SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie Maddock
Sedona AZ (March 23, 2016) – SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie Maddock shares an email sent to the City of Sedona City Council members:
From: Eddie Maddock
Date: 3/22/2016 7:33:13 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients
Subject: SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 23, 2016
TO: SEDONA CITY COUNCIL March 22, 2016
RE: CITY CONTROL OF RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE REMOVAL
Chances of this additional writing at this late date were slim to none as most likely the possibility of it being read are even more remote.
However, having briefly reviewed the expanded agenda information to be presented at the meeting tomorrow afternoon, 3/23/16 at 3:00 PM, Council Chambers, certain elements are very distressing.
First, it seems quite disingenuous for you to claim concern for saving the earth when conditions in Sedona continue to degenerate on a daily basis. If such a concept were true, you would have long ago obtained fair RFPs for other service contracts and made more efficient demands on the effectiveness of the service being provided. Case in point: How much has the recent contract with the Chamber of Commerce for Destination Marketing contributed to the ever-growing and obvious number of day-trippers that have for years become an increasing problem due to inadequate infrastructure to accommodate the vast numbers.
In fact, that hindrance is the main reason I’ll not attend tomorrow’s meeting. In order to get out of my subdivision onto SR179 just for shopping to accommodate needs for the entire Easter weekend, it was necessary for me to do so in the early morning hours and be home by noon. Traffic backup will be prohibitive this Wednesday afternoon to reach City Hall at 3:00 in the afternoon, especially considering this is the week before Easter Sunday.
The obvious poor planning with the expansion of Tlaquepaque will exacerbate this already congested situation once completed. This is just one example of an active demonstration of realistically failing to practice what you preach: Conservation and sustainability of resources.
The focus of the witch-hunt in Staff’s presentation is clearly directed at Taylor Waste for having done such a shameful thing as to notify their customers of the potential change in arrangement of Sedona’s trash hauling. To put the blame on a company for displaying a competent business practice and then further insinuate it is only their customers opposing the proposal is unfounded and unfair.
Attempting to blame garbage trucks for damaging our roads is absurd. And to further imply that tourists, jeep tours, ATVs, motor homes, moving and construction trucks do not invade our neighborhoods is simply not true. Garbage trucks, realistically, are among the least intrusive.
And you will save us money? Try to convince those of us within the estimated 85% who presently recycle that we will not be paying more for dragging out two bins weekly or biweekly, especially when we currently have efficient means to either support Sedona Recycles with assistance from their volunteers or in person.
Have you considered the effort it takes for those of us with dual hip replacements or other physical nuisances to drag one bin out and in every week let alone the added effort to do so with two?
What about those who leave Sedona for three or four months during the summer to vacation with families who will be denied the fairness of dropping the service during that period of time after the city takes over controlling garbage hauling? And no opt-out options?
But, of course, these questions were all raised during the public meetings and the answers remain void.
Some of us will never have need for bulk hauling, which is presently available through private enterprises on a needs basis.
Clearly it is your determination to force this on us, but kindly refrain from rationalizing and making inaccurate assumptions that objections are solely the result of the letters from Chris Taylor and being made by the customers of Taylor Waste. Going on record for not the first time here, it makes no difference to me who it is would get the bid. Denying the option to have a choice, the same as I had with getting service to my automobile this week, is insulting if not potentially damaging.
This has nothing to do with being uneducated or ignorant because we do not know the facts. Wake up. We see the writing on the wall. You are not practicing what you attempt to preach when you continue to approve for the demise and living conditions in Sedona, for both residents and tourists.
It obviously doesn’t matter to you how many residents move out of Sedona since you do little if anything to enhance our quality of life. I will no longer walk my dog in our neighborhood because of the filthy, ugly, almost dangerous patched roads, and heavy tourist traffic - yes within the neighborhood. No blame on garbage trucks is justifiable for this. Where is your great concern for protecting the environment? Selective and self-serving clearly is the answer to that.
Realizing none of this will make a difference because of your determination to manipulate the results of your public outreach to suit your desires, it really is sad that you are so insensitive and determined to take matters into your own hands with little to no regard for those of us paying the price in more ways than one. And by the way, weren’t you elected to represent our preferences even when they were not in sync with your own?
You will be making a decision affecting the lives of thousands of people for years to come such as was set in motion by a previous council when they entered into multiple year service contracts with yet to be determined valid statistics on the wisdom of those decisions. Of course this time when you opt to move forward it will be only $75,000 of public money for something again we do not wish to have. But that will also be disputed by the use of your magical manipulative methods which are really far more transparent than you must realize.
Your choice will be either to serve the will of the people and not the will determined by voodoo methods or by using the option at your discretion of abuse of power as in this is what I think is best for the community.
Sedona roads are designed for slow scenic views and sharing the road drives and maintenance caused by rushing waters, shifting ground, and mountainous terrain contribute to transportation issues.
