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| Michael Ward has submitted his application to replace Marc Sterling on the Sedona City Council |
by Mike Ward, Candidate for Sedona City Council
SEDONA, AZ (June 5, 2009) - No, I have not disappeared, like some might hope. I have been busy clarifying information. Below is my position statement on the Alternate Route (Red Rock Crossing). Because of our schedules, Chip Davis and I were unable to speak until this past Tuesday. I wanted to be clear about the position of Yavapai County on the issue. Today he was able to respond to what I wrote regarding our conversation so it is ready for distribution.
I am also
nearly done with position statements on "Affordable
Housing" in Sedona, and on the current ADU proposal
that is in the process of review. I need, however,
to check out the facts that I received from people
to make sure that I did not misconstrue anything.
As many of you are aware, the Council will be
appointing a replacement for Marc Sterling who
recently resigned from the Council. I have submitted
an application and the interviews are being set for
the week of June 22nd.
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The History of Red Rock Crossing and
an Alternate Route 1993 - Citizens for an Alternate Route (CFAR) organized to promote a new high bridge to replace the missing slab. 1996 - Yavapai County unveils a Red Rock Crossing bridge design for public review. A Memorandum of Understanding is signed by Yavapai County and Forest Service; and Environmental Impact Study funding is approved by Board of Supervisors. 1998 – After opposition for the bridge by the Sierra Club and several local organizations, the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors votes to withdraw from the bridge project, citing escalating costs. 1998-2000 - CFR files a lawsuit in Maricopa Superior Court to force Yavapai County to build the bridge. The Superior Court dismissed the lawsuit and following unsuccessful appeals in the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court the case was settled. 2000 - CFAR’s candidate for the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors is defeated by the incumbent, Chip Davis. 2001 – FR 120 (Beaverhead Flat Road) is improved and paved by the county to provide an alternate route to Cottonwood connecting SR 179 and Cornville Road. 2003 - CFAR announces the results of its recent public opinion survey, claiming a sizeable majority of Sedona residents favor a Red Rock Crossing route. 2004 - CFAR receives support for a alternate route from the Big Park Regional Coordinating Council’s Transportation Committee and the Sedona City Council. 2005 - The Sedona City Council proposes an alternate route, extending Upper Red Rock Loop Road to a point near Mystic Hills and Poco Diablo Resort. Following a joint work session between The Sedona City Council and Sedona Fire District Governing Board, The Sedona Fire District Board decides to become involved and approves spending up to $10,000 to see if it should get further involved in the NEPA process. 2006 – The Sedona City Council hired EDAW for $70,000 to evaluate five possible alternate routes, and to find out whether data existed to justify need for a city-initiated National Environmental Policy Act study. 2007 – ADOT begins a three project to improve traffic flow and safety on SR 179 between the Village of Oak Creek and the “Y” at the intersection of SR 179 and SR 89A. 2008 - A private bridge over Oak Creek downstream from the old Red Rock Crossing site is constructed to serve a housing development. The Sedona Fire District secured permission for emergency vehicle use of the private bridge to provide emergency access between Verde Valley School Road and Upper Red Rock Loop Road. March 2008 – EDAW reported to the Sedona City Council that of the five options, the alternate route at Red Rock Crossing was the most viable option and that the route using city roadways near Mystic Hills and Poco Diablo Resort was less feasible. |
It is also my understanding that John Bradshaw has declared himself a candidate for mayor next spring. That will mean that he will have to resign from the Council leaving a two year term to be filled in, all probability, by appointment by the Council majority.
I do not pretend to
know the political machinations that may be afoot,
but Tommy Acosta had an interesting editorial
analysis in this week’s Sedona Times. If you did not
receive the paper, the article should be on line at
sedonatimes.com in the next several days.
For many
years, a low water crossing on Oak Creek, known as
Red Rock Crossing, located near Crescent Moon Ranch
served to provide vehicle access between Verde
Valley School Road and Upper Red Rock Loop Road.
Vulnerable to being washed out, the crossing was
finally abandoned after the water level concrete
slab washed out in 1978. Since that time, interested
parties have petitioned Yavapai County to either
restore the crossing or construct an alternate route
utilizing a bridge.
Sedona City Council Position on the Alternate
Route
In 2006, the Sedona City Council, who according to
then Mayor Pud Colquitt, was elected, in part,
because of their support for an alternate route,
awarded EDAW/AECOM a $70,000 contract for a
feasibility study, to identify a cost effect
alternate route corridor and to find out whether
data existed to justify a city-initiated National
Environmental Policy Act study. In March 2008, the
consultant reported that option 3, a bridge at Red
Rock Crossing would be most feasible. No action has
been taken by the City Council to move forward on an
alternate route. Current Councilwomen Pud Colquitt
and Nancy Scagnelli are strong supporters of an
alternate route. Councilwoman Scagnelli was, prior
to her election to the City Council, president of
CFAR, a pro-alternate route citizen’s committee.
