SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie S. Maddock offers Sedona the best of times and the worst of times in the ongoing dispute between the Chamber of Commerce destination marketing program and its local government control in a tale of one city.
Sedona AZ – The following phrase suggesting radical opposites is from the opening paragraph of the famous Charles Dickens’ novel, “A Tale of Two Cities:”
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity …”
Considering the number of ongoing disputes here in Sedona (perhaps beginning, but most assuredly not the ending) was the idea of becoming an incorporated city. Of course that argument was settled by the voters, and the City of Sedona designation became official.
However one ongoing tug of war has existed and continues to this day and it is the extent, if any, to which the Sedona Chamber of Commerce has controlled local government. Logically it stands to reason that a member-driven, non-profit organization should not be playing the role of acting as a tail wagging the dog (City of Sedona)… especially since its primary function is to serve Chamber of Commerce members, many located outside the “city limits” and thus are unauthorized to vote, charge Sedona city sales tax, or allegedly make viable decisions within incorporated Sedona boundaries. Old news? Of course.
However a huge mistake occurred at the time Sedona was seeking a source for a “destination marketing” contract and, instead of following the guidelines set forth to obtain bids by way of RFP (Requests for Proposals) and under intense opposition, a contract was approved with what realistically was the “regional” Chamber of Commerce and war, figuratively speaking, was declared.
This conflict quite possibly has recently been resolved by the Chamber of Commerce giving written notice they would not be renewing its contract as Sedona’s official Designated Management Organization (DMO).
Sedona has newcomers on the City Council. They are smart. They are asking a lot of questions. They are astute. But perhaps best of all, they recognize Sedona residents and respect City Limits as their jurisdiction. They have also expressed interest and intent to cooperate with regards to the spirit of regional communication and indicate willingness to seek and share ideas with other Verde Valley communities, but at the same time always to respect the limitations of their jurisdiction.
At recent meetings, the Sedona City Council has graciously spoken well of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce while at the same time maintaining their position relating to the current differences of opinion existing regarding goals and direction of a DMO (Destination Marketing Organization) under which the Sedona Chamber of Commerce had been under contract. That apparently was the basis by which the C of C made their decision to not renew the contract with Sedona.
Conflicts between Sedona Arizona residents and its city councils began after a council awarded a destination marketing contract to a local non-profit membership-driven organization tasked with promoting its paid members businesses and commercial interests, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce. The contract’s negative impact on city residents quality of life issues before, during and after the pandemic, resulted in contentious local elections and city council meetings. In 2023, after newly elected city council members joined existing, the Chamber program was agendized for discussion, review and action.
Recently the following was on a city council agenda:
3.a. AB 2930 Discussion/possible direction/action regarding next steps towards the development of a municipal destination marketing and management program, including a Resolution designating the City of Sedona as the official Destination Marketing Organization.
Because as it appears the transition of a DMO will revert to where many think it should have been in the first place, City Hall, a great deal of thought and logical strategy is being considered, particularly from the newer faces on City Council beginning, but not ending with hiring a professional consultant for direction.
City Council members display a sincere desire to support the premise that tourism needs to have a positive result. The majority of the city council members favor taking a slower approach, while the mayor stated that he “Can’t support waiting.”
Was expressing the need to work for “all Sedona residents and businesses” in fact a confirmed admission that during years gone by residents have, indeed, been shunned and perceivably treated like irrelevant nuisances? Is it fair to relate the overblown credit bestowed upon the Chamber of Commerce and Lodging Council as being the direct source of Sedona’s tax revenue? Has overextended and, perhaps, unprofessional pursuits actually been the cause resulting in out of control tourism creating overuse and disintegration of our most spectacular attraction, Sedona’s beauty, as well as local quality of life being shunned in the process?
Is it the obligation of Sedona government to promote businesses? No. Tourism should have positive results. Hasn’t too much time already been wasted on a “messy relationship” with the Chamber of Commerce? Yes.
