Home » City Council, Community » Eye on Sedona Traffic with Eddie Maddock

Eye on Sedona Traffic with Eddie Maddock

SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie Maddock

SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie Maddock

Sedona AZ (September 8, 2015)As summer draws to a close and tides turn to redirect related monsoons, beautiful autumn is just around the corner. Frost will soon be on the pumpkins, and the aroma of Thanksgiving turkey will traditionally take a bow. With what will seem like the blink of an eye, Christmas Holidays and the beginning of a presumably Happy New Year will be upon us, bringing anticipation of hope, prosperity and well-being.

Annual changes, each offering pleasures to which we’ve become accustomed, reach out to us with inviting arms. But in Sedona it seems generally ordinary events have become bogged down by a most unwelcome intruder. Traffic, traffic, traffic – endless, unmerciful and with no hope for resolution in sight- plagues everyone week after week after week.

Even more concerning is SR179 to the “Y” and beyond – after Tlaquepaque North and the two Community Focus Areas are completed (Brewer and Schnebly Hill Roads). Then, throw in a creek walk and a park. Has any foresight been given to moving even more traffic when all of that becomes reality?

When voters approved the revised Community Plan on March 11, 2014, thirteen such CFAs were included in the plan. Although reducing traffic by working with developers and property owners to create mixed uses and walkable areas are suggested, it’s impractical to expect people to arrive at these locations for community events by hoofing it from one end of town to the other.

And how many locals can or will use a city transit system – if that is thrown back into the mix of reducing traffic?

So what will we be expected to do? Hitch up trunk size red wagons to our bicycles or plan on dragging them behind us with our groceries as we trudge – depending on where we live – five, ten, or fifteen miles on a round-trip to the market?

Options for an alternate route from VOC – as well as the Schnebly Hill route to Flagstaff – have been hashed over for years and years and the results are apparent. Neither has occurred. Many who enjoyed the low water Red Rock Crossing prior to its washout in the spring of 1978 were disappointed when it wasn’t restored, but one reason it didn’t occur was because proponents intent was to make it more like another Midgely Bridge, and subsequent land exchanges and increased development were underlying concerns.

2013 Arizona monsoon taken from iPhone atop Sedona Airport Mesa by Al Comello

2013 Arizona monsoon taken from iPhone atop Sedona Airport Mesa by Al Comello

It should further be noted that Red Rock Crossing and other areas that might be under consideration for an alternate route from the VOC are NOT within Sedona City Limits and therefore it won’t be a decision made solely by the Sedona City Council.

It might be well to make reference of the Red Rock/89A Corridor/Dry Creek of Yavapai County affiliates who most likely will have a good deal to say about where or if an alternate creek crossing takes place.

As for Schnebly Hill Road improvements, since the route crosses USFS land, that has been a huge detriment and will remain so. When the study was under way about deciding the fate of SR179 several new routes were considered, including the Schnebly option of extending to cut across to 89A and bypass uptown to Oak Creek Canyon and Flagstaff. Didn’t happen.

Those still complaining that four lanes into Sedona would have been a better choice are mistaken. Instead of one lane backed up at the “Y” there would be two lanes, and without the roundabouts which allow for traffic movement to be constant, although at times very slow, at least it keeps moving. With stoplights, the traffic most likely would be backed up to I-17 and that is not an exaggeration.

The traffic jam, to at least some degree, is a result of the redesign of the portion of AZ 89A owned by the City. Allowing uptown businesses to design the road was unwise, proven by the fact that cars pulling out from parking spaces now stop traffic in both directions. No, roundabouts are not the cause of the congestion in both directions entering uptown Sedona. Road design by less than ADOT experts did a lousy job – period. Even during the public design process for SR179, ADOT reps made it absolutely clear it would be their professional engineers making final calls for safety and efficiency.

Why do you suppose so many people objected to the city owning the rest of 89A in West Sedona? The thought of what the City process would end up with was terrifying.

At any rate, consideration for an alternate route from the VOC and/or Schnebly Hill Road to Flagstaff in all probability will take years for approval, if it even happens. In the meantime, for City planners and council members to remain on a fast track to implement the New Community Plan at record speed, without adequate resources and solid plans to address traffic concerns, is not only reckless but dangerous.

cars car road rallyLiving in the center of the Coconino National Forest means constant awareness of both wild fires and flooding. Recalling the evening when Cliff Hamilton, then on City Council, made a responsible presentation which put to rest with the hope once and for all the idea of a creek walk, if, for no other reason than future liability alone, it was with a sigh of relief to many of us who have witnessed, first hand, Oak Creek rising time and time again to flooding proportions. And now foolishly it’s back on the drawing board.

Previously mentioned was the flood and wash out of Red Rock Crossing in the spring of 1978. Another flood occurred on February 21, 1993. Both were dreadful events. Sycamore Cove Mobile Park was a disaster. Two former City Council Members, Charlie Crick and Sheri Graham, can relate their own first hand experiences.

The June 18, 2006, Brins Mesa Fire should have been a wake up call and, most recently, the Slide Fire in Oak Creek Canyon. Had the wind shifted direction during either of those fires, the City of Sedona literally would have been toast.

