Council OKs $97,963,222 FY27 budget – Sedona Red Rock News

Council OKs $97,963,222 FY27 budget

The vote was 6-0 with Councilwoman Charlotte Hosseini absent. There were no major changes from the tentative budget council approved on May 26.

“We are continuing to hold sales and bed tax revenues flat,” Deputy City Manager Barbara Whitehorn said. “We are seeing year-over-year increases, however, given the global uncertainty, that seems to be a more prudent way to move forward.”

The approval caps six months of work that began with the priority retreat Dec. 16 through 18, during which the council expressed little desire to increase the number of municipal employees and favored a more conservative budget in light of economic volatility. This led the council to call for a zero-based budget model, in which every expense was justified from scratch rather than every department adjusting its previous year’s budget.

The FY 2027 budget marks the second consecutive year the total budget has fallen from its all-time high of $106.1 million in Fiscal Year 2025. While the FY 2027 budget is a 5% reduction from the current year’s $103.3 million budget, that decrease is driven by a 20% drop in capital projects, from $42 million to $34 million, as projects such as the Uptown Parking Garage near completion. The garage does not currently have an opening date because its decorative exterior wall is under structural engineering review.

Operating budget year-over-year grew 4% from $61.235 million to nearly $64 million, with nearly five full-time equivalent employees added, with three of those positions created specifically to aid local schools following a March 25 joint session with Sedona-Oak Creek School District, when council directed city staff to find ways to financially back local schools, which are independent from city government.

This lead to the creation of full-time recreation programming coordinator in the Parks & Recreation Department for after-school programming, a Parks & Recreation janitor to aid the program, and a full-time maintenance worker who will also maintain the Sedona Red Rock High School’s baseball field, with the goal of improving SOCSD student recruitment and retention.

The city committed $76,000 to hire a school security consultant for both SOCSD campuses, and a series of smaller one-time appropriations for SOCSD that focus largely on security improvements — with the independent Sedona Charter School receiving $23,000 in new playground equipment.

Other staff changes in the budget are the creation of a full-time Information Technology support employee, a converting a part-time court specialist to full-time, and converting a part-time bicycle pedestrian coordinator into a full-time position.

In FY 2023, the city had 177.5 full-time employees; 201.65 in the current fiscal year, with a total increase of 4.97 FTEs in the approved FY 2027 budget.

Among the operating increases, the city’s most significant are an Arizona State Retirement System contribution of roughly $1.9 million; a $766,000 increase to the city’s community service contracts with Community Library Sedona; $300,000 for advertising and tourism; $250,000 for a mini street sweeper for the Uptown garage; $150,000 added to the pavement preservation and road rehabilitation contract; $125,000 for an Uptown Community Focus Area design services; $100,000 for pre-approved house plans required under Senate Bill 1529, and $75,000 for updating the city website.

The city also moved to pay off the remaining balance on several debts, including financing for energy conservation equipment; micro-transit vehicles; a vactor truck, a dump truck and snowplow and police vehicles, with at a total cost of $948,053 and an interest savings of $75,548.

Capital Projects

Whitehorn flagged capital projects that several residents had raised as costing more than the budget allocates, such as a debunked claim the city intended to overspend on purchasing the Brewer Road building, home to the Parks and Recreation Department and City Court offices, from SOCSD before any serious talks had occurred.

Sedona City Council candidates Jean-Christophe Buillet and Rich Gay, as part of their campaign, made a social media video citing the city’s West Sedona Intercept Lot at SR 89A and Upper Red Rock Loop. The project, PT-05, carries a $100,000 appropriation in Fiscal Year 2027 to 2028, and last year’s FY ’25 to ‘26 Annual Budget had included a $24.8 million placeholder “for a possible parking garage” that has since been removed.

“The eventual plan was to possibly add a parking garage out there, but it was determined in evaluating the capital projects that that was an unlikely thing for us to do in the next 10 years,” Whitehorn said. “So that is no longer in the budget, there, so if you look at last year’s budget, there was a placeholder for that, and in … coming fiscal year, that is not in there.”

The modeling approach for the Fiscal Year 2027-28, budget will be decided at a future meeting.

Amphitheater seeks partner – Sedona Red Rock News

Council OKs SCP 2.0’s letter asking for plans to revive 5,500-seat outdoor venue

The Sedona amphitheater is seeking a partner for a serious long-term commitment, music is a must.

