COMBINED SPECIAL MEETING/WORK SESSION AGENDA
All City Council Meetings are live streamed on the city's website (https://www.flagstaff.az.gov/1461/Streaming-City-Council-Meetings) ***PUBLIC COMMENT*** Verbal public comments may be given through a virtual public comment platform or in-person If you want to provide a verbal comment during the Council Meeting, use the link below to join the virtual public comment room. VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT WAITING ROOM Written comments may be submitted to publiccomment@flagstaffaz.gov. All comments submitted via email will be considered written comments and will be documented into the record as such. |
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 City Council and to the general public that, at this work session, the City Council may vote to go into executive session, which will not be open to the public, for legal advice and discussion with the City’s attorneys for legal advice on any item listed on the following agenda, pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(3).
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2. | ROLL CALL
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3. | Pledge of Allegiance, Mission Statement, and Land Acknowledgement MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the City of Flagstaff is to protect and enhance the quality of life for all.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Flagstaff City Council humbly acknowledges the ancestral homelands of this area’s Indigenous nations and original stewards. These lands, still inhabited by Native descendants, border mountains sacred to Indigenous peoples. We honor them, their legacies, their traditions, and their continued contributions. We celebrate their past, present, and future generations who will forever know this place as home.
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4. | Public Participation Public Participation enables the public to address the council about items that are not on the prepared agenda. Public Participation appears on the agenda twice, at the beginning and at the end of the work session. You may speak at one or the other, but not both. Anyone wishing to comment at the meeting is asked to fill out a speaker card and submit it to the recording clerk. When the item comes up on the agenda, your name will be called. You may address the Council up to three times throughout the meeting, including comments made during Public Participation. Please limit your remarks to three minutes per item to allow everyone to have an opportunity to speak. At the discretion of the Chair, ten or more persons present at the meeting and wishing to speak may appoint a representative who may have no more than fifteen minutes to speak. |
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5. | Review of Draft Agenda for the February 7, 2023 City Council Meeting Citizens wishing to speak on agenda items not specifically called out by the City Council may submit a speaker card for their items of interest to the recording clerk. |
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6. | Proclamation: Career and Technical Education Month | ||||||||
7. |
January Work Anniversaries
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Recognition of employees celebrating work anniversaries in the month of January
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8. | Consideration and Approval of Contract: Purchase Contract with Scheidt & Bachmann USA Inc. for the Airport Paid Parking System. | ||||||||
STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION: | |||||||||
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9. | Consideration and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2023-03: An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Flagstaff, amending the Flagstaff City Code, Title 12, Floodplains, Chapter 12-02, Stormwater Management Utility, by amending Section 12-02-002-0003, Schedule of Stormwater Management Utility Service Charges and Fees; providing for repeal of conflicting ordinances, severability, penalties, authority for clerical corrections, and establishing an effective date | |||||
STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION: | ||||||
At the January 31, 2023 Council Meeting:
1) Continue the Public Hearing, opened on November 15, 2022 2) Read Ordinance No. 2023-03 by title only for the first time 3) City Clerk reads Ordinance No. 2023-03 by title only (if approved above) At the February 7th, 2023 Council Meeting: 4) Continue the Public Hearing. 5) Close the Public Hearing. 6) Read Ordinance No. 2023-03 by title only for the final time. 7) City Clerk reads Ordinance No. 2023-03 by title only (if approved above) 8) Adopt Ordinance No. 2023-03 |
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10. | Adjournment | |||||
WORK SESSION
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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 City Council and to the general public that, at this work session, the City Council may vote to go into executive session, which will not be open to the public, for legal advice and discussion with the City’s attorneys for legal advice on any item listed on the following agenda, pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(3).
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2. |
City Manager Report
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Information Only
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3. |
Economic Development - Year in Review 2022
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This presentation is a brief introduction and update on the City of Flagstaff's Economic Development Program from the year 2022.
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4. | Downtown Connection Center (DCC) Art Concepts: Art Glass and Southside Grove Sculpture | |||||
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5. | Parking Update and Discussion | |||||
Provide Council with information on the current City parking program and receive input regarding possible program changes.
