Moved by Councilmember Lori Matthews, seconded by Councilmember Anthony Garcia to approve the minutes of the City Council Work Session September 22, 2020, City Council Regular Meeting October 6, 2020, City Council Work Session November 10, 2020, City Council Work Session December 8, 2020, City Council Work Session May 11, 2021, City Council Work Session December 14, 2021, City Council Work Session February 8, 2022, City Council Work Session February 22, 2022, City Council Work Session March 8, 2022, City Council Work Session April 26, 2022, City Council Work Session May 10, 2022, City Council Work Session August 29, 2022, City Council Work Session September 13, 2022, City Council Work Session September 27, 2022, Joint City Council/Coconino County Work Session October 17, 2022, City Council Work Session April 11, 2023, City Council Work Session October 10, 2023, Joint City Council/Coconino County Work Session October 16, 2023, City Council Special Meeting (Executive Session) January 7, 2025, City Council Special Meeting (Executive Session) January 14, 2025, City Council Special Meeting (Executive Session) January 21, 2025, City Council Special Meeting (Executive Session) January 28, 2025, City Council Special Meeting (Executive Session) February 4, 2025, City Council Special Meeting (Executive Session) February 11, 2025, City Council Special Meeting (Executive Session) February 18, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting February 18, 2025, City Council Special Meeting (Executive Session) March 4, 2025, City Council Special Meeting (Executive Session) March 11, 2025, City Council Special Meeting (Executive Session) March 18, 2025, City Council Regular Meeting March 18, 2025, City Council Work Session March 25, 2025, Capital Improvements Retreat March 27, 2025, City Council Regular Meeting April 1, 2025.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

DJ addressed Council and spoke about his termination from employment. He spoke about equal opportunity violations, wrongful termination, denied claims from DES for unemployment, and continued homelessness.

Economic Development Administrator Creag Znetko addressed Council and expressed gratitude to Vice Mayor Sweet and Councilmember Spence for their support at the Innovate Green events and shared the success of the Tech Genie project, highlighting its sustainable aeroponic food system.

Eric Fort addressed Council with concerns about parking issues faced by the CATS organization while providing services to the unhoused community, suggesting that the Council consider providing parking relief for community organizations during regular events.

Colleen Maring, Chief People Officer and Chief Legal Counsel at Northern Arizona Healthcare, highlighted the importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation during Donate Life Month, sharing statistics on donations and the impact on saving lives.

Vice Mayor Sweet read and presented a recognition for the Flagstaff High School State Champion Girls Basketball Team. She recognized the following:

Players: Nylah Davis, Lexi Neal, Sunshine Begoody, Kaiya Tate, Nidaya Nez, Kyleigh Walker, Presley Dixon, JJ McClellan, Teagan Martin, Shylynn Benally, Shandiin Bluelake, Carter Edison, Lacey Walker, Orianna Tsosie, Kenny Bitsui, Gabbie Nichols, Maya Joe, Audrey Edgewater

Manager, Coaches, and Athletic Director: Naliese Lomakema, Cassie Schrader, Jessica Herbel, Tyrone Johnson, Jeannine Brandel

Councilmember Matthews read and presented the proclamation.

Councilmember Matthews reported on the Indigenous Commission's review of the Regional Plan and the CJCC's Justice Bus event in Tuba City, which provided various court and community services.

Councilmember Garcia shared updates from the Library Board, including a children's puppet program, the Big Read community celebration, and the introduction of cultural passes for Lowell Observatory. He also discussed the Neighborhood Sustainability Grant program, highlighting the awarded projects which focused on food security, waste prevention, and community skill development. He expressed concern over the removal of funding for the Market of Dreams.

