Direction from City Council on which potential ballot measure recommendations should move forward to the next step of seeking input through community surveys and focus groups.

Staff is seeking input and direction from Council with regard to recommendations for potential ballot measures to include in the preliminary public outreach.  This would be in preparation for the General Election in November 2020.  Staff has been working with commission members, community stakeholders and community partners to develop recommendations.  In addition, staff has added brief information for consideration of a ballot measure for the unfunded pension liability based on Council feedback during the January 21, 2020 discussion.

 

City staff presented general information on potential ballot measures and consultant services for Council consideration during the January 21, 2020 Council meeting.  As a result of these conversations, during the March 3, 2020 Council meeting staff presented refined potential ballot measure recommendations from the Parks & Recreation and Open Space Priorities Committee (combination of the Parks & Recreation Commission and Open Space Commission), Housing Commission, Flagstaff Fire Department, and Finance personnel. 

During the March 3, 2020 presentation Council heard public comment and began discussions related to potential ballot recommendations.  Based on those discussions it appears staff may have direction on some of the recommendations, but is seeking clarification of Council direction for all recommendations presented.

Based on initial Council feedback it appears there may be support for:

• All Housing bond recommendations funded at the recommended level 1 for $30 million
• Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project Phase III at Mormon Mountain for $4 million
• Not going beyond the $61 million capacity or raising the secondary property tax

Based on initial Council feedback it appears there may be varying levels of support for:

• Conservation and protection of Open Space
• Parks & Recreation projects

Based on initial Council feedback it appears there may not be support for:

• Unfunded pension liability
• Integrated land acquisition for Open Space
• Observatory Mesa Trail system

Based on initial Council feedback it appears there may be a need for additional information on: 

• Unfunded Pension Liability

Those bond measures which Council supports will be included in the community surveys and focus groups for further evaluation and feedback.  Staff will return later in the Spring to Council will a full report from the surveys and focus groups to determine what ballot measures will be placed on the November 2020 general election ballot.