View from the Chamber President's Desk

VIEW FROM THE CHAMBER PRESIDENT’S DESK

Chamber joins City Council in Work Session

Last month the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce was invited to a work session with the Flagstaff City Council. I sat on the dias next to Mayor Coral Evans and our Chairman of the Board Brenda Hazlett. We met to discuss issues and priorities important to the Chamber on behalf of business of all sizes as well as other communitybuilding opportunities.

This was a historic event because the Chamber had never been invited to a joint work session with the City Council. The outcome was optimistic, and we are so grateful for the shared dialogue. We all learned a lot.

During our presentations, I made note of the lack of housing for workers of all industries and our desire to promote friendly rules and policies that will encourage more private developers to build up our inventory. It’s the answer to getting more residents into housing.

We also discussed the high cost of building, the length of time for permitting approval, the lengthy requirements to be approved, and comparisons of both to other communities. Tyler Mark of Wespac Construction presented specific data supporting barriers to development projects that we will discuss and review in a second work session in the future.

Brian Landauer, General Manager, Findlay Automotive brought to the podium sales leakage data representing the loss of local auto sales to other destinations. Mark Harris, Terry Marxen Chevrolet owner, also was in the audience. Vehicle sales are the largest contributors to the city’s sales tax coffer. Ways to engage the general public to buy our vehicles locally and support one of our largest industries for the benefit of the whole community

were tossed around. The Greater Flagstaff Chamber is dedicated to further discussions of the data presenting opportunities for business growth and sustainability and the barriers preventing economic growth so we can concentrate our efforts there.

Thank you for your investment in the Greater Flagstaff Chamber. You make it possible for us to educate the city council members about how the decisions they make impact the cost to do business and the cost of living for all in Flagstaff. We consider you our business partner and our job is to work on your behalf every day. It’s not always easy. It’s not always quick. But for many years, the Chamber’s voice for business has gotten broader and more impactful. We’re at the table for you. Together we can build a stronger business climate, which creates a vibrant community that we all cherish. Thank you!