Sedona City Clerk Randy Reed is vacating his post with the city after only a year and half in the position.

Sedona City Manager Tim Ernster announced Reed’s resignation during the regular meeting of Sedona City Council held Tuesday, Aug. 9.

Reed accepted a position in the state of Washington to be closer to his spouse.

Ernster awarded Reed with a plaque to recognize his service to the community. Reed received a standing ovation during the meeting.

“He’s made a lot of very significant changes to the agenda process, up to and including our council communication. We now call it our agenda bill — he changed the numbering, he changed everything,” Ernster told council members.

Ernster added that, in his short time as clerk, Reed worked to streamline the clerk’s office.

“In April of last year, we had a reduction of force, and the City Clerk’s Office lost a position in that reduction, and he was able to make that adjustment with the remaining staff. He’s done a very good job keeping that office running efficiently,” Ernster said.

Reed recently helped recruit new deputy city clerk Susan Irvine, who will assist in keeping the clerk’s office operational during the search for a new clerk.

Sedona Mayor Rob Adams called Reed a “quiet achiever” and said Reed helped strengthen the clerk’s office.

“You hardly ever hear a peep out of Randy, but you know that things are just humming back there,” Adams said. “One of the characteristics that you look for in a good administrator is, not only someone who works well themselves, but also someone that can hire good people to work for them, and Randy has certainly done that.”

Reed told council members he enjoyed his short time with the city of Sedona. He said he originally planned to retire in the community, but that changed following his recent marriage.

“It has really been an honor to serve as city clerk here. When I came I felt that people didn’t like the City Clerk’s Office  and, I wasn’t sure why, but I like people, and I just jumped in and moved ahead and made changes that I thought would help the citizens and the clerk’s office function more efficiently,” Reed said.

Vice Mayor Cliff Hamilton added his appreciation to the changes Reed made in the city clerk’s office.

“I wish you well in your new life and your new endeavors,” Hamilton said.

The City Clerk’s Office is responsible for preparing and maintaining City Council agendas, keeping minutes and records of meetings, municipal vote-by-mail elections, citywide records management and more.

Applications for the clerk position are expected to remain open until mid-September.