Sedona’s historic Ranger Station barn will be allowed to retain its historic character for the time being following a Feb. 11 Sedona City Council decision not to insulate and sheetrock the barn or install central heating and cooling equipment during its renovation as an event venue.

Parks and Recreation Manager Josh Frewin proposed two alternatives for the redevelopment to council. The first staff proposal would maintain the barn’s open air design to preserve its historic character.

“It keeps that barn feel that people are renting it for,” Frewin said. He added that leaving the barn in its current unfinished state would correspond to the Historic Preservation Commission’s preference for the site, reduce expenditure of public funds and increase rental opportunities for the air-conditioned rangers’ house next door, but that doing so might also limit rental opportunities in summer and winter.

The second option, Frewin said, would be to insulate the barn and install central heating and cooling equipment at a cost of roughly $80,000 for the insulation and $39,000 for the equipment. He said this would have the advantages of turning the barn into a year-round rental space more suitable for displaying art or artifacts, but would also cost more, reduce the “rustic and historic feel” of the barn and eliminate rental opportunities for events that would involve having the barn doors open to create an indoor-outdoor setting.

For comparison, Frewin said the Sedona Posse Grounds Hub generated $18,412 in revenue in fiscal year 2024 and $10,960 so far in revenue in FY25, while the Barbara Antonsen Memorial Park generated $8,037 in FY24 and $4,381 in FY25. Frewin told council that city staff shuts off the water to the pavilion from October through March, making it unavailable for use.

Councilwoman Kathy Kinsella asked if council could revisit the decision to install a climate control system later.

Facilities Maintenance Manager Larry Farhat said that staff could proceed with the project for now by simply installing ventilation fans and that there would be no cost difference to waiting, apart from any inflationary change. He also said that the city already has portable evaporative coolers that could be used to provide cooling for summer events.

“It would still provide that cover,” Director of Public Works Kurt Harris said with regard to the swamp coolers. “I think it’s a great option.”

Vice Mayor Holli Ploog asked about the possibility of installing a “mini-split” system, which Farhat agreed could also be done more cheaply and at a later date.

“A mini-split has an exterior presence,” Councilman Brian Fultz said.

Deputy City Manager Andy Dickey said that any centralized climate control system or mini-split installation would require a cut into the barn’s structure.

“If you are going to puncture a hole in the wall for a mini-split or for an HVAC unit, you’d actually have to go to both [the Historic Preservation Commission] and [the State Historic Preservation Office] to receive a finding of effect, which would be a determination after looking at the plans as to whether the planned incursion had any effect on the historical integrity of the building,” Sedona Historical Society president and HPC chairman Nate Meyers said. “Generally HVAC is one of those things that kind of goes through … but the examination does have to be done.”

Staff also proposed refinishing and polishing the barn’s concrete floor, which drew questions from Fultz and Ploog.

“That would be purely aesthetic,” Farhat said, adding that staff could skip that step if council so desired. “We would only save.” He estimated that the cost of refinishing the floor would be between $15,000 and $18,000.

“It’s an investment we wanted to do to make it look nice,” Harris said.

“My preference is option one and not even touch the floor,” Fultz said. “Don’t even both spending money on that. If we’re talking about maintaining its historic character, why even touch the floor?”

“I’d wait to see whether or not it’s used and how it’s used, Dunn said. “I thought it was really cool that it smelled like an old barn, because that’s part of its context.” She suggested the smell would help make the barn an appropriate setting for a Halloween party or line dance.

“Open air isn’t going to suffice eventually, or even initially,” Ploog said, but added that she didn’t want to hold up the project. “I think I would be inclined to support the floor.”

“I don’t want to spend $120,000 to climate control a barn. It’s a barn,” Pfaff said. “Leave it alone, make it look nice … we can always change it later.”

“I too like the old barn aroma,” Furman said. “I think I favor the wait-and-see approach as well.”

“If we want to improve the smell of the barn, I propose we bring in some chickens and goats,” Kinsella suggested. “I think the main thing is that we proceed and get going … I do like the idea of the evaporative coolers.”

“I think we should open it up now, look toward some thing, mini-splits or AC,” Mayor Scott Jablow said.

Council agreed to revisit heating and cooling options for the barn next year after surveying users to see what changes they would like made but to proceed with having the floor polished in the meantime.