HEADLINE NEWS
Scottsdale incumbents appear to have won reelection, one open City Council seat will be filled in November. With nearly all ballots tabulated by Maricopa County in Scottsdale’s Aug. 2, primary election, it appears that incumbents Kathy Littlefield and Solange Whitehead will retain their seats on the City Council.
One council seat remains open to be decided in the Tuesday, Nov. 8, general election. The next two candidates with the highest number of votes will advance to the November general election, with the candidate receiving the majority of votes cast being elected and taking office in January 2023. Based on current election results, Scottsdale City Council candidates Barry Graham and Pamela Carter would advance to the November general election.
The city will post final election results after Maricopa County provides them Tuesday, Aug. 9. The Scottsdale City Council is scheduled to canvass the election results at its Aug. 22 meeting. The canvass is the official tally of votes for any given election. The purpose of the canvass is to account for every ballot cast and ensure that every valid vote cast is included in the election totals.
Investing in Our Scottsdale: DC Ranch Neighborhood Park is open. Patrons are now able to enjoy the scenic mountain views, public art and desert wildlife; and check out the Books2Go mini library, all while taking a stroll around the lake on the park’s new path. Phase one of this project was primarily funded as part of the voter-approved 2019 Bond Election. Learn more.
The updated Short-Term Rental Quarterly Report is available. This report provides an update on the Short-Term Rental Working Group’s nine recommendations as approved by the City Council.
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The city was instrumental in getting state law changed to strengthen local authority in the short-term rental industry. Governor Ducey signed SB 1168 (PDF) July 6, and Scottsdale is working with the League of Arizona Cities and Towns to draft a model ordinance to help municipalities enact the local license and permit provisions contained in the bill.
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We created "Good Neighbor Guides” for visitors and owners/hosts.
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Over the second quarter of 2022, 627 properties provided emergency contact information to the city, the most in any quarter since the city started collecting this information. The city has emergency contact information for 2,198 short-term rental properties.
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A hotline, 480-312-7368, is available to triage calls related to short-term rental properties, directing them to the appropriate department more quickly.
August is Drowning Impact Awareness Month. Each year, there are more than 3,000 fatal drownings in the United States. Remember to practice the ABCs of water safety:
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A=Adult: Sober adult must always be with children around water, watching swimmers and doing nothing else
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B=Barrier: Ensure there is a barrier around your pool
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C=Classes & Coast Guard Approved Lifejackets: Everyone should take swim classes and learn to swim
Get a head start learning about city issues, projects and activities by attending or listening in on the many public meetings we host.
Senior centers host Friday movie matinees. Join us at 1 p.m., every Friday for a free movie and popcorn at Granite Reef and Via Linda senior centers. Showings will vary by location. Call the centers for details. Granite Reef: 480-312-1700; Via Linda: 480-312-5810.
Explore plant life in and around Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Mustang Library hosts “Flora in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve – Cacti, Trees, and Large Shrubs” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20. We live in the most diverse desert of the world; learn more about the vegetation found here. Presented by the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. Register.
“Disenchanted!” shines new light on beloved characters at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Audiences can join Snow White and her posse of disenchanted princesses in Aug. 25–28 at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Using an all-woman cast, “Disenchanted!” introduces beloved princesses in brand-new roles, including Snow White as the self-assured leader of the princess pack; Cinderella as an enthusiastic feminist; Sleeping Beauty as the comedic opposite of Snow White; and many more familiar faces. Learn more and buy tickets.
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Scottsdale ArtWalk: Internationally known as a mecca for art collectors, 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.
Registration open for senior food distribution program. The Brown Bag program offers Scottsdale seniors bi-monthly food distribution on the first and third Thursday mornings of each month. The bags include fresh vegetables, canned goods, drinks, breads and cold food items.
Paiute Neighborhood Center provided 700 supportive interventions last fiscal year and welcomes back Paiute Legal Night. A supportive intervention includes working intensively with a client related to a crisis event such as eviction, food insecurity, homelessness and more. Supportive interventions will often yield referrals to agencies in Scottsdale and the Valley to assist in stabilizing a situation and social workers logged more than 1,000 referrals to help clients in need.
In addition, Paiute welcomes back the Paiute Legal Night. This program, a collaboration with the Scottsdale Bar Association, provides a free legal clinic to residents. The clinic is open from about 5:30-7 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month. Call 480-312-2529 to schedule an appointment.
Learn about Paiute’s various programs and services.
Aquatic and fitness centers are back to fall hours:
Youth and Family Services recruited talented and eager students for this year’s Mayor’s Youth Council. Students will spend the year focusing on education, touring city facilities and learning more about local government. Learn more.
The city and Valley Metro offer various transit services to help seniors and those with disabilities
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Valley Metro RideChoice allows up to 20 trips per months in Lyft, Uber, taxis and wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Valley Metro ADA Paratransit Eligibility webpage; 602-716-2100.
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Valley Metro Paratransit (formerly known as East Valley Dial-A-Ride) provides two types of door-to-door, shared ride service:
Because of you, life doesn’t stop – donate blood. Participate in a Vitalant blood drive 8 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the city’s North Corporation Yard, 9191 E. San Salvador, Wrangler Room. Schedule an appointment using blood drive code “corpblood.”
Featured Job of the Week: Water Services Worker I – Trainee. Sitting behind a desk not for you? Do you like working with your hands? Working outdoors? Great pay, great benefits and an opportunity to work permanently for the city! Some duties include performing water main shutdowns and notifying customers; repairing water distribution lines; and observing and monitoring data to determine compliance with operating and safety standards. Learn more and apply.
Summer Reading Program participants spent five million minutes reading. More than 6,700 people registered (a 75% increase over last year!) and about 2,800 completed the program. Everyone who completed the program at 1,000 points or more was also eligible to receive a free book. Learn more about our libraries.
