Consideration and Approval of Grant Agreement:  A Grant Agreement between the City of Flagstaff and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration for the Wildlife Hazard Assessment and Wildlife Hazard Management Plan.

The Flagstaff Airport is the primary Commercial Service Airport for Northern Arizona. As the owner of the airport, the City must utilize proper methods to control wildlife within the airport and reduce incidents of wildlife strikes to aircraft on landing and take off, as well as during movement on the airport grounds. These methods include the development of a Wildlife Hazard Assessment and Wildlife Hazard Management Plan, which will identify strategies for reducing wildlife attractants, such as standing water or vegetation.

The FAA requires that Commercial Service Airports have a current Wildlife Hazard Management Plan. The airport's existing Wildlife Hazard Management Plan is outdated. The Grant Agreement provides FAA funding to hire a consultant to perform an updated Wildlife Hazard Analysis of the Flagstaff Airport and a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan.
 

The FAA Grant for $150,000 will cover 91.06% of the cost for this Wildlife Hazard Assessment and Wildlife Hazard Management Plan. Arizona Department of Transportation Inter-Model Transportation Division will cover $7,363 (4.47%) and the cost to the City of Flagstaff will be $7,364 (4.47%), for a total project cost of $164,727 which is budgeted in account 221-07-222-6205-0-4201.

COUNCIL GOALS:
3) Provide sustainable and equitable public facilities, services, and infrastructure systems in an efficient and effective manner to serve all population areas and demographics
6) Provide a well-managed transportation system

No prior action has been presented to City Council.

The FAA requires that The Flagstaff Airport update the existing Wildlife Hazard Management Plan.
Option 1. City Council can approve this grant and reduce the cost to the City of Flagstaff from $165,000 to $7,500.
Option 2. City Council can reject this Grant and the City of Flagstaff covers the entire cost of the $165,000.

The FAA requires publicly funded airports to complete a Wildlife Hazard Assessment and Wildlife Hazard Management Plan every 10 years. This assessment will allow the staff to better manage against wildlife hazards that could cause injury, damage or death to the flying public.  It will guide staff in the proper methods, and tools to reduce wildlife hazards for the Airport.  The Airport has a current Wildlife Hazard Management Plan, which is over 10 years old.

In recognition of the increased risk of serious aircraft damage or the loss of human life that can result from a wildlife strike, greater emphasis is being placed on preparing airport Wildlife Hazard Management Plans that effectively deal with the problem. Public-use airport operators need to be aware of any hazardous wildlife attractants on or near their airport.  Therefore, it is critical that the Airport update perform the assessment and update the plan.

Failure to accept the Grant Award and complete the Wildlife Hazard Assessment and Wildlife Hazard Management Plan could negatively impact the ability to qualify for future FAA grants.

The Wildlife Hazard Assessment and Management Plan will benefit the Airport and the community to minimize the risk to aviation safety, airport structures or equipment, or human health posed by populations of hazardous wildlife on and around the airport.

Consult/Inform - City will go through a competitive proposal process to solicit and provide services.  It will create a Wildlife Hazards Working Group to facilitate the communication, cooperation, and coordination of the airport and its surrounding community necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the Wildlife Hazard Assessment and Management Plan.  City will also incorporate public education activities with the local coordination efforts.