Yavapai County Development Services Awarded for Public Outreach
Published on September 19, 2023
Yavapai County Development Services Department Awarded for Public Outreach
Every ten years the Yavapai County Development Services Department is tasked with the monumental responsibility of producing a new Comprehensive Plan that is created primarily utilizing feedback from the community. Nearly two years before the deadline, leadership at Yavapai County Development Services began formulating a plan to make it widely known that the community’s input was critical to their mission’s success. Their impressive efforts paid off and were publicly rewarded on September 7, 2023, when they received the Honorable Mention for their efforts in Public Outreach for the Yavapai County Comprehensive Plan, by the Arizona chapter of the American Planning Association. (See photo below)
The comprehensive plan, also known as a general plan, master plan or land use plan, is a document designed to guide the future actions of a city, town, or county. The comprehensive plan also presents a vision for the future with long-range goals and objectives for all activities that affect local government. The Comprehensive Plan is required by Arizona State Statute 11-805, which was enacted in 1998 to ensure that jurisdictions across the state meet requirements of the Growing Smarter legislation.
Jeremy Dye, the Yavapai County Development Services Director, recently sat down with the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Chairman James Gregory, to discuss his overall goal in reaching as many people as possible within the county and informing them about the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Dye said, “We knew that we had to get the word out that this process was beginning and that we wanted the public input at every step of the way for this to be considered successful. We recognized early on just how much teamwork and commitment would be needed to reach each and every unincorporated community within Yavapai County.”
Chairman Gregory asked, “What strategies were deployed to communicate public input was needed in this process?” Jeremy’s response was that they recognized the widespread locations and populations of our unincorporated areas within Yavapai County and developed several outreach strategies. “To inform as many of our residents as possible, we advertised in newspapers, on the radio, through press releases, website postings, and town hall meetings. We also conducted monthly public committee meetings that the public could attend and comment at.” The entire interview can be seen here https://youtu.be/8HSUsWlBJp8
The Development Services Department created a Citizen Advisory Committee who was responsible from creating the plan update with the assistance of County staff. The committee consisted of 2 members of the Board of Supervisors, 2 members of the planning and zoning Commission, one member from each of the 5 supervisory districts, a member from NACOG, and a member of Tribal Lands. Development Services also brought on two organizations with expertise in the area to assist them in this endeavor. This new committee and the two organizations, Upfront Planning and Entitlements led by Jessica Sarkissian and her staff, and Froke Urban Planning led by Jon Froke, provided the expertise and resources that Yavapai County needed to spread the message, and publicize the details of this study.
Left to right- Tim Olson – Planner II, Stephanie Johnson – Planner I, Mark Lusson – Assistant Director Yavapai County Development Services, Jeremy Dye - Director Yavapai County Development Services, Jessica Sarkissian - UpFront Planning and Entitlements, Amber Knapp, UpFront Planning and Entitlements, Dan Folke (Award Presenter)