SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie Maddock discusses the Sedona in Motion issue as a city plan comes with yet another expensive traffic standstill in Uptown for a year.
Sedona AZ – At long last initial steps have been taken to launch the Sedona in Motion plan. Tackling this monumental task aimed as the first step in addressing Sedona’s transportation issues has commenced at Sedona’s city center, commonly known as “Uptown,” and the disruption is predicted to be ongoing from now until mid-summer of 2020. The project will include two roundabouts and a median with landscaping.
City Council has approved the project budget in the amount of $4,401,990. It’s reported the source of $200,000 of that amount is from the parking meter fund made possible by the merchant advisory group.
Of course uptown businesses have concerns relating to how this disruption will affect their sales. And their concerns are justifiable. Let’s face it. For the past several years Sedona has literally spent millions of dollars on campaigns to promote Sedona as an attraction for destination tourism.
Long before that specific target marketing was put into place Sedona was already extensively well known which was true even prior to Sedona becoming an incorporated city. Therefore it made good sense to reason that any type of marketing whether targeted at a specific purpose or not, even more day-trippers would jaunt up from Phoenix just for the day. This might directly or indirectly serve as an example of the law of unintended consequences.
With the reputation of being a don’t-miss-location on the agendas of so many travelers, the pending disruption of uptown Sedona could act as a catalyst for bad publicity when visitor’s pop into this magical place for a day. The common wait in traffic lines has already served to usurp the costly portrayal of Sedona that over the years has eroded to the status in many instances as becoming “just another tourist trap.”
The Importance of Word Of Mouth Marketing – Statistics and Trends
https://www.invespcro.com/blog/word-of-mouth-marketing/
1. 28% of consumers say word of mouth is the most important factor in strengthening or eroding brand affinity. 64% of marketing executives indicated that they believe word of mouth is the most effective form of marketing.
A recent ADOT traffic study found the majority of Sedona traffic backs up miles to drive through the Sedona city limits, and then continues without stopping to reach Flagstaff and Grand Canyon.
Remaining developable land in Sedona is limited, as are options for accommodating increased traffic. If plans move forward to amend building codes to allow higher density development, that doesn’t automatically increase access to additional routes to accommodate even more traffic within Sedona City Limits.
Proposed transit methods as a solution, unless the trend has substantially changed, is a waste of time. People in general will not give up their cars. Would you?
Since the drought during 2018, Sedona has been blessed with abundant rain to assist Mother Earth’s ability to stave off pending disaster. “Seriously?” you might ask. Yes, indeed, because no matter how much power mere humans sometimes think they have, when it comes to Mother Nature, there’s no competition.
The lush vegetation we are enjoying from the Pennies from Heaven via snow and rainfall will soon dry out under unrelenting summer sun.
We will still have lines of cars backed up within our three entries of limited space. Uptown will become almost inaccessible. People will be angry. And considering the proven fact that word-of-mouth advertising is the best, how favorably will they relate their “Experience Sedona” to their friends back in “wherever?”
Sedona wild fires have been reminders of Mother Nature’s dominance over city politics and best laid plans.
Regardless of how much money the “City” subsequently throws at the local Chamber of Commerce or if by a miracle they ventured outside city limits and contracted with a professional advertising agency, would results even come close to word-of-mouth feedback which will be forthcoming during and even after this project is finally completed? It may not be wise to disrespect the influence of “Karma.”
And, of course, let’s not forget the worst case scenario: WILD FIRE.
Don’t ever ever say it won’t happen to you!
Point of message: Please, please consider reassessing your own priorities as more and more increased density projects are placed on City Council agendas.
Does being consumed by one’s own perceived power to control represent a positive attribute? Isn’t Sedona already on overload?
Read www.SedonaEye.com for daily news and interactive views!
From Carl T “You can b**ch all you want on sedona eye but that gets you nothing. If you want to stop the chamber give away you need to behave decently and talk with the city council and vote.”
A citizen gets 2 minutes to address the council. Where said citizen’s concerns are promptly ignored. You may as well line up 7 Red Rocks and deliver your concerns to the rocks.
