NE Valley Times

The City of Scottsdale has adopted its Fiscal Year 2024/25 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan, as approved by the City Council on June 4. Despite strong revenue growth, the budget reflects a 9.4% net decrease from the current fiscal year due to projected declines in residential rental tax and state shared revenues, continued inflation, and a slowdown in consumer spending.

Effective July 1, the budget prioritizes covering inflationary increases impacting capital projects, maintaining competitive employment standards among peer cities, and enhancing public safety services by staffing a new fire station and launching city ambulance service. The budget is balanced and conservative, funding core services while keeping taxes and fees low.

Scottsdale Video Network will stream City Council and Mayor Candidate Forums hosted by the Scottsdale Independent on June 11. The forums will be available for live viewing with replays scheduled throughout Saturdays on Cox channel 11. Additional election-related forums will be televised upon request.

The city seeks a resident to serve on the Development Review Board (DRB), which reviews architectural designs for commercial development and preliminary plats for residential subdivisions. Applications are open until June 14, with interviews and appointments scheduled for July.

Scottsdale's Community Juneteenth Event: Celebrating a Culture of Resiliency will take place on June 15 at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and Scottsdale Civic Center. This event includes various activities such as educational speakers, art displays, wellness resources, music, food, and family-friendly entertainment. Additionally, "Breaking the Silence: Understanding Suicide in the Black Community" will be held on June 19 at the Community Design Studio.

Public meetings scheduled for the week of June 10 include sessions by several commissions such as Human Relations Commission (June 10) and Planning Commission (June 12). More meetings are planned for subsequent weeks.

Ongoing events include Old Town’s June Days celebration featuring daily activities like wine tastings, art exhibits, crafting workshops, live performances, family outings; McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park's Summer Concert Series; Scottsdale ArtWalk; Old Town Farmers Market; various programs at Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts; McDowell Sonoran Conservancy events; Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West activities; and Scottsdale Sister Cities events.

Programs seeking community participation include donations for Back to School initiatives starting in August; feedback on Scottsdale’s Consolidated Plan through an online questionnaire or attending a community forum on June 26 at Civic Center Library; Old Town maintenance updates focusing on landscaping tasks throughout June; Adaptive Recreation’s call for artwork submissions reflecting a "Game Room" theme due by June 28.

Residents are reminded to take precautions against summer heat following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pet owners are advised against hiking with dogs during high temperatures due to risks associated with desert heat.

Applications are open until July 15 for Scottsdale’s Community Arts Grant Program supporting nonprofit arts organizations. The Sterling Awards nominations deadline is July 18 recognizing business excellence across various categories including Micro Business, Small Business, Big Business, Nonprofits.

ADOT advises drivers of restrictions along Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) from June 14-17 due to light installation work with further closures expected through late June as part of ongoing improvements between Shea Boulevard and Princess Drive/Pima Road.

The city announces an opening for Traffic Engineering Operations Manager responsible for planning traffic engineering operations ensuring compliance with regulations while maintaining safety standards.

For more information or assistance:

- City Call Center: 480-312-3111

- Report issues via Scottsdale EZ

- Updated Traffic Restrictions Map available weekly