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!
@jj
@Agreed
What a bunch of losers and crybabys you are……
Get yourself a fresh bottle to suck on..
I’m in El Paso. Hola Sedona.
@West Sedona Resident, WSR, WSR times 2, Wsr, Anonymous and All Readers at The Eye:
It’s time for your regular appointment for an enema to relieve your intellectual constipation…
From The Thought Proctologist;
Apparently J. Rick won’t repeat his own comments since, I suppose, he feels to do so shouldn’t be necessary. So, I’ll do it for him, as follows, since I do happen to think the following comment needs to be repeated until the subject troll goes away forever:
Under Eddie Maddock’s column of November 23, 2016 is this comment;
J. Rick Normand says:
December 26, 2016 at 3:01 pm
@All Readers at The Eye:
Re Hecklers: WSR (the ultimate hater and fraud posting above on Dec 25), Wsr, West sedona Resident and Anonymous
Here is proof that hecklers like the one(s) below can NEVER be believed or trusted, not to mention that these trolls have no interest whatsoever in the articles which their attack targets have posted and labored to thoroughly research. See below:
Reply to JRN from>>>
West sedona Resident says:
December 4, 2016 at 9:08 am
J Rick Normand
Thought Proctologist
The above are both the same person….J Rick still can’t understand why you use your real name AND then an Alias
Yes that anonymous post was WSR…forgot to fill it in before I posted
*****
J. Rick Normand says:
December 6, 2016 at 9:21 am
@West sedona Resident, WSR, Wsr, & Anonymous,
Do you realize that you’ve just admitted that YOU’RE ALL FOUR OF THESE HANDLES while accusing me of being two handles with no evidence or confirmation of any kind? Can’t you ever do anything right?
JRN
*****
Reply to JRN from>>>
West sedona resident says:
December 6, 2016 at 2:16 pm
JRN
So what….
Wsr WSR west sedona resident. Yeah it’s all me …I repeat so what….[sic] there’s all the same…. I’m not pretending to be JRN. And the Thought Proctologist… what’s your point…..Or as in most of your posts….”there is no point”. Just a lot of huffing and hot air
*****
From JRN to West sedona Resident, WSR, Wsr, & Anonymous>>>
Aside from what is revealed through your own words, WSR/Wsr, you’ve proved some other things, namely, that you’re incapable of original research and authoring related articles, incapable of deductive logic, and incapable of achieving enough credibility to persuade anyone to believe in your drivel which you tend to repeat incessantly. You need to find a new game! [and venue (TTP)]
[End]
Opinions are opinions @let’s pick it apart. Would it be interesting to learn where your comment originated? And “joke” is subject to interpretation and nuance; so is humor. Pick your bone apart other than with the Sedona Eye; your problem isn’t with it but with your political and humor intractability.
“Let’s pick it apart” was on somewhat of a roll until the oops moment(s). “Town meeting?” “Town council?” “Town council meeting?” “Town business?” And maybe best of all: “where the people that I elected conduct town business.”
Now anyone that lives and votes in Sedona surely must be aware Sedona incorporated as a CITY and not a TOWN! Therefore we do not elect Town Councils to conduct Town Meetings, and when the Sedona CITY Council convenes it’s for the purpose of allegedly conducting CITY business versus TOWN business. However, because of the Council’s self-appointed expansion of Sedona City Limits, thereby self-authorization of extended jurisdiction, maybe the confusion is understandable. Perhaps a more politically correct term would be to change all references to Sedona as REGIONAL (council, city hall meetings, and business).
And yes, there are occasions when the Mayor does allow select audiences to applaud in addition to those in favor of the Council’s decisions. For example, the current policy of a “Moment oF Art” at the first CITY council meeting every month. Would that perhaps qualify as ” Broadway plays that need to have applause for a warm and fuzzy appreciation”?
As a reminder: Don’t cast stones if you live in a glass house within or outside Sedona CITY Limits.
Does it really matter? I lived in Fla for 50 years and worked in town government so TOWN always comes out. My opinions still stands.
You ask: Does it really matter? Apparently it doesn’t matter to you. However, you no longer live in Florida where you “worked in town government” which doesn’t apply in Sedona. And the best question of all: Why did you leave Florida? It appears you would much prefer that life style than what you carp about in Sedona. Simple solution: move back.
