Aug 11, 2026 City Council

[00:00:03]

OKAY, EVERYBODY, I'M CALLING THIS

[1. CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/MOMENT OF SILENCE]

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE THROUGH THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THROUGH THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY, JUSTICE.

AND NOW A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

IT IS, UH, FOUR 30 ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 11TH, 2026.

NANCY, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO YOU.

OH, ROLL CALL PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

MAYOR PLU.

HERE, VICE MAYOR FULTZ.

PRESENT.

COUNCILOR DUNN.

HERE.

COUNCILOR FURMAN.

UH, EXCUSED.

COUNCILOR HOSSEINI.

HERE.

COUNCILOR KINSELLA.

PRESENT.

COUNCILOR F HERE NOW NANCY.

THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNSELORS.

BEFORE I START THE MOMENT OF ART, JUST A QUICK REMINDER.

RUTH AUSTIN'S WORK IN THIS ROOM WILL BE COMING DOWN AUGUST 27TH, BEING REPLACED BY LANDSCAPE ARTIST PAM DELAY.

SO IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED IN PURCHASE, NOW'S THE TIME BEFORE, UM, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO I AM REALLY EXCITED TODAY FOR TODAY'S MOMENT OF ART.

I HAVE WANTED FOR 13 YEARS TO HAVE THIS PERSON HERE, AND I FINALLY JUST MET HIM RECENTLY.

UH, KURT WALTERS.

SO BORN IN NEW MEXICO AND BASED IN SEDONA.

FOR OVER 40 YEARS, KURT WALTERS HAS EARNED WORLDWIDE ACCLAIM FOR HIS IMPRESSIONISTIC RENDITIONS OF NATURAL LANDSCAPES.

HIS WORK HAS BEEN EXHIBITED AT MAJOR MUSEUMS NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING THE AL JORG MUSEUM, THE ARCHERY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN WEST, AND THE NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM, WINNING THE MOST COVETED AWARD IN THE WESTERN ART PRE DE WEST AWARD IN 2007.

BEYOND HIS ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENTS, WALTERS HAS BEEN A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR AIR QUALITY AND PRESERVATION EFFORTS AT THE GRAND CANYON, WIDELY ACCLAIMED.

AS A GRAND CANYON ARTIST OF THE CENTURY, KURT WALTERS IS CELEBRATED FOR HIS VIBRANT COLOR PALETTES, MASTERY OF LIGHT AND DEEP ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY.

THIS DUAL VENUE RETROSPECTIVE OFFERS VISITORS AN UNPRECEDENTED LOOK INTO WALTER'S ARTISTIC EVOLUTION, FEATURING ICONIC SOUTHWEST LAND FORMS, INTERNATIONAL PLAIN AIR STUDIES, AND PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED PRIVATE COLLECTION WORKS.

THIS IS KURT'S FIRST EXHIBIT IN SIT DONUT SINCE 1989.

A TRUE HOMECOMING, THE ART MUSEUM OF SEDONA FAMOUS IS PROUD TO PRESENT KURT WALTERS, A LIFETIME OF ART, A LANDMARK RETROSPECTIVE HONORING ONE OF THE AMERICA'S PREMIER PLANE, AIR, AND LANDSCAPE PAINTERS SPANNING OVER FIVE DECADES OF CREATIVE MASTERY.

THE EXHIBITION WILL RUN FROM SEPTEMBER 4TH THROUGH OCTOBER 28TH, HOSTED ACROSS TWO KEY SEDONA CULTURAL LANDMARKS, THE SEDONA HERITAGE MUSEUM IN THE ROOM IN THE BACK OF THAT BUILDING.

AND THE MARY D. FISHER COMPLEX.

KURT WALTERS BRUSHWORK CAPTURES MORE THAN JUST SCENERY.

IT CAPTURES THE SPIRIT AND ATMOSPHERE OF THE AMERICAN WEST.

SAID THE BOARD CHAIR OF FAMOUS, BY PARTNERING ACROSS TWO ICONIC SEDONA VENUES, WE'RE ABLE TO PRESENT THE FULL BREADTH OF HIS EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTIC JOURNEY TO LOCALS AND ART ENTHUSIASTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

AND I JUST WANNA MENTION, HIS BODY OF WORK ON AN AVERAGE CONSISTS OF 2,600 PAINTINGS.

A QUARTER OF THEM ARE OF THE GRAND CANYON.

SO PLEASE WELCOME KURT WALTERS.

OH, WHAT DO YOU PREFER? HE LIKES TO STAND ON THE SPEAKER, SO THIS MAY BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THANK HELLO EVERYONE.

UM, IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW, I'M KURT WALTERS , SO YOU JUST HEARD THAT.

BUT ANYWAY, SO, SO, SO WE HAVE, UM, UM, LOOKING AT THE SCREEN, YOU'LL SEE THAT I WAS ACTUALLY RAISED, BORN AND RAISED IN NEW MEXICO.

UH, I MOVED TO TAOS WHEN I WAS 24 YEARS OLD, AND THAT'S WHERE I REALLY LEARNED TO PAINT AND MOVED HERE IN 1979.

AND, UM, SO SEDONA HAS REALLY BEEN A FOCUS OF A LOT OF MY WORK OVER THE YEARS.

ALTHOUGH MOST OF YOU DON'T KNOW IT, 'CAUSE I'M NOT HERE.

UH, IT, IT IS REALLY MADE SOME NATIONAL COVERAGE AND BEEN AWARDED IN SEVERAL SHOWS OVER, YOU KNOW, FOR, ACTUALLY FOR A LOT OF YEARS.

AND SO, UM, JUST TO, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER I HAD WHAT

[00:05:01]

MY FIRST DOCUMENTARY WAS IN THE, UH, FILM FESTIVAL IN 2019 AND DID REALLY WELL.

IT WAS VERY WELL, WELL ATTENDED, AND PEOPLE SEEMED TO REALLY CARE FOR IT, WHICH ACTUALLY WAS KIND OF THE REASON TO SPUR ON THIS, MY NEW BOOK.

SO I'M, I I WOULD BE HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU'VE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE, .

THANK YOU.

SO, UM, UM, NANCY, YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO MY, MY LAST SHOW IN SEDONA, SEDONA, IT WAS ACTUALLY IN 1989 AT THE ART CENTER.

IT WAS A VERY, VERY LONG TIME AGO.

NOW, , YOU KNOW, I I HAD A LOT OF HAIR AND I WAS REALLY THIN.

BUT ANYWAY, UM, UH, BUT THEY WERE ALL PLAYING OUR PAINTINGS FOR THE MOST PART OF SEDONA ITSELF.

AND A MAJOR, MAJOR SHOW THAT HAPPENED FOR ME WAS ACTUALLY IN SCOTTSDALE.

UH, MY, MY, THE MAJORITY OF MY WORK WAS ACTUALLY IN, UH, HAS BEEN HANDLED BY TRAILSIDE GALLERIES IN SCOTTSDALE FOR 50 YEARS.

