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Sedona Council Vote Based on Poor Research and Weak Oversight

Sedona City Council

Sedona City Council

Sedona AZ (August 16, 2013) – In a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor, Sedona resident Judy Reddington reflects on the Sedona City Council meeting of August 14, 2013:

Reflections on council meeting this week.

Wednesday, August 14th, a hot day, in the middle of the afternoon, middle of the month and middle of the summer is an unlikely time to “pack the council chamber”.

The council chamber was over flowing with people of good will who have been contributors to community life in Sedona. Filling the seats for the 3+ hour meeting were leaders from many different viewpoints, not only experienced commissioners. There were many eloquent speakers and heartfelt comments, 90+ percent of which involved pleas for study, time and continuation of the current system if a new system is developed and evaluated.

In an embarrassing performance filled with disrespect for the constituents, and their commissions and filled with fantasy about the untapped masses of young and silent citizens out there waiting to be invited to volunteer, the council in a split decision decided to forge forward with an incomplete plan into an untried and uncertain program.

Sedona Arizona

Sedona Arizona

While this staff and some on this council aim at utopia, they find no use for the criticism or the input of it’s once valued fellowship of volunteers. In the process some have managed to insult the acquired expertise of this current group of community leadership, and questioned their connection to the community calling them politicos, squeaky wheels and their comments “noise” (much of that from the dais and in public).

The unfortunately named “citizen engagement program” by all accounts did not involve the commissioners or the citizens in it’s creation to any recognizable extent. This was acknowledged not only by comments from the audience but also the comments from the dais.

All of the councilors were present and each of them spoke, as well, reviewing the short history of the staff proposal and their personal assessment of the staff directed CEP. Mayor Adams, who passionately praised those who had contributed generously to community life through the current system and those who consistently “suited up” for the city’s team, ultimately was in the minority.

In the end the problems with this were many. It was a hasty decision based on questionable research. Communication of the entire project was poor both in the input and in the explanations and information put out to the public. The result of these actions was not benign and affected both individuals and community. Sloppy research, questionable conclusions, and a project that was too too fully delegated and not properly supervised. It’s up to the council to look after their people and their business better than this.

Personally, I’ve been so proud to stand with the people in this community who have made a difference. I think we did everything we could do, did right things and we did them the right way. Sadly we did not carry the vote on this issue.

Sincerely,

Judy Reddington
Sedona Arizona
 
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!

16 Comments

  1. Judy,

    I have a bit of an issue with this whole one sided commission discussion of yours:

    I could never afford to donate so much time to the City. So, I have nothing but the highest regard for the work that you and the other commissioners have been doing for so many years. I sat through some of the past meetings about the elimination of the commissions and realized that even Mayor Adams said that the people comprising the commissions are very dedicated but still the system hasn’t worked as it should FOR YEARS! No one said anything about the individual people, it’s just that the SYSTEM is broken.

    The City Manager was given the task by City Council to find a fix for the broken system. He and his staff didn’t just whip something up out of thin air; they put a lot of thought into the end result, perhaps not the result that YOU would like. During all of the presentations by The City Manager, never did I ever hear any mention of disrespect toward the commissioners or anyone else for that matter.

    I appreciated Mayor Adams steadfast support for all of the people that have given years of their lives to “suit up” as he says. But, IF THE SYSTEM WASN’T WORKING it really doesn’t matter how nice, smart or dedicated those people are, IT WASN’T WORKING. Instead of the Mayor pointing fingers at everyone who tried to come up with new ideas that he didn’t like, he should be pointing fingers at himself. After all, he’s the Mayor and the buck stops with him.

    I read the proposed plan and there were parts of it that I really liked. Such as: being able to give a portion of my time for smaller projects. This would be something that I would like to try for once. I really didn’t see that big of a difference between commissioners vs. committees except for the TITLE. No longer would commissioners be called commissioners they would be called committee people. I believe that the pay would be the same, NOTHING! But, in return each committee member would receive the greatest pay anyone can really ask for, the satisfaction of knowing that they contributed to making a better Sedona. I think that this is more of an ego issue than anything else.

    If my memory is correct Judy you are a member of a committee, The Citizen’s Steering Committee and from what I have heard, that committee has been doing a fine job rewriting the Community Plan. Perhaps you can explain to me why; The Community Plan can be written by a committee but, Arts in Public Places MUST BE done by a commission and can’t be a committee? Or can’t people dedicated to sustainability be on a Sustainability Committee vs. a Sustainability Commission? At the end of the day the same work would be accomplished, I really don’t see the difference except for the “ego factor”.

