City Council - Regular Meeting

All right, we are ready to get start. Somebody has their microphone on up here. Today is Tuesday, May 5th, 2026. This is All right, we're getting started. This is the city council's regular meeting. I am calling it to order and giving notice that at this meeting the city council may vote to go into executive session which will not be open to the public for consultation and discussion with the city's attorneys. And can we have roll call? Mayor Dagot here. Vice Mayor

here. Council member Alen here. Council member Garcia here. Council member House.

Council member Matthews here. Council member Spence here. Thank you. I see council member House online. Um, but we will move on to the pledge of allegiance. And uh, Council Member Matthews, would you lead us in the pledge of allegiance? Happy to please stand if you're able. I alian to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands nationy and justice for all.

Council member Garcia, would you read our mission statement? Yes. Thank you, Madame Mayor. The mission of the city of Flagstaff is to protect and enhance the quality of life for all. And Council Member Alen, would you read our land acknowledgement? Flagstaff City Council humbly acknowledges the ancestral homelands of this area's indigenous nations and original stewards. These lands still inhabited by native descendants, border mountains sacred to indigenous peoples. We honor them, their legacies, their traditions, and their continued contributions. We celebrate their past, present, and future generations who will forever know this place as home.

Thank you. Next up is open call to the public where the public can address the council about an item that is not on the printed agenda. You have three minutes. There is a clock down here right below me. And first speaker is Rose Tohi. Good afternoon, Mayor Daget, Vice, Vice Mayor, and Council for this day. Um, that's who I am. um in with my DA clans and I have our chair our one of our co-chairs for our indigenous commission here. Um, the reason why I wanted to do a public um, comment was just to thank Mayor and um, Vice Mayor and also council member [clears throat] Matthews as well as Garcia that they've been over at Naka where we had a proclamation for our murdered and missing indigenous relatives and I really appreciate that everybody showed up there. Um and I just wanted also to just give a highlights from some of the proclamation um which is about how our indigenous women girls um two spirited and gender diverse individuals experience um disproportionately high rates of violence, murder and disappearance across the United States and Canada. And today, May 5th, is in remembrance of all those of all our

relatives that are missing or murdered. And I just wanted to give them some time to remember them. Um, our Native American women face new murder rates, more than 10 times the national average in some jurisdictions, and with many cases going unreported and unresolved or lacking adequate investigations and and accountability. And in remembrance of the countless indigenous individ individuals impacted by violence, it is essential to raise awareness and support affected families and communities and advance justice and uplift their voices to to end this crisis and build a safer and a safer future for all of them and including all relatives no matter the color that are murdered and missing. just want to say that we honor them and that we have prayers for their families that they would that they are um in a good place in in lifting the voices of their relatives so that things will happen process will progress. So, thank you, Rose. Jessica Drum. Hello, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council Members. My name is Jessica Drum and I'm a community relations manager with Northern Arizona Healthcare. And today I'm here to commemorate Women's Health Month. And to do so, we'd love to hire, excuse me, highlight a few resources and um services that are available in our community to encourage women to take that step, get your health checkups, and take care of yourself. um women's month. So, women's health month intentionally

coincides with Mother's Day as an annual reminder that women cannot let themselves um fall into some of the health disparities that are faced throughout the United States. And something that I learned that maybe you are all aware of, but I was not until recently that until 1993, um clinical research done in the United States did not have to include women. So that means all the health studies, clinical research could include women but did not have to. So the studies and the conclusions are based on male cells. Um women however women do now make up half of all research research participants in clinical research that's funded by the National Institutes of Health. But it means that basic research and which was done ahead of clinical trials is still more likely to be done on male cells. And at NAH, we have been focused on hiring providers of all backgrounds, walks of lives, and genders. But here in Flagstaff, we recently hired a primary care provider, Dr. Leila Negretchi, who sees all patients, but she has particular expertise in menopause, parmenopause, and birth control, and is currently accepting new patients. She serves alongside more than a dozen providers um at our primary care facility to our ensure our community and the females in it have access to a provider who feels like a good fit for them. And women's health doesn't just apply to the examples that I gave related to women's reproductive health. We know from numerous studies that women are 50% more likely to delay their own health care than men are to delay their care. And so today, we want to encourage you to set up an appointment. Women in the room, please set up an appointment with your primary care provider. If you haven't seen them in more than a year, and if you don't have one, there are many options in Flagstaff, whether it be at NAH, Elkridge, or another private

provider in our community. Please make the appointment. And preventative care is the best care. We know that if screen for illnesses ahead of time and the more advanced notice you have or early detection of um treatable conditions, the better your outcomes are. So please, women in the room, if you haven't made an appointment in a year, make an appointment with your primary care provider. And to the men in the room, encourage the women in your lives to make those appointments and get that very important preventative care and uh commemorate women's health month that way. Thank you.

Thank you, Jessica. Okay, we're moving down to proclamations and recognitions. And we'll take these in order that they are on the um agenda. And when we start the proclamation for say economic development week, which is first, we'll invite everyone who's here for economic development week to join us at the edge of the deis. I'll read the proclamation. We'll take a photo and then if someone from your group would like to speak, you should do so. And then we'll go on to ride your bike week in Flagstaff. Thank you. is ready. Economic Development Week is an opportunity to recognize and thank everyone and all businesses that choose Flagstaff, the city of innovation to be their home. Economic development week provides economic development professionals a platform to showcase to

their community their contributions made to their local economy throughout the year. Economic development practitioners work to create resilient communities with resilient economies. The city of Flagstaff's economic development program relies upon area partners as critical team me members with whom support, trust, productivity, and integrity are fostered every day. The network of partners enhances the Flagstaff experience for all. We proudly highlight the incentive programs and collaborative initiatives that reinvest in our community, support business growth, and create shared prosperity for residents and entrepreneurs alike. Together, we celebrate a vibrant and resilient business community, and look ahead with optimism and excitement for the future of Flagstaff's economic growth and innovation. Now therefore, I, Becky, Mayor Becky Dagot, Mayor of the City of Flagstaff, Arizona, do hereby proclaim May 4th through May 8th, 2026 as Economic Development Week. [applause] Sure.

Thank you, Mayor Daget. Today, we're here just to recognize, celebrate the power of partnerships. That is the theme of Economic Development Week for 2026. Something that truly drives our local economy forward. We're especially proud to highlight our past grant recipients. We have a total of one here. We've had a few invited, but one showed up. So, thank you so much. Um, success reflects not only their vision and hard work, but also what's possible when the city invests alongside its entrepreneurs. This celebration is for all of you. And I would also like to recognize some of our other partners. We have the Small Business Development Center here. We also have Eona, the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona. And we have Local First. All of which just they're great partners with the Flagstaff economic development team. Thanks. [applause]

I have one little slide I want to show. So, I'm going to switch around real quick. We need more power in the whole region. Hi everybody. I'm Gail Jackson. I'm the president and CEO of Eona, the regional economic development organization. I'm so grateful to be here today. I want to thank the council for taking this moment to celebrate economic development week. Um, this week is all about celebrating all of our work and it's so good to see so many partners in the room. Um this is about the businesses who choose to invest here and the entrepreneurs who take risks and all of the employers who create jobs as well as the partnerships that make economic development possible. So, one of the some of the things we've been working on at Eona is um one of them is uh attitude towards development. And this is part of that is a new and enhanced logo that had lots of partners' input on it. And um we've managed to bring together a new website as well. And what I think is so important about this is what our region represents. As you can see, Flagstaff is in the center of it all, but each community brings something different. And we are a regional economy and we are we are a competitive economy. So as you can see Flagstaff is positioned as our innovative and education and technology hub. Winslow is positioned for industrial logistics and rail. Sedona we have wellness and creative economy. And

Camp Verie is our growth corridor. We're expecting a lot of manufacturing to take place there with it being 60 minutes north of TSMC. And of course, Cookanino County is a stewardship for natural resources and a great outdoor economy. The beautiful thing about this is that we are four communities. We're one county and we're one region and together we have a strong future. So, I want to thank you all. I want to also give an update on how we're advancing workforce h housing conversations. We have about 5,000 housing units in the region towards the 15,000 shortage. We're also positioning our land and in uh land and infrastructure for future investment as you can see here as well. So, as we celebrate this week, I want to thank you all for your leadership and making smart decisions that help our businesses stay here and grow here. Thank you. Anyone here for the ride your bike week? Can you come on up? Hi. How are you? Good to see you.

Hello. [laughter] I don't want to call you.

All right. Bicycling represents one of the most environmentally responsible, clean, efficient, economic, and healthy forms of transportation. The city of Flagstaff and Flagstaff Biking organization recognize the importance of a bicycle friendly community. Ride your bike week raises public awareness about the need to improve bicycle infrastructure in the community to encourage more people to commute by bicycle. Bicycling improves air quality, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and supports Flagstaff's carbon neutrality goals. Bicycling enhances mobility, and helps manage traffic congestion. Bicycling Bicycling is an excellent low impact aerobic activity that improves health and reduces stress. Riding a bicycle helps all of us connect to our community and feel a sense of place. Now therefore, I, Vice Mayor Miranda, on behalf of Mayor Becky Daget, Mayor of the City of Flagstaff, do hereby proclaim May 10th through the 16th, 2026 as Ride Your Bike Week in Flagstaff.

[applause]

I've been here before. Uh good evening. So, uh we are very excited for next week. We have lots going on. Uh the biggest thing is we have the bike challenge from Sunday through Saturday. Uh So, if you ride your bike for mountain biking, commuting, whatever, make sure you log your ride. We have wonderful prizes from our wonderful businesses here in town. Sunday, we're kicking off uh farmers market. So, we'll have a bike Jeopardy, some info. We're having iron iron on t-shirt presses coming back. Um Monday, we have the kickoff ride here at city hall at 7 a.m. There's going to be coffee and donuts. So, come and get some of that and sign a waiver online first, please, if you could. That'll help us greatly. Uh Tuesday is bike to school and the ice cream social at Serest at four o'clock. So come get some free ice cream from Shamrock and and Joy Cones cones. And then Wednesday is our bike to breakfast event u from in the morning with various places around town. Thursday is bike to dine out plus the Mars Hill challenge. Friday is bike to work day, but then there's also happy hour at DSB patio. And then finally on Saturday there's bike to shop. Uh their shopping offers online. So if you want any more information, we have bikstaff biking.org. It has all the details and all the projects we're working on with FU. [applause]

[snorts]

Is anyone here for law day? Come on down, law people. The Declaration of Independence recognizes that all individuals possess fundamental rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The rule of law as defined by the World Justice Project refers to a system of self-government in which the government and all individuals are held accountable to a set of fair, publicized, and broadly understood laws that are evenly enforced. The rule of law protects the rights necessary for each person to pursue their own happiness, their own vision of the American dream, the belief that hard work can produce a better life. Today, as the rule of law and the Arizona dream, American dream, face significant challenges, their enduring strength and vitality are enhanced by public education and understanding about our rights and responsibilities. The American dream of individual and national prosperity is both dependent upon and critical to public liberty and social equality. The rule of law ensures that no single person or the government is above the law and that all persons, regardless of their status, must be treated equally under the law and that no one will be denied liberty or property without due process. The rule of law promotes stability, certainty, and opportunity, enabling individuals, families, homeowners, workers, and businesses to pursue economic security and prosperity. Now therefore, I, Mayor Becky Daget, Mayor of the city of

Flagstaff, do hereby proclaim Thursday, May 7th, 2026 as Law Day. We encourage everyone to consider ways to advance the rule of law and protect the rights, freedoms, and opportunities that ensure all persons in America have the ability to pursue and fulfill their American dreams throughout the year. [applause] Thank you, mayor. My name is Juliana Bbeby and and I'm a program coordinator at Superior Court as well as a member of the LD day committee. Law Day is celebrated every year across the country, including here in Flagstaff. It highlights the importance of the rule of law in our daily lives. Each year, we open the Superior Court to students and members of the public so they can learn more about the justice system. And students take part in mock trials and have the opportunity to interact with judges, attorneys, and other members of the legal community. Um, they see the process in action and connect the work of our courts. This year, Law Day will be held on May 7th from 9:50 a.m. to approximately 12 pm at Superior Court. And we welcome the community to join us. Thank you. [applause] Thank you. Yes, that's it.

All right, moving down to council liaison reports. I will start with council member Matthews.

Let's start with council member Alen. um so that you can look up what you're looking at.

Yeah, happy to help Council Member Matthews stall a little bit. Um so this month we had uh for for my leaison reports sustainability commission uh tourism commission and the Cookanino Plateau Water Advisory Partnership. The sustainability commission met last Thursday and uh Teresa Tang uh is our new waste prevention specialist. She introduced herself. Two new commission commissioners also introduced themselves, Aubrey Ridge and Alyssa Kuzi Kan. Um Sarah Dector gave an overview of the presentation of the 2045 regional plan which I hope you are all uh voting on and turning in your ballot um and answered questions from the commissioners. Um Diane Bridger gave a brief presentation on progress and updates to the carbon neutrality plan specifically highlighting plans to launch the new public facing dashboard which is coming soon and we held chair and vice chair elections confirming Amy Wowinsky and Mary Mezer as chair and vice chair respectively. attra uh for for tourism it was pretty typical attractions report given uh by Heather Craig of LOL Observatory and director and staff reports which can be found as a PDF attached to the agenda posted on the city website. And finally for the Cookanino Plateau Water Advisory Partnership, we had a presentation from the mayor of Paige around the city of Paige data center experience. Um there were also committee reports, government uh uh technical advisory report where we talked a lot about the field trip that's coming up. Um it's going to be a float down uh oh my gosh, which creek is it? Thank you. Clear Creek. Um and uh Emily Melhorn gave us a public outreach report and we had a member round table. Thank you,

Council Member Matthews. After all that waiting, all of my stuff is not Leia is on. It's it's updates on events. So, I will say nothing right now. Council member Garcia. Nothing new today. Mayor, thank you. Vice Mayor.

Thank you, Mayor. I've got a couple of things. An update on Mountain Line. They have completed a public comment period and are preparing to launch new services in August. There's a lot of great updates. Um, you can find it out on their website. It includes um expansion out to uh where the over by public works out that way on old 66 and um pretty exciting to see the frequency increase and hopefully that will help with wrership. Metrop Plan has a board meeting on Thursday at 1 and this month it's held here in council chambers and BPAC has their meeting four o'clock on Monday and it is also here at city hall. Thank you. Council member House, is your sound working? Apparently not. Oh, can you Yes. Oh, that's someone typing to her. Um, Council Member Spence,

nothing today. Nothing from me. So, we will let that get sorted out. Next up, we have appointments. Um, this round of appointments is for the Commission on Inclusion and Adaptive Living, and there are five to make. So, we will start with Council Member Garcia.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. Uh it was truly an honor to um reach out to most of the uh seven finalists and applicants that we had for this committee with such robust uh interpersonal relationships and connection to the adaptive living u community. And it was it was quite a heck of a choice, but we had such high quality qualified folks applying that it was also um in some ways easy. I am happy and proud to nominate James Martinez, a new applicant to this commission.

Is there a second? I'll second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. Next up is vice mayor. Thank you, mayor. I would like to nominate Caitlyn Peterson to the Commission on Inclusion and Adaptive Living. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I I. Any opposed? All right. Next up is me. I would like to nominate current commissioner Keith Becker. Is there a second? I'll second.

Any discussion? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. Council member Matthews? Yes. I'd like to nominate Ash Henny Earl. Is there a second? I'll second. Is there Any discussion? All those in favor? I I. Any opposed? All right. And finally, Council Member Spence. Thank you, Mayor. I would like to nominate Paige Philipek. Is there a second? I'll second.