It was suggested and agreed upon that most likely it will be good for the Chamber to do their own thing because, among other reasons, their vision is not the same as that of incorporated Sedona, which as presently stated is to “work for Sedona residents and businesses.” Residents, as stakeholders, should no longer be shunned and treated like second-class citizens or flatlanders.
With the task of tackling the logical decision to relocate the official DMO under the roof at Sedona City Hall, a new focus will be directed on the beauty of the area with a realistic approach and recognition of its capacity and thus indicating the need to include a method of educating our visitors. “Brand Sedona” and allow the Chamber of Commerce to deal with commercialization to benefit its members? The suggestion of an Advisory Board consisting of both residential and business participation to work in conjunction with the proposed hiring of a consultant was well received.
Newer members on the Sedona City Council were prudent in inquiring about return on investments. To-date nothing has been made available to speak to the success or failure of the contract with the Chamber of Commerce. For example, was the end result merely the extensive miles of backed up traffic? Who knows? What about success, failure, return on investment, use and participation of the newly created Sedona Transit System?
But all things considered, it seems logical to accept that certain changes, no matter what they are, will result in perhaps “the best of times” for some while for others they will, from their perspective, complain about suffering through “the worst of times.”
However, when seeking an answer about Sedona’s investment in the transit system, most assuredly not a profit producer, perhaps the answer will not be known unless transparency is practiced.
By establishing an appropriate Sedona City Designated Management Organization and, to include an “official” City of Sedona Visitors Center to rightfully represent ALL Sedona licensed businesses, then . . . at that time . . . won’t the City of Sedona finally revert to being the “dog” who rightfully takes control of wagging its own “tail”?
The best of times?
To be or not to be believed, eh?
My friend Marco said it and now me. We are at a make-or-break moment now. 45 Democrat Senators support making DC the 51st state. This is a big deal. What was once a radical, far-Left position is now the norm! It dilutes Arizona voting power.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – it is totally crucial that we stop this ploy to make DC our 51st state.
If we let this happen, the Senate will fail to function. If President Biden loses more seats in this midterm then Republicans will seize control of our country for decades! I’m starting to worry that if we don’t stop them now, we won’t get another chance and it’s not by making Democrats weaker in the Senate. The Democrats have gone crazy power hungry demented leftists because leftists gain here not Democrats.
For godssake DC doesn’t even have an economy and has had representation in Congress for years. It’s been a totally black run city from its mayor on down including its police force. Maryland black government said no to taking it back (its 8 square miles came from Virginia and Maryland lands) because it’s a crime infested crap hole like Detroit. Detroit would make more sense being a state than DC.
Never mind Let’s make Phoenix a state so Latinos get more clout and next San Francisco so Asians get more clout in Senate. Anyone in favor of DC statehood is an uneducated dumbass whether Republican or Democrat or Independent.
Vote for Sedona statehood. Means same thing.
Read this. The news released an internal memo to Border Patrol from the President to release into the US without any registration or contact illegals swarming the border beginning today. WTF Biden and Myorkas the no problem at border becomes Arizona and Texas and California and New Mexico citizens nightmare. REMOVE THE SANCTUARY CITY ILLEGAL DESIGNATION SEDONA, Sedona liberals sent a middle finger to DC and AZ governments and guess who they n the White House is sending it back????? Seditious action IN SEDONA swarming up in a bus soon.
@sedona NYC mayor suspended “right to shelter” in city with an executive order this morning ahead of the White House Title 42 suspension also this morning. No Border hopper wanted or welcome in NYC. Sedona Councilors get ready for “backpack cell phone credit card carrying” of unknown criminal backgrounds (no vetting or identification ever required and no registration necessary) arriving soon near your house. And they get to vote in our next city and state election.
http://www.SedonaEye.com neighbors TripTips advisories advising access worth share
(Begin) …Sedona drive highlite, weekdays avoid weekends & holidays roads unavoidable traffic car parks, Town touristy & easily overcrowded, Best Early dawnlight drive thru for views & head in out..(end)
@Eddie Maddock (Sedona Eye Defund Chamber
Conflicts between Sedona Arizona residents and its city councils began after a council awarded a destination marketing contract to a local non-profit membership-driven organization tasked with promoting its paid members businesses and commercial interests, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce. The contract’s negative impact on city residents quality of life issues before, during and after the pandemic, resulted in contentious local elections and city council meetings. In 2023, after newly elected city council members joined existing, the Chamber program was agendized for discussion, review and action.
