KJZZ

Sedona is applying to be designated a Dark Sky community.

The City Council voted on Tuesday 5-2 in favor of applying to the International Dark-Sky Association for the official designation. The label would recognize the community efforts to preserve the dark skies and set guidelines to maintain the status.

Council Member Barbara Litrell voted against the application.

"I personally have doubts that they would rule in favor of Sedona being a Dark Sky community if they genuinely look at all of the information behind the application," Litrell said.

Litrell said the Arizona Department of Transportation's installation of the street lights along the main highway in the town make the city inelligible for the official Dark Sky designation.

The organization Keep Sedona Beautiful plans to submit the application to the IDA by November. The association will review the application and do its own evaluation before deciding if to grant Sedona with the dark sky label.