Any any discussion? All those in favor? I I

Any opposed? All right. Thank you all. Okay, we have one liquor license um at our public hearing. So, I'm going to open the public hearing and staff will wait a minute. Do we have one? Yes. Um and staff will give a presentation. Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. Gina Staski, deputy city clerk. Before you today is a liquor license application for a new application of a series five uh government license for NA performing and fine arts uh located at 1115 South Nolles Drive. The agent and the owner on the application is Rosalita Wilson. Uh the police department and planning and development services have conducted their respective investigations and those reports are in the agenda packet and representatives from the division are here um along with representatives from the business were invited to attend the hearing today. Thank you. Council, do you have any questions for Georganna or for the applicant? All right, we have no public comment. I am closing the public hearing and I will entertain a motion.

Madame Mayor, I I move that we forward the application to the state with a recommendation to approve. Second. We have three seconds. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I

Any opposed? All right. Thank you. So, consent agenda. All matters under consent agenda are considered by the council to be routine unless a member of the city council or the public 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 live listed on the agenda. Unless Unless otherwise indicated, expenditures approved by council are budgeted items. So we have items A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and that's it. Um, are there any?

Madam Mayor, yes. Thank you. if uh if if they're prepared to do so, I would like a little introduction or presentation about the the landscape project happening on this is item A um with Kenny Construction Services on Route 66 and Pondrosa Parkway. Just something brief if if available it. Yes. Come on. are you coming to speak to this to the Kenny?

Okay. Um so let's go ahead and take motions for 9B through H and um and then we'll come back to A. Madame Mayor, I move to approve 9 or which one are we on? Sorry. 9B through H of the consent agenda as posted. B through H. B through H. All second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I.

Any opposed? All right, we're ready for um a couple of comments about the Route 66 and Ponderosa Parkway landscape project.

Good afternoon, mayor, vice mayor, council members. Dave Nixon with Capital Improvements. [snorts] And this is a pretty straightforward um landscape project that's on the southwest and the southeast corner of Route 66. And I believe it's genesis was to uh gussy up that area uh for the 100redyear c uh the 100year centennial. Um, so it's basically a minor grading project, irrigation, and [clears throat] planting on on that side of the Route 66. I'm happy to entertain any questions you might have.

Janna, did you have anything to add? I just wanted to add that uh this replicates a project that we did a few years ago at Route 66 in Fanning. It's almost uh the exact same kind of design style and it's kind of a continuation of that beautifification of Route 66 that we've undergone over the last uh several years. Thank you, Council Member Alen. Thank you very much. I realized I didn't um prepare you ahead of time that I would call this up, but I thought it was worth highlighting. Thank you.

My pleasure. So, I will entertain a motion to approve consent agenda item A 9A. Madame Mayor, I move that we approve the job contract uh with Kenny Construct Kenny Construction Services in the amount of $247,944. Is there a second? I'll second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I

I. Any opposed? Now we're down to 10 routine items. The first is a consideration and approval of a memorandum of understanding between the city and the indigenous circle of Flag Staff. Good afternoon again, Mayor Dugget and council. Um, yacht this afternoon. [clears throat] I want to say um also thank you to city leadership and also all the relatives in the audience and online. Um, thank you for this time. Again, my clans are Um, so my name is Rose Tohi and I am the indigenous affairs administrator here at the city. I'm here with my very best friend for right now, Amy Hagen. She's she's going to jump in whenever um there are questions that I am not able to answer. Um she and Rebecca have been so helpful in this whole process as well as some some of our core team members that have been meeting. Um, we do have a short presentation and about the memorandum of understanding and we will be focusing on that right now and it this is just to give you a glimpse of what has occurred and um all

the things that not everything but just just a few things. It's only eight slides, but um things that have happened to come to help us come to the state and I really appreciate that. Um so just a little bit of history on the um on the indigenous community cultural center for the for this regarding thisou um discussions in about the indigenous community cultural center has been in this community for decades. Um and but in 2016 and in 2017 progress really became reality and in partnership between ICF indigenous circle of flag staff and city council and city leadership um the indigenous the um indigenousled ICF commence community um forums which took place in these two years. Many indigenous community members including large numbers of youth um attended these um forums. And then [clears throat] there were six forums that were brought that brought discussion on youth education, homelessness, the elders, um economic development and contribution, police and criminal justice and environmental justice. So out of these forums, they were uh produced the recommendations including the dream of the ICC and these recommendations were accepted by city council in October of 2017 and those recommendations are um listed in your packets. [clears throat] This is the eight um the 8 acre parcel that is um in which

will include the indigenous community cultural center. So through many discussions in 2019 um a possible site was identified and then in 2021 Southwest Decision Resources and Wheat Design Group were contracted to oversee a public engagement for this parcel. In 2022, a thorough public engagement was um provided and then and it also resulted in three concepts which were brought to city council at that time. And then in December 2022, a final concept with recommended changes was approved by city council. We had the procurement process regarding the ICCCCC. In December 2024, the city launched the RSOQ and that is request for statement of qualifications to identify a key partner. And then in May 2020, um ICF was identified as the nonprofit organization as the key partner. And then in July 2025 through Dece or January 2026, these discussions um discussion meetings with ICF and our internal core staff um met to finalize theou. The purpose of ourou is to enable ICF and co uh and um city of Flagstaff [clears throat] to collaborate in the development of the ICCC in regard to the general rules roles and

responsibilities. um the planning and design and development of appropriate um ICC space um would be ICF um primary responsibility for the vision excuse [clears throat] me it's allergy season uh for the vision and implementation of the ICC and its programming identification of a location for viable and feasible ICF ICF space during the development of the ICCC In regard to this, this includes some preliminary conversations as to what the ICF um office space would look like depending on recent developments of contractors who walk through the the building and then their reports back. And then it it may also include the expenditure of earmarked funds within the pros budget of $200,000. ICF will be also will also be responsible for the renovation of the fleet management building which is the future ICCC including um the city of Flagstaff collaboration when it involves um city funds. IC uh ICF will further um assume primary responsibility for fundraising with assistance from um the city of Flagstaff. They will hire personnel um using secured donor funds and develop organizational structure to allow um the management of the of this um indigenous community cultural center. They also will be responsible for developing the programming for the ICC and then develop plans for specific

outdoor spaces in coordination with the Thor Park Annex concept plan. And that's the one the the map you already was up there. [clears throat] timelines for the following um remains in development and that is to um for the building repair and renovation fundraising and then ICF um organizational development and then continue program development. Those are our next steps. And this is the building that we're talking about the that we have lots of hopes and dreams about and for. Thank you. Do you have any questions?

Thank you so much. We have a comment from council member house if her microphone is working. And we're going to stop after this item. And yes, we can try CJ real quick. Check. Check. Check.

We hear you. Testing one. Can you hear me? Yes. Yes, we can now. All right, Council Member House, go ahead and try and make your comments and see if the room can hear you. All right. Are you able to hear me now? Yes.

Yay. So, thank you Rose for the presentation. I just wanted to thank uh you and the indigenous circle of Flagstaff for your ongoing work and dedication to the vision for the indigenous community cultural center. I know that years of effort, care, and community voice have gone into the development of this cultural resource and center for historical representation, preservation, and honoring of the indigenous cultures and communities of Flagstaff and our region. I wanted to voice that support. um my [clears throat] continued commitment to and just my deep gratitude for this tangible opportunity to continue moving Flagstaff from the important process of land acknowledgement to the equally important work of land action which is something that we heard from uh one of the youth in our community a couple of years ago um as just an important um movement to make. Um, I would love to be involved or supportive of efforts of um outreach and and uh continued partnerships to find opportunities for funding or fundraising or other efforts to see this through and um just look forward to the continued work. So, thank you.

Thank you, Council Member House. We appreciate that. Council member Garcia. Thank you, Madame Mayor, and thank you, Rose, for the presentation. And thank you to the Indigenous Circle of Flagstaff for your continued motivation and helping us uh envision what the future could look like in this space that looks like is going to be kept primarily uh intact naturally in a way that is um somewhat untouched from where it is today. And that's my hopes for this moving forward is that we're able to at least no matter what gets developed throughout the city and how things change that um we're able to keep a cultural ground where things uh the the nature of things um remains the same. Um, so that way we can, you know, be rooted in where we came from and help teach the the traditions and the legacy of um the your people who have taught us how to be stewards of the land and um be cognizant of all that is around us. Um, I know that you probably aren't here to to answer this type of question today, but if it's possible, um, can you give us a sneak peek on some of the ideas that are brewing um around around the future of this, even if it's just speculative at this point?

Uh, yes. Uh I think the one of the main things that is um the idea is to have it be a platform for educational um purposes for our for our community whether it be for indigenous youth um in com in combination with elders but it would be um a teaching and educational platform for our community the whole community and then also to bring in um and to share the space uh whenever you know, there's special things going on within the community where people need need space. Sometimes our indigenous leaders from outside um and surrounding areas um they need a place to meet and sometimes they really want to just be here where our sacred mountain is and that will be a place that they can meet and talk um about future things for their their native lands out there. And then also um some artist we want to bring artists into to see and have them sell their wares. Um and then we also want to make sure that the building somehow becomes um a museum um a living museum where people can really learn step inside and learn about um about indigenous lifeways culture and even language revitalization. there's just a whole host of things that could happen and that we could share with community and that's had been the vision of ICF when they started as a grassroots um organization several a decade ago say another decade so now it's come to this part and I'm really thankful today for the rain because it it it it's a sign that says that what we're putting forward has been blessed. Yes, it felt like an absolute blessing when I was walking in here. So, help

Thank you for helping me contextualize and understand that even um something is as great as the rain can help solidify some of the moves that we're making inside of here. And I know that this has been a long time coming and I've I've I've seen it from the outside for quite some time. Um, but I I I would like to offer that this is happening in perfect timing and um and when it gets settled, it'll be for at the right time for all the right reasons. And also, I'd like to highlight that we're taking something that was somewhat industrial by nature and turning it into um some kind of going going back to where we came from with something cultural. And I'm very supportive of this and I'm excited to see what happens with it. Thank you so much for staying the course,

Council Member Matthews.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, Rose, one of the slides said that um, ICF with the assistance of the city of Flagstaff would do fundraising. Can you expand on that just a little bit? Like, are we using our grants and department or what does that mean exactly? Mostly it means that we're going to be able to maybe have some of um grant information that that maybe city comes across because I know that um our uh people who write for grants come across a lot of different ways to raise funds and uh and I've some of our um internal core members have have mentioned that there are grants out there that ICF could write for and sometimes maybe um in conjunction with some some of some help um from me or others who have more um information on how to go about these grants. So I think that's one of the main things that would be um done. But for right now, we have pros has been really um helpful in just saving us a little bit of money um to put towards uh us as a city to put towards the ICC.

And um I was curious, is there an official lease that's signed? And I'm asking this because I know when we did an event, was it last year, kind of a farmers market and stuff, um it was going through pros. So is this with thisou will ICF be able to just plan their own events and and occupy the property or still go through the same processes as if they were using a city park or property? Uh right now they're um there's a there's some land around the um I don't I think it's in your packet under the but anyway um under the let me see if it's in here. So the orange area around the the the city um the building that's something that the ICF the ICF can utilize including the the traditional space um to the east of the building. that's something that they can utilize outside um for events in the meantime because we um they can't really get into the building yet. Um so that's they're going to go ahead and that will be without permit if other areas of the property will be used then it'll still go through a permitting process just like with all other organizations but for that for the orange part that that they won't have to permit on that.

That's good to know. Um and lastly, um is are we far enough down the road where we have like, you know, the first benchmark of fundraising that ICF needs to reach in the first year or first five years to get their first stage done. I think they're pretty much there. Back up to the um your question on the lease. Um this was the first step. Theou has to be the first step. um according to the RSOQ. From there, we're going to dive into what look what looks best and what will fit best um the is ICF organization regarding um some sort of occupancy um document, whatever that looks like, whether it be a lease or license or something else. So, that's going to be something that we'll be um talking about next and and seeing where that goes. Um, of course Amy um Amy can talk to maybe something um that will clarify that a little bit better. But as far as fundraising is concerned, um ICF has garnered some funds and their donors are waiting for the moou to be finalized and approved by city council before that release of funds can be done. So they have some pretty good money right now. Great. That's so good to hear. I know this has been, I think, more than a decade, a decade for this property, but longer than a decade for just the um ICC to be somewhere. So, I'm really excited to see us to this this spot, but I'm really anxious to see actually activities that we can utilize um before we can occupy the building and just really get the momentum going. So, um I'm happy to see this stage even though it's the speed of government um

that we're moving along. So, thank you so much. Please.

Thank you. And thank you, Rose, for the update and and the presentation. Um you know, I'm very supportive of this and um always wanting to look at it from so many angles and we'll continue to do that and I'm glad to hear this update. It's a good one. Um, I do believe this is an important step towards honoring and uplifting our indigenous voices and culture in our community. Um, so this is very special. I've been out there and uh went to the farmers market and and saw the vendors and it was such a good event and I would like to see more of that. So, I'm happy to hear we're getting close to that. Um, I do think that this reflects yours of community vision and commitment and I can tell you that you have my my commitment in this as well. So, thank you again for the update.

I see um the Indigenous Circle of Flagstaff. I just want to thank you for being such an incredible partner to the entire community and to the city of Flagstaff from the the town halls conversations that you had where you gathered so much information from members of this community and members outside the community uh to to bringing this vision um to life. even though it's been a long process, you've just been such an outstanding partner and uh I appreciate all of your work.

Mayor, can I make a motion? Would you like to say something?

Yes. I just want to first [clears throat] off I'm originally from Chiba City area and uh my clans are towering house born for a dark street wits people my maternal fraternal are um uh sorry Mexican people clan my maternal are many goats I'm originally from Tibet city and I am chair for indigenous circle of flax staff and just really honored to be part of this next phase. Honestly, this has been um quite a vision for ICF. Um I've been in this position for a year and a half now as chair and it's just following through with those next steps with our our board, our support with the partnership with here with the city and just grateful for those next steps. So, thank you. I appreciate it. and just you know whatever we can do and I want to see if anybody else let's see who um Chris Jocks who is co-chair with me um wasn't able to attend but I'd like to read what he put together he's out at conference today and um just want to at least give his words here because again he's part of the beginning of a lot of this and a lot of the folks that are in the room in the back here um I feel like I'm still new to this but man I'm just really proud proud of the work that they put into it and just seeing this vision move forward is just such a blessing. [clears throat] Chris notes, "Good afternoon. My name is Chris Jocks. The promise of the center and gathering place to indigenous youth, elders, and families in Flax arose in 1970, he states, and it's now approaching reality as the indigenous community cultural center for flax. the ICC. I've been involved with this initiative from the earliest conversations with the city of Flagstaff

officials back in 2018 and I am honored to see this day. Theou proposed [clears throat] theou proposes the your approval sets out the respective rights and responsibility of indigenous circle of flax staff. ICF and the city of Flagstaff during the interim period of design and renovation. From the beginning, the ICC has been designed to benefit and enrich not only indigenous youth, elders, and families, but every citizen of Flagstaff. I am certain that the that it will enrich all of our lives. Let me see I'm standing here without glasses so I apologize. I'm trying to read this. Um and he just notes that he you know just I [clears throat] am certain that this will enrich all lives all the lives um the building community and understanding kinship and well-being. Please vote yes to this agreement is what he noted. So just wanted to share that piece. I know he wasn't able to attend but um just grateful for this next step. Thank you.

Thank you. Uh, Council Member Matthews, did you want to make a motion? I do, Mayor. It's my honor to uh request approval that we approve the memorandum of understanding between the city of Flagstaff and ICF and authorize the city manager to execute the necessary document. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? I heard that. Council member House, [laughter] uh, is there any discussion? All those in favor? I. Any oppo? Any opposed? All right. Thank you, Rose. Thank you, council.

