Consideration and Acceptance of Grant Funding:  Arizona State Parks FY 2016 Recreational Trails Program Grant for Picture Canyon.

On April 7, 2015, City Council adopted Resolution 2015-09, approving a grant application to offset the significant costs associated with trail construction, signage, and restoration projects with a $79,998 grant from Arizona State Parks. Staff recommends that Council authorize the Supplemental Work Order #11-049 – RTP 471510 in order to complete extensive access and infrastructure improvements at Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve. These improvements support the City’s requirements as defined in Resolution 2012-12 to protect cultural sites at the Preserve.

The grant award is in the amount of $79,998. The City’s match of $41,733 is comprised of $32,000 from the Flagstaff Area National Monuments, $6,565 from the Open Space budget, and $3,168 in staff time. The total project cost is $121,731.  For FY2016, this project budget will be covered by the open space maintenance program budget in account 214-06-170-0665-0.  This project will be included in the FY2017 recommended budget in the Sustainability and Environmental Management Fund.
 

Below are the Council goals. Only list those that relate to this agenda item; REMOVE ALL OTHERS.

COUNCIL GOALS:
3) Provide sustainable and equitable public facilities, services, and infrastructure systems in an efficient and effective manner to serve all population areas and demographics
6) Provide a well-managed transportation system
7) Continue to implement the Flagstaff Regional Plan and focus efforts on specific plans

REGIONAL PLAN:
Goal E&C.6. Protect, restore, and improve ecosystem health and maintain native plant and animal community diversity across all land ownerships in the Flagstaff region.
Goal E&C.8. Maintain areas of natural quiet and reduce noise pollution.
Goal E&C.9. Protect soils through conservation practices.
Goal E&C.10. Protect indigenous wildlife populations, localized and larger-scale wildlife habitats, ecosystem processes, and wildlife movement areas throughout the planning area.
Goal OS.1. The region has a system of open lands, such as undeveloped natural areas, wildlife corridors and habitat areas, trails, access to public lands, and greenways to support the natural environment that sustains our quality of life, cultural heritage, and ecosystem health.
Goal LU.3. Continue to enhance the region's unique sense of place within the urban, suburban, and rural context (Policy LU.3.3).
Goal WR.6. Protect, preserve, and improve the quality of surface water, groundwater, and reclaimed water in the region.
Goal CC.2. Preserve, restore, and rehabilitate heritage resources to better appreciate our culture.
Goal ED.7. Continue to promote and enhance Flagstaff’s unique sense of place as an economic driver.
Goal REC.1. Maintain and grow the region’s healthy system of convenient and accessible parks, recreation facilities, and trails.

On June 7, 2011, City Council adopted Resolution 2011-22 supporting the preservation of Picture Canyon. On April 3, 2012, Council adopted Resolution 2012-12 to reclassify Picture Canyon for conservation purposes and adopt a cultural resource management policy. On June 5, 2012, Council approved the submission of the Arizona State Parks Growing Smarter grant to acquire land at Picture Canyon. On October 16, 2012, Council approved the Growing Smarter grant agreement and accepted the grant funding to purchase the parcels. On July 15, 2014, Council adopted Resolution 2014-29 in support of dedicating two trails in Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve as the “Tom Moody Trail” and “Don Weaver Trail”. On April 7, 2015, Council adopted Resolution 2015-09 approving a grant application in the amount of $79,998 to the Arizona State Parks Recreational Trails Program Grant Fund. A Master Interagency Services/Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Flagstaff and Arizona State Parks was approved by Council on January 4, 2011.

Option A – Accept grant funding in the amount of $79,998 from the Arizona State Parks to be used on infrastructure and access improvement projects at Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve. 
 
Option B – Do not accept grant funding in the amount of $79,998 from the Arizona State Parks to be used on infrastructure and access improvement projects at Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve.

Picture Canyon is a natural and cultural amenity for northern Arizona because it provides critical riparian habitat, a popular recreation corridor, and home to over 125 northern Sinagua petroglyph panels. Community efforts to protect Picture Canyon began decades ago. On June 7, 2011, the City Council adopted Resolution 2011-22 supporting the preservation of Picture Canyon. In August 2011, the Open Spaces Commission made a recommendation to City Council to approve the use of $2.389 million from the 2005 Voter approved Open Space bond funds for the acquisition of Picture Canyon. In April 2012, the State Land Commissioner ordered that Picture Canyon be reclassified as suitable for conservation purposes. On June 5, 2012, Council approved the submission of the Arizona State Parks Growing Smarter grant to acquire land at Picture Canyon. On September 20, 2012, the Arizona State Parks Board awarded the City of Flagstaff $2.389 million to acquire parcels 113-06-004 and 113-06-003 (“Picture Canyon”) for conservation purposes. On October 16, 2012, the Council approved the Growing Smarter grant agreement and accepted the grant funding to purchase the parcels. Since its acquisition, City staff have utilized limited City resources to improve conditions at Picture Canyon, including naturalizing roads, installing signs, and developing parking areas. However, substantial work remains to improve and restore the Preserve, including constructing and maintaining trails, naturalizing roads, and installing trail makers and educational signs. In particular, constructing usable and identifiable trails with help concentrate visitor use and reduce negative impacts on sensitive archaeological resources.

If this grant funding is not approved, using City funds, these projects will need to be phased in given the City’s limited financial resources.

Improving the trail system at Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve by constructing and maintaining trails, naturalizing roads, and installing trail markers and educational signs will improve visitor experiences at Picture Canyon. Additionally, these projects will provide an opporutnity for members of the Flagstaff community and visitors to Flagtaff to learn about geology, ecology, hydrology, and archaeology while engaging in outdoor recreation. Well constructed trails benefit the community as a tool for natural and cultural resource protection. When properly designed and signed, trails mitigate damage by controlling public access when they route visitors through or around sensitive resource areas as well as reduce erosion and stormwater run-off issues.

Involve. The proposed grant-funded projects have been vetted through the Picture Canyon Working Group, the Open Spaces Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, State Historic Preservation Office, Arizona State Museum, and Arizona State Parks. 

Option A – Accept grant funding in the amount of $79,998 from the Arizona State Parks to be used on infrastructure and access improvement projects at Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve.  

Option B – Do not accept grant funding in the amount of $79,998 from the Arizona State Parks to be used on infrastructure and access improvement projects at Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve.