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Sedona council backs ‘Fire Safe Sedona’ outreach and mitigation program; staff to help residents pursue Firewise and IBHS certifications
Summary
City staff presented Fire Safe Sedona — a council‑directed program to increase wildfire resilience using Firewise USA and IBHS homeowner standards; council gave direction to begin community outreach, property assessments and a landing page while staff pursues grant/funding options.
Christian Santa Gonzalez, a senior planner for the City of Sedona, presented the Fire Safe Sedona program on June 23, describing it as a council directive intended to improve wildfire preparedness through resident education, outreach and support for mitigation certifications such as Firewise USA and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) Wildfire Prepared Home program.
Gonzalez said the program outlines five benefits: strengthen community wildfire resilience, support insurance stability, build partnerships with the Sedona Fire District and state agencies, enhance public safety awareness and deliver measurable progress through annual reporting. The draft program sets measurable targets including assisting two subdivisions to achieve Firewise certification, hosting an annual Wildfire Preparedness Day and holding four to eight educational events per year.
Staff explained how the two certification tracks differ: Firewise USA focuses on community/subdivision‑level mitigation while IBHS is a home‑level standard with two certification tiers and a $125 application cost for homeowners who choose to apply. Staff said State Farm currently recognizes IBHS and indicated the city is working with insurers and the state to broaden recognition.
Councilors asked about costs, equity and practical barriers. Staff said the initial online presence would be a modest landing page on the city website and that many services (property assessments, checklists, and community outreach) would be resource‑based; implementation could use categorical exclusions and, where needed, pursue grants and partnerships. Councilors asked staff to consider assistance for low‑income residents (subsidized green‑waste pickup or neighborhood‑specific slash removal) and to design outreach to short‑term‑rental and absentee owners.
Public commenters included Tim Perry, who strongly opposed staff proposals and characterized them as overreach; Sedona Fire Division Chief Kirk Bridal said Firewise assessments are voluntary and not proactively shared with insurers, and he encouraged homeowners to request assessments. Council consensus at the meeting was to give staff direction to proceed with community engagement and program rollout steps (public outreach, assessments and data reporting), with formal action to follow in a later, agendized item if necessary.
Staff also announced upcoming community briefings and partner events, including a public meeting in Sedona and a regional Community Wildfire Protection Plan drafting process that will inform targeted, data‑driven community risk priorities.
