| INDIGENOUS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES VIRTUAL TEAMS MEETING 211 WEST ASPEN AVENUE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 06, 2023,12:00 P.M. |
1.
Call to Order
Co-Chair Toya called the meeting to order at 12:01 PM.
Co-Chair Toya called the meeting to order at 12:01 PM.
2.
Roll Call
Others Present: Staff Liaison Rose Toehe; Councilmember Liaison Lori Matthews; Presenter, Deputy City Clerk Stacy Fobar.
| NOTE: One or more Commission Members may be in attendance telephonically or by other technological means. |
| Diana Cudeii, Ex-Officio; Present Seat Vacant, Ex-Officio Seat Vacant, Ex-Officio Fawn Toya, Co-Chair; Present Joe. W. Washington, Co-Chair; Present Darrell Marks; Present, joined at 12:17pm Darren Lance; Present Shawna Whitehat; Present Jonathan Yellowhair; Present Mariah Zavala; Present, joined at 12:09pm |
Others Present: Staff Liaison Rose Toehe; Councilmember Liaison Lori Matthews; Presenter, Deputy City Clerk Stacy Fobar.
A.
Land Acknowledgment
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.
3.
Public Comment
At this time, any member of the public may address the Commission on any subject within their jurisdiction that is not scheduled before the Commission on that day. Due to Open Meeting Laws, the Commission cannot discuss or act on items presented during this portion of the agenda. To address the Commission on an item that is on the agenda, please wait for the Chair to call for Public Comment at the time the item is heard. (Five minutes maximum per person)
None at this time.
At this time, any member of the public may address the Commission on any subject within their jurisdiction that is not scheduled before the Commission on that day. Due to Open Meeting Laws, the Commission cannot discuss or act on items presented during this portion of the agenda. To address the Commission on an item that is on the agenda, please wait for the Chair to call for Public Comment at the time the item is heard. (Five minutes maximum per person)
None at this time.
4.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A.
Approval of Retreat Minutes for July 9, 2023.
Motion to approve Retreat Minutes as is or approve with amendments.
Co-chair Toya motioned to approve the July 9, 2023 Retreat Minutes as is and Co-chair Washington seconded. The motion was passed unanimously.
Motion to approve Retreat Minutes as is or approve with amendments.
Co-chair Toya motioned to approve the July 9, 2023 Retreat Minutes as is and Co-chair Washington seconded. The motion was passed unanimously.
5.
GENERAL BUSINESS. POSSIBLE VOTE.
A.
Training on Arizona Open Meeting Law and Commissioner Responsibilities
Deputy City Clerk, Stacy Fobar, will provide a PPT training on Open Meeting Law and Commissioner responsibilities as members of the Indigenous Commission. Following the training there will be Q & A.
Ms. Stacy Fobar, Deputy City Clerk, provided the training on Open Meeting Law set up for Boards & Commissions. There are plans for this training to be in person for all commissions coming soon, maybe early 2024. Today, the Commissioners will get a better understanding of the City's leadership structure, understand your role as Commissioner, learn how to communicate with the public and Council, understand better the Open Meeting Law, and learn about public records. Commissioner will explore conflict of interest law and talk about elections and appointments. There was also time for to answer questions on this material. Ms. Toehe also works closely with all other staff liaisons. They meet quarterly so they can share ideas, make sure all are communicating on projects working on and see if there's anything that commissions could work with and in conjunction.
Ms. Fobar covered all pertinent information related roles of commissioners and relationships to staff, City Council, and to communities. Term limits, attendance, process for removal, types of commissions, subcommittees, and informal work groups. Examples were given to provide understanding. Code of conduct was also covered with possible legal impacts. Please review the meeting video for all information presented. The information is also available on the HR website.
Deputy City Clerk, Stacy Fobar, will provide a PPT training on Open Meeting Law and Commissioner responsibilities as members of the Indigenous Commission. Following the training there will be Q & A.
Ms. Stacy Fobar, Deputy City Clerk, provided the training on Open Meeting Law set up for Boards & Commissions. There are plans for this training to be in person for all commissions coming soon, maybe early 2024. Today, the Commissioners will get a better understanding of the City's leadership structure, understand your role as Commissioner, learn how to communicate with the public and Council, understand better the Open Meeting Law, and learn about public records. Commissioner will explore conflict of interest law and talk about elections and appointments. There was also time for to answer questions on this material. Ms. Toehe also works closely with all other staff liaisons. They meet quarterly so they can share ideas, make sure all are communicating on projects working on and see if there's anything that commissions could work with and in conjunction.
Ms. Fobar covered all pertinent information related roles of commissioners and relationships to staff, City Council, and to communities. Term limits, attendance, process for removal, types of commissions, subcommittees, and informal work groups. Examples were given to provide understanding. Code of conduct was also covered with possible legal impacts. Please review the meeting video for all information presented. The information is also available on the HR website.
B.
Indigenous Community Connection Fair (ICCF)
The Indigenous Peoples Advisory Council (IPAC) for the Coconino County Board of Supervisors will be holding an event on November 6, 2023. The third annual Indigenous Community Connection Fair is in collaboration with IPAC and Cultural Connections, a local non-profit. This discussion is to garner the Commission's direction on partnering with IPAC and Cultural Connections in planning this community event.
Ms. Toehe presented the ICCF to the IC. This is a collaboration for an event to be part of Native American Heritage Month. There was some discussion on several fair items. The event will feature artisans, music, community focused workshops, and organizations tabling to provide information on services they provide. Ms. Toehe stated this could be a collaborative effort worth supporting and to partner on. It was request of the IC to vote to support this event and to assist in planning.
