SedonaEye.com columnist, Eddie S. Maddock welcomes 2013
Sedona AZ (January 1, 2013) – Holy moly, a brand spankin’ New Year is before us and what in the world will it have in store?
Well, for starters, maybe just maybe, the newly created scummy ponds at the wastewater treatment plant, now home to desperate ducks, will have additional amenities.
Word is that funding has already been approved for a parking area and who knows what else is on the horizon in order to enhance Sedona as a tourist attraction. Disney Land, watch out!
Does anyone happen to know if there is a vaccine for . . . what is it that an over abundance of mosquitoes have been credited with carrying . . . lyme bacteria? Yep, that could be another future Sedona attraction, if appropriately marketed by the well-city-funded local Chamber of Commerce as “Sedona’s Official Variety of a Potentially Lethal Disease.”
How about a fun publicity stunt by awarding a prize to the surviving driver who claims fame to smashing the highest number of wild animals crossing SR89A on their optimistic journey to partake of the swamp swill?
By the way, another newsworthy tidbit is that the City, through its newly conceived “Public Awareness Campaign” to alert local businesses that are remiss in paying monthly sewer fees and/or Transaction Privilege Taxes (TPT), will “outreach through the Chamber of Commerce, Main Street, Lodging Association, etc.” to remind local businesses to pony up.
Do you think that effort will be accomplished minus a price tag? And why, might one ask, hasn’t the City of Sedona the ability to keep its own accurate records of businesses that have or have not paid these legal assessments?
But, of course, even more grandiose plans are on the horizon as in resurrection of the Creek Walk and adjacent park.
Sheesh, don’t these people know that, without even close to divine wisdom, former City Fathers rejected a “gift” of creek side acreage? It was a futile “land” bait attempt as a means of attaining conditional approval for a potential development in north uptown Sedona! However, our then-seated dignitaries rejected the dubious “generous” offer simply because they had been “gifted” with common sense and realized the property was located in a floodplain.
Assured flooding, at some given time, should have been cause enough to persuade affiliates presently restructuring the Sedona Community Plan to drop the idea. It still isn’t too late to take appropriate action. If ignored, shameful is the word for blatant disregard for historical documentation of potential disaster.
Let us not overlook the proposal to seek City ownership of the corner property at the “Y” which was the former home of Sedona Chevron. ADOT obtained that property during the redesign of SR 179 and, now, can you believe it, City is considering its purchase for a cute little park or some asinine thing – at an already dangerous, busy intersection, complete with insignificant statues barely noticeable due to the intense concentration required to navigate the dual roundabouts merging SR179 and 89A.
So one might ask what’s wrong with another visitor’s center or a sweet little park to sit and sip a soda and watch a local demolition derby? Sedona, Arizona, population 10,000, sits smack in the middle of a United States National Forest! We need more cute little parks as in “what for?”
Does the City intend to further finance its beloved Chamber of Commerce by contracting with it for yet another “profitable” opportunity to operate its “own” Convention Center . . . possibly at the former Kiss-of Death Financial Disaster Cultural Park?
Hey, with the current intention to please the “perceived” demand for such nonsense (apparently it is being incorporated into the revision of the Sedona Community Plan) at the very least the Creek Walk/Park will likely be placed on fast-track this year – since it represents the ending of terms for the mayor and three council members unless they choose to run for office again. Time, therefore, is of the essence to get these projects moving in spite of the fact that Oak Creek floods aren’t a matter of if but when.
Once approved, who will end up being financially responsible for these outlandish propositions? Rest assured, it will not be the mayor and city council as they opt to grace the whims of a select few, at the same time salving their own egos by stamping approval on these outrageous and unnecessary expenditures.
Based on trends of current administration, proponents pursuing a National Scenic Area Designation may as well apply the “Kiss-of-Death” tag to the years of extended efforts they have already contributed towards attaining that status.
Realistically, when man-made doodads have usurped God given attributes which served as the original attraction for visitors to flock here without flimflam nonsense, why shouldn’t the effort and suggestion for a National Scenic Area Designation be reduced to anything more than a huge guffaw by the United States Government?
So sad, too bad.
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great article….sounds just like the L.A. City Council on a much smaller scale…politics (ugh is not a strong enough word)…. Good luck!
GIVE EM HELL!
