| INDIGENOUS COMMISSION MINUTES VIRTUAL TEAMS MEETING 211 WEST ASPEN AVENUE THURSDAY, MARCH 06, 2025,11:00 A.M. |
1.
Call to Order
Co-chair Mariah Zavala called the meeting order at 11:02 AM.
Co-chair Mariah Zavala called the meeting order at 11:02 AM.
2.
Roll Call
Others present: Staff liaison Rose Toehe; Presenter & BAS Project Manager Cristen Crujido; Presenter & Deputy City Clerk Georganna Staskey; Presenter & Senior Planner Lauren Clementino; Comprehensive & Neighborhood Planning Manager Sara Dechter; City Clerk Stacy Saltzburg; and Sustainability Analyst, Jenna Ortega.
| 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 DARREN LANCE, CO-CHAIR; Present MARIAH ZAVALA, CO-CHAIR; Present CHERYLEE FRANCIS; Present KIMBERLY HOSKIE; Absent MOWANA LOMAOMVAYA; Present DARRELL MARKS; Present MARIAN MARSHALL; Excused Absence VACANT SEAT; EX-OFFICIO |
Others present: Staff liaison Rose Toehe; Presenter & BAS Project Manager Cristen Crujido; Presenter & Deputy City Clerk Georganna Staskey; Presenter & Senior Planner Lauren Clementino; Comprehensive & Neighborhood Planning Manager Sara Dechter; City Clerk Stacy Saltzburg; and Sustainability Analyst, Jenna Ortega.
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. (Maximum three minutes per individual)
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. (Maximum three minutes per individual)
None at this time.
4.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A.
Minutes are not available at this time. They will be on the next agenda.
5.
GENERAL BUSINESS (Possible Vote)
A.
Multicultural County Park Sculpture Exhibition
Cristen Crujido, Beautification, Arts & Sciences (BAS) Project Administrator, City of Flagstaff Beautification, Arts & Sciences staff will provide a brief update on the second annual Multicultural County Park Sculpture Exhibition opening May 2025. There will be a discussion of the upcoming FY 26-27 Call to Artists, and request selection panel representation.
As scheduled, BAS Project Administrator Cristen Crujido provided an update on the upcoming year two sculpture exhibition in May. Cristen gave background information on the first exhibition and how that conversation started and provided information on the process to fruition. Indigenous community had a huge request and BAS come to deliver on that request. The Commission and community members are encouraged to come to the unveiling event on May 19, 2025. Information was shared on the selected five artists with two Indigenous artists to present their work. A video link was also shared so the commissioners can watch the story of the public art and formation of the exhibition. It is presented in partnership with Coconino County, runs from May through March of each year, and installed at the Elizabeth "Liz" Archuleta County Park. The art pieces are loaned to the City for the duration of the exhibition.
For the next Call to Artists and 2026-2027 sculpture exhibition, the panel for the application review and artist selection will be formed. BAS would like a representative from the Commission to serve in this capacity. After some discussion, there was consensus to send Commissioner Francis as the IC representative. Co-Chair Darren Lance made the nomination and Co-chair Mariah Zavala seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Cristen Crujido, Beautification, Arts & Sciences (BAS) Project Administrator, City of Flagstaff Beautification, Arts & Sciences staff will provide a brief update on the second annual Multicultural County Park Sculpture Exhibition opening May 2025. There will be a discussion of the upcoming FY 26-27 Call to Artists, and request selection panel representation.
As scheduled, BAS Project Administrator Cristen Crujido provided an update on the upcoming year two sculpture exhibition in May. Cristen gave background information on the first exhibition and how that conversation started and provided information on the process to fruition. Indigenous community had a huge request and BAS come to deliver on that request. The Commission and community members are encouraged to come to the unveiling event on May 19, 2025. Information was shared on the selected five artists with two Indigenous artists to present their work. A video link was also shared so the commissioners can watch the story of the public art and formation of the exhibition. It is presented in partnership with Coconino County, runs from May through March of each year, and installed at the Elizabeth "Liz" Archuleta County Park. The art pieces are loaned to the City for the duration of the exhibition.
For the next Call to Artists and 2026-2027 sculpture exhibition, the panel for the application review and artist selection will be formed. BAS would like a representative from the Commission to serve in this capacity. After some discussion, there was consensus to send Commissioner Francis as the IC representative. Co-Chair Darren Lance made the nomination and Co-chair Mariah Zavala seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
6.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
A.
Open Meeting Law Refresher Training
Georganna Staskey, Deputy City Clerk, will provide a presentation on Open Meeting Law which is provided to the City of Flagstaff Boards and Commissions. A discussion to follow with Q & A.
