SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie S. Maddock
Sedona AZ – At a Special Sedona City Council Meeting, 3:00 Wednesday afternoon on January 11, 2017, after three long years of a contentious destination marketing agreement with the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, the City will again revisit the issue. We can only hope the negotiations will prove to be less controversial, fairer, and, in turn, result in acceptable transparency which will dismiss suspicion and mistrust of City Hall dealings. That might very well have been the case had the original commitment for Requests for Proposals (RFPs) as well as certified outside audits been upheld as proposed during the initial negotiations. Ignoring both valid concerns was a disservice to everyone.
Five options will be discussed at this meeting as follows:
Option 1: Move forward with the negotiations of a new contract with the Chamber of Commerce.
Option 2: Issue an RFP for tourism promotion services.
Option 3: Create a stand-alone destination marketing organization (DMO) without ties to the Chamber of Commerce.
Option 4: Create a City Department to handle tourism promotion.
Option 5: Issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a travel industry consultancy to assess the current structure, funding relationships, etc. and provide recommendations to the city.
Pros and cons of each option will be discussed at length, such as concerns RFPs will include bids from for-profit agencies. That brings up several questions. Without an official outside audit from a qualified source, how do they know the Chamber has not been making a profit? How many employees have they hired? What has been the cost of improvement to its own facilities, etc? And what is the source of funding for those operating expenses?
And will the City acknowledge the Chamber currently offers its own RFPs for specific services, realistically reducing it to a mere middle-agency, acting on behalf of the City of Sedona?
And how do they justify the extended branding of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce that has occurred within the past three years? What has been the source of that promotional funding for the Chamber instead of the City?
By creating a stand-alone destination marketing organization, the City could avoid real or perceived conflicts between tourism promotion services and the various other functions of the Chamber of Commerce. Although they specify… it is unclear how local and regional partners would react… why should that concern the City? Should their focus at long last be redirected to the residents of incorporated Sedona? They are the people who created the City in the first place, clearly, and with the knowledge it attracted tourists.
Sure, a stand-alone destination marketing organization would result in the re-creation of an already established and successful local agency. However the extent of success of the present local agency has never been undisputedly proven. The source of increased revenue after the great recession coupled with a reduction in gasoline prices has never factually been factored into the increased tourism and resulting upswing in revenue. Nor has it been determined to what extent advertising monies have merely resulted in excessive daytripping, which the City’s infrastructure clearly cannot handle.
As for the suggestion for Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a travel industry consultancy to assess and monitor the current structure, would that be nothing more than a babysitter for the contract with the Chamber of Commerce? Should the City have been serving that function for the past three years?
It has frequently been said the City could not afford to operate their stand-alone department. And how would they know? With a Chamber of Commerce now providing funding for USFS trail maintenance, contributing money back to the City for their traffic study, and other generous but questionably frivolous expenditures, most recently to propose purchasing property on behalf of the City with what appears to be leftover funds from the bed tax rebate, how can they make that determination without a precise and reliable audit from an authentic source? They cannot. Is there any reasonable explanation why the City should not take responsibility for allocating the bed tax revenue – all of it – including over and above destination marketing?
And the perfect opportunity to establish a genuine Sedona Visitors Center has been ignored by not including such a service at the Western Gateway. How long will this City tolerate discrimination of their own legitimate licensed, tax collecting businesses within City Limits unless they are forced to be members of what clearly is a regional Chamber of Commerce? And the practice of paid referrals is common, but should the City be involved by financing the activity with public funds and further discriminating against in-city businesses?
Molly Spangler recently hired by the city of Sedona AZ as its Economic Development Director.
With the recent hiring of a professional, Molly Spangler, to serve as Economic Development Director, there is really no need to burden our busy Chamber of Commerce with more additional duties besides servicing its members, which is the purpose of its non-profit organization.