Unless of course you are the Sedona Chamber, in which case you get full day workshops with the Council.
Lest we forget Mayor Sandy owns the Sedona Wine Fest, which seems to be a tourist event. The Wine Fest takes in lots of cash too, I’m sure it is all properly declared for tax purposes.
Lots of vote buying. The problem is when you sell your soul for city dollars you do not deserve, the devil comes for payment. You realize taking money by force, which is what taxation is, is theft. It is theft even if you let someone else steal it and give it to you, as the library does. Do you know the Sedona Library has over $2 million dollars in the bank ? The Library routinely banks most of the funds it receives from the City of Sedona.
Traffic is only the devil’s first installment.
@@alarmed. Don’t be foul and out to lunch. The City has yet to provide a comparison for FY 2018. FY 2017 is the last comparison provided because the City Financial Services Office is only finished with the February 2019 Monthly Financial Report.
According to this February 2019 monthly report, “Bed taxes decreased by 21% for the month….While the average daily hotel/motel rate was up slightly (1%), the hotel occupancy rate was down (13%)….
Sales Tax Revenues by Category
Communications & Utilities 4%
Amusements & Other 5%
Retail 34%
Restaurant & Bar 20%
Hotel/Motel 22%
Construction 7%
Leasing 8%”
The https://myrtlebeachsc.com/corruption-myrtle-beach-continues/ same game is playing out in Myrtle Beach. Corruption.
Using tax payers money to control the tax paying citizens. When will the people wake up?
http://grandstranddaily.com/myrtle-beach-tourism-tax
How ironic: The city of Sedona uses public money, which is the citizens of Sedona’s money to control those same people. They dole out money to buy votes and get their agendas through. That is why they gift millions to a regional chamber and a county funded library. These people do not need your tax dollars. The city manager, however incompetent, makes more than double of that of the governor of our state. Far be it for Justin to rock the boat, let alone Karen and all the rest in your government. The Chamber and the library help them accomplish this goal. When will the people wake up. http://sedonacity.com/SedonaFactCollective/TAXreturns/2017-860134659-0f044b79-9O%20Chamber.pdfhttp://sedonacity.com/FollowControlSedona.htm
Oh my
So overblown. So dramatic . Please get a life.. Thnk you
http://sedonacity.com/SedonaFactCollective/cham/2018/FY17%20Chamber%20AP%20Report.pdf
You DO realize UPTOWN that city and both counties gave a flying rat about us SR 179 businesses when we were headed to the toilet because of road construction and economy crash. We weathered the storm. To hell with weeping crocodile tears for help to keep businesses afloat. Sink or swim. Nobody helped us. You’ll survive if necessary to our economy. That’s what we were told. It’s true.
For sure trying to make a business succeed in Sedona is not for sissies. Just as a reminder there was a time when Sedona residents actually shopped uptown! True – there were some nice clothing stores and not just western wear and red rock souvenirs.
So here we are – another critical situation and where are the locals? Fed up to their eyeballs with being treated like second-class citizens that’s where. Shopping in the VOC and Cottonwood that’s where. And not because of Sedona businesses. But because of the shabby way they’ve been disrespected and treated by Sedona City Council Members all in favor of a regional chamber of commerce that’s why. And BTW, that C of C was also once respected by – yes – RESIDENTS!
And the poor sappy businesses who must now be a member of this selective C of C in order to have referrals from the official(?) Sedona Visitors Center? (clearly identified otherwise) And at the same time C of C members are competitors outside Sedona City Limits and not collecting Sedona taxes are getting referrals. What’s wrong with this picture?
Give it up – move your business to VOC, Cornville, Page Springs, or Cottonwood. You will have locals tracking you down providing you offer something for US and not just tourists.
Amen
Lackluster. Sedona. Been.
Unless we drive to Cottonwood or Flagstaff to shop we make it a point to patronize ONLY those businesses in incorporated Sedona that aren’t members of the chamber and that includes restaurants! So sock it to us with all the sarcastic comments slamming those of us who exercise our right to protest what we perceive to be corruption in Sedona. If none of the city council read Sedona Eye anyhow who cares? We still can pick and choose where we shop and it ain’t with members of the Chamber.
