City Council | Special Meeting and Possible Executive Session, and Regular Meeting - July 1, 2025

call the July 1st, 2025 special meeting
and possible executive session to order.
This evening or this afternoon, we have
Scottsdale Police Sergeant uh Ingram and
Police Officer Wilburn as well as
firefighter Megan Bella. If anyone
requires their assistance, please let a
member of the staff know. City clerk Ben
Lane, please conduct the roll call for
us. Thank you, Mayor. Mayor Lisa
Barowski, present. Vice Mayor Jane
Dasquez here. Council members Barry
Graham here. Adam Clausman,
Kathy Littlefield here, Marian McCallen,
present, and Solange Whitehead here.
City Manager Greg Kaitton here. Acting
city attorney Louis Santa here. Acting
city treasurer Scott Salin here. And the
clerk is present. Thank you, mayor.
Thank you very much. Uh, at this time,
um, we are considering moving into
executive session to discuss the
following items. I note that item A has
been removed at the request of staff. Uh
then we have consideration of employment
assignment, appointment, compensation
and benefits of a permanent city auditor
from the following candidates uh Tom
Elder, Evo Georgiev, and Russ Needler.
And also consider and instruct
instruction consideration and
instruction regarding the public body's
position on contracts that are the
subject of employment negotiations
and consultation with the city's
attorneys for legal advice on employment
and compensation of a city auditor. Uh
and finally, discussion and
consideration of employment, assignment,
appointment, promotion, demotion,
dismissal, compensation, and benefits,
and other contract terms of the city
attorney and interim city attorney. I'll
entertain a motion.
Second. Thank you. All those in favor,
please indicate by I. I. I. I.
We're quicker than I.
All right. We are now recessed into exe
executive session. Thank you.
Now uh we've adjourned our executive
session and we are I am reconvening our
special meeting of the council this
evening. For the record, uh, the
council, let's see,
the council and charter officers are all
in attendance with the exception of
Councilman Adam Quasman.
Next on the special meeting agenda, we
have item number two, which relates to
the resignation agreement and general
release for city attorney Sheri Scott
and the interim city attorney
appointment. This item involves the
council's consideration of resolution
13456,
which would authorize the mayor, me, to
execute resignation agreement and
general release number 2025-114-
COS with outgoing city attorney Sher
Scott. And number two, uh, authorize the
appointment of
now city attorney
Luis Santana as interim city attorney,
excuse me, retroactive to June 17, 2025
at an annual salary of $319,000
with the same benefits he currently
receives until such time as a permanent
city attorney is appointed and begins
employment.
There is no staff presentation uh on
these items. However, we do have one uh
public comment and that is Steve Sutton.
Steve, if you'd like to come forward,
Steve Sutton, address on record.
Honorable Lisa Barowski, Mayor of
Scottsdale, and council members.
I met City of Scottsdale attorney Sherry
Scott in the fall of 2024.
She has always impressed me with her
friendly and polite professionalism.
While Sherry always made it very clear
she was the city of Scottsdale's
attorney, to the limit allowed by her
professional ethics, she was very
helpful in answering my questions.
Sherry once went the extra mile to
telephone and reassure a very worried
man that a failure to place an item on a
city council meeting agenda was being
corrected.
Sherry resigning is another loss of
Scottsdale's invaluable institutional
knowledge.
That type of loss for Scottsdale
has been rather extraordinary in recent
occurrence.
I really like Sherry Scott and I'm sad
to see her end her career with
Scottsdale. I hope in the future I will
again get the opportunity to enjoy
talking to Sherry and I hope this uh
council will vote to do the very best
they can for her upon her resignation.
Thank you. Thank you very much. There
are no other uh public comments uh
indicated. So on that note, I close
public comment and do I have any
questions? This is Vice Mayor Dascus.
I'll make a motion to adopt resolution
number 13456.
Second.
All those in favor? I don't see any
requests to speak. Please indicate your
vote.
That concludes our business for the
special meeting and I will entertain a
motion to adjourn the special meeting.
So moved. Second. Thank you. All those
in favor, indicate your vote.
I think we're good.
This uh we will take a short break and
then we'll be back to start our regular
scheduled meeting. Thank you.
I'd like to call the July 1st, 2025 city
council regular meeting to order. City
clerk Ben Lane, will you please conduct
our roll call?
Thank you, Mayor. Mayor Lisa Barowski,
present. Vice Mayor Jan Debasquez, here.
Council members Barry Graham here, Adam
Quasman,
present. Thank you. Kathy Littlefield
here. Maryann McAllen present. And
Solange Whitehead here. City Manager
Greg Kaitton here. Interim City Attorney
Luis Santea present. Acting City
Treasurer Scott Celland present. Acting
City Otter Lakeoff here. And the clerk
is present. Thank you, mayor. Thank you.
And this evening we have Scottsdale
Police Sergeant Bernest Ingram and
Police Officer Ray Wilburn as as well as
firefighter Megan Burella. If anyone
requires their assistance, please let a
member of the staff know. For the pledge
of allegiance, I'd like to ask
Councilwoman Littlefield to lead us in
same.
of the United States of America and to
the
stands nation.
Thank you for tonight's invocation. I'll
turn it over to Vice Mayor John
Debasquez.
Thank you, Madame Mayor. Tonight, it's
my pleasure to introduce us to Mr.
Gates. Mr. Gates is a Scottsdale
resident and he's my girl's first grade
teacher.
Mr. Gates is also a pastor. Um, and he
can frequently be seen running around
Copper Ridge dressed as uh the Grinch,
as Yoda. Um, he has fun with the kids
and it's my honor to ask him to provide
us with the invocation tonight. Mr.
Gates
looking to see if you're going to turn
on that time clock for me.
Thank you, Jan.
Would you pray with me?
Almighty God,
this Friday on the 4th of July,
we will celebrate the birth of our
nation and the American experiment of
government.
We pray for our leaders in local
governments like this one across our
country and in our state governments and
in our national government.
We also pray for our servicemen and
women across our world, the first
responders and the firefighters and law
enforcement personnel who put themselves
often in harm's way to protect us. As
Abraham Lincoln so eloquently stated,
this American experiment was government
of the people and by the people and for
the people. Here tonight at this city
council meeting, we enact this principle
in one of its most basic and honorable
forms. As elected leaders by the people
gather to share ideas and discuss the
future of the place where we live and
work and enjoy life together.
Almighty God, we gather tonight seeking
your guidance and wisdom as a city
council meeting begins. I am grateful
for all who gather here tonight to serve
our community and ask for your blessings
upon our city leaders, our great city,
and its residents. We ask for your
guidance and wisdom as a council works
together and engages in the important
items before this body. May their
discussions be filled with understanding
and respect, clarity of thought, unity
of purpose, and a spirit of common
purpose for the benefit of all. May they
work together with wisdom and compassion
and be always mindful of the needs of
the people of our community. Guide them
to engage in meaningful discussion as
they make decisions that affect all the
residents of our city and the future of
this great city. I pray that all here
tonight would be inspired to show a
spirit of kindness, respect, and
collaboration.
remind all here tonight that they have
been entrusted with a solemn purpose.
They have been chosen as servant leaders
of this community in this city. May the
discussions and deliberations in the
words shared reflect the high calling
given to them as they demonstrate the
highest ideals of what it means to be a
servant leader chosen by the people to
be wise as leaders and as a body
striving to build an even brighter
future for our city. It's in your name
that I pray.
Amen.
Thank you, Mr. Gates. Thank you very
much.
This evening for the mayor's report, I
uh would like to recognize a member of
our community. It came to our attention
uh a few days, a week, couple of weeks
ago now, that there was a member of our
um audience that frequently comes to our
council meetings who was on his own, a
good Samaritan for our community when he
came across an older gentleman, 80 so
plus years old, who had exited his car
and fallen onto the pavement. and uh
Jeff Barnes um ex exercised significant
kindness kindness and went to his uh to
attend to him and called for medical
help so that he got the help he needed.
So uh for your service um Jeff would
like to recognize you as with this
certificate of appreciation for helping
out a fellow member of your community.
So would you like to come get the
certificate?
[Applause]
All right. As always, uh we may during
tonight's meeting find the need to make
a motion to recess into executive
session in order to obtain legal advice
on any applicable item on the agenda. If
authorized by the council, the executive
session will be held immediately and
will not be open to public to the
public. The public meeting would resume
following the executive session. I'd
like to open up the uh first public
comment. Public comment is reserved for
Scottsdale citizens, business owners,
andor property owners to comment on
non-aggendaized items that are within
the council's jurisdiction. No official
council action can be taken on these
items. and speakers are limited to three
minutes each to address the council. If
you wish to speak on a non-aggendaized
or agendaized topic, please see the city
clerk. This evening, we have some
speakers on non-aggendaized items. Uh
starting with Matteline Doljen, followed
by Dan Isac, Steve Sutton, and Lyall
Geno. Thank you very much.
Okay. Good evening, Mayor and Council.
My name is Maline Doljen. My address is
15509 North Scottsdale Road. I've been a
Scottsdale resident much of my life and
currently work at ASU as a sustainable
procurement coordinator. I'm here today
speaking as a concerned citizen to
express my disappointment in the repeal
of the Scottsdale sustainability plan.
My views are my own and not reflective
of ASU as a whole. I grew up enjoying
our desert landscape, playing at Cactus
Park, hiking trails, and biking the
green belt. After attending college out
of state, I returned to Arizona, met my
husband, also a Scottsdale native, and
we recently moved back to Scottsdale to
raise our 18-month-old son. We want him
to enjoy the same parks and experiences
we loved, but that's getting harder.
Temperatures are rising. Air quality is
declining. His current favorite word
this summer is hot. I want my son to
grow up in a healthy, sustainable, and
comfortable environment. Studies show
time in nature supports child
development, physical mobility,
imagination, and emotional resilience.
The community sustainability plan builds
on goals outlined in the general plan,
which speaks mostly to broad aspirations
like striving for zero waste and
protecting natural areas, but lacks
measurable targets. And that's not to
say we haven't made great improvements,
but I think that there is more to do.
The sustainability plan provided
metrics, timelines, and a review cycle.
It turns ideas into action. Without
tracking, goals like strive for zero
waste become just nice ideas. In the
section of the sustainability plan um on
beyond waste, it set a 90% landfill
reduction target. That's concrete. Vice
Mayor Graham, who voted to repeal the
plan, you said our lane doesn't include
imposing restrictions. Our residents are
smart and don't need us to tell them the
right thing to do. But leadership isn't
just about trusting good intentions, as
much as I'd like to do that. It's about
setting up guard rails that protect the
greater good. At ASU, I've seen
well-intended programs fail without this
type of accountability. For example,
setting up compost bins sounds great,
but without education and tracking those
actual weights, those bins often get
contaminated and they end up landfilled.
People usually want to do the right
thing, but they do need guidance and
sometimes guard rails. What keeps me up
at night isn't just my toddler. It's the
fear that he'll grow up indoors or face
health risks from pollution. Climate
change isn't just a future threat. It's
a public health issue we already face. I
hear more and more friends in their 20s
and 30s struggling with infertility,
which research shows may be linked to
environmental toxins that are endocrine
disruptors. There are real consequences
if we don't keep acting and moving
forward. While I didn't help draft the
plan, I do know that SEEK and other
leaders poured their hearts into the
plan. It included high priority issues
and those that citizens are most
concerned about. It was well researched
and thorough, helping to guide
meaningful actions. If this plan wasn't
right for Scottsdale, then what is? I'd
like to know what the council envisions
as a better path forward and how you
plan to measure progress and hope that
we can engage in dialogue on that moving
forward. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Councilman Graham.
Maline, thank you for coming to present
to you just mentioned my name, so I just
wanted to thank you for coming and
speaking to us on the council. Yeah,
definitely. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you,
Daniel Isaac.
I'll need the overhead. I'll need the
overhead, please.
Mayor, and thank you for the time to
speak. Dan Isaac, address on record. Um,
the last meeting I mentioned how Barry
Graham was trying to stifle free speech
on Next Door by
reporting comments that actually didn't
violate any Next Door guidelines and
they haven't been been removed. I would
have thought that this would have been
somewhat embarrassing for Barry, but no,
he actually continues to do it and has
doubled down. Not only is he reporting
more and more comments from a variety of
people, but he's enlisted some of his
supporters to report them as well. I
will point to these bottom two comments
with the underlying words.
Dangerous comment versus dangerous
activity. Maybe def defamation,
potentially defamatory. And then my
favorite, disrupts community harmony.
Exact verbatim between him and one of
his followers. If somebody's going to
try to collude to do this, I think he
would be a bit more discreet. At the
last meeting,
Jason Alexander brought up that
Barry
has repeatedly denied any relationship
with Rod Pritchette. And in reality, we
know that he was at Barry's wedding and
Barry's campaign paid him. That is not
no relation. That's actually a close
relation. It's also been mentioned in
the press and variety of other sources
how Rod Pritchette is one of the people
behind the Scottsdale Edge and also
Scottsdale voter. Rod himself
accidentally revealed himself during
Barry's ethics hearing which he lost by
the way as Scottdale voter. If you're
not familiar with Scottdale Voter, you
should go to his Facebook page which is
filled with daily hostile vitriolic
posts. He repeatedly
attacks people that don't support Barry
Sanders. He distorts their photos and
calls them names that a third grader
would use.
