Nov 28, 2023 City Council Work Session

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SO BASED ON ALL THE RESEARCH, ALL THE DATA ANALYSIS, THE ANALYTICS, THE DIRECT INPUT AND FEEDBACK

[1. Call to Order NOTICE OF OPTION TO RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.02, notice is hereby given to the members of the City Council and to the general public that, at this work session, the City Council may vote to go into executive session, which will not be open to the public, for discussion and consultation with the City’s attorneys for legal advice on any item listed on the following agenda, pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(3).]

AND JUST WANTED TO SHARE THIS QUOTE BECAUSE ECONA IS A GREAT COLLABORATION.

I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION.

SOMETIMES IT GETS A LITTLE BIT MESSY, BUT IT'S AND IT'S THE MOST DIFFICULT HUMAN BEHAVIOR KNOWN TO HUMANS.

BUT IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO REALIZE THEIR ASPIRATIONS AND NOT ONLY ENVISION THE FUTURE, BUT MAKE IT A REALITY.

SO THIS IS ALL ABOUT DELIBERATE CHOICES AND ACTIONS, AND IT'S REALLY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE WHO LOSE SLEEP AT NIGHT WORRYING ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO ADVANCE OUR COMMUNITY AND MEET EVERYONE'S EXPECTATIONS AND ASPIRATIONS.

SO LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

NOW, THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO SIT ON A SHELF.

AND I KNOW ALREADY GAIL HAS DIFFERENT MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES WITH HER BOARD FOR EXECUTION.

THERE'S A LOT TO BUILD UPON IN TERMS OF ASSETS, SOME OF WHICH COULD BE STRENGTHENED, SOME OF WHICH REALLY NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED.

AND THAT INCLUDES THE BUSINESS CLIMATE.

AND THAT'S NOT ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE REGION, BUT IN CERTAIN PLACES.

THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN AND BUILD QUALITY OF LIFE AND QUALITY OF PLACE, NECESSITIES AND AMENITIES.

[5. Recognition: Housing Month Sticker Contest Winner]

EVERYONE SAYS THEY COLLABORATE.

THERE ARE BIG GAPS IN THAT COLLABORATION, BOTH ON THE SIDE OF EMPLOYERS WHO DON'T SPEAK, EDUCATE OR SPEAK, AS WELL AS ON THE SIDE OF THE EDUCATORS WHO DON'T ALWAYS NECESSARILY TRANSLATE CORRECTLY EMPLOYER SPEAK.

THIS AREA OF GROWING THE REGION'S WORKFORCE AND COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION MORE IS NEEDED.

OBVIOUSLY, EXPANDING INVESTMENT IN AND COMPLETING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S ALREADY PLANNED AND THE ABILITY TO ACCOMMODATE SOME GROWTH, UM, INVESTING AND EXPANDING AND EVALUATING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES.

THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT ECONA, ALTHOUGH IF THE REGION WANTS TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE REGION, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, THE REGIONAL, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS HAVE TO STEP UP AND INVEST MORE AND GET SERIOUS ABOUT INVESTING MORE IN ECONA.

SO ECONA CAN DO WHAT IT WAS CREATED TO DO.

AND THEN FINALLY, THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS OF CITY GOVERNMENT, COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND OTHER CITY AND TOWNS WHO DO WORK QUITE EFFECTIVELY WITH REGIONAL AND STATE AND FEDERAL ENTITIES, UM, STRENGTHENING THOSE EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS AND BUILDING NEW ONES. REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE JOB OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOESN'T REST WITH ONE PERSON OR ONE CITY OR ONE COMMUNITY OR ONE COUNTY.

IT TAKES A PLETHORA OF ENTITIES, PEOPLE, IDEAS AND RESOURCES TO MAKE IT WORK.

AND THERE'S A SPECIFIC.

DANNY. IS THIS THE LAST SLIDE? NO. WE'VE GOT AN EXAMPLE.

OKAY. EACH GOAL HAS SEVERAL OBJECTIVES.

THERE'S METRICS AND MILESTONES.

SO EVERY IT'S AN ACCOUNTABLE ACTION PLAN AGAIN DESIGNED TO BE EXECUTED.

AND THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF ONE GOAL AND OBJECTIVE.

WELL, THAT'S OUR PRESENTATION.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF THERE ARE ANY.

BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS BEFORE I OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT? COUNCIL MEMBER MATHEWS.

COUNCIL MEMBER HOUSE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. WOULD I BE EXAGGERATING BY MAKING A STATEMENT THAT WE COULD BE FACING AN ECONOMIC CRISIS HERE IN NORTHERN ARIZONA, BASED ON THE DATA THAT YOU PROVIDED? UH, COULD YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC? THINK I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE HEADING WITH THIS, BUT.

WELL, THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME ACTION ITEMS THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON AND WORK TOWARDS, BUT TO DO NOTHING IF WE DON'T TAKE THESE ACTIONS, WE COULD REALLY HAVE A HUGE ECONOMIC NEGATIVE IMPACT TO OUR REGION, SPECIFICALLY TO FLAGSTAFF

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MEAN AGAIN. THE PLAN IS FOR THE ENTIRE NORTHERN ARIZONA REGION.

BUT FLAGSTAFF DOES REPRESENT THE LION'S SHARE OF BOTH POPULATION AND EMPLOYMENT WORKFORCE AND ALL OF THAT.

SO AND TO SOME EXTENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF, YOU KNOW, ANTI-GROWTH, ANTI-BUSINESS, THOSE THOSE MOST OF THOSE COMMENTS.

I MEAN, ACTUALLY, ALL OF THOSE COMMENTS ARE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF WORKING, TRYING TO DEVELOP AND ALL OF THAT WITHIN THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF.

SO, YES, A LOT OF WORK DOES NEED TO BE DONE.

YOU ARE EITHER PROGRESSING OR REGRESSING IS WHAT IS WHAT WE SAY IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO, UM, SO YES, THE ACTION ITEMS ARE UM, ARE, ARE SORT OF AN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TYPE OF STRATEGY.

AND AS IOANA ALLUDED TO, INVESTMENT IS A BIG PORTION OF THAT INVESTING IN THE PLAN.

LET ME ALSO SHARE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ECONOMIC DECLINE OVER TIME.

NOBODY WANTS THAT.

UM, AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT CITY GOVERNMENT, CONSIDERING THAT FLAGSTAFF, AS DANNY SAID, IS REALLY THE PREDOMINANT ECONOMIC FORCE OF THIS REGION, UM, WE'RE HAVING PERSONALLY LIVED REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

UM, I WILL SAY THAT ANY REGION IS ONLY GOOD GOING TO BE AS STRONG AS ITS WEAKEST LINK.

SO. UH FLAGSTAFF IS BLESSED, AND SO IS NORTHERN ARIZONA.

AND SO REALLY, SO IS ALL OF ARIZONA.

UM. FLAGSTAFF IS SURROUNDED BY MAGNIFICENT SCENERY.

IT'S GOT BEAUTIFUL, YOU KNOW, NATURAL ASSETS.

IT'S GOT GREAT EMPLOYERS, IT'S GOT A GREAT UNIVERSITY.

IT'S GOT A GREAT, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY.

I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT COMMUNITY COLLEGE BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL BECOMING FOUR YEAR COLLEGES.

IT'S GOT A GREAT QUALITY OF PLACE AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

BUT IT'S GOING TO EXPERIENCE ECONOMIC DECLINE IF SOME OF THESE EXISTING FACTORS, WHICH DIDN'T JUST POP UP OVERNIGHT, ARE NOT ADDRESSED AND REVERSED AND TEND TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE BLUNT THAN DANNY.

I'LL SHARE ONE MORE COMMENT.

IT WAS THE NUMBER ONE COMMENT BY YOUR EXISTING MAJOR EMPLOYERS WAS THE, UM, THE COMMENT WAS THAT THE WORKFORCE PIE IS STAGNANT AND IT'S ONLY SO BIG.

AND THAT THAT WAS SHARED BY NEARLY EVERY MAJOR EMPLOYER IN THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF.

SO, UM, MEANING THAT WHERE WHERE'S MY NEXT WORKER GOING TO COME FROM? THEY DID NOT HAVE THE ANSWER FOR THAT.

IF I WANT TO EXPAND, AND MANY DO WANT TO ACTUALLY EXPAND THEIR EXISTING OPERATIONS, HOW DO I DO THAT?

