SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie Maddock
Sedona AZ (February 25, 2015) – As a concerned citizen I exercised my right to send an e-mail to the Sedona City Council members explaining my concerns about the following agenda item on the City Council meeting held Tuesday, February 24, 2015:
AB 1896 Presentation/discussion/possible direction regarding the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau (SCoc&TB) tourism promotion efforts during the first six months of the new contractual agreement between the City and the SCoC&TB, and an analysis by City staff of sales tax generation between visitor and resident spending.
——-Original Message——-
From: Eddie Maddock
Date: 2/23/2015 1:32:16 PM
To: SMoriarty@sedonaaz.gov; mdinunzio@sedonaaz.gov; John Martinez; Jon Thompson; ALefevre@sedonaaz.gov; SJablow@sedonaaz.gov; Jessica Williamson
Cc: Karen Daines; Audree Juhlin
Subject: RETURN ON BED TAX
TO: Sedona Mayor and Members of the City Council
This is simply to present another side of the coin. As you are all aware, Sedona has many problems to be resolved that would much better serve the lodging council and community in general as an alternative to contracting for Destination Marketing.
For example, the traffic in Sedona the past few weekends has been horrific. Gridlock, to be specific. If those funds were used to purchase property for parking, relocate to an official Sedona Visitor’s Center in West Sedona, or use even if only as a temporary measure to establish parking at the Brewer Road Property . . . all would serve the community, tourists, and economy in general if for no other reason than people would be interested in return visits to Sedona.
Mr. Segner fails to acknowledge that national economy has been on an upswing, gasoline prices, although slightly on the rise again, have been at an all time low, the Super Bowl in Arizona drew in thousands of tourists, severe inclimate weather on the east coast versus seasonally mild in our own area during this time of year . . . how can these plausible reasons not have accounted for an undetermined upswing in tax revenue? Also, has payment of past delinquent taxes been accounted for?
The professional recently hired by the City to advise on economic development said, in his own words, that Chamber of Commerce companionship with city/towns should be exclusively to benefit and promote members and economy within the area providing the taxes. You are well aware that your current policy is in breach of that premise.
Please, revise your thinking and unchain yourself from a bad situation that remains unproven for doing much of anything except causing community bad blood and possibly increasing membership to a Chamber of Commerce representing the region or even businesses in other states besides Arizona
Respectfully,
Eddie S. Maddock
Sedona Registered Voter
Sedona AZ
Dear Sedona Lodging Council:
PLEASE ATTEND: The Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau will be presenting our mid-term report to City Council on Tuesday, February 24th at 4:30pm. Be there! (Sorry, I am out of town that night and won’t be in attendance.)
MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Next meeting March 10th at 8:30am at Sound Bites. Agenda coming soon.
Also, we are working up a Letter to the Editor to send to the media/press in support of the Bed Tax renewal coming up. Here’s our draft:
Dear City Council
This letter is in support of the Bed Tax and use of funds by the City and Chamber of Commerce.
The City of Sedona recently reported that during the month of December 2014, total bed and sales taxes collected rose 24.2% over the same month of the previous year. Given that the hotels in Sedona have experienced unprecedented growth in the last 6 months of the year despite the canyon fires in late May and June and the closures at Oak Creek. January and February of this year will also be way ahead of the last year. This is all due in no small part to the City and Chamber’s off-season advertising campaign being a great success.
Karen Daines, the Assistant City Manager, was recently quoted as saying, “Technically we added some general fund dollars last year to cover the loss of the bed tax to the general fund, but moving forward we are considering that the entire amount comes from the bed tax.”
That means only bed tax revenues are going back into advertising and supporting the visitor’s center, going to where they are originally intended-to serve and promote the active and thriving economies development spurred by Sedona Lodging Council Members and Sedona Chamber of Commerce.
Steve Segner,
President
Sedona Lodging Council
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Much to my surprise, a gentleman by the name of Pete Sanders, a resident of Oak Creek Canyon, spoke before the Council and made reference to “a letter” which very much indicated it was the e-mail I had sent to the City Council. He made adamant objections, especially to my suggestion that Sedona considers their own Visitors Center, the same as Flagstaff, Prescott, Cottonwood and other municipalities. Clearly it appeared Mr. Sanders had been furnished my communication with the City Council and because I had not received even one reply from a member of the City Council, I sent the following e-mail to City Manager Karen Daines and Community Development Director Audree Juhlin who had been cc’d with my e-mail to the Council:
——-Original Message——-
From: Eddie Maddock
Date: 2/25/2015 11:27:43 AM
To: Karen Daines; Audree Juhlin
Subject: THANK YOU SO MUCH
Hi Karen & Audree:
This is sent to both of you not only as Sedona city staff members but also because the two of you in the past have always expressed support in my efforts to disseminate factual information.
Realizing that all written material going to City Hall is immediately public information, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise when almost point by point, word for word, most (if not all) of the contents of my e-mail to City Council, cc’d to you, was ripped to shreds by denial and really, at times, very lame justification for why it shouldn’t have been applicable.
Of course, maybe that’s part of your job, to make council members look good (or bad as the case may be).
However, the resident of Oak Creek Canyon who blatantly trashed “the person’s letter that suggested a real Sedona City Visitor Center” was about one of the lowest points of any city council meeting I’ve observed since the days of incorporation.
To think he was blatant enough to further suggest that if the city were to provide their own “real” legitimate visitor center he would be denied representation as a business owner because he wasn’t eligible to vote in Sedona elections. Really? At some point it would have been refreshing (if for no other reason than to be polite) to remind him that of course as long as he remained a member of the regional chamber of commerce he would be appropriately represented as a member of that special interest group, for they would not close their doors if the city were to open another visitor information center, strategically located at the other end of town, which would also assist in alleviating uptown traffic congestion. And it would serve well as representation to the “Western Gateway” into our incorporated city, in compliance with the newly revised Community Plan.