This post
actually shows me standing in front of a
pride flag. We call that gay baiting.
Don't know who the artist is, but
they're actually quite talented. It
shows my husband wearing a sombrero
because apparently to the artist and to
Barry and many of his supporters, they
don't know the difference between one
Latin country and another. My husband
actually happens to be Chilean. They
don't wear sombrero.
And then the comment below is a
reference to clutching the pearls.
Another gay baiting comment.
But the piece to resistance
is Rod Pritchette aka Scottdale Voter
calling me a pedophile.
So Barry, you're concerned with
disrupting community harmony.
You report comments that don't violate
any decency, but you say nothing about
your hired gun saying such despicable
things. Why is that, Barry? Even if you
don't have a relationship with him,
shouldn't you be commenting on it? Adam
and Kathy, do you want to be associated
with this? I'm not asking Jan because
she has the same techniques. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman Graham.
Thank you, Mr. Isaac. There's just so
much baseless, unproven speculation that
um Tell me what's baseless and unproven.
Mr. Isaac, I didn't interrupt you. Okay.
No, but you attack me regularly. Mr.
Isaac, once again, I didn't interrupt
you.
um baseless, unproven speculation. Thank
you for coming to speak to us. You use
the same comment after any person points
out your bad behavior. So, we're seeing
this more and more often. I I'm going to
cut off back and forth uh moving forward
with these types of encounters. And I I
think there's um while everyone has the
ability and the right to get up and make
comments, um the back and forth is is
not uh for this body. Thank you so much.
Uh Steve Sutton
Barski, before I begin, I'd just like to
raise two technical issues.
One is I've been told I either be speak
too softly or I speak too loudly. I'm
going to be speaking very loud and fast
tonight because I have too much to say
to speak softly and slowly. The other
technical issue is it's very important
to me that the council is is paying
attention to what I'm saying. And the
only way I can really know that they're
doing that is if they are looking at me
and not down at their phones. So I would
ask the council members for the short
time I'm up here, give me their full
attention.
Steve Sutton, address on record. Good
evening, Honorable Lisa Barowski, Mayor
of Scottsdale and Council members. I
believe that council member Barry Graham
tried to secretly use the Scottsdale
Police Department as his own private
police force. Barry Graham is also
attempting on social media to intimidate
people who disagree with him. I recently
replied to Barry Graham's social media
post about Scottsdale Fashion Square.
The first reply begins, "Scottsdale
Fashion Square 10 years ago was in the
top five for revenue per square foot.
Scottsdale Fashion Square was also a
much better mall 10 years ago.
Unfortunately, new ownership management
decided to make changes and additions
that degraded and destroyed some of the
unique historic and cultural features
and aesthetics of the mall that had been
there for decades. I then wrote an
incomplete list of the bad changes and
this concluding statement. The memories
of thousands of Scottsdale and visitors
from around the world have been
destroyed. The historic and cultural
aesthetics of the mall have been ruined
by greed and indifference to the
sentiments of Scottsdale Stallians. That
last sentence also applies to plans some
individuals have for building of a
parking garage in front of historic
Oldtown's old adobe mission. What a sad
state of affairs this city has devolved
to. Perhaps Scottsdale,
excuse me, Councilman Graham, would you
please give me your attention? Thank
you. Perhaps Scottsdale will find a
solution in new private and public
management and leadership to stop the
degradation and replace that which has
been destroyed. My second reply was,
"It's not that it isn't a fun place to
go today. It's just it was much better
before. I've spoken to quite a few
businesses just before they left the
mall due to ridiculous increases in
leases. Greed drove out some of the best
merchants and altered the entire
ambiance of the mall in a bad way. Some
things need to be preserved as they are
or people get angry at having the places
in their happy memories destroyed and
degraded. Angry people often create the
unpleasant consequences for the people
who made them angry. Now, shortly after
writing that last sentence, I edited it
to end with the unpleasant consequence
of voting leaders out of office and
ending support for management.
Councilman Barry Graham responded by
reporting only the first version of that
second reply to the Scottsdale police,
saying, "In light of recent events that
occurred in Minnesota, these comments
were especially frightening." He also
said he had complaints that I was
aggressively collecting petition
signatures and I frequently contacted
the council. At the last council
meeting, Barry Graham said to me, "Most
of what you've said is unproven
speculation that I wouldn't agree with.
I wanted to keep the an incident
private." I replied by holding up a
document, saying, "This is your police
report. It is not speculation."
Councilman Graham replied, "I wanted to
keep that incident private. You made a
comment in my social media about
unpleasant consequences that would
happen to me. I informed a member of the
police and it was supposed to remain
private. I never made a specific threat
that unconsequences
would happen to Councilman Barry Graham.
It is not believable that Councilman
Barry Graham did not know that reporting
a threat to the police cannot be kept
private. Councilman Barry Graham
attempted to manipulate the Scottsdale
police into engaging in the illegal act
of behaving as this private secret
police and did this to serve his
political agenda. Councilman Barry
Graham, you have several apologies to
make, starting with an apology to the
entire Scottsdale Police Department.
Thank you for your time. Thank you, Mr.
Sutton.
Councilman Graham.
Thank you, Mr. Sutton.
I appreciate you coming to speak to us
tonight.
When a member of the public,
from my perspective, threatens
unpleasant consequences against me.
I have young children at home. That was
threatening speech. You made a comment
that, well, that was just one version of
the comment.
That was what it was written.
That's how I felt.
You made a comment that I was trying to
keep it private.
What I meant by that, I know that police
reports are not private. What I meant by
that is I'm not broadcasting it. Let's
keep it between us. You are the one that
promoted it.
Thank you, sir.
I'll address that tomorrow. Thank you,
Mr. Sutton.
Leila, Laya, Yango.
Hello, I'm Liango. Um, my home address
is 11281 Eastel Timrade Drive. Yeah.
Okay. Uh today I'm here to urge
Scottsdale to uh take more action to
protect nature and people. Why? Because
the local governments need to step up in
the face of the national and state
governments not taking enough action and
even pulling back on action. Um for
example, the federal budget bill that
just passed the Senate will raise energy
costs um for houses by eliminating clean
energy tax credits. Um, and at the state
level, nothing has been done to address
the Colorado River water crisis. So,
even if Scottsdale is taking measures at
the moment, Scottdale still needs to
take more action. We need to step up
and
uh this is because uh right now if you
go outside, it's a bit hot and that's
because climate change is making it even
hotter right now.
So, what I'm asking, urging Scott still
to do is to take even more action. I
heard that you are planning on passing a
shade and tree plan, and that's good
news, but this could this this could
have already been done if um the
sustainability plan had not been
repealed.
So, I'm also asking that you reimplement
a sustainability plan with uh clear
targets that are measurable and that you
follow up on these goals. Thank you.
Thank you very much. That concludes the
public comment on non-aggendaized items.
Turning now, we will approve the meeting
minutes. Uh if there's no objection or
corrections, I uh will entertain a
motion to approve the following me
meeting minutes. The launch retreat
meeting minutes of May 13, 2025. Special
meeting minutes of May 20th, 2025.
Executive session minutes of May 20th,
2025. And regular meeting minutes of May
20th, 2025.
Second. Thank you. All those in favor,
please indicate your vote.
Moving on to the consent agenda, we have
consent agenda items 1 through nine. Uh
unless any members of the council have
any questions or wish to speak uh about
any of the consent agenda items, uh we
can
entertain a motion to approve items one
through nine. Oh, we have Vice Mayor
DBosquez.
Thank you, Madame Mayor. I'd like to
pull agenda item number two for a
presentation.
Okay. Is there anyone to speak to that
here today?
Uh we can we'll get to you after we do
these though. Uh Councilwoman
Littlefield.
Thank you, Mayor. Uh that was what I
wanted to pull also and um there is
someone here to speak on it. Thank you.
Thank you. Any other seeing no other
questions? I will entertain a motion. Uh
we'll pull number two consent agenda
item number two. And I'll entertain a
motion to approve items 1 and 7 or
excuse me 3 through nine. So moved.
Second. All those in favor, please
indicate your vote.
I
All right.
I will go ahead and take the
presentation from consent agenda item
number two.
Thank you.
Good evening, Mayor Browski and council
members. Mayor Tessier here with the
planning department. The case before you
today, can you hear me? Okay. Okay. 6CN.
Thank you. 6CN 2024 Palm Lane
Residences.
The subject site is located at the
northwest corner of North 74th Street
and East Palm Lane as highlighted in
yellow. And the surrounding uses, as you
can see, is a place of worship to the
north, some residential um development
to the east and south, as well as a
residential healthc care facility to the
west.
So today, the applicant's requesting to
reszone the site from single family
residential R17 to medium density
residential R3 for a new residential
development.
So before you is the applicant's uh site
plan which is comprised of 22 detached
dwelling units which includes also an
amenity space kind of down here on the
central s portion of the site as well as
an enclosed um pool area which is um
comprised of some turf and area for like
open space. Um, vehicular access to the
site is provided with driveways along
both Palm Street, Palm Lane and North 74
Street. And the applicant is also
enhancing u pedestrian circulation per
along the perimeter of the site as well
as internal to the site. And as part of
a stipulation to this case, the
applicant will also be undergrounding
the power lines along the northern
property line.
Here we have the applicant's landscape
plan where they are providing a 35- foot
landscape buffer setback along both of
the street frontages. And that's going
to be comprised of existing and proposed
landscaping and mature trees. And then
you can also see that landscaping is
kind of spread throughout the internal
of the site and along that amenity area
and there's that turf area and pools.
That's just going to be a community
amenity space for the the residents that
reside there.
So I'll conclude my presentation with
the key items of consideration that
includes that the project conforms with
the general plan of 2035 as well as the
southern Scottsdale character area plan.
It is a redevelopment property within
southern Scottsdale. The applicant is
not going to be requesting any amended
development standards as part of this
case. Again, they're going to be
removing that power line along the um
northern property line. They are going
to be providing that 35- foot wide
landscape buffer along both street
frontages. Um, citizen input was
received, both support and opposition.
And then lastly, planning commission
heard this case at the May 28th um,
hearing and voted 6. So that concludes
my presentation. The applicant has
prepared a full presentation. They'll
walk you through further detail. Thank
you. Thank you, Meredith. We have the
applicant.
Thanks Meredith for getting the
microphone to the right height for me.
Um, good evening mayor, members of the
council. For the record, my name is
Lauren Proper Potter, PO Box 1833,
Tempp, Arizona 85280.
And I'm here tonight on behalf of Palm
Lane Residences. I'm going to keep the
presentation sort of brief and just kind
of hit on some of the highlights. I do
have a full presentation as Meredith
stated, so happy to walk through um any
of the like nitty-gritty details if you
want to get into those things. But I
think what I'd like to focus on this
evening here is the the nature of the
project and some of the things that
we've done in response to neighborhood
feedback that really made this a great
project. Um so the request tonight would
accommodate a 22 unit for sale detached
development. So each property is going
to be um condo platted individual lots.
They each have yards as well. Um as as
Merida stated, we are very proud to be
here tonight with unanimous approval uh
recommended by the planning commission.
Little bit of the site today. Um and
then here's what we're proposing. This
would be the the site that we've got
here. So the initial proposal um was
quite a bit more dense, quite a bit more
intense. The initial request was for R5
zoning. your most intense residential
zoning. It was also um three stories
with roof decks added, so kind of uh
sort of almost effectively four stories
in height. We got some pretty strong
feedback from the neighborhood that they
did not feel like that was in the
character of the area and the team went
back to the drawing board. They reduced
the density by almost half when they
came back with this updated request that
you see before you tonight. Um and so
they reduced it from about 48 dwelling
units. Uh now we have 22. Um the
building heights went down pretty
significantly. Those went down from
almost that four-story height if you're
counting that roof deck area to two
stories here. We're actually proposing
um just under 25 feet here for the
maximum height allowed would be 30 in
this district. 30 feet also allowed in
the surrounding single family. Um, and
there's also, as you can see here, uh,
we're consistent with what's in the
immediate area on this kind of island
that we're on. There's a four-story
multifamily complex that's just to the
west of us. And then we're adjacent to,
uh, two additional twostory structures
here. And here's just to give you a
sense of the scale of those things. So,
it's a pretty appropriate fit here. We
feel like this provides a good buffer
from those uses down into the single
family area.
Um, and so again, these were just some
of the changes. So, decrease in zoning,
decrease in density, height. We
significantly enhanced those landscape
buffers. Um, there were also some
questions about if there was sufficient
guest parking previously. I'm happy to
report we're overparked on this project.
Every single unit has its own dedicated
two-story garage. We also provide 13
guest parking spaces as well.
