September Meeting Minutes
| SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 |
HYBRID MEETING CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND MICROSOFT TEAMS 211 WEST ASPEN AVENUE 4:30 P.M. |
Vision: The City of Flagstaff is a culture and community that thrives in response to the Climate Crisis.
Mission: To advise Sustainability Division Staff on matters related to climate and sustainability, support community projects through Neighborhood Sustainability Grants, and provide feedback to the City Council on sustainability issues.
Members of the public may join the meeting online, via Microsoft Teams.
1.
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Metzger called the meeting to order at 4:34 P.M.
2.
ROLL CALL
| NOTE: One or more Commissioner may be in attendance through other technological means. |
| AMY WOLKOWINSKY - CHAIR (Absent) MARY METZGER - VICE CHAIR (Present) COMMISSIONER ELIJAH BORN (Present) COMMISSIONER CAMERON CARLSON (Present) |
COMMISSIONER KRISTEN KONKEL (Absent) COMMISSIONER TOM LAMMIE (Present) COMMISSIONER RODGER SCURLOCK (Present) |
Also Present:
Jenna Ortega, Climate Program Manager
Katie Seals, Minute Taker
Genevieve Pearthree, Senior Sustainability Planner
Steven Thompson, Sustainability Manager
Jenna Ortega, Climate Program Manager
Katie Seals, Minute Taker
Genevieve Pearthree, Senior Sustainability Planner
Steven Thompson, Sustainability Manager
3.
LAND ACKNOWLEDEMENT
The Sustainability Commission 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.
The Sustainability Commission 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.
Commissioner Elijah Born read the Land Acknowledgement.
4.
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 use the Teams Chat function: simply type in "public comment" to indicate to the Chair that you would like to comment. The Chair will then recognize you when it is time for public comment, and staff will unmute your microphone if needed.
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 use the Teams Chat function: simply type in "public comment" to indicate to the Chair that you would like to comment. The Chair will then recognize you when it is time for public comment, and staff will unmute your microphone if needed.
No public comment given.
5.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the August 2025 meeting are available here: https://public.destinyhosted.com/agenda_publish.cfm?id=35247&mt=ALL&get_month=8&get_year=2025&dsp=min&seq=4449
The minutes of the August 2025 meeting are available here: https://public.destinyhosted.com/agenda_publish.cfm?id=35247&mt=ALL&get_month=8&get_year=2025&dsp=min&seq=4449
Vice Chair Metzger requested a motion. Commissioner Lammie motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Scurlock seconded. All approved and the August minutes were approved.
6.
BUSINESS
a.
Food Action Plan Update
Steven Thompson, Sustainability Manager
Steven Thompson, Sustainability Manager
Steven Thompson presented on the Food Action Plan Update. This project is funded through a USDA grant to assess the local food system, involving a three-phase process. The first phase created a comprehensive food system assessment (CFSA) by utilizing data on food access, distribution, and agriculture to understand the food system in northern Arizona and identify gaps. Phase two centered on community engagement through stakeholder meetings and open houses to identify needs in the community as well as assess the feasibility of one strategic business opportunity. Phase three is the current phase, in which the Sustainability Office is developing a food action plan to guide improvements over the next decade. This plan will address food access, local food, farm, and ranch economy, resilience, and network-building.
He announced that there is an opportunity to join upcoming open house events on October 8th and 18th and take an online survey available from October 1st through 29th. Through November and December, the Sustainability Office will incorporate feedback into the draft Food Action Plan, and hopes to bring a draft to City Council for feedback in January 2026.
Commissioner Lammie asked if the data from the initial assessment is available to the public and what are the community demands. Steven shared the Food Systems Program webpage which included links to the full reports containing data from the project.
Vice Chair Metzger asked if the Commission would see the draft Food Action Plan before bringing it to Council. Steven replied that yes, the draft will be shared with the Commission based on the Commission’s schedule. The draft Food Action Plan will be available either through the Connect Flagstaff Platform or on the Food Systems Program webpage.
Vice Chair Metzger asked if the Sustainability Office was networking and interfacing with other agencies as the initial scope of the project included assessing all of Northern Arizona. Steve responded that during the assessment phase they engaged extensively throughout Northern Arizona and engaged all of the counties. In more recent times, the focus has been narrowed to primarily Flagstaff and Coconino County.
He announced that there is an opportunity to join upcoming open house events on October 8th and 18th and take an online survey available from October 1st through 29th. Through November and December, the Sustainability Office will incorporate feedback into the draft Food Action Plan, and hopes to bring a draft to City Council for feedback in January 2026.
Commissioner Lammie asked if the data from the initial assessment is available to the public and what are the community demands. Steven shared the Food Systems Program webpage which included links to the full reports containing data from the project.
Vice Chair Metzger asked if the Commission would see the draft Food Action Plan before bringing it to Council. Steven replied that yes, the draft will be shared with the Commission based on the Commission’s schedule. The draft Food Action Plan will be available either through the Connect Flagstaff Platform or on the Food Systems Program webpage.
Vice Chair Metzger asked if the Sustainability Office was networking and interfacing with other agencies as the initial scope of the project included assessing all of Northern Arizona. Steve responded that during the assessment phase they engaged extensively throughout Northern Arizona and engaged all of the counties. In more recent times, the focus has been narrowed to primarily Flagstaff and Coconino County.
b.
Flagstaff Sustainability Grants: Update and Practice Scoring Exercise
Jenna Ortega, Climate Program Manager, and Kristen Konkel, Sustainability Commissioner
Jenna Ortega, Climate Program Manager, and Kristen Konkel, Sustainability Commissioner
Vice Chair Metzger requested a motion to table the agenda item to a future meeting. Commissioner Born made the motion to move agenda item 6B to the next Commission meeting. Commissioner Lammie seconded the motion. Motion carried.
c.
