CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2022
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
211 WEST ASPEN AVE
3:00 P.M.
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2022
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
211 WEST ASPEN AVE
3:00 P.M.
MINUTES
1.
Call to Order
Mayor Deasy called the meeting of the Flagstaff City Council held March 8, 2022, to order at 3:02 p.m.
Mayor Deasy called the meeting of the Flagstaff City Council held March 8, 2022, to order at 3:02 p.m.
NOTICE OF OPTION TO RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.02, notice is hereby given to the members of the City Council and to the general public that, at this work session, the City Council may vote to go into executive session, which will not be open to the public, for legal advice and discussion with the City’s attorneys for legal advice on any item listed on the following agenda, pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(3).
2.
Roll Call
NOTE: One or more Councilmembers may be in attendance through other technological means.
Others present: City Manager Greg Clifton; City Attorney Sterling Solomon.
NOTE: One or more Councilmembers may be in attendance through other technological means.
| PRESENT: MAYOR DEASY VICE MAYOR DAGGETT (virtual) COUNCILMEMBER ASLAN (virtual) COUNCILMEMBER MCCARTHY COUNCILMEMBER SALAS COUNCILMEMBER SHIMONI (virtual) COUNCILMEMBER SWEET (virtual) |
ABSENT: |
Others present: City Manager Greg Clifton; City Attorney Sterling Solomon.
3.
Pledge of Allegiance, Mission Statement, and Land Acknowledgement
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the City of Flagstaff is to protect and enhance the quality of life for all.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Flagstaff City Council humbly acknowledges the ancestral homelands of this area’s Indigenous nations and original stewards. These lands, still inhabited by Native descendants, border mountains sacred to Indigenous peoples. We honor them, their legacies, their traditions, and their continued contributions. We celebrate their past, present, and future generations who will forever know this place as home.
The Council and audience recited the pledge of allegiance, Vice Mayor Daggett read the Mission Statement of the City of Flagstaff, and Mayor Deasy read the Land Acknowledgement.
4.
Public Participation
Public Participation enables the public to address the council about items that are not on the prepared agenda. Public Participation appears on the agenda twice, at the beginning and at the end of the work session. You may speak at one or the other, but not both. Anyone wishing to comment at the meeting is asked to fill out a speaker card and submit it to the recording clerk. When the item comes up on the agenda, your name will be called. You may address the Council up to three times throughout the meeting, including comments made during Public Participation. Please limit your remarks to three minutes per item to allow everyone to have an opportunity to speak. At the discretion of the Chair, ten or more persons present at the meeting and wishing to speak may appoint a representative who may have no more than fifteen minutes to speak.
Public Participation enables the public to address the council about items that are not on the prepared agenda. Public Participation appears on the agenda twice, at the beginning and at the end of the work session. You may speak at one or the other, but not both. Anyone wishing to comment at the meeting is asked to fill out a speaker card and submit it to the recording clerk. When the item comes up on the agenda, your name will be called. You may address the Council up to three times throughout the meeting, including comments made during Public Participation. Please limit your remarks to three minutes per item to allow everyone to have an opportunity to speak. At the discretion of the Chair, ten or more persons present at the meeting and wishing to speak may appoint a representative who may have no more than fifteen minutes to speak.
Dawn Rodriguez addressed Council asking the city to create a training manual on sandbags and getting direction from trained employees for residents on sandbag placement. She expressed concern about the misuse of sandbags in the neighborhood.
5.
Review of Draft Agenda for the March 15, 2022 City Council Meeting
Citizens wishing to speak on agenda items not specifically called out by the City Council may submit a speaker card for their items of interest to the recording clerk.
None.
6.
Creative Flagstaff (formerly known as Flagstaff Arts Council) Annual Update
Beautification Arts and Science Manager Eliza Kretzmann introduced Executive Director of Creative Flagstaff Jonathan Stone. Mr. Stone presented the Creative Flagstaff annual update to. Slides included:
Mayor Deasy added that he likes the video submissions.
Councilmember Shimoni commented that he was grateful for the zero losses over the pandemic and that he was excited about the storytelling. He asked how equity and diversity were being explored in the strategic plan. Mr. Stone spoke about diversity in board development.
