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Sedona council backs pilot sustainability programs as staff seeks more design details
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Summary
Council discussed several FY27 sustainability decision packages — a graduate internship pilot with NAU, a residential composting pilot and a tree‑planting program — and asked staff to return with clearer cost breakdowns, success metrics and equity safeguards before finalizing funding.
Sedona’s City Council spent a large portion of its April 22 budget work session debating several sustainability decision packages proposed for fiscal year 2027, including a pilot graduate internship with Northern Arizona University, a door‑to‑door residential composting pilot and a neighborhood tree‑planting program.
Deputy City Manager Barbara Whitehorn and Bridal Beck, the city’s sustainability manager, told the council the NAU internship would replace some functions previously performed through AmeriCorps VISTA and would cost about $25,000 for a one‑year pilot. Beck said the intern would focus on connecting residents with programs such as the state Efficiency Arizona effort and help residents complete cumbersome applications, including in‑person outreach and workshops. "What we're looking for here . . . is to be able to connect more residents with various programs," Beck said.
Councilors pressed staff on costs and outcomes. Several members asked how the pilot’s $25,000 price compared with the VISTA program, whether the internship would be paid and how success would be measured. Staff said the VISTA match previously covered roughly $14,000 of the cost, which is why the pilot’s estimated budget is higher, and that engagement counts and participant surveys would be used to evaluate the program.
On composting, staff proposed a door‑to‑door service tied to income‑based qualifiers to improve access for lower‑income households and to divert food waste from landfills. Beck said the vendor pricing is consistent with current residential rates and the city would pursue better procurement terms during negotiations. Council members asked whether the city‑funded service would simply cannibalize existing subscriptions; staff replied they expect a modest net increase in participation because centralized drop‑off at Posse Grounds has limited uptake and door‑to‑door pickup reduces the friction of hauling compost.
The council also questioned a proposed residential tree‑planting pilot — 50 households receiving about two 15‑gallon, desert‑adapted shade trees each, with a roughly $84,000 package for the 100 trees. Beck said the $840 per‑tree figure covers purchase, planting and establishment; councilors pressed whether irrigation and long‑term maintenance were included and whether volunteers or local arborists could reduce costs. Beck said vendors would inspect each site and the pilot is intended to test assumptions and refine costs before a broader program.
Annette, the staff lead for budget deliberations, recommended approving modest funding to explore these pilots and asked the council to allow staff to return with implementation plans and refined procurement terms. No final appropriation was recorded during the session; council members requested clearer metrics, vendor procurement strategies and equity safeguards before taking final budget action.
