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Eye on Sedona City Council July Meetings

SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie S. Maddock

SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie S. Maddock

Sedona AZ (July 29, 2013) – City of Sedona taxpayer and resident Eddie S. Maddock pens the following open letter to the Sedona City Council and its Mayor:

Sunday, July 28, 2013

SUBJECT: SEDONA CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS JULY 30 & JULY 31, 2013 

TO MAYOR ROB ADAMS AND MEMBERS OF THE SEDONA CITY COUNCIL: 

What in the world is going on? Trying to figure out how to verbalize my thoughts during this most confusing issue of seeking tax increases is one step short of an exercise in futility.

Watching the council meeting last Tuesday (July 23) I listened intently to John Martinez accurately relate sales tax money was promised to be the source of funding for the sewer when the decision to incorporate was on the table. He was absolutely correct. When and under what circumstances did that idea go astray?

Hearing Barbara Litrell express her determination for accountability in spending public funds was, oh, so refreshing.

Then Sedona resident Eric Shrode was intensely grilled on the importance of furnishing detailed accounting of the $7,500 grant money expenditures which benefited the Sedona Fair (Winefest).

Shortly thereafter Chamber of Commerce CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff was likewise asked how the $10,000 grant for the Marathon had been used. She simply stated very tersely the money was spent for signs, banners, and traffic control. That was it. No demand for itemization. (Incidentally, this $10,000 was over and above the approximate total of $600,000 authorized to the C of C last year for Visitor Center Operation, Tourism Bureau operations, and Destination Marketing.)

Why the obviously preferential treatment to the Chamber of Commerce? 

A grant to Oak Creek Watershed Council of $10,000 was yet approved for really vague reasons. Cooperative funding was also being sought although it was made clear Yavapai County could not afford to participate but it was fuzzy whether or not there would, in fact, be other financial contributors. But good old Sedona cannot seem to turn down an offer to spend more hard to come by money for yet another “unknown.”

sedona city councilMike Ward made a valid point that what one may view as a “want” another may view as a “need.” Of course that subjectively makes a good deal of sense. However, to those who insist that thousands and thousands of dollars be set aside and spent for art in public places, one might ask when Tlaquepaque is three feet under water and lovely art work on that “Heart of Sedona” property is in jeopardy – and – beautiful retail stores featuring expensive artifacts are in the path of ruination, would those defend their taste for spending big bucks on art as a bigger “need” than taking appropriate steps to correct the ongoing drainage problems, the source of provocation of the destruction of the land upon which “art in a public place” sits?

It was further confusing when, after Assistant City Manager Karen Daines had given an upbeat review of city finances, she was taken to task by Mike Ward for having portrayed less than an accurate accounting of the factual situation. Ms. Daines response was “I’m sorry” which left even more mixed messages, in keeping with the trend which kind of, sort of, prevailed throughout the entire meeting.

Unless and until City Council and everyone at City Hall is able to get beyond their personal perceptions of “needs” such as land acquisition for public parks and pathways, picnic and sporting facilities at the sewer plant which offer absolutely no financial return on the investment, and other non-essentials ad infinitum, how in the world do you expect public support from those other than the ones who cheer you on for fluff, many of whom do not even reside within Sedona City Limits. 

It appears there still exists to some degree the misconception that City of Sedona taxes are thrown into the same pot as the Sedona Fire and School Districts for which the respective counties in which we live assess us through our annual “county property tax bills.” Not so, folks.

sedona chamber of commerceCity Council, it’s time to address that matter to those hounding you from outside City Limits that “they” want an art museum, outdoor performance venues, and even reinvention of the defunct Cultural Park. 

Former city council members have advised me Development Impact Fees, presently earmarked for park land acquisition and art in public places, can be reassigned for such things as, gee, maybe infrastructure or “real development impact” purposes. What a novel idea. What’s become of the six million dollars from Coconino taxpayers to be used for drainage and flood control? 

Unless you significantly show promise to correct prevailing mistakes including the ongoing funding to the Chamber of Commerce for unaccountable returns for destination marketing, how can you expect us to agree to tax increases?

