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Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously |
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OPEN CALL TO THE PUBLIC |
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Ann Pollock urged the Council to deny the Certificate of Economic Hardship appeal requested by Capri Flagstaff LLC. She questioned whether the developer had conducted proper due diligence before purchasing property within the downtown historic overlay zone and expressed hope that the outcome would lead to stronger communication between the City Council and the Heritage Preservation Commission.
Michelle Baggs, founder of the local nonprofit Frontline Phoenix and a former paramedic and EMT, spoke in support of decriminalizing natural psychedelics. Drawing on her personal and professional experience with cumulative stress injury among frontline workers, she argued that when existing treatments fall short, communities have a responsibility to explore alternative healing pathways. She asked the Council to support Decriminalize Nature Flagstaff as a means of honoring those who serve the community.
Jamie Blazquez, president of the Flagstaff Psychedelic Society and organizer of Decriminalize Nature Flagstaff, also spoke in support of the initiative. She noted a recent federal executive order acknowledging psychedelics as promising treatments for serious mental illness and emphasized that decriminalization, already adopted in 31 cities and two counties nationally, would not create commercial sales or conflict with existing law, but would protect community members seeking healing while formal medical and legal frameworks continue to develop.
Colleen Maring, Chief People Officer at Northern Arizona Healthcare, shared data reflecting significant strain on Flagstaff Medical Center, including a 22% increase in patient discharges over the past four years. She described adaptive measures the hospital has implemented to manage capacity, including more intensive monitoring of patient length of stay and use of pre-operative areas as overflow space. She acknowledged the impact these pressures have on patients and assured the Council that the organization remains committed to expanding access and maintaining quality care.
Alycia Hayes asked the Council to consistently apply the Downtown Flagstaff Vision and Action Plan adopted in 2024, which identified preserving historic character as the community's top priority among 21 options in a survey of more than 1,200 residents. She highlighted the plan's guidance that new downtown construction be compatible in scale, design, and materials with the historic core, and that larger developments be directed to locations outside that core. She also noted the economic and environmental value of historic preservation, citing tourism as Flagstaff's top industry and emphasizing that reusing existing buildings supports the city's sustainability goals. |
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PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS |
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Proclamation: Flagstaff Parks and Recreation Month |
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Councilmember Garcia read and presented the proclamation. |
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Recognition: Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan 2045 |
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City Manager Keene presented a formal acknowledgement to the Regional Plan 2045 team, recognizing the extensive collaborative effort that brought the plan to fruition. She noted that when she requested a full list of contributors, she received eleven pages of names, underscoring the breadth of participation involved. With regard to the results of the May 19, 2026 election, they saw a 27.5% voter turnout with 5,945 community members supporting the plan, exceeding the 2014 regional plan election's 25.22% turnout and 5,338 votes in support.
Planning and Development Services Director Michelle McNulty echoed the appreciation, describing the process as a reflection of how deeply the community cares about Flagstaff's future, and offered particular recognition to Sara Dechter for her project management leadership. She expressed enthusiasm for moving into the implementation phase of the plan.
Sara Dechter, transitioning to a planning director role with Mountain Line, closed by describing the regional plan process as extraordinary in scale, spanning thousands of public comments, multiple rounds of review, and years of coordinated effort across dozens of city and county staff. She expressed pride in Flagstaff's approach to regional planning and gratitude to all who contributed. |
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Recognition: Leader of the Year |
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City Manager Keene announced and recognized the Mary Jo Jenkins, 2025 Leader of the Year, Fire Chief Mark Gaillard. She highlighted his commitment to developing future fire service leaders through training, conference engagement, and regular visits to firehouses to ensure open communication with personnel and their families. He was also credited for his proactive work on the homeowners insurance crisis, including launching a home hardening assessment program, coordinating with state and regional contacts, and engaging government and insurance industry leaders on potential solutions.
Chief Gaillard was further recognized for his role in initiating the public safety ballot measure process nearly three years ago, when he and Deputy Chief Wilson presented a comprehensive analysis of the current and future state of fire service in Flagstaff. He subsequently led an internal working team, developed a ten-year financial calculator used to identify operational gaps and associated costs, and helped a citizen committee refine the recommendations. His collaborative partnerships, internally with city leadership and externally with regional fire districts, Navajo Nation Fire, and the Regional Communications Center, were also noted as hallmarks of his leadership.
Chief Gaillard expressed deep humility and gratitude, noting that being singled out among a leadership team of equally dedicated colleagues was both overwhelming and meaningful. He reflected on the honor of having the award named after Mary Jo, acknowledged his wife's steadfast support, and described his opportunity to serve the Flagstaff community and its firefighters as a dream come true. |
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| 7. |
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COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS |
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Councilmember House reported that the Housing Commission heard presentations from Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona on their programs, including HOA fee structures at Timber Sky and potential church partnerships, as well as a housing market overview and information from the Northern Arizona Builders and Remodelers Association.
Councilmember Aslan reported on three liaison meetings. The Tourism Commission meeting was routine given the start of summer season. He chaired the Coconino Plateau Water Advisory Committee Board meeting, where Senior Engineering Project Manager Christine Cameron presented an update on the Rio to Flag project. The Sustainability Commission meeting covered the latest consumer confidence report, a presentation by an ADEQ hydrologist on PFAS and related statewide actions, and two presentations by Commissioner Carlson addressing water quality concerns in Flagstaff and health, contamination, and noise pollution related to BNSF rail lines.
Councilmember Garcia reported that the Library Commission did not meet this month and will reconvene next month. He also recognized the Parks and Recreation team for a successful 4th of July drone show at Foxglenn Park, noting smooth traffic management and a positive audience response.
Councilmember Matthews noted that the Airport Commission would be meeting later that week. |
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| 8. |
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APPOINTMENTS
Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.02, notice is hereby given to the members of the City Council and to the general public that the City Council may vote to go into executive session, which will not be open to the public, for the purpose of discussing or considering employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, demotion, dismissal, salaries, disciplining or resignation of a public officer, appointee, or employee of any public body...., pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(1). |
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A. |
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Consideration of Appointments: Indigenous Commission |
