NOTICE AND AGENDA
| COMMISSION ON DIVERSITY AWARENESS WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 17, 2025 |
VIRTUAL TEAMS MEETING 211 WEST ASPEN AVENUE 1:30 P.M. |
To participate in the meeting virtually use the following link:
Join the Meeting Online
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 1:46 PM.
2.
Roll Call
| NOTE: One or more Commission Members may be in attendance telephonically or by other technological means. |
| MANNY HERNANDEZ, CHAIR SANDRA DARLING, VICE CHAIR CARMENLITA CHIEF |
SILINA MARTINEZ JUSTIN MALLETT ANGELICA SANCHEZ |
| Present | Absent |
| Sandra Darling, Vice Chair Carmenlita Chief Silina Martinez Angelica Sanchez |
Manny Hernandez, Chair Justin Mallett |
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.
Commissioner Chief read the mission statement and Commissioner Sanchez read the land scknowledgement.
4.
Upcoming Opportunities and Announcements
Mr. Sheldon Yazzie, a member of the public, shared that there is an event called "Voices Unheard" that will benefit domestic violence and missing and murdered indigenous relatives. It will take place Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights at Coconino Center for the Arts.
Commissioner Darling shared that CATS will be having its Pop-up care village this Sunday from 11:00 - 2:00 pm at Bushmaster Park.
Commissioner Darling shared that CATS will be having its Pop-up care village this Sunday from 11:00 - 2:00 pm at Bushmaster Park.
5.
Open Call to the Public
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.
Mr. Sheldon Yazzie, a member of the public, joined and shared that he is interested in the commission but cannot join it because he lives outside of the city. He expressed that he wants to support the comission any way he can.
6.
Approval of Minutes
I.
Approval of Minutes: 9/24/2025 CODA meeting
Commissioner Sanchez noted that "Approval" is mispelled and moved to approve the minutes with that edit. Commissioner Martinez seconded. The minutes were approved on a voice vote.
7.
Action Items
A.
Discussion and possible vote on Public Participation Rules
Mr. Rhode shared that without establishing standards on how long members of the public can speak at CODA meetings, it is the discretion of the chairperson who has to make a judgement call in the moment. Commissioners Sanchez, Chief, and Martinez all supported establishing a standard for this that can be applied.
Commissioner Sanchez supported setting it at 3 minutes. Commissioner Chief said that 3 minutes can seem short at City council sometimes and recommended 4 minutes. She also pointed out that the agenda states that the current limit is 5 minutes. Vice Chair Darling also supported 4 minutes.
Vice Chair Darling moved to limit open call to the public to 4 minutes. Commissioner Sanchez seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote.
Commissioner Sanchez supported setting it at 3 minutes. Commissioner Chief said that 3 minutes can seem short at City council sometimes and recommended 4 minutes. She also pointed out that the agenda states that the current limit is 5 minutes. Vice Chair Darling also supported 4 minutes.
Vice Chair Darling moved to limit open call to the public to 4 minutes. Commissioner Sanchez seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote.
B.
Proclamations
There were no proclamations for consideration this month. Mr. Rhode noted that the next proclamation will be for MLK Day and will come to the commission in December.
8.
Reports/Discussion Items
A.
Discussion on upcoming MLK Day Celebrations
Mr. Rhode shared that this item is on the agenda at Commissioner Mallett's request as he works with the NAU Office of Inclusion and is directly involved with this event. Since he was not present at this meeting, and since there will not be a CODA meeting in November, Mr. Rhode suggested that the commission have a conversation on how they can and would like to be involved and then deputize him to discuss it with Commissioner Mallett. The commission expressed a general desire to help with the event and deferred to Mr. Rhode to coordinate the details.
B.
Updates from Working Groups
Commissioner Sanchez shared the bilingual storytime is up and running and that she is still looking to expand it to the Navajo language. She also shared that she may have found an organization that will want to conduct drag story hour programming and that they have finished the paperwork for the LGBTQ+ oral history project and are ready to operationalize it. Commissioner Sanchez asked if there have to be at least two CODA members for a working group. Mr. Rhode looked up the answer and determined that the only requirement is that it must be few enough members to not constitute a quorum.
Sheldon Yazzie volunteered to help with readings in Navajo at the library.
Vice Chair Darling gave an update that the Rainbow Crosswalk Happy Hour will be at the beginning of 2026. She also shared that the group is becoming more organized and is hoping to table at First Friday and engage with MetroPlan as well. Vice Chair Darling asked how the working group could identify itself in public communications. Mr. Rhode advised that they should avoid using any official City branding and should avoid conveying anything they are doing as being endorsed by the City organization.
Commissioner Chief asked how she can learn more and get involved with the working groups. Vice Chair Darling shared that topics can be seen in the parking lot and encouraged Commissioner Chief to bring about any topics she is interested in. Mr. Rhode added a bit of background on how working groups work both as groups that are active and do regular work, but also lack any formal organization.
Sheldon Yazzie volunteered to help with readings in Navajo at the library.
Vice Chair Darling gave an update that the Rainbow Crosswalk Happy Hour will be at the beginning of 2026. She also shared that the group is becoming more organized and is hoping to table at First Friday and engage with MetroPlan as well. Vice Chair Darling asked how the working group could identify itself in public communications. Mr. Rhode advised that they should avoid using any official City branding and should avoid conveying anything they are doing as being endorsed by the City organization.
Commissioner Chief asked how she can learn more and get involved with the working groups. Vice Chair Darling shared that topics can be seen in the parking lot and encouraged Commissioner Chief to bring about any topics she is interested in. Mr. Rhode added a bit of background on how working groups work both as groups that are active and do regular work, but also lack any formal organization.
C.
Updates from Council Liaison
There was no update from the Council Liaison.
D.
Updates from Staff Liaison
Mr. Rhode shared that this is likely his last meeting as the Staff Liaison for the commission and will be working to facilitate a smooth transition after his departure.
9.
Agenda for Future Meeting(s)
Mr. Rhode went over a few items that the commission is hoping to agendize in December. this included a discussion on immigration Actions in Flagstaff, an update on the City's Municipal Equality Index Scorecard, and a discussion on possible funding sourced for CODA projects. He also reminded the commission that they will not be meeting in November and hope to be in person in December.
Vice-Chair Darling asked what the deadline is for adding future items. Mr. Rhode said that a few weeks is recommended so that there is enough time to put it on the agenda and take care of all preparation for the item.
Vice-Chair Darling asked what the deadline is for adding future items. Mr. Rhode said that a few weeks is recommended so that there is enough time to put it on the agenda and take care of all preparation for the item.
10.
Adjourment
The commission was adjourned at 1:37 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 |