Commissioners discuss informal outreach to Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise, counsel urges caution on formal subcommittees

Commissioners spent an extended portion of the Feb. 26 meeting discussing community concerns and outreach related to the proposed Navajo Nation gaming enterprise site near Doney Park and Timberline Fernwood. Several commissioners described informal outreach they or local neighborhood organizers had attempted; others cautioned about the appearance of official action by commissioners meeting together.

Commissioner Best said he had emailed supervisors offering informal, neighborly discussions about shared concerns such as lighting and traffic; he said he had not received a substantive reply but that the outreach had been seen. Commissioner Ruggles and others described neighborhood watch meetings where local residents and sheriff’s‑office representatives discussed the project and said those sessions were explicitly informal and that participants made clear they were not acting as planning commissioners.

Commissioner Hayward expressed discomfort with multiple commissioners contacting a landowner about a matter outside the commission’s jurisdiction, noting the potential perception of an official action if three or more commissioners participate together. Commissioner Vest said three commissioners had offered private assistance in an explicitly non‑commission capacity and preferred keeping the outreach informal unless the Navajo Nation or the developer asked for county engagement.

Angela Lane, representing the county attorney’s office, advised that while the commission may form subcommittees, the planning commission is a county body; before creating a subcommittee the commission should obtain direction from county management because forming a subcommittee could be interpreted as taking a county policy position. Jess McNeely said staff would take note of the commissioners’ concern and could coordinate any appropriate staff‑level assistance and could also seek further guidance from county management.

No formal action or subcommittee was created; staff will note the discussion for county management’s consideration and may coordinate jurisdictional outreach if requested by the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise or by county leadership.