Donna Joy Unleash information Sedona, Stop hiding public information

The City of Sedona is still hiding information when they have the ability to make the public. The city’s need to hide information makes it more difficult for the public, makes more work for them, makes the city staff jobs harder, and causes much negative culture at city hall. It is simply not effective or efficient for the city to operate this way. In 2026, especially when they have software already at City Hall to open up public documents. The city of Sedona wastes staff time by having duplicate information requests hidden from the public.

Here’s a great example: in 2025, I put in a request on July 30 (request 25-87) for information. The city site said I’d receive information by August 1. However, the city was too busy to fulfill it by that time. The documents were not given to me entirely. Until October the 1st 2025.

If the city unclicked the visibility button to make every request public, the public wouldn’t have to put in duplicate requests.

There are no public performance scorecards or dashboards for the city or departments of the city. Some of the software programs has performance metrics on the backend and could easily make them public. In the areas where there isn’t the city staff could easily generate them and share with the public.

Here is a quick benchmark of the city of Prescott and how they use the same software program that the city of Sedona uses, and how easy it is to get information from them.

City of Prescott

Public Records – City of Prescott AZ

“You can request public records from the City of Prescott through their online portal, NextRequest, or by contacting the City Clerk’s Office directly.”

Accessing Public Records Online

The City of Prescott provides a Public Records Portal where you can search for documents such as agendas, minutes, ordinances, and resolutions. If you cannot find the records you need, you can submit a formal request through the NextRequest portal. This platform allows you to create a new public records request, view previously submitted requests, and access responsive documents online. Once a request is submitted, it becomes a public record itself.

City of Prescott Arizona+3

Portal for searching records: City of Prescott Public Records

Submit a new request: NextRequest New Request
View past requests: NextRequest Requests

Request Submission Methods

Requests can be submitted in multiple formats including web, email, fax, phone, mail, or in person. The NextRequest portal guides you through selecting the appropriate method and provides instructions for uploading documents if needed.

NextRequest

Contacting the City Clerk

For assistance or questions about public records, you can contact the City Clerk’s Office, which serves as the Records Officer for the City of Prescott. The Clerk can help clarify the request process, provide guidance on locating documents, and schedule appointments for in-person requests or notary services.

Email: city.clerk@prescott-az.gov
Contact page: City Clerk Contact
City Clerk: Sarah Thornhill, Master Municipal Clerk and Certified Election Officer 1
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Tips for a Successful Request

Be specific about the records you are seeking, including dates, departments, or document types.
Check past requests first, as the records may already be publicly available.
Use the online portal for faster processing and tracking of your request.
Include your contact information to receive updates or clarifications from the Clerk’s Office.
By following these steps, you can efficiently access public records from the City of Prescott while ensuring compliance with Arizona public records laws.