[00:00:02] OKAY, WELL, THIS IS A STUDY SESSION AND IT IS WEDNESDAY, JULY 2ND. [ CALL TO ORDER] IT'S STILL WEDNESDAY, JULY 2ND. OKAY. JUST SO YOU KNOW, 2025. SO I NOW CALL THIS STUDY SESSION TO ORDER. AND WE'LL TAKE A ROLL. CHAIR MALLORY? HERE. VICE CHAIR COMPTON? HERE. SUPERVISOR CHECK? HERE. SUPERVISOR JENKINS? HERE. SUPERVISOR KUKNYO? HERE. YOU HAVE A QUORUM. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO WE ARE DISCUSSING REGARDING THE PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF WATER RESOURCES AND OPEN SPACE. [1. Board of Supervisors - Discussion regarding the proposed establishment of a Water Resources and Open Space Committee in Yavapai County.] IS THAT CORRECT, MR. THOMPSON? YOU ARE CORRECT, CHAIR. OH, GOOD. YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, AND SO I'M, 3:00 AND STILL AT THE BOARD ROOM, SO IT'S NOT USUAL. GOT IT. YOU'RE CORRECT. CHAIR, IF I MAY. [2. Board of Supervisors - Discussion regarding Conservation Easements in Yavapai County.] SEVERAL OF YOU HEARD ME SAY THIS, BUT MAYBE NOT ALL. YOU'LL SEE, WE HAD TWO ITEMS THAT WE HAD AGENDIZED FOR STUDY SESSION TODAY. THE ONE THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED. THEN SECONDLY, DISCUSSION REGARDING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN YAVAPAI COUNTY. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RESCHEDULE THAT ONE. THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE GOING TO JOIN US WHERE UNABLE TO STAY THIS LATE IN THE DAY. SO WE'LL WORK ON GETTING THAT RESCHEDULED. SO WE JUST HAVE THE ONE ITEM TODAY. THANK YOU. AND WITH THAT, MAKE SOME INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS. AND AGAIN THIS IS A STUDY SESSION. SO IT'S REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OPEN CONVERSATION ABOUT THE TOPIC. SO I'LL GET US STARTED. BUT I WANT TO DEFER TO SUPERVISOR CHECK. SHE AND I WORKED ON THE THE SLIDES THAT YOU'VE GOT BEFORE YOU. AND AGAIN, I THINK BOTH OF US JUST INTEND TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU ALL ABOUT WHERE WE WANT TO GO. I WILL SHARE THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IS THE COUNTY'S ROLE IN WATER. THE PREVIOUS BOARD, MY INTERPRETATION, THEIR OPINION WAS WE HAVE NO ROLE IN WATER. WE'VE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, DON'T WANT TO BE INVOLVED. I'VE SENSED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS A REAL CHANGE IN OPINION ABOUT, YEAH. WATER DOES OBVIOUSLY AFFECT US. WE MAY NOT HAVE A DIRECT ROLE, BUT WE'RE VERY MUCH AFFECTED BY THE WATER ISSUES AND AT THE SAME TIME HEARD FROM OUR MUNICIPAL PARTNERS THAT THEY BELIEVE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A DIRECT ROLE, THERE'S PROBABLY A CONVENING FACILITATING ROLE FOR THE COUNTY TO PLAY IN THIS LARGER CONVERSATION. AGAIN, MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THIS BOARD AND THE PREVIOUS BOARD, STARTING TO SENSE SOME AGREEMENT WHAT PROBABLY WAS AN APPROPRIATE ROLE FOR THE COUNTY AND SOME INTEREST IN PURSUING THAT. SO THAT KIND OF SETS US UP FOR THE DISCUSSION TODAY TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. SECONDLY, VERY QUICKLY, I WOULD ADD APPRECIATION TO SUPERVISOR CHECK FOR JOINING A NUMBER OF STAFF IN A GROWING WATER SMART CONFERENCE WE HAD IN JANUARY. AND I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT WE HEARD FROM OUR MUNICIPAL PARTNERS THERE. THEY ALSO SAID, YES, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE ROLE FOR THE COUNTY TO FACILITATE, TO LEAD THE CONVERSATIONS. AGAIN, NOT MAKE CHARGE, DRIVE IT, BUT TO FACILITATE US, BRING US TOGETHER IN THIS COUNTY TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE WANT TO GO. SUPERVISOR CHECK, ANYTHING ADD TO THAT? THANK YOU. YEAH. SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. WHEN I WAS MAYOR OF JEROME, I WAS APPOINTED TO SERVE ON THE THEN WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE WAC, AS AN APPOINTEE FROM THE JEROME TOWN