Flagstaff Council Approves 83-Unit Mixed-Density Development and School-District Housing Pathway; Explores Public Safety Sales Tax with Citizen Review Committee

All right, we're ready to get started. Today is Tuesday, September 16th, 2025. This is the city council's regular meeting. I am calling this meeting to order and giving notice to the city council and to the public that at this meeting the city council may vote to go into executive session which will not be open to the public for discussion and consultation with the city's attorneys for legal advice on any item listed on the following agenda. Can we have roll call? Mayor Dagot here.

Vice Mayor Suite here. Council member Alen. Council member Garcia here. Council member House here. Council member Matthews. Council member Spence here. All right.

Next up, um I will say the pledge of allegiance and um council member Spence, if you would do the mission statement and vice mayor, if you would do the land acknowledgement The mission of the city of Flagstaff is to protect and enhance the quality of life for All 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 is home. Thank you. Next up is open call to the public. This enables the public to address the council about an item that is not on tonight's agenda. And um because whatever you're going to say to us is not on tonight's agenda, we uh cannot interact, ask questions, answer questions, and you have three minutes.

And there is a clock right here. First up, we have Shannon Anderson. Thank you, Mayor Daget. Council, um, wanted to share one of the fun things that we got to do over the summer. Um, and highlight our city clerk, Stacy Saltzburg, which I know she loves to be part of the spotlight. So, um, hopefully she'll endure as we as we talk about the great things that she does here for our community. Um, so these pictures reflect the recognition Stacy received in July as the 2025 clerk of the year.

Um, this was at the Arizona Municipal Clerks Association conference um, where she was recognized and a few of us got to go down and celebrate with her. Um, this recognized Stacy as a dedicated and innovative public servant whose leadership, strategic vision, and steadfast commitment to civic engagement has significantly advanced both the profession of municipal clerk and the operations of our city of Flagstaff. Her list of accomplishments are quite exceptional.

Um, I'm going to include a here I'm going to include here a few for you. um which is obtaining her master's in public administration from Northern Arizona University. She received the NAU MPA public service alumni award. She overhauled multiple city charter amendments um with several individuals within our organization. She improved public transparency and accessibility with our city council meetings.

She unified the city clerk and public affairs sections into the new division called communication and civic engagement. She serves as the clerk for the Flagstaff Downtown Business Improvement and Revitalization District. That was new information for me, maybe you too. Um, and she was recognized as our city of Flagstaff leader of the year. So, if you can please join me in congratulating Stacy on this prestigious award from the Arizona Municipal Clerks Association. [Applause] Thank you.

Thank you, Greg Clifton. Mayor Council, thank you. Also in the on the topic of fun things we did while you were on recess this summer. Um one of the other things that is quite notable uh was the successful uh hiring of a new director of our human resource and risk management division.

Um, as council may recall, we went through a pretty good process leading up to that decision involving the assistance of a professional recruiter uh, with a very large turnout of applicants um, and very qualified finalists. It was a great process, a very engaging and inclusive process. We had a number of panels uh doing the or helping out with the interview process and uh in the end we made a selection and we could not be happier. So uh Ryan Saxby joins our organization. He comes from Tucson.

He was there for if you include all of his tenure I think 11 years in the profession of uh human resources. Very experienced, very credentialed. Uh he fit right in. He was a very strong choice across all the panels and um it's just great to have him here. We wanted to give him a little bit of time to get settled before we brought him up here to the podium to introduce him to you, but um would like to do that at this point.

I will note a lot of things have come together for for the human resource and risk management division. Uh we have been a little bit scattered that division over the past year with the uh construction of the new offices, a complete rebuild of of the HR offices. They are beautiful. If you haven't been in there yet, please stop in and visit. Um very nice floor plan and and it's working well and new windows and all kinds of amenities.

It's very appropriate to see the offices happen at the same time as our new leadership has been solidified. Of course, Aaron comes to us uh after our hiring of uh Aaron, our risk manager. Uh successful hiring there. So, our uh human resource and risk management team has really um solidified. Uh we're we're just about uh at full capacity, very close, and we could not be happier.

So, with that, um, and noting that I only have 35 seconds left before Stacy buzzes me here, I would like to have Ryan come up and have a few words with you. Thank you, Greg. Oh, I got a timer reset. Uh, appreciate that. Uh, honorable mayor, members of council, my name is Ryan Saxby. Uh, just a utmost pleasure to be leading this team here in city of Flagstaff, the HRRM team. Uh it was an extremely professional wonderful process that I went through.

Um my first opportunity was to actually face that way and and meet some of you. So I it's nice to see you again. Uh really excited to be here. This team uh works very hard. We are we were two days away from my hire of having a completely full staff, but on the Friday prior to my start date, we did have one individual move back to Kingman. So we're we're one shy of a full staff.

um looking forward to working, you know, continuing the great work that this city does on employee recognition, uh putting compensation first as a priority. Um I do see some projects as far as working on policies and directives and getting those updated. Um offering some additional trainings to staff uh in some certain areas, but I've only been here just shy of a month. Um I've had six people ask me if it's like drinking from a watering or a fire hose, and the answer is yes.

And so I appreciate those to my left who have been so patient with me as I learn names and and understand how this city operates, but look forward to working with you all. Thank you. [Applause] Welcome. And um Stacy, the timer isn't on on our side. Yes. If you would, if you would just fine. Do you want to come and give it a try? I'm going to continue though. Colleen Maring Good afternoon, mayor, vice mayor, council. I'm Colleen Maring, chief people officer at Northern Arizona Healthcare.

Last time I was here, I talked about how when we have too many adult medical surgical patients in beds upstairs, we end up caring for patients longer term or long-term in our emergency department, which exacerbates those long wait times and treatment in the hallway experiences that you hear about from your constituents when they come to our ER.

Um, so again, taking this morning as an example, as of this morning's daily safety briefing at 9:00 a.m., we had 20 admitted adult medical surgical patients quote holding in our emergency department. Every adult bed in the hospital was staffed. I know sometimes you hear, "Oh, it's because they don't have staff available that they don't have beds." To the contrary, last night and this morning, we brought in two extra medical surgical RNs to care for patients inside the ED.

So, at least we're trying to help our staff. Um, but they're still waiting for a real and appropriate bed upstairs and our emergency care seeking patients are still waiting in that waiting room um or being seen uh in the hallways or out in a public waiting room. Um, which is not ideal.

So, you know, one of the ways we're working to address this is through building a new hospital, but another way that I wanted to talk about is through um opening the urgent care businesses that we have in the last couple weeks.

So, two weeks ago, um, we assumed ownership of the urgent care clinic on Woodlands Village Boulevard that was previously owned by a local physician, but when he decided to sell the business, we jumped in and said, "Yes, we'll keep it open." And we actually have added some additional services there. And then last week, we opened a new urgent care clinic right next to the new primary care place up on the Mesa on McMillan Mesa. So, that's the fourth urgent care facility in Flagstaff.

um because our market data showed there was a need for more of the service and if we can see the right people at the right time in urgent care, we can keep them out of that emergency department. Um and so we're really happy to report that we've seen in just those first two weeks 250 patients who might otherwise have have gone to the Flagstaff emergency room.

Um that being said, we always super important um to to remind people that chest pain, severe headache, sudden and rapidly worsening symptoms, please, please, please go to the emergency department. We can care for any condition there. So if you're questioning air on the side of the emergency department um but we want to keep bringing these services close to people's homes.

again, keeping one on the west side, adding one up on the mesa, um because that's what we've heard from our community, care close to home and anything we can do to decant that emergency department um and ultimately flow patients through our hospital better. Thank you so much. Thank you. All right, now we come down to proclamations and recognitions. And for those who haven't been here when we've done these before, um we'll start with the first one on the agenda which is Arbor Day.

And we'll invite anyone who's here for this one to join us on the deis. Uh we'll read the proclamation. We'll take a photo and then if someone would like to speak to the audience and to those online, you are welcome to do so. Then we will go to the second one, do the same thing. Third one, same thing. So, council, uh, if you would join me down here and those here for the Arbor Day proclamation, please join us up here. Whereas Flagstaff is situated in the world's largest ponderosa pine forest.

And whereas it is universally recognized that healthy forests can provide multiple ecosystem services including reducing erosion and storm water runoff, moderating temperature, improving air quality, storing carbon dioxide, producing oxygen, and providing habitat for wildlife. And whereas trees enhance Flagstaff's economic vitality and aesthetics. And whereas trees, particularly non-invasive trees, are a source of joy and spiritual renewal.

And finally, whereas on September 23rd, 2025, Flagstaff will celebrate Arbor Day with a tree planting event. And now therefore, I, David Spence, representing Mayor Becky Daget, the mayor of the city of Flagstaff, Arizona, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, 23rd day of September, 2025 as Arbor Day. [Applause] to speak. Push this it off. Okay. Good afternoon. I'm Sylvia Struce. I work with the open space section of parks, recreation, open space and events with the city.

Um, and Arbor Day is typically the end of April, but that's a terrible time to plant a tree in Flagstaff. So, we celebrate it in August or September. Um, so this year we are planting some trees in Thort Park to create more shade. We're doing that in partnership with the fourth fifth grade class of Marshall Elementary School. Um, and our open space educator will go into that class several times throughout the season to study phenology, the how nature changes.

Um, and the Summit High School is also planting um a a tree or two on their campus. And we're inviting everybody in the city of Flagstaff to take care of your tree or plant a new tree on Tuesday, September 23rd. So, thank you. [Applause] Next up, we have the Constitution. Would you like to come down and join us? Welcome September 17th, 2025 marks the 238th anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention.

It is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to this magnificent document and is memorable and its memorable anniversary and to the patriotic celebrations which will commemorate the occasion. Public law 915 guarantees the issuing of a proclamation each year by the President of the United States of America designating September 17th through 23rd as Constitution Week.

Now therefore, I, Mayor Becky Daget, Mayor of the City of Flagstaff, Arizona, do hereby proclaim the week of September 17th through the 23rd as Constitution Week and ask our citizens to reaffirm the ideals of the framer, the ideals of the framers of the Constitution had in by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties, remembering that lost rights may never be regained.

[Applause] Mayor Daget, council members, the Daughters of the American Revolution Cookanino chapter appreciates your report of the 2025 Constitution Week. The Constitution was created to be the supreme law of the land that protects our basic rights as an American. Tomorrow at 100 p.m. Mountain Standard Time is the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution, which occurred on September 17th, 1787. Thank you for drawing attention to this important date in history.

[Applause] another proclamation for Hispanic Heritage Month. Anyone here to join us for that? All right, come on down. you get to be front and center. Whereas National Hispanic Heritage Month, also called him Herencia Hispana, observed annually from September 15th to October 15th, honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

And whereas September 15th is significant as the independence day for several Latin American countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua with Mexico's Independence Day on September 16th and Chile's on September 18th. And whereas this month provides an opportunity to acknowledge the diversity and cultural richness of Hispanic community.

And whereas the theme for National Hispanic Heritage Month 2025 is collective heritage, honoring the past, inspiring the future, promotes inclusivity and unity in for building stronger communities and a stronger nation. And whereas the Hispanic, Latino, and Latinex communities have integral have been integral to the prosperity of Flagstaff.

Starting in the 1920s, these communities continue to be represented in Calaveras, Los Chantes, La Plaza, Noeva, La Plaza, Vieja, and many other areas in Flagstaff. And whereas Hispanic communities are represented in the city and county leadership services and education business medicine social services, military service, and veterans organizations, and visible through nonprofit organizations such as Balorico dees.

And now therefore, I, Austin, on behalf of Mayor Becky Daget, mayor of the city of Flagstaff, Arizona, do hereby proclaim September 15th through October 15, 2025 as Hispanic Heritage Month. Hello everyone. For those of you who don't know me, I'm Manny Hernandez and today I am here representing the Commission on Diversity Awareness. Our commission has been working hard to ensure that Flagstaff remains an equitable place for everyone no matter your background.

So I would like to thank um mayor, vice mayor, and the rest of council as well as all the city staff who have have worked hard with us in order to make Flagstaff a great place. So, thank you to everyone. [Applause] All right. Next up, we have council liaison reports item number six. I will start with council member Spence. Thank you, Mayor. um on the um transportation and uh open space commissions. The focus of the recent meetings have been the 2045 regional plan.

Uh each commission is providing uh formal feedback and input to those final to the final um drafting of that plan. So, I've been pleased to uh sit in on behalf of the council on those commission meetings. Thank you, Council Member House. Thank you, Mayor. Um, not much this time, but just wanted to extend thanks to the Commission on Diversity Awareness for preparing the Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation and their continued work.

um as as uh the commissioner noted to um ensure that Flagstaff is a welcoming and equitable community. Um the housing commission also uh recently received the same presentation that um we did on available housing opportunities uh for Flag Staff and um uh am just encouraged by the ongoing work there. So thank you Vice Mayor, thank you.

