Good afternoon. I'd like to call the March 24th uh special meeting and possible executive session to order. City clerk Ben Lane, may we please have a roll call. >> Thank you, Mayor. Mayor Lisa Browski, >> present. >> Vice Mayor Adam Quasman, Council Members
Jan Debos, >> here. Barry Graham >> here, >> Kathy Littlefield >> here, >> Marian McCallen >> present, >> and Solange Whitehead >> here, >> city manager Greg Kaitton >> here, >> interim city attorney Louis Santa >> present, city treasurer Sonia Andrews >> here, >> and the clerk is present. Thank you, mayor.
>> Thank you very much. So for the special meeting this evening, we have uh the possible executive session and that is to discuss and consult with uh city representatives to consider our position
and uh regarding negotiations for the purchase of real property and also to discuss and consult with the city's attorneys for legal advice and consider the city's position and instruct the attorneys regarding contracts that are
the subject ject of negotiations. This matter pertains to real property located in the Scottsdale Air Park area in Scottsdale. Do I have a motion to uh recess into executive session? >> So moved.
>> All right. Anyone opposed? No. It carries. We are now uh we now move into now recessed into executive session. Thank you. Thank you for your patience and we will resume the uh special meeting and that
concludes where re recess from adjourned from our executive session and next the council will spend uh time interviewing each board and commission nominee. The council will make the appointments at the conclusion of the interviews for each boarding commission. And with that,
I'll turn it over to Vice Mayor Adam Quasman. Thank you, Madame Mayor. The Scottsdale City Council is responsible for establishing city policies and enacting laws in support of those policies. The council relies on volunteer citizen-based boards and
commissions to research issues and make recommendations in support of the council's missions and goals. The information and recommendations provided for by council appointed advisory boards is a valuable tool in helping council members in their deliberations. And this afternoon, the city council will be
appointing Scottsdale residents interested in serving on various boards and commissions. I want to thank the individuals for their willingness to serve their time in service to this community. Following the set of interviews, we'll vote on an appropriate on an appointment for that board or commission.
Vice Mayor, can you modulate your voice a little more? You know, I'm trying to make it fun for the kids at home watching. It's a family show. As I call your name, please approach the podium and briefly cover the following. For the record,
please state your name and address and how long you've lived in Scottsdale. Please tell us how your education, employment or volunteer experience relates to this board or commission and what is the top issue in your opinion facing this board or commission. Please
limit your comments to two minutes or less. We have a timer by the screen to help you manage your time. Following each nominees response, I'll ask the council members if they have any follow-up questions for you. And let's begin. the board of adjustment.
There's only one vacancy and one nominee. I have a feeling you got a good shot at this. Okay. I'd like to recognize Stephanie Rimmer for two minutes. >> Thank you. My name is Stephanie Rimmer. I live at 3622 North Kina Lane right
here in Oldtown. I have been a resident of Scottsdale on and off for 30 years because at times I have lived on the wrong side of Scottsdale Road. Um but 30 years ago on a hot August day I came to Arizona and went for a jog, fell in love
with McCormack Ranch and became a resident of Scottsdale. Got a job, got an apartment. I was 22 and I have loved it here ever since. I'm a mother of six. Um, I have two kids that go to Our Lady of Perpetual Help right down the street and then the older four, three graduated
from Chapperel and I homeschooled one, which is a horrible thing to do. Um, following COVID 19, but she's now attending ASU, so I didn't fail. Um, I am a small business owner and represent about 70 American manufacturers. We
export American lighting fixtures to Mexico under the USMCA. So, I work with lighting specifiers and architects um on that job. And aside from that, because trade is down and I also have a lot of
people that do most of my work, um I have a lot of free time. So, I work as the coordinator of special projects for Bishop Archer Bnavic of the Byzantine Catholic AP Parky of Phoenix. And then I serve on the Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Board where I
chair the align investment steering committee. We oversee um the um metrics and process by which we determine if funds for the city of Phoenix workforce are spent in areas that allow um that
result in measurable skills gain and um employment retention. Aside from all of that though, I am fully and um completely excited the opportunity to win over your votes today and hopefully serve on the board of adjustments. Um I
think that the top issue facing the board is always the same, just being sure that we are being fair-minded and have the just perspective to determine when our laws do not benefit the public.