So, one of the things that we did, I
just sent an exhibit to Meredith
yesterday in response to an email that
was received. I just saw it from a
neighbor who is in support, but had kind
of had some ideas. And um a couple of
those were to increase the wall height
adjacent to the pool that's along Palm
Lane. Um and then also discussing some
amenity area for children. So, we like
to think that we want to integrate into
the community. Eight foot walls kind of
close projects off, especially eight
foot solid block walls. So, what we're
proposing is to keep that six-foot block
wall, but we would add two additional
mature shade trees on the side of that
wall that's closest to the neighborhood.
Again, we're buffered. We've got a 35
foot landscape buffer there. We have
Palm Lane. And then, um Michelle, who's
watching online, she's one of the
neighbors that lives directly across the
street on Palm Lane. She came to
planning commission in support. We've
worked really hard with her um through
some of the changes from the initial
proposal, wasn't really wellreceived to
this proposal that now she's in support
of. We're always happy to be here when
we can work out some of those challenges
with the neighbors and come to a project
that everyone feels good about. Um as it
relates to space for um residents who
might have small children, there is an
amenity, a grassy area next to the pool.
We certainly hope all children are
supervised at all times. Um especially
around pools. Um but we're really lucky
that we're super close to Elorado Park.
We're less than a quarter mile. I just
um while I was sitting in for the other
part of the hearing, uh I mapped it out.
It's a fiveminute walk. So it's less
than a quarter mile. Elorado Park has
amazing amenities. The city's invested a
lot of money into it. There's an aquatic
center, baseball diamond, two separate
parks. We think that to the extent that
children need to burn off a little bit
more energy than they can in the private
yards that they have or in this amenity
area, it's a short walk to the park
there. So, we're lucky to to be able to
take advantage of that amenity that the
city offers its residents. Um, I I think
with that I'll conclude. I suspect there
might be some questions for me. I'm
happy to answer those. Again, I do have
more presentation. I know they can get
kind of boring, so I'll stop here, but
I'm happy to get more into it if anyone
would like. Thank you. Thank you,
Lauren.
Councilwoman Whitehead. Well, since no
one else seems to want to speak, I'll
just I you know, I've been to at least
two community meetings with this
project, so I've had the benefit uh and
of course I know Michelle and I know the
res I've spoken directly with the
resident um who most recently emailed in
support with those requests. So, I like
many projects that make it to the city
council, this project has come a long
way, baby. We've really done a lot or
the applicant has done a lot based on
the input that you've received from our
residents. So, I'm not sure if some of
my colleagues have specific questions. I
was going to um simply put in the record
that the two mature trees is um would
satisfy it would be better than an 8-oot
wall and I would like that to be taken
care of at the DRB hearing. So that was
um an issue. I just you know again we
couple things that were concerning when
at the two meetings I attended. Parking
well when you cut the unit count almost
in half. You also um have far more
parking adding the guest parking. Height
of course this is a beautiful
neighborhood very historic built in the
1950s and60s. So, um, keeping with the
height, uh, many of the design elements
that have been added also match that
mid-century modern kind of look, the,
uh, short-term rentals. This is a
neighborhood that's been ravaged by
short-term rentals. So that clause and
then as I said um just a couple weeks
ago we have in my time on council we've
really tried to get away from the large
apartment complex and fill in this
missing middle middle housing and those
are um that's what we're seeing here for
sale products that are town home with
yards with garages and that's so that
fits that too. So I'm actually very
pleased with this project. I think um
sets a nice high bar and I'm so pleased
that the residents um support it because
again we you know I've been involved
when it wasn't so much supported. So um
I'm I'm waiting. Oh, looks like there's
some other speakers. So I'll stop here
before I motion to approve the project.
Thank you. Thank you, Council Member
Councilman Graham.
Thank you, Mayor Lauren. Good
presentation. Yes, this project's come a
long way. Um,
I have a few questions for you.
Trying to get myself situated here.
I like a lot about this project. I like
that you are putting in detached
forale
houses with
attached garages.
I like that. Those are good amenities. I
like that the power line is going away.
Can you show us pictorially for the
audience where the power line is being
buried? I can, council member, although
I might have to explain it. Um, so top
of the screen, that is our northern
property line. Um, that is where those
power lines are. And actually, I'm This
is exciting. We just got word earlier
this week from APS SRP um that the
demolition to get rid of those power
poles is approved. So, um, with with
your approval this evening, with
approval at our, um, upcoming DRB
hearing, we're ready to get rid of those
lines ASAP. Uh, how many how many polls
is that going to be? Three or four? Four
polls. Four polls number. Very good. Um,
I am um
I'm going to be following I think I'm
your Do you know when this is coming to
DRB if this passes today? Council
member, I think you are going to be my
liaison. It
I think you might I think we might have
round two. Yes. 17th. July 17th. Okay.
Um so we'll have another crack at this
together. I'm actually not going to be
at that one. I'll be at I'll be at the
10th. So Okay. So I'm going to actually
throw a jump ball to my colleagues and
you're going to get whoever takes it.
Can't wait. Thank you, council member.
Um
but I know
just roll the dice. See who you get. Um
the I am going to be following up though
on the design because it's it's very
important to me that the architectural
material and the cohesion for the area
makes sense matches. This is something
that should lift up the area. It
shouldn't be the average. It should
bring up the average and I think that
you guys are committed to that. Can I
get you to agree on to that on record?
Absolutely. Council member, you've got
my number. I've got yours. You probably
wish I would lose it. Um is that a
promise or a threat?
It depends. If I if I spoke during
public comment, maybe be taken one way
versus up here. But yeah, the trees that
council member Whitehead had mentioned,
are those going to be 36 box 36 inch
trees? Council McGrim, they will be 36 B
box. They're going to be the sweet
acacia. So, we're just completing we're
filling out that double row of trees
we've got there. Okay. And so, you're
talking about two or three. Can you show
Can you show where we got that? Yes.
Testimony from Mr. Arvanitus or whatever
the neighbor Arvantes. Where are those
box trees? because he was talking about
8 foot wall, cinder block wall, which
absolutely to whoever um controls the
overhead. Could I could I get access to
that really quick? I think it might just
be easier to point. I have the the black
and white landscape plan. Of course,
it's upside down.
Okay. So, if it's possible, you got to
speak to the mic there. So, for the
people that are streaming at home and of
course watching on TV. Yeah. Thank you,
council member. So um those trees are
located right here. So this is the row
of four trees. These are those sweet
acacas and then these additional three
trees here. Um those are two different
species and they're all 36inch box. So
they'll all be installed as mature
trees. And then this is the pool area
that the neighbor was referencing. That
6ft block wall is here. Here's our
enhanced landscape buffer that 35 foot
and then you get Palm Lane there. Okay.
We've got uh Commissioner Jeff Brand in
the building. He's going to be on DRB. I
hope he's going to look at the uh he's
waving his right hand. Um I hope he's
going to look at the uh he's a
landscaping architect expert, so he's
going to be looking at the cohesion and
making sure all that makes sense. Good.
Great. Thanks, council member. Thank
you. Jeff, can you just nod to the
council that you're going to be doing
all that? Okay. He he nodded. Giving
homework to the commissioners at the I'm
getting everything on record, you know.
No, I appreciate it. and and um we'll
talk before we get to Can can can they
operate just for the record, can they
operate STRs in here? They cannot. So,
and I appreciate Council Member
Whitehead bringing that up. I didn't
cover that, but um so because these will
be condo platted, we get more control
over this. And so, we're we have a note
um the plat will be ready to go in kind
of imminently. It actually it might have
we might have already filed it. There's
a note on the plat that's and we've
worked with your city attorney on this
provision before. You might um remember
the case we did this on a few years ago,
but we add a note on the plat. It's not
your standard note. It just says, "Hey,
we're going to be recording CCNRs in
conjunction with this project. Those
CCNRs are going to regulate things like
common area maintenance, um fees, and
rental terms, and then they'll be
limited to no less than 30 days. That's
a provision that's going to be we can't
put it on the plat, but that's something
that'll be in the CCNRs." Um, yeah. I I
guess where I'm going with this is that
I'm I'm generally I'm generally
disincclined to, you know, approve more
density, but when a developer comes to
us and they bring overwhelming benefits
to our community,
raising standards, bearing power lines,
uh, expensive landscaping,
um, you know, restricting or reducing
short-term rentals. I like that also the
parking requirements are 44 plus 4. You
guys are doing 61 parking spots. So you
don't you are you can you just put on
record you don't you're not you're
confident that there's not going to be
an overflow onto Palm Lane for all for
all their guests and council member
Graham. So I can't promise that if
someone has a birthday party they won't
park on Palm Lane just like the single
family residents. However, well abuse of
it. Yeah. We're not relying on on
parking on Palm Lane. We're providing
for the record 57 parking spaces. Um,
that's what I have on my fact sheet. Um,
every once in a while I do the math
right on that. So, I think it's a little
bit less than what you've got, but to
keep it kosher on the record, 57 and 46
would be required. Yeah. If I was a if I
was a developer, I'd be looking at Paul
Molain as, you know, as sort of a an
exhaust or sort of a, you know, an
outflow of of overflow, excuse me, of
parking. But I think that you guys are
going to be pretty solid with parking
containment. And then I have one staff
or one staff question, city staff
question about this project. If uh it
can just be sort of walk through for the
general public. Um this does not require
a general plan amendment. Can you
explain why?
I think I just um called up from the um
bullpen Adam.
Thank you. Yes, Mayor Barski and
Councilman Graham. Adam Marone will be
down here shortly to respond to that
question. Okay.
Council member Graham, uh, Mayor Bowski,
members of council, uh, this site is
designated by the community's uh, voter
ratified general plan as suburban
neighborhoods. Uh, within that density
range and with what the applicant's
proposing, there's no change in land use
category. So, uh, with suburban
neighborhoods and a density less than
eight dwelling units per acre, this
conforms with the community's general
plan. That's another factor for me is
that I really am always just inclined
for zoning requests to amend the general
plan. And, uh, I'm pleased that this
doesn't, uh, pass that threshold. So,
um, for now, those are my questions. U,
Miss Potter, and, uh, thank you, Adam,
city staff. Thank you, mayor. Thank you,
Vice Mayor Dubosquez.
Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, what are
these residences estimated to sell for?
So, there there's four different unit
types, Vice Mayor Dowskis. Um, ranging
from 2100 to like 2,700 and some change
square feet. So, there there will be a
range for sure. The target price point
is $400 to $500 a square foot, which is
similar to what the single family
residences are selling for in the
neighborhood. So, if you're doing the
math in your head, I saw you there.
We're looking at like high nines or
possibly in the million-doll plus range.
Wow. Okay. Um I I just wanted to
reiterate for those who are um thinking
about projects like this, what what I
find attractive about it. U the for sale
aspect. Um, I like how much you guys
have worked with the community and
really taken a look at this particular
piece of property and tried to figure
out what's the best fit for the
community and that particular property
and then taking a look at how we can
make it better. Burying the power lines,
the roads are nicely done, the
landscapes nicely done, um, and then
general the general uplift of the
community. Um, I'm also disincclined to
um be in favor of more density, but with
the size of the homes here and uh with
the way that it's laid out nicely, I
think that it's a it's a good
compromise. Um, also I appreciate that
you haven't pushed the limits. So, you
could have gone higher, you could have
gone more dense. Um, and so I appreciate
that you've been very thoughtful about
that. Um, but mostly the the um overall
sense of this project is just it's very
thoughtfully done. So, I really
appreciate that. Um, thank you, Vice
Mayor. Thank you. Thank you,
Councilwoman McCallen. Uh, thank you,
Mayor. Uh, and thank you, Lauren. Um, I
appreciate you taking the time to give
us an additional presentation and to
answer my phone calls. I had many of the
similar questions. Um, I grew up not far
from this area. This is a beautiful
addition to the neighborhood. And with
that, I move that we um pass this uh
which is uh ordinance number 4675.
I'll second.
And I'd like to speak to the second.
Good job. This is the type of product I
think we need in our residential
upcoming residential project. So, very
well done. Thank you. Thank you, mayor.
really appreciate that. Councilwoman
Littlefield has a question.
No, I would just like to thank you for
listening to the concerns of the nearby
residents and answering them and
responding to them
materially and and making the changes
that they requested as much as you can.
I also grew up in this area as a kid and
so that Saskcastell is very important to
keep up a a good quality of lifestyle
and a good look and feel and texture and
I think you've done that very well. So,
thank you very much. Thank you, council
member.
All right. I don't see any other
questions or comments. So with that all
those in favor of uh the motion which is
on the table agenda consent agenda item
number two please indicate your
approval.