We couldn’t agree with you more @Our Way. We’re very pleased to say our very favorite restaurant is NOT a chamber member and has survived in Sedona for well over 30 years.
Just imagine a success story accomplished by hard work, good product, self-promotion. Word of mouth advertising works and cheaters never win. It’s been proven over and over and over. Can’t wait for the bubble to burst for Chamber of Commerce, Lodging Council AND City of Sedona for dumping on city licensed business by promoting only chamber member competition! How sick can it get?
Important Hearing on Tax Increase (Yavapai County)
Wednesday July 17
Yavapai County is proposing an 18% property tax increase!
For a 100K home taxes would go up more than $30. The public hearing is at 9 AM in Cottonwood at the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 10 South 6th Street. Be there or email your opinions to ALL the supervisors, not just Garrison, for a fair notice to all.
This is true. We live in Sedona. We are avid hikers. We meet many tourists. As residents we are frequently asked where “locals” eat, shop, etc. And without going into the sordid story of the C of C/City and Sedona romance, we politely give them referrals and guess what? NONE of them are directed to businesses who are members to the chamber of commerce. We repeat THIS IS TRUE!
Please…..please tell us something factual.. not your made up nonsense.. You are full of you know what.
Where’s proof the controversial contract with City & Chamber of Commerce brought in one single penny that wouldn’t have occurred without them? None to date? Shame!
This is skim scam if ever it exists and why it’s allowed to continue is beyond belief.
And if you think for one split second “we” residents of Sedona need pushy BS chamber advice on sustainability or anything else relating to City management think again!
Begone! You are a blight on Sedona in our opinions!!!! Join us on any Sedona Facebook group and see “we” are in agreement.
@@sedona hikers – Made up nonsense? You wish! One day you foolish deniers might wake up and realize the value of word-of-mouth advertising! It really does work and is far more effective than you care to admit. Might try comparing it to “tough love?”
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/utilities/arizona_public_service.html?page=3
A perfect fit for Sedona
Joe and Roberta T. indicate they would like proof that the Chamber of Commerce “brought in one single penny that wouldn’t have occurred without them.” No s***!
According to the SEDONA EYE article,”Sedona Mayor on Tourism Ad Dollars Unnecessary,” Mayor Moriarty stated during the “Meet the Candidates for Mayor” forum on July 18, 2018 at the Sedona Pubic Library that “Tourists aren’t goin’ to go away whether the Chamber advertises or not, frankly. They’re not goin’ away! There’s a million ways people hear about Sedona. They’ve been hearing about it for years…everybody knows about it!”
Sedona Hikers says: You wish! One day you foolish deniers might wake up and realize the value of word-of-mouth advertising!
Oh, so why is advertising a multi billion dollar business? When word of mouth is all that is necessary.
Why do we see ads for Disneyland ? And Tide detergent? Sedona is a Tourist town and just like Tide, Disneyland and all the other advertisers in America they know depending only on word-of-mouth advertising! Is a quick way to go out of business, but I think that is what you want anyway.
According to the last numbers from the city 77% of Sedona income comes from visitors and the city council knows that people just as easily go to San Diego or L.A . We need more advertising not less.
Tourist town need to grow like any business expenses never go down and neither do rents….Advertising For the long stay is a great business plane for the city and local business.
OMG more advice from the self appointed expert —- “Oh, so why is advertising a multi billion dollar business? When word of mouth is all that is necessary.” @steve Segner
He fails to mention that Tide, Disneyland, and all the other advertisers in America pay for their OWN advertising. They don’t rely on public funding! DUH.
Rather a substantial difference that ones with brains and/or logic might consider.
For goodness sake @steve Segner. Grow up! Simple solution.
Dismiss ties to the regional Chamber of Commerce. Investigate and if promoting Sedona is deemed necessary do so via the Arizona Office of Tourism: https://tourism.az.gov/ End the feud Pull up your big kid panties. Follow examples set by other tourist towns such as Park City UT. They promote via the Utah State Bureau of Tourism.