>> Thank you. Did you need another 10 seconds or anything like that? >> That was it. >> Okay. Members, >> Mr. Graham. >> Mr. Remer, good luck on this vote. Um >> um off topic, I assume you're a parishioner OPH. >> No, I attend the um Byzantine Catholic
Church, which is why I work for a Byzantine Catholic bishop. So, I attend the um Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Cathedral of Phoenix, which is at 16th Street north of North. >> Okay. I was hoping to get one of the priests over at OolPH to do the
invocation for city council, and I thought you might have a connection. >> Oh, I do. Okay. I could get you a priest or a bishop from anywhere, so you just let me know. >> Are are you saying are you suggesting you're extremely wellconed? I'm saying that with within the Catholic community, I can help you out even if
you just need somebody to come and listen to. >> We have five amazing exceptional Catholic parishes in Scottsdale. Well, if you count if you count Ascension, but if I'd like to get one of those one of them to invocate our city council meeting using your Rolodex. Thank you. >> I'm happy to help.
>> Does that give me your vote? >> We >> We will not be campaigning from the podium. Mr. Graham. Mr. Graham. Mr. Graham. >> No horse trading. No, no. >> It was just a joke. >> I know. I know. We're okay. All right. I don't think to invocate is is that right or is this to invoke?
>> That's the present tense verb. >> Okay. With that, um, members, any other questions? Okay. I move I move to appoint Stephanie Rimmer by acclamation. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
All right, we're off to a great start here. Oh, Stephanie Rimmer has been appointed, by the way. >> Yes. Perfect. All right. The Human Relations Commission, there's one opening. The Human Relations Commission provides advisory recommendations to the staff and city council on human services
priorities and programs and funding allocations for Scottsdale CARES, community development, block grants, home, human uh services, uh, emergency, and general funds. Katie McGinty has with has withdrawn from consideration. There's one vacancy and two nominees.
The nominees are Paul Epstein, who's unable to participate in today's interviews, but is still interested in being appointed to the commission. Also, Kimberly ShraMM. Miss ShraMM, are you here? Wonderful. Hello. You are recognized for two
minutes when you get to the podium. >> Hello everyone. My name is Kimberly ShraMM and I live at 29523 North 146th Street in Scottsdale. I don't know what that is. Um, and I've been here in Scottsdale since June of
2025. We actually moved back from like we lived in um, Gilbert for from 2005 until 2019 and then did a stent in Connecticut. And my experience for this board is I actually did some exchange programs when
I in like 2016 through 2019 through greenheart and I hosted about three exchange students some short-term some long-term throughout the school years. So I was very involved in the school systems and getting you know like a lot of other groups from other countries
involved in the community and the schools and the sports and all that. Um, I'm also a part of Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center. I volunteer there take doing animal care and whatever else they need to do. Um, so that's a big deal. I don't know if you guys have ever
been there. It's magical. Um, I'm also a part of Raining Grace Ranch and we do a lot of horse rescue there and we have it's like also a chapel that I attend. Um, it's it's just amazing. They actually help children with any kind of
trauma disabilities or whatever do the therapy for the horses. Um, and I've also done fostering of dogs, rescues, and all that other stuff. So, I've done a lot of volunteers for people and animals. Um, why I'd be a good fit is
I'm easygoing, positive. I communicate well with others. Um, and I think I want to help add purpose to this community and energy to the group because it kind of sounds like that's what they need. And what I'd like to do with the um to
create a partnership, which is something that they were looking to do, was partner with Greenhard and because we can get people from all over the world into people's homes in Scottsdale. And I think that would really benefit kind of
a like a a good purpose for that type of group. >> Okay, that's good. >> Anything else to just to finish up? >> Okay, perfect. Thank you, Mr. >> Uh members, do you have any questions? >> I I have a question. I'm not familiar
with Greenheart, so can you tell us just a 30 second overview of Green? >> Oh, sure. What they do is they do um like F1 and J1 visas for students that are interested in either doing like a two-week program in between like after high school or it could be in any age
actually. And the second thing they do is people that are like in between. So you can do like a three-month stand. I've had a three-month and then we also do high school students. I think it's from the age of 15 and up. It's been a while. I have to get updated with them. And I figured I didn't want to do
anything without the permission from the group before I started investigating a little further. But yeah, I hosted two full-time students, one at Campo, one at Higgley High School. And so, yeah, they invite people in, they go through a process, and then you get to select who
you want in your home. And I have a really good way of finding good fits with families and stuff like that. But again, that it would just be nice to partner to get different groups of people from all over the world and I think that's what they're really looking to do. >> Thank you so much.