Why didn’t the Lodging Council spend $26,000 on their own marketing instead of a consultant who compared Sedona to big California cities as well as Scottsdale, AZ? 

Enough!

Eddie S. Maddock, Sedona Resident and Registered Voter

For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

28 Comments

  1. Gene says:

    What’s the explanation about Oak Creek Watershed sudden largesse. They get environmental grants successfully & increasingly each year. What’s the Chamber and Council doing getting involved now? Barry join the Chamber?

  2. Dana Varney says:

    Liked this article on Facebook.

  3. (((It was further confusing when, after Assistant City Manager Karen Daines had given an upbeat review of city finances, she was taken to task by Mike Ward for having portrayed less than an accurate accounting of the factual situation. Ms. Daines response was “I’m sorry” which left even more mixed messages, in keeping with the trend which kind of, sort of, prevailed throughout the entire meeting.)))

    WHAT DOES THIS MEAN—IS DAINES LYING DELIBERATELY—DAINES NOT LYING—WHAT THE FLYING JAVELINA???? WHATS GOING ON??? IVE GOT A BUSINESS & WANT FACTS??? GET WARD ON THE LINE & ASK FOR EXPLANATION??? WHATS COUNCIL KNOW WE DONT???

  4. Donna Joy says:

    Liked this article on Facebook.

  5. When Karen Daines was Business Manager for the Sedona Fire Department, no one was sure exactly what she did.

    During the time period she was business manager at Sedona Fire due to property value increases the Fire Department budget went from 6 million to around 12 million. Every dime was spent.

    After she left Sedona Fire her vacated position was not filled, does that gives you some idea of what she did?

    Maybe Ms Daines specializes in spending money and BS?

  6. Off the Cuff says:

    Having caught most of the council meeting 7/30, 3 things jumped out:

    1. Mike Ward, 1 of the 2 council members who called for this meeting, offered the ULTIMATUM to those with drainage problems to either approve general obligation bonds or live without solutions for funding drainage corrections cuz other peoples needs must also be considered (back to the drawing board of parks/art museum/art in public places/ball parks/entertainment venues as being “needs” v. frivolous whims from private property flood victims.)

    2. Mark Dinunzio, without identifying the property but wasn’t hard to figure out he was talking about Hummingbird House and Tlaquepaque, seemed to wonder if they would be required to form a special district (I think that’s what he was getting at) and that must they pay to correct that drainage even though they were never, ever responsible for floods to suddenly occur after over 30 years until city made a mess of drainage by development projects on Soldier’s Pass and elsewhere. Oh sure, they need to pay all right. Better choice: Sue the city.

    3. Best lesson at all from this meeting, comment by one of the consultant presenters: “Cheapest form of financing is not to borrow.”

  7. E.S. Maddock says:

    For the record, the comments in my letter to the Sedona City Council were in no way intended to singularly reflect poorly on Karen Daines or any other employee of the City of Sedona.

    It was made very clear to me prior to writing any articles or personal opinions regarding increased taxes that agenda items relating to such matters were the result of REQUESTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE SEDONA CITY COUNCIL (not staff)

    May I suggest those needing further clarification of the conflict Councilman Mike Ward had with the presentation made by Karen Daines contact either or both for clarification and not use the contents of my input to the Sedona Eye as an avenue for a witch hunt . . . for anyone.

    The confusion created by mixed messages throughout that council meeting on July 23 began before Ms. Daines presentation and continued throughout the entire meeting.

    Thank you.

  8. Richard

    Please try to follow Ms. Maddock lead and try not to add to the rumors and other “non-facts” here. If you had been a true follower of the SFD way back when like I was, you would know that the SFD budget DROPPED significantly once Karen Daines was hired by the SFD. I remember very clearly that it was the SFD Governing (family members) Board back then that went crazy raising the budget to outrageous numbers. Once hired, it was Karen who brought the numbers way down to realistic figures. I don’t really recall what the budget figures were since it’s been so long ago, I only remember that the savings were significant at several million dollars. When she worked for the SFD Karen was very approachable and I’m sure that she hasn’t changed. I bet that if you called Karen today she would be very open to explaining the facts, first hand.

