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.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
None at this time.

Updates on Commission on Diversity Awareness (CODA) Projects
CODA staff liaison Chris Rhode will provide an update on CODA projects throughout the year. He will be able to share outcomes and expand on some projects prepared for the future.

Chris Rhode covered CODA Ongoing Projects which include the following:

• Rainbow Crosswalk is their biggest project, and they have been working on for years engaging Flag PRIDE and Northern AZ Queer Coalition. There are some challenges, such as the City being opposed to project on the street (motorized traffic) and the group is considering park or pedestrian spaces where there is not motorized traffic. They are also considering different designs and seeking funding source/s.
• Anti-Camping Ordinance is their second biggest project. Covered Johnson v. Grants Pass ruling (June 2024) and Martin v. Boise (2018) ruled that criminalizing homelessness in public was "cruel and unusual punishment." CODA has been working with FPD on enforcement with education first, working to avoid arrests/criminal citations. Creation of FPD Citizens Review Board.
• Women's Rights Working Group is another project and interest in creating space to focus on women's issues. Indigenous Commission and Commission on Inclusivity & Adaptive Living (CIAL) provide similar spaces. CODA is concerned about creating too many bodies around this subject.
• Library Oral History Project. There is an ongoing work group from CODA working to preserve oral histories of Northern Arizona which include ranchers, business people, politicians, and Indigenous peoples and will be housed by Arizona Memory Project with the AZ State Library.
• Inclusive Wayfinding Project which is a collaboration with the Downtown Business Association on an initiative to improve signage in the downtown area. It is also a joint effort to include Indigenous languages, symbols, and history. There was a presentation to the Indigenous Commission on this project in November 2024.
• Multicultural County Park Sculpture Exhibition. CODA is annually involved with this selection process by sending a member to participate in panels set up by the City representatives which the Indigenous and BPAC commissions also participate in.
• CODA also works on drafting and recommendations of nine proclamations to Council each year and collaboration sought from community groups.

The commissioners asked questions and discussed several viewpoints which will be provided back to CODA or project collaborators as needed.

Observatory Mesa Natural Area – Proposed Renaming Recommendation
Open Space Supervisor Robert Wallace will request input from the Indigenous Commission regarding the proposed renaming of the Observatory Mesa Natural Area to Observatory Mesa Natural and Cultural Preserve and explore additional opportunities to recognize Indigenous connections to this landscape.

Robert Wallace provided the presentation on behalf of the Open Spaces Commission on this topic. The mission, goals, and the map of the existing regional preserves were shared. The Commission is concerned about the area of Observatory Mesa becoming more recreational rather than having it be a conservation area. The current name, Greater Observatory Mesa Natural Area, does not speak to the preservation of the area. They would like to rename the area so that preservation is the goal and also the connection Indigenous nations have with this area. The Commission would like to see if the change from the original name to Observatory Mesa Natural and Cultural Preserve will better serve the goal and mission. Input from the Indigenous Commission would be welcomed. Other input is welcomed on interpretative signage or trail names that utilize Indigenous names. The root part of the name Observatory Mesa would like to be kept.

There was some discussion and some input shared from the IC. The name was discussed as well as trail names and interpretative signage. There will be ways to involve the IC going forward. An educational zone has been identified. QR codes and story mapping are considerations. The area caters to passive recreation that involves walking, running, some biking, and maybe equestrian use.

Commissioner Marks motioned to keep the root name, Observatory Mesa, and dive into what the natural and cultural preserve section could look like and offer suggestions. The use of QR codes to give greater description is also supported. Co-chair Lance seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

The Indigenous Commission Review the Proposed Interpretive Mitigation Related to Native American History and Provide Input
Heritage Preservation Officer Lauren Clementino will provide a presentation. At the July 16, 2025 meeting, the Heritage Preservation Commission approved a Phase I Cultural Resource Study for the former municipal building at 19 W. Birch Ave. The building was found to be significant for its association with the Native American civil rights movement. The owner proposes to demolish the existing building on the parcel to construct a hotel. One of the options selected by the Heritage Preservation Commission to mitigate the proposed demolition was to develop interpretive mitigation in conjunction with the Indigenous Commission. The agenda and minutes from the meeting as well as a link to download the study are available here: Agenda - View Meetings (All) (8183389057). It is located at 6B. Important to read the Cultural Resource Study.

Lauren Clementino provided a presentation regarding the old City Hall building located at 120 N. Beaver and 19 W. Birch, constructed in the 1950s and that housed city hall, courts, fire and police departments. The building is planned to be demolished, but it is under historic preservation. Cornerstone has been hired to do research on the building and found there is a connection to the American Indian Movement (AIM). There was the arrest of seven AIM members and they were jailed. Due to this incident, there were several things discovered about the treatment of Indigenous people. There were people being jailed for minimal crimes and excessive ways in which treatment was provided to the people because they were Indigenous. The Indigenous Commission is being asked to have input on the mitigation section of preserving this history of the Indigenous people. Some ideas were given on what that would look like: QR codes, interpretative signs, pamphlets, etc. The Hilton hotel theme is "The Graduate" because of college and university towns, and they want to include local history in the hotel building.

How does the IC want to be involved and what next steps would be. If interested, Cornerstone can be invited to present their research. What would be the input for the mitigation part of this process? Demolition is not approved yet because the mitigation process has to be completed. There was discussion and questions from the commissioners regarding processes and the types of outreach that has been done or could be done. There is a long process and there will be paths to move forward.

The IC would be interested in having Cornerstone to provide their findings on their research. Commissioners can provide input now or at the next meeting or a representative can provide that at the Heritage Commission meeting. It was recommended that interpretation or input could be done at the meeting when Cornerstone presents. Thorpe Park (PROSE) can also be invited. Coordination to be made with staff liaison Rose Toehe.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS TO/FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS, STAFF, AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEM REQUESTS

None at this time.

ADJOURNMENT

Co-chair Darren Lance adjourned the meeting at 12:37 PM.