Recognition and Rankings

January

Scottsdale secures spot in national top 15 safest cities ranking
Forbes has ranked the city of Scottsdale among the top 15 safest cities in the United States with a population over 100,000. Out of approximately 300 cities evaluated nationwide, Scottsdale placed in the top five percent - a testament to the Scottsdale Police Department’s unwavering dedication to public safety.

March

Detective Nicole Engstrom was recognized by the FBI for her contributions to the Joint Terrorism Task Force, where her expertise, commitment, and professionalism recently made a lasting impact on a local family during an international terrorism investigation.

June

Two members of the Scottsdale Police Crime Lab achieved certification for blood alcohol analysis. Forensic Scientists Erika Canonico and Lori Abbott. The American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT) has been certifying toxicologists since 1975. They have certified only 48 other forensic scientists in Forensic Alcohol Toxicology, with only one being in the state of Arizona. Certification formally recognizes forensic scientists as experts in the field of forensic alcohol toxicology.

July

The Scottsdale Police Communications Section received two awards at the annual Arizona APCO/NENA State Training Conference. They received the "Communications 2025 Team of the Year." Presented to the team whose collaboration, coordination, and commitment to service are set as the highest standard in public safety, and the second award was for "Dispatch Incident of the Year" for the Scottsdale Police Department’s handling of an active shooter incident at a Scottsdale grocery store.

August

SDALE earns 2025 CIO 100 Award for its Short-Term Rental Resource Center The annual CIO 100 Awards recognize CIOs who use innovative technologies to transform their organizations and the leadership to implement the changes. Scottsdale’s received recognition for its short-term rental map tool and resource center.

Scottsdale’s Short-Term Rental Resource Center integrates advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies to address community concerns regarding the rapid growth of short-term rentals (STRs) and encourage citizen engagement. The initiative has also reduced operational costs and positions the city at the forefront of digital transformation.

"Receiving the CIO 100 Award reflects our team's unwavering dedication to innovation, cross-departmental collaboration and exceptional service delivery," stated Bianca Lochner, Scottsdale's chief information officer and CIO 100 Hall of Fame Honoree.

The Short-Term Rental Resource Center is available at ScottsdaleAZ.gov, search "vacation and short-term rentals."

September

Scottsdale earns a top spot on Forbes list of Arizona’s best workplaces
The city of Scottsdale was named the top public employer in Arizona by Forbes, who ranked the state’s top 75 employers by surveying employees and the public on topics such as workplace culture, professional development, benefits and compensation.

Scottsdale was No. 8 on Forbes’ ranking of all Arizona companies, placing the city alongside the state operations of major national brands like Apple, Microsoft and Costco. Scottsdale was joined by the city of Phoenix (No. 10) as the only municipal governments in the top 10.

"It is no surprise that Scottsdale ranks so highly and ranked with respected national companies because of our long-standing commitment to attracting and keeping the best employees," said City Manager Greg Caton. "Our community is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live, and city employees are committed to offering excellent programming, services and operations for our residents. In turn, we are committed to cultivating an amazing culture for our city staff so they can enjoy a workplace where people are supported and empowered."

Learn more

Scottsdale parks and recreation score Best of Phoenix honors

Scottsdale earned five 2025 Best of Phoenix honors from the Phoenix New Times, recognizing five of the city’s public amenities and parks.

• McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park – Best Cheap Fun For Kids
• Scottsdale Ranch Park & Tennis Center – Best Tennis Courts
• Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt – Best Bike Trail
• Pinnacle Peak – Best Hike for a Quick Workout
• McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic & Fitness Center – Best Public Pool

Our award-winning parks, facilities, fields, and spaces promote a healthy and active community with over 1,100 acres of open space spanning from the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt to the northern desert highlands. "We’re dedicated to providing exceptional parks and venues that enrich the lives of our residents and create unforgettable experiences for every visitor," says Nick Molinari - senior director of Parks, Recreation and Preserve.

Four of Scottsdale Water’s employees were honored last week during the 98th Annual Arizona Water Conference and Exhibition at the Phoenix Convention Center. David Walby, Craig Craddock, Gary Tuning and Joe Maldonado each received individual awards for their work in 2024 during the conference which is held each year as a three-day program designed to provide professional development, continuing education and technology transfer for professionals in the water industry.

