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Weekly Update - September 21, 2024

from Miranda Fisher, Camp Verde Town Manager

Post Date:09/21/2024 7:50 PM

Header 9.21.2024 

WE NEED YOUR INPUT!

Northern Arizona Council of Governments is conducting a Community Needs Assessment to better understand the needs in our communities. Your feedback will help shape future Head Start, Community Services, and Aging programs.

Join us at one of the local Community Forums happening across the region—dates, times, and locations are available in the attached list.

Share your thoughts! Click the link below to complete the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RJYRF57

Your voice matters! Let’s work together to strengthen our community!


PARKS & RECREATION  

By The Numbers: Public Showers

We’re introducing a new feature to our updates: By The Numbers, where we’ll share unique stats about the services we offer. Did you know we provide free public showers? We have four showers, including one accessible option, available in the CXT Restroom near Community Center Field. Here’s a breakdown of usage:

  • July: 68 showers
  • August: 56 showers
  • September (so far): 18 showers

To use a shower, visit Parks and Recreation during business hours to sign out a key.

Trunk or Treat – Bigger and Better!

This year’s Trunk or Treat on Main Street is shaping up to be the best one yet! We've added a Family Movie Night on Community Center Field featuring "Hotel Transylvania" at 7:30 pm, plus food trucks to make it an entire evening of family fun. The movie night is a collaboration between Parks and Recreation and Camp Verde Community Library and is FREE to attend.

We’re currently looking for businesses, groups, and individuals to hand out candy during the event. Interested? Contact us at parks@campverde.az.gov. We also need volunteer judges to help select the best-decorated "trunk" for our Trunk Decorating Contest. Winners will receive the coveted Ghosts, Ghouls, and Goblins Trophy!

Adult Co-Ed Softball Championship

Our Adult Co-Ed Softball League concluded on Wednesday, September 18th with Booze Crew taking home the championship title!

Grasshopper Registration – Last Week!

There’s only one more week to register for the 1st-4th Grade Grasshopper Program. After September 25th, a $5 late fee will be added. You can register online at this link. Special thanks to our officials, Frank Gia and Heather Mauck, who have been part of the program for nearly 30 years, teaching kids the fundamentals of basketball!

Verde Lakes Strategic Plan

We’re excited to share the draft Verde Lakes Strategic Development Plan—a collaboration between the Town of Camp Verde and Verde Lakes Recreation Corporation to transform the park into an even better space for everyone!

We want to hear from YOU! Whether you’re excited about new park amenities, improvements to the ponds, or have ideas on how we can better serve our community, your feedback matters.

Check out the plan & share your thoughts: https://www.campverde.az.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/13908

Please send any comments, concerns, and/or questions to parks@campverde.az.gov by October 25th.

Fort Verde Days Parade – Sign Up Now!

The 68th Annual Fort Verde Days Parade is approaching! This year's theme is "Celebrating Our Pioneer Spirit", and we’re aiming for over 60 entries this year. The entry fee is $10, and you can register online here.

Little Britches/Little Petticoats Contest

As part of Fort Verde Days, the Little Britches/Little Petticoats Contest will take place on Saturday, October 5th at Fort Verde State Historic Park. Interested in participating? Register by October 2nd at this link. A big thank you to Camp Verde Tractor Supply, our Hometown Hero Sponsor, for providing prizes!

Fort Verde Days Preparations in Full Swing

Planning for Fort Verde Days is ramping up! We currently have 86 vendors registered, all located outside, with the Quilt Show taking place inside the Community Center Gym. Join Kiwanis of Camp Verde for a pancake breakfast on Saturday before the parade in the Community Center Kitchen—$4 donation recommended for pancakes, sausage, and a drink. Want to volunteer? Sign up here.

More details about Fort Verde Days and other upcoming events can be found at Visit Camp Verde.

Upcoming Parks and Recreation Commission Meetings

  • October Regular Session has been cancelled.
  • A Special Session will be held on Wednesday, October 23rd at 5:00 pm, featuring a presentation and training by Darla Deville from APS.
  • The next Regular Session is scheduled for November 4, 2024 at 5:30 pm.

