Sedona council approves 5% base-salary increase for city attorney

Mayor Jablow presided as the Sedona City Council met, held a closed executive session to discuss the city attorney’s annual evaluation and pending litigation, and then voted unanimously to raise the city attorney’s base salary by 5%, effective on his anniversary date in 2025.

The council announced Item 3 at the start of the meeting, saying it would move into executive session to discuss three matters: (A) the annual evaluation of City Attorney Kurt Christiansen, and (B) and (C) consultations with counsel concerning pending litigation titled Sabrina, Bram v. City of Sedona and Gregory v. City of Sedona. The council cited Arizona Revised Statutes authorizing closed sessions for personnel matters and attorney–client consultations.

After the closed session, Councilor Kinsella moved “to give a 5% increase on the base salary for our city attorney, effective on his anniversary date in 2025.” The motion was seconded and the council voted in favor; the mayor announced the vote was unanimous. The council did not record any ‘no’ votes or abstentions in the public record at the meeting.

The motion implements a salary adjustment only; the council did not specify additional changes to the city attorney’s contract, benefits, or other terms during the open session. The motion’s effective date was stated only as the city attorney’s anniversary date in 2025. The council adjourned after taking the action and announced the next meeting at 4:30.

The meeting record shows the council used executive session authority for personnel evaluation and for legal consultation on the two lawsuits named; the open-session action that followed was the salary increase. The transcript does not record additional discussion about the litigation items or further details of the evaluation shared in open session.