Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2020-22:  A resolution of the Flagstaff City Council, approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Flagstaff Metropolitan Planning Organization, DBA MetroPlan, and the City of Flagstaff to transition administrative and financial services from the City to MetroPlan.

The Flagstaff Metropolitan Planning Organization (FMPO) DBA MetroPlan has been established as a separate legal entity and approved as an Arizona nonprofit corporation. The Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) identifies the responsibilities and commitments between the City of Flagstaff and MetroPlan. The City will cease administrative and financial services for MetroPlan effective June 30, 2020, and MetroPlan will be responsible for its own administrative and financial management.

The IGA will remain effective through September 30, 2020, to allow for the reconciliation of MetroPlan's and the City's finances.

MetroPlan has requested payment of $114,000 of City Transportation funds that Council approved at the September 17, 2019, meeting and that were being held by the City on MetroPlan’s behalf. 

MetroPlan will support the City in its management and reconciliation of existing MetroPlan funds.  This support will include but is not limited to providing financial documentation, communicating with funding agencies about the transition, closing out MetroPlan grants that the City accepted responsibility for, and working to ensure that the City is reimbursed from grant funds for expenditures the City made on MetroPlan’s behalf.

The City of Flagstaff has provided administrative and financial services to MetroPlan for 22 years.  As a regional organization governed by a Board of elected officials from the City and County and State, MetroPlan’s independence is consistent with MetroPlan’s regional role and consistent with the governance structure of other Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Council’s of Government across the nation.   This transition IGA documents how the City and MetroPlan will work together to ensure continuity and equity as MetroPlan continues its regional responsibilities as an independent organization.

Transportation and Other Public Infrastructure - Deliver quality community assets and continue to advocate and implement a highly performing multi-modal transportation system.

Economic Development - Grow and strengthen a more equitable and resilient economy.

• The City authorized the establishment of a Metropolitan Planning Organization by Resolution 2070, adopted May 21, 1996.
• The City, the County, and the State entered into an intergovernmental agreement regarding the designation of FMPO on September 12, 1996 (the "1996 IGA").
• On October 7, 2005, the County and the City entered into an intergovernmental agreement (the "2005 IGA") that sought to clarify the nature of each Party's FMPO responsibilities, removed ADOT from the IGA at ADOT’s request, and superseded the 1996 IGA.
• On January 9, 2012, the County and the City entered into an intergovernmental agreement (the “2012 IGA”) that extended and further clarified the nature of each Party’s responsibilities with regard to FMPO.
• On September 18, 2018, the City and County adopted an amended and restated IGA to authorize the establishment of FMPO as a separate legal entity pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes § 11-952 with common powers specified in the Agreement.

-  Approve the acceptance of the IGA
-  Disapprove the IGA

In May of 1996, the City and County authorized the establishment of a Metropolitan Planning Organization to carry out the metropolitan planning process.  On June 24, 1996, the Governor of the State of Arizona designated FMPO as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Flagstaff Urbanized Area. On January 1, 2020, the FMPO was rebranded as MetroPlan.

MetroPlan carries out planning, coordination, and integration of activities necessary to maintain a comprehensive, cooperative, and continuing multi-agency transportation planning program.  The vision of MetroPlan is to create the finest transportation system in the Country and the mission of MetroPlan is to leverage cooperation to maximize financial and political resources for a premier transportation system.

Jurisdictions that make up the MetroPlan include the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). The MetroPlan receives funding from federal, state, and local governments and oversees the expenditure of federal transit funds working closely with the state and municipalities that make up northern Arizona.  Each year, MetroPlan evaluates and approves proposed surface transportation improvement projects, while providing a forum for interagency cooperation and public input into transportation funding and prioritized decision.

On May 14, 2019, the Arizona Corporation Commission approved Articles of Incorporation establishing FMPO/MetroPlan as an Arizona nonprofit corporation.  MetroPlan has developed administrative and financial management capacity sufficient to meets its legal obligations and carry out its responsibilities.  These capacities will include but are not limited to payroll, procurement, budgeting, grant management, accounting, benefits administration, information technology, office space, and human resources management.  These capacities may be developed through private sector contracts, in-house staff, or an IGA with another local government organization.

MetroPlan is responsible for regional transportation planning which benefits the City, County, State, NAIPTA, NAU, and our common residents and visitors. Establishing MetroPlan as an independent organization and clearly delineating how the transition from the City will take place ensures that financial and administrative management continues with competency and consistency.