LIBRARY

Innovative Program Award – Mobile Marker Space

We’re thrilled to announce that Camp Verde Community Library has been honored with the Arizona Library Association's Innovative Program Award for our Mobile Maker Space! This initiative, spearheaded by our dedicated library director Kathy Hellman, aims to provide high-quality STEAM education to everyone in the Verde Valley.

Join the Fun: Dia de los Muertos Coloring Contest!

Our Children's Library is excited to kick off the Dia de los Muertos Coloring Contest for youth in grades 1-8! This contest celebrates the vibrant cultural event and offers a chance to showcase your creativity. For details and supplies, please see Ms. Letty in the children's library. The contest will culminate in an art showcase, with awards for the top three entries in each grade level!

Enhance Your Financial Literacy

Check out our Financial Literacy Workshops at CVCL! Classes held this week were focused on Financial Balance and Taxes in Retirement. More classes will be available in October, so be sure to register early through the Yavapai Event Services Calendar.

Community Support Services

Our Community Support Services continue to serve Camp Verde residents each month.  

  • Catholic Charities Outreach Assistance: First and third Tuesday, 8:45-9:45 AM, Terracotta Room.  
  • Verde Valley Homeless Coalition Outreach: Every Tuesday, 12:00-4:00 PM, Terracotta Room.  
  • Hope Women's Center Outreach: Every Tuesday, 1:00-4:00 PM, Key Lime Room.  
  • Spectrum Mobile Health Services: Every Wednesday, 9:00-11:00 AM, library parking lot.

Community Health Surveys Available at the Library!  

Yavapai County Community Health Surveys for Camp Verde residents are now available at the Camp Verde Library. We encourage you to visit the library and fill one out to help shape the health resources our community needs.

The Community Health Center of Yavapai is gathering feedback from residents to better understand healthcare needs in Camp Verde. Your input will help identify gaps in services and guide improvements in medical care and accessibility.

If you prefer to complete the survey online, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6WR6GPQ. The survey is available through Wednesday, September 25th.

Together, we can build a healthier community!

Professional Development for Youth Services Team

Our Youth Services team attended a Professional Development workshop on Friday, September 20th, with CVES and Laurie Altringer from the Science Vortex. We’re committed to continuous learning to better serve our community!

Thank you for being a part of the Camp Verde Community Library family! We look forward to seeing you soon!


UTILITIES

STORMWATER

Green Room Success & Lab Equipment

The Stormwater Division has officially completed its move to the Green Room at the Wastewater Treatment Plant! We're excited to announce that an open house is being scheduled for early October. Special thanks to Dave Helmericks and Jared Graves from Maintenance for their outstanding work in making this vision a reality.

We're thrilled to now have a fully equipped lab at this site for the Citizen Scientist Program, run by ADEQ, in collaboration with Friends of the Verde River and hosted by the Town of Camp Verde's Stormwater Division. Representatives from ADEQ’s Parker, Phoenix, and Flagstaff offices recently delivered lab equipment that will be stored at the Stormwater Building, enabling quarterly testing and educational activities. The Friends of the Verde River will lead the volunteer Water Watchers program at the new lab, helping to monitor the Verde River’s health and address emerging issues through water quality testing.

On Thursday, September 19th, the first water samples were tested and incubated, with results read on Friday—marking a significant milestone in this collaboration.

  

   

Arizona Water Infrastructure Financial Authority Grant Applications

Administrative Support Manager Dorie Blair and Utilities Director Jeff Low completed two AZ WIFA Water Supply Development Grant applications.
  • The replacement of Well No. 1 and Arsenic Treatment at the Mongini Water Production Site.
  • Design and Construction of Two 500,000 gallon storage tanks in the Verde Commercial Area.

Each grant is for $2,000,000 with zero matching requirements.  For projects that exceed the $2,000,000 cap, the remaining funds are available with a 1.7% Interest rate loan.  This item will be presented to Town Council on the October 2nd Council Meeting.