• Walby, who currently serves as Scottsdale Water’s director of water services, was honored Thursday with the Water Environment Federation Hatfield Award.
• Craddock, Scottsdale Water’s wastewater collection manager, was honored with the Nathan Burbank Environmental Educator Award.
• Tuning, Scottsdale Water’s wastewater treatment manager, was named the Operations Leader of the Year.
• Maldonado, wastewater operations supervisor, was named the Supervisor of the Year for Arizona. Scottsdale Water employees receive State, National recognition

January

The Scottsdale Bobcats soccer team earned gold in their inaugural debut. The Parks and Recreation team - coached by Scottsdale police aide and former Olympian, Alex Sachs – competed at the Special Olympics State Tournament in Chandler, beating out Paradise Valley for the gold medal in their division. The team has trained throughout the fall on their home turf at Chaparral Park with the help of Adaptive Recreation’s staff and volunteers.

Scottsdale’s Civic Center Library was voted “Best Library of 2023” by Phoenix New Times. The branch was recognized for its programming for all ages, charming youth room, rotating public art and more.

February

City continues to be the gold standard for bicyclists. Scottsdale has once again been recognized as a Gold-Level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. This year’s award will extend the city’s elite status another four years. Scottsdale is one of only 34 Gold-Level communities across the country; ranking among the top 10 percent of cities recognized by the league. The award recognizes Scottsdale for its commitment to creating transportation and recreational resources that benefit residents of all ages and abilities while encouraging healthier and more sustainable transportation choices.

Scottsdale was initially recognized as a silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community in 2005, which is noteworthy since Scottsdale was the first silver-level community without a university or major college. Scottsdale has been recognized as a gold-level Bicycle Friendly Community since 2011. The city has an extensive network of bicycle amenities, including 123 miles of paved shared-use paths, 156 miles of unpaved trails, and 192 miles of on-street bike lanes.

Gov. Katie Hobbs appointed Scottsdale’s diversity director to serve on the Commission of African American Affairs. Jackie Johnson is a second-generation Arizonan who wants to ensure the Black community has an opportunity to prosper by addressing poverty, housing, discrimination, education and criminal justice. The commission consists of 16 members, nine of whom are appointed by the Governor. Learn more about the commission and its members.

March

Scottsdale employee recognized for blood drive efforts. Scottsdale Project Management Assistant Mya Trivison has made it her mission to make sure Valley blood upplies remain in good standing. Why? Because she knows the impact it can have on the lives of people in need.

In 2018, Mya’s father was a blood donation recipient during his struggle with cancer, and her mother, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy, has received several pints and platelet donations to combat the side effects of the treatment. To help ensure that other families have access to this much-needed resource, Mya coordinated nine blood drives at city facilities in 2023, which collected 239 donations.

In recognition of her efforts, Vitalant, one of the nation's largest nonprofit blood and biotherapies healthcare organizations, recently named Mya Trivison a 2023 Impact Award winner.

Scottsdale captures top environmental award for its Civic Center renovation. Arizona Forward honored the city and the Scottsdale Civic Center with a Crescordia award in “Civic Buildings, Structures, and Landscape Design.” The coveted Crescordia — a Greek term meaning "growing in harmony" — is the highest honor given in each category of its Environmental Excellence Awards program.

In 2023, Scottsdale unveiled a comprehensive renovation of the area that has served as the city’s civic and signature special event and gathering space for 55 years. The renewed and refreshed Civic Center provides locals and visitors alike with a better experience than ever, a beautiful place to gather for art, culture, entertainment and festivals and family relaxation. The project was designed and built with sustainability in mind by adding planted bioswales to collect and capture stormwater, permeable pavements with underground water conveyance, targeted roof water collection at the East Bowl to supply existing trees with an extra boost of water, and new low water use plants.

