[1. CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/MOMENT OF SILENCE/ROLL CALL]
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MY COMPUTER TELLS ME IT'S FOUR 30.
SO GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY, AND LET'S CALL TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND, 2022 AT 4:30 PM WOULD YOU ALL RISE AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE? MY PLEDGE TO ALLEGION, TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND, AND TO FOLLOW FOR STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDID, VISIBLE WITH THE LIBERTY TO AND JUSTICE ALL.
AND NOW WE'LL HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE TURN OFF ANY DEVICES YOU HAVE WITH YOU, SILENCE THEM OR TURN THEM OFF? AND THE NEXT THING WE HAVE IS ROLL CALL.
MADAM CLERK, CALL A ROLL PLEASE.
[2. CITY’S VISION]
IS THE CITY'S VISION STATEMENT.THE VISION THAT THE CITIZENS HAVE FOR THE FUTURE OF THEIR CITY IS TO BE A CITY THAT IS CONSTANTLY VIGILANT OVER THE PRESERVATION OF ITS NATURAL BEAUTY, SCENIC VISTA, CHRISTINE ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE.
TO BE A CITY THAT RETAINS ITS SMALL TOWN CHARACTER AND CREATES ITS MAN-MADE IMPROVEMENTS AND STRICT HARMONY WITH NATURE.
TO BE A CITY THAT IS ANIMATED BY THE ARTS AND LIVES WITH A SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM TO HELP ACHIEVE OUR COMMON GOALS.
TO BE A CITY THAT OFFERS EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AND FOSTERS THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY TO BE A CITY THAT IT WELCOMES AND ACCOMMODATES ALL OF ITS VISITORS AND FUTURE RESIDENTS WITH A SPIRIT OF FELLOWSHIP TO BE A CITY THAT RETAINS AND ENHANCES A STRONG VITAL ECONOMY, WHICH PRESERVES EXISTING LIFESTYLES WITHOUT EXPLOITING THE NATURAL MEANING.
AND FINALLY, TO BE A CITY THAT LIVES UP TO THE CHALLENGE OF PROPER STEWARDSHIP OF ONE OF THE EARTH'S GREAT TREASURES.
[3. CONSENT ITEMS - APPROVE]
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSENT ITEMS. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? OH, LET ME, EXCUSE ME.LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO HAS ANY, ANYTHING TO PULL OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I MOVED TO APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS. I'M SORRY, DID YOU WANNA, I'M SORRY.
I WANTED TO MAKE PLEASE TO THE, UH, MINUTES OF THE, UH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH, THE FOUR 30 MEETING THE REGULAR UNDER THE ITEM EIGHT A, UH, WHEN IT SAID THE, THE MOTION COUNSEL WILL USE THE MOVE TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
AND THEN WHEN IT GETS DOWN TO COUNSELOR CANELLA OPPOSED BECAUSE YOU NOT AGREE WITH THE IMPOSED FINE.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY ACCORDING TO WHAT I STATED, THAT THE MEETING THAT I DID NOT AGREE WITH THE IMPOSED MANDATORY FINE THAT DID NOT ALLOW DISCRETION BY THE COURT.
I JUST WANTED THAT WORDING CHANGE.
NOW, NOW ARE WE READY FOR A MOTION? I MOVE TO APPROVE NCE CONSENT ITEMS AS AMENDED.
SECOND MOVE BY COUNSELOR WILLIAMSON.
[4. APPOINTMENTS]
IS, IS APPOINTMENTS.THE FIRST ONE IS P S P S, AND THOSE MEMBERS ARE, AND WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SELECTION
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COMMITTEE OF, UH, LET ME FIND ALL THE NAMES HERE.LYNN NAS, IS THAT THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE? YEAH.
LYNN, ARE YOU HERE? NO, I DON'T SEE HER STANDING.
DO YOU WANT A MOTION, MAYOR? YES.
UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION AT ALL ON ANYTHING? OKAY, GO AHEAD.
I MOVED TO A APPOINT LYNN AND ACUS TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL RETIREMENT SYSTEM PS P S BOARD WITH THE TERM BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY AND ENDING JULY 31ST, 2026 OR UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED, WHICHEVER IS LATER.
MOVED AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL WILLIAMSON AND COUNCIL ELA.
THE NEXT ITEM IS DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSIONERS.
AND THOSE COMMISSIONERS ARE THE SELECTION COMMITTEE, UH, REVIEWED AND RECOMMENDED YOU HAVE REAPPOINTMENT OF KATHY LEVI, SARAH, WE, AND THE APPOINTMENT OF WILL HURST TO A SEAT ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
THE TERMS FOR KATHY AND SARAH WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY AND END OCTOBER 31ST, 2025 OR UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED, WHICHEVER IS LATER.
AND THE TERM FOR WILL HURST WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY AND END OCTOBER 31ST, 2024 OR UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED.
ANY DISCUSSION, JESSICA? I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT THERE WERE A TOTAL OF EIGHT APPLICANTS RECEIVED APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED FOR THE FA SEE, TWO APPLICANTS WITHDREW, AND SO THERE WERE SIX SCHEDULED INTERVIEWS.
OKAY, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
I MOVED TO REAPPOINT KATHY LEVIN AND SARAH WHEEL TO SEATS ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WITH THE TERM BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY AND ENDING OCTOBER 31ST, 2025 OR UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED, WHICHEVER IS LATER.
AND APPOINT WILL HUST TO A SEAT ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WITH THE TERM BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY AND ENDING OCTOBER 31ST, 2024 OR UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED, WHICHEVER IS LATER.
MOVED BY COUNCIL WILLIAMSON SECOND BY COUNCIL ELA.
NO MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
ARE THOSE THREE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, CAN I ASK YOU TO STAND? ANYONE WHO'S IN THE ROOM? ALL THREE OF THEM ARE THERE.
AND KATHY AND SARAH, THANK YOU.
THIRD, THIRD ITEM C IS AB 28 90.
DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSIONERS.
AND, AND THAT IS WE ARE APPOINTING NATE MEYER AND A REAPPOINTING, BRN BURKEY YOUNGER AND JACK JOHN, JACK FEENEY TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION.
ARE ANY OF THOSE THREE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE? NATE'S HERE.
NATE IS THE NEW, UH, DIRECTOR AT THE SEDONA HISTORICAL MUSEUM.
SO IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT SOMEONE MAKE A MOTION? I CAN MOVE TO APPOINT NATE MEYER TO THE HOUSER HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION WITH THE TERM BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY AND ENDING NOVEMBER 30TH, 2024 OR UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED, WHICHEVER IS LATER.
AND REAPPOINT BRIN BURKEY UNDER AND JOHN JACK FINE.
TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION WITH A TERM BEGINNING DECEMBER 1ST, 2022 AND ENDING NOVEMBER 30, 20, 25, OR UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED, WHICHEVER IS LATER.
MOVE BY COUNCIL WILLIAM SECOND BY COUNSELOR ELLA.
ALL OF YOU WHO ARE HAVE OFFERED TO SERVE.
[5. SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS BY MAYOR/COUNCILORS/CITY MANAGER]
WE MOVED TO ITEM FIVE.WHO HAS CURRENT EVENTS? WEISS MAYOR.
UM, FOR PARKS AND REC, SOME EXCITING EVENTS COMING UP ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, UH, FROM 10 UNTIL FIVE 30 AT POSSE GROUNDS PAVILION, THE CITY INVITES ALL RESIDENTS TO BRING NEW UNWRAPPED TOYS TO, UH, STUFF THE BUS, WITH ALL TOYS BEING DONATED TO SEDONA TOYS FOR TOTS.
THE GOAL IS TO FILL A SEDONA SHUTTLE BUS WITH TOYS, WHICH WILL THEN BE DISTRIBUTED TO SEDONA
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FAMILIES IN NEED.UH, WE'RE SO PLEASED TO PARTNER WITH SEDONA TOYS FOR TOTS AND THE ORGANIZATION TO HELP PROVIDE CHILDREN SOME EXTRA CHEER THIS SEASON.
OUR OWN STAFF WILL PARTICIPATE TOO BY COLLECTING TOYS AT CITY HALL, LEADING UP TO THE EVENT, AND THEN DROPPING THEM OFF AT THE BUS ON DECEMBER 6TH.
YOU CAN LOOK FOR THE SEDONA SHUTTLE BUS PARKED AT THE HALF CIRCLE DRIVEWAY BY POSSE GROUNDS PAVILION.
THERE ARE MANY, UH, THERE MAY BE, UH, GUEST APPEARANCES BY SOME ELVES TO HELP RECEIVE THE, AND ORGANIZE THE GIFTS.
UH, AND THIS IS, UH, PUT OUT BY LAUREN BROWN, OUR PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER.
EXAMPLES OF ACCEPTABLE GIFTS INCLUDE NEW AND UNWRAPPED GIFTS, UH, GAMES, UH, STUFFED ANIMALS, SPORTING, UH, EQUIPMENT, BOOKS, PLAYTO AND HANDHELD ELECTRONICS.
NO FOOD OR CLOTHING WILL BE ACCEPTED.
AGAIN FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T AWARE.
UH, DECEMBER 2ND AT 5:00 PM UH, TREE LIGHTING AND SANTA VISIT THE PAC NORTH.
THE CHAMBER WOULD BE HONORED IF YOU WOULD, UH, WOULD ALL JOIN WITH THEM AND IN THE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE ALL YOU THERE.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN THE DIALOGUE PUBLICLY AND, UH, AT SOME OF OUR MEETINGS.
SO I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD ANNOUNCE THE VOTER EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IS HAVING CALLED STAYING HEALTHY AND GROWING OLDER IN THE VERDE VALLEY.
UH, THIS IS GOING TO BE ON DECEMBER 1ST AT THE SEDONA PUBLIC LIBRARY AT 1:30 PM IT'S OPEN TO EVERYBODY.
THIS IS A NONPARTISAN EVENT HOSTED BY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, NORTHERN ARIZONA, AND KENT ELLSWORTH, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VERDE VALLEY CAREGIVERS COALITION, WHICH HAS BEEN, UH, PROVIDING SERVICES TO OUR SENIOR POPULATION FOR OVER 30 YEARS HERE LOCALLY.
AND ALSO JOSH TINKLE, THE ACTING PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NORTHERN ARIZONA HEALTHCARE.
AGAIN, THIS IS VERY TIMELY, UM, CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING WITH HEALTHCARE SERVICES, LACK OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND ACCESS IN THIS AREA.
SO I THOUGHT THAT THE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS FREE AND OPEN TO EVERYONE.
AGAIN, THE LIBRARY ON DECEMBER 1ST, ONE 30.
WELL, AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATE PROCESS, UH, THE CITY IS HOSTING LISTENING AND LEARNING SESSIONS AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATE.
AND TWO OF THEM ARE SCHEDULED.
ONE IS, UH, SCHEDULED ON THE SEDONA EMOTION PROJECT, UM, ON DECEMBER 7TH FROM FIVE 30 TO SEVEN VIA ZOOM.
FOCUS ON HOW THE PIECES OF SEDONA IN MOTION FIT TOGETHER TO REDUCE TRAFFIC AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, PROVIDE SAFETY AND CREATE MORE THAN ONE WAY TO GET AROUND TOWN.
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE, AN ECONOMIC VITALITY SESSION SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 14TH.
AGAIN, FIVE 30 TO SEVEN HIGHLIGHTING CHANGES AND TRENDS OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.
AND PROJECTS CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS DISCUSSIONS WILL FOCUS ON WHERE WE WANT THE DONOR TO BE HEADING IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS AND BEYOND.
YOU CAN SCHEDULE, UM, YOURSELF REGISTER FOR THOSE ZOOM EVENTS@WWW.PLANSEDONA.COM.
AGAIN, PLAN SEDONA.COM REGISTERED FOR THESE TWO IMPORTANT, UH, COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIZENS TO BE PART OF, OF THE DISCUSSION ABOUT TRAFFIC AND ECONOMIC VITALITY.
ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC FORUM.
SO I'LL, UH, OPEN AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC FORUM.
NEXT ITEM IS PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS.
TONIGHT, WE HAVE NONE, AND SO WE'LL MOVE TO REGULAR BUSINESS.
I HAD A REQUEST TO MOVE UP THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ITEM.
UH, NOT, NOT AT THE BEGINNING, BUT, BUT AF UH, LET'S SEE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE BEFORE ITEM C AND IT WAS ITEM THAT IS ITEM F.
SO DOES ANYBODY OBJECT TO DOING THAT? OKAY, SO THE WILL WILL MOVE ITEM F TO UP IN FRONT OF ITEM C.
[8.a. AB 2893 Discussion/possible action regarding the adoption of a Resolution approving the sale and execution and delivery of an Excise Tax Revenue Obligation, Second Series 2022, in an amount not to exceed $10.2 million; approving the form and authorizing the execution and delivery of necessary agreements, instruments and documents; delegating authority to determine certain matters with respect to the foregoing and declaring an emergency]
SO WE WILL BEGIN WITH ITEM EIGHT, A AB 28 93 DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SALE AND IS EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF AN EXCISE TAX REVENUE OBLIGATION.SECOND SERIES 2022, UH, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 10.2 MILLION, APPROVING THE FORM AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF NECESSARY AGREEMENTS, INSTRUMENTS, AND DOCUMENTS, DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO
[00:15:01]
DETERMINE CERTAIN MATTERS WITH RESPECT TO THE FOREGO AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.WHO'S STARTING THIS? KAREN OR SHERRY? SHERRY.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
SO THIS ITEM AND THE NEXT ITEM ARE REALLY CONNECTED, UM, WITH THE, UH, NEXT ITEM FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE LAND.
THIS IS THE DEBT FINANCING THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN, UM, OUR LONG RANGE FORECAST.
AND IN TALKING ABOUT IN OUR, UM, BUDGET SESSION.
SO WE HAD BUDGETED FOR, UM, HALF OF THE AMOUNT TO BE DEBT FINANCED.
SO, UM, THIS IS, IS, UM, PROPOSING THAT WE DEBT FINANCE 10 MILLION.
THE WAY THAT I HAVE, UM, REQUESTED THIS WITH OUR, WE HAVE WITH US TODAY, OUR BOND ADVISOR AND OUR BOND COUNCIL, UM, IS THAT TO, UM, IS THAT, UM, THIS IS NON-TAXABLE FINANCING.
UM, WE COULD ISSUE TAXABLE BONDS, BUT WE'RE ISSUING NON-TAXABLE FOR HALF OF IT.
SO ONCE WE HAVE A PLAN IN DEVELOPMENT, IF IT TURNS OUT THAT, UM, IT'S NOT A 50 50 SPLIT BETWEEN HOW MUCH IS PUBLIC USE AND HOW MUCH IS PRIVATE USE, WHAT I REQUESTED IS THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CALL THIS, UM, FAIRLY EARLY IN THE TERM.
IF WE, IF THERE WAS A NEED TO, IF WE HAVE 50% OR MORE THAT IS PUBLIC USE, THEN WE HAVE NO ISSUE AND WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THE BONDS AS THEY ARE SET.
OTHERWISE, WE WOULD EITHER HAVE TO, UM, UH, REFINANCE THEM WITH TAXABLE BONDS OR IF WE'RE IN A FINANCIAL POSITION AT THAT POINT TO WHERE WE SAY, NOW WE HAVE THE CASH TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REMAINDER OF IT, THEN WE WOULD, THEN WE COULD POSSIBLY DO THAT AS WELL.
BUT, SO THIS IS, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? IS THIS ONLY IF GREATER THAN 50% IS FOR NON-PUBLIC USE? SO IF IT WAS GREATER THAN 50% WAS FOR PUBLIC USE, THIS WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE.
IF GREATER THAN 50% IS PRIVATE USE, UM, YOU CANNOT USE NON-TAXABLE DEBT FINANCING FOR THAT.
YOU'D HAVE TO USE TAXABLE DEBT FINANCING.
SO, UM, UH, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE LONG RANGE FORECAST, UM, PART OF WHAT WE SAID WAS WITH CASH FLOWS THAT WE REALLY DO NEED TO, UH, BE ABLE TO FINANCE, UM, ABOUT HALF OF THIS PURCHASE, UM, AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE PRESENTING THIS, UM, AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THIS IS, UM, REALLY KIND OF KEY TO WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE ACTUALLY, IF WE, UM, DOING THE PURCHASE, WE REALLY NEED TO DO THAT DEBT FINANCING.
IF WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THE DEBT FINANCING, THEN WE NEED TO REEVALUATE THE PURCHASE, THE GO HAND IN HAND, UH, BASED OFF OF THE CASH FLOW.
SO, UM, IN THE BUDGET WE HAD BUDGETED, UM, FOR AN ISSUANCE OF 10 MILLION, UM, FOR WHAT WE ESTIMATED WOULD BE HALF THE AMOUNT.
AND, UH, WE HAD BUDGETED FOR A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR OF, UM, WHAT OUR DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT WOULD BE.
UM, SO WE BUDGETED A LITTLE HIGH JUST IN CASE, UM, CUZ WE KNEW INTEREST RATES WERE GONNA BE GOING UP.
AND, UM, I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS TONIGHT THAT WE WILL BE COMING IN UNDER THAT AMOUNT.
SO, UM, I BELIEVE MARK REED'S GOING TO TAKE IT FROM HERE, UM, TO GO OVER, UM, WHAT HE HAS RECEIVED AND, AND HE'S BEEN IN NEGOTIATIONS, UM, TO GET US A REALLY GOOD DEAL ON OUR DEBT FINANCING.
UH, MS. WRIGHT, UH, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, UH, GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BACK AGAIN.
UH, TO JUST SUMMARIZE YOUR RIGHT, WE, WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO, UH, ASSIST THE CITY IN, UH, RAISING SOME CAPITAL AND THE AMOUNT OF ABOUT $10 MILLION, AS YOU ALL KNOW, TO HELP WITH THE LAND ACQUISITION.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NUMBER, SOMEWHERE AROUND 20 MILLION, THE CITY HAS ELECTED TO PAY 10 MILLION IN CASH, AS SHERRY MENTIONED, AS YOU'RE AWARE, AND WITH THE GOAL OF ISSUING BONDS BY THE CITY FOR ABOUT 10 MILLION, THAT GIVES US THAT 50 50 SPLIT.
UM, WE, WE, UH, WANTED TO GO OUT WITH THE 50% FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSE, UH, AND SOLICIT BIDS FOR TAX EXEMPT INTEREST, WHICH IS THE WAY WE NORMALLY ISSUE BONDS FOR YOUR CITY.
AS YOU KNOW, THE INTEREST INCOME OF WHICH IS EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL AND STATE TAXATION, THAT KEEPS OUR INTEREST RATE LOWER, AS YOU ALL KNOW.
SO OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH STAFF TO SOLICIT PROPOSALS, PRIVATE PLACEMENT PROPOSALS FROM FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, UH, FOR THE CITY OF SEDONA IN THE AMOUNT OF ABOUT 10 MILLION.
OKAY, SO ON THIS PAGE HERE, THESE ARE JUST KIND OF SOME OF OUR GOALS, AGAIN, WORKING WITH THE CITY, OBVIOUSLY, UH, SOLICIT BIDS AND SECURE THE LOWEST INTEREST RATE POSSIBLE.
UM, INCORPORATE A FLEXIBLE PREPAYMENT FEATURE IN HERE.
AS, AS SHERRY JUST MENTIONED TO YOU, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE COMPLETE FLEXIBILITY
[00:20:01]
AS IT RELATES TO THE PLANNING OF THIS ACREAGE.AND IF WE GOT INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE WENT OVER THE 50%, UH, BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, IF WE LEASE SOME LAND OR IF THE CITY LEASED SOME LAND OR SOLD SOME LAND, OR WE WANT TO REFINANCE THE BONDS, OR WE WANT TO PAY DOWN THE DEBT, RIGHT? WE WANT TO HAVE A VERY EASY PREPAYMENT FEATURE.
SO WE'VE INCORPORATED THAT INTO THE TRANSACTION, UH, THAT WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO PREPAY ANY OF THE BONDS WITHIN TH WITH 30 DAYS NOTICE AT NO PENALTY.
UH, SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL IN THE MARKETPLACE, BUT WE, WE DO BELIEVE WE HAVE POTENTIALLY FOUND A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT WILL PROVIDE THAT FOR THE CITY.
WE KNOW THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT ON THIS TRANSACTION AS YOU CONTINUE THE PLANNING PROCESS.
OKAY? UH, IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE THE TRANSACTION RELATIVELY SOON, UH, SOMEWHERE AROUND DECEMBER 8TH.
SO WITH YOUR APPROVAL THIS EVENING, AND WE DO HAVE SOME MORE NEGOTIATIONS TO FINALIZE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO RIGHT AFTER THANKSGIVING.
WE'RE IN A VERY GOOD POSITION TO CLOSE ON OR AROUND DECEMBER 8TH, SO THAT'S GOOD.
UH, IN TALKING WITH STAFF, UH, WE SOLICITED BIDS ON A 15 YEAR AMORTIZATION, RELATIVELY SIMPLE 15 YEAR AMORTIZATION WITH AN ANNUAL PAYMENT OF SOMEWHERE AROUND 900 TO 910,000.
SO WORKS VERY WELL WITH THE CITY BUDGET, VERY AFFORDABLE.
AND SO THAT'S COMING IN, UM, UH, KIND OF RIGHT AROUND WHERE WE THOUGHT.
AND THEN THE NUMBER FIVE HERE, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU, WE WILL CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS IN THE COMING DAYS AND INTO NEXT WEEK, SELECT THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION AND THEN MOVE TOWARDS CLOSING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR, UH, COMBINED GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
UH, AS FAR AS THE MARKET IS CONCERNED, AS YOU ALL KNOW, UH, WE'VE BEEN IN A SOMEWHAT OF A RISING INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT.
UH, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS OUR TAX EXEMPT, UH, INDEX THAT COMES OUT EVERY DAY.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, WE ACTUALLY GOT A LITTLE REPRIEVE OVER THE LAST WEEK.
I'M ACTUALLY GONNA TAKE YOU TO THE NEXT PAGE, UH, IN, IN YELLOW JUST TO SHOW YOU, UH, SOME OF THE NUMBERS FROM LAST WEEK AND LAST MONTH AND A YEAR AGO THIS TIME TO WHERE WE'RE AT NOW.
YOU CAN SEE IF I CAN USE THE 15 YEAR THERE IN THE MIDDLE.
UH, LAST MONTH WE WERE ABOUT A 360 TAX EXEMPT RATE.
THIS IS HIGH GRADE NATURAL AAA, LARGER CITY, UH, INDEXES, IF YOU WILL.
UH, AND YOU CAN SEE THIS WEEK WE'RE AT A 3 24.
IF YOU GO DOWN BELOW THE FEDERAL FUNDS RATE, WHICH IS THE SHORT TERM RATE THAT THE FED HAS BEEN, UH, INCREASING IN, IN RECENT MONTHS, A YEAR AGO WAS 0.25.
AND AS YOU KNOW, AROUND 4% NOW.
SO GENERALLY SPEAKING, OUR RATES ARE UP 300 TO 400 BASIS POINTS, UH, SINCE, UM, OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS AS THE FED FEDERAL RESERVE HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO ON THE INFLATIONARY FRONT.
SO IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD.
UH, WE'VE WORKED WITH THE CITY A LONG TIME.
WE KNOW YOU'RE USED TO 2%, 1% AND 2% MONEY.
AND UH, AND SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA BE A LITTLE HIGHER NOW, BUT NOT THE END OF THE WORLD AS I SEE IT.
AND WITH A FLEXIBLE PREPAYMENT PROVISION, MAYBE THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFINANCE IT OR AS I SAID, PAY IT DOWN IN THE FUTURE.
OKAY, SO JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MARKET AND OUR OBJECTIVE.
SO WE WENT AHEAD AND SENT OUT AN RFP, AN RFI, WE CALL IT.
WORKED WITH, UH, WITH CITY STAFF VERY WELL ON THAT.
WE SENT IT OUT AND WE RECEIVED SIX BIDS.
THE CITY OF SEDONA IS HIGHLY RESPECTED.
UH, WHEN, WHENEVER WE GO OUT AND DO FINANCING, WE'VE DONE SEVERAL FOR THE CITY.
SO WE ALWAYS EXPECT THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT BIDS, WHICH IS GOOD.
WE RECEIVED SIX BIDS, UM, AND, UM, WE'VE GOT VARIOUS PREPAYMENT FEATURES WE'RE DEALING WITH, AS I MENTIONED.
I'D SAY AT THE MOMENT WE DON'T, THIS MAY CHANGE GOING INTO NEXT WEEK, WE'RE PROBABLY ABOUT 4 21 MONEY, SOMEWHERE AROUND 4.21%.
THAT SEEMS TO BE THE ALL IN ALL WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE PROBABLY THE MOST RESPONSIBLE BID FOR THE CITY GIVEN THE SITUATION WITH YOUR PLANNING AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
GOOD NEWS ALSO WITH RESPECT TO THAT IN FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO, IF WE SELECT THEM, BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS FLEXIBLE ABILITY TO PREPAY AND TO PIVOT AS NECESSARY AS WE GO THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS TOGETHER.
SO WE VIEW THAT AS, UH, VERY ATTRACTIVE AND, UH, WOULD LIMIT THE CITY'S EXPENSES IN THE FUTURE.
IN THE EVENT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, WE TALKED ABOUT THE CLOSING DATE.
UM, SO, UH, IN THE APPENDIX HERE, WE JUST HAVE A LOT OF DETAIL.
I DON'T, I'M NOT REALLY GONNA GO THROUGH ALL THE DETAIL WITH YOU OTHER, OTHER THAN TO SAY THAT THE BIDS WERE WELL RECEIVED AND, UH,
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WE WILL AGAIN, START NEGOTIATIONS REALLY STARTING TOMORROW AND ON MONDAY AND FINALIZE, FINALIZE THOSE ON OR AROUND KIND OF WHAT I SHARED WITH YOU.SO THAT'S MY BRIEF, UH, OVERVIEW.
I HOPE, UH, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THAT WAS HELPFUL AND I'M GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE.
WHO, HOLLY? UH, I HAVE A CLARIFICATION QUESTION ON THE CALLABILITY OF THE BOND.
SO IN THIS, IS IT CALLABLE FOR BOTH SIDES? SO IN OTHER WORDS, IF INTEREST RATES GO UP, CAN IT BE CALLABLE BY THE LENDER AND INCREASE THE INTEREST RATE? NO, IT IS NOT.
IT'S AT THE OPTION OF THE CITY.
ALL, ALL THESE ARE, ALL THESE ARE LOCKED IN AT THE MOMENT FOR THE MOST PART WITH THE, WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE MAYBE THE WINNING BIDDER, DEPENDING UPON THE SECOND PLACE BIDDER THAT WE TALKED TO.
AND THANK YOU SHERRY FOR KEEPING THE CITY IN SUCH GREAT SHAPE SO WE CAN GET GOOD RATES.
SO WE, WE, WE LIKE TO, NOT TO PUT THE INSTITUTIONS IN HERE OBVIOUSLY, CUZ WE'RE IN NEGOTIATIONS, RIGHT? SO IT PROBABLY MAKES SENSE TO KIND OF KEEP THAT.
UM, UM, SO BANK, UH, D IS, LET ME WRITE THESE DOWN CUZ I ACTUALLY HAD TO WRITE THE NAMES DOWN MYSELF.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO REVEAL THE NAMES IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A FEEL WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PREPAYMENT BEING CULLABLE AT ANY TIME WITH 30 DAYS NOTICE VERSUS OTHER FLEXIBILITY THAT MAY SAY IT'S NON CULLABLE FIRST YEAR, BUT IT'S CULLABLE THIS DATE OR THAT DATE.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE WHAT, WHAT MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY WE HAVE HERE.
SO, UM, UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
UH, BANK D IS, UH, THE, THE BANK THAT WE, WE, WE THINK AT THE MOMENT MAY BE THE, MAYBE THE BEST AND THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY.
THAT'S THE ONE THAT HAS THE IMMEDIATE CALL WITH 30 DAYS ADVANCED NOTICE.
AND, AND, AND IF YOU LOOK AT, UH, IMPLEMENTING THIS, UH, IN DECEMBER 8TH, 2022, ARE WE LOOKING AT, UH, A FINAL PAYMENT BEING MADE BY THE END OF 2037 OR, YEAH, 15 YEARS.
SO IT'LL BE 37, UH, I THINK IS THE FINAL MATURITY.
DECEMBER 7 37 OR SOMETHING? YEAH, I THINK JULY IS THE WAY WE HAVE IT.
WE HAVE JANUARY AND JULY PAYMENTS ON IT, SO MAKE IT JULY.
MAYOR, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, BEFORE I CALL FOR DISCUSSION, I HAVE A CARD.
UH, SHERRY GRAHAM, ARE YOU HERE? SHERRY MAYOR? UH, RON VOLKMAN.
AS SHE ARRIVED, SHE HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE SOME DISTRESS WITH HER HEALTH.
SHE LEFT ME HER LETTER IF YOU, IF I MAY READ IT.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I AM SHERRY GRAHAM, A 60 YEAR RESIDENT.
I'M A PA PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSIONER, VICE MAYOR, AND CITY COUNCIL YEARS 1990 THROUGH 2000.
AS AN OBSERVER OF THIS COUNCIL, YOUR ACTIONS ARE CONFUSING TO NOT ONLY ME, BUT EVERYONE WHO IS PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT IS GOING ON.
THE DECISION MAKING IS VERY BACKWARDS WITH TODAY'S REGULAR BUSINESS ITEMS AB 2 8 93 AND AB 2 8 94.
WHY? BECAUSE THE CART IS COMING BEFORE THE HORSE.
WHY? BECAUSE BECAUSE COUNCIL DOESN'T LIKE TOURISTS.
THEY DON'T WANT THE CHAMBER TO ADVERTISE US ANYMORE, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE ANYMORE MONEY TO THE CHAMBER BECAUSE THEY LOVE THE REVENUE THE LODGING COMMUNITY PROVIDES THROUGH BED TAXES AND ARE SEEMINGLY UNCONCERNED THAT THOSE TAXES ARE GOING DOWN.
SINCE THE PROJECTIONS ARE, THAT OCCUPANCY IS HEADED INTO FURTHER DECLINE BECAUSE WITH LOWER OCCUPANCY THERE ARE FEWER TOURISTS IN RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS ALL OVER TOWN.
THAT FACT TRANSLATES INTO EVEN MORE LOST REVENUES IN THE FORM OF SALES TAX ON GOODS AND SERVICES.
ADD TO THAT, EMPLOYERS ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO FIND ADEQUATE EMPLOYEES.
ADD TO THAT THE POPULATION OF SEDONA ISN'T GROWING.
SO OUR PORTION OF SHARED TAX, TAX STATE TAXES IS GROWING SMALLER AND THE SONG KEEPS PLAYING BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON THIS CITY COUNCIL FINDS PURE DELIGHT IN SPENDING MONEY ON CREDIT LAND FOR A PARKING GARAGE AND A LOT ON SHELBY DRIVE AND THE MODEST AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OFF SUNSET DRIVE, AS WELL AS THEIR NEWEST MUST HAVE THE CULTURAL PARK.
AND WITHOUT ANY PROPER PUBLIC DEBATE, HOW IS THIS CART BEFORE THE HORSE? BECAUSE 15 MINUTES FOR DISCUSSION OF NECESS NECESSITY TO BUY THE LAND AND ALL THE DETAILS TO GO TOWARDS FINANCING THAT CONCEPT AFTER 45 MINUTES TO BE EDUCATED ON BONDS SECURED BY EXCISE TAX REVENUE, IS CERTAINLY NOT AN EMERGENCY SITUATION TO, TO REQUIRE THIS FAST PACED ACTION, PLEASE STOP THE HUSTLE, PULL OFF THE SHEET COVERING
[00:30:01]
THE DETAILS THAT YOU ARE NOT LEAVING TIME TO DISCUSS IN PUBLIC AND GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS AT HAND OF HELPING THIS TOWN REGAIN ITS MAIN REVENUE SOURCE IN A HEALTHY DEBT FREE WAY.THIS IS A COUNCIL MEETING, IT'S NOT A SPORTING EVENT.
WE ARE NOT, WE DO NOT ALLOW APPLAUSE AS YOU WELL KNOW.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER CARDS ON THAT I DON'T BELIEVE.
MS. MARTINEZ, IT'S JOHN JOANNE, MS. MARTINEZ, MY DAD.
OKAY, SO JOHN MARTINEZ NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE AS YOU WELL KNOW.
MY NAME IS JOHN MARTINEZ, VICE MAYOR EMERITUS, AND I WANNA SAY, UH, GOOD EVENING TO MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL CARD.
BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE THIS ITEM, STAFF VISITORS, EVERYBODY IN CHAMBER AND PEOPLE IN TV LAND HAVE A GREAT HAPPY THANKSGIVING IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
OKAY? I, I HAVE TO ADMIT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE WHOLE BOND PROCESS.
AND IN FACT, THE EIGHT YEARS THAT I WAS ON COUNCIL ON MEMBER MR. RE WOULD COME IN AND REALLY GIVE US ALL THE T DETAILED INFORMATION.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE THE TWO COLLEGE CLASSES THAT I TOOK WHEN I WAS GOING TO SCHOOL WAY BACK WHEN, OR PROBABLY A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED, THAT WAS LIKE WHEN MOBY DICK WAS A MINNOW.
BUT I DO WANNA SAY THAT THE CONSIDERATION OF THIS AGENDA ITEM IS OUTRAGEOUS.
EVERYONE THAT I'VE SPOKEN WITH BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A WASTE OF CITY FUNDS TAX REVENUE TO PURCHASE A CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY, WHICH WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT IS.
NOW, IF I WAS GONNA DO THIS BOND, I WOULD DEFINITELY COME TO MR. REEDER CUZ HE'S GOT ALL THE ANSWERS.
BUT DO WE REALLY, SHOULD WE REALLY BE DOING THIS? I'VE HEARD MANY TIMES THAT THE CITY IS FLUSHED WITH CAST CASH BECAUSE OF ALL THE VISITORS THAT HAVE COME TO SEDONA IN 2019, IN 2020.
BUT IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN WHY DO WE NEED TO BORROW 10 MILLION TO FUND THIS LITTLE PROJECT? OR IS IT BECAUSE THE COUNCIL REALIZES THAT THEIR ACTIONS FOR FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY, WHICH A NUMBER OF YOU WHEN YOU RAN FOR COUNCIL PREACHED, THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED IT TO DO, IS GREATLY FLAWED.
AND THE CITY IS SEEING A DECREASED IN REVENUE AS THE PREVIOUS FOLKS SPEAKER TALKED ABOUT THE CITY AND ITS, AND ITS CITIZENS OF LESS THAN 10,000 DON'T NEED TO BE BURDENED FOR 15 YEARS WITH AN OBLIGATION BOND OF 10 MILLION.
SO I ASK, PLEASE RECONSIDER AND VOTE A ON THE NEXT AGENDA, ITEM ON B, AN ALTERNATIVE IDEA WILL BE PRESENTED TO FOLLOW THIS ITEM.
UM, I UNDERSTAND WE DO NEED TO BUILD WORKFORCE HOUSING, BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE THERE AND WE'LL TALK MORE ON THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT NEEDS TO SPEAK? YES, THERE IS ONE.
SO EMILY, JUST BEGIN WITH YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
THE TIMER IS OVER ON THE BAR TO YOUR RIGHT.
I DON'T NEED THE THREE MINUTES.
UM, EMILY AND I JUST HAVE SOME QUESTIONS BECAUSE YOU START WITH YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE.
EMILY TAYLOR, RIGHT? EMILY TAYLOR.
SO I'M JUST CONCERNED WHY WE ARE EXPEDITING THIS PROCESS.
IT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A LARGE DEBT TO GO INTO FOR SUCH A SMALL COMMUNITY.
SO REALLY MY QUESTION TO YOU ALL IS WHAT, WHAT WOULD THE TAX INCREASE BE? LIKE, HAVE YOU WORKED THE NUMBERS IN ANY WAY FOR THIS SMALL COMMUNITY? WE CAN'T ANSWER YOU ON THE SPOT, MA'AM.
YOU CAN ASK THE QUESTION AND WE CAN ADDRESS IT LATER IF WE SO CHOOSE.
WELL, IT, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS
[00:35:01]
BEEN LONG RESEARCHED AND PLANNED, SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THE QUESTION, JUST SO WE CAN ALL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.YES, AND WE WILL HAVE BE HAVING OUR DISCUSSION WHEN WE FINISH WITH THE COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE.
AND THEN MY, MY SECOND QUESTION JUST FOR US ALL TO CONSIDER IS WHY IS IT SO NECESSARY WITHIN THE GUIDELINES OF THE PURCHASE THAT WERE, YOU ALL ARE ABLE TO CHANGE THE PLANS AFTER THE PURCHASE? SO IF WE GO INTO THE CONTRACT BY SAYING THAT 50% WILL BE FOR COMMUNITY USE AND IT'S SUCH A CRUCIAL PART OF THE DEAL FOR THEN THAT TO BE ABLE TO BE CHANGED QUICKLY, THAT'S VERY ALARMING TO ME.
AND I THINK OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GIVE US THE INPUT AND ESSENTIALLY THIS PLACE TO KEEP IT FOR THE COMMUNITY, IF WE CAN QUICKLY SELL IT, QUICKLY, LEASE IT, THAT DOESN'T SEEM ALL ABOVE TABLE.
I WOULD SAY THOSE ARE MY ONLY QUESTIONS FOR US TO CONSIDER.
ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I DON'T THINK SO.
I'LL BRING IT BACK FOR NO COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
JESSICA, I JUST, I I WOULD LIKE TO JUST FIRST ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF TAX INCREASE.
THERE IS NO LOCAL PROPERTY TAX HERE IN SEDONA, SO THERE IS NO TAX INCREASE THAT ANY OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE FACING.