UH, THE REMARKABLE, INCREDIBLE CHRISTIE MO RING, UM, OWNED THAT GALLERY, AND LATER ON MARIE VHE.

BUT, BUT THIS WAS A MAJOR SHOW IN SCOTTSDALE, WHICH SPURRED ON THE NEXT THING I, I HOPE SO, WHICH SPURRED ON MY ENTRANCE AND ACCEPTANCE INTO THE PRETI WEST SHOW AT THE NATIONAL COWBOY MUSEUM IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

AND SO THAT WAS ME IN 1998, AND THEN I FINALLY WON THE VERY COVETED PRE WEST PURCHASE AWARD IN 2007.

AND IT'S REALLY THE HIGHEST OF ALL WESTERN ART AWARDS, AND IT'S A BIG DEAL.

ANYWAY, MY, THAT PAINTING IS PART OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTION OF THAT MUSEUM NOW.

AND, UH, UH, YOU MAY, SOME OF YOU MAY RECOGNIZE, BUT THAT'S, UH, BEVERLY MILLER AND DWAYNE MILLER AT THE BOTTOM, AND HENRY LOCKETT, THEY WERE, THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, BEVERLY WAS LIKE THE QUEEN OF SEDONA FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

SHE WAS REALLY THE FIRST LADY HERE.

ANYWAY, NEXT, UH, THE REALLY INTERESTING HA THING HAPPENED TO ME SHORTLY AFTER THAT IN 2007, IS I WAS NAMED ONE OF THE EIGHT TRUE MASTERS OF THE AMERICAN WEST.

I, I, I, I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THAT.

THEY PUT ME IN, I WAS IN THE SAME COMPANY WITH HOWARD TURPIN AND BOB C**N AND, UH, THE, THE GREAT, GREAT PAINTERS OF THE AMERICAN WEST.

AND THEN, THEN IN, UH, 2010 , I KNOW THIS IS KIND OF HARD TO BELIEVE, I WAS, I WAS NAMED ONE OF THE 40 MOST PROMINENT PAINTERS AND PEOPLE IN THE WESTERN ART WORLD, UH, BY SOUTHWEST ART MAGAZINE, UH, WHICH HAS REALLY BEEN ALL OF THIS SPURRED ON TO DOING SOME REALLY AMAZING, INCREDIBLE SHOWS.

UH, I HAD MY FIRST RETROSPECTIVE, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE HAVING HERE IN, IN SADONA AT THE FINE ARTS MUSEUM.

UH, I HAD MY FIRST MAJOR RETROSPECTIVE AT THE E GROVE MUSEUM IN 2009.

I HAD A REALLY GREAT SHOW.

I'VE HAD MANY SHOWS ACTUALLY, WITH THE FORBES MAGAZINE GALLERIES IN NEW YORK.

AND SO THEY'VE BEEN VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD TO ME.

AND I'VE HAD, UH, MANY SHOWINGS WITH ARTISTS AND, AND BY MYSELF AT THE, THE MAGAZINE, UH, GALLERIES.

AND I'M VERY THANKFUL TO THE FORBES FAMILY.

THEY WERE VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE.

UH, BUT THEN I ALSO HAD A SHOW, A RETROSPECTIVE AT THE GIL CREASE MUSEUM IN OKLAHOMA, IN TULSA, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, IT'S AN, IT'S AN AMAZING MUSEUM.

UH, AND MY VERY LAST, MY, THEN I HAD A, OH, I KNOW I HAVE, I GOT A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN 2014.

UM, OKAY.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS TAD EARLY, I THINK.

BUT, BUT THEN, BUT THEN MY LAST RETROSPECTIVE WAS ACTUALLY AT THE, UH, MUSEUM IN NORTHERN ARIZONA.

AND IT WAS VERY, VERY WELL DONE AND BEAUTIFUL.

AND, UH, THAT WAS IN 2016.

I WAS VERY, VERY PROUD OF IT.

IT TURNED OUT REALLY WELL.

AND SO, UM, OH, I'M SORRY, THIS WAS MY LAST RETROSPECTIVE.

IT WAS LAST, THIS, THIS VERY, THIS VERY SPRING.

AND IT WAS AT THE, UM, WESTERN SPIRIT MUSEUM, UH, DOWN IN SCOTTSDALE.

AND, UM, IT TURNED OUT EX EXTREMELY WELL.

AND

[00:10:01]

AND, UH, THAT'S WHERE I INTRODUCED MY BOOK, BY THE WAY.

UH, THAT WAS THE FIRST, UH, AND SO THEY SOLD OUT, BUT THEIR SHIPMENT THAT NIGHT.

AND SO IT LEADS ME TO THE, AND SO MY NEXT BIG PROJECT FOR THIS YEAR WAS THE, UH, OH, SO LAST YEAR I WENT TO ITALY WHERE I PRINTED MY BOOK AND PDA ITALY.

AND I, IT WAS REALLY KIND OF A MAJOR DEAL TO SEE THIS BOOK PRINTED.

UH, AND IT'S, IT'S HEAVY, BY THE WAY.

CAN YOU TELL ? IT'S LIKE REALLY HEAVY.

IT'S REALLY, IT'S REALLY BIG.

IT WEIGHS A LOT.

UM, BUT WHEN I WAS THERE, I ALSO GOT TO PAINT IN THE, IN THE GREAT MUSEUM IN BRAZIL, ITALY.

UH, AND I STARTED AND I DID, UH, CONQUISTADORS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE FOCUSES OF MY NEW SHOW AT, AT, UH, THE FINE ARTS MUSEUM OF SEDONA.

AND, AND SO, UH, OF COURSE, UH, OH, MY BOOK, THAT WAS THE, HAS BEEN VERY, VERY WELL, WELL RECEIVED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I'VE WON THE, UH, I'VE WON TWO FORWARD INDIES AWARDS, BEST COFFEE TABLE BOOK, AND THE SILVER MEDAL FOR THE BEST, UM, ART BOOK OF THE YEAR FROM THE INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS OF AMERICA.

AND THEN I JUST WON THE GOLD MEDAL FOR AT THE, UH, CALLED THE IPI AWARD FOR THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHERS, UH, FOR THE BEST, FOR THE SILVER MEDAL, FOR THE BEST COFFEE TABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR.

SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF A BIG DEAL.

IT'S, IT REALLY IS KIND OF A BIG DEAL.

UH, NEXT SLIDE.

SO I, I JUST RETURNED FROM THE PREDU WEST SHOW IN OKLAHOMA CITY, AND I DID A WHOLE LECTURE ABOUT THE BOOK, OF COURSE.

AND, UM, THAT WAS MY LAST PAINTING OF, UH, SOME OF YOU WOULD RECOGNIZE IT FROM THE, UH, ONE OF MY RIVER TRIPS.

THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S STANDING INSIDE OF THE GREAT RED ROCK CAVERNS DOWN IN, ON THE COLORADO RIVER, IF YOU'VE EVER, UH, FLOATED THE TRIP OF THE, FLOATED THE RIVER BEFORE.