As time goes on and remembering how much my late husband loved Sedona, the one thing for which I’m grateful is he isn’t here to witness the demise of what we struggled so long and hard for – to make a living and remain here for so many years. To work for and promote the Chamber of Commerce, Library, Humane Society, Elks Club and now for what? Everything we left big cities for has now consumed our once small town for powerful big city politics that will tell us what’s best for us? Chuck, my dear husband, you missed only heartache by not living long enough to retire here.
With profound sadness that it became necessary to convey this, but the upside is I’m in no position to play God and make choices for a bunch of stupid, ignorant people that can no longer think for themselves. How lucky for you to have that option and the arrogance of power to exercise it. Good luck and even better luck to future city councils that will inherent the ongoing questionable decisions being made in Sedona on a daily basis.
Need proof? Take a drive around town.
Eddie S. Maddock
39 Year Anniversary will be March 31
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Not to worry Steve Segner, I already have bids on 3 houses in the Harmony area with 1 very close to Mr. O’ Donnell. Let’s see how he feels about having a few vacation rentals all around him. Let’s see if his opinion changes when he’s one of those council people.
OK – since this has turned into a free-for-all, here’s something else to twist your knickers around.
Sedona City Council approved yet another traffic study at the tune of $249K. However, both counties (Coconino & Yavapai) will each chip in $20,000 and the Chamber of Commerce has graciously offered to refund $25,000 of the most recent $1.5 million they inherited from the city rebate contract and also the Sedona Lodging Council, affinity group of the Chamber, will cough up $5,000. Sweet deal? You be the judge.
Now then, at the conclusion of this study in May of 2017, maybe an attempt to implement some of the suggestions will ensue. Nothing really ever came out of the other traffic studies from previous years.
However, be prepared. Quoting from an article in the Red Rock News, Friday April 15, 2016, Public Works Director & City Engineer Andy Dickey states: “It’s going to include things that we know we’re going to need to do but that are going to be difficult,” he said. “We may need to make sacrifices. They’re going to be difficult from a political standpoint but they’re going to have big changes and they may cost more – a lot more.”
(And the city take-over of our choice of garbage service hasn’t been political and pre-planned?)
And just what will be the source of all that money? Sure, they can inflate the monthly charges they are planning to assess once they approve who will collect our garbage, but to the extent to cover major costs to build new roads through subdivisions, condemn property, and other related costs to substantiate the “a lot more” coming from Mr. Dickey? Even if monthly sewer fees are increased to $100 (maybe to match our city managed garbage collection expenses) it won’t even come close.
Be prepared. Special improvement districts and city property taxes will be next. Controlling and paying for our garbage collection, ripping off barrel-sharers and part-time residents by requiring annually sustained individual accounts, are but a drop in the bucket when considering what the future holds.
2017 isn’t that far off and how much more will traffic increase by then? Probably another study will be in order to keep up with the pace.
This is maintaining a small town character? Go figure.
Just saw Segner’s letter in the Red Rock Snooze and figured that the letter was posted correctly on this post since it relates to GARBAGE.
Segner gets it wrong. First of all, the BILL will NOT wreak havoc on Sedona Housing Market. It’s a BILL, not a LAW. Check your Govt 101 text books – A bill is the prelude to LAW. A bill in itself won’t do diddly-squat.
Next, he complains of traffic with 2 hour delays to get from i17 to uptown, which is caused, not by SB 1350, but the Chamber’s regional marketing plan. Nowhere does he suggest that a sign be installed on the 260 to bring tourist through Cottonwood and west Sedona, which is an alternate route. Furthermore, tourist and residents alike can use the Beaverhead Flat alternate from the Village to West Sedona. I use this route often and I assure you, although a couple of miles longer, the trip is faster due to less traffic and higher speed limits.
The editorial about the $250k traffic study suggests a bridge or low water crossing be made from Loop Road to Verde Valley School, saying that an alternate needs to be made for emergency vehicles. If the editor would have done his homework, he’d know that there is an existing bridge in the LaMera development. I have friends who live on Verde Valley School Rd and they report seeing emergency vehicles go thru that bridge on occasion. Personally, I enjoy the quiet and solitude at Crescent Moon Ranch and I’d hate to see that spoiled by putting a bridge through there, not to mention the increase in traffic on Loop Road — a windy, narrow, tourist-clogged road shared by pedestrians, cars and bicycles. Putting more traffic on that road will be just asking for it, but I’m sure it Segner would be all for it.
He complains that the state would take away local zoning and planning, but they are doing such a bad job, any help there is needed and would be appreciated. What P&Z have planned for the “western gateway” at the Cultural Park is nothing short of horrendous. There’s nothing in the bill that would stop townships from creating their own regulations — just as Coconino County is doing. If the Airbnb or Flipkey host does not abide by the rules, they wouldn’t be able to participate in the program. The other letter-writer who says “Tourist detract from our Charm” should check the map on the short-term rental website — there are over 300 short-term listings and they probably already in the neighborhood.