It is up to businesses to advertise their own businesses.
A chamber of commerce is business association membership driven. The Sedona Chamber has less than 3% of their members that actually collect city-bed-tax.
Many of the chamber members in lodging don’t ; for example timeshares. 97% of Chamber members get enriched with taxpayers money without paying into the taxes.
Don’t be fooled Sedona doesn’t have a Transients Bed Tax District. Those Big hotels outside the city limits do NOT contribute to tax base. I offered to help set one up. But the Lodging council just wanted taxpayers money and declined my offer. I was told to shut up or else.
http://sedonacity.com/SalesTaxBedTaxSedona.htm
The process of creating a Transient bed district would require the owners to sign an petition. The business inside the city are paying while those outside the city limits DON’T. Why do you think there is a push to build so many hotels in the Village? They are being enriched with the taxes the in-city-hotel collect.
http://grandstranddaily.com/myrtle-beach-tourism-tax/
Where is the efficiency, fairness of advertising fee taxes? The in-city businesses owner never got a voice nor do they rate the chamber’s performance. Does a teacher allow their students to give themselves their own grades? Where is the checks and balances?
This is why no city gift a private association membership base 2.5 million a year. Write your state reps.
WBlackman@azleg.gov,
bthorpe@azleg.gov,
sallen@azleg.gov,
Scheduled new hotel rooms for Sedona Area Communities is 686 more ROOMS! This will increase hotel rooms by 16% and put more tourists & employees on the roads without the proper infrastructure, system or program in place. Visitors cars go in and out 6-7 trips per day!
WRITE & use your voice to make positive change.
Tide and Disneyland don’t receive advertising money from a government municipality. Other than donations, if any, they need to raise the rest. Tide even has an Advertising Agency.
As to the State of California, it is illegal for a governmental entity there to grant or give away taxpayer money.
The regional Chamber–having an abundance of members outside the Sedona city limits–needs to make do with revenues from membership fees and fundraisers. Receiving $2.5 million enrichment a year from the City of Sedona, or any amount whatsoever, is a hoax.
The drive-through traffic that doesn’t stop in Sedona (brought in from Chamber advertising) is ruining the quality of life for residents and tourists.
As if Sedona’s chamber of commerce and or Sedona city gives a damn about the residents @F.Y.I. They care about one thing & it’s hanging on to that bed tax PERIOD!
Let’s keep a good thought about two things (1) Sedona doesn’t turn into an inferno with this stretch of heat without rain (2) Justice will be served and some outside authority might put an end to the great scam incorporated Sedona has with this Chamber.
F.Y.I. says:Tide and Disneyland don’t receive advertising money from a government municipality.
That was not the question , the questions is word of mouth advertising is the only way to advertise…the city should not spend money to advertise.
Lets stick to the subject….. And this is not California and the chamber does not get any money from city, it is a vendor.
The city council took away the % split of bed tax….. You need to read the Red Rock news. You have never seen a ad placed by the chamber or the city for any business….. And according to city traffic studies traffic is down this year………. The chamber is a member owned origination and know how to market Sedona better then any organizations in America.
steve give it a break, your lips are glued to city’s hindquarters, even the brain dead can see your comments don’t hold up under scrutiny
the Chamber can’t exist without city money & its due to poor leadership & planning for the past few years
w/o the city council chamber intercourse this city would be cleaner & richer & successful & able to preserve its grandeur accordingly
red rock news ? see above adjectives.
F.Y.I. is correct. The chamber composition is a majority of NON City businesses.
I’ve audited the members physical location. https://sedonaeye.com/sedona-businesses-withdraw-from-chamber/
The Chamber counts many of the non-city businesses as in-city as Jennifer told me it is too difficult to figure out who is in the city and who not. Since I looked up every chamber member physical location beginning in 2012, I offered to do it for her. I was a chamber member then. Jennifer declined.
