| COMMISSION ON DIVERSITY AWARENESS Tuesday February 15, 2022 |
VIRTUAL TEAMS MEETING 1:30 P.M. |
1.
Call to Order
Chair Wegwert called the meeting to order at 1:31 PM.
2.
Roll Call
| PRESENT | ABSENT |
| DeAnn Wegwert, Chair | Robert "Dan" Duke |
| Jean Toner, Vice Chair | |
| Marcela Pino | |
| Christine Tucci | |
| Claire Hardi | |
| Mandy Martinez Gebler |
3.
Mission Statement and Land Acknowledgment
MISSION STATEMENT
A commission to foster support, respect, awareness and appreciation of diversity among all citizens of Flagstaff.
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.
- Chair Wegwert read the Mission Statement and Land Acknowledgement.
- Chair Wegwert asked if we could read "The Flagstaff City Council and/or the Commission on Diversity Awareness" at the beginning of the Land Acknowledgment.
4.
Public Comment
- Michael J. Cruz –
- Currently on Beautification and Public Art Commission (BPAC) for the city and also the president of the FUSD anti-Racism Anti Bias Advisory committee and there is an opening on the FUSD anti-Racism Anti Bias Advisory committee if any member of CODA would like to be part of that, they can reach out to Commissioner Cruz. Commissioner Cruz will provide the email information to Staff Liaison Jessica to provide to the CODA members.
- There is also an opening right now on BPAC. Commissioner Cruz reminded the group that in terms of city commissions people can only serve on one at a time, but if anybody in this group has someone in mind, to direct them to Commissioner Cruz.
- The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra is having an auction right now for the next week or so. It's an online auction. You can access that information through the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra Web page
- Felicia Fiedler would like to request to be put on a CODA meeting agenda to present on a possibility of collaborating with the Diversity Commission and the Flagstaff Public Libraries Anti racism committee to talk about how we can better collaborate and talk about the best practices that they have come up with.
5.
Approval of Minutes
A.
Consideration and Approval of Minutes: Commission on Diversity Awareness Meeting of January 18, 2022
- Vice Chair Toner motioned for the January 18, 2022 minutes to be approved as written.
- Chair Wegwert seconded the motion. Commissioner Pino and Commissioner Hardi abstained from voting since they were not in attendance.
- Motion approved unanimously.
6.
Date of Next Meeting - March 15, 2022 at 1:30 p.m.
No conflicts stated in the meeting.
7.
Action Items
A.
CODA Regular Meeting Date/Time:
- The Commission discussed the possibility of changing the CODA Regular meeting date and times to accommodate Council meetings.
- Commissioner Toner and Commissioner Pino have schedule flexibility.
- Commissioner Tucci has conflicts during other days of the week but other times on Tuesdays could work.
- Chair Wegwert expressed concern for moving the meeting given the quorum has been met consistently.
- After discussion, the group agreed to keep the meeting date/time and are open to discussing again in the future if needed.
8.
Reports/Discussion Items
A.
Proclamations
i.
Proclamations Work Group Update
- Discussed any upcoming Proclamations for the Work Group to focus on.
- No additional Proclamations aside what is listed under Future Items.
- Reviewed the Community Asset Map provided by Commissioner Gebler. Commissioner Gebler requested to have the map placed on the City website.
- Commissioner Pino asked if the map is compatible with a phone from the links within the map. Commissioner Gebler stated that it is and demonstrated what it looks like.
- Commissioner Pino suggested to share this resource with the County.
- Public Participant Felicia Fiedler asked for a copy of this map.
- Staff Liaison suggested placing it on the Community Resources portion of the webpage
- Keep on agenda for the March meeting
ii.
Updates from Staff Liaison
- Staff Liaison stated that the Black History Month Proclamation was read at the February 1, 2022 Council meeting (beginning approximately four (4) minutes into the recording).
- Per Chair Wegwert’ s request, moved to agenda item 9 Meeting Procedure Discussion while Commissioner Gebler brought up the Community Asset Map.
B.
Recommendations to Council (updates and future items)
i.
Equitable Restroom Recommendation
- Vice Chair Toner stated that the Recommendation was well received by Council. No next steps were identified during the meeting.
- Vice Chair Toner asked who be responsible at the city to discuss the next steps for action on this recommendation. The Staff Liaison will research who to contact at the city.
ii.
Public Comment regarding the Equitable Restroom Recommendation - Felicia Fiedler
- Public Participant Felicia Fiedler stated that the Library started offering feminine products in all restrooms and asked to have this option in all public restrooms as part of the Commission's recommendation.
- Vice Chair Toner asked who would be responsible for this.
- Public Participant Fiedler also asked about adding changing tables to Men’s restrooms.
- Commissioners requested for Staff Liaison to find out who to talk to about this.
C.
Current Commission Priorities
i.
Municipal Equity Index
- Commissioners discussed thoughts and feedback from the presentation to Council from City staff Chris Rhode.
- City staff Chris Rhode received feedback from Council to include other Commissions and engage the Community. Chris is working with the Human Rights Campaign to improve the overall score. Council saw this as one metric and rather than focusing on just the scorecard but also reach out for feedback from the community. Stated that Deputy City Manager was working on the City benefits piece of the scorecard.
- Commissioner Hardi expressed concerns with reaching out to other groups. Staff Liaison clarified that the community and commission feedback collection process would not be the responsibility of CODA. Commissioner Pino asked if sending a recommendation or letter to Council would be appropriate.
- Staff Liaison will share the Diversity Survey with City Staff Chris Rhode. Vice Chair Toner offered to meet with Chris to discuss the Diversity Survey. Vice Chair Toner asked for this item to be added to the top of the March agenda.
9.
Meeting Procedure Discussion
- Commissioners listened to the updates from the Staff Liaison which included the Commission website now includes the Mission Statement and Land Acknowledgment.
- The Mission Statement and Land Acknowledgment have been added to the Agenda template to be read at the beginning of Regular Meetings.
10.
Beautification and Public Art Commission
The staff liaison stated that the BPAC meeting information and Staff Liaison contact information can be found online and that the meeting link information for the February 14th meeting was sent out via email on January 25th for anyone interested in attending.
11.
Agenda for Future Meeting(s)
A.
Future Proclamations
Mental Health Awareness - May
Confirmed on the May 3rd Council agenda
Review and approve during the CODA April meeting
Review and approve during the CODA April meeting
Asian American and Pacific Islander - May
Review and approve during the CODA April meeting
B.
Renaming of the Peaks Workgroup Update
- Listen to the update from the Workgroup on the draft Recommendation to Council for support of the Native American High School group to rename the Peaks.
- Discuss timing of approved recommendation to Council
C.
Anti Camping Ordinance
Listen to the workgroup update.
D.
Future Priorities
- Criminal Justice conversation with Flagstaff Police Department
- Conversation with Downtown Business Alliance including literature to distribute
- Civil Rights
12.
Adjourment
Chair Wegwert adjourned the meeting at 3:14 PM.