Since when was the Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau deemed the “Destination Marketing & Management Organization in Sedona for 65 years?” Up until just a few years ago was it not the Oak Creek Canyon Sedona Chamber of Commerce, then changed to Sedona Chamber of Commerce, and most recently “& Tourism Bureau” was tacked on? This elaborate extension of creating yet another illusion that simply does not exist is pretty much over the top. Wouldn’t you agree? Dumb question.
There is already a campaign in motion to “Make America Great Again.” How about a local endeavor to “Make Sedona Respectable Again”? Meet and greet our visitors with an authentic Sedona Visitors Center and related advertising?
Don’t we deserve it like other places?
Flagstaff (AZ) and Park City (UT) are but two examples that offer proof they survive very well without financial support to their respective Chambers of Commerce.
Read www.SedonaEye.com for daily news and interactive views!
Mary C
So I repeat..
please enlighten us with a list of roads you drive on that are unacceptable…
Please Mary…
(deleted by editor)
After reading recent articles in the Red Rock News and The Village View in which Chief Kazian stated “it was finally time to clear the air” Arizona Liberty believes that Chief Kazian and his Governing Board still refuse to recognize why they lost the bond election, so we’ve decided to help them understand. Here are the top ten reasons the bond election failed:
Reason #10. The bond election failed because Kris Kazian chose to ignore warnings from his Governing Board members and the Red Rock News that $18 million was too much money to ask from taxpayers.
Reason #9. The bond election failed because fire district taxes are already the most expensive piece of the property tax bill and taxpayers rejected this additional bailout.
Reason #8. The bond election failed because Gary Johnson told district taxpayers they would have to pass the bond issue to find out how to spend it.
Reason #7. The bond election failed because it was packed with employee lifestyle enhancements and delayed routine maintenance projects that had absolutely nothing to do with keeping district taxpayers safer.
Reason #6. The bond election failed because Wendy Tanzer’s political action committee received $20,660 from Phoenix contractors and other fire district labor unions to fund the entire Safer Sedona advertising campaign and district taxpayers found out. Thank you to the Red Rock News and SedonaEye.
Reason #5. The bond election failed because Safer Sedona used fear mongering, scare tactics and threats of cutting services instead of presenting facts, figures and rationale.
Reason #4. The bond election failed because Rich Collister, Matt Shobert and their fellow internet trolls used social media to insult, demean and threaten district taxpayers.
Reason #3. The bond election failed because Tim Ernster colluded to influence the bond election outcome, both as a member of the Governing Board and the Citizens’ Advisory Committee. Hey Tim, your collusion wasn’t illegal, it was just inappropriate and unethical.
Reason #2. The bond election failed because Kris Kazian attempted to manipulate the voter information pamphlet, by changing voter “con” statements, and got caught.
And the number one reason why the bond election failed was because Kris Kazian and his Governing Board have been unable to manage the Sedona Fire District in a fiscally sound and responsible manner and the taxpaying voters knew it. ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH!
Regarding Reason #8, above: Passing something to see what’s in it is the definition of a stool sample.
The bond was a toilet fish.
Passing something to see what’s in it sounds a lot like your Tea Party people are trying to do with Tax Reform….
The only one that’s gonna benefit around here is your AZ Liberty mouthpiece.
” I believe that all government is evil, and that trying to improve it is largely a waste of time.” H L Menken
Time to get rid of the city of Sedona.
Is it possible the only member of the Sedona City Council since 2013, when the entire give-away by city to chamber of commerce was put in motion, remains Councilman Mike Ward?
Quoting from an article on SedonaEye: https://sedonaeye.com/curtain-falls-on-may-2013-city-council-performances/
“Mike Ward: Questioned current process for C of C to repeatedly appear before Council asking for more money. Feels a lack of process for tracking return on investment (i.e. would $80,000 require generating $560,000 in sales to be worth while?) Feels need for resolve of C of C and Lodging Council’s request for increased taxes prior to approval for spending more. He supports “request for proposals.” He voted “no” to approve.”
No wonder even as an experienced council member he wasn’t selected to replace Angela Lefevre at the time she resigned from city council. He actually was interested in transparency and fiscal accountability aka “return on investment”. Foreign concept to the bandits presently representing the RESIDENTS OF INCORPORATED SEDONA!