Um, so on behalf of BPAC, there was a beautifification grantee and utility cabinet artist celebration at Cookanino Center for the Arts um, last week and I was able to speak and I hope that everyone has had a chance to see the new um, utility wraps. There's four of them in the downtown and they're they're quite nice at a nice um, vibrant color. And this Thursday at 4:00, there is a water commission meeting held here in council chambers. Council member Alen. Yeah.

Of note towards the end of last month with the tourism commission which was fairly routine. We went over um attractional report. Uh visitation numbers have dropped uh in the past month um I think due to fires and uh weather related stuff.

Um, and then the only other real thing to like report into you guys is the uh discussion they had which was with the Northern Arizona Good Jobs Network's accelerated training program in food service and food entrepreneurship and that was presented by White Mountain Economic Development Regional Manager Ross Taylor.

Um, we got a a good sense of what the the good jobs network is and the conversation veered pretty quickly into um the support services to grow a vibrant food ecosystem across uh all of northern Arizona and to help startups and small businesses in the food industry scale up their ideas. Um, and uh we we know that they could use all the help they can get. Rosa Ross Taylor, White Mountain Economic Development um network if you're interested in following up with that. And I'll leave it there today.

Thank you, Council Member Garcia. Thank you, Madame Mayor. We just have a parks and wreck combined with an open space meeting open to the public on September 22nd, and I hope to see everybody in the public there. Thank you. Thank you. Nothing from me. So we will move down to appointments. 7A consideration of the commission on diversity awareness. I am to make the first appointment and I would like to appoint Carmen Lita Chief. Uh and I'm looking for a second. Second. Any discussion?

All those in favor? I I Any opposed? I All right. Council member House. Thank you, Mayor. It's my honor to move to appoint Dr. Justin Mallet to the Commission on Diversity Awareness. I'll second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I. Any opposed? All right. Thank you. We will move down now to liquor license public hearings. I am opening the public hearing for the application on Meg Indian Cuisine and Flagstaff KOA. We have a pre and there you are. Good afternoon, Mayor and Council.

Janna Staski, Deputy City Clerk. Before you today are two liquor license applications. The full pack of material is included in the agenda for review um for consensus and motioning. I will provide the information for both licenses together. Flagstaff KOA Series 10 beer and wine store located at 5803 North Highway 89. The agent is Nicole Alexander Edwards. And the second one is the Meg Indian Cuisine Series 12 restaurant located at 1435 South Milton Road. The agent is Lauren K.

Merritt and the managers handling the day-to-day operations are Jess Breit Singh and Delvin During. The police department and planning and development services have conducted their respective investigations and the reports were included in the agenda packet. There are representatives from the division and representatives from the business have been invited to attend the hearing. Thank you, council. Do you have any questions? And we have no public comment. All right.

I'm going to close the public hearing and we can have deliberation and or someone can make a motion. Mayor, I would like to move that we forward the application to the state with a recommendation for approval for Meg Indian Indian Cuisine. Correct. You you pronounce it better than I. I don't know about that. Um, is there a second? I'll second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I I. Any opposed? All right. Thank you. I'm looking for a motion on Flagstaff KOA.

We have a fight going on up here about who's going to make the motion. I move that we forward the application to the state with a recommendation for approval. Is there a second? I'll second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. Thank you very much. Next up, we have our consent agenda. All matters under the consent agenda are considered by the city council to be routine.

Unless a member of the city council expresses a desire at the meeting to remove an item from the consent agenda for discussion, the consent agenda will be enacted by one motion approving the recommendations listed on the agenda. Unless otherwise indicated, expenditures approved by council are budgeted items.

And I just like to remind the public that if you ever have a comment about something that is on the consent agenda, you can submit a comment card and we will pull that item and take your comment. At this point, I would like to pull item thank you item F from the consent agenda and we'll discuss that separately. And I am looking are there any other items that the council would like to pull? So then I'm looking for a motion to approve the consent agenda um except for letter F. So moved.

I'll second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I. Any opposed? All right. So, um I have a couple of questions about F and um other council members may as well. Um but thank you Sterling. One question that I have is is DME drilling adjacent to Red Gap Ranch now? No, mayor, they are not. Okay. and does the Supreme Court decision prevent the city from filing an injunction should DME start drilling adjacent to Red Gap Ranch again? Uh, mayor and councel, uh, thank you for the question.

Um, the Supreme Court not accepting review of the Court of Appeals decision does not preclude the city from protecting uh its resources by refiling a um a preliminary injunction or other legal action if necessary if DME determined that it was going to begin drilling again. Thank you. Council, do you have additional questions? Thank you. Thank you. All right. I am looking for a motion um to approve item F. I move that we approve item F. I'll second. Is there any discussion? All those in favor?

I I I. Any opposed? All right. Now we move down to routine items. 10 A consider Wait a minute. 10A is pulled because um it was inadvertently put on this agenda and it has already been acted on at the 92 meeting. So, we're moving down to item 10B, consideration and adoption of resolution number 2025-42 and ordinance number 2025-16. Thank you so much. I do not have a follow-up presentation. I'm just here to answer any questions you have on this item. Thank you, council. Do you have any questions?

We do have public comment. Uh Michael Pensa, I know your last name. I just couldn't read that uh uh clearly. Great. Honorable Mayor Dagot, Vice Mayor, and City Council members, as superintendent of the Flagstaff Unified School District, I am here to express my strong support for this proposed zoning code amendment that would allow for affordable multifamily housing on land zoned as public facilities. Flagstaff is in a housing crisis and our schools feel that impact every day.

As the fifth largest employer in the city and an enrollment of nearly uh 8,500 students, FUSD directly serves or employs over 15,000 residents, students, staff, and families. When our educators, staff, and families uh we serve cannot afford to live in the community they are dedicated to, the entire city is impacted. Adoption of this resolution and ordinance are practical steps towards a solution.

It would create a clear pathway for FUSD and other public entities to partner with affordable housing developers. Our district has underutilized land such as a parcel near Sonawa Middle School that could immediately be put to work to create affordable housing.

In the spring of 2025, FUSD employees participated in a survey that was developed in partnership with the Northern Arizona's Economic Policy Institute to assess their cost burdens, housing goals, and preferences for potential assistance programs. The survey showed that 48% of FUSD employees are costbururden, spending more than 30% of their income on housing, and 17% are severely costburdened, spending over half of their income just to keep a roof over their heads.

This is not just a personal financial strain. It is also a recruiting and retention crisis for our district. Nearly half of all FUSD employees who responded to the survey are considering leaving Flag Staff because of unaffordable housing. That means fewer teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, and counselors, people essential to our schools and our children's future. We lose wonderful, effective teachers and staff every year because they simply cannot afford to live here.

This constant turnover hurts student learning, destabilizes our schools, and weakens our entire community. FUSD is ready to be a partner in solving this crisis. We have land available, uh, clear and urgent community need, and willing partners ready to begin development. What we lack is the necessary policy framework to make these affordable housing projects possible. I urge you to adopt this uh, zoning change.

It is a necessary tool that will empower schools, public entities, and our community to work together to bring desperately needed affordable housing online. Thank you for this opportunity to address you today and your leadership on this important issue. Thank you, Superintendent, and please don't walk away because we have at least two questions for you. Um, Council Member Alen. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Superintendent, for being here with us today.

I know uh you attend plenty of public meetings yourself and you probably have nicer things to do on a Tuesday afternoon and um get in here. It shows your dedication um to this cause and the concern that you have for your employees and the entire school district community. Um I'm just curious, you seem to be champing at the bit for this. Uh do you have plans?

Uh can you share with us um if you're if you're able to um what steps A, B, and C are going to be for you guys to take advantage of this opportunity. And uh maybe some maybe do you have locations in mind? And if if you do, you can you can let us know, but if you don't want us talk about specifics, it's entirely up to you. Sure.

Um so uh FUSD received a vitalist health foundation grant last year uh to really study this issue and so we convened a committee that met monthly last year and we also were provided u a housing consultant to really help us navigate the legal and the financial and all the transactional things that uh have to take place um in order for um you know school district land to be used for affordable housing. And so we have identified a clear pathway.

It does uh um uh entail some partnerships with um local municipalities um um willing housing developers and I think that we've been able to have a lot of really good productive conversations and believe that we have uh land that we don't intend to use for school purposes that could be leveraged for affordable housing units. So, I'm excited uh with this zoning change uh and some of the momentum that um I'm experiencing.

Um believe that in the next few months, we'd really have something tangible to bring forward to you. If I remember correctly, I think Prescuit Unified School District um uh or somewhere around there nearby there, that's where I grew up, uh recently went through something similar and they have a strategy that they're they're implementing and employing. Are you guys collaborating at all or talking horizontally to each other?

Part of the um work of our our committee was really studying some of these pathways and seeing what has been done by local school districts in their communities uh here in Arizona. And so we've been able to uh connect and learn from um their project pathways and believe that we can uh propose something very similar. Council member House. Thank you, mayor, and thank you, Superintendent, um, for coming and speaking on this item.

I know you and I have had opportunities to have other conversations about this and, um, very much looking forward to moving this forward. I just wanted to give an opportunity for you to um maybe elaborate a little bit on how this um uh how moving this forward uh puts some of the framework down for the school district to move forward in some of the the conversations that you've been having on opportunities for affordable housing. If you can elaborate on that a little bit, that would be wonderful.

Yeah, I might I don't know. Staff would have the better terminology, but I believe what this zoning change will do is it'll really streamline the process and save valuable time that's needed um to be able to us to work with a municipality partner and uh a developer to ultimately take possession of that land for affordable use. And uh the state has moved up some of its deadlines.

So uh for this to be an affordable um product uh uh the developers want to take advantage of uh fund uh funds that are available at the state level. They have moved up timelines that in order to apply for that funding in April, you have to the developer has to show uh possession of the land by January 15th. And so this will help streamline that project um to kind of meet those timelines. Thank you very much. Um I'd just like to thank you for sending along this study.

Uh it was really informative and I'm wondering whether the public can find that somewhere. Yeah, you've got uh the first version and we will be presenting it um to our governing board and at a public meeting uh here in the middle of October and then we'll make that available to all members of our community as well. Thank you. And it's good data but sad and scary data in some ways as well. And thank you for your efforts to do the study.

I think it's really important that we be able to demonstrate to the public um how big this problem is. Thank you. Thanks. All right, council. Um if there aren't Oh, um Council Member House would like to make a motion and I think we're at that time now. Thank you, mayor. I would like to move to adopt resolution number 2025-42. I'll second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I can I get a motion on the next item.

I would like to move to read ordinance number 2025-16 by title only for the final time. I'll second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I. City clerk.

An ordinance of the city council of the city of Flagstaff amending the Flagstaff City Code Title 10 Flagstaff Zoning Code by adopting by reference that certain document entitled PZ-25-000041- singleuse residential in the commercial and public facility zones and adaptive reuse incentives providing for repeal of conflicting ordinances severability authority for clerical corrections and establishing an effective date. Thank you. Council member House, would you like to make a motion on number four?

Yes, Mayor. Thank you. I would like to move to adopt ordinance number 2025-16. I'll second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. Thank you. Moving down to C, consideration and approval. And I believe we have a little presentation. Greetings, Mayor Council. No presentation, just uh I'm here. So, greetings.

Jessica KDson, customer service director here today seeking your approval for our annual write offs of our municipal service accounts, miscellaneous accounts receivable, and insufficient funds accounts for fiscal year 2425. Our staff recommended action is to approve the full write-off amount in the combined amount of $22,45646. Staff have exhausted all reasonable collection efforts and determine these accounts are no longer viable for active collection.

We recommend writing off these accounts following generally accepted accounting principles as part of this annual process to remove non-viable assets. Note, we're unable to share with you individual utility account information as this is protected in accordance with state law and not subject to public disclosure. The city is proactive in managing uncollectible accounts by setting an annual allowance which is currently set at $77,000.

So this requested amount for write-off is well within this allowance. So there's no uh expected negative financial impact to the city. Referring to the summary, we have a breakdown in the three categories requested for writeoff. So for municipal bill accounts receivable we have $21,24.70 miscellaneous accounts receivable in $1,242.76 and insufficient insufficient funds checks those NSF checks for $9. A little bit of background and history just into our collection process and procedures.

