HEADLINE NEWS
The city continues to plan for a future with less water and evaluate what additional steps will be necessary with deeper levels of shortage. In August, the Bureau of Reclamation declared a Tier 2a for the Colorado River system for 2023. This is due to historic drought, climate change and over-allocation where conditions are worsening quicker than anticipated, bringing challenges and new pressures to water utilities across Arizona. While normally this would give Scottsdale clarity on its water management for the coming year, the city anticipates a decision by the federal government on further reductions to the state’s water supply from the Colorado River.
Conservation actions are more vital than ever as pressures on our water supplies increase. Conservation enables Scottsdale to maximize and stretch its water supplies - a crucial component when dealing with the consequences of a historic drought and shortages. Read more.
Scottsdale statement and facts - Rio Verde Foothills water. Rio Verde is a separate community governed by Maricopa County, not the city of Scottsdale. Scottsdale has warned and advised that it is not responsible for Rio Verde for many years, especially given the requirements of the city’s mandated drought plan. The city remains firm in that position and confident it is on the right side of the law. Nothing in the city's action precludes residents in Rio Verde Foothills from purchasing water from other sources. The water haulers who have previously hauled water from Scottsdale have access to water from other jurisdictions and are still offering to haul water to serve the homes in Rio Verde. Read more.
Get the scoop on Scottsdale Super Season. Scottsdale Super Season is jam-packed with special events you won’t want to miss, from collector car auctions and cultural festivals to some of the most exciting competitions in professional sports, with the international spotlight of pro football’s Big Game front and center. Find all the details so you can join the fun!
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Western Week (Jan. 28-Feb. 5): A full week of cultural events including the Parada del Sol Parade and Arizona Indian Festival.
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WM Phoenix Open (Feb. 6-12): The PGA Tour’s most well-attended event followed by the nightly Birds Nest Music Festival. TPC Scottsdale.
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Historic Old Town ESPN Main Street Tailgate (Feb. 8-12): Join ESPN’s live telecasts during week-long coverage of Super Bowl LVII, where you can also enjoy tailgate games, food and beverages. Main Street in Historic Old Town, between Scottsdale Road and Brown Avenue.
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Spring Training (Feb. 25-March 28): Spring Training baseball under the warm Arizona sun has been a tradition for devoted fans since 1947. Scottsdale Stadium is home to the San Francisco Giants.
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Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show (Feb. 16-26): WestWorld once again hosts one of the world’s premiere equestrian events.
Investing in Our Scottsdale: Raintree Drive Extension. The Raintree Drive Extension will provide a direct connection between the Loop 101 Pima Freeway and Scottsdale Road. It includes simplifying the route from Hayden to Scottsdale roads and relieving traffic congestion along Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard.
The project will provide a consistent number of travel lanes, add raised medians, make numerous intersection improvements, change lane configurations, and add landscaping and public art to the corridor. Improvements include adding roundabouts to the intersections at Hayden and Raintree roads and Redfield Road and 76th Place.
Regional transportation dollars from the countywide half-cent sales tax are funding most of the project, which will be built in phases. The first segment, between the intersections of Hayden and Raintree roads and Redfield Road and 76th Place, will be completed in fall 2023.
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:
The Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction rolls into WestWorld bringing a couple thousand of the world's finest automobiles to Scottsdale. The auction also features an exhibitor marketplace and hours of live worldwide television coverage. Get details.
Arizona Concours d’Elegance: The Art of Aerodynamics comes to renovated Scottsdale Civic Center Sunday, Jan. 22. This event, formerly held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort, is a curated and judged exhibition of select collector cars spanning all eras. The name Concours d’Elegance is a French term meaning “competition of excellence.” The event starts at 9 a.m. Learn more and buy tickets.
Join the 2023 Regional Unity Walk. Help promote mutual respect and understanding at this year’s Regional Unity Walk (pdf) Saturday, Jan. 28, at Tempe Beach Park. The festival, featuring refreshments and entertainment, starts at 4:30 p.m. The one-mile walk begins at 6 p.m. Call the city’s Diversity Office at 480-312-7616 for more information.