I reported the numbers and records to the city council and city manager.
https://sedonaeye.com/future-weddings-will-be-few-small-and-close-to-home/
IMO and thanks to above thread of comments, especially those from S. Segner, it seems the grand sand castle built by the city/chamber is destined to be washed away the same way a house of cards eventually tumbles. What a sweet day and blessing for all tourists & residents that will be. Amen & Hallelujah
Why don’t the fools at city hall review their priorities? At the moment uptown is torn apart adding to the traffic congestion. Windy conditions prevail. The heat is unbearable and prediction for rain is still at least a week away. The situation with the city/chamber is old news that grows even more trite when stale articles are dredged up. Who really cares? Same old, same old.
@Joe Lee summed it up IMO. At least for now concentrate on this: “Sedona doesn’t turn into an inferno with this stretch of heat without rain.”
Steve Segner says there’s never been an ad placed by the Chamber or the city for any business (July 16). WTF? Didn’t the Chamber advertise Tlaquepaque and the Verde Canyon Railroad on TV two Christmas seasons ago, or was it three?
If it’s as Steve Segner claims, there’s never been an ad placed by the Chamber or the city for any business, isn’t that even more reason to demand an official authorized audit to prove exactly how the vast amount of funding to the C of C has been spent over the years?
If the millions of dollars it’s simply to promote Sedona then why isn’t it done via the Arizona State Bureau of Tourism instead of a member-driven organization resulting in suspicion and unverified accountability? How many unknown hands are or have been into that apparently bottomless cookie jar?
Wise up leaders of Sedona. Enough – it’s way past time to clean up your act.
Great point @ James Harrington. If the state allows cities and towns to promote those outside their jurisdiction why doesn’t the state promote California?
California has more tourists. They could promote Arizona as a stop over like Vice Mayor Martinez said to rationalize taxpayer-paid promotion of Enchantment. They stop for a slice of pizza on their way. Say what??????
They say and do anything to gift their third party regional chamber.
James: do you live under a rock, the Chamber of Commerce went through a full audit last year and it was turned over to the city you can get a copy of it and no the chamber has never advertise for any business in Sedona they tell the story of Sedona to the world that’s their job I’ve said this several time you might go back and look at some old posts or if you don’t believe me go to the city and ask for the documents or sit down and talk to somebody at the city you just post and post and post with no knowledge . Sedona is a tourist town we are supported by tourism dollars the city controls the tourism budget not the chamber but if you want to council meetings you know that
Steve Segner doesn’t even live in Sedona. Who has heard of someone who lives elsewhere trying to interfere in another City’s business and riding roughshod over that City’s residents? It would help SS to see a Psychiatrist and get his mind shrunk in my view.
Thanks Steve S
For being a voice of reason amongst all the negativity and haters on this site.
For someone who has all the answers (or thinks he does = Steve segner) why doesn’t he explain the city council’s reason for not promoting Sedona via the Arizona Tourism Bureau? What better place to promote tourism than through the real deal instead of second rate money grabbing amateurs like this local chamber. What a ridiculous comedy of errors Sedona has become. Oh – yea – comments are my opinion which makes me wonder why the segner fellow doesn’t qualify his frequent but lame contributions???? He’s in the know you know.
Daniel T says:For someone who has all the answers (or thinks he does = Steve segner) why doesn’t he explain the city council’s reason for not promoting Sedona via the Arizona Tourism Bureau.
DanielT if you went to the city council meetings you would know that Sedona does work with Arizona Tourism Bureau this summer we are working with them in L.A and last winter back east. This Was all discussed at the city council meetings. in detail.
People I live in Sedona, I work in Sedona Im president of the Sedona lodging council and on many locals boards, and I live in Sedona. what have you done lately for Sedona?
Hope that helps…. P.S I will be at city meeting this wed. will you ?
@Steve Segner thanks for the information about Sedona being promoted via the Arizona Tourism Bureau. That’s great news but also substantiates how foolish it is for them to sustain the great monetary giveaway to the local chamber of commerce for any purpose whatsoever. Wasteful to contract with a special interest member-driven organization for any reason IMO.
And thanks Steve for the reminder “P.S I will be at city meeting this wed. will you ?”
Was not aware of the city meeting on Wednesday. The special council meeting on Tuesday (7/23 2:30 p.m.) as well as the regular council meeting scheduled that same day (7/23) but for 4:30 p.m. have appropriately been given public notice.