Yes, wild fires and floods in Sedona aren’t a matter of “if” but “when.”

Would Sedona City Staff, Planning & Zoning Commission and/or City Council stamp approval for a subdivision without first obtaining clearly defined accessible roads and adequate infrastructure? Of course they wouldn’t. Therefore, why were dense projects such as Community Focus Areas considered by the Revised Community Plan work groups without benefit of addressing traffic concerns prior to ever attempting to implement the projects?

Has common sense fled the scene?

Sedona AZ

Sedona AZ

All are at fault for the traffic debacle. When voters were given the opportunity to decide the future of Sedona by voting for or against adopting the November 2013 New Sedona Community Plan (Prop. 427) on March 11, 2014, a total of 6,495 ballots were mailed, Mail ballots returned but rejected totaled 37, and the number of acceptable votes came to 2,485. Of those, 1,530 voted Yes and 954 voted No.

And although the “Plan” was approved by 61.59% and rejected by 38.41%, a mere 38.26% of the total number of ballots sent out were returned. Translated, only 576 voters decided the future of Sedona!

Shame, shame, shame registered voters. Quit griping about traffic if you didn’t even bother to vote because all of you apathetic people are a huge part of the problem and not the solution.

Your fate was decided by 576 people and you allowed it to happen!

Had you been following the “Plan” as it unfolded, you might have picked up that in the visions being presented, there wasn’t any substantial method for dealing with potential increased traffic. Of course, there’s an additional $250,000 presently under consideration for yet another traffic study.

And how many similar studies have come and gone without an iota of noticeable change as a result?

imagine sedona community planLikewise, there’s no accounting for additional day trippers resulting from the City financed ad campaign with the Chamber of Commerce. Just how many drivers simply pass through Sedona on their way to and from Oak Creek Canyon, contributing nothing beneficial to the local economy unless counting vast numbers of cars can somehow factor into the Chamber’s less than comprehensive method of reporting as was previously displayed by the inability to ascertain members’ physical location in correlation with Sedona City Limits? Chalk that up as just one example.

And now, in spite of the sloppy and really reckless process, the City Council moves full speed ahead with plans for Cultural Park redevelopment, Soldier Pass, Brewer and Schnebly Hill “Community Focus Areas” just for starters.

What about the traffic, including foot traffic crossing at Tlaquepaque?

Maybe, just maybe, if dreamers would be forced to accept future liability for sure-to-happen disasters they might take a second look when making perilous decisions.

In the words of our former President John F. Kennedy, “Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.”

Read www.SedonaEye.com for daily news and interactive views!

Read www.SedonaEye.com for daily news and interactive views!

112 Comments

  1. Thank you West sedona resident (different than West Sedona Resident) for never failing to disappoint me with your snarky rebuttals to even pleasant experiences. Your continued refusal to identify yourself speaks far more volumes than any nasty words you feebly manage to concoct.

    Perhaps you might take a remedial class in reading. Where in my reflection of a pleasant drive was it mentioned the reason for my trip to Cottonwood was to shop? The purpose for going there, as stated, was to keep a business appointment at 4:00PM, not that it’s any of your concern.

    It’s almost October which means Halloween is right around the corner. Better break out that broom, dust if off, and get ready to take flight. Your night to revel but don’t chop down any trees. They might be occupied by bats that would love to nest in fluffy sparkly hair. Just saying.

    Your continued patronage to Sedona Eye is appreciated.

    Eddie Maddock

    PS to Flo & Dan, Kansas:
    If you never looked at Sedona Eye again because of the insulting West Sedona Resident, I wouldn’t blame you. However, just in case take heart because it’s appeared for quite some there there are two of them as indicated by the use of capital letters. See how fortunate we are in Sedona? Also and hopefully you might find it comforting that this particular person isn’t selective as to whom he/she ravages with mean spirited words. She/he not only hates tourists but also Sedona residents – and not just me as indicated by the attacks on others as well.

  2. Focus Groups says:

    Don’t you think they should have tried one first a community focus group before they spent all this money?

    I can see them sitting empty. Shame shame bad management.

  3. Esm

    You got it all wrong…. It’s the people on this blog that loveeeee to complain and find fault. I love Sedona people… Just not you whiners and complainers. Excuse me if I don’t participate in your little circle jerk with the other naysayers and conscripacy theorists on this blog…

    As for the tourists Flo and Dan from Kansas. Your wasting your breath cause you know as well as I that thier one of your haters in disguise..
    Also you do realize that most here dislike tourists and all that messy little traffic they cause. They like you want to enjoy Sedona ALL TO YOURSELVES like it was 30 years ago..

  4. Now we know why the chamber of commerce receives so much money from the city. It takes over a million dollars to do damage control caused by people like West Sedona Resident. Mystery solved!

  5. Thanks West Sedona Resident for being consistent (except for your use of capital WSR).

    For someone who doesn’t “participate in this little circle jerk” you certainly have a lot to say. Again I must wonder why it is you have so much free time on your hands to contribute. Just think how bored you would be without all of us to keep you amused, and in a very sick way at that. Your veiled identity doesn’t serve well to justify your inane comments riddled with poor grammar and spelling. You might try remedial courses in those subjects as well as reading.

