DJ addressed Council to explain that he recently drafted a bill that would prohibit employment discrimination based on financial status, including homelessness and poverty.

Summer Grandy and Talissa Bahr from Flagstaff Family Food Center addressed Council with an update on rising food insecurity, noting that over 107,000 meals had been served, a 32.5% increase from the prior year. They outlined concerning state and federal SNAP policy changes, including added restrictions, increased administrative burdens, and reduced flexibility. Also highlighted were ongoing issues with the Arizona Department of Economic Security, including delays, confusion, and clients losing or struggling to access benefits. Food assistance is becoming harder to access, and they urged the City Council to advocate for impacted residents.

Colleen Maring, Chief People Officer at Northern Arizona Healthcare, shared updates on expanding primary care access in Flagstaff. She announced the addition of two new providers, with two more expected this summer, at the growing McMillan Mesa clinic. She emphasized the importance of preventive care, strong patient-provider relationships, and expanding access to reduce reliance on emergency services and improve regional health outcomes.

Mayor Daggett read and presented the proclamation.

Vice Mayor Sweet reported that she attended the Beautification and Public Art Commission meeting where Creative Flagstaff presented its 2026 programming. She shared upcoming meetings, including a Mountain Line meeting and a Water Commission meeting focused on large water users. The Water Commission discussion will build on the City’s ongoing data center conversation and explore potential regulation of high water-use entities.

Councilmember Garcia shared that the Parks and Recreation Commission had met and that he would have an update at the next meeting.

to appoint Nat White to the Open Spaces Commission.

to appoint Bruce Fox to the Open Spaces Commission.

to appoint Jacqueline Thomas to the Open Spaces Commission.

Councilmember Aslan requested that Item 8C be pulled for discussion.

to approve the Consent Agenda as presented with the exception of Item 8C.

Councilmember Aslan asked Stormwater Section Director Ed Schenk to share more about the FUTS near Sinclair Wash.

Mr. Schenk shared that the project would address two deteriorating culverts along Sinclair Wash near Lone Tree. Planned work includes replacing the culverts, adding headwalls, regrading the trail, and reinforcing the channel with rock to reduce erosion.

to approve the Job Order Contract for Construction with Kinney Construction Services, Inc. for the Sinclair Wash FUTS Repair (Headwall, Wingwalls, Culvert Installation) in the amount not to exceed $181,399 and authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.

Zoning Code Manager Tiffany Antol provided a PowerPoint presentation that covered the following:

FINAL PLAT DEDICATION CITY CODE AMENDMENT

to read Ordinance No. 2026-06 by title only for the first time.

Current Planning Manager Alaxandra Pucciarelli provided a PowerPoint presentation that covered the following:

LONE TREE RANCH MODIFICATION TO PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
REQUEST OVERVIEW
AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCENTIVES
PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS
FINDINGS
FINDING #1: GENERAL PLAN CONFORMANCE
FINDING #2: COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND PUBLIC GOOD
FINDING #3: DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A HAZARD
FINDING #4: CONSISTENCY WITH AREA CHARACTER
FINDING #5: DEVELOPMENT AMENITIES ARE CONSISTENT WITH SIMILAR MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENTS
RECOMMENDATION

Councilmember Spence expressed support for the proposed development and confirmed that it includes 168 affordable housing units at 60% AMI, noting that details will be further clarified during the development agreement discussion.

Councilmember House asked about a proposed increase in a retaining wall from five feet to 13 feet and requested clarification from the developer. Sean Krieg explained that the higher limit is intended to provide flexibility and avoid future deviations during construction. He noted the final walls are expected to be closer to eight to ten feet, but the broader allowance helps address uncertainty in code interpretation around adjacent rights-of-way, including roads and FUTS trails. The adjustment is intended to reduce potential disputes with staff, streamline approvals, and minimize construction and review costs for a project with tight financial margins.

to approve the modifications requested as presented.

