Development News for Prescott Valley, Arizona

CAFMA Provides Update on Ambulance Response Times and Operations

The Central Arizona Fire Medical Authority (CAFMA) presented an update on their ambulance response times and operations. The presentation covered the history of CAFMA's involvement in ambulance services, current operations with two ambulances (rescues) located in Chino Valley and Prescott Valley, and the Certificate of Necessity (CON) process with the Department of Health Services (DHS). Chief Fedma highlighted that 68% of CAFMA's calls are medical, with 10,600 transports in the jurisdiction in 2025, of which CAFMA ambulances handled 1,321. The CON process, requiring state authorization for ambulance services in underserved areas, took several years to obtain, with CAFMA officially billing for services starting October 1, 2024. Response time standards for Prescott Valley, as per the CON, are 90% within 10 minutes, 95% within 15 minutes, and 98% within 25 minutes. Performance data from March 2025 to February 2026 showed they were meeting these standards, though challenges with the 10-minute benchmark were noted. A tiered response system was implemented in December 2025 to improve efficiency by dispatching based on call type (ambulance-only, engine-only, or both). The discussion also addressed mutual aid agreements with surrounding agencies for large-scale incidents, including wildland fires and mass casualty events. Collaboration with other providers like AMR and Priority Ambulance (Copper State Ambulance) was emphasized, along with ongoing efforts to improve dispatch protocols for prioritizing the closest available ambulance, particularly for emergent calls. Representatives from CAFMA and Wi-Fi Ambulance participated in the discussion, with Wi-Fi Ambulance confirming that dispatch can see all ambulances and that a 'closest ambulance' protocol is logistically possible and desirable for residents.

ULI Recommendations and Draft Strategic Plan Presented for Prescott Valley's Downtown Core

John Jacobson, Principal Planner, presented the outcomes and recommendations from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) program focused on Prescott Valley. The ULI, a non-profit focused on research and education in land use and development, conducted a comprehensive study of the downtown core, identified by a blue outline, and its surrounding opportunity zone (yellow line). The panel comprised experts in land use, development, and transportation. Key recommendations include enhancing pedestrian connectivity, particularly between Dignity Health, the municipal complex, and the Liberty School, potentially creating a multi-use path with interpretive signage and distance markers. The presentation also outlined a draft two-year strategic plan based on ULI's recommendations, which staff has begun developing. This plan includes 11 initial items, prioritizing actions that align with ULI's suggestions and the town's existing goals, focusing on economic return, community health, and quality of life. Community engagement plans are integral to implementing these recommendations to ensure resident involvement and buy-in.