Citizen Portal
Sign In

Councilwoman describes bipartisan push to repurpose juvenile facility as a healing center; bill stalled in state House

Flagstaff City Indigenous Commission · February 12, 2026

Loading...

AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Councilwoman Laurie Matthews told the Indigenous Commission that a bipartisan state bill to pay for relocating the juvenile detention center — freeing space to create a local healing center — passed appropriations but is stalled in the state House. She said a steering committee and local advisory group are forming and organizers hope to open a short-term site by year-end.

During the commission’s public-comment period on Feb. 12, Councilwoman Laurie Matthews described efforts to create a local healing center by repurposing space in the juvenile detention facility and seeking state funding to support the move.

"It got passed in appropriations last week. It seems to be stalled over at the House," Matthews said, describing the current status of companion bills in the state Senate and House. She said the House sponsor is a Democrat while the Senate sponsor is a Republican and that bipartisan backing, organizers hope, will help move the legislation to the governor’s desk after floor consideration.

Matthews said city and county officials, the county attorney and local stakeholders have formed a steering committee of business leaders and practitioners and an advisory committee of local agencies to design the center’s short- and long-term program model. She said options under consideration include leasing space at an existing guidance center or using portions of the juvenile detention facility that are no longer occupied.

Matthews said leaders are aiming to open a functioning space by the end of the year, although many details remain unresolved and the project depends on the pace of state legislative action. "We're hoping ... bipartisan support will just help, move it along up to the governor's desk, but it still has to go to the floor," she said.

Her comments were delivered during public comment; the commission noted that open-meeting rules prevent discussion or action on items raised during that portion of the agenda. Commissioners did not vote or take formal action on the proposal during the Feb. 12 meeting.