REMINDER: SR179 Pavement Preservation

Red Rock Ranger Station to Chapel Road
Begins June 17 – Please SHARE this information – Estimated End Date November
Flier from ADOT
State Route 179 pavement project in Village of Oak Creek begins June 17

REMINDER: Sign Up for RAVE Prepare
The Rave Prepare system allows residents to register their medical information and specific access or functional needs online.  This is a part of Smart911.  This registry aids the Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management (YCOEM) in quickly identifying and contacting residents who may require assistance during an emergency.

Free To Be Me Drumming
Sedona Police Host Free Community BBQ, Family Events, Information Fair and More! Oct 3
Community Invited to Volunteer at Posse Grounds Park Bike Trails

REMINDERS:
AZCC 10-21-26 Research & Discussion of AI, Workshop Notice
10-29-2026 REVISED SOM Winter Preparedness Workshop Notice
AZCC Oct. 13-15, 2026 Fall 2026 Joint CREPC_WIRAB Notice
AZCC 11-19-26 Advancing Nuclear Gen. in AZ Wksp No. 3 Notice & Agenda

Community Tree Program

REMINDER: Public Safety Power Shutoff – A tool to reduce wildfire risk
BPC is working with APS to gather more information on this program and improve communication of PSPS events.

Village Events Calendar

Youth Services Program Updates & Reminders!
Upcoming Sedona Library Closure_ 9_16 and 9_17 (Village Library remains open)
Your Next Chapter Could Start at the Friends of the Sedona Library Book Store!

Oak Creek temporary closure lifts this week
COC_IRA_Overview Roadless Areas
Information on the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule
USFS Report to BPC Meeting by Mary Morris
Coconino National Forest firewood permits now available online

No recent information

Contact Information:
Jason Stephens – COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROJECT MANAGER
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS DIVISION
1655 W. Jackson St., MD 126F Phoenix, AZ 85007
480.751.7104
jstephens@azdot.gov

General ADOT Announcements
REMINDERS
Loop 303 off-ramps at Indian School Road to be restricted nightly Aug. 6 – Oct. 21
Adopt a Highway for National CleanUp Day, Sept. 19
MVD enhances communication accommodations for drivers and first responders
NEW
Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) scheduled to be closed between Williams Field Road and US 60 Sept. 18-20
REMINDER_ State Route 260 will be intermittently closed for rock blasting operations east of Payson on Sept. 15
Westbound Loop 202 closure between Cooper and Alma School roads planned Sept. 11-14 and Sept. 18-21
Plan for 24-hour lane restrictions on US 180 between Holbrook and St. Johns beginning Sept. 14 as bridge replacement project begins Sept 14
SR 77 Little Colorado River Bridge project in Holbrook completed
ADOT Project Spotlight_ SR 77 bridge rehabbed in Holbrook
REMINDER_ Long-term lane restriction on westbound Loop 303 between I-17 and 43rd Avenue begins Wednesday (Sept. 9)
New Arizona law requires updated ID photos every 16 years
Volunteers make Arizona shine
State Transportation Board Meeting for September 18, 2026
ADOT PODCAST_*_ Learn more about the Loop 101_I-10 interchange improvement project in the West Valley
UPDATE_ Final striping of new Cornville and Tissaw roundabout scheduled for Sept. 17
Ponderosa Parkway closed between Route 66 and Butler Avenue in Flagstaff Sept. 16-17
State Route 260 will be intermittently closed for rock blasting operations east of Payson on Sept. 22, 29 and Oct. 6_
ADOT to hold Oct. 6 public meeting for Loop 202 (Santan Freeway), I-10 to Loop 101 widening project

No recent information

In response to a request to include additional government news, BPC has subscribed to the following Newsletters and will include information as received.

WEBSITES:  Eli Crane – Mark Finchem – Ruben Gallego – Mark Kelly

Senator Mark Kelly – On the road across Arizona
Rep Eli Crane – One in the Chamber Newsletter __ September 11, 2026
Rep Eli Crane – One in the Chamber Newsletter __ September 4, 2026

Click image above to view these events/news

Click image above to view these events/news

MEETING SUMMARY
BIG PARK REGIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL

Meeting IN PERSON and via ZOOM
September 10, 2026 at 9am

Nikki Check, Yavapai County Supervisor, was the first speaker.  She provided the following updates from the County:

• NACOG has a Home Weatherization Assistance program for residents of Apache, Coconino, Navajo and Yavapai Counties.  Funds are currently available.  To be eligible, maximum annual income ranges from $31,920 for a one person household to $66,000 for a family of four.  Contact NACOG (www.nacog.org or 928-774-3759); see flyer accompanying this Summary.
• A 280 acre prescribed burn north on Apache Maid Mountain (Upper Beaver Creek) starts today (Sep 10), possible smoke impacts.
• The Wildlife Feeding Ordinance has passed.  Nikki provided an AZ Game and Fish brochure on “Living with Javelina,” as javelina are especially an issue in VOC.  For more information, see www.azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife.
• Proposition 497, the Jail District Sales Tax, will be voted on in the Nov 3 election.  Nikki provided a brochure explaining the Proposition.  The Proposition adds another 1/4cent sales tax to the current 1/4cent sales tax.  Currently, Yavapai County is the only county that does not collect the full half-cent allowed by the state; the current tax is insufficient, requiring the General Fund to support the needed balance, approximately $16M of the required $44M.  She noted that the General Fund is heavily dependent on property taxes; by having a sales tax that fully supports the jail, tourists and visitors will contribute to funding  (23% of the jail population is non-county residents).  If proposition 497 passes, the intention is to lower property taxes in the future.  With jail funding supporting the needs through the sales tax, the General Fund can provide more rural services such as roads/maintenance (communities such as VOC, Ash Fork, Black Canyon City, Peeples Valley).  The Jail will be funded – the issue is how to pay for it.  She also noted that the Jail has a program that has reduced recidivism from 39% to 17% through providing various services to help inmates succeed upon release.  This successful program has reduced the Jail population from 600+ to 400+.  More information can be found at YavapaiAZ.gov/JailDistrictFunding.
• YC Development Services: Jacob Armstrong is the new Director.  The YC BOS cancelled the contract with the firm that was developing the Zoning Ordinance Update due to misaligned priorities; the Update will be developed internally.  She had no information regarding the Patel property zoning.
• The County is not interested in siting a dog park specifically in the VOC, but is interested in a general use park. Follow up: A dog park could be planned for, within a general use park.
• No responses were received to YC’s RFP for recycling services.  There are no short-term solutions, but possible long term solutions.  She noted that Jerome has a successful recycling program with Sedona Recycles because has a trailer to collect recyclables next to a trash dumpster, and the City of Jerome hauls the trailer to Sedona Recycles.  The is a model communities may consider in the future.  Sedona Recycles accepts recyclables from anywhere, but has had to reduce service locations.
• The YC BOS has created policy for community cleanups, and is looking for an organization to manage the cleanups.  These free cleanups allow residents to maintain their property, thus reducing code violations.
• Regarding Code Violation complaints, the new County service is through OpenGov, under the Land Use section.  She noted that current staffing issues have significantly reduced response time to complaints.
• Nikki will follow-up with Court Services to obtain more information regarding the extent of Mediation Services provided by the County, following a request that the County provide additional mediation services such as neighbor to neighbor issues.  Currently the County only offers mediation services for divorce/custody cases. Follow up: Superior Court oversees divorce & custody cases. The Civil Court division would have to develop a mediation program for neighborhood issues which is unlikely at this time due to financial constraints.
• The sale of the Big Park School property has been delayed due to title issues and may be resolved in September.  The BOS have identified this as an official project, meaning the County will be ready to engage with the new buyers supporting uses for the property.  Additionally, the County is Interested in other real estate options for other rural services.
• The Beaverhead Flat Road required significant repairs prior to the final overlay, making the job more complex. Follow up: work will begin next week with an estimated completion date of mid-November.
• The Tissaw Road roundabout is complete.

• Disaster Loans are provided directly from the Federal government, unlike traditional loans.  They are affordable, reliable, flexible, have no fees, are offered at below market interest rates, can be up to 30 years, and have fixed payments.  No collateral is required for loans up to $14k for physical damage, or $50k for physical + economic damage.  Funding is provided quicker than insurance claims, and there is no interest or payment the first 12 months.
• For business that have not suffered physical damage, Economic Injury Disaster loans (EIDL) up to $2M are available.  The business must be in the affected county, have acceptable credit, and the ability to repay the loan.  EIDL’s are available up to 9 months post disaster, and are designed to help with operating expenses, fixed debts, payroll, inventory, etc.  Interest rates start at 4.00% for businesses, and at 3.625% for non-profits.  The deadline to apply for Pocket Fire-related EIDLs in May 11, 2027.
• Other resources include an online Business Resilience Guide (preparedness and risk reduction), and assistance providing business consulting.  For more information, go to: sba.gov/prepare.
• Applications can be made in person at the Business Recovery Center (BRC) inside the Greater Sedona Chamber of Commerce Administrative Office on 45 Sunset Dr, Sedona, AZ 86336.  Customer Service Representatives are on site M-F 9am – 5pm and are ready to assist with the application process.  There is no set close date for the BRC, but applicants are encouraged to visit sooner rather than later.
• Ellen and Frederick will be in Sedona another month and request your help in spreading the word on this available service.