Councilmember Salas asked if there are efforts in engaging regional community partners, STEAM event planners, and the STEM City organization. Mr. Stone spoke about the Arizona State University discussions he has had and that the strategic plan has the intention to incorporate STEM. He added that the organization has supported the STEM City organization previously and hopes to work with them again to incorporate the arts. He also spoke about the festival and incorporating the STEM partners into the festival. Councilmember Salas also asked Mr. Stone to work with staff on the budget ask. She also asked about AARP allocations for aiding non-profits in arts and sciences. City Manager Clifton spoke about the potential of acquiring a facility for STEM that is written in the budget. Councilmember Salas asked who is administering the $150,000 grant and that she hopes that Creative Flagstaff is involved. Community Investment Director David McIntire stated that Economic Vitality staff has been working with the Grants and Contracts department to figure out implementation that adheres to federal standards. Grants, Contracts, and Emergency Management Director Stacey Brechler-Knaggs added that staff will come to Council with an amendment on the administration of the grant in the spring.
Interim Deputy City Manager Heidi Hansen asked Mr. Stone about the green room and if it would have the ability to do video. Mr. Stone stated that it would be a green room for the theater, but that it would be possible to put up a green screen to do green screen work as well.
Councilmember Salas asked Mr. Stone to announce the programming upcoming at the Center. Mr. Stone highlighted some of the recent and upcoming programming.
- Agenda: Emerging from the Pandemic
- Creative Flagstaff: Founded as a Partnership
- The Pandemic Continues to Affect the Sector
- Stakeholder-Stewards of $90 million in Economic Impact
- Our New Brand
- Creativeflagstaff.org
- Comprehensive Strategic Plan
- FY 22 Action Plan
- Use of BBB funds
- Grantmaking and Creative Flagstaff’s relations with the City of Flagstaff’s BBB Art & Science Fund
- Grant Programs
- Recent Grantees
- Changes to FY22 GOS Grants – Currently Open
- Program Highlights
- Dark Sky Arts & Ideas Festival
- Responsive Training/Industry Events
- Digital Resource & Education Center
- Questions
- Recent Grant List
Mayor Deasy added that he likes the video submissions.
Councilmember Shimoni commented that he was grateful for the zero losses over the pandemic and that he was excited about the storytelling. He asked how equity and diversity were being explored in the strategic plan. Mr. Stone spoke about diversity in board development.
Councilmember Salas asked if there are efforts in engaging regional community partners, STEAM event planners, and the STEM City organization. Mr. Stone spoke about the Arizona State University discussions he has had and that the strategic plan has the intention to incorporate STEM. He added that the organization has supported the STEM City organization previously and hopes to work with them again to incorporate the arts. He also spoke about the festival and incorporating the STEM partners into the festival. Councilmember Salas also asked Mr. Stone to work with staff on the budget ask. She also asked about AARP allocations for aiding non-profits in arts and sciences. City Manager Clifton spoke about the potential of acquiring a facility for STEM that is written in the budget. Councilmember Salas asked who is administering the $150,000 grant and that she hopes that Creative Flagstaff is involved. Community Investment Director David McIntire stated that Economic Vitality staff has been working with the Grants and Contracts department to figure out implementation that adheres to federal standards. Grants, Contracts, and Emergency Management Director Stacey Brechler-Knaggs added that staff will come to Council with an amendment on the administration of the grant in the spring.
Interim Deputy City Manager Heidi Hansen asked Mr. Stone about the green room and if it would have the ability to do video. Mr. Stone stated that it would be a green room for the theater, but that it would be possible to put up a green screen to do green screen work as well.
Councilmember Salas asked Mr. Stone to announce the programming upcoming at the Center. Mr. Stone highlighted some of the recent and upcoming programming.
7.
Ranked Choice Voting Discussion and Considerations
City Clerk Stacy Saltzburg led a discussion on Ranked Choice Voting. Slides in her presentation included:
Mayor Deasy asked Mr. Sacha if there were any other concerns. He stated that he had spoken to Coconino County Recorder Patty Hansen and that she did not mention that RCV would be an issue.
Councilmember Shimoni asked if any of the cities Mr. Sacha addressed were in the State of Arizona. Mr. Sacha replied that none of the cities were, but the Recorders he spoke to were in Arizona.
Councilmember McCarthy asked Ms. Saltzburg if she spoked specifically to the County about RCV voting and if they would be willing to work with the city to implement ranked choice voting. Ms. Saltzburg stated that she spoke to Ms. Hansen earlier that day and she stated that the County would not be willing to facilitate RCV. Councilmember McCarthy asked if the details of the procedure of RCV would need to be in the Charter or if it could be addressed later. Ms. Saltzburg stated that there would need to be a significant amount of information in the charter and then the specifics would need to be in a created policy and procedure manual. Councilmember McCarthy stated that he would like to do whatever can be done to make elections less partisan and that non-partisan primaries are the most successful tool for elections. He would like to see this enacted at the state level.