3rd Street Flooding Investigation

Utilities Director Jeff Low and Stormwater Specialist Patty Mancini investigated a citizen-reported drainage complaint on 3rd Street and Maryvale Drive. Although we have not reached a conclusion yet, the investigation is ongoing.

ASU Project Cities Collaboration:

On Monday, September 9th Stormwater Specialist Patty Mancini, Library manager Nicole Metz-Andrews, and Utilities Director Jeff Low visited ASU to speak at the Project Cities class. Patty presented on stormwater ordinances and green infrastructure standards, seeking ASU’s assistance in creating and implementing standards to position Camp Verde as a leader in green infrastructure.  The group will also focus on recommending water conservation projects for the Town.

Project Wet Training

This week Stormwater Specialist Patty Mancini also attended Project Wet training in preparation for the Prescott and Verde Valley Water Festivals in October. These festivals are designed to teach 4th graders key concepts like water sustainability, the water cycle, water conservation, and watershed functionality, all presented in a fun, engaging way.

Upcoming ASU Student Visit

On Friday, September 27th, Town staff will be hosting ASU students from Project Cities for a tour of Camp Verde. The visit will include stops at the Library, Hauser Farm to discuss water issues, lunch and a hike at Clear Creek, a tour of the new Stormwater Building, and a visit to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Project Cities team will assist us with creating and implementing Stormwater, Water Conservation and Green Infrastructure Ordinances.

WATER 

New Vac Trailer

On Monday, September 16th the Water Division received our new utilities Vac Trailer.  On Tuesday, September 17th the water operators got the opportunity to utilize the new Vac Trailer by uncover a leak in record time at the intersection of Nichols and Fain Streets.  There were 4 leaks repaired during the week.


ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT  

Thriving Communities Program

This week, we completed the necessary interviews and listening sessions to inform our work plan as part of the DOT's Thriving Communities Program. With a clear understanding of our current assets and needs, we will be able to leverage and maximize the planning, technical assistance, and capacity building support from through the Thriving Communities Program. The work plan will identify how we can best utilize federal grants, support, and resources for the betterment of our community as we move to complete our strategic goals.  

Business Resource & Innovation Center (BRIC)

The Economic Development team is scheduling class at the BRIC for this fall.  The Small Business Development Center (SBDC), with Yavapai College will be holding classes in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) to show what types of assistance is available through both organizations.  The SBDC will also be presenting various loan options available for the business community.  David Reardon with Reardon & Associates will be offering a class on how to get financially organized.  Dates are to be determined soon.  If you are interested in receiving notices on these classes and more, please sign up for our newsletter on www.visitcampverde.com/newsletter/

BRIC 1BRIC 2


COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Planning

The Planning Team attended the American Planning Association Arizona Chapter Conference this past week. The event featured informative sessions on urban design, land use, and development trends, along with great networking opportunities. Team members had the chance to engage with experts from across the state and share insights on how to better serve our community. These takeaways will help shape future planning efforts in Camp Verde.

Building

A permit was issued for the demolition of the Super Wash located at 32 W. Finnie Flat Rd, right behind the empty parcel that used to be the old Circle K. 


MARSHAL’S OFFICE

Congratulations to Deputy Nevarez

Deputy Nevarez and his wife Cortni recently welcomed a new addition to their family—a baby boy! Warmest congratulations to the Nevarez family on their new arrival.

Coffee with a Cop

This month’s “Coffee with a Cop” event, held at Udderly Divine, was led by Lieutenant Reay. Special guest K9 Deputy Zeid, along with his K9 partner Gunner, shared insights with the community.

Honoring 9/11 with the Community

The Camp Verde Marshal’s Office took part in the annual September 11th commemoration hosted by the American Legion. The Marshal presented alongside other community leaders to honor the day, with Deputy Santangelo participating in both the flag ceremony and rifle volley.

