City Council Recap

Below are the highlights of the October City Council meetings and some decisions that may interest you:

• On Oct. 14, 2025, City Council appointed Vice Mayor Holli Ploog as Interim Mayor and Councilor Brian Fultz as Vice Mayor until the General Election of November 2026.
• On Oct. 14, 2025, City Council approved an amendment to Sedona City Code on Short-Term Rental Regulations, which includes a new monthly late fee for annual short-term rental permits and a new check box on the permit application that acknowledges the agreement to comply with all applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.
• On Oct. 14, 2025, City Council received a tourism update which included the results of the summer marketing campaign. They approved the $250,000 winter marketing plan (an increase from the prior year), with ads that began in mid-October, and approved an amendment to the marketing agency (DVA) contract in an amount not-to-exceed $558,720 for the advertising and marketing costs for a year.
• On Oct. 15, 2025, City Council conducted a Work Session to discuss the draft Regional Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness. Discussion included findings from the Homelessness Services and Needs Assessment, the most comprehensive analysis to date of housing instability in the Verde Valley. The assessment found that roughly 600 people in the Verde Valley experience homelessness each year and that the current system falls far short of meeting their needs. Council directed staff to initiate regional conversations to explore interest and potential leadership roles, and to report back with recommended next steps and the requirements for implementation.
• On Oct. 28, 2025, City Council approved the appointment of a two-year contract with Richard Speer as Presiding Magistrate Judge.
• On Oct. 28, 2025, City Council approved an amendment to the Arizona Water Company (AWC) franchise agreement in response to the recent water rate increase imposed by the Arizona Corporation Commission. To help offset the additional assessment for the East Sedona tank, the City Council amended the AWC franchise agreement to suspend collection of the monthly 3% franchise fee from the City of Sedona system customers; future bills will reflect a 3% City of Sedona franchise fee credit on the monthly statements of the City system customers. AWC will also send notice about the change to their customers.
• On Oct. 28, 2025, City Council approved a $187,693 contract amendment for supplemental design services on the Uptown Parking Garage. This amendment is fully funded within the existing project budget, and the overall project cost remains approximately $26 million.
• On Oct. 28, 2025, City Council authorized staff to apply for Federal Transit Administration Grant funding through Arizona Department of Transportation to purchase two additional ADA accessible transit vehicles to support the expansion of Sedona’s Shuttle Program in an amount of $446,515 with a City match requirement of $78,797. If awarded, it's expected the City would receive the funds in Fiscal Year 2027.
• On Oct. 28, 2025, City Council selected four applicants for interviews on Nov. 13 for the vacant City Council term ending November 2026, including Allan Affeldt, Charlotte Hosseini, Jean Buillet and Ernest Strauch. During the City Council meeting on Nov. 13, 2025, City Council voted unanimously to appoint Charlotte Hosseini to fill the seat. Her first City Council meeting will be Nov. 25, 2025.
• On Oct. 29, 2025, City Council heard an update from the Arizona Water Company (AWC) on the progress made for developing and protecting a sustainable local water supply. AWC introduced their new communication tool and provided an overview of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) rules and regulations.
• On Oct. 29, 2025, City Council appointed Kathy Senseman as City Lobbyist for the 2026 Legislative Session from the Policy Development Group (PDG). PDG has provided the City with legislative advocacy for the last three legislative sessions, with the primary focus of pursuing legislative changes related to short-term rental (STR) regulation that would allow Arizona cities and towns the ability to regulate STRs based on caps, zoning or density.

Rumor Mill

In case you’ve heard anything about concrete in the Uptown Parking Garage not being up to standard, this rumor is not true. The concrete has been third-party tested to ensure that it is absolutely structurally sound. The City and its contractor will continue to hold this high standard throughout the entire project.

News

• Starting November 17, the accounting, payroll and wastewater billing team will begin working at 221 Brewer Rd., directly adjacent to the Sedona Municipal Court, rather than at City Hall.
• Through November 26, a small portion of Andante Drive from SR 89A to Melody Lane will be closed to install storm drainage improvements under the roadway which will reduce flood risk.
• After a nationwide search, the City selected Tony Allender to become our new Community Development Director. Tony comes with years of private and public experience in all aspects of community development. We are excited to welcome him aboard!
• Interested in joining City Leadership? The city of Sedona will conduct its 2026 primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, and its general election, if necessary, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. The following seats are available: three council seats for a four-year term, and the mayor’s seat for a two-year term. For those wishing to run for the Sedona City Council, candidate packets are available now at the Sedona City Clerk’s office at 102 Roadrunner Dr.

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Questions, comments, or feedback? Please contact Kegn Hall, Public Relations Analyst.

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