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6. | Public Participation | |||||
7. | Informational Items To/From Mayor, Council, and City Manager; future agenda item requests | |||||
8. | Adjournment | |||||
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7.
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CITY OF FLAGSTAFF | |||||||||||
STAFF SUMMARY REPORT | |||||||||||
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TITLE: | |||||
January Work Anniversaries
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DESIRED OUTCOME: | |||||
Recognition of employees celebrating work anniversaries in the month of January
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: | |||||
INFORMATION: | |||||
Attachments: | Presentation |
8.
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CITY OF FLAGSTAFF | |||||||||||||
STAFF SUMMARY REPORT | |||||||||||||
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TITLE: | |||||
Consideration and Approval of Contract: Purchase Contract with Scheidt & Bachmann USA Inc. for the Airport Paid Parking System. | |||||
STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION: | |||||
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Executive Summary: | |||||
The City issued a Request for Proposals for a paid parking system, and received proposals from six (6) companies. Of those, Scheidt & Bachmann received the highest score from the panel that reviewed the proposals. City staff is recommending that Council find that Scheidt & Bachmann submitted the proposal most advantageous to the City, and approve a contract for purchase of the paid parking system and equipment required to move to a paid parking model for both the new and existing airport parking lots. Paid parking fees were previously approved by Council on December 28, 2021. |
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Financial Impact: | |||||
Currently, parking at the airport is free and the City is constructing and additional public parking lot at the airport to meet parking needs. Adoption of a paid parking program is expected to cover the cost of construction of the new parking lot, fund operational costs for the program, and reduce reliance on the City's General Fund by helping the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport operate as an Enterprise Fund. This contract is budgeted in the Airport Fund in account 211-07-222-3504-0-4443 as part of the Airport Parking Lot capital improvements and 221-07-221-0886-0-4229 for the hardware and software maintenance. | |||||
Policy Impact: | |||||
None.
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Connection to PBB Priorities/Objectives, Carbon Neutrality Plan & Regional Plan: | |||||
Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives
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Has There Been Previous Council Decision on This: | |||||
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Options and Alternatives: | |||||
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Background and History: | |||||
Passenger enplanements at the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport have grown significantly in recent years with the addition of new routes and increased passenger demand resulting in a 64% increase in travelers between 2017 and 2021. In 2020, during the height of the COVID pandemic, over 86,000 passengers continued flying out of Flagstaff Pulliam Airport after record enplanements of 123,957 in 2019. In 2021, enplanements were once again near record numbers with of 118,453 passengers boarding flights. This increase in passengers has added to the need to increase parking capacity, and the construction of a second parking lot was completed in 2022. The new parking lot adds 413 parking spaces for travelers, more than doubling the airport's parking capacity. This additional space will allow temporary closures of the existing lot for maintenance and improvements. Several other factors have contributed to parking issues at the airport even before the increase in enplanements. These issues have included abandoned vehicles, vehicles parked at the airport for extended periods of time, people using the lot for vehicle storage, and vehicles parking at the terminal for events not related to the airport. A paid parking model will help ensure parking is available to the traveling public by allowing for increased parking enforcement. It will also create a long term revenue source for the airport to recover the cost of construction, provide for ongoing operational and maintenance, and help the airport become more self-sustaining as an enterprise fund. The City issued a competitive solicitation, a Request for Proposals (RFP), in the fall of 2022. Scheidt & Bachmann USA Inc. submitted a proposal i Request for Proposals in the fall of 2022. Purchasing staff published a Request for Proposals RFP solicitation for Parking, Access, and Revenue Control System for the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport services in the Arizona Daily Sun on October 16, 2022, and October 23, 2022, and posted the solicitation to the City of Flagstaff’s PlanetBids Website on October 11, 2022. On November 1, 2022, the City received six (6) Proposals from Paid Parking Consultant Firms. A six-member Selection Committee consisting of City staff and one business Consultant reviewed and evaluated the Proposals. Based upon the numerical scoring of the Proposals, the Selection Committee identified the highest scoring proposer as Scheidt & Bachmann. Final scores of all firms are as follows: APS - Access Professional Systems 365 DESIGNA Access Corporation 520 FlashParking, Inc. 539 HUB Parking Technology USA, Inc. 492 Scheidt & Bachmann USA Inc. 547 SKIDATA, Inc 478 Scheidt & Bachmann demonstrated a clear recognition of the knowledge and experience to design a complex paid parking system at the Flagstaff airport, as well as understanding the schedule requirements for completing the improvements. |