>> Council member Jib Bosquez, >> you asked if any of us were familiar with Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center. >> My son did his eagle project there. He built two wolf houses. >> Oh my gosh, the wolves are like >> they're amazing. if you've ever heard that. I mean, just every time every time
I'm there and they all start howling, it's just amazing. >> Incredible. Well, thank you for volunteering there and for bringing everyone's attention to the conservation. >> Oh, yes. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? >> Anybody else? All right, with that, thank you very much. I appreciate it.
With that, we will take a vote and I'll start with the mayor. >> Thank you. Thank you, Kimberly, for being here. And I'll cast my vote for Kimberly Strong. Council member Littlefield, >> Kimberly Shan, >> Miss Sham, >> also Kimberly Sham,
>> Kimberly, >> and Kimberly ShraMM. >> Thank you very much, Kim. Kimberly ShraMM has been appointed. The Human Services Advisory Commission. Another nailbiter of a campaign here. The human services advisory commission provides advisory recommendations to
staff and uh and the city council on human services provide uh priorities and programs and funding allocations for Scottsdale cares community development block grants home human services emergency and general funds. Hugh Cedon
and Cindy, excuse me if I mispronounced your name. Is it Chauffe? Okay. Have withdrawn their consideration. This is one vacancy and two nominees. The nominees are James Co, who will be participating virtually and Carly
Shener. >> No, no, no. I want I want to know the name. >> Sheaterator. >> Shexinator. >> Are you sure we got that right? >> All right, we got it right. Shexinator. I will now entertain a vote for the human service. Oh, no. We're not entertaining anything. We're going to
call up. Do we Are we going virtual first? We're going virtual first. Let's go to the videotape with James Co. >> Hello everybody. Can you hear me? Okay. >> Yes. >> Maybe he can't hear us. >> Mr. Co, whenever you're ready, you have
you're recognized for two minutes. >> I am uh I'm ready. at your at >> Can you hear me? >> Yep. When you're ready. >> Okay. Go ahead. Hi. >> Okay. Good. Uh my name is Jim Co. Uh I am a resident of McDow Mountain Ranch in
Scottsdale. Uh 16674 North 111 Street. I've been here since 2017. Uh and uh I worked full-time until 2015. I was an executive for Starbucks coffee
in Seattle, Washington. I was the head of uh I was a vice president of international development for Starbucks. And when I retired, I served on the ARP Washington as a state president for full
six years uh of the term. And then also I served on the executive council. I I did a lot of work on uh community block grants. I did a lot of advocacy for senior issues and prescription drug um
senior scams and things like that. So I I have worked extensively with ARP and uh I also served as a u tax aid at Graner Reef and also at uh Vinda Senior Center for the last seven years uh to
help seniors do their taxes. Um I think I have uh a lot of interest in a lot of the community issues and my background ARP uh does gave gave me that experience. Uh I think the top issue for this committee is uh like any other uh
public uh functions. It's basically how to fight for the budget. Obviously there will be limitation how much each program gets and then in importantly how to prioritize how to spend the money. That's all I have. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Co. Uh, members, do you have any questions? If he's still Oh, here he is. Members have any questions? Seeing none. Thank you very much, Mr. Co. >> Thank you. >> All right. Carly Shexator,
>> you're recognized for two minutes. >> My name is Carly Shexer. I've been a resident for about a decade now. um born and raised in Arizona, so I was just a little over in Phoenix before. My address is 8707 East Rowan Oak Avenue.
Um a little bit of my background, I used to work at McCassen where I started in training, move my way up into the audit field where we would basically manage our runs programs to make sure that they were functioning as expected. Um I also did external audits, took a break, got
my degree, ended up working a little bit in the um um selfinsured um insurance industry and then I moved back into the REM programs with UBC. So I have extensive um program management
and know a lot about audits. I also have a little bit of experience with um statistical relevance in training. That was a that was a big thing where yes, okay, you have some loud complaints, right? But is it statistically relevant
to actually address? So I have a little bit of background in that which I think could help serve the community here. As I understand it, we have a set budget. We need to basically see how can we help our residents and that brings me to the
top issue which I think everyone kind of feels. Everything's more expensive. Gas, groceries. However we can help our residents stay in their homes, I think would be a great thing to focus on. So, I'm not sure. I tried to look into the data. AI didn't give me much. I'm sure
you guys have more insight into that. >> But from what I can see just uh you know what I'm dealing with, what everyone in my neighborhood is dealing with. Everyone's selling their homes. They're all doing Airbnbs. I'm sure we want Scottdale residents to stay here as much
as possible. Thank you, members. Any questions? Thank you very much. I appreciate it. All right, members. I will now entertain a vote for the Human Services Advisory Commission. Each council member can cast a vote for only one nominee. And I will
start with council member Littlefield. >> Thank you. I will uh vote for Cari uh Shiknator. Uh, I'll vote for Miss Shexader. >> Carly Shexator,
>> James Co. >> Carly Shexator, >> James Co. >> And I'll cast my vote for Carly. And And thank you, Miss Shexinator. You have been appointed.