Thank you, guys. Thank you. Okay. We're moving on to public hearing items. Consideration and adoption of resolution um and ordinance regarding data centers. And city manager, did you want to um before we get into this say anything? Um mayor, I do not. I'll I'll make some comments at the end. Thank you.

Great. Thank you. Um I just want to assure the public that we are not voting tonight on um the code, nor are we considering a data center. that was out on social media and that that is not something that we are considering. Uh so we will have a staff presentation and we will take public comment and then I ask um council to um hold comments and questions because this is coming back to us for a vote and we'll have the full discussion at that point. So, I'm going to open the public hearing and have the presentation.

Actually, it was opened back when we continued it. So, we're just moving forward with what was already open. Yes. Yep. Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you. That was several weeks ago, right? All right, Tiffany, please. Thank you so much. I'm glad I got the memo about color coordinating, so I really appreciate that for including me tonight. Uh, good afternoon, Mayor and Council. Tiffany Ant Hall, zoning code manager. Tonight, I'm here to give you an update on the data center land use zoning code text amendment. Um, the data center text amendment was initiated in response to growing national nationwide and statewide discussions about the rapid expansion of data center development and the potential impact these facilities may have on local communities. Staff reviewed the city's zoning code and identified that existing land use categories could allow data centers without tailored mitigation measures to ensure alignment with community goals, infrastructure capacity, and long-term planning objectives. This amendment is meant to be a proactive approach to dealing with the data center land use issue and is not in res is not in regard to any current application. We have not had any pre-application meetings. We currently do not have any development applications for data centers. This was simply just meant to be a proactive approach to address the gaps that we found in the zoning code. Staff prepared a draft amendment that would limit data center development to the heavy industrial zone, require approval through a conditional use permit, and establish specific use standards related to design consideration, noise levels, water use, and energy demands. During initial discussions, the planning and zoning commission requested that staff also prepare an alternative amendment that would implement an outright ban on data centers within the city of Flagstaff. This ban focused draft was developed under a compressed time frame and was

not vetted through a broader community engagement process. Additionally, the scope of this draft was not clearly communicated in legal notices for the proposed text amendment, resulting in concerns about insufficient public awareness and input. After extended consideration, staff respectfully requests that the city council close the public hearing and allow for a comprehensive evaluation of the potential implications of a complete ban on data centers within the city of Flagstaff. Further analysis is needed to understand how such a prohibition could affect current and future business operations as well as broader economic and infrastructure considerations. Additionally, more time is necessary to assess how the proposed definition of data center may impact existing uses and emerging technologies that rely on similar infrastructure. Ensuring that the definition is clear, appropriately scoped, and aligned with the city's long-term goals is essential to avoid unintended consequences for local businesses and future development. Additional time will support a more informed decision-making process and allow staff, stakeholders, and the community to explore all potential outcomes moving forward. And with that, if you have any questions, I would be happy to try and answer them.

I'm going to jump straight to public comment. Mayor, before you do that, can I just make a quick uh comment after uh Tiffany's comments? I just um want to say thank you to the team that has worked on this. It's been um a very thoughtful approach. Um and I think just the pivoting to allow for additional time and for more public comment was something that we felt very strongly needed to happen. Um I will um commit to council today. Um we've had many discussions about issues of high interest and bringing those back to council. And while we do not have any data center um proposals that have been made to the city, if there is one kind of during this time frame where we're vetting um a new code amendment, I will bring that back to council at an appropriate time. So I just wanted to relay that to you today before you take public comment. Thank you.

Thank you. All right. So, we do have some public comment. First, we have Cara Russo. Good afternoon, council, and um thank you for your service to our community. Um I am here representing the friends of the Riyota flag. I sit on the board there and um the first thing that I'd like to say as a political scientist just a little bit of background for the record. So um AI data centers were fasttracked during the last federal administration. this administration resended that order and then the and then al also fasttrack data centers uh but with the uh limited uh recognition that clean air act and clean water act would apply. Uh so just just putting that out there. And then um in terms of water use for a small data center uh as you know uh west of the 100th meridian uh our landscape is characterized as arid uh as aid. you know, we live in an area of aridity and um so, you know, in terms of the water use that even a small data center would use, that would be close to 360,000 gallons of water per day. Uh we uh generally in Flagstaff, our water use per household is about 85 gallons of water per day. uh you know in terms of of land use and um and jobs that would be created for data centers there's an initial uh uh surge of jobs you know having to do with construction of course we support our construction industry

here uh but that minimizes that that diminishes uh right after the data center is built and um and so with regard to uh what we know about data centers at this time uh nationally we just don't know that much. You know, we're we're learning. And I love uh the idea. I think it's it's an excellent idea to expand the period of time that we're talking about this that we see what the values of the community are. Uh see what pollution uh is generated as we watch people throughout the the nation uh who are who are in the process of of uh using data centers. With regard to recycled water, just with my last few minutes or my last few seconds, um my understanding is that a lot of data centers will propose recycling water. Um if you'll read a Politico article this just this morning, uh there's a data center that was proposed in Tennessee that started off wanting to recycle and they are not able to do it. Uh energy use also is extremely high. We think that uh that our our natural uh lands or our natural resources can be much better used in this community. And uh I'll leave it there. Thank you.

Thank you so much, Michelle James. Hello, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council. My name is Michelle James. I'm executive director of Friends of Flagstaff's Future. FCubed has carefully looked at the into the impacts of data centers across the country with a focus on the community of Flagstaff. We have concluded that this type of land use is not compatible with our city. FCubed has come to the conclusion that the best way to protect the Flagstaff community is to enact a ban on data centers and city limits. I'm very glad to hear you guys are looking into that more completely. Data centers that are not ancillary to other primary land uses as described in the exceptions section of the staff report should not be permitted in the city of Flagstaff. The reasons are many and include Flagstaff has declared a climate emergency with a goal of carbon neutrality by 2030. That's the carbon neutrality plan. Allowing a carbon intensive industry such as data centers is in direct contradiction to the goals of our city. The potential for hazardous chemical outflows from a data center cooling system could further strap the city's already stretched wastewater treatment plants. The noise impacts of data centers, including constant infrasound, could negatively affect residents who live near such a center. There is little to no benefit to the community of of a data center in our city. The benefits will go to a small number of ultra wealthy while the community may see a handful of jobs after initial construction which may or may not utilize local workers. FCC recognizes the city's concern about potential legislative push back such as state preeemption of a local ban. However, the limited amount of heavy industrial zone land suitable for a data center within city limits combined with the financial

cost of issuing a permit and the potential negative impacts on air quality, water resources, and community noise outweighs the benefits, making the efforts unjustified for the city. We urge the city council to stand firmly for what is best for Flagstaff and its residents, and that is a ban on data centers. Thank you. Thank you, Mary Norton. Uh, good evening, Mayor and Council. Mary Norton. Um, disclosing, as you know, I do serve as vice chair of planning and zoning commission, which we already have seen this case. Um, however, this evening, I am speaking for myself. Um, after watching last month's council presentation from various staff departments on data centers, I came here tonight to really listen on how those ideas could actually effectually be put into code and the requirements of a CUP. I would have had the type of questions on how the type and function of a data center could be so narrowly defined by a CUP as there seems to be interest in a lower level small collocation data center. But yet, how can a permitted use of a data setter in a zone be limited to just the collocation server storage only? In the same vein, we can't tell a highdensity multifamily developer to limit their use to only workforce apartments and not student housing or high-end luxury lifestyle rentals. and to sell the idea that a collocation data center might be okay is making huge assumptions that businesses around the city would actually want to make a move offsite as an uh as an allowed use regardless of cup. It it is an allowed use and in a strong property rights state that is often argued which opens the door to

challenges of a strict of a very restrictive cup. As a PNZ commissioner, we're often reminded that when reviewing a CUP that at its foundation, it is an allowed use and denying CUPs are often difficult to defend and will likely be challenged. Another concern that wasn't sufficiently addressed at the presentation is the low-level infra sound of data centers, which are detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of a community for miles. We have limited industrial land parcels, heavy or light, available for our city's needs. Let's leave those industries that to that directly would benefit our community. And frankly, since I serve on open space commission as well, the juxtaposition of a resource eating noisy data center near the conservation lands of Picture Canyon with ancient petetroglyphs is really too much to fathom. So, I'm pleased to see that the recommendation tonight is to research and rework the verbiage seriously to consider a ban on data centers in all zones citywide. I support this wholeheartedly, but this work needs to be done ASAP with high priority. We've openly expose the holes in our code. KNAU published an article on April 30th that companies are now looking to northern Arizona for more land and power as they expand in Arizona, which is already in the top 10 states for data centers. Flag staff needs to say no boldly, proudly, and quickly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mary. Um Mary, one moment. Council member Garcia has a question for you. Hi, Miss Norton, and thank you for your service for our community. Uh, you mentioned the CUP process, the challenges that it creates, and I wanted to know if you needed any extra room to expand on that. U, some of the things that piqued my attention were when you mentioned that it's hard to unravel um um once you have uh the CUP in place. Um, and I was wondering if you could speak a little bit more to that. Clarify for me.

Yes. um you know when we see a C you know we we look at obviously staff has already looked at that that they're within these parameters and so when it's coming to us it's it's an allowed use and if they're meeting these extra guard rails it's pretty it's really difficult to deny it and I think something for like a data center it's so much bigger than that it's um I think there's things in this more expanded CUP that are going to be really really difficult to hone in on and and it's it's ever changing. I mean, these these data centers and how they operate and what they come can come up with or change in the way that they operate, you know, I think we're always going to be chasing it and I think there's always going to be a loophole in it. I think we're always going to be subject to um not being able to deny it or be challenged by it. Um I saw some interviews for you know a data center case down in I think it was in Surprise and you know it's the same land use lawyers that we see come up here to visit us that are that are able to argue why why they should be allowed why they're it's an allowed use. And that's where I think that, you know, we're walking such a fine line and that we wouldn't be able to pull up against it.

Thank you, Mary. And and Madame Mayor, I have one more quick question, please. Uh, so I was also wanting to and I'm not here to put you on the spot if if you don't feel comfortable answering this question, I totally understand it. But while you were explaining yourself clearly to me and helping me understand where you sit, um I was also thinking, do you think that there's an avenue with the way that everything is constantly evolving and changing within these data centers for us to actually specify how to stop one when maybe we would only be speaking to one specific or current trend of data center which could evolve which we would have to then go to another. You know, it's that it's I'm balancing the C CUP process with being able to identify each and everyone that comes in front of us and fight it out however against trying to figure out um the right way to address all of them in one. No.

Right. Um you know what I can only rely on is I've served for like about four years. I've learned a lot from Tiffany if she's here wherever she went. um you know as they make their presentations and um you know there's just this foundational allowed use and I think when we start getting into you know picking apart what's what can be allowed what can't be allowed because we're not allowed to do that anywhere else with any other kind of a development how are we going to be able to sort of defend ourselves explain ourselves that we're allowed to do it in this case um and I I think I still go back to some of my comments that I that I made um in our PNZ uh that I just I think with our regional plan, it's I don't think it's far off to say it's not compatible in city limits. So, um those are all the things that influence my personal decision as well as how I've presented them in my volunteer on the commission. So,

I value your opinion and your voice. Thank you for answering this. Thank you. Thank you, Mary. Uh, council member Matthews, you had a question.

I did, mayor. Thank you. Um, city manager, you had made a comment that if while we are working through um research and making sure we come back with a good solid recommendation, if something was to come present itself in Flagstaff um an interested party to bring a data center in is um and I know if this is too much of a legal question, I don't want to go into e session, we can address it later, but are we able to pivot and make something a decision quickly that could adjust that or stop that or if somebody came in you know looking at you know like the big warehouse off um Huntington um you know if they're already if they bought it they're already putting in um you know their plans and stuff is that too late

I I think you can answer it without getting into the legal side of it. Yeah.

Um, Mayor and Council Member Matthews, um, you know, it would go through our regular process that we would go through. Um, and you know, that that does take some time. So, I think the commitment I mean what the commitment that I made earlier was that if we did get a heads up that we have um somebody that's interested in coming in for um a preapp for example that I would bring that to council as a heads up. Um I don't know if staff wants to talk about Tiffany I think can maybe talk about this in a little more detail. Sure. about what the process looks like. So, um you know, it would depend on which zoning category we were working with, but most likely um if it's going to be a permitted by right zone, it would work through pre-application. We would approach um these are uses that are going to require impact analyses uh which generally have a more extended review time frame. So generally for a byite project comes in for preapp we identify any impact analysis that's required. Um you know we do have a framework to start from and a lot of research that's been done. So there's a lot of things we would no matter what try to do when working with an applicant in dealing with a data center. So there's lots of really great information for staff to already draw from even if it's not currently in the code. and then um they would go to site plan review and approval and move on. If it is in the light industrial zone, it would require conditional use permit, require a public hearing before planning and zoning commission, then could be appealed to city council. I hope that's helpful as to what what the process could look like. But our goal is to immediately

regroup. Um come back with some public outreach and hit a planning and zoning um work session, come back with a city council work session with a lot of different options and then um regroup and get you the best zoning code text amendment you could possibly have. And just to state one more time, we have not had any applications submitted within for the city of Flagstaff. Correct, Tiffany? That is correct. Not a one. We just wanted to be proactive. Thank you. All right, I am going to close the public hearing and um I mayor, I I think we had was there more?

Oh, I'm sorry. There is a online commenter. I apologize for missing that. Go ahead. We have one online comment. Brad, you may start.

Red. My name is Brad Flet. I'm the founder of Earth Month and the CEO of Earth Month Network uh down here in Maricopa, Arizona. I had submitted to the city council in the city um my comments for adaptation of the city code. Uh at this present time, I'd like to interject some additional points of consideration. Uh first of all, on April 21st, we submitted a request to Attorney General Chris Maize uh to place a moratorium on data centers primarily for for water, energy, environmental use. Uh if you have two, you I would uh contact them and join them and try to work something out to see if you want to put a moratorium or strict ban on on them. Uh first of all, we wanted to thank the team uh for Flagstaff for the work that they've done and trying to uh get ahead of this uh before the ball starts roll rolling. Most communities don't do this. Uh I'd like to add a subject here as uh to the noise that data centers bring up. Uh you have a decibel reading from uh various types of equipment overlapping one another. Much worse is the variable array of different frequency ranges. They are usually considered only within the the human range for hearing but studies show that frequency does affect human health especially in children and also wildlife. Uh you may also know of a technology that's terminol term is sonic energy is utilized in water and other solutions to to clean parts automotive parts electrical parts and it's so strong that it causes harms to humans within the vicinity of a tank. research continues on this harm but also from electromagnetic energy and that from uh five and 6G uh from our cell phones. Another form of uh what we need to look at is economics. Economics is a real important issue that the city has to look at. The transfer principles uh during an application negotiations for a a center no matter what type is they'll want to a reduction in taxes and would

offer a uh deferral or an adjustment. uh they would offer an uh a finding up to the city for a financial building of a park or some other function that the city may want or need. Uh this is the hook. This is the hook that overrides the city's true needs for if they want a data science and what they really want and overrides what the citizens may want. I really do love Flagstaff. I thought about moving there. I don't know if you have room for an organization like mine up there. I'm sure you do. I'll be there on May 15th and 17th for the Overland Expo, but more so as such, Flagstaff has millions of visitors that come from all over the world. I do not foresee it advertising a data center as a point of interest. I myself as well as Earthmonth does not want data centers. There's a lot to consider. Thank you for your valuable time and attention to this matter. Do we have another public commenter? Okay. All right. Now, I'm closing the public hearing and my apologies for missing that online comment. And um I think I think staff has heard that we would love to see this as soon as it can come back to us. And um thank you. So I'm going to move down to the regular agenda 12A consideration and adoption of resolution and ordinance short-term rental code updates. And I am assuming that we have a presentation.

