NOTICE AND AGENDA
| COMMISSION ON DIVERSITY AWARENESS WEDNESDAY MAY 21, 2025 |
VIRTUAL TEAMS MEETING 211 WEST ASPEN AVENUE 1:30 P.M. |
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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 1:33 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 MANNY HERNANDEZ SILINA MARTINEZ |
MANDY MARTINEZ-GEBLER MINDY RIESENBERG ANGELICA SANCHEZ |
| Present | Absent |
| Carolyn Kidd, Chair Mandy Gebler, Vice Chair Sandra Darling Silina Martinez Mindy Riesenberg Angelica Sanchez |
Manny Hernandez |
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.
Chairwoman Kidd read the mission statement and Commissioner Riesenberg read the land acknowledgment.
4.
Upcoming Opportunities and Announcements
There were no upcoming opportunities or 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.
DJ was present and gave public comment on the meaning of diversity.
6.
Approval of Minutes
A.
Approval of Minutes - 4/16/2025 CODA Meeting
Commissioner Sanchez flagged a typo under item 8C where "their library" should be "the library" and moved to approve the minutes with the correction.
Commissioner Gebler seconded. The motion was approved on a voice vote.
7.
Action Items
A.
Proclamations
i.
Proclamation: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Two Spirit + (LGBTQ+) Pride Month
Chairwoman Kidd noted that the proclamation has an inconsistency where it is sometimes referred to as LGBTQIA2S+ Month and LGBTQ+ Pride Month and recommended using the longer form throughout the whole document.
Commissioner Darling asked what the language "fight to make the possibilities" means. She recommended changing it to "opportunities for."
Councilmember House pointed out that the clause is also fragmented and recommended that "of the community" should be added to the end.
The commission gave direction to reach out to Flag Pride, the Flagstaff Queer Collective, Trans Intimate and the LGBTQ+ Coalition to receive the proclamation.
Commissioner Darling asked what the language "fight to make the possibilities" means. She recommended changing it to "opportunities for."
Councilmember House pointed out that the clause is also fragmented and recommended that "of the community" should be added to the end.
The commission gave direction to reach out to Flag Pride, the Flagstaff Queer Collective, Trans Intimate and the LGBTQ+ Coalition to receive the proclamation.
ii.
Proclamation: Juneteenth
Commissioner Riesenberg pointed out that Gordon Granger's name is misspelled. There were no other comments before the commission gave their support for the proclamations. The commission gave direction to reach out to the Southside Community Association, the African Diaspora Advisory Council, and the Lived Black Experience to receive the proclamation.
8.
Reports/Discussion Items
A.
Presentation from Transportation Staff: Current Projects around Flagstaff
Jeff Bauman, the City Traffic Engineer; Trevor Henry, the Capital Improvements Engineer, and Martin Ince, the Multimodal Transportation Planner were present to present on some of the bigger transportation projects happening in and around Flagstaff.
Their presentation covered the following projects:
Commissioner Riesenberg asked where raised bikeways have been implemented. Martin said that this is one of many different types of "protected bike ane" that are popping up around the country that attempt to put a physical barrier between traffic and bikes. He said that it also leaves 11 ft of contiguous concrete that is easier to plow and that recent studies show that protected bike lanes like this are much safer.
Their presentation covered the following projects:
- J. W. Powell Blvd Extension Project
- Butler & Fourth St Improvements
- Baulah & University Realignment Project
- Cedar, Locket, & 4th St Roundabout
- Butler Ave Complete Street
- Lone Tree Overpass
- FUTS Asphalt Repair
Commissioner Riesenberg asked where raised bikeways have been implemented. Martin said that this is one of many different types of "protected bike ane" that are popping up around the country that attempt to put a physical barrier between traffic and bikes. He said that it also leaves 11 ft of contiguous concrete that is easier to plow and that recent studies show that protected bike lanes like this are much safer.
B.
Citywide Anti-Bullying Policy
Mr. Rhode introduced the item as "low hanging fruit" where the City can gain points on its annual Municipal Equality Index Scorecard. He said that this policy has come about through conversations with PROSE and Library Staff, as they have the most public-facing programs. He said that policies from FUSD and NAU were referenced. He pointed out that is does not refer to age so that it would equally apply to youth and adults. He also highlighted that it has a consistent enforcement mechanism. He explained that this proposal will go to a few relevant divisions and would then go to the City Manager with hopes of it becoming a directive.
Chairwoman Kidd thanked Mr. Rhode for coming up with the policy and stated her approval of the policy. Councilwoman House also thanked Mr. Rhode for his efforts on this project. Commissioner Sanchez specifically approved the "Consequences" section where there is something that happens if the policy is broken.
Chairwoman Kidd thanked Mr. Rhode for coming up with the policy and stated her approval of the policy. Councilwoman House also thanked Mr. Rhode for his efforts on this project. Commissioner Sanchez specifically approved the "Consequences" section where there is something that happens if the policy is broken.
C.
Discussion on CODA involvement surrounding Pride and Juneteenth
Mr. Rhode introduced the item and said that he has arranged for the Commission to have a float for the Pride Parade but noted that there are several events in June for Pride and for Juneteenth. Chairwoman House provided the calendar of Juneteenth events that will be sponsored by the Couthside Community Association and the African Diaspora Advisory Council between June 11th and 15th. Commissioner Darling then provided the calendar of events for Pride. Mr. Rhode recommended that the commission make a concerted effort to attend at least one event from each celebration as a group. The commission gave him direction to follow-up on this with a full schedule of events and collaborate about it via e-mail.
D.
Updates from Working Groups
Commissioner Sanchez shared that the group met for the first time as a whole last month. She shared information about renting space to a board member of Flag Pride who may be interested in holding drag-time story hour. She also shared that she will be volunteering to do Spanish translations of story times and that she may be looking to CCC or to high school students to help in the future as well. Commissioner Sanchez shared that the student that they were working with on the oral history project is graduating and they are looking for next steps to supplement their contributions. She finished by clarifying that the library will not be tabling at Pride.
Commissioner Darling reported that work on the rainbow crosswalk is slowing and only meeting once per month. They are currently working on a survey on what the community may want to see in an art installation. They are also looking to learn more about the project in Cheshire in front of FALA.
Councilwoman Kidd shared that she has seen a new technology that allows for some pavement stamps to be revealed by rain and suggested that it may be unique and may help to get around some of the existing hurdles.
Commissioner Darling reported that work on the rainbow crosswalk is slowing and only meeting once per month. They are currently working on a survey on what the community may want to see in an art installation. They are also looking to learn more about the project in Cheshire in front of FALA.
Councilwoman Kidd shared that she has seen a new technology that allows for some pavement stamps to be revealed by rain and suggested that it may be unique and may help to get around some of the existing hurdles.
E.
Updates from Council Liaison
Councilwoman House thanked the commission for the recent proclamations and for attending to receive them. She also invited the commission to share any events or happenings that the Council may be interested in sharing with each other.
F.
Updates from Staff Liaison
There was no update from the Staff Liaison.
9.
Agenda for Future Meeting(s)
There were no requests for future agenda items.
10.
Adjourment
The meeting was adjourned at 3:14 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 , 2025. __________________________________________ Chris Rhode, Special Programs Manager |