Greeting Relatives/Frens/Humans,
Navajo Council has started. Innovation was done by Delegate Roscoe Smith. Delegates are now making announcements and introductions. The introductions included Golf professional Notah Begay, Chinle Middle School, Navajo Prep School, Leupp Middle School, Dine’ Community Advocacy, which successfully sponsored legislation for healthy food. The Legislation involves Junk Food Tax bill or Healthy Dine’ Navajo Nation Act
Legislative attorney Mariana Kahn finished Boston Marathon in four hours and 20 minutes.
Council now taking up LEGISLATION 0118-13: RECOMMENDING AND APPROVING THE NAVAJO NATION CHAPTERS’ INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PRIORITY PROJECTS FOR 2013 TO 2018. Since the bill was Tabled, the Council needs to recall it before them by vote.
DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
The Council was suppose to have work session and so the council needs to hear about the changes instead of saying that there is no discussion. I’ve been against this bill because no money attached to it and maybe changes involve funding. This bill deals with capital projects for the benefit of the Navajo people.
DELEGATE EDMUND YAZZIE
The sponsor of this legislation, Delegate Katherine Benally, was informed by council that communities needed input. In my area, there were 6 projects pending and they need to be given more time. So how much more can we do for our chapters?
VOTE ON RECALL OF LEGISLATION 0118-13:
16 in favor, 0 opposed
Speaker Pro Temp Bates informs Council that they need to suspend RuLE 11 D for additional debate by delegates.
DELEGATE ALTON SHEPHERD
MOTION to suspend Rule 11C
VOTE ON SUSPENSION OF RULE 11D AT 11:15 AM
12 in favor, 4 opposed
POINT OF ORDER, DELEGATE NELSON BEGAYE
the Rule is 11-D, not 11-C
DELEGATE KATHERINE BENALLY
Resources and Development Committee referred back to Ad Hoc CIP Committee and there was a new review. and if u made an amendment from floor on Capital Improvement Projects, it was reviewed.
NAVAJO DIVISION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LEONARD CHEE
We went out to 110 chapters with 0118-13 and informed them that 0118-13 is just a plan that includes all their proposed projects.
NAVAJO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS PROGRAM DIRECTOR CASEY BEGAY
The proposals are from 110 chapters. We reviewed each proposal and each proposal has chapter resolutions. Some proposals were only resolutions. When Ad Hoc Committee reviewed, scored and ranked proposals. and there were some chapters that didn’t submit proposals. And remember that Navajo Department of Justice advised CIP program and Council that the proposals/projects had to comply with Navajo law regarding CIP. And we went to chapters to ask for proposals that were recommended from Council floor. We have sign in sheets of all presentations to 110 chapters and the reservation agency meetings which are requirement of Navajo Nation Appropriations Act. and so when chapter claims that they were not informed, we have letters from Resources and Development Committee and Speaker Naize that notify chapters of these meetings. There is new information to show that second time around we solicited proposals from chapters. those chapters that didn’t meet timeline is also noted in our documents.
