Coconino flood district seeks board direction; proposes up to $2.4M local match for Tusayan flood mitigation grant
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Summary
Flood district staff presented a long‑term mitigation capital plan and recommended a local match of up to $2.4 million (roughly 10%) to support a Tusayan project (estimated total ~$26M) if a federal BUILD/FLAP grant is awarded; staff warned the district carries prior loan obligations that must be resolved to proceed on a full program scale.
Lucinda Andreani, the county's flood control district administrator, briefed the Board of Supervisors Feb. 3 on a multi‑year capital plan that prioritizes flood‑mitigation projects in five FEMA flood areas. She said the district will rely heavily on federal and state grants for construction and that board direction was needed for initial investments and grant matches.
Andreani described Tusayan's project (described in the record as an approximately $26 million build including a large flood‑retarding structure and two upstream detention basins) as one of the most advanced entries: the town has completed a drainage master plan and the project has strong technical justification. To improve competitiveness for a federal BUILD or Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant, staff recommended the district set aside up to $2.4 million (approximately 10%) as a local match; Tusayan councilors were reported to be considering a $200,000 contribution toward that match.
Repeatedly during the presentation staff underscored that these investments are contingent on grant awards and on addressing an outstanding flood‑district loan (a prior emergency loan of roughly $15.5 million related to wildfire response) that remains on the district's books. Andreani said legal and financing work is underway to resolve repayment terms and that the ability to commit local match funding depends on resolving that debt.
Board members asked for an economic impact report to support grant competitiveness; staff said a preliminary NAU analysis and additional benefit‑cost work are underway and likely to be available within about a month. Supervisors expressed support for moving ahead with grant matching where it improves competitiveness and for finalizing legal steps to address outstanding district debt.
Next steps: staff will refine the economic analysis and benefit‑cost work, coordinate grant applications with town partners, and return with formal requests and, if appropriate, loan or match approvals.