Further (and I don’t believe he made mention of where his business is located) but if it is within city limits then surely he must have a business license and as such would, indeed, have representation in the obviously obsolete notion for the City of Sedona to ever have their own legitimate visitor center.
Lingering questions: Why did Sedona incorporate in the first place and why is it that State Statutes continue to be ignored? Why the determination to discriminate against city limit businesses in favor of those who do not collect city taxes? Why ignore the advice from your professional speaking on economic development when he clearly defined the responsibility of a chamber of commerce as being to first represent their own members, but most assuredly if partnered with a city or town, specifically those that collect taxes within the designated area?
Mortified, disgusted, and very much aware of the extent and determination of the bullying beasties hell bent to allow this city to be controlled by a “regional” chamber of commerce is putting it mildly. Sedona most assuredly did not incorporate for that purpose and, of all people, Sandy Moriarity should be aware of it.
By all means, feel free to share this with Jennifer, Steve, and the gang to make their “day after” as much fun as they had at the meeting. You can all take pleasure in knowing your strategy worked, at least to some degree. But as the saying goes, “It ain’t over til the fat lady sings” and one day, when you least expect it and probably after I’m long gone, it will happen. It’s called “karma.”
Sincerely,
Eddie
* * * * * * * * * * *
City Manager Karen Daines notified me with reassurance that neither she nor Audree Juhlin had shared my e-mail with anyone because to their knowledge they had not received the copy I had sent. Therefore, I resent the City Council e-mail to them with the following message:
——-Original Message——-
From: Eddie Maddock
Date: 2/25/2015 7:03:04 PM
To: Karen Daines
Cc: Audree Juhlin
Subject: Fw: RETURN ON BED TAX
Hi Karen:
This is the letter to which I referred in my previous e-mail to you and Audree. I’m surprised you didn’t receive it because I cc’d both of you. Maybe this will clarify the other e-mail I sent.
Thank you for your response and I want you to know that always I’ve respected the two of you for your intelligence, integrity, and patience to serve different members of an ever-changing city council. Of course that’s over and above your cooperation to deal with my many pesky questions of which you have cooperated to make my life easier.
Clearly this e-mail was circulated by one of the Council Members, and from the comments I inadvertently heard when the microphone was mistakenly turned on at today’s council meeting, it could have been any one of them. (subject of another e-mail I cc’d both of you I do believe)
Under no circumstances is it my intention to accuse or blame you for anything. All I seek are answers to questions and more often than not lately that seems to be mission impossible.
My respect and admiration for both of you remains at maximum and good luck with serving as Interim City Manager. A job I do not envy.
Sincerely,
Eddie
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Now for the kicker – grand finale of this most recent series of e-mails, the one to which I made reference in my communication to Karen Daines:
——-Original Message——-
From: Eddie Maddock
Date: 2/25/2015 3:44:17 PM
To: John Martinez
Cc: Jon Thompson; ALefevre@sedonaaz.gov; SJablow@sedonaaz.gov; Karen Daines; Audree Juhlin; Sedona Sweet Arts; Mike Goimarac
Subject: FYI
February 25, 2015
3:30 PM
Hi John:
When I tuned into Channel 4 to view this afternoon’s city council workshop, apparently you weren’t aware the microphones were turned on prior to when the meeting began.
It was really disappointing and shocking to me, John, to hear you say something to the affect you all must do something about “Eddie Maddock and Donna Joy.” Although muffled, it appeared others were in agreement.
Just what exactly gives you cause to make such an accusation? And to think the State of Arizona was in pursuit of changing the Open Meeting Law? Obviously there’s no need in Sedona since apparently it doesn’t exist.
For your further information and I speak only for myself, I’m an independent agent and work alone. However and apparently unlike others, I do try very hard to keep an open mind and maintain some semblance of understanding, compassion, and respect for views different from my own.
Another curious discussion was under way about just who all was going to ride someplace together tomorrow?
Not that it matters, but maybe it’s time for all of you to look in the mirror and be pointing your fingers in a different direction. Passing judgment and making accusations without merit can be a dangerous game, although it appears likely that more and more at least a few are heading in that direction.
Wow! Forgive me for feeling sick to my stomach.
Hope you reach a consensus about how to deal with the two “alleged” Sedona evil-doers.
Better yet, I hope you never have anything worse to deal with the rest of your lives.
Regretfully,
Eddie S. Maddock
Sedona Resident since March 31, 1977
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The above e-mail was sent with a request for a receipt, as I did with the fourteen e-mails I sent to Arizona State Senators. Seven of them acknowledged receipt of my e-mail. So far the only reply I’ve had is from Jon Thompson:
“Eddie,
This was very upsetting to read. I can only hope there is a logical explanation for what you heard that leads to a different, benign conclusion. But in any case I want you to know that I certainly did not hear anything said about you or Donna at that time and would not have participated in or condoned any such discussion.
JT”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
A
nd so you have it, another few thousand words about the ongoing saga of the mystery of how a little town of 10,000, more or less, has ended up with such complicated government and the unanswered question of the determination to allow it to be ruled at the whim of a regional Chamber of Commerce under the direction of a Lodging Council?
One might wonder if a deal had been cut prior to the approval of the increased bed tax?
Oh, and for the record, two Council Members will drive themselves and the remaining five will be riding together to the Intergovernmental Meeting in Clarkdale late Thursday afternoon.
A quorum?
Arizona Open Meeting Law, where art thou?
For the best Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!
@Get Real
SO WHAT?????
Don’t you get tired of posting the same stuff over and over again. I’m guessing that you’re mad at Segner because he has a rack display at the “Regional” CoC and you’re to stubborn to pay the $200 bucks. Get a life DJV
It’s sort of like you having to pay to have your own bridal event because no one in the REAL event wanted you.