All right. Good evening. I'm Jessica KDson, customer service director. Our team oversees our short-term rental licensing program. Tonight, we're presenting the first reading of a proposed ordinance updating Flagstaff short-term rental regulations, including a fee increase, new safety requirements, and several code updates. We'll walk through the background, our current program status, and the key changes being proposed. I'm joined tonight with individuals from several divisions. We have fire planning development legal who all played a role in developing these changes and Rick Tatter will be joining me in the presentation. So first for you some background and history. Flexaf has been working toward meaningful STR oversight since 2020 operating within the boundaries of state law at each step. As you know we are prevented by the state from prohibiting STRs since the passing of SB 1350 in 2016. However, the passage of SB168 in 2022 gave us licensing authority. And since adopting our licensing ordinance in 2023, we've built a program that as of March 2026 tracks 1,119 STRs with a current 94% compliance rate, a strong foundation for the updates we're proposing to you tonight. Moving to our current state, in October 2025, we launched a public facing map showing all licensed STR locations with the emergency contact citywide. This portal also serves as the primary neighbor notification tool and gives residents a direct path to report any concerns. It's a meaningful transparency improvement that complements the proposed ordinance changes. We'd also like to provide you with a complaint update. Since launching the complaint portal in November of 2024, we've received 307 complaints via the

portal, but the distribution tells an important story. Nearly 91% of the of STRs have received zero complaints. The proposed fire safety and posting and background check requirements are responsive to the complaint categories we're seeing the most. So, as you can see here, noise is the most common issue, followed by a com combination of issues. So, complaints with various miscellaneous issues, fire safety, and combined concerns, followed by trash and parking, occupancy, and unlicensed operations. And we've also isolated that among the properties with multiple complaints. You can see that it is an isolated few that have multiple complaints. Now going to pass it on to Rick who is going to uh show you our key changes to the ordinance.

Thank you, Jessica. Uh Rick Tatter, management services director. Hello, mayor, vice mayor, city council. I'm going to go through some of the changes that we're recommending in our city code, but starting with uh what we pro proposed for a new license fee. Uh earlier this year, Jessica completed an analysis, a financial analysis related to the cost that we are putting into licensing businesses uh for short-term rentals. In her analysis, she determined that the the cost to manage that comes out to about $270 per location. uh with the state uh maximum allowed, we can only do a $250 fee. Uh so we are recommending that we adopt a maximum fee of $250. Uh we posted a 60-day notice on March 18th of this year, and with your adoption and consideration, we will have this effective for July 1st of this year. While we were in the process of doing the fee update, uh we decided to meet as a group and a team to talk about other codes changes we'd like to see to better align with uh state statutes in what we need in our community. Among the among these is providing better definitions and uses. Uh now within our uh defined STR we include um excuse me we include what is excluded for units that are STR units are excluded from non-b businessiness non-residential uses such as businesses uh banquetss uh special events event centers are restricted uh through our definitions. Further, we defined that special events uh as those events require a TUP temporary use permit are also restricted for use from a short-term rental property. These definitions go in line what we

already have in our our code for our short-term rental under prohibited uses where it shares that short-term rentals are prohibited for nonresidential uses including special events. So really just adding that definition and aligning it to our our allowable state laws. Further, we added a a short section related to uh a requirement of a short-term rental owner uh must reside on a property when they have when it contains an accessory dwelling unit uh that was provided a certificate of occupancy uh on or after September 14th, 2024. Uh so that has been added to align with allowable state uh statutes. We did some cleanup on our native neighborhood notifications. Uh our previous uh code uh was not quite aligned with what state was allowing. Uh we had a a re a code that said upon every renewal they would have to give a notification to uh neighbors again. State code does not allow us to do that. We do that only on the initial licensing of a short-term rental or when it changes ownerships or so forth. So, our code now aligns with the state statutes. We also defined what addresses uh we cleaned up what addresses what homes they are required to notify. So, they are required to identify the adjacent properties, across the street properties and diagonal across the street properties. that aligns with what the state is allowing. And with not having a second notification for renewal, we do have, as Jessica mentioned, the portal uh that any neighbor to these areas can actually go on a portal to get the uh contact information and learn more about what's in their community. Another section, a couple sections that

we added u at our recommendations from this group is to add insurance and background checks. uh new insuranceances within the code that are allowed by state statutes for us. The insurance requirement require defines that a owner must must have appropriate insurance minimum of $500,000 in liability uh for their uh short-term rental. And for our background checks, we adopt what the state allows as far as owner's responsibility uh to do a background checks on persons that are booking STRs at their properties and must do it within 24 hours of their stay in the short-term rental. Both of these uh two requirements that we added uh can be uh satisfied with an online marketplace such as a Airbnb or VBO where they may require at least or better uh requirements than what we are requiring in our code and they often do when you're on a platform like those. The last set of se uh adjustments that our team recommends is related to postings uh in the homes. Uh we are re recommending amending posting requirements on the property to include additional information for renters uh to understand specific needs of our communities or how uh our community codes are. uh on the new uh on new or renewal licenses as we go through those after July 1st. We're including additional information for three areas. The winter parking ordinance that's in place uh from November 1st to April 1st. We are also including information to what types of outdoor fire pits, uh, barbecue grills, and those types of things are allowed during certain fire restrictions, as well as including a link to the fire restriction um section

on the city website for those individuals to u seek out and learn more about. And lastly, as as we heard a lot about uh trash complaints, we want to make sure that they understand the post placing of trash and recycling containers uh per our code as you must wait until 7 a.m. of the day of your collection to put those uh canisters out and they must be removed by the end of the day of that service day. And the last thing we are also recommending adding to our posting notices in the homes is allowing for additional postings on our regulations as we feel appropriate on these notices as well as the human trafficking hotline we thought was an important thing to include on the uh notices posted in each uh short-term rental. So now I'll hand it off to Fire Chief Gayler to provide some new uh code sections related to fire fire safety and public protection. There he is. Thank you.

Good evening uh mayor and council. Pleasure to be here. Uh appreciate uh the opportunity to join this team and um discuss these proposed changes. um really two areas that we're talking about with respect to fire and life safety in this particular case. Um and these requirements are what I would characterize as minimal. Um they're the types of requirements that we would have in a newly constructed home u generally. And I I'll also um I'll also call upon you to perhaps remember in our community in our county, we lost a family of four in a short-term reh residential uh due to carbon monoxide poisoning um a handful of years ago. And so the importance of ensuring that these types of basic fire protections are in place are uh to me very important to protecting the traveling public. And so really uh appreciate the opportunity to make sure these standards are in place. The second element, the fire restrictions piece. Um as uh we have folks come to the community if they see a fire pit, perhaps they haven't read the postings yet and there is often times an inviting urge to get out there and get a fire going in a fire pit. So, this place is a a responsibility on the homeowner to um ensure that those types of accidents do not occur and that in times of fire restrictions in our community, we can rely upon that homeowner to take steps to make sure that uh there's not an extra risk posed by the fact that they have those types of amenities at their short-term rental. So um these are the types of uh again fairly basic fire building and life safety standards that are placed into effect and u very supportive of that very minimal in this context. Any questions now or later be happy to answer those.

Are any of the um or I guess council member Garcia, did you have a question for the chief or is it a more general question?

It could be for the chief and it's it's a little bit general as well, but yeah, chief. So, my question, one of my questions is on some of the new um regulations that you're wanting to put into place, how will those be monitored or is it simply at the time when they're um submitting their proposal for for a short-term rental, they'll just get some literature that says this is what you should do? This is a um regulatory in the context of um to participate. These are the requirements in the short-term rental program. There is not a regulatory uh arm for the fire department for instance or for a um well particularly for a fire inspector to go and ensure that these things are in place. So it's it's uh really no enforcement arm yet, but the regulatory piece is these are the requirements to participate

for that and there may be more better information. Okay, thank you. Thank you. We'll have additional information for all the requirements on the license added to it when they apply and when they renew in this case. But these are our recommendations. One more page. All right. So, uh, Council Member Garcia, you also had a comment.

Uh, yeah. So, I guess I'm I might still might be on the questions and it might be for Rick and not for you, Chief. Um, so what uh what new things are we getting for the added cost to the short-term rental folks? Are we getting compliance officer or what what what type of services are we going to be getting from that? Um really it's covering the cost of the services that we're providing now. But it did uh provide for funding that we're going to recover more to fund another code enforcement officer uh to allow us to put more debt, more work toward short-term rentals. Uh so that's part of your budget adoption as we go forward for that position. So it did recover the cost better so we can fund that position. And Rick, for the sake of conversation and uh open meeting, uh could you could you uh let me know how the process goes for somebody who is applying for with the city? Uh like is it an online portal? Do they have to come in? Uh do you go out there and inspect what they have uh that they're following all the rules similar to what I asked the chief about the fire portion? What goes all into this and how does it work?

Sure. So, it's a pretty simple application. It's available online. Um, you're supposed to go on and apply before you are renting out your property. Um, it's available on the city's website. Um, but we have it all through, um, a portal where you can select your address. Um, you are able to, um, tell us which, um, addresses you're going to notify your neighbors. Um, and you go through and you upload any of your supporting documentation. And then our staff reviews all of it for accuracy. We also um ensure that you have your transaction privilege tax license as part of that and then Jinger generally issued your license. Um if you haven't we our third party vendor also reviews the listing sites for any properties that may not have gotten a license. Um so we actively are looking for those and those properties will receive a letter informing them that they need to obtain a license. Thank you for that. That was my second question was what about the ones that don't sign up? Yeah. And are is the uh online companies that they're leasing to give you the information that that there are some online or how do you do it? Do you just rove around the neighborhood? Give me a picture of how you decide if somebody is in compliance. So they'll they'll provide us a list of monthly of all of the of all of the addresses that they've sent a letter to that have been nonresponsive and then we're able to see that.

Is that the question? Yeah. Yeah. So generally I I support the increase um and look forward to having u more compliance officers that are able to look deeper into some of these um some of the short shortcomings that we've seen so far from folks that don't comply. Thank you, Council Member Matthews.

Thank you. Really just more of a comment than a question, Rick. Um, you said that one of the requirements is to have the trash cans out um the morning of pickup by 7 o'clock. Um, my trash gets picked up at six. You may want to change that time frame. Okay. Yeah, that's in the uh solid waste code already and we're just referring to solid waste code. So, we'll share that with our public works team. As far as timing wise, I'd love for them to pick up at seven because missed it a couple of times.

City manager,

are we done with council questions? Okay. Um, mayor, I just wanted to just say thank you to this team that worked on this. Um I think all of you know how um frustrating this issue could be um because the cities have basically been taken um our authority away over short-term rentals. And as you know, kind of bit by bit, we've been given um more authority back. And I feel like what we're presenting today kind of utilizes everything um we possibly can in state statute. So I just want to say thank you to this team. Um, I also wanted to take this opportunity to recognize um, Calvin Adamson. I'm gonna embarrass him. He's sitting at the back here. Calvin has been working with us this semester as a uh, Stuart and Carrie Kent fellow through NAU and has been kind of working on some some just different projects for us this semester. And this is one that um, he has been very interested in and has helped um, with this this work as well. So, I just want to recognize Calvin in the back as well. Um, and mayor, with that, I just wanted to say thank you to this awesome team. All right, great. Thank you very much. I know this was a lot of work. Um, but it's so so important. And those numbers over on the right of the repeat offenders. I bet most of us know the neighborhoods that um those repeat offenders where that home is located. And if we can um really get the complaints down so that people can live in their neighborhoods and enjoy their neighborhood um it would be a most welcome thing for everyone in Flag Staff. So thank you.

Absolutely. All right. So I'm looking for a motion to read the resolution. Mayor, I move that we read resolution number 2026-9 by title only. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I

Any opposed? Okay. City clerk. A resolution of the Flagstaff City Council declaring as a public record that certain document filed with the city clerk and entitled 2026 short-term rental code updates. And a motion to read ordinance 2026-11. So move. I'll second. Mayor, we missed a public commenter as well.

We did. Mary, I'm sorry. Mary Norton, thanks again. I usually come talk on this subject and I love it when there's more than one thing of interest for me to come. Um anyway, um I live in Pinnacle Pines and I'm active in the HOA and on the the board and committees and I'm the firewise resident leader. Um so as I've explained before, we're a community of 208 town homes and we were at 20% short-term rentals. The map shows that we're down to 30. So that's 14.4% short-term rentals in our community. Um so I'm not sure if there's some have dropped off. We know some have sold. Um, but also, you know, maybe there's some that aren't licensed. Anyway, we're still dispate disproportionate to the percentage that is seen citywide and in the area. I strongly support where this is going and utilizing all the tools and I have been since the the legislation came out. So, I'm glad that we're utilizing the maximum fee and all of the tools. Um, it emphasizes the seriousness. Um, I just want to commend the the work that's been done on the website, the contact form, the map. Um, we often refer people that are having issues with a neighbor that, you know, they say, "Oh, I didn't get a contact number." You know, well, you know, we we steer them there and that's been very very helpful. Um, but I'm really supportive of especially the postings regarding um parking, fire restrictions, and trash because that's where our top complaints come in. Um, along with lighting. Um, so we've been able to handle most of those through HOA rules and regulations, but to have these uh requirements as part of the city ordinance is really helpful and good backup. And I was just wondering like we also require and ask our owners to post that kind of information. Um, we don't

have any way to say we want to see how you've posted it or are you sure you've posted it. So, I didn't know how that kind of compliance will work out for the city. Like, will you ever do like an initial tour of a of a brand new short-term rental to see that they've posted these things? Just kind of something that came up while I was sitting here listening to, you know, how do we actually effectively implement these things and make sure everybody's everybody's on board. So, anyway, thank you. I'm I'm glad you've moved forward with this and thanks for taking my comment,

Mary. My apologies and thank you. Jessica, did you want to answer that question about um followup on whether the proper information has been posted?

Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. Ana Wendell with the city attorney's office. We have pretty much this ordinance is on the honor system. We're asking the property owners to take responsibility for compliance with our code, but um Flagstaff is a very that um democratic community inactive and they voice their concerns when they discover things and that's why um you have increased code enforcement uh needs and that's how we enforce our short-term rental code right now is on a complaint basis primarily. If in the future the legislature gives us more money for or allows us to charge higher fees for licensing and oversight then I think at that time the city could um or would have more resources to start a program where you have like an an annual inspection um to make sure that the carbon monoxide detectors are in place and that their short-term rental licenses is posted. I think most businesses are pretty good about posting notices and our notice is really pretty comprehensive information for the guests who are staying there. Um, and as part of the city's push, uh, I think two or three years ago that Shannon helped with, we also have the the hotline for sex trafficking on that notice because that's one of the activities that sometimes goes on in hotels, the short-term rentals that that um, if you're a victim, then you to have access to that information. Does that answer your question?

I believe so. Yeah. Thank you. Okay. Okay. Where were we when it was determined that I missed a public commenter? It was a motion, a second, and you were calling for discussion among council. Thank you. Any discussion? All those in favor? I.

Any opposed? City clerk. An ordinance of the city council of the city of Flagstaff amending the Flagstaff city code title 3 business regulations by adopting by reference that certain documents entitled 2026 short-term rental code updates providing for penalties repeal of conflicting ordinances severability authority for clerical corrections and establishing an effective date. Thank you. Moving down to 12B, use of the council initiative fund. Does staff want to say anything or shall we just go on to um the request? Mayor and councel, uh Joanne Keane, your city manager. I did um want to just uh talk about the request that came in. Um, if you recall during the U council budget retreat at the end of April, there was some discussion about a uh request from the literacy center. Um, and uh, Council Member Alen and um, Council Member House both both asked if we could bring this back for consideration. The request that was submitted from the literacy center was for $4,000 to support their English as a second language programming for adults, youth, and families. Um, with some discussion with our internal team, we were able to identify $2,000 in in funds um from this year. Um, and then the request would be $2,000 from council initiative funds. Um we are planning on also including this request in um the budget that'll come to council for adoption in uh July and then

as we did with other requests we have asked literacy center to go through um the the regular process of submitting uh funds from the city. So with that, I also have some additional details on how much uh the council has available in their um in their fund and we were hopeful that since we don't have a lot of time before the end of the fiscal year that potentially there could be a discussion about um other items um that could be utilized with those funds. You currently have $3,500 remaining. So, if this $2,000 request um is supported, you would have $1,500 left.