[4. Public Participation Public Participation enables the public to address the council about items that are not on the prepared agenda. Public Participation appears on the agenda twice, at the beginning and at the end of the work session. You may speak at one or the other, but not both. Anyone wishing to comment at the meeting is asked to fill out a speaker card and submit it to the recording clerk. When the item comes up on the agenda, your name will be called. You may address the Council up to three times throughout the meeting, including comments made during Public Participation. Please limit your remarks to three minutes per item to allow everyone to have an opportunity to speak. At the discretion of the Chair, ten or more persons present at the meeting and wishing to speak may appoint a representative who may have no more than fifteen minutes to speak.]

IT'S NOT SEEN AS A POSITIVE AMONG OTHER EMPLOYERS THAT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS JUST GOING TO CANNIBALIZE MY EXISTING TRAINED WORKFORCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THAT IS WHY THIS GROWTH, THIS HOUSING STRATEGY IS, IS HIGHLIGHTED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THIS STRATEGY IS IT NEEDS TO BE PART OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY. WITHOUT A PLACE, WITHOUT AN AVAILABLE HOUSING INVENTORY AND AN ATTAINABLE HOUSING INVENTORY.

UM, THIS WORKFORCE QUESTION CAN'T BE ANSWERED.

THANK YOU AND I AGREE AND SHARE THOSE CONCERNS WITH OUR WORKFORCE.

WHEN I CAME UP HERE A COUPLE OF DECADES AGO, IT WAS ALREADY A FACTOR HERE WHERE THEY HAD TO HIRE A RECRUITER TO FIND SOMEBODY LIKE MYSELF TO COME UP HERE BECAUSE THE TALENT POOL IS JUST HERE LIMITED.

IT'S NOT LIKE OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE CLOSE BY POPULATION OF DIFFERENT SKILLED WORKERS AND THE HOUSING IS A HUGE CRISIS FOR US UP HERE.

YOU MENTIONED ON THE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE AIRPORT BUSINESS PARK AND NAH THAT NOW IS QUESTIONABLE TO WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THEM.

BELMONT AND THE J.W.

POWELL AND AND I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF WHAT THE AIRPORT BUSINESS PARK WAS KIND OF FORESEEING WAS THAT CLOSE PROXIMITY,

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SO THAT CONCERNS ME A LOT, BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO ATTRACT NEW INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS EXPANSION UP HERE, ESPECIALLY WITH COST OF LIVING, COST OF WAGES FOR EMPLOYERS, SOME RATE INCREASES ON STORMWATER.

AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO EVALUATE RATE INCREASES ON OUR WATER, WHICH WILL JUST BE ANOTHER LAYER OF ECONOMIC COST TO TRYING TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES UP HERE.

THIS MAY NOT BE A FAIR QUESTION, BUT, YOU KNOW, MOST OF US REALIZED THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT WOULD HAPPEN IF NAH WAS VOTED DOWN IN THEIR MOVE. AND NOW THEY'RE IT'S UNDETERMINED WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM OR WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IN THE FUTURE.

BUT IF THEY DON'T DECIDE TO BUILD A NEW FACILITY IN THE NEAR FUTURE, HOW MUCH AMPLIFIED DOES THIS MAKE THESE STATISTICS HERE, AS FAR AS HOW IT IMPACTS OUR LOCAL ECONOMY? AND I THINK THAT AND I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AGAINST GROWTH IN FLAGSTAFF FORGETTING THAT WE NEED RESTAURANTS AND STORE WORKERS AND OTHER PEOPLE JUST TO STAY HERE AND SURVIVE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT EXPANDING OUR POPULATION AS MUCH AS WE NEED TO ATTRACT WORKERS AND HAVE JOBS FOR PEOPLE IN ORDER FOR US TO JUST STAY VIBRANT. SO DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS TO THAT? UM, I WELL, I THINK YOU HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE THERE THAT MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER IT IN MORE DETAIL OR AND I DON'T KNOW HOW OPTIMISTIC OR PESSIMISTIC EVERYONE IS AT THIS POINT, BUT WE CAN SPEAK AT LEAST GENERALLY.

AGAIN, BACK TO STAKEHOLDERS.

UM, WE ASKED, YOU KNOW, HOW WE ASKED PEOPLE TO PUT ON THE HAT OF AN EMPLOYER AND THEN IF THEY LIVED IN THAT IN THE REGION, WE ASKED THEM TO PUT ON THE HAT OF A RESIDENT.

AND AGAIN, ANOTHER VERY POPULAR COMMENT WAS THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES BEYOND WHAT THEY HAVE TODAY.

UM, MORE WANTING, MORE SPECIALIZED SERVICES, MORE SPECIALIST, HEALTH CARE SPECIALISTS.

UM, YOU KNOW, EXPANDING THE HEALTH CARE SERVICES THAT ARE EXISTING TODAY.

IT'S ALSO A HUGE CONCERN WHEN YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE OUTSIDE OF A MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREA IS WHAT IS MY ACCESS TO GOOD QUALITY HEALTH CARE? IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.

IF YOU'RE TALKING TO AN EXECUTIVE THAT MAKES A VERY HIGH SALARY, THEY HAVE VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY TO HAVE GOOD QUALITY HEALTH CARE.

SO THIS WOULD HAVE ANSWERED THAT QUESTION.

UNDOUBTEDLY, YOU HAVE A BRAND NEW STATE OF THE ART HEALTH CARE FACILITY RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY AVAILABLE TO YOU.

IT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT TOP NOTCH DOCTORS AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS BECAUSE YOU HAVE THAT NEW TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE AND, AND ALL OF THAT.

AND NOW IT'S UP IN THE AIR, WHAT YOU HAVE BECAUSE IT'S IT FROM ANYTHING I'VE SEEN OR READ THAT YOU ALSO DO NOT YOU NOT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE CONTROL OVER WHAT THE CURRENT HOSPITAL WILL OFFER GOING FORWARD.

YOU COULD SEE A REDUCTION IN SERVICES BASED ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY ARE ABLE TO OFFER OR WHAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

SO AGAIN, THAT'S KIND OF A BLACK BOX THAT YOU COULD GO INTO LOTS OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, BUT YOU HAVE THIS QUESTION MARK OF YOU DO KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY, BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER WHAT YOU WILL HAVE WITH THAT FACILITY OR OTHERS.

AND IF YOU CANNOT GET IF YOU CANNOT AS A CITY AND A COMMUNITY, APPROVE AND GET THINGS DEVELOPED THAT WOULD PROVIDE THESE QUALITY OF LIFE ASSETS, THEN YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR AGAIN, YOU'RE PUTTING THOSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS AT RISK.

LET ME ALSO SHARE FROM A IMAGE STANDPOINT WHAT WHAT FLAGSTAFF, YOU KNOW, INTENTIONALLY, UNINTENTIONALLY, INADVERTENTLY IS COMMUNICATING TO THE REST OF THE WORLD IS THAT IT DOESN'T WANT GROWTH AND IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE CITY.

AND I KNOW YOU'VE HIRED A CONSULTANT TO DO YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN.

IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT IN REALITY, FOR IT WILL BE HARDER FOR FLAGSTAFF OVER TIME TO RETAIN THE EMPLOYERS.

IT HAS MEANING TO TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO EXPAND THEIR THEY'RE GOING TO EXPAND ELSEWHERE.

IT WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR JUST THIS ONE THING ABOUT NORTHERN ARIZONA HEALTHCARE.

IT WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT TO MAKE A BONA FIDE, AUTHENTIC, HONEST AND MORAL CASE TO ACCOMPANY OH, YEAH, WE WILL WELCOME YOU HERE.

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BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT IMPACT, I THINK, IS WHY HAVE A MEDICAL SCHOOL? AND NOT HAVE A PLACE FOR THOSE GRADUATES TO DO A RESIDENCY.

WE HAVE AN ACUTE SHORTAGE OF HEALTH CARE AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING DOCTORS, IN OUR STATE.

AND TO CREATE EQUITY AND TO CREATE A BIGGER, YOU KNOW, MORE ROBUST PIPELINE AND A USE GETTING A MEDICAL SCHOOL.

WELL, THERE, YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO? THEY'RE GOING TO GO SOMEPLACE ELSE.

THEY MAY LEAVE OUR STATE.

A LOT OF THEM DO, AS YOU KNOW, TO DO THEIR RESIDENCIES ELSEWHERE.

BUT THEY MAY GO DOWN TO PHOENIX OR TO TUCSON.

SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT THAT WHEN YOU START PEELING AWAY THE LAYERS OF THE ONION AND LOOK INTO IT, THESE ARE HUGELY IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR FLAGSTAFF AND FROM A QUALITY OF LIFE, QUALITY OF PLACE STANDPOINT.

