SEDONA FIRE DISTRICT
2860 SOUTHWEST DRIVE ● SEDONA, ARIZONA 86336 ● TEL: (928) 282-6800 ● FAX: (928) 282-6857
RESOLUTION #2005-11
NEPA PROCESS
A FORMAL RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE SEDONA FIRE DISTRICT ADDRESSING THE NEED TO CONSIDER INITIATING A NEPA PROCESS FOR PURPOSES OF DETERMINING AN APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE TO CONNECT WEST SEDONA TO STATE ROUTE 179; AUTHORIZING THE FIRE CHIEF AND STAFF TO INVESTIGATE AND RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD APPROPRIATE ACTION NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT A NEPA PROCESS, AND TO DETERMINE THE COST ASSOCIATED THEREWITH.
WHEREAS, on December 15, 2004, the Sedona City Council, adopted a motion to encourage Yavapai and Coconino Counties to join with the City to initiate necessary action to begin a NEPA process to evaluate Red Rock Crossing and other feasible alternative routes; and
WHEREAS, the Governing Board of the Sedona Fire District has voiced its support for investigation of an alternate route connecting West Sedona to State Route 179; and
WHEREAS, the Governing Board of the Sedona Fire District believes that an alternate route to connect West Sedona to State Route 179, if feasible, would allow emergency services to be provided in a faster and safer method; and
WHEREAS, the Governing Board of the Sedona Fire District believes that in order to determine what alternate route to connect West Sedona to State Route 179 might best serve the Fire District’s needs in providing fast and efficient emergency services, a comprehensive study may be needed; and
WHEREAS, the NEPA process, if implemented, will require certain steps to be taken, including designing a proposal; establishing feasibility; justifying purpose and need; distributing the proposal to interested parties for comments, concerns, issues, and opportunities; evaluating public input to determine significant issues and developing alternatives to address any significant issues; evaluating alternatives and identifying of consequences associated therewith; and publishing an analysis of the same in an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Governing Board of the Sedona Fire District, that the Fire Chief and staff for the Sedona Fire District are hereby directed to consider possible recommendations concerning the steps necessary to initiate or participate in a NEPA process, the appropriate level of involvement for the District in the NEPA process, and the potential cost to the Sedona Fire District if involved.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Fire Chief and staff are hereby directed to present to the Governing Board of the Sedona Fire District an outline of the necessary steps to be used in conjunction with the initiation, participation, and completion of the appropriate NEPA process, including but not limited to the direction to be pursued to establish the purpose and need, the scope of the process, and the resources and personnel necessary to accomplish the same; to determine the extent that other jurisdictions may participate in the NEPA process, including the sharing of information, manpower, and costs; and to determine a time-frame both for initiating a NEPA process and the completion of the same.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Fire Chief and staff of the Sedona Fire District are hereby directed to communicate with the National Forest Service, the County, representatives of the City of Sedona, and other concerned participants, to determine the necessary and likely extent of participation by other parties interested in the NEPA process and costs associated therewith.
RESOLVED and ADOPTED this ______ day of _____________________, 2005.
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Caryn Maxwell, Board Chairman
ATTEST:
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Thomas O. Wells, Board Clerk