    It’s so easy to get caught up in the ramblings but to make such a statement is just an out and out lie. You’re really no better than Cole with his nonsensical ramblings and he has no credibility on any of these web sites.

  9. Jim, uptown says:

    Besides Mark Ward offering the ultimatum of either paying more taxes for drainage upgrades or not expect it to happen, Rob Adams towards the end of the meeting said something about it being time for residents to pay their fair share and not expect tourists to support this town. Well, John Martinez had it right at that other meeting. If that hadn’t been the deal on the table, tourism and sales tax to support incorporation, it would NEVER have passed. It was NO PROPERTY TAXES then and hopefully that will still stand. Even one of the consultants came close to laughing when the mayor questioned the unusual taxing situation here. Of course that consultant admitted he’d been dealing with this city for quite some time. So, obviously he had a heck of a lot better feel for the position of residents than the mayor. Besides, isn’t it true that between 50 and 60 percent sales tax does, in fact, come from locals?

  10. Marv says:

    Is that Steve Segner, proprietor El Portal, one and the same who served on the Budget Oversight Commission?

    If so he and his wife Connie reside at 2975 Thompson Road (up Oak Creek Canyon outside of Sedona City Limits) and offer weddings at the “Segner Ranch Country Estate at the rate of $2,500 with a minimum stay at El Portal of two rooms for two nights”.

    This Lodging Council is nobody’s fool. Free advertising for all these out of city venues. $2,500 per nite, no sales or bed tax. Wow. About the same deal as all the illegal vacation rentals. And this guy serves on the Budget Oversight Commission (presently disbanded I hope.)

    Check out the web site. http://www.elportalsedona.com/el-portal-sedona-hotel-wedding/

    Oh and let us not forget this Segner person has been very visible at council meetings pushing for city to buy both Brewer Rd. and ADOT “Y” property, even offering another “deal” of a sort for his access road next to the Texaco station.

    And the city this very afternoon will vote on whether or not to increase bed taxes and give a good chunk back for Destination Marketing to these non/tax collectors.

    And the mayor gripes about residents not contributing their fair share.

  11. Jean says:

    Cole has credibility. In my opinion, it’s Karen Daines that’s lacking in this department. She really screwed up royally on the 10-Year Capital Improvement Program IMO. 4-pages of wish-list projects from the city staff and meetings to take public input that never happened. Way to go!

    BTW, I received an apology from Ms. Daines the very day of the General Public Input Meeting on the CIP that went AWOL and had to be rescheduled. Not to mention there were two P & Z meetings that never took comments as she notified the public they would. Of course, it all looked good on paper.

    Hmm, we have an unfathomable list of non-WW, non-drainage capital projects approved and poised to spend $$$ on, with the City Council talking about $20.29 million in GO-Bonds over a 10-year period. Or, possibly, Special Assessment Districts for the drainage problems, instead. None of this passes the smell test.

    When are the Mayor and City Council going to stop spending millions more than they can afford, meanwhile looking to extract big sums of money from Sedona’s neglected residents and forgotten small businesses?

  12. Carl says:

    ((Eric Shrode was intensely grilled on the importance of furnishing detailed accounting of the $7,500 grant money expenditures which benefited the Sedona Fair (Winefest)) —- Why is Winefest getting $$? It’s been profitable & self supporting & with the airport road under review how can city increase traffic knowingly without assuming the liability or is that why you’re putting fingers in the winefest pie without enough justification? Guess the Winefest folks see everybody else getting checks & say why not! Check it out with a lawyer & not a local one, get a good one. You better get the road fixed. It’s worse.

  13. Bob, uptown says:

    Is there a mechanism for an independent audit of expenses when staff and city officials refuse to demand one?

    It’s time we learn about this after reading your comment about Jessica and Chamber answer.

