Council hears details on $890,000 in flood-district funding and plans for Dexter neighborhood drainage work

The Prescott City Council on Sept. 23 received details about flood-control projects identified for $890,000 in funding from the Yavapai County Flood Control District. Brian Reese, the city’s water resources manager, briefed the council on several proposed projects and next steps. Reese said the district funding originates from a special tax and is allocated to cities for design and construction of flood-control work. “The city of Prescott this year was notified that they would receive the 890,000 from Yavapai flood control district,” Reese said. The staff list includes three priority projects: Double D drainage improvements (a complex hillside drainage project currently moving toward 60% design), Yavapai Hills/Hornet Drive drainage improvements (at about 100% design and expected to require substantial construction funds), and a set of alternatives for the Dexter neighborhood (a multi-option study identifying 2–3 near-term alternatives to provide relief for 10- to 25-year storms while longer-term, 100-year remedies would be much costlier). Reese described Dexter as especially challenging because of steep topography, aging house elevations and prior street and alley changes that reduced the vertical separation between roadways and dwellings. The city has commissioned a preliminary hydrologic study and asked its consultant to prioritize “bang-for-the-buck” alternatives that can deliver more immediate improvements while buying time to pursue larger perimeter projects. Councilman Grady asked for more detail about anticipated measures for the Dexter neighborhood, and Reese said the consultant will return with options for targeted localized storm drains, improvements along Whipple Street and possible vegetation management in creek channels. Reese said the intention is to focus current regional funds on projects that can be designed and constructed more quickly and to proceed to final design and bidding when feasible. No formal council action was requested at this briefing beyond having Item 9e pulled from the consent agenda for additional information. Staff said the Yavapai Hills project will likely consume a substantial share of this year’s funds; the Double D project will require additional design funding to move from 60% to final design; and Dexter neighborhood work will focus on mitigating more frequent storms rather than full 100-year protection because of cost.