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Counselor

PRESCOTT — A Prescott City Councilman is questioning a large public-relations contract awarded to promote a joint water pipeline project with the town of Prescott Valley.

The two municipalities are working together to develop the Big Chino water pipeline, which will pipe water drawn from wells on a property 30 miles away in an area near Paulden known as Big Chino Water Ranch.

The project has drawn opposition from environmental groups and the Salt River Project, which worry that the pumping will impact flows into the Verde River. The Verde feeds two SRP reservoirs that supply water to the Phoenix area.

Prescott City Councilman Robert Luzius is among those objecting to a $144,000-per-year lobbying and public-relations contract awarded by Prescott Valley to the Miami-based international law and lobbying firm of Greenberg Traurig and Phoenix-based Policy Development Group last month. The matter never went before the Prescott council, although the two cities are partners on the $170 million pipeline and well project.

"Most of what happened was not discussed in an open meeting," Luzius said Friday. "This definitely is not being transparent."

But Prescott City Manager Steve Norwood said Prescott Valley was within its rights to approve the contract on behalf of both entities and bill Prescott for its share of the costs.

"Prescott Valley has really taken the lead on the public relations and lobbying from the start," Norwood said.

Likewise, Prescott is overseeing the contracts for pipeline plans and is billing Prescott Valley its share of costs, Norwood said.

The public-relations firm set up a Web site at www.protectingourwaterresources.com in an effort to assuage concerns about the project.

Luzius's efforts to discuss his concerns at last week's city council meeting failed, so he has asked to raise the issue at Tuesday's meeting.