UM, I ALSO, THE WHOLE THING ABOUT PLANNING, UM, I'D LIKE IF KAREN COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PLANNING ON THIS THAT WE WENT THROUGH AN, I'LL BEGIN A LITTLE, AN EXTENSIVE PLANNING COUPLE OF YEAR PLANNING PROCESS WITH THE COMMUNITY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
UH, WE DO HAVE A COMMUNITY FOCUS AREA PLAN THAT WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS WAS APPROVED.
UM, AND SO THIS ISN'T LIKE, AND, AND AT THAT POINT IT CALLED FOR IT ALLOWED HOTEL AND OTHER KIND OF DEVELOPMENT.
UM, IF, IF KAREN KIND OF EXPLAINED TO THE AUDIENCE THE PROCESS FOR WHAT THIS PLANNING PROCESS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, UM, IT ISN'T PLANNED AT THIS POINT, UM, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF, OF WORKFORCE HOUSING AND, AND ANCILLARY USES.
SO I'D APPRECIATE KAREN, IF YOU COULD LET PEOPLE KNOW.
AND I, I WAS GONNA COVER THIS IN THE NEXT ITEM ANYWAY, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO DO IT NOW.
UM, MAYOR, COUNSELORS, COUNSELOR WILLIAMSON, THE, IN TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE CITY OWNS THE PROPERTY, I BELIEVE IT IS THE COUNCIL'S INTENT.
IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION THAT A MASTER PLANNING EFFORT BE PURSUED THAT WOULD INCLUDE EXTENSIVE PUBLIC INPUT IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE BEST DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE SITE.
WE DO NOT HAVE A DEVELOPMENT PLAN, A SPECIFIC MASTER PLAN FOR THIS SITE AT THIS TIME.
THAT PROCESS AND THE TIMING WILL BE DISCUSSED FURTHER WITH COUNSEL NEXT MONTH AT YOUR ANNUAL PRIORITY SETTING.
WELL, WE'LL GET INTO THE MORE NUANCES AND DETAILS OF WHAT EXACTLY THAT PROCESS WILL ENTAIL AND, AND TIMELINES.
ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HAVE A FINALIZED DEVELOPMENT PLAN AT THIS TIME, WE DO HAVE, AS YOU MENTIONED, COUNCIL WILLIAM AND SOME INITIAL LAND USE GUIDELINES THAT DID GO THROUGH A VERY EXTENSIVE PUBLIC PLANNING EFFORT.
IT WAS, UM, MULTIPLE YEARS AND IT'S CALLED A COMMUNITY FOCUS AREA PLAN FOR THE WESTERN GATEWAY.
SO IT INCLUDED THAT ENTIRE AREA AT THE WESTERN END OF TOWN, INCLUDING THE CULTURAL PARK.
AS PART OF THAT PLANNING EFFORT, THERE WAS A SUB COMPONENT OF THAT CALLED THE CULTURAL PARK CHARACTER AREA PLAN THAT EVEN GOT MORE SPECIFIC TALKING ABOUT THIS 41 ACRES IN PARTICULAR.
SO THOSE SHOULD AT LEAST BE HELPFUL IS AS STARTING POINTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MORE ROBUST LAND USE PLANNING EFFORT AND THE MORE DETAILED LAND USE PLANNING EFFORT.
WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPERTY IS USED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE AND FOR COMMUNITY BENEFIT IS FOR THE CITY TO INQUIRE IT, TO ACQUIRE IT, AND TO ENGAGE IN THIS, UM, DIALOGUE WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN SHOULD BE.
A PRIVATE DEVELOPER SIMPLY WON'T BE IN THE SAME POSITION AS THE CITY TO DEVELOP THE TYPES OF COMMUNITY FOCUSED LAND USES THAT THE CITY WOULD BE LIKELY TO PURSUE AND THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE LIKELY TO ASK FOR.
SO ULTIMATELY THIS LAND, PARTICULARLY THE MOST PRISTINE PORTION OF IT THAT ABUTS THE NATIONAL
[00:40:01]
FOREST, WOULD BE LOST TO PUBLIC ACCESS FOREVER THROUGH PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.THIS IS A STRONG MOTIVATION FOR THE CITY TO STEP IN AND SECURE THE SITE AND GUARANTEE ITS FUTURE PUBLIC USE AND, AND PERMANENT COMMUNITY ACCESS.
JUST ONE MORE CLARIFICATION OF, OF, OF ONE OF THE SPEAKER'S POINTS AND THEN I'LL, I'LL LET OTHER SOMEBODY ELSE SPEAK.
UM, THIS IS, THIS IS PUBLIC USE ONLY PART OF IT BECAUSE IT'S PART OF, IT'S OWNED BY THE FOREST SERVICE.
THE PART WE'RE ACQUIRING OR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACQUIRING WE MIGHT ACQUIRE IS CURRENTLY NOT OWNED BY ANY PUBLIC ENTITY.
IT'S NEVER, EVER, EVER GOING TO REMAIN AS A PUBLIC SERVED THE PUBLIC.
THAT SITE THE PROPOSALS TO DEVELOP THE SITE ALMOST ALWAYS INCLUDED A LUXURY HOTEL RESORT CONVENTION CENTER AS WELL AS LOTS AND LOTS OF HOUSING THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE WOULD MOST LIKELY BE SHORT TERM RENTAL HOUSING.
SO THAT THAT SITE IS NOT SIMPLY THERE AND WILL REMAIN THERE AS IT IS NOW IF WE DON'T ACQUIRE IT.
UM, JUST SO PEOPLE ARE CLEAR ABOUT, ABOUT THE REALITIES OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE DEVELOPED ON THAT SITE, WHAT THE LIKELY USE IS GOING TO TO BE IF IT'S PRIVATELY OWNED, IT WILL BE DEVELOPED IN A WAY THAT MAY VERY LIKELY NOT BE IN CONFORMANCE WITH A LOT OF THE GOALS OF THE CITY.
I KNOW WE WERE A LITTLE INTO COMMENTS INSTEAD OF QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK IT'S, IF YOU DON'T, YOU INDULGE ME.
UM, KAREN, THE, THE, I GUESS IT GETS CONFUSING TO THE PUBLIC WHY EIGHT A COMES BEFORE EIGHT B AND IT MAKES EIGHT B LOOK LIKE A FOREGONE CONCLUSION.
UM, BUT IF WE WERE GONNA TALK ABOUT EIGHT B, WE COULDN'T WITHOUT KNOWING WE HAD THE MONEY
SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU JUMPED IN NOW WITH YOUR PRESENTATION ON EIGHT B OR PARTIAL PRESENTATION ON EIGHT B BEFORE EIGHT A.
I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING IS IF WE COULD MOVE TO THE FULL PRESENTATION ON EIGHT B AS WELL, IF, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD SOMETHING ELSE TO ADD OR NOT, SO THAT THERE IS A COMPLETE STORY FOR THE PUBLIC TO CONSIDER, BECAUSE I DO THINK THE ORDER OF THIS AND I UNDERSTAND THE ORDER, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT IS, UM, IT'S DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW.
SO I, I DON'T HAVE A LOT MORE, UH, BUT IN THE WAY OF JUST PROVIDING SOME HISTORY FOR, FOR THE PUBLIC, THE IDEA OF, OF THE CITY PURCHASING THIS CULTURAL PARK PROPERTY WAS FIRST DISCUSSED THIS PAST JANUARY AT YOUR ANNUAL, UM, PRIORITY SETTING RETREAT STAFF.
AT THAT TIME THERE WAS A SUBSEQUENT, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION STAFF APPROACHED THE SELLER, UM, TO, TO JUST SORT OF BEGIN THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT AT THE TIME THERE WAS ANOTHER BUYER WHO HAD AN OPTION ON THE PROPERTY AND THAT PRECLUDED US FROM NEGOTIATING A PURCHASE EARLY THIS YEAR, THIS FALL, THE OTHER BUYER'S DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD ENDED AND THEY ELECTED NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PURCHASE THAT OPENED THE DOOR FOR US TO START TO TALK ACTUAL NEGOTIATIONS FOR A PURCHASE WITH THE SELLER.
SO WE'VE NOW BEEN DOING OUR OWN DUE DILIGENCE.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, INCLUDING CONDUCTING AN APPRAISAL AND HAVING A PHASE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COMPLETED.
THE SELLER HAS ALSO, UH, HAD A, AN APPRAISAL CONDUCTED AS, UM, AS WELL OUR APPRAISAL DETERMINED THAT THE RANGE OF VALUES FOR THIS PROPERTY WAS BETWEEN JUST UNDER 20 MILLION TO ABOUT 22.3 MILLION.
THE SELLERS APPRAISAL CAME IN AT 20 SE 6.7 MILLION.
AS WE KNOW APPRAISALS ARE, ARE, UH, AS MUCH AS AS SCIENCE.
SO WE HAVE NEGOTIATED A TOTAL PURCHASE PRICE OF 20 MILLION, UM, WHICH IS ON THE VERY LOWER END OF THOSE APPRAISED VALUES.
SO YOU DO HAVE THE FULL PURCHASE CONTRACT INCLUDED IN THE, THE PACKET AS DOES THE, THE PUBLIC IN THAT DOCUMENT.
AND AS YOU HEARD, UM, MARK REEDS, UH, TALK ABOUT IF THIS IS APPROVED TONIGHT, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO A QUICK CLOSE THE FINANCING, THE IMPETUS FOR THE FINANCING AND THE CLOSE DATE OF DECEMBER 8TH HAD TO DO WITH INTEREST RATES.
SO IF WE WAITED UNTIL THE NEXT TIME COUNCIL CONVENED EVEN WE RUN THE RISK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE EXPECTING ANOTHER ADJUSTMENT IN DECEMBER TO THOSE RATES AND ON A 10 MILLION ISSUANCE, THAT'S MATERIAL MONEY.
[00:45:01]
AND THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT IT, UM, AT THIS TIMING AND IT IS SUCH A QUICK CLOSE AND YOU HAVE THE EMERGENCY PROVISION IN YOUR, UM, IN, IN YOUR MOTION SO THAT WE CAN ACT ON THE FINANCING IMMEDIATELY.HOLLY, I ACTUALLY WAS GONNA ASK FOR THE SAME THING AS A COUNSELOR CANELLA TO HAVE MORE OF A FULL PICTURE FOR THE PUBLIC AND, AND TO REINFORCE THAT WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ACQUIRING THIS PROPERTY SINCE JANUARY OF 2022 AND ACTUALLY BEFORE FULL COUNCIL, BUT BEFORE THAT EVEN.
AND ALSO EVERY PROPOSAL, THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF INTEREST IN THIS PROPERTY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND EVERY SINGLE PROPOSAL THAT HAS COME IN THAT CITY STAFF HAS REVIEWED, HAS REQUIRED IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE PROFITABLE FOR A DEVELOPER, EITHER A MAJOR HOTEL OR MAJOR DEVELOPMENT BEYOND WHAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH IN TERMS OF DENSITY.
I KNOW A COUPLE OF PEOPLE, WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF COMMENTS BOTH PRO AND CON THROUGH OUR EMAILS ON, ON THIS MATTER.
UH, TALKED ABOUT URBANIZATION.
WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT URBANIZATION.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO URBANIZE OUR COMMUNITY, WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING.
AND
WE REMOVED FROM THE CFA JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, THE HOTEL PORTION THAT HAD BEEN IN THE ORIGINAL CFA, THAT'S THE COMMUNITY FOCUS AREA.
YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T REMOVE IT.
WE SIMPLY LOWERED THE PRIORITY OF IT.
I I THOUGHT WE REMOVED IT WELL ANYWAY, DON'T BELIEVE.
WE MADE IT MIXED USE AND WE TOOK OUT THE EMPHASIS TOWARDS HOTELS, WHICH HAD BEEN THE PRIMARY, HAD BEEN THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF IT.
UH, AND WE WERE, AND THAT'S THE REASON THAT THOSE DEVELOPERS DECIDED NOT TO GO FORWARD WITH THE PROPERTY BECAUSE THEIR DEVELOPMENT PLAN WAS A, A HUGE 800.
WE STARTED I THINK 800 ROOM HOTEL FOR THAT AREA.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DEVELOP THOUSANDS OF HOUSING UNITS.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DEVELOP, UH, CONFERENCE CENTERS AND HOTELS, AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO RUN ANY OF THIS AS A CITY.
WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE THE LAST LARGE PIECE OF LAND THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS IN ORDER TO PRESERVE IT AND PRESERVE THE PRISTINE NATURE OF IT, AS WELL AS USE IT FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE.
AND THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SHOULD WE MOVE FORWARD IN WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE THROUGH A PLANNING PROCESS.
SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, JUST TO THE POINT ABOUT THE, UM, 8 8 8 B UM, ORDER AGAIN, UM, IN THE, IN THE MOTION THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, UH, DOES THAT REQUIRE US, DOES THAT REQUIRE STAFF TO CONCLUDE THIS? UH, IT SAYS APPROVE, BUT IF WE, IF WE WERE TO VOTE POSITIVELY FOR THE APPROVAL OF THIS FINANCING AND THEN FOR WHATEVER REASON DECIDED WITH A B THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO GO FORWARD, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TO EXECUTE THIS, CORRECT? CORRECT.
SO THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE EIGHT A B GOING THAT WAY.
AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD IS IF, IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO, UM, THE REASON FOR FINANCING.
UH, I KNOW THAT WHEN WE DID OUR BUDGETING, UM, WE BUDGETED FOR $20 MILLION FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, UM, WITH THIS IN PARTICULAR IN MIND AS A, UH, A VERY STRONG POSSIBILITY.
UH, SO THEORETICALLY WE COULD HAVE THE CASH OR AT LEAST MUCH MORE OF THE CASH ON THIS.
CAN YOU TALK, UH, EITHER YOU OR SHERRY TO THE THINKING BEHIND, UM, CASH FOR SOME AND, AND FINANCING FOR THE REST? YEAH, I'LL, I'LL LET SHERRY TAKE THAT, BUT JUST ONE CLARIFICATION ON WHAT YOU SAID.
SO WHEN WE DO OUR BUDGET PROCESS, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE, UM, AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY TO SPEND MONEY.
[00:50:01]
MEAN THAT ALL OF THAT MONEY WE'RE GONNA SPEND IS CASH MONEY IN.WHEN WE DID THE BUDGET, WE ALWAYS PROJECTED THAT HALF OF IT WOULD BE CASH AND HALF OF IT WOULD BE FINANCE.
SO THAT WAS HOW WE BUDGETED THE EXPENDITURE, EVEN FROM WHEN WE WERE DOING OUR PLANNING IN THE SPRING.
AND PART OF THE REASON WHY WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS WITH HAVING THIS BEING, UM, HALF DEBT FINANCED IS BECAUSE OF THE PROJECTIONS OF, UM, INCREASES IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND WE HAVE A LOT IN OUR C I P PLAN.
AND SO LOOKING AT THOSE CASH FLOWS WE WERE LOOKING AT, DEPENDING UPON HOW MUCH CONSTRUCTION REALLY GOES UP AND IF THERE'S AN IMPENDING RECESSION, THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN.
SO LOOKING AT THOSE SCENARIOS, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE LONG RANGE FORECAST, WE SAID IT WAS SAFEST TO BE ABLE TO DEBT FINANCE HALF OF IT NOW.
AND, UM, EVEN IN A COUPLE YEARS WE WERE LOOKING AT WE WOULD BE FLUSH ENOUGH WITH CASH AGAIN, THE, IF WE SAID WE WANTED TO PAY THIS OFF EARLY JUST BECAUSE WE WANTED TO, WE WOULD LIKELY BE IN THAT SITUATION.
SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY, IT'S REALLY AS IF WE WERE DOING IT ALL IN CASH, WE'RE JUST DOING IT A LITTLE SLOWER AND PAYING A LITTLE INTEREST IN THE MEANTIME FOR THAT PRIVILEGE.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR SHERRY IN TERMS OF, YEAH.
UM, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT DEBT FINANCING IN THE PAST.
UM, COULD YOU PLEASE SHARE WITH PEOPLE WHETHER WE'RE CLOSE TO OUR DEBT LIMIT AND WHY, WHY CITIES USE DEBT FINANCING, UH, AND WHY IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A DIRTY WORD, IT'S NOT A BAD THING, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS IRRESPONSIBLE OR, OR UNCONSCIONABLE IN ANY WAY.
THE ONLY PEOPLE I UNDERSTAND WHO YOU DON'T USE DEBT FINANCING ARE PLACES LIKE SOMALIA THAT HAVE NO ASSETS AT ALL.
SO I'LL TURN THAT OVER TO SHERRY CUZ THOSE ARE THE THINGS I THINK SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE, HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW SMART IT IS TO DEBT FINANCE.
SO THE WAY THAT OUR DEBT LIMIT WORKS IS IT'S BASED OFF OF THE DEBT COVENANTS SAY THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE ONE AND A HALF TIMES THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE COMPARED TO WHAT THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS ARE.
AND THERE'S A LOT THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE REVENUE.
IT'S OUR SALES TAX DOLLARS, IT'S UM, UH, LICENSES AND PERMITS.
THERE'S A LOT OF OF THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT NUMBER.
UM, AND WE ARE NOWHERE NEAR THE ONE AND A HALF TIMES, WE DON'T EVEN WANNA GET CLOSE TO THE ONE AND A HALF TIMES BECAUSE WE NEED OUR, OUR CASH TO BE ABLE TO FUND OUR OPERATIONS.
SO, UM, I BELIEVE WE'RE SOMEWHERE IN THE VICINITY OF LIKE SIX TIMES AT THIS POINT, UM, WHICH IS, UM, SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
SO FROM A DEBT ISSUANCE PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE THE ABILITY IF WE WANTED TO, TO ISSUE A LOT MORE DEBT THAN WHAT WE HAVE.
IT HASN'T BEEN PART OF OUR PLAN, NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING.
UM, HOWEVER, AS YOU TALK ABOUT DEBT IS SOMETHING THAT MOST GOVERNMENTS DO TO TIME, THE COST, THE PAYMENT OF THE DEBT SERVICES, THE COST THAT'S BEING INCURRED, UM, TO TIME THAT OVER TIME FOR THE TAXPAYERS WHO ARE BENEFITING FROM, FROM WHATEVER IT IS THAT THE MONEY IS PROVIDING.
SO INSTEAD OF HAVING THE TAXPAYERS PAY TODAY WITH ALL THE CASH UP FRONT, UM, THE, THOSE WHO ARE BENEFITING FROM IT WOULD BE PAYING TOWARDS IT OVER TIME.
AND THAT IS CONSIDERED IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF YOUR FINANCIAL CIRCLES WITH OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, IS THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO TIME THE UM, COSTS AND HOW THAT IS DONE.
AND IT IS EVEN THE WAY THAT THE STATE, UM, SETS UP WITH THE EXPENDITURE LIMITATION, IF WE WERE UNDER THE STATE IMPOSED LIMIT, THAT IS WHAT THEY ENCOURAGE IS THEY WANT YOU TO DO DEBT FINANCING AND LEVEL OUT THOSE PAYMENTS OVER TIME AND MATCH THOSE PAYMENTS WITH THE, THE, UM, UM, THOSE THAT ARE BENEFITING FROM IT.
SO THAT IS THEIR INTENTION, THE WAY THE STATE PLANS IT.
WE HAVE BEEN IN A LUCKY SITUATION TO WHERE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CASH FUND AN AWFUL LOT OF PROJECTS.
UM, BUT NOT A LOT OF PLACES ARE IN THAT KIND OF SITUATION.
SO IT'S, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT ANYWHERE ELSE, UH, THAT YOU GO TALK TO, THEY WERE GONNA THINK IT'S A LITTLE ODD TO, YOU DON'T WANT TO ISSUE DEBT LIKE THAT.
JUST, IT DOESN'T, THEY DON'T REGISTER IT THAT WAY.
THEY LOOK AT IT AS MATCHING THE COST WITH THE TAXPAYER.
MAYOR, I LOOK AT THIS AND IT'S THE ONE THING THAT WE CAN'T MAKE MORE OF IN SEDONAS LAND AND I THINK THAT THE CITY REALLY NEEDS TO CONSIDER TAKING CONTROL OF SOME OF THE LAND TO GIVE IT THE DIRECTION THAT THE PEOPLE TELL US IT WANTS TO GO.
[00:55:01]
THAT'LL BE UP TO YOU ALL.AS FAR AS THE COST OF 10.2 MILLION FOR A 15 YEAR BOND, WELL I WISH I BOUGHT IT 15 YEARS AGO AT 9.46 MILLION WHEN I COULD HAVE GOTTEN IT AT, AT THE, YOU KNOW, PRESENT VALUE AT 5%.
CUZ LAND VALUES SED DONOR REALLY WEIRD.
THEY DON'T JUST FOLLOW THE 3% ANNUAL INFLATION RATES.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT CPIS TODAY AND THE WAY THINGS ARE CRAZY IN SEDONA, WE CAN WAIT ON THIS, DO SOME STUDIES, CHECK OUT NPA, LOOK AT SOME OTHER THINGS, BUY IT IN 15 YEARS FROM NOW FOR 40 MILLION AND WE CAN DECIDE WHAT WE WANNA DO WITH THIN.
I THINK THINGS AREN'T GONNA CHANGE THAT MUCH, BUT WE'VE GOT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY HERE.
IT'S THE BIGGEST LAND PARCEL AVAILABLE IN SEDONA THAT'S GONNA BE AVAILABLE PROBABLY IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE OUGHT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AND LET OUR CITIZENS CONTROL IT RATHER THAN THE DEVELOPMENT COME IN AND CONTROL IT.
ANYBODY ELSE? I THINK I HAVE COMMENTS SO I'LL WAIT UNTIL AFTER CUZ YOU STILL WANT QUESTIONS, RIGHT? OH, WELL WE'RE KIND OF COMBINING THAT ON THIS ITEM.
WE COMBINING IT ON EITHER, IT WAS VERY, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEPARATE THESE TWO ITEMS AND SO, SO I'M, I'M, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, WE'RE IN DISCUSSION NOW.
THEN, THEN I WOULD, AND THIS IS JUST KEEP IN MIND WE ARE DISCUSSING, DISCUSSING THE, THE DEBT, NOT THE PROPERTY.
OH, WELL IT'S HARD FOR ME TO UNLINK THEM, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANNA TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST.
B I THINK, WELL, WE HAVEN'T FINISHED.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? I DON'T, I JUST THOUGHT YOU WANNA FINISH THE ONE BEFORE YOU FINISH.
WELL, I, I THINK, I THINK WHAT I WAS HOPING WAS COMMENTS WE COULD COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
AND I WAS HOPING THAT WE COULD GET THE COMMENTS ON BOTH AND THAT WAS WHAT I STARTED WITH BEFORE INSTEAD OF SEP AND THEN GO BACK TO THE VOTES ON A B.
MADAM MAYOR AND COUNSELORS, YOU, YOU, YOU CAN TAKE IT OUTTA ORDER AND TAKE COMMENTS NOW FROM UH, SUBSEQUENT ITEM.
AS LONG AS WE HAVE TWO MOTIONS ON THE TWO ITEMS EVENTUALLY.
UNLESS SOMEBODY OBJECTS AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE COMMENTS I HAVE ON THE NEXT ITEM.
AND THE FIRST COMMENT IS, UH, DAN BLA FOLLOWED BY TRACY RANDALL, YOU, SO YOU, IF YOU'RE ON DECK, YOU CAN GO STAND ON DECK.
SO YOU CAN, YOU CAN MOVE THIS AS QUICKLY AS
GOOD EVENING OR GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR MOI AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I LIVE IN THE VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK AND I AM ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE VERDE VALLEY CYCLIST COALITION.
THE VV C C IS A 5 0 1 C NON-PROFIT, UH, ORGANIZATION CHARTERED BY THE STATE AND WE ARE REGISTERED WITH A SEDONA BUSINESS, UH, ADDRESS.
THE VCC HAS BEEN ACTIVE ON CITY PROJECTS, UH, IN ADVOCATING FOR CYCLING SAFETY AND ACCESS, THE BIKE PARK AND THE SEDONA IN MOTION TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR NON MOTORIZED ROUTES FOR BEDS AND BIKES ARE TWO EXAMPLES OF OUR WORKING WITH THE CITY.
WE ARE ALSO, WE'RE A MAJOR PARTNER ALONG WITH THE NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE AND THE SEDONA RED ROCK TRAIL FUND IN PLANTING, FUNDRAISING, AND CONSTRUCTING THE SO-CALLED WESTERN GATEWAY, WHICH IS A 20 MI 28 MILE NON-MOTORIZED MULTI-USE TRAIL SYSTEM IN THE WEST SEDONA AND DRY CREEK AREAS.
IN FACT, THE MAIN TRAILHEAD FOR THE WESTERN GATEWAY SYSTEM IS LOCATED IMMEDIATELY INSIDE FOREST LAND THAT DIRECTLY ABUTS ABUTS THE CULTURAL PROPERTY, CULTURAL CENTER PROPERTY AND RADIATES OUT FROM THERE INTO, UH, SIX AND MORE, UH, TRAILS.
THE VV C C UH, STRONGER SUPPORTS THE CITY OF SEDONA PLAN TO ACQUIRE THE CULTURAL CENTER PROPERTY.
THE STRATEGY MAKES GOOD PRACTICAL SENSE AS IT OFFERS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN EXPANDED VISION THAT ALLOWS FOR A COMMUNITY FOCUSED AND MULTI-USE APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY GIVEN, UH, I'M SORRY, GREEN SPACES, PUBLIC COMMONS AND MULTIPLE OUTDOOR RECREATION ACTIVITY AND VENUE OPPORTUNITIES ALONG WITH SAFE BIKING, ACCESS VIA BIKE LANES, SIDEWALKS, MULTI-USE PATHS SHOULD BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY FOCUS.
SUCH A FOCUS WILL COMPLIMENT AND SUPPORT THE CITY'S MISSION AND VISION, ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS AND RESPECTING OUR UNIQUE NATURAL OUTDOOR RESOURCES.
THE V VCC IS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE EXPANDED OPPORTUNITY OF THIS COMMUNITY BASED POTENTIAL OF THE CULTURAL CENTER PROPERTY AND LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY OF SBO AND THE OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS ON THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SPECIAL PIECE OF LAND.
TRACY RANDALL WILL BE FOLLOWED BY PASQUALE N UM, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UM, YOU SAID I'M TRACY RANDALL.
[01:00:01]
RESIDENT AND I LIVE IN FOOTHILL SOUTH.UM, IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CULTURAL PARK, I'M ALSO A MOUNTAIN BIKER AND FELLOW BOARD MEMBER ON THE VERDE VALLEY CYCLIST COALITION.
OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WE'VE EXPERIENCED CONSTANT CONSTRUCTION SURROUNDING FOOTHILL SOUTH WITH THE MARRIOTT EXPANSION AND TOWN, TOWN HOMES ALONG 89 A.
WITH THIS CONSTRUCTION HAS ALSO COME MORE FENCES, MORE WALLS, AND LESS ACCESS TO TRAILS AND GREEN SPACES.
I AM PERSONALLY IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF SEDONA PURCHASING THE CULTURAL PARK.
YOU MAY ASK WHY WITH ALL THE CONSTRUCTION, UM, I'M LIKE YOU, THIS PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE SOLD TO SOMEONE AND I WOULD PREFER THE CITY TO BE THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AS OPPOSED TO ANOTHER HOTEL OPERATOR OR DEVELOPER.
I'M ALSO HERE TO EXPRESS MY HOPE THAT THE CITY WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH VARIOUS GROUPS IN SEDONA TO ENSURE THE PROPERTY IS NOT ONLY UTILIZED TO ADDRESS THE CITY'S HOUSING NEEDS, BUT ALSO TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION IN THE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
THE UNIQUE LOCATION OF THIS PROPERTY, A GATEWAY TO SIX TRAIL HEADS, THE WESTERN GATEWAY.
I BELIEVE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE, THE, THIS AREA A CENTRAL HUB FOR SEDONAS OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS, HIKERS, BIKERS, AND EQUESTRIANS ALIKE THAT HEAVILY USE THE WESTERN GATEWAY.
IN ADDITION TO ADDRESSING THE HOUSING NEEDS OF THE CITY, I HOPE THE CITY EXPLORES A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT APPROACH.
THE PROPERTY COULD NOT ONLY BE AN EXTRAORDINARY PLACE FOR YOUNG FAMILIES AND THE LOCAL WORKERS TO CALL HOME AND IT COULD ALSO HAVE AMENITIES TO MAKE IT CONVENIENT FOR THE HOMEOWNERS AS WELL AS THE OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS THAT UTILIZE THE WESTERN GATEWAY.
IMAGINE NEW TRAILS THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY WITH ACCESS TO THE EXISTING TRAILS, LINKING THE NEW HOUSING AND NEW AMENITIES TO THE CURRENT FOREST SERVICE TRAILS.
WHAT NEW AMENITIES? MAYBE A SANDWICH SHOP, A SMALL MARKET THAT ARE APPROPRIATE, UM, AMENITIES FOR THE NEW HOMEOWNERS AND THE WESTERN GATEWAY TRAIL USERS THAT ARE INTERMIXED WITH THE NEW HOUSING AND ALL ACCESSIBLE VIA TRAILS, PICTURING GREEN SPACES, GATHERING SPOTS FOR THE HOMEOWNERS AND WESTERN GATEWAY TRAIL USERS TO RELAX AND ENJOY THIS PROPERTY.
I THINK SEDONA HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE OUR OUTDOOR BEAUTY WITH NEW HOUSING AND AMENITIES, CREATING A SPECIAL PLACE FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO LIVE WHILE KEEPING THE JUNIPERS, UM, WITH THE RED ROCKS.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
PAEZ WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SYLVIA SEP.
THANK YOU MAYOR, COUNSELORS AND CITY STAFF.
UM, IT'S PASQUALE NERI AND, UH, OH, I'M SORRY.
UM, MY FAMILY'S NEW TO THE REGION.
WE'RE RENTING IN LAKE MONTEZUMA.
WHILE I'D SAY WE LOOK FOR A HOUSE TO BUY IN THIS CITY, BUT REALLY IT'S MY PARTNER MELISSA, DOING THE LOOKING.
UH, I SENT YOU ALL AN EMAIL AND COUNSELOR PL YOU DEFINITELY ASSUAGED.
MANY OF MY CONCERNS, SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UH, WITH RESPECT TO THE DEBT, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, I SEE THAT 10 MILLION AS REALLY JUST THE BEGINNING.
THE CITY HAS BIG PLANS, NOT JUST FOR THIS PARCEL, BUT ALL OVER, ALL OF WHICH COSTS MONEY, UM, AND MONEY THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE ON HAND.
NOW, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THIS TEAM, UH, WE CAN LOOK ARO ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND SEE A LOT OF INSTANCES IN WHICH, UH, CITIES MUCH BIGGER THAN SEDONA START ISSUING BONDS.
AND THAT DEBT QUICKLY BECOMES SYSTEMIC, WHICH IN TURN TURNS TO SYSTEMIC BUDGET DEFICITS.
UH, THAT DEBT IS GOING TO BE PAID BY MY GENERATION.
MY GENERATION'S GOING TO HAVE TO COVER THOSE BUDGET DEFICITS.
AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING WITHOUT ANY MANDATE FROM MY GENERATION.
SO I DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL.
I BELIEVE THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING WHAT YOU THINK IS RIGHT, AND I HOPE ALL OF THIS WORKS OUT SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO MOVE MY FAMILY AGAIN 10 YEARS FROM NOW.
SYLVIA SEP WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SAMIRA ARMSTRONG.
THE LAST TIME I SPOKE HERE WAS TO EXPRESS BY DISCONTENT, DISCONTENT OVER CONSENT ITEM ENABLING MAYOR, MAYOR, MAYOR MOOR TO JOIN A MAYOR'S GROUP, KNOWING SHE WOULD BE MAYOR FOR ONLY A FEW MORE MI MONTHS.
[01:05:01]
LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THIS CURRENT COUNCIL WOULD BE SO IRRESPONSIBLE AND DECEITFUL AS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE CULTURAL PARK FOR 20 MILLION IN AN ADMITTED TIME OF FEWER VISITORS AND LESS REVENUE.COUNCIL IS SO DESPERATE TO PUSH THIS THROUGH.
YOU ARE DISRESPECTING AND DISREGARDING THE NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO BEGIN THEIR TERMS IN JUST A FEW DAYS, AS WELL AS DISRESPECTING THE RESIDENTS.
THIS PUBLIC DISCUSSION IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF PURE CHARADE TO MAKE THE PUBLIC FEEL THEY ARE INVOLVED.
THE 303 PAGE DOCUMENT FOR THIS MEETING INCLUDES MORE THAN 200 PAGES ABOUT THIS ISSUE, INCLUDING ON PAGE 1 91.
THE APPROVAL DOCUMENT COMPLETELY FILLED OUT WITH TODAY'S DATE.
THIS IS AATE, A COMPANY ALL IT NEEDS IS THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGERS SIGNATURE.
THE COMMENTS BY STAFF AND COUNCIL MEMBERS REGARDING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF LEFT IN PRIVATE HANDS IS DISINGENUOUS TO SAY THE LEAST.
COUNCIL MUST IMPROVE, APPROVE ALL DEVELOPMENTS.
YOU KNOW THAT WELL, YOU'VE REJECTED SOME.
THE THINKING ALSO SHOWS THE LACK OF CREATIVITY OR IMAGINATION THAT A PRIVATE DEVELOPER JUST MIGHT HAVE SOME NEW AND CONSCIOUS CONCEPTS THAT WOULD BE IN KEEPING WITH OUR PRECIOUS CITY.
KATHY, WHEN YOU SPEAK, I FEEL YOUR SINCERITY AND BELIEVE THAT YOU PERSONALLY WOULD WORK TOWARDS THE VISION YOU SPEAK OF.
THIS ALL COMES DOWN TO TRUST THE COUNCIL AND THE WAY YOU PLAN AND MAKE DECISIONS.
DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO INSTILL TRUST IN THE RESIDENTS.
I PRAY THAT THE NEW COUNCIL, NEW AND OLD MEMBERS ALIKE WILL LOOK WITHIN DURING YOUR JANUARY RETREAT.
I WOULD HOPE YOU SPEND SOME TIME WORKING ON OPENING YOUR HEARTS TO THE RESIDENTS AND WORKING IN A MANNER THAT REBUILDS TRUST AND INTEGRITY AND TO OUR RESIDENTS.
PLEASE GET INVOLVED AND MAKE SURE THIS PROJECT KEEPS SEDONA SACRED.
SAMIR ARMSTRONG WILL BE FOLLOWED BY RON BOMAN.
SO ARMSTRONG SEDONA RESIDENCE.
UM, THERE, UH, SO MANY GREAT POINTS HAVE BEEN MADE TONIGHT.
I REALLY ENJOYED HEARING YOUR VISION FOR THAT PARK.
I THINK, UM, IT'S NAIVE ON OUR PART TO BELIEVE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT WILL CARRY OUT OUR VISION.
THAT'S JUST NOT THE WAY IT WORKS.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT HAPPEN YET.
I, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE OUR BEST INTERESTS, BUT THE WAY THAT THINGS ARE SITUATED, YOU CANNOT.
IT IS JUST NOT A FUNCTIONALLY STRUCTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO EMBODY OUR VISION BECAUSE IT IS YET TO HAPPEN AND WE ARE FALLING FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND ON FEELING HEARD, AND YOU CONTINUE TO GUARANTEE US FROM THE, THE PULPIT THAT OUR VISION WILL BE IMPLEMENTED.
BUT WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY ZERO EVIDENCE OF THAT POSSIBLY BEING A FACT.
YOU HAVE JUST BOUGHT A HUN UH, 1.5 ACRES ON SHELBY.
YOU HAVE JUST BOUGHT, UH, UH, ACREAGE UP ON, UH, TO TURN INTO AN $18 MILLION PARKING STRUCTURE IN UPTOWN.
YOU HAVE 300 ACRES DOWN ON THE WAY THE DELLS.
UH, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT IS YOUR JOB TO BE THE SHAREHOLDERS OR, OR, UM, SHEPHERDS OF THIS PROPERTY.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE SOMEHOW SAYING THAT IN YOUR INFINITE WISDOM AND RESPECTFULLY, I DO BELIEVE MANY OF YOU HAVE INFINITE WISDOM, UM, THAT YOU WILL BE THE ONES WHO WILL BE THE THRESHOLD FROM WHICH IDEAS COME TO FRUITION RATHER THAN PRIVATE INDI PRIVATE, UH, RESIDENTS.
WELL, THE PRIVATE RESIDENTS CAN DO THAT THEMSELVES, OWNING THAT PRIVATE, UM, PROPERTY THEMSELVES.
THEY DON'T NEED YOU TO BE THE CONDUIT FOR THAT.
UM, THIS IS GONNA BE A EXPENSIVE PROJECT NO MATTER WHICH WAY YOU SLICE IT.
20 MILLION IS JUST THE BEGINNING COST AND HOW YOU WOULD, UH, JUMP INTO THAT COST WITHOUT EVEN HAVING A MASTER PLAN IS, UM, WELL, IT'S, IT'S REALLY BAD BUSINESS.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE, UM, HOW YOU WOULD MAKE A PURCHASE WITHOUT HAVING ANY IDEA OF WHAT THE COST WOULD BE.
AND WE SEE THAT HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND, YOU KNOW, MS. PLUG, YOU KNOW, I, I RESPECT
[01:10:01]
YOU TREMENDOUSLY, BUT I DO HAVE TO DISAGREE ABOUT YOUR EFFORTS TOWARDS STOPPING URBANIZATION BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING A ROBUST TRANSIT SYSTEM BEING PUT IN OUR 19 SQUARE MILE COMMUNITY AND A THREE STORY PARKING GARAGE.AND THERE'S MUCH TALK OF DEVELOPMENT.
