22.C.
City Council Meeting - FINAL
- Meeting Date:
- 01/20/2026
- Co-Submitter:
- Megan Dales
- From:
- Charles Hernandez, Deputy Police Chief - Criminal Investigations
TITLE:
Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-04: A resolution of the Flagstaff City Council, authorizing the Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Flagstaff and the State of Arizona through its Department of Public Safety for Local Border Support Grant Funds.
STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION:
- Read Resolution No. 2026-04 by title only
- City Clerk reads Resolution No. 2026-04 by title only (if approved above)
- Adopt Resolution No. 2026-04
Executive Summary:
Approval of the IGA will allow the City of Flagstaff to receive Local Border Support Grants funds from the State of Arizona, through the Department of Public Safety, for the purpose of enhancing law enforcement services to deter, apprehend, prosecute and detain individuals charged with drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other criminal border-related crimes within the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County; utilizing allocated grant funding for overtime expenses in the amount of $150,000 and the procurement of two (2) unmarked pickup trucks with covert upfitting totaling $135,000.
By funding overtime rather than full-time salaries, the grant funds maximize operational efficiency while maintaining fiscal responsibility. These funds will directly enhance the Department’s ability to provide surge capacity, sustain investigative coverage beyond standard duty hours, and ensure rapid deployment for high-priority enforcement activities. Overtime resources are essential for conducting mobile surveillance, executing search warrants, and coordinating cross-jurisdictional interdiction operations that target transnational criminal organizations.
The Flagstaff region includes both urban and rural transit corridors frequently exploited for narcotics movement, human trafficking, and associated violent crimes. The ability to operate in a low-visibility manner while maintaining secure, real-time communication with regional partners is vital to protecting officers, safeguarding communities, and ensuring mission success. These vehicles will directly strengthen local capacity to support state and federal border enforcement objectives, bridge resource gaps, and ensure coordinated, intelligence-driven operations against organized criminal enterprises.
By funding overtime rather than full-time salaries, the grant funds maximize operational efficiency while maintaining fiscal responsibility. These funds will directly enhance the Department’s ability to provide surge capacity, sustain investigative coverage beyond standard duty hours, and ensure rapid deployment for high-priority enforcement activities. Overtime resources are essential for conducting mobile surveillance, executing search warrants, and coordinating cross-jurisdictional interdiction operations that target transnational criminal organizations.
The Flagstaff region includes both urban and rural transit corridors frequently exploited for narcotics movement, human trafficking, and associated violent crimes. The ability to operate in a low-visibility manner while maintaining secure, real-time communication with regional partners is vital to protecting officers, safeguarding communities, and ensuring mission success. These vehicles will directly strengthen local capacity to support state and federal border enforcement objectives, bridge resource gaps, and ensure coordinated, intelligence-driven operations against organized criminal enterprises.
Financial Impact:
Project Name: IGA between the City of Flagstaff and the State of Arizona, Department of Public Safety for FY25 – FY27 Local Border Support
Cost: $285,000.00
Account Number Budgeted: 001-04-062-6058-X
FY2026 Budgeted Amount: $0
Grant Funded: YES; No match required, 100% grant funded
Funding Source: State of Arizona, Department of Public Safety
Cost: $285,000.00
Account Number Budgeted: 001-04-062-6058-X
FY2026 Budgeted Amount: $0
Grant Funded: YES; No match required, 100% grant funded
Funding Source: State of Arizona, Department of Public Safety
Policy Impact:
The IGA and grant funds aim to strengthen public safety by enhancing crime prevention and control efforts through increased funding and resource-sharing between the Flagstaff Police Department and the Department of Public Safety. This collaboration fosters more efficient and effective responses to community needs while expanding resources for victim assistance to ensure timely and adequate support. Additionally, the agreement promotes transparency and accountability by keeping the Council and public informed about the grant funding, objectives, and outcomes, reinforcing trust in law enforcement practices. By aligning funding with strategic priorities, this initiative delivers long-term community benefits, enhancing justice administration and building a safer, more resilient community.
