SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie Maddock

Sedona AZ (October 28, 2014) – Writing as a City of Sedona taxpayer and registered city voter, Eddie Maddock addresses Sedona Council members:

Anticipating your reaction of “Oh, it’s HER again” isn’t reason enough for me to decline making this contact.

Reading the agenda for the Council Meeting on Wednesday, October 29, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau, in name only since it clearly serves a “regional” function, will be making a presentation relating to changes in their fee structure. And why is this matter for Sedona City Council consideration?

Any such increases in fees being paid directly to the Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau have no monetary benefit to the City of Sedona. Increased fees to businesses inside or outside City Limits on behalf of the Chamber and now conveniently associated “Tourism” will not be contributing to Sedona City sales or bed tax revenues.

During a Sedona Council Meeting this past summer, Jennifer Wesselhoff admitted that non-chamber members did NOT benefit by receiving referrals from the City financed Visitor’s Center. Not one single councilmember refuted the statement she made about the need to “pay to play” and yet those non-tax contributors to city taxes do indeed continue to “play without paying” – as they DO benefit from Sedona City taxes as members of the “regional” Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau as well as publicity – via the contract for Destination Marketing.

For those who may not be aware, the original proposal for incorporated Sedona was the exact same area as the Sedona Fire and School “Districts.” Having failed to receive voter approval, the second ballot measure downsized the City Limits to their present locations: Just slightly south of Back O’Beyond; Midgley Bridge; and just west of the (Sedona Red Rock) high school. An attempt was made to annex VOC when Alan Everett was Mayor (approximately around year 2000) and the reception was NOT favorable to the proposal.

Therefore, the intense determination of this present City Council to accommodate expanded regional areas with benefit to “Play without Pay” does not make sense and remains an insult to the hardworking, tax paying businesses within Sedona City Limits.

As I was driving down Beaver Street in Flagstaff yesterday, and stopped at the traffic light on the highway, across West Rte. 66 and to the right was a very nice looking building with tasteful signage: “Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce.”

Following up by checking their website it states: “Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, an independent, non-profit organization financed by its members to promote business and advocate on their behalf. (Not a government agency or part of the City of Flagstaff.)” http://www.flagstaffchamber.com/about-us/

By continuing the policy set by the majority of this City Council, that being to follow your own preferences, agendas, and whatever other reasons that feed your determination to heavily fund a non-profit so inept as to refuse representation of the very businesses that funds an alleged “City Visitor Center” remains a mystery. Adding insult to injury is the Destination Marketing contract with the same “non-profit” so unprofessional that they must sub-contract with an alleged qualified Phoenix advertising agency to perform the job, paying them with Sedona City bed tax revenue which again stands to benefit out-of-area establishments.

City of Sedona Arizona

Will Sedona ever again see the light of day when fair and equitable officials will put aside their own egos and personal biases to do the job for which they were elected . . . that being to represent the residents and businesses within the confines of Sedona City Limits? For the most part we have not had that form of representation for the last four years (in my opinion) and there is no reason for hope during these eleventh hour decisions.

Please newly elected, in spite of a hotly contentious and down-right dirty election, be the best you can and reverse this biased process to a place where it makes some sense and restores over-due but rightfully deserved dignity to the confines of incorporated Sedona.

Respectfully submitted,

Eddie S. Maddock
Legitimate City of Sedona Registered Voter

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