COUNCIL. AND SO FOR TWO YEARS I SERVED ON THAT. AND IN 2014, IT WAS DISBANDED. SO THERE'S THIS HISTORY OF STRUCTURE WITH YAVAPAI COUNTY FACILITATING A CONVERSATION AROUND WATER. AND I BELIEVE THAT THE REASON WHY IT WAS DISBANDED IN 2014 WAS THAT THERE WAS REALLY NO PRODUCTIVE OUTCOME, THAT THE CONVERSATION GOT MIRED AROUND A. IT'S BEEN SUCH A LONG DAY, I CAN'T EVEN THINK OF THE RIGHT WORDS. WELL, PERSONALITY CONFLICTS IS ONE THING, BUT IT WAS MORE LIKE MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND DISAGREEMENTS AROUND THE INTERPRETATION OF THE DATA THAT'S AVAILABLE. AND INSTEAD OF SEEING THE BIG PICTURE AND WORKING PAST THAT TO FIND AREAS OF AGREEMENT, THEY REALLY JUST GOT MIRED IN THOSE INITIAL DISAGREEMENTS AND TRULY DIDN'T HAVE THE IMPETUS FROM THE STATE, WATER DEPARTMENT, THE GOVERNOR, OR ANY OTHER ENTITY TO REALLY ENCOURAGE THEM THROUGH THOSE DIFFICULT PARTS OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS. SO WHAT I SEE HAS REALLY CHANGED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS ARE THOSE THINGS. YOU HAVE, THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES HAS RECENTLY ANALYZED 14 BASINS. [00:05:05] I MEAN, IT'S MY OPINION THAT THEY SOMEWHAT ABDICATED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN DECADES PAST. AND THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, ENABLED AND FACILITATED ESSENTIALLY, AGAIN, MY OPINION ONLY. BUT RECENTLY AT THE GROWING WATER SMART CONFERENCE, ADWR MADE A PRESENTATION ABOUT OUR WATER RESOURCES, AND THERE WAS SOME DISAGREEMENT THERE. AND SO IT REALLY FLAGGED FOR ME THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF OUR WATER RESOURCES, AN ABILITY TO FACILITATE PROJECTS, DATA COLLECTION, YOU KNOW, STORY MAPPING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A COGENT CONVERSATION AND A SEAT AT THE TABLE WITH THE STATE AS WE DISCUSS GROUNDWATER RESOURCES. AND NOT TO MENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MORE THAN JUST THE DISCUSSION OF GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT, WHICH THE COUNTY DOESN'T DIRECTLY, YOU KNOW, HAVE PURVIEW OVER. BUT WE DO HAVE TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX THAT CAN AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF GROUNDWATER RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP FACILITATE SMART PROJECTS. AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN ENGAGED ON THIS TOPIC IN REGARD TO HELPING SEE THAT THE UPPER VERDE RIVER CONTINUES TO FLOW ARE OPEN SPACE AGREEMENTS. WE'RE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW. THOSE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ARE GOING, YOU KNOW, FORWARD IN A PRODUCTIVE MANNER. I'D LIKE TO SEE US BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE SAME CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STATE LAND TRUST DEPARTMENT, WHICH I DID MENTION TO GOVERNOR HOBBS WHEN SHE CAME TO VISIT US. SO THAT'S KIND OF THE OVERARCHING IDEA THAT I HAVE AND WHY I WANTED TO HAVE THIS STUDY SESSION. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. AND IF I COULD JUST ADD REAL QUICKLY TO THAT, THE PIECE ABOUT DATA I THINK IS JUST SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. DEPENDING ON WHO YOU TALK TO IN THIS COUNTY, THERE IS NO WATER ISSUE AT ALL OR WE'RE IN CRISIS. WELL, BOTH OBVIOUSLY CAN'T BE TRUE. AND YOU KNOW, WHERE IS THE TRUTH? THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, TO HAVE THE GOOD DATA AND BE ABLE TO AGREE ON THE DATA SO WE CAN THEN MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT GOING FORWARD. I THINK IT'S TRUE, WE ARE NOT IN CRISIS AND WE ARE IN MASSIVE CRISIS DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE. GOOD POINT. SO THAT'S WHERE IT COLLIDES. AND YOU KNOW, I THINK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, I WAS HERE AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT WATER. IT'S A STATE ISSUE. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY THINGS WE CAN DO THAT AFFECT WATER, USE OF WATER. AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE I'VE SAID, I THINK EDUCATION, I THINK THE CITY OF PRESCOTT DID A GREAT JOB. THEY STILL HAVE PEOPLE OVER THERE THAT WATCH THIS WHOLE PROGRAM GET ROLLED OUT. WE COULD SUCK OFF THEIR EDUCATION AND GIVE US IDEAS ON WHAT TO DO. WE CAN SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE HAVE ALL THE GOLF COURSES WE NEED IN YAVAPAI COUNTY. WE'RE NOT GOING TO PERMIT ANY MORE. WE CAN DO THAT KIND OF THING. AND HOW MUCH WATER WOULD THAT SAVE? WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE ZONING STUDY. I GOTTA SAY, BROOKS IS SAYING THERE'S THINGS WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE WAITING ON THE ZONING STUDY, I THINK HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. I'D LIKE TO MOVE US MORE TOWARDS PADS BECAUSE WE CAN DO THAT. AND TODAY. ONE OF THE THINGS I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS SUBDIVISION. NOW IT'S JUST GOING TO WILDCAT. AND NOW YOU CAN HAVE TWICE AS MUCH DENSITY IN THERE AS YOU DID BEFORE. BUT CAN WE MOVE PEOPLE TO WHERE THERE IS NO MORE WILDCATTING? YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF PAD IF YOU'RE OVER THREE ACRES OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT TO YOUR HOUSE. AND WHEN WE REQUIRE SEWER ON THESE PADS, AND NOT ONLY SEWER, BUT RECHARGE WITH THOSE SEWER TREATMENT PLANTS? IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO WITH THAT WITH OUR ZONING? IT'LL MAKE IT VERY EXPENSIVE, BUT IT IS TIME WE GOT SERIOUS ABOUT WATER. AND I THINK SOMEBODY EVEN BROUGHT UP MY SUBDIVISION IN THE DISCUSSION TODAY. I AM EXPECTING TO GO HOME AND TURN ON THE FAUCET ANYTIME AND NOT HAVE ANYTHING COME OUT. IT'S GETTING THAT SERIOUS. SO ARE WE SET UP FOR AN EMERGENCY SITUATION LIKE THAT? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO IF LEVI'S WATER COMPANY GOES DOWN? CAN WE CALL THE NATIONAL GUARD? ARE THEY GOING TO START BRINGING IN WATER TRUCKS TO FILL THE TANKS UP, TO MAKE PEOPLE HAVE WATER? AND ALSO WORKING WITH THE STATE WITH THIS CORPORATION COMMISSION TO ALLOW PRIVATE WATER COMPANIES THE ABILITY TO HELP WITH CONSERVATION, WHICH I THINK IS NUMBER ONE. SO IN MY HOUSE I USE BETWEEN 2500 AND 4000 GALLONS A MONTH. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE ON THE SYSTEM USING 40 TO 60,000 GALLONS A MONTH FOR THEIR HOME. WHEN I AM TOLD THAT THE CORPORATION COMMISSION, HE CAN GET REIMBURSED FOR HAULING THE WATER. WHAT HE HAS TO DO NOW BECAUSE THE WELLS AREN'T KEEPING UP. BUT THE COST FOR HAULING HAS TO BE SPREAD EQUALLY THROUGHOUT ALL THE USERS ON THAT WATER SYSTEM. [00:10:06] SO THE GUY SPENDING 40,000 GALLONS A MONTH IS GOING TO PAY THE SAME TO HAUL WATER AS I'M WITH 4000. SO NOW I'M ESSENTIALLY SUBSIDIZING THIS ABUSE OF WATER USAGE. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DO OUR ZONING STUDY, CAN WE REQUIRE 80% EXISTING VEGETATION HAS TO STAY ON THE PROPERTY? OR DO WE ALLOW JUST PEOPLE TO PLANT TREES? AND AND WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS THROUGH PLANNING AND ZONING. YEAH, WE PUT IN LOW USE PLANTS. BUT WHAT IF WE USE NATIVE THINGS THAT ALREADY KNOW HOW TO LIVE ON WHAT FALLS FROM THE SKY. I DRIVE DOWN BLACKFORD HILL ROAD AND I'M NOT PICKING ON PRESCOTT VALLEY, BUT IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE. YOU DRIVE DOWN THAT ROAD, THERE ARE PROBABLY 10,000 TREES AND BUSHES THAT HAVE BEEN PLANTED THAT NOW REQUIRE IRRIGATION. PRESCOTT VALLEY WAS A PRAIRIE. THAT'S WHAT IT WAS. IT HAD GRASS ABOUT A FOOT AND A HALF TALL. NOW YOU CAN SEE THE OUTLINES OF THE CITY BY THE GIANT TREES. I THINK THERE IS WATER, BUT WE'RE USING WAY TOO MUCH. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT GRANITE OAKS WATER COMPANY AND IN JANUARY THEY'RE USING 2 MILLION GALLONS, AND IN JULY THEY'RE USING EIGHT AND A HALF. I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING AND WHY WE'RE REALLY SUCKING THINGS DRY. WE HEAR FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS, STOP THE GROWTH BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE WATER. I THINK THAT SHIP SAILED 20 YEARS AGO. YOU KNOW, IF WE DIDN'T PERMIT ONE MORE HOME RIGHT NOW, WE ARE STILL WATER MINING AND IT'S GOING DOWN BECAUSE OF OUR HABITS AND OUR USAGE. DID I TALK TOO MUCH? YES. OKAY. EXCUSE ME. WELL, SO. I MEAN, YOU TALKED A LITTLE MUCH, BUT ALL OF YOUR POINTS WERE EXTREMELY PERTINENT. I CONCUR. AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE POINT OF THIS COMMITTEE WOULD BE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A FACILITATED DISCUSSION INTER GOVERNMENTALLY, WITH EACH MUNICIPALITY REPRESENTED ALONGSIDE UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TO SORT OF LOOK AT THINGS. I WANT TO POINT OUT WHAT'S IN YOUR PACKET. THERE'S A COUPLE OF SLIDES AND THERE'S ONE THAT SAYS CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE. YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE FACETS THAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO SOME MATERIALS THAT'S LIKE AN EXCEL TABLE. THIS IS THE PACKET THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDED TO THE GROWING WATER SMART GRAND COMMITTEE. SO THIS IS KIND OF YOU CAN JUST SEE THIS AS A HISTORICAL DOCUMENT OF WHAT WE OUTLINED THAT WE WOULD EXPLORE. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A ONE PAGER PUT TOGETHER BY KIM [INAUDIBLE]. AS AN IDEA CONCEPT, I THINK IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SOME NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIPS POTENTIALLY THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, HAPPY TO SEE THIS FACILITATED. AND THEN FINALLY, A GRANT THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER, THE GROWING WATER SMART TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. AND I'LL JUST GET DOWN TO THE MEAT AND POTATOES, SINCE IT'S BEEN SUCH A LONG DAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A GRANT THAT'S AVAILABLE TO BE APPLIED FOR UP TO $25,000, AND WE COULDN'T TAKE THAT MONEY AND PUT IT TOWARDS A DIRECT INTERNAL POSITION. BUT WE COULD USE A FACILITATOR UNDER THIS GRANT. SO THAT'S THE G WATER SMART TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT. DO YOU KNOW WHEN THIS IS DUE? JULY 18TH. WHY I'VE BEEN POUNDING ON MURRAY'S DOOR TO GET THIS STUDY SESSION ON THE BOOKS, BECAUSE IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY. ALL OF THE MUNICIPALITIES ARE AWARE OF THIS GRANT AND ARE PREPARED TO MAKE THEIR OWN APPLICATIONS. I THINK THE COUNTY'S APPLICATION WOULD BE VERY COMPETITIVE BECAUSE IT TAKES THAT MORE REGIONAL, NEUTRAL, PRODUCTIVE APPROACH. SO THAT'S KIND OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDANCE THAT I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE AT THE END OF THIS SESSION. AND SUPERVISOR, IF I MAY ADD TO THAT, JUST TO EMPHASIZE THAT POINT, I BELIEVE WE'VE GOT MUNICIPALITIES WAITING FOR US TO TAKE THIS ACTION. FOR INSTANCE, CHINO VALLEY, THEY WERE GOING TO SUBMIT, BUT THEY WANTED TO HOLD TO SEE IF THERE WAS INTEREST IN US DOING IT, AND THEY BELIEVED IT WAS MORE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO DO THAN THEM. SO AGAIN, THERE´S STRONG INTEREST FOR US TO DO THIS. WELL, I MEAN, I TALKED ABOUT THIS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THE ENTIRE TIME, ABOUT THE COUNTY TAKING THE LEAD AND MOVING FORWARD AND BEING THE FACILITATOR. THAT IS OUR JOB. THAT'S WHY WE'RE CALLED SUPERVISORS, IS TO BRING, EVEN IF WE'RE NOT DIRECTLY IN CHARGE OF IT, BUT TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND TO FACILITATE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO I'M IN CONCURRENCE. I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A YEAR. I MEAN, AND YOU KNOW, $25,000, WE ALL KNOW DOESN'T GO VERY FAR. AND SO THERE'S OTHER CONSIDERATIONS AS FAR AS YOU KNOW. CAN WE ASK FOR BUY-IN FROM MUNICIPALITIES? ARE THERE, YOU