Sedona Mayor, Rob Adams

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday with family and friends. Since this is the beginning of a New Year, I want to take this opportunity to recap some of the highlights in the City of Sedona during 2010.

BUDGET

During the budget retreat on December 7, staff shared some good news with the City Council. The fiscal year for 2009/2010, which ended in June, showed that the City spent much less than planned.  The net effect was an additional $750,000 in the General Fund savings account!  This was the result of aggressive cuts in City expenditures totaling approximately 30% that have been ongoing since the middle of 2008. Additionally, revenues were up approximately 12% and expenditures were down approximately 16% as of November 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.  If trends continue on the same track as the first five months of the current fiscal year, the City will have another substantial surplus in the General Fund at the end of fiscal year 2010/2011. To summarize, the City of Sedona has responded to the economic downturn in a decisive, responsible manner. We have one of the best-managed budgets in the State.

STATE ROUTE 179

After more than four years of construction, SR 179 is complete. The impact on our economy was significant and many businesses experienced extreme hardships. The community worked together through design and construction and we are now enjoying an award-winning roadway. The community-driven vision for this important and scenic roadway has become a reality.

STATE ROUTE 89A TURNBACK ISSUE

The City Council is scheduled to make a choice on February 22 of either taking control of SR89A with the associated costs and liabilities or allowing ADOT to proceed with the installation of continuous roadway lighting. This will be the culmination of four years of contentious debate regarding pedestrian safety on that corridor. The City is providing numerous opportunities for the public to get fully educated on the issue and to ultimately participate in a public opinion poll, which will be conducted in January to determine the “will of the people”.

COUNCIL PRIORITIES

Sedona City Council

The City Council is committed to encouraging the citizens of Sedona to participate in their government and to provide a high level of transparency in the functions of the City. A Citizens Academy will be initiated in the spring, which will provide a program designed to educate citizens about the functions of the City government.  A Budget Oversight Commission, a Sustainability Commission and a Citizen’s Steering Committee for the Community Plan Update have been recently formed with the purpose of engaging our residents’ expertise in these respective areas.  The City is better utilizing its website to provide a more “user friendly” format with current updates and explanations on issues that are relevant to the community.  The City Council has also initiated an ongoing series of neighborhood “listenings” that are designed as a vehicle for citizen input and suggestions on a variety of topics.

OTHER CITY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The Parks and Recreation Department has done a fantastic job of upgrading our Parks facilities and grounds. The Parks have never looked better!  New programs have been implemented, improved dark sky compliant lighting is being installed at the Posse Grounds ball fields and the tennis courts at Sunset Park have been refurbished.  Major upgrades have been completed at our wastewater plant. We are developing a plan to eliminate the wasteful practice of “spraying” and evaporating over 1.3 million gallons of wastewater a day. Many exciting ideas are being considered for the development of the plant facilities including constructed wetlands, solar generation, an agricultural facility that would provide sustainable food supplies and other recreational and educational opportunities.  The Finance Department has begun the process of self-collection of City sales tax and random auditing. This should substantially increase our timeliness in sales tax collection and assure that all businesses are complying with the law in terms of sales tax payments.

The Arts and Culture Commission continues to promote the Arts through grants programs, the Mayor’s Arts Awards and Art in Public Places. They are also working on a concept designed to market Sedona as a premier destination for Arts education.  The Historic Preservation Commission is diligently working to preserve our history through the designation of historic buildings and is considering adding historic sites. It is also working on the 2012 Centennial celebration.  After 3 years of research and community outreach, the Housing Commission was successful in getting an Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance passed by the City Council. The Commission received an award from the Arizona Planning Association for public participation on this ordinance.  The Planning and Zoning Commission has been updating the land development regulations, reviewing and improving commercial building height and massing rules and will take a leading role on the Community Plan update.  

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

The City is engaged in several City/Community partnerships. The Greater Sedona Area Substance Abuse Coalition is focused on providing a wide variety of resources for education, treatment and increased awareness of the impacts of substance abuse in our community.  The “For our City” program is a collaborative effort between the faith community and the city to provide assistance to the people in our community that have been severely impacted by the economic downturn.  A City Council liaison with the Forest Service has been established in an effort to increase the level of cooperation and collaboration in protecting one of our most precious resources, the National Forest.

The City is working with the school district on a shared fueling station and community usage of the new Performing Arts facility.

THE FUTURE

Sound financial management will continue to be the number one priority of the Sedona City Council. The Council is also dedicated to promoting citizen involvement and transparency in City government as well as implementing strategies that will establish the City of Sedona as a leader in sustainable practices.  2011 promises to be an exciting and challenging year. Collectively, we have the opportunity to move Sedona in a new direction; to be a community that reflects its world-class environment.  

Article submitted by Sedona City Mayor, Rob Adams.