SO IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE YOU, THE COUNCIL, SAYING ON ONE HAND THAT YOU'RE PRESERVING OUR PRISTINE LAND BY PURCHASING THIS LAND, AND GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT'S GONNA BE DONE WITH IT.
BUT FOR SURE, YOU'RE GONNA LISTEN TO US TO, TO DETERMINE THAT.
AND YET THERE'S NO EVIDENCE ON ANY OF THOSE FACTORS THAT THAT WOULD BE ACTUALLY TRUE.
SO I, I PRAY THAT YOU VOTE NO ON MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS, AT LEAST UNTIL THE NEXT THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO JUST GOT VOTED IN BY THE COMMUNITY WHO BELIEVE AND HAVE FAITH IN THESE PEOPLE TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF, UH, HAVE OPPORTUNITY UP THERE TO SPEAK ON IT AS WELL.
RON VOLKMAN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY LINDA MARTINEZ.
OKAY, ARE WE HAVING FUN YET?
UH, I MOVED TO SEDONA IN 1975, MOVED WEST OF HERE EIGHT MILES, UH, IN 2002.
SO I'M NOT IN SEDONA, SEDONA NOW, BUT THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME KNOW HOW I'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN CIVIC AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS, UH, AND MY INVOLVEMENT BY THE WAY, I SPEAK ONLY FOR MYSELF TONIGHT, NOT FOR THE SEDONA VERDE VALLEY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS.
UH, I MUST SAY I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING IN ALL MY YEARS QUITE LIKE THIS WITH THE SPEED, AND I'LL SAY NON-TRANSPARENCY THAT'S BEING PROPOSED TONIGHT FROM YOUR OWN AGENDA.
I QUOTE TIME TO PRESENT FIVE MINUTES TOTAL TIME FOR THE ITEM.
WORKFORCE HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE TODAY'S MANTRA EVERYWHERE, NOT JUST IN SEDONA.
YES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A PROBLEM, BUT AS A 42 YEAR REALTOR HERE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WENT AWAY SOME 25 OR 30 YEARS AGO.
OUR PRICES ARE A RESULT OF THE FREE MARKET.
ZONING IS VERY RESTRICTIVE TO MOSTLY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES.
SEDONAS PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSIONS AND COUNCILS HAVE NEVER APPROVED CONDOS.
VERY FEW CONDOS, TOWNHOUSES, AND APARTMENTS.
EVERYBODY HAD TO HAVE THEIR QUARTER ACRE, AND THAT'S THE WAY WE DID IT.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ENDED UP TODAY.
THE CCNRS OF MANY UPSCALE DIVISIONS SET BIG SQUARE FOOTAGE OF MINIMUMS. AND LET'S TELL THE TRUTH, THERE AREN'T A LOT OF JOBS AND CAREERS FOR WORKING PEOPLE THAT GIVE THEM THE POSSIBILITY OF OWNING A HOME HERE.
THEN THERE IS WORKFORCE HOUSING.
AGAIN, THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SEDONA FOR, FOR DECADES, BUT IT HAS ACCELERATED IN THE PAST SIX OR SEVEN YEARS.
SO IS THE PROPOSED ACTION TONIGHT SUPPOSED TO BE THE MASTER SOLUTION TO WORKFORCE HOUSING? BY THE WAY, LET'S NOT OVERLOOK SEVERAL SURVEYS THAT SHOW OVER AND OVER THAT 35 TO 40% OF THE WORKFORCE PEOPLE INTERVIEWED SAY THEY WOULDN'T WANNA LIVE IN SEDONA.
I QUOTE FROM YOUR 2022 CITY COUNCIL RETREAT, WHICH NOBODY READS, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY, THAT'S YOUR STUFF.
ALIGN AND SECURE PARTNERSHIPS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF 500 NEW UNITS IN 2024 THROUGH 26.
SO THE 20 MILLION YOU'RE GONNA BUY FOR 41 ACRES OF LAND IS THE ANSWER.
WHO ARE THE PARTNERS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? WE JUST HEARD A MINUTE AGO, THERE IS NO PLAN FOR THIS PROPERTY.
YOU'D THROW A DEVELOPER WHO SHOWED UP IN FRONT OF YOU OUT THE DOOR IF THEY SAID, OH, WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN.
WE'RE BUYING IT AND WE WANNA DEVELOP IT.
AND WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT IT LATER.
IF IS THE COUNCIL THINKING THAT THEY COULD RESELL PORTIONS OF THIS PROPERTY AND THEY WOULD EXPECT A PROFIT OR EVEN TO BREAK EVEN? LET'S DISCUSS THE PRICE OF THIS DEAL.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHO, I'D LOVE TO SEE THIS APPRAISAL.
I'VE BEEN A REALTOR FOR 42 YEARS.
I BROUGHT UP FIVE DIFFERENT SALES IN WEST SEDONA COMMERCIAL FRONTAGE.
AND BOTTOM LINE IS, I MEAN, THE STUFF BEHIND THE RAINBOWS END, UH, ALONG, UH, SOUTHWEST DRIVE, UM, UH, ANYWAY, UH, TRYING TO THINK OF ALL OF THEM ANYWAY, THE NUMBERS DON'T ADD UP.
YOU'RE PAYING JUST UNDER A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS AN ACRE.
AND THE SALES THAT I TALKED ABOUT, OR I COULD SPECIFY, EACH ONE OF 'EM ARE 1.7 TO 2.2 ACRES.
AND AND THOSE WERE RANGING IN PRICE PER ACRE FROM 366,000 ACRE TO 1.488 MILLION AN ACRE.
BUT THOSE WERE FOR 1.7 TO 2.2.
THERE'S SUCH A THING CALLED ECONOMY OF SCALE ECONOMY.
YOU DON'T PAY WHEN YOU BUY A LARGE QUANTITY OF ALMOST ANYTHING EXCEPT GOLD.
YOU DON'T PAY THE SAME PRICE AT THE SAME UNIT.
[01:15:01]
LESS MONEY.YOU'RE ALSO BUYING WHEN PRICES ARE AT AN ASTRONOMICAL HISTORICAL PEAK.
AND SO TRYING TO DO ANY RESALE OF THIS, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BREAK EVEN.
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN THAT MAKES THIS FINANCIALLY RATIONAL OR JUSTIFIED? LASTLY, I'M GONNA JUMP AND JUST RUN DOWN.
OH, YOU KNOW, YOUR, ALL YOUR TIME IS ALREADY UP WRONG.
YOU DON'T HAVE AN ESCAPE CLAUSE, SO THAT IF THERE IS A REFERENDUM AND INITIATIVE BY THE CITIZENS TO OVERTURN YOUR DECISION, YOUR CONTRACT DOES NOT LEAVE YOU WITH AN ESCAPE CLAUSE.
YOU READ, READ, UH, PAGE EIGHT, UH, PAGE SIX OF YOUR CONTRACT.
IT SAYS YOU HAVE, WE CAN READ IT.
LINDA WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MARY, BY LINDA MARTINEZ.
I'M PART OF A GRASSROOTS HOUSING ADVOCACY GROUP.
UH, WE LOOK FOR WAYS TO FIND WORKFORCE HOUSING AND, UM, AND PROGRAMS THAT COULD WORK IN SEDONA.
I WANTED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, RON WAS TALKING ABOUT, UH, MARKET, THE MARKET, THE MARKET, THE MARKET.
AND THEN WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT DEVELOPERS AND HOW DO WE KNOW DEVELOPERS WOULDN'T BE, YOU KNOW, LOOK, HAVE AN, A COMMUNITY MINDED SPIRIT IF THEY DEVELOPED THAT PROPERTY.
WELL, I WAS ON THE WESTERN GATEWAY PLANNING GROUP, THE CFA, AND WE SAW PROJECTS COME THROUGH AND, AND GET SOME JO ZONING CHANGES.
THEY WERE LOOKING AT A MASSIVE HOTEL CONFERENCE CENTER.
AND WHILE THEY WOULD'VE GIVEN SOME PITANCE OF WORKFORCE PRICED HOUSING, MOST OF IT WAS MARKET RATE.
NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT MARKET RATE FOR A MOMENT.
WE ARE AT $1,087,000 AS THE MEDIAN PRICE FOR A HOUSE IN SEDONA FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
SO WE ARE PURCHASING THIS LAND FOR UNDER THE PRICE OF 20 HOMES, AND YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD MORE THAN 20 HOMES ON THAT PROPERTY.
SO THAT WAS ONE PIECE I WANTED TO SAY.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THE OUTRAGE IS.
WHY IS THE OUTRAGE ON A CITY DOING ITS JOB TO ADDRESS THE COMMON GOOD IN TERMS OF HOUSING AND USES FOR THE COMMUNITY? AND THERE'S NO EFFORT TOWARDS WORKING ON SB 1350 OR OUR VACATION RENTALS, WHICH HAS NOW COST US WHEN WE INCLUDE THE VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK AND THE CANYON 1500 HOMES.
THE VERY SAME NUMBER THAT OUR HOUSING STUDY IN 2019 SAYS WE NEED BECAUSE WE HAVE OVER HALF THE PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN THAT ARE BURDENED BETWEEN WHAT THEY MAKE AND WHAT THEY PAY FOR MORTGAGE AND FOR RENT.
SO WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS WHAT YOU ARE CALLED TO DO AS OUR LEADERS.
YOU ARE CALLED TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS.
NO ONE'S VISION IS EVER TOTALLY REPRESENTED EVER.
AND TO SAY THAT YOU ARE HEARING ME AND AND HEARING MY VISION DOESN'T MEAN I'M GONNA GET MY WAY.
I MAY GET A LITTLE PIECE OF IT AND WE ALL END UP A LITTLE FRUSTRATED.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT TOO, WHEN, WHEN RON HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT THE COUNCIL TURNED DOWN CONDOS AND TOWN HOMES.
DO WE REMEMBER WHEN PARK PLACE WAS TURNED DOWN? WHAT HAPPENED? THEY SHOULD.
THEY SUED THE CITY AND THEY WON.
SO IT DIDN'T HAVE, SO THAT DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN.
WAS THAT THREE MINUTES? YOUR TIME IS UP.
UH, MARY BIRD WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MARK TIMBROOK.
I'M A RESIDENT OF SEDONA, UH, THE VOC AREA.
I'M A PAST MEMBER AND FORMER BOARD CHAIR OF THE FINE ART MUSEUM OF SEDONA, ALSO KNOWN AS FAMOUS.
AND IN THE AUDIENCE IS HARLEY TODD, WHO'S THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE FINE ART MUSEUM OF SEDONA.
AND, UH, THE BOARD, THE CURRENT BOARD OF THE, UH, FINE ART MUSEUM OF SEDONA ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH MY REMARKS.
UH, MY REMARKS ACTUALLY WERE WRITTEN OUT, UH, PRIOR TO COMING TO THE MEETING AND SEEING THAT THERE IS A PLAN THAT IS GOING TO BE COMING INTO PLACE.
BUT I READ WITH INTEREST IN THE RED ROCK NEWS THAT THE CITY IS IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING THE PURCHASE OF THE FORMER CULTURAL PARK PROPERTY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOW INCOME HOUSING.
UH, I AM HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT SETTING ASIDE A PORTION OF THIS LAND FOR THE BUILDING OF PROJECTS THAT WILL ENHANCE THE LAND AND ENRICH THE COMMUNITY IN REGARDS TO ART AND CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES.
[01:20:01]
WILL BE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THE PLANS FOR THIS ICONIC PROPERTY.THE WESTERN GATEWAY CFA APPROVED IN 2016 AND AMENDED IN 2022.
NOTED ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES IDENTIFIED FOR LAND USE WAS TO PROVIDE MORE PERFORMING ARTS OPPORTUNITIES AND PLACES FOR ART STUDIOS, GALLERIES, AND MUSEUMS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS 40 ACRE PLUS SPECIAL SEDONA PROPERTY WITH ITS CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE SEDONA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, IN ADDITION TO BEING A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, COULD ACCOMMODATE MIXED USES THAT COULD PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT, EDUCATION, AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD THAT SHOW HOW PROPERTY DESIGNS WILL PROMOTE COMMUNITY INTERACTION AS WELL AS BEING REVENUE PRODUCERS.
THE FINE ART MUSEUM OF SEDONA HAS HAD CONVERSATION WITH VARIOUS ENTITIES OVER THE YEARS IN REGARDS TO THE PLACEMENT OF A MUSEUM ON THE CULTURAL PARK LAND.
WE HAVE DONE COMMUNITY SURVEYS, FEASIBILITY SURVEYS, AND AN EXTENSIVE BUILDING AND DESIGN PLAN BY THE TOP MUSEUM PLANNER IN THE WORLD.
A MAJORITY OF THOSE SURVEYED IN OUR COMMUNITY WOULD SUPPORT AN ART MUSEUM IN SEDONA FAMOUS, AND I DARE SAY MANY OTHER NON-PROFITS IN SEDONA WOULD APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FURTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
BEFORE ANY PLANS ARE FINALIZED IN REGARDS TO THIS LAND USAGE, WORKFORCE HOUSING PLUS COMMUNITY AMENITIES AND TOURIST ATTRACTIONS CAN COEXIST FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL.
MARK 10 BROOK WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN MARTINEZ.
AND THAT'S THE LAST CARD I HAVE IS JOHN MARTINEZ.
SO ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK, PLEASE TURN IN YOUR CARD NOW.
I'M IN UPTOWN SEDONA, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORTS IN THIS, UH, REGARD.
I COMPLETELY SUPPORT AND AGREE, UH, WITH THE CITY RESOLUTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PURCHASE OF THIS PROPERTY.
I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL INVESTMENT IN THE CITY.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY PERSONALLY I'D LIKE TO SEE THE ENTIRE PROPERTY, UH, AS A CONSERVATION PROPERTY, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE MORE, MAYBE SOME APPROPRIATE USES SUCH AS TOWN ENTRANCE, PARKING, TRAILHEAD SHUTTLE USE, APPROPRIATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND POTENTIALLY SHELTER FOR UNHOUSED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I DO NOT THINK THAT THE PROPERTY SHOULD BE USED FOR COMMERCIAL MIXED USE OR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT BEYOND THOSE NOTED ABOVE.
I WOULD ALSO THINK THAT THE PROPERTY SHOULD HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS ADDED AT THIS TIME TO PREVENT, UH, FUTURE INAPPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT, SUCH AS SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
STILL LIVE IN SEDONA SINCE THE LAST TIME I JUST SPOKE.
ANYWAY, WE ARE NOT OUTRAGEOUS, OUTRAGEOUS, I SHOULD SAY, BECAUSE THAT WE DON'T WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IN FACT, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT EVEN THE WORD.
THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY GET DOWN TO IS WORKFORCE HOUSING.
I'M SORRY, UH, CONSTABLE WILLIAMSON, YOU DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT I GOT, BUT PLEASE HOLD YOUR MOTIONS TO YOURSELF FOR A WHILE.
THE COUNCIL WANTS TO PAY OVER 20 MILLION FOR A PIECE OF LAND THAT IS ONLY 41 ACRES, AND YET THE CITY, THE CITY ALREADY OWNS JUST FOUR MILES DOWN THE ROAD FROM HERE, OVER 200 ACRES THAT THEY COULD BE USING FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING.
I'VE SHARED THIS INFORMATION WITH A VICE MAYOR JLO, YOU KNOW, JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, MAYBE A YEAR AGO, I DON'T REMEMBER, WE HAD A CONSULTANT THAT CAME AND DID A REVISIT OF WHAT WE NEEDED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE WORKFORCE.
AND HE CAME OUT WITH, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, SAY MANAGER, IS THAT SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, NEIGHBORHOOD OF 1500 UNITS, 1500 UNITS OF ALL THE LAND THAT WE'VE GOT IN HERE, WE CAN'T DO 1500 UNITS, BUT WE CAN DO 1500 UNITS OUT, WHAT WE CALL THE DELLS.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE DID PINION LOFTS, WE MADE AN EXCEPTION TO HOW MANY UNITS WE COULD PUT PER ACRE.
CAUSE IN THE COMMUNITY PLAN IT SAID SOMETHING LIKE ONLY 12, BUT WE SAID ON AN EXCEPTION BASIS, WE CAN INCREASE THAT.
IF YOU USED ONLY HALF OF THAT 200 ACRES TO 100 AND PUT 15 UNITS PER ACRE, BAM, THERE'S THE NUMBER.
AND WE DIDN'T PAY 20 MILLION FOR IT.
[01:25:01]
STILL GOTTA DEVELOP AND ALL THAT.BUT WHAT THE DIFFERE, YOU'VE DEVELOPED IT, THE CULTURE PARK, YOU DEVELOP IT OVER THERE IN THE DELLS AREA.
THAT'S WHAT JUST IRKS ME THAT I SPOKE PREVIOUSLY THAT SEVERAL OF YOU TALKED ABOUT FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY.
SO WHEN I WORKED IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY, I REMEMBER WE NEVER JUST BOUGHT SOMETHING TO PUT IT IN INVENTORY.
WE BOUGHT IT TO USE IT, BUT YET THE CITY WANTS TO BUY LAND TO BANK IT.
I'M SORRY, THAT IS A DUMB IDEA.
THE NUMBER ONE RESPONSIBILITY AT THE CITY IS TO ENSURE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELFARE.
SO WE'RE GONNA SPEND 20 MILLION NOT TO ADDRESS THAT, BUT WE WON'T SPEND SOME MONEY TO PUT A SIDEWALK ON A DANTE.
AND THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT THING SINCE I GOT ON COUNCIL 10 YEARS AGO.
SO WE'D RATHER DO THIS, SPEND SOMETHING THAT'S THOUGHT ESSENTIAL VERSUS SAFETY.
SEVERAL OF YOU WILL BE RUNNING FOR COUNCIL IN TWO YEARS, AND THE NAME TAG YOU'RE GONNA GET IS SPEND THE MONEY NOT FOR SAFETY.
THANK YOU ABOUT A MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF MEMBERS AND THE STAFF.
THIS IS NOT EVEN WHY I CAME TO SPEAK, BUT LISTENING TO THIS, I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD.
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR OVER A DECADE AND I AM THE YOUNGER GENERATION IN SEDONA.
UM, I'M THRILLED WITH THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE WITH THIS, WITH THE CITY, WITH THE GOVERNMENT, WITH ALL OF YOU MEMBERS.
YOU GUYS HAVE ALWAYS LISTENED TO ME.
YOU KNOW, I CAN BE IRRITATING, BUT YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE AND LISTENED AND SUPPORTED US AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I'VE ALSO, UM, I SUPPORT YOU GUYS TAKING ON THESE BONDS AND PURCHASING THIS LAND.
IT'S CLEAR IT'S BEEN RESEARCH AND IS FEASIBLE.
AND THE MAIN THING IS LIKE THE FACT THAT WE'RE HERE DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE CITY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH THE CITY IS LIKE, IF THE CITY GETS IT, WE CAN TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT WE WANNA DO WITH IT.
IF CLEARLY, IF SOMEBODY PRIVATELY PURCHASES THAT THIS, LIKE, THAT'S IT.
LIKE, WE DON'T GET TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY AS SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT MOVING WHO WILL BE HERE FOR 20 YEARS PLUS PROBABLY, I'VE ALREADY BEEN HERE FOR LIKE 12, THIS IS A GREAT IDEA.
I TOTALLY SUPPORT THIS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.
THAT WAS THE LAST CARD I HAVE.
SO WE ARE STILL ON ITEM A, ACTUALLY.
WELL, I WANNA BRING UP ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE RAISED AND PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR.
UH, LAST SESSION IN THE LEGISLATURE, THERE WAS A BILL THAT, UH, WAS HEARD AND, UH, WHAT THAT BILL WAS ABOUT THE STATEWIDE CRISIS IN HOUSING.
AND IT WAS PROPOSED BY BOTH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE.
AND INSTEAD OF TAKING ACTION, THEY FORMED A STUDY COMMITTEE.
AND THAT STUDY COMMITTEE ACTUALLY WAS IN SEDONA A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.
THE, THE CRISIS HAS STATEWIDE FOR HOUSING HAS REACHED A LEVEL WHERE THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS CONSIDERING REMOVING LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO ZONE ITS LAND, RIGHT? DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID? REMOVE THE ABILITY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO ZONE ITS LAND, AND THE STATE WOULD INSTEAD IMPOSED DENSITY REQUIREMENTS ON US.
THIS IS HOW SERIOUS THIS ISSUE IS AND HOW SERIOUS OUR STATE LEGISLATURE IS, ONCE AGAIN, TO REMOVE LOCAL CONTROL FROM US.
IT WAS NOT A FRIENDLY MEETING HERE WITH A STUDY COMMITTEE AT ALL.
THEY ALL TALK ABOUT, ALREADY DECIDED WHAT THEY WANNA DO.
THEY WERE NOT OPEN TO LISTENING TO WHAT WE HAD TO SAY ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL AND ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO DETERMINE OUR OWN FUTURE AND TO PRESERVE THE CHARACTER OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE THIS STEP AS WELL AS TO ENSURE OUR, OUR VISION IS TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THIS COMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHERE
[01:30:01]
WE WOULD, AND I SAID URBANIZATION, WHERE 40 ACRES COULD BE THOUSANDS OF HOUSING UNITS.IF THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS THEIR WAY, NOW THIS ISN'T PASSED, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT WILL BE REINTRODUCED AND THE STUDY COMMITTEE WILL ISSUE A REPORT.
BUT FROM THE WAY THAT THEY SPOKE, IT APPEARS AS IF THEY WERE GONNA MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A PROCESS THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF THE PRESSURE THAT'S COMING DOWN BECAUSE OF THE HOUSING CRISIS STATEWIDE AND WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO US.
AND THIS IS SOME OF THE REASON AND MORE REASONING ABOUT WHY WE WANT TO HAVE CONTROL OVER THE LAST MAJOR PIECE OF LAND THAT EXISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S, CAN I JUST SAY IT ONE THING? YES.
ONE THING THAT, UH, COUNCIL PLU LEFT OUT, WHICH WAS, THIS WAS A VERY, VERY DISTURBING MEETING TO SAY THE LEAST.
NOT ONLY DO THEY WANT TO IMPOSE MORE DENSITY AS MUCH AS THE DEVELOPER WANTS, NOT WHAT WE WANTED HEIGHT AS WELL, REGARDLESS OF THE VIEWS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S NEXT DOOR TO YOU.
IF YOU HAVE AN EMPTY LOT AND SOMEBODY WANTS TO PUT A FOUR-STORY BUILDING AND BLOCK YOUR VIEW, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT.
SO THAT, LET THAT SINK IN A LITTLE BIT.
THAT'S ALL I WANT TO ADD TO CASTLE BLUE.
THE, SOME PEOPLE MADE COMMENTS ABOUT TRUST MM-HMM.
ORDINANCES HAS TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS, HAS TO GO THROUGH PUBLIC HEARINGS.
IF WE CHANGE, ZONING HAS TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRUST ANY ONE OF US.
WE HAVE A CITY CODE AND THE CITY CODE HAS THESE REQUIREMENTS.
THERE IS NO WAY THAT THIS LAND WILL BE DEVELOPED WITHOUT INTENSIVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE PROCESS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES.
SO I JUST WANNA GIVE YOU SOME COMFORT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN, YOU KNOW, TO ANY ONE OF US.
THAT, THAT, THAT HOUSING MEETING WAS A SCARY MOMENT.
AND AGAIN, A NUMBER OF US UP HERE SAT OUT THERE WHERE YOU ALL ARE AND LISTENED TO A BUNCH OF STATE LEGISLATORS, UM, PRETTY MUCH SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A CONCLUSION THAT WE'VE ALREADY REACHED.
IT WAS A VERY SCARY MOMENT, UH, TO KNOW THAT THAT LOCAL CONTROL WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IMPACT ON BEING HEARD.
UM, AND SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE SOME THINGS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS IF YOU WANT TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THEM.
SO THAT'S JUST, I WANTED TO JUST PIGGYBACK ON THAT.
BUT ANOTHER POINT THAT I REALLY WANTED TO SPEAK TO WAS THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE THAT SPOKE TO THAT.
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO GET THIS IN UNDER THE WIRE OF THE NEW COUNCIL COMING IN.
UM, I'M LOOKING SO FORWARD TO SERVING WITH NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE COMING ON.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THEM IN PARTICULAR, NO DISRESPECT TO MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE WHO HAVE BEEN ENGAGED AND WONDERFUL, IS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED THE WHOLE WAY.
AND I KNOW AT LEAST TWO OF THE THREE INCOMING WERE THERE AND PRESENT THROUGH ALL OF THE RETREAT LAST YEAR, A YEAR AGO WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS, THEY SAT IT OUT AND BELIEVE ME, NOT EASY TO DO.
THESE MEETINGS SOMETIMES GO INTO THE WEEDS AND THEY'RE NOT THE MOST EXCITING.
BUT DURING THE BUDGET, THREE DAY BUDGET, YOU KNOW, MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE AS WELL, UM, ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN ADDRESSED AND OUT IN, IN THE PUBLIC.
UH, WE'VE HAD MEETINGS, WHICH WE HAVE, UH, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, BUT THAT, THAT'S, OR EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETINGS BE BECAUSE WE ARE MEETING WITH OUR ATTORNEY.
BUT THAT'S NOTICED WHAT THE CONTENT IS ABOUT THOSE.
SO THERE HAVE BEEN, THERE'S BEEN DIALOGUE ABOUT THE CULTURAL PARK FOR NOT ONLY THE PAST YEAR IN TERMS OF THIS SPECIFIC ACTIONS TONIGHT, BUT FOR THE TWO YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, I CANNOT EVEN TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES SOMEBODY COMES UP TO ME LIKE, LIKE IT'S A BRAND NEW IDEA.
LIKE, HEY, WHY DON'T YOU BUY THE CULTURAL PARK? YOU KNOW, THAT'LL SOLVE THIS, THAT'LL SOLVE THAT, THAT'LL SOLVE THIS.
AND THERE IS A LOT OF DISCOURSE.
AGAIN, THAT'S JUST IN MY LAST TWO YEARS ON COUNCIL, PRIOR TO BEING ON COUNCIL, IT WAS DISCUSSIONS IN THE PAPERS, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, UH, QUESTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
IT WOULD COME UP AT PARTIES, IT WOULD COME UP IN IDLE CHIT CHAT.
I MEAN, THIS PIECE OF LAND IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN ON THE MINDS OF SEDONAS FOR YEARS EVER SINCE IT DIDN'T SUCCEED IN ITS INITIAL ENDEAVOR.
[01:35:01]
UM, IT IS A UNIQUE PIECE OF PROPERTY.IT IS LARGE ENOUGH TO ADDRESS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PRESSURES AND REQUESTS FROM CITIZENS, WHETHER THOSE BE HOUSING, WHICH WE'VE CERTAINLY TALKED ABOUT.
AND I HOPE THAT THIS WOULD BE A PLACE WHERE, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD BE INCORPORATED RECREATION, THE ARTS, AND ALSO VERY IMPORTANTLY THE PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE, WHICH WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO IF WE DON'T CONTROL THE LAND.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO ANOTHER POINT THAT WOULD CAME COMMENTS FROM, FROM THE AUDIENCE AS WELL.
YOU'RE BUYING IT BEFORE YOU HAVE A PLAN.
WE CAN'T PLAN IT UNTIL WE OWN IT.
IT'S NOT OURS, RIGHT? WE CAN'T TELL THE PERSON WHO WANTS TO SELL IT OR THE POTENTIAL BUYER COMING IN.
THEY COME TO US WITH THEIR PROPOSALS.
AGAIN, ALL OF WHICH SO FAR HAVE HAD VERY LARGE COMPONENTS OF HOTEL USES, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS EXPRESSED THAT IT ONCE MORE OF JUST THE OPPOSITE, WHICH IS WHY WE DID TAKE THE ACTIONS THAT WE TOOK IN THE COMMUNITY FOCUS AREA TO REDUCE THAT PRIORITIZATION.
THERE'S SOME ALLOWED, BECAUSE IT'S A MIXED USE, BUT IT'S NOT, WOULD NOT BE DEVELOPED PRIMARILY AS, UM, HOTEL LAND.
UM, SO AGAIN, THE NEW COUNCIL HAS BEEN ENGAGED.
THEY'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE CITY MANAGER IN AN ONGOING MANNER AS WELL SINCE THEY'VE BEEN ELECTED.
THEY'VE BEEN IN THE LOOP ON ALL OF THIS.
SOME OF THEM ARE HERE TONIGHT AND THEY CAN SPEAK TO THAT THEMSELVES.
UH, I KNOW THAT THAT WAS CERTAINLY A QUESTION I'VE HAD FOR OTHER ITEMS AND IT'S CERTAINLY A QUESTION I HAD TONIGHT.
I SPOKE TO KAREN AND ASKED, ARE THE OTHER COUNSELORS IN THE LOOP? I REACHED OUT BECAUSE WE CAN ONLY TALK TO SO MANY, BUT IT CAN SAY, ARE YOU AWARE OF THIS? DO YOU HAVE AN OBJECTION WITH THE TIMING OF THIS? THEY DON'T.
THEY'RE ON BOARD FOR THIS IN TERMS OF THIS MOVING FORWARD TONIGHT.
UM, SO I JUST WANT THAT OUT THERE AGAIN, ABOUT THE NEW COUNSEL.
IT'S BEEN IN THE PUBLIC AWARENESS FOR MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN IN THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS AGAIN REGARDING THE, UM, COMMENTS ABOUT TAX IMPACT.
AGAIN, WE DO NOT HAVE A PROPERTY TAX.
THERE IS NO TAX IMPACT TO OUR, TO OUR CITIZENS WITHIN SEDONA.
WE HAVE SALES TAX, WE HAVE BED TAX.
THOSE ARE THE REVENUES THAT WOULD COME FROM TAXES.
WE DO NOT HAVE A PROPERTY TAX.
THIS WILL NOT AFFECT THE SEDONAS.
AND BECAUSE IT, THIS DOESN'T TIE INTO, UH, THE SALES TAX AT ALL EITHER.
UM, I DO INVITE THOSE WHO HAVE AN INTEREST BECAUSE ALL OF YOU THAT SPOKE AND ALL OF YOU THAT ARE HERE WARM MY HEART.
YOU REALLY DO BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN INTEREST.
YOU BOTHER TO COME AND, AND, AND SPEAK OUT AND YOU BOTHER TO ASK THE QUESTIONS.
AND SOMETIMES IT MAY SEEM WE GET A LITTLE IMPATIENT BECAUSE WE KNOW THE ANSWERS.
THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT, RIGHT ATTITUDE FOR US TO HAVE.
AND I APOLOGIZE IF THAT EVER COMES ACROSS THAT WAY, AT LEAST IF IT DOES FOR ME.
I DO NEVER WANNA COME ACROSS THAT WAY.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION IF YOU WERE FOLLOWING ALONG.
AND I DO INVITE YOU INTO THE RETREAT.
I INVITE YOU TO THE BUDGET MEETINGS.
UM, THIS IS NOT COMING OUT OF NOWHERE.
UM, I'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL EMAILS.
THE, THE COMMENTARY TODAY WAS VERY SPLIT.
THERE WERE SOME THAT WERE OPPOSED.
THERE WAS I THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE THAT WERE SUPPORTIVE.
UH, THEY ALSO WERE EMAILS THAT CAME IN TODAY THAT WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE AS WELL AS, AS I SAID, THIS HAS BEEN IN THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE FOR, FOR TWO YE FOR A YEAR, ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC TWO YEARS THAT I KNOW OF, THAT I'VE BEEN GETTING EMAILS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING BUYING SOMETHING AND DOING SOMETHING WITH CULTURAL PARK PLACE.
WHY DO I THINK CULTURAL PARK PLACE SPECIFICALLY IS A GOOD IDEA? AGAIN, IT, IT'S LARGE ENOUGH TO ADDRESS MANY DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE HAVE.
PLUS IT IS TRADING AN ASSET FOR AN ASSET.
OKAY? PEOPLE OBJECT SAYING THE BONDS BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE AN INTEREST ON THE BONDS, BUT THE LAND IS SOMETHING THAT WILL GROW IN VALUE AS WELL.
WE HAVE TO MASTER PLAN THIS, AS WAS POINTED OUT, THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE.
I WILL, I WILL NOT GO FORWARD ON SOMETHING IF WE DON'T LOOK AT PLANNING IT.
WE MAY TAKE OUT A SMALL PIECE OR SOMETHING TO LOOK AT SEPARATE, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A PRESSING NEED.
BUT THERE WILL BE PLANNING ON THIS.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS OFFSET BY POTENTIALLY GROWING VALUE.
SO THERE'S NOT, I DON'T SEE THIS PURCHASE AS ANY SORT OF A, A HARDSHIP ON THE CITY OF SEDONA AT THIS POINT.
UM, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PIECE BECAUSE IT IS INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.
I DON'T, I'M NOT INTERESTED IN BUILDING SOMETHING OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS THAT'S GOING TO NECESSITATE PEOPLE THEN DRIVING INTO THE CITY LIMITS, INCREASING THE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS WE'VE HAD, THE, THE EMISSIONS PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE CONCERNED WITH.
NOT EVERYTHING PRETTY SPREAD OUT, BUT IT IS ALSO VERY WALKABLE.
[01:40:01]
EXISTING COMMUTER TRANSIT RIGHT THERE, THERE ARE BUS STOPS RIGHT THERE.UM, AND ALSO THE APPRAISAL VALUE BECAUSE YOU CAN, YOU, YOU WANT, I WANNA BE AWARE, I THINK THERE'S BEEN QUESTIONS HERE TOO AND THERE'S AWARENESS ABOUT IS THE CITY OVERPAYING OR NOT? WELL, I WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE THE APPRAISALS THAT CAME IN ONE, THE ONE THAT THE CITY DID, SHOWING THE APPRAISAL TO BE RIGHT THERE, RIGHT WITHIN WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, BUY, PURCHASING THE SPORE.
AND THAT WAS, UH, THAT WAS VERY GOOD INDICATOR TO ME.
THE OTHER ONE, WHICH WAS THE SELLERS, WHICH I EXPECT TO COME IN HIGHER, OF COURSE IT DID.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT, UH, THINGS, YOU KNOW, FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
BUT AGAIN, IT CERTAINLY CAME IN HIGH ENOUGH THAT IT GIVES SOME CONFIDENCE IN THAT WE ARE NOT OVERPAYING FOR THIS, THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.
I WOULDN'T WANNA MOVE FORWARD ON THIS WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THAT'S A CLEAN, CLEAN PIECE OF LAND.
THAT THERE'S NOT ANYTHING THERE THAT'S GOING TO HOLD OUR HANDS UP IN THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF THERE NEEDS TO BE BROWNFIELD MITIGATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND AGAIN, THAT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW CAME IN AND THAT'S A CLEAN PIECE OF LAND.
THERE'S BEEN PLENTY OF PUBLIC REVIEW AND DISCOURSE ON THIS, THAT PUBLIC REVIEW AND DISCOURSE DOES NOT STOP.
THIS STARTS PHASE TWO IN THAT I REALLY URGE EVERYBODY TO BE A PART OF IT.
AND I HAVE GONE ON WAY TOO LONG.
MAYOR, I WANNA GET BACK TO THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF A LITTLE BIT.
I'M NOT A REAL ESTATE AGENT, SO, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T EVEN DREAM ABOUT BEING ONE IN A HOTEL AND OVERNIGHT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I WILL TELL YOU THOUGH, THAT I LIVE IN THE CHAPEL AREA OF SEDONA AND I SEE LOTS LISTED FOR A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU TAKE 20 MILLION BUCKS AND YOU, I BUY 41 ACRES AND YOU GET A QUARTER ACRE PIECE OF LAND FOR $121,000, THAT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD PRICE TO ME.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'D SELL YOUR OWN QUARTER ACRE FOR THAT PRICE TODAY YOURSELVES, AS FAR AS, UM, UH, FINANCING IT, IT MAKES SENSE TO FINANCE IT.
MANY OF THE PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING, BUT LET'S LOOK AT THE PEOPLE THAT BRING CAPITAL AND THEY BUY HOUSES HERE THAT THE COMMENT WAS MADE.
YEAH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LEFT THE BARN A LONG TIME AGO AND IT DIDN'T COMING BACK ANYTIME SOON.
BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE SOME PEOPLE.
I THINK THE CHANGE THAT WE'VE SEEN IS YOU USED TO HAVE PEOPLE COME IN AND BID SIX MONTHS AGO, EIGHT PEOPLE ON HOUSING, ON, ON, ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY SITE UNSEEN, NO INSPECTION REQUIRED.
EVERYBODY SEEMED TO LOVE THAT PRICING SCHEDULE AND THAT AND THAT AND THOSE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
WELL, THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT SINCE THEN.
NOW I HEAR AND READ THE PAPER THAT ABOUT SIX BIDS PER HOUSE FOR CASH OR TWO ARE CASH AND FOR FINANCED GOT CONVENTIONAL FINANCING.
SO THERE, IT DOES MAKE SENSE TO, SOMETIMES PEOPLE DO NEED TO FINANCE SOME ITEMS. THERE'S NO REASON TO PAY EVERYTHING OFF AND IT, AND IT GETS MANAGED.
COULD WE ACTUALLY PAY IT OFF? YEAH, WE'VE GOT ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY PAY CASH FOR THIS OR WE WANT IT TO, IT JUST IS WHAT'S ONE PROJECT ARE WE GONNA DO OVER OTHER PROJECTS AND WHAT SPECIFIC CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS NEED TO BE MADE THAT MAY BE A QUICK HIGHER PRIORITY THAT WE'VE BEEN PLANNING AND WE'VE ALREADY PAID FOR THE DESIGN AND THE ENGINEERING.
