SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie Maddock
Sedona AZ (March 23, 2016) – SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie Maddock shares an email sent to the City of Sedona City Council members:
From: Eddie Maddock
Date: 3/22/2016 7:33:13 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients
Subject: SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 23, 2016
TO: SEDONA CITY COUNCIL March 22, 2016
RE: CITY CONTROL OF RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE REMOVAL
Chances of this additional writing at this late date were slim to none as most likely the possibility of it being read are even more remote.
However, having briefly reviewed the expanded agenda information to be presented at the meeting tomorrow afternoon, 3/23/16 at 3:00 PM, Council Chambers, certain elements are very distressing.
First, it seems quite disingenuous for you to claim concern for saving the earth when conditions in Sedona continue to degenerate on a daily basis. If such a concept were true, you would have long ago obtained fair RFPs for other service contracts and made more efficient demands on the effectiveness of the service being provided. Case in point: How much has the recent contract with the Chamber of Commerce for Destination Marketing contributed to the ever-growing and obvious number of day-trippers that have for years become an increasing problem due to inadequate infrastructure to accommodate the vast numbers.
In fact, that hindrance is the main reason I’ll not attend tomorrow’s meeting. In order to get out of my subdivision onto SR179 just for shopping to accommodate needs for the entire Easter weekend, it was necessary for me to do so in the early morning hours and be home by noon. Traffic backup will be prohibitive this Wednesday afternoon to reach City Hall at 3:00 in the afternoon, especially considering this is the week before Easter Sunday.
The obvious poor planning with the expansion of Tlaquepaque will exacerbate this already congested situation once completed. This is just one example of an active demonstration of realistically failing to practice what you preach: Conservation and sustainability of resources.
The focus of the witch-hunt in Staff’s presentation is clearly directed at Taylor Waste for having done such a shameful thing as to notify their customers of the potential change in arrangement of Sedona’s trash hauling. To put the blame on a company for displaying a competent business practice and then further insinuate it is only their customers opposing the proposal is unfounded and unfair.
Attempting to blame garbage trucks for damaging our roads is absurd. And to further imply that tourists, jeep tours, ATVs, motor homes, moving and construction trucks do not invade our neighborhoods is simply not true. Garbage trucks, realistically, are among the least intrusive.
And you will save us money? Try to convince those of us within the estimated 85% who presently recycle that we will not be paying more for dragging out two bins weekly or biweekly, especially when we currently have efficient means to either support Sedona Recycles with assistance from their volunteers or in person.
Have you considered the effort it takes for those of us with dual hip replacements or other physical nuisances to drag one bin out and in every week let alone the added effort to do so with two?
What about those who leave Sedona for three or four months during the summer to vacation with families who will be denied the fairness of dropping the service during that period of time after the city takes over controlling garbage hauling? And no opt-out options?
But, of course, these questions were all raised during the public meetings and the answers remain void.
Some of us will never have need for bulk hauling, which is presently available through private enterprises on a needs basis.
Clearly it is your determination to force this on us, but kindly refrain from rationalizing and making inaccurate assumptions that objections are solely the result of the letters from Chris Taylor and being made by the customers of Taylor Waste. Going on record for not the first time here, it makes no difference to me who it is would get the bid. Denying the option to have a choice, the same as I had with getting service to my automobile this week, is insulting if not potentially damaging.
This has nothing to do with being uneducated or ignorant because we do not know the facts. Wake up. We see the writing on the wall. You are not practicing what you attempt to preach when you continue to approve for the demise and living conditions in Sedona, for both residents and tourists.
It obviously doesn’t matter to you how many residents move out of Sedona since you do little if anything to enhance our quality of life. I will no longer walk my dog in our neighborhood because of the filthy, ugly, almost dangerous patched roads, and heavy tourist traffic - yes within the neighborhood. No blame on garbage trucks is justifiable for this. Where is your great concern for protecting the environment? Selective and self-serving clearly is the answer to that.
Realizing none of this will make a difference because of your determination to manipulate the results of your public outreach to suit your desires, it really is sad that you are so insensitive and determined to take matters into your own hands with little to no regard for those of us paying the price in more ways than one. And by the way, weren’t you elected to represent our preferences even when they were not in sync with your own?
You will be making a decision affecting the lives of thousands of people for years to come such as was set in motion by a previous council when they entered into multiple year service contracts with yet to be determined valid statistics on the wisdom of those decisions. Of course this time when you opt to move forward it will be only $75,000 of public money for something again we do not wish to have. But that will also be disputed by the use of your magical manipulative methods which are really far more transparent than you must realize.
Your choice will be either to serve the will of the people and not the will determined by voodoo methods or by using the option at your discretion of abuse of power as in this is what I think is best for the community.
Sedona roads are designed for slow scenic views and sharing the road drives and maintenance caused by rushing waters, shifting ground, and mountainous terrain contribute to transportation issues.
