Article submitted by the city of Sedona.
Sedona AZ – Sedona residents are invited to attend public meetings and a design charrette to give feedback on possible changes at Posse Grounds Park to accommodate the needs of the community during an evaluation currently being conducted of the park. The multi-day event will be held at The Hub at Posse Grounds Park, 525-B Posse Ground Road, west Sedona.
The public is invited to attend two meetings:
Meeting 1: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Project introduction and preference survey.
Meeting 2: Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Alternatives evaluation.
This process will be in the form of a multi-day design charrette featuring collaborative problem solving and decision making to develop the community’s ideas into graphic concepts and design alternatives. If residents cannot attend the two meetings, they may also drop by The Hub anytime during the day between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26, and Thursday, February 27, to talk with the project team and ask questions.
The plan that is produced based on public feedback will be a comprehensive evaluation of Posse Grounds Park and will provide recommendations for possible design changes to the park land. More specifically, the evaluation will provide an analysis of the current, as well as, future needs for the park to function as a sports venue, event venue, passive recreation location, performing arts venue, and or yet to be determined needs/ideas that could benefit most park users. It will also identify constraints, limitations, and possibilities for mingling existing park amenities with new additions.
For more information, call the city of Sedona Parks and Recreation Department at (928) 282-7098.
Great, here’s another brilliant city plan for development for a “sports venue, event venue” etc. Why do we need more development? Why don’t we take the money the city wants to spend on MORE development and spend it improving our streets, subsidizing trash pickup, improved recycling and yard waste pickup at our homes? You’re STILL not listening to us, city!
WE NEED improvements to Posse Ground Park for community events. To draw more tourists. Like for the Wine Fest. A wine fest which interesting enough is owned by Mayor Sandy.
Pay attention says:WE NEED improvements to Posse Ground Park for community events. To draw more tourists. Like for the Wine Fest. A wine fest which interesting enough is owned by Mayor Sandy.
wine fest is not owned by Mayor Sandy she helped start it, it is a not for profit with a board all the people working on wine fest are volunteers…. Please do your home work be fore you try to slander people
Of course the Wine fest is a non profit, like the Sedona Chamber. Imagine if the Sedona chamber operated a mostly cash business like the wine fest. Just like the Clinton Foundation, it had 96% of it’s proceeds used up as expenses. I seem to recall something about many ways to skin a cat.
So tell me, how much has the non-profit Wine Fest Donated to charity annually?
Then lets compare what the Wine Fest costs the City of Sedona in park staff and police. We won’t go into the traffic congestion and neighborhood disruption.
Give us the numbers.
@segner If you knew her well, you would know that Sandy speaks for herself. The comment was an expressed point of view and all are entitled.
No ,” NO NAME PERSON” you were wrong you did not do your home work. now you are saying it is not ok to tell a lie and only the person you are attacking on can reply?
No Name says: The comment was an expressed point of view and all are entitled. NO you stated it as a fact ! see-(A wine fest which interesting enough is owned by Mayor Sandy.) your comment.
Who is on the board of the Wine Fest?
The usual suspects?
I second a listing of the so called non-profit’s charity donations.
Mayor Sandy does not “own” the Wine Fest sez segner. She only started it and is still on the board of directors as I recall “Sedona Fair”, which is on the name of the tax returns filed for the Wine Fest.
Tickets were $40 per day $60 for two days at the door. Not easy to find out how many attend, although it lists over 500 wineries. I would hope the Wine Fest donated a huge amount to charity. How much stevie? Mayor Sandy?
Again, how much has this non profit donated to charity every year?
Who is on the board of directors?
crickets
Won’t get a straight answer. says: Yes I did sandy does not own the wine fest. If you want more information look up the not for profit with the state , you can also look up the-bike fest and October fest and humming bird fest at same time. Hope that helps
According to the ACC website, Mayor Sandy is a director of Sedona Fair.
Other directors are CHRISTINE BRYSON-LAZO, ALBERT COMELLO, THEODORE FERRING. & PAULA WOOLSEY.
ELIZABETH A MCFARLAND, a lawyer, is the statutory agent.
