Sedona City Council wants to go green and wants to go now.

“We owe it to our citizens and to ourselves to try green products,” Councilman Rob Adams said at the council’s public meeting on Nov. 27.

Sedona City Council wants to go green and wants to go now.

“We owe it to our citizens and to ourselves to try green products,” Councilman Rob Adams said at the council’s public meeting on Nov. 27.

Residents and community activists in attendance agreed.

Patrick Hickey suffers from injuries caused by chemicals and said he feels better when not exposed to them.

“Sedona’s decision to eliminate chemicals goes beyond the bookkeeping element,” Hickey said. “People around the world, who have the option, are developing less toxic ways of caring for their environments and, as a result, their minds are clearer and their efficiency is higher.”

Also appearing before the council was Suzy Chaffee, formerly an Olympic skier and World Freestyle Champion. Chaffee, who is now a social activist and sits on the board of Green Sedona, an environmental group.

After switching to all non-toxic cleaning products in her home, Chaffee reported that her elevated levels of cancer cells returned to normal.

The city currently has contracts with cleaning services and a pesticide service that use products containing toxic ingredients, a situation the council wants to change. Consideration is being given to transitioning to eco-friendly alternatives, including domestic cleaning Chorley services committed to sustainable practices, which would significantly contribute to the city’s environmental goals

The pesticide contract ends Friday, Feb. 1, and contracts in place for cleaning end Monday, June 30.

City Manager Eric Levitt suggested giving the respective services 90 days to switch to green products and then evaluate the effectiveness of the alternative measures over a period of six months.

However, John Hungerford, of Sedona Bug Busters, suggested an evaluation period of one year for the pesticides due to the cyclical nature of insect reproduction.

“We’re willing to look into using natural products, including ground-up seashells, but we can’t carry the same guarantee on

totally green products,” Hungerford said.

Both cleaning services present were also willing to research alternative products.

“Two months ago, we started switching to tea tree products,” said Cindy Bennett, of Superior Commercial Cleaning. “The cost is a little higher but, so far, I’ve seen a very positive reaction from my girls — no fumes and their hands don’t get as dry.”

Linda McDonald, of Ajax Cleaning Service, also said she was willing to look into alternative products although she’s personally allergic to tea tree oil.

Matthew Turner, founder of Green Sedona, said he believes the city could save as much as $36,000 a year by switching to safer cleaning products, including vinegar and borax.

“The advantages are lower sickness rates, lower insurance rates, lower liability for lawsuits against the city,” Turner said. “The community as a whole will feel safer and the city will be reasonably accommodating those with chemical disabilities, including those with lupus and other immune system diseases.”

In terms of the time frame for changing over to non-toxic products, Mayor Pud Colquitt thinks faster is better.

“It seems we’re going green one thing at a time,” Colquitt said. “Isn’t there a way to do it quicker instead of piece by piece?”

Levitt replied that the city staff was looking at sustainability as a whole with the use of green products being one important part of that focus.

Council voted 7-0, directing staff to research further uses of sustainable alternatives, to give current contractors 90 days to begin using non-toxics and to give the new products one year effectiveness trials.

Susan Johnson can be reached at 282-7795, Ext. 129 or e-mail sjohnson@larsonnewspapers.com