To: “Let’s pick it apart:”
And what makes you so special, entitling you to falsely accuse others for expressing their opinions? Do you really believe the publishers of Sedona Eye would be foolish enough to print something libelous? You, Sir or Madam, in my opinion, are way out of line, over and above obviously being out of touch with government procedures out here in the west. A cordial thing to do might be acceptance of agreeing to disagree. However, the attitude, including your own, of certain individuals contributing to this web site merely takes the opportunity to recklessly attack, belittle, and berate those with differing opinions. Sedona is a CITY and not a TOWN. So why not get over it and show some respect?
From: Agreed (with those that see through the facade of fairness in Sedona CITY government)
PS: Let’s see how fair this city will be as they discuss new methods – new sources – of revenue to pay for necessary infrastructure because public money has been frittered away on non-essentials. And that’s the truth.
If you look at things clearly you can see Sedona is very far from being a town. The charm and niceties of a town don’t exist here. Sedona is a money machine for special interests with the citizens being thrown under the bus.
Big money being used for special interest and that includes the millions of dollars being used from bed tax to promote a regional business group aka chamber.
Extremely irresponsible for the city managers and council to continue to go into debt making Sedona the one of the worst cities in Sedona as they continue to spend and gift away while the residents in-city will still have to pay for the mismanagement of public monies.
Listen to yesterdays meeting http://sedonaaz.swagit.com/play/01242017-1071
and jump ahead to the budget section. You’ll hear all about the 14 million owe here, the 9 million there along with 11 million there.
You’ll get to hear the jive City manager explain it all away. Meanwhile they all trying to figure out how to get more money out of you. Wake up you’re being snowed on sedona and it is from your cc. It’s gonna get worst. The entire region will end up paying. just wait an see.
Hey SE
What happened to the post I sent you….what your getting selective only post nonsense from crybabys…What gives? JRN on your payroll now?
@WSR
Your post has been incinerated like (deleted by editor)
@Wsr
How would you even know if SE missed one of your posts because they all say the same thing? Get a grip. Better yet – get a life and go back to interviews on Phoenix news about rabid bobcats. Or even consider applying as one of their satellite reportesr? Oh joy and rhapsody it would be for the valley not to mention Sedonia.
Sedona City Residents – your taxes at work – full page chamber of commerce ad in local paper promoting just that – the Chamber of Commerce – including an invitation to visit the Chamber’s official visitors center. No mention of that visitors center being the official Sedona Visitors Center. And why is that? $300,000 annually doesn’t even deserve acknowledgement of that claim made by the city? Want proof of scam? Here’s one example. $300,000 to invite members to join the Chamber of Commerce?
City government is not living within its means and could care less. Isn’t the “jive city manager” into smooth talking and keeping the real facts from coming to light?
With the Chamber buying full page ads, is it any wonder you never hear any unbiased editorial or article about the chamber in the Red Rock News?
Fortunately, newspapers are dying along with most of their readership.
Had to check it out myself and went to the library to read that local rag and sure enough – a full page of why people should become a member of the chamber of commerce but not a word about promoting Sedona! And the unmitigated gall about advertising the “official” Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center at the expense to Sedona city and business tax contributors and non-members don’t get represented? No way. Taxation without representation lives in Sedona, Arizona.
Rather than stopping this insanity of gifting millions to special interests the city council is on to another scheme to try and bleed more taxes from it’s citizens and business owners. The council is now discussing raising the sales tax again. Insane.
I’m shocked to not see any postings or stories on SE about those individuals who are moving forward with the crazy idea about turning our city into a national monument. Does anyone who these people are? Do they even live in the city?
You can do something about it, call your State Representative Brenda Barton,,
602 926-4129 Ask her to look into the gifting of millions to special interests from the city of Sedona. Ask her to have the Attorney General investigate.
The city council may ignore us, but we can make things change.
I have contacted her, but I am only one voice. We need many.
So the need for affordable housing is back on the docket. Little do these people know that in-depth mismanagement has gone on since day one of incorporation.
Don’t believe it? Then why weren’t all existing subdivisions extended sewer service instead of new development that used up all the capacity?
As for affordable housing, that could have been mitigated had new developments like like Nepenthe been held to commitment of approval as affordable housing.
Then there’s Windham, originally Fairfield, with original commitment provided a certain number of units for affordable living. And suggestions for new hotels to provide a certain number of units for employees like they do in other resort town? Well, they wiggled out of that, too. Wasn’t profitable enough for the developers.
