Agenda - View Meetings (All) (1080964943)

NOTICE AND AGENDA

COMMISSION ON DIVERSITY AWARENESS
WEDNESDAY
***DATE***

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.

Call to Order

Chair Kidd called the meeting to order at 1:44 PM.

Roll Call

NOTE: One or more Commission Members may be in attendance telephonically or by other technological means.

BETHANY CAMP
TARANG JAIN
SARA JARVIS

CAROLYN KIDD
MARCELA PINO
ANGELICA SANCHEZ
JEAN TONER

Present

Absent

Caroline Kidd, Chair
Sara Jarvis, Vice-Chair
Mandy Gebler
Tarang Jain
Marcella Pino
Angelica Sanchez
Jean Toner

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 Toner read the mission statement.
Commissioner Jarvis read the land Acknowledgement.

Upcoming Opportunities and Announcements

Chair Kidd and Council Liaison House acknowledged that it is Commissioner Jarvis's last month on the commission and thanked her for her work. Council Liaison House also highlighted the Juneteenth celebrations that will occur the weekend of June 15-17.

Public Comment

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.

Dee Wegwert shared her concern that Target as a nationwide brand will be withdrawing some of its Pride items from its stores due to past protests.

Approval of Minutes

This item was skipped as while the minutes were available online, they were not sent out to commissioners in the e-mail prior to the meeting.

Proclamations

AANHPI Heritage Month

The commission briefly read the proclamation and voted to approve it to be sent to the City Council.

Action Items

Women’s Rights Group

Commissioner Pino asked whether existing projects constitute working groups or something else. Staff Liaison Rhode responded that they would be working groups as there are only 2 subcommittees in use by commissions.

Staff Liaison Rhode gave a summary of the three options available to the commission:
1) Create an informal working group
2) Create a formal subcommittee
3) Make a recommendation to City Council that they create a new commission focusing on Women's Rights

Commissioner Pino inquired about the history of this topic. Chari Kidd explained that this was discussed several Mayors ago but nothing ever came to fruition. Commissioner Toner further explained that Former Mayor Evans and Vice Mayor Wheelan were interested in creating a new commission and came to CODA to seek their support.

Commissioner Toner asked the commission if anybody wants to lead this initiative and expressed support for establishing a working group rather than a subcommittee or new commission. The commission gave direction to keep this as an item for the next month.

Reports/Discussion Items

Updates from Council Liaison

Councilwoman House notified the Commission that Juneteenth and Indigenous People's Day will be added as City Holidays. She also gave some background on the allegations of cultural appropriation that occurred at a previous council meeting. She said that a celebration was thrown for a Councilmember with a Hawaiian beach theme with floral patterns, beach attire, and leis. Councilwoman House acknowledged that the use of these symbols could constitute cultural appropriation and that the Councilmember whom this celebration is honoring does have a stepfather of Hawaiian heritage.

Updates from Staff Liaison

Staff Liaison Rhode di not have an update

Ongoing CODA Projects Update and Discussion

Commissioner Sanchez informed the commission that the library working group has met weekly and worked on the consent form, worked with community partners, submitted for a few grants, and is considering expanding the work group. Chair Kidd then asked that any commissioner interested in joining the work group sent Commissioner Sanchez an e-mail.

Commissioner Pino asked whether the working group on the anti-camping ordinance should be disbanded now that its work is done. Staff Liaison Rhode reported that they do not need a formal motion to disband the working group. He also noted that there are several Court Cases on this topic for which rulings are expected in the next several months.

Commissioner Sanchez acknowledged that point and stated that maybe the working group should not yet be disbanded. Chair Kidd liked this idea that it is kept but put on hold for now.

Allegations of cultural appropriation at Council Meeting

Councilwoman House began this item by opening the floor to the commission for discussion.

Commissioner Pino stated her belief that the impacts of the actions could have been present even if the intent to cause harm was not. She suggested that the Commission draft a letter to Council to inform them how to handle issues like this appropriately and stated her belief that even in the previous discussion on this item, during the Council Liaison report, the language being used is too soft.

Commissioner Sanchez asked whether there was a cetin part of the video that the complaint referenced.

Staff Liaison Rhode stated that he asked this question of the individual who submitted the complaint and did not receive a response.

Chairwoman Kidd expressed her desire to draft a letter for the next month's meeting.

CODA Involvement in Juneteenth and Pride Celebrations

Chairwoman Kidd asked Commissioner Toner if they expect to march in the Pride Parade this year.

Commissioner Toner said that last year they were offered a spot in the parade but has not yet initiated any contact with Flagstaff Pride. Chairwoman Kidd asked Council Liaison Rhode if he has initiated contact this year. He said that he has not and summarized that last year is was difficult to participate both in the parade and to host a booth at the festival.

Commissioner Toner asked if any other commissioners are interested in walking in the parade. Commissioner Gebler expressed her interest. Chair Kidd said that she expects to be at Juneteenth. Councilwoman House expressed her interest in participating in the parade and said that nobody should feel torn between the two conflicting events.

Council Liaison Rhode stated that he would reach out to Pride about the parade and share the information with the commission.

New City Logo Working Group

Council Liaison Rhode gave a presentation to the commission and explained how a working group composed of existing commission members will be established to oversee the creation of a new City logo. He opened the floor to see if any members of the commission were interested in working on this project. Commissioner Pine, Chair Kidd, and Commissioner Sanchez volunteered for the project. Commissioner Pino was chosen as the representative of the commission.

10.

Agenda for Future Meeting(s)

There were no suggestions for additional agenda items.

11.

Adjourment

The commission was adjourned at 3:10 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 , 2024.

__________________________________________
Chris Rhode, Management Analyst