On Friday, November 20, 2009, the Sedona City Council achieved unanimous consensus on their three highest priorities for the City's focus over the next fiscal year. The following items were established as the top priorities for staff.
Continued Financial Sustainability as Highest Priority
This priority includes some of the following items as goals to achieve the priority:
- Pursue Local Collection of Sales Tax
- Implement Mandatory Business Licensing and Audit Program for Sales Tax Collection
- Create a Citizen Advisory Committee
- Finalize Wastewater Rate Study, including possible reduction in Sales Tax Contribution to the Wastewater Fund & increases to User Fees
- Provide increased and simplified financial reporting available to Council and the public
Provide Enhanced Communications Plan
This priority includes some of the following items as goals to achieve the priority:
- Create a Citizen's Government Academy
- Provide increased Council Candidate Training and New Council Member Orientation
- Enhance Council/Staff Communications throughout the community with Speakers Bureau and meetings in different areas of the city.
Focus on Infrastructure Needs
This priority includes some of the following items as goals to achieve the priority:
Provide a prioritized list of infrastructure issues weighted by importance. Potential projects might include infrastructure such as drainage, streets, sidewalks, and signage.
Include options for increased capital program and corresponding revenue sources for the projects during the upcoming budget cycle.
Mayor Rob Adams noted, "What I heard today is that we agreed as a Council with staff on what our areas of focus should be."
Councilor Pud Colquitt also stated at the end of the meeting, "We accomplished a lot here today. We talked about several important issues and I think the priorities we have set forth will be important to the residents of Sedona." The entire Council agreed on this assessment and felt the retreat was a success.
