[0:00] Okay, everyone, welcome to the Flagstaff City Council.

[0:07] Today is Tuesday, November 10, 2009, tomorrow, of course, is Veterans Day.

[0:12] We will notice the option to recess into executive session pursuant to ARS 384-3102.

[0:18] This meeting is now called to order, and we'll have roll call with Councilmember Brewster being excused.

[0:26] Mayor Pressler.

[0:27] Present.

[0:28] Vice Mayor White.

[0:29] He's present, but out of the room.

[0:31] Councilmember Evans.

[0:32] Present.

[0:33] Councilmember Howey.

[0:34] Here.

[0:35] Councilmember Overton.

[0:36] Present.

[0:37] Councilmember Swanson.

[0:38] Here.

[0:39] As a reminder, if you're carrying a cell phone or other electronic device, I ask that you turn it off or turn it to silent at this time to minimize disruption to tonight's meeting.

[0:51] We'll now open it for public participation.

[0:53] Public participation enables the public to address the council about items that are not on tonight's prepared agenda.

[0:59] We'll appear on the agenda twice now and, of course, at the end of the meeting.

[1:02] I ask that you choose to speak at one or the other, but prefer that you do not speak at both.

[1:07] If you'd like to talk to the council about an item that is on tonight's prepared agenda or on the agenda review for the upcoming council meeting next Tuesday,

[1:15] I ask that you fill out a public comment form.

[1:17] They're located at the back table underneath the television.

[1:20] And you can fill that out and submit it to our deputy clerk who seated to my right, your left, and your name will be called when it's your turn to speak.

[1:27] I ask, of course, that you limit your remarks to about three minutes per item to allow everyone an opportunity to speak.

[1:33] But if you need more time, just let me know.

[1:35] We'll begin our public participation this evening with a presentation from the American Cancer Society.

[1:40] And I see all those fantastic red shirts standing up in the back.

[1:43] I have my very own red shirt, and I would invite you up at this time to present to the council.

[1:48] Good evening and welcome.

[1:49] We're glad that you're here.

[1:51] This is Ray Moran, and Ray, of course, serves on our Parks and Rec Commission and in some other areas in the city.

[1:57] And we're so very glad that Ray's here with us.

[1:59] Good evening.

[2:00] Thank you.

[2:01] Again, my name is Ray Moran.

[2:02] I live at 5250 North Highway 89.

[2:05] And I'd like to start off, I'd like to thank the mayor and city council for pointing me to the Parks and Rec Commission

[2:11] and to the Bond Task Force between now and the 10.

[2:14] To me, it's a great honor, and I thank you all for nominating me for them positions.

[2:19] We're so glad you're on those boards and commissions.

[2:21] Thank you for serving.

[2:22] Absolutely.

[2:23] It's my honor.

[2:24] My honor.

[2:25] Okay, first of all, I'm a volunteer of the American Cancer Society,

[2:27] specific to climb to conquer cancer.

[2:30] We just had our 21st season, our 21st walk.

[2:34] And we was all worried, 2009, with this economy, how it was going to go.

[2:40] But I'm proud to say, with the community of Flagstaff and Northern Arizona itself,

[2:45] stepped up and we raised exactly $251,000.

[2:50] That's fantastic.

[2:54] It just shows you what a great event and what a great cause this is.

[2:58] And it's an honor for me to work with that anxiety in here in the city of Flagstaff.

[3:03] It just shows how much people love this cause, and it is a great cause.

[3:07] And first of all, in 2010, August 21st, I'm inviting you all to come and join our walk.

[3:12] It's a very special walk.

[3:14] It's a fun event, and you guys will all enjoy it.

[3:17] So I'm inviting each and every one of you to 2010, August 21st.

[3:20] I'll be there again next year.

[3:21] I look forward to it.

[3:22] Great.

[3:23] Okay, now I'd like to introduce you to Debbie Cook.

[3:25] She's a district manager for Northern Arizona,

[3:27] and she's going to make the announcement to this great team.