The Sedona City Council unanimously approved a non-binding letter of intent with Sedona Cultural Park 2.0 nonprofit — and issued a request for information open to any interested organization — during its Tuesday, May 26, meeting. Councilman Derek Pfaff was absent.

The public request allows other potential groups to develop business plans exploring options to bring live music back to the 5,500-seat Georgia Frontiere Performing Arts Pavilion that has been shuttered since 2003.

“SCP 2.0 is not requesting construction funding, operational funding, subsidies or taxpayer dollars from the city of Sedona,” SCP 2.0 board member Jennifer May said during public comment. “Our intention is to explore whether a revitalized amphitheater could be supported through private philanthropy, sponsorships, strategic partnerships and professional venue operators.”

Both of the documents are open to any individual or group. The letter of intent is a template City Manager Anette Spickard can sign with any qualified party, and signing it is not required to respond to the Request for Information, City Attorney Kurt Christianson said.

Under the letter, which runs through the end of 2026, SCP 2.0 will research whether renovating and operating the amphitheater is financially viable and how it could be structured on up to 25 acres of the 41-acre Cultural Park that the city purchased in November 2022 for $20 million.

The remaining acreage on the 41-acre site breaks down as follows:

■ 5.88 acres of slope protection and open space in the southwest corner.

■ 5.358 acres designated as a “Public Benefit Area” in the northeast corner.

■ Roughly five acres along State Route 89A, west of Yavapai College’s Sedona Center campus, where the Sedona International Film Festival could potentially construct a new theatre complex, a use the council gave initial direction to in December, pending completion of a land survey and appraisal.

“We’re kind of in the RFI phase with SIFF, so there’s nothing set in stone yet,” Christianson said. “No promises have been made on either side.

“They have proposed some plans with Community Development, but it hasn’t made it outside of” that department yet for review.

Council gave direction to Community Development Director Tony Allender to investigate three community uses that ranked above the amphitheater from an April resident survey: A festival space, a smaller gathering space and a recreation center.

Council members indicated a potential recreation center in particular would not necessarily be located at the Western Gateway.

“When I think about a unique, attractive, daily use thing like a rec center, you don’t put it at the edge of your town, you try to put it more in central parts of your town,” Councilman Pete Furman said. “I can think of a couple in West Sedona that could be a better location for it, and so that’s got to be part of the conversation going forward.”

The RFI expires on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Staff would likely spend October preparing information, aim to present it to the council in November, and could return around January for a possible second discussion on whether to issue a Request for Proposal, according to Christianson.

Request for Information for Cultural Park Amphitheater:

The city of Sedona issued a Request for Information on Monday, June 1, inviting private entities to share their interest and ideas for the restoration and operations of the Sedona Cultural Park Amphitheater, a 5,500-seat outdoor performance venue located on city-owned land in West Sedona called the Western Gateway.

The outdoor amphitheater was in operation primarily as a music venue from 2001-2003 and hosted nationally recognized artists. The city purchased the property in 2022 and is now exploring options to bring the venue back as a cultural and economic asset for residents and visitors.

The city is seeking responses from private organizations and businesses with expertise in developing, operating and managing outdoor amphitheaters, performing arts venues or comparable entertainment facilities. The RFI is an information-gathering step that may lead to a formal Request for Proposals process for a ground lease of up to approximately 25 acres of the city property. The city intends to lease the property at fair market value, with renovation and operating costs the responsibility of the private party.

Respondents are encouraged to share creative ideas for programming, business models, community benefit components and approaches to comply with Sedona’s sound attenuation requirements. The city is particularly interested in how a restored venue could serve residents and complement Sedona’s arts and tourism economy.

Organizations interested in scheduling a site visit may contact the city to arrange access during regular business hours with 48 hours advance notice.

The RFI package contains additional information, including a structural condition assessment, a site diagram, site photographs, zoning documents and a non-exclusive Letter of Intent available to respondents upon request. To learn more and to respond to the RFI, visit https://sedonaaz.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/238073.

Applications are due by Wednesday, Sept. 30.

As required by State Law, every four years the Sedona City Council has put Home Rule on the ballot as the best option for our community. It’s that time again. Here’s the ballot argument I submitted.