YOU KNOW, I I I THINK THAT WE, WE NEED TO LOOK AROUND AND SAY WHAT IS BEST? YOU, YOU ELECTED US AS LIKE YOUR COUNSELOR.
YOU KNOW, YOU SAY, WHERE'S THE TRUST? YOU TRUST US TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR ALL OF SEDONA.
WE TRUST YOU TO TELL US THE TRUTH.
AND WHEN YOU TELL US, YEAH, WE NEED A PARKING GARAGE IN SEDONA, OKAY, WE TAKE, WE ACT AND WE GO FORWARD AND THE STUDIES SHOW IT AND THEN 30 OF YOU SHOW UP AND THEN WE DELAY IT.
WE LOOK AT SUNSET LOSS, WE NEED WORKFORCE HOUSING OR NOT SUNSET LOSS.
WE THAT WE LOOK AT JORDAN LOFTS.
40, 50, A HUNDRED PEOPLE, 200 PEOPLE SHOW UP AND KILL IT.
WHERE'S THE TRUST COMING FROM? THE OTHER DIRECTION FROM THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY? WE NEED YOU TO GET TOGETHER.
I BET IF I ASKED EACH ONE OF YOU ON THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY, IF WE WERE TO BUY THE CULTURAL PARK, WHAT WOULD USE IT FOR? DO I TRUST THAT ALL OF YOU WERE IN AGREEMENT THAT THE SPECIFIC USE THAT WOULD BE BUYING IT FOR IS THE SAME I'VE HEARD TONIGHT? WELL LEAVE IT AS IT IS AS A WHOLE RECREATIONAL AREA.
I'VE HEARD SOME COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, I'VE HEARD WORKFORCE HOUSING.
I HOPE IT'S GOING TO, WHAT I'M HEARING IS BECAUSE IT TAKES ALL OF YOU TO GIVE US THAT INPUT, BUT THAT DEVELOPMENT HAS TO BE DONE FOR WHAT'S BEST FOR THE ALL OF SEDONA CITIZENS.
WE'VE GOT POSSE GROUNDS PARK BECAUSE WE WENT OUT AND WE BOUGHT LAND, WE'VE GOT SUNSET PARK BECAUSE WE WENT OUT AND BOUGHT LAND.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, IT WILL BE A GOOD USE BECAUSE YOU WILL BE THE ONES WHO WILL BE ABLE TO COME FORWARD AND KILL IT OR NOT.
WHAT DO YOU SAY? YOU CAN OR NOT? YOU HAVE THE POWER.
I'VE SEEN IT IN OPERATION AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FEEL IT.
YOU CAN TAKE SEDONA BACK IF YOU WANT ONE AT A TIME IN SMALL GROUPS.
[01:45:01]
THIS COUNCILS LISTEN MORE TO ALL THE INPUT FROM OTHER EVERYBODY.AND WE ARE JUST CITIZENS OF SEDONA AS WELL.
I DON'T GET PAID A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FROM CORPORATE FUNDS COMING IN TO HELP RUN MY LOBBY AND GET MY REELECTION CAMPAIGN GOING.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS STUFF COMES FROM, BUT I WILL TELL YOU, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL A PHONE, EMAIL ANY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE AND THEY'LL BE GLAD TO GET BACK TO YOU.
NOW, I DON'T ALWAYS GET BACK TO EVERYBODY CUZ I'M NOT SURE EVERYTHING REQUIRES AN ANSWER.
AND I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE CITIZENS OF SEDONA HAVE THE ANSWER, BUT I HAVE TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO BE ABLE TO DECIDE ABOUT AND TO FIGHT OVER.
AND I THINK THE CULTURE PARK IS A GREAT ACQUISITION FOR THAT USE.
THERE'S NOTHING WE DISCUSS THAT ISN'T HAVE AT LEAST FIVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS OF, OF, OF YOU HAVE PRO AND CON AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
UM, THE QUESTIONS I I HEARD ALL OF THEM ARE LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS.
ALL OF THEM ARE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS.
BUT THE, THE FACT IS THERE ARE ALWAYS CONCERNS.
IT'S NOT LIKE THE ISSUE IS SHOULD WE GIVE EVERYBODY A HUNDRED MILLION OR NOT? I MEAN, THAT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.
THEY, THEY, THEY REQUIRE UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES INVOLVED.
THERE ARE IDEOLOGIES INVOLVED.
PEOPLE WHO DON'T BELIEVE SIMPLY DO NOT BELIEVE IN BONDING THAT IT'S IT'S JUST WRONG.
THAT IS IS IS A, I MEAN, MEAN IT'S AN IDEOLOGY.
IS IT ONE THAT SERVES THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY OR NOT? IS THE QUESTION THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES AS COUNCIL PEOPLE.
UM, EVER SINCE I CAME HERE, LIKE KATHY HAS EXPERIENCED, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE'S PEOPLE HAVE SAID 80 20 YEARS NOW, OH, WHY DON'T YOU GET THE CULTURE PARK? IT'S SO BAD.
WE HAVE TO LOSE A CULTURE PARK.
I MEAN, I HEAR THAT LITERALLY EVERY, I GO HIKING THERE ALMOST EVERY DAY.
UM, IT'S, THERE WAS A LOT OF ATTACHMENT TO THE CULTURE PARK.
NOW WHAT THERE'S ATTACHMENT TO IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE ATTACHED TO THE AMPHITHEATER, SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE ATTACHED JUST TO HAVING IT TOTAL OPEN SPACE.
SOME PEOPLE ARE ATTACHED TO, TO HAVING JUST THE TRAIL CONNECTIONS.
BUT THE CITY, IT MAKES SENSE TO BUY THIS PROPERTY SAYING WE'RE BUYING THE PROPERTY.
YOU NEVER, YOU NEVER BUY PROPERTY WITHOUT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH IT.
DOES ANYBODY ACTUALLY TOTALLY BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE? PEOPLE, EXCUSE ME, TRY AND CONTROL YOURSELF.
COUNSELOR MARTIN, EX COUNSELOR BAR.
UM, PEOPLE BUY PROPERTY ALL THE TIME.
YOU BUY PROPERTY FOR YOUR HOUSE, YOU'D HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT DESIGNED.
YOU HAVEN'T DECIDED THE MATERIALS.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHICH FIXTURES FOR LIGHTS YOU'RE GOING TO BE USING.
UM, YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD A GUEST HOUSE OR NOT.
YOU BUY A PIECE OF PROPERTY, THEN YOU PLANT IT.
UM, AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
THIS IS THE MOST REMARKABLE PIECE OF PROPERTY.
EVEN NOT ONLY JUST FOR SEDONA.
I MEAN, IF YOU THINK ABOUT PLACES YOU'VE BEEN 40 ACRES OF THIS INCREDIBLE PROPERTY BACKING UP ON THE FOREST, CONNECTED TO A HOST OF TRAILS, MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS, HIKING TRAILS, UM, FOREST LAND.
WITH THOSE VIEWS AND THE SURROUNDING AREA, IT'S REALLY A, IT'S ACTUALLY A NATIONAL TREASURE.
HOW THAT'S DEVELOPED AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT IS JUST VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S CRITICAL FOR US TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THAT NATIONAL, NATIONAL TREASURE AND, AND MAIN AND BE THE STEWARD OF, OF RATIONAL APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT IN THE INTEREST OF, OF THE COMMUNITY.
I REALLY, I ACTUALLY, I THINK GOVERNMENT HAS A ROLE TO PLAY, UM, IDEOLOGICALLY SOME PEOPLE THINK GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN ALMOST ANYTHING.
UM, THERE ISN'T A MASTER SOLUTION TO WORKFORCE HOUSING.
I MEAN, PEOPLE SAY, WELL, IT'S NOT GONNA SOLVE
[01:50:01]
THE PROBLEM, SO DON'T DO ITUM, THAT'S NEVER AN ARGUMENT THAT MAKES ANY SENSE TO ME.
I THINK YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU CAN DO.
I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF, OF CREATING A WORKFORCE HOUSING GHETTO FIVE MILES FROM THE CITY OUT THERE.
I MEAN THAT, THAT MAY BE, THAT DEVELOPMENT OF THAT SITE MAY IN FACT INCLUDE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, APPROPRIATE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
THERE ISN'T, THAT DOESN'T PRECLUDE US FROM DOING IT HERE,
THERE'S NO, IT'S NOT A CHOICE OF EITHER OR.
AND RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT MAKES TOTAL SENSE TO BUY THIS PROPERTY, TO PLAN IT, TO MAKE, TO ENSURE THAT IT'S DEVELOPED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF SEDONA.
AND SO I SUPPORT IT, BY THE WAY, ON DANTE IS NOW IN THE, ON DANTE SHARED USE PATH, WHICH WAS REFERRED TO AS NOW IN PLANNING.
IT'S NOT A SIDEWALK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UH, THEY'RE TRYING TO DECIDE, I BELIEVE KAREN, ON WHICH, WHICH ROUTE IS THE BEST FOR IT.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY PROGRAMMED IN OUR BUDGET TO START.
SO IT'S, IT'S UH, IT IT'S KIND OF A, IT'S A STRANGE ARGUMENT TO SAY THAT SAFETY'S BEING THROWN ASIDE TO PURCHASE THIS.
I MEAN, IT'S, THAT'S, WE, WE CAN AND DO, DO BOTH.
AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER.
IT'S EITHER, IT'S NOT, YOU EITHER BUY THE CULTURE PARK OR YOU KEEP SDO AND SAFE
THAT'S, IT'S, THERE'S A NAME FOR THAT, UH, UH, CHOICE.
NO, IT, IT'S JUST, IT'S A PHONY CHOICE
SO I THINK THIS IS A PROJECT THAT'S NOT BEING RUSHED AT ALL.
I THINK, I THINK IT'S PRUDENT IF, IF WE'RE GOING TO BUY IT AND THAT WE BUY IT, WHEN MONEY IS LIKELY TO BE LESS EXPENSIVE, THEN IT WILL BE LATER.
I MEAN, THAT'S A PRUDENT, A PRUDENT DECISION TO MAKE.
THAT'S BEEN SAID HERE FOR THE, THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ADDRESSED, UM, THIS DOCUMENT.
I HOPE PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT IT ONLINE.
THE WESTERN GATEWAY COMMUNITY FOCUS AREA PLAN.
SO WELL, IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE CULTURAL PARK.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CULTURAL PARK PLANNED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE WESTERN GATEWAY.
YOU SHOULD LOOK AT SOME OF THE GREAT IDEAS.
THEY'RE NOT IN STONE, BUT THERE'S SOME GREAT IDEAS.
AND HAVING A MUSEUM IS IN HERE SEVERAL TIMES.
OKAY, WELL WE HAVE A HISTORICAL MUSEUM LAST.
WELL THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S TRUE.
BUT IN ART, I'M THINKING MORE FOR ART.
BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF LINES.
PROVIDE MORE PERFORMING ART OPPORTUNITIES IN PLACES FOR ART STUDIOS, GALLERIES, AND MUSEUMS. PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PARKING THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE SUCH A GREAT IDEA OF A, FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
PROVIDE WELLNESS FOCUSED AGE IN PLACE, HOUSING AGE, IN PLACE HOUSING IN ADDITION TO WORKFORCE HOUSING.
WE DON'T THINK ABOUT AGE IN PLACE HOUSING WHERE, HOW MANY PEOPLE, AND I KNOW QUITE A FEW.
I LIVE IN THE LOWER CHAPEL NEIGHBORHOOD.
MY NEIGHBORS HAVE SOLD THEIR HOUSE, UNFORTUNATELY TURNED INTO A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
THEY, THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO STAY IN SEDONA.
THEY LIVED HERE FOR 25, 30 YEARS.
THEY WANTED TO STAY IN SEDONA.
WOULDN'T IT BE NICE IF WE COULD HAVE, IN ADDITION TO WORKFORCE HOUSING, WE COULD HAVE PLACES FOR US TO GO TO DOWNSIZE.
WE DON'T HAVE PLACES LIKE THAT.
WE DON'T HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT, BUT MAYBE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IT.
AND MAYBE WE SHOULD ALSO LOOK AT WHAT REALLY WORKFORCE HOUSING MEANS.
HOW MANY TIMES DO WE ALL HEAR OR EVEN SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, A PARTICULAR PERSON WORKS IN OUR CITY, WORKS IN A STORE, LOADS UNLOADS THE FOOD TRUCK AT BAS, THE SAFEWAY OKAY.
WORKS IN YOUR DENTAL OFFICE, YOUR DOCTOR'S OFFICE.
AND THEY'RE LIVING IN THEIR CARS.
WE NEED A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE.
[01:55:01]
I THINK THAT THE CULTURE PARK HAS PLACES FOR THAT.I KNOW, JOHN, YOU DON'T LIKE IT.
THERE'S SO MUCH THAT WE COULD DO THE, THE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE THERE, THE, THE PUBLIC SPACE.
WE WOULD HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT.
AND I BELIEVE THAT NOW I'VE BEEN PRIVY TO, AND I THINK I COULD REMEMBER TWO, MAYBE THREE OR FOUR DEVELOPERS WHO WANTED TO BUILD THERE.
THE LAST ONE WANTED TO BUILD, AS IT WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, A HUGE HOTEL COMPLEX WITH A FEW WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY SAYS ONE BY THE CULTURAL PARK WITHOUT REALIZING THE IMPLICATIONS OKAY.
AND BY THE WAY, IT WAS ALSO, UH, LINDA MARTINEZ MENTIONED, WE HAVE ALL THE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
DO WE NEED ANOTHER HOTEL? I CAN'T GIVE YOU MY OPINION ON THAT, BUT I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND THIS WILL NOT BE A HOTEL.
IF WE OWN IT, WE CAN DESIGN IT.
AND YES, EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE CAN HAVE A SAY IN WHAT'S DONE, THE PUBLIC OUTREACH THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE.
AND THEN I, I FORGET IF IT WAS THE MAYOR, DID YOU MENTION SOMETHING ABOUT P AND Z OR, OR HOLLY.
SHE, SHE ALWAYS WASTED THE LAST, SHE ALWAYS NICE THAT WAY.
THERE'S SO MUCH PART OF THE PUBLIC PROCESS.
WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT WE LISTEN AND THEN WE, WE DO, WE COMBINE ALL THE, THE, UH, INPUT, AT LEAST I DO.
AND COME UP WITH THE BEST IDEA FOR THE CITY.
I THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.
SO I AM SUPPORTING IT AS WELL AS WE HAVE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE BOND AS WELL AS DOING THE BOND.
YOU'RE ALL PROBABLY WONDERING WHY HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE TALKED SO LONG AND THEN THE LONG GUY WHO TALKS STILL HAS TO COME.
BUT I AM, I AM GOING TO BE SHORTER.
UM, I, I'M GONNA, I AGREE WITH ALL THE EMOTIONAL THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID HERE, UM, IN TERMS OF ITS BEING A GOOD PROJECT, UM, FOR ALL THE REASONS AND FOR MANY MORE.
BUT I DO WANNA SPEAK JUST TO, TO THE, THE ONE POINT ABOUT, UM, WHO'S, WHO'S APPROVING THIS.
UM, AND THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT IT'S BEEN ON OUR RADAR FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
UH, I, IT MAY HAVE BEEN ON MY RADAR FOR JUST ABOUT MORE TIME THAN ANYBODY, MAYBE EXCEPT FOR THE MAYOR HERE.
UM, MY WIFE AND I, UM, BOUGHT OUR PROPERTY VERY CLOSE TO THE CULTURAL PARK, UM, OVER, JUST BEHIND THE MEDICAL CENTER, UH, IN 1995.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE BOUGHT THAT PARTICULAR LOT WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS A PROMISE OF A, UM, AMPHITHEATER GOING IN THERE.
AND WE THOUGHT, THIS IS GREAT, UH, CULTURE CLOSE BY.
UM, THE OTHER THINGS THAT WILL COME AROUND IT, YOU KNOW, RETAIL OR WHATEVER.
UM, THIS, OBVIOUSLY THIS FAR WEST SEDONA AREA IS REALLY GONNA BE, UH, A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO WALK TO CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND MAYBE WE'LL STILL BE ABLE TO WALK TO THE MUSEUM.
UM, BUT THAT WAS 1995 BY THE TIME WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE HERE, RETIRE AND, UH, START, UH, PLANNING AND BUILDING OUR HOME.
THE CULTURAL, THE AMPHITHEATER HAD COME AND HAD ALREADY GONE TO SEAT.
UM, HOWEVER I GOT INVOLVED WITH THE CITY, UH, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON, I WANTED TO BE PART OF IT.
UH, I VOLUNTEERED TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATE.
UH, THAT WAS, UH, UH, THE COMMUNITY PLAN THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS ALL THE TIME.
IN FACT, THE, THE MOST PROMINENT MEMBER OF, UH, OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE OR OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY WHO CAME TO OUR MEETINGS WERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CULTURAL PART.
PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO, UM, UH, BUY IT OR THE CURRENT OWNERS OR WHATEVER.
CUZ THEY WERE VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DECIDE WAS GONNA BE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT AREA.
UH, SO IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY LOOKED AT CAREFULLY AND WE REALLY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS THE BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY AT THAT TIME.
AND I THINK THAT THE GUIDELINES THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY PLAN ARE STILL, UH, VERY APPROPRIATE.
UM, AND WE OBVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED THAT AREA AS SOMETHING FOR FURTHER DETAILED STUDY, UH, EVEN JUST FOR VISIONING, WHICH IS WHAT THE, UH, COMMUNITY FOCUS AREA WAS.
[02:00:01]
CFA ALONG WITH JOHN MARTINEZ AND, AND, AND LINDA MARTINEZ, NO RELATION.UM, AND THEY, UH, UH, SHE CAME HOME AND TOLD ME WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WHATEVER.
AND SO WE'VE, WE'VE HAD THIS SITE ON OUR RADAR AS SOMETHING, A VERY STRONG INTEREST TO US, UH, FROM, FROM WAY BACK WHEN.
OBVIOUSLY FOUR YEARS I WAS ON THE COUNCIL, THINGS CAME UP, DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES CAME UP AND SO ON.
UM, AND NOW I'M BACK FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND IT'S JUST ABOUT OVER.
AND I, I GUARANTEE YOU NO ONE HAS PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA SO THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR IT
UM, UH, IT'S JUST, THAT'S THE WAY IT'S HAPPENED.
UM, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT WILL BE MY GREAT PRIVILEGE AND, UH, AND AND HONOR TO SUPPORT, UM, THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT AND PUTTING IT IN THE HANDS, NOT OF THE CITY, NOT IN THE HANDS OF THE, OF THE COUNCIL OR WHATEVER, BUT IN THE HANDS OF THE PUBLIC.
THIS REALLY WILL BE, UH, SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO WORK ON TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT WHETHER ALL THESE IDEAS THAT COME UP OR OTHER IDEAS ARE BEST.
IT WILL BE RIGHT FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW WHAT YOU READ IN THE PAPER IS FOR, UM, FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING.
UM, UH, THE PAPER IS NOT ALWAYS VERY COMPLETE ON EVERYTHING.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN GO IN HERE, BUT RIGHT NOW, WORKFORCE HOUSING SEEMS TO BE, UH, DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS.
AND FRANKLY, I WOULD BE THRILLED IF THERE ARE YOUNGER FAMILIES, UH, CLOSE BY ALL OF US OLD AGED PEOPLE WHO ARE, UH, SITTING ON OUR THREE QUARTERS AND, AND MORE, UH, PROPERTY WITH OUR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE OF THAT KIND OF COMMUNITY.
WE'RE LOSING POPULATION AND WE'RE NOT LOSING THE RIGHT KIND OF POPULATION.
UM, SO WE NEED TO GET SOME OF THEM BACK.
AND IT WOULD BE, IN MY MIND, IT WOULD BE, UM, AN INSULT TO TELL THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE WANT TO COME HERE AND, UH, JOIN US EITHER AS A WORKFORCE OR MIDDLE MANAGERS OR WHATEVER, WHOEVER CAN AFFORD IT, MAKE IT AS AFFORDABLE AS POSSIBLE.
BUT IT WOULD BE AN INSULT TO TELL THEM THAT WE WANT THEM TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS CITY.
AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THEM VOTE.
CUZ THAT'S WHAT'LL HAPPEN IF YOU PUT 'EM OUT AT THE, AT THE, UH, WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, THEY'LL BE IN THE COUNTY AND THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO VOTE.
I HAVE TOO MANY FRIENDS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE, THE CITY, UM, UH, BOUNDARIES RIGHT NOW WHO CAN'T VOTE.
AND, UM, THEY CARE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY.
SO I WANT, I WANT THIS COMMUNITY TO GROW WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES AND, AND DO THE BEST THING FOR THOSE PEOPLE.
SO, UH, I AM GOING TO BE VERY MUCH, HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS FOR MANY YEARS AND IT WOULD BE MY HONOR TO READ THE MOTION WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
WELL, WE'RE VOTING FIRST ON THE BOND ON BOTH OF THEM.
BUT THE FIRST ONE WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON IS THE BOND.
AND, UH, NO, I HAVEN'T HAD MY SAY EITHER.
SO I'M WAIT,
SO, UM, BUT I WILL SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
AND ONE OF THEM IS I'VE HEARD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT OVER THE YEARS, FRANKLY, THAT WE DON'T LISTEN.
BUT WE DO LISTEN AS THE VICE MAYOR SAID.
AND IT'S JUST THAT WE DON'T ALL AGREE.
AND I'VE NEVER SEEN AN ISSUE IN MY EIGHT YEARS ON COUNCIL WHERE EVERYBODY AGREED, I DON'T CARE WHAT IT IS, IT CAN BE SOMETHING LIKE THE MUSEUM OR SOMETHING LIKE A, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT'S FUN FOR EVERYBODY TO DO, BUT SOMEBODY'S AGAINST IT.
I'LL GUARANTEE YOU THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAINST IT FOR THEIR OWN REASONS.
EITHER THEY LIVE TOO CLOSE TO IT AND THEY DON'T WANT THAT THERE, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS THE OTHER SIDE IS ALWAYS THERE.
SO TO THINK THAT WE'RE SOMEHOW GOING TO ALL AGREE ON THIS VISION FOR THE FUTURE, I THINK IS MM-HMM.
SO, BUT WE SHOULD ALL CONTRIBUTE TO, HAS, HAS.
JT JUST SAID, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR, I REMEMBER THOSE COMMUNITY PLAN MEETINGS TOO.
I WAS ON THE HOUSING COMMISSION THEN, AND WHEN WE KNEW THEN THERE WAS A PROBLEM, IT'S ONLY GOTTEN WORSE.
AND PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY NOW, EXCEPT FOR THE HOUSING COMMITTEE THAT WAS HERE, WHO DIDN'T SEEM TO THINK IT WAS THAT BIG A PROBLEM.
I THINK EVEN THEY RECOGNIZE THERE IS A PROBLEM.
BUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS BECOME A MORE OF A MAJOR ISSUE NATIONWIDE
[02:05:01]
THAN IT EVER USED TO BE.IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM HERE BECAUSE THE COST OF LAND IS SO HIGH, THERE JUST ISN'T MUCH WE CAN DO.
AND THERE'S LITTLE THING CALLED THE GIFT CLAUSE THAT SAYS WE CAN'T SUBSIDIZE HOUSING, WE CAN'T JUST GIVE THE LAND TO SOMEBODY AND TAKE THE, THE LAND OUT OF THE EQUATION.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE TO FIND A WAY TO DEVELOP WORKFORCE HOUSING ON THIS PROPERTY.
AND, AND I HOPE WE CAN FIND A WAY TO DO IT.
I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN, BUT, BUT I, I DO AGREE THAT IT NEEDS TO BE, UH, PURCHASED NOW.
IT'S ONLY GONNA GET MORE EXPENSIVE.
YOU KNOW, THEY, BECAUSE THEY HAD JUST GONE WAY UP.
SO WE'D TAKEN A 30% INCREASE IN, IN REAL ESTATE AND HOME PRICES AND THEN IT, THE RECESSION HAPPENED AND WE CAME DOWN 30%.
SO, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, REALLY IT PROGRESSED UP JUST SLOWLY, STEADILY, UPWARD.
WE DON'T FOLLOW NATIONAL TRENDS A LOT OF TIMES IN SEDONA.
AND THE OTHER THING WE DON'T DO IS WE DON'T HEAR FROM EVERYBODY.
WE HEAR FROM A LOT OF THE SAME PEOPLE OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
BUT TO THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO SOMEHOW HEAR FROM EVERYBODY WHO LIVES HERE, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO.
SO I TRY TO THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE DON'T HEAR FROM AS WELL AS THOSE WE DO HEAR FROM BECAUSE THEY ARE RESIDENTS OF SEDONA AND THERE'S A LOT OF THEM WE NEVER HEAR FROM.
AND I THINK IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO THINK OF THOSE PEOPLE WHEN WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS.
SO IT ISN'T JUST THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE MOST VOCAL OR THE PEOPLE WE SEE AT EVERY MEETING THAT WE DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU COME AND TAKE THE TIME TO COME.
SOME PEOPLE SIMPLY CAN'T, AND YOU CAN THE BEST, REALLY THE BEST WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH US IS BY EMAIL, BECAUSE I KNOW I READ ALL MY EMAILS REGARDLESS AND WE, I THINK EVERYBODY DOES.
SO, BUT YEAH, I LIKE TO, TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WE NEVER HEAR FROM.
WHAT DO THEY NEED? A LOT OF 'EM DO NEED HOUSING
SO I THINK YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THIS.
AND THIS IS AN UNUSUAL THING THAT I'VE NEVER, I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER DONE THIS THIS WAY BEFORE, BUT WE HEARD ABOUT THE BOND BEFORE WE HEARD ABOUT THE PROJECT.
SO WE'RE GONNA VOTE FIRST ON THE BOND.
UNLESS ANYBODY HAS MORE FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE'LL VOTE FIRST ON THE, ON THE ITEM WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND I SUSPECT THAT THE NEXT ITEM WE'LL GO VERY QUICKLY CUZ WE'VE REALLY ALREADY THOROUGHLY HEARD AND DISCUSSED IT.
RIGHT? SO LET'S, UH, IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON AB 28 93, MAYOR.
OKAY, I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2022 DASH 34 34, APPROVING THE SALE, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF AN TAX REVENUE OBLIGATION, EVIDENCING ALL THE INTERESTS OF THE OWNER THEREOF IN A PURCHASE AGREEMENT FROM THE CITY, APPROVING THE FORM AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF SUCH PURCHASE AGREEMENT AND OTHER NECESSARY AGREEMENTS FOR SUCH SALE.
DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO DESIGNATE CERTAIN TERMS THEREOF, AUTHORIZING THE TAKING OF ALL OTHER ACTIONS NECESSARY TO THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THE RESOLUTION AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
SECOND, MOVED BY COUNSELOR THOMPSON SECOND BY COUNSELOR WILLIAMSON.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ALL OPPOSED? NO, THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[8.b. AB 2894 Discussion/possible action regarding the approval of a Resolution authorizing the City of Sedona to enter into a purchase agreement to acquire the Real Property located near Hwy 89-A and Cultural Park Drive, Sedona, AZ 86336 (APN# 408-47-004C, 004W, 005A, 007, 008, 009A, 009B and 408-11-176B).]
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS AB 28 94.DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF SEDONA TO ENTER INTO A PURCHASE AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE THE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED NEAR HIGHWAY 89 A IN CULTURAL PARK DRIVE, SEDONA, ARIZONA, 86,003.
FOUR C FOUR W 0 0 5 A 0 0 7 0 0 8 0 0 9 A, 0 0 9 B AND 4 0 8 11 1 76 B.
THAT IS THE, THE DISCUSSION NOW WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE PRESENTATION.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL.
MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION, MAYOR.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, FOR KURT, IT WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, UH, ABOUT DEED RESTRICTIONS AND THAT'S SOMETHING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT AT WHAT, WHERE, WHAT POINT IN TIME DO WE DO A DEED RESTRICTIONS? SO COULD NEVER BE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
UH, THAT CAN TAKE PART AS PART OF
[02:10:01]
THE, UH, COMMUNITY PLANNING PROCESS.SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TODAY.
WE WILL RECEIVE A, A WARRANTY DEED FROM THE SELLERS.
UM, AND WE SPECIFICALLY WOULDN'T REQUEST THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE SELLERS SPECIFICALLY PUT THAT IN THERE.
NOW, UM, THAT'LL BE DURING FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LAND.
THOSE COULD BE, THOSE COULD BE PUT INTO THE LAND THOUGH INTO A FUTURE TO BE FUTURE DEEDS.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
BUT I, I DON'T PLAY AN ATTORNEY ON TV NOR DO I EVER WANNA BE AN ATTORNEY.
SO I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO YOU TO GIVE THE ANSWERS.
ANY, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? TOM, I NOTICED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WERE NO UNDERGROUND TANKS OR NO ABOVE GROUND TANKS AND NO SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
BUT LIKE, MY QUESTION WOULD BE, DOES ALL OF THE RISK FOR REMEDIATION SHIFT WITH US OR IS THERE ANY CLAWBACK AT ALL? SHOULD WE FIND SOMETHING AS WE GO FURTHER ABOUT AND THAT IF THAT ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY MISSED SOMETHING? SO, SO COMPLETING A PHASE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT PROTECTS, PROVIDES SOME PROTECTION TO THE CITY, UH, UNDER CERCLA.
UM, AND SO YEAH, IF SOMETHING WAS NOT DISCOVERED, THEN UH, WE COULD LIKELY GO BACK TO THE PRIOR OWNERS.
UM, IT AS A WIDER SITE ASSESSMENT WAS DONE BEFORE, AND IT DOES SHOW, YOU KNOW, THE LANDFILL THAT WAS TO THE NORTH OF THE PROPERTY.
UM, BUT THAT'S DRAINING AWAY FROM OUR, FROM THIS POTENTIAL PURCHASE.
UH, BUT YET, SO THERE IS, THERE IS PROTECTION BY COMPLETING A PHASE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT.
UM, I DON'T, I WOULDN'T, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHAT IT WAS, UH, WHETHER IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED WOULD BE WHETHER THERE'S ANY POTENTIAL LIABILITY.
UH, BUT WE TRUST THE COMPANY WHO, WHO COMPLETED IT, UH, AND, AND DID THAT, DID THAT REPORT FOR THE CITY.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T FORESEE ANY ISSUES THERE.
MAYOR, I SAW THE MIC BEING PASSED TO ANDY.
I WONDER IF HE MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS.
IS THIS ALRIGHT,
UM, THE ONLY, I GUESS OTHER THING I MIGHT ADD IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF ESAS CONDUCTED OVER THE YEARS.
SO IT'S, IT'S BEEN STUDIED ON A MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND, UM, HAS NEVER, UH, BEEN DETERMINED THAT THERE'S A CAUSE FOR CONCERN.
UH, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT NOTE HERE THAT THIS WAS, THIS LAND HAD THE MOST SCENIC LANDFILL FOLLOWED BY A, UH, UM, UH, UH, AND WHAT'S THE PRO, WHAT'S THE WORD I WANT? THE, THE, THE COMPACTOR TRANSFER.
TRANSFER STATION IN THE WORLD.
I THINK THAT, UH, SO IT IS INTERESTING AND I WAS INTERESTED TO SEE WHEN I READ THE PACKET THAT THE STUDIES HAD BEEN DONE AND THERE WAS APPARENTLY NO ILL EFFECT TO THE LAND UNDERNEATH THAT.
AND, UH, THERE GOES, THERE GOES THE MOST SCENIC COMPACTOR,
I WONDER IF WE COULD JUST LEAVE, OH, NEVERMIND THAT ON FOREST SERVICE PROPERTY.
WHAT YOU WANNA LEAVE IT? I, I I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY.
ANYBODY ELSE? ARE WE READY FOR A MOTION? MAYOR, GO AHEAD.
I MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2020 2 35.
UH, AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE CONTRACT FOR THE CITY OF SEDONA TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY LOCATED NEAR HIGHWAY 89 A IN CULTURAL PARK DRIVE, SEDONA, ARIZONA, 8 63 36 IDENTIFIED AS AP N 4 0 8 DASH 47 4 C ZERO FOUR W 0 0 5 A 0 0 7, 0 0 8 0 9 A, 0 0 9 B, AND 4 0 8 DASH 11 DASH 1 7 6 B, LOCATED IN YAVAPAI COUNTY, CITY OF SEDONA, ARIZONA FOR THE SUM OF 20 MILLION.
AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE PURCHASE.
SECOND BY COUNSELOR P COUNSELOR P'S.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ALL OPPOSED? NO, THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
AND THANK YOU TO OUR BOND COUNCIL FOR COMING UP AND SITTING THROUGH ALL OF THIS.
AND I BELIEVE WE'LL TAKE A BREAK NOW, RIGHT? WE'RE WE KIND OF CLEARED OUT THE ROOM AND NOW WE'RE BACK, BACK
[8.f. AB 2837 Discussion/possible action regarding approval of a Resolution and Ordinance amending Sedona City Code Chapter 5.25 Short Term Rental Regulation to include implementation of SB 1168.]
TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA.[02:15:02]
SO WE ARE HAVE MOVED UP ITEM F, WHICH IS AB 28 37, DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AND ORDINANCE AMENDING SEDONA CITY CODE CHAPTER 5.25, SHORT TERM RENTAL REGULATION TO INCLUDE IMPLEMENTATION OF SB 1168.WHO IS INTRODUCING YOU, JOANNE, OR JUST THERE? UM, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
UM, JUST TO START OFF THERE, ARTHUR, OUR BRAND NEW SHORT-TERM RENTAL SPECIALIST WILL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION TODAY AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.
UM, WE'RE GONNA PULL UP THE ORDINANCE AND KURT'S GONNA GO THROUGH, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S JUST ONE CHANGE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE LATEST DRAFT.
SO ANY CHANGES WITHIN THAT ORDINANCE, WE'LL WORK ON THOSE AT THE END.
BUT THERE HAS AN UPDATE ON, ON THE SHORT TERM RENTAL PROGRAM, KIND OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.
UM, AND I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO HER.
UM, I HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR YOU THIS EVENING THAT TALKS A BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM AS WELL AS WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY AND THEN WHERE WE'RE GOING.
SO DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL HAVE BEEN AROUND AS LONG AS I HAVE, WHICH ISN'T THAT LONG, FOUR YEARS, BUT HAVE KIND OF SEEN THIS PROCESS EVOLVE, BUT NOT EVERYONE.
SO I THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE TO SPEAK TO WHERE WE'VE COME FROM.
SO OUR CURRENT PROGRAM, UH, HAS GOS, WHICH IS A SOFTWARE AS SERVICE AS OUR THIRD PARTY VENDOR PROVIDING SOFTWARE SERVICES, INCLUDING A TWICE MONTHLY WEB SCRAPE TO IDENTIFY ALL WEB ADS FOR SEDONA SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
G OS PROVIDES A WEB PLATFORM WHERE OWNERS CAN CREATE EMERGENCY CONTACT REGISTRATIONS AND ALL OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION.
AND THAT INCLUDES GIS DATA THAT WE HAVE COLLECTED, AS WELL AS THE REGISTRATIONS ARE STORED IN THE G OS DATABASE FOR THE CITY'S USE.
G OS ALSO PROVIDES US WITH A 24 7 COMPLAINTS HOTLINE THAT COLLECTS COMPLAINTS AND PROVIDES DAILY REPORTING ON ALL COMPLAINT ACTIVITY.
SO A BRIEF HISTORY OF SEDONA, UM, FROM BACK FROM SB 1350, THE CITY OF SEDONA PROHIBITED SHORT TERM RENTALS.
SB 1350 BECAME LAW EFFECTIVE JANUARY, 2017.
THAT LAW PREEMPTED CITY AND TOWN'S ABILITIES TO PROHIBIT OR REGULATE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
HOAS DID RETAIN SOME AUTHORITY TO REGULATE THROUGH CCNRS.
HB 26 72 BECAME LAW EFFECTIVE OF THE SUMMER OF 2019.
AND DURING THAT TIME, SHORTLY AFTER, OR JUST BEFORE THAT TIME, THE CITY OF SEDONA IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS, ISSUED AN RFP FOR SHORT TERM VACATION RENTAL DATA COLLECTION AND MONITORING SERVICES.
AND THAT RFP WENT OUT FROM APRIL TO MAY OF 2018.
AND I DO REMEMBER, UH, THEN CITY MANAGER JUSTIN CLIFTON HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH MEGAN MCCRAE AND THAT THIS WAS A PRIORITY FOR THAT TIME.
DURING THAT TIME, MEGAN REVIEWED QUITE A NUMBER OF PROVIDERS AND SETTLED ON ONE, AND THEN WE ENDED UP WITH WHAT WAS THEN LODGING REVS NOW AS GOS AND BEGAN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL PROGRAM FROM 2018 OVER 2019 IN DECEMBER OF 2019.
NOW GO OS THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT SIGNED TO PROVIDE SHORT TERM RENTAL WEB MONITORING, EMERGENCY CONTACT REGISTRATION DATABASE AND THE 24 7 ISSUES HOTLINE.
IN JANUARY OF 2020, THERE WAS AN INITIAL GIS DATA LOAD THAT CAME FROM OUR CITY GIS DATABASE THAT PUT ALL OF THE INITIAL PROPERTIES INTO THE LODGING REVS DATABASE.
IN FEBRUARY, THEY DID THEIR INITIAL WEB SCRAPE TO CAPTURE ALL OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
AND IN MARCH OF 2020, I PERSONALLY MAILED OUT OVER 700, CLOSE TO 750 LETTERS TO ALL OF THE NEWLY IDENTIFIED SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS.
IN SEPTEMBER, WE LAUNCHED THE 24 7 COMPLAINT HOTLINE.
AT THAT TIME, WE HAD 30% EMERGENCY CONTACT REGISTRATION COMPLIANCE, SO NOT QUITE A THIRD RESPONSE FROM ALL OF THE OWNERS.
