HEADLINE NEWS

Monsoon cleanup highlights Scottsdale’s commitment to service and safety. Scottsdale is cleaning up after a fierce Sept. 26 monsoon that dumped heavy rain in a matter of hours, flooding parks, facilities and roadways. Street Operations teams prioritized safety by clearing arterial streets within 24 hours, collector streets within 48 hours and residential streets within 72 hours, repurposing recovered granite to repair and stabilize roads sustainably. The Indian Bend Wash performed as designed, channeling floodwaters through the city, though spillway damage near Indian School Road required repairs.

Scottsdale Stadium and WestWorld both experienced flooding but reopened quickly thanks to the rapid response of city staff, and Eldorado Park—one of the hardest-hit areas—remains under repair. Residents have expressed their gratitude for the city’s quick response, reaching out by phone and online to thank crews for their hard work in keeping Scottsdale safe and restoring services after the storm.

Learn more.

The National Weather Service predicts another storm front this weekend which could reach Scottsdale. View the NWS forecast and plan accordingly.

Help shape Scottsdale’s Transportation Safety Plan at the Virtual Bike Ride Pop-Up Event. Scottsdale’s Transportation and Infrastructure Department is developing a safety plan to reduce serious collisions. Working with engineering consultants at TYLin, city staff will analyze street network crash data and recommend proven traffic engineering solutions. The plan will also incorporate feedback from motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, equestrians, and transit users to improve safety for everyone.

Residents are invited to hop on a stationary bicycle, put on a VR headset, and experience a virtual ride through Scottsdale streets. Each ride takes about five minutes and concludes with a brief questionnaire. The event will take place from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at the Reatta Sports Complex, 9809 E. McDowell Mountain Ranch Road. Find out more about Scottsdale’s Transportation Safety Plan and opportunities for community participation.

Council amends zoning ordinance in response to state legislation. At their Sept. 30 meeting, the Scottsdale City Council amended the city’s zoning ordinance related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to comply with a state law (HB2928) adopted earlier this year. The new law expands the ability for ADUs to be built on residential lots.

ADUs are smaller, self-contained dwelling units built on the same lot as a main single-family residence. While they are similar to guest houses, ADUs differ in that they must contain their own kitchen and sanitary facilities and may be rented out separately from the main house.

Scottsdale opposed this legislation due to its potential impact on neighborhoods and the elimination of local control, but when the bill became law, the city then had to proceed with updating its zoning ordinance via a text amendment (4-TA-2024#2).

Learn more.

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. 6:

• City Council Work Study Meeting: 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7
• City Council Regular Meeting: 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7
• Library Board Regular Meeting: 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8
• Veterans Advisory Commission Regular Meeting: 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8
• Planning Commission Regular Meeting: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8
• Development Review Board Regular Meeting: 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9
• Human Services Advisory Commission Regular Meeting: 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9
• Historic Preservation Commission Regular Meeting: 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9

Week of Oct. 13 – Check back next week for the full list:

• Scottsdale Environmental Advisory Commission Regular Meeting: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15

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

Find more public meetings.

THINGS TO DO

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. Oct. 10-31.

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.

Movie night returns to Scottsdale Airport Nov. 8. Scottsdale Airport will once again transform into an open-air theater this fall, welcoming families and film fans for a screening of the holiday favorite Home Alone.

The free event, now in its fourth year, takes place Saturday, Nov. 8, and is hosted by Volanti Restaurant and Lounge with support from airport partners Atlantic Aviation, Jet Aviation and Signature Aviation.

Event details

• Time: Gates open at 5 p.m.; the movie begins at 6 p.m.
• Location: Scottsdale Airport, 15000 N. Airport Drive (enter at the north gate of the main aviation building; event signs will guide guests).
• Parking: Free parking is available across from the main aviation building. Utilizing rideshare is encouraged.
• Cost: Free, no reservations required.

Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for seating and a non-perishable food donation for Scottsdale’s Vista del Camino food bank. Pets, outside food and beverages are not permitted.

For more information, visit ScottsdaleAirport.com.

Shop a wide variety of organic produce and seasonal specialties at the Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market. The market offers more than 100 local growers and specialty food vendors at 3806 N. Brown Ave. Shoppers can enjoy the market every Saturday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. 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

Tales of the Scottsdale Pioneers and the Founding of Scottsdale. Hear stories of the early pioneers of Scottsdale who settled here before most modern conveniences were available. You’ll hear about the first business on Main Street, our first businesswoman, Scottsdale’s first incredible entrepreneur, and their legacy. We’ll also explore the story behind the founding of Scottsdale High School and the family that donated the land to the school district.

Learn all about the early days of our city as we gear up for Scottsdale's 75th birthday.

• 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
• Registration isn’t required.

Presented by Bruce Wall, Scottsdale citizen

McDowell Sonoran Conservancy: Spooky or Spectacular? Revealing the Truth About Bats. Bats have long been cast as spooky symbols in myths and Halloween tales, but the truth is far more fascinating than frightening. In this talk, we’ll explore the incredible world of bats—their essential roles in our ecosystems, the reasons they deserve admiration rather than fear, and how science and curiosity can transform eerie perceptions into appreciation. It's time to replace fear with facts and discover why bats.

• 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th St.
• Capacity is limited. First-come, first-served. No registration or sign-up required.

Speaker: Jessie Dwyer, Parsons Field Institute Biodiversity Manager.

FYI

All Scottsdale Public Library locations, including Pony Express at Appaloosa, will be closed Monday, Oct. 13, for Staff Development Day. Staff will focus on training, development, and recognition to enhance community service. Access the library 24/7 through our digital collection.

Job of the Week: Traffic Engineer. Scottsdale is seeking a traffic engineer to help keep our streets safe, efficient, and responsive to community needs. This position performs duties including analyzing roadway operations, developing neighborhood traffic management solutions, and conducting traffic impact and safety studies.

As a key member of the Transportation & Infrastructure team, the traffic engineer collaborates with city staff, elected officials, and residents to improve traffic flow, enhance safety for all roadway users, and support Scottsdale’s growing community.

Learn more and apply.

NEW ONLINE:

Go natural this winter. Scottsdale Water is encouraging residents to let lesser-used lawn areas go natural this winter, showcasing the golden beauty of blonde grass while conserving water, time, and money. Learn more about embracing your natural winter lawn and smart overseeding practices.

Nominate your sustainability champions. Scottsdale is accepting nominations for the 2026 Sustainable Scottsdale Awards until 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. This is your opportunity to recognize individuals, businesses, schools, and organizations making a positive environmental impact in our community. Learn more and submit your nomination today.

Coffee, cops and community. Scottsdale Police enjoyed connecting with the community over coffee and conversation at their recent Coffee with a Cop event. See the highlights from this great community gathering!

Scottsdale has a brand-new fire station! Fire Station 612 is officially open in north Scottsdale, giving our firefighters the space, tools and resources they need to protect the community. Take a look inside.

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