Bodacious Burgers just went dark. What is it with that location . . perfect for locals and tourists for affordable bite to eat and yet so far nothing has succeeded? If sewer fees had anything to do with this failure maybe C of C should spend time servicing members helping them stay in business like lobbying city hall to cut cost of sewer access (was BB a member of C of C?) instead of soliciting more money from city hall to pay their own high salaries and growing local government. How many more businesses will be going dark while council and staff fritter money away on nonsense instead of tending to affordable fees to local businesses and residents for mandatory services?
Boy lady, you are really too sardonic for words. Doesnt work for a small town hoping to survive a rough economy. Lighten up.
Watch your wallet in 2013! City Hall has been spending its savings.
“Public Outreach to educate the public and initiate a public dialog on future funding mechanisms for capital projects” is now a City Council Priority A. How lucky can we taxpayers get?
Excellent article! And the beat goes on….seems like nothing has changed.
In my humble opinion, I believe Sedona should adopt a “No Growth” policy before the idiots on the city council totally destroy the city. That park/rest stop, where the Chevron station was located, is silly. How about returning the land to it’s original state. If the city has any extra funds, it should be applied towards debt
The majority of Sedona voters supported Home Rule control on spending, so what’s the big deal? Aren’t Sedona residents getting what they asked for?
I heard a fantastic new restaurant was forced to locate its self to the village because the city and the chamber wouldnt work with them re the sewer. The costs are so costly for a new business.
So instead of being in the Safeway Plaza where we’d go once or twice a week, they’ll be in the Village where we’ll frequent once a quarter.
Its a pity really.
Hang on to your hat, our country is headed for an economic disaster. In preparation for this event, I strongly believe that we all, including small businesses and municipalities , must rid ourselves of all types of debt as quickly as possible.
Doris – IMO that the “majority” of the voters does not represent the “majority” of the residents claiming year round residency (I believe that something like only 2,000 or less people vote!).
More people need to be involved and participating in helping and showing the city and our elected officials how we wish our collective interest to be represented.
Bobby;
What “type” of restaurant are you talking about?
the ponds near sedona pines^ parking lot there?
Beyond Sedona Pines . . . just past where the wastewater treatment plant is located. There are now “finger-like” ponds and that is where plans are to build a parking lot and other questionable “amenities” as in some sort of amusement park. City Council meetings are aired at 4:30 on Channel 4 when they convene their meetings on every other Tuesday (or something) after the recent implementation of the “pre-meetings” scheduled at 3:00.
Confusing? Try following the meetings. If you miss the direct broadcast, re-runs are offered via the city web site, which is really neat ’cause you can pick and choose the agenda items you want to review.
It’s very informative and a somewhat rude awakenening to reality. The next meeting is this Tuesday (the 8th). Check it out, one and all. Channel 4; 4:30 PM.
What? they rehearse before the real meeting? how can that be? asks another dummy here pondering the catchy phrase “only in Sedona”
Mrs Thomas-
What I heard, (and I saw the owners painted truck, and then searched the internet to find a phone number)- is a “Mongolian stir fry” . In case you havent been to one- it has typically 20-30 vegetables to chose from, then beef, chicken, fish, shrimp, noodles, rice, and various fruits…plus sauces. You make your mix and give it to a “chef” to fry it up on a giant griddle.
They are popluar in Scottsdale- and usually inexpensive.
We need better idiots on the Council! Quality people do not have time for this crap!
To LAH: Reference your comment: “Quality people do not have time for this crap.” Are you referring to the need for “better idiots on the Council” or my article reflecting on the plans “they” (Council) have in store for us? :-)
A Mongolian grill (FAD RESTAURANT POPULAR 10 YEARS AGO) coming to VOC where food will sit in the kitchen with no customers like the other restaurants here!! Vegetables have a SHORT SHELF LIFE SO INVEST IN LOTS OF PREPACK FROZEN VEGGIES!! OVERHEAD IS HIGHER ON THIS TYPE OF FOOD DELIVERY. My wife & I can’t stop laughing. How many of us old folks demanding stir fry IN VOC?? Too many restaurants in VOC now & none except Dahl & DeLuca is a proven winner. Take a look at the failed Redstone Grill with its guaranteed golfer customers!! People invest in restaurants who have no business sense. Say goodbye to your investment Bobby. Waste of good money. Dollar Store would have made more sense if you wanted to buy and open a franchise. Better yet, spend your money on vacations. At least you’d have something to remember other than the sound of the banker laughing while serving your foreclosure notice…
Well Dave- its not my investment- WOW, you and your wife, judgemental much? ok, you keep going to Wendys then….Or Subway!!! LOL..By the way if you type in Mongolian BBQ there are many of them around the state and around the country. But you know what? Im not defending the place- its not mine- I just said , and if you had taken the time to read my original post you would have seen that I said I would have preferred the restaurant to be located in Sedona. Yikes. Based on your response- The village has become a hostile place. Um, ok Dollar store good? Healthy food bad. Nice logic buddy!
