As my second term as Mayor concludes, it is a good time to reflect my years of public service to the Citizens of Prescott. I am pleased with the accomplishments during my two terms as Mayor, one term as a City Council Member and one term on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
One of the themes of my service has been increased public transparency. In the early stages of my first term as Mayor, I asked Council to instate the Open Call to the Public at Council meetings. Recently, the Finance Office established the OpenGov platform, allowing citizens to monitor City expenditures in real time.
As Mayor I created the Ad Hoc Water Policy Monitoring and Implementation Committee to establish a comprehensive city water utilization and allocation policy used to balance the pace of growth with City services.
I established a Charter Review Committee, which recommended 13 City Charter amendments, of which, 12 of 13 were approved by a vote of the citizens.
During my mayoral term, the Mayor’s Ad Hoc Veterans Commission conducted eight outreach programs serving over 400 veterans in local HOAs. The City signed an intergovernmental agreement with Yavapai County and Prescott Valley to purchase open space. This was a key step to the formation of the Glassford Dells Regional Park.
In 2024 Council asked the public to approve Prop 478, to help catch up on long delayed fire station construction and police facilities. The voters approved this resoundingly, and less than a year later, we have two fire station locations designated, along with a Police evidence facility and sub-station.
I also supported the improved public safety service with body cameras and a new incident command vehicle, for our police, a new ladder fire truck, and a performance-based EMS contract with Lifeline Ambulance service. I also supported signal light timing along Willow Creek Road and other major streets to improve traffic flow.
Prescott Regional Airport has been a focus during my public service. I supported the initial Essential Air Service contracts with SkyWest Airlines servicing Denver and Los Angeles, and construction of the state of the art terminal in 2019. We have made great strides raising funds for a primary runway shift, along with lengthening and strengthening to allow for more effective firefighting aircraft, and to meet the evolving needs of commercial air service.
I supported the avigation easements in Deepwell Ranch residential communities to protect the airport from noise nuisance lawsuits and improving disclosure requirements to new home buyers. The Airport Vicinity Overlay district was implemented to protect the airport from residential encroachment while encouraging development of a surrounding aviation related and high tech commercial and industrial area.
In summary, I’m proud of the accomplishments the City achieved during my years of public service. It has been an honor to serve the Citizens of Prescott. Congratulations to Mayor Cathey Rusing and all the newly elected Council members. I wish them much success as they continue to serve our great City.