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Community Benefits and Considerations: | |||||
This purchase is budgeted within the Airport Fund in account numbers 221-07-222-3504-0-4443 and 221-07-221-0886-0-4229. While the Airport Fund operates as an Enterprise type fund, there is often a reliance on the General Fund to assist funding of annual budget requests. The goal with the implementation of a paid parking system is to help the airport to become self-sustaining through annual revenues. This approach is critical to enable the airport to make operational and capital decisions without competing for limited revenues on an annual basis. The airport has benefited from recent federal funding during the pandemic which has reduced reliance on the General Fund, however these funds are one-time benefits. In the Fiscal Year 2021-2022, the Airport Fund shows a $450,000 annual ongoing need beginning in Fiscal Year 2024-2025. The parking rates proposed will allow for the airport to reduce its revenue reliance on the General Fund. |
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Expanded Options and Alternatives: | |||||
Staff posted a Notice of Proposed New Rates or Fees Related to Airport Parking on October 22, 2021 which provided a detailed analysis of the proposed airport parking rates. This notice provided the dates proposed for the Council consideration of airport parking rates and the Management Services phone number. This notice was also posted on the City of Flagstaff Facebook page. Airport staff presented a discussion on airport parking rates to the Airport Commission on October 17, 2021, to the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce on November 14, 2021, and to the Tourism Commission on November 23, 2021. |
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Attachments: | Airport PARCS Presentation | ||
Airport Paid Parking Contract | |||
Exhibit A - SOW and Fee |
9.
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CITY OF FLAGSTAFF | |||||||||||||
STAFF SUMMARY REPORT | |||||||||||||
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TITLE: | |||||
Consideration and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2023-03: An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Flagstaff, amending the Flagstaff City Code, Title 12, Floodplains, Chapter 12-02, Stormwater Management Utility, by amending Section 12-02-002-0003, Schedule of Stormwater Management Utility Service Charges and Fees; providing for repeal of conflicting ordinances, severability, penalties, authority for clerical corrections, and establishing an effective date | |||||
STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION: | |||||
At the January 31, 2023 Council Meeting:
1) Continue the Public Hearing, opened on November 15, 2022 2) Read Ordinance No. 2023-03 by title only for the first time 3) City Clerk reads Ordinance No. 2023-03 by title only (if approved above) At the February 7th, 2023 Council Meeting: 4) Continue the Public Hearing. 5) Close the Public Hearing. 6) Read Ordinance No. 2023-03 by title only for the final time. 7) City Clerk reads Ordinance No. 2023-03 by title only (if approved above) 8) Adopt Ordinance No. 2023-03 |
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Executive Summary: | |||||
This meeting is an opportunity for the City Council to do the first read of Ordinance 2023-03 after the continuation of the public hearing for said Ordinance. The public hearing was originally opened on November 15th, 2022. This action adopts an ordinance increasing Stormwater service charges (rates). An equivalent rate unit (ERU) equals 1,500 square feet of impervious area on a property. Stormwater service charge increase is necessary to adequately fund pre-monsoon season flood preparation, flood response, operations, maintenance, and priority capital improvement projects. Staff developed stormwater rate alternatives for Council to consider which included a staff-recommended option of increased capital projects through rates and grant funding, and other options including an option for rate funded Capital projects and an option of minimal Capital expenditures. These options are listed in the draft Ordinance as well as in the attached presentation. |
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Financial Impact: | |||||
