Mar 10, 2026 City Council

CALL

[00:00:01]

AND TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS MOMENT OF SILENCE TO PAT O'HALLORAN, WHO IS THE WIFE OF TOM O'HALLORAN, OUR, OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR MANY YEARS, WHO PASSED AWAY ON FEBRUARY 28TH.

THANK YOU.

MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU CALL THE ROLE PLEASE? MAYOR PLU.

HERE, VICE MAYOR FOLTZ.

PRESENT.

COUNCILOR DUNN.

EXCUSED.

COUNCILOR FURMAN.

PRESENT.

COUNCILOR HOI.

HERE.

COUNCILOR KINSELLA.

PRESENT.

COUNCILOR F HERE.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, NANCY, WE'LL HAVE OUR MOMENT OF ART.

WOULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE OUR LOCAL SCULPTOR, JILL TRENT, HOME.

AND JILL, NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA SEE A VIDEO.

YES.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNSELORS.

UM, MARCH'S, NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, AS WE ALL KNOW.

AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT JILL AND THE PIECE THAT SHE HAS JUST CREATED, UM, WHICH HONORS THE FEMININE FOR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

SO, JILL IS THE PROTEGE, WHICH I THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW OF THE LATE MASTER SCULPTOR, JOHN SODERBERG.

HER WORK EXPLORES THEMES OF HEALING, UNITY, AND HUMAN DIGNITY, OFTEN TAKING THE FORM OF PUBLIC ART.

ART CAN BEAUTIFY, HEAL, EVOKE EMOTION, AND EDUCATE ALL WHILE BRINGING COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

JILL'S DEAR WOMAN MONUMENT PROJECT DOES JUST THAT THIS PIECE IS HER DEEPLY PERSONAL RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS OF MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

IT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS CURRENTLY ON MAQUETTE, AND IT'S A SCULPTURE THAT HONORS, PROTECTS AND BRINGS AWARENESS TO THE INDIGENOUS STORIES.

THERE WILL BE A MEET THE ARTIST EVENT THIS THURSDAY, MARCH 12TH, FROM FOUR TO 5:00 PM AT THE COMMUNITY LIBRARY.

SEDONA AND JILL WILL UNVEIL THE PIECE THERE, AND I HOPE ANY OF YOU CAN JOIN US FOR THIS SO YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT, PARTICIPATE IN A Q AND A AND MEET JILL.

SO WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WITH A VERY SHORT CLIP, AND THEN JILL WILL SAY A FEW WORDS.

I CREATED THE SCULPTURE OF DEAR WOMAN AS THE TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR THE ONGOING CRISIS.

MURDERED IN MANY INDIGENOUS TRADITIONS.

DEAR WOMAN, IS KNOWN AS A FIERCE, PROTECT YOUR OWN AND CHILDREN FEAR OF JUSTICE AND STRENGTH.

THE UNMISTAKABLE RED HAND PRINT ACROSS HER FACE REPRESENTS THE SILENCE, POISON OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN WHO HAVE GONE MISSING OR BEEN MURDERED.

IT SIGNIFIES THE LACK OF ATTENTION AND ACTION, DEMANDING JUSTICE AND REMEMBRANCE.

HAND PRINT IS ALSO A SYMBOL OF ORGANIZATIONS SURROUNDING MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS.

SHE'S WRAPPED IN A BLANKET OF EARTH RISING FROM THE LAND ITSELF, AND CARRIES WITHIN IT 350 SCULPT BASIS EACH ONE PRECIOUS LIFE STORY A SOUL MUST NEVER FORGET.

AND EACH ONE REPRESENT REPRESENTING HUNDREDS MORE.

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A SPACE FOR GRIEVING, A PLACE FOR AWAKENING, PACKED TOWARD HEALING.

WHEREVER SHE STANDS, SHE BECOMES A GUARDIAN HOLDING MEMORY, COMMANDING PRESENCE, CALLING FOR, FOR CHANGE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UH, FIRST I WANNA THANK THE CITY OF SEDONA, ALL OF YOU HERE AND NANCY, FOR INVITING ME TO, TO, UH, TALK ABOUT THE HEART BEHIND THIS PROJECT.

UM, INDIGENOUS WOMEN GO MISSING OR ARE MURDERED 10 TIMES MORE OFTEN THAN ANY OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC, UH, NOT ONLY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT ALSO IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND YET MOST PEOPLE STILL AREN'T AWARE THAT THIS IS EVEN HAPPENING.

I WASN'T AWARE UNTIL I STARTED TO, UH, LEARN ABOUT IT, AND I'M SHOCKED, ACTUALLY.

AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, UM, HOW CAN WE BEGIN TO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT SOMETHING WHEN WE'VE NEVER BEEN ASKED TO SEE IT? AND SO, HOW CAN HEALING BEGIN AROUND A WOUND THAT'S OVERLOOKED OR SILENCED? I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER FOR TRAUMA TO HEAL, IT MUST FIRST BE RECOGNIZED.

DEAR WOMAN IS A SYMBOL OF REMEMBRANCE, RECOGNITION, STRENGTH, AND ULTIMATELY HEALING.

ART CAN OPEN HEARTS IN A WAY THAT FACTS ALONE SOMETIMES CAN'T.

A SCULPTURE CAN STAND SILENTLY AND STILL SPEAK.

IT CAN INVITE PEOPLE TO PAUSE, TO FEEL, TO REMEMBER TO ASK QUESTIONS AND TO CARE.

I AM DETERMINED THAT WHEREVER THIS MONUMENT IS PLACED, THAT I COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL INDIGENOUS ARTISTS TO DESIGN A BASE MOTIF FOR THE DEAR WOMAN THAT SHE'LL STAND ON THIS.

IT'LL BE ABOUT TWO FEET TALL, AND I THINK, AND THAT WILL BE TRANSLATED INTO MOSAIC.

SO IT CAN REALLY BE COLORFUL AND OUTDOORS.

AND THIS COLLABORATION IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE THE BASE IS FAR MORE THAN A PEDESTAL.

IT IS THE FOUNDATION.

IT IS PART OF THE STORY ITSELF, AND IT DESERVES INDIGENOUS VOICE GUIDANCE AND ARTISTRY.

AND I INTEND FOR DEAR WOMAN MONUMENT TO SPARK CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER NATIONALLY AS WELL AS INTERNATIONALLY.

SHE HONORS THE LIVES OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN LOST, HARMED, OR FORGOTTEN.

AND SHE REMINDS US THAT AWARENESS IS NOT THE END.

IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING.

BECAUSE ONCE WE TRULY SEE HEALING AND CHANGE BECOME POSSIBLE, AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU ALL TO COME TO THE LIBRARY.

AND ON THURSDAY AT FOUR O'CLOCK, WE'LL BE UNVEILING THE 24 INCH BRONZE OF HER.

AND THERE WILL BE SOME IN MANY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THERE.

AND I'VE GOT A WALKING CROW YOU MIGHT KNOW AND KOALA, THEY'RE GONNA PARTICIPATE.

AND I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED FOR IT.

SO MY HOPE AGAIN, IS THAT THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING, THE BEGINNING OF MORE AWARENESS, COMPASSION, AND CONVERSATION TO OPEN THE DOORS TO MEANINGFUL CHANGE.