    It’s unfortunate the city council isn’t always as transparent as you think you are not. What is most transparent is your intense hatred, almost to the point of being explosive. I feel sad mostly for those you claim to love. They must be sickos, too, because birds of a feather . . . you know . . .

    Over & Out.

  6. @ ESM

    You say Birds of a feather flock together

    They sure do and the cast of characters here that love to kiss your blank here are just that…

    Your mind is cluttered with insignificant BS and conspiracy theory’s .

    oh thank you oh great one ESM for spending countless hours sitting behind your computor finding ways to enlighten us..
    How would we ever get along without you.
    Your a legend in your own mind…

  7. Sedona Brand says:

    The brand “Sedona” is being created by the treatment of Sedona Businesses & Residents. The way the City Council discards everyone but themselves & staff. How they put themselves on a throne. How they expanded to “regional”.

    The city of gifting to the Chamber, film festival and funding art groups. But the most transparent Branding is intimidation that goes on here. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that West sedona resident, Steve Segner, Lodging, Chamber and the powers of City Hall are the only benefactors of money and control.

    Sedona you have lost your way by stepping outside the incorporated area, by not doing your job-health, welfare and safety as apparent in giving KSB the charge to fix regional forest land protection for the city. Outside of your duties once again.

    Is it time for a recall?

  8. What possible reason do people such as West Sedona Resident have to question the viability of tourists brave enough to comment? Oh but I just answered my own question. Of course it would be to intimidate them from sharing their Sedona experiences as travelers. If they shut up and remain silenced as city council prefers their voters do if they disagree with their decisions they can pretend they don’t exist. Clearly that was demonstrated at the council meeting on Tuesday, 9/22, when the mayor deferred a vote to accommodate missing council member Angela LeFevre.

    Equally as interesting is the same old ploy used by WSR to detract from the subject at hand, which in this case is “traffic.” May if he/she pretends it doesn’t exist it will vanish and be gone. Sorry. It won’t work that way. Wishing won’t make it so anymore than dishing up insults won’t change the FACT that uncontrolled traffic will remain a problem and increase unless immediate steps are taken to rectify the situation.

  9. ESM OPINION says:

    @West sedona resident (no caps on “sedona” or “resident”)

    Blah, blah blah – whatever. You made your point. What SHOULD I do? Try for a nosedive off Midgley Bridge?

  10. Jess Lookin says:

    You can easily spot the shills for the Chamber of commerce and city employees.

    Too much traffic for residents? According to the shills there can’t be too much.

    $35,000,000 plus annual budget? Well, that means, as city employees only work 4 days a week, they spend $168,269 every working day on the residents behalf. I’m sure the amount they actually spend is more, as the budget is higher and there are a lot of Monday holidays. 3 day weeks anyone?

    Are you being served or X@#&@#ed?

    It won’t change until you get angry enough to do something about it. The tourists are already voting, to never come to Sedona again.

  11. @jess looking

    Blah blah blah

    You are just a disgruntled fired ex government employee( right julianna)
    Plus if the tourist don’t come so what…your are always complaining about trying to pull on to rt 179… Fiqured that would make you happy..

    @ems
    So I write with caps and some times not…so what
    The fact that you keep reminding of that point proved the point about you focusing on insignificant BS.. Look above instead of writing west I used W.. Go on and have a field day with that…

  12. And isn’t that exactly what you are, West Sedona Resident, “You are just a disgruntled fired ex government employee?” And I’m neither Jess Lookin’ nor Julianna nor a messenger for ESM. In fact I don’t know any of them and for all I know you might be one and the same as all three. Seems like your paranoia is about to top out, JW.

  13. Why? says:

    Isn’t 179 and 89A owned by the State? (except uptown 89a) Then why would the City spend money on a traffic study? Shouldn’t ADOT be responsible for traffic control, widening, crossing walks etc?

  14. sharlett says:

    @Why?

    Somehow this poster- You – @Why? finally got it right!!!

    ADOT should be doing/paying for the study on traffic on both their hiways here in Sedona – yet guess what? They have met their responsibilities here and are just so overly dead tired dealing with this community.

    ADOT also has the wealth of experience (unlike the Sedona city council) to determine which of their state wide hiways are the biggest problem areas in the state (based upon traffic numbers and most importantly – fatalities) and opps – Sedona isn’t in their radar.

    Maybe the council will please God get back to the basic issues of Health, Safety, and Welfare?

  15. Why? says:

    Thank you @sharlett Then can you explain another item I am baffled about?

    Why does this City do so many regional things? aka the ksb direction on MN and giving the regional chamber and others city money that are outside the city?

    When I watch the council meeting they spend more time on things that don’t have anything with the incorporated city Health Safety and Welfare. Is this ego based?

    How can they be controlled?

  16. Jess Lookin says:

    @West sedona Resident

    We can only hope you will “Excuse me if I don’t participate in your little circle jerk with the other naysayers and conscripacy theorists on this blog…”

    Please go away.

    If you are just trying to disrupt the discussion, you are doing a very poor job of it. I’m sure that is how you life and job is run also, very poorly.

