Activities
On December 27, 1999, Citizens for an Alternate Route (CFAR) filed a petition for review with the Arizona Supreme Court. This was a last attempt to overturn Presiding Superior Court Judge Robert D. Myers' ruling that Yavapai County could not be forced to rebuild Red Rock Crossing.
On April 18, 2000, the Supreme Court denied CFAR's petition. That effectively concluded CFAR's legal options.
Following this decision, CFAR President Ivan Finley announced his organization's next goal.
During an interview over Sedona radio station KAZM, Finley announced it was now time to move the matter from the courts to the political arena and elect a new county supervisor. "There is a good candidate running in opposition to the man that put us in this position," he stated.
Yavapai County District 3 Supervisor Chip Davis, the apparent target of Finley’s wrath, has said the County isn’t necessarily responsible for restoring the Crossing. Other county officials have agreed.
CFAR's candidate, attorney Jon Paladini, who supported restoration of the Crossing, ran against incumbent Chip Davis in the Republican primary.
Davis defeated Paladini, in the September 12, 2000 primary election, by a two to one margin.
Supervisor Davis then went on to face Independent candidate Hope Cermelj in the November 7, 2000 general election.
Davis defeated Cermelj by three to one.
On October 30, 2002, according to a story in the Sedona Red Rock News, "CFAR to battle for alternate route," the CFAR Board of Directors voted unanimously to relaunch the effort to see that an alternate route between the Village of Oak Creek and West Sedona is constructed. They stated this is needed today more than ever -- due to potential traffic delays created by the planned improvements to State Route 179.
As before, they were proposing to use Red Rock Crossing to connect Verde Valley School Road in the Village of Oak Creek to Earl Drive in West Sedona.
In early September 2003, CFAR commissioned Robinson & Muenster Associates, Inc. to conduct a survey of 400 registered voters in the greater Sedona area to solicit their opinions on the need for an alternate route between the Village of Oak Creek and West Sedona before the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) begins its upgrades to State Route 179.
In a November 21, 2003 letter to the Sedona Red Rock News, CFAR President Nancy Scagnelli reported, "The results clearly show that the public recognizes the need for an alternate route before construction begins on Highway 179. The bottom line is Red Rock Crossing makes sense and people realize it."
CFAR Secretary Ron Volkman also wrote a letter to the Red Rock News which went even further. Citing fears of gridlock during the highway construction period, he declared, "Human lives will be at stake. Business survival will be, too."
Subsequent letters to the editor in the Red Rock News took issue with Scagnelli and Volkman's assertions and conclusions. The fairness and accuracy of the survey were questioned, the feasibility of a Red Rock Crossing route was disputed, and suspicions about real estate development were raised.
On January 26, 2004, Scagnelli and Volkman appeared before the Transportation Committee of the Big Park Regional Coordinating Council to promote Red Rock Crossing. Topics included a brief history of CFAR's activities, the results of its 2003 opinion poll and need to build the Red Rock Crossing route to alleviate construction delays on SR 179. A spirited question and answer session followed.
Throughout 2004, CFAR continued to pursue its objectives in meetings with elected officials, government representatives and local groups.
On October 13, 2004, Scagnelli made a formal presentation to the Sedona City Council. "We're looking to you to take a leadership position to bring Yavapai County to the table," she told the City Council. Following her delivery, numerous members of the audience spoke for and against CFAR's proposal.
On December 14, 2004, the Sedona City Council held a Special Meeting to discuss possible action regarding a resolution supporting an alternate route. The event attracted a standing-room only crowd. Because so many citizens wanted to speak, the public comment period was extended to the following day.
Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis addressed the City Council, saying he would be willing to work on finding an alternate route -- as long as it did not involve Red Rock Crossing. As reported in the Sedona Red Rock News, "Davis: RR Crossing not an option," Davis said he would never consider Red Rock Crossing again.
The majority of public speakers also opposed building any bridge at Red Rock Crossing.
On December 15, 2004, following the conclusion of the public comment period, the City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the initiation of a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study to evaluate alternate routes between SR 89A and SR 179 -- with Red Rock Crossing as the proposed action. You can read the resolution by going to RESOLUTION No. 2004-23.
Since Supervisor Davis clearly told the City Council he would not support a Red Rock Crossing route, it is difficult to predict the impact of this action.
Once again, many letters about Red Rock Crossing started appearing in the Red Rock News. Most of them were against the proposed route.
On May 10, 2005, the City Council revisited the issue. Following up on its December promise to investigate an alternate route, the Council unanimously approved a resolution to apply for a construction grant, through the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG), to extend the existing Upper Red Rock Loop Road to a point near the Mystic Hills subdivision and Poco Diablo Resort. The resolution can be read by going to RESOLUTION No. 2005-14. A map of the proposed route is available by going to RESOLUTION No. 2005-14 MAP. The grant proposal can be reviewed by going to RESOLUTION No. 2005-14-NACOG.
Since the route would go through National Forest land, a NEPA study will be necessary. In addition to the proposed action, NEPA requires that other alternative solutions be considered. According to Sedona City Manager Eric Levitt, "I anticipate that Red Rock Crossing would be one of the potential alternatives."
On October 12, 2005, the Sedona City Council and Sedona Fire District Governing Board held a special joint work session to discuss whether the two organizations should combine forces to initiate a NEPA process to consider an alternate route.
Reflecting the intense interest in this proposed action, the multipurpose room in Fire Station No. 1 was packed with a standing room only crowd. As the Sedona Red Rock News put it, "No other current issue in Greater Sedona is as volatile or controversial."
The agenda allowed public comment before the Council and Board began their deliberations. Of the ten who spoke, three were for an alternate route at Red Rock Crossing and seven were against. Several of the speakers questioned the authority of either the City Council or Fire District to conduct a study and spend taxpayer dollars on a NEPA process -- particularly one outside the city limits.
Almost two hours of discussion followed the public comment period. Members of the City Council, Fire Board, Fire Chief Matt Shobert, Fire Marshal Will Loesche, Red Rock District Ranger Ken Anderson and Big Park Regional Coordinating Council President Don Beard all participated.
At the end of the meeting, the Council directed city staff to begin developing cost estimates for an alternate route so they can decide whether to pursue a NEPA study. The Board said the fire district would continue discussing the alternate route issue at future meetings.
At its October 26, 2005 meeting, the Sedona Fire District Board decided to become actively involved in the alternate route controversy. By a vote of three to one, it passed a resolution outlining the steps needed to move through an alternate route NEPA process and identifying possible participating partners. It can be read by going to RESOLUTION No. 2005-11.
And on November 30, 2005, the Fire Board voted to spend "no more than $10,000" to pay a consultant for a preliminary study and review of past alternate route studies. Board members expressed the belief that the results of this study would help them make a decision on whether or not to continue pursuing a NEPA process.
Red Rock Crossing The Bridge The Site