Vote YES on Home Rule (Alternative Expenditure Limitation)

Home Rule has been approved by voters since 1996. Financially, Sedona is in great shape. Most tax revenues are paid by tourism, the budget is balanced, there is little debt.

Under Home Rule, the City can spend only what it receives, and it funds locally set priorities. Without Home Rule, Sedona must comply with a state-imposed spending formula that ignores actual needs or revenues.

Here’s what’s at stake: Sedona’s budget is $103 million; the state limit would allow only $23.6 million, a 70% cut. Spending on police, roads, and parks would be reduced. Revenues would still be collected but could not be spent. Important needs would go unmet.

Some argue to let Home Rule fail; a one-time override vote is possible. But it’s a complex, uncertain, and expensive process. And if the override fails, the consequences would be bad.

Another future option is called permanent base adjustment. It’s a worthy alternative, but it’s not on this ballot. This option should be considered before the next Home Rule vote in four years.

Home Rule keeps spending decisions under local control. Home Rule works for our community.

Vote YES on Home Rule.

Submitted by Pete Furman

Don’t let candidates for Sedona City Council get away with just saying ‘they’ll do whatever the voters decide on Home Rule’. Insist that they state their preference and defend it with cogent arguments. Being on Council is not easy – decisions must be made in the best interest of the entire community.

Council adds $1.76M in spending to FY27 budget – Sedona Red Rock News

Council adds $1.76M in spending to FY27 budget5 min read

City pauses talks on school programs to later meeting

Sedona City Council gave its tentative approvals and rejections on decision packets on April 23, the second day of its two-day budget work session.

The packets totaled $1,476,899 in one-time and $285,472 in ongoing spending, $1,762,371 in total. Council rejected two sustainability proposals: A door-to-door composting pilot program that was unanimously turned down and a residential tree planting program rejected 4-3 by Vice Mayor Brian Fultz, Councilmen Pete Furman, Derek Pfaff and Councilwoman Charlotte Hosseini.

All votes below were unanimous, unless noted.

Destination marketing ad contingency $300,000

This package was divided into: $150,000 in contingency funding pending a future triggering policy from Deputy City Manager Lauren Browne for council approval, $100,000 for year-round marketing towards the high-net-worth audience and $50,000 for opportunistic event advertising, such as special events in Phoenix during Sedona’s slower tourism off-season.

Mini street sweeper $250,000

The discussion about this Public Works purchase and maintenance of the Uptown Parking Garage centered on the potential to make it an electric vehicle purchase.

“If we don’t start going electric, at some point we’re never going to get to electric.”Councilwoman Kathy Kinsella

According to Public Works Director Kurt Harris, the Sustainability Department’s position is that running a street sweeper on fossil fuels makes sense at this time because of the lower cost and because it would not be operated daily — unlike the electric patrol vehicle for the Sedona Police Department that was later approved.

After-school program $211,775

Council gave the approval for Parks and Recreation to create an after-school camp program, which would hire a full-time recreation coordinator and a full-time custodian.

This came alongside a council discussion about city support for Sedona-Oak Creek School District and Sedona Charter School campuses. Public Works had first proposed a $1,827,834 plan to assume full landscaping duties at both SOCSD properties. Council narrowed down the scope, directing staff to return with an estimate focused on the tennis courts and athletic fields at SRRHS.

Council approved a package of smaller campus investments: A $10,000 electric gate relocation at the SRRHS admin building, $6,000 landscaping updates at both campuses, a $5,000 Wi-Fi and cellular booster project at West Sedona School, $5,000 in signage at SRRHS.

Also, $23,000 for new playground equipment at SCS was approved, with Fultz recusing himself from that vote; his wife Amy Fultz is SCS’ executive director.

IT tech support full-time employee $153,560 annually

Approved following the recommendation of the Citizens Budget Work Group and City Manager Anette Spickard.

Uptown Community Focus Area design plan $125,000

This one-time funding is for design work and data collection to complete the Uptown Community Focus Area plan. Community Development Director Tony Allender said implementing the plan would likely require additional monies in the future.

“The average American will walk roughly four blocks in a destination before they decide they need to be driving. The way to expand it is it has to be convenient, interesting, cool. The types of things that make you forget that you’re going past four blocks.”Tony Allender, Community Development Director

Pre-approved building plans $100,000

The Community Development department received approval to develop a catalog of pre-approved building plans to streamline the permitting process for common construction projects in the city.