THANK YOU.

SO, JILL, IF I, I MIGHT ASK YOU A QUESTION.

SO THE GIGANTIC SCULPTURE YES.

THAT WAS SHOWN IN THE VIDEO.

DOES THAT EXIST? NO, IT DOESN'T YET.

IT'S HERE HIDDEN HERE AND ON THE SCREEN.

BUT THAT'S MY INTENTION.

I THINK THIS IS A, A MONUMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE, IT NEEDS TO BE BUILT AND, AND I THINK IT CAN ACTUALLY HELP DO SOME HEALING.

AND ARE THE BRONZE, IS THAT GOING TO BE A, UH, FOR SALE AND A CERTAIN NUMBER? YES.

YES.

I, IT'LL BE A LIMITED EDITION NUMBER.

I PLAN ON MAKING SOME FOUR FEET TALL AS WELL AS THE 24 INCH TALL.

AND THEN TO HAVE THE MONUMENT TO BE BY THE TIME IT'S FINISHED.

AND ON THE PEDESTAL, IT COULD BE ABOUT 14 FEET TALL.

DO YOU HAVE A HOME FOR THAT? NOT YET.

I'M OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS.

? I'M OPEN.

OPEN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

JILL, WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THE VARIOUS FACES THAT ARE ON THE OH, I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT BECAUSE, UM, WHAT I DID WAS I SCULPTED 10 GENERIC FACES AND THE CLAY THAT I USED, YOU MELTED YOU IT INTO THE MOLD.

ONCE IT COOLS, I POP IT OUT AND I HAVE THESE 10 FACES, THEN I WOULD LOOK ONLINE AND FIND THERE'S, SO, THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND

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SO I WOULD LOOK AT THOSE, AND WHILE I WAS SCULPTING HER, IT TOOK ME ABOUT FIVE MONTHS TO SCULPT HER.

FOUR WOMEN WENT MISSING, AND TWO WERE FOUND MURDERED.

SO IT'S JUST, IT'S A HUGE, IT'S A CRISIS.

SO, THANK YOU.

MAYOR, MAY I ASK A QUESTION? IT'S KATHY, WHO WAS THE, IT'S KATHY.

OH, KATHY.

SURE.

OF COURSE.

IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE POSTAGE STAMP OVER THE SCREEN.

OH.

UM, HOW COULD SOMETHING LIKE THIS POSSIBLY BE CONSIDERED FOR, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC ART, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE COULD DISPLAY POSSIBLY THE, OUR MEMORIAL PARK, UH, JUDGE JAMESON PARK OR SOMETHING? IS THAT, DO WE HAVE WAYS TO, TO LOOKING ABOUT THAT? ABOUT? I'M OPEN TO, TO, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE HERE IN SEDONA, BECAUSE THIS IS VERY SACRED LAND HERE.

IT'S, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

AND IT'S NOT JUST US THAT LOVE THIS LAND.

SO I, I WOULD, I'M OPEN TO ANY SUGGESTION OF WHERE WE COULD PLACE HER, BUT I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE IN A VERY PUBLIC SPACE WHERE ANYONE CAN COME AND USE THIS SPACE AS, UM, TO HONOR AND TO REMEMBER, AND TO GRIEVE AS WELL.

SO, NANCY, YES.

I'M HAPPY TO, UM, INITIATE THIS AND SPEAK WITH YOU FURTHER ABOUT IT IF EVERYBODY'S ON BOARD.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE WESTERN GATEWAY.

WE HAVE, WE HAVE THE MILITARY PARK, WHICH I THINK IS A LITTLE SMALL.

IT'S KIND OF CROWDED RIGHT NOW, BUT I, I THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING START.

EVEN FOR MARQUETTE, THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT SPOT.

UM, BUT WE HAVE THE MILITARY, UH, INSTALLATION IS JUST A PART OF THAT PARK.

THAT PARK HAS OTHER MEMORIALS SUCH AS TO, UH, WOMEN TO THE ARTS, TO, UM, I BELIEVE THERE WAS ONE TO THE SERV SERVICE ANIMALS.

UH, SO I MEAN, IT'S A GREAT PLACE FOR MEMORIAL.

JUST AN IDEA.

NO, IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

AND SEDONA SCHLEY'S THERE, THE, THE SMALLER MARQUETTE SIZE IS THERE.

SO I COULD SEE IT, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THAT, TO COMBINE NATIVE WITH, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY OF SEDONA.

BUT AS FAR AS THE MONUMENTAL PIECE THAT ISN'T CREATED YET, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LOOK INTO, UM, IF THE CITY WAS INTERESTED IN, YOU KNOW, ON, ON CITY PROPERTY, IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

I THINK IT IS.

OKAY.

THAT'S FABULOUS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, JILL.

THANKS KATHY.

WE'LL SEE YOU ON THURSDAY.

OH, GOOD.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

[ 3. CONSENT ITEMS - APPROVE ]

HEARING NONE, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MAYOR, I MOVE TO, UH, APPROVE ITEMS THREE A THROUGH E ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

SO SECOND.

SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

OKAY, WE'RE UNANIMOUS.

JOE.

WE HAVE NO APPOINTMENTS.

UH, NUMBER FOUR,

[ 5. SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS BY MAYOR/COUNCILORS/CITY MANAGER & COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS]

DO ANY COUNSELORS HAVE ANYTHING THEY WISH TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC? PETE? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AS I, UH, HINTED THE LAST MEETING, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE, UH, TODAY AT THIS MEETING THAT, UH, THE COCONINO PLATEAU WATER, UH, WATER PARTNERSHIP, WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP, WHICH IS A GROUP THAT SEDONA IS A MEMBER OF HOSTS, UH, ANNUALLY, A FOURTH GRADE WATER ETHICS CONTEST.

NOW LAST YEAR, IT'S HISTORICALLY THIS, UH, EVENT IS FOCUSED UP IN FLAGSTAFF, BUT LAST YEAR WE ACTUALLY GOT WEST, UH, SEDONA SCHOOLS INVOLVED, AND THEY WON FIRST PLACE IN THE ART CONTEST.

WELL, THIS YEAR, UH, SEDONA, UH, UH, ONE OF OUR, UH, APPLICANTS WAS, UH, WON THE ESSAY CONTEST FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SO I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE PIPER WAGNER FROM WEST SEDONA SCHOOL, HER TEACHER KELLY KAGAN.

AND, UH, IF WE GET OUR ACT TOGETHER RIGHT, PERHAPS THERE'S A MOMENT OF ART OR A SUSTAINABILITY THING WE COULD DO AND, AND ACTUALLY HEAR, UM, THE ESSAY THAT SHE WROTE.

SO, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

CAN WE BRING HER TO A COUNCIL MEETING TO READ HER ESSAY? YES, MAYOR.

UM, I TALKED TO BRYCE BUCK TODAY ABOUT, UM, INVITING THE PARENTS AND PIPER TO A FUTURE MEETING.

SO WE CAN DO THAT.

GREAT, THANK YOU.