I
that motion passes and that concludes
our consent agenda. Moving on to regular
agenda item number 10. City Council will
consider this item. Um, let's see. Item
10 is a request of city council to
consider and adopt the following
resolutions authorizing use of the
tourism development fund for fiscal year
2025 and 26 events that meet the
criteria of the following tourism event
funding programs. Number one, resolution
number 1320 authorizing the event venue
fee funding program with myself
executing individual agreements with
each producer. Number two, resolution
number 13421
authorizing the community event funding
program uh with myself executing
individual agreements with each event
producer. Uh number three, resolution
number 13422 authorizing the matching
event advertising funding program, the
use of tourism development funds
allocated toward non-contract
destination marketing events and uh with
myself executing individual agreements
with each event producer. And finally,
resolution 13423 authorizing the event
development funding program subject to
council approval of such agreements and
authorizing staff to use the event
development guidelines to evaluate
whether an event event qualifies for
funding. And tonight we have Steve
Gigamoth Gigma, excuse me. Yes, that was
close. Tourism development manager for
our presentation. Thank you. Mayor
Barroski, Vice Mayor of City Council.
I'm here to present to you our city
event funding programs for this current
fiscal year, talk a little bit about the
background, the process we go through,
and have some proposed changes for
council's consideration here this
evening.
So, to begin with, before I get into the
background, we'll talk about the funding
source for our event funding programs.
Per ordinance number 4534 and financial
policy 10, 9% of the city's uh bet tax
dollars are allocated to tourism events
and event development or can be
allocated I should say. So some
background on an annual basis uh the
tourism development commission the
commission responsible for making
recommendations for bed tax dollars and
also developing programs and spend those
dollars reviews annually the programs.
We do that over about two public
meetings. We spend extensive time on
that and that's to ensure that goals are
met uh that the process is effective and
the return on investment is met and fair
equitable value is also achieved by
these programs.
So these are some of our general event
requirements. Uh there's some
consistency and nuances in most of our
programs. There's two main objectives
though put heads and beds and market the
destination through these events. But
these are align with our general
requirements. They align with our
tourism drivers, arts, culinary, golf,
sports, western. They meet attendance
thresholds. They're accessible. Their
majority of the event is held in
Scottsdale. They support the Scottsdale
brand and image and open to the public.
No private events.
So, these are here are the four event
funding programs. I want to briefly
review. The event venue fee funding
program, the community event funding
program, the matching event advertising
fund program, and the event development
program. These were all unanimously
recommended by the TDC at the April 15th
meeting this year. U as I mentioned a
little bit earlier, these programs are
funded through bed tax dollars related
to the 9% and payments are generally
made postevent upon contractual
fulfillment.
This chart shows here our four event
funding programs for last fiscal year.
Uh we funded 43 events for these
programs. Give you perspective of where
uh the applications were coming in from.
And we spent roughly $1.1 million and
that was from $2.6 $6 million that was
available in the 9%. This year we're
anticipating 2.9 million as mentioned
here for the for the current fiscal year
I should say.
So, uh, getting into the programs. These
are some of the outlines of the venue
fee program. This is the first one. This
is one of our newer events programs.
It's been around over 10 years, but it's
one of our newer ones. It it is as it
sounds. It's for participant-driven
events, youth sports, basketball,
baseball, whatever it might be. We
provide funds to reimburse uh the
tournament director or program if you
will related to expenditures that are
made for city fields. It's been a
popular program. It's growing. Up to
$12,000 is available for reimbursement.
Um like I said, we put this in over 10
years ago and it seems to be doing
fairly well. We're getting a lot of
participation in this program.
So, some of the updates that we're
looking at um and and related to program
changes. The first one is a calculation.
I'll go into a little more of an
explanation. So last fiscal year at 636
rooms were required to get $12,000 for
fully reimbursed tournament. That's
going up to 657. The reason for that,
it's a calculation. What we do is we
take the average daily rate of our
calendar year to offset any seasonality
and we do a basic math calculation. How
many rooms is it going to take to make
that $12,000 to make sure we have fair,
substantial, equal value? This
particular year, it's 657 rooms. or room
nice I should rooms sorry the next one
is our community event funing program as
it states it's locally significant
events it's one of our older programs
it's been around for some time um it
attracts visitors of course to the event
it adds to our cache of assets that we
have here in our destination uh we
evaluate it based on attendance duration
longevity and seasonality there's
funding levels for each of that criteria
I just reviewed which kind of allows us
to allocate potentially what the funding
amount could be for that particular
particular event. It also helps the
commission when they do their evaluation
look at that and say, "Hey, I think
you're falling here based on staff
recommendation." Up to 30,000 is
available for production fees and
advertising.
Some of the program updates we're
looking at for this one this year, um
we're reducing the seasonality period,
which is one of those criteria I just
mentioned. Relatively small amount
available in that criteria. We're going
to July, September, um as opposed to May
through December last year. And the
reason being our research is starting to
show that our seasonality is kind of
going away. We're kind of more balanced
throughout the year uh through our
research that we're doing as well. So we
reduced it uh this year.
The matching event advertising fund
program is is as it sounds. This is one
of our older programs we've had for a
number of years. It's for adver
advertising outside Maricopa County for
events. Up to 30,000 is available. And
it is as it sounds. It's a match. So if
you spend $60,000 in marketing direct
dollar, we'll match you 30,000. And if
it's 30,000, we'll match you 15,000. We
have roughly two or three events who
participate in this program. Bear
Jackson, the Rabian horse show, two
participants.
There are no program recommendations in
this particular program for this fiscal
year coming up.
So I'll stop right there on those three
that I went through. I'm going to kind
of spend a moment on the process. Um, so
the three I just went through, venue,
fee program, community, and matching
event. Once those applications go
through the TDC for vetting, make a
recommendation for funding amount, those
contracts go directly to the mayor for
signature. The reason being is that
about 10 years ago, we wanted to
expedite the process, make it more
streamlined, make it available year
round so that was more userfriendly. And
we found this has worked effectively
over the past decade related to moving
those forward. They're also very well
vetted. The criteria I went over, one's
matching, one's based on room nights,
one's based on some financial analysis
that's done in the community. So, we
feel comfortable with that. It's worked
well. The next one I'll go over is event
development funding program. I'll tell
you the little parameters involved in
that. Those contracts after TDC
recommendation go to city council.
So the event development funding program
boosts Scottsdale visibility through
media coverage and enhance our hotel
sales sales stays I should say the
funding range is 30,000 to 75,000 for
marketing and production and one key
element here we're going to emphasize
this year the next bullet point there if
an event participates on the last one
for three years they have the option to
move to one of those three I just went
through and once they're in that once
they move down after three years we
won't allow them to come back into this
event development funding program. The
idea behind it is they're sustainable.
We provided funding over three years.
Any activation or enhancement they make
should be handled by the producer.
Some of our general proposed changes
that the commission wanted to put in
place this year, add a charitable
component in the application worksheets.
We can't contractually make that
enforceable, but we can make sure. So,
the TDC just wants to ask that question.
We added uh in terms of ineligible
events, we added expose because they're
very similar to trade shows that are
listed there.
So, the action requested of council
tonight as was reviewed by the mayor,
adopt resolution 1342 related to the
event venue fee program, adopt
resolution 13421 related to the
community program, adopt resolution
number 1342 related to the matching
event advertising fund program. And the
last adopt resolution number 1342 for
the event development funding program
that process the allocation of funds.
That concludes my presentation. Thank
you very much, Steve. We do have a uh
request to speak for public comment and
that is Steve Sutton on this item.
Honorable Mayor Braski,
I think you all know who I am and where
I live. That's going to be quick.
A lot has been said over the last few
years about listening to residents
and about residents first.
I hope that with this resolution and all
resolutions that you have before you
that you are truly before making
decisions listening to your residents
and putting them first. Thank you. Thank
you.
I don't see any questions or comments
from the council. Oh, there we go. Vice
Mayor Devoscus.
Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um if we could
go back to the initial presentation um
the 1.1 million that was spent in the
the chart.
So that was spent in the 2425 and you're
anticipating a 2.9 for 2526. Is that
what you said? That's my understanding
of the estimate for bed tax collections
and the city portion related to the 9%.
Okay. And so how are we calculating the
ROI back to the city?
Well, generally through uh our our
process, we receive a postevent report
which is identified in your packets with
the agreement. We have we'll receive
that to ensure that they're contractual
compliant, that they meet the
deliverables, the contract deliverables
that they say they are going to achieve
and generally we position a lot of our
deliverables based on marketing return.
Some hotel stays, as I mentioned,
related to the venue fee, but we ensure
the return on investment is related to
the marketing value we get back. out of
this number. I looked at it this
afternoon. We went back and looked at
all the marketing uh spends from the all
these events, 43, it was over $3 million
that they were spending to market their
event as well as a destination. So,
that's one aspect of a return on
investment.
And what do you estimate would happen if
we didn't provide this funding
uh for these programs? uh well that
probably uh will eliminate that
marketing value I just mentioned events
are a very key component uh related to
uh the overall destination uh we've
received quite a bit of research
information that people are coming here
for events our participant-driven events
are are increasing our large tourism
events are bringing in people visitors
who spend not only for the hotel room
but economic impact so there could be
some loss associated with that by not
investing in events
Well, if if we didn't provide so much
funding, perhaps those events would
still occur though. Yes, there is a
possibility. But I think the main aspect
uh related to that is we have the
opportunity to partner with them. We
have the opportunity to develop
contracts that identify marketing
deliverables that are valuable to the
city and what we want to achieve related
to our brand and what experience
Scottdale does. We would lose that
through a contract contract if we don't
have it related to these programs.
That's a potential aspect.
Um, so you noted in the community events
slide.
Yes. That these are programs that are
attracting visitors that are already in
Scottsdale. So you're you're dragging
locals out of their houses. Is that what
Well, you know, I would hope they would
enjoy that that activity and that event.
Generally, our community events been
around for some time. The idea is that
it it's locally significant like Prada,
the rodeo, etc. But if there's a visitor
here, potentially they may want to
attend that event. Um, our western week
has grown quite a bit. There's another
example related to those components. We
receive emails uh throughout the year
about people enjoy that event. They
travel in. They may be a long-term
visitor. They may be here just that
weekend. So, it's a balance between
residents and also visitors. Okay.
And then um you were making a
distinction between some program funding
is approved by council and some is not
filtered through council on an
individual program basis. Correct. Let's
talk a little bit more about the ones
that don't come to council individually
which tell us again what those are. Well
that's the event venue fee program the
community and the matching event
advertising fund program. And as I
mentioned, the reason we did that uh
well over 10 years ago was to streamline
the process. We also uh per the
applications and approval here, there's
quite a bit of vetting that goes into
those programs as well as event
development. But the tourism development
commission provides that recommendation
and we streamline it to go directly to
the mayor for signature. And how much
goes with those three programs? How much
are we talking about that does not go
through council's review?
I'm doing the math here. base. It looks
close to, if I'm off, about a little
over 300,000 330,000 related to those
three event programs.
And you're anticipating that number to
jump up to 1 2.9 next year. Well, we
won't necessarily spend that. And I
should mention that the 1.1 is a spend
in these four programs related to those
event development. But you said earlier
that you're expecting that for next year
it'll be the 2.9. That's what's
available. I'm sorry if it was
confusing. Okay, that's what's
available. So, what are we estimated to
spend for those three programs for 2526?
I would say it's fairly consistent. I
would I would anticipate probably about
the same amount. The range in terms of
what events are eligible for is not
changing. So, I could see it changing. I
mean, we may see some fluctuation in
different programs. Um, it just depends
how many events want to apply for
funding. Some are more popular than
other as you can see. Sure. Sure. Yeah.
I think I would be more comfortable if
council was reviewing some more of these
events. That's a 300,000 a year is a lot
of money to um to to not go by council.
Um Okay. Thank you. Thank you.
I have a follow-up question uh about
that discussion. the bed tax ordinance
when it was passed, I think it was 2010,
um it requires the city to spend a
certain portion of our the funds that we
receive on events, doesn't it? Correct.
Per the ordinance number 4534 and
financial policy 10. Yeah. Okay. So,
that's not we can't just not support the
events because that's what we're
supposed to be doing with the bed tax
that's the city is allocated. Okay.
Thank you. And then I see a couple other
questions. Councilwoman Whitehead. Yeah,
I was going to stress that too that um
tourism tax dollars are voter approved
and they're from bed tax dollars. So I
think often our residents confuse uh
whether or not how much authority we
have on those dollars. We don't. And if
those dollars are coming from our
residents, they're not. So um I wanted
to ask you uh Mr. Gigma, if you want to
give some examples of some events, for
instance, that came to us and got that
first three-year funding that have kind
of been continued and have been greatly
successful. Off the top of my head, the
Apollo event that takes place in
October, uh, that participated in the
program for three years and was
sustainable and grew over time. That's
one example. Off the top of my head, I'm
trying to think of some others. I
believe the Sun Circuit horse event also
participated in three years a couple
years back. They're another example of
the ones that have gone through three
year and became successful and
participate in other programs. Okay. So,
I I do have a couple comments and um
with regards to some that my colleagues
have already made. Um we have the
tourism development commission because
on that commission we have unlike some
of our commissions we have very specific
um rules on which residents can
participate on that commission and they
are experts in the tourism field. So, I
will say that I'm very uncomfortable
about um taking any of the funding away
from that commission and bring it up to
this city council because while I think
we can always review and provide input,
I don't think we're the tourism experts.