    I’m not Sharlett, Julianna, ESM, ems, or a government employee. I’m just a Sedona taxpayer upset at the way my beautiful home town is being destroyed.

  17. anonymous says:

    @Jess Lookin That is exactly what West sedona resident JW does. Just read h her on facebook, or watch her at CC meetings. Negative -Blatant- Disruptive in your face.

    She is not going to go away JW thinks she has the right to intimated everyone. Watch her face at city council meetings. She makes faces and gestures when anyone says anything she doesn’t like. She makes sure everyone sees it also……… incorrigible. Big Ego. She works at LA at the front desk. She spread her hate there too. Bad to the bone. Thats why she got fired from her city job.

    PS I am sure there are a few people using WSR to post under, all part of the same intimation group. JW, KD, SS, They are as you know the controlling force.

    Time for the citizens to unite.

  18. Joshua says:

    Thanks to those that have the good sense to acknowledge the two routes servicing Sedona are Arizona State Routes. But the sanctimonious city council just doesn’t get it. They continue to approve projects that exacerbate the traffic problem and then plan to spend another $250K to “study” what it is they’ve done wrong?

    One thing they could cease and desist with immediately is giving the $1.5 million to the regional Chamber of Commerce which spends a certain portion to attract even MORE traffic. That money would be better used to purchase land for a parking lot, which is exactly what the Brewer Road property should provide – parking – period. But oh no it’s set to be turned into another Disney Land enterprise to attract even more people in cars with no place for them to park! And that should be the responsibility for ADOT to figure out how to deal with it? Well, just be careful because the worst case scenario would be for ADOT to “gift” Sedona with both routes. And how would they deal with it? OMG the same way they screwed up the less than one mile they own uptown?

    Something about Mrs. Maddock sharing the pleasant drive she had to Cottonwood via the back roads seemed to really set off this West Sedona Resident big time! If that’s all it takes, reflecting on a pleasant experience, then what is the underlying reason? Is that person either in denial there’s a traffic problem or some sort of psychotic type individual, lurking in the shadows, waiting for the next opportunity to become volatile, lunge and attack? What’s really going on here?

    Sedona residents and, yes, tourists as well continue to be kicked to the curb for the sake of grandiose visions that are out of touch with reality. That’s what’s going on.

  19. Wes says:

    @Joshua – Please keep up your great analysis of the entire situation and posts. One thing I’ve noticed is that JW just seems to think “her self” is bigger than the wishes of the public – – – as she puts us down at every level.

    I also feel that mr segner feels so empowered that he can baboon all of us with his garbage. He needs to come to a level of reality instead of making money in his back pocket with all his dealings with chamber and city.

    Bottom line is this town can and will survive these people in spite of themselves. We’ve been there and done the same when it came to that Public Vote opposing the council’s vote to own 89A……

    We can do it again.

    and – oh by the way: I’m told that the NM issue is coming back to council on 10/13 to allow Council woman Angela to get home from her vacation so it becomes “fair” that she has a say on that date. But guess what is the most disgusting part of that meeting? There will be no public input!

  20. Joshua says:

    What @Wes – no public comment? How can that be? But then on the other hand why should that be a surprise since mostly when the public speaks it’s ho-hum snooze time except if it’s C of C or “regional” non-profit opportunists looking for $$$. Except for John Martinez, who did express concern at the last meeting abut the National Monument presentation about the number of people that made the effort to attend the meeting, speak, and display interest in the issue, the rest of the city council didn’t much give a hoot about the will of the majority stating their reasons for objection to the designation.

    Unless someone can convince Keep Sedona Beautiful to do the right thing and abandon this recent most controversial topic of the day, it’s a slam-dunk to the President’s desk. We have no voice, no say, no consideration. And even according to JW they don’t want to hear from tourists if they dare tell the truth about the conditions in Sedona.

    Referendum, Initiative, and Recall – we do have the opportunity for the final say if they push us to edge.

  21. Kevin W. says:

    Any chance there’s some legal way to force city council to spend that $1.5 mil for the ad contract/visitors center with the regional chamber of commerce on parking lots as suggested in another comment? Or will it take a major disaster to clue them in as to what’s really important. (Of course, they may not consider a few deaths if people are trapped during a flood or wild fire a major disaster.)

  22. Don’t miss JUDICIAL WATCH’s MARK SPENCER at the Canyon Trails Cowboy Church, 3132 White Bear Road, Sedona AZ 86336, at 6:30 PM (doors open at 6 PM). Come one come all for this free and informative evening on October 1!

    Judicial Watch’s (JW) attorneys make up a non-profit “watch dog” group that roots out corruption via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Political labels do not matter to JW; lawful behavior does!

    Mark Spencer will bring us up to date on the latest news regarding the five month gap discovered in Mrs. Clinton’s emails, JW’s efforts to secure information from Brian Pagliano, Mrs. Clinton’s IT specialist responsible for “fixing” her server, JW’s efforts to force San Francisco to reveal the exact (and very disturbing) crime statistics from its designation as a Sanctuary City, the lawsuit to stop the DNC from continuing to illegally hire a non-citizen foreign national to consult at the highest levels of the DNC’s 2016 campaigns, and much more.

