When is enough, enough Sedona?
The city council requested the Chamber to “halt all marketing” last year, apparently the chamber continued to do so. Claiming they didn't understand the term marketing.
Since the Chamber is not part of city, not a government, not a Tourism Authority District is the reason to defund the chamber. The city needs to deal with Tourism impact damage they created by over marketing the Sedona Region and doing so without a authorized legal “Tourism Authority District”.
Our last update asked the question what would defunding the chamber look like. Would defunding the chamber continue down the same road of over marketing? NO it wouldn't.
Why is the Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council, City of Sedona endorsing a fake “Sedona Tourism Bureau" aka Sedona Chamber of Commerce, INC.?
Are they doing so without the proper authority?
Here is the basis:
Under A.R.S. Title 9 - Cities and Towns, the City of Sedona (Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council) Has NO jurisdictional power to form a legal “Tourism Authority District”.
The name “Sedona” is used throughout the region; mailing addresses share the name, and share some zip codes. Sedona Area Communities are a composition of the incorporated City of Sedona, unincorporated Yavapai County and unincorporated Coconino. Sedona Area Communities share a “Sedona Fire District” , “Sedona School District” “Sedona Public Library” . Depending on the county they reside in share “Yavapai College” or “Coconino College” all are paid through our property taxes.
SB 1335 HB 2161 amending Title 9, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding Chapter 14; amending Title 11 , Arizona revised statutes, by adding Chapter 15; Relating to Tourism. Didn’t pass. https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/55leg/1r/bills/hb2161p.pdf
The geographic boundaries of the city PROHIBIT the City from making a tourism policy that encompasses “unincorporated Sedona”
The Sedona Chamber of Commerce isn’t a governmental agency; the fake name Sedona Tourism Bureau isn’t AUTHORIZED as a “Tourism Authority District” and can never be one. Does not qualify to be a “Tourism Authority District” as the proper infrastructure of a “Tourism Authority District” was NEVER FORMED.
Under the current law 42-6108. Tax on hotels: The tax only applies in unincorporated areas of the county. Prohibits government overreach keeping the unincorporated counties governing boards as the County Board of Supervisors.
What does that mean? Since Sedona has no authorized legal “Tourism Authority District” who’s paying and who is getting a gift?
The city of Sedona jurisdiction is the City limits, not unincorporated Sedona. The Council can legally imposes taxes on in-city Hospitality without the voters approval. The City of Sedona violates 9-500.06. Hospitality industry; discrimination prohibited; as the city uses these funds to market, educated, improve businesses OUTSIDE the geographic boundaries of the City of Sedona. This is government OVER REACH and it appears the Mayor, Vice Mayor and council are attempting to create a illegal Quasi government Taxing the in-city to play fast and loose with with public money gifting the unincorporated businesses. The constitutional rights of Sedona are being abused and the false narrative is being used to steal our quality of life, driving locals out to drive tourism in putting us in harms way.
Sedona has the incorporated City limits, the footprint of metes and bounds the geographic boundaries of the authority of the city of Sedona. The City is not authorized to be a Tourism Authority District. The Sedona Chamber is the City’s largest contract by far. There is no checks or balances on this contract.
The City of Sedona by enforcing an unauthorized “Sedona Tourism Bureau” aka Sedona Chamber is in violation of laws. Their actions are NOT in alignment of a code of ethics with any protection for the constituency members. Look at what Sedona is today after the 15.3 million (2014-2021) gravy train going to a fake unauthorized chamber bureau.
The Mayor and city council like to use the term well it’s going to the “tourism bureau”. Saying it over and over doesn’t make it legal authorized Tourism District. Does saying it over and over indicate a fraudulent scheme when the city council are fully aware that Sedona has no legal authorized “Tourism Authority District” and they have no jurisdiction over unincorporated Sedona?
As many others are asking when is enough, enough? Is it time for the public to sue the Mayor, Vice Mayor, council and city manager past and present for the damage they have created?