Council member Jim McCarthy asked the Flagstaff City Council on March 5 to place a resolution on a future agenda urging the city’s congressional delegation to support an aid bill for Ukraine.
McCarthy argued the United States should continue material support to Ukraine to counter Russian aggression and invoked historical parallels to World War II. He noted a recent U.S. Senate vote that supported an aid package.
Council members discussed whether a federal foreign policy resolution was appropriate for the city council. Council member Matthews said she supports aid to Ukraine personally but cited concerns about staying “in our lane” and the political polarization of the debate. Council member House said the issue is global and tragic but questioned whether the council should adopt official positions on international conflicts; she offered to sign a personal letter in support if McCarthy prepared one. Other council members expressed a similar view: supportive of personal letters but reluctant to adopt an official municipal resolution.
City manager and legal staff briefed council on policy: administration advised staff would not take a formal role preparing or sending a resolution because such actions do not fall under routine city business and would require staff time; however, council members remain free to act individually and staff said chief of staff could provide limited assistance to members pursuing individual letters.
Outcome: McCarthy’s request for a council-sponsored resolution did not receive majority support; the council did not adopt an official resolution. Multiple members volunteered to sign a personal letter or to work privately with McCarthy on non‑official communications to Congress.
Public comment during the meeting included pro- and anti‑aid remarks; several online and in-person speakers urged or opposed U.S. funding for Ukraine. A small number of public commenters used racist or antisemitic language during general public participation; those remarks were not adopted or endorsed by the council.