The City is recognizing the need to establish appropriate stormwater rates that will allow for the Stormwater Fund to remain solvent following flood response and Capital Improvements from post-wildfire flooding as well as regular operations of the Stormwater Utility. An increase in stormwater rates is needed in order to meet future operating expenditures, provide funding for priority capital improvements and provide sound fiscal management to the Stormwater Fund. | |||||
Policy Impact: | |||||
Consideration of the level of funding for Stormwater operations, maintenance, and flood mitigation capital projects. | |||||
Connection to PBB Priorities/Objectives, Carbon Neutrality Plan & Regional Plan: | |||||
Priority Based Budgeting Priorities
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Has There Been Previous Council Decision on This: | |||||
On August 23, 2022, City Council adopted Resolution 2022-44, a Notice of Intent to increase Water Services rates or rate components, fees or service charges. On October 25, 2022, during the Council work session staff presented results of the Stormwater Rate Adjustment Report and current scenarios for rate increases. On November 15, 2022, during the Council work session, staff presented Ordinance 2022-32 with three scenarios for rate increases. The current scenarios are modifications of this November meeting with clarifications and changes as recommended by Council and the City Manager. |
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Options and Alternatives: | |||||
Alternatives are being considered to provide various levels of service to the community with the understanding of enhanced operations and maintenance due to recent flood events and new infrastructure.
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Background and History: | |||||
The Stormwater Section was created in 2003 as a separate utility. The utility has undergone many changes since its inception with a drastic increase in expenses and level of service following the Museum Fire of 2019 and Pipeline Fire of 2022. The need for an increase in the rate is in relation to these fires, inflationary pressure, increased infrastructure maintenance needs, and continued flood response costs. This rate was evaluated by an outside consultant, Water Resources Economics, and was reviewed by Staff for appropriateness in terms of community level of service. | |||||
Key Considerations: | |||||
Current Stormwater rates are insufficient for continuing pre-monsoon season flood preparation or monsoon flood response. Current rates are insufficient for funding the Highway 180 at Schultz Creek culvert. The City has several basins to help mitigate flood levels in our community and are expected to collect sediment and debris from the fire burn areas. Current rates are insufficient for the large increases in maintenance costs that will be incurred from the construction of the Killip School Regional Detention Basins, Schultz Creek Basins, Francis Short Pond Basin and Park Way Basins. | |||||
Community Benefits and Considerations: | |||||
Current Stormwater rates are insufficient for continuing pre-monsoon season flood preparation or monsoon flood response. Current rates are insufficient for funding the Highway 180 at Schultz Creek culvert. Current rates are insufficient for the drastic increase in maintenance costs that will be incurred by the new Killip School Regional Detention Basins, Park Way Basins, and Schultz Creek Basins as well as existing basins (e.g. Frances Short Pond). |
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Community Involvement: | |||||
Establishing a fiscally secure Stormwater Fund will provide for flood response and post-fire long term mitigations that will reduce repetitive funding. The Fund will continue to support the Rio de Flag Flood Control Project, FEMA regulatory compliance, and stormwater development review. | |||||
Expanded Options and Alternatives: | |||||
A public notice and the Stormwater Rate Adjustment report was made available to the public on September 16, 2022. A Stormwater page has also been created to provide additional information on the rate adjustment. Staff has reached out to the community for opportunities to provide a roadshow presentation to groups. Community forums were scheduled to allow for the public to attend in-person or virtually. This rate adjustment had several public meetings and previous Council discussion on October 25, 2022 and November, 15, 2023. | |||||
Attachments: | Ord. 2023-03 | ||
Open Channel needs 2023 | |||
Presentation | |||
DRAFT Stormwater strategic plan |
2.
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CITY OF FLAGSTAFF | |||||||||||
STAFF SUMMARY REPORT | |||||||||||
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TITLE: | |||||
City Manager Report
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DESIRED OUTCOME: | |||||
Information Only
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: | |||||
These reports will be included in the City Council packet for regularly scheduled Work Session meetings. The reports are intended to be informational, covering miscellaneous events and topics involving the City organization. | |||||
INFORMATION: | |||||
Attachments: | City Manager Report | ||
IT Monthly Report | |||
Water Services Monthly Report | |||
Sustainability Monthly Report |
3.