    Judy, I do have one big issue with your ranting, it’s obvious that you have a personal issue with this whole topic but, why can you disparage the staff who wrote the plan but, you failed to say anything about the Mayor when he acted like a child and, “picked up his crayons and went home? The Mayor had so many better options on his plate instead of leaving the meeting but, he picked the worst one. How completely unprofessional! If my memory serves me right, THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME he had a temper tantrum and left a meeting.

    I’m sorry to say that I was one of the many who voted for this child, I can assure you that it won’t happen again.

  2. Mrs. Roger Thomas: U R not alone in your thoughts. R Y aware that Madame Reddington when she spoke was NOT required to officially identify her name or place of residency for the record (unlike all the other speakers) as verified by watching special council meeting, 7/14, 36.31 minutes into Part 3 of 6.

  3. Hello,

    Thank you for your opinion. To be clear, neither you nor I have served on a commission. I’ve been on both a task force and a committee and they both have their place in the process. Yes, thank you, the Community Plan Outreach team of which I was a small part, did do a really good job.

    I didn’t “disparage the staff” I disparaged the job they did on this plan, and especially the communication and research behind it. I’ve worked with really outstanding people who were city employees and staff in Sedona.
    I obviously have a strong opinion on this too, but I don’t have any reason other than I just like to see things done in a reasonable and logical way, with good and careful communication. This month marked an abrupt change in the way government relates to it’s citizens in Sedona. There was no advantage to an abrupt change. There is no reason that all of the citizen engagement ideas can’t be initiated and operating alongside the current system. Happily because of confusion at the end of the 8/14 meeting we may still have commissions for a while.

    Please watch the video of the August 14 meeting, it’s posted on the city’s website. I’d point to two things. There was clear evidence that the commissions had not been included in research or the planning process for the CEP nor had the public been “engaged” ; The other thing that might be of interest is how many times the engagement plans were complimented. Most of the suggestions, some old, some new to Sedona are just great. I don’t think anyone was opposed to any of the citizen engagement ideas, only that the commissions were being dismissed in this particular way.

    This is the problem, the result of these actions was not benign and affected both individuals and community. It’s up to the council to look after their people and their business better than this. I’m not sure I know if the citizen-commission-governance connection has been working, but I think it’s probably a good thing to find out more about it before we throw a brick in the whole batch.

    We may have too many commissions or too few. They may meet too often or too seldom. They may have more participants than than they have quality, committed members. These commissions may not all be the best way to get the job done.”
    Clear proof of system failure hasn’t been well studied and well articulated. Once proven to fail, (which really requires an understanding of it’s assets and liabilities in the first place), Is it the same cause in all of the failed cases? It was made clear in the meeting that the plan presented had no place for commissions and assumed that the commissions would not exist. Was there ever a productive partnership between the council and it’s commissions during it’s 24 year run?

    Well, what’s the problem … there may be a solution… Is the staff managed program necessary, based on an understanding and appreciation of the goals, and the problems in the system? Have they had full benefit of all the facts? Does the staff have a bias? Will removing one of the components make the system work?

    When you watch the video you’ll probably notice that 90% of the people attending walked out of the meeting, not just the mayor. I know I couldn’t stay a minute longer, it was completely disappointing to me. I hope you will find satisfying ways to participate in government soon, and that I will be able to find ways to contribute too.

  4. Steve Black – Up Town Sedona

    As a longtime resident but a new comer to this web site please allow me to jump right in and have my say:

    WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH THE MAYOR GETS GOING! Perhaps Mr. Adams should consider going back to land development. I think that the past 6 years have finally taken its toll.

    As for you Judy, it is very common for people in the audience to leave after they have spoken or their particular agenda item has ended. The Mayor is responsible for running the meeting, except for Sedona, it’s not very common to see the mayor “pick up his crayons” (I love that, Mrs. Thomas) and leave the table when he doesn’t get his own way. Perhaps your professional friendship with His Honor is too close to be subjective.

    While I’m on the subject of Mayor Rob Adams, may I remind all of you who read SedonaEye.Com, MAYOR ROB ADAMS is considered a “weak mayor”. That has nothing to do with Mayor Adams as a person, it’s a job description.

    Since I used to work in city government in another city, it’s my understanding that A STRONG mayor would be a mayor who really runs the city and does the job of our city manager.

