[00:00:02]
[1. CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/MOMENT OF SILENCE/ROLL CALL]
GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.THIS IS THE, UH, SEDONA CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
I WELCOME YOU ALL AND PLEASE, UH, JOIN ME IN A PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, DO THE PLEDGE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
OKAY, NOW HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE ROLL CALL? YES.
BUT SHE'S ON, SHE'LL BE ON VIRTUAL ON THE TELEPHONE.
[2. CITY’S VISION]
UH, DO THE VISION STATEMENT? KEEP MY FINGERS CROSSED.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'S, PRISTINE ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE.
TO BE A CITY THAT RETAINS ITS SMALL TOWN CHARACTER AND CREATES ITS MAN-MADE IMPROVEMENTS, ITS STRICT HARMONY WITH NATURE TO BE A CITY THAT IS ANIMATED BY THE ARTS, LIVES WITH A SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM TO HELP ACHIEVE OUR COMMON GOALS.
TO BE A CITY THAT OFFERS EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AND FOSTERS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY TO BE A CITY THAT 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 AND VITAL ECONOMY, WHICH PRESERVES EXISTING LIFESTYLES WITHOUT EXPLOITING THE NATURAL BEAUTY.
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 LINK TO DOCUMENT]
ITEM THREE IS THE CONSENT, UH, ITEMS. ARE THERE ANY, OKAY.ANY, ANY COUNCIL PEOPLE WHO MEMBERS THE PUBLIC OR STAFF THAT WOULD LIKE TO PULL ANY OF THE ITEMS FOR REVIEW? SEEING NONE.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS THREE.
THAT'S COUNCIL KINSELLA WITH THE MOTION AND COUNSEL WILLIAMSON.
SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS BY MYSELF, THE COUNSELORS, OR THE CITY MANAGER? NOTHING FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
PETE, NOTHING WITH THE WATER? UH, NO.
DO WE HAVE ANY CARDS, MADAM CLERK? I DON'T THINK SO.
PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AN AWARD.
[8.a. AB 2912 Public hearing/discussion/possible action regarding potential project for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding and approval of a Resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application for CDBG funds.]
BUSINESS.AND WHAT I'M GOING TO JUST MENTION TO THE COUNCIL IN TRYING TO STICK TO SOME OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD AT OUR RETREAT,
[00:05:01]
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO KEEP THINGS FLOWING AND, AND TRY THE BEST THAT WE ALL CAN, WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO, UH, BRING THE, THE MEETING A LITTLE BIT SHORTER.SO EACH ITEM HAS, UH, A TIME LIMIT.
NOT THAT IT'S NOT A HARD STOP, BUT LET'S TRY TO ALL WORK TOGETHER.
THIS ITEM, UH, A, IS AB 29 12 AT.
IT HAS, IT GOES FROM UH, NINE, IT GOES FROM 90 MINUTES AND IT'S PUBLIC HEARING DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A POTENTIAL PROJECT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, CD BG FUNDING AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION, UH, FOR THE C D B G FUNDS.
AND THAT WILL BE WHO PRESENTING? SHANNON.
ACTUALLY, I HAVE TO START TALKING.
CAN I ASK A GOOD QUESTION? CASTLE WILLIAMSON, HOW WILL, HOW ARE WE INTENDING PROCEED THIS NIGHT? OR ARE WE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THE PRESENTATIONS ARE DONE BEFORE ASKING QUESTIONS? I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT IF WE WANT AGREEMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO BE CLEAR.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'LL WORK WITH THE CHAMBER, BUT WE COULD TRY TO DO THAT FOR ALL THE PRESENT PRESENTERS.
YEAH, WE'RE GONNA TRY, TRYING TO KEEP EVERYTHING MOVING.
UM, JUST WORKING HERE TO GET THE PRESENTATION FOR YOU.
UM, THE FIRST ITEM IS REGARDING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, UM, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A FEDERAL GRANT THAT COMES DOWN THROUGH THE STATE, UM, ADMINISTERED BY NACOG, WHICH WE GET EVERY FOUR YEARS.
MELISSA, CAN YOU HEAR EVERYTHING BEING SAID, MELISSA? SHE PROBABLY HAS TO UNMUTE.
SO, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLACK GRANT, OR C D B G WHOOP WAS, UM, CREATED IN 1974 TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, SERVING PRIMARILY LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS.
AND TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FUNDING PROJECTS MUST HAVE AT LEAST 51% OF THOSE WHO BENEFIT BE BELOW 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
THE PROJECT MUST AID IN THE PREVENTION OF ELIMINATION OF SLUMS OR BLIGHT, OR SOLVE AN URGENT NEED OR A HEALTH HAZARD.
UM, THESE TARGET POPULATIONS THAT ARE LISTED ON THE SCREEN ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE TO MEET THE INCOME CRITERIA AUTOMATICALLY.
AND THE FUNDING THAT WE ARE ESTIMATED TO RECEIVE THIS YEAR IS A LITTLE OVER 400 AND 400,000.
THAT THE ESTIMATE RIGHT NOW, I THINK IS ABOUT 406,000.
BUT THE STATE ACTUALLY CALCULATES THOSE AND GETS US THE FINAL, UM, LATER IN THE YEAR.
AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THE AMOUNT THAT ACTUALLY COMES INTO THE STATE IS ABOUT 9 MILLION, 700,000.
UM, AND THEN THAT'S DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE NACOG REGION AND TO THE COUNTY.
SO SOME OF THE THINGS THE CITY OF SEDONA HAS USED THE CDBG GRANTS FOR BEFORE ARE LISTED HERE.
UM, YOU CAN SEE WE'VE FUNDED THE SENIOR CENTER, UM, A FEW TIMES, SOME HOUSING REHAB OR, UM, UM, MOBILE HOME REPLACEMENT A FEW TIMES.
AND THEN LAST YEAR, THE HOPE HOUSE OR LAST CYCLE, FOUR YEARS AGO, THE HOPE HOUSE WAS THE PROJECT SELECTED.
SO FOR THIS YEAR, WE HELD THE PRELIMINARY PUBLIC HEARING, UM, DECEMBER 21ST, AND REQUESTS FOR FUNDING WERE REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED AFTER THAT MEETING WITHIN A WEEK.
UM, SO TONIGHT WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU SELECT FROM THE PROJECTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED AND JUST PRIORITIZE THOSE.
AND THEN BETWEEN NOW AND MAY 31ST, UM, STAFF AND THE SELECTED APPLICANT WILL WORK WITH NACOG TO COMPLETE AN APPLICATION THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO
[00:10:01]
THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING.THEN THE ACTUAL FUNDS DON'T GET AWARDED UNTIL LATE IN THE YEAR, PROBABLY NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
SO THESE ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITY IN THE PROCESS.
UM, PRIMARILY THE COUNCIL HAS THE FINAL AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO SELECT A PROJECT THAT MEETS OUR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
UM, ANY COUNCIL SELECTED MUST HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AT THE INITIAL PUBLIC MEETING.
SO WE CAN'T HEAR ABOUT ANY NEW PROJECTS TONIGHT.
WE CAN ONLY CONSIDER THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SUBMITTED AND OF THE PROJECTS SUBMITTED.
UM, WE CAN ONLY SELECT ONE TO SUBMIT FOR FUNDING.
WE CAN SELECT TWO IF ONE OF THOSE IS A PLANNING GRANT.
SO WE DO HAVE ONE SMALL PLANNING GRANT INCLUDED THAT WE COULD ACCEPT THAT ONE AND ONE OTHER ONE.
UM, AND HERE IS THE LIST OF THE PROJECTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED, UM, FOR THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM BY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
UH, TANYA SIMS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HABITAT IS HERE AND SHE CAN PRESENT MORE ON THAT ONE.
UM, THE SECOND ONE, THE SHELTER OR DAY USE FACILITY, UM, I PROPOSED THAT ONE AT THE INITIAL PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE THERE WAS A PARTNER WHO WASN'T PRESENT.
BUT SINCE THEN, THEY HAVE DECLINED TO PARTNER ON THAT PROJECT.
SO IF WE WANTED TO DO THAT NOW, WE WOULD HAVE TO IDENTIFY A PARTNER AND A BUILDING BEFORE NOVEMBER AND, UM, PROBABLY IDENTIFY A PARTNER EVEN BEFORE MAY TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION TO ADO.
UH, AND THEN THE THIRD ONE, THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROJECT BY STEPS TO RECOVERY.
UH, DAMIEN BROWNING, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR STEPS IS HERE AND HE CAN PRESENT ON THAT ONE AS WELL.
AND THEN THE, THE FINAL ONE IS THE PLANNING GRANT.
UM, WE SUBMITTED FOR $10,000 TO WORK ON A STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.
SO IF THAT ONE WAS SELECTED, WE COULD ALSO SELECT ONE OF THE FIRST THREE.
SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR, UM, WE CAN START WITH NUMBER ONE WITH TANYA SIMS FROM HABITAT.
CAN I JUST CLICK, HOLD ON BEFORE YOU GET INTO THE INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS.
CAUSE THERE WAS A GENERAL QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, UH, COUNCIL WILLIAMSON HAD A HAND UP FIRST.
SO LET'S, SO SHANNON, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THE FACT THAT THESE, THESE ARE NOT ACTUALLY COMPETITIVE.
IF WE SUBMIT AN APPLICATION THAT MEETS THE CRITERIA, WE WILL BE FUNDED, CORRECT? YES.
AND IF SOMETHING, FOR EXAMPLE, IN ONE OF THE EXAMPLES YOU SAID THAT, UM, A PARTNER WOULD HAVE TO BE IDENTIFIED IF WE FAILED TO IDENTIFY A PARTNER WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME, THEN THE MONEY WOULD BE LOST TO US.
SO NOW WHY DON'T WE, UH, NOW I SEE THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO YOU SAY WILL SPEAK ALSO HAVE CARDS.
SO IS THAT GOING TO REPLACE THE CARD? UH, THE THREE MINUTES OR, OR THAT, UH, DO THEY WANT ADDITIONAL TIME FOR PRESENTATION AND THEN SPEAK? THANK, THANK YOU.
I THINK THEY MAY NEED A LITTLE MORE THAN THREE MINUTES.
CAUSE I WOULD RATHER GIVE THEM AS MUCH TIME AS THEY NEED.
SO WHY DON'T YOU CALL, UH, FOR THE, I DON'T HAVE THE THE COMPANIES HERE, BUT WHY DON'T YOU BRING THEM UP.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR JALO AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT'S NICE TO SEE MANY OF YOU AGAIN, FAMILIAR FACES.
I DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A SQUEAKY VOICE, SO I APOLOGIZE.
I APPRECIATE YOU HEARING ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE.
IT'S ALWAYS, I KNOW, A VERY COMPETITIVE AND, AND, UM, CHALLENGING DECISION YOU ALL, ALL HAVE TO MAKE.
AND I, I KNOW THAT YOU ALL PUT YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR SPIRITS INTO EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FEELING FAMILIAR WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, WE ARE AN AFFILIATE OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HERE IN THE VERDE VALLEY.
AND WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR 28 YEARS, UH, ACTUALLY 28 YEARS ON APRIL 1ST.
SO WE'RE GETTING PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT TIME PERIOD.
UH, DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, WE HAVE BUILT NEW HOMES.
AND THEN IN 2016, AT THE END OF 2016, WE STARTED A CRITICAL HOME REPAIR PROGRAM, UH, THAT WE FOUND MUCH NEED FOR IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR RESTORE IN COTTONWOOD, WHICH SERVES THE ENTIRE VERDE VALLEY.
WE HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT COME IN, UM, COMP, UH, REPEAT CUSTOMERS, FOLKS WHO JUST NEED TO FIND SOMETHING TO REPAIR THEIR HOMES.
UH, AND THEN, UM, LOTS OF PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE RENTERS OR LANDLORDS I SHOULD SAY.
SO WE HAVE, UH, MANY PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE THROUGHOUT THE VERDE VALLEY IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE'VE WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY TO ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, MEDICAL REHABS, AND OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AND STATE GOVERNMENT AS WELL.
OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH THESE BUSINESSES AND
[00:15:01]
GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEEN ESSENTIAL TO OUR WORK.HOUSING IS A, UM, NOT A PARTISAN TOPIC.
IT'S A TOPIC THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS.
WE NEED TO HAVE, UM, COMMITMENT AND DESIRE TO WORK TOGETHER TO EITHER BUILD HOMES, BUILD RENTALS, OR REPAIR HOMES AND KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES.
WHEN WE RECOGNIZED A GROWING NEED FOR A CRITICAL HOME REPAIR AND STARTED OUR PROGRAM, UH, WE STARTED KEEPING TRACK OF THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT APPLY FOR OUR PROGRAM.
I'M SORRY, THERE'S THAT WEIRD SOUND THAT'S COMING FROM THERE.
UM, WE STARTED KEEPING TRACK OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT APPLY FOR OUR PROGRAM AND WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS WE'RE ABLE TO DO FOR THEM.
AND I DON'T HAVE TO TELL ALL OF YOU, UM, THAT WE ARE IN HOUSING CRISIS, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW, LIKE, WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE ALL REALLY GREAT ABOUT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON IN, IN THE SEDONA COMMUNITY, BUT WITH THIS HOUSING CRISIS WE'RE IN, WE FEEL THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES, NOT JUST BUILD NEW, WE ALSO KNOW THE EXPENSE TO THAT.
I'VE BEEN AT COUNCIL MEETINGS WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT BUDGETS AND PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU.
SO WE KNOW THE COST OF, UH, BUILDING NEW, UM, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT IT'S MUCH MORE INEXPENSIVE AND, UH, NECESSARY TO KEEP THE PR THE HOUSES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CURRENT INVENTORY AND OUR INVENTORY WHILE KEEPING PEOPLE IN OUR HOMES.
MOST OF THE FOLKS THAT WE SERVE IN OUR PROGRAM ARE SENIORS AND VETERANS, USUALLY 62 AND OLDER, NOT EVEN 55 AND OLDER, BUT 62 AND OLDER.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THERE'S NOWHERE FOR THEM TO GO IF THEY LEAVE.
SEDONA HAS APPROXIMATELY 3,600 OWNER-OCCUPIED HOMES IN THE CITY LIMITS.
AND OF THESE HOMES, OVER 35% ARE OWNED BY HOUSEHOLDS WITH ANNUAL INCOMES OF LESS THAN 50,000.
WITH THE INFLATION THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND THE INCREASES IN MATERIAL COSTS, MORE AND MORE HOMEOWNERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THEIR HOME MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS.
WE CONSISTENTLY HAVE PEOPLE CALLING, ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE IN OUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM.
AND HONESTLY, WE CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THE NEED RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO FIND THE FUNDING TO DO WHAT WE CAN.
WHEN HOMEOWNERS DON'T HAVE THE FUNDED NEED, THE NEEDS, THE FUNDS NEEDED TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT HOME REPAIRS FOR ISSUES SUCH AS ROOF DAMAGE, WATER DAMAGE, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL NEEDS, THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY AT RISK WHILE ALSO PUTTING THEIR HOME PROPERTY AT RISK OF BECOMING A BLIGHT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE SITUATION TO REMEDY.
THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLACK GRANT ARE TO SUPPORT HOME MAINTENANCE AND SIGNIFICANT REPAIRS FOR LOAD AND MODERATE INCOME.
HOUSE OWNER HOUSEHOLDS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOMES, PHYSICAL CONDITIONS OR PAY FOR EXPENSIVE REPAIRS, SUCH AS AS ROOFS, WATER DAMAGE.
WE GET A LOT OF WATER DAMAGE, UH, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL REPAIRS.
THE REPAIRS THAT ARE PROVIDED TO THESE HOMEOWNERS HELP IMPROVE AND PRESERVE THE HOMEOWNER'S PROPERTY AND IMPROVES THE HOMEOWNER'S PROPERTY INVESTMENT, THE COMMUNITY'S INVESTMENT, AND IT REVITALIZES THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND RETAINS THEIR HOME VALUES.
IN THE CURRENT LOCAL HOUSING INVENTORY, ALL OF THE APPLICANTS IN OUR PROGRAM ARE, UH, 80% OR UNDER OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
SO A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THOSE THAT WERE ABLE TO ASSIST IN THE PROGRAM FALL INTO THE, UH, INCOME REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CDBG GRANT FUNDS.
UH, I JUST WANNA SHARE WITH YOU ALSO THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING WITH YAVAPAI COUNTY.
WE HAVE, WE PARTNERED WITH NACOG LAST YEAR, I THINK IT WAS, UM, OR MAYBE THE YEAR BEFORE I GET, I LOSE TRACK OF TIME.
SO BY SURPASSED ANYWAY, WE PARTNERED WITH THEM AND WE APPLIED FOR FUNDING TO DO HOME REPAIRS IN THE VERDE VALLEY.
UM, WE WERE, WE WERE ABLE TO GET APPROVAL FOR ABOUT $300,000 AND 150 OF THAT HAS BEEN, UH, DESIGNATED TO HELP, UH, HOMEOWNER APPLICANTS WITH REPAIRS IN THE VERDE VALLEY.
$150,000 DOESN'T REALLY GO THAT FAR.
THE MAX ASSISTANCE FOR THAT PROGRAM IS $15,000.
AND TO DATE, OVER THE THREE YEARS THAT YOU HAVE TO USE THE MONEY, WE'VE HELPED FOUR HOMEOWNERS WITH SIGNIFICANT REPAIRS IN THE VERDE VALLEY.
SO WE HAVE THE EXPERIENCE IN PARTNERING WITH CDBG AND BEING ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND ALL THE REQUIREMENTS THAT FEDERAL FUNDING REQUIRES OF IT.
AND WE WERE RECENTLY APPROVED BY A CI COTTONWOOD CITY COUNCIL, UH, TO, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH APPLICATION FOR THE COTTONWOOD CBG FUNDS BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE HOUSING WE HAVE KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND HEALTHY IN THEIR HOMES.
SO THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SHARE.
AND THEN I THINK YOU'RE GONNA WAIT UNTIL THE END FOR QUESTIONS, OR DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS NOW? NOW, I'D LIKE TO KEEP YOU THERE FOR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL, BUT LET ME START WITH MELISSA.
UH, FIRST I WANNA MAKE SURE MELISSA HEARD EVERYTHING.
ARE YOU THERE IN OUTTA SPACE? YES.
[00:20:01]
I HEARD EVERYTHING AND I AM STILL HERE.AND YES, I DO HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION.
SO, UM, THE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED WAS DOING WORK RECENTLY WITH GRANTS THROUGHOUT THE VERDE VALLEY.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE ARE HOME REPAIR PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE WITHIN THE SEDONA CITY LIMITS, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
THE FUNDS DE ARE REQUIRE FOR USE FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE JUST IN CITY LIMITS.
UM, I WANTED TO ALSO SHARE WITH YOU THAT SINCE WE STARTED THE PROGRAM, WE'VE HAD 149 REQUESTS FOR APPLICATIONS FOR CRITICAL HOME REPAIR.
AND THIS IS FOR EVERY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE VERDE VALLEY.
UH, 17 OF THOSE WERE SEDONA HOMEOWNERS.
AND WE'VE BEEN BEEN ABLE TO HELP 13 AND A HALF, AND I SAY 13 AND A HALF BECAUSE WE HAVE HOME, ONE HOMEOWNERS HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT HEALTH, UM, HEALTH DIFFICULTIES, AND WE'VE HAD TO START, STOP, START, STOP.
SO WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO FINISHING THAT ONE, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S WHO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP IN THE CITY OF SEDONA SO FAR.
UM, COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME MORE THAN WHAT'S ON THE APPLICATION PAGE? COULD YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND MORE CRITICAL HOME REPAIRS? BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE EXAMPLES HERE LIKE ROOF DAMAGE, WATER DAMAGE, PLUMBING, BUT HOW DO YOU MAKE THE DETERMINATION ON SOMETHING LIKE A ROOF, WHETHER, HOW IT RISES TO THE THRESHOLD OF CRITICAL? FOR US, CRITICAL IS ANYTHING THAT WE CAN'T HANDLE WITH VOLUNTEERS WHERE WE HAVE TO SUB IT OUT.
WE HAVE, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CALL US, THEY HAVE WATER DAMAGE, THEY'VE GOT HOLES IN THEIR ROOF, SO THEY JUST HAVE SOME, UM, LESS THAN A HUNDRED SQUARE FOOT OF NEED FOR ROOF REPAIR.
IF IT'S CRITICAL, THEN IT, UM, IT'S LEAKING IN THEIR HOUSE AND IT'S DAMAGED THE CEILING AND THE FLOOR AS WELL.
SO THAT'S HOW WE DETERMINE CRITICAL IS EITHER THE SIZE OF IT, THE COST OF IT, AND WHETHER IT'S DAMAGED OTHER PARTS OF THE HOUSE.
AND WHO IN YOUR ORGANIZATION MAKES A DETERMINATION? WE HAVE A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER.
UM, CAN I JUST ADD TO THAT NOW, NACOG, IN THE NACOG PROGRAM, THEY HAVE A HOME INSPECTOR THAT GOES OUT AND DOES INSPECTIONS DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
IS THAT HOME INSPECTOR, UM, VOLUNTEERING THEIR SERVICES, OR IS, HOW IS THAT PAID FOR? DOES THAT FEE ALSO COME OUT OF THE GRANT MONEY? YES.
UH, SO I NOTICED THAT WE FUNDED, UH, HA HOMEOWNER REPAIR PROGRAMS IN THE PAST USING THIS BLOCK GRANT.
HAS THAT ALL BEEN TO HABITAT? THAT WAS NOT THROUGH US.
SO HAVE YOU EVER RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM THE CITY OF SEDONA FOR CDB? D YEAH.
NO, BUT FOR SOMETHING ELSE, UH, PARTNERSHIP IN HELPING US BUILD NEW HOMES.
UH, I, I THINK THIS IS A, AN EXCELLENT, UH, APPLICATION.
I WAS A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE.
AND WITH THE FUNDING FROM COTTONWOOD, IS THAT NEGOTIABLE, MAYBE SPLITTING SOMEBODY IF YOU WERE TO BE AWARDED THIS CONTRACT? WELL, THE ADMINISTRATION FEE, I WAS NOT REAL CERTAIN HOW TO JUST PREPARE THAT SIMPLE BUDGET FOR THE FUND REQUEST.
SO WHEN I SPOKE TO ISABELLE WITH NACOG, UM, SHE SAID, WE'LL JUST PUT IN THE 18%.
SO IN REALITY, WHEN WE GO TO CREATE A SPECIFIC BUDGET, THAT NUMBER'S GONNA TOTALLY CHANGE AND IT'S GONNA BE MUCH SMALLER THAN IT IS.
OH, SO THIS WAS A PLACEHOLDER BASED ON YOUR CONVERSATION WITH NACOG? CORRECT.
OKAY, COUNCIL WILLIAMSON, GO AHEAD.
SO IN THIS, IN THIS, I KNOW THAT I BELIEVE WE CONTRACTED WITH NACOG IN THE PAST FOR HOME REPAIR.
UM, WHAT'S YOUR ROLE VIS-A-VIS NACOG IN THIS, IN THIS PARTICULAR SCENARIO? THEY'RE JUST THE PATH THROUGH MECHANISM.
UM, I MEAN, DO YOU HAVE A RE DO THEY HAVE A ROLE IN THIS? WELL, THEY MANAGE THE FUNDING FOR OKAY.
AND, UM, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ISABEL TODAY, AND IT REALLY IS, UM, DETERMINANT UPON THE CITY, NACOG AND US.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS, APPARENTLY WE MEET AFTERWARDS AND DETERMINE WHO HAS WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES.
SO FOR US, UM, I BELIEVE WE WOULD TAKE THE APPLICATIONS LIKE WE DO NOW, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE A PERSON WHO WOULD FOLLOW ALL THE PROCESSES.
YOU HAVE TO BID OUT, YOU HAVE TO GET SO MANY BIDS, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES, BUT THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE MANAGED BY NACOG.
SO WE'D HAVE TO DETERMINE THAT WHEN WE HAVE THAT MEETING.
BUT OUR INTENTION WOULD BE THAT WE COULD, UM, FULFILL THAT WHOLE OBLIGATION PROCESS BECAUSE IF THEY ACT, IF
[00:25:01]
NACO ENDED UP DOING SOME OF THE WORK, A PORTION OF THE GRANT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO FUND THEIR ADMINISTRATOR IF FOR WORK COSTS AS WELL.IS THAT CORRECT? I BELIEVE IT ALREADY DOES.
I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME PART OF THE GRANT THAT GOES TO THEM.
MAYBE SHANNON CAN ANSWER WHETHER OR NOT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A ROLE IN THE PROJECT.
YES, COUNSELOR WILLIAMSON, UM, FOR THEIR ROLE IN ADMINISTERING THE GRANTS FOR THE STATE.
SO BEING THE GO-BETWEEN UHHUH
SO IN HELPING US ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER THE PAPERWORK, MAKE SURE THAT THE PROJECT MEETS ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING'S REQUIREMENTS AND ALL OF THAT, THEY ALREADY ARE PAID AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE.
SO THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT TAKING ON ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSE.
PETE, DO YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? PETE FURMAN, COUNCIL.
AND TANYA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
ONE, WE TALK ABOUT, UM, AN INCOME TEST.
IS THERE AN ASSET TEST THAT GOES IN WITH APPLICANTS AS WELL? YES.
UNDER THE, UM, UH, FEDERAL GUIDELINES, THERE ARE, IT, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE VALUE OF THE HOME, THE FRAMEWORK OF VALUE OF THE HOME, I BELIEVE.
SO IF SOMEONE'S LIVING ON A CASH PILE THAT THEY STUFFED AWAY, THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY GETTING INCOME IF THEY QUALIFY.
WELL, THERE, THERE ARE INCOME, UM, REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR PROOF OF INCOME THAT WE HAVE TO COLLECT.
SO SIMILAR TO WHEN YOU APPLY FOR A MORTGAGE OR A LOAN, YOU HAVE TO PROVE THAT YOU HAVE WHATEVER YOUR INCOME IS AND WHATEVER YOUR DEBT ARE.
SO IT WOULD BE A SIMILAR PROCESS.
IF THEY HAVE CASH SOMEWHERE WHERE IT'S HIDING, THEN WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO FIND IT.
BUT USUALLY THERE'S NOT THOSE KIND OF ISSUES.
MY SECOND QUESTION IS, UH, OUT OF THE BOX IDEA, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO COUPLE A DEED RESTRICTION WITH PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM? SHANNON, THAT OR KURT, THAT MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
UH, SHORT TERM RENTAL DEED RESTRICTION? I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.
I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO THE REGULATIONS.
I'M NOT SURE AS WELL IF THERE'S ANY FEDERAL, UH, UH, REQUIREMENTS, OBLIGATIONS THAT WOULD PREVENT US FROM DOING SO, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A POSSIBILITY.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO PURSUE AS WE GET THROUGH THE PROGRAM? IF THIS WAS ONE OF THE PROJECTS? YOU KNOW, I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS A, UM, OWNER-OCCUPIED REQUIREMENT OF THE CDBG FUNDS AND, AND WHEN WE WRITE UP THE PROGRAM PARAMETERS, I BELIEVE WE CAN PUT OWNER OCCUPATION REQUIRED.
UH, JUST THINKING ABOUT COUNCIL FOR, UH, FURMAN'S QUESTION, CAN YOU DO IT TOO? YEAH.
COUNSELOR PETE'S QUESTION, UM, ON THE, ON THE DEED RESTRICTION, UM, E EVEN IF IT HAS TO BE OWNER OCCUPIED, UM, BECAUSE THIS IS BASED ON NEED THE CHANCE OF CLAWING BACK IN THE EVENT THAT IT FLIPS INTO A SHORT TERM RENTAL, THAT SEEMED TO BE SOMEWHAT MINIMAL.
SO I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING US PURSUE THE DEED RESTRICTION IF POSSIBLE.
UH, MY OTHER OTHER QUESTION IS FOR SHANNON, UM, MAYBE A NAIVE ONE HERE, BUT THIS GRANT IS COMING THROUGH YAVAPAI COUNTY.
WELL, NO, IT'S REALLY NACOG, RIGHT? SO THERE'S NOT A PLAY FOR GETTING SOME COCONINO MONEY AND SOME YAHOO PIE MONEY? NO.
CAN I MAKE ONE LITTLE COMMENT? OF COURSE.
UM, I BELIEVE THERE'S A, A 10 YEAR, UM, DOC.
THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE PROGRAM THAT SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO, IF THE, IF THE, IF THE HOME IS SOLD OR REFINANCE WITHIN 10 YEARS, THEN THE GRANT FUNDS HAVE TO BE RE REPAID.
TANYA, I WANT TO ADD, UH, TO A QUESTION THAT WAS MENTIONED BY THE VICE MAYOR.
I THINK THAT SHANNON HAD SOMETHING.
OH, YOU HAD SOMETHING TO SAY, SAY AT THAT POINT.
I JUST SAY THAT THE, THE BLACK GRANT REQUIREMENTS, I BELIEVE, SAY THAT IF WE INVEST MORE THAN 15,000 IN A PROPERTY, THERE IS A, A DEED RESTRICTION THAT GOES WITH IT THAT REQUIRES OWNER OCCUPANCY FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS, OR A PAYBACK, IT MIGHT BE 10, WE CAN CHECK WITH ISABELLE.
FOR, FOR THE LAST PROJECT WE DID, IT WAS FIVE YEARS.
SO I, I BELIEVE IT'S A FIVE YEAR, UM, REQUIREMENT ON CDBG.
SO THEN TO GO WHERE, UH, COUNCILOR FURMAN WAS ADDRESSING BEYOND FIVE YEARS MAY NOT BE A FAR REACH TO GO FOR, TO LOOK INTO HAVING TYPE OF SOME TYPE OF A DE RESTRICTION.
[00:30:01]
THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.UH, TANYA, I'D LIKE TO, UH, GO BACK TO SOMETHING THE VICE MAYOR HAVE SAID.
AND SHANNON, I, I APOLOGIZE, I DIDN'T SEE YOU ON THAT SIDE OF THE, UM, THE ADMINISTRATION FEE THAT SORT OF HAD ME A LITTLE BIT, UH, CONCERNED AS WELL.
AND I KNOW YOU SAID IT WILL DROP DOWN.
THE NUMBER I HAD IN THAT, UH, I RECEIVED WAS $75,000 AS A PLACEHOLDER.
WHAT WOULD IT REALLY DROP DOWN TO AS A, NO, IT'S A PLACEHOLDER, BUT WHAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WOULD DROP DOWN TO? WELL, ACCORDING TO ISABEL, UM, ADMIN FEES, COLLECTIVE ADMIN FEES CAN'T BE ANY MORE THAN 80 PER 18% OF THE TOTAL FUNDING.
SO WITHOUT KNOWING, YOU KNOW, WELL WITHOUT HAVING THAT SPECIFIC BUDGET, KNOWING WHO'S GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING WHAT MANAGEMENT OF THAT, IT'S HARD TO TELL.
BUT I KNOW, UM, CITY OF COTTONWOOD SAID THAT, UH, NACOG HAD A $15,000 FEE WHEN THEY MANAGED IT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS FOR SEDONA.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF, OF ADMIN FEES.
UM, SO I, I ACTUALLY THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION.
I'D HAVE TO CHECK WITH ISABELLE AND GET BACK TO YOU.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT SPECIFIC DETAILS WORK.
AND THEN WOULD THIS PROJECT WORK SIMILAR TO THE PROJECT YOU HAD DURING THE SUMMER WHERE PROPERTY OWNERS HAD TO PUT IN THEIR OWN SWEAT EQUITY FOR FIXING THEIR HOME, THEIR OWN HOME? THEY WERE OUT THERE, THEY WERE OUT THERE HAMMERING AND THEY WERE PARTICIPATING.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY SIT BACK AND WATCH, UH, THE PROJECT.
SO THE, THE RULES FOLLOW THE SAME? UM, NO, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU'RE USING FEDERAL FUNDING AND FEDERAL FUNDING REQUIRES YOU TO SUBCONTRACT AND PAY SUB LICENSED SUBCONTRACTORS TO DO THE WORK.
BUT THIS, SO THE CDBG FUNDS, UM, IF THE CITY DECIDES TO, UM, MOVE FORWARD WITH HABITAT WOULD BE FOR THOSE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE TO BE CONTRACTED OUT FOR ROOFING.
IF YOU HAVE TOTAL ROOF REPLACEMENT FOR PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, WHERE YOU REALLY NEED A CERTIFIED PERSON FOR, UM, HEATING COOLING, WHERE YOU NEED A HVAC PERSON.
SO IT WOULD BE THOSE SIGNIFICANT TYPES OF REPAIRS.
WE CAN PAIR IT WITH OUR PROGRAM AND OUR PROGRAM FUNDING SO THAT IF WE HAVE SOME, UM, OTHER TYPES OF, OF REPAIRS THAT CAN BE DONE, WE CAN COME IN AND THAT'S WHEN VOLUNTEERS AND SWEAT EQUITY COULD BE PARTNERED WITH THE CDBG FUNDS.
SO THE VOLUNTEERS HELP ON THAT END, BUT ON THE BIGGER PROJECTS, THAT'S WHAT THIS MONEY WOULD BE USED FOR.
COUNCIL WILLIAMSON, YOU HAD SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO SAY? I JUST WAS SAYING SHANNON HAD HER HAND UP AGAIN.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE ADMIN FEES.
UM, IN THE PAST WHEN THE CITY, UM, CONTRACTED WITH NACOG FOR THESE REPAIRS, NACOG ACTUALLY CHARGED ABOUT 12.3%.
BUT ON TOP OF THAT, THEY ALSO CHARGE, UM, PROJECT FEES, WHICH ARE NOT COUNTED UNDER THAT 18% ADMIN CAP.
UM, THAT'S A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT.
SO THE PROJECT FEES THAT THEY ADDED WERE 20% ON EACH PROJECT FOR THAT, THAT STAFF MEMBER WHO GOES OUT TO INSPECT THE PROPERTY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THOSE WERE DIRECT COSTS THAT WERE ADDED WITHIN EACH PROJECT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? VICE MAYOR, UH, SH UH, SHANNON, TANYA, DO THEY, NACU NO LONGER DOES THIS WORK? IS THAT THEY DO, NACOG HAS OTHER FEDERAL FUNDING THAT THEY USE FOR HOME REPAIR AND THEY HAVE ABOUT A THREE YEAR WAIT LIST.
BUT THEY DIDN'T SUBMIT A PROPOSAL CORRECT.
UM, SHANNON, THE NEXT, UH, APPLICANT.
SO MAYOR AND COUNSEL, IF YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING, UM, A SHELTER OR DAY USE FACILITY, IF YOU STILL WANNA ENTERTAIN THAT OPTION, I COULD ANSWER THOSE, OTHERWISE WE CAN MOVE ON TO, UM, DAMIEN BROWNING FROM STEPS TO RECOVERY.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY WORK DONE AT THIS POINT? I MEAN, I KNOW YOU'RE VERY BUSY WITH EVERYTHING, BUT TO TRY TO FIND A PARTNER, LIKE IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND NOW THAT MIGHT BE AN IDENTIFIABLE PARTNER? UM, POTENTIALLY, BUT THEY'RE NOT READY YET TO, TO COMMIT TO THAT.
SO, AND THE TIMEFRAME, AGAIN, BECAUSE THIS IS A, A PROJECT THAT I THINK THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IN PRIORITY SETTING SESSIONS AND EVERYTHING, WE CERTAINLY SEE THE NEED FOR, UM, WHAT WOULD THE TIMEFRAME BE IN ORDER TO KNOW IF YOU HAD A COMMITMENT OR NOT? WOULD IT MAKE IT UNDER THE DEADLINES? BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T WANNA DO, I GUESS I, I'M, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY INTERESTED IN, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANNA BLOW THIS MONEY
SO IS THERE, IS THERE ANY SORT OF REALISTIC POSSIBILITY OF MEETING A TIMEFRAME WITH A REALISTIC PARTNER? WHEN YOU PHRASE IT AS A REALISTIC POSSIBILITY? PROBABLY, BUT THAT IT, LIKE YOU, I THINK
[00:35:01]
WE WOULD BE PUTTING OUR FUNDING IN JEOPARDY IF WE HOPED TO BRING SOMEONE UP TO SPEED FOR THIS PROJECT IN TIME.COUNCIL WILLIAMSON, YOU ADD YOUR HAND UP AND TRYING TO MOVE.
AND THE SECOND THING THAT WE DON'T HAVE IS THE SITE.
UM, AND BECAUSE WE DON'T ACTUALLY GET THE FUNDING UNTIL LATE IN THE YEAR, WE CAN'T IDENTIFY A SITE UNTIL THAT TIME.
SO, AND, UM, WE HAVE, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY INCITING PROJECTS.
UM, IT MAY BE THAT CITING A DAY USE FACILITY FOR THE HOMELESS RESIDENTS MAY TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND REQUIRE, UH, PUBLIC OUTREACH AND, UH, KINDS OF, AND HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT ALL OF THAT, I MEAN, I, I I, I SHARE COUNSELOR ELLA'S CONCERNS THAT WITHOUT A, WITHOUT A SIGHT KNOWING THE DIFFICULTY OF, OF CITING ANYTHING, LET ALONE A HOMELESS SHELTER AND THE LACK OF A PARTNER.
UM, I'M, I APPRECIATE YOUR SHARING YOUR, YOUR INSIGHT INTO THE FEASIBILITY OF ALL OF THAT HAPPENING, BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA LOSE THE MONEY.
UM, THE MONEY, IT'S, IT, THE WAY THAT THIS IS WRITTEN IS FOR A PURCHASE OF A PROPERTY, SINCE THIS IS THE WAY THE APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED, IS AN AMENDMENT POSSIBLE.
WHAT ABOUT A RENTAL OF A PROPERTY? I THINK THAT TYPE OF AMENDMENT WOULD BE ALLOWED.
IT JUST REALLY COMES DOWN TO, UM, THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE PROJECT BE MENTIONED AT THE FIRST HEARING AND OKAY.
UH, THE TIMING JUST, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO GET IT IN THERE BUT THEN SPOKE WITH THE PARTNER AFTERWARDS, SO.
SO SHANNON ASKED THE QUESTION OF THE COUNCIL IF WE WERE READY TO JUST BYPASS NUMBER TWO.
WELL, I THINK WE WANT TO HEAR, WE'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION IF WE HEAR ALL THE PROPOSALS.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THE, IT'S STILL A PROPOSAL.
YOU STILL, YOU DID HAVE YOUR QUESTION.
VICE MAYOR SHANNON, UH, HOW MUCH TIME OF YOUR TIME IF WE WERE TO PURSUE THIS PROJECT, WOULD YOU, WOULD BE REQUIRED AND WHAT WOULD YOU NOT BE DOING IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS?
UM, SO WOULD BE PUTTING OUR DESIRE TO BUILD HOUSING ON HOLD OR PUSHBACK IN TIME, OR AT LEAST ENTERTAINING FEWER, UM, PROPOSED POTENTIAL PROJECTS.
YEAH, I GUESS, WELL, WE'RE ASKING QUESTIONS, SO I'LL SAVE MY COMMENTS FOR LATER.
AND THE, UH, THIRD APPLICANT, DAMIAN? SURE.
YOU, MELISSA, THE APPLICANT FOR THE THIRD APPLICANT IS HANDING OUT A, A HAND UH, NOTE FOR US.
WE'LL BE SURE TO LEAVE ONE IN YOUR MAILBOX FOR WHEN YOU RETURN.
ALRIGHT, WELL, WE'RE STILL, HOLD ON FOR HER.
HELLO, UH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL INTERVIEWS.
UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT AND SUBMIT A PROPOSAL FOR THE C D BG FUNDS.
I'M THE CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF STEP TO RECOVERY HOMES.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME OKAY? MM-HMM.
STEP TO RECOVERY HOMES IS PROPOSING TO PROVIDE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH OUR INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT AND STRUCTURE SOBER LIVING PROGRAMS. OUR PROGRAM WORKS WITH CLIENTELE ON MAKING HEALTHY DECISIONS HOW TO STAY SOBER, AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF THEIR FAMILIES AND OUR SOCIETY.
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IS A HUGE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE LOSING WORKERS BECAUSE THERE IS NOWHERE FOR THEM TO STAY.
AND OUR CLIENTS OFTEN HAVE AN EVEN HARDER TIME FINDING HOUSING BECAUSE OF THEIR HISTORIES.
ONE OF THE KEY FACTORS IN OUR PROGRAM IS BECOMING A RELIABLE PERSON IN OUR WORKFORCE.
WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL JOB DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
[00:40:01]
WORK WITH OUR CLIENTELE TO ADDRESS ALL BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND LONG-TERM RECOVERY FROM ADDICTIONS.SAFE, AFFORDABLE, LONG-TERM HOUSING IS A KEY PIECE TO THE RECOVERY PROCESS.
THE INDIVIDUALS THAT STAY IN OUR HOMES ARE RELIABLE.
THEY STAY SOBER, SHOW UP FOR WORK, EXERT MINDFULNESS, PAY THEIR TAXES, AND ARE OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
OVER THE LAST NINE YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN MANY SUCCESS STORIES THAT ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF HAVING SOBER STRUCTURED EXAMPLE DRIVEN ENVIRONMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO CHANGE, GROW, AND EVOLVE.
ADDICTION AND OTHER CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS ARE A CORE ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
PROGRAMS LIKE OURS BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY, SCHOOLS, NEIGHBORHOODS, EMERGENCY ROOMS, TAX DOLLARS, EMER WORKFORCE, EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCES, HOMELESS POPULATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND SO MUCH MORE.
OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE AND EMPOWER RELIABLE, SOBER, CAREER DRIVEN AND PURPOSE DRIVEN WORKERS.
PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OPTIONS AND GUIDE THEM THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
WE WILL BE, WE WILL BE EVOLVING AND GROWING OUR E ECONOMY AND COMMUNITIES.
THESE OBJECTIVES ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY OF SEDONAS, ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION, STRATEGIC PLAN, AND HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND FIVE YEAR HOUSING ACTION PLAN.
SOME OF THE OBJECTIVES IN THE CITY'S PLAN THAT ALIGN WITH OUR PROJECT ARE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORT ECONOM ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION TO ACHIEVE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY.
LOOK FOR WAYS TO ENHANCE IT AND EXPAND THE EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM AND PROGRAMS WHICH ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION.
STRATEGIC PLAN, FACILITATE ECONOMIC DIVERSITY BY TAKING STEPS TO REALIZE TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECTS.
DEVELOP AN INTERO, I DON'T, I DON'T THAT ONE.
ENTREPRENEURIAL, THERE YOU GO.
I CAN'T SAY IT EITHER, SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
I WAS READING THIS, I'M LIKE, OH MY GOSH.
LANDSCAPES THAT FOSTER THE GROWTH OF LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS, FREELANCERS, AND HOME-BASED BUSINESS OWNERS LAND USE SECTION ON PAGE 17.
THE GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE DIVERSE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS.
AND UNDER THE COMMUNITY SECTION NUMBER ONE IS TO INCREASE OUTREACH AND INCLUSION EFFORT TO SEDONAS SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITIES.
OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS TO PURCHASE HOMES NEAR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO ASSIST IN BUILDING A WORKFORCE THAT CAN BE FOSTERED BY MEETING TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.
TRANSITIONAL STRUCTURED RECOVERY HOUSING PROVIDES A VOLUNTARY, SAFE, SUBSTANCE FREE LIVING ENVIRONMENT THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO LOW AND MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS WHILE PROVIDING CONNECTION TO PEER SUPPORTS RECOVERY PROGRAMS, AND A COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCE AND COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES THAT HELP TO STABILIZE INDIVIDUALS ON THEIR PROCESS OF BECO TO BECOMING SUCCESSFUL IN OUR CITIES AND TOWNS.
UH, WE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH JOB DEVELOPMENT, RECOVERY HOMES, RECOVERY PROGRAMS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TRANSITIONAL HOMES.
WE HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION ASSISTED ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS WITH ADDICTIONS FOR OVER NINE YEARS, AND CURRENTLY HAVE A 50% SUCCESS RATE FOR LONG-TERM RECOVERY.
WE HAVE OVER 200, 200 INDIVIDUALS, WHICH OF OVER 40 PER 40% WORK IN THE SEDONA AREA, UH, THAT ARE LIVING A CLEAN, PRODUCTIVE LIFE.
WE HAVE A TRANSITIONAL HOME THAT HAS BEEN OPEN AND FULL OF RELIABLE, SUCCESSFUL MEMBERS OF, OF OUR SOCIETY FOR OVER FIVE YEARS, EVEN THOUGH OUR CURRENT TRANSITIONAL HOME IS IN COTTONWOOD.
TWO OF THE FIVE CLIENTS IN THIS HOME, IN THIS SPECIFIC HOME WORK IN SEDONA.
UM, WE HAVE A STRONG CURRICULUM AND CON CONTRACT WITH THE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR HOME.
WE HAVE A HOUSE LEAD THAT OVERSEES THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE AND MAKES SURE IT REMAINS SAFE AND CLEAN.
WE HAVE A GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY THAT FOCUSES ON HOW TO EMBRACE MINDFULNESS IN ALL AREAS OF THEIR LIVES, ESPECIALLY HOW TO SHOW UP TO OUR COMMUNITY, SHOW UP TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR NEIGHBORS.
STEPS TO RECOVERY HOMES IS A PROUD MEMBER OF ARIZONA RECOVERY HOUSING ASSOCIATION.
THIS ASSOCIATION AND PERFORMS RANDOM INSPECTIONS AND HOLDS US TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF RECOVERY HOUSING.
MANY OF OUR CLIENTS WILL WANT TO SECURE JOBS IN SEDONA, AND AS, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF HOUSING HERE, ESPECIALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO THIS HOUSING WILL ASSIST THESE CLIENTS IN THIS PROCESS.
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE A PLACE TO COME HERE AND WORK HERE TOO.
A FOUR BEDROOM HOME WILL OFFER SEVEN INDIVIDUALS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.
THIS MEANS WE CAN HELP SEVEN TO 14 INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALS PER YEAR MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR LIVES, BECOME READY TO MOVE OUT ON THEIR OWN WITH A SOLID FOUNDATION AND OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN LONG-TERM RECOVERY.
THIS BRINGS A POSITIVE ENERGY AND, AND CONNECTION TO EVERYONE THEY ENCOUNTER.
THE NUMBERS OF THIS RIP FROM THIS RIPPLE EFFECT WILL BE IN THE HUNDREDS.
SO IT'LL AFFECT A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAN THE SEVENTH, THE 14TH PER YEAR THAT WE'RE HELPING.
UM, 97% OF OUR CLIENTELE COMING WITH NO MONEY IN OUR HOMELESS.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY ARE USING VALUABLE RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR PROGRAM HELPS CHANGE THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY CONCERN.
IT USUALLY TAKES 18 MONTHS TO TWO YEARS TO BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR ONE OF OUR CLIENTS.
THE INDIVIDUAL THAT CONTINUES THIS PATH WILL
[00:45:01]
NOT HAVE TO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS AGAIN.THE WAY THIS GRANT MONEY WILL BE USED FOR A DOWN WILL BE THE WAY THIS GRANT MONEY WILL BE USED IS FOR A DOWN PAYMENT TO HELP PURCHASE A HOME.
AND THEN THE INCOME FOR THE RENT WILL BE APPLIED TO THE MORTGAGE FOR THE BALANCE FOR THE COST OF THE HOME.
THIS WILL BE A SELF-SUSTAINING HOME THAT WILL FOSTER SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUALS TO BUILD CAREERS, OPEN BUSINESSES, AND EVENTUALLY PURCHASE THEIR OWN HOMES WHILE BEING AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS THAT ARE WORKING ON CHANGE.
THE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR TRANSITIONAL HOMES WILL STILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO ATTENDING THERAPY AND THEIR SUPPORT GROUPS AND THE HOUSING GAP WE TALKED ABOUT, I'VE SEEN IN YOUR GUYS' HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A HUGE HOUSING GAP, UH, WITH, SO WITH SEDONAS EXPECTED GROWTH AND NEED FOR RELIABLE WORKFORCE, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO START ADDRESSING THE NEED OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE VERDE VALLEY FOR WORKERS IN SEDONA.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TRULY THINK THE EFFORTS OF THE COUNCIL AND ALL THEY DO FOR THE CITY OF SEDONA AND THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE.
