HEADLINE NEWS
The city has extended Day Relief Center hours to provide those who need respite from the heat with a cool place to rest, meals and water, showers and navigation for additional services. Extended hours will run through the end of September:
Drivers: With the 2023-2024 school year kicking off, be extra cautious in and near school zones. Here are some tips:
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Slow down and obey all traffic signs.
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Be alert and avoid distractions in high-traffic areas.
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Do not enter a crosswalk until the road is completely clear.
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Watch for student drivers who may still be learning the rules of the road.
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Learn and obey school rules for drop-off and pick-up.
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Do not stop in the street and avoid blocking traffic lanes or driveways.
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Yield to school buses or risk a hefty fine.
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Watch for bikes and pedestrians. Small children can be harder to see.
Help Scottsdale become a platinum-level “Bicycle Friendly Community.” The League of American Bicyclists has recognized Scottsdale as a gold-level Bicycle Friendly Community for 12 consecutive years. This year, the city will renew its certification and hopes to be recognized at the higher platinum-level. Your feedback is an important part of the application process. By completing the Bicycle Friendly Community survey, you can help shape future bike activities and amenities in Scottsdale. The survey is available online through Aug. 25 – get involved.
Scottsdale is one of only 36 cities in the country to receive this prestigious designation and one of only 13 gold-level cities with a population over 100,000. We have an extensive network of bicycle amenities, including 123 miles of paved shared-use paths, 156 miles of unpaved trails and 192 miles of on-street bike lanes. Learn more about what moves Scottsdale.
Provide feedback for the “Shape Scottsdale Parks” master planning process. The Scottsdale Parks and Recreation Department is working on the long-range plan that identifies key initiatives, policies and strategies to guide Scottsdale’s parks and recreation programs and services over the next decade.
Your feedback will help prioritize goals so the city’s parks and recreation programs and facilities meet evolving community needs. Visit ShapeScottsdaleParks.com to take an online survey, provide comments on the site’s interactive maps and stay informed on upcoming milestones via an email subscription.
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:
Enjoy the perfect end to summer by getting wet and wild at Slide the Rails. The event runs 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, with a variety of inflatable water slides and obstacle courses suitable for all ages. A $10 wristband includes unlimited access to the water attractions, and train and carousel rides. They will be sold onsite the day of the event. Remember your towel and sunscreen. Learn more.
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West’s Spirit of Summer program offers cool summer activities 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays through August:
Artist Tuesdays:
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Aug. 1: Dustin Klassen, Paul Steele, Nichole Laisure, Naomi Brown, Ashwini Bharathula
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Aug. 8: Anton Nowels, Paul Steele, Nichole Laizure, Kathy Howard
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Aug. 15: Anton Nowels, Paul Steele, Nichole Laizure, Milly Guthrie
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Aug. 22: Dustin Klassen, Paul Steele, Naomi Brown, Milly Guthrie
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Aug. 29: Paul Steele, Kathy Howard, Milly Guthrie
Western Wednesdays:
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Aug. 2: Outlaws and Lawmen and Women. With the West ever-expanding in the early 1800s, an influx of outlaws moved out to a lawless zone.
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Aug. 9: Hopi. Learn about one of Arizona Native 22 indigenous peoples, design your own pot and enjoy other fun activities.
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Aug. 16: Animals. Contrary to popular belief, Arizona has a lot more desert animals than reptiles. Learn what Native Americans would do with bison and design your own Bison robe.
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Aug. 23: Navajo Code. Examine the language used by the Navajo Code Talkers. Design your own code wheel and follow a code themed scavenger hunt around the museum.
Curious about the air quality index and what it means for your health and the environment we share? Why do we have “no wood burning” and “no leaf blowing” days? Scottsdale’s Environmental Planner Sam Brown will share what the forecasts mean, why they are important, and how residents can use these forecasts for their health and to improve the environment for all. The free presentation is from 2-3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7, at Arabian Library.
Learn about upcoming development projects by subscribing to the P & Z Link e-newsletter. Scottsdale's Planning and Zoning division produces this weekly publication to keep residents and merchants informed about upcoming projects that may affect their neighborhoods. Subscribe.
