Most Critical Issue or Challenge Facing Sedona and/or the Verde Valley

By John Martinez

Sedona, AZ – I, like everyone else, think the Most Critical Issue Facing Sedona is the management of Traffic. As previously stated, Maricopa/Pinal Counties are the second fasting growing counties in the United States, and those residents will be coming to our city to see the beauty of what our town has to offer.

Whoever the Civil Engineer was when the city was planned, did a pretty poor job of deciding how to get from one end of the city to the other side with only one road (North and South).

We also must realize that we live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, we are a Vacation Destination. I would estimate that over 90% of the current residents were once guests. Therefore, we must adapt and implement transportation proposals that reduce the number of cars on our roads.

One suggestion is incentivizing the city and hospitality workers to carpool. Provide discounted fares for the Verde Shuttle, or provide employer van/shuttle for their employees, as some of the hoteliers are currently providing. Implement a partnership agreement amongst the hoteliers for van/shuttle service.

I believe with the implementation of the Micro-Transit buses, and with a thorough educational program, the city can reduce the number of automobiles on city roads. Educational information would apply not only to our guests but also the residents.

It must be noted that to accomplish these tasks we must be fiscally responsible for spending and revenue collections in the future. I remember back in 2013 the city manager and I talking and observing Budget Creep, when the fiscal budget was around $50M. We are currently saddled with over $50M in debt, when only four years ago it was around $7M. The current city just approved a record budget amount of over $106M. Something must change.