The “honor code” regarding taxes made me laugh out loud. The whole bill started as an effort to collect taxes owed. Airbnb will deduct the taxes and send them in. They just said, “let’s make it legal while we’re at it.” Segner is all wet on this one.
Of course, as a hotel owner, Segner is threatened by the competition from residential home-stay units. But not everyone will want to stay at someone’s home and there’s plenty of business for everyone.
What a tool and an idiot. His “guest perspective” is full of lies, half-truths, and based on FEAR not facts. Short-term rentals would be a good thing for residents who are struggling to make ends meet in Sedona. I’m all for it.
City Council Meeting Tuesday April 26, 2016 – 4:30 p.m.
REGULAR BUSINESS (includes but not limited to the following)
a. AB 2097 Presentation/discussion possible direction regarding possible franchise agreement extensions for Arizona Public Service Company and UNS Gas, Inc. which would be referred to the voters for consideration.
b. AB 2010 Presentation/discussion/possible direction regarding a PROPOSED SUSTAINABLE PILGRIMAGE SITE and the possible continued planning of the Dells Land.
c. AB 2087 Presentation/discussion/possible action regarding the adoption of a Resolution officially recognizing Sedona as an INTERNATIONAL CITY OF PEACE under the auspices of the International Cities of Peace Organization.
d. AB 2098 Discussion/possible action regarding a Resolution declaring that granting of a certain FRANCHISE is beneficial to the City of Sedona and ordering an election to be held on August 30, 2016 for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of the City of Sedona the question as to whether or not a franchise shall be granted to Arizona Public service Company.
e. AB 2099 Discussion/possible action regarding a Resolution declaring that the granting of a certain franchise is beneficial to the City of Sedona and ordering an election to be held on August 30, 2016 for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of the City of Sedona the question as to whether or not a franchise shall be granted to UNS Gas, Inc.
f. AB 2100 Discussion/possible action on a Resolution authorizing the City Clerk to call the 2016 Primary Election for the offices of City Councilor (three seats with four-year terms and one seat with a two-year term) and Mayor (two-year term), a proposed franchise for Arizona Public Service Company, a proposed franchise for UNS Gas, Inc., and to call the 2016 General election, if needed.
HEADS-UP – Sustainable Pilgrimage Site and APS and UNS Gas franchises are on their way.
Betrayal might well head the list of priorities to be addressed.
When voters approved the USFS land exchange for the defunct Cultural Park, it was with the condition that in perpetuity it would NEVER be developed commercially. Well, guess what? There will be a PUBLIC HEARING May 24, 2016, at 4:30 PM, City Hall Council Chambers, for the purpose of reviewing and taking public testimony and possible ACTION regarding the Draft Western Gateway Community Focus Area Plan. http://www.SedonaAZ.gov/CFA1.
Of course some of the new players in town wouldn’t be aware the purpose for Sedona’s incorporation was to prevent what is occurring – dense, over-development – and adding insult to injury all without adequate infrastructure or comprehensive planning to correct ever growing problems. However, some old timers such as John Sather, Mike Bower, Max Licher and others involved with the recent updating of the Community Plan were well aware from the get-go the reason for becoming an incorporated city was to preserve all that is now being lost to big city planning.
The original intent of “The Plan” continues to be butchered, chopped, sliced and minced at reckless controlling hands of developers and big money to be made. Translated: GREED.
And this City Council has the audacity to point fingers at too many garbage trucks?
Attend the meeting if you don’t believe this. Which isn’t to say if you dare to speak up you might be shot down, mocked, and ridiculed should you object to another hotel, convention center, more shops, housing and generalized development on land originally pledged and promised that such a thing would never be allowed.
Eddie Maddock
Well put and a very good opinion piece from the RR news:
Part of opinion from Christopher Fox Graham……….
Furthermore, for those who hyperbolically claim choosing a trash company, or any business is a “constitutional” or “civil right” issue, let’s be clear. Choosing which company with which to do business is a cornerstone of the capitalist tradition, but not a “right” enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, any of the 11 Civil Rights Acts nor even the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Men and women did not rebel against unjust rulers, or fight in civil wars, or march in protests, or face beatings, political imprisonment, lynchings, banishment, torture nor summary execution to just hire a company.
By all means, exercise your right to vehemently oppose government waste and political mismanagement, but do not equate the convenience of hiring one company over an other with the men and women who languish in prison or who have died on the altar of freedom around the globe.
@Fair and Balanced:
Please look up the word “monopoly.”
Please pick up a newspaper or read facebook comments regarding corporations and wall street running the country = we have morphed into a cross between Nazi Germany (papers please!) and the United States of Corporation (and just WHY won’t Monsanto label GMO and non-organic food? why not?).
This here is Arizona – the LAST state to succumb to Federal (Feudal) rule. The cowboy culture is ingrained deep here, and you sir, sound like an X cookie-cutter Southern California homeowner, transplanted here, bringing your culture of never questioning “authority.” It IS just so much easier to let sleeping dogs lie and go along to get along. After all, they have more money and therefore more say than you.