In addition to the Crescordia, Scottsdale Water received an Award of Distinction for water conservation communications. The department initiated an expansion of its water conservation efforts through wider funding, communication efforts, ordinance changes, new building code adoptions and incentives, and educational programs. View the AZ Forward award submission

April

Scottsdale commemorated its 42nd year as a Tree City USA community with a tree and cactus planting ceremony at Earth Fest. Having been recognized as a national Tree City USA community since 1982, Scottsdale holds the record for the longest designation in Arizona. This honor highlights the city’s commitment to growing Scottsdale’s urban canopy, which is reflected in significant achievements such as the 100 trees added during the Civic Center renovation. Certified city arborists and park maintenance professionals manage more than 21,000 trees, and on average we add or replace about 300 trees per year.

May

Scottsdale Water Recognized for Excellence and Dedication. The annual AZ Water Association Awards recognize the most innovative and resourceful water professionals in the state as they provide superior service to their communities. Scottsdale Water received these awards:

• Water Distribution System of the Year - Large System: Water Distribution received the award thanks to the dedication and engagement of the water distribution team. With a complex distribution system including 18 pressures zones, 11,000 fire hydrants, 48,000 valves and more than 2,100 miles of piping, team members are the unsung heroes that overcome many challenges while keeping themselves safe, exceeding industry metrics and contributing to the public outreach program.
• Small Treatment Plant Supervisor of the Year – Scott Piros at Gainey Ranch Treatment Facility: Scott received the award for improving preventive maintenance processes, fostering operator engagement, and his proactive and innovative approaches to persistent treatment issues.
• Safety Awards: Thirteen facilities and departments were recognized for safe operations with less than the maximum number of lost days.
• Recognized in the Hydrant Hysteria competition: “As the water landscape rapidly
• changes and our drought continues, it is paramount for us to implement solutions that effectively address our customer needs with the highest quality of standards and innovative technologies,” said Brian Biesemeyer, executive director for Scottsdale Water. "Our teams work hard and take pride in making a difference for our residents and customers."

June

Scottsdale earns its 51st consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. This highest form of recognition in government accounting and financial reporting is awarded by The Government Finance Officers’ Association, an independent panel of peer reviewers from across the United States and Canada. Scottsdale’s 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report met or exceeded standards that demonstrate the “spirit of transparency and full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story.

Scottsdale Airport earned a Federal Aviation Administration Western-Pacific Region Outstanding Airport Award. The award recognizes airports that excel in various aspects of airport management and development. Scottsdale was lauded for its dedication to operational excellence and innovation, safety and community engagement in completing substantial improvement and construction projects.

Approximately 171,675 take offs and landings occurred at Scottsdale Airport in 2023, making it one of the busiest single-runway general aviation airports in the state.

November 

Scottsdale ranked No. 1 Digital City. For the second year in a row, Scottsdale took the top spot in the Center for Digital Government’s annual Digital Cities Survey, ranking No. 1 among cities with populations between 125,000 and 249,999.

This national survey recognizes cities that excel at leveraging technology to enhance citizen services, privacy rights, transparency, cybersecurity and more. Scottsdale is the only Arizona municipality to rank No. 1 in any category. 

“Scottsdale's commitment to fostering innovation is at the heart of our success,” said Bianca Lochner, Scottsdale’s chief information officer. “One of our top accomplishments this past year has been the expansion of our AI governance and low-code platforms. Implementing a cutting-edge AI governance platform has empowered our teams to innovate with AI while ensuring ethical, transparent and compliant usage across all city systems.” Read more from the Center for Digital Government.

Digital Cities Award - Scottsdale was recognized by the Center for Digital Government as a top digital city nationwide in the 125,000 - 249,999 population group for its use of technology to strengthen cybersecurity and enhance transparency, promotion of digital privacy rights and equality and for finding innovative ways to support solutions for social challenges facing cities today. (Nov. 2023)

Voice of the People Award - Polco and the International City/County Management Association recognized Scottsdale for leveraging technology to expand the ways residents can provide input and ideas. (Oct. 2023)

35 Year Local Government Service Award - City Manager Jim Thompson was recognized by the International City/County Management Association. (Oct. 2023)

Best Projects Award - Southwest region - Engineering News-Record awarded the city for its work on the Scottsdale Civic Center in the Landscape/Urban Development category.

Environmental Excellence Award of Merit - Awarded by Arizona Forward for the Bell/94 Sports Complex.

