MINUTES
| WATER COMMISSION THURSDAY APRIL 16, 2026 |
HYBRID MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS 211 WEST ASPEN AVENUE 4:00 P.M. |
1.
Call to Order
NOTICE OF OPTION TO RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.02, notice is hereby given to the members of the Commission and to the general public that, at this meeting, the Commission may vote to go into executive session, which will not be open to the public, for legal advice and discussion with the Commission’s attorneys for legal advice on any item listed on the following agenda, pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(3).
Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.02, notice is hereby given to the members of the Commission and to the general public that, at this meeting, the Commission may vote to go into executive session, which will not be open to the public, for legal advice and discussion with the Commission’s attorneys for legal advice on any item listed on the following agenda, pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(3).
2.
Roll Call
Staff and others present:
Marion Lee Lee Williams Tamara Lawless Erin Young
Sara Dechter Mac McNamara Emily Melhorn River Ramuglia
| NOTE: One or more Commission Members may be in attendance telephonically or by other technological means. |
| RONALD DOBA, CHAIR DONALD BILLS, VICE CHAIR MATTHEW GARCIA JOHN NAUMAN |
HALEY PAUL CAROLINE REED ROBERT VANE CJ LUCKE, PLANNING AND ZONING REPRESENTATIVE MIRANDA SWEET, CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE |
Staff and others present:
Marion Lee Lee Williams Tamara Lawless Erin Young
Sara Dechter Mac McNamara Emily Melhorn River Ramuglia
3.
OPEN CALL TO THE PUBLIC
Open call to the Public enables the public to address the Commission about an item that is not on the agenda. If you wish to address the Commission, please state your name and address for the record. The Arizona Open Meeting Law prohibits the Commission from discussing or taking action on an item which is not listed on the prepared agenda. The Commission members may, however, respond to criticism made by those addressing the Commission, ask staff to review a matter, or ask that a matter be place on a future agenda. Public comments should be limited to three minutes reading time.
Public Comment: River Ramuglia
Mr. Ramuglia said he is aware of the discussions on the data centers and how it will impact the use of the City's water resources. Urges the Commission to work with Council to consider the long-term impacts, such as climate change. He recommends the Water Commission to forbid data centers in Flagstaff.
Public Comment: Sara Dechter, Comprehensive and Neighborhood Planning Manager
Sara provided brief election information on the May 2026 Special Election on Question 492, which is the Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan 2045 ratification. More information is available at www.flagstaff.az.gov/regionalplan2045
Open call to the Public enables the public to address the Commission about an item that is not on the agenda. If you wish to address the Commission, please state your name and address for the record. The Arizona Open Meeting Law prohibits the Commission from discussing or taking action on an item which is not listed on the prepared agenda. The Commission members may, however, respond to criticism made by those addressing the Commission, ask staff to review a matter, or ask that a matter be place on a future agenda. Public comments should be limited to three minutes reading time.
Public Comment: River Ramuglia
Mr. Ramuglia said he is aware of the discussions on the data centers and how it will impact the use of the City's water resources. Urges the Commission to work with Council to consider the long-term impacts, such as climate change. He recommends the Water Commission to forbid data centers in Flagstaff.
Public Comment: Sara Dechter, Comprehensive and Neighborhood Planning Manager
Sara provided brief election information on the May 2026 Special Election on Question 492, which is the Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan 2045 ratification. More information is available at www.flagstaff.az.gov/regionalplan2045
4.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - March 19, 2026
Robert Vane commented on page 3, paragraph 7 where it reads: Chair Doba asked if the Water Commission simply wanted to discuss the matter today. This paragraph is unclear, in particular the last sentence. After discussion, it was changed to read - This would clarify why those parameters are not included in the zoning code, allowing the zoning process to continue while the Water Commission's Water Services work on larger water users proceeds concurrently.
John Nauman suggested a future agenda item for Ben Ruddell to do a presentation on data centers.
Moved by Robert Vane and seconded by John Nauman to approve the minutes as amended.
