Good morning, Scottsdale. The snowbirds have cleared out and the city belongs to locals again for the summer, which is the right time to pay attention to the bills and votes that decide how the place runs.
- 💧 Water and sewer rate increases head to city council. A town hall came first; the vote comes next.
- ⛳ Westin Kierland golf course rezone fight. Neighbors are pushing back on a plan to put homes on the fairways.
- 🏫 SUSD weighs more school closures and a $375 million bond. Declining enrollment is forcing the question.
- 🚸 A $600,000 flashing crosswalk on Shea Boulevard. The proposal has split the surrounding neighborhood.
- 🏛️ Council week and a full slate of commissions. Five public meetings on the calendar.
Your water bill goes to a vote
Scottsdale is moving to raise water and sewer rates, and the increase is headed for a city council vote.
Key facts:
- 💧 What: higher water and sewer rates for Scottsdale customers.
- 🗣️ Town hall: the city held a water town hall Wednesday night to walk residents through the rising rates.
- 🏛️ Next step: the increase goes to city council, whose next regular meeting is Tuesday, June 9.
The rate question lands the same stretch the city has been arguing over its long-term water supply, so expect a crowd. Residents who want a say can speak at the council meeting.
What to watch: whether the council adopts the increase June 9, and how much the typical household bill moves. Details.
The week ahead at city hall
Five public meetings are on the calendar, capped by a busy council Tuesday.
- 🌵 McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission meets Thursday, June 4. Details.
- 🚶 Paths and Trails Subcommittee meets Thursday, June 4. Details.
- 🤝 Human Relations Commission meets Monday, June 8. Details.
- 🏛️ City Council meets Tuesday, June 9. Regular, special, and community facilities district sessions are all on the docket. Details.
- 📚 Library Board meets Wednesday, June 10. Details.
Around Scottsdale
- ⛳ Neighbors are fighting a Kierland golf course rezone. The Westin Kierland Resort wants to put homes on part of its course, and nearby residents are organizing against it. A North Scottsdale fight worth following. Details.
- 🚸 A $600,000 flashing crosswalk on Shea has split the block. The proposed crossing on the Mayo Clinic corridor has neighbors divided over cost and need. Details.
- 🐕 A new K-9 team is built to find lost hikers. Scottsdale's search-and-rescue dogs are aimed at the city's desert trails. Details.
- 🔥 Scottsdale Fire is prepping for wildfire season. The department is out with reminders as the dry summer sets in. Details.
- ☦️ A new Eastern Orthodox school is opening in Scottsdale. Growing local interest in the faith is behind it. Details.
From the schools
Scottsdale Unified is facing the same math as a lot of mature districts: fewer students, aging buildings, and a bill coming due.
- 🏫 SUSD is weighing closing more schools. Declining enrollment is forcing the district to look at consolidation. Details.
- 💰 A $375 million bond for security repairs is on the table. The district is considering asking voters to fund it. Details.
- 🗳️ The SUSD Governing Board meets Tuesday, June 9, at 6 PM. The meeting is in the board room at Coronado High School, where families can weigh in. Details.