City hires Tony Allender as new Community Development Director – Sedona.Biz

Report on the Appointment of Sedona’s Community Development Director

Introduction

The city of Sedona has appointed Mr. Tony Allender as the new Community Development Director following a comprehensive nationwide search. His appointment is positioned to significantly advance the city’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning urban development and community well-being.

Professional Experience and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Mr. Allender’s extensive background in both private and public sectors demonstrates a strong alignment with key sustainability principles. His career highlights reflect a dedication to fostering resilient and inclusive communities.

• Private Sector Leadership: For 11 years, Mr. Allender worked with a private planning and economic development firm, assisting numerous communities. This work directly supports SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by developing strategic plans for sustainable economic prosperity and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through the implementation of code amendments and special area plans that promote inclusive urban development.
• Public Sector Management: His previous role as Director of Planning and Development for League City, Texas, provided direct experience in municipal governance, crucial for implementing policies under SDG 11 to make human settlements safe, resilient, and sustainable.
• Community-Centric Focus: Throughout his career, Mr. Allender has guided communities to grow responsibly and enhance local quality of life, directly addressing the targets of SDG 11.3, which calls for inclusive and sustainable urbanization and participatory, integrated human settlement planning.

Qualifications and Capacity for Sustainable Governance

Mr. Allender’s academic and professional credentials provide a robust foundation for integrating sustainability into Sedona’s community development framework.

• Academic Foundation: He holds a Bachelor of Urban Planning and Development and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from Ball State University, providing the technical expertise required to address the complex challenges outlined in SDG 11.
• Professional Certification: As an American Institute of Certified Planner (AICP), his expertise is validated against professional standards that prioritize ethical and sustainable planning practices, reinforcing the city’s capacity to achieve its sustainability objectives.
• Specialized Expertise: His involvement in development finance and downtown and economic development associations aligns with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), highlighting his ability to build multi-stakeholder collaborations for sustainable development.

Mandate and Key Responsibilities in Advancing Sedona’s SDGs

In his new capacity, Mr. Allender will oversee critical municipal functions that are integral to achieving local sustainability targets. His primary responsibilities will include:

1. Oversight of City Building and Code Enforcement: This role is central to ensuring that new and existing infrastructure is resilient, safe, and sustainable, in line with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 11.
2. Management of Housing Programs: He will lead efforts to address local housing needs, a critical component of SDG 11.1, which aims to ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing.
3. Direction of Planning Programs: Mr. Allender will guide the city’s planning initiatives to ensure they are integrated, participatory, and focused on long-term sustainability, preserving the unique character of Sedona while fostering responsible growth as per SDG 11.

Conclusion

Mr. Tony Allender’s appointment as Community Development Director marks a strategic step for the City of Sedona in reinforcing its commitment to sustainable development. His experience and qualifications are well-suited to lead the city’s efforts in creating an inclusive, resilient, and prosperous community in alignment with global sustainability frameworks. He is scheduled to commence his duties on October 27, 2025.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article is centered on the appointment of a Community Development Director for the city of Sedona. This role is directly responsible for “urban planning,” “city building,” “housing,” and “code enforcement,” which are core components of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The director’s mandate to “grow responsibly” and “enhance local quality of life” directly aligns with the objectives of SDG 11.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The new director has a background in “economic development” and “development finance,” and one of his stated goals is to ensure “community prosperity.” This connects to SDG 8’s aim to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth. The role involves creating plans that foster a healthy local economy while managing development.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article discusses the hiring process for a key public administration role within City Hall. This relates to building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at the local level. The director’s job to oversee “program development and administration” and work with an “active, engaged city” points towards strengthening local governance and ensuring participatory decision-making.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.3:

     By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries. The director’s experience in “strategic community and special area plan development and implementation” and his goal to work with an “active, engaged city” directly address this target of effective and participatory urban planning.

   • Target 11.4:

     Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. The article mentions the director’s role is to “preserve community character” and “keep Sedona special to both locals and guests,” which implies protecting the unique natural and cultural characteristics of the city, a key aspect of this target.

   • Target 11.a:

     Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning. The director’s role in overseeing “planning programs” and guiding the community to “grow responsibly” aligns with this target of integrated development planning.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.3:

     Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. The director’s background in “economic development” and focus on “community prosperity” suggest his work will involve creating policies that support local economic health and growth, which is the essence of this target.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.6:

     Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The hiring of a qualified director to oversee “city building, code enforcement, housing and planning programs” is a direct action toward building an effective and accountable local government institution (the Community Development department).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article, being an announcement, does not provide explicit quantitative indicators. However, it implies several qualitative and programmatic indicators that could be used to measure progress:

1. For Target 11.3 (Sustainable Urbanization and Planning):

   • Implied Indicator:

     The development and implementation of a “strategic community and special area plan.” The article states the new director has extensive experience in this area, suggesting that the creation and execution of such plans will be a key part of his role and a measure of his department’s progress.

2. For Target 11.4 (Protecting Heritage):

   • Implied Indicator:

     The establishment of policies, programs, or code amendments aimed at “preserving community character.” Progress could be measured by the number and effectiveness of such initiatives put in place to maintain Sedona’s unique identity.

3. For Target 16.6 (Effective Institutions):

   • Implied Indicator:

     The effective administration of the city’s “building, code enforcement, housing and planning programs.” The successful management and improvement of these municipal services under the new director would serve as an indicator of institutional effectiveness.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: sedona.biz