With stay-at-home and social distancing measures still in place, the state is seeking input from town and city officials around Arizona as to how — when the time is right — to get the economy back on its feet.

That topic, along with others, was the focus of the Sedona City Council meeting Tuesday, April 14, which was unlike any other conducted by the city. As a way to adhere to social distancing, each of the members of council, along with City Manager Justin Clifton and City Attorney Robert Pickels, used Zoom, a video conferencing program, to conduct the meeting. 

A question that has often come up at the city, state and local level is when things might get back to normal. At this point, it’s anyone’s guess.

“That’s a very popular topic — what’s going on with restrictions, clarity on what’s restricted and when will things be opening up?” Clifton said. “I have not heard any clarity, especially with regards to dates or what a rolling reopening may look like.

“Generally, among constituents and people on these calls [with state officials] some are either urging greater caution, move slowly, restrict more and protect lives. Or, it’s the opposite, in that the economic consequences are equally, if not more dire, than the health crisis associated with COVID-19 and that we really need to find a way to reopen.”

Despite discussion at the state level, Clifton said he has not been given even a glimpse as to what that may mean in terms of a date other than Thursday, April 30, or for that matter, when Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s executive order urging residents to stay at home and limiting “essential” businesses will be lifted.

The order set to expire in Arizona on Thursday, April 30.

On those same lines, in terms of when the economy is reopened, Councilwoman Jessica Williamson said she’s been asked many times if Sedona will have a say in the matter and what will be the determining factors when doing so.

“It’s not crystal clear but if I were to read between the lines and extrapolate what’s in the executive orders, I’d say the state is going to make that call,” Clifton said. “But I think the door remains open that the state may say, ‘We’re prepared to lift the stay-at-home order and maybe even grant a certain amount of latitude to cities and towns.’ They have not said they won’t do that.” 

For now, there is no criteria or time frame in place but businesses have requested as much notice as possible.

The city communicates with state and county health departments, hospitals, other health care providers, emergency responders, emergency managers and policy experts, Clifton said, focusing on:

• Testing supplies, protocols and results.
• Hospital and health care capacity and planning.
• Planning and starting up new testing centers, quarantine sites and mobile medical care facilities.
• Mobilizing additional resources including personal protective equipment.
• Clarifying rules and regulations regarding state and local orders and proclamations.
• Clarifying support resources including federal and state funds and local nonprofit programs.

Clifton said while significant staff resources are dedicated to the COVID-19 response, many departments maintain steady work. All essential services continue and even nonessential but important functions like building and development permitting and inspections also continue. Capital projects are proceeding at a relatively normal pace, although some staff shortages have created some delays, he said.