    All voters and interested persons are invited; the event is free. Invite everyone you know, post on all social media, websites, Facebook, and invite friends and neighbors. Don’t miss the October 1 meeting!

    Refreshments served. Contact AndreaKadar7@yahoo.com for more information.

  23. Good information and amazingly timely with all the questionable activities that continue to permeate City of Sedona and their loyalty to Chamber of Commerce, out of city networking, and now working through Keep Sedona Beautiful to do their dirty work.

    If suggestions are offered for solutions to shut down this despicable manipulation of power, control, mostly centered around $$$$ then it just has to be worthwhile.

    Thank you Judicial Watch and those responsible for arranging the meeting.

  24. anonymous says:

    From the comments on Sedona Eye it appears that the citizens of Sedona and the region have had enough of the Sedona City Council. The sitting elitists and the overpaid – over praised staff. Who in my opinion have no managerial skills what so ever. I will admit they are really good at spending and gifting taxpayers money to special interest groups like the chamber, film festival. They pay more then normal salaries to City Staff to keep them in line. Heck they pay the theater group (yep they PAY them) to be in a city building on Posse grounds.

    Look they are wasting MORE of your money on traffic studies, they don’t own the roads! Adot does.

    Are you ready to stand up now Regional Sedona Verde Valley? Why would the Sedona have the right to change everyone’s life in the Verde Valley? Do they know more than YOU? The CC wastes taxpayers money by directing staff to do thing NOT within the incorporated area.

    You heard about the brawl in the village. Stop this insane idea the CC can do whatever. Look, listen, speak up and unite. Sedona is becoming a nazi city where the citizens don’t matter.

    Are you going to let it happen?

    Thank you to Sedona Eye and all the great contributors the keep us informed.

  25. Look on the bright side. This year the City is ONLY planning to spend $36k for upcoming holiday and related events compared to over $40k the last couple of years. Now that is unless Jennifer Wesselhoff & Chamber of Commerce goes begging for more between now and then. And how can they possibly turn her down? Well they won’t.

    Over $2k monthly to Red Earth Theater – peanuts. The $1.5 mil for destination marketing and visitors center to promote the region is a much better investment than improving drainage to maintain flood control and road improvements to manage traffic flow…apparently so.

    It isn’t only the National Monument Designation decided before it ever goes public. It seems every meeting agenda except for the OFFICIAL stamp of approval has been agreed upon prior to the ceremonial meetings. And that’s the way it is.

  26. Norma says:

    Well the season is here and the tourist hit us on the weekends. Those millions of dollars spent on the regional chamber from the city taxes was a big waste of money. They attract the day tripper, atv uses would beat up our city and leave. What happened to them filling up the hotels in the off season?
    Locals gather up their groceries to stay home over the weekends as you can’t get through town or up through the canyon. Glad to see the city is finally going to charge for parking in uptown. Next they need to charge those tourist companies impact fees as they are the ones abusing and costing the city more to operate.
    The impact of tourist would be a great analysis. Just because those getting millions of taxpayers’ money says they bring in all the taxes doesn’t make it true. Fox in the den. Impact fee for Chamber Hotels and Recreational tours & vehicles. Take those money and give it to the Forest Service to help pay for the abuse they impose on the land.
    PS those day trippers use our public restrooms, run into places to pee a portion of those impact fees should go to the sewer fees.

  27. Ben says:

    Well finally one step forward – uptown parking meters will be installed. That should have happened years ago. Now listen to those businesses squawk some more. They need to realize it was their stupid input that had a lot to do with the design of 89A uptown that created the backup there in the first place.

    Now if this city council and planners would stop in their tracks and figure out serious means to mitigate the traffic congestion instead moving ahead with high density development to add to the problem, Brewer, Schnebly and now Western Gateway for example, it might go a long way to regenerate confidence and respect from the flatlanders. But, of course, they care not about us. Otherwise they wouldn’t have taken up all staff’s time to dig into the subject of National Monument designation which they will slam dunk and add to the problems already at hand. This in spite of a huge majority of opposition, including regional – but this city council thinks Sedona has no limits because apparently they can’t read posted signs clearly stating “Sedona City Limits.” They probably didn’t read the article about Sedona City Limits 101 which specifically defines just exactly the area of their jurisdiction. But they obviously don’t follow the rules. They make up their own as they go along.

    The inmates have taken over the asylum. Before they make big plans for the defunct Cultural Park they should all be kicked to the curb. That’s another ultimate betrayal of the will of the people that approved that land trade contingent that it would NEVER be developed as they are now proposing to do.

    Hell and damnation to all of you.

  28. AJ says:

    @Ben – the word around town is City Council doesn’t read Sedona Eye – too low class for their high IQ mentalities. In the meantime, they continue to behave in the most peculiar manner, totally diametrically in opposition to the very purpose Sedona incorporated and most assuredly in contrast to the premise of the “vision statement.”

    And now their recent endeavor, to allegedly give a hoot about protecting Sedona’s world-famous landscape and preserve the area by intruding “their” evaluations on the entire Verde Valley through the auspices of what was once a highly respectable organization, that being Keep Sedona Beautiful, is poppycock!