Big bucks. I did that math all by myself. [laughter] Thank you. Um, council member Alen, did you want to say anything?

Yeah, I really appreciate the city manager's summation there. I I think she said all that needed to be said about it. I really appreciate council support moving forward with this. I think the literacy center has uh been leaving some money on the table uh in the past and they they're learning about that and helping them to learn about that and uh I think it's such an invaluable resource for our community. Um this is a way to sort of uh jumpstart things and looking forward for continued support in future budgets as well. Um but this is a great way to kick kicks kick things off.

Thank you. Are there any other requests from council? $1,500. Go ahead. So, I was a little confused. City manager is um we have $3,500 remaining. The request was for four. Um, are you are you talking about them wanting us to fund them on an ongoing basis of 4,000? I was confused on why we wouldn't just fulfill the 3500 or was the request for 2,000. Um, Council Member Matthews, the request was for 4,000. So, uh, you know what, we we discussed internally that we do have some funds we could put towards this. So, um,

outside of the outside of the council initiative fund. And so then we would just ask council for the other two and then it would be included in the the budget that council would adopt in July.

Okay. That's where I got confused. And then are we going to I know we had a short kind of general presentation on all the outside agencies that we provide support to. are will there be an opportunity for us to discuss those and really see I know some of them were lumped together not specified just to see if there's still um something that this council wants to continue on with. Um, Council Member Matthews, I Yes, I think we at the April retreat, we did commit to um providing a history of of those um outside agencies that we fund and how you know whether there's a contract for those services. So, yes, that will be coming back to council. Um, I'll likely send that out to you um in my update to all of you.

Okay. Thank you. because I know that, you know, we're looking for pennies and dollars for public safety and everything. So, I really want to take a look at all the different avenues that we can out of our budget. And so, I think it's prudent for us to at least know what what was it 1.5 million is going out to other agencies and see what those are to make sure we all support those.

Correct. And the majority of those are contracts that we have with those outside organizations. um like High Country Humane for example is our contracted um shelter. Um but yes, we will get that to council. Council member House. Thank you, Mayor. Sorry about that. I had trouble finding my unmute button. Um thank you uh city manager for uh bringing forward um this this proposal and finding those funds. Um I'm wondering my my question was actually about the remaining 1,500. Um if we either wanted to um just uh uh provide that support um now rather than so so do a full uh 3500 for the um literacy center or if uh if not if we wanted to look at opportunities to I didn't know if we were directly sponsoring or supporting any of the um Northern Arizona Healthcare uh mental health matters events. Um if if we are then I would propose uh sticking with with uh with this request. Um if not then I would look at if there was an opportunity for us to reply the remainder of those funds to um something under that programming. City Manager,

Council Member House. Um, you know, I think at this point if council um just commits to that 2,000, then I think that 1,500 will be available for you to use on something else. So, Council Member House, are you proposing that the 1500 go to the um NAH Foundation for for this month? U mental health awareness? Yes, I would then.

Okay, thank you. Any other suggestions? I'll throw out there that um Council Member Alen and I were at the event where the truck rolled in to um distribute food to the Flagstaff Family Food Center. You huge semitr and I spoke to um Ethan, their executive director, and the food was gone within a couple of days. Um, so they are inundated with their numbers are astonishing and they're growing all the time. So I would throw that out there as well. I know that we did find money in the budget for the Flagstaff Family Food Center. So they will be receiving money from the city in this next budget and we've given before. Um, so I just put that out on the table as well. Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead, Vice Mayor.

Thank you, city manager. Can I ask, are we familiar with the um NAH mental health awareness campaign? Is the city a partner with that right now? Um, Vice Mayor, we have partnered on events. We're hosting um a couple couple of events. I know at the city of Flagstaff. Um, I'm not sure financially if we are um supporting any events. Um, we I can I can check and bring this one back if you'd like to discuss it at a future date. I haven't seen any requests for funding for this um initiative. Thank you.

So, Council Member House, did you have um a particular event or um or a particular area you wanted it to go to? I would just ask that we look at um and maybe get in contact with uh the vice president of uh the office of philanthropy on uh what we could support. I know we've been in some conversations with them about um the city supporting this programming in different ways. And with this being uh mental health awareness month right now, I I would just like us to do whatever we can to look into it as a a way to to further that support um and um partner in this programming um more intentionally.

Thank you, Council Member Alen.

Yeah, I have a question just for context. I don't know if you'll be able to answer this off the cuff. I'll be impressed if you can. Um, so we have until the end of the fiscal year to spend all of this money, right? The end of June and uh we started spending this year's purse uh last July. Do you know if I I'm trying to remember if there were other funds given towards the category of mental health this year? Um, council member Alen, you'll be very impressed that I do have the list and I want to thank Georganna and Stacy for providing it to me. Um, I can provide a list. So, council has funded um the NA Macy's Day parade. Um, high country humane, but it was for the spa spayneuter um for the DPS um officers and their families contributing towards that event. the um Guadalupanas for the event on May 16th, Ballet Ballet Folklorico, the Big Reed, uh MLK Gala, Market of Dreams, and then you also sponsored a lantern room as well.

Fantastic. Thank you. So, council, would you rather vote on the 1500 today or would you rather think about it and have it on the um the the closest agenda that we can? The latter I think is uh more. Okay. So, can we get this on the agenda for um the soonest possible? Yes, and I will reach out to um Mark at NAH and get some additional details as well.

Thank you. That would be very helpful. Okay. Um so, we have $2,000 for the Flagstaff Literacy Center. So, I will um entertain a motion. Madame Mayor, I would uh like to move that we use $2,000 of the council initiative fund toward uh Flagstaff's literacy center. I'll second. Any second? Any discussion? All those in favor? I I thank you very much, council.

Any opposed? All right, so we're moving down to discussion items. 13A, public safety community survey results. everyone. I have a public commenter. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Uh Shannon Anderson, your assistant city manager. I am here with Ben, excuse me, Paul Bence, um who is from High Ground. Uh we originally were going to do our presentation to council June 2nd as we had shared with you during the recent council budget retreat. Um but after hearing that you might like a little bit more time, we decided to do um to share the survey results today. Um and we've bumped up that that presentation to May 26th, which is the earliest date we can do following the conclusion of the citizen committee on May 13th. Um, so, um, without further ado, I'll turn it over to Paul. He can tell you a little bit about himself, high ground, and share the results with you.

Sure. Good afternoon. Can you hear me? Okay. Yes, we can hear you. Thanks, Paul.

Oh, fantastic. Just want to make sure. Uh, good afternoon. My name is Paul Ben. I'm the senior vice president of research and strategy at High Ground Public Affairs in Phoenix, Arizona. We are the fivetime uh winners of best polling firm in the state of Arizona by the Arizona Capital Times including last year. Uh we do a wide variety of statewide, regional and local survey research in the realm of uh public safety, education, health care, water, and a wide variety of other topics. Um, our goal is always accurate and inbi unbiased survey research to give you an understanding of what the electorate is thinking and uh just sort of a general understanding of of what's going on out there. So, I'm going to share my screen and hopefully this will work. This is always the uh this is always the scary part here. Um, I'm attempting to share. Do you see uh the survey presentation data at this point? Fantastic. I I see the thumbs up. Okay, wonderful. So we conducted the survey the uh April 6th through the 9th. So just about a month ago. It is a 400 sample live caller survey. So that means that every person that took this survey was done on um home phone or cell phone. It was human to human. No AI, no texting, no uh person, no uh it was all live caller surveys, which is still the gold standard for survey research. We every person who took the survey, the 400 folks who took it answered every question. And so we have a full complete data set for those individuals. Obviously, it takes more calls than that to get 400 completed interviews, but we got it over the span of April 6th through the 9th. This is a again a 400 sample which has a 4.9 margin of error. So any of these answers could be five points higher or lower with a 95% confidence interval. which means if we conducted the survey a 100 times 95 out of 100 times the data would come out

within these uh five points that we are talking about. The other thing to note is that we balance it uh sort of based on what we expect the likely audience to look like. So that means we ensure that we've got a balanced age demographic, a balanced party demographic, a balanced regional demographic to ensure that it's a reliable replication of what we anticipate an overall electorate would look like in a November 2026 midterm election. One of the things that we asked about is what do you consider the top issue facing the city of Flagstaff today? And uh this is probably not surprises to you as the elected officials, but the top two issues were both sort of cost related with cost of living at 40.5% as the number one issue and uh housing is the number two issue at 23.8%. Um this is a public safety survey, so I will note that way down on the list um is 2.7% for public safety. We we read this list of folks because if we asked 400 people potentially what their top issue is, we would potentially get 400 different responses. So, we did give them this list. It was randomized to ensure that we uh got different answers. It wasn't just the first answer that was always answered. Um but what we see is uh public safety is a uh is not as high of a priority, which is one of the challenges when it comes to the public safety funding. In fact, cost of living across the board with all the age demographics as well as all of the regional demographics uh is showing cost of living. So, you're a little bit uh when it comes to public safety challenges uh a bit of a victim of your own success because when we ask them to rate the overall municipal services uh on a scale of one to five, what we find is the vast majority of your municipal services are very well regarded. This is our first instance of a five-point scale or a liyker scale. Think of it like a

Yelt review or a star rating. The closer to five that you get, the better things are. The closer to one, the less regarded they are. And the thing to note here on all of the topics is that your your municipal services all have very good ratings with police at 3.69 and 60% giving you an excellent or very good fire and medical at the among the highest at 3.88. 88 with 70% giving it excellent or very good. Uh in fact all of your with the exception of public works and streets which I will talk about in one second. Um all of your items are well above 3.5 which is very high scores for municipal services. Um but you were the first community that I've ever measured where park parks, recreation, and open space was the top rated program um at 3.98. Um, so but they're all very close with the exception a little bit of streets and public works. But I will say for our streets and public works friends that are out uh in the audience today, do not hang your head. Uh, in fact, in pretty much every community that we do this type of research in, streets are much lower. And in fact, in most communities, streets are below three. Uh, in general, people have biggest concerns sort of about street and public works projects. Uh, we find that to be a generally lower amount. So it's actually um among the municipalities that we measure um 3.13 for streets is a is a pretty good score in fact despite the fact that it might be a little bit lower than some of the other services that we measured. Any questions about that so far?

None so far.

Okay. Wonderful. So when we talk about the the public safety proposals, one of the things to bear in mind is we do look through look at at through the frame of the fact that people right now are generally pretty happy with their police, fire and medical services. They believe that the you know that they're taking place and that people are generally happy. So there is a communication challenge. Um if there are needs that need to be expressed overall your audience is pretty positive. So, we we're tasked with measuring two different types of proposals. So, I'm going to go through a b a potential bond first and then I'm going to go through a public safety sales tax. It's important to note that half the folks got the public safety sales tax questions first and then the bond and half of them got the bond first and public safety sales tax second. The reason we do that is to eliminate any bias of as as you maybe have seen an electoral uh ballot positioning before. Sometimes one item gets slightly more support or less support because it comes first or second. So to eliminate that and ensure each of the items is measured on its own uh we we split it up in half. So again each person gets every question but sometimes the surveys can be in very different orders which helps uh again let each question stand on its own. Um, if I were to ask people, do you want to spend more money on public safety? We would have a high number of folks that say yes. If we ask people, do you want to raise taxes for public safety? Um, the number does come down a little bit, but one of the only things that we can guarantee an individual will see over the course of an election is the actual ballot language. So, we always replicate the ballot language itself to demonstrate where we're starting. And so in this case, we use uh similar to the ballot language, shall the city of Flagstaff be authorized to issue and sell 40 million in general obligation bonds backed by a secondary property tax to provide funding for public safety facilities, improvements, related equipment, vehicles, and communication

systems. That's much more likely to what what the electorate would see instead of do you want to uh increase funding for public safety. So, we start with the pre-est on that and we can see that the initial pre-est on a public safety bond is about 46% yes to 44.7 almost 45% no. So, a pretty even split between the two. We have a little bit more uh support among the younger electorate as we see overall with a a slight plurality but not a majority in opposition. So in the 50 to 64 and the 65 and older category, our definitely yes is about 12 points here to definitely no at 21 points. So it's a little bit slightly more on the intensity side of things. Uh leaning more towards yes towards then leaning more towards no than yes, forgive me um at the outset. And so we like to see measure where things start and then u give more details um beyond that so we're not again increasing any bias from there we go into the programmatically what could be involved and so since there are a lot of public safety items one thing you'll note is that because the bond is capital items all the pro all the programs or projects in in this section are all uh capitalbased so that left on the sales tax side to do more of the uh actual like staffing and positionbased items of this. So there is a little bit of variation here, but again these were all randomized and rotated. So some folks got fire station expansion and modernization first, other folks got radios and communications first. Uh other folks got wildland firefighting facilities first. And this was on a scale of one to five, one meaning not at all important to five meaning very important. And one thing to note uh as we go through these is every single one of these items was considered important by the electorate. It's the degree of importance that they see. Some folks, you know, the closer we were to three, the lower numbered items, they're still

important, just not to the same intensity or the same level as some of the other items. So, for example, on this slide, uh emergency medical equipment uh was among the highest at 4.05 5 with a 39% giving that a five or a very important. When you compare that to a new fire station um that was at 3.22 with only 16% giving it a very important. I would note that the location or the idea of a fire station in general does typically get higher intensity if people know it's going to be near them or how it impacts the overall system. But fire station expansion and modernization does a little bit better than spec what specifically one fire station. Um radios and communications were at the middle at about 3.6. Um among the highest that we saw and I I did hear the chief talking earlier when I initially logged on sort of fire and wildland firefighting just in general right now is a certainly a higher rated issue. This was among the highest we measured in fact the highest on the capital side. um wildland firefighting equipment at 4.35 and wildland firefighting facility um at 4.07 were among the top. Um we note that uh emergency and police vehicle repair at 3.43 and then law enforcement facilities at 3.0 still supported just there is a little bit of difference between some of the public safety or police related items and some of the sort of fire and emergency related items. The last two that we did measure or last three is upgraded dispatch technology, criminal investigation tools and emergency management supplies and equipment. We do all those and I kind of went through them fast because this slide uh this slide 11 is among the most important slides just to give you an idea of how things stand and so again all of them are important to the overall electorate but there are degrees of importance there. So you have these top tier items. Wildland firefighting

equipment, wildland fire facility, emergency medical equipment. Those are sort of the top tier items. Emergency management supplies and equipment, upgraded dispatch technology, fire station expansion and modernization and radios and communications are sort of in the middle tier. And then you can see some of the other ones that are in a bit of the lower tier. This is not to say that you should use this measurement to determine what would or would not be necessarily in a proposal, but it does give especially uh folks that are going to talk to the public about this a good idea of what really stands out among the electorate. So instead of putting these items in say alphabetical order or in the size of the budget order, putting them in the order of which we see the voters really care about them can really help people uh focus and understand sort of what what's in the proposal and put your best foot forward. Any questions on the project piece of this? Okay. From there, what we do is we do reason statements. And again, these were all randomized. The idea behind this is if we're trying to determine sentiment, what are the sentiments of the electorate? What's driving them? What what is the motivating factor as they think about this? Because if I asked 400 people again, what's your sentiment on this topic? I would get 400 different responses. So, we find a very efficient way to do this is to measure some key ideas or some key concepts, reasons uh that we'd see over the course uh of of a discussion or dialogue about this. So this idea of facing significant capital needs um is at 3.65 with 22.5% strongly agree. Um that one sort of the broad capital needs does pretty well. But when you look at it more drilled down onto tools and equipment that did very well at 3.82 with 29.5% giving that a strongly agree. So really specifically broad general capital needs while important to the electorate does not