Good try Mr. Segner – to attempt to sway people away from the Real facts you don’t want to deal with. It only takes a few minutes to drive through town and count the vast number of commercial vacancies – so take your # of 106 or 103 applications for city business permits – which is just meaningless, as explained above, and then take your concept of ” Allies to Apples” and now what are we left with? Eazzzy question is – why, with your theory – are there any commercial vacancies?
Most definitely – IF your concept could hold water…even a tinkle of water in a thimble – then there would be no vacancies within our city limits! But, alas and alack – that isn’t the reality Steve. So how do you explain it?
For you to throw out that every want-to-be-successful-business-owner in Sedona has to spend thousands (or hundreds of thousands) is meaningless and just a given! A good and rational business plan with sufficient bankroll is the business who will succeed.
Oh, is Your business plan so solid as a result of you holding weddings on the property you own and live in up the Canyon…..so you save on City taxes? Guess you’ll need to raise your rate “up there” because Coconino County just raised the sales tax rate to pay for their road we don’t use?
Now, now folks, let’s not pick on poor old Steve Segner as He is but a peon for those who would have Him do their duty work (remember the election). Since He’s going to slam Me anyway I’ll continue, Not being very good as a peon He gets completely flustered when people like Eddie, Jean, Norma, etc. make logical statements and facts and that’s when He starts making all kinds of mistakes. Yes, like misspelling and double ‘Submit’, etc.. He can’t help it as He has a lot of those who He looks up to on His back and it makes Him nervous.
Back to the Article here, as gentle as Eddie’s email was to Council as a resident, it just goes to show They don’t want to hear from any of Us, and this is most apparent when the statement from John Martinez was made. I’ve personally heard the same type of thing from others on the Council about Eddie & Jean, which leads Me to believe these two are making Them nervous. Why? Because people are starting to listen. I don’t write much and others don’t write at all but we’re reading and listening. I certainly hope that nothing would ever happen to Them as there sure would be an uprising from the silent majority.
Actually the beginning, the break and the end of the City Council meetings are of the most interest to Me because some how they just forget that they can still be recorded. I used to love listening when Sandy would run up to Jessica during these times, and hearing what They had to say. Shame on You Girls!!
Speaking of Traffic, who else picked up on Ms. (Chamber of Commerce) Jennifer’s statement during the last Council meeting “The traffic was bad when I moved here in 198?, it’s bad today, and it will be bad tomorrow…”, or something like that. She’s So out of touch.
Well I guess I got all that out of My system, and in closing, “Steve put away Your big ego and see how You are being used”.
@same old, same old = Check your own facts. The initial date of the Sedona Bridal Fair (Domestic Begin date) = 8/1/2008. The Registered Date = 10/22/2010.
Just exactly what date did the alleged “real” event to which you refer (Bridal Boot Camp?) have their opening at the VOC Hilton. (also avoiding Secona city permits, collection of sales and bed tax for those guest who stayed out there.)
You should appropriately have identified yourself as “Shame, Shame” IMO.
But thank you for the exemplary example of the fine job the Chamber of Commerce is doing to promote non-city tax collecting events at the expense of Sedona City Limit businesses. Great Job!
For proving the point that businesses in Sedona City Limits that collect bed and sales tax are being punished by the “regional” Chamber and the City Council and City Staff because they must not only collect those required taxes but in addition are required to purchase a city permit for special events, obtain a city business license and be a member of the “regional” C of C:
“Don’t you get tired of posting the same stuff over and over again. I’m guessing that you’re mad at Segner because he has a rack display at the “Regional” CoC and you’re to stubborn to pay the $200 bucks”
– the $200 bucks, of course, referring to the imposed Chamber membership black mail charge for representation in the city financed Chamber Visitor Center.
How about a little fairness here? At least City Business Licenses required for ALL C of C members in order to have a rack display at the City funded C of C Regional Visitor Center?
Sharlett being true to form writes one post and then 3 others using anonymous names to support her original post..
Very self serving and narsacitic of you Sharlett.
Keep up the busy work Sharlett..
Much easier to vent your anger behind a computor then to actually do something positive like join a citizen engagement committee.. Go get em girl I enjoy watching you spin your wheels as your anger spews..
I see little has changed in good ole’ Sedona. After you get a little tired of the hiking trails and looking at the red rocks, you start complaining about everything and spewing hatred wherever and whenever you can, yet you still call Sedona home.
@Matt: Good point. The biggest problem, however, is the difficulty getting through traffic, ATV’s, mountain bikes, and mobs of people to even find the trails!
It’s even becoming impossible to enjoy a quiet time in our homes with all the looky-loos snooping through our neighborhoods and throwing out trash along the way. We welcome visitors but they seem to leave their consideration for others back wherever (unless they had none to begin with).
And that’s the truth!
planes & dirty campers & hikers (deleted by editor) ruining our red rock lives, how many times hiking now do you get attacked by flies? meaning? someone left a pile & during film festival I saw 2 skanks holding a sign begging at Tlaq – expensive but dirty equipment & name brand shoes & one had filthy cornrolls that cost more than a L’Auberge dinner – druggies we don’t want you in this town – keep moving losers & put your energy begging to getting a job, nothing wrong with those psyches or health -it’s easier to beg off of old patsy’s than earn your drug money, and you stupid idiots out there feeling sorry for them, NO they don’t need help, they know they’re USING YOU & know you’re stupid to give them money. like the guy said on tv news, why should i get off the street because people like you give me something free every day.
With all due respect @Matt it seems the only ones spewing “hate” are the ones that persist in attacking those who just want to maintain a peaceful quality of life. Of course, the situation with allowing the chamber of commerce to control the city is out of hand and there’s nothing to do about it. However, the “hate” displayed by this city council, to make retired people the number one thorn in their backsides, just how are we supposed to react? Seems to me that snub alone should generate “hate” but really it doesn’t happen. Maybe our up-bringing was just a step above some of the really low-class comments coming from those that introduced the word “hate” to this web site to begin with.