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CITY OF FLAGSTAFF | |||||||||||
STAFF SUMMARY REPORT | |||||||||||
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TITLE: | |||||
Economic Development - Year in Review 2022
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DESIRED OUTCOME: | |||||
This presentation is a brief introduction and update on the City of Flagstaff's Economic Development Program from the year 2022.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: | |||||
The Economic Development section led by Heidi Hansen, Economic Vitality Director and comprised of Community Investment Director David McIntire, Community Investment Administrative Specialist Creag Znetko, Business Attraction Manager Jack Fitchett, and Business Retention and Expansion Manager John Saltonstall will present their Year in Review of the City's Economic Development Program for 2022. The Economic Development Team will speak about recent awards, successes, incentive programs, marketing efforts, new initiatives, and sector expansions among other efforts. | |||||
INFORMATION: | |||||
This presentation will provide each team member the chance to present a few efforts, programs, and successes that occurred this past year. We look forward to this opportunity to inform and celebrate the below efforts and successes with Council.
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Attachments: | ED Presentation |
4.
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CITY OF FLAGSTAFF | |||||||||||
STAFF SUMMARY REPORT | |||||||||||
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Downtown Connection Center (DCC) Art Concepts: Art Glass and Southside Grove Sculpture | |||||
DESIRED OUTCOME: | |||||
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: | |||||
City Council is being asked to respond to the Beautification and Public Art Commission's (BPAC) recommended art concepts for the new Downtown Connection Center (DCC) being constructed on west Phoenix Avenue, just east of Milton Road. The proposed public art would consist of: Art Glass, and a Southside Grove Sculpture. Funding Source, and City Council and BPAC's Roles: Beautification projects, as well as Arts & Science projects, are funded by voter approved Bed, Board, & Beverage tax revenue. Though no approval is before City Council at this juncture, the City Council has established BPAC to make recommendations about how public tax dollars should be spent on beautification, arts and sciences. Per the Flagstaff City Code, Section 2-14-001-0006.D, BPAC is required to evaluate and make recommendations to the City Council for public art projects. Per standard procurement process, the City Council must approve (or disapprove) any contract in an amount exceeding $50,000. Contract approvals will be before City Council in the upcoming months. Public Art Process for the DCC: In 2020 City staff (Beautification, Arts and Sciences program, in the Economic Vitality Division) issued a formal Request for Statement of Qualifications (RSOQ) for public artists for the new Downtown Connection Center (DCC) to be operated by the public transportation authority known as Mountain Line. In December 2020 City Council approved a contract with Haddad/Drugan LLC, the artist team of Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan. The artist team was charged to work with Mountain Line’s design team to identify and design multiple public art or beautification projects/elements that integrate with the new Downtown Connection Center project. The original contract of $25,000 took this design work to 60%, and a subsequent amendment in the amount of $22,000 is taking the Art Glass and Southside Grove sculpture art concepts to 100% of design. Best practices in the field of public art were utilized in all stages of design. Vested community members were on the selection panel. Prior to design commencement, a broad community survey was conducted for which approximately 70 responses were received, and a photo contest was run to provide images to inspire the artist team. Also prior to design commencement, the artist team met with a group of Southside residents and business owners on site, met with the City team for the Rio de Flag project, participated in a walking tour with the Historic Preservation Officer and administrator of the Southside Plan, did regional hiking, and went to Lowell Observatory among other cultural centers. The artist team then came up with a master plan of about fifteen (15) project ideas. Through vetting with the design team and Mountain Line’s Southside Stakeholder group, five (5) project ideas emerged. These five ideas were presented in public meetings with Mountain Line in the Fall of 2021 for feedback and all five went forward based on responses. Three (3) of these ideas will be developed by other artists. This artist team took two (2) ideas, Art Glass and the Southside Grove sculpture, and developed the concepts while working with the design team to integrate the art within the evolving design of the DDC. The developed concepts were presented for comment to the original selection panel members, the Southside Community Association, and Mountain Line’s Southside Stakeholder group and Boards in the Spring of 2022. The artist team made some modifications, and BPAC at its May 2022 meeting approved its recommendation to City Council for Council