Sedona City Council met Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 4:30 p.m. for its regular meeting. Items include:

2008-09 budget goals, Trash haulers, Federal funds, Oak Creek Cliffs

Sedona City Council met Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 4:30 p.m. for its regular meeting.

Items include:

2008-09 budget goals

* No action taken.

Council asked City Manager Eric Levitt to provide budget options to keep the city’s budget balanced over the next two to five years. Council members said they want to avoid going into the red or tapping into reserves.

Trash haulers

*  No action taken.

Patriot, Taylor Waste and Verde Earthworks told council they oppose the city franchising trash pick-up within city limits. Council expressed interest in encouraging recycling pick-up with trash pick-up.

Federal funds

*  No action taken.

Michelle Marino, the Washington, D.C., lobbyist hired to pursue federal earmarks for Sedona, appeared before council to hear its wish lists for the coming year. Marino already obtained $564,000 for a regional dispatch system. Items on council’s priority list included alternate route and streetscaping.

Oak Creek Cliffs

*  Item deferred.

Bruce Tobias was unwilling to guarantee an amount he would contribute for the city to purchase the condemn the property and construct a new bridge at Oak Creek Cliffs.

Some council members felt the $4 million to $6 million the city’s involvement may cost should be spent on projects that benefit a larger portion of the population.

Trista Steers and Susan Johnson

Larson Newspapers