Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2022-09: A resolution of the Flagstaff City Council, approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff for Prescribed Fire Operations

WHEREAS, the Coconino County and City of Flagstaff desire to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for prescribed fire operations for the County-owned Rogers Lake Natural Area ("Rogers Lake") and Fort Tuthill County Park ("Ft Tuthill");
 
WHEREAS, the purpose is to plan, conduct, and report on prescribed fire operation – both broadcast and slash/debris pile burning to reduce wildfire threat and to maintain/improve a healthy forest ecosystem

The work will be fully (100%) reimbursed to the City by Coconino County.  For the duration of this agreement, costs are as follows:

• Broadcast burning - $100/acre for 80 acres or less, 
• $75/acre for 81 + acres,
• Add $20/acre if the City of Flagstaff Fire Department is responsible for any pre-ignition site preparation related work,
• Pile burning for $40/acre.

The cost and reimbursement of this agreement will vary year to year but is estimated at $8,000 to $10,000 annually.

Allows wildfire risk reduction efforts to continue in priority areas southwest of Flagstaff.  In addition, facilitates our partnership with Coconino County and fire management partners. 

Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives
High Performing Governance: Implement innovative local government programs
Safe and Healthy Community: Ensure built environment is safe through the use of consistent standards, rules and regulations, & land use practices
Environmental Stewardship: Promote, protect & enhance a healthy, sustainable environment & its natural resources
Environmental Stewardship: Strengthen Flagstaff's resilience to climate change impacts on built, natural, economic, health, & social systems

Carbon Neutrality Plan
Consolidating carbon stocks in fewer, larger trees reduces the risk of carbon loss from fire.

The pre-suppression forest structure provides the best target for maintaining sustainable carbon stocks and ecological function.

Implementing prescribed fire after mechanical thinning treatments supports the maintenance of the restored natural tree structure and pattern. 

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 conservation 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 collaborative 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.

This is the first presentation to Council for the 2022 IGA with Coconino County for prescribed burning at Rogers Lake and Ft Tuthill. A similar IGA with Coconino County was approved in 2016.

Two exist:

1. Approve the IGA, permitting needed forest treatment work to proceed as planned, on a fully-reimbursable basis..
2. Pass on the IGA, recognizing that the planned work and the direct benefits to the community (reduced wildfire threat and improved ecosystem health and function) will likely not occur without direct City engagement, especially in a timely manner.

Severe and destructive wildfire is an annual and ever-present threat to our forests and the community.  Areas that have undergone science based fuel reduction treatments are healthier, more fire adapted, and enhance public safety and infrastructure protection. We have cooperated with Coconino County on past efforts to conduct thinning operations, pile burning and broadcast burning operations at Ft Tuthill County Park and Rogers Lake Natural Area.

Both of the designated parcels (FTCP and RLNA) are within the Greater Flagstaff Community Wildfire Protection Plan boundary, and both areas present challenges in managing/suppressing a wildfire due to a variety of factors.  Each also is south-southwest of Flagstaff and present a threat to our community if a wildfire starts or moves into either parcel.  Each also offers an opportunity to serve as a fuel-break to an approaching wildfire if prescribed fire operations preemptively occur on the parcels.  Forest treatments such as prescribed fire has proven highly effective in reducing fire severity both within Flagstaff and elsewhere.

We have crafted the agreement and established a set price per acre for each service (pile and broadcast) to fully reimburse the City for staff, supplies, and equipment charges incurred. 

The costs and reimbursement of this agreement will vary year to year but is estimated at $8,000 to $10,000 annually. 

Multiple partners have been engaged in the land management activities on these two parcels, to include Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership, The Nature Conservancy, the NAU School of Forestry (via the Centennial Forest Advisory Board) and Ecological Restoration Institute, AZ Game & Fish, US Fish and Wildlife Service, AZ State Forestry, and the County's Rogers Lake Stakeholders group.  Successfully completing the planned prescribed fire treatments will enhance protection of our forests, adjacent areas, and the community at-large, while promoting the vigor, resiliency, and sustainability of the trees themselves.

Inform and Involve