    A WEAK mayor’s job is to be one of seven on the City Council who leads council meetings, maintains order, shake hands, kiss babies and cut ribbons. I’m sure that there are a few other administrative tasks included. For the most part, THAT’S THE WHOLE JOB!

    A WEAK mayor along with the rest of the city council’s main job is to set policy, hire the city manager and vote on budgets, in a nut shell, THAT’S IT!

    Steve Black-
    Retired

  5. Judy:

    Taking your suggestion, I re-watched the meeting video and could not believe just how wrong you have been on so many points. It is so obvious that point by point, your ego shines through so and that FACTS really have nothing to do with what you have written here.

    In paragraph 3 of your second posting, you say that: “There was clear evidence that the commissions had not been included in the research or the planning process”

    May I suggest that YOU re-listen to the video to 26:53 where Mayor Adams is talking directly about that same point and he was quickly corrected by Staff that every commission was spoken with during each agenized meeting with every commission. Perhaps you should speak with your commissioner friends and suggest that they go back to the documented minutes of those meetings to refresh their memory.

    You also write that; “only that the commissions were being dismissed in this particular way”. After listening over and over again, trying to give you the benefit of the doubt, once again; THE VIDEO TAPE PROVES YOU ARE MISTAKEN. Time and Time again, as each staff member speaks, it is so obvious that they HAVE taken into account the time, energy and knowledge of the commissioners.

  6. Ben says:

    I’m sitting here scratching my head wondering who Mrs. Rodger Thomas really is.

  7. judy says:

    Our Mrs. Thomas, may not be Mrs. Thomas. She’s very knowledgeable though, much more knowledgeable than the average anonymous person who “could never afford to donate so much time to the City”. She knows all about how “The City Manager was given the task by City Council to find a fix for the broken system”, and to ”re-listen to the video to 26:53 re-listen to the video to 26:53 , and she knows who’s on the standing committees she “read the proposed plan” (17 pages), she knows what has been “agenized”, and knows that there are “documented minutes of those meetings” (with commissioners).

    She knows a lot. I hope this person (he or she) will find a good use for their knowledge, if he or she isn’t already occupied on city staff.

    Regardless Mayor Adams is a fine man. I’ve met every councilor, and they are fine people too. Staff, who I’ve known are really good people who we are lucky to have among us. What we have here are correctable mistakes, I think.
    I’m done now…

  8. One does not have to be a member of city staff, council or commission to know the lingo of Sedona City Government as it’s almost the same no matter what city or town you come from, one just needs to be an intelligent and interested person.

    My only point has been that when people read your postings they should take your opinions as just that, opinions because I have now proven that they are NOT facts.

    And as you say, I’m done now, as well.

  9. Mrs. Reddington:

    I had to laugh when I read your suspicions about Mrs. Thomas.

    I have never met her myself but I know of 2 people that know her well. She commutes back and forth from Washington State to Sedona and lives in the Harmony area when she’s here.

    If you look at back writings on SedonaEye.com under topics dealing with SFD, you will find that Mrs. Thomas has written many times over the years to support the recall and the building of the new fire station. So, she has not “just found” SedonaEye, she’s been around for a while.

    Thanks for whatever your contributions were to the Community Plan report. I was looking at it on line and it looks so much better than the last one. Nice graphics and photos to highlight points of importance.

    I plan on spending more time to check it out over the next few weeks.

  10. I have read all of the postings under this topic, watched the August 14 Special Council Meeting, and re-read the staff reports pertaining to this meeting. In my opinion, staff has done a wonderful job in the written and verbal staff reports to suggest that the proposed Citizen Engagement Program will provide more ways for citizen participation from individuals representing a broader spectrum within our community. These individuals may not be the typical retirees who have time to spend endless hours in commission meetings without a chance to get much accomplished. Utilizing the newest means available in the social media, more citizens will be able to contribute as committee members with fresh, innovative ideas.

    I had the impression by listening to many of the public forum presentations that as committee members the participants would have a diminished role as compared to commission members. In my opinion, aside from a title change, we would get better citizenry participation with a lesser impact on staff time.

    Unfortunately, many of the present commissions have come about as patronage rewards dispensed by the Mayor. Is that why he was not willing to explain why he was reclusing himself from voting and participating in that meeting? Is that why he had no other alternative but walk out of the meeting?

    We should not be afraid to entertain using new ideas to reach out to the public to get their input. Sometimes, we get too complacent and comfortable with the old ( not unlike choosing to wear an old comfortable shoe instead of breaking-in a new pair ) and in doing so, we reject new possibilities for improving our system.

