Flagstaff Open Space Commission removes Picture Canyon permanent restroom from 10-year CIP, reallocates funds to McMillan Mesa and Observatory Mesa

The Flagstaff Open Space Commission on the night of the meeting voted to remove the proposed permanent restroom at Picture Canyon from its 10-year capital improvement program (CIP) while keeping the restroom on the commission’s priorities list, and instructed staff to redirect the funds toward McMillan Mesa projects and early Observatory Mesa implementation.

Staff said the Picture Canyon restroom estimate was “close, you know, to 1000000 dollars,” a figure that prompted several commissioners to call for lower-cost alternatives and for prioritizing smaller projects that yield earlier, visible results. Robert (staff) explained the limits of base maintenance funding and the need to use CIP and grants for larger projects; staff told the commission they have about $47,000 per year to cover routine maintenance and education work but that larger capital items require separate funding.

Commissioners debated options including temporary portable toilets (staff noted a portable unit costs about $2,200 per year to service), composting toilets, or smaller permanent facilities. One commissioner urged focusing on projects that better demonstrate progress to the community: “I think having something that we can hang a star on is would be a really good idea,” a commissioner said during the discussion. Several members stressed that acquisitions should remain a priority but that implementation work at McMillan Mesa should move ahead sooner.

After discussion, an unidentified commissioner moved to remove the Picture Canyon restroom from the 10-year CIP (retaining it on the priority list) and to reallocate those funds “to McMillan Mesa projects as a first priority, Observatory Mesa projects as second priority, and then Picture Canyon projects” as a third priority. The Chair called the vote and the motion passed with ayes recorded.

Staff said the reallocation will be taken into account as the city moves through the budget season and that specific project-level funding and sequencing will be refined with better cost estimates, grant opportunities and staff capacity. The commission also discussed using grant matches and bundling related work (for example fencing, signage and restoration at Picture Canyon) when it makes sense to do so.

The commission’s action keeps Picture Canyon on the priorities list but removes the permanent restroom from its near-term CIP schedule; it directs staff to prioritize McMillan Mesa completion, to begin implementation steps at Observatory Mesa, and then to return attention to Picture Canyon improvements as funding and capacity allow. The commission signaled further refinements will be considered in upcoming joint meetings during the budget season.