Fair and balanced? In WHAT universe?
And which of us complaining about city gouging for monthly bills is comparing it to men and women languishing in prison or dying on the altar of freedom around the globe?
The right to select service for which we will be personally charged in addition to defending the opportunity of free enterprise is what this is all about.
Dictatorship versus democracy to put it simply and I see nothing in Mrs. Maddock’s article to indicate otherwise.
This city MUST push through taking charge of the mindless residents’ garbage. How else are they to feed the general kitty so the city won’t go broke in three years? Forget they just approved the two-year contract with Red Earth Theatre – “a professional contract” is what they call it. And what will they call the garbage contract besides what it is? Garbage!
For over $50,000 a year (including $2,000 month rent, $14,000 for utilities and other incidentals such as window washing, a new sign @$1,200, etc, etc, etc (now that’s what the City is paying to Red Earth Theatre for using a city owned facility) the RET will benefit from all proceeds collected from events, estimated at $20,000 per year!
This just blows the lid off all sanity and comprehensive thinking, planning, and anything logical. A city owned property that should be reaping in money like say – rent – and the process is reversed? What the . . . ?
And they will rely on taking charge of our garbage as a means to extract some return on one bad investment after another?
It’s true – the inmates have definitely taken over the institution. OMG!
Here’s one the city didn’t win:
http://techcrunch.com/2016/05/13/arizonas-governor-ducey-signs-sb-1350-into-law-prohibiting-the-ban-of-short-term-rentals/
Yay!
Not sure what this has to do with garbage, but since other comments have been made about the passing of SB1350, thank you Arizona Governor (whatever your name is) for making my profitable hobby legal. You see, for several years I’ve been dodging the neighborhood rat-finks for tattling on my Sedona investment (residence) as an accommodation for visitors that prefer that down-home atmosphere. So of course and like others, for annoying intervals I managed to do without the $10,000 to $20,000 I could easily rake in from my large “estate” on a monthly basis which easily accommodated enough people to pay from $3,000 to $5,000 weekly and also helped defray expenses such as laundry, maintenance of the swimming pool, and even on occasion paying for a maid to help with housekeeping, etc. etc.
Now then, the bonus is that with this new legitimate status so graciously approved by the Arizona governor and your legislators, I can breathe a sigh of relief as I list my “estate” legitimately with a property management company and thus avoid the nuisance of paying silly taxes to the likes of Airbnb etal that made this become a dream come true.
Good luck suckers. Will be thinking of you on my next cruise and as I enjoy my “real” home which is NOT in Arizona.
ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Forgot to mention that I will NOT be requiring city managed garbage service since my weekly gardener will continue to haul off what is necessary with my yard clippings.
Guess that bit of information made my comment more appropriate under this article?
I Get It, like most of us here reading this do. That is the reason I spent today, once again, looking for a property outside Sedona. I’ve had it, there is always a crazy situation going on here, and this council tops the rest.
While talking to people in other communities, and asking how they like it there, about 2/3 say they moved out of Sedona and are much happier. About 1/3 say they are new to the area and were looking at Sedona but changed their minds after researching it.
Congratulations Rob, Jennifer, Sandy and all Your puppets, You’ve managed to turn a beautiful restful town into a nightmare.
In my opinion, Tim, Karen and Justin ought to be included in with Rob, Jennifer and Sandy as the puppeteers who turned spectacular Sedona “into a nightmare.”
And so the new legitimate trend will be these home-based motels. And how will people find out about them? Surely not the chamber of commerce but from property management companies and Airbnb etal. Therefore none of them need be members of the chamber as they continue to promote non-members in the high priced city-financed visitors center.
Of course here comes more whining. Watch for city to increase gift of millions to chamber even more as tax base dwindles due to freeloaders of the system. And who could blame them? Maybe the chamber will retract that generous contribution of $25,000 or something to pay for the latest traffic study. As if the source of that $25 grand wasn’t from the city in the first place.
Karma does bite back and hopefully this is just the beginning. A bunch of losers that need to be kicked off the gravy grain.
Go Vacation Rentals. YEA!
Include all those that let this happen. Which includes City Council past and present. The employees like Karen only helped them get the special interest funding through. No transparency, They worked the system. you pay they play.
Correction – Chamber of commerce only promotes members and not non-members as I first wrote. And I’ll add that they promote members outside city limits that do not even contribute to the city tax base no matter how it’s spun.
There’s another possibility in one of the new bills just approved which is SB1487 allowing any lawmaker to direct the attorney general to investigate whether a city is trying to regulate an issue under state control. It provides that funding be cut to the city in the event of a violation.
Now this city continually oversteps their jurisdiction, favoring businesses and individuals not within Sedona city limits. This includes spending Sedona city public funds for questionable purposes. Discriminating against city based business that are not members of the regional chamber of commerce. State Statue clearly defines municipalities are assigned jurisdiction only in their designated limitations.
Can it be that there will now be some recourse to stop this nonsense? If the plug is pulled on State funding because of these violations, how sweet it would be. How about it Mr. Pickels? Will there soon be a day of reckoning on this reckless invasion of city funds that should never have been put in motion in the first place?
Same as the current garbage service proposals, how many people continue to speak in favor of it at public meetings when they do not even live in the area that will be affected? Plenty and everyone knows it.
Either annex into the city limits or shut up and butt out.
Come on DJV don’t you get tired of spewing the same old same old. One would think that you need to spend time on that relocation instead of writing the same old stuff.
To the person that accuses me of being DJV you are mistaken. Definitely do not have a clue as to whom or what you are talking about. Be assured, I’m no disc jockey if that’s what the “DJ” stands for. You sound as uneducated and ignorant as West Sedona Resident who maybe is in fact this DJV you are pointing the finger at. Or maybe you are that joker from Oak Creek Canyon – the one going to council meetings and whining about how insignificant are the people who object to city scamming our garbage service and pleading for the cult leader leading the pack for a Sustainable Pilgrimage Site, also on land outside Sedona city limits.
Bitter Sweet Karma – NOT DJV!
Bitter Sweet Karma says:
May 16, 2016 at 9:54 am
Said, Correction Chamber of commerce only promotes members and not non-members as I first wrote. And Ill add that they promote members outside city limits that do not even contribute to the city tax base no matter how its spun.
One more time The chamber is a member owned and run organization…..
It promotes it’s members. Got it ?
The chamber handles the contract from the city to promote (Sedona) in the slow months, June July Aug, and January. The ads talk about only Sedona and a place to visit.
Please show us all the ad you say the city is paying for that talks about business out side the city …… or inside
steve
Steve Segner says: “One more time The chamber is a member owned and run organization…..It promotes it’s members. Got it ?”
Bingo! That’s the point. A special interest allegedly non-profit member-driven organization should NOT be financed with public funds, especially when there’s no accountability.
Mr. Segner, by Chamber CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff’s own admission, only Chamber members are being promoted by the City sponsored Visitors Center. At public meetings and reported in more than one article on this site, Wesselhoff has made the statement “they need to pay to play” making reference to city based businesses who elect not to be Chamber members. According to what you claim, Sedona only pays for the destination marketing. Then where, Sir, does the money come from for the Visitors Center – at least 70% operation confirmed coming from City taxes. And who collects those taxes? City based businesses and not those outsiders. Seems Ms. Wesselhoff is a bit mixed up at just who is paying to play or paying NOT to play in the case of City based businesses unless they acquiesce to coercion and join the regional Chamber of Commerce.
Now that this new SB1487 has been approved by the State maybe there’s a chance for investigating misappropriation of public money since to date has there ever been an official outside, professional audit performed of the sum total of public tax money given to the Chamber – for destination marketing, the Visitors Center, and other special events such as Holiday Central and the Sedona Marathon?
And who pays for the 13 employees at the Chamber of Commerce? Also the other location in West Sedona that has all come to pass since the annual increased funding from City taxes has become policy. All contributing to this so-called non-profit member driven group with members throughout Arizona and even out of State!
It is long overdue that the State of Arizona provides a means by which municipalities are investigated instead of the slipshod policy put in place by Gov. Symington when he stripped power from Grant Woods, allegedly due to professional jealousy. Very unprofessional and damaging to legitimate operating cities and towns, but most disgraceful to State Statutes when suspected violations have been suspended from investigation by the Attorney General’s office until maybe this new law will open up some doors and change that.
Since our own City Council deems 600 signatures and hundreds of phone calls and e-mails objecting to their proposed control of our garbage service as being a slim representation of the will of the people, maybe the governor’s office might take us more seriously. If not about this issue then how about this love-affair the City has with the Chamber of Commerce?
Here is the phone number for Governor Ducey:
“Thank you for contacting the Governor’s Office. Your information has been received and forwarded to the Governor or appropriate staff for review. If you require assistance we will be in contact with you. Any additional questions, or for further assistance please contact our office at 602-542-4331. Thank you.”
Applause !!!
Bingo! That’s the point. A special interest allegedly non-profit member-driven organization should NOT be financed with public funds, especially when there’s no accountability.
Bitter Sweet Karma
One more time, the chamber is not financed by the city member owned and funded.
It is a vender and provides a service for the city and has a annual audit.
Now lets get back to my question please tell us all the business that you say are out side the city that the city marketing monies are promoting, you went to on a rant about trash, or else please say you are sorry for making a false statement.
ss
An election is approaching tor Mayor, one 2-yr term, three 4-yr term council seats.
Another option to combat this dire situation- Do NOT vote for reruns.
We really need to pursue all alternatives. These control freaks are relentless and it’s time to let them know we will NOT take it anymore.
Is it just me or is Segner dumber than dumb? Since when is it a city job to pay to market any business especially when it is a membership based organization?
