Flagstaff staff present draft Policy H; commissioners ask for clearer wording on water-rights and collaboration

City staff presented revisions to draft Policy H, focused on regional collaboration, interagency coordination and approaches to water-rights acquisition. Staff said the policy emphasizes participation in Northern Arizona municipal water-user groups, relationships with ADWR, FEMA, NAU, Bureau of Reclamation and USGS, and collaboration with tribal governments at staff and city-manager levels.

Commissioners flagged wording problems and section titles that obscured intent. Multiple members said items titled "water rights acquisition" should be re-binned or retitled when they cover collaborative programs, FEMA coordination, or protection of environmentally sensitive riparian areas. Commissioner Vane asked that the section titles match the content so lay readers can understand whether an item is about acquiring water rights or about regional cooperation.

Members also asked staff to clarify the line reading "participate in competition for limited renewable water supplies," with one commissioner saying the phrase was unclear in practice. Staff agreed to consult legal and to rewrite the language to better convey intent (for example: "be prepared to pursue opportunities to secure additional renewable supplies when appropriate and legal").

A minor but specific correction was raised: the draft referenced the "Coconino Plateau Water Advisory Committee," and a commissioner noted the legal name is the "Coconino Plateau Water Advisory Council;" staff agreed to correct the name.

Staff said they would revise the draft, consult legal on acquisition language and county coordination, and return to the commission with clarified wording. Commissioners asked that any substantive changes come back to the commission before forwarding to city council.