Deputy City Clerk Georganna Staskey made introductions and started into her presentation. She welcomed Commissioners Lomaomvaya and Francis as the new commissioners and welcomed back Commissioner Marks for continued service.
Boards and commissions make recommendations to City Council and Council can accept those recommendations. They can also ask for changes or may decide not to accept the recommendations. Most boards and commissions are advisory. Staff liaison role is ensure compliance with Open Meeting Law. They answer any questions related to city policies or procedures. They can also coordinate with other departments or commissions for collaboration. They are the one responsible for making those recommendations and presenting them to Council when they are ready.
Georganna also provided information on the different work groups and sub-committees that can be formed according to rules for boards and commissions. Some have to post their agendas and keep minutes. It is important to know the difference in these cases. Quasi judicial commissions can make decisions like Council, i.e. Board of Adjustment and Fire Code Board of Appeals.
It is a public policy of the state that meetings of public bodies be conducted and that notices and agendas be provided for such meetings. These will contain information as is reasonable necessary to inform the public of the matters discussed or decided.
So why do we have Open Meeting Law? There's a couple main points that protects the public. First, it ensures that the government is not making any decisions in secret and allows for input. It also promotes accountability to ensure public officials act responsibly and reasonably. The next point is to protect public officials, there's no exclusion, and everyone knows about the meetings. Minutes that contain productive items from the agenda and helps to maintain the integrity of the government, better inform citizenry and building the trust between the government and citizens.
Georganna covered a large amount of materials and these topics can be found in the Boards and Commission Manual which any commissioner or the public can access. Roles and responsibilities of the commissioners were also covered. The manual can be found at the Board and Commission tab under Government. Any recap of the meeting video can be viewed at the Indigenous Commission page on the City website. The PowerPoint is also accessible on the website. Georganna also provided her e-mail address and welcomes any questions commissioners have.
Georganna Staskey, Deputy City Clerk, will provide a presentation on Open Meeting Law which is provided to the City of Flagstaff Boards and Commissions. A discussion to follow with Q & A.
Deputy City Clerk Georganna Staskey made introductions and started into her presentation. She welcomed Commissioners Lomaomvaya and Francis as the new commissioners and welcomed back Commissioner Marks for continued service.
Boards and commissions make recommendations to City Council and Council can accept those recommendations. They can also ask for changes or may decide not to accept the recommendations. Most boards and commissions are advisory. Staff liaison role is ensure compliance with Open Meeting Law. They answer any questions related to city policies or procedures. They can also coordinate with other departments or commissions for collaboration. They are the one responsible for making those recommendations and presenting them to Council when they are ready.
Georganna also provided information on the different work groups and sub-committees that can be formed according to rules for boards and commissions. Some have to post their agendas and keep minutes. It is important to know the difference in these cases. Quasi judicial commissions can make decisions like Council, i.e. Board of Adjustment and Fire Code Board of Appeals.
It is a public policy of the state that meetings of public bodies be conducted and that notices and agendas be provided for such meetings. These will contain information as is reasonable necessary to inform the public of the matters discussed or decided.
So why do we have Open Meeting Law? There's a couple main points that protects the public. First, it ensures that the government is not making any decisions in secret and allows for input. It also promotes accountability to ensure public officials act responsibly and reasonably. The next point is to protect public officials, there's no exclusion, and everyone knows about the meetings. Minutes that contain productive items from the agenda and helps to maintain the integrity of the government, better inform citizenry and building the trust between the government and citizens.
Georganna covered a large amount of materials and these topics can be found in the Boards and Commission Manual which any commissioner or the public can access. Roles and responsibilities of the commissioners were also covered. The manual can be found at the Board and Commission tab under Government. Any recap of the meeting video can be viewed at the Indigenous Commission page on the City website. The PowerPoint is also accessible on the website. Georganna also provided her e-mail address and welcomes any questions commissioners have.
B.
The Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan
The Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan received over 2,400 comments during the 60-day public review. There are comments pertaining to Indigenous people in the region and how they are described in the plan and may be impacted by some of the policies. Staff is requesting additional feedback and discussion to help resolve these comments.
Comprehensive & Neighborhood Planning Manager Sara Dechter and Senior Planner Lauren Clementino, both from Community Development Division, introduced themselves. They covered the two excerpts and excel sheet with comments which were shared with the Commission as part of the agenda.
