NOTICE AND AGENDA
| COMMISSION ON DIVERSITY AWARENESS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20, 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 Manny Hernandez Silina Martinez Mindy Riesenberg Angelica Sanchez |
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 Darling read the land acknowledgment.
4.
Upcoming Opportunities and Announcements
Chairwoman Kidd shared that the Coconino County Fair will be on August 29 - September 1 and shared that anyone can volunteer at coconinocountyfair.gov.
5.
Public Participation
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.
There was no public participation.
6.
Approval of Minutes: May 21, 2025 CODA Meeting
Commissioner Riesenberg moved to approve the minutes. Commissioner Hernandez seconded. The minutes were approved on a voice vote.
7.
Action Items
A.
Proclamation: Hispanic Haritage Month
Mr. Rhode explained that this year's proclamation is based on last year's but has been updated to match the standard formatting of other proclamations. He also expressed a hope that Nuestras Raices, an active local nonprofit, can be brought into the proclamation at City Council on September 16. Commissioner Hernandez volunteered to be present on behalf of the commission.
Chairwoman Kidd asked if the Coconino County Advisory Council had been contacted. Mr. Rhode said that they have not been as of yet and Chairwoman Kidd said that she would send over contact info for them.
Commissioner Hernandez moved to adopt the proclamation and Commissioner Martinez seconded.
Chairwoman Kidd asked if the Coconino County Advisory Council had been contacted. Mr. Rhode said that they have not been as of yet and Chairwoman Kidd said that she would send over contact info for them.
Commissioner Hernandez moved to adopt the proclamation and Commissioner Martinez seconded.
8.
Reports/Discussion Items
A.
Presentation from Townsite Community Land Trust
Barbara Bates, Duffie Westheimer, and Charlie Silver from the Townsite Community Land Trust (TCLT) were present to give a presentation on historic home preservation. They work to preserve historic residential properties in Flagstaff and convert them into affordable housing. Through their program, qualified applicants are able to purchase a ground lease on a property that is fully transferable and inheritable. The presentation showed examples of several properties that have been rehabbed and converted into affordable housing.
Commissioner Kidd commented that she likes that the program empowers people to build generational wealth.
Commissioner Sanchez asked if there was a way to offset the costs of taking the class that is required to qualify for the program. Barbara pointed to possible down payment assistance programs and noted that the cost is relatively small and one-time.
Commissioner Hernande asked what the TCLT would like from the commission. Barbara responded that they are looking for more properties to preserve and more people to help in their efforts. Charlie jumped in to note that the work that they do is not geographically limited to the original townsite.
Commissioner Kidd commented that she likes that the program empowers people to build generational wealth.
Commissioner Sanchez asked if there was a way to offset the costs of taking the class that is required to qualify for the program. Barbara pointed to possible down payment assistance programs and noted that the cost is relatively small and one-time.
Commissioner Hernande asked what the TCLT would like from the commission. Barbara responded that they are looking for more properties to preserve and more people to help in their efforts. Charlie jumped in to note that the work that they do is not geographically limited to the original townsite.
B.
Expiring Commissioner terms and upcoming election of new Chairperson
Mr. Rhode updated the commission that Commissioners Gebler and Kidd will have their terms expire prior to the next meeting. He asked members of the commission to send any feedback on the applicants to him and/or Councilwoman House so that it can be passed on to the members of Council who will make the appointments.
Commissioner Gebler stated that she will not be seeking reappointment to the commission. The commission thanked her for her service and wished her well.
Commissioner Gebler stated that she will not be seeking reappointment to the commission. The commission thanked her for her service and wished her well.
C.
Updates from Working Groups
Commissioner Daling said that the rainbow crosswalk has not been meeting over the summer but is hoping to convene again in September. They will also be looking to host a happy hour in the future.
Commissioner Sanchez said that the library has been working to revive dragtime story hour. She also said that the library has found some staff members to do multi-lingual story time. She asked for any contacts that anybody may have to do readings in other languages.
Commissioner Sanchez said that the library has been working to revive dragtime story hour. She also said that the library has found some staff members to do multi-lingual story time. She asked for any contacts that anybody may have to do readings in other languages.
D.
Updates from Council Liaison
There was no update from the Council Liaison.
E.
Updates from Staff Liaison
Mr. Rhode reported that he will be leaving the City of Flagstaff. He said that he does not have a definite timeline but that it will probably be in the next few months or so. He said that he expects Deputy City Clerk Georganna Staskey to fill in for him in the interim and that the City hopes to hire a replacement sometime this winter. He invited the commission to share any priorities or necessary information that they have before then.
Mr Rhode also reported that the Anti-Bullying Policy has been presented to several city divisions and he is hopeful that it will be signed off by the City manager before the end of September.
Mr Rhode also reported that the Anti-Bullying Policy has been presented to several city divisions and he is hopeful that it will be signed off by the City manager before the end of September.
9.
Agenda for Future Meeting(s)
Commissioner Hernandez shared that he has concluded work for the Public Art Exhibition and hopes to be able to announce the winners in the next month or so.
Commissioner Darling announced that she is starting a PFLAG (Families of LGBTQ+) nonprofit group in town and will be looking to have a kickoff event in the future.
Mr. Rhode reported that the discussion on federal immigration activities was pushed to a future meeting as some individuals who were going to be involved with that discussion were not available. Commissioner Sanchez suggested reaching out to Northern Arizona Immigration Legal Services.
Mr. Rhode also noted that because there will be new commissioners and a new election for chairperson at the next meeting. He asked the commissioners to not send e-mails to each other or do anything else that could create a quorum or run afoul of open meeting laws if they with to campaign for the elections.
Commissioner Darling announced that she is starting a PFLAG (Families of LGBTQ+) nonprofit group in town and will be looking to have a kickoff event in the future.
Mr. Rhode reported that the discussion on federal immigration activities was pushed to a future meeting as some individuals who were going to be involved with that discussion were not available. Commissioner Sanchez suggested reaching out to Northern Arizona Immigration Legal Services.
Mr. Rhode also noted that because there will be new commissioners and a new election for chairperson at the next meeting. He asked the commissioners to not send e-mails to each other or do anything else that could create a quorum or run afoul of open meeting laws if they with to campaign for the elections.
10.
Adjourment
| 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 |