The Fairbanks City Council on Monday postponed a vote on an ordinance that would establish monthly reports from Native organizations in the Fairbanks community.
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - The Fairbanks City Council on Monday postponed a vote on an ordinance that would establish monthly reports from Native organizations in the Fairbanks community. Sponsored by council members Sue Sprinkle , Jerry Cleworth and Valerie Therrien, the ordinance is meant to allow for increased dialogue between city government and Native groups, including Doyon , Fairbanks Native Association , Denakkanaaga, and Tanana Chiefs Conference .
Reports would be scheduled for the second regular city council meeting of each month. According to Sprinkle, these organizations can use these reports to share what is going on in their communities and what they would like to see from the council. “I was looking for a conversation,” she said, explaining that increased communication could lead to benefits to the local economy, health care sector, and in helping some community members who experience homelessness. However, City Mayor Mindy O’Neall expressed reservations she has with the ordinance, arguing that the reports from Native groups should not be tied to a new item on the agenda. “I think that the agenda, the way that the council has it set up currently, allows for presentations to happen under mayor’s comments,” she said, adding that she offered for time during her comment period to be allocated quarterly for that purpose. The mayor also objected to the idea of requiring these groups to report at city council, saying, “I think that really opens up a big pot of the community to say, ‘Well, what about this group of our community? What about this organization or that organization?’” She questioned whether the four Native groups named in the ordinance would be the only ones allowed to report, and said terms need to be more specific when adding an item to the agenda. “I fear that by being that specific, we unintentionally close out the conversation for other organizations to participate,” O’Neall said. Sprinkle expressed openness to changing the ordinance, which she said is “still unformed, and it’s a bit like making a clay object.” O’Neall, meanwhile, showed support for increased communication between the city and local Native groups. “I’m excited that the council is having this discussion about how we strengthen relationships with the Alaska Native community, and I think that it’s worth a conversation,” she said. The issue is expected to be considered once again at the council’s January 26 regular meeting, once revisions have been made, and after a January 20 work session. Alaska’s News Source reached out to Tanana Chiefs Conference, Doyon and Fairbanks Native Association for comment on the ordinance but have not received any as of publication.Detective solves 1973 cold case involving 16-year-old who vanished while walking with friendsThe death of an elephant in Kenya has ripples felt all the way to Alaska
O'neall Sprinkle Fairbanks City Council Mayor Ordinance Tanana Chiefs Conference Doyon Fairbanks Native Association
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