SignalsAZ.com Prescott News Podcast - Weekly Update with Mayor Goode of Prescott | Apr 14

Episode Date: April 15, 2025

Send us a text and chime in!Hello, I’m Mayor Phil Goode with your weekly update.Prescott Fire Department AccreditationPrescott Police Department Recognized by LexipolCity Council Meeting RelocationRelocation of Utility Billing and Community Development OfficesSolid Waste Scales and Fee Booth RelocationPrescott Public Library 50th AnniversaryFree Residential Brush Drop OffWatering Restrictions BeginEarth Day Celebration and Wildfire ExpoSpecial Workforce Housing Committee MeetingApplication for Councilmember Seathttps://www.signalsaz.com/articles/weekly-update-with-mayor-goode-of-prescott-apr-14/Check out the CAST11.com Website at: https://CAST11.com Follow the CAST11 Podcast Network on Facebook at: https://Facebook.com/CAST11AZFollow Cast11 Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/cast11_podcast_network

Hello, I'm Mayor Phil Good with your weekly update, and I have quite a bit of news to share with you today. The City of Prescott Fire Department has been officially awarded accredited status by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, also called CFAI. This is a prestigious distinction that recognizes fire service agencies that meet the highest standards in performance planning and accountability. This is the second time the Prescott Fire Department has earned accreditation. A rigorous five-year designation reflecting the department's continued commitment to continuous improvement, external validation, and transparency in service to the Prescott Community. A standout element of this year's process was the standards of cover and community risk assessment jointly developed with Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority, locally known as CAFMA. This collaboration marks the first time in the nation that two separate agencies developed. developed these core planning documents together, a historic achievement that demonstrates regional

innovation and cooperation in public safety. Prescott Fire Chief Holger Dura noted his gratitude to CAFPA for being a vital partner in ensuring high-quality emergency services for our region. As part of the evaluation process, a CFAI peer assessment team conducted a thorough site visit last December, engaging with staff, reviewing operations, and verifying the department's self-assessment against national performance benchmarks. This external review confirmed Prescott Fire Department's high standards in areas including emergency response, strategic planning, training, and community risk reduction. Chief Dura explained that this recognition is not about the award itself. The value is far less about formal and public recognition, but rather about submitting to the rigorous

external validation, verification, and transparency so that our fire department can achieve long-term outcomes benefiting the community. The accreditation process assesses not only the fire department, but also the essential support from other city partners, including the underground water supply, financial accountability, and governance. Prescott City Manager Dallan Kimball expressed the city's pride in the fire department's efforts and the contributions of other city departments that helped achieve this honor. He noted that this was truly a city-wide effort. The department's accreditation is valid for five years, and I want to express my congratulations to the Prescott Fire Department, which has taken its place amongst an elite

group of accredited agencies across the world. It's unwavering dedication to excellence, accountability, in the safety of the community it serves is truly exceptional. Continuing in the good news, the Prescott Police Department has been recognized for excellence in policy management and training for 2024 by Lexapol, the nation's leading provider of policy training and wellness support for public safety agencies. This marks the fourth time the Prescott Police Department has earned this prestigious recognition. The award is part of the Lexapole Connect program, which

tracks law enforcement agency's performance on five key metrics that indicates success in policy management. Prescott Police Department achieved gold-level the highest honor by demonstrating consistent and effective dissemination of policy to personnel, implementing timely updates and response to changes in law, and maintaining a strong focus on officer training related to departmental policy. Being recognized by Lexapole Connect highlights the department's dedication to aligning with state and federal laws while also incorporating nationally recognized best practices. The Prescott Police Department's excellence in policy management and training ensures a unified and effective response to the needs of the public. The recognition of the

Prescott Police Department is well deserved, and I want to again extend my congratulations to all our first responders. It's been a long time coming, but I'm very pleased to announce that City Council meetings will begin taking place on the first floor of the City Hall at 202 North Montezuma Street. The April 8th City Council meeting was the last to be held on the third floor of the City Hall at 201 North Montezuma Street. Beginning Tuesday, May 13th, all council and board, committee, and commission meetings typically held in council chambers will be relocated to the new updated chambers on the first floor. There are no regularly scheduled council meetings, until May 13th. Some board committee commission meetings will take place in alternate locations

temporarily during this relocation effort. Please see the city website for further information. The utility building and community development offices are also relocating to the first floor of the new city hall on Friday, May 9th. During this move, the utility building and community development offices will be closed. Building inspections will be performed, but must be scheduled through Prescott permits.com. Please note that utility billing will no longer have a drive-through at the new location. A payment drop box is available in the parking lot for customers' payments. Regular operating hours will resume Monday, May 12th at the new location, 201 North Montezuma Street, and we encourage customers to use the city's online payment portal to view and pay their bills. With these changes,

there will no longer be public access or city business conducted at the old City Hall on 201 South Cortez Street after Thursday, May 8th. I'm happy to report that the relocation of the solid waste scales in fee booth is now complete and open for customer use at the city transfer station. These improvements were done to improve the flow of traffic through the transfer station to make waste disposal easier for our community. As we have mentioned in recent updates, the Prescott Public Library is celebrating 50 years on Goodwin Street.

They are offering a library passport book to commemorate your library adventures in which you can collect stamps from April 6th through May 30th by completing selected tasks within the passport. Some of the ways you can earn stamps include checking out material, visiting our History of Prescott Public Library display in the viewery during May, downloading an e-book or online audiobook from Libby, attending a program or concert, checking out the library. checking out seeds from the Seed Library or signing up for the summer reading program between May 22nd through the 30th and attending our big 50th anniversary celebration Fest in the West, May 30th from 5 to 8 p.m. Also on May 30th from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., visit the library to redeem your passport stamps for raffle tickets. Every two stamps collected will earn one raffle ticket to the drawing of your choice. Drawings include prizes for a range of ages and will take place Saturday, May 31st.

Don't forget the free City of Prescott Residential Brush drop-off is currently underway for residential trash customers. This event runs through the month of April every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the City of Prescott Transfer Station located at 2,800 Sun Dog Ranch Road. Please see the city website for more information. In adherence to the Prescott City Code, watering restrictions will start this week on April 15th. Please water after 8 p.m. and finish before 8 a.m. This helps conserve water and also ensures that your plants can absorb the moisture before evaporation begins. This Saturday, April 19th, is the 2025 Earth Day celebration and Wildfire Expo in downtown Prescott. You're invited to join the party from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

learn more about wildfires, community action, local initiatives, and much more. There will be a special workforce housing committee meeting this Thursday at 3 p.m. in the legal conference room on the third floor at City Hall. And finally, applications are being accepted to fill council member Kathy Rusing's seat through November of 2027. The application filing deadline is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. Applicants must be a registered voter in the city of Prescott for at least three years prior to appointment. Council will review applications during their executive session on Tuesday, May 13th, at which time they'll select the candidates to be interviewed at a special meeting on Tuesday, May 20th, 2025. The City Council expects to select the appointee and swear them in at the

conclusion of the Tuesday, May 20th meeting, so they may begin serving as a member of the council at the Tuesday, May 27th council meeting. Interested citizens can find the application on the city website or by contacting the city clerk's office. I'm Mayor Phil Good, and I'll update you again next week. Thanks for watching.