AND SO THEY HAD, AND I, PEOPLE WAITED IN LINE FOR, I KNOW THIS IS, I FOUND THIS VERY HUMBLING, WAITED IN LINE THREE HOURS FOR ME TO SIGN A BOOK FOR THEM.

SO IT WAS, UH, UH, PRETTY IMPORTANT TO ME.

UM, AND NEXT SLIDE, NANCY.

AND SO, WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE SHOW THAT WE'RE DOING, WHICH IS OF COURSE, A RETROSPECTIVE, UM, PRESENTED BY THE, UM, FINE ARTS MUSEUM OF STU.

IT'S GONNA BE IN TWO LOCATIONS.

PART OF IT'S GONNA BE AT THE, DOWN AT THE WESTERN HERITAGE, UH, CENTER, UH, WITH, ON JORDAN ROAD, AND I'M SURE Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT.

UH, IT'S A SMALL SPACE THERE, BUT WE'LL BE DOING A BIG, UH, UH, VIEWING OF MY NEWEST DOCUMENTARY AND, UH, THINGS ON THE 18TH, SEPTEMBER 18TH.

UH, BUT MY OTHER SHOW, WHICH IS LOCATED IN, UH, MARY FISHER, COMPLEX, MARY FISHER THEATER COMPLEX, UH, AND IT'S KIND OF IN THE BACK, BUT THERE'S A SPACE BACK THERE FOR THE MOST OF THE PAINTINGS WILL BE HOUSED FOR THE, FOR THE DURATION OF TWO MONTHS THERE.

AND YOU SHOULD COME , IT'S GONNA BE REALLY GOOD.

IT OPENS, IT OPENS SEPTEMBER, I'LL BE THERE SEPTEMBER THE FOURTH.

AND THAT PA THAT SHOW IS ONLY UP FOR TWO MONTHS.

UH, BUT IF YOU GET A CHANCE, YOU SHOULD LOOK AT IT.

AND, AND THEY ARE ALL FROM SEDONA COLLECTORS.

AND THAT'S WHAT IS SORT OF REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT IT, IS THAT THERE ARE SOME REMARKABLE, AND, AND, UH, I, I HAVE SOME WONDERFUL COLLECTORS AND GOOD FRIENDS AND, AND THEY'RE WILLING TO LOAN THIS ART OUT FOR THAT'S A LONG TIME TO BE WITHOUT YOUR ART UNDER WALLS.

AND SO I'M VERY THANKFUL TO THAT.

AND SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW, I HIT ALL THE HIGH POINTS, HIT ALL THE HIGH POINTS.

I JUST WANNA MENTION THAT.

UM, THANK YOU, KURT.

THAT WAS REALLY NICE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU.

OH, OH, I'M SURE YOU MORE OF THE ART.

OH, OH, OH, IS THERE ANOTHER SLIDE FOR THE SHOW? YEAH, THERE'S ANOTHER SLIDE.

SO, SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE PAINTINGS THAT ARE GONNA BE IN THE MARY FISHER COMPLEX, A BIG SEDONA PAINTING OF YUCCAS.

UH, THAT PLACE NO LONGER EXISTS NOW, BUT THE, UM, UH, THAT FIELD OF YUCCAS.

UH, BUT THERE'S A, A BIG, BIG, GREAT BIG GRAND CANYON OF BOLT OF LIGHTNING THAT I CREATED TWO YEARS, THREE, FOUR YEARS AGO.

AND, UH, THIS WONDERFUL PAINTING OF SNOW.

UH, AND OF COURSE I'M EXPLORING THE DISCOVERY OF GRAND CANYON, NOT DISCOVERY, BUT, BUT THE, UM, FIRST TIME VISIT BY THE SPANISH CONQUISTADORS TO SEE GRAND CANYON IN 1540.

AND SO THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THAT SUBJECT.

BUT ANYWAY, I'M TRYING REALLY HARD.

UH, NEXT SLIDE.

AND THEN AT THE SEDONA

[00:15:01]

AND, UH, YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THE OLD, UH, SEDONA ART CENTER, WHICH I HAD, UM, WAS VERY DEAR TO MY HEART ALL GROWING UP THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THIS PART OF SEDONA.

AND, UH, SO I REALLY BELIEVE, AND I WILL SAY THIS TO EVERYONE LISTENING, FINE ART MUSEUMS ARE AN INTRICATE PART.

WHEN, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN A FINE ARTS MUSEUM IS ESTABLISHED, THEY BECOME THE CULTURAL CENTER OF A COMMUNITY.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, THEY ARE HUGE ECONOMIC DRAW FOR A COMMUNITY.

SO JUST PUT THAT IN YOUR HEAD AS YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE, THE, THAT SEDONA FINE ARTS MU MUSEUM FINDS A FOOTHOLD IN PLACE AND, AND IS A PERMANENT PART OF THE SEDONA COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, KURT.

I WANTED TO HAVE KURT EXHIBIT HIS WORK HERE, BUT HE SOLD EVERYTHING.

ALL THOSE PAINTINGS ARE GONE, SO THAT'S WHY WE WILL NOT BE SEEING IT ON OUR WALLS.

WELL, WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY OF THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS TO SEE YOUR WORK.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, WE'RE ON ITEM

[3. CONSENT ITEMS - APPROVE]

I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT, UM, CONSENT.

I APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS THREE A THROUGH F SECOND.

THANK YOU, MELISSA.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

OPPOSED? OKAY, MOVING RIGHT ALONG.

WE HAVE NO APPOINTMENTS.

SO NUMBER

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

KATHY, THANK YOU.

THE, UH, YFI COUNTY INTERGOVERNMENTAL WATER RESOURCE AND OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE, UH, MET LAST THURSDAY.

AND USUALLY PETE FURMAN ATTENDS THOSE MEETINGS, AND I AM HIS BACKUP FOR THOSE MEETINGS.

AND I UNFORTUNATELY ALSO HAD A CONFLICT AND COULD NOT ATTEND.

SO ROXANNE WAS THERE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, WHICH WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE.

AND I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT A RESOLUTION WAS PASSED.

UH, PETE HAS REFERENCED IT PREVIOUSLY TO THIS BODY, UM, AND THE, THERE WERE SEVERAL WHEREASES, BUT THE NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THE, THE YAVAPAI COUNTY WATER RESOURCES AND OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE HEREBY ACTIVELY SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL STORMWATER AND GRASSLAND RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT POSITIVELY IMPACT OUR AQUIFERS, RIVERS, AND WATERSHEDS.

SO THE CITY DID VOTE, UM, TO YES TO THAT RESOLUTION.

I JUST WANTED TO REPORT THAT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I HAVE SOMETHING WHICH IS EXCITING, AND I, I KIND OF PREVIEWED IT AT THE CHAMBER.

SO I SEE DAVID IS HERE.

OH, THERE YOU ARE.

THAT SOMETHING WAS GONNA BE COMING THAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO THANK OUR FIREFIGHTERS, UH, FOR THE POCKET FIRE RESPONSE.

