Manager blames prostitution arrests for hindering fundraising to meet guidelines

Sedona City Council suspended a conditional use permit for the Sedona Temple Arts.

Council voted to suspend the permit during its meeting Tuesday, Feb. 28. Members voted 6-0 in favor of suspension. Councilwoman Barbara Litrell was not present.

City staff asked council to revoke the permit, citing the temple’s failure to comply with the conditions outlined in the permit. The property is currently zoned RS-35, for single family residential. The permit was originally approved for the property to be used as a church and parsonage on Roadrunner Drive. The permit was granted for a period of one year.

Four specific items were noted as conditions of approval, the first that the temple install an updated, larger septic system on the property. The second condition was that the applicant submit as-built plans outlining modifications made to the structure located on the property. The third condition included plans to address a second kitchen. A fourth condition included installation of dark-sky compliant light fixtures on the structure’s exterior. The four conditions were not resolved as of the January deadline set forth by City Council when it approved the permit last year.

Temple manager Niki Faldemolaei spoke to council members during the meeting to request a 12-month extension to the permit. Faldemolaei mentioned a Sept. 7 incident when law enforcement agencies served three search warrants in Sedona in connection with an alleged prostitution ring in Phoenix. Three arrests were made in Sedona as a result of the investigation, including Sedona Temple founder Tracy Elise, Tamara Brusso and Faldemolaei. All were arrested on prostitution and other charges.

“We’ve faced substantial burden from an allegation by the state that involved a former tenant that has all but halted our ability to raise funding for the upgrades required for the permit in the time allotted by the city. We are working with federal counsel, since our church has been under attack, and hope that everything can be stayed until the charges can be worked out. Until then, I’m not at liberty to discuss the particulars of the matter,” Faldemolaei said.

Separation of church and state, she added, fundamentally protects the temple’s freedom of religion — a fact Faldemolaei said has been clearly documented in the city’s permitting process.

“In the midst of establishing our church rights, we wish for the opportunity to resolve the [permit] compliance issues by adding new forms of income for the church that also brings revenue to Sedona’s hotels, restaurants and shopping,” Faldemolaei said.

Faldemolaei also questioned why the temple was only granted a permit extension of one year. Many, she said, are given three to five years for a conditional use permit.

Members of the public spoke at the meeting both for and against the Sedona Temple Arts and the permit extension.

Resident Raymond Scott, neighbor to the Roadrunner temple property, opposed the permit when it was appealed last year.

“Much to my surprise, the council voted totally in favor of the conditional use permit with multiple restrictions. What I brought to council’s attention was everything I read on the website for the Sedona Temple, which for some reason had to be ignored. I appealed the approval and presented my case to the Sedona City Council, stating they were running something other than a church,” Scott said. “The activities have not stopped. They’re going on as usual.”