UM, NOT HAVING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF, YOU KNOW, ACUTE CARE IN A HOSPITAL AND THE LATEST AND GREATEST AND THE FACT THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULDN'T SUPPORT IT EVEN FOR ITSELF.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT NOW.

I'M TALKING ABOUT RESIDENTS.

UH, IT'S PROBLEMATIC.

IT'S VERY PROBLEMATIC.

THANK YOU AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

AND I THINK WE ARE ALREADY FEELING SOME HESITATION FROM OTHER BUSINESSES COMING IN BECAUSE OF WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

SO IT IS A LITTLE BIT CONCERNING FOR SURE, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER HOUSE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOLLOWING UP ON THE ACTUAL CONTENTS OF THE PRESENTATION.

SO I KNOW YOU SAID THAT IT'S A MUCH MORE ROBUST DOCUMENT THAT WAS PROVIDED TO ECONA.

I'M JUST WONDERING BECAUSE ON ON ONE OF THE PREVIOUS SLIDES, YOU SHOWED THE GOALS AND THE OBJECTIVES, ARE THERE STRATEGIES THAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING AS WELL IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL ACTION STEPS TO ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS AND MEETING THOSE OBJECTIVES THAT ARE PRESENTED AS WELL? YEAH. IF YOU COULD JUST GO BACK ONE SLIDE AND THAT'S SO EVERY GOAL WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE TOP HAS SEVERAL OBJECTIVES.

SO THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE FOR ONE OF THE GOALS IS AN ACTIONABLE OBJECTIVE OF HOW TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.

AND THEN YOU SEE THOSE CHECK MARKS IS BASICALLY THE TIME FRAME THAT IS EXPECTED TO TO BE ABLE TO REACH THAT GOAL.

SO YES, THERE'S I DON'T I CAN'T REMEMBER THE BUT THERE'S SEVERAL PAGES AND DOZENS OF OBJECTIVES.

LIKE I CAN TELL YOU, GAIL IS BOTH EXCITED AND OVERWHELMED AT THE NUMBER OF OF ACTION ITEMS. SO THESE ARE THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE METRICS.

YOU CAN SAY, YES, WE DID IT OR NO, WE FAILED AT IT OR YES, WE GOT THERE IN THIS TIME FRAME.

BUT YES, EVERY SINGLE GOAL IS BROKEN DOWN INTO OBJECTIVES AND THEN THEY HAVE MILESTONES WITH THEM.

BUT ALSO THOSE OBJECTIVES ARE ACTION ITEMS TO DO SO.

SO THERE ARE STRATEGIES AND TACTICS AND THEN METRICS THAT EVERYONE CAN USE THE ECONA BOARD, YOU KNOW THE INVESTORS AND YOU KNOW THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

ET CETERA. TO SEE HOW WE'RE DOING AGAINST, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF PROGRESS ARE WE MAKING.

AND AGAIN THIS IS NOT AN ONLY ACTION PLAN.

IT'S REALLY FOR EVERYBODY.

IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE EVERYONE MOVING IN ALIGNMENT AND PUTTING THEIR SHOULDERS TO THE WHEEL, SO TO SPEAK, TO ACCOMPLISH THESE THINGS.

YEAH. SO THE GOALS YES.

THE GOAL WE WOULD THE GOALS ARE VERY GENERAL.

THEY SOUND VERY GENERALIZED, ALMOST KIND OF LIKE A GENERAL PLAN TYPE OF A GOAL.

BUT THEN THESE OBJECTIVES IS, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU STRENGTHEN LOCATIONAL ASSETS IN THE BUSINESS CLIMATE? WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT YOU CONDUCT CONFIDENTIAL SURVEYS OF BUSINESSES SEVERAL TIMES, LIKE AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR, GET, YOU KNOW, GETTING CONSTANT FEEDBACK FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, CREATING AN INVENTORY OF SHOVEL READY SITES, MAKING THAT INTERACTIVE, ALL OF THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS GETS VERY DETAILED AND EACH GOAL HAS HAS SEVERAL OF THESE.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD THEN WAS JUST YOU HAD REFERENCED EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION, HAVING TAKEN SOME OF THE EXISTING PLANS, LIKE THE TEN YEAR HOUSING PLAN, I'M ASSUMING YOU PROBABLY LOOKED AT THE CARBON NEUTRALITY PLAN, REGIONAL PLAN, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PLANS THAT WE HAVE IN EXISTENCE FOR THE CITY

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I'M JUST HOPING YOU CAN SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO HOW MUCH OF THIS STRATEGY WAS DEVELOPED SO THAT THEY WORK IN PARTNERSHIP, IF THAT MAKES SENSE, OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH EACH OTHER.

ARE THEY INTENDED TO TO OVERLAP AND TO BRING THOSE THINGS TOGETHER, OR IS THIS A A COMPLETELY SEPARATE STRATEGY? WELL, ALL OF THEM WERE FACTORED INTO IT.

AND LET ME JUST COUNCIL MEMBER LET ME SHARE WITH YOU JUST ONE OF MANY EXAMPLES.

WE WERE ASKED, YOU KNOW WHY? WHY DON'T WE HAVE IN OUR TARGETED SECTOR PRIORITIES FOR FLAGSTAFF OR EXCUSE ME, FOR THE NORTHERN ARIZONA REGION, THE ECONA REGION.

WHY WE DON'T HAVE RECOMMENDED SECTORS THAT ARE THE SAME AS ARIZONA COMMERCE AUTHORITY SECTORS? WELL, BECAUSE COMPANIES IN THOSE SECTORS, SOME OF THOSE SECTORS ARE HUGE WATER USERS.

THEY HAVE A HUGE FOOTPRINT OF LAND.

THEY USE A LOT OF ENERGY AND THEY'RE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VALUES OF AND PRECEPTS, AS WELL AS POLICIES OF FLAGSTAFF PLANS AS WELL AS CITY GOVERNMENT.

SO WE VERY MUCH TOOK THE CARBON NEUTRALITY.

UH, EVERY, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSING STUDY, THE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE FEASIBILITY STUDIES, ALL THE ANALYZES, TRANSPORTATION, GENERAL PLAN, ETCETERA.

UH, INTO ACCOUNT, WE READ ALL THE REPORTS, PLANS AND STUDIES AND SO IT DID, IN FACT, INFLUENCE HOW WE APPROACHED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.

NOW, LET ME ALSO SHARE THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF FLAGSTAFF THAT MAKE A LOT OF SENSE, BUT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE COMPATIBLE WITH WHERE FLAGSTAFF IS AND WHERE IT WANTS TO BE.

UM, THEY ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

YOU THERE CAN BE CARBON NEUTRALITY DEPENDING ON HOW IT'S HANDLED.

AND I WORK WITH A LOT OF OF ESG PROJECTS FOR COMPANIES.

UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH ARE NOT.

INCOMPATIBLE WITH CARBON NEUTRALITY AND ALL OF THE OTHER CLIMATE GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN ESPOUSED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AS WELL AS THE GOVERNMENTS WITHIN THE NORTHERN ARIZONA REGION.

THEY'RE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

THEY HAVE THERE HAS TO BE BALANCE.

AND THAT DID INFLUENCE WHAT WE RECOMMENDED.

YEAH. THE THE PLAN IS ALSO HAS TO BE CONSIDERED A REGIONAL PLAN.

SO LIKE IOANNA WAS SAYING, THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF, BUT THAT MAY BE VERY, VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR WINSLOW OR CAMP VERDE.

AND SIMILARLY THERE MAY BE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT THAT WOULD NOT BE AN ATTRACTIVE OPPORTUNITY IN WINSLOW.

BUT WILLIAMS, YOU KNOW, WOULD YOU KNOW THE GOALS, THE OBJECTIVES, THE ASSETS OF OF A PLACE LIKE WILLIAMS MAY BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

SO THERE DOES NEED TO BE AS AS EACH CITY LOOKS AT THIS PLAN AND WANTS TO BE, WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PLAN, UM, THEY SHOULD CONSIDER THEIR COMMUNITY AND ITS UNIQUE ASSETS, STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AND MAYBE CARVE PART OF THE PLAN OUT FOR THEM. AND THERE MAY BE OTHER PARTS THAT THAT AREN'T COMPATIBLE.

SO WE JUST, YOU KNOW, THE GEOGRAPHIC REGION IS SO VAST AND THE COMMUNITY'S VERY, VERY DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER SWEET.

THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I'VE BEEN A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN FLAGSTAFF FOR 23 YEARS, AND I'M WONDERING HOW YOU REACHED OUT TO THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

AND I KNOW IT'S HARD TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUES HERE IN FLAGSTAFF.

