SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie S. Maddock revisits the City of Sedona Dream and why Home Rule and the City Council are destroying it.
Sedona AZ – Whether an idiom, proverb or adage, the saying “a watched pot never boils” takes on a totally new meaning in Sedona, Arizona. It might more appropriately be changed to ”watched pots never STOP boiling” in this neck of the woods.
And as election time approaches, there are so many pots a-boiling that keeping track can be a fulltime job, if not mission impossible.
Adding fuel to keep those pots active are many, many rumors, some without merit and, in particular, relate to the periodic return of the ballot measure Alternate Expenditure Limitation, a.k.a Home Rule. Much has been written elsewhere about the concept of the measure, but alternate expenditure limitation defines it in a nutshell.
It has frequently been repeated in the event voters deny continuation of Home Rule it will either eliminate or vastly decrease funding for such city services as, for example, the library. While such a possibility cannot be denied, let’s first get something clear.
Our library was established prior to the incorporation of Sedona by volunteers and, to this day, although the city presently provides funding for the operation, it is not owned by “the city.” Volunteers and private contributions made it happen, including design and construction of the present beautiful facility, and the physical efforts to relocate from the former location on Jordan Road.
1958: A volunteer group, Friends of the Library, established Sedona’s first library in donated space, with three shelves of books and magazines also donated. https://www.sedonalibrary.org/history.html
The same was true for the Humane Society of Sedona. Volunteers likewise made that happen without one penny from “a city.” Why? Because it didn’t exist. Minimal funds were, however, derived from both counties and perhaps a grant here and there. Keep Sedona Beautiful has the same story to tell. And, in fact, so does the original Sedona Oak-Creek Canyon Chamber of Commerce, established over 50 years ago and survived prior to incorporation, supported by private individuals, members and volunteers.
No matter where you go in the country, an Elks Lodge is right around the corner. With more than 850,000 members and 2,000 Lodges nationwide, Elks are providing charitable services that help build stronger communities. Join today.
Fundraising galas occurred frequently up at the Elks Club and were always well-attended with proceeds dedicated to benefit one cause or another. People cared. There wasn’t a tug of war for funding as exists this day and age. Community support prevailed.
Posse Grounds was alive and well, and accommodated many local events. We had the Art Barn uptown with a stage for performances, and all did very well without city funding.
We had no boundaries. People actually got along and smiled at each other. That old-fashioned way of life has been traded in for a new trend of power and money grabbing, in what all too often appears to be a result of self-indulgence for quite possibly the wrong reasons.
And unlike other cities/town, Sedona doesn’t provide such things as water and garbage pick-up. So no, Folks, they cannot cut service in the event Home Rule is denied by voters. YOU pay the providers and it has nothing to do with our city government. The same is true of the Sedona Oak Creek Fire District and the Sedona Oak Creek Unified School District. They are NOT part of incorporated Sedona, but function through regional districts. And unlike, for example, Cottonwood, the City of Sedona does not own the airport.
Same as the fire and school districts, the Chamber of Commerce provides a regional service, but somehow manages to reap huge financial benefits from the City of Sedona which, of course, remain highly contentious.
How many folks would be brokenhearted if eliminating Home Rule would force cancellation of the city/chamber contract, headed up by people who seem to be unable to give an accounting of just how many of their members are located outside Sedona City Limits and do not deserve to be promoted via incorporated city funding? That remains a mystery since a simple cursory review of the members listed in the Chamber’s publication (providing such information reveals exactly where they are located) and maybe one or two not even in Arizona?
Further, not all 86336 zip codes are located within Sedona City Limits; however, a quick physical count of the onsite location of members really shouldn’t be that difficult to ascertain those who legitimately are entitled to be promoted at the alleged official City of Sedona Visitors Center.
In fact, again unlike most municipalities, actual necessary services provided by Sedona government are pretty much limited to the police department, wastewater treatment plant, providing and maintaining infrastructure which even at that is also limited considering our two major routes belong and are maintained by the State of Arizona.
And, of course, perhaps the primary reason voters approved incorporation? Community development – for the purpose of issuing permits in order to control such things as high density projects and ensure tasteful architecture to blend with our special environment.
