Oct. 6 for the Wings Out West air show at Prescott Regional Airport. This family-friendly show will feature aerial demonstrations, aircraft displays, an aeronautical technology fair and a regional fly-in at Prescott Regional Airport, Ernest A. Love Field. A variety of food vendors and concessions will also be on site.

Headlining this year’s show for the second consecutive year is Embry-Riddle airshow pilot Matt Chapman. Attendees will enjoy additional performances from Bill Stein, Rob Holland, Steve Bennett, Cindy Irish, Gary Rower, the Immortal Red Baron and Embry-Riddle’s own 12-time national champion Golden Eagles Flight Team.

This year’s airshow will also include a tribute to Ernest A. Love, one of Prescott’s original hometown heroes, who was shot down over France during World War I and later died in captivity. There will be an aerial reenactment of the fateful dogfight that eventually took E.A. Love’s life 100 years ago. There will also be an E.A. Love display hosted by the City of Prescott.

This is the second year that the show has been open to the public. We are pleased to continue the partnership with Embry-Riddle for the second year in a row with Wings Out West. Last year, Embry-Riddle Chancellor Dr. Frank Ayers and the leadership team agreed to open up their annual alumni event to the public and invited the City of Prescott to co-host. Last year’s air show was a huge success and we expect the event to grow even larger this year.

Gates will open to the public at 9 a.m., with the aerial demonstration taking place from 10 a.m. to noon. Admission and parking will be free. Attendees should use the main airport entrance off Highway 89. There will be ample signage and personnel directing traffic to designated airport parking areas. For additional information about parking, including maps, visit PRCAirport.com. QCBN

By Greg Mengarelli

Greg L. Mengarelli is the mayor of the City of Prescott.

Changing the Paradigm for Commercial Air Service in Northern Arizona 

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We are pleased to announce new Essential Air Service (EAS) for Prescott Municipal Airport (PRC), featuring commercial jet service for the first time in our aviation history. SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Airlines Express, has been approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and will begin operations on Aug. 29. This is a game-changer for air travel, not just in the Quad Cities, but in all of North Central Arizona. 

Beginning on Aug. 29, United Express will fly 50-seat jets – Bombardier CRJ200s – from Prescott to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) six days a week, and to Denver International (DEN) seven days a week, with one roundtrip each day. Within the United Airlines system, Prescott passengers will be able to connect with over 650 worldwide destinations. They will be able to use United’s booking system, their own travel agent or favorite online booking site. 

This changes the paradigm for air travel in our region. Here’s why: For most air travelers in the Quad Cities, Payson, Verde Valley, Sedona and Flagstaff, the options have been limited. Air travel involved a commute to Phoenix, with a minimum of a two-hour trip each way. Cost of gas, travel time, hotel rooms and possible highway closures have made the Phoenix route stressful and costly. Before now, there was not a good alternative.   

With this announcement, that paradigm has changed. Now you can make an easy trip to PRC, park for free, then go through a relaxed and comfortable security and terminal experience, before boarding a plane that will get you almost anywhere in the world with one stop.  If your destination is LA or Denver, it’s a non-stop. 

Additionally, Prescott will benefit from an increase in travelers coming to town. Los Angeles is the number one tourism market for Prescott outside of Arizona. The Prescott Tourism Office has already been promoting Prescott’s “True West, Real Adventure” campaign to LA for the past few years. This air service will complement our marketing efforts and bring more visitors from Southern California. 

I want to thank our Airport Director, Dr. Robin Sobotta, and her team at Prescott Municipal Airport, the Airport Advisory Committee, Prescott City Council, Prescott Valley Town Council and the rest of the area leadership for their support of this new endeavor.   

Now, it’s our turn to support this new air service in Prescott. The airline has indicated that they are open to adding flights if demand is there. Go to United.com to book your flight, today. We are excited about this new air travel opportunity. It’s a game-changer for our region. QCBN 

 

By Greg Mengarelli 

 

Greg Mengarelli is the mayor of Prescott. 

Remembering Granite Mountain Hotshots

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As 24-year Prescott residents, my wife and I consider Prescott our home, and the folks who live here are like family. Five years ago, on June 30, 2013, our entire family was devastated by the news that 19 young men lost their lives battling the Yarnell Hill fire. These brave men were part of the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew and gave their lives protecting our community.

As Prescott grieved, the nation and the world reached out to offer condolences and solidarity with our fire department. Literally thousands of items were sent to Prescott. Examples included t-shirts and flags signed by fire departments from Texas to France. Artists created unique pieces in tribute, such as paintings, sculptures and photography. Poetry and songs were written. Crosses and religious articles were made. Often, these items came in sets of 19 – one for each fallen hero.

A team of dedicated volunteers worked diligently to create a public display at Hotel St. Michael using hundreds of these artifacts during the summer of 2014. Tens of thousands came to pay respects to our fallen 19 at this display. Meanwhile, an online record of the artifacts was created with the Prescott Public Library and the Arizona Memory Project, and still exists today.

Eventually, the display came down, and the artifacts were catalogued and stored in a City of Prescott building for several years.

Then in 2017, Fire Chief Dennis Light facilitated a group of family members and citizens who came together to establish a new non-profit group, with the mission to establish the GMIHC Tribute and Learning Center.  This center will serve to not only help us remember our fallen heroes, but educate the public about wildland firefighting.

City officials struck a deal with the Gateway Mall to store and display of some of the artifacts. The board and city are grateful to the mall owners for this generous donation of prime retail space. For the longer term, the board would like to establish a stand-alone facility.

The center opened at the mall on June 29, one day before the fifth anniversary of the tragedy. The center is staffed by volunteers and members of the board. It is a moving and powerful display of the artifacts and other information about the Granite Mountain Hotshots. I urge all Prescott citizens to visit this center, and learn more about our fallen heroes, and the wild land firefighting service.

I would also like to thank all of the volunteers and staff from the city who managed, maintained and cared for these artifacts for the past five years. This type of community spirit is part of what makes me proud of our city. God bless our fallen heroes, their families and all first responders in our community and around the world. QCBN

For more information about the center, go to gmihc19.org to check hours or email info@gmihc19.org.

Greg Mengarelli is mayor of Prescott.

Let the Event Season Begin 

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Prescott is one town that takes its events and recreation seriously.  Beginning in April, with the Whiskey Off-Road, through the Boot Drop on New Year’s Eve, virtually every weekend is packed with events. The summer concert series on the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza alone hosts more than 30 shows from June through August. 

In June through July, we have a series of Prescott’s signature events: The Prescott Bluegrass Festival, the Frontier Days Parade and the Worlds’ Oldest Rodeo. 

The Bluegrass Festival, June 23 and 24, is two full days of bluegrass acts from all over the country, showcasing the best of this genre in the heart of downtown Prescott on the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza.    

The Frontier Days Parade will take place on Saturday, June 30, showcasing Prescott and the best of Prescott’s Western heritage. Frontier Days World’s Oldest Rodeo is June 28-July 4 at the Rodeo Grounds. This will be the 131st edition of this rodeo, which is considered one of the elite events on the pro rodeo circuit. If you haven’t been in the grandstands one evening for the rodeo, you haven’t experienced Prescott.  

And then there’s the Fourth of July celebration and fireworks at Mile High Middle School – just a short walk from downtown. Prescott’s Fourth of July celebration is the essence of the American spirit and showcases our love of this great country! I hope to see you there. 

For a list of all the great public events in Prescott throughout the year, go to visit-prescott.com. QCBN 

 By Greg Mengarelli 

Greg Mengarelli is the mayor of Prescott.