A city project that is intended to benefit both residents and visitors is being pushed ahead after a unanimous vote by the Sedona City Council.
On June 22, the council approved a construction contract with Paul R. Peterson Construction Company Inc. that cannot exceed $ 1,352,872 for the Posse Ground Park Parking and Soldier Pass Road Shared-Use Path Improvement Project.
The item was on the agenda with the approval of the Council and there was no discussion. In the days that followed, City Engineer Andy Dickey explained the project.
“The project will provide a safe route between Soldiers Pass Trailhead and Posse Grounds Park that will benefit residents and visitors,” he said. “Visitors and residents from other parts of the city will park in Posse Grounds Park and have a safe route to the starting point.
“Residents in the Rim Shadows area have a safe route to Posse Grounds Park without having to drive a vehicle. This improves safety, eliminates parking jams from Rim Shadows and reduces cars on the road in this area. “
Construction work is scheduled to begin in July and is expected to be completed in February.
“By investing in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, the City of Sedona is committed to providing safe and convenient alternative transportation,” a report said. “Accessibility to an active transport infrastructure promotes a healthier lifestyle. In addition, this path will create a safe route for off-lane travel. “
Like the new parking lot, the 3,850 foot path will be made of stabilized decomposed granite starting at the new parking lot and ending at Shadow Rock Drive. This material was also used to build the Sunset Park shared path.
The project contract includes:
■ A 10 foot shared path along the east side of the road from the current intersection of Sunset Trail on Soldier Pass Road and head north to Rim Shadows Drive – nearly half a mile. Most of this route is connected to the road. A short section is released from the roadway and separated by a curb.
■ Signs along the way for common use for safety reasons.
■ Litter stations and litter bins for pets.
■ Residential street intersections are grazed to demarcate the intersections.
■ Various drainage improvements and culvert extensions in order to provide the required area for the jointly used path.
■ Boulders will be placed along the road, which will restrict parking along the project path.
■ An elevated intersection will be installed at the intersection of Sunset Trail and Soldier Pass Road to Vultee Arch Road, also known as Forest Service Road 152. This safety function is intended to contribute to further improvements in this area, which had a traffic-calming effect.
Department changes
At the council meeting, staff announced that one of the city’s assistant engineers, David Peck, was about to retire after 20 years with the city.
“It has been an honor to serve this community for the past 20 years with such a professional and cohesive team at City Hall,” said Peck the day after the meeting. “My career with the city has encouraged me and allowed me to grow both personally and professionally.
“I will definitely miss my colleagues. I will miss taking the lead on large construction projects. I will also miss the interactions with the citizens and business owners who are willing to be kind and respectful of the city’s staff and who are collaborative, encouraging and supportive of improvements in the city. I leave knowing that I have made many friends and completed several wonderful projects for our parks, for our major drainage courses, and for our citizens and visitors. “
Dickey said Peck had gone from building inspector to right of way specialist to assistant engineer over the years and eventually to his current position.
“David was able to bring his experience in multiple roles to new roles as he progressed within the department,” he said. “This enabled him to be an important resource for new hires through mentoring and counseling, and his institutional knowledge was invaluable.
“David was one of our top performers on this path and was rightly named Employee of the Year in 2018. Since I have worked with David for 15 of his 20 years, I have the privilege not only to have looked after David, but also to know him. ”As a co-worker and friend. He will be missed very much by me, the building authorities and all the city employees who were able to work with him. He will certainly leave some big footsteps behind. “
Staff also announced that Sandy Phillips has been hired as the city’s new assistant director of public works and assistant urban engineer. She will take over the area of rainwater services from Peck as well as the area of public works of the development services.
“She has a lot to do to represent David’s position after such a tenure,” said Dickey. “I think Sandy has the experience and drive it takes to be successful in her position. She has 30 years of public and private sector experience, most recently as a Navajo County Flood Manager and Assistant District Engineer, and has a track record of getting things done. “
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