Home » City Council, Community » Eddie Maddock: To Buy or Not To Buy

Eddie Maddock: To Buy or Not To Buy

SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie Maddock reports on the Sedona closed to the public March 24, 2020 City Council Meeting.

Sedona AZ – Due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic mandate requiring individuals to remain socially distanced by at least ten feet, the Sedona City Council meeting on March 24, 2020 was, perhaps as an understatement, peculiar if not downright eerie. In center seat at the dais as usual was Mayor Sandy Moriarty flanked by City Councilwoman Jessica Williams in her typical end seat far to the Mayor’s left and Councilman John Currivan seated at the opposite end. Vice Mayor John Martinez and remaining Council members, Bill Chisholm and Scott Jablow, were strategically located in seats generally occupied by Sedona residents. At the onset of the meeting Mayor Moriarty acknowledged that in conforming to the proclamation of March 18, 2020, this City Council Meeting would not be open to the public in compliance with Coronavirus restrictions.

In order to address some public concerns, Councilman Currivan made the request for more discussion relating to consent agenda AB 2570 – Approval of a Resolution authorizing a Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement for the City of Sedona to purchase the property located at 430 Forest Road (APN 401-160-71) located in Coconino County, City of Sedona, Arizona, for the sum of $480,000 for use as a parking structure. Specifically he cited concerns relating to a possible scope of unknown results, particularly with regard to the potential for economic decline and even a recession.

With current lodging occupancy dropping 70% to 75%, essentially shuttered restaurants except for takeout or delivery and other businesses slipping toward the brink of closing and, with Sedona’s primary source of revenue, its sales tax obviously in jeopardy, wasn’t Councilman Currivan’s question exceptionally timely and appropriate?

City Manager Justin Clifford, however, offered assurance that necessary funds could safely be transferred from Uptown parking meter proceeds and purchasing the property at this time would preserve the ability to maintain progress on a long term project: Providing Sedona with a much needed parking structure.

Sedona AZ Forest Road viewpoint – Exclusive SedonaEye.com photo credit Eddie S. Maddock 2019

A stipulation in the 430 Forest Road Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement between the City of Sedona, Buyer, and Daniel E. Saunders, Trustee of the Daniel Saunders Revocable Trust, Seller, included agreement that no commissions shall be paid and Buyer (City) agrees to leaseback the Property to Seller at no cost for a period of up to nine (9) months from the date of the Agreement. Both parties agreed to employ Empire West Title Company as the Escrow, and enhanced the affirmation that neither party has contracted with, retained or otherwise employed a real estate broker relative to this Agreement.

Motion to approve was unanimous by Sedona City Council.

Therefore, the second of two transactions to create an Uptown parking facility is now in progress. The first, of course, is the land presently owned by the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, allegedly to be deeded to the City of Sedona at some future date.

Is that not a catchy phrase? “At some future date” who will be seated on the Sedona City Council? Who will be the City Manager? Sedona has been advertising for another City Attorney, and likewise there will be a turnover of other staff members.

Will this well-meaning transaction ultimately be justified, or down the road stifled with redirection for purposes unrelated to the stated cause for which it was purchased?

Or eventually will that questionable acquisition slip through the cracks and become a permanent, but unwarranted asset of a Chamber of Commerce, obligated to serve only their members, many outside Sedona City Limits and not contributing to the city tax base.

But most of all, when and if Sedona merchants including the lodging industry fail to produce adequate revenue to maintain even the barest essentials at City Hall, what will be the source of funding?

Sedona residents sit back and consume a breath of fresh air and sigh with relief. We do NOT have a Sedona property tax. You see in the darkest of times there is always something for which to be grateful, and in Sedona one really needn’t look too far.

635 Comments

  1. padding pockets says:

    All they are doing is padding the pockets of greedy chamber, lodging owners as they’re two cheap to pay their own bills.

    If they were are great as they pretend to be they wouldn’t be beggars and pay their own bills

  2. Sedona Ray says:

    They’ll vote for that do nothing Biden group and they’ll turn us into marching commies paying more taxes for less quality.

    At least commies don’t allow local government and chambers of commerce or people to keep their money. Not PC, baby.

    Hong Kong kisses democracy goodbye today. Bet you didn’t hear it on the news? How about Pakistan letting the man who cut Daniel Pearl’s head off in front of you on TV went free today?