 


CLERK’S DEPARTMENT

Records Request

  • On September 16th, the Clerk’s office received one public records request regarding 1. copies of all publications in local newspaper(s) regarding 2024-1139 to grant Use Permit 20240139. Certification from newspaper to the type of advertising ran and the date of publications. 2. a listing of all residents who were notified of the proposed project, the dates they were notified, and copies of the letters sent to the residents. 3. a copy of the property posting for the public hearing as well as the required photo of the posting. 4. a copy of the application and any and all communications with the applicants or their representatives. Also please include all internal email, written communications, memos, etc. relating to this topic. 5. copies of the agendas for any meeting of the Town Council and the Planning & Zoning Commission relating to this topic as well as the approved minutes of each meeting and any and all documents on this topic from each meeting. The Clerk’s office and Community Development are currently working on fulfilling this record request.
  • On September 17th, the Clerk’s office received one public records request regarding the transcription recording of the Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Session of September 12, 2024.The request was completed on September 17th.

Special Event Liquor Licenses

The Town Clerk Department received two Special Event Liquor Licenses:

  • Fort Verde Days Rodeo – October 11th from 3:00-11:00 p.m. and October 12th from 4:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
  • Turquoise Circuit Finals Rodeo – November 1st from 3:00-10:00 p.m. and November 2nd from 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

Record Retention

The Town Clerk Department received 12 boxes from Finance for storage.


PUBLIC WORKS

This past week, Public Works Director Ken Krebbs partnered with the Clear Creek Cleanup Crew to address abandoned camps and trash along Clear Creek off Catclaw Drive. Maintenance Division Manager Jeff Kobel assisted by bringing a Town trailer to haul away debris, while Councilmember McPhail and Alex Cabrera  from the Wastewater team also joined the cleanup efforts. The combined work made a significant impact on keeping our waterways clean and safe for the community. A big thank you to all involved for their dedication!

MAINTENANCE & GROUNDS 

In our green building, we installed a dual-head mini-split system, successfully running conduit and electrical connections, thanks to Connolly Electric. After conducting a pressure test, we also weed-trimmed the area and moved furniture for Stormwater Specialist Patty Mancini.

Our efforts on the Capital Asset inventory and APS rebate applications continue to progress. Additionally, we have completed the winter cleaning and testing of all town HVAC units to ensure they are functioning optimally.

At Butler Park, we removed excess materials from the top dressing project and addressed a floor drain issue at the Dog Pound. The team has also been busy maintaining the Sports Complex, including weed spraying along the path and mowing the area. Preparations and striping for the baseball fields are ongoing.

On Friday, September 20th, we will meet with a third pool company for a walk-through to discuss necessary upgrades for the pool's mechanical room, slide, and deck. The delivery of nine acid barrels has been adjusted to go to the acid room for better organization.

We also contributed to community efforts by dropping off the dump trailer and town truck on East Catclaw for a clean-up organized by Shane Law.

Currently, the dump truck (CVT-313) is in the mechanic shop for a crankshaft sensor replacement, costing $560. The jarred truck (CVT-411) is also in for repairs due to oil loss, with updates to come. Additionally, Steve Diacik is working on fixing the joystick issue with the Kubota L39 front loader.

STREETS 

The team trimmed trees at the intersection of W Oak Ln and N Shady Ln to enhance visibility and safety. Additionally, we removed three dead or standing trees on N Verde River Dr, as identified by code enforcement and deemed unsafe.

In our ongoing efforts to maintain the Sports Complex, we cleaned the retention ponds along with the wastewater road, successfully removing approximately 200 tons of sediment, which was then hauled to the spoil pile at Wastewater.

We also cleaned two culverts: a 36" culvert at the Sports Complex and another at Walnut off Verde Lakes Dr, utilizing the Wastewater Vac Truck for efficient removal of debris.

Our maintenance team addressed graffiti issues by cleaning affected areas at Arena Del Loma and Black Bridge.

Lastly, please note that the CVT 321 Vermeer Wood Chipper has been red-tagged and will be transported to Phoenix for necessary repairs.

