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Eye on Sedona Then and Now

Article submitted by the City of Sedona and written by City Councilwoman Jessica Williamson

Article submitted by the City of Sedona and written by City Councilwoman Jessica Williamson

Sedona AZ (August 28, 2014) – I talk with people a lot about current Sedona issues. I’ve noticed that when I’m talking with someone who’s lived in Sedona for a while they often start their side of the conversation by relating something that happened three or five or ten years ago. We go from the here and now to the past, often with lots of emotion attached.

It’s hard to give up fights we feel we lost. I know it’s hard for me. We seem hard-wired to hold grudges. It takes a whole lot of conscious intent to let something go, to jettison the humiliation or anger or whatever emotional baggage fuels our urge for revenge. Apparently nothing in Sedona goes away, and memories are long.

I learned a lesson from the whole Barbara’s Park saga. The Friends of Barbara’s Park worked with City Councils over a 12-year period to build a venue at Barbara’s Park. After a contentious City Council session in 2012, the dome project was approved. Work started, and then the dome fell down.

The new City Council refused to rebuild it as designed and chose instead to begin a process to secure another design. I imagine that the Friends might have been dismayed and angry that the design they had worked so hard on for so long was cast aside and the project was delayed again. One advocate angrily told me that the Council’s decision meant that nothing would ever be built.

I suppose that the Friends could have been bitter, frustrated and angry over 12 years of wasted effort. It might have been tempting to refuse to participate in the next process. They could have denounced the Council for not rebuilding the dome, and tried to sabotage the process because the new design might not include everything they wanted in a venue. Instead, they decided to be a part of the review committee in order to have as much say as possible in the outcome. They put the past behind them and chose to make it work for them and for Sedona.

Sedona City Council (Councilwoman Williamson is seated front right)

Sedona City Council (Councilwoman Williamson is seated front row right)

Time moves on, rearranging our expectations and confounding our habits. Most Sedona Commissions were eliminated and replaced by a Citizen Engagement Program, SR 179 remains two-lane, and lights were installed on SR 89A. These events weren’t personal, although you might not know it from how we talk about them.

I’d like to see us declare a truce with our various pasts and agree to erase our mental lists of who’s naughty and who’s nice. That would certainly be a struggle for me, given the length of my list. That doesn’t mean we’ll all suddenly burst out in a rendition of Kumbaya, or that the lions will lie down with the lambs. But it could mean we make decisions based on the information in front of us, here and now, to decide what’s best for Sedona.

I’d like to see how that works.

This Eye on Sedona article authored by Councilwoman Jessica Williamson was submitted with the following disclaimer: The opinions above are mine alone and do not represent those of the City Council.
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14 Comments

  1. The above are words to live by, I strongly agree with you Ms Williamson!

    The lights are installed on 89A, We don’t own the road (and hope that ADOT doesn’t dump it back on us with no money) Barbara’s Park will have a new dome, Home Rule has passed once again.

    It’s about time we just move along to recent topics of concern. How about the people on this site begin our own version of “paying it forward” by each one of us donated food to the Food Bank. How about dropping off an extra $20 bill to the Humane Society or even better, donate some time to our school system.

  2. Everyone makes a mistake but the current City Council (CC) of Sedona makes too many of them on the backs of the citizens.

    While I agree with @Long Time Resident that we need move forward. We can only do so when CC becomes responsible, human and focuses on Health Welfare and Safety.

    Running a city based on a budget that spends MORE than it earns is WRONG. It is simply a matter of time before the city uses up all the resources. They will need to do something when the money runs out.

    Giving money to ANY private business organization is disrespectful to the citizens and those that generate /collect the taxes. The city is NOT here to BUILD others business, they are responsible for Health Safety and Welfare for the City limits of Sedona. The city cannot prove any return on investment with the funding of these groups. Adapt a new policy prohibiting it. Paying the RRN for meeting notices is bad business. Raising sewer fees when you give away millions to those that do NOT contribute to the city is sick.

    So yes let’s move to positive place by stopping the funding of every Tom, Dick and Harry that begs for it.

    Jessica Williamson you made some bad statements. For example you stated in a council meeting you don’t only represent the voters. You also stated that the resident don’t pay enough. But you slam the in town business for not being cheap enough while you drive up their costs of living and doing business in the city limits of Sedona. The sole purpose of a city council person is to represent the voters meaning the residents in the City in which they serve. The trust was betrayed with the actions and those kind of statements.

