Consideration and Approval of Agreement:  Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project (FWPP) Intergovernmental Agreement No. 14-1: Equestrian Parcel Forest Treatment Agreement with AZ State Forestry Division (Approve Intergovernmental Agreement with AZ State Forestry Division for forest treatment work associated with the FWPP). 

Approve FWPP Intergovernmental Agreement 14-1 Equestrian Parcel Forest Treatment Agreement with AZ State Forestry Division

In Nov 2012, 74% of Flagstaff voters approved Forest Bond #405, now known as the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project (FWPP): The Equestrian State Land parcel was identified as one of the target treatment areas. This will be the first FWPP Agreement to conduct forest treatments on State Lands.  In accordance with the FWPP goals, the work, once completed, will improve overall forest health and reduce the probability of a destructive wildfire in the area, helping ensure the protection of the University Heights/Highlands and Equestrian Estates neighborhoods, along with W.L. Gore Facility on Woody Mountain Road.   

The two and one-half (2.5) year Agreement establishes a process whereby the State will be reimbursed by the City for forest treatments completed in accordance with FWPP goals and by prior mutual agreement between the State and the City.  Reimbursement will be for a maximum of 420 acres, paid on an actual-cost per-acre basis.  Based upon an average expected cost of $650acre, the total expected treatment cost (City and State funds) is $273,000.

City reimbursement will vary depending upon the FY when the work is done.  In no case will City costs exceed $204,750 (75% of the expected cost), as follow:

A) Specific to FY15: The State appropriated one-time funds to the AZ Sate Forestry Division for forest treatments on selected State Land parcels.  Therefore, the City and State will split treatment costs for completed acres on a 50-50 cost-share basis, not to exceed $136,500 by either party.  (If all work completed in FY15, each party would contribute no more than 50% of the project's total expected cost -$273,000.)

B) Specific to FY16-17: Based upon contractor availability and scheduling, however, we expect that some work will occur after June 30, 2015.  Reimbursement by the City for any work completed in this time-frame will not exceed $68,250.

In addition, the Agreement identifies a reimbursement cycle (no more than once per month), a minimum completed acreage per invoice (15 acres), and a formal quarterly and final completion reporting process (a description of work completed and a map depicting where it occurred). 

  4. Complete Rio de Flag - FWPP City/Dry Lake Hills related activities
10. Develop an ongoing budget process - FWPP expenditures and transparency
11. Effective governance.- overall completion of FWPP

Not on this specific activity.  Council was involved in the Bond effort, and has been kept updated on the resulting FWPP process.   

Three options exist: 1) Approve Agreement, permitting the forest treatment work planned for this parcel to proceed; 2) Revise the Agreement as a pre-condition to planned forest treatments occurring; or 3) Reject the Agreement, along with the need to conduct forest treatments on this parcel.

The FWPP is an innovative and unique method of treating forested lands at high risk to damage from serious wildfire events.  As far as is known, this is the first bond-funded program to address this issue in the country.  As such, it has garnered a high level of interest at both the State and National level.  Since the bond's passage in Nov 2012, some field operations have occurred, but much of the effort has been behind-the-scenes in the realms of planning, public outreach, development of agreements, and other support activities designed to permit efficient and effective forest treatments throughout the project area. 

In 2013, City staff and key partners completed 26 major actions: In 2014, another 21 milestones have been identified: some have been completed, many are underway, and still others are planned for later this year.  One of these planned is the initiation of forest treatment work on the Equestrian State Land parcel.

AZ State Forestry, working with the AZ State Land Department, will coordinate and oversee/manage all selective thinning, product removal, and piling of debris for later chipping and/or burning.  The City and AZ State Forestry Division will work together to conduct any needed pile burn operations within 18 months following completion of cutting on any given acre.  

Multiple community partners have been engaged in the FWPP effort, including the Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership (GFFP), Friends of the Rio, and NAU's Ecological Restoration Institute (ERI).  The campaign to pass the bond also included the citizen-led "Yes on 405" group, the Grand Canyon Trust, and The Nature Conservancy. Successfully completing the planned forest treatments will enhance protection of adjacent neighborhoods from destructive wildfire, and promote the vigor, resiliency, and sustainability of the forest itself. 

Inform - In the months leading up to the vote (July-Nov 12), 50 public outreach events were held throughout the community.  In 2013, post-election, over 1,500 people visited the Project's website.  In addition, FWPP has received coverage in local/regional media on numerous occasions.
Consult - City staff, and our many partners, worked extensively with community members in shaping the scope of the bond question.  GFFP hosted and lead a local focus group.  Over 50 public comments were received during the Draft Environmental Impact Statement's public comment period.  All planned work is in accordance with the Greater Flagstaff Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and the Flagstaff Wildland Urban Interface Code (WUI Code), both adopted by City Council in 2005 and 2008, respectfully.
Involve - In 2013, 15 separate public meetings, presentations, and/or field trips were conducted in the area.  Between Jan-May 2014, another 15 such events were held.  In addition, 13 Native American tribes were approached with project information and encouraged to participate.
Collaborate - Since Mar 2013, fourteen separate workshops have been held with various community members and groups to develop the soon-to-be completed FWPP Monitoring Plan, designed to provide accountability and documentation to the voters that what we said would occur as a result of the forest treatments actually is delivered.
Empower - 74% of those who participated in the Nov 2012 election voted in favor of the project.