Topics of Conversation

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As stated earlier, I still have a vision of a Sedona that is vibrant, affordable, innovative, artistic and thriving with young families, entrepreneurs, people staying here as they age and visitors from across the globe. Surrounded, nurtured and inspired by the Red Rocks of Coconino National Forest.​​

I hope you share that vision with me. If you do, then you'll recognize some of these challenges to that vision.

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We still have a single source of City revenue: tourism, with its commensurate problems of traffic, parking, short term rentals, increased OHV traffic and limited housing affordable to those earning minimum wage, fixed income seniors who are renting, and even those with salaries up to 120,000$/annum for two income households.

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We have very few first responders or health care professionals who live in our community and who could therefore respond quickly enough to help in an emergency. ​

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There are still justified community concerns about forest fires, evacuation safety and the numbers of homeless living in or around our community. ​

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For individuals trying to "age in place", the continuing and growing lack of local healthcare options and the ability to easily create space for a full-time onsite care provider are still forefront issues, along with affordable housing options as rents continue to increase.​

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We struggle with the pros/cons of Home Rule every 4 years - and this is one of those years. Perhaps it is time to take a serious look at Permanent Base Adjustment?

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We are in conflict over what should be done with land owned by the City: housing? resident benefit? tourist-based benefit? innovation centers? something else?

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There is a lot more to say about each of these topics, so if you are interested and have the time, I have some additional thoughts on these subjects. If you don't have a time, here is a summary of my thinking:​​​​​​​