Sustainability Commission Ordinance Update
Jenna Ortega, Climate Program Manager
Discussion and vote
Jenna Ortega, Climate Program Manager
Discussion and vote
Jenna asked the Commission if they preferred to make further changes to the Ordinance recommendation draft created by the Commission's working group and approved by legal, or if they were ready to vote and approve the draft as-is.
Vice Chair Metzger inquired if there were any substantial changes abhorrent to any Commissioners. Commissioner Lammie responded that Chair Wolkowinsky might have concerns, but that she is not present at the meeting.
Commissioner Lammie made a motion to approve the Sustainability Commission Ordinance draft that has been reviewed by the legal team. Commissioner Scurlock seconded. All approved. Motion passed.
Vice Chair Metzger inquired if there were any substantial changes abhorrent to any Commissioners. Commissioner Lammie responded that Chair Wolkowinsky might have concerns, but that she is not present at the meeting.
Commissioner Lammie made a motion to approve the Sustainability Commission Ordinance draft that has been reviewed by the legal team. Commissioner Scurlock seconded. All approved. Motion passed.
d.
Sustainability Commission November and December Meeting Schedule
Mary Metzger, Sustainability Commission Vice Chair
Mary Metzger, Sustainability Commission Vice Chair
Vice Chair Metzger pointed out that the November meeting is on Thanksgiving Day and December is a busy time. She suggested the date of November 20th for a combined November-December meeting (which is historically what the Commission has done for those months), and also suggested lengthening the meeting time to three hours.
Commissioner Born asked if that is when the Commission will be grading the Flagstaff Sustainability Grant applications. Vice Chair Metzger added to the question to ask if the finalization of the grants will be at the November meeting or at a meeting in 2026. Mrs. Ortega responded that ideally the finalization of grants will be during the November Commission meeting.
Vice Chair Metzger requested the Commissioners review and evaluate their assigned grants.
Vice Chair Metzger made a motion to have a combined meeting for November and December on November 20th, 2025 that will last three hours. All approved the motion and the motion carried.
There will be no Commission meeting in December.
Commissioner Born asked if that is when the Commission will be grading the Flagstaff Sustainability Grant applications. Vice Chair Metzger added to the question to ask if the finalization of the grants will be at the November meeting or at a meeting in 2026. Mrs. Ortega responded that ideally the finalization of grants will be during the November Commission meeting.
Vice Chair Metzger requested the Commissioners review and evaluate their assigned grants.
Vice Chair Metzger made a motion to have a combined meeting for November and December on November 20th, 2025 that will last three hours. All approved the motion and the motion carried.
There will be no Commission meeting in December.
e.
Flagstaff Sustainability Office Monthly Update
Mrs. Pearthree presented the City Council working calendar. Coming up, the Sustainability Office will be presenting:
Vice Chair Metzger asked what forms of outreach there would be for the Wildlife Resilient Homes Initiative and Mrs. Ortega replied the Sustainability Office will present to City Council on the initiative on October 14th and standard outreach forms will be used, such as a press release. Additionally, the Sustainability Office will hold events in the most at-risk neighborhoods. Commissioner Born suggested an organization called F-Cubed might want to be involved with the hosted events.
Mrs. Ortega encourage the Commission to attend any of the upcoming Carbon Neutrality Plan Update Open Houses.
Mrs. Pearthree presented the August 2025 Monthly report. She briefly highlighted that the Flagstaff Sustainability Grants were accepting applications, a staff volunteer event, the Climate Resilience Project, the Equity Climate Advisory Group (ECAG), the Virtual Power Purchase Agreement, and that the Youth Climate VISTA job position has ended.
Commissioner Lammie inquired about the new staff liaison and Mrs. Ortega replied that the new liaison will start the following Monday, and she will be at the next Commission meeting.
- Micromobility Share: update and scope discussion
- Wildfire Resilient Homes Initiative: Program introduction (Mrs. Ortega provided a brief overview for the Commissioners)
- Energy Efficiency Rebates from APS.
Vice Chair Metzger asked what forms of outreach there would be for the Wildlife Resilient Homes Initiative and Mrs. Ortega replied the Sustainability Office will present to City Council on the initiative on October 14th and standard outreach forms will be used, such as a press release. Additionally, the Sustainability Office will hold events in the most at-risk neighborhoods. Commissioner Born suggested an organization called F-Cubed might want to be involved with the hosted events.
Mrs. Ortega encourage the Commission to attend any of the upcoming Carbon Neutrality Plan Update Open Houses.
Mrs. Pearthree presented the August 2025 Monthly report. She briefly highlighted that the Flagstaff Sustainability Grants were accepting applications, a staff volunteer event, the Climate Resilience Project, the Equity Climate Advisory Group (ECAG), the Virtual Power Purchase Agreement, and that the Youth Climate VISTA job position has ended.
Commissioner Lammie inquired about the new staff liaison and Mrs. Ortega replied that the new liaison will start the following Monday, and she will be at the next Commission meeting.
7.
TO AND FROM - ALL
No items declared for to and from.
8.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEM REQUESTS
- Commissioner Born requested an update on the Regional Plan.
- Vice Chair Metzger requested an agenda item for the introduction of the new Sustainability Office liaison.
- Flagstaff Sustainability Grants: Update and Practice Scoring Exercise
9.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Born motioned to adjourn the meeting which Commissioner Scurlock seconded. All agreed and the meeting was adjourned at 5:19 P.M.