The customer service team we have an extensive collection process. Delinquency processing begins when an account reaches a set pass due threshold with a reminder postcard sent to the service address. The postcard is then followed up with phone calls and email notifications. And finally, a physical notice is left at the property. Customer service staff work with customers to create workable payment plans and recommend assistance programs for those experienced any financial hardship.

And then a service disconnection serves as the final collection tool for active accounts. Once an account is closed, deposits that are build when accounts are first opened typically cover the final build amount. But when they do not and a final bill goes unpaid, debts can be reported to credit agencies and remain on a credit report for up to seven years. And then these can result in payments when customers go to apply for mortgages, loan payments, and the such.

Additionally, amounts are reported to the state's debt setoff program, which can intercept income tax refunds for debt collection. Since implementing this program in 2023, we've successfully collected over $94,000 in delinquent accounts, representing a combination of previously written written off accounts dating back to 2017 and closed accounts that may have otherwise required write off. I did want to give a shout out to our team member Jenny Lynn.

She's our collections administrator who ad implemented this program and overseas. In front of you, you have a 5-year history of our municipal service accounts write offs. And as you can see, the requested amount for fiscal year 2024 25 is the lowest in our five-year history with just a 04% of our amount build. This was a total of 77 accounts, the more majority of which were less than $500.

And for our miscellaneous accounts receivable, we're requesting write off of two accounts totaling $1,240.76, which again has a low historical write off. Uh we just wanted to mention the two special categories not being recommended for any write-offs this year but have been recommended in the past and those are transaction privilege tax management and library accounts. Uh following the Arizona Department of Revenues assumption of local TPT in January 2017.

The city inherited a receivable balance of just over $900,000 um from previously collected accounts. um we've been successful in reducing this balance to just about 71,000 as of June 30th 2025. Um in fiscal year 2024 25 we successfully collected about 42,000. So we're not recommending any write off as those are currently active payment plans even though a lot of these companies uh remain are are no longer operational. for library accounts.

Our we continue to work with the team on implementing credit card and online payments for overdue and damaged items which will improve the collection process with that team. Um however their accounts do not appear on the balance sheet like municipal accounts. Um rather they're maintained in the library specialized software. So with that I'll take any questions that you have. Council do you have any questions? All right, then I will entertain a motion to approve the write off.

I'll I'll go ahead and move um that we approve the write off of delinquent and uncollectible municipal service accounts, miscellaneous miscellaneous account receivables, transaction transaction privilege accounts, and insufficient funds in a combined amount of $22,45646. And I'll just say great job keeping that number so low this year. Thank you. Is there a second? I'll second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I. Any opposed? All right. Thank you so much. All right. Moving down.

Item number 11, public hearing items. I'm going to open the public hearing and then we um will hear from Tiffany. Thank you so much. Um, tonight I am here to present a zoning code text amendment dealing with high occupancy housing. This is entitled high occupancy housing update. If at any point I go too fast or you have questions about what I'm talking about, please just stop me. Um, I tend to ramble through this stuff pretty quick, but just to give you the history on high occupancy housing.

Uh, in 2018, the city council adopted the high occupancy housing specific plan and associated amendments to the regional plan. The purpose of the high occupancy housing plan was to provide direction in the form of goals and policies intended to enhance and maintain the city's character and guide future developments that would be considered high occupancy housing.

The plan identified dozens of strategies that could be implemented to address the unintended impacts of these buildings on neighborhood character, affordability, and transportation. After the adoption of the plan, staff received direction from city council in October of 2019 to not only include larger highoccupancy housing projects, but smaller um high occupancy housing projects.

So, the high occupancy housing plan really is only looking at those much larger projects, specifically those that were mixed use that had a high um density per acre. So you're looking at over 50 units an acre. Uh when the text amendment was going through that process, we were given that um direction to go ahead and include much smaller highoccupancy housing projects including single family, two unit, threeunit, and multifamily developments.

Uh the high occupancy housing zoning code text amendment was adopted November 17, 2020. However, it did not go into effect until March 1st of 2021. Basically, the text amendment requires a conditional use permit for any project that is qualified as high occupancy housing. So, why is this amendment happening now?

The draft regional plan 2024 2045 alters the land use categories, specifically activity centers that the current high occupancy housing zoning code standards are dependent on for implementation. If the code is not amended, it will result in in implementation problems for the current planners. Not for me. Um, just kidding. staff uh did have a work session with council back in June 11th of 2024 to receive direction on moving forward with this amendment.

Since then, we've been trying to go through and draft and track where the regional plan was heading and making sure that it was continuing in the same direction. So, since the adoption of the high occupancy housing code standards, the only projects that have applied for a conditional use permit under this zoning code are single family residential developments. So the high occupancy housing update, how essentially did it tie us to the regional plan?

So our density tables when we did this text amendment, we already had different density standards whether or not you were in the resource protection overlay or outside of the resource protection overlay. We added some additional parameters to say if you were in an activity center but still in the resource protection overlay then you could still have the higher density. We just added another layer of of complication um onto our already um not very simple density standards.

So that is one way in which we tied ourself to the regional plan. Just overall for any project whether or not your high occupancy housing um how we calculate density is now currently dependent upon location inside or outside of an activity center. Here's an example. This is an activity center. Um, you know, when when your when this site was developed, it was only allowed uh 22 units an acre because it was in the resource protection overlay. Today, it would be allowed 29 units an acre.

Um, other provisions of the high occupancy housing that are based on regional plan classifications including includes that you can only apply for a conditional use permit for that multifamily and for that mixeduse project if you're in the pedestrian shed of an activity center. If you're not, it's not feasible to even apply for a conditional use permit. Um then we set different parameters based on the type of activity center.

We also have standards based on whether or not you're within a commercial corridor. Those are also ter that's also terminology changing within the regional plan. Um, other classifications are dependent upon historic activity centers um and there and and whether or not you're located in that particular location. So, um, we've gone through this the code and are basically not that we wanted to divorce from the regional plan because the regional plan is very important to what we do.

We're just not going to tie the high occupancy housing standards specifically to the regional plan anymore. And that's so both documents can move and change independently. Although the zoning code is completely dependent upon the regional plan, it has to be in conformance with the regional plan. So know that we won't move separately away from it at all. But um we will always be working towards implementing it.

we will just give it a bit more flexibility where the regional plan can change its categories as is necessary um and then not affect the implementation of the zoning code. So where does this get the get us to in terms of our density tables? It's going to be really simple. We're going to have one minimum and one maximum and easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Uh really the resource protection overlay has been sort of a a step back in our density allowances over time regardless of even of whether or not there are resources on the site. So the site I pulled up earlier this one this is a village at Aspen Place. There was not a tree to be found on this site nor there were any slopes to be protected. There were no resources but the density was held back lower.

And if anything, you would absolutely consider this to be one of our more urban cores um and easily could have taken on that 29 units per acre. So that differential of basing it just on whether you're in the overlay or not is is sort of not the right tool. The right tool is understanding what the the land itself can yield. If it can yield more, then it should carry more. If it can't, it won't. Um and there are other standards that interact to um ultimately control density on the site.

Same thing is true with bedrooms. We did add a Ben bedroom density standard. The exact same thing I just told you for density for dwelling units is exactly the same thing that's happening for um bedrooms. U bedroom density requirements still remain in the zoning code. So we there is one change proposed in this zoning code text amendment that is separate from the movement in the regional plan. It is a sole and separate substantative change and it is this one word. It's changing an or to an and.

The purpose of changing the definition of high occupancy housing from an or to an and basically it's it we've always thought of it as the number of dwelling units per acre or if you exceed the bedrooms per acre. In this case, we're saying you have to do both. So the high end of our density standards have always been 29 units per acre. The way to previously when our code was crafted to exceed 29 units per acre was in our transex zones.

Our transex zone projects most often exceed 29 units per acre. Um but they don't always have to trigger that bedrooms per acre. So for example, if you had a 60unit project or a 60 unit per acre project, but those were all studio and onebedroom units, you would not trigger the bedroom.

This is going to give a small amount of breathing room to our transex projects and bring back density as was originally anticipated with our transex zones, but at the same time still take into account that overall impact of the size of the dwelling units. So there is still that regulatory control that was intended as part of the high occupancy housing plan. Um also we removed the requirement to provide alternative floor plans.

Essentially we were requiring developers to develop two different buildings or to design two different buildings which can be astronomically expensive for a developer to do. So we're basically asking you to design the building you want to build and design a building you don't want to build or don't intend to build in the case in the future that something might need to change. Uh this text amendment removes the requirement for an HORH project to be located with an activity center.

This also brings some relief um in terms of where a project can be located within the city. Uh it gives more flexibility. I'll tell you how we are building back in the um existing regional plan policies and the HOH plan policies in just a minute. We also removed the limitations on the size of high occupancy housing projects in the different activity centers. And we are now this last piece is what is bringing us back. We are requiring a conformance analysis as part of that conditional use permit.

So as part of that conditional use permit, you're going in and you're doing a review of the goals and policies. And this is really the easiest way to make a bestcase decision on a conditional use permit for location. Um instead of being very narrow in terms of limited activity centers also you know activity centers are existing proposed future that also was another sort of complicating factor.

Uh it the other thing that that conformance analysis really helps us with is dealing with sort of the historic properties. We have replaced the historic property standards away from historic activity centers which are no longer in the regional plan. Instead, we're using our designated historic overlays which are in the zoning code. So that's a great place to rely on. However, they are much smaller in area than the original historic activity centers.

So again, that conformance analysis is going to help to make sure that we are meeting the historic um area parameters that were originally sort of laid out in the high occupancy housing plan. Um and Sarah was very instrumental and helpful in helping us come to a resolution and trying to sort of build that gap in terms of how we make sure we meet all of these standards. We updated the waste management. Um we standards uh we did that with sustainability. We just simply simplified this text.

Uh we removed the requirements for crime-free multi-ousing and replace them with consultation with the police department and we did that in um in in participation with the police department as well. Uh it also modifies the some of the location requirements for mixed use. So instead of relying on commercial corridor which was a little bit ambiguous in the regional plan we're now relying on things that we know of for a fact which are in code which are arterials and collectors.

So that's easier terminology for us. Uh so that is the sum total of what this text amendment does. Uh, you know, we had talked at the planning and zoning commission about making some changes and moving away from a conditional use permit on the single family residential um units.

What I will tell you is we ended up backing away from making that change as part of this amendment because there will be another amendment to this as part of middle housing uh which is the next amendment you're going to see. it'll be hitting you in November, but there'll be more changes um to high occupancy housing that are simply triggered by state legislation in the future. So, I wanted you to be aware of that.

uh with that um in terms of findings um you know went through a very detailed analysis of this with Sarah in terms of the regional plan there was really only one policy that had been added into the regional plan that we were concerned with and that's that LU1817 which is mixeduse developments over 50 units per acre should be located in a regional scale activity center. So this is one of those places where we're sort of in between.

The zoning code is ahead of the new regional plan draft and so we have to bridge that gap in the in between and that's where we came up with doing a conformance analysis. So if you apply for a conditional use permit today um and you're over 50 units, we're will hold to this policy up until such time as the new regional plan is in place. This policy is not carried over into the new regional plan.

um we went through the housing or the high occupancy housing specific plan in terms of its goals and policies and made sure that we were in alignment on all of those things. For example, in terms of crime-free multi-ousing, uh the plan doesn't even ex suggest that we go that far. Exactly what we've amended the code to is exactly where the plan led us in the first place.

So, in a lot of ways, the zoning when the zoning code came about, it exceeded um sort of the goals and policies of where the high occupancy housing plan went in the first place. And of course, the 10-year housing plan and the carbon neutrality plan are always plans that we look at even though they're not specific to our findings. Um, but we are in alignment with both of those plans as well.

And then, uh, the proposed amendment will not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, and welfare. Again, high occupancy housing is still a conditional use permit. It still requires going through the public process. Um the high, you know, the work and effort that was put into the high occup housing plan is still relevant um and will be used in the conformance uh analysis of those conditional use permits.

Um but again, we've also built in some flexibility to bring back some use of the transex zones as well. And then lastly, the proposed amendment is internally consistent with other applicable provisions of the zoning code and that is the case. So, uh, the planning and zoning commission did unanimously recommend that the council approve this zoning code text amendment. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to try to answer them. Thank you, council. Questions? Vice Mayor?

Thank you and thank you for the presentation and working so diligently on this. Um you reminded me prior to the meeting that you and I had talked about this many months ago. So it's great to see see it coming forward. Um I appreciate that you really worked on streamlining things for um those who want to build and I know we talk a lot about that on council so thank you for paying particular attention to that.