The address given is McFarland’s, 2015 BUENA VISTA DR, SEDONA, AZ, 86336, USA, with “Attention: Sandy Moriarty” added.
https://ecorp.azcc.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInfo?entityNumber=14602012
See how easy that was instead of making false assumptions , just looked it up Sandy doesn’t own it she’s just a hard-working public servant I cannot have other people that work around Sedona on nonprofits bike fest and chamber music the museum and many many more and you do want?
Weak.
You think you are so much smarter than Sedona residents, not so. (Deleted by editor) Even the soy boys’ are running scared, the game is about over. Karma awaits.
Hope this helps.
Same game These groups grab what they can, take what they want with no controls. Those that volunteer get benefits like free booze food and other items. I know I volunteered at a few events.
The film fest gives aways cases of booze donated.
“a hard-working public servant” That always cracks me up. Is that like “military intelligence’?
You never answered who owns it (Sandy), or how much said non-profit donates to charity.
You never will answer.
No one owns a non profit , just like no one owns “meals on wheels”. Please take time and do your homework before you ask a question you are starting to look illiterate, as to the money left over” non profits do not have a profit” they have a Cash flow surplus or a negative cash flow that they need to make up with fundraising -that they use next year. you’ve obviously never been involved with anything that has to do with putting on something for other people or the community. It’s interesting you make demands as to who owns the wine fest and how much money they make my question is who Are you and all your questions are on file with the state, The mayor puts in hundreds of hours or year for very little pay Drives a 15-year-old car and still has to work to make a living and you said home and disparager her look in a mirror
Shame, shame Steve segner (minus the capital “s” since you’re so literate).
“non profits do not have a profit they have a Cash flow surplus or a negative cash flow that they need to make up with fundraising -that they use next year. ”
Is that how the chamber of commerce (an alleged “non-profit” but NOT 501 C-3 allowing tax deduction to their members) get away with paying just short of $12,000 monthly to their Pres/CEO?
C’mon Stevie – is the great Sedona cash cow trying to replace the Energizer Ever-Ready Bunny that just keeps on going? Well bets are favoring the “Bunny.”
How about you doing some research of your own. Nothing lasts forever. Wait and see.
Sez stevie, The Wine Fest is the same as Meals on Wheels.
Sure stevie, one gives meals to the homebound, one gets you drunk. Just the same.
I vote for no Wine Fest and the related traffic. No one gets drunk. Of course, the City of Sedona is run by and for the tourist industry.
Thank goodness for the wine fest and the city of Sedona. DJV I think that you have way too much time on your hands.
steve segner frequently sez it’s only the tourists who pay Sedona taxes. Well since he’s so knowledgeable and seems to have so much influence with absolutely everything in the entire world, it would be wonderful if he would kindly advise our utility companies to cease and desist adding city taxes to our monthly bills and instead figure out a way to extract it from the tourists. How about it Stevie man?
Sedona City Residents says::advise our utility companies to cease and desist adding city taxes to our monthly bills yes all $6.00 of it Sedona has a 35,000,000 budget and we need you $6.00.
a one night stay pass over $30.00 to $65.00 in local taxes a night and lets not forget dinner and jeep trips……. but your $6.00 is nice anyway. thanks
Sedona City Residents says: such a shocking comment I can see why you will not us a real name…… If you go to the city they will show you the breakdown of taxes. hope tat helps
Really!?!? you’re considering the few dollars $5 sales tax on your utility to be an issue??? OH MY I FORGOT THAT THIS IS SedoanEye where the littlest things are big enough to fight about.
Steve Segners? (had to write it twice)
So are you trying to convince someone(?) that the members of the Lodging Council (affiliate of the chamber of commerce) aren’t in business to make a profit? @a one night stay pass over $30.00 to $64.00 in local taxes a night. (your words “Segners”)
It’s always a dead giveaway when someone gets your goat – “Steve SegnerS”
Chill out, little man. (lower case “l” & “m”)
$6 per month in utility sales tax, compounded at 6% over 10 years adds up to $1000.
I want to keep my money, not pay for city staff to go to conferences at 4 star resorts.
If it is so little, stop stealing it.
