When looking on the return the lodging group said they take that 1.3 and make a return. That is where your eyes should be. Did they? NO
Take the 1.3 and divide it up among the Chamber members. Those outside the city should pay to play. Those that receive the benefit without paying can pay a special business license fee to keep the playing field level.

Then in addition to that all those non city businesses selling their businesses at the visitor center can pay the city of sedona a licensing fee to be promoted their.

If the city did that they bring in over a million back in fees. They do not pay so they do NOT deserve to get our taxes. Simple Pay to play for ALL.

Beginning with the very first Sedona City Council that phrase has been used time and time again by elected representatives. So the “new catch phrase” came as a surprise and in researching the term this is what Sedona City Clerk Susan Irvine was kind enough to send me:

“Hi Eddie,

From what I can tell, it is a common phrase used to define an obligation of states and subsequently local governments to preserve and protect their citizens. This phrase has long been used in statutes, court cases, and the common law for years throughout the United States. There is no singular origin for this phrase of which I am aware.

Please let me know if you have additional questions or concerns.

Susan”

So no matter who uses the “catch phrase” for sure it isn’t a “new” concept.

9-240. General powers of common council

A. The common council shall have control of the finances and property of the corporation.

B. The common council shall also have power within the limits of the town:

1. To erect, purchase or lease necessary buildings for the purposes of the corporation.

2. To appropriate money and provide for the payment of its debts and expenses.

Operative Words? “. . . HAVE POWER WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE TOWN.”

Question: Why is contracting with the Chamber of Commerce for a Sedona City Visitor’s Center and in addition contracting them for $1.3 million to promote destination tourism acceptable?

Even though the “Visitor’s Center” is located within City Limits, clearly the C of C is a regional special member driven organization, representing and promoting an unknown number of competitive businesses outside the jurisdiction of the “General power of common council?” That definitely does not qualify as being a “purpose of the corporation.”

Having four members of the previous City Council now replaced with four new faces, we are left with at least three of the former council members who supported this highly questionable method of operation.

There’s little doubt that manipulating interpretations in the broadest sense is what has allowed this deplorable situation to occur in the first place; however, the moral injustice, including the tactics used during the last election, cannot possibly justify the end result which continues to deteriorate on a daily basis as long as this deplorable activity is allowed to continue. And let us not dismiss that fact that conspicuous by absence is an itemized accounting of public funding ~ how it has been spent ~ including but not limited to Holiday Central.

Item #2 is clearly being violated since city expenses expand beyond legitimate jurisdiction and continue to be used to promote competition outside City Limits.

To our Four New Sedona City Council Members: Are you paying attention?

Mayor Sandy Moriarty, as a member of the first appointed City Council after incorporation and remaining a loyal follower of Sedona government, you surely are aware of the rules.

We know you love Sedona and of the seven now “on board the latest cruise” (actually I think the theme of the original posted article) are you willing to take command, instruct the new recruits (elected, that is), to honorably fulfill the legitimate task for which they were officially seated and encourage reversal and rectification of past bad decisions?

Will you, as the leader, attempt to Save Our Sedona by encouraging representation of the entire Population within the legal confines of the City of Sedona in accordance with the Legitimate Statutes set forth by the State of Arizona and to which all of you must ultimately be accountable?

This is submitted solely as a resident and registered voter of the City of Sedona, residing within Sedona City Limits, without endorsement or representation by or for the online publication, Sedona Eye.

Sincerely,

Eddie S. Maddock

And why wouldn’t that apply to snow and ice on city/town roads/streets? Will it take legal action after a few accidents to shock city leaders into reality about AZ State Statutes?

Incidentally, there appears to be nothing in the State Statutes specifically mandating prioritization of funding non-profits over and above:

“2. To appropriate money and provide for the payment of its debts and expenses.”

So, fellow residents, we do have a voice. If not locally, at the State Level where maybe it will be heard.

Information provided by E.S. Maddock

UNDER TITLE 9, CITIES AND TOWNS

9-240. General powers of common council

B. The common council shall also have power within the limits of the town:

2. To appropriate money and provide for the payment of its debts and expenses.

3. (a) To exercise exclusive control over the streets, alleys, avenues and sidewalks of the town and to give and change the names thereof.

(b) To prevent and punish for the encumbering thereof, and to abate and remove all encumbrances and obstructions thereon.

(c) To widen, extend, straighten, regulate, grade, clean or otherwise improve the same.

(d) To open, lay out and improve new streets, avenues and alleys.

(e) To vacate or abandon any street, avenue, alley, park, public place or sidewalk in such town or to abolish them, provided that rights-of-way or easements of existing sewer, gas, water or similar pipelines and appurtenances and for canals, laterals or ditches and appurtenances, and for electric, telephone, and similar lines and appurtenances shall continue as they existed prior to the vacating, abandonment, or abolishment thereof.

(f) To protect the same from encroachment and injury.

4. To erect and maintain bridges, culverts, sidewalks and crossways, and prevent and punish for injuries thereto or obstructions thereon.

5. (a) To construct and maintain sewers and drains, and prevent and punish for any obstruction thereof, or thereto.

(b) To change the channels of natural watercourses, to wall the same and cover them over, and regulate the same as sewers.

(c) To prevent and punish for the filling up, altering or changing of natural watercourses by private persons.

But the real test will be the vast numbers they intend to draw to Sedona for extended stays during the “down” times. Wouldn’t that be months of January, February? Maybe March? Then good old summertime in July, August?

That, dear West Sedona Resident, is the time your illogical nonsense about living in the desert might, just might maybe, be applicable.

For realizing that the sun would melt the snow off the roads in a day or two…
You saved us tax papers quite a bit of money in plow contractor fees..

Love the new catch phrase used here now by the same old cast of characters ..

Health Safety and welfare…

What a joke… Like you care about anybody but yourselves…LOL

Since you seem to have all the answers, then why is it that after past snow storms we have had our neighborhood streets serviced with snow plows?

Could it be the city had a contract with Brewer Bros. or some other company? Or maybe you might be among the movers and shakers that disapproved of nonsense like that in order to opt for spending money on junk food. Translated: give away do-re-mi to chamber of commerce.