Others Present: City Manager Greg Clifton; Senior Assistant Attorney Christina Rubalcava

Mayor Evans announced that the agenda would be reordered and that the proclamations would take place at the end of the meeting. 

Economic Vitality Director Heidi Hansen announced to Mayor and Council that the Lunar Legacy campaign was awarded three tourism awards. The three awards were the Arizona Governor’s Tourism Award for Outstanding Tourism in Rural Communities; DNA Best Idea Award; and the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association award.
 
Councilmember Salas stated that she was able to join the Arizona Governor’s Tourism Conference and was honored to be there. She asked about the “I Heart Pluto” event that would be held at Lowell Observatory. Lowell Observatory's Public Information Officer Kevin Schindler stated they would celebrate the founding of Pluto at the event.
 
Vice Mayor Shimoni added his congratulations to the team.

Postponed to the March 3, 2020 meeting. 

Communications Manager Jessica Drum introduced President of CrisCom Company Chuck Jelloian and CrisCom Company President of Public Affairs Carole Sarian who explained their company’s Leader for America Award. Mayor Evans called the winner of the award, Billy Weldon, forward to join Council at the dais. Mayor Evans stated that she nominated Mr. Weldon for the award and read parts of her nomination letter. Mr. Weldon, a long-time community member and a veteran, was nominated for his work with veterans in Flagstaff and the State of Arizona. Mr. Jelloian and Ms. Sarian presented Mr. Weldon with the award. 

Mayor Evans opened the public hearing.

Sergeant Collin Seay briefly reviewed the application and noted no concerns.

Councilmember McCarthy asked if the old location license would become inactive if the new one was approved. Sergeant Seay stated that the license was not transferable, so the new license would replace the existing.

There being no public comment, Mayor Evans closed the public hearing.

Moved by Councilmember Jim McCarthy, seconded by Councilmember Charlie Odegaard to forward the application to the State with a recommendation for approval.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Councilmember McCarthy asked to pull Item 7A and Councilmember Whelan asked to pull Item 7C. Mayor Evans postponed Items 7A and 7C to the 6:00 p.m. portion of the meeting.

Moved by Councilmember Jim McCarthy, seconded by Councilmember Jamie Whelan to approve Consent Items as submitted with the exception of items 7A and 7C.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Councilmember McCarthy stated that he pulled the item to define who the on-call magistrates were and have them on record. Court Administrator Jessica Cortes stated that the three on-call magistrates were Hector Figueroa, Russell Hughes, and Lewis Levin.

Moved by Councilmember Jim McCarthy, seconded by Councilmember Jamie Whelan to approve the appointments of On-Call Magistrates.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Councilmember Whelan stated that the Stormwater Section was being moved into the Water Services Division and one of the pieces in the move was shared equipment. She stated that Water Services had two trucks whereas Stormwater had one that was fifteen years old. She asked if three trucks within one department was an absolute need. Operations Section Director Mark Richardson stated there was no crossover between the Water and Stormwater trucks due to sanitation needs. He added that the three trucks would be separate and would not work continuously. Councilmember Whelan said she did not know about the contamination piece and thanked Mr. Richardson for his insight.

Moved by Councilmember Jamie Whelan, seconded by Vice Mayor Adam Shimoni to approve the purchase of a 900-ECO 12 Yard Truck Mounted Combination Sewer Cleaner through the Sourcewell cooperative purchase contract, from Sewer Equipment of America and its Arizona distributor Arizona Wastewater Industries in the amount of $408,979.07 plus any additional fees or taxes.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Moved by Councilmember Charlie Odegaard, seconded by Vice Mayor Adam Shimoni to read Ordinance No. 2020-01 by title for the final time.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Moved by Councilmember Charlie Odegaard, seconded by Vice Mayor Adam Shimoni to adopt Ordinance No. 2020-01.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Others Present: City Manager Greg Clifton; Senior Assistant Attorney Christina Rubalcava

    The Council and audience recited the pledge of allegiance.

John Viktora addressed Mayor and Council regarding Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. He spoke about a transcript of a KNAU broadcast called M2.
 