@@Sedona City Residents: “OH MY I FORGOT THAT THIS IS SedoanEye where the littlest things are big enough to fight about.”
Beautiful! Did you not set forth a perfect example of the point you were attempting to make by doing exactly what you proclaim to advocate against?
Theft is theft says: compounded at 6% over 10 years adds up to $1000. ?
Compounded tax ? That’s new , just how does that work?
Example:
$5 x12 = $60.00 X 10years =$600 not $1,000.00 and you do not compound taxes only investments $600.00 seems cheap for 10 years of city government support you should pay your part as small as it is and remember the city only get 1/2 the sales tax nothing is free.
Your comment I want to keep my money, not pay for city staff to go to conferences at 4 star resorts. You forgot to add that it was a national sponsored training and it was off season and the rates we reasonable …. Please tell the entire story
They want our input about the Posse Grounds? Why? How about our input regarding their giving millions of $$$ to the chamber – that old news that doesn’t go away? How about this? Now the city is looking to buy two properties across from the fire station uptown on Forest Road. Why? Well to build a parking building structure – to remedy the lack of parking uptown. What about that $800K lot the chamber purchased on Jordan Rd not long ago? Wasn’t that on behalf of the city to provide additional parking???? The C of C gets richer while the city continues to increase sales tax in order to attempt to improve our roads? Now give them your input.
What’s that line” I’m only going to put it in a little?”
How about only $1 per hour? It’s only a little. $1 per hour ? Of course, there are 8736 hours in a year.
Stop city theft. Shut the City of Sedona down.
Wow! Why does the city use the CITY TAXES they impose on the in city businesses to have events that TAKE taxes to compete with those that collect the taxes?
How about infrastructure? If you took all the millions they waste on funding the chamber and stupid events that bring in TRAFFIC you could have paid for all the necessary road work. imo stupido
Backwards IMO
“Your comment I want to keep my money, not pay for city staff to go to conferences at 4 star resorts. You forgot to add that it was a national sponsored training and it was off season and the rates we reasonable …”
Obviously this is a city staffer writing under Segner.
To the readers, do you honestly think there is any limit of ” national sponsored training” held in resort cities? Who just happen to have 4 star resorts? I’m pretty sure that if the training was normally held in Barstow or Baltimore another location would be found. And, and it was off season !! Of course any two star hotels would be dirt cheap in the off season, but staff said we got a deal on the 4 star hotel, honest !!!
It’s nice to know our “professional ” staff shops like a teenager buying a pair of $400 tennis shoes. But, But they were on sale for $200 !!
Shut the city down !!
Jim Poole says: How about infrastructure? If you took all the millions they waste on funding the chamber and stupid events ) that bring in TRAFFIC you could have paid for all the necessary road work. imo stupido
OK good question , first (the events are not paid for by the chamber.
Jim, the State bed tax program can not be used for roads.(fact) That is the funding you are talking about? 100% paid by visitors.
Jim, the city has a .1/2 cent street funding program in place working on 89 project up town, planning for a new parking lot.
Events at the city park collect all taxes , Jim all cities have events at parks or fair grounds why should Sedona be any different. Jim we get it you don’t like living in a tourist town remember but remember 10,000 people own business and make a living in Sedona, Sedona is not Sun City north. Sedona sits on two state HWY’s and is not owned by the people that live in Sedona. ( visitors pay the majority of taxes). Hope that helps.
IMO Heil Hilter aka segner.
I forgot you dictate sedona and that the Sedona controlled Socialist Sedona Lodging Party.
So full of craap and your numbers are FAKE FALSE ” 10,000 people own business and make a living in Sedona” a complete flat out lie Segner.
Just because you got the stupid city to pay your advertising didn’t make you in control. BS
How did Sedona EVER manage to survive let alone become a world famous scenic attraction BEFORE having a REGIONAL chamber of commerce to promote their members including those in the ENTIRE Verde Valley – but – most of all STEVE SEGNER? The EIGHTH Wonder of the World?
@Cheaper aka Charley
we’re hanging out and our answer is it’s because the people then were a better moral group and a lot more educated quality of folks than the last couple decades of (deleted by editor) arrivals ? Hard work and civic responsibility didn’t get taught to these last 20 yr gravy boaters and the snots working at city hall are disgusting. They have zero life experiences.
