Sedona AZ (May 3, 2012) – The City of Sedona will hold a public meeting to explain the Pre-Monsoon Maintenance Program on May 16, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. in the Sedona City Hall Council Chambers on Roadrunner Drive.

Approved by Sedona City Council on April 24, 2012, the monsoon program involves inspection of public and private drainage ways in various areas of the City during the months of May and June of this year.

The purpose of the inspections is to identify debris, dirt, and vegetation in drainage ways that may significantly impede the flow of stormwater during a monsoon storm, or be carried downstream by a storm. Debris, dirt, and vegetation moved downstream by monsoon rain can clog culverts and bridge underpasses. Drainage ways must be kept free-flowing.

Many of the drainage ways requiring inspection pass through the rear of properties, therefore, those property owners and residents can expect to be contacted by City personnel. City personnel will carry City employee identification badges. If you have any questions regarding the identity or conduct of persons inspecting or accessing a property, call (928) 204-7111.

The program contains the following elements:

• Inspection: The City will inspect public and private properties. Notification of inspection will be provided for public areas in rear yards. The goal is to provide a week’s notice. For private properties, a letter requesting permission to enter the property will be sent. Even if the permission is not granted, City personnel will attempt to see what they can from public areas. If you are in one of the areas to be inspected and you want to schedule an inspection prior to being contacted, please call (928) 204-7109.
• Clean-up: The City will be responsible for cleaning and clearing public drainage ways. Cleaning and clearing drainage ways not in public easements and rights-of-way will be the responsibility of the property owner and lessee, as stated in City Code Section 13.50.130. Failure to clean and clear the drainage will be considered a Code Violation and be subject to actions and penalties specified in the City Code. Depending on the situation, clean-up and clearing may involve cutting down and removing small trees, weeds and bushes, or it may involve removing boards, drywall, vegetative trimming, dirt piles, and similar material.
• Area trash pickup: The City will allow the placement of vegetation, wood, and similar material that has been taken from a drainage to be placed along the side of roadways in the various areas of the City subject to this program. The material cannot be placed so as to obstruct roadside ditches or the paved roadway. The City will periodically publish a list of the streets and times when pick-up will be provided. If the City cannot take the debris, the City will notify the property owners and residents and the material will need to be disposed of by the property owners and residents. The City encourages recycling, and if material is acceptable to Sedona Recycles or waste material disposers, we urge that they be used.

If you have questions about the pre-monsoon maintenance program, contact Dan Neimy, City Maintenance Superintendent, at (928) 204-7109 or attend the May 16, 2012 public meeting in the City of Sedona Council Chambers.

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