Yarnell Hill Memorial Site Board Committee Members Sue Black, Chairman Senator Steve Pierce John Flynn Dan Fraijo Glen Hopkinson Mayor Marlin Kuykendall Amanda Marsh Representative Karen Fann Jeff Whitney, State Forester Brendan McDonough Lenora Nelson Ben Palm Supervisor Rowle Simmons Chuck Tidey Darrell Willis MINUTES OF THE MEETING YARNELL HILL MEMORIAL SITE BOARD April 10, 2015 The Chairman called the meeting to order at 3:02 PM Friday, April 10, 2015 at the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors' Hearing Room, First Floor Yavapai County Administrative Services Building 1015 Fair Street, Prescott, Arizona. Board Members Present Chairman Sue Black; Representative Karen Fann; Senator Steve Pierce; Mayor Marlin Kuykendall; Darrell Willis; Ben Palm; Rowle Simmons; Amanda Marsh; Dan Fraijo; Jeff Whitney; Lenora Nelson; Chuck Tidey; John Flynn; Glen Hopkinson Board Members Absent Brendan McDonough A. INTRODUCTIONS OF BOARD MEMBERS All board members introduced themselves and the roll was taken. B. ACTION ITEMS 1. Approve the Minutes of the February 27, 2015 Meeting of the Yarnell Hill Memorial Site Board. Senator Pierce made a motion to approve the Minutes of the meeting of February 27, 2015. The motion carried unanimously. 2. Consider Approval pursuant to A.R.S. 41-519.01 (C)(2) the Recommendation of the Arizona State Parks Board to Purchase Land for the Yarnell Hill Memorial. Jay Ream, Deputy Director, Arizona State Parks presented this item with use of a PowerPoint slide. (Please see presentation located at http://azstateparks.com/committees/yarnell.html.) He stated this item was previously discussed in January at the meeting. In January the parcel brought forward from the State Land Department was 240 acres, but parcel will now be 320 acres. The process of the cultural survey can go ahead now. Mr. Ream
- 2 - stated the original 240 acre proposal did not include the hand line the crew had set up, only the bowl up over to the top and dropping down in. Mr. Simmons made the motion that the Yarnell Hill Memorial Site Board pursuant to A.R.S. 41-519.01(C) (2) recommends the Arizona State Parks Board purchase the 320-acre parcel of land for the purpose of establishing the Yarnell Hill Memorial. The motion was approved unanimously. Director Black introduced Mr. David Trimble, acting State Land Commissioner. Director Black said one of the things the new administration is trying to do is to have collaboration with other agencies. Mr. Trimble stated he is here to support the efforts any way they can. Senator Pierce asked for clarification of ownership of adjacent land. To the north and east of the parcel it is privately owned and to the south and west it is state land. Mr. Whitney asked what role Mr. Trimble thinks the State Land Department will have going forward. Mr. Trimble stated they would need to provide the right of way to access the site. Representative Fann asked Mr. Trimble to explain what the proceeds for the purchase of the land would be used for. Mr. Trimble stated the money would support K-12 education. Mr. Trimble stated there is a percentage spread out over 13 different beneficiaries for each section of state land such as Pioneers Home, Universities, legislative buildings, and state corrections to name a few. C. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. Discussion and Report of the Change of Language to A.R.S. 41-519. Director Black thanked Representative Fann and Senator Pierce for their work on getting this changed during this legislative cycle. 2. Discussion and Report of the Arizona State Parks Board Progress on Due Diligence Process for Purchase of the Yarnell Memorial Site. State Parks staff spoke to the due diligence work accomplished by the agency along with the State Land Department. The Parks Board did authorize the due diligence work and Parks employees have begun that process. State Parks is currently accepting proposals from engineering companies for a cultural survey (since March 18). Site identification was also completed on the land since the last meeting. On April 1 st State Parks received a much broader right of entry onto the land to begin exploring other entry points. One bid was received for the completion of an archaeology report but was found to be too expensive so they are awaiting another bid. The ALTA survey will no longer be needed on the boundaries of the land due to what s called a track book legal description that
- 3 - Land Department will explain if necessary. The environmental process will continue that determine if anything has been dumped on the property. State Parks Board will make another motion to appropriate monies for the auction that will be held on Tuesday, June 30th at 11:00 on courthouse steps in Prescott. The land appraisal has been completed by State Land Department and it came in at $950 per acre for a total cost of $304,000. There are some additional fees that will be incurred such as the appraisal, advertising fees and some administration costs that will have to come out of the fund. A check for about $47,000 will be needed from the treasury department to make the purchase with the balance due when the warrant can be cut out of the fund. 3. Discussion and Report of the Access Sub-Committee. Chief Palm hiked the area and access points prior to the meeting and used pictures in presentation (see information posted at http://azstateparks.com/committees/yarnell.html) to show the Board members his findings. Access from Highway 89 is all state land making it easier to get easements. The hike in from small pull off is consistent with the terrain and distance at Storm King. The hike in contains a 2-track road that gets very rocky and steep. Once at the top of the basin you can look down onto the deployment site. Total hike to the crest is approximately two miles and another one-quarter mile down to the bottom. In regards to rescues from the site in the event of an emergency, Chief Palm said Yarnell Fire District would respond as they are the closest. He has some concern of specialized rescue equipment that would be needed. Chief Palm advised the board of a possible plan for the 100 Club to purchase 160 acres at Shrine Road for the construction of a Wildland Academy PTSD Center. If this does happen it could be an alternate access point. Senator Pierce volunteered to contact Rex Maugham to ascertain his interest in easement discussions in the event that the 100 Club obtains ownership of the adjacent property. 4. Discussion and Report of the Memorial Design Sub-Committee. Mr. Hopkinson stated the design sub-committee met earlier in the day and feels that until the land and access points are secured there is really not much that they can do. The plan of the sub-committee plans is to come up with three design ideas to submit to the committee for their approval. Mr. Simmons verified that there was family member representation on this subcommittee.
