HEADLINE NEWS
Scottsdale’s free Community Juneteenth Celebration, presented by Mayo Clinic, is back by popular demand Saturday. Hosted by the city and Scottsdale Arts, the day of culture, entertainment, music, food, activities, wellness, presentations and career opportunities takes place 2-7 p.m. at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and Scottsdale Civic Center, 7380 E. Second St. Parking and admission are free, including access to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. Learn more.
Juneteenth commemorates the abolition of slavery – more specifically the emancipation of enslaved people in Texas, who did not receive the news until two years after abolition. It is believed to be the oldest African American holiday, with annual celebrations in different parts of the country dating back to 1866.
Reminder: Juneteenth is a city holiday. Most city offices and facilities will be closed Monday, June 19. Trash and recycling collection is not affected. Place your containers in their usual spot by 5 a.m. the morning of collection or the night before. Scottsdale Update will be published Tuesday, June 20.
Scottsdale City Court and Police Department warn of scam calls appearing to be from Valley law enforcement agencies. Most law enforcement agencies will never call to request money. The callers are convincing, persistent and bold.
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Make claims such as: you missed court, have a warrant or have outstanding fines and will be arrested if you don't pay.
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Threaten that you must pay immediately.
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Request payments through platforms like Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, Green Dot and Square; or via prepaid debit and gift cards.
If you get one of these calls, hang up and then report it to the police non-emergency number at 480-312-5000.
Drowning was the most common cause of death in Arizona for children ages 1-4 last year. Keep your loved ones safe this pool season with these safety tips:
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Take CPR classes at least every two years, and practice between to keep your skills sharp.
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Supervise children wherever they could find water. Children can drown in as little as an inch of water.
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No one should swim alone, including adults.
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Install a pool fence or other approved barriers around the pool. Learn what's required in Scottsdale.
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Keep a phone by the pool to call 911 in case of an emergency.
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More tips.
Official monsoon season kicks off Thursday and runs through Sept. 30 ... Be “Ready, Set, Go.” Monsoon season brings thunderstorms with heavy rain, flash flooding and lightning which can cause wildfires.
Scottsdale Fire is available to provide Ready, Set, Go emergency preparedness presentations. Schedule one today.
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:
June Days celebration continues … enjoy all the things that make Old Town unique. Daily activities and events include wine tastings, art exhibits, crafting workshops, live performances and family-oriented outings. Plan your June Days at OldTownScottsdaleAZ.com.
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Scottsdale Stories and Sweets – Scottsdale: Fact or Fiction Part 2: Could you legally purchase alcohol in Scottsdale before Prohibition? Are the trees planted by our founders more than 120 years ago still standing? As part of the story, you'll learn about the oldest steak restaurant in Scottsdale and how the owner's past actions still positively contribute to our economy today! 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road: Register.
Celebrate fathers at Donuts for Dads. Honor fathers and father figures 9-10 a.m. Friday, June 16, at either Granite Reef or Via Linda senior center and enjoy coffee and donuts. This is a free event and registration is not required.
Show up for Glow Up at McDowell Mountain Aquatic Center. This family dance party includes a live DJ, foam party, glow games, access to pool amenities and more. Doors open at 6 p.m.; the event starts at 7 p.m. Friday, June 16. Cost for residents: $4 per child; $6 for adults. Learn more.
Children's Learning and Play Festival offers free fun and educational activities. This event features children’s authors, illustrators, music, live performances, rides, STEM activities, local business vendors and a host of interactive fun for toddlers, children and young adults. It runs 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 24, at WestWorld, 16601 N. Pima Road.
Scottsdale Water’s popular rebate program opens early for residents and businesses. Get water savings opportunities and financial incentives for conservation efforts. Due to popular demand, the city opened the program in June rather than July.
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The residential grass removal rebate is set at $2 per square foot, up to $5,000 per property. Grass must be replaced with approved desert-friendly landscape and pre-approved by the conservation office before any grass is removed from the property.
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The residential in-ground pool or spa removal of up to $1 per square foot of water surface area plus $400.
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Multifamily, HOAs, and commercial businesses may qualify for a grass removal rebate of up to $40,000 when removing large amounts of grass. There’s an additional bonus of up to $10,000 when removing strips of grass adjacent to the street.
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Residents and businesses may qualify for a rebate by installing water efficiency and monitoring technology.
