Mayor Nabours called the Flagstaff Work Session of February 24, 2015, to order at 6:10 p.m.

PRESENT	ABSENT
MAYOR NABOURS	NONE
VICE MAYOR BAROTZ ( left meeting at 7:51 p.m.)
COUNCILMEMBER BREWSTER
COUNCILMEMBER EVANS
COUNCILMEMBER ORAVITS
COUNCILMEMBER OVERTON
COUNCILMEMBER PUTZOVA

Mayor Nabours asked that Council be prepared to discuss and consider the Community Reinvestment Plan that is scheduled for March 3, 2015. He also asked Council to take a look at the street maintenance map and proposal in advance of the meeting.

Ben Murphy, on behalf of Flagstaff Lodging and Restaurant Association, addressed Council regarding the easement in Tusayan and the harm it could cause to tourism in Flagstaff.

Housing and Grants Administrator Leah Bloom introduced Vice President of Southwest Behavioral Health Services Lauren Lauder and Housing Team Lead of Catholic Charities Camie Rasband.
 
Ms. Lauder provided a PowerPoint presentation that covered the following:

• CLOSING THE GAP
• COLLABORATIVE COUNCIL
• PARTICIPATING AGENCIES
• SOME HISTORY
• NATIVE AMERICAN CONNECTIONS
• GOALS FOR THE CLOSING THE GAP
• THE DETAILS

Ms  Rasband continued the presentation.

• BRIDGE HOUSE PROJECT
• THE BRIDGE HOUSE AND BEYOND
• THE BRIDGE HOUSE NEXT STEPS
• SUSTAINABILITY

Councilmember Overton asked if there is a lot of turnover at the property. Ms. Lauder explained that the intent is for the home to be permanent housing; there is the possibility that the initial eight people would stay there for the duration and work with Catholic Charities to get them into supportive permanent housing.
 
Mayor Nabours noted that until the chronic alcoholism is stopped there is a vicious cycle that is difficult to get out of. Ms. Lauder agreed that it is an issue. She stated that while there will be no alcohol use on the property residents will not be required to abstain from alcohol. Research shows that substance abuse will decline as a steady housing situation is presented. There will be treatment and other related services available to residents as well.
 
Councilmember Putzova asked what would be helpful for Council to think about in terms of future funding or projects. Ms. Lauder stated that they are currently working with the Department of Health Services on housing vouchers and that might be something that the City could assist with as well.
 
Councilmember Evans asked the plan to make sure that the residents are a positive part of the neighborhood. Ms. Rasband explained that there will be onsite staff at all times and this should help prevent a situation in which people who do not live there are hanging around or moving in. They are also working with the Southside Community to make sure that they are aware of what is going on and to be a part of the group.

Deputy City Manager Jerene Watson introduced Dr. Sarah Bickle, Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff to the President at NAU.
 
Ms. Watson stated that an external group is being formed to also provide input and recommendations on the work plan. Staff would like recommendations from Council on individuals they would like to see in the group. The external group will meet for the first time in March and they will help shape and steer the regional plan with possible amendments, neighborhood components and property owner outreach. Also in March, Community Design and Redevelopment Manager Karl Eberhard with work with the team and bring the residential parking permit program back to Council for consideration.
 
In May 2015 the group will establish standard security conditions for development agreements and zoning ordinances. In June 2015 they will review and assess the current definition of family and also discuss the traffic impact analysis study. In June 2015 they will review the zoning code and examine use by right. In August 2015 the University Liaison to Neighborhoods will be in motion and will report on student housing work plan done by the external working group.
 
Dr. Bickle continued stating that the University has decided to offer the Office of Student Life and the five individuals that work with student organizations to help start this process. They are looking at the program that serves Colorado State University and trying to develop similar criteria. This service would be for anyone who is having issues with student housing groups. Through the orientation department the University would provide all students that do not apply for university housing the handbook “A Guide to Living Off Campus.” It would provide educational information on how to be good neighbors and citizens as well as the laws that would pertain to their activity and helpful information to those living off campus such as how to be a good renter, how to work with a roommate and how to host a successful social event within city ordinances.
 
