to approve the minutes of the City Council Special Meeting of August 22, 2022, Regular Meeting of March 3, 2026, Special Meeting (Executive Session) of March 10, 2026, City Council Work Session of March 10, 2026.

Colleen Maring from Northern Arizona Health Care addressed Council and that a new ION surgical robot will soon be available at FMC, enhancing early lung cancer diagnostics. She also invited Council the public to a demonstration event on April 23rd.

Waste Prevention Specialist Cheresa Taing addressed Council to announce Flagstaff’s recognition as Circular Arizona’s Municipality of the Year and outlined upcoming community waste diversion events, including Spring Drop-off Day and a fix-it clinic.

Mayor Daggett read and presented the proclamation.

Council Member House highlighted community engagement, including the America 250 traveling museum, a local theater production, and recognition in a regional exhibit honoring impactful women.

Vice Mayor Sweet reported on Mountain Line’s cost-saving pilot to rebuild buses, a Route 66 Centennial proclamation at Metro Plan, and upcoming events like Ride Your Bike Week and a Beautification and Public Art Commission meeting.

Councilmember Aslan shared updates from the Tourism Commission, which included a discussion of the impact of gas prices, the America 250 traveling museum, along with reports and analytics. He also shared information about the sustainability grants showcase, and a Coconino Plateau Water User Advisory Committee meeting focused on the Verde River, along with an upcoming groundwater workshop.

Councilmember Garcia discussed Parks and Recreation improvements made possible by a dry winter, including upgrades to ballfields and facilities, and welcomed the new Library Director.

Councilmember Matthews noted a successful Audit Committee meeting, with a strong financial report to be discussed further on the agenda.

Mayor Daggett reported that the Commission on Inclusion and Adaptive Living met for a two-hour facilitated session, which was wonderful to get the commission back into the swing of accomplishing their goals.

Mayor Daggett opened the public hearing on all applications.

Chief of Staff Jessica Matias introduced the applications and indicated that the Police Department and Planning and Development Services had provided their respective findings.

There being no public comment Mayor Daggett closed the public hearing.

to forward the application to the State with a recommendation for approval.

to forward the application to the State with a recommendation for approval.

to forward the application to the State with a recommendation for approval.

to forward the application to the State with a recommendation for approval.

Mayor Daggett pulled Item 9B for public comment.

to approve the Consent Agenda as presented with the exception of Item 9B.

Ace Overmann addressed Council in support of the letter of opposition.

to retroactively approve the letter of opposition to HB4030/ HCR2052.

to adopt Resolution No. 2026-14.

to read Ordinance No. 2026-08 by title only for the final time.

to adopt Ordinance No. 2026-08.

to read Ordinance No. 2026-06 by title only for the final time.

to adopt Ordinance No. 2026-06.

Public Affairs Director Sarah Langley reviewed the materials for the upcoming Washington DC lobbying trip.

to approve the materials for the Washington DC Lobbying Trip, including the information presented by the City Attorney.

Mayor Daggett opened the public hearing.

Zoning Code Manager Tiffany Antol requested an extension on the item to May 5, 2026.

The following individuals spoke in opposition to data centers:

• River Ramuglia
• Hailee Jaramillo

• Oppose the construction of additional data centers in Flagstaff.
• Consider long-term ethical and societal impacts.
• Consider the value of human life, community needs, and future consequences.
• Concerned about tech industry practices, including alleged harm, exploitation, and lack of transparency about data center uses.
• Warned about environmental impacts such as resource consumption and electronic waste.
• Data centers should be prohibited in Flagstaff.
• Council must fully consider the implications before deciding.
• Additional community input in zoning decisions related to data centers is needed.
• Data centers have significant impacts, including high water use, energy demand, and noise.
• Sustainability is vital, particularly regarding water conservation.
• Require a rezoning process that ensures community involvement in decision-making.

City Manager Keene stated that In March, staff presented a zoning code text amendment on data centers to the Planning and Zoning commission for discussion and recommendation. This amendment is intended to help protect the community by addressing potential negative impacts, including effects on water use, energy demand, and other critical resources. At the April 21 Council Meeting, staff will provide a comprehensive presentation on data centers to answer questions raised on the topic.

to continue the Public Hearing to May 5, 2026.

Mayor Daggett opened the public hearing.