Suggest time permitting you read the entire article. Very insightful. Conflicting reporting from Wesselhoff & Michelle Conway of how chamber funds were allocated. Of course since then the Tourism Bureau is now conveniently included under the umbrella of the Chamber of Commerce. Shell gaming at its best?
Timely conclusion of article? ” How many foxes are out there – not only guarding the hen house also known as City Hall – but snatching every conceivable opportunity to help themselves for their own pleasures?”
You decide.
To All Readers at The Eye,
Re: Newcomer to Sedona
C’mon Man, as they say on the Sunday morn NFL show…wake up! “Newcomer to Sedona” is an influence peddling mouthpiece such as SS, or assistant mouthpiece such as LL, for the Sedona Lodging Council who is always attempting to bleed the public treasury for another buck. How obvious can it get? Newcomer to Sedona sees our dire need for even more traffic congestion so that emergency vehicle response times will get much worse! (as noted in a recent ADOT traffic projection for our little resort town) That way, a lot of we complainers will die onboard an ambulance on the way to the west side hospital and, therefore, won’t be able to prove our hateful nature by posting our concerns here.
JRN
J Rick Normand
What’s up with you.
Are you the town blowhard and know it all?
Seems that way.
Best Post EVER!
This Newcomer to sedona is smart , picked up on J rick Norman at once and the reason rick will die on the ambulance on the way to the hospital is because he didn’t vote for The fire department bond to upgrade communications and rebuild some stations cheap is cheap is cheap NIMBY.
New comer most people and Sedona join clubs join organizations get out and hike do things for other people those who post negative on this site sit in the big chair all day and watch FOXNews they would know happy if it hit him on the head
So why wasn’t the Fire DISTRICT (not DEPARTMENT) bond approved by a majority of the voters? Or are you saying J. Rick Norman(d) was the ONLY Sedona Fire District Resident who voted NO on it? Wow – with that kind of clout he’s a pretty powerful dude all right – AND ALL GOOD! Maybe Steve segner (aka Newcomer to Sedona?) you should take a few minutes of your own time and read the reports put out by Arizona Liberty and you might actually learn something.
“Best Post Ever” – Rick Norman(d?) – I agree!
It is so transparent the Steve and or one of his cronies is Newcomer. Nobody can be that blind.
Mr. Normand you’re doing something right as they are going after you. Keep it up.
@ Steve Segner,
The reasons that emergency vehicle response times are slowing dangerously are resultant of your Sedona Lodging Council influence-peddling efforts as well as that of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce. You both cost Sedona government huge sums of money that could be used to improve infrastructure not to mention save lives that are, otherwise, lost when ambulances are trapped in our choking traffic congestion. You’re a horrible local pariah Segner. You’re all about “you” little man and you care nothing about the welfare of your neighbors in the Canyon and Sedona!
JRN
JRN
You are hilarious
You concern for the welfare of sedona residents and the welfare of people in general are so hollow….
Your buddy Steve Bannon endorsed a pedophile in Alabama ..
You and him are both jokes.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA – JANUARY 9, 2018 4:30 PM
Of the 8 items on the consent agenda (A to H) the first three are approval of council meeting minutes. Of the remaining 5, four relate to approval of Special Event Liquor Licenses at The Hub, well known as the city owned property for which the CITY OF SEDONA IS PAYING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY TO THE RED EARTH THEATRE FOR ITS USE. There remains NO ACCOUNTABILITY of money the Red Earth Theatre may or may not be collecting as a profit. But for certain, there is NO financial benefit to the City of Sedona. In addition, has there ever been an analysis of how the use of this facility affects licensed city businesses by competing with their city tax collecting hospitality functions (bar/restaurants/entertainment)?
It gets even more dicey. Not listed under the City Council Agenda but in a recently posted obituary, the notice concludes in part with “Friends are welcome to join in a celebration of her life on Saturday, January 6, 2018, from 2-4 PM at The Sedona Hub, 525 B. Posse Grounds Rd, Sedona, AZ”
So does this mean The Hub will now be available for general public use for the purpose of holding memorial services when we lose loved ones? If not, then surely that would be blatant discrimination if others are denied the same option.
