|
Welcome to the City of Sedona's monthly newsletter! This newsletter keeps residents informed on City happenings and is packed with accomplishments, news and events.
City Council Recap
Below are the highlights of the July City Council meetings and some decisions that may interest you:
- On July 8, 2025, City Council approved $350,000 in grant funding for 29 local 501c3 non-profit organizations through the Small Grants Program. 40% of the budget funding is designated for the arts, 40% is designated for social services and 20% is designated by the committee's discretion. Eligible programs, activities or events include those that promote public health, safety, general welfare and/or foster the well-being and prosperity of the city and its residents. The funding cycle for fiscal year 2027 will begin in February 2026.
- On July 8, 2025, City Council heard an update on the Greater Sedona Recreation Collaborative’s (GSRC) proposed strategies, accomplishments, funding of current projects, and possible next steps for improved management and mitigation of impacts of motorized recreational uses in the Sedona area, including completing of a 1-year vehicle observation study and continuing to seek increased enforcement of off-highway vehicles.
- On July 8, 2025, City Council approved a Construction Contract for the Little Horse Shared-Use Pathway Improvements Project on SR 179 from Indian Cliffs Road to Little Horse Trailhead parking lot, in an amount not to exceed $160,724.40. The project is located on the east side of SR 179, runs 825 feet and will formalize the social trail that currently exists. The project includes a concrete pathway, reseeding of the area with native plants and trees, and other drainage improvements, and will increase walkability and bikeability, reduce traffic and improve safety.
- On July 9, 2025, City Council heard an update on the Wastewater Reclamation Plant (WWRP) Facility Plan which addresses treatment capacity, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) treatment, and possible options for reclaimed water delivery and Advanced Water Purification (AWP). Staff presented how the options were evaluated and scored, gave conceptual financial estimates on five possible options for future effluent management, with options ranging from adding injection wells to implementing AWP and potable delivery back to Sedona. Future steps may include incorporating alternatives into water policy, and involve coordination with Arizona Water Company, or further developing the capital improvement plan. Council directed staff to complete a soil study on the Dells property which is currently irrigated with reclaimed water to determine if soil remediation would be necessary to develop the land, and to begin the framework for partnerships in water policy for Council to consider later in 2025.
- On July 28, 2025, City Council approved an extra $50,000 in advertising to add to the current summer destination marketing campaign. Staff brought this to Council after seeing a slower than normal July for most businesses. The funding was allocated to attribution based digital and CTV ads, Meta (Facebook/Instagram) ads, paid Google Search, and a digital banner advertisement in terminal 4 at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport above the escalator into baggage claim.
|
Rumor Mill
Recently, the Arizona Corporation Commission made the decision to charge only Arizona Water Company customers in the City of Sedona for the incremental costs, or $6 million, for the new 1.5-million-gallon underground water tank and associated house that was built on top of the tank, located on State Route 179 near West Mallard Drive. The entire northern district, which includes customers in several northern Arizona communities such as Sedona, Pinetop Lakes, and Munds Park will share the non-incremental costs of the water tank, or $14 million, rather than the entire $20 million cost.
While the City is supportive of additional water infrastructure to accommodate community needs, the City did not agree with this decision to charge more to the Sedona customers and made that clear to the Commissioners ahead of and during the Commission meeting.
Furthermore, the neighbors requested the water tank be underground and Arizona Water Company proposed an underground tank and a house on top as part of their permit application to the City. The City does not and has never required that water storage tanks be located underground. Nor did the City require that it be camouflaged to look like a house. Arizona Water Company chose to purchase a residential parcel for the water tank, after other attempts to find a suitable location over many years failed. The City had no reason to deny the request for an underground tank or the house on top of the tank, as this was proposed by Arizona Water Company.
The Commission’s decision is unprecedented and contrary to the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge who held a multi-day hearing. In all other rate case decisions, the Commission has required the cost of all infrastructure improvements, regardless of location or cost, to be shared equally by all customers in a consolidated rate group, ensuring that all customers receive the same rate increase.
Based on precedent and fairness, the City urged the Commission to apply the same rate increase to all customers in the northern district, as recommended by the Administrative Law Judge. If you would like to reach out to the Arizona Corporation Commission, you may do so electronically. Alternately, you may send a letter to: Arizona Corporation Commission, Consumer Services Section, 1200 West Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007. The docket number to reference is W-01445A-24-0117.
Additionally, residents can consider also communicating with Arizona Water Company before Aug. 26, 2025 to request reconsideration by the ACC, particularly on these points:
- The charge should be a surcharge that very clearly expires rather than an amortized rate schedule that will be on bills for up to 50 years.
- The ACC should reconsider that the $6 million should be paid exclusively by Sedona customers. Instead, it should be spread out among all the northern district.
- The costs to the rate payer should be the $4.6 million, because that is what Arizona Water Company indicated were the incremental costs, not the $6 million.
|
Events
|
News
|
Spread the Word
Want your friends, family, and neighbors to receive this newsletter? Have them subscribe by checking the Monthly Newsletter Round Up button under News.
Questions, comments, or feedback? Please contact Kegn Hall, Public Relations Analyst.
|
Follow Us on Social Media
  
|
|
|
|
