Consideration and Approval of Contract:  Sub-Recipient Agreement between Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership, Inc. and the City of Flagstaff in the amount of $100,000 (Approve agreement with GFFP for forest treatments on Observatory Mesa).

Approve the Sub-Recipient Agreement with Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership, Inc. 

Approval of the Sub-Recipient Agreement will allow the City of Flagstaff to collect up to $100,000 from Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership (GFFP).

GFFP has received a Western Bark Beetle Initiative (WBBI) grant from AZ State Forestry to conduct forest treatments on susceptible forested lands within the greater Flagstaff area.  GFFP is desirous to provide up to $100,000 from this grant award to the City of Flagstaff for forest treatments to off-set treatment costs on no more than 250-acres of the City-owned Observatory Mesa Open Space area.  The forest treatments will include tree thinning and wood/debris disposal.  The Observatory Mesa Open Space area is within the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project (FWPP) boundary area, and such work will reduce both wildfire and insect threat.

GFFP will account for the 250-acres of completed work as part of their required WBBI grant reporting, and distribution of these funds to the City of Flagstaff to achieve the desired forest treatments is allowable/encouraged by the State. 

The funds provided by GFFP to the City of Flagstaff per terms of this Sub-Recipient Agreement will pay for up to but no more than 50% of the overall treatment cost of the 250-acre project.  This is in keeping with the specifics of the original grant award from AZ State Forestry to GFFP.   The City of Flagstaff will match the GFFP-provided funding with FWPP bond funds on a 1-1 basis: for every two dollars spent on the treatment work, one dollar will be from GFFP provided funds, and one dollar from the bond funds.  The forest treatments work on the 250 acres was planned to occur and would otherwise be funded entirely by FWPP bond funds: acceptance of these GFFP supplied funds and approval of the Sub-Recipient Agreement will leverage our fund pool and reduce bond fund expenditures.  

 

Not on this specific issue (Sub-recipient Agreement between GFFP and City for up to 250 acres of Forest Treatment on Observatory Mesa).  Council was involved in the bond effort, has been engaged in review, discussion, comment, and/or approval of other FWPP issues and agreements, and has been periodically briefed/updated on the overall progress and status of the effort since the election.

Three options exist:
1)   Approve Sub-Recipient Agreement, permitting forest treatment work to proceed as planned:  Pro - This permits full-use of the grant funds (termination date of Sept 30, 2015) and saves bond funds.
2)   Discard the Sub-Recipient Agreement, and elect to pay the entire cost of treatment from bond funds:  Con - Increases City costs and reduces bond funds for other FWPP required work.
3)  Reject the need for forest treatments on Observatory Mesa: Con - Wildfire and insect risk continues unabated (and will increase over time), forest sustainability is in jeopardy, and voter desire/direction is unmet.

Damage and loss of our forests from widespread insect infestations and destructive wildfire are ever-present threats to our forests and the community.  Areas that have undergone forest treatments (ie – thinning, debris disposal, and/or prescribed fire) are not only healthier and more resilient to damaging agents and provide barriers to their expansion, they also enhance public safety and infrastructure protection.  Areas such as the Observatory Mesa Open Space area that undergo forest treatments suffer far less damage from insect outbreaks and/or serious wildfires than what occurs on non-treated sites.

 

 

The Observatory Mesa Open Space area and the forest treatments that will occur were presented during the bond campaign leading-up to the election as part of the overall goal, area, and effort that would result with passage of the bond.  Regardless of location, insect outbreaks are always a challenge to manage.  Wildfires on Observatory Mesa are a challenge to suppress due to access, water supply, adjacent neighborhoods, and other factors.  Completion of forest treatments, such as those planned for Observatory Mesa, have proven highly effective, both in Flagstaff and elsewhere, in reducing the occurrence of, and severity from, both insect outbreaks and wildfire events.

Funds provided by approval and acceptance of the Sub-Recipient Agreement will be applied toward planned forest treatments on Observatory Mesa, thereby reducing bond expenditures.   

Multiple partners have been engaged in the FWPP effort, to include GFFP, Friends of the Rio, the NAU Ecological Restoration Institute, AZ Game & Fish, US Fish and Wildlife Service, AZ State Forestry, and the Observatory Mesa Stakeholders group.  Successfully completing the planned forest treatments will enhance protection of adjacent neighborhoods, recreational opportunities, and the community’s viewshed, while promoting the vigor, resiliency, and sustainability of the forest itself. 

Inform:  In the months leading up to the November 2012 election, 50 public outreach events were held throughout the community.  Since then, we’ve endeavored to keep the community informed of overall FWPP efforts through various means, including public meetings, briefings, the project website, media coverage, etc.  Specific to this project, we have worked to inform various stakeholders of desired outcomes, plans, schedules, and status.  Signage will also be posted in the area to inform visitors of the need and goals of the forest treatments.
Consult:  We’ve worked with both AZ Game & Fish and US Fish & Wildlife Service regarding protection of wildlife habitat, adjacent neighborhoods regarding access, the US Forest Service regarding transportation routes, Kinder Morgan/El Paso Natural Gas and the AZ Snowbowl regarding pipeline crossings, and AZ State Forestry regarding plans and treatment options.
Involve:  Following treatment work conducted by City Crew 1 on other areas within the Observatory Mesa Open Space area, the Winter Wood for Warmth program has been involved in removing firewood from the area for distribution to area residents.  In addition, we have initiated a free, personal-use firewood permit program for interested individuals as well.  
Collaborate:  The proposed work is compatible with other forest treatment work in the Flagstaff area, and is in-alignment with efforts conducted by the US Forest Service, AZ State Forestry, the City’s Wildland Fire Management program, and the Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership.  It will compliment work currently being planned and that will be implemented as part of the Four Forest Restoration Initiative.  It is in accordance with the Greater Flagstaff Area Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and supports the City’s Wildland Urban Interface Fire Code (WUI), adopted by Council in 2005 and 2008, respectfully.
Empower:  74% of those who voted in November 2012 voted in favor of the FWPP.