City Council sends Flagstaff Regional Plan to voters; Planning & Zoning amendments on electrification not adopted, staff say

City staff briefed the Sustainability Commission Oct. 20 on recent action by the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council regarding the Flagstaff Regional Plan.

Jenny Niemann told commissioners the plan went through three Planning & Zoning Commission hearings in August and September, and on Oct. 9 the City Council voted to adopt the plan and send it to the public ballot. Niemann said that under Arizona law regional plans go to voters and staff presently expect the measure to appear in spring 2026 (she cautioned the exact month may change).

Niemann said the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended a number of conditions and submitted two notable amendments affecting climate policy: one proposed removing general support for building electrification and another proposed removing a prioritization of climate and housing. After public comment and council debate, Niemann said the City Council chose not to adopt those two amendments and left the plan’s climate provisions essentially as drafted in the July release.

Commissioners asked whether a voter rejection of the plan would return the city to the prior plan; Niemann said she would follow up with a precise statutory answer but noted there are precedents for the previously approved plan reverting if a new plan is rejected.

Niemann said the city will step up public information this winter and spring, including summary materials and public events; she noted the city is limited to informing voters and cannot advocate for plan adoption.