And if the city council really wanted to benefit the lodging business with the return from that increased bed tax (.5%) why, then, don’t they take the money and add it to the city fund for affordable housing instead of paying to promote the Chamber of Commerce? Wouldn’t that help solve the problem of reported difficulties to find employees?
There is no sense to any of this. Retrofitting all the mistakes of the past just doesn’t cut it.
And now the skinny is they intend to provide a row of cute “little houses” or some such thing out at The Dells. Well guess what? This city doesn’t get to decide what goes there. That land is outside city limits which no one at city hall seems to acknowledge but bet those folks in Red Rock Dry Creek Planning Assn. (not sure about the name) – but bet they will have a say along with Yavapai County.
Sedona incorporation has amounted to nothing more than a comedy of errors and now continuing with the preposterous Community Focus Areas. Understand the one at Schnebly Hill Road will require zone changing to guess what – allow more lodging. Yep. At the council meeting Wednesday they explained lodging like B & B’s – similar to El Portal – and in fact they did cite that as an example. Wonder who the property owners are in that residential area beyond the “Y”. Three guesses and the first two don’t count.
Same ole cast of characters complaining…
2017 sounds a lot like the previous 5 years and beyond..
Rock on complainers…..your getting so good at it…you too ESM
And the beat goes on…….
You sound like a broken record.
Go get a life.
@@west sedona resident
With all your complaining…….You sound like a broken record as well…how about you get a life and stop complaining about the same nonsense over and over and over. Ad naseum
What’s the matter West sedona resident? Is the truth too painful to admit so your only recourse is a pathetic attempt to shame those that point it out?
To whom it may concern:
The review offered from “Lost Cause” appears to be a fair assessment of the events mentioned.
Because Mayor Sandy Moriarty lived in Sedona prior to incorporation and, in fact, was among those appointed to the first Sedona City Council, for those questioning the allegations made by “Lost Cause”wouldn’t she be an excellent source to contact for verification?
Aren’t you all getting a bit tired of the same old ranting about the same old; City Council, Chamber of Commerce, some issues about a former bakery that is gone for what ever the reason of which I don’t give a darn.
A few posts up someone mentioned about an issue that effects all of us, the National Monument and yet not one of you had any interest or opinion. This is all just very sad!
@West Sedona Resident, West sedona resident, WSR, WSR times 2, Wsr, Anonymous and All Readers at The Eye:
It’s time for your regular appointment for an enema to relieve your intellectual constipation which sounds like a broken record that nobody listens to…
From The Thought Proctologist;
Apparently J. Rick won’t repeat his own comments since, I suppose, he feels to do so shouldn’t be necessary. So, I’ll do it for him, as follows, since I do happen to think the following comment needs to be repeated until the subject troll goes away forever:
Under Eddie Maddock’s column of November 23, 2016 is this comment;
J. Rick Normand says:
December 26, 2016 at 3:01 pm
@All Readers at The Eye:
Re Hecklers: WSR (the ultimate hater and fraud posting above on Dec 25), Wsr, West sedona Resident and Anonymous
Here is proof that hecklers like the one(s) below can NEVER be believed or trusted, not to mention that these trolls have no interest whatsoever in the articles which their attack targets have posted and labored to thoroughly research. See below:
Reply to JRN from>>>
West sedona Resident says:
December 4, 2016 at 9:08 am
J Rick Normand
Thought Proctologist
The above are both the same person….J Rick still can’t understand why you use your real name AND then an Alias
Yes that anonymous post was WSR…forgot to fill it in before I posted
*****
J. Rick Normand says:
December 6, 2016 at 9:21 am
@West sedona Resident, WSR, Wsr, & Anonymous,
Do you realize that you’ve just admitted that YOU’RE ALL FOUR OF THESE HANDLES while accusing me of being two handles with no evidence or confirmation of any kind? Can’t you ever do anything right?
JRN
*****
Reply to JRN from>>>
West sedona resident says:
December 6, 2016 at 2:16 pm
JRN
So what….
Wsr WSR west sedona resident. Yeah it’s all me …I repeat so what….[sic] there’s all the same…. I’m not pretending to be JRN. And the Thought Proctologist… what’s your point…..Or as in most of your posts….”there is no point”. Just a lot of huffing and hot air
*****
From JRN to West sedona Resident, WSR, Wsr, & Anonymous>>>
Aside from what is revealed through your own words, WSR/Wsr, you’ve proved some other things, namely, that you’re incapable of original research and authoring related articles, incapable of deductive logic, and incapable of achieving enough credibility to persuade anyone to believe in your drivel which you tend to repeat incessantly. You need to find a new game! [and venue (TTP)]
[End]
@SWR
You never know what’s on the horizon. Keep looking over your shoulder. The gravy trainis coming to an end. Did you see the brain fart (deleted by editor) had at the council meeting. It was hilllarious. He looked a litttle worried.
