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Cathedral Pines residents propose 1,700‑foot sprinkler system; city flags $43,000 impact‑fee cost
Summary
Cathedral Pines residents presented a neighborhood wildfire‑suppression sprinkler proposal to Prescott City Council; the project would install 22 mechanical sprinklers tied to an 84,000‑gallon tank but requires a 2‑inch meter with approximately $43,000 in city impact fees that state law prevents the city from waiving.
Residents of the Cathedral Pines subdivision presented a wildfire suppression sprinkler plan at the Prescott City Council study session Tuesday and asked for city help with impact fees and other costs.
Presenter William Hartley described a 1,700‑foot system of 22 mechanical sprinklers that would be switched on at the first sign of ember storms. He said the design runs for two hours and uses about 8,700 gallons; the neighborhood’s water tank holds roughly 84,000 gallons.
City public works director Gwen Rohich told the council that the applicant’s design would require a 2‑inch meter and that impact fees for that meter are approximately $42,000; the cost of a meter itself is about $1,000. Rohich noted state law prevents the city from waiving impact fees, though she said the city could consider funding assistance from other accounts if appropriate.
Why it matters: Residents and the Prescott Fire Department said the system is intended to raise humidity ahead of a fire’s ember storm and give firefighters more time to prioritize life‑saving and structural protection tasks. Cathedral Pines said it has been an active Firewise community since 2011 and that the neighborhood already has invested in vegetation mitigation.
Neighborhood plan and technical details
William Hartley described the proposal as a mitigation tool to slow ember storms and protect homes on the steep terrain between Cathedral Pines and an adjacent mobile‑home park. Hartley said the sprinklers spray in arcs, are mounted on trees or treated posts, and would be configured so responding firefighters can open or close valves at individual sprinkler locations.
Hartley said parts are commercially available and the neighborhood has already completed vegetation thinning, chipping and trails to improve firefighter access. He said his on‑site demonstration showed the system raises local humidity within minutes.
City staff, fire officials and insurance questions
Conrad Jackson and other fire officials said the neighborhood has been proactive and that similar systems have been used elsewhere. “I’ve seen the importance of sprinkler systems. I once had… we saved a subdivision in California with 3 sprinklers,” one official said during the presentation.
Rohich told the council that impact fees are set by state law and “cannot be waived,” but she also said the city could discuss whether other city funds might help reduce the neighborhood’s upfront cost. Hartley said the neighborhood is pursuing a Prescott National Forest grant that would cover construction but cannot be applied to the city’s impact‑fee account.
What was requested and next steps
Cathedral Pines asked for city assistance with the meter and impact‑fee cost; Hartley and community volunteers said they have applied for a federal/forest‑service grant that they expect to learn about on June 1. Councilmembers indicated they would discuss whether the city can help offset fees but made no commitment at the study session.
Key technical numbers mentioned by the presenters and staff include a 1,700‑foot system with 22 sprinklers, two‑hour run time using about 8,700 gallons, an 84,000‑gallon neighborhood tank and estimated impact fees of roughly $42,000 for a 2‑inch meter.
