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Sedona officials adopt Firewise as pilot for new community engagement model; council refines priority project list
Summary
Council reviewed a new six-step engagement model and backed using a Firewise neighborhood certification pilot to test the approach. Staff will seek two neighborhood certifications by next fiscal year and expand outreach techniques (HOA outreach, door-to-door signups) while recognizing insurers set their own underwriting criteria.
Sedona City Council spent significant time on Dec. 18 reviewing a newly developed six-step model staff proposed to manage and deliver the council’s policy priorities. City staff said they intend to pilot the model on specific projects in the coming year; the first pilot will be a Firewise neighborhood-certification effort.
The framework presented by staff outlines research, champion identification (staff, council and community champions), outreach and engagement, communications, and agreed performance measures to track progress. Council asked for regular check-ins and emphasized that pilot projects chosen for the model are not the only projects the city will pursue.
For Firewise, staff described outreach plans including HOA-first pilots, door-to-door sign-up pilots to avoid a single congested collection event, and training for city staff and volunteers; they reported 10 employees have completed Firewise assessments. The immediate goal is to have two neighborhoods certified as Firewise communities by the end of the next fiscal year. Staff cautioned that while Firewise measures reduce wildfire risk, the insurance industry uses proprietary criteria and any change in rates remains at insurers’ discretion.
Councilors asked that staff factor community amenities and a broader notion of "community" into prioritization; they also discussed linking small, visible neighborhood improvements (benches, shade structures) to the broader engagement model to build trust and momentum.
"This pilot gives us a way to test engagement and measure wins," a councilor said. Council requested staff return with an implementation plan, estimated costs and reporting cadence as the pilot moves forward.