Oh JRN
Aka Thought fart
You remind me of ESM…..assimilating useless information and spitting out a conspiracy theory….Funny stuff
Oh yea WSr is short for West sedona resident …..DUH
Eventually those a taking and their obsessions with those that give the people a voice become transparent. They don’t want the public to know how they are a stealing. Public funding for their private use.
THANK YOU editor, Sedona Eye, ESM, JRN, JJ, J.J.JeanJ, NBear, Attention, F.Y.I and any others of you the stand up for the PEOPLE.
If you go back through history only those who were willing to stand up using their voice have made positive change.
Thank you!
אדאנק
Check out the classy U-Tube production on Cottonwood – by and for the Town of Cottonwood and not a promotion for their Chamber of Commerce. In particular check out the credits at the end. And where is that type of grant for Sedona? Oh forgot – we’re all rich and can afford thousands of Sedona tax dollars for the USFS to maintain their trails. Nice gesture but not the purpose for incorporated Sedona.
Seriously, watch this 4-minute production on Cottonwood. No wonder it’s a bigger attraction than traffic-clogged Sedona.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tvaYGpasLg&feature=youtu.be&list=PLDRV4Y8iFsDCRTc-A1DrwdBdoX7Su15ss
Those most critical of valid points posted here have no arguments other than crying “conspiracy theory(s)”? Oh please – then come up with a good reason why all existing Sedona city subdivisions at the time of incorporation were NOT given priority for sewer service? To date many older subdivisions remain unconnected which is just fine because how many could afford to connect if given the opportunity?
And there’s no truth about Nepenthe having been approved for affordable housing which never happened? And why was that, know-it-all that cries “conspiracy theory”? The same with the unfulfilled commitment from Fairfield and other new developments.
And why wouldn’t it be a good idea to take the additional .5% bed tax and add to the already established affordable housing funded by in-lieu of bed taxes? All businesses would profit, so the story goes, if more affordable housing were available.
But, of course, that would crush the Chamber’s ability to play big-shots with public money by giving it to the USFS for their trail maintenance. How much revenue loss does that amount to for the City & State due to investing in a no-tax return endeavor since most hikers take their own munchies and don’t participate in elegant dining at Sedona’s restaurants. Or are they essentially anything other than day trippers. If that isn’t the case, then where’s the proof?
Second thought here – maybe “conspiracy” minus the tacked on “theory” is the best term for what has happened and continues to occur in Sedona.
Thanks for the tip calling Sedona management exactly what it is. Conspiracy Gang Rule sounds appropriate and that doesn’t mean those that take time to point out the FACTS of the past (and at present).
Fact (no conspiracy theory).
As the phases for access to the wastewater treatment facility had been properly outlined, one major change occurred along SR 179 when, instead of sticking to those plans, Mystic Hills housing development was approved. And guess what? Because that new development agreed to prepay for access to the sewer plant, the original plan was deviated, thereby leaving older subdivisions in that area placed on the back burner.
However, down the road when lots became available and homes were proposed for construction, guess what. There was no more capacity at the treatment plant. And do you know what happened next? Well, Mystic Hills filed a law suit against the city and guess what – again. Mystic Hills prevailed in that litigation thereby reclaiming at least the money they had prepaid for the service if not more.
Moral of story? A calculated guess would be the love of money instead of sticking to the original plan or, maybe a remote possibility, Karma at work. Conspiracy theory? Definitely NOT in my opinion.
