By Melissa Dunn
Sedona, AZ — For those I haven’t met yet, here’s a bit about me.
I spent years in high tech as a Principal Product Architect at Microsoft and Amazon; as Director of Search and Product Management for Sears Digital, and as Director of Digital Product at Sainsbury Argos in the UK, designing search engines and digital customer experiences. I led teams of up to 50 across product design, UX, UI, copywriting, taxonomy, and research.
I hold degrees in political science, sociology, and human‑centered design and engineering.
My husband, George, and I love adventure travel — we’ve explored all seven continents and 32 countries. I’m also a lifelong dog lover; we currently share our home with two rescue mixes and a Newfoundland. Our four kids are scattered across the country.
Like many of you, I moved here because the Red Rocks called to me. I ran for Council because I love this community and understand how complex our challenges are, especially with the constraints of state law.
What I have done
When I first ran for Council in 2022, my platform rested on three simple words: community, environment, and accountability. They became the lens for every decision I made. I asked myself; Will this choice strengthen Sedona now and in the long run? Will it protect our environment and the health of the people who live here? And does it make fiscal sense?
We haven’t always agreed on every outcome, and some decisions had impacts none of us could have predicted. But I’m proud of the work we’ve done together, and I believe I’ve consistently put Sedona first.
Over the past few years, that commitment has taken shape in visible ways. We’ve invested in our parks, recreation spaces, and community events — from new pickleball courts and expanded Red Dirt concerts to extended pool hours, new playground equipment, and the buildout of Ranger Station Park. We created a grassed area for Yappy Hour and added shade structures throughout our parks. These improvements, large and small, reflect a belief that community life matters.
We also opened more space for conversation. Through Community Conversations, residents and Council sat together to listen, learn, and build trust. We strengthened our arts and culture programs with new grants and restored and purchased public art pieces that reflect Sedona’s spirit.
Safety has been another major focus. We updated evacuation plans, installed Coconino emergency sirens, improved police radio coverage, hired an emergency coordinator, and advanced other safety initiatives. At the same time, we repaired 33 miles of roads, built 12 miles of shared‑use paths, and expanded trailhead and on‑demand shuttle services to make moving around town easier and safer.
Fiscal accountability guided every step. We stayed under budget every year, increased city reserves by $58 million and saved more than $100,000 in interest payments. We launched a Council working group to define performance metrics, build a public dashboard, and outline the scope for external audits — all to ensure transparency and responsible stewardship. We also updated more than ten fiscal policies to strengthen oversight and clarify asset management.
And because Sedona’s natural environment is central to who we are, we made more than twenty decisions aimed at reducing traffic, noise, and air pollution while lowering heat impacts and increasing shade. We advanced heat‑mapping, home retrofits, Creekside land acquisition, and testing heat‑reflective asphalt. We added 10 electric and 10 hybrid vehicles to the city fleet, and 5 hybrids to the shuttle fleet — now half of all shuttles. We also held multiple yard, electronic, and hazardous‑waste collection events to help residents dispose of materials responsibly.
Even with all this progress, we remain a community under pressure. Short‑term rentals continue to erode neighborhood and community identity. Wildfire risks grow. Tourism brings traffic and pollution, straining our infrastructure. And we lack enough affordable housing for the people who keep Sedona running — our first responders, educators, and healthcare workers. For a city of just 10,000 residents, the work ahead is significant.
What I will do
My focus remains on community, environment, and accountability. I hear the concern that Sedona is changing too much, too fast. Many of these changes are outside the city’s control. Property owners can build whatever their zoning allows once their plans meet code, and state law prevents the city from slowing that process.
What we can control are our own capital projects. We should prioritize work that directly supports council goals: community, housing, transportation and mobility, and economic development. If a project doesn’t advance one of these priorities, we should question whether the right time for that project is now. This approach helps limit unnecessary disruption and keeps our focus on what matters most.
With that in mind, I will focus on the following areas over the next four years.
Community
A community is more than a place — it’s the people who choose to build a life together. My vision is a Sedona that stays vibrant and grounded, supported by tourism yet shaped by the spirit of the Red Rocks and the people who call this home.
That begins with strengthening the spaces where connection happens. By improving our existing gathering places and creating new ones, we can help neighbors rediscover one another and rebuild the sense of belonging that defines a true community. It also means reimagining what “neighborhood” means — not just geography, but relationships.
A shared community calendar can bring our town together in ways big and small, making it easier for residents to meet, celebrate, and feel part of something larger than themselves.
To keep Sedona thriving, we must welcome and retain families. Advancing our long‑term plan for affordable housing — from starter homes to a healthy cycle of attainable ownership — is essential to preserving a balanced, resilient population.
Our arts and culture are the heartbeat of Sedona, and I will continue championing the people who keep the creative spirit alive. At the same time, we must keep pushing for meaningful limits on short‑term rentals to protect the character of our neighborhoods.
Above all, I’m committed to strengthening open, honest dialogue between residents, council, and staff. Trust and transparency are the foundation of a community that not only endures change but grows stronger through it.
Environment
I use the word “environment” to describe both our quality of life and our responsibility to the land and wildlife that define Sedona. Protecting both is essential to a healthy community.
A cleaner, quieter Sedona begins with fewer cars on the road. Reducing vehicles cuts air and noise pollution, eases strain on our roads, shortens commutes, lowers accidents, and improves daily life. That means keeping residential streets for residents, increasing awareness and use of trailhead and On‑Demand shuttles, and expanding On‑Demand service, so it truly supports the people who live here.
We can build a transit system that is easy, affordable, and reliable — connecting workers to jobs, residents to daily needs, and visitors to the places they come to experience.
Strengthening our network of shared‑use paths will also improve quality of life, giving people safe, year‑round options for walking and biking. These paths should include the amenities that make them practical: water refill stations, shade, waste and recycling bins, and places to rest.
At the core is a simple commitment: keep Sedona clean, green, sustainable, and serene, while protecting the natural resources that make this a beautiful place to call home.
Fiscal Accountability
I will continue driving strong fiscal stewardship — coming in under budget, growing city reserves, tightening fiscal policies where appropriate, and reducing interest costs by paying down debt when it makes sense.
I’ll also keep pressing the Council working group to finalize performance metrics, build a public dashboard, and define the scope for external audits, ensuring transparency and responsible oversight. We’ve already updated more than ten fiscal policies to strengthen accountability and clarify asset management.
In closing
If I’m re‑elected, I’ll keep working to strengthen our community and deepen our shared identity, because Sedona is at its best when we move forward together.
I’ll work with residents and businesses to make our shuttles more effective, so more cars stay parked, and our streets stay quieter. I’ll continue championing projects that keep Sedona clean, green, resilient, and sustainable, protecting the natural beauty and peaceful character that define us.
I’ll support responsible investments safeguarding our land and ensuring Sedona remains a place where nature and community thrive side by side.
And I’ll push for a clear, transparent government — with strong performance metrics, outside audits, and easy‑to‑understand dashboards helping everyone see how decisions are made, dollars are spent, and goals are met.
I believe in a vibrant Sedona where families, entrepreneurs, artists, seniors, and visitors all thrive, inspired by the Red Rocks.
If you see that same future, I invite you to join me — not just in re‑electing me, but in actively shaping the next chapter of Sedona together.
Visit www.melissadunnsedona.com for more details on my thoughts