ENGINEERING

Town Engineer Bruce Connolly has had a busy week, focusing on several key projects and initiatives. He provided feedback on the High View Subdivision, working closely with the developer to ensure all requirements are met. Additionally, he approved grading and drainage plans for both the Conoco and Copper Canyon projects.

Bruce addressed various drainage issues, including those at Feldmeier Estates and Boyles Drainage. He conducted a site visit for Copper Canyon Ventures and participated in an ADEQ presentation to discuss the Town's stormwater responsibilities.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

Court Addition: Staff has received bids from both the local and State of Arizona JOC programs. A recommendation for award will be presented to the Council at the October 2nd meeting.

Wayfinding Signage: Staff is collaborating with the design consultant to resolve challenges related to signage within ADOT right-of-way.

Finnie Flats / MCH Roadway Improvements: Kimley-Horn is initiating the project design.

7th Street CDBG Sidewalk Project: Staff is finalizing paperwork with the contractor to commence construction, which is anticipated to begin next week.

NACOG TIP Funding: Staff met with NACOG on July 22nd to identify two potential projects suitable for TIP funding. Preliminary cost estimates will be prepared for each option, and NACOG will be informed of the chosen project.

Parson’s Riverfront Preserve Parking Lot: Staff is working to obtain a topographic survey of the area and is preparing a preliminary design for the project.

Community Center Park Rain Catchment: The Tree Advisory Committee has begun preparation work, and tank and piping installation is scheduled for September 23rd. The building permit has been approved.

Main Street Reconstruction Project: Staff is awaiting final plans from the design consultant.

Pool Shade Structure: Staff will consult with the design consultant for updated calculations reflecting appropriate wind loads. Clarification of code requirements is underway with Community Development, and staff is reaching out to shade sail manufacturers for product recommendations.

Sports Complex Developments

  • Watermain: The water main installation has been completed and successfully passed testing. The contractor is finalizing improvements and cleaning up the worksite, with project completion expected by September 19th.
  • Concession Stand: Staff is working with the vendor to finalize specifics for the concession stand and restrooms, and will submit a quote request for building pad preparation to the Town’s JOCs. Bidding for the concrete walkway will commence immediately after the concession stand is installed.
  • Electrical: A quote of $72K from Pur Solar has been obtained for the electrical service installation. There will be a re-evaluation of the electrical requirements for the alternative concession building, as it may not need the same capacity as the Joel Westervelt building, and this will ultimately require bidding.
  • Lift Station: Staff is in the process of ordering approved materials for the lift station and force main, with installation labor provided by Town forces. An area of excavation through the treatment plant will require hand-digging, which will be bid out through the Town’s JOC contractors.
  • Irrigation Pumps: The irrigation pumps for the complex have been ordered, and installation labor will also be provided by Town forces. Hand-digging will be required in an area through the treatment plant, with this work to be bid out.
  • Website: The Sports Complex website is now live, and maintenance has installed the construction sign at the Sports Complex. Visit the site here: https://www.campverde.az.gov/departments/public-works/camp-verde-sports-complex

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Wednesday, September 25th @ 5:30 PM: Town Council Meeting

Town staff will present their recommendations for prioritizing key Community Development updates. Here’s what staff suggest focusing on:

1. General Plan Update: Currently underway with regular Technical Advisory Group meetings.

2. Livestock Ordinance: Public hearing scheduled for October 3rd; recommendation to Council expected by year-end.

3. Comprehensive Zoning Code Update: Recommended over piecemeal changes to avoid code contradictions.

4. Rural Water Management Planning: Proposal to form a committee to assess water capacity and conservation.

The discussion continues on allowing retail marijuana in Camp Verde. The Council will review key considerations from the August 14th meeting, including potential revenue impacts, zoning regulations, and next steps.

Your voice matters, and we encourage you to attend and share your perspectives. For more details on these meetings, visit our Public Meetings Calendar.


CLICK HERE to Download a copy of the Manager's Weekly Report 9.21.2024

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