Uh when I moved here 30 years ago, the
type of tourism we had in the city was
very uh limited. it it was narrow. We
had big events and again we have to
spend these tourism dollars. So the
question is do we want to try to expand
the types of events, the months of the
years we uh the month months of the year
we have these events and um the
demographics that we're attracting to
our city. That's really what's the the
question that we're um posing today. uh
by having these funds that bring in
whether it's the chess the professional
chess tournaments or um I think the
Persian uh festival we've had we've
really broadened um volleyball
tournaments we've expanded who comes and
how many room nights that results and I
think the success of the programs like
this one and just generally our tourism
policies have um created this abundance
of dollars. So the 2 whatever 9 million
um that's not because we're spending
more, it's because we're so successful,
we can actually expand who we fund and
bring in more events. And I think the
polo event's a great example because
what a smashing success, but it seemed
like an odd idea when it first came. And
so these these small dollar amounts
really helped um make that happen. So,
I'm actually uh very supportive because
perhaps I'm more comfortable with this
having been on the council longer and
seen the incredible success. So, I am
going to motion um uh to approve item
10, resolution number 13420, authorizing
the event uh venue fee funding program.
Resolution number 13421 authorizing the
community event funding program.
Um and resolution number 13422
authorizing the matching event
advertising funding program and
resolution number 13423 authorizing the
event development funding program. I'll
second that.
Would you like to speak to your second
councilwoman? Uh yes. Thank you, mayor.
Uh Steve, thank you for the
presentation. Uh I was thinking of some
of the events that have grown over in my
60 years of living here in Scottsdale.
Um some of the smaller events like the
rain event has been funded I think two
years in a row. It's going on its third
event. They started with that at
Westworld. Uh and they came, you know,
to the tourism commission asking for
help. And so these professionals that
serve on this commission are industry
experts and they're helping these groups
who have an event, they have an idea and
it's like they come and they they engulf
them with suggestions. They help them,
they uh critique maybe sometimes when
things aren't maybe planned as well as
they could be. So, I know the experts um
on this commission work very hard to
support the smaller events so that they
can become bigger. And the polo event
just this year when you fund it again
when I went to that meeting, it's now a
two-day event and the third largest
event in Scottsdale. That is a big thing
and it's all because it started at the
tourism commission small went big. So,
I'm elated to second this. Thank you so
much for your work. Thanks,
Councilman Graham. Thank you, Mayor. Mr.
Gigma, good presentation. These are this
is a good conversation. Thank you. Um, I
think that the vice mayor had some
brought up some really good questions.
The vice mayor brought up some really
good questions. And I don't think she
was even close to talking about not
using the funds for the 9% tourism
development funds. And I'm not
suggesting that you said that, but
that's kind of what I I heard a little
bit about of that up here. And what I
you know what I understand is that we're
talking about the bed taxes. The 9% of
bed taxes go to this pot of money and
it's for tourism related events and
event development. So it's about I'm
sorry sir. Go ahead. That that's the 9%.
Correct. Right. Y okay. Um funds may be
allocated for events from the
non-marketing portion of unused funds
within the tourism development fund.
Correct. I'm sorry. Say that again.
Funds may be used funds may be allocated
for events from the non-marketing
portion of unused funds within the
tourism development fund. I that is
correct. Okay. Can you say a little more
about that by the way before I go to my
next question? Is that related to uh
resolution number 13422? Yeah. Okay. And
that little term in there non-contract.
Yeah. Okay. That that's more for
clarification. The non-contract
destination marketing is experienced
costale. Yeah. We put that in there to
further define the difference.
Oh, so that's not part of the nine 9%.
No, the 9% is related to the city funds.
No, I Yeah, I understand that. But this
says per financial policy number 10, 9%
of total revenue derived from the bed
tax is for tourism related events and
event development. I think policy 10
relates to the city bed tax after the
split takes place. I don't know if
anybody from that. That's that's the
funds we're talking about. Correct.
Okay. Mr. Kaitton, you seem to be
reaching for your button. Am I pressing
your buttons? Madame Mayor and
Councilman Graham, it might be helpful
for the audience, too, if we just
articulate the 100% of the bed tax and
how it's uh allocated. So, we have 50%
and I'll look to do this in combination
with my colleague here. 50% is for
destination marketing, right? Uh 45%
of that goes to experience Scottsdale
and we keep 5% to do destination
marketing within our uh internal
function. So that's 50%. The other 50%
has some flexibility. 25% goes I think
it's 25% goes to kind of general
operations. It helps support some police
department functions and correct that
may be lower as a percentage but you're
correct. Some goes to the general fund.
And then we have a 12%, a 9% and a 4
percent. Uh the 9% is what you're
referencing. The 4% is some
administration I believe. And then I
think research. Yeah. In the research
and so then we have some admin
administrative uh costs that are also
allocated within that area. So uh there
is some flexibility to the 50% we call
it the city portion that's referred to.
Then the the other 50 is for destination
marketing if you will. Mr. Ken, that's
very illustrative. And so which which uh
Mr. Gigma, which bucket are we talking
about for this particular agenda item
for this funding? It's coming from the
city portion that was just reviewed by
the city. Thank you. Yeah, we're talking
about the city portion. And that's what
I that's what I heard vice mayor posing
questions about because we have hundreds
of thousands of dollars every year that
council isn't approving.
That would be in the parameter I
mentioned about 300,000 that goes uh to
the mayor for signature. So, I
understand when my some of my colleagues
say that we have tourism experts
approving that, but I would argue up
here we're not really experts in
anything in one way or the other and
we're approving everything. So, what
what would make what would what would
make this, you know, pot of money from
tourism different than that pot of
money? And Mr. Gigma, I'm sorry to cut
you off. This isn't really direction to
you. It's really more just telling uh
charter officers that I mean, I would
like to see all of us even just come to
consent. uh to city council. I think
that makes a lot of sense because
everything that the experts uh vote on
anyway comes to us already. The on top
of that when you have, you know,
unelected commissioners that are
deciding hundreds of thousands of
dollars, there's no there's no electoral
check to that. There's no
checks and balance. There's no resident
accountability. If I'm a resident that
finds a lot of displeasure in what the
tourism development uh commission is
approving, I pretty much can't do
anything about it except indirectly go
after people I think might have approved
him or him or her on the tourism
development commission. So, I think it
could be something to to talk about in
the future. Um, Mr. Gigma, one other
thing that um this this may actually
surprise you, but I actually wish we
were spending more money. May surprise
you to hear me say that. And let me and
let me explain what I mean by that. How
much money for the section of funds that
we're talking about came in this year?
How much how much was because we spent
1.1 million. How much came in?
Well, that would be I don't know if we
can specifically identify the relation
to 1.1. We have seen some increases over
the number of year in our bed tax
collections. That continues. Um some of
that may relate to economic Oh, I'm
going to cut you off because we got
acting acting city treasurer Scott.
Scott, um, if you could just identify
yourself for the audience. For the
record, Scott Selene, budget director.
Um, we project about $2.6 million of the
the 9% would be about $2.6 million in
fiscal year 2425, the fiscal year that
just ended. So, we're I mean, we're
we're we're spending like a little more
than half. I mean, it's just not we're
not spending enough. So, are there any
maybe Scott, this is Mr. Selene, this is
for you, but are there any restrictions
for the money to be I know this these
are Let me let me back up. Are these
considered restricted funds
legally restricted? Madam Madame Mayor,
Council Member Graham, uh, yes, they
would be restricted. Um, I'm just
reading the financial policies that
would dictate how we can utilize those
funds. 9% for tourism related events and
event development. Okay. So, is there
any restriction for if the money just
goes and sits in a fund in a pot, is
there any restriction for how long it
can sit there,
Madame Mayor? Council member Graham, I
do not believe so, but I will have to
look into that and get an answer for
you. That seems like Yeah, I would be
curious to know what is the balance of
that fund as of the end of last fiscal
year. Just an approximation
or maybe maybe you don't have that
number that that's as of yesterday. So
that's a I might need to research that
number and get it back to you. We were
projecting um for the entire tourism
non-destination marketing fund an ending
balance of well I guess that's not
really what you're asking. So allow me
to look into that and get back to you.
It just seems like we're not spending it
and I'm just wondering concerned if you
know Yeah. And you know Vice Mayor
Dowskus asks why. I mean I think maybe
the answer is you're just getting a
deficit of applicates applications. the
the amounts that's allocated here or
identified here which should be
relatively about the same are for these
four funding programs right from that
estimate that we talked about actually
that particular allocation the 2.9 in
this particular case we spend those
dollars some events don't go through
these programs for example uh canal
convergence is comes out of an
allocation of this portion of funds
Scott's Dazzle is another one that
doesn't go through this program um so
those are funding expenditures some
aspect ects of western week go into that
and take up the majority of that
estimated amount on a total fiscal year.
We were just covering these four
programs in terms of identification of
the allocation. I think it's fair to say
we spend the majority of those you know
we're picking on this one because we're
talking about this one. Um we Scott just
said this acting treasure city treasur
just said it's going to bring in $2.6
million and we're budgeting to spend
$1.1 million. That's what I heard.
That's a lot of excess. It's just it's
kind of creating a slush fund. Well, I
think we we use that excess as I
mentioned for the events that I just
went through that don't go through these
programs. So, generally on annual basis
fiscal year, those funds are being
expens. Okay. So, then you're saying
there's a surplus that we're we're we're
applying to other other loc other
correct. Yes. And example, one that
doesn't go through the program that was
approved by city council. Okay. There
was a tent approved for the Arabian
horse show. Yes. Um it's part of their
event, but we allocated funds that did
not go through this program. came out of
that fund. Okay. So we so so so we can
kind of ratchet down, you know, um sort
of the the stride and um disbelief about
how this is voter approved because we
are taking it and we already are taking
it and repurposing it. What I don't want
to see is a basically a big pot of money
growing every year. Um our visitors are
paying that, our residents are paying
that. I want to put that to use for
them. I want to spend that dollar. I
want events to be here and happen. Um,
and so I don't want a big um, fund. I
didn't mean to use the word slush fund,
but a big fund that's growing in
perpetuity. So maybe Mr. uh, Mr. Selene,
maybe you can follow up with that. Mr.
Gigma, appreciate your responses to my
questions. Um, let me take a quick look
at my
um, just let me re-emphasize that. I
think maybe I would like maybe consider
at some point
hundreds of thousands of dollars not
going through council. Maybe we can at
least throw those on consent. Thank you,
mayor. Thank you. The city attorney had
an indication to speak. Thank you,
mayor, members of the council. One thing
I want to point out is there is an
underlying ordinance that controls um
these expenditures and presumably our
financial policies are based on this
underlining ordinance. and the 50% um
that we've been talking about tonight.
What the ordinance literally says and
it's section 447 of our tax code says it
shall be divided among tourism related
event support, tourism research, tourism
related capital projects and other
eligible uses is determined by city
ordinance and state law. Obviously the
um other eligible um uses would include
the public safety um contribution point
of privilege. Luis, can you just speak a
little louder? Oh, I sorry, mayor. My
apologies. Um,
so the 50% uh mayor and members of the
council is controlled by ordinance
section 447. And presumably our
financial policies are um based on this.
And the ordinance itself doesn't um
provide specific percentages of how the
50% should be spent. But it does say it
has to be divi divided among tourism
related event support, tourism research,
tourism related capital projects, and
other eligible uses as determined by
city ordinance and state law. Some of
those eligible um resources or or uses,
excuse me, would be what we're um using
to pay for some public safety services.
Um, so your your financial policies that
say uh 9% need to be spent on events, I
think I heard that earlier. Um, those
could be changed because the the
underlying ordinance which controls um
doesn't specify particular um
percentages. I just bring this up
because I think it's relevant um to this
conversation.
Thank you, Councilwoman uh Whitehead.
So, I just have a quick question for the
city manager based on the comments of
the vice mayor and councilman Graham.
So, there seems to be this discomfort
obviously with a uh DRB case if a
council member can bring that case up to
the council. Um I imagine that's the
same, but I don't have a confirmation.
If our um tourism board approves a uh
event, can that be reviewed by the
council? Maybe this is a question I'm
not sure for the city manager or Luis,
our city city attorney. Um mayor and
members of the council. Absolutely. Um
what I believe staff is trying to do
here is to delegate certain authority to
themselves and certain um ministerial
authority to to the mayor. There's no
reason that these individual events
couldn't go to the city council and be
approved. I'm assuming that they do it
this way um to make it more expeditious.
Right. So, we could keep keep that
efficiency but still have that check if
there's because it really has been
incredibly successful in just broadening
the types of events, the types of the
demographics and the months that we have
events. So, I'm really supportive of it.
But I do like that there's a check if
any member of the council is
uncomfortable with a decision that we
could bring it up. I am done. Thank you,
Mayor.
Thank you, Vice Mayor DBosquez.
Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um yeah, I
think I'm just if it's on as as council
member Graham mentioned, I I agree with
you. I'm supportive of these events.
