PROJECT NARRATIVE 1996-2001 State: Arizona Project Number Project Title: STATE WIDE SHOOTING RANGES Project Objective: To provide citizens with a safe environment to participate in the shooting sports with emphasis on: Firearms Safety; Hunter Education; Hunter sight-ins; Junior programs; New shooter programs; Competitive events; Spectator participation; Community outreach; Firearms training; Proficiency and safe use of firearms and other hunting equipment; Wildlife Management; and Public information, by the operation and maintenance of buildings, structures, and infrastructures at approved project shooting ranges. A. Project Need: The Arizona Game and Fish Commission through its shooting range development program owns or controls five shooting ranges throughout Arizona. These ranges provide the shooting and hunting public with safe places to practice, to sight in their firearms, to become competent with their firearms and other outdoor recreation equipment, to learn proficiency with hunting and shooting equipment, to learn marksmanship and safety skills. In addition, the ranges provide opportunity sites for Hunter Education programs and field days. The program has been well received by the public, and four of these ranges are operated and maintained by local user groups. The largest range, due to its size and complexity, the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, however, has always been managed by a public agency. The Ben Avery Shooting Facility (BASF) is the largest publicly operated and managed shooting range in the country. It covers 1,440 acres of Sonoran Desert habitat on the northern edge of Maricopa County and is located within the city limits of the city of Phoenix, Arizona. In 1970 the BASF was the site of the 40th World Shooting Championships. Owned by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, the BASF was operated on a lease basis by Maricopa County Parks, Library, and Recreation Department for 27 years. In August 1995, the lease was terminated and the operation and management of the facility was assumed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Maricopa County is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. Its current population is approaching 3 million. The majority of Arizona hunters live in Maricopa County. There are only three other ranges for hunter sight- ins, practice, and competition within the county. The BASF consists of approximately $1,505,000 worth of buildings and shade canopies. It has 21 ranges including: a known distance archery range, a broad head range, a running target archery range, 5 field archery ranges, a 1000 yard high power range (one of four in the western US), an indoor air gun range, a 100 point smallbore range, a 50 point main range, 2700, international, and practice pistol ranges, two running boar ranges, rifle silhouette range, bench rest range, a four bay practical pistol range, and a pistol silhouette range. It also has a Hunter Education area with a pond and picnic area, and a hunter education field course, a 98 space campground with three separate bathrooms and showers, eight training buildings, three maintenance buildings, 20 storage buildings; and a trap and skeet range which has a clubhouse, a shop, and 17 skeet and trap houses. The Trap and Skeet ranges are operated under sublease with the Commission. A summary of facility use from August 1995 through February 29, 1996 indicates the following use by types of users. This data does not include those under 17 nor the Trap and Skeet users. TYPE OF USE VISITORS AVERAGE/MTH YEAR PROJECTION Main Range 24,443 3,492 41,904 Archery 1,727 247 2,964 Match shooters 5,841 834 10,008 Police 185 26 312 Commercial 1,852 265 3,180 Campers 1,234 176 2,112 Total visitors 34,048 4,864 58,368 Many youth groups such a Boy Scouts, Jr ROTC, and local High Schools use the range. Department figures show that approximately 2,000 hunter education students use BASF annually. The BASF is highly supported by local sportsmen groups and gun clubs. Currently, there are 68 registered user groups. These groups include: BASF firearms and archery clubs (host 10 or more matches a year at BASF), shooting clubs, archery clubs, national organizations, private training companies, police and security agencies, hunter education classes, high school groups, Jr ROTC classes, and military units. Currently, there are 99 citizen volunteers who assist with the operation of the range. In addition, there are 11 hosts who live on site and are assigned various duties for cleaning and landscaping. During the last several years of County operation, however, the facility maintenance was not adequate to keep up with the level of repairs as the facility grew older. We have identified over fifty projects which are needed to bring the facility up to standards, or to improve the operation to satisfy increasing demands. As mentioned above, the Commission also owns or controls land at four other shooting ranges. These ranges are managed, operated, and maintained under agreement by local user groups. They are in need of a statewide administrative approach, so that range standards for operation and maintenance are current and that project objectives are being met. These ranges are: Seven Mile Shooting Range, Mohave