  14. Corey says:

    who’s cole is he on first

  15. Ray says:

    I enjoy the give and take here. Keep up the good work and good service. E. Maddock writes best when cleaning out those council closet meetings.

  16. E.S. Maddock says:

    And so, the beat goes on. Meeting today 7/31 proved profitable for Chamber of Commerce/Lodging Affinity as they received the half percent bed tax increase. The city will benefit nothing tangible because, according to the City Attorney, if taxes are coming from a single source then reinvestment must go back into that source. (obviously my terminology and not the attorney’s) Of course the intent is to spend considerably more on Destination Tourism Marketing. The final and official stamp of approval on the maybe not-so-hotly contested issue will occur in October. People who do not speak up obviously are not heard.

    Sitting at the helm next to Jennifer Wesselhoff was Steve Segner, resident of Oak Creek Canyon who advertises his residential property as a wedding venue but his business is the El Portal by Tlaquepaque. It’s unfortunate that Segner isn’t required a business license for his competitive wedding venue. At $2,500 user fee that would be a nice boost to Sedona coffers. But, like most of the Lodging Affinity members, they are located outside taxable city limits providing them a Sweetheart Deal with Sedona public money.

    Of interest was that when Mr. Segner was questioned whether or not he asked his lodging guests how they heard of Sedona, his response was the usual . . . someone told them about it. Not once did he reference the Chamber of Commerce as having been a source of reference. Interesting also is that Segner remains listed on City Website as a member of the Budget Oversight Commission. Since when were non-city residents eligible to serve on city commissions. Incidentally, that commission via Peter Fagan (chair) remained very vocal at the council meeting making recommendations for Service Contracts and Grants (including the Winefest), perhaps as a final phasing-out process since the commissions I believe have been officially disbanded.

    Addressing Jean’s comment, I couldn’t agree more in her assessment that the city’s priorities are completely out of hand and the bulldozer is heading full speed ahead to “get us” (Sedona residents who are perceived by some as not paying our fair share.)
    For sure property taxes are in the works, and it’s unfortunate that only one person on that council, John Martinez, acknowledged and correctly so that incorporation of Sedona would not have been voter approved without a promise of no property taxes, at that time or ever.

    It isn’t my place to pass judgment on city staff without full knowledge and facts to prove any allegations. Opinions are one thing which I attempt to withhold when writing articles, although admittedly I do not always conform to that.

    It’s been my observation at watching council meetings that it is the City Council who directs staff to fulfill assignments. Time and time again I’ve listened to the City Manager explain shortages in the budget and later to be asked “why didn’t you tell us that?” At times I must wonder if I’m watching the same meeting. Regardless, the buck stops with the City Council and to my knowledge that’s also where staff’s marching orders originate. It’s my understanding the wish list CIP is provided to the city staff from the city council and not the other way around. I’m not aware of staff members who are seeking legacies to be named after them. Anyone with information contrary to that perception by all means, please share.

    Having exchanges of opinions, ideas, and points of view from all sides is the best reward I can think of if my writing serves to provoke a variety of thoughts and ideas.

    It’s interesting that from my perspective I believe most are seeking the same outcome but perhaps with different approaches. For the years I’ve known “Jean” I’ve yet to find anyone who exceeds her vast knowledge and understanding of budgets, numbers, percentages, etc. Definitely not my forte which in kindler and gentler times I would never hesitate to let her know and genuinely compliment perhaps at a time when it mattered more.

    And so, thanks one and all who take time to tolerate my rants. Sedona Eye at the moment has so many excellent contributors and it surprises me that I’m still even on the radar.

    And so, shop local and buy a piggy bank (if it’s available in Sedona) to start saving that $10/MO. which was quoted it would cost for the appx. $29 million General Obligation Bond for upgrading the drainage . . . or else if you don’t agree . . . tough luck ’cause ya ain’t gonna get it . . . so said Councilman Mike Ward. (cannot bring myself to using “councilor” because they were originally council members and I’ve no idea when the highfalutin term was adopted. no disrespect intended.)