Recently the following was on a city council agenda:
3.a. AB 2930 Discussion/possible direction/action regarding next steps towards the development of a municipal destination marketing and management program, including a Resolution designating the City of Sedona as the official Destination Marketing Organization)
What good did it do?
Regarding City of Sedona’s termination of the destination marketing contract with the “regional” Chamber of Commerce, “What good did it do?” asks Tony.
Well for one thing it will eliminate millions of dollars awarded to the C of C without benefit of factual data (Return on Investment) as to whether or not that effort created anything other than miles and miles of traffic back-ups.
As for the “city” to now engage in their own DMO – sure – it will cost money. However at least (hopefully) we who are located within Sedona city limits, residents and business establishments, will NOT have city revenue spent promoting competition outside the jurisdiction – competition that does NOT collect and contribute to financially benefit Sedona.
It was made crystal clear the money spent with the C of C for “destination marketing” did NOT expand beyond supporting ONLY Chamber members thus shunning many local businesses by disallowing them to be represented in the also “city funded” Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center.
For years and years it’s been on record that “word of mouth” is absolutely the best and most effective form of advertising. However, if uncontrolled traffic and other negative aspects in Sedona continue to prevail that “word of mouth” promotion will work negatively.
Time to move on – let the “Chamber” do it’s job and let’s see if a new department at City Hall can be rewarding and return the reputation of Sedona back to a beautiful place to visit instead of the common “tourist trap” it’s turned into since the questionable contract with the C of C back – when? — 2013?
Market “Sedona = the Scenic Sensation” and allow the Chamber to continue promoting their “regional” members in a professional manner without wasting incorporated “City of Sedona” revenue to promote outside competition. This surely must be a plus for in-city businesses who opted out of being coerced into becoming members of a group they really didn’t care that much about?
What good did it do? What good WILL it do? That remains to be seen.
Respectfully submitted,
Eddie S. Maddock
Rumors being heard ‘Hundreds of migrants could be housed on airport Mesa and local parks starting next week because city can offer it for that” and “a couple of hotels could be used because feds will pay for it”
Any reputable news media covering those rumors? The Federal government better get its act together and that means the President and cabinet.
@EM ppl can’t spell sensation go with scenic wonder
@Jim West Sedona – whatever works!! :-)
It feels like we’re not saving Sedona, that’s she slipping away. May I be wrong.
Council – What’s your answer about costs we’ve paid?
(Here is the answer: In fiscal year 2023, the city’s budget for its transit program was $2,598,390 — not including an additional $75,000 in transit marketing funds paid to the Chamber of Commerce to promote the shuttles — bringing the program’s total cost to $2,673,390. On Oct. 12, 2022, the council discussed the likelihood that the transit program’s FY24 budget would be in the neighborhood of $4 million; Cost per visitor to the city on the basis of the current year’s budget is $19.09.)
what why sedona cop shot
If I were to guess, enough people complained about traffic, and this is one of the solutions. But I bet you knew that, your just being a complainer like most around here.
Do we have a traffic problem or not? Should we address the traffic problem or not?
@Well Phil & @Frank. How about this for a solution?
Retain the regional Chamber to fix the traffic/transit problem. Don’t forget the stellar job they did in bringing in more destination tourists? That’s a joke but who’s laughing?
If this city council even entertains the thought of “hiring” the “Chamber” again for ANY reason, why shouldn’t they ALL be recalled?
Why should a member driven organization be qualified or allowed to bid on future proposals for ANY City of Sedona project considering the C of C is and remains member driven?
Translated – THEY ONLY represent their members and do NOT represent businesses or residents in incorporated Sedona unless they pay dues for membership to the C of C. Period – end of report! (should be anyhow)
Let the C of C do what they are organized to do……. serve their MEMBERS. Why were they ever allowed to be Sedona’s “tail wagging the dog”? The Chamber is NOT a legitimate branch of Sedona city government!
