The City of Flagstaff will be conducting a Primary and Special Election on August 4, 2020.

Candidate Primary

A candidate primary will be held to determine final Mayoral candidates for the November 2020 General Election. The Primary Election will determine two candidates for Mayor.

Special Election

The City Council has advanced two questions to the August 4, 2020 ballot regarding a Franchise Agreement and an adjustment to the City’s Base Permanent Expenditure Limitation.

Request for Pro/Con Statements 

Any person interested in providing an argument(s) for any of the below items is hereby requested to provide the same to the City Clerk, before 4:00 p.m., Arizona time on Wednesday, May 6, 2020.

In accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes, each argument filed shall not exceed 300 words and shall contain the sworn statement of each person sponsoring it; if the argument is sponsored by an organization, it shall contain the sworn statement of two executive officers of the organization or if sponsored by a political committee it shall contain the sworn statement of the committee’s chairman or treasurer. Each argument filed shall also be submitted in electronic format (Word or text file preferred) to the City Clerk’s Office at stacy.saltzburg@flagstaffaz.gov. The person or persons signing the argument shall identify themselves by giving their residence or post office address and a telephone number, which information shall not appear in the pamphlet. 

Franchise Agreement

A question will be submitted to the voters as to whether a franchise shall be granted to Unisource Energy Services to use City right-of-way and public utility easements for its natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines and facilities. The existing franchise expires in October 2020. Unisource Energy Services is requesting a new 25-year franchise. You can view the proposed franchise agreement here.

PROPOSITION NO. 434

OFFICIAL TITLE:  A measure referred to the people by the Flagstaff City Council relating to a franchise agreement with UNS Gas, Inc. for the use of the public rights-of-way in the City of Flagstaff, Arizona for the purpose of constructing, operating, and maintaining its natural gas system and distributing natural gas.

DESCRIPTIVE TITLE:  Consideration of a franchise agreement with UNS Gas, Inc. for a period of 25 years for the purpose of constructing, operating, and maintaining its natural gas system and distributing natural gas within the City.

A “yes” vote shall have the effect of approving a franchise agreement with UNS Gas, Inc to use the City-owned public rights-of-way to construct, operate, and maintain its natural gas system and to distribute and sell natural gas within said City.

A “no” vote shall have the effect of not approving a franchise agreement with UNS Gas, Inc to use the City-owned public rights-of-way to construct, operate, and maintain its natural gas system and to distribute and sell natural gas within said City.

Adjustment to the City’s Permanent Base Expenditure Limitation

A question will be submitted to the voters as to whether a $4.0 million adjustment be made to the 1979-1980 base expenditure limitation as related to increases in local tax and other revenue increases. 

The expenditure limitation limits the amount a City/Town can spend in a fiscal year.  An increase in the expenditure limitation does not increase the City revenues but provides the City with the authorization to spend the revenues that are collected as promised.  Due to increases in both operating budget and pay-as-you-go capital budget related to increases in local tax and other revenue increases since 2006, the City needs to permanently increase its base expenditure limitation to avoid invoking future penalties or limit current spending on revenues already authorized by the voters or Council. 

PROPOSITION NO. 435

OFFICIAL TITLE:  A measure referred to the people by the Flagstaff City Council relating to authorization to permanently adjust the City of Flagstaff expenditure base.

DESCRIPTIVE TITLE:  Shall the expenditure base of the City of Flagstaff be permanently adjusted by $4,000,000.

A “yes” vote shall have the effect of allowing the City to permanently adjust the expenditure base by $4,000,000.

A “no” vote shall have the effect of requiring the City to operate under the existing expenditure base.