I'm wondering goal five strongly supports historic preservation and I lately I have been getting a lot of questions on historic values in our city. Can you kind of tell me what how how this does that and elaborate a little bit? Thank you so much. So, the original high occupancy housing zoning code standards limit building footprints within areas that are designated as a historic activity center. Uh we translated that into um limiting building footprints in historic zoning overlays.

So, most of our downtown here is in a historic down is in a historic overlay and the town site is in a historic overlay. And then we have uh a few one off parcels that are in a general uh historic overlay. Southside right now is in the process of creating a new historic overlay called the Brandon historic overlay. So there'll be another new district. So as new districts come on um those standards would apply to them.

Additionally, most of the core historic neighborhoods have had uh neighborhoods or specific plans done to support them. So, Southside has a specific plan and Plaza Vieja has a specific plan. The downtown doesn't, but it's got the zones. So, if you've got the plan, it's great. We'll do the conformance analysis and make sure that we're in alignment there. if you've got the overlay zone, then we're going to make sure that you meet those those building size limitations as well in in those.

So, it was always very heavily um focused on historic preservation and what we could do to sort of match or meet character. Um and there was a lot of goals and policies even in the southside and the Plaza Vieja plan that would help guide a developer and make it very clear what that neighborhood is looking for in terms of high occupancy housing. Thank you. I really appreciate you taking the time to explain that. Thanks, Council Member Spence. Thank you, Mayor, and thank you for this presentation.

I I want to be clear that I am fully supportive and very appreciative of the simplifications um that you've put into this proposal and I am very supportive of the regional 2045 plan. However, my question today is a a scary scenario. Suppose the citizens of Flagstaff vote against ratification of the 2045 regional plan. Is there anything that you're proposing today in the HOH amendments that would go south if the people turn down the regional plan when the vote comes up?

Thank you so much for that question. The answer is no. Um because we have divorced the code away from the regional plan. The existing regional plan would remain in effect until such time as were able to have a new plan ratified by the voters. Um that plan has specific goals and policies that we would continue to adhere to.

If there were an issue, we could always come back in and then work on an amendment to the existing regional plan if necessary or to do further work in terms of high occupancy housing. Thank you. And I just want to be clear that I'm very appreciative of your work in this complex area and I'm sure the developers of our our housing stock appreciate the changes that you're proposing. Thank you. Any additional questions? And we don't have any public comment. Okay.

So, I am going to close the public hearing. Thank you, Tiffany. And um I will entertain a motion or we can talk about something else. I mean, on this topic. Mayor, I move that we read resolution number 2025-46 by title only for the first time. Is there a second? I'll second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I. Any opposed. All right.

Uh, city clerk, a resolution of the Flagstaff City Council declaring as a public record that certain document filed with the city clerk and entitled PZ-25-000028- highoccupancy housing update. Thank you. And a motion on number three. I move that we read ordinance number 2025-19 by title only for the first time. And a second. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I. Any opposed? City clerk.

An ordinance of the city council of the city of Flagstaff amending the Flagstaff city code title 10 Flagstaff zoning code by adopting by reference that certain document entitled PZ-25-000028- high occupancy housing update providing for repeal of conflicting ordinances severability authority for clerical corrections and establishing an effective date. Thank you. All right, moving on to B. Consideration and adoption of ordinance number 2025-17. Good afternoon, council.

I do not have a a pres Oh, sorry. Excuse me. Just a minute. This is a public hearing item as well. Right. Okay. I will open the public hearing now. Please go. Thank you. Uh, good afternoon, council. I I don't have a a new presentation for you on this item, but I'm available for any questions. Thank you, council. Any questions? All right. I don't see any questions. We have any public comment. All right. I'm going to close the public hearing and I'm looking for a motion.

I move that we read ordinance number 2025-17 by title only for the final time. and a second. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I. Any opposed? City clerk.

An ordinance of the city council of the city of Flagstaff amending the Flagstaff zoning mapped to reszone approximately 13.82 82 acres of real property generally located at 2951 South Masonic Lane, APN 103-26-002D from the rural residential RR zone in the resource protection overlay and suburban commercial SC zone in the resource protection overlay to the medium density residential MR zone in the resource protection overlay with conditions providing for severability, authority for clerical corrections and establishing an effective Can I get a motion on number three?

I move that we adopt ordinance number 2025-17 and a second. I'll second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. Now, we're moving on to our regular agenda. Thank you, Ben. Um, item number A. All right. Uh good afternoon again. I need to start where I always start. Good afternoon. My name is Ben Mia. I'm a planner with the city of Flagstaff Planning and Development Services.

Uh for your consideration today, we have a resolution for development agreement for Pinehaven, the the reszone that you uh just heard. Um the purpose of the agreement is to uh establish the developer obligations for public improvements to rights of way. Uh to establish the development phasing, the commitments to sustainability initiatives, restrictions on short-term rentals, and the administration of the affordable housing fund contribution payments.

So, as for public improvements, the developer will provide improvements along East Zouri Drive and South Lone Tree Road, uh, including new uh new sidewalk and improved sidewalk on on Lonree as well as new sidewalk on on Zonyi uh Parkway and a new bike lane. Uh, the developer will also provide two bus stops serving both directions along East Zouri Drive. As for development phasing, uh this project is currently proposed as uh being developed under two phases.

The first phase uh consists of 40 units and a clubhouse west of Masonic Lane as well as the improvements to Zouri. Uh the second phase is the remaining 43 units which is east of Masonic Lane and the improvements to Lone Tree. uh should the developer wish to construct in one phase, they they are able to do so. Commitments to sustainability initiatives.

Uh this includes bus pass programs, uh reimbursement for homeowners to purchase two adult bus passes for the first year of ownership, uh and promoting Mountain Line's Eco Pass for Educators program. All of the residential units are electric only units. Uh that is included in the development agreement as well.

And the applicant has also included two electric vehicle charging stations on site to be publicly available as well as uh landscaping plan for the development uh shall include a meaningful amount of plant species in support of the mayor's monarch pledge. That'll be confirmed at uh civil engineering plan which is the final landscape plan. As for housing uh first is the restrictions on short-term rentals. Uh there will be no leases under 30 days.

And as for the administration of the affordable housing fund contribution payments, the developer will contribute to the city of Flagstaff affordable housing fund uh commensurate with 10 category 1 affordable units or 12% of the total uh number of units which is uh equivalent to a total contribution of of $1.8 million. Uh the initial fee will be in the amount of 400,000 uh which will be divided across the first 40 units in in phase one.

Uh and the remainder of that fee will be divided across the the 43 units in phase two. Payments must be made prior to issuance of the certificate of occupancy for each unit. Yeah, that's all right. Council options are uh approve the development agreement as presented, approve the development agreement with additional modified or deleted terms, remand the development agreement back to staff for additional negotiations with the de with the owner, and deny the development agreement. Thank you, Ben.

Council member Spence. Thank you, Mayor. I applaud um the work that the city and the developer have done in this development agreement. I I think it's a wonderful agreement. My question is does this prohibition or does the the clause that there will be no uh leases shorter than 30 days. Does that clause put us in the crosshairs of the state legislature where they have restricted our ability to regulate in this area? Sounds vaguely like a legal question. I'm I'm no attorney.

Um it yes, it is a legal question. I can I can fumble for a while if you'd like, but I think Sterling do Oh, he wants me to fumble. Okay. Um, no, this was at the developer's uh proposal. They they did propose this um themselves. So, it wasn't a requirement that that uh staff had made of the developer. I suspect that that uh absolves us of that and and because they are um bringing that forward themselves as the developer, it is on them.

I I I don't know enough about this area to speak intelligently. I'm just concerned that that this the city is signing off on this uh development agreement and we as the council are um proposing to approve it. Um, what specifically does the state legislature prohibit us from doing as a city in this area? Mayor and council, I know um I believe Christina Rubulkava is on as well and I know that she's been involved in this. Is she been the one working with you on it?

As far as the specifics, I I could defer to her if she's available. Thank you, Sterling. Yes. Good afternoon, mayor and council. This is Christina Robulcava, senior assistant city attorney. Um council member, with respect to what the state prohibits, what the state tells us is that for um uh units that qualify as short-term rentals under state law, we cannot regulate those differently than we would regulate your traditional um residential units such as your single family residential.

This does not um really implicate that state statute because the state statute is dealing with mandatory city regulations. This is a contractual arrangement that we are making. Um the developer is part of their reasonzoning application desires to show a benefit to our community. Um and in doing so, they want to restrict short-term rentals and provide rental units for the community recognizing that we do have that housing emergency.

So, this is a voluntary contractual arrangement um that the developers agreed to in order to facilitate um the community benefit of the resoning. Th Thank you for that clarification and I do support uh the development agreement.

And if it's any um comfort, Council Member Spence, this type of arrangement is in many of the development agreements that we've approved and they've all been um agreed to by the developer without a as Christina said, we can't we can't regulate short-term rentals, but developers can propose that they limit. Um I have a very small question. You said that the EV charging stations were publicly available. Is that like public with a capital P someone could park in their parking lot and use these?

Yes, this is an add-on after site plan. So, I don't know the specifics of where they would be or or how uh the public would be accessing, but that was the intent of the the applicant. They are online as well. Uh if you'd like to direct that question to them. Certainly. Am I understanding correctly that the EV charging stations would be available to the general public? Mayor, I'm making them a presenter right now, so they'll hop on. Sorry. Thank you. Luke, are you Yes. Good evening, everybody.

Luke Carowway. I'm the uh project engineer. Sorry if I sound a bit uh horse today. I've been uh b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b battling a sinus infection. Um, yes, the intent is to make the EV charging stations publicly accessible. Um, I I don't know that we discussed if it would require an easement or not, but but it would be, you know, basically the the site is a subdivided lot, but it would be in an open it would basically be in an open driveway and parking area.

So, it it would, you know, it would definitively be open to the public from that respect. I don't necessarily think there's any um like I said any easements that would be that that we would need to to make that any more official, but you know it would be in basically like like an open driveway, open parking lot layout, so it would be accessible to everybody. Thank you very much. Any additional questions, council? If not, and we don't have any um public input, then I am looking for um a motion.

I move that we read resolution number 2025-45 by title only. And a second. I'll second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I. Any opposed? All right. City clerk.

A resolution of the Flagstaff City Council authorizing the execution of the Pinehaven Development Agreement between the city of Flagstaff and RAW RO O DG DT Pine Haven Horizontal LLC related to the development of approximately 13.82 acres of real property generally located at 2951 South Masonic Lane and establishing an effective date. Thank you. Can I get a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. Thank you, Ben.

Next up, 12B, consideration and adoption of resolution number 2025-21. Hello. Good evening, Mayor and Council members. Um, I'm Jolie Mononttoya, water services regulatory compliance section director. I'm here to answer if you had any lingering questions from last last week's work session. Council, do you have any questions? I see none. And we have no public comment. All right. Um, I'm looking for a motion to read the resolution. I move that we read resolution number 2025-21 by title only.

And a second. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? City clerk. A resolution of the Flagstaff City Council adopting an amendment to the Flagstaff Water Services Enforcement Response for the city of Flagstaff. A motion to adopt that we adopt resolution number 2025-21. Second. All those in favor? I Any opposed? All right. Okay. We are moving down now to Thank you, Jolene. We are moving down to item number 13, discussion item. Good afternoon, Mayor and Council.

Shannon Anderson, your senior deputy city manager. Uh this evening we are going to be talking about financial planning and considerations um from our April council budget retreat and then we're going to transition into a conversation about a public safety ballot measure. Um so we have a team that's going to be here before you this evening to be able to present the various topics as part of that discussion. Um and I will be back up to close for today.

Um, again, here's just a recap of our agenda I just covered. Hello, mayor, vice mayor, city council members. Uh, Rick Tatter, management service director. Uh, I'm here to just do an overview of our resource toolbox. Uh we've had conversations like this in the past at some budget retreats and so forth, but it's a good frame as far as what we have available to uh deliver some of these needs that we have in our community.

Um the toolbox is an outline of what types of revenue streams and financings we have available for city operations and also presents how they are approved and and how they can move forward uh by voters or councils. Um, we also demonstrate uh on these slides what fund types uh can generally use these uh tools uh resource tools uh to help with their fiveyear plans, 10-year plans and etc. Uh so that's an outline of kind of how these are laid out. The first item we discuss is user fees and rates.

Uh these are items that are adopted by council. uh user fees are generally uh charged to those who participate in a service and are benefited from it. Uh fees are developed to recover cost of delivering those those types of services and sometimes it range is in we don't recover 100% sometimes 100% sometimes less. Uh we adopt those you know based on council direction and policy.