drill down or is not as helpful as the specificity of uh really talking about the tools and equipment that would could potentially be uh involved in this type of proposal. This idea that potentially it would not be a tax increase, it would keep the tax rate the same. Uh does pretty well at 3.38. Uh there's some doesn't do quite as well among the older segments. It is also has a higher unknown. Folks don't know if they necessarily uh believe that that anything like a bond can be conducted without uh some sort of tax implications without a tax rate increase. This is probably one that could be fleshed out a little bit more or communicated more adequately to improve its believability overall. But what we're seeing is the tax rate piece of it is is not as important as maybe sort of the what is the benefits either from a capital needs perspective or an equipment perspective. On the other hand, you're facing a pretty sizable housing and cost of living concern. We saw this in the first question that we posed in the survey top issue facing the community, but also the sentiment that housing prices and cost of living are already high. an increase in the secondary property taxes on residents will only making housing affordability issues even worse. 51% gave that a strongly agree. You're up against some pretty high uh concerns. This is not unique I mean to Flag Staff in that pocketbook issues, affordability issues, we're seeing this across the board on basically any sort of electoral proposal right now. It's been the same topic. It's been the same sort of driving force on every school uh survey that I've done in the last uh six months. It's also in any sort of municipal or public safety survey. I'm seeing very similar results where there's pocketbook concerns, not sort of the global um it's not interest rates necessarily. It's more of the pocketbook concerns that we're seeing driving the driving force among folks. Um we also do see that there is um some sensitivities

that maybe now is not the right time to raise taxes. And I recognize where this goes right up against another one that says it's not a tax increase. There is a perception whether or not we believe it to be true or not. And we do measure things based on what we expect to be said. Um so this idea that is now is not the time to increase taxes when residents are already stretched then including seniors on fixed incomes is another efficacious reason or something that is standing in the way of the o of basically overall support right now. Paul, when we go through Yes. Yes. Um, we have a question here. Okay. I apologize this is council member Matthews. Um, going back a slide. Yes.

Um, are these like the housing and cost of living are those statements statements you made and then the um person being surveyed said yes, I agree or no, I don't agree.

Yes. So, we we specifically posed that statement because we were trying to measure the sentiment. Um, we go through this a lot. I know it's not necessarily a sentiment that uh you you want to be shared with the audience. However, what we always say is you go to the doctor not just to find out what's right with you. You go to the doctor to find out everything. You do a full checkup. And so we do have to measure some of these more uh negative or adversarial statements because we need to see sort of how steep the hill is to climb and how believable what some of what potential people will say against a proposal. So yes, this is that that is verbatim what we read to the respondents. So on the housing and cost of living, um the increase in secondary property tax on residents will only make housing affordability issues even worse. That's not correct. So are you just saying is that what you believe

because that's telling them it's going to raise uh it's going to cost them more and it doesn't.

Right. So uh and I do it's good that it's on this slide because while uh it is in fact not a tax rate increase is a factual statement what we typically find is those in opposition to any given item are not necessarily required to be factually accurate unfortunately. So we we measure it based on what we anticipate that they will say not what we would like them to say. So that's why we need to me it also is a good lesson here that if people were to say that it is a tax increase that it is required or it is incredibly essential that that record is set straight because it is this idea or even a notion that it would be an increase is uh is something that would impact the overall uh you know proposal.

Okay. Thank you. So yes, we do pose it as an increase in taxes despite the fact that it is not necessarily an increase. Um when we measure this at the end, we ask him again knowing just what you know right now. Uh you can see the the post test here is at 49% yes to 42.3% no. In a pre-est we like to see items above uh 50 to 55% for that margin of error. That's typically what we like to see. In this case, what we actually see is the in a post test, we like to see it about 50%. That's not to say that we think it's going to pass with 50% exactly, but it is about measuring viability. And in this case, we're right about that 50% threshold, a little bit below it, but we're right in the sort of the viability range. And we do see telling people what it helps fund. Educating the public about what could be involved from a bond proposal standpoint with the exception of the 50 to 64 category does move them in the right direction to be more inclined to support communication in and of itself for a bond proposal in it helps as well as measuring some of those sentiments and expressing those capital needs. Um it's still below 50% slightly but it is uh it does actually improve. In a lot of these surveys we see the opposite. In fact, we'll generally see a high water mark at the beginning and then it will decline. But in this case, we actually saw uh start low and end a little bit higher on that. On the sales tax side, again, we we start with the ballot language as we anticipate it would be. And so this one's even more of a mouthful. uh you know base transaction privilege tax applicable to all taxable activities from point one you know from 0.5 you know from point two 2.486 to 2.986 beginning January 1. We do that because again this is what would be required you know we don't get to call it a half cent

we don't get to you know on the language you phrasing and discussion you can but the what people actually see we always measure that because it's the most uh impactful beginning to start and this one starts at a a weaker position of 33.3% yes to 61% no. Um, I'm going to spoil the post test now just because I know there that's probably a certainly surprising number. Just in and of itself, the idea of a sales tax starts very low, but when it's described what it actually would do and where it would go, it increases quite a bit. In fact, it increases to about 51%. So uh but as as a starting point it requires quite a bit of public education and public discussion because it starts even lower than a bond uh as just a general starting point and we see a very high definitely no to definitely yes. So it's it starts at a a much steeper hill to climb but the education of the public very helps this one pretty significantly as we move forward. partially to do with the fact that um all pretty much all of the items that we measured from a staffing perspective. Well, we saw some variability on the propos on the projects from a capital side where some of the wildland fire and the fire station renovations did really well but some of the other ones didn't do quite as well. From a staffing perspective, almost every single one of these was very high and a much more narrow gap of the support here with most of them above 3.5. U some of the highest that we measured here um included the additional wildland firefighters which you'll see in a minute, but also the fire academy and training additional firefighters and paramedics were near the top of the list as well as the emergency management personnel. So yeah, as I mentioned, additional wildland firefighters at 4.2 29 a little bit lower among animal control at 3.01.

Um airport law enforcement I would say in the context of when this survey was conducted about a month ago that was certainly more airport activities not in your airport necessary but on a global discussion or at least on a national discussion that certainly impacted the airport security um number overall but that's among the lower ones that we measured. Um but as again when we go through it what we look at here is some of these top tiers and as I said the vast majority above 3.5 with a significant number closer to four and four are sort of the what we expect are the home run or golden projects the type you know types of staffing and investments that people really like and I think this is a big driver to the overall the notion of additioning additional wildland firefighters firefighters and paramedics additional fire and academy and training police training. All of those are very top tier as as wants from the community when they look at what the a potential sales tax could invest. Um on the reason statement side, we see response times. This is one of the biggest most effective uh um arguments that we see on the side of doing something is this idea that the emergency calls have more than doubled since 2008 while staffing levels have remained the same. Resources are stretched thin and soon we'll not be able to keep up with growth. To keep response times low and ensure that we can respond rapidly or quickly in an emergency, we need additional funding and to hire more staff. Um when voters hear this, they agree with it. What we see though is in initially they don't necessarily know this to be a need uh because they're generally pretty satisfied but 32% strongly agree with that and impact on response times would certainly be a major selling point among the electorate and then this overall idea of meeting the community's needs that you know that provide our public safety services with staffing and

equipment for fire emergency medical services, police, airport emergency management that meet our community's needs and protect our quality of life. The quality of life argument is another big driver uh that we see. This is pretty consistent with other survey research that we see overall. People do connect public safety with the quality of life as a major uh indicator there. When it comes to uh sales taxes concerns, it's less about impact on business and just overall impact on the community. Uh there is a small concern about the regressivity of sales taxes. It feeds in sort of with that cost of living one that we saw as well as the uh you know households are stretched thin right now. Uh regressive nature of a sales tax would also be a concern that would need to be uh addressed because it is a a driving force as we see um with sort of the electorate. So, your cost when we put all of the statements together, the the cost negativities are all sort of near the top, but when we look at it, um the response times, tools, and equipment, and meeting the community needs are sort of the the biggest force of what what motivate people to to support a program for uh public safety. And as I mentioned at the beginning, explanation of the sales tax will be essential if you decide to proceed with any sort of sales tax because while it starts in a negative position, it actually ends in a a very positive position at 50.7% yes to 43% no. So it's a pretty sizable turnaround with not only folks moving from undecided to yes, but a a decent number of folks moving from no to yes when they understand what it is. Um there's pretty much gains of double digits across the board uh with the younger electorate being among the most that had concerns about a sales tax. And then um you can see even up to the older segments with the exception of 65 and older that end up with a plurality on the yes, not

quite a majority but a plurality yes. All the other age segments when described or explained what a sales tax would do uh move towards the yes column there as well as you know across the zip codes. we see a pretty sizable gain across the board as well. So it starts in a in a in a difficult position and then um it improves a little bit I mean improves quite a bit pardon me over the course of the discussion with a little bit more explanation. Now two more things and then I will be happy to answer any questions. Finally um we asked if it were reduced from a half cent to a quarter cent would that make you more or less likely to to vote for the sales tax? And part of the reason we ask it this way is because if I asked another yes no question, what we actually see is that it becomes a negotiation where, you know, it's like either the foot in the door technique. Oh, we started larger and now we're asking smaller in this case. Or if I did it the other way, we asked quarter cent all the way through and then came out with the half cent. It would be the, you know, foot in the door or the door in the face technique. In this case, what we see is that there is about half of the f of the respondents that are much that are more likely to support that if it were a reduced size, but not so much so that it makes a major difference between what the yes number is currently and what it would be with a half with a quarter cent. In fact, what we notice is the 41% um it says no difference and then you have about 8% or so that would be less likely if you actually reduce the overall number. So um in this case what we see here is um the juice is not probably quite worth the squeeze in reducing the the quarter cent versus half. There's not a large enough differential there to really see that you know the in the data itself that you know the number of projects you can do the projects itself and the the staffing seems to be a larger driver than the actual size of the actual tax itself.

And then finally, one other piece of consideration is if you were to put two items on the ballot, and we ask this a lot for schools when they've got like say a bond and an override, you know, which opinion comes closer to your own. I would likely support both a bond and a public safety sales tax. I'd like to support only a bond. I'd like likely only support a public safety sales tax. I'd vote no on both your no on both is pretty standard. 30% of folks vote no on everything. That's a that's a pretty typical number. What we do traditionally like to see in this case is if you put more than one item on the ballot, we like the yes yes audience to be closer to uh 35 to 40% of your base so that your intersection between the two isn't so drastic isn't so needing to be so drastic. the um in this case when we asked you know basically the best we could do is a follow-up after people had heard about both which one comes closest to your own you add the yes on both plus bond they're at about 51% the yes on both plus the sales tax is is a reduced number um of about 37%. So, the sales tax again has a little bit softer. It does better on its own uh without the bond. If both items are on the ballot, the bond is tech would likely receive more of the support than the than the sales tax would as part of the proposal. So, uh with that, I'm I'm happy to answer any questions that you have or, you know, go back, but uh that's that's what we found over the course of the survey.

Thank you, Paul. We do have a question. Council member House. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, Paul. Uh, this has been great information. Um, I'm wondering just a couple of things and and if any of these are um not things that you're prepared to answer tonight, that's that's totally fine. But I'm wondering um what you would say about how the survey results really could help us shape our understanding of what Flagstaff residents um are considering when we talk about public safety in Flagstaff. uh because it it seems fairly clear that the community is is valuing or highly valuing um uh public safety overall or community safety overall. Um but there's a lot of hesitancy when it comes to, you know, how we fund it or or how we pay for it. So, how would you recommend that we really look at that that split? It's a wonderful question. Do you want to answer other questions or do you want me to answer them one at a time? Councilwoman,

go ahead and answer them all for council member House and then we'll go on to the next question.

Okay, council member. So, uh, you know, based on my understanding, what what I see right now is that your electorate does support public safety, but they do not believe or do not comprehend that there is a problem or that there's a challenge with funding public safety. They think it's headed in the right direction. They think your public safety does a good job. Uh they are not under awareness or believe that there's a a crisis or that there's a a challenge. When we mentioned the staffing levels have not increased and there's challenges with response times, they respond well to those, but they are not generally aware that those are challenges that you're facing right now from a funding perspective.

Thank you for that. Um it it yeah it's it's challenging because it seems again very clear that our residents are placing a lot of value on our emergency preparedness on public safety investments, wildfire response, all of these things while at the same time and particularly I I go back to the questions that council member Matthews um was was highlighting earlier about the the focus on housing affordability and cost of living as being major concerns. Uh I think one of my concerns with the way the questions were phrased is that if if there wasn't something that went back and kind of corrected the perception that might have been behind the question, it leaves us in a place where people are are left basically thinking this will negatively impact housing affordability or cost of living. So, I'm wondering how we uh move forward from the survey to ensure that what we're presenting to the community lets them know that we are seeking to to genuinely address both of those realities, both the concern around emergency preparedness and public safety at the same time as we're investing in affordability and cost of living without it seeming as though we're asking our community to choose between safety and affordability.

Thank you, council member. Uh, one thing to note is that there's 400 people took the survey. So, um, we have not we're not perpetuating this broadly throughout your community in such a way that it needs to be addressed like that. You've been spreading misinformation about uh the housing. The other thing is the way the question is poses these are things you might hear from people regarding the issue. So it's might hear it's not this is the official statement or the official position. This is a statement you might hear based on what you hear what you've heard. Do you agree or disagree with it? So we're not we make sure to couch it in a way that it's clear that it is not a um a statement of fact necessarily or something uh that really will move the needle. We have not seen survey data move the needle on one issue or the other. What this does tell me is that there is concerns from the public about affordability issues that attacks addressing attacks for public safety will need to be addressed or at least answered um in order for them to feel comfortable with with wanting to make some sort of investment or pay some additional funding for public safety.

Thank you for that, too. And I I do want to be clear. I don't think that you were um that that's the I don't want it to be the impression that I thought that you were misleading the community. Uh essentially I I just that was a concern that rose just from how the question was was phrased, but you you addressed that well. So thank you for that. Um my last question then is just uh what I found really interesting was on the later slides where you were showing that uh the sales tax measure started with around 33% support uh that rose to just over or just under 51% after some of that messaging and explanation. Um, for me that suggests that residents um or those that took the survey at least might not be as much opposed to the goals of uh this funding as they may be a little distrustful or hesitant around the impacts or or structure of the proposal itself. Would you agree with that? And if so, what would you say we need to do in terms of messaging around this proposal um to ensure that we're building that level of public trust and transparency?

That's a again, council member, that's a great question. I think there's a little bit of sales tax fatigue in general. It's sort of a it's relied on in a in a lot of cases for a potential solution for items and there has been greater push back in general uh skepticism about sales taxes and what they're used for and how they're used and but once it became clear it was about uh staffing and I think the more transparent you can be with the plan of where it's going to be used and how it would benefit or how it would be able to give the staffing positions that are necessary I think that would help a a lot uh with just really clearly demonstrating to the public how you're going to spend the money. We've seen this in other public safety sales taxes, even putting in items like you're going to publicly report how it's spent. And you know, those types of other transparency measures can be really helpful in creating confidence that the money is going to go where it says it's going to go instead of just being another uh place where it's generates revenue and it does doesn't necessarily do what they say it's going to do.

Wonderful. Thanks again, Paul. Thank you, Mayor. Council member Garcia.