Anthony Garcia addressed Mayor and Council regarding the climate emergency. He urged Mayor and Council to act on the climate emergency.

Council discussed and took action on Items 7A and 7C.

Mayor Evans recognized that there was a Boy Scout, Max Marks, in the audience and Councilmember McCarthy stated that he spoke to him and that he was one badge away from becoming an Eagle Scout. 

Police Communications Manager Katie Brandis addressed Council and stated that the IGA's would allow the City of Flagstaff to submit and pay the Text to 911 operating bills for the Coconino County Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP's) and be reimbursed by the Arizona Department of Administration Office of Grants and Federal Resources State 911 Office through the Text to 911 Grant in the amount of $56,700.00.

Moved by Councilmember Regina Salas, seconded by Councilmember Charlie Odegaard Odegaard to read Resolution No. 2020-02 by title only.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Moved by Councilmember Regina Salas, seconded by Councilmember Charlie Odegaard to adopt Resolution No. 2020-02.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Real Estate Specialist Carmen Pryer addressed Council and was available for questions.

Moved by Councilmember Jamie Whelan, seconded by Councilmember Jim McCarthy to read Ordinance No. 2020-03 by title only for the first time.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Management Analyst Sarah Langley presented the Federal Legislative Priority amendments.

Councilmember Whelan stated that she had asked for Gun Sense to be added and had requested support from the rest of Council to place the issue on both the Federal and State legislative priorities rather than just the State priorities.

Mayor Evans inquired about the Regional Plan language and expressed concern that it was limiting. She stated she would like to remove “and the voter-approved Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030.” The rest of Council expressed their support for the edit.

Councilmember Salas mentioned she would like to see “and funding” added to the veterans' priority. A majority of Council expressed their support for the edit.

Marisa Scionti addressed Council regarding gun violence prevention. She stated that she was the leader of Moms Demand Action (MDA) in Flagstaff and added that Coconino County had an above-average rate of gun deaths.

Councilmember Whelan asked if there were specific areas of focus for gun sense laws. Ms. Shante stated that they included closing loopholes in background checks, advocating for gun safety, and disarming domestic abusers.

Councilmember McCarthy expressed support for adding the language to the Federal priorities.

Councilmember Aslan asked if MDA was against gun ownership or just gun violence. Ms. Shante clarified that they were only against gun violence.

Councilmember Whelan requested the addition of the topic "gun violence” to both the state and the federal priorities in the Gun Sense priority. 

The majority of Council agreed to the addition of gun violence to the priority.

Management Analyst Jack Fitchett then presented the State Legislative Priority amendments.

Mayor Evans requested that Council consider an education priority for the state priorities. She asked staff to propose language to present to Council.

Councilmember Salas pointed out that under planning and growth, the priorities spoke to community colleges and universities and to advocate for state funding and legislation that supports colleges and universities. She suggested that Council expand that point to advocate for state funding supporting early childhood development. Mr. Fitchett updated the state priority to reflect this update.

Mayor Evans suggested tabling the item to later in the meeting so Mr. Fitchett could update the state priorities.

Following agenda Item 15A, Ms. Langley and Mr. Fitchett returned and continued the discussion.

Mr. Fitchett presented the requested amendments. Councilmember Salas requested to include “and training” after cradle to career education.

Moved by Councilmember Regina Salas, seconded by Councilmember Jamie Whelan to approve the Federal and State Legislative Priorities.

Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously

Public Works Streets Director Scott Overton addressed Council regarding the sidewalk code. He stated that staff had revisited the work group after direction from the two previous Work Sessions.

Councilmember McCarthy inquired about the criteria for determining when a sidewalk was in poor enough condition to warrant replacement. Mr. Overton explained that there were guidelines in place for sidewalk replacement and that the ordinance would grant the city the authority to carry out replacements based on established regulations and policies.

Councilmember Whelan inquired whether the ordinance could include provisions for using different materials. Mr. Overton clarified that while staff believed the same materials should be used for sidewalk repair, new sidewalks could incorporate emerging technologies.

Councilmember Odegaard asked about the identity of the designated director mentioned in the ordinance. Mr. Overton clarified that it referred to either himself or his appointed representative within the Public Works team.