AND SO I'M REALLY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT ON AUGUST 26TH, WHICH IS A WEDNESDAY FROM 11:00 AM TO 7:00 PM AT THE SEDONA COMMUNITY LIBRARY, THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BANNERS, REMEMBER ALL THOSE BANNERS THAT SAID 250TH ANNIVERSARY, THEY'RE ALL COMING DOWN AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO BE SIGNED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THANKING THE FIREFIGHTERS.

AND THERE WILL ALSO BE THANK YOU CARDS AS WELL.

AND THERE ARE 74 INCIDENT COMMAND POSTS THAT THESE BANNERS ARE GONNA BE GOING TO WITH MESSAGES FROM THE COMMUNITY.

AND THE 75TH WILL BE AT THE SEDONA HERITAGE MUSEUM, WHERE IT WILL HAVE A HOME.

SO WE WELCOME THE COMMUNITY, NO REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

JUST COME TO THE LIBRARY WITH YOUR THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU WANNA WRITE AND SAY TO THE FIREFIGHTERS.

ANNETTE, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YES, MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

AND, UM, ALONG THE LINES OF THE THANK YOU EVENT, THE BANNER SIGNING, WE WILL BE GETTING THAT OUT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, PRESS RELEASE, ET CETERA, TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS TO STOP BY.

UM, ADDITIONALLY, I WANTED TO, OH, OF COURSE, MY COMPUTER'S ASLEEP.

UM, I WANTED TO LET THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC KNOW, AND AGAIN, WE'LL SEND OUT A PRESS RELEASE THAT, UM, ON MONDAY, AUGUST 24TH FROM EIGHT P 8:00 AM TO 6:00 PM

[00:20:01]

UM, YOU'LL RECALL THAT WE USED TO OWN 4 0 1 JORDAN, THAT BUILDING, WE, UM, SOLD IT TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO BUILD STATION FOUR.

THEY'VE DONE THE ASBESTOS ABATEMENT, I BELIEVE IS DONE.

AND NOW THEY HAVE THIS S SHELL OF A BUILDING THAT WILL BE DEMOLISHED, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY OF HAVING A VACANT BUILDING TO DO A REAL LIFE TRAINING EXERCISE WITHIN THAT.

UM, AND SO THEY'RE PLANNING THAT AGAIN, AUGUST 24TH, EIGHT TO SIX.

WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW THAT THE AREA RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS AN, AN EXERCISE BECAUSE THERE WILL BE LIKE A HEAVY POLICE PRESENCE AT THE SITE.

UM, AND WE'LL, UH, GO DOOR TO DOOR TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT, PUT IT OUT ON THE NEXEL SYSTEM, AND ALSO WORK WITH THE RED ROCK NEWS TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT.

SO IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR, UM, TRAINING FOR ALL OF THESE FIRST RESPONDERS.

AND, UM, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ALARM OR CAUSE FOR CONCERN WHEN THEY SEE THE ACTIVITY HAPPENING.

THANK YOU, ANNETTE.

ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT? OKAY.

UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO THERE'S NO REPORT, RIGHT? OKAY.

PUBLIC FORUM.

[7. PUBLIC FORUM]

THE FIRST CARD IS TIM PERRY, AND THE SECOND CARD IS JESSICA WILLIAMSON.

WE WILL NOT BE TAKING COMMENTS ON THE PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS.

GO AHEAD, TIM.

GOOD EVENING, COUNSELORS.

MY NAME IS TIM PER AND I LIVE IN SEDONA IN TONIGHT'S INSTALLMENT OF THE LIES TOLD BY THE CITY OF SEDONA.

WE RETURN TO LIE THAT THE CITY IS INTERESTED IN DOING ANYTHING TO FURTHER WORKFORCE HOUSING, UH, SPECIFICALLY AS SEEN THROUGH THE VILLAS ON SHELBY TENANT SELECTION PLAN.

IT'S A VERY INTERESTING DOCUMENT.

IT'S SUBTLY CONFIGURED TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST BOTH THE YOUNG AND THE EMPLOYED.

FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S TAKE THE CASE OF A YOUNG WORKING COUPLE HERE IN SEDONA, WHO'D LIKE TO APPLY FOR A VILLAS UNIT.

THEY, LET'S SAY THEY'VE BOTH, UH, BEEN EMPLOYED BY THE SAME EMPLOYER FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS.

THEIR INCOME IS BETWEEN TWO AND A TWO AND A HALF OF WHAT THE RENT SHOULD BE.

THEY HAVE GOOD RENTAL HISTORY.

THEIR CREDIT AND DEBT HISTORY IS WHAT YOU'D EXPECT FOR THEIR AGENT SITUATION.

THEY WOULD SCORE A COMBINED TOTAL OF 825 POINTS ON THAT APPLICATION, UNLESS, OF COURSE, ONE OF THEM WAS A STUDENT LEARNING A USEFUL TRADE AT YAVAPAI COLLEGE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COM COMMUNITY BECAUSE STUDENTS ARE BANNED FROM VILLAS ON SHELBY.

BUT GUESS WHAT? AN APPLICANT WHO HAD NEVER EVEN BEEN TO SEDONA, WHO WAS RETIRED AND DISABLED, A FORMER HOMEOWNER WITH A YEAR'S WORTH OF RENT BANKED A COLLEGE DEGREE AND A SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD BLOW RIGHT PAST THAT YOUNG COUPLE BY THEMSELVES WITH 1,475 POINTS A AND THOUGH THEY'D NEVER CONTRIBUTED ANYTHING TO THE COMMUNITY OR EVEN BEEN HERE, THEY WOULD BE CHOSEN FOR THAT UNIT.

AND GUESS WHO BETS FIST THE PROFILE OF THAT TYPE OF VOTER? WELL, THAT'S MORE LIKELY THAT KIND OF TENANT IS MORE LIKELY TO BE A BIG CITY DEMOCRATIC PARTY VOTER LEAVING BOTH A PROFESSIONAL JOB AND CALIFORNIA TO COME HERE AND HELP WRECK ARIZONA.

YOU BLOODSUCKING PARASITES ARE PURPOSEFULLY TRYING TO REPLACE US WORKERS WITH NON-WORKERS AND NON CONTRIBUTORS.

AND YOU NOT ONLY HAVE THE AUDACITY TO TRY TO DO IT WITH OUR OWN MONEY, YOU TELL US THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SOME KIND OF BENEFIT TO US, THAT YOU'RE DOING IT JUST LIKE YOU TELL US.

IT'S A BENEFIT THAT YOU HAVE THESE PLANS TO BRING ALL THESE EXTRA MURDEROUS COPS HERE TO BEAT UP THE WORKERS BECAUSE YOU'RE SO MORALLY BANKRUPT, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND VIOLENCE IS ALWAYS EVIL.