WE ARE A LITTLE UNIQUE IN WHAT WE'RE FACING.

I'M WONDERING WHAT WERE SOME OF THE TOP CONCERNS FROM THE SMALL BUSINESSES, AND ARE YOU OFFERING SPECIFIC GUIDANCE TO WHAT WE'RE KIND OF GOING THROUGH? AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AND ONLINE UNDERSTAND THAT THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS FACING UNIQUE STRUGGLES.

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THANK YOU. UM, WELL, MAYOR, TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION, I DID INTERVIEW SEVERAL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS INDIVIDUALLY, AND GAIL WAS WONDERFUL, TRULY WONDERFUL AND MANAGING, CONNECTING AND DOING THE LOGISTICS AND HELPING TO GET ALL THESE INTERVIEWS AND ROUNDTABLES SET UP.

UM, WE HAD ROUNDTABLES AS WELL, UM, WITH, YOU KNOW, 10 TO 15 BUSINESS OWNERS.

UM, AND WILL SHARE WITH YOU THAT FOR THE BUSINESSES LOCATED IN FLAGSTAFF.

THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.

VERY CONCERNED, OBVIOUSLY, ABOUT THE ESCALATING COSTS OF HOUSING.

AND AS DANNY SAID, IT'S NOT JUST A NORTHERN ARIZONA OR FLAGSTAFF PROBLEM, IT'S A US PROBLEM.

BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE GROWTH OF ARIZONA AND THAT PEOPLE REALLY CAN'T, THEY MOVE HERE FOR A JOB IN A BETTER WAY OF LIFE, BUT THEY CAN'T AFFORD A HOUSE.

AND THERE'S A RECENT STUDY OUT AND A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE, THE ONE ON ONES, SHARED WITH ME THAT THEIR KIDS HAD TO LEAVE THE AREA TO GET A DECENT JOB AND BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN.

UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF THERE ARE MORE AND MORE RESIDUAL MULTIGENERATIONAL.

AND BY THAT I DON'T MEAN GOING BACK A HUNDRED YEARS, BUT GEN X, GEN Y, EXCUSE ME, GEN Y AND GEN Z'S MORE AND MORE LIVING AT HOME LONGER BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO FIND ANY HOUSING ON THEIR OWN, WHICH IS GOING TO POSTPONE CHILD BIRTH.

AND THE US IS ALREADY PRETTY MUCH AT A ZERO FERTILITY RATE.

UM, WERE IT NOT FOR OUR HISPANIC POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES, IT WOULD BE ZERO.

SO WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH SMALL BUSINESSES AND FLAGSTAFF? THEY'RE EXPERIENCING IT FIRSTHAND THAT THEY DON'T THINK AND FORGIVE ME, MANY SHARE THAT THEY JUST DON'T THINK THE CITY IS ALL THAT BUSINESS FRIENDLY.

UM, THEY LOVE THE COMMUNITY.

THEY LOVE THE PEOPLE THAT EVEN THOUGH THE COMMUNITY HAS GROWN OVER TIME, IT'S STILL IT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE DO AUTHENTICALLY CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER.

UM, BUT THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT FINDING THE WORKERS.

UM, THAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR STORES, THEIR RESTAURANTS, THEIR HOTELS, ETCETERA.

SO THEY ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF ANY ECONOMY, EVEN THE US ECONOMY.

SO HAVING A KIND OF OPERATING ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO THEIR SUCCESS IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND IN FACT, WE DO HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESSES.

YEAH. AND I WOULD JUST ADD TO THAT, THAT THE TWO COMMENTS THAT I HEARD MOST FREQUENTLY FROM OUR SMALL BUSINESS INTERVIEWS WERE THE NUMBER OF UNFILLED JOB OPENINGS THAT THEY HAD, MEANING THAT THEIR EXISTING STAFF WAS STRESSED IN HAVING TO DO THE WORK, THAT WHERE THEY COULD NOT FILL A POSITION THAT WAS OPEN, AND ALSO THE THE HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE STANDARD WITHIN THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF, WHICH THEY FELT THEY WERE BEARING THE ENTIRE WEIGHT OF FINANCIALLY, BASICALLY THAT THAT THAT COMMUNITY GOAL WAS BEING BORNE BY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND HAVING TO PROVIDE THAT WAGE.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCCARTHY.

UM THANK YOU MAYOR.

I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN LAND USE PLANNING, AND I REMEMBER IN ONE OF MY CLASSES WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT DOWNTOWNS, AND IT WAS DISCUSSED THAT DOWNTOWNS NEVER STAY THE SAME.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO KEEP FLAGSTAFF EXACTLY THE WAY IT IS NOW.

BUT WHEN WE DISCUSS DOWNTOWNS, THE CONCLUSION WAS THEY EITHER GET BETTER OR THEY GET WORSE.

THEY NEVER STAY THE SAME.

AND I KIND OF WONDER IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS IF IF THERE'S SOME TRUTH TO THAT FOR A CITY OR A REGION ALSO EXPANDING WAY BEYOND JUST THE LITTLE DOWNTOWN.

DANNY, DO YOU WANT TO GO FIRST ON THAT ONE? YEAH. WELL, I AM IN FULL AGREEMENT OF THAT.

THAT'S SIMILAR TO MY COMMENT BEFORE IS THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, THE ACT OF TRYING TO OPPOSE PROPOSALS,

[00:30:06]

SO THERE'S THESE PROPOSALS TO MOVE AN AREA OR REGION OR A CORRIDOR FORWARD THAT RECEIVES OPPOSITION, BUT YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE OUTCOME OF THAT OPPOSITION, THAT THAT YOU COULD HAVE THIS REGRESSION, YOU COULD HAVE BUSINESSES LEAVE INSTEAD OF SAYING, LET'S JUST KEEP IT HOW IT IS. YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE YOU DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER THE NEXT STEP OF OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN.

SO YOU COULD SEE THE DEGRADATION OF A DOWNTOWN OR A TOWN OR A CORRIDOR.

YOU COULD SEE, YOU KNOW, A DECREASE IN EMPLOYMENT.

I MEAN, IT'S BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF AGAIN, BACK TO WHAT WE ALLUDE TO IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND AN ECONOMY IS JUST DO YOU WANT TO SEE A GRADUAL SPIRAL UPWARD OR DO YOU WANT, YOU KNOW, OR THE DOWNSIDE OF THAT IS THAT YOU COULD START TO EXPERIENCE THIS DOWNWARD SPIRAL.

IT'S A BASICALLY A SLOW DEATH SPIRAL OF THIS RECEDING POPULATION, AGING POPULATION BECOMING JUST A TOURIST TOWN OF AIRBNB AND HOTELS, THINGS LIKE THAT, WHERE YOU LOSE THE COMMUNITY FABRIC AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO A LOT OF RIPPLE EFFECTS TO TRYING TO KEEP THINGS THE SAME.

AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THINGS THE SAME.

DOWNTOWN REALLY, TRULY IS THE WORLD'S WINDOW INTO THE HEART SOUL OF A COMMUNITY.

AND TYPICALLY, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S MORE DENSE.

THERE'S MORE CONCENTRATION OF ACTIVITY, OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, ARTS AND CULTURAL OFFERINGS AND VENUES, THINGS TO DO, PLACES TO EAT.

AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REGENERATE DOWNTOWNS IN OUR NATION.

EVEN THOUGH THERE'S BEEN A FLIGHT OUT TO THE BURBS.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN THIS IN THE PAST.

THERE WILL BE YET ANOTHER FLIGHT BACK INTO CITIES AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.

BUT FOR FLAGSTAFF SPECIFICALLY, THE DOWNTOWN IS, YOU KNOW, REALLY REPRESENTS THE ESSENCE OF THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT HAS THE GREATEST AMENITIES THAT PEOPLE WANT TO EXPERIENCE? EVERYTHING IS SO EXPERIENTIAL TODAY COUNCIL MEMBER AND AND SO REINVESTING AND REGENERATING.

I HAVE WORKED IN MARKETS WHERE YOU KNOW, BLIGHT AND BOARDED UP.

FLAGSTAFF IS VERY BLESSED, AS ARE MOST DOWNTOWNS IN ARIZONA, TO NOT HAVE THAT PROBLEM.

BUT THE REINVESTMENT AND ALWAYS PAYING ATTENTION TO THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND THAT'S FOUND IN THE DOWNTOWN.

MAYOR. JUST HAVE A COMMENT AND A QUESTION.

I FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT THE REPORT, WHEN I READ IT, EMPHASIZED HOUSING IS A MAJOR ISSUE, AND I THINK THIS COUNCIL ALREADY REALIZED THAT AS A MAJOR GOAL AREA.