Vote: 8 - 0 - Unanimously
5.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Discussion of upcoming revisions to the landscape development plant list Appendix 3 - Tamara
Lawless
Tamara Lawless, Water Conservation Program Manager said staff are assisting in the revision of the City of Flagstaff's Landscape Plant List (Appendix 3 in City Code). This process has included the following thus far:
Lawless
Tamara Lawless, Water Conservation Program Manager said staff are assisting in the revision of the City of Flagstaff's Landscape Plant List (Appendix 3 in City Code). This process has included the following thus far:
- Expert review of the full 300+ species on the list by the staff at Arboretum at Flagstaff
- Two stakeholder meetings with participants from a broad swath of community members affected by the code (landscape architects, plant nurseries, city staff, etc)
B. Water Awareness Month 2026 - Tamara Lawless
Tamara Lawless, Water Conservation Program Manager said April is Arizona's Water Awareness Month. The Water Conservation team provides numerous public outreach opportunities this month, where they will talk to the community about the importance of using water wisely here in Flagstaff.
One of the Water Conservation team's strategies for engaging the public is to meet them where they are at. The team sets up tables at popular events like Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, Northern Arizona Book Fest, Earth Day Celebration, and Full STEAM Ahead. This gives them an opportunity to interact with hundreds of community members. These opportunities help to achieve the goals of the Water Conservation Strategic Plan and the Carbon Neutrality Plan due to the embedded energy savings in every drop of water saved.
Water Conservation staff provided an overview of the events for the events for Flagstaff's celebration of the statewide celebration of Water Awareness Month. Events include the following:
Tamara Lawless, Water Conservation Program Manager said April is Arizona's Water Awareness Month. The Water Conservation team provides numerous public outreach opportunities this month, where they will talk to the community about the importance of using water wisely here in Flagstaff.
One of the Water Conservation team's strategies for engaging the public is to meet them where they are at. The team sets up tables at popular events like Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, Northern Arizona Book Fest, Earth Day Celebration, and Full STEAM Ahead. This gives them an opportunity to interact with hundreds of community members. These opportunities help to achieve the goals of the Water Conservation Strategic Plan and the Carbon Neutrality Plan due to the embedded energy savings in every drop of water saved.
Water Conservation staff provided an overview of the events for the events for Flagstaff's celebration of the statewide celebration of Water Awareness Month. Events include the following:
Recycles Art Exhibition Earth Day Festival at Bushmaster Park / COF
Rainbarrel Making Workshop Earth Day Festival at CCC
Science Saturday at Willow Bend Drop Off Day
Rio de Flag Reclamation Facility Tour Full Steam Ahead
Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival Rainwater Harvesting Workshop
C. Capital Projects Update and Discussion of the format of the Project Tracking Page in the Water Commission Packet - Lee Williams
Lee Williams, Water Service Director, gave a brief update on the progress of the Capital Improvement Plan as an informational item.
Lee Williams, Water Service Director, gave a brief update on the progress of the Capital Improvement Plan as an informational item.