COPS ARE ALWAYS BAD, AND YOU'RE BLOOD GUILTY WITH THEM, JUST LIKE YOU HA WANT TO PRETEND THAT IT'S A BENEFIT TO US, THAT YOU NOW HAVE THIS HOUSING STRATEGY DOCUMENT THAT'S JUST A SOVIET INSPIRED PLAN TO TURN PUBLIC LAND INTO STATE-OWNED BARRACKS TO SEPARATE YOU THE FILTHY RICH FROM THE REGULAR PEOPLE.

WHERE IS THE AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING FOR LOCAL WORKERS THAT YOU PROMISED US YOU SHAMELESS CHEATS JESSICA.

AND THEN IS THERE ANOTHER CARD? I THINK THERE IS, AND YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT YET.

MM-HMM .

MY NAME'S JESSICA WILLIAMSON LIVE IN SEDONA TONIGHT.

I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND A PROGRAM THAT I THINK THE COUNCIL SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PRIORITIES

[00:25:01]

SEDONA IS HOT.

IT'S ONLY GONNA GET HOTTER.

WE HAVE SHARED USE PATHS, WE HAVE ROADWAYS THAT HAVE NO SHADE AT ALL.

I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PROGRAM LIKE THEY HAVE IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA WHERE THEY HAVE A SHADE TREE PROGRAM NEXT TO THE PATHWAYS, FOR EXAMPLE.

AND WHEN TREES AREN'T PROB POSSIBLE FOR EITHER FIRE REASONS OR SOME OTHER REASONS, THERE'S SHADE STRUCTURES.

I THINK THOSE PATHWAYS, EXCUSE ME, THERE WAS ALWAYS A THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE, UH, AMENITIES, AMENABLE PLACES.

RIGHT NOW THEY'RE JUST HOT, HOT CONCRETE.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S TIME FOR THE CITY TO, TO DO SOMETHING TO BRING THE PROMISE OF THOSE PATHWAYS.

I ALSO THINK ALONG 89 A ALONG OTHER MAJOR ROOTS, I THINK OF A REFORESTATION OF SEDONA IS SOMETHING REALLY WORTH DOING.

AND REALLY, I THINK IT WOULD REALLY BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.

IT WOULD BRING, SORRY, IT WOULD REDUCE THE HEAT, IT WOULD COOL THE AREA.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE OF COURSE WHO WILL OPPOSE IT.

.

I, UH, I KNOW THAT ALREADY, BUT I THINK MOST PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WOULD THINK THAT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA TO SHADE THINGS AND TO REDUCE THE HEATED SEDONA AND DO SOMETHING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE RESIDENTS.

UM, THE SECOND THING I WANNA DO IS I WANT TO THANK CANDIDATES IN OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS WHO TOOK THEIR POST THEIR, UH, SIGNS DOWN PROMPTLY.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO ME, AND I KNOW IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO A LOT OF US.

SO THANK YOU.

THE THIRD THING I WANNA DO IS I WANNA REALLY THANK THE CITY FOR THE JOB IT DID IN MAKING DRY CREEK ROAD MUCH SAFER.

WHEN THEY RECONFIGURED IT, THEY PUT SPEED BUMPS IN THERE AND CARS GO MUCH SLOWER.

AND IT IS REALLY A JOY TO SEE SOMETHING WORKING AS IT WAS INTENDED.

AND I WANNA THANK THE CITY FOR A JOB WELL DONE.

THAT'S CERTAINLY BENEFITED EVERYBODY IN MY COMMUNITY, THE KACHINA COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THAT THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO RESIDENTS AND THE CITY SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR THAT.

THANK YOU, DAVID.

KEY, UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, DAVID KEY RESIDENT OF SEDONA, UH, HERE ON BEHALF OF THE SEDONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION TODAY.

SO, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR HAVING ME.

UM, I'M, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A LOT OF GRATITUDE IN MY HEART FOR, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IT, THE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT REALLY SHOWED UP FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO NOW, UM, THANKS TO, YOU KNOW, THE GENEROSITY OF THE STEVENSON FAMILY AND AMTE, WE AS THE CHAMBER'S KNEW 5 0 1 C3 HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STEP IN AND DO OUR PART, HOWEVER SMALL, UM, THE WORK STANDS, YOU KNOW, NEEDED AND OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS HURTING RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK THAT THEY APPRECIATE US TELLING THAT STORY, RIGHT? AND IT'S NOT A STORY OF PITY, IT'S A STORY OF STRENGTH AND REDEEMING OURSELVES WHEN THE TIMES ARE HARD.

AND SO I JUST WANNA SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE STARTED THE, THE RED ROCK RECOVERY FUND UNDER OUR 5 0 1 C3.

AND SO WE'LL BE DOING BUSINESS GRANTS AND EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE GRANTS.

AND SO, UM, SPECIFICALLY WE WILL HAVE A SILENT AUCTION ONLINE, UH, TO BENEFIT EXCLUSIVELY THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE GRANTS.

UM, AND ANYBODY CAN FIND INFORMATION ON THAT AT SEDONA CHAMBER.COM/FOUNDATION.

AND SO THOSE GRANT DEADLINES FOR BOTH BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYEES IS AUGUST 28TH.

AND SO WE ARE ON A BIT OF AN ACCELERATED SCHEDULE THERE.

AND A FEW THINGS TO NOTE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S TIMELY, IT'S NEEDED, AND SO WE WANTED TO BE QUICK, BUT ALSO WE WANNA LET PEOPLE KNOW THE FUNDING IS LIMITED AND QUALIFYING DOESN'T GUARANTEE AN AWARD.

IT'S NOT A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE, BUT RATHER A RUBRIC GRADED BY A GRANT COMMITTEE.

BUT WE DO ENCOURAGE ANY AND ALL BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY THAT FIRE TO APPLY FOR THOSE PROGRAMS. AND, UM, AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING IN THE RECOVERY EFFORTS AND THAT OF THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT AND, UH, LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN BE GOOD PARTNERS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DAVID.

OKAY.

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS

[8.a. Child Support Awareness Month Proclamation, August, 2026.]

I'LL START WITH A PROCLAMATION FOR CHILD SUPPORT AWARENESS MONTH.

IS WENDY HERE.

HI, WENDY.

I'M GONNA READ THE PROCLAMATION, THEN YOU CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF SEDONA JOINS THE NATION IN

[00:30:01]

AND WHEREAS THE STATE OF ARIZONA WILL ALWAYS BE COMMITTED ADVOCATES FOR OUR CHILDREN WHOSE SAFETY AND SECURITY REMAINS TOP OF MIND.

AND WHEREAS A CHILD WHO RECEIVES EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS MORE LIKELY TO FEEL SAFE AND SECURE AND IS BETTER EQUIPPED WITH THE COURAGE TO BE THEIR VERY BEST IN LIFE.

AND WHEREAS THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY DIVISION OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES IS ROBUSTLY COMMITTED TO PUTTING ARIZONA'S CHILDREN FIRST AND TO HUMBLY SERVING ARIZONANS WITH EXCELLENCE, RESPECT, INTEGRITY, AND KINDNESS, AS WELL AS BEING AN OVERALL CHAMPION FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY.