    Let’s have an independent transparency and audit citizens group to monitor things. Sedona is the only City in N AZ that does fund private enterprise with municipal funds. Keeping in mind that those that provide a service like Recycles, Human Society, Library, Meals on wheels, Adult Center, improve the environment for all. They are contributors to the city and fall under Health, welfare and safety. Pay it forward to those that enhance our environment that are in the city limits and STOP funding private enterprises. Non-profit does not mean it is not a business. Stop hurting our real Non-profits. Our Director of finance would be a great one to be involved. Transparent neutral cost analysis and monitoring.

    Giving taxpayers money to a regional chamber’s visitor center when they openly only promote their private membership and NOT the City businesses that collect the taxes, shameful. Paying the marathon(chamber) film festival and other groups that do NOT contribute one cent to the city, horrible. Worse City Council ever. Gifting 1.3 million dollars to a regional Chamber- lodging to promote their private charter memberships who are NOT 100% in city limit businesses, a crime.

    Now I want to see how bed tax and sales tax goes up 7-10% with our investment of 1.3 million. I know how this will play out, excuses and oops. CC will go right past it. OOPS sorry residents.

    Start with the RRN stop paying them for print ads. The RRN is controlling and benefiting from taxpayers money. They are biased. Press releases and online posting are free. The city’s website does a great job of releasing them to those that sign up. The site will send you an email every time they have a meeting if you sign up for that notification. Place simple ads online along Kudos to let everyone know how to get informed. Let the citizen go to the website. Take the money saved and pay it forward to the citizens and NP that contribute to Health, Safety and Welfare.

    Stop funding private enterprises, bullying those that don’t go along with that program and the manipulation of Sedona City Government. Be positive, take responsibility,moving forward and being fair to the City of Sedona.

  3. I’d like to suggest that one obvious reason that residents are not happy with the 108 lights and the gazillion dollars spent on yet another venue in Posse Grounds Park is because they feel their voices and opinions are not given the same amount of consideration as those who are foisting these things upon the community. I think a good example of this can be seen in our recent election results.

  4. Joshua says:

    Keep in mind the results of this election were by no means a landslide. However, the fact remains that the majority have spoken in spite of the low voter turnout. Clearly the orchestrated efforts of the “business-as-usual” representation will remain in charge. Look forward to even more money given to the Chamber of Commerce for Holiday Central. And isn’t it amazing that the ONLY letter supporting the proposed (and defunct) laser light show was from Councilwoman Barbara Litrell, again displaying her grudge that a HUGE majority of Sedona residents did not want the city to own W89A.

    Look forward also to Chamber/Lodging Council to receive 100% kickback for the alleged “Destination Marketing.” Alleged because no one really knows just who are the beneficiaries of the efforts. My guess would be the Chamber of Commerce which has now because of the results of the election officially been designated the controlling branch of Sedona City government.

    Red Rock News couldn’t wait to send the message with Jen and her gang heavily featured in their less than stellar post-election publication, as “In your face Sedona, we, the RRN have spoken and remain in charge because we have the ink to smear, taint, and discredit all who do not agree with our policies. Just continue to give us your money for ads. And, especially City of Sedona, we could not survive without you and your mandatory Public Notice contributions. Please, please do not ever consider saving money by fulfilling that legal obligation on line.”

    Stew in your own juices, Sedona. By not voting you have enabled the march for control to special interests.

  5. 66 percent/ 33 percent win for home rule I’m pretty sure that’s considered a landslide.. Just saying…

  6. Travesty says:

    The MINORITY of the “Majority” voted in this last election.. . and look at what we are left with? A True Travesty. What BS.

    When do our registered voters really take a stance like they did back in Nov of 2011 when we – over 70% of us – told that Council to get a grip, get a life and WE over turned their supposed intelligence that was not going to work for our majority of thinking voters????

    The results were we still don’t own 89A in W. Sedona and life has gone one in good ways….Opps – until you see that Barbara Litrell is still Moaning and growing about the reality of the Public Vote…and she still wants some dumb laser lights. OMG!

    Red Rock News just spins what ever they want to as – its “perceived” as their “all knowing” stances …They want us to believe that their “.good” – or “educated” and “personal” aspects of Telling Us Small Folks how to think! is what we all should believe in . That is their crap and not ours.

  7. John W says:

    Some how I hit send before I put my name in ………and I do apologize.

    To get back to scratch I have copied my thoughts under my name:

    The MINORITY of the “Majority” voted in this last election.. . and look at what we are left with? A True Travesty. What BS.

