City of Scottsdale, AZ

10/03/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/03/2022 16:49

Scottsdale Update - Oct. 3, 2022

Scottsdale Update - Oct. 3, 2022

By Jan Horne, public information officer, 480-312-2636

October 3, 2022

HEADLINE NEWS

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8, but several important voter deadlines - including the last day to register to vote -are right around the corner. Unlike Scottsdale's November 2021 Special Election, this is not an election by mail only - in-person voting and vote by mail options are available.

Remember these important dates:

  • Tuesday, Oct. 11 - Last day to register to vote: If you do not know if you are qualified to vote in this election, visit BeBallotReady.Vote or call the Maricopa County Elections Department at 602-506-1511.

  • Wednesday, Oct. 12 - Ballots are mailed to those on the Active Early Voting List: To track the status of your ballot, visit BeBallotReady.Vote or text "JOIN" to 628683. If you do not want an early ballot, you can cast a ballot at any Vote Center (see below).

  • Wednesday, Oct. 12 - In-person voting begins: You can request a replacement ballot, vote in person, or drop off your voted early ballot at the following Scottsdale locations:

  • Florence Ely Nelson Desert Park, 8950 E. Pinnacle Peak Road

  • 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.

Commemorate the McDowell Sonoran Preserve's month. On Oct. 3, 1994, the Scottsdale City Council formally dedicated the first lands for the preserve. The "Day One" preserve was 4.5 square miles consisting of three parcels of city-owned land. Today, this permanently protected, sustainable desert habitat encompasses 47 square miles … about one-third of Scottsdale's land area. The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy is commemorating this month with plenty of activities, including bird walks, bike rides, fitness sessions and crafting. Get details: McDowellSonoran.org, search "events"

Celebrate the dedication of the Bell94 Sports Complex operations building and DC Ranch Neighborhood Park from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, on the patio, just west of Field 12. Events include music, kids' activities, food trucks and a ceremonial first kick.

Bell94 Sports Complex features six full-sized multi-use sports fields along the Bell Road Corridor. Built to meet increased demand for lighted sports fields, the complex also increases Scottsdale's ability to host larger tournaments and increase revenue, and provides temporary parking for major special events.

The complex also includes restrooms, a plaza, covered ramada, a walking path and a maintenance facility. The fields will be watered from an irrigation lake north of the facility at DC Ranch Neighborhood Park. The lake holds reclaimed water from the nearby water treatment plant. You'll also have the opportunity to view Scottsdale Public Art's installations: Right Angle Variations and Mesquite Bosque.

DC Ranch Neighborhood Park features a non-reservable ramada and picnic tables and will soon have a 'Library to Go' where visitors can take and leave books to enjoy. It also features a Scottsdale Public Art installation, Mountains and Rainbows.

The projects were funded through the voter approved 2019 bond election.

Right Tree, Right Place program keeps Scottsdale safe and shaded. The city is partnering with SRP to remove approximately 130 trees dangerously encroaching on powerlines. Trees more suitable for the respective areas will replace those removed at a ratio of three new trees for each removed.

The Right Tree, Right Place program helps SRP maintain electric reliability, ensure public safety and work toward the goal of adding shade and reducing the urban heat island effect. Heat islands are urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures than outlying areas. This program also reduces the cost of managing vegetation, saving taxpayers money. Learn more.

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:

THINGS TO DO

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with these events:

  • Monica Villalobos, president and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, will share insights about the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage and the impact people of Hispanic descent have made in our community. The event is from noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Civic Center Library auditorium, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. Dessert and water will be provided. Bring your lunch and eat as you listen to this very important conversation.

  • Aida Cuevas will present "45th Anniversary/Yo Creo Que Es Tiempo," a performance celebrating her career as the "Queen of Mariachi." Cuevas will be joined by the renowned Mariachi Aztlán, along with other special guests. A Grammy-winner and master of the mariachi art song, Cuevas has led one of the most important careers in traditional Mexican music. The concert begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St. Tickets are $45 to $75. Visit ScottsdalePerformingArts.org/events or call Scottsdale Arts Guest Services at 480-499-TKTS (8587) for more information.

Calling all ghouls and boys - Treat yourself to a night at the railroad park's 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. Get all the frightening fun details.

Scottsdale's Museum of the West hosts event to honor Chief Henry Red Cloud (1822-1909). Witness the gifting of two culturally significant objects - a personal pipe and a ceremonial pipe - to one of Cloud's direct-lineal descendants, Chief Henry Red Cloud. The event takes place at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 10, in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day.

Chief Henry Red Cloud also will speak about the importance of returning sacred and personal items to Native American tribes. The pipes will be on loan to The Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, and will be on display to honor the great Oglala War Chief Red Cloud. The museum is requesting a $30 donation to attend the event. Learn more. Register.

Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West's Saddle Up III fundraiser set for Oct. 15. Make plans to attend this casual western evening amongst history and art aficionados. Proceeds will assist the museum with its vision of celebrating the West and its importance by informing, educating, inspiring and engaging museum guests. The museum offers high-quality exhibitions, educational programs, and community outreach addressing regional history, particularly as reflected by the arts and the dynamic cultural exchanges that have marked the transition of the Old West into the New West. Learn more about this year's event and buy tickets.

October's Civil War Roundtable features Ethan Rafuse, "Little Mac's Grand Campaign: The Struggle on the Peninsula and Its Enduring Significance." Rafuse had been a professor of military history for almost two decades at the Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. This lecture is based on his book McClellan's War: The Failure of Moderation in the Struggle for the Union published in 2005. Rafuse is a highly regarded scholar who has appeared on C-SPAN, led battlefield tour groups and worked as an interpretive ranger for the National Park Service at Manassas National Battlefield and the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site. The Scottsdale Civil War Roundtable meets Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. The lecture starts at 5 p.m.; doors open at 4 p.m. for book sales and a speaker meet and greet. The program is also available via Zoom. Watch older presentations. Learn more.

