Swift Movement on Flood Mitigation Projects

Monsoon season officially ended on Sept. 30, and at this point, I feel we should make this a new city holiday.  We faced such an unprecedented summer of wildfire and post-wildfire flooding, but the city is in full swing working on long-term mitigation strategies now that response efforts have dissipated. The new detention basins above Coconino Estates will be completed by the end of October. I am amazed at the speed at which we were able to secure funding, create the design and complete this project, and I thank city staff and all our partners for seeing this through. It will only have taken four months since the Pipeline Fire for the most impactful long-term flood mitigation strategy to be completed. The detention basins will help collect debris and can hold up to 28 Olympic-sized swimming pools’ worth of water. This will have a huge positive impact on downstream residents.

In other flood mitigation news, we are elated to receive $32.5 million from the federal INFRA grant for our Rio de Flag Flood Control Project that has been in the works for the last 25 years and will help mitigate flooding in 20% of our city. We were the only city in Arizona to receive this round of INFRA grants and it is a testament to the hard work of staff and the partnerships that have developed to address our critical flooding issues. We are in non-stop discussions and planning meetings with the Army Corps of Engineers and BNSF railroad to get shovels in the ground next year.

We have several important items coming before the Flagstaff City Council here soon. A new licensing system for vacation rentals will help us address the most troublesome of rental properties. We were previously restricted by the state legislature to put any regulation or licensing on short-term rentals, but some of these restrictions have loosened as of Sept. 24. We can now distribute licenses and revoke the licenses when there are repeated offenses of noise and other nuisances. We also have a noise ordinance coming forward. We have received many complaints about noise coming from loud music and loud vehicles late into the night in our neighborhoods and we are looking to develop a tool to help address some of the more egregious occurrences. Another big item on the upcoming agendas is the proposal by Northern Arizona Healthcare to build and move their medical facility by Fort Tuthill. All of these issues need public input so we can work in the best interest of the community and, as always, I urge community members to email City Council to provide input at council@flagstaffaz.gov. FBN

By Paul Deasy

These statements and views are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Flagstaff City Council.

Paul Deasy is the mayor of Flagstaff.