Arizona Association for Economic Development Golden Prospector Awards - Economic Development earned two Awards of Merit from the Arizona Association for Economic Development—a Special Event Award of Merit for the Super Season Site Selection event and a Multimedia Promotion Award of Merit for the “All Day. Every Day.” video campaign.

International Economic Development Council Award - Economic Development earned a bronze multimedia award from the International Economic Development Council for its “All Day. Every Day.” campaign video.

Governors Heritage Preservation Honor Award - Arizona Preservation Foundation and Arizona State Historic Preservation Office recognized Scottsdale for the Kiva Craft Center Rehabilitation Project.

CompTIA Public Technology Institute Solutions Award - The Short-term Rental Resource Center, created by Scottsdale's Beacon Core Data Services Team, was a winner in CompTIA Public Technology Institute's 2023 Solutions Awards.

Local IT Innovation of the Year Award - Scottsdale GIS Special Events Management System was recognized with a Local IT Innovation of the Year Award by the Scoop News Group for its digital map application showing the real-time location and status of onsite WM Phoenix Open first responders.

Police Communications Manager of the Year Award - Karen Sutherland was presented the award by the Arizona Chapter of Association of Police Communications Officials/National Emergency Number Association.

Award Winning Budget - Scottsdale's Budget Office was awarded its 50th consecutive Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association.

2023 Recognitions

Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting - Scottsdale's was recognized for the 50th consecutive year by the Government Finance Officers' Association.

Scottsdale Ranch Park & Tennis Center Recognition - The center was designated a 2023-2024 premier facility by the United States Tennis Association. This is the second consecutive year the facility has received the national designation for its “exceptional leadership, quality of programs, staffing, and facility care."

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - Scottsdale was selected for the 2023 LEED for Cities Leadership Program Cohort by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Tree City USA accreditation - Scottsdale was recognized for the 41st consecutive year by the Arbor Day Foundation.

CALEA reaccreditation - Scottsdale Police Department received its 10th reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

What Works Cities Gold Certification - Scottsdale received gold certification for its exceptional use of data to inform policy decisions, allocate funding, improve services, evaluate program effectiveness and engage residents by Bloomberg Philanthropies. (June 2023)

Blue Zones Project Scottsdale - Scottsdale was selected for a comprehensive initiative focused on transforming the environments where people live, work, learn and play to improve community well-being, resilience and economic vitality.

Organization of World Heritage Cities - The city was granted membership in recognition of the community's efforts to preserve and protect Frank Lloyd Wright's Desert home and laboratory, making Scottsdale among an elite group of 200 cities.

Phoenix Healthiest Employers - The Phoenix Business Journal awarded Scottsdale first place in the “large companies” category (1,500 to 4,999 employees).

NextGen Mentorship Award - Assistant City Manager Brent Stockwell was recognized by the Arizona City/County Management Association. (Nov. 2022)

Readiness Challenge Winner - Scottsdale was awarded by the Smart Cities Council for using technology to help solve community challenges and improve lives. (February 2022)

Arizona Water Operations Leader of the Year - Scottsdale Water Resources Administrator Kevin Rose was recognized for his leadership and Scottsdale Water took home multiple safety awards for each of its facilities by the Arizona Water Association. (April 2022)

Crescordia Award (multiple) - McDowell Sonoran Preserve's Fraesfield and Granite Mountain trailheads were recognized in two categories: “Natural Environment Preservation” and “Civic Buildings, Structures, and Landscape Design” by Arizona Forward. (March 2022)

WateReuse Awards for Excellence (multiple) - The WateReuse Association awarded its Excellence in Action Award to Scottsdale Water's Reclaimed Water Distribution System and its Service Award to Executive Director Brian Biesemeyer. (March 2022)

Arizona Police Chief of the Year - Scottsdale Police Chief Jeff Walther captured this Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police award for his commitment to the community, his success and leadership within his organization, and his dedication to AACOP and its mission. (Jan. 2022)

Arizona Library Volunteer of the Year - The Arizona Library Association recognized Pat Ansell.

American Planning Association General Plan Award - The City of Scottsdale General Plan 2035 was named the 2022 best “Regional or General or Comprehensive Plan” by the Arizona Chapter of the American Planning Association.

Award Winning Budget - Scottsdale's Budget Office was awarded its 49th consecutive Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association.

