LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN PEAKS.

* OTHER IMPACTS…IF YOU ARE TRAVELING INTO NORTHERN ARIZONA FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY…BE PREPARED FOR DIFFICULT WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH LIMITED VISIBILITIES DUE TO SNOW ON ICY ROADWAYS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF FALLING SNOW WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. PLAN EXTRA TIME FOR TRAVEL…AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING. TAKE EMERGENCY TRAVEL SUPPLIES INCLUDING WINTER CLOTHING…FOOD…WATER AND A FLASHLIGHT. FOR THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS AND CLOSURES…

The City of Sedona is seeking community input on the proposed Ten-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The City will be holding a series of public meetings to provide citizens the opportunity to comment on the proposed Plan and will publish the draft document on the City’s website so citizens may review the proposed projects and project timing, and provide feedback to City staff.

The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is a comprehensive multi-year plan of proposed capital projects. It represents the City’s plan for physical development, and is intended to identify and balance capital needs within the fiscal capabilities and limitations of the City. The plan is reviewed each year to reflect changing priorities and provides an ongoing framework for identifying capital requirements, scheduling projects over a period of years, coordinating related projects, and identifying future fiscal impacts. Included in the CIP are projects in the areas of drainage, police, parks and recreation, wastewater, information technology, community development, arts, and public works.

“We plan to have public comment opportunities at several regularly scheduled City Commission meetings and to hold a general public meeting on the CIP. This will give the community a variety of days and times to provide input, and at the same time, involve several standing Commissions in the CIP process”, indicated Karen Daines, Assistant City Manager. For those interested community members who might be unable to attend one of the public meetings the proposed Ten-Year CIP is available for review on the City’s website at http://www.SedonaAZ.gov/Finance under the Budget & Audit tab for Fiscal Year 2013-2014.

After the Commission review and public comment period, the City Council is expected to review and approve the CIP in April of 2013. The following public meetings have been scheduled at Sedona City Hall:

· January 31, 2013 – 3:30 p.m. – Planning and Zoning Commission

· February 14, 2013 – 3:30 p.m. – Planning and Zoning Commission

· February 19, 2013 – 5:00 p.m. – General Public Meeting on the CIP

· February 20, 2013 – 10:00 a.m. – Budget Oversight Commission

· February 25, 2013 – 5:00 p.m. – Parks and Recreation Commission

For questions regarding the proposed CIP, please contact Karen Daines at 928-203-5067 or at kdaines@SedonaAZ.gov.

Less than a month after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced it was targeting false mortgage advertising, it shut down two companies that bilked consumers out of $10 million nationwide.

The federal consumer watchdog this week successfully petitioned U.S. District Court Judges in California to shut down the National Legal Help Center, operated by Najia Jalan and Richard K. Nelson and the Gordon Law Firm, operated by Chance Edward Gordon and Abraham Michael Pessar.

CFPB alleges the companies promised to prevent foreclosures or renegotiate troubled mortgages, but violated the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Regulation O, formerly known as the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) Rule.

The schemes allegedly illegally charged large upfront fees, misrepresented that they would secure loan modifications, instructed homeowners to stop paying their mortgage and reeled in their marks by claiming to be affiliated with government agencies or programs, including the National Mortgage Settlement and the Independent Foreclosure Review.

“We are taking on schemes that prey on consumers who are struggling to pay their mortgages or facing foreclosure,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray.

Government logos aren’t always government logos

He added, “We are especially concerned with those who misrepresent government programs or websites to divert distressed homeowners from needed assistance.”

The tactics prompted the CFPB to issue the statement, “Just because something has a government logo on it doesn’t mean that it’s legitimate.”

Mortgage assistance and foreclosure relief scams are designed to separate you from your money. They often emblazon their direct mail, email or other information with emblems, logos and names intended to mimic government agencies or programs, lawyers or law firms, or other legitimate operations.

Scammers also frequently reinvent new masquerades to commit fraud. They also frequently target vulnerable struggling homeowners. It’s not always easy to spot them.

Recent fraudulent activity also prompted CFPB to offers red flags that signal when a ruse is likely in the works.

Beware if anyone:

Tells you to stop making mortgage loan payments. Not making your mortgage loan payments could hurt your credit score and limit your options.
Tells you to start making payments to someone other than your servicer or lender.
Asks you to pay high fees upfront to receive services.
Promises to get you a loan modification.
Asks you to sign over title to your property.
Asks you to sign papers you do not understand.
Pressures you to sign papers immediately.

You can learn if the company is bona fide and get help by calling (855) 411-2372 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday-Friday to be connected to a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-approved housing counselor.

If you think you’ve been scammed, report it immediately. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to prevent serious problems.