Vice President Pat Robles called the meeting to order at 9:00am.Steve Brazell of YCSO presented information on scams:

Since January of 2024, in the unincorporated areas of YC (not the cities),

reported losses to scammers was $11million, and this is likely only half of
actual losses.The most common holiday scams are:

Scams causing the biggest $$ losses in YC:

• You should contact YCSO even if you are not a victim of a scam so that
YCSO is aware of local scams.
• Scammers cannot be arrested – they don’t live here, they are worldwide
and part of criminal conglomerates.
• A handout was provided with 5 tips to always follow that thwart scammers;
it is available on the BPC website/newsletter.Paul Sullivan mentioned that there is a scam regarding holiday/birthday party
notifications that look innocuous (and realistic) where you are to download an
invitation. His antivirus didn’t allow the download, but the message is – beware!

Business Meeting:
1.Roll Call: By Secretary Bridget Bero at 9:30am. Seventeen members were
present and the requirement for a quorum was met.
2.Agenda – Pat Robles asked if there were any changes to the Agenda; there were
none. Dave Norton motioned to approve the agenda; Paul Sullivan seconded.
The agenda was approved at 9:33am with none opposed.
3.President’s Report:
a. Pat Robles reported that Dec 31is the close of the 2025 Operating Year.
b. Pat Robles mentioned that the next BPC meeting would be January 15 instead of the 8th to accommodate the holiday. This meeting will be via Zoom only.
c. Pat Robles reported on BPC Key Activities and Committee
Accomplishments throughout the year. A heartfelt thanks was expressed to these many folks who volunteer extra time for this work.Activities for community discussion and coordination:
• USFS: Paul Sullivan and Lisa Holly worked on a permit program to remove fuels from USFS lands adjacent to private property for wildfire mitigation; the APS Subcommittee (see below) worked on the APS 69kV transmission line project.
• ADOT/VVTPO: Dave Norton and Jeff Swan attended meetings resulting in I-17/Hwy179 safety improvements and worked on the 5-year transportation plan.
• SOCUSD: Carolyn Fisher and David Gill took the lead in developing a Position Paper on community involvement in the sale of the Big Park School property.
• VVREO: Developed a BEAD proposal for funding improved broadband.
• VVS: Provided the VVS Board with comments on the VVS Strategic Plan
• RRREMD: Successful repair of the Las Piedras roundabout. Art in the Roundabouts with SVP (Corrected Copy)

Note: The original BPC communication indicated that RRREMD funded the Village’s two Art in the Roundabout projects, which is incorrect. The funding for these projects was achieved by the Sedona Village Main Street Partnership and its Art in the Roundabouts Committee

Activities for sharing information include:
• Presenting information from Yavapai County Supervisor Nikki Check, YCSO, Sedona Fire, YC Emergency Services, and the Rotary Club.
• Twice monthly newsletters to ~500 subscribers, and monthly Villager articles.
Corresponding Secretary Mary Pope has been outstanding in providing information through the BPC website and newsletters to keep the community informed;

BPC Committees and Liaisons have done substantial work for our community this year:
• APS Subcommittee of the Planning and Zoning Committee: (Co- Chairs Joe Skidmore and Mark Matousek; Clay Dunsmore, Jeff Swan, John Wichert, Bob Marriott & Buzz Thielemann, with assistance from Duane Thompson, Sharon Seppi and others). This Subcommittee is in its 6th year! Joe Skidmore reviewed the subcommittees’ activities which included multiple meetings with USFS and APS personnel, reviewing the USFS Final EA document and preparing an Objection Letter, coordinating strategy with legal team of Gallagher & Kennedy, and submitted FOIA Closure Appeal. Additional details on outcomes of their efforts are in the New Business section of the Business meeting.
• Planning & Zoning (Chair Bob Marriott; Paul Cooley, David Gill, Nancy Maple, David Moscone, Dave Norton, John Wichert). Activities included: Sedona Vista Village Art Show permits, Hilton Sedona Resort Outdoor Lighting and Wedding Venue, monitoring of the Patel Property at Jack’s Canyon Rd. This Committee maintains a close working relationship with YC Planning and Development.
• Dark Sky (Co-Chairs Dave Norton and Curt Schneider). This Committee worked with YC to successfully update the Lighting Ordinance.
• Digital Media (Chair Pat Robles; Mary Pope and Fred Lenz). Worked with other Committees to keep the website and other digital media updated.