Current Planning Manager Alaxandra Pucciarelli provided a PowerPoint presentation that covered the following:

LONE TREE RANCH DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
PURPOSE OF THE AGREEMENT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITMENT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCENTIVES
FUTS
RIGHT-OF-WAY
GATES AND ACCESS CONTROL
TRANSIT EASEMENT
COUNCIL OPTIONS

Mayor Daggett asked for clarification on whether affordability was defined as “an average of 60% AMI” or a strict 60% threshold in the development agreement.

Mr. Krieg explained that eligibility is based on two related requirements: residents must qualify at or below 60% AMI at move-in, and rents are capped by unit size based on that same benchmark. While tenants can remain if their income increases later, initial qualifications are tied to the 60% level. He noted this structure helps maintain compliance while allowing some flexibility for residents over time.

Mayor Daggett asked how the tax credits play into the percentage. Matt Klein stated that the project is structured using federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit rules under Section 42 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program. At least 40% of units must be at or below 60% AMI to qualify for credits, but because this is a 100% affordable project, all units can generate credits. He also explained the concept of “income averaging,” which allows a mix of income levels such as 50% and 70% AMI units so long as the overall average equals 60% AMI. While that approach is allowed, the current proposal is structured entirely at 60% AMI.

Dennis Givens addressed Council in support of the development and expressed appreciation for an affordable development.

to read Resolution No. 2026-12 by title only.

to adopt Resolution No. 2026-12.

to read Ordinance No. 2026-05 by title only for the final time.

to adopt Ordinance No. 2026-05.

Management Services Director Rick Tadder presented a proposed correction to city code related to landfill fees in response to a recent change by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), which increased its landfill disposal fee from $0.25 to $0.58 per ton. The City’s previously approved solid waste rate of $43 per ton is not changing; this action only updates how the fee components are represented. When the solid waste rates were last adopted, the ADEQ fee, city fee, and environmental maintenance facility fee were incorrectly combined into a single line in city code. In practice, however, these charges are already itemized separately on customer landfill tickets. The proposed ordinance would align city code with actual billing practices by clearly separating each fee component. This correction is intended to improve transparency and make it easier to adjust individual fee components in the future if ADEQ changes its rates again.

Councilmember Spence asked how well that $43 fee aligns with the landfill’s actual budget needs and whether it is sufficient to maintain balance. He asked if staff plans to return to Council in the future to revisit or adjust the $43 fee. Mr. Tadder stated that they are not addressing the $43 per ton landfill fee at this time. Instead, they are initiating a solid waste rate study later this year, which will review how current fees support landfill operations and may recommend adjustments at that time.

to read Resolution No. 2026-14 by title only.

to read Ordinance No. 2026-08 by title only for the first time.

Emergency Program Manager Daniel Kelly, Grants, Contracts and Emergency Management Director Stacy Brechler-Knaggs, APS Wildfire Response Team Supervisor Brian Kelly, APS Senior Public Affairs Manager Janet Dean, Water Services Director Lee Williams, Fire Chief Mark Gaillard, Deputy Police Chief Collin Seay, Facilities Maintenance Superintendent Joe Ronnigan, Streets Manager Greg Krahe, Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Amy Hagin, IT Director CJ Perry, Resilience Specialist Sam Wiley, Public Affairs Director Sarah Langley, and Marketing and Media Specialist Lori Pappas provided a PowerPoint presentation that covered the following:

2026 APS PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFF (PSPS) UPDATE
PSPS TASK FORCE
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE WILDFIRE MITIGATION
OUR CURRENT PRACTICES ARE COMPREHENSIVE AND MULTI-FACETED
PSPS IS ANOTHER TOOL WE HAVE WHEN THE RISK OF WILDFIRES IS EXTREMELY HIGH
WE WILL COMMUNICATE WITH LOCAL AGENCIES AND CUSTOMERS
HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHICH AREAS ARE IMPACTED BY PSPS?
ZOOMED OUT – GREATER FLAGSTAFF AREA
ZOOMED IN – MAJORITY OF THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF
FURTHER ZOOMED IN – EAST FLAGSTAFF
ZOOMED IN – HOSPITAL HILL AND US 180
ZOOMED IN – DOWNTOWN FLAGSTAFF AREA
ZOOMED IN – SOUTH ON LAKE MARY ROAD/AIRPORT AREA
ZOOMED IN – WEST ON OLD ROUTE 66

