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Scottsdale Update – Sept. 3, 2024

HEADLINE NEWS

The Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard underpass will be closed at Loop 101 Sept. 6-9 for the ADOT freeway improvement project. Detours:

  • Eastbound traffic should use the frontage road to Raintree Drive
  • Westbound traffic should use the frontage road to Bell Road

On Friday, Sept. 9, the intersection will reopen in a diamond configuration and remain reduced to two lanes east- and westbound and along the frontage road until fall 2025. Crews will restripe the intersection and install temporary traffic signals.

Diamond configuration interchanges are used throughout Scottsdale and the rest of the state. When complete, the reconfigured interchange will operate like the interchange at Indian School Road.

Motorists are urged to use caution when traveling in the construction area, follow detour signs and plan ahead to avoid delays.

Other new closures and restrictions: East-and westbound Bell Road at the Loop 101 will be closed nightly 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3-5 a.m. Friday Sept. 6.

Detours:

  • Southbound frontage road to eastbound Frank Lloyd Wright to northbound frontage road to eastbound Bell Road
  • Northbound frontage road to southbound Pima Road to southbound frontage road to westbound Bell Road

The project is part of the Arizona Department of Transportation's two-year project to add lanes and improve interchanges on Loop 101 between Shea Boulevard and Princess Drive/Pima Road. “Stay in the Loop” by subscribing to project updates on ADOT's website.

September is National Preparedness Month. Prepare now so you know what actions may be needed should disaster strike. In the event of an emergency, look for Ready, Set, Go messages on social networks and in the news media.

  • Be READY: always be prepared for potential emergencies; get SET by maintaining awareness of events that may force evacuation; and GO, evacuate immediately as instructed by emergency authorities.
  • The Street Operations division activates a 24/7 on-call program to respond to storm-related damage on city streets. Streets crews are part of Scottsdale’s Emergency Response team and work alongside Parks and Recreation and Facilities Management to remove trees and debris from roads and rights-of-way. Help everyone get home safely - do not drive around “Road Closed” signs and do not enter barricaded storm clean-up areas. When in doubt, wait it out! Report issues.
  • Discover better alternatives to sandbags for flood control. Flood diversion tubes act much like sandbags to block floodwaters from entering homes. The tubes are easy to place and simple to fill. Other options include transportable flood fence barriers and water absorbent cushions. Explore these alternatives through local hardware stores and online retailers.
  • Be mindful of where you place brush and bulk collection piles. Put materials away from meters, electrical boxes, lighting and landscaping watering systems to avoid potential damage that city equipment may cause. This monthly service is a convenient solution to dispose of items that are too large to fit in regular curbside containers.

Chase, one of the Scottsdale Police Department’s crisis K9s, died after battling cancer. Chase had been with the department since he was 11 months old and served as a beloved member of the Police Crisis Intervention Service, comforting many community members who were in the midst of difficult personal or family situations. Chase was just shy of his 8th birthday before he died.

Scottsdale Police say he was the “true spirit of service” and comforted victims, witnesses and officers during difficult times.

"We extend our gratitude to Chase for his years of service and to Anthony Pagliuca, who cared for and loved him during his time with us. May he rest in peace,” Scottsdale Police said on its Facebook page.

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.

Week of Sept. 2:

Week of Sept. 9 – Check back next week for the full list:

Learn about the responsibilities of city Boards and Commissions and how you can serve.
Find more public meetings.

THINGS TO DO

Try a new dining spot … or hit up an old favorite for Arizona Restaurant Week, Sept. 20- 29. Arizona Restaurant Week showcases local chefs and their culinary achievements with special menus and dining experiences at participating restaurants. Support your favorite Scottsdale restaurant! Each eatery features a three-course, prix-fixe menu, along with its regular menu items.

Saddle up for the Arabian National Breeder finals, Sept. 11-14, at WestWorld. This prestigious show presents an unprecedented halter/breeding showcase opportunity that offers prize money and marketing opportunities for breeders and purebred Arabian horse enthusiasts. The Arabian Horse Association of Arizona is the most established and successful breed organization in the state with more nearly 70 years of experience in marketing and promoting the Arabian horse.

Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market returns to WestWorld Sept. 13-15. This popular event will feature a variety of exhibitors, offering vintages treasures, unique antiques and one-ofa-kind artifacts. Whether you're a collector or simply love exploring nostalgic items, this market is a must see. With an exciting lineup of vendors, there’s something for everyone— from furniture and home décor to vintage clothing and handmade crafts. Get details.

The September Civil War Roundtable features Robert D. Jenkins Sr.’s “The Cassville Affairs and the Failed Confederate Strategy in the Atlanta Campaign.” The lecture offers up a new look at this pivotal moment in the decisive struggle for northern Georgia in 1864. Civil War historians have remained baffled over the Cassville controversies for the past 150 plus years. The Scottsdale Civil War Roundtable meets Tuesday, Sept. 17, at Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. The lecture starts at 6 p.m.; doors open at 5 p.m. for book sales and a speaker meet and greet.