approval of the Art Glass, and provisionally recommended the Southside Grove sculpture with some changes. The artist team incorporated the direction and other community and upper management comments into the features of the sculpture, and at the November 2022 BPAC gave its full recommendation to Council to approve the Southside Grove sculpture. A copy of the May and November minutes are attached. Staff sought the input of the Indigenous Commission and has recommendations from the Southside Community Association for cultural submissions for the project. Art Glass: The Art Glass is luminous art. It will be integrated into the main entry of the new DCC building, which should have its groundbreaking in February 2023. The Art Glass on the south facades is over the front door and faces Phoenix Ave, and then wraps to the east facade facing the future bus bays and civic space. The art draws from elements of the Mountain Line logo and Flagstaff’s natural beauty, and fuses those elements with color and light. Using a graphic technique, the design overlays, into a unique composition, the imagery of a mountain lion, the San Francisco peaks as viewed from the DCC, and ponderosa pines in three different colors (blue, green, red). The artwork will have a different presence at night than during the day. In daylight, the multiple colors and images are superimposed. At night different colored back lights will highlight the individual layers of the overlapped images on the south facade, making each image pop as the other images recede, creating a gentle morphing through the series of colorful illuminations. The east facade will also be back-lit as the image of the ponderosa pines alone wraps around from the front facade. The architect and the artist team worked diligently to align the glass mullions and support features so that the art glass and architectural features are complementary, enhancing each other. Southside Grove Sculpture: The "Southside Grove” is an immersive sculpture, has a meet-me-here presence, but also is reflective of natural and cultural history, especially that of the Southside but also Flagstaff and the surrounding region. The primary elements of the sculpture are:
The Southside Grove Sculpture initially will be installed within a landscaped area adjacent the entry plaza of the new building, during phase one of the DCC Project. The sculpture will later be moved into a new civic space east of the future bus bays which will be constructed during phase two of the DCC Project. The relocation is necessitated by the Rio de Flag Flood Control Project work by the Army Corps of Engineers in the same area as the DCC. While the schedule and length of time between the phases has not yet been set, the current estimate is between four and eight years. Estimated Cost for Public Art at DCC: The Beautification, Arts & Sciences program FY23 project budgets have $448,000 remaining for fabrication and installation. Due to supply chain and inflation increases there is a request for an additional $100,000 for the FY24 budget for a total of $548,000 to pay for fabrication and installation of both artworks. The artist team, with their subs, will be fabricating the art glass and will be fabricating and installing the sculpture. At this time final budgets are not available, but should be within the next month when the contracts with the artist team will be presented to Council for approval. The estimate range is $450,000 to $480,000. Including the reimbursement contract work discussed below, the total estimated cost for both public art projects is estimated to be $490,000 to $530,000. This sum does not include the future cost of relocating the Southside Sculpture Grove during phase two of the DCC Project. The DCC Construction Contractor's Role: Staff is proposing that the construction contractor for the DCC project (hired through Mountain Line's competitive process) perform the installation and electrical wiring for the Art Glass, and the landscape and the foundation for the Southside Grove Sculpture. City would enter into an agreement with Mountain Line to provide specifications for the work, process for inspection and final acceptance of the work, and to reimburse Mountain Line for the work, among other things. The amount for this work is not yet known but estimated between $40,000 and $50,000. Risk Management Role: City's Risk Management would be included in review of Haddad/Drugan's fabrication and installation final documents and contracts to ensure risk management concerns are addressed. |
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INFORMATION: | |||||
Goal CC.5: Support and promote art, science, and education resources for all to experience. Goal LU.3: Continue to enhance the region’s unique sense of place within the urban, suburban, and rural context. Goal LU.11: Prioritize the continual reinvigoration of downtown Flagstaff, whose strategic location, walkable blocks, and historic buildings will continue to be a vibrant destination for all. Policy ED.6.1: Support and promote the diversification and specialization of the tourism sector, with heritage, eco- and adventure tourism Community Outreach Council Goal: Enhance public transparency and accessibility. |
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Attachments: | Presentation | ||
May BPAC Minutes | |||
Nov BPAC Minutes |
5.