Current Planning Manager Alaxandra Pucciarelli provided a PowerPoint presentation that covered the following:

MILL TOWN DIRECT TO ORDINANCE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT
REQUEST OVERVIEW
VICINITY MAP
PROPOSAL
PROPOSED CHANGES
RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT
COMMERCIAL COMPONENT
PROPOSED UNIT MIX
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS
SITE PLAN REVIEW
FLOOR PLAN – RESIDENTIAL
ELEVATIONS – RESIDENTIAL
FLOOR PLANS – COMMERCIAL
ELEVATIONS – COMMERCIAL
PARKING
PUBLIC SYSTEMS IMPACT ANALYSIS
FINDINGS
FINDING #1: CONFORMANCE WITH THE GENERAL PLAN
FINDING #2: COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND PUBLIC GOOD
FINDING #3: SITE IS PHYSICALLY SUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AMENDMENT
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
RECOMMENDATION

Vice Mayor Sweet asked what horizontal mixed-use development means. Ms. Pucciarelli explained the difference between vertical and horizontal mixed-use development. Vertical mixed-use places different uses within the same building, such as commercial space on the ground floor with residential units above, while horizontal mixed-use separates those uses across a site, for example, commercial buildings facing the street with residential units located behind them.

Vice Mayor Sweet also asked about the removal of screening at pad three. Earlier plans had included a screen wall along the corner of University and Milton to conceal a loading dock area. However, this feature was not shown in the most recent drawings. Ms. Pucciarelli noted that city code likely requires this type of screening, and it is expected that it will be addressed and included during the site plan review process.

Lindsay Schube with the law firm Gammage and Burnham, on behalf of the developer, provided a PowerPoint presentation that covered the following:

MILLTOWN MIXED USE
DEVELOPMENT TEAM
ABOUT VINTAGE PARTNERS
MILLTOWN HISTORY
LOCATION & CONTEXT
PROJECT PROPOSAL
REQUEST
REQUIRED FINDINGS
FINDING #1: CONFORMANCE WITH THE GENERAL PLAN
FINDING #2: ALIGNS WITH THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND FURTHERS THE PUBLIC GOOD
FINDING #3: SITE IS PHYSICALLY SUITABLE FOR THE REGIONAL PLAN
10-YEAR HOUSING PLAN
SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES OF MILLTOWN
PROJECT SUMMARY
CONCLUSION

Councilmember Garcia noted that earlier versions relied on 2018-era plans and that current revisions appear to align with past Council direction to reduce parking, limit student-focused housing, expand multifamily and workforce housing, and improve mobility and neighborhood integration. He asked about constraints related to three-bedroom units and whether the project could further align with earlier affordable housing expectations. Ms. Schube explained that they heard from the community that the preferences were for the one- and two-bedroom units. However, there is flexibility to add additional one-, two-, and three-bedroom units as long as they do not add any more four- and five-bedroom units.

Councilmember House asked if there were tenants in mind for the commercial space. Ms. Schube stated that while specific tenants could not be disclosed, there are signed letters of intent for two commercial users: a specialty grocery store and a restaurant offering both dine-in and drive-through service.

Councilmember Matthews expressed appreciation for the project’s responsiveness over time and highlighted its broader contributions, including past infrastructure improvements such as the ADOT underpass, as well as its role in advancing affordable housing in the community. She noted that shifting away from larger student-oriented units may better support young professionals while still contributing to workforce and affordable housing goals and emphasized the need for a balanced housing mix beyond just deeply affordable units.

Vice Mayor Sweet also offered support, noting that the current proposal reflects many previously articulated priorities, including affordability, reduced vehicle reliance, multimodal design, neighborhood scale, and housing diversity.

Mayor Daggett asked about the length of the affordable housing commitment, given that similar developments often use 30-year affordability terms. Ms. Schube explained that the agreement establishes a 10-year affordability period with a formal commitment to revisit and potentially extend it for another 10 years, depending on conditions and ongoing collaboration with the city.

There being no further comment, Mayor Daggett closed the public hearing.

 

to read Ordinance No. 2026-07 by title only for the first time.

Housing Planner Sullivan Moore provided a PowerPoint presentation that covered the following:

RENTAL INCENTIVE BOND PROGRAM AWARD
STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
APPLICATION RECEIVED

Councilmember Matthews expressed appreciation that the project will deliver 168 affordable housing units, noting that this is a strong outcome compared to past projects that have produced fewer units and represents effective leveraging of funding.

Mayor Daggett asked for clarification on the composition of the scoring committee. Mr. Moore stated that it included city staff, members of the Housing Commission, and members of the public.

to approve a $1,650,000 Rental Incentive Bond Program award related to 168 affordable rental units at Lone Tree Ranch.

City Manager Keene and Deputy City Attorney Kevin Fincel provided a PowerPoint presentation that covered the following:

PROTOCOLS FOR INTERACTIONS WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES
BACKGROUND ON MARCH 3 DISCUSSION
PARTNER ENTITY USE OF CITY PROPERTY
ORDINANCE PURPOSE
GUIDANCE AND PROCEDURES FOR PARTNER ENTITY REQUESTS
SIGNAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR CITY PARKS AND FACILITIES
APPLICABILITY

Councilmember Garcia asked for clarification on the intent behind the language, specifically the standard used by the City Manager when reviewing requests. Mr. Fincel explained that the policy was intentionally written broadly so the City Manager has discretion to evaluate requests based on overall city interests, including safety, potential community disruption, and operational considerations. He noted that adding too much specificity could unintentionally limit that discretion and reduce flexibility in responding to varied or urgent requests.

