SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie Maddock
Sedona AZ (November 15, 2016) – At the City Council meeting scheduled for November 22, 2016, once again there will be a discussion regarding the marketing contract the City of Sedona has with the Chamber of Commerce, generated by a bed tax increase of .5%. Of course the notice included here from the Sedona Lodging Council is legitimate and there’s nothing wrong with it. However, it does raise some questions:
• If 40, 50, 60 (more or less) people show up at this meeting, will they be considered a “Vocal Majority” and have their way with favorable City Council approval when more than 700 objected to city controlled garbage service were labeled a “Vocal Minority”?
• Will the same policy of settling for word-of-mouth verification prevail during this presentation, without confirmation from a reliable and authorized outside audit and/or proposed future RFP’s which were promised at the time the original contract with the City and Chamber of Commerce was approved? If so is that fair when detailed procedures, including professional polls, are authorized and paid for in connection to practically every other proposal for change made by the City of Sedona?
• Is it still acceptable for City of Sedona tax revenue to be allocated to promote only those members of a special interest, allegedly non-profit organization, which frequently serves to directly compete with legitimate, licensed businesses located within Sedona City Limits?
• Will the City Council and Staff continue to deny it was the upswing in national economy after the great recession that most likely created an increase in sales – that little more than traffic clogging day trippers has been the result from the costly City/Chamber Contract?
The original agreement in 2013, when the contract with the Chamber was approved, was conditional. Specifically, after one year RFP’s were to be forthcoming in addition to an authorized outside, professional audit. Those provisions never occurred. Instead the contract was extended for three years without RFP’s and no mention of authentic, reliable methods of checks and balances of accurate return on investment or comparison for other potentials for a more beneficial, profitable return on the .5% bed tax increase have occurred.
Do City Council Members and Staff still consider that a reasonable and fair policy, without questionable bias and prejudice to other city contracts and agreements?
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Because it’s the right thing to do, duh.
They drank the wrong coolaid. All that axx kissing worked. All it took was schmoozing the city staff and council.
Shows the world how stupid they are.
Hey thanks for bringing up an OLD article that was last commented on 2016. So glad we can rehash the old complaining with a new set of b…..ching. How refreshing.
@Same ole, so you think bringing up events from 2016 is boring? Then why do you take up your valuable time by reading them? From another point of view one could think that rehashing the (?corrupt?) activities of an incorporated city (not a joke) put in force largely by former mayor Rob Adams is a jolt back to reality of just exactly how this mess was allowed to occur.
Overdevelopment including multiple story complexes all contributed to the end result: too much traffic. But the bitter icing on the distasteful cake was and remains the over-funding to a “regional” chamber of commerce, promoting ONLY their members (including references at the city funded “Chamber” Visitors Center) and ignoring legitimate non-chamber member businesses within city limits. Refreshing? Some of us think NOT. Hindsight is 20/20.
But, of course, let’s not overlook the idiotic and inconsiderate decision made by Gov. Ducey. That being to allow vacation rentals in restricted, residential zoned subdivisions. They are all a bunch of rotten apples IMO who reflect the same attitude as “Same ole.”
One last thing. If the “city” had stuck by initial policy and mandated timeshares, hotels, and other “lodging” facilities to provide a certain number of work-force units, there would be little or no need to attempt solving that unfortunate situation at this time. Bottom line: POOR PLANNING.
How refreshing? NOT. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, “Same ole”.
Thank you! Spot on
Just as a reminder to those who object to what they perceive as “negative” comments on Sedona Eye, how about taking into consideration the underlying reason(s) for that possibility?
For example, didn’t the process of plucking the goose clean really commence with the out-of-control funding to the chamber of commerce, allowing that special interest club and their affinity group, Sedona Lodging Council, to govern Sedona?
Conspicuous by absence in this latest process to keep the sordid story alive is a comment from former Sedona City Councilman (NOT “councilor”) appearing with his photo in the Sedona Red Rock News on August 2, 2013: City Moves Forward on Bed Tax (grit your teeth “Same ole” – another trip down memory lane)
“The Sedona Lodging Council stepped up, came to the plate and personally I feel they hit a home run” . . . . John Martinez, Sedona City Councilman
So along with accolades to former Mayor Adams and Barbara Littrell, please, please don’t leave out quite possibly the “chamber’s” most loyal fan and cheer leader, former City Council elected “member” and subsequently appointed(?) vice mayor?
Clearly Mr. Martinez is still dedicated to his favorite club as he continues to attend city council meetings and voice his ever-loving sage advice to those presently presiding.
His questionably ill conceived suggestions for redesigning the “Y” and continuing to push for a 4-lane SR179 are over the top B.O.R.I.N.G. But, of course, only the “opinions” of the rah, rah fans and mercenary few who continue to pull the strings at City Hall might think differently.
Over development is the newest political hot potato and buzzword for cracking down on abuse of space esthetics. In other words Sedona your local politicians are leading you down the wrong path for today’s green new deal. Check out new websites springing up that are communities fighting back against politicians enabling new zoning and new densities and loss of green space. From California to Washington to Maine to Florida communities are saying no to new growth.
@jonh W
Well thanks John. Certainly sitting behind your computer digging up old articles with the same ole crying has accomplished a lot . Your efforts are appreciated. Cry on
Happening in my home state.
Colorado Limits on Housing Growth Initiative (2020)
Colorado Limits on Housing Growth Initiative 1% annual limit
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Election date
November 3, 2020
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