Chamber is self dealing entity funded by tax money and if that’s not illegal it should be.
Sedona needs a new gig
@wellphil cycles of nature and tourism become increasingly popular to determine where and whether to stay or go elsewhere, tourism traffic causes problems that doesn’t produce value, keep it away
The city the land the legend the???? This visitor says B overall and why do you tolerate this weather???
History’s to be kept not paved over and I said it and not you and my logo not your logo. Make this town feel like it looks.
It was a lovely day, even for those of us who are not mothers. A light breeze versus wind gusts strong enough to challenge some of us to maintain balance was a delightful change from recent conditions.
However the purpose of this comment is to transmit hope for the future of Sedona. Someone did me the questionable “service?” of forwarding a recent editorial from the local print paper, RRNews, and it did a major job slamming the city council and newly elected members for not having acquiesced to the demands of the chamber of commerce.
This is to offer my thanks and express admiration to those who have the integrity to go beyond past slam dunk support for allowing a regional member driven group to rule and govern Sedona city politics.
Although speaking only for myself don’t think for one minute this written opinion stands alone. There are many who agree and we must continue to rally in spite of the nasty opinion(s) from the “editor” of the RRNews.
Small towns are losing their identities. It’s your fault too.
After arriving in Sedona there’s never been a time that I could say no to her.
Enough complaining about traffic! We don’t have room for roads and we don’t need or want them and if people are coming and sitting for hours they’ll learn to stay home and not come to Village or uptown!
How true your words are @Vance, Big Park.
“Build it and they will come.”
slam could’ve been “follow the money” drama
—that green tax money pipeline squeeze is coming
Council idiots have designs for our road system to be a big roundabout in Sedona and Village and Cottonwood and Midgely Bridge that go nowhere but funnel into fake tunnels that don’t move traffic but create a smog filled acid rock eating existence here.
Roadrunner bullies dictate to voters, stop providing $$ to make them listen.
@Sedona get up before you fade in the sunset
Dear Sir. The (deleted by editor) asked us to rate the genuineness (deleted by editor). Every thing which is right is said by the maligned complainers and those need astute attention. Thank you for this good newsletter. Mailing a comment from (Deleted by editor). TB
Changing times.
Worth repeating and sharing.
“Don’t get me wrong; I’m all for helping the environment. What I’m not for is wasting taxpayer dollars when one of President Biden’s climate “czars” can’t even answer how much roughly $50 TRILLION DOLLARS of taxpayer money spent is going to lower world temperatures. Folks, this blows my mind, and I’m doing everything I can to ensure your taxpayer dollars aren’t being flushed down the drain by a bunch of Left-of-Lenin wokesters who don’t know their rear end from their elbow.” -Senator John Kennedy
@bob yes
Thanks so much for your amateur Road engineering comment just another complaint. Seems like some here must just complain about anything and everything .
$50 TRILLION will replace every car and every truck and every air conditioner and every kitchen appliance in America with new and modern. Give the 3rd world our old stuff and make them 2nd world. That’s being pro America. And it will count as reparations for blacks and Asians and browns and whites who have suffered slavery and serfdom. Get on it.
China told Joe to get his ass to G7 and make them stop badmouthing them. It worked and another paycheck earned for the family business. Meanwhile he forgot to ask for the drugs we ordered and never received. Oh darn. Next year maybe.
“Give the 3rd world our old stuff and make them 2nd world” @Mike.
Wishful thinking. Sadly the more you “give” the more the complainers will want – as in “poor me” . . . “poor us.”
Need proof? Back in the day of slavery, who is still paying for it? Those who had didn’t have anything to do with it!!!!
Nothing will ever be enough IMO.
Blacks today aren’t descendants of slaves but of freed men and women. Let them pay for their lack of achievement.