SO I WAS PLEASED TO SEE THAT WE HAVE SOME AGREEMENT IN THAT REGARD.

AND MY LAST QUESTION IS, I THINK BOTH OF YOU MADE QUITE A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT THE HOSPITAL AND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT.

AND, GAIL, I KNOW YOU HAVE A BOARD MEMBER WHO I BELIEVE IS HERE THAT REPRESENT THE HOSPITAL, AND I ASSUME THAT THEY'RE KIND OF, OKAY, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? IS IT TOO EARLY TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT ANY IDEAS IN THAT REGARD, OR IS THAT STILL IN THE VERY EARLY STAGES? SO ANY COMMENTS ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING? THAT WOULDN'T BE A QUESTION FOR ME, I THINK.

ARE YOU ASKING OUR BOARD MEMBERS? WELL, YEAH. COULD YOUR BOARD MEMBER AND IT MAY BE THAT THE ANSWER IS IT'S TOO EARLY.

WE'RE STILL WORKING IT, BUT I'D BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF THEY HAD ANYTHING TO REPORT.

WHY DON'T YOU COME UP AND THEN.

SO THE QUESTION IS WITH THE BACKGROUND IS THE HOSPITALS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A GOOD HOSPITAL AND I THINK WE'RE IN AGREEMENT THAT THE EXISTING HOSPITAL ISN'T QUITE ADEQUATE.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AT THE BALLOT BOX BY 72%.

SO MY QUESTION IS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT ABOUT WHERE, WHAT THE IDEAS ARE OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE, OR IS IT TOO EARLY? IT MAY BE TOO EARLY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

IT IS TOO EARLY. WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE AT THIS TIME.

OKAY, WE'LL BE ANXIOUSLY WAITING.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

[00:35:04]

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

JOSH MAYER, I COME TO YOU TODAY AS THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD FOR ECONA.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

THIS PLAN AND ITS ACCOMPANYING GROWTH PROJECTIONS SHOULD PRESENT A REAL CONCERN.

THIS PLAN ARTICULATES THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSIFYING OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY AND THE CRITICAL NATURE THAT HOUSING AVAILABILITY PLAYS IN THE VITALITY OF OUR REGION.

NAU STANDS READY TO ADDRESS THE REGIONAL WORKFORCE DEMANDS IN HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, MANUFACTURING AND IN ALL OF THE IDENTIFIED TARGET SECTORS.

NAU IS CLEARLY AN ASSET, A REGIONAL ASSET IN THIS REGARD.

THE REPORT DEMONSTRATES THE CLEAR BOTTLENECK FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AS HOUSING AVAILABILITY AND RELATED TO THIS ISSUE IS AFFORDABILITY. ALREADY, ORGANIZATIONS ARE CHALLENGED TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENT DUE TO THE COST OF LIVING.

A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF WHICH IS COMPRISED OF HOUSING.

ULTIMATELY, THIS CREATES A SOCIETY OF HAVES AND HAVE NOTS THOSE WHO WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO ARRIVE AT A POINT WHERE HOUSING WAS MORE ATTAINABLE.

NOW, I APPLAUD THOSE OF YOU WHO TOOK THE BOLD STEP, WHICH WOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED SO BOLD IN MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES TO APPROVE THE ZONING CHANGE ON BEHALF OF NAH. A ZONING CHANGE THAT COULD HAVE HAD A CASCADING EFFECT THAT COULD OPEN UP MORE LAND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING.

IT WAS NOT A POPULAR DECISION, OBVIOUSLY, BUT IT WAS BOLD.

NOW ECONA IS WELL POSITIONED TO EXECUTE THIS PLAN AND BUT MORE BOLD ACTION WILL BE NEEDED FROM MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND ALL OF THE ECONA PARTNERS TO ADDRESS THE NUMBER ONE EQUITY ISSUE OF OUR DAY, WHICH IS HOUSING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU JOSH.

ALEXIS KNAPP PULLEY.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR DAGGETT AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I KNOW IT'S PRETTY LATE, SO I APPRECIATE YOU STICKING AROUND TO HEAR WHAT WE HAVE.

IT'S ONLY 6 P.M., I KNOW.

OKAY, HANG IN THERE.

I'M THE WORKFORCE TRAINING COORDINATOR AT COCONINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND PART OF MY JOB IS SUPPORTING BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTY ON THEIR WORKFORCE TRAINING NEEDS. I'M ALSO PART OF THE BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION COMMITTEE WITH ECONA.

IN THIS ROLE, AND IN OTHER GROUPS AND MEETINGS THAT I'M INVOLVED IN, I LEARN ABOUT THE TRAINING NEEDS FOR EMPLOYERS AND HOW THE PROGRAMS AT CCC MAY ALIGN WITH THOSE NEEDS, AS WELL AS LEARN ABOUT WAYS WE MAY BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.

IN MANY, IF NOT ALL, OF THESE CONVERSATIONS, THERE'S A CONSISTENT NARRATIVE AROUND A GENERAL NEED FOR WORKFORCE, AS THE DATA THAT WAS JUST PRESENTED BACKS.

TRAINING THE WORKFORCE DOESN'T MEAN MUCH IF PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE TO WORK.

WE LEARNED IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN REPORT THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE OUR ECONOMIC VITALITY, BUT WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF WORKFORCE HOUSING BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE CAN BE RESOLVED.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN FLAGSTAFF.

I ATTENDED MONTESSORI ELEMENTARY, MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL, WEITZEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH IS NOW PUENTE, MIMS, COCONINO, AND RECEIVED BOTH A BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S FROM NAU.

I AM A SOLID FLAGSTAFFIAN.

I'M AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER, WAS PART OF THE FLAGSTAFF LEADERSHIP PROGRAM LAST YEAR, AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS COMMUNITY MY ENTIRE LIFE.

AND YET MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE GOOD JOBS, AND WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS EVERY SINGLE MONTH ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.

WE'VE CONSISTENTLY BEEN BEHIND THE LINE OF BEING ABLE TO AFFORD TO PURCHASE A HOME.

IT SEEMS AS THOUGH AS WE GET, AS SOON AS WE GET A RAISE OR PROMOTION, THE HOUSING COSTS INCREASE EXPONENTIALLY.

AND I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE HEARD THIS A GAZILLION TIMES TOO.

BUT I IMPLORE YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO SO DESPERATELY WANT TO STAY AND WORK IN FLAGSTAFF AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR GROWING ECONOMY.

[00:40:02]

THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THIS PLACE BUT ARE BEING OUTBID BY SECOND HOME OWNERS OR SHORT TERM RENTAL COMPANIES PAYING IN CASH.

WE ALL KNOW THE HOUSING ISSUE IS A HOT TOPIC IN FLAGSTAFF, BUT I ASK YOU TO PLEASE STAY VIGILANT IN WORKING ON POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.

REMEMBER THAT THE WORK YOU DO MATTERS.

IT MATTERS TO ME AND ALL THOSE LIKE ME, WHO LOVE THIS TOWN AND WOULD LOVE TO LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU. WILLIAM TYLER HEAD.

SO DOES THIS OPEN FOR QUESTIONS ALSO TO THE PRESENTERS? YOU CAN ASK US AND WE CAN ASK THEM.

OH COOL BEANS. OKAY.

SO IN THE METRICS THAT YOU RAN, WERE YOU ABLE TO ASSESS HOW MANY UNITS BY UNITS I MEAN HOUSES, RENTAL PROPERTIES, AIRBNBS. ET CETERA.

HOW MANY UNITS IN FLAGSTAFF ARE OWNED BY ABSENTEE LANDLORDS, I.E.

PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT FLAGSTAFF RESIDENTS? WERE YOU ABLE TO RUN THAT AND THEN JUMPING OFF OF THAT TO COUNCIL AND TO THE MAYOR? WHAT QUALIFIES AS A FLAGSTAFF RESIDENT? I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN THIS HOUSING CRISIS PLAY OUT OR AFFORDABILITY PLAY OUT IN THE WEST IN THE SCENIC MOUNTAIN TOWNS.

AND THE SAME TALE GOES THERE THAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

SO YEAH, THAT'S MY TWO QUESTIONS.

AND I GUESS THIRD QUESTION IS FOR DOWNTOWN AND LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE, I HAVEN'T BEEN IN I'VE ONLY BEEN IN FLAGSTAFF FOR TWO YEARS, SO I DON'T REALLY I HAVEN'T BEEN TO A LOT OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. BUT, YOU KNOW, IS THERE AN ABILITY TO BUILD UP IN DOWNTOWN THAT'S JUST FOR PERSONAL AWARENESS, I GUESS, AND FOR OTHERS THAT MAY NOT KNOW.

