10/16/2006 4:00:00 AM Council considers agreement for analysis of USGS reports
By CINDY BARKS The Daily Courier
PRESCOTT Two U.S. Geological Survey reports on the Verde River will be under review by a consultant soon, if three area governments approve sending as much as $30,000 on the evaluation and presentation.
The Prescott City Council will consider its participation in an inter-governmental agreement on the matter at its study session at 3 p.m. Tuesday, at Prescott City Hall, 201 S. Cortez St.
According to an informational memo on the agreement, Prescott, Prescott Valley and Chino Valley are considering a resolution that would lead to a contract with consultant Errol L. Montgomery & Associates, Inc., for "technical analysis of two reports recently released by the U.S. Geological Survey pertaining to the Verde River Watershed."
Laurie Hadley, assistant to the city manager, said Friday that the analysis proposal stemmed from recent discussion by the Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition, a new group of a number of tri-city-area governments.
The city's memo notes that the U.S. Geological Survey recently released two reports on the Verde River Watershed hydrology that contain data and conclusions that could impact the water-resource management strategies of Prescott, Prescott Valley, and Chino Valley.
The two USGS reports are: "Hydrogeology of the Upper and Middle Verde River Watershed, Central Arizona," and "The Verde River Headwaters, Yavapai County, Arizona."
The agreement would commit each of the three governments to not-to-exceed amounts of $10,000. A total of $27,000 would go to the consultant firm for the analysis. After that, the memo states, "Three public presentations, one to each community, are optional additional services which, if directed, would be performed by (the consultants) at a cost of $1,000 per presentation."
The Errol L. Montgomery & Associates firm currently serves as a technical adviser to the Town of Prescott Valley on recharge activities and other hydrologic matters. According to the memo, the group chose the firm "because of their knowledge of the subject matter, a demonstrated track record of professional objectivity, and close working relationship with the USGS and their personnel on various projects."
In other action, the council will conduct a 2 p.m. closed-door executive session to discuss three legal matters: a claim against the city that involves a charge of excessive force by the Prescott Police Department; an update on the Gila River Water adjudication; and an annual report to the council by the city's water attorney on the Big Chino Water Ranch.