Keep that in mind as you observe approval of at least two more major resort hotels in the near future; Upper Red Rock Loop and Soldiers Pass Road/89A, formerly Biddles. Will defeating Home Rule negate anything like that?
Since the basic services provided by incorporated Sedona are essentially limited to a Police Department, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Community Development and limited activity by the Public Works Department, how badly would Sedona residents suffer if Home Rule were to be denied?
Certainly it would be unfortunate if grants to non-profits are reduced or eliminated; however, does the public in general have enough grit and determination to keep these services up and running if such a thing were to occur? After all, most were established without Sedona city funding in the first place.
For example, a very recent event was paramount in precipitating the effort to pull this information together.
Featured in Kudos The Good Life (May 16-22, 2018) is a recap of The Rotary Club of Sedona’s 2018 Chili Cook-off: In addition to chili-chef winners, there are impressive lists of the names of sponsors for the event. For example, a total of nine sponsored Beverage, Parking, Shuttle and Judges’ Gifts, seven sponsored “Habanero” and two people were “Serano” sponsors. A total of thirty-two stood up for “Jalepeno and Chili Pepper” while an impressive one hundred eleven donated to the “Rotary Silent Auction.” Keep in mind those numbers, totaling one hundred sixty-one businesses and individuals willing to give of their time, effort and products to make this annual event happen, remain really quite impressive…and prove that community spirit has not taken a leave of absence and grit and desire to make things happen. It can be done with or without incorporated Sedona.
After all, prior to 1988, when boundaries didn’t officially define Sedona City Limits, that’s how folks lived, cooperatively, and in unity without beating a path to a City Hall for funding.
Each and every civic organization offered not only group unification, but brought the community together at events such as the Chili Cookoff sponsored by the Rotary Club.
For so many years Sedona lived the Impossible Dream. Has that purpose become so faded and distorted that it no longer exists?
IMPOSSIBLE DREAM LYRICS:
To dream the impossible dream,
To fight the unbeatable foe,
To bear with unbearable sorrow,
To run where the brave dare not go.
To right the unrightable wrong,
To love pure and chaste from afar,
To try when your arms are too weary,
To reach the unreachable star,
This is my quest,
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless,
No matter how far.
To fight for the right
Without question or pause,
To be willing to march
Into hell for a heavenly cause.
And I know if I’ll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will be peaceful and calm
When I’m laid to my rest.
And the world will be better for this,
That one man scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage.
To fight the unbeatable foe.
To reach the unreachable star.
Read www.SedonaEye.com for daily news and interactive views!
@@KG judging from actions taken by Sedona City Council & Staff over and above allowing a “regional” chamber of commerce to run absolutely everything, they think nothing of throwing out opinions (El Rojo Grande former property) and trying to control areas far beyond their jurisdiction including the VOC.
So why, then, don’t WE likewise have the same rights to throw in OUR two cents worth? If we sit here like dumb bells as many Sedona voters did and continue to do, we will be in the same pitiful state of affairs as the big shot Sedona politicians abetted by self-appointed movers & shakers. Why should we sit in silence and allow it to happen? Anymore questions from you self serving idiots who refuse to face reality?
@@@Good Time Charley:
Posted on Sedona.Biz by an Uptown resident: “The City Manager recently told me that Sedona is no longer a residential town, it is now a tourist/resort town and we have to prepare for the future growth of tourists.”
“Traffic is our destiny” is also an unfortunate statement emanated from the City Manager.
According to the Friday, April 14th RRN, “City Manager Justin Clifton said that the seven-year term [with the City] was something he came up with not the Chamber.”
Justin’s salary and benefits after the amended employment agreement approved by the Mayor and City Council on October 23, 2018? Only $253,130! His termination payment is equal to six months of salary at the current rate even if he resigns, which is long overdue.
Sedona politics ???? The ones driven by idiots that fund the Greater Sedona Chamber that advertises for day trippers that clog HWY 197 past the Ranger Station? That clog Cornville road with people searching on their Apps looking for a way to avoid day tripper traffic jams? Sedona politics, driving by greedy fools.