Bobby, I have to agree with Dave that restaurants don’t seem to do well in the VOC. The seniors living here seem to enjoy the early bird special at the bakery, and the specials that the fast food places offer. On the other hand, I am in agreement with you that a M BBQ/Stir-fry restaurant would be a wonderful addition to our community. Sedona would have been a better location, purely for foot traffic alone- but in all honesty, Flagstaff would be the real winner. We enjoyed a restaurant of the same variety in California. Its a great experience…Fun, healthy and low calorie, and not too expensive-
Imagine Sedona 2020 & Beyond – Community Plan Update Public Events – The Citizens Steering Committee will host three identical public meetings in January. At these meetings, you’ll be able to indicate your preferences for a future vision with an emphasis on the environment, community, and tourism. These three themes emerged from your comments and involvement in the planning process.
1) Wednesday, January 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley at 100 Meadowlark Drive
2) Thursday, January 17 at 6:00 p.m. at the West Sedona School, Multi-Purpose/Cafeteria Room at 570 Posse Grounds Road.
3) Saturday, January 19 at 3:00 p.m. at the West Sedona School, Multi-Purpose/Cafeteria Room at 570 Posse Grounds Road.
All meetings are listed on the http://www.SedonaEye.com Calendar of Events for your convenience. Check it daily for updates and or cancellations.
This is a first for me, making a comment that is. but as indicated in one of the other comments this council meeting was available on TV and is presently being aired as I write this. It is now 5:30 PM meeting (started @ 4:30.) Discussion is about more funding for arts “in collaboration with the chamber of commerce” (as in what else is new) however that is not the theme of my comment here which is the mayor first off announced that if people didn’t understand what was going on and felt it was moving too fast it’s because it had all been discussed, and all questions from council addressed, at the pre-meeting (rehearsal is I believe what someone said in another comment.) Insulting and a waste of time. Why would one bother to go to their meetings about the community plan? That, 2 has most likely been decided at private “rehearsals.” My time apparently is better spent watching an On Demand movie so, Mr. mayor, lucky you . . . you managed to lose a first time TV viewer to what I presume is a run of the mill orchestrated little get-together to give more tax money away as you all scratch your heads thinking of ways to squeak out new sources of revenue. (info from Jean’s comment)
FYI, just to clarify, the pre-meeting was also on TV this evening. It started at 3:00 pm, same channel.
Thx to Ben for letting me know the dog & pony show started @ 3:00 pm and then became “official” @ 4:30 pm. and the reason for this is to shorten council meetings? correct me if i’m mistaken, but doesn’t meeting from 3 to 7:30 pm when the “real” meeting ended still add up to 4-1/2 hours of meeting which is something like how long the “real official” meetings lasted anyway but the system remained above board. Woo woo and Voodoo.
The following quote from Mayor Rob Adams appeared in the 12/26/12 issue of the Sedona Red Rock News:
Re Sedona Wetlands Preserve: “We’re looking forward to getting the wetlands project done and getting our effluent upgraded to an A-plus so we can start moving ahead with the land planning, which is part of what I’m looking forward to in 2013 – to start looking at how we can make beneficial use of our water out there and start talking about things we can do with the land out there, such as taking another look at a cultural park opportunity,” (Adams said.)
With previous attempts to link a convention center with the former defunct cultural park, doesn’t it stand to reason that the idea could again be resurrected via this brand new concept, only as a contractual venture with the Chamber of Commerce?
