Informational Item. 

Staff will provide the commission with an update on the Recreational Trails Program Grant for Picture Canyon Preserve. 

The grant project titled Picture Canyon Trail Restoration, and numbered ASPT: 472303 was completed February 2025, in accordance with the terms of the project sponsor agreement, including any approved amendments, and complies with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
 
This project restored and repaired non-motorized trails at Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve. Work addressed maintenance and repairs and a reroute along Tom Moody and Don Weaver trails, restoration of closed roads/unauthorized trails, and implementation of regulation, boundary, archaeological site, and trail signs. As directed by the grant agreement we achieved:

• Repairs to existing trails
  • Petroglyph Overlook Trail stone steps installed
  • Reroute of the Waterbird Site Overlook Trail to better protect rock art
  • Trail repairs for 0.06 miles of the Tom Moody Trail
• Restoration that included erosion control and seeding of over 1.2 acres
  • Restoration along the AZ Trail of 0.43 miles
  • Restoration along the Don Weaver Trail of 0.55 miles
  • Restoration along Tom Moody Trail of 2.92 miles
• Installation of signage
  • Boundary signs
  • No Motorized Vehicle signs
  • Restoration Area signs
  • Protected Cultural Site signs
  • Grate additions to Weclome signs for temporary signage
• An archaeologist on site oversaw all groundbreaking within archaeological polygons
• Printing 10,000 maps for visitors

Due to inflation and the unexpected cost of needing an archaeologist to be physically present during some of the work, the City of Flagstaff spent additional city funds on the project. The City of Flagstaff provided the following extra cash match and in-kind volunteer time.

• Scope item 1: Renovation and maintenance of trails
  • Extra cash match of $12,500 to support labor
  • Extra volunteer time match of $84,833
• Scope item 2: Mitigate and restore damage to areas surrounding trails
  • Extra cash match of $10,000 to support labor
  • Extra cash match of 2,600 for seed
  • Extra cash match of $26,000 for hiring an archaeologist to oversee field work
  • Extra cash match of $3,600 match for purchasing mulch netting
  • Extra volunteer time match of $35,900
• Scope Item 4: Enforce existing rules and regulations
  • Extra cash match of $1,000 on sign installation materials
  • Extra volunteer time match of $14,260
• Scope Item 5: Provide and install trail signs
  • Extra cash match of $1,00 to support labor
  • Extra volunteer time match of $19,800

Out of all the grant parameters, there are four items that were not yet accomplished.

• Installation of a wayfinding sign at the entrance to the Picture Canyon Preserve. We are committed to completing this sign purchase and installation with Open Space Section base budget funds.
• Installation of an interpretive sign at the Pithouse Overlook. We are working on developing a final draft and are committed to completing this sign purchase and installation with Open Space Section base budget funds.
• Restoration along the Arizona Trail where approximately 0.66 miles of unauthorized roads and trails still need to be restored. We will continue to organize volunteer projects to complete this work.
• Trail work along the Tom Moody Trail where approximately 0.66 miles of trail still needs some repairs. We will continue to organize volunteer projects to complete this work.