Major Accomplishments 1995 to Present

• F³ acts as a watchdog and advocate for city and county policies which are consistent with publicly supported plans such as the Flagstaff 2020 Visioning document, the Open Spaces and Greenways Plan, and the Greater Flagstaff Regional Land Use and Transportation Plan. Two processes currently underway that we will closely watch are amendments to the Land Development Code and the adoption of Form-Based Codes.
• In order to create a strong pool of informed citizens who will become more involved in the Flagstaff community, we have created a workshop on the nuts and bolts of running for office and applying for boards and commissions. It is well documented that a community is strongest when it enjoys the active participation of informed citizens, including direct involvement in local government.
• Co-sponsored the Flagstaff 2020 Visioning Process. Over 18 months, citizens came together to envision what they wanted for our community. This process involved hundreds of community presentations, open houses, and forums. This vision has been used over the years to guide important community decisions. Cosponsors of this process were: Northern Arizona University, Coconino Community College, Flagstaff Unified School District, Grand Canyon Trust, Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, Northern Arizona Building Association, City of Flagstaff, and Coconino County.
• Successfully advocated for retail size limits in Coconino County and also advocated for the amending of plans for a Wal-Mart Supercenter at the Flagstaff Mall. The county’s “big box” ordinance calls for a Conditional Use Permit threshold of 25,000 square feet with an overall cap of 70,000 square feet. We worked with the Flagstaff Activist Network to advocate for the ordinance.
• Successfully advocated for Design Review Guidelines approved by the Flagstaff City Council. These guidelines ensure that development addresses all aspects of transportation—including pedestrian and bike access, that building materials and site considerations don’t detract from the development’s natural and built surroundings, that development links to existing uses and addresses walkability, and that parking lots are scaled to the land use and placed behind buildings.
• Campaigned successfully to pass the Flagstaff Area Regional Land Use and Transportation Plan. This plan was developed by a citizen task force and included more than two years of public input before the final version was put before the voters. Campaign partners: Grand Canyon Trust and Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce. Passed with 66% voter support.
• Campaigned successfully to pass the Coconino Parks and Open Space Program. This program will raise $33 million dollars to create parks and protect open space in Coconino County through a 1/8-cent sales tax approved by voters. Campaign partners: The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Land and Grand Canyon Trust. This measured passed with 62% voter support.
• Successfully advocated for the creation of a Flagstaff open spaces commission. This commission will plan for open space protection within the city and advise the City Council on open space issues.
• Created, organized, and co-hosted a successful six-part forum series—attended by hundreds of citizens—on water resources and current and future water needs. This series was presented by Friends of Flagstaff’s Future and the Center for Sustainable Environments in partnership with The Arboretum at Flagstaff, City of Flagstaff Water Conservation Committee, Coconino County Board of Supervisors, Flagstaff Chapter Arizona Hydrological Society, League of Women Voters of Greater Flagstaff, Flagstaff Permaculture, and the Museum of Northern Arizona.
• Passed $13 million in bonds to protect approximately 1,000 acres of land inside Flagstaff city limits. This land includes State Trust Land on Observatory Mesa as well as land throughout Flagstaff’s neighborhoods—including land on which the city intends to build sections of the Flagstaff Urban Trail System. The Citizens for Open Space campaign was led by Friends of Flagstaff’s Future with major support from Grand Canyon Trust. Other partner organizations were: Northern Arizona Audubon, Habitat Harmony, Flagstaff Biking Organization, Sierra Club – Plateau Group, Scalawags, Arizona League of Conservation Voters, and League of Women Voters of Greater Flagstaff.
• And more! Updates coming soon!
• See what we have been up to this year in our 2010-11 Annual Report.