However that mystery meeting (for you, Steve?) for “wed” apparently seems to be another one of those mysterious secret sessions which many suspect is where decisions are being made at City Hall these days.
By all means, Steve, please keep us informed. You’re in the know you know.
Daniel t
3:00 p.m July 24
We will be asking mr. Thorpe why he helped pass sb 1350 with no meetings or meetings taking away the power of local government. Now Jhabvala hotels being built in local neighborhoods…..
Proposed Position Statement re Rep. Thorpe’s Meeting at Sedona City Hall
We are representing a group of Chapel area residents who are extremely concerned about the commercial business “motel” construction project by Suite Retreat Vacation Rentals that is occurring in our Sedona neighborhood, and proposed duplicate construction on two adjoining lots. Also, there is potential that similar short-term vacation rentals could be built on three nearby lots.
The law (Senate Bill 1350) that the Legislature and Governor Ducey approved in 2016 allows a commercial business to build a 9-room (or even larger) “Motel” in the middle of a neighborhood of modest single family homes! Investors get away with it because they advertise the rooms over the internet!
I think I answered you question about advertising with the state , remember the Sedona chamber is world famous re marketing and has won several marketing awards. They also advise others on tourism marketing. we have a great team and the city council support.
Quarterly Report
TO THE CITY OF SEDONA
May 2019
https://sedonachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Q3-City-Report-3.pdf
a lot of great information , Sedona is a tourist town 8000 jobs + $400,000,000
visitor spending people ask how and what is the chamber doing, Donna would have you think it is all done in the dark. everything the city and chamber does is available on line of by just asking.
We now have over 700 listing of Air B&b’s in the area come to city hall tomorrow at 3.p.m. tp see State rep, Thorope and why he backed SB1350 and now hotels are being built in the Chapel area
Let me understand.
Segner is representing the city and the chamber as a hotelier.
Segner opposes the LOCAL PEOPLE keeping their own revenue and their own rights to produce revenue without giving it all to corporate and outside chain owned hotels which don’t put the money back into the city where it counts. By not needing corporate hotels, we don’t create a housing crisis and do create employment for locals. All the pluses are for the people! All the city needs to do is its job providing wastewater and water and keeping roads clear. Since they’ve not been able to do that before, it will be iffy to think they can in the future.
All you Socialists should be loving the little man beating out corporations. Why is it that only the Republicans care about the local persons keeping their power over government?
Steve Segner lives in Oak Creek Canyon (unincorporated Coconino County), not the City of Sedona. Bing.com/images has images of Steve Segner’s Oak Creek Canyon home. His friends in public office should be in Coconino County government.
Steve Segner said in SEDONA EYE, April 20, 2018: “….my group gets $2.5 million a year that we would not get if there was no home rule…I meet with city official[s] and city employees every week, work groups or city commissions, and city meetings, because I want to make sure I keep getting my share of taxpayer funds…So Brad what have you done for me lately?”
WTF? The greedhead doesn’t even live in Sedona. His getting taxpayer funds from the City of Sedona is corrupt and unjustified in my opinion.
Yes Lloyd I do a pose putting commercial property in residential neighborhoods, and taking away the right of the local citizens to run their city to their local city government in P yes void I do oppose putting commercial property in residential neighborhoods, and taking away the right of the local citizens to run their city to the local city government and PNC. and z. 700 new rentals in Sedona and you ask why there’s traffic in West Sedona hotels have only added 189 rooms in 10 years now they’re building a nine room hotel in the middle of the chapel district how would you feel if you were next-door to that
Lloyd yes I’m opposed to putting commercial property in the middle of residential areas. The state took away the power of your local government and P and z to determine building in Sedona. We now have over 700 listings on air BNB that’s why we have traffic in West Sedona, and now they’re building a nine room nine bathroom hotel in the middle of the chapel area I’m sure you wouldn’t like that if you lived next-door . Here is the concept residential areas for residences. Commercial areas for commercial enterprises and businesses as determined by the city Council not by the state
You oppose commercial property in the middle of residential areas? Chapel area? Home to councilors & a former SFD board member & several other finger in the city pie types that live there? BUT YOU DON’T OPPOSE IT IN THE VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK AND ACTIVELY PROMOTE IT? You don’t oppose domain condemnation of red rock vistas for timeshares & hotels that you promote? You actively condemn Thorpe and the Governor for allowing homeowners to have paid guests whose money goes to pay mortgages, groceries in town, Ace Hardware improvements, restaurants, Hike House walking maps & shoes, Uptown & SR 179 & SR 89A with passable pedestrian walks and limited cars as people use their feet to reach destinations? Local homeowners get paid by visitors that aren’t sleeze bags dancing drunk on rooftop bars after hours; their paying guests are here for the peace and quiet and scenic views. People don’t rent to jerks that destroy their nests! Corporate hotels don’t give a crap, homeowners do.