    You keep saying that you don’t believe the virus came from China with ill intent? Start practicing your mandarin POC and others. Your time has come and gone and now you belong to China. Enjoy the gulag and re-education. Working in the factories and fields for pennies a day. All because you couldn’t see more then skin color in the greatest and free-est land ever on the planet. LMAO

  3. Ernie says:

    Be grateful for luck. Pay the thunder no mind. Listen to the birds. And don’t hate nobody. -James Hubert “Eubie” Blake

  4. Steve Segners says:

    Sedona Ray says:
    Wow you need to wean yourself off fox news.

  5. Sedona Ray says:

    And you should stop loving Nazis and Stalin and Mao. You should learn your party’s history, right? Of course you do because you white democrats are still telling African Americans how to vote and how to be black. Best lives matter for POC. Best lives matter for all of us. We are Americans all of us until you white Democrat demigods finish destroying our City State and Nation. Any American with half a brain will vote Republican. You nearly destroyed our nation under Biden VP and will complete it under a Democrat presidency. Facts speak louder than your poorly advised political belief system to keep POC on welfare and social programs and under your thumb. LMAO

  6. Miri Hay says:

    @stevesegners In your words, Mr. Pearl’s death is the exclusive purview of Fox network because it is the only American major network concerned with anti Semitism? Is that your comment’s subtext?

  7. Von Nguyen says:

    Democrats try to fear you be afraid virus and not vote at poll and mail not always good go be body at poll. Be good American. Do not
    be fear.

  8. Norm, Sedona says:

    In spite of all the bad news, can it be Sedona’s ray of sunshine lies in great financial stability during this economic downturn? Considering they are moving forward with the acquisition of the subject property so it appears.

    But of course funding for non-profits (with the exception of the chamber of commerce and library, both financially stable because of solid support from their members) will continue to ride the gravy train, while other previous recipients of less dollar amounts will learn to either sink or swim on their own. Lucky for the Humane Society because there’s some kind of state mandate requiring municipal funding there.

    But to hell with the condition of our crumbling city streets although we can look forward to the extension of Forest Road to meet with W89 down that hillside. It should be amusing to follow. Such is life!

    But isn’t it wonderful to know Sedona is financially stable. YIPPEE! All potential suggestions to increase taxes (ALL TAXES) can be dismissed.

    No more worry about consideration of special improvement districts and/or city property taxes. PHEW! Surely residents wouldn’t be dumb enough to vote approval for that – or would they?!

  9. Jeff, Cottonwood says:

    Financial stability and city of Sedona is an oxymoron. It’s a budget based on tourism and is not based on the solid foundation of residents needs and ability to pay. Typical Sedona.

  10. @ Jeff? says:

    Gee Jeff….So you want a city tax that means?….When 70% of our taxes are paid by tourists you rather foot the bill and have us pay?

    The things people say on this site without thinking it through is stunning!
    Typical Sedona?….No typical hypocrite!….You think you have all the answers, instead you have a un-thought through opinion!

    Keep it up, its humerus is a sick twisted way!!!!!….lol

  11. @Jeff, Cottonwood says:

    Jeff, you’re from Cottonwood. Your opinion means what to Sedona?

  12. Mike Campbell says:

    Sedona is like once wealthy old person who lets the help run the household. One day they wake up and the family silver that has been in the household for generations is gone and the bank account is empty.

    Our city council and mayor are too short sighted.

    But hey, they were elected so it must be ok. You want to see who caused it, look in the mirror. Can you honestly say you did something?

  13. Jeff, Cottonwood says:

    Typical Sedonan. I own properties there and it’s a generational relationship with the city. What’s yours? Will I find your reply humerus in a sick twisted way? Sedona has been poorly represented by its councils and mayors and managers for quite some time now. Apathetic voters who believe they need to make a tiny town bigger than its rocks allow and businesses that began to be sloppy, greedy and conventional. There’s nothing special about being what is expected of a tourist destination rather than being a gem of an extraordinary find. While Sedona is represented by politicians with social agendas far beyond the residents needs or ability to maintain, Sedona will lose her allure. Simplicity is never a politician’s goldmine.

  14. Cindy, Uptown says:

    @jeffcottonwood last comment reached my IQ and EQ voices

  15. Ray & Susan, Flagstaff says:

    It gets even better. Now City of Sedona staff and council members voted to move forward with acquiring property at the “Y” for a staging/holding area for a transit system they also agreed to pursue. And they dragged Coconino County Supervisor Matt Ryan into the picture, seeking money from our county as they finally were forced to admit incorporated Sedona isn’t located solely within Yavapai County.