Blah blah blah
Self serving nonsense
little birds at restaurant say city manager wants to be regional chamber president & it takes that long to create his dream position of Verde control & bounce out current controllers……………….ambitious people walk over the living and the dead………
@Get Real, if what you write is true, that the City Manager made the decision for the 8-year contract with the money-grabbing regional chamber of commerce, then it should have been and remains the responsibility of the City Council to put a stop to it. That sort of activity is absurd. Voters didn’t elect the City Manager but the mayor and members of the city council were chosen by the people to represent THEM and NOT the STUPID MEMBER-DRIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Time for the appointed king (City Manager) to move on!!!!
It’s soooo annoying to read vapid comments such as @KG Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Given the opportunity the Sedona City Council would run us into the ground, bull whip Villagers and seek ways to tax and spend to feather the nests of a few, the same way they are doing in Sedona. Unless we speak up and tell them to butt out of our area how else will they know we mean business? The stupid decisions they make today reflect on our quality of life (poor planning, too much traffic etc.) which is already bad enough. For them to come out here and run new roads where they effing well please to correct their stupidity & thrown away cash, they need to know we’re not tolerating their stupidity!
Tell (deleted by editor) he is no longer needed as city manager, he can take his useless assistant manager “Hope this helps” with him. As he said at one of his presentations against Home Rule “there are cities without a city manager or assistant city manager”.
Getting rid of them both would be a start. Then recall the entire city council for acting against the residents best interests.
According to the 9-12-2018 RRN, the state Attorney General’s Office is investigating the City’s contract with the Chamber under Arizona Revised Statute #35-212 (Injunctive and civil remedies; time limit; definition). In addition, the AG was requested to examine Sedona City Ordinance NO. 2013-07 relating to the city partnering the public bed tax revenues with the Sedona Chamber of Commerce as a possible violation of the AZ Constitution “gift clause” prohibiting a municipality from becoming a ‘joint owner’ of assets with a private entity.
To reiterate – Arizona Constitution, Article 9, Section 7, reads as follows: “Neither the state, nor any county, city, town, municipality, or other subdivision of the state shall ever give or loan its credit to the aid of, or make any donation or grant, by subsidy or otherwise, to any individual, association or corporation, or become a subscriber to, or a shareholder in, any company or corporation, or become a joint owner with any person, company, or corporation.”
I second eliminating the Sedona City manager and assistant city manager. The proof that they are non productive positions is when the assistant city manager took on the Community Development Director responsibilities. That would not have been possible is she actually did any productive work as assistant city manager. Time to drain the Sedona City Hall swamp.
You say recall the city council…Pretty sure thier positions are safe since all you do is sit at your computer posting angrily while NO ONE pays attention to you.. LOL
(deleted by editor)
Good news @JeanJ What about the Jordan Road property the chamber purchased with city money but had it in their name (their asset) but deed to be transferred at some later date? Property to be used for public parking. Does anyone know who received the commission on the sale of that property? Isn’t the husband of the chamber CEO a Sedona realtor? Any connections?
Oh boy someone throwing a tantrum again.
LOL..
Do you resent people that actually work and have jobs as you sit at you computer all day angrily posting.. LOL
@snidley whiplash , Seeing as you are paying attention to me, you must be NO ONE. LOL LOL
One other little tidbit, you have no idea what I am doing or what I have done. Often it only takes one tiny grain of sand to start a landslide.
It’s no wonder your side lost everything during this past election. You obviously have no clue how a city runs and must have no idea of what the job duties of those two people do. I went to the citizen’s academy and learned a whole lot.
Really Jean isn’t that the old issue that Bob Thorpe was involved in months ago? I I understand that Thorpe is now under investigation also by the AG;s office for destroying email records and failing to fulfill and Public Records Request from the Red Rock News. He also facilitated an action to the AG;s office with false information. (missing 5 pages) The word from my GOP friends at the State Capitol say since he was re=elected he’s now in a bunch of hot water and going to be sanctioned. I’m thinking right now that Thorpe is in more way more trouble than the city of sedona.
After all, if the AG was really interested in Sedona the issue wouldn’t be sitting on someone’s desk since September?
You really need to get a life or move to someplace that doesn’t evolve and encourage businesses to thrive and flourish.
