NOTICE AND AGENDA
| COMMISSION ON DIVERSITY AWARENESS WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 16, 2024 |
VIRTUAL TEAMS MEETING 211 WEST ASPEN AVENUE 1:30 P.M. |
To participate in the meeting virtually use the following link:
Join the Meeting Online
The public can join the meeting to provide public comment. Please notify Chris Rhode at chris.rhode@flagstaffaz.gov if you need any assistance joining the meeting.
1.
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 1:35 PM.
Without a chairperson or vice chairperson present, Commissioner Riesernberg moved for Commissioner Hernandez to serve as Chair, Pro Tem for this meeting only. Commissioner Hernandez seconded. The motion was approved on a voice vote.
Without a chairperson or vice chairperson present, Commissioner Riesernberg moved for Commissioner Hernandez to serve as Chair, Pro Tem for this meeting only. Commissioner Hernandez seconded. The motion was approved on a voice vote.
2.
Roll Call
| NOTE: One or more Commission Members may be in attendance telephonically or by other technological means. |
| CAROLYN KIDD, CHAIR SANDRA DARLING-ROBERTS MANNY HERNANDEZ TARANG JAIN |
MANDY MARTINEZ-GEBLER MINDY RIESENBERG ANGELICA SANCHEZ |
| Present | Absent |
| Manny Hernandez Angelica Sanchez Tarang Jain Mindy Riesenberg |
Carolyn Kidd, Chair Mandy Gebler, Vice Chair Sandra Darling |
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 Commission on Diversity Awareness 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.
Commissioner Hernandez read the mission statement and Commissioner Sanchez read the land acknowledgment.
4.
Upcoming Opportunities and Announcements
There were no upcoming opportunities or announcements
5.
Public Comment
The Commission cannot act upon items presented during the Public Participation portion of the Agenda. Individual Commission members may ask questions of the public but are prohibited by the Open Meeting Law from discussion or considering the item among themselves until the item is officially placed on the Agenda. Each public comment or presentation will be limited to five (5) minutes.
The Commission cannot act upon items presented during the Public Participation portion of the Agenda. Individual Commission members may ask questions of the public but are prohibited by the Open Meeting Law from discussion or considering the item among themselves until the item is officially placed on the Agenda. Each public comment or presentation will be limited to five (5) minutes.
There was no public comment.
6.
Approval of Minutes
A.
Approval of Minutes - 9/18/2024 CODA Meeting
Commissioner Sanchez asked that her name be corrected on item 7A and moved to approve the minutes with that change. Commissioner Reisenberg seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote.
7.
Action Items
8.
Reports/Discussion Items
A.
Kylie Vetere - Environmental Justice
Kylie Vetere gave a presentation on climate change and environmental justice. She stated that she is trying to improve climate literacy across the NAU campus and the Flagstaff community. She highlighted the Better World Film Series, which will feature partnerships with the Latin Student Union, the African Student Union, the HAPA Hawaiian Club, and the Filipino Club, and invited the Commission to participate. She shared a link to a survey that she asked the commission to take and pass along.
Commissioner Riesenberg shared her desire to work with Ms. Vetere through her role with the Grand Canyon Conservancy and they agreed to touch base after the meeting.
Commissioner Hernandez asked what she is seeking from the commission. Ms. Vetere responded that she is brainstorming and trying to develop ideas for how to make their movement more inclusive and diverse. Commissioner Hernandez advised that she should work to remove barriers to participation and to cast a wide net in her outreach.
Ms. Vetere asked for advice on how to appropriately cast a wide net when reaching out to the Indigenous community. Commissioner Riesenberg shared that in her experience, it is about establishing relationships and asking these kinds of questions directly.
Commissioner Riesenberg shared her desire to work with Ms. Vetere through her role with the Grand Canyon Conservancy and they agreed to touch base after the meeting.
Commissioner Hernandez asked what she is seeking from the commission. Ms. Vetere responded that she is brainstorming and trying to develop ideas for how to make their movement more inclusive and diverse. Commissioner Hernandez advised that she should work to remove barriers to participation and to cast a wide net in her outreach.
Ms. Vetere asked for advice on how to appropriately cast a wide net when reaching out to the Indigenous community. Commissioner Riesenberg shared that in her experience, it is about establishing relationships and asking these kinds of questions directly.
