The Cave Creek Town Council will discuss a trio of water issues at its upcoming council meeting on Tuesday night.
The Council will take back up its consideration of adopting a Lifeline Water Assistance Program policy.
The Council discussed this proposal at the Sept. 1 meeting and asked staff to revise the proposal to be in alignment with the current water usage limits that are in place.
The proposed allowable usage is 100 gallons per capita per day, based on household size, up to a maximum of 15,000 gallons per month. This would apply to both Cave Creek and Desert Hills water customers. Staff is also proposing allowing the Town Manager to approve an exception in unusual circumstances relating to water limit thresholds.
The council will also discuss participating in the Secure Water Arizona Program.
The program is a voluntary water-sharing initiative started by the cities of Phoenix and Tucson designed to help Arizona communities manage potential cutbacks from the Colorado River.
The program includes an emergency reserve intended to provide short-term relief, an offset reduction mechanism to coordinate longer-term supplies, and a marketplace to connect willing buyers and sellers of water.
SWAP will help the Town address some of its short-term water needs and also provide a marketplace for the town to possibly purchase additional water resources to augment current water supplies.
The third water issue the council will take up is to declare the town to be in Stage 1 of the Water Shortage and Drought Management Plan.
The plan, developed in 2022, helps address both short and long-term challenges in water supply deliveries to all water customers, and to maintain the health, safety, and economic wellbeing of the community.
Response Stage 1 is the “Water Watch” stage. At this stage, Town customers are expected to be able to receive most or all of the water they would take in a normal year. Under Response Stage 1, there are no mandatory restrictions, but the plan requires increased water conservation education and outreach. The goal is for customers to voluntarily conserve 3% to 5% of their normal water use.
The council will also revisit the traffic change plans on Cave Creek Road at both Rancho Mañana and Spur Cross Roads.
On Sept. 1, the council approved a plan to put a traffic calming lane at Rancho Mañana and a full stop at Spur Cross Road.
Following that meeting, there were questions regarding the specifics of what was approved. Given the questions raised, it was decided that staff should confirm the direction of Council prior to issuance of a design contract for the work.
Staff is bringing back the recommendation to do calming lanes in both locations, or to do the lane calming at Rancho Mañana and nothing at Spur Cross instead of the all-way stop.
The council will also act of a number of zoning changes to land around Cave Creek from Desert Rural to Open Space Conservation.
The land use designation of 30 acres will be modified from Desert Rural (residential) to Open Space. In total, approximately 41% of Cave Creek’s total land area has a land use designation of Open Space. Should the rezonings be approved, the zoning of 434 acres will be modified from Desert Rural-89 or Desert Rural-190 to Open Space Conservation.
One other council item action will include the awarding of a contract to improve a native-surface trail within an existing non-motorized trail easement.
The council will also hear presentations from Mr. Tim Strow, the Major Projects Manager for the Maricopa Association of Government on the Northeast Valley Transportation Plan, and a presentation from town finance director Cherie White on how upcoming propositions on the ballot will impact Cave Creek taxes.
Meet Jeff Jeff Wendt started at Independent Newsmedia in January 2023, after 25 years working for Gannett and The Arizona Republic. Started as a high school sports scoretaker, worked up to reporting high school sports and then became an associate high school sports editor in 2002. Also worked in the Design Studio as a copy editor.
Community: Jeff serves on the Board of Elders at his local church.
Education: Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication
Random fact: Attended Game 2 of the 2001 World Series.
Hobbies: Playing video games (yes still the kid in me), watching reality TV, playing poker.
Cave Creek,
Town Council,
water,
Secure Water Arizona Program,
Lifeline Water Assistance Program,
Water Shortage and Drought Management Plan,
open space,
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here