I KNOW THIS IS A TOUGH DECISION AND THERE ARE MANY WORTHY CAUSES.
THIS PROPOSAL WILL BE HELPING INDIVIDUALS AT THE CORE WHILE MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES A SAFE PLACE FOR EVERYONE.
WE WILL BE OFFERING A HAND UP, NOT A HANDOUT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM IT? FROM THE COUNCIL? COUNCIL WILLIAMSON? OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, HOW HAVE THE HOME, THE HOME THAT YOU HAVE INTEGRATED INTO THE COMMUNITY, HAVE YOU HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE NEIGHBORS? HOW'S THAT WORKED OUT? OUR HOMES BARELY HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE NEIGHBORS BECAUSE, BECAUSE WE'RE MEMBERS OF ARIZONA RECOVERY HOUSING ASSOCIATION, WHEN WE STARTED THE HOMES, IT WAS TO RAISE THE BAR ON RECOVERY AND RECOVERY HOMES.
SO WHAT WE DO IS WE TALK TO 'EM ALL THE TIME ABOUT THEIR, THEIR BEHAVIORS.
UH, THEY'RE NOT, THEY DON'T JUST, THEY'RE NOT JUST ALLOWED TO GO OUT AND HOOT AND HOLLER OR THROW CIGARETTE BUTTS OR THROW TRASH.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY, WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON THEM CHANGING THOSE BEHAVIORS AND ACTUALLY SHOWING THE, THE COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY THAT PEOPLE WITH ADDICTION ISSUES CAN RECOVER AND BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THEIR, OF THEIR SOCIETY AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
SO THERE'S SOMEBODY MANAGING THE HOUSE? YES.
UH, MY SECOND QUESTION IS, UM, OH, HOW DO YOU DEFINE LONG-TERM RECOVERY? HOW MANY, IS IT YEARS? OR HOW DO YOU DEFINE IT? I USUALLY DEFINE IT AT LEAST TWO OR MORE YEARS.
PERSONALLY, I MEAN, IT'S A, THAT'S A, THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I, UM, I THINK IF SOMEBODY CAN GET, GET OVER TWO YEARS OF, OF RECOVERY AND THEY'LL USUALLY CONTINUE ON THAT PATH.
THE LAST QUESTION IS, YOU, THERE'S SEVEN PEOPLE WHO YOU HAVE WHO LIVE IN SEDONA, WHO WORK IN SEDONA, OR WHO COULD WORK IN SEDONA THAT WILL, I MEAN, YOU, THERE'S A NEED IN SEDONA.
YOU HAVE ENOUGH CLIENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS HOUSE IS FILLED CONTINUOUSLY.
THAT'S A QUESTION, NOT A STATEMENT.
AND, UH, I'M PRETTY SURE OVER THE LAST NINE YEARS, OVER 40%, WELL OVER 40% OF OUR PEOPLE HAVE WORKED IN SEDONA.
I KNOW THAT A LOT OF 'EM COME FROM SEDONA.
A LOT OF 'EM WANNA WORK HERE, BUT THEY CAN'T AFFORD HOUSING HERE.
SOME HOUSING OPTIONS FOR THEM HERE, I'M SURE THAT WE COULD FILL IT UP AND KEEP IT.
SO COULD YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL? YOU'RE GONNA USE THE MONEY FOR A DOWN PAYMENT AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA CHARGE RENT TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, AND THAT WILL GO TOWARDS THE MORTGAGE PAYMENT? IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? YEAH, THERE'S A BUDGET IN THERE.
IT'S KIND OF WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD PUT A DOWN PAYMENT ON, ON THE HOME WITH MOST OF THE MONEY, I THINK 350,000 OUT OF THE 400,000 I HAVE IN THERE FOR THE DOWN PAYMENT.
AND THEN IT WOULD BRING THE, THE MONTHLY MORTGAGE WAY DOWN TO WHERE IT'S AFFORDABLE AND THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE HOMES COULD ACTUALLY PAY FOR THAT MORTGAGE.
AND SO IS YOUR, BECAUSE YOU'RE CURRENTLY IN VILLE, IS THAT RIGHT? NO, COTTONWOOD.
WHERE WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED? WELL, WHERE, WHERE, WHO LOCATED THE ORGANIZATION? YEAH.
SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE A BUILDING IN COTTONWOOD AND WE HAVE A MEN'S, UH, FACIL.
AND SO WOULD YOU BE LOOKING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY OUTSIDE OF SEDONA? WELL, I WAS HOPING, I MEAN, WITH THIS FUNDS, I WAS HOPING TO PURCHASE SOMETHING INSIDE SEDONA.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW, LIKE WE TALKED, I TALKED TO SHANNON ON A LOT ABOUT LIKE THE AVAILABILITY AND WHAT THERE IS.
AND LIKE SHE SAID, WE CAN'T EVEN START LOOKING UNTIL LATER IN THE YEAR IF WE DID GET THE FUNDING.
BUT YEAH, THE, THE INTENT WOULD BE TO PURCHASE SOMETHING HERE, GET PEOPLE ACTUALLY BUILD RELIABLE, A RELIABLE PERSON, GET THEM OUT OF THEIR ADDICTION, ADDRESS THEIR BARRIERS TO THE WORKFORCE, TO TO EMPLOYMENT, AND ACTUALLY HAVE THEM MOVE HERE AND WORK HERE AND BE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THIS SOCIETY IN SEDONA.
SO WOULD YOU RESTRICT THE, THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE OFFERED ROOMS FOR RENT TO OH YEAH.
[00:50:01]
IN SEDONA? WELL, YEAH.I MEAN, IF THEY LIVED HERE THEY WOULD HAVE TO WORK HERE.
WE'RE, WE'RE HOPING TO GET SOME TRANSITIONAL LIVINGS IN COTTONWOOD TWO.
SO WE, THE NEEDS THE NEEDS THERE FOR SURE.
WOULD YOU ALLOW, UH, MARRIED PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN OR WHAT, WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT ABOUT THAT? UM, DOWN THE ROAD, MAYBE SOME OTHER TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.
I COULD, WE WOULD, AFTER WE START GROW, AFTER WE CONTINUE TO GROW, UH, WE WANT TO GET SOME TRANSITION ON HOW HOUSINGS THAT ARE JUST FOR FAMILIES AND RECOVERY.
BUT RIGHT NOW I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WAS PART OF THE PLAN.
SO IS IT FOR INDIVIDUALS OR COULD IT BE FOR COUPLES AS WELL? I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S FOR INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES BRINGS A WHOLE NOTHER, UH, THING.
THAT'S WHY I NEED A, I NEED A WHOLE NOTHER SEPARATE HOUSING FOR COUPLES OR CHILDREN OR.
AND WHAT ABOUT CO-ED? WOULD IT BE CO-ED OR WOULD IT BE RES EITHER, YOU KNOW, ONE OR THE OTHER END UP WITH THE FAMILIES THEN? YEAH,
I MEAN, RIGHT NOW I, I WAS THINKING JUST MEN, BUT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I, I, I, IT IT'S, IT'S DEPENDENT ON THE SITUATION.
YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE, IT COULD BE CO-ED.
YOU KNOW, I'D HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT I REALLY TRUST THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THERE TO, UH, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WITH THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND HAVING THE HOUSE LEAVE WITH OUR CURRICULUM.
I TOLD YOU GUYS THAT THERE'S A CONTRACT THEY SIGNED.
THERE'S A VERY, UH, STRATEGIC CAREER ECONOMIC STRUCTURED PROGRAM.
SO THEY JUST CAN'T GO, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T LET ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE GO OVER THERE.
YOU KNOW, THAT WAY IT KEEPS IT, IT KEEPS IT IN A SOBER, CLEAN, SAFE, STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT SO THAT THEY CAN GROW AND, AND CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR RECOVERY PROCESS.
NOW, DO YOU HAVE A LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME THEY COULD SPEND IN THE HOUSE? I'M, I'M, I'M HOPING A YEAR, SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR.
BUT, UH, YEAH, RIGHT NOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS GOING ON IS LIKE, WE NEED MORE HOUSING SO THERE'S NO HOUSING, YOU KNOW? RIGHT.
UH, YES, KATHY, YOU'RE CALLING ON ME.
UM, HOW LARGE IS YOUR ORGANIZATION IN TERMS OF STAFF AND SPECIFICALLY ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF? AND I'M ASKING THAT BECAUSE I'M, I'M LEADING UP TO A QUESTION ABOUT MEETING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND IF THAT'S GONNA BE ANY KIND OF AN ISSUE.
WELL, WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A STAFF OF 10 RIGHT NOW.
AND DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TO BE ANY KIND OF A HARDSHIP? UM, NOT AT ALL.
AND, UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY SITES IDENTIFIED? YOU SAID THAT YOU IDEALLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS IN SEDONA, WHICH IDEALLY YOU'D PROBABLY BE WHEREVER WE COULD HAVE IT.
I MEAN, IF WE FOUND A SITE, BUT SEDONA WOULD BE, THIS IS SEDONA FUNDING, SO WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY SITES IDENTIFIED.
I TALKED TO SHANNON ABOUT THAT AND SHE SAID IT'S KIND OF HARD BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE IF WE EVEN GET IT TO IDENTIFY THE SITE AND SEE WHAT'S AVAILABLE.
SO, AND A FOLLOW UP TO THAT QUESTION, AND MAYBE SHANNON IS THE RIGHT PERSON TO ANSWER, IS ARE THERE ANY, WOULD IT JUST BE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THERE? ANY KIND SINCE IT'S, IT'S HIS, SINCE IT'S UM, A GROUP SETTING.
DOES THAT HAVE ANY KIND OF OTHER ZONING REQUIREMENT TO IT? JUST RESIDENTIAL HOUSING.
SO ANY HOUSE THAT'S ON THE MARKET MARKET COULD POTENTIALLY BE.
AND I HAD A FEW MORE QUESTIONS.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF SHANNON WANTED TO ANSWER.
SHE DID IT IN MOTION RATHER THAN VERBAL.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TRY TO MR. HER AGAIN.
AND THEN, UM, I HAD THE SIMILAR QUESTION FOLLOWING UP ON COUNSELOR, UH, VICE MAYOR P PLUG'S QUESTION, WHICH IS HOW LONG IS TRANSITIONAL? BUT REALLY FOR ME, THE KEY IS WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE TRANSITION? IF SOMEONE HAS LIVED THERE FOR SIX MONTHS, ONE YEAR, TWO YEARS, WHATEVER IT IS, WHAT, WHAT IS THE MECHANISM? WHAT HAPPENS THAT THEY, THEY'RE LEAVING THAT ENVIRONMENT? SO, SO THE PROCESS, WHEN SOMEBODY COMES IN THE RECOVERY FIRST, USUALLY THERE'S A, SOME KIND OF CRISIS OR SOMETHING THAT GETS PEOPLE TO BE WILLING TO CHANGE, RIGHT.
AND WHEN THEY COME IN, THERE'S A RECOVERY, I CALL IT RECOVERY PLAN.
SO USUALLY SOMEBODY GOES TO DETOX AND INTO, THEY GO TO A RESIDENTIAL, WHICH IS 30 DAYS, AND THEN THEY DROP DOWN TO OUR INTENT OF OUTPATIENT PROGRAMMING, WHICH IS THREE TO SIX MONTHS IN OUR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
THEN THEY WOULD GO TO A TRANSITIONAL PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD BE A HOUSE LIKE THIS FOR SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR.
HOPEFULLY BY THEN THEY'RE SAVING MONEY.
LIKE WE HAVE SAVINGS PLANS AND WE HAVE, WE HAVE OUR RESALE STORES, SO ACTUALLY WE CAN HELP THEM WITH FURNITURE.
WE CAN HELP THEM WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF TO ACTUALLY BE READY TO MOVE OUT.
NOW THE PROBLEM IS, IS THERE'S NOT A LOT OF HOUSES TO MOVE OUT TO.
BUT COTTONWOODS BUILDING A, UH, SOME APARTMENTS OVER THERE, I KNOW THERE, THERE'S TWO MORE PROJECTS THAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT THEY MIGHT BUILD MORE APARTMENTS.
SO THE HOUSING CRUNCH MIGHT OPEN UP A LITTLE BIT, I'M HOPING.
AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, AS AN ORGANIZATION
[00:55:01]
DOWN THE ROAD TO EVENTUALLY PURCHASE MORE HOUSING AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND PERMANENT HOUSING.SO THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT COME INTO OUR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING THAT IN ORDER TO STAY SOBER AND, AND STAY PRODUCTIVE IN OUR SOCIETY, THEY MIGHT NEED TO STAY IN A PLACE LIKE THAT FOR LONG TERM.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT EVENTUALLY IN OUR LONG TERM GOALS AS AN ORGANIZATION, OUR MISSION IS TO ACTUALLY GET SOME PERMANENT HOUSING TOO.
THANKS FOR COMING TONIGHT AND, UH, EXPLAINING YOUR PROPOSAL.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE HEART FOR THE FOLKS THAT YOU SERVE.
LOOKING AT THE, UH, THE, THE BUDGET SHEET THAT YOU GAVE US.
SO THE, THE FEES AND SERVICES LINE THAT REPRESENTS THE RENT THAT, THE, UH, THAT THE RESIDENTS WOULD BE PAYING.
AND SO YOU'RE ESTIMATING 75% OCCUPANCY, SO ROUGHLY FIVE PEOPLE IN THERE AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE PAYING RENT.
YOU'RE ESTIMATING OF WHAT, SEVEN 50 A MONTH PER PERSON? I, I WAS THINKING ABOUT 150 A WEEK.
AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, DEPENDENT ON, ON THEIR INCOME OR WHAT, AND WE COULD, THAT'S JUST AN ESTIMATE THAT WE THREW OUT THERE.
THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT'S WHERE THOSE NUMBERS CAME FROM.
WHERE I'M GOING HERE IS I'M JUST TRYING TO, TO TO SEE WHAT DOES THIS P AND L LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU CAN'T GET A HOUSE FOR 650,000? THAT'S FIVE BEDROOMS, THREE BATHS.
CUZ I THINK YOU BOUGHT A OUGHT TO BE TO BE PLANNING FOR A MILLION OR MORE IN SEDONA.
AND THAT'S NOT A LUXURY HOME AT A MILLION HERE, UNFORTUNATELY.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE THIS COULD STILL PLAY OUT IF, IF, IF YOUR NUMBERS ARE, ARE ACCURATE BASED ON CURRENT EXPERIENCES.
UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE PROPOSING TO HAVE 2100 IN UH, PROFIT EACH MONTH AND YOU'RE ALSO, UH, BUDGETING OVER 4,000 A MONTH IN IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH I WOULD HOPE DON'T GO ON FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER.
I JUST, YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO ASK THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE P AND L CUZ THAT, THAT'LL BE MY CONCERN IS JUST THAT IT'S GONNA BE A LOT MORE BREAK OUT.
MY CALCULATOR CAN BREAK OUT MY PHONE.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE DOING.
SO
OUR, OUR STRUCTURED SOBER LIVING, OUR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING'S AT 200 A WEEK AND THEN WE TRY TO DROP IT DOWN SO THEY CAN START SAVING MONEY.
AND WE ACTUALLY HAD A SAVINGS PLAN WHERE WE WERE GIVING THEM, WE WERE HAVING THEM PUT IN 150 AND WE WERE GIVING THEM $25 BUT WE WERE PULLING IN AND PUTTING IN SAVINGS TO TRY TO GET THEM TO ACTUALLY HAVE, HAVE, BECAUSE IT, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY, I MEAN WHEN YOU TRANSITIONING IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS BE, BESIDES THE INITIAL CHANGE FOR RECOVERY, JUST STOP, YOU KNOW, THE SELF-DESTRUCTIVE, UH, DECISIONS YOU'RE DOING TRANSITIONING WHEN YOU GO OUT.
I MEAN YOU NEED MONEY TO, FOR FIRST AND LAST, UH, JUST TO SIGN UP FOR APS IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S, BUT WITH THE PRICE POINT I THINK, I THINK THERE IS SOME, SOME FLEXIBILITY THERE.
CAUSE I KNOW THAT COME COMING TO SEDONA IF WE DO GET A PLACE IN SEDONA, IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT PRICE POINT.
SOME GREAT QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS DIAS.
I WILL TRY NOT TO REPEAT THEM.
UH, TO BE FAIR, LET'S ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN.
I DIDN'T DIVE INTO THE SPREADSHEET AS MUCH.
MAYBE COUNSELOR FOLTZ COULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN THAT YOU'RE CHARGING THIS PROJECT IS? WE ASKED THAT TO THE LAST ONE.
I USUALLY DON'T PUT TOO MUCH OF ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN ON IT.
IT JUST GOES INTO MY, TO ME CAUSE I DO MOSTLY.
UH, HOW MANY DO YOU CURRENTLY OPERATE? ONE OTHER HOME CURRENTLY IN THIS MODEL OR MORE THAN ONE? WE OPERATE ONE IN THAT.
AND THEN QUESTION PERHAPS IT'S TO SHANNON.
SO IF THIS PROJECT GETS SELECTED AND MOVES FORWARD, WHAT HAPPENS IF THE HOUSE ISN'T FOUND? THERE'S SOME VERY INTERESTING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ANALYSIS OF WHETHER IT CAN REALLY PENCIL WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE PROJECT GETS SELECTED IN THE HOUSE COULDN'T BE FOUND OR WE REALLY DECIDED THAT IT WAS GONNA LOSE SO MUCH MONEY THAT WE CAN'T OPERATE IT CUZ THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OTHER SUPPORT.
SO IF IT ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT BE FOUND, AGAIN, WE WOULD LOSE THE FUNDING, BUT WE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY PROBABLY TO ASK FOR AN EXTENSION OR SOMETHING IF IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIMING.
AND THEN THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT IF THE HOUSE HAD TO BE OUTSIDE OF THANK YOU, CITY OF SEDONA.
SO THAT WOULD OFFER SOME ALTERNATIVES AND THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED BY THE GRANT.
UH, DAMIEN, I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR SOBER LIVING APPROACH.
UM, SO WHAT WE'D BE LOOKING AT HERE IS A POOL OF HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT PERHAPS ARE WORKING OR WANT TO WORK IN SEDONA, BUT ALSO WANT TO COMMIT TO THE SOBER LIVING APPROACH THAT YOU,
[01:00:02]
YOU INSIST ON PEOPLE'S COMMITMENT TO A SOBER LIVING APPROACH IN YOUR PROGRAM.AM I CORRECT ON THAT? YOU ARE.
AND THEN WHAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE OF SORT OF THE UPTAKE RATE
WE HAD SERVED, UH, OVER 50% OF THOSE PEOPLE I KNEW HAD OVER TWO YEARS AND THEY WERE BEING SUCCESSFUL AND KEEPING JOBS AND EVERYTHING.
THERE WERE 70 PEOPLE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE.
SO THAT'S WHY I HAVE THE 50% SUCCESS RATE.
THE 70 PEOPLE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE.
I PUT RIGHT ON THE NEGATIVES, SO IT'S PROBABLY EVEN HIGHER.
SO IT, IT, IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE THING IS, IS WHEN THEY HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE OURS, AND WE, CUZ WE DO A LOT, A LOT FOR THE PEOPLE.
WE DON'T JUST PUT 'EM IN A HOUSE.
WE, YOU KNOW, WE PROVIDE GYM MEMBERSHIPS, WE TAKE 'EM KAYAKING, HIKING, CAMPING, WE PROVIDE THERAPY.
I MEAN, THERE'S A, THERE'S A WHOLE THING.
WE BUS PASSES, YOU KNOW, UH, SAVINGS PLANS, UH, CLOTHES, JOB DEVELOPMENT.
WE, WE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE PEOPLE COME IN, WE GO GET THEM.
SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS, HELP BUILD RESUMES.
WE DO, OUR WHOLE JOB DEVELOPMENT HAS A WHOLE CURRICULUM.
SO THEY ACTUALLY, WE, WE GET THEM, WE GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT LIFE, YOU KNOW, AND TO START LIVING CLEAN AND SOBER.
IT'S, IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT, IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT, UH, THEY START WANTING THAT, YOU KNOW, NOW THERE'S A BUNCH OF VARIABLES THAT GO INTO EVERYBODY'S LIFE AND THAT COMES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
THAT COMES WITH THE TRAUMA THEY HAVE.
THAT COMES WITH, I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY VARIABLES AND STIPULATIONS THAT COME INTO EACH INDIVIDUAL.
SO SOME PEOPLE, SOMETHING TRIGGERS IT OR SOMEBODY DIES OR, YOU KNOW, THEY GET IN A RELATIONSHIP, THEIR RELATIONSHIP ENDS.
AND SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT TO, THEY WANT TO GO, UH, SELF-MEDICATE.
LIKE OUR SOCIETY IS KIND OF, THERE'S A LOT OF, LOT OF STRESSORS.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO ON AND PEOPLE JUST WANNA SELF-MEDICATE.
SO IT'S KIND OF, WELL, I FOR ONE, COMMEND YOU FOR TAKING ON THIS TYPE OF WORK, DAMIEN.
IT'S CERTAINLY GOD'S WORK, THAT'S FOR SURE.
UH, NOW MY LAST QUESTION, DAMIEN AND I, I MEAN, NO DISRESPECT HERE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO SURFACE THIS ISSUE.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT YOU, YOUR PROGRAM FAILED IN A, OR DIDN'T GET SELECTED IN THE CITY GRANT PROGRAM RECENTLY.
AND I WOULD LIKE PERHAPS TO GIVE YOU BOTH AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER YOU'VE MET AND TALKED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THERE AND WHAT DIDN'T HAPPEN AND, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GONNA SELECT FOR A PROGRAM, WE HAD A PAST RECORD OF A NOT SELECT, AND I JUST WANT TO THINK THROUGH THAT.
I DID SPEAK TO, UM, THE STAFF ADMINISTERING THE SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM AND UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS A MATTER OF KIND OF, UM, MISCLASSIFYING SOME FUNDING ON A REPORT.
SO MORE A MISUNDERSTANDING THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
UM, NOT A MISUSE OF FUNDS, BUT, UM, JUST SOME TROUBLE IN THE REPORTING DAM.
AND IF I CAN JUST ADD TO THAT PLEASE, PLEASE.
UM, AS WE HAD WORKED THROUGH THAT PROCESS, UH, IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE WHO ADMINISTERS THE GRANT IN CONJUNCTION WITH, UM, OUR CHAIR OF THE CITIZEN COMMITTEE, WE ARE SATISFIED THAT THEY HAVE THOROUGHLY SUFFICIENTLY EXPLAINED THE, THE MISCOMMUNICATION MM-HMM.
WELL, YEAH, I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IS, I, MY PERSONAL OPINION IS AS A MISCOMMUNICATION, BUT I DO FEEL LIKE WE POSITIVELY RESOLVED THE ISSUE WITH THE, WITH SEDONA STAFF, BUT I THINK THEY GOT A REPORT FROM THE YEAR BEFORE, AND THERE WAS, AND THEY READ THAT RECORD.
CAUSE I SENT THE REPORT, AND WHEN WE STARTED COMMUNICATING, IT SEEMED LIKE THEY HAD THE OLD REPORT.
SO I KIND OF PULLED SOME STUFF UP.
SO I THINK THERE WAS THIS, A LITTLE BIT OF MISCOMMUNICATION, MISUNDERSTANDING, UM, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS POSITIVE RESOLVED.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION.
I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH, MAYOR.
I'D LIKE TO TRY TO PULL, UM, LIST IF I CAN.
COUNSEL DUNN, ARE YOU THERE? CAN YOU HEAR US? YES, I CAN.
UM, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION, MR. MAYER, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
UM, SO AS EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID, UH, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY WORTHY PROJECT AND, UM, YOU ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, IS AROUND THE FACT THAT, LET'S SAY YOU WERE ABLE TO GET A HOME IN SEDONA, AND, UM, YOU OPENED IT AND NOW YOUR TRANSITION, THERE'S NOWHERE FOR THEM TO TRANSITION.
THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO, THEY CAN AFFORD IN SEDONA.
THEY HAVE TO MOVE OUT AND THEY HAVE TO ADD THE STRESS OF THE, THE
[01:05:01]
COMMUTE, UM, AND WHATEVER ELSE MIGHT BE COMMISERATE.SO DO YOU FEEL THAT THAT WOULD BE, UM, A HARD STRESSOR FOR MANY? YOU KNOW, I, I LOOK AT IT LIKE RIGHT NOW, THE STRESSOR IS THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.
LIKE THEY HAVE TO MOVE INTO SOMEBODY'S ROOM AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THEY MOVE INTO OR THEY GO BACK TO THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE ARE DRINKING OR IT'S JUST AN UNHEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
SO, I MEAN, I, I I, I BELIEVE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS PROCESS AND WE BRING ADDICTION ISSUES TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE CORE ISSUES THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, AFFECT SO MUCH OUR, OUR FAMILIES, OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OUR JOB, OUR WORKFORCE, THAT THESE, THESE PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO, THERE'S GONNA BE SOLUTIONS TO THEM.
SO, LIKE I SAID, WITH THE PERMANENT HOUSING AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, I FEEL LIKE, UM, I, I WORRY ABOUT, I WORRY ABOUT, UH, HOUSING FOR SURE WITH ALL MY CLIENTS, YOU KNOW, SO, BUT I DO KNOW THAT MOST OF OUR CLIENTS WOULD RA WANT A JOB IN SEDONA.
THEY WANT TO BE UP HERE, THEY COME UP HERE, YOU KNOW, SO FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, YOU KNOW, UM, BETTER PAY, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST MORE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.
SO I, I FEEL LIKE, UM, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF I ANSWERED THAT.
DID I GO ROUND INTO THAT ONE? YOU DID.
AND I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I GET A FEEDBACK OF MYSELF TALKING
SO, UH, LET'S SAY THAT YOU HAVE YOUR TRANSITIONAL HOME, AND IN YOUR TRANSITIONAL HOME YOU HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO YOU BELIEVE IS READY TO TRANSITION.
THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THIS PERSON TO TRANSITION TO IN SEDONA.
UM, IF THIS PERSON TRANSITIONS TO, UH, YOU KNOW, COTTONWOOD OR CAMP VERDE, UH, HOW DO THEY STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR PROGRAM SO THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO RESIST THE FACT THAT THEY WILL BE PUT BACK IN A REGULAR SOCIETAL ENVIRONMENT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
PEOPLE WILL BE DRINKING IN OTHER APARTMENTS, THEY WILL BE SMOKING, THEY'LL BE DOING WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING.
HOW DO, HOW DO YOU HELP THEM WHEN YOU TRANSITION? SO, I'M NOT GONNA MAKE THEM LEAVE IF THEY DON'T HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO GO AND I DON'T FEEL THEY'RE READY AND THEY DON'T FEEL THEY'RE READY.
WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A PLAN, AN EXIT PLAN.
SO I'M, THAT'S NOT GONNA MAKE A MOVE OUT IF THAT'S NOT READY.
SO, YEAH, SO LIKE, IF THEY MOVE THE COTTON WATER CAMP CONVERTER, USUALLY THEY'LL HAVE A RIDE, THEY'LL HAVE A VEHICLE BY THEN, HOPEFULLY, BECAUSE THEY, MOST OF THESE PEOPLE FINALLY GET THEIR, YOU KNOW, LICENSES BACK IF THEY'VE LOST THEIR LICENSE BY THAT TIME, BY, YOU KNOW, 18 MONTHS.
HOPEFULLY THEY HAVE THAT STUFF GOING ON AND THEY'RE READY TO TRANSITION.
SO I WOULDN'T JUDGE, JUST REMOVE ANYBODY AND MAKE THEIR, MAKE IT MORE OF A HARDSHIP FOR THEM.
COUNCIL KINSELLA, JUST A, A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS.
HAVE YOU PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT MONEY? NO.
AND HAVE YOU IN THIS CYCLE APPLIED FOR THAT MONEY FROM ANY OTHER MUNICIPALITY? I DID.
AND DO YOU KNOW, KNOW THE RESULTS OF THAT APPLICATION AT THIS POINT? IT WAS WITH THE CITY OF COTTONWOOD LAST WEEK, AND WE DIDN'T, WE WERE, WE DID NOT RECEIVE IT.
AND I, AND MY LAST QUESTION IS IF, CUZ I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, AND, AND SHANNON, THIS IS SOMEWHAT DIRECTED TO YOU IF, UH, IN ORDER TO HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT A, A HOUSE PURCHASED WITH THIS MONEY THROUGH SEDONAS GRANT COULD BE OUTSIDE OF THE SEDONA CITY LIMITS AND IN ANOTHER VERDE VALLEY COMMUNITY.
BUT THEN HOW WOULD WE IDENTIFY THAT THIS IS A SEDONA PERSON ONLY THROUGH THEM WORKING IN SEDONA OR, AND THROUGH A GOOD QUESTION.
I MEAN, WHAT'S THE SEDONA? I WANNA, MY INTEREST IS WHAT MAKING SURE THAT MONEY IS, YOU KNOW, THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC MONIES THAT ARE COMING THROUGH TO US TO SERVE.
SO I'M LOOKING FOR THE REASSURANCES OF, IF YOU COULD PLEASE WALK ME THROUGH THAT PLEASE.
HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE SEDONA GETS SERVED.
SO IF THAT WERE THE CASE AND THE RESIDENTS HAD TO BE PURCHASED OUTSIDE OF SEDONA, WE COULD REQUIRE THAT THOSE WHO ARE IN THE HOME WORK IN SEDONA, OR THAT THEY WERE FROM SEDONA PRIOR TO ENTERING TREATMENT.
AND IF THEY WERE WORKING IN SEDONA, BUT THEY WEREN'T IN A, IN SEDONA PRIOR, THEN WE'RE SAYING THAT YOU CAN BE IN THIS TRANSITIONAL HOUSE, BUT YOU, YOU HAVE TO FIND A JOB IN SEDONA VERSUS A OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD ARRIVE AND ARISE AT COTTONWOOD OR CAMP VERDE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I MEAN, I, I'M JUST, I'M JUST, I'M STUCK ON HOW WE ADMINISTER
[01:10:01]
THAT.SO IF YOU COULD WALK ME THROUGH THAT, AND I HAVEN'T A HUNDRED PERCENT FIGURED THAT OUT EITHER.
IDEALLY WE FIND THE RESIDENTS IN SEDONA, BUT I THINK TYPICALLY PEOPLE WOULD HAVE A JOB BEFORE THEY COME INTO THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE RECOVERY HOUSING PRIOR TO THAT.
ARE YOU ASKING? YEAH, YOU'RE ASKING ME.
THEY GOTTA GET, GET A JOB PRETTY QUICK AND YEAH.
SO THEY GET A JOB BEFORE THEY'RE IN YOUR HOUSING SITUATION? THEY, IN ORDER TO BE IN YOUR HOUSING SITUATION, DO THEY HAVE TO BE EMPLOYED? NO, THEY CAN COME IN UNEMPLOYED, BUT WE GET THEM TO GO GET A JOB PRETTY QUICK.
HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE TO PAY RENT.
THE FIRST THREE TO SIX MONTHS IS ALL ABOUT GETTING THEM READY.
AND THEN THEY WOULD GO DOWN TO THE TRANSITIONAL.
SO IF THEY, IF THEY'RE READY TO TRANSITION OUT, THEY, THEY'RE EMPLOYED.
THERE IS A, A, HE MENTIONED EARLIER, A SUPPORTIVE HOUSING COMPONENT.
SO IN THE FIRST THREE TO SIX MONTHS, FOLKS ARE IN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BEFORE THEY GO INTO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.
THEY'RE DOING INTENSE OUTPATIENT THERAPY.
THEY'RE DOING GROUPS NINE HOURS A A WEEK OF GROUP.
THEY'RE DOING INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, THEY'RE GOING TO SUPPORT GROUPS, THEY'RE IN JOB DEVELOPMENT, THEY'RE DOING ALL KINDS OF STUFF TO GET READY TO THAT TRANSITION.
AND I MEAN, THE WAY I WOULD WORK IT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, LET 'EM KNOW THIS IS, THIS TRANSITION IS AVAILABLE IF YOU'RE, IF THIS IS WHERE YOU WANT BEFORE YOU WANNA GET A JOB AS SEDONA OR SOMETHING.
I, I GUESS, YEAH, THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE THIS IS, THIS IS BEING LOOKED AT AS A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING THAT ADDRESSES TO SOME DEGREE A NEED FOR, FOR HOMELESSNESS RIGHT.
TO, TO, TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR THAT.
SO I, I'M, AGAIN, I'M JUST LOOKING FOR THE CONNECTION TO SEDONA TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SEDONA POPULATION GETS SERVED.
CUZ WE HAVE A HOMELESS POPULATION HERE.
SOME, UM, SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS, IS PROBABLY A COMPONENT FOR AT LEAST SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE.
UM, SO I, I'M JUST TRYING TO, I'M TRYING TO WORK THIS OUT IN MY MIND TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A DIRECT CONNECTION BACK TO SEDONA.
UH, UM, SO I, AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT WHEN YOU SAID IF, UH, A RESIDENT OR GUEST OR, UH, SOMEONE'S STAYING AT THE HOME, UH, TIMES OUT, IF THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THEM TO GO, YOU'LL, YOU WON'T PUT THEM OUT.
BUT WHAT IF SOMEONE'S IN THE HOME FOR SIX MONTHS, LOSES THEIR JOB, CAN'T FIND ANOTHER JOB? WHAT IS YOUR COST OF, UH, DEALING WITH THAT? I'M PRETTY SURE THEY CAN FIND ANOTHER JOB.
SO I HAVE 10, 12 PEOPLE CALLING EVERY WEEK FOR, I MEAN, I, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT, IT'S ASSUMING THE PERSON DOESN'T REALLY WANNA WORK.
WELL THEN, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE DISCUSSIONS.
OVER DISCUSSIONS, OVER DISCUSSIONS, I'D PROBABLY GIVE 'EM A FEW CHANCES AND IF THEY DIDN'T WANNA WORK, I WOULD FIND I WOULD, I WOULDN'T JUST KICK 'EM OUT ON THE STREET.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY DISCHARGE, WE HAVE A WHOLE DISCHARGE POLICY, SO WE DON'T JUST PUT PEOPLE ON THE STREETS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'D HAVE TO FIND, FIND SOMEWHERE FOR THEM TO GO THAT WAS SAFE.
BE BEING MEMBERS OF ASRA, UH, UH, ARIZONA, UH, RECOVERY HOUSING ASSOCIATION, AND WE HAVE A STATE, WE HAVE STATE SOBER LIVING LICENSES.
THERE'S, THERE'S RULES THAT WE FOLLOW TO, TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE.
SO SHANNON, UM, HOW LONG RE PRACTICALLY DO YOU HAVE TO FIND A HOUSE TO PURCHASE? UH, A WEEK, A MONTH, TWO MONTHS, FIVE MONTHS, SIX DAYS.
BUT I, I DON'T HAVE AN YOU EXACTLY.
YOU DID SAY YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET AN EXTENSION PERHAPS, PERHAPS FOR, FOR THIS PARTICULAR USE BECAUSE I, I, I, OF COURSE WOULD BE THAT'S CONSERVED.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE WOULD BE A DEADLINE BECAUSE THE GRANT FUNDS HAVE TO BE EXPENDED BY A CERTAIN DATE, BUT RIGHT.
BUT IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF JUST LIKE ONE MONTH OR, OR SIX WEEKS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S, IT'S A NICE ENOUGH THAT, THAT IT COULD BE.
KAREN, AND JUST THE MOST RECENT ITERATION OF THIS GRANT CYCLE WITH HOPE HOUSE, WE WENT THROUGH THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE NOW.
UM, I DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW, GIVEN THE HOUSING MARKET, IF IT'S BETTER OR WORSE THAN IT WAS.
IT WAS VERY COMPETITIVE AT THAT TIME.
BUT NACOG WAS VERY GRACIOUS AND ACCOMMODATING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH US.
UNTIL WE FOUND A SITE THAT WORKED.
AND I GUESS I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION RELATED TO THAT.
IF IN FACT SOME AMOUNT OF MONEY, SOMETHING WAS LOCATED AND THERE WAS A NEED FOR SOME OTHER AMOUNT OF MONEY IN SEDONA
[01:15:01]
TO MAKE IT WORK, THAT'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY TOO, IS IT NOT? UM, THANK YOU.COUNCIL FOLTZ AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PRESENTER.
THANK YOU, MAYOR DAMIEN, IN ANY OF THE PROPERTIES THAT YOU CURRENTLY OWN AND MANAGE, DO YOU CARRY MORTGAGES ON ANY OF THOSE PROPERTIES? YES.
AND TO SHANNON, I WOULD ASK, IS THERE ANYTHING UNIQUE ABOUT APPLYING FOR A MORTGAGE, FOR A PROPERTY SUCH AS THIS? I MEAN, THIS ISN'T LIKE ME GOING AND APPLYING FOR A MORTGAGE FOR A HOUSE AS A, YOU KNOW, PRIMARY HOMEOWNER.
I WOULDN'T THINK, UM, I THINK IT WOULD WORK MORE LIKE A MORTGAGE FOR AN INVESTOR OR A COMMERCIAL TYPE LOAN.
UM, SO THERE'S NO, NOT THE EXPERT ON THAT.
BUT THERE, THERE'S NO IMPLICIT BIAS AGAINST, UH, A PROJECT LIKE THIS THAT, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO OVERCOME OR THAT YOU KNOW OF? NOT THAT I KNOW OF.
THERE ARE SOME GRANT REQUIREMENTS, UM, THAT COME WITH ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY.
SO THERE WOULD BE RULES, LIKE WE COULDN'T, YOU KNOW, DISPLACE, UM, AN EXISTING HOMEOWNER AND SOME THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT, OKAY.
AND WE HAVE, WE HAVE, UM, SOME LOANS AND WE HAVE SOME REPORTING.
WE HAVE SOME GRANTS FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS ALREADY THAT WE'RE DOING SOME REPORTING ON.
AND WE HAVE SOME LOANS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH BECAUSE OF OUR, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NINE YEARS, SO I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE, I THINK IT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT.
UH, SHANNON WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY THROUGH THIS BLOCK.
GRANT WOULD STEPS RECOVERY OWN THE PROPERTY.
STEP SAYS THE GRANT RECIPIENT WOULD USE THOSE FUNDS TOWARDS THEIR DOWN PAYMENT, BUT THEY WOULD BE THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY.
SHANNON WILL GO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT WOULD BE YOU? I GUESS.
UM, SO NUMBER FOUR, THE STR STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AGAIN, UM, JUST BECAUSE OF THE TIMELINES AND THE WAY THIS PROCESS WORKED, I WANTED TO GET THAT OUT THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS ONE OF THE POTENTIAL OPTIONS.
UM, HAVEN'T DONE A LOT OF BACKGROUND WORK ON THIS YET.
UM, ANTICIPATE THAT THE, THE PLAN, IF WE HIRED A CONSULTANT TO, UM, PERFORM THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR US, THAT IT WOULD POSSIBLY COST MORE THAN 10,000.
SO THIS IS AGAIN, A PLACEHOLDER, UM, IN CASE THIS WAS A PROJECT THAT COUNCIL WANTED TO FUND.
JUST TECHNICAL QUESTION, DOES THE TOTAL HAVE TO COME UP TO 400,000 OR SO? IT WOULD SUBTRACT, IF WE DID TO IT WOULD SUBTRACT FROM THE PRIMARY GRANT HOLDER.
BUT THAT WAS ACTUALLY, IT'S 406 I HEARD IS THE ESTIMATE, RIGHT? CURRENTLY, YES.
SO BEFORE WE, WOULD WE GO, UM, AND GIVE COMMENTS? EXCUSE ME.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE QUESTIONS, UH, FROM THE AUDIENCE.
DAVID COOPER, I YOU STILL HERE? YEAH, THERE HE IS.
DAVID, YOU KNOW THE DRILL, DAVID? I THINK I DO, YEAH.
NAMAN CITY, UH, DAVID COOPER, CITY OF SEDONA.
UH, I'M PLEASED TO OFFER TODAY THESE BRIEF COMMENTS AND SUPPORT OF THE GRANT APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY STEPS TO RECOVERY HOMES.
IN ADDITION TO BEING A SEMI-RETIRED ATTORNEY, I'M ALSO AN ORDAINED PRIEST AT ST.
LUKE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN SEDONA.
AND FOR YEARS, OUR PARISH HAS SUPPORTED THE SEDONA FOOD BANK, AND I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
JUST LAST WEEK, I SENT AN EMAIL REMINDER TO OUR PARISHIONERS, URGING THEM TO REMEMBER THE FOOD BANK IN THIS TIME OF SPECIAL NEED.
AND I CLOSED MY EMAIL WITH THE SCRIPTURE, WHICH I BELIEVE APPLIES WITH EQUAL FORCE TO YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING APPLICATION FROM STEPS TO RECOVERY.
AND IT GOES BRIEFLY LIKE THIS.
BEFORE I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME FOOD, I WAS THIRSTY, AND YOU GAVE ME DRINK.
I WAS A STRANGER, AND YOU WELCOMED ME.
I WAS NAKED, AND YOU CLOTHED ME.
I WAS SICK, AND YOU VISITED ME.
TRULY, I SAY TO YOU AS YOU DID IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE, MY BROTHERS, YOU DID IT TO ME.
BUT AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE TO VISIT AND SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE IMPRISONED BY SUBSTANCE ABUSE
[01:20:01]
AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, MOST OF US LACK THE TIME, THE EXPERIENCE, AND THE RESOURCES TO DO SO.AND THAT'S WHERE STEPS TO RECOVERY COMES IN.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE LIVED HERE IN SEDONA SINCE FULL-TIME, SINCE 2017.
AND THE NEED FOR SUCH SERVICES HERE IN SEDONA HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY AND PAINFULLY OBVIOUS OVER THE YEARS.
STEPS TO RECOVERY HAS ESTABLISHED AN ENVIABLE RECORD OF SUCCESS.
AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT ALL FUNDS THAT WERE, WOULD BE AWARDED TO THEM WOULD BE EFFECTIVELY AND RESPONSIBLY SPENT TO THE BENEFIT OF BOTH THEIR CLIENTS AND THE COMMUNITY.
SO I URGE YOU TO APPROVE THEIR APPLICATION TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE.
BY DOING SO, YOU WILL HELP US ALL TO PARTICIPATE AT LEAST INDIRECTLY IN THIS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT PERSONAL MINISTRY AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.
NEXT UP IS JENNIFER PERRY, WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ANGIE DICKINSON ON DECK.
I LIVE IN VILLE, AND I AM ONE OF THE WORKING PEOPLE WHO DRIVE IN EVERY DAY AND SEE THE BEAUTIFUL RED ROCKS.
HOUSING IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE, AND THERE ARE NO, THERE'S NO ONE SIZE THAT FITS ALL SOLUTIONS.
OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS WORKFORCE HOUSING, SENIOR HOUSING, SHELTER, AND TRANS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING OPTIONS.
I COMMEND THE CITY OF SEDONA FOR THE VARIETY OF TOOLS THAT YOU HAVE EMPLOYED TO MAKE HOUSING MORE READILY AVAILABLE TO THE REGION AS YOU REVIEW POSSIBLE PROJECTS.
FOR THE NEXT C D B G GRANT, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK CAREFULLY, NOT JUST ABOUT THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURES THESE GRANTS CAN SUPPORT, BUT THE WRAPAROUND SOCIAL SERVICES NEEDED TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AGAIN AND BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE COMPLEX ISSUES THAT HAVE LED TO THEIR SITUATION.
THIS CAN BE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UNANTICIPATED FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, MENTAL ILLNESS, AS WELL AS SUBSTANCE ABUSE STEPS TO RECOVERY HOMES IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR REGION THAT PROVIDES BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
COUNSELING, SUPPORT, AND REHABILITATION.
STEPS TO RECOVERY IS EMBARKING ON THE NEXT STEP IN THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS SOBER ENVIRONMENT HELPS PEOPLE EARLY IN RECOVERY TO BUILD A FOUNDATION AND ACHIEVE LONG-TERM SUCCESS, WHICH IN TURN HELPS EVERYONE.
THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH A RIPPLE EFFECT THAT BENEFITS FAMILIES, EMPLOYERS, AND OUR SOCIETY.
STUDIES SHOW THAT RESIDING IN A SO SOBER LIVING TRANSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR 18 TO 24 MONTHS IS IDEAL FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK CLOSELY AT STEPS TO RECOVERY REQUEST.
IT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A LOCAL NONPROFIT THAT IS ADDRESSING THE WHOLE PERSON WHILE ALSO IMPROVING THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, ANGIE DICKINSON, WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY, WELL, DAMIAN, SO YOU ALREADY, BUT YOU ALREADY SPOKE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO PUT YOUR CARD TO THE SIDE.
SO, UH, MS. TERRY, YOU'LL BE NEXT.
I'M NOT, NO, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
I DON'T LIKE SPEAKING PUBLICLY EITHER, SO, NO, ANDREW, YOU'RE NEXT, BUT, WELL, HELLO AND THANK YOU, MS. TERRY.
SO, UM, I WANTED TO ALSO THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, TO PRESENT FOR THIS, THIS FUNDING.
AND SORRY, YOU LIVE AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR STEPS RECOVERY HOMES.
WHERE DO YOU LIVE? I LIVE IN COTTONWOOD.
UM, I, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A FEW THINGS.
UM, THE TRANSITION HOME THAT WE, SO I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE, WITH THE CLIENTS.
I'VE BEEN, UM, WORKING WITH STEPS FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS.
AND SO EVERYONE WHO COMES IN, UM, YOU KNOW, I MENTOR, I HELP, YOU KNOW, GUIDE THEM.
UM, AND I WANTED TO MENTION THAT A MUCH LARGER PERCENTAGE, A LOT OF OUR, A LOT OF OUR CLIENTS ARE IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.
AND, UM, THEY, SO THEY COME HERE TO WORK BECAUSE THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY HERE THAN THEY DO AN, UH, COTTONWOOD OBVIOUSLY.
SO, UM, THAT IS USUALLY, UM, WHICH WE ENCOURAGE BECAUSE, UM, IT'S GOOD FOR PEOPLE THAT, UH, TO GET OUT OF THE TOWN AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PLACES THAT THEY'VE USED AND, UM, AFFILIATED WITH THE PEOPLE THERE.
SO WE, I'VE ALWAYS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED THAT, UM, THAT MOVE.
AND SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF, UM, TELL YOU THAT MY EXPERIENCE WITH, YOU KNOW, OUR CLIENTS THAT COME IN AND THE TRANSITION HOME, ALL OF OUR HOMES, WE HAVE A WOMEN'S FACILITY IN MEN'S FACILITY, BUT OUR TRANSITION HOUSE IS JUST AMAZING.
IT'S, IT'S, I MEAN, ALL OF OUR HOMES ARE KEPT VERY, VERY
[01:25:01]
CLEAN.AND, UM, WITH THE TRANSITION HOME AS FAR AS FILLING IT, IF ANYONE, UM, COMES UPON HARDSHIPS AND IS, YOU KNOW, LOSES THEIR EMPLOYMENT, WE OFFER, UM, THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND WORK, UM, AT OUR RESALE STORE OR IN OUR, UM, WITH OUR WAREHOUSE.
SO WE, WE HELP THEM THROUGH THAT PROCESS, UM, AND TEMPORARILY UNTIL THEY FIND THEY FIND EMPLOYMENT, WHICH HASN'T REALLY BEEN A PROBLEM CUZ EVERYBODY'S LOOKING FOR STAFF AT THIS TIME.
SO, AT ANY RATE, UM, THANK YOU FOR, UM, ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I LIVE HERE IN SEDONA FOR 18 YEARS.
I CAME HERE FROM SAN FRANCISCO.
I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GREATER SEDONA SUBSTANCE ABUSE COALITION.
WE HAVE REALLY BEEN WORKING WITH YOUTH ON, UM, DRUGS.
IT'S SO BAD THAT WE HAVE TO START IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH COLORING BOOKS, UH, SH TELLING KIDS DON'T TAKE, UH, A PILL OR CANDY FROM A STRANGER.
