HEADLINE NEWS
The City Council will consider adopting vacation rental code amendments at its Tuesday, Oct. 25 meeting. The city was instrumental in creating Arizona Senate Bill 1168, which allows strengthened local authority related to short-term/vacation rentals. The City Council recently reviewed a draft city ordinance that enacts the local license and permit provisions allowed under the new state law. City staff have reviewed additional comments and suggestions and revised the draft code amendments, which now move to the City Council for discussion and possible adoption. View the agenda item (pdf). Register for in-person public comment here, and provide written public comment here. The meeting starts at 5 p.m. in the City Hall Kiva, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd. View the meeting live on Scottsdale Video Network (Cox channel 11) and YouTube.
Maricopa County opened “vote anywhere” Vote Centers which allow voters to choose from various locations, instead of being assigned to one location. These locations are open throughout early voting. All voting locations will be open 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, as well. The list of locations is provided here, but each site has unique hours during early voting and are subject to change. Check hours of operation before going.
You also can request a replacement ballot, vote in person or drop off your voted early ballot at the following Scottsdale locations:
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Florence Ely Nelson Desert Park, 8950 E. Pinnacle Peak Road
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Indian Bend Wash Visitor Center, 4201 N. Hayden Road
Registered Scottsdale voters will select between Pamela Carter and Barry Graham to fill the third and final open seat in Scottsdale’s City Council race. Learn more.
Provide your feedback on the draft Sustainability Plan. Attend one of two workshops to review strategies and actions for fifteen topics in the Sustainability Plan:
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10:30 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Oct. 25, Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road, Register
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6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, Vista del Camino, 7700 E Roosevelt St., Register
Due to room constraints and to facilitate maximum interaction, we have capped participation at 40 in each session, and we need all participants to register.
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:
Senior center celebrates Oktoberfest. Join the German-themed fun from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Via Linda Senior Center, 10440 E Via Linda. The event includes brats, root beer, music and raffle prizes. Cost is $7 for residents; $10 for others. Space is limited. Registration is required.
“Hold on to Hope,” a new exhibition spotlighting the life of local Holocaust survivor Oskar Knoblauch, opens Friday. You’ll go on a visual journey through Knoblauch’s harrowing experiences as he and his family struggled to survive the brutality of the Third Reich in Germany and Nazi-occupied Poland. As you walk through the gallery, photos, Knoblauch’s personal anecdotes and period objects will illustrate key events, people and places.
The exhibition will remain on display through Jan. 22, 2023, in the Center Space gallery at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. 2nd St. Learn more about the exhibit.
Scottsdale Sister Cities Association celebrates 35-year relationship with Cairns, Australia. This family-friendly event runs 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park’s Live Streamers Depot. It will include free train rides, a wombat storybook walkabout, drawing lessons, seed planting, library book displays and giveaways. Learn more and register.
Join the fun for the 2022 Scottsdale Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) fiestas. This multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and to remember friends and family members who have died. Festivities can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed. Activities include:
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Noche de Muertos: Art, Music and Performances – 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, northwest corner of Brown Avenue and Second Street
The annual Arizona Asian Festival features “Culture by Day - Market by Night.” Attend this cultural experience with participation from nineteen diverse Asian groups. Enjoy the Taste of Asia, a 100-piece costume/fashion show, music, entertainment by traditional taiko drummers and K-pop singers, beer and tea gardens, Avenue of Cultures, and a Children's Wonderland. The free event takes place 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, on the Scottsdale Waterfront. Get more details.
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Commemorate the McDowell Sonoran Preserve's Month. The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy is commemorating this month with plenty of activities, including bird walks, bike rides, fitness sessions and crafting.
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Halloween Spook-Track-ula. Stop by for a spell between 6-9:30 p.m. Oct. 7-31, as we transform the park into a haunted hamlet. This family-friendly event is perfect for kids of all ages. We’ll “creep” it real with the featured event – a spooky train ride created with younger children in mind… a bit spooky, but not too scary.
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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 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.
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Second Saturdays @SMoCA: Make contemporary art a family tradition. Solve a puzzle, create a wearable art pendant and explore the museum. Noon-3 p.m.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month – Wear purple Thursday, Oct. 20, and donate items to help victims. Wear purple Thursday to show support for domestic violence survivors. It's an opportunity to raise awareness about domestic violence and an easy way for people to show their commitment to promoting healthy relationships.
You also can help victims by donating hygiene and toiletry items Oct. 1-31. The donations will be forwarded to ControlAltDelete, a nonprofit that helps victims escape violent situations. Get a list of needed items and locations where you can drop them off: English (pdf) Spanish(pdf)
Register for “Short-Term Rentals – the long and short of it,” from 11 a.m.-noon Thursday, Nov. 3. In this online presentation, various city departments will examine the recently passed state law, SB 1168 (pdf) and discuss local ordinance changes. Register for this virtual program.
Scottsdale earned its 33rd consecutive “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.” This highest form of recognition in government budgeting is awarded by an independent panel of peer reviewers from across the United States and Canada. Scottsdale’s fiscal year 2022/23 budget document met or exceeded standards as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and a communications device.
Tune in to the Loop 101, Princess Drive to Shea Boulevard, improvements virtual meeting and provide input. The Arizona Department of Transportation project team will present information about widening Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) and modifying existing interchanges to improve traffic flow. The public will have the opportunity to ask questions and make comments online or by phone. The meeting will be held via Zoom from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2. Learn more.
Yes, Virginia, earthquakes do happen in Arizona. In fact, we experience more than 100 earthquakes annually. To bring awareness to this, Governor Doug Ducey has proclaimed Thursday, Oct. 20, as “The Great Arizona Shakeout” to encourage residents to practice the earthquake readiness steps, “drop, cover and hold on.” A statewide drill takes place at 10:20 a.m. that day. Find out how to participate. Read the proclamation (pdf).
More than 90 volunteer Old Town Ambassadors returned to the streets Oct. 1. You’ll see them during the next nine months assisting at the farmers market and special events, providing tours, and helping visitors determine where to eat, shop and play. Learn more.
The Scottsdale Bobcats swim team made a splash at the Special Olympics area meet in September. The Adaptive Services team of 15 junior and adult athletes competed in backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle and relay events. Athletes did not go home empty-handed, taking away seven gold, ten silver and three bronze medals. The team has trained at Eldorado Aquatic Center since June.
You can support Special Olympics AZ by dining 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Naked BBQ, 10240 N. 90th St. Show this flyer (pdf) and your check and 20 percent of your bill will be donated to the nonprofit.
