The beauty of the night is on full display this year in Flagstaff as the city celebrates 25 years as the world’s first International Dark Sky City. The prestigious designation has made Flagstaff a global model for how communities can grow, innovate and thrive, all while protecting the night sky and keeping the Milky Way visible even from downtown. As the originator of the Dark Sky City program in 2001, the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition is honoring “Flagstaff’s Silver Jubilee” with a full … [Read more...] about Flagstaff Shines in the Dark, Helps Other Communities Recover their Stars
Becky Daggett
How Prepared is Flagstaff for More Warm, Dry Weather?
Our dry winter is on all our minds as we head into even warmer weather. In Flagstaff under these conditions, we can’t help but think about what these drought-like conditions mean for our community and the surrounding forests, fire-wise. The good news is that a large group of agencies and organizations work year-round to monitor data critical to our forests’ health and community’s well-being. This includes Flagstaff Fire Department (FFD), City of Flagstaff Emergency Management, Summit Fire and … [Read more...] about How Prepared is Flagstaff for More Warm, Dry Weather?
Why Strong State and Federal Partnerships Matter
Funding for city projects is often complex. The City of Flagstaff depends on state and federal grants in addition to local dollars to complete infrastructure projects, highlighting the importance of strong relationships with our state and federal delegations. As I write this, I’m in the Phoenix airport waiting on what was originally a five-hour layover and what is now a nine-hour layover due to winter storms. I’m on my way to Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Conference of Mayors winter meeting, … [Read more...] about Why Strong State and Federal Partnerships Matter
Addressing the State of the City
What’s the state of our city? Flagstaff city staff and council are moving into a series of retreats where we’ll discuss how the city fared through the FY25 budget, where revenues and expenses stand as of the end of 2025, and look forward to our FY27 budget. In addition to discussing and developing next year’s budget, we’ll also discuss progress made on several capital projects. Many mayors give a State of the City address – an update on the budget, projects, new initiatives, etc. I’m happy to … [Read more...] about Addressing the State of the City
A Historic Moment for NAU in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
I am thrilled to share a moment of immense pride for Northern Arizona University. Our very own Lumberjack Marching Band made history this Thanksgiving as the first university from Arizona ever to perform in the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. With approximately 260 passionate performers, many of whom are not even music majors, our students marched 2.5 miles through the heart of New York City, captivating millions of spectators and viewers across the nation. Chosen from more than 100 … [Read more...] about A Historic Moment for NAU in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Keeping Flagstaff Safe Through Preparedness and Partnership
Keeping our community safe is always top of mind for me and for city staff. Readers will be glad to know that Flagstaff’s fire, police and emergency management staff work closely on safety planning and all three work with regional partners on drills to ensure they are ever-ready for any emergency. A large part of Flagstaff’s strategy for protection from destructive wildland fire involves many partners engaged in the planning of forest thinning treatments, prescribed fire and wildfire response. … [Read more...] about Keeping Flagstaff Safe Through Preparedness and Partnership
Nonprofit Organizations Do Heavy Lifting
You and I rely on Flagstaff nonprofit organizations to do the work that benefits our lives, but often goes unnoticed and underfunded. It’s well established that Flagstaff lacks enough housing that people living and working here can afford. The problem is beyond the capacity of the city or any single non-profit housing organization to solve, but we work well together to find solutions. These organizations help us and our neighbors find emergency shelter, provide rental assistance or find stable … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Organizations Do Heavy Lifting
Flagstaff’s Search for a New City Manager
The city manager is arguably one of the most important positions within a city government. In Flagstaff and by city charter, we have a Council-Manager form of government. The city council hires the city manager, and the manager has ultimate responsibility for enacting policies passed by the council and for the day-to-day functioning of the city. The city council has been clear about what we’re looking for in a new city manager upon the retirement of Greg Clifton. Greg is an extraordinary … [Read more...] about Flagstaff’s Search for a New City Manager
City Homebuyer Assistance Program Opening Doors to First-Time Homebuyers
Flagstaff residents have much to appreciate about this special place. We work hard to make our community stronger and more prosperous – each one of us plays an important role. This is why I place such importance on creating opportunities for residents who have invested their lives in our community. Whatever your profession, you help make Flagstaff healthier, safer, smarter and more beautiful. Of course, one thing we all have in common is that we all need places to live. Regardless of our stage … [Read more...] about City Homebuyer Assistance Program Opening Doors to First-Time Homebuyers
Taking Wildland Fire Training to the Next Level
Intense, prolonged drought throughout the Southwest means wildfire risk is present year-round. The city recently received the exciting news that the state of Arizona has allocated $4 million to us for the construction of a regional wildland fire training facility. This facility will provide year-round, high-quality training opportunities for local and regional fire personnel. Serving as the base for the Flagstaff Fire Department’s (FFD) Wildland Fire Management Program (WFMP), this facility will … [Read more...] about Taking Wildland Fire Training to the Next Level