Eddie Maddock
SWR- South West Retard
@ SouthWest Retard aka West Sedona Resident, West sedona resident, West sedona Resident, WSR, WSR times 2, Wsr, Anonymous and All Readers at The Eye:
It’s time for another regular appointment for an enema to relieve your intellectual constipation which sounds like a broken record that nobody listens to…
From The Thought Proctologist;
Apparently J. Rick won’t repeat his own comments since, I suppose, he feels to do so shouldn’t be necessary. So, I’ll do it for him, as follows, since I do happen to think the following comment needs to be repeated until the subject troll goes away forever:
Under Eddie Maddock’s column of November 23, 2016 is this comment;
J. Rick Normand says:
December 26, 2016 at 3:01 pm
@All Readers at The Eye:
Re Hecklers: WSR (the ultimate hater and fraud posting above on Dec 25), Wsr, West sedona Resident and Anonymous
Here is proof that hecklers like the one(s) below can NEVER be believed or trusted, not to mention that these trolls have no interest whatsoever in the articles which their attack targets have posted and labored to thoroughly research. See below:
Reply to JRN from>>>
West sedona Resident says:
December 4, 2016 at 9:08 am
J Rick Normand
Thought Proctologist
The above are both the same person….J Rick still can’t understand why you use your real name AND then an Alias
Yes that anonymous post was WSR…forgot to fill it in before I posted
*****
J. Rick Normand says:
December 6, 2016 at 9:21 am
@West sedona Resident, WSR, Wsr, & Anonymous,
Do you realize that you’ve just admitted that YOU’RE ALL FOUR OF THESE HANDLES while accusing me of being two handles with no evidence or confirmation of any kind? Can’t you ever do anything right?
JRN
*****
Reply to JRN from>>>
West sedona resident says:
December 6, 2016 at 2:16 pm
JRN
So what….
Wsr WSR west sedona resident. Yeah it’s all me …I repeat so what….[sic] there’s all the same…. I’m not pretending to be JRN. And the Thought Proctologist… what’s your point…..Or as in most of your posts….”there is no point”. Just a lot of huffing and hot air
*****
From JRN to West sedona Resident, WSR, Wsr, & Anonymous>>>
Aside from what is revealed through your own words, WSR/Wsr, you’ve proved some other things, namely, that you’re incapable of original research and authoring related articles, incapable of deductive logic, and incapable of achieving enough credibility to persuade anyone to believe in your drivel which you tend to repeat incessantly. You need to find a new game! [and venue (TTP)]
[End]
The proven points are chamber needs oversight and business as usual ensures it won’t and will likely not happen. Next.
@JJ
Oh JJ your so funny…..
As for the rest ESM…James Harrington and the rest are all full of hot air…All talk for years and years here on SE and absolutely ZERO action….The loyd mouths cannot take time from their busy computer complaining to actually attend and voice their opinion at a council meeting…
Same ole same ole…..and the beat goes on and on and on and on
All mouth ZERO action
Karma is coming. @ West sedona resident aka Steve Segner. The entire world is looking at American politics along with the civil unrest during this time. Vacations are the last time on their minds. This is why one-side economics don’t work.
“Loyd” mouths that can’t spell have plenty of time to sit around at the city because they steal more from the taxpayers then they make at legitimate business. Easy prey easy money. Bullying their way with the same ole crappyoiust statements.
and the beat goes on…. All bs picking on retirees, bullying a town….. does it make you feel big little man? Twinkle twinkle
Following this thread is really very revealing. When undisputed facts are stated, the only line of defense is to continue throwing punches? That represents a powerful statement in itself. Cowards are better off keeping their voices silent one might think.
The incident relating to the Mystic Hills/City debacle served as only one example of perhaps a questionable decision made by the seated city council at that time. As at least one other person alluded to the Nepenthe housing development, the original intent for affordable housing, unfortunately that contingency was not securely substantiated in the development agreement, ultimately resulting in relinquishing the original purpose: Affordable Housing. The other example of Fairfield reneging on their commitment also remains undisputed in commentary on this site.
Reflecting on the approval for CVS, it was former Councilwoman Angela LeFevre, to my recollection, who insisted the provision for open space on the property was significantly specified as “in perpetuity” which was a commendable action for ensuring potential future deviation. “In perpetuity” was also a contingency when the vote was taken for the USFS land exchange for the Cultural Park – that the property “in perpetuity” was never to be used for commercial development. In that case it’s possible, and unfortunate, the contingency wasn’t sufficiently documented to be enforceable, unless however the actual ballot measure provided it. Would anyone out there happen to have on record the exact wording on that ballot?
Eddie Maddock
Talk about backfiring. So the Nepenthe project (very lovely complex BTW) was originally to have been “Affordable Housing”. Didn’t happen.
And now, 2017, by State Law they may be used as vacation rentals. Lucky break for smart investors.
‘Tis only a matter of time ’til other questionable activities will encounter their just fate. Wait and see. Karma lives.
