HEADLINE NEWS

What’s in my backyard? The first in a series of neighborhood outreach events created as part of the City Council’s 2025/26 priorities will be hosted from 5:30 – 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, at Fire Station 613, 26380 Hayden Road. Residents are invited to a relaxed community open house with food, kid-friendly activities, a fire station tour and the chance to talk one-on-one with city staff. Learn about projects, services and events happening in your neighborhood while connecting with friends and neighbors close to home. This is the first in a series of WIMBY neighborhood outreach events, each tailored to a specific area. Registration is requested.

Scottsdale honors veterans through special events and community tributes. In November, Scottsdale will pay tribute to veterans and active-duty service members with a series of special events and displays. Highlights include the Scottsdale Salutes banner program in Old Town, the Army vs. Navy polo match at WestWorld featuring Scottsdale veterans in a ceremonial “first drop,” a Veterans Day hike in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and the city’s annual Veterans Day Commemoration at the City Hall Memorial Lawn.

Learn more.

Planning and Development Services seeks feedback on revised Land Division Ordinance. New state legislation (HB 2447) requires cities to authorize personnel to review and approve land divisions without a public hearing. This change requires Scottsdale to revise the Land Division Ordinance. Please visit Planning and Development to review the draft and submit your comments before Nov. 6.

Scottsdale seeks residents to serve on city boards and commissions. Scottsdale residents looking to make a difference in their community are invited to apply for open positions on several of the city’s volunteer boards and commissions. These citizen-led groups play an important role in shaping local policies, studying community issues and providing recommendations to the Scottsdale City Council. Applications are due Friday, Nov. 7. Learn more about the current openings and submit your application online at ScottsdaleAZ.gov, search “Boards and Commissions.”

Scottsdale expands smoking ordinance to include vaping devices. Scottsdale City Council unanimously approved an update to the city’s smoking ordinance, expanding it to include electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes and vape pens. The change aligns Scottsdale’s rules with Arizona’s Smoke Free Arizona Act and strengthens protections against secondhand smoke and vapor in public spaces. The revised ordinance prohibits smoking — including vaping — in most public places, workplaces, and city-owned facilities, and within 50 feet of public schools. It also introduces fines for violations, ranging from $100 to $2,500.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Get a head start learning about city issues, projects and activities by attending or listening in on the many public meetings we host.

Week of Oct. 27:

• Industrial Development Authority Regular Meeting: 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29

Week of Nov. 3 – Check back next week for the full list:

• City Council Regular Meeting: 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3
• Veterans Advisory Commission Regular Meeting: 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5

Learn about the responsibilities of city Boards and Commissions and how you can serve.

Find more public meetings.

THINGS TO DO

Halloween Bash. We’re calling all goblins, ghosts and creatures of the night! The festivities include lunch, raffle prizes, a Halloween costume contest and party favors.

• Noon Thursday, Oct. 30, at Via Linda Senior Center, 10440 E. Via Linda
• Doors open at 11:45 a.m.
• $10 for residents; $13 for non-residents
• Register online

Scottsdale Police Department’s Trunk or Treat. Join Scottsdale Police from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, for the 2025 Domestic Violence Awareness Trunk-or-Treat at the McKellips District parking lot, 7601 E. McKellips Road. This free, family event offers children a safe and fun way to trick-or-treat while exploring decorated trunks and meeting police officers. Along with candy and costumes, the evening will also raise awareness about domestic violence prevention and community resources.

Take a ride during Halloween Spook-Track-ula. Stop in for a spell as the Paradise & Pacific Railroad is transformed into a haunted park of fun for Scottsdale Parks & Recreation’s annual Halloween Spook-Track-ula at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park! This family-friendly event, featuring a spooky train ride, takes place 6-9:30 p.m. through Friday, Oct. 31.

Spook-Track-ula concludes Oct. 31, with a free special trick-or-treating night in the park’s Desert Arboretum, where kids can collect sweet treats in a festive, safe, family-friendly setting from 4 to 9:30 p.m.

Gardening 101. Discover the secrets to successful vegetable gardening in Arizona with Angela Judd, author and certified Master Gardener in collaboration with Scottsdale Solid Waste. Learn about the intricacies of planning, watering, nurturing and harvesting your garden amidst the unique challenges of Arizona’s arid climate.

• 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Civic Center Library Auditorium, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
• No registration is required.

40th Annual Arts & Crafts Fair. This year’s event has over 100 arts and crafts booths, children's crafts, a world-famous balloon artist, two sets of live music entertainment and a petting zoo. Scottsdale Community Partners sell coffee and concession items. Food vendor’s Biscuit Freaks & Fajitas Freaks will sell breakfast and lunch items.

This is a free community event open to all ages. There will be onsite parking and a free shuttle for additional parking at Hohokam Elementary.

• 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road

Learn more.

Explore galleries during Scottsdale ArtWalk. Scottsdale is home to more than 100 galleries, dedicated to exhibiting the finest visual art from around the world and locally. Stroll at your own pace. 7-9 p.m. Thursdays. Specialty-themed Gold Palette ArtWalks are held 6:30-9 p.m. about once a month.

Ongoing:

• Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts: Attend exciting, live performances throughout the year.
• Find McDowell Sonoran Conservancy events.
• Discover Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West activities.
• Get Scottsdale Sister Cities events.

Get more events information.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

McDowell Sonoran Conservancy PastFinders: A Story of the Indian Bend Wash. This presentation covers the complete story of the Indian Bend Wash flood control project and the many steps that made this project possible. A great number of hurdles had to be over come for this unprecedented project. In the end, the completed Indian Bend Wash project helped establish Scottsdale as a place of imagination, with a willingness to go the extra mile and as a trend setter. People from all over have come to Scottsdale to see and learn about this marvel of local civic initiative.

• 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, at Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th St.
• Capacity is limited. First-come, first-served. No registration or sign-up required.

Neighborhood College: Hallowed Tales of Scottsdale. Join us for a fall storytelling classic! Our storyteller digs into the archive to share stories of people in Scottsdale whose lives came to an unusual end over the last 85 years. Could these people be the ghosts that haunt the buildings of Old Town? Did you know the building we host the event in was called "the most haunted building in Scottsdale" by a local ghost tour company?

Presenter: Bruce Wall, city of Scottsdale

• 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, at the Scottsdale Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road.
• Register online

FYI

Roosevelt Street storm drain work begins soon. Construction of a new $13 million storm drain along Roosevelt Street/Continental Drive will begin Nov. 3, to improve stormwater collection and reduce flooding near the Scottsdale/Tempe border. The project, led by Tempe in partnership with Scottsdale and the Flood Control District of Maricopa County, will extend an existing 78-inch drain that carries water to the Indian Bend Wash. Work will include installing 7,500 feet of storm drain, lateral connections, curb inlets, and manholes to address long-standing flooding issues in the area. The project is scheduled for completion in December 2026, with the Flood Control District funding 65% and each city contributing 17.5%.

More information can be found on Tempe’s Water Project Updates webpage.

Scottsdale Airport is making steady progress on its Master Plan Update, and you're invited to learn more at the public information workshop. This open-house style event is a chance to explore proposed improvements, ask questions, and share your thoughts. Drop in anytime during the workshop. Airport staff and planning consultants will be available throughout the evening to walk you through development concepts and gather input from community members, tenants, and airport users.

• 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at Signature Aviation Private Hangars, 15003 N. Airport Drive

The update process is about halfway complete. The Federal Aviation Administration recently approved the forecast of activity levels, which is a key step in the process that helps guide future facility needs and investment.

To learn more, visit the project website.

Job of the Week: Principal Water Resources Engineer. This position serves as the city’s expert in water and sewer engineering review and analysis, overseeing special projects, coordinating with multiple departments, and ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal standards.

Your work will benefit the community by supporting growth that aligns with Scottsdale’s quality of life and ensuring environmental stewardship through sustainable water use and advanced infrastructure planning.

Learn more and apply.

NEW ONLINE:

Podsdale: Securing Scottsdale’s water future. Water is essential to Scottsdale’s way of life — but where does it come from, and how do we ensure it lasts for generations to come? In this episode of Podsdale, we explore the sources that supply our community, the challenges posed by drought and the Colorado River, and the innovative strategies Scottsdale is using to stay ahead. From reclaimed water to advanced purification, learn how the city is planning for the future and what you can do at home to play a role in conservation.

AZ Cities and Towns Week. Arizona Cities & Towns Week recognizes the employees, volunteers and officials who keep Arizona communities running 24/7, 365 days a year. Scottsdale celebrated the occasion throughout the week, including a historic flashback from the City Clerk’s Office and a shout out to Scottsdale Police and Scottsdale Fire on Public Safety Day.

Firefighters unite across continents! Scottsdale Fire Station 602 recently hosted firefighters from Germany for a day of connection, learning and shared traditions. From swapping patches to trading stories, it was a memorable exchange that highlighted the universal bond among firefighters.

QUICK LINKS:

• City Call Center – 480-312-3111
• Report things that need to be fixed, or submit other requests via Scottsdale EZ
• Traffic Restrictions Map
• Stay in the loop, subscribe to ADOT Loop 101 construction updates
• Brush and Bulk Schedule
• Scottsdale Weather