Staff is seeking Council direction on the use of this community asset.

The building located within Joel Montalvo Park at 2211 E. First Avenue was acquired by the City of Flagstaff as part of Mount Elden Little League Park in 1959. The building was used as a fire station, and then in approximately 2012, became used as a park maintenance annex including equipment and turf maintenance supply storage. In addition, the building houses permanent restrooms for the park. More recently, the building has become the east side park deployment site for Parks Maintenance staff during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the number of staff reporting to the main Parks/Facilities Maintenance Shop on Thorpe Road.

There is interest in the community to re-purpose the building to more of a community use. The intent of this agenda item is to hear the Council's vision for this building and provide direction to staff about how to move forward.


 

In 1925 the Joel Montalvo Park land was accepted by the Coconino County Board of Supervisors from the owner who dedicated the land as "PUBLIC PARK" on the original plat map. The Joel Montalvo Park land was acquired by the City of Flagstaff from the Coconino County Board of Supervisors in 1959. At the time, the park was called Mount Elden Little League Park. Attached is the Planning Department Data Sheet explaining that the entire parcel was dedicated as a park, with assets including a ball field, stands, announcement booth, and fire station on the northeast corner. The fire station building is the building to be discussed at this Council meeting. In 2011, the Fire Department moved out of this location and the building became vacant. As the building is on park property, and due to shortage of storage and office space at the existing Parks/Facilities Maintenance facility on Thorpe Road, Parks began using the space for Parks Maintenance operations.

The park consists of the Joe Garagiola Sr. little league ball field, which was sponsored by the Arizona Diamondbacks and dedicated in 2012. This field is mainly used by West Flagstaff Little League. In 2017, CDBG funds were used to improve the parking lot and landscaping. In 2019, Parks staff converted a portion of the building to permanent restrooms to serve the community instead of having portable toilets at the location. Also in 2019, through the Economic Vitality Arts and Sciences Program, a mosaic was installed on the building by local artist Sonja London-Hall; the artist/project was a finalist for a Viola Award in the same year. 

During the recession of 2008/2009, there was discussion at the Council level about the possibility of selling this property, but due to the 1925 deed restriction as a public park, it was determined unfeasible to sell.  The discussion today will allow for Council to give direction to staff about their vision for this community asset. Some options include the following:

• Continue use as a Parks Maintenance east side annex for operations
  • This location has proven to be highly efficient for Park Maintenance operations, equipment, and staffing
• Possible lease to a parks and recreation related third-party organization
  • This would include a Request for Proposals procurement process and contract/lease development
• Other uses or options as discussed by Council