Business as Usual? Maybe NOT! It appears to be far worse than that!!!!
You really do need to get out…The read Earth Theater is only one tiny bit of what goes on there…Stop in ,some weeks there is something every night…..So quit complaining about something you know ZERO about….Many local rent it out for all types of gatherings…
I am amazed at how ignorant some people are!
If you filed a complaint about Sedona government with AZ State and/or Legislators and had no action, the reason may very well be because it is the county (counties in Sedona’s case) who must be contacted. These guys are tricky – where we once went through the State with complaints, NO MORE. And here’s why:
“RULES FOR INCORPORATING”
Arizona
“The State Legislature has established the legal, geographic and population requirements for incorporation
Acting under this state law authority, the county board of supervisors has been designated as the administrative agency which actually grants the final incorporation
The board acts only after the people in the community have clearly expressed their opinion about incorporation either through direct petition or an election
Community considering incorporation must have a population of at least 1,500 people
A community with a population of less than 3,000 incorporates with the status of a “town”. A community also has the option to incorporate with a status of “city” if it has a population of 3,000 or more
The second basic legal requirement necessary for incorporation is that the area must be a “community”. A community is defined in state law as “a locality in which a body of people resides in more or less proximity having common interests in such services as public health, public protection, fire protection and water which bind together the people of the area, and where the people are acquainted and mingle in business, social, educational and recreational activities.”
State law stipulates that an area considering incorporation: “shall not include large areas of uninhabited, rural or farm lands, but it shall be urban in nature.” the county board of supervisors may determine that a community exists which is urban in nature, but this determination is subject to review by Arizona courts
Petition without election: This method of incorporation requires the signatures of twothirds of the qualified electors (registered voters) residing within the area proposed for incorporation on a petition addressed to the county board of supervisors
Petition with election: requires that ten percent of the qualified electors residing within the area proposed for incorporation petition the board of supervisors to call an election on the question of incorporation. Again, the petition must be filed with the clerk of the board. If the supervisors are satisfied that ten percent of the qualified electors residing within the area at the time completed petitions are filed have signed the petition and the area meets the legal requirements of population and community, then the board, within sixty days after the filing of the petition, calls an election on the question of incorporation.”
* * * * * * * *
So in a way this appears very much like a “pass the buck” situation and quite possibly is a reason the Arizona League of Cities & Towns will also not come to the rescue of potential rogue and/or illegal governance occurring in otherwise legally approved municipalities. Sure, “The State Legislature has established the legal, geographic and population requirements for incorporation.” After that, contact your county or counties for HELP!
Yavapai County: Randy Garrison
Coconino County: Matt Ryan
PS – Wouldn’t it be awesome if as someone suggested Coconino portion of Sedona managed to pull out of City jurisdiction? That would remove city sales and bed tax and maybe we could even restore the former Coco Sheriff Station on Ranger Road. And yes, you business folks paying outrageous rents for your locations: NO MORE CITY SALES TAX…..YIPPEE~~
And wasn’t the three year contract the city agreed to compensate Red Earth Threatre, both in cash and services, intended for the RET to have exclusive use and book the performances? Thus relinquishing the city of all responsibilities unless, most likely, liability? If that is, in fact, the case, then it’s nuts for the city to be paying someone else to operate and maintain a nightclub on city-owned property, minus any accurate accountability – same as the chamber of corruption. Why don’t you practice what you preach and check out the facts prior to jawing what you erroneously believe to be true.
Red Earth Theatre and anyone else using that property SHOULD BE RENTING IT FROM THE CITY – PERIOD!!!! And NOT the other way around! Horrible way to do business but then what can one expect when the fox(es) is(are) tending the hen house?
Idiots it’s far cheaper to have the city pay somebody to manage the venue then pay a city employee with benefits plus, it’s a great business decision , used mby small groups and hundreds of people every year get over it, take some time start complaining about the dollar 50, increase in the sewer tax that will give you something to talk about.