City Manager Greg Clifton spoke about the state’s lack of accommodations for different voting styles in cities and municipalities in Arizona and his difficult experiences in municipalities in Colorado who chose to implement Ranked Choice Voting. He added that the state of Colorado has implemented guidance and the ability to vote via ranked choice, but that the support is not available in Arizona and that it is likely preempted.
Councilmember Shimoni asked Mr. Clifton if the County supported assisting with Ranked Choice Voting if Mr. Clifton’s opinion would be different. Mr. Clifton stated that there would still be lots of difficulties with the County and coordination between City and County and with the State.
Councilmember Shimoni spoke about the complexities of the potential manual but stated that he cannot imagine taking staff’s time for this. He added that the approaches of the cities in Utah could be adapted for the City of Flagstaff.
Mayor Deasy asked if the decision is with the County’s Recorder’s Office or if it would be with the County’s Board of Supervisors. Ms. Saltzburg stated that the election services have been separated out from the Recorder’s Office and the conduct of the election is being handled from a new elections department which might have more oversight from the Board of Supervisors. The new department reports to the Recorder’s Office.
Vice Mayor Daggett asked why the County would not want to work with the City if the RCV was implemented. Ms. Saltzburg stated there were concerns about the hardware and software not working with RCV and the same concerns about the State’s preemption. Vice Mayor Daggett stated that she would be open to additional discussion, but that she wants the charter amendments that staff feels is very important to move forward uninterrupted and she would not like to lump this with the other charter amendments. She added that she hears a lot of roadblocks and obstacles, and she would not move forward at this time.
Mayor Deasy stated that it is important to keep up with this topic and he thinks that a committee should be formed to discuss it further. He stated that he wants to bring this to a committee on charter amendments and that then the City could push the state for change.
Councilmember Sweet stated that RCV is good in theory, but now is not the time and that this would be better implemented with state and county support.
Councilmember McCarthy stated that he agrees with Councilmember Sweet. He stated that he does not support moving this forward.
Councilmember Salas stated that she is interested in exploring this at a state level. She added that moving this forward as a charter amendment could open the possibility for litigation and risk the state shared revenue. She stated that advocacy for RCV should be done at the state level.
Councilmember Shimoni stated that the City of Flagstaff has always been a leader in the state, but that he does not want to see the charter amendments hindered by this topic. He asked Ms. Saltzburg about the timeline for the charter amendments and when the first RCV election could be. Ms. Saltzburg stated that it would be difficult to predict when that would happen based on the complications.
Councilmember Shimoni asked if RCV is included in the council priorities. Mayor Deasy stated that it is not at this time, and Councilmember Shimoni asked if it could be added to the priorities. Councilmember Shimoni added that he feels that RCV would be a big benefit to election security. He added that it is not time to form a committee on this topic until after the county is on board.
Mayor Deasy asked about a charter committee. Ms. Saltzburg stated that an internal committee is being formed since no interest was expressed by the public for an external committee. Mr. Clifton stated that Council gave direction to form an internal committee and that this discussion would determine if an external committee was needed.
Ms. Saltzburg summarized the discussion and the lack of support to add this to the 2023 charter amendments but to leave the possibility open for the discussion.
- What is Ranked Choice Voting (RCV)
- Support for RCV
- Consideration/Concerns for Flagstaff
- Election Services Provided
- City Run Elections
- Voter Confusion
- Recommendation
Mayor Deasy asked Mr. Sacha if there were any other concerns. He stated that he had spoken to Coconino County Recorder Patty Hansen and that she did not mention that RCV would be an issue.
Councilmember Shimoni asked if any of the cities Mr. Sacha addressed were in the State of Arizona. Mr. Sacha replied that none of the cities were, but the Recorders he spoke to were in Arizona.
Councilmember McCarthy asked Ms. Saltzburg if she spoked specifically to the County about RCV voting and if they would be willing to work with the city to implement ranked choice voting. Ms. Saltzburg stated that she spoke to Ms. Hansen earlier that day and she stated that the County would not be willing to facilitate RCV. Councilmember McCarthy asked if the details of the procedure of RCV would need to be in the Charter or if it could be addressed later. Ms. Saltzburg stated that there would need to be a significant amount of information in the charter and then the specifics would need to be in a created policy and procedure manual. Councilmember McCarthy stated that he would like to do whatever can be done to make elections less partisan and that non-partisan primaries are the most successful tool for elections. He would like to see this enacted at the state level.