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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.
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Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market: The market features more than 100 local growers and specialty food producers. It runs 8 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday through June at 3806 N. Brown Ave.
Vista del Camino hosts Tax Prep Night. Learn about the earned income tax credit and other resources beneficial to low- and moderate-income family tax bill/filings. The free program runs from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, at the center, 7700 E. Roosevelt St.
Neighborhood College registration is open for the spring series. We offer four tracks: HOA\Condo, Scottsdale 360, Good Neighbor and History. Register for one or all! Some presentations are offered in-person and online.
Here’s what’s happening in January:
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Short-Term Rentals, the Long and Short of It!: 11 a.m.-noon Thursday, Jan. 19, Zoom only. Join representatives from the City Manager’s Office, Tax & License, Code Enforcement and the Scottsdale Police Department for a discussion of the steps to follow if you have a concern with a short-term rental. You’ll also learn about Scottsdale's new ordinance and how it's being enforced. The free program runs 11 a.m.-noon Thursday, Jan. 19. Register for this virtual program.
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Understanding Financial Obligations, Budgeting and Fraud Prevention: 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road. As an HOA board member, understanding your financial, statutory and budgeting obligations are crucial components for the financial health of your association and to ensure you remain in compliance with state requirements. This class will also cover HOA fraud prevention, including industry fraud trends/statistics, tips for avoiding fraud and various fraud indicators. Register.
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HOA/Condo Symposium: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road. This new event is designed for those new to serving on the board of their HOA or condominium community. It would also be helpful to those interested in serving on their board or needing a "refresher." Seating is limited. Register.
Sign up for firework event notifications. Last year, the city initiated a process to notify residents of commercial firework events approved by the Scottsdale Fire Department. The notifications allow affected neighbors a heads up so they can better prepare if they have pets or are sensitive to noise. Get notifications. Learn more about fireworks in Scottsdale.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Maricopa County Public Health are monitoring the spread of the highly infectious XBB1.5, a new omicron subvariant. Infections rose from 4% to 41% in December. There is no evidence that XBB1.5 causes more severe illness. Variants of SARS-CoV-2 are expected. Viruses change through mutation, and sometimes these mutations result in a new variant of the virus. Some variants emerge and disappear while others persist.
Some variants may spread more easily than others, which may lead to more COVID-19 cases. Even if a variant causes less severe illness, an increase in the overall number of cases could cause an increase in hospitalizations, which could put more strain on healthcare resources and potentially lead to more deaths.
Still, it’s a good reminder to get vaccinated or boosted if you haven’t already.
Residential mailings regarding the service line warranty program. The city has partnered with Service Line Warranties of America (SLWA) to offer protection to homeowners for the water and sewer service lines that connect homes to the city’s systems. The coverage is 100% voluntary and provided at no cost to the city. Also, public funds are not being used to promote or administer the program, and the city did not provide names or addresses to this company for mailing purposes. There are many private insurance companies that offer additional service line warranties. This type of insurance is a personal choice, and we encourage you to check your current homeowner's policy before purchasing additional insurance or adding a warranty. Get more information about SLWA.
Scottsdale Public Library is looking for donations of photos related to Scottsdale area history, culture and traditions. If you have pictures of Rawhide, Ride ‘n Rock Ranch, Parada del Sol or other Scottsdale historic sites or events, visit the Scottsdale Heritage Connection webpage to learn how you can help us expand the historical collection.
History: Eldorado Park. Eldorado Park was under construction in 1966 and would open the following year as Scottsdale's first community park. The city initially referred to it as Clayton Park, in honor of the late Mayor Bill Clayton, and Coronado Park, referencing the nearby high school. In 1967, more than 600 students entered a contest to name the city's new park, and they chose "Eldorado." Today, the 60-acre park includes a community center, gym, indoor/outdoor basketball courts, greenbelt multiuse path, fishing lake, swimming pool, three lighted ball fields, the Wedge Skate Park, two playgrounds, picnic areas, soccer field, lighted sandy volleyball court and restrooms.