Take a hike … but do it safely! Hiking in Arizona is not just dangerous, it can be deadly. But thanks to quick responding city staff and rescuers, this story has a happy ending.
A couple weeks ago, a man hiking from the Gateway Trailhead with his partner became disoriented. The couple was visiting from out of state and likely underestimated the extreme Arizona weather. When rescuers recovered the hiker, he was in critical condition with a 106-degree temperature and severe burns from the rocks he was lying on. In addition, he was able to only recall his first name.
While his situation could’ve gone from bad to even worse, thanks to quick-thinking staff and fire personnel, the man is now recuperating and expected to make a full recovery. The hiker wants to remain anonymous, but he and his partner have expressed their gratitude, calling rescuers “angels.” All admit he probably wouldn’t have lasted much longer.
There are steps you can take to increase your chances of staying safe while exploring our beautiful Sonoran Desert and McDowell Sonoran Preserve. They include:
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Leave your dog at home. The desert heat can kill your dog with little or no warning, and you can be charged under state law with a felony for animal cruelty.
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Plan your hike and stick to your plan.
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Stay with your hiking partner.
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Pay attention to the emergency markers.
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Start at sunrise when it's cooler and be off the trail before the extreme heat sets in.
Scottsdale provides after-school care for students in grades kindergarten through sixth. It runs from school release until 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, at the following locations:
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Echo Canyon Elementary
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Hohokam Elementary
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Navajo Elementary
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Yavapai Elementary
The cost is $650 for the year or $65 per month; payment plans are available. Get details.
Business owners can connect to Choose Scottsdale HUUB, a website designed to provide quick, easy access to tools and resources needed to succeed. Alongside on-demand courses, virtual events and grants opportunities, you also have free exclusive access to personalized, tactical consulting support for your specific business needs. Learn more and connect with a HUUB expert today. You’ll find advisors with the right expertise to help answer your burning questions and overcome the challenges you are facing. Get started.
Save a life … donate blood. A significant decrease in summer donations, along with a severe decline in donations during the July 4 holiday has led to an emergency blood shortage. Donate blood at these drives to help end the shortage:
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8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 8, and Nov. 8, Scottsdale City Hall parking lot, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
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8 a.m.-noon Aug. 15, and Nov. 14, Scottsdale’s North Corporation Yard, 9191 E. San Salvador
Investing in Our Scottsdale: Miller Road construction between Pinnacle Peak and Happy Valley roads. The new road segment will include two lanes of travel in each direction, bike lanes and detached sidewalks with landscaped buffers on either side of the street. Completing this connection will create a new option for north and south travel beyond Scottsdale and Pima roads and provide a direct connection to the Hayden Road and Loop 101 interchange. The project also will include a bridge over Rawhide Wash.
The first phase of construction includes site preparation – tagging and salvaging trees and removing an abandoned waterline and wall. Work proceeds to bridge construction, with the final step connecting and improving Miller Road. The project is scheduled to be complete in fall 2024. Get more project details.
Scottsdale employees committed to a sustainable Scottsdale. When challenged to implement process improvements at Arabian Library, Branch Manager Louisa Aikin made a difference that supported the city’s commitment to sustainability.
Louisa focused on reducing paper use. She started by analyzing her “printer addiction” and reducing her own paper use. She encouraged staff to do the same. Her next step was to eliminate printed agendas and meeting notes, and instead use the branch laptop to manage meetings and saving documents to refer to later as needed.
Then staff tackled one of the daily processes that used the most paper – locating and pulling books to put “on hold” for library patrons. Staff members typically walked through the branch with multiple pages of printed “pull” lists. They committed to calling up the lists on the branch computer instead. Because staff performs this activity multiple times a day, it immediately resulted in a significant reduction in paper. Plus, the new process took less time to complete.
Tired of the heat? Check out this cool video of northern Scottsdale following overnight snow accumulation March 2.
Job of the Week: Code Enforcement Assistant: The successful candidate will coordinate field activities such as the Graffiti Abatement Program or handle the intake of code complaints, public records requests and special projects. Benefits include: 12 paid holidays; sick leave; medical, dental and vision benefits; tuition reimbursement; participation in Arizona State Retirement System; and more. Learn more and apply.
