With the 2018 election season in full swing, those vying for seats on the Sedona City Council were asked a variety of questions pertaining to issues facing the city — both today and in the future.
Jessica Williamson
Age: 72
Occupation: Retired New York City public employee
Number of years in Sedona: 15 years
Q: What made you decide to run for city council?
I am running for Sedona City Council because we need to maintain the balance between residents, businesses and visitors. We all belong in Sedona. Most of us were visitors before we were residents, and many business owners are also Sedona residents. We are in this together. The problems we have must be addressed by a council that acknowledges the problems and is committed to moving ahead to tackle the challenges for the well-being of the community.
My sense is that people in the community are feeling overwhelmed by change. Sedona is more developed, there’s more traffic, and sometimes it just feels like the changes are accelerating. Going back to an earlier time might be appealing, but I suspect that most of us know that’s not really an option.
We must proactively manage the change we’re seeing. It’s not an easy task, but it can be done. It requires council members who will make the hard decisions that are necessary for our future.
Q: Which of the city’s Sedona in Motion traffic projects would you prioritize, and which do you see as least important?
The road work in Uptown is a priority because it will address traffic back-ups into Oak Creek Canyon and reduce the random pedestrians jaywalking, which impedes traffic flow. Pedestrian bridges over State Route 89A in Uptown are under review now. The roadway portion of the project is in design and construction and will start in 2019. In the meantime, yellow-shirt traffic agents will continue to be deployed to keep traffic moving.
Tourist-focused and commuter focused transit is also a priority for me. The city received a substantial grant to study and develop a touristfocused public bus/shuttle system. Ideally, we will have a system that takes tourists from a park-and-ride lot near the Red Rock Ranger Station through the Village of Oak Creek to Slide Rock State Park and other canyon destinations. It will also look at reducing parking in the canyon. For commuter transit, the current traffic plan includes expanding the Lynx bus service from Cottonwood to Sedona. Buses will run more often, and the hours will be extended to accommodate more employee commuters.
No single component of the plan will be sufficient to create the improvements in traffic flow that is anticipated. If the plan isn’t implemented, we as a community won’t realize the expected traffic improvements.
Q: The vocal minority is often the loudest voice in terms of city issues. How would you balance their concerns while at the same time doing what’s best for the silent majority?
A city councilor represents the entire community, not just the people we talk to every day, or the loudest voices we hear. We represent not only the people who voted for us, but those who don’t or can’t vote or show up at council meetings. For better or for worse, the council generally only hears from people only when they oppose something. For that reason, it’s important to consider the effects of council actions on the entire community, to consider the pros and the cons, long-term and shortterm, before making a decision that is in the best interests of the community as a whole.
Q: Aside from traffic, what are some of the other top issues?
Managing tourism is a major priority. Getting tourists out of their cars will require a robust and efficient shuttle system that will ferry tourists to Uptown, trailheads, restaurants, galleries, shops — wherever they want to go. In addition to keeping cars off the road, shuttles would reduce traffic and parking in neighborhoods near trailheads.
Local control is an issue I feel very strongly about. Sedona residents deserve the right to manage our own affairs without the state interfering in what should be local decisions. Airbnbs are only the latest example of state interference. Ordering cities to allow unlimited Airbnbs and prohibiting us from regulating them in any way is irresponsible.
Q: If up to you, how would you grow Sedona’s economy?
Sedona’s primary economy is hospitality based, and that will likely continue. Hospitality supports about 10,000 jobs, and visitors contribute 66 percent of the city’s sales and bed tax revenue. But diversifying the economy would be good for the community, and I think medical and wellness services are promising avenues for Sedona to explore. I know that the Sedona Medical Center is becoming known as a chemotherapy center, and I think adjacent wellness and health facilities would make sense. The city has been talking with the hospital about that, and I think that kind of development would diversify the economy and provide higher paying jobs for residents.
Q: Why should Home Rule pass or fail?
I support local control and selfdetermination. I support Home Rule and the ability of Sedona to spend the revenue the city has to provide services to Sedona residents.
Ron Eland can be reached at 282-7795 ext. 122, or email reland@larsonnewspapers.com
