We will not publish Scottsdale Update Monday, Dec. 26. Look for us Tuesday, Dec. 27.
Most city offices will be closed Sunday-Monday, Dec. 25-26 for Christmas, and Sunday-Monday, Jan. 1-2 for New Year’s. Garbage and recycling collection will not be affected. Place your containers out by 5 a.m. the day of collection or the evening prior. Get Valley Metro’s holiday schedule.
Owners have until Jan. 8 to license short-term rental properties in Scottsdale. City ordinance requires short-term/vacation rental property owners/operators to obtain a Scottsdale license for each property and comply with several safety, health and neighbor notification requirements. The city has notified all known short-term/vacation rental properties about the licensing requirement via direct mail. However, as of Dec. 16, only 591 of an estimated 5,000 properties in Scottsdale have applied for or received their Scottsdale license. Failure to receive the city's letter does not alleviate an owner’s responsibility to obtain a license or comply with other ordinance and legal requirements.
Beginning Jan. 9, any short-term/vacation rental property operating in Scottsdale without a license will be violating the law. The owner/operator will be subject to enforcement action by the city that includes being cited with a minimum fine of $1,000 per violation. Read more.
Scottsdale Mayor will balance city's successes and future at annual address. Scottsdale Mayor David D. Ortega will hold his State of the City address from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Scottsdale Stadium Fieldhouse, 7408 E. Osborn Road. The ticketed event is open for registration. Lunch will be provided. To attend, register online at ScottsdaleChamber.com. Those who can’t attend in person can watch Mayor Ortega’s address following the event on Scottsdale Video Network or on Scottsdale’s YouTube Channel. The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce and HonorHealth are sponsoring the event.
Scottsdale is the first in the state and one of only a few nationwide to adopt mandatory “green” building requirements. The Scottsdale City Council recently adopted the latest edition (2021) of the International Energy Conservation Code and the International Green Construction Code as mandatory codes.
New Scottsdale developments will be required to follow the city’s “green building code,” standards set to ensure environmental practices in the building industry. The requirements are expected to cut 20% of each building’s water use and reduce greenhouse gas emission by at least 10 percent. Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere that have an influence on the earth's energy balance and have far reaching environmental and health effects. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Learn more.
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:
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Wine Dazzle – Santa’s Wine Flights: Get in the seasonal sippin’ mood at one of the cutest, festively decorated bars in Old Town. Guests will enjoy a flight with two Santa reds, two Santa whites and a delicious cheese pairing. $35 per person includes tax, tip, and gratuity, but not ticketing fees. 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, Wine Girl Scottsdale, 4205 N. Scottsdale Road.
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Festive Floral Workshop: Get in touch with nature while creating a stunning floral work of art to serve as a seasonal centerpiece. Each workshop will give attendees the guidance and materials needed to complete their beautiful arrangement. Cost varies by workshop. 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, Flower Bar, 4200 N. Craftsman’s Court.
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Stroll along the Waterfront which will be it up through the end of the year. Lights are on from dusk until 10 p.m. Free.
Register for the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Dinner Celebration. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Benjamin Chavis, CEO and president of the National Newspaper Publishers Association and the president of Education Online Services Corporation. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, at the Scottsdale Stadium’s Fieldhouse, 7408 E. Osborn Road. Get details.
In addition, the 2023 Diversity Champion Dr. Alyx Porter Umphrey will be honored at the dinner. Diversity Champions are individuals who exemplify the philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and who have enriched the community by empowering others. Individuals can be nominated by anyone in the community.
Dr. Porter Umphrey is a highly regarded physician leader, philanthropist, author and associate professor with a passion for equity, diversity and inclusion. Eager to give back to the next generation of physician leaders, Dr. Porter founded ElevateMD alongside her husband, Dr. Gregory Umphrey, to heighten medicine to an ideal where the physician workforce represents the communities served.
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Holiday Lights through Dec. 30, at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park: Hop on board the Paradise & Pacific Railroad and experience a winter wonderland of holiday lights and displays.
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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.
COVIDtests.gov offers free at-home COVID-19 test kits. U.S. residential households can order four free at-home tests from COVID.gov/tests. The tests will start to ship this week. Additionally, some at home tests have extended their expiration dates past the date on the box. An extended expiration date means the manufacturer provided data showing that the shelf life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized. You can check At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests | FDA to see if your COVID-19 test has an extended expiration date.
Reserve a park ramada, community center room or library meeting space for private events and activities. If you are renting on behalf of an organization, business, nonprofit, company picnic or church function, you must submit your request through the Reservation Inquiry Form. A staff member will follow up with you regarding your request. Learn more.
United States Tennis Association designates Scottsdale Ranch Park & Tennis Center a 2022/23 premier facility. This new pilot program recognizes top tennis providers across the country that meet or exceed qualifications in participation, certification and continuing coach education, programming, facility operations, customer service and community partnerships. According to the association, the program will cultivate a “standard of excellence” across the industry by recognizing and rewarding best-in-class tennis operators. Learn about the tennis center.
The annual Yule Log returns on Scottsdale Video Network! Experience the delightful ambiance of a glowing fireplace that burns cheerfully throughout the evening and morning. The mesmerizing flames are accompanied by holiday music that is sure to warm your home. You can enjoy the festive fireplace starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24, through midnight Sunday, Dec. 25. Livestream or watch on Cox channel 11 or Century Link channel 8001.
Reduce your winter water use and save. Scottsdale Water calculates sewer fees based on winter water use. Reducing your water use during December, January and February will help you save money yearlong.
Properly place your brush and bulk for pickup. Separate your brush and bulk into two piles: one for green waste and one for everything else. The piles should not exceed 10 feet long by six feet wide by four feet tall. Please place the piles at least three feet from each other. In addition, place bulk and brush out for collection no sooner than nine days prior to the Monday of your scheduled collections week.
December frost can damage plants. Average lowest temperatures of the year typically hit during December making it the coldest month of the year. Pruning should be delayed until new foliage begins to emerge in the spring when plants are damaged by frost. Frost-damaged foliage can offer some protection against recurring freezing temperatures.