Or, we could just shut down the Red Earth Theatre/hub and lease out the building, providing net income to the city . That would allow someone to rent out a private meeting room.
Seriously, how can you compete with a venue that has free rent , free utilities and is paid to run the venue? I’ve had businesses, you cant compete with someone who has a deal like that. Sedona businesses should be up in arms.
Hey, everyone with a hotel/restaurant, would you like a subsidized meeting room for your events? Segner, that should be right up your alley.
I still want to know who they knew to get the deal and why no one else was given a lottery ticket to win, not that anyone should have been given that deal. Another no bid contract. Come on mayor and council members, speak up !!
You’re the idiot if you think we are to believe you are the “real” Steve Segner since in his own words he hasn’t made a comment on SedonaEye since January 12 of LAST YEAR.
GIVE IT UP. The game is over and YOU LOST!
howI want to use the city property to play on without paying. How do I get exclusive use?
Yep change the year but not the policy. Of course the .5% sales tax was approved at the 1/9 council meeting. But interestingly enough of the public speakers only one spoke in favor. And guess what? That person lives in Oak Creek Canyon where the increased sales tax will NOT BE IMPOSED!!! Now ain’t that a kick in the arse. Once again those speaking outside city limits are allowed to impose on Sedona city government when they don’t even vote here (supposedly that is). And that man even had the audacity to complain the increase wasn’t enough!! Thought it should be 3/4 or even one percent increase!!
Wake up people. In the near future the Home Rule proposition will come to vote again. Time to vote NO and let us hope that rude person in Oak Creek Canyon (one of them that is) will not have a say-so in the outcome.
Yup
It’s a New Year…..Same ole complaints from the usual complainers here.
Whaaaaa.
Especially the one with 15 alias.
And you must mean all those people using Steve Segner’s name since his announcement a year ago he would no longer be a participant on Sedona Eye.
I thought it was “interesting” that both Councilmen Martinez and Jablow claimed at the recent city council meeting they went over the budget and found nothing to cut.
Are they unaware of:
No Bid contracts to: Sedona Chamber of Commerce, Sedona Hub
Grants probably violating Arizona Constitution, Article 9, Section 7 , Gift Clause : Sedona Chamber, Sedona film festival Sedona Hub, and many others. (I think someone should see jail time, and be made to pay restitution.) Theft is theft.
City Managers office budget :$3,301,930, That is not the whole city payroll, just the managers office. Seriously ? Nothing to cut???
This is the same city manager that claims :
Expenditures $47,752,118
Revenues $37,762,477
Net Shortfall $9,989,641 $ 10 MILLION OVERSPENT IS A BALANCED BUDGET !!!!!! Maybe he means the ledgers were balanced. I don’t consider that real world balanced. What do you think?
I believe with those financial and cost control abilities, the City Managers office should find employment appropriate to their unique skill set. I’m not sure Sedona can afford them.
I need your help. WE can change things !!!
Tony said,Net Shortfall $9,989,641 $ 10 MILLION OVERSPENT IS A BALANCED BUDGET !!!!!! Maybe he means the ledgers were balanced. I don’t consider that real world balanced.
What do you think?
Thanks for asking!,Tony.
Tony the state of Arizona, say Sedona has a balanced budget, and they set the rules.
Accounting rules say it is a balanced budget.
So,Tony a little accounting 101,
Sedona uses money set aside for future projects,(savings) money saved for years, will now be used to help pay for projects.
Tony, this is how you balance a budget.
Sedona has been saving for years for large capitol projects and NOW is using the saving to start the projects.
This help pay for new roads and other capitol projects,and keep the budget in balance, the city council has increased the sales tax by .05% (most of witch is paid by visitors I might add,) to stay in budget.
Good business, Tony I will try to make it simple for you , it is like saving for a new car and not financing it,instead paying cash.
Savings go down but no car payment. Understand Tony?