Have a wonderful day. Enjoy the beauty of the red rocks with a smile on your face. As a “Hated Retiree” that’s what I intend to do.
What I love the the people writing under anonymous names accusing people of writing under anonymous names. Hypocrites? City workers or their relatives? But I repeat myself.
Having lived here over 20 years, from when there was only one traffic light in town, the traffic has become nearly unbearable on weekends.
I pay $54 over a month for sewer, when I had a excellent septic system that was free. Now the city wants to pump the waste water BACK INTO THE AQUIFER.
I’d move, but my house has dropped nearly 50% over the past 10 years. I’m sure the city and lower quality of life for residents has nothing to do with it.
The roads in my subdivision are crumbling, but we really need to give more money to the chamber of commerce and more tourists. A million is a lot of money for capital improvements according to the acting city manager, but nothing to give to the chamber.
In my opinion Sedona has gone from a great place to live to a tourist trap.
Welcome to Sedona.
Our group visited Sedona from around the Chicago area several months ago and we loved the views. The heat is hard on visitors of all ages (the young ones wanted to stay in and play video games) but nighttime was Shangrala with no noise and no traffic and good weather. I hope your town doesn’t change to become tourist centered. We like the fact it felt like a home and not Carnivale as your guests. Thank you Sedona AZ.
Back in the day the kids at NAU referred to Sedona as “The Holding Tank to Heaven.” Now it seems for those of us who longed for the time we could retire here, for the dubious honor(?) of being considered as number one source of irritation to those elected to serve us – well, more appropriate for NAU kids to update their motto (if they already haven’t) to “Sedona, The Holding Tank to Hell.” At least we’ll be well prepared!
You gave us a laugh in Uptown old timer.
@M.Dolores Gonzales, Lucky you visited when you did. Among the list of reasons for Sedona to incorporate was to control signs and for years Keep Sedona Beautiful did a really good job to maintain that policy. Now a committee has formed to push for more signs and “BANNERS” across the roads to further mucky up the views of the red rocks. Maybe the two State Highways will not allow it. Let us hope that’s still one good thing in our favor.
So you see, “El Carnivale” is the direction Sedona is headed, the exact opposite of why it incorporated in the first place. Maybe a more appropriate description would be “Zoo with Uncaged Animals.” Go figure. And I can hardly wait for the lovers of the hate word to attack this as hate seems like pertinent and significant language to accompany the low-class direction of the hour (IMO and no others.)
Go for it!
PS: @Old Timer & Deb – I’m still laughing.
Since comments are sort of trending to the lighter side, here’s something that caused me to turn my head and rotate my eyeballs.
At a Special Council Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 3/11/15, 3:00 PM, included in the stunning agenda lineup, at the request of Mayor Sandy Moriarty and Councilwoman Jessica Williamson, is the following :
“AB 1918 Discussion/possible action regarding the replacing the “Moment of Silence” at the beginning of the City Council regular meetings with a ‘Moment of Art’. ”
God Bless ’em! Their brains definitely must be on over-time.
Who are you friggin kidding? A moment of ART? Art who – Garfinkel, Linkletter, Dodger, Noir?
Silence is Golden. That’s why the moment. Shut up you Council fools.
WTF let’s remember that before and after council meeting’s are not art and will never be art and you on the council aren’t artists even in an artistic expression, a prime requirement of art. Williamson & Moriarty & LeFevre how about you put on swastikas and go back in time. You people are so full of crap that it constantly amazes.
Calm down, Morty. You expected more?
3/06/15 = Phoenix Channel 10 News = 5:25 PM
Reports onset of Spring Breaks. Top choice for Destination = Las Vegas – followed by various beach resorts (too many to mention). Icing on Cake: New York! Yep, New York = in spite of one of the worst weather records in history. Report specified “New York hotel occupancy up 7%.”
Let’s face it. That Sedona Regional Chamber of Commerce is doing one helluva job!
@West sedona resident. You give me such good laughs as I realize how very narrow minded and predictable you really are! As hard as you try – You surely are not a psychic, by any means.
I don’t have enough time in the day to do more than write one responding post to you or others – so your concept that I do 3 or more posts “using anonymous names to support her original post” is not only laughable, but just nuts!
Wish I could acknowledge your accusations and words as factual – but the reality is you are just incorrect. Don’t understand why you can’t come to grips with the simple fact that there actually ARE Real living/breathing/smart people who feel like I do and or have their own opinions – which you simply disagree with.
Tired of your non-psychic wild ass guesses.
Either acknowledge that we All have a right to our beliefs (including you) without being angrily attacked or just shut the hell up!
Facts will, ultimately, always supersede yours and Steve Segner’s Gorilla concepts/tactics of if I write it – it Will become truth. (in case you missed it? Segner now acknowledges he owns 3 houses in Sedona – while he never states where he stays or says which house and what pillow he puts his head on) and by ARS he can vote in our city..elections? !!!
There are many well thought out and accurate posts on this site – too bad yours and Segner’s aren’t any of them.
@Breaking News I’m glad to see you’ve opened your eyes since the hotels have been almost to capacity. Business is booming since Segner and his peeps started their thing.
@Cannot resist & Mort. So glad for these new council people they realize that they shouldn’t be mixing Church and State. So instead of a moment of prayer, the audience can admire the great art in the place. I love when people think out side the box. I’m glad to see that my vote not only counted but my candidates are kicking ass.
Title of column: “A Good Time Was Had by All.”