One other little “fact” occurred just last evening between 8:00 and 9:00 PM. Forest Service notified Sedona dispatch that the gate to the road accessing the ponds was open and couldn’t be shut and locked. Wonder who dragged themselves out in the chill of the night to tend to that one?
Let’s see, “cultural park opportunity” at a poop plant? What kinda culture we talkin’ about? Will there be scatological theme based art? Meditation toilets? What?
Adumbs has outdone himself on this one. This is what you get, Sedona, for voting for Home Rule spending.
Maybe they could also have someone from the Sustainability Commission write some “interpretive signage” for a viewing platform at the sewer water injection well explaining to everyone how great it is to put “A plus effluent” — that still contains a host of drugs, chemicals and radioactive isotopes — into what was once pristine underground water.
Im not a fan of Adams either but Warren we would take you more seriously if you didnt call him Adumbs.
@Shirely — 1) I don’t care how you “take” me. 2) He has totally earned the moniker. 3) As much as I would like to take credit for the spelling, it was someone else’s creation and I value its appropriateness. 4) Keep being nice and polite while you get screwed. That tactic has worked well throughout history.
Bobby… I think you should check your facts. It’s MY understanding that the new owners of that establishment had the intentions of opening in the VOC, something about the customers being more “down to earth”. This information came from my girlfriend who is a neighbor the two owners. I also think that these fine enterprising young men were also interested in the VOC because the rents are more reasonable.
The City plans to start another Wastewater Rate Study this spring. I wonder how much more they want to rip us sewer users off to pay for their super-expensive poop plant after the first five years of annual rate increases are over?
Is it true? At the last Budget Oversight Commission did a Mr. Segner of the C of C’s Lodging Council state “We’re going to have to look more to people who live here to pay more taxes.” Well, I have a suggestion for a new slogan for the Chamber of Commerce: “Sedona . . . a fine place to visit but a helluva terrible place to live!”
Would you like to know how Sedona City Hall works? Do you want to have a voice in the future of your City? These questions and others will be answered at the Citizens Academy, a priority of City Council to educate and reach out to the community. Residents will have the opportunity to meet with the Council and various department staff to better understand City operations and issues.
The Citizens Academy begins on Thursday, March 21, 2013. It will run for seven weeks every Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at City Hall. This free program is open to City residents who are 16 years and older. Those younger than 18 will need a signed waiver by a parent/guardian. Class size is limited to 20 participants and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Citizens who complete the Academy are encouraged to apply for vacancies on City commissions, boards, and committees. The hope is to identify new leaders in the community and enhance citizen participation in the planning and processes of the City.
For more information or an application, please contact Communications and Public Affairs Manager Ginger Graham at 928-204-7119, email ggraham@SedonaAZ.gov, or visit http://www.SedonaAZ.gov/citizensacademy. The deadline for applications is Friday, February 15, 2013.
Re: Citizens Police Academy Notice
“Would you like to know how Sedona City Hall works?” — Thanks, but any thinking person already knows how it works — poorly!
“Do you want to have a voice in the future of your City?” — Love to, but City Hall refuses to listen. In the 3 Citizen Surveys taken by the City since 2002, residents have repeatedly listed taxes, density, and traffic as their primary concerns.
How has Council responded? By wasting money and raising fees (taxes). Council has pushed higher densities and increased traffic through “affordable housing” social engineering schemes, Community Plan and zoning “waivers” and the ADU ordinance.
“…a priority of City Council to educate and reach out to the community…” — As usual Council (AKA The Moronic Convergence) has it exactly backwards. In a democratic republic we educate and inform government, not the other way around. It is very presumptuous of Council to think they should be “educating” anyone.
seems to me, Warren, your Q & A summarizes the alleged need for the council “special-pre-meetings” IMO you are correct in your evaluation. anything else such as this offer for citizens to become better educated aka brain-washed is nothing more than a futile attempt to keep up the sham that they care about us. clearly they do not.
And now it seems hunters have been spotted shooting the geese at the newly established wet lands. Sorry I wasn’t aware of that when I wrote my article. BTW, isn’t the practice shooting range nearby? How convenient for City to have furnished live targets.
“The city ought to be tarred and feathered for what they’ve done to this place.” -Bob Bradshaw
“Ours is a culture that kills its grandchildren to feed its children.” -Stalking Wolf
“This is the way the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper” -T. S. Eliot