Some example of the fees uh user fees are you permits, admissions, ramada rentals, fingerprinting and such uh that we charge. Rates are more of a consumptionbased charge uh that we calculate and council adopts. Um basically you know how much you use is how much you pay uh as a consumer. Most common use of these are in our you know water funds, enterprise funds and so forth. property taxes. We have two types of property taxes here at the city of Flagstaff.

Uh primary property taxes are adopted by council action, while secondary property taxes require voter approval uh to use secondary property tax to pay debt. We'll have a little bit more on those later in this presentation, but that's the uh overview there. Transaction privilege taxes are also a resource tool we can use. Uh these also require voter approval in order for us to assess a transaction privilege tax or sales tax as it referred to uh in our community.

Um here's three of the areas that we currently uh have been approved for a uh sales tax and we'll have more discussion on those also in a later slide. uh debt options is one of those resources we have in a toolbox. You know, while we can issue debt, we still need a resource to pay it back. Uh so we need to understand that while we can upfront the cash, we need a resource to pay back debt services. Um most of you know these are all authorizations that council can approve us to go into debt.

Generally, we work with our our finance teams and all our divisions and funds that have five-year plans, talk about what their resource needs over time, and sometimes we may debt finance things like capital projects to deliver sooner rather than later. Um there's various types of debts we can issue from revenue debts, certificate of participations, loans, leases, uh and improvement districts.

Development fees are an item that is approved from by council that is assessed on uh future developments. Uh we do have a slide on this coming up also. Uh so we'll talk about that on on the coming slides. Capacity fees are specific for water services, water and wastewater. They're not development fees. They are capacity fees um that um we can assess to buy into our uh community infrastructure for water and wastewater.

Uh we did adopt these recently with the last rate study is generally when these come around for council to approve. Uh grants are a great resource uh in our toolbox and we are very uh very aggressive and and do a very good job uh researching and exploring grant opportunities in the city of Flagstaff. They come from several areas like federal, state, and foundations. Um we've been very successful uh on some operating and capital grants.

Um some grants do require city match, so we got to make sure that we have the matching resource. uh when we apply for grants and we generally do not use grant funding resources for ongoing operations uh reasoning is when the grant funding goes away we may not have the resources to continue the program. So why go for a grant when you may not continue the program in the long run. So those are more of a short-term capital needs is what we focus on with grants.

Uh, state and federal appropriations is a another great resource that we have. Uh, this is working with our state legislators and federal legislators to to determine if we can get some direct funding from uh from those um levels of government. Um, generally they're directed through a a bill or so forth that uh um Congress or others u approve. And some ex recent examples that we've been successful is, you know, for storm water uh projects.

Uh we got nine million from the state to address the the flooding out 180 and so forth. As well as in this current budget year, um the Moody Mountain uh signal uh we'll be able to work with the um funding that they're giving us as well as uh the wildfire training facility. Uh we've got some direct funding. So, uh, good work there, uh, to get some direct funding, uh, from the state. So, let's, uh, discuss development fees, uh, a little bit.

Uh, these are fees that are are put on, uh, developments, future developments that, uh, expand with on our city. Uh, they must be calculated as a proportionate share of the cost necessarily for public services. And just to to step back, development fees have very strict uh state statute requirements that we must follow in order to implement these and use these. Uh so this information is related to following state statutes. Uh we calculate these based on an infrastructure improvement plan.

What do we expect to um pay for with development fees? And we are actually in a process right now of updating the police and fire uh development impact fees. And we're kicking off additional conversation I'll talk about in a minute. Uh Flagstaff currently has impact fees for public safeties uh for facilities, vehicles and communication equips and such. Uh impact fee grow covers the growth related items. We can't cover replacement uh items.

Um this is really for expansion of um of our capital needs and not necessarily for staffing either. Uh that is not allowable expense and we are updating the plan right now. As we're going through this process right now, we're also looking at uh streets, transportation as an impact fee, our library uh potentially for impact fee, and uh our parks area uh recreation for potential impact fees. We've just kicked those off actually early today for discussions.

So things we can't pay for you know the administrative the maintenance stuff the the operational work that the municipality has to do um expansion of you know you know acquisitions expansion of facilities that are not of public benefit or public service. Uh repair and operation costs again are are not things we can find. Uh the last one is is just a long way of saying we can't use uh development impact fees to increase our service levels.

We can't say oh we we we're deficit of this and we want to increase our service levels by adding X uh to our uh development fee. So those are some of the points related to the development fees. All right, going back to transaction privilege tax and we'll talk about this a little bit later also. Uh transaction privilege tax also known as sales tax does require voter approval. Um it can be dedicated or unrestricted. The general sales tax 1% is unrestricted for general use.

Others we have adopted with a restricted use. uh council can put a ballot measure to have a sunset related to a tax measure or have no uh sunset have it as an ongoing tax resource. A comparison to other cities in Arizona um there other cities have rates of 3% or higher. uh we are a bit below that at this time and every 1% of tax produces about $30 million in annual revenues and then we break that down uh for you.

The table on the right hand side shows where we've been successful with the latest tax uh approvals from our voters and we do appreciate their uh support on these. Um but you see it's a variation of transportation projects uh BBB and our general uh sales tax. The next area is also a debt financing which which comes with a new resource. Uh it kind of does two parts to it. Our use of our secondary property tax and general obligation bonds.

These also require a a voter approval must be on a ballot um for voters to approve can be at any November election um even or odd years. Uh secondary property tax can only be assessed to pay back the general obligation bond debt. Uh we can't use secondary property tax for any other purposes. There are state statutes that limit the capacity of debt we can have on our books at any one time. Uh a 20% limit um is for various sources uh that are outlined here.

Um we have about a $33 million capacity of debt to issue. We're nowhere near that as an agency. Um and the other limitation is 6% of the net assessed valuation which is for everything else doesn't fit under that category such as our housing debt that we u got approval for uh recently. Um so that sets the guidelines as far as a state level what we can uh have on our books at any time.

As a city of Flagstaff's uh policy and and discussions we have a current rate of 0.8 eight uh per $100 in net assessed valuations. We made a pledge during the last uh ballot measure that had general obligation bonds to stay at that rate or below. Um and we maintained that rate uh it's our goal to maintain that rate going forward. Um we've been very successful with that. Uh and I do believe we'll be very successful in the many years to come. The city is allowed to go above that rate if necessary.

um if something occurs in the environment, recession, something that the revenue collection is not going to meet the debt obligations, we could ask for more. We could have a rate higher, but we don't see that in any of the near future at this time. We could also ask authority from the voters to issue additional debt that may bring us above the 08 rate. So, there are ways to be above that rate, but this is just where we're at currently as a policy. with what we have approved.

Um, based on current projections and using that 0.8 rate, uh, over the next 20 years, we have about $72 million in capacity to issue debt and pay back principle and interest for the next 20 years. Uh, that includes projections of growth and assessed valuations as well as cost of the projects. Um, currently we have a prior approval about 40 million that I have not issued yet. We'll start issuing those to maintain that 8% rate over the coming years.

And of course, as we pay off debt, we gain capacity to issue more debt. Uh, and as the years extend, we also have capacity there. Here's kind of a chart showing the example of of paying off debt, gaining capacity over the next 20 years. Uh the blue represents debt we've already issued uh and have debt service payments on. How much of the rate takes up uh to make those debt service payments. The orange are is the items that we have not issued yet.

I'm getting ready to issue some bonds probably next spring which will make us up and maximize the rate uh for several years. And then the the yellowish area is what I consider capacity. We go through a financial analysis and to stay at the 0.8 rate over 20 years that capacity is what we look at um you know after interest what do we have as far as bonds we can issue that's the 7 uh2.5 million is what that represents. So you can see as we pay things off capacity grows uh in this chart.

The other property tax we talked about is primary property tax. Uh this is for unrestricted use. Uh this goes in our general fund for for use of support operations. Um it is adopted by council annually. Uh you decide whether we want to increase uh the levy on an annual basis. The revenues that we're allowed to bring in, but there is a state restriction annually. It goes up 2% to the levy that we are allowed to plus new construction.

uh we have kept our levy or our revenue flat for several years and we're 12% below uh what we're allowed to as a city uh to oppose impose on primary property tax. So there is capacity there. Uh it's just a matter of we if we want to manage or use those as we go through budget process and an annual basis. uh if we do increase the levy the revenue over our baseline this year, we do have also legal requirements for uh truth and taxation. And that was the last side I had on the resource toolbox.

I don't know if you have any questions or we'll just continue on. All right, continue on's good. Uh well, good uh evening, mayor and council. Joanne Keane, deputy city manager. Um, I'm going to kind of take a step back and talk about some of the items that we um talked about during the the the council retreat. Um, I have a slide and then I know Lee will be um up after me. Um, if you recall, we had a discussion at the uh council retreat and then we had a follow-up discussion.

I think it was June 25th of this year where we all kind of walked down memory lane and talked about our um our times at the ORFM if you remember that day. Um but I did want to let the the council know that this is still an item that um that we're moving forward slowly. Um uh council gave us direction during that uh meeting to move forward with a facil facilities condition assessment and also an appraisal on the ORUM.

Um, we also talked about the idea of creating um an arts district and you'll see on this slide that we've we've renamed the arts district to a bond to fund facilities acquisition and maintenance. Um the arts district concept was it was confusing some folks just um the idea that it could be a taxing district. So we think this might simplify some things.

Um, we do expect uh the appraisal and the assessment to to come back um somewhat soon and be able to bring this back to council probably late November. Um, we also included in uh in that discussion as well as the Indigenous Community Cultural Center and we kind of have a rough estimate um of costs at 5 million for that facility and the nonprofit has been selected as well.

So, both of these items are are still in play and we'll be uh pulling a group together as soon as we get that assessment from um on the appraisal on the assessment. Um there's also some other items that we've talked about um consideration in this um bond as well that um we're not quite ready to talk about, but we'll be brainstorming some of those ideas as well. So wanted to just make sure that you had an update on this, know that it's still moving forward and also in play as well.

Thank you, Joanne. Um Vice Mayor has a question. Thank you. I appreciate that we're moving along very swiftly on the safety discussion. I'm a little concerned that we're looking at coming back November and there's, you know, the arts and culture facilities. There might be other things in in the pipeline coming to us. Can you talk a little bit about the timeline and how that works and and what we need to do to really solidify this in time? Sure. Um, I'd be happy to, Vice Mayor.

I you know I think this one is um is a little different because we do have some kind of established groups and organizations in the community that would be working on this. Um and I also think we've done some pre-work on the ICCC. Um I you know I think end of um November I think is probably the soonest we can bring it back but I I don't think that will impact the timeline if this does move forward um on the ballot next year. Thank you for clarifying. Any other questions? Okay. Thank you.

Turn it over to Lee. All right. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Lee Williams, water services director. Thanks for having me here tonight. Um, I'm going to give an abbreviated uh presentation of what I showed you back in April about a new wastewater plant. um just to kind of keep it at the forefront of your minds as we're going through all of this uh funding these funding issues. Um so a quick history of our treatment plants. Uh Wildcat Hill Water Reclamation Plant was built in 1979.

Uh it's served us quite well for the last 40 years. Has a liquid capacity of 6 million gallons per day. Average daily flow currently is at about 4 and a half million gallons per day. And in 1996, the city built another water reclamation plant over on Babbot Drive called the Rio Day Flag Water Reclamation Plant. Uh liquid capacity of four million gallons per day at that one. And average daily flow currently is at about 2.3 million gallons per day.

Uh combined they do about 10 million gallons per day. Um looking forward, it's modeling shows that that we are going to be exceeding that in the nearest future. Um, so if we look up here, um, when I say nearest future, um, modeling shows maybe 10 to 15 years we'll be needing another plant. Um, the reason I use the term liquid capacity is because, um, water conservation efforts, they're excellent. Uh, saves water.

It's prevented us from having to drill new wells, go out, find other new sources of water. However, the sewage is more concentrated and these plants are at their they're they're reaching their solids capacity. And without these water conservation measures, we likely would have be much closer to our liquid capacity as well. So, um I know there's been some some confusion in the past and I don't want to bag on water conservation in in any way. It's been it's been excellent for the city.

Um there's there are just a few consequences um that we need to look look at. Anyway, um current construction cost estimates for building a new water treatment plant are in the 25 to $30 per gallon. That's in today's dollars. Um, so if we were to match our plant and replace the Wildcat Hill Water Treatment Plant at 10 million gallons per day, that puts us in the 250 to$300 million range for a new plant. Uh, that however will not meet the needs of buildout.

As the city continues to grow, people will continue to use their toilets and everything else and we're going to need more capacity. Uh, so estimations uh, modeling shows that we're going to need about 14 million gallons per day at buildout. And that puts us in the 350 to$420 million range for a new plant.