BUT THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I HOPE YOU GET SOME GOOD SLEEP TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. AND I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE NUMBER OF UNITS OWNED BY ABSENTEE OWNERS, BUT THE CITY HAS THAT INFORMATION IN TERMS OF AIRBNBS.

AND I BELIEVE WE ALSO HAVE THAT INFORMATION ABOUT SECOND HOME OWNERS WHO AREN'T HERE YEAR ROUND.

IS THAT CORRECT? THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK THE FIRST PART OF THAT IS CORRECT.

THE SECOND PART I WOULD NEED TO LOOK INTO I DON'T KNOW ABOUT SECOND HOME OWNERSHIP, BUT WE'RE GLAD TO LOOK INTO THAT.

BUT WE DO HAVE METRICS ON SHORT TERM RENTALS.

AND CAN YOU REMIND ME WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE WAS? UH, APPROXIMATELY.

IT WAS, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, IT WAS AROUND 2%, BUT I COULD BE CORRECTED ON THAT.

IT LOOKS LIKE I'M ABOUT TO BE CORRECTED.

REALLY CLOSE. OKAY.

IT'S AROUND 22% FOR SECOND HOME OWNERSHIP.

NO NO, NO. I'M SORRY. SHORT TERM RENTAL.

SHORT TERM RENTAL AT 4%.

4%. THANK YOU.

AND SECOND, HOME OWNERSHIP IS AT 22%.

YEAH. OKAY.

YES, YES.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, BECAUSE THIS COMES UP REPEATEDLY, THAT THE CITY IS PREVENTED FROM REALLY REGULATING THE NUMBER OF EITHER AIRBNBS OR SECOND HOMES IN FLAGSTAFF OR IN ANY COMMUNITY.

NO COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO REGULATE THE NUMBER OF THEM.

WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN IN TERMS OF HAVING AIRBNB OWNERS REGISTER THEIR PROPERTIES AND PAY A REGISTRATION FEE, WHICH IS ALL THAT THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE ALLOWS US TO DO.

AND IN TERMS OF TAXATION, BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT AS WELL, THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE ALSO DETERMINES WHAT TAXATION IS AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF PROPERTY TAXES.

SO. SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT THOSE METRICS IN TERMS OF THE HOUSING NEEDS IN FLAGSTAFF.

AND WE, YOU KNOW, THROUGH VARIOUS STUDIES, KNOW THAT WE ARE ALREADY ABOUT 7000, MORE THAN 7000 UNITS SHORT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY LIVING HERE.

SO I THINK WE RECOGNIZE THE LACK OF HOUSING ALL ALONG THE SPECTRUM FROM, YOU KNOW, HOUSING THAT NEEDS TO BE SUBSIDIZED UP TO MARKET RATE HOUSING IS NEEDED IN FLAGSTAFF.

[00:45:09]

UM, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE GOT YOUR HANDLE ON THE THE NUMBER.

I THINK THE ONLY THE LAST REMAINING REQUEST WAS HOW MANY, UM, BASICALLY NONRESIDENT OWNERS OF HOUSING THAT MAY BE RENTING THEIR PROPERTIES TO FLAGSTAFF RESIDENTS.

AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION, BUT IT CAN BE ANALYZED VIA THE COCONINO COUNTY ASSESSOR'S RECORDS ON WHO OWNS IT VERSUS VERSUS WHAT THE PROPERTY'S ADDRESS IS, SO THAT COULD BE ANALYZED AND THEN JUST SAY GENERALLY TO THAT, UM THE SECOND HOME BUYER IS TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S TYPICALLY THE UPPER END OF THE SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED PRODUCT.

AND THAT A LOT OF TIMES, ESPECIALLY FOR FLAGSTAFF, IS A FUNCTION OF THE COST TO DEVELOP THE HOUSING THERE.

SO A LOT OF TIMES IT'S IT'S A COMBINATION OF WHAT LAND PRICE IS COMMANDED AND THEN THE COST OF ENTITLING THROUGH THE CITY.

SO THERE COULD BE SOME, UM, SOME, UM, SOME ACTION THERE TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW IS THE CITY'S PROCESSES ADDING TO THE COST OF DEVELOPING PRIVATE, YOU KNOW, MARKET RATE HOUSING? BECAUSE AT ANY ADDITIONAL TIME AND IS COST TO THAT DEVELOPER AND THAT ENDS UP BEING PART OF THE PURCHASE PRICE, YOU KNOW, IF THEY CAN COMMAND THAT PRICE. SO, UM, IT DOES END UP TRENDING TOWARD THE LUXURY END OF THE SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED MARKET, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE COST OF THE LAND WAS SO HIGH AND THEN THE COST TO DEVELOP AND THE COST OF ENTITLING WAS SO HIGH THAT IT KIND OF PUSHES YOU TOWARD THAT, THAT LUXURY END OF THE IN TERMS OF MARKET RATE. SO, UM, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT WORKFORCE ATTAINABLE, AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE LEVEL HOUSING, IT IS MOST LIKELY GOING TO NEED TO INCLUDE PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, REDUCED COST OF LAND OR DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PROJECT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT THEN AGAIN, GENERALLY FOR JUST MARKET RATE, THE ABILITY TO APPROVE AND GET THROUGH PROPOSALS AND INCREASE THE SUPPLY JUST OVERALL WILL CREATE COMPETITION AND HELP DECREASE THE PRESSURE, THE UPWARD PRICE PRESSURE.

AND WE'RE SEEING THAT OCCUR IN GREATER PHOENIX WITH THE MULTIFAMILY MARKET.

WE'RE SEEING A BIGGER INFLUX OF NEW SUPPLY.

AND IT HAS HAS IT HAS HAS A HUGE IMPACT ON PRICE PRESSURE CURRENTLY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

AND WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENTER AS WELL.

MAYOR. THANK YOU.

I HAVE RANDY MCGRANE.

RANDY, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE AND OFFER YOUR COMMENTS NOW.

UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

UM, I WAS INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REPORT PRESENTED TONIGHT, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS AND AND PRESENTATION.

I WANT, ONE OF THE COUNCILORS ASKED, IS THIS AN ECONOMIC CRISIS? THAT'S A REALLY PROFOUND QUESTION.

PERHAPS IN SLOW MOTION IT COULD BE.

AND THE WAY I'VE DESCRIBED IT TO PEOPLE I KNOW IS IF YOU'RE A 43 YEAR OLD COUPLE WITH A COUPLE OF 10 OR 12 YEAR OLD KIDS, THE CHANCES OF THOSE KIDS BEING ABLE TO STAY IN FLAGSTAFF IS VERY, VERY LOW RIGHT NOW.

AND IF YOU CYCLE THAT FORWARD ONE MORE GENERATION FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO HANG ON THE EDGE, THERE'S ALMOST NO OPPORTUNITY.

AND SO WE COULD HAVE A STABLE POPULATION, BUT THE HOUSES WILL REMAIN THE SAME, WHILE THE PEOPLE IN THEM ARE LIKELY TO CHANGE AND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT COULD BE STRANGLED BY THE LOVE WE'RE TRYING TO EXHIBIT.

SO ALL THESE ARE TOUGH DECISIONS AND DISCUSSIONS.

IT DOES TAKE A CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE AND ATTITUDE ABOUT WHAT FLAGSTAFF CAN OFFER TO ITS EXISTING COMMUNITY AND TO A BROADER COMMUNITY. SO I'LL STOP MY COMMENTS THERE AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

[00:50:07]

SO NOW I'M GOING TO TAKE WE'VE GOT A QUEUE GOING HERE.

SO COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HOUSE, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER MCCARTHY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU ECONA FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, FOR ARRANGING THE PRESENTATION.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB IN EXPLAINING.

OFTENTIMES WHEN YOU SEE THESE REPORTS, YOU CAN'T FOLLOW THEM.

BUT I WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW ALONG PERFECTLY WELL.

SO THANK YOU.

THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD SAY TO ECONA IS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US THAT INFORMATION.

I'M ASSUMING IT'S GOING TO BE OUT ON YOUR WEBSITE SOMEWHERE, OR THE REPORT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS IT IN SOME WAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, IT IS CURRENTLY ON OUR WEBSITE.

OKAY. OKAY, GREAT.

THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD SAY TO ECONA AND TO SOME OF THE BUSINESS PEOPLE THAT ARE ON YOUR BOARD, OR JUST GENERAL PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THAT BOARD, IS THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS INFORMATION GETS OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

I THINK THAT WE DO A GOOD JOB OF BRINGING INFORMATION TO THE COUNCIL, BUT WE PROBABLY DON'T DO A GOOD A GOOD OF A JOB AS GETTING IT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY WHERE IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THEY NEED TO HEAR WHAT WE'RE HEARING.