Process of elimination automatically classes up our city & restores it again.
You are in full blown delusion about the air B n B renters.
Obviously you must own one. If you think they/them aren’t a negative to residential neihboirhood and the general traffic problems in Sedona your nuts and or very selfish.
So the President of the Sedona Lodging Council objects to short-term, vacation rentals, individually or via Airbnb? Well ain’t that a shame! Many of us residents object just as much about the city giveaway to the chamber of commerce. If those with the regional Sedona C of C are in fact known so well world wide then how do they continue to get away with being incorporated as non-profit? Oh brother, (oh city of sedona) – can you lend me a dime?
As for this proposed Wednesday meeting, can we expect that a quorum of city council members will NOT be attending? Potential OPEN MEETING violation? Sedona has already previously been investigated for that breach at least once if not more.
Keep treading on thin ice you people who continue to press the local “flatlanders” (quote of Steve Segner) further into oppression. Maybe when and if the boom is lowered on the questionable practices being flaunted that will be the moment in time Sedona Eye will be on overload with “Amens & Hallelujahs” in BIG TIME HARMONY!
Yep – can hardly wait to find out how they toe-dance around breaching the open meeting law with a quorum (4 or more) of council members at the Thorpe meeting. And further and maybe some of us flatlanders were’t too happy with Gov. Ducey approving vacation (short term) rentals – however compared to the love affair the city has ongoing with the C of C maybe it’s the silence voice of Karma sending the deafening message?? A chance for local residents to make a fast buck – same as the folks @ the C of C & perhaps Lodging Council? Just asking . . . .
Donna says:
July 16, 2019 at 11:43 am
It is up to businesses to advertise their own businesses.
A chamber of commerce is business association membership driven. The Sedona Chamber has less than 3% of their members that actually collect city-bed-tax.
Yes and they bring in the majority of the city taxes.
Donna one more time the city pays the chamber to market the city and area of Sedona, not one ad had ever been paid for by the city for a business…so What if some business out side Sedona benefit….. The hotels are happy….we Do not mind sharing …. We all need to work together . Remember the bed and sales tax is the cities to do with as it pleases under state law.
Donna so what ,the other merchants live off the money spent by people staying in hotels. Hotels are the drivers of the local economy, people spend two or three nights and everyone benefits, jeep ,guides, local merchants even the residents .When people get to Sedona they decide how to spend there money and what to do in the area that is why merchants advertise.
Donna you hate the chamber we get that, but the last 3 city council have all understood that Sedona overall benefits. https://sedonachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Q3-City-Report-3.pdf
Sustainability!! We are going to ban plastic straws !!!! We are going to give even MORE money to the Sedona Regional Chamber to promote quality of life and sustainable tourism.
Of course the only ones whose quality of life is getting better are those on the chamber and city payroll.
Who of you moved to Sedona to be in bumper to bumper traffic ? The city’s solution, residents just don’t leave your house !!! Sustainability !! Your quality of life will be great in your home !!
Note how the city staff only works Monday through Thursday and is off every holiday Monday. Follow the city’s lead and don’t leave your home when city offices are closed.
Strange how residents keep moving away and the houses become Air B&B.
Fire has consumed approximately 2,500 acres. Governor Ducey declared a state of emergency.