Councilmember House reported that the Commission on Diversity Awareness would be meeting to discuss upcoming proclamation opportunities. The Northern Arizona Book Festival occurred the prior week where she spoke on a panel at NAU about the career paths of members who served as editors on the Thin Air literary magazine. She was able to share how her degree in that program contributed to her role on City Council. The Housing Commission met and discussed CDBG funding. She noted that April was Fair Housing Month, and that the Housing team would be hosting a fair housing training in collaboration with the Northern Arizona Association of Realtors.

Councilmember Spence expressed his honor and privilege to be the liaison for the Open Spaces Commission and Transportation Commission.

Vice Mayor Sweet noted that the Water Commission would be meeting that week and that the Northern Arizona Municipal Water Users Association had a meeting coming up.

Moved by Councilmember Anthony Garcia, seconded by Councilmember Lori Matthews to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Moved by Councilmember Lori Matthews, seconded by Councilmember Anthony Garcia to adopt Resolution No. 2025-17.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Moved by Councilmember Lori Matthews, seconded by Councilmember Anthony Garcia to read Ordinance No. 2025- 05 by title only for the final time.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Moved by Councilmember Lori Matthews, seconded by Councilmember Anthony Garcia to adopt Ordinance No. 2025- 05.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Project Manager Christine Cameron provided a PowerPoint presentation that covered the following:

DOWNTOWN MILE SAFETY AND CONNECTIVITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
FEDERAL RAIL ADMINISTRATION INFRA GRANT AGREEMENT
PROJECT COMPONENTS
PROJECT FUNDING
PROJECT SCHEDULE

Moved by Councilmember David Spence, seconded by Councilmember Lori Matthews to approve the Downtown Mile Safety and Connectivity Improvement Project (Project) Infrastructure of Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grant Agreement (Agreement) between the City of Flagstaff and Federal Rail Administration (FRA).

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Deputy Police Chief Collin Seay addressed Council and stated that the State Gang Task Force, known as GIITEM, was a state-funded initiative that began in 1992 to address gang violence, gang-related crimes, and community education across Arizona. The task force brought together law enforcement agencies from around the state in a collaborative effort.

The Flagstaff Police Department joined the task force in 1994, assigning its first officer to the unit, and has maintained a 31-year partnership. The City of Flagstaff's agreement with GIITEM was set to expire in July. He added that the city employed 119 officers, and two of those positions were grant-funded through the GITTEM IGA which amounted to approximately $230,000, with the state reimbursing roughly $173,000. The agreement also included advanced training opportunities that have positively impacted officer careers. The department planned to reassign two detectives to the unit by that summer, particularly in response to a recent increase in gang-related activity, including violent crimes and tagging.

Councilmember House stated that she had received questions from the community about the inclusion of immigration in the name of the task force. She referenced two statutes that had to do with employment verification and the ability to inspect records or documents, presumably immigration status, and asked what they were referring to in terms of the task force.

Deputy Chief Seay stated that the term was in reference to immigration intelligence, however Flagstaff experienced different gang problems than other communities in Arizona. He explained that there were transnational gang members in other communities that created a litany of crimes but that it was not necessarily the Flagstaff gang model. Most common in Flagstaff were juvenile and youth gangs influenced by adults. The focus of the Flagstaff Police Department was gang violence, violent street crimes, and serious offenders; they would not be doing immigration enforcement or employer verifications checks. He also noted that the department has full control of the officers in the task force and if there was something that they did not want the officers to do, they were able to pull them out of the task force and reassign them to other duties.

Councilmember Garcia asked if immigration was new to the name. Deputy Chief Seay stated that it was created in 2006 to address the transnational gangs that affected Arizona. Flagstaff had not been involved in immigration round ups, the focus was juvenile gang issues, education, and supporting the patrol division.

Councilmember Garcia noted that the city could pull away from the contract if it felt the need to do so. He did not see that happening, but the option was there. He offered his appreciation for the relationships the agreement created. Deputy Chief Seay added that the partnerships were key, and they were appreciative of those partnerships and relationships between agencies.