Mayor Daggett clarified that some areas may not be affected because they do not have a feeder line. Mr. Kelly confirmed that most areas could still be affected because nearly all feeders in Flagstaff are PSPS feeders due to the region’s high wildfire risk. While some areas have been isolated or reconfigured to reduce outages, full protection is not always possible because the electric system is old and was built incrementally as the city expanded. As a result, some lines serve multiple areas with different risk levels, making complete separation difficult. Certain high-risk areas, like Mars Hill, are of particular concern, but overall, the system-wide constraints limit how fully customers can be isolated from potential shutoffs.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
PREPAREDNESS AND MITIGATION
RESPONSE – PSPS EVENT
WATER SERVICES
OVERVIEW
WATER PRODUCTION
WATER RECLAMATION (WILDCAT HILL & RIO DE FLAG)
FIRE
PD
PUBLIC WORKS
CORE SERVICES
STREETS
PROSE
PARKS, RECREATION CENTERS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
IT
NETWORK AVAILABILITY
SUSTAINABILITY
COMMUNITY RESILIENCE HUB ACTIVATION
PUBLIC MESSAGING AND OUTREACH
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
DISCOVER FLAGSTAFF
VISITATION AND ECONOMIC VITALITY

Council asked whether the planned power outage preparedness campaign should be launched earlier in light of unusual seasonal conditions and the possibility of an elevated spring and summer wildfire risk. Staff responded that the timing is being actively evaluated. They referenced recent fire outlook discussions suggesting the region may be heading into a relatively busy fire season, which is not unexpected but reinforces the need for readiness and timely public communication.

Council asked about their enrollment in the RAVE system. Staff confirmed that all elected officials are already enrolled in the RAVE emergency notification system and that Council will be notified in advance, so they are not caught off guard during meetings or other engagements.

Another portion of the discussion focused on community services during outages, particularly congregate meals and senior services. There were concerns about whether the city has adequate backup plans, such as shelf-stable food supplies or alternative meal distribution methods if power disruptions affect operations. They also asked whether facilities like the senior center should have backup generators. Staff clarified that the senior center had been adjusted so it remains on power, though some nearby infrastructure, such as lighting in Thorpe Park, may still be impacted.

Council emphasized the importance of maintaining continuity of services for seniors, especially during prolonged outages. They suggested exploring contingency options similar to those used during the pandemic, such as distributing grab-and-go meals or partnering with the county to maintain Meals on Wheels and similar programs even if facilities cannot operate normally.

There was broad agreement that short-duration outages can likely be managed with operational adjustments, but extended outages would require more robust planning and coordination. Staff indicated they are already thinking along those lines and are open to working with partners to develop more resilient service models.

None

Vice Mayor Sweet shared that she had attended an Eagle Scout Court of Honor for two young individuals in the city, noting it was a meaningful event. She also promoted an upcoming fundraiser at Rainbows End benefiting Ballet Folklórico. Lastly, she noted that she would attend the Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Awards with the Mayor, where the Downtown Connection Center is a nominee.

Councilmember House shared that she will be in Washington, D.C. next week for a housing advocacy conference and visiting Capitol Hill but will still attend the Council meeting virtually.

City Manager Keene reminded Council of the retreat later that week. She also provided an update on the newly formed Technology Privacy Task Force, which held its first meeting that included an overview from IT leadership, and began discussing the city’s technology needs. The group will meet monthly and develop recommendations for city leadership.

City Attorney Solomon offered public thanks to Kevin Fincel for his work as Interim Deputy City Manager and Senior Assistant City Attorney Christina Rubalcava for her service as Interim Deputy City Attorney.

The Regular Meeting of the Flagstaff City Council held March 17, 2026, adjourned at 5:19 p.m.