    That a former President of KSB as well as a previous member of the City Council is now at the “helm” of the sinking KSB is unthinkable – but I forgot, this is Sedona. As KSB had been approached to do research during the time Barbara Litrell was still on City Council, and now is leader of the pack in conducting meetings to promote the designation of a National Monument, adds insult to injury.

    Then we have the Community Plan Steering Committee which included two very well known Sedona architects: John Sather and Mike Bower. Both have been active in Sedona politics since incorporation and to begin with spoke in earnest about protecting Sedona from, well, actually turning into what it has. Another case of forked tongue? Do as we say but not as we do. Isn’t it true that as long-time Sedona design architects these gentlemen are in a pretty good position to gain financially from the planning and development of the proposed Community Focus Areas? Especially of interest is Max Licher, partner of Mike Bower in their business Design Group, who resides in one of Sedona’s historic red stone houses on Schnebly Hill Road.

    Too many unanswered questions. But most important is the blatant disingenuous direction being taken by these power-hungry control freaks that claim to care about Sedona and the initial intent to preserve the environment and quality of life for both residents and tourists. Hypocrites they are. To pursue a National Monument designation based on that premise when they are, in fact, causing incorporated Sedona to rot from the inside out, is diametrically opposed to what the Community Plan as well as the purpose for incorporation was intended to do.

    And that’s the way it is. Read it and weep. Instead of three monkeys running this city that “See no evil; Hear no evil; and Speak no evil” there are seven of them.

  29. And why isn’t it surprising that B. Litrell is center stage on this deal, too? Let’s face it. Between her and her buddy, Rob Adams, associates during the Cornville land plan (or whatever it was called) they very convincingly urged “their” city council to approve the outrageous three-year advertising contract with the regional Chamber of Commerce. And so now pay-back time it should be for all the non-city tax collecting businesses benefiting from “free” advertising from Sedona City bed taxes and, in the case of the phony “city’ visitors center, city sales taxes. We need a National Monument designation because Angela LeFevre thinks so? That must be the case since the rest of the city council could not take a vote without her royal appearance.

    No matter how you look at it, it’s a rip-off. Remember when Rob Adams asked Jennifer Weaselhof at one of the council meetings what she will do with all that money now that she finally got it? Well, how much of it can you attribute to adding to the number of day trippers to Oak Creek Canyon, bypassing Sedona entirely because they will return home via Flagstaff to avoid traffic delays?

    And what’s with these holier-than-thou people who think that it’s OK to reinvent the Cultural Park land into commercial, convention center, shops, blah, blah, blah when it was agreed it would NEVER be used that way? Then in addition there’s big time plans for developing the land at the sewer plant? How does that fit into your devotion to protect your beloved Sedona red rock scenery? National Monument? More lip service? Not adding up, folks. More likely it represents the ongoing line-up of opportunists, including non-profits, waiting for their slice of the pie no matter what the price to the health, safety, and welfare of Sedona City residents and tourists.

    Yes, indeed, that $1.5 million would have been far better spent on rational traffic planning, and not another study on the two state highways running through Sedona. Leave that to the professional ADOT engineers who through their disgust with having to deal with impossible Sedona must surely get a laugh now and then about the bungled up mess the city made uptown.

  30. To all of the above posters who have concerns about Sedona Traffic and the National Monument: KSB tells us they wish and are working hard for a newly created Nation Monument which (one of their selling points) will bring more tourists = traffic. So now let’s connect the dots; The above article is about Traffic and yet is now seems that if one combines the two issues – Traffic is on the back burner and they can be one and the same?

    Isn’t it a fact that Traffic is a main issue for all of us and our high paying tourists?

    So, if we have to rightfully combine the two issues (National Monument and/vs Traffic) then lets just do it!

    My suggestion is that on 10/13/15 at 4:30 hundreds of people show up at the Council meeting and sign cards that ask to speak and be heard on the National Monument agenda item and show their displeasure/distain of the KSB concept (that will bring us more traffic) and demand to be heard! I read someplace on sedonaeye.com that the 10/13 meeting will not allow public comments?!!!

    and just how disrespectful of the public is that concept?

    We are now supposed to have Angela (one of the main proponents for NM) finally sitting in her council chair (since her vacation to Italy is now over) and ready to take the issue on – in a “Fair way “—- according to our Mayor…but Mayor is Not allowing Public Comments.

    Fair?

    What should have been Fair was our Mayor following through with a vote after over 3 hours of public testimony and presentations. And now Angela gets to voice her opinions?

    Our Mayor set a very dangerous precedent when she said it wasn’t Fair for Angela to not be there to vote and voice her opinions. Even though Angela had Publicly announced she would not be at the meeting and in knowing that information our Mayor could have and should have stepped up as a good leader and moved the meeting about the agenda item of a National Monument to another meeting where all would be there.

    If that concept is the new direction of our Council then – opps – all Council members can play with their either being there or being on vacation. What a bunch of deep muck!!!

    Last Line is: If Council puts an item on the agenda then they should just deal with it and regardless of who can make the meeting or not!

    Is Angela now the new Mayor? Or, call me crazy, Is Mayor Sandy trying to rewrite all the rules to perpetuate her reign?

