Jerry Miles
The current Town Council should be credited with doing a good job in pursuing a forward looking environmental policy.  Ginny Dickey, especially, has been a leader in this area.  She should be commended.  I look forward to working with her in this area.

When I was mayor we took a major step in protecting our environment by establishing strict land disturbance rules which are still in effect.  Any new formal policy will necessarily follow these precedents.

Many residents have suggested that we should take steps to reduce the number of trash and rubbish companies doing business in Fountain Hills. Recycling option should be available from any company providing trash removal service in Fountain Hills. 

Within town owned buildings, the use of the new low wattage light bulbs should be universal.

Providing incentives to install environmentally friendly facilities in new construction should also be part of any community environmental policy.

Jay Schlum
I appreciate this volunteer effort to proactively approach, enhance and protect our communities’ natural surroundings.

I understand the following items are being addressed by the team working to create an environmental policy: air quality, dark skies, water, recycling, hazardous waste, solar energy and our natural environment.

Additionally, many in our community would like the town to help reduce the impacts caused by the multiples of trash haulers in our community. The added noise and street damage caused by so many garbage trucks with overlapping service areas is worthy of an improvement plan.

Policies that allow for greater enjoyment while protecting our precious unique natural resources are policies we can all get behind.

Cassie Hansen
In fulfilling one of the goals of the strategic planning process, the town has a good start on their policy that includes air quality, dark skies, water, noise, recycling hazardous waste, energy, solar energy, solid waste, trails and natural environment.

I am very interested in an updated assessment and evaluation of establishing a franchise with a sole source solid waste provider. This has been looked at in the past and at the time determined not to be cost effective. But, many factors have changed over the last six years.

A sole source provider would decrease the proliferation of trucks/pollution in our community on a daily basis, reduce unauthorized use of commercial dumpsters, promote recycling, reduce wear and tear of our streets, provide the opportunity to explore additional services such as monthly brush and bulk collections and neighborhood clean up programs that provide temporary roll offs to assist in neighborhood revitalization efforts.

The town has recently offered successful shredding and electronic disposal programs. Another level of service to explore could include home generated medical waste disposal that would include information on the safe handling/disposal of needles, syringes and other sharp objects used for medical purposes.

Dust control is a significant component of the policy and should be enforced including the paving of all parking lots, alley ways, road ways, etc. that are currently unpaved.

Kathie Kelly
Council members and residents alike need to accept responsibility for the stewardship of our environment. Like other cities throughout the United States, we need a strong policy committed to protecting our environment.

At the same time, the policy must be just that, with the council giving staff the responsibility for specific implementation.

An environmental policy must embrace the following: meeting or exceeding all applicable environmental legislation, regulations, internal requirements and municipal standards; education and training of town employees for improved environmental performance and recycled materials, low energy lighting (compact fluorescent and LED) etc; practicing the principles of prevention of pollution such as non-gas vehicles for town usage; setting and periodically reviewing environmental objectives and targets; incorporating environmental costs, recycling as part of  a trash collection package; encourage and increase citizen awareness and involvement in efforts to protect the environment through a public awareness campaign on environmental and energy conservation issues for both residents and businesses; and being proactive in identifying and addressing emerging environmental issues, rather than reactive as problems arise.

Fountain Hills could be a leader in addressing environmental issues as we strive to protect our scarce resources, our beautiful community, and our overall well-being. Sound environmental practices are economically beneficial as well in the long run.

Keith McMahan
I want to see policies that first of all contribute to clean air (I personally have a chronic breathing problem).

That may include the banning of leaf blowers, stricter controls on dust, etc. I also want to ensure clean streets (keep those street sweepers going), enforcement of litter laws, animal waste regulations, and more greenery on our medians and in our parks.

I would like to see many more trees in Fountain Park (they naturally help clean the air). I am a big supporter of low water landscaping and would like to see its educational programs further expanded.

As for recycling, I would like to help service clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, etc. become involved (recycling can be a good fund raiser) - as well as interested citizens - with more recycling bins throughout the community.

We should also encourage residents who want to recycle to take advantage of any recycling programs offered by private garbage and trash haulers. In fact we might require they make recycling available when we issue their business licenses.

I do not, however, whish to impose draconian regulations that will unreasonably increase costs to both residents and businesses. Every regulation, ordinance or program must be subjected to a strict cost/benefit calculation.

Michael Tyler
Increasingly we are governed by federally mandated requirements, such as the requirements for the treatment of storm water; clearly our policy needs to be in compliance with such requirements.

In addition I would like to address the issues that concern many residents such as air pollution, water conservation and continuing our dark skies policy.

I believe we need to find a better solution to trash collection than having multiple carriers traverse the same streets every day. I would split the town into a number of different areas and put out each area to bid for one contractor.

I also believe we need to implement a recycling program, as we are out of step with most other communities and the desires of our residents.

Last not least, we need to continue to make sure that future development is consistent with our small town atmosphere and integrates well into our natural surroundings.

Lina Bellenir
Protecting our town’s natural systems upon which our lives depend while providing and advancing economic development are among the greatest challenges confronting our community.

We therefore, have an opportunity   to make a positive contribution by enacting policies designed so that our business operations do not degrade our environment or cause hardships.

Such policies will not only create positive environmental stewardship, but    also present business opportunities such as investments in renewable energy and water harvesting.

Any environmental policy should include planning, training, implementation, measurement, reporting and review, and must apply to new businesses and existing businesses.

New developments and revitalization of older business districts should be created with the goal of achieving a stringent gold-standard “green” design to save energy.

Further, any dismantling of old buildings should carefully involve dismantling and recycling nearly 100 percent of the wood, metal and concrete from the old to the new. Our town building policy should also include providing developers and homeowners with a checklist that ensures they will at least consider how the choices they make will impact the environment and perhaps save them money in the long run.

Our town should encourage awarding contracts with suppliers of goods and services that recycle.

We should comply with relevant environmental laws and regulations and work with regulatory agencies and advisers as necessary in   the implementation of effective environmental policies.

It is important to consider that it is not necessary to attack our American way of life, and we don’t have to punish progress in order the fix the environment. It is possible to have a healthy environment and a healthy economy.

It is possible to build incentives for a cleaner future. And it is possible to have free markets, scientific and technological advances, and an even more positive environmental outcome.

Dennis Contino
Good planning ahead will preserve the unique environment that is Fountain Hills. Scenic views and location in the Sonoran desert and mountain surroundings must be preserved. Attention to open space amenities and small-town atmosphere is necessary to preserve the character of Fountain Hills.

Therefore, height limits and the provisions of the Hillside Ordinance must be enforced.

The Strategic Planning process in the beginning included students for FHHS. They were unanimous in the concept of “preservation” – keeping FH as beautiful as it is for the future of ourselves, our children and families.

There is a beauty and benefit to protecting wildlife, vegetation and the landscape of FH.

The Hillside Ordinance was brought forward in council discussions in 1996 when new development considered density, building footprint, roadways.

Then the town residents were concerned whether the policies are enforceable. We’re there again and any policy “to be unveiled” must be enforceable.

Let’s work together to keep FY the unique, perfect town it is and ensure the quality of life that has made FH the place we chose to live.