In late January, the city of Sedona asked merchants for feedback as to their feelings about street performers, buskers and artists in the Uptown area.

Needless to say, it wasn’t very positive.

“While the results from the artists were mostly positive or neutral, the majority of merchants expressed frustration with street performers in Uptown,” Citizen Engagement Coordinator Lauren Brown said. “What we’d like to do next is look deeper into this negative input we received by documenting more information from merchants on the specific impacts.”

In all, 46 merchants and seven artists responded to the survey. Of those surveys received, Browne said 67 percent of the merchants said having street performers in front of their business had a negative impact.

“They are blocking the door and give attitude when we ask them to not stand in front of it and get combative with us. It’s not safe for my employees,” one merchant wrote.

Nine percent of respondents said having street performers in front of their business has a positive effect, while 24 percent said it has no effect.

When asked if they support a change to the current status of street performers in Uptown, 80 percent said yes.

“We are looking at how other communities are handling this issue and will be assessing the viability of obtaining visitor feedback,” Browne said.

The Uptown Rangers went business to business to drop off information to the merchants on how they could take a survey, while the artists on the city’s list were emailed the same. The surveys, which were not open to the general public, included a handful of multiple choice questions, as well as some that asked for a written response.

“We’re going to look at the different options moving forward, including exploring the idea of a ban on street performance in Sedona,” Browne said. “We’re just not sure at this point without more specifics from merchants, which we’ll be getting.”

On those lines, Assistant City Manager Karen Osburn said, “Of course, if a ban of these activities was to be considered, it is incumbent upon the city to demonstrate legitimate and specific governmental interests in doing so and be deliberative about gathering that documentary evidence. Those might be things like promoting public safety and the orderly movement of pedestrians, maintaining the aesthetic attractiveness of our tourist district and protecting the local merchant economy.”

City code details restrictions in terms of sound, nuisances and unacceptable activities. They are:

• Sedona city policy is to prevent excessive sound that may jeopardize the health, welfare or safety of residents. Performance activities are subject to the city’s sound regulations.
• Performers are subject to the city of Sedona’s nuisance regulations.
• Unacceptable activities include the sale of goods or services or the use of hazardous materials such as knives, swords, daggers, axes, saws, torches, flames, fireworks, firearms, faux-firearms or animals.
• There are also rules when it comes to displays and equipment. They include:
• Activities, artists and equipment should not obstruct the sidewalk or interfere with pedestrian traffic flow.
• Artists may display or store items on a table. Items on display may not be placed on the ground, in the landscaped area adjacent to the site nor suspended from a tree, shrub, post or other fixture.
• Gratuity containers are allowable.
• Signs that are part of the display or performance are allowed up to 8.5 inch by 11 inch in size. The sign may state where the artist’s products can be purchased such as on websites or at local businesses.
• Tents, canopies, stages or
• platforms are not allowed.
• Performance areas must be kept free of litter, refuse and debris generated as a result of the performance.
• Artists should stay with their items at all times. If items are left unattended for more than 15 minutes, items may be considered abandoned and subject to removal by a city official.

“Without understanding that input, all we really have at this point is speculation that the program may not be working as intended, may not be drawing the caliber of artists the community had hoped, may be causing issues with safe pedestrian movement and may be detracting from the positive visitor experience rather than enhancing it,” Osburn said in January.