Consideration and Approval of Agreement: With State of Arizona (Forestry and Land Board) for Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project (FWPP). 

Approve the Agreement, to include signature of Mayor. 

This agreement initiates, on State of AZ lands within the City boundary, the planning, operations, and monitoring required to successfully implement forest treatments, per Forest Bond #405 as approved by 73.6% of the voters in the Nov 2012 general election.  This Agreement has been jointly developed by City - State of AZ  (State Forestry and Land Dept). 

Specifics of this Agreement include:

• Joint efforts that will reduce the risk of severe wildfire and protect critical watersheds;
• Identification of State Forestry as the lead State agency;
• Development and mutual approval of a one-time Summary of Current Conditions (SCC) report by June 30th, 2013.  The SCC will identify what treatments are required on each parcel to reduce wildfire risk and protect watersheds, to include maps, acres, and priority of treatment;
• For the duration of the Agreement, the annual development of a mutually-agreed upon Annual Work Plan (AWP), based upon the result of the SCC.  The AWP will detail what activity(s) will occur on what parcels in that given year, to include costs, work force, and responsible party.  The first AWP - FY14 - will be due July 31st, 2013;
• At the end of each calendar year, the development of an Adaptive Management Review (AMR), designed to identify challenges, opportunities, accomplishments, and means to improve operational aspects of this Agreement; and
• Principal contacts for both the City and State Forestry.

 

The Agreement does not obligate the City to expend any of the voter-approved $10 million bond funds.  It simply sets the framework for future obligation for specific activities through the mutually-agreed upon AWP, which will be developed each year the Agreement is in-force.  The AWP will be based upon the SCC report identified previously. 

The first AWP will be developed by July 31st, 2013.

The Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project (FWPP) - Forest Bond #405 - intersects with the following Council Goals:

  4. Complete Rio de Flag;
  5. Retain, expand, and diversify economic base;
  6. Complete Water Policy; and
 11. Effective governance.

In addition, the FWPP seeks to improve public safety by reducing the threat of destructive wildfire and it's secondary effects, and leverage our impact and funds by engaging the public and key partners in addressing the threat, restoring our forests, and ensuring community well-being.

In July 2012, Council approved this measure for the Nov 2012 general election ballot.  The measure was subsequently approved by the voters with a 73.6% Yes vote.  In Jan 2013, Council approved three agreements with the US Forest Service for forest treatments on federal lands covered by the FWPP, and was briefed at that time regarding the involvement of the State and future development of this Agreement. 

1. Approve the Agreement as written, thus allowing work to commence on the SCC report, first year AWP, and initial implementation efforts;
2. Modify the Agreement, thus requiring additional effort to revise the existing agreement and/or anticipated scope of work; or
3. Reject the Agreement, thus removing State Lands from the forest treatment process as set forth in the Forest Bond question.

In July 2012, Council approved this measure for inclusion on the Nov 2012 general election ballot.  Subsequently, a citizen advocacy group formed to support the issue and urge approval.  In Nov 2012, the bond was approved by a 73.6% Yes vote. 

Since that time, City-US Forest Service agreements have been presented and approved by Council, an organization of City-Agency (US Forest Service and State of AZ)-Key Partners (Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership and NAU-Ecological Restoration Institute) has formed and is meeting regularly, various Work Groups are working diligently (Communications, Monitoring, Planning, and Implementation), a website and other social media sites have been created and are active, and numerous public outreach and engagement events have either occurred and/or are planned for the near future.

Recent planning efforts by the US Forest Service have identified slightly over 11,000 acres of federal lands within the overall project area (Rio de Flag and Lake Mary watersheds).  In addition, there are approximately 3,000 acres of State Lands within the City/Rio de Flag watershed.  This Agreement is the springboard for making this bond issue an on-the-ground reality on these State Lands.

This Agreement has no expiration date - it will be terminated by written notice at the conclusion of any needed forest treatment work (or earlier if either party deems it necessary).  We anticipate that all work on State Lands, as identified in the SCC, will be finished within five (5) years of initial implementation of forest treatment activity.

The first AWP will be developed by July 31st, 2013, with subsequent development of new ones throughout the life of the project.  Each AWP, not yet developed or approved, will obligate city funds.

Several activities will occur concurrent with project planning, operations, and monitoring.  In addition to reducing the threat of destructive wildfire and associated secondary events, they include:

• Engagement of volunteers and students in project monitoring;
• Use of a community-based collaborative (Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership) to review, comment, and assist with crafting forest treatment options;
• Synergy with the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI);
• Engagement of NAU's Ecological Restoration Institute, School of Forestry, and other professional staff, as needed; and
• In partnership with the above groups, and the State's Forest Health Council, elevating this unique project among regional and national audiences.

Inform;
Involve; and
Collaborate

By engaging the State of AZ and other partners in this effort, we have the ability to protect at-risk neighborhoods throughout the community, show other at-risk communities what can be done to avoid the agony of catastrophic wildfire and damaging flood events, and expand the impact of these treatments with other actions that have already occurred, or will occur as a result of this project.  In addition, we will be able to demonstrate viable,  community-supported actions, thus increasing the potential of securing additional outside funds to treat other adjacent at-risk sites in the area.

04/02/2013 - EAB - Council approved unanimously.