KNOW LARGER GOALS? P OTENTIALLY IS THERE A WAY TO PUT SOME BURDEN ON OUR INTERNAL STAFF EVENTUALLY OR JUST THINK ABOUT, [00:15:05] YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD BE A START TO A LONG TERM PROCESS. IT'S NOT A BAKED CAKE NECESSARILY. THERE'S STILL A LOT TO CONSIDER IF WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT BROADLY. WELL, LOOKING AT HER, WE SHOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND GO DO THE APPLICATION, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I'M SENSING SUPPORT FOR. YEAH I MEAN I, I WAS LOOKING FOR DIRECTION. WHY NOT? OKAY. SO I JUST, THIS IS GOING BACK TO SUPERVISOR KUKNYO, WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT ALL THE TREES IN PRESCOTT VALLEY. SO I LIVE IN GRANVILLE. MY HOAS HAVE GONE UP FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS BY 10% EVERY YEAR. AND WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH, AND IT'S NOT JUST T HE HOA WHERE I LIVE, BUT IT'S THE WHOLE TOWN BECAUSE IT COSTS SO MUCH MONEY TO MAINTAIN ALL THAT LANDSCAPE. AND THAT COMES BACK ON THE TAXPAYER. SO WE'RE NOT ONLY, I THINK IF WE COULD MESSAGE OUT WHEN WE'RE DOING DEVELOPMENTS, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE DEVELOPMENTS, I LOOK AT THOSE TREES AND I'M LIKE, OH MY GOSH. I HAD THREE TREES. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PLENTY. I GOT 30 JUST IN ONE LITTLE SPOT. SO I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS YOU HAVE TO GIVE THE MESSAGE. THE MESSAGE WOULD BE, NUMBER ONE, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT WATER AND CONSERVING OUR RESOURCES. THE OTHER THING IS WE HAVE TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW HOW IT CAN HELP THEM IN THEIR TAXES, BECAUSE A CITY OR TOWN ISN'T HAVING TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THIS MANAGEMENT. IT TAKES YOUR STAFF TO GO OUT THERE AND TRIM IT AND WHATEVER. THERE'S PLENTY OF SHRUBS AND THINGS THAT CAN MAINTAIN THEIR OWN SELF. AND I THINK THAT IS ANOTHER LEVEL OF CONVERSATION TO SHARE WITH THE REGULAR TAXPAYER TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY YOU COULD BE SAVING, INSTEAD OF 30, YOU GOT THREE TREES AND IT STILL LOOKS FANTASTIC, RIGHT? SO THAT'S HOW I'M SEEING IT BECAUSE I'M PAYING THE TAX. I CAN JUST SPEAK TO A COUPLE OF OTHER, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL OUTCOMES FOR A COMMITTEE LIKE THIS. ESPECIALLY, I THINK THE TIMING IS REALLY WONDERFUL FOR A GROUP LIKE THIS TO COME TOGETHER, BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE BEGINNING OF OUR ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATE THAT HAVE SOME MEANINGFUL OUTCOMES CAN BE REACHED IN THE NEAR TERM. THEY COULD BE INCLUDED IN OUR ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S AGREED UPON OPEN SPACE PRIORITIES, NOT THAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO GO BY THE OPEN SPACE NECESSARILY, BUT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED OPEN SPACE PRIORITIES THAT CAN IMPROVE OUR WATER RESOURCES THAT COULD BE INCORPORATED INTO OUR ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATE. AND AS YOU ALL HAVE MENTIONED, LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE BIG PICTURE CONVERSATIONS WE COULD HAVE NOW COULD BE REALLY MEANINGFUL WITH THIS UPDATE. AND THEN I SEE, YOU KNOW, OUR BIGGEST FOCUS KIND OF IN THE BIG CHINO, LITTLE CHINO AQUIFERS. AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT PRESCOTT VALLEY, VERDE VALLEY HAVE DISTINCTLY NOT ALWAYS AGREED ON THINGS, BUT I REALLY FEEL AT THIS POINT IN TIME THAT THERE'S AN AMOUNT THAT IS AGREED UPON, THAT WE DO HAVE A COMMON GOAL, ESSENTIALLY, AND CAN PURSUE REALLY PRODUCTIVE WORK TOGETHER. KEEPING IN MIND THAT THE COUNTY WILL DEFINITELY HAVE TO TAKE SOME ISSUES AND SAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE PROGRESS ON AN ISSUE, LET'S SET THAT ONE ASIDE. SO I JUST WANT TO BE MINDFUL BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT ENDED THE LAST TIME. SO WE'LL DO OUR BEST NOT TO LAND IN THE SAME PLACE THERE. SO I DON'T WANT TO CUT OFF CONVERSATION, BUT SINCE WE'VE GOT SOME DIRECTION HERE, THE ONLY THING THAT I'D LIKE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTACT CONVERSATION ON. IT'S ON THE LAST SLIDE WHERE WE REFERENCE THE PARTICIPANT. SO WHO ALL DO WE SEE AS PARTICIPANTS? OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THE MUNICIPALITIES WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES, I WOULD ADD [INAUDIBLE]. BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT THEY'RE NOW DOING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT DUPLICATING, WHICH HAS BEEN ANOTHER ONE OF MY CONCERNS. I MEAN, I RECALL PREVIOUS BOARD TALKING ABOUT, WE CAN'T KEEP STRAIGHT WHO'S DOING WHAT. THERE'S SO MANY GROUPS, ISN'T THERE DUPLICATION THERE. [00:20:01] SO I SEE THAT AS ONE OF OUR GOALS AS WELL, TO TRY TO BRING ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS TOGETHER, SO WE HAVE ONE COLLECTIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT WATER. SO AGAIN, [INAUDIBLE] ARE THERE THOUGHTS ON OTHERS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT ENGAGED IN THAT CONVERSATION? I WANT TO NOTE THAT PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS A WAC AND A TAC, SO A WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND A TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE BRING BOTH THOSE FACETS INTO ONE ROOM TO BEGIN WITH. THAT WOULD HELP WHEN IT COMES TO STUDIES, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE YOU GET ALL THE DIFFERING OPINIONS. IF WE DON'T HAVE THEM IN THE SAME ROOM, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK, SO YES. YEAH. AND I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE LETTING [INAUDIBLE] TAKE THE LEAD ON [INAUDIBLE] BOUNDARY, YOU KNOW, DRAFTING THE [INAUDIBLE] BOUNDARY PROPOSAL FOR OPEN SPACE. YOU KNOW THEY'RE DEFINITELY ALREADY DOWN THAT ROAD. AND I DON'T WANT TO DUPLICATE THAT AT ALL. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF YAVAPAI COUNTY THAT DOESN'T FALL WITHIN THEIR BOUNDARIES. BUT THAT LEAVES OUT THE VERDE VALLEY, RIGHT? EXACTLY. YEAH. IS NAMWUA A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION? THE NORTHERN ARIZONA MUNICIPAL WATER? I WAS PART OF THAT. THERE'S A LOT OF THE SAME PLAYERS ARE GOING TO BE IN THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE MAYORS ARE THERE. BUT THEY ALSO HAVE A LOT OF CONTACT DOWN AT THE STATE. AND THEY REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO WATER ISSUES THAT ADVOCATE ON WATER. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY MIGHT BE SOMEBODY YOU MIGHT WANT TO INCLUDE. WELL, I WENT TO THEIR RECENT WATER USERS CONFERENCE, THE WOLFE CONFERENCE, I THINK I WAS IN LATE MAY. YOU DID THE ONE IN FLAGSTAFF? AND SO, YES, THERE ARE A LOT OF THE SAME PLAYERS IN THE SAME ROOM AND THIS, YOU KNOW, BUT BECAUSE IT'S NORTHERN ARIZONA THAT INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER NORTHERN ARIZONA, SO DEFINITELY OVERLAP. BUT THIS WOULD BRING A DISTINCT FOCUS. YEAH. GOTCHA. YEAH. ANYTHING ELSE WE WANT TO DISCUSS? IF NOT. JUST STICK WITH, I THINK HER IDEA WITH THE WAC AND THE TAC IS A GOOD IDEA, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO. BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY FIELDED INTEREST FROM OUTSIDE GROUPS THAT ARE VERY INVOLVED WITH WATER ALREADY. AND IF THINGS AREN'T MOVING THEIR WAY, I THINK THAT'S WHY THINGS FALL APART. BECAUSE PEOPLE START FIGHTING OVER. I'M NOT THIS WAY. YOU'RE THAT WAY. BUT IF YOU HAVE THE TAC, YOU HAVE YOUR PROFESSIONALS FROM YOUR DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES AND THE COUNTY. AND MAYBE SIMPLE, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD WORKING GROUP. I MEAN, THERE'S SO MUCH DATA OUT THERE TO MINE, BUT COULD IT GET BETTER? I THINK IT COULD GET A LOT BETTER. AND I'M NOT FOR METERING WELLS, BUT IF