2022 Recognitions

Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting - Scottsdale's was recognized for the 49th consecutive year by the Government Finance Officers' Association.

Tree City USA accreditation - Scottsdale was recognized for the 40th consecutive year by the Arbor Day Foundation.

Top Local Government Influencers Recognition - Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) recognized three Scottsdale employees as top local government influencers for 2022. Scottsdale Police Department's Director of Strategic Initiatives Cassie Johnson was named the No. 10 Top Local Government Influencer. Chief Information Officer Bianca Lochner and Business Intelligence Manager Kari Johnson made the list of ELGL's Top 100 Local Government Influencers.

Scottsdale Ranch Park & Tennis Center Recognition - The center was designated a 2022-2023 premier facility by the United States Tennis Association. The USTA program recognizes top tennis providers across the country that meet or exceed qualifications in participation, certification & continuing coach education, programming, facility operations, customer service and community partnerships.

Outstanding Special Event - The Tents by the Tracks event at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park was recognized by the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association.

Housing Choice Voucher Employee of the Year - Awarded to Human Services Supervisor Christina Cooley of Scottsdale's Community Assistance Office.

Arizona Large System of the Year - Water Distribution was awarded at the AZ Water Conference.

Arizona Water Treatment Plant Project of the Year - Thomas Groundwater Treatment Facility was recognized by the Arizona Water Association.

Arizona Technology Professional of the Year - Rikk Mascia was recognized by the Arizona Water Association.

Arizona Laboratory Analyst of the Year - Keely Bolstad was recognized by the Arizona Water Association.

PTI Solutions Award - CompTIA and the Public Technology Institute awarded Scottsdale in the Geospatial Information Systems category for the Good to Go Business Interactive Map.

Award Winning Budget - Scottsdale's Budget Office was awarded its 48th consecutive Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association.

2021 Recognitions

Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting - Scottsdale's was recognized for the 48th consecutive year by the Government Finance Officers' Association.

Top 100 Local Government Influencers - Erin Krause Riley was recognized by Engaging Local Government Leaders for her work with the city's Innovation Team.

SAFE-certified city - Scottsdale was the first awarded in Arizona for training more than 75% of city employees on how to identify, report and prevent human and sex trafficking by SAFE Action Project, the Arizona Attorney General's Office, the Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network and Homeland Security Investigations.

ALEAP accreditation - The Scottsdale Police Department became the first municipal police department in Arizona to achieve dual accreditation by achieving initial accreditation with the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ALEAP), while also holding CALEA accreditation.

Certificate of Excellence in Performance Management - The award recognizes organizations that exemplify a culture of performance management, pursue comparative analysis and data-informed decision-making and promote transparency. International City/County Management Association.

Indian School Park & Tennis Center Recognition - The center was recognized with a Distinguished Facility Award by the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) and as Municipal Tennis Facility of the year by Racquet Sports Industry Magazine.

Tree City USA accreditation - Scottsdale was recognized for the 39th consecutive year by the Arbor Day Foundation.

Accredited Economic Development Organization - Scottsdale earned reaccreditation for its Economic Development Department by the International Economic Development Council

Environmental Stewardship Award - Scottsdale Water Quality Director Suzanne Grendahl was recognized by the Arizona Water Association.

Construction Professional of the Year Award - Capital Project Management Construction Supervisor Jon Hughes received the award.

Knighton Award - The City Auditor's Office captured the award for its Landfill Recycling Cost Review of 2019 by the Association of Local Government Auditors.

Global Business City of the Year - Scottsdale was recognized as the Global Business City of the Year by Global Chamber.

Voice of the People Award - Scottsdale was recognized with the Excellence in Economy award.

IEDC Award of Excellence - Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award was awarded to Scottsdale for multimedia promotion of the Cure Corridor, Delivering the Cure by the International Economic Development Council.

Award Winning Budget - Scottsdale's Budget Office was awarded its 47th consecutive Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association.

International Slurry Surfacing Association (ISSA) Preservation Performance Award - Scottsdale Transportation and Streets was awarded the 2020 International Slurry Surfacing Association (ISSA) Preservation Performance Award for its outstanding contributions to the pavement preservation industry.

WestWorld - 2020 Facility of the Year - The League of Agriculture & Equine Centers recognized WestWorld for excellence in management and operation.

