Verde Valley Forum
for Public Affairs

Our Past Forums ...

  

Our 19 previous forums have shown positive accomplishments in important ways which are helping to make our lives better today.

• 1985 Forum 1, The Challenge of Growth and Development:
  Discussions guided Citizens for Incorporation group, which then conducted successful campaign to incorporate Sedona where previous tries had failed.
  
• 1986 Forum 2, Water Quality, Quantity & Sanitation:
  Heightened community awareness of problems from reliance on individual wastewater disposal systems, threat to water supply.
  
• 1987 Forum 3, Growth Management & Land Use Planning:
  Stirred widespread follow up action and subsequent workshops which developed strong consensus for professional approach to shaping of a community plan.
  
• 1988 Forum 4, Assuring a Quality Future:
  Developed consensus for new City on what a Parks and Recreation Dept. should be. (The City Parks and Recreation Dept. and Commission were formed following year.) Also analyzed economic development, transportation and environmental resources.
  
• 1989 Forum 5, Achieving a Unified Community:
  Called for establishment of volunteer office to coordinate activities, which City then did in 1990, including a mediation service for conflict resolution. This Forum’s Report was recognized at the Annual Conference of the National Civic League.
  
• 1990 Forum 6, Our Cultural Values -- Past, Present, Future:
  Arts and Culture became a City department; programs included Education in Arts and Culture, Arts in Public Places, Economic Development and the Arts.
  
• 1991 Forum 7, Environmental Quality:
  Began a constructive dialogue with the US Forest Service.
  
• 1992 Forum 8, Sustaining the Sedona Area’s Economy:
  Led to Regional Economic Development Agency, Business Expansion Focused Future.
  
• 1993 Forum 9, Building Community Through Citizen Involvement:
  The City Desk newsletter was established to improve communication with citizens.
  
• 1994 Forum 10, Building Partnerships with the Forest Service:
  Began new era of relations with USFS and resulted directly in founding of Friends of the Forest. Led to strategic adjustments of the Forest Management Plan and networking with local governments.
  
• 1995 Forum 11, Congestion or Conservation -- Choices?:
  Explored fundamental traffic issues e.g. public transit and alternate routes. Improved relations with ADOT, led to formation of the Action Coalition for Transportation Solutions.
  
• 1996 Forum 12, Tourism -- Management for a Sustainable Future:
  Developed consensus that tourism is beneficial to the community both economically and socially, but explored impacts such as increased traffic, unattractive signage, pollution and litter. Made recommendations for reduction of adverse impacts.
  
• 1997 Forum 13, Creating a Healthy Community for Children and Youth:
  Gave young people a sense of participation and increased involvement in community. Founded the drive to build the Teen Center. Improved communication and understanding between young people and older generations.
  
• 1998 Forum 14: Issues and Impacts:
  Identified issues to be faced over the next five years in the Greater Sedona community.
  
• 1999 Verde Valley Forum I, Controlling Our Destiny; Regional Planning and Growth Management:
  A cross-section of residents from all Verde Valley communities analyzed regional planning and growth management. Resulted in action group working with communities and governments to develop a regional plan.
  
• Sedona Forum 2000, Aging in Sedona, Challenges and Opportunities:
  Fostered formation of a task force to further study and implement goals for improving life quality for the elderly.

  View the report from Forum 2000:
  Background (PDF format, 331k)
  Final Report (PDF format, 434k)

• Verde Valley Forum 2002, Implementing a Verde Valley Open Space Plan:
  Brought 117 people and their ideas together, and helped form a citizen group to develop a regional plan for preservation of open space.

  View the report from Verde Valley Forum 2002:
  Background (PDF format, 2944k)
  Appendix to the Background Report (PDF format, 1654k)
  Final Report (PDF format, 308k)

• Sedona Forum 2003, Building Future Community Leadership:
  Saw 80 Sedonans work out ways to help young people become the leaders in community organizations.

View the report from Forum 2003:
Background Report (PDF format, 329k)
Final Report (PDF format, 517k)

• Verde Valley Forum 2004, Achieving a Sustainable and Diversified Economy in the Verde Valley:
  

View the report from Forum 2004:
Background Report (PDF format, 4,250k)
Final Report (PDF format, 821k)

In addition, the Academy has co-sponsored Sedona Town Halls, and fostered Youth Forums conducted by and for students at Sedona Red Rock High School.

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The Verde Valley Forum for Public Affairs
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P.O. Box 2696
Sedona AZ 86339-2696