There are three annual appointed Committees which successfully completed their assigned tasks:
• Audit (Chair Pat Robles; Joe Skidmore and Paul Sullivan)
• Budget (Chair Lisa Hollly; Pat Robles, Patti Reski and Mary Pope)
• Nominating (Chair Carolyn Fisher; Gay Chanler and Sarah Buck)

And special thanks to outgoing President Susan Barber who has done an excellent job leading the Council through these busy two years.

4.Secretary’s Report: Recording Secretary Bridget Bero called for changes to the Draft November BPC Meeting Minutes; there were none. Mary Morris moved to approve; Paul Sullivan seconded. There was no discussion and the minutes were approved at 9:45am with none opposed. Jan Groves was welcomed as a new alternate for the Sedona Golf Resort. Corresponding Secretary Mary Pope reported the results of the Newsletter Survey. Forty-eight responses were received. The Newsletter is the primary source for information for many residents, including part-time residents. The BPC Meeting Summary, news from USFS, ADOT, APS, YCSO, Sedona Fire, BPC Meeting Agendas, the Library and Yavapai County information received the highest usages, with information from non-profits, cultural and community development organizations received lower usages. The Newsletter has been reformatted to be more concise, with information from lower usage items now found through new links (Community Services and Cultural Events). Some new items will be added, such as News from Supervisor Check, Business News, YC and Sedona Humane Societies, and Yavapai College.
5.Treasurer’s Report: Lisa Holly reported that November’s expenses were routine; $11.67 for the email service.
6.Unfinished Business: Carolyn Fisher presented a Position Paper regarding the sale of the Big Park School property. This Paper details community recommendations for the use of some of the Big Park School property to be shared with the broker for the sale. The Position Paper will be  voted on in the next meeting.
7.New Business: Joe Skidmore reported on the original Scope and Purpose of the APS Subcommittee (to recommend a community position on the 69kV transmission line project, and to promote awareness of the project), stating that the work is complete. This Subcommittee has worked six years and it was a David vs Goliath effort; despite this there were a few wins such as under grounding along Beaverhead Flat Rd and under 179, installing an IR camera on the CNF south of the Village to detect fires, and use of non-shiny poles. He noted that APS admitted they did not have experience with undergrounding and we were likely a test case for them for other  projects. He made a motion to: (1) dissolve the Subcommittee and (2) update the BPC Policy Document to reflect this change. Carolyn Fisher seconded the motion. The motion was approved at 10:12am with none opposed.
8.Committee & Liaison Reports
a. Planning and Zoning: Dave Norton reported that the YC Board of Supervisors:
• passed a County Ordinance prohibiting the feeding of wildlife; the YC Sheriff will enforce;
• changed the County zoning ordinance regarding ADU’s as mandated by the State; the State’s law supersedes that of any local ordinances; and
• approved the Hilton Wedding Venue. Prior to construction, building permits must be obtained and fire access and lighting requirements for the entire facility must meet code. The hotel has agreed to rebuild Ridge Trail (from 179 to the gate) to County standards so that maintenance can be taken over by the County.
b. VVTPO: Jeff Swan reported that there is a meeting next month with the Regional Director for North Central Arizona; he indicated that improvements to the I-17/Hwy 179 interchange will go beyond just the upcoming bridge deck work, and that this is a top priority request. Jeff will confirm and provide an update at the next meeting. He will also continue to monitor VV Transportation Plan updates. Jeff also mentioned that the BPC should monitor early notices of scoping of upcoming projects, and become involved at the earliest possible time.
9.Announcements:
a. Continuing Jeff’s last comment regarding monitoring early notices, Mary Morris recommended that the Council request to be put on the USFS’s early notice list.
b.Paul Sullivan commented on another type of scam (see Speaker’s notes, above)
c.Ed Mezulis (Sedona Fire Chief) mentioned that he had received notice that ADOT plans to resurface Hwy 179 late next spring.

The business meeting was adjourned at 10:18am.

Reminders: