Scottsdale Update - April 17, 2023

Proposed Fiscal Year 2023/24 budget balances strong local economy with a cautious approach to the future. The city recently released the proposed Fiscal Year 2023/24 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan that covers July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024. Tentative budget adoption is scheduled May 16, and final budget adoption June 13.

While revenue growth remained strong through the pandemic and this fiscal year, the city's proposed FY 2023/24 budget expects a decline in local tax revenues in anticipation of an economic downturn and a slowdown in consumer spending. Given the economy’s uncertainty, the proposed budget takes a cautious approach to the future. Scottsdale will focus expenditures on the city's workforce, inflationary increases impacting core services and capital projects, and to fund City Council and citizen priorities. Learn more.

Scottsdale Earth Week kicks off with Green Expo Saturday. Be a part of a special re-dedication ceremony honoring the “Son of Godzilla,” the Scottsdale invention that advanced modern trash and recycling pickup. The event runs 8-11 a.m. Saturday, April 22, at the city’s North Corporation Yard, 9191 E. San Salvador. There also will be two art workshops about reclaimed materials and naturally dyed creations. Bring your reusable water bottle to fill up at our Scottsdale Water trailer. Other Earth Week events include volunteer road cleanups, guided nature walks in our beautiful preserve, an edible garden presentation and a xeriscape garden tour. Get details: Earth Week flyer (pdf)

April is Celebrate Diversity Month and Scottsdale for All showcases the interesting and diverse people in our community. Scottsdale welcomes and embraces people from all walks of life and celebrates diversity in many ways throughout the year – hosting learning luncheons, events that showcase various cultures and addressing racism in our community. Our residents and visitors come from many backgrounds and share the values that make Scottsdale a world-class community and a place with something for everyone. Use #ScottsdaleForAll on social media to share what being in Scottsdale means to you. 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. Here’s what’s coming up: 

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

Find more public meetings. 

THINGS TO DO

Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West presents “Meet the Authors – Jana Bommersbach and Bob Boze Bell: Hellraisers & Trailblazers – The Real Women of The Wild West.” Both authors will discuss their latest collaboration, followed by a brief, moderated Q&A. The program, which begins at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 27, is free with museum admission. Attendance is limited. Email [email protected] to register.

Take note - Scottsdale Jazz Festival comes to Old Town Scottsdale. The Scottsdale Jazz Festival, a tribute to the Annual International Jazz Day, runs 1-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, April 29-30, on Scottsdale Civic Center. This year’s lineup includes Molina's 32nd All Stars, Donald Harrison, Azar Lawrence Experience, Neamen Lyles, Incognito and more. Don't miss your chance to experience the best jazz music in one of the most beautiful cities in the country.

Scottsdale Mayor’s Youth Council invites teens to join them for the Youth Town Hall, “Unleashing Your Passion.” Dr. Broberg and Arizona State University students will advise participants how to successfully launch from high school into post-secondary education. The free program runs 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road. Dinner, raffles and fun. Register.

Prescription Drug Take Back available at two Scottsdale locations Saturday, April 22. The collections – which take place 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 22 – are part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back. Bring your pills for disposal to the Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road, or Foothills District Police Station in the Market Street Plaza at DC Ranch, 20363 N. Pima Road. Please do not bring liquids of any kind. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that many abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.  

Learn a new hobby … or brush up on an old one. Registration for Scottsdale Parks and Recreation summer programs begins at 8 a.m. Monday, April 24, for Scottsdale residents, and at 8 a.m. Tuesday, April 25, for everyone else. Programs take place in June, July and August. View Scottsdale Life. (pdf) Or browse classes and register.

Job seekers: Mark your calendars for the Career Convention from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, at Scottsdale Stadium's Fieldhouse. Meet dozens of local employers who are ready to hire, including the city of Scottsdale and many more. Whether you're seeking your first job, or getting back into the workforce, this free event is valuable for all ages. Need help with your resume? Our career coaches will be on-site providing resume assistance, mock interviews and more. You won't want to miss this opportunity to land your dream job! Learn more.

Bring summer relief for homebound seniors. The Beat the Heat program serves two equally important functions. First, the city provides homebound seniors with heat relief items to help keep them cool during the summer. Second, staff and volunteers assess the needs of our most vulnerable and help connect them to needed resources. Please drop off donations between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, through May 26, to the Via Linda Senior Center. Learn what items are most needed.

FYI

Help prevent wildfires by removing fast-growing invasive Globe Chamomile. Explore your property and be diligent about pulling now before yellow ball flowers develop mature seeds and dry out in our summer heat. Plants resemble a carrot plant with dark green leaves and a strong odor. Just one pull will prevent the spread of thousands of seeds. Invasive plants upset the sensitive and natural ecological balance of the surrounding area and can also disrupt the habitat for desert wildlife. In addition, it could become a major fire fuel source during the hot weather when these weeds dry out. Learn more.

High heat hits the Valley; adjust your hiking plan. Scottsdale Fire officials urge the public to adjust outdoor activities – including hiking plans. You suffer heat-related illness when your body’s temperature control system is overloaded, and the body can no longer cool itself. When a person is excessively sweating, dizzy, has a headache and/or nausea/vomiting, or feels weak, he/she is showing signs of heat exhaustion. Call 911 if a person becomes confused, passes out from the heat or stops sweating. Preventing heat-related illness is key. Hike early in the day and pre-hydrate the day before your outing. Bring plenty of water and a cell phone.

Register for the Scottsdale Tourism & Events Strategic Plan webinar. Experience Scottsdale and the city worked with Resonance Consultancy experts to develop a comprehensive, five-year plan to support Scottsdale's tourism industry in the short- and long-term. Attend a webinar from 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, May 10, to learn more about the process, vision and strategies. Register.