9.C.
City Council Meeting - FINAL
- Meeting Date:
- 04/05/2016
- From:
- Paul Summerfelt, Wildland Fire Manager
Information
TITLE:
Consideration and Approval of Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA): With Coconino County for the City to provide Prescribed Fire services to the County-owned Ft Tuthill and Rogers Lake Natural Area
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve the IGA with Coconino County for the City to provide Prescribed Fire services to the County-owned Ft Tuthill County Park (FTCP) and the Rogers Lake Natural Area (RLNA).
Executive Summary:
Approval of this IGA will permit the City of Flagstaff Fire Department to provide prescribed fire services (pile and broadcast burn planning, permitting, implementation, and reporting) on the two parcels, thereby reducing wildfire threat to the community at-large, and restoring ecological health and function within those two parcels.
Financial Impact:
The work will be fully (100%) reimbursed to the City by Coconino County. For the duration of this agreement, costs are as follows:
- Broadcast burning - $100/acre for 80 acres or less
$75/acre for 81 + acres
NOTE: Add $20/acre for either if COF-FD is responsible for any pre-ignition site preparation related work
- Pile burning - $40/acre
The cost and reimbursement of this agreement will vary year to year but is estimated at $8,000 to $10,000 annually. There is no budget appropriation in FY2016 for this agreement and to provide these services. However, there is sufficient appropriation capacity in the Fire Budget for other similar prescribed fire service projects and agreements to cover the budget appropriation needed in FY2016.
Connection to Council Goal and/or Regional Plan:
In addition to working cooperatively with the County,
COUNCIL GOALS:
3) Provide sustainable and equitable public facilities, services, and infrastructure systems in an efficient and effective manner to serve all population areas and demographics
7) Address key issues and processes related to the implementation of the Regional Plan
11) Ensure that we are as prepared as possible for extreme weather events.
REGIONAL PLAN:
Environmental Planning & Conservation – Vision for the Future: In 2013, the long-term health and viability of our natural resource environment is maintained through strategic planning for resource conservation and protection.
Policy E&C.3.3 – Invest in forest health and watershed protection measures.
Policy E&C.6.1 – Encourage public awareness that the region’s ponderosa pine forest is a fie-dependent ecosystem and strive to restore more natural and sustainable forest composition, structure, and processes.
Policy E&C.6.3 – Promote protection, conservation, and ecological restoration of the region’s diverse ecosystem type and associated animals.
Policy E&C.6.6 – Support collaborative efforts for forest health initiatives or practices, such as the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), to support healthy forests and protect our water system.
Policy E&C.10.2 – Protect, conserve, and when possible, enhance and restore wildlife habitat on public land.
COUNCIL GOALS:
3) Provide sustainable and equitable public facilities, services, and infrastructure systems in an efficient and effective manner to serve all population areas and demographics
7) Address key issues and processes related to the implementation of the Regional Plan
11) Ensure that we are as prepared as possible for extreme weather events.
REGIONAL PLAN:
Environmental Planning & Conservation – Vision for the Future: In 2013, the long-term health and viability of our natural resource environment is maintained through strategic planning for resource conservation and protection.
Policy E&C.3.3 – Invest in forest health and watershed protection measures.
Policy E&C.6.1 – Encourage public awareness that the region’s ponderosa pine forest is a fie-dependent ecosystem and strive to restore more natural and sustainable forest composition, structure, and processes.
Policy E&C.6.3 – Promote protection, conservation, and ecological restoration of the region’s diverse ecosystem type and associated animals.
Policy E&C.6.6 – Support collaborative efforts for forest health initiatives or practices, such as the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), to support healthy forests and protect our water system.
Policy E&C.10.2 – Protect, conserve, and when possible, enhance and restore wildlife habitat on public land.
Has There Been Previous Council Decision on This:
No. However, Council has been involved in many other wildfire-and-forest health related issues. Council is briefed each year on Wildfire Preparedness and Outlook, remains engaged with the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project, has reviewed/approved numerous agreements and grants related to this subject, is kept approsed of the status of the Four Forest Restoration Initative, provides briefings to state and federal legislators and officials on the issue, and has toured sites where forest treatment work is underway.
Options and Alternatives:
OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES:
Two exist:
Two exist:
- Approve the IGA, permitting needed forest treatment work to proceed as planned, on a fully-reimbursable basis..
- Pass on the IGA, recognizing that the planned work and the direct beneifts to the community (reduced wildfire threat and improved ecosystem health and function) will likely not occur without direct City engagement, especially in a timely manner.
Background/History:
Widespread insect infestations, and severe and destructive wildfire, are annual and ever-present threat 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, they also provide proven barriers to both, enhance public safety and infrastructure protection, and suffer less damage from insect outbreaks and/or serious wildfires than what occurs on non-treated sites. We have cooperated with Coconino County on past efforts to conduct thinning operations on FTCP and pile burn operations on RLNA.
Key Considerations:
Both of the designated parcels (FTCP and RLNA) are within the Greater Flagstaff Community Wildfire Protection Plan boundary, and both areas present challenges in managing/suppressing a wildfire due to a variety of factors. Each also is south-southwest of Flagstaff, and present a threat to our community if a wildfire starts or moves into either parcel. Each also offers an opportunity to serve as a fuel-break to an approaching wildfire if presecribed fire operations premptively occur on the parcels. Forest treatments such as prescribed fire has proven highly effective in reducing fire severity both within Flagstaff and elsewhere.
Expanded Financial Considerations:
We have crafted the agreement and established a set price per acre for each service (pile and broadcast) to fully reimburse the City for staff, supplies, and equipment charges incurred.
The costs and reimbursement of this agreement will vary year to year but is estimated at $8,000 to $10,000 annually. There is no budget appropriation in FY2016 for this agreement and to provide these services. However, there is sufficient appropriation capacity in the Fire Budget for other similar prescribed fire service projects and agreements to cover the budget appropriation needed in FY2016.
The costs and reimbursement of this agreement will vary year to year but is estimated at $8,000 to $10,000 annually. There is no budget appropriation in FY2016 for this agreement and to provide these services. However, there is sufficient appropriation capacity in the Fire Budget for other similar prescribed fire service projects and agreements to cover the budget appropriation needed in FY2016.
Community Benefits and Considerations:
Multiple partners have been engaged in the land management activites on these two parcels, to include Greater Flagstaff Forests Partenrship, the NAU School fo Forestry (via the Centinneal Forest Advisory Board )and Ecological Restoration Institute, AZ Game & Fish, US Fish and Wildlife Service, AZ State Forestry, and the County's Rogers Lake Stakeholders group. Successfully completing the planned prescribed fire treatments will enhance protection of our forests, adjacent areas, and the community at-large, while promoting the vigor, resiliency, and sustainability of the trees themselves.
Community Involvement:
Inform