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CITY OF FLAGSTAFF | |||||||||||
STAFF SUMMARY REPORT | |||||||||||
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Parking Update and Discussion | |||||
DESIRED OUTCOME: | |||||
Provide Council with information on the current City parking program and receive input regarding possible program changes.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: | |||||
The ParkFlag program is in its sixth (6th) year of operations. This Staff Summary Report is intended to update the Council on the following items.
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INFORMATION: | |||||
Background Why Parking For more than twenty-five years, Flagstaff struggled with parking. There was a lack of employee parking, only one public parking lot on Phoenix Avenue, and although there was two-hour time-limited parking available on public streets the City was unable to effectively enforce this limit because people would simply move their cars. The City had two main problems:
In 2017 ParkFlag was implemented to address the issues of not having enough parking and not efficiently managing what we do have. The City established a parking district area covering about 100 City blocks, which grew over time. The City purchased and installed parking kiosks to establish paid parking on public streets at a rate of $1 per hour during set hours. The City also established a comprehensive parking permit system, to include employees and residents. The program’s mission was to “Create a fair and balanced parking system providing the most benefit for all,” by achieving the following goals:
ParkFlag operated successfully for its initial two years. Parking was both fluid and available, supporting a vibrant Downtown; we were fully staffed; parking behaviors were changing; and ParkFlag saved nearly $800,000 in the Lock Box to invest in future parking supply. After two years we re-assessed the needs of the program and the community to find areas for improvement. Program Changes In February of 2020 the City Council was asked to consider the following possible program changes:
Council approved a resolution on February 11, 2020, reducing the cost of Employee Parking Permits from $45 a month to $10 a month, and reducing paid parking hours to the following:
Shortly after changes were approved, the City suspended its paid parking program to support local businesses, residents, and visitors as we all adjusted to life in a COVID pandemic. During this time ParkFlag, with a small staff, enforced the City Code Title 9 Traffic parking regulations except for paid parking and issued mostly warnings. During the suspension we replaced signs to reflect the new hours of operations, re-zoned several blocks of underutilized paid parking spaces as employee permit parking zones, and assisted Public Works in painting lines and marks in the Downtown. In the meantime, Council approved a contract for upgraded enforcement and back-office software and enforcement hardware. ParkFlag worked with the vendor to employ the software as quickly as possible in preparation for the time when paid parking would resume. Re-implementation In October of 2020 ParkFlag presented possible re-implementation strategies to City Council. Per Council direction, the decision was made to re-implement the paid parking program on March 1, 2021, allowing for free parking to encourage increased visitation in Downtown during the 2020 holiday season and the slowest winter months. Prior to re-implementation we provided community updates and outreach through social media and the local newspaper, the Daily Sun. On March 21st we began a one-month warning period to provide further notice to persons parking in Downtown and residents. Current State of the Program Ambassadorship Enforcement Model We continue to manage the ParkFlag program through ambassadorship and enforcement. Daily, we offer quality customer service, conduct essential parking counts, and obtain behavior correction through warnings and violations when needed. We have been successfully been achieving overall behavior change while using an intentionally gentler approach. ParkFlag currently services approximately 64 square blocks of metered parking and 84 square blocks of surrounding residential areas. There are 14 installed residential zones which are monitored on a regular basis. We remain open to resident concerns and promptly respond to incoming concerns and complaints.
Revenues Currently the program is generating approximately 70% of the revenues that were being received before the initial program was changed in February 2020.