Moved by Councilmember Lori Matthews, seconded by Councilmember Anthony Garcia to read Resolution No. 2025-15 by title only.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Moved by Councilmember Anthony Garcia, seconded by Councilmember Austin Aslan to adopt Resolution No. 2025-15.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Moved by Councilmember Lori Matthews, seconded by Councilmember Anthony Garcia to read Resolution No. 2025-19 by title only.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Moved by Councilmember Lori Matthews, seconded by Councilmember David Spence to adopt Resolution No. 2025-19.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Wildland Fire Captain Neil Chapman and Zoning Code Manager Tiffany Antol provided a PowerPoint presentation that covered the following:

RESOURCE PROTECTION PILOT PROGRAM
AGENDA
INTRODUCTION
CHALLENGES
INTENT OF PILOT PROGRAM
ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENT
PROCESS
SUMMARY

Councilmember Matthews asked if the LiDAR could be applied to existing neighborhoods to provide a better understanding of what should be done to better prepare their properties. Mr. Chapman indicated yes and said that the conversations had started. There was not a process in place for existing neighborhoods currently, but they continued to look for ways to make that happen. Councilmember Matthews added her support for the pilot program and for following the science to keep neighborhoods safe while also preserving the forest.

Councilmember Spence asked if the pilot program was limited to a particular geographic area. Ms. Antol explained that it would be for the properties in the Resource Protection Overlay areas and would not apply to properties outside those areas.

Jessica Garard, past president of the Northern Arizona Association of Realtors, expressed support of the pilot program. She stated that homeowners in Flagstaff were faced with growing challenges in obtaining and affording home insurance, with many seeing dramatic rate increases or being dropped by insurers entirely, especially after recent wildfires and flooding. Rising costs add to the already high burden of homeownership in the area, and lack of insurance could risk foreclosure for those with mortgages.

Councilmember House stated that when talking about science and the current state of where they are at with our forests and resource protection, one of the things that stood out to her was the acknowledgement of the importance of reengaging the cultural practices for forest management.

Councilmember Garcia expressed his support for the plan.

Councilmember Aslan also expressed his support for enhancing Flagstaff’s fire readiness and Firewise practices and trusting local scientific leadership. He emphasized that it was the right, smart, and safe thing to do for the community. However, he was skeptical about insurance companies, noting that such local efforts likely would not lower insurance rates without state and federal policy changes. The focus now was on maintaining access to private insurance rather than expecting discounts, with the understanding that doing the right thing locally could still help in broader efforts.

Councilmember Matthews stated that it was about keeping the community safe and a bonus was to see insurance improvements. She noted concern about the upcoming dry season and was grateful action was being taken for future developments to improve the safety of the community.

Vice Mayor Sweet also indicated support.

The Council was supportive of moving forward with the pilot program.

None

Councilmember Spence highlighted the success of organ donations through Northern Arizona Healthcare, emphasizing the often-overlooked option of living kidney donation. He noted that healthy individuals under 65 without a family member in need could donate through the organ donor network and help someone on the waiting list. He also shared his own experience of donating a kidney 22 years ago and stressed the health benefits and personal fulfillment of being a living donor.

Councilmember Garcia spoke about the celebration event put on by the Commission on Inclusion and Adaptive Living. He also reminded the public about the Earth Day celebration at Bushmaster Park the following week. He shared that there would be a bike ride from the Visitor Center to the event. He also expressed appreciation to all those who participated in the Innovate Green event.

Councilmember Matthews shared that the city and Mountain Line hosted the national transportation conference in Flagstaff. They toured the new Downtown Connection Center building, and the attendees were impressed at how soundproof the building was. She also noted that there was a Mountain Line meeting that week.

Vice Mayor Sweet reported that she was also able to tour the Downtown Connection Center. She also congratulated the Innovate Green contributors.

The Regular Meeting of the Flagstaff City Council held April 15, 2025, adjourned at 4:27 p.m.