What I what I really like is this um
event development for three years to get
someone up and running and going and and
help them with that. I think that's
really smart to limit the the amount of
time on there. Um, I'd like to see a
little bit more focus on specific ROIs
and maybe tell us some of your success
stories when you're doing these
presentations so that we can see we
invested $30,000. This is what we got
out of our money. I think the residents
would like to know that we're getting
good value for our dollars. Um, but also
I think we like to know what we are
funding and and whatnot. And I think
it's good to put it on the consent
agenda. we do that today with some of
these events and I don't we don't hold
them up. So, um I I would just like to
see it. I'm I'm always nervous when
we're talking about large dollars uh
amounts. I think we should have more
exposure, more eyeballs on it. Um is
always good, but there's nothing to be
afraid of for the people to see how much
we're spending on things. So,
all right. I don't see any additional
requests to speak. We do have a motion
in a second. All those in favor, please
indicate your vote.
Councilman Quasman, we're voting on the
um on the uh tourism item. I'm an I.
Thank you. I'm an I.
Thank you. Uh this is this would be the
time second public comment time for
non-aggendaized items, but I don't see
that we have any of those. So, we'll
just go ahead and move on to item number
11, which is receipt of citizens
petitions. We don't have any of those
either, do we? Okay. Uh
I think this is the last. Lastly, we
have item number 12, which uh is under
mayor and council items. And we will
turn uh to our boards, commissions, and
committees 2024 annual report
presentations.
Tonight we have the annual
presentations, discussions, and possible
direction regarding key accomplishments
and major actions taken from our
building advisory, board of appeals,
development review board, and
neighborhood advisory commission. And
who will be speaking on behalf of these
items?
Mayor, I'll be introducing the item.
Okay. Thanks.
Uh, honorable mayor and city council
members, um, starting with today's
council meeting, um, the chairs and or
vice chairs of many of our boards and
commissions will present an overview of
their annual report, including, as the
mayor mentioned, accomplishments,
challenges, and future projects to the
mayor and council. After the brief
presentation, the council can ask
questions or provide feedback. In the
past, the council reviewed and accepted
the annual board and commission report
as a consent agenda item. Uh based on
input from some council members and
board and commission members, the city
clerk's office worked with the city
manager's office on on the new process
that is being implemented tonight to
allow boards and commissions to have
more direct interaction with the
council. We are planning for up to three
to four boards and commissions uh
presentations per council meeting with
these presentations continuing into the
fall. We will not be including boards
that deal with personnel issues such as
the judicial appointments advisory board
and the public safety personnel
retirement board or bodies that are
somewhat independent of the city such as
the industrial development authority.
Additionally, the budget review
commission uh BRC will not present this
year as the annual reports represent
activity from 2024 and the BRC was
created in 2025.
After the presentations are completed,
uh the annual report for all boards and
commissions will be added as a consent
agenda item for council consideration
and possible acceptance. As this is the
first time with this new process, any
comments from the council would be
greatly appreciated for future planning
purposes. I do want to thank the mayor,
council, and board and commission
members for their feedback. I also want
to thank uh city manager Greg Kaitton
and his team for their partnership on
this new process and deputy city clerk
Rama Cordova for his efforts in working
with the boards and commission members
and staff liaison to prepare for these
meetings. Uh finally I am very
appreciative of the board and commission
members and staff liaison who worked on
these presentations and are here tonight
to present. Um for today's meeting as
the mayor mentioned we have three
presentations. Uh first up is the
building advisory board of appeals. We
have our chair uh their their chair
Julian Anderson and staff representative
Michael Clack to present to the council.
Welcome.
Good evening. Thanks for being here.
Is your Is your button pushed? There we
go. There we go. Thank you. Thank you,
mayor and council members. My name is
Michael Clack. I am the uh building
official for the city of Scottsdale and
I'm the leaison for the uh building
advisory board of appeals. And with me
today is the chair of that board, Mr. uh
Julian Anderson.
Uh if you don't m if you don't mind, I'd
like to briefly just go over what the uh
board is uh made up of and what the
responsibilities of the board are. And
on the first next slide we have uh the
board purpose and makeup. Uh the purpose
of the building advisory board of
appeals is to hear and decide appeals of
orders, decisions and determinations
made by the building official. That
would be me and um relative to the
application and interpretation of
construction codes adopted by the city
of Scottsdale. The board also makes
recommendation on the adoption and
amendments to those codes to the city
council. The building advisory board of
appeals consists of seven public members
appointed at large by the city council.
Members appointed to the building of of
building advisory board of appeals must
be qualified by experience and training
to pass on matters pertaining to
building construction.
Just speaking uh very briefly on the
next slide, key accomplishments and
major actions taken. Uh we have three uh
from this past uh report. Discussion and
amendments to the rules of the board. A
vote was taken and was approved
unanimously. There was discussion
regarding the amendment to the uh 2021
international residential code requiring
lowering access to air conditioning
filters located in ceiling. uh the
motion to approve and concept uh failed
but it is a continuing uh discussion
that goes on uh with the board. There
was also a presentation of the shade and
tree plan for the city presented by
Justin Aavdo with the design laboratory.
No action was was taken
um regarding upcoming opportunities,
challenges or outcomes outcomes. Uh we
continue to monitor legislation at the
state and federal level that may impact
city building codes. There's ongoing
review of current city of Scottsdale
specific code amendments. And uh we are
also continuing to uh to take a look at
plan review time frames, recruiting and
training experienced staff. And with
that, if you don't mind, I'd like to
turn it over to Mr. Anderson who is the
chair of the board for any comments he
may have. Thank you madame mayor,
council members. Um thank you to Michael
Clack. He gave a good report on our
activities. We're a very technical
board. Uh we don't get into a lot of
controversy and so I don't have anything
to add but happy to answer any
questions. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you both for being here
and for your service. Councilman Graham,
nothing much to add. Thank you for your
service. I started my service on
building advisory board of appeals.
It was a great term. I don't know if
they missed me or not.
Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you, Councilwoman Whitehead. I
think I like this new format. Short but
sweet, but that was a great presentation
and there were things I definitely
didn't know you were doing. So, thank
you both. Thank you. Thank you. Uh,
Councilwoman Whitead.
Oh.
I was thinking Macallen. So, would you
like to say anything, Councilwoman
McCallen? That's what Thank you so much
for your presentation and for your uh
diligence on following up on state
legislation. I know that we've been
affected. All the cities have been
affected on state legislation and um
being vigilant is really important. So,
we thank you for that.
Thank you. I think that's all we have
for you. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Mayor. Uh, next up we have the de
development review board and uh,
presenting tonight is vice chair uh,
Jeff Brand and staff representative Brad
Carr. Thank you. Terrific. Thank you.
Welcome. Thank you and good evening
honorable mayor, members of the council.
Brad Carr with the planning department.
I am the board of uh, DRB liaison. It is
my distinct uh privilege this evening to
be joined by Jeff Brandt to my right. He
is the partner with the international
firm of Nelson Partners and happens to
be the vice chair of our uh board of
devel development review board. So it is
our pleasure to be here this evening to
describe the development review board
give you some background and answer any
questions you may have. Next slide
please. So as stated on the screen here,
the purpose of the development review
board is to maintain the quality
development uh and and that high quality
of standards for Scottsdale for
architectural design and layout of
proposed development plans within the
city. That includes commercial
developments, preliminary plats for
residential subdivisions
and uh includes the site planning,
building design and relationship of the
proposed development with the
surrounding community. Development
review board is uh comprised of seven
members. Two of those members are
rotating members. One of which is a city
council member and the other is a
planning commission member. Those two
members rotate on a three-month basis.
The other five members are appointed by
the city council um for uh three-year
terms and um those are revolving terms
uh through through that three per
threeyear period. As of note, uh this
particular development review board and
commission is unique in that um it seeks
to add members of the community that are
in the development uh community, whether
that be architects like Mr. Brand,
landscape architects, engineers, uh real
estate agents, other people that are
within the development community or what
um are on the board and make composition
of the board. So with that background,
I'll go ahead and hand it over to Mr.
Bran for some of our key
accomplishments. Uh thank you Brad and
thanks for the I guess the the honor of
of sitting before the board this or
before the the council this first time
that we've done this. So uh my first
time actually meeting u mayor again good
to see you vice mayor and city council.
Um and just on a personal note when it
um as someone who's been practicing
architecture here in in Scottsdale for
25 years it's it's really an honor to be
able to be on the board and help to
shape quality development within the
city. Um, we all know that when these
buildings get built, they're here for a
long time. So, um, we're, you know, the
G Brad outlined the general purpose of
the board, but I think on a personal
level, it's to ensure that, um, the
views of the council and of the city and
the citizens that we're upholding the
quality that we all expect here in
Scottsdale and through the through the,
uh, approval of the guidelines and
ordinances that govern development here.
Um the key accomplishments I think this
is an outline of some of the major
projects that have gone through the DRB
um action and approval with U ASM banner
um again the the Oldtown Scottsdale
urban design and architectural
guidelines update. So, this is this is
something that um I'm not sure how
familiar with all of the guidelines that
everyone is here on on a council level,
but you know, there's there's different
use type guidelines, there's different
character area guidelines, and then
there's overall zoning ordinance that we
use to govern all these projects. And
this is from time to time as projects
and as as building techniques and other
things change, there's always there may
be a need to update the guidelines that
are governing what we do. So this is the
purpose of the of the update of the old
town guidelines. Um as well as the
headarters, let's see, the residential
healthcare facility. So these are major
projects questions. We can answer those.
I think Brad's got a slide on the next
one. What are upcoming projects? The
Fairmont Princess. There's there's a uh
from what we see on the agenda that
there's uh some major work going on.
park um is a project that Alex should be
recusing from because it's a project
that I'm leading um in our firm, the
Ericson senior living project. And then
I think a a point that of of discussion
that we want to make sure we're we're um
in alignment with is the multif family
residential development design
guidelines. So, if I've heard something
regularly on DRB, uh maybe that's
discussed the most. It's number one, the
color white. I'm not sure if everyone
watches the DRB hearings, but constantly
we are talking about the color white and
its presence in the city, but also um
the look, the impact, the feel um and
how multif family residential should be
done and developed within the city. So,
that's all I have for right now. I'd
love to um have answer any questions or
have any um dialogue or conversation.
I see a couple of questions. This is
Councilman Graham.
I didn't say this last time, but uh Mr.
Carr, thank you for being here and being
a good liaison. And Mr. Clack, I didn't
say this to you earlier, but uh thank
you for being a liazison to uh these
commissioner, these volunteers, really
community volunteers that we appoint and
entrust to liaison between
you, city staff, and the city council.
Um, some things I wonder DRB is
incredibly invaluable as far as, you
know, when you think about who we are as
a city and you think about what do we
look like as a city and you guys have an
enormous impact on that question. Um, I
just wonder sometimes is DRB
Let me let me back up. Um, we have a
planning commissioner on DRB that
rotates and then we have a council
member that rotates on DRB. Is that
written in the stars? Do we have is that
statutory or is that just the way it's
set up? Mr. Carr. Yes, honorable mayor,
council member Graham. It is within our
zoning ordinance, I believe, as well as
the bylaws for the board that they have
those two rotating positions. So,
council could change that if they
wanted. I just sometimes I wonder about
that because when you know somebody like
Mr. brand's expertise is on there. If
you had more of those types, um
would that would the would the city be
better served? And I'm just kind of
asking this these these questions
rhetorically. Um
we have council members going up there
for a rotation and that's nice and we
learn a lot and we vote and we you know
we're accountable to the people but um
none of us are architects on the city
council and so I just wonder about that
sometimes and the same for the planning
commissioner rotation because then you
could have two more spots of experts
that could be contributing to the
aesthetics of our community. So, it's
just something I wonder about sometimes
um because I just think that I think the
DRB board is is up there as as far as
importance for
who we are as a city. So, thank you,
Mayor.
Thank you, Vice Mayor Dascus. Thank you,
Madame Mayor.
Jeff, uh, you and I had a conversation
about the opportunity for DRB to come
before council and hear more about what
we're thinking, what we're hoping, what
we're expecting. So, I hope my
colleagues will take that opportunity to
share with you so that you can share
with with the rest of DRB because he
genuinely wants to know what we want.
Uh, which is wonderful. Thank you for
that. Um
my experience on DRB was very uh
enlightening because I think that um
what we see when we drive around
Scottsdale we sort of think happens in a
vacuum as residents. We sort of think
happens as a vacuum but it really starts
and and and is a big part of DRB. And so
your opportunity to look at a project
and say, is this right for Scottsdale
first? Is this right for this section of
Scottsdale second? And then third, is
this the very best that we can get for
this piece of for this section of
Scottsdale? I think that's what we would
ask is to really always have that laser
focus on is this the best and if it's
not be willing to say no be willing to
say it's this isn't okay and we do have
the design guidelines that say it has to
fit in the area um and so I think that
uh we had a really great um experience
with BB living where they came back and
they said, "You're right that this was
something that we've done everywhere
else. You're right. It doesn't look
right in this area. Um, and we are happy
to invest more." They happen to be
headquartered in Scottsdale, so they
were a little bit caught off guard that
they didn't do their very best for
Scottsdale. And so they were they put
pavers in and, you know, they really
spent a lot to upgrade it for us. And so
I think that's what I would ask. I think
that you do that as much as possible.
