edward
01-22-2008, 03:02 PM
From the February issue of The Arizona Horse Connection
Statewide Horsemen's Rights Threats
Over the past few months, we have been warning that the issues in Pinal County were not unique; they would spread to other areas in the state too.
It is happening and unfortunately for a variety of reasons it is only going to get worse.
What follows are the current issues, including brief summaries, from around the state that we (The Arizona State Horsemen€™s Association) are aware of and are involved in. (through Jan 16, 2008.)
City of Phoenix:
The Phoenix City Council will be voting on whether to reauthorize the Phoenix Parks and Preserve Initiative at their upcoming Council Meeting being on Tuesday, January 22, 2008.This is a vote to continue the existing funding for parks and preserves, not a new program or tax. There are concerns that the City Council may not reauthorize it, and with 3 new City Council members may not be aware of the importance of this Preserve Initiative to horseback riders.
Status: May or may not be an ongoing issue. It will depend on the results on Jan 22.
Pinal County:
A group of business owners, reps from ASHA (The Arizona State Horsemen€™s Assn), city council members from Apache Jct and Casa Grande and the mayor of Florence met with the Pinal County Deputy Planning Director in December. We proposed many revisions to the proposed P & Z ordinances including restrictive setbacks. We also suggested the appointment of an Equine Advisory Council to assist the county with rural lifestyle issues.
Status: Ongoing. The Deputy Director will get smaller groups of Equine-Rural folks together for further input.
Coconino County:
There is a proposal to change the policies and rate structure at the Ft.Tuthill Equestrian Facilities at the County Fairgrounds. The Recreation Director and County Board of Supervisors are making it very expensive and difficult to utilize the facility. County government appears to have hidden agenda and is trying to create a naturalistic park by €œprohibiting horse activity€. Their opinion is that horse events have a negative impact on the surroundings, is not profitable and does not mix well with other uses of the fairgrounds. Status: This is an ongoing issue but at the first BOS meeting Jan 15, they decided to table the issue due to the €œEquestrian presence and influence€
Cave Creek
A select few in the town of Cave Creek are moving to have any and all Mounted Shooting Abolished in the town of Cave Creek. This issue is on the agenda for the Board of Adjustment meeting at Cave Creek Town Hall January 13th. The general feeling among equestrians in this area is that they cannot allow the cowboy culture to become a thing of the past.
Status: Ongoing, but the board of assessments approved a special request for one landowner to continue use of his arena for Mounted Shooting. Success was achieved because of the numbers in attendance and the support and presence of your ASHA.
City of Mesa
The City Council wants to pave the trails along the canal to make them more bike and walker friendly. The paved portion will be 8 foot wide. The Equestrian trail will be 4 foot wide and right next to the canal
Status: City Council meeting Jan 22 but this issue expected to be ongoing.
We will propose that they reverse the plan. Equestrian trails should be 8 foot wide and next to the paved path, not the water.
City of Apache Jct
There are two separate issues that are currently being addressed in this city.
1. The contractor that picks up the garbage is refusing to continue to pick up manure because it weighs too much.
2. Recently City Code Enforcement is issuing summons to owners of Horse Stables and Boarding facilities for having trailers parked on their property. Meetings are taking place on Jan 16 to help define Stables and Boarding Facilities and their requirements. ASHA President Chip Wilson and City Councilman is providing input, support and solutions.
Status: Pending meeting outcome on the Stables issue and a study of the manure issue. It is expected to be ongoing.
Maricopa County
Maricopa is currently developing a new comprehensive plan with input from a special equine committee formed within The Farm Bureau. ASHA has 3 of its board members on this committee. This is their task as requested by the county:€ €come up with a brief and reasonable draft of some proposals for more encompassing equine uses that would be use-by-right. What should be included at this point is any €œnormal use activities€ you feel would be a normal part of an equestrian use. In this effort, as well as with others; a number of disparate interests must be considered. As long as those wanting to more fully use their property consider those who simply want to more peacefully use their property; I believe this effort can progress well. Humane treatment and keeping conditions will be a component of this effort as well.€
Status: Ongoing
US Senate Bill
Although a federal issue, this bill affects all trail riders in Arizona. S.2283 would preserve the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on public land administered by the National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Forest Service on which there is a historical tradition of the use of pack and saddle stock animals. The web site below has a voting button for people to indicate whether they are for or against this bill. If you value trails, please take a minute to vote. All it takes is 1 click:
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_SN_2283.html
Conclusion: We must unite to effectively fight for our rights, for if we do nothing and depend on others to do if for us then we will surely lose the war. The most important strategies for you and me are:
1. Join The Arizona State Horsemen€™s Assn www.azsha.com has application or write me at: info@allabouthorses.com and join your local horse association or club.
2. Attend all meetings.
3. Stay informed about the issues
4. Volunteer a couple of hours a week to help.
Susan Dryer President of The Cave Creek Saddle Club summed it up well in her email alert:
€œI urge you strongly to attend to show support for our right to ride and participate in equestrian sport, not just in Cave Creek, but anywhere. Law has a domino effect. Your appearance will make a difference!€
Ed O'Brien
VP ASHA
Publisher All About Horses.com
Statewide Horsemen's Rights Threats
Over the past few months, we have been warning that the issues in Pinal County were not unique; they would spread to other areas in the state too.