Um we are I when I say we uh Mac McNamera our engineering section director has been having very productive meetings with uh engineers and with some different vendors for different products for wastewater treatment. Uh so we're exploring different options for full buildout versus a phased approach and whether we are going to have to go with a whole new plant or if there are options to uh retrofit an old plant.

I know council member Spence we had a conversation about that and I've been looking into it as Mac Mack has been looking into it I should say and I've been sitting in on those meetings. Uh so trying to find a way to meet the needs of our treatment plant operators as well as the you know the citizens of our community and spend their dollars wisely. Um we could go for a phased approach. Um that would be good. We don't have to spend all the money all at once.

Um we would be running two plants at once which might lead to some operational difficulties maybe needing some extra staffing in the interim. um or and and it could lead to higher costs overall um because there is some kind of a benefit to um you know economy of scale. Um let's move into the funding screen here. Um the design of our new treatment plant is in our 10-year CIP. So the funding is covered for the design. However, it is not funded. We're not funded for construction.

Uh current rate structure does not support construction. um it would be significant increase in our bills if we were to go that direction. Uh some of the potential funding strategies would be uh general obligation bond, revenue debt, um sales tax or rates. Uh we could look into the different rate structures. Uh we are always looking into potential grant opportunities. Um this would not be an ongoing fund as Rick was discussing earlier.

This would be a one-time construction and then we are our rate structure does uh our rate structure does fund operations and ongoing costs currently. Um different grant opportunities. We have the water resources development act. This wouldn't cover construction, but this would cover some of the design costs. So we could maybe repurpose some of the money that we have allocated for that design. And uh the new plant design is on an approved list of projects but not yet funded.

Um, have any other slides or is that the last that's the last one for me. Um, so any any questions for for me? Yes. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Thank you, Lee. I'm wondering if you can go a little more in depth into um when the funding would start and when because we have things coming that are happening pretty quick maybe in the pipeline. So, obviously this is a need for our city. Um can you talk a little bit more about the timeline? Yeah, thank you for the question, Vice Mayor.

Um this is all this is an estimate, but um likely start design in approximately a decade, 10 years out and then uh begin construction in approximately 12 years. Is that close enough? That does help paint the picture for me that this is a little further out on the horizon than what we're talking about tonight. Thank you. We're planting trees in shade whose shade we might not sit in. So, thank you. Thank you. Any additional questions. All right. Good evening, Mayor and Council.

Um, I'm going to start with a slide and a visual you've seen before. We saw this in April at your council retreat when we first broached the subject of um should we begin to as a staff look at other options to close some of the gaps that we have um identified in public safety services. You what you see here are kind of some broad-based categories. Uh Rick's done a nice job of talking about how we use different types of funding sources for some of these uh types of SA public safety expenditures.

Uh the first category, staffing, you know, that's really firefighters and police officers on the ground. Um and our traditional revenue streams uh have struggled in that in uh growing those services. uh support staff within fire uh professional staff within police uh occupational medical services as a uh large expense.

Uh you all have really uh improved the mental health piece of that but we have uh anticipated and expected increases in medical physical occupational health services for police and particularly for firefighters. Uh so those are identified gaps that we know are coming.

Uh equipment technology uh hearts smart fire station alerting uh we have uh essentially 20th century technology that's alerting people to go to calls and uh it's uh um there is so much more uh technology that's available to make that less of a daily stress event.

uh and particularly when we've got three stations running in excess of 3,500 calls a year and so the ability to maybe uh improve that body warn technology and I'm I I read that so that's the extent of my expertise on that matter but the police chief is here if uh you have any questions um replacement apparatus that's a big uh issue for us the maintenance of existing fire stations and replacement apparatus we are unable to use development impact fees, for example, to replace equipment that's already here.

Um, emergency medical service supplies, our call volume is uh exponentially going up and so our dis just things like our disposable supplies uh are increasing rather largely. Data aggregation, our ability to use data to keep the uh community safe is a big issue for us. And then just technology and systems efficiencies as we try to keep up with uh modern public safety services uh in uh the execution of our mission. And then facilities, great news.

I I saw the mayor smile when the Rick mentioned uh a $4 million grant through the governor governor's office. We're excited about that. Um we uh are working uh feverishly with uh engineering. Uh Paul Mood's team is is getting ready to get us into a procurement effort to try to get that project off the ground. A police substation, fire station 7 for our newest growth area that we refer to as the John Wesley Powell corridor.

Um the uh the the completion of the fire training center which has not been completed. Uh we've been in temporary facilities. uh fire administration. I won't use my tire joke that the manager wants us out of city hall, but it's uh Oh, we just did. I'm sorry, Drake. Um but city hall is is compressed and we need more space for our city services at city hall. So, we're designing that.

And um you know certainly the public safety apparatus story would just when we have a a mission that involves wildland firefighting, it involves emergency medical services, it involves structural firefighting. Um it requires us to have a uh a fleet of different type of equipment for each risk and it's difficult to house it. Currently we're running out of space.

um just the uh kind of the nexus to you know all public services, the city's uh public uh um the city's goal for PBB um a safe and healthy community and our efforts as a staff since April have been exploring for uh a potential public safety measure that might help close the gap on those city services. Um what we what we feel from a staff perspective is that that effort is a way for us to kind of close the gap and continue to place that priority that community priority uh to the forefront.

our objectives. Um while we in April in our staff review, we've kind of got uh we we started with a focus on police and fire, what we have learned through that staff effort is we also got to bring along emergency management. We also have to to address the the shortcomings and the gaps that have been identified in our aircraft um rescue firefighting force at the airport. And so we've engaged them and they're included uh in the staff effort to kind of pull these things together.

Um and our plan would be to uh enhance community engagement by going to the community and having these conversations about public safety. Um and you know as we grow the built environment, we've talked about this several times, but the environment is changing. And so the natural environment is changing. It's introducing threat to the community. We saw the devastating effects of that in Southern California.

And the other parts of the environment is the built environment inside the city where we're seeing the risk change from single family dwellings to multiple family and uh multiple floor mid-rise development. And so those are some of the factors that have gone into uh the work of the staff. We went together and put together a really great team.

Um that team includes leadership, finance, communication, civic engagement, uh the police department, fire department, emergency management, and the airport group associated with the airport uh firefighting piece. And we have been since April, since the since your concurrence, we've been evaluating the various options that might be used to close that gap. Um, and we have uh broadened the net to include those missing u portions of public safety that were not identified in in April.

And we have kind of continued that ongoing uh discussion on what are those one-time and ongoing needs within public safety. And what matters is oftentimes what's really at play is what type of revenue source can we match to that type of need. That's it. All right. Uh so public safety general fund you know as you know at an annual base it is difficult to fund everything and all our needs that would get us to the the the high class what we want to be.

Uh so we always have struggles annually to fund ongoing needs in our public safety areas. Um you know so we're looking at you know how do you find dedicated sources? How do you actually move forward with other resources in the toolbox to address these critical needs and this growth that we have in our community to fund uh many of these um these areas of public safety? Um you know structural items, airport, wildland fire, paramedics, all those things.

You know, we need to find a funding source to to grow in the future to fund uh stations and so forth. um continuing cost of of sworn personnel and and civilian police officers. Uh the growth of that emergency management is is a new program. It's not fully funded. We we've kicked it off. We started the conversation. And of course facilities equipment, you know, got to even if you build it, you got to have the money to to operate it, but we got to have the fund to build it also.

So, as we're looking at, you know, how do we move forward? Um, we're starting to develop a whole, you know, plan putting in the buckets of what we need. Uh, we've had a great conversation for the last several months of of here's the needs and now we're going to try and find out how do you fund these types of things? Um, and it's kind of where the conversation started in the last retreat. What are our opportunities uh for a public safety uh support?

We talked about development impact fees a little bit earlier. Uh, these are the growth related items. uh that we can fund. Uh this will definitely be a mixture of what we bring forward as we're talking about uh the shortage of needs and expansion. This is not to increase our service level but to provide those facilities based on growth. Uh so we do see that several capital items uh may be funded with development fees. a general obligation bonds.

Uh again, these are for those one-time needs, those facilities. You know, if there's a gap in what we can't fund with development fees, maybe a lean on on on general obligation bonds or maybe use a sales tax to pay for those capital needs. These are things we're kind of trying to measure out. Um we know we've got other uh consideration for general obligation bonds uh in our community that we may want to bring forward also uh such as wastewater treatment plants and so forth.

So, we're we're looking at that as as a possible uh help for this. So, those first two are kind of those onetime items, the capital, the one-time uh commitments. The next one is is really where we're struggling is that ongoing resource, that ongoing need to fund public safety uh strategies and growth.

And so this is where we look to these types of of items like the transaction privilege tax, having a dedicated tax like we do for for BBB and transportation and force that is specifically used for public safety. And that is a as a better way to fund ongoing operations than a geo bond or development fees. Uh special revenue funds, you would kind of look at this as an an opportunity. uh how it how it's it's hard to uh create a fee to fund public safety.

So, it's hard to create another special revenue fund. So, this one's kind of not likely to use, but we could use the fee to fund the wildland fire side of the equation. Uh something we're considering. So, those are some of the strategies we look at. You know, I'll say we did omit things like grants. Uh we've been good at grants. Again, that's the capital side. doesn't help with operations or state and federal appropriations.

Again, if we get those types of fundings, we don't need as much uh voter approval. So, we really think a dedicated sales tax is a good thing to bring forward and have a conversation with uh a committee and and council of consideration for a uh ballot measure uh next November. So, there's some benefits that we see with a dedicated uh sales tax. You know, it ensures we're getting the funds needed for public safety and they're used specifically for uh those approved uh needs.

It makes it a sustainable, predictable revenues. You know, while we do have, you know, peaks and valleys, it's still a much easier revenue stream to manage over time. uh and and takes off the reliability of other uh general fund needs. Uh the community investment, it aligns with, you know, prior based budget, safe and healthy community, what our community desires uh to deliver a a better level of service, a higher level of service.

Uh the economic impact, I think this is a good one that you know, not just city um residents pay sales tax. uh we have visitors and people outside the city that buy in our community. We are a hub and so that decreases our residents tax burden and puts on also the others that use our services in our community. So it's a great uh reason to have a sales tax. It's customizable. You know, we can we can start with a sales tax and and and bring it down sunset a portion.

Uh we could decide to have a sunset on it. to say we'll renew it every 20 years, 25 years, uh or uh just approve it ongoing and not have a sunset. Uh all of our taxes now have a sunset for for certain reasons, but it is an option the council will have uh as we bring this ballot measure forward.

Um yeah, so if you bring in capital expenses, maybe you you have a higher tax at the beginning, but then you decrease it over time, take care of those capital needs, but then pay fund those operations ongoing. So those are some of the the key areas we thought a dedicated sales tax is a good thing to bring to community members and have a conversation on. And tell me I'm done now. Okay. So the next topic with our public safety uh potential ballot measure is a citizen review committee.

Um so this committee would be established uh of community members. We're going to have a list here in the following slide that gives some ideas of maybe who that might include for your consideration. Uh they would receive information on public safety needs as the staff gathers that and creates presentations for them. Uh municipal finance as well as the fiscal realities um within our city's budget. Uh they would gather community input on public safety priorities.

Typically this is done through a community survey. Um again they would be meeting and conferring on the needs, the priorities and the various funding sources. Um in their role they hold public meetings. So the public is able to come to all of their uh scheduled meetings as well as discussions. Um they can hold committee meetings uh which usually happens on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

Um and then request additional information as needed to assist them in their deliberations um as they determine what type of recommendation uh they would bring back to council. um they consider that information that's been presented, additional research that they might conduct on their own and again that citizen input.

Um in the end the recommendations come back to city council um typically in a prioritized order so you know what the committee felt was most important based on all the feedback that they received during that six to ninemonth process um for council to consider for that potential ballot measure. So, as staff talked about um what could the citizen review committee look like? Um, of course, we want to have diversity.

Um, we want to make sure that the committee reflects um those that are in our community. Um, and so you'll see a list of proposed representatives um that could uh create uh this particular committee.

Uh you see the Chamber of Commerce NAHH um our various community associations, um our educational institutions, uh ForeFry, which is uh related to our fire service, um some of our uh social service providers such as Flagstaff Shelter Services, Teros, Naka, um insurance industry representatives, um veterans affairs, um some business owners residents um members from our advisory boards that are within our police department.

Um you'll see indigenous and cross disability um but not the Hispanic advisory board because we're not certain that will be up and running by November, but should it be we certainly can include um a member from that advisory board as well. Um we also have the police department citizen liaison committee um aona northern Arizona leadership association um and then a few of our community interest groups as well.

