Flagstaff sustainability staff told the commission that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a stop‑work notice affecting an EPA resilience‑hubs grant and the city has formally appealed the termination.

Tia, a sustainability division staff member, said the EPA’s stop‑work order took effect March 31 and that the grant notice reached the project lead while she was on leave; the timing left nonprofit partners with only hours to adjust. The project partners named in the discussion included Southside Community Association, Sunnyside Community Association and a local community assistance team, which had planned to use EPA funds to staff hub operations and deliver hazard‑response, workforce and youth programming.

“We appealed the termination, and that was submitted formally this past Friday,” Tia said. She said the EPA has up to six months to review the appeal. Tia said staff would also seek letters of support from federal elected officials and would issue a press release after the appeal was filed.

Commissioners were told the city is pursuing interim resources: staff are redirecting limited internal funds, seeking philanthropic contributions and submitting additional grant and earmark requests. Tia said the city is contractually obligated to the EPA grant and has taken steps to safeguard some money to carry core services until the appeal is decided.

When a commissioner asked the size of the hold, staff said roughly $1,000,000 of grant funding was affected. Tia also said the city is managing dozens of other federal grants; staff referenced approximately $200 million in federal grants the city holds for various projects and about $44 million that is currently uncertain or “in limbo.”

Tia asked the commission to expect a press release and said the division will forward updates. Meanwhile commission members discussed how the neighborhood sustainability grant and other local programs might be used to provide short‑term support to affected organizations and staff.

No formal vote was taken; staff characterized the filing of the appeal and outreach to partners and elected officials as the city’s chosen course for now.