Co-chair Toya offered a motion to support and partner with the ICCF as discussed. Co-chair Washington seconded. The vote was unanimous.
The Indigenous Peoples Advisory Council (IPAC) for the Coconino County Board of Supervisors will be holding an event on November 6, 2023. The third annual Indigenous Community Connection Fair is in collaboration with IPAC and Cultural Connections, a local non-profit. This discussion is to garner the Commission's direction on partnering with IPAC and Cultural Connections in planning this community event.
Ms. Toehe presented the ICCF to the IC. This is a collaboration for an event to be part of Native American Heritage Month. There was some discussion on several fair items. The event will feature artisans, music, community focused workshops, and organizations tabling to provide information on services they provide. Ms. Toehe stated this could be a collaborative effort worth supporting and to partner on. It was request of the IC to vote to support this event and to assist in planning.
Co-chair Toya offered a motion to support and partner with the ICCF as discussed. Co-chair Washington seconded. The vote was unanimous.
C.
Change of Indigenous Commission Meeting Date in November, 2023
Staff Liaison, Rose Toehe, will not be available on November 1, 2023. She will be attending a City stakeholder and partnership function. Would the Commission consider changing the meeting to a different date, same time?
After a short discussion, it was decided that it would be appropriate to change the date as requested. The regular meeting of the IC will be moved from 11/01/23 to 11/02/23, same time at 12:00 PM. Co-chair Toya provided a motion to vote on the consensus. The vote was unanimous.
Staff Liaison, Rose Toehe, will not be available on November 1, 2023. She will be attending a City stakeholder and partnership function. Would the Commission consider changing the meeting to a different date, same time?
After a short discussion, it was decided that it would be appropriate to change the date as requested. The regular meeting of the IC will be moved from 11/01/23 to 11/02/23, same time at 12:00 PM. Co-chair Toya provided a motion to vote on the consensus. The vote was unanimous.
6.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
A.
Update on Indigenous Peoples Day Planning
The Indigenous Commission will be updated on the planning for Indigenous Peoples Day (IPD) which occurs on Monday, October 9, 2023. Members of the informal work group will discuss the planning and what has been decided to date. Commissioners are encouraged to attend the festivity and to share with others.
Currently, the IPD event is in the planning process. An informal work group has been formed and consists of Commissioners Zavala, Marks, and Whitehat. The group is working on gathering information on speakers. The theme is Reflecting, Honoring, Resilience. The City's Public Affairs will take photos & videos and hopefully live stream the event. Also, there are plans for a promotional video for social media platforms and Commissioners Zavala has volunteered to to be the one to promote Indigenous People's Day.
As for the venue, the first choice is high Country Conference Center and gathering information on cost, availability, etc. The back up will be City Hall, mostly due to windy or inclement weather, the basic reason an indoor venue would be best. The group is also checking into other venues and is meeting weekly to solidify items. As before, there will be a light lunch served at the end of the event. This will depend on the venue chosen, some would want us to utilize their food vendor or will not allow outside food. Co-chair Toya would like to be considered as a back up if a venue allows for preparing our own food items - Native food. Further updates will be made to the IC as time allows.
Co-chair Toya provided a motion to agree with the work group's planning of IPD event so far. Motion passed unanimously.
The Indigenous Commission will be updated on the planning for Indigenous Peoples Day (IPD) which occurs on Monday, October 9, 2023. Members of the informal work group will discuss the planning and what has been decided to date. Commissioners are encouraged to attend the festivity and to share with others.
Currently, the IPD event is in the planning process. An informal work group has been formed and consists of Commissioners Zavala, Marks, and Whitehat. The group is working on gathering information on speakers. The theme is Reflecting, Honoring, Resilience. The City's Public Affairs will take photos & videos and hopefully live stream the event. Also, there are plans for a promotional video for social media platforms and Commissioners Zavala has volunteered to to be the one to promote Indigenous People's Day.
As for the venue, the first choice is high Country Conference Center and gathering information on cost, availability, etc. The back up will be City Hall, mostly due to windy or inclement weather, the basic reason an indoor venue would be best. The group is also checking into other venues and is meeting weekly to solidify items. As before, there will be a light lunch served at the end of the event. This will depend on the venue chosen, some would want us to utilize their food vendor or will not allow outside food. Co-chair Toya would like to be considered as a back up if a venue allows for preparing our own food items - Native food. Further updates will be made to the IC as time allows.
Co-chair Toya provided a motion to agree with the work group's planning of IPD event so far. Motion passed unanimously.
7.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS TO/FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS, STAFF, AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEM REQUESTS
Co-chair Toya shared that she received a National Service Provider award and will have the ceremony at High Country on September 19th. She thanked everyone for the support and also for the work they do for the community.
There was also a question on construction around Buffalo Park and the land across from Safeway and NACA. What is being done in those areas? This will be posed to appropriate personnel and obtain information.
Co-chair Toya shared that she received a National Service Provider award and will have the ceremony at High Country on September 19th. She thanked everyone for the support and also for the work they do for the community.
There was also a question on construction around Buffalo Park and the land across from Safeway and NACA. What is being done in those areas? This will be posed to appropriate personnel and obtain information.
8.
ADJOURNMENT
Co-chair Toya adjourned the meeting at 1:07 PM.
Co-chair Toya adjourned the meeting at 1:07 PM.