Sedona leaders debate $125,000 for an action‑oriented Uptown CFA plan and quick implementation fund

Sedona planning staff asked the City Council to approve $125,000 to accelerate an action‑oriented Uptown community facilities and area (CFA) plan, proposing to spend about $50,000 on expanded data and renderings and reserve roughly $75,000 for small‑scale, tactical implementation projects.

Tony, the planning lead, said the study area will be substantially larger than the traditional Uptown boundary and would include the commercial corridor down toward Arabella. He described the CFA as implementation‑oriented: small, low‑cost "tactical" projects (temporary roadway cones, bench installations, test two‑way/one‑way changes) would be used to test ideas before making permanent investments. "If people bring up an idea, let's try something and see if it works," Tony said.

Councilors asked about the study area, whether residential pockets would be included, the balance between consulting fees and implementation dollars, and whether $75,000 for small projects is sufficient. Tony said staff could flip the allocation (more to implementation than data) if data needs proved smaller than expected. Several council members suggested paying for initial data from unused FY26 funds and returning with designs for additional spending if grant or contingency options are needed.

Tony said early data work and renderings could start quickly and implementation items could follow within months; longer‑lead, larger infrastructure actions would come after public engagement. Staff also said they plan robust public outreach with stakeholder interviews, business and resident sessions, and on‑the‑street observation to inform mobility, urban design and business cultivation strategies.

Council gave initial direction to proceed with data collection and develop a plan for rapid, visible pilot projects; final appropriation remains subject to the budget calendar and further staff follow‑up.