    When do our registered voters really take a stance like they did back in Nov of 2011 when we – over 70% of us – told that Council to get a grip, get a life and WE over turned their supposed intelligence that was not going to work for our majority of thinking voters????

    The results were we still don’t own 89A in W. Sedona and life has gone one in good ways….Opps – until you see that Barbara Litrell is still Moaning and growing about the reality of the Public Vote…and she still wants some dumb laser lights. OMG!

    Red Rock News just spins what ever they want to as – its “perceived” as their “all knowing” stances …They want us to believe that their “.good” – or “educated” and “personal” aspects of Telling Us Small Folks how to think! is what we all should believe in . That is their crap and not ours.

    Our little town is in for a big heap of bad times with entitlements and etc as their main goals…..and we have a council woman who got more votes than our mayor?????? OMG. Hang On Folks…………realize that the games have just begun.

  8. jean says:

    Unfortunately, the past will be hanging around. Even under Home Rule, budget concerns of old have been thrust upon the here and now.

    According to the City Financial Services Department’s Schedules A and C (posted on its web pages), actual expenditures exceeded actual revenues by $5.1 million last fiscal year. Yet, given this disaster and estimated revenues of $27.8M for the here and now (FY 2014-2015), the City Council went ahead and irresponsibly budgeted expenditures of $38.4 million. In other words, the Council didn’t care about its spending $5.1 million more than it took in last year, and plans to spend $10.6 million more than it estimates it will take in this year. Further depleting reserves/savings set aside by much earlier Councils is the name of the game.

    The budgeted expenditures of $38.4 million for the here and now (FY 2014-2015) must be reduced and the reserves increased by the new Council that will be seated in November.

  9. William S. says:

    @Jean

    Your logic and sensibility will fall on the deaf, blind, and mute. Otherwise the election results would have been different.

    The present city council will have between now and the general election to activate who-knows-what before four of them bid us a fond farewell the middle of November. You are correct. This council and those before them haven’t given a hoot about the negative spending and horrendous decisions that one way or another must be reconciled at some point in time.

    Having observed recent council meetings and the increased frequency the majority of council has ignored recommendations of staff and city manager, it’s little wonder Tim Ernster has announced his intention to resign in the very near future. Surely he’s aware of the ambitious agenda ahead, all extremely expensive. In addition those elected were hand selected by Chamber and affiliates in order to assure their ongoing financial “in” with city funding. It will only get worse. Just wait. Not intended to be a negative outlook, just realistic. But it’s what the voters have chosen and apparently want to happen. How receptive will these same voters be when new methods of taxation are on the table?

    End result? Who knows for sure. But the one “for sure” thing is the piggy bank is being drained at a rapid rate as you have accurately pointed out and it will only increase with the fast track to implement the revised Community Plan in all its glory.

    Tritely speaking: It is what it is. If this council and past councils had truly wanted community harmony they would NEVER have made so many in-your-face decisions that apparently at least one person on city staff can no longer stomach. (IMO)

    The “then” is history having left a pretty smelly stigma; and tomorrow the “now” will be history. But it’s the “tomorrow” that should be the focus and taken very, very seriously which clearly isn’t even a part or partial of the agenda presently on the table. Brace yourselves for a bumpy financial ride. But then it’s only about money. But whose ????

  10. John W says:

    to: jean says:

    “According to the City Financial Services Department’s Schedules A and C (posted on its web pages), actual expenditures exceeded actual revenues by $5.1 million last fiscal year.”

    So does this mean that All the folks at the City are doing the “shell Game” of manipulating the City Budget?

    WoW! Nothing New for that gang of players.

    Seems to me that the way they (all City Players) can get around this is they budget for certain things and then they don’t spend in those areas and/or “Let” or participate in those contracts to have them actually go to fruitarian – and then the City comes back and they move the unspent $$$ back out into other areas of the Budget to balance what they need to balance.. all in order to make the picture of the Budget look So Sweet……….and then there is the $$$ given to the Regional Chamber.

    What most people do not understand – or seemingly do not want to understand – is the Shell Game that the City Plays!!!

    William S. says: “Brace yourselves for a bumpy financial ride. But then it’s only about money. But whose ????”

    William S is so very correct!…. when do we ALL wake up to this concept?

    We are about to be beset upon/taken over (like the locusts do) by the Socialistic Angela and Sandy etc., who were elected and – who express NON Capitalist venues – and they will now dictate how this beautiful is supposed to survive???? What a crock!

  11. Jean says:

    Excellent comments from William S. and John W. As all are aware, Councilman John Martinez cast the sole vote against adopting this year’s $38.4 million budget that spends $10.6 million more than revenues received ($3 million attributable to the WW Treatment Plant).