IN THE YEAR OF 2020, WE DID SEND OUT THREE BATCHES OF NOTICE TO
[02:20:01]
REGISTER LETTERS FOR ALL OF THE IDENTIFIED OWNERS AND REMINDING THEM THAT THEY NEEDED THAT, THAT REGISTRATION IN 20 21 3 NOTICE TO REGISTER LETTER MAILINGS WENT OUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.AND, UM, SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND IS MEGAN AND I BOTH WORKED PART-TIME IN THAT PROGRAM.
SO WE BOTH HAD OTHER JOBS AND THE THREE MAILINGS WERE REASONABLE IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS ABLE TO BE DONE DURING THAT TIME.
DURING THAT TIME, BASED ON ADVICE FROM KURT AND FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT, WE ADDED A COMPONENT OF MAKING ALL OF THE LETTERS SENT OUT CERTIFIED SO THAT AS WE HAD SIGNED GREEN CARDS, AS WE HAD TRACKING, WHEN IT CAME TO ANY KIND OF CODE VIOLATION FOR NON-COMPLIANCE, WE WOULD HAVE BETTER DATA TO SUPPORT THAT.
FROM 2020 TO 2022, THERE HAS BEEN DAILY REVIEW OF HOTLINE COMPLAINT REPORTS AND ANY KIND OF CODE VIOLATION HAS BEEN REFERRED TO CODE ENFORCEMENT FOR FOLLOW UP.
FROM 2020 TO 2022, THERE, THERE HAS BEEN CONTINUAL MONITORING AND UPDATING OF OWNER DATA IN WOS, AND THE PRIMARY TOOL FOR THAT HAS BEEN YAVAPAI AND COCONINO COUNTY GIS RECORDS.
UH, PROPERTY CHANGES HANDS A LOT IN SEDONA AND EVERY MAILING HAD A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF RETURNED LETTERS.
AND WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD, AS THE PROGRAM HAS EVOLVED, WE'VE HAD A NICE PARTNERSHIP WITH PROPERTY OWNERS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS WHO HAVE REACHED OUT AND LET US KNOW PROPERTY HAS CHANGED HANDS SO THAT UPDATING OF RECORDS HAS BECOME A MORE ACTIVE PROCESS.
OKAY, THE BENEFITS TO DATE OF THIS PROGRAM HAVE BEEN COLLECTION OF TIMELY FIRST PERSON COMPLAINT DATA.
I REMEMBER WHEN BOB THORPE VISITED SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THIS ROOM WAS FULL AND WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAD OPINIONS ABOUT RENTALS, BUT A LOT OF THE DATA WAS SECONDHAND THIRDHAND, FOURTH HAND ANECDOTAL.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COMPLAINT HOTLINE HAS DONE FOR US IS IT GIVES US FIRST PERSON COLLECTION THAT'S TIMELY AND BASED ON THE OBSERVATIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.
SO THAT'S BEEN A REAL BOON IN TERMS OF OUR ACTUAL DATA COLLECTION, IS THERE'S AN ISSUES HISTORY.
EVERY COMPLAINT IS TIED TO A PROPERTY ACCOUNT.
SO WE CAN GO INTO THE SOFTWARE AND WE CAN SEE HOW MANY PROPERTIES HAVE REPEATING ISSUES OR CONSISTENT ISSUES.
SO THERE'S A TRACKING THERE THAT WE HAVE AND A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT FOR FOLLOW UP.
OVER THE YEARS, THE PROGRAM HAS EVOLVED CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS.
UM, THERE ARE SOME NICE DIALOGUES THAT HAVE EVOLVED WITH THE LOCAL PROPERTY MANAGERS AND A RELATIONSHIP IN TERMS OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION.
AND LOCAL REALTORS HAVE BEGUN TO SEE THIS PROGRAM AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION AS WELL AS OWNERS.
SO THERE'S AN EVOLUTION OF COMMUNICATION HERE THAT HAS BEEN VERY REWARDING.
THE OTHER BENEFIT IS THAT THE COMPLAINT HOTLINES CALLS TO EMERGENCY CONTACT FOR THINGS LIKE TRASH SPILLS FACILITATE A FASTER RESPONSE FOR CLEANUP.
AND, AND BRIAN ARMSTRONG IS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT WE HAD A NICE CONVERSATION AND HE MENTIONED THAT THIS PROCESS OF TRASH CLEANUP IS MUCH FASTER BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY CONTACTS ARE AVAILABLE.
THAT PROCESS GETS STARTED AND THEN CODE DOES A FOLLOW UP.
SO IT'S NOT ON CODE TO FIGURE OUT WHO THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY IS AND INITIATE THAT CLEANUP.
AND THAT PROCESS HAS BEEN GREATLY FACILITATED.
THE HOTLINE WORKS IN A COUPLE WAYS.
UH, WE, THEY GET COMPLAINTS VIA TELEPHONE OR EMAIL, BOTH WORK EQUALLY.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF EMAIL IS THAT PHOTOGRAPHS CAN BE INCLUDED.
HOTLINE AGENTS IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE EMERGENCY CONTACT ON FILE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.
SO THE CALL COMES IN OR THE THE CONTACT COMES IN FROM THE COMPLAINANT AND THE HOTLINE.
AS SOON AS THEY RECEIVE THAT COMPLAINT, THEY'RE IMMEDIATELY REACHING OUT TO THE EMERGENCY CONTACT FOR A RESPONSE.
THEY LEAVE GENERALLY TWO TO THREE CALLS IF THEY DON'T REACH SOMEONE.
AND THEIR INSTRUCTION IS IF THEY DON'T REACH A LIVE PERSON, THEY LEAVE A DETAILED MESSAGE WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THERE BE A CALL BACK.
SO THERE'S ALWAYS AN EDUCATION OF THAT A RESPONSE IS REQUIRED AND THEIR COMMUNICATION IS MEANT TO BE ENOUGH INFORMATION SO THAT THE EMERGENCY CONTACT CAN ACT ON THE COMPLAINT.
IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, THE HIGHEST TO LOWEST, OUR HIGHEST NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ARE TRASH.
[02:25:01]
THE SECOND NUMBER IS NOISE.THIRD IS LIGHTING, AND LAST IS PARKING.
WHEN WE HAVE NOISE COMPLAINTS, IF IT IS DURING THE QUIET HOURS FROM 10:00 PM TO 7:00 AM HOTLINE AGENTS KNOW THAT THEY ARE TO REACH OUT TO SEDONA PD DIRECTLY TO FOLLOW UP ON ANY NOISE COMPLAINT DURING THAT TIME.
AND WE HAVE EXCELLENT REGULAR REPORTING FROM SEDONA PD AND I'M ABLE TO VERIFY THOSE VISITS WITH THE INVESTIGATIONS.
SO THAT'S A CONSISTENT FOLLOW UP.
DAYTIME NOISE COMPLAINTS ARE HANDLED A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.
THE HOTLINE AGENTS MAKE THE FIRST CALL TO THE EMERGENCY CONTACT, CUZ IN MANY CASES, DAYTIME COMPLAINTS CAN BE RESOLVED BY REACHING OUT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN ACTIVITY.
A LOT OF TIMES IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A NOISE COMPLAINT PER SE.
SOMEBODY MIGHT BE IRRITATED WITH KIDS PLAYING IN A POOL AND THEY FIND THEM LOUD OR A GROUP OF GROUP OF PEOPLE, UH, VISITING IN A BACKYARD.
SO A CALL TO THE EMERGENCY CONTACT CAN KIND OF MITIGATE THAT IF THAT RESOLUTION DOESN'T HAPPEN.
COMPLAINANTS ARE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED TO CALL BACK AND FOLLOW UP ON A COMPLAINT IF THERE'S NO RESOLUTION.
AND SO IF THERE ISN'T A RESOLUTION, THEN AGAIN THE HOTLINE WILL CALL SEDONA PD.
CODE ENFORCEMENT RECEIVES CODE VIOLATIONS INCLUDING TRASH LIGHTING AND OTHER PROPERTY RELATED CODE VIOLATIONS THAT GET REFERRED TO THEM THE SAME, THE SAME DAY.
THE REPORT COMES IN AND BOTH BRIAN AND STAN ARE GREAT ABOUT FOLLOWING UP.
WE HAVE A, A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.
I HEAR BACK THEY'RE ASSIGNED A NUMBER IN SPRINGBROOK AND A FOLLOW UP.
SO THERE, IT'S A VERY ACTIVE FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
UM, AS I HAVE WORKED WITH BRIAN AND STAN OVER TIME, PARTICULARLY BRIAN, OUR COMMUNICATIONS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN VIOLATION OF CODE, BRIAN WILL FREQUENTLY, IF SOMEONE HAS A CODE VIOLATION AND HE'S AWARE THAT THEY RECEIVED AN OWNER LETTER AND NOT YET CREATED AN EMERGENCY CONTACT REGISTRATION, HE WILL INCLUDE THE LETTER WITH HIS NOTICE AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THAT.
SO THERE'S A, A NICE MESH BETWEEN, UM, CODE AND THE HOTLINE AND OUR PROGRAM.
SO HERE'S A, A JUST A BARCODE COMPLAINT HISTORY OR A BAR GRAPH COMPLAINT HISTORY AROUND TRASH.
UM, THIS IS ACTUALLY FROM THE START OF THE PROGRAM IN SEPTEMBER, 2020 UP AND THROUGH OCTOBER.
AND THE GREEN IS TOTAL COMPLAINTS AND THE DARKER BROWN SHOWS YOU THE NUMBER OF TRASH COMPLAINTS PER MONTH.
AND SPEAKING WITH BRIAN ABOUT THAT, AT THE BEGINNING, FROM 2021 TO 2022, WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH EDUCATION FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT THAT THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF TRASH SPILLS DWINDLE DOWN TO A VERY SMALL NUMBER.
AND YOU WILL SEE AFTER MARCH THIS YEAR, COMPLAINTS HAVE STARTED TO RISE AGAIN.
AND BEING THE PERSON WHO LOOKS AT COMPLAINTS EVERY DAY, I WILL TELL YOU THAT MOST OF THOSE ARE ACTUALLY TRASHCAN COMPLAINTS.
THEY'RE NOT SPILLS, THEY'RE COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRASH CANS BEING LEFT OUT.
SO THE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT OF THIS PROGRAM IS THAT PROPERTY MANAGERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE REALLY LEARNED WITH PARTNER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CODE AND WITH EDUCATION AND TRASH BILLS.
TRASH BILLS HAVE GONE DOWN DRASTICALLY.
SO NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS JUST COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRASH CANS BEING, BEING LEFT OUT.
AND, UM, JUST TO KIND OF REMIND THE COUNCIL, WHICH YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT YOU HAD WORKED WITH UPDATING THE TRASH ORDINANCE IN 2021 IN RESPONSE TO THE NUMBER OF TRASH ISSUES THAT WE HAD.
AND I WANNA SAY IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S WORKED.
IT'S A PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN WELL EXECUTED.
SO THE COMPLAINT HISTORY AROUND NOISE, UM, IS UP AND DOWN.
AND AGAIN, WE HAVE A TERRIFIC FOLLOW UP FROM PD AFTER HOURS.
WE HAVE AN OUTREACH TO EMERGENCY CONTACTS DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS.
AND, UM, AGAIN, COUNSEL HAD UPDATED THIS NOISE OR ORDINANCE IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR JUST TO FACILITATE ENFORCEMENT AROUND VIOLATIONS.
THIS PIE CHART BREAKS OUT THE TOTAL COMPLAINT HISTORY FROM THE INCEPTION OF THE HOTLINE UNTIL THE END OF NOV UH, THE END OF OCTOBER.
AND IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT TRASH IS A BIG PART OF THAT.
UM, I DON'T IF WE, IF WE BROKE OUT TRASH CANNED COMPLAINTS, IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE LESS, BUT, BUT TRASH IS CLEARLY THE SIGNIFICANT OFFENDER HERE.
[02:30:01]
FOLLOWED BY COMPLAINTS ABOUT PARKING AND THEN LIGHTING A SMALL PIECE ABOUT ILLEGAL RENTAL AND A SMALL PIECE ABOUT OCCUPANCY.AND I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH KURT.
WE'VE HAD SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO OCCUPY A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
AND SINCE THE ORDINANCE APPLIES TO BOTH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND SHORT TERM RENTALS ALIKE, WE CAN'T DICTATE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO COULD OCCUPY SHORT TERM RENTAL WITHOUT DICTATING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD OCCUPY A RESIDES.
AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO DO.
UM, THE OTHER PIECE ABOUT ILLEGAL RENTAL, SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL CALL AND SAY THAT THEY BELIEVE A PROPERTY IS BEING RENTED ILLEGALLY, AND THAT'S A NICE OPPORTUNITY FOR US IF THAT'S ACTUALLY THE CASE, TO FLAG THAT PERSON AND, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT A REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
THE COMMUNITY HAS GOTTEN INVOLVED AND THE USE OF THE HOTLINE WAS LAGGING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, I THINK IN MAY OR JUNE TO KIND OF SEND OUT, UH, IN THE CITY BIZ AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE SHORT TERM RENTAL HOTLINE AND JUST ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO USE IT.
AND IT HAS PICKED UP AND WE DON'T ALWAYS GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT PROPERTIES THAT ARE SHORT TERM RENTALS, BUT MANY TIMES IT'S INFORMATION STILL THAT'S USEFUL TO THE CODE TEAM.
AND IT'S REALLY ENCOURAGING TO SEE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS SEIZED THE HOTLINE AS A RESOURCE THAT'S A VOICE FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT WAY FOR US, FOR THEM TO TELL US HOW THINGS ARE GOING.
SO THAT'S AN ONGOING RESOURCE.
THE PARTNERSHIP WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS, UH, STEMMED FROM DAILY REPORTING OF CODE RELATED VIOLATIONS.
CODE ENFORCEMENT WILL, WILL INVESTIGATE EACH REPORT SOMETIMES IF WE GET FIVE TRASHCAN COMPLAINTS.
AND THAT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE GENERALLY FROM THE SAME PERSON, SO THAT ISN'T ALWAYS THE BEST USE OF THEIR TIME.
BUT CODE IS VERY DILIGENT IN, IN LOOKING AT, AT EACH REPORT AND FOLLOWING UP WITH SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS AND EDUCATING WHEN NECESSARY CITING PEOPLE.
IT'S A, IT'S A REAL ED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AND I THINK IT GIVES CODE A FURTHER REACH IN TERMS OF SPEAKING TO PROPERTY OWNERS ABOUT WHAT'S REQUIRED.
THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION, AS I SAID, IN TRASH BILLS FROM 2021 TO 2022.
THERE IS, THANKS TO CODE'S FOLLOW UP IN CITING NON-COMPLIANT PROPERTY OWNERS, WE HAVE HAD AN INCREASE IN EMERGENCY CONTACT REGISTRATIONS AND CODE DOES THE DIFFICULT RESEARCH.
THE THE DATABASE AS IT STANDS HAS IS IT HAS STOOD, HAS BEEN PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN EMERGENCY CONTACT REGISTRATIONS.
SO IF THERE IS MORE RESEARCH TO BE DONE BY OWNERS OR FOR OWNER INFORMATION CODE HAS TAKEN THAT ON AND DONE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SLEUTHING SOMETIMES TO TRACK DOWN WHO THE BILL OWNER OF THE PROPERTY IS AND, AND THEY'VE BEEN GOOD.
EARLIER ON IN THE PRESENTATION YOU SAID EMERGENCY CONTRACT WAS AT 30%.
I PUT A LOT OF HARD WORK INTO THAT.
I HAVE TALKED TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO'S CREATED AN EMERGENCY CONTACT SINCE 2020.
THERESA, LET ME PIGGYBACK ON THAT.
ARE THEY AVAILABLE? I MEAN, WHEN THEY GET CALLED, ARE THEY LOCAL, THESE EMERGENCY CONTACTS, AND ARE THEY AVAILABLE TO RESOLVE ISSUES QUICKLY? MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED HAVE A LOCAL AGENT.
SO THERE ARE PEOPLE, THERE WAS AN ORIGINAL REQUIREMENT IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRED SOMEONE TO BE ON SITE IN TOWN TO BE AN EMERGENCY CONTACT.
AND THAT LANGUAGE WAS LOOSENED UP TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO BE OUT OF STATE.
BUT EVERYONE HAS THAT, THAT I'VE RUN INTO, HAS A LOCAL AGENT.
UM, THERE'S QUITE A NUMBER WHO USE SOME OF THE LOCAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES.
AND THEN THERE'S ACTUALLY AN, AN OPPORTUNITY THAT A NUMBER OF LOCAL FOLKS HAVE UTILIZED WHERE THEY CREATE THEIR OWN SMALL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
SO THEY MAY BE WATCHING THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE PROPERTIES FOR PEOPLE.
SO IT'S ACTUALLY BECOME A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF OUR LOCAL PEOPLE.
SO I HAVE THE, THE SAME REPORT THAT I SENT OUT TO THE COUNCIL, UH, AT THE END OF OCTOBER.
THIS IS SHORT-TERM RENTAL IMPACTS TOTAL PROPERTIES AS OF OCTOBER,
[02:35:01]
THE END OF OCTOBER, SORRY, 15.2% OF THE 606,775 HOUSING UNITS IN SEDONA.CITY LIMITS ARE SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND THE PROGRAM IS AT 92% COMPLIANCE.
I'M, I'M GONNA POINT OUT THAT I HAD A VISIT FROM MIKE RABER WHO'S WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY PLAN AND THEY'RE DOING QUITE A BIT OF EFFORT WITH THE CENSUS AND DIFFERENT FORMS OF DATA TO IDENTIFY THE, THE NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS IN SEDONA.
AND UP UNTIL A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHEN MIKE VISITED ME, THE NUMBER THAT WE USED WAS 66 71.
AND THE COMMUNITY PLAN COMMITTEE, INCLUDING MIKE, HAVE PUT QUITE A BIT OF EFFORT INTO SIFTING THROUGH THE DATA.
AND THEY'VE COME UP WITH A NEW NUMBER BASED ON THE 2020 CENSUS, WHICH IS 6,775.
SO THAT ORIGINAL REPORT I PASSED OUT SHOWED OUR HOUSING, OUR SHORT TERM RENTALS AT 15.4% OF HOUSING.
AND, AND THIS CORRECTED NUMBER SHOWS IT AT 15.2%.
SO WE'RE STILL EASILY ABOVE 15%, JUST A MINOR CORRECTION.
UM, AT THIS POINT TIME, WE HAVE 1029 SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNITS WITHIN CITY LIMITS.
THE GREAT PREPONDERANCE OF THOSE ARE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES OUT OF CITY LIMITS.
WE HAVE 555 FOR A TOTAL OF 1,584 SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
HOW FAR OUT OF CITY LIMITS DO YOU GO WHEN YOU CALCULATE THIS? THERE? I I THINK IT'S, THERE'S GREATER SEDONAS.
SO SOME OF IT MOVES INTO LIKE COCONINO COUNTY AND YAVAPAI COUNTY.
I KNOW THE VILLAGE IS INCLUDED IN THE DATA THAT I HAVE SEEN.
I HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT RANGING TOO FAR BEYOND LIKE THE VILLAGE AND KIND OF UP INTO THE CANYON.
I DON'T SEE COTTONWOOD COMING UP.
I DON'T SEE ANY OF THE OTHER VERDE VALLEY COMMUNITIES.
SO AS OF OCTOBER 31ST THIS YEAR, SEDONA HAD A TOTAL OF 2,719 ADVERTISED ROOMS,
THAT'S A LOT OF ADVERTISED ROOMS. THAT'S VERY SIGNIFICANT.
BUT IF IT'S A WHOLE HOUSE AND IT HAS FOUR BEDROOMS, THAT'S COUNTED AS FOUR TIMES, CORRECT? IT'S THIS, THIS COUNT IS BY ROOM.
SO THIS, THIS MAP IS ALSO AS OF OCTOBER 31ST.
LISA LURES WAS KIND ENOUGH TO PUT THIS TOGETHER FOR ME.
SO THIS SHOWS THE NUMBER, KIND OF THE MAPPED OUT NUMBER AND PLACEMENT OF ALL OF THE, THE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
AND THIS IS JUST WITHIN CITY LIMITS.
SO IN OUR NEW PERMIT PROGRAM, GOS IS GOING TO PROVIDE A WEB-BASED PERMIT APPLICATION PAGE THAT'S GONNA INCLUDE, WE'RE GONNA ROLL IN THE EMERGENCY CONTACT REQUIRE REQUIREMENTS.
SO OWNERS WILL PROVIDING US BOTH THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION AND ALSO THEIR DESIGNATED EMERGENCY CONTACT REGISTRATION.
AND THOSE ARE REQUIRED FIELDS.
SO WE WILL COLLECT BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A PAYMENT PORTAL FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE PERMIT FEES.
AND I HAVE SPOKEN WITH GOS, UM, YESTERDAY AND THEY HAVE SET UP THE, THE ARRANGEMENT WITH THE SYSTEM.
WE ALREADY USE A COMPANY WE ALREADY USE FOR FINANCE, WHICH IS EXPRESS BILL PAY, AND THE TESTING PORTAL HAS BEEN SET UP.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE LONGEST PART OF THE, THE SETUP PROCESS FOR THIS NEW SOFTWARE.
SO THEY ARE BEGINNING THAT TESTING PROCESS NEXT WEEK.
SO WE ARE ON TRACK FOR, UH, FOR IMPLEMENTING THAT.
AND, AND THAT'S VERY GOOD NEWS.
SO, AND, AND WHEN, I'M SORRY, WHEN WOULD IT BE IMPLEMENTED? WELL, WE'RE LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTING THIS NEW PROGRAM, HAVING IT READY TO GO BY JANUARY 15TH.
WE WANNA BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME TIME FOR PEOPLE TO REGISTER EARLY AND, AND THAT WILL COME UP IN MY PRESENTATION AS WELL.
SO THERE'S A PAYMENT PORTAL FOR PERMIT FEES AND RENEWAL FEES.
THERE'S GOING TO BE AN AUTOMATED YEARLY RENEWAL NOTICE THAT'LL GO OUT 60, 60 DAYS BEFORE RENEWAL IS REQUIRED.
SO THIS WHOLE PROCESS WILL BE AUTOMATED,
[02:40:01]
THE SAME, THE SAME FEE WILL BE CHARGED REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S A, A NEW PERMIT OR A RENEWAL.AND THE SYSTEM WILL AUTOMATICALLY REACH OUT TO THAT.
UM, WE HAVE A LETTER THAT WILL GO OUT EARLY JANUARY TO ALL ROUGHLY 980 OR 1,029 PROPERTIES TO ALL THOSE OWNERS, LETTING THEM KNOW, EXPLAINING THE NEW, UH, UPDATE TO THE ORDINANCE AND THE NEW REQUIREMENT.
AND I WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO REACH, HAVE THAT LETTER, REACH THEM BY PROBABLY THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK IN JANUARY SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT'S COMING AND, AND THAT EXPECTATION, AND THAT IS PART OF OUR LANGUAGE OF OUR ORDINANCE, IS TO THAT THEY BE INFORMED.
SO THEY WILL BE, THEY WILL BE INFORMED.
JUST A QUICK QUESTION ON THAT.
YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THERE'S A LOT OF HOUSES CHANGING HANDS.
SO IF PROPERTY A, UH, REGISTERS AND NINE MONTHS LATER THEY CHANGE OWNERSHIP, WE'RE GONNA SEND THE LETTER TO PROPERTY.
A'S FORMER OWNER, HOW WOULD WE KNOW? IS THERE SOMETHING IN THERE THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO LET US KNOW A CHANGE OF ADDRESS? THERE IS PART OF THE NEW ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES THAT INFORMATION I'M ASKING KEPT UP TO DATE.
AND IF THEY DON'T, UH, THERE'S PENALTY FOR THAT.
THE OTHER KIND OF SECRET WEAPON WE HAVE ON OUR SIDE, AGAIN, IS THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED VERY NICELY BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO, OR THE PROPERTY MANAGERS WHO WORK WELL WITH US AND THE WORD IS SPREADING.
AND I HAVE MORE AND MORE REALTORS REACHING OUT, ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS.
AND THEY'RE DRIVING THEIR CLIENTS TO ASK QUESTIONS.
AND PART OF MY HOPE FOR THIS PROGRAM IS AS AN EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNICATION COMPONENT, IF WE'RE USEFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THEY FIND THAT THEY CAN FIND THE INFORMATION THEY NEED, THAT ENCOURAGES COMPLIANCE AS A POSITIVE THING.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS BUILT INTO THE NEW ORDINANCE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A, A GROWING, UM, CULTURE OF COMMUNICATION.
AND I'M UNDER NO ILLUSIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA CAPTURE EVERYONE, BUT THERE'S A MOMENTUM HAPPENING.
AND PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST YEAR WHEN THERE WAS DISCUSSION IN THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT CAPPING, UM, A LOT OF REALTORS SENT THEIR CLIENTS AND PEOPLE CONTINUE TO CALL AND ASK QUESTIONS AND THERE WILL BE PRESS RELEASE AND WEBSITE UPDATE THAT I WILL WORK WITH LAUREN IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THE INFORMATION IS GETTING OUT THERE, BUT WE'RE GETTING ACTUAL HELP FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.
ONE OF THE OTHER, ONE OF THE REAL BENEFITS OF THIS, UH, NEW PROGRAM IS, IS JUST MUCH MORE COMPLETE OWNER INFORMATION.
UM, WHAT WE'VE DEALT WITH IN THE PAST IS THAT THE REGISTRATION PROGRAM PRIMARILY WAS CONCERNED WITH THE EMERGENCY CONTACT AND PEOPLE WHO CREATED ACCOUNTS HAD CHOICES ABOUT WHAT INFORMATION THEY SHARED WITH US.
SO SOMETIMES WE GOT THE LLC, SOMETIMES WE GOT AN OWNER, SOMETIMES WE HAD A PROPERTY MANAGER CREATING AN ACCOUNT.
SO THIS NEW PROGRAM IS GOING TO REQUIRE OWNER INFORMATION.
IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE THE OWNER'S DESIGNEE AND THE EMERGENCY CONTACT, AND THAT'S GOING TO MAKE OUR JOBS EASIER, PARTICULARLY CODE IN FINDING ACCURATE INFORMATION.
UM, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT AUGMENTED REPORTING FOR TRACKING CODE CITATIONS AND COURT DISTRIBUTIONS, BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE NEW, THE NEW, UH, ORDINANCE AND PERMITS CAN BE SUSPENDED FOR VERIFIED VIOLATIONS OR BY NOT FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PERMIT PROGRAM.
THE ORDINANCE ALSO CREATES AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL PROCESS FOR PERMIT SUSPENSIONS OR DENIALS.
SO OWNERS ARE GOING TO, ARE STILL REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE CITY WITH EMERGENCY CONTACT PERSON WHO CAN RESPOND TO COMPLAINTS IN A TIMELY MANNER.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO THEIR NEIGHBORS OF THE FACT THAT THEY'RE OPERATING A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS ARE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN PROPERTY AND LIABILITY AND INSURANCE.
SHORTTERM RENTAL OWNERS ARE REQUIRED TO DO A BACKGROUND CHECK ON ALL GUESTS.
IF THE ONLINE LODGING COMPANY DOES NOT DO BACKGROUND CHECKS ON THE BOOKING GUEST, THERE WILL BE ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR PRE DEFENDERS AND OWNERS OR PROPERTY MANAGERS.
WHOEVER THE DESIGNEE IS WILL BE REQUIRED TO POST A SHORT TERM RENTAL NOTICE ON THE PROPERTY.
AND THAT WILL INCLUDE RELEVANT INFORMATION ON EMERGENCY SERVICES AS WELL AS CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE OWNER
[02:45:01]
AND, UM, WHAT THE APPROPRIATE USES OF THE PROPERTY ARE.CAN I ASK A QUESTION? THE POSTING OF THE NOTICE THAT'S, THAT'S IN THE STATE, THAT'S A, A REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW? YES.
I THINK IT, WELL, I WON'T SAY WHAT, I THINK IT'S IRRELEVANT.
SO WE WILL BE COLLECTING, UH, PERMIT FEES AND THE APPLICATION FEE AND THE ANNUAL RENEWAL FEE RIGHT NOW ARE $200, WHICH IS NON-REFUNDABLE.
SO IF SOMEONE OBTAINS A PERMIT BUT THEY CHANGE YOUR MIND MIDWAY THROUGH THE YEAR, THEY, THEY'VE BEEN PERMITTED, IT'LL RUN THROUGH THE YEAR.
THIS WILL BE AN ANNUALLY RENEWABLE PERMIT AND IT WILL BE A ROLLING RENEWAL.
FAILURE TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RECEIVING WRITTEN NOTICE HAS A CIVIL PENALTY OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER MONTH.
VERIFIED VIOLATION PENALTIES AND, AND THIS IS NEW FOR US, THIS IS GOING TO, UH, HOPEFULLY HAVE PEOPLE TAKE MORE NOTICE OF OF BEING IN COMPLIANCE.
FIRST VIOLATION IS UP TO $500 OR ONE NIGHT'S ADVERTISED RENT, WHICHEVER IS HIGHER.
A SECOND VIOLATION IS UP TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS OR TWO NIGHTS ADVERTISED RENT, WHICHEVER IS HIGHER.
AND THE THIRD VIOLATION IS UP TO $3,500 OR THREE NIGHTS ADVERTISED RENT, WHICHEVER IS HIGHER IF ADOPTED.
THE ORDINANCE WILL BE EFFECTIVE ON JANUARY 15TH, 2023 SHORT.
THE CHURCH ROOM RENTAL PERMIT REQUIREMENT WILL NOT BE IN EFFECT UNTIL FEBRUARY 15TH, 2023.
THE ONLINE PERMIT APPLICATION AND PAYMENT PORTAL WILL BE AVAILABLE BEGINNING JANUARY 15TH, 2023 IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE WISHING TO OBTAIN A PERMIT PRIOR TO THE FEBRUARY 15TH DEADLINE.
ANY PERMITS ISSUED PRIOR TO FEBRUARY 15TH WILL HAVE A START DATE, HOWEVER OF FEBRUARY 15TH.
SO EVERYONE WILL START ON THE SAME DATE.
ANY QUESTIONS, TOM? THANK YOU MA'AM.
I NOTING YOUR SECOND TO LAST SLIDE, OR CLOSE TO THAT THE ROOM WAS 500 OR THE PENALTY WAS 500 AND WENT TO A THOUSAND.
DID YOU MEAN TO GO TO 3,500 OR, OR 1500? I MEAN, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT WAS QUITE A JUMP THEN ON THAT THIRD DEAL.
WAS THAT JUST TO BRING HOME THE FACT THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT TWICE AND NOW WE'RE GONNA, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE NOTICEABLE FOR YOU? I'M GONNA LET KURT SPEAK TO THAT.
IT'S, THAT'S STRAIGHT IN THE STATE LAW.
UH, AND THAT'S WHAT THE LEGISLATURE ADOPTED THESE, THIS INCREASED PENALTIES FOR VERIFIED VIOLATIONS.
AND ON THE BACKGROUND CHECKS, I THINK SOMEBODY MENTIONED TO ME THEY THOUGHT AIRBNB DID THOSE, DOES AIRBNB DO THOSE? THEY DO.
UH, A NUMBER OF THE PLATFORMS HAVE THAT AS PART OF THEIR SERVICES.
AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE OWNERS TO SHOW OR OR CERTIFY THAT THOSE BACKGROUND CHECKS HAVE BEEN DONE.
AND IF THEY'RE WORKING WITH A PLATFORM THAT DOESN'T PERFORM THEM, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SOMEHOW OBTAIN THAT INFORMATION.
SO THEY CAN'T SAY, YOU CAN SEE BY MY LISTING, I'M ALWAYS ON AN AIRBNB SOURCE AND THAT DOESN'T CUT IT.
THEN THEY'VE GOTTA ACTUALLY GET THE RECORDS FROM AIRBNB YEAH.
SO I WOULDN'T GO, GO THAT FAR.
IF THEY'RE LISTED ON A ONLINE LODGING MARKETPLACE THAT DOES BACKGROUND CHECKS ON THE BOOKING GUESTS, THEN THAT SATISFIES THIS, THIS REQUIREMENT.
IF THEY'RE ALSO LISTED SOMEWHERE ELSE, THEN WE, THEN WE COULD HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH THE, WITH THE OWNERS.
BUT THEY, THEY NEED TO BE ANY, ON ANY BOOKING GUEST HAS TO HAVE THE BACKGROUND CHECK EITHER DONE BY THE OWNER OF THIS SHORT TERM RENTAL OR BY THE ONLINE MARKETPLACE.
BECAUSE I THINK THE LANGUAGE SAYS IF THE OWNER DOES IT, UH, SEPARATE BY THEMSELVES, THEN THAT THEY HAVE TO SHOW PROOF AND KEEP RECORDS OF THAT FOR A YEAR.
UM, AND SO, AND IF THE OWNERS, IF THEY'RE NOT GONNA BOOK THROUGH AN ONLINE MARKETPLACE THAT DOES BACKGROUND CHECKS THROUGH A BOOKING GUEST AS ALLOWED BY STATE LAW, UH, THEN THE ORDINANCE HAS THEM, UM, DO A BACKGROUND CHECK ON EVERY ADULT GUEST.
IF THEY COULD SHOW THAT THEY ONLY LIST THROUGH AIRBNB WHO DOES THESE, WOULD THEY HAVE TO THEN PROVIDE THE RECORDS FOR A YEAR AS WELL? OR WOULD THEY BE EXEMPTED FROM THAT? THE, THE, FOR EITHER, EITHER, UM, WAY THAT THEY CHOOSE TO FULFILL THIS REQUIREMENT, THEY'D HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT THEY'VE DONE THE BACKGROUND CHECKS OR THAT THE BOOKING ONLINE C'S IN THE BACKGROUND CHECK.
SO I THINK WE COULD, UH, AND WE CAN VERIFY WITH THAT BEFOREHAND, BUT I, UM, AIRBNB, WHO PERFORMS THOSE KEEPS THOSE FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME AS WELL.
WELL, I JUST, BUT BUT IF THEY DO IT THEMSELVES, THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE RECORD AND SHOW IT.
[02:50:01]
SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF THEY STILL HAVE TO HAVE THE RECORD AND SHOW IT.YEAH, I MEAN, WELL THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT, BUT THEY'D HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE IT TO THE CITY IF, IF REQUESTED.
THE CITY'S NOT GOING TO REQUEST IT INITIALLY.
I MEAN, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR THAT PROOF.
AND I DEFER TO, YOU KNOW, THERE ON THAT.
BUT THE, THE GOAL THERE WOULD BE, I THINK IF IT, IF IT BECAME A, A PROBLEM OR A KNOWN PROBLEM, THEN THERE'D BE AUDITS TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS BEING CORRECTED.
BUT, UM, UH, RIGHT NOW WE BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, MOST, MOST OF THE SHORT TERM OWNERS WILL COMPLY WITH THAT AND WON'T HAVE AN ISSUE.
MOST OF THE, MOST OF THE OWNERS I'VE SPOKE WITH WANT TO COMPLY.
THEY'RE RELIEVED THAT WE'VE SET OUT SOME GUIDELINES.
UM, WHILE IT WOULD BE NICE TO IMAGINE THAT SOMEHOW WE COULD VERIFY EACH AND EVERY RECORD.
I, I'M A ONE PERSON PROGRAM AND THE LEVEL OF VERIFICATION, WHEN WE START ADDING LAYERS OF VERIFICATION, THAT QUICKLY BECOMES UNTENABLE TO TRACK ALL THESE THINGS.
UM, IT, IT JUST, WITH THE WAY THE PROGRAM IS RIGHT NOW, WE COULDN'T DO THAT.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE GOING ON FAITH THAT THE GUIDELINES, THE ORDINANCE HAS BEEN LAID OUT AS IT IS.
THEY'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PROOF, AS KURT SAID, IF REQUESTED, AND THE WISE ONES WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY.
I FEEL COMFORT, COMFORT IN YOUR COMMENT, BUT I'M NOT HAPPY WITH IT IF I'M A RENTER, IF I'M SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNER, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WE'RE NOT REALLY COMMIT, BUT IN THE EVENT WE DO, YOU GOTTA HAVE IT ANYWAY.
SO I BETTER HAVE IT IS WHAT I'M KIND OF HEARING.
WELL, WE'RE NOT THIS, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A PROGRAM THAT'S IN BALANCE BETWEEN, UM, RESPECTING WHAT S DONOR RESIDENTS NEED AND, AND BEING SOMETHING THAT IS, THIS MIGHT BE THE WRONG WAY TO PUT IT, BUT USER FRIENDLY FOR PROPERTY OWNERS.
THE, THE STRENGTH OF THIS PROGRAM BASED ON WHAT I'VE SEEN IS, IS BASED ON COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP.
AND WE'RE NOT GONNA GET PEOPLE NECESSARILY TO COMPLY WITH THIS HUGE ARMY OF PEOPLE CUZ WE DON'T HAVE IT IN TERMS OF RIGID STRUCTURES.
BUT WE CAN EDUCATE, WE CAN COMMUNICATE.
I I DON'T EVEN HAVE A NUMBER FOR HOW MANY PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO.
AND SO THROUGH COMMUNITY AND RESOURCE AND BEING AVAILABLE, WHAT I'VE SEEN IS MOST PEOPLE ACT IN GOOD FAITH.
AND MORE AND MORE IF, IF THERE'S SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS COMING UP, WE'LL HAVE A NEIGHBOR CALL US OR SOMEONE WHO'S OBSERVED SOMETHING.
UM, I KNOW BOTH BRIAN AND STEVE MEEZ HAVE WORKED WITH A LOCAL, UM, INTERIOR DESIGNER WHO RECOGNIZED THAT THERE WERE PRO PROPERTIES WHO WERE GETTING WORK DONE WITHOUT, WITHOUT PERMITS AND KIND OF FLAG THAT.
