CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION DECISIONS

• approved 4 to 1 Case 18-UP-2021 the Asher Hills Park Master Plan with stipulations that (1) lighting pole height is revisited regarding ability to lower based on a lighting study (2) park closure (not-gated) can be changed from all-parks’ policy of 10:30 pm to 10 pm as neighbors requested. Passed 4 to 1. Commissioner Gonzales voted no.   Commissioner Fakih was absent.COGS note: City Council will need to vote on the closure time change from all-parks current policy. Reaction of the well-prepared public speakers was satisfied with some site changes and hopeful for the two stips to be accepted.
• Approved 5 to 0 Case 1-PP-2022 Sereno Canyon Phase 4E located between Alameda Rd and E. Pinnacle Peak Rd/124^th -125^th for 10 resort units on 21 approx. acres

• Approved 7-0 WestWorld horse barns remodel to increase rentable space
• Approved 7-0 NCAA Golf National Championship New Event Fund not to exceed $75K for 2023 Grayhawk Golf Club location
• Approved 4-3 (Councilmembers Milhaven, Caputi and Durham) to approve the addition of a sound wall on one side of north Pima Road as part of the approved widening/improvement project in Resolution 12476, a $51,341,076.95 project.

INTERESTING SCOTTSDALE POPULATION NUMBERS

Scottsdale Water Department boosted rebates that support customers in optimizing irrigation systems, combating wasteful leaks and upgrading landscapes.
Improvements to the rebate program include: 

• Increased residential grass removal rebates from $1 per square foot to $2, up to a total of $5,000 per property. Grass must be replaced with approved Arizona-friendly landscape.
• A bonus of up to $10,000 for multifamily, HOA common area and commercial businesses when the grass removal rebate includes strips of grass less than eight feet wide and borders a city right-of-way or path.
• New water efficiency technology rebates for both residents and commercial businesses.
• An enhanced rebate for in-ground pool and/or spa removal to $400 plus $1 per square foot of water surface area.

Update on Civic Center Renovation project
. For more information on what the project will look like upon completion, please visit the project website.

DO YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED?

The Scottsdale Public Library is currently working on its 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, and they want your feedback. Focus groups will meet at all four library branches this month, plus an online focus group for our digital only users and a separate online ‘tech focus’ group to talk about technology offerings at the library. (The ‘tech focus’ group is geared towards people who are proficient with cutting-edge technology to gain feedback on how Scottsdale Public Library can meet the tech needs of the community.) Each discussion will be about 30-45 minutes.
In-Person focus group information:
Appaloosa Branch – 11 a.m. – noon, Tuesday, July 19
Arabian Branch – 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., Thursday, July 21
Mustang Branch – 3 – 4 p.m., Monday, July 25
Civic Center Branch – 3 – 4 p.m., Friday, July 29
Interested in participating? Please fill out a Focus Group Registration form. Registration closes when we reach our capacity limit or on Wednesday, July 13, whichever comes first.

COGS Working Teams are forming for Fall action
COGS members (join www.coalitionofgreaterscottsdale.org) are volunteering to serve on working teams on key Scottsdale issues. Code Enforcement review, Equestrian Trials and facilities, Noise Ordinance and other disturbances, Neighborhood Issues and projects, Zoning ordinances, street and traffic projects and issues, Tourism issues Short Term Rental issues, Historic Old Town Preservation, McDowell Sonoran Preserve land purchases and maintenance funding, COGS membership campaign, COGS Donation Projects (SNAP and Scottsdale Heritage Collection) and others. Share you expertise and opinions.

 EVENTS and ACTIVITIES TO ENJOY
NEED ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR KIDS THIS FALL?

Animal Prosthesis – 2 p.m., Thursday, July 21
Appaloosa Library
7377 E Silverstone Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Public Art—Classy 15 foot tall  Jackrabbit is sporting sunglasses? Take family/tourist picture with him at Indian School and Marshall Way (NWC). Another fun stop in Old Town Scottsdale!

AZ Senate Bill 1168 authorizes more

Scottsdale control over Short Term Rentals.

Reference: https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/55leg/2R/bills/SB1168P.htm
Activated law will be September 24^th, 2022
Authority to require permits and licenses
Allows suspension of permits/licenses within guidelines when violations verified
Requires STR owner to have $500,000 aggregate insurance
Authorizes Scottsdale to issue Civil penalties against the owner (not the property)
Az State allows: $500 minimum first offense, $1,000 2^nd and $3500 third.
Scottsdale city council authorized $250 first offense, $500 second, $1,000 third and $2000 fourth if within one year.   Unlawful gathering (party etc.) $750, $1500, $2000 and $2500 within one year. Habitual offenders with 4 or more in 24 months minimum $10,000 fine with $20K maximum.
Scottsdale passed ordinance that a Contact Person must appear in-person at the property within one hour of being called by officials.
Guest houses and Casitas may still not be rented separately from renting the main house.

HERE ARE THE FACTUAL NUMBERS SOME OF THE CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES JUST DON’T BELIEVE
Former Planning Commissioner and now candidate for City Council tried to educate some of the other candidates at a recent forum
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Current List of Approved Multifamily Units in City Pipeline* as of July 2022

Current List of Approved Independent Living/Min. Care Medical Residential Units in Pipeline*

                                                                                                                                   Status         Units

Current List Multifamily Developments Pending Council Approval*

Notes: Listing does not include all developments w/fewer than 50 units.

Such a listing was requested, but city staff explained that gathering such information would take “aconsiderable amount of time.”
Source: City Council, Planning Commission, and Development Review Reports.
Use link to verify accuracy of projects on city’s website: https://eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/bldgresources/Cases/

Thank you for taking your valuable time to read to the bottom of this COGS newsletter. Being an informed resident is important. Please check out our website for additional information on previous newsletters and their content. COGS new website will be posted and impressive in August. Hope you enjoy the vastly increased information and images available for your review. From your COGS -Coalition of Greater Scottsdale—Board of Directors, Marilynn Atkinson, Jim Davis, Howard Myers, Sonnie Kirtley, Stan Morganstern, Copper Phillips, Chris Schaffner and Andrew Scheck