SO TODAY ANNETTE AND I WENT TO THE VERDE VALLEY MAYORS MANAGERS AND EVERYONE ELSE IN THE VERDE VALLEY BIANNUAL BREAKFAST, WHICH WAS HELD AT YAVAPI COLLEGE IN CLARKDALE.

AND IT INCLUDED SHERIFF'S OFFICE FIRE DISTRICTS FROM

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TWO SUPERVISORS WHO REPRESENT DISTRICTS TWO AND THREE, AND, UH, CITY MANAGERS AND MAYORS.

DID I LEAVE OUT ANYBODY AND EACH, UH, ORGANIZATION OR CITY AND TOWN WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE WHAT'S HAPPENING LOCALLY.

AND I REALLY WANNA SAY THAT THE VERDE VALLEY IS A COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS EACH OTHER.

AND IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HEAR WHAT'S HAPPENING IN, IN OUR OTHER TOWNS.

THERE'S FIVE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PUBLIC.

THERE'S FIVE CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE VERDE VALLEY, AND THEN THERE'S EVERYTHING ELSE IS THE COUNTIES.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE REPORT A LOT MM-HMM .

BUT WE ALSO, HOW ABOUT HIGHLIGHTS? YEAH.

AND WE ALSO HAD THE FOREST SERVICE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT FROM THE RED ROCK, THAT'S ROCK DISTRICT IN THE VERDE.

AND, UH, A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT FIRE PREPAREDNESS FOR THIS SEASON.

AND THEN, UH, WE ALSO LEARNED THAT, UM, THE COUNTY IS WORKING ON A WILD IN SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATION FOR THE UPPER VERDE RIVER.

SO THAT WAS ANOTHER, BUT EVERYONE HAS A LOT GOING ON.

YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD ANY SPECIFIC THINGS YOU WANTED ME TO HIGHLIGHT, BUT, UM, ALL THE MAYORS WERE THERE FROM ALL OF THE CITIES.

UM, BUT I THINK THE WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS WAS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST DISCUSSION ITEM.

AND I GUESS WE'LL LOOK, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS MORE IN A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, BUT ONE OF THE BILLS THAT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN IN OPPOSITION TO SEEMS TO HAVE DIED TODAY, THAT WOULD'VE REALLY RESTRICTED US IN A VERY HARMFUL WAYS.

SO THAT WAS A GOOD NEWS, AND WE WANNA THANK OUR, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN OPPOSING THE BILL.

OKAY.

UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION REPORT.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING, BUT I DO HAVE

[7. PUBLIC FORUM ]

SO I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC FORUM.

AND MICHAEL JAMES LONG FOLLOWED BY MARK 10 BRICK MARK'S, NICE TO SEE YOU, FOLLOWED BY DAVID KEY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I GO BY MICHAEL JAMES LONG.

I'M AN ARIZONA STATE CITIZEN AND OF MEN DOMICILED ON THE LAND OF ARIZONA FOR NINE YEARS.

I'D LIKE TO SHARE FIRST A QUOTE FROM THE AMERICAN COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION V DTZ 1950 QUOTE.

IT IS NOT THE FUNCTION, IT IS NOT THE FUNCTION OF OUR GOVERNMENT TO KEEP THE CITIZEN FROM FALLING INTO ERROR.

IT'S THE FUNCTION OF THE CITIZEN TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FROM FALLING INTO ERROR.

ANOTHER QUOTE FROM MAYBERRY V MADISON, 1803 STATES, QUOTE, ANYTHING THAT IS IN CONFLICT WITH THE CONSTITUTION IS NULL AND VOID OF LAW.

CLEARLY, FOR A SECONDARY LAW TO COME INTO CONFLICT WITH THE SUPREME WAS ILLOGICAL FOR CERTAINLY THE SUPREME LAW WOULD PREVAIL OVER ALL OTHER LAWS.

AND CERTAINLY OUR FOREFATHERS HAD INTENDED FOR THE SUPREME LAW TO BE THE BASIS OF ALL LAWS.

FOR ANY LAW TO COME INTO CONFLICT, TO BE NULL AND VOID OF LAW, IT WOULD BEAR NO POWER TO ENFORCE IT, WOULD BEAR NO OBLIGATION TO OBEY.

IT WOULD PURPORT TO SETTLE AS THOUGH IT HAD NEVER EXISTED FOR UNCONSTITUTIONALITY WOULD DATE FROM THE ENACTMENT OF SUCH A LAW, NOT FROM THE DATE.

SO BRANDED BY AN OPEN COURT OF LAW.

NO COURTS ARE BOUND TO UPHOLD IT, AND NO CITIZENS ARE BOUND TO OBEY IT.

IT OPERATES AS A MERE NOLITE FICTION OF LAW, WHICH MEANS IT DOES NOT EXIST IN LAW.

THE DEFINITION OF POLICE POWERS NOW FROM BLACKS LAW FOURTH EDITION, PAGE 1317, STATES THE POWER, THE POWER INVESTED IN THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE ORDAINED AND ESTABLISH ALL MANNER OF WHOLESOME AND REASONABLE LAW STATUTES AND ORDINANCES, EITHER WITH PENALTIES OR WITHOUT NOT REPUGNANT TO THE CONSTITUTION AS THEY SHALL JUDGE TO BE FOR THE GOOD AND WELFARE OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE SUBJECTS OF THE SAME.

NOW, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT NOTICE TO AGENT HAS NOTICED PRINCIPLE, AND OUR NOTICE OF PRINCIPLE IS NOTICED TO AGENT.

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT LEGAL MAXIM.

IF ANY AGENT WOULD RECEIVE NOTICE, THEY'RE DUTY BOUND TO CONVEY IT TO THE ENTIRE AGENCY.

AND SHOULD THE AGENCY RECEIVE NOTICE, THEY'RE DUTY BOUND TO CONVEY IT TO ALL OF THEIR AGENTS.

BUT WHEREAS THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED WITH THOUSANDS OF NOTICES TO HUNDREDS OF AGENTS ACROSS NINE YEARS, RESULTED IN WIDESPREAD DERELICTION OF DUTY AND SYSTEMIC CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE TO THE CONTINUAL INJURY OF THE PUBLIC BUSINESSES AND PRIVATE CITIZENS OF SEDONA.

THE INCOMPETENCY OF THE STONE POLICE WOULD BE LAUGHABLE IF IT WERE NOT SO TRAGIC.

WHEN I WAS RECENTLY GIVEN CITATIONS, THEY CHARGED IT AS A RESIDENT.

HE HAD INSTRUCTED THE RED ROCK NEWS TO PRINT THAT MICHAEL JAMES LONG WAS A TRANSIENT.

EVEN THOUGH I'VE BEEN HERE DOMICILED FOR NINE YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A NCE WHILE GIVING REPEATED NOTICE OF MY NON-RESIDENT ALIEN STATUS, THE RED ROCK NEWS FURTHER WENT INSTRUCTED BY THE STONE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CALL ME A SOVEREIGN CITIZEN, WHICH IS CONSIDERED A TERRORIST GROUP BY THE FBII AM NOT A TERRORIST WHEN ONE IS CALLED A TERRORIST.

THEY HAVE NO RIGHTS.