Jean instead of making snide insinuating statement that somehow the real estate deal at the new city parking lot was not legit, all you have to do is call the city and ask. The reason the chamber purchased the lot and not the city is because the money to make the payment wasn’t in the budget that yearand the chamber was able to finance it, simple shame on you Jean for making accusations that you know are not true I think it’s time you retire you were always looking back whining about the days past . The city in the past has missed too many opportunities because they don’t act in time a prime example is the Hyatt the city should’ve purchase That property, now at least we have some parking opportunities uptown. And by the way it’s paid for with the bed tax not the locals
The chamber supporters always like repeating the lie that the bed tax is paid by the tourists so it belongs to the chamber. The bed tax should be used to mitigate the tourists impacts, like paying for the yellow vest traffic control people, the trash and extra wear on our streets, you know, the ones off the main state highways that are way overdue for repaving and are starting to look like third world turning to gravel.
Why do you and your chamber feel they can be the Grinch that stole Sedona?
Bed tax from those that collect Sedona-city-bed-tax is NOT an entitlement for a regional-sedona-chamber.
Why should the in-city-sedona PAY for those OUTSIDE the city-limits?
Why should they be unheard, dictated? They didn’t vote for it and are burden with a paying more operating with less profit for YOUR club to get a “Kick Back” Did you Mr Sucgner get them to sign waivers taking their vote and voice?
More than DOUBLE FOLKS!
Yavapai Hotels outside city limits = 6.35%
Sedona City Limits Yavapai County = 13.325%
Coconino County outside city limits = 6.90%
Sedona City Limits Coconino County = 13.90%
BED TAX includes SALES TAX
Why would anyone come spend 13.90% to stay inside the city limits when they can stay at Enchantment or Hilton at 6.35%?
Watch out VOC more Hotels coming your way! The lovely self serving greedy chamber and Mr. Sucgner is sending more business your way, driving more out!
Donna, you ask Why would anyone come spend 13.90% to stay inside the city limits when they can stay at Enchantment or Hilton at 6.35%?
Well they do……. And Sedona is in the top 5 in trip advisor cities …… The reason is because of the chambers “Up Scale”marketing is helps all business…..
In and out of Sedona. Hotels in Sedona are having a great year and when hotels are full other business’s do better.
The marketing money paid by {only} by visitors is a doing it’s job . Do the math 6%more on a $350.00 room is only $21.00 more then the village tax on top of that most 3 and 4 star hotel charge a 20.00 to 60.00 hotel. Fee…a day!.
The Up Scale marketing the city is doing bring in the kind of traveler that are not worried about sales or bed taxes….. and spend several hundred dollars a day in and around town. Let the village have the visitor worried about hotel prices and lower taxes.
Remember
“a rising tide lifts all boats” is associated with the idea that improvements in the general economy will benefit all participants in that economy, and that economic policy, particularly government economic policy, should therefore focus on the general macroeconomic environment first and foremost.
interesting conversation
@Just lies
The AG is also looking into the Chamber’s purchase of the old bank property at 401 Jordan Road for $1,015,000 using Sedona taxpayer bed tax funds.
The Chamber OPENED THE ESCROW without public input and with no knowledge of the City Council until March 15, 2017–after the fact. The City Council did not take a vote at that time, and the deal was forced upon the residents.
IMO Jennifer W. lied when she said she looks forward to working with residents and stakeholders(?) in the area to explore the best use of the property. (3/22/2017 RRN)… “The Chamber of Commerce is 100 percent funded by member businesses, not by tax dollars,” is the blatant lie posted on both the RRN and KUDOS last July.
THE NATIONAL CITIZEN SURVEY “Community Livability Report Sedona 2017” ordered by the City found that 67% of respondents do not support increasing tourism.
@steve segner, another post obviously not written by the illiterate segner.
“a rising tide lifts all boats”, that’s why the city is looking to build low income housing, because wages are rising so quickly. The bumper to bumper day trippers, half of which are proven by the city’s own study NOT to stop in Sedona are evidence of the FAILURE of the chambers efforts to attract “UP Scale” tourists.
The biggest evidence of the failure of “a rising tide lifts all boats” is the loss of about 10% of the city’s population. Many people would like to live in an upscale resort, few want to live in a bumper to bumper tourist trap, which Sedona has become.
Mayor Sandy Moriarty made the following comment at the July 18, 2018 “Meet the candidates for Mayor” forum at the Sedona Public Library: “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!”