It is happening and unfortunately for a variety of reasons it is only going to get worse.
What follows are the current issues, including brief summaries, from around the state that we (The Arizona State Horsemen€™s Association) are aware of and are involved in. (through Jan 16, 2008.)
City of Phoenix:
The Phoenix City Council will be voting on whether to reauthorize the Phoenix Parks and Preserve Initiative at their upcoming Council Meeting being on Tuesday, January 22, 2008.This is a vote to continue the existing funding for parks and preserves, not a new program or tax. There are concerns that the City Council may not reauthorize it, and with 3 new City Council members may not be aware of the importance of this Preserve Initiative to horseback riders.
Status: May or may not be an ongoing issue. It will depend on the results on Jan 22.
Pinal County:
A group of business owners, reps from ASHA (The Arizona State Horsemen€™s Assn), city council members from Apache Jct and Casa Grande and the mayor of Florence met with the Pinal County Deputy Planning Director in December. We proposed many revisions to the proposed P & Z ordinances including restrictive setbacks. We also suggested the appointment of an Equine Advisory Council to assist the county with rural lifestyle issues.
Status: Ongoing. The Deputy Director will get smaller groups of Equine-Rural folks together for further input.
Coconino County:
There is a proposal to change the policies and rate structure at the Ft.Tuthill Equestrian Facilities at the County Fairgrounds. The Recreation Director and County Board of Supervisors are making it very expensive and difficult to utilize the facility. County government appears to have hidden agenda and is trying to create a naturalistic park by €œprohibiting horse activity€. Their opinion is that horse events have a negative impact on the surroundings, is not profitable and does not mix well with other uses of the fairgrounds. Status: This is an ongoing issue but at the first BOS meeting Jan 15, they decided to table the issue due to the €œEquestrian presence and influence€
Cave Creek
A select few in the town of Cave Creek are moving to have any and all Mounted Shooting Abolished in the town of Cave Creek. This issue is on the agenda for the Board of Adjustment meeting at Cave Creek Town Hall January 13th. The general feeling among equestrians in this area is that they cannot allow the cowboy culture to become a thing of the past.
Status: Ongoing, but the board of assessments approved a special request for one landowner to continue use of his arena for Mounted Shooting. Success was achieved because of the numbers in attendance and the support and presence of your ASHA.
City of Mesa
The City Council wants to pave the trails along the canal to make them more bike and walker friendly. The paved portion will be 8 foot wide. The Equestrian trail will be 4 foot wide and right next to the canal
Status: City Council meeting Jan 22 but this issue expected to be ongoing.
We will propose that they reverse the plan. Equestrian trails should be 8 foot wide and next to the paved path, not the water.
City of Apache Jct
There are two separate issues that are currently being addressed in this city.
1. The contractor that picks up the garbage is refusing to continue to pick up manure because it weighs too much.
2. Recently City Code Enforcement is issuing summons to owners of Horse Stables and Boarding facilities for having trailers parked on their property. Meetings are taking place on Jan 16 to help define Stables and Boarding Facilities and their requirements. ASHA President Chip Wilson and City Councilman is providing input, support and solutions.
Status: Pending meeting outcome on the Stables issue and a study of the manure issue. It is expected to be ongoing.
Maricopa County
Maricopa is currently developing a new comprehensive plan with input from a special equine committee formed within The Farm Bureau. ASHA has 3 of its board members on this committee. This is their task as requested by the county:€ €come up with a brief and reasonable draft of some proposals for more encompassing equine uses that would be use-by-right. What should be included at this point is any €œnormal use activities€ you feel would be a normal part of an equestrian use. In this effort, as well as with others; a number of disparate interests must be considered. As long as those wanting to more fully use their property consider those who simply want to more peacefully use their property; I believe this effort can progress well. Humane treatment and keeping conditions will be a component of this effort as well.€
Status: Ongoing
US Senate Bill
Although a federal issue, this bill affects all trail riders in Arizona. S.2283 would preserve the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on public land administered by the National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Forest Service on which there is a historical tradition of the use of pack and saddle stock animals. The web site below has a voting button for people to indicate whether they are for or against this bill. If you value trails, please take a minute to vote. All it takes is 1 click:
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_SN_2283.html
Conclusion: We must unite to effectively fight for our rights, for if we do nothing and depend on others to do if for us then we will surely lose the war. The most important strategies for you and me are:
1. Join The Arizona State Horsemen€™s Assn www.azsha.com has application or write me at: info@allabouthorses.com and join your local horse association or club.
2. Attend all meetings.
3. Stay informed about the issues
4. Volunteer a couple of hours a week to help.
Susan Dryer President of The Cave Creek Saddle Club summed it up well in her email alert:
€œI urge you strongly to attend to show support for our right to ride and participate in equestrian sport, not just in Cave Creek, but anywhere. Law has a domino effect. Your appearance will make a difference!€
Ed O'Brien
VP ASHA
Publisher All About Horses.com