Sportsman's Club, Kingman Sierra Vista Shooting Range, Sierra Vista Rod and Gun Club, Sierra Vista Three Points Shooting Range, Tucson Rifle Club, Tucson Usery Mountain Shooting Range, Rio Salado Sportsman's Club, Mesa Besides these five ranges, the Commission through the Department, administers a shooting range development program funded by legislative appropriation. These funds have been utilized on 21 ranges through out the state. The following policy provides the direction, objectives and needs for this program. Commission Policy A2.19: Shooting Range Development The Commission encourages the development of shooting ranges to: A: Support hunter education programs. B: Promote safe hunting and shooting practices. C: Provide public with safe shooting areas throughout Arizona. D: Encourage hunters to become more proficient with hunting equipment. E: Support law enforcement training programs. The Commission directs that the Department shall actively pursue the development of ranges in those population areas lacking facilities or those with demonstrated need. The Commission also directs the Department to encourage the upgrading of existing facilities as appropriate. To accomplish this, the Commission shall provide funds annually as provided by the legislature. B. Project Expected Results and Benefits: Ben Avery Shooting Facility: It is projected that the actual user days, including those under 17 years of age, and the trap and skeet users will approach or exceed 100,000 annually. In addition, another 5,000 spectators are expected to visit the facility. Annual revenues (project income) during the operation by Maricopa County averaged around $290,000. It is expected that via increased management and application of community programs future project income will exceed this level. Besides projected citizen use, and revenue, the actual benefit will be to provide the public with a modern and safe shooting facility with a variety of shooting and archery events. This facility will provide a focal point for firearms education and safety programs, Hunter Education programs, wildlife education programs, and environmental education programs. It will also allow for the exposure of the non-hunting public to the programs and projects of the Department and the USFWS. The facility will set the example on a local, state, regional, national, and international level for shooting range operation and management, community outreach, and citizen support. It will reverse the trend towards the decline of the shooting sports and of hunting and related outdoor recreation. Commission Owned/Controlled Ranges: The actual benefits will be to provide the public with modern and safe shooting ranges with a variety of shooting and archery opportunities. These ranges will provide a focal point for firearms education and safety programs, and Hunter Education programs. They will also allow for the exposure of the non-hunting public to the programs and projects of the Department and the USFWS. This project will enhance and benefit these ranges by providing a statewide example for range operation and maintenance, and provide a forum for Range Operators to obtain information and advice concerning development and operation and maintenance activities. Commission Shooting Range Development Program: The needs and benefits are outlined in Commission Policy A2.19, however, this project will provide centralized administrative coordination of the Commission policy and benefit applicants by providing an integrated approach to the statewide project. Ultimately, the public and law enforcement agencies will benefit through the attainment of project goals. C. Project Jobs: Enhance, expand, operate, maintain, and protect existing statewide firearms and archery training facilities necessary to carry out public education programs, including firearms and archery safety, firearms and archery proficiency, hunter education programs, and other shooting and hunting related activities utilizing the additive use of project income. This approach will be accomplished through five job objectives: 1. Statewide Shooting Range Administration. 2. Ben Avery Shooting Facility Administration 3. Ben Avery Shooting Facility Operation 4. Ben Avery Shooting Facility Maintenance 5. Ben Avery Shooting Facility Redevelopment D. Estimated Project Cost: YEAR JOBS COST 1996-97 1,2,3,4,5 $548,000*+ 1997-98 1,2,3,4,5 860,000+ 1998-99 1,2,3,4,5 790,000+ 1999-00 1,2,3,4, 420,000 2000-01 1,2,3,4, 440,000 *does not include equipment start up cost of $153,000 +includes an estimated amount of funding for range redevelopment activities. E. Estimated Project Income: UTILIZE THE ADDITIVE APPROACH FOR PROJECT INCOME Annual revenues (project income) during the operation by Maricopa County averaged around $290,000. It is expected that via increased management and application of community programs that future project income will exceed this level by 5 percent. A report to the Department for the first seven months of operation of the Ben Avery Shooting Facility (August '95 through March '96) showed a projected income of $263,000. F. Related Federal Projects: FW11: Habitat Evaluation and Protection FW20D: Habitat Development and Maintenance FW15C: Fish & Wildlife Management, Planning, and