AND SO THERE'S THIS, THIS NETWORK OF COOPERATION.
AND I DON'T WANNA BE MISS MARY SUNSHINE AND BE NAIVE, BUT, BUT I DO THINK COMMUNITY MATTERS.
I THINK COMMUNICATION MATTERS.
I THINK EDUCATION AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE OWNERS AND, AND THOSE WHO WORK WITH THESE PROPERTIES HAS HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
SO I'M, I'M WILLING TO, TO BUILD ON TRUST AT THIS POINT UNTIL WE FIND OUT DIFFERENTLY.
I JUST REMEMBER TRUST WOULD VERIFY.
I, I ASKED KURT, DIDN'T WE, WASN'T THERE SOME RESTRICTION IN THE PAST THAT WE COULDN'T ASK SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS TO DO THINGS THAT WE COULDN'T ASK RENTAL LODGING COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DO? SO, SO THAT GENERAL DISTINCTION AND, AND IT'S MORE, WE CAN'T YEAH.
TREAT SHORT TERM RENTALS DIFFERENTLY THAN, THAN RESIDENCES.
UM, AND SO WE HAVE TO TREAT THEM LIKE RESIDENCES IS IN, IS STILL IN THE, IN THE STATE LAW.
UH, WHAT CHANGES IN ADDITION TO THAT? THEY, THE STATE LAW NOW, NOW ALLOWS THE CITY TO ADOPT THESE ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS AND PERMIT PROGRAMS. OKAY.
SO THERE'S, THIS IS KIND OF BROKEN AWAY FROM THAT THOUGHT AND THAT LODGING COUNCIL MEMBERS DON'T HAVE TO DO BACKGROUND CHECKS ON THEIR OVERNIGHT GUESS.
UH, YEAH, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
THE STATE LAW DOES ALLOW IT IN SHORT TERM RENTALS.
AND I THINK THE IDEA BEHIND THAT IS YOU NOW HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS IN NEIGHBORHOODS, WHEREAS BEFORE THEY WERE AT LEAST IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.
YEAH, I DON'T THINK THE COMPARISON WAS TO LODGING AS MUCH AS IT WAS TO OTHER RESIDENCES.
IN TERMS OF THE VIOLATIONS AND THE, IT'S CORRECT THAT THE VIOLATIONS, BECAUSE I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN HERE, THERE'S PENALTIES, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE LICENSE POTENTIALLY TO SUSPEND THE LICENSE.
SO THE, FOR THE FIRST VIOLATION AND THEN THE INCREASE IN THE SECOND VIOLATION, IS THAT, AND THEN THE THIRD, ARE THEY SEPARATE VIOLATIONS? ARE THEY THE SAME VIOLATION? BECAUSE I NOTICE SUSPEND A LICENSE, IT HAS TO BE THE SAME VIOLATION MULTIPLE TIMES?
[02:55:01]
NO.SO IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE THE, THE EXACT SAME TYPE OF VIOLATION.
UH, IN ORDER TO SPEND A LICENSE, WE NEED EITHER ONE VERIFIED VIOLATION OF, OF CERTAIN TYPES LIKE HAVING, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN FELONIES COMMITTED OR REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, OR A SPECIAL EVENT WHERE TO OCCUR ON THE PROPERTY.
UH, BUT FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE VIOLATIONS WE'RE GONNA SEE NOISE OR, OR TRASH.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE, UM, THREE VERIFIED VIOLATIONS, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE THE SAME TYPE OF VERIFIED VIOLATIONS.
SO ONE NOISE, ONE TRASH, ONE PARKING.
SO, UH, THERE'S THE EXCEPTION FOR, FOR PARKING AND AESTHETIC CONCERNS DON'T COUNT AS VERIFIED VIOLATIONS.
BUT YES, GENERALLY, SO IT COULD BE TWO NOISES AND, AND, UH, TRASH POTENTIALLY.
AND THOSE HAVE TO BE WITHIN THE SAME YEAR IN ORDER TO RIGHT.
THIS, THIS WAS A REALLY FACT BASED PRESENTATION.
I APPRECIATE, UH, ALSO ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN PUTTING IN.
SO I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
AND FOR SOME OF THE, UH, THESE NEW CODES, I'M LOOKING AT THESE, UM, HERE IN ON THE TABLET THAT MAY NOT BE UPDATED WITH SOME OF THESE.
I KNOW THERE'S KURT, THERE WAS A COUPLE UPDATES THE PAST DAY OR TWO, SO I MAY NOT HAVE THE MOST RECENT.
UM, BUT FOR THE NOTIFICATION FROM, UH, THE, UH, PROPERTY OWNER OWNERS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO ALL SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ADJACENT TO DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM AND DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE STREET, UH, OF THE SHORT TERM RENTAL.
UH, WE TALKED ABOUT REQUIRING A REGISTERED RETURN RECEIPT BECAUSE HOW DO WE KNOW THAT, UH, THE NEIGHBOR WAS CONTACTED? NOW IT WOULDN'T BE ON US TO REALLY CHECK, BUT IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, THE OWNER SHOULD BE ABLE TO PRODUCE A DOCUMENT THAT SAYS, OH, I DID CONTACT THEM.
UM, I TEND TO THINK SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS WHO AREN'T FOND OF SHORT TERM RENTALS WOULD TURN AROUND AND SAY, I NEVER GOT THE NOTICE.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE, THE RENTAL OWNER TO BE ABLE TO PROVE THAT YES, I DID IT.
SO CAN WE REQUIRE THAT, UH, CHANGE IN ANY WAY ON THE, UH, 1168? SO, SO THAT'S CURRENTLY IN THE ORDINANCE.
SO IT'S, I MEAN, NOT IN 1168, BUT IN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE BEFORE THE CITY DOES REQUIRE THAT THE WRITTEN NEIGHBOR NOTIFICATION BE EITHER HAND DELIVERED IN WHICH, IN WHICH CASE THE, THE OWNER OR DESIGN OR WHOEVER'S DOING THE HAND DELIVERING COULD TESTIFY AND SAY, YEAH, I GAVE IT TO THEM.
AND SO THAT'D BE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE.
UM, OR THAT THEY JUST, INSTEAD OF JUST MAILING IT OR EMAILING IT, IF THEY HAPPEN TO HAVE EMAIL ADDRESSES, THEY JUST DO THE ADDITIONAL STEP OF A RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED SO THAT THERE SOME DOCUMENT COMES BACK.
IT WAS, AND SHOWED THAT IT WAS AT LEAST AN ATTEMPTED DELIVERY WAS MADE.
I ACTUALLY WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT EXACT POINT ABOUT THE NA NOTIFICATION REQUIRED, UM, IN THE ORDINANCE, UH, B YOU KNOW, SAYS THAT IF THERE'S A CHANGE, IT'S WITHIN FIVE CALENDAR DAYS.
BUT THE INITIAL PART OF A, I DIDN'T SEE A TIMEFRAME FOR THE NOTIFICATION TO NEIGHBORS IS, IS THERE, IT'S, IT'S, UH, AT THE BEGINNING OF IT, IT SAYS PRIOR TO OFFERING, UH, THE, OR USING THE, THE SHORT TERM RENTAL FOR RENT.
SO PRIOR FOR ADVERTISING OR USING AS A, THEY NEED TO NOTIFY THE NEIGHBORS.
SO IN THIS CASE, THE ORDINANCE IS PROPOSED ARE GONNA AFFECT JANUARY 15TH.
UM, AND, UH, I MEAN THERE, THERE'LL BE SOME LEEWAYS WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THIS, BUT I IDEALLY THEY'D BE, UH, REACHING OUT BEFORE THAT POINT, UM, TO BEGIN THEIR NEIGHBOR NOTIFICATION.
UH, SO THEY COULD BE ALL PREPARED AND READY WHEN THE PERMIT REQUIREMENT GOES INTO EFFECT ON FEBRUARY 15TH.
AND VICE MAYOR? UM, IT'S
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION, COUNSELOR CANELLA IS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERMIT APPLICATION, THERE WILL BE A BOX ON THE APPLICATION PAGE THAT THE OWNER OR THEIR AGENT HAS TO BASICALLY SAY, I AM CERTIFYING THAT I HAVE DONE AND MET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS PERMIT.
AND THAT INCLUDES INSURANCE, IT INCLUDES NEIGHBOR NOTIFICATION AND, AND THE VARIOUS THINGS.
SO IT'S NOT THE SAME AS AN AFFIDAVIT, BUT THEY'RE GONNA CLICK THAT BOX AND THAT'S A CONDITION FOR BEING PERMITTED.
SO THAT THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE TO, THAT'S A, THEY, THEY WILL NOT GET A PERMIT IF THAT BOX IS NOT CHECKED.
SO THERE HAS TO BE A DELIBERATE ACT AND A, A CONDITION OF COMPLIANCE.
THAT LEADS RIGHT INTO MY NEXT QUESTION.
BUT YOU WEREN'T DONE RIGHT? NO, I WASN'T.
SO GOING DOWN TO THE BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIRED, I THOUGHT, I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT THAT CUR WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH THE ORDINANCE
[03:00:01]
ITSELF.NO, THAT'S WHAT YOU HAD WHAT THEREA HAD SAID INITIALLY.
YOU WANT, DO YOU WANT ME TO PULL IT OUT FOR YOU? THE, THE ONLY, I WAS JUST GONNA POINT OUT ONE, ONE ADDITIONAL CHANGE.
I THOUGHT YOU, AND THAT'S, I MEAN, I CAN JUST TELL YOU AND IT'LL BE, UM, IT, IT, THE ORDINANCE, THE LATEST VERSION STILL SAID FEBRUARY 1ST FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE OF THE PERMITS.
UM, AND THAT'LL BE FEBRUARY 15TH TO CORRESPOND A MONTH LATER FROM THE JANUARY 15TH EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ORDINANCE.
UM, AND THE OTHER CHANGES WERE SENT OUT TO COUNSEL, UM, AND YOU HAVE THOSE BEFORE YOU, SO, OKAY.
AND SO EITHER TO OR KURT, WHOEVER CAN JUST, I JUST WANNA CLARIFICATION ON THE BACKGROUND CHECK.
IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THE PROPERTY ORDER TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENT OF THE ORDINANCE.
SO, CAUSE I KNOW THAT, OR I'VE HEARD FROM, UH, LOCAL PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THERE'S ONE MAJOR, UH, RENTAL, I THINK IT'S, UH, AIRBNB THAT DOES DO THE BACKGROUND CHECK, BUT OTHERS DON'T.
SO, UH, IF THEY'RE SIGNING A STATEMENT THAT THE, THE BACK THAT THEY WILL BE DONE, IT'S UP TO THEM NOT UPON US.
AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AND SOMEONE'S FOUND TO BE HAVING THE WRONG PEOPLE THERE, UH, IT'S UPON THEM, BUT I JUST, THAT'S CORRECT.
I'LL RESERVE MY, I ANY OTHER TIME FOR LATER.
UM, SO THERESA, ON THAT CHECKLIST THAT YOU HAVE, IS THERE SOMETHING ON THERE AS WELL LANGUAGE THAT WILL SAY THAT, UM, THE OWNER OF THE UNIT HAS LOOKED AT THEIR OWN HOA REQUIREMENTS IN TERMS OF CCNRS? BECAUSE I THINK, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T, AND KURT, THIS GOES TO YOU AS WELL IN TERMS OF IN THE ORDINANCE, WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, MAKE THAT, IT'S BEYOND OUR SCOPE, BUT COULD THERE BE REFERENCE, CUZ I KNOW WE HAVE SHORT TERM RENTAL SHALL COMPLY WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS, INCLUDING LAWS RELATING THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, SANITATION, SOLID WASTE, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
IS THERE A WAY TO ALSO INCLUDE SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES THAT THEY CHECK WITH THEIR CCNRS? CUZ NOT ALL OF THE, SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENTS, THE HOAS, IT'S NOT ALLOWED.
BUT SOMEBODY BUYS AND THEY'RE ALL IN LITIGATION NOW, YOU KNOW, WITH THE ONUS ON THAT.
BUT IF WE KNEW THAT THE AREA DIDN'T ALLOW IT, HOW CAN WE MAKE THEM CHECK TO MAKE SURE BEFORE A PROBLEM GETS CREATED, CAN WE DO IT IN THE LANGUAGE OF LAW AND CAN WE DO IT ON THE FORM? SO, SO WE CAN'T MAKE THAT A REQUIREMENT.
UM, WE CAN, WE CAN PUT THAT ON THERE, UH, A REMINDER, UM, AND ON BOTH THE APPLICATION AND EVEN ON THE PERMIT, IF YOU WANTED TO, THAT JUST CUZ YOU'RE GETTING THIS PERMIT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH YOUR HOA REQUIREMENTS.
PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL H THAT'S FINE TO PUT IN THE NOTICE.
UH, BUT WE'RE UNABLE TO DENY ISSUANCE OF A PERMIT OR REVOKE A PERMIT JUST BECAUSE IT'S IN VIOLATION OF, BUT THE CHECK LIST THAT TRACY IS USING COULD SAY YES, A CHECK MARK.
I CHECK MY HOA REQUIREMENTS ORDERS BE THERE.
I WOULDN'T BE, WE COULDN'T MAKE THAT A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY CHECK THAT TO GET THE PERMIT.
DOES IT? SO THE, THE, THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS PERMIT ARE SET DIRECTLY IN STATE LAW.
UM, AND NOW WHILE THERE'S SOME ROOM FOR INTERPRETATION AND, AND EXPANDING IT, THAT'S NOT WHY.
SO THAT CHECKLIST CAN'T GO BEYOND WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE, WHAT THE STATE LAW IS.
THE CHECKLIST IS WHAT'S USED TO DETERMINE THE PERMIT ELIGIBILITY.
BUT WE CAN PUT THAT IN THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE GIVING OUT.
WE CAN PUT, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT GETS POINTED THAT CLEARLY REDDING BOXED OFF LARGE FONT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO WITH THE CCNRS OVER THERE.
SO IT, IN STATE LAW, THE LANGUAGE SPECIFIC SAYS THE APPLICATION FOR THE PERMIT MAY REQUIRE AN APPLICANT TO PROVIDE ONLY THE FOLLOWING MM-HMM.
AND THERE'S A, A LONG LIST THERE, WHICH INCLUDES ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND ORDINANCES.
BUT THAT'S NOT A LAW REGULATION ORDINANCE THAT WE COULD ENACT.
AND THEN THE SAME THING FOR THE, UH, DENIAL OF A ISSUANCE OF A PERMIT ONLY FOR THE FOLLOWING.
AND THEN THERE'S A LIST LIST OF THE FOLLOWING.
BUT, BUT YOU'RE SAYING WE CAN STILL PUT IT IN THE BASIC INFORMATION? WE CAN PUT IN THE INFORMATION AND, AND HAVE THAT BE REMINDED FOR ALL.
IS IT ALREADY IN, IN THERE WHAT YOU'RE USING? WE HAVE NOT USED, UH, ANY REFERENCE TO HOA PREVIOUSLY, BUT I'VE MADE A NOTE AND THERE'S A, THERE'LL BE AN INFORMATIONAL KIND OF A LANDING SCREEN IN THE APPLICATION THAT KIND OF TALKS TO PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THE PROCESS IS AND WHAT TO EXPECT.
AND WE CAN CERTAINLY REFERENCE HOAS THERE.
AND WE CAN ALSO, IN THE LETTER THAT HAS IS SENT OUT TO PEOPLE NOTIFYING THEM OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR A PERMIT WE CAN REFERENCE, YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO CHECK WITH YOUR HOA CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.
ANYTHING ELSE? J UM, I'M SORRY IF I MISSED IT, BUT I, I DON'T THINK WE'VE TALKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE, UM, WITH THE BACKGROUND CHECKS.
UM, THE FACT THAT THE LAW ALLOWS US TO DO BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ALL OF THE VISITORS, UM, BUT
[03:05:01]
IT'S WAIVED IF IT'S A, LIKE AN AIRBNB FOR EXAMPLE, AND THEY'VE DONE A BACKGROUND CHECK ON ONLY THE BOOKING AGENT.UM, IS THERE, UM, I MEAN I'M STILL, I'M STILL KIND OF UNSURE ABOUT HOW TO, HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT.
AND WE, UH, WE GOT SOME INFORMATION FROM, UH, AN EMAIL THAT SAYS THAT THE LEAGUE OF ARIZONA CITIES AND TOWNS HAS SOME MODEL ORDINANCE.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU FOLLOWED THAT OR DO YOU KNOW HOW THAT COMPARES? UH, I NOT LOOKED AT THE LATEST DRAFT.
I KNOW THAT AIRBNB HAD SOME COMMENTS ON THE ORIGINAL DRAFT, WHICH I WORKED ON THAT COMMITTEE TO, TO, TO, TO INCLUDE.
AND THAT'S, UH, CLOSER TO THE LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE.
UM, BUT THEN AIRBNB REVIEWED IT LIKE A MONTH LATER AND THEY CAME BACK AND I THINK THE, UH, THE LEAGUE SUGGESTED A FEW POTENTIAL CHANGES.
BUT I MEAN, I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO THE, THE, THE SHORT OF IT IS THE, I WAS GONNA PULL UP THE SECTION HERE.
UM, IT WAS IN THE AGENDA BILL, GOD, I HAVE IT PULLED UP ABOUT THE MODEL ORDINANCE.
OH, WELL THE IS ON THE CITY AND TOWNS.
SO IT'S, IT'S, HERE'S WHAT THE, THOSE STATE LOSS HAS FIRST, AND IT IS IN THE MENTIONED IN THE AGENDA BILL AND THE CODE THAT A CITY OR TOWN THAT REQUIRES SEX OFFENDER BACKGROUND CHECKS ON A VACATION RENTAL, SHORT-TERM RENTAL GUEST.
UM, AND THAT'S WHERE THE INTERPRETATIONS OPEN AND IT, BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA, THE SECOND PART OF THE STATUTE SAYS THAT IF YOU CAN, YOU HAVE TO WAIVE THAT REQUIREMENT IF A BOOKING GUEST IS GONNA BE CHECKED BY THE ONLINE LODGING MARKET MARKETPLACE.
AND, AND SO TO ME THAT MEANS FAIRLY CLEARLY THAT WE ARE, THE CITIES ARE ALLOWED TO, AND LET ME PREFACE THIS WITH SAYING THAT ALL OF THIS IS OPTIONAL.
UM, THE STATE LAW DIDN'T SAY THESE ARE THINGS THAT, UH, CITY HAS TO ENACT AND REGULATE.
THEY'RE ALL THINGS THAT THE CITY MAY, UH, NOW ENACT TO REGULATE A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
AND SO, UH, GOING WITH THE MAXIMUM THAT THE, THE LAW ALLOWS, IT WOULD BE THAT THE CITY REQUIRED BACKGROUND, SEX OFFENDER BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ALL GUESS.
UM, EXCEPT FOR THAT, THAT REQUIREMENT SATISFIED IF IT'S DONE ON THE BOOKING GUESTS BY AN ONLINE LODGING MARKETPLACE.
SO BACK TO THE, THE PREVIOUS SITUATION OR THE QUESTION THAT, UH, IF, IF THEY, UH, IF THEY WERE FOUND TO BE, UM, IN VIOLATION OF THAT, SO, UM, THERE WAS A, A SEX OFFENDER, UM, IN, AS ONE OF THE GUESTS, BUT WAS NOT THE BOOKING AGENT AND CAUSED A PROBLEM.
UM, DOES, IS THE, IS AIRBNB STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT? NO.
SO I MEAN, IF THEY HAD FULFILLED, THEY WOULDN'T BE, THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY VIOLATION INTO THIS SECTION IF A BACKGROUND CHECK WAS DONE IN THE BOOKING GUESTS BY AIRBNB, AND THEN IT TURNED OUT ONE OF THE GUESTS THAT THE BOOKING GUESTS INVITED ALONG WITH HIM OR HER, UH, WAS A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER, UH, THAT WOULDN'T BE A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION.
UH, IT WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF THE OTHER PART OF THE CODE WHERE NO, UM, SEX OFFENDERS ARE ALLOWED TO, TO UTILIZE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
UM, AND THEN THAT WOULD, IN ORDER TO, FOR IT TO ENACT ANY TYPE OF PENALTY, THERE'D HAVE TO BE SOME TYPE OF KNOWING COMPONENT.
UH, SO YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HOLD THE OWNER LIABLE IF THEY DID BACKGROUND CHECKS AND IT DIDN'T SHOW UP OR OKAY.
AND WHEN YOU WERE ON THE COMMITTEE WORKING OUT THESE THINGS, THIS PARTICULAR, UM, DIFFERENCE WAS NOT THERE.
THAT HAPPENED SOME AFTERWARDS.
I'M, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD SET THIS UP THIS WAY.
UM, SO IT WAS, IT WAS, UM, THE LANGUAGE IS, IS STRANGE EVEN IN THE, IN THE STATE STATUE.
AND I THINK THAT WAS JUST, WAS A NEGOTIATION BETWEEN, UM, THE MARKETPLACES, AIRBNB AND V VBO AND EXPEDIA AND, AND ALL AIRBNB CARED ABOUT LEGISLATURES AND THEY DIDN'T WANNA BE SEEN AS AGAINST, YOU KNOW, SEX OFFENDERS OR, OR ALLOWING SEX OFFENDERS IN SHORT TERM RENTALS, BUT THEY DIDN'T WANNA MAKE IT A BURDEN ON, ON THE, UH, OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF SHORT TERM RENTALS.
AND SO YOU ENDED UP WITH THIS KIND OF MIX MATCH HODGE POSSIBLE.
YES, YOU CAN DO BACKGROUND CHECKS AND, AND IT ALSO STEMMED FROM PARADISE VALLEY HAD ALREADY REQUIRED PRIOR TO SB 1168, UM, BACKGROUND CHECKS AND THE ATTORNEY, UM, GENERAL KIND OF MIXED FINDINGS ON THAT ONE, BUT IT WASN'T COMPLETELY SHOT DOWN.
SO, SO THAT'S WHERE THAT KIND OF, UH, COLORED THE CONVERSATION AND THE, THE ENACTMENT OF, UH, OF THIS PARTICULAR PROVISION IN, IN SB 1168.
AND PARDON ME, UM, AND JUST AGAIN, FOR, FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BACKGROUND CHECK, IT'S JUST FOR SEX OFFENDER LIST, RIGHT? IT'S NOT, UM, FELONY WHATEVER, LIKE AN EMPLOYER WOULD WANNA DO A, A MORE THOROUGH
[03:10:01]
BACKGROUND CHECK OR IS THAT DIFFERENT, UH, BY THE WAY, IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT, UH, IS REQUIRED OR IS TYPICALLY DONE BY PEOPLE WHO ARE RENTING OUT, UH, FOR LONG-TERM RENTALS WHEN THEY WANT TO CHECK ON THE BACKGROUND OF THEIR PROSPECTIVE RENTAL.I'M UNSURE WHETHER WHAT LONG TERM RENTALS DO, UM, AND THEN EACH ONE PROBABLY DOES SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY, BUT NO, THIS IS JUST A SEX OFFENDER BACKGROUND CHECK.
I WILL SAY THAT THE OTHER REQUIREMENT IS THAT THE OWNER OR DES AN EVEN OWNER, UH, NOT BE, HAVE BEEN, UH, CONVICTED OF A FELONY THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OR SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY, SOMEBODY SO HOMICIDE OR MANSLAUGHTER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THAT'S WITHIN FIVE YEARS OF SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION.
PART OF ME JUST LIKES THINGS TO BE NEAT
AND I SUPPOSE IT'S PRETTY UGLY TO THINK ABOUT HOW SOMEONE MIGHT GAME THAT, BUT, UM, ALRIGHT.
UH, KURT, THE CITY DOES NOT ENFORCE CCNR IS CORRECT, CORRECT? WE DO NOT AND CANNOT.
SO, SO I JUST, I, I, I'M, I THINK WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE SAY ABOUT CCNRS TO THE SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNERS.
I WILL STATE THAT WE ALREADY PUT IN OUR REGULAR BUILDING PERMITS THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU RECEIVE APPROVAL FOR THIS BUILDING PERMIT AND THE COLOR AND EVERYTHING FROM THE CITY, UH, THAT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S GONNA BE APPROVED BY YOUR, IF YOU HAVE ANY HOA OR CCNR OR AN ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE IN THE, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE, THE CCNRS.
SO THAT TYPE OF DISCLAIMERS IS ALREADY THERE.
AND SO IT WOULDN'T BE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE.
AND I DON'T FEEL UR ANY LIABILITY ON THE CITY TO JUST PLACE THAT OUT.
WELL, IN ADDITION TO THIS POLICY, I JUST DON'T WANNA GIVE ANYONE THE IMPRESSION THAT, BECAUSE WE SAY THAT NOW WE'RE GOING TO ENFORCE THEM.
THE CITY CANNOT AND WILL NOT, UM, ENFORCE HOAS.
SO IF YOU'RE GONNA REMIND THEM, MAYBE ADD THAT TO IT.
MAYOR, IF, IF I MAY MAYOR, I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF PHONE CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE IN HOAS IN COMMUNITIES WITH HOAS WHO ARE VERY FRUSTRATED WITH A SHORT TERM RENTAL OPERATING, UH, OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE HOA, AND THEY'VE WANTED THE CITY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AND I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR IN EACH CONVERSATION THAT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THE CITY GETS INVOLVED IN.
THAT HOAS AND CCNRS ARE COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM ANY KIND OF REGULATION THE CITY CAN DO.
WELL, IT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN WE DON'T GET INVOLVED.
WE'RE, WE'RE LEGALLY PROHIBITED FROM BEING INVOLVED.
IT'S CONTRACT LAW, RIGHT? I MEAN, THEY'RE PRIVATE CONTRACTS.
SO IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T GET INVOLVED AND THAT WE DON'T DO IT, BUT LEGALLY WE ARE PROHIBITED FROM GETTING INVOLVED.
OH, WE CAN CERTAINLY CLARIFY THAT LANGUAGE.
IN, IN THE LETTER AND IN THE LANDING PAGE FOR SURE.
ANYTHING ELSE? QUESTIONS? I HAVE TWO CARDS.
THE FIRST ONE IS DIANE SPARKS FOLLOWED BY SARAH.
FIRST, WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE OWNED OUR HOME ON MOUNTAIN SHADOWS IN THE SEDONA WEST SUBDIVISION FOR 13 AND A HALF YEARS.
SEDONA WEST AND SEDONA WEST TOO, MAKE UP A LARGE PORTION OF THE CITY OF SEDONA.
I WAS ON THE BOARD OF THE NOW DEFUNCT SEDONA WEST POA.
I HAVE SEEN THE UGLY SIDE OF HOW FELLOW HOMEOWNERS CAN BE TRULY NASTY TOWARDS A HOMEOWNER FOR EVEN RENTING A ROOM OR TWO THAT THE HOMEOWNER OCCUPIES.
I WOULD LISTEN TO BOARD MEMBERS TALK ABOUT STR, HOW THEY WERE RUINING THE SENSE SENSE OF COMMUNITY IN OUR SUBDIVISION, WHILE FLAT OUT SAYING, IF A HOMEOWNER CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN THEIR HOUSE WITHOUT RENTING A ROOM OR TWO, THEY SHOULD SELL AND MOVE TO SOMEPLACE THEY CAN AFFORD RATHER UNNEIGHBORLY.
AFTER LISTENING TO MANY COMMENTS LIKE THIS, I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION I WOULD RATHER HAVE A SHORT-TERM RENTER AS A NEIGHBOR.
IF YOU WANNA REGULATE THOSE WHO GIVE RESPONSIBLE SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS, SUCH AS MY, MYSELF, AND MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS, I'M ALL FOR THAT.
THEY, THOSE TYPE OF PEOPLE GIVE US A BAD NAME.
AS SCOTT JLO POINTED OUT TO ME, WHEN HE CALLED ME TO FOLLOW UP ON A MESSAGE I MESSAGE I SENT HIM, THERE CANNOT BE RULES FOR CORPORATIONS WHO OWN MULTIPLE PROPERTIES IN DIFFERENT RULES FOR THOSE WHO RENT A ROOM OR TWO, OR ONE WHOLE HOUSE.
BUT I ALSO GET, THERE HAS TO BE SENSIBLE REGULATIONS, ISSUE CITATIONS TO THE BAG ACTORS,
[03:15:01]
THE PEOPLE WHO RENT A THREE BEDROOM HOUSE TO A 12 AND 14 PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY'VE INSTALLED NUMEROUS BUNK BEDS.THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BE REGULATED FOR THOSE WHO CONSISTENTLY HAVE GUESTS THAT VIOLATE NOISE AND PARKING, RE RESTRICTIONS, ISSUE CITATIONS.
SOME OF THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED.
I'M IN FAVOR OF THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD OFFENSES WITH EACH FINE GETTING STIFFER.
FOURTH OFFENSE, THEIR LICENSE IS PULLED AND THEY CAN NO LONGER OPERATE A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, I SAY ISSUE CITATIONS TO ANY HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE MAKE FALSE CLAIMS AGAINST SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS.
THE INCOME GENERATED BY A SHORT-TERM RENTAL IS A BENEFIT TO THE HOMEOWNER AND ALSO A SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT TO THE, THE CITY AND ALL ITS ESTABLISHMENTS, SUCH AS CAFES, CRYSTAL SHOPS, JEEP TOUR BUSINESS.
I KNOW THERE ARE THOSE WHO WANNA BLAME EVERYTHING IN THIS CITY ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS, SUCH AS TRAFFIC, BUT THAT'S UNFAIR.
WE LIVE IN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER WANT TO VISIT.
A MAJORITY OF US ALL CAME HERE AS TOURISTS.
ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF HAVING A SHORT TERM RENTAL FOR ME IS THE PEOPLE WE'VE MET FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE US, AS WELL AS OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY OR OF OTHER COUNTRIES, ALL HAVE BEEN VERY KIND, RESPECTFUL, AND THRILLED TO BE HERE.
THEY ARE JEALOUS THAT WE LIVE IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS.
MANY OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE BECOME FRIENDS.
I NOW HAVE FRIENDS I CAN VISIT, OH, SORRY, IN CANADA, MICHIGAN.
I'LL SUM UP LASTLY, WHEN DEVELOPING SDR REGULATIONS, I URGE THE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LISTEN TO ALL HOMEOWNERS, NOT JUST A FEW DISGRUNTLED HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE AGAINST SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.
FIRST WILL BE FOLLOWED BY CAMERON WILD.
I'M SARAH FIRST, AND I LIVE IN SEDONA.
UM, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF.
SO I WANNA GET A LITTLE SPECIFIC, UM, ON SOME OF THESE THINGS.
SO ON THE NOTICE THAT HAS TO GO, THE NOTICE THAT GOES IN THE HOUSE THAT'S INSIDE THE HOUSE, THAT'S NOT ON THE EXTERIOR.
SO I JUST WANNA TALK ABOUT THAT.
NOT TALK ABOUT IT, BUT JUST SAY IT.
I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IN THE VIOLATIONS, THAT TRASH IS EXEMPT AS ONE OF THE, UM, AESTHETIC THINGS.
AND SO THAT WAS A LITTLE UNCLEAR.
AND THEN, UM, THE NOTIFICATION THING, I'M STILL STRONG THAT YOU CAN'T REQUIRE WITH SB 1168, YOU CAN'T REQUIRE SOMEONE TO PROVE VIA, LIKE A, A RECEIPT OR A CERTIFIED MAIL.
YOU CAN'T REQUIRE THAT PROOF LIKE THAT THAT LAW WAS WRITTEN SO THAT IT WOULDN'T BE CUMBERSOME OR EXPENSIVE.
BUT IT'S THAT THEY ATTEST TO DO IT, WHICH I THINK IS WHAT YOU SAID IS THE CHECKBOX.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THESE ARE JUST THINGS I WANT YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT.
LIKE, I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANSWERS, THEY'RE JUST LITTLE NOTES THAT I'M LIKE, OKAY, I PAID ATTENTION.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT SOUND OFF.
AND THE LAST ONE IS THE BACKGROUND CHECK.
SO THE PLATFORM HAS TO RUN IT ON JUST THE ONE BOOKING GUEST MM-HMM.
BUT THE WAY OURS IS WRITTEN IS THAT IT'S ON ALL OF THE GUESTS.
SO I'M WONDERING HOW DO YOU EXPECT US TO GET ALL OF THOSE NAMES, ALL THE INFORMATION? I MEAN, WE CAN TRY, OBVIOUSLY WE WILL TRY BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE IN A COMPLIANCE, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE DON'T JUST MAKE IT THE SAME.
LIKE, LET'S JUST MAKE THE BACKGROUND SEX OFFENDER CHECK.
OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT MY DECISION, THIS IS MY OPINION, BUT COULD WE JUST MAKE IT ON THE PERSON BOOKING BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION? AND HOW DOES THAT BECOME ENFORCEABLE? UM, HOW IS THAT ENFORCED? LIKE, WHO'S CHECKING THIS TO SEE THAT WE BACKGROUND CHECKED EVERY SINGLE PERSON STAYING IN THE PROPERTY? AND SO THESE ARE JUST MY QUESTIONS AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS, AND I'M SUPER PUMPED ABOUT THIS.
LIKE ALL OF THE PROPERTY MANAGERS IN TOWN THAT I TALK TO ARE VERY EXCITED FOR THESE REGULATIONS.
MOST OF US ARE PRO ACAP, WHICH I'LL STOP.
MY, MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH REALTORS HERE, AND WE ALSO RUN A SHORT-TERM RENTAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
UM, SO I'D JUST LIKE TO START BY SAYING IT'S SORT OF INTERESTING THAT WE ARE IN THIS BUSINESS BECAUSE IT'S CATCH 22, WHERE, UM, HOME VALUES ARE CRAZY HERE BECAUSE OF STRS.
BUT ALSO BY OPERATING THIS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, IT ALLOWS US TO LIVE HERE.
SO IT'S, IT'S AN INTERESTING THING WHERE IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR ECONOMY.
I THINK THAT SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE HERE TO STAY.
UM, BUT I'M ALL FOR REGULATION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL TO FINDING RESPONSIBLE WAYS TO, UM, PRESERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN MEANINGFUL WAYS.
UM, AND, AND TO, TO TOUCH ON THAT TOO, I THINK IT'S, WE HAVE A, A REALLY GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY HERE
[03:20:01]
TO, UM, GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.THERE'S A LOT OF TOWNS THROUGHOUT THE WEST, UM, PARTICULARLY IN COLORADO, LIKE TELLURIDE, CRESTED BUTTE, THAT HAVE THE, THE ENTIRE FABRIC OF THOSE TOWNS HAS TOTALLY SHIFTED.
AND SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE OBVIOUSLY A BIG PART OF THAT, UM, WHERE YOU VISIT THESE TOWNS AND YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE THEM ANYMORE.
SO I, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN HERE.
UM, UH, I WANTED TO TOUCH ON THE TRASH ISSUE.
UM, SOME OF YOU MIGHT ALREADY BE AWARE, BUT BOTH TAYLOR AND PATRIOT WASTE, THEY OFFER A CONCIERGE SERVICE.
WE REQUIRE EVERY ONE OF OUR OWNERS SIGN UP FOR THAT.
IF FOR SOME REASON IT'S NOT OFFERED AT THEIR ADDRESS.
THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER COMPANY THAT WE'VE FOUND THAT DOES THAT.
SO IT'S REALLY INEXCUSABLE THAT TRASH IS NOT MAKING IT TO THE CURB OR TRASH CANS ARE BEING LEFT OUT.
UM, THERE'S A SIMPLE FIX FOR THAT.
UM, AND THEN KIND OF PIGGYBACKING OFF OF WHAT SARAH SAID, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER, UM, THE IMPLEMENTATION OR THE ABILITY FOR PROPERTY MANAGERS THAT WANT TO COMPLY.
UM, THE ABILITY FOR US TO IMPLEMENT THESE REGULATIONS.
AND I, I THINK IN GENERAL, THE REGULATIONS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ARE VERY SENSIBLE, BUT I REALLY, UH, TAKE ISSUE WITH THE SEX OFFENDER BACKGROUND CHECKS.
AND ONE REASON FOR THAT IS, UM, ARE WE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH SEX OFFENDERS IN SHORT TERM RENTALS? UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T HEARD OF IT.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT DOESN'T EXIST, BUT I'M, I'M WORRIED THAT WE'RE MAKING A LOT OUT OF A PROBLEM THAT ISN'T HERE AND LOSING SIGHT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE.
UM, AND ESPECIALLY TRYING TO GATHER BACKGROUND INFORMATION FROM, YOU KNOW, A PARTY OF EIGHT GUESTS.
THAT'S JUST, THAT'S GONNA BE A HUGE BURDEN ON US, AND WE REALLY DO WANT TO TRY AND COMPLY.
UM, BUT THAT DOES SOMETHING LIKE THAT LEAVES A BIT OF A SOUR TASTE.
AND, AND ON TOP OF THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IN AN, IN AN URGE TO COMPLY IN AN, IN OUR DESIRE TO COMPLY, UM, I, I WORRY THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
UM, AND I'LL JUST SUM UP BY SAYING THAT AGAIN, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL.
WE MOVED HERE ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND IT'S, UH, VERY IMPORTANT TO US TO PLANT ROOTS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND, UH, BE HERE FOR A WHILE.
SO, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO SOLVING THESE ISSUES.
I, UM, I ACTUALLY THINK THAT IT IS UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT ALL THE GUESTS TO HAVE A, TO HAVE A REVIEW.
I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE THE BOOKING GUEST.
I THINK THAT, THAT IT SHOULD MIRROR WHAT THE OTHER, WHAT IT DOES.
I THINK THAT, THAT'S JUST WHAT I THINK.