Why oh why then doesn’t the C of C then hire a roadside whatever to remind the thousands of daytrippers this alleged upscale Chamber advertising continues to do? You make no sense. Has there ever been a valid assessment from a “real” upscale, professional to indicate whether or not there’s ever been a viable return on the investment (ROI) Sedona City has with their initially self-appointed managing partner? Methinks NOT!
You are sickening. The real fact is nothing has been produced except excessive daytrippers. There is certainly proof of that by the long long lines of traffic going nowhere in a hurry!
You, IMO, are an idiot. And if you think everyone with whom you disagree is someone named Donna, you are really crazier than a loon and ignorant beyond belief and perhaps might consider changing your own name to Prima Donna.
Why oh why they (Council & Staff) listen to your BS is unreal. But, by golly, you get credit for most likely being the most recent officious person to have the real powers-that-be eating out of your hand.
Get a grip – man – one day the tide will turn. It always does. Little men wanting big handouts aren’t all at the corners of Basha’s and Safeway. City Hall is really the place where the nonelite meet. Again IMO.
Happy Holidays, Stevie etal,
from Goodtime Charley (not some dame named Donna – sorry)
Occupancy is down down down in the city limits.
According to city budget Sedona is NO BETTER than any other hotel across the U.S.
Gone are the days. They killed the golden goose.
Want a little insight into who the players are who run our town? Click on the Fake News display ad.
People move to Sedona and then get up set by the “Tourists”
DEFINITION OF A
tourist town
Thought you guys might like this it made me think of you
A town with a relatively small population that seems to grow exponentially during the season or seasons due to tourists. Usually located close to many major places of interest – to the tourists, naturally, as the locals have seen everything of interest at least 50 million times. More often than not, these tourists keep summer/winter homes – they’re too damn wussy to survive the rest of the year there.
I hate living in a tourist town – there’s always a f****** traffic jam!
by Yazzy July 09, 2005
@Steve segner
The latest incarnation of someone writing under the illiterate Steve Segner name.
In my opinion the goal of wise city leaders, an accusation no one has levied on the recent city leadership, is to preserve and protect the city in which the were given the obligation to manage.
The current regime in charge seems to think they can exploit our once fair town for the benefit of a few businesses and overpaid city staff, and give NO thought to the future.
Character matters, the character of a place and of its’s leadership. Sadly the voters voted based on lies. Stupid should hurt. Fortunately long after the city of Sedona is a ghost town, the beauty will remain. Karma will take care of those whose greed temporarily ruined the place. All is dust in the wind, even our current greed driven leadership.
Merry Christmas !!!
yawn!
Either you are trying to be funny or are just so ignorant. I’m guessing the word ignorant is more appropriate especially when you say ” for the benefit of a few businesses” as a business owner in this town for over 20 years, how self-centered can you be?????? There are far more than a “few” businesses in this town and I would bet that most of the businesses have been here long before you. Yet, you continue to rag on this site about how bad this and every prior council is because they realize how important businesses are to this town. I bet you were also against the school bond.
Since you continue to say that you are only speaking your opinion allow me to speak my opinion, without viable businesses in any town, YOU DON’T HAVE A TOWN!
You think that the voters voted based on lies??? Again, in my opinion, I think, the opposite is true. It was those (and I think that you are one of them) No Home Rule, Yes on the PBA Arizona Liberty three that were running for the fire board who were pushing complete lies just to push a “Smaller Government”.
Above we hear from “allow me to speak my opinion, without viable businesses in any town, YOU DON’T HAVE A TOWN!”. Those would be the same sentiments of the owner of the coal mine in a company town. “Without our business you don’t have a town, slaves.” “We need more low income housing for our slaves, silly voters. ” Heaven forbid business pay them a living wage.
NO, you are wrong, we can live without your tourist trap business selling Chinese trinkets and sugary drinks and foods. I’ve lived in this town over 25 years, and I’ve watched it go downhill under the heavy hand of greedy people like you. I’ve watched the nurseries and auto parts stores close. You seek the spoils of Big Government, but always ask others to pay for it.
This Sedona tourist business has the giant ego to essentially say that without their tourist business Sedona would not exist. They say that residents are nothing. That shows the attitude of his group that also stated “Sedona is a tourist town. ” and Traffic is our destiny !”