As time goes on and remembering how much my late husband loved Sedona, the one thing for which I’m grateful is he isn’t here to witness the demise of what we struggled so long and hard for – to make a living and remain here for so many years. To work for and promote the Chamber of Commerce, Library, Humane Society, Elks Club and now for what? Everything we left big cities for has now consumed our once small town for powerful big city politics that will tell us what’s best for us? Chuck, my dear husband, you missed only heartache by not living long enough to retire here.
With profound sadness that it became necessary to convey this, but the upside is I’m in no position to play God and make choices for a bunch of stupid, ignorant people that can no longer think for themselves. How lucky for you to have that option and the arrogance of power to exercise it. Good luck and even better luck to future city councils that will inherent the ongoing questionable decisions being made in Sedona on a daily basis.
Need proof? Take a drive around town.
Eddie S. Maddock
39 Year Anniversary will be March 31
Read www.SedonaEye.com for daily news and interactive views!
For someone that runs a business in Sedona and will not be affected by mandated one-service garbage hauler you sure have a lot to say. That you use your business address to conveniently register to vote in Sedona elections gives you a double whammy since in the event you stay overnight at your motel to justify your “residency” you still have the option to dump your personal soup cans in the trash can of your choice. Period. End of report. Your credibility has also gone with the garbage hauler of YOUR CHOICE!
PS: Maybe it’s unfortunate the policy of Sedona Eye isn’t to demand and print the area of legitimate residency of their contributors like the RRN since the letters to the editor from you clearly state you reside in Oak Creek Canyon where city policies don’t apply – with your choice of garbage hauler or anything
else. Run for President of the US where liars and cheaters are welcome.
Actually that Steve Segner doesn’t have a bad idea. The only problem is he doesn’t go far enough.
How about if the City Council limits the number of hotels, motels, B&B’s, restaurants, etc. – include ALL services, retail shops, and everything – to prohibit more and definitely reduce the existing numbers. That would be for starters.
Second (or perhaps this should be first) to stop all vehicles entering Sedona City Limits to ascertain the nature of the proposed visit to Sedona. By qualifying the number of day-trippers versus extended-stay visitors – or even those legitimately entering Sedona as residents, employees, etc. That would also enable these caring, wise souls deciding what’s best for us to broaden the scope and resist discriminating against only garbage haulers. And just imagine the reduction of wear and tear, not only on dedicated city streets but ADOT would love it!
Let’s see whether or not Mr. Segner would find that logical type of thinking to his liking – especially if his business was among those that were told to leave. And BTW, is this the same S. Segner that posted another comment under a different SE article that he hadn’t taken a position on the garbage issue – just supported getting more information? Credibility, where art thou?
So, you always attack me and never respond to the issues.
I have 3 homes in Sedona and trash pick up at all of them.
And yes a home up the canyon. Get over it
ss
While we are all fighting over local trash, the state is about to pass bill, SB 1350 and let all homes in Sedona rent by the night even in neighborhoods protected by HOA, covenants.
Some reasons why SB 1350 is not a good idea.
Would anyone knowingly buy a home in a neighbor hood if the home next door is rented nightly to strangers?.
Hotels have strict zoning, health, and safety ordinances governing their operations.
Hotels pay a higher rate of property taxes and must be built in commercial zones. Not in residential neighborhoods.
The city and county inspect hotels for safety and sanitary issues.
Hotels have staff that can handle problems after hours.
Who do neighbors call if there is a party or noise late at night?
What happens when 1000 new rooms come on the market over night?
What happens to property values when homes are sold to out of state resident with the understanding that they can pay most of the payments by renting several days a month.
How do teachers /firemen/ policemen afford housing when homeowners can earn more renting by the night. Not by the month?
Why is the state getting involved in local zoning issues?
Are HOA exempt from this law NO?
This is not a problem for hotels. This is a problem for residents. Bill SB 1350 will bring a brand new class of renter and not one Sedona has been marketing to.
As we all know Sedona is a great place for wedding, now wedding parties can rent large homes for the event and wedding group…… and party!
Trash is a small issue you all need to think bigger.
Steve Segner
Our preference would be to use our real names. However, along with over 500 other individuals we recently signed a petition to register our opposition for the city to take control of city wide garbage hauling but not to include businesses. Some of the people that signed that petition included very high profile Sedona residents – doctors, business owners, artists, and even to our recollection, architect John Sather, a long time resident involved in all events relating to the development of the Community Plan including the most recent update.
Having made our identity known rated an unsolicited phone call from a very pushy, officious member of the city council. It was insulting to be told we could not think for ourselves, and that he and others on the city council know what is best for us. Since we do not currently contract with Taylor Waste we didn’t receive one of the letters that have been blamed for creating all the opposition. In fact, we were extremely upset we had to learn about the city’s intention from the grapevine and have a serious concern the owner of our present garbage pickup service didn’t alert us to this most recent intrusion by local government.
We are appalled at the treatment given to those attending the recent special council meeting. Again the prevailing insinuation the cause of objection to this intrusion as being because of suggestions from letters some of us have never seen is beyond disgusting. Then to be placed in a position to have to explain and justify our preference to an elected person that should rightfully speaking on OUR behalf was over the top.
