ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT INTER-OFFICE MEMO TO: Alan Silverberg, Funds/Planning Manager FROM: Don Turner, Chief, Ben Avery Shooting Facility SUBJECT: FY 1997-98 Annual Report, Statewide Shooting Ranges, Jobs 1 through 5 DATE: August 30, 1999 Please find attached the third Annual Report for the Statewide Shooting Ranges Project from July 1, 1998 to June 30, 1999. cc: Kerry Baldwin, Education Branch Chief Terry Allison, President ASRPA SWCR/FA/083099 ANNUAL REPORT State: Arizona Project Title: STATEWIDE SHOOTING RANGES Job Title: STATEWIDE SHOOTING RANGE ADMINISTRATION Job No: JOB NUMBER 1 Segment No: SEGMENT NUMBER 3 Project Period: From: July 1, 1998 To: June 30, 1999 I. Job Objective: To administer the statewide shooting range project on statewide shooting ranges by providing a focal point for assistance to the shooting range operators via providing a forum and contemporary information and advice on: range safety, operations, maintenance, and development; procurement of grants and funds; range planning; firearms training and education programs; and all other aspects relating to shooting range management and project goals. II. Accomplishments: A new grants manual was completed. The Rio Salado Sportsmans Club was awarded a grant to pave the access road and construct a club house at the Usery Pass Shooting Range. The Project Leader provided assistance to the Usery Pass Range, Granite Basin Range, Bellemont Range, Three Points Range, Seven Mile Range, and the Tri-state Shooting Recreation Center. The Project Leader was appointed to the Executive Committee of the National Association of Shooting Ranges (a division of the National Shooting Sports Foundation). Numerous correspondence and phone calls occurred between project personnel and various shooting ranges and clubs regarding range development, range safety, and range administration. The Project Leader was appointed to three AZ Senate Work Groups regarding shooting ranges on a local and AZ state level. In addition, the Project Leader produced a workbook for the Az Game and Fish Commission regarding the development of proposed shooting ranges. This document was designed to assist local sportsmen groups in the functional and feasibility analysis for new range developments. The project provided Line Safety Officer training to the Rio Salado Sportsmen Club, Prescott Sportsmen Club, and Mohave Sportsmen Club. The Project Leader along with project personnel visited ranges in Florida and Colorado to obtain information and network with other reputable shooting facilities. The Project Leader attended a meeting of the National Association of Shooting Ranges was attended in Buffalo NY in conjunction with the national Hunter Education conference. The Project Leader assisted the National Shooting Range Roundtable on its inspection trip of Arizona. Work continued to assist with set-ups for the National Shooting Range Symposium, and the National Shooting Summit for June 2000. ANNUAL REPORT State: Arizona Project Title: STATEWIDE SHOOTING RANGES Job Title: BEN AVERY SHOOTING FACILITY ADMINISTRATION Job No: JOB NUMBER 2 Segment No: SEGMENT NUMBER 3 Project Period: From: July 1, 1998 To: June 30, 1999 I. Job Objective: To administer the Ben Avery Shooting Facility as a focal point of a statewide range program. To operate and manage the facility (including the trap and skeet ranges "Clay Target Center") with an emphasis on range safety, facility security, fire protection, facility sanitation, facility maintenance, facility operations including public user groups and volunteer coordination, scheduling, cooperative agreements, public firearms education, development of long range plans, and public use. BASF management priorities have been established as: SAFETY, SECURITY, OPERATIONS, SANITATION, PUBLIC RELATIONS. II. Accomplishments: The Office Manager resigned during the last half of the project year. Staff continued to receive training in firearms instructor courses. Staff and volunteers were required to attend work site safety training. In-service training of personnel in office management, officer skills, community relations, and instructor skills continued. Several in-house staff/training meetings were conducted. Work continues on the developing procedures manual and its companion standards manual. All project reports, budget processes, etc. were completed on time. The Project Leader and staff spent considerable time working the Arizona Department of Public Safety in the design and construction of a training range. Procedures and safety standards were established and negotiated. Developed a comprehensive list of redevelopment projects; improved signage of safety areas; oversight of administration, operation, maintenance, and redevelopment projects; met with various user groups; worked with Ben Avery Fund; provided supervisory oversight of BASF employees, temporary personnel and volunteers. Met with City and State officials regarding health and safety regulations. ANNUAL REPORT State: Arizona Project Title: STATEWIDE SHOOTING RANGES Job Title: BEN AVERY SHOOTING FACILITY OPERATION Job No: JOB NUMBER 3 Segment No: SEGMENT NUMBER 3 Project Period: From: July 1, 1997 To: June 30, 1998 I. Job Objective: To operate the Ben Avery Shooting Facility as a safe complex for shooting oriented programs including: scheduling of competitive events, training, hunter education, sight in services, buildings, and campsites; oversight of safe shooting programs; community outreach