    Cheers,
    E. Maddock

  17. Sam L. says:

    I found it interesting that the City wanted funds now they get none of the bed tax for it has to all go to marketing. Did I understand it correctly the City has to match the funds? I think this just cost the City 500k instead of getting money they spent more.

    Interesting you still have the in town hotel paying for the outside city lodging.

  18. Jean says:

    Jennifer Wesselhoff is insisting upon $1 million in pork from the City, so a .5% bed tax increase will not do the job.

    There’s the Council meeting on October 8th to ratify the .5% bed tax increase PLUS a prior, unscheduled meeting wherein the City Council will consider granting the parasitic Chamber additional funds. Jennifer is insisting that 56% of the City’s total bed taxes go to the Chamber, not 39% as is now the case. Look for even more Chamber trips overseas than the ones to China (last year) and Ireland (this year).

    One day Steve Segner will no longer have to pay to run ads promoting El Portal in the Sunday ARIZONA REPUBLIC travel section from time to time.

    The 4-page, 10-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) list of projects was compiled by obtaining wish-lists from every City department.

    Karen Daines was in charge of this travesty. It was in the works for around four months before it showed up before the City Council (during the April budget meetings). Some public input meetings officially noticed did not happen. I even received an e-mail of apology from Karen Daines about the missing February 19th General Public Meeting on the CIP.

  19. Sharlett says:

    In reviewing all the meetings and posts in the last couple of days: Excellent job done by Donna Joy on her article on http://www.sedonaeye.com and presentation at the 7/31/13 Council meeting. She really spent time and did her research – all of which made too much sense for the council/chamber and lodging affinity council-joined-at-the-hip to the chamber to understand!

    Thanks for another Great job done by Eddie – you are spot on and keep us informed!.

    Thanks to Jean for her number crunching and eye on the budget and Karen Daines (Jean – I totally agree with you there!)

    There was another great comment made by someone correctly questing just how many tax’s can be born by our tourists.

    Many thoughtful comments and wouldn’t it just be wonderful if any Council Member would get engaged in this process? (when pigs fly – cuz I guess it takes them outside their comfort zone?)

    It was clearly obvious (and can be verified by viewing the 7/31/13 Council meeting) that Council had already made up their minds well prior to the 7/31/13 meeting to increase the Bed Tax- does that meet the ARS “sniff” standards? Thinking Not!

    Don’t I also remember chamber President and CEO saying they took the Sales Tax issue off the table until they had done a better job of selling it to the business and residents?

    The Lodging (Afinitiy) Group went around town telling all listerns that the .5% Bed Tax increase was a “done deal”. From what I’ve heard – the Chamber did the very same.

    My hunch is Council’s next move will be to hike the Sales Tax… A Little bit down the road – as they have figured out that is “the least time consuming and no automatic public vote means of getting money to pay for their wish list of ego driven and none essential necessary health, safety and welfare issues.”

    So let’s all stay tuned and be vigilante, with patience, and watch the moves of this council to see what lengths they will go to get the bucks to complete their perceived short term dream wish lists of non essentials….at our expense.

    Think about it folks: Property Tax and Go Bonds Both require public votes. A Special District overlay requires a majority of those in that district to sign off on…and all those property owners can say No!.

    What is not requiring a public vote is a hike in Sales Taxes!!!

    So since the City Attorney, at both the 3/14/13 and 7/31/13, meetings, explained: “if there is no increase in the Sales Tax – than the entire amount dervived from the newly generated Bed Tax hike – Must Go To Tourism!

    WhileI don’t have a crystal ball – I think I do see the future: Sales Tax % will be raised above the newely increased Bed Tax % so Council can take a portion of the Bed Tax back into their coffers and take the entire amount of a new sales tax hike they don’t have to take to the voters.

    Also, the Chamber and lodging groups requested the city to do an “Additional line item “for” (from) city” of $100,000 and then they want the City to match the $150,000 in Private funds in new /donations or revenue from the new Bed Tax hike. Then they also said the Chamber would get another $150,000 out of their members/community.