@Howard
Best said yet. There are very few blacks who can trace their ancestors to American slavery and even more of today’s blacks can trace their ancestry to those former slaves who became successes and land owners and business persons and educators and scientists and Presidents and Vice Presidents and university presidents and doctors and lawyers and fighter pilots and farmers and homeowners and military officers and astronauts and ministers and who post slavery celebrate ancestors in their genealogy. True reparations would need to come from the African nations who sold their family members for money or exchanged for barter.
This nation offers opportunities. Take advantage of jobs and education and build a good life. That’s American reparations to every immigrant who steps inside our border. After slavery, the government and organizations offered free returns to Africa and established the nation of Liberia for those not wanting to return to their former African homelands. Many took advantage, and those who didn’t made a decision to stay and build their lives in America.
It’s a simplistic overview, however it’s a simplistic overview to think a nation hundreds of years later has any culpability for those who others gave their lives and families to set free – Maybe blacks owe others reparations?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Maryland
(Editor add to comment resource including Liberia. Removed last. Thanks DG.)
Typically the local paper (RRN) appears to be pulling out all stops in going after the majority of the city council vote to deny fulfilling recent chamber of commerce demands and orders to accommodate extending their controlling “contract” with this incorporated area.
It’s long overdue. Why in the world would a city council ever approve such nonsense in the first place? Hmmmm. . . . One never knows what transpires behind closed doors?????
Well maybe – just maybe – if the RRN is angry with this city council then residents might be assured they voted for the right people???
Keep this in mind when the next election comes up.
kick out pro business kingdom makers and takers destroying Sedona peace
Well said @Joe Lee. Isn’t it amusing how comments made on Sedona Eye are so frequently diverted from the subject of the article(s)? Most often national or even global news is addressed. Wonder why that is? As if we don’t get a belly full of propaganda elsewhere?
Do you suppose the real reason is to redirect reader attention in order to avoid disclosing what is really happening in Sedona government as is generally addressed in articles?
For example, after how many eons we actually have city council members who care about residents and their quality of life versus the former control of the local regional chamber and their ever-loving lust and greed for only $$$$$????
Just a thought . . .
People visit Sedona for a vacation and not a replay of their neighborhoods.
Aha – and could that be the reason for the recent RRN attacks on our newly elected city council members @Spence & Evelyn? That we actually have elected people interested in those of us who live in Sedona as well as “Sedona” businesses (vs. “regional” competition)?
In a word: REFRESHING!!!!
We all know that Joe Biden’s America is FAILING, but it’s not too late to save our country from total destruction because Arizona and Sedona live and die by the hands of DC
Decisions and our new Governor is the worst yet and she destroys our economics. The new governor is an abysmal Biden chosen failure.
Interesting comment @WLB. Unfortunately the same seems true about many people moving to Sedona. They claim to move here to get away from wherever they’re from.
BUT ONCE HERE they want to change it to how it was done back wherever – take people from California for instance.
Many of us are well aware of what that once beautiful and desirable State has become – we lived there. Going back for visits is like a root canal without pain killers.
Its pristine cities and towns and beaches and highways look like cesspools and garbage dumps.
People if you move here and find you don’t like it – for whatever reason – then move back or on to what it is you prefer – And Leave Sedona alone.
It has already suffered from too many changes to accommodate those who miss the big city life. Go visit – see what exorbitantly high taxes have produced and the lack of self control and personal responsibility.
Leave Sedona Alone.
16 people on the terror watch list were arrested at the southern border in April and gotaways we’re told are out there. They better not come up here with Sedona skilled vets and nosy neighbors to spot them.
@wm.d. Phoenix pushed to be bigger and bigger over the past two decades and she’s spoiled, can’t tell where the old value lays here any more. Get a handle on greedy city hall and cut some jobs and cut back spending. Keep it up Eddie.
sometimes people be haters & sometimes they be right like to hate blowing up red rocks for a dollar store trinket or overpriced pizza
For me it’s simple. MILLIONS of people have visited Sedona AS IS. Any elected government in Sedona that feels a mandate for CHANGING Sedona is acting in personal self interests and not the city and area. That’s it. Appreciate the Eye.