It has been a privilege serving our Sedona community as a city council member for the last four years. My 30-year background in government and community service helped prepare me for the role, but nothing can substitute for on-the job training.
Sedona is a unique community. Our stunning landscape provides us with a daily sense of wonder. At the same time, we are sometimes stuck in traffic, have a shortage of housing for families and our workforce and struggle to find the balance between supporting our robust economy, funded largely by tourism and the burden that over-visitation places on our natural environment. During my four years on council significant progress has been made in addressing these challenges.
The city has implemented trailhead shuttles to alleviate parking congestion on residential streets, made Uptown road design changes to improve vehicle flow and is in the middle of two large infrastructure projects designed to improve traffic.
The SR 179 pedestrian underpass in the vicinity of Tlaquepaque will provide an alternative to the street level crossing that sometimes halts traffic. Once we have usage data, we can make a case to Arizona Department of Transportation for limiting the street grade crossing. The underpass path will be not only a safe but also a pleasant way to cross the state highway.
The Forest Road connection will provide an alternate route around the “Y” for cars traveling between Uptown and West Sedona. Not only will this alleviate traffic backups, but it provides an important alternative route should we have an emergency situation.
One of my first acts as a new council member four years ago was to push the city to prioritize focusing on emergency preparedness and evacuation and re-entry planning. Working with a dedicated group of residents, we championed the need for an all-hazards, multi-agency emergency plan that is now a model for other plans in the state.
I was also successful in securing support to expedite the buildout of the Ranger Station Park on Brewer Road. That park will offer innovative active and passive recreation opportunities for children and for adults.
Arts, culture, recreation and social gathering opportunities are important to the health and vibrancy of our community. I am happy to report that eight new Pickleball courts are currently under construction, the swimming pool is offering more programs than before, new playground equipment and shade structures are in place and our dog park has been expanded and the Yappy Hour program preserved.
It is important to not just state what has been accomplished, but to look forward and be proactive in addressing the needs of our community. That is why I believe that planning projects need robust community input and participation. I feel there is always an opportunity to improve communication between city government and community members. Strong relationships with other government agencies are vital to our success on many projects.
Protecting our natural, physical, social and financial resources is of paramount importance. If reelected, I will continue my dedication to that vision.
Editor’s Note:
This is an essay written by the candidate with only minimal edits to punctuation and capitalization. There are three open seats on Sedona City Council in the 2024 election. Incumbent Sedona City Councilwoman Kathy Kinsella, challenger Derek Pfaff, incumbent Sedona Vice Mayor Holli Ploog and challenger Katherine Todd are the four candidates campaigning for three seats. Election day is Tuesday, July 30.