AND THEN WE ALSO WORK WITH ADULTS AND SEDONA NEEDS HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE EITHER OVERDOSED OR FINALLY CAME TO THEIR SENSES THAT DRUGS, UH, IS NOT A BENEFIT TO THEIR LIVES AND TO THEIR FAMILY.
SO I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE TRANSITIONAL HOMES.
WE CERTAINLY NEED ONE IN SEDONA.
I'D LIKE TO QUICKLY TELL YOU A STORY THAT I JUST HEARD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TO SHOW YOU HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO FIND HOUSING IN SEDONA.
THREE, UH, WAITRESSES WERE RENTING A HOME HERE IN SEDONA, THREE BEDROOM HOME.
EACH ONE HAD THEIR OWN BEDROOM.
THEY DIVIDED IT BY THREE, THEN THE HOUSE WENT UP FOR SALE, AND THEN IT WAS TURNED INTO AN AIRBNB, WHICH IS NOW 1800 A WEEK.
SO THOSE THREE LADIES HAD TO LEAVE.
THEY WENT TO COTTONWOOD, COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING THERE BECAUSE IT'S ALSO HAPPENING THERE.
EVERYTHING'S TURNING INTO AIRBNBS.
SO THEY WENT TO CAMP VERDE, FOUND SOMETHING, BUT THEN THE GAS WENT UP TO $4.
AND TO DRIVE BACK AND FORTH FROM VERDE TO SEDONA FOR WORK DIDN'T WORK OUT.
WE NEED HOUSING, WE NEED YOUR HELP, WE NEED YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT, THAT IF A PERSON GOES TO REHAB AND COMES OUT, IF HE OR SHE DOES NOT HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE, THEY FEEL I MIGHT AS WELL GO BACK ON DRUGS.
PLEASE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, AND THANKS FOR SHARING THAT STORY.
UH, WE HAVE NO OTHER, UH, CARDS, SO WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION.
JOANNE, DO YOU HAVE A CARD FOR, FOR MR. FETE COME UP? NO, I DON'T.
AND THEN WHAT I'D LIKE YOU TO DO IS, AFTER YOU, YOU'VE COMPLETED YOUR THREE MINUTES, UH, FILL OUT A CARD AND HAND IT TO THE, UH, CITY, UH, CITY CLERK, PLEASE.
I WAS STARTING TO FEEL LEFT OUT.
YOU KNOW, I WENT THROUGH A LOT OF THERAPY TO GET PAST THAT FEELING
[01:30:01]
ON THE SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN.CERTAINLY WE CAN USE A FEW MORE LAGUARDIA IN THIS COUNTRY.
UM, I, I WANTED TO PUT A HUMAN FACE ON THIS.
I'M A RECOVERED HEROIN, HEROIN ADDICT.
I'VE BEEN CLEANING FOR 17 YEARS.
AND, UM, I COULD UNDERSTAND, UH, SOME OF THE CONCERNS PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT THIS.
YOU KNOW, THIS, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE NIMBY THING, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO ASSURE YOU THAT, THAT IT'S NOT A HAPHAZARD THING.
THERE ARE STRICT REQUIREMENTS FOR PEOPLE AND, AND THE MOTIVATION IS, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT, IT'S MOTIVATING TO, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, TO FOLLOW THOSE.
IT'S MOTIVATING, THEY'RE MOTIVATED TO FOLLOW THOSE REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO BE OUT IN THE STREET.
AND, UM, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF RECOVERY IS THE REINTEGRATION PART.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S AS VITAL AS NOT USING MM-HMM.
AND IN MY EXPERIENCE, I MEAN, I'M STANDING HERE BECAUSE THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT CARED THAT, UH, I, I ASPIRE TO THE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT THAT THE OPPOSITE OF, OF ADDICTION IS NOT SOBRIETY, BUT RATHER THE OPPOSITE OF ADDICTION IS CONNECTION.
IT'S A QUOTE BY JOHANN HARRY, ONE OF THE GREAT MINDS OF A, IN THE ADDICTION WORLD.
AND, UM, REINTEGRATION MEANS THAT, YOU KNOW, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE ARE OUR BROTHERS KEEPER.
YOU KNOW, I, I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT'S TRUE.
AND THERE, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM THAT DOESN'T KNOW SOMEBODY THAT'S HAD THIS PROBLEM.
UM, IT'S NO LONGER, YOU KNOW, A SOMETHING THAT'S HIDDEN AWAY BEHIND A CURTAIN SOMEWHERE.
SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO REALLY, TO REALLY DO SOMETHING WONDERFUL, UM, FOR PEOPLE THAT, THAT REALLY, THAT JUST, THAT NEED HELP.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT RECEIVED THAT HELP.
UM, THE OTHER THING THAT PEOPLE OFTEN, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT STATISTICS, THEY WANT REASSURANCES.
I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS, BUT MY LIFE HAS NOT BEEN LINEAR.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE, I WOULD LOVE TO STAND HERE AND SAY, WELL, IF YOU DO THIS, THIS, AND THIS, THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN.
BUT IT, IT'S NOT THE WAY IT GOES.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, I WORK FOR DAMIEN AND I'M ONE OF THE DRUG COUNSELORS AND, UM, UM, AND I CAN ENSURE YOU THAT THEIR HEARTS ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
UM, ALL WE NEED IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE DO.
I'D LOVE TO TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT SUCCESS RATE AND IT'S FORMULAIC.
IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S AS DIVERSE AS THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE A SYSTEM THAT WORKS A LOT OF THE TIME.
AND, UM, UM, AND I, AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT, THAT THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF EMPLOYMENT IN SEDONA.
I MEAN, I WENT TO A RESTAURANT THE OTHER DAY AND IT TOOK ME A HALF AN HOUR TO GET SERVED BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY ONE WAITER.
SO, UM, I THINK, UH, WE'RE A WORTHY INVESTMENT, YOU KNOW, IN THE WORTHY INVESTMENT, BOTH, UM, BOTH PRACTICALLY AND, UH, AND SPIRITUALLY
SEE, THE UNIVERSE ALWAYS DOES SOMETHING WHENEVER I'M TRYING TO GET REALLY SERIOUS AND REALLY MEANINGFUL.
SOMEBODY FARTS, OR SOMEBODY LIKE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW? ANYWAY, THANKS A LOT.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT MESSAGE.
MR. MAYOR, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THIS, THIS WAS A PUBLIC HEARING AND SO WE'VE OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND NOW IF THERE'S NO MORE, YOU CAN CLOSE IT, NOT JUST PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO NOW WE, THERE ARE NO OTHER PEOPLE WHO WISH TO SPEAK.
SO NOW WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC, UH, COMMENT PERIOD AND PUBLIC HEARING, HEARING.
UM, AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION.
SO, UH, DO I HAVE A QUESTION BEFORE DISCUSSION JUST FOR SHANNON? A GENERAL QUESTION, OF COURSE FOR COMMENTS, WHICH IS, IF THE MONEY COMES IN AT OVER THE 406,000 ESTIMATED AND AN APPLICANT HAD PUT DOWN 300,000 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR OR 400, WOULD WE, COULD IT BE AMENDED SO THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT EVERY AVAILABLE DOLLAR IS UTILIZED? I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA YES, THAT'S TYPICALLY HOW IT'S DONE SINCE THE STATE COMES UP WITH THE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, WE'RE YOU GOING TO THE GO TO THE MAT HERE?
COUNCIL FERMAN, YOU HAVE A COMMENT? YES, SIR.
I THANK, I'D LIKE TO START THANKING ALL THE APPLICANTS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND, AND MAKING THE PITCHES ALL, UH, GOOD PROGRAMS I MOVED TO.
SO I THINK WE'RE EXPRESSING AT THIS POINT HOW WE RANK 'EM AND WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE.
UH, SO I WOULD, UH, PUT IN MY FIRST PLACE, UH, STEPS FOR RECOVERY HOMES.
I THINK, UH, FOR ME THE REWARD TO RISK RATIO IS HIGH.
IT'S A UNIQUE PROGRAM THAT'S NOT OTHERWISE NEEDS BEING MET WITH ANY OTHER CURRENT PROGRAM.
UM, AND, UH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE DAMIEN
[01:35:01]
TO START LOOKING.NOW,
AND, UH, START THINKING ABOUT WHETHER SEDONA IS GONNA WORK OR WHETHER A DIFFERENT LOCATION IS, IS GONNA BE.
BUT TO HEDGE MY RISK, I WOULD ALSO WANT THE CITY, UH, PLANNING GRANT BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL ALSO ADDRESS THE SHELTER DAY USE QUESTIONS THAT WILL KIND OF BE ON THE PATH TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS BY TAKING ON THAT.
AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK ANYHOW IN THIS CITY, BUT I THINK A GRANT IS CERTAINLY ALWAYS HELPFUL AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT.
UM, AND, UH, ONE THROUGH FOUR, ARE WE GONNA RANK 'EM ALL? YEP.
THEN I WOULD PUT THE, THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM AND THEN THE SHELTER DAYS FACILITY, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S JUST NOT READY.
OKAY, SO YOU'RE ONE, THREE AND FOUR? I AM THREE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.
MAYOR, IF I MIGHT, UM, SO WE JUST HAD A RETREAT AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE, THE STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS MM-HMM.
AND WE PUT THE LITTLE, UM, DOLLAR SYMBOL NEXT TO IT INDICATING THAT WE KNEW IT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD ASK FOR THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
I WOULD JUST ASK THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $400,000, MAYBE 4 0 6 OR SOMEWHERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, IF THAT $10,000 IS INSUFFICIENT, WHICH WE DON'T KNOW IT, IT COULD VERY LIKELY BE HIGHER, I, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IT IS, UM, POSSIBLE THAT WE FUND THAT THROUGH OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND BECAUSE EITHER OF THE OTHER TWO PROGRAMS WILL, WILL WANT TO PUT AS MUCH OF THIS MONEY, I THINK, INTO THOSE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN AND TO LEVERAGE, UM, THE EFFICACY OF THE GRANT.
IF I MAY, I'M GONNA AMEND MY LITTLE RANKING.
I APPRECIATE THAT, KAREN, THAT, UM, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT WE'RE ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO DOING IT.
SO MY NOW RANKING IS, UH, STEP 3, 1, 2, 4.
UH, KAREN, DO YOU RECOMMEND WE JUST GO DOWN THE, THE DAY IS, UH, YEAH.
AND, AND AS IS THAT, OKAY, SO COUNCIL WILLIAMSON.
I AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN FERMAN.
I THINK THIS IS AN UNMET NEED.
I THINK WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE IT.
I, I WANTED IN SEDONA BECAUSE I THINK IT SOLVES THE PROBLEMS THAT COUNSELOR KINSELLA RAISED.
UM, SO I THINK A LOT OF THOUGHT HAS TO GO INTO HOW THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE HERE.
WE DON'T HAVE ONE AND WE HAVE A LOT OF NEED HERE.
UM, WHAT ELSE? UH, THIS IS BOTH A HOMELESS HOUSING AND A WORKFORCE HOUSING PROJECT.
IT'S A TWOFER AS WELL AS BEING A HEARTFELT PROJECT.
IT, IT MEETS, IT MEETS OUR PRIORITIES IN A MULTITUDE OF WAYS.
UM, I ALSO WANT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF C B D C D B G FUNDING, SO I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TAKEN OFF OF IT.
UM, SO I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING PETE SAID.
AND THE HABITAT NUMBER TWO, I DON'T WANT THE OTHER ONES FUNDED.
I DON'T THINK THE SHELTER DAY USE FACILITY IS READY.
I THINK, I MEAN, I DON'T EVEN WANT IT ON THE LIST.
OKAY, SO YOU HAVE THREE, ONE AND NOT TWO AND FOUR.
WELL, I THINK THE KAREN SPOKE TO FOUR AND I THINK, NO, NO, I TWO IS, IS I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND.
SO COUNSEL, KINSELLA, ONE MORE QUESTION BEFORE I GIVE MY RANKING.
UM, SO IF THE NUMBER ONE PREFERENCE IS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN GOING FORWARD, DOES THE MONEY AUTOMATICALLY MOVE TO THE NUMBER TWO PREFERENCE? SO PRIOR TO MAY 31ST WHEN WE SUBMIT THE APPLICATION? YES.
ONCE THE APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED, THEN WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF STUCK WITH WHATEVER WE APPLY FOR, BUT, OKAY.
AND AGAIN, THE APPLICATION SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS WHEN? MAY 31ST.
THEN MY, MY RANKING ALSO WOULD BE, UH, STEPS TO RECOVERY HABITAT, THE SHELTER AND STRATEGIC PLAN IN THAT ORDER.
[01:40:04]
NO.YOU WANNA TALK? YEAH, IF YOU DON'T, YEAH, GO AHEAD.
I, UM, I UNDERSTAND ABOUT HAVING THE HOME HERE.
UH, AND I, I THINK THE STEPS FROM RECOVERY, IT'S, IT'S JUST A GIVEN.
IT HAS TO, HAS, IT HAS TO HAPPEN AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, BUT I TEND TO THINK IF IT CAN'T BE FOUND TO BE HERE, I DON'T WANNA TAKE A CHANCE OF LOSING THE MONEY.
I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK, YOU KNOW, BUYING A HOUSE AT THAT WITH THAT KIND OF MONEY HERE IN SEDONA, IT'S NOT REALISTIC.
SO I WOULD REALLY WANT TO GIVE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO GO OUTSIDE AS LONG AS OUR RES RESIDENTS OR PEOPLE IN NEED ARE NUMBER ONE FOR THAT HOME.
I THINK HEDGING OUR BETS, I THINK THAT MAKES MORE SENSE.
OTHERWISE, IT, IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN.
I DON'T WANNA DO ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING.
SO HOW COULD THAT WORK, SHANNON
IT'S, IT'S JUST WHEN WE APPLY FOR THE GRANT, WE MAY NEED LIKE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF COTTONWOOD OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
WELL, WHAT IF THEY FIND SOMETHING IN VILLE OR, OR, OR, YEAH.
OR VILLE OR WHEREVER IT'S LOCATED.
OKAY, THEN, SORRY, I, I, CAN I FINISH? ABSOLUTELY.
SO I WOULD, MY, UH, I, I'M GOING ONLY GOING TO RANK TWO WOULD BE A NUMBER, UH, THREE FIRST, AND THEN NUMBER ONE, I AM, I'M NOT SUPPORTING NUMBER TWO.
UH, AND I THINK FOR THE $10,000, I WOULD RATHER SEE THAT GO TO THE OTHER, UH, UH, NUMBERS AS WELL.
SO JUST THREE AND ONE FOR MYSELF, VICE MAYOR.
I, I, I ALSO DO NOT WANT TO TIE YOUR HANDS.
UH, I, STEPS TO RECOVERY IS MY NUMBER ONE, UH, RANKED PROGRAM ALSO, AND I DO NOT WANT TO TIE YOUR HANDS TO, TO HAVE A FORCE YOU TO FIND SOMETHING YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO FIND IN SEDONA.
WHILE WE WERE TALKING, I WAS LOOKING AT MULTIPLE LISTINGS.
THERE IS NOT ANYTHING EVEN VAGUELY CLOSE.
NO, THAT'S FIVE BEDROOMS. I FOUND THE FIVE BEDROOM HOUSE, IT WAS ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
SO I, I I THINK THAT THE SERVICES AND THE PROGRAM IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE LOCATION OF THE HOUSE.
AND SO I I, YES, LOOK IN SEDONA, BUT DON'T LET THAT RESTRICT YOU.
SO I, I RANK STEPS TO RECOVERY NUMBER THREE AS ONE I RANK, UH, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IS NUMBER TWO.
I DO NOT SUPPORT EITHER OF THE OTHER TWO PROGRAMS FOR THIS FUNDING.
THE, UH, STEPS TO RECOVERY IS MY FIRST CHOICE, UH, OR PREFERENCE AS WELL.
I WANT TO GO AGAINST THE GRAIN A LITTLE BIT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, PLEASE DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET IT IN SEDONA.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S KINDA LIKE, UH, IF YOU'VE EVER GONE ON A MISSION TRIP, THEY SAY THAT YOU KNOW, OH, YOU, YOU SET FORTH TO, TO GIVE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SERVE.
BUT YOU YOURSELF WIND UP BEING SERVED THROUGH THAT.
AND I THINK THAT THE STEPS TO RECOVERY HOME WOULD PROVIDE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY HERE IN SEDONA FOR PEOPLE TO SUPPORT IT.
AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE OR IN A MUCH MORE RURAL AREA THAN SEDONA STILL.
SO IF IT IS AT ALL POSSIBLE TO, FOR IT TO BE IN SEDONA, I THINK THERE'S JUST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF VALUE IN THAT.
UM, HABITAT WOULD BE MY SECOND CHOICE.
I MEAN, TRIED AND TRUE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IT'S ZERO RISK.
UH, AND THEN LIKE THE OTHERS, I DO NOT SUPPORT THE OTHER TWO.
DON, ARE YOU THERE? I AM HERE.
SO WHAT'S YOUR RANKING AND, UH, WHAT'S YOUR, WHAT ARE YOUR COMMENTS? WELL, I, I AGREE WITH EVERYONE THAT THE STEPS TO RECOVERY FEELS LIKE IT'S, UH, THE RIGHT THING FOR WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY IN SANDONA.
UH, UM, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED AND I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THE HABITAT HUMANITY, UH, REPRESENTATIVE THAT YES, WE ALSO HAVE QUITE A LOT OF LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND SENIORS IN SEDONA WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM YOUR PROGRAM.
HOWEVER, WE ALSO FEEL LIKE WE WANNA HELP PEOPLE WHO WORK IN SEDONA AND ARE HAVING ISSUES FINDING HOUSING OR ARE HOMELESS FOR MANY REASONS.
SO, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE SO FAR,
[01:45:01]
I WOULD SAY THREE AND THEN ONE.AND I WOULD SAY THAT TWO AND FOUR ARE AGAIN, NOT JUST RIGHT FOR THIS PROGRAM.
NOW, UH, SH DO YOU HAVE DIRECTION? WELL, YOU MADE THE MATH REALLY EASY AND I MAKE THE MOTION.
OKAY, THEN, UH, AS LONG AS THE MATH WORKS OUT GOOD.
SO THEN SOMEBODY WANTS TO, THEY WANTS TO DO THE MOTION.
THIS MOTION, I MOVED TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PREPARE A C D B G APPLICATION FOR 2023, FUNDING FOR $400,000 OR WHATEVER THE C D B G AMOUNT ACTUALLY TURNS OUT BEING FOR THE STEPS TO RECOVERY PROJECT AS AN ALTERNATIVE.
SHOULD THE APPLICA WHAT? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO HERE? YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO FILL THE FIRST ONE IN WITH YOUR NUMBER ONE CHOICE, THE SECOND ONE WITH YOUR NUMBER TWO.
I AUTHORIZED STAFF TO PREPARE A CD B G APPLICATION FOR 2023 FUNDING FOR STEPS FOR RECOVERY, OR FOR THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PROJECT.
AS AN ALTERNATIVE, SHOULD THE APPLICATION FOR THE PREFERRED PROJECT BE UNABLE TO BE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED? OKAY, SECOND
JOANNE, YOU HAVE THE FIRST AND SECOND? YES, SIR.
YOU JUST DIDN'T, I DIDN'T HEAR ME.
THAT'S, UM, OKAY, SO WE ARE UNANIMOUS.
AND WE MOVED FOR THE RESOLUTION.
I MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2023 DASH TWO TWO
ANY OPPOSED? I THINK MELISSA WENT WITH THE SUPPORT.
SO ALL WE HAVE UNANIMOUS AND SUPPORT HER.
THANK YOU SHANNON, FOR, FOR YOUR GREAT, UH, PRESENTATION.
AND, UH, WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE AGENDA A LITTLE BIT.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THE, UH, CHAMBER UP TO THIS POSITION AND OUR LOBBYISTS HAVE AGREED TO WAIT TILL AFTER.
I HOPE WE DON'T END UP BUMPING THEM TOO FAR BECAUSE THEY WERE BUMPED THE LAST TIME.
SO, UH, MICHELLE, YOU WANT TO GET STARTED? AND CAN WE TAKE A QUICK FIVE MINUTE BREAK WHILE, YES.
SO IS THIS EIGHT F THAT YOU'RE MOVING TO? THIS IS EIGHT.
BUT WE'RE GONNA TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK WHILE YOU'RE SETTING UP.
[8.f. AB 2917 Discussion/possible action regarding the request by the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau (SCC&TB) to use FY 23 contract contingency funds in the approximate amount of $225,000 to resume a targeted destination branding/marketing effort.]
AB 29 17 DISCUSSION PRESSABLE ACTION REGARDING, UH, THE REQUEST BY THE SEDONA CHAMBER OF CONGRESS AND TOURISM BUREAU TO USE FY 23 CONTRACT CONTINGENCY FUNDS IN THE APPROXIMATE APPROXIMATE AMOUNT OF $225,000 TO RESUME A TARGETED DESTINATION BRANDING MARKETING EFFORT.AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO KEEP THIS MOVING SO THAT WE DON'T KEEP, WE'RE NOT HERE TILL MIDNIGHT.
I, I HAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT GOOD AFTERNOON, BUT YES, WE ARE AN EVENING.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR JLO, VICE MAYOR P PLUGIN COUNSELORS.
WE'RE EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU OUR PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDATION TO IMPLEMENT A HIGHLY TARGETED AND STRATEGIC DESTINATION MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO ASSIST SEDONAS BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
OUR BOARD VICE CHAIR IS BEHIND US HERE, ALONG WITH MARK NATICK, VP EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR, AND KIM BENDER, VP OF MEDIA ENGAGEMENT AND STRATEGY FROM OH PARTNERS.
WHILE NORMALLY I WOULD ENCOURAGE QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT, I THINK JUST GIVEN KIND OF THE FLOW OF THINGS TODAY, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
AND THEN HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS.
UM, THIS IS A QUICK OUTLINE OF WHAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND SCOOT THROUGH HERE AND JUST KIND OF SET THINGS UP A LITTLE BIT WITH SOME RESEARCH.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, TRAVEL SENTIMENT IS JUST NOW SHOWING MORE THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE UNCONCERNED THAN CONCERNED ABOUT THE VIRUS.
IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN A LONG STRETCH OF, UH, ODD CIRCUMSTANCES THE PAST FEW YEARS.
WE MAY BE PAST THE PANDEMIC, BUT THE MAJORITY OF US TRAVELERS NOW BELIEVE THAT THERE'S AN ECONOMIC RECESSION AHEAD OF US.
79% SAID THAT THEY'RE TIGHTENING THEIR PURSE STRINGS ON TRAVEL DETERRENCE TO TRAVEL CENTER AROUND FINANCES AND RISING COSTS, WHICH IS CONCERNING FOR A, A HIGHER DESTINATION LIKE OURS.
ADDING TO THAT IS THE STRONG DOLLAR.
THE US DOLLAR IS CURRENTLY STRONG, WHICH ONLY MAKES INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL THAT MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE.
THIS IS, THIS COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT SEDONA AS OUR TYPICAL HIGH-END TRAVELER
[01:50:01]
NOW HAS THEIR GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO OPT FOR TRAVELING ABROAD VERSUS VISITING SEDONA.OTHER TRAVEL TRENDS INDICATE THAT THE INTEREST IN SHORT-TERM RENTALS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE.
REMOTE WORKING IS STILL OF GREAT INTEREST WITH RESEARCH SHOWING AN INCREASE IN LONG-TERM STAYS AND DEMAND IS UP FOR WHOLE HOME STAYS AND OUTDOORSY DESTINATIONS WITH MIND-BLOWING LANDSCAPES SUCH AS OURS.
THE ASSUMPTIONS THEN THAT COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT SEDONA ARE RELATED TO RECESSIONARY CONCERNS, A POST PANDEMIC RETURN TO URBAN DESTINATIONS AND A GREATER INTEREST IN INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL.
ALL OF THESE INDICATE A CONTINUED CHALLENGE FOR SEDONAS TOURISM PICTURE.
REGIONALLY SPEAKING, FORECAST FROM SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH ARE SHOWING OCCUPANCY NEARLY FLAT THROUGH NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR WITH A DIP IN ADR.
IT'S ANTICIPATED THAT OCCUPANCY WILL SEE SMALL GROWTH AGAIN IN 2024, BUT EVEN THE NATIONAL EXPERTS TELL US THAT THIS IS DEPENDENT ON MARKETING, SEDONA, THAT THERE IS A LOT OF COMPETITION OUT THERE.
FOR THE LEISURE TRAVELER, HERE'S A SNAPSHOT OF THE TRADITIONAL LODGING OCCUPANCY OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
IT'S AN INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICE TO USE HOTEL PERFORMANCE AS A BAROMETER OF TOURISM HEALTH BECAUSE EVERYTHING TRICKLES DOWN FROM THERE.
NUMBERS THROUGH NOVEMBER, WHICH IS THE LINE IN WHICH IS THE BLUE LINE THAT YOU SEE CONTINUE TO SHOW THAT WE ARE UNDER WHERE WE'VE BEEN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
THE PREVIOUS YEAR ALSO SAW DECLINES IN OCCUPANCY IN EIGHT OUT OF THE 12 MONTHS COMPARED TO PRE COVID.
AND WHILE THERE WERE STRONG GATES IN ADR LAST YEAR, THE HOTELS ARE NOW HAVING TO DROP THEIR RATES IN ORDER TO DRIVE OCCUPANCY.
THAT'S WHY YOU SAW A DECREASE IN ADR IN THE PRIOR SLIDES FORECAST.
I KNOW MAYOR JALO AND OTHERS ON COUNCIL HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF TIME, UH, IN RECENT MONTHS TO SIT WITH SONSONA BUSINESSES.
IT'S NOT JUST THE HOTELS WE'VE BEEN HURTING.
AS MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD, SEVERAL GALLERIES ARE STATING, UH, THAT THEY'RE IN THE AREA OF BEING 30% DOWN.
I KNOW THAT MANY BUSINESSES WROTE INTO COUNCIL ALSO CON UH, SHARING THEIR CONCERNS.
AND ULTIMATELY, A HEALTHY TOURISM ECONOMY IS CRITICAL FOR OUR CITY.
IT'S CRITICAL IN RURAL AREAS LIKE OURS WHERE ECONOMIC DIVERSITY IS JUST NOT AS BROAD AS IT IS IN THE LARGER CITIES.
IT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE WE ARE A TOURISM CITY, AS THESE NUMBERS INDICATE.
AND THE FACT THAT VISITORS GENERATE CLOSE TO 80% OF THE CITY SALES AND BED TAX REVENUES MEAN THAT WE ARE REALLY IN AN ENVIABLE POSITION TO AFFORD THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE VISITORS.
WE WANT THE BALANCE BETWEEN ECONOMY, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT JUST AS MUCH AS EVERYONE ELSE.
AND I DO LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER DISCUSSING THAT AND PICKING UP ON OUR CONVERSATION FROM OUR LAST JOINT WORK SESSION ABOUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD IN THAT WAY.
BUT IT IS TIME TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T MARKETED FOR TWO YEARS AND IT'S STARTING TO REALLY SHOW, AS YOU SEE HERE ON THIS SLIDE.
OCCUPANCY IS DOWN WITH THE MAJORITY OF OUR COMPETING DESTINATIONS.
HOWEVER, WE ARE TRAILING MUCH FURTHER BEHIND THAN THEY ARE.
AND I CAN GUARANTEE YOU I'VE TALKED TO OUR COMPETITIVE DESTINATIONS.
THEY ARE NOT RESTING ON THEIR LAURELS.
THEY KNOW THE VALUE OF DEFINING THEIR CITY AND STRATEGICALLY INVITING THE APPROPRIATE TRAVELER TO THEIR DESTINATION.
THEY DON'T COUNT ON RANDOM WORD OF MOUTH TO ESTABLISH THEIR POSITION IN THE MARKETPLACE.
THEY GO AFTER IT PROACTIVELY AND DEFINE THEMSELVES AND THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE PART OF A SYSTEM LIKE YOU SEE HERE ON THIS SLIDE, A SYSTEM WHERE DMO IS LIKE THE SEDONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND TOURISM BUREAU ARE SMACKED IN THE MIDDLE OF A PROCESS, A PROCESS THAT BEGINS AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL.
AND THEIR EFFORTS TO ATTRACT PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO OUR COUNTRY IS WHERE IT ALL STARTS FROM THEIR, THE ARIZONA OFFICE OF TOURISM DOES THEIR JOB IN BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE STATE.
AND THEN IT'S OUR JOB TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO SEDONA.
MARKETING OPENS THE DOOR FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES WHO THEN HAVE TO FULFILL THE PROMISE THAT WE ARE SAYING THE VISITORS WILL EXPERIENCE.
WE'VE BEEN MISSING FROM THE SYSTEM AND OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE ASKING FOR OUR HELP.
SO THIS BRINGS US TO OUR SITUATION.
SEDONA, UNEXPECTED INFLUX OF VISITORS DURING COVID.
THIS WAS CHALLENGING TO OUR COMMUNITY AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
SO WE ENTERED THE MARKETING PAUSE NOW THAT COVID CONCERNS HAVE WANED, WE HAVE FALLEN BEHIND IN ATTRACTING VISITORS TO SEDONA.
IT IS OUR STRONG RECOMMENDATION THAT WE RESUME DESTINATION MARKETING.
TO INVITE THE RIGHT TARGET AUDIENCE TO SEDONA IS IMPORTANT THAT WE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE OWN OUR MESSAGE.
IF WE DON'T OWN OUR MESSAGE, SOMEONE ELSE WILL.
SPECIFIC DETAILED MESSAGING WILL ENABLE US TO COMMUNICATE THE VAL THE VALUE THAT WE OFFER AS A CITY AND TO BE ATTRACTIVE TO THE HIGH VALUED TRAVELER BY DEFINING SEDONA AS AN ARTS AND CULTURAL DESTINATION, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING.
WE CAN FOCUS ON THE QUALITY OF THE VISITOR.
WE NEED LESS TRULY IS MORE WHEN WE CONSIDER LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY.
I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS, BUT I'M HAPPY TO SAY IT AGAIN.
BRINGING THE FEWER VISITORS HERE IS BETTER FOR OUR ROADS,
[01:55:01]
RESIDENTS, TRAILS, BUSINESSES, ECONOMY AND VISITOR EXPERIENCE.SO WE REALLY DO PREFER TO HAVE FEWER VISITORS HERE, BUT THOSE WHO STAY LONGER AND SPEND MORE SEDONA NEEDS TO ATTRACT THE CORRECT VISITORS.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE WANNA GET PROACTIVE.
AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING TO GET TO A MID, UH, MID.
WE'RE LOOKING TO GET AMID TO AFFLUENT CONSUMER TO CONSIDER TRAVELING TO SEDONA BY COMMUNICATING THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO EXPERIENCE HERE THAN THE OBVIOUS MAGNIFICENT SCENERY IN OUTDOORS.
OUR STRATEGY THEN IS TO DEFINE SEDONA AS A HIGH-END DESTINATION.
TO BRING THE AFFLUENT VISITOR BY HIGHLIGHTING THE ARTS AND CULTURAL ASPECTS THAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER.
THIS IS AN AREA WE MARKETED PREVIOUSLY IN OUR HISTORY AND HAD GREAT SUCCESS IN.
SO IT'S INTERESTING AND A WONDERFUL IDEA TO BRING THE ARTS BACK.
PEOPLE KNOW US FOR OUR MAJESTIC RED ROCKS, BUT WE'RE MORE THAN JUST AN OUTDOOR DESTINATION.
NOW IT'S TIME TO INVITE TRAVELERS TO RETURN TO SEDONA BY FEATURING THE GREAT INDOORS.
WHO WILL WE TARGET? WILL TARGET ADULTS 35 AND OVER WITH AN ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF 150,000 PLUS, WE WILL TARGET THOSE INTERESTED IN ARTS AND CULTURE IN GOING OUT TO DINNER SHOPPING, STAYING AT HOTELS, AND BUYING ART.
SINCE WE'RE ATTRACTING PEOPLE WHO ENJOY SPENDING TIME ON INDOOR ACTIVITIES, THIS CAMPAIGN WILL HELP GET PEOPLE THROUGH THE DOORS OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
THE PROFILE OF OUR DESIRED AUDIENCE SHOWS THAT THEY OWN A HOME IN OUR COLLEGE GRADUATES.
THEY ENJOY TR ATTENDING MUSIC PERFORMANCES AND LOCAL CUISINE.
WHEN THEY TRAVEL, THEY SEEK HIGH QUALITY EXPERIENCES.
IN OTHER WORDS, MANY OF THEM HAVE THE SAME VALUES AS OUR RESIDENTS DO.
OUR TARGETING WILL BE HIGHLY DETAILED.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE MAJORITY OF OUR TARGET AUDIENCE DOES NOT HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN.
AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT THAT ILLUSTRATES THEIR ABILITY TO TRAVEL AND STAY LONGER, SPEND MORE.
WE ARE LOOKING TO DEVELOP A CAMPAIGN THAT WILL HELP US GET BACK INTO THE MARKETPLACE WITH A POSITION OF HOW WE WANT.
SEDONA PORTRAYED A CAMPAIGN THAT WILL ATTRACT VISITORS DURING OUR NORMAL SUMMER DOWN SEASON.
A CAMPAIGN THAT WILL, WE WILL LEARN FROM AND THAT WILL INFORM A FUTURE LARGER BRANDING EFFORT.
THIS CAMPAIGN, WHAT IS, WHAT WE ARE CONSIDERING TO BE A BRIDGE TO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
IT IS OUR INTENTION TO CONTINUE THIS CAMPAIGN INTO THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
TO TRULY IMPACT A FULL SUMMER.
THIS CAMPAIGN WILL INCLUDE HEAVY DIGITAL MEDIA TARGETING AFFLUENT CONSUMERS FROM PHOENIX AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
IT WILL ENCOURAGE INDOOR EXPLORATION, WHICH WILL BE PARTICULARLY WELCOME DURING WARM SUMMER MONTHS.
IT WILL ALLOW FOR HIGHLY TARGETED AD CUSTOMIZED MESSAGING AND IT WILL INCORPORATE KEY PARTNERS AND MEMBERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
AND AT THIS POINT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MARK TO CONTINUE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE.
UH, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT, EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT OH PARTNERS.
I ACTUALLY LIVE IN LAS VEGAS AND GO BACK AND FORTH TO PHOENIX.
I'M VERY JEALOUS THAT I DON'T LIVE HERE.
I WAS HERE A FEW MONTHS AGO FOR THE ARIZONA LOTTERY WHERE WE FILMED HERE, UH, AND HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU INCLUDING US IN THIS PROCESS OF HELPING YOU TO GROW.
UH, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON ME, UH, I'VE WORKED IN TOURISM AS FAR AS ADVERTISING GOES FOR MANY YEARS.
UH, I STARTED WHEN I'M SIX, UH, WHEN I WAS SIX, 20 YEARS AGO.
UH, I'VE ACTUALLY WORKED FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.
I WORKED ON THE L V C V A LAS VEGAS VISITOR AND CONVENTION AUTHORITY.
TOURISM, UH, WORK THAT INCLUDED MESQUITE, LAUGHLIN AND WE'VE, I'VE DONE WORK FOR PROMP AND OTHER CITIES.
SO I REALLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF ADVERTISING WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING JOBS, PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, FOR PROVIDING TAXES, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, UH, FOR THE GROWTH OF A COMMUNITY AND TO SUSTAIN A COMMUNITY.
SO WITH ALL THAT IN MIND, WE TOOK A IT UPON OURSELVES TO KIND OF LOOK AT HOW CAN WE ADVERTISE SEDONA IN A PLACE, IN A WAY, IN A MANNER THAT TARGETS NOT JUST THE OUTSIDE, NOT JUST THE OUTDOORS.
WE FEEL LIKE SEDONA IS LIKE, EVERYBODY KNOWS IT, RIGHT? EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE.
SO WE WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE INSIDE.
SO I'M GONNA KIND OF WALK YOU THROUGH SOME EXECUTIONS.
UH, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR IF I GO TOO FAST, JUST LET ME KNOW.
I TEND TO GET EXCITED AND I TEND TO RAMP UP AS I GO.
UM, SO WAS THAT WHAT, UH, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU IS KIND OF WHAT WE CALL A BRIDGE CAMPAIGN.
IT'S NOT A BRAND CAMPAIGN, BUT ALLOWS US TO TALK ABOUT THE RETAIL ASPECTS, UH, SHOPPING, DINING, UH, THE ART GALLERIES AND ALL THAT AS WE TALK ABOUT SEDONA AS A WHOLE.
SO IT'S KIND OF AN ENCOMPASSING CAMPAIGN TO REALLY EMPHASIZE WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER, NOT JUST TO THE OUTDOORS PERSON, BUT TO THE AFFLUENT PERSON WHO CAN COME HERE, UH, AND SPEND SOME MONEY.
MICKEY WHO JOINED US, UH, FROM PHOENIX, SHE CAME HERE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND BOUGHT A $800 BUDDHAS STATUE FOR HER LIVING ROOM.
[02:00:01]
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND PEOPLE WHO CAN TAKE STUFF HOME, LIKE WHO ARE HERE TO SHOP, WHO ARE HERE TO ENJOY THE DINING AND NOT JUST GO OUTSIDE, NOT NEGLECTING THE OUTSIDE CUZ IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND YOU WANT TO BE THERE TOO.BUT WE WANNA REALLY REMIND PEOPLE ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT SEDONA HAS TO OFFER.
SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR YOU GUYS IS A BRAND CAMPAIGN CALLED MEET SEDONA.
AGAIN, WHEN YOU THINK OF SEDONA, YOU THINK OF THE BEAUTIFUL RED ROCK FORMATIONS FOR TEXAS AND THE TURQUOISE MCDONALD'S SIGN.
BUT FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE ON EVERYTHING IN THIS DIRECTION.
WE'RE REINTRODUCING PEOPLE TO THE WONDERS OF THIS INCREDIBLE CITY.
THE PEOPLE, THE CULTURE, AND THE VIBRANT SIGHT AND SOUNDS THAT CAN BE FOUND IF YOU JUST TAKE A SECOND LOOK.
THE, THE SEDONA RED ROCK SERVE AS A BACKDROP FOR THE WONDERS THAT CAN BE FOUND ON THE INSIDE.
AGAIN, THIS CAMPAIGN IS A JUXTAPOSITION BETWEEN THE OUTDOORS AND THE INDOORS AND ALL THAT YOU CAN DISCOVER WHILE YOU'RE HERE.
SO I'M GONNA SHOW YOU SOME EXECUTIONS OF IDEAS.
WE'RE GONNA START WITH SOME PRINT CAMPAIGN.
UH, WE MAY DO PRINT, WE MAY FOCUS REALLY ON SOCIAL AND DIGITAL.
UH, WE CAN GET INTO THE, UH, THE WEEDS OF THAT WITH KIM IN A BIT, BUT KIND OF GIVE YOU THE IDEA.
UH, THIS CAMPAIGN IS A JUXTAPOSITION.
WE'RE GONNA SHOW YOU THAT ABSOLUTE BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF SEDONA OUTSOURCES OUT OUTSIDE.
AND WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT SEDONA INSIDE.
SO WE'RE GONNA HEAR LINES LIKE DISCOVER A WORLD OF ONE OF KIND OF ART.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT IN THE COPY, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT GALLERIES WE HAVE HERE AND ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.
AND WE'RE GONNA ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MEET SEDONA AGAIN.
ANOTHER ONE, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT CUISINE, THE RESTAURANTS, AND WE'LL GET INTO HEADLINES THAT SAY, EXPERIENCE CULTURAL COL, CULTURAL CULINARY DELIGHTS.
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT ALL THE RESTAURANTS.
AND IN ALL OF THESE, WE CAN USE QR CODES OR WE CAN SEND 'EM TO THE WEBSITE AND WHERE THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT THE RESTAURANTS AND THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FOODS.
WE HAVE HERE REALLY A, A REMINDER CAMPAIGN FOR EVERYBODY.
THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE OUTSIDE, IT'S ABOUT THE INSIDE AS WELL.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE COULD BE FOR OUR BOUTIQUES, FOR ALL JEWELRY AND CLOTHING STORES, WE SEE THE BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF SEDONA.
AND THEN WE LOOK AT THE HEADLINE, IT SAYS, LOSE YOURSELF ON AND FIND YOURSELF ON BOUTIQUE ROW.
AND THEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT, UH, THE DIFFERENT SHOPS THAT YOU CAN GO TO.
SO WE CAN DO THIS IN A FEW MANNERS.
THIS ONE IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE COULD DO IT WITH AN ADVERTORIAL, WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE OUR, OUR, UM, THE DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, UH, AND, AND BUSINESSES, UH, PITCH IN AND CO-OP SO THAT THEY CAN TALK DIRECTLY ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, WHAT THEY'RE, WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM.
SO WE KIND OF USE THIS AS A SHELL TO KIND OF HOUSE EVEN MORE INFORMATION.
AND THEN FROM THERE, I WANT TO GET INTO A LITTLE BIT OF THE DIGITAL WORLD.
I WON'T WALK YOU THROUGH EVERYTHING.
YOU GET AN IDEA OF WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH EVERYTHING.
AND I RESPECT YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
UH, BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY BE TARGETED ON OUR MEDIA.
WHO ARE WE TALKING TO? WHERE ARE WE TALKING? WHERE ARE WE GONNA RUN STUFF? SO WE'LL SEE PAGE TAKEOVERS, WHICH ARE DIGITAL, BANNER ADSS THAT COME OUT AND TELL OUR SEDONA STORY.
WE'LL HAVE, UH, BANNER ADSS IN PLACES THAT ARE LIKE, UH, LOCAL, UH, LOCAL, UH, LOCAL NEWSPAPERS, OR WE'LL DO LIKE FOOD AND WINES.
WE'LL BE VERY TARGETED ON WHO WE'RE TALKING TO.
SO WE'RE VERY EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WITH OUR MONEY.
IT'S LIKE WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE TALKING TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGE.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY SOCIAL PAID, SOCIAL MEDIA, AS WELL AS ORGANIC SOCIAL MEDIA.
JUST GETTING ANOTHER WAY TO GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS REALLY UTILIZE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
UH, AND SOMETIMES WE'LL PAY FOR IT TO AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL JUST COME ON ORGANICALLY.
AND THEN THE LAST THING IS, UH, INFLUENCERS.
SO INFLUENCERS IS A BIG THING RIGHT NOW.
IT'S PEOPLE WHO KNOW A LOT ABOUT SOMETHING, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE A LOT OF FOLLOWERS, RIGHT? SO WE WANT TO UTILIZE THESE INFLUENCERS, PEOPLE WHO LOVE SEDONA, AND COME HERE AND TALK ABOUT IT.
WE WANT TO GIVE THEM A ALMOST A SCRIPT TO TELL THE SEDONA INSIDE STORY.
SO WE'LL START WITH THE OUTSIDE, RIGHT? WE'LL SHOW THE BEAUTIFUL ROCKS, WE'LL SHOW THE TOURS.
WE'LL SHOW ALL THE THINGS YOU CAN DO HERE, BUT THEN WE'LL TAKE IT INSIDE AND WE'LL LET THESE INFLUENCERS TELL THE STORY OF OUR RESTAURANTS, OUR BOUTIQUES, AND ALL OF OUR OTHER STORES AND, UH, AND AMENITIES.
SO IT'S REALLY A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE SOMEBODY SPEAK ON OUR BEHALF.
THAT'S THE FASTEST I'VE TALKED IN A WHILE.
UM, AGAIN, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF MEDIA AT OH PARTNERS.
I PHYSICALLY LIVE IN LAS VEGAS, BUT I AM OVER THE MEDIA DEPARTMENTS IN THE PHOENIX AND VEGAS OFFICE.
UM, MY BACKGROUND, I STARTED IN LA I DID A LOT OF WORK IN THE STATE BUSINESS IN LA AND AT OH PARTNERS.
[02:05:01]
ARIZONA, WITH A LOT OF STATE, UM, ENTITIES WITHIN ARIZONA, BETWEEN THE LOTTERY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND SOME ADDITIONAL ENTITIES.IT GIVES US A LOT OF A VERY LARGE BUYING POWER IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.
ALSO, KNOWING THAT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS A TARGET FOR SEDONA, WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF CLIENTS LOCATED IN VEGAS THAT ARE SPENDING HEAVILY IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARKET, WHICH ALSO PROVIDES US A BUYING POWER THAT ALLOWS US TO LEVERAGE THINGS FOR SOME OF OUR OTHER CLIENTS THAT MAYBE THEIR BUDGETS NEED TO BE STRETCHED A LITTLE BIT AND MAY BE MORE EFFICIENT.
BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS BASED ON SOME OF OUR OTHER CLIENTS, IT GIVES US A LOT OF, UM, FLEXIBILITY WHEN WE'RE GOING IN TO NEGOTIATE DIFFERENT CAMPAIGNS.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS, BEFORE I GET INTO ALL THE DETAILS, IS JUST TO REMIND YOU, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TARGETING PHOENIX AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, BUT NOT MASS TARGETING THOSE MARKETS.
REALLY VERY SELECTIVELY TARGETING A NICHE AUDIENCE, A MORE AFFLUENT AUDIENCE.
AND THE WAY WE DO THAT IS REALLY BY, UM, TRACKING OR TARGETING THEM BASED ON THEIR ONLINE BEHAVIOR.
SO WHAT WEBSITES ARE THEY ON, WHAT ARE THEY SEARCHING? WHAT ARTICLES ARE THEY READING AS, AND MARRYING THAT WITH, UM, HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND NET WORTH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REACHING THAT MORE FLUENT AUDIENCE THAT HAS DISPOSABLE INCOME SO THAT THEY CAN COME AND SPEND MULTIPLE NIGHTS.
THEY CAN ENJOY THE SPAS AND THE RESORTS AND THE GALLERIES AND THE RESTAURANTS, AS WELL AS THE SCENERY AND SOME OF THE OUTDOORS THINGS, BUT REALLY CAN APPRECIATE ALL OF THE OTHER ELEMENTS THAT SEDONA HAS TO OFFER.
SO WE WANTED TO START BY SAYING, WITHOUT SEDONA SPENDING AND REALLY TELLING THE STORY OF EV ALL OF THE AMENITIES, IT REALLY, WHAT'S IN THE MARKET IS TELLING ONE STORY.
AND IT'S TELLING THE STORY ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL RED ROCKS AND ALL OF THE OUTDOOR THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
AND LIKE THE CREATIVE THAT WE RECOMMENDED SAID, WE'RE NOT WALKING AWAY FROM THAT.
IT'S STILL A HUGE PART OF WHAT SEDONA IS, BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT I THINK AUDIENCES HAVE FORGOTTEN AS WELL AS THAT MORE AFFLUENT AUDIENCE NEEDS TO BE REMINDED, RIGHT? THAT THERE ARE ALL THESE OTHER ASPECTS THAT MAYBE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN REMINDED OF OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR EVERYBODY.
AND MO ALMOST INVITING THEM BACK TO ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAT SEDONA HAS TO OFFER.
SO WE STARTED BY LOOKING AT COMPETITIVE SPENDING, AND WE REALLY WANTED TO LOOK AT MARKETS THAT ARE SIMILAR MARKETS YOU WOULD BE COMPETING AGAINST.
UM, SO MARKETS THAT WE LOOKED AT, SANTA BARBARA, UM, PARK CITY, SCOTTSDALE.
AND WHAT WE ARE REALLY SEEING THIS SHEET IS PRIMARILY, UM, IS ALL DIGITAL MEDIA.
WE ARE SEEING THEM SPEND FROM A SOCIAL MEDIA STANDPOINT, THEY'RE, THEY'RE RUNNING PAID ADS ON FACEBOOK, ON INSTAGRAM, PRIMARILY TELLING THEIR STORY, TRYING TO STAY TOP OF MIND TO THIS, THESE DIFFERENT AFFLUENT AUDIENCES TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THEY'RE MAKING THEIR DECISION AND PLANNING THAT THEY'RE TOP OF MIND SO THAT THEY ARE IN THOSE DECISION SETS.
ONE THING THAT WE DID, UM, LOOK INTO IS, UM, THE SCOTTSDALE MARKET AND SOME OF THESE OTHER MARKETS ARE ALSO SPENDING IN WHAT WE CALL OFFLINE MEDIA.