Taking these small but mighty conservation steps can assist the city with its goal of voluntarily saving at least 5% on water use.
Last year’s incentive rebate program saw an increase of nearly 550% from the prior year and shows Scottsdale’s commitment toward water conservation programs. During this same period, the city received nearly 600 applications for the grass removal rebate program, a 164% increase. As a result, more than 401,000 square feet of grass was removed … which saves more than 20 million gallons of water in subsequent years.
Civic Center Library’s Kids Café provides free lunches to those up to age 18. Children can pick up lunch from noon-1 p.m. Monday-Friday in the Youth Room, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. Scottsdale Unified School District provides the service. Learn more by calling the district at 480-484-6234.
Scottsdale invites residents and business owners to join “Speak Up Scottsdale.” Speak Up Scottsdale is an online community hosted by the city where people can interact with their community, discussing city issues, programs, services, and projects. If you like feeling connected to your community and to your neighbors and are ready to engage in fun and meaningful discussions about Scottsdale, we would love to have you. Sign up at SpeakUpScottsdale.com.
Tell us how we can improve our adaptive program services. We’re developing a strategic plan to guide the division’s future to provide the best services possible. Your input is key. Complete this brief survey to share your thoughts and be eligible to win a gift basket worth $100. Take the survey.
Paiute Neighborhood Center hosts two important educational program. Both programs are free and held at the center:
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9 a.m. Tuesday, June 13: Benefits for the Disabled – Learn about social security for disability, medical assistance, medical insurance and other government benefits available to individuals with disabilities.
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9 a.m. Friday, June 16: Healthy Relationships for Teens and Adults – Discover ways to build healthy couple relationships and the signs of an unhealthy relationship.
The Arizona Department of Housing awarded Scottsdale $940,000 from the newly created Homeless Shelter and Services Fund. This grant will provide homeless individuals and single parent families with access to safe and decent temporary housing, as well as support services. The program is expected to serve 80-120 individuals per year, offering emergency bed nights and support services for 30 to 120 days. Scottsdale Housing Agency will collaborate with participants to create a plan for getting more stable housing and address barriers to housing stability. Find assistance programs.
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued a high ozone pollution advisory for Tuesday, June 13 and Wednesday, June 14. Those with respiratory sensitivities are advised to take precautions during outdoor activities. Please help reduce ozone by doing one or more of the following:
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Use gas or electric instead of burning wood
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Ride transit, carpool or telework
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Eliminate all unnecessary driving and/or combine trips
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Avoid dirt roads
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Avoid the use of leaf blowers
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If burning wood for heat or food preparation, use dry wood (burning wet wood releases more particulate matter)
Download Scottsdale’s new short-term rental guide for residents and neighborhoods. The guide provides information about the laws that apply to short-term and vacation rentals, including the quickest ways to report issues and concerns. The city also publishes guides for short-term rental owners and guests to encourage them to be good neighbors and obey Scottsdale’s laws. Learn more.
Investing in Our Scottsdale – Civic Center update. As construction fences come down, work continues on final details of Scottsdale Civic Center. The construction fence has come down around the final portion of Scottsdale’s Civic Center renovation, opening public access to the Children’s Gardens, Water and Fog Plaza, new restrooms, City Hall Lagoons and the East Bowl. Work will continue for the next few months to complete the final elements of the project. The western two-thirds of the project opened in January 2023. The Office of Environmental Initiatives welcomes new intern.
Work on the City Hall Lagoons and activating the water element of the Water and Fog Plaza will take place in early June. Additionally, the sound systems on both the stages will be installed and tested. Adjustments are being made to concrete work and ground cover in some areas. Segments of the project will be cordoned off for public safety while work takes place.
Scottsdale voters approved the majority of the $33.5 million project in the 2019 Bond Election. Construction began in October 2021. The West Paseo from Old Town Scottsdale, West Bowl, 360 Stage, Civic Lawn and Marshall Gardens opened in January 2023. The city is planning a series of events in the fall to celebrate the project completion.
Job of the Week: Court Clerk I. Duties include supporting the operations and services of the Scottsdale City Court; processing case information, docketing and reporting accurate case file information to the public and defendants; frequent public contact including cashiering/taking payments, answering phone calls and supporting judicial and administrative personnel.
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.