Oh come on Charley or DJV you know full well what the answer to that question is. You just continue to hate that the Lodging Council who suggested that the whole idea, is successful.
Hay Tony:
You should brush up on your grammar, I can’t make heads or tails about what you’re trying to say.
@Hay (Deleted by editor)
Everytime I go to posse grounds it is empty. Why is the city doing this? The families and kids are leaving. School population declining. City population dying.
Making a park and rec to drive in more tourists makes no sense. I agree it draws tourists and residents away from tax collecting businesses. Has anyone ever looked at the impact? Collected and analyzed any numbers? Is there any return on this or is it just spending taxpayers money? Is the city here to entertain us? I thought the city was for infrastructure.
In my humble opinion the city of Sedona has lost their way and are being poorly managed without any checks or balances. Who is protecting Sedona? Many tourists destinations are closing, limiting as this is sustainable tourism.
We wonder the same thing @Kim. Very little city government does turns out well the first time. Too much money is being spent correcting mistakes like what happened after the city kept ownership of uptown SR 89. There’s little doubt the revisions presently being made are doomed to fail just based on city management history.
And why do you suppose city staff didn’t recommend going ahead and using the property on Jordan Road purchased by the chamber of commerce for a parking facility? Why are they now recommending the city purchase two more parcels of land across from the fire station on Forest Road for the parking structure? That, too, is in addition to property at the end of Forest Road the city was/is considering to buy to extend Forest Road over the cliff at the end of Forest Road?
It’s crazy nuts in our opinion! Thank goodness we do NOT pay city property taxes. Can you even imagine what leverage that would give them to finance their fantasy projects? OMG!
“In my humble opinion the city of Sedona has lost their way and are being poorly managed without any checks or balances.”
Ultimately it’s the voters who lost their way. They had a clear choice last election to elect candidates who supported residents and fiscal responsibility but they blew it. Morons elect morons.
“Who is protecting Sedona?”
Nobody. Get used to it.
Spending money is what happens when you have too many City staff with too little to do and a city council that thinks tourists and photo opportunities are the best thing ever.
Paving residential back roads is not sexy, not much in the way of a photo op.
The city is being run for the tourist businesses. The city staff say “look at all the tax revenue”, but half of the tourist’s just drive through and residents leave. No one goes out of their way to move to a town in the middle of nowhere with bumper to bumper traffic. Residents die off and those with families would not even consider Sedona like I did almost 30 years ago. No high tech business will move to a town with poor and closing schools. When I moved to Sedona Big Park was a beautiful nearly new school, now it is closed.
Making a town a tourist trap is a great formula for killing a town. You can talk about diversity in employment, but once the town’s reputation is ruined, that train left the station.
“From the least to the greatest, all of them are greedy for unjust gains; and from prophet to priest they all deal falsely.
They have treated the suffering of my people carelessly, saying, ‘all is well’ when there is no safety. They act shamefully, they commit terrible offenses; and yet they are not ashamed, and do not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall.”
Jeremiah 6:13-15
“Ultimately it’s the voters who lost their way. They had a clear choice last election to elect candidates who supported residents and fiscal responsibility but they blew it. Morons elect morons.” @@Kim
Of course that’s true. However let’s not overlook Arizona Liberty making the decision to bring in a third candidate for Mayor thus assuring the reelection of Sandy.
Absolutely stupid but exceeded by their stupidity were those who obliged them by following their questionable activity and recommendation.
Doom for Sedona. No wonder people won’t run for city council. What better example to keep your friends close but you enemies closer. Problem is it isn’t always easy to figure out who your enemies are until after the fact.
Dear Steve & Allison:
I am rather new to the VOC and this webpage. I was wondering if you could clarify what you mean when you say that very little city government turns out well the first time. I don’t remember anything that they haven’t done well so what am I’m missing?
@new from California Go home. We don’t want you here in the village or city.
Put on your thinking cap and go read past articles and comments on this site.
Or better still return to California, people that voted their feelings made California what it is today.
Ask stupid questions, win stupid prizes.