Um, and you lend your expertise and um,
really take it personally and take it to
heart. Um, and so, uh, I think the
opportunity is, uh, also a challenge to
be this guard dog and the watchdog for
Scottsdale of how do we make it as
beautiful as possible? How do we make it
as high quality as possible? I think
that can be really challenging at times
and I've seen you work and you feel the
burden of it. Um, and you feel like you
carry the burden of it a lot of times. I
I notice um and so is there a way to
um I know you get up there and and you
you you prepare for the meetings and you
think about it in advance. Um,
uh, what is the best way for us to maybe
communicate a little bit more in
advance? I know we can't break open
meeting law, but how can we kind of talk
through projects maybe a little bit more
to push just a little bit better? What
do you guys recommend? I mean, I'll I'll
respond just in general to to your first
comment about making the best um as an
architect and per as an architect who's
entire in charge of the design of an
entire studio. Like that's my role in my
firm of 50 50 people is to oversee the
design quality of the firm. I have a lot
of design opinions personally and things
that I think are great and the best that
is there are other people that disagree
with that. And so the the threshold that
we really have to tow is understanding
what's really subjective and highly
opinionated from an architectural
standpoint versus what's maybe universal
or what the city of Scottsdale views as
quality. So I think alignment this forum
of open discussion and establishing
alignment between council and DRB is
really important. What we have to rely
on and what what we use as reliance is
the guidelines. So guidelines for uh
multif family and for residential
guidelines for certain character areas.
This is what we fall back on. And so I
mean Brad may back me up on this from a
procedural standpoint. You could
probably talk a lot more about that from
a but from a how we operate on the
board. That's what we look at. It's not
my I have to really personally sort of
check myself aside and say I I shouldn't
be personally saying I don't think this
is good. I I also have to make sure I'm
in alignment with guidelines of the city
and it's not just my personal opinion
but honestly sometimes my personal
opinion comes out maybe it should. So So
I I think there's but but as far as us
understanding the role we want to make
sure that and if our guidelines aren't
in the right position then we need to
adjust the guidelines.
Yeah. Honorable mayor, vice mayor, I
think Jeff is right on saying that there
there are opt there are times when
personal opinion can get in there and I
think that um as staff we look to ensure
that the design guidelines are always
being met because that kind of distills
down to the basics of what we want to
have here in Scottsdale. the basic idea
of this is the the baseline of where
we're at. And then it adds on a little
bit more about, you know, here's some
things that really distinguish
Scottsdale from other communities. And
those guidelines are the collective
thoughts of the entire community.
They've been vetted through uh processes
to uh identify and establish those
guidelines with what the community's
goals for design here are in Scottsdale.
So, it's always a pleasure to have uh
Jeff and his colleagues on the DRB give
their personal preference, give that
extra, I guess, icing on the cake um
when it comes to discussing projects.
But as staff, we're really relying upon
those guidelines to provide the basis
for um how we review and analyze a
project and making sure that it meets
the quality standards of Scottsdale. I I
would also add that I think that that
what council member Graham was talking
about is having multiple opinions is
always a good forum for balanced design
discussion. So singular opinions I think
my opinion is great all the time 100% of
the time. So but that's not necessarily
a balanced way of conducting a design
review. So having the more voices and
the more opinions that you can have and
specifically the more opinions who have
a history of what successful and great
projects are within the city of
Scottsdale. Um and my my history a lot
of what the work that I've done has been
within the city. So I've sat in front of
a lot of city council hearings and a lot
of DRB process and and just seen what
the community values and what the type
of projects that they put on posters and
that they go patronize. So, but I think
that having as many voices as possible
to contribute to that discussion is
incredibly important.
Yeah. And I'll just add a little bit to
that. That voice is is what makes a DRB
what it is, right? It's a public board
and it gives the community the ability
to come in and voice that opinion. And
there has been a little bit of attempts
at the state level to remove that voice.
And hopefully we can work through that a
little bit. Um, but I think that's what
really distinguishes the board and gives
the ability for the public to come out
and give their opinion and uh work
through the the people that you've
appointed like Jeff and others to help
make that uh that that opinion continue
to move forward and and create a great
community for Scottsdale. Do you
perceive the design guidelines to have
room for improvement?
I think you know Jeff mentioned that. I
agree with that. I think there are some
improvements. Do you feel like the
design guidelines have room for
improvement?
Oh, I I think that they do. I think that
this this forum actually I'm not sure
how continued communication, but
understanding what council's expectation
for specifically with multif family
because it seems like it's the most
contemplated use type that we have out
there. what what your what everyone's
view of success is and what everyone's
view of quality that like I've said that
is a highly subjective thing in a lot of
communities and a lot of opinions but
we'd love to have clear uh clarity about
you know what everyone views as ideal
developments and make sure that the
guidelines and we can we can recheck the
guidelines I think there's probably some
room for improvement I think certainly
guidelines always need to be re
remologies
and how we build buildings things is
evolving over time. Um, there's new
energy codes like the the previous
commission was talking about. There's
new building codes, guidelines,
everything that we're doing.
Technologies of of materials are all
changing. Um, I'll say one thing in
particular, the there's a lot of talk
about um deep recess shaded openings on
on facades. Um, that kind of hearkens
back to a building style before quality
glazing was developed. And now we have
really efficient, high efficiency
glazing. And there are some things that
are maybe a little bit outdated, but
they go back to the archetype of what's
expected from southwestern architecture.
So, there's a lot to talk about with
those guidelines, but I think that we
haven't probably I I would welcome more
conversation to updating some of those
those those guidelines through as part
of the DRB and possibly um um in uh in
combination with maybe the planning
commission as well and get to get as
many voices in the process as possible.
And you'll be on you're on park.
Yes. Well, it's going to be beautiful.
So,
we have high expectations, Jeff. Thank
you. Thank you, Councilwoman Whitehead.
Um, thanks. Uh, great presentation. Um,
I actually want to speak u in agreement
with what Councilman Graham mentioned.
when we serve on the uh DRB,
Jeff, your voice is really needed by all
the other members. I wonder if there's a
way to whether or not council person is
on or off, but to maybe tighten the
requirements to serve on the DRB if
that's something this council wants to
do because um landscape architects,
architects, but it's pretty broad. And
um again, having served as we all have
on the DRB, I think what we really need
are members that know the um development
standards, the approved development
standards, and have experience
developing. So, I think that's something
that I would like to see tightened up.
And again, I mean, it's really good for
council to I en I think we all enjoy
when we do serve on the DRB and I'm fine
with keeping that, but maybe just
strengthening uh so that we get as
Councilman Graham said uh more Jeff's
Councilman Littlefield.
Thank you, Mayor. I just want to say
thank you, Jeff, very much for all you
do on that board. I I've watched you for
several years and you do a fantastic
job. I think the DRB board is a unique
board to Scottdale. I don't think most
cities have a board that looks at the
color, the design, the texture, the
field, how it fits in the neighborhood,
uh, like the DRB does. And I think it
really makes a difference overall over
all of Scottsdale when you have a board
that looks like that and causes changes
to be made so that the pieces of our
city fit together better. I don't know
how else to say it. Um I always feel a
little bit weird when I serve on the DR
board because I failed art in 8th grade.
My teacher said, "What are you doing
here? You're wasting your time." Yeah.
And Oh, yeah. So, my dog always followed
me to school on that day at 8:00 in the
morning and I always had to take her
home during art.
Music was a different story, but art was
not my best thing. I have learned so
much from serving on the DR board and
sometimes just coming down sitting and
watching it because I learn the things
that matter and the things that are
under consideration. and it helps me up
here. And I I feel like you serve the
city by making our city more of a
unified whole with different aspects of
it that blend. And I think that makes a
big difference between us and other
cities that don't have that kind of
input from different segments of the
cities as they get put together. So I'd
like to thank you for that very much. Um
I think uh all of the boards and
commissions that we have including the
DR board are volunteers. They spend
their time, their talents, their
expertise, their education
um and their viewpoints uh for free to
the city for our use as we will and and
I think that's really an amazing part of
our boards and commission structure and
I think it's an amazing part of the DR.
So, I want to thank you and all of the
DR members um for the time that they
spend on helping to keep our city
beautiful and unique. Thank you.
I think I'll close by asking a few
questions. You talked about the
multi-family uh guidelines, design
guidelines. How many multifamily
projects are you seeing come before you
lately? It seems like they've they've
really um decreased. They they have um
I'm not sure of the exact count. Um I
don't know that off the top of my head.
Um I can tell you that um just as
someone who does this type of work in
the industry that the that there is a a
pause right now in in a lot of those
projects due to capital markets and
construction funding. It's making it a
little bit difficult. Um, but what I was
going to say and add again on some of
the the viewpoints is is getting members
on the DRB that not only understand or
have an opinion on design but also
understand cost impacts and understand
construction typologies and understand
what you're saying and what your opinion
means to the person who's proposing to
build this and making sure that your
suggestions and how you're understanding
is that you're understanding how they're
actually going to be doing this project
so that your feedback back is real and
it and it respects it and it has it's
born out of a respect for their
investment in the building and their
investment in the city if you understand
what they're doing. So I I think adding
those opinions would be great. But as
far as the multif family number, I don't
have a specific number, but we have seen
I believe Kosanti Commons recently came
through and BB living and um
Palm Lane will be coming through. That
was just before council. And I believe
that the park project has a combination.
It has multi has both rental and and
condo in it. So, um, but yeah, I I can't
give you a number, but Oh, I I wasn't
asking for a number. I just it would
surprise me if we're seeing a lot of new
projects come through. I mean, I know
they're not coming through here, so
they're not they're not asking for
zoning increases. So, I I think we're
going to see a a real slowdown as a
result, you know, the lagging effect of
that. But uh interesting question and my
answer is I have no idea what the
multifamily uh guidelines should be
exactly except for the highest quality
possible. But what's that? What does
that look like? Right. To me it looks
like this. To to councilwoman Whitehead
it looks may look like that and to you
it probably looks entirely different. So
I have uh I have a little challenge not
your expertise in um I I would say as I
was campaigning I I will know it when I
see it. high quality, right? And how
helpful is that to anybody, right? Not
at all. Um, but I think that's why we
rely on uh professionals and the lay of
the land on the DRB is such that it is
it's a composition of people who do know
what it is before they see it and
they're involved in the process. And
that's super helpful. A couple of things
that I think are important is press, you
know, a philosophy that includes, and
you just alluded to this, you you beat
me to the punch. um pressing the
envelope for the highest quality
possible, which includes compatibility
and appearance and fit within the
community, uh aging well, right? That
it's a it's a project that's going to
look look really good still. it's going
to age well um without putting such um
imposing such restrictions and criteria
that makes it very very difficult or
maybe impossible for the applicant to do
the project. So you alluded to that and
I completely agree the balancing test of
the imposition of the um requirements on
the applicant and their ability to
actually do the project. So I think
we're really in a good place right now
at least for the time being. We have
applicants that are coming through that
really do want to do great work and I
think that's the you know the result of
the market conditions right now that top
apply. So that's great news. Uh, one
thing I did think of, um, is, you know,
people for, for example, yourself as the
vice chair that you're, um, encouraging
other members of your community, uh, you
know, design whatever the case might be,
community to consider running for the
DRB and then also supporting um, those
people through communication to us. I
think that would be very, very helpful.
And on the same token, if someone, you
know, isn't a good fit, I know that's
probably a hard position for you to be
in. Um, but that's also important to
know, even though, albeit uncomfortable,
I don't know, just, uh, thinking out
loud. And in terms of enhancing the DRB
guidelines or changing them um enhancing
them ideally, we also at least I would
rely on commission members such as
yourself to come to us with those uh
suggestions. I think that's a wonderful
use of this board's um time and and
energy. So, those are a couple of
thoughts from me and I applaud you for
your great work and the strong dialogue
here and keep up the good job.
Thank you. Do you have anything else,
Brad? I do not. Thank you. Thank you
very much.
And mayor, our our last presentation
tonight is from the Neighborhood
Advisory Commission and its chair Larry
Huitt and staff representative Taylor
Reynolds.
welcome. Thank you for being here
tonight. Yes. Thank you, mayor, members
of council. I'm Taylor Reynolds. I'm a
principal planner within our long range
planning and I'm also the liazison to uh
the neighborhood advisory commission.
I'll do a couple of the introductory
slides and then hand it over to our
chair who's Larry Hwitt. He's in our
he's in his second term uh with the
commission and also second term as our
chair. Uh next slide, please. Uh the
neighborhood advisory commission is a
commission that consists of seven
members appointed by city council that
have a three-year term. Uh the the
commission advises and makes
recommendations to city council on
policies, plans, and strategies for the
preservation, improvement, and
revitalization of Scottsdale
neighborhoods.
