New video shares 2020 community survey results. Every couple of years, we ask residents for their opinions about the community, city services and programs. Last year, that feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Watch this video to see what people are saying about Scottsdale.
Scottsdale hires Sonia Andrews as city treasurer. Following a national recruitment, the Scottsdale City Council has appointed Sonia Andrews as Scottsdale’s next city treasurer. Andrews has been Peoria’s chief financial officer since April 2018, where she led the finance department and oversaw the city’s annual budget process. She is a certified public accountant and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Oregon State University. She is a member of the Government Finance Officers’ Association and an Arizona Border Collie Rescue volunteer.
McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center closed for maintenance next week. Projects include complying with new drain entrapment legislation, installing pavers near the barbecue and adding permanent shade structures. All programming and operations will be moved to Chaparral Aquatic Center during this weeklong closure. Regular programming will resume Saturday, March 27.
More opportunities this week to comment on Scottsdale General Plan. The Scottsdale Planning Commission will hear Case 1-GP-2021 Wednesday, March 24. The case pertains to a General Plan Amendment (adoption of a new Scottsdale General Plan 2035) in order to revisit and revise the community’s long-term objectives and land development policies for future growth, development and redevelopment and to amend existing General Plan elements. The purpose of this meeting is to get additional public input on the draft plan. This meeting will be held electronically; please see the agenda for more details.
Celebrate Earth Day with these events:
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Green Building Webinar: Simple Solutions to Restore Our Earth - Learn about Dorie Morales' journey with Green Living magazine, and her guide to a living a more sustainable life. She will walk you through a home tour and offer simple solutions to help you live a more eco-conscious life. The program runs from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, April 1. Read more and register here.
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Spring Gardening Webinar: Join master gardeners Joan Baron and Morgan Winburn as they share tips and planting ideas for your gardens. If you are eager to have a beautiful robust garden, now is not the time to procrastinate! We will walk you around the garden and show starter plants, flowering plants and talk about preventing the aphids from moving in. The program runs from 4-5 p.m. Thursday, April 15. Learn more and register.
Mellow out with the Mayor’s Youth Council April 1. Join the youth council from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 1, to learn how mindfulness can help balance the stress of this past year and the pandemic. Zoom access is open to the general public, and the in-person event at Scottsdale Stadium is open to Scottsdale high school students. Masks are required and social distancing measures will be in place. Learn more.
Scottsdale named Tree City USA for 2020. The Arbor Day Foundation has named Scottsdale a Tree City USA recipient for the 39th year, more times than any other Arizona community. Scottsdale will host a ceremony in April to observe Arbor Day and receive the award as part of a bigger Earth Day celebration. Learn more.
Diversity Office’s Sharon Cini participates in ABC 15’s virtual town hall, “Hidden Biases of Good People.” ABC 15 and the CW61 recently aired an hour-long special with Dr. Bryant T. Marks Sr. exploring implicit biases. As part of an ABC 15 virtual town hall, Sharon Cini, program manager from city’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, discussed the topic with Eric Bailey from Bailey Strategic Innovation and Dr. Della Saenez, chief diversity officer at Arizona State University. Sharon shared that conversations like these can lead to stronger understanding, empathy, self-awareness and continued changes for the better.
Nearly 50 children get dental details at drive-up event. To celebrate National Children’s Dental Month, the Scottsdale Family Resource Center, in partnership with First Teeth First, hosted a healthy teeth drive-up event. Forty-eight children received tote bags containing a toothbrush kit, masks and a coloring book. Families also had the opportunity to schedule a free dental screening with First Teeth First.
Neighborhood College finished its spring 2021 session with nearly 500 attendees. The city hosted 491 participants in nine classes on topics such as HOA law, estate planning and the stories of Scottsdale history. The city offered the free classes virtually on the Zoom webinar platform. Instructors are volunteer attorneys and city staff. Learn more.
This week's traffic restrictions in and around Scottsdale. Get the list.