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10.D.

City Council Meeting - FINAL

Meeting Date:: 01/19/2016
From:: Paul Summerfelt, Wildland Fire Manager

Information

TITLE:

Consideration and Approval of Contract: Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project (FWPP) Phase I and Phase II, Dry Lake Hills Preparation, Participating Agreement Supplemental Project Agreement (PA-SPA), with US Forest Service (Coconino National Forest).

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve the FWPP Phase 1 and Phase II, Dry Lake Hills Preparation, PA-SPA between the City of Flagstaff and the US Forest Service (Coconino National Forest) in the amount of $654,761.02.

Executive Summary:

Approval of this PA-SPA will permit the project to continue moving forward this winter/spring, leading to implementation of planned and approved forest treatments by the summer of 2016. Specifically, this PA-SPA will enable boundary location, mapping, tree marking, inventory, contract develolpment, etc., all necessary prior to field work commencing.

Financial Impact:

Payment will be from the FWPP bond, invoiced to the City by the US Forest Service (Coconino National Forest) on a quarterly basis, and will not exceed the amount identified in the PA-SPA ($654,761.02). The budget for this contract will be covered by the budget appropriation in account number 407-09-425-3277-1-4290 with a total FY2016 budget of $2,906,532.

Connection to Council Goal and/or Regional Plan:

This PAYMENT meets the following -

COUNCIL GOALS:
2) Ensure Flagstaff has a long-term water supply for current and future needs
3) Provide sustainable and equitable public facilities, services, and infrastructure systems in an efficient and effective manner to serve all population areas and demographics
7) Address key issues and processes related to the implementation of the Regional Plan
11) Ensure that we are as prepared as possible for extreme weather events.

REGIONAL PLAN:
Environmental Planning & Conservation – Vision for the Future: In 2013, the long-term health and viability of our natural resource environment is maintained through strategic planning for resource conservation and protection.
Policy E&C.3.3 – Invest in forest health and watershed protection measures.
Policy E&C.6.1 – Encourage public awareness that the region’s ponderosa pine forest is a fie-dependent ecosystem and strive to restore more natural and sustainable forest composition, structure, and processes.
Policy E&C.6.3 – Promote protection, conservation, and ecological restoration of the region’s diverse ecosystem type and associated animals.
Policy E&C.6.6 – Support collaborative efforts for forest health initiatives or practices, such as the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), to support healthy forests and protect our water system.
Policy E&C.10.2 – Protect, conserve, and when possible, enhance

Has There Been Previous Council Decision on This:

Not on this specific PA-SPA. Council was, however, engaged in the bond issue when it was approved to be presented to the voters (summer 2012), has approved other Agreements with the US Forest Service (Coconino National Forest) related to FWPP, and has been kept updated on issues throughout the overall effort.

Options and Alternatives:

Two exist:
1) APPROVE the PA-SPA, thereby permitting field preparation to continue and implementation of needed and identified forest treatments as detailed in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Final Record of Decision (FROD) to proceed on schedule.
2) REJECT the PA-SPA, and attempt to redefine the City's role and/or expenditures necessary, thereby delaying the field preparation and implementation of forest treatments.

Background/History:

Damage and loss of our forests from destructive wildfire and insect infestations are ever-present threats to our community. Areas that have undergone proactive forest treatments (ie – thinning, debris disposal, and/or prescribed/managed fire) are not only healthier and more resilient to damaging agents, they also provide a barrier to the spread of these agents once they do become established. Such treated areas enhance public safety, ensure infrastructure protection, and safe-guard community well-being. Within our community and immediate area, the Woody Fire (2005), Hardy Fire (2010), and Slide Fire (2014) dramatically demonstrate the value of these treatments: the Schultz Fire (2010) shows what can happen when such treatments are not in-place. The citizens voted in Nov 2012 (74% approval) to fund such activities on US Forest Service (Coconino National Forest) lands in the Dry Lake Hills and Mormon Mountain areas.

