July 20, 2026

MINUTES
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION HYBRID MEETING
MONDAY FLAGSTAFF AQUAPLEX
JULY 20, 2026 AND MICROSOFT TEAMS
1702 N. FOURTH STREET
4:00 P.M.
1. Call to Order
Chair Parsons called the meeting to order at 4:04 PM.
2. Roll Call
NOTE: One or more Commissioners may be in attendance through other technological means.
Chair Stephen Parsons, present Commissioner Lisa Lamberson, present (virtual)
Vice Chair Austin Kerr, present Commissioner Jill Christensen, present (virtual at
Commissioner Neil Frazier, present (virtual) 4:18 PM)
Commissioner Camille Diab, present (virtual) Commissioner Josh Stackhouse, absent
Councilmember Rep: Anthony Garcia, present
(virtual)
Staff present: Amy Hagin (PROSE Assistant Director), Tyrone Johnson (Recreation Manager),
Sarah Holditch (Events & Marketing Coordinator), Lori Reynolds (Administrative Specialist)
3. Land Acknowledgement
The Flagstaff Parks and Recreation Commission humbly acknowledges the ancestral homelands of
this area's Indigenous nations and original stewards. These lands, still inhabited by Native
descendants, border mountains sacred to Indigenous peoples. We honor them, their legacies, their
traditions, and their continued contributions. We celebrate their past, present, and future generations
who will forever know this place as home.
Read by Chair Parsons.
4. Approval of Minutes - June 15, 2026
Vice Chair Kerr moved to approve the June 15, 2026 minutes as attached. Commissioner
Lamberson seconded the motion. Motion carried.
5. Open Call to the Public
No public comments or questions were received.
6. Discussion Items
A. Upcoming Parks and Recreation Commissioner Terms
Amy Hagin displayed a summary of commissioner appointment dates and terms served to date.
She noted that Chair Parsons' eligible service concludes on August 1, 2026, and his seat will
become vacant at that time. Vice Chair Kerr's second term also expires in August; however, he is
eligible for reappointment if he chooses to serve an additional term.
Amy explained that because City Council is in recess until the end of August, appointments to fill
commission vacancies cannot be made until Council returns. Chair Parsons asked whether
commissioners whose terms expire on August 1 would continue serving until replacements are

appointed. Amy clarified that commissioners whose terms have ended are not expected to continue
serving until new appointments are made.
Commissioner Lamberson asked whether commissioner term expiration dates could be adjusted to
avoid expiring during the period when City Council is in recess. Amy responded that appointment
timelines are governed by established guidelines, but she could consult the City Clerk's Office
regarding the matter. She added that the Commission could improve its tracking of term expirations
and begin the recruitment process earlier in the future.
Commissioner Lamberson also asked whether the City seeks specific demographics or
backgrounds when appointing members to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Councilmember
Garcia explained that City Council reviews each applicant's materials and, in some cases, meets
with applicants individually. He stated that appointments are made based on the information
provided by applicants rather than to meet specific demographic targets. Commissioner Lamberson
then asked how community members learn about commission vacancies. Amy replied that
vacancies are posted on the City's website.
B. Discussion and Vote on Chair and Vice Chair
With Chair Parsons' term concluding, the Commission discussed the selection of new officers. Amy
opened the floor for discussion regarding the responsibilities and expectations of the Chair and
Vice Chair positions. Vice Chair Kerr announced that he intends to allow his final eligible term to
expire in August and will not seek reappointment, leaving his commission seat vacant.
Commissioners discussed the time commitment associated with serving as Chair and Vice Chair,
the Vice Chair's responsibilities when acting in the Chair's absence, familiarity with Robert's Rules
of Order, and the role of commission officers in the development of monthly meeting agendas.
Councilmember Garcia added that commissioners are welcome to attend various City and Parks
and Recreation-related events as representatives of the Commission, although participation is
voluntary.
Commissioner Christensen expressed interest in serving as Chair. Chair Parsons nominated
Commissioner Christensen for the position of Chair, and Commissioner Frazier seconded the
motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Diab expressed interest in serving as Vice Chair. Vice Chair Kerr nominated
Commissioner Diab for the position of Vice Chair, and Chair Parsons seconded the motion. The
motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Lamberson asked whether name badges could be provided, noting that two new
commissioners will be joining the Commission. Amy agreed that name badges would be helpful
and indicated they would work to make them available in the future.
C. 4th of July Drone Show Summary
Amy provided a recap of the City's Fourth of July Drone Show at Foxglenn Park and invited
commissioners to share their observations. Councilmember Garcia attended the event in person,
while Commissioner Diab watched the livestream and commented that, although it did not include
the synchronized music heard at the park, she thought the show was well done.
Amy reported an estimated attendance of 28,000 people. Vice Chair Kerr asked whether smoke
from a nearby wildfire affected the event. Amy explained that staff monitored air quality and visibility
leading up to the event. Although smoke conditions were unhealthy the day before, conditions
improved to moderate levels on July 4, providing sufficient visibility for the drones to operate. She
noted that the park-and-ride system was highly successful, with buses operating at or near
standing-room capacity throughout the evening.
Amy highlighted several event features, including inflatable bounce houses, face painting, a balloon
artist, a DJ, a live band, synchronized music provided by Peaks Audio, six food trucks, a medical
tent, emergency medical personnel, and handwashing stations. She noted that the primary concern

