Sedona City Council verbally committed to joining a regional recreation trails task force and making Sedona a bicycle-friendly community Wednesday, Jan. 24.

Sedona City Council verbally committed to joining a regional recreation trails task force and making Sedona a bicycle-friendly community Wednesday, Jan. 24.

Councilman John Bradshaw was absent.

“We need to jump on it and start the conversation as soon as possible,” Councilman Ramon Gomez said.

Cottonwood City Councilman Bob Rothrock presented a regional plan to Sedona City Council aimed at forming a Regional Trails Committee for the Verde Valley.

The committee would assess current trails, plan future trails, provide consistency in signage and create maps for the entire Verde Valley.

Council members said they are ready to hop on board.

“If we don’t participate, this thing is doomed to fail from the start,” Councilman Harvey Stearn said.

Sedona is a leader in the Verde Valley, council members agreed, when it comes to recreational trails.

The committee will meet once or twice a month and consist of one representative from each of the supporting agencies.

Rothrock presented a resolution to council members committing them to join the committee.

City Manager Eric Levitt said the resolution will appear on council’s consent agenda in February.

In the meantime, Rothrock plans to visit other city councils and county boards in the Verde Valley to gain support.

Following Rothrock’s presentation on recreational trails, the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition addressed Sedona’s lack of infrastructure for alternative transportation.

Council told VVCC President Dan Paduchouski it is ready to take steps to make Sedona a bicycle-friendly community.

It’s embarrassing that Sedona roadways don’t allow for biking, Gomez said, based on how the city claims to be health and outdoor oriented.

The first step, council and VVCC agreed, is incorporating bicycle lanes on Hwy. 89A in West Sedona.

Paduchouski said ADOT is on board with VVCC and installing bike lanes shouldn’t be a problem when the road is re-striped next.

Levitt said this should be in the next few years.

From there, more work needs to be done, according to Paduchouski.

Paduchouski showed council what Tucson has done, including construction of bicycle- and pedestrian-only bridges across major roadways and encouraging children to walk or bike to school.

In Sedona, Councilwoman Nancy Scagnelli said she’s sure few children can safely walk or bike to school. Alternative transportation to school is something she wants to see happen.

VVCC devised The Sedona Bicycle Plan to help the city work toward becoming bicycle friendly.

Currently, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department is reviewing the plan before the Parks and Recreation Commission considers it for recommendation.

After city staff and various city commissions review the plan, it will come to council for final consideration.