- 4 - Representative Fann stated that everyone involved State Parks, Land Department, Access Sub-Committee has gotten so much done in the last 45 days, and she would like to see the momentum kept going. Representative Fann would also like the Design Sub-Committee to proceed as if the access point will be off the Highway 89 entrance, as discussed, and establish some type of time frame to get the design portion of the project moving. The board briefly discussed the possibility of having a public design competition. Once the sub-committee decides on some specifics, the competition will be put out to the public with firm dates for idea entries. At that point, the sub-committee will bring the best ideas to the committee for final discussion and decisions. Mr. Ream of State Parks stated there are actually two funds, both called the Yarnell Hill Memorial Fund. The reason they are bifurcated is one fund that appropriates the $500,000 was made in an Environmental Budget Reconciliation Bill (BRB) using different language than the bill that created A.R.S. 41-519 that established this committee, the memorial fund and the right to purchase the land for establishment of a memorial. The language in the BRB is specific that the $500,000 can only be used for the purchase of property. The change in language did not affect 41-519; however, the donations fund can go to design, construction and purchase of a memorial. There will have to be a change made in the next legislative session for the designated General Fund money to be used towards anything other than land purchase. Mr. Simmons moved that the Design Sub-Committee have a proposal ready for the next meeting that will outline the design competition process, parameters and a timeline for a competition. Motion carried unanimously. 5. Discussion and Report of the Fundraising Sub-Committee. Mr. Flynn stated the Fundraising Sub-Committee held a meeting via conference call. Ms. Marsh, Ms. Warneke, and Mr. Flynn have decided it would be easier to raise funds when they have a goal of costs and an actual design for the memorial in place. When there is a plan in place they will also be able to get in-kind donations from local businesses, as well as construction materials. Ms. Marsh stated she as well as other board and family members were able to raise $1,175 at the Arizona Wild Fire and Incident Management Academy in March by selling t-shirts donated by the Groom Creek Fire Department for deposit into the Yarnell Hill Memorial Fund. Representative Fann thought that maybe some aspects of the memorial design could be funded by different fire departments and organizations from around the world. Maybe fire departments across the country, as well as other countries, would want to do their own fundraising in support of a memorial. A donor plaque may be a possible way to recognize contributions.
- 5 - Board members discussed the possibility of including local businesses in advertising the web site for the memorial and the possibility of creating locked donation boxes for use in fundraising. Ms. Black stated that State Parks could help to facilitate that, but would like to work with the sub-committee and local communities to for those types of partnerships. 6. Discussion and Report of the Maintenance and Preservation Sub-Committee. Mr. Simmons stated they have not yet met and there is nothing to report until access points are secured. D. CALL TO THE PUBLIC Those wishing to address the Committee must state their name for the record and be recognized by the Chair. Presentation time may be limited to three minutes at the discretion of the Chair; the Chair may limit a presentation to one person per organization. Deborah Pfingston stated that she loves the concept of the 320 acres purchase and thanks everyone for their work on the progress so far. She asked the question if June 30 th was chosen specifically or was that happenstance? Ms. Black stated that the date was chosen because of the anniversary date. Ms. Pfingston loves the idea of coming in from the top as there s a viewpoint from the top and access can be gained by hiking in on the two-track and believes it might help limit the amount of people accessing the deployment site itself. She agrees that a second access through the Shrine Road property would be great for those that are unable to hike the terrain as well as providing emergency access. Ms. Pfingston does not like the inclusion of the town of Yarnell s memorial with this Board s memorial. She is thrilled that the town wants to memorialize the crews and the fire itself but this memorial is more specific to those that were lost. In her opinion she would love to see a memorial on 89 at the trailhead and along the switchbacks. She thinks it s a great way to educate people on what Hot Shots do. Further, she loves opening it up to a competition for along the trailheads and trail but not for the deployment site itself. She would like to see that stay as every other wildland incident site raw, natural, with the white crosses remaining. Ms. Pfingston stated that for fundraising efforts suppliers that make the fire equipment should be contacted as she really believes they would be happy to help out in some way. G. TIME AND PLACE OF NEXT MEETING AND CALL FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 1. Board members will determine the date, location and time of the next Yarnell Hill Memorial Site Board Meeting.
- 6 - Board members determined Friday, May 29 th at 3:00 PM would be the next meeting date. 2. Board members may wish to discuss issues of interest to the Yarnell Hill Memorial Site Board and request staff to place specific items on future Board meeting agendas. H. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 4:19 PM. ****