Menu
Log in
Log in


Sedona City Trails position - December 10th Council Meeting

18 Nov 2024 7:39 AM | Tracy Randall (Administrator)

VVCC has been lobbying Sedona City Council Members as well as City Staff to add a full-time position for a Sedona City Trails position for most of 2024. Here are the comments VVCC made at the Sedona City Council offsite meeting in April 2024.

While the City added a position, City Staff and Council Members have directed the position to focus the vast majority of their efforts on Parking with a small focus on ST&PS (Sedona Trails & Pathways System).

We have a potentially unique and timely opportunity to make our case again, as the part-time Bike Park maintenance position might become available, and we are recommending to Sedona City Council & Staff to make this a full-time position, which combines the Bike Park maintenance & ST&PS with the City Trails position recommended in April.

Please join us on December 10th @ 4:30pm @ Sedona City Council Chambers (102 Roadrunner Drive) to speak in support of this position during Open Public Comments or to just show up and show your support.

Here is the VVCC letter sent to the Sedona City Council members and City Staff on December 1st outlining the City Trails position.  

Here is the most recent letter sent to the City in relation to the Sedona Bike Park - December 5th.

Here is the letter sent to the City in relation to Western Gateway/Cultural Park planning - October 26th.

Here is the letter sent to the City in relation to Safe Place to Park - February 4th.

If you can not make the meeting, send your support for Sedona adding a City Trails position to the City Council Members, here.

In addition to these letters, here is some additional information to consider in regards to our Trail system.

  • Maintenance of the Red Rock Trail system is nearing $1 million annually. Federal appropriations covers less than 8% of that. The Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund is covering the vast majority of these costs with support from their donors and local volunteer events.
  • The Forest Service had a significant Budget shortfall this fiscal year. Without the support of Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund, Wheel Fun and the VVCC, the maintenance of our Trails would not be happening at its current pace.  We believe that this funding gap will be a challenge for the foreseeable future, so local solutions are needed to fund our Trails at a higher rate. Adequate federal funding and resources are not going to be there to give our Trails the maintenance and attention that is required.
  • Sedona currently brings in roughly $50M in revenues each year, largely from tourists enjoying the Trail system, and the City invests less than .5% of that revenue back into directly maintaining, managing and enhancing these Trails. 
    • The City directly donates to Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund through the Trail Keepers program
    • The City assists in financially supporting the full-time Forest Service - Red Rock Ranger District Trails/Wilderness/OHV Coordinator.
    • Sedona invests in a part-time Bike Park maintenance position.
  • There are mountains of evidence concerning the economic benefits of Trails.  While Sedona is reaping the financial benefit, the surrounding Forest Service trails and their connections to the City need to be an integral part of all City decisions and planning efforts to fully reap the benefits from these Trails.
  • Parking and roads are the City's main focus to combat congestion. We do appreciate & commend the City's investment in the Shuttle System, and we believe that an equal focus and investment in our Trails, trail connections, pathways (ST&PS) and Trail usage would reap more benefits!

Feel free to reach out with any questions or if you plan to speak and would like the 3-minute version VVCC plans to utilize at the meeting.

   
EVENTS




The VVCC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2003 (incorporated in March 2004) to promote road and mountain bike advocacy in, and around, the Verde Valley of Northern Arizona.


CONTACT US

Email: board@vvcc.us

  

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software