Something to think about: Since this article specifically refers to e-mails the city council didn’t reply to, and then the great time they had at the council meeting giving praise to the chamber of commerce for what remains a questionably superb job at marketing presumably Sedona (but without doubt themselves) and return on city’s investment, maybe too many people commenting here are having way too much fun as well.
More to think about: If that’s the case, that maybe some dreaded retirees and flatlanders are actually enjoying some pleasure and having a laugh or two, might that might be cause for them (the council) to be more prudent at responding to citizens’ e-mails in the future?
Oh, oh – forget it. It slipped my mind. They don’t read Sedona Eye.
@ Sharlet/julianna
Hey Sharlett/Julianna been seeing your hate fueled rants on this site for years now… Same old nonsense, same old, same old.. Why not take your own advice and “shut the hell up”.. Your boring and stale…
Like I said before if you hate this town so much either leave or get out from behind your computor, OR get off your ass and actually do something..
BTW if you leave you won’t be missed since you contribute nothing but nonsense…Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out
Only members of the Sedona City Council can say with any certainty whether or not they read Sedona Eye.
However, someone called to my attention three letters to the Editor of the Sedona Red Rock News, 2/06/15 edition, reflecting that they, too, most assuredly didn’t appreciate the Council’s criticism and berating of retirees and Sedona citizens in general.
Again, only City Council members can confirm or deny if they read those letters or what publications they, in fact, do read if any.
Now it’s time. I shall weigh in on this Council mockery of free thought and its and others pseudo-constitutional statements. Others, lawyers and scholars, please weigh in as well. To allow seven random citizens to disengage our democracy is ludicrous; you are not a quorum for such.
Damn it all, for the life of me I’ve come to appreciate this site for Sedona. I admit to occasionally kicking its tires in public conversation, but what did we do before it was available to air out the collusion and the insanity of us? Hats off to its Wizard.
Avoid mixing church and state? Now that’s what the Council won’t be doing with an attempt to be cutting edge with a Moment of Art versus a Moment of Silence. What is cutting edge is a Moment of Silence, a moment of appreciation of the Individual, not the Collective.
Council, here’s food for thought.
Why not have a Moment of Pork? Let all the restaurants bring their best pork tapas and for one minute everybody on Council do sniff tests? How about a Moment of Rocks? Everybody gets to bring their favorite red rock and for a minute Council can hold them? Both are same thing as a Moment of Art.
Self-loathing isn’t a new phenomenon, Sandy and Jessica and others of that ilk on the Council. Stop trying to inflict your personal inadequacies and philosophies on the rest of us. Time to grow up, girls, offload the 1940s-50s-60s group-think, and strap some civic responsibility on.
@Oh Really>>>Huh? “Business is booming since Segner and his peeps started their thing.” By increasing hotel occupancy in New York?
The TV newscast mentioned by Breaking News didn’t even include Sedona AZ among the top destination places for spring breakers. What it does confirm is that obviously national economy is on the rise and that is certainly not due to the efforts of Steve Segner, his peeps, or the Sedona Chamber of Commerce. If that were the case Sedona would have headed the list of destination places for spring breakers.
Thank you, however, for another fine example of just how this Chamber of Commerce and Lodging Council attempt to spin stories to their advantage.
Great job Steve Segner and your peeps. Increasing hotel occupancy in New York during major winter storms? (according to Oh Really) Right! Too much Kool-Aid? Or maybe excessive trips to the Bloom Dispensary on Jordan Road?
Wow! Thank you Paul, Sedona. Clear thinking prevails in your evaluation. I, too, was trying to relate the connection of the existing “Moment of Silence” with separation of Church and State. Your parallels succinctly did the job many of us agree with but lack the ability to state. Bravo.
Who the hell would want to come here for spring break? What are you kidding me..Then they would have to deal with us hostile locals who hate tourists and and complain about traffic when they arrive..
It gets even better or worse as the case may be. The other two items on the agenda for the “Special Council Meeting” on 3/11 are:
AB 1925 Discussion/possible action regarding the possibility of changing the vision statement played at the beginning of City Council meetings to match the vision statement from the updated Community Plan.
and
AB 1926 Discussion/possible direction regarding the possibility of modification of City Council rules of procedure and/or other Council meeting protocols.
Now of course it’s understandable that maybe the Community Plan Vision Statement should be updated. But isn’t it a shame it wasn’t done prior to the departure of Nick Gioello, the magnificent voice behind the Vision Statement presently shown at the beginning of every city council meeting. Chances of topping Nick’s presentation are slim to none at best. But of course. The infinite wisdom and visionary abilities of this City Council have the arrogance to actually think they can.
Modification of City Council rules of procedure and/or other Council meeting protocols? Once again isn’t it amazing how after only two months seated in their chairs these brilliant minds have so quickly found fault with everything that’s been done in the past?
Do you suppose their new rules will eliminate the Public Forum and other opportunities for public comment? No big loss, really, if that happens since we already are well aware they do NOT want to hear from anyone other than the “gang” from the Chamber.
Perhaps even more amazing is they deemed these three items worthy of calling for a SPECIAL MEETING?
SAY WHAT? Says:
March 7, 2015 at 10:03 am
@Oh Really>>>Huh? “Business is booming since Segner and his peeps started their thing.” By increasing hotel occupancy in New York?
The TV newscast mentioned by Breaking News didn’t even include Sedona AZ among the top destination places.
Steve Says:
Really you want collage kids in Sedona on spring break? Sorry we could not handle the business most hotels are full, and we never advertise for new business in the spring…. just off season… hope that answer your question
Oh, perhaps you missed this In the Red rock news last month
Trivago site ranks Sedona No. 1
Written by Ron Eland
February 5th, 2015
The city of Sedona was ranked first in an online travel magazine.+
Last week, the travel search site trivago.com released its list of best-ranked cities for quality hotels with Sedona coming out on top.
