12.C.
City Council Meeting - FINAL
- Meeting Date:
- 10/07/2025
- Co-Submitter:
- Lee Williams
- From:
- Sterling Solomon, City Attorney
TITLE:
Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-51: A resolution of the Flagstaff City Council establishing an amount of effluent/reclaimed water to be released into the Rio de Flag subject to advanced water purification technogical options, regulations and availability.
STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION:
- Read Resolution No. 2025-51 by title only
- City Clerk reads Resolution No. 2025-51 by title only (if approved above)
- Adopt Resolution No. 2025-51
Executive Summary:
The City entered into an agreement with Arizona Game and Fish Department in 2010 committing the City to release a “weekly hourly average of 200 gallons per minute of reclaimed wastewater” for a term of 20 years. The terms and conditions included a minimum weekly hourly average of 100 gallons per minute (GPM) from Wildcat Hill Wastewater Treatment Facility into the Rio de Flag near Picture Canyon for wildlife habitat enhancement. The agreement also required a minimum weekly hourly average of 100 GPM from the Rio de Flag Wastewater Treatment Facility into the Rio de Flag near the I-40 wetlands for the purposes of wildlife enhancement. An additional term required a weekly hourly average of 50 GPM (of the 200 GPM commitment) into Frances Short Pond.
In the 2010 agreement, the City committed to grant public access adjacent to the release point of the effluent/reclaimed water at Wildcat Hill Wastewater Treatment Facility for a Watchable Wildlife open space park. Also, the agreement included the provisions for the City to obtain proper permitting and perform monitoring and reporting according to requirements of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The City also committed in the agreement not to convey ownership of the effluent/reclaimed water to another party.
The 2010 agreement will expire in a few years yet the City recognizes the community benefit of preserving and enhancing riparian and wildlife areas on a long-term basis, subject to advanced water purification technological options, regulations, and availability.
Recognizing the benefit of the commitments mentioned above, City staff believes it is feasible and recommends continuing the release of the same amounts of effluent/reclaimed water for the purposes of preserving and enhancing riparian and wildlife areas. This resolution will provide for those same releases over a longer term, subject to general availability and needs related to advanced water purification.
In the 2010 agreement, the City committed to grant public access adjacent to the release point of the effluent/reclaimed water at Wildcat Hill Wastewater Treatment Facility for a Watchable Wildlife open space park. Also, the agreement included the provisions for the City to obtain proper permitting and perform monitoring and reporting according to requirements of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The City also committed in the agreement not to convey ownership of the effluent/reclaimed water to another party.
The 2010 agreement will expire in a few years yet the City recognizes the community benefit of preserving and enhancing riparian and wildlife areas on a long-term basis, subject to advanced water purification technological options, regulations, and availability.
Recognizing the benefit of the commitments mentioned above, City staff believes it is feasible and recommends continuing the release of the same amounts of effluent/reclaimed water for the purposes of preserving and enhancing riparian and wildlife areas. This resolution will provide for those same releases over a longer term, subject to general availability and needs related to advanced water purification.
Financial Impact:
None
Policy Impact:
None
Previous Council Decision or Community Discussion:
In 2010 Coucil entered the Bow and Arrow Park Agreement with the Arizona Game and Fish Department which will eventually expire.
Options and Alternatives to Recommended Action:
1. Adopt Resolution 2025-51.
2. Not adopt Resolution 2025-51.
2. Not adopt Resolution 2025-51.
Background and History:
In 2010 Coucil entered the Bow and Arrow Park Agreement with the Arizona Game and Fish Department which will eventually expire.
Connection to PBB Priorities and Objectives:
N/A
Connection to Regional Plan:
N/A
Connection to Carbon Neutrality Plan:
N/A
Connection to 10-Year Housing Plan:
N/A
Connection to Division Specific Plan:
N/A