Previous Council Decision or Community Discussion:
Council Approved a previous Local Border Support Grant Agreement between the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County in FY25
Options and Alternatives to Recommended Action:
- Approve the acceptance of the grant agreement and funding; or
- Decline the acceptance of the grant agreement and funding.
Connection to PBB Priorities and Objectives:
Safe & Healthy Community: Enhance community engagement and strengthen relationships between the community and public safety; Support social services, community partners, and housing opportunities; Provide public safety services with resources, staff, and training responsive to the communities needs
Inclusive & Engaged Community: Enhance the City's involvement in community, education, and regional partnerships to strengthen the level of public trust
Inclusive & Engaged Community: Enhance the City's involvement in community, education, and regional partnerships to strengthen the level of public trust
Connection to Regional Plan:
The Local Border Support Grant Agreement aligns with the Flagstaff Regional Plan Policy PF.3.1, which emphasizes maintaining high quality, effective, and efficient law enforcement, fire, and emergency services. This policy underscores the importance of balancing public safety services with the operational goals, government plans, policies, population needs, and available funding.
By leveraging Fiscal Year 2026 – Fiscal Year 2027 grant funds, this agreement directly supports this policy by ensuring the Flagstaff Police Department has the resources necessary to deliver enhanced public safety services. This approach will allow our agency to optimize our effectiveness and coordinated efforts to ensure alignment with population demands and regional public safety goals. Furthermore, the transparent use of these funds reflects a commitment to sound fiscal management, ensuring services remain sustainable and in line with public policies and budgetary limitations. This grant initiative strengthens the region’s ability to meet evolving public safety needs while upholding the policy’s focus on quality and efficiency.
By leveraging Fiscal Year 2026 – Fiscal Year 2027 grant funds, this agreement directly supports this policy by ensuring the Flagstaff Police Department has the resources necessary to deliver enhanced public safety services. This approach will allow our agency to optimize our effectiveness and coordinated efforts to ensure alignment with population demands and regional public safety goals. Furthermore, the transparent use of these funds reflects a commitment to sound fiscal management, ensuring services remain sustainable and in line with public policies and budgetary limitations. This grant initiative strengthens the region’s ability to meet evolving public safety needs while upholding the policy’s focus on quality and efficiency.
Connection to Carbon Neutrality Plan:
The proposed procurement of two pickup trucks is aligned with the City of Flagstaff’s Carbon Neutrality Plan by advancing a balanced, best-practice approach to municipal fleet management that integrates emissions reduction with operational necessity. The acquisition is consistent with the City’s EV-first and fleet rightsizing principles by documenting mission-critical requirements, evaluating lower-emission alternatives, and selecting vehicles that minimize lifecycle environmental impact while maintaining essential service delivery. These vehicles support practical law enforcement and field operations that require payload capacity, all-weather reliability, and access to varied terrain and functions that are not yet fully met by available zero-emission options at scale. As such, the procurement represents a responsible interim solution that avoids oversizing, prioritizes fuel efficiency and durability, and positions the City to transition to electric or zero-emission pickup platforms as technology and City infrastructure mature.
In summary, this procurement advances the Carbon Neutrality Plan by ensuring fleet decisions are intentional, data-driven, and aligned with long-term emissions reduction goals, while safeguarding the Flagstaff Police Department’s ability to deliver core public safety and operational services.
In summary, this procurement advances the Carbon Neutrality Plan by ensuring fleet decisions are intentional, data-driven, and aligned with long-term emissions reduction goals, while safeguarding the Flagstaff Police Department’s ability to deliver core public safety and operational services.
Connection to 10-Year Housing Plan:
N/A
Connection to Division Specific Plan:
The Agreement between the City of Flagstaff and the State of Arizona, through the Department of Public Safety, enables the Flagstaff Police Department to leverage Fiscal Year 2026 – Fiscal Year 2027 grant funds to enhance crime prevention and control, also supporting justice administration.