Trivago spokeswoman Samantha Fanelli said the site used millions of online guest reviews while analyzing hotels across the country to determine the 50 cities with the highest quality accommodation in the nation.
New York City did not Win,,, Sedona did.
Another win for the chamber.
Nice response, Mr. Segner. Guess you gave those college kids the what-for and let them know that same as retirees they or their apparently tainted money are not welcome in Sedona Arizona.
What does surprise me, though, is that an opportunity to attract younger people isn’t appealing as it seems reading comments that is what the City Council there is seeking. Apparently there’s just no pleasing some Sedona people?
Judging from your style of writing maybe you should consider taking some remedial college English classes yourself before your halo becomes too much of a burden and weighs you down.
Thanks to your frequent and next to illiterate rants Sedona is the last place I and my friends (and family) want to visit – spring break or not. Much obliged for your input and do yourself a favor – don’t frown upon word-of-mouth as being effective advertising.
Reviews on websites are based on the performance of the hotel not a chamber unless I missed something. Does the chamber clean the rooms and wait on the guests for every hotel in the region of Sedona?
The win is for the workers and the hotel.
@jack how right & unless somebody’s a Verified Guest don’t bother paying attention to comments, competitors love trashing each other & friends love stacking sites. Trivago? The site pushing national tv ads? Might want to stick with TripAdvisor or local bulletin boards.
We now know where the Sedona jokes originate. Every time a Beam Me Up Scotty Lander comes to town, we watch to make sure they get back to their parked space ships okay and get out of town by sundown. Keep your moment of art and we’ll keep our moment of silence when we want to say something about you when you come around..
We, too, are college students, soon to graduate. Because our parents wintered in Phoenix, Arizona (snow-birds? if that’s the correct term) this past winter we had occasion to attend the Sedona Bridal Fair at the Poco Diablo Resort in January. You see, we (Angie & Bob) plan to wed shortly after completing our college education.
We have been busy learning what we can about Sedona since it was high on our list of choices for a wedding. And now Mr. Steve Segner has been most helpful in assisting us in selecting a location for our special event.
We have decided it will be in Boston or New York, someplace near Niagara Falls, a well known location for newlyweds to spend time. We feel offended by his slanted and disparaging remarks against our Toronto neighbors in the U.S.A. and do not want to travel to a place your words have made us feel unwelcome.
Mr. Segner, even though you seem to be a cross and angry man, you have done us a favor. It would have been horrible for us to have made costly wedding plans in an area that treats not only their retirees so poorly but also looks down upon college students.
Thank you.
@Steve Segner: Are you for real when you talk about spring vac and legit people coming here for a wedding? Get a Grip buddy and go soak in a spa somewhere and come out with a brain!
Heard a really refreshing concept on a major news feed coming out of Phx: The Valley (perhaps just Glendale?) is now in the process of pulling together all the costs of the Super Bowl = Expenses vs Income = Net Income.
What a novel concept and one that – perhaps? – our Regional Chamber and City Council can replicate to for all the grandiose Xmas events?
Then I read the comments above and realized YOU, Mr Segner, are not a team player and instead scare business away….read on.
This was written by a young couple wanting to be married in Sedona: “ANGIE & BOB, Toronto, Ontario, Canada” We have decided it will be in Boston or New York, someplace near Niagara Falls, a well known location for newlyweds to spend time. We feel offended by his slanted and disparaging remarks against our Toronto neighbors in the U.S.A. and do not want to travel to a place your words have made us feel unwelcome.
Just have to thank you Mr. Segner for throwing this Bridal businesses out of Sedona based upon your screwing of facts- opps unilateral misrepresentation of facts!
Your gorilla tactics just lost us business – You happy now? to continue “Mr. Segner, even though you seem to be a cross and angry man, you have done us a favor…. as your true colors just shine…..IMO You are only about YOU and enough said! To finish off my thoughts of you: YOU are definitely NOT the Oracle of wisdom or expertise or knowledge….just a guy trying to use everything at your disposal, regardless of who pays for advertising etc…. to Save your business.
So, bottom line is YOU do us, our business community and or lodging community, no good! suggest you try to figure out how to just answer certain questions and then resign from the lodging council and stay within your very little world.
Mr Segner’s and the chamber’s small town tactics and politics are embedded in the system. Most of the businesses operate with Managers. Those managing our lodging businesses were never given a vote on the bed tax. Segner & Wesselholf decided that. They take credit for all contributions by all businesses.
Business owners look at your numbers does the chamber really bring you a return on your investment? Are you too scared to stand up? How much more do you have to contribute to the chamber every year? Why would you share YOUR bed tax with the region? Is your business that great? It doesn’t belong to the lodging or chamber.
To the business managers, the owners count on you, speak up and manage the business you were hired to do. To the Lodging industry are you okay with giving up your vote and voice? How about giving up your choices in marketing investment?
Mr. Segner complained on this site about a $79 a week ad. It only requires a modicum of common sense to see. It’s not going away. City businesses can fix it by speaking up. It is your choice.
Dear Verde Valley businesses, Chamber of Commerce, NFIB and community leaders,
Just imagine what your support of the Adopt-A-Highway groups could do to improve the image and economy of Northern Arizona and Arizona.
It would be nice to see some stories about those mentioned showing how they support those that keep our highways clean.
The following letter/memo was recently sent to the mayors of Jerome, Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Sedona and Camp Verde.
It also would be nice to see some comments from theses mayors and those of you that have contacted these mayor regarding economic issues effecting our region. We all need to have our words followed by actions.
For those that don’t know, “America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs” empowering our nation’s youth is receiving national attention and has been recognized by the Arizona House of Representative and Andy Tobin, US Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick (D), US Congressman Paul Gosar.
Our effort has been featured in many local and out of state newspapers, radio shows and television broadcasts.
“Many hands with one goal!”
