Print Staff Summary Report

10.F.

CITY OF FLAGSTAFF

STAFF SUMMARY REPORT

To:

The Honorable Mayor and Council

From:

David Millis, Development Engineer

Co-Submitter:

Stephanie Santana

Date:

03/27/2024

Meeting Date:

04/02/2024

TITLE:

Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2024-15 and Ordinance No. 2024-13: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, Arizona declaring as a public record that certain document filed with the City Clerk entitled "2024 Amendments to Flagstaff City Code, Title 13, Engineering Design and Standards and Specifications for New Infrastructure." and an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, Arizona amending the Flagstaff City Code, Title 13, Engineering Design Standards and Specifications for New Infrastructure.

STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION:

At the April 2, 2024 Council Meeting:
1) Read Resolution No. 2024-15 by title only
2) City Clerk reads Resolution No. 2024-15 by title only (if approved above)
3) Read Ordinance No. 2024-13 by title only for the first time
4) City Clerk reads Ordinance No. 2024-13 by title only (if approved above)
At the April 16, 2024 Council Meeting:
5) Adopt Resolution No. 2024-15
6) Read Ordinance No. 2024-13 by title only for the final time
7) City Clerk reads Ordinance No. 2024-13 by title only (if approved above)
8) Adopt Ordinance No. 2024-13

Executive Summary:

The intent of the Engineering Standards and Specifications is to provide information on minimum acceptable design and construction practices for new infrastructure in the City of Flagstaff. The last update to these standards was made in 2017. Since then, through regular use and enforcement of the standards, Engineering staff have identified some necessary amendments. These amendments have been proposed to correct errors and omissions, incorporate best practices, incorporate new technologies, improve the ease of interpretation of the standards, and provide consistency with other adopted codes and standards.

Financial Impact:

There are no anticipated financial impacts affiliated with the proposed Engineering Design Standards Amendments.

Policy Impact:

There are no anticipated policy impacts affiliated with the proposed Engineering Design Standards Amendments.

Previous Council Decision or Community Discussion:

During the February 27, 2024 Work Session the City Council discussed this proposed ordinance. The following are the changes staff made following the Council Work Session.

Concerns from Council and the Community were raised regarding a proposed amendment to allow for the use of roll curb in certain new residential subdivisions. Amendments to the existing standards affecting roll curb were removed pending additional Council, Commission and Community discussion.
Language clarifying that roll curb may be used on new residential cul-de-sacs where lack of parkway and/or right-of-way causes any other standard driveway entrance type to be non-compliant with ADA sidewalk cross slope requirements is included in the proposed amendment.
Clarifying language was added to the allowable height of traffic signals in accordance with MUTCD in response to Council discussion.
A technical change to large diameter water valve specification was added to 13-09-006-0001.B.
Staff updated a reference to a FUTS trail detail in subsection 13-09-001-0008.H.
Changed a callout on detail 10-10-035 from "SIDEWALK/FUTS" to "PATH/SIDEWALK".

Options and Alternatives to Recommended Action:

The City Council may adopt, modify or deny the proposed amendments.

Background and History:

The City of Flagstaff last made major amendments to Title 13 of City Code entitled "Engineering Design Standards and Specification for New Infrastructure" (also referred to as the Engineering Standards) in Ordinance 2017-22. The City also made minor amendments to the Engineering Standards in Ordinance 2020-10.

The proposed and ongoing amendments to the Engineering Standards ensure that the City continues to address and improve public safety. These standards also ensure high performing infrastructure that will improve and reduce maintenance in the future.

The proposed amendments to the Engineering Design Standards are the result of input and review from an internal stakeholder committee. These draft amendments were circulated to City of Flagstaff departments including Planning, Housing, and Sustainability. The results were then presented to the community including, two public open houses, the Business Advocacy Division of the Chamber of Commerce, the Transportation Commission, the Bicycle Advisory Committee, the Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the Commission on Inclusive and Adaptive Living, and the City Council Work Session on 02/27/2024. Comments were solicited at these meetings and through the City's online community forum. The proposed amendments have been available on the City's website since 01/09/2024 and have been updated based on internal and external comments received, when appropriate.

Upon approval of the proposed amendments, Engineering will begin another regular revision cycle. Staff will include the same stakeholders, and involve key community partners, as we work through the next revision cycle. Staff will bring the next cycle of proposed administrative amendments to Council in approximately two to three years. Based on Council direction, staff will conduct additional consultation and outreach to the community, The Commission on Inclusive and Adaptive Living, and the construction and development community to further refine future proposed changes to the roll curb standards. Staff anticipate that other code revisions that include amendments to Engineering Standards driven by Council priorities and/or adopted policy may occur sooner than the next cycle of regular administrative amendments upon completion of the ongoing Code Analysis Project (CAP), which is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2024.

Connection to PBB Priorities and Objectives:

Ensure the built environment is safe through the use of consistent standards, rules and regulations, and land use practices.
Identify smart traffic management, multi-modal transportation, and alternative energy opportunities.
Enhance the understanding between the development community, the City and Flagstaff residents.
Provide amenities that support a healthy lifestyle.
Support the development of attainable and accessible housing.

Connection to Regional Plan:

Manage a coordinated system of water, wastewater, and reclaimed water utility service facilities and resources at the City level and identify funding to pay for new resources.
Logically enhance and extend the City's public water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services including their treatment, distribution, and collection systems in both urbanized and newly developed areas of the City to provide an efficient delivery of services.
Provide for public services and infrastructure. Accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and private cars to supplement downtown's status as the best-served and most accessible location in the region.
Improve mobility and access throughout the region.
Improve transportation safety and efficiency for all modes.

Connection to Carbon Neutrality Plan:

Improve water infrastructure and expand water reuse.
Improve the resilience of public infrastructure and City facilities.

Connection to 10-Year Housing Plan:

Explore innovative tools and techniques to limit costs for regional development impacts on individual development projects, such as infrastructure.
Explore alternative Engineering and Fire requirements to minimize the cost of development without compromising Fire and Life Safety.

Attachments:

Res. 2024-15

2024 Amendments to Flagstaff City Code, Title 13

Ord. 2024-13

Presentation