B.
Mr. Rhode gave a short background on this topic. He explained that there have been some conversations with city staff and that there would likely be opposition to a rainbow crosswalk on a roadway but staff is open to one on a sidewalk or park space. Martin LaVal Tease from Flagstaff Pride was present to speak on the matter. He said that he would like to take this back to the board but is open to options off of roadways in Aspen Alley, Sunnyside, or anywhere else that will not cause a fight with City Staff.
Commissioner Riesenberg offered to provide information about a project in Fort Collins that was just unveiled and asked if safety information would be helpful. Mr. Rhode stated that it would be welcome but reiterated that the City Traffic Engineering and City Attorney's Offices opposition seems to stem from the liability of it being noncompliant with the uniform manual on traffic control devices. The conversation was resolved with Dr. LaVal Tease agreeing to take this back to the FlagPRIDE Board for discussion with the intention to bring it back to the Commission with a few recommended locations.
Commissioner Riesenberg offered to provide information about a project in Fort Collins that was just unveiled and asked if safety information would be helpful. Mr. Rhode stated that it would be welcome but reiterated that the City Traffic Engineering and City Attorney's Offices opposition seems to stem from the liability of it being noncompliant with the uniform manual on traffic control devices. The conversation was resolved with Dr. LaVal Tease agreeing to take this back to the FlagPRIDE Board for discussion with the intention to bring it back to the Commission with a few recommended locations.
C.
Proclamations
Mr. Rhode pulled up a chart of all the proclamations that the Commission works with throughout the year and explained that this item is meant to review the proclamations and try to identify any missing events of significance and to identify partner organizations that may want to be involved with these proclamations.
Dr. LaVal Tease made the suggestion that Transgender Day of Remembrance, Coming Out Day, and LGBTQ+ History Month be added to the calendar. He also noted that December 1 is World AIDS Day. Councilwoman House recommended that the proclamation for October be for LGBTQ+ History Month and that it acknowledge October 11 as Coming Out Day. She also recommended that instead of a proclamation for World AIDS Day, that FlagPRIDE give a short update to Council through Public Comment on programming around it. Mr. Rhode also pointed out that it may be appropriate to do this public comment at the same Council Meeting where the proclamation for Transgender Day of Remembrance is read.
Dr. LaVal Tease made the suggestion that Transgender Day of Remembrance, Coming Out Day, and LGBTQ+ History Month be added to the calendar. He also noted that December 1 is World AIDS Day. Councilwoman House recommended that the proclamation for October be for LGBTQ+ History Month and that it acknowledge October 11 as Coming Out Day. She also recommended that instead of a proclamation for World AIDS Day, that FlagPRIDE give a short update to Council through Public Comment on programming around it. Mr. Rhode also pointed out that it may be appropriate to do this public comment at the same Council Meeting where the proclamation for Transgender Day of Remembrance is read.
D.
Proclamations
This item was mistakenly listed on the agenda twice.
E.
Updates from Working Groups
Commissioner Sanchez reported on the Library working group. She said that she is excited to have new members and that they are preparing to submit an interest form on the Arizona Humanities Grant and that they are discussing where to house the Oral History Project.
F.
Updates from Council Liaison
Councilwoman House did not have an update.
G.
Updates from Staff Liaison
Mr. Rhode reported that he would update the commission if there are any changes to the meeting time as early as possible and thanked them for contributing.
9.
Agenda for Future Meeting(s)
Mr. Rhode said that he hoped to bring back the Anti-Camping Ordinance discussion to a future meeting. Commissioner Hernandez asked to discuss inclusive wayfinding throughout Flagstaff. He asked about how such a project could be funded. Mr. Rhode explained that CODA does not have a budget but that it can present an idea to Council, which has the authority to request that it be included in a future budget.
10.
Adjourment
The meeting was adjourned at 2:46 PM.
| CERTIFICATE OF POSTING OF NOTICE
The undersigned hereby certifies that a copy of the foregoing notice was duly posted at Flagstaff City Hall on , at a.m./p.m. This notice has been posted on the City's website and can be downloaded at www.flagstaff.az.gov. Dated this day of , 2024. __________________________________________ Chris Rhode, Management Analyst |