Your complete disregard that 85% of Sedona residents already recycle voluntarily is further appalling. With 80% participation, San Francisco has been designated as the leading city in the world for recycling. You should be giving us accolades instead of a boot to the curb.
Our opinion of this blatant transgression by you people who care only about the power positions you find yourself in, with little to no regard to others except those affiliated with your pet special interest groups, is beyond the pale.
How do you sleep at night? Are you so convinced of your own self-appointed intelligence and importance that your tunnel vision has totally led you down the wrong road. Hopefully it will lead you to a precipice where you will rightfully fall off. But scarier yet, how much damage can you do between now and November? And it gets worse thinking that some of you might run for office again. Is Sedona really that desperate? And we thought past councils were bad.
Signed/ Anonymous for Obvious Reasons (#1 – we don’t want more degrading insults from council members telling us what is best – and we do not want them to control our garbage or our lives. We believe in and support Free Enterprise and we are not members of the Tea Party!)
My house would be great for weddings. Just think, more tourists and lower costs for the tourists. Sounds like a win/win.
More tourists are always good, right Steve? Who needs residents in Sedona?
Karma is an amazing thing.
Very well spoken. Please send your post to the City council members.
@Steve Segner
There are over Sedona 300 listings currently on Airbnb plus hundreds more on Craigslist, VRBO and Flipkey. This is the model for the new hospitality industry. Whether you agree with it or not, people are voting with their feet and moving toward what best works for them.
The city/county is missing out on hundreds of thousands of tax dollars by keeping short term rentals illegal. The tourist that seek out home-stay units want a different experience from those who stay at the very corporate, one-size-fits all hotels in Sedona. Those that chose to stay with the locals get a completely different experience and they generally have more fun because the locals tell them where all the best hikes and restaurants can be found. They generally get a more enjoyable Sedona experience because they know the tips, the backroads, the best of the best Sedona has to offer and are not motivated by fake chamber diatribe and dollars.
As far as a clean place to stay, do you let City or County employees come into your home and inspect to make sure it’s clean enough for guests? My home is clean enough that I would not be embarrassed if company arrived. In addition, websites like Airbnb allow the guest to rate the cleanliness of the home and the cleanliness of the guests.
What would happen if 1000 more rooms became available? Oh that’s an easy one – we wouldn’t have to tear up our sacred land and lose our beautiful views to a mammoth hotel, as in the case of the new Marriot going in across the street from the high school.
Zoning laws? You’ve got to be kidding me! You mean the mega-companies that buy their way into Sedona? How else did the Marriot get to build ACROSS the street from the high school? Very creepy, but very convenient for the pedophiles and drug pushers – and the school district wants to put 10 years olds at the high school with bus stops right in front of the hotel. How insane is that? What about safety codes for our children?
Most home owners are NOT absentee and are on property or nearby when an issue occurs. What do you do when YOU have a problem at home? Oh dear! Maybe you should invite a policeman to live in that spare room! When I have an issue – like plumbing breaking “after hours,” I call a friggin’ plumber. You must think people are stupid. If there is an emergency, you dial 911.
In 2006 MILLIONS of homeowners lost their homes because they couldn’t afford the mortgage. And millions more who had subprime car loans (following “Cash for Clunkers”) lost their vehicles. To show you the direction our financial world is heading – Ford now has a program that allows borrowers to sign up to sublease or drive their new vehicle for others (like Uber) to help them afford their car. It wouldn’t surprise me that home mortgage companies align with Airbnb type businesses to assist homeowners in the same way as Ford Motor Company.
LEGAL short term rentals would be a GOOD thing in Arizona. It will really help the economy and it will help the socialization of our world.
Having just one trash service is a heavy-handed move toward fascism in Sedona. No thanks.
Responding to the suggestion to send my post to the City Council members, why? That’s the biggest problem in Sedona. Those in charge to not want to hear from anyone that doesn’t agree with their self-imposed omnipotent power and ability to control those of us presently finding ourselves the victims of their reckless decisions. Beginning but not ending with the enormous amount of money thrown at the chamber of commerce without adequate accountability. What more is there to say?
@ Steve Segner
Steve: A check with our HOA attorney resulted in an opinion that, as drafted, SB1350 does not include HOAs but pertains to counties, municipalities and other units of government.
Do you have differing information?
Ron
Thank You for Your amazing comment above. Each point was articulated perfectly and I agree with each and every one of them. @Anonymous is right when they suggested You send this to City Council.
I’m not familiar enough with the law to know, but it seems there is a law being broken when an official of the City Council calls a Resident and intimidates them on an issue at hand. Does anyone know? I’m sorry You had to experience that.
Wow steve it sure sounds like you’re PANICKING over the possibility of bill SB 1350 passing. And it also sounds like you’re trying to get the same response from the rest of Us, NOT! You see it’s like this little steve buddy, the trash hauling effects we residents, where I Myself could careless if you go out of business and have to leave town.
