First, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! As we look to the year ahead, I hope that yours will be a prosperous one! One of the issues that we continually deal with in the City of Prescott is replacement of old underground infrastructure. Water mains, sewers and other infrastructure deteriorate over time and eventually fail. Some of our underground pipes and lines are nearly 100 years old and still going. Other, newer installations seem to fail prematurely. One of these types that … [Read more...] about Installation of Ductile Iron Pipe (DIP) Versus Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe
Phil Goode
December is a Special Time in Prescott
December in Prescott is a special time as we fully embrace our designation as Arizona’s Christmas City. Traditional annual events nearly every weekend of the month are connected by the magical lights on the Courthouse Plaza on display every night. Whether you enjoy the reverie of festive traditional events or just a quiet stroll through a display of thousands of brilliantly colored lights, Prescott has something for everyone this month. The 41st Annual Christmas Parade opens the events at 1 … [Read more...] about December is a Special Time in Prescott
November is a Time to Honor and Celebrate as We Usher in the Holidays
One of the things I appreciate about Prescott is that our community truly enjoys celebrations and honoring those who serve. November is a time to do just that, as we celebrate Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, and then we usher in one of the most significant seasons with the events of Arizona’s Christmas City. Veterans Day was originally named Armistice Day following the end of World War I, and then in the United States, it became a celebration honoring all of our military veterans. While Memorial … [Read more...] about November is a Time to Honor and Celebrate as We Usher in the Holidays
Understanding the Facts about Widening SR89
When the City announced the proposed widening of State Route 89 between the Phippen Roundabout and Willow Lake Road Roundabout earlier this summer, there was a great deal of discussion, in the form of letters to City Council, online and the local media outlets. Much of the early reaction expressed concern about how widening of the roadway would affect the scenic Granite Dells rocks. It is important to understand all of the reasons why the city is considering this project and the actual scope of … [Read more...] about Understanding the Facts about Widening SR89
Updating Ordinances
During my time as a councilmember and mayor, there have been many instances of antiquated, outdated and sometimes ineffective ordinances that were not consistent with our current times, or the real-world environment. In addition, several judicial decisions and case law have affected some of these ordinances. For that reason, I have been working with the city attorney and his team to identify and update some highly visible ordinances, to meet the test of modern times. A few of these are … [Read more...] about Updating Ordinances
How Prescott is Funded for City Needs
As we conclude budget approval for Fiscal Year 2024, which begins on July 1, questions arise about the city’s tax structure and how we are funded. Many are surprised to learn that transaction privilege tax (TPT, or sales tax) is the primary source of revenue for the city’s general fund, which pays for public safety and other critical city services. Property tax in Prescott accounts for less than 4% of revenue for the general fund. As growth continues in and around Prescott’s city limits, the … [Read more...] about How Prescott is Funded for City Needs
Granite Creek Corridor Project Expected to Be Completed By Summer
As the city’s Granite Creek Corridor improvements are moving toward a conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to remind our citizens about this project and provide current information and an account of the history. The Granite Creek Corridor project is almost four years in the making. Back in 2019, city staff identified an opportunity to enhance one of Prescott’s great natural assets, Granite Creek and the associated trail running alongside. Over the years, the creek had fallen into … [Read more...] about Granite Creek Corridor Project Expected to Be Completed By Summer
Improving, Maintaining Streets Following an Intense Winter
Traffic, road conditions, street maintenance and construction are generally areas of great interest for our citizens. With more than 750 miles of paved surface in the city boundaries, improving and maintaining our streets in Prescott is a year-round job. Keeping traffic flowing smoothly and safely is another priority that requires constant attention and improvement. Spring is here and the city is gearing up for road construction and street maintenance projects. This past winter was very hard … [Read more...] about Improving, Maintaining Streets Following an Intense Winter
Reducing Taxes, Protecting Airport Land, Expanding Open Space in the New Year
Happy New Year! I sincerely hope that your holidays were blessed with the warmth of this wonderful season. It was great to see Arizona’s Christmas City in full swing, with all of our favorite events and a few new ones. Prescott City Council looks ahead to 2023, which will no doubt be an important year for the city. First I would like to congratulate our new Mayor Pro Tem Brandon Montoya, and thank last year’s Pro Tem Cathey Rusing for her leadership in 2022. I am pleased to share with you … [Read more...] about Reducing Taxes, Protecting Airport Land, Expanding Open Space in the New Year
Undertaking the Updated General Plan
The City of Prescott is about to undertake the update and adoption of the 2025 General Plan. The General Plan is the public document that guides the future of a city. Per Arizona Revised Statutes, a city’s land development decisions must be consistent withthe adopted General Plan. Cities under a population of 50,000 must have the following elements in their plans: Land Use, Circulation, Open Space, Growth Areas, Environmental Planning, Cost of Development, and Water Resources. General Plans … [Read more...] about Undertaking the Updated General Plan