AND THIS WAS AN OPEN PRINT BEFORE ANY HEARING OF FACTS EVEN THIS IS NOT ONLY CRIMINAL LIABLE, BUT ALSO AN ATTEMPT TO PREEMPTIVELY JUSTIFY MY POLICE MURDER AND MAYBE TO PREJUDICE A JURY.

FURTHERMORE,

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THEY APPARENTLY FURTHER CAN UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE.

WHILE I WAS OPERATING WITH CAPACITY AFFIRMED BY THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AS A PRIVATE PASSENGER MOTOR CARRIER, NON-COMMERCIAL ONLY NON-BUSINESS, WITH THE NUMBER 4 4 1 8 3 5 4.

AND IT WAS CLEARLY MARKED ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY AUTOMOBILE.

THIS NUMBER IS FOUND, REGISTERED TO ME ON MULTIPLE FEDERAL.GOV WEBSITES WITH THE LEVEL OF INCOMPETENCE THE MEN AND WOMEN CARRYING WEAPONS IN OUR STREETS HAVE, IGNORING THE LAW, CRIMINALIZING THE INNOCENT, IMPOSING UNFAIR FINES AND FEES, ALONG WITH CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT TO THE PEOPLE ALL WITHOUT VICTIM.

FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, THE CITY OF SEDONA IS AN INSURRECTION TO THE CONSTITUTION, AND THEY'RE THE ONES TERRORIZING THE PEOPLE IN COMMITTING TREASON.

HOW MUCH MORE BLOOD MUST BE SPILLED BEFORE AMERICAN LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER IS RESTORED? BLESS EVERYONE.

THANK YOU.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M MARK 10 BROOK FROM UPTOWN SEDONA.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MY FELLOW COMRADES, UH, WITH THE UPCOMING BUDGET DISCUSSIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027.

I'M HERE TO DISCUSS THE, UH, SEDONA ANNUAL REPORT THAT I RECENTLY PUBLISHED.

HERE'S SOME OF THE IMPORTANT FINDINGS THAT I HAVE PUT TOGETHER.

FIRST, UH, THE NUMBER OF LICENSED, UH, SHORT-TERM RENTALS HAS GROWN TO ABOUT 1,266, AND THEY RANGE FROM ONE TO NINE BEDROOMS EACH WITH AN AVERAGE OF THREE BEDROOMS. UH, THE RESULTS OF THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL 3,300 BEDROOMS WITHIN SEDONA FOR LODGING COMPARED TO THE 2100 LODGING UNITS THAT ARE IN TRADITIONAL LODGING.

UH, IT'S ALSO ESTIMATED THAT MY ESTIMATE THAT SDRS COMPOSE ABOUT 45% OF THE LODGING REVENUE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

ALSO, LOOKING AT THE, UH, LOCAL ECONOMY, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS REMAINED STABLE THE LAST THREE YEARS AT ABOUT 1.3, 1.2 BILLION A YEAR.

UH, BUT THERE HAS BEEN A RECENT DROP IN LODGING REVENUE THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS.

UH, MY CALCULATIONS SUGGEST THAT RESIDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT 34% OF CITY REVENUE WITH VISITORS, 66%, NOT THE OFTEN QUOTED 80% BY BUSINESSES.

RESIDENTS HAVE A BIGGER PLACE IN TERMS OF PROVIDING REVENUE TO THE CITY.

UH, MY CALCULATIONS INDICATE THAT SEDONA MAY AVERAGE 5.7 MILLION VISITOR DAYS, UH, NOT UNIQUE VISITORS, UH, AVERAGING ABOUT, UH, 15,600 DAILY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, OBVIOUSLY MUCH HIGHER DURING PEAK SEASON.

LARGELY, THESE, UH, VISITORS STAY IN SEDONA FOR ABOUT THREE TO FOUR DAYS.

WHILE THE AVERAGE SALARY FOR SEDONA, UH, IS NEAR THE TOP OF ARIZONA CITIES, THERE ARE REASONS LIKE A LOCAL HIGH COST OF LIMIT THAT ARE CAUSING THIS.

SPENDING ON STAFF PER RESIDENT IS ALSO ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN ARIZONA, LARGELY DUE TO THE NEED TO ADDRESS MITIGATING THE, UH, AVERAGE DAILY 15,600 VISITORS IN SEDONA.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 6,500 PEOPLE THAT ARE EMPLOYED IN SEDONA, AND ABOUT 80% OF THESE PEOPLE COMMUTE IN EVERY DAY.

NOTABLE THAT THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF FULL-TIME STAFF IS SLIGHTLY BELOW THE BUDGETED LEVELS, UH, WITHIN RECENT YEARS, UH, QUITE OFTEN TO MAKE UP FOR LIMITED STAFF.

UH, IN SOME AREAS LIKE THE WASTEWATER PLAN AND PD, THEY'VE WORKED SOME SIGNIFICANT OVERTIME.

I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE THAT CONSULTANTS, UH, HAVE ADDED AN ESTIMATED 19 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENCE, UH, FOR ASSISTING STAFF IN PREPARING REPORTS AND SO FORTH, WHICH IS COMMON PRACTICE WITHIN COMMUNITIES.

UH, THIS ADDS ABOUT 30 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS TO THE 201 THAT ARE BUDGETED BY THE USE OF CONSULTANTS.

UH, IT MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO CONSIDER AN APPROVED BUDGET THAT LIMITS STAFF NUMBER GROWTH OR REDUCING STAFFING IN THE FUTURE SINCE MANY OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE COMPLETE.

I ALSO WANTED TO COMMENT ON THE UPTOWN PARKING WORK GROUP.

I THINK THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CONCERN IS EMPLOYEE PARKING, WHICH CONSUMES ABOUT 30% OF THE PARKING HOURS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, MARK DAVID, UH, FOLLOWED BY TIM PERRY.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSELORS, UH, DAVID KEY PRESIDENT, CEO OF THE GREATER SEDONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, RESIDENT OF SEDONA.

UM, JUST HERE TO, TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF, UH, HOME RULE.

SO THE CHAMBER HAS TAKEN OFFICIAL POSITION IN SUPPORT OF HOME RULE.

I REALIZE I MISSED, UH, THE, THE PREVIOUS SESSION, BUT I AM HERE NOW.

UM, JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR CITY HAS TRULY BENEFITED FROM THE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS.

A LOT OF GREAT CITY PROJECTS.

THERE ARE SOME THAT WOULD CONVINCE YOU THE CITY BUDGET IS A RUNAWAY TRAIN.

NOW, A RUNAWAY TRAIN DOESN'T DECREASE ITS BUDGET.

2.8% FROM LAST YEAR.

MIND YOU, .

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, DISENFRANCHISED PEOPLE

[00:25:01]

THEY SEEK TO, UH, OPPOSE INSTITUTIONS.

BUT I WOULD CONVINCE AND, AND HOPE THAT EVERYONE COMES AROUND TO THE IDEA THAT THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION WITH INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENT AT MANY LEVELS.

WE DON'T NEED TO TAKE THAT HIGH FRUSTRATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL.

WE DON'T NEED TO PRESCRIBE THE SAME OPPOSITION TO INSTITUTIONS, TO OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT SEEKS TO HELP.