THERE WAS CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD VOLUNTEER OVER DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE AQUIFERS AND THE COUNTIES, WE'D HAVE REAL TIME DATA TO THAT DAY, AND YOU COULD DROP A LINE DOWN AND WATCH IF THE WATER TABLE IS COMING UP, IF IT'S GOING DOWN, WHAT MONTHS IS IT DOING THIS? HOW DOES RAIN REALLY AFFECT IT FOR RECHARGE? I MEAN, THERE COULD BE A LOT OF GOOD USES OUT OF THAT. BUT METERING EVERYBODY I'M AGAINST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT CAN'T HELP ITSELF. THEN IT'S GOING TO TAXES, THEN IT'S GOING TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH YOU COULD USE. BUT WE JUST CAN'T HELP OURSELVES. COULD YOU INCLUDE THE TRIBES? YAVAPAI-APACHE NATION? OH MY GOSH. IF YOU WANT INFORMATION ABOUT WATER IN THE VERDE VALLEY. I'VE GOT IT. OMG, I. YES. I MEAN, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES, THEY HAVE THE BACKING OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN MANY INSTANCES TO HELP THEM WITH ALL THAT DATA. AND THEY HAVE SUSAN MONTGOMERY. YES THEY DO. SHE´S TREMENDOUS. I THINK THE WORLD IS SUE, AND EVEN THE WATER ATTORNEY, STEVE WYNN IS VERY WELL REGARDED. BUT THOSE WATER ATTORNEYS HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT WE HOPEFULLY COULD TAP INTO FOR DATA. YEAH. SO, I MEAN, JUST A NOTE OF CLARIFICATION ON THE SEPARATE COMMITTEE FOR THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE POSSIBILITY INTO THE FUTURE, BUT JUST INITIAL STRUCTURE WISE, I'D LIKE TO SEE THOSE AUXILIARY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS COME FROM THE BROADER GROUP. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF THIS 25 GRAND IS NOT GOING TO GET US VERY MUCH, I REALLY SEE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORKSHOP WHAT THESE BROADER COMMUNITIES REALLY WANT TO GET OUT OF THIS COMMITTEE INITIALLY AND THEN MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE. YEAH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WELL SAID. I WAS HAVING A SIMILAR, I CAN SEE IN THE FUTURE MAYBE DEVELOPING OFF IN THE TAC, BUT TO START BRINGING EVERYBODY TOGETHER. YES. AND ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT THE TWO SIDES OF THE MOUNTAIN STAY SEPARATE ON THIS, OR WE GET TOGETHER ON THIS? THAT WAS A. SO I PARTICIPATED IN THE SEA WAG CANDIDATE FORUM, AND THAT WAS A PART OF THEIR QUESTIONNAIRE. AND I THINK INITIALLY I WOULD PREFER TO SEE EVERYBODY START IN A UNIFIED PLACE. AND AGAIN, IF THERE NEEDS TO BE FURTHER CLARIFICATION ABOUT WHAT A SUBREGION REALLY DESIRES OR WHAT THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS ARE, THEN THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A SUBGROUP. [00:25:01] BECAUSE I THINK LIKE THAT SOUTH WESTERN DECISION RESOURCES IS A GOOD FACILITATOR, AND THEY ALREADY HAVE CONTACTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HILL, AND WE REALLY ARE ALL DRINKING OFF THE SAME HOSE. AND I THINK ANY SOLUTION HAS TO INCLUDE BOTH SIDES. I WOULD IMAGINE THEY WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. I WOULD AS WELL. I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE. YEAH, AND THANK YOU BOTH. I AGREE, I WOULD AT LEAST LIKE US TO TAKE A SWING AT ONE UNIFIED CONVERSATION ON WATER COUNTYWIDE. YOU KNOW, LIKE I'VE SAID BEFORE, WHEN WE HAD THAT ONE MEETING DOWN BY THE RIVER AROUND A CAMPFIRE, IT WAS JUST REALLY OPEN AND HONEST CONVERSATION. I WISH THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FOLLOW UP TO THAT, WHICH THERE WASN'T. BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HEAR A MAYOR FROM THE VERDE SIDE SAY, YOU KNOW, WE JUST CAN'T KEEP BLAMING PRESCOTT. YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GOOD THING TO HEAR. LIKE WE ARE ALL GOING TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIX IT, BECAUSE IT'S GETTING CRITICAL. LIKE EVERYTHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR 20, 40 YEARS IS STARTING TO HAPPEN NOW. I MEAN, THE