Next to traffic, one of the most talked about topics in Sedona is affordable housing and the lack of it due to high costs and the proliferation of short-term vacation rentals.

It’s also become one of the Sedona City Council’s top priorities. During a budget hearing on Thursday, April 18, council took a step toward addressing that problem. One million steps to be exact.

“We should put our money where our mouth is on the affordable housing topic,” Councilman Bill Chisholm said.

He took things one step further and suggested adding an additional $1 million into the fund in the event a housing director is hired or if the city finds suitable land to purchase for housing. Council was asked to give a thumbs up if in favor and all but Councilman John Currivan and Vice Mayor John Martinez voted for a one-time transfer of $1 million from the general fund.

There’s currently around $500,000 in the housing fund, according to Finance Director Cherie Wright. Added to that will be anticipated funding from Paul Welker, developer of the Marriott Residence Inn. Last November, council unanimously approved the hotel and, as a community benefit, Welker agreed to give $625,000 to the city’s affordable housing fund at the time the building permit is issued and an additional

 $199,000 to the same fund upon receiving their certificate of occupancy. Wright said the $625,000 is expected to be given to the city during the coming fiscal year and the remainder in Fiscal Year 2020-21.

Once funds are received from Welker, the housing fund will sit at around $2.1 million for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins Monday, July 1.

“It’s allocated, so if there are things we can spend it on, it will be spent, but if we don’t find ways to spend it, it will still sit in the affordable housing fund, so it’s available in future years for that purpose,” City Manager Justin Clifton said. “Essentially it earmarks those funds that way.”

Councilwoman Jessica Williamson said if for some reason the city doesn’t receive the funds from the Marriott project, it’s even more imperative to allocate the $1 million into the housing fund.

“If the council’s primary concern is having the ability to move on these projects, supplement that amount with whatever it is you feel is appropriate,” Clifton said.

Ron Eland can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 122 or by email at reland@larsonnewspapers.com