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Minutes for Indigenous Commission


 
  INDIGENOUS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
VIRTUAL TEAMS MEETING
211 WEST ASPEN AVENUE
             WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2024, 12:00 P.M.
 
 
1.
Call to Order

Due to absence of Co-chairs, Staff Liaison Rose Toehe called the meeting to order at 12:06 PM.
 
2.
Roll Call
NOTE: One or more Commission Members may be in attendance telephonically or by other technological means.
Diana Cudeii, Ex-Officio; Present
Linda Curley, Ex-Officio; Present
Seat Vacant, Ex-Officio
Fawn Toya, Co-Chair; Excused Absence
Darren Lance, Co-Chair; Present (selected at this meeting)
Kimberly Hoskie; Present
Lauren Kaibetoney; Present
Darrell Marks; Present
Marian Marshall; Present (joined at 12:34 PM due to technical issues)
Mariah Zavala; Excused Absence

Others present: Staff Liaison Rose Toehe
 
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.
 
4.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
 
A.
Approval of August 2, 2023 Minutes
Motion to approve Minutes as is or approve with amendments.

Commissioner Lance made the motion to approve the Minutes as is. Commissioner Marks seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
 
B.
Approval of September 6, 2023 Minutes
Motion to approve Minutes as is or approve with amendments.

Commissioner Lance made the motion to approve the Minutes as is. Commissioner Marks seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
 
5.
GENERAL BUSINESS and POSSIBLE VOTE
 
A.
Introduction of New Commissioners and Current Commissioners
Four new commissioners have been seated at the City Council's December 19, 2023 meeting. These are Commissioners Linda Curley, Kimberly Hoskie, Lauren Kaibetoney, and Marian Marshall. There are five current commissioners serving, these include Commissioners Diana Cudeii, Darren Lance, Darrell Marks, Fawn Toya, and Mariah Zavala. Indigenous Commission liaisons include Councilmember Lori Matthews and Rose Toehe, Coordinator for Indigenous Initiatives. Time will be given for all members to introduce themselves.

Commissioners who were present at the meeting introduced themselves. Staff liaison Toehe also made introductions. There was also a short explanation of the MOU between the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County on the membership of the Indigenous Commission. This is in reference to ex-officio (non-voting) members and the Coconino Indigenous Peoples Advisory Council.
 
B.
Selection of Co-chair for the Indigenous Commission (IC)
A discussion on seating a second Co-chair for the Commission. Members are welcomed to make nominations or self nominate for the Co-chair role. Commissioner Fawn Toya is the lead Co-chair for 2024. Co-chairs share the responsibility of running the IC meetings.

After discussion among the Commissioners, nominations were made. Commissioner Curley nominated Commissioner Marks and he declined due to wanting others to take this leadership role. Commissioner Marks nominated Commissioner Lance and he accepted. After one last call for nominations/self nomination, it was closed. Commissioner Lance was selected by consensus to be the new Co-chair and he took over the rest of the meeting.
 
6.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
 
A.
Housing Related Discussion
Commissioner Marks will lead this discussion on whether these topics should be a larger conversation at the Commission, City Council, and Community levels.
  • Anti-camping Ordinance as related to unsheltered relatives
  • Student Housing - bringing information on developments in Albuquerque, NM on student housing.
Co-chair Lance introduced the next agenda item and handed the presentation to Commissioner Marks. One of the items to inform the IC is regarding the most recent City Council meeting and the requests from the unsheltered population to revisit, revise, or reject the current "anti-camping" ordinance. Some youths from the community and NAU students are supporting them and would like to garner support from other groups to support in looking at this ordinance again. He also talked about some of the reports he heard from these relatives through his work in the community. He would like to create a space where the youths and/or unsheltered individuals can come forward to speak. Would the IC support this idea?

Commissioner Marks also heard about student housing in Albuquerque, NM. He had opportunity to have some conversations with tribal council regarding student housing for college students. Navajo Nation had engaged with Albuquerque and some student housing was planned. He is still researching the information. Commissioner Marks stated he reached out to City Hall to get a more guidance as to who or where such housing could be taken. Is this information the IC would be interested in hearing more about?

After discussion, it was recommended that Flagstaff Camping Ordinance should be on the next agenda and the IC supports hearing more on the subject. The student housing will be on the agenda once more information is gathered and key people on the Albuquerque project can present to the IC.
 
7.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS TO/FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS, STAFF, AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEM REQUESTS
 
8.
ADJOURNMENT

Co-chair Lance adjourned the meeting at 1:01 PM.