Its nice to know how clearly they believe residents have no value.
You say the sedona tourist business has a big ego.
All we hear from you is a lot of contempt and nonsense…..
Over and over and over again… You have no idea what your talking about (deleted by editor)
Nice that Jennifer Wesselhoff is trashing residents in her so-called “Well-managed city merits public thanks” 12-14-2018 article in the RRN. She fantasizes and claims “tourism saves everyone money and improves emergency services.”
Jen also states that “Seventy-five percent of SFD calls come from the 17,000 District residents, and just 25 percent originate from our 3 million annual visitors.” This is meaningless. Sedona is predominately a retirement community. The City lists 10,397 as the population in 2017 with a median age of 57.9.
Since residents are older than visitors, more have health problems percentage-wise. They are going to stay home and call the SFD if need be, not go visiting. It’s apple and oranges comparing residents to visitors.
Jen inaccurately states “Tourism dollars even allowed SFD to cut the county property tax rate last year. Well, there are two counties instead of one, and anyway this is hooey. My SFD property tax was still the highest on my county bill, and the dollar amount for both line items increased as well as the total county property tax assessed.
Here’s more crapola in Jen’s several quotes from a list received from Sedona Park Ranger Bob Huggins:
“A city staff responsive to our needs.
“A mayor and council who listen.
“The opportunity to live in a city that has not lost its small-town character.
“The great work and support of chamber volunteers and staff.”
WOW, WOW, WOW! This bloke lives on another planet IMO!
And please remember. City public taxpayer money is going from the Chamber, through the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund, to the U.S. Forest Service, a violation of the state Constitution “Gift Clause,” A.R.S. Article 9 Section 7.
You women are full of it… You call out Sedona business and call them out for “selling trinkets ” or sugary drinks etc.. ..
These businesses are just another ploy for you to show your distaste for Sedona Govt and the C of C.. there are many many businesses in town that cater to locals and tourists and have been doing so for years and years…I don’t hear them complain… only YOU complain about EVERYTHING..
I particularly find it distasteful how you lump all businesses together as if you know what your talking about…I got news for you …(deleted by editor).. You have no idea what your talking about and the way you insult businesses that have been around 20 plus years don’t care about your BS either… Get a life (deleted by editor)
See, there you go with FAKE NEWS!
I never said anything about the tourist business. I said business in general. This past fall the restauranteurs did a survey of their customers and it was found that 80% of their business came from tourists. I have owned a local restaurant for over 20 years.
If the chamber of commerce and city council and staff think an extension from Forest Road at the end of the Hyatt is feasible they should all be shipped off to the loony bin immediately! Have they even bothered to look at the terrain? Check it out as you drive east on 89A toward the Y. It’s mind boggling to think these nut cases would even entertain such an absurd proposal.
Imagine that while the city tried to preserve businesses, all the property value that was lost to residents. About 25 years ago Sedona had the highest property values in Arizona, and was judged one of the best places to live in the United states.
No longer, while the Baby Boomers were retiring in mass, Sedona lost 10% of it’s population. Property values have declined relative to other places.
Yea, the City may have fed a few restaurants some tourists, those that managed to survive, but in the process lost it’s charm, 10% of its’s residents and a HUGE amount of potential property appreciation.
It takes a special talent to fail that big.
IMO For fake news, read the Soy Boy’s of the Sedona Red Rock Fake News, or what ever drivel and lies Jenn is spewing this week.
Oh there you go ago…
Aren’t you the one sho hates the RRN and calls them “fake”? You sure read and quote ALOT for a women(I know who you are) that doesn’t read/buy that paper LOL..
You also must be obsessed with that women Jen.. Is she all you think about day and night? Seems that way..
(Deleted by Editor)
I read the Sedona Eye as I get unbiased information from a media outlet that I trust.
I read your posts and see the same old greedy buggers snapping away. You try and guess who is posting to rationalize your behavior. Clueless U R.
Surveys BTW don’t work as the city picks and chooses who gets them , Then after they get the results they TWEAK them so that the public only sees what they want.
The Incorporated City is just that. Until the city of Sedona STOPS the giveaways the city, businesses and residents will struggle. The favoritism and subsidies to the regional chamber is the root cause to the deterioration of the entire Sedona region.