Tony, I hope this helps,when you run for mayor you don’t want to look dumb. Next we can get into “Reserves”, and the city manages budget but I don’t want to over load you today.
You can take beautiful sedona back from special interests. Here is how
1. register to vote https://servicearizona.com/voterRegistration?popularclick
2. learn about our governing boards and how they work. You voted them in and the state allows them to make decisions that impact our quality of life, without any checks or balances. City government is for city limits only,They have nothing to do with fire, school districts, library or airport.
3.Get ready to vote. Be sure to get NEW council and mayor in. Those they are LEADERS and strong enough to stand up against the bullies of sedona which includes a biased paper that slandered others that ran.
4. Vote NO on homerule. STOP the city from gifting monies to their friends without any RFP’s, benefits and controls.
4. Tell your neighbors.
Had enough? Want to more? Ignoring the real issues? Hate how the city council and chamber have clog our streets and ruined sedona? It is not to late. USE your rights VOTE them OUT!!!!!
Referencing the above comment allegedly made by Steve Segner 1/12/18 at 7:21 AM, it appears yet again Mr. Segner’s name has been pirated according to the post he made on Sedona Eye, precisely one year ago this day, as follows:
Steve segner says:
January 12, 2017 at 10:51 am
“After last night meeting and the outcome, and the no shows from the sedona Eye,I will no longer need to follow all the crazy talk signing off no more posts.
If you see a steve segner it will be a phony posting been fun so long ss”
So Sad, Too Bad. It must be frustrating to have some unknown person speaking on your behalf. Join the crowd.
Steve, Have you ever told the truth?
Let me make it simple for you. Saving up for future expenditures is a great policy.
But , before you save, you pay off debt. No point in saving before you pay off debt that accrues interest. Once you pay off debt, you can save faster. Get it?
Current Sedona Debt includes sewer debt, underfunded police pensions and many city roads off the State maintained highways in dire need of repair.
If you had been at the council meeting their justification for the higher sales tax was to call it “dedicated” to transportation.
You see, after they have spent all the money they could , about 50% more than the State of Arizona says a city our size should spend, they say, this new tax will be ” dedicated” for traffic and transportation, honest.
If the voters vote NO, on home rule it will cap their spending. By my estimation
they spent about $20 million more than the state of Arizona says a city our size should this fiscal year alone BEFORE the new .5% sales tax increase.
I did a freedom of information request, I’ll have more spending details soon.
It’s just detailed proof, it won’t change the fact they spend way more than necessary.
Vote NO on home rule and for a new city council.
.
Regrettably, not everyone who works in public service, as most have noticed, are into public service. Some, want an ever expanding budget, so they can say they did not ask for enough and need more. Some want an ever expanding staff, so they can say they deserve more money because they manage so many people. Some want power. A few want to see how much they can skim off for themselves and their friends.
Some, are really good people. We have some working in the city of Sedona now.
I want to get rid of those that are not putting the citizens of Sedona first. I’ve cleaned up corrupt businesses before. I obtained restitution for stolen funds. It’s amazing how quickly someone can find money when faced with jail. I have no problem putting someone who has stolen in jail.
No on Home Rule will help.
A new mayor and the right new members of the city council will do the rest.
Simple Is the city spending more than they earn? YES!!!!!
They are living on credit!!!!!!!!
Vote NO on homerule or Alternative Expenditure Limitation.
THIS stops the city from SPENDING MILLIONS more then they make. They won’t have millions to gift the chamber and ruin YOUR quality of life!!!!
@steve Segner is nuts. The City has spent its savings and reserves down to an insignificant level. Instead of spending less, the Council voted 6 to 1 to increase the City sales tax by .5% on Jan 9th.
WW ratepayers are going to be socked to pay to sewer up new areas. And that’s not all, the City does not have sufficient money to fund non-wastewater capital projects beyond next year, either.
At “that meeting” how did you like the fellow living in Oak Creek Canyon (not the leader of the Lodging Council) who not only stood up there and defended the sales tax increase but actually complained it should have been more- like 1%.
