The city is gearing up for two important public meetings to discuss upcoming projects.

Community Plan

The Sedona Community Plan kickoff meeting, hosted by the city of Sedona Community Development Department and the Community Plan citizen work group, is slated for Wednesday, Sept. 7, beginning at 5 p.m. at the Sedona Performing Arts Center, for residents to learn about the plan and potential changes.

“There’s going to be a couple of interesting speakers to give you a good idea of what’s going on with the Community Plan update,” Councilman Jon “JT” Thompson said. “It’s a very important thing for our city every 10 years, and I would certainly urge everyone to be there.”

The update, required by Arizona state law every 10 years, began its initial public engagement a few months ago when the city sent out their resident survey. The survey showed traffic, affordable housing and environmental management to be the three most important issues to locals.

Speakers include longtime resident of Sedona and former City Community Development Director, John “J.J.” O’Brien, global economist and current chairman-elect of the Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization Tom Binnings and Northern Arizona University educational anthropologist professor Frances Riemer.

After Sedona’s population fell below 10,000 residents, Arizona state law doesn’t allow for a public vote, but the city’s development department aims to incorporate public opinion.

“This is an opportunity where people can learn about their opportunities to comment and participate in the development of this plan,” Councilwoman Jessica Williamson said. “So this is a really important kick off meeting for all of us, I think.”

Uptown Garage

The following night, Thursday, Sept. 8, at the Posse Grounds Hub from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., the city will host an open house on the Uptown Parking Garage project, slated to be complete by the summer of 2023.

“There’s no formal presentations, so it’s one of those things you can come anytime during those hours and there will be various stations where you can learn about the history of how the decision was made, built and so forth,” Thompson said. “And I’m sure there will be exhibits and other things too, so that’s definitely a good thing to come and look at as well.”

The city hopes residents will come out to the four-hour long open house to answer any lingering questions about the building itself and use.

“The project schedule is now estimating completion in the summer of 2023. Excavation is scheduled to start this summer and the bulk of activity is scheduled to occur during the winter through spring of 2023,” the city of Sedona’s public works director and assistant city manager Andy Dickey said.

Currently, the city plans for around 270 parking spots, located at 430 and 460 Forest Road. There will also be 10 available electric vehicle charging stations. Total estimated cost is over $18 million.