Residents push council to fund bike & pedestrian coordinator and historical society projects

Public commenters at SedonaCity Council's April 15 work session urged the council to prioritize active‑transportation staffing and local heritage funding during the budget process.

Evan Puglia, a volunteer bicycle coordinator and director of Wheel Fun, asked the council to create a full‑time bike and pedestrian coordinator post to advance school biking programs, finish projects such as Dante and Dry Creek, and manage the challenges posed by the rapid uptake of e‑bikes. "It's time to have someone who's really gonna focus on the details of this program," Puglia said.

Tracy Randall, president of the VVCC, and Lars Romig of the Liberty Bicycles Coalition echoed that point, stressing volunteer coordination, trail maintenance and safety details that require dedicated staff. "A full time role makes sense. It's practical," Randall said.

Several speakers connected their requests to local cultural preservation. Skip Daum and Becky Cruz, both connected with the Sedona Historical Society, asked council to continue funding the Sedona Heritage Museum. Kathy Levin, a Historical Society trustee, asked separately for capital support to improve Cook Cedar Glades Cemetery and a red‑rock wall at Jordan Historical Park to enhance safety and event capacity.

Why it matters: council decisions on these items will shape the city's capacity to manage growing multimodal infrastructure and to maintain cultural assets that draw both residents and tourists. Council directed staff to consider the requests during the budget review and to work with applicants on implementation details and alternative funding options such as matching grants.