Thank you, Paul. I had a uh question about one of your first slides that mentioned that public safety was kind of lower on the priority list. Um and and then shortly after that, you showed that parks and wreck and open space were pretty high on the priority list, which um makes me want to assume that the public feels safe enough currently for them to not have public safety as a priority and also to frequent parks, wreck, and open space um without uh you know, without needing public safety there to do. So, um that's that's the notion that I get and um I guess my question is did you did you have any feedback on um so so okay let me let me let me walk that back a little bit. So, that makes me think that that the public is right in that we um are currently doing pretty well on on where we're at currently with the numbers. But a lot of what we're asking the public for is for our future growth projections and things that we're going to need that is outside of the timeline that we're in now in order to keep that safety at the level that it is currently today. Was there any questioning inside of or any feedback that you got um that that made you believe that the people were thinking about our future expectations and not our current

council member? That's a great question. So just to clarify that this question was what is the top issue facing the city today? And so this was a forced choice. They had to pick one of them. So what we're expecting is what's number one. And that doesn't mean necessarily public safety or something else. If we were to ask him to rank them or give more that it might not be the number two, number three, but it's really helpful to get us what's a driving force and what's top of mind. In a lot of communities, I will say public safety is generally in the top three for example and it being near the bottom here just indicates that I think people are not thinking of it as a top of mind issue. Um secondly, these were how would you rate these municipal services on a scale for excellent, very good, okay, poor or failing. So what we actually this demonstrates to us is most people think your your um your services are somewhere between excellent and very good. So no, we did not do a followup about necessarily how does public safety relate to your parks and open space or what do you think about the future of these items? Do you think they will be of this level in the future? This is mostly measuring where they are right now. Um, we did not spend any time sort of extrapolating to the future, unfortunately.

Uh, thank you, Paul. U, bringing up these uh notions while we're we're looking at these um at at your report uh does make me want to encourage staff to um use that as part of their educational piece. Um, the future is really what this is about. Thank you, Council Member Matthews.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, this might be a question for Rick. Um, with a uh 25 cent sales tax increase, what would that mean as far as additional revenues coming into the city? We've updated those numbers, Council Member Matthews. It was originally $7.5 million. It's now $9.1 million for every quarter cent. So, um, what's concerning to me, um, and I know this is great information for us to not only make a decision, but to decide our messaging. I mean, I too until we started this um, citizen um, advisory group. I didn't know as a elected official that we hadn't been funding fully the needs of our public safety for years and not knowing until this exercise and our departments did a exercise to figure out what they actually were going to need in the next five years. So I can see where people are are thinking. Yeah, I mean we're happy with it. we don't see there's not a critical it's not urgent right and so now we have a messaging issue because people don't understand that we need this even to the question how important is a new fire station well I live you know two blocks away from a fire station I'm like no mine's fine I don't need a new one right and so if it wasn't the question wasn't when JW PAL opens up and we have 5,000 more households you know how important it is you know, do you think it is to have a fire station there because the other stations wouldn't be

able to respond timely. So, all those things, you know, it makes me nervous because you pointed out that you ask kind of negative questions because that's what the opposition's going to put out there and people might believe it, that secondary property tax is going to cost them money. Um, so, you know, I'm I'm concerned and and this is why I've been bringing up some questions about our budget inside as well. Um, you know, we've we've had the luxury for as long as I can remember. Um, you know, doing things that that we love seeing. And I don't want to name anything because I don't want people to think, oh, she's targeting this department or whatever. But, you know, we do things because we think we can afford it. And now we're at this crisis where we have a $500 million, if fully utilized, deficit. And so now we have to think about our budget a little differently. And I think our community is going to want to see that before we ask and hit the easy button and tax them, especially on a sales tax, that we've also explored everything and, you know, cut if we need to cut. Like I just saw the state's budget approved yesterday and they did a 5% across the board cut except for public safety and child safety and we didn't do that back you know 20 years ago or 10 years ago. So, um, this makes me nervous, um, if we can get the messaging out right because I I think as myself who's dug into it now pretty deeply, I didn't know how far behind we were. And so, I don't expect the public to know at this point how important it is, and that makes me really nervous.

Mayor, can I just make a comment? Um, just a reminder, we will be coming back on May 26 to have a deeper discussion on this. And I think I just want to clarify that we have been funding public safety, but it has mainly been with one-time dollars. Um, last year we did a significant market increase. I mean, throughout the years we have been funding public safety. So, I just want to just make sure we get that message out that we haven't not funded public safety. Um, but Channum will be presenting on May 26th and I think we'll have more in-depth numbers during that discussion. Vice Mayor,

thank you, Mayor. Um, and welcome, Paul. I had to step away briefly, so I don't know if you went over this, and I apologize if you did. Um, I hope I frame my question correctly. So, did some of the answers vary depending on the amount of funding that the item would require. So, in other words, people may be, you know, 40 47% for the bond and whatever 51 for the for the tax, but on each category, would that change depending on not what the item was, but the amount of money it would take to fund that item.

So like when we asked about the vice mayor, thank you for the question. We did not give them a a cost associated with it from that perspective and we also did not give them like a budget item for what a new fire station would cost versus emergency medical equipment. Um this is more of what sounds good or what items do they think are are of greater importance. they did not have budget items or budget amounts associated with them. Um so and we did not say the average cost the average household because that's not uh necessarily required in the ballot language either. Okay. Thank you.

All right. I am going to take public comment and we have Mr. Casey Gonzalez. Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council, City leadership, the two that stuck it out to the ninth inning here. Um, thank you. Uh, sitting back there, I don't know if I want to be extremely proud of police and fire and dispatchers that are doing a great job and we don't know the full extent or the public doesn't understand the full extent or be a little mad at them for not sandbagging some days and um, really showing what's going on. um because they do an amazing job and that's why we're here talking about this or they do amazing job but we got stuff happening and that's why we're here and start it with what I always do you know a difference of opinion is not a difference of purpose we're all here to get to the same end point we might have some different ideas on how we get there um and I'm sitting over there thinking and looking over at the city's mission and the first two words on there to protect um I think those should be be bolded and when you look at the definition to cover or shield from expos exposure, injury, damage, or destruction to guard to maintain the status or high integrity of, especially through financial or legal guarantees. And that's what we're sitting here for. Um, and that's what this ask is about. We're talking about a small percentage through a half cent sales tax on a ballot measure and a separate bond to fund some capital projects. They're there to to close the gap on some large dollar amounts that we need in public safety to continue to to meet that mission in protecting the community and the residents. Over the past several months, there's been a weekly meeting with an awesome group of community members, city leadership, public safety folks that have been looking into the real behind details of of public safety, pulling the curtain back a little bit. As Paul stated, uh polling numbers show that public safety members, we've done too good of a job in certain areas.

We're not talking about any glut greed within this ask. Through a lot of relationship building with city leadership over years, uh we do have a competitive pay plan within the state. Our pension is one of the few that's fully funded within the state and we have apparatus and vehicles that are in better shape than they've ever been. Uh what we did begin to look at is the overwhelming need behind that. Um, as the population grows and buildings go vertical and as we look at the wildfire threats that always exist, um, I can tell you the ability for the public to feel safe currently is coming at a high cost to our work life balance and that's evidenced in the approximate $3 million in overtime costs that police and fire will face by the end of this fiscal year. I'm born and raised here. I want to stay here. I want my daughters to stay here. Uh, public safety should never be a contentious topic. I can get how we fund it can be a deeper discussion and that's what we're going to engage in over the next couple weeks and ongoing as we get onto the ballot. Um it's making the hard decision to do the right thing now so that we're not making a harder decision down the road and had a few more things to say but red lights blinking. So that's where we sit right now on what we're talking about and I'm more than happy to express more if we have a a hold.

Um Council Member Alen. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, I'm sure you could have done this yourself, but Casey, I' I'd like to hear uh what else you were trying to uh say,

get out. Okay. Thank you. Um, there's going to be a lot of conversation about how we get to proper funding. And I'm not here to point the finger at anybody or any group, and those conversations will happen about how we ended up here. And what I can encourage is that we learn from the past and go forward and not end up there again. I'm not here to fear monger and say that the sky is falling um about the risks that are coming down the line. I can tell you as someone with 15 years in fire and my day-to-day now managing the 911 dispatch center that covers both both police and fire, I'm cautiously pessimistic that if we don't make the hard decisions now, we face much harder decisions in the future. The ultimate cost will come at the expense of our forests, our homes, our businesses, our residents, and the members of the public safety community. We started the meeting with talking about a law day proclamation. Uh we talked about short-term rentals and protecting residents and folks that come here and visit. Any discussion on taxes is not fun, but our long-term ability to meet the mission of protecting the city is what it's all about and it sits in the 14 hands on the DAS and the seven voices that are up there. If the hard but correct decision is made to put this on the ballot, we will begin the arduous task of educating the 49,685 registered voters of this city. And that's what'll fall on us as the [snorts] members of public safety going forward. So that's my ask to you as a half cent sales tax um with more discussion to come and I'm happy to answer any questions.

Any questions for Casey? Council member Matthews. Oh. Uh. Oh, Council Member House.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, thank you so much, Casey, for for your comments. Um, I know you said that you didn't necessarily want to dive into some of what uh we may be facing in the future if we don't pass this type of funding, but I'm wondering if you would like to take just a a moment or two to to share some of what um some of what we would be facing if we if we're not able to fund this. I know you already spoke a little bit to wildfire and community safety risks and and those sorts of things, but I wanted to give you an opportunity to expound.

Thank you for the question, Council Member House. It's really going to come down to personnel being able to adequately staff and meet the needs of an increasing population, vertical growth in the city. Every BU building that's going up is going multi-story vertical. Um, while we have the minimums of equipment to kind of meet the need most of the days, we don't always have it. We don't have the proper staffing to always staff it. Um, we are every firefighter that exists in Flagstaff is multiddisciplined, all hazard, all risk. We're all structure firefighters. We're all wildland firefighters, EMTs or paramedics. We cover the gamut with all of it. With that comes on any call that comes in, you are now pulling resources over to that call, not available to the next call. We exist right now as sort of a one large incident fire. We rely a lot on mutual aid through other agencies. Summit, Highlands, uh, are the immediate ones. Uh but we also exist with that large incident that happens, a structure fire that may take six or nine engines and that's it. So another incident happens, we don't have the other bodies to go out and do it. And that that those are our biggest things that we're facing. The personnel, um keeping stations updated to be able to house the equipment, house the people, training for paramedics, uh EMTs, the the wildfire mitigation is always there. Uh we we live in that threat every day. Um happy for a little May snow today. Um but you know that's some of the days you just pray that it doesn't nobody does anything out there because we may not have enough personnel. So those are the big ones. Personnel ongoing apparatus stations um and the ability to be able to adapt to a growing community.

Thank you very much. Thank you mayor. Council member Garcia.

Uh thank you Madame Mayor. And I guess this question is to the manager's office. Uh mainly we heard earlier uh council member Matthews talking about um staffing issues and um I'm I'm curious if you guys could kind of extrapolate data from the past um where we where the staffing issues didn't have as much to do with budget if that's a thing. like we just didn't have people that were wanting to be police officers for whatever reason or they were going through the or we had a turnover rate that was excessive and we couldn't meet those. Um if you could u work that into what we're the future presentation so we have a better understanding on if it was simply funding that was holding us back or if it was something cultural within the police department. And I say this because there there is an overarching uh blame put on this council and other councils where I I don't know if it necessarily align lines with the truth in that um if it if not in my opinion if not for this council being loud as we were last year at the budget retreats after listening to our chiefs and our staff members who who who really advocated for their positions. we may or may not be in this position now. In other words, we have been working on this, at least the council I've been on diligently. Um, now that we uh we've heard last uh week in in uh the police chief's comments that we are almost up to snuff for one of the first times when it comes to um having our many as many officers as we were wanting. um which is also important to highlight that that was part of um our priority sets that staff and manager's office carried out. Um these facts uh illuminating these facts for the for the public and for those who are concerned and and who may not you know who may have concerns about our priorities without understanding

that these are and have been our priorities. That's why we're here. Um might change how the vote goes down. I'm seeing it out in community meetings where they're they're just angry with us and blaming us in places where if it wasn't for us, we wouldn't be having those community meetings. So, it's it's ve it's a very strange place to be. Um and I and I would like the you know the record to reflect what the causes of u staffing issues have been up till now and um and how things have been prioritized up till now. seeing that this seems that we are starting to reach that level of um current expectations being met and maybe framing this ask in in what I see as most relevant for future expectations and growth expectations for our future in the community and how we can educate the public on on that because if we in my opinion if we stay with current staffing um you know as we that's not going to work out. And that's why we need to uh stand behind um um making these changes and putting this uh on on a on a future uh election. Um above and beyond the facts that Casey brought up, and that's the work life balance, the overtime that's being paid, there's been a lot of our staff that has gone the extra mile to make it to make things as good as possible here in Flagstaff and to make the community feel safe. um so safe that they might not even consider this a priority. But um if as we grow our current capacity will not be able to reach the standards that we want to live by and have that safety for our future generations.

So I'm happy to respond to that, Council Member Garcia. Um and I I hope that I hit all the points that you made. Um, so we talked a little bit about staffing in our conversation with council on March 24th. Um, because we have received a lot of questions from our citizens committee members about how did we get here? Um, and so we really were trying to depict to that committee that it's not that we're not investing, but there's a certain dollar amount, right? It's just like our home budgets. You have a dollar amount you have to live within. And when you look at the cost um, that increases over time for personnel. It's it's quite expensive. Um, and so I think uh what you might be referencing that you hear in the community, I mean, I've been with the organization for just over 20 years. Um, have been part of the budget process for almost that long. Um, and at one point we were hearing from the police department that, yeah, we're not asking for more because we're having a hard time just keeping our vacancies filled. So that was something that was talked about in the past. Um the police department also had not done any type of staffing study. So we started there. That was the process that informed the need that we brought to the citizen committee as well as what we've been talking about with council. The fire department was a little different. Um they they understood their needs because they've had multiple studies over time that actually demonstrated that they need more staffing. Um and so so I think they were kind of in two different places and we knew that as an organization. So, we tried to do our best to prepare for this conversation knowing that we were going to need to have it anyhow in order to meet that that fire demand on the fire department side. Um, so I'm happy to talk about that again in our upcoming presentation. Um, it actually helps me because I've been going back and forth as to how much do you repeat and how much do you not, right? Because I don't ever want to spend your time talking about something we've already spoken about, but if it's

important, we're happy to do it. Well, it's important to me for for everyone to be included in the process and not everybody goes to every meeting or hears everything that we say. Um, I know that it takes more time for redundancies, but it's clarifying to the community and the public and we don't have a I mean, we we of course we have a second chance at this, but I don't want it to go there. We have an important need that needs to be filled. um we have found a mechanism to to fulfill that need and um if the public wants to support it then the time is now and giving them the tools to make that decision all the tools to make that decision is the most important to me. Um, LA, go ahead, Casey. You had something.

