| INDIGENOUS COMMISSION MINUTES VIRTUAL TEAMS MEETING 211 WEST ASPEN AVENUE THURSDAY, APRIL 03, 2025, 11:00 A.M. |
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1.
Call to Order
Co-chair Mariah Zavala called the meeting to order at 11:05 AM.
Co-chair Mariah Zavala called the meeting to order at 11:05 AM.
2.
Roll Call
Others present: Staff liaison Rose Toehe; Flagstaff Regional Plan team/COF Community Development, Sara Dechter, Elsa Erling & Lauren Clementino; Sustainability staff member Jenna Ortega; and NAU student Marietta Rodriquez.
| 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; Excused Absence DARREN LANCE, CO-CHAIR; Excused Absence MARIAH ZAVALA, CO-CHAIR; Present CHERYLEE FRANCIS; Present KIMBERLY HOSKIE; Excused Absence MOWANA LOMAOMVAYA; Present
DARRELL MARKS; Excused AbsenceMARIAN MARSHALL; Present VACANT SEAT; EX-OFFICIO |
Others present: Staff liaison Rose Toehe; Flagstaff Regional Plan team/COF Community Development, Sara Dechter, Elsa Erling & Lauren Clementino; Sustainability staff member Jenna Ortega; and NAU student Marietta Rodriquez.
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.
Approval of February 06, 2025 Minutes
Motion to approve Minutes as is or approve with amendments.
Commissioner Lomaomvaya made a motion to accept the Minutes as is, seconded by Commissioner Francis. The motion passed unanimously.
Motion to approve Minutes as is or approve with amendments.
Commissioner Lomaomvaya made a motion to accept the Minutes as is, seconded by Commissioner Francis. The motion passed unanimously.
B.
Approval of March 06, 2025 Minutes
Motion to approve Minutes as is or approve with amendments.
Commissioner Lomaomvaya made a motion to accept the Minutes as is, seconded by Commissioner Francis. The motion passed unanimously.
Motion to approve Minutes as is or approve with amendments.
Commissioner Lomaomvaya made a motion to accept the Minutes as is, seconded by Commissioner Francis. The motion passed unanimously.
5.
GENERAL BUSINESS (Possible Vote)
None at this time.
None at this time.
6.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
A.
The Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan
Staff members from Community Development, Planning Department will provide continued discussion on the excerpts and excel comment documents from the March 06, 2025 IC Meeting and March 19, 2025 Special Meeting. The Commission is requested to provide specific feedback - more directly pertaining to the comments from the 60 Day Public Review. This will be a wrap up session for feedback and instructive input.
Elsa Erling started out the conversation on the Regional Plan. Revisions were being done through April 16, at which point the draft will be sent to City Council, Board of Supervisors, and the city and county Planning and Zoning Commissions. They will have a May 2nd retreat on the draft. After that, there will be more revisions. There had been a request for the IC to review some comments regarding public comments. Some commissioners are still in the process in reviewing and providing input. These can be sent to the team in a couple of days or by April 9th.
The discussion also involved the late presentation to the IC due to quorum issues early in the 60 day review and the presentation had to be delayed. The 60 day review also produced 2400 comments and some of those needed input from the IC.
Sara Dechter and team provided great guidance on the plan and able to answer questions from the commissioners. There were questions on language, jurisdictions, and back to what the City can control. There were comments about the productive nature of the discussion and the team obtaining information they can work with or implement into the plan. A perspective shared was that Indigenous people are happy to collaborate and participate, to ensure this plan works for them as well. Jurisdictions is an area that could be hard to understand and how that is communicated to the people.
There will be open houses at Aquaplex and Girls & Boy Club on April 15 & 17 to share hear what was learned in the 60-day comment period. It will be to share some changes proposed and share where the team is at with the plan. The Retreat on May 2nd between City Council, Board of Supervisors, and P&Z commissions, is a public meeting and commissioners are encouraged to attend.
Staff members from Community Development, Planning Department will provide continued discussion on the excerpts and excel comment documents from the March 06, 2025 IC Meeting and March 19, 2025 Special Meeting. The Commission is requested to provide specific feedback - more directly pertaining to the comments from the 60 Day Public Review. This will be a wrap up session for feedback and instructive input.
Elsa Erling started out the conversation on the Regional Plan. Revisions were being done through April 16, at which point the draft will be sent to City Council, Board of Supervisors, and the city and county Planning and Zoning Commissions. They will have a May 2nd retreat on the draft. After that, there will be more revisions. There had been a request for the IC to review some comments regarding public comments. Some commissioners are still in the process in reviewing and providing input. These can be sent to the team in a couple of days or by April 9th.
The discussion also involved the late presentation to the IC due to quorum issues early in the 60 day review and the presentation had to be delayed. The 60 day review also produced 2400 comments and some of those needed input from the IC.
Sara Dechter and team provided great guidance on the plan and able to answer questions from the commissioners. There were questions on language, jurisdictions, and back to what the City can control. There were comments about the productive nature of the discussion and the team obtaining information they can work with or implement into the plan. A perspective shared was that Indigenous people are happy to collaborate and participate, to ensure this plan works for them as well. Jurisdictions is an area that could be hard to understand and how that is communicated to the people.
There will be open houses at Aquaplex and Girls & Boy Club on April 15 & 17 to share hear what was learned in the 60-day comment period. It will be to share some changes proposed and share where the team is at with the plan. The Retreat on May 2nd between City Council, Board of Supervisors, and P&Z commissions, is a public meeting and commissioners are encouraged to attend.
B.
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.
Commissioners discussed when to schedule a retreat. The decision was to provide a poll for a Friday in May or June for an in-person retreat. A Teams link will be available for the public to join. The IC will be updated.
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.
Commissioners discussed when to schedule a retreat. The decision was to provide a poll for a Friday in May or June for an in-person retreat. A Teams link will be available for the public to join. The IC will be updated.
7.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS TO/FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS, STAFF, AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEM REQUESTS
Several announcements on events were made from the commissioners. Please see the video if you need further details. For those who sent flyers, these will be shared with the IC and they can share in their circles.
Several announcements on events were made from the commissioners. Please see the video if you need further details. For those who sent flyers, these will be shared with the IC and they can share in their circles.
8.
ADJOURNMENT
Co-chair Mariah Zavala adjourned the meeting at 12:35 PM.
Co-chair Mariah Zavala adjourned the meeting at 12:35 PM.