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City to hold public 'input sessions' on future of tourism; staff previews digital kiosks and visitor services expansion
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Summary
Staff announced two public input sessions (April 21 evening; May 13 morning) to gather resident ideas on tourism and previewed a plan for three types of digital kiosks (Visitor Center, Tlaquepaque, parking garage) tied to the Simpleview CMS; staff will invite Forest Service rangers and other departments and is planning facilitation and report‑back to City Council.
Staff told the board that the tourism team will host two public input sessions — proposed as an evening session April 21 at the Posse Grounds Hub (6–8 p.m.) and a daytime session May 13 (10 a.m.–noon) — to solicit resident and business input on the future of tourism, resident priorities and improvements that balance visitor experience with resident quality of life. The sessions are intended to be table‑based workshops with short presentations of visitation and tax impact data and facilitated discussion that produces report‑back themes for City Council.
Board members suggested using a title that emphasizes input and solutions rather than simply 'listening' to reduce the expectation that the city will only hear complaints. Staff said they will provide a descriptive agenda, sample prompt questions in advance and consider pre‑submission of comments to help manage meeting temperature.
On visitor services, staff described a digital kiosk program: two existing kiosks are installed (police basement staging) and the next placements under final license agreements are the Sedona Visitor Center (two‑sided), Tlaquepaque (one‑sided) and a two‑sided kiosk planned for the new parking garage. Kiosks will run a Simpleview‑connected interface that allows visitors to view maps, trails and Eat/Play listings and to send directions or itineraries to phones via a progressive web app; staff said the kiosks will track engagement metrics but not continuous individual location. Board members recommended future placement near shuttle stops, Uptown, and trailheads and suggested printed takeaways and table facilitation to assist the town hall sessions.
Staff said they will publish the session announcement on the city website and issue e‑notify notices and press releases. They plan to invite Forest Service staff, Ranger personnel (invited and asked to attend in uniform at least one panel) and other department representatives to be present at sessions to answer topic‑specific questions. Staff will compile table reports and present consolidated themes to council in late May or early June.
