Consideration and Approval of Agreement:  Agreement for Professional Services for the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project (FWPP): City of Flagstaff and Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership (Approve Agreement for Professional Services with GFFP for services associated with the FWPP).

Approve Agreement for Professional Services for the FWPP with Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership (GFFP).

In Nov 2012, 74% of Flagstaff voters approved Forest Bond #405, now known as the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project (FWPP).  In FY12 (last two qtrs.) and FY13, GFFP provided support to FWPP on a number of activities based upon a City Council approved Annual Work Plan.  This Agreement creates a three-year operating framework for GFFP to support City-approved FWPP activities, based upon Annual Work Plans for each of the three years.  Each Work Plan will focus on the following areas: Public Engagement, Implementation, Tribal Partnership, Financial Leverage, Monitoring, Volunteer management, and General.  In accordance with FWPP goals, these activities will facilitate forest treatments, which, once completed, will improve overall forest health and reduce the probability of a destructive wildfire and post-fire effects in our community. 

The Agreement is for a not-to-exceed amount of $90,000, with no more than $30,000 to be spent in any given FY.  Payment to FWPP will be on a reimbursable basis.

  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 support activities to continue, 2) Revise the Agreement regarding the cost and/or activities themselves, or 3) Reject the Agreement, along with the need to utilize GFFP services to conduct these activities. 

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.  Many of these are a direct result of GFFP's engagement in the effort. 

GFFP will plan, coordinate, implement, and report on activities specified in the approved Annual Work Plan.  GFFP will bill the city on a periodic bases, providing an Accomplishment Report and all pertinent back-up documentation required to support the reimbursement request.  Funds identified in the various Tasks of the Annual Work Plan can be moved to support other activities within the Work Plan, but in no case can the total reimbursement for any given FY exceed the TOTAL for that given year as identified in the Work Plan.   

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.  Before the survey begins, the City (Fire Department - Wildland Fire management division) will notify adjacent property owners of the pending work - it's purpose, methodology, and timeframe.
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.