Dr. Bickle extended an invitation to the City and other community services to participate in NAU's welcome events to introduce themselves and their services to the first year and continuing students.
 
Mayor Nabours thanked Dr. Bickle and the University for their role in the program.

City Clerk Elizabeth Burke provided a PowerPoint presentation that covered the following:

• ELECTIONS IN FLAGSTAFF
• AGENDA
• COUNCIL DECISIONS REQUIRED
• HISTORY OF ELECTIONS
• OPTIONS – ELECTION DATES
• OPTIONS #1, #2, OR #3 – PROS/CONS
• OPTION #4
• PRIOR YEARS DATA
• ELECTION COST COMPARISON
• OPTIONS – QUESTION TO VOTERS
• QUESTIONS/COUNCIL DIRECTION

Mayor Nabours asked when the next election would be if the elections were set for the spring of even numbered years. Ms. Burke stated that the next election would be in May 2016 if the voters approved it in the August 2015 election. Mayor Nabours asked if the people that were elected in November 2014 would come up for election in May of 2018. Ms. D’Andrea confirmed that and Ms. Burke stated that the term of the Mayor would be extended to 3.5 years. Councilmember Oravits pointed out that if the elections were changed to Spring of even numbered years in 2020 all council seats would be up for election.
 
Mayor Nabours asked if multiple questions could be asked on the ballot to see what the public would like in terms of election dates. Assistant City Attorney Anja Wendel stated that the Council could put more than one Charter question on the ballot but there would be problems if more than one was approved. It would be necessary to pose the questions one at a time to avoid any overlap in approval to happen.
 
Councilmember Putzova stated that the most important consideration is how the election date will impact voter turnout; the Council should aim to maximize the turnout. Councilmember Brewster stated that even though statistics show state and national elections bringing in a higher percentage of voters there is no break out in the reports that show how many local people voted. Ms. Burke stated that staff tried to get this information from the County but it was unavailable. She added that while the Flagstaff precincts can be tallied to create a number there are a few precincts that include people outside the city limits.
 
Mayor Nabours stated that if the elections are done in conjunction with the state and federal elections then an all mail election is not possible whereas a spring election could be all mail. Councilmember Oravits asked what triggers the need to have a polling place election. Ms. Burke explained that the only requirement there is on election dates is that of increasing sales taxes; that election must be done at a City general election.
 
The following individuals addressed Council in support of a fall election in even numbered years:

• Jane O’Donnell
• Moran Henn
• Emily Ross
• Marilynn Wisemann
• Jim McCarthy

The following comments were received:

• Getting higher voter turnout and greater representation is the most important thing.
• November elections work for getting people involved, the City should pursue it.
• Outreach opportunities for voting are greater when City elections are done in conjunction with state and federal elections.
• Partisanship is present in all elections; voter turnout is what is important.
• Will need to address the issue of how no party designated and independents get their ballots.
• Both parties are very active in the non-partisan election cycles. The real effect of changing the elections to spring would be less voter turnout.

Stuart McDaniel addressed Council in support of a spring election in odd numbered years stating that focusing on local issues is critical. Having a mail only election also increases voter turnout and Flagstaff is used to having its election in the spring.
 
Mayor Nabours stated that he would like staff to research if there is a way of presenting all options to the voters to let them decided.
 
Councilmember Oravits asked what the deadline is for Council to make a decision on the election dates. Ms. Burke stated that if the Council wants to move forward with putting the question on the August ballot the question would need to be called on the meeting of April 21, 2015.
 
Councilmember Oravits asked if the question is put on the ballot and it fails if the City would default to the state election date. Ms. Wendel stated that if the question failed the City would have a charter where the election dates do not match and would default to the November election with the state. Ms. D’Andrea added that if Tucson and Phoenix are successful with the appeal and charters prevail the City could arguably go back to the spring of even years; however, it is difficult to predict the outcome with any certainty.
 
A break was held from 7:51 p.m. through 8:04 p.m. at which time Vice Mayor Barotz left the meeting.

Ms. Burke provided a PowerPoint presentation that covered the following:

• CURRENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
• BACKGROUND

Deputy City Clerk Stacy Saltzburg continued the presentation.