SO WITH THAT, I REALLY JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, IN THAT OPPOSITION, DOES ANYONE BENEFIT FROM OPPOSING HOME RULE? NO, NO ONE BENEFITS FROM THE CITY.

SETTING ASIDE MONEY THAT IT WOULD NORMALLY BE SPENDING, STILL COLLECTING, OF COURSE, DOES NOT STOP THE COLLECTION.

BUT I WANNA JUST EMPHASIZE AGAIN THAT THE CHAMBER IS IN SUPPORT OF HOME RULE AND HAS BENEFITED FROM PROJECTS LIKE THE FOREST ROAD BYPASS, LIKE THE PARKING GARAGE, THAT WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE OPEN IN UPTOWN TO REALLY ACCOMMODATE THOSE VISITORS, TO CENTRALIZE THEIR EXPERIENCE.

SO WITH THAT, WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL AND THE PROJECTS YOU PURSUE.

FOR THOSE THAT WOULD EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO ENCOURAGE, LET'S SAY THEY WANT MORE FISCAL CONSERVATISM, THAT IS FOR THE BALLOT BOX FOR THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTION.

THAT IS NOT THE HOME RULE VOTE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DAVID.

TIM.

GOOD EVENING, COUNSELORS.

MY NAME IS TIM PERRY, AND I LIVE IN SEDONA.

IN TONIGHT'S INSTALLMENT OF THE LIES TOLD BY THE CITY OF SEDONA, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE ENTERTAINING TO LOOK AT THE MANY VARIETIES OF PSEUDOSCIENCE EMBRACED BY THIS DATA-DRIVEN COUNCIL AND STAFF.

BEGINNING, OF COURSE, WITH THE INSERTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RHETORIC INTO OFFICIAL CITY DOCUMENTS, WHICH ATTEMPTS TO IMPLY THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF EQUIVALENCY BETWEEN ANIMATE AND NON ANIMATE OBJECTS ON THE ONE HAND AND HUMANS ON THE OTHER, AND THEREBY REJECTS THE MASS OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATING THE UNIQUENESS OF OUR SPECIES.

THEN WE HAVE A SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT, WHICH APPARENTLY BELIEVES THAT ITS FIXATION ON CUTTING CARBON EMISSIONS WILL SOMEHOW MAGICALLY TRANSLATE INTO A PROGRAM TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE CIRCULAR ECONOMIES USING LOCAL RESOURCES.

EVEN THOUGH THE TWO OBJECTIVES HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON, AND NO CAUSAL EXPLANATION HAS PRES BEEN PRESENTED LEADING FROM ONE TO THE OTHER.

THEN WE HAVE THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS ACTIVELY TRYING TO PROMOTE IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS IN THIS TOWN, NEW AGE TOURISM.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT ALL OF THESE CENTERPIECES OF NEW AGE TOURISM, YOU KNOW, CRYSTALS, CHAKRAS, SPIRIT JOURNEYS, VORTEXES, BIOENERGETIC FIELDS ARE NON-EXISTENT LIES AND FRAUDS.

AND THE CITY IS THEREFORE SPENDING PUBLIC MONEY ON SPREADING SCIENTIFIC MISINFORMATION.

OVER IN HUMAN RESOURCES, WE HAVE RUSS MARTIN, WHO IS CONDUCTING PSEUDO-SCIENTIFIC COLOR TESTS ON CITY STAFF TO DETERMINE THEIR PERSONALITIES.

AND IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY HAVE THE TOUCHINGLY OLD FASHIONED SUPERSTITION OF BELIEVING THAT AN ANIMAL, A DOG, CAN DEMONSTRATE THROUGH ITS ACTIONS, EVIDENCE THAT IS SOMEHOW RELIABLE IN COURT THROUGH THE RANDOM FIRING OF ITS NEURONS IN ITS BRAIN.

I'M REMINDED VERY MUCH OF THE HABIT OF THE ANCIENT ROMANS OF CONSULTING THE SACRED CHICKENS BEFORE THEY WENT INTO BATTLE TO SEE IF THEY'D WIN OR LOSE.

MIND YOU, STEPHANIE'S ALSO GOT HER OWN PERSONAL, UH, LITTLE PSEUDOSCIENCE OBSESSION WITH HER PREOCCUPATION WITH DISCREDITED DETERRENCE THEORY.

MY FAVORITE PSEUDOSCIENCE OF THE CITY, HOWEVER, HAS ALWAYS BEEN COUNSEL AND STAFFS FIXATION WITH AIR CONDITIONING.

AND MY VERY FIRST RETREAT, BRIAN FOLTZ, THOUGHT 77 DEGREES WAS TOO WARM AND HAD THE AIR CONDITIONING TURNED ON.

I CHECKED THE EARLIER, THIS ROOM IS AT 73 DEGREES.

THE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT IT IS A FACT THAT HUMAN COGNITION BEGINS TO DECREASE BELOW 77 DEGREES.

AND NOW ANNETTE KEEPS HER HOUSE AT 68 DEGREES.

THAT MAY WELL GO SOME WAY TOWARDS EXPLAINING WHY SHE'S AMONG THE MORE BRAIN DEAD MEMBERS OF CITY STAFF.

LEARN THE DATA OR STOP TALKING ABOUT IT.

OKAY,

[8.a. American Red Cross Month Proclamation, March 2026. ]

AND WE DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION TODAY FOR THE AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH PROCLAMATION.

I'LL READ IT AND THEN GUYS CAN COME UP.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME JANET DUBE AND HENNING LARSON, WHEREAS IN MARCH, WE CELEBRATE AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH BY HONORING OUR NEIGHBORS WHO MAKE THE HUMANITARIAN MISSION

[00:30:01]

THE COMPASSIONATE SPIRIT RUNS DEEP IN OUR COMMUNITY JUST AS IT HAS FOR 145 YEARS THROUGH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.

AND WHEREAS TODAY, THOSE WHO SERVE WITH THE NORTHERN ARIZONA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS LIGHT THE WAY DURING EMERGENCIES, WHETHER IT'S DELIVERING SHELTER, FOOD, AND COMFORT AFTER DISASTERS, PROVIDING A SAFE LIFE-SAVING BLOOD SUPPLY FOR PATIENTS FACING CONDITIONS LIKE CANCER TREATMENTS, CHILDBIRTH COMPLICATIONS AND TRAUMATIC INJURIES, ASSISTING MILITARY MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH 24 7 GLOBAL SUPPORT OR EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS WITH SKILLS LIKE FIRST AID AND CPR THAT SAVE LIVES.

AND WHEREAS THESE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS ARE A POWERFUL REMINDER THAT THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY LIES IN OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO ONE ANOTHER.

AS WE MARK RED CROSS MONTH, LET'S CELEBRATE OUR LOCAL HEROES AND RESOLVE TO CONTINUE LIFTING EACH OTHER UP SO NO ONE FACES AN EMERGENCY ALONE.

NOW, THEREFORE, I HOLLY PLU, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SEDONA, ARIZONA, ON BEHALF OF THE SEDONA CITY COUNCIL TO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH, 2026 AS RED CROSS MONTH.

I ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS OF SEDONA TO REACH OUT AND SUPPORT THIS HUMANITARIAN MISSION ISSUED THIS 10TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026.

YOU COULD SAY A FEW WORDS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL CITY STAFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE.

I DO WANNA POINT OUT IT BEING, UH, WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

THE RED CROSS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT WAS FOUNDED BY A WOMAN, CLARA BARTON, PERSONAL HERO OF MINE.

I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE ANYBODY THAT DOESN'T KNOW HER STORY TO PLEASE GOOGLE HER AND TAKE A LOOK AT HER LIFE.

UM, I WANNA JUST QUICKLY SAY, THE RED CROSS MISSION HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS COUNTRY FOR MORE THAN HALF OF ITS 250 YEAR HISTORY.

RED CROSS MONTH BEGAN AS A NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION DURING WORLD WAR II FOR INDIVIDUALS TO ADDRESS GROWING HUMANITARIAN NEEDS.

NOW IT'S A COMMUNITY TRADITION, HONORING NEIGHBORS WHO DELIVER SUPPORT WHEN HELP CAN'T WAIT.

RED CROSS MONTH IS MORE THAN A MOMENT OF RECOGNITION.

IT IS NOT JUST CEREMONY.

IT'S A POWERFUL REMINDER OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN WE COME TOGETHER TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER.

HERE IN SEDONA, ORDINARY PEOPLE MAKE AN EXTRAORDINARY DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY, WHETHER THEY'RE ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES TO GIVE BLOOD, OPENING THEIR HEARTS TO MAKE A GENEROUS DONATION, OR GIVING THEIR TIME AND THEIR TALENTS TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORS IN NEED.

IT'S IN LIFE'S MOST DIFFICULT MOMENTS, THAT THIS COMPASSION BRINGS RELIEF, HOPE AND STRENGTHENS STRENGTHENS THE BONDS THAT UNITE OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IN NORTHERN ARIZONA, I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO MAYOR PLU, TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.

UM, PLEASE CONSIDER THIS OCCASION AS A SYMBOL AND A REMINDER OF OUR PROMISE TO ALWAYS BE THERE IN TIMES OF NEED HERE IN SEDONA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YES.

YEAH, WE HAVE A IN HOUSE.

THANK YOU.

DO YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YEAH.

OH, YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS ARE ACTUALLY MOVED AWAY, SO YOU WANNA SCOOT IN? HAVE EVERYTH.

YOU WANT KEEGAN? YES.

.

NOW WE SAY THAT.

WHATEVER YOU WANT FOR EVERYTHING.

OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SO, OKAY.

REGULAR BUSINESS DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING, WELL, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ITEMS PULLED OFF, SO WE CAN SKIP THAT AB

[9.b. AB 3316 Presentation/discussion regarding the Annual Audit findings and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the City of Sedona for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.]

ARE THE AUDITORS HERE? YES.

OKAY, GREAT.

UH, REGARDING THE ANNUAL AUDIT FINDINGS AND ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, WHICH IS KNOWN AS

[00:35:01]

2025.

THANK YOU, BARBARA.

INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, UH, COUNSELORS, BARBARA WHITEHORN, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.

THIS IS JEAN MARIE DIETRICH, THE PRINCIPAL, UM, FROM CLA, OUR AUDIT FIRM.

AND RENEE STANLEY, OUR ACCOUNTING MANAGER.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME TO PRESENT OUR RESULTS OF THE EXTERNAL INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL AUDIT OF THE CITY OF SEDONA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30TH, 2025.

MY NAME IS JEAN MARIE DIETRICH, AND I WORKED WITH MY PARTNER LAPITA MARTINEZ, TO COMPLETE THE AUDIT.

IN PERFORMING OUR AUDIT, WE DO A RISK-BASED AUDIT.

WE OBTAIN MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIALS AND DETAILS AND SUPPORTING SCHEDULES.

WE EXAMINE AND VERIFY MANAGEMENT'S ASSERTIONS ON THOSE SCHEDULES AND FINANCIALS AND PROVIDE OUR OPINIONS ON THEM.

OUR REC, OUR RECOMMEND, OUR AUDIT FINDINGS INCLUDE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

THOSE CAN BE VERBAL RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT ANYTHING THAT IS SIGNIFICANT, WE PUT IN WRITING AND PRESENT TO YOU AS COUNCIL, WE WORK WITH MANAGEMENT TO COMPLETE THE AUDIT.

AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE HOME MANAGEMENT TEAM.

THEY ARE VERY GOOD TO WORK WITH.

THEY'RE VERY TIMELY PROVIDING INFORMATION, AND THERE'S COMMUNICATION BACK AND FORTH IF THERE'S ANY DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, UM, WE WORK WITH MANAGEMENT, BUT WE WORK FOR US COUNCIL AND GOVERNANCE FOR THE CITY.

IN YOUR REPORTING PACKAGE, YOU WILL HAVE YOUR ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, WHICH WE OPINE UPON THE GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES AND BUSINESS ACTIVITIES AND MAJOR FUNDS OF THE CITY.

WE HAVE ISSUED CLEAN ON MODIFIED OPINIONS ON THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

WE HAVE ALSO ISSUED A REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING REQUIRED BY GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS.

WE HAVE ALSO ISSUED A CLEAN UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THAT REPORT AS A PART OF OUR REQUIRED COMMUNICATION TO COUNSEL AS GOVERNANCE.

THERE WAS ONE CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING STANDARDS PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD REGARDING COMPENSATED ABSENCES.

MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTED THE STANDARD, WE EVALUATED THEIR IMPLEMENTATION AND HAD NO DISAGREEMENTS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION.

MANAGEMENT HAS OTHER ESTIMATES THAT THEY ARRIVE AT.

IN COMPLETING YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, WE EVALUATE THOSE ESTIMATES.

AND PLEASED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY MANAGEMENT BIAS AT ARRIVING AT THOSE ESTIMATES.

WE DID HAVE ONE ADJUSTMENT TO YOUR NET INVESTMENT IN CAPITAL ASSETS, AND WE HAD ONE PAST ADJUSTMENT REGARDING AN IMMATERIAL BALANCE, UM, ON YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

WE HAD NO DIFFICULTIES WHEN WE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY UNUSUAL OR FRAUDULENT TRANSACTIONS WITHIN YOUR ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

AND I WANNA THANK COUNSEL FOR THEIR SCRUTINY OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND THE AUDIT RESULTS.

YOU'RE GOING TO NOTE THAT THERE ARE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THERE ARE NOTES TO THOSE OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND WE OPINE ON THOSE.

OKAY.

IN ADDITION, THERE ARE SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION REGARDING COMBINING SCHEDULES.

AND WE REVIEW THE THAT INFORMATION AND MAKE SURE IT'S CONSISTENT WITH YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

AND THEN THERE'S STUFF THAT THE GASB, THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD SAYS, WE WANT YOU TO PUT THIS INFORMATION IN HERE, BUT WE UNDERSTAND YOUR AUDITORS CAN'T OPINE ON IT BECAUSE IT'S MANAGEMENT'S INTERPRETATIONS OF THE INFORMATION, SUCH AS MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS AS WELL AS YOUR STATISTICS.