No city pays groups like this one. It is common sense they will be broke before long. The trash is just a way for them to get into the taxpayers pockets as they are losing their as_ paying for segners ads.
really stupid CC
For the last time, Steve Segner, where did I write about specific ads? The point I made was very clear. The city sponsored Visitors Center will only promote their members, many of whom are outside city limits and do NOT contribute for the privilege of having referrals from the Visitors Center being paid for under the auspices of the City of Sedona! Maybe you might check State Statutes and read the one specifying the limits of incorporated municipalities that clearly defines the charge is to look out for what exists in the confines of the designated area. That does not include businesses even in the VOC or Enchantment for example. Of course, you’d much rather haggle on this web site instead of spending time to research State Statutes where you might find out the truth.
In those same Statutes I do believe you will find it very clear that only residents residing within the City Limits of a municipality for at least one year are qualified to run for city council.
The city will be broke in three years unless they shape up and knock off the idiotic spending on special interests and you know it. Why do you think they are scrambling to push through this garbage collection thing? There will be no limit on what they can bill legitimate city residents for this con job and which will be only the beginning for them to find new sources of money as they continue to waste it on Red Earth Theatre as well as the bogus “Sedona” visitors’ center when all it amounts to is a money grab for the Chamber of Commerce. And has the audit ever been performed by an outside agency? You know the answer to that is “NO.” Oh how I wish the State Attorney General would step up to the plate. State wants more money is the reason for approval of SB1350? Think how much they could save by cutting off the financial cord to places like Sedona that avoid playing by the rules.
Interesting ad being run by the furniture store in the VOC. Specifically designates no sales tax! Other businesses should do the same thing. I can shop at Ace Hardware out there and save the tax money myself. And why not? If you can’t beat them join them?
The entire scenario is a scam and you know it because you are part of the problem, along with your hand-picked and paid-for council members. So why all the griping? Just admit it’s corrupt and run with the money. Now Jennifer is telling them they need affordable housing. Well, that wouldn’t be a problem today if employee accommodations had been included in major resorts years ago like they do in other tourists towns nationwide. Oh no – not in Sedona. The developers were too greedy to forfeit the almighty tourist $$$$ in order to house their staff. Same old, same old.
Goodbye.
Sorry, I don’t buy it. No more cookies or cakes but the BS from you continues. Yup it does.
@ Jerry
What don’t you run Jerry!?
Straighten out this town Jerry…
Show us all how’s it done..
Special City Council Meeting, Wednesday, May 25, 2016 – 3:00 p.m.
3. SPECIAL BUSINESS
a. AB 2077 Discussion/possible direction regarding development of a Request for Proposals document to solicit private hauler(s) to provide proposals for a Citywide, City-managed residential trash and recycling program.
b. Discussion/possible action on Future Meeting/Agenda Items.
By the way, an item of concern appeared on the Tuesday, May 24, 2016 City Council Executive Session Agenda.
3. EXECUTIVE SESSION
b. Discussion and consultation with the City Attorney in order to consider the City’s position and instruct the City Attorney regarding pending or contemplated litigation. This matter is brought in executive session pursuant to A.R.S. 38-431.03(A)(4).
Bitter Sweet Karma
And I’ll add that they promote members outside city limits that do not even contribute to the city tax base no matter how it’s spun.
See the word” Members” it is the chambers visitor center and the city help with some of the cost.
On running out of money we are up over 17% ? and we have no sales tax on food like cottonwood.
Are you upset that business is good ? and tell me why hotels should supply low income housing? and no other business in America does? we have low income housing is cottonwood. you just ramble on and on
Most business are doing well in Sedona except one bakery.
get over the Red Earth Theatre 25,000 for something that is used almost every night money well spent, we spend money on parks and we have a pool why not something for adults? remember 70% of all income to the city come from visitors not the pat time people the live here.
steve
To answer your question before it is asked. The reason I don’t run is I already work in city management. The same reason I don’t use my real name.
I only work 4 days a week, if you can call what I do work. Keep paying tax slaves. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Chamber video “What does tourism mean to me?” or “Why I hate Airbnb and the Locals (they won’t work for slave wages)”
https://www.facebook.com/SedonaChamberofCommerce/
Thank you “Alarmed” for bringing this to our attention. 3:00 PM at a Special Meeting on May 25th, the Wednesday before Memorial Day weekend. Guess it would be worse timing in maybe June, July or August when so many people are vacationing. Of course, this Special Meeting most likely just means there will be a continuance to the final decision at such time when people are, in fact, out of town.
Also your noting the Executive Session on May 24 relating to pending or contemplated litigation is appreciated. Wonder what that’s all about?
This is the first thing that hit me when I went to the chamber link you offered —
“Non-Profit Organization · Sedona, Arizona”
Becoming seriously sick to my stomach I could go no further.
