The VVFPA was formed in 1984 by long time Sedona resident Dick Dahl as the Sedona Academy of Public Affairs that sponsored a series of town hall events.  In 1999, the group changed its name and expanded regionally to include the Verde Valley.

To date, the VVFPA has sponsored 20 forums on topics of concern to residents of the Verde Valley such as growth and development; water quality, quantity, and sanitation; land use; environmental quality; tourism; regional planning; and economic sustainability.

The group's process is to host panel discussions with representatives of the community who look at a particular issue from all angles, develop group consensus, and then publish the results for citizens, non-profit organizations, local businesses, and governments to use as a guide.

At the Sedona Forum 2008, the list of participants read like a "Who's Who" of Sedona. 

The Sedona Forum 2008 staff included Jodi Filardo, Economic Planner of Sedona and President of the VVFPA; Jim Eaton, member of the Sedona P&Z; Sandy Moriarity, member of the Sedona Housing Commission; Steve Hansen, President of Hansen Light Works; and Marshall Whitmire, Managing Director of RCI Surveys, Inc.

In attendance were Sedona Mayor Pud Colquitt; Sedona city council member, Rob Adams; John Neville, President of Sustainable Arizona; Jennifer Wesselhoff, CEO of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce; Sedona city council candidates Cliff Hamilton and Dan Surber; David Keeber, Director of the Sedona Library; Red Rock District Ranger, Heather Provencio; President of the Sedona Red Rock High School Student Body, Brenden Biermann; Executive Director of the Sedona Main Street Program, Holly Epright; Red Rock News editor, Gregg Ruland; and many others.

The goal for the day was big:  figure out what "small town character" means, assess what qualities of "small town character" greater Sedona has and doesn't have, and define a vision for greater Sedona's character in ten years.

What emerged from the panel discussions is that there are two Sedonas.  One Sedona is a domestic and international tourist destination drawing in over 3 million visitors each year to Uptown, and is a vacation spot for many wealthy, part-time residents of Sedona; and the other Sedona consists of full time residents who call it "home," who rarely visit Uptown, and who are passionate and committed to preserving and nurturing Sedona's natural beauty.

The "small town character" Sedona, the participants concluded, is one where everyone knows one another, can easily gather for affordable community events, and where the residents have a shared sense of values and history.  In this Sedona, the environment, arts, and spirituality is important, and residents welcome a diverse group of people from all walks of life.

The "tourist" Sedona is just as important because it is the City's economic life blood; but increasing traffic, the build out of the City's infrastructure and redevelopment is placing a strain on its residents.

Can the two Sedonas coexist?

Sedona seems ready to face the future head on, and to adapt to change; but on its terms. 

A partial answer seems to be long range community planning. 

By requiring that new development be in harmony with the environment, designing and connecting roads to smooth out and ease traffic flows, providing sideways and public transportation to make it easier for residents to get around, hosting affordable community events in a town center for residents, and attracting a work force so it can be self sufficient, Sedona could retain the small town character many of its residents care deeply about; while remaining a tourist Mecca.

But just as importantly, developing and maintaining "small town character" is about the people.  A small town is as much a state of mind, as it is a place.

At the end of the day, the group consensus on what the character of greater Sedona should be in ten years was as follows:

“The participants in this Sedona Forum 2008 find that the character of the greater Sedona community, as it should be nurtured and preserved, is a modern, friendly, western town with a strong appreciation of its roots, cultural heritage, and natural beauty - and an inspiration to all who visit and live here.”

Not bad, Sedona.

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