Those being enriched will continue down the path of destruction, name calling as it is making them wealthy. Stop reading and drinking the rr snooze koolaid as their biggest account is the chamber. $$$$ follow the money, blinded by money and they vote for the money.
As far as the Sedona clubo is concerned chamber-lodging-paper-city you have lost, you neglect to see the value of community, people and work for your own financial benefits. You got your cronies on all the boards.
You want residents to be your slaves. This is driving residents out, schools declining. Selfish. IMO. BTW You can’t take all that money with you but you do leave the negative mark of greed and selflessness is permanently embedded in the residents who silently watch your behavior.
In reflecting back onto 2018 The city, chamber and paper get the highest awards for playing low. All the collections to help a needy family Karen won’t fix it. IMO City employees like the Mr. Pickle-head & jiver manager have taken the city to the low down.
Happy New Year!
What is wrong with being a tourist town? We are and always have been a tourist town that is a fact.
You scream at every new building , shop or road that the city approves but
you all live in home built on former farm or range land. Fact.
Less then 2% of people living in Sedona were born in Sedona. Fact
So most of us moved to Sedona after visiting first as a tourist , Fact
More than 10,000 people own ,operate or work in tourist business. Fact
More the 70% of the city income comes from tourist. Fact
We have a lower fire dept. Mill rate because of tourists. Fact
Sedona is a tourist town and Traffic” is” our destiny traffic is a fact and the city is working it.
Locals need to share Sedona.
Sedona will grow, Sedona government job is not to stop growth but to manage it, more people make there living from tourists then live in Sedona and more people visit Sedona everyday the live in Sedona….. The city council need to balance the needs of locals, business and visitors.
Sedona is built over two state HWY’S, people will use the roads to get to other places.
Sedona has No local city property tax , and low fire dept Mull rate because of tourism.
Most towns of 9,000 would be lucky to have a more the a Burger king and a Mc Donalds
So just learn how to share the most beautiful place in the world and stop looking back.
You have all become so easily distracted,divided and easy to conquer which is the goal.
Focus. Don’t let petty arguments steer you off course.
http://sedonaaz.gov/your-government/projects-plans-citywide/sedona-in-motion-transportation-master-plan/transit-improvements
https://s3.amazonaws.com/snuts-froala/uploads%2F1544810398436-IR+%232.pdf
https://surveynuts.com/surveys/take?id=177554&c=4242120185HDRH
She sure has come long way since her COUNTY days
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=370&v=a8fsPkDDYbc
See 2:44 and hear all about the outreach.
What? You have until January 4 to give feedback.
@@ company town, you assume I am a woman. Definitely not. Would you like to guess again with your false and emotionally driven fake news?
It would be like saying the editor of the Red Rock Fake news is a man. Some things are not what they seem.
People that are secure in their position and beliefs don’t need to resort to falsehoods or foul language. Many restaurants have failed in Sedona the town goes on without them, unlike what you may believe of your essential business.
“See, there you go with FAKE NEWS!
I never said anything about the tourist business. I said business in general. This past fall the restauranteurs did a survey of their customers and it was found that 80% of their business came from tourists. I have owned a local restaurant for over 20 years.”
I was right in referring to a tourist based restaurant, yet still after confirming I was right, they cry “Fake News “.
Liars have trouble telling the truth, ever.
Interesting exchange however I keep looking for Sedona’s local idiots to make their push for creating a new county of some sort. Why? Because they can?
Have they even given a moment’s consideration to the mess Sedona became after incorporation? And it just gets worse by the day.
Back off, you jerks! Leave well enough alone. It’s hard to imagine the folks living in Coconino Sedona would support such corruptive nonsense. Given a choice I would much prefer Coco County to Yavapai but those lines were drawn long before my time.
As I understand it the majority of people living in VOC thank their lucky stars for not being part of incorporated Sedona. And why would they be dumb enough to go for a new county that would probably be led and governed by the same dumb-heads seated on the city council who are controlled by your idiotic chamber of commerce? Guess what? We here in Camp Verde function very nicely without a Chamber as is the case with most incorporated areas.
Ask Flagstaff.
