NOTICE AND AGENDA
| COMMISSION ON DIVERSITY AWARENESS WEDNESDAY November 26, 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 1:36 PM.
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 |
| Mandy Gebler, Vice Chair Sandra Darling Manny Hernandez Angelica Sanchez |
Tarang Jain Carolyn Kidd, Chair Mindy Riesenberg |
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.
Vice Chair Gebler read the mission statement and Commissioner Sanchez read the land acknowledgment.
4.
Upcoming Opportunities and Announcements
There were no 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.
Commissioner Sanchez moved to approve the minutes. Commissioner Hernandez seconded. The motion was approved by a voice vote.
7.
Action Items
A.
Proclamations
This item was moved to the end of the agenda, after discussing the agenda for future meetings. Mr. Rhode pulled up the proclamations calendar and highlighted that the next proclamations for MLK Day and Black History Month are approaching in January and February respectively. Councilwoman House reiterated that NAU's Black Student Union is planning on holding an MLK Day Celebration and having it be student-led. Mr. Rhode stated that he would reach out to Dr. Mallett to see how CODA can be of assistance.
8.
Reports/Discussion Items
A.
Inclusive Wayfinding
Commissioner Hernandez gave a short background on signs in different languages that use a more traditional or historically significant language as the main text with more modern languages as smaller text and suggested that it could be a good step to take as tangible action to back up the City's land acknowledgment. He then introduced Hunter Hebert from the Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance.
Hunter gave a presentation that showed how several cities around the United States have incorporated traditional language and symbolism into wayfinding through signage, pole wraps, and other signs. He highlighted projects on Lafayette, LA that used French language, and in Anchorage, AK that used language and symbols from local indigenous tribes.
Councilwoman House expressed support for the project and shared her perspective that there could be several avenues to pursue this through, including the Indigenous Commission and the Beautification and Public Arts Commission.
Commissioner Hernandez asked how we could begin collaborating with the Indigenous Commission on this topic. Vice Chairwoman Gebler explained that Hunter would have to present to them as well to hear their thoughts. Councilwoman House suggested a possible joint meeting and Mr. Rhode offered to reach out to the Staff liaison of the Indigenous Commission and was given direction to do so. Mr. Rhode asked if there is a specific way that the Commission is interested in seeing this implemented. Commissioner Hernandez summarized that he would like to see if and how wayfinding can be used to make Flagstaff more welcoming and inclusive. He also said that he would love to see this throughout the whole city though downtown could be a good place for it to start.
Hunter gave a presentation that showed how several cities around the United States have incorporated traditional language and symbolism into wayfinding through signage, pole wraps, and other signs. He highlighted projects on Lafayette, LA that used French language, and in Anchorage, AK that used language and symbols from local indigenous tribes.
Councilwoman House expressed support for the project and shared her perspective that there could be several avenues to pursue this through, including the Indigenous Commission and the Beautification and Public Arts Commission.
Commissioner Hernandez asked how we could begin collaborating with the Indigenous Commission on this topic. Vice Chairwoman Gebler explained that Hunter would have to present to them as well to hear their thoughts. Councilwoman House suggested a possible joint meeting and Mr. Rhode offered to reach out to the Staff liaison of the Indigenous Commission and was given direction to do so. Mr. Rhode asked if there is a specific way that the Commission is interested in seeing this implemented. Commissioner Hernandez summarized that he would like to see if and how wayfinding can be used to make Flagstaff more welcoming and inclusive. He also said that he would love to see this throughout the whole city though downtown could be a good place for it to start.
B.
Updates from Working Groups
Mr. Rhode informed the commission that the City logo group has 3 finalist designs that it hopes to present to the City Council for approval by mid-spring. Commissioner Sanchez provided an update that the library collaboration has been crafting a message to Library leadership advocating for the oral history project. She stated that the name-change clinic was well attended and there will be a drag story-hour in the near future. She also said that there is not expected to be another update on the oral history project until it is approved by Library administration.
C.
Flagstaff Pride - Rainbow Pavement Exhibit
Commissioner Darling shared that there is interest from the FlagPride board in continuing the conversation about a rainbow pavement installation but that she understands that another group may be working on that project. Councilwoman House was able to provide information that the City's Beautification and Public Arts Commission (BPAC) may be involved. Commissioner Darling also shared a perspective that placing the installation in an alley may have some negative connotations. Mr. Rhode stated that he would reach out to the staff liaison of BPAC to learn the current status of the project and to try to bring the commissions together on it.
D.
Updates from Council Liaison
Councilwoman House shared that a group called Arizona Progressive Action Community (AZPAC) asked to meet with members of Council to support a potential rainbow crosswalk installation. She also shared that NAU's black student union is still hoping that MLK Day celebrations in 2025 will be student-led but invited continued communication with the commission.
E.
Updates from Staff Liaison
Mr. Rhode did not have an update.
9.
Agenda for Future Meeting(s)
Commissioner Hernandez asked that current projects continue to be worked on and cited the rainbow crosswalk exhibit and the inclusive wayfinding items as examples of projects that should not be abandoned. Mr. Rhode volunteered to share a "Parking Lot" of projects with the commission each month so that they can keep track of ongoing projects.
Commissioner Darling asked about the previous Anti-Camping Working Group. Mr. Rhode shared that this item will be brought back to the agenda next month and suggested that how that conversation goes could clarify the future of this item.
Mr. Rhode also shared that he should be giving a presentation on the recently released Municipal Equality Index Scorecard from the Human Rights Campaign.
Commissioner Darling asked about the previous Anti-Camping Working Group. Mr. Rhode shared that this item will be brought back to the agenda next month and suggested that how that conversation goes could clarify the future of this item.
Mr. Rhode also shared that he should be giving a presentation on the recently released Municipal Equality Index Scorecard from the Human Rights Campaign.
10.
Adjourment
The meeting was adjourned at 2:40 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 |