1. Roll Call:  By Recording Secretary Bridget Bero at 9:40am.  Because the internet at the library was out, and phone service was insufficient to operate ZOOM, members attempting to join via ZOOM were not able to join the meeting.  Thus, only eight members were present and the requirement for a quorum was not met.  The meeting was an informational meeting only.
2. Agenda:  Carolyn Fisher moved to approve the agenda; Susan Barber seconded.  The agenda was approved at 9:42am with none opposed.
3. President’s Report:  Joe Skidmore reported:
   • He met with Dave Norton, Jeff Swan and David Gill regarding the upcoming October State Transportation Board meeting and continuing to advocate for the I17/SR179 interchange project to be included the next 5-Year Plan.  They will also solicit support from the Sedona Mayor, KSB, and Supervisor Check’s office.
   • The FOIA request regarding APS Wildfire Mitigation Plan submittal comments to the AZ DFFM remains as a follow up item.
4. Secretary’s Report:  The Draft Minutes from the August meeting were not approved due to lack of a quorum.  There were no changes in Reps/Alternates.
5. Treasurer’s Report:
   • Treasurer Lisa Holly reported that  there was no August income; expenses were $726 for the annual general liability and officer insurance policies, and the monthly email service.  The balance in the account is slightly less than $10k.
   • 2027 Budget Committee members are Lisa Holly (Chair), Joe Skidmore, Patty Reski and Bob Marriott.
   • A question was asked regarding the donation account for the APS project; Lisa reported that those funds were kept separate from BPC’s operating funds, and those funds were either expended or returned to donors.
6. Unfinished Business:  The Nominating Committee has not yet been populated; Antoinette Beiser is one of three required members; she will assist the EB to find two other members.  VP Ty DeJong will be leaving the area at the end of the year; Mary Beth Bassett has agreed to nomination for the VP position.   It was mentioned that the Nominating Committee reach out to additional persons to develop new interest in the EB for the future.
7. New Business:  Appointment (vote) of Committee Members (P&Z, Dark Sky, Digital Media) was tabled due to lack of a quorum.
8. Committee & Liaison Reports:  USFS – Joe Skidmore presented information provided by Liaison Mary Morris:
   • The USFS is proposing to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule; the public comment period ends Sep 21.  More information can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/planning/roadless.  The Coconino National Forest has nine roadless areas, none are near the VOC.  A map of these areas is provided above, and shows that these areas are a very small percentage of the total forest area.  Discussion on what this proposal means included the USFS’s justification to allow vehicle access to perform wildfire mitigation efforts, and that public vehicle use would also be allowed in these areas, thus reducing the amount of roadless areas, already very small, to zero.
   • The USFS is also proposing major revisions to its Travel Management Rule—the process the agency uses to determine which roads are open (or closed) to which types of uses.  More information can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/recreation/programs/off-highway-vehicle-program and https://www.regulations.gov/document/FS-2026-0100-0001. Public comments must be received by September 23.

• Although we are no longer at a high fire danger rating, we are still seeing new wildfire starts from recent lightning storms.  The Verde Fire Zone retains sufficient local resources scaled to the current fire danger level while also sending resources to other parts of the country experiencing more active wildfires.
• Not including the fully staffed fire program, the Red Rock Ranger District has gone from 35 permanent employees in 2024 to 21 currently.  However, a permanent range program manager position has been advertised, with hopes to fill the position this fall.

11. Announcements:

• The library’s new approach to future funding includes grassroots support from monthly donors.  Your support is encouraged!
• Similar to the current local 100+WomenWhoCare project, a 100+MenWhoCare local project is starting up.  This group is looking for new members, and will meet 3x/year and select a nonprofit to support, with each member providing $100 to the selected nonprofits.  See 100vva.org for more information.
• The roundabout art project at Verde Valley School Rd / Jacks Canyon Rd now has a monument stone and plaque in place.  Fabrication of the art is nearly complete, and installation is expected in October.  There will be a formal installation event at Chase Bank once the project is complete.

The Business Meeting was adjourned at 10:10am.