Coordination G. Cooperators: USDI, Fish and Wildlife Service USDI, Bureau of Land Management USDA, Forest Service AZ State Land Department Public User Groups Volunteer Organizations State, County, and Municipal Law Enforcement Agencies Federal Law Enforcement Agencies H. Personnel: Chief Range Master (Project Leader) Range Master Range Master Range Master Range Secretary Range Maintenance Specialist Range Custodian Volunteers and others I. Environmental Compliance: Programmatic compliance under the National Environmental Policy Act is provided as an attachment to this Project Narrative. All action or implementation functions associated with this Project Narrative will be assessed under separate and individual compliance documentation. Job Description 1 Job Title: Statewide Shooting Range Administration Job Objective: To administer the statewide shooting range program 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. Approaches: Complete tasks associated with statewide administration of project activities which include: 1. Project leadership of Statewide Shooting Ranges Project. 2. Shooting grants administration. 3. Seminar attendance and presentations. 4. Information exchange. 5. Consultation with other range management personnel and user groups. Geographic Location: Statewide, State of Arizona Job Description 2 Job Title: Ben Avery Shooting Facility Administration Job Objective: To administer the Ben Avery Shooting Facility as a focal point of a state wide range program. To operate and manage the facility (including the trap and skeet ranges) 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. Approaches: Complete tasks associated with Administration Activities which include: 1. Planning: for the development of BASF: completion of a 10 year plan: project planning documentation; tactical and situational anticipations and responses; anticipating needs for goods and services. 2. Organizing: daily, weekly, yearly activities at BASF in conjunction with user groups; use and care of facility, grounds, buildings, and improvements. 3. Staffing: preparation of a BASF procedures manual; staff training, including first aid, range safety, various techniques for public assistance and security ; supervising personnel (staff, volunteers, hosts, and reserves) and ancillary duties associated with supervision; Anticipating increased staffing levels as appropriate; supplying personnel with items necessary for safe and efficient work accomplishment. 4. Directing: Oversight of work products and personnel to product safe, effective, efficient, and user friendly programs; 5. Coordinating: Working with BASF personnel to ensure smooth operation and integration of project goals; meeting and working with BASF user groups to ensure public cooperation and input into range operation and management; meeting and working with non-range user groups, civic leaders, community representatives to gain and enhance cooperation with range use and management; coordinating with groups for donations for BASF improvement/redevelopment projects; co-ordinating with commercial groups for increased non-traditional use; co-ordinating with other governmental agencies regarding compliance testing and reporting requirements. 6. Reporting: Preparation of various written instruments required or necessary to provide updates, status, projections, progress, needs, etc. of BASF programs. Verbal reports to supervisors and others are necessary. Completion of testing and reports as may be required by other governmental agencies. 7. Budgeting: Establishment, monitoring, and managing of BASF budget, including proper procedures for project income management; auditing and oversight functions as necessary. Geographic Location: Ben Avery Shooting Facility, 4044 W. Black Canyon Blvd. Phoenix, Arizona, 85027 Job Description 3 Job Title: Ben Avery Shooting Facility Operation: 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 oriented information programs. Approaches: Complete tasks associated with Operating Activities which include: 1. Provide for a safe shooting facility for use by the general public, competitive events, training events, and wildlife based educational events. This includes facility protection, security, and public regulation necessary to maintain a safe environment. 2. Provide for a supervised main public range for use by the general shooting public from 7 AM until dark Wednesday through Sunday. 3. Provide for an archery range for use by the general archery public from 7 AM until dark Wednesday through Sunday. 4. Provide for trap and skeet range for use by the general public, competitive, and training events during reasonable hours. 5. Provide for all ranges to be used concurrently and safely for a variety of competitive and training events. 6. Provide a 98 space campground for use by shooters and others participating in BASF matches and activities. 7. Provide spectator services in the form of parking, information, and internal transportation as appropriate. 8. Provide office support for the functioning of the facility which includes but is not limited to: invoice issuance and receipt, scheduling of ranges, buildings, and campgrounds, funds receipt and deposits, volunteer scheduling and reporting, completion of Department and range procedures. 