THERE WAS A LOT OF STUFF IN YOUR PRESENTATION, AND I'M NOT GOING TO UNPACK ALL OF IT, BUT I AM GOING TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS THAT MIGHT, THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT.

FLAGSTAFF IS NOT GOING TO STAY THE WAY IT WAS WHEN MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OPPOSING A LOT OF THINGS CAME HERE.

IT HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY IN THE LAST 30 YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO CHANGE WHEN I'M GONE.

AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO SAY THAT MORE AND MORE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE REALLY THEY'RE DIGGING THEIR HEELS IN BECAUSE THEY WANT US TO LOOK LIKE IT LOOKED WHEN THEY GOT HERE.

AND SO MY COMMENT TO PEOPLE, AND I'M GOING TO BE BOLD AND SAY THIS, IS THAT IF YOU WEREN'T BORN AND RAISED HERE, THEN MAYBE YOU NEED TO GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM IF YOU DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE HERE.

SO THAT'S KIND OF A MEAN THING TO SAY, BUT THAT'S HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT.

AND LET ME SAY ANOTHER THING.

IN TERMS OF OUR HOUSING, WE DO HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS.

ALL OF US THAT SIT HERE ON THIS DAIS, WE WERE LUCKY AND BLESSED, AND WE SHOULD ALL BE THANKFUL THAT WE GOT SOMEWHERE TO LIVE, BECAUSE THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF FOLKS THAT ARE SERVING US EVERY DAY THAT DO NOT HAVE ANYWHERE TO LIVE, AND THEY'RE LIVING TWO AND THREE.

I TOLD MY SON, DO NOT COME BACK TO FLAGSTAFF BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE UNTIL I DIE AND YOU GET MY HOUSE.

THAT'S ABOUT I MEAN, THAT'S THE REALITY OF IT.

AND SO AND, AND THE LAST THING THAT I WILL SAY IS THAT IT IS CRITICAL, CRITICAL THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT 12,000 PEOPLE MADE THE DECISION ABOUT A HOSPITAL FOR 180,000 PEOPLE.

WE ALLOW 12,000 PEOPLE THAT VOTED NO TO MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT ALL OF OUR HEALTH CARE.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I SAY TO GET INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE THEY NEED TO KNOW.

SO WHEN ISSUES LIKE THIS COME UP, THEY'RE READY TO MAKE A DECISION OR THEY'RE READY TO WEIGH IN ON IT BECAUSE ONLY 20 SOME THOUSAND PEOPLE CAME OUT TO VOTE.

AND 12,000 OF THOSE PEOPLE VOTED NO.

SO THAT SHOULD GIVE US SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN FLAGSTAFF.

SO THEY COULDN'T WEIGH IN ON THE CONVERSATION.

THEY HAD NO VOTE, THEY HAD NO VOTE WHATSOEVER.

AND SO THAT'S THE SAD PART IN EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS HERE IN FLAGSTAFF.

IF WE DON'T GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE PEOPLE WHO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THEN WE'RE JUST DIGGING OURSELVES INTO A HOLE.

AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HOUSE.

THANK YOU MAYOR. I'M A THEMER WHEN IT COMES TO THESE MEETINGS.

WE HAVE DREAMERS AND WE HAVE THEMER.

AND I AM DEFINITELY A WELL, I THINK I'M BOTH, BUT I'M DEFINITELY A THEMER.

FOR ME, TONIGHT'S THEME IS REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE PATHWAY TO FLAGSTAFF'S FUTURE.

[00:55:01]

I HONESTLY WASN'T EXPECTING THIS CONVERSATION TO FOCUS SO MUCH ON WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE HOSPITAL, BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE THE POINT OF SAYING THAT I THINK WE ARE NEVER GOING TO BE AT THE POINT OF AGREEING WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT SITUATION, BUT I THINK THAT THE QUESTION THAT WE'RE REALLY FACING NOW ISN'T SO MUCH WHAT HAPPENED, BUT WHAT HAPPENS NOW? HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD HEALTH CARE FOR FLAGSTAFF AND FOR NORTHERN ARIZONA? HOW DO WE PARTNER THAT WITH THE NEEDS THAT WE'RE FACING FOR HOUSING AND SUSTAINABILITY, AND ALL OF THE OTHER INTERESTS THAT ARE OFTEN CALLED COMPETING IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT REALLY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THINGS MOVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THE SPEAKERS EARLIER SAID THAT HOUSING IS THE BOTTLENECK FOR ECONOMIC PROGRESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

HEALTH CARE IS CERTAINLY THE BANDAGE THAT WE NEED TO START REPAIRING SOME OF THOSE THINGS AND ENSURING THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE LEVELS OF CARE THAT THEY NEED TO ACTUALLY ENJOY OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY THE THE MESSAGE FROM THIS CONVERSATION IS THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO TO CREATE AND EXPAND EQUITY IN AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST ECONOMIC EQUITY, BUT ALSO SOCIAL EQUITY AND ACCESS TO THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE PRESENTERS FOR REMINDING US OF THE BOLD ACTION THAT'S NEEDED TO MOVE THOSE THINGS FORWARD. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT BOLDNESS GOES BOTH WAYS.

SOMETIMES THE BOLD STEP IS DISAGREEING AND SPEAKING UP.

SOMETIMES THE BOLD STEP IS VOICING THE UNPOPULAR OPINION.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS ACROSS THE BOARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT'S TRULY BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT THIS IS THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE KIND OF WRAPPING THE EVENING WITH, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S GIVING US THAT IMPORTANT REMINDER.

SO THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER MCCARTHY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS A QUICK FOLLOW UP TO THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW MANY HOUSES, RENTALS OR WHATEVER, I REMEMBER A DISCUSSION WITH A PREVIOUS CITY MANAGER BEFORE YOU WERE HERE MR. CLIFTON AND THE PREVIOUS CITY MANAGER STATED THAT 25% OF OUR HOUSING IS OWNED BY PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIVE IN THEIR PRIMARY RESIDENCE, IS NOT IN THIS COCONINO COUNTY.

SO THAT NUMBER IS VERY CLOSE TO THE NUMBERS WE JUST HEARD TONIGHT.

SO 25% OF THE HOMES ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE THAT LIVE AND WORK HERE.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THAT? WELL, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

BASICALLY, THESE SHORT TERM RENTALS, IN MY MIND, THEY'RE BASICALLY HOTELS IN THE RESIDENTIAL ZONE, WHICH TO ME IS INAPPROPRIATE.

SO BUT WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE ON THAT.

ANOTHER IDEA IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE A HIGHER TAX RATE ON SECOND HOMES.

SO A PERSON THEIR PRIMARY HOME FINE, GIVE THEM THE LOWEST TAX RATE POSSIBLE, BUT THEY SHOULD PAY MORE IF IT'S A SECONDARY HOME.

WE TALKED ABOUT A WHOLE LIST OF THINGS THAT REALLY NEED TO CHANGE BEFORE WE CAN BRING PEOPLE INTO THE CITY AND WORKERS, AND MY FEELING IS THAT WORKERS WILL COME IF THEY CAN AFFORD TO.

I MEAN, WHEN I THINK OF MY FIRST JOB OUT OF COLLEGE, I HAD TO MOVE ABOUT 150 MILES.

WE MOVED TO FLAGSTAFF BECAUSE MY WIFE HAD A JOB OFFER AT W.L.

[01:00:04]

IF. THEY CAN AFFORD TO.

SO IF WE ADDRESS THE BIGGEST DRIVER ON COST OF LIVING IS YOUR HOME, HOUSING.

SO I THINK IN MY OPINION, IF WE CAN SOLVE THE HOUSING PROBLEM, THE HIGH COST OF HOUSING, A LOT OF THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT WE BROUGHT TO BEAR ARE PROBABLY NOT AS IMPORTANT.

NOW, SOME MAY BE I MEAN, IS THERE A PLACE CAN W.L.

GORE EXPAND, YOU KNOW, CAN SO-AND-SO EXPAND? OR IF A COMPANY WANTS TO COME HERE, IS THERE SOMEWHERE THAT THEY CAN BUILD? YOU KNOW, THERE'S OTHER PROBLEMS, BUT I THINK THE HOUSING ONE IS NUMBER ONE.

I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MATTHEWS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.

MR. CORT HAD TALKED ABOUT THE COST FOR DEVELOPERS TO COME IN, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO DIRECTLY.

AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AND WE TALK ABOUT IT.

WE TALK ABOUT IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF ANYTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT.

I KNOW WE'RE HAVING SOME REVIEWS OF SOME OF OUR FEES AND STUFF, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING DEFINITELY WE CAN DIRECTLY DO.

AND I THINK IT'S TIME TO STOP TALKING ABOUT IT AND START DOING STUFF.

I ALSO HEAR A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM DEVELOPERS ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND HOW TEDIOUS IT IS, AND JUST THE COST.

AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO ELEVATE THAT CONVERSATION AND THAT FOCUS IF WE'RE GOING TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT HOUSING.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEARD OFTEN IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN I WAS OUT CAMPAIGNING A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, WAS YOU ALL TALK ABOUT HOUSING ALL THE TIME, BUT NOTHING EVER GETS DONE ABOUT IT.

SO I WAS REALLY HAPPY, BUT SHOCKED THAT WE PASSED THE HOUSING BOND, WHICH GIVES ME A LITTLE HOPE THAT THERE IS SOME LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE THERE.

BUT WE REALLY NEED TO START MAKING TAKING ACTION BECAUSE WE JUST TALK ABOUT IT AND IT'S COSTING US.

IT'S COSTING THE CITY IN OUR LEVEL OF EMPLOYEES AND RETENTION, NOT TO DO SOMETHING TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND GET THAT DONE.

SO I'D REALLY I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT PUBLICLY THAT WE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DIRECTLY DO.

AND HOPEFULLY IN PUSHING THE PROCESSES THROUGH FASTER WILL HOPEFULLY CREATE THAT COMPETITION, AS MR. CORT ALSO MENTIONED.

AND THEN JUST LASTLY WITH NAH, I THINK THAT THEY ARE A PRIVATE BUSINESS.

IT GOT UGLY.

AND SO I KNOW THAT I WOULD ONLY IMAGINE THAT THERE SOME FEAR OF REALLY THINKING ABOUT DOING ANYTHING IN THE CITY.

AND SO I THINK THAT IT BENEFITS US ALL IF MAYBE THE CITY TAKES SOME POSITION.

I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER HOUSE OR HARRIS HAS MENTIONED THIS, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD THAT WE DO SOME KIND OF CIVICS FORUM.

THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT WENT AROUND THAT I THINK IMPACTED PEOPLE'S DECISIONS AND CREATED SOME ANIMOSITY THAT WOULD MAKE ANY.

INDUSTRY COME INTO FLAGSTAFF, LET ALONE THE HOSPITAL.

WANT TO TAKE ON THAT VENTURE AND SPEND A FEW MORE MILLION DOLLARS JUST TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE AGAIN.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT AND WORK TOGETHER TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY, EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ON THE PROCESSES AND GET SOME, SOME FACTS OUT THERE TO HELP HEAL THOSE WOUNDS.

THAT WILL PROBABLY TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET HEALED.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? UM.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I REMEMBER BEING INTERVIEWED A YEAR, MORE THAN A YEAR AGO FOR THIS, AND AM GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT WENT INTO PREPARING IT AND THE WEBINARS THAT YOU ALL DID, WHICH ARE ALSO ON YOUR WEBSITE, WERE EXCELLENT TO BREAK IT DOWN INTO MANAGEABLE CHUNKS THAT YOU COULD, THAT PEOPLE CAN REALLY ABSORB.

AND I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR ECONOMIC GROWTH, I THINK WE GET STUCK ON THE WORD GROWTH.

AND THERE'S THERE'S A DIVIDE THAT HAPPENS THERE.

AND I THINK FOR ME, I THINK OF IT MORE AS INNOVATION AND AND HELPING ENTREPRENEURS THAT HAVE GREAT IDEAS, PUT THOSE IDEAS INTO ACTION.

[01:05:05]

AND IT'S THE PEOPLE.

IT'S HOW WE CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER.

IT'S IT'S THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO INVEST IN FLAGSTAFF TO TO START A BUSINESS OR TO GROW THEIR BUSINESS.

IT'S THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO EXPRESS THEIR CREATIVITY.

SO THAT'S HOW I THINK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK ABOUT IT AS PUTTING, PUTTING SOME GREAT IDEAS INTO ACTION.

AND I THINK ABOUT IT AS ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT I LOVE, BEING ABLE TO STAY HERE AND AND KEEP CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT'S MY $0.02.

DO YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING REMARKS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE? SURE, YES, I WOULD, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST I WANTED TO ADD ON TO WHAT YOU SAID.

I JUST THOUGHT AN INTERESTING STATISTIC.

SO ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE APS HAS A SIZE UP ON THEIR WEBSITE THAT GIVES YOU BUSINESS INFORMATION AND DATA TO HELP YOU MAKE DECISIONS. AND INTERESTING FACT IS, 93% OF THE BUSINESSES IN OUR REGION ARE 20 PEOPLE OR UNDER.

SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE'RE NOT OUT TRYING TO RECRUIT 500,000, 5000 PEOPLE.

IOANA MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT THE ALIGNMENT WITH THE ARIZONA COMMERCE AUTHORITY.

THEY ARE VERY MUCH ALIGNED WITH MEGA PROJECTS.

THAT IS NOT WHAT WE ARE OUT LOOKING FOR.

WE VET EACH PROJECT.

WE SCRUTINIZE THEM SO MUCH.

ARE THEY A GOOD USE OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES? ARE THEY IN TOUCH WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY? AND WE EDUCATE THEM, AND WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO BECOME A PART OF THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THAT'S ONLY GOING TO HELP THEM FLOURISH AND OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF, THAT WE'RE NOT OUT RECRUITING BIG, MASSIVE COMPANIES TO COME TO TO OUR REGION.

I ALSO WANTED TO ADD THAT OF ALL OF THE PRIORITIES AND STRATEGIES THAT DANNY AND IOANA PRESENTED, OUR BOARD ACTUALLY MET FOR THEIR FIRST RETREAT EARLIER THIS MONTH, AND WE DID NARROW IT DOWN TO THREE THINGS THAT WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU NOW, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE COMMENTS REVOLVE AROUND THAT.

SO NUMBER ONE, HOUSING, WHAT CAN WE DO TO INFLUENCE AND CHANGE HOUSING.

SO WE WILL BE HAVING OUR WORKING GROUPS THAT WILL BE MEETING BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE SECOND ONE IS ATTITUDE AND EDUCATION ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND WHAT DOES GROWTH MEAN? WHAT ARE WHAT ARE WE WHAT ARE WE DOING IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? HOW DOES THAT AFFECT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THEN THIRD IS REGIONAL COLLABORATION AND POLICY.

HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER BETTER? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY OUR ORGANIZATION IS ALL ABOUT REGIONALISM.

THAT'S HOW I FEEL PERSONALLY THAT WE GET BETTER, BETTER OUTCOMES.

SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW WE APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENT IN KONA.

WE APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENT TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS IN IN THIS PLAN.

WE HAVEN'T HAD IT. IT WILL NOT BE SITTING ON A SHELF.

LIKE I SAID, WE MET EARLIER THIS MONTH.

YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT MORE ABOUT US AND THE PROGRESS THAT WE ARE MAKING TOWARDS THOSE THREE PRIORITIES, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT.

YOU DO APPRECIATE IT.

AND THANKS DANNY AND IOANA FOR BEING ONLINE TONIGHT.

YES, THANK YOU BOTH.

AND THANKS TO BOARD MEMBERS.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SHARED INFORMATION AND PERSPECTIVES WITH US.

AND THANK YOU, GAIL.

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE OUR NEXT ROUND OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

I DON'T SEE ANY PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

OKAY. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS. TWO FROM MAYOR, COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER.

AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEM REQUESTS.

LET'S START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HOUSE.

NOTHING FOR ME TONIGHT. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER SWEET.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF EVENTS THIS WEEKEND, BUT I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITS ARTWALK FRIDAY, SO PLEASE COME DOWNTOWN AND SUPPORT LOCAL.

THANKS. COUNCIL MEMBER MCCARTHY.

[01:10:04]

COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS.

COUNCIL MEMBER MATTHEWS.

NOTHING. THANK AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT IT IS GIVING TUESDAY AND ONE OF OUR FAVORITES, TINKER TOPIA, HAS A MATCHING GIFT, AND THEY'RE HOPING TO RAISE $7,000 TODAY.

SO WHEN YOU GET HOME, GET ONLINE AND MAKE SOME DONATIONS.

CITY MANAGER.

NOTHING FROM ME. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

ALL RIGHT. THANKS, EVERYONE.

WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.