• BOARD AND COMMISSION OUTREACH
• PAST MEMBERSHIP SELECTION
• CURRENT COUNCIL INTERVIEW TEAM SELECTION
• INTERVIEW TEAM CONSIDERATIONS

Mayor Nabours asked if there is a process in place that checks to see if the same interview team was used for past appointments on the same commission. Ms. Saltzburg explained that she does not go back to check past interview teams but if that is something that Council would like to have checked she can work that into the process.
 
Mayor Nabours asked Councilmember Evans if the presentation covered what she had requested. Councilmember Evans stated that it had and it allowed the Council and the public to further understand how the process works and how the interview teams are selected.
 
Councilmember Putzova stated that she would like to see more women represented on boards and commissions. She suggested increasing the outreach to focus on bringing more women to the applicant pool. Ms. Saltzburg stated that it is a good observation and indicated that staff is open to any recommendations on how to increase outreach to that or any other demographic. Councilmember Putzova added that she would like to see gender and diversity added to the list of considerations. Councilmember Brewster stated that she is not certain that categorizing people into certain groups would be beneficial to the process and would have concerns about considering people simply based on demographic.
 
Ms. D’Andrea continued the presentation.

• PROPOSED MANUAL CHANGES

Mayor Nabours stated that he likes the proposed six month rule but that it does not address the contingency of resignation should the commissioner apply for another commission while in office. He asked if the intent is to prohibit the application unless they resign their current seat or allow it. Ms. D’Andrea stated that the intent when drafting the changes was to allow a current commissioner in the last six months of their term to apply for another commission and finish out their remaining term. Councilmember Overton stated that he would like to see commissioners fulfill their commitments to their current commission and would like to see a resign to run requirement if the commissioner is not within six months of their term expiring.
 
Mayor Nabours also asked that “as required by law” be added to the liaison section for better clarification.
 
Ms. Burke continued the presentation.

• UPDATE – STREAMING

Councilmember Oravits asked for information on the cost estimates for increasing the meetings with the streaming vendor. Ms. Burke explained that staff’s recommendation is to increase the meeting number to 200 which would be an additional $10,000 per year.

Deputy City Manager Josh Copley provided a presentation on the upcoming trip to Washington D.C. that covered the following:

• COUNCILMEMBER REPRESENTATIVES
• MEETING WITH FAA
• MEETING WITH OMB OFFICE
• MEETING WITH HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCE SUBCOMMITTEE
• MEETING WITH SENATOR FLAKE
• MEETING WITH ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS
• MEETING WITH CONGRESSMAN GOSAR
• MEETING WITH CONGRESSWOMAN ANN KIRKPATRICK
• MEETING WITH OFFICE OF UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
• MEETING WITH SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN’S OFFICE

None

None

Councilmember Brewster stated that she hopes that the Washington D.C. trip is successful and the City is able to see some results.
 
Councilmember Evans requested a Possible Future Agenda Item for a resolution against the Federal Forest Service Easement in Tusayan. This action will have negative effects on the environment and tourism in Flagstaff.
 
She also requested a memo from staff regarding the status of the water at the Red Gap Ranch wells including the quality of the water and the draw down effect of the springs.
 
She also offered a thank you to the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce for their Winter Fest event on Fourth Street; it was a great event and she was happy to see an event on Fourth Street. She thanked Cal Ranch and Pepsi for being partners.
 
Councilmember Evans also noted that there was a soft opening for the Market of Dreams located on Fourth Street in the same parking lot as Cal Ranch. This is a micro entrepreneurship program and multi-cultural marketplace.
 
Councilmember Oravits also stated that the event on Fourth Street was a great event. He also stated that it was great meeting with the Governor last week.
 
Mayor Nabours reported that last Tuesday he and Councilmember Oravits had a private meeting with Governor Ducey to discuss the items on the City’s State legislative agenda and the Governor was extremely receptive to the issues. They also spent time with Representative Gosar and other state representatives. It was a great opportunity to advance the City agenda.

The Flagstaff City Council Work Session of February 24, 2015, adjourned at 8:53 p.m.