Flagstaff City advisory committee launches, sets weekly schedule and begins work toward possible 2026 ballot measure

A Flagstaff City public‑safety advisory committee held its first meeting to introduce members, confirm logistics and begin work toward advising City Council on whether to place a public‑safety funding measure on the November 2026 ballot.

Shannon Anderson, senior deputy city manager and the meeting facilitator, told the committee it will meet weekly through the near term and outlined a timeline that includes two financial‑outlook sessions, presentations from the Fire Department (including aircraft rescue and firefighting), emergency management and the Police Department, followed by survey results and deliberations. "We will be tasked with advising council on a potential ballot measure for November '26," Anderson said.

After a discussion of availability and a request that a virtual option remain available, members agreed to meet Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., beginning Wednesday, Nov. 19. Anderson said meetings will be recorded and that staff will post agendas, presentations and recordings for committee members and the public.

Committee members and city staff discussed the committee’s charter and decision rules. Anderson said appointments generally last one year (through June) and that the committee’s final recommendation to Council will require a simple majority of those present at the meeting where the vote occurs. She also said quorum for meetings was set at seven members.

Participants pressed staff on scope and representation. Rick Tanner, management services director, raised concerns about affordability in Flagstaff and asked how a bond or sales tax would affect residents. "Since we live in one of the least affordable cities in the state of Arizona, how will this play into that discussion?" he asked. Anderson said staff will include comparative data and design community outreach and a survey with consultants to reach a broad cross‑section of residents, including renters and other groups that often do not respond to surveys.

Ross Schafer, executive director of Flagstaff Shelter Services, asked how nonprofit and social‑service perspectives would be incorporated. Anderson said those partners would be invited to present and that the committee’s role is to learn from service providers, ask clarifying questions and prioritize recommendations for Council.

The committee also discussed administrative details: the chair and vice chair roles were described and selection deferred to a future meeting; staff said absent members may submit a written vote to the chair or vice chair to be read at the next meeting; and IT noted SharePoint access issues and proposed an email authenticator to ease access. Several members suggested alternative file‑sharing options and requested that a virtual option remain available for each meeting.

On a procedural exchange about transparency, a participant referenced the Arizona open meeting law and Shannon Anderson said, "This committee does not have to comply with open meeting laws," a remark that attendees accepted without further legal discussion during the session.

Next steps: the committee will meet again (Wednesdays, 3:30–5:30 p.m.) and, at the next meeting, plan to select a chair and vice chair and begin the financial‑outlook presentations that will inform later deliberations and the public survey. Staff will circulate meeting minutes, next‑meeting materials and recordings to the committee and post materials on a public page.