The Industrial Development Authority's main function is to issue taxexempt bonds for certain types of private developments for the purpose of attracting new economic activity to the community. There are special qualifications. There are no formal requirements, but given the nature of the work that the
IDA conducts, it's suggested that members be comfortable working with detailed financial proforma, feasibility studies, and financial projections. Michelle Gardner has withdrawn from consideration. There are two vacancies, three nominees, and the nominees are
Evelyn Reset, Dean Sims, Elias, and Carter Stout. Evelyn's term is expiring and is eligible for reappoint. With that, I will call Miss Ret up and
you are recognized for two minutes. >> Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. My name is Evie Ret. I live at 10358 East Tiarra Bueno Lane in McDow Mountain Ranch. I've been a resident of Scottsdale for over 10 years now.
I currently am employed at Grand Canyon University. I teach public administration and government and prior to my um teaching position uh I was actually a city manager and served as a city manager in local government for
seven years. Um I have served with IDAS um in the past as a city manager but now as also um a former board member. Um I think my experience as a public administrator uh is helpful um to this very technical position. Um and I have
had the opportunity to review all of the financial statements for formas in the past. Uh the largest issue that we have um that's upcoming for us in the future as an IDA is to um is competition. We have other IDAs in Arizona say such as
the Arizona IDA and Maricopa IDA uh that are competing for these conduit financing. And what happens with conduit finances is that when bonds um go through there is revenue and that revenue comes into the industrial development authority and then we can
use that um in ways that are appropriate. And in the past we've funded grants um during COVID 19. We helped fund uh businesses that were shutting down or had um difficulty staying open and paying their employees. So, we had the ability to do that. Um
we've funded the smart transportation um or the smart um cities initiative um with Scottsdale in the past. And so, we're able to do that um through those conduit finances. And so, if we can't get some of these deals because of competition, that's our biggest threat. So right now um for the past um multiple
years uh we've really worked on um professionalizing the organization and being postured and ready um to move forward. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Rette. Members, any questions? >> Um Council Member Grant. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. Miss Rette, you
you me you said that when you get the bond proceeds, you call that revenue. >> Yeah, there's bond. Yeah, revenue. Um that can be from >> Do you mean that as a colloquialism? You don't mean actual like literal like technically revenue, do you? >> Like as in tax revenue?
>> No, as in like sales revenue. >> No. So when there's like a a deal that's done, there is actually fees collected. >> Bond proceeds. >> Sure. >> Okay. You're you're just saying that as a colloquialism. Okay. Very good. And then where did you what city did you manage or town?
>> Um >> and if you don't if you're not comfortable saying that's fine. >> No, I'm happy to. Um I was in Pinetop Lakeside um prior to teaching and then before that I was in Wisconsin, Iowa and South Dakota. >> Did you like corraling council members and local small town politicians?
>> You know, it's such a privilege to serve others. Um so I actually did really >> you you you've seen this question before. >> My job. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I knew council members from Pinetop Lakeside. I Honey, I'm so sorry.