AND WHEREAS DCSS STRONGLY ADVOCATES FOR PARENTING RESPONSIBILITIES BECAUSE PARENTS AND CHILDREN BENEFIT WHEN BOTH ARE ENGAGED WITH THEIR CHILD AT EVERY STAGE REGARDLESS OF MARITAL STATUS.

AND WHEREAS DCSS RECOGNIZES THE COMMITMENT OF LEGAL GUARDIANS WHO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHILDREN IN THE ABSENCE OF PARENTS.

AND WHEREAS STRENGTHENING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY PROMOTES THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF CHILDREN, PROVIDES STABILITY, IMPROVES THE LIVES OF CHILDREN, AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO ENHANCE THEIR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.

AND WHEREAS THE CHILD SUPPORT AWARENESS MONTH VALUES PARENTS' INVOLVEMENT IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES AND WHO MAKE REGULAR SUPPORT PAYMENTS TO SAFEGUARD THEIR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.

NOW, THEREFORE, I HOLLY PLU, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SEDONA, ARIZONA ON BEHALF OF THE SEDONA CITY COUNCIL TO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST, 2026 AS CHILD SUPPORT AWARENESS MONTH ISSUED THIS 11TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNSELORS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

MY NAME IS WENDY CASPER ROBERTS.

I AM AN OUTREACH COORDINATOR WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY IN THE DIVISION OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES.

THIS IS MY REGION.

I CONSIDER THIS MY COMMUNITY.

I LIVE IN FLAGSTAFF, BUT I'M HERE ALL THE TIME.

I COME TO THE FOOD BANK.

I WAS JUST AT THE LIBRARY.

UH, I PARTNER WITH A LOT OF THE AGENCIES IN THIS COMMUNITY.

IT'S VERY MUCH, UM, IMPORTANT TO ME TO BE HERE.

UM, CHILD SUPPORT AWARENESS MONTH IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HOLIDAY, NOT A HOLIDAY.

I WISH IT WAS A HOLIDAY, BUT IT'S NOT, UM, A RECOGNIZED MONTH IN ORDER TO CELEBRATE, UH, PARENTS AND LETTING THEM KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THEIR CHILDREN.

UM, I WAS JUST OVER AT YOUR LIBRARY A LITTLE BIT AGO, HAD A, UM, A NICE TABLE WITH THINGS AND TALKED TO A LOT OF PARENTS ABOUT CHILD SUPPORT AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS IN OUR STATE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR, UM, SUPPORT OF THIS PROCLAMATION.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THIS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

I'M GONNA BRING THIS DOWN TO YOU AND WE'LL TAKE A PHOTO.

OKAY? OKAY.

NEXT, ANDREW,

[8.b. Recognition of Sedona Hoellerer.]

IS IT HOLIER? HOLIER? OKAY.

HOW YOU PRONOUNCE IT? HOLIER.

I ACTUALLY TOOK FRENCH IN SCHOOL, BUT I WAS NEVER GONNA PRONOUNCE IT.

.

YEAH.

SO WE ACTUALLY GOT CONTACTED BY THIS FAMILY A FEW WEEKS AGO.

UM, THIS IS YOUR FIFTH TIME IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT THE FIRST TIME WITH THEIR DAUGHTER WHO TURNS 10 TODAY AND NAMED AFTER OUR CITY.

SO THIS IS SEDONA.

UM, SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HER, THEM AND HER, SPECIFICALLY HER HERE WITH US TODAY TO CELEBRATE HER BIRTHDAY.

AND THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME IN SEDONA, CORRECT? ? SECOND TIME.

SECOND TIME? OKAY.

PERFECT.

SEASONED

[00:35:01]

SEASONED VETERAN.

YEAH, SHE WAS ONE.

OKAY.

DUNNO IF YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING.

YES.

MAY CONCEAL, UH, ANDREW.

ADAM, THANKS A LOT.

SO WE ARE COME FROM PARIS, FROM FRANCE, AND WE ARE REALLY, UH, UH, HAPPY TO BE HERE BECAUSE IT'S THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR GIRLS, AND WE ARE REALLY HONORED FOR YOUR WARM WELCOME.

THANKS A LOT.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SEDONA.

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SEDONA.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WE DO A LOT OF WORK WITH OUR STATE OFFICE AND BRAND USA TO DRIVE FRENCH TOURISM.

AND WE ACTUALLY CONTACTED OUR, UH, AGENCY REPRESENTATION IN PARIS AND SAID, IS THERE ANY OTHER SEDONA IN FRANCE? SO WE DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY OTHER SEDONA IN FRANCE IS WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO VALIDATE.

SO YOU ARE LIKELY LOOKING AT THE ONLY ONE.

SO AND WHY IS SEDONA? BECAUSE MY HUSBAND FOUGHT IN LOVE OF SEDONA CITY 15 YEARS AGO, AND WHEN I KNOW I WAS PREGNANT, WE DECIDE TO KEEP CALLED EARTH SEDONA BECAUSE IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CITY.

OH YEAH.

WELL, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE GI KNOW YOU'VE GOT A NUMBER OF LITTLE GIFTS, INCLUDING ONE FROM KATHY AND FROM OUR TOURISM FOLKS, BUT I'M GONNA GIVE YOU ANOTHER GIFT.

, YOU WANT US STICK ON MY FRONT MAYOR AND WE'LL TAKE A PHOTO? YEAH.

OKAY.

, THIS IS A GIFT OF A COOKIE INTERNSHIP, SO AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT ALLERGIC TO CASHEWS, YOU ALLERGIC TO NUTS? NO.

OKAY.

, BE QUIET.

HERE WE GO.

YEAH.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

OKAY.

WE'RE ON BUSINESS, REGULAR BUSINESS, SO WE HAD NO ITEMS PULLED OFF OF CONSENT.

SO WE'LL GO TO

[9.b. AB 3367 Discussion/possible direction regarding the wastewater rate study.]

HI, ROXANNE.

HELLO, JODY.

JORDAN.

JORDAN.

JORDAN.

SORRY.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNSELORS.

ROXANNE HOLLAND, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORK CITY ENGINEER.

AND I AM JORDAN CORNELIUS AND FINANCE DIRECTOR.

SO WE WANTED TO COME TONIGHT TO PROVIDE YOU WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR WASTEWATER RATE STUDY.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, IN THE FISCAL YEAR 20 26, 27 BUDGET, UH, SESSIONS, WASTE, UH, COUNCIL APPROVED, UH, CONDUCTING A WASTEWATER RATE STUDY UPDATE.

UM, OUR LAST WASTEWATER RATE STUDY WAS DONE IN 2018, AND THAT RESULTED IN SOME, UH, RESTRUCTURING OF OUR CAPACITY FEES AND OUR COMMERCIAL WASTEWATER RATES.

UH, BUT WE DID NOT GET TO ANY RESIDENTIAL, UM, RATE ADJUSTMENTS AT THAT TIME.