  31. SUGGESTION says:

    It would be very helpful to keep traffic moving if drivers would be considerate and use their turn signals. Understanding the left turn signal won’t remain on through roundabouts, but cars approaching can really help by turning their right signals on – especially at the “Y” intersections. Every little bit helps, and when cars must wait not knowing if approaching traffic is going through an intersection or turning right, everyone remains on hold. Just a very small and courteous gesture would be appreciated.

  32. Margie says:

    Took a ride on the wild side today (Saturday) as I needed to go into Sedona to do normal errands and what a mistake that was!

    Traffic was backed up from at least the Church of the Red Rocks on hy179 to the Y and then all the way up to W Sedona. Traffic was also backed up coming to the Y from uptown. I kept looking for a Cop who might be directing traffic and reducing the problem but found none.

    There was a major event at Tlaquepaque and NO ONE was directing traffic there. At Tlaquepaque all I saw was signs saying Parking Lot is Full and then other signs saying No Event Parking placed by all the surrounding and nearby business’s.

    Doesn’t Tlaquepaque have to get some sort of a permit to hold these events and shouldn’t the City be signing off on all the appropriate traffic and public safety issues?

    As a frequent traveler of hy179 it only looks like Tlaquepaque is the main traffic problem in our town and is second only to Uptown Sedona.

    I’m sure the signs stating Parking Lot Full is a hell of a lot cheaper than paying off duty cops to direct traffic and that the City just sits back on their backsides and turns a dumb ear.

    Some how this garbage needs to be cleaned up and stopped!

    Somehow this City needs to come to grips with the real issues and stop the talk of another expensive traffic study. Just get the Cops to direct traffic as it is needed.

    Oh, and by the way? During my entire drive into town and then as I sat in traffic coming out of W Sedona I never once saw a Cop trying to direct traffic. What I did see were drivers cutting me off and not acknowledging the Yield signs at roundabouts.

    Somebody needs to come to grips with the real issues and make major event sponsors Pay for Traffic Control.

  33. Impossible says:

    Yesterday (Saturday 10/24) was another impossible day of gridlock. Traffic backed up on SR179 and both directions on 89A (from “Y” to Airport Road and entering from Oak Creek Canyon.

    Sedona has surpassed the point of saturation. Why don’t those in charge get it? Stop with the money to Chamber for more advertising at airport and elsewhere that continues to attract weekend day trippers. And now with the onset of snow bunny season Phoenix will be inundated with winter guests that will read the idiotic pleas paid for with city tax money to take a run up to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. This is insane.

  34. @Margie says:

    And you think it’s bad now? Just wait until the brilliant minds who designed and voted approval of the new and improved Community Plan get their way and develop two more focused gathering places – Brewer and Schnebly Hill Roads.

    It’s hopeless.

  35. Jim L says:

    It is gonna get worse. They are rushing to get more of these gathering places fast. They didn’t even test one! But they are gonna see empty spaces They should be sending them to the businesses in town. Here we go again. If you don’t speak up the think you it.

  36. Northbound I-17 restricted at times next week in areas north of Black Canyon City

    Minimal delays expected

    The northbound lanes of Interstate 17 will be restricted at times in areas from Black Canyon City to Cordes Junction on Monday and Tuesday (Oct. 26-27) for maintenance work, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

    Crews will be working along northbound I-17 from north of Rock Springs to Bloody Basin Road from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Drivers are asked to expect alternating lane restrictions and to be prepared to slow down in the 45 mph work zones. Minimal travel delays are expected while the restrictions are in place.

    ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule. To stay up-to-date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center at http://www.az511.gov or call 511.

  37. Margie says:

    Has anyone noticed the current item #8.a on the 10/27/15 (Tuesday) City Council’s meeting at 4:30 agenda?

    It reads: ” Presentation/discussion/possible direction on creating a potential sustainable Pilgrimage site in Sedona.”

    What in hell is a “sustainable pilgrimage site in Sedona”? Is this one of their Focused Gathering Places? What a joke.

    The Gathering Place needs to be at City Hall and tell these clowns that it is game over and all anyone cares about are the major Health, Welfare and Safety issues they don’t take care of!

    Does that mean us pilgrims/flatlanders have finally found a safe haven to go to in order to speak our feelings without Jessica W telling us we don’t matter?

  38. @Margie says:

    “Pilgrimage site in Sedona.”

    Translation: SANCTUARY(?)

  39. STEVE sEGNER says:

    so go to the meeting and say something, that is why it is call a meeting
    but no you will just stay HOME AND WRITE NASTY COMMENTS TOMORROW.
    STEVE

  40. Are you serious that it’s about being a sanctuary city? Stop me from laughing now.

    What haven’t you people learned from the murder of the girl in San Francisco or the murder of the two women near Payson…yeh, that’s right, it happens around you…and let’s list the hundreds of people killed because of blind eyes by politicians, judges, police and others that can’t or won’t deport cheap labor.

    You haven’t got enough insurance to cover what happens if you open that can of worms. Ask your city attorney. Then ask me. I specialize in it and will love to clean your clocks.