It's amazing. >> Thank you >> very much. All right. Next, Dean Sims Elias, you are you are uh uh recognized for two minutes. Thank you. >> Thank you, mayor and city council. Uh my
name is Dean Sims Elias. I've lived in Scottsdale since 2023 at 14541 North 91st Street in North Scottsdale off the 101 and Rainree. I'm originally born and raised in Long Island, New York, and worked in New York City for several years before marrying a Scottsdale
native and third generation UFA Wildcat and deciding to move to Scottsdale for the ideal lifestyle and closer proximity to family. I have an undergraduate degree in strategic communications and a master's degree in sustainability management where I focus on urban planning. Before moving to Arizona, I worked in real estate management as a
project manager at JLL, where I supported a 3 million square foot Google campus that hosted 15,000 employees. Since moving to Arizona, I've been the program manager at the Arizona Office of Plug-and-Play, which is a Silicon Valley based venture capital firm that invests in technology startups and advises
Fortune 500 corporations on their innovation initiatives. Our Arizona office was established in 2023 with the Arizona Commerce Authority as our founding partner. And we also work with local corporations Honeywell Aerospace, Intel, Shamrock Foods, Epcor, and several others. working uh with the
ACA's president Sandra Watson and their venture development team. We work as an extension of their economic development mandate to support uh the growth of Arizona ventures while also attracting wellfunded growth stage startups to Arizona by connecting them to local resources. I'm also a committee lead on
the Arizona Technology Council's Aerospace and Defense Committee and Energy Committee. And I've also helped to co-found the Arizona Propt Tech Collective, which is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting real estate technology entrepreneurs in the valley by connecting them to potential customers, investors, and each other.
I'm compelled to serve on the city of Scottsdale's industrial development authority uh to help structure their community engagement initiatives, strategic partnerships, and administrative operations. I'd like to help I'd like to help improve the processes for sourcing, evaluating, and completing these financing arrangements
for projects that are beneficial to the community and contribute to the city's economic prosperity. I believe CEDA can be become a useful tool that the city has to facilitate intentional development. And I believe my skill set complements the existing board and makes me a strong candidate that can help open
a new chapter for the authority. Thanks again for the opportunity. >> Thank you. And and that was the right move to move to move here from New York. That was the just want to be the first to say that. Uh members, do you have any questions? No questions. Thank you very much.
Appreciate it. Carter Stout. Carter Stout. Okay. Thank you very much. With that, I will entertain a vote for the Industrial Development Authority. Each council member can vote for two nominees. And with that, I will start with council member.
>> Thank you, Vice Mayor. I will cast my votes for um Miss Ret and Mr. Sims Elias. >> Evie Ret and Dean Sims Elias. >> Oh, Evie Reset and uh Mr. Elias.
>> Okay. and I'll reappoint Eevee Reset and uh Dean Oops Sims Elias. >> Same two. Thank you. >> No additional >> and we will make this unanimous. Congratulations to Evelyn Ret and Dean
Sims Elias on your appointments. Nice. The library board advises city council on general policy relating to program services and future development of the Scottsdale public libraries. The board oversees the library special revenue fund which is made up of donations and
funds generated through the sale of used books and magazines. There is one vacancy and three nominees. The nominees are Matthew Farber, Enid Seiden, whose term is expiring and is eligible for reappointment, and Patricia Plet uh Pellet, who's who will
be participating virtually. We will start with the virtual with with virtual. All right, Miss uh Miss Pallet, when when you are up and running, we will confirm that and give you your two minutes.
Hi, I'm here. Can you hear me? Councilman Clausman. >> All right, I think we got you. Can >> you hear me? >> Go ahead. >> Hi. Hopefully you can hear me. Hi, my name is Patricia Pallet. I live at 12610
East Laurel Lane. I've been there a little over five years. I have an MBA in finance a little over 15 uh years uh between investments um
financial planning and analysis which helps to qualify me for this library board. Um, I'm also a mother of five kids who love the library and we often attend go to both the
civics center library and also the Mustang library. Um coming from my home myself with limited resources as a child, um I grew up um going to the library often to
access books and then throughout my academic years going to the library um for research. So I very much appreciate um this wonderful system set up by Benjamin Franklin. And now as a mother of five, I started taking my kids to the
when they were toddlers to the different um toddler reading events. And now that they're older, they love to go and just check out books for pleasure. Um anything else? I've
read bylaws of the library committee, so I'm ready to start. Um biggest uh biggest issue facing the libraries I would say would be funding. Um so I want to definitely make sure that all these
wonderful events these libraries keep happening. Um I love to see that we have this C uh 3D printing capability. I can't wait to tell my kids about that at the libraries um the writing workshops and also those toddler um programs. So,
I want to keep make sure those events stay up. Make sure everybody has a library card. And that's it. >> Thank you. Members, do you have any questions? Seeing none, thank you very much.
Next up, we will have Matthew Farber. You are recognized for two minutes. Good afternoon. My name is Matthew E. Farber, MD. I