The spending is part of compliance with Senate Bill 1529 signed into law on July 1, 2025. Under the law, cities must adopt plans for single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, and accessory dwelling units, each with at least three different elevation options, beginning in 2026.

America 250 Celebration Event $100,000

One-time Parks and Recreation funding for a community celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary; any unused funds would be designated for other local events.

Sedona Police Department EV patrol vehicle $99,951 + $4,000 annually 6-1 vote

Pfaff was the lone opposing vote in a 6-1 decision on a pilot purchase of an electric patrol vehicle for SPD.

“I don’t think we should be using unproven technology on public safety vehicles. I don’t think we should transition our police fleet to electric — if a normal city vehicle loses its charge and can’t make it, public safety is generally not at risk. Police vehicles are different. It’s a proven technology. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Derek Pfaff, Sedona City Councilman said.

Bike/pedestrian coordinator — converting to full-time position $89,543 annually + $6,570 one-time 4-3 vote

Upgrading this from a part to full-time position was split, with Kinsella, Pfaff and Councilwoman Melissa Dunn opposed.

Website upgrades $75,000

The city’s website, sedonaaz.gov, is set to receive upgrades following the council’s approval.

Hazardous waste door-to-door collection $50,000 one-time 5-2 vote

With Fultz and Hosseini opposed, council approved a pilot program to go door to door through Sedona neighborhoods to collect household hazardous waste like old electronics, batteries and chemicals that cannot go in regular trash. The dissenters preferred simply continuing to have people drop off items at a centralized location.

Part-time court specialist $28,369 per year + $21,603 one-time 4-3 vote

Council approved the position with Furman, Dunn and Kinsella opposed. Furman said he was not against the position but wanted to wait until Magistrate Judge Richard Speer could give a six-month report on his position, which he started earlier this year.

Northern Arizona University sustainability partnership $25,000 one-time

A one-time funding to support a one-year NAU internship program to assist the Sustainability Department. The program is in lieu of the city using the AmeriCorps VISTA program that is facing federal budget cuts.

Sustainability plans management $10,000 annually + $8,000 one-time

The tentative budget is scheduled to come to council on Tuesday, May 26; with final approval expected on Tuesday, June 23.

Council OKs Cultural Park 2.0 to draft amphitheater plan – Sedona Red Rock News

Unanimously authorizes SCP 2.0 to discuss plans with venue operators

Sedona City Council voted unanimously 6-0 — with Councilwoman Kathy Kinsella absent — to pursue a non-binding letter of intent Tuesday, April 28, with ad hoc group Sedona Cultural Park 2.0 to develop a business plan exploring the potential reopening of the 5,550-seat Georgia Frontiere Performing Arts Pavilion as a concert venue.

“There’s so many things that this cultural park can bring to the community that are not obvious. It’s jobs, it’s money, it’s tax revenue, but it’s also the sense of community,” said SCP 2.0 President John Bradshaw — a former Sedona vice mayor — following the vote. “We’ve got probably the greatest venue anywhere in the United States, and it’s just sitting there, getting rotted away. There were so many speakers tonight all over the world saying the same thing — it’s going to be a world-renowned venue.”

The action is non-committal, merely authorizing SCP 2.0 to begin conversations with potential venue operators to signal that the city has some level of interest, and does not commit any municipal funding or serve as a final approval of a project.

The council chambers were filled to capacity, with about 80 attendees spilling over into the foyer. The meeting also featured findings from a city survey, run by HighGround Inc., on what voters want to see in the development of the Western Gateway.

“I want to take my hat off to all of the organizers of this community effort that we’ve seen over these last several weeks, it has been the most successful community outreach organizing that I’ve seen,” Councilman Pete Furman said.

Council’s priorities are that no city funds would be used if the performance venue eventually reopens, similar to its December direction to the Sedona International Film Festival that is considering moving its theaters to the Western Gateway.

The amphitheater “deserves to be evaluated in today’s context, not on what you thought was true a few years ago today, based on true facts and on data,” SCP 2.0 Secretary Chris Ford said during public comment. “All we are asking for is … a letter of intent or commitment from this city that brings in experienced professionals to conduct a proper feasibility study. We have partners who want to do this, but they also want to know that their time is valued and that the city is serious.”