[3:30] Thank you, Ray, and welcome, Debbie, to the City Council meeting.

[3:32] Thank you for having us.

[3:33] It's really a pleasure and an honor because these guys did a remarkable job.

[3:37] The Climb to Conqueror Cancer had 200 teams.

[3:40] The City of Flagstaff was the number one fundraising team.

[3:44] It's official.

[3:48] They raised $9,685.

[3:53] Oh, that's great.

[3:55] So really, I'd like for you to honor everybody here,

[3:57] but to also have Stacey Breckler-Nap come up as the team captain.

[4:01] I heard there's many team captains,

[4:03] but this is a traveling trophy,

[4:05] and we are already planning to come back

[4:06] because they're going to be the top team again.

[4:08] So on behalf of cancer patients, their families,

[4:11] those have lost their battle with cancer in their families.

[4:14] Thank you for helping us save lives.

[4:16] We can't.

[4:17] Thank you enough.

[4:18] Thank you for having us.

[4:24] Thank you.

[4:25] We're so excited this year,

[4:26] especially understanding that a lot of us walked and worked

[4:30] for Mary Jo and knew how important she was in our lives

[4:34] and what an impact Mary Jo had on the City of Flagstaff.

[4:38] So it really was an honor for us to raise that money

[4:41] and to walk in solidarity, not just for Mary Jo,

[4:44] but for all of those people in our community

[4:47] and throughout the state of Arizona

[4:49] and throughout our country that have to battle cancer

[4:53] and are surviving from cancer each and every day.

[4:56] So congratulations.

[4:57] We have the most fantastic leadership staff

[5:00] for this initiative and effort,

[5:02] and Stacey, I know, and Kim and others are just true champions.

[5:06] So thank you to all of our captains

[5:08] from all of our departments and areas.

[5:10] As a council, we couldn't be more proud of your work.

[5:12] So thank you on behalf of the City Council

[5:14] and on all of the citizens in the City of Flagstaff

[5:17] for raising good money and making sure

[5:19] that we keep the memory of Mary Jo

[5:21] and all of those who struggle and fight

[5:23] and battle cancer every day a priority in our lives

[5:26] and in the lives of all of our citizens.

[5:28] So thanks for your good work.

[5:29] That was really beautiful.

[5:38] Well, at this time, we'll call forward anyone

[5:40] who'd like to comment to the council

[5:42] or bring something forward that's not

[5:44] on tonight's prepared agenda.

[5:45] If you'd like to do so, please do come forward at this time.

[5:48] We welcome you to the council meeting.

[5:56] Wow.

[6:00] Lee Harsh is here. Good evening, Lee, and welcome.

[6:06] I have just a few things.

[6:10] I'm kidding.

[6:12] My name is Lee Harsh, and I live in Sunnyside,

[6:15] and I need to be reading this same reason as last time.

[6:21] It seems, besides supporting the property maintenance ordinance,

[6:24] which kind of fits right in with one of your presentations tonight,

[6:29] I have some continuing issues.

[6:32] And one of them is you all seem to be working hard

[6:35] and yet some are out campaigning.

[6:37] Is this on taxpayer dollars?

[6:39] And I see, because I see where the president

[6:41] hops all over on my dime,

[6:43] and so I'm just wondering if you all do the same.

[6:49] I do see in the paper the amount of money

[6:51] spent by some of you on trips to better this city.

[6:54] Is this also taxpayer money?

[6:56] What do you accomplish?

[6:57] And are we same taxpayers privy to what you have learned?

[7:02] Do you all have a mechanism in place to inform the citizen

[7:06] of taxpayers what good was accomplished?

[7:09] I don't mind that you're going,

[7:11] but if you come back with whatever it was you learned.

[7:14] If you've brought back money or business to Flagstaff,

[7:17] how much is it and where is it?

[7:19] How important is it to visit DC when there are lobbyists there?

[7:23] Last time a group of us nurses went,

[7:26] I tried to visit with the senators,

[7:29] but the closest we got was a room and an assistant.

[7:32] So I guess it depends upon the title you wear.