And adding insult to injury, wasn’t he the one who even suggested seeking more advice from the chamber of commerce for some cockamamie reason? OMG – and this bloke doesn’t even live within incorporated Sedona City Limits.
Hey – let’s invite all residents from VOC, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome and even Camp Verde to line up @ Sedona City Hall to tell OUR city council how to run the joint. Many already show up seeking funding for non-profits. Could things possibly get even worse? Unfortunately the answer to that is “yes” believe it or not.
The government is like a poorly trained dog. If you let one bad behavior go, it just escalates.
It’s time for a Big Dog to put these out of control dogs in line.
So many comments on Sedona Eye didn’t know where to add my 2 cents but this seemed as good a place as any.
As for this election coming up beginning in August and to include approval (renewal) of the Home Rule policy, any bets it will sail through again? Therefore my option to post under “Business As Usual” seemed appropriate. And beware as well that frequently all council members are seated at the primary election. Have no doubts the controlling forces will have their members out voting in strong numbers.
Business as usual will be the result if Sedona residents who claim to be displeased with our direction don’t get the lead out and VOTE. And remember, voting NO on Home Rule will simply slow the roll of the tax and spend policy so frivolously being abused. Reevaluation of priorities might become necessary. Ain’t that shame?
Turn to random people and ask where they live now and lived before. Almost all will say California or Midwest or a Northeast area. High tax, corrupt governments.
Hey ya’ll any word on who was selected to fill the council seat vacated by Joe Vernier? Ha – take three guesses and the first two won’t count unless by some miracle they didn’t choose a Sedona re-run reject. Will this be yet another decision made by the In Group and with complete disrespect to Sedona voters?
Business as usual? Anyone doubt the outcome? And if, by chance, the voter reject is selected to make extremely important decisions between now and the legitimate election in November, keep in mind those council members who swung the vote. Especially if they are vying for re-election themselves.
TIME FOR CHANGE. Sedona Business as Usual is nor only boring it’s COSTLY.
They picked Jessica Williamson. Shocking. They don’t care about the voters, until we throw them out.
If the voters are foolish to give them another four years free run, this town will be done.
Question answered. Jessica Williamson was appointed by the city council to occupy the seat vacated by Joe Vernier. And she also intends to seek his remaining two year term during the upcoming election.
She was chosen over and above the well liked and well respected former Councilman Mike Ward I might add.
And to think Williamson was NOT reelected by voters during her run for second term! Another royal slap in the face to Sedona residents and voters. Kudos to Councilman Currivan and Vice Mayor Martinez for attempting to actually represent the will of the people and did NOT support her approval.
As I believe Thompson, Jablow, and Lamkin have all taken out papers to maintain their council seats and Moriarty another 2-years (vying for a total of SIX YEARS leading the parade) keep this in mind during the next few months, prior to the election, when they railroad through more and more unnecessary and wasteful projects and expenses. Why? Because they can.
Vote NO on Home Rule. Vote NO to incumbents!!! Vote NO to Jessica Williamson.
The council picks Williamson. Front page RR snooze. Barf
@steve Segner is nuts. The City has spent its savings and reserves down to an insignificant level. Instead of spending less, the Council voted 6 to 1 to increase the City sales tax by .5% on Jan 9th.
no the .5% paid mostly bu visitors is for road and traffic projects starting this year. they will pay as they go and not use new bond funding.
seem like good management. State and bond rating agencies seem to think so.
Higher prices will lead consumers to reduce their consumption of local goods and
services subject to the higher taxes, which will reduce sales at local merchants selling these items. Depending on how price-sensitive consumers are, sales at merchants selling non-taxable goods and services may decline as well.
In the case of Sedona, the customers can get the same product and services by stepping outside the city limits.
Retail shopping & restaurants outside Sedona-city saves you 3.5 % of your bill or check. Hotels outside the city limits save you 7%.
With the average dinner being $50. A dinner for two outside the city -limits saves you $35.00
The average room for a night outside the city saves you $14 a night or $98 a week.
Stupid and greedy IMO City is obnoxious chasing both tourists and locals to outside the city limits.