Councilmember Garcia raised concerns that some public comments suggested the policy should explicitly reference certain agencies or terms, such as immigration enforcement. However, they expressed support for the broader approach, noting it avoids focusing on any single agency and instead establishes a consistent process that applies fairly across all users of city property. Mr. Fincel provided context that the policy was developed in response to real operational needs, including emergency coordination requests such as law enforcement staging after critical incidents and FEMA requests for use of city spaces during wildfire response. These examples helped illustrate why a flexible, City Manager–level approval process was needed for timely decisions.

Ms. Keene further explained that the proposal was developed collaboratively over several months, with involvement from Councilmembers, the City Attorney’s office, and staff across divisions. She emphasized that Council had been engaged throughout the process through conversations, community meetings, and related policy updates, including revisions to the city’s immigration-related directive. She also clarified the governance structure, noting that under the council-manager system, the City Manager is accountable to the full Council and acts in their collective direction. A directive provides more flexibility than an ordinance because it can be adjusted more quickly without requiring a formal amendment process.

Councilmember Spence indicated his preference for the directive approach over an ordinance, describing it as more functional and adaptable. He expressed support for staff’s responsiveness to Council priorities and noted that the approach allows the city to remain flexible in managing diverse facility-use requests.

Mayor Daggett asked how the policy would apply to public-facing city spaces used for demonstrations and rallies. Mr. Fincel clarified that designated public gathering areas, such as those used for protests or free speech activities, would remain available for public use and would not be restricted under the policy. Signage or designation of property use would be carefully considered to avoid confusion, and the City Manager would have discretion in determining how and whether signage is applied.

The following individuals spoke about the directive and proposed ordinance:

• Eva Putzova
• Ace Overmann
• Susanna Holm
• Maile Adler
• Charlie Silver
• Kim Curtis
• Maria DeLosAngles Castillo Rincon
• Ollie Thomas

• The proposed ordinance and City Manager directive are insufficient, duplicating existing policy and lacking clear, enforceable standards.
• Stronger, more explicit policies are needed.
• Clearly define prohibited uses of city property and require a signed judicial warrant for any civil immigration enforcement activity.
• Recommend adopting a stricter approach similar to Pima County, explicitly banning the use of city property for immigration enforcement staging or operations without a warrant.
• Concerned that relying on a City Manager directive, rather than an ordinance, reduces transparency, accountability, and public oversight, and may conflict with the city charter by over-delegating authority.
• Support converting the directive into a formal ordinance with clearer limitations and stronger protections.
• There are ongoing and longstanding community concerns about immigration enforcement impacts in Flagstaff, with repeated calls for stronger protections that have not been implemented.
• Current policies are inadequate to protect immigrant and mixed-status families from harm.
• Concerned about ICE activity, racial profiling, family separation, and broader negative impacts on community members, including U.S. citizens in immigrant families.
• Fear of federal or state retaliation and litigation should not prevent action.
• Legal risks are manageable and are outweighed by a moral obligation to protect residents.
• What is needed is more direct, decisive action to safeguard immigrant communities rather than relying on existing constraints or incremental changes.

Ms. Keene again emphasized that she operates under the direction of the elected council and is accountable to them. Based on guidance from the city attorney, she expressed ongoing concern about potential 1487 complaints and the strain they could place on city resources. For that reason, she recommended not adopting a new ordinance, but instead amending the existing City Manager directive to incorporate clearer language.

Police Chief Connolly described the city’s broader approach to immigration policy as collaborative, and values driven. Early in the process, he engaged extensively with community members to discuss expectations around lawfulness, peaceful conduct, and the protection of human and civil rights. He underscored his commitment to staying informed, investigating any reported enforcement activity, and using established channels to respond appropriately. He believed that the directive reflects a balance between community values and the legal constraints imposed by state law. In terms of implementation, he noted that expectations around the directive were communicated directly and personally to the Flagstaff Police Department, including through in-person briefings where he outlined standards for professionalism, communication, and conduct. He expressed pride in the department’s track record and emphasized his ongoing role in communicating with the public, even when dealing with issues outside the city’s direct control, such as federal immigration enforcement.