Get a grip. Drop your insanity of creating another county on this side of the mountain. We don’t need your self appointed arrogance and greed to wreck our lives as has happened in Sedona. Most of us outside your realm look at you and make jokes. And that’s the truth.
Oh, Jim, you must be one of those who lost during this past election and likes to use Fake News to get your point across.
The only ones who want to create a new county are some dedicated folks who are tired of Yavapai County Community College taking our tax dollars (yes, that is a property tax that we all pay) over to the other side of Mingus to build tennis courts where there are no tennis teams and a college performing arts center that is not used by the students. This is the same Yavapai College that feels that giving all of the communities on this side of the Mingus the leftover crumbs by building a culinary institute and nothing more. While it may seem far-fetched to even consider such a plan, at least some few are working hard to finally do something that is fair to this side.
I can only hope that our newly elected Yavapai County College representative Paul Chevalier can do what others refused to do and that is to bring some balance to our children’s college education on this side of the Mingus.
As for those VOC homeowners who don’t want to be a part of the city, they are rather smart and had cast their vote 30 years ago and I have never heard or read about anyone trying to change that.
Either educate yourself or stop spreading “fake news” just to shock and deceive. There are a lot of serious things happening in the County and people need to stay focused without being deceived by the uneducated people on this site.
@Oh Contraire It is au contraire to the educated. Your comment then is defined as?
Au contraire dictionary definition | au contraire defined
https://www.yourdictionary.com/au-contraire
The definition of au contraire is French and means to the contrary, and it is a phrase used when someone is incorrect, wrong or says something that is the opposite of the truth.
@Oh Contraire Jim R Camp
You neglected to mention Uptown Sedona is in Coconino. Those wanting to create a new county and reside in Yavapai better confine their efforts to rectifying their own FAKE problems. Keep Coconino County folks OUT OF IT. Paul Chevalier let’s hope you’re paying attention to REAL issues here and not prefabricated for more political power. Sedona has a performing arts center built with taxpayer money at the high school and good enough for an international film festival. BTW it’s usual occupancy rate is Empty.
YC meets Sedona needs which are truthfully Nil; we don’t have kids to use the facilities when a few miles away Camp Verde has a great YC campus! Osher Lifelong Learners get minimal attendance now and its free. Maybe pulling Coconino County into the stupid NEW COUNTY is the incentive to all of us to withdraw from Sedona City Limits!!!! It can be done and it will be cheaper taxes than Sedona for the same square inches of land and rock. There would be no Sedona city needed in a new small county. Losing all that Sedona city commercial tax collected in Yavapai & Coconino counties to new one? SWEET. Maybe new county might be Sedona city’s downfall.
More disgusting lies and BS from Steve Segner (December 27, 2918 post).
Steve asks what’s wrong about being a [so-called] tourist town?
(1) Snidely Whiplash’s budget for “Tourism Management & Development” for the current fiscal is a ridiculous $2,187,250.
(2) Sedona has been oversold and over-commercialized, and it’s beauty and magic are lost.
(3) The City of Sedona and Chamber relationship are under investigation by the Arizona AG’s Office.
(4) The Chamber is working regionally with Sedona public taxpayer dollars.
(5) The high cost of living, high sales taxes, poor residential road conditions, deteriorating quality of life, stagnating population.
(6) The Chamber’s purchase and ownership of 401 Jordan Road using $1,015,000 in City of Sedona public taxpayer funds.
(7) The SFD mill rate is not low as claimed.
(8) The statement that 70% of the City income comes from tourists is hooey. According to the CITY OF SEDONA COMMUNITY REPORT 2018: “FY 2017 city revenue generated by sales and bed taxes….57%, two thirds of which is paid by visitors.” Two-thirds of 57% is 38, not 70%.
(9) The real reason Sedona doesn’t have a City property tax is because no City Council has put one on the ballot. And were there an election, the voters would not approve such a tax.
(10) “Traffic is our destiny” is hooey from Snidely Whiplash, ian’t it? The 50% drive-throughs brought in with public taxpayer money the Chamber paid Miles Advertising Agency would routinely travel the I-17 to the Grand Canyon, etc.
(11) More growth, more taxes, more hotels and continuing horrendous traffic congestion are not wanted by residents or the roadway infrastructure but, in my opinion, there are anti-resident vultures hereabouts who don’t care.