Moved by Councilmember Jamie Whelan, seconded by Councilmember Jim McCarthy to read Ordinance No. 2020-02 by title for the first time.

Vote: 6 - 1

NAY:

Councilmember Charlie Odegaard

Deputy City Manager Shannon Anderson presented the potential ballot measures for the November 2020 General Election to Mayor and Council.

Councilmember Whelan stated that the timeline had been too short. She remarked that there had been a lack of clarity on how the City and County could collaborate on the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project (FWPP). Additionally, she expressed concerns about the pace of progress with the Housing Commission, noting that they had only met twice, and she feared they might feel rushed.

Housing Director Sarah Darr informed the Council that the Housing Commission had discussed the bond and the timeline at their last meeting. She mentioned that there had been a unanimous decision to explore the possibilities of a bond proposition. Ms. Darr explained that the Commission was comfortable with moving forward with the recommendation at the last meeting and that they would convene again later that week. She added that if they were not prepared at the next meeting, they would refrain from moving forward with the recommendation.

Councilmember Whelan emphasized that the Housing Commission's input on the ballot issue would be valuable. She also expressed concerns about the preparation for public outreach on each ballot issue, feeling that there was not enough time for promotion.

Councilmember Aslan emphasized that continued funding for FWPP should be a high priority for the Council. However, he admitted to not fully understanding the context of the question presented. He inquired whether it needed to be addressed in the next election and whether multiple items could be requested on the ballot. He expressed reluctance to see another Housing Bond fail and suggested consulting with experts to gauge the likelihood of the bond passing.

Management Services Director Rick Tadder explained that FWPP was committed to the contracts with the Forest Service. With projects in the pipeline, they expected to have the $10 million bond already spent by December 2020. He added that afterward, a new funding source would be necessary.

Open Space Specialist Robert Wallace reported that the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space joint commission had been meeting regularly to discuss priorities for both Open Space and Parks and Recreation. He highlighted that the city had 3,100 acres of open space with an annual budget slightly over $32,500, translating to approximately $10.50 per acre. Mr. Wallace noted that the industry standard ranged from $100 to $250 per acre, leaving the City of Flagstaff far behind most leading communities.

Councilmember McCarthy expressed concern about having too many ballot measures. He questioned whether it was the Council's responsibility to determine ballot content or if it was the public's role. He suggested conducting a public survey through a consultant.

Vice Mayor Shimoni asked Mr. Tadder to elaborate on the sunsetting bonds. Mr. Tadder explained that several bonds were sunsetting, and the City could issue up to $60 million in secondary property tax debt or general obligation bond debt while maintaining the same rate promised to voters.

Vice Mayor Shimoni expressed support for the goals of Parks and Recreation and Open Space. He recommended that the Housing Commission break down their proposals into smaller, clearer components for public understanding. He advocated for FWPP funding on the ballot and suggested engaging a consultant for concise public outreach, considering the limited time for educational efforts. He also expressed interest in Mountain Line's ballot proposals.

Councilmember Odegaard asked who paid for bond measures. Mr. Tadder clarified that the money came from property taxes. Odegaard asked if any entities were exempt from property tax. Mr. Tadder mentioned that government agencies and similar entities were exempt. Councilmember Odegaard stated that he wanted to hear from the Housing Commission regarding the housing proposition before making a decision. He expressed hesitation in addressing the unfunded pension liability and opposition to moving forward with the FWPP bond measure without community discussion. He supported hiring a consultant.

Councilmember Salas believed that the staff was on track and looked forward to exploring FWPP funding options and receiving recommendations from the commissions. She expressed concerns about expenditures when dealing with consultants.

Mayor Evans emphasized the importance of consulting the public and assessing needs. She questioned how many acres of open space were needed per individual and the associated costs. She stressed that housing was a necessity while open space was a desire. She doubted the wisdom of utilizing secondary property tax, considering the importance of the FWPP project. She also supported the use of a consultant.