9. Provide marketing, advertisement, public and user group cooperative activities in regard to promoting and completing project objectives. 10. Provide a community outreach program in order to increase usage of the facility, and to promote and complete project objectives including but not limited to firearms education and clinics, summer camps, gun show displays, tourist and RV show displays, gift certificate, high school education programs, commercial tours, increase youth participation via junior shooting programs, increase female participation via clinics and special programs. Geographic Location: Ben Avery Shooting Facility, 4044 W. Black Canyon Blvd. Phoenix, Arizona, 85027 Job Description 4 Job Title: Ben Avery Shooting Facility Maintenance: 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. Approaches: Complete tasks associated with Maintenance Activities which include: 1. Maintenance of infrastructure of BASF which includes but is not limited to normal maintenance functions of buildings, vehicles, equipment, supplies, roadways, parking lots, fences, impact berms, safety berms, fire breaks, signs, water systems, range and target devices, canopies, electrical systems, moving target systems. 2. Custodial tasks for BASF infrastructure which are associated with janitorial functions of buildings, parking lots, trash removal. 3. Landscape tasks for BASF infrastructure including irrigation of vegetation, lawn mowing, trash removal, herbicide spraying, vegetation trimming and removal. Geographic Location: Ben Avery Shooting Facility, 4044 W. Black Canyon Blvd. Phoenix, Arizona, 85027 Job Description 5 Job Title: Ben Avery Shooting Facility Redevelopment Job Objective: To redevelop the Ben Avery Shooting Facility with on site projects designed to reduce maintenance costs, improve safety for 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. Approaches: Complete tasks associated with Development Activities in association with the FW-20D Development project which include the following list of capital maintenance and development needs: Most projects are listed in order of priority based on safety considerations or maintenance needs. Not all safety issues are higher priority than maintenance needs. Priorities are indicated as A (high priority), B (medium priority), C (average priority). Many projects may be completed via corporate donation, this especially applies to buildings and ranges; these projects are marked with a "+". Costs provided are estimates. Engineering estimates are needed for all items. Projects marked TBD are unknown costs and need "to be determined". SAFETY ISSUES A. A three strand smooth wire fence needs to be installed from the south end of the west campground fence due south to the Carefree Highway boundary fence, and posted with "danger" signs. At present there is no fence to keep campers from walking into the 1000 yard firing line. Identified in NRA Safety Survey. TBD A. The east access road at rifle silhouette needs to be relocated to the west side of this range for safety purposes. This is a low quality "two track" access road. At present, this road is closed when 1000 yard range is in operation. Identified in NRA Safety Survey. The level of the road is a "two track" relocation will be inexpensive. Funds are needed to rip old access, enclose two fence openings, and provide some gravel. ($1,000) +A. Extend three lateral berms on Practical Pistol range. Each berm needs extending approximately 50 yards each. This will allow the use of all four bays. At present, if shooters use canopy only one bay may be used. Identified in NRA Safety Survey. TBD +A. 1000 yard range needs safety berms to protect Rifle Silhouette, and four pistol ranges. Needs to be surveyed and engineered. Presently, other ranges are closed when 1000 yard range in use. Identified in NRA Safety Survey. TBD +A. 1000 yard range needs impact berm lengthened to include points 1-49. Impact berm needs to be raised for all points. Points 1-49 are presently closed. Identified in NRA Safety Survey. TBD SECURITY ISSUES A. Construct an entrance "gate house/office/visitor center" at the East entrance. All visitors would check in and receive range passes at gate house. This would increase revenues, enhance security, and provide for a site to sell hunting and fishing licensed, publications, etc. TBD A. Construct a two lane black top road on the south side of the facility connecting the east and west entrances. This will provide internal traffic when high power range is in use. Close down the west entrance, and the 1000 yard entrance permanently. All ingress and egress will be through the Main Entrance. TBD MAINTENANCE ISSUES +A. Training building needs heat pump, south window sunscreened, security grill replaced, walls insulated, and sun shades placed in windows. Before summer ($6,000) +A. Main range office needs new roof, insulation, heat pump, and replace gas with electric water heater. Before summer ($7,000) A. Herbicide needs to be sprayed on all dirt lots, berms, road surfaces, campground sites, etc. ASAP. TBD +A. All buildings need coolers serviced ASAP. There are 19 coolers, cost estimate by commercial company. Before summer ($2,300) +A. Pour 900 square foot concrete slab in air gun building for wood