Gary Chamberlain
“America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs”
Empowering our nation’s youth
FolksvilleUSA@gmail.com
(928) 202-1186
March 4, 2015
Letter to all Verde Valley mayors on the topic of “Team Sports’
Dear Verde Valley mayors,
“Many hands with one goal yields results, just like team sports.” As mayors, you have the opportunity to do and participate in an effort of significance. Can any of you indicate another example where multiple mayors have come together, to promote the many benefits of an empowered community on the topic of “anti-highway litter efforts” that includes their entire community? Will the mayors of Jerome, Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Sedona and Camp Verde recognize and honor their local Adopt-A-Highway groups and implement the following four opportunities?
Over the years and for the past several months, we have been working with Sedona Mayor Rob Adams (now retired) and the current mayors of Camp Verde Mayor Charlie German and Sedona Mayor Sandy Moriarty in an effort to unite all of the mayors of the Valley for the purposes of:
1) Uniting the communities of the Verde Valley four times per year to promote and participate in four repeating litter events on the third Saturday of February, May, August and November. This effort could result in attracting visitor and participants to see what happens when communities and residents work together. We previously promoted one of these events and Keep Sedona Beautiful (KSB) partnered with us. This effort resulted in over 300 participants and 404 bags of trash being picked up in one day. This event was covered and reported by the Camp Verde Bugle, SedonaEyE.com and Verde Independent.
2) Inviting all of the ADOT Adopt-A-Highway groups in the area to their town-city council meetings at the end of each year and thanking these Adopt-A-Highway groups and providing them with a certificate for their individual group efforts based on ADOT’s Adopt-A-Highway “Activity Reports”. The “Activity Reports” will be the basis for their cleanup frequency and certificate (Gold 4X, Silver 3X, Bronze 2X and Lead 1X) per year. ADOT Risk Management will provide these reports to our local mayors or anyone requesting them and all you have to do is define the MP (mile post) numbers for the groups you wish to recognize.
3) Suggesting that local businesses encourage their local youth groups to use the “America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs” opportunity to earn their funding needs or perform a community service requirement. These youth groups, of legal age, will work directly with the local ADOT Adopt-A-Highway group and under their supervision to earn their funding or perform their community service as the Cottonwood Boys & Girls Club, Cottonwood LDS Boy Scout Troop, American Heritage Academy, Verde Valley School and Sedona AZ Footy Soccer have dine. Two of these groups have earned approximately $2,000 per year by picking up litter four times per year.
4) Encouraging the members of all Verde Valley town councils to either participate in one or all of the scheduled ADOT Adopt-A-Highway events and/or adopt one of the one-mile ADOT Adopt-A-highway sections as is being done by the town council of Camp Verde. Lead from the front!
Mayors, please let us know if you are willing to honor our local ADOT Adopt-A-Highway groups. Thank you Mayor Moriarty for your recent request for information about what the City of Sedona and your office may do to improve the image and economy of the Verde Valley and Arizona.
Gary Chamberlain
“America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs”
Empowering our nation’s youth
Cornville, AZ
(928) 202-1186
People check it out this observation..
Sharlett writes a post and then and then 2 or 3 posts from fake people follow to backup her original nonsense..
Angie and Bob from Canada!!!!!! Sharlett really come on… Your a very pent up angry joke..
At least Steve S has actual facts and figures to back up his comments. Whatever he is doing seems to be working and he does not need to backup his nonsense by 2 or 3 posts by fake or anonomus people.
Get a life Sharlett/Julianna
Dear Verde Valley and Arizona residents,
If you wish to contact our Verde Valley mayors regarding your highway litter concerns or any other matter the following information is provided:
If you have a complaint and a solution that involves your participation, then I’m sure these folks would like to hear from you.
Camp Verde Mayor Charles German, ljcGerman@msn.com, (928) 554-0024
Cottonwood Mayor Diane Joens, mayor@Dianejoens.com, (928) 634-5526
Clarkdale Mayor Doug Von Gausig, Dougvg@commspeed.net, (928) 639-2400
Jerome Mayor Lew Currier, L.Currier@jerome.az.gov, (928) 634-7943
Sedona Mayor Sandy Moriarty, SMoriarty@Sedonaaz.gov, (928) 204-7127
Five community mayors with common threads consisting of economic development involving existing and new businesses, tourism, residents and home sales just to mention a few.
Gary Chamberlain
“America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs”
Empowering our nation’s youth
Cornville, AZ
(928) 202-1186
Here are the 3 Extremely questionable issues before Council: “AB 1918 Discussion/possible action regarding the replacing the “Moment of Silence” at the beginning of the City Council regular meetings with a ‘Moment of Art’. ”AB 1925 Discussion/possible action regarding the possibility of changing the vision statement played at the beginning of City Council meetings to match the vision statement from the updated Community Plan.; AB 1926 Discussion/possible direction regarding the possibility of modification of City Council rules of procedure and/or other Council meeting protocols.”
How about this mayor and council taking a moment to reflect upon their Responsibility to their bosses who are the Electorate? How about the mayor and council spend quality time, for just one minute, getting their ducks in a row to stop adding money to their budget for personal projects that do not adhere to Health, Safety and Welfare concept of real issues? How about this mayor and council taking a moment to reflect on complete transparency with council procedures, that have, for the most part, worked?
How about this mayor stop her giggle moments and just focus on the most cost effective methods of running the city while she asks for a P&L from the Chamber and Lodging group?
How, in hell, does the Chamber think they can take a claim to fame for positive comments regarding any business in our town? What? Guess I forgot!!! Chamber is directly selling rooms, cleaning rooms, doing room laundry, etc, maintain lodging properties as they are providing reservations for our few good restaurants? Guess the Chamber is also bussing tables, taking orders and actually cooking the food? What a Joke!!!
Concept that a raise of .5% of B&B taxes that goes to ads somehow is simply self-serving on their part and a huge stretch at them quantifying their very expensive existence.
