Sedona City Council votes to meet in executive session over Forest Road and Uptown Park projects

The City of Sedona Council voted to meet in executive session to consult with the city attorney about the Forest Road Connection project and the Uptown Park and Garage project and then recessed the public meeting until 4:30 p.m.

The chair presiding at the March meeting said the council would discuss "contemplated litigation and settlement discussions" related to those two projects and cited statutory authority for a closed session. The transcript records the chair saying, "The matter is brought in executive session pursuant to ARS38Dash431DotO3A3A4." The council then took a motion, recorded a second, and voted; the chair stated the motion "carries unanimously." The transcript does not identify who moved or seconded the motion, nor does it record roll-call votes by name.

The motion authorized the council to consult with legal counsel on the city’s position and potential settlement strategy regarding the two named projects. No legal advice content or attorney remarks were provided on the public record; the discussion moved to a closed executive session under state law. The chair closed the public portion with "Without objection, the meeting is adjourned, and we will be back in session at 04:30."

What this means for the public: the council used a statutory exception to open-meeting rules to discuss legal strategy regarding two capital projects. The transcript does not show any substantive debate, amendments, or votes on ordinances or contracts in the public record before the recess. When the council reconvenes, any formal actions taken in executive session that require public disclosure or subsequent ratification must be reported in accordance with state open-meeting law.