    Where would our world be if we stuck only with the old and rejected any new ideas?

  11. Mayor Rob Adams is accessible and cares!

    As a Sedona outsider, in 2009 I found Mayor Rob Adams accessible to me and our group efforts to rid Highway 89A between Cottonwood and Sedona of highway trash by uniting all of the Adopt-A-Highway groups on this section of highway.

    When I went to Mayor Adams in 2009 asking for help in energizing the Adopt-A-Highway groups connecting this section of highway, he paved the way for me to speak before all of the Verde Valley Mayors and City Managers – he took a chance.

    Even though I was very inexperienced at speaking before large groups, Mayor Adams paved the way because he appreciated the efforts of the “Road Warriors” in cleaning up Highway 89A.

    In 2010, Mayor Adams requested the ADOT Adopt-A-Highway “Activity Reports” for the Adopt-A-Highway groups between Sedona and Cottonwood because he wanted to know who and what frequency the Adopt-A-Highway groups were performing – he cared enough to inquire.

    In 2012 Mayor Adams and the Sedona City Council presented Folksville USA and our Adopt-A-Highway groups an award for our efforts. Mayor Adams realized clean highways are good for the Verde Valley and Sedona and he did something that meant something to us.

    A few weeks ago, I sent Mayor Adams the information that he had requested to prepare a document that could be presented to all of the Verde Valley leaders with the hope of recognizing all of the individual Adopt-A-Highway groups in the Verde Valley and Sedona for their efforts on a once-per-year basis.

    I have had many heated and passionate discussions with Mayor Adams over the past five years and he has always left his door open and returned my phone calls as we continue to work together.

    You must know that we love all politicians and bureaucrats equally and our “Road Warriors and Folksville USA” participants never endorse anyone but we do thank those that assist with our efforts ……

    Thank you Mayor Rob Adams.

    Gary Chamberlain
    “Point Man” FVUSA
    Cornville AZ

  12. gary says:

    One more thing,

    I don’t know if Mayor Adams still does this or not but a one time he had regular lunch meting where anyone could come and say anything.

    Mayor Adams let everyone introduce themselves and speak on any topic.

    How many other Mayors do this?

    Gary Chamberlain
    Cornville AZ

  13. Sorry Gary, but what do your entries have anything to do with the topic being discussed here? You seem to want to provide a character reference for the good Mayor. The fact that he has helped you in your outstanding job in cleaning up our local highways, been accessible to you, and has had luncheon meetings is just another indication that he is a smart politician. We already know that!

  14. gary chamberlain says:

    Mike,

    Thanks for your comments.

    My position on bureaucrats and politicians is this, “on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best, most are at 1 (one)” on my rating scale.

    There have only been two town leaders who ever offered to help advance the Folksville anti litter efforts – and who recognized those who clean the highways connecting our Verde Valley communities – they are Mayor Rob Adams-Sedona, and Russ Martin-Camp Verde Town Manager.

    We have never counted on town leaders to do much of anything due to their political nature and being afraid to take hard-line positions. We seem to do much better alone because “We the people” are doing it and are throwing “being PC” in the trash bag. Sometimes toes need to be stepped on!

    Grass Roots efforts succeed or fail on their merits and we’ve made a big difference – no thanks to most politicians and bureaucrats.

    Gary Chamberlain
    “Point Man” FVUSA
    Cornville AZ

  15. Terrie Frankel says:

    Now that our highly paid upper management City Staff controls this town ‘lock, stock and barrel’- with City Council’s blessings and no “pesky open meeting laws” to deal with – not to mention any “annoying transparency” – a more appropriate name for the Citizens Engagement Committee would be the Citizens Elimination Committee….I watched too as the many outstanding speeches and pleas to Council made by our most revered citizens were completely ignored. Some Commissions needed to be eliminated, some tweaked, however, the Draconian ‘axing’ of so many Commissions, particularly dealing with arts and history is a sad day in Sedona history… One little caveat… If I recall correctly, City Attorney Mike Goimarac said repeatedly during the meeting that the Commissions could NOT be dissolved until the Ordinances creating them were rescinded. When our Mayor Rob Adams deserted the meeting prematurely, the vote to rescind the Ordinances ended up being tied 3-3, thus resulting in defeat. Rob could have saved the Commissions right then and there with a ‘no’ vote. So, technically, until those Ordinances are rescinded, the Commissions are still in full force. Am I right, Mike Goimarac?

  16. Dan, Sedona says:

    very nice post, we certainly enjoy this website, carry on

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