Prescott council delays charter amendment vote, directs staff to refine language and parcel list for ballot

The Prescott Mayor and Council on Feb. 4, 2025 voted 6-1 to postpone final action on a proposed charter amendment that would protect city-owned open space in perpetuity, directing the city attorney to revise the draft language and include a comprehensive list of parcels for placement on the Aug. 5, 2025 election ballot.

City Attorney Joe Young opened the council discussion by describing two versions of the proposed amendment: the petitioners' broad version and a staff-recommended, parcel-specific draft. "The only uses that would be allowed are utilities, nature preserves, utility installation services, flagpoles, gazebos, visitor centers, bathroom facilities, trailheads and city sanctioned trails and ancillary uses, along with some road uses, but not thoroughfares or primary roads," Young said, summarizing the staff-recommended permitted uses.

The staff draft narrows the amendment's reach by listing specific "protected properties" rather than applying the rule automatically to all land zoned natural open space (NOS) or shown on the general plan map. Young told council the protected list totals about 2,208 acres; together with about 1,034 acres already protected at Acker Park, Willow Lake and Watson Lake, the proposal would cover roughly 3,242 acres.

Petitioners Rod Moyer and Bonnie McMinn told the council they had worked with city attorneys to narrow uses and to add language they said would address staff concerns. "We did come up with that language limiting the uses of open space to what we thought the council and staff could live with," Moyer said, adding that he and McMinn supported keeping as many parcels as possible on the protected list.

Representatives of Prescott Creeks urged council to preserve existing management tools at Watson Woods Riparian Preserve, where the nonprofit holds a long-term lease and is pursuing a conservation easement. Michael Byrd, speaking for Prescott Creeks, said the lease relationship has supported restoration and mitigation work: "To date, we've brought in about $5,500,000. That wouldn't have been possible without that lease agreement with the city." Prescott Creeks asked the council to include mitigation-banking and similar tools among allowed uses and to permit leases when needed to manage open space.

Public comment was largely in favor of placing a protection measure before voters. Speakers from local conservation groups, trail advocates and longtime residents urged a simple, voter-facing measure or the staff hybrid that lists parcels explicitly. Several speakers raised practical concerns about drafting a charter amendment so broadly that it would unexpectedly limit routine or preexisting recreational amenities, from playgrounds to outfitter concessions. Council members also debated whether to define "recreation" in the charter or to treat permitted uses narrowly and let zoning and ordinances address specifics.

Council members discussed timing and clarity for voters. Councilwoman Freeworth and others said they wanted the charter language to make clear that preexisting uses and necessary public-safety access are permitted; Mayor Pro Tem Ken Talmy and Councilwoman Ferworth emphasized getting a clear parcel list and ballot text that ordinary voters can understand.

After discussion the council adopted a motion to postpone the item to its Feb. 25, 2025 voting session and directed the city attorney to incorporate the hybrid language displayed at the meeting, add the additional properties discussed, and return with a clean draft for a formal vote. The clerk said language must be adopted by the March 25 deadline to qualify for the August ballot.

The council's action preserves the option of sending a charter amendment to the voters this year while giving staff and petitioners more time to reconcile parcel lists, permitted uses and management exceptions such as existing leases and ongoing conservation projects. The council set the next formal vote for Feb. 25, 2025.