UM, AND SO SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A MORE ROBUST AND COMPLETE LONG RANGE PLAN FOR OUR CIP.

UM, WE'VE LOOKED AT OUR OPERATING BUDGET, WHAT WE MIGHT NEED TO START REPLACING IN THE FUTURE YEARS, UM, WITH AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND SO WE HAVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LOOK OF WHAT THE NEXT 10 PLUS YEARS MAY LOOK LIKE FOR THE WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT OR WASTEWATER DIVISION.

UH, AND,

[00:40:01]

UM, WE SOLICITED PROPOSALS FROM FIRMS INTERESTED IN COMPLETING THE STUDY FOR THE CITY.

UH, WE RECEIVED FIVE FIRMS THAT WERE INTERESTED.

THOSE WERE EVALUATED.

THE PROPOSALS WERE EVALUATED BY A VARIETY OF FINANCE AND, UH, PUBLIC WORK STAFF.

AND ULTIMATELY, UH, WILL DAN FINANCIAL SERVICES WAS AWARDED A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $71,520.

SO THAT DID NOT NEED TO COME TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL FOR OUR PROCUREMENT POLICY.

UM, SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE ENTERED INTO THAT WORK WITH THEM.

UM, THE SCOPE OF WORK, UH, INCLUDES EVALUATION OF BOTH FINANCIAL DATA AND WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS TO HELP TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE RATE.

UM, THE, UH, THE WHEEL DOWN WHEEL DEVELOP OPTIMIZED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ALONGSIDE STAFF.

UH, THEY WILL COMPLETE A COST OF SERVICE ANALYSIS AND RATE DESIGN AND THEN, UM, COMPLETE ASSOCIATED REPORTS, UH, PRESENTATIONS TO COUNCIL TO THE COMMUNITY, AND, UM, ASSIST WITH PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION.

UH, WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM FOR PUBLIC OUTREACH, WHICH IS GOING TO INCLUDE CREATING A WORK GROUP, A CITIZEN WORK GROUP, UM, AS PART OF OUR STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH.

AND THE GROUP AIMS TO HAVE PARTICIPANTS FROM A VARIETY OF BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, UPON COMPLETION OF THE RATE STUDY.

UM, ADJUSTMENTS TO THE WASTEWATER RATES WILL NEED TO FOLLOW STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS, WHICH DIFFERS SLIGHTLY FROM, UH, THE CONSOLIDATED FEE SCHEDULE.

SO WE'RE READY TO START THAT PROCESS WHEN THE TIME COMES.

UM, AND THEN AS THE PROJECT PROGRESSES, WE'LL BE PROVIDING PERIODIC UPDATES TO COUNCIL ALONG THE WAY.

UM, WE WILL HAVE SOME WORKSHOPS DURING WORK SESSIONS WHERE WE CAN LOOK AT, UM, DIFFERENT SCENARIOS BASED ON RATE STRUCTURE.

YOU KNOW, WHAT IF ANALYSIS, WHAT IF WE, UH, YOU KNOW, INCREASED RATES FOR RESIDENTS BUT DECREASE THEM FOR COMMERCIAL OR VICE VERSA OR, OR ANY KIND OF SCENARIO.

I THINK SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR THE LAST RATE STUDY, WILL, DAN WAS THE CONSULTANT FOR THAT, AND THEY HAVE A MODEL WHERE THEY CAN JUST KIND OF CHANGE IN REAL TIME TO, TO LET COUNCIL LOOK AT SCENARIOS.

SO THOSE WORKSHOPS WILL BE TAILORED TO WHAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

UM, WE ANTICIPATE THAT OUR NEXT UPDATE TO COUNCIL WILL BE IN THE NOVEMBER DECEMBER TIMEFRAME.

UM, AND PRELIMINARY SCHEDULES SHOW A COMPLETE, UH, WASTEWATER RATE STUDY BY FEBRUARY THAT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS WE START DIVING INTO THESE SCENARIOS AND WHATNOT.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

AND, UH, JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE AND, UH, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

DEREK, UH, QUESTION FROM MONIQUE, YOU PROBABLY WEREN'T EXPECTING ONE.

CAN WE LEGALLY HAVE RATES THAT PUT MORE HEAVILY ON COMMERCIAL OR VERSUS RESIDENTIAL OR WHAT'S THE, HOW DOES THAT WORK? UH, WELL, IN A GOOD LAWYER RESPONSE, IT DEPENDS.

UM, , AND IT DEPENDS.

THE, SO THE CRITERIA FOR A WASTEWATER RATE INCREASE IS THAT THE, UM, THE RATES HAVE TO BE JUST AND REASONABLE.

SO IF THE DATA SHOWS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, ONE GROUP IS, YOU KNOW, IS OVERPAYING FOR THEIR SERVICES AND ONE GROUP IS UNDERPAYING, THAT, THAT'S WHAT THE REPORT WILL SHOW.

UM, BUT IT, BUT JUST AND REASONABLE IS WHAT THE, THE, UM, CRITERIA, AND THAT'S THE ONLY CRITERIA FOR THIS RATE STUDY.

OKAY.

OR THE RATE INCREASE.

OKAY.

SO WE DON'T, WE CAN'T, WE DON'T HAVE TO BASE IT JUST ON USAGE.

CORRECT.

I GET, UM, IF, IF WE HAVE, THERE'S FLEXIBILITY, UH, ONE GROUP SUBSIDIZING ANOTHER GROUP THAT WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED JUST AND REASONABLE.

AND, AND THERE IS A CASE ON THAT.

UH, BUT, UH, BUT EACH, EACH INDIVIDUAL GROUP, WE WILL HAVE TO EVALUATE TO DETERMINE IF THE RATES ARE JUST AND REASONABLE.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

BEFORE, UH, CHARLOTTE ROXANNE, WHEN WAS THE LAST INCREASE FOR WASTEWATER RATES? SO WE, WE, WE INCREASED SLIGHTLY, UH, EVERY, I THINK THE LAST ONE WAS TWO YEARS AGO.

I FEEL LIKE IT WAS 24.

YEAH, I BELIEVE IT WAS FISCAL YEAR 24.

BUT, UM, SINCE THE LAST RACE STUDY, THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCREASE EVERY YEAR TO KIND OF REACH THAT GOAL OF WASTEWATER BEING A, A A, A SELF SUSTAINING WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND.

UM, BUT TWO YEARS AGO WAS THE LAST INCREASE.

OKAY.

THANK YOU CHARLOTTE.

UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT YOU, THAT ARE IN THE WRITEUP THAT I WASN'T QUITE SURE ABOUT, THE, A DECISION SUPPORT WORKSHOP AND A RATE DESIGN WORKSHOP.

[00:45:01]

SO THE, WE'LL, THEY'LL HAVE WORKSHOPS WITH STAFF AND THEN WE WILL, AFTER THOSE WORKSHOPS, WE'LL COME AND HAVE WORK SESSIONS WITH COUNCIL TO GO OVER, UM, SOME OF THE RATE DESIGN THAT WE AT STAFF FELT WAS APPROPRIATE.