City Manager Greg Clifton spoke about the state’s lack of accommodations for different voting styles in cities and municipalities in Arizona and his difficult experiences in municipalities in Colorado who chose to implement Ranked Choice Voting. He added that the state of Colorado has implemented guidance and the ability to vote via ranked choice, but that the support is not available in Arizona and that it is likely preempted.
Councilmember Shimoni asked Mr. Clifton if the County supported assisting with Ranked Choice Voting if Mr. Clifton’s opinion would be different. Mr. Clifton stated that there would still be lots of difficulties with the County and coordination between City and County and with the State.
Councilmember Shimoni spoke about the complexities of the potential manual but stated that he cannot imagine taking staff’s time for this. He added that the approaches of the cities in Utah could be adapted for the City of Flagstaff.
Mayor Deasy asked if the decision is with the County’s Recorder’s Office or if it would be with the County’s Board of Supervisors. Ms. Saltzburg stated that the election services have been separated out from the Recorder’s Office and the conduct of the election is being handled from a new elections department which might have more oversight from the Board of Supervisors. The new department reports to the Recorder’s Office.
Vice Mayor Daggett asked why the County would not want to work with the City if the RCV was implemented. Ms. Saltzburg stated there were concerns about the hardware and software not working with RCV and the same concerns about the State’s preemption. Vice Mayor Daggett stated that she would be open to additional discussion, but that she wants the charter amendments that staff feels is very important to move forward uninterrupted and she would not like to lump this with the other charter amendments. She added that she hears a lot of roadblocks and obstacles, and she would not move forward at this time.
Mayor Deasy stated that it is important to keep up with this topic and he thinks that a committee should be formed to discuss it further. He stated that he wants to bring this to a committee on charter amendments and that then the City could push the state for change.
Councilmember Sweet stated that RCV is good in theory, but now is not the time and that this would be better implemented with state and county support.
Councilmember McCarthy stated that he agrees with Councilmember Sweet. He stated that he does not support moving this forward.
Councilmember Salas stated that she is interested in exploring this at a state level. She added that moving this forward as a charter amendment could open the possibility for litigation and risk the state shared revenue. She stated that advocacy for RCV should be done at the state level.
Councilmember Shimoni stated that the City of Flagstaff has always been a leader in the state, but that he does not want to see the charter amendments hindered by this topic. He asked Ms. Saltzburg about the timeline for the charter amendments and when the first RCV election could be. Ms. Saltzburg stated that it would be difficult to predict when that would happen based on the complications.
Councilmember Shimoni asked if RCV is included in the council priorities. Mayor Deasy stated that it is not at this time, and Councilmember Shimoni asked if it could be added to the priorities. Councilmember Shimoni added that he feels that RCV would be a big benefit to election security. He added that it is not time to form a committee on this topic until after the county is on board.
Mayor Deasy asked about a charter committee. Ms. Saltzburg stated that an internal committee is being formed since no interest was expressed by the public for an external committee. Mr. Clifton stated that Council gave direction to form an internal committee and that this discussion would determine if an external committee was needed.
Ms. Saltzburg summarized the discussion and the lack of support to add this to the 2023 charter amendments but to leave the possibility open for the discussion.
8.
Public Participation
None.
9.
Informational Items To/From Mayor, Council, and City Manager; future agenda item requests
Councilmember Salas spoke about International Women’s Day and Councilmember Sweet expressed her appreciation of Councilmember Salas’s words.
Councilmember McCarthy expressed his appreciation for the women on Council.
Councilmember Shimoni spoke about the CJCC. He also addressed that he will be on a live stream for a Community Policy He stated there would be a trust discussion with former Mayor Coral Evans and expressed gratitude for International Woman’s Day.
Councilmember Aslan added that he looks forward to discussing RCV when it is appropriate.
Mayor Deasy spoke about HCR 2031 and stated that the Arizona League of Cities and Towns has agreed to oppose the bill.
Councilmember McCarthy expressed his appreciation for the women on Council.
Councilmember Shimoni spoke about the CJCC. He also addressed that he will be on a live stream for a Community Policy He stated there would be a trust discussion with former Mayor Coral Evans and expressed gratitude for International Woman’s Day.
Councilmember Aslan added that he looks forward to discussing RCV when it is appropriate.
Mayor Deasy spoke about HCR 2031 and stated that the Arizona League of Cities and Towns has agreed to oppose the bill.
10.
Adjournment
The Work Session of the Flagstaff City Council held March 8, 2022, adjourned at 4:44 p.m.
_____________________________________ MAYOR |
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| ATTEST: |
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_____________________________________ CITY CLERK |