    Justifying Sedona should accommodate a transit system and/or shuttles to service tourists to travel “up the creek” (Oak Creek to Slide Rock and the vista in addition to areas between) and receive taxes from residents of Coconino County is a real bummer.

    We do NOT want our tax money being given to City of Sedona for ANY reason. PERIOD.

    Please contact Supervisor Matt Ryan and protest before this goes any further. And it might be a good idea to remind Supervisor Ryan of the millions of dollars the City of Sedona can afford to give annually to that “Sedona Chamber of Commerce” without any factual proof of beneficial return on that farce of an “investment” except miles of backed-up traffic. Oh yes, and for the chamber of commerce acquisition of property there on Jordan Road (with city revenue) but titled to the C of C and a $12,000 monthly salary to the C of C Pres/CEO. Oh, allegedly reported as paid for by chamber members. RIGHT! (And where’s that replacement bridge at Red Rock Crossing?)

    We want NO part of this outrageous waste of public funding, especially when overreaching into areas to which they have no jurisdiction!

    Thank you.

  16. Judicial Watch says:

    Judicial Watch announced today that filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Mayor of the District of Columbia, Muriel Bowser, the District of Columbia Department of Transportation and the District of Columbia Department of Public Works for records about the painting of “Black Lives Matter” and “Defund the Police” on a DC street in front of the White House (Judicial Watch. v. Muriel Bowser, et al. (2020 CA 003357 B)).

  17. Maria Mollen says:

    @Judicial Watch, what does a Freedom of Information Act filed in the District of Columbia relating to Black Lives Matter & Defund the Police have to do with the above column and related comments? Your attempt to divert the subject is both obvious and obnoxious (IMO).

  18. @Ray & Susan, Flagstaff says:

    Thank you for caring so much about your neighbor to the south. I have to laugh though that someone in Flagstaff gives a rats putute about Sedona’s road projects. Give it a break (deleted by editor).

    Who are you to say “WE” do not want our tax money given to City of Sedona for any reason”? (deleted by editor) Yavapai not Coconino. I get tired driving to work from Sedona to Flagstaff and appreciate that our elected officials refuse to kick the can down the street and are doing what they promised

  19. Gap says:

    Tired of driving to work in Flag? Couple options come to mind. Stay home. Move. Both suit my desired lifestyle in Flagstaff.. Less traffic.. One more job for a local.

    Ryan remembers who votes for him and it isn’t Sedona residents or businesses housed in Yavapai. Go ask YC for money. Words out on social media to avoid Sedona. You polluted our creek. Pay us money. Coconino is the beautiful and undeveloped part of Sedona that generates its aura. We don’t sell our souls for tourists.

    Canyon and Creek residents don’t want your lousy traffic and cheap polluting tourists from Sedona. We don’t need to make parking spaces for them or cater to them. We answer to a higher lifestyle standard than the overpriced and underperforming City limits of Sedona. We are fighting to keep your tourists OUT and we don’t give a damn about them.

    Keep your (deleted by editor) in town and not in our creek.

  20. Ephesians says:

    Don’t you want transparency in government?

  21. Leslie says:

    Almost lost the city game pieces by a few votes. You better get your act together to get those Democrats out of office before your taxes go up.

  22. Steve segner says:

    Well it’s official sandy won by 210 votes the people have spoken new council and Sandy is mayor .

  23. Sedona resident population drops says:

    The people who remain are the ones who still believe it is still to their advantage to vote for more of the same. For a while longer, they will still be right.

    Where is you homeless shelter and low income housing?

    Nothing brings upscale tourists like panhandlers and petty crime.

  24. Sammy the Psychic says:

    Coconino County is the second largest county by area in the contiguous United States (San Bernardino County, CA being the largest)

    Therefore all you folks out there living in that vast area, it is YOUR county taxes that are up for grabs by dinky little “City of Sedona” to help finance THEIR pet projects! And why have these “pet projects” become necessary? Because of the wasted money by amateur promoters, by name the Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau.