Mayor Daggett stressed the importance of weighing legal and financial risks, particularly the possibility of 1487 complaints and the loss of funding, against other policy goals. They emphasized that taxpayer dollars support essential community services, such as housing, education, and nonprofit programs, and that these real-world impacts must be considered alongside legal strategy. Ultimately, they framed the decision as a complex balancing of multiple factors, rather than a single concern driving the outcome.

to read Ordinance No. 2026-09 by title only for the first time with the amendment to add: Section: 8-01-001-0005 PROHIBITED USES: Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, using City property as a staging area, processing location, or operations base for civil immigration enforcement actions without a judicial warrant.

to read Ordinance No. 2026-09 by title only for the first time.

Councilmember House explained that she voted against the proposed amendment to the ordinance because she viewed it as the riskiest option under consideration, particularly in terms of potential legal and financial consequences. She asked if this motion would allow for future incorporation of the proposed language into the City Manager directive instead of the ordinance. Her main concern was ensuring that the conversation about strengthening the directive would remain open, rather than being closed off by the current vote.

City Attorney Solomon clarified that the motion on the floor was limited to the ordinance as presented in the agenda packet. Any discussion or changes to the directive would need to occur separately after the vote, meaning desired amendments could still be considered, but not as part of the current motion.

Councilmember Aslan stated that he wanted to strengthen the directive by adding explicit language that would prohibit the use of city property for civil immigration enforcement activities, such as staging, processing, or operations, without a judicial warrant. He noted that this language had already been shared both verbally and in writing and suggested that additional related amendments might also be needed.

Mr. Solomon stated that adding such language could raise legal questions and would require an executive session.

to recess into Executive Session for legal advice.

The Council recessed into Executive Session from 6:27 p.m. through 6:53 p.m.

Ms. Keene requested formal direction from Council to amend the City Manager’s directive by adding new language related to signage requirements and adding a separate provision addressing TSA and federally mandated operations at Flagstaff Pulliam Airport.

Council provided direction to proceed. Ms. Keene then confirmed that she would make the changes immediately, finalize the revised directive, and post it publicly on the city’s website.

The following comments were received:

to approve the updated Council Rules of Procedure with the amendments discussed.

The following individuals spoke in support of the petition:

• Rick Michels
• Michele James
• Brianna Acosta
• Kayvon Khosrowpour
• Crystal Diaz
• Ace Overmann

• Support for prohibiting housing discrimination based on source of income, including protections for residents using Section 8 vouchers, Social Security income, disability benefits, veterans’ benefits, child support, and other public or nonprofit assistance.
• Concern that landlords in Flagstaff may refuse to accept Section 8 vouchers or other housing assistance, limiting where recipients can rent even when they qualify for aid.
• Section 8 voucher waitlists in Flagstaff are approximately two to four years, contributing to significant unmet housing demand.
• Approximately 30% or about 178 annually of housing vouchers expire unused due to difficulty finding landlords who accept them.
• Source-of-income discrimination reduces voucher utilization and forces recipients back onto long waitlists.
• Source-of-income discrimination is not currently prohibited under federal or Arizona state law, leaving residents without formal protection.
• The 10 Year Housing Plan identifies exploration of expanded fair housing protections, including source of income.
• The city’s civil rights ordinance currently covers employment and public accommodations but does not include housing protections for source of income.
• Expanding protections could reduce housing instability and improve access to rental housing for low-income residents.
• HUD research shows jurisdictions with source-of-income protections achieve nearly 100% voucher utilization.
• Cities such as Phoenix, Tempe, and Tucson have adopted similar ordinances since 2023 without legal challenges.
• Arizona Attorney General guidance has indicated cities may legally amend civil rights ordinances to include source-of-income protection.
• Housing discrimination based on income source limits access to housing regardless of a tenant’s reliability or ability to pay rent.
• Lack of protections contributes to reduced community diversity and economic segregation.
• Expanding protections would improve housing stability and access to neighborhoods near jobs, schools, and services.

There was requisite Council support to advance the petition to a future agenda for discussion.

  

None

Councilmember Matthews shared that she participated in several events including a Purina facility tour, ongoing work with the Healing Center steering committee, the America 250 bus tour, and a local blood donation drive, and noted an upcoming trip to Washington, D.C. involving city leadership.

Ms. Keene announced a temporary facility lockdown due to a police investigation of an incident in a nearby park, asking everyone to remain in the building until the situation was resolved and further notice was given.

Vice Mayor Sweet shared that she was able to ring the bell at the America 250 bus tour and promoted an upcoming “dedicate a stud” Habitat for Humanity fundraiser at Timber Sky starter homes. She thanked the City Manager’s Office for sponsoring the food for the event. It's a great celebration, and she is excited to see the homeowners moved in.

Councilmember House reported that she will be presenting to the CJCC Executive Board on the Recovery Ready Community resolution.

The Regular Meeting of the Flagstaff City Council held April 7, 2026, adjourned at 7:42: p.m.