Second, uh and most importantly, is that
they establish criteria for determining
the neighborhood enhancement grant
program and how those funds are
allocated throughout the year. And Larry
will get to that on a couple of the uh
next slides. So with that, next slide.
All right. In 2024, the commission
focused on strengthening neighborhood
pride and supporting community-led
revitalization projects. The
neighborhood advan enhancement grant
program or NEGP is made possible through
funding generously allocated each year
by the city council with with a $30,000
budget annually to support small-scale
neighborhood improvement projects.
These grants are particularly impactful
for neighborhoods without the resources
of a homeowners association, providing
assistance for projects like perimeter
wall repainting, landscaping, and
signage that help enhance neighborhood
identity and visual character. The
commission deeply values the the
council's continued support of this
program. Neighborhoods that receive
funding are not only grateful, they are
they are empowered to address local
needs proactively. In administrating
these grants, the commission is proud to
help deliver results that benefit both
individual neighborhoods and the broader
Scottsdale community.
In 2024, these funds supported
beautifification efforts that help
preserve Scottsdale's character,
particularly in non-HOA neighborhoods
such as Bentree near 104th Street and
Sha Boulevard and Scottsdale Vista North
near 90th Street and Thunderbird Road.
These targeted investments empower
neighborhoods to proactively address
localized concerns before they escalate
into broader community challenges.
In the case of Bentry, support for the
grant program was instrumental in
resolving 16 active code enforcement
notices of violation.
In addition, the commission reviewed and
updated the grant criteria to improve
clarity and consistency.
These updates made the program easier
for applicants to navigate and help
ensure efficient
evaluation of proposals.
Finally, the commission remained active
in community outreach and engagement,
participating in neighborhood events
such as gain, promoting local
recognition through the Spirit of
Scotsdale Awards, and offering input on
city initiated text amendments related
to the recent change in state law. These
discussions help keep the commission
informed and better positioned to share
relevant information with neighborhoods
and residents throughout Scottsdale.
Next slide, please.
Looking ahead, the commission is focused
on three key areas. First, we we see an
opportunity to broaden participation in
the neighborhood enhancement grant
program. We plan to continue to work
with code enforcement, the office of
citizen services with pro with programs
like neighborhood watch to help more
neighborhoods become aware of and access
NEGP funding.
With that said, while the commission
recently updated the NEGPT criteria to
improve clarity and accessibility for
applicants, an ongoing challenge lies in
the limited scope of where grant funds
can be used. State statutes and the city
charter prohibit the granting of public
funds to individuals, associations, or
corporations.
As a result, NEGP projects must be
implemented on city-owned land or within
the city's rightway and benefit
neighborhoods with a formal without a
formal HOA structure.
These limitations require careful
consideration and continued transparency
as the commission works to ensure the
programs remains impactful and legally
compliant.
Second, we will continue to grow
visibility for the Spirit of Scotsdale
Award program, encouraging community
nominations and celebrating those who
embodied neighborhood stewardship. In
2025, the commission will continue to
continue working with the city office of
communications in increase awareness and
encourage broader public participation
in the nomination process. By
celebrating those who contribute to the
neighborhood vitality and identity, we
help foster a culture of community pride
and civic engagement throughout
Scottsdale.
And third, we focused we're focused on
enhancing the commission's role in
addressing broader neighborhood issues
by refining our work program and staying
engaged in relevant legislative and
policy discussions. We aim to ensure our
efforts remain responsive to
Scottsdale's evolving needs. Moving
forward, the commission will continue to
invite presentations that deepen our
understanding of neighborhood related
topics. The knowledge allows us to be
more effective more effectively share
information with residents and ensure
the commission's input reflects the
needs and interests of the city of
Scottsdale neighborhoods.
Next slide. Uh, thank you for the
opportunity to present today. Open to
any questions like the other commission
chairs and vice chairs. Thank you, Mr.
Huitt. We really appreciate you coming
and for that healthy report. Appreciate
it. Councilwoman Mckllen. Thank you,
Mayor. Uh thank you, Mr. Reynolds and
Mr. Hewitt. Uh thank you for um being
the leazison to the board, playing
double duty with your job plus doing
that. And Larry, for all your time on
the commission. This is one of my
favorite commissions because it really
is the heart of Scottsdale. I know your
awards are called the spirit of
Scottsdale, but going into the
neighborhoods, working with the citizens
and helping to advocate for the
residents what they might not know and
how to get funding for something as
simple as a broken window for an elderly
woman or having the connections if the
city uh you know so someone doesn't keep
getting cited that you're working with
code enforcement and you're working with
the police department and you're working
to help the citizens be a good neighbor.
They don't want to have a bad or, you
know, dilapitated home, but you figure
out ways to help them. And it really
just tugs, you know, I think, at the
heartstrings of what being neighborly is
about. Um, along with that, encouraging
these neighborhoods that aren't part of
homeowners associations that don't that
are kind of the older parts of
Scottsdale. I love that the grants you
gave this year were in the north part of
Scottsdale and that there was a need in
some areas, some outlying areas. So, I
just appreciate all that you do and if
there's anything I can ever do to be of
help. I love attending your commission.
Also, there's always something I learn,
but thank you for the work you do. Thank
you, Councilwoman Whitehead. Uh yeah,
thank you, Mayor. Uh yes, and of course,
I agree with Councilwoman McGowan. Uh,
so we've talked a lot about return on
investment tonight on different This is
a great example of return on investment.
Bentree had to work darn hard and spend
a lot of money to get into compliance in
order to get that grant. But it there's
other benefits. It brought the
neighborhood together because when you
don't have an HOA, you don't necessarily
have to communicate with all your
neighborhoods. So that was I happen to
be involved in that one and it was a
long process, but it was so beneficial
and they did. they all pulled together
and they uh did a lot of work in order
to get the grant. And then I liked how
the commission was flexible because it
was a two-year process to get the whole
both sides of the wall, both street
sides painted. So, that was just great.
And there's just a lot of good examples.
But again, this um grants like this one
require um everybody gives something and
then at the end of the day, everybody
knows more people in their neighborhood.
So, it's really good. So, thank you for
what you do. Thank you, Councilman
Graham.
Thank you, Mayor. Uh Mr. Huitt, when you
were speaking, I felt like I was back in
Boston.
I was just there last week, so Oh, were
you really? Maybe you sharpen your
pencil a little bit. I had flashbacks.
Um, Taylor, thank you for presenting.
Mr. Huitt for serving. Uh, one of my
feedback, um, I spent a lot I spent a
lot of time thinking about short-term
rentals and, um, I just constantly think
that your commission is the commission
to do it. What's it? I don't know. Um,
but we don't really have a dedicated I
think creating a commission for
short-term rentals is probably
excessive. I think that maybe this isn't
the way it goes, but I just think that
I'm sure you're maxed out. Maybe you
feel maxed out, maybe you don't. Well,
go ahead. That's often one of our topics
that we we ask city staff for
information on a lot is the STRs. And
unfortunately, as all of you know, we're
so limited based on state legislation as
to what we can do, but we're always
asking. We That's what That's That's
what um that's what some say.
Um but yet we were able to you know they
passed legislation. It could be a tool
to promote legislative ideas. It could
be there are there are other ways in
I think that there's untapped ways
creatively.
um looking at
all sorts of enforcements about, you
know, everything that goes on with a
hotel that short-term rentals just are
exempt from doing from running a hotel
in a neighborhood. You know, pool
fences. Taylor, you kind of look like
you're you want to say something. So,
yeah. Thank you. Thank you, uh Mayor
Barasi. Um, Council Member Graham, uh, I
know, uh, I believe four years ago there
was a short-term rental working group,
um, that provided, uh, information in
the city, worked with city council and
had recommendations that most of which I
believe was implemented by city council
at that time. But I think from, you
know, a land use perspective, uh,
short-term rentals is more of a land
use, um,
uh, more land use related in that it
might more closely align with the
planning commission and and working with
with their commission on any sort of
future I don't want to say
recommendations, but let's say there was
changes that the or the ordinance that
would be go before planning commission,
neighborhood advisory commission would
be, I believe, happy to review any of
those efforts that go forward and
provide input as we do on any text
amendments be that come before city
council. But again, I think that's more
of a land use uh issue and perhaps not
so much of of something that would be
pushed by the neighborhood advisory
commission. I expected you to say that.
I expected that. Um and that but that's
what makes it so fun to challenge
yourselves. um the the planning the land
use aspect basically the the the
legislature is going to pass something
maybe give us relief then they'll do
something and they'll pass something
it'll be one and done but there's just
so many ways to look at because
short-term rentals are just ravaging
neighborhoods and you know a lot of your
mission is about um
you know it's it's neighborhood focused
I mean just last May we had
hundred almost a hundred short-term
rental related uh nuisance party calls.
Is there something that you guys could
have done if you put your head together?
Put your heads together maybe to get
that number down. It's not to say today.
Um it's just something to think about.
Maybe think about it. If there's
anything you could do as far as the way
we think about this is a neighborhood
and we've got a mini hotel operating
inside of our neighborhoods.
Is there a role that you could play? So,
that's my only thought. Um, I like
pretty much everything else you do and I
appreciate your service. Thank you,
mayor. Thank you, city attorney,
mayor, and members of the council. I
have to disagree with the planner. Um,
short-term vacation rentals is a
regulatory issue. We issue regulatory
licenses and we um we govern their
behavior. It's not so much a land use.
Um, we're pretty much required to allow
them in any residential area. and we
have an extensive short-term vacation
rental ordinance. If you were to um
offer up a commission that explores the
the the idea, I I tend to agree with
Council and Graham. Um I don't think the
planning commission uh is appropriate
because none of our short-term vacation
rental ordinances are in the planning
ordinance and those also are are much
more difficult to initiate because they
they require a a text amendment. Um, and
just uh a friendly reminder that the
city manager asked me to mention we do
have an entire police squad and set of
code inspectors that are are also
working on this issue. Mayor, if I if
Thank you, Councilman Graham. Mayor, if
I just may say one uh concluding remark
to that. I didn't expect uh the city
this acting city attorney to step in,
but I appreciate that. I do think there
is a land use aspect of it. just my
opinion, but it is a behavior thing. And
these ordinances, we talk about a
police, we have a police enforcement
unit. What are they enforcing? They're
enforcing ordinance that the city
council's passing. Where do those ideas
come from? Like, how do we, you know, I
think that the people on the
neighborhood advisory commission are
pretty competent. maybe they could
brainstorm and maybe that's the place
because you guys are in um the trenches
as far as you know looking at honing
honing in on maybe some of the rough p
rough patches of the neighborhoods that
people are dealing with. Um we pass
ordinances the ideas come from
somewhere. Why not you? I mean we're
open to listen to everybody but it's
just kind of an idea I thought and if
you think it has merit maybe we can talk
about it. Thank you, Mayor. Definitely.
Vice Mayor Dasquez and then Councilwoman
Whitehead.
Thank you, Madame Mayor. Thank you for
your service. Um, I actually had a note
to ask you about short-term rentals as
well. I feel like this might be a good
place. Um, and maybe a way into it would
be to um, analyze the results of the
short-term working group. How is it
going? Are are we getting the results we
expected in certain areas? Are we
finding something else is going on? do
we need to address it in another way?
Um, bringing the police team into it and
and sort of having those conversations.
It's always good to check in, right? Did
did the ordinances do what we thought
they were doing since that working group
broke up? Maybe you guys could um could
take a look at it. I think that would be
really helpful. And I think we feel like
you guys have the pulse on these
neighborhoods um more so than any other
group. Um, the other thing that I was
going to mention, I was a little bit
surprised Councilwoman McCallen didn't,
and um, it's her idea, so maybe she
didn't for a reason,
was the, um, was some neighborhood
meetings. Have you already talked about
that with them? And
so, she mentioned an idea of having
gettogethers in neighborhood groups so
that folks could understand their city
services. They could meet the police,
they could meet the fire, they could
meet all that. And I think that would be
a great place for this for that idea.
Yeah, Vice Mayor Debbachis, uh, Mayor
and Council, we actually do attend gain
events, which are the neighborhood
events that happen once a year. Um, the
neighborhoods can request someone from
the neighborhood uh, advisory council
attending. And so, of the seven of us,
we try to split it up and cover as many
as we can on those gain events. And then
with bringing in the neighborhood watch,
uh partnering up with them for the the
grants, we can also communicate the
other other things that we do for them
to share with their neighbors. Okay,
great. Thank you. You're welcome.
Councilwoman Whitehead, I'll be quick.
Mayor, just a thought. Um based on what
my colleagues have said, uh we have the
trails kind of subcommittee. Um maybe
that's something we have SDR
subcommittee to the neighborhood. You
know, that's just an idea I want to
throw out there.
Excellent. Lots of good ideas. Thank you
so much for being here tonight and for
your presentation and answering
questions. Thank you. Thank you for the
opportunity.
That concludes our business for this
evening. And if so inclined, motion to
adjurnn. Second. All those in favor? I.
Thank you everyone.