working tools, add additional electrical outlets, and fence with chain link. ($2,500). A. Waterline gate valves needed to be located and replaced. All are frozen open. TBD. +A. Activity center needs new roof, insulation, heat pump, replace gas water heater, install patio cover and west side storage room, repair ceiling. Sunfilm south windows ($10,000) A. Sprinkler systems east and west of activity center need to be replumbed to increase coverage, and automatic valve systems installed to provide for better and more regular coverage. ($1,500) A. Smallbore irrigation system needs to be abandoned. Costs are to remove control heads and cap off water valves. ($500). Restoration of the system has been estimated as approximately $1,300. This would improve water supply to maintain approximately 5 acres of grass. This grass is unnecessary for the operation of the range, or for smallbore events. A. Contract engineering survey to determine status of water system and provide estimates for its repair. TBD +A. Rifle Silhouette building needs cooler repaired, roof fixed, and insulated. Sunfilm south and west windows ($3,500) +A. 600 yard bathroom and high power rifle pit house needs new roof. ($1,000) +A. Maintenance building needs insulation, all sides. ($2,000) A. Water cooler in archery needs to be moved out doors. B. Parking bumpers need to be arranged on overflow parking lot and practical pistol lot. Bumpers need to be arranged on Bench Rest, some new bumpers may be needed. B. All water coolers need to be serviced. Approximately 50% need replacement. +B. Smallbore building needs electric heater. Can be transferred from training building. Re wiring needed. ($1,300) +B. Insulate smallbore, benchrest, practical pistol, and archery building attics. Sunfilm all west and south windows ($3,000) +C. Air gun building needs insulation repaired, and the entire floor concreted. ($8,000). +C. Running Boar control building needs painting. Two TV cameras and monitors need to be replaced. TBD C. All metal covers need to be spot repaired and repainted. Some need extruded gutters to prevent runoff erosion. TBD C. Chip seal approximately 15 miles of black top. TBD C. All buildings need repainting within 3-5 years. TBD DEVELOPMENT NEEDS +A. Development project on main range needs to be completed A. The range needs to be "blue staked" and all information placed on GIS system. A. Construct 500 gallon above ground gas tank in maintenance compound.TBD A. Install night lights on smallbore range (20 points) and on main range (20 points) for night shooting for Junior, CCW, and police classes, and install "demand" meters for their use. Convert Practical Pistol and 2700 Pistol night lights to "demand" meters. ($2,000). A. An engineering survey needs to be completed in campground. New plumbing and new wiring. All sites should be full service. Presently only 55 provide electricity and power. Sites need to be relocated for ease in parking, and new sites may be added. TBD +A. Practical pistol bay D needs to be extended to 200 yards. Install a grid system of pipe holders spaced 7'6" apart for the establishment of varied practical pistol situations A. The overflow parking lot needs to be expanded on south side of Calle Silhouette, size needs to be doubled to the east. +A. Build AGFD display board to exhibit department messages. ($600) +A. Move main range backstop berm to 250 yards. Realize approximately 34,000 cubic yards of material to use on other projects. TBD +A. Add two side berms and one back stop berm to the auxiliary pistol ranges. This will add one more 20 point bay critically needed for CCW classes. +A. Construct a 20 point range in the Hunter Education area for Hunter Education use. TBD +A. Biscuit flat tank (pond) needs to be cleaned out and restored as suitable fish habitat. Picnic area needs to be brought up to ADA standards. Dirt from pond can be used for Hunter Education range. Urban fisheries could clean out pond and restore it to appropriate fish habitat. The pond and picnic area could then been used for urban fishing clinics, hunter education clinics, outdoor education clinics, etc. TBD +A. Build a Hunter Education building south of the Hunter Education Area parking lot. TBD B. Construct a 100 yard long berm dividing smallbore range into two ranges. TBD B. Re fence maintenance compound with 6' fence. TBD +B. Construct another Hunter Education simulated hunt trail useable by walking challenged citizens. TBD +C. Install a flag pole approximately 50 feet inside the East gate, eliminate the two small poles which border the entrance sign. +C. Auxiliary Pistol ranges need to have shade covers installed and concrete pads poured. TBD +C. Practical pistol ranges need remainder of concrete poured. TBD C. Build 20 "store and lock" lockers at maintenance compound. Eliminate all sheds. These will be rented out to user groups for storage. TBD OTHER ISSUES ** Secure the state land trust lease for Pioneer Park, and Pioneer Village when they expire. Long term protection of the range from complaints regarding noise and ricochets. TBD +** Purchase BLM land west of trap and skeet as buffer. Trap ranges go to the property. TBD Geographic Location: Ben Avery Shooting Facility 4044 W. Black Canyon Blvd. Phoenix, Arizona, 85027 BASF09:032696F