I THINK IT'S AN UNREASONABLE EXPECTATION.
I'M, I'M FINDING MYSELF CONVINCED ABOUT THAT TOO.
UM, IT, IT SEEMS BORDERLINE, UH, UM, PESTERING OR WHAT? I CAN'T THINK OF THE WORD.
WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S A LITTLE STRONGER THAN I WOULD'VE THOUGHT, BUT, YEAH.
OH, WELL, THAT'S, UM, AND, UH, ESPECIALLY THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, AS THE LAST GENTLEMAN JUST SAID, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
UM, WE HAVE THE LAW ON OUR SIDE IF WE EVER WANT TO GO BACK AND ADD IT.
UM, BUT I THINK THE OTHER, AND I MAY BE OVERTHINKING THIS, BUT OH, I HAVE A QUESTION BEFORE I OVERTHINK IT.
IS THAT CORRECT? WE DON'T HAVE TO INFORM THEM THAT WE'RE DOING ONCE.
SO THIS ISN'T THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO CONDUCT A BACKGROUND CHECK.
IT'D BE THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY.
UM, AND THE OWNER, I'M SORRY, THE OWNER.
THE PERSON DOING THE RENTING OF THE PLACE DOESN'T HAVE TO INFORM THEM THAT HE'S DOING, HE OR SHE IS DOING A BACKGROUND CHECK.
WHEREAS IF YOU, IF YOU WANNA DO IT ON ALL THE GUESTS, YOU HAVE TO GET A GUEST LIST.
WHY DO I NEED TO GIVE YOU A GUEST LIST? WELL, I HAVE TO DO BACKGROUND CHECKS.
UM, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HALF THESE PEOPLE.
YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? SURE.
AND TO PERFORM A PROPER BACKGROUND OR, YOU KNOW, A SEX OFFENDER CHECK, YOU'RE GONNA NEED, UH, SOME INFORMATION ABOUT EACH OF THE GUESTS
SO THE, THE INFORMATION THAT THEY ARE ACQUIRED TO GIVE TO, TO BOOK IS JUST NAME AND CREDIT CARD OR SOMETHING.
AND THAT'S NOT SUFFICIENT TO DO A SEX OFFENDER BACKGROUND CHECK.
WELL, TO, TO REGISTER ON AIRBNB AND V RBO AND THOSE SITES, YOU PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION, WHICH IS SUFFICIENT TO DO THE BACKGROUND CHECK.
THAT'S WHY THE, THERE'S THE EXCEPTION.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE CONFUSION'S COMING IN.
IT'S, IT'S THE EXCEPTIONS THERE, JUST LIKE IN THE STATE LAW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO A BACKGROUND CHECK ON EVERY GUESS.
[03:25:01]
IT'S BOOKED THROUGH A SITE THAT ALREADY DOES THE BACKGROUND CHECK ON THE BOOKING, GUESS NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT.UM, I'M, BUT IF IT'S, BUT IT FORCES PEOPLE TO USE THAT ONE COMPANY OR THAT DOES ALL THE BACKGROUND CHECKS, OTHERWISE THEY COULD BE OUTTA COMPLIANCE.
SO, OR THE OTHER COMPANIES TO EVOLVE, WHICH I MEAN, THEY'RE AWARE OF V R B OWN, HOMEAWAY AND EXPEDIA, WE'RE ALL PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.
SO IF WE, IF WE, IF WE REMOVED THE, THE GUEST REQUIREMENT, RIGHT? FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS, IF I'M AN OWNER OF AN AIR, OF A, UM, OF A SHORT TERM RENTAL, AND I DON'T WANT TO ADVERTISE, I JUST WANT TO GO STRAIGHT, I DON'T WANT TO USE AIRBNB.
UM, I CAN, ANYONE WHO APPLIES, I CAN ASK THOSE SAME PIECES OF INFORMATION THAT THEY DO.
AND IF THEY WANNA KNOW WHY I'M GETTING SO MUCH INFORMATION, OH, THIS IS STANDARD STUFF, AIRBNB DOES THIS OR WHATEVER, THEY, THEY COULD DO THAT WITHOUT HAVING TO INFORM THEIR GUESTS THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
I YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE OR WHATEVER.
I THINK THAT I, I THINK IT MAKES MORE SENSE.
I, SO I'M AGREEING WITH OH, GOOD.
LONG WAY OF SAYING, I'M AGREEING WITH JESSICA AND, AND I'M SAYING THAT I AGREE WITH YOU AND I'M SUGGESTING THAT IT JUST CHANGED FROM BACKGROUND CHECK ON EACH ADULT GUEST TO BACKGROUND CHECK ON THE BOOKING GUEST.
I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE SAME THING.
UM, 11, 11 68 REQUIRES WHAT, JUST TO BE CLEAR ON THE BOOKING, GUEST BOOKING, YEAH.
BOOKING GUEST OR ALL GUESTS, IT'S EX EXACTLY HOW IT IS HERE.
BUT IF A CITY DECIDES IT WANTS TO DO BACKGROUND CHECKS ON PUTTING THE OWNERS ON US ON YES.
IF, IF THE CITY'S DECIDE TO DO BACKGROUND CHECKS OR, OR SEX OFFENDER CHECKS ON ALL GUESTS, THAT THAT REQUIREMENT CAN BE SATISFIED IF IT'S DONE THROUGH AN ONLINE LODGING PLACE THAT DOES IT ONLY ON THE BOOKING GUESTS.
SO, AND I, I GET THAT AND I AGREE TO SOME DEGREE, BUT WHAT I SEE COULD HAPPEN IS OTHER CITIES AROUND US THAT MAY HAVE THE RESTRICTION ON ALL GUESTS WILL PUSH.
NOT THAT WE, AND WE, I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, UH, ANY ISSUE AT ALL, BUT WOULD PUSH SIX OFFENDERS TO SEDONA.
SO I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T THINK WE EVEN HAVE A PROBLEM.
I HAVEN'T HEARD LIEUTENANT WAXIER.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE EVEN HAS THAT KIND OF, I THINK IT'S JUST THE OPPOSITE.
I DON'T THINK THE CITY IN THE VERDE VALLEY ARE REQUIRING THEM.
THEY'RE SAYING AIRBNB'S DOING IT.
WELL, AND THAT'S FINE IF EVERYBODY'S DOING IT.
I JUST DON'T WANT HAVE EVERYBODY PUSH TO SEDONA BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE DOES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
WELL, KURT, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT OTHER CITIES? UH, NO.
I HAVEN'T HEARD, I, I KNOW THEY'VE, THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT AND THEY, SOME HAVE PASSED ORDINANCES RECENTLY, BUT I DIDN'T REVIEW THOSE.
KURT JUST, OH, I'M SORRY, KURT.
JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS IS THE SAME LANGUAGE THAT'S IN THE PARADISE VALLEY AND THE SCOTTSDALE ORDINANCE AS WELL? YES, I BELIEVE SO.
BUT IT CAN BE SATISFIED IF DONE ON THE BOOKING GUEST.
I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU WOULD, IT WOULD EVEN BE DONE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT'S FEASIBLE EITHER.
I DON'T SEE HOW IT COULD BE DONE.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE A, A GUEST THAT BOOKS HUSBAND AND WIFE AND A FRIEND COMES OVER, THEY DON'T JUST TO COME OVER TO VISIT AND SOMETHING HAPPENS.
HOW WOULD ANYBODY KNOW? HOW COULD HE EVEN HOLD THE, UH, THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY OR THE PROPERTY OWNER EVEN LIABLE FOR IT? SO THAT'S UP TO THE STATE LAW, I WOULD GUESS.
BUT SO IN THAT SCENARIO, YOU WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE ABLE TO HOLD THE PROPERTY OWNER OR DESIGNEE, BUT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO HOLD THE, THE BOOKING GUESTS RESPONSIBLE.
UM, AND YOU COULD CITE THEM FOR ALLOWING SEX OFFENDERS IN, IN UNIT IF YOU KNEW.
BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA FAMILIAR.
AND BACK WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE NOTICE THAT WAS TO BE POSTED ON EACH PROPERTY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL BE POSTED FOR ALL GUESTS, AND THE OWNER WILL BE AWARE OF THE POSTING BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GENERATE IT, IS A STATEMENT THAT RECOGNIZES THAT UN INAPPROPRIATE USES OF THIS PROPERTY ARE PROHIBITED.
AND SO THAT INCLUDES HOUSING, SEX OFFENDERS, ANY KIND OF ADULT BEHAVIOR.
IT'S ALSO BUSINESS USES LIKE RESTAURANTS AND BOUTIQUES AND WHATEVER.
BUT THAT NOTICE IS GOING TO BE POSTED VISIBLY NEAR THE PROPERTY OR IN THE PROPERTY.
SO IT'S IN THE PROPERTY, NOT NEAR THE PROPERTY.
I FORGET THE LANGUAGE, BUT IT'S LIKE WITHIN A CERTAIN, WITH A, WITHIN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FEET FROM THE ENTRANCE, IT HAS TO BE VISIBLE.
SO IT HAS TO BE VISIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE OR FROM THE INSIDE.
AND, AND SO THERE'S A, AGAIN, JUST LIKE WE'RE HAVING QUITE A BIT OF IMPLIED AGREEMENT HERE, BY CHECKING THE BOX ON THE PERMIT, WHICH IS AN AGREEMENT TO COMPLY WITH ALL STATE LAWS, WITH ALL REQUIREMENTS,
[03:30:01]
THERE'S GONNA BE AN ONGOING ONUS ON THE OWNERS AND WHOEVER BOOKS THIS PROPERTY TO BE AWARE OF THE REQUIREMENTS.SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE CAUGHT YOU NOT HAVING, I'M NOT EVEN BACKGROUND CHECK THE REST OF YOUR GUESTS.
THIS, THIS IS NOT, THERE'S, THIS INFORMATION WILL BE PUBLISHED IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE USING THE PROPERTY.
UM, SO IT'S, IT'S NOT, WE, IF WE MISS BACKGROUND SCREENING, EVERYONE, THE MESSAGE ISN'T OUT THERE.
THE REQUIREMENT IS STILL THERE.
I'M NOT EVEN AS MUCH INTERESTED ABOUT US MISSING IT OR WHATEVER.
I'M INTERESTED TO BE SURE THAT NOBODY HAS THEM IN THERE.
THAT NONE OF OUR CHILDREN ARE, ARE, YOU KNOW, JUST A FREAK ACCIDENT, A FREAK INSTANCE WHEN NOBODY WOULD KNOW.
AND THAT'S THE, YOU KNOW, THE CITY, YOU KNOW, OR CODE ENFORCEMENT FINDING IT.
THAT'S THE LEAST OF MY CONCERNS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY SERIOUS, BUT I DON'T EVEN BY I REQUIRING ALL GUESTS, THAT'S JUST NOT ENFORCEABLE EITHER.
SO IT WAS, I THINK YOU'RE MISUNDERSTANDING WHAT GUEST MEANS.
THEY'RE NOT SAYING A VISITOR WHO COMES INTO YOUR HOUSE.
NO, BUT YOU'RE SAYING SOMEBODY WHO'S STAYING THERE WITH YOU.
BUT EVEN SO, YOU HAVE TWO HUSBAND AND WIFE BOOK IT, AND THEY BRING TWO OTHER COUPLES MM-HMM.
SO LET'S JUST, LET'S JUST PLAY THIS OUT.
SO THEY DON'T DO THE BACKGROUND CHECKS, BUT THEY, THEIR GUESS OUR SEX, ONE OF THEIR GUESS IS A SEX OFFENDER.
THE LAW SAYS NO SEX OFFENDER MAY STAY THERE.
SO WHAT IS THE PENALTY FOR THE VIOLATION? SO A SEX OFFENDER STAYING THERE, THEY DIDN'T DO A BACKGROUND CHECK CUZ WE DIDN'T REQUIRE IT EXCEPT FOR THE BOOKING GUEST VIOLATION OCCURS.
WHAT HAP WHAT'S THE PENALTY? SO, I MEAN, IT DEPENDS ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FACTORS, BUT, UM, IF IT'S A, IT COULD BE A CRIMINAL OFFENSE, A CLASS OF MISDEMEANOR, OR IF IT'S A CIVIL, THE MANDATORY MINIMUM WOULD BE, UM, $500 FINE.
UH, AGAINST THE, THE BOOKING GUEST, THOUGH.
THE BOOKING GUEST, THE OWNER DIDN'T KNOW.
IF THE OWNER KNEW ABOUT IT AND ALLOWED IT, THEN YOU'VE GOT A VERIFIED VIOLATION THE FIRST TIME, WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO REBOOK THE PERMIT.
BUT I MEAN, GENERALLY THE OWNERS AREN'T GOING TO KNOW.
I I THINK IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO BEYOND THE BOOKING GUEST.
WE, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. WE CERTAINLY HAVE HAD NONE REPORTED THAT I KNOW OF, OF YOU.
SO I DON'T UNTIL WE, UNTIL WE DO.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK, WELL THAT'S, THAT'S, WE WANNA OVERBOARD ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT IT'S WHEN IT, WHEN IT HAPPENS.
BUT THAT'S TRUE OF MANY THINGS.
AND, AND THE OTHER THING IS, AND IT'S ALREADY AGAINST OUR GENERAL LAW, IT'S JUST LIKE THE, THE TRASH ORDINANCE.
WHEN, WHEN WE'RE ENFORCING THE TRASH ORDINANCE, IT ISN'T WITH THE AUTHORITY GIVEN TO US BY 1168.
IT'S BY OUR TRASH ORDINANCE FOR EVERYBODY IN TOWN.
SO, SO NO, THEY DIDN'T GIVE, AND I THINK YOU GOTTA REMEMBER, 1168 DOESN'T REQUIRE US TO DO ANYTHING.
IT ALLOWS US TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.
JOAN, I THINK IF YOU, IF YOU REFRESH IT, IT SHOULD SHOW UP.
IS THIS A PDF OR IS THIS ON SHAREPOINT? UH, THIS IS, UH, IN THE PACKET.
SO I DID HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
I GUESS IT WOULD BE FOR KURT WHEN HE IS FREE ONE SEC.
MAKE SURE THAT'S, YOU WANNA PULL UP THE, OKAY.
YOU WANT ME TO GET OUTTA YOUR MIC? WELL, JUST THE SHAREPOINT VERSION.
OH, ARE YOU HOOKED UP TO YOUR COMPUTER? NOT THE, NO, NO, NO, I'M, NO, THAT'S THE ONE.
YEAH, I'M, IT'S IN THE PACKET.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE PREVIEW RIGHT HERE.
SO COUNSEL, IF I MAY JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU FIRST HERE IN THE PERMIT REQUIREMENT.
THE, THE DATE IS NOW FEBRUARY 15TH.
AND THEN IN THE SEX OFFENDER, THE BACKGROUND CHECKS, DID I PASS IT? WHERE YOU GOING? AL, THERE YOU ARE.
SO YOU SEE MY INITIALS THERE OVER ANOTHER, I JUST CHANGED IT FROM EVERY ADULT GUEST TO THE BOOKING GUEST.
I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION BASED ON THE COMMENTS, KURT.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT, THAT SARAH MENTIONED THAT THE NOTICE THAT WE WERE PROHIBITED FROM REQUIRING THAT IT'D BE CERTIFIED.
[03:35:01]
I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID.AND I THOUGHT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT MAKING IT A REQUIREMENT THAT IT BE CERTIFIED.
SO, UH, THE, THE LAW SAYS THAT THEY NEED TO PROVIDE NEIGHBOR NOTIFICATION.
THE LAW DOESN'T SPECIFY HOW THAT NOTIFICATION NEEDS TO BE DONE, BUT DOESN'T PROHIBIT US FROM DOING IT.
I, I, THAT'S MY, YOU, THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE.
SO IT'S NOT A PREEMPTION THAT ONLY ALLOWS, IT DOESN'T END THERE.
I'D LIKE TO JUST GO BACK, UH, THAT THANKS FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.
UH, THE FINES WE HAD UP TO $500 ON THE FIRST OFFENSES.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S TWO THERE.
THERE'S THE VERIFIED VIOLATIONS, WHICH COMES DIRECTLY FROM, UM, THE STATE LAW.
AND THAT IS UP TO $500 ON THE FIRST ONE OR THE ONE NIGHT'S FRONT, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.
UM, AND THEN THE THOUSAND 3,500.
BUT THAT'S IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER PENALTY.
UH, THE CODE HERE, UH, SHOWS THAT, UH, FOR A CIVIL OFFENSE OF ANY VIOLATION OF THIS CODE, IT'LL BE A, A MIN MINIMUM OF $500 FOR THE, FOR THE FIRST.
ONLY CUZ WE KNOW SOME OF THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES WILL TAKE THE FINE AS OPPOSED TO, UH, FULFILLING THE MANDATES.
SO, UM, IF, IF THE JUDGE WERE TO GO FIND 'EM A HUNDRED BUCKS, THEY'LL TAKE THAT ALL DAY LONG.
SOME OF THEM, WE'VE ENCOUNTERED THAT IN THE PAST.
AND IT'S, AND YOU SAID WHICHEVER IS MORE SO IF, IF THEY'RE BOOKING A THOUSAND DOLLARS A NIGHT FOR THE, FOR THE VERIFIED VIOLATIONS? YES.
FOR THE VERIFIED VIOLATIONS, THAT'S UP TO 500 OR, OR THE ONE NIGHT'S RENT AND THEN THE 1500 TO 3,500 FOR THREE.
I I DID WANNA ADD ONE OTHER COMMENT THAT, THAT CAME OUT THE, UM, THE CITY ALREADY, UH, THERE'S ALREADY STATE LAW AGAINST FALSE REPORTING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
SO IF ANYONE MADE A, A, A FALSE COMPLAINT, UM, AND THE PD ALREADY PROSECUTES THAT, AND THOSE, THOSE CASES COME UP, IT'S A CLASS ONE MISDEMEANOR TO, TO MAKE A FRAUDULENT OR UNFOUNDED, UH, REPORT TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
BUT ISN'T THAT HARDER TO PROVE IF THE NOISE WAS GOING ON BEFORE AND BY THE OFFICER ARRIVED AND IT'S GONE, HOW DO YOU CERTAINLY, SO IT'S, OFFICERS AREN'T GONNA CITE THIS IF THEY DON'T HAVE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, PROBABLE CAUSE TO MAKE A CITATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I THINK WE'RE DONE.
I THINK WE TO DISCUSS FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ANYTHING.
DOES SOMEONE WANNA MAKE A MOTION? I CAN MAKE A MOTION.
I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 22 36 36, ESTABLISHING AS A PUBLIC RECORD, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SEDONA CITY CODE CHAPTER 5.25 ENTITLED 2022 AMENDMENTS TO SEDONA CITY CODE CHAPTER 5.25, SHORT TERM RENTAL REGULATION AS AMENDED AS AMENDED REGULAT.
NO, HE DID, DID YOU MAKE ANY AMENDMENTS? IT'S HERE.
JUST DID, YEAH, HE JUST AMENDED THE I KNOW THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I SAID I DIDN'T, THAT'S, AND THAT'S THE DOCUMENT YOU HAD NOTED.
DOES ANYBODY WANNA SECOND THAT? SECOND? SO DID SOMEBODY SECOND.
SO MOVE BY COUNSELOR WILLIAMSON SECOND BY COUNSELOR LAMPKIN.
WE NEED A FIRST READING, MAYOR.
I'M NOT ON THE ITEM, SO YOU TELL ME.
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022 DASH 11 11 11, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SEDONA, ARIZONA, ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY CODE CHAPTER 5.25, SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATION CONCERNING REGULATING SHORT TERM RENTALS, PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES, A SAVINGS CLAUSE, AND FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 DASH NUMBER 2022 DASH 11, ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO THE SEDONA CITY CODE CHAPTER 5.25, SHORT TERM RENTAL REGULATION RELATED TO IMPLEMENTING SB 1168, PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES, A SAVINGS CLAUSE, AND REPEAL OF ANY CONFLICTING ORDINANCES.
WELL BY C COUNCILOR WILLIAMSON.
[8.c. AB 2850 Public hearing/discussion/possible action regarding adoption of a Resolution and Ordinance updating the City of Sedona’s Consolidated Fee Schedule.]
THE CONSOLIDATED FEE SCHEDULE ITEM NOW, WHICH IS ITEM AB 28 50, PUBLIC HEARING PO DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING ADOPTION OF A[03:40:01]
RESOLUTION AND ORDINANCE UPDATING THE CITY OF SEDONAS CONSOLIDATED FEE SCHEDULE.WHO IS KURT? ARE YOU DOING THIS OR? I AM NOT.
UM, IT'S, I MEAN, IT'S FAIRLY STANDARD WE DO THIS YEAR AFTER YEAR.
WE, WE DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION PREPARED FOR THIS ITEM.
SO IT'S JUST, THIS IS OUR ANNUAL HOUSEKEEPING EFFORT.
WE HAD HAD ALL OF THE FEE PROPOSED FEE ADJUSTMENTS, UM, POSTED FOR AT THE MINIMUM OF THE 60 DAYS.
THEY WILL GO INTO EFFECT, UM, THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR.
AND THE VARIOUS, UM, ADJUSTMENTS ARE EXPLAINED IN THE PACKET, IN THE MATRIX AND IN THE AGENDA.
BILL, IF YOU HAD ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, THEN I THINK WE WOULD DO OUR BEST TO TRY TO ANSWER THOSE.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON IT? AND IT WILL INCLUDE, INCIDENTALLY, THE FEES THAT WE JUST PASSED ON SHORT TERM RENTALS.
UM, ACTUALLY IT'S NOT A QUESTION, IT'S A COMMENT.
UH, THE UPTOWN PARKING IN LIEU FEE, UM, YOU KNOW, I TALK WITH KAREN, OUR ONE ON ONE, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS.
UM, IT'S, THE TIMING IS KIND OF WEIRD HERE BECAUSE I THINK WHEN YOU ALL, UM, DO YOUR MORE EXTENSIVE PARKING STUDY, UH, I STRONGLY SUSPECT ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'RE GONNA FIND OUT IS THAT, UM, IT'S, UH, THERE ARE TOWNS ALL OVER THE PLACE, UH, CITIES AND TOWNS WHO ARE REMOVING THEIR, UM, UH, UH, PARKING IN THEIR PARKING FEES, UH, FAR PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR, UH, BUILDINGS.
AND I, I KNOW, I KNOW THIS IS A, A NEW DEVELOPMENT KIND OF A THING, BUT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE WANT, WANT TO BE IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU WOULD DO FOR EXISTING, UH, BUILDERS, UH, AS WELL.
SO IF YOU WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOUR, UM, YOUR CURRENT BUSINESSES TO EXPAND AND, UH, WE'VE GOT TRANSIT COMING AND WE GOT WAYS TO GET PEOPLE UP INTO UPTOWN, UM, YOU HAVE LESS AND LESS NEED FOR PARKING UP THERE AND LESS AND LESS DESIRE FOR PARKING UP THERE BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT CARS COMING IN AND OUT OF THERE BECAUSE IT'S, UH, WHATEVER.
SO THAT'S A WHOLE PARKING DISCUSSION THAT YOU, UM, WILL HAVE TO HAVE.
AND I CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, MY PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE THIS ONE ENTIRELY IS NOT, UH, GONNA GO OVER AND WOULD BE BADLY TIMED.
UM, BUT THE FACT IS NO ONE HAS TAKEN US UP ON IT YET.
UH, I'M A LITTLE WORRIED PERSONALLY ABOUT SOMEBODY COMING AND TAKING US UP ON IT AND THEN SETTING A PRECEDENT THAT THIS IS, UM, REASONABLE AND WHATEVER.
THE ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS SUGGEST THAT WE NOT INCREASE IT.
I THINK TAKING THAT INCREASE AT THIS POINT, UM, WHICH IS, WHICH IS THE REQUEST HERE IS JUST, UM, COST OF LIVING.
I DON'T KNOW THE CONSTRUCTION COST INDEX.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT WOULD REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
IT WAS A RELATIVELY, I DON'T WANNA SAY ARBITRARY, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS.
IT WASN'T AN EXACT NUMBER TO BEGIN WITH.
UM, BUT I WOULD, I WOULD SAY KEEP THIS ONE UNDER THE RADAR.
UH, DON'T LET IT BE ON THE RECORD THAT WE INCREASE THIS, UH, PARKING, UH, IN LOU FEE, UH, AND JUST, JUST LEAVE IT AS IT IS AT $35,000.
SO, MAY, MAY I OFFER SOMETHING.
I, I WILL HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE SPECIFIC ORDINANCE, BUT WHEN WE ADOPTED THIS FEE, I BELIEVE THE ORDINANCE SAYS THAT IT WILL BE ADJUSTED ANNUALLY BASED ON THE CONSTRUCTION COST INDEX, WHICH IS WHY MANY OF THESE FEES YOU'LL SEE IN HERE ARE TIED TO A, A SPECIFIC ESCALATOR.
AND, AND SO IT'S, IT'S ALREADY STATED IN ORDINANCE THAT WE WILL DO THIS.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE OPTION UNLESS WE CHANGE THE CODE, WHICH IS SIMILAR.
I THINK COUNSELOR THOMPSON, TO YOUR WHOLE POINT ABOUT THIS, THIS FEE RIGHT NOW, THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE SAYS EVERY SINGLE DEVELOPMENT HAS TO HAVE SO MUCH ONSITE PARKING.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE ELOY IS SUPPOSED TO CHARGE, SO THAT WE CAN GET AWAY FROM EVERY SINGLE DEVELOPMENT, HAVING TO HAVE THEIR OWN IN PARKING ON SITE.
AND WE CAN EITHER CONSOLIDATE, PARKING, AGGREGATE IT, OR REPLACE IT WITH THE USE OF TRANSIT.
SO YEAH, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND IT'S AN ARGUMENT THAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE HERE.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE IT LATER AND I'LL PROBABLY GET UP AND TALK FOR THREE MINUTES WHEN YOU HAVE IT.
[03:45:01]
IT, SO IF, IF IT'S BY ALREADY BY ORDINANCE THAT IT HAS TO BE INCREASED, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE VOTING ON IT.IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO BE INCLUDED HERE.
I JUST ASSUME BECAUSE IT'S HERE, WE'RE HAVING TO AGREE ON IT.
SO I MEAN, SO TECHNICALLY YOU'RE, YOU'RE CORRECT.
COUNSELOR THOMPSON, YOU, IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE HERE SINCE IT'S ALREADY BEEN INDEXED TO THE NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION COST INDEX AND IT'S UPDATED EVERY JANUARY ONE.
UM, BUT WE LIKE TO KEEP ALL THE FEES IN ONE LOCATION.
AND SO WE HAVE THE CONSOLIDATED FEE SCHEDULE, SO IT'S LISTED ON THERE AND, AND PART, SO I GUESS IN THIS CASE, IT'S TECHNICALLY KIND OF A COURTESY, BUT RIGHT.
AND, AND PART OF THAT IS THAT 60 DAY POSTING PERIOD BECAUSE SOMEONE MIGHT READ THE ORDINANCE AND SAY IT'S GOING TO BE ESCALATED BY THE, UM, CONSTRUCTION COST INDEX OR THE ENGINEERING RECORD REVIEW, OR THE VARIOUS MEASURES THAT THESE ARE TIED TO.
BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE UNLESS WE DO THE ESCALATOR, WE POST IT TO THE PUBLIC.
IT'S JUST MORE OF A TRANSPARENCY KIND OF THING.
DID YOU HAVE MORE? I'M JUST LETTING IT DIE.
UM, DID I HAVE MORE? HE HAS MORE.
UM, YEAH, UH, THIS WAS JUST ACTUALLY MORE OF A COMMENT ON THE RECLAIMED WATER FEES.
UH, WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION AND, AND SOME HELP WITH THAT.
I JUST WANNA BRING, UH, THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE DOING THIS.
I THINK IT'S, IT'S TERRIFIC, UM, THAT WE'RE, UH, DOING WHAT WE CAN TO, UM, USE THAT WATER AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR CONTRACTORS AND NOW AGRICULTURAL USES, UH, TO, TO GET THAT WATER REALLY CHEAPLY SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET, UH, IT OUT OF THE, UH, THE, THE FRESH WATER SUPPLIES.
SO, UM, THAT WAS WHY THAT ONE WAS THERE.
AND THEN, UH, THE POSSE, GROUND HUBS, OH, THAT WAS JUST COMPETITIVE.
SO JESSICA, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING? I DO NOT.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I THOUGHT THAT I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH THE THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THAT EVERYTHING GOES UP, WE GET THAT SORT OF CRITICISM MAYBE FROM THE PUBLIC AS WELL THAT, OH, JUST RAISE FEES EVERY YEAR.
LIKE, WE DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.
BUT LOOK AT THE THOUGHT THAT DID GO INTO THIS.
I MEAN, THERE'S EVEN, UM, AN INSTANCE OF FEES GOING DOWN, WHICH IS AN EQUITY ISSUE AS WELL.
THERE'S THE DEPOSIT OF UTILITY SERVICES.
SO IT'S CLEAR TO ME HOW MUCH THOUGHT WENT INTO REVIEWING EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY FOR ITS APPROPRIATE FEE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO COMPLIMENT STAFF FOR THAT WORK.
ANYBODY ELSE? MOTION I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 22 37, CORRECT.
CREATING A PUBLIC RECORD ENTITLED 2022 AMENDMENTS TO THE SEDONA CONSOLIDATED FEE SCHEDULE.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE FIRST READING AND THE ORDINANCE.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEDONA, ARIZONA ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO THE SEDONA CONSOLIDATED FEE SCHEDULE.
OKAY, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE? I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 22 12, ADOPTING PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FEE SCHEDULE.
MOVE BY COUNSELOR PUE, SECOND BY VICE MAYOR JLO.
I WANT TO ALSO AGREE WITH COUNSELOR ELLA.
A LOT, VERY DETAILED, A LOT OF THOUGHT.
[8.d. AB 2887 Discussion/possible action regarding an Ordinance revising the Sedona City Code, Chapter 5.05.030 Section B, related to special event business licensing.]
SO NOW WE ARE MOVING TO D OH, NO, D UH, AB 28 87.DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING AN ORDINANCE REVISING THE SEDONA CITY CODE CHAPTER 5.0, 5.03.
SECTION B RELATED TO SPECIAL EVENT BUSINESS LICENSING.
WHO'S HANDLING THIS CHARISA, JOANNE.
UM, SO THE CLERK'S OFFICE TOOK OVER BUSINESS LICENSING IN 2019.
UM, SINCE THEN, WE'VE KIND OF JUST BEEN TRYING TO CHANGE SOME OF THE PROCEDURES TO MAKE THEM SIMPLER.
UM, THE WAY THAT THE CODE READS RIGHT NOW FOR THE SPECIAL EVENT BUSINESS LICENSING IS THAT IT IS
[03:50:01]
ACTIVE FOR SEVEN DAYS UPON ISSUANCE.UM, MEANING IF AN EVENT IS ON SATURDAY, I HAVE TO ISSUE IT WITHIN THAT SEVEN DAY PERIOD.
SO IT KIND OF CONSTRICTS STAFF FOR WHAT WE CAN DO AND HOW EARLY WE CAN DO IT.
UM, THE CHANGE THAT WE ARE PRESENTING TODAY IS TO HAVE THE LICENSES ACTIVE JUST FOR THE DATES THAT ARE LISTED ON THE LICENSE, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE DO.
WE JUST WANNA MAKE IT CONSISTENT WITH CODE.
AND OF COURSE, GIMME JUST A SECOND TO PULL UP THE PACKET.
OH, THAT'S, AND, AND WHILE SHE'S PULLING THAT UP, I'M MME. MAY AND COUNSELORS, I'LL, I'LL ADD THE, THE TWO, TWO OF THE CHANGES YOU'LL SEE IN THE ORDINANCE.
ONE IS, SO INSTEAD OF JUST BEING SEVEN DAYS FROM THE DATE OF ISSUANCE, IT'S NOW THE DATES THAT ARE GIVEN ON THE, ON THE ORDINANCE OR ON THE PERMIT.
AND THAT NOT TO EXCEED SEVEN TOTAL DAYS.
THOSE DON'T HAVE TO BE SEVEN CONSECUTIVE DAYS.
IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S, UM, UH, EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPEN ON CONSECUTIVE WEEKENDS.
SO YOU COULD PUT IN, YOU KNOW, SATURDAY, SUNDAY FOR, UH, THREE, AT LEAST THREE WEEKENDS IN A ROW, UH, BEFORE YOU'D NEED A NEW ONE, UH, A NEW, UH, SPECIAL EVENT BUSINESS LICENSE.
AND THEN WE DID ADD IN THE FAILURE TO TIMELY APPLY FOR TEMPORARY SPECIAL EVENT.
BUSINESS LICENSE SHALL RESULT IN A DENIAL.
UM, THE CLERK'S OFFICE CAN GO INTO MORE DETAIL ON THAT, BUT THEY WERE GETTING REQUESTS UP UNTIL THE, THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, LEAVING ON THURSDAY.
SO FOR EVENTS HAPPENING THAT WEEKEND, SO IN THE PAST, THE OFFICE WOULD HAVE TO ISSUE THREE IN THE ILLUSTRATION YOU GAVE, THEY WOULD'VE HAD TO ISSUE THREE SEPARATE LICENSES.
NOW THEY ONLY ISSUE ONE GOOD FOR THOSE THREE DAYS, THREE WEEKENDS, GOOD FOR UP TO SEVEN DAYS ON WHATEVER DATES HAPPENED TO ME.
SO IT'LL REDUCE THE NUMBER THEY HAVE TO PROCESS FOR RECURRING EVENTS.
AND IT, AND, AND I THINK FRANKLY, MORE IT'LL BRING YES, AND IT'LL BRING IN MORE COMPLIANCE.
CUZ I THINK THEY WERE GETTING THIS SPECIAL EVENT, BUSINESS LICENSE FOR THE FIRST WEEKEND AND THEN CONTINUING TO OPERATE OTHER TIMES WITHOUT IT.
ANYBODY ELSE? THANKS KURT FOR THAT REMINDER.
I JUST COULDN'T REMEMBER THE SECOND ITEM, WHICH IS, UM, WHAT KURT SAID ABOUT HAVING THEM FILE THE APPLICATION SOONER.
SO THAT WILL, UM, HELP AS WELL.
CAUSE LIKE HE SAID, UM, IF THERE'S AN EVENT, I THINK EVEN TODAY I CAME IN, THERE'S AN EVENT, WHAT IS IT? THIS FRIDAY IS THE 25TH, THERE'S AN EVENT AND THEY JUST EMAILED ME TODAY WANTING STUFF.
UM, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED, SO A LOT OF TIMES I HAVE TO GIVE IT BACK TO THEM AND IT TURNS OUT THEY DON'T GET TO PARTICIPATE OR THEY PARTICIPATE IN VIOLATION OF CODE.
SO YEAH, WE'RE JUST HOPING IT, UM, PROMOTES MORE COMPLIANCE.
SO I, I DO HAVE A PROPOSED CHANGE IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THAT.
I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THE PROPOSED CHANGE, BUT AS A
I THINK THAT WOULD COVER ALMOST EVERY EVENT.
BUT I KNOW THAT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT OUT AT SPEC AND THEY USE SPEC AND THEY HAVE VENDORS I THINK SOMETIMES IN THE LOBBY THERE.
AND THEY WOULD BE THERE FOR MORE THAN SEVEN DAYS, MAYBE EVEN 10 TO 14 DAYS.
BUT I THINK IT'S CONSECUTIVE DAYS.
I THINK IT'S BEEN TRADITIONALLY NINE OR 10.
SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO INCREASE IT TO 10 SO THAT THEY COULD JUST, ANY OBJECTIONS? I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW? UH, I HAVE NO, I HAVE NO OBJECTION AT ALL.
I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW FROM JOEY OR CHARISE, DO YOU HAVE ANY EVENTS GOING MORE THAN 10 DAYS? I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OF, THEY'RE MAINLY LIKE TWO, THREE, SOMETIMES EVEN FOUR IF THERE'S LIKE A MONDAY HOLIDAY OR SOMETHING.
BUT THEY'RE USUALLY, UM, WITHIN THAT SEVEN DAY PERIOD, IT'S, IT'S, YEAH.
SO WE DID HAVE IT, THE FILM FESTIVAL WOULD BE 10 OR MORE, OR NINE 10 I BELIEVE SO I THINK THEY'VE MAYBE BEEN, I DON'T, I THINK THEIR VENDORS HAVE GOT LICENSES IN THE PAST.
I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE SINCE IT'S INDOORS AND THEY DON'T NEED PERMITTING THROUGH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, MAYBE IT'S SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS.
UM, THAT'S SOMETHING ALSO WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO, UM, JUST MAKE BETTER SINCE WE'VE TOOK A TAKEN OVER BUSINESS LICENSING.
[03:55:01]
AT SEVEN, WOULD THEY JUST HAVE TO GET TWO LICENSES, PAY DOUBLE OR SOMETHING? YES.AND I MEAN, I THINK WE CAN EXTEND IT TO 10 AND I DON'T SEE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WOULD BE AN ISSUE WITH THE, UM, FEES THAT WE HAVE WITH IT RIGHT NOW, THE SEVEN VERSUS THE 10 DAYS.
SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO EXPLORE IF WE DO EXTEND IT TO THE 10 DAYS.
I, I DON'T SEE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.
UM, THE FEES JUST FOR ISSUING THE BUSINESS LICENSES, NOT FOR, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY DAYS.
UM, AND THE REASON IT ONLY HAS A LIMIT IS AT SOME POINT YOU SHOULD JUST GET A REGULAR BUSINESS LICENSE.
THAT POINT'S PROBABLY WHEN IT'S MORE THAN 30 DAYS.
SO 10 DAYS WOULD BE FINE AS WELL.
WELL THEN YOU'LL SEE IT UP HERE.