    WoW!!! Money amounts are flying around like kites on a windless day!

  20. E.S. Maddock says:

    @Sharlett. Interesting points, all of which substantiate the Alice in Sedona Wonderland maze that everyone seems to be lost in.

    We have an assistant city manager giving a glowing review of the city’s financial state of affairs at the meeting on July 23. We then have a council member criticizing her for having done so, indicating in reality Sedona is next to being broke.

    This is followed up by the ultimatum at the meeting on July 30 that unless residents are willing to agree to open-ended property taxes or other means of lien attachments in order to finance the reinvention of the drainage system, not to mention continue to subsidize the never-ending upgrades (or whatever) to the sewer plant, they plain and simply will be out of luck. This threat wasn’t even veiled, it was blatant.

    Available city money will continue to be spent on purchasing vacant land for more parks, art in public places, and the many other non-essential frivolous niceties(?) as were itemized in a previous commentary made by Jean. As increased bed taxes will not add one penny to city coffers, our leaders refuse to revisit reallocating Development Impact Fees, transferring them from being in a holding tank for purchasing more vacant land to where they are really needed: To benefit residents by protecting properties from flooding.

    Any other reductions to the budget which would serve to aid citizens’ living conditions are likewise “unthinkable.” The only “gift” we receive from City Hall is the criticism that we are not paying our fair share. For what? Infrastructure that prior to incorporation was part and parcel of the responsibility of Yavapai and Coconino Counties when Sedona was under their jurisdictions?

    Any new money except implementation of property taxes coming into the city will go towards improvements for a city park and possible creek walk on the yet to be finalized purchase of the Brewer Road property not to mention the corner property at the “Y” intersection. Further, we citizens have no guarantee that if our properties were to be taxed that the money wouldn’t also be manipulated into a fund to subsidize these special “niceties” which have clamored and remain in top position for far too long.

    And it seems our mayor’s latest endeavor might be to discredit any and all who indicate they know more about the true facts of the city budget than the city themselves. Does that mean, then, that the city is financially and securely solvent? In which case there really isn’t any need for any of the whimsical discussion about raising taxes?

    Somewhere within this endless maze there must be some measure of what is real and what is fiction. What’s the answer?

  21. E. Maddock says:

    Really, really my mission in life isn’t to continuing adding comments here. However, clarification is definitely warranted.

    NO, I AM NOT “SHARLETT.” In fact, if someone carefully reads input from both of us they will clearly see differences in our opinions (as well as agreement on some issues.)

    This is a bit of a throwback to the days of some unknown writer by the name of “Liz Smith” whom as I recall did publicity for advocates against owning SR89A.

    For some reason that finger was also pointed in my direction and I can assure you, same as “Sharlett,” I was NOT Liz Smith and have no idea who he/she/it was then or now.

    Got it?

    E. Maddock

  22. Brian says:

    About the city drainage system can we agree on something – the drainage problem was here before incorporation & will continue until addressed properly by engineers who know what they’re talking about.

    That wastewater plant doesn’t work because out of area engineers used models that didn’t reflect Sedona. We have cloudy days unlike Phoenix and it’s cold here and that causes less evaporation and different engineering models then what was used to design the plant and ponds. That’s why the forest land needs to be sprayed to get rid of the water. We have different engineering issues here and all this consulting by out of area engineers keeps shooting us in the foot. Get smart. Literally. You’ve got some of the best engineers in the country in Sedona and northern AZ that beat Phx hands down. It’s easy to engineer a desert and doesn’t require much education. It’s difficult to engineer mountains and rocks.

  23. Ann says:

    @eddie it’s apparent you take responsibility for your own opinions don’t worry what others say, they take away from issues if mud sticks

  24. Jean says:

    According to last Friday’s “Mayor, staff clear air on finances” article in the local pulp rag, Mayor Adams wants residents to know “the city is doing fine financially.”

    What a hoot! The city is considering fleecing us via General Obligation Bonds, Special Improvement Districts, or a sales tax increase because it is doing fine financially?

