By Scott Shumaker | Red Rock News
Sedona City Attorney Kurt Christianson speaks before about 80 residents who came to hear an open forum on short-term vacation rentals. The event was held on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at the Sedona campus of Yavapai College. Christianson discussed the legal side of the issue and what municipalities can and can’t do in regard to vacation rentals. David Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers
It was touted as a meeting to get the facts and share information and not a time to finger point.
Around 80 people attended in person — along with 80 online — a meeting Sept. 22 at Yavapai College’s Sedona Center to discuss short-term vacation rentals. The event was co-sponsored by the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and the Sedona Lodging Council.
“I wanted to have a meeting where people could get the facts,” said Steve Segner, president of the Lodging Council. “Today is not about saying short-term rentals are bad or good. We’re just saying we all ought to be on the same wavelength of understanding. We’re kind of locked into a corner. We’re going to have to live together. We’re going to have to work together.”
Sedona City Attorney Kurt Christianson kicked the meeting discussing what the city can and can’t legally do with short-term vacation rentals. He stressed that it’s more of the latter as a result of Senate Bill 1350, which prohibits cities and counties from banning short-term vacation rentals, aside from health and safety issues.