raised after the event was long wait times at the food trucks, as several vendors were unable to
attend as planned.
The drones were launched from the eastern baseball field, which was closed to the public for
safety. Following the show, attendees were transported from the park in approximately one hour, a
significant improvement over the 2025 event, when it took nearly two hours to clear vehicle traffic
from the viewing area.
Amy shared that funding has not been identified for a 2027 drone show; however, if another
organization wished to host a similar event, the could refer to the success of the 2026 event as a
model. Chair Parsons commented that the event appeared to be a worthwhile investment given the
strong community turnout.
Commissioner Diab asked about the road closures surrounding the event. Amy explained they
were implemented primarily for public safety due to the large number of pedestrians, shuttle buses,
cyclists, and vehicles moving throughout the area.
D. Review of FY25/26 Deferred Maintenance/Projects for PROSE
Amy reviewed the PROSE Division's $200,000 Deferred Maintenance Fund for fiscal year 2027.
She explained that staff maintains a prioritized list of eligible deferred maintenance and small
capital projects, generally reserving the funding to address needs as they arise throughout the
fiscal year.
Amy shared the current project list with the Commission, which includes items such as boiler
repairs at the Jay Lively Activity Center ice rink, window sealant repairs at the Aquaplex,
replacement of a Snow Rhino for the Parks Division, Aquaplex gutter repairs, and new urinals at
the Hal Jensen Recreation Center.
Commissioner Lamberson asked whether the deferred maintenance fund could be used to support
the City's bollard project. Amy explained that the bollards are a Public Works right-of-way project
and are funded through the Engineering Division's budget for the current fiscal year.
Amy noted that, although the fiscal year began on July 1, none of the deferred maintenance funds
have been expended to date.
Vice Chair Kerr asked whether unspent deferred maintenance funds may be carried forward from
year to year. Amy replied that carryforward has not always been available, but it has been
reinstated for the current fiscal year.
E. Farewell to Chair Parsons
Amy thanked Chair Parsons for his six years of service on the Parks and Recreation Commission,
noting his outstanding attendance record, having missed only one meeting during his tenure. She
expressed appreciation for his leadership, engagement, and dedication to the Commission.
Chair Parsons thanked his fellow commissioners, stating that he always sought to give each
discussion item thoughtful consideration and that it had been an honor to serve as Chair. He also
expressed his respect for the current Commission, describing its members as an excellent group to
serve alongside.
Amy also recognized Vice Chair Kerr for his service and contributions to the Commission. Vice
Chair Kerr thanked the Commission and expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to serve.
7. Reports and Updates
A. Council Representative Report, Council Representative Anthony Garcia
Councilmember Garcia provided several updates from the City.

City's bicycle recycling program is underway and that unwanted bicycles may be dropped off
at the Cinder Lake Landfill.
City Council approved the demolition of the former City Hall building. The site will be
redeveloped with a new hotel and parking garage. He explained that the building had been
unusable for many years and that restoration was not considered economically feasible. Vice
Chair Kerr asked for clarification regarding the Historic Preservation Commission's role in the
demolition approval. Councilmember Garcia explained that the Historic Preservation
Commission voted 5-0 against the demolition; however, they are continuing to work with the
project team on design standards for the new development.
Councilmember Garcia concluded by thanking Chair Parsons and Vice Chair Kerr for their service
on the Parks and Recreation Commission, noting that they have been excellent representatives of
the community throughout their tenure.
B. PROSE Monthly Newsletter - June 2026
Chair Parsons complimented the newly installed playground at McMillan Mesa.
Amy shared that staff considered ten playground design options and invited residents from the
surrounding neighborhood to vote on their preferred design. She noted that the process resulted in
strong community engagement between local residents and Parks staff. Amy also reported that the
Concerts in the Park series was affected by wildfire smoke twice during June. One concert was
cancelled due to air quality concerns, while another was successfully relocated to a different park
location.
8. Informational items to and from Commissioners and Staff
Amy reminded commissioners of the upcoming Ponderosa Park public outreach event scheduled
for Thursday afternoon (7/23/2026). She noted that the first outreach event on July 18th was cut
short due to rain, although approximately 25–30 community members attended before the weather
ended the event. Amy added that the Ponderosa Park project has a budget of approximately $1
million for park design and new amenities.
Vice Chair Kerr shared observations from a recent visit to Boise, Idaho, where he noticed reusable
dog waste bag dispensers in local parks. He suggested the concept as a potential amenity for
consideration in Flagstaff parks.
9. Agenda Items for next meeting
Potential agenda items for the August meeting:
Results of the Ponderosa Park public outreach.
A review of Parks and Recreation events held during July.
A recap of the July 25 recreation event.
Amy noted that the Heritage Square restroom update will be deferred until the September meeting,
as the project design remains under review. Amy also shared that City Council approved the
renaming of Cheshire Park to Ken Ingalls Cheshire Park during its July 9 meeting.
10. Adjournment
Chair Parsons adjourned the meeting at 5:50 PM.