BTW I would like to easily answer one of your questions you asked in your above rant. That would be “Who do neighbors call if there is a party or noise late at night?”, The Police steve, The Police, didn’t think about that one did you.
Sedona Community Org. is still working on getting Sedona City Council to recognize that there is no reason to move forward with a City mandated trash – recycling. Our city-community recycles at a higher rate than the most awarded cities in the U.S..We should be celebrating!
Strength is in numbers.
We need more signatures. A formal ” Petition” is here http://www.sedonacity.com/Trash.htm
We have paper petition forms and Volunteers can use online petition http://www.sedonacity.com/Trash.htm to join the committee. You can also email to info@sedonacity.com
Wow Ron, I would think that this stupid law would trump (sorry that’s what it’s called) all CC&R’s I think that if you speak with 5 different attorney’s you’ll get 5 different answers because this is a very new and strange law. Do you REALLY want to bank of what your attorney has to say? Do you really want to take that chance that he’s wrong????? You’re a very well known guy for getting the facts, now would be a good time to do what you do best.
Your council has 6 or 7 servers over 70, all are Democrats.The Democrats have 2 candidates over 70 who are white. And your Republican National Party is the party of old white people? Only in America.
Isn’t it convenient how this city council persists in overstepping their territorial limitations by promoting those businesses outside city limits, competing with legitimate Sedona businesses, because they are members of the city financed Chamber of Commerce? Don’t believe it? Check out the most recent “Sedona 2016-2017 Hometown Guide” – publication of “Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau” also courtesy of Sedona city tax revenue.
Just ask both counties – Yavapai & Coconino – if that catchy little word “Sedona” isn’t an effective lightening rod to attract the attention of readers seeking information – even if you happen to be located in other Arizona locations or even out of State!
“They” further apparently have unlimited monetary resources when it comes to financial support for “cooperative” efforts of the entire Verde Valley without equal or any financial participation from the “regional” enterprises supported solely with Sedona city tax revenue. That includes the recent three-year contract for city to “pay” Red Earth Theatre for use of the former Sedona Teen Center over and above the many programs available at the Posse Grounds which also service the entire Verde Valley. And who foots the bill? City of Sedona, of course.
However when it comes to control the good “old” city council suddenly honors their legitimate restrictions and considers only those residents within city limits when assessing and including them in their tricky little schemes like forcing us to jump on their garbage band wagon – same as the sewer and ever increasing monthly fees. Yes indeed, good old opportunity is knocking at the door of City Hall as this latest campaign surges to get their hooks in the wallets of legitimate Sedona citizens and saddle them with another monthly bill of unknown amounts.
The writing’s on the wall folks. Buy into this nonsense and you tighten the noose around your own necks. Sewer and garbage control – two rather nasty subjects with even nastier outcomes.
Maybe a different sort of “noose” should be forthcoming as in a hanging tree or public convening place where, like in the good old days, crooks and robbers were rightfully punished in a manner that served as a deterrent to put a stop to legalized rip-offs like Sedona has become so accustomed to slam-dunking through the process?
Think about it.
Steve: A check with our HOA attorney resulted in an opinion that, as drafted, SB1350 does not include HOAs but pertains to counties, municipalities and other units of government.
Ron, that may be the way it works out, who knows, but is that fair, HOA are exempt, and all the other neighborhoods in Sedona get the hotel or wedding party next door?
This is a local issue and should be worked out by our city council not the state .
The question is how can the state overturn a local ordnance but let stand a RULE by some HOA’s? Fair would seem to make the law cover all the homes.
ss
On behalf of our HOA, I testified against SB1350 when it was heard a few weeks ago at the House Appropriations Committee. HOAs are protected from having short term rentals within their jurisdictions ONLY if those HOAs have restrictions against short term rentals in their controlling documents. HOAs that do not have such protections and want them will have to modify their documents, which can be done at any time — no need to rush to be “grandfathered in.”
Our neighborhood does not want short term rentals, and our BOD voted unanimously against SB1350 in authorizing me, El Presidente, to speak against it. Despite arguments in favor put forth in SedonaEye comments, we do not want to live next to hotels. Our neighborhood is zoned single-family residential, not commercial. We prohibit other sorts of invasive business that would contribute to more traffic and commotion in the neighborhood.
Warren Woodward
(who never thought he’d agree with Steve Segner on anything)
Has anyone else noticed that the “save-the-earth-by recycling” folks heading up our Sedona City government are the same same people that are voting week- after- week- after week to approve such things as:
CVS Pharmacy
Huge development on 89A in front of City Hall
Marriott Hotel
Addition to Tlaquepaque
Development of Brewer Road Property
Community Focus Areas in Progress: Western Gateway, Soldier Pass Road, Schnebly Hill Road
Ongoing financing to Chamber of Commerce to attract more tourists
Continued financing for non-profits such as Red Earth Theatre
And these are the very same people that continue to criticize the over 85% of Sedona City Limits legitimate citizens that currently recycle for not doing enough to save the environment? What’s wrong with this scenario?