Um, so as we get to the end of our presentation, um, we'll ask council, are these the representatives that you think, um, will help us be able to look at this through the community lens in order to bring recommendations back. The next couple slides go over our project schedule. Um, so again, the goal here is to identify our key milestones and kind of when they'll happen over the next year. Um so here in September um we're confirming a potential ballot measure and then discussing the committee.

October is when staff will be developing those materials and creating a schedule. Um and then also working with members to confirm who is able to participate and start getting their availability um so the committee member meetings can be scheduled over the next six to nine months. Um and then November we're hoping to kick off those committee meetings. Um that's a little earlier than when we did the bond that started at the end of November and we got a little tight towards the end.

So we're hoping to begin a little bit earlier in November. Um looking at 2026 in January we would launch a community survey. In February we would be back in front of council during your budget retreat providing an update. Um in April there would be a formal presentation to council with an additional update. Um and then in May is when that final recommendation would come forward to council. Looking at summer of 26 in early June, um again that recommendations presented.

Um in late June, if council is in support of this ballot measure, uh the council would call a November 2026 special election. Um July we would launch a website um that would contain content about the proposition to begin education. Um and then in July we would also begin a publicity pamphlet that would be done early August.

Um again in fall of 2026 we would present our public outreach plan to council to make sure that we're conducting enough outreach and hitting those areas that you think are most important. Um and again uh create that public knowledge of the website and the outreach. Um in October we typically would have a joint city county meeting where we would like to present about the ballot measure um prior to that election in November.

So again for today um we're hoping that we can answer um any questions that you have, hear your feedback and thoughts. Um, we'd like to hear if you do desire to engage a citizen review committee um to help us with a potential ballot measure on public safety. Um, and if you are in support of us continuing to explore this topic. Thank you. You're welcome. Council, do you have questions? I uh you said special election, so it wouldn't be on the regular election in November of 2026.

I that might be my mistake. I'm going to defer to my city clerk, mayor, council Stacy Saltzburg, communication and civic engagement director. So, um it would be held with our typical general election in November, but when we add these um what I'll call like add-on items, it's actually considered a special election, but it's combined with the regularly occurring general election. Okay. Thank you. Can you take us to the next slide? This one or the other way? That one.

So, council, how are you feeling about this? Pretty good. Uh, you know, this is a second conversation we've had about this. We all talked about it at budget retreat a while ago. Um, I was pretty bullish about it then. I I remain so. I think we need to get this passed and uh I look forward to supporting the effort. I do have a question about the citizen review board uh committee. Um I'm just I'm just wondering generally what constitutes a a a community interest group.

Um, is there an official definition for that or can six people just get together and call themselves uh, you know, like our water group is probably an a little ad hoc um, unofficial casual gathering of brilliant people. um do they have the same right at the table as an organization like FCubed with 30 years of experience and uh F you know 501c4 status and um three uh just just sort of curious about all that. Yes.

If you believe that the Flagstaff Water Group would have an interest in serving in this committee, we absolutely can. That was just an example. Oh, but you're you're responding to the example. Okay. Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you. Um the goal of the community interest groups that we've identified is they're individuals that we typically engage with on public safety.

Um and so again, that's how these were identified, but if there's others that council feel um we want to make sure that they have a seat at the table, we certainly can um update this list. That's really the intent of sharing it with you today. And my instinct is the more the marrier, especially when you're trying to get a ballot measure passed um by popular vote in an election. True. Uh, Vice Mayor, thank you. I just have a couple of comments.

Um, I am supportive of going further and investigating this and I'm really happy to see the citizen group and and who's on there and of course anyone listening if you want to get involved. Um, tonight we talked about how to do that. So, we want your voice. Um, I guess I you know what comes to mind? We've had a couple of cities try and do this dedicated sales tax for public safety and some have passed and some haven't. And so I'm hoping we're taking lessons on on perhaps what didn't work.

Um and I know Chief and I have talked about that. Um so keeping that top of mind and there's other things in the pipeline. I just want to remind everyone of that. But I am very supportive of this. I do think that our our city is growing. We cannot keep up with the demands and I think this is an important discussion. So, thank you, Council Member Spence. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I'd like to try to um get in front of my mind the the bigger picture of sales tax.

In November of 24, we asked the public to vote on a BBB uh uh sales tax increase on those specific uh purchases. and Mountain Line um asked for a a sales tax increase for Mountain Line operations. I'd like to ask what did what is the effect of those two sales tax increases which the people approved? What effect did those two have on our overall sales tax level in comparison with other cities in Arizona? And if I could just jump in, the BBB was not an increase. It was just a renewal of that tax.

Council member Spence, uh here you have the table as far as the city taxes uh involved. Of course, the BBB is only on specific categories, uh hotels, short-term rentals, restaurants, bars. Um but the base rate that you look at for uh retail type items is our current, you know, 2.486%. 486%. Um, kind of identified in the middle of the page here. As I mentioned, there are half of the cities have a sales tax in the retail category, 3% or higher.

Uh, so that's just a quick comparison at the city tax rate. Um, there's also considerations of, you know, how much is their county tax rate, you know, versus other counties. That's another thing we take into consideration for the total tax rate. Uh so here you can see it it bumped us up uh to 2.48 almost 2.5 uh rate um and it went up about percent uh from the transit tax. So that's how much that bumped up over time. Thank you. That's a good perspective.

And and we also like to show you kind of when things expire because when things expire the rate would go down unless there's another ballot measure to replace a tax or continue attack. So there are those opportunities also get you what you need. Council member Spence, did you have any additional questions? No, that answered my question and I appreciate the presentation and I am totally supportive of this uh citizens group that's being proposed.

I think it certainly will uh help um focus uh how to message this for the November 26 election. I too am um supportive and I think that the citizens review committee is crucial to this and um I'm I'll be really interested to hear their input into this whole process and to see this when it comes back to us. Anything else? That's everything for us. Thank you, Mayor. All right. Thank you. Okay, next up we have future agenda item requests. And just a reminder how these work.

Um we will take public comment and tonight the council is only deciding whether to have a conversation about this petition. So, three members of the council need to give a thumbs up in order to move this item forward and um and then it will be placed on a future agenda item. If a council member wants to state why they gave a thumbs up or thumbs down, um they can do so, but we are not getting into a discussion of it tonight. But we will hear public comment. So first up, uh Jolene, is it Barnes?

Yeah, thank you. Um yeah, so mayor, city council members, I'm Jolene Bowers. I have a scientist. Um I'm here tonight with my with my climate action team. So, thank you very much for your valuable time um and for your leadership, especially in prior prioritizing sustainability um and tonight we're proposing a next step to fill a critical gap in our climate actions and our goal of uh carbon neutrality.

So, we're requesting that you add Flagstaff's endorsement of the plant-based treaty as a topic for a future city council meeting. Uh this endorsement is not legally binding, but it would be a commitment to incorporating plant-based food strategies into climate action plans. Uh this is a global initiative to drive local government action to address the highly significant yet almost completely overlooked greenhouse gas emissions from animal agriculture.

Uh the treaty provides not only a roadmap for a sustainable food system but also playbooks for actions at the local level all with food justice in mind. So the information and the tools are there for us to use. endorsement would show our city's commitment to aligning our climate action with science now clear and irrefutable that a livable future is simply not possible without a fundamental shift away from animal agriculture.

We're fully aware of the sensitivity of this topic, especially here with a deep heritage and farming and ranching. Um, speaking of water conservation, my team was recently cancelled from a water conservation day event, citing partnerships with ranchers after we told them that our display would show how producing a single 4 ounce factory rear farmed hamburger uses the water equivalent of 20 26 showers. One burger, a month's worth of showers, and no one wants to talk about it. Um, and we get it.

No one wants to hurt the livelihoods of our farmers and ranchers. That's why we're here. Uh we need to open a formal dialogue um and partner with our agricultural community for this just transition of our food and farming. So adding the treaty to your agenda would start that necessary and compassionate conversation um and allow us to explore together what that would look like for Flagstaff um and true carbon neutrality. Thank you. Thank you, Susan Hansen.

Uh, good afternoon, mayor and members of the Flagstaff City Council. My name is Susan Hansen, and I have resided in the city of Flagstaff for over 50 years. I am also a member of the Northern Arizona Climate Change Alliance, NASCA. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I am so pleased that the city of Flagstaff recognizes the urgency of addressing and combating our global climate crisis and with that in mind established the carbon neutrality plan.

We have ta you have taken important measures by tackling emissions from transportation and transitioning to electric vehicles, investing in the health of our forests, increasing our emergency preparedness, updating infrastructure, addressing water conservation, reducing food waste and resultant methane emissions, composting, and more. We also appreciate your support of the local farmers market and community gardens.

All this makes a substantial contribution to the reduction of our com community's carbon footprint. But we must go further to fill a critical gap. I urge you to explore the principles set forth in the plant-based treaty to address the highly significant greenhouse gas emissions from animal agriculture. The reality is far broader. Scientific research shows that animal agriculture is not just a leading driver of methane emissions.

It is a system that uses an astonishing 83% of the world's farmland, nearly half of the planet's habitable land service surface and onethird of our fresh water. a most precious resource in Arizona while providing just 18% of our calories. This is a huge inefficiency that we can no longer afford, especially as the world's population continues to grow.

By recognizing that our food system has profound environmental impacts and therefore requires a public policy response, we have the chance to show the young people in our community that they that we hear their calls for bold action. Flagstaff chose to lead the world as a dark sky city, proving that a small mountain town can have a global impact by following science and values. We ask that you lead with that same moral clarity once again.

Placing the issue of endorsing the plant-based treaty on a future city council agenda would be a crucial step in clearing a path forward for a livable planet. Thank you again for your time. Thank you Jill Stevenson. Good evening, mayor and council. I'm Jill Stevenson back again. Um, the plant-based treaty provides an excellent opportunity for our city council to openly discuss one of the major causes of our climate crisis. The way we raise food in this country is unsustainable.

Massive methane producing cattle feed lots and confined animal feeding operations. Extensive acres of farmland producing food only for these factory farmed animals. Soil destroying farming methods. Exorbitant use of water. All these practices are worsening our air, water and earth. All of us are being negatively affected by our current agricultural systems. Many of us suffer increased allergies, asthma, and other minor or major health problems.

We are driving many species towards extinction, often due to loss of habitat because more land and water are being used to support our industrial food system. Educating all all of us on better ways to obtain and use foods grown with sustainable practices should be a climate related goal supporting our cl car carbon neutrality plan. Flagstaff should set the example as we do in many ways towards more positive steps in the mitigation of the effects of our two rapidly changing climate.

You are our city leaders. You have the opportunity to lead us in positive directions as you have before. Please address the plant-based treaty in a near future agenda. Thank you. Thank you, Amy Ellen. Hi Good evening, uh, mayor and council members. My name is Amy Allen. The proposal we've outlined is not simple or straightforward, but the opportunity for Flag Staff to lead is real, practical, and perfectly timed. Everyone in this room has likely heard of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Surprisingly, the agreement does not mention animal agriculture despite it being a critical contributor to global warming and an essential part of meeting climate goals. Transformative changes to our food system have been largely ignored and at times even resisted at the government level. Here in Flagstaff, the timing could not be better to adopt the plant-based treaty.

The city's recently secured USDA grant titled Assessing and Growing a Community Food System is the perfect vehicle for this work. That grant, as you likely know, was designed to create a roadmap for an equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system that supports healthy, vibrant communities. This is exactly what the plant-based treaty proposes. One of the initial findings from that grant's assessment is telling.

None of the counties in northern Arizona are meeting recommended fruit and vegetable intake levels. The plant-based treaty provides an opportunity to change that. The safe and just report provides a framework for addressing food deserts with socially just proposals. Proposals that can be directly integrated into the road map you are already building with this grant. We would not be the first to take this step.

We would join almost 50 cities worldwide, including major hubs like Los Angeles and Edinburg that had that have endorsed the treaty. Importantly, endorsing the treaty does not obligate action. But these cities are already taking action from promoting plant-based meals in public institutions to supporting urban farms and community gardens. We would not need to start from scratch.

We would access a powerful globally recognized framework that can connect our local efforts to a worldwide movement and open the door to new partnerships. We fully recognize the work we're asking for and believe that there's a dedicated community of Flagstaff residents that would be eager to help get this off the ground. We can really start off slow and develop it as we go. We recognize this is a sensitive subject and it may not be a simple yes or no, but we hope Thank you. Thank you very much.