EARTH IS SHOWING US SIGNS ON WILLIAMSON VALLEY, ON COYOTE SPRINGS. IT'S GETTING SLIM. SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO IN CASE OF EMERGENCY? OKAY. AND I SEE LYNN WHITMAN OVER THERE. WE'VE INVITED HER TODAY, AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, WANT TO SAY THAT I HOPE THAT THIS COMMITTEE COULD REALLY HELP GIVE SOME BROADER DIRECTION TO, YOU KNOW, FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND A NUMBER OF OTHER, YOU KNOW, COUNTY ENTITIES ARE PROBABLY ENJOY HAVING MORE DIRECTION ON MEANINGFUL PROJECTS. AND SHE'S A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE, TOO. I MEAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN IN AND SAY ANYTHING ON THIS? BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY DOING A FEW THINGS WITH TRYING TO SLOW DOWN SHEET FLOW, AND THAT WOULD HELP WITH RECHARGE. WE JUST GOT TO WALK A FINE LINE WITH SRP. NOW, LYNN, I HAVE TO SAY, THIS IS YOUR GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO TAG ON AND BRING EVERYBODY OVER FOR THAT EVENT THAT YOU DO WITH THE KIDS AND THE SCHOOLS. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY. YES. IN OCTOBER, I THINK ON THE SECOND AND THE NINTH, WE'RE HAVING OUR PROJECT WET, WHERE WE TEACH FOURTH GRADERS ABOUT WATER CONSERVATION. AND SO EVERYBODY IS WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO VOLUNTEER. IT'S A REALLY FUN DAY AND IT'S ONLY IN THE MORNING. SO WE FEED YOU LUNCH AND WE SEND YOU ON YOUR WAY. AND YOU KNOW, I THINK ALL OF THIS IS REALLY GREAT. WE'VE ALREADY STARTED WITH SOME GROUND WATER PROJECTS JUST BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO WAIT ANYMORE. BUT YOU KNOW, THE MORE INPUT WE COULD GET, I THINK IS WONDERFUL. AND, I MEAN, I THINK YOU ALL KNOW THIS ISN'T REALLY A FLOOD CONTROL FUNCTION, BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY TIED THERE ALL TOGETHER. IT'S THE HEALTH OF THE RIVER. AND SO THE MORE WE CAN DO AND THE MORE PEOPLE WE CAN BRING TO THE TABLE, I THINK IT'S GREAT. AND I LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING BOTH COMMITTEES TOGETHER, BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S SILOED, IT'S TOO SILOED. SO AT LEAST TO START. SO I DID WANT TO ASK, SO WHAT EXACTLY WOULD THIS GRANT APPLICATION BE FOR? JUST TO PAY SOMEBODY TO FACILITATE THAT INITIAL MEETING? YES. GOT IT. WELL, MORE THAN JUST AN INITIAL MEETING. FEEDING THEM. SO WE'RE NOT FEEDING THEM. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? 1ST, 2026. SO WE'LL HAVE SOME TIME TO WORK WITH THEM. OKAY. YEAH. AND YEAH. AND THE GOAL WOULD BE TO HAVE A MORE DEFINED STRUCTURE WITH A FISCAL COMPONENT AND SOME BROADER AGREEMENTS AND IGAS KIND OF AT THE END OF IT, RIGHT? CORRECT, THE ONGOING SUSTAINABILITY. SO WHEN THE GRANT DOLLARS RUN OUT IN THE FACILITATORS GUN, HOW DO WE KEEP THIS GOING, WHAT STRUCTURE LOOK LIKE, ETC.. ABSOLUTELY. WE DID IT. OKAY. THERE WE GO. IS THAT IT? I THINK WE'VE GOT THE DIRECTION WE NEED. IS THIS THE MOVE TO ADJOURN? YES. SO MOVED. NO, SORRY. I MEAN, IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS MORE TO SAY. WE JUST NEED TO TURN DISCUSSION INTO IMPLEMENTATION BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING TOO MUCH. AND DON'T THINK WE'LL NEED TO GET A WHOLE PLAN ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO DIRECT IT. JUST LIKE WITH THIS ZONING STUDY, IF WE GET LITTLE THINGS AND THEY MAKE SENSE, LET'S JUST GET THEM GOING AND JUST ADD ON TO THAT. OKAY. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, DO I MAKE A MOTION THEN TO ADJOURN? I MOVE TO ADJOURN. OKAY THEN, AND WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. AND ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. DID YOU GET THAT, CLERK OF THE BOARD? IT WAS AYE, AYE, AYE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR EVERYTHING. [00:30:04] LOOK HOW MUCH MORE EFFICIENT IT IS WHEN WE EAT. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.