    My wife and family will enjoy a place near Enchantment. We’ll think of it as a working holiday every time we visit.

  41. Steve Segner says:

    According to the Feds, 80%of muder victims in America knew there killers and 16% of the killers we’re family.
    The report said nothing about muder victims hanging around cheap day laborers.
    You really should do some research, or some one will clean your clock in court,
    Have a nice Holliday and remember who built the home you are staying in,
    Steve segner

  42. Everything has a price tag.

    Quote taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

    “This article is about the Peoples Temple leader. For other persons of the same name, see Jim Jones (disambiguation).

    James Warren “Jim” Jones (May 13, 1931 – November 18, 1978) was an American religious leader and community organizer. Jones was the founder and leader of the Peoples Temple, best known for the mass murder-suicide in November 1978 of 909 of its members in Jonestown, Guyana,[1] the murder of Congressman Leo Ryan, and the ordering of four additional Temple member deaths in Georgetown, the Guyanese capital. Nearly three-hundred children were murdered at Jonestown, almost all of them by cyanide poisoning.[2] Jones died from a gunshot wound to the head; it is suspected his death was a suicide.

    Jones was born in Indiana and started the Temple there in the 1950s. He later moved the Temple to California in the mid-1960s, and gained notoriety with the move of the Temple’s headquarters to San Francisco in the early 1970.”

  43. Sedonan says:

    @ STEVE sEGNER

    You are about as lowly uneducated as low gets. I’ll bet that you won’t take on the newest concept of the total waste of time at today’s council meeting…ha ha. Our council wasted over two hours talking about a vegan concept and stopping all of us from eating meat and Sedona will become the center of their new universe and we will reduce our very gray water to sipping waters? Say What?

    Don’t remember seeing you speaking out at todays council meeting? where were you?

  44. J. J. says:

    @ Segner – I AM NOT Jean Jenks. i do support her posts, tho.

    Pilgrimage implies RELIGION. The city has NO business creating such a site. Separation of church and state. Another stupid idea from the city; another waste of f-ing money.

  45. Simple vegan water answer? Tell Lisa Dahl, El Portal, Elote, Oak Creek Brewery they can only serve VEGAN and cook with GRAY RECYCLED WATER. Case closed.

    Sedona Council, you have nothing better to do than this? True? Means you are a waste of time. Look up word redundant.

  46. FB says:

    VOC gossip latest? Marketplace cafe in the failed eyesore outlets well the restaurant is up for sale and trying to get that elephant out of the room will be next to impossible. Owner tries harder than hard admirably but no tourists and too many local restaurants saturating a meager local market means no food on tables and walk out by staff and no stock in the kitchen doesn’t cook it or serve it up. Truthfully expensive prices and food inconsistency like stale bread kept us away so it’s not all lack of mouths to feed but add all the restaurants trying to serve you have to few mouths to feed.

  47. Over the Top says:

    What business does this city council have taking time and money to visit yet another issue out there in the twilight zone? For sure communal living was discussed and this entire production had every earmark of turning Sedona into a freaking cult setting. Now do you like that idea, S. Segner? Not quite the image you and your “chamber” had in mind with your high-priced advertising for big spending “destination tourists?”

    JT (Thompson) should resign from the city council for his constant “preaching” about the merits and demands of a community plan – which is nothing more than a ten-year proposed guideline and NOT LAW!

    The arrogant egotistic blob continues to tout Sedona as being the “regional” leader, completely ignoring the purpose of incorporation which was to provide “local” government for the designated area within City Limits!

    And for sure this was a spiritual (tho not directly identified with a specific religion) exercise to lure people into a trap. We have the New Age segment of Sedona which does their own thing without attempting to dump it on the entire Verde Valley and tie up council time for their own specific agenda. Even to link this effort under the guise of “sustainability” was so far fetched it reeked more than the sewer plant, which, incidentally “they” have “their” eye on 100 of those acres!

    Shame, shame. This has gone too far. This council can’t even take care of what’s presently on their plates and they spend even more money on these outlandish proposals in order to turn Sedona into a “Pilgrimage Mecca?”

    Residents of Sedona, are you ready for this?

  48. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING – WEDNESDAY – 10/28/15 – 3:00 PM

    AGENDA:

    Special Business

    a. AB 2020 Discussion/possible direction on the completion of a comprehensive traffic and circulation study including the development of recommendations for possible road improvements, transit options, alternate routes, bicycle/pedestrian improvements, and traffic safety improvements.

    b. AB 2008 Discussion/possible direction regarding a broad review of roles, responsibilities, communication protocols, and best practices for Council and staff.

    c. Discussion/possible action on Future Meeting/Agenda Items.

  49. Lightworkers says:

    Know chamber of commerce spiritualists (deleted by editor) Sedona posturers losing property after sweat lodge faker & they m scar Sedona spiritual rep for life? Property for sale after karma visitation. Pay your debts to the Devils you conjured & every one owed.

  50. Steve segner says:

    Today’s city meeting was very good, re, traffic j.t Thompson asked some great questions
    Ss

Leave a Reply

Copyright © 2008-2017 · Sedona Eye · All Rights Reserved · Posts · Comments · Facebook · Twitter ·