AND THEN AT THAT TIME WE CAN TAILOR WHATEVER HAPPENS AT THOSE WORK SESSIONS.

UM, WE CAN TAILOR OUR RATE DESIGN BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM, FROM YOU ALL IN REAL TIME.

SO THE, THE CITIZEN GROUP THAT YOU ALSO REFERENCED IS SEPARATE AND APART FROM THESE AND THAT CITIZEN GROUP WOULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN THESE EITHER OTHER TWO THINGS? NO.

THEY WOULD BE THEIR OWN GROUP? CORRECT.

OKAY.

YEAH.

UM, AND ARE YOU PLANNING TO USE AI OR IS THE CONTRACTOR PLANNING TO USE AI? SO THEY DID NOT MAKE ANY MENTION OF THE USE OF AI AS A TOOL IN THEIR PROPOSAL.

SO I CAN'T ANSWER THAT TODAY, BUT THAT WAS NOT IN THEIR PROPOSAL.

OKAY.

IT'S COMING THAT I RECALL.

YEAH.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

SURE.

ANYBODY ELSE? HOW, IF, IF A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED TO BE ON THE WORK GROUP, HOW WOULD THEY ACCOMPLISH THAT? UM, SO I, WE HAVE NO COMMUNICATION STAFF HERE.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW WE'RE, UM, GOING TO SOLICIT PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT WORK GROUP.

I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO REACH OUT TO SPECIFIC TYPES OF BUSINESSES BECAUSE WASTEWATER RATES CAN VARY DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF BUSINESS THERE IS.

UM, WE PROBABLY, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A VARIETY OF, OF RESIDENTS AS WELL.

SO I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE PLAN IS ON OUTREACH, IF THERE WOULD BE LIKE AN APPLICATION PROCESS OR IF IT WOULD JUST BE US REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WE'RE AWARE OF ALREADY.

SO, I'M SORRY, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT EXACTLY.

I THINK, UH, WHAT WE'LL DO IS HAVE A, UM, DISCUSSION WITH KEEGAN WHO TYPICALLY SOLICITS VOLUNTEERS FOR CITIZEN WORK GROUPS.

AND, UM, IF THE COUNCIL TONIGHT HAS A PARTICULAR INTEREST IN, UM, GIVING US FEEDBACK ON, UH, THE TYPES OF SKILL SETS OR INTEREST OR FOLKS THAT WE SHOULD BE, UM, INCLUDING ON THAT, THAT'D BE GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

OR YOU CAN LET US KNOW AFTER THE MEETING.

UM, BUT OUR TYPICAL PROCESS IS SHE WILL RECRUIT FOR VOLUNTEERS AND THEN WE WILL, UM, SELECT THOSE THAT FIT THE CRITERIA AND THEN WE'LL ESTABLISH THE GROUP.

UM, SO YES, IF YOU HAVE A, ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT IN TERMS OF THE TYPES, BUT I THINK HAVING THE DIFFERENT CUSTOMER CLUSTER REPRESENTATIVES AND THINGS IS, IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY A, A GREAT PAYER NOW.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS? OKAY.

NOW KEEGAN DOES, IS THERE, UM, A SPECIFIC BESIDES HER PERSONAL ADDRESS, IS THERE AN ADDRESS FOR THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT? I'LL LOOK TO LAUREN.

DO WE HAVE A GENERAL COMMUNITY, UH, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EMAIL ADDRESS OR SOMETHING THAT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY KEEGAN'S THAT PEOPLE CAN EMAIL? NO, NO, THERE'S NOT A GENERAL EMAIL, BUT YOU CAN EMAIL KEEGAN, UM, WHICH IS K HALL HA L@SEDONAAZ.GOV.

UM, THERE IS A, UM, UH, SEDONA AZ.GOV/CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT, UM, IS, UH, WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND, AND SIGN UP FOR THE VOLUNTEER REGISTRY AND INDICATE THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN, UM, THIS PROJECT.

THANK YOU.

LAUREN.

I HAVE ONE CARD, SO I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

TIM.

GOOD EVENING, COUNSELORS.

MY NAME IS TIM PER AND I LIVE IN SEDONA.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT BEHIND STAFF'S LATEST PROPOSAL TO STEAL MORE MONEY FROM THE PUBLIC UNDER THE GUISE OF A FEE INCREASE.

'CAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT'S WHERE THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING.

THE CITY OF SEDONA SEWER PLANT WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT AS THE RESULT OF BLACKMAIL BY ADEC BUREAUCRATS WHO WANTED THE AREA TO HAVE A SEWER PLANT IT DIDN'T NEED IN CONTRAVENTION OF EPA RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WHO CONVENIENTLY WALKED BACK THEIR OWN REQUIREMENT FOR THE PLANT TO BE BUILT, THEIR RESTRICTION ON ADDITIONAL SEPTIC SYSTEMS IN THE AREA AS SOON AS THAT PLANT HAD BEEN BUILT.

NEVERTHELESS, BECAUSE OF THOSE LIES IN MANIPULATION BACK IN THE 1980S, THE SEWER PLANT HAS NOW COST SEDONAS

[00:50:01]

AND THAT, OF COURSE, IS ALL PAID FOR BY TAXES AND FEES.

IT'S ALL TAXPAYER MONEY.

IT'S NOT FREE MONEY.

AND IN FACT, STAFF HAVE ALREADY HINTED TO COUNSEL THAT, UH, SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SEWER PLANT MIGHT JUST BE THE, UH, CONVENIENT REASON THEY NEED FOR THE NEXT TAX INCREASE WE'RE FACING IN THE FUTURE.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THIS WHOLE PROPOSAL FOR A WASTEWATER RATE STUDY.

YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND DO THE STUDY AND YOU CAN RECOMMEND A RATE INCREASE, AND PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC ARE GOING TO TELL YOU UNIFORMLY, NO, NO NEW FEES, NO NEW TAXES, WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF CONTINUING TO BE RAPED BY A SEWER PIPE.

OF COURSE, THEN YOU GUYS ARE GONNA GO AND RAISE THE RATES BECAUSE, WELL, YOU DON'T CARE WHAT THE PUBLIC THINKS, AND THEN THE PUBLIC IS GOING TO REFERENDUM YOU.

ONCE AGAIN, THE FIRST TIME THAT I SAT IN THIS ROOM, I HEARD RON VOLKMAN READ A ALOUD A LETTER FROM SHERRY GRAHAM, IN WHICH HE STATED THE CITY COUNCIL TAKES SHEAR TO LIGHT IN SPENDING MONEY ON CREDIT.

AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT THAT WAS A VERY INFORMATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THIS TOWN, BUT I'VE SINCE REALIZED WE DON'T NEED THE LAST TWO WORDS.

THE CITY COUNCIL JUST TAKES SHEER DELIGHT IN SPENDING MONEY, OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.