Eddie Maddock, sedonaeye.com contributing writer and Sedona Times Newspaper, Assistant Editor

After the election and the new members of the Sedona City Council were sworn in and legally took their seats on the 25th of May, revelry at City Hall was staggering. Gaiety exuded in the generally dismal atmosphere of the City Council Chambers. Accompanying the balloons and refreshments were public comments extolling the victory of the new council members, offering best wishes and good luck for the future of Sedona. Topping it off was a surprise vocal rendition from a local resident.

Indeed an event to be remembered; but is that as good as it gets or will it ultimately serve as a precursor of positive events yet to come? Quite possibly that will be the case.

After having remained steadfast in their determination to move quickly on obtaining a decision from the city council regarding the SR 89 A route transfer, together with Bob Montoya and Bill Feldmeier, both members of the State Transportation Board, John Halikowski, Director of Arizona Department of Transportation, decided and conveyed in a letter dated July 8, 2010, advising Mayor Adams and members of the Sedona City Council that the deadline for executing an intergovernmental agreement for the route transfer was extended to January 15, 2011. However, although it won’t commit Sedona to a route transfer, a request for the city council to direct staff to initiate route transfer negotiations through approval of a Resolution by August 15, 2010 is a condition included for the extension to delay final negotiations until mid-January.

Specifics of ADOT’S proposal were itemized in the letter most of which, if not all, have been made public at previous meetings.

Is this turn of events a good thing and, if so, why? ADOT’s firm stance to literally maintain the position of “our way or the highway” has, at least for the time being, been put aside. The new names and faces on the city council have proven so far that they mean business. Immediately after being seated they proclaimed support for a National Scenic Area designation as well as to do their best to work with ADOT for alternate solutions to continuous lighting along the west SR 89 A corridor. The latter finally resulted in achieving the objective to “buy more time” and meant a proven victory to restore an extended line of communication between ADOT and the City of Sedona. ADOT’s cooperation is vitally important to prove to the discouraged segment of Sedona’s population that their ability to change politics here wasn’t an impossible mission, which should serve well to maintain continued public participation in city politics. Yes, our new Sedona City Council is willing to listen to their constituents and, so it appears, ADOT is as well, at least to a degree.

The city council meeting on July 13th included the SR 89 A route transfer as an agenda item. After discussion, some discrepancies and unanswered questions linger on. The original proposal for the SR 89 A turn-back specified the remainder of the route within Sedona City Limits. The “remainder”, of course, is specific insofar as defining the uptown portion of the route previously transferred to the city.

The roundabouts at the “Y” intersection with SR 179 have not been addressed regarding eventual jurisdiction; nor has the unforeseen option for ADOT at some point in time to attempt to persuade the City of Sedona to agree to a route transfer for SR 179 as well. Would the City of Sedona be able to support all aspects of ownership of two State Routes should that suggestion come to pass?

Does ADOT in the foreseeable future have any plans for re-routing SR 89 A as a Bypass, skirting Sedona City Limits entirely by building a new road outside city limits to the west, running the route parallel at some point adjacent to Dry Creek Road north, and then east to the northernmost end of Uptown Sedona? For those who aren’t aware, that idea was on the table not too many years ago.

Is there even a remote possibility for the city and ADOT to agree to a blending of solutions if not the lights? ADOT’s in the business of building roads. As evidenced by the end result of the redesign of SR 89 A uptown, the city is not. Although sidewalks were widened, traffic lanes were narrowed and much needed parking spaces were eliminated. Traffic back-ups in both directions continue to occur. Cost overruns were exorbitant, especially for a city unable to maintain the dedicated roads it inherited from both counties when Sedona incorporated. Will this new city council pay attention to past mistakes?

When and if the route transfer becomes a viable solution, it would take from two to four years to move it along. What will projected costs be in the future? Of course, there is no answer to that; but we all know they will be increased. Would there be any chance for the city to direct grant applications through ADOT since they, obviously, know the ropes. And, last but not least, where was the concern for the safety of SR 89 A which created the decision for the continuous lighting when ADOT opted to install a traffic light first at the Airport Road intersection instead of Andante, where the accidents occurred and allegedly created the need for lighting along the entire route?

And so, will this new adventure be a continuation of a positive journey? It can be. We all know that ADOT is still willing to communicate. They are well aware of the pulse of the people who live in Sedona, this vitally important asset to the State of Arizona as a prime tourist attraction. They have listened to us; they have heard us; they are, of course, still in the driver’s seat . . . but what’s to prevent them from bending even more to reconsider such drastic measures as continuous lighting throughout that corridor. Why won’t this new council be willing to consider other compromises as well if the idea to take-back the route is off the charts?

It might be well to add that monumental decisions of the past have turned into flukes. The wastewater treatment plant quite possibly rises above all. Had the system been implemented according to the original plan, all existing areas would have been connected first and new construction, and rightfully so, would have had to await appropriate timeframes. But oh no, the first deviation set a precedent and we are all now paying dearly for that bad mistake.

Everyone should work towards turning the decision about the SR 89 A revision into a continuation of the positive direction Sedona has now taken. Community support and input is welcome. We, in turn, must keep in mind the ultimate impact any decisions made now will reflect in years to come. There now exists belief in a city council and mayor who will listen to the public and insist our city staffers abide by voters’ concerns while, at the same time, maintaining constant vigil on their responsibilities to diligently represent the Community Plan and City Codes in a forthright manner without compromise. The health, safety, and welfare for all of the people should be first and foremost in making forever decisions. Abandon past practices which have tainted our beautiful Sedona with the perception of having been slanted to accommodate special interest groups.

As good as it gets? Nah . . . it’s going to get better and better.