Yep, in looks like we’re pretty well on our own here.

Being a very smart dog I keep My eye on such things as weather and traffic, so I would like to share an idea with You and others. When the weather looks like it could get bad and you may have to leave your home, back your car into the garage or driveway before hand. This will let you pull out into heavy neighborhood traffic instead of trying to back out then go forward which could cause a grid lock. It might also make it easier for you to throw those last minute essentials into the trunk.

Be safe everybody.

It isn’t a matter of “if” flooding will return to Sedona, it’s “when.” It might be well if floods occur prior to the city investing thousands of dollars on projects in low lying areas. Then maybe it will be apparent that no matter how hard they try they cannot control all things in our lives.

But then again, maybe it won’t make any difference since they cannot and will not even address the traffic issue prior to compounding it by foolish decisions that continue to make it worse. Go figure.

Please take a look at today’s Verde Independent article “2016 flood prospects concern Verde Valley emergency responders”, with some good advice.

“….Flagstaff Weather Service Chief Meteorologist Brian Klimowski repeated that the 2015-16 El Nino is forecast to be among the top two such events in recorded history. ….” :

http://verdenews.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=68417

From day one after Sedona became incorporated developers were lined up at City Hall, and it’s never stopped although available buildable land has dwindled to but a few vacant parcels but redevelopment remains an option.

Now, however, we have a Chamber of Commerce, financed with city taxes, operating a visitors center to benefit only their members, many outside city limits who do not contribute to city tax base. City limit based businesses are frequently forced out because of the greedy Chamber tactics tolerated by City Council and staff.

Next Tuesday City Council will hear the C of C brag about how without them Sedona would have never been discovered. Hog wash. You know it. Many of us know it. But the city council(s) have allowed this special interest group to take complete control of Sedona. Rarely is a decision made without someone on the city council suggesting for the Chamber to be consulted prior to making decisions. And now these elected representatives actually think these incompetents are capable of coming up with an economic development plan which will amount to even more money being thrown at them. And conveniently by a former council a three year service contract was signed with the Chamber thereby essentially tying the hands of future council members to make decisions and troublesome to activate changes.

All of your points are excellent but there are those who remain in denial and will never admit that tourists hear about Sedona primarily due to word of mouth. As this city continues to toss out more money which is a waste and has never been adequately accounted for attributing anything more than to encourage an already overabundance of day trippers. There will be those cynics that will possibly post insulting comments to discourage people such as yourself from sharing opinions, but again a good many of us appreciate such contributions because we know what you write is the truth. Sedona is about the beauty of the the red rocks, national forest, hiking trails, and wildlife and not concrete and massive resorts that in reality are a dime a dozen. Anyplace USA can build those but they cannot recreate Sedona’s natural environment and beauty.

The direction we seem to be stuck with, no matter who is elected, appears to be of the mind-set that the incorporated city is better managed via a contract with the Chamber of Commerce as they continue their march to ruination. Quite possibly the only thing that will force change is some sort of drastic act of nature which would level both City Hall and the despicable sham of a “Sedona” Visitors Center. (translated: $300,000 annual gold mine for the Chamber just for the bogus “visitor center” to promote only their members) Shameful!

The same as Keep Sedona Beautiful and the Chamber of Commerce, who think they rule the entire Verde Valley (Chamber, unfortunately, does) the seven decision makers, having the final say on all issues, move forward like judge and jury with unlimited barriers.

Today the Verde Valley – tomorrow the State of Arizona. And then what?

The county once had a permit to build a bridge but there was a reason construction stalled – again it’s a riparian area and there’s not a lot of undeveloped area for the wildlife. They live here too.

The funniest is the possible bridge from Longbow Ranch Road. That’s a gated community with the lots alone costing upwards a million dollars. I’m absolutely positive those property owners would do everything in their power not to have a freeway going through their private property.

No matter how you slice it – it’s too late for a bridge at Red Rock Crossing. It is a nice, quiet, meditative spot. Having cars cross would absolutely ruin the beauty of it.

Here’s another thing: this property is outside city limits and the city has NO BUSINESS making plans for it’s use. The traffic problems are centered in Coconino County, not Yavapai County. Why should a rural area property owner give up their quiet existence so that a tourist can get a better parking space in Coconino County (Uptown Sedona).

Give it up. Not going to happen.

And, you are correct, shuttles will not be the solution! Too many cars in too little space is rather an obvious phenomenon which people with tunnel vision just don’t comprehend. Go figure.