[7:35] I have one more issue and I hope to have this answered.

[7:37] It's in regards to the cash basis fund

[7:40] from the charter of the city of Flagstaff.

[7:44] When did the city stop using it?

[7:47] Why was it stopped?

[7:49] How much money was in it when it was disbanded?

[7:52] Where is that money now?

[7:54] If it was spent, where is the council action on the spending?

[7:58] If it was transferred to another use according to the charter,

[8:01] it shall be the duty of the council to provide

[8:04] that all money transferred from the cash basis fund

[8:07] shall be returned there to before the end of the fiscal year.

[8:11] Now I understand it is no longer in use

[8:14] and so I'm just kind of wondering where did it all go to?

[8:18] And so think about that.

[8:21] Thank you, Leah.

[8:22] While we can't, of course, as you know,

[8:24] not being an agenda item engage in a conversation,

[8:26] I can report back to you on information

[8:28] that was at last council meeting

[8:30] that I reported during the two from time,

[8:32] which in response specifically to the travel,

[8:35] at the last trip, for example, to Washington, DC,

[8:38] the Department of Energy paid for airfare

[8:41] at the hotel in three quarters of the per diem.

[8:44] And so that was a cost share with the city fund there.

[8:48] And so I wanted to just share with you

[8:50] that I am as an individual member under budget

[8:55] and as a council together,

[8:59] we are mid-budget year to make those adjustments.

[9:02] I don't need any justification of your travels.

[9:06] I want to know that whatever you're learning

[9:08] or whatever you bring back that there is a mechanism

[9:12] to let the citizens of Flagstaff know what y'all are doing.

[9:15] And Ms. Harsha, I do hear you,

[9:17] but one of the points you made was about

[9:19] what funding mechanisms are being used to fund those trips.

[9:22] One of the things I shared last meeting is that

[9:24] out of 190 projects that went through Congress,

[9:27] half of them got less than the split,

[9:29] 25 got the split and the remainder got more than the split,

[9:32] and the city of Flagstaff in particular

[9:35] received 3.003 million for that Rio de Flag project.

[9:40] And so we received more than the split

[9:42] in contrast to approximately 160 plus other projects.

[9:48] And I don't think that's by accident.

[9:50] I don't think it's by mistake.

[9:51] I think it's by active engagement.

[9:54] Another thing that we've been able to do, of course,

[9:58] is bring forward a lot of programs

[10:00] that benefit many nonprofits in the community,

[10:03] with United Way, for example.

[10:05] The president's considering the VITA tax program

[10:08] from our United Way as a community solution

[10:10] to be addressed across the country,

[10:13] and repeated in other communities

[10:15] because we've been able to leverage in our community,

[10:17] for example, 90,000 public dollars

[10:20] and turn that into 1.7 million in tax returns

[10:25] to constituents.

[10:27] And so those kinds of examples I shared at the last meeting,

[10:30] but I do take your criticism and your constructive feedback

[10:34] to talk about how do we have more effective mechanisms

[10:37] for communicating the outcomes of those conversations

[10:42] and experiences.

[10:43] And I continually invite the senators

[10:46] to have a conversation with our constituents.

[10:49] I have not been successful at engaging them

[10:52] in those conversations,

[10:53] but Councilman Howey in particular

[10:55] made a comment to Senator Kyle's staff member

[10:58] that we would of course welcome the senator here

[11:00] to have a conversation with us

[11:02] and did that in a meeting that he had where I was present.

[11:06] Okay, thank you.

[11:07] Now my next question is,

[11:09] please research that cash basis fund.

[11:11] Okay.

[11:12] Thank you, Lee, for your time.

[11:14] We'll make sure we follow up there.

[11:16] Are there any other members of the public

[11:18] that would like to comment to the Council

[11:20] or bring an issue forward

[11:21] that's not on tonight's prepared agenda?

[11:24] Really?

[11:25] Okay.

[11:26] Seeing none, we'll close public participation.

Nov 10, 2009 City Council Work Session

Transcript