Staffing The program is currently operating with 4 staff members:
This past year we introduced our new VIP commuter pass program in cooperation with NAIPTA and the Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance to improve Downtown employee commuter options. Employees may now purchase an employee parking permit and apply for a free Mountain Lion bus pass, giving employees the opportunity to choose how they want to commute on a daily basis. ParkFlag pays $3,000 annually to NAIPTA for this public transit incentive which increases the supply of available parking and support the Climate Action Plan. The City of Flagstaff recently opened two parking lots on the north side of Downtown with a total of 154 parking spaces, as part of the Municipal Courthouse project. The Cherry lot is leased, and the old Courthouse lot is owned by City. ParkFlag manages both of these multi-use lots, which are zoned for employee permits facility permits, facility permits, and paid parking. We are currently researching additional contact-less payment options including text to pay, to improve the overall customer experience. Upcoming Items for Council Consideration License Plate Reader (LPR) ParkFlag will be asking City Council to approve purchase of a license plate reader (LPR) at a Council Meeting in February. A LPR is a piece of equipment that will be attached to a ParkFlag electric vehicle and it scans license plates. Currently parking aides walk the streets, handtype license plate numbers (leaving room for errors) and photograph vehicles. It can take about an hour to cover 3 blocks of a street. The LPR collects all this information in the time it takes to drive the 3 blocks. The LPR will be used as follows: Uses
ParkFlag requested and received approval from the Budget Team to purchase a License Place Reader (LPR). The LPR has not yet been purchased. The startup cost will be about $50,000, and there will be relatively modest annual subscription cost. City Council will have the opportunity to approve a contract for an LPR in at a public meeting in February 2022. Input Request Items City Code Changes ParkFlag will be asking the City Code to consider City Code changes related to parking enforcement, hopefully prior to Council break. ParkFlag will be proposing to:
ParkFlag's mission statement is to provide a fair parking program for all. Unfortunately, there are multiple individuals who continue to disregard pay-to-park parking regulations creating an unfair environment in the pay-to-park district. There are 30+ vehicles with more than three (3) unpaid and uncontested parking citations on our records. The current City Code requires at least three (3) citations to have been filed with the Municipal Court before City can "boot" or "tow" a repeat offender. However, the Court is not equipped to handle all the parking citations issued by ParkFlag and payments. Therefore, ParkFlag currently only files contested citations with the Court, which are handled by the Court. Multi-Family Residential Permits When ParkFlag was implemented in 2017, permits were not available for residents living in multi-family housing units (apartments, condos, duplexes, townhomes). City Council was very involved during the development of ParkFlag, and agreed to this decision for several reasons, including the following.
Since ParkFlag resumed paid parking operations in spring 2021, staff has seen a decrease in employee permit sales due to more people working from home. Even with the reduction in the employee permit cost we are seeing reduced sales. This change in parking habits has resulted in more available parking space, We currently have about 60% use of available parking spaces during regular business hours, and additional parking availability during off-peak hours. At the same time, ParkFlag continues to receive requests from residents of multi-family residential housing complexes seeking parking permits. With the addition of close to 150 new spaces at surface lots for public and employee parking, we now have capacity to address the requests from our multi-family housing residents. ParkFlag is proposing a pilot program for multi-family housing residents and is seeking City Council guidance on:
South Side Street Management City staff is seeking Council guidance on:
Financial Impacts The initial purchase of an LPR is over $50,000 and would need future approval by City Council. There will also be a minimal annual software subscription included in the purchase. It could be a net cost savings if allows more efficient use of staff time in the long term. The introduction of a Multi-Use Permit may generate additional revenues to the parking program through the sale of excess parking permits. The change in the current immobilization ordinance could possibly generate revenue for the City of Flagstaff Court through citation payments (ParkFlag does not receive any revenue through citation payments.) Policy Impacts Creating a pilot permit program would change ParkFlag policy and allow those who were previously excluded from purchasing permits to apply. This would serve both the community and the parking program. Regional Plan Objectives Provide sustainable and equitable public facilities, services and infrastructure systems in an efficient and effective manner to serve all population areas and demographics. PBB Priorities Would support efficient parking operations including enforcement and possibly gain revenues through the sale of excess permits. |
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Attachments: | CCR License Plate Reader | ||
Multi-Use Permit | |||
Parking Update Power Point |