THEY'RE SPENDING IN MAGAZINES, THEY'RE SPENDING IN NEWSPAPERS, UM, SOME ARE SPENDING IN TV IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, UM, WHICH TO BE QUITE HONEST, WE DON'T THINK IS THE MOST EFFICIENT OR EFFECTIVE WAY FOR THEM TO SPEND, BUT IT IS A WAY THAT THEY ARE USING TO KIND OF JUMPSTART THEIR TOURISM COMING OUT OF COVID.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS TO DO IT.
UM, WE DO BELIEVE, AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS, UH, WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WAY TO USE YOUR MONEY TO MOVE THE NEEDLE AND DRIVE TRAFFIC, DRIVE TRAFFIC FOR THE RIGHT CONSUMER INTO SEDONA.
TRAFFIC ISN'T THE WOR BEST WORD.
AND THEN THIS IS JUST, UM, UM, SOME OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM, UM, COMPETITORS.
SO LOOKING AT THE TARGET AUDIENCE, WE'RE TARGETING ABOUT THAT MOST, MORE FLUENT AUDIENCE, $150,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME, SLIGHTLY OLDER, UM, NO CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE, SOMEBODY WHO HAS THAT MORE DISPOSABLE INCOME.
IT'S PROBABLY NOT A SURPRISE THAT WHEN YOU'RE STARTING TO LOOK AT THAT SLIGHTLY MORE AFFLUENT AUDIENCE, THEIR USE OF TRADITIONAL MEDIA STARTS TO DROP.
SO THEIR USE OF RADIO, THEIR USE OF TELEVISION STARTS TO DROP.
THEY DO WHAT WE CALL APPOINTMENT TELEVISION.
SO BIG EVENTS THEY'RE PROBABLY SCHEDULING TO WATCH.
BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS, AND THIS IS PROBABLY NOT A SURPRISE, HIGH INTERNET USE, THEY ARE USING THE INTERNET FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL REASONS.
THEY ARE DOING, UM, FINANCING ONLINE NOW.
THEY ARE DOING ALL OF THEIR RESEARCH FOR TRIPS
[02:10:01]
ONLINE.THEY ARE GOING TO THE INTERNET AS THEIR SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR NEWS.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE EVEN, I THINK, FAST FORWARDED EVEN MORE DURING COVID AND DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WE WANNA EFFECTIVELY REACH THEM DURING THEIR TI THEIR DAILY LIFE.
SO, UM, WE ARE RECOMMENDING A VERY HYPER-TARGETED CAMPAIGN THAT IS A COMPLETELY DIGITAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO REACH THE RIGHT AUDIENCE AND DRIVE TOURISM FOR THAT HIGHER AFFLUENT AUDIENCE INTO SEDONA FOR THE HOTELS, THE SPAS, THE RESTAURANTS, THE GALLERIES, AND REALLY AFFECT ALL FORMS OF BUSINESS WITHIN THE CITY.
SO THERE ARE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN TARGET THAT AFFLUENT AUDIENCE.
I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT CONTEXTUAL TARGETING FIRST.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS I CAN GO TO A THIRD PARTY SOURCE AND THEY HAVE DATA FROM CREDIT CARD COMPANIES, FROM HOTEL COMPANIES, FROM AIRLINE COMPANIES, FROM VARIOUS COMPANIES.
AND I CAN BUILD MY AUDIENCE BASED ON THAT THIRD PARTY DATA.
SO I BASE IT ON HOUSEHOLD INCOME, I BASE IT ON INTERNET USAGE HABITS, RIGHT? THEY'RE READING ARTICLES ON FOOD AND WINE AND TRAVEL AND LEISURE, OR THEY'RE READING INFORMATION ON ART GALLERIES OR SEARCHING ART GALLERIES IN SEDONA.
ANOTHER WAY OF TARGETING IS WHAT WE CALL FIRST PARTY DATA.
AND FIRST PARTY DATA COULD MEAN A LOT OF THINGS.
IT CAN MEAN SOMEBODY SIGNING UP TO RECEIVE THE VISITOR'S GUIDE IN FOR SEDONA.
WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO SIGN UP AND GET THE VISITOR'S GUIDE HAVE A HIGH PROPENSITY OF ACTUALLY VISITING THE CITY.
WE CAN DO, WE CAN TARGET PEOPLE WHO SIGN UP FOR A NEWSLETTER.
UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN DO IT.
WE CAN, EVEN IF PARTNERS WITHIN THE CHAMBER OR IN THE CITY HOTEL PARTNERS ARE IN OPEN TO GIVING US A LIST, THERE IS A WAY WHERE WE CAN ANONYMIZE THEIR DATA.
SO WE WILL NOT GET ANY PERSONAL OR PRIVATE DATA PER PERSON, BUT WE CAN ANONYMIZE THEIR DATA AND BUILD A MODEL BASED ON WHO ACTUALLY HAS STAYED AT THEIR HOTEL.
WHAT WE THEN DO IS THESE, WE WOULD CREATE DIFFERENT AUDIENCES.
SO I COULD HAVE AN AUDIENCE THAT'S BASED ON THIRD PARTY DATA THAT I BUILT BASED ON ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT I FEEL MATCHES THIS AUDIENCE WE WANNA ATTRACT.
I CAN ALSO BUILD AN AUDIENCE BASED ON THE VISITORS GUIDE DATA.
I CAN BUILD AN AUDIENCE BASED ON THE HOTEL DATA, AND THEN WE CAN RUN THE CAMPAIGNS WITH THOSE VARIOUS AUDIENCES AND OPTIMIZE TO THE CAMPAIGN, TO THE AUDIENCES THAT ARE WORKING.
AND BASED ON THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE IMPLORE AT, OH, I CAN OPTIMIZE WITHIN 10 DAYS OF THE CAMPAIGN, STARTING REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT'S WORKING, WHAT'S NOT WORKING.
WE CAN RUN CREATIVE THAT IS FOCUSED ON THE GALLERIES VERSUS CREATIVE THAT'S FOCUSED ON HOTELS AND SPAS AND DINING, AND REALLY LEAN INTO WHAT WE'RE SEEING HAS THE STRONGEST, WHAT WE SAY CALL CLICK THROUGH RATE, GOING TO THE LANDING PAGE OF THE WEBSITE AS WELL AS CONVERSIONS.
THERE ARE ALSO GOING INTO MEASUREMENTS.
I CAN TRACK CLICKS, I CAN TRACK CONVERSIONS.
WE KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO TO THE VISIT SEDONA SITE, IT'S NOT WHERE YOU'RE GONNA BOOK A HOTEL.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING DIRECTLY TO THE HOTELS OR VARIOUS PLACES, THE ACTUAL BUSINESS WEBSITES TO BOOK.
WE CAN ALSO DO SOMETHING THAT'S CALLED A FOOT TRAFFIC STUDY.
SO I CAN TRACK SOMEBODY WHO IS SEEING A DIGITAL AD AND THEN THEIR PHONE CROSSES A GEOFENCE INTO THE CITY OF SEDONA.
SO I KNOW THAT THEY SAW OUR AD AND THEY CAME TO SEDONA.
WHAT WE ALSO DO IN THOSE FOOT TRAFFIC STUDIES IS WE HAVE A CONTROL GROUP.
SO A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO DID NOT SEE OUR AD AND THEN COMPARE THEM TO THE, THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T SEE THE AD VERSUS THE PEOPLE WHO DID SEE THAT AND WHO CAME TO SEDONA.
SO IT ADDS A LEVEL OF TRACKING THAT SOME, UM, CONVENTION GROUPS HAVE NOT HAD IN, OR VISITOR GROUPS HAVE NOT HAD IN THE PAST BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SELLING THE HOTEL ROOM, RIGHT? UM, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY INFORMATION THAT HELPS US GUIDE HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING STARTING WITH PAID SOCIAL AND PAID SOCIAL CAN BE EXAMPLES ARE ON THE SCREEN.
SPECIFIC ADS WE'RE RECOMMENDING FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.
THEY, UM, SKEW THE BEST TO THIS MORE AFFLUENT, SLIGHTLY OLDER AUDIENCE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING AND WE'VE BEEN DOING RECENTLY, WE'VE BEEN TESTING USING ORGANIC CREATIVE IN PAID PLACEMENTS, ORGANIC CREATIVE'S, A LITTLE MORE, UM, AUTHENTIC.
[02:15:01]
AS HARD-HITTING ADS.WE TYPICALLY RECOMMEND RUNNING BOTH.
SO THE ADS THAT MARK PRESENTED WOULD DEFINITELY BE UTILIZED, BUT WE WOULD ALSO MIX IN SOME OF THIS MORE AUTHENTIC CREATIVE.
WE COULD EVEN USE SOME OF THE, THE CONTENT THAT INFLUENCERS PROVIDE US WHEN WE USE THEM BOTH.
WE FIND THAT THE CAMPAIGNS ARE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE.
THE AUDIENCES REACT REALLY WELL.
DIFFERENT PEOPLE REACT DIFFERENTLY TO THE VARIOUS ADS.
AND IT GIVES US THE BEST, UM, EFFECTIVENESS WHEN WE USE BOTH TYPES OF CREATIVE.
NEXT, WE ARE RECOMMENDING DISPLAY DISPLAY ADS.
TYPICALLY, PEOPLE THINK OF NORMAL BANNER ADS.
THERE ARE LOTS OF VARIOUS SIZES THAT CAN BE USED.
UM, BUT DISPLAY ALLOWS US TO, TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF TARGETING THAT PAID SOCIAL DOESN'T PAID SOCIAL ALLOWS US TO TARGET, BUT DISPLAY ALLOWS US TO GO EVEN DEEPER AND TO REALLY DIVE INTO WHO'S ACTUALLY REACTING TO THE ADS.
SO WE, WE BELIEVE THAT THE TWO OF THESE TOGETHER WOULD BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO, TO USE THIS BRIDGE CAMPAIGN AND REALLY AFFECT THE DOWN THE SLOWER SEASONS THAT ARE COMING UP FOR THE CITY OF SEDONA.
WE DID, UM, MAKE SOME RE OR PUT SOME THOUGHT IN IF THERE WAS ADDITIONAL DOLLARS AND GOING INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
WHAT OTHER TYPES OF THINGS WOULD WE WANNA DO TO KIND OF, UM, SUPPORT AND AUGMENT A DIGITAL ONLY CAMPAIGN? SO THE FIRST THING IS PRINT.
SO THIS HIGHER AFFLUENT AUDIENCE IS DEFINITELY STILL, I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY PRINT IS DYING FOR THIS AFFLUENT AUDIENCE.
PRINT IS STILL AS STRONG AS IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO.
THERE ARE ARE PUBLICATIONS THAT THEY READ RELIGIOUSLY.
SO PUBLICATIONS THAT I HAVE HAD GREAT SUCCESS FOR THIS TYPE OF TOURISM INFORMA OR OFFERING HAVE BEEN THINGS LIKE CONDE NA TRAVELER TRAVEL AND LEISURE.
WE WOULD LOOK AT THINGS LIKE FOOD AND WINE, UM, UM, WINE SPECTATOR, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT ARE GONNA ATTRACT THE RIGHT AUDIENCE AND WANT TO SEE THE MIN MANY, UM, OFFERINGS THAT SEDONA HAS TO OFFER.
ADDITIONAL THINGS ARE LIKE WESTERN ART AND ARCHITECTURE OR ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST.
AND I KNOW SOME OF THESE PUBLICATIONS SEEM VERY LARGE.
YOU CAN BUY 'EM VERY REGIONALLY AS WELL AS TARGETING BASED ON HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND INTERESTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT, EVERYTHING WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS NOT MASS TARGETING.
IT'S VERY, VERY NICHE TARGETING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMPLIMENTING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY COMING AND GETTING THAT AUDIENCE THAT'S GOING TO GO TO THE GALLERIES AND HAVE THAT DISPOSABLE INCOME TO, TO SPEND ON THE OTHER AMENITIES WITHIN THE CITY.
BETTER HOMES AND GARDEN IS ANOTHER OPTION.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE MASS REACH, BUT AGAIN, THERE ARE WAYS FOR US TO JUST BUY PORTIONS OF THEIR AUDIENCE AND TARGET THE RIGHT AUDIENCE.
UM, ANOTHER IDEA, AND WE WOULD EXPLORE THIS FURTHER IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S OF INTEREST, IS TO TARGET THAT ART ENTHUSIAST.
THERE ARE WAYS TO TARGET 'EM VIA POSTCARDS AND OTHER DIRECT MAIL TYPE PIECES IF THEY HAVE ATTENDED OR VISITED AN ART FESTIVAL OR AN ART GALLERY IN THE PAST, UM, 180 DAYS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TARGETING THEM WITH THE RIGHT MESSAGE AT THE RIGHT TIME.
AND THEN LAST, UM, BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST IS PUBLIC RADIO.
PUBLIC RADIO IS THE, A GREAT MEDIUM IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT MESSAGE.
IT'S REALLY HARD WHEN YOU HAVE A REALLY HARD HITTING, UM, UM, CALL TO ACTION.
YOU CAN'T DO HARD SELLING MESSAGES IN PUBLIC RADIO.
BUT A VISIT SEDONA MESSAGE IS A GREAT AUDIENCE, A GREAT WAY TO REACH THE RIGHT AUDIENCE.
THIS IS A HIGHER ED, HIGHER EDUCATED, HIGHER AFFLUENT AUDIENCE.
UM, AND THESE TYPES OF MESSAGES TEND TO WORK REALLY WELL IN AN NPR SETTING.
SO THEN WE WANTED TO JUST BRIEFLY GO THROUGH A MEASUREMENT PLAN.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ THIS, BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS TO MEASURE.
AND REALLY WHEN WE GO INTO WORKING WITH A CLIENT, WE WILL TAKE ANY KIND OF DATA THAT IS AVAILABLE AND REALLY WE START COMPARING YEAR OVER YEAR.
SO IF WE CAN COMPARE YEAR OVER YEAR, UM, HOTEL OCCUPANCY, AVERAGE DAILY RATE, EMAIL SIGNUPS, UM, AND THEN FROM A PAID MEDIA STANDPOINT, WE CAN DO THE FOOT TRAFFIC STUDY, WE CAN LOOK AT CLICK THROUGH RATES, WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING WHEN THEY HIT THE LANDING PAGE.
UM, AND THEN, THEN FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY, THERE ARE WAYS WHERE WE CAN DO VARIOUS, UM, EFFICIENT STUDIES IF THERE IS MONEY TO REALLY GET INTO THE, THE HEADS AND THE THINKING OF THIS MORE AFFLUENT AUDIENCE.
WHAT DID THEY LIKE WHEN THEY WERE HERE? WHAT WERE THEIR THOUGHTS? WHAT, WHAT WAS IN THE ADVERTISING THAT DROVE THEM HERE? THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DEFINITELY START TALKING ABOUT FOR FUTURE IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR OR FOLLOWING THAT.
AND THEN REAL QUICK, KIM, UM, THE,
[02:20:01]
I'M GONNA JUST GO BACK TO, YEP.SO THE, THE IDEA BEHIND THE THIRD BULLET POINT, SIT ON ART CENTER VISITS YEAR OVER YEAR.
UH, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST ONE, UM, POINT OF INTEREST.
WE CAN DETERMINE WHAT THOSE POINTS OF INTERESTS ARE AND ACTUALLY WORK WITH OUR BUSINESSES OR ORGANIZATIONS LOCALLY AND, AND, YOU KNOW, TRY TO DEFINE THAT FOOT TRAFFIC YEAR OVER YEAR.
SO JUST GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE GRANULAR IN DIFFERENT POINTS OF INTEREST AROUND THE CITY THAN MAYBE WE HAVE IN THE PAST.
AND THEN, YEAH, FINALLY TO UM, WRAP UP, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE, AS YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS EXECUTING THIS CAMPAIGN, WHICH IS A THREE MONTH CAMPAIGN.
WE ARE SUGGEST RECOMMENDING APRIL.
WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS ADVERTISED IN APRIL.
THAT'S PART OF OUR SPRING SEASON.
BUT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN OUT OF THE MARKET FOR A WHILE, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE START 60 DAYS OUT OF THE CAMPAIGN OF THE SEASON WE'RE LOOKING TO IMPACT.
SO THAT'S, IT'S, IT'S A LEADING INTO THE, UH, SUMMER MONTHS APPROACH FOR $225,000.
UM, AND THE IDEA OR THE ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT WE WALKED YOU THROUGH TOWARDS THE END, LIKE THE PRINT AND THE POSTCARDS OR NPR WOULD BE NON-INCLUSIVE.
THOSE ARE OVER AND ABOVE IF YOU'RE HAVE AN INTEREST.
THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE CAME IN UNDER THE ORIGINAL CONTINGENCY ASK IF THERE WAS AN INTEREST IN ADDING THOSE, LAYERING THOSE PIECES.
SO JUST, YOU'VE COMPLETED YOUR PRESENTATION, SO, OKAY.
UH, COUNSELORS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO WEIGH IN NOW? ANY QUESTIONS? JOANNE, YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE? WE'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND LET ME GET THE CARDS FIRST THEN, THEN WE'LL OKAY.
THE, THE DECK IS KIND OF LIKE DIVIDED IN TWO SECTIONS, RIGHT? THE FRONT HALF IS SORT OF THE JUSTIFICATION FOR WHY DO THIS, AND THEN THE SECOND PART IS THIS IS WHAT WE OUGHT DO, RIGHT? ON THE WHY SHOULD WE DO THIS? YOU'RE RELYING ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON TRADITIONAL LODGING OCCUPANCY AND STATING THAT THAT'S A RULE OF THUMB TO, TO GO BY, UH, HISTORICALLY, BUT IT'S, IT'S A NEW DAY NOW AND, AND IT'S NOT JUST HISTORICAL LODGING.
SO IS THERE ANY REASON WHY, YOU KNOW, YOU DIDN'T LOOK AT ANY OF THE OTHER METRICS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AS PART OF JUSTIFYING, YOU KNOW, WHY WE NEED TO DO THIS? WHY NOW? UH, GIVEN THAT YOU'VE GOT ACCESS TO THE CITY SALES AND BED TAX DATA AND SO FORTH MM-HMM.
UM, WE HAVE SEEN, UM, SALES TAX AND, OR I SHOULD SAY TAX REVENUE, UM, MODERATE.
I KNOW THAT THE LAST REPORT SHOWS THAT WE WERE UP OR THAT WE WERE IN A BETTER POSITION THAN THE PRIOR REPORT.
SO WE DO WATCH THE TAX, THE TAX REPORTS, THE REVENUE REPORTS THAT SHERRY PUTS OUT.
UM, I KNOW THAT THOSE LAG ALSO.
SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW IT'S DIFFICULT TO KIND OF MATCH UP, YOU KNOW, AN ACTUAL OF A LODGING PERFORMANCE REPORT TO A TAX REPORT.
UM, IN THE LAST, UM, TIME WE WERE IN THIS ROOM, WE TALKED ABOUT IF THE TREND CONTINUED THAT THERE WOULD BE A CONSIDERABLE LOSS IN TAX REVENUE TO THE TUNE OF AROUND 8 MILLION.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW KAREN FEELS ABOUT THAT NOW.
CAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAD A BETTER PERFORMANCE IN NOVEMBER, UH, WITH NOVEMBER COLLECTIONS.
UM, BUT WE WERE KEEPING THAT IN MIND.
UH, WE'VE LOOKED AT OUR VISITOR CENTER TRAFFIC BEING, UM, SLIGHTLY DOWN.
WE'VE LOOKED AT THE, ALL OF THE ORDERS BEING SLIGHTLY DOWN.
WE'VE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES BOTH ANECDOTALLY AND SURVEYED, AND THEY'VE SAID THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOWN.
SO, I MEAN, I, THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T INCLUDE ALL OF IT IN HERE CUZ I WAS TRYING TO KEEP IT A LITTLE MORE CONCISE.
I KNOW I TEND TO OVERLOAD YOU GUYS, SO I'VE BEEN ASKED TO KIND OF KEEP THINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE STREAMLINED, BUT I KNOW WE'VE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS, SO THIS IS JUST KIND OF PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING A FEW FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS OR MORE.
SO THE, THE REASON THAT I ASK, AND THANK YOU,
[02:25:01]
MICHELLE, UH, THE, THE REASON I ASK IS WHEN YOU DO LOOK AT THE SALES AND BED TAX DATA, ESPECIALLY COMPARING TO PRE COVID V, YOU KNOW, THOSE FIGURES ALL SHOW THAT WE'RE AT SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER LEVELS EVEN TAKING INTO ACCOUNT INFLATION.SO I'M STRUGGLING WITH THE JUSTIFICATION THAT WE ARE IN NEED, AND I DON'T DOUBT THAT THERE ARE SOME THAT, SOME BUSINESSES THAT ARE, BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS IN TOTAL, I'M NOT SEEING A COMPELLING REASON WHY WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M, I'M ASKING ABOUT WHETHER YOU'VE LOOKED AT SOME OF THESE OTHER DATA SOURCES, UH, BE IT REV PAR OR SALES, UH, AND EMBED TAX, ET CETERA.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, MY APOLOGIES, I DIDN'T INCLUDE THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ARE, AS I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WITH OCCUPANCY, UM, DOING WHAT IT'S DOING, I KNOW THAT, OR I SHOULD SAY THAT RATE IS BEING DROPPED, AS I MENTIONED, RATE IS BEING DROPPED BY THE HOTELS IN ORDER TO KIND OF HELP MITIGATE SOME OF THAT DIP IN OCCUPANCY.
UM, SO THAT, THAT WAS CLEAR IN ONE OF MY SLIDES, BUT OKAY.
YEAH, FOR THE SECOND PART THEN, OH, PARTNERS, WHICH YOU GUYS ARE PROPOSING, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING UP AND ARE DOWN, I GUESS, FROM VEGAS.
UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
SO DO YOU FEEL LIKE SEDONA HAS THE BRAND PERMISSION TO BE CLAIMING WE'RE A FOODIE TOWN, A BOUTIQUE TOWN, AN UH, PERFORMING ARTS TOWN, A VISUAL ARTS TOWN? DO WE HAVE THAT BRAND PERMISSION TO CLAIM ALL THOSE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF ART AND CULTURE AS A TRULY A REASON TO COME HERE? DO, DO WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT? I BELIEVE PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE IT'S LIKE, UM, THEY GO HAND IN HAND WITH THE OUTDOORS.
I THINK PEOPLE KNOW THE OUTDOORS AND I THINK WE'RE GIVING THEM PERMISSION TO COME HERE AND SPEND SOME MONEY AND NOT JUST GO OUT AND HIKE.
UH, IT'S NOT REALLY ANSWERING MY QUESTION.
I LIKE, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT INFORMATION DO WE HAVE THAT JUSTIFIES THAT WE CAN SAY THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, A FOODIE TOWN, A A A VISUAL ARTS, A PERFORMING ARTS, AND FOR THE AUDIENCE'S SAKE, I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT IN SOME OF THOSE CATEGORIES, BUT HOW CAN YOU SAY WE ARE JUST BECAUSE WE WANT TO, I THINK THE, THE GOAL IS TO JUST PROVIDE A BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT SEDONA IS.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE, WE'RE NOT COMPARING YOU AGAINST SOME OF THESE OTHER LOCATIONS SAYING YOU CORNER THE MARKET OR YOU'RE BETTER THAN THOSE OTHER LOCATIONS.
WE JUST WANNA PROVIDE A BIGGER PICTURE OF WHAT SEDONA DOES HAVE TO OFFER.
COUNSELOR FOLTZ, I CAN, UM, GIVE YOU SOME HISTORICAL, UH, BACKGROUND ON THAT TOO.
WE'VE, FOR, FOR YEARS, WE, IN OUR RESEARCH AND OTHERWISE WE, WE KNOW THAT THE RED ROCKS AND THE MAJESTIC SCENERY AND, AND THE BEAUTY THAT WE, THAT WE POSSESS AS A CITY ARE THE MAIN DRAW OR IS THE MAIN DRAW.
BUT WE, WE HAVE, UM, OVER THE, OVER, GOSH, THE 13 YEARS I'VE BEEN WITH THE ORGANIZATION, WE'VE ALWAYS, WE'VE HAD LIKE FOUR, THREE PILLARS, IF YOU WILL, ARTS AND CULTURE AS FAR AS WHAT, WHAT WE CAN OFFER AND WHAT WE CAN TOUT ARTS AND CULTURE, UH, WELLNESS, WHICH IS KIND OF THE UMBRELLA TERM FOR EVERYTHING THAT FALLS UNDER IN TERMS OF META, SPIRITUAL METAPHYSICAL SPAS.
UM, SO AT ANY KIND OF LEVEL, UM, THAT PERSON, SOMEONE MIGHT NEED THAT WELLNESS.
AND THEN, UM, THE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE.
SO WE HAVE BEEN OFF THE, THE MAR THE, THE MARKET IN TERMS OF THE WELL, UH, ARTS AND CULTURE.
WE USED TO PROMOTE IT EXTENSIVELY, UM, WHEN I FIRST CAME ON BOARD.
AND I DO THINK THAT THERE'S, SURE THE, WE COULD ALWAYS HAVE MORE OFFERINGS, BUT I THINK THAT ULTIMATELY FOR A TOWN OF LESS THAN 10,000 PEOPLE TO HAVE OVER 80 GALLERIES AND SHOPS IS, IS OUT OUTSTANDING.
I THINK IT ALSO BENEFITS US TO SUPPORT THOSE BUSINESSES WHO ARE, WHO ARE IN A, IN A DIRE SITUATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK WHAT KIM SAID IS PERFECT, YOU KNOW, I THINK LIKE COLLECTIVELY WE'RE LOOKING AT IT AS A COLLECTIVE THING.
IF WE WERE JUST GOING OUT AND SAYING WE ARE A FOODIE DESTINATION, AND THAT WAS OUR MAIN PUSH, THAT MIGHT, THAT WOULD MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT HARDER.
BUT I THINK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ILLUSTRATE ARTS AND CULTURE AS A BROADER COLLECTIVE, UH, POOL OF THINGS.
AND THOSE THINGS FIT IN WITHIN THAT.
AND SO WE'LL HIT THE, THE, THE USER WITH THE VARIETY OF MESSAGES AND THE WAYS TO EXPERIENCE.
IT'S NOT LIKE SOMEONE WILL ONLY GET THE DINING, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT? I MEAN, ISN'T THAT PART OF THE HYPER TARGETING THAT YOU'RE GONNA JUST HIT, YOU KNOW, THE VISUAL ART, UH, OFFICIO AND THEN THE FOODIE OFFICIO? WELL, THEY TEND TO BE, THEY
[02:30:01]
ARE OFTEN ONE AND THE SAME.BUT FOR THE, THE TARGETED TRAVELER THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, IS, IS 60 DAYS ACTUALLY SOON ENOUGH, OR IS IT EVEN, ARE THEY PLANNING EVEN FURTHER OUT? MM-HMM.
SO IN THE 20 PLUS YEARS I'VE BEEN, UM, DOING THIS, I'VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF HIGH-END RESORTS MONTAGE, UM, IN LAGUNA BEACH WAS ONE OF THEM.
AND A FEW, UM, I CAN'T THINK OF THE OTHER ONE.
UH, GRAND MAR IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WAS ANOTHER ONE.
UM, WHAT WE SAW WAS TWO TO THREE MONTHS OUT THAT WAS PO UH, PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING MORE SINCE THE PANDEMIC IS IT'S CLOSER IN IT'S 30 TO 60 DAYS.
UM, AND I THINK WE'LL GET BACK TO WHERE IT PROBABLY IS MORE IN THE LIKE 60 DAY TIMEFRAME.
UM, BUT WE'RE STILL IN THAT 30 TO 60 DAY TIMEFRAME.
AND SO WE FELT VERY STRONGLY THAT COMING IN IN APRIL WILL DEFINITELY HELP TO IMPACT THAT JUNE, JULY, AUGUST TIMEFRAME.
AND PHOENIX AS A TARGET MARKET IS CURIOUS, I THINK TO MOST OF US SITTING UP HERE THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING GENERAL COMMUNITY DISCUSSION THAT, WELL, WE'RE NOT TARGETING PHOENIX.
THEY KNOW WE'RE, THEY KNOW WE'RE HERE.
SO WHY PHOENIX? WELL, WE FEEL LIKE THERE'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT MORE AFFLUENT AUDIENCE TO REMIND THEM OF THE GALLERIES AND THE DINING IN THE SPOT AND TO REALLY PACKAGE IT AND PRESENT IT MORE AS A LONGER GETAWAY RATHER THAN A DAY GETAWAY OR JUST A DAY TRIP.
UM, AND REALLY COMPLIMENT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING FOR THOSE DAY TRIPS, WHICH WE KNOW IS NOT IDEAL.
UM, BUT AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD SET PHOENIX UP AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TEST THAT AND REALLY SEE WHAT WE'RE GETTING.
AND IF WE'RE NOT SEEING WHAT WE'RE, WHAT OUR, UM, OUR PROJECTION IS, THEN WE WOULD SHIP THOSE DOLLARS INTO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
AND YOU KNOW, IN TALKING ABOUT LIKE THE CONTEXTUAL MARKETING AND, AND TARGETING, UH, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, USING THIRD PARTY DATA THAT THAT'S INCREASINGLY HARD, UH, TO MAKE USE OF GIVEN, YOU KNOW, PRIVACY CONCERNS.
SO WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING, UH, ON THAT FRONT? I MEAN, IS THAT REALLY REALISTIC THAT, THAT, THAT YOU CAN LEVERAGE IT THAT, THAT HEAVILY AS OPPOSED TO FIRST PARTY DATA THAT'S, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE NEW GOLD STANDARD? WELL, FIRST PARTY DATA IS ALWAYS THE BEST.
UM, BUT WE HAVE BROUGHT IN WHAT WE CALL PROGRAMMATIC BUYING IN-HOUSE.
SO I HAVE PLATFORMS LIKE THE TRADE DESK MM-HMM.
THE TRADE DESK HAS AGREEMENTS WITH MULTIPLE, UM, VENDORS THAT HAVE HOTEL DATA, THAT HAVE AIRLINE DATA.
AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY'RE PROVIDING THE DATA AND IT'S ANONYMIZED, UM, WE CAN DEFINITELY TARGET AUDIENCES AND BUILD MODELS, BUT WE CAN'T TRACK BACK TO THE INDIVIDUAL.
SO IT IS NOT A VIOLATION OF THEIR PRIVACY.
SO THERE ARE STILL WAYS TO GET THAT.
THERE ARE ALSO WAYS THAT WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR LIKE CERTAIN OFFERS WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD OR YOUR AIRLINE FREQUENT FLYER MILES, A LOT OF THEIR LEGAL ASKS THAT THEY CAN USE YOUR DATA, BUT THEY DON'T SELL YOUR DATA AS A PERSON.
AND THAT'S THE KIND OF DATA WE HAVE ACCESS TO.
SO WHAT ABOUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE LOOKING FOR A, A RETURN ON THE AD SPEND RIGHT? ON THE PROGRAM.
SO WHAT DO YOU PROJECT ON THAT? I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK'S GONNA HAPPEN IF WE, IF WE DROP $225,000 ON THIS? LIKE HOW, HOW, I MEAN, BEYOND SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME STATISTICAL COUNTS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE GONE TO THE, THE ART CENTER VERSUS THE PRIOR YEAR.
WHAT ABOUT HARD DOLLARS AND CENTS? WHAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK'S GONNA, WHAT WOULD YOU PROJECT FOR AN RS? SO I'M RUNNING VARIOUS CAMPAIGNS FOR, UM, RESORT DESTINATIONS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
TYPICALLY WHEN WE GO IN, OUR GOAL IS ONE TO ONE RETURN.
SO IF I'M SPENDING $200,000, I WANT TO GENERATE $200,000 IN REVENUE.
AND THE WAY I I LOOK AT IT IS YOU'RE GETTING ALL OF THAT ATTENTION IMPRESSIONS, UM, REACH INTO THOSE MARKETS, BUT I'M GIVING YOU YOUR INVESTMENT BACK SO YOU'RE GETTING ALL OF THAT AS EXTRA.
RIGHT? UM, TYPICALLY WE, FROM A, UM, AND IT DEPENDS ON THE CHANNEL, BUT TYPICALLY WE RANGE ANYWHERE FROM A HUNDRED PERCENT RETURN TO, I WOULD SAY LIKE 120% RETURN.
UM, WHEN WE'RE RUNNING MORE, UM, DIRECT RESPONSE TYPE CAMPAIGNS LIKE ENTERTAINMENT TICKETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE CAN EVEN GET UP TO 150 TO 160% RETURN BE IF WE'RE TARGETING THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND OPTIMIZING ON A REGULAR BASIS, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO GET THAT HIGH.
THIS IS A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TRACK RETURN, WHICH
[02:35:01]
IS WHY WE'RE LOOKING FOR OTHER WAYS LIKE FOOT TRAFFIC.BECAUSE IF WE KNOW SOMEBODY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SAW THIS DIGITAL AD AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO TRACK THEM INTO, IN SEDONA, WELL IT'S SAFE TO SAY THEY HAVE A HOTEL ROOM, IT'S SAFE TO SAY THEY'RE GOING TO EAT HERE AND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING AS AN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY.
BUT IT'S REALLY HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING BECAUSE WE AREN'T ABLE TO TRACK THOSE EXACT BOOKINGS.
SO IF THIS GOES WELL, WE SPEND $225,000 AND IT'S GONNA NET $225,000 MORE OF TOURISM BUSINESS.
UH, HEY MAYOR, YOU HAVE ANYTHING YET? ARE YOU STILL PERCOLATING HERE? I AM PERCOLATING AND I WILL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, BUT I'M SURE I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THIS BUDGET SUMMARY AND I'M CHALLENGED BY IT.
SO WE'RE SPENDING A HUNDRED TO 135,000 OF THE 225,000 ON MEDIA.
AND YOU'VE EXPLAINED HOW WE WOULD TRACK THAT.
BUT THAT'S MEDIA, THAT'S ALL DIGITAL, RIGHT? THAT'S NONE OF THE, OKAY.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GIVE $50,000 TO INFLUENCERS AND OR PRODUCTION.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THE SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS THAT MARK SPOKE OF? UM, WE NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS WITH THEM.
SO FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY, THEY PRODUCE CERTAIN NUMBER OF ASSETS.
SO THEY WILL, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING IN ENGLISH, SORRY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT NO, WHAT THAT MEANS WE'RE OVER 35, SO I'LL BACK UP AGAIN.
UM, SO FOR EXAMPLE, ON FACEBOOK, IF IT'S AN INFLUENCER THAT HAS 50,000 FOLLOWERS, PART OF OUR CONTRACT WILL SAY YOU HAVE TO POST X PIECES ONTO YOUR FACEBOOK PLATFORM TO YOUR FOLLOWERS.
AND THESE ARE THE SUBJECT MATTERS THAT WE WANT YOU TO SPEAK TO.
UM, AND IT GOES A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO DETAIL, BUT THE CONTRACTS ARE VERY SPECIFIC ON WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND HOW THEY NEED TO DO IT, BUT THEY GET COMPENSATED FOR THAT.
SO WHAT ARE THEY DOING? THE THE, THEY ARE POSTING ON THEIR INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS GO TO SEDONA OR THEY'LL COME HERE AND THEY'LL POST THROUGHOUT THEIR TRIP.
SO THEY CAN POST ABOUT GOING TO AN ART GALLERY.
THEY CAN POST ABOUT GOING TO A SPA, THEY CAN POST ABOUT THE AMAZING HOTEL.
THEY WILL ULTIMATELY FOR SURE POST ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY BECAUSE THAT IS SO MUCH A PART OF WHAT SEDONA IS.
BUT THE GOAL AND THE VERY SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS THEY WOULD HAVE AND AGREE TO WOULD BE TO POST ABOUT THESE VARIOUS THINGS.
WE MAY FIND, UH, INFLUENCER THAT IS VERY INTO THE ARTS AND THE ART GALLERIES ARE GONNA BE WHAT THEY'RE GONNA WANNA GO SEE.
WE MAY FIND SOMEONE WHO IS MORE IN THE WELLNESS CATEGORY AND WANTS TO DO, YOU KNOW, GO TO THE DIFFERENT SPAS AND, AND MAYBE DO SOMETHING OUTSIDE, OUTSIDE YOGA OR SOMETHING.
RIGHT? UM, AND WE WOULD SOURCE THOSE PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COVERING THE FULL PICTURE OF SEDONA THAT WE WANT.
BUT THAT'S WHAT THOSE FEES ARE AS WELL AS IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL, UM, PRODUCTION THAT WILL BE NEEDED AS WE GO THROUGH IN EXECUTING THE CAMPAIGN.
SO FOR $50,000 OVER THREE MONTHS, HOW MANY INFLUENCERS DO WE GET? IT DEPENDS ON THE, WE CAN DO A LOT OR WE CAN DO A FEW THAT HAVE A LOT OF FOLLOWERS AND THEY BECOME OUR TOUR GUYS.
THAT REQUIRES US TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE INVESTIGATING ON WHO'S AVAILABLE, WHO MAKES SENSE.
UH, BUT WE WOULD WANT TO GET THE NUMBERS AS HIGH AS WE CAN.
WELL, AND TYPICALLY WE DO A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
PEOPLE ARE MORE RELATED TO THEM MM-HMM.
AND TYPICALLY WE WILL LOOK FOR BOTH WHAT WE CALL MACRO AND MICRO INFLUENCERS BECAUSE IF WE USE THEM BOTH, WE HAVE THE BEST, UM, CAMPAIGN AND THE BEST FOOTPRINT OUT THERE.
AND WHAT'S SO WONDERFUL TOO, ABOUT WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING TONIGHT IS THAT IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TRACK.
AND THAT'S WHERE I HAVE SUCH, UM, SUCH TRUST IN, OH, WE'VE WORKED WITH, OH, IN THE PAST THEY'VE HELPED DEVELOP OUR BRAND IN THE PAST THEY'VE WORKED ON OTHER PROGRAMS. SO THEY REALLY KNOW, WE KNOW HOW TO WORK WELL TOGETHER AND THEY'RE REALLY HAVE THEIR EYE AND THEIR PULSE ON, ON OUR WORK DAILY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONIES ARE BEING SPENT WELL.
SO I I LOVE THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME KIM TALKS AND MARK PRESENTS AND WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW THIS COULD EXECUTE,
[02:40:01]
JUST KNOWING THAT THERE'S THIS INTEREST, GENUINE PASSION FOR BEING ABLE TO TEST THINGS ALONG THE WAY AND, YOU KNOW, TO COUNSELOR FOLTZ QUESTION, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE IF PHOENIX IS NOT PULLING FOR US, US OR THAT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT, WE HAVE NO PROBLEM BEING NIMBLE AND FLEXIBLE AND SHIFTING.AND THAT'S WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT DIGITAL.
I, I JUST LOOK AT THE MEASUREMENT PLAN AND IT, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING REALLY UNIQUE AND IT'S NOT CONCRETE ENOUGH FOR ME.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S TOO LOOSEY-GOOSEY AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COMPARE AIRLINE BOOKINGS.
MAYBE YOUR PLATFORM DOES THAT, BUT YOU, THEY FLY INTO PHOENIX.
WE DON'T KNOW THAT THEY COME TO SEDONA.
SO IT, IT'S VERY LOOSEY-GOOSEY FOR ME.
BUT LET ME GO BACK TO THE BUDGET.
I, SO WE HAVE 225,000 AND YET WHEN I ADD UP THE, THE MEDIA AND THE INFLUENCERS, WE'VE PRETTY MUCH SPENT IT.
AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER CATEGORY CALLED AGENCY FEES FOR 90 TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SO THIS IS EXCEEDS THE AVAILABLE BUDGET.
SO HOW MUCH OF THIS BUDGET IS GOING TO ACTUALLY MARKETING AND HOW MUCH OF IT IS GOING TO FEES? WELL, THE AGENCY FEES WOULD COVER, UH, CLIENT SERVICES TO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
UH, IT WOULD, IT WOULD, SO THE, THE PERSON THAT I WOULD WORK WITH ON A DAILY BASIS WHO I CAN TALK TO AND SAY HOW IS THE CAMPAIGN GOING, THE PER MY POINT PERSON WITH THE, WITH THE AGENCY ALSO THE STRATEGIST, THE, THE, THE MICKEY, THE MICKEY'S IN THE ROOM, UM, YOU KNOW, THE FOLK THAT, THE FOLKS THAT ARE LIKE LEADING THE CHARGE, THAT'S THE CLIENT SERVICES AND THEN CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT.
SO MARK'S TEAM, SO ALL OF THE WRITING, ALL OF THE, UM, AD SIZING, THERE'S PRO GOD PROBABLY WHAT 50 AD SIZES YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO COME UP WITH FOR EVERY VERSION.
UM, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING LEFT OVER FOR THE ACTUAL CAMPAIGN IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
THE AGENCY FEES ARE EATING UP HALF, LITTLE LESS THAN HALF OF THE TOTAL.
SO WHAT IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE SPENT ON OF THE PRODUCT, RIGHT? YEAH.
THE HUNDRED TO 135,000 OF MEDIA IS THE PLACEMENT.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE INFLUENCERS? ANOTHER 50,000? YES.
AND THE INFLUENCERS, BUT THIS, THAT'S, YOU ADD THAT UP, IT EXCEEDS THE BUDGET IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.
SO 150,000 TOTAL WILL BE SPENT BETWEEN MEDIA AND INFLUENCERS, DEPENDING ON WHAT INFLUENCERS WE FIND AND THE MIX THAT 50,000 MIGHT BE ADJUSTED AND ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY FROM THAT THAT IS AVAILABLE WOULD BE REINVESTED INTO MEDIA.
SO 150 OF THE 2 25 WOULD BE BETWEEN MEDIA AND INFLUENCERS.
BUT THAT DOESN'T PAY YOUR AGENCY FEES IN THIS BUDGET.
THE AGENCY FEES ARE THE 92 A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS SEPARATE, WHICH WILL BE ALL CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND EXECUTION AND, BUT YOU ADD, ADD THE NUMBERS UP, IT EXCEEDS 225,050 IS PART OF THE, THAT, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.
SO THE HUNDRED TO A HUNDRED HUNDRED, THE 135 PLUS THE, WELL IT'S $10,000 OVER.
AND, AND, UM, I TOO WAS KIND OF LIKE, WHA WHAT PHOENIX? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? YOU KNOW, I I, I DID A PRESENTATION NOT TOO LONG AGO AND I ASKED THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN TO SEDONA? AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON RAISED THEIR HAND.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON KNOWS SEDONA.
WHY DO WE NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE, WHAT ARE WE TARGET TARGETING IN PHOENIX? RIGHT? PEOPLE HERE GO TO SCOTTSDALE TO GO SHOPPING, PEOPLE HERE GO TO SCOTTSDALE FOR FOOD.
PEOPLE HERE GO OUT OF, I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF ASIDE FROM THE OUTDOORS, WHICH IS A HUGE ATTRACTION OF COURSE, WHY ARE WE TARGETING PEOPLE IN, IN THE PHOENIX METRO AREA? I DON'T GET IT.
SO IT, WELL IT'S, IT'S THE 14TH FASTEST GROWING METRO AREA IN THE, IN THE COUNTRY.
IT'S THE FIFTH LARGEST METRO AREA IN THE COUNTRY.
IT'S, IT DOES HAVE NEW RESIDENTS COMING IN REGULARLY.
AND OUR SENSE IS THAT WITH THOSE, WITH THAT GROWTH, I MEAN, YES, THEY'LL EVENTUALLY STUMBLE ACROSS A DONOR HEAR ABOUT IT, BUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS POSITION, SIT ON PROPERLY TO THESE PEOPLE, UH, CURRENT AND CURRENT RESIDENTS AS WELL AS NEW ONES.
WE'RE TRYING TO PROACTIVELY GET IN FRONT OF THEM AND REMIND THEM WHAT WE ARE AS A CITY WHERE I DON'T THINK THEY'VE, WE'VE JUST BEEN MIS MISREPRESENTED I FEEL
[02:45:01]
LIKE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.UM, YOU KNOW, EVEN SCOTTSDALE, EVEN OUR, OUR PEERS IN SCOTTSDALE WILL COIN US AS A DAY TRIP.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY GO LOOK TO INVITE PEOPLE TO SCOTTSDALE, OH, AND BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, JUST GO UP TO SEDONA FOR, YOU KNOW, FOUR HOURS OR FOR THE AFTERNOON.
SO IT'S, IT'S US BEING AGAIN, KIND OF MORE PROACTIVE IN DEFINING WHAT WE WANT AND WHO WE WANT.
EVEN THOUGH, YES, IT IS A, WHAT WE ALWAYS USED TO CALL, LIKE OUR LOW HANGING FRUIT, YOU KNOW, CUZ THEY, THEY'RE CLOSE.
SO IT'S, IT'S A MARKET THAT IS COMING, BUT IT'S ALSO A MARKET WE'VE BEEN ABSENT FROM.
AND SO IF WE WANNA BRING THE RIGHT PEOPLE HERE TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS AND ALSO MAYBE COUNTER SOME OF THE, THE PERCEPTION OUT THERE ABOUT JUST COME UP AND TEAR OUR LAND UP AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, WE'RE TRYING TO AGAIN, KIND OF GET OUT WITH THE RIGHT MESSAGE TO THE RIGHT AUDIENCE.
ONE LAST QUESTION, OR I SUPPOSE IT'S SORT OF A COMMENT PIGGYBACKING ON, ALTHOUGH WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO USE THAT WORD ANYMORE, I KNOW
AND THERE ARE MANY, AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO A LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS, THEY, IT'S VERY MIXED BAG.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE DOING EXTREMELY WELL AND THEY'RE NOT IN A DIRE SITUATION.
THEY'RE PERFECTLY HEALTHY AND THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT AS HEALTHY.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT YOUR RATIONALE SHOWS A DIRE SITUA CERTAINLY OUR TAX REVENUES DON'T SHOW A DIRE SITUATION.
AND I'VE ASKED YOU REPEATEDLY TO RECONCILE THAT FOR ME.
WELL WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.
I'M LOOKING AT THE SAME OF MY TEAM ASKING US TO TAKE, TO SAY WE WERE IN A DIRE SITUATION AND WE LOOK AT OUR OWN NUMBERS AND OUR OWN BANK ACCOUNTS DO NOT SHOW THAT THAT'S THE STRUGGLE I HAVE PERSONALLY.
IT JUST DOESN'T SHOW DO WE HAVE THAT SITUATION? I'D LIKE OUR, OUR ANY OF OUR BUSINESSES TO COME UP AND TALK TO.
YOU KNOW WHEN, WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT.
AND BUT YOU ALSO ASKED ALL YOUR BUSINESSES TO CONTACT US AND THEY, AND THEY HAVE BEEN UHHUH AND IT HAS NOT BEEN UNIVERSALLY, CONSISTENTLY A DIRE MESSAGE.
AND SEE THAT'S, THAT'S WHY IT'S HARD TO, FOR US TO, UM, AND WE'VE GOT A, AN A RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE, WHO SUFFERED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE OF TOO MUCH, RIGHT.
AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY TO OUR RESIDENTS WHY WE'RE GOING BACK INTO THE MARKET TO BRING MORE TOURISTS WHEN THEY'RE HAPPY WITH THE SITUATION NOW.
THAT SUPPORTS THAT, THAT WE HAVE TO CARE ABOUT OUR BUSINESSES AS MUCH AS WE CARE ABOUT, ABOUT INDIVIDUALS AND WE NEED YOU TO PROVIDE THAT FOR US.
I MEAN THE LODGING DATA DOESN'T SHOW A GOOD PICTURE.
THIS, THE, UH, SHORT TERM RENTAL DOESN'T SHOW A GOOD PICTURE.
I THINK THE ONLY THING I'M SEEING FROM, BUT IT DOES FROM YOU GUYS IS THE TAX REPORT.
AND THAT'S THE O I FEEL LIKE THAT'S ALL YOU'RE BASING IT ON.
AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, I, I REALIZE, I MEAN, WHAT I HEARD FROM SOME OF YOU IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE RE THE COMMENTS YOU GOT FROM BUSINESSES, THEY WERE BAD.
