Sedona City Council looks to add penalties to censure

Sedona City Council looks to add penalties to censure – Sedona Red Rock News

In the closing moments of the Tuesday, Sept. 23, Sedona City Council meeting, Councilman Pete Furman discussed the possi­bility of modifying council’s rules and Sedona City Code sections to discipline members of council who have been censured.

“I believe we can imple­ment actions like limiting a censured member’s liaison roles or access and use of the Mayor-Council conference room or cell phone, travel expenses or even council payments,” Furman said.

On Wednesday, Sept. 10, council voted 5-2 to both censure Sedona Mayor Scott Jablow and call for his immediate resignation for seven major complaints including creating a hostile work environment, inter­ference with city staff and acting unilaterally.

“I’ve done a lot of reflecting back to the last meeting … because this council took unprecedented action against one of its members,” Furman said. “I believe we were all frustrated at the time that there weren’t any specific or concrete tools to apply disciplinary measures when a member violates our rules, procedures and norms. I’d like to see if there’s support to agendize a council discus­sion of our rules and muni [municipal] code sections. To explore whether they can be modified without violating state law to include specific actions that the council may take after one of its members has been censured.”

Councilwoman Kathy Kinsella said she wanted a full review of council’s rules and procedures that the council, after a short discus­sion, decided will be the direction it will take.

“I was going to ask for support for something that could be considered piece­meal, but also as part of rules and procedures, and that is ensuring greater transpar­ency of council assign­ments … to ensure greater transparency and also to try to eliminate any unilateral decision making as a by-product of council assign­ments,” Councilman Brian Fultz said. “So to your point, Kinsella, I’m fine with it being a broader discussion.”

Furman said those disci­plinary measures could be put in place and could be rescinded by council during a public vote. He added they should also automatically be rescinded if a censured member is reelected.

Jablow and Furman have both announced they are not seeking another term and their seats will be decided next year. Additionally, Fultz has announced he will be running for mayor. Councilwoman Melissa Dunn is seeking reelection.

“We’ll put on the next available work session,” City Attorney Kurt Christianson said.

During the council’s Summary of Current Events Jablow attempted to address his censure and call for resig­nation by the other members of council by also misrepre­senting a headline from the NEWS.

The NEWS wrote one story about the censure with the headline “Sedona City Council to Mayor Scott Jablow: Resign to restore trust” and an editorial with the headline “For the good of Sedona, Mayor Scott Jablow must resign.”

“I would like to [talk] about a project I’ve been working on for the past couple of months,” Jablow said. “A recent headline in the [NEWS] reported that ‘this Council must restore trust in the city.’ I couldn’t agree more, but trust is not only between [the] city and the public. Trust must also exist between the council and all of our employees. In my effort to help restore trust and transparency, I want the public to know that, in my opinion, the five councilors who supported my censure —.”

Councilwoman Kathy Kinsella then cut Jablow off mid-sentence.

“Mr. Mayor, is this a current event?” Christianson then asked.

“It’s a project. Do we not want to be transparent?” Jablow asked.

“No, I agree that the city needs to be transparent, but I believe this doesn’t pertain to anything that’s on the agenda,” Christianson said.

“OK, so you wish me not to continue on the council is saying you wish me not to continue,” Jablow said.

“That’s right,” said Kinsella, who also voted for Jablow’s censure.

Christianson told Jablow he could agendize the item at a future meeting, but the mayor doubted he would have enough support from the council.

“Assuming I would have two others,” Jablow said.

Prior to the public meeting, council’s executive session was devoted to discipling Jablow with the council going behind closed doors shortly after 3:30 p.m. and reconvening at 4:17 p.m. to unani­mously “direct the city attorney to investigate [additional] allega­tions made against the mayor on Sept. 19,” Kinsella said.

“No comment,” Councilman Derek Pfaff said when asked about the nature of these Sept. 19 allegations.

One resident called on Jablow to resign during the call to the public.

Consent Items

Following the Sept. 10 censure of Jablow, council held its first work session of possible development of the Western Gateway for housing and mixed-use development.

On Sept. 23, Council voted 6-1, with Furman opposed, to authorize payment for past services to Dig Studios Inc., but deferred action on the remainder of its contract for the Draft Master Plan of the Western Gateway project. Staff had recommended that council approve an amendment to the contract with Dig to increase payment by $106,921. The firm was first hired by the city in July 2024 to develop and promote a new master plan for the Sedona Cultural Park under a $254,242 contract. Additional revisions and concept designs were cited necessitating increases.

“Other additions to the scope include extra design elements such as base elevations and view sheds along with street-level elevations and views,” the council packet reads.

Dunn said because of the numerous unanswered questions from the work session, including the number of housing units council wants, council should hold off on additional work by Dig until council and staff had more discus­sion and a more clear direction for the Western Gateway before it approves additional expenditures.

Council approved a resolution to be the sponsor of the U.S. Forest Service’s grant application to double the size of the Broken Arrow Trailhead through the Arizona State Parks Off-Highway Vehicle Competitive Grant Program. Council had unanimously approved the possible project during its Aug. 26 meeting.

Council approved an additional $90,000 on the previous not-to-exceed amount of $180,000 for a deal with with CozyHome LLC for home energy retrofitting. The project, started in March 2022, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emis­sions, improve equity and enhance the livability of residences.

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Oak Creek Chapter accepted the city of Sedona’s proc­lamation of National Constitution Week that ran from Sept. 17 through Sept. 23. The week celebrates the Sept. 17, 1787, signing of the U.S. Constitution.

“The Daughters of the American Revolution Oak Creek Chapter was founded [on] June 26, 2006,” the council packet reads. “Our mission is to promote the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American indepen­dence. … We display an exhibit on Memorial Day in [Community Library Sedona]. We fund and participate in the placement of National Wreaths Across America. Chapter volunteers will place American Flags at the entrance of the Sedona Heritage Museum.”

The bulk of the Sept. 23 meeting was devoted to the quarterly update of the Sedona in Motion transpor­tation and parking projects that will be covered in a future story.