Very good memory Ms Maddock
While you may think that LeFevre insisted on the open space it was CVS that pushed that as a community benefit wanting to do anything to make that project happen. The same community benefit that DiNunzio didn’t believe would happen and voted against the project instead seeking to have 15 houses along that space. As far as your memory about the Cultural Park, that was only a bit before my time so I have to ask, where is it written that the cultural park would never be used for commercial development? If your memory is correct, that would be written into the deed.
One thing that I have found with the folks in the city is that if it ain’t in writing, it never happened. Sure it may have been spoken about sometimes to great lengths so “show me the beef” of you don’t have a leg to stand on. This is the same as what people banter about with the incorporation of this city. They think that a lot should have happened because that’s what they were told. My question is; where is it written?????
Responding to PS Ms. Maddock – Your point is well taken and precisely why I mentioned the push by Angela LeFevre to include the commitment to maintain the open space “in perpetuity” in the development agreement with CVS.
As for the commitment to keep the USFS land exchange from commercial development “in perpetuity” and whether or not that appeared in writing – no – I do not have written proof which was my reason for having asked at the end of my comment if anyone out there had knowledge of the wording on the ballot measure.
At one time I checked with Jennifer Burns at the Forest Service and was told it had not been included in the agreement with the USFS for the exchange. Therefore, and unless it was on the actual ballot measure, unfortunately it is possible there is no valid proof of that commitment.
So – anyone out there – do you you have back up data on this? Keep Sedona Beautiful maybe? There is a possibility the State archives down in Phoenix might shed some light. Will check.
And, thanks for your input.
Eddie Maddock
Ms Maddock, thank you for being honest enough to say when you are wrong or even unsure.
My next question is if you checked with Jennifer Burns who I consider to be the “consummate” professional on anything USFS even though she’s retired why are you still asking for “back up data”????
Does this mean that until you ever get contrary information that this topic is dead once and for all?
Based on some of the revelations of past mistakes, why, oh why doesn’t this present regime INSIST on complete vetting and verification by professional audit and accurate return on investment (if in fact any exists) of special interest, member-driven Chamber of Commerce and this alleged “service contract” with them. Maybe in the past naivety was allowed to prevail, but doesn’t history prove that sloppy navigation is destined for stormy weather sooner or later.
Sedona, as a city, community, and Arizona scenic attraction deserves better. This city council doesn’t want to hear from the citizens unless they jump on their band wagon. That was proven during the garbage debacle.
Is it time for locals to unite and take back our quality of life by first insisting they rethink, prior to June, the Chamber contract, a direct violation to non-Chamber members that collect city taxes on behalf of City of Sedona revenue, part of which is shared also with the State of Arizona?
And as a reminder, the contract with Red Earth Theatre at City’s expense is another competitive slam to local legitimate businesses. Shameful.
“Sean says:
January 29, 2017 at 8:03 pm
The proven points are chamber needs oversight and business as usual ensures it won’t and will likely not happen. Next.”
Best summary of Chamber fishy financial existence using taxpayer funds in shortest amount of words with logical understanding of how Jennifer won’t let go of the magic unicorn cuz she has no other source of funding that’s as easy peasy as our City Council!
@PS Ms Maddock:
You offer appreciation for being forthright in acknowledging that I personally do not have verification of the specified terms “in perpetuity” relating to the USFS land exchange transaction. Will you, in turn, kindly be as forthright and reveal your true identity?
Eddie Maddock
Not to be confused with THAT R O’Donnell
To Sharlett & Enough Said
Whine Whine Whine
It’s easy to spout your tails here but WHERE WERE YOU WHEN IT COUNTED??!!??
Don’t cry that no one would listen so why bother. At least you would have had your 3 minutes of fame. Nope you didn’t have the guts then and you only spout now with no real names.
Rc O Donnelly
As you know (deleted by editor) is basically having a conversation with herself and one other posting under 5 different names
Yes, indeed – life is GREAT out here in the VOC. We just sit back and let you Sedona City Folks pay for us to play. Your kind Mayor Moriarty gave us a super plug at The Collective and we expect the same once the Factory Outlets are reinvented now the property’s been sold. We have everything out here – and NO city taxes. Thank you, one and all in Sedona that helps promote our businesses on your nickel. Can it get better than this?
A tip for West Sedona residents: Take the shortcut and avoid the 179 congestion. Just head for Cottonwood on 89 but take the Page Springs turnoff, turn left at Casey’s Corner, and left again at Beaver Head Flats to 179. Piece of cake – scenic – no stress. Oops – shouldn’t be promoting this best kept secret. It soon will be jam packed w/traffic.