    Utter nonsense. If you don’t like YOUR county taxes being spent for questionable purposes, then complain to ALL members of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors:

    District 1 – Art Babbott
    District 2 – Liz Archuleta (Chair)
    District 3 – Matt Ryan
    District 4 – Jim Parks
    District 5 – Lena Fowler (Vice-Chair)

  25. Steve Segner says:

    Dear members,

    I wanted you to be among the first to know that I am taking on a new position as CEO of the Park City, Utah Chamber of Commerce | Convention and Visitors Bureau. My last day with the Sedona Chamber will be Friday, October 9, 2020.

    I submitted the following letter to Board Chairman Lonnie Lillie. It expresses my deepest feelings at leaving you and the community that has been my home for the last 20 years. Our partners and city relationships are the backbone of the Sedona Chamber, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your personal and professional support during my tenure; it means so much to me, much more than I can say. I know you will continue to be the mainstay of our organization and community – the glue that keeps us moving forward. I hope we have the opportunity to speak personally in the weeks ahead.

    Dear Chairman Lillie,

    Please accept this letter as formal notification that I am resigning as President/CEO of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau to take on a new position as CEO of the Park City, Utah Chamber and Convention and Visitors Bureau. My last day will be Friday, October 9, 2020.

    The past 19 years have been the most rewarding of my career. I have been grateful every day for the opportunity to serve our beautiful community and support our business and civic leaders. We have grown together, rising to new levels of partnership, sustainable economic development and quality of life.

    Together, we have positioned Sedona as a leader in global sustainable destination management with Arizona’s first Sustainable Tourism Plan. The Plan will guide tourism development for many years, providing strategic direction in protecting our unique environment, enhancing resident quality of life, building a robust economy and integrating life-changing experiences for our visitors. The recent Fly Friendly agreement is just one example of the positive developments the Plan inspires.

    Transitions are never easy and always present unique challenges, in this case the COVID-19 crisis. You can be sure our organization is focused on the pandemic and ready to move Sedona forward. I am confident we will implement recovery plans while remaining flexible, working with the Board, the STERT group, government partners and the Arizona Office of Tourism. The Sedona|Safe.Clean.Ready campaign demonstrates our responsiveness and excellent working relationships with residents, elected leaders and the businesses community – partners and non-partners alike.

    Our staff is the most talented and dedicated team we have ever assembled, and our Board represents Sedona’s finest civic and business leaders. You, and the hundreds of people who touched my life during my tenure, have become family to me and changed me for the better. There is a special place in my heart for our volunteers. Their humor, spirit of service, love for Sedona and good sense have kept me grounded through good times and bad. I will miss you all.

    I am profoundly thankful to all the staff and board members who have served during my time with the Chamber. For nearly two decades, we worked to make Sedonans proud, prosperous, sustainable and united. I will always be grateful to my predecessor, Char Beltran, whose assistance was invaluable in helping me transition to the CEO position in 2007.

    The slings and arrows a leader must endure to be part of moving a community forward have made me a better listener, taught me patience and deepened my understanding of others. They have also sharpened my ability to articulate our vision clearly and passionately. Our challenges have made me a more empathetic leader and broadened my vision. Our many successes taught me to find common ground and bring people together in kindness – because that is the Sedona way.

    I will carry these lessons and the people behind them in my heart forever. I have no doubt Sedona is destined to achieve greatness in all we aspire to achieve. I look forward to watching great things happen – here in the Most Beautiful Place on Earth.

    With gratitude,

    She did a great job,

  26. Steve Segner says:

    Dear members,

    I wanted you to be among the first to know that I am taking on a new position as CEO of the Park City, Utah Chamber of Commerce | Convention and Visitors Bureau. My last day with the Sedona Chamber will be Friday, October 9, 2020.

    I submitted the following letter to Board Chairman Lonnie Lillie. It expresses my deepest feelings at leaving you and the community that has been my home for the last 20 years. Our partners and city relationships are the backbone of the Sedona Chamber, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your personal and professional support during my tenure; it means so much to me, much more than I can say. I know you will continue to be the mainstay of our organization and community – the glue that keeps us moving forward. I hope we have the opportunity to speak personally in the weeks ahead.

    Dear Chairman Lillie,

    Please accept this letter as formal notification that I am resigning as President/CEO of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau to take on a new position as CEO of the Park City, Utah Chamber and Convention and Visitors Bureau. My last day will be Friday, October 9, 2020.

