Sedona AZ (February 14, 2012) – The following agenda is being posted by the City of Sedona Housing Commission for its scheduled February 15, 2012 meeting at Sedona City Hall.AGENDA
Sedona Housing Commission
SPECIAL MEETING Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Vultee Conference Room – 106 Roadrunner Drive, Sedona 12:30 pm
Pursuant to ARS 38-431.02 notice is hereby given to the members of the Housing Commission
and to the general public that the Housing Commission will hold a special meeting open to the
public on
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 12:30 pm in the Vultee Conference Room located
at 106 Roadrunner Drive, Sedona, Arizona. The Order of Business shall be as follows:
1. Verification of Notice, Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call
2. Commission and Staff announcements
3. Public Forum for items not listed on the agenda–limit of three minutes per presentation
(Note that the Commission may not discuss or make decisions on any matter brought
forward by a member of the public)
4. Discussion/possible action regarding a recommendation to City Council to create “housing
development areas” within the City limits for the purpose of possibly purchasing land for
affordable housing
5. Discussion/possible action regarding Commission member assignments, future meeting
dates and future agenda items
a. March 5, 2012 (regular meeting)
b. March 14, 2012 (tentative joint meeting with City Council)
6. Adjournment
Note: This is to notify the public that members of the City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission may attend the Housing Commission meeting. While this is not an official City Council meeting, because of the potential that four or more Council members may be present at one time, public notice is therefore given for this meeting and/or event.
The Vultee Conference Room is accessible to people with disabilities, in compliance with the Federal “504” and “ADA” laws. Those with needs for special type-face print, may request these at the Clerk’s Office. All requests should be made twenty-four hours prior to the meeting.
________________________________ _______
Audree Juhlin, Assist. Community Development Director Linda Martinez, Chair, Housing Commission
Posted Date: ______________________
By: _______________________
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It would appear the Sedona Housing Commission feels pretty assured that the Home Rule option will be passed thus releasing the City of Sedona from Arizona State spending constraints. Why else would they be so aggressively pursuing this quest?
Wasn’t it just a couple of years ago or so when a raging battle went on over whether or not subdivisions zoned single family residential should be imposed upon to allow Auxilliary Dwelling Units (affordable housing)?
Strong opposition was displayed at every public meeting I attended. Didn’t matter because it was approved anyway with staff from Community Development admitting the conditional terms of the decision were essentially unenforceable.
And so it goes. The will of the people be damned. Oops . . . let me change that to the will of the “majority” of the people. Maybe this is the missing part of my three part series.
Can the City legally purchase land without putting it before the electorate for a vote? Instead of forking out good money for a decent attorney/decision, why not vote “NO” on the Home Rule Option and restrict City Hall’s wasteful decisions and expensive bad ideas?
As many are aware, “housing development areas” within the city limits are illegal in most of Sedona’s residential areas covered by active CC&Rs. This means neighborhoods without CC&Rs will bear the brunt of the resulting decrease in property values and quality of life.
Additionally, I would like to mention that there are currently 122 houses in Sedona and 92 homes in Cottonwood in foreclosure and that the number of people with mortgage problems in our area equates to more foreclosures coming down the pike. Given that housing prices in Sedona have fallen nearly 50% since the housing bubble burst, doesn’t this mean that there already is an abundance of affordable homes on the market? Likewise rentals at affordable prices?
When the supply of housing outpaces the demand in an area, prices go down. Increasing the supply means demand will be outpaced further, and housing prices will continue their downward slide. Inquiring minds want to know: Just where is the Housing Commissions proof of the need for more affordable housing, and where are the big bucks needed to go forward? City Hall currently has a little over $60 million in excise tax bond indebtedness, with an annual debt service obligation greater than $6 million.
The City spends more than it has and is now gouging Sedonans with various new fees to help fund its bad decisions, special interest agenda and unneeded projects. In my opinion, purchasing land ranks right up there with the most egregious ones (ten years worth of higher wastewater fees for birding wetlands and injection wells, redevelopment of West Sedona).
Go to Sedona Shadows. They are practically giving away its homes for less than $10.000. And that’s a furnished price. I know because I looked at them.
Nobody needs to be talking about affordable housing programs in Sedona. The federal government did the best job providing it and it only cost us our pensions and savings. I for one appreciate everything the government did to make my home affordable for the unemployed like me.
WHAT!!!!! THEY’RE THINKING ABOUT DOING WHAT!!!! DOZENS AND DOZENS of houses for sale and that’s not only in this neighborhood. two neighbors in foreclosure. sure we need more affordable housing. what a joke.
This is a perfect example of why everyone must vote NO on Prop. 420 (“Home Rule”). Voting NO will force Council to prioritize spending. No more fluff and nonsense like this “affordable housing” nonsense.