Pinal County leaders are pleased with a comeback that earned solid B marks & 1 B-plus on Valley Forward’s 2008 Environmental Report Card. The county had previously scored 2 D-plusses, a B-minus & a C-minus in the last Report Card issued in 2004.
Valley Forward’s “Making the Grade: The Valley’s 2008 Environmental Report Scorecard” was the subject of a presentation on March 26th, in Phoenix. Valley Forward issues the report every 4 years. Pinal County was lauded for its efforts to raise its score in all measures.
“To be clear, we aspire for straight A’s,” Board of Supervisors’ Chairman David Snider said. “The last report card was in 2004. Considering the unprecedented growth Pinal County has experienced, a sizeable recovery this significant deserves high praise indeed. It shows that we have a proactive stance & are adding value to our communities.”
“Amidst enormous growth & pressures from all corners of the County, we managed to keep demand with that growth, while improving our air, land use & transportation planning,” Supervisor Lionel Ruiz said. “I am proud of our staff & leadership for achieving this dramatic recovery.”
Its report states that the goal of Valley Forward’s Report Card is to “examine how communities across the Valley are individually & collectively addressing common issues that impact the quality of life for residents here & for those who will choose to make this their home in the future.” The report rates cities & towns on Air, Land, Transportation & Water. Counties are not rated on water issues because municipalities typically govern water use & utilities. Previous reports, like the one in 2004, gave separate scores for Open Space/Recreation & Land Use.
“Sustainability & environmental responsibility are the focus of the 2008 Pinal County Town Hall,” Sandie Smith said. “Pinal County’s population will continue growing long after I leave office. My hope is that current & future leaders keep a watchful eye on protecting the environment, improving quality of life & creating communities that borrow gently from our natural resources.”
Valley Forward’s Report Card is a compilation of research by staff & volunteers. Although Pinal County encompasses a land mass greater than the entire state of Connecticut, several growth areas & economies are tied to the growth dynamics of the Phoenix metro region.
The report by Valley Forward concludes that “despite significant increases in population across the board since our 2004 Report Card, Valley communities are still doing a better than average job of managing natural resources & responding to growth issues.”
Pinal County is praised for its commitment to improving air quality through better awareness, monitoring, voluntary trip reduction & vanpool programs, & a commitment that future County buildings will meet LEED standards (Leadership in Energy Efficiency & Design adopted by the US Green Building Council) as well as efforts to reduce energy & water consumption at county facilities. Pinal County has also adopted the 2007 International Energy Code, which allows for alternative energy & construction projects.
The County’s highest score, a B-plus, came in the Land Use category. Valley Forward specifically praised the county’s Growth Planning Initiative. The report also noted the county’s coordination with its neighbors on planning & open space preservation.
Where Pinal County managed to overtake its giant neighbor to the north was in the area of transportation. Maricopa County earned a C-plus while Pinal scored a B. Valley Forward gave Pinal high marks for regional planning & coordination but cautioned leaders to also look at “a more multi-modal approach” to address growth demands.
All 3 Supervisors were in agreement that approaching livability issues at a regional level is a factor in the improved grades. Pinal County is taking a leadership role in bringing municipalities and stakeholders together in a series of summits to address key regional issues such as air quality, transportation, planning & development & health & human services. The result has been a significant improvement in dialogue between parties to solve current issues & plan for future growth.
Valley Forward is a non-profit business-based environmental organization founded in 1969. The organization “focuses on livability & sustainability of Valley municipalities” as stated in its report.