Ongoing:

Get more events information.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Learn about Scottsdale’s effort to be a more sustainable and resilient city and share ideas to enhance the city’s work. Scottsdale will host two sustainability workshops: 1- 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, at SkySong, 1475 N. Scottsdale Road, Building 1, Room 201; and 5:30-7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, at the Florence Ely Nelson Park, 8950 E. Pinnacle Peak Road. Those who are interested can register for the workshops online.

Join Scottsdale's Housing and Community Assistance Office for this year's Landlord Connection. This free event will feature an informational presentation about the Scottsdale Housing Agency, offering resources and services for landlords. The program runs 9-10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, at the Paiute Neighborhood Center, 6535 E. Osborn Road, Building 9. Coffee and donuts will be provided. Learn more about the city’s Housing Office.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. After declining in 2019 and 2020, suicide deaths increased approximately 5% in the United States in 2021. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s estimates indicate that suicide deaths further increased in 2022, rising from 48,183 in 2021 to an estimated 49,449 deaths in 2022, an increase of approximately 2.6%. Every year, mental health organizations and individuals across the U.S. and around the world raise awareness of suicide prevention. If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 for 24/7 crisis and mental health support.

About city pavement preservation projects. In addition to maintaining city streets and alleyways, the Transportation and Streets department also takes care of city parking lots and event facilities. Over the summer crews paved more than 95,000 square yards of multiuse event space at WestWorld.

Paving crews are currently improving the parking lot and driveways at the fire and police stations at DC Ranch. The Via Linda Senior Center and Club SAR parking lots are scheduled to be repaved this fall. Over the last 12 months crews worked to restore and, in some cases, reconstruct parking lots at the Arabian Library, Paiute Neighborhood Center and the Eldorado Aquatic and Fitness Center

FYI

Investing in Our Scottsdale: Quarterly recap. Watch this video that highlights completed and ongoing Capital Improvement program projects. Learn more about how Scottsdale invests in our community.

Updates are available for 2024 Organization Strategic Plan. Staff provided the first round of progress updates for the Organization Strategic Plan in May. Further progress on these objectives can be tracked on the new Organization Strategic Plan Dashboard, including updates on priorities such as drought management, character area planning, and construction noise mitigation. Site visitors can explore updates by Community Value and get a summary of quarterly progress on each of the key objectives.

Get carded … at Scottsdale Public Library. September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, and libraries around the nation want to remind everyone that signing up for a library card is the first step on the path to academic achievement and lifelong learning. Share the love by encouraging your friends, family and neighbors to get a card today.

 As part of the commemoration, teens 13-18 are invited to design a library card. One will be selected as this year's newest library card. Get details.

New Podsdale episode: Explore Scottsdale Promise, a groundbreaking initiative that’s putting education at the forefront of our city’s future. Scottsdale City Council approved funding to kickstart this ambitious program, designed to provide scholarships and internships for eligible Scottsdale residents and graduates of Scottsdale high schools.

We chat with Stephanie Zamora and Melanie Burm about the critical partnerships among the city, Scottsdale Community College, Scottsdale Unified School District and the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation that make this initiative possible. Learn how this need-based, last-dollar program is designed to connect Scottsdale’s youth with educational opportunities, while encouraging participation in public service. Listen now.

ADOT is seeking public input on a proposed update to its Strategic Highway Safety Plan and the state’s first Active Transportation Safety Action Plan. These plans aim to reduce pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities where those activities intersect with the state highway system.

Review both proposals. Comments are welcome through Friday, Sept. 6. You also can provide input by:

  • Completing an online survey
  • Emailing ADOT
  • Calling the bilingual phone line: 855-712-8530
  • Mailing: ADOT SHSP & ATSAP, 1655 W. Jackson St., MD 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007

Get more information.

By the numbers:

  • The city held summer kids’ camps for almost 1,900 participants, an 11% increase in revenue over last summer.
  • Approximately 80 stakeholders attended the August Old Town Update & Merchant Mixer.
  • Leisure Education offered more than 1,000 classes ranging from fitness, art, special interest and more. Throughout the year, enrollment reached nearly 11,400 registrants with revenues just shy of $913,000.

Job of the Week: Public Information Officer, Scottsdale Water. This position coordinates communication to a variety of media, print, and internal and external sources about the important work of Scottsdale’s municipal water utility. City employees enjoy competitive benefits while working in a supportive, high-performance organization focused on delivering on our mission – Simply Better Service for a World-Class Community. Learn more and apply.

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by Office of Communications
Sep 2, 2024
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