City Council prioritizes community input in goal-setting voting exercise

The Joint City/County Regional Plan Retreat held on May 2, 2025, in Flagstaff, Arizona, focused on community engagement and prioritization of regional goals. The meeting began with public participation, where a written comment was read by participant Zach Skelton, who emphasized the importance of walkable communities in addressing climate issues. He also clarified that increasing density does not necessarily mean large apartment complexes, but could involve smaller developments.

Following public comments, the meeting transitioned to an interactive exercise for appointed officials, both in-person and online. Participants were provided with voting dots in three colors—green, yellow, and red—to express their support or concerns regarding six identified priorities and associated goals. Green indicated no issues, yellow signified concerns or questions, and red represented strong opposition.

The officials were instructed to engage in this silent voting activity without discussions, ensuring a focused and orderly process. Technical support was provided for online participants to access the Miro board, where they could place their votes.

As the meeting progressed, officials were given additional time to complete their voting, reflecting the importance of thorough consideration of the priorities and goals set forth. The session concluded with a wrap-up of the voting process, highlighting the collaborative effort to shape the future of the region through community input and structured decision-making.

Overall, the retreat underscored the commitment of Flagstaff's city and county officials to engage with the community and prioritize sustainable development initiatives.