2020 Recognitions

Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting - Scottsdale's was recognized for the 47th consecutive year by the Government Finance Officers' Association.

Tree City USA accreditation - Scottsdale was recognized for the 38th consecutive year by the Arbor Day Foundation.

ICMA Credentialed Manager (ICMA-CM) designation - Assistant City Manager Brent Stockwell earned the designation. (Oct. 2020)

Knope Award - McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park earned best local park/open space by Engaging Local Government Leaders.

Outstanding Achievement in Local Government Innovation Award - Awarded for Operation Fix It, this award recognizes programs that successfully confront an important service delivery dilemma and had a positive impact and benefit to the community. (April 2019)

ADDY Award (multiple) - Six advertising awards were given to Scottsdale for Old Town rebranding. Three gold level awards (for magazine print, outdoor board advertising and integrated campaign), one silver award (for magazine print) and one bronze (for outdoor board). The Tourism and Events Department was also awarded the coveted Judge's Choice Award for the entire campaign. Phoenix Chapter of the American Advertising Federation. (March 2019)

Distinguished Budget Presentation Award - 29th consecutive recognition in government budgeting for Scottsdale's FY 2018/19 budget document. Awarded by an independent panel of peer reviewers from across the United States and Canada.

Growth Award - A recognition of community forestry programs that demonstrate higher levels of tree care and engagement in five categories. This was Scottsdale's 26th consecutive award from the Arbor Day Foundation.

Gimmicks and Gadgets Award - The city's wastewater maintenance group was recognized by the Arizona Water Association for its innovative solution to replacing large-diameter reverse osmosis membranes.

Operations Leader of the Year - Water Operations Supervisor Randy Gomez was recognized by the Arizona Water Association.

Laboratory Analyst of the Year - Principal Scientist Mark Xerxis was recognized by the Arizona Water Association.

AZ Water Health and Safety Professionals of the Year - Scottsdale Water Security, Safety and Training Coordinators Jeff Fritsch and Kerry Leib were recognized by the Arizona Water Association.

Clarity Award - The award recognizes local governments for using clear, concise and compelling story telling to share and engage with their communities. Engaging Local Government Leaders recognized Scottsdale for its citizen-friendly Annual Report.

Crescordia Sustainability Champion - The Arizona Forward award recognized Scottsdale Water as an organization that creates a culture of sustainability internally and externally, demonstrates a meaningful impact in advancing sustainable programs and serves as a model for environmental leadership.

Resilience Award - Scottsdale's Indian Bend Wash was recognized by Arizona State University's Knowledge Exchange for Resilience.

2019 Arizona Planning Association Best Master Plan/Project/Study Award - Scottsdale was recognized for the Low Impact Development Handbook of Technical Standard Details and Specifications for 10-LID/GI techniques in collaboration with the ASU Sustainable Cities Network and member communities.

Award Winning Budget - Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association.

2019 Diversity Champion Award - Diversity & Inclusion Manager Sharon Cini was awarded by the non-profit Community Celebrating Diversity.

Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award - The National Procurement Institute awarded Scottsdale for demonstrating excellence and exceeding the highest standards in innovation, professionalism, productivity, e-procurement and leadership attributes.

2019 Recognitions

Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting - Scottsdale's was recognized for the 46th consecutive year by the Government Finance Officers' Association.

What Works Cities Silver Certification - Scottsdale earned the Bloomberg Philanthropies certification for adopting a business mindset to run a well-managed government, embracing transparency, embedding data in decision-making- and several other accomplishments. (April 2019)

Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting - The Government Finance Officers' Association recognized Scottsdale for its 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. (April 2019)

Tree City USA accreditation - Scottsdale was recognized for the 37th consecutive year by the Arbor Day Foundation.

Certificate of Excellence in Performance Management - The International City/County Management Association recognized the city's data-driven management and reporting efforts.

CALEA reaccreditation - Scottsdale Police celebrated 25 years of accredited status from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

Gold-level Bicycle Friendly Community - The League of American Bicyclists recognized Scottsdale for its commitment to creating transportation and recreational resources that benefit residents of all ages and abilities while encouraging healthier and more sustainable transportation choices.