    The air is perfectly clear. Truthiness from City Hall is an endangered species.

  25. Jim, uptown says:

    Jean, what a hoot is correct although who’s laughing? Have not seen the article you write of but if the mayor is upholding what that Asst. Mgr. (Karen Daines?) reported @ the city council meeting (the glowing review so critized by M. Ward) then what better way to call their shots and say firmly NO TO ANY AND ALL PROPOSED TAX INCREASES OR SUGGESTIONS FOR CITY PROPERTY TAXES.

    Another person posted a comment about silence implying agreement and if the voters in Sedona sit in silence especially with a rosy portrayal of the city finances, then shame on them. They will deserve the fate thrown at them by the city council, city staff, chamber of corrupsion, and lodging affiliates. Are we to remain “stepchildren” or step out of the shadow and take our place as number one in line for at least adequate service from this failing city?

  26. Jean says:

    CORRECTION. The “Mayor, staff clear the air on finances” article about “rumors, innuendo, gossip and even conspiracy theories” appeared in the Wednesday, July 31st edition of the SRRN. Please pardon the confusion.

  27. Sharlett says:

    Hey, All above writers….Please think about this concept: The mayor and the council and all at city keep up the talk about how rich and solvent the City is – And yet at the same time they want to keep talking about Property Taxes, Go Bonds, and Special Improvement Districts to pay for Drainage fixes because as Councilman Mike Ward stated : if we want to get the drainage issues fixed as well as everyone else’s wants than we just have to get used to a new tax?

    At the same time the Chamber and Lodging Gods and Goddess…opps – Members – keeps crying poor. Who is right? look at the city site and their monthly financial reports and then make up your own mind as taxes are not stable. so I’m guessing the town is not as rich as they want us to believe.

    If the citizens – us lost children or stepchildren (as council would like to believe we are), just keep our mouths permanently shut – unless we say what they want to hear – well then we are just dumber than dumb citizens, cuz we don’t call them out on their garbage.

    Time to stop the silence!!!

    But, they forget we have brains and in asking for financial accountability and for a council who can stop thinking about their trumped up want lists – and get back to representing us. that is how we really become good citizens.

    the council really doesn’t want us voters at meetings because they put them at a time when business owners are still doin buizness! if we all keep our smart brains silent – well ya just let the people who have no vested interest – or very little – have full control! Time for us to take charge of our destiny and tell they fools to just stop!!! Enough!

  28. Marv says:

    Amen to Sharlett!

    In the meantime, let us not overlook a recent expensive full page Diamond Resorts ad touting their earnings of $96,232.96 in the first quarter of 2013, that representing an average of $32,077.65 per month. The significance being that this is the take-over company of the failed ILX previous owners of Los Abrigados who at least during their tenure initiated the annual Festival of Lights AT NO EXPENSE TO THE CITY.

    And now this Diamond Resorts International tell us they can no longer afford to continue the lights because their timeshare property owners cannot afford the expense. Come on BIG DIAMOND. With assets like yours why would you expect them to do so?

    What’s the real reason? Ha. City Council Chumps will next be approving Sedona’s Mother of Teresa aka Jennifer Wesselhoff on her newest mission to save Sedona’s Festival of Lights by allegedly soliciting local businesses (already struggling to keep their doors open) to cough up $$$$ to keep the wonderful event afloat.

    Translated: Diamond Resorts, being the success they claim to be, have very quickly picked up on the never-ending march to City Hall with palms outstretched which (anyone care to differ)? is exactly where this plea for “saving the lights” will end up.

    Any screwball ideas to expand the Festival of Lights to State Highways (Thank God to ADOT) will no doubt be promptly squished because of their right-of-way restrictions. However, that would not apply to the less than one mile stretch uptown and so, break out your checkbook residents who choose to remain silent, as you will soon be ordered to pay, pay, pay for more, more, more nonsense and now to include the electricity bill for all those lights on the horizon. APS will love it as they proceed to install Smart Meters in this peculiar place with priorities that transcend even outer space.

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