The city of Sedona is asking the community to help it out — from the comfort of their own homes.
The city is in the process of creating its first Climate Action Plan. As part of it, the city asks the community to take part in an online survey as well as participate in a trio of online open houses.
“The plan represents our city’s determination to protect our community well-being for ourselves and future generations,” McKenzie Jones, the city’s sustainability coordinator, said. “The CAP will be a road map that identifies actions that the community will take to reduce carbon pollution and adapt to climate change.”
Sedona’s plan will help build resilience to risks like flooding, wildfires and extreme heat, she said. As buildings and transportation are the largest sources of carbon pollution, strategies to reduce carbon pollution often include increasing renewable energy generation, moving toward electrified transportation, implementing energy efficiency measures in commercial and residential buildings, and creating more walkable and bikeable communities.
“The purpose of the survey is to better understand the community’s priorities for reducing carbon pollution and increasing resilience,” Jones said.
Before COVID-19, the city planned to host open houses on the plan in the spring. But, the pandemic has shifted the way the city engages the community. As a result, they are adapting to the new situation and conducting the community engagement process virtually.
“The plan can help chart a path to recover in a way that is healthy for our community and protects what we love about Sedona,” she said. “We appreciate people taking time during these challenging times to share their thoughts and help envision a healthy future for Sedona.”
Community members can register for an open house at sedonaaz.gov/climate, where they will receive an invitation to a Zoom meeting. There will be a 20-minute staff presentation at the beginning and then time for questions and answers after the presentation. Later this summer, the city will host additional open houses to discuss which actions are appropriate for our community.
The public can attend a virtual open house on:
— Monday, June 8, from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m.
— Tuesday, June 9, from 10 to 11:15 a.m.
— Thursday, June 11, from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.
A final draft of the plan is estimated to be completed in late fall 2020 and will be presented to the Sedona City Council for approval soon after.
The online survey will be open until June 18. To take it, sign up for a virtual open house or find more information on the Climate Action Plan, visit www. sedonaaz.gov/climate. If you have any questions, contact Jones at mjones@sedonaaz.gov.