If I could just add something too from it. I don't and I want it on the record as well. What's being spoken about today or what's being asked in this where we're at on on the the labor side of it. We're not making an indictment of anybody that sits on this council or city leadership in the p it currently. We can sit here all day long and discuss the past and when this point hit this or when this decision was made for that. We're not looking to do that with anything. Uh we're we're looking to move forward and see. We're at a point right now in public safety where we're holding the line, but it's a a slight hold right now and if we don't continue to do the right thing, we've had it with the way the city addressed the pension debt and like I said, we're one of the few in the state that has a fully funded pension with the reserve to keep it funded. Much appreciated on that every single day. Probably the first biggest correction that's ever happened that I've seen since being here. Um we have apparatus through fleet purchasing and capital that's been new apparatus coming in. Um we have the other one that I mentioned in there. Um the uh sorry um our pay is competitive within what the state is asking. Again need to keep up on that. Us as the fireside haven't had a lot of turnover over the years. PD has. And that's one of the things we sit at looking when we talk about the budget. In the past, it was always kind of a wash because there was not people not filling the full-time positions in a lot of areas. And so that that overtime cost was eaten up by cost savings of not having fully staffed positions. For the first time in a long time, the available slots and I'll say that they're fully staffed, not adequately staffed, but the fully staffed on the PD side, not speaking overly for them, but being over there every day now, um positions are filled. There's not as many vacancies that existed. um within dispatch, we're finally at a point of being better staffed than we've ever been. We're not running on 10, 12 vacancies that eat up that overtime cost. And the same with the fireside, but we have people we have

people coming in. It's just again we're it's a cautious holding of that line if we don't continue to to keep doing the things we've been doing. um which we appreciate very much and want that on the record for current council, previous council, previous leadership, current leadership of we we appreciate all the positives and we just want to keep going that direction and we're not turning this around into a let's look in the rearview mirror for what's going on.

Right. I appreciate that commentary and um and yeah, I agree. It's no time to take a victory lap just because we're starting to kind of creep up to that spot. But you also brought up some other things that past councils had to deal with and that is bringing up the pay rate. Like these are actionable things that they had to to do in tangible time at that time in order to make us get to the point to where we are today where we have to ask for a tax. Um so you know any misnomers about past councils, present councils, future councils, um there's there is a there is a from from what I remember seeing it happen there there is always been progress and we have finally gotten to the point now to where we can really start investing in the future and we have caught up to where we currently are holding that line and needing to have a more robust presence for um the impacts of our future. Sure. Thank you so much for answering those questions.

And don't go anywhere, Casey. We have another question for you. Council member Matthews.

Hi, Casey. Thank you for hanging out and giving us your perspective. It's really important. Um, a week or so ago, I was talking to a couple of law enforcement officers and I was surprised to hear um there's there's quite a few that don't live in the city limits because of cost of housing, right? So then they come up from Camp Verie or Williams or whatever and a lot of them c couch surf and stuff. And you mentioned the overtime um million dollars in overtime. That's a lot. And I think about the mental health and the the mental stress on our our firefighters. Um are you seeing the same um situation where um our first responders, our firefighters are living outside city limits and so that's just an additional strain, you know, pulling pulling the the string really tight, you know, ready to break at any moment. Is is that an issue also in the fire department?

Council member Matthews, thanks for the question. And I would say yes. uh when we what we're looking at now is outside not just the city limits but even you know when you're getting into Kachina Dodie Park kind of outside the Flagstaff general area of what's recognized as Flagstaff we do have the most affordable place for uh our members to purchase a home own a home and still make it to work relatively easily is in Williams and we've had several members purchase homes in Williams recently because that's where they can afford it. Um we've had members with two, you know, husband and wife both working um and go to apply for a loan and they get a decent amount but not anywhere needed to purchase a single family residence here. And so they have been looking towards Williams um you know further outside when you get into um Baderville going even further out there into Belmont further out uh parks and then we have uh recently had a couple members that have left for other departments down in the valley. Uh one actually going up to Colorado as well um taking a position up there. So we we have been seeing that as well along with PD.

Thank you for that. Um and um this one is kind of directed at Shannon. when you come back, um will you be presenting us because a lot of the the total ask if we were to ask for if we were trying to get to that 500 million um the total ask um will you be presenting like what we need currently now versus and then what we need in five years because because of JW PAL opening up in the next several years we're going to need a fire station and that's you you know x million and you know just to see the timeline so we have a better visual on what's critical now I think I understand from fire and PD that operationally to collectively I I want to say it was 1.5 million operationally um every year um on top of and that's just what we need and I could be off on the numbers but that's what I understand and then we have growth in staffing um I think the the chief said yes uh last week that they're close to what's approved staffing, not what is needed. And the chief and you indicated that that um or maybe it was Garcia that said um you know it was hard retaining employees. So just happy to have what we've had and I think some statistics show that we haven't increased personnel um in a long time as far as number growth numbers. So Shannon, will you be presenting that to us while we're having this discussions now in the deis on giving us a picture of what we need currently and what we need over the next five years and where that falls into play. Um so we are um given the feedback from the citizen committee uh we have chosen to keep um those items that were funding

with one-time dollars in the general fund funded with one-time dollars in the general fund. um because there was quite a bit of concern that they didn't want us spending all this possible new revenue on just what we're doing today. They wanted to ensure that if we were going to bring in new revenue, it was also going to bring in these new resources that police, fire, emergency management, and the airport needed. Um, so the only time that you see something in a current operation within what we're going to bring you on May 26th is if it's a deficit. Um, so for instance, if you have a personnel member that's funded with a grant or you have a personnel member who we've been funding with one-time dollars, which is not what we choose to do as an organization because there's a lot of risk associated with that. Um those are the things that would be in that that current operations bucket. Um but anything that can remain with a one-time dollar within the general fund, that's where it will stay. Um so so I wanted to give you that background because that's shifted a little since the last presentation that we brought to council. Um we have refined quite a bit. Um, we went from 500, I think it was, uh, 511 million to $47 million. Um, we are now down ongoing to $18.2 million. Um, the all of these groups have come together and said, okay, um, if in fact, uh, the citizen committee is going to recommend a quarter cent, what can we fund with that? What's our highest priorities? Okay, if they gave us another quarter cent and so we had a half a cent, what would we fund with that? Um, so we have really refined that list to the most um crucial needs. I say

most crucial, right? Because they're all needs, but just like with our home budget, if you only have so many dollars, you have to decide what you're going to be able to buy with that. And that is the exercise that this team has gone through at least twice, maybe three times in order to continue to refine that list to meet what it is the citizens feel is affordable. Um so that's really what we're going to be focusing on when we come back um to council. Um as a team, we've been looking at, okay, when do you purchase it um within a 10-year plan? Because as you know, that then gets to your total cost. Um, but we typically don't do that level of detail in the presentation because it could get super confusing. Um, so we've been really focusing on what is the item and what's that total cost.

And lastly, um, will Paul's um, uh, company are are we utilizing them to come up with a STR if if the council decides yes, let's put um, a sales tax or and or a bond measure on the ballot this year. Um, are we looking outside counsel to help us with the messaging. Uh because it seems clear that a lot of people like Casey said, we've done such a good job of people like they're not worried about it because they show up. We've got great law enforcement and and fire and helping people understand that the need is still very great. Um so do you have a plan on that? So, um just as it as we have done in previous elections, we use the work um from a community survey to help inform us. It identifies um what messages um resonate with folks. So, you make sure that you're maximizing the understanding of those areas. Um it also helps you identify what are those areas that people don't um have any understanding of or that they don't know that there is a need. Um certainly uh the work that Highground has done is going to inform what we work on. Um but as far as our messaging, our advertising, we actually work with our internal discover flag staff team. Um we did that uh when we did the bond in 2022, found great uh results. Um so that is our plan again this time. It also helps the city um with how much we're expensing um as well when we're when we're using our internal capital um and resources to be able to do that work.

Great. Thank you.

And um Council Member Matthews, just to add on just a reminder that the city can educate, not advocate. So there there could be if this does move forward on a ballot, there could be an outside organization that's doing the the advocating work and using an outside consultant. Casey, Chief, Deputy Chief C, Chief Connelly, thank you for all the work and and and all of your officers and firefighters. Thank you for all the work putting together the um needs assessment and thank you for stewarding the project through the citizens committee. That committee has been meeting since November several times a um a week. And I heard from committee members that many of them when they came in were a hard no. But hearing the information, um I think that no one gets excited about raising taxes of of any kind. But even the most fiscally conservative among them, I heard them say that they support putting something on the ballot because they recognize how um how much of a need there is and how there are some really large investments that we need to make and those aren't the kinds of investments that can be made with one-time dollars um in our budget. So, thank you for all that work that you put in and thank you to the public safety citizens committee. I see Michelle back there. You sit on it. Appreciate all the work. Jumps from regional plan to public

safety citizens committee. Thank you. Thank you. Um, and I want to remind uh anyone watching this that you can find information about the public safety citizens committee. All the meetings are recorded and are there. All of the materials are available there at connect.flagstaffaz.gov. And I do hope that you'll um take a look at that. And I believe that the next meeting is May 13th at public works 3:30. Oh, it's tomorrow. Okay. Is there also one on 513? Okay. So, the next meeting is tomorrow evening from 5:30 to um No, from 3:30 to 5:30 at the public works building on um old Route 66. And Yeah, Council Member Alen.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. You're welcome to have the last word if if you want it. I I appreciate you being able to call on me. Um, so I'll I'll just go ahead and put a little wrap this in a bow. Uh, I I want to thank Paul. Um, you know, I I I know you don't do your services for free, but um, scientifically accurate polling is invaluable. And uh what the observation I want to make is that uh I'm highly encouraged by the polling that we've seen here. Um it's consistent with what I know about Flag Staff, which is we're we're willing to tax ourselves uh for important things that we find valuable and we know that we need and we're on the cusp of being able to hit the ground here with a a successful uh path to victory for uh passing a bond measure. And um you know, I spoke at length a couple weeks ago about all the things we've been doing over the past several terms um to keep afloat and to uh you know, really enjoy some successes out there, especially with the pension stuff. Uh tonight, the care team wasn't mentioned again. Um I I really think uh that's that goes under, you know, under spoken. Um, but we really need to to just highly uh tout um the success of that project, how innovative it is, um how cost-effective it is, and how much of a relief it is for police and fire to have that team out there and how much we want to up the game on that as well. And uh I I'll just end by saying um you know, while the city can't advocate, it can only educate, candidates can advocate. and being on the campaign trail all summer uh uh anticipating November's election, I will be out there advocating uh like heck for uh getting this thing passed and and I think we're going to be uh in a good position to do that. I'm sure Paul could talk about

other communities where he's done similar polling and the results were just a dismal um reality for those who wanted to see this happen. Uh and we're we're not that. Uh and so we have a lot to be grateful for as we we look at beginning this process. May Mayor, if I may, um while individual council members may have on their own time the opportunity to to go out and talk about it from an advocative role, we as the city wouldn't be doing that as a council um or using city resources to do it. We're not allowed to do that. Just wanted to make sure we could clarify that for everyone. All good. Thank you. Thank you, Casey. Thank you all.

Thank you, Paul. I appreciate you being here. Yes. Sorry. Thank you, Paul. Thank you very much. All right, moving on to open call to the public. I do not see any. And next, we have announcements and updates to from council and city manager. And just a reminder that we changed this section um to be simply announcements and updates to from council and city manager. So, council member Spence, uh nothing this evening. Council member House, nothing this evening. Good night, everyone.

Vice Mayor, thank you. I do have a couple of things. Um, today I attended the missing and murdered indigenous people. I wouldn't call it a ceremony, but gathering at Naka and thank you for hosting that. I also attended an event held at Alpine Pizza in recognition of economic development week and we did a tour of all of the new businesses going in on Laroo Street. it has really been revitalized and I just thank the team for all of their work in that. Um, and to top it off, right before this meeting, I went to LOL and attended the moon tree ceremony and was able to make some comments. It was very cool. Um, I just love LOL and I say it all the time. And um, the moon tree, you should look it up. It has a great history to it. And tomorrow I will be attending the public safety community meeting and Thursday there is a mobile haven meeting at 6 pm.

Council member Alen. Thank you. The only thing I'll add to that is a metrop plan executive board meeting uh Thursday at 1 pm. Um thank you and sorry I made you nervous there um city attorney with something I was perfectly within my [laughter] wheelhouse to say. Council member Garcia.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, I'm just going to mention that we have the kickoff to ride your bike to work week starting next Monday here at the city hall at 7 uh 7 a.m. We heard all about all the other activities that are going to be happening during the proclamation reading earlier. Uh, but that's one that I think is a is an excellent community asset and something I am going to be looking forward to now that I am able to attend more frequently. And Madame Mayor, you mentioned that we had changed our process to only mention where we've been, where we're going, what we're doing. Um, so that means that I can't uh mention that May is motorcycle safety awareness month. Right on. Well, thank you. I just wanted to mention um not not just for motorcycles but also pedestrians, bicyclists, and uh anything outside of a car. Um May is motorcycle safety awareness month. So motorcycles are smaller and harder to see. So please look twice, check your blind spots, and give riders a little bit of space. Uh riders, please wear your helmets, stay visible so when you're dancing around in those lanes, people can understand where you're at and uh and what you're doing. and um ride defensively. Uh be safe, don't speed, all the good things. Um but that goes uh doubly for um for bicyclists and pedestrians as well. We're coming into a season where we're going to want to be moving outside of our cars. I personally have been taking the bus, walking, biking almost everywhere every day except for today I drove my car. And not only am I happier, but I'm also getting to know this town better and the people in it. So, I expected a lot of people are going to be heading in that direction and for us people that are driving cars, it is extremely important to slow down uh and keep your eyes open for those folks out there. Thank you, Madame Mayor.

Council member Matthews.

Thank you, Mayor. Just a couple of things. Um just to uh dubtail off that. Um I wanted to bring it up. Paul Mood left, but um I noticed this is just a public safety concern. I was on a beaver turning left on Butler. And I've had other people tell me the same thing. The light for me to turn left when green and so was the pedestrian. It's it's a good time to walk. Um which is very dangerous. Um you know, I saw somebody walking across the street and I just noticed they've they've got the go light to walk and I've got the go light to turn. So I don't know if somebody needs to check out the light uh switch. and I mentioned it to a couple of people and they said, "Yeah, I noticed that as well." So, I think it's weird. Um, last Thursday um I was at the um the British phone booth library and um accessibility library too with the mayor and vice mayor and Garcia. Uh yesterday in the freezing cold we did the wonderful groundbreaking for the Montavo STEM Education Center which is really exciting. Um Scott tells us it's going to be built in eight months. So I'm really excited about that. That goes against my speed of government comments. Um I too was at the Naka murdered and missing indigenous people's uh remembrance day this morning. It was very moving and very um just touching. Um I too was at the economic development week um and spoke at Alpine Pizza and it's just amazing the businesses that have came into Laroo over the last year or so. Uh tomorrow is um I'm cooking a bunch of spaghetti. I have a friend that has a ministry that cooks for the Flagstaff shelter services once a month. So, I'll be bringing a

couple of gallons of spaghetti and noodles as well as recovery court. Tomorrow is at noon. Um, in the Superior Courthouse, I enjoy going to that once a quarter. And, uh, Thursday's the indigenous graduation at NAU. So, that's what I got going on. I um have written about uh so I write a monthly column for the Flagstaff business news and my April and May columns are about wildland fire, forest health and insurance issues. So if you you can look it up online or you can pick it up in person. But I want to thank all of our um fire crew, not the entire crew, but those who sat down with me to to answer questions and to help me get a more indepth knowledge on a couple of things so that I could communicate it to the public. So that's it. City Manager, um Mayor Council, just a couple of quick updates. I'm providing uh an update to the Northern Arizona Realtors on Thursday. just they've asked for a city update and then Sarah Dector will be joining me to also give an update on the regional plan. Um and then just a reminder and mayor I know you're speaking I think um Friday night or Saturday um that the Cocodona race is happening right now. So if you see runners coming through town say hello. They'll start arriving in Flagstaff probably tomorrow. Um but 250 miles from Black Canyon City to here. So, it's pretty impressive. Oh, and the mayor, I think, is is going to be with the last runner, I think, on Saturday.

The first and the last. Oh, so 6 a.m. through until the last person comes in till every every single one of them. Yes. Okay, great. So, whoever you are out there, if you could speed it up a little bit, that'd be cool. Thank you. All right. Thank you everyone. Good meeting and we are adjourned.