Yavapai County Position on the Alternative Route
In 1996, Yavapai commissioned a study by Dibble and
Associates in the amount of $138,897 to study
possible alternate routes including Red Rock
Crossing to connect the Village of Oak Creek with
the western edge of Sedona and Cottonwood. Among the
alternate routes that were identified including the
paving of Beaverhead Flat Road, traffic flow
improvements on SR 179, and placing a bridge at Red
Rock Crossing.
Yavapai County proposed a Red Rock Crossing bridge
design for public review. After organized opposition
for the bridge by the Sierra Club and several local
organizations, the Yavapai County Board of
Supervisors votes to withdraw from the bridge
project, citing escalating costs. The NEPA study
alone was estimated at $300,000.
At the behest of County Supervisor, Chip Davis,
Beaverhead Flat Road was paved and ADOT has since
constructed improvements on SR 179. According to
Supervisor Davis, there are no plans for the county
to include provisions for an alternate route in the
regional transportation plan and unless there is a
consensus among the local stakeholders in an
alternate route, the county is not like to consider
an alternate route.
My Position:
The land through which an alternate route and bridge
may be constructed lies entirely within the
jurisdiction of Yavapai County. Although the city of
Sedona is one of many stakeholders in the “alternate
route issue,” the Sedona City Council should not
invest any further city funds in planning or
feasibility studies, or take the lead role for an
alternate route.
Sources of information:
Sedona seeks alternate route to “Y” ….again:
http://www.sedona.biz/alternate-route-sedona0108.htm
Alternate Route report falls flat, supporters
undaunted:
http://sedona.biz/alternate-route-sedona0208.htm
Chip Davis, Yavapai County Supervisor
Readers' comments
#1 Gee, how could I have guessed! Anti everything from a person who has lived here a minimal amount of time. No surprise here.
#2 Wise decision.
The alternate route issue (aka Red Rock
Crossing) is our local version of the Middle
East Peace Process.
The odds of anything ever being agreed upon is
very unlikely.
Besides, as a practical matter, no money for
this project will be available in the foreseable
future.
Time to move on.
#3 Mike Ward would be a refreshing addition to
the Council. We have enough council members who
represent tourism, development, and real estate.
Mr. Ward has my vote.
Oh, wait. I don't get to vote, do I? The new
councillor will be appointed by the
representatives of the tourism, development, and
real estate industries. So much for change!
#4 A alternative red rock crossing is not needed
because it already exists.
A bridge connecting Red Rock Loop Rd to Verde
Valley School road was built a few years back by
the developer of LaMerra off of Loy Lane. Should
an emergency vehicle need to get through to VOC,
they may use this bridge.
Pedestrians and bicyclists can also use this
bridge.
Any further road developments in the Red Rock
Loop area are not needed nor are they wanted.
This area is outside of city limits and in
Yavaipi county. The traffic problem in uptown is
both within Sedona city limits and in Coconino
county. Why should the tranquility of rural
living be the price the Loop residents must pay
for the convenience of the elite few who would
benefit from having a red rock crossing? Can you
imagine the roar of traffic in the now peaceful
and extremely popular Crescent Moon State Park?
Let's not spend any more time or money on this
foolish project.
#5 #4 above is exactly right, I have seen and walked across the lovely bridge at La Merra. Our county Supervisor Chip Davis asked for safety vehicle accessibility, and Chip Davis got it. Emergency vehicles do not even have to stop at the gates blocking this bridge. The flashing lights on top of the emergency vehicle causes the gate to immediately open up. Some from the council majority have tried to create fear in Sedona by claiming that there are three routes in and out of Sedona. THERE ARE SIX: 89A north out of Uptown, 89A west out of West Sedona, the newly paved Boynton Pass Road west and away from the Dry Creek area Homes, Beaverhead Flat Road west out of the Village of Oak Creek, and the new bridge over Oak Creek connecting The Village of Oak Creek to West Sedona. And, #1 above is would appear to be a part of the current majority (it is called a slate) who wish to trade as much forest land as possible and build Sedona into a much larger city that most would not find pleasant... other than some of the pro-build business community who are a small minority of us Sedona residents. Not all businesses want to ruin Sedona for all time.
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