Some 35 people spoke during the call to the public; Mayor Holli Ploog reduced public comment from three to two minutes during the meeting without prior notice. An overwhelming majority of the public speakers spoke in favor of reopening the site as a music venue and/or expressed support for SCP 2.0.

Community Survey

“We hope that polling gives 50% plus one way or the other,” HighGround Senior Vice President Paul Bentz said. “Unfortunately, when we look at this data, it’s pretty even split within the community. I’m sure that’s something that you’ve probably felt in talking with folks.”

The poll had an “incredibly high response,” Bentz said, with 1,620 registered voters or current residents within city limits responding and a margin of error of +/- 2.4%.

Question one asked residents if they supported the city’s current plan for the Western Gateway. The results showed 48.5% in opposition and 43.7% in support — with 36% saying they definitely oppose the city’s current proposal, 12.5% saying they probably oppose it, 21.9% saying they probably support it and 21.8% saying they definitely support it.

The sharpest divide on question one was along partisan lines — Democrats comprise 37.7% of respondents, Republicans 28.0%. Of those, 54.8% of registered Democrats were in support, 38.6% opposed. Conversely 51.3% of Republicans are opposed and 30.5% in support. By age: 54.8% of residents 40 to 49 are in support, and 50% of residents age 30 to 39, 51.2% of people over 65 were against and those 29 and younger were split 44.2% both ways.

Question two asked residents to rank on a scale of a low of 1 to high of 5 about nine different uses for the Western Gateway. The uses ranked by mean score are: Community gathering space 3.82, Community recreation center 3.58, event lawn 3.5, an amphitheater 3.05, housing 2.51, apartments and townhomes 2.5, restaurants 2.39, retail 2.11 and commercial space 2.0.

The final question asked voters if they support a proposal — SCP 2.0’s, though not stated explicitly — to reopen the amphitheater which drew: 35.3% definitely oppose, 7.2% probably oppose, 14.5% probably support, 32.4% definitely support, with “other” at 8.4% and 2.3% responding “don’t know.” The sharpest divide was along age, with 69.7% of people under 29 in support, with support decreasing by age: 64% for ages 30 to 39, 59.4% for ages 40 to 49, 54.5% for ages 50 to 64 to 42% for people older than 65.

However, younger age groups also were less likely to have filled out the survey, and older voters were more likely to participate in the survey and were the “driving force” of the results Bentz said. The majority, or 68.6%, of survey respondents were 65 and older, 20.6% were ages 50 to 64, 5.2% were ages 40 to 49, 3% were ages 30 to 39 and 2.6% were 29 and younger. That trend of participation was also reflected with the speakers during the public comment section of the meeting.

Question three along partisan lines showed: 54.7% of Republicans in favor, and 33.1% in opposition. Democrats broke 48.5% in opposition with 41.6% in support. Other registered third parties such as Libertarian, Green and No Bels parties split with 46.5% in support and 41.8% in opposition while independents were 49.2% opposed, 41.7% in support.

Council Response

“I do not support putting city money into this endeavor,” Councilman Derek Pfaff said. “If there was overwhelming public support, then maybe I would. … I think that [the SCP 2.0] plan needs to be completely self-sustaining. I could see us doing the same thing we talked about for SIFF, maybe some extension of utilities … But I have no interest in seeing the city spend tax dollars on either renovating this or subsidizing it.”

Furman added a fiscal warning to attendees who earlier in the meeting raised concerns about the $981,319 price tag for a contract with EDGE Construction LLC for interior restoration work of the historic buildings at Ranger Station Park.

“Anything we do here is going to be subject to the same bonding and insurance and reporting requirements as the Ranger Station project we voted on earlier today,” Furman said. “If you thought that was expensive, wait till you get the number for what’s going to happen out of the Cultural Park.”

The letter of intent is needed by SCP 2.0 because “to engage with the operators of various entertainment venues requires them to know that the community in which it will be housed is serious about it,” Ploog said. “The letter of intent gives them that assurance that we are serious about pursuing this, not that we have made a decision about it.”

A work session is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, on how many housing units could be recommended at the Western Gateway. Community Development will host a Housing Think Tank on Monday, May 18, and Tuesday, May 19, which requires signup on the department’s website. A discussion of the letter of intent is slated for the Tuesday, May 26, City Council meeting.