If that .5% increase was not a tax and each business spent .5% on their own advertising – I’ll bet, hands down, the results would be much higher for each business. Each business must function and succeed on their own and without the Regional expensive supposed enhancement of the chamber. I don’t recall the regional chamber having to deal with our guests other than they just take all the credit for them!
It IS time for city business’s to speak up and stop the sham the chamber and lodging council (who never allowed or offered to their members a Vote on the increased .5% B&B tax) are pulling off.
No member of the chamber is elected by the public – just the council. Yet the chamber is writing the rules and without any concrete financial audited information and/or statements……and the council just keeps buying into mz Jennifer’s smiles.
@Business Owner – Mr. Segner and the chamber do not work with “small town tactics” – they work off of GORRILA Tactics.
“Wear sedona resident?” Would you by chance mean “West sedona resident?”
The reason for asking is that you cannot wait to attack Sharlett – and I’ve no idea who that person is either.
That you attack people from outside Sedona pretty much enhances your ignorance and helps to discredit the bad publicity being promoted by Steve Segner on this website.
“Wear sedona resident?” I’m wondering “Where” sedona resident’s mind is. Maybe in his/her mouth where his/her foot is?
Another point to ponder. You mention comments posted after Sharlett, one reference to the kids in Canada. Check again, “Wear sedona resident.” That comment was made prior to the one from Sharlett. Definitely you should consider anger management. The only two comments after Sharlett were from “Business Owner” and “Gary Chamberlain,” an unlikely candidate to be in cahoots with Sharlett.
“Wear,” you outdid yourself with this absurd display.
just realized we have a new person (?) by the name of “Wear sedona resident” who is making a mockery of themselves for lack of correct spelling….OMG – is Steve Segner back on line? Wear Sedona resident writes: Sharlett writes a post and then 2 or 3 posts from fake people follow to backup her original nonsense. Steve – good try but you are absolutely over the edge and without proof.
And, I, Sharlett responded saying I don’t have enough time in the day to play Steve’s games or think up any more names.
Been there and done this one and Steve S – I really suggest you use spell check prior to posting as you just Wear out your welcome and your creditability!
Those in power will not want to hear this, but it’s all true.
Yesterday morning (Sunday 03/08) I left Sedona shortly before 8:00 AM in order to shop for a new TV at either WalMart or Home Depot in Cottonwood. My reasons were twofold: (1) to avoid traffic; (2) because there is no longer a place in Sedona where, as a full time Sedona resident, I’m able to purchase a TV. Back in the day we had Dick Goss Appliance where Mexidona is presently located. And I believe for a while Cottonwood’s Rose Appliance had a second location in Sedona.
My vacuum is in need of repair. What happened to the former and excellent vacuum repair shop that was once conveniently located in Sedona? I must now go to either Flagstaff or Prescott.
As for the traffic, I was well aware of the Mountain Biking event focal point at Tlaquepaque. My return trip to Sedona (still before noon) suffered no ill effects or delays due to the event. In fact, it was pleasant to see the energetic bike riders gearing up for I suppose the final day of the event, which I do believe was sponsored by a commercial bike shop in West Sedona where participants signed up and paid fees and NOT the regional Chamber of Commerce conveniently located in Sedona city limits which presumably gives them an “edge” because of the advantageous name attraction – also not as a result of any of their efforts.
My reason for taking time to document this is to go on record with the prediction that the C of C and the mouthy Steve Segner will once again be tooting their horns and taking credit for the event, and with their favorite and most avid fan “Wear sedona resident” backing them up with inane and irrational rants.
Back to point: My motto is “Shopping in Sedona Sucks” when what we residents need isn’t available. Forgive me, I forgot. Same as the college kids from Canada shopping for a wedding venue, we retired folks don’t matter.
And NO “Wear sedona resident” and /or Segner, someone named Sharlett did NOT have anything to do with my need for a TV replacement which is the reason I wrote this and the unavailability of certain products in Sedona. Your accusations are “WEARING” thin but should not discourage people from expressing their opinions on this website.
And as you can see…
I am correct about Sharlett…..
See how angry her posts become after she was called to the carpet for using different names to support her unfounded nonsense..
Sharlett is a hateful fraud.. Plain and simple..
It’s seems that you Sharlett “have plenty of time in the day to post hateful, misguided post using various fake names..Why not get a life , decrease you angry and misguided ways and join one of those citizen engagement groups and actually do something positive.
@Camp Verdians: Your comment sums up the pathetic situation in Sedona. “A moment of Art?”
Paul of Sedona annihilated the suggestion but the fools have no idea what a laughing-stock they are making of Sedona.
Thanks to both “Camp Verdians” and “Paul, Sedona” for great insight! Much appreciated.
“A moment of Art?” Add an “F” at the beginning of “Art” and it will make better sense. Maybe that’s really what the members of the city council need to take a moment to do?
@Laura — Great suggestion. In fact maybe that would make a good slogan for the regional Chamber of Commerce. Welcome to Sedona, the only place the City Council has A Moment Of (f) Art before beginning their meetings! :-)
Just for the heck of it I checked out the Council Agenda Item about this proposed change to Moment of Art which at this moment seems will take on a new meaning if it’s actually approved. Much to my amazement as indicated by the following quote the City Manager gave stamp of approval for the recommendation on 26 February.
The City Manager’s Recommendation: Approve the replacement of the Moment of Silence with the Moment of Art for the 1st Tuesday City Council regular meetings. What? Thirteen days after Tim Ernster stepped down?
Way to go, Karen Daines.
Lucky 13: Ernster’s last day was 2/13: Lucky Sedona, that special moment approved for change 13 days later! How ironic is that? At least it won’t cost any money – just more embarrassment for Sedona as already pointed out by a few observers.