I’m sorry all I hijacked WSR handle again I’m off my med’s again
Still need a job though since I got “let go” from the same government I now complain about …
Oh brother……. those special interest groups keep things spinning. Every time you go to a restaurant, fast food place or get prepared foods- hot at the grocery store and you are in the city limits you PAY sales tax.
Then you have multiple ways the city has their hands in your pocket. For example phones, utilities all get charged sales tax along with franchise fees. Then you have property tax which the city gets a portion of, along with state income tax. Oh don’t forget your licensing of automobiles the city gets a portion of that. Don’t forget retail sales tax. Yep every time you get a delivery to sedona, even when it is a internet order the city gets their 3% percent.
So every resident is contributing to the tax base.
Now let’s look at the recent article in the RR news. There aren’t enough workers to keep Sedona sustainable. The mighty Jen just informed you all that she recommends employers pay more, give more benis. While she has absolutely no experience in running a business except collecting and spending taxpayers money on the club “members”
The city is going broke. The trash deal is a way to get more money. Those who benefit from taxpayer funding will say and do anything to get your money.
How would I know someone get ” let go” from Sedona Government? Because that’s where I work.
I add nothing of value there either. I do however collect a great salary, benefits and get even with you stupid Sedona residents by wasting your money.
I even got an award for composing an almost impossible to comprehend budget from my government peers. I would not want it to be easy for you to see how wasteful the city of Sedona is.
How convenient. A letter to the editor in today’s Red Rock News attempts to explain the fallacy of the city’s own costly phone survey. Says the high results of “80 percent recycling rate” are inaccurate. (actually as I recall the number was closer to 85-90%). In other words, the city wasted what? $20,000? on the phone survey and now same old story – wrong results since they weren’t what they wanted!
Well, even more interesting is this letter came from Jean Turocy, Director of Education and Community Outreach, Sedona Recycles, Inc. And just who will benefit if this “deal” is approved? You guessed it! Sedona Recycles is just sitting in the background waiting for the latest Sedona boondoggle to gel in the form of a high priced “service contract” with Sed.Recycles to handle the conversion. Shades of Chamber of Commerce? Yep! so it seems.
Mayor “Sand” is so far running unopposed but not so for John Martinez and Jessica Williamson. They support this and ignore the people – which brings up another excellent letter to RRN from Byron McKeown on May 18th. Superb!
No, this isn’t a sales pitch for the Red Rock News but I believe in giving credit when it’s due and that paper even produced a factual editorial explaining the basics that this community wants the city to butt out of their garbage! So you see, it just isn’t an issue on Sedona Eye – like it or not.
Time to kick the bums out and/or get set for a Referendum.
“No, this isn’t a sales pitch for the Red Rock News but I believe in giving credit when it’s due and that paper even produced a factual editorial explaining the basics that this community wants the city to butt out of their garbage!”
Don’t get too excited about the SRRN. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Well, having just read the enlightening unsolicited information from Jean Turocy, another no-it-all (the “no” in reference to don’t let the people have a voice), I have a question for her. Are you, Missy, prepared and willing to compensate those of us who will no longer have the advantage of sharing a trash bin or the option of discontinuing service during the weeks or months we are not in need of the service? Further, are you another one that doesn’t even reside within Sedona city limits and yet cannot refrain from telling us and the government elected to represent “us” and not you outsiders that never end your unwanted input and interference with how we live our lives. But the worse part is the city council is more likely to listen to the likes of you than those of us they were elected to represent.
Since “non-profits” seems to have so much clout in Sedona, maybe it’s time for those of us to organize and incorporate as one. How about “Sedona Simpletons” or “Pathetic Patsies” and then we could lobby the city council and dream up some lame excuse to negotiate a “service contract” and like the chamber of commerce and now the Sedona recycles group, collect thousands (if not millions) of dollars to support ourselves in the manner we deserve and drop the abusive practice of having our quality of life diminished along with our pocket books. And to think I contributed to Sedona Recycles and for what? To be stabbed in the back?
The shifting of more of the wastewater burden onto hard-pressed ratepayers has freed up extra millions for the City to spend on pet projects such as the mandated trash and recycling program, free money for the Chamber of Commerce and Red Earth Theatre, etc.
According to Karen Daines in her April 21st “Wastewater Fund Analysis – Reduction in Sales Tax Subsidy” MEMO to the Mayor and Council, “Rates need to be based on the costs to operate the utility without an outside subsidy.”By the way, it is planned that the sales tax subsidy will be reduced to zero by FY 2026-2027 after non-stop annual sewer fee increases. Promised during the time of City incorporation and during the bond debt election was that City sales taxes would pay for the sewer. But does anyone at the City care?
On this Tuesday’s Council Agenda (5/24/16): “AB2110 Discussion/possible action concerning adoption of an ordinance reducing the sales tax subsidies from the General Fund to the Wastewater Fund from 30% to 25% for Fiscal Year 2016-2017 [one year early].” As it turns out, “over the past three fiscal years, the sales tax subsidies have exceeded the original projections by $1.86 Million.” In addition, there are savings to the City resulting from less than anticipated capital costs ($4 Million) and an upcoming reduction in annual wastewater debt service costs from refi’s ($1.57 Million).
