The Town of Fountain Hills will open the first of a series of interconnected “urban trails” this weekend, but some believe this is an incipient step on a slippery slope to one world government.

Still others see opposition to such projects as a threat to the independ-ence of local governments.

In recent weeks since the opening of the downtown Civic Center Trail was announced, The Times has received several letters suggesting that such “sustainable development” projects are a threat to property rights, free enterprise, job growth and sovereignty.

The perceived threats come from a UN conference on environment and development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. A document entitled Agenda 21 (21st Century) came out of that conference, which endorses a plethora of sustainable practices by government and business entities.

There are those who see this as an attempt by the UN at world domina-tion.

The Arizona Legislature took up the issue this session with a Senate Bill that would have prohibited Arizona municipalities from “knowingly” adopt-ing any measures con-tained within the Agenda 21 document.

At a recent Town Council meeting, Councilwoman Ginny Dickey wondered whether this would prohibit municipalities from adopting any sustainable practices including purchasing alternative fuel vehicles, or establishing walking and biking trails as transportation modes.

Dickey asked Arizona Senator Michele Reagan when she attended a Town Council meeting whether the bill would prohibit such sustainable actions by cities and towns.

Reagan, who had voted in favor of the bill in committee, said “I would hope not.”

Dickey said since that council meeting, the League of Arizona Cities and Towns has noted that the bill is likely dead since it was sent to the House and not assigned to any committees, which is past deadline for this session.

Just a trail

In an effort to promote the town’s outdoor and fitness attributes, a goal established by the town’s citizen-driven Strategic Planning Advisory Com-mission, the Community Services Division worked with Olsson and Associates to develop a concept for the interconnected trails.

There are about 10 trails and include some with access to the town’s McDowell Mountain Preserve trails.

The first one to open is a three-plus mile loop that circles the downtown, starting and finishing at Fountain Park.

According to Community Services Director Mark Mayer, the town spent no money to improve the trail route and it follows existing sidewalks along the street.

The town paid for the main kiosk installed at Fountain Park and about five trail markers at in-tersections to direct walkers.

The town pursued no federal grant funding for the project, the signage was paid from the Capital Improvement Fund and comes with no strings attached.

Opponents have also tied the urban trail to a recent survey being done on transit, suggesting the town will be tied to long-term transit plans for Valley Metro by working with the transit agency on a needs survey.

The town is paying Valley Metro $60,000 for a needs survey, but it has no long-term obligation to any findings of that survey or Valley Metro, town officials have said.

The funds ($60,000) are from the state LTAF revenues, with are derived from lottery proceeds. They are distributed to all municipalities based on size.

The town had several options for using the money, but the council chose the survey as the best use to address potential needs over the long-term.