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1. |
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Call to Order Co-chair Darren Lance called the meeting to order at 12:02 PM. |
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2. |
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Roll Call
NOTE: One or more Commission Members may be in attendance telephonically or by other technological means. |
Diana Cudeii, Ex-Officio; Present Linda Curley, Ex-Officio; Present Seat Vacant, Ex-Officio Fawn Toya, Co-Chair; Excused Absence Darren Lance, Co-Chair; Present Kimberly Hoskie; Present Lauren Kaibetoney; Present Darrell Marks; Present Marian Marshall; Absent Mariah Zavala; Present |
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Others present: Staff Liaison Rose Toehe; Council Liaison, Councilmember Lori Matthews; Presenter Amy Hagin, PROSE Assistant Parks and Recreation Director; Presenter Rebecca Sayers, PROSE Director; Presenter Sylvia Struss, PROSE Open Space Coordinator; Carla McCord, Loven Contracting; Jenna Ortega, Sustainability Division; Dorothy Gishie, NACA Program Director; Gissell Gurrola Garcia, Etl Next Steps organization. |
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A. |
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Land
Acknowledgment
The Flagstaff City Council 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. |
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3. |
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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 wait for the Chair to call for Public Comment at the time the item is heard. (Maximum five minutes per individual) None. |
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4. |
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APPROVAL OF MINUTES |
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A. |
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Approval of October 04, 2023 Minutes Motion to approve Minutes as is or approve with amendments. Co-chair Lance motioned to approve the Minutes as is. Commissioner Zavala seconded. The motion passed unanimously. |
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B. |
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Approval of November 08, 2023 Minutes Motion to approve Minutes as is or approve with amendments. Co-chair Lance motioned to approve the Minutes as is. Commissioner Kaibetoney seconded. The motion passed unanimously. |
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C. |
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Approval of January 10, 2024 Minutes Motion to approve Minutes as is or approve with amendments. Co-chair Lance motioned to approve the Minutes as is. Commissioner Zavala seconded. The motion passed unanimously. |
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D. |
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December 6, 2023 and February 7, 2024 Meetings Informational only. The Indigenous Commission did not have an official meeting on December 6, 2023 and the time was scheduled for a potluck social gathering. Official discussions were not conducted during this time. A possible quorum notice was posted. A quorum was not achieved for the February 7, 2024 meeting. The meeting was canceled. |
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5. |
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GENERAL BUSINESS. POSSIBLE VOTE |
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A. |
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Update on Thorpe Park and the Indigenous Community Cultural Center (ICCC) PROSE staff will provide an update on the work at the Thorpe Park and the current status of the proposed ICCC. The Indigenous Circle of Flagstaff (ICF) will be informed and invited. Ms. Hagin provided a short PowerPoint presentation to the Indigenous Commission (IC) and showing the map of the Thorpe Park parcel, about 8.5 acres. There is also a leased space for an urban farm incubator, Ruby Gardens. The historic stone building on the site is the future Indigenous Community Cultural Center (ICCC). Updates included: A water leak detected underground about 50 ft from the building and worked with Water Services. Mitigation efforts that fixed the water leak, abandoned waterlines that were no longer in use; however, there are other areas to check on the site regarding water and sewer for the entire site – make sure there are no other leaks, water lines in tack, etc. This will take the funding set aside for this cycle in PROSE and continue to work on remediation and mitigation outside of the building. The goal has been to get all proper utilities back intact to the building and that they were functional. Potable water, electricity, and internet are functional but may need work. Checking sewer lines is a work in progress, including water/potable water. Another bid that Parks and Recreation solicited for is removal the perimeter chain link fence around the property. The City of Flagstaff’s procurement team is working on the agreement and anticipate the fence will be down by the end of March. This will entail further site cleanup process. There was also update on North Aztec Street, placement of boulders, and parking. Organizing for landscape and tree cleanup is also on the list. The timeline will hopefully include student volunteers before they leave for summer. There are funds of $200,000 identified for next fiscal year that would be for future mitigation or remediation, within the building as well. Ms. Hagin would like to start the conversation with IC so they can start planning next steps. Commissioner Marks asked about the timeline on when various tasks could be worked on and completed, i.e., office spaces. He would like to see the high school students involved and they have been seedling plants with hopes to bring into this space, how/when would that be possible? Further discussion will be needed. Ms. Hagin reviewed there are office spaces that need light tenant improvements or slight remodeling. The greatest need area is the fleet mechanic shop, not ready to be occupied, and will take up the most funds. Within 30 days, Rebecca, Amy, Rose, City Manager, and a procurement professional will meet to discuss the solicitation and procurement process for the proposed ICCC building. This will be the beginning of the RFP process for the ICCC. This will define the lease or licensee and set the tone for how/when to generate funds (grants). There is also opportunity for the IC to visit the space and to be involved in areas of need. Define what that looks like. Councilmember Matthews brought up discussion around the students, procurement, and how lease oversight will fit with Indigenous community. She also would like the IC to actively be involved in this early stage and claim space. Ms. Sayers understands that there is excitement about this space and it also important and necessary to follow City processes and procedures. PROSE wants to be actively involved with the IC during this process. Ms. Hagin will provide another update possibly at the next IC meeting. |
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6. |
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DISCUSSION ITEMS |
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A. |
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City of Flagstaff, Open Space Section Request Sylvia Struss, Coordinator for Open Space Section, will provide a presentation. Open Space will have an interpretive sign for the Pit House Overlook at Picture Canyon. They would like to partner with Indigenous groups to decide what should be on that sign. Coordinator Sylvia Struss provided an introduction and a PowerPoint presentation. The Picture Canyon history, archeological sites, petroglyphs, watershed, trails, stream and waterfall, wildlife, and other natural wonders were highlighted. The City acquired Picture Canyon in 2012 by citizen initiative. The focus of the presentation was regarding envisioned appropriate signage for the area, and the particular areas of the Pithouse overlook and Petroglyph overlook. There is also unauthorized trails that damage the native plants. There needs to be mitigation around that. Open Space program received an Arizona State Parks grant for $126,000 to restore a huge series of unauthorized trails at Picture Canyon, including in the Pit House area. The team has been working on restoring those trails to their natural state. Included in the grant are funds to create signs. The program would like to implement an interpretive sign at the Pithouse Overlook because when people go there, they don't really know what they're looking at. The sign would serve as an educational piece for visitors. There would be a fine line between exposing too much information due to possibility of looting/destroying the site. During a guided hike it is explained how Pithouse would have been a house 1300 years ago and the yucca is believed to have been farmed. Archaeologists believed the whole area has been a village and there are other unexcavated pithouses. The staff always points out that this is traditional Indigenous land and a sacred site to many different Indigenous people in Northern Arizona. Ms. Struss showed some example signs and ideas. She also visited other parks to observe signages. The current plan is to get Indigenous participation in the development of the interpretive sign/s. The request was made if Commissioners would like to participate. Commissioners Cudeii, Hoskie, and Marks all volunteered to assist. Ms. Struss will be in contact with them. |
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7. |
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INFORMATIONAL ITEMS TO/FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS, STAFF, AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEM REQUESTS Dorothy Gishie announced that her term as a board member with the Flagstaff Unified School District will be coming to an end in 2024. She encouraged Indigenous residents and other people of color to run for the FUSD School Board. Information on filing as a candidate is located on the Coconino County website. |
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8. |
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ADJOURNMENT Co-chair Lance adjourned the meeting at 1:02 PM. |