    The past 19 years have been the most rewarding of my career. I have been grateful every day for the opportunity to serve our beautiful community and support our business and civic leaders. We have grown together, rising to new levels of partnership, sustainable economic development and quality of life.

    Together, we have positioned Sedona as a leader in global sustainable destination management with Arizona’s first Sustainable Tourism Plan. The Plan will guide tourism development for many years, providing strategic direction in protecting our unique environment, enhancing resident quality of life, building a robust economy and integrating life-changing experiences for our visitors. The recent Fly Friendly agreement is just one example of the positive developments the Plan inspires.

    Transitions are never easy and always present unique challenges, in this case the COVID-19 crisis. You can be sure our organization is focused on the pandemic and ready to move Sedona forward. I am confident we will implement recovery plans while remaining flexible, working with the Board, the STERT group, government partners and the Arizona Office of Tourism. The Sedona|Safe.Clean.Ready campaign demonstrates our responsiveness and excellent working relationships with residents, elected leaders and the businesses community – partners and non-partners alike.

    Our staff is the most talented and dedicated team we have ever assembled, and our Board represents Sedona’s finest civic and business leaders. You, and the hundreds of people who touched my life during my tenure, have become family to me and changed me for the better. There is a special place in my heart for our volunteers. Their humor, spirit of service, love for Sedona and good sense have kept me grounded through good times and bad. I will miss you all.

    I am profoundly thankful to all the staff and board members who have served during my time with the Chamber. For nearly two decades, we worked to make Sedonans proud, prosperous, sustainable and united. I will always be grateful to my predecessor, Char Beltran, whose assistance was invaluable in helping me transition to the CEO position in 2007.

    The slings and arrows a leader must endure to be part of moving a community forward have made me a better listener, taught me patience and deepened my understanding of others. They have also sharpened my ability to articulate our vision clearly and passionately. Our challenges have made me a more empathetic leader and broadened my vision. Our many successes taught me to find common ground and bring people together in kindness – because that is the Sedona way.

    I will carry these lessons and the people behind them in my heart forever. I have no doubt Sedona is destined to achieve greatness in all we aspire to achieve. I look forward to watching great things happen – here in the Most Beautiful Place on Earth.

    With gratitude,

    She did a great job,

  27. Park City Day Trippers? says:

    So the Ex Sedona Chamber Pres is going to advertise for day trippers in Park City?

    Sedona is ruined as a place to live, Park City is not located close enough to encourage day trippers. Maybe things will get better in Sedona with her absence. She could not have had a more easily manipulated city council and staff. Maybe we will get lucky and Sedona City management will leave also.

    It will take decades to undo the damage caused. May Karma give them what they deserve.

  28. Joe & Roberta T, Sedona says:

    We couldn’t agree with you more @Park City Day Trippers. Clearly the great Destination Marketing program designed by the wonderful Mrs. W was never determined to have resulted in anything other than miles and miles of backed up traffic caused by day trippers from Phoenix. And who’s to say that won’t happen in Park City? They really aren’t located that far away from Salt Lake City. We know because we once lived there.

    Good luck! If history repeats your lives will change forever. And not for the best.

  29. Teresita Garcia says:

    The Sedona Chamber president’s resignation letter sounds very much like a Park City job search or post job interview letter. Disingenuous goodbye and was it influenced by city wide election results? All those AZ boards and influencer positions tossed under a bus? Whose her replacement? Noticeably missing from the letter was the Introductory nod to her successor. is the City soon to announce its separation of city and chamber powers and finances? Or is a city manager or former manager moving to that position and or a former mayor or maybe former councilor or ? Inquiring minds want to know.

  30. Ray says:

    IMO C o C can dissolve or morph now. IMO Memberships might not be enough to keep it afloat. Just askin. To Sedona Times good to read you.

  31. @Terry says:

    good ask

  32. Another Sedona Peon (resident) says:

    Yes!! Best news ever (at least for a long, long time). Good riddance to what IMO opinion has definitely NOT been an asset to Sedona. Greedy, greedy beggar for more and more City of Sedona tax $$$$$. Maybe she sees the present pot of gold as half empty instead of half full.

    Wonder if Missy W will take the deed to the Jordan Road property (the chamber of commerce purchased with city tax revenue) with her as a bonus for the questionably wonderful job she did in Sedona?

