City Council Recap

Below are the highlights of the April City Council meetings and some decisions that may interest you:

• On Apr. 8, 2025, City Council unanimously voted to reallocate the $875,638 Arizona Department of Housing’s (ADOH) Homeless Shelter and Services Fund grant back to ADOH for redistribution to a qualified non-profit to manage a program independently from the City, for the entire Verde Valley. The grant will be used to assist local housing instability and expand services for vulnerable populations. 
• On Apr. 8, 2025, City Council unanimously voted to amend the Rent Local Program to raise the monthly rental cap for residents housing local workforce tenants from $2,200 to $2,500 for a three-bedroom home, to better align with current market rates and to encourage more homeowners to participate. The Rent Local Program is for City residents who rent their homes as short-term rentals. To participate and to receive a cash incentive of up to $10,000 a year, residents are to convert their short-term rental to a long-term rental without exceeding the monthly rental cap for the property type.  
• On Apr. 8, 2025, City Council approved an agreement between the Sedona Police Department (SPD) and Zetron, Inc., in the amount of $1,107,587.30 for radio infrastructure which will improve coverage and radio reception. SPD will now switch from the analog system to a new digital network to enhance our radio system to meet the functional and operational needs of the officers. A digital network will significantly expand SPD coverage and greatly improve emergency response capabilities. Modifying the current Radio Infrastructure to align with Sedona Fire District’s radio infrastructure improvement project will allow both systems to be built and calibrated for optimal frequency efficiency.
• On April 15, 2025, the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) discussed the preferred concept map for the Western Gateway Master Plan with staff and Dig Studio, the City's consultant for the project. P&Z discussed preferred uses, housing types, heights, density, and desired community amenities. In addition, P&Z reviewed written comments and heard public testimony at the Work Session. Dig Studio and staff will use the feedback provided at that meeting to further refine the draft Master Plan. Public input is welcomed and valued throughout the next stages of plan review and development, including:
  • A second Work Session with P&Z on May 20. Staff will facilitate discussion around the tradeoffs with housing, parking, community space and commercial space.
  • One more Public Hearing with P&Z is scheduled for June 17 so that they can make a recommendation to City Council about the draft Master Plan.
  • A Work Session with City Council scheduled for July 9 for them to review the plan, and give direction and feedback. 
  • Finally, a City Council Work Session scheduled for August 26 so they can approve or deny the draft Master Plan.
• On April 22, 2025, City Council unanimously approved amendments to the Land Development Code regarding sport courts on private property. Amendments include a separate use category and requirement of an approved Conditional Use Permit for sport courts, and standards for construction including setbacks, fences/walls, prohibition of rental of courts separate from the house, limiting the number of courts on a property and prohibiting lighting of courts.
• On April 22, 2025, City Council unanimously approved an increase of the original scope of work to the Uptown Road Improvements Project contract with Combs Construction Company, Inc. for paving SR 89A between Forest Road and Owenby Roundabout, in the amount of $684,178, which was increased from $230,100. The additional cost accounts for a more comprehensive paving method which will ensure the pavement is more durable to reducing future cracking. Paving is scheduled to take place between June 6-18 and will be completed at night to avoid peak traffic. The road paving is the final step of the Northbound Roadway Improvements Project.
• On April 22, 2025, City Council unanimously approved a construction contract with Pronghorn Services, LLC, for the Andante Shared-Use Path (SUP) and Drainage Improvements Project in the amount of $3,018,684. This bike/ped SUP is approximately 2,840 feet from SR 89A to Thunder Mountain Road and will consist of concrete with stamped concreate driveway crossings, improved stormwater drainage and underground conduit for future utilities. Construction will begin in May and is expected to be completed by November.
• On April 23, 2025, City Council heard an analysis of Short-Term Housing Rentals (STR) and the Impact on Housing Availability and Affordability in Sedona. The discussion provided the Council with independent data and policy recommendations that can be used at both the local and state level. The Council directed consultant Jim Rounds to complete the analysis and provide opportunities to address the challenges presented by the housing shortage and proliferation of STRs within the next few months.
• On April 23, 2025, City Council supported staff’s recommendation for the summer destination marketing strategy (set to begin May 15), educational messaging and destination management strategies, and heard a tourism update including results of the winter marketing campaign.
• On April 28, 2025, City Council approved the Villas on Shelby, a 30-unit affordable housing apartment complex, located at 2250 Shelby Drive. Rents will be based on incomes at 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), meaning rent for a 1-bedroom unit will be approximately $862 per month and rent for a 3-bedroom unit will be approximately $1,188 per month. Construction will begin in the next few weeks and is expected to take 12 months to complete. If you work in Sedona, watch for more information in the coming months on how to apply to rent a unit in 2026 as construction is nearing an end. This project came together with various funding sources to provide Sedona workforce housing opportunities, including the City’s contribution of the land and a $2,250,000 loan to the developer.
• On April 30 and May 1, 2025, City Council conducted their annual Budget Work Session for fiscal year 2025-2026. Council heard an overview of the upcoming fiscal year’s budget, an economic outlook and financial state of the City, community input from the Citizen’s Budget Work Group, operating budgets and decision packages, and other budget initiatives. Some major decisions approved by City Council include nine new sworn-in positions at the Sedona Police Department, a new $200,000 Large Grant Program and $2,000,000 set aside for housing contingencies. The Proposed draft budget for fiscal year 2026 is $104,095,518, which is $2M less than the fiscal year 2025 budget.

Did you know?

• ...evening hours of the Sedona Shuttle Connect have been extended to June 29? Sedona Shuttle Connect is an app-based on-demand service that provides shared-ride, on-demand transit Thursday through Sunday from 6:30 am - 8:30 pm.

Events

• The 2025 spring Red Dirt Concert Series is right around the corner! Join us every Friday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. in May at the Posse Grounds Pavilion at 525 Posse Grounds Rd. This year features a wide variety of free musical acts you won’t want to miss!
• Celebrating 30 years of creativity with Norther Arizona Watercolor Society, the city invites you to our next artist reception on Thursday, May 8, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers and the Vultee Conference Room at City Hall, where juried paintings created by members of Northern Arizona Watercolor Society are on display through August 27.
• The city will host the free Limited Collection Event on Saturday, May 10. This free event will allow community members to dispose of household electronics, batteries, medical waste, paper and more. Click here to learn more about waste that will and will not be accepted.
• The city of Sedona Sustainability Department in collaboration with Volunteer Sedona & the Verde Valley will host a free Volunteer Expo to connect interested community members to available volunteer opportunities, on Wednesday, May 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. at The Hub at Posse Grounds Park, located at 525-B Posse Grounds Road.
• Clean up your yard and reduce wildfire risk by disposing yard waste during the annual Curbside Yard Waste Collection which goes until May 15. To find you pick-up date and learn more about what is acceptable for collection, click here.

News

• The Ranger Station Park has been selected as the American Public Works Association’s Small Cities/Rural communities Public Works Projects of the Year in Historical Restoration/Preservation for 2025!
• Starting at 2:00 pm on May 12, drive on the newly completed Forest Road, a road that bypasses the “Y” roundabout if traveling to and from the Uptown area.
• Parking lots #5 and #9 in Uptown Sedona offers free parking all day long. There are four additional parking lots in Uptown that offer free parking for 3 hours. Check out our Uptown Parking Map and print it for visiting guests.

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