MEETING MINUTES
| HOUSING COMMISSION THURSDAY JANUARY 23, 2025 |
HYBRID MEETING MICROSOFT TEAMS MEETING FLAGSTAFF AQUAPLEX 1702 N. FOURTH ST. 1:00 P.M. |
1.
Call to Order
NOTICE OF OPTION TO RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.02, notice is hereby given to the members of the Commission and to the general public that, at this regular meeting, the Commission may vote to go into executive session, which will not be open to the public, for legal advice and discussion with the City’s attorneys for legal advice on any item listed on the following agenda, pursuant to
A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(3).
NOTICE OF OPTION TO RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.02, notice is hereby given to the members of the Commission and to the general public that, at this regular meeting, the Commission may vote to go into executive session, which will not be open to the public, for legal advice and discussion with the City’s attorneys for legal advice on any item listed on the following agenda, pursuant to
A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(3).
Chair Devonna McLaughlin called the meeting to order at 1:07 pm.
2.
Roll Call
| NOTE: One or more Commission members may be in attendance telephonically or by other technological means. |
| Kevin Bond - Present, Virtually Eric Brownfield - Present, In Person Tyler Denham - Present, In Person Kevin Dobbe - Absent |
Karen Flores - Present, In Person Sandi Flores, Vice Chair - Absent Jacquie Kellogg - Present, In Person Devonna McLaughlin, Chair - Present, In Person Moses Milazzo - Present, Virtually |
Cory Runge - Present, In Person Ross Schaefer - Present, Virtually (arrived at 1:11pm) Glenn Slivers - Absent Hayley Zoroya - Absent |
OTHERS PRESENT:
- Tiffany Antol, Zoning Code Manager
- Justyna Costa, Assistant Housing Director
- Sarah Darr, Housing Director
- Jessica Donohoe, Housing Planner
- Adriana Fisher, Housing Program Manager
- Dan Folke, Community Development Director
- Khara House, Council Liaison
- Michelle Linton, President of the Northern Arizona Association of Realtors (NAAR)
- Michelle McNulty, Planning Director
- Jennifer Mikelson, Housing Planning Manager
- Marissa Molloy, Housing Specialist
- Jenny Niemann, Climate Section Director
- Kristine Pavlik, Housing and Grants Administrator
- Genevieve Pearthree, Sustainability Analyst
- Christina Rubalcava, Senior Assistant City Attorney
3.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The Housing Commission 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.
Read by Commissioner Cory Runge.
4.
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.
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.
No public comment.
5.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A.
Consideration and Approval of Minutes: Housing Commission Meeting - December 19, 2024
Approve the minutes from the December 19, 2024 Housing Commission meeting.
Approve the minutes from the December 19, 2024 Housing Commission meeting.
Moved by Karen Flores, seconded by Jacquie Kellogg to approve the minutes from the December 19, 2024 regular Housing Commission meeting.
Commissioner Ross Schaefer was absent during this vote.
Vote: 8 - 0 - Unanimously
6.
ACTION ITEMS
None.
None.
7.
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS
A.
Presentation from the Northern Arizona Association of Realtors
Ms. Michelle Linton, President of the Northern Arizona Association of Realtors (NAAR), spoke about the importance of the Housing Commission in meeting Flagstaff’s Housing needs.
Commissioners expressed appreciation for Ms. Linton’s attendance and asked questions about what NAAR would suggest focusing on next, how the Commission can be more involved, and opportunities for sharing data. Ms. Linton answered. Ms. Sarah Darr, Housing Director commented on current collaborations. Ms. Linton shared a story about local sellers she is working with.
Councilmember Khara House asked what ideas or concepts NAAR would like to bring forward that the City may not have thought of yet. Ms. Linton answered.
Commissioners expressed appreciation for Ms. Linton’s attendance and asked questions about what NAAR would suggest focusing on next, how the Commission can be more involved, and opportunities for sharing data. Ms. Linton answered. Ms. Sarah Darr, Housing Director commented on current collaborations. Ms. Linton shared a story about local sellers she is working with.
Councilmember Khara House asked what ideas or concepts NAAR would like to bring forward that the City may not have thought of yet. Ms. Linton answered.
B.
Land Availability Suitability Study and Code Analysis Project - Code Concepts Report
Discussion item only
Discussion item only
Ms. Michelle McNulty, Planning Director, Ms. Tiffany Antol, Zoning Code Manager, and Ms. Genevieve Pearthree, Sustainability Analyst, presented on the Land Availability Suitability Study and Code Analysis Project (LASS+CAP) Code Concepts Report and requested initial feedback from Commissioners.
Commissioners and Council Liaison Khara House asked questions and provided comments on the following:
Councilmember Khara House spoke to Housing Commissioners about making public comments at City Council meetings.
Commissioners expressed a desire to have more time to discuss the matter and provide feedback. They brainstormed ways to ensure they have enough time to process the information and share their comments. They agreed that extending the February regular meeting would be a good solution. Housing staff will send out a poll to assess interest in extending the February meeting. Commissioners requested that more information be sent to them from staff before the next meeting.
Attachments: /flagsshareddocs/file/LASS CAP Presentation Code Concepts 2025.01.23.pdf
Commissioners and Council Liaison Khara House asked questions and provided comments on the following:
- Regulation of intensity in residential neighborhoods, the definition of family, and student housing
- Single-Room Occupancy housing (SROs)
- How to provide feedback and the timeline for comments
- The ability to ensure developers benefit from incentives and forward cost savings to buyers
- Concern over certain incentive items not improving costs and decreasing City livability
- Incentives to ensure homes remain priced to meet missing middle needs
- Current examples of cities lowering housing costs with increased supply
- How sustainability improvements affect appraisal prices
- Retaining City bargaining power by not loosening too many code restrictions outside of development agreements that include affordability requirements
- The direction of the project
Councilmember Khara House spoke to Housing Commissioners about making public comments at City Council meetings.
Commissioners expressed a desire to have more time to discuss the matter and provide feedback. They brainstormed ways to ensure they have enough time to process the information and share their comments. They agreed that extending the February regular meeting would be a good solution. Housing staff will send out a poll to assess interest in extending the February meeting. Commissioners requested that more information be sent to them from staff before the next meeting.
Attachments: /flagsshareddocs/file/LASS CAP Presentation Code Concepts 2025.01.23.pdf
8.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS TO/FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS, STAFF, AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEM REQUESTS
A.
Update from Housing Authority Liaison
This item was skipped due to time constraints. Updates will be emailed to the Commission.
B.
Update from Housing Commissioners and Other Informational Items
This item was skipped due to time constraints. Updates will be emailed to the Commission.
C.
Update from Housing Staff
This item was skipped due to time constraints. Updates will be emailed to the Commission.
9.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair McLaughlin adjourned the meeting at 3:10 pm.