Sedona council begins line-by-line rewrite of rules, debates attendance, records requests and discipline

The Sedona City Council convened a working session to review and revise the city—9s rules of procedure and code of ethical conduct, starting a section-by-section, line-by-line process prompted by the resignation of the former mayor and an independent HR report. City Attorney Kurt and City Manager Annette and council members discussed dozens of proposed edits, including new language on attendance, public-records requests by councilors, mayoral authority and succession, and a multi-step discipline procedure for rule violations.

The review was billed as an early, more detailed examination than the council—9s usual annual retreat and included proposed edits drawn from other cities—9 codes and from recommendations in Stacy Gabriel—9s HR investigation report. "This item was first called for by Councilor Furman," Kurt said at the start of the session, adding that the draft included items he prepared after reviewing other jurisdictions and the Gabriel report.

Why it matters: Council members said the revisions aim to reduce ambiguity and restore public confidence after a high-profile personnel controversy. Proposed changes would tighten how councilors request personnel-related public records, clarify expectations for attendance and participation, and create a formal process to discipline or limit certain official privileges for members found to have violated rules.

Most contentious topics

Attendance and participation: Councilors debated language that would require councilors to "meaningfully participate" in meetings and to make a "good-faith effort" to attend scheduled public meetings. Several members said the phrase "fully…