Consideration and Approval of Contract Ratification:  Ratify the Agreement between the Department of the Army and the City of Flagstaff to provide federal funds for Design and Construction Assistance for the Downtown Flood Lateral Tunnel Project.
 

The Section 595 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999, Public  Law 106-53, as amended (hereinafter "Section 595"), provides funding for publicly owned, non-Federal water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection and development projects in Arizona. The District Commander for the Los Angeles District determined that the non-Federal project for the Downtown Flood Lateral Tunnel at West Santa Fe Avenue is eligible for design and construction assistance under Section 595.

On January 23, 2024 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Flagstaff conducted an executive meeting to discuss the Rio de Flag Flood Control Project. Andrew J. Baker, Colonel, U.S. Army District Commander and City of Flagstaff Mayor Daggett signed the Project Partnership Agreement authorizing the payment of $1,200,000 in federal funds for the Downtown Flood Lateral Project.

The Agreement is in the amount of $1,200,000 (75%), with a match of $400,000 (25%) for a total of $1,600,000.

The estimated project cost for the first increment of the project, environmental clearances and construction of the upsizing of the stormwater infrastructure along Santa Fe Avenue and the new storm drain facilities along Grand Canyon Avenue and/or Coconino Avenue, including multiple utility relocations will cost $2,997,927. 

Funding breakdown is as follows;

Total Cost, First Increment		$2,997,927
595 Funding (First Increment) (75%)		$1,200,000
City Share (25%)		$400,000
City and/or Other Funding Source		$1,397,927

The funds are programmed in the CIP 5-Year for Water Services, Stormwater, Side Drain Lateral Santa Fe project for FY2024-25 to FY2026-27 in the amount of $ 1,600,000.

Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives

No.

1. Ratify the Agreement to authorize the Department of the Army to provide the City of Flagstaff $1,200,000; or
2. No not approve the ratification of the Agreement, thereby foregoing the $1,200,000. This option is not recommended by staff.

Flagstaff is located in north central Arizona and is home to approximately 78,000 residents, as well as Northern Arizona University with an enrollment of approximately 20,000 students. Flagstaff’s Downtown and Southside neighborhoods are susceptible to flooding from on-forest rain and flow events. To prevent life/safety hazards and property damage caused by significant flood events, the $122M Rio de Flag Project is planned as a partnership of City of Flagstaff and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Lateral drainages that tie into the Rio de Flag Project must also be upsized and joined to the new infrastructure but are separate stand-alone projects from the Rio de Flag Project. The proposed project is located at West Santa Fe Avenue, where significant runoff from Mars Hill and Observatory Mesa has frequently exceeded the storm drain capacity in the downtown neighborhood, overflowed the system and led to water contamination by flowing through the urban environment. The contaminated floodwaters pool at the Route 66/Milton Road underpass beneath the BNSF railway. There are limited north-south roadway connections across the railroad, so closures of this road pose grave public safety concerns, especially for emergency response times, and exposure to contaminated urban floodwaters is a concern for both the public and the ecosystem. 

On January 23, 2024 the US Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Flagstaff conducted an executive meeting to discuss the Rio de Flag Flood Control Project.  Ahead of the meeting, Col. Baker and Mayor Daggett signed the Project Partnership Agreement for the Downtown Flood Lateral Project.

The project will provide new construction of a storm drain system within West Santa Fe Avenue to improve storm runoff water quality by removing urban surface water sheet flow. Drainage improvements will include storm drain, drainage inlets, and catch basins, junction manholes with lids, trench drains, valley gutters, and scuppers. The length of the construction area is approximately 1,000 feet. Included with the improvements will be backfill base material, asphalt pavement trench patches, new concrete curb, gutter, sidewalk, and street pavement makings. Additional improvements will include existing water and wastewater infrastructure adjustments to protect and enhance water and wastewater infrastructure. Stormwater Best Management Practices will also be implemented for protection of the existing watershed system.

This new storm drain will relieve stormwater system overflows that often flood the Route 66 underpass of the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad bridge and create serious water quality and safety hazards along this critical arterial transportation route. The project will protect water quality, protect water/wastewater infrastructure, all while concurrently reducing flood threats.