    The budget deficit will be a major subject for the new Council at their December retreat, no doubt about it.. A reminder to all: A runoff election between Rio and Scott Jablow is coming in November.

  12. William S. says:

    @Jean

    The problem is that people don’t want to be confused with the facts. When the time comes for cropping expenditures be assured it won’t be to the Chamber of Commerce/Sedona Lodging Council. Their successful witch-hunt during this election sealed their fate for continued funding to promote the Chamber of Commerce and NOT City of Sedona as the farce of the contract for “destination marketing” would lead people to believe.

    The true cost of those elected wasn’t for ads. It will be reflected in the shortfall of money for infrastructure necessities as a trade off to “pay back” the greedy ones that bought the new mayor and council members. Big time politics obviously are alive and well, even in small towns. Oh, excuse me. None on board of our controlling government seem to realize Sedona’s population is less than 10,000 (which is what they are elected to represent) since for some strange reason it appears their self-appointed charge extends to cover the entire Verde Valley. To what extent do egos swell before they explode?

  13. Sharlett says:

    @Jean – once again you are providing sustainable facts rather than fiction….. which too many people don’t want to understand or realize as being Truth! Instead they just seem to hide under their bed sheets and , I guess, hope, Someone will take care of them? Insane concept…yet isn’t that the new wave of “our National Government knows better than we do” …………..if we will just listen to the them and the go brain dead?

    Sedona is not a part of the National Government – we have the beautiful experience of being unique – until we have Angela and etc. elected who want to dumb us down to their concepts.

    @William S.-You are absolutely correct in your assessment…love the concept of watching the swelled egos explode and oh hell and hope we don’t get the splatter throw back!!! I can’t even imagine how I could wash off the splatter back off my house and life!

    Regarding the council run off: In my opinion Scott Jablow is just another rendition of yet another “Know it ALL and Be it All” who has absolutely NO Vested Interest in Sedona, other than the last whispers of his life…whereas the candidate Rio Robson actually works for a legitimate Sedona business, was raised in Sedona, and has a much better take on this town than any New Jersey transplant.

    Rio really does know how to manage income and expenses, within a budget, for many years in the “great recession”…and beyond….as a major player in his business.

    In my take, there is no one on council that l or any I know will trust as any one who has a brain, that actually has had to come to grips with the reality of a real City budget and a budget that simply has to sustain the original concept of Health, Safety and Welfare.

    Seems to me it is time for us to Vote for a Real businessman in our community by the name of Rio Robson – rather than, yet again, another Transplant named Scott Jablow – who is living off of pensions, self imposed bravado as well as attempting to become a supposed leader in a town he is not vested in!

    I Believe it is time for all registered voters to shake their sheets and get rid of the newest Bed Bugs and stick with a local guy that is young and smart, and who is committed to our town and Vested and actually not looking for a second job but a young man is willing to step up for one simple reason which is he is a real home grown guy!

  14. Jean says:

    Sharlett is spot on about voting for Rio Robson and the whys of it. For those not in the know, if any, Rio’s opponent, Scott Jablow, is a Planning & Zoning Commissioner and a member of the Sedona Fire Board at the present time. If elected, Mr.Jablow will be another City Council big-spender in my opinion.

    Although only Bloomberg reported it, the Federal Reserve released its triennial “Summary of Consumer Finances” last Thursday. The survey covers changes in U.S. family finances from 2010 – 2013. Among the Fed’s findings: In the three years between 2010 and 2013, the annual income of a typical household fell by 5 percent. The Fed’s data makes clear the 5 percent drop occurred during the so-called “economic recovery.” In other words, there has been no genuine recovery from the crash of 2008.

    @William S.– OMG, I am having trouble making up my mind which City Council members have egos ready to explode, which failed High School Civics and which are from Mars.

    As you probably know, the City’s 1998 Ordinance dedicating one-half percent of all sales taxes toward non-sewer capital improvement funding was repealed approximately five years ago. Citizens were fed the B.S. that capital improvements would compete with all the myriad needs [legitimate and phony] for General Fund money, instead.

    Concerned citizens–there has been no maintenance of strong reserves to ensure long-term financial stability or cure the City’s underinvestment in roads and drainage infrastructure. My simple trend analysis shows the City has spent more than it has taken in every year since 2010-2011. Excluding the current fiscal year, the total amounts to $9.75 million in reserves/savings depleted. To reiterate, the City’s current budget spends $10.6 million more than the revenues estimated to be realized.

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