Sara also explained the Regional Plan was more a land use plan rather than a strategic plan. A strategic plan will say things that are being done that's relational to the community and a land use plan is more about how to make specific kinds of decisions. With the 2400 comments, there were requests for the Plan to be more strategic and in the past that has caused things to be blurred and it became difficult to use the document in some decision making aspects. It has been a goal to center some Indigenous perspectives and feedback. So there were comments about style and terminology in describing Indigenous peoples and also European settlers - how are these other things being described? The team can use some instructive feedback to help make some of these calls. There are the use of style guides in writing these types of documents, where western focused style guides have particular sets of rules in writing and editing, how to include information on race, ethnicity, other languages, etc. In the past 10 years, there have been some changes and Sara came upon a style guide from an Indigenous perspective - there is curiosity about feedback on how to hybridize the team's style.
The language should be reflective and how the community wants to be talked about and how the community wants to be included in the document. These are areas they need feedback on based on the comments sheet. The specifics to support the team is to navigate the comments and point out what is important here. The commissioners started to talk and discuss the comments on the list and provided some feedback. It was also clear that more time was needed to truly dive in and discuss further. Co-chair Lance asked if this conversation can continue at the April meeting. With the time line Sara indicated, she would like an in-depth discussion to occur before the April meeting, she can come again in April to wrap up any lingering questions/issues.
The IC requested a Special Meeting to further discuss the topics in this agenda item. A doodle poll will be sent out to obtain consensus for a March meeting. The focus would be to concentrate on the excel list of comments.
The Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan received over 2,400 comments during the 60-day public review. There are comments pertaining to Indigenous people in the region and how they are described in the plan and may be impacted by some of the policies. Staff is requesting additional feedback and discussion to help resolve these comments.
Comprehensive & Neighborhood Planning Manager Sara Dechter and Senior Planner Lauren Clementino, both from Community Development Division, introduced themselves. They covered the two excerpts and excel sheet with comments which were shared with the Commission as part of the agenda.
Sara also explained the Regional Plan was more a land use plan rather than a strategic plan. A strategic plan will say things that are being done that's relational to the community and a land use plan is more about how to make specific kinds of decisions. With the 2400 comments, there were requests for the Plan to be more strategic and in the past that has caused things to be blurred and it became difficult to use the document in some decision making aspects. It has been a goal to center some Indigenous perspectives and feedback. So there were comments about style and terminology in describing Indigenous peoples and also European settlers - how are these other things being described? The team can use some instructive feedback to help make some of these calls. There are the use of style guides in writing these types of documents, where western focused style guides have particular sets of rules in writing and editing, how to include information on race, ethnicity, other languages, etc. In the past 10 years, there have been some changes and Sara came upon a style guide from an Indigenous perspective - there is curiosity about feedback on how to hybridize the team's style.
The language should be reflective and how the community wants to be talked about and how the community wants to be included in the document. These are areas they need feedback on based on the comments sheet. The specifics to support the team is to navigate the comments and point out what is important here. The commissioners started to talk and discuss the comments on the list and provided some feedback. It was also clear that more time was needed to truly dive in and discuss further. Co-chair Lance asked if this conversation can continue at the April meeting. With the time line Sara indicated, she would like an in-depth discussion to occur before the April meeting, she can come again in April to wrap up any lingering questions/issues.
The IC requested a Special Meeting to further discuss the topics in this agenda item. A doodle poll will be sent out to obtain consensus for a March meeting. The focus would be to concentrate on the excel list of comments.
C.
Indigenous Commission Retreat
Staff Liaison Rose Toehe would like to obtain from the commissioners if a retreat would be beneficial for the operation of the Commission. Discussion and direction is requested.
This topic was not covered due to time constraints. Commissioners were asked to look at May or June for a retreat. It will be placed on the next agenda.
Staff Liaison Rose Toehe would like to obtain from the commissioners if a retreat would be beneficial for the operation of the Commission. Discussion and direction is requested.
This topic was not covered due to time constraints. Commissioners were asked to look at May or June for a retreat. It will be placed on the next agenda.
7.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS TO/FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS, STAFF, AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEM REQUESTS
Educational forum to occur possibly in May or June. Further information will be forthcoming.
Co-chair Zavala made an announcement about the annual rafting trip with youth from her Indigenous nation and would like to provide information on donations. She will send Rose the information.
There will also be a job fair for high school & college students and veterans, etc. Co-chair Zavala will send Rose the information.
Educational forum to occur possibly in May or June. Further information will be forthcoming.
Co-chair Zavala made an announcement about the annual rafting trip with youth from her Indigenous nation and would like to provide information on donations. She will send Rose the information.
There will also be a job fair for high school & college students and veterans, etc. Co-chair Zavala will send Rose the information.
8.
ADJOURNMENT
Co-chair Mariah Zavala adjourned the meeting at 12:41 PM.
Co-chair Mariah Zavala adjourned the meeting at 12:41 PM.