New from California says: I am rather new to the VOC and this webpage
most of the people that post on this page hate the chamber and the Sedona Government. They want no visitors and all growth to stop.
The village will grow new hotels are backed up to be built on existing motels properties. Notice the post @new from California Go home. We don’t want you here in the village or city. NIMBY talk Sedona is well run and no local city property tax and a great city council that is rebuilding up town roads….. and supports growth.
Don’t be fooled @New from Califonia by comments from @steve Segner. He’s in the lodging business and the Sedona Lodging Council is listed as an affiliate of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce. And unfortunately they (the chamber) manage to maintain a strangle hold on Sedona government, all created by a half% bed tax increase a few years ago.
Because that was specifically earmarked as a bed tax and not across the board (as was the recent sales tax increase for Sedona In Motion to improve city roads) it’s state law that a percentage of the bed tax was to be earmarked to benefit the lodging industry.
However instead of seeking bids on a contract for destination marketing, that particular city council handed it over (55% of the bed tax increase revenue) to the C of C for a marketing contract. They (C of C) then hired a professional ad company in Phoenix. The most that was identified as a return on that ridiculous investment was more day-trippers – no definitive positive results on destination tourists – those who remain in Sedona a week or so.
And now they (Sedona city) realize it wasn’t effective. However, they continue to throw more money at the C of C – current fiscal year $2.5 million dollars – now allegedly for the C of C how to preach “sustainability” to all of us? Are you getting the message?
And in addition the only portion of SR89A that is owned by the City of Sedona is the less than one-mile uptown – and what did the City do when they had control of that section? Well, they allowed the businesses there to redesign the road which omitted what we recall was two lanes – it was a bigger mess than ever. And then the city had to try to fix the problem – and now, of course, it’s under revision again with the barriers to stop pedestrian crossing except at traffic signals – and then a couple of roundabouts which we understand at least one had to be done a second time because large semis couldn’t maneuver the first attempt.
Are you getting the idea? Another blunder – putting a crosswalk at Tlaquepaque – still that same State Route 89A – and that causes miles-long backs-ups on SR179 – especially on holiday weekends. Presently they (City of Sedona) are planning to install a pedestrian underpass at the bridge crossing Oak Creek. And, yes, we are steamed!
And now they speak of purchasing more property on Forest Road for a parking garage after the chamber of commerce already purchased (with that city bed tax rebate) a lot on Jordan Road which was to have been for the purpose of a parking garage. And the list goes on – but you only asked for one example.
Here’s more fat to chew on @New from California. City gives money to the chamber of commerce to operate the Sedona Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center uptown. However City Hall claims that the Chamber’s visitors center is officially that of City of Sedona. Then why isn’t the name changed?
Also and it was admitted in public at a city council meeting by the Pres/CEO of the C of C, that ONLY members of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce are given referrals when tourists seek information at the chamber’s visitors center!
How fair is that for municipal funds to be paid to promote only chamber members, many of whom are outside city limits and do not even contribute to city taxes? Raises questions of coercion? Behaviors to “force” businesses to be a member of the C of C if they want referrals???
Are you getting the message? Unheard of activities in other incorporated areas and they laugh and make mockery of Sedona as chamber members outside city limits reap unwarranted benefits. That includes new hotels in the VOC and elsewhere. No city taxes. Why wouldn’t tourists stay there versus competition within city limits?
Shameful? Wouldn’t money be better spent for anything at the Posse Grounds besides the costly giveaway nonsense to the C of C?
@the real deal Can you move on please? This is the same old stuff spewed by people for years. MOVE ON. It’s how the city rolls and it’s as corrupt as most cities but nobody has the balls to do anything about it and that includes the voters and the council and the nonprofits. They are all apparently satisfied because they’re like all Democrats and love power over the taxpayers pocketbooks. Until you end the Democrats control of this city, you’ll have to stand in line for your handout. That’s how they roll, that’s how it is.
You nailed it. Those on the take make sure their candidates are re elected. The rest of the voters don’t care or pay attention.
Take a look at all the candidates running for office that propose change. What? No one running? Shocking.
Sad, but Sedona is done as a lovely little town.