Scottsdale Update- Oct. 24, 2022

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.

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:

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.

Loop 101 full freeway closures are scheduled Oct. 28-31 and Nov. 4-7. The closures take place from Pima Road/Princess Drive to State Route 51:

Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Pinnacle Peak Road will serve as detours. Weather, staffing and roadway conditions can delay a project. Get ADOT travel advisories and construction updates on its website.

Health experts warn COVID-19, RSV, and the flu could be a triple threat this fall. COVID-19 is not the only respiratory illness that public health officials are concerned about this fall. Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) also pose risks. You can get more than one of these respiratory illnesses at the same time. While all three viruses can cause similar symptoms, they are not treated the same way. Learn more.

One of the best ways to protect yourself against the flu and COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. They are effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death. You can get immunized against both at the same time.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

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:

Learn about the responsibilities of city Boards and Commissions and how you can serve.

Find more public meetings.

THINGS TO DO

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art features the works of 27 Black artists. “In Our Time: Selections from The Singer Collection,” showcases 40 pieces of art organized into four categories: portraiture, mythology, abstraction and a combination of portraiture and abstraction. “Each artist has important careers or emerging careers and there’s a lot that you could dig into content-wise, but it’s also just visually really interesting in that there are so many similarities that are at play,” said Jennifer McCabe, SMoCA’s chief curator. The Singers, Paradise Valley residents, spent a quarter of a century collecting works, it took nearly a year to plan the exhibition, which covers about 7,000 square feet of museum space. The exhibit runs through Feb. 12, 2023. Learn more. 

Scottsdale Library presents expanded Hometown Happy Hour – unique and entertaining stories about our community. The 2022 series includes:

Registration isn't required, but space is limited. Light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be available. Get details for each program on the library’s online calendar.

Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West presents exhibit and program, “Paul Calle’s Life of Exploration: From the Mountains to the Moon.” While Calle is best known for his art focused on space exploration and mountain men, he also created medical illustrations. To highlight this aspect of his work, artist Monica Aissa Martinez will discuss her work, focused on the physical body and anatomy. Joining her is Dr. Jennifer Hartmark-Hill, president of the Arizona Medical Association, director of Narrative Medicine, and associate professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix. The program is at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at the museum, 3830 N. Marshall Way. Learn more and register by calling 480-686-9539.

Seniors can enjoy the festive holiday, Dia de los Muertos, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at the Granite Reef Senior Center. Guests will enjoy a meal and traditional Ballet Folklorico dancers. The cost is $7 for residents; $10 for others. Space is limited. Registration is required.

Join Scottsdale Parks and Recreation for “Family Night at the Pumpkin Patch.” We’ll have games, activities and pizza. You also can pick a pumpkin, then decorate it. Attend one of two events:

Both events run 5:30-7:30 p.m. Admission is $8 and $10 per a pumpkin.

Fall Festival is back with a new time, but same old fun! This year’s event runs noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Eldorado Park and Community Center, 2311 N. Miller Road. Enjoy costume contests, game booths, food trucks and more. Free admission.

Canal Convergence returns Nov. 4-13 at the Scottsdale Waterfront to celebrate 10 years of Water + Art + Light. This year’s event will present light-based public art and programming with themes from the past and present to provide an authentic and immersive art experience. Hours are 6-10 p.m. Fridays, Nov. 4 and 11, and Saturdays, Nov. 5 and 12; 6-9 p.m. Sunday Nov. 6-Thursday, Nov. 10; and Sunday, Nov. 13 (closing night).

Highlights:

Get details about this year’s event.

Get a head start on holiday shopping at the senior center’s Arts and Crafts Fair. View the works of more than 150 art vendors who sell a variety of original artwork, jewelry, photography, glass, iron work, clothing and more. This year's event takes place 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road, and it features live music, art demonstrations, food and free children's activities.

Scottsdale Library hosts event to thank cardholders. Enjoy a family friendly celebration 5-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road. Festivities include live music, cotton candy, games and activities. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. No outside food or drink (other than sealed water bottles) will be permitted. The library has issued 90,368 library cards – including the 1,343 issued during September’s National Library Cards Sign-Up Month. Show your card for entrance. If you don't have a library card and want one, go online or visit one of four library branches.

Ongoing:

Get more events information.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Prescription Drug Take Back events available at two Scottsdale locations. The collections take place 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, and are part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back. Bring your pills for disposal to the Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road, or Foothills District Police Station in the Market Street Plaza at DC Ranch, 20363 N. Pima Road. Please do not bring liquids of any kind. 

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that many abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

ADOT hosts a virtual meeting regarding improvements to Loop 101, between Princess Drive and Shea Boulevard. Tune in 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, to get information about this project which will widen the freeway and modify existing interchanges. 

Learn more about this project.

Neighborhood College offers November programs. Register for one or all! Some presentations are offered in-person and online. 

History series: 

HOA series: 

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 department representatives will examine the recently passed state law, SB 1168 (pdf) and discuss local ordinance changes (pdf). Register for this virtual program.

Bring holiday cheer to Scottsdale families. Sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2022 Adopt-a-Senior and Adopt-a-Family holiday programs. When you complete the donor form, you will be matched with a senior or family and provided a brief biography and wish list. Each year, these programs serve hundreds of families and seniors in need ... thanks to the generosity of the individuals, families and organizations who support the program.

FYI

Phone scammers use caller ID software to mimic calls coming from Scottsdale Police. Scammers tell people they have a warrant and demand payment over the phone with credit cards, gift cards or money orders. Police employees will never ask for payment over the phone to clear a warrant. Hang up if you receive one of these calls, then report it to the police non-emergency number at 480-312-5000.

Watch the latest Fast Five. Scottsdale is celebrating McDowell Sonoran Preserve Month, there's a lot of spooky fun to be had at the Railroad Park's Halloween Spook-Track-ula and the city is collecting donations to help victims of domestic violence. Watch now.

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