SO IT'S INTERESTING TO, BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE TOLD ME COUNSELOR PLU OR VICE MAYOR PLU, EXCUSE ME, UM, YOU DID SHARE WITH ME THAT IS A MIXED BAG, BUT THERE ARE OTHER OTHERS THAT I'VE TALKED TO THAT SAID, YEAH, WE'VE HEARD IT'S, IT'S BAD.
SO IT IS A MIXED, I'M GETTING KIND OF MIXED OPINIONS ON THAT.
SO WE, YOU KNOW, IN THAT INSTANCE YOU DO HAVE TO LOOK AT DATA ALSO.
AND, AND I DO THINK THAT THERE, THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE AND THINGS THAT WE CAN EXPAND ON AND LOOK AT AND RECONCILE TAXES TO, YOU KNOW, UH, LODGING DATA, PERHAPS THERE'S SOME, THERE'S, THERE'S IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE, BUT ALL I'M SEEING AND ALL I'M HEARING IS IT'S NOT GOOD.
SO I, TRUST ME, I WOULD NOT BE IN FRONT OF YOU SAYING THAT IF I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.
IS THERE MONEY UNSPENT SO FAR THOUGH, IN THIS FISCAL YEAR THAT YOU'RE IN BECAUSE YOU'RE COMING HERE LOOKING FOR CONTINGENCY FUNDS THAT WERE SET ASIDE, MEANING THAT A CASE DOES NEED TO BE MADE TO USE THEM.
SO I WANNA KNOW, IS THIS BEING ASKED FOR WHEN THERE'S STILL MONEY REMAINING IN THE BUDGET THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN UTILIZED? THERE IS, UH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I DID LOOK AT THE, THE PROGRAMS KIND OF THE, WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THEM.
WE ARE EXPECTING TO USE EVERYTHING, BUT
[02:50:01]
YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR.WE MAY FIND AS WE GET CLOSER THAT SOME THINGS HAVEN'T BEEN USED, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE PACING SO APPROPRIATELY, SO I DON'T HAVE ANY FUNDS AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT, MEANING LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE USING THEM APPROPRIATELY AT THIS STAGE IN THE FISCAL YEAR, YOU EXPECT TO BE A HUNDRED PERCENT OUT.
I EXPECT TO BE OUTTA YOUR BUDGET.
AND I HATE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE MAY BE SET ASIDE FOR ONE PROGRAM THAT I AM EXPECTING TO USE, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THE FUNDS RIGHT NOW, WE STILL HAVE FIVE MORE MONTHS TO WORK ON THAT PROGRAM AND I AM EXPECTING TO USE THOSE DOLLARS.
UM, I WAS ALSO CONCERNED WHEN I LOOKED THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO YOUR DELIVERY OF IT TONIGHT, I WAS, I SAID 225,000, HOW EFFECTIVE CAN THAT REALLY BE? IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT OF MONEY IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE WHAT YOU, WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS ASKING TO ACHIEVE.
SO, UM, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS, ESPECIALLY AS WAS POINTED OUT, IT'S $50,000 TO THE INFLUENCERS, A HUNDRED THOUSAND TO THE MEDIA.
NOW THE MEDIA IS SOMETHING THE INFLUENCERS AND THE SOCIAL MEDIA, I, I GET THAT, THAT IT'S MORE OF A QUICK TURNAROUND TIME AND RESPONSE.
BUT FOR LIKE A CON NAT, JUST IN ONE ADDITION OF A, OF A CON NAT MAGAZINE TO HAVE AN AD THAT HASN'T BEEN, I MEAN WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HEARING IT.
YOU GUYS ARE THE MARKETING, UH, EXPERT.
SO I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD THAT IT TAKES THREE TO 10 IMPRESSIONS FOR SOMETHING TO SINK IN AND FOR YOU TO REMEMBER SOMETHING AND, AND, AND IF WE'RE TO, FOR YOUR APPETITE TO BE WEDDED.
SO I'M, I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS MEDIA MONEY IN THE, ESPECIALLY IN THE PRINT AD, CAN'T BE EFFECTIVE FOR THIS.
SO LET'S GO WITH THAT AND THEN I'VE GOT MORE QUESTIONS.
THAT IS WHY FOR THE APRIL THROUGH JUNE PLAN, IT'S A A HUNDRED PERCENT DIGITAL SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO REACH THEM MULTIPLE TIMES TO AFFECT CHANGE.
UM, AND ONE OF THE STRATEGIES ALSO WOULD BE, UM, I'M LOSING THE WORD AGAIN, BUT, UM, WE WOULD TARGET 'EM WITH SAY A DINING MESSAGE AND IF WE'RE NOT SEEING THEM CLICK THROUGH THEM, WE WOULD, WE COULD TARGET THEM WITH THE ART GA GALLERY MESSAGE, BUT TARGETING THEM WITH MULTIPLE MESSAGES, NOT THE SAME MESSAGE OVER AND OVER, BUT DIFFERENT ASPECTS, DRIVING THEM THROUGH THAT, THEIR DECISION AND CONSIDERATION PHASES SO THAT WE CAN REALLY GET THEM TO VISIT.
SO THAT BRINGS ME TO ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD JOTTED DOWN.
YOU KNOW, WHILE YOU ALL WERE SPEAKING ABOUT THESE, THE INFLUENCERS, THESE ARE INFLUENCERS THAT YOU PERSONALLY HIRE OR IS THIS ANOTHER SUBCONTRACTED COMPANY THAT WOULD HIRE THEM? HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THEM? HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THEIR AUDIENCE AND WHO THEY'RE REACHING? AND CAN YOU REALLY CONTROL THEIR MESSAGES? BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY COMES UP THAT, YOU KNOW, SAYS THEY'RE AN INFLUENCER AND THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, THEY MAKE THE CASE TO YOU THAT THEY'VE GOT 300,000 FOLLOWERS, RIGHT? THEREFORE THEY'RE AN INFLUENCER AND THEY COME UP HERE, YOU CAN SUGGEST WE WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT ART GALLERIES.
BUT IF THEY GO OUT AND HAVE THAT FANTASTIC O H V EXPERIENCE THAT THEY WANT TO PUT OUT THERE, I MEAN, HOW CAN YOU CONTROL THAT MESSAGE? BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THESE INFLUENCERS.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE MESSAGING IS GOING TO BE.
I WANNA KNOW WHAT LEVEL OF CONTROL YOU WOULD HAVE.
SO WE DO IT A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS.
THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT, THAT MANAGE INFLUENCERS, ALMOST LIKE, UH, ACTORS MANAGER KIND OF THING.
SO WE DO WORK WITH VARIOUS PEOPLE THAT REPRESENT VARIOUS INFLUENCERS.
THEY'RE, WE WILL DEVELOP A CONTRACT FIRST.
WE INVESTIGATE THE INFLUENCERS AND WE REALLY DIVE DEEP INTO WHO THEIR FOLLOWERS ARE, WHAT TYPES OF COMPANIES HAVE THEY WORKED WITH IN THE PAST, WHAT, WHAT ARE THEIR POSTS LIKE, WHAT'S THE TONE ARE, DO THEY FIT THE BRAND FOR SEDONA? THAT'S THE FIRST STEP.
WE WILL PRESENT DIFFERENT INFLUENCERS TO MICHELLE AND HER TEAM AND REALLY VET THEM.
AND THEN WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE, OKAY, SAY IT'S THESE THREE INFLUENCERS.
ONE IS, UM, THAT INFLUENCER THAT HAS A VERY LARGE FOLLOWING AND THE OTHER TWO ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE NICHE AND HAVE, UM, SMALLER FOLLOWINGS BUT ARE MORE INVOLVED WITH THEIR, THEIR FOLLOWERS.
THEN WE REALLY GO INTO THAT CONTRACT STAGE AND THE CONTRACT GETS VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT WE WANT THEM TO POST, ABOUT WHEN THEY WILL POST, HOW OFTEN THEY WILL POST, WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN THEN TAKE THAT CONTENT AND USE IT IN OTHER PLACES.
WHETHER MICHELLE CAN TAKE THAT CONTENT AND USE IT IN OTHER PLACES.
ALL OF THAT IS WRITTEN IN THEIR CONTRACT AND THAT THEY HAVE TO SIGN
[02:55:01]
IN ORDER TO GET THEIR PAYMENT.SO IT'S VERY, BECAUSE IT'S NOT, IT USED TO BE LIKE FIVE YEARS AGO THE WILD, WILD WEST, RIGHT? YOU WOULD GET AN INFLUENCER AND YOU WOULD TRY TO GET THEM TO CONTROL THEM AND THEY DIDN'T ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU WANTED.
IT'S GOTTEN A LOT MORE, UM, BUSINESS LIKE MM-HMM.
WE DO STUFF LIKE THIS FOR, UM, SOME OF OUR OTHER STATE BUSINESS AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR OTHER TOURISM BUSINESS IN THE STATE AND HAVE HAD REALLY GOOD SUCCESS BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A FORMAL PROCESS AND IT'S VERY SPECIFIC AS TO WHAT THEY'RE EXPECTED TO GIVE US, WHAT WE CAN THEN DO WITH WHAT THEY GIVE US, UM, AND WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GETTING PAID FOR.
AND THAT PROCESS ALL FALLS AGAIN UNDER THAN THE AGENCY FEES OR THE 50,000 THAT'S GOING IN THE, EVERYTHING WE DO, ALL OF OUR TIME EVALUATING, VETTING THAT WORKING WITH MICHELLE'S TEAM IS ALL COVERED IN THE AGENCY FEES.
AND I HAD THE SAME REACTION AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED.
I WENT PHOENIX, YOU KNOW,
I GO DOWN IF THERE'S SOMETHING I'M VERY INTERESTED IN DOING DOWN THERE, I'M GOING DOWN AND I'M STAYING OVERNIGHT.
AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S THE SAME TWO HOURS COMING UP HERE AS IT IS FOR ME GOING DOWN THERE.
SO I, I SEE PHOENIX AS AGAIN, A DAY TRIPPER OR AN OVERNIGHT TRIPPER VERSUS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO TARGET THR IT'S THREE TO FOUR DAYS HAS BEEN THE TARGET AND I'M NOT, I'M, I'M JUST NOT CONVINCED THAT THREE, I USED TO LIVE IN, UM, AN AREA THAT WAS WITHIN A TWO HOUR OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY HAD THE SAME TYPE OF OF THING.
I MEAN, WE DROVE UP FOR A DAY, YOU KNOW, AND WE DROVE DOWN FOR A DAY.
I MEAN, I'M JUST NOT SEEING A TWO-HOUR MARKET AWAY BEING A THREE TO FOUR A DAY, YOU KNOW, HOTEL STAY PERSON.
I DON'T, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN HERE THAT SPEAKS TO ME ON THAT AND CONVINCING ME OF THAT OTHERWISE.
DO YOU WANNA TAKE A STAB AT SPEAKING TO THAT
THEY'RE SPENDING TIME ON THE WEBSITE OR WE CAN SAY WE'RE NOT SEEING IT AND WE'RE GONNA CUT PHOENIX AND WE CAN MOVE IT.
WE CAN ALSO ADJUST HOW OUR BUDGETS ARE APPROACHING THE MARKET.
WITH SO MUCH CONCERN WITH PHOENIX, WE CAN DEFINITELY PUT A SMALLER BUDGET IN THE PHOENIX MARKET, A LARGER BUDGET IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND TEST IT AND SEE IF IT WORKS.
AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK, MOVE ALL OF IT TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
IT'S VERY FLUID WHEN WE'RE DOING DIGITAL AND WE, WE CAN DEFINITELY ADJUST IT MM-HMM.
CUZ LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, I MEAN HOW MANY, HOW MANY OF THE PHOENICIANS ARE OVERNIGHTING? I DON'T, I WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT INSIGHT FROM, UH, OUR HOTELS.
MANY OF 'EM ARE HERE, BUT IN THE PAST WE'VE HEARD THAT YES, PHOENIX, PHOENICIANS OVERNIGHT, BUT WHEN I SAY OVERNIGHT, I AUTOMATICALLY AM THINKING LIKE LONG HAUL OR LONGER.
YOU KNOW, DISTANCE, CHICAGO, TEXAS, NEW YORK, UM, THOSE HAVE BEEN MARKETS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN OUR VISITOR CENTER AND IN OUR STUDIES.
UM, DEFINITELY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WOULD BE, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN LIKE PHOENIX AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, BUT IF WE MOVED AWAY FROM PHOENIX, WE COULD MAYBE POTENTIALLY LOOK AT ANOTHER MORE FURTHER FURTHER MARKET THAT WOULD ABSOLUTELY NEED TO OVERNIGHT.
AGAIN, JUST MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN WITHIN A TWO HOUR DRIVE.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE AN EXTENDED STAY.
IT'D BE A NIGHT, YOU KNOW, TWO TOPS AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR THREE TO FOUR.
UM, AND THE OTHER QUESTION, AND THIS IS PROBABLY FOR NOW MY LAST ONE, AND THEN I'LL SEE MY TIME AND BUT RESERVE TO COME BACK
SO I, YOU KNOW, I, SOME OF THE CHALLENGE IS AS A DMO YOU DO, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT HOTEL TO SELL OR THAT THAT RESTAURANT, YOU KNOW, RESERVATION THAT YOU'RE MAKING, YOU WERE SELLING A DESTINATION.
SO IT IS HARDER FOR US TO, TO SEE THAT IMMEDIATE CONNECTION.
I THINK WHAT I'M REALLY IMPRESSED
[03:00:01]
IN TALKING WITH, OH HONESTLY, SOME OF THE MEASUREMENT PLAN IDEAS ARE LIKE MORE THAN WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.UM, SO I'M EXCITED TO BE LIKE TRYING TO ENTER OUR WAY CLOSER TO SHOWING THAT ROI AND THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ADVERTISING, MARKETING AND ACTUAL, YOU KNOW, VISITATION.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A DIFFICULT THING TO BE ABLE TO, AND WE DON'T HAVE LIKE A CONVENTION CENTER, SO WE CAN'T SEE LIKE, WHAT EVENTS ARE COMING IN.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT HARDER FOR US TO TRACK IT BACK.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DEFINITELY CAN SEE.
I MEAN, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE'VE USED SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH AND THE LODGING DATA IN THE PAST.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST KIND OF A INDUSTRY STANDARD, IS TO SEE WHAT KIND OF IMPACTS ARE YOU MOVING THE NEEDLE IN THAT WAY.
I MEAN, THAT'S ONE WAY WE CAN ATTRIBUTE LOOK, I WAS GONNA ASK ANOTHER BIT.
UH, MELISSA, ARE YOU THERE?
I, I DIDN'T KNOW IT'S WHAT, LIKE THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING BY YOU? SO, UM, IT'S 1137 HERE.
ANY QUESTIONS? YES, ACTUALLY, I, I HAVE A COUPLE, UM, FROM WHAT I CAN, CAN HEAR AND I CAN, I CAN SEE IN SOME REGARDS WHAT WE'RE GETTING ARE MORE PEOPLE, UM, NOT NECESSARILY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
SO WE'RE STILL GONNA GET THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING HERE FOR THE MOUNTAIN BIKING AND THE HIKING.
WE'RE STILL GONNA GET PEOPLE WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, GOING TO WANT TO STAY IN, IN STR ESPECIALLY FOR THE WHOLE HOUSE.
I MEAN, ALL YOUR MARKET RESEARCH SEEMS TO INDICATE THIS IS GROWING AS OPPOSED TO EVEN NECESSARILY AT A STEADY STATE.
WE KNOW THAT, THAT PHOENIX IS GROWING A LOT, BUT I AGREE WITH MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES, IT FEELS MORE LIKE WE'RE JUST GONNA GET MORE DAY SHIPPERS.
UM, AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT CONVINCES ME THAT EVEN THE PEOPLE COMING UP FROM PHOENIX, UM, OR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARE NECESSARILY GOING TO WANT TO STAY, UH, IN EXPENSIVE RESORTS AS OPPOSED TO AN S STR.
SO WHAT IS THE PROFILE NOW AS FAR AS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING? HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT ALREADY GETTING THESE PEOPLE? I MEAN, THE GALLERIES ARE STAYING IN BUSINESS, WHICH MEANS SOMEBODY'S BUYING THE ART.
SO CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT OUR PROFILE IS NOW AND WHO'S BUYING AND WHO, WHO'S, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE GOING TO BE? HELLO, COUNSELOR.
UM, AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE IN SOME WAYS WE'RE GETTING CONFLICTING INPUT FROM OUR, FROM OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
I'VE, THE, THE, THE GALLERIES I'VE TALKED TO ARE NOT DOING WELL.
UM, BUT AS FAR AS THE PROFILE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN KIND OF WATCH THAT IS THROUGH OUR VISITOR CENTER AND THE SURVEYING THAT WE DO THERE.
UM, WE KNOW THAT WE GET AROUND, I MEAN, AT LEAST AT THE VISITOR CENTER, ARE SOME OF THE AGES THAT COME IN, OR THE DOMINANT AGE GROUP TENDS TO BE 40 TO 50.
UM, WE DO SURVEY OUR VISITORS, UM, ALTHOUGH IN THE EMAIL SURVEYS, THEY, THEY TEND TO BE, THESE TEND A LITTLE OLDER.
UM, THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS AROUND, UH, JUST UNDER A HUNDRED THOUSAND AND THEY TEND TO BE PARTIES OF TWO.
UM, SO THAT KIND OF GIVES YOU SOME IDEA.
BUT YES, WE DO REGULARLY RE UH, YOU KNOW, SURVEY OUR VISITORS WHO AT, WHO VISIT THE DESTINATION THROUGH, LIKE I SAID, THE VISITOR CENTER AND, UH, REGULAR EMAIL SURVEYS EVERY MONTH.
SO, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SO JUST NOTE, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.
UM, THE, THE THING ABOUT THE VISITOR CENTER IS ONE OF THE, THE ONE OF THE STATEMENTS THAT'S BEEN MADE MORE THAN ONCE IS THAT A GROUP IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO TARGET IS LESS LIKELY TO USE TRADITIONAL SOURCES.
AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE, IN MY MIND, A VISITOR CENTER.
THEY'RE GOING TO USE ALL TRAILS, THEY'RE GOING TO USE YELP, THEY'RE GOING TO USE TRIPADVISOR, THEY'RE GOING TO USE THEIR FRIENDS, WHATEVER IT'S GOING TO BE.
THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY WALKING INTO THE VISITOR'S CENTER.
SO, IS IT POSSIBLE THERE'S SOME SKEWING GOING ON ABOUT WHO YOU'RE ACTUALLY SEEING IN THE VISITOR'S CENTER IN YOUR MIND? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND COMMENT.
THE NATURALLY ANY KIND OF SURVEY METHODOLOGY OR OR PROFILING METHODOLOGY THAT YOU USE IS JUST LOOKING AT A SAMPLE.
AND, AND LIKE I WAS SAYING, LIKE THE EMAILED SURVEYS, THOSE TEND TO BE, THESE TEND TO SKEW A LITTLE OLDER IN THE RESPONSES BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT PROBABLY HAVE TIME AND, AND INTEREST IN ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH AN EMAIL SURVEY.
SO YEAH, THAT WE DO CONSIDER THOSE, THOSE POPULATIONS WITHIN EACH OF THOSE KIND OF SURVEYED METHODOLOGIES.
[03:05:01]
AS FAR AS THE VISITOR CENTER IS CONCERNED, IT'S, IT REMINDS ME OF CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD ABOUT THE VISITOR GUIDE YEARS AGO.WERE MOVING AWAY FROM A PHYSICAL GUIDE BECAUSE THEY FELT LIKE EVERYTHING WAS GOING DIGITAL.
AND GUESS WHAT, THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE COME BACK TO PRINT.
UM, I THINK THAT IN OUR CASE WE DO BOTH, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE TACTICAL.
THEY WANNA HOLD SOMETHING IN THEIR HAND, AND 70% OF THE PEOPLE THAT HOLD THAT GOD IN THEIR HAND VISIT WITHIN A YEAR.
SO WE'VE DONE RESEARCH ON THAT.
SO I THINK IT'S SIMILAR TO THE VISITOR CENTER.
YEAH, THERE ARE DEFINITELY OPPORTUNITIES.
AND, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS IN THE FUTURE WE CAN TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DIGITAL KIND OF KIOSKS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE REGION, UM, THAT WILL SATISFY THAT MORE DIGITAL USER.
BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THERE IS STILL A REAL NEED FOR A CERTAIN TYPE OF VISITOR FOR THE VISITOR CENTER TOO.
I, IN OTHER WORDS, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN GO ALL ONE WAY OR ALL THE OTHER, ALL THE WAY THE OTHER, SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE.
AND TRYING TO OFFER SOMETHING TO, TO THE MASK MAJORITY IS THE BETTER WAY TO GO.
SO YOU JUST HAVE THOSE MULTIPLE TOUCH POINTS TOO.
UH, PETE, I BELIEVE YOU'RE NEXT STRIKE.
NEED A BREATHER? YOU NEED A GLASS OF WATER?
THANKS FOR SITTING IN THE HOT SEAT.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS, UH, OUR COUNCIL, UH, ASKING, YOU KNOW, GOOD QUESTION.
AND, AND WE'RE REALLY DIGGING IN.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE DIRECTION OF OUR COUNCIL MOVING FORWARD FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
I WOULD LIKE TO REALLY FOCUS MY QUESTIONS REALLY JUST IN ONE AREA.
AND, AND IT'S REALLY FOR ME TO LEARN, AND I REALIZE THAT I'M ASKING SALES AND MARKETING PEOPLE ABOUT LEARNING, BUT I'M GONNA TAKE THAT RISK.
MY QUESTIONS REALLY ARE COUNSELOR KINSELLA STARTED THAT.
I WANNA PUSH A LITTLE BIT DEEPER.
IT'S, MY QUESTIONS ARE AROUND BREADTH VERSUS DEPTH.
AND, AND I NOW UNDERSTAND MORE CLEARLY THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A DIGITAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN.
WE SPENT A LOT OF PAGES IN OUR PRESENTATION TALKING ABOUT PRINT, BUT THAT'S REALLY NOT BEFORE US.
AND I WANNA SAY THAT THE TARGET MARKETS THAT WE'VE LAID OUT ARE GOOD.
I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN YEARS PAST, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE REALLY WANNA TRY AND DO.
AND THEN WE ALSO TALK ABOUT, EVEN IN THE DIGITAL MEDIA SPACE, THERE'S STILL LOTS OF THINGS THAT WE COULD DO.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TWO CITIES.
SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW $135,000 GOES AND HAVE YOU THOUGHT, GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS PLEASE.
ABOUT, WE'VE GOT A GREAT TARGET MARKET, AND IT'S PRETTY BROAD.
THERE'S REALLY KIND OF A LOT OF DIVERSE PEOPLE IN THERE.
WHY WOULD WE NOT PICK JUST ONE OR TWO OF THOSE AND LIKE ONE CITY AND HIT 'EM NINE TIMES AND SEE IF THAT GENERATES THE RESULTS THAT WE DO, RATHER THAN YOU'VE LAID OUT OVERALL A BIG STRATEGY THAT'S WAY MORE THAN $225,000.
AND SO, UH, BUT THE MEDIA STRATEGY IS LESS AND I'M, BUT I'M STILL CONCERNED ABOUT $135,000 GETS SPREAD TOO THIN.
HOW, HOW DO WE DO IT FOCUS? I MEAN, I LOVE THE WORDS THAT YOU STARTED OFF WITH ABOUT HIGHLY TARGETED AND CUSTOMIZED MESSAGES.
AND THEN WHAT WAS THE ONE I HEARD TODAY? HYPER TARGETED.
I LOVE THAT DIRECTION, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T SEE THAT DIRECTION, SO I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHY I'VE NOT SEEN IT.
UM, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO KIM, UH, JUST, UH, FOR CONTEXT, WE HAVE IN OUR PAST SEASON, WHAT WE WOULD CALL A SEASONAL CAMPAIGN, WHICH TENDS TO BE ABOUT A THREE MONTH LONG CAMPAIGN.
WE WOULD SPEND AROUND TWO, UH, $250,000.
THAT INCLUDES AGENCY FEES AND CREATIVE AND, AND PLACEMENT AND EVERYTHING.
SO WE'RE RIGHT AROUND THAT MARK, YOU KNOW, REALLY, UM, AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST, AND IT WAS ALMOST ALL DIGITAL THEN TOO, AT LEAST IN RECENT YEARS.
ARE WE HITTING PEOPLE SEVEN TO NINE TIMES? YEAH.
FOR THAT KINDS OF DOLLARS? SEVEN TO NINE IN MY OPINION, IS A BIT MUCH.
UM, I WOULD SAY THE GOAL TYPICALLY IS THREE TO FIVE.
SO WE RECOMMENDED PAID SOCIAL AS WELL AS DISPLAY.
SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY, I'M GONNA REACH YOU FOUR OR FIVE TIMES IN SOCIAL MEDIA ALONE.
I'M ALSO GONNA REACH YOU THROUGH, THROUGH DISPLAY MEDIA WHILE YOU'RE GETTING YOUR NEWS OR, YOU KNOW, CHECKING SPORTS SCORES OR VARIOUS THINGS BASED
[03:10:01]
ON THE BEHAVIORS, RIGHT? SO MAYBE YOU'RE READING, UM, NEWS ABOUT ARTS OR DIFFERENT THINGS, UM, ENTERTAINMENT, NEWS, THINGS LIKE THAT.WE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT ACROSS THE TWO, WE, WE HAVE THAT, UM, THREE TO FIVE KIND OF REACH IS, IS, OR FREQUENCY IS KIND OF WHERE WE SEE WHEN WE START TO GET TO THAT FIVE TO 10 STANDPOINT, ESPECIALLY WITH A MORE AFFLUENT AUDIENCE, WE START TO ANNOY THEM.
BUT WHEN WE START GETTING CLOSER TO 10 WITH THAT HIGHER AFFLUENT AUDIENCE THAT IS MORE, UM, UNDERSTANDS ADVERTISING AND IS, IS SEES IT FOR WHAT IT IS, WE START TO ANNOY THEM.
AND THEN IT ACTUALLY IS, IS DOING THE REVERSE AND MAKING THEM NOT WANT TO COME HERE.
SO WE'RE VERY CAREFUL WITH THAT.
BUT THAT THREE TO FIVE TIME FREQUENCY IS USUALLY WHAT WE LOOK AT WITH THIS TYPE OF, OF NICHE AUDIENCE.
UM, IT ALLOWS US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REACHING THE RIGHT PERSON ENOUGH TIMES TO GET THAT REACTION, UM, AND TO START DRIVING THEM THROUGH THEIR DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
UM, WHAT WE WILL DO IS, UM, WITHIN THAT FIRST 10 DAY WINDOW, WE ARE WATCHING IT EVERY DAY.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE'RE VERY, UM, I THINK WE'RE VERY CONSCIOUS OF NOT MAKING ANY MAJOR OPTIMIZATIONS FOR TWO WEEKS.
AND THE REASON WE DO THAT IS WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GIVEN IT ENOUGH TIME TO REACH THEM WITHIN THAT THREE TO FIVE TIME PERIOD BEFORE WE'RE MAKING DRASTIC CHANGES, BECAUSE I COULD CUT AN AUDIENCE THAT I JUST DIDN'T GIVE IT ENOUGH DAYS TO REALLY START SEEING THEM REACT TO IT.
SO WE DO GIVE ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
WE 10 BUSINESS DAYS TYPICALLY IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND THEN WE START MAKING THOSE OPTIMIZATIONS AND WE START MOVING MONEY.
UM, WE COULD SEE THAT FACEBOOK ISN'T WORKING, BUT INSTAGRAM REELS, WHICH IS THIS BIG NEW THING, IS WORKING REALLY WELL.
SO THEN WE WOULD MOVE MONEY FROM FACEBOOK TO INSTAGRAM.
WE COULD SEE THAT DISPLAY IS THE BEST PERFORMING AND INSTAGRAM ISN'T PERFORMING.
WE WOULD MOVE MONEY FROM INSTAGRAM TO FA UH, TO DISPLAY.
THOSE ARE CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE WORK WITH MICHELLE AND HER TEAM TO MAKE SURE, SO NOT WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR AUDIENCES, WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR PLATFORMS, WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR CITIES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE REACHING THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT WAY AND AFFECTING CHANGE.
AND AGAIN, THAT JUST CONFIRMS MY INITIAL STATEMENT ABOUT ASKING SALES MARKETING PEOPLE TO
DID WE, SO DID WE NOT? NO, NO, YOU DID GOOD.
I, IT'S LIKE, OKAY, I'M NOW MORE FOCUSED ON THREE TO FIVE HITS, AND I UNDERSTAND KNOWING RICH PEOPLE AND
I I STILL JUST HAVE A WEIRD SENSE THAT $135,000 IS SPENT IN THE TWO WEEKS BEFORE YOU GET TO MODIFY YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR PARAMETERS.
BUT THAT'S GREAT IF IT'S NOT, MY, MY IMPRESSION IS THIS STUFF IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WHAT PERHAPS YOU'RE TELLING ME IT IS.
BUYING A PAGE IN FOOD AND WINE IS REALLY EXPENSIVE, SO YEAH.
IF YOU'RE BUYING IT NATIONALLY.
NO, AND I HEARD THAT THAT WAS, THAT WAS A GOOD POINT.
BUT NOW SPEAK TO ME ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO APPEAL TO AN OUTDOOR LOVING VISUAL ARTS LOVER, OUTDOOR LOVING, UH, HI, UH, OUTDOOR LOVING FOODIE.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT ACTUALLY WANNA TARGET THE OUTDOOR LOVING, ART LOVING FOODIE, BUT THE POOL STARTS TO SHRINK WHENEVER YOU DO MULTIPLE THINGS LIKE THAT.
RIGHT? AND SO TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW MANY OF THOSE TARGETS THAT WE'RE GOING FOR IN ONE BITE, AND THEN WOULD IT BE HOVAS TO JUST KIND OF NARROW THAT LIST AND REALLY GO AFTER SOMETHING? SO I THINK INITIALLY WHAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING FOR IS AUDIENCES.
AND IF WE HAVE FIRST PARTY DA DATA, WE WOULD SET UP THOSE AUDIENCE IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT OR SEPARATE, BUT AN AUDIENCE THAT APPRECIATES ALL THAT SEDONA HAS TO OFFER.
SO INITIALLY, I WOULDN'T DICE IT UP AS MUCH I, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET SEDONA AS A WHOLE DESTINATION OUT TO THIS AUDIENCE, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T REALLY MARKETED IT AS A WHOLE DESTINATION AND EVERYTHING IT HAS TO OFFER IN A WHILE.
UM, SO I WOULD START THERE AND THEN KEEP VERY CLOSE CONTACT WITH MICHELLE AND SEE WHAT WE'RE HEARING AS WELL AS WHERE ARE PEOPLE GOING ON THE WEBSITE.
SO WHEN I'M RUNNING AN AD, THAT IS, IF THE BANNER IS VERY FOCUSED ON ARTS, I'M SENDING THEM TO, IDEALLY TO A LANDING PAGE THAT IS ALL ABOUT ARTS.
SO WE CAN ALSO TRACK ON HOW MANY, WHERE ARE WE GETTING PEOPLE TO CLICK.
AND THEN WE CAN SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GETTING TONS OF, MORE THAN HALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CLICKING ON OUR ADS ARE GOING TO THE DINING PAGE.
SO NOW IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO LOOK AT BREAKING OUT DINING SEPARATELY BECAUSE
[03:15:01]
WE'RE SEEING THAT THAT IS, IS RESONATING WITH PEOPLE.SO WE SHOULD TAKE THAT EXTRA STEP.
BUT IN THE BEGINNING, I WOULD DEFINITELY LOOK AT MORE OF A BROAD MESSAGE WITH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT, UM, BEHAVIORS AND INTERESTS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, BECAUSE I THINK IT PAINTS PAINT THE PICTURE OF THE AUDIENCE WE WANT.
AND THEN, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE FROM A SPEND STANDPOINT.
SO WE HAVE, UM, AND THIS ISN'T DIRECTLY RELATED, BUT JUST FROM A COST PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE A CLIENT IN THE BALTIMORE MARKET, BALTIMORE'S A VERY LARGE MARKET THAT, UM, TARGETS VARIOUS ASIAN CUSTOMERS.
SO WE HAD A CAMPAIGN TARGETING, UM, CHINESE CUSTOMERS IN THEIR MARKET, AND THEY GAVE US $5,000 FOR A MONTH CAMPAIGN, AND WE OVER-DELIVERED ON THE NUMBER OF TICKETS THAT THEY WERE SELLING FOR THEIR EVENT JUST WITH $5,000 OVER A MONTH.
SO DEPENDING ON HOW WE'RE TARGETING, AS LITTLE AS $5,000 CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SO I WOULD SAY $5,000 IN LA OBVIOUSLY IS NOT GONNA GO VERY FAR MM-HMM.
BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TRYING TO TARGET ALL OF LA I'M TRYING TO TARGET A VERY SMALL SUB, SUB-SEGMENT OF THE MARKET.
WELL, YOU'RE ANSWERING QUESTIONS THE WAY I THOUGHT THAT DIGITAL MARKETING IS STELLAR AT DOING.
AND SO I, I THINK IT'S REALLY INTERESTING WHEN I THINK ABOUT ALL THE FRIENDS THAT I KNOW THAT LIVE HERE IN SEDONA, UH, WE DON'T TICK ALL OF THOSE BOXES.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE MOUNTAIN BIKERS AND MAYBE VISUAL ART PEOPLE OR MOUNTAIN.
I MEAN, IT'S A, IT'S A MUCH NARROWER KIND OF THING THAN THAT.
AND, BUT I GET THAT YOU CAN START AND THEN QUICKLY CHANGE.
I, I'VE STILL KIND OF IN MY MIND WONDERING IF THAT REALLY IS THE BEST STRATEGY OR JUST KIND OF GOING AFTER WHO YOU THINK
IT'S, IT'S INTERESTING CONVERSATION.
I APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT AND I THINK, MAYOR, THAT'S MY QUESTION.
AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE EXCEEDED THE TIME THAT WE HAD PLANNED ON FOR THIS TOPIC, SO LET'S JUST, I'M GONNA TRY TO KEEP MY COMMENTS WHEN I, WHEN I TALK, IF WE COULD TRY TO KEEP IT, UH, TO A, A MINIMUM
WHEN YOU STARTED THIS, YOU NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
BUT WE JUST HAD TO RETREAT AND WE TRY NO BACK.
YOU, WHEN YOU STARTED, YOU SAID, THIS IS NOT A BRANDING EFFORT.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE SOMETHING HERE CALLED A BRAND CAMPAIGN AND MEET SEDONA AGAIN, SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A BRANDING STATEMENT.
SO, AND, AND I HAVE HEARD, AND I, I'M ACTUALLY FAIRLY SYMPATHETIC TO THE IDEA OF MAINTAINING OUR BRAND, UM, AND ESTABLISHING OUR BRAND AS OPPOSED TO MARKETING TO HAVE PEOPLE COME.
WHICH, SO WHEN YOU SAID THIS ISN'T A BRANDING CAMPAIGN, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED, COULD YOU? SURE.
IT, IT'S, COULD YOU UNC CONFUSE ME OR IT'S BOTH? SURE, OF COURSE.
I THINK IT INHERENTLY IT'S BOTH.
UH, IT'S LIKE A BRAND BRIDGE CAMPAIGN.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN I WORKED FOR LAS VEGAS, YOU HAD RETAIL VERTICALS AND THEN YOU HAD TOURISM VER VERTICALS,
I GET THAT RIGHT? NO, VERTICALS IS SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, SORRY,
UH, TWO DIFFERENT, TWO DIFFERENT LIKE SUBJECTS, RIGHT? SO YOU HAVE THE, THE BRAND AWARENESS SUBJECT, THE LETTING THEM KNOW THAT SEDONA IS HERE.
SO MEET, AND THEN YOU GET INTO THE SPECIFICS OF, SO MEET SEDONA AGAIN.
IS YOUR OVERARCHING BRANDING PORTION YES.
OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE TO EDUCATE THEM ON ALL THE STUFF THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT OR TO REMIND THEM OF THE STUFF.
AND WE ARE SORT OF CHANGING THE BRAND A LITTLE FROM HOW WE HAD STARTED BRANDING IT A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.
AND, AND PERHAPS MICHELLE, YOU COULD, I KIND OF HAVE THIS, YOU SAID EARLIER THAT THE CHAMBER USED TO HEAVILY PROMOTE THE ART, THE GALLERIES.
HOWEVER, FROM THE DAY I GOT HERE 20 YEARS AGO, THE ART GALLERIES HAVE SAID THEY'RE DIRE STRAITS.
SO DID THE MARKETING WORK, DID IT NOT WORK? IS IT JUST NOT CHANGED MUCH? I MEAN, THE GALLERIES HAVE ALWAYS NOT BEEN DOING WELL, OR AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I RECALL HEARING.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M KIND OF, I UNDERSTAND FROM A BRANDING POINT OF VIEW SORT OF SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GALLERIES IF YOU LIKE, $800
[03:20:01]
BUDDHAS, CUB, YOU KNOW,SO, UM, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I, I GUESS I JUST, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE OTHER PART OF IT AS WELL, BUT I'M GOING TO TAKE IT AS A BRANDING CAMPAIGN AND THAT THAT WORKS FOR ME.
UM, SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF OF QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT.
UM, IN FACT, I HAVE NO MORE QUESTIONS.
THEN LET ME TAKE THIS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, A LITTLE DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
UM, YOU TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE TRACKING THAT YOU WERE GONNA DO, AND WE'VE HEARD ABOUT TRACKING AT, UH, A WORK SESSION THAT WE HAD.
SO HOW, WHAT KIND OF PERCENTAGE ARE YOUR TRACKING? SO WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO THE VERDE VALLEY OR SEDONA, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE, THEY'RE GONNA GET A POPUP ON THEIR PHONE OR SOMETHING ON THEIR PHONE, WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE? I, I KNOW THAT MICHELLE TOUCHED ON THAT AND IT WAS ONLY 30% OF THE PEOPLE.
YEAH, WE, WE'VE, WE'VE WORKED MORE WITH OUR VENDOR.
UH, THE, WHO ORIGINALLY GAVE ME THAT LOWER AMOUNT, BUT YEAH.
WE'RE, WE'RE IN GEOFENCING EFFORTS.
IS THAT THE SAME THING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE? UM, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
SO, UM, OUR, THROUGH THE TRADE DESK, HOW WE BUY, WE WOULD SET UP, UM, WHAT WE CALL A FOOT TRAFFIC STUDY.
AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT TRACKS A CONTROL GROUP WHO DOESN'T SEE THE AD VERSUS A GROUP THAT WE KNOW HAS SEEN ONE OF OUR BANNER ADS.
AND THEN BASED ON MOBILE PHONES AND MOBILE IDS TRACKS THEM WHEN THEY COME INTO SEDONA.
SO WE KNOW THAT THEY PHYSICALLY HAVE COME INTO SEDONA AND THEY'VE SEEN THE AD, OR HAVEN'T SEEN THE AD.
AND BY COMPARING THE CONTROL GROUP VERSUS THE AD, THE GROUP THAT HAS SEEN THE AD, WE WILL PROVIDE YOU A, A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF LIFT.
IT'S NOT, UM, BLACK AND WHITE.
I CAN'T GUARANTEE YOU THAT THE PERSON WHO SAW THE AD WOULDN'T HAVE COME TO SEDONA ANYWAY.
BUT WHAT WE DO SAY IS IT'S A DIRECTIONAL PIECE OF ADDED INFORMATION THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.
SO THAT WE CAN, UM, TAKE SOME IN, WE CAN TAKE AWAY FROM THAT.
THAT I, I HAVE, THEY DID SEE THAT AND THEY CAME HERE.
UM, LET ME GET BACK TO THIS PAGE HERE.
UM, IF YOU WERE TO GO INTO PHOENIX, THERE'S A HUGE PROBLEM WITH OHVS ADVERTISING AGAINST THE, THE COMMUNITY, A ADVERTISING AGAINST THE DONOR.
WHAT WOULD YOUR MESSAGING BE TO HAVE PEOPLE COME HERE AND NOT RIP UP? SEDONA? ACTUALLY WHAT I, IN BRIDGE ADDITION, CAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUTTA HERE.
UM, WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS IN ADDITION TO STILL ALL THE VISITOR EDUCATION THAT'S, THAT CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THIS YEAR.
AND THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE INTO NEXT FISCAL YEAR WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.
BUT YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK CONTINUING OUR EFFORTS TO POSITION OUR BRANDING POSITION, WHO WE ARE, ATTRACT WHO WE NEED TO ATTRACT IS ABSOLUTELY A LAYER TO THEN ONCE THEY ARRIVE, WE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THEM ON RECREATING RESPONSIBLY.
LIKE THEY CAN LIVE VERY, UH, SYNERGISTICALLY.
I'M LOOKING AT THE LIST OF WHO YOU'RE GOING TO BE TARGETING.
COUNSELOR FOLTZ TOUCHED ON SIMILAR QUESTIONS THAT I HAD.
YOU'RE NOT MENTIONING THE WELLNESS GROUP AND WE HAVE A, A LARGE GROUP OF WELLNESS ORGANIZATIONS.
YOU HAVE THE, UH, THE SEDONA, UH, WELLNESS, RIGHT? THE METAPHYSICAL MM-HMM.
ARE DO YOU PLAN ON TARGETING THEM, THEM, AND ADVERTISING FOR THEM? THERE'S A, FROM WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD COME HERE HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY.
THEY, THEY MAKE THOSE KIND OF SALARIES.
YOU KNOW, FOR A THREE MONTH CAMPAIGN WITH THE TO COUNSELOR FERMAN'S, YOU KNOW, UH, COMMENT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IS THE MONEY REALLY GETTING US WHAT WE NEED IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME? IT'S HARD TO GO OUT AND BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE.
WE REALLY DID WANNA COME OUT, OUT THE GATE WITH A VERY, UM, THOUGHT OUT STRATEGIC KIND OF TARGETED EFFORT.
DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T MARKET WELLNESS, UM, IN LIKE THE NEXT PAUSE, BUT WE, THE, UM, PERFORMING ARTS WAS MENTIONED.
WE DON'T, WE HAVE A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
IT'S NOT PROMOTED FOR WHATEVER, UH, THAT OFTEN.
BUT WE HAVE OTHER THINGS, THE ART GALLERIES, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOUR, YOUR ADS INSTEAD OF, AND SOME
[03:25:01]
OF THEM HAVE LOOKING OUT A WINDOW WITH SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, A A A YOUNGER PERSON FOR, FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION IN A POSE, UH, LOTUS POSE.HOW ABOUT MORE GUIDED TOWARD THE ART GALLERIES, PHOTOS FOR THE ART GALLERIES, THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES.
I MEAN, WHAT, I'M JUST, I THINK WE'RE A LITTLE OFF POINT.
I'M ASKING IF ANY PROPOSAL I UNDERSTAND, I'M ASKING IF THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR PROPOSAL TO BE MORE TOWARD WHAT, WHAT I THINK SO DONOR REALLY CAN OFFER.
I, I DON'T WANNA, DEL WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I DON'T WANNA DILUTE WHAT WE'VE OKAY.
WHAT WE'VE, UM, CONSIDERED, AGAIN, I I, I ABSOLUTELY, AS I MENTIONED TO COUNSELOR FOLTZ, I MEAN, WE, TO YOUR POINT, YOU KNOW, WELLNESS IS PART OF, IS ONE OF OUR BRAND PILLARS.
WE'RE NOT DENYING THAT AT ALL.
BUT I DO THINK THAT, UM, AND IT'S, AND THERE'S PROBABLY CROSSOVER BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, THE AUDIENCE THAT LIKES TO EAT WELL, THEY LIKE TO NOURISH THEIR BODIES.
WELL, THEY LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, DO THOSE SPA TREATMENTS.
UM, SO I MEAN, THERE IS, THERE'S CROSSOVER.
MAYBE WE COULD TEST IT A LITTLE BIT.
UM, BUT I JUST DON'T WANNA VEER TOO, TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE, THE CONCEPT AT THIS POINT.
BEAR IN MIND TOO, WHEN PEOPLE DO GO TO THE VISIT SEDONA SITE, WHICH IS WHERE WE'LL DRIVE EVERYONE, WE DO HAVE WELLNESS FEATURED ON THAT.
SO, SO IT IS BEING A ADDRESSED, BUT JUST IN MAYBE NOT AS DOMINANT OF A WAY AS THE ARTS WILL BE, THE ARTS AND CULTURE AGAIN, WHICH CAN ENCOMPASS A LOT OF THINGS.
YOU KNOW, IT, IT CAN ENCOMPASS, YOU KNOW, THE EVENTS.
I JUST, I DON'T, I JUST DON'T WANNA OVER PROMOTE THINGS THAT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE, UH, AS MUCH HERE.
SO, UM, I QUESTIONED FACEBOOK'S INSTAGRAM MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, UH, A LOT ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA.
I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT IT LAST 18 MONTHS ACTUALLY.
BUT DO THE PEOPLE WHO EARNED THAT KIND OF IN THAT DEMOGRAPHIC, DO THEY REALLY GO TO FACEBOOK? MM-HMM.
I WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD GO TO OTHER FORMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM ARE NOT, WELL, INSTAGRAM IS, FACEBOOK IS NOT THE, YOU KNOW, FASTEST GROWING SOCIAL MEDIA BY FAR, OR CHANNEL BY FAR.
UM, BUT FOR THIS AUDIENCE, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM ARE THE TWO BEST PLACES TO REACH THEM.
THEY ARE USING THOSE, THEY'RE NOT ON TIKTOK AND SNAPCHAT AND THE NEW YOUNGER, THEY'RE A LOT OF YOUNGER AUDIENCE ARE ON THOSE.
UM, I THINK THIS MORE AFFLUENT AUDIENCE DOESN'T HAVE THE TIME, DOESN'T WANNA DEAL WITH THOSE AND REALLY STILL LEVERAGES FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM, UH, FOR SH KEEPING CONNECTED WITH SOCIAL AND WITH FAMILY.
I THINK THAT WAS ENHANCED DURING THE PANDEMIC FOR SURE.
SO YES, THIS AUDIENCE IS ON THOSE TWO PLATFORMS STILL.
AND I, WE HAD A, UM, UH, 90% OF THE IDEAL AUDIENCE BASED ON THE, UM, AUDIENCE THAT MICHELLE HAD PRESENTED IS USING SOCIAL MEDIA ON A REGULAR BASIS AND IS ARE USING THESE PLATFORMS. OKAY.
UH, AREN'T ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO THE AUDIENCE BEFORE WE HIT MIDNIGHT.
SO,
JESSE ALEXANDER WILL BE, UH, FOLLOWED BY JENNIFER RIVAN, R RIVERA PERFECT.
RIVERA
J JESSE, SO YOU KNOW THE DRILL.
JESSE ALEXANDER, FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA.
I WORK IN UPTOWN, OVERSEE A COUPLE OF, UH, SHOPPING CENTERS WITH, UH, ABOUT 40 TENANTS.
OF THOSE I OPERATE MAYBE FIVE OR SIX BUSINESSES OURSELVES.
MAYOR JALO, VICE MAYOR, BLUE COUNSELORS.
WE APPRECIATE, UH, ALL THE EFFORTS THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS.
UM, AND I DON'T ENVY THE THINGS YOU GO THROUGH, BUT, UH, THAT'S WHAT YOU CHOSE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO, UH, COUNSELOR FOLTZ BROUGHT UP AS FAR AS THE WHY AND HOW, UM, MORE THE WHY THAN ANYTHING.
UM, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I CAN ADDRESS IN WHAT I SEE DAILY WITHIN THE TENANTS THAT I SPEAK WITH.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UH, OF THE 45 ISH TENANTS THAT WE HAVE, UM, I'VE NEVER HAD MORE TENANTS ASK ME TO, CAN I BE LATE THIS MONTH WITH THEIR RENT? OR CAN, UH, YOU HOLD MY CHECK FOR ME RIGHT NOW? OR CAN YOU DEPOSIT TWO CHECKS? ONE OF 'EM NOW, ONE OF 'EM IN
[03:30:01]
THE 15TH OR 16TH, I STILL HAVE, UH, ABOUT 10% OF THEM THAT HAVEN'T PAID ANYTHING FOR JANUARY.UM, PART OF IT'S OTHER THINGS THAT THEY GOT SICK, THEY TERMINATED THEIR EMPLOYEES SO THAT THEY COULD RUN IT THEMSELVES.