Ongoing:

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Get more events information.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Protect your identity by shredding your personal documents. The next Police Officers Association of Scottsdale shredding event runs 7-10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, in the Walmart parking lot, 15355 N. Northsight Blvd. Cost is $5 per box. Learn more.

Plug into Saturday's Electronics Recycling Day. Scottsdale residents can properly recycle electronics like computers, printers, phones, cameras, flat panel televisions/monitors and stereo equipment for free from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at the city's North Corporation Yard, 9191 N. San Salvador.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month - donate items to help victims. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, more than 10 million adults experience domestic violence annually in the United States. Right here at home, Scottsdale's Victim Services assisted nearly 1,200 domestic violence victims last fiscal year (July 2021-June 2022). This includes helping victims with getting orders of protection or injunctions against harassment, referring them to support services, escorting them to court, answering questions about the criminal justice process and advocating on their behalf.

You 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, Spanish

You won't lose with GAIN - Getting Arizona Involved with Neighborhoods. Formerly known as National Night Out, GAIN encourages residents to get together in their respective communities to promote safety, neighborhood communication and celebrate the successes of crime prevention through community involvement. GAIN 2022 takes place Saturday, Oct. 15. Register your neighborhood no later than today, Monday, Oct. 3, if you're planning to host a block party that day or evening.

Neighborhood College registration is open for fall series. We offer three tracks: HOA, Good Neighbor and History. Register for one, some or all! Some presentations are offered in-person and online. Get class descriptions and other details.

October classes:

  • Medicare is 1, 2, 3 Easy: 1-2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road

  • Fair Housing Laws and Community Associations - How to Avoid a Fair Housing Lawsuit: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road

  • Hot Topics and Amending CC&Rs: 10 a.m.-noon, Thursday, Oct. 20, virtual

Adopt-a-Road program is back; register your event. Save the date for the next citywide cleanup Saturday, Oct. 22, in conjunction with National Make A Difference Day. If you can't clean Oct. 22, you can clean the week before or after and you'll still receive credit. We will supply registered groups with trash bags, cotton gloves and safety vests between Get more information.

Kindergartners invited to "Design a Library Card." One winning design will be chosen as a limited-edition library card design. Entries must be received no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, and can be dropped off at any Scottsdale Public Library branch or emailed digitally to [email protected].

FYI

Watch the Scottsdale City Council Candidate Forum, hosted by the Scottsdale Independent. Scottsdale voters will select the final of three new City Council members in the Nov. 8 general election. You can watch the forum live at noon Wednesday, Oct. 5, on Scottsdale Video Network, Cox channel 11 or YouTube. The replay schedule has not yet been set. Check this webpage next week for details.

ScottsdaleEZ earned an award for excellence from the Center for Digital Government.CDG's annual awards recognize the achievements and best practices of states, cities and counties that are radically improving the experience of government services. ScottsdaleEZ is the city's one-stop online "report a problem" app, developed entirely in-house by city staff.

September's Mayor and City Council Breakfast featured water shortage. Watch this program and learn why residents must quickly mobilize to respond to water resource agency decisions, work together to support local and regional business interests, and use conservation practices. The program airs at 3 and 8 a.m.; and noon, 4, 7 and 10 p.m. Sundays and Thursdays; and at 2, 7 and 11 a.m.; and 3, 6 and 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays. Or watch it now.

Scottsdale by the numbers:

  • On Thursday, Sept. 15, the city honored more than 70 Neighborhood Watch captains who serve as point persons in their areas to help keep their communities safer.

  • More than 80 people participated in a community open house on building code updates. The meeting afforded an opportunity for the public to provide input as the city considers adopting new provisions to its energy and green construction codes - especially those that may become mandatory. If you were unable to attend, you can share comments in an online form through Oct. 24. Staff will prepare a report summarizing received feedback. All handouts plus a recording of the presentation and questions are posted on the city's Green Building Program webpage.

Jobs of the Month: Maintenance team workers. Join Scottsdale's WestWorld and Parks Maintenance teams as the city gears up for an exciting events season. With hundreds of events scheduled through spring 2023, Scottsdale is ramping up its effort to hire maintenance workers for WestWorld and city parks and fields.

These critical positions ensure facilities and locations not only look beautiful but are ready to support the variety of activities that will take place.

  • WestWorld, 2020 Facility of the Year, is a premier equestrian center and special events facility. We are hiring full-time maintenance workers, levels I and II. You can become part of a unique group of skilled workers using all types of equipment. With nearly 100 events hosted at WestWorld each year, every day will be different! Workers service the day-to-day equestrian operations, provide event support and oversee maintenance. Learn more about these two incredible opportunities, and apply today.

  • Scottsdale Parks and Recreation is responsible for maintaining Scottsdale's 42 parks, five community centers, Old Town Scottsdale, medians and right-a-ways, irrigation lines and landscaping. Individuals working with this talented and hard-working team will enjoy the variety of projects, hands-on experiences and the opportunity to advance within the organization. There are full-time and part-time opportunities currently available, now is the time to join the team.

QUICK LINKS:

  • City Call Center - 480-312-3111

  • Report things that need to be fixed, or submit other requests via Scottsdale EZ

  • Traffic Restrictions Map - We update this map weekly to include most road improvement projects