Answer: Sedona is presently dealing with probably the most phony seated elected City Council that has EVER occupied those seven chairs. And those on city staff that support this blatant indiscretion are to be pitied for being so desperate for employment as to assist in such deceitful assignments!
@Calling it Like it Is
The city council are true hypocrites.
You can’t totally blame the city employees for playing along. Where else can you find a job that works only 4 days a week, you get two weeks paid leave and two weeks paid vacation the first year, and the highest salaries in the Verde Valley. Still they want cost of living raises. Even then , they don’t realize that eventually the gravy train will end when the citizens wake up and realize they are being taken. We can easily live without a city of Sedona. The Village of Oak Creek does.
Spread the word. We can end this.
Businesses are not included in the program
Are schools, library and city part of the proposed trash program?
Sedona City Council – Seven people that clearly believe in the policy of “Do what we say and not as we do.” Also an excellent example of “actions speaking louder than words.” Translated – Hypocrites!
Liking the latest comment from Jess Lookin – and from @Question – since schools are governed by a district they probably won’t be included. As for the library, it most likely would be classified as a business because clearly it isn’t a residence. Doesn’t matter. It’s the legitimate Sedona residents they’re after.
Spread the word. Sign a formal petition here: http://www.sedonacity.com/Trash.htm
@Sedona Community Org, what do you mean by a formal petition? I already signed one. Didn’t it count? Please explain.
Thank you.
Opposed to City control of garbage removal service
If you didn’t use your real name on the move-on petition then some City Council may disregard your signature. You can resign the http://www.sedonacity.com and we can compare to the move-on one. Better safe than sorry. Make your voice count
Thanks for asking http://www.sedonacity.com/Trash.htm
@Sedona Community Org
“If you didn’t use your real name on the move-on petition then some City Council may disregard your signature. ” Are you kidding me???? What kind of petition would not have real names??!!!??? No wonder the city council may disregard names!!! The first SFD recall petition was tossed out because they found questions with the names. I for one would like my name removed, I THOUGHT IT WAS REAL.
So the person who won’t put HER name at the heading expects people to use THEIR real names, Hummmmm Sounds like a fraud to me. Everyone knows that the Sedona Community Org is run by a very vocal baker in town. If that baker can’t even put her own name on that rant, why should we put our real names on her fraud petition???? Sounds like the baker needs to go back to the over and start over to make it right.
You are nuts, Dude. And you have shot your mouth off before doing your homework. Donna Joy Varney is the #1 signature on that petition, and signed on Jan. 2, 2016. Look it up, simpleton: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/sedona-citizens-civil.fb48?source=c.fb&r_by=14213130
As the author of the e-mail to the Sedona City Council which has served as the catalyst for the above 70+ comments, I would like to go on record here that my name is also among the almost 600 that signed the Move-On petition, which was forwarded to me by FIVE different people prior to receiving it from Donna Varney, whose name to my recollection certainly was provided as the originator of the petition.
It’s further been made clear many, many times that Sedona Community Org is the non-profit she established, to provide and benefit those in Sedona who are interested in having yet another choice to voice their opinions.
For “Just Sayin'” or anyone else who posts under an assumed named to point fingers at hidden identities is beyond mystifying. In fact, isn’t it just plain stupid?
And thank you, Donna Varney, for clarifying the reason for providing another option to soundly verify the real identity of the hundreds, maybe even thousands of us, that object to the city controlling and denying Sedona residents the option of choice and attempting to nullify active Free Enterprise within Sedona City Limits. You can find my “real” name on both petitions and whatever else you might deem necessary to prevent this city council from further controlling our lives.
Why don’t they do something really beneficial like maintaining our roads which, by the way, are not disintegrating because of overuse by garbage trucks.
Eddie S. Maddock
Do you really think you can sign a petition with a fake name – OMG!!! You people should back-off of the city and focus on your own betterment – you need help.
Again!!! An RFP for a single trash hauler is excellent governance; most progressive cities do it!!
Get real!!
You guys are so funny, the city council could care less about petition, they know
that people will sign anything, This council will look at the staff report, then the
contract, then the savings, you get the point they will look at all the facts, then
what people think, letter and people showing up at meetings. Petition are at the bottom of the list.
If you want to kill this write letters and go to meetings just trying to help ss
Wow
A whole 600 signatures out of 8 thousand people…,
Sounds like the complaining MINORITY same old same old
And the beat goes on
If the city council paid attention to the hundreds who sent e-mails and attended public meetings, and even spoke in opposition before the council about the garbage issue, they would have dropped it after the first two public meetings. They even continue to ignore and rationalize the results of their own rigged telephone survey.
The determination to dump this on Sedona residents continues to add to the retaliation. For sure the signatures that are gathered when and if a ballot Referendum to undo this travesty will get their attention. Anyone remember about four years ago? Council no-it-alls attempted to push city ownership of West 89A on city of Sedona. Result: Two ballot issues – (1) Referendum to overturn council decision; (2) Initiative to prevent the issue from coming up again.