    BTW The distance between Salt Lake City and Park City is 22 miles. The road distance is 31.2 miles. Envision the traffic backup with destination tourism under the direction of this whizbang promoter? Yep. Didn’t someone mention something about that bridge at Red Rock Crossing?

  33. @Park City Day Trippers says:

    undo the damage you say????

    OMG I only have the CoC to thank for helping my business survive for the past few months.

    But, let’s all be open minded, if the tourists go away, it’s a city property tax that will be coming your way.

  34. Quinn says:

    @parkcitydaytrippees NO it won’t be a property tax becuz the city & council will have to prove it didn’t mishandle its revenue. This isn’t California, and you don’t get a pass for more taxes for nothing like that state of stupid.

    Guess what? The Dems are on their way out. Real Polls prove it and not your fake news polls. Property taxes are Democrats and Biden and Harris faves and not Sedona citizens faves. Goodbye Democrats. We believe in doing what we need and not what you fantasize in Arizona.

    That’s why you moved here from California . IT sucked. Arizona doesn’t. Go back and pay more taxes. We didn’t ask you to move here.

  35. Say What? says:

    “But, let’s all be open minded, if the tourists go away, it’s a city property tax that will be coming your way.”

    Say what? Sedona Chamber of Commerce thrived long before Sedona became an “incorporated city.” How? Because of local support – and that included residents! Sedona had been “discovered” years before incorporation and NOT because of extreme and expensive promotion. WORD OF MOUTH, FOLKS, was long ago proven as the most effective form of advertising and remains so to this day.

    And do you really think “word of mouth” is positive now compared to previously funding a bogus and unnecessary chamber of commerce? The C of C in the past did their own fund raising by featuring community events. And they were respected for having done do. DUH!!

    You know not of what you speak! Figures. All you people who move here because you wanted a change. Then as soon as you get here you want to change things back to what you HAD! Very easy – move OUT.

    As for property taxes – will require approval by a vote of the people. Why do you think it’s been avoided for all these years? Ain’t gonna happen?

    Karma and Mother Nature are in control. Have you checked the weather reports?

  36. Dave, Sedona says:

    ????hubby going too??????

  37. Gretchen says:

    If your business is doing better it’s because locals are supporting it the last 6 months you brain dead squatter.

  38. steve Segner says:

    At one time 10,000 made a living in Sedona and it is the job of the Chamber to help them. A chamber of commerce (or board of trade) is a form of business network, for example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community. Local businesses are members, and they elect a board of directors or executive council to set policy for the chamber. The board or council then hires a President, CEO or Executive Director, plus staffing appropriate to size, to run the organization.

    Sedona is doing better than most cities during the recession and the Trump Pandemic because we have great marketing, strong business community, and a strong following of past visitors. The city of Sedona only needed to lower the 2021 budget by $200,000. because of a strong balance sheet and great management. I am sorry some of you don’t like the promotion of tourism but then you should never have moved to a tourist town.

  39. Monica says:

    Sedona is not a tourist town. The chamber turned it into a cheap tourist destination. At the expense of real people and real experiences they were given Chinese products and Turkish turquoise.

  40. @ steve Segner says:

    Obviously NOT written by Segner since no spelling or grammatical errors.

    And I love the phrase, “Trump Pandemic.” I am not a Trump fan (so am not defending Trump) but it’s such a pathetic attempt at a smear as to be laughable. Furthermore, if anything, it’s Ducey and Moriarty’s groundless totalitarian measures that have crippled many Arizona businesses.

  41. Jason Williams says:

    Thank you @steve Segner for stating the exact purpose of a chamber of commerce.

    Therefore, and based on your own words, it is NOT a department of city government. It’s an organization driven by members who choose to pay dues to belong. And that includes many businesses outside Sedona City Limits.

    What’s wrong with the picture in Sedona? This city government is out of line to financially support such an organization. By doing so it discriminates against tax-collecting Sedona city based operations that prefer not being members of this city-government sponsored “club” and are thus victims of discrimination.

    Further, it plain and simply is NOT fair that only C of C members are featured at the also city-financed Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center.

    That’s why it’s important to clarify the distinct fact that the SEDONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE is NOT a department of incorporated Sedona. Otherwise it would not be authorized to promote businesses outside Sedona City Limits that DO NO COLLECT CITY TAXES.

    That half-percent bed tax increase kick-back to the C of C to benefit the lodging industry could have gone for many other beneficial specifics.