THEY GOT SICK, SO THEY WERE CLOSED FOR AGE 10 DAYS AND NOW CAN'T, UH, CAN'T PAY.
BUT WE'RE SAYING, DON'T PAY US.
YOU NEED TO PAY, YOU NEED TO SELL STUFF IN MARCH.
SO THAT IS THE ENVIRONMENT THAT I'M SEEING.
UM, VICE MAYOR FLUG, YOU BROUGHT UP THE SUMMER ARE GOOD.
SOME ARE BAD KIND OF THING RIGHT NOW.
UM, SPECIFICALLY, WE RUN SOME RESTAURANTS AND WE'RE NOT DOING THAT BADLY RIGHT NOW.
UM, IT'S CERTAINLY, IT'S HARD TO NOT COMPARE TO WHAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH AND EVERYBODY'S YAY, YAY KIND OF THING.
BUT, UH, WE'RE NOT ALSO PROBABLY WHERE WE WERE IN 2019 AS FAR AS WHEN YOU TAKE IN THE, THE WAGES THAT INCREASED IN OUR SITUATION ARE THE BIGGEST THING, UM, COSTS HAVE GONE UP.
THEY'RE STARTING TO COME DOWN ON THE FOOD PRODUCT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, AS I WENT AROUND THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS AND TALKED TO SOME OF THEM, UH, I'VE GOT A TENANT THAT'S ONE OR TWO BUSINESS WITH ME, BUT THEY OWN ABOUT FIVE IN SEDONA TO AKA P**I OTHER PARTS OF UPTOWN.
UH, HIS COMMENT, BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE, THERE'S A INITIATIVE TO MAYBE MARKET WITHIN THE BUSINESSES THEMSELVES.
HIS, HIS COMMENT WAS, WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE I'M NOT DOING THE 25,000 TRAIL KEEPERS THIS YEAR.
I'M GONNA PUT IT IN THE, INTO THE THING.
UM, I HAD ANOTHER ONE THAT JUST GAVE 5,000 TO KSB.
UM, THEY'RE WONDERING WHETHER THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT OR PUT IT INTO THE, INTO THE MARKETING FUND.
SO I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE ANCILLARY EFFECTS THERE THAT THE COMMUNITY ITSELF IS GONNA SEE THAT, THAT WE'RE, YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT THE, THE HOUSING SITUATION BEFORE THIS.
I, I'VE WORKED IN A PLACE WHERE I HIRED MANY PEOPLE FROM A HALFWAY HOUSE IN MACE, ARIZONA.
AND, UH, THEY WEREN'T ALWAYS GREAT, BUT THEY, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THEM TAKE STEPS FORWARD AND IT FELT, MADE ME FEEL GOOD TYPE OF THING.
AND I THINK THOSE KIND OF PROJECTS ARE GONNA BE HURT BECAUSE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THEY MAY MAKE DECISIONS EVEN IF THEY'RE DOING WELL, BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T DOING AS WELL AS THEY DID BEFORE.
UM, SO THAT'S MORE OF THE WHY THAN THE HOUSE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
JESSICA, JENNIFER RIVERA, AND NINA BK BALLO.
MY FIRST TIME HERE, JENNIFER RIVERA.
I'M A CO-BUSINESS OWNER FOR A STORE IN UPTOWN SEDONA.
AND, UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CHAMBER, ON BEHALF OF THE CHAMBER TO, TO REALLY SUPPORT THIS ADMISSION TO DAVID.
USE WORDS LIKE DYER AND I WANNA DOUBLE DOWN ON DYER WITH IMPERATIVE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE, BUSINESSES IN UPTOWN RIGHT NOW ARE STRUGGLING.
IN FACT, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHO'S NOT STRUGGLING AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR BUSINESS MODEL IS.
BUT EVERYBODY THAT I TALK TO TOO IN UPTOWN IS STRUGGLING.
AND WE NEED YOU GUYS TO HELP GET THE PEOPLE HERE, AND WE WILL DO OUR JOB TO SELL.
OKAY? WE, WE WILL DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO, TO MAKE THE REVENUE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE.
BUT, BUT WE, WE NEED THIS TO COME INTO US.
WE NEED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT SEDONA IS HERE, THAT WE ARE A, WE ARE A DAY TRIP FOR SOME, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE DAYS FOR OTHERS.
WE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SEDONA REGARDLESS.
AND, AND WE'LL DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
IF, IF WE CAN GET US MARKETED OUT THERE AND GET THE PEOPLE HERE, WE'RE STRUGGLING.
OKAY? SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NINA, AND, UH, FOLLOWED BY, UH, STEVE SEIGNER.
I HAD NOTES AND ALL PLANNED OUT AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL FOR, UM, I'M, I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
I THINK THIS, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE COURAGE AND THE VISION TO ACT, ACTIVELY PURSUE, UM, AND SUPPORT THE STEPS THAT NEED TO BE, BE, BE MADE.
AND I'M LISTENING TO YOUR COMMENTS.
CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME OF, OH, YOUR NAME AND, I'M SORRY.
I OWN BARLOW ADVENTURES HERE IN TOWN.
UM, ALL THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE, WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT, UM, IN SEDONA WITH, UH, WORKFORCE SHORTAGES AND HOMELESSNESS AND, UM, AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, STREETS AND TRAILS BEING OVERRUN.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, REALLY, I SEE ALL OF THESE RELATED.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE US IT TO F TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON BIG PICTURE STUFF, NOT GET TO MYOPIC ON SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE.
UM, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY REGARD TO, AND, AND I'M NOT GONNA SPEND THREE MINUTES TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ARIZONA BILLS 1350 AND 1487, BOTH OF WHICH LIMIT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY'S ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT REGULATIONS AND THINGS THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO REALLY MAKE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, SEDONA IS UNIQUE ON THE WORLD STAGE.
[03:35:01]
UM, WE HAVE A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT.WE DESERVE A UNIQUE MANAGEMENT.
AND TO THAT END, WE NEED A UNIQUE MARKETING PLAN.
AND IT'S NOT THE SAME OLD FLUFFY THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.
AND IT, I MEAN, I KNOW I'M ABOUT AS FLUFFY AS A SLEDGEHAMMER
IF YOU'RE, YOU NEED TO BE RESPECTFUL OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR TRAILS, OR, OR WE DON'T WANT YOU.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY, I THINK WE, OUR, I THINK OUR MARKETING MESSAGE THAT WE NEED TO OWN, NEEDS TO HAVE ATTITUDE AND, AND, AND FLUFFY IS NOT GETTING US ANYWHERE.
UM, IT'S CHASING AWAY OUR, THESE QUALITY CUSTOMERS, THE QUALITY PEOPLE THAT HAVE MONEY TO SPEND, YOU KNOW, SEDONAS GET A REPUTATION FOR, UM, HAVING TRAFFIC AND THE TRAILS BEING OVERRUN.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO CLEAN UP.
UM, WE WANT ONLY RESPONSIBLE VISITORS WHO WILL RESPECT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR TRAILS ACCORDING TO OUR COMMUNITY PLAN.
UM, BUSINESSES AND VISITORS WHO WANT TO RIP IT UP NEED NOT APPLY.
UM, AND OF COURSE WE NEED, WE NEED SOME LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS TO HELP WITH THAT TOO.
SO, UM, WE HAVE TO SPEND THAT MONEY TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE IF, IF THE, THE, THE, UH, PROPOSAL IT WAS PUT OUT TODAY IS THE RIGHT PROPOSAL.
BUT, UM, WE, WE, I, I AGREE WITH, UM, MICHELLE'S, WE NEED TO OWN OUR OWN MESSAGE.
DOING NOTHING IS A DECISION IN ITSELF.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE HAD THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, IS NOT OWNING OUR MESSAGE AND JUST GETTING, WHOEVER SHOWS UP POLARIS, UH, IS COMMITTING $80,000 A MONTH TO ADVERTISING SEDONA.
STEVE SEIGNER, JOHN RESIDENT OF SEDONA.
UM, I'M PRESIDENT OF SEDONA LODGING COUNCIL.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE ONE QUICK COMMENT.
UM, WHEN I READ THIS SEDONA COMMUNITY PLAN THAT WAS VOTED ON BY THE ELECTORATE OF THIS TOWN IN 13, THEY STATED THE GOAL OF THE CITY IS TO SUPPORT LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO ASK YOU TO FOLLOW THAT RULE.
THE OTHER ONE I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO FOLLOW IS PRESERVE AND ENHANCE SEDONAS TOURIST BASED ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO DO THAT.
NOW, THE REASON WE DID THIS, I'M ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE THAT ARE LEFT PROBABLY THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH THE 5%, THE BED TAX.
KAREN MAY HAVE BEEN HERE, BUT I THINK NONE OF YOU WERE HERE.
THE IDEA WAS WE SAW THIS GOAL AND WE WENT AND SAID, WELL, THERE'S NO MONEY.
HOW DO WE COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO DO THIS GOAL? WE RAISED OUR BED TAX A HALF A CENT.
WE CAME UP WITH AN AGREEMENT AND HOW WE WOULD MARKET IT.
WE FORMED A MARKETING COMMITTEE THAT WORKED VERY WELL.
THAT MARKETING COMMITTEE CAME TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND EXPLAINED WHAT OUR NEEDS WERE.
WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THAT MODEL.
FROM THAT POINT ON, I'M GONNA CHANGE THE TUNE OUR GROUP, I INVITED EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS IN SEDONA TO COME TO A MEETING SO WE COULD HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
OKAY? AND WHAT I HEARD WAS, THEY'RE NOT HAPPY.
WHAT THEY SAID TO US WAS, LET'S FORM A MARKETING COMMITTEE.
AND WE HAVE A MARKETING COMMITTEE.
WE'VE DONE OUR OWN MARKETING IN THE MARKETING OF OUR GROUP, SAYS WE WANT TO ADVERTISE IN PHOENIX.
IF WE CAN GET ALL OUR PAST CUSTOMERS TO COME UP ONE MORE TIME, WE'RE FULL.
IF WE CAN GET 'EM TO COME UP WHEN IT'S HOT IN PHOENIX, WE'RE FULL.
98,000 PEOPLE MOVED TO ARIZONA LAST YEAR.
DO YOU THINK THEY ALL CAME UP AND THEY ALL STAYED WITH US LAST YEAR.
THIS SHOULD BE A MARKETING PROGRAM OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH.
THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE 5% WAS FOR.
NOW WE CALL IT AN EMERGENCY FUND.
HAVE YOU GONE TO RESTAURANTS AND SEEN HOW EMPTY THEY ARE? THIS SUMMER, WE WERE AT 50% CAPACITY.
THAT MEANS THERE WAS HALF AS MANY PEOPLE IN TOWN WHO COULD SHOP.
OKAY, WE'VE GOTTA STOP MICROMANAGING AND LOOKING AT EVERY LITTLE THING, PUT TOGETHER A MARKETING TEAM THAT WORKS WITH PROFESSIONALS,
[03:40:01]
AND THEN WE NEED TO FUND IT ON A REGULAR BASIS.CLARIFY, THE SPEAKER SAID 5% AND I THINK HE MEANT 0.5%.
JOHN MARTINEZ, FOLLOWED BY JOHN GRA.
THANK YOU, UH, MR. MAYOR, UH, VICE MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
MY NAME IS JOHN MARTINEZ AND I LIVE HERE IN SEDONA.
AND, UH, I HATE TO SAY THAT LIKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO, I SAID, THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN FRONT PAGE ABOVE THE FOLD THAT WE'RE GONNA MISS OUR TARGET IN REVENUE.
I SAID, BECAUSE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS OPENED UP AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT THE AMERICAN DOLLAR IS VERY, VERY STRONG.
SO THEY CAN BUY A LOT OF GOODS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES OR THE ASIAN COUNTRIES AIN'T GOOD AT GREAT VALUE.
I REMEMBER SEVERAL YEARS AGO BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, I DON'T REMEMBER MICHELLE AND, AND, UH, SCOTT AND JESSICA WERE ON COUNCIL.
THEY DID A PRESENTATION THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, WHY DO WE PROMOTE? WHY DO WE PROMOTE? AND THE SURVEY THAT THEY COME UP WITH, IT WAS 60% OF THE VISITORS THAT WERE SURVEYED.
AND IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
IT WAS THE VISITOR'S CENTER, AND IT WAS IN SOME OF THE SHOPPING, UH, DISTRICTS AND STUFF.
IS THAT 60% OF THE PEOPLE THERE WERE NEW? WERE NEW.
EVERYONE SAYS EVERYONE KNOWS THE SEDONA.
AND BECAUSE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PROMOTED OR MARKETED SEDONA, IT'S A COMPETITION NOW WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD AND RE REST OF THE UNITED STATES.
WHEN I SEE ADS IN TV PROMOTING MISSISSIPPI, COME ON, IT IS OPEN.
WE'RE FIGHTING DISNEYLAND DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THE CITY WAS SLAMMED, WAS SHUT DOWN FOR 13 MONTHS OF DISNEYLAND.
ANAHEIM LOST OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING NOT TO LA, NOT TO LAS VEGAS, NOT TO UTAH, NOT TO NEW MEXICO.
SO YOU HAVE TO PROMOTE SEDONA.
YOU, YOU WATCH THE SUPER BOWL, THEY'RE ALWAYS SHOWING THE ADS ON THE BEER AND COCA-COLA AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
WE'VE SEEN THOSE ADS BEFORE, BUT THEY, THEY GOT TO KEEP THAT BRAND IN FRONT OF YOU.
DO YOU KNOW THAT THIS YEAR IT'S GONNA BE CLOSE TO 8 MILLION FOR AN AD FOR 30 SECONDS? THEY KNOW CUZ THEY HAVE TO KEEP THE BRAND IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC.
EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT, YEAH, EVERYONE KNOWS SEDONA, THE PEOPLE IN SCOTTSDALE AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER VERY, VERY AFFLUENT CITIES COME HERE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY, THE CHAMBER FOR MARKETING PROMOTES THE LOW SEASON, WHICH IS JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST.
AND WHAT'S THE TEMPERATURE DOWN THERE IN, IN PHOENIX? IT'S OVER 115 DEGREES.
I PERSONALLY KNOW FIVE INDIVIDUALS, AND I'M SURE ALL OF YOU KNOW, THE SAME THING THAT CAME UP HERE TO GET OUT OF THE HEAT.
SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE BRAND IN FRONT OF THEM, IN FRONT OF ALL OF THEM.
JOHN BRADSHAW WILL BE FOLLOWED.
THE LAST SPEAKER WILL BE RICHARD KEEL.
IF ANYONE ELSE HASN'T FILLED OUT A CARD THAT WISHES TO SPEAK, PLEASE DO SO BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SEDONA AND I'M STILL A RESIDENT OF SEDONA, ARIZONA.
UM, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND THE, THE COUNCIL FOR INVITING US TONIGHT, UM, TO ALLOW US TO SPEAK.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THREE, UM, CONCERNS THAT I HEARD FROM THE COUNCIL.
UM, THE, THE FIRST ONE IS JUST WHY IS IT THAT SOME BUSINESSES ARE DOING GOOD AND SOME BUSINESSES ARE DOING BAD? AND IT IS 100% REVOLVES AROUND EMPLOYEES.
THOSE PEOPLE THAT STILL HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT WERE ABLE TO GET THEIR PPPS ON TIME WITH THE FIRST ROUND THAT HAVE EMPLOYEES ARE DOING PRETTY GOOD.
THOSE BUSINESSES THAT DIDN'T GET THROUGH THE FIRST ROUND OF PPPS AND LOST ALL THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE NOT DOING GOOD.
SO IT'S ALMOST A HUNDRED PERCENT REVOLVES AROUND EMPLOYEES ALMOST.
UM, I'LL, I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE SYNOPSIS OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY COMPANY IN 2020.
UH, WE DID 40% OF WHAT WE NORMALLY DO IN A YEAR IN 2020, UM, IN 2021, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE EMPLOYEES, EVEN THOUGH WE GOT BOMBARDED BY A BUNCH OF TOURISTS, UM, WE COULDN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE EMPLOYEES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
[03:45:01]
MAYBE 20, 25%, DOWN 2021, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS GOING CRAZY.UM, AND THEN IN, IN 2022, UM, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS STARTED HITTING, UM, THE ECONOMY ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
WE HAD, UM, INFLATION GAS PRICES GOING UP.
UM, WE HAD PEOPLE THAT CAN GO ANYWHERE.
AGAIN, WE WEREN'T THE ONLY ONE OF THE O THE FEW PLACES THAT PEOPLE COULD GO.
UM, SO THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS.
WE HAD FOREST FIRE DANGER GOING ON INTO THE SUMMER.
THERE'S JUST A LOT OF THINGS THAT ALL HIT IN THAT SUMMER TO WHERE IT JUST DEVASTATED US THAT IN THAT SUMMER AND A DEVASTATING SUMMER CAN MEAN $500,000 WORTH OF LOST REVENUES.
AND THAT IS A, A TAILSPIN THAT YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE GOING INTO FALL THEN RIGHT INTO WINTER.
UM, SO 2022 WAS DEFINITELY A DEVASTATING YEAR FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
UM, BUT LIKE I SAID, IF YOU WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN YOUR EMPLOYEES AND YOU WERE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF 2021, YOU'RE IN WAY BETTER SHAPE.
UM, SO I THINK THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE THAT DISPAR THAT THAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A, A COMPANY THAT'S DOING ALL RIGHT AND ONE THAT'S ONES THAT AREN'T, BECAUSE I'VE GOT BOTH OF THEM, I WAS ABLE TO GET SOME PPPS AND KEEP MY EMPLOYEES.
THOSE BUSINESSES ARE NOT DOING TOO BAD.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE ALL IN CAMP VERDE AND THEY'RE A LITTLE SMALLER.
UM, BUT MY BIG COMPANY IS HERE IN SEDONA AND IT, IT TOOK A BIG HIT.
UM, SO I THINK THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THAT, THAT DISCREPANCY, UM, ON THE SALES TAX.
UM, WHAT DID WE HAVE IN 2019? WE HAD THE AIRBNBS JUST STARTED TO COME IN TO THE PICTURE.
BUT WHEN WE HAD, UM, OUR AREA BE ONE OF THE FEW AREAS THAT WERE OPEN IN 2020, AT THE END OF 2020 GOING INTO 2021, EVERYBODY WAS RUSHING TO SEDONA TO BUY AIRBNBS.
SALES TAXES EXPLODING, BUT IT'S NOT, IT'S STAYING EVEN FOR THE CITY.
BUT ALL THE HOTELS, THEY'RE, THEY'RE KIND OF DROPPING.
THE RESTAURANTS ARE DROPPING AND THOSE ARE GOING UP.
SO THAT'S WHY I THINK YOU SEE A DIFFERENCE IN THE SALES TAX.
AND THE OTHER THING, IF I HAD A DOLLAR FOR EVERY TIME I SAW A MILLIONAIRE COME IN AND BUY A BUSINESS THAT WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND WITHIN THREE YEARS WAS NO LONGER A MILLIONAIRE, UM, I'D BE A, A VERY RICH MAN.
OKAY, RICHARD, THAT WAS REALLY HELPFUL, JOHN.
UM, I'M GONNA TRY TO KEEP MY, UM, COMMENTS RATHER NARROWLY FOCUSED CUZ THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND I WANNA FOCUS BASICALLY ON THE FOCUS QUESTION BECAUSE AS A MARKETING PROFESSIONAL FOR 40 YEARS, UM, LIVING OVERSEAS, INTERNATIONALLY AND HERE, UM, WHAT I'VE NOTICED FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN TODAY IS AN INTENT TO FOCUS HIGH AND $150,000 POTENTIALLY HOUSEHOLDS AND HIGHER ESSENTIALLY THE TOP FIVE 10% OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITIES.
BUT WHAT I'M SEEING HERE IS THE TACTICS.
OUR PICTURES OF 20 YEAR OLDS DOING SELFIES AND THREE OF THEM WITH OHVS IN THEM AND A FEW OTHER THINGS WHICH LOOK VERY HIP AND COOL.
BUT WHAT I DON'T SEE IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN WHAT DOES A HIGH VALUE TRAVELER, HOW DO THEY MAKE A DECISION ON THEIR TRAVELS? WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING THE SAME THING THAT YOU'RE, THAT A PERSON WHO COMES UP FROM THE VALLEY DOES, THEY'RE NOT DOING THE SAME THING THIS SOMEBODY FROM LA DOES WHO CAN DRIVE HERE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE MAKING DECISIONS ON, OH, GO ONLINE.
I WANT TO, TO GO TO SOMEPLACE THAT HAS THE ARTS.
LET'S GO LOOK ONLINE TO WHERE THE TOP 15 ART PLACES IN THE WORLD DID I GO.
CUZ I HAVE THE MEANS TO DO THAT.
I HAVE THE DISCRETIONARY INCOME TO DO THAT.
IS SEDONA ON THAT LIST? IT ISN'T ANYMORE.
DO WE HAVE A MICHELIN STAR RATED RESTAURANT HERE IN TOWN? SO WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS THAT YES, EVERY TWO WEEKS WE CAN CHANGE THE PROFILE, BUT THE PROFILE IS BASED UPON THE CURRENT, IN MY OPINION, BASED UPON THE CURRENT CLIENTELE WHO COME HERE TODAY.
IT'S NOT BASED UPON TARGETING WHAT HUNDRED 50,000 OR THE TOP 10% IS.
SO MY SUGGESTION AND FEEDBACK WOULD BE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PERSONALLY AS A PERSON WHO PAYS THIS TAXES HERE IS YOU TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS THAT UNIQUE CLIENTELE.
HOW DO THEY MAKE DECISIONS? THEY DO DREAM TYPES OF THINGS.
ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL, MY WIFE AND I, WE'VE ALREADY PLANNED OUR TRIPS OUT THROUGH THE ENTIRE YEAR TO EGYPT, TO PARIS, TO HAWAII, OTHER PLACES BECAUSE WE MATCH AND COMPARE ALL THESE DIFFERENT PLACES TO GO TO CUZ WE HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THAT.
AND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS BRING IN PEOPLE WHO DO AS WELL.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA CARE SO MUCH ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL PLACE.
YOU'RE RIGHT, THEY'RE GONNA CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, THEY'RE GONNA CARE ABOUT, THEY CARE ABOUT ECOTOURISM.
WE ARE REALLY STRONG THERE, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO I THINK WE HAVE SOME ADVANTAGES, BUT I THINK, I DON'T SEE IT PERSONALLY AS A MARKETING PROFESSIONAL.
I DON'T SEE YET THOSE ADVANTAGES
[03:50:01]
IN THAT PROPOSAL.SO I WOULD PERSONALLY ASK YOU TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? NO.
YOU COULD AL YOU COULD DO THAT LATER.
YOUR NAME AND AL CAMILLO SEDONA RESIDENT REALLY AM, UM, I FIND THE WHOLE CONVERSATION VERY INTERESTING AND VERY ENLIGHTENING.
UM, I'VE HAD AN AD AGENCY IN ST.
LOUIS AND HAVE BEEN FUNCTIONING IN THE AD WORLD SOMEWHAT FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS HERE IN SEDONA.
AND I LEARNED A LOT TONIGHT BECAUSE SOCIAL MEDIA AND DIGITAL WORLD OF MARKETING IS WAY ABOVE MY PAY GRADE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND.
AND I SUS WOULD SUSPECT THAT BASICALLY THAT'S TRUE FOR ALL OF YOU TOO BECAUSE IT'S A MOVING TARGET AND CHANGING EVERY DAY.
AND WHAT WORKS TODAY MIGHT NOT WORK A YEAR FROM NOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING SOMETHING FOR THE ECONOMY OF SEDONA AND MAKING A STATEMENT, THE SEDONAS ECONOMY, THE BUSINESSES, THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE, THE BUSINESSES THAT COULD BE IN JEOPARDY IF THE REVENUE DOES, UH, FALL TO SOME LEVEL THAT WE DO CARE ENOUGH TO PUT MONEY ON THE TABLE AND, AND WORK TOWARDS A BENEFIT OF, UH, THAT WE HOPE WOULD COME FROM ADVERTISING.
YOU CAN CHOOSE NOT TO EXPEND THIS MONEY THAT THESE SURPLUS FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AND NOT ADVERTISE IN, UM, APRIL, MAY AND JUNE.
YOU COULD EVEN SAY FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, YOU DON'T WANT TO ADVERTISE THAT EITHER OR MAYBE EVEN FISCAL YEAR 25.
THAT'S TOTALLY WITHIN YOUR, UM, YOUR, YOUR SCOPE OF, UH, PROJECTS THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETS.
BUT THE TRUTH IS, ADVERTISING IS TAKING PLACE.
IT'S TAKING PLACE ALL OVER THE WORLD BY PEOPLE THAT ARE DEFINING SEDONA AS THEY SEE FIT.
AND AS YOU WELL KNOW, THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE WILLING TO PUT THEIR MONEY ON THE TABLE TO ADVERTISE.
SO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, THE MESSAGE IS GONNA GET OUT THAT SEDONA IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
AND I ASK YOU TO SINCERELY THINK THE VALUE OF MAKING A PUBLIC STATEMENT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT YOU ARE WITH THEM.
AND THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT LODGING, THIS IS ABOUT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND WHAT MAKES THE TOWN TICK.
AND WE ALL THINK THAT WE LOVE LIVING IN SEDONA BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY GREAT THINGS ABOUT IT, NOT JUST HIKING.
BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT MOST OF THE BUSINESSES THAT WE FREQUENT RELY ON TOURISM FOR THE BULK OF THEIR INCOME.
AND SO WITHOUT A HEALTHY, UH, DYNAMIC TOURISM COMMUNITY AND, AND THE ECONOMY, UM, THE WORLD WOULD TURN OUT TO BE AND SEDONA WOULD TURN OUT TO BE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT.
SO MY MESSAGE IS, UH, CONSIDER THIS AS A DOWN PAYMENT ON THE LONG-TERM ECONOMY AND GROWTH OF SEDONA IN TERMS OF BEING STABLE AS A BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS WELL AS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE.
A OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO RETURN IT BACK TO THE DAIS.
CAN I ASK A GOOD QUESTION? THE VICE MAYOR, I HAS A QUESTION.
IF WE'RE TARGETING PEOPLE TO COME, BECAUSE WE TALKED A LOT, A LOT ABOUT MIDWEEK AND AND SHOULDER OR DOWN SEASONS.
OKAY, WHY AREN'T WE SAYING COME HERE IN THE SUMMER? I MEAN WHAT WE'RE APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE IS WHEN WE'RE PLAN TO RUN THIS CAMPAIGN, IF IT'S APPROVED, WHY ARE WE NOT MAKING A BIG DEAL? IT'S COOLER HERE THAN WHERE YOU ARE.
WELL, AND WE'VE DONE THAT BEFORE, YOU KNOW, COOL.
WE'VE HAD SO MANY FUN ITERATIONS OF THE WORD COOL AND COME UP AND BLAH, BLAH, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? BUT, UM, IT'LL ONLY MAKE SENSE IN MARKETS THAT ARE HOTTER.
SO PHOENIX, WE'VE EVEN STRUGGLED COMMUNICATING OBVIOUSLY THAT KIND OF MESSAGE TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CUZ THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, WE HAVE BETTER WEATHER WHERE WE'RE AT.
SO I THINK IT, IT, IT, IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE MARKET.
AND I THINK IF WE'RE NOT GOING WITH PHOENIX, IF WE, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION, THEN I, I DON'T KNOW IF THE MESSAGE MAKES AS MUCH SENSE.
WELL, BUT YOU DID PUT PHOENIX IN HERE AND YOU DIDN'T DO THAT.
AND, AND MY QUESTION IS, WHY, WHY WOULDN'T WE TARGET PHOENIX COME IF WE WERE TARGETING PHOENIX? COME HERE, IT'S COOLER.
WELL, I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO FIND, WE WANTED TO COME UP WITH A, UH, UM, A STRATEGY THAT REALLY DID HELP DRIVE FOLKS THROUGH THE DOORS OF OUR BUSINESSES A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST WHERE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TEMPERATURE.
LIKE EVEN IN CHICAGO IN THE WINTER, WE'VE RUN CAMPAIGNS TALKING ABOUT WARM UP YOUR, WARM UP YOUR WINTER.
SO WE'VE DONE THE TEMPERATURE APPROACH AND AGAIN, IN RELEVANT, UM, MARKETS AND IN RELEVANT SEASONS.
[03:55:01]
BUT IN THIS CASE, WE, WE WANTED TO DRIVE THAT BUSINESS AND WE THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, FOCUSING ON THAT ARTS AND CULTURE AUDIENCE AND GETTING THEM THROUGH THE DOORS OF THE BUSINESSES THAT WOULD SUPPORT THEM WAS THE BEST WAY TO GO.WE HAD A MEETING RECENTLY WITH THE, SOME OF THE, UH, OWNERS OF GALLERIES AND THEY TALKED ABOUT A BIG IMPACT ON THEM IS THE STOCK MARKET.
AND THAT WHEN THE STOCK MARKET IS DOING POORLY, PEOPLE ARE LESS, UH, YOU KNOW, MORE RELUCTANT TO SPEND $20,000 ON A PIECE OF ART, WHICH IS VERY DISCRETIONARY.
BUT IF THAT, AND THEY ALSO SAID FOR THOSE WHO HAD ANCILLARY BUSINESSES IN OTHER COMMUNITIES LIKE JACKSON AND SANTA FE, THAT THEY'RE ALSO DOING VERY POORLY IN, IN ART BECAUSE OF THE SAME REASON, BECAUSE OF THE STOCK MARKET.
SO IS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING GONNA HAVE AN IMPACT? BECAUSE WE CAN'T IMPACT THE STOCK MARKET.
SO WE'RE BRINGING PEOPLE HERE HIGHLY WORTH PEOPLE.
I DON'T KNOW IF $150,000 A YEAR PERSON'S GONNA SPEND $20,000 ON PIECE OF ART, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.
BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IS IS THAT EFFECTIVE? YOU FEEL THAT THIS MESSAGING IS EFFECTIVE GIVEN THAT SITUATION THAT THEY SHARED WITH US? WELL, I, I'M, I MEAN, THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
AND THERE ARE, THERE ARE ARE OFTEN ALL SORTS OF EXTERNAL VARIABLES THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO CONSIDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MESSAGING IS APPROPRIATE AND, AND WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE DOING IS APPROPRIATE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, AGAIN, KIND OF MORE OF A, OF A BROADER POOL OF THINGS.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE GALLERIES.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S THE SHOP, IT'S THE 80 GALLERIES AND SHOPS AND IT'S, IT'S THE DINING, IT'S THAT CLUSTER, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL APPEAL TO SOMEONE WHO'S MORE, UH, HAS THAT INTEREST IN BEING INDOORS AND KIND OF A LITTLE LESS RUGGED TYPE OF A TYPE OF, OF AN AUDIENCE.
UM, AND WE JUST, WE SAW IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN, KIND OF REINTRODUCE SEDONA IN A WAY THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IN A NUMBER OF YEARS.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT FELT LIKE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES THAT WAY.
DO YOU WANT TO ADD, YOU KNOW, UH, GIVE A, ANY COMMENTS AT ALL? NOT YET.
QUESTIONS? OH, QUESTIONS? YEAH.
THIS IS A, A THOUGHT THAT'S JUST KIND OF FARMING IN MY HEAD, SO I'M GONNA STRUGGLE WITH PUTTING IT TOGETHER MORE THAN I WOULD LIKE MICHELLE.
BUT YOU'VE HEARD A LOT TONIGHT.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE EVEN HAD PEOPLE LIKE DINA BARLOW TALK ABOUT LESS FLUFFY, MORE STRONG, MORE BE RESPONSIBLE, UH, AND YOU KNOW, MR. KELE TALKED ABOUT FOCUS.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN ALL MICHELLE, ABOUT GOING AWAY FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AND THINKING, REFOCUSING THE MESSAGE AND COMING BACK TO US WITH A SH YOU KNOW, A SHARPER ASK.
WOULD THAT BE USEFUL? I KNOW WE ALL LIKE TO DRIVE DE DECISIONS.
WE GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK THOUGH, AND I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS WHERE YOUR HEAD'S AT, WHETHER YOU THINK THERE'S SOME THINGS HERE THAT MADE SENSE AND YOU'D LIKE TO KIND OF CHANGE A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR ASK.
I THINK THE PHOENIX, UH, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATION IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER MM-HMM.
UM, I THINK WE ALL WERE KIND OF LIKE MAKING THAT NOTE.
UM, BUT I STILL FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE CONCEPT.
I STILL FEEL GOOD ABOUT DEFINITELY THE MEDIA.
I THINK IT'S SO EFFICIENT, UM, FOR THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE.
IT'S, IT'S A REALLY GOOD USE OF THE MONEY.
[04:00:01]
I WAS WAITING FOR LONNIE, LILLY TO SPEAK TONIGHT BECAUSE HE DOES A GREAT JOB OF EXPLAINING PACKET PAGE 1 47 IN HIS OWN WAY THAT, UH, I FIND, YOU KNOW, FAIRLY COMPELLING.AND IT'S THE, IT'S THE FUNNEL.
AND LONNIE TALKS ABOUT HOW, OKAY, PEOPLE KNOW THE UNITED STATES AOTS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THE STATE BE VISIBLE, AND THEN THE CITY IS FUNDING SOME MARKETING TO MAKE SEDONA VISIBLE.
AND THEN IT'S UP TO BUSINESSES TO MARKET THEMSELVES, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND I THINK FUNDAMENTALLY THAT MAKES SENSE, LIKE WHEN THE DAY IS DONE, AND, AND STEVE SEIGNER SAID IT TOO, LIKE, LET'S GET SOME BASELINE MARKETING GOING.
LIKE, I THINK THAT AS A CITY, AND WE'RE COLLECTING BED TAX TO PROMOTE TOURISM, THAT IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE SOME DEGREE OF ONGOING SUPPORT OF OUR BRANDS.
WHAT, WHATEVER THAT BRAND MESSAGE IS GOING TO BE.
I'M NOT SOLD ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS PRESENTED TONIGHT, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING CONSISTENT GOING, AND I MEAN, THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE MISERABLE, RIGHT? AND I'M LIKE, I'M, I'M A NEWBIE HERE, RIGHT? AND IT'S LIKE, I'M ALREADY TIRED OF BEATING, YOU KNOW, OUR HEADS AGAINST THE WALLS ON THIS, AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE TOO, RIGHT? SO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED THE DATA.
WE NEED STRATEGIES AND TACTICS.
WE'RE NOT GONNA GET THAT TONIGHT, BUT WE DO NEED TO ARRIVE AT A PLACE WHERE WE'RE NOT HAVING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, WRANGLE OVER THIS, YOU KNOW, EVERY THREE TO SIX MONTHS.
SO THAT'S KIND OF POINT NUMBER ONE.
YOU KNOW, THE, THE MIXED RESULTS COMMENT EARLIER, MICHELLE, I MEAN, LIKE, LITERALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL GOTTEN EMAILS.
IT IS MIXED RESULTS WHEN THE DAY IS DONE.
AND SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO PERSONALLY HAVE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THE REASON THAT THEY'RE DOING WELL IS, IS THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING AN OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE AND THEY'RE MARKETING THEMSELVES, AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE WINNING AND THEY'RE TAKING SHARE FROM OTHER BUSINESSES IN TOWN, AND THEY'RE UNABASHED ABOUT IT.
ALSO, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, JOHN BRADSHAW'S COMMENTS WERE REALLY INTERESTING.
AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO BE AS EMPATHETIC AS POSSIBLE.
AND I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, AND IN CASE Y'ALL DON'T KNOW THAT, AND I SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR ON MARKETING MYSELF.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO STRUGGLE TO GO THROUGH THE GREAT RECESSION AND, YOU KNOW, BARELY KEEP THE LIGHTS ON AND ALL THAT.
THE, THE PROBLEM THAT WE'VE GOT IS, IS THAT ONCE A BUSINESS IS STRUGGLING, WE CAN'T MARKET TO THE POINT OF TRYING TO SAVE EVERY STRUGGLING BUSINESS, BECAUSE IF WE DO, WE'RE GONNA OVERRUN THE, THE COMMUNITY TRYING TO DO THAT.
AND, AND THAT'S A DELICATE BALANCING ACT, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT BALANCING POINT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER THOUGHT, UM, REGARDING THE, THE SPEND 225 K AND THE EXPECTED RETURN.
OH, FOLKS, I'M GONNA ASK THIS AGAIN.
YOU'RE SAYING WE SPEND 225 K AND YOU CALL IT A SUCCESS IF 225 K MORE BUSINESS SHOWS UP IN SEDONA AS A BYPRODUCT OF THAT SPEND, CORRECT? WELL, THAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE IN A, IN A VERY, LIKE, UM, DEFINED PRODUCT ENVIRONMENT THAT I AS A, OKAY.
IT'S, THIS IS A LITTLE HARDER TO TRACK.
I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO TRACK.
I, I UNDERSTAND, BUT, BUT A ONE-TO-ONE RETURN IS NOT OKAY.
LIKE, IN MY BUSINESS, I WON'T ADVERTISE IF I CAN'T GET AT LEAST A THREE X R O A S.
SO ON A ONE X R O A S I MEAN GIFT CLAUSE, NOTWITHSTANDING KURT, WE MIGHT AS WELL, YOU KNOW, JUST HAND OUT THE 225 K TO ALL THE BUSINESSES IN TOWN, BECAUSE I MEAN, THAT'S LITERALLY A BETTER OUTCOME FOR THEM.
BECAUSE IF, IF THIS 225 K SPEND RESULTS IN 225 K IN MORE BUSINESS COMING INTO TOWN, LIKE IF THAT ALL WENT TO THE 80 GALLERIES WE HAVE, THEY'D EACH GET $2,812 IN INCREMENTAL REVENUE.
THAT'S NOT GONNA MAKE THEIR YEAR.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA GO, OH, WOW, THIS WAS GREAT.
SO I'M REALLY CONCERNED THAT THERE'S A, A VERY INADEQUATE RETURN THAT'S EXPECTED ON THIS CAMPAIGN.
NOW, I REALIZE THAT MAYBE THERE'LL BE FURTHER RESIDUAL RETURN BEYOND THE CAMPAIGN TIME PERIOD, BUT AS A SHORT TERM RESULT, ONE X R O A S IS A NON-STARTER FOR ME.
SO, UM, THOSE ARE A FEW OF MY OPENING COMMENTS.
[04:05:03]
THERE WAS AN UNDERCURRENT OF SOMETHING THAT I, I JUST WANNA ADDRESS BECAUSE I, UM, AS I SAID, IT WAS AN UNDERCURRENT, BUT I FIND IT A LITTLE DISTURBING BECAUSE IT WAS SUGGESTED, I THINK, BY SOME OF THE SPEAKERS THAT IF WE DON'T SUPPORT MARKETING AND, UM, THIS PARTICULAR REQUEST THAT WE'RE NOT SUPPORTING BUSINESS, AND I, I, THAT DISTURBS ME.UM, BECAUSE WE DO SUPPORT BUSINESS AND WORKERS, THE CITY AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL HAVE GONE OUT ITS WAY TO TRY AND SUPPORT BUSINESSES BY LISTENING TO THE OVERARCHING COMMENT THAT'S BEEN MADE THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ABOUT HOW WORKERS CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN SEDONA.
SO TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT SITUATION THROUGH A DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND THROUGH WORKFORCE HOUSING, UM, PROJECTS THAT ARE IN DEVELOPMENT THAT'S SUPPORTS BUSINESS AND DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE NUMBER ONE, UH, ASK OR COMMENT THAT WAS BEING PUT FORWARD BY BUSINESSES.
WE SUPPORT BUSINESS, UH, BY MAKING SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTED NOW IN OUR RELATIONSHIP, UH, SUCH AS OPENING UP THE REC CARD SYSTEM TO ALL OF THE BUSINESSES IN SEDONA, THAT'S SUPPORTING BUSINESS.
THAT'S A CHANGE THAT THIS COUNCIL ASKED FOR TO SUPPORT BUSINESS.
UH, WE SUPPORT BUSINESS BY TRYING TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC, WHICH HAS BEEN A, AGAIN, A, A MAJOR COMPLAINT THAT HELPS GET PEOPLE TO YOUR RESTAURANTS AND YOUR SHOPS.
UM, SO AGAIN, THERE ARE WAYS OF SUPPORTING BUSINESS THAT WERE NOT DISCUSSED HERE TONIGHT.
AND INSTEAD IT'S JUST BEEN SUGGESTED THAT MORE MARKETING IS THE ANSWER AS OPPOSED TO MANAGEMENT, UM, HERE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO, TO WORK ON.
SO I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT SUPPORTING BUSINESS AND TO NOT MARKET IS NOT SUPPORTING BUSINESS.
AND I JUST REALLY NEEDED TO GET THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE IT, IT'S, UM, IT'S DISCOURAGING WHEN YOU SIT UP HERE TO HAVE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT YOU'VE TRIED TO BE RESPONSIVE ON DISCOUNTED, UH, BECAUSE THERE'S A NEW ASK ON THE TABLE OR SOMETHING, WHICH IS IT'S SPY THAT THE NEWEST IS ON THE TABLE.
BUT THE HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE SEEMS TO HAVE NOT BEEN A PART OF THAT DISCUSSION.
AND, AND THAT DID DISTURB ME NOW TO THIS SPECIFIC REQUEST TONIGHT.
UM, IT CONCERNS ME THAT IT'S A DEPARTURE FROM PREVIOUS MESSAGING, WHICH DID SPEAK TO BEHAVIOR THAT WAS NOT A PART OF THIS.
UH, IT JUST SORT OF TARGETS GETTING MORE PEOPLE HERE.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT, AND THAT IS THE REQUEST.
IT'S LIKE, WE'VE ABANDONED, COME HERE AND MAKE SURE YOU PICK UP AFTER YOUR GARBAGE, COME HERE AND DISPERSE TO DIFFERENT AREAS AND COME HERE AND, YOU KNOW, ACT RESPECTFULLY AND DON'T BE IN, IN, I MEAN, I KNOW OF A CASE OF AN INFLUENCER WHO WAS VERY PROUDLY POSTING THEMSELVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, CARVING INTO OUR RED ROCKS.
SO, YOU KNOW, SO I, IT'S JUST NOT ABOUT GETTING MORE PEOPLE HERE.
IT'S ABOUT BEHAVIOR WHEN YOU'RE HERE.
AND THAT WASN'T ADDRESSED AT ALL IN THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO IMPART, I'M JUST NOT ALSO CONVINCED THAT THIS TARGETS THE THREE TO FOUR NIGHTS STAY CUSTOMER THAT WE'VE AGREED UPON IN THE PAST HAS BEEN THE TARGET CUSTOMER BASE.
UM, AGAIN, AND IT DOESN'T SPEAK TO, IF SOMEBODY'S COMING UP SHORT TERM, HOW THEY SHOULD BE HERE, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY SHOULD BEHAVE HERE.
THE POINT WAS MADE, I THINK, BY COUNSELOR FOLTZ, THAT, UM, NOBODY IS STOP.
AND IT WAS MADE IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL.
NOBODY'S STOPPING ANY BUSINESSES FROM REACHING OUT.
SOMEBODY MADE THE COMMENT, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVING A PAST CUSTOMER COME BACK ONE MORE TIME WOULD ACTUALLY HELP THAT BUSINESS GREATLY.
YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A CUSTOMER BASE THAT BUSINESSES WANT TO REACH OUT TO, NOBODY'S STOPPING THAT, YOU KNOW,
SO AGAIN, THIS DOESN'T ADDRESS TO ME A LOT OF THE POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP THAT WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSION WITH.
SO I, I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WITH THAT.
AND, UM, AND LAST POINT, AGAIN, ABOUT THE PIVOT.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE PIVOT IS IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF THE LOCATION, BUT WE ALSO WERE TALKING ABOUT PIVOTING THE MESSAGING.
IF THIS ISN'T WORKING AND PIVOTING
[04:10:01]
ON MESSAGING EVERY TWO WEEKS OR THREE WEEKS OR A MONTH EVEN, OR SIX MONTHS EVEN, ISN'T BRANDING AND IT ISN'T ACHIEVING WHAT WE WANT IN TERMS OF THE MESSAGE AND THE TARGET AND THE AUDIENCE.SO I'M, I'M, I THINK THAT COUNCIL FURMAN HAD A GOOD QUESTION BEFORE WHEN HE SAID, MAYBE THIS SHOULD BE RETHOUGHT, UM, BECAUSE TO ME IT JUST DOESN'T, IT'S NOT HITTING THE MARKS.
AND AGAIN, I'M VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT SOME OF WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TRYING TO SUPPORT BUSINESS HAS BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE EQUATION IN AND THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD.
UM, YOU WANNA DO COUNSELOR DUNN, SINCE SHE'S STILL, IT'S ONLY TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING BY HER
DON, ARE YOU STILL WITH US? YES, SIR, I AM.
DO YOU HAVE SOME, UH, SOME FINAL COMMENTS? IT'S, IT'S AT 10 OF ONE IN THE MORNING.
UM, I, I THINK WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IS ALSO SPOT ON.
AND, AND I WOULD AGREE, I THINK THAT SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE FROM THE PUBLIC, UM, ALSO NEED TO BE CONSIDERED POTENTIALLY IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
WE HAVE DISCUSSED IN MULTIPLE SETTINGS, UM, BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL AND AFTER I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL AROUND THE FACT THAT, UM, WE WANT TO CHANGE SEDONA, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IMAGE IS, AND WE THINK WE, THAT THERE HAS TO BE SOME WAY FOR US TO FIND A COMPROMISE BETWEEN WHAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WANTS TO DO, WHAT OUR RESIDENTS WANTS TO DO, AND WHAT THE US FOREST SERVICE IS DOING.
UM, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, ALLOWING OHB SO FORTH AND SO ON.
SO, I DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE YET.
AND I DON'T THINK TARGETING THE PHOENIX MARKET TO PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE ON COUNCIL'S POINT IS GOING TO GET US WHAT WE WANT.
I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED THE ECONOMY TO REMAIN HEALTHY IN SEDONA, BUT I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO YET.
AND SO WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS, I HAVE THE SAME FEELING AS COUNSELOR KINSELLA AND OTHER COUNSELORS.
I, I DIDN'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO GET US WHERE WE WANT TO GO.
AND COUNSELOR QUOTES BROUGHT UP AN AMAZING POINT AROUND, ARE WE AT A POINT WHERE IF IT'S ONE FOR ONE, WHAT ARE WE REALLY DOING? HOW, WHAT ARE WE REALLY ACCOMPLISHING HERE? SO I, I THINK THAT THAT TO, TO COUNSELOR FURMAN'S POINT, THIS NEEDS A RETHINK.
I HOPE THAT WAS COHERENT FOR ONE IN THE MORNING.
LOTS OF VERY GOOD THINGS, UH, HAVE BEEN SAID.
I'LL TRY NOT TO REPEAT THEM MOSTLY.
MICHELLE, I WISH YOU WOULD GIVE, TAKE THE LIFELINE.
I THREW YOU BEFORE
I, I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT I KNOW THAT I, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT EVERY ONE OF MY COUNCIL DI COLLEAGUES HERE SUPPORT A HEALTHY, THRIVING ECONOMY IN SEDONA.
I, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT COUNSELORS ARE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF BUSINESS, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE.
I, I'M A TWO-HANDED ECONOMIST.
NOW, ON THE OTHER HAND,
SO, I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH US NOT CONTINUING TO DEFINE WHAT IT IS THAT WE WANT TO HAPPEN HERE IN OUR CITY.
AND SO, I I, I'M KIND OF SUPPORTIVE OF US TRYING TO GO SOMEWHERE.
I SHARE MANY, MANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT MY COLLEAGUES HERE HAVE EXPRESSED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM.
AND I'VE SHARED MY PARTICULAR CONCERNS THAT WERE JUST SPREADING THE BUTTER TOO THIN ON THE BREAD AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE RESULT.
COUNSELOR FOLTZ MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, A CALCULATION THAT JUST SAYS, I, I'M HOPING THAT THE TIMES ONE R O A S I'LL PRETEND THAT I KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
IT IS GONNA BE MORE THAN THAT.
AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU IN A PUBLIC SETTING MIGHT NOT WANT TO COMMIT TO, TO ACHIEVING BETTER THAN THAT.
[04:15:01]
THAT YOU DO.I, AND I THINK IT, WE ALL NEED IT TO, I'M GOING TO CALL OUT.
I'VE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE, BUT I'M GONNA DO IT IN THIS CASE.
MR. MARTINEZ, YOU SAW AN AD FOR MISSISSIPPI.
DID YOU GO TO MISSISSIPPI? I'LL BET YOU DIDN'T.
AND I'M WONDERING WHY YOU SAW IT.
THAT'S NOT HIGHLY TARGETED MARKETING.
AND MR. KIME, I'M NOT SURE THAT YOU ACTUALLY MEANT WHAT YOU SAID.
I'VE, I'VE TALKED WITH YOU ENOUGH TIMES ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE, BUT ACTUALLY NOT CARING.
I KNOW WE ALL CARE THAT THE MONEY WE SPENT ACTUALLY HAS AN EFFECT.
AND I, I WOULD BET THAT YOU PROBABLY WOULD RETRACT THAT STATEMENT IF YOU WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY.
WE WANT THE THINGS THAT WE DO TO HAVE AN IMPACT.
WE'RE NOT JUST HERE TO THROW MONEY AWAY TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL BETTER.
SO I THINK THAT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WE'VE GIVEN YOU A LOT OF ROPE TO HANG YOURSELVES ON.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY NOT VERY MUCH ROPE
BUT YOU KNOW, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HANG YOURSELVES ON IT.
YOU'LL KNOW VERY MUCH OF THE METRICS, THE THINGS, THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
AND IF THIS DOESN'T WORK, IT'S GONNA BE TROUBLE GOING FORWARD.
I, I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT IF IT DOESN'T WORK, THE FIRST RESPONSE IS GONNA BE, WE SHOULD HAVE SPENT MORE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ONLY HAVE THIS MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO DO IT.
SO I'M REALLY VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR APPROACH, THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING SOMETHING.
AND IT'S NOT VERY MUCH, I'M AFRAID IT'S NOT REALLY GONNA HAVE AN IMPACT, BUT THAT'S GONNA BE ON ALL OF US.
COUNCIL WILLIAMSON, THANK YOU FOR NOT TELLING ME BEFORE I SPEAK HOW LATE IT IS.
WE HAVEN'T PUT ANY MONEY TOWARD THIS FOR THREE YEARS.
I DON'T THINK IT'S DIRE STRAITS.
I, UM, I THINK THERE'S CONCERNS.
I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS CONCERNS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE ALL SUPPORT PO WE ALL SUPPORT AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING, BUT NOT HERE, NOT THIS PROJECT.
WE ALL SUPPORT, WE ALL SUPPORT BUSINESSES, BUT NOT THIS PROJECT.
LET'S KICK THAT CAN DOWN THE ROAD A LITTLE MORE.
WE HAVE, WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT WE'RE PRETTY SURE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA WON'T WORK.
UM, AND I EXPECT, YOU KNOW, A LOT MORE ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA THAN ANY OF US DO.
UM, THE FACT THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT FACEBOOK IS REALLY NOT PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT.
UM, SO I, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD 400 CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CHAMBER ABOUT WHAT WE WANT.
WE'RE NOT GETTING WHAT WE WANT.
WELL, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WANT.
AS WE HAVE SAID 500 TIMES OVER THE LAST MEETINGS, WE WANT, WE REALLY, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE WANT.
WHAT WE REALLY WANT IS VERY F IS THE, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING TO SEDONA TO BE CUT WAY, WAY, WAY, WAY DOWN.
AND THEN MAYBE WE'D WANT THESE RICH PEOPLE FROM WHEREVER THEY'RE COMING TO COME.
THAT'S NOT WHERE WE HA WE AREN'T.
THOSE PE OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME, NO MATTER WHETHER WE DO THIS OR WE DON'T DO THIS.
POLARIS IS GOING TO SPEND, IT'S $90,000 A DAY, A WEEK, A MONTH ADVERTISING.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE WANT AN ALTERNATE MESSAGE OUT THERE.
I'M SORRY, JOHN, AM I TALKING TOO LOUD? AN ALTERNATE MESSAGE OUT THERE THAT DEFINES OUR BRAND.
THAT'S REALLY ALL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, AT LEAST AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY DON'T WANT ANOTHER PENNY SP ON ADVERTISING, AND THEY DON'T WANT US TO LOOK LIKE WE'RE, AND WE ARE RESPONDING TO THAT BECAUSE WE ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
UM, YOU KNOW, SOME, A HANDFUL OF OF RESIDENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
A BIG SI A BIG, NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT NUMBER, UH, WANTED GRASS IN THE DOG PARK.
WE PUT DOG, WE PUT GRASS IN THAT DOG PARK, EVEN IF IT MAKES NO SENSE TO PUT GRASS IN A DOG PARK.
WELL, WHEN BUSINESSES COME AND THEY WANT SOME MONEY FROM MARKETING, WHICH THEY HAVEN'T HAD FOR THREE YEARS, WHEN YOU SAY, OH, NO, IT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT, WE DON'T
[04:20:01]
THE FACT THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WANT IS KIND OF IRRELEVANT.UM, AND I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, I THINK TO SOME EXTENT WE SPEAK OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF OUR MOUTH.
WE SAY WE SUPPORT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND WE DO, WE SUPPORT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, FOR RIGHT OR WRONG, BETTER OR WORSE, ARE THE DOG OWNERS WHO WANT GRASS IN THE DOG PARK.
THEY WANT WHAT THEY WANT, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM, EVEN IF IT MAKES NO SENSE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BRAND US.
AND I LIKE, I LIKE THIS MESSAGE.
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD MESSAGE.
I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT PHOENIX.
UM, WE ARGUE THAT THE 135 ISN'T ENOUGH.
WELL, IF IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, WE COULD ADD MORE.
UM, WE, I THINK WE'RE MAKING A LOT OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF ARGUMENTS HERE.
UM, AND, AND I THINK, AND I, I DON'T THINK, I THINK WHETHER WE ACTUALLY WANNA DO ANY MARKETING OR NOT IS KIND OF THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE HERE.
UM, I'M NOT A BIG PROPONENT OF MARKETING.
I DON'T REALLY WANT ANY MORE PEOPLE HERE EITHER.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT SINCE THE DAY I GOT HERE 20 YEARS AGO, AND THAT'S REALLY MY BENCHMARK.
I DON'T SEE A LOT OF THINGS HAVING CHANGED SINCE THEN IN TERMS OF WHAT, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR A HIGHER INCOME VISITOR WHO STAYS THREE OR FOUR DAYS AND SPENDS MONEY.
UM, WHAT, AND IT'S JUST TO OFFSET THE OTHER KINDS OF VISITORS WHO REALLY, A LOT OF THEM DON'T REALLY SPEND MONEY.
A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WERE RELATED HERE IS FACTS AREN'T REALLY, REALLY FACTS.
I MEAN, SOMEONE SAID IT'S SAFE TO SAY IF VISITORS COME HERE, THEY'RE STAYING IN A HOTEL ROOM.
NO, IT'S NOT SAFE TO SAY THAT
UM, WHAT ELSE? IT'S NOT TRUE THAT IF HALF THE PEOP AS MANY PE IF IF HOTELS ARE AT 50% OCCUPANCY, IT MEANS HALF AS MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING.
NO, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT BECAUSE THERE'S MAYBE JUST AS MANY PEOPLE COMING WHO ARE STAYING IN SHORT TERM RENTALS.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF SAID THAT'S, THAT'S JUST NOT REALLY ACCURATE.
DOESN'T REFLECT THE CURRENT BUSINESS.
AND I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, HOTELS ARE, FA HOTELS ARE FACING A CHALLENGE IN SEDONA THEY HAVE NEVER HAD BEFORE, WHICH IS THE PRELIMINARY SHORT OF WORLD.
I'M NOT SURE, LOOKING AT HOTEL OCCUPANCY IS THE WAY TO CAPTURE WHAT, WHAT THE ECO, IT'S CERTAINLY A WAY TO CAPTURE HOW HOTELS ARE DOING
OUR OUR SALES AND BED TAXES ARE GOOD.
THEY'RE BELOW THE SUR THE GREAT SURGE, BUT THEY'RE STILL VERY STRONG.
I MEAN, YOU COULD, THE ARGUMENT COULD BE MADE THAT PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.
BUSINESSES START BUSINESSES GO OUT OF BUS.
THEY, THEY GO OUT OF BUSINESS FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
SOME OF THEM SELL THINGS NOBODY WANTS TO BUY.
UM, SO I GUESS WHERE I'M, WHERE I'M COMING OUT AFTER THIS KIND OF LARGE DIGRESSION IS THE BUSINESSES HAVE ASKED FOR MARKETING.
THEY'VE ASKED FOR GRASS IN THEIR DOG PARK.
UM, THEY'RE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE NOT DONE MARKETING FOR THREE YEARS.
I THINK WE NEED TO GET OUT THERE AND BRAND OURSELVES AS AN AFFLUENT COMMUNITY.
MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE MICHELIN STARRED WRESTLER, BUT THE, THE, WHAT I SAW IN THERE IS NOT NECESSARILY THAT WE HAVE A RODEO DRIVE OR EVERYTHING, BUT THAT WE'RE IN A, WE'RE AN AFFLUENT COMMUNITY WHERE AFFLUENT PEOPLE COULD COME AND HAVE A GOOD TIME BEING AFFLUENT.
THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT THE MESSAGE IS.
AND THAT'S THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE BRINGING OR THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BRING.
AND I THINK IT'S FAIR TO DO IT AT THIS POINT.
I DON'T THINK THE WORLD'S COMING TO AN END.
I'VE ACTUALLY NEVER HEARD A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER SAY TO ME, I'M DOING GREAT.
BECAUSE THEY LIVE DAY TO DAY, DAY, MOUTH TO
[04:25:01]
MOUTH, AND A LOT MOUTH, WHATEVER IT IS.I HAVE A, I HAVE ANOTHER OPINION.
UM, I THINK I KNOW WHAT I WANT.
UH, I'VE KNOWN WHAT I WANT FOR A WHILE.
WE NEED TO TAKE OUR BRANDING BACK.
I'M TIRED OF POLARIS BRANDING.
I'M TIRED OF, I MEAN, GETTING MESSAGES.
POLARIS JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU HEARD COMMITTED $80,000 PER MONTH AND WE ARE GONNA DO NOTHING.
NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE MESSAGE FROM YOU SHOULD BE SOMETHING OUTDOORS.
CAUSE I LIKE THE INDOOR MESSAGE.
BUT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO TAKE OUR MESSAGING BACK.
AND AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, MICHELLE, I'VE BEEN OUT ON MY OWN SOMETIMES WITH THE VICE MAYOR TALKING WITH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
I KNOW THE HOTELS LIKE COUNCIL WILLIAMSON SAID THEY'RE DOWN 50%, BUT COUNCIL WILLIAMSON IS SORT OF RIGHT.
IF THEY'RE DOWN 50%, THE OTHER 50% CAN BE IN THE SHORT TERM RENTAL.
IT'S NOT THE BEST GUIDE ANYMORE.
BUT WHEN I TALK TO BUSINESS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, SOME OF THE SMALLER GALLERY OWNERS, AND THEY SAY FROM 19 TILL NOW THEY'RE DOWN 30%.
INFLATION CAUSES A LOT OF THAT.
A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS IS THEY DON'T, THEY CAN'T STAY OPEN AS LONG AS THEY WANT TO BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE EMPLOYEES.
THEY'RE STILL NOT MAKING THE PROFITS OR THE, THE, THE MONEY OR THE LIVELIHOOD THAT THEY USED TO.
I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO DO MARKETING.
THIS IS A TIME TO DO MARKETING.
WHETHER THAT MESS MESSAGE THAT YOU'RE PUTTING OUT, I DON'T AGREE WITH SOME OF IT, BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD BE MORE FOCUSED ON THINGS THAT WE REALLY HAVE IN SEDONA.
WE DON'T HAVE PERFORMING ARTS, SO DON'T, YOU KNOW, FOCUS ON OUR GALLERIES.
WE HAVE FA FABULOUS GALLERIES FOCUS.
I MEAN, THE RESTAURANTS, WE HAVE GREAT RESTAURANTS.
I WAS SAYING TO SOMEONE TODAY, YOU KNOW, NEW YORK CITY HAS WITH A NOBU RESTAURANT.
IT'S THE, LIKE THE BIGGEST JAPANESE PLACE.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT HERE, BUT IT'S IN SCOTTSDALE.
OH, IS IT REALLY? IN SCOTTDALE? OH, WE'RE GONNA GO THERE.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO GO THERE,
BUT YOU KNOW, LET'S FOCUS ON OUR FOUR OR FIVE STARS.
IF WE HAD NOBU RESTAURANT, THAT'S FINE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FABULOUS RESTAURANTS.
I'M NOT GONNA NAME THEM NOW, BUT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.
WE NEED TO HELP SOME OF OUR SMALL RESTAURANTS.
THEY'RE NOT WORLD CLASS, BUT THEY'RE DARN GOOD.
AND FROM A NEW YORKER TO SAY THAT, WHERE OUR FOOD IS DARN GOOD, IT'S DARN GOOD.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.
I I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE, IF WE LISTENING HERE, IF WE HAVE THE VOTES TO MOVE FORWARD.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT, IF YOU ARE GONNA TAKE COUNSELOR, UH, FURMAN'S IDEA OR SUGGESTION AND COME BACK, WE CAN'T COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS OR, WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
CAN, CAN WE USE THE WORK SESSION, UH, VACANT WORK SESSION DAY IN TWO WEEKS? WELL, I THINK ONE THAT'S UP TO COUNSELS.
WE DO HAVE A VACANCY IN THE WORK SESSION, BUT IT'S ALSO AS A, WELL, I, I'M JUST GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY, THE PACKETS WOULD BE DUE, UM, NEXT WEEK.
I THINK WE HAVE AN EXTRA WEEK IN THERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD BE READY TO BE.
I'M JUST, BUT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WHAT MICHELLE SAID OF, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO PASS UP ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.
UH, MAYOR, WE DO HAVE, WE'RE HAPPY TO REVISIT AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF POWWOW AND COME BACK TO YOU, UM, WITH TONIGHT'S INPUT THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED.
BUT WE WOULD NEED MORE LIKE THREE WEEKS TO GET THAT BACK, YOU KNOW, THAT NEW CONCEPT AND TWEAKS AND ET CETERA.
THAT WOULD PUT US, IF YOU DID THAT, COULD YOU REALLY DIAL IT IN INSTEAD OF GIVE DOING A, A THREE HOUR PRESENTATION AND, AND HAVE THIS DISCUSSION, DIAL IT INTO THE, YOU KNOW, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO REPEAT EVERYTHING.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE COUNCIL EVEN IS, IS AGREEABLE.
I'M, I'M JUST, I WANT TO KNOW IF THEY COULD TURN AROUND AND SAY THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED BEFORE I EVEN ASK YOU.
WE, WE CAN DO IT IF, IF THERE IS INTEREST IN THE CAMPAIGN IN GENERAL IN IN MARKETING.
COUNCIL FOLT, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP FIRST.
BUT AS PART OF THE RELOOK, I MEAN, AGAIN, I'M GONNA BE A STICKLER ABOUT THERE'S GOTTA BE A BETTER THAN ONE-TO-ONE R OS.
DEFINITELY WHAT I SAID WAS THAT WE START WITH A ONE-TO-ONE, UM, AT, WHEN WE GO INTO CAMPAIGNS, BUT DEFINITELY WE EXPECT HIGHER THAN THAT.
IN THIS SITUATION WHERE I CAN'T TRACK SPECIFIC REVENUE, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME TO GO ON RECORD SAYING I CAN GET A TWO OR THREE OR A FOUR TO ONE ONE BECAUSE I CAN'T TRACK THAT.
[04:30:01]
WHAT I'M USED TO WORKING WITH, WITH, WHEN WE DO PROJECT THOSE KINDS OF RETURNS IS I HAVE SPECIFIC TAGS.SO I KNOW THAT HE SAW A BANNER, HE CLICKED ON IT, HE WENT TO THE RESERVATION PAGE, HE RESERVED A THREE NIGHT STAY, AND IT WAS X NUMBER OF REVENUE.
SO THAT'S WHERE IT, IT BECOMES JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE I CAN'T TRACK THAT.
AND WE'RE SENDING PEOPLE, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, HOTEL PAGES THAT ARE COMPLETELY OUT OF MICHELLE'S, UH, RESPONSIBILITY TO BOOK AND A LOT MORE THAT GOES INTO WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY CONVERTS CONVERT IT.
ISN'T THE BOOKING ENGINE STILL ON VISIT SEDONA? IT IS.
UM, BUT IT, IT, WELL IT, IT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE HOTEL SITES FOR THE BOOKING.
SO IT'S, IT'S KIND OF JUST A, A LANDING PAGE MORE THAN IT IS LIKE AN ACTUAL BOOKING ENGINE WHERE WE, WHERE WE TRACK.
BUT YOU CAN TRACK THAT, RIGHT? UM, WE CAN PROBABLY TRACK GOING TO THE LANDING PAGE.
THEY GO TRANS TRANSITION TO THE HOTEL PAGE.
WE CAN'T TRACK WHAT THEY BOOKED OR WHAT THE REVENUE.
DO YOU AT LEAST KNOW THAT THEY DID IT? OKAY.
WE KNOW THAT THEY, WE KNOW THAT THEY WENT TO, YEAH.
BRIAN, I'M GONNA GO DOWN THE, THE DAY IS, ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THEM COMING BACK FOR FUTURE? YES MA'AM.
VICE MAYOR, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS AND I WANNA SUPPORT SOMETHING, SO PLEASE COME BACK WITH SOMETHING WE CAN SUPPORT.
COUNCILOR KINSELLA, DO YOU, WHAT'S YOUR OPINION? I'M VERY TORN ON THIS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT IT, WHAT THE ASK IS SAYING, GO OUT AND WITHIN THREE WEEKS, YOU KNOW, COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT, I DON'T KNOW, THAT THREE WEEKS IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU TO IDENTIFY AND, AND IT PUTS AN EXPECTATION THAT YOU'RE COMING BACK WITH A COUPLE OF TWEAKINGS THAT THERE MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, A DIFFERENT RESPONSE THAN THERE MIGHT BE.
I THINK IT'S, UM, I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK I'M, I THINK THERE'S AN ASK IN FRONT OF US TONIGHT THAT SHOULD ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN ON ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ON VOTING IT UP OR DOWN.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IS GOING TO CHANGE IN TERMS OF OVERALL DIALOGUE.
YOU'LL COME BACK IN THREE WEEKS WITH SOMETHING AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THIS BODY WHO SHOULDN'T BE MICROMANAGING THAT ASPECT OF IT WILL, AGAIN, SPEND THIS TIME AND MICROMANAGE IT, AND THEN IT WON'T MEET EXPECTATIONS THAT SOME MAY HAVE OR OTHERS WON'T.
AND I JUST THINK THAT THAT'S NOT, UM, EXCUSE ME, JOHN AND I YES, I KNOW, BUT IF WE COULD KEEP AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION DOWN, IT'D BE, IT'S A LITTLE DISTRACTING.
UM, SO I JUST, I JUST DON'T WANT AN UNFAIR EXPECTATION ON YOU.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO, YOU KNOW, I I, I WANNA BE FAIR TO THE CHAMBER AND I DON'T, I, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS FAIR.
SO YEAH, MICHELLE, IF YOU THINK THAT IT'S USEFUL TO COME BACK, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF YOU COMING BACK.
COUNCIL LAMPSON AND THEN I'LL BOTH REMEMBER MELISSA, I SURE.
UM, I, I, ONE OF OUR COUNSELORS SAID ONE TIME, RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS A NON-STARTER AND THERE IS NO WAY ANYBODY CAN GUARANTEE RIGHT.
ANYTHING AS A RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
SO I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S GOING, COMING BACK IN THREE WEEKS IS GONNA SOLVE ANYTHING FOR YOU.
UM, I I I I THINK COUNCILPERSON, KINSELLA IS, IS, IS, IS ACTUALLY TRUE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ON THIS COUNCIL ANY, ANY REAL INCLINATION TO DO MARKETING NOW.
AND I REALLY THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO TELL TO, TO HAVE MICHELLE AND THE TEAM.
I MEAN, I'M SURE THEY WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK.
I MEAN, BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S PROBABLY A NO.
SO YEAH, I SUPPORT COMING BACK, BUT I EXPECT WE'RE GONNA HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME CONVERSATION.
EVERYBODY'S GOING TO HAVE ALL THESE SECOND GUESSES, REASONS WHY WHATEVER YOU COME BACK WITH ISN'T, ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH EITHER.
CUZ IT WON'T DO WHAT WE THINK WE WANT IT TO DO, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.
NO ONE WANTS TO SAY THEY DON'T WANNA DO MARKETING.
IF, IF PEOPLE WOULD JUST SAY, I DON'T WANNA DO ANY MARKETING IT, WE DON'T HAVE TO LIKE DRAG THIS OUT ANY LONGER.
I MEAN, IF THANK YOU TO RESPECT ALL OF OUR TIME.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF, I MEAN, I JUST, I DON'T, I, MY GUT FEELING IS COMING BACK.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP ANYTHING.
BUT, UH, I, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY ELSE HAS ANOTHER OPINION.
[04:35:02]
RIGHT.I, I KNOW I DON'T, JOHN NOT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL FROM THE AUDIENCE PLEASE.
UM, UH, BUT MELISSA, I'M SORRY YOU'RE THERE.
SO, UM, HONESTLY FOR ME, THIS ISN'T ABOUT MARKETING OR NOT MARKETING AT, AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SAY THIS IS OUR BRAND AND WE WANNA MARKET OURSELVES.
UM, I THINK FOR ME, THE POINT IS, I DON'T SEE THE PRESENTATION ADDRESSING THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE ASKED TO BE ADDRESSED AROUND WHO ARE WE, WHETHER IT'S AROUND BEHAVIOR OR WHETHER IT'S ABOUT THE, THE PEOPLE WHO COME OR WHETHER OR NOT IT'S ABOUT THE INTERNET LISTS WE GET ON, YOU KNOW, UM, WHETHER IT'S ABOUT POLARIS BEING ABLE, ABLE TO OUT OUTMARKET US.
THIS IS REALLY ABOUT, ARE, ARE WE HAPPY WHEN WE LOOKED AT THAT PRESENTATION SAYING THAT'S WHO SEDONA IS AND, AND THAT'S GONNA GET US WHERE WE WANNA GO.
AND I THINK IT'S ONLY PART OF THE STORY.
AND SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GET BEHIND MARKETING THAT A STORY THAT WE, WE ALL AGREE ON AS A COMMUNITY.
AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE YET.
AND, AND I DON'T, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT THE CHAMBER IS THE WRONG GROUP AT ALL.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT WASN'T THE MESSAGE THAT I WOULD'VE HOPED TO SEE.
AND I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S THE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WILL ACTUALLY WANNA COME WHEN IT'S 110 DEGREES.
SO, I, I'M NOT, I JUST, I JUST WASN'T CONVINCED ON THE PLAN.
SO MICHELLE, LET ME PUT TO PUT IT OUT THIS WAY.
DO YOU FEEL THAT THE, THE PLAN CAN CHANGE ENOUGH AFTER LISTENING TO THIS, THE SEVEN OF US WHERE IT'S GONNA PAY FOR YOU TO TAKE THE TIME AND THEN IT WOULDN'T, IT WOULDN'T BE THREE WEEKS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE PACKET IN THREE WEEKS FOR A FOUR WEEK, UH, DATE, RIGHT? FOR, FOR A WORK SESSION? UNLESS THE FIVE WEEK, WHAT'S THAT? FOR FIVE OR SIX WEEKS.
AND THEN, I MEAN, I KNOW THAT IN TWO WEEKS WE HAVE A WORK SESSION THAT'S TOO QUICK.
YOU SEE THE SITUATION, YOU KNOW, THAT WE ARE IN, ALL OF US ARE IN RIGHT NOW.
SO DO YOU THINK IT PAYS OR DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A VOTE RIGHT NOW? UH, I, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO TURN OUT.
WELL, LET, LET I HAVE A QUESTION TO MICHELLE FIRST.
UH, IT'S, YEAH, IT IS A TOUGH SPOT.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK IN SOME WAYS THE EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT THIS IS ARE VERY HIGH.
AND I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT THERE ARE MANY, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMMENTS TONIGHT ABOUT WHO ARE WE, AND THIS KIND OF LARGE BRAND PIECE, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE CALLED THIS A BRIDGE CAMPAIGN.
IT, IT'S, IT'S TO HELP RIGHT NOW, I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK THAT THIS IS THE BIG BRANDING EFFORT THAT IS, THAT WE'RE GONNA STICK WITH FOR THREE YEARS.
THIS WAS TO HELP BUSINESSES NOW AND TO GET US STARTED.
RIGHT? SO IT, IT, IF, IF, SO PART OF ME WANTS TO ASK IF THIS IS, UM, IF, IF THERE IS NO INTENTION OF EVEN MAYBE MARKETING NEXT YEAR, THEN I WORRY ABOUT EVEN THIS CAMPAIGN BECAUSE ULTIMATELY TO ME THE QUESTION IS CAN WE OPEN THIS DOOR BACK UP? CAN WE SUPPORT OUR BUSINESSES AND START BEING A DMO AS WELL AS THE, A MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION, A MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION ONCE AGAIN.
AND, AND THIS WAS, THIS WAS THE FIRST STEP.
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE HOPEFUL FOR.
AND, AND I'M NOT SURE IF, I MEAN, I DON'T WANNA SAY NO AND I WANNA FIGHT THE FIGHT TONIGHT, AND I WANNA TELL YOU, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED BECAUSE I WANNA SUPPORT MY BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
SO THIS IS A REALLY TOUGH SPOT TO BE IN TO SAY, YOU KNOW, REALISTICALLY, BASED ON WHAT I'M HEARING, I DON'T KNOW IF COMING BACK IS GOING TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE MAJORITY OF THIS, THE CONSENSUS IS THAT IT'S, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE REALLY FAR OFF.
OKAY, THEN, SO WE'LL PUT IT OUT FOR A VOTE.
COUNCIL WILLIAMSON, YOU SAID YOU GONNA MAKE A MOTION.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE USE OF UNSPENT SEDONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND TOURISM BUREAU, SCC AND TB FISCAL 23 CONTRACT CONTINGENCY FUNDS IN THE APPROXIMATE AMOUNT OF $225,000 OR OTHER AMOUNT
[04:40:01]
IT'S GETTING LAID FOR USE TOWARD DESTINATION BRANDING AND MARKETING EFFORTS AS DIRECTED BY CITY COUNCIL.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
UH, THOSE IN OPPOSITION WOULD BE COUNCILOR KINSELLA, COUNCILOR DUNN, THE VICE MAYOR AND COUNCILOR FOLTZ.
KAREN, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING.
I MEAN, SO DID WE JUST PRECLUDE THEM COMING BACK OR NOT? I, THAT'S UNCLEAR TO ME.
YEAH, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT THEY SEE THAT THERE'S ANY, I THINK WHAT MELISSA, WHAT MELISSA WHAT MICHELLE JUST SAID, SORRY.
WHAT, UH, MICHELLE JUST SAID IS SHE DOESN'T SEE THAT THERE'S ANY SUPPORT ON THIS DAIS TO, TO, UH, BRING BACK SOMETHING.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR YOU GUYS.
I CAN JUST TAKE, WE JUST TAKE YOUR VOTES AND, OH, I'M SORRY.
YEAH, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT PRECLUDES, I MEAN, MICHELLE CAN BE IN CONTACT AND COME BACK ANYTIME SHE HAS ANY OTHER PRO PROPOSALS.
WHAT THIS I THINK MEANT WAS THIS WAS A NO AND TO TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF OF NOT COMING BACK IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE THERE WOULDN'T REALLY BE, UM, A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.
SO I, I DON'T THINK THAT THIS PRECLUDES THE CHAMBER FROM HAVING ANY FUTURE DIALOGUE OR ASKS NO, IT, IT WOULDN'T PRECLUDE.
BUT IT DOESN'T GIVE A VERY, VERY MUCH INCENTIVE.
NO, BUT I, I THINK IT WAS RIGHT.
I THOUGHT THERE WAS MORE OF A MESSAGE HERE.
I HOPE THERE IS AN INCENTIVE TO COME BACK.
SO I WAS GONNA SAY, MAYOR, I, I, I THINK THAT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO THINK THAT THIS IS DEAD FOREVER.
I MEAN, I, IT SEEMS OVERLY PESSIMISTIC TO NOT WANT TO COME BACK.
WELL, HE'S DONE TALKING WELL, IS IN THEIR COURT NOW, THOUGH, SO, OKAY.
MICHELLE, YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING I WANTED TO GIVE YOU OVER? UH, NO, I, I, I THINK JUST, UM, THE HONESTY AND, AND BEING UP UPFRONT ABOUT YOUR DESIRES, UM, THAT IT WASN'T CERTAINLY IN VAIN.
WE KNOW, KNOW MORE TODAY, UH, WHERE YOUR HEADS ARE AT AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DO COME BACK, NOT PARTICULARLY FOR THIS CONTINGENCY ASK, BUT IN THE, YOU KNOW, FOR FISCAL 24 DISCUSSIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, AND WHICH I KNOW WE NEED TO GET MOVING ON, ON THAT.
UM, AT LEAST WE'LL BE THAT MUCH FURTHER AHEAD.
WE'LL ALLOW THAT MUCH MORE KNOWLEDGE.
BUT I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S TOO TIGHT RIGHT NOW TO MM-HMM.
WE'RE GOING TO, WE TAKE A, UH, UH, 20 MINUTES.
SO WHAT MAY, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYONE NEEDS A BREAK.
UM, I JUST WANT TO TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE CONSULTANTS FROM PHOENIX THAT HAVE BEEN SITTING ON THE LINE.
IT'S ALREADY ALMOST NINE 30 AND WE HAVE CORRECT FOUR OTHER ITEMS CORRECT.
AND WE JUST SENT THE HOUSING SOLUTIONS OF NORTHERN ARIZONA TEAM HOME, UM, BECAUSE OF THE LATE HOUR.
SO IF WE CAN, MAYBE EVEN, I KNOW IT'S, IT'S, IT'S AWKWARD TO, OKAY, THAT'S FAIR.
AND WE PUT PAUL OFF AND STILL WORK, BUT WE MIGHT NEED TO TAKE A A SHORTER BREAK.
THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND TIME.
UH, KURT, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO NOT JUST CONCLUDE NEXT, I'M SORRY, CONCLUDE THIS MEETING AND CARRY SOME OF THESE OVER TILL TOMORROW IN SOME WAY? NOT AGENDA IT, IT'S NOT AGENDA.
I, I JUST, I I'M JUST ASKING YOU, YOU CAN ADDRESS THE SITUATION.
AN AGENDA IS TO A TIME SIR AND PLACE AT ANOTHER TIME.
UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT TOMORROW'S GONNA BE WITH THE OTHER AGENDA.
AND WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE TO MUDDLE THROUGH JESSICA.
SO KAREN'S SUGGESTION, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS GET FOOD AND COME BACK.
SO IT'S LIKE FIVE MINUTES NOW.
I DON'T WANNA MISS OUT ON PAUL.
[8.b. AB 2861 Discussion/possible direction regarding City Council's State Legislative priorities.]
AB 28 61, DISCUSS DISCUSSION POSSIBLE DIRECTION REGARDING THE CITY'S COUNCIL'S STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.WELL, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNSEL, UH, JOANNE KEEN, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
UM, AND ON THE ON TEAMS WE HAVE OUR, UM, LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATES, PAUL SENSEMAN AND TODD BOWMAN FROM POLICY DEVELOPMENT GROUP.
UM, THIS IS A CARRYOVER FROM OUR DECEMBER 13TH
[04:45:01]
MEETING, SO I'M GONNA, SINCE YOU'VE HAD THIS MATERIAL FOR QUITE, QUITE A WHILE, I'M HOPING WE CAN JUST KIND OF GO THROUGH IT QUICKLY.UM, WE ARE GOING TO START WITH KIND OF AN OVERVIEW OF THE LEGISLATURE.
UM, YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE LEGISLATURE CUZ WE'RE, UM, THE 25TH OF JANUARY.
BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL JUST TO KIND OF GO OVER WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH AND WHAT'S THE, UM, THE CURRENT MAKEUP AT THE LEGISLATURE.
SO I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO PAUL AND TODD JUST TO REVIEW, UM, KIND OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS SESSION.
IT'S GOOD TO, UH, BE WITH YOU.
UH, VIRTUALLY WISH WE COULD BE THERE IN PERSON, BUT HOPEFULLY NEXT TIME WE CAN DO THAT.
UM, LIKE JOANNE SAID, THEY, UH, STARTED SESSION A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
IT, UH, THEY'VE BEEN BUSY DOWN THERE AND THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME THAT THEY'VE HAD, UH, ALMOST PROBABLY A LITTLE OVER 15 YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD A, UH, DEMOCRAT, GOVERNOR AND REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE.
SO IT'S A NEW DYNAMIC FOR A LOT OF THE MEMBERS, EVEN EVEN THE, UH, MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.
UM, SO THAT HAS, UH, THAT HAS CREATED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, THE REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS TO START INTRODUCING BILLS AND SEEING, UM, WHERE THEY GO THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
UM, GOVERNOR HOFF RELEASED HER BUDGET, UH, THE FIRST WEEK OF SESSION, AND IT WAS MET, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT WHEN WE GET INTO THE BUDGET, BUT IT WAS MET, UM, WITH POSITION FROM THE REPUBLICANS, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
SO, UM, THE, THE WARS HAVE ALREADY STARTED, UH, KIND THE POSTURING, UH, HAS STARTED.
BUT THE BREAKDOWN OF THE LEGISLATURE, YOU, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IS, UH, AS CLOSE AS IT CAN BE, UM, 1614, UM, IN THE SENATE IN 31 29 IN THE HOUSE.
SO WHAT THAT HAS DONE IS THAT HAS SET UP, UH, LIKE IT WAS THE LAST TWO YEARS, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ONE OR TWO MEMBERS TO CROSS THE AISLE AND REALLY IMPACT THINGS.
AND SO, ONE THING I JUST WANTED TO NOTE FOR YOU ALL IS TODAY ON IN THE HOUSE SIDE, THEY TOOK THEIR FIRST, FIRST OFFICIAL VOTE, UM, UP ON THE BIG BOARD, THE BOARD OF TRUTH, AS THEY CALL IT, WHERE HE PRESSED THE RED, RED OR GREEN BUTTON.
AND, UH, IT WAS TO ADOPT THE RULES AND IT WAS A PARTISAN LINE ADOPTING THE RULES.
UM, ONE OF THE PROVISIONS AND THE RULES, UH, MADE IT, UH, MORE DIFFICULT TO, UM, ESSENTIALLY ROLL THE SPEAKER.
SO KIND OF KEPT, UH, THE PARTIES, UM, UH, KIND OF WITH EACH OTHER.
AND SO THAT WAS, UH, A VOTE THAT, UH, YOU GO ON TWITTER, YOU SEE, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THE OUTSIDE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
YOU'LL SEE THAT AS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY, NOT, THAT THEY NOTE FOR THE, FOR THE REPUBLICANS WHO DO HAVE THE MAJORITY.
UM, THEY'RE TRYING TO KIND OF STAY IN LOCKSTEP AS THEY START TO PASS BILLS AND MOVE THINGS THROUGH THE PROCESS.
SO, UM, IT'S, UH, IT'S, WE, WE ARE A LITTLE SLOWER ON BILLS BEING INTRODUCED THIS YEAR, WHICH, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, MIGHT SEEM NICE, BUT YOU KIND OF WAIT FOR THE ONSLAUGHT OF BILLS THAT
WE HAVE A FEW WEEKS LEFT OF YOUR BILLS AND COMMITTED.
SO, UM, THE POSTURINGS ALREADY STARTED, BUT, UM, THERE'S SOME HOT TOPICS THAT, UH, ARE ARE THERE EVERY YEAR, BUT THEY'RE ESPECIALLY, UM, THERE THIS YEAR.
AND IT ALL FLOWS THROUGH THE, THE BUDGET, THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, UH, THAT SHE PUT OUT THAT FIRST WEEK OF SESSION, UM, IS, WAS A 17.1 BILLION BUDGET, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNED LAST YEAR.
BUT EDUCATION IS THE TOP PRIORITY AGAIN.
UM, THERE'S 9 BILLION OF THAT 17.1 BILLION THAT IS FOR EDUCATION.
AND, UH, GOVERNOR HOBBS' BUDGET PUT SOME NEW MONEY, UH, ABOUT 274 MILLION OF NEW MONEY BUDGET FOR K12 AND THEN ABOUT 330 FOR, UH, BUILDING SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL FACILITIES.
TWO BIG THINGS I'LL JUST NOTE FOR YOU, UM, QUICKLY, IS THAT THERE IS, UH, THE AGGREGATE AGGREGATE EXPENDITURE LIMIT IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE HAS TO PASS IN ORDER FOR K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO BE ABLE TO SPEND THE MONEY THAT THEY RECEIVE.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN, UH, A LITTLE CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO PASS THAT AND THERE'S A DEADLINE THAT THEY NEED TO PASS THAT BY.
THERE'S GONNA BE A HEARING THIS THURSDAY ON THAT.
SO, UM, THAT'LL KIND OF BE A FLASH POINT IN SESSION AS WE THINK ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY, THAT'S SOME REALLY NEEDS TO GET DONE THIS SESSION.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING I'LL JUST MENTION QUICKLY IS THAT IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, SHE CALLS FOR A REPEAL OF THE ESA UH, UH, SCHOOL VOUCHER SYSTEM.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO A LOT OF THE REPUBLICANS HEART AS THEY PASSED THAT LAST YEAR.
SO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT THEY BATTLE OVER.
THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF ISSUES IN THE BUDGET, UH, DEPENDING ON, ON, UH, SOME LOVE IT, SOME DON'T LIKE IT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE TALKED ABOUT PUTTING OUT THEIR OWN BUDGET.
IT'S, UH, DIFFERENT DIFFERENT TERMS ON IT.
EITHER A BASELINE BUDGET, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE SPENDING THAT THEY DID LAST YEAR, OR
[04:50:01]
SKINNY BUDGET, YOU MIGHT HEAR THAT TERM AS WELL.BUT, UM, THE, THE REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING TO NOT SPEND AS MUCH ANTICIPATING A RECESSION, UM, AND TRYING TO, UM, PASS SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY DID, UH, IN PRIOR YEARS WHERE THE GOVERNOR, UM, WANTS TO PASS UP FOR PRIORITIES THAT SHE'S PUT INTO THE BUDGET.
SHE CONTINUES, UH, ON THE WATERFRONT.
SHE CONTINUES TO SPEND, UM, SOME OF THE MONEY, ABOUT $330 MILLION FOR WATER AUGMENTATION THAT THE GOVERNOR PUT.
UM, GOVERNOR DUCEY, FORMER GOVERNOR DUCEY PUT IN HIS BUDGET AS WELL LAST YEAR, UM, ON BORDER SECURITY.
UM, THERE'S DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS ON THAT.
UM, UH, GOVERNOR HOBBS, UH, CALLS FOR SOME DIFFERENT PROPOSALS AND CALLS FOR, UM, OF THE BORDER STRIPE FORCE ON THE HOUSING FRONT.
UM, THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT A GOVERNOR HOBBS, UH, PUT SOME MONEY TO GO TOWARDS, UH, HOMELESSNESS, TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS.
AND THEN ALSO FROM A HOUSING PERSPECTIVE, SHE'S, UM, TALKED ABOUT SOME POTENTIAL, UH, TRADE FOR DEVELOPERS THAT WANT TO BUILD, UM, LOW INCOME HOUSING.
AND THEN, UM, I'LL JUST MENTION FINALLY FROM A TAX PROPOSAL STANDPOINT, REALLY FROM A CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, UH, THERE'S TWO, TWO BIG ISSUES THAT I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE DEALING WITH THIS YEAR.
ONE HAS ALREADY BEEN INTRODUCED AND BEEN HEARD IN COMMITTEE, AND THAT'S THE RESIDENTIAL RE THAT'S, I APOLOGIZE, THAT'S THE FOOD TAX.
SO SOME CITIES CHARGE THE FOOD TAX, SOME CITIES DO NOT PARTICULARLY, UH, OF IMPORTANCE TO SOME OF THOSE CITIES IN RURAL, UM, ARIZONA AS THEY DON'T HAVE THE SALES TAX BASE THAT SOME OF THE O OTHER CITIES HAVE.
BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO CITIES, UH, IN THE METRO AREAS AS WELL AS THEY'RE LOOKING TO, UH, PRETTY SUBS SIZEABLE.
UH, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BROKEN DOWN A LONG, HARD TIME REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.
NO, IT'S, UM, TODD, I THINK WE'RE HAVING SOME FEEDBACK.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU, CAN YOU SPEAK, SEE IF WE CAN GET YOU BACK? YEAH, THERE YOU ARE.
UM, SO ANYWAY, I'LL JUST QUICKLY MENTION BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO PAUL THAT, UH, I WAS WITH REPRESENTATIVE LIST THIS AFTERNOON, AND SHE IS, HAS INTRODUCED A BILL THAT YOU ALL SUPPORT.
UM, YOU ALL, UH, CITY OF SEDONA TOOK THAT TO THE RESOLUTIONS THANK YOU AT THE, UH, AT THE LEE CONFERENCE THIS YEAR WITH A GREAT JOB OF PRESENTING THAT BILL.
IT'S THE BILL THAT ALLOWS THE CITY, UH, A CITY IF THEY'RE UNDER 2000, TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT FROM DOCUMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN.
THAT'S A BILL THAT REPRESENTATIVE BLISS HAS INTRODUCED, AND IT WOULD BE UP TOMORROW MORNING POINT COURT AND WAS DOWN THERE THIS AFTERNOON CHATTING ABOUT THE BILL, GIVING HER SOME INFORMATION.
I'M EXCITED TO, UH, UH, DO, UH, YOU KNOW, INTRODUCE THIS BILL ON YOUR BEHALF.
MAYBE I'LL TURN IT OVER TO PAUL.
MAYOR, COUNSELORS AND, AND, UH, JOANNE STAFF.
SORRY I COULDN'T BE, TODD SAID.
WE, UM, WE MISS SEEING YOU, BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU HERE AGAIN REAL SOON.
AND, AND IN PERSON, AND I DON'T HAVE TO GO OVER THE HISTORY IN ANY GREAT DETAIL FOR YOU ALL.
YOU, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR IN SENATE BILL 1168 AND, AND, AND SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES IN THEIR ADOPTION OF, UH, OF VARIOUS ORDINANCES.
YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH OUR ENACTMENTS AND, UH, I WON'T BELABOR THAT, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THIS LATE HOUR.
BUT I DID WANT TO MENTION, UH, UH, THAT WE ARE WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY TO PURSUE, UH, WHAT IS THIS YEAR'S, UH, TARGET FOR US HOUSE BILL 2047.
IT'S PRIME SPONSOR IS, UH, REPRESENTATIVE, UH, AND DR.
BLISS, UH, AS TODD MENTIONED, SHE'S CARRYING A LOT OF WATER FROM THE CITY THIS YEAR, HAS REALLY HOUSELY IN HER EFFORTS TO DO SO.
REPRESENTATIVE WYNN AND, UH, AND THE MAYOR AND, AND, AND OUR TEAM HAVE MET, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, SUBSEQUENTLY WITH, UM, UH, THE FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT, CURRENT SENATOR, UH, KIM BENNETT, UH, ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AREA.
EACH ONE OF THEM ARE ENTHUSIASTIC IN THEIR SUPPORT OF US.
UH, THEY'RE EACH WORKING IN DIFFERENT AND VARIOUS WAYS TO HELP US, UH, PURSUE THIS.
I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT OUR FIRST INITIAL HURDLE AND OBSTACLE IS GETTING ASSIGNED, UM, TO THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE SO THAT WE COULD BE HEARD AND GET OUR FAIR SHARE, UH, UH, FAIR SHARE, OUR FAIR OPPORTUNITY IN, IN, UH, IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION IN THIS COMMITTEE HEARING, TO HAVE OUR VOICE HEARD AGAIN IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
IT'S NOT A GIVEN, UH, THAT WE WOULD BE APPROVED, UH, IN THE SIMILAR FASHION THAT WE WERE LAST YEAR.
IT, IT'S, UH, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THAT COULD
[04:55:01]
PLAY OUT, BUT A FEEL GOOD, FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE MOMENTUM THAT HAS BEEN BUILDING AND PARTICULARLY GIVEN, UM, THE INTEREST IN BOTH CHAMBERS IN BOTH, UH, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE FOR THE PURSUIT OF THIS KIND OF LEGISLATION THAT THE, THE HEADWINDS AGAINST US REMAIN, UH, FOLKS IN LEADERSHIP THAT ARE, UH, PREVIOUS, UH, SUPPORTERS OF THE ORIGINAL UNDERLYING AUTHORITIES THAT, THAT, UH, THAT, UH, USURP THE CITY'S ABILITY, UH, PREEMPTED THE CITY'S ABILITY TO, UH, TO ENGAGE ON THESE ISSUES.UM, BUT, UH, BUT THAT MOMENTUM, AS WE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT LAST YEAR, THAT MOMENTUM IS BUILDING.
UM, AND I THINK THE CONSTRUCTIVE BUILD OFF OF LAST YEAR'S EFFORTS AND SUCCESSES ARE PALPABLE, UM, AT THE CAPITOL.
IT'S STILL, IT'S STILL DIFFICULT TO, TO SEE A PERFECTLY CLEAR PATH ON, ON FRANKLY, A WHOLE LOT OF LEGISLATIVE, UM, PRIORITIES AND TOPICS.
AND OURS IS, UM, IT CERTAINLY JOINS THEM, BUT, UH, BUT WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO GET THIS APPROVED, AND WE STILL THINK WE HAVE VERY GOOD, UM, VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
I DID WANNA MENTION TOO, WE, WE'VE HAD, UM, SOME CITIES THAT HAVE COME OUT, UH, AND, AND PURSUED US TALK TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WHICH ARE ONGOING, UM, ABOUT HOW THEY MAY BE INVOLVED IN THESE EFFORTS.
THEY'D LIKE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AND, AND PERHAPS AN EXPANSIVE, UH, LANGUAGE OF WHAT, OF WHAT DR.
AND WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME, SOME MINISTRY FOLKS REACH OUT AND, AND, UH, AND VICE VERSA.
AND THEY'VE EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERNS AND NOT POSITIONED GENERALLY TO, UH, TO THE PROPOSALS AS IT'S WRITTEN.
NOT A SURPRISE ON EITHER FRONT, BUT, UH, BUT CERTAINLY WANTED TO MAKE YOU ALL AWARE OF THAT PROGRESS.
SO, UM, UH, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THIS AND, UM, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL, ALL TO BE TO, UH, CONTINUE IN YOUR STEWARDSHIP AND ALLOW US TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STEWARDSHIP OF, OF ARIZONA'S MOST BEAUTIFUL CITY.
SO,
IT'S ALSO, I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT, UH, REPRESENTATIVE JUDY SCHER HAS INTRODUCED, UM, AN MARICOPA, UM, COUNTY MEMBER MEMBERS BEEN INTRODUCED A HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, UM, THAT, UH, UH, THAT WOULD, UH, EFFECTIVELY TAKE THIS, THIS BACK TO THE, TO THE VOTERS OF ARIZONA.
UM, SO IT WOULD, UH, CREATE A BALLOT REFERRAL BY THE LEGISLATURE TO, UH, TO THE VOTERS.
BALLOT REFERRALS STILL REQUIRE THE SAME PROCESS, UH, OF PASSAGE IN THE LEGISLATURE.
IT'S IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE THAT THIS BILL IS PRESENTLY, UH, IN HOUSE BILL 2047, AND THAT IT HAS NOT YET BEEN ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEE.