Councilmember Whelan addressed Mountain Line and their direction. She believed that the staff was on track and wanted to hear more about Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission. She requested more information on FWPP and the County's assistance with Mormon Mountain. Public Works Director Andy Berterlsen discussed watershed treatment studies. Councilmember Whelan asked if there would be a discussion regarding the studies, to which Mr. Berterlsen responded that there would likely not be conflicting information. Councilmember Whelan expressed interest in polling conducted by a consultant but deemed it a considerable expense and was not yet prepared to discuss specific election strategies beyond polling.

Councilmember McCarthy believed that the staff was on the right track but felt that more information was necessary regarding FWPP. He proposed leveraging funds from other sources and initiating the consultant selection process.

Councilmember Aslan noted the ongoing nature of the FWPP issue due to the regrowth of trees, which would necessitate ongoing thinning efforts. 

Mr. Clifton stated that ballot measures were ultimately the Council's decision. He emphasized the need for careful consideration given a crowded ballot and suggested that a consultant could advise the Council on this matter. He encouraged flexibility in decision-making and indicated that a good consultant could offer insight into what would be suitable for the November ballot and what could be postponed to a later election.

Councilmember Odegaard reiterated the importance of FWPP but believed that a ballot measure was not the appropriate funding avenue.

Councilmember Salas acknowledged that Mayor Evans was the new Chair and Councilmember Odegaard the Vice Chair of MetroPlan.
 
Councilmember Odegaard spoke about the makeup of commission membership and how to reach out to community members who were not currently applying to the commissions for diversity.
 
Mayor Evans asked Mr. Clifton if the Indigenous Coordinator position had been filled. She suggested that the position could help with commission recruitment.

Councilmember Aslan added that there was a Sustainability Commission meeting on Thursday. He stated that he received the language for the Climate Emergency resolution.
 
Councilmember McCarthy asked the City Manager to provide the language on the Climate Emergency resolution.
 
Councilmember Whelan asked that agenda materials be submitted with headers that include the date and who it was submitted by.

Councilmember Aslan spoke about the history of the request. He stated that he would like to see a commission that involved college students rather than one that focused on college students.
 
Councilmember McCarthy stated that there was a previous effort to reduce the number of commissions. He cautioned that too many commissions could spread the city too thin.
 
Mayor Evans stated that she believed that commissions should be promoted to college students, but that there did not need to be a specific college student commission.
 
Mr. Clifton stated that there were currently 25 commissions in the City. He added that there were another two commissions in the works: an Indigenous Commission and the Commission on Council Salaries.
 
Mayor Evans pointed out that there was a Neighborhood Liaison who could be utilized to advise on how to best reach students.
 
Vice Mayor Shimoni asked about the potential Youth Commission or Committee. Mr. Clifton stated that the Youth Committee was still in the exploratory stage. He stated that he did not believe that the commission was necessary and that instead the commissions needed to have students on them.
 
Councilmember Whelan asked to consider more options like an NAU liaison to each commission or a high school student on each commission as a liaison.
 
There was not majority support of Council to advance the item to a future agenda for discussion.

Councilmember McCarthy requested that the FAIR item be dropped and the majority of Council supported the request.

Mr. Clifton briefly reviewed his report. He invited United Way Board Chair Sylvia Johnson to share information with Council regarding funding.

Councilmember Whelan stated that she attended the Flagstaff Initiative Against Trafficking (FIAT) meeting and participated in their goal setting for 2020-2021.
           
Vice Mayor Shimoni spoke about the Martin Luther King Day event. He stated that he would be hosting a town hall and addressed Representative Thorpe’s proposed student voting bill. He asked Council to consider addressing that bill that in the future.
 
Councilmember Salas stated that the Senate passed the US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement.
 
Councilmember Odegaard stated that he had a discussion regarding community development in Flagstaff and also discussed the problems with accessory dwelling units and mortgage lending.
 
Mayor Evans thanked the Flagstaff Police Department for their response to the event at the Standard apartment complex. She stated that the NAU Annual Martin Luther King Day breakfast was a success. She added that she would do a presentation of the Martin Luther King Day proclamation at the next meeting. She also spoke about the upcoming Council budget retreat and added that she would like to see an estimate from the state regarding what they would charge the city based on the minimum wage increase.