BUT OVERALL, IT WAS A CLEAN AUDIT WITH CLEAN OPINIONS, WHICH IS THE HIGH HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE A CPA FIRM CAN PROVIDE.

AND OUR EVALUATION OF INTERNAL CONTROL, WE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY MATERIAL WEAKNESSES NOR SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES OF INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING.

AND WE HAVE NO OTHER FINDINGS TO REPORT TO YOU AS COUNSEL, I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, PETE? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU FOR THAT, UH, PRESENTATION.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN READING THESE, UH, ACT FOR REPORTS FOR LONGER THAN I CARE TO, EVEN WHEN THEY HAD A DIFFERENT NAME IN, IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

AND, UH, AND I LOVE READING SEDONAS BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS JUST A AMAZING, UM, OUR OVERALL HEALTH

[00:40:01]

YOU WOULD HAVE TO AGREE.

IS THAT CORRECT? I DO NOT OPINE ON THE HEALTH OF AN ORGANIZATION, .

ALRIGHT.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, WELL, I LOOK AT IT AS LARGE RESERVES, ANNUAL SURPLUSES, A CLEAN AUDIT, LOW FINANCIAL RISK, ALL THESE THINGS YOU FOUND IN THE AUDIT.

IT'S, IT'S AMAZING FISCAL PERFORMANCE THAT I THINK REFLECTS THE CULTURE OF FOLKS THAT WORK HERE IN CITY HALL STEMMING FROM THE CITY MANAGER ON DOWN THROUGH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

AND IN GOING INTO EVERY DEPARTMENT, THIS PEOPLE TAKE THESE FISCAL PERFORMANCE OF OUR CITY SERIOUSLY.

AND IT'S A VERY, IT'S, IT'S A PLEASURE TO SIT HERE ON CITY COUNCIL AND ACCEPT REPORTS LIKE THIS.

UM, A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

SEE IF, UH, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE ROLE, BUT LET ME ASK THEM AND YOU CAN SAY NO, THAT YOU CAN'T ASK 'EM, AND THEN I'LL ASK BARBARA TO ANSWER 'EM.

DID YOUR AUDIT IDENTIFY ANY FINANCIAL VULNERABILITY RELATED TO OUR RELIANCE ON SALES TAX REVENUES? NO.

WE DO NOT ANALYZE VULNERABLE FOR VULNERABILITY.

WE JUST ANALYZE THE AUDIT SCHEDULES TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY MATERIAL MISSTATEMENT OR SIGNIFICANT MISSTATEMENTS TO THE SCHEDULES AND SUPPORT PROVIDED.

I'LL BALANCE IT TO BARBARA.

BARBARA, HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? AND I THINK THAT WE'RE, WE AS A CITY ARE IN AN EXCELLENT FINANCIAL POSITION.

I THINK WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE PRUDENT AND WE HAVE TO REALLY CONSIDER THAT OUR REVENUES THAT DRIVE MOST OF OUR COLLECTIONS ARE SALES AND BED TAX, WHICH CAN BE MORE VOLATILE IN CHALLENGING ECONOMIC TIMES.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE MAINTAIN A POLICY RESERVES THAT ARE HIGHER THAN THE STANDARD.

THE STANDARD IS KIND OF A MINIMUM OF TWO MONTHS OR 16% FOR THE GENERAL FUND.

AND OUR POLICY IS 30% AND WE ARE WELL ABOVE THAT 30%.

AND I THINK THAT IS HOW WE KIND OF HEDGE AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY OF, YOU KNOW, DOWNTURNS IN THOSE TAX COLLECTIONS.

AND I THINK BECAUSE WE DO THAT AND BECAUSE WE MAINTAIN, UH, SURPLUSES EVERY YEAR, AND WE, AND I BELIEVE WE'RE VERY FISCALLY PRUDENT, UM, I I DON'T THINK THAT THE RISK IS EXTREME.

WE JUST HAVE TO BE AWARE OF IT.

THANK YOU BARBARA G I'LL TRY AGAIN.

OKAY.

ARE THERE ANY TRENDS OR RISKS THAT COUNCIL SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO IN THE NEXT THREE OR FIVE YEARS OR PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCIAL REPORTING? IT'S CYBER RISK, IT'S GRANT MANAGEMENT RISK.

UM, THE ONE THING IS WITH CITY OF SEDONA, THEY'RE NOT HIGHLY, UM, RELIANT ON FEDERAL GRANTS.

UM, IN FACT, YOU'VE ONLY, WERE COMPLETING THE SECOND SINGLE AUDIT THAT YOU'VE HAD.

UM, FROM A FINANCIAL REPORTING RISK.

IT'S YOUR CONTROLS OVER YOUR INFORMATION SYSTEMS THAT ARE HIGHEST RISK WITH GRANTS MANAGEMENT.

UM, AGAIN, THAT'S OUR SECOND HIGHEST RISK THAT WE FIND WITH THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE LEAVING THE WORKFORCE.

AND WHAT'S REPLACING THAT KNOWLEDGE IS NOT AS KNOWLEDGEABLE.

THEY'RE VERY FRESH AND GREEN.

GREAT, THANK YOU.

LAST QUESTION FOR YOU, JEAN.

ANY INTERNAL CONTROL IMPROVEMENTS YOU THAT YOU RECOMMEND THAT WERE NOT SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO PUT IN THE REPORT? NO, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING.

UM, JUST A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NET INVESTMENT CALCULATION WOULD BE THE ONLY VERBAL RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAD.

GREAT.

AWESOME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

CHARLOTTE JUST HAD A QUESTION, AND IT DOESN'T AFFECT 2025, FISCAL 2025, BUT ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY OTHER GASB CHANGES UPCOMING THAT WOULD AFFECT 26? YES.

WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT REPORTING MODEL CHANGE, GASB STATEMENT NUMBER 1 0 3.

AND, UM, WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR CLIENTS AHEAD OF THAT CHANGE IN JUNE.

SO WE'RE ALREADY, IF WE, UM, DRAFT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, WE'RE ALREADY MAKING RECOMMENDED CHANGES FROM THE STANDARD.

THE STANDARD WOULD ALSO IMPACT MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS AND THE PRESENTATION OF THAT.

SO NEXT YEAR IT'S GONNA BE MORE SIGNIFICANT.

THE COMP ABSENCES SCHEDULE WAS NOT THAT SIGNIFICANT OF AN IMPACT TO YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, BUT YOU WILL SEE AN IMPACT IN THE PRESENTATION OF YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NEXT YEAR.

THIS IS AKIN IF YOU RECALL, UM, WHEN GS B 34 CAME OUT IN LIKE 98 AND WAS PROBABLY IMPLEMENTED HERE IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS.

IT CHANGED THE ENTIRE FACE OF THE FINANCIALS, ADDED THE GOVERNMENT WIDE STATEMENTS AND LIKE REALLY CHANGED THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE GAME FOR FINANCIAL REPORTING.

UM, GS B 1 0 3 IS SIMILAR IN ITS SCOPE.

IT WILL CHANGE THE WAY THE FINANCIALS

[00:45:01]

UM, SOME OF THE THINGS IN THEM WILL CHANGE.

SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT BEING A PRETTY BIG LIFT.

NOT TO GET TOO FAR OFF TRACK, BUT IS THE, UM, NEW ERP SYSTEM GOING TO EASILY REFLECT THAT OR BE ABLE TO COLLECT THAT INFORMATION IN THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE COLLECTED? WE, UH, ARE WE DOING THE ACT FOR BUILDER RIGHT AWAY? SO WE ARE DOING, HAD TO JUST DOUBLE CHECK BEFORE I MADE THIS STATEMENT.

THEY HAVE AN ACT FOR BUILDER WITHIN THE TYLER SUITE OF PRODUCTS AND THEY DO UPDATE IT FOR THE GASB UM, CHANGES.

I'M SURE BECAUSE 1 0 3 WAS ISSUED HOW MANY YEARS AGO.

LIKE, WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT IT NOW.

WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT IT NOW.

3, 2, 3.

YEAH.

USUALLY WE DO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD LEAD TIME FROM WHEN THEY ACTUALLY ISSUE THE STATEMENT, WHICH WAS TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE TO IMPLEMENT, AND THAT'S THE TIME WHEN LIKE TYLER TECHNOLOGIES IS IN THERE, MAKING SURE THAT THEIR ACT FOR BUILDER CAN GO FROM WHAT WE PRESENT TODAY TO WHAT WE HAVE TO PRESENT WITH THE NEW GASB.

AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ECHO WHAT PETE HAS SAID ABOUT IT'S SO PLEASANT TO RECEIVE A CLEAN AUDIT AND GOOD FINANCIALS.

AND IT, IT REALLY IS A PLEASURE AND UM, I COMMEND YOU FOR IT.

THANK YOU, BRIAN.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

REWINDING TO WHAT COUNCILOR FURMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT, ASKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL RISKS DOWN THE ROAD AND YOU WERE MENTIONING GRANT MANAGEMENT RISK AND UH, BRAIN DRAIN.

IT KIND OF SOUNDED LIKE, SO IS THAT A RISK IN TERMS OF COMPLIANCE POST-GRANT RECE RECEIVING THE GRANT AND JUST MAKE IT'S IT'S COMPLIANCE POST AND DURING, UM, WITH, UM, THAT KNOWLEDGE OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT, UM, SEGREGATION OF DUTIES BEING PUT IN PLACE, THAT'S WHERE WHEN THAT KNOWLEDGE LEAVING THERE IS ADDITIONAL RISK THAT WE'RE SEEING.

I JUST DID A PRESENTATION OF IT AT THE G-F-O-A-C CONFERENCE AS WELL.

UM, THERE'S A LOT MORE FRAUD RISK ASSOCIATED WITH GRANTS MANAGEMENT WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, UM, LEAVING THE INDUSTRY.

OKAY.

SO I ATTENDED A UNRELATED CONFERENCE, UH, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, AND ALMOST EVERY TOPIC FOR THREE DAYS IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER TOUCHED ON AI.

SO HOW IS AI, HOW DO YOU PERCEIVE THAT TO BE A TOOL TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE RISKS GOING FORWARD? THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, THAT WAS PART OF THE PRESENTATION AS WELL.

AI, UM, WE ALWAYS ARE CAUTIOUS, RIGHT? MM-HMM .

UM, AI IS ASSISTING WITH GRANTS MANAGEMENT IN THAT IT IS PUTTING WORKFLOWS IN PLACE THAT IS INCREASING SEGREGATION OF DUTIES.

AI IS ASSISTING WITH, UM, READING AND INTERPRETING DOCUMENTS.

WE ALWAYS HAVE TO READ WHAT AI READS 'CAUSE WE, WE TRUST BUT VERIFY.

THAT'S WHAT MY MANTRA IS AS AN AUDITOR.

UM, BUT IT'S THOSE KIND OF THINGS, PUTTING IN THOSE WORKFLOWS, PUTTING IN THOSE SEGREGATION OF DUTIES, PUTTING IN, UM, MONITORING MECHANISMS OF THE GRANT FROM THROUGHOUT ITS WHOLE LIFE CYCLE.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S KEY.

A LOT OF, UM, MUNICIPALITIES USE EXCEL SHEETS.

THEY USE, UH, DIFFERENT TRACKING MECHANISMS. UM, IF FOR THOSE MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE HEAVILY GRANT FUNDED, WE ARE SUGGESTING THAT THEY GET THIS GRANTS MANAGEMENT SOLUTION OF SOME TYPE IN PLACE SO THAT THE GRANTS CAN BE MONITORED, UM, FROM APPLICATION THROUGH SPENDING, THROUGH COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

UH, THANKS BRIAN.

ARE WE GETTING A, A MODULE FOR GRANTS MANAGEMENT AS PART OF OUR SOFTWARE PACKAGE? WE HAVEN'T, UH, WE HAVEN'T PURCHASED THAT YET, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED SOMETHING TO MANAGE GRANTS, UM, WITHIN THE SUITE THAT WE'RE GETTING, THERE'S A PROJECT MANAGEMENT, I GUESS MODULE.

I NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY CALL IT ANYMORE.

UM, THAT ALLOWS FOR LIFETIME BUDGETING, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE THAT COMPLIANCE PIECE.

AND THAT COMPLIANCE PIECE IS THE MOST CHALLENGING WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE FEDERAL GRANTS BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MAY BOTH BE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT THE REALITY OF WHAT THEY WANT FOR REPORTING AND COMPLIANCE AND DOCUMENTATION CAN BE VASTLY DIFFERENT.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE REALLY HAVING SOME DEDICATED SOFTWARE WILL HELP.

UM, AS, UH,

[00:50:01]

I THINK WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB IN INCREASING OUR GRANTS.

MM-HMM .

WE HAVE, WE REALLY HAVE TO HAVE SINGLE AUDITS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE, WHAT'S THE THRESHOLD NOW, JEAN? A MILLION DOLLARS.

SO A MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANTS IN A SINGLE YEAR FOR, TO NEED A SINGLE AUDIT.

AND WE'VE HAD TWO OF THEM SO FAR.

AND THAT'S A LOT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT A BIG CITY WITH LIKE, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS.

AND SO IT'S, IT'S IMPRESSIVE THAT WE HAVE STAFF THAT'S WRITING GRANTS TO, TO GET THAT MONEY.

AND I'D JUST LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON RECEIVING THE CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FROM THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.

HOW MANY YEARS IN A ROW 25 TRIBUTE TO YOUR TEAM? IT REALLY IS.

IT'S A TRIBUTE TO THE TEAM OVER THE YEARS.

MM-HMM .

YOU KNOW, THAT EVERY YEAR THEY, THEY HAVE KEPT UP THAT, THAT, UH, AWARD.

AND IF I, IF I COULD, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT, BECAUSE I KNOW FOR THE PUBLIC THAT LOOKED AT THE PACKET BEFORE WE MADE CORRECTIONS, THERE WERE SOME CORRECTIONS THAT WE HAD TO MAKE WITHIN THE ACT FOR IN THAT REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

NOT THE BASIC FINANCIALS, NOT THE AUDITED FINANCIALS.

UM, WE REPLACED SOME PAGES IN THERE.