Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-02: A resolution of the Flagstaff City Council, approving a submission of a grant application between the State of Arizona through the Arizona Department of Transportation and City of Flagstaff for the Arizona State Match Advantage for Rural Transportation (AZ SMART) Match Reimbursement for the Seligman Sub Big Fill Lake Project (Big Fill Lake).
 

1. Read Resolution No. 2026-02 by title only
2. City Clerk reads Resolution No. 2026-02 by title only (if approved above)
3. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-02

The City of Flagstaff has been working with the BNSF Railway since 2022 on a drainage design that will alleviate a large ponding condition on the east side of Flagstaff termed "Big Fill Lake". This condition has resulted in dozens of homes receiving a restrictive Floodway designation under FEMA regulations. The project, if completed, will remove over 50 homes from the FEMA Floodway designation and open up nearly 200 acres of land for re-development. An additional benefit would be the future use of one of the tunnels as a bimodal transportation corridor connecting Continental Park with Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve. The City and BNSF are currently pursuing a Federal Rail Administration (FRA) grant to complete the project but will need to provide a non-Federal match. The purpose of this Resolution is to provide Council support of staff's pursuit of a grant application for a AZ SMART match grant to alleviate the financial impact of this project on the Stormwater Utility fund. 

Project Name: Seligman Sub Big Fill Lake
Total Cost: $17,000,000 (approximately, final cost will be determined in 2026)
Federal Cost (FRA grant if approved): $13,600,000 (approximate)
Non Federal Cost (City and BNSF): $3,400,000 (approximate)
Account Number Budgeted: 206-08-385-3597-0-XXXX (account numbers and related dollar amounts to be added closer to final numbers)
FY Budgeted Amount: this project is not funded in the current FY beyond design costs. The Stormwater Capital Plan has funding occurring in FY27-28 and FY28-29 with possible debt proceeds needed to fund part of the City Match within the Stormwater Fund.
Grant Funded: Application due February 2026
Funding Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Stormwater Fund

No impact

There has been no previous Council Decision on this particular project, there have been previous AZ SMART grant Resolutions for JW Powell extension, Downtown Mile, and Butler Street Improvements.

1) Approve this Resolution allowing the City to pursue a match of the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) grant using State funds (AZ SMART)
2) Not approve this Resolution in which case the City and BNSF will bear the full 20% match for the FRA grant.

This project replaces undersized, failing culverts beneath the BNSF railroad embankment while providing a grade-separated pedestrian crossing at a location where trespassing activities may occur. The existing culverts have exceeded their service life and lack adequate hydraulic capacity to convey Rio de Flag flows from its 111-square-mile watershed. FEMA studies indicate a 100-year storm would generate over 3,100 acre-feet of retention at depths exceeding 20 feet across 1,141 acres. Quantitative analysis shows a high probability of embankment issues during major floods, threatening destructive conditions and rail service concerns. Historical flooding, including a 1993 event (25–50-year recurrence), demonstrates the potential issues. The oversized replacement culvert serves dual purposes: ensuring flood conveyance capacity during storm events and functioning as a safe pedestrian underpass during dry periods, eliminating at-grade rail crossing concerns.

The oversized culvert doubles as a pedestrian passage beneath railroad tracks, providing safe access to Picture Canyon Natural & Cultural Preserve and Continental Park for 3,000–4,500 neighboring residents per the Transportation Master Plan. The project furthers efforts already underway to mitigate potential safety concerns while connecting neighborhoods to outdoor recreation amenities.

 

• Deliver outstanding services to residents through a healthy, well maintained infrastructure system.

• Improve mobility and access throughout the region.
• Improve transportation safety and efficiency for all modes.
• Promote transportation infrastructure and services that enhance the quality of life of the communities within the region.
• Increase the availability and use of pedestrian infrastructure, including FUTS, as a critical element of a safe and livable community.

• Encourage vibrancy, appropriate density, and attainability in existing neighborhoods, so that more residents live within walking distance of their daily needs.
• Create inclusive networks for walking and biking that are continuous, attractive, safe, comprehensive, and convenient for people of all ages.

• Provide re-development potential for currently undeveloped land within a restrictive FEMA Floodway designation.

• This project ties into disaster preparedness objectives for both the Water Services Division Strategic Plan and the Stormwater Utility Strategic Plan.