So, will the City Council waive the 4% monthly sewer fee increase effective this coming July? Is a refund in the offing? Or, will the facts be damned?
So If they pull it off (and nothing seems to be in the plan to stop them) we, the voting citizens of Sedona, will be duped two-fold.
(1) Approval of the Western Gateway master plan will sail through with flying colors – not for us but developers (again). Gone but not forgotten is the PROMISE to NEVER approve commercial development on that USFS land trade which was approved by voters based on the guarantee that IN PERPETUITY the land wouldn’t be used as it is now proposed.
(2) Approval to ax our freedom of choice for garbage removal service. Not only selection of provider but likewise opportunity to opt out or co-share which many of us rely on to make financial ends meet.
Yes, Facts Be Damned, this week will go down in history as being the opportunity to uphold Sedona’s Law of Betrayal not only for the pre-incorporation pledge to fund the sewer plant with sales tax return but the other two blatant breaches listed above. A time to rejoice? NOT.
Seems only Fair that the cost of a service should be paid for by the people and business that use it , subsidies seem like socialism-to me.
If you want the benefits of a service or a city you should pay or move to a city that you can afford.
ss
LOVE your comment: (quote): “Seems only Fair that the cost of a service should be paid for by the people and business that use it , subsidies seem like socialism-to me,”
That’s the point for all the opposition to your defense of a “regional” chamber of commerce, paid for the an incorporated city (Sedona) to promote THEIR members, most of whom do NOT reside within City of Sedona.
Thank you, thank you, thank your for finally agreeing with this absurd policy of allowing non-incorporated folks dictate, control, and demand how this city government operates – including yourself – and you finally admitted it.
Yippee! Maybe there’s hope after all. City Council, are you paying attention? Oh forgot, you don’t read Sedona Eye. Little wonder – it tells truth and facts and even snagged in “steve egner.”
Hey steve egner why don’t you follow your own advice? Jack— You’re stealing from the city
He (Steve Segner aka steve egner?) finally got it right.
A city should take care of the people within it’s jurisdiction. In the case of Sedona, within posted city limits and not the entire Verde Valley and Oak Creek Canyon who just love to control the city council and the way Sedona runs things. They love to tell city leaders (and staff) how to implement programs, service contracts, etc. when the incorporated residents pay the price but the outsiders benefit. Yep – socialism. Those that don’t pay get to play. Unlike the regional chamber of commerce that service their members with Sedona taxes paid by those that should be on the receiving end . . . CITY LIMIT BASED BUSINESSES! Socialism at the extreme.
Only in Sedonia Arizona.
Sedonans were on reasonably maintenance-free-septic systems that were not costly and could last indefinitely BEFORE City incorporation and the passage of the wastewater bond debt ballot measure. The exception: the polluting businesses in the Uptown area near Oak Creek for which NO special assessment district was formed although ADEQ was involved.
Let me ask this. In addition to the lack of a sewer improvement district charging the polluters, as well as the several million in debt service payments annually to perpetuate an exorbitant, experimental-type wastewater system, how much a year have Sedona’s non-polluters been ripped off by City Hall? No surprise SS would ‘erroneously’ categorize the inequity and economic injustice as fairness and tell those who object to the financial mugging to move to another city.
Attention all you that live outside Sedona City limits, in particular that mouthy guy from Oak Creek Canyon (besides steve egner) that mouths off and chastises all legitimate Sedona residents that object to city controlling our garbage service:
Go to the meeting today – 4:30 City Hall and cheer on approval of the Western Gateway, dense commercial, multi-use approval of more zoo-like atmosphere on the other end of town. It will soon be another Tlaquapaque traffic jam corridor. And especially you chamber of commerce free-loaders that soooo enjoy draining the coffers of incorporated Sedona as you get away with it and do not pay city taxes.
But, that’s not all. Tomorrow – May 25 – a special city council meeting will be held to decide the fate of their expensive research to decide which garbage company will have the privilege of raping Sedona citizens (those of us within city limits) with exclusive charge to remove our garbage – even if we only produce enough to pick up once a month! Such a deal. Are you listening, Mr. Oak Creek Canyon Man, that stood in front of the council at the meeting about the “sustained pilgrimage” and mocked those of us objecting to city control of our garbage, while at the same time whined like a two-year old that this ludicrous 100 acre proposal be rammed through? But then that land, of course, is not in Sedona city limits either.
Don’t pass up the chance to gloat as we, the legals, pay the price for your unwanted input and stupid ideas. Wednesday, 3:00 PM (5/25) city council chambers.
defenestration: the act of throwing a thing or especially a person out of a window.
The “councilors” have proven who they work for, throw them out, one way or the other.
.
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/defenestration
@ Reminder
Gee that sounds like you’re beginning to “feel the Bern”.