    To this day has any proof been offered to confirm the promotion for “destination tourism” turned out to do anything besides attract more day-trippers? Of course not.

    Kindly reflect on the increased miles and miles of backed up traffic on SR179 since former mayor Rob Adams and council members Barbara Litrell and John Martinez made the grandstand play to begin Sedona’s Great Financial Giveaway to the undeserving special interest organization that discriminates against tax-collecting Sedona businesses IF THEY ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE CLUB!!

    Can’t help but wonder how Park City, UT businesses will react to the method-of-operation familiar to their new Pres/CEO??

  42. Howard says:

    Democrat’s Harris is a California communist. They’re worse than Stalin communists and Mao communists. They know what they are doing to screw you and don’t care because you don’t care.

  43. Mathew M. says:

    What, pray tell, does this column have to do with national politics @Howard and others? P-U-L-E-E-Z-E …… Why aren’t comments limited to the subject of articles? It appears the intruders(?) are attempting to divert pertinent issues? Some publications avoid this type of invasive sabotage(?). As in, when the heat gets too hot in the kitchen change the subject???

    BTW – back to Sedona and the great financial support to the membership club (C of C). It will be interesting to follow up and find out if the departing big-shot at the local Sedona rip-off association with have equal ability to manipulate the city/town council in Park City as occurred here in Sedona. Any bets on the outcome?

  44. Good Riddance Wesselhoff says:

    Make no mistake, the CEO of the Greedy Sedona Chamber of Commerce saw the writing on the wall in the election results. Taking a job in Park City is not a career advancement. Maybe we’ll get luck and get a new city manager, too. In two years, we will get rid of a mayor who stopped payiing attention a long time ago.

    Unfortunately, as always, the bad apples and con men do what they do and then move on once people get sick of their lies and greed but they leave a mess behind for the rest of us to clean up. Because of the CEO and the easily manipulated and/or greedy city council and city manager, Sedona is in the worst condition it has ever been. We have minimal services from our city government, congestion, worse air quality, ugly eyesore hotels, money wasted on bad decisions and overpriced land, junky trinket shops, overpriced mediocre restaurants, and sewage spills into Oak Creek. Good job, Jennifer, Sandy and Justin!!!

    The latest mean, greedy and clueless decision by our city “leaders” was denying grants to community organizations because of the pandemic. I don’t have much respect for the local rag newspaper but I’ll give the editor credit for being right in this editorial:

    http://www.redrocknews.com/2020/08/09/council-nickel-and-dimes-vital-nonprofits/

    Keep voting for change, people! It is the only way to get change.

  45. Steve segner says:

    Good Riddance Wesselhoff says: writing on the wall in the election results. (really) yes it was and support for the chamber won, everyone that won in the last election is a chamber supporter! the one person that lost did not support the chamber. Sour grapes ha

  46. @Good Riddance..... says:

    Can you put a little facts in your rant:

    Sedona is in the worst condition it has ever been. How so?
    We have minimal services from our city government. How so?
    Worse air quality. Please show some factual comparisons?
    Ugly eyesore hotels, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
    Junky trinket shops. This is the city’s fault because????
    Overpriced mediocre restaurants. Again, this is the fault of the city because??
    Sewage spills into Oak Creek. This was caused by a bad contractor not the mayor
    of the city manager.

    I’m waiting for your facual response.

  47. Trixie Fresca says:

    Ugly eyesore hotel proof? Look around you. It’s Black Canyon City out there now.

  48. @@Good Riddance says:

    Bumper to bumper traffic due to advertising for day trippers
    Declining resident population
    Resident sewer connections never completed in favor of commercial connections
    Declining school enrollment, not a good place for famalies
    Excessive city government staff

    With all the natural beauty of Sedona, if it was well run it would have the highest housing prices in Arizona, as it once did. Now it is just a tourist trap.

    The rats are leaving a sinking ship.

  49. Steve Segner says:

    Trixie Fresca says: Ugly eyesore hotel proof? Trixie and what hotel would that be?

  50. Rodger on Oak Creek says:

    @Steve Segner

    Hay Segner, why waste your time. All of these rants are disgruntaled loosers from the 2018 election. The same loosers who have lost for the past 10 or more years. If that husband and wife team had to use their real names, they”d never post.

Leave a Reply

Copyright © 2008-2017 · Sedona Eye · All Rights Reserved · Posts · Comments · Facebook · Twitter ·