I'M GONNA JUST AMEND IT TO 10 DAYS.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, IF NOT TO EXCEED, SORRY.
IT SAYS NOT TO EXCEED 10 DAYS.
SO IS THAT A PROBLEM OF THE 10 AND THE 10? THAT'S OKAY.
NO LANGUAGE TO, I DON'T YOU WITH THAT? OKAY.
ARE YOU READY FOR A MOTION? MM-HMM.
NO, FIRST IT'S THE, I THINK IT'S THE RESOLUTION.
SO, SO THIS ONE AND THE, THESE NEXT TWO DON'T HAVE RESOLUTIONS.
WE COULD FIT JUST IN THE ORDINANCE.
SO WE DON'T HAVE A PUBLIC RECORD.
AND SO, UH, I'LL DO THE FIRST READING.
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022 DASH 13 AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SEDONA, ARIZONA, AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 5.05, BUSINESS LICENSING BY AMENDING SUBSECTION 5.0 5.030 B, PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES, A SAVINGS CLAUSE.
AND FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 2022.
REVISING CITY CODE CHAPTER 5.0.
5.030 B RELATED TO SPECIAL EVENT BUSINESS LICENSING.
MOVED BY COUNSELOR WILLIAMSON.
[8.e. AB 2897 Discussion/possible action regarding approval of a grant agreement with the Arizona Department of Emergency Management in the amount of $900,000 for the City of Sedona’s Emergency Operations Center project.]
THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM E A.I'VE LOST TRACK OF WHAT THE LETTER IS, BUT ANYWAYS, AB 28 97, DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $900,000 FOR THE CITY OF SEDONA EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER PROJECT.
LOOKS LIKE JOANNE IS GOING TO BE DOING THIS.
UH, MME. MAYER, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN OF ME GETTING THE LAST PRESENTATION IN FRONT OF YOU.
I WAS GOODNESS SAY THAT'S WHY WE JUST SO JOYOUS TO SEE YOU
SO I JUST WANTED TO JUST GIVE SOME BRIEF BACKGROUND.
UM, SO IN THE, THE SPRING AND THE SUMMER OF 2021, UM, STAFF FOR THE CITY OF SEDONA, I HAD ACTUALLY JUST STARTED JUST, UM, STARTED IN MAY OF THAT YEAR, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR, UM, CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING OR APPROPRIATIONS.
UM, THESE HAD BEEN PUT ON HOLD FOR MANY YEARS ON THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL.
THEY WERE RESTARTED AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY.
UM, AT THAT TIME WE SUBMITTED SEVERAL PROJECTS.
UM, ONE OF THEM WAS, UH, A, UM, THE POLICE REMODEL PROJECT.
UM, BUT WE, WE CALL IT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER PROJECT, AND THEN ALSO A PROJECT FOR SHELBY DRIVE.
AND BOTH OF THOSE WERE ACTUALLY, UM, FUNDED.
WE ACTUALLY GOT THEM THROUGH THE ENTIRE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS, THANK YOU TO SENATOR MARK KELLY IN HIS OFFICE.
AND NOW WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THOSE PROJECTS AND, UM, THE COMPLEXITIES OF HAVING A PROJECT OR TWO PROJECTS THAT WERE TOO SHOVEL READY.
SO WHEN WE WERE FIRST, UM, YOU KNOW, ASKED TO APPLY FOR THESE FUNDS, WE WERE ASKED TO SUBMIT PROJECTS THAT WERE SHOVEL READY, THAT, UM, WE FELT COMFORTABLE THAT WE COULD, YOU KNOW, IF ALREADY IN PROCESS OR WE COULD GET THESE MOVING PRETTY QUICKLY.
UM, HOWEVER, DUE TO THE LENGTH OF THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS, UM, IF YOU RECALL, THIS WAS, UM, THE YEAR WHEN THEY HAD SEVERAL CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS.
THEY, THEY COULDN'T PASS, UM, A BUDGET OR THEIR APPROPRIATIONS BILLS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
[04:00:01]
UM, THE FUNDING WAS DELAYED TO THE POINT, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE NOW TO, UM, TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS GRANT AGREEMENT.UM, SO IN, UM, MARCH OF 2022, AS I SAID, WE DID, WE PUT IN A REQUEST FOR 1 MILLION FOR THAT PROJECT, AND WE WERE, UM, INFORMED THAT WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING 900,000 FOR THAT PROJECT.
AND IT WAS, UM, THROUGH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, UM, EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER GRANT FUNDING PROCESS.
UM, SO WHEN WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE RECEIVED THE FUNDING, WE STARTED TO KIND OF WORK BACKWARDS WITH, WITH THE AGENCY AND THROUGH SENATOR KELLY'S OFFICE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEEDED TO ACQUIRE THOSE FUNDS.
UM, IN THIS FALL WE'VE BEEN WORKING, UM, YOU KNOW, QUITE A BIT WITH SENATOR KELLY'S OFFICE, WHO HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY HELPFUL.
UM, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE AGENCY, UH, FEMA SPECIFICALLY.
UM, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH DEMA, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF URBAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO APPLY FOR THE FEMA FUNDS.
SO THOSE DEMA, THOSE FEMA FUNDS GO THROUGH THE STATE AGENCY, DEMA, THAT'S HOW IT WORKS IN ARIZONA.
UM, THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WE WERE, WE, UM, WE WERE TOLD THAT WE NEEDED TO SPEND THE MONEY BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, UM, OF 2022.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THIS PROJECT IS, UM, PRETTY MUCH DONE.
AND, UM, WE ASKED IF WE COULD GET SOME ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FROM FEMA TO USE THE FUNDS PRIOR TO OCTOBER 1ST, 2022.
AND IN THE PACKET, THAT GUIDANCE IS INCLUDED IN, IN YOUR PACKET, BUT WHAT IS BEFORE COUNCIL TODAY IS TO APPROVE THE, THE DEMA AGREEMENT FOR, TO ACCEPT THE $900,000 IN FUNDS THROUGH DEMA.
UM, JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE CAN USE THOSE FUNDS FOR PRE-AWARD COSTS, SO WE CAN USE IT FOR PROJECTS FOR, FOR, UM, FUNDING THIS PROJECT AND THE, THE SPECIFICS IN THE PROJECTS THAT ARE, THAT IS RELATED TO THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER.
UM, JUST AS A REMINDER, THE ENTIRE PROJECT, UM, 2.2 MILLION, PROBABLY MORE LIKE 2.3 MILLION, UM, THE GRANT FUNDS WE WILL RECEIVE ARE 900,000 AND WE HAVE TO DO A 25% MATCH.
SO, UM, CLEARLY WE HAVE THAT ALREADY, UM, TAKEN CARE OF.
AND, UM, BY THE END OF THE PROJECT, THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION WILL BE OVER 1.3 MILLION.
SO THIS HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT, UM, IMPACT TO THIS PROJECT.
AND A, A GREAT HELP FROM SENATOR KELLY'S OFFICE TO, TO HELP US KEEP MOVING THIS PROJECT FORWARD.
BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
IT SHOULD BE PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD QUESTIONS.
AND JUST, UM, JUST TO MAKE A POINT THAT WE MAY HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR WITH, UM, THE SHELBY PROJECT FUNDS AS WELL, THAT WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH ADOT AND WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO GET SOME GUIDANCE ON BEING ABLE TO USE THOSE FOR PRE-AWARD COSTS.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION, UH, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, GO AHEAD.
I MOVED TO APPROVE THE GRANT AGREEMENT WITH ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $900,000 WITH THE CITY OF SEDONAS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER PROJECT.
SECOND WELL BY COUNCIL CANELL A SECOND BY COUNSELOR PUE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[8.g. AB 2892 Discussion/possible action regarding an ordinance amending City Code Section 2.15.050 to consider increasing the mayor’s salary by $100 per month and city councilor salaries by $50 per month.]
SO THE LAST ITEM WE'RE GOING TO, NOT THE LAST ITEM, BUT THE LAST, UH, SUBSTANTIVE ITEM YOU MIGHT SAY, WHICH IS AB 28 92.DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE SECTION 2.1, 5.050 TO CONSIDER INCREASING THE MAYOR'S SALARY BY $100 PER MONTH.
AND CITY COUNCIL'S SALARIES BY $50 A MONTH.
SO WHO IS MADAM MAYOR AND COUNSELORS? WE DON'T HAVE A, A PRESENTATION ON THIS.
I DID, DID JUST WANNA MAKE ONE STATEMENT, UM, TO, TO HELP CLARIFY AND EXPLAIN THIS PROBABLY FOR THE PUBLIC, BUT, UH, THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION DOES PROHIBIT, UM, LEGISLA LEGISLATIVE BODIES FROM INCREASING OR DIMINISHING THE, THE AMOUNT OF THEIR, UH, SALARY OR PAYMENT DURING THEIR TERM OF THEIR OFFICE.
AND SO THIS AMENDMENT, IT WOULD BE TO TAKE EFFECT FOR THE THREE NEW COUNSELORS AND THE NEW MAYOR AT THE BEGINNING OF THOSE TERMS OF THOSE OFFICES.
AND THEN THERE'S A, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'D
[04:05:01]
CALL THAT PROVISION, BUT THERE'S A PROVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T PAY COUNSELORS THAT ARE DOING THE SAME WORK DIFFERENTLY.UM, YOU CAN'T PAY LEGISLATIVE PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY.
AND SO, UH, IT SAYS THAT IF, IF IT'S GONNA BE INCREASED FOR THE NEW MEMBERS, THEN THE OLD MEMBERS, THE MEMBERS WHO ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR TERMS, WE'LL ALSO RECEIVE THAT INCREASE.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE AMENDMENT, UM, TO THE ORDINANCE WOULD HAVE.
THE EFFECT OF TONIGHT IS SPECIFICALLY ON AN INCREASE IN IT FOR THOSE, UH, NEW TERMS OF OFFICES THAT IT WOULD TAKE US, WHICH WILL TAKE, UM, EFFECT ON MONDAY THE 28TH AFTER THE CANVAS OF THE ELECTION.
SINCE I, SINCE I, UM, ORIGINALLY ASKED FOR THIS, UH, AFTER DISCUSSING WITH, UH, WITH, WITH TOM AND, UH, AND SANDY, UM, WE DID A LITTLE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
UM, I JUST WANT TO ADD A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT IT, I HOPE IT'S CLEAR FROM THE DESCRIPTION, WHICH IS A PRETTY COMPLETE DESCRIPTION THAT, UM, THERE HAS BEEN ONLY ONE INCREASE IN 18 YEARS, AND THAT WAS IN 2014, AND IT WAS FOR $50 FOR COUNSELORS AND $50 FOR THE MAYOR.
UM, SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE AWKWARD THINGS WHERE YOU HAVE TO VOTE YOUR OWN INCREASES.
UM, BUT I THINK THE, THE, THE TIME TO DO IT, UH, OBVIOUSLY FOR REASONS THAT KURT JUST MENTIONED, ARE AT THE END OF A TERM TO TAKE EFFECT BEGINNING AT THE NEW TERM.
UM, AND, UM, OTHER THAN THAT, UH, I, I JUST WANT TO, ONE OTHER THING.
YOU'VE GOT A GOOD LIST THERE OF OTHER CITIES AND WHAT THEY DO.
I RAN SOME, SOME NUMBERS TO GET THE ACTUAL MEDIAN AMOUNTS AND, UH, AVERAGES, WHICH I CAN SHARE WITH YOU.
UH, FOR THE COUNSELOR OF THOSE 75 CITIES, THAT PART, UH, PARTICIPATED IN THE, THE LEAGUE SURVEY.
UM, THAT, UH, SURVEY FROM 2021, UH, THE AVERAGE COUNSELOR, UH, STIPEND WAS UH, $9,757 AND THE MEDIAN, UH, WAS $6,000.
AND THERE WERE, WHICH IS THE CURRENT RATE FOR COUNSELORS RIGHT NOW HERE.
UM, THERE WERE EIGHT CITIES THAT HAD THAT AMOUNT.
UM, FOR THE MAYOR, THE AVERAGE WAS $15,980 AND THE, UM, THE MEDIAN WAS 9,600.
UH, THERE WERE FOUR CITIES THAT HAD THAT EXACT AMOUNT.
UM, CURRENT MAYOR'S SALARY IS 8,400.
THIS WOULD, UH, INCREASE IT TO UH, UH, WELL ADD ANOTHER 12.
9,600, INCREASE IT TO THAT EXACT AMOUNT.
SO, AND YOU DID THE, ON ALL OF THESE CITIES, THE 75, ALL THE 75? YES.
SO THE ONES THAT HAVE OVER THREE 1,000,006 PEOPLE, DID YOU DO IT FOR SMALL CITIES LIKE WE ARE RURAL CITIES, ALL THOSE 75.
I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE LIST THAT'S RIGHT THERE.
BUT YOU INCLUDED, YOU DIDN'T JUST DO IT FOR COMP THEM ALL.
I HEARD HE SAID THEM THREE TIMES.
IT WASN'T ALL, BECAUSE NOT ALL THE CITIES RESPONDED.
BUT, UM, I INCLUDED THE CITY THAT RESPONDED THAT THEY DON'T PAY PEOPLE ANYTHING
UM, SO, UM, SO I JUST, I JUST THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO DO SOMETHING.
NOW, UH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT IN THE PAST.
I'VE EVEN SUGGESTED, UH, AT ONE POINT THAT IT MAKES IT EASIER.
UH, WE COULD, WE COULD TIE COST OF LIVING INDEX TO THIS AND UH, THEN YOU'D EVEN HAVE TO BRING IT UP.
UM, BUT I'LL LEAVE THAT FOR ANOTHER DAY.
UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO DO THIS AND I'M DONE, KATHY.
I WAS, UH, WHEN THE AGENDA FIRST CAME OUT, I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THIS ITEM ON THERE CUZ I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE HAD BEEN ANYBODY LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE OR DISCUSSION.
I MEAN, I KNOW THAT WE HAD THE SALARY SURVEYS FOR ALL OFFICES WITHIN OF EMPLOYEES INCLUDING COUNCIL.
BUT, UM, I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THIS AND I THINK I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT ARE LEAVING BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY SAYING, THREE OF YOU ARE LEAVING, SO LET'S GET THIS ON TO DISCUSS.
UM, BUT I HAVE TO SAY, I STILL DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO ABOUT THIS.
UH, FOR ME, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PUBLIC WORK GROUP, UH, ESTABLISHED THAT MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEN COULD BE TAKEN UP IN A MORE THOUGHTFUL WAY WITH A HEARING ON IT OR SOMETHING.
I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT TO DO THIS, THIS WAY.
UM, I, I UNDERSTAND THE ATTEMPT IS TO TRY TO BRING IT INTO A LINE.
AND I, I ALSO DO BELIEVE THAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS DO GET AT THE MOMENT,
[04:10:01]
AND THE MAYOR GETS AT THE MOMENT, DISCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY ARE WORKING FULL-TIME JOBS, THAT THERE'S NO COMPENSATION FOR THE HOURS THAT WE'VE BEEN PUTTING IN TO MAKE UP FOR TIME.THEY MIGHT TAKE AWAY FROM A JOB REDUCING A SALARY.
AND SO IT'S BEEN A DISCOURAGING PROCESS.
I, I THINK THAT WE DO A LOT OF THINGS TO DISCOURAGE THE PARTICIPATION OF WORKING PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.
I THINK THAT, THAT WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION, I HAD THIS DISCUSSION TWO YEARS AGO, UM, ABOUT THE TIME OF MEETINGS AND THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME OF THE LEAST CONSISTENCY TO HAVING IT TOWARD THE END OF THE DAY INSTEAD OF AT THREE O'CLOCK, WHICH IS RIGHT WHEN SCHOOL'S LETTING OUT.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN ATTEMPT ON THE PART OF MY COLLEAGUES TO TRY TO SPEAK TO ONE PART OF THIS, THE FACT THAT THERE'S NOT ADEQUATE COMPENSATION, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS THE WAY TO DO IT.
UM, AND I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS.
UM, UNDER, I HEAR WHAT COUNSELOR GONZAL IS SAYING, AND, UH, DOESN'T THIS, TAKING THIS ACTION NOW DOESN'T PRECLUDE YOU FROM DOING SOMETHING DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE WHEN YOU DON'T TAKE THE ACTION NOW, IT WILL BE A MINIMUM OF TWO YEARS BEFORE ANY ACTION THAT YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT COULD EVEN BE COMING ABOUT.
AND I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR FOR THE COUNSELORS THAT ARE SERVING IN THE NEXT COUNCIL TO TAKE THAT HIT FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE THEY GET SOME OF THAT BENEFIT.
THIS IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
I THINK WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT, UH, ONE OF THE PIECES OF INFORMATION I GOT BACK WAS, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY OUGHT LOOK AT 40 TO THOUSAND TO 70,000 AND, AND PAY THESE PEOPLE, UH, BECAUSE WE EXCLUDE THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING FULL-TIME, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, THIS IS A PART-TIME JOB.
IF I WERE WORKING IN FLAGSTAFF, IT MIGHT BE A FULL-TIME JOB.
I'M NOT SAYING YOU CAN'T WORK FULL-TIME DOING THIS JOB.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT ALL OUR REQUIREMENTS ARE TO MEET THE SECOND TUESDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS AND FOURTH TUESDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS OF THE MONTH FOR ABOUT 10 HOURS ON AN AVERAGE BASIS,
AND WHEN YOU START TO LOOK AT GIVING $40,000 FOR THAT KIND OF A JOB, I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE PREP WORK AND YOU DON'T GO TO RIBBON CUTTINGS, YOU DON'T DO OTHER THINGS, BUT THE CITY RESIDENTS DON'T NORMALLY SEE THAT AS REAL WORK.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT IF YOU TAKE THE MEDIAN PRICE BETWEEN 40 TO 70,000 AND PAY PEOPLE THAT MONEY, THEY'RE GONNA BE MAKING OVER $300 AN HOUR ON A PRO RATA BASIS IF YOU DO THE MATH.
AND THAT'S 20 TIMES WHAT THE AVERAGE PERSON IN SEDONAS GETTING PAID AT $15 AN HOUR IS THE PERCEPTION.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT WILL NOT GO OVER WELL WITH THE PUBLIC.
I SUPPORT THE, THIS CURRENT INTERIM CHANGE AND LET COUNSEL DO WHATEVER WANTS TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
BUT I THINK THIS IS A MINIMAL, UH, HOMAGE TO THE REALITY IS INFLATION SEEMS TO BE CONTINUING.
WELL, I AGREE WITH TOM IN THAT IT, IT'S GONNA BE TWO YEARS BEFORE WE CAN DO ANYTHING ELSE.
AND I THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE DOING THIS IN THE INTERIM.
UM, I THINK IN, IN WHAT I HEARD KATHY SAY IS YOU, YOU JUST AS KATHY SAID, A CITIZEN COMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
SO YOUR HYPOTHESIS ABOUT WHAT THEY MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT COME UP WITH, I THINK WOULD BE BORN OUT BY THE GROUP.
WHAT, WHAT THEY ACTUALLY THINK.
ALTHOUGH I THINK IT'D BE A GREAT, GREAT NEW CONTROVERSY FOR SEDONA TO UNDERTAKE.
UM, I GUESS JUST ANECDOTALLY, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING A, A CITY THAT OFTEN WHAT WE HEAR DOES NOT APPRECIATE ITS POLITICIANS WANTS TO MAKE HAVING A ROLE HERE, REALLY A JOB THAT YOU MIGHT WANNA KEEP FOREVER AND BE A POLI A PERENNIAL PROFESSIONAL POLITICIAN AND HAVE TO RAISE EVEN MORE MONEY TO RUN.
I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF A WEIRD, A WEIRD RESULT OF WHAT THIS DOES IS IT ACTUALLY CREATES A CAREER.
SO YOU END UP WITH CAREER POLITICIANS AND THAT MAY IN FACT BE BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
I DON'T KNOW, THAT'S JUST AN ALTERNATE THOUGHT THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW.
I JUST WANNA GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT WE CAN DO.
NOW, I'M NOT NECESSARILY, I'M NOT AGAINST ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION, BUT IT IS A PART-TIME JOB AND I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT BEING ON COUNCIL, I MEAN, JUST MYSELF.
I'D HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE ARGUMENTS BOTH WAYS.
BUT RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE THAT BEING ON COUNCIL SO SHOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT A FAMILY.
[04:15:01]
UM, BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY BE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT IT IN THE FUTURE IF THAT'S WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ON COUNCIL WANTED TO DO DO.BUT RIGHT NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST MOVE AHEAD WITH WHAT WE CAN DO NOW, HOLLY AND THEN JT, YOU KNOW, WE BROUGHT THIS UP A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I THINK, IN AN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE THE DIVERSITY ON THE COUNCIL AND MAKE THE COUNCIL MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND THERE WASN'T A LOT OF SUPPORT BY MY COLLEAGUES FOR THAT.
AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO OPEN THAT DISCUSSION BACK UP.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME IS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COMMUNITY WILL AND WON'T SUPPORT, BUT I THINK THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE, WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE BACK THEN, WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE NOW, UH, WHO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE VASTLY UNDERPAID FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO.
MAYBE THAT IS BECAUSE, WELL, WE ARE VASTLY UNDERPAID, BUT WE DO IT OUT OF LOVE FOR OUR, FOR OUR CITY.
UH, BUT IT PRECLUDES SOME PEOPLE FROM BEING ABLE.
AND I, I DON'T SUPPORT A $70,000 A YEAR SALARY FOR PART-TIME JOB, BUT I DO THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT THIS SATISFIES THAT IN ANY WAY.
UH, THIS IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
THIS IS A COST OF LIVING INCREASE POTENTIALLY, OR INFLATION RELATED ADJUSTED INCREASE.
I, AND I I, AND I THINK YOU DON'T NEED MY VOTE TO PASS IT BECAUSE I WAS GONNA SAY, I WOULD SUPPORT IT IF YOU DID NEED MY VOTE IF I GOT SUPPORT FOR HAVING THE CONVERSA BROADER CONVERSATION.
AND I, I, I DO WANT TO, I DID WANT TO JUST REEMPHASIZE WHAT, WHAT TOM SAID, UM, ABOUT IT NOT PRECLUDING THAT DISCUSSION.
AND BY WAY OF SAYING THAT, MY, MY BRINGING THIS UP AND THE PROPOSAL THAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU, UH, WAS IN NO WAY MEANT TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE APPROPRIATE COMPENSATION FOR COUNSELORS IS.
IT'S JUST TO SAY THAT IT HASN'T CHANGED EXCEPT BY $50 IN 18 YEARS AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS CHANGING AND WE OUGHT TO AT LEAST HAVE, UH, A TOKEN OF, UH, UM, INCREASE IT.
IT'S JUST, IT SEEMS WEIRD TO ME TO EVEN TALK ABOUT THAT LITTLE AMOUNT OF MONEY, UH, BECAUSE I DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO IT
UM, BUT WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO, TO, UH, UH, KATHY AND HOLLY, I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT VOTING AGAINST THIS IS IN ANY WAY, UM, MAKING IT EASIER TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
YOU CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AT YOUR JANUARY RETREAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN DO IT IMMEDIATELY.
UH, AND, AND IT WOULD BE A GREAT DISCUSSION.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE, UH, WONDERFUL TO HAVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE A SURVEY OF THE PUBLIC TO SAY, HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD RUN IF THE SALARY WERE THIS, HOW MANY WOULD RUN IF THIS OR THIS? AND YOU COULD DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
IT WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTING, UH, TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT AND REALLY STUDY WHAT SOME OF THESE OTHER CITIES DO.
BECAUSE AS, AS YOU'LL NOTICE IN THE LIST, IT'S A PRETTY BIG JUMP.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, THE, THE MIDDLE IS NOT VERY POPULATED.
THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF LO AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'VE GOT YOUR BIG CITIES.
ARE WE A BIG CITY OR ARE WE A MIDDLE CITY? WHAT ARE WE? SO, UM, MIDDLE CITY.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S A LONG WAY OF SAYING DON'T LOOK AT THIS AS SOMETHING THAT, BECAUSE WE'RE DOING IT NOW, WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT.
YOU SHOULD ABSOLUTELY TALK ABOUT IT.
WELL, I'M GONNA GO TO EVERY PERSON ONE TIME BEFORE I GO BACK TO YOU FOR SECOND TIME.
SO, UH, WEISER, IT'S A, IT'S A SMALL STIPEND.
UH, I FIGURED OUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO HOW MUCH, HOW MANY HOURS I PUT IN LAST YEAR ALONE.
IF I DID THIS FOR THE MONEY, I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE HERE.
I FIGURED OUT JUST NOW, I, I'M AVERAGING $7 AND, AND 50 CENTS AN HOUR.
I'M CERTAINLY NOT DOING IT FOR THE MONEY I'M DOING CUZ I LOVE THIS CITY.
BUT I THINK, UH, COUNCIL THOMPSON'S WRIGHT, IT HASN'T BEEN RAISED EVEN AS A STIPEND IN EIGHT YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD SUPPORT SOMETHING FURTHER.
THAT'S NOT THE DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW.
BUT, UH, I THINK FOR, UH, A SMALL,
[04:20:01]
UH, UH, AMOUNT, UM, IT COULDN'T HURT.AND I FEEL EXACTLY THE SAME WAY.
IT'S NOT PRECLUDING ANYTHING, RIGHT?
IT'S, IT'S SAYING DO THIS, HAVE THE DISCUSSION AS I THINK, AS JT SAID, HAVE IT IN JANUARY.
IS IT A PRIORITY? SET UP THE GROUP.
BUT IF YOU DON'T SET UP THE GROUP IN JANUARY, DON'T DO IT AFTER YOU'VE ALREADY SET OTHER PRIORITIES.
MAKE IT A PRIORITY OR DON'T DO IT.
UH, BUT, BUT CERTAINLY DOESN'T PRECLUDE YOU FROM DOING ANYTHING FURTHER.
ALL IT DOES IS ALLOW A SMALL INCREASE THAT HASN'T BEEN MADE IN EIGHT YEARS.
UM, I JUST TAKE THE OPPOSITE VIEW OF THAT, THAT I THINK THAT IT MIGHT MAKE IT HARDER ACTUALLY, BECAUSE WHAT, HOW IT WILL BE PERCEIVED IN THE PUBLIC CONVERSATION AND THE MEDIA WILL BE THAT, OH, THEY JUST GAVE THEMSELVES A RAISE.
NOW THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER RAISE.
I, I I, I JUST THINK IT'S BAD PERCEPTION, AS I SAID IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND AGAIN, I WASN'T TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT A FULL-TIME SUPPORT OF FAMILY, AS YOU SAID, COUNCIL WILLIAMSON, I'M SAYING SOMETHING THAT COMPENSATES PEOPLE FOR THE MONEY THEY WOULD BE GIVING UP BY THE HOURS THEY PUT IN FROM WHATEVER ELSE THEY'RE DOING TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES IN THEIR LIVES.
AND I DON'T THINK THIS WAS THE RIGHT WAY TO COME TO THAT, UM, DETERMINATION.
I, I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN ENOUGH PUBLIC DISCOURSE ON THIS.
UH, SO AGAIN, I STAND BY WHAT I SAID EARLIER, BUT I DID WANNA SAY YES, I DO THINK IT MAKES IT HARDER GOING FORWARD.
JESSICA, OH, I WAS JUST GONNA MAKE A MOTION, BUT I SEE TOM HAS HIS HAND UP.
UH, I GUESS I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM GOING TO THE PUBLIC, BUT NOBODY IN THE PUBLIC HAS A BETTER IDEA THAN THE SEVEN PEOPLE SITTING BEHIND THIS DESK RIGHT NOW ON THE NUMBER OF HOURS THAT ARE INVOLVED.
I WOULD STATE THAT NOBODY KNOWS WHAT EACH ONE OF US PUTS IN OTHER THAN OURSELVES, RIGHT? AND THE NUMBER OF HOURS THAT ARE SPENT REVIEWING MATERIAL, PREPARING FOR THE MEETINGS, MEETING WITH CONSTITUENTS AND BUYING YOUR OWN COFFEE ALL THE TIME SO YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU ALWAYS KEEP THAT SEPARATE, THOSE EXPENSES GO UP.
SO IT'S NOT, IN FACT, IF THE VICE MAYOR, CURRENT VICE MAYOR HAD SAID, I'M AGAINST IT AS WELL, I CHANGED MY VOTE.
I'D SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M LISTENING TO THE THREE OF YOU AND IT'S TOO BAD.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, I'LL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
BUT I WANNA LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE AND YOU'RE THE ONES WHO ARE GONNA BE GOING ON WITH IT.
AND IF YOU DON'T WANT THE MONEY, THEN I, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.
I'M JUST WORKING WITH THE MAYOR AND JT ORIGINALLY TO THINK, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT DOESN'T HURT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT EXTRA.
I DON'T THINK THE PERCEPTION'S GONNA SEE THIS AS A PROBLEM WITH, OH, THEY JUST GAVE THEMSELVES A RAISE WHEN NOBODY'S EVEN GONNA TALK ABOUT $10 OF A WEEK.
YOU KNOW, REALLY THAT'S MY TAKE.
UH, BUT I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I HAVEN'T HAD ONE PERSON COME UP TO ME AND SAY, YOU'RE GETTING PAID TOO MUCH AS A COUNSELOR VERSUS YOU'RE NOT GETTING PAID ENOUGH.
AND YET I THINK THAT THERE MORE DISCUSSION IS REQUIRED AS, AS COUNCIL CONSELLA SAYS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'LL PRECLUDE ANYBODY FROM SAYING, OH, YOU JUST GOT ONE YOU CAN'T GET BECAUSE IT'LL BE TWO YEARS BEFORE WHATEVER ACTION YOU TAKE WILL TAKE EFFECT ANYWAY.
I BELIEVE I'D HAVE TO ASK TO CITY COUNCIL ABOUT THAT, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE THE FOLLOWING ELECTION BEFORE YOU COULD DO IT.
THIS, THE 27TH CONS AMENDMENT, THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT FOR OUR US CONGRESS AS WELL.
SO YOU GOTTA WAIT FOR AN INTERVENING ELECTION BEFORE YOU CAN APPLY IT.
YEAH, AND AND I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT TOO.
IT'S GONNA BE A MINIMUM OF TWO YEARS UNTIL YOU COULD CHANGE IT.
AND MAYOR, IF I MAY, I THINK THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA MAKE A BIG POINT OF IT ARE THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T THINK WE'RE WORTH ANYTHING.
NOT THE PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, 6,000 OR 7,200 IS ENOUGH.
SO YOU READY FOR A MOTION? YES.
FIRST READING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 22 14 IN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SEDONA, ARIZONA, AMENDING CITY CODE TWO FIVE COUNSEL BY AMENDING SECTION 2.1 5.05 COMPENSATION PROVIDING FOR A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND FOR APPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, I MOVE TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022 DASH 14 AMENDING CITY CODE SECTION 2.1 5.050 AND INCREASING THE MAYOR'S SALARY BY A HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH.
AND CITY COUNSELOR SALARIES BY $50 A MONTH.
SECOND, MOVED BY COUNSELOR WILLIAMSON, SECOND BY COUNSELOR THOMPSON.
SO JOE, I THINK YOU GOT WHAT THAT IS, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
[8.h. Reports/discussion regarding Council assignments.]
ONE.WE MOVE ON TO REPORTS DISCUSSION REGARDING COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT, KATHY? I DO.
[04:25:01]
AM OUR LIAISON TO THE SEDONA COMMUNITY CENTER.I DID SEND A MEMO OUT TO MY COLLEAGUES THROUGH THE CITY CLERK, UH, AND TO THE COUNSELORS ELECT AS WELL WITHIN INVITATION FROM THE SEDONA COMMUNITY CENTER TO HAVE, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MORE AWARE OF BOTH THE IMPACT OF MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM AND, UM, AND THE CONGREGATE LUNCHES THAT ARE SERVED AT THE CENTER ITSELF.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY DID GET THAT MEMO, UH, TO INVITE, TO INVITE YOU ON RIDE-ALONGS FOR MEALS ON WHEELS DELIVERY, NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO TO SPEAK.
AND AGAIN, WE CAN'T REALLY APPEAR IN MORE THAN THREE, BUT I KNOW THAT, UM, UH, COUNSELOR ELECT, UM, FOLTZ AND I ARE GOING TO DO A CONGREGATE LUNCH TOGETHER APPEARANCE TOGETHER, WHICH I'M GOING TO ARRANGE.
BUT THAT INVITATION IS THERE SO THAT THE COMMUNITY THAT UTILIZES THOSE LUNCHES CAN GET TO KNOW THE COUNCIL BETTER SO THAT THE COUNCIL CAN BETTER GET TO KNOW THE CLIENTS OF SEDONA COMMUNITY CENTER.
I THINK THIS WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGAGEMENT AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO PLEASE DO, GET IN TOUCH WITH THE, THE INFORMATION WAS ON THE MEMO TO GET IN TOUCH WITH, UH, MARJORIE, THE SCC DIRECTOR DIRECTLY TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO, TO DO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.
UH, AND I, I MAY UM, MENTION TO THE, UM, MAYOR ELECT THAT, UH, WHEN THE NEW ASSIGNMENTS GO OUT, WHOEVER HAS SEDONA RECYCLES HAS AN ASSIGNMENT.
UM, THERE'S A BOARD MEETING THAT'S LIKE REALLY IMMEDIATE.
IT'S THE FIRST FRIDAY IN DECEMBER.
SO, UM, IF THAT ASSIGNMENT CAN BE MADE IN TIME TO ATTEND THAT, THE NEXT ONE IS TWO MONTHS AWAY.
SO IS THAT GONNA BE AT THE, AT THE BUILDING? IT'S AT THE LIBRARY.
I THINK THE QUIET STUDY ROOM, RIGHT STUDY ROOM.
THEY USUALLY MEET IN WHAT TIME IS IT CALLED? CATCH THE INFORMATION ALONG.
WE HAVEN'T FILLED THAT SPOT YET, BUT YEP.
HOLLY? YES, I'M THE LIAISON TO THE VERDE VALLEY CAREGIVERS COALITION AND I WANTED TO MENTION THAT THEY HAVE JUST LAUNCHED A NEW PROGRAM, WHICH IS A VIRTUAL CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THEIR NEIGHBORS WHO WISH TO MEET WITH THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TO DO SO IN THE COMFORTS OF THEIR OWN HOME THAT THEY, THEIR PROGRAM PROVIDES EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE AND STAFF VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE FOR TRAINING.
SO NEIGHBORS CAN HAVE A TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENT WITH THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY EXCITING.
AND UM, THEY ARE ALSO HAVE THEIR ANNUAL CAMPAIGN GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
THEY HAD TO CANCEL THEIR GALA AGAIN THIS YEAR, SO THEY HAVEN'T HAD IT IN SEVERAL YEARS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, AND SO THEY HAVE A SUPERHERO PROGRAM AND IF YOU WANNA BE A SUPERHERO, YOU CAN JOIN THEIR PROGRAM.
JUST GO TO VERDE VALLEY CAREGIVER'S COALITION WEBSITE AND UH, MAKE A DONATION.
[8.i. Discussion/possible action regarding future meeting/agenda items.]
ALL RIGHT.SO THE NEXT ITEM HAS DISCUSSION REGARDING IDEAS FOR FUTURE MEETING AND AGENDA ITEMS. ONE, ADVISE ME.
I WOULD LIKE TO, TO DISCUSS IN THE FUTURE FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, THEY'VE HAD A PROBLEM, UH, BRINGING THE NUMBER ABOVE FIVE COMMISSIONERS, AND I'D LIKE TO REDUCE IT FROM SEVEN, WHICH IS THE CURRENT NUMBER THAT THEY CAN'T FILL TO FIVE.
SO I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT IN THE FUTURE.
UH, AND OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE, UM, SO I'M SORRY, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.
I THINK WE COULD JUST ADD IT TO AN AGENDA IN THINK, I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR ON THAT.
SO OUR NEXT MEETING IS ON MONDAY THE 28TH.
AND THAT WILL BE THE MEETING WHERE WE CANVAS THE VOTE AND IT'S A GOOD THING WE SCHEDULED THAT MEETING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CANVAS FOR THIS ONE.
OH REALLY? EVEN IF WE HAD WANTED TO, WILL WE HAVE IT FOR MONDAY? I'LL BE GETTING THE COCONINO FINAL RESULTS MONDAY MORNING AFTER 10:00 AM
SO BOTH OUR COUNTIES ARE GONNA CERTIFY.
I HAVE YAVAPAI, I DON'T HAVE COCONINO.
WE HAVE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE COCONINO AND THEY ASSURED ME THEY'D HAVE IT TO ME AFTER 10:00 AM OKAY.
CUZ YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL COUNTIES ARE, THEY'RE CANVASSING AT 10:00 AM GOT IT IN COCONINO AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO EMAIL IT TO ME.
I THINK ALL THE COUNTIES ARE REQUIRED BY LOT OF HEALTH.
WELL, YES, BUT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF, OF, UH, CHALLENGES COUNTIES THAT ARE MAY NOT MEET THAT DEADLINE.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED CUZ AFTER 10 MEANS AFTER 10
[04:30:01]
I KNOW.SO THAT, THAT MEETING WILL CONSIST OF THE CANVAS OF THE VOTE, THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW MEMBERS, AND THEN YOU'LL ELECT A VICE MAYOR AND THAT WILL BE ALL THERE IS TO IT OTHER THAN REMARKS FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT COUNSELORS LEAVING SO, AND REMARKS, WAS ANYBODY AWARE THAT THAT'S A GOOD THING WE DIDN'T CHARGE THE CANVAS? TONIGHT'S A GOOD POINT.
OKAY, SO WE'LL GET THE CANVAS.
[10. ADJOURNMENT]
AND A HALFSO IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'RE ADJOURNED.