Key Considerations:

The Dry Lake Hills area and the forest treatments that are planned were part of the package provided to voters during the bond campaign leading-up to the election. Once the measure was passed, it was further refined and presented to the citizens during the extensive environmental analysis period leading up to the signing of the Final Record of Decision. In addition, the potential financial impact to the community of not acting was presented in the FWPP Cost Avoidance Study prepared by the Northern AZ University's Rural Policy Institute. Regardless of location or casual factor, insect infestations are always difficult to manage, and wildfires in the Dry Lake Hills area can be extremely challenging due to access constraints, lack of water supply, presence of adjacent neighborhoods, and other factors. This was borne home during the very destructive 2010 Schultz Fire 9and subsequent floods), located literally one ridgeline to the east of this project area. Completion of forest treatments have proven highly effective in reducing occurrence and severity of these events.

Expanded Financial Considerations:

As indicated earlier, this PA-SPA identifies a not-to-exceed amount. The US Forest Service (Coconino National Forest) is not charging for any overhead charges, defined by the Federal Government as "any general operating costs that connot be easily broken out and attributed to a specific project". Further, the cost identified does not include any on-going Forest support for the project (ex: staff time engaged in planning or public outreach), and is wholly confined to that required to get areas ready for actual implementation work (ie - cutting).

Community Benefits and Considerations:

Multiple partners have been engaged in the FWPP effort since its inception, and these partnership efforts have continued throughout the public outreach and planning effort within the Dry Lake Hills area. Completion of the forest treatment work funded by this Agreement will protect adjacent neighborhoods, recreational opportunities, and wildlife habitat, while promoting forest resiliency and sustainability.

Community Involvement:

Inform – Following the 50 campaign events leading up to the bond election (Nov 2012), we have continued to work at keeping the community informed of what we are doing, and why. The Project website (www.flagstaffwatershedprotection.org) is one way: numerous news stories have also been crafted and/or otherwise reported. Impromptu and announced field trips have been conducted. Adjacent neighborhoods have been contacted. US Forest Service and City staff have interacted with numerous unser groups and interested individuals in the area for the past year. Public outreach has been spearheaded by the FWPP Communications Team (a joint US Forest Service, City, County, and Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership effort). Staff from NAU's Ecological Restoration Institute has also been involved throughout, as have Friends of the Rio. Information boards have been established, and continue to be maintained, at key trail junctions (within Brookbank Meadows and at the Schultz/Elden Parking area).

Consult – Planning efforts, under the leadership of the US Forest Service (Coconino National Forest), have engaged City Staff, AZ Game & Fish Department, and US Fish & Wildlife Service. Staff from NAU's Ecological Restoration Institute has also been involved throughout.

Involve – Adjacent neighbors have provided input which has resulted in numerous changes to the project design.
The public may be allowed to remove wood products if areas are suitable for such purposes and any remains on site. We will continue to engage the public through future open house type events, field trips, etc. Community members will continue to be hired as seasonal Fire Dept crew members who will be engaged in direct field implementation efforts.

Empower – The planned forest treatments are part of a larger effort underway in our area and throughout northern AZ. We and our many partners have been engaged for nearly two decades in this work, on various jurisdictions and site conditions, and have utilized a variety of prescriptions and approaches to ensure we have a full-suite of treatments across the greater landscape. The work to be funded by this award is based upon credible and proven science-based forest restoration and hazard fuel management standards and knowledge. In addition to the project's Final Record of Decision (USFS - 2015), it adheres to guidelines established in the Greater Flagstaff Area Community Wildfire Protection Plan (City & County - 2005), is consistent with forest treatment goals implemented by the Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership (1999-present) and the City of Flagstaff Wildland Fire Management program (1998-present), and meets the goals of the State of AZ 20-Year Strategy (2007) and the Four Forests Restoration Initiative. Perhaps the greatest demonstration of empowerment is the public's overwhelming approval (74%) of the bond itself.

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