and spectator services; community involvement via donations and volunteer efforts; coordination with approximately 100 user groups; public information and relations; wildlife information programs. II. Accomplishments: SERVICES: During the project year, BASF staff provided recreational and shooting services to 144 user groups (22 more than last year)plus public shooting. User Groups conduct their own events and they are monitored by Facility Staff. BASF provided 106,069 shooter days. Of these shooters 3,952 were women and 6,186 juniors. There has been an average of a 29% increase in shooter days since the beginning of the project. From FY 95-96, there has been a 113% increase in total shooters, a 76% increase in women shooters, and a 71% increase in junior shooters. The steady growth in the number of shooter days is a direct outcome of this project's success. Due to faulty electrical wiring in the campground, electric service was discontinued in December 1998. This resulted in a reduction of camper days and a loss of camper income. Campers declined from 3,407 last fiscal year to 2,378 this fiscal year. The Community Outreach Staff Report was completed and the project became a member of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, and the Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Project Leader and staff attended many networking and training events. The project is well accepted by the professional business community in the Phoenix valley. Benefits from these organizations were passed on to BASF clients. The rangemaster assigned to community outreach transferred to another internal position, and recruitment was initiated. One Rangemaster left state service and was replaced. The new Rangemaster was appointed as Archery Coordinator. Several new archery projects were proposed and efforts were directed towards improving services to archers. New procedures, signs, and ranges were proposed and many projects along these efforts were completed. The Rangemaster assigned to Volunteer Coordination continued to work with Junior and Women's programs. Trained Line Safety Officers, and provided for their scheduling, and began efforts with an onsite Hunter Education program. A performance audit of the Clay Target Center was completed with identified issues addressed. RECEIPTS: Income continues to grow in relation to shooter days. Heavy maintenance issues continue occur. Project receipts were $301,612. Project income is deposited with the State Treasurer and is used by the project. PUBLIC SUPPORT: A tremendous amount of public support continues to be given to the project. The Ben Avery Range Fund continues to donate support for features of the facility. The volunteer program is a high mark of citizen involvement. The Facility had 20 Range Hosts through the winter months and another 30 citizens volunteered their time for various activities. This report does not record the Hunter Education Volunteer hours expended on site. During the project year, volunteers donated 16,647 hours. We cannot thank our volunteers enough for their hard work and dedication. Customer surveys, letters and feed back continually indicate that the facility and staff provides a high level of customer satisfaction. Continuous quality improvement measures continue to provide increasing levels of quality service. Our goal of safely providing 100,000 shooter days was exceeded by the end of the third year of the project. Additional personnel are needed to ensure safe conditions prevail through out the Facility. ANNUAL REPORT State: Arizona Project Title: STATEWIDE SHOOTING RANGES Job Title: BEN AVERY SHOOTING FACILITY MAINTENANCE Job No: JOB NUMBER 4 Segment No: SEGMENT NUMBER 3 Project Period: From: July 1, 1997 To: June 30, 1998 I. Job Objective: To maintain the Ben Avery Shooting Facility as a safe complex for shooting oriented programs, and provide acceptable standards for facility safety, facility security, and safe public use. II. Accomplishments: Many maintenance projects were completed. In order to overcome past grounds and trash buildup problems a temporary work crew was hired to help permanent personnel "catch up" on clean up duties. Due to the volume of work accomplished and maintenance needed, maintenance projects are not listed. It is also noted that besides range personnel, temporary employees and volunteers, many user groups performed maintenance at their respective ranges in preparation or clean up for events as well has having "range work parties" for their membership. Several water leaks were repaired and four new control valves installed. Tables and benches were repaired. Roads were swept and asphalt patching completed. New highway and internal signs were installed. ANNUAL REPORT State: Arizona Project Title: STATEWIDE SHOOTING RANGES Job Title: BEN AVERY SHOOTING FACILITY REDEVELOPMENT Job No: JOB NUMBER 5 Segment No: SEGMENT NUMBER 3 Project Period: From: July 1, 1997 To: June 30, 1998 I. Job Objective: To redevelop the Ben Avery Shooting Facility with on site projects designed to reduce maintenance costs, improve safety of the users and security of the facility, increase numbers of concurrent users, increase efficiency, and improve safe firearms, archery, and outdoor public education and recreation. II. Accomplishments: Finished the regrade of the Main Range. Graded a new FITA (International Archery) and spread decomposed granite as cover. Installed air conditioners on four training buildings. Purchased solar powered night lightning.