This report of the Indian Firming Study Commission will provide as background an overview and description of the State’s obligation for Indian Firming and an overview of the modeling efforts completed by Arizona Department of Water Resources staff to determine the estimated volumetric obligation for Indian Firming. Additionally, this report will summarize the solution elements reviewed by the Study Commission, including the water supply availability analysis and a review of the estimated cost and availability of funds to meet the obligation. Finally, the report will provide the recommendations from the Study Commission to the Arizona Legislature.

Wilson & Company recently completed the City of Casa Grande Small Area Transportation Study. The SATS notes that “as the City of Casa Grande increases in size and planning area, the roadway network is also growing to meet the additional travel demands significant improvement measures are needed to meet the travel demand generated by forecast population and employment growth”. Given the findings of the SATS, the City of Casa Grande contracted with TischlerBise to calculate an infrastructure improvement plans and updated development fees for transportation.

The City of Casa Grande engaged TischlerBise to update its Infrastructure Improvements Plans and development fees for several categories of necessary public services. TischlerBise previously calculated development fees for the City in 1999, 2003, 2006, and 2008. Municipalities in Arizona may assess development fees to offset infrastructure costs to a municipality associated with providing necessary public services to a development. The development fees must be based on an Infrastructure Improvements Plan. Development fees cannot be used for, among other things: projects not included in the Infrastructure Improvements Plan, projects related to existing development, or costs related to operations and maintenance.

Pima County’s Southwest area has been identified by County planners as a potential and strategic growth area. To accommodate population growth, the existing infrastructure must be improved and expanded. The purpose of this Infrastructure Plan is to provide a basis for infrastructure decision-making related to development in the Southwest area. It quantifies the nature, phasing, financial impacts, and funding possibilities for those flood control, parks and recreation, transportation, wastewater infrastructure and other improvements that are necessary to service future saturation growth within the study limits.