10.D.
City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 01/06/2015
- From:
- Paul Summerfelt, Wildland Fire Manager
Information
TITLE:
Consideration and Approval of Agreement: Amendment #1 – Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for Vegetation Monitoring associated with the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project (FWPP) with Northern Arizona University (approved by Council October 7, 2014) (Amend IGA with NAU for FWPP vegetation monitoring).
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
-
Amend the effective date of the FWPP Vegetation Monitoring IGA to July 1, 2014.
Policy Decision or Reason for Action:
The IGA was approved by Council on October 7, 2014 (Agenda Item 9A). The need for this activity (monitoring vegetation conditions, pre and post forest treatment, to document responses of Mexican Spotted Owl populations and thus validate/adaptively manage the Project, was identified in early 2014 and discussed by the FWPP Executive Team. The effort was identified in the FWPP Monitoring Plan, provided to Council in a June 27th CCR.
The actual plot installation and associated field work was begun by NAU in July 2014 in order to take advantage of their seasonal labor force, and to complete the work before fall weather hampered accomplishment. Before we could fully develop and bring the IGA forward for action, Council was on summer break and subsequently it was brought to Council in October 2014.
The plot installation and associated field work was completed by Nov 2014. To do so, NAU leveraged other funds to cover costs. In early December 2014, when invoice preparation was underway, it was recognized that the date of the IGA (approval in Oct 2014, with signatures in Nov 2014), prevented NAU from recovering costs incurred prior to the IGA being in effect.
By amending the IGA date to July 1, 2014, we permit NAU to submit and receive the payment ($25,000) during the actual field work and in accordance with the terms of the IGA.
Subsidiary Decision Point: All work required by the IGA was done in good faith, has been completed per the IGA, and supports the intent and purpose of the FWPP. .
The actual plot installation and associated field work was begun by NAU in July 2014 in order to take advantage of their seasonal labor force, and to complete the work before fall weather hampered accomplishment. Before we could fully develop and bring the IGA forward for action, Council was on summer break and subsequently it was brought to Council in October 2014.
The plot installation and associated field work was completed by Nov 2014. To do so, NAU leveraged other funds to cover costs. In early December 2014, when invoice preparation was underway, it was recognized that the date of the IGA (approval in Oct 2014, with signatures in Nov 2014), prevented NAU from recovering costs incurred prior to the IGA being in effect.
By amending the IGA date to July 1, 2014, we permit NAU to submit and receive the payment ($25,000) during the actual field work and in accordance with the terms of the IGA.
Subsidiary Decision Point: All work required by the IGA was done in good faith, has been completed per the IGA, and supports the intent and purpose of the FWPP. .
Financial Impact:
No change from the existing IGA. Payment to NAU remains at $25,000. (This City provided amount was matched by $25,000 from NAU and U.S. Fish & Wildlife staff time.)
Connection to Council Goal and/or Regional Plan:
The FWPP, and this monitoring activity, intersect with the following COUNCIL GOALS:
11. Effective governance
REGIONAL PLAN:
Environmental Planning & Conservation – Vision for the Future: In 2013, the long-term health and viability of our natural resource environment is maintained through strategic planning for resource conversation and protection.
Policy E&C.3.3 – Invest in forest health and watershed protection measures.
Policy E&C.6.1 – Encourage public awareness that the region’s ponderosa pine forest is a fire-dependent ecosystem and strive to restore more natural and sustainable forest composition, structure, and processes.
Policy E&C.6.3 – Promote protection, conservation, and ecological restoration of the region’s diverse ecosystem type and associated animals.
Policy E&C.6.6 – Support cooperative efforts for forest health initiatives or practices, such as the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), to support healthy forests and protect our water system.
Policy E&C.10.2 – Protect, conserve, and when possible, enhance and restore wildlife habitat on public land.
11. Effective governance
REGIONAL PLAN:
Environmental Planning & Conservation – Vision for the Future: In 2013, the long-term health and viability of our natural resource environment is maintained through strategic planning for resource conversation and protection.
Policy E&C.3.3 – Invest in forest health and watershed protection measures.
Policy E&C.6.1 – Encourage public awareness that the region’s ponderosa pine forest is a fire-dependent ecosystem and strive to restore more natural and sustainable forest composition, structure, and processes.
Policy E&C.6.3 – Promote protection, conservation, and ecological restoration of the region’s diverse ecosystem type and associated animals.
Policy E&C.6.6 – Support cooperative efforts for forest health initiatives or practices, such as the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), to support healthy forests and protect our water system.
Policy E&C.10.2 – Protect, conserve, and when possible, enhance and restore wildlife habitat on public land.
Has There Been Previous Council Decision on This:
The existing IGA was approved by Council on October 7th, 2014. (In addition, this activity was contained in the FWPP Monitoring Plan, provided to Council via CCR on June 27th, 2014.)
Options and Alternatives:
Two options exist:
1. Approve the IGA amendment as written (permitting NAU to account for and receive payment); or
2. Reject the IGA amendment (City retains the funds and NAU must cover costs with another funding source).
1. Approve the IGA amendment as written (permitting NAU to account for and receive payment); or
2. Reject the IGA amendment (City retains the funds and NAU must cover costs with another funding source).
Community Involvement:
Inform - ability to document project impact and answer voter/stakeholder questions;
Consult - demonstrate inclusion of an issue raised by the public in previous community meetings during the development of the FWPP Monitoring Plan; and
Collaborate - engage NAU staff in delivery and adaptive management of FWPP.
Consult - demonstrate inclusion of an issue raised by the public in previous community meetings during the development of the FWPP Monitoring Plan; and
Collaborate - engage NAU staff in delivery and adaptive management of FWPP.
Attachments
- Amendment 1 - FWPP IGA for Vegetation Monitoring with NAU
- FWPP IGA for Vegetation Monitoring with NAU
- Scope of Work: IGA for Vegetation Monitoring