@Norma: Having had appointments and places to go for the last two days, I’m presently equipped with enough “stuff” so I’ll not have to go out until sometime next week. Traffic backed up (again) today at least to the Chapel Area.
Because I live off SR179 it’s become much easier to go to VOC and/or Cottonwood and generally return via 89A using Thunder Mountain and zig-zagging to Soldier Pass. However, most recently (yesterday) it was one-half hour to reach “Y” roundabout from just below Airport Road.
For the record, a public thank you to Councilman Currivan who attempted to hold off on approval of Schnebly Focus Area pending incorporation of the plans in the then ongoing traffic study. Not one person on Council supported what seemed like a logical idea. So much for common sense. That’s just one of many examples. Two more hotels planned prior to substantial solutions are a couple of others.
What will it take? A natural disaster? Flood, fire? Maybe a class action law suit might do the trick since clearly those of us with only one exit from our subdivisions are put at risk for grave danger.
Time for business as usual to change? NOT according to the majority of this seated City Council.
Norma
.5% is 50 c on $100.00 ohhhhh ouch. On a 2 night stay $300.00 a night it is $3.00 .
Remember the majority of tax income to sedona, comes from visitors not locals. On top of that many hotels charge between 15 and $50 a night resort fee so none of our customers are worried about a half a cent sales tax .
I’m sure the 50 Cent you would save on a $100 purchase is worth you to driving to the Village,is worth it.
Normal learn math, $50 meal in sedona is no a 35.00 in the village because of tax savings,get a calculator I know it’s hard , all this angst over $.50 savings shopping outside of Sedona get a life
Take two socks. Stuff one up your mouth and the other …….? (fill in the blank and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to translate that one)
IN MY OPINION You are an idiot and your days of control, if there is a Supreme Being and NOT the Devil incarnated, will be numbered.
Let us pray the days of evil energy will soon be eradicated from our once beautiful Sedona. And that includes greedy ego-driven City Council members and City staff.
NO to incumbents. No to HOME RULE.
STOP NEGATIVE ENERGY THAT’S TAKEN OVER SEDONA.
senile Steve segner can’t understand that the Sedona City sales tax is 3.5%, and according to Yavapai county tourists only pay 17% of the total tax receipts. senile Steve must think his little hotel carries the full weight instead of the overtaxed residents of Sedona. senile Steve regularly forgets the the $2.5 million the group he belongs to gets from the city.
Nothing will change unless we have different people on the city council. The damage that will occur during this budget planning session will probably be HUGE! It’s sort of like that Rob Adams council that set the city/chamber contract in motion, promising to get bids after that first year but reneging and instead extending the contract for SEVEN YEARS! We need people with gumption who will make changes. But who? One thing for sure, though, is if they are restrained by being denied “Home Rule” it won’t matter who is on the council. Let them sit on their hands and chew their cuds. See how they like it.
About the fire danger, the following is being circulated by another concerned Sedona resident:
If anyone thinks fires similar to the California fires of last year can’t happen here….think again! Zero tolerance, educate residents and tourists NOW and take whatever measures necessary NOW!
MyRadioPlace
A discarded cigarette butt started a brush fire behind an apartment building in Uptown Sedona over the weekend. Sedona Fire Marshal John Davis says the smoldering butt caught dry grass on fire which quickly engulfed a nearby tree. Davis says the blaze was just a few blocks from Fire Station 3 so …
https://myradioplace.com/2018/04/03/a-discarded-cigarette-butt-started-a-brush-fire-behind-an-apartment-building-in-uptown-sedona/
senile Steve segner can’t understand that the Sedona City sales tax is 3.5%, and according to Yavapai county tourists only pay 17% of the total tax receipts
Try to understand a count is not a city.
Sedona is a city and 70% of it’s income comes from tourists.
Yavapai county is a county and only 1/2 of sedona ? we are not talking Yavapai but Sedona.
How are you over taxed ? cottonwood charges sales tax on food!!!! Oh but cottonwood is in Yavapai county.