Um, Sterling, I have a question for you. Can I bring Jenny up? Um, mayor, that is within your discretion as as the chair, although typically staff doesn't get involved in fairs until um it's moved forward if that is what happens, but that's that's within your discretion. Thank you very much. Please come up, Jenny. Hello, Jenny. Um, I have a question. Yes.

Um I know that you all are working on a lot of food related issues and that the carbon neutrality plan that you're having open houses and that um as I understand it, you're not looking to add things to the carbon neutrality plan. You're you're just getting feedback on things. So, where does um where does this element of food systems um where does it or does it appear in any of your work? Yes, thank you so much, Mayor Daget. Uh Jenny Neman, climate action section director.

So, uh we do talk about food systems within the carbon neutrality plan. It is under our sustainable consumption target area. So we talk about um consumption in general, but really it it falls down to waste and and sort of materials management as well as food systems.

Um and that sort of part of the carbon neutrality plan supports our work um that Steve Thompson is here to talk about if needed about sort of all of our food systems work some of which was mentioned um you know on our community gardens on our urban farm work etc. Uh you mentioned the carbon neutrality plan open houses. We are um having open houses pretty much right now um and over the next month.

What those give an opportunity to do is for the community to come talk to us about how we are implementing our climate goals. As you said, we're not changing our climate goals. We're not changing the strategies and the plan. That includes our sustainable consumption strategy that speaks to food systems. But what we want to hear from the community is how do you want that to look? How do you want us to show up in your neighborhood? Um what concerns you have? What values and priorities you have?

So, um that's sort of what we're hoping to engage folks on on the open house. And because I'm here, I will say our first one is uh on this Saturday, the 20th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Uh then we have one next week and the week after that. Um so we hope folks do come for that. But I hope that answers that your question and Steve and I are here to answer any questions if needed. Saturdays at the Murdoch Center. Yes, it is. Thank you.

Um, as part of of how you implement goals, could you add um some of the information about a plant-based diet and the water saved and and land um uh amount of land that doesn't have to go on, you know what I'm saying? for agriculture. Can you add that information into your food systems work? Hi, good evening, uh, Mayor Daget and council members. Steven Thompson, city of Flagstaff Sustainability Division. Uh, I work in a lot of different areas, including food systems.

And within the food action plan, we're in the drafting phase for uh specific actions and strategies to take. So there is an opportunity to add more information and provide um I would say resources to find ways to encourage saving water and other food systems practices. We will not like specify or uh encourage any specific sort of like dietary preferences because that's up to each individual.

But having these different practices out outlined can be a resource we can include uh for the food action plan. Uh we will also be hosting several open houses in October um that there will be a press release coming out in the next couple of weeks to detail those locations. There will also be a place online and the new connect flag staff that's portal for community members to provide comments on the designated uh food actions themselves, the overarching goals and any other information.

But in the information that you put out, you could put a pound of broccoli takes this much water. a pound of carrots takes this much water, a pound of beef takes this much water. We we could that's something we can definitely look at um depending on where it fits into the the food action plan itself and then furthering education. Um we do a lot of educational workshops in our community gardens and they focus on a huge range of topics.

So that would definitely be something that could be included in our educational materials and resources that are put out. So it would be important for the public to turn out and let you know that they were interested in that. Yes, it's very important for folks to to turn up and provide their feedback and comments on all of these platins because it will either end up in the plan itself or in the implementation phases as appropriate. Thank you very much. Thank you.

So, council, at this point, um we're looking for thumbs up or thumbs down and then if you would like to make a or thumbs up actually because thumbs down is such a negative um thing. We're just looking for three council members who are interested in moving this forward to a future discussion and you can make a comment about why you went either way. So, um, those who would like to move it forward for, um, additional discussion, can I see a thumb? Okay. And I don't see any from Oh, okay.

We have two thumbs up. Council member Garcia puts a thumbs up as well. Um, I am what I would like to see is the discussion go through this process with staff and then come back uh to council when you present because I think that that is a more appropriate um avenue for discussing the items. Anyone else like to say something? Council member Spence. Thank you, Mayor. I The reason I'm thumbs up is because this is a a very important topic in achieving our carbon neutrality goal.

Full disclosure, I'm active in the NASCA group, have been for a long time, and I campaign for city council on pledging action to achieve our carbon neutrality goals. So, I want this to come forward for a full discussion. Uh, our ranching and farming community is is not represented here tonight. So, moving it onto a full future council agenda allows them to come and and present uh their side of our food supply story.

And uh I just uh hope we can uh discuss this more fully and I think the staff could come prepared to make presentations when we do have it if and when we do have it as a future agenda item. Thank you. Uh Council Member Alen, did you have your hand up? Council member Alen. Thank you. Um yeah, I kind of feel similarly to the mayor and so I've, you know, I've I've developed a pretty high threshold over the last seven years on council for moving citizen petitions forward.

Um, and that that philosophy has evolved over time, but I'm I'm pretty confident about it these days. Um, and I've elected not to support petitions that I personally liked uh for many different reasons. I personally uh like this petition. Um, so here's my rubric. Uh, I find that petition wording is flawed enough that it's just not practicable. I find the relevancy isn't local enough.

Uh I feel the petition is too prescriptive when I prefer a more open-minded approach or that I see we're already meeting the need with things that we're already doing within the city. And another one, I feel advancing a petition ultimately overburdens staff and the city apparatus.

Agendaizing things represents an enormous um uh amount of resources in terms of person hours and uh department um conversations and positioning and uh or finally I'm concerned that the cause doesn't rise to a sufficient threshold of representing the general public in Flagstaff. It's too niche. Um I I do have some of those concerns uh about this petition, not all of them.

Um, and so I that's why I've decided not to move it forward, but I'm also confident um that that we're kind of doing a lot of this stuff. Uh, I was going to ask Jenny to come up too. Um, you know, we're we had this this topic has an opportunity to be openly discussed um at the CNP open houses uh and at the uh the the food action plan uh conversations that are happening right now. So I feel like that platform already exists and uh we're in the process of seeking that kind of engagement.

Um in a in a sense I kind of feel that need is being met and uh that's my reasoning. Vice Mayor, thank you. And I do want to thank you all for bringing this forward. Um, I did not put my thumb up, but please know that I am supportive in having the conversation and I like I do agree with council member Alen. I do believe we're doing a lot of this and there's a lot of opportunity to have your voice.

So, the open houses, it's in the carbon neutrality plan already in the regional plan under the food system policies. We've got the Flagstaff food action plan, community gardens, various education and events, urban farm incubators, and several other initiatives.

So, I think, you know, this is a great addition to the topics that are already being discussed, and I I do believe that our sustainability staff that are amazing will take tonight and incorporate it into future discussions with council and the community. Thank you, Council Member Garcia. Thank you. Excuse me, Madame Mayor. Thank you, uh, Madame Mayor.

I just wanted to um to say that my my ideals kind of do track along the same lines as as the mayor uh council member Ashlin and and vice mayor in that for all the reasons that they stated uh we are doing so much in this area and um you know uh I think we're covering our bases really well.

The reason I put my thumb up though is because um I don't think that there's anything wrong with having a broader discussion and bringing more people in from all sides in order to um you know to carry the weight of this priority. Um while it may be niche, it's also something that's not discussed enough.

And while I think that there would be I mean I I I really searched my brain for this one this past week in researching how we could make this into um some sort of policy and for the region like Council Member Ashlin said it it doesn't make a whole lot of sense regionally for us up here. Um, and and for Flag Staff, I I don't I don't really know how I could formulate a policy that would that would that would constitute all the work that would go into putting that policy together.

But I do support the conversation and uh um I also agree with the mayor that a lot of this can be fleshed out with the public's participation in um what's happening with the events coming up soon. So, thank you guys. All right.

So, although this isn't moving forward, um staff, you've you've heard that we would like you to make sure that you've got this input and um and in the food systems work and in the carbon neutrality plan and thank you for bringing the issue forward to us and speaking so eloquently to the issue. Thank you. All right, we are moving down to open. No, yes, open call to the public. And I don't see any. So,formational items two from mayor, council, and staff and future agenda item requests.

I'm going to start with council member Garcia. Thank you very much, Madame Mayor, and I do apologize to the public and staff for not being able to make it there tonight, but I am recovering from a surgery quite well and hope to see you guys very soon at the next meeting and at some other things that are happening later on this week when I feel a little bit more up to it. Um, this is uh just a comment uh in line with Hispanic Heritage Month.

Um recognizing that for centuries Hispanic and Latino influences have been woven into Arizona state's very identity. As a border state with Mexico, Arizona's culture is deeply shaped by Spanish and Mexican traditions. from this from its architecture and cuisine to its language and its arts. This heritage is especially important here in Flagstaff, where Hispanic and Mexican-American families have been foundational in the city's growth since the 1800s.

You got to remember it's less than 200 years that Arizona and the United States has has ruled, you know, has had precedence over this territory. Prior to that, it was Mexico. Many Hispanic families, including my own, migrated to northern Arizona as sheep herders, as railroad workers, as entrepreneurs, and as laborers for the lumber industry.

They settled in historic neighborhoods and despite facing uh equal amounts of discrimination throughout the years have created a tight-knit community and a culture that enriches the region. Flagstaff Newest Ryes works to preserve and share this heritage, ensuring these stories are not forgotten.

And my goal is to or throughout the month of October and early November or excuse me, late September and early October um to highlight uh local stories of Hispanic um heritage and the achievements that have helped Flagstaff become Flagstaff because of our shared history with um my people. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Alen. I was you caught me just thinking about how cool that was. Uh, Council Member Garcia, um, I don't have anything tonight. Vice Mayor, couple of things.

Tomorrow we have the City of Flagstaff employee barbecue and picnic. I'll be there. And then Thursday, I'll be on a panel for the Flagstaff Leadership Program, LED day. I did graduate from FLP years ago, as I believe the mayor has as well. um very formative and then after that I will be attending the shoemaker awards at LOL Observatory and council member house has stepped out of the meeting. Council member Spence. Thank you mayor.

Um a couple weeks ago we had a presentation by Nicole Antonopoulos and Eric Nielsen on virtual power purchase agreements. And this uh greening, this basically is how can we green our electric grid uh as quickly as possible and as rapidly as we must, I must confess while this is in my wheelhouse as a climate activist, I I was left not really knowing what a a wreck or a VPA was after even after those presentations.

So what I'm sharing with the council tonight and the public tonight is that the Arizona Daily Sun on published on August 30th a a half-page article written by Sam Mclofflin whom heard that presentation here in our council chambers and his um journalistic approach. I highly recommend it to everyone to read uh Arizona Day on Saturday, August 30th.

If you read this, you will have a better understanding and will be on a much clearer footing when Eric Nielsen comes back before our council with a memorandum of agreement for us to consider on VPA. So, um, look it up. Thank you, council member. Okay, I have a few things. So, have patience with me because sometimes I don't have anything. I um would like to commend the fire department and the police department on the 911 memorial.

Um it's always a really meaningful event and this year was no different. I'd like to remind people about the Flagstaff Festival of Science. If you haven't yet, you can download the app so you can see all of the activities going on. Friday night there is a speaker. All events are free. Um so join us for for one or more of those activities. Also science in the park on Saturday. Uh Saturday night I was honored to address the audience of Flagstaff Takes the stage.

This was the first time that all the theater companies in Flagstaff came together to do preview acts of their upcoming season and it was wonderful to see them working together and to be with my people again. Um, Sunday was Fiesta de Indepensia and and um, Council Member Garcia so well stated. I had a meeting with um Christian Lewis from the Small Business Administration who has been touring around Northern Arizona in communities that have been impacted by the fires on the North Rim.

And um one thing that he mentioned is that in some of these really small areas, there isn't local journalism and it makes it difficult to get the word out about things. Um, so thank you for referencing the Daily Sun. Uh, later that day I was on the radio for KNAU and again I'm just grateful that we have these local these local sources for news and I hope we don't ever take it for granted how important that they are.

I spoke to Erin Czison's freshman class last week and one of my college roommates, her son is now in the class. Um so that's something and um but it it just they asked the most amazing questions. It was it was so wonderful. Um we had our alliance for the second century um meeting with NAU CCC FUSD Mountain Line City County.

Um it's wonderful that we get together once a quarter and sister cities we met to talk about welcoming our sister city of um Navajoa Sonora to Flag Staff for about two and a half days to work with our fire department. Um they want to talk to our fire department about recruitment of female firefighters and do some cultural exchanges, talk about economic development. and I'm excited to see them again.

And I'll make sure that you all know um anything any public events because this is just a wonderful group of people that we are joined with. That is all that I have. Um city manager, nothing from our team. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Then we're adjourned.