BUT, UH, UH, THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE THAT IF IT DID GET ASSIGNED AND IT DID PASS THE COMMITTEES THAT IT WOULD GO, UH, DIRECTLY TO THE ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE FOR PLACEMENT ON, UH, THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION CYCLE BALLOT IN 20, UH, IN, UH, 2024.
SO, UM, UH, SO IT'S DEFINITELY, IT, IT'S, IT'S, I THINK IT'S IT'S EXCELLENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MOMENTUM THAT'S BUILDING ON THIS ISSUE.
OBVIOUSLY, DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS SETS ARE BEING PROPOSED FOR IT MUCH LESS ON THE NUISANCE SIDE AND MUCH MORE ON THE PREEMPTION SIDE AND THE FOCUS OF WHAT, OF WHAT YOU ALL HAVE MADE CLEAR TO US OVER THE, UM, OVER THE PAST NUMBER OF MONTHS THAT, UH, IS OUR ULTIMATE MISSION IN TRYING TO, UH, TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS, UM, ON THIS EVER INCREASING PROBLEM AT DENSITY, UH, WITHIN OUR, UH, OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS IN PARTICULAR.
SO, UM, I HOPE, UH, HOPE THAT'S HELPFUL.
HAVE ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
UH, PAUL DOES, I SAW SCH WEBER'S, UH, CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DO, WOULD THAT, HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT 2 0 7? I MEAN, IF IT WAS A, IT'S A STATEWIDE REFERENDUM, A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE, THE VOTERS VOTE, HOW DOES THAT OVERRIDE 2 0 7 IN ANY WAY? UH, I, I, I, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HATE TO, UM, TO PRACTICE LAW WITHOUT A LICENSE HERE, ESPECIALLY, UH, UM, IN, IN, IN YOUR COUNCIL HEARING, BUT, UM, IT WOULD, I THINK IT WOULD AFFECT, IT WOULD HAVE THE SAME EFFECT THAT, THAT SOME OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE, BUT IT WOULD GIVE THE, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VOTERS TO DECIDE.
SO, UM, UH, IT WOULDN'T HAVE A PARTICULAR, UH, I THINK IF I FOLLOWING YOU, UM, UH, COUNCILOR WOULD, IT WOULDN'T HAVE A PARTICULAR IMPACT OR IT WOULDN'T OVERRIDE 2 0 7, BUT IT WOULD, IT WOULD GIVE THE VOTERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, UH, TO, TO, TO UPDATE THE, TO, UH, TO UPDATE THE, TO OVERRIDE THE STATUTES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST ON IT, IF I'M FOLLOWING YOU CORRECTLY.
DO YOU HAVE A POINT OF VIEW ON THAT, KURT? I HAVEN'T, I HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO IT.
SO JUST A, JUST A STEP BACK A LITTLE BIT, AND I'M, UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE ITEMS,
[05:00:01]
BUT, UM, WHEN WE BROUGHT PAUL AND TODD ON TO, UM, BE OUR ADVOCATE ON ISSUES OTHER THAN SHORT TERM RENTALS, WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER A LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM FOR THE CITY, WHICH, UM, WHICH HELPS ME AND, AND KIND OF MY INNER GOV ROLE THAT I FULFILL, AND THEN ALSO PAUL AND TODD WHEN THEY'RE AT THE LEGISLATURE, WHEN THEY CAN SEE WHETHER BILLS WOULD BE, UM, IMPACTING THE CITY OF SEDONA.SO, UM, IF YOU SEE IN THE, THE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM, WE WENT THROUGH AN IDENTIFIED SEVERAL AREAS THAT WERE JUST KIND OF GENERAL AREAS, YOU KNOW, LOCAL CONTROL, UM, OPPOSING BILLS THAT WOULD IMPACT, UM, THE CITY'S REVENUE.
UM, WE HAVE, UM, UH, ANYTHING THAT IMPACTS OUR LOCAL ABILITY, UM, ON ZONING.
SO, UM, ALLOWING US TO GET MORE ENGAGED IN THE HOUSING ISSUES, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED.
UM, THE, UH, AS PAUL MENTIONED, THE COMMUNITY PLAN BILL THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN INTRODUCED AND THERE'S A HEARING TOMORROW MORNING HOUSE BILL 2044.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE SOME, UM, LANGUAGE IN HERE ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS ISSUE IS TO US, BUT JUST HAVING A, A LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, KNOW THAT GUIDES OUR WORK DOWN AT THE LEGISLATURE, UH, SUPPORTING LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE THE ABILITY FOR LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT TO REGULATE OFF HIGH HIGHWAY VEHICLES.
AGAIN, JUST GENERAL LANGUAGE, BUT ALLOWS US TO ENGAGE IN THIS ISSUE.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR, FOR FEEDBACK ON SPECIFIC BILLS.
UM, THIS, AND AGAIN, THIS WAS PUT TOGETHER, UM, IN DECEMBER, AND WE'VE UPDATED IT WITH SOME, SOME BILLS THAT WERE PART OF THE MEMO THAT, UM, THAT I SENT OUT TO COUNSEL.
UM, SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO AMEND REQUIREMENTS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR PUBLISHING NOTICES AND NEWSPAPERS.
SO BASICALLY ALLOWING US TO, TO USE OUR WEBSITE FOR, UM, PUBLICATION, UM, OPPOSING LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REQUIRE CITIES AND TOWNS TO MAKE LOCAL ELECTIONS PARTISAN.
ALSO, SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP IN THE PAST, UH, SUPPORTING APPROPRIATIONS TO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
UM, SUPPORTING DEDICATED FUNDING AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR TRANSIT.
UM, THIS WAS AN ITEM THAT WAS, UM, BROUGHT BY ROBERT, ALSO CAME UP WITH THE COUNCIL RETREAT LAST WEEK, AND THEN SUPPORTING LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO PROVIDE RURAL COMMUNITIES AUTHORITY OVER WATER.
SO THESE ARE ALL THE ITEMS THAT, THAT WE'VE COME UP WITH AS FAR AS A, A LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM.
UM, I'M OPEN TO FEEDBACK AGAIN.
THE, THE WAY THAT, UM, WE DID THIS LAST YEAR THAT I, I THINK WORKED WELL IN GETTING FEEDBACK ON BILLS IS, IS PROVIDING THE, THE SPECIFIC BILLS AND SENDING THAT OUT TO COUNCIL AND THEN GETTING INPUT DURING A COUNCIL MEETING.
IT ALLOWS, IT ALLOWED ME TO WEIGH IN.
AND NOW, NOW THAT TODD AND PAUL ARE, YOU KNOW, DOING MORE FOR US THAN SHORT-TERM RENTALS, IT ALLOWS THEM TO WEIGH IN ON ISSUES AS WELL.
BUT AS YOU SEE, WE'VE ALREADY BEEN ENGAGED IN SEVERAL ISSUES THIS SESSION ALREADY.
JOANNE, ON SB 1100, THAT'S THE CAROL BILL.
YOU DON'T HAVE AN ANY, UH, NOTATION THERE, WHETHER TO SUPPORT OR NOT.
THAT'S THE, UH, OH V WAIT LIMITS FROM 20.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO PULL UP THE, THE MEMO? I GUESS BEFORE WE TURN TO THAT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND HOW WE'RE PLANNING ON USING THAT? YES, YES.
UM, I'M SORRY, I WAS TAKING A NOTE.
UM, DID YOU INCLUDE ANYTHING ON VOTING ISSUES THERE, LIKE VOTER RIGHT.
ISSUES? YEAH, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
I, I WAS TAKING A NOTE AND I DIDN'T, YEAH, THE, THE, THE LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE IN THERE IS DEALING WITH, UM, PARTISAN ELECTIONS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
SO IT'S SPECIFIC TO CITIES AND COUNTIES, BUT NOTHING, NOTHING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WOULD SPECIFICALLY IMPACT OUR CITY AUTHORITY OR CHANGE WHAT WE DO ON ELECTIONS.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THERE ARE SEVERAL, UH, BILLS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN INTRODUCED THAT WOULD RESTRICT VOTING, UH, FURTHER, IT WOULD SHORTEN THE LENGTH OF, UH, PERIOD OF TIME FOR PAPER BALLOTS.
THERE'S ONE THAT ACTUALLY SAYS PAPER BALLOTS COULD ONLY BE USED OR ACTUALLY MAIL-IN ABSENTEE BALLOTS COULD ONLY BE USED BY IF YOU ARE OVERSEAS.
ANOTHER ONE THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ONLY CERTAIN EXCUSES.
I I THINK PART OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM, I WOULD ARGUE, IS PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF OUR CITIZENS
[05:05:01]
TO VOTE.SO I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE WEIGHING IN, IN OUR VOICE ON ANY, ANYTHING THAT, UM, BASICALLY SPEAKS TO VOTER SUPPRESSION.
AND I THINK, I THINK I, COUNCIL MEMBER KINSELLA, I THINK I WOULD JUST LIKE A LITTLE MORE DIRECTION ON THAT.
I MEAN, WHAT WE PUT TOGETHER ARE THINGS THAT SPECIFICALLY IMPACT KIND OF THE OPERATION OF, OF THE CITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE UPDATES ON THOSE BILLS OR, YOU KNOW, GET A, A TRACKING LIST TOGETHER ON THOSE.
AND, AND I THINK LAST SESSION WE DID WEIGH IN ON A FEW, UM, I CAN BRING THOSE FORWARD AS NEEDED.
AND AGAIN, TO BE CLEAR, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING I'M ASKING OUR LOBBYISTS TO WORK ON.
THIS IS JUST SOMETHING I'M ASKING THAT YOU, CUZ I BELIEVE YOU REGISTER OUR OFFICIAL POSITION.
SO I AM ASKING THAT THOSE BILLS COME FORWARD FOR OUR CONSIDERATION TO GIVE YOU THE THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE THOSE, UH, PUT OUR OFFICIAL POSITION INTO THE REQUEST TO SPEAK SYSTEM.
IF YOU HAVE A BILL, A SPECIFIC BILL, AND THE, THIS LEGISLATIVE REPORT THAT I PUT TOGETHER FOR THIS MEETING ARE KIND OF THE, THE BIG HOT TOPICS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FROM THE LEAGUE PERSPECTIVE, AND THAT HAVE BEEN, UM, THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN MOVING THE FASTEST DOWN THERE.
SO WHAT I DID IS, UM, PUT TOGETHER A LIST.
UM, AS WE MENTIONED THE HOUSE BILL 2044, THE, THE COMMUNITY PLAN LEGISLATION.
UM, I DO HAVE CITY COUNCIL IN, UH, SUPPORTING THAT BECAUSE IT IS OUR BILL.
UM, AS TODD MENTIONED, THERE'S A HEARING TOMORROW AND THE LEAGUE STAFF WILL BE TESTIFYING, UM, BECAUSE IT IS A, UM, IT IS A, UH, LEAGUE RESOLUTION.
AND TODD WILL ALSO BE, UM, THERE AS WELL.
WE ALSO HAD SOME LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WEIGHED IN AS WELL, UM, AND SIGNED IN AND SUPPORT OF THAT.
SO EVERYTHING'S LOOKING, UM, GREAT ON THAT, THAT LEGISLATION.
UM, AS TODD MENTIONED, THE THE FOOD TAX BILL, THIS IS A BILL THAT, UM, WHILE IT DOES NOT IMPACT US, IT KIND OF FALLS IN THAT CATEGORY OF, OF RESTRICTING WHAT WE COULD DO IN THE FUTURE AND THEN ALSO IMPACTING, UM, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE STRA ACROSS THE STATE.
UM, 182 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR STATEWIDE.
UM, THIS, IF THIS GOES AWAY, SO LEAGUE IS ASKING COMMUNITIES JUST TO WEIGH IN AND OPPOSE THIS LEGISLATION IN.
JOANNE, BEFORE, BEFORE YOU GO ON, YES.
UH, IS THERE ANYBODY OPPOSED TO 2044? I CAN'T READ TODD.
I DID NOT SEE ANYBODY IN THE SYSTEM.
YOU, YOU ON MUTE? TODD, YOU'RE ON MUTE.
UH, NO, NOBODY IS OPPOSED TO IT SO FAR.
THERE'S OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE SUPPORTED US, BUT, UM, AS OF NOW, THERE'S ONLY SUPPORT FOR THE BILL.
UM, THE OTHER, UH, LEGISLATION HOUSE BILL 2067 COUNCIL ACTUALLY DID WEIGH IN LAST, LAST YEAR ON THIS BILL, BUT THIS IS THE BILL THAT GETS RID OF THE RESIDENTIAL LEASE TAX.
AGAIN, IT DOES NOT IMPACT THE CITY OF SEDONA.
UM, BUT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF, UM, COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THIS LEGISLATION.
UM, 190 MILLION FISCAL IMPACT STATEWIDE TO CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE FIRST YEAR.
UM, SO THE LEAGUE IS ASKING US TO WEIGH IN AND NOT SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION AGAIN THIS YEAR TO OPPOSE THE LEGISLATION, TO OPPOSE THE LEGISLATION TO NOT SUPPORT.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT, WHY THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED.
UM, THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT, UM, IT WAS A LEAGUE RESOLUTION.
IT WAS ACTUALLY INTRODUCED BY THE CITY OF, UM, GLENDALE.
THEY STARTED THIS, THIS PROCESS DURING THE LEAGUE CONFERENCE.
UM, BUT BASICALLY WHAT IT ALLOWS US TO DO, IT ALLOWS US TO USE OUR WEBSITE FOR POSTING MUNICIPAL NOTICES AND ORDINANCES.
UM, WE DID DO KIND OF A BACK OF THE ENVELOPE FISCAL IMPACT FOR US, AND IT WOULD WOULD'VE SAVED US OVER THREE YEARS, ABOUT $62,000 IF THIS WAS IN PLACE.
SO, UM, THERE ARE COMMUNITIES SUPPORTING, SUPPORTING THIS GLENDALE, AS I MENTIONED, UM, AND SEVERAL OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE SUPPORTING IT, AND I WOULD LIKE OUR COUNCIL TO WEIGH IN AND SUPPORT IT.
UM, THIS IS THE MUNICIPALITIES
[05:10:01]
PARTISAN ELECTIONS.IT ALLOWS CANDIDATE ELECTIONS FOR A CITY OR TOWN.
UM, BASICALLY WHAT THIS DOES IS IT, UM, MAKES OUR ELECTIONS PARTISAN.
UM, AND I'M NOT SURE IF WE'VE, WE'VE EVER HAD A CONVERSATION SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT THIS AS, AS, UM, COUNSEL.
SO I WANTED TO BRING IT TO, UM, YOUR ATTENTION.
THE LEAGUE IS REMAINING NEUTRAL ON IT, AND I THINK THEY'RE JUST WAITING TO SEE KINDA WHAT HAPPENS THIS SESSION.
BUT I'D BE INTERESTED IF YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK ON THIS.
IF YOU, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TRACKING.
I'M TOTALLY, TOTALLY OPPOSED TO IT.
SO I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S, IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE OUR ELECTIONS MORE CHEERY.
UM, SO, AND I I I KNOW IT'S, UM, WHAT'S THE REASON BEHIND, IS THERE ANY REASON GIVEN FOR, FOR THE PERPETUATION OF THIS SO THAT DEMOCRATS DON'T SNEAK IN TO RED TO RED DISTRICTS? OR WHAT'S THE REASON THERE ISN'T ONE GIVEN THANK YOU.
OR YEAH, A REPUBLICANS SNEAKING INTO DE DEMOCRATIC DISTRICTS.
NOT LIKELY
IS IT OPTIONAL OR MANDATORY? UH, I THINK IT'S, UH, IT'S OPTIONAL.
I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S HOW I, IS THAT, HAVE YOU EVEN LOOKED AT IT, KURT? I DON'T KNOW.
YEAH, I THINK IT'S, IT'S OPTIONAL.
THAT'S WHAT I, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO, BUT YOU JUST HAVE THE OPTION TO.
SO WHAT, BUT WAIT, BUT IF IT WAS OPTIONAL, I'M JUST THROWING THIS OUT HERE FOR THOUGHT, THAT ADDS TO LOCAL CONTROL.
I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE IN THE MUNICIPALITY MAKING ITS OWN DECISION ABOUT HOW IT WANTS TO RUN AN ELECTION.
AND THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR THAT, BECAUSE I WANNA BE CONSISTENT ON A LOCAL CONTROL ISSUES.
IT'S, IT WOULDN'T BE FOR THE CITY'S FOR THE CANDIDATE TO, TO DETERMINE, I BELIEVE, OH, I'M RECOMMENDING NEUTRAL ON THIS FOR THE MOMENT UNTIL WE RESEARCH AND CONTINUE TO TRACK.
I, I WOULD REALLY LIKE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS BECAUSE YEAH, IF IT'S, IF IT'S THE INDIVIDUAL, THEN, THEN IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING FOR LOCAL CONTROL.
AND I'LL ALSO COME UP, I'LL KEEP IT ON THE LIST AND I'LL BRING IT BACK AND YEAH.
UH, THE NEXT ITEM IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.
THIS WAS TO REMOVE THE T P T TAX.
UM, AND THE LANGUAGE IN HERE INCLUDES DIAPERS, FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS.
UM, I DID ADD IT TO OUR TRACKING LIST BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE A, A SIG, UH, NOT A SIGNIFICANT, BUT IT COULD HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT ON OUR CITY.
IT ALSO DOES INCLUDE ADULT DIAPERS IN THAT DEFINITION AS WELL.
UM, SO THE LEAGUE IS WATCHING THIS BILL AND THEY HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO ANY KIND OF ANALYSIS, UM, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN SO FOCUSED ON THE, THE FOOD TAX AND THE RESIDENTIAL RENTAL LEGISLATION.
SO WE'LL KEEP WATCHING THIS ONE.
UM, SENATE BILL 1100, THIS IS THE BILL THAT, UH, THE MAYOR JUST RAISED RECENTLY.
UM, THIS CHANGES THE WEIGHT LIMIT FOR AN ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE, WHICH INCLUDES OHVS, UM, FROM 2,500 POUNDS TO 3,500 POUNDS.
UM, YOU KNOW, JUST LOOKING AT THE, THIS BILL, UM, I MEAN, WE'RE JUST ASSUMING THAT THE INDUSTRY IS BEHIND THIS, BUT YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD RESULT IN HEAVIER RECREATIONAL OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES, WHICH COULD HAVE A MORE OF AN IMPACT ON OUR ROADS, TRAILS, ET CETERA.
SO IF, UM, THIS LOOKS LIKE ONE THAT WE LIKELY SHOULD NOT SUPPORT AND THEN WEIGH IN AT THE RIGHT TIME.
PLUS THERE'S STILL A FIVE YEAR PLAN FOR ELECTRIC OHVS THAT'LL BE EQUAL TO 500 HORSEPOWER.
CAN YOU IMAGINE BETWEEN THE TWO OF THOSE THAT WILL HAVE NOTHING LEFT RIGHT.
AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRACK AND SEE IF WE, WE KNOW WHO'S BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION AS WELL.
HOUSE BILL, UH, 2047, AS PAUL MENTIONED, THIS IS THE REPRESENTATIVE BLISS BILL THAT WAS INTRODUCED.
WE, UM, IT'S THE SAME BILL AS THE BARTON BILL FROM LAST SESSION.
UM, AND AS HE MENTIONED, WE HAVE HAD SOME, UH, CONTACT FROM SOME OTHER COMMUNITIES WHO ARE INTERESTED.
UM, I WILL SAY, UM, AND JUST A TESTAMENT TO THE WORK WE DID LAST SESSION,
[05:15:01]
THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT WANNA HELP US, UM, BECAUSE WE DID, WE DID HELP WITH 1168, UM, GETTING THAT OVER THE FINISH LINE.SO THAT IS, THAT'S GREAT THAT THEY'RE REACHING OUT AND THEY WANNA, UM, HELP US THIS SESSION WITH THIS LEGISLATION.
UM, THE CITIES WHO ARE, WHO ARE INTERESTED RIGHT NOW ARE SCOTTSDALE PARADISE VALLEY AND LAKE HAVASU CITY, OR THE THREE CITIES THAT HAVE REACHED OUT.
UM, AND FLAGSTAFF MAY BE INTERESTED AS WELL.
I'D LIKE US TO OFFICIALLY SUPPORT THIS.
JOANNE, UH, TELL ME IF THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME.
WE START WORKING WITH THE, THOSE OTHER CITIES TO AS, AS A GROUP.
DO YOU RECOMMEND DOING THAT? SOMETHING I, PAUL AND I TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE HAD LUNCH A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WORKING WITH THOSE OTHER CITIES AS A, WHATEVER, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU CALL 'EM, BUT, UH, STAKEHOLDER GROUP, THAT'S BETTER.
UH, BUT DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE TO OUR BENEFIT OR THOSE LARGER CITIES WILL JUST DO WHAT THEY WANT? YEAH, I THINK PAUL AND I HAD A CONVERSATION, UM, LAST WEEK, AND HE'S DOING SOME, UH, REACH OUT TO THEIR LOBBYISTS.
UM, AND THEN I'M TALKING TO THE STAFF.
WE DO HAVE A, A CONVERSATION WITH THE, THE MANAGERS AND THE INNER GOVS NEXT WEEK ON THE STAFF LEVEL.
SO WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
I THINK SOME OF IT IS GONNA KIND OF DEPEND ON WHAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN SEEING IN THE LEGISLATION, WHAT THEY WANT OUT OF IT, UM, AND WHETHER THAT'S GONNA WORK, UM, FOR OUR NEEDS AS WELL.
THAT'S KIND OF JUST THE INITIAL CONVERSATION.
DID THEY REMOVE THE SIZE OF THE CITY? NO, IT'S STILL 17,000 OR LESS.
UM, AND THEN THE FINAL BILL IS, UM, THE, THE HCR 2011, THE SWEER BILL.
UM, I ADDED THIS TO OUR TRACKING LIST.
IF YOU RECALL, LAST YEAR WE HAD A, UH, KINDA A LONG LIST OF SHORTTERM RENTAL BILLS THAT, THAT WE ADDED TO THE AGENDA.
UM, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY MOVEMENT ON THIS ONE.
UM, AND I GUESS I'LL LEAVE IT TO PAUL TO SEE IF, IF HE THINKS THAT WE SHOULD WEIGH IN AND SUPPORT THIS ONE AT THIS TIME.
YEAH, I, I THINK IT'D BE JUST FINE.
I, I THINK IT'D BE A GOOD IDEA TO, OKAY.
SO, JOANNE, IT'S NOT, UM, ON THE LIST, BUT I SAW SOMETHING ON ONE OF THE NEWSFEEDS I WAS FOLLOWING ABOUT THE ELIMINATION OF CAMPAIGN SIGNS ON STATE HIGHWAYS, BUT THEY SAID IT MIGHT GET FALL FLAT BECAUSE, UM, THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH ISSUE.
SO, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE, THE LEAGUE INTER GOV MEETING ON FRIDAY.
UM, AND I ACTUALLY, I SENT IT OVER TO KURT BECAUSE IT'S, UM, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO SIGNS AND TOURISM ZONES, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE, BUT SEVERAL CITIES, UM, PARADISE VALLEY, FOUNTAIN HILLS, SCOTTSDALE HAVE TOURISM ZONES WHERE THEY, THEY CAN BAN POLITICAL SIGNS FROM CERTAIN AREAS.
SO NOW THIS IS A, AND THAT'S A REACTION TO THAT.
AND THAT'S ONLY ALONG, UH, NOT ALONG STATE HIGHWAYS.
AND SO ONE OF THE REASONS SEDONA HASN'T ADOPTED, CUZ IT DOESN'T, WE'RE WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO ALONG STATE ROUTE 1 79 OR 89 A RIGHT.
BUT I THOUGHT THIS BILL THAT WAS BEING PROPOSED WAS FOR STATE HIGHWAYS.
I DON'T THINK IT ELIMINATES THAT PART.
IT DIDN'T HAVE A NUMBER, SO I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO WHAT AND DIDN'T HAVE.
I THINK IT, IT, WHAT'S, WHAT, IT'S SHRINKING THE SIZE OF WHAT'S CURRENTLY ALLOWED MM-HMM.
AND SO IT'S MAKING THOSE SMALLER WELL CAN ONLY HOPE.
UM, EVERY COUNCIL MEETING WILL GET ON A MORE REGULAR SCHEDULE.
I DID WANNA MENTION SOMETHING OF PAUL OR TODD.
UH, I, I THINK WE ALL THIS COUNCIL HAD A GOOD TIME MEETING WITH OUR NEW LEGISLATORS THAT MAYBE WE COULD CONTINUE THAT, UH, POSSIBLY AFTER THE LEGISLATION IS DONE, BECAUSE THEY'LL BE TOO BUSY.
BUT I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE BUILDING OF THAT REG THAT REPUTATION OF BEING, DOING OUTREACH.
SO, UH, WHAT DO THEY SUGGEST? YOU KNOW, SOMETHING WE COULD DO EITHER BY ZOOM OR, UH, I MEAN, REPRESENTATIVE WYNN IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN.
HE, HE MAY OR MAY NOT COME HERE, BUT BLISS MIGHT SHOW UP.
SHE SEEMED REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE, AND SO DID BENNETT.
SO, AND THEY HAVE EACH, UH, UH, INDIVIDUALLY INCLUDING, UH, MR. WYNN HAVE, HAVE, HAVE, HAVE SAID AND ASKED FOR THE SAME, UH, IN, IN THE FUTURE AS WELL, MAYOR.
SO, UH, UH, I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT SUGGESTION.
AND, UH, I, I, I, WE'LL ABSOLUTELY LOOK TO THAT END AND THAT, AND THAT OPPORTUNITY, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE TIMING IS RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENTLEMEN, AND, UM, HOPE TO SEE YOU BOTH SOON.
TODD LOOKS LIKE HE WAS ABOUT SAY THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP TOO.
I, I WOULD JUST NOTE TOO, THAT TOMORROW'S WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE HEARING, THAT'S HEARING,
[05:20:01]
UH, UH, REPRESENTATIVE BLISS'S BILL ON THE GENERAL PLAN THAT THAT CAME DIRECTLY OUT OF MEETING WITH YOU.SO YOU ALL TAKEN THE TIME TO MEET WITH HER AND HER COMING UP.
THAT'S A, THAT'S A, A GOOD BYPRODUCT OF, UH, OF THAT.
AND SO I'D ALSO NOTE TOO THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR FIRST BILLS THAT SHE'S SHEPHERDING THROUGH THE PROCESS.
SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL AND, AND HER, UM, DOING THIS FOR US.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENTLEMEN.
UH, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
WE HAVE A CARD MAYOR, THAT I GAVE GAVE YOU ON THIS NO, NO, NOT FOR THIS.
THE, YES, THIS IS, THIS IS NOT FOR, THIS IS FOR THE, UM, UH, DEEDS RESTRICTED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
SO NOW WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS, SINCE THE, SORRY, SANDY, THE WRITER OF THE CARD IS HERE, MAYBE WE SHOULD MOVE THAT UP TOO, SO YOU DON'T CARE,
SHE'S USED TO THESE LONG MEETINGS FOR SHANNON'S BENEFIT MAYBE.
SO WHAT ITEM IS THAT? THAT'S SIR
[8.d. AB 2901 Discussion/possible action regarding the proposal of a new program to assist homeowners in voluntarily placing deed restrictions on their own property, with requiring owner-occupancy or disallowing short-term rentals.]
NUMBER.THAT'S, UH, AB 29 0 1 DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE PROPOSAL OF A NEW PROGRAM TO ASSIST HOMEOWNERS INVOLUNTARILY PLACING DEED RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY WITH REQUIRING OWNER OCCUPANCY OR DISALLOWING SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
I BET THAT'S GONNA BE SHANNON.
UM, MAYOR, COUNSELORS, YOU, SOME OF YOU MIGHT REMEMBER LAST YEAR, UM, ASKED FOR SOME DIRECTION REGARDING POTENTIAL PROGRAMS, AND WE DISCUSSED BRIEFLY THE VEIL INDEED PROGRAM, WHICH WAS A DEED RESTRICTION PROGRAM ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, UM, TO ENSURE THEY REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.
AND VEILS PROGRAM THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT THAT TIME, WOULD PURCHASE DEED RESTRICTIONS BASED ON THE DIFFERENCE IN VALUE OF A SHORT TERM RENTAL COMPARED TO A PROPERTY THAT WAS DEED RESTRICTED FOR LOCALS ONLY.
UM, THE ESTIMATED COST OF THAT WAS AT LEAST $60,000 PER PROPERTY.
SO IN LIEU OF SUCH A HIGH COST PROGRAM, THE PROGRAM THAT I'M SUGGESTING TONIGHT WOULD SIMPLY ASSIST EXISTING HOMEOWNERS IN FILING A DEED RESTRICTION ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY VOLUNTARILY.
UM, THE DEED RESTRICTION WOULD DISALLOW SHORT-TERM RENTAL ON THE PROPERTY, MEANING THAT ANY FUTURE BUYER WOULD BE LIMITED TO USING THE PROPERTY FOR OWNER OCCUPANCY OR IF IT WERE RENTED TO, UM, RENT TO A LOCAL WORKER FOR A MINIMUM OF A 30 DAY PERIOD.
UM, SO THERE MIGHT BE FAR FEWER RESIDENTS WHO WOULD VOLUNTARILY, UM, RESTRICT THE VALUE OF THEIR PROPERTY BY NOT ALLOWING ITS SALE TO A SHORT-TERM RENTAL INVESTOR.
THE STRATEGIES AND MEANS OF GIVING CONTROL TO LOCAL RESIDENTS TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF THEIR COMMUNITY.
SO THE PROGRAM WOULD JUST INVOLVE HOUSING STAFF AND ASSISTING HOMEOWNERS AND FILLING OUT EXHIBIT A, WHICH IS A USED DEED RESTRICTION THAT WOULD GIVE THE CITY THE RIGHT TO ENFORCE THE SHORT TERM RENTAL RESTRICTION.
UM, IF ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, JUST YES, I DO.
I HAD NOTES ON THIS, SO I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR.
THERE'S REALLY, THE ONLY THING THAT WE'RE APPROVING IS STAFF TIME REALLY TO HELP AND MAKE SURE IT'S PROPERLY FILED.
THERE'S NOT A BIG FINANCIAL COMMITMENT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE, THAT YOU'VE ASSESSED IS, UM, FITS ON YOUR PLATE OF WORK.
AND THE ONLY INCENTIVE WOULD BE MAYBE THE FINANCIAL WOULD BE THE CITY PICKING UP THE $15 FILING FEE.
IS THIS, DO I UNDERSTAND THIS CORRECTLY? YES.
AND POSSIBLY A NOMINAL FEE TO THE OWNER, UM, OF ALSO $15.
I JUST WANTED TO GET ALL THAT OUT THERE.
MR. MAYOR SHANNON, UH, 30 MINIMUM 30 DAYS.
IS THAT FIXED IN LAWS THERE ANY REASON WHY WE COULDN'T ASK FOR MORE? NOT THAT I KNOW OF.
NO, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT IS NOT FIXED IN LAST, SO IT COULD BE MORE, UM, ALTHOUGH TRADITIONALLY SOME PEOPLE DO MONTH TO MONTH LEASES AND, AND STAY FOR LONGER, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY WILL DO.
HISTORICALLY, THE WHOLE DEFINITION OF SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE, YOU KNOW, AS, AS ABOUT
[05:25:01]
30 DAYS.BUT THESE ARE DIFFERENT TIMES.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE FROM US, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE US PROMOTE A MORE RESTRICTIVE DEED THAN THAT 90 DAYS WOULD BE MY PROPOSAL.
UM, I HAVE ONE QUESTION, KURT.
THIS COULD BE REVERSED BY A BUYER BY GOING TO COURT AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
UH, SO THE WAY THE, THE DE THE USET RESTRICTION'S CURRENTLY SET UP IS THAT IT'S FOR 49 YEARS.
UH, AND SO AFTER, IF YOU HELD THE PROPERTY FOR 49 YEARS, THEN YOU CAN YES.
THEN AT THE END YOU COULD, UM, IT EXPIRES.
UH, AND THAT GETS TO THE POINT OF THERE ARE NO GENERALLY NO PERMANENT IN, IN, IN THIS TYPE OF SCENARIO.
THERE'S NOT GONNA BE A, UH, PERMANENT INDEED RESTRICTION.
UH, BUT IF IT'S SOLD OR THERE'S ANY SUBSEQUENT BUYERS, THEN IT RENEWS AND THE 49 YEARS STARTS OVER AGAIN.
SO I MEAN THIS, SO IN WORST CASE SCENARIO, A CORPORATION COULD BUY THE HOUSE AND IN 49 YEARS THEY COULD THEN DO SHORT TERM RENTALS.
BUT THAT, SORRY, MR. MAYOR, ONE MORE COMMENT ON THAT, THAT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE WON'T EVER BE ANY LITIGATION COSTS.
IF SOMEONE WERE TO SUE TO TRY TO REMOVE THE DEED RESTRICTION, THEN THE CITY, UH, WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT TO, TO DEFEND IT IN, IN ANY INDIVIDUAL CASE.
WELL, IN THE CASE OF THE PROPERTY, THE SUA PLAZA NEXT DOOR, WE CHANGED THAT DEEDS RESTRICTION.
WAS THAT DEEDS RESTRICTED OR NOT FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS? THAT WAS NO, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT YES, THAT WAS CHANGED BY, UH, TWO THIRDS OF ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE UNION.
OF THE, THE CC RS, JESSICA, IF SOMEONE ENTERED INTO THIS DEED RESTRICTION AND THEN THEY DID A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, WHAT RECORDS DOES THE CITY HAVE? UH, AND THE DEED RESTRICTIONS LISTED LIQUIDATED DAMAGES OF $500 PER DAY.
BUT THAT'S A WHOLE COURT CASE.
UH, THE, IF THEY REFUSE TO TO PAY RIGHT, THEN IT CAN END UP IN COURT.
UM, YOU WANNA DISCUSS ADDING THE 90 DAY, UH, RESTRICTION? I THINK I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC FIRST BEFORE WE LOOK AT AMENDING.
DO YOU HAVE A CARD ON THIS? WE COULD, WE COULD DO, WELL, WE COULD DO THAT.
UH, IS SANDY MOI HERE?
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THIS ISSUE.
I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO CHANGE IT TO 90 DAYS.
UM, I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE DO COME IN WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO BUY A HOME AND NEED TO RENT FOR MAYBE TWO OR THREE MONTHS, AND THAT WOULD PROBABLY RESTRICT THEM FROM DOING THAT.
I'D HAVE TO GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT.
BUT THIS IS, FRANKLY, THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN INTENDING TO DO WHEN I SELL MY HOUSE ANYWAY.
I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT WHEN I SELL MY HOUSE, I'M GONNA DEED RESTRICT IT SO IT CAN'T BE SHORT-TERM RENT.
AND SO I'M WILLING TO BE YOUR FIRST CUSTOMER IF IT'S, I MEAN, I ASSUME YOU CAN DO IT EVEN BEFORE YOU SELL THE HOUSE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO.
I MEAN, IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'RE KIND OF COMMITTING TO YOUR NEIGHBORS THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA, YOUR HOUSE IS NOT GONNA TURN INTO A SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING TO DO.
I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S MY INTENTION.
IF, IF THERE'S A WAY TO ADD ASSISTANCE TO OUR RESIDENTS, HOMEOWNERS THAT MAY WANNA DO THIS, AND THE CITY CAN HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I THINK WE SHOULD, UH, IT'S CERTAINLY IN THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST.
UM, I, I HEAR THE COMMENTS, UH, FROM THE AUDIENCE ABOUT THE 90 DAY CONCERN, AND IT, IT SITS A LITTLE BIT WITH ME TOO.
LIKE IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE TOO RESTRICTIVE.
SO IS WONDERING IF MAYBE WHEN WE DO CONSIDER THIS, IF WE'D CONSIDER 60 DAYS AS, UH, SOMETHING.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S FOR UP HERE, BUT I DO, I SUPPORT THIS.
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD INVESTMENT OF, OF SOME CITY STAFF TIME.
I THANK SHANNON FOR, YOU KNOW, BRINGING IT FORWARD.
[05:30:01]
UM, I'M GLAD THAT THERE ARE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT HAVE THAT WANT TO DO THIS IN A, IN A PROACTIVE WAY.I AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE AS WELL THAT THIS IS A REALLY GOOD FAITH STATEMENT THAT SOMEBODY CAN MAKE TO THEIR NEIGHBORS.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL WHO BROUGHT THIS FORWARD AS AN IDEA.
UH, I SUPPORT THIS, UH, PLAN AND I'M GOOD WITH THE 30 DAYS.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING IDEA TO GO KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF EVERY HOUSE IN TOWN THAT HAS A HOMES NOT HOTELS SIGN IN THEIR FRONT YARD AND SEE IF THEY'RE READY TO PUT THEIR SO-CALLED MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS ON THIS.
DID YOU JUST VOLUNTEER TO DO THAT DOOR KNOCKING? I DON'T HAVE ONE OF THOSE SIGNS.
AND I WOULDN'T BE OPPOSED TO SIGNING ONE ANYWAYS.
AND IF YOU'D LIKE ONE OF THOSE SIGNS I HAPPEN TO NOBODY, GET FROM, AND SHANNON WOLF HAS THE APPLICATION FOR YOU.
PETE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
MELISSA, ARE YOU STILL WITH US
WELL, WILL YOU SUPPORT THIS, UH, ITEM? I I DO, I DO, I DO SUPPORT THIS.
I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND GEORGE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
SO, UM, I HAVE NO PREFERENCE FOR THE GREATER THAN 30 OR 60 DAYS.
AND BY THE WAY, I WANNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC, UH, SESSION AND, UH, CUZ YOU HAVE TO CLOSE IT.
SO, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? IF YOU'RE READY FOR MOTION? I CAN.
YOU READY FOR A MOTION? I AM READY FOR A MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION HEARING FROM UP HERE THAT THERE WAS NOT SUPPORT FOR 90 OR 60.
SO I MOVE TO APPROVE THE VOLUNTARY SHORT-TERM RENTAL DEED RESTRICTION PROGRAM IN AN, AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $15 PER DEED, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF A USE DEED RESTRICTION FORM BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
CAN SECOND, I I JUST, I'M SORRY.
CAN I ADMIT I, CAN I ASK A LEGAL QUESTION? WE NEED A SECOND.
CAN I CHANGE IT? I JUST WANNA KNOW UNTIL IT'S SECONDED.
NOW DISCUSSION? NO, I JUST WANNA KNOW IF THE PRI IF THE FILING FEE GOES UP, WE'LL HAVE TO CHANGE THIS.
SO THAT'S THE $15 LISTED THERE IS FOR WHAT WOULD BE PAID TO THE, TO THE RESIDENT.
AS FOR CONSIDERATION, UM, A CONTR CONTRACTUAL CONSIDERATION, THE FILING FEE IS GENERALLY GONNA BE FREE FOR THE CITY IF THE CITY RECORDS IT, BUT IF THERE IS A FEE.
I $30? I GUESS I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT.
OKAY, THAT BEING SAID, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
SO WE'RE GONNA DO YOURS AT, AT, UM, 29 0 6, DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE AMEND NA, HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
WHAT IS THE 80 YOU WANT? EIGHT.
[8.e. AB 2900 Discussion/possible action regarding updates to the Down-Payment Assistance Programs.]
A B 2,900.POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING UPDATES TO THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
UM, COUNSEL, I'M GONNA TRY TO SPEED THIS ALONG A LITTLE BIT BY NOT GOING INTO ALL OF THE DETAILS.
UM, I THINK MOST OF IT'S IN YOUR PACKETS, BUT, UM, THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH WE STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, HAD, UM, APPROXIMATELY 44 CALLS, UM, FOLKS INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM CONTACTING HOUSING SOLUTIONS OF NORTHERN ARIZONA.
UM, IN THE END, TWO OF THOSE PURCHASED HOMES WITH THE ASSISTANCE, ONE WITH THE, UM, CITY EMPLOYEES PROGRAM AND ONE WITH THE, UM, OTHER EMPLOYERS WITHIN THE CITY.
UM, TWO OTHER CLIENTS DID PURCHASE WITH THE HELP OF, UM, HOUSING SOLUTIONS, HOME BUYER COUNSELING, BUT THEY DID NOT CHOOSE TO USE THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.
UM, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW IS INTEREST RATES HAVE GONE UP AND WE HAVE THE INCOME CAP AND DIFFERENT FACTORS IN THE PROGRAM.
IT, IT LEAVES A VERY SMALL WINDOW OF WHO COULD QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM.
UH, UM, SO WE HAVE SOME RECOMMENDED
[05:35:01]
CHANGES HERE.SO SINCE EVERY DOLLAR OF DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE INCREASES THE BUYER'SS PURCHASING POWER, WE RECOMMEND INCREASING THE ASSISTANCE AMOUNT FOR BOTH PROGRAMS. UM, CURRENTLY THAT'S A TWO AND A HALF TO ONE MATCH OF BUYER FUNDS UP TO 25,000.
WE RECOMMEND INCREASING THE MATCH TO FOUR TO ONE, UP TO 40,000.
UM, I DID PUT IN THE AGENDA BILL THAT THE SEDONA PROGRAMS WERE MODELED AFTER THE ONE FOR THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF, WHO RECENTLY MADE THE SAME CHANGE.
HOWEVER, I PUT THAT IN THERE AND THEN FLAGSTAFF CONTINUED IT TO A, A FUTURE AGENDA.
THE CITY OF AVONDALE DID, HOWEVER, JUST RAISE THEIR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO 40,000 AS WELL.
UM, THE SECOND PART OF THAT, UM, BASED ON THE BUYER FEEDBACK, HSNA RECOMMENDED REDUCING THE RETENTION PERIOD.
THEY FELT THAT THAT, UM, KIND OF SCARED SOME PEOPLE OFF.
UM, SO THE PURCHASER WOULD BE BOUND TO THEIR EMPLOYER FOR FIVE YEARS INSTEAD OF SEVEN.
UM, THE THIRD ASPECT WAS FOR THE CITY EMPLOYEES PROGRAM.
UM, THERE'S CURRENTLY A REQUIREMENT THAT THE EMPLOYER EMPLOYEE HAVE ONE YEAR OF EMPLOYMENT HISTORY, AND IT IS SUGGESTED THAT WE ELIMINATE THE EMPLOYMENT HISTORY REQUIREMENT, WHICH MIGHT DRAW MORE INTERESTED BUYERS AND HELP THE CITY WITH RECRUITING.
WHAT DO YOU, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT, UH, HISTORY? I MEAN, I'M GUESSING YOU WOULD SUPPORT IT, BUT DO YOU, IF IN ANY PROGRAM THAT YOU'VE HAD IN THE PAST THAT HAVE DONE THAT? I MEAN, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT DOING THAT.
UM, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BUY-IN.
SO MY PERSPECTIVE ON THAT WAS THAT FOR THE, THE OTHER PROGRAM THAT SERVES THE, THE GREATER SEDONA EMPLOYEES, UM, WE DON'T REQUIRE ANY EMPLOYMENT HISTORY.
SO I'M NOT SURE IF IT MATTERS IF WE REQUIRE IT FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.
AND BECAUSE IT IS A, A PROFIT SHARE.
UM, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN IF IT WAS JUST A, A DIRECT ASSISTANCE.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM MEADES? OH, SEEING NONE, MR. MR. MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, SO SHANNON, UH, NUMBER NUMBER TWO, I, I'M ASSUMING I'M JUST READING THIS WRONG, BUT I JUST WANTED TO VERIFY.
DO I HAVE TO REMAIN WITH THE SAME EMPLOYER FOR SEVEN YEARS OR ONLY A SEDONA EMPLOYER FOR SEVEN YEARS? IT'S A SEDONA EMPLOYER.
SEDONA EMPLOYEE, DON'T SAY IT SAYS THEIR YEAH.
BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE SAME AS A DON EMPLOYER.
YOU CAN SWITCH JOBS, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO BE EMPLOYED WITHIN THE CITY WORKS FORK.
ANYTHING ELSE, MELISSA? NO, SIR.
IT WAS JUST THE, THE PHRASE TO THEIR EMPLOYER.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE THREE CHANGES TO THE CITY'S TWO DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND RELATED DOCUMENTS AS RECOMMENDED IN AB 2902ND COUNCILOR KINSELLA SECONDED.
IT'S CLEAR THAT WE COULD MOVE QUICKLY THROUGH SOME ITEMS. WE, WELL, WHEN WE HAVE SHANNON DO IT.
YEAH, WE WE CAN DO IT REALLY QUICK.
OR WHEN IS THE 10 30? THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TO EXACTLY.
THANK YOU FOR HANGING IN THERE.
[8.c. AB 2906 Discussion/possible action regarding amending the Historic Preservation Commission Handbook, reducing the number of members of the City’s Historic Preservation Commission from 7 to 5 members.]
YES.AB 29 0 6 DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING AMENDING THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION HANDBOOK, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS, UH, OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION FROM 7 25.
THIS ITEM IS BROUGHT FORWARD AFTER CONSULTATION WITH OUR FORMER MAYOR, OUR CURRENT MAYOR, WHO WERE INVOLVED IN, IN MOST OF THESE RECENT RECRUITMENTS OR ATTEMPTS AT RECRUITMENTS, THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF LIAISON TO THE COMMISSION, AND THE CHAIR OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION.
SO AFTER YOU'VE GOT THE HISTORY IN YOUR PACKET OF HOW DIFFICULT IT HAS BEEN TO, TO MAINTAIN THAT
[05:40:01]
COMMISSION, AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE HAVEN'T HAD SEVEN MEMBERS ON THAT COMMISSION IN YEARS.UM, SO IN, IN CONSULTATION AND BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SUCH A CHALLENGE TO, TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN COMMISSIONERS AND BECAUSE IN THIS LAST YEAR WE ENTERED INTO THE SERVICE CONTRACT WITH THE SEDONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPECIFICALLY, UM, OR ONE OF THE ROLES WAS TO AUGMENT THE WORK THAT THE HISTORIC PRO, UM, HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION IS DOING.
SO ALL OF THOSE, UH, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT I JUST MENTIONED, UH, DO SUPPORT THIS CHANGE BECAUSE BETWEEN THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND THE FACT THAT WE NOW HAVE FIVE REALLY GOOD COMMISSIONERS AND FIVE REALLY SOLID COMMISSIONERS ARE GOING TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN SEVEN MEDIOCRE COMMISSIONERS.
SO I THINK WE ARE IN A GOOD PLACE WITH THE COMMISSION.
WE DO HAVE THE, THE SUPPORT NOW OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND WE HAVE THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THAT ORGANIZATION ON THE COMMISSION.
UH, SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT WE'RE JUST, UM, ASKING COUNSEL TO, TO FORMALLY MAKE THAT CHANGE, KATHY.
SO AS LONG AS IT'S SEVEN AND YOU, UH, REQUIREMENT THAT AFFECTS THE QUORUM MM-HMM.
SO THEY'RE, IF THEY'RE UNABLE TO MEET IT, THEY CAN'T CONDUCT BUSINESS.
SO HAVING FIVE WOULD REDUCE THE QUORUM REQUIREMENT, CORRECT? YES.
UH, LET ME WAIT TILL THE VICE MAYOR COMES BACK BEFORE WE COME VOTE.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION WHEN SHE COMES BACK.
I MAY I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDING THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION HANDBOOK, REDUCING THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP FROM SEVEN TO FIVE SECOND.
WHAT'S THAT? WAS THAT COUNSELOR? KINSELLA.
UM, SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
JOANNE, IT'S LIKE A VOICE FROM HEAD.
MELISSA, WE HAVE ABOUT ANOTHER TWO HOURS LEFT.
SO, UM, THIS IS LIKE COLLEGE, MELISSA, YOU'RE JUST GONNA STAY UP ALL NIGHT, RIGHT? RIGHT.
[8.g. Reports/discussion regarding Council assignments.]
AND DISCUSSION REGARDING COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS.ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY REALLY WANNA SHARE AT 10 30 AT NIGHT? POWERPOINT,
[8.h. Discussion regarding ideas for future meeting/agenda items.]
UH, AGENDA ITEMS, UH, MEETINGS.WE HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW, UH, THREE O'CLOCK RIGHT HERE.
HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE A REAL TWO HOUR MEETING, LIKE A TYPICAL WORK SESSION.
[10. ADJOURNMENT]
NONE.