Attendance at council meetings matters? Only those backing the Chamber of Commerce and their money grab. And, of course, the rousing opposition to a National Monument Designation which vote was even deferred due to the absence of then Councilwoman Angela LeFevre. To hell with the time spent for professional testimony during that first meeting.
Signatures on a petition? Will a take it take another Referendum to prove that they DO count and matter when push comes to shove?
Steve Segner wrote “If you want to kill this write letters and go to meetings just trying to help ss”
To further assist you, here are the addresses of the city council. If 1,000 or more e-mails will get their attention, then it should be less costly than a special ballot measure to overturn a decision the public has already soundly rejected via city phone survey, two public meetings, special focus groups (or something like that), and a city council meeting, in addition to numerous letters, e-mails, and phone conversations:
SMoriarty@sedonaaz.gov; MDinunzio@sedonaaz.gov; JMartinez@ci.sedona.AZ.us; JThompson@ci.sedona.AZ.us; TLamkin@sedonaaz.gov; SJablow@sedonaaz.gov; JWilliamson@ci.sedona.AZ.us;
Reminder the community plan update was approved by less than 2000 votes @West sedona resident – so don’t toot your horn too loudly or dismiss the overwhelming voter turnout to reject owning the state highway. What was it now? 70% of the voters?
Thomas Jefferson expressed what he thought about taxes…
“A wise and frugal government… shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government.”
The Sedona City government is all about increasing revenue, control of all the citizens do and their personal power.
The best thing and longest lasting would be to start a referendum to end the city of Sedona. Ask yourself, do you get $35 million worth of benefit from having a city or do you pay to make your life worse?
West sedona resident says:
April 13, 2016 at 3:32 pm
Wow
A whole 600 signatures out of 8 thousand people…,
exactly good post
Gallup says to add a zero to number of people represented, so 6000 out of 8000 is a good indication that the citizens of Sedona DO NOT want the city to create a trash monopoly. We want free-enterprise to prevail.
In other news, I was speaking yesterday with a neighbor who has her home listed on Airbnb, and has been doing short-term rentals for nearly 3 years now. She told me that her job at the hotel pays $10/hr and she has to split any commissions with the house, plus the other concierges. She has a hard time making ends meet. She has a converted garage (not permitted — the city wanted over ten grand for the permit. The conversion was done on the down-low by her favorite Windsong handyman). I’ve seen the conversion and the unit is charming with french doors, garden, patio, handicap accessible bathroom, and kitchen with stainless appliances and granite counter top. Her home-stay unit is near shops and services making it a popular place. She told me without the extra income from this unit she could not afford to live in Sedona. Being 60 years old, this lady has no prospects for a better job and no interest to change careers. Without this extra income she could not afford to take a few days off and travel to see her cancer-ridden sister in California, much less retire in a couple of years. Without this extra income her life would become dismal.
The SB1350 bill is a bill for the people. Only the (wanna-be) “elites” are against it.
Ha your call ,
if you want a town that every home except thous in HOA’s. is ok to have nightly rentals,your call, won’t bother my business, but no more complaining about visitors or traffic …. balls out let go for it Disneyland hear we come.
More
Honorable Governor Doug Ducey:
I am writing to you regarding SB 1350 as a concerned citizen, owner of a hotel, and President of the Sedona Lodging Council.
Sedona’s tourism industry is a $500+ million industry and is critically important to Sedona’s economy and quality of life for our residents. Managing the positive impacts and mitigating the potentially negative impacts of this valuable industry is always front of mind for our city leaders.
Sedona has worked hard to balance the quality of life our citizens with the needs of our visitors; however, we continually struggle managing the very important tourism industry and the negative implications of tourism including traffic congestion, parking, and demands on our infrastructure. Our city currently has the ability to manage room inventory through local city ordinances. SB 1350 would eliminate that local power and allow potentially hundreds – maybe even thousands of new rooms to be added to the market. An additional 150 rooms – or a 10% increase – will have drastic impacts on our already fragile and maxed infrastructure.
This bill would cause several other challenges for the residents and businesses of Sedona. By signing SB 1350 into law, Governor Ducey would effectively usurp the planning and zoning powers from local governments and transfer these functions to the state under the guise of a new shared economy. This loss of control would wreak havoc on Sedona and all of Arizona’s smaller towns.
Sedona’s lodging industry must comply with all local ordinances and zoning regulations. They are inspected by the fire department as well as city and state officials to ensure that they are safe, have adequate parking and ADA services. If enacted, SB 1350 would allow Airbnb to essentially operate without regulations. Furthermore, hotels are currently allowed to build in commercially zoned areas. With this proposed law, properties operating like hotels would be legal in ALL neighborhoods. What will happen to the quality of our neighborhoods and access to affordable housing?
This bill only covers municipalities and does not address HOAs. Therefore, homeowners renting their properties as hotels could circumvent HOA rules. As a result, HOAs would be powerless to protect many of their constituents. Neighborhoods could suffer the negative consequences of excessive rentals, party houses, wedding venues, and other problems that could create a nuisance for homeowners. This would amount to an injustice for the many homeowners who, for good reason, do not want to be subjected to the side effects of the Airbnb concept.
If signed into law, SB 1350 would also allow Airbnb to work under the “honor code” in regards to taxes. Hotels are taxed at a higher rate, and are required to maintain transparency and accountability in collecting taxes. Will Airbnb operators be required to account for revenues at the same standards as hotels?
A recent study of Airbnb conducted by Pennsylvania State University revealed an explosion of multi-unit operators who account for nearly 40 percent of Airbnb’s revenue. This indicates that many homes are being rented full-time as if they were hotels, rather than once or twice a month as Airbnb and others would have us believe. Realtors are already telling us that potential buyers are now considering buying large homes with the intention of renting them out as B&Bs or wedding venues. In addition to threatening to disturb the peace of the neighborhoods in which these homes are located, this could begin a trend of determining home values based upon potential rental income rather than location and other traditional factors. With home values in Sedona tied to the rental market, prices could skyrocket to the point that they would no longer be affordable.
The state of Arizona talks about states’ rights and fights any federal government regulations, claiming that the state knows what is best for its residents. I believe that local governments are in a better position to understand and dictate what is best for their residents and businesses, rather than a government 100 miles away.
Please oppose SB 1350.
Sincerely,
Steve Segner, Sedona Lodging Council
@steve Segner
Steve,
I remember Disneyland when I was a kid 50 years ago. They used to limit the number of people who could enter the park. Now under the current greedy leadership, Disneyland does not limit the number of people that can enter. You get areas where it is too crowded to walk.
Steve, you and the Chamber are making Sedona like the current greed motivated version of Disnelyand, with bumper to bumper traffic and still you advertise for more. Yet if a resident gets a shot at the tourists that same resident paid for, you squeal.
Our current local (Sedona) government could care less about their residents. You join them in the hypocrisy and lies.
Numbers and effectiveness keep popping up, so here’s something interesting to chew on:
(Information taken from Yavapai County election results and verified by Susan Irvine, Sedona City Clerk):
(1) BALLOT PROPOSITIONS NOVEMBER 8, 2011:
Prop. 410 – REFERENDUM to accept or deny council decision to own WSR89A
4229 votes cast: Yes – 1248; No – 2981 – Translated: 70.49% denied acceptance of the decision made by City Council to own WSR89A. (29.51% approved of it)
Prop. 411 – INITIATIVE TO PREVENT THE ISSUE FROM RESURFACING:
4179 votes cast: Yes – 3226; No – 953 – Translated: 77.20% voted in support of keeping this off future agendas. (22.80% didn’t agree)
(NOTE: My description of the ballot issues are obviously not as provided on the ballot measures but hopefully sufficiently convey the purpose of both ballot items.)
(2) PROPOSITION 427 MARCH 11, 2014: Approval of revised Community Plan
Total Registered Voters: 6,495
Total Votes Cast: 2,485 (38.26%)
Yes (to approve): 1,530 (61.59%)
No (on approval): 954 (38.41)
Of course each and every one of us so far still maintain freedom to draw our own conclusions. The extremely low percentage of voter participation (38.16) on the Sedona Community Plan issue might indicate the public’s unawareness of the future impact aggressive pursuit of changes to the plan actually have on the community in general. After the fact is too late to complain. This is true of all agenda items on City Council Agendas.
Wake up – pay attention – AND get out and vote or DON’T COMPLAIN!
In the meantime, use the addresses provided in an earlier comment here and let council members hear directly from you. That way there’s no bickering about legality of surveys, polls, or petitions in spite of their accurate past predictions/indications.
Hahahaha! Steve Segner – that’s exactly the letter I would expect from the president of the lodging council. Pure and wholesale BS. We are more than delighted to hear that Gov Ducey will soon sign SB1350 into law.
Lately, we’ve been ProBuild’s best customers. Just yesterday we removed a window in the back bedroom and installed a door so that future VRBO guests will have a private entrance. We are remodeling the walk-in closet to be a kitchenette and installing grab handles in the shower and putting in a higher toilet.
We raised 5 boys, but now we are empty-nesters. At one time we had a half dozen cars parked here – 4 in the carport/driveway, and two on the street. Now there is just one car here and the house is empty except for my husband and I and our little dog Exeter. We have plenty of room – and even if 3 people rent that room, that’s still fewer people than when the boys were still living at home.
When our home was built, it was inspected and permitted. The fire department signed off on it too. This is a sturdy well-built home and we have worked hard to create a pride of ownership home. Claiming that our home will be party-central or a nuisance to the neighborhood is nothing short of insulting.
When you say that SB1350 would take away local power, you, as president of the lodging council, are saying SB1350 will take away MY power to prevent residents from doing whatever they want and inviting whoever they want in their own homes. It’s none of your business who I have staying in my home. Regulations are not needed for home-stay units — just common sense.
Usurp the powers of planning and zoning? Good. That’s quite a corrupt group and their power NEEDS to be curtailed. They are the problem — just look at the “Western Gateway.” The land for the Cultural Park was a land-trade from the Forest Service with the caveat that only non-profit businesses can use that area. Suthcapa have two choices – give the land back to the Forest Service or lease the land back to the Cultural Park. Anything else is illegal and not what Sedona citizens want or need.