- Wildcat Interceptor - In construction - 1700 of the total 5450 If of pipe installed
- Rio de Flag Solids Handling - Design at 60% for new Sludge Drying Facility
- Switzer Phase 5 - Final phase of pipeline - Working on 90% plans, legal descriptions and land acquisition
- Lake Mary Sedimentation Basins - Two 1-million gallon basins to be completely renovated
- Lake Mary Raw Water Pipeline - 5 miles of 1963 27" CRBWSC pipe to be completely replaced
- Fort Tuthill Recreation Area Well #2 - 2nd well drilled at Fort Tuthill - Pumphouse mods required
- Reclaimed Water Bottleneck - Replacement of 1.2 miles of undersized Reclaimed Waterline with new 20"
- Lake Mary Meter & Vault Replacement - Meter replaced, vault 1/3 in progress, leak discovered under pumphouse - 80% complete
- NAU Large Meter #1 - 100% completed - in progress is warranty and up next is 11 month walkthrough
- Spruce Wash Water & Sewer (completed) - Replaced and unsized over 240' of water and sewer lines
- Stormwater Utility - Rio de Flag Flood Control Project; Spruce Wash; Santa Fe Lateral Drain; Meade Lane Drainage Improvement; Fanning Wash Suite of projects; Spot Improvements (Scupper repairs, FUTs drainage repair near Lonetree)
- Spruce Wash Suite of Projects - $26M Bond for Spruce Wash flood mitigation, additional $14M of grants and City contributions, on schedule for completion this spring
- Santa Fe Drainage Lateral - Objective: convey the 100-year flood from Mars Hill to the new RDF tunnel near City Hall (when the RDF is completed); partially funded by Army Corps Ei 595 grant ($1.2M)
- Meade Lane Drainage Project - Objective: upside street drainage, streets mill and overlay, aging water and wastewater replacement; partially funded by FEMA HMGP grant; 100% design; City funding from Water Services and Public Works
- Fanning Wash Suite of Projects - Three distinct projects to alleviate repetitive flooding in eastern Flagstaff (Fanning Wash Channel Improvement - 100% designed); (Fanning Wash Diversion - 60% design); (Fanning Wash at Steve's Blvd culvert - 30% design)
- Stormwater Spot Improvements - 2025-2026 - Sinclair Wash FUTs culvert replacements, Scupper replacements (7 locations); 2026-2027 - Phoenix Sunshine Mission - BNSF puddle drain improvements, Smokerise Neighborhood localized improvement
- Rio de Flag Flood Control Project - Cost Estimate $266M = Cost Share USACE 65% and City 35%; Schedule 95% design complete and construction of Phase 4 anticipated for spring 2027
- NAU Large Meter #1 - 100% Completed
- Spruce Wash Water & Sewer - Completed - Replaced and unsized over 240' of lines
Lee said some of the projects listed on the Tracking form need to be corrected or updated. Lee said with a directive from the City Manager's office, staff is working on having one clean document that all can refer to. Currently, staff has two pages. Lee introduced the concept of what staff is working on and if the Commission has any ideas, to email him over the next month. This idea is to have one spreadsheet and to list the CIP projects. Rob Vane said the colored boxes in red and green are hard to read so he suggested to use colored dots (highlight in the corner what the colors stand for). Rob also recommended having a list of consulting projects broken out for the Commission's purposes.
6.
OLD BUSINESS - None
7.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS TO/FROM THE CHAIR, COMMISSION MEMBERS, OR STAFF
Don Bills announced the Arizona Hydrological Society are part of hosting Water Professionals Day on April 25th at Starlight Lanes. Information is available on the Arizona Hydrological webpage. Also, the Annual Symposium at the High Country Conference Center in Flagstaff on September 9 through the 11th.
John Nauman asked to have Ward Davis do a presentation on micro screens in the future.
Haley Paul said she just saw that Lee Williams and Erin Young will be presenting at U of A - Water Resources Research Center webinar on April 22nd at noon on Regional Water Supply.
Chair, Ron Doba said they had a Groundwater Resiliency Workshop recently at the Moon Shot Conference Center. Folks from Flagstaff, experts of hydrologists and geologists all attended. They are working on a work plan to develop an application on the Coconino Plateau Watershed Partnership website to map areas of hydrography of what the groundwater situation is like for the area.
Don Bills announced the Arizona Hydrological Society are part of hosting Water Professionals Day on April 25th at Starlight Lanes. Information is available on the Arizona Hydrological webpage. Also, the Annual Symposium at the High Country Conference Center in Flagstaff on September 9 through the 11th.
John Nauman asked to have Ward Davis do a presentation on micro screens in the future.
Haley Paul said she just saw that Lee Williams and Erin Young will be presenting at U of A - Water Resources Research Center webinar on April 22nd at noon on Regional Water Supply.
Chair, Ron Doba said they had a Groundwater Resiliency Workshop recently at the Moon Shot Conference Center. Folks from Flagstaff, experts of hydrologists and geologists all attended. They are working on a work plan to develop an application on the Coconino Plateau Watershed Partnership website to map areas of hydrography of what the groundwater situation is like for the area.
8.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 5:26 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 5:26 p.m.