Our new alternative response for 911 calls is fully funded and will start full operations in March/April. 
The city’s broadband investment has increased drastically, from $200,000 to $2.9 million in one year, and with new state fiber coming up I-17 to I-40, this new infrastructure will provide a huge catalyst to our economic future. The city has developed a master plan that will connect government facilities in the city including county, state, federal and FUSD, and provide a strong core for private expansion. We are in discussions with Internet Service Providers looking to create a robust network with strong public-private partnerships that will attract good companies and provide well-paying jobs for our residents.
Speaking of good companies and good jobs, UACJ Whitehall Industries has moved into the old Walgreens building and is the largest employer to come to Flagstaff in more than 50 years, providing 350 well-paying electric vehicle manufacturing jobs to Flagstaff in the coming years. Here’s a shout-out to all the city’s partners who made this a reality, including ECoNA, Kinney Construction and Coconino County.
Our new alternative response for 911 calls is fully funded and will start full operations in March/April. This new team, consisting of a behavioral health specialist from Terros Health and a Flagstaff Fire EMT, will be responsible for patrolling and responding to 911 calls related to behavioral health and substance use. About 20% of all 911 calls are related to these issues, and with this new team of specialists, we can help people receive needed services, prevent unnecessary arrests and divert people in need away from the criminal justice system. This also helps reduce the call volume for our police so they may dedicate efforts to calls more criminal in nature.
It was a tumultuous summer with the Rafael Fire coming too close for comfort, and then flood waters hitting on the Museum Fire burn scar. Through partnerships with the Coconino County Flood Control District and the United States Forest Service, $7 million was secured to capture debris coming off the burn scar before the water comes to the city. Downstream, the City of Flagstaff has dedicated $2 million to improving the Dortha inlet in Sunnyside and is poised to sign an intergovernmental agreement this month to turn where the former Killip Elementary School was into a flood detention basin. There is a lot of work yet to do and I appreciate everyone’s patience as we work diligently to get the funds, agreements, contracts and engineering designs put together. We want as much done as possible before the next monsoon season.
We have a lot coming up on the agenda in January, including approval of our 2022 federal and state lobbying priorities, a potential vehicle and nuisance noise ordinance, a preliminary engineering agreement with BNSF for the Lone Tree overpass and flood mitigation improvements, a discussion of the lease agreement for the 31.45 acre industrial park by the airport, and a possible annexation for Flagstaff Rehab Campus to create a mental health and substance abuse treatment center.
Council meets every Tuesday at 3 p.m. and you can participate electronically or in person https://www.flagstaff.az.gov/328/Meeting-Protocols-Information or email City Council at council@flagstaffaz.gov.
Happy New Year, everyone! FBN
By Paul Deasy
Paul Deasy is the mayor of Flagstaff. These statements and views are provided solely by the mayor and do not necessarily reflect the views of Flagstaff City Council.
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