When and if the “Sedona Cultural Park Preservation Act” will go before voters has not yet been determined as the ballot initiative will continue to gather signatures.
If passed, it would require the 41 acres of the city-owned Western Gateway be set aside exclusively for recreational and cultural activities.
The city paid over $23 million on Nov. 22, 2022 for the former Sedona Cultural Park and is discussing using the site for housing. It contains the Georgia Frontiere Performing Arts Pavilion that was in operation from 2000 to 2003.
Bill Noonan, who founded the Save the Cultural Park Committee, which is spearheading the signature drive, said his committee was prepared to turn in its petitions to Sedona City Clerk JoAnne Cook on Feb. 17, when city officials informed him the signature threshold had more than doubled, from the 475 signatures the city had confirmed in writing in May, to 1,089.
“I am not suggesting the City Attorney [Kurt Christianson] or city clerk intentionally gave us wrong information,” Noonan wrote. “It was most likely a mistake and we all make mistakes. However it is important to play by the rules so I brought the error to their attention even though it means we have to collect hundreds of extra signatures.”
Before filing, Noonan said he wanted to be sure of the threshold because additional signatures can’t be added once petitions are submitted. He brought a copy of Sedona’s city ordinance suggesting the required total was 1,089, but Cook stated that 475 was needed. Noonan asked her to consult the city attorney before he filed.
Cook called Noonan back to say Christianson had confirmed 475 was correct, telling Noonan that the state statute took precedence over the city ordinance. Christianson emailed two hours later, confirming 1,089 signatures were required.
“In this instance, staff initially referenced an outdated calculation method when asked about the signature threshold for a proposed initiative,” Sedona Communications Manager Tyler Maffitt wrote. “Once [Noonan] identified the discrepancy, the City Attorney’s Office reviewed the applicable provisions under Arizona law and confirmed the correct formula. The updated signature requirement was promptly clarified. This clarification only affects initiatives and not candidate nomination petitions or referendum signature counts.”
Noonan said that he wasn’t convinced by the initial answer of 475 and chose to wait rather than file. Had the petitions been submitted at 475 signatures and certified, any third party could still have sued to invalidate the certification based on the language of the ordinance and eliminate the initiative.
Originally, Noonan was under the impression that 475 signatures were needed, which is 15% of the 3,164 votes cast in the 2024 mayoral election, as calculated under ARS §19-143. However, Sedona’s City Code 2.85.060 allows for an alternative basis for an initiative: 15% of the total number of registered voters in the last municipal election. This means Noonan is required to collect signatures from 15% of registered voters across Yavapai and Coconino counties, or 1,089 signatures.
However, many signatures get thrown out following a verification process if they are not from valid Sedona registered voters. Nationwide from 2017 to 2025. the validity rate for signatures is about 80% according to BallotPedia, meaning organizers try to exceed the minimum threshold by a higher margin.
“The issue all along is that you never know how many signatures will be valid, because some of them might be signatures by people who are not registered to vote or do not live in the city limits, or there could be some other technical problem with the signature, or the signature isn’t verified as correct by the county during its random validation process,” Noonan said. “When you talk about 1,089 signatures, you’re really talking about 1,300 signatures to have an adequate buffer. We’re continuing the petition drive and I’m confident that the community will support us and that we will eventually have the correct number.”
Noonan has until Monday, March 23, to submit signatures for the initiative to be on the Tuesday, July, 21 or until Monday, July 6 to get on the Tuesday, Nov. 3 General Election.
“To protect the cultural park, the natural scenic wonder that it always has been and always should be, without having hundreds of apartments changing the nature of the park forever,” Noonan said is why people should sign the initiative. “Once you build the apartments, they’re not going anywhere.”
Noonan said he does not forsee any legal or procedural hurdles to get the initiative on a ballot outside of collecting the necessary 1,089 signatures.
“I was greater than 475 but slightly less than 1,089,” Noonan said, adding that his committee will continue to gather signatures in the community and has purchased advertising to spread the word.
“We appreciate [Noonan] bringing the matter to our attention,” Maffitt wrote. “While responsibility for meeting statutory requirements ultimately rests with initiative proponents, the city regrets any confusion this may have caused.”