EVERYONE is under the honor code to file their taxes. VRBO and AirBnB will 1099 the owner and unreported income is frowned upon by the IRS. If I am making money I have no issue paying taxes. You should mention in your letter that, by having short-term rentals illegal, the city is missing out on a ton of tax money and drives the practice of short-term rentals underground. My neighbor told me that she has been doing short-term rentals for over 20 years and would not be able to live in Sedona without that extra income. And BTW, her property is under HOA laws too. In 20 years, there has been no parties, no weddings, no parking issues, nothing. Sedona always has had short-term rentals and the injustice you mention is really the threat of arrest, pricey fines and a lengthy probation for owners creating income in their own home. The injustice is that Sedona is missing out on hundreds of thousands of tax dollars.
You act like there would be NO LAWS for short-term rentals. That is not true.
Disturbing the peace is still against the law and if any homeowner does not follow the rules, they won’t be able to participate in the short-term rental business.
My brother-in-law is a realtor and when I asked him about your statement that investors will come to Sedona only to create a residential hotel, he said that he has not heard of that. What he DID say is that first-time buyers are excited that they will be able to rent a room in their home so that they could afford the mortgage. Just think of how many future foreclosures will be prevented by using this important financial tool.
Like the 60-year old lady working for $10/hr mentioned above – what would happen if she got sick or lost her job? Without short-term rental in that extra room she would likely lose her home to foreclosure. She would not be able to retire.
Your just a scared little man, Steve Segner. Your scared and worried that your profits will suffer. Well, after what seeing how the big box stores and hotel chains have bought their way into Sedona, it’s about time they worry. As mentioned above, KARMA is a wonderful thing.
Good luck to you. And a big THANK YOU to Gov Ducey for giving power back to the homeowner!
Here is a totally laughable statement I received in an email from City Manager Clifton on Monday that responded to my concerns about the additional traffic, increased unsafe conditions and overcrowding that would result from the implementation of the Soldiers Pass Road CFA Plan.
“The CFAs merely help to refine a vision in an effort to ensure that when those entitlements [of existing properties] are exercised we stand a chance at mitigating threats and maximizing opportunities.”
Among other nonsense, the City ‘planner’ stated in the Soldiers Pass Road CFA Plan approved by Council on Tuesday: “CFA Objective: Improved safety and reduced traffic congestion on SR 89A.”
By the way, only 23.56% of the March 11, 2014 Registered Voters approved the Community Plan with its 13 horrid, horrid CFAs.
Scrolling back to the top of the page here the title is “Blaming Garbage Trucks for Sedona Road Conditions is Absurd.” So what does SB 1350 have to do with that?
How about considering submitting your own letter to the editor @Steve Segner, Sedona Lodging Council and see how many comments you might generate through your efforts.
(BTW I detest the idea of having single-family residential zoning imposed on with short-term vacation renters.)
Threads online often go off-topic, but what ties these two issues together is the city’s insistence on deciding what is best for Sedona citizens even when the citizens think differently.
Too bad you don’t like the idea. Why don’t you go on the Airbnb website and look at the map? There’s likely to be a short-term rental in your neighborhood and they are so quiet, so much like any other resident, that you didn’t even know the owner was exercising his right as a homeowner to have whoever he pleased in his home.
Jean said:By the way, only 23.56% of the March 11, 2014 Registered Voters approved the Community Plan with its 13 horrid, horrid CFAs.
Jean, Jean once again you fudged the numbers, the Community Plan passed by the voters that voted,that is how it works, the people that did not come out to vote must have been ok with the plan if not the would have come out in droves…. so get over it .
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It is interesting that Segner would whine about the state in effect overriding local government control yet has no problem with local government overriding resident control of their trash pickup. One can not have it both ways sir!
Plus you call short term rentals ‘hotels’ yet you claim your ‘hotel’ is your residence for voting purposes. Does this mean until the bill is signed that the city should close down your short term rental in your residence? Once again, you just want things that work for you and does not cause more competition. If you argue your hotel is zoned for commercial use, then don’t claim it is for residential use when you most likely rarely use it for that. I have seen your property in the canyon and would say, given the choice, most if not all would choose to stay in the canyon than in the middle of commercial property.
No way should a single family residence be considered a hotel, at best like a b&b, but maybe without the breakfast.
BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVO!
SAY WHAT???????
I think that you need to go back to Toast Masters for a refresher course. IMO you’re talking in circles.
Robert, please learn to read I have never said I was for the trash just that the city should look it it and lets see what the report looks like.
Robert my hotel b&b was set up with a owners unit in the zoning.
Robert look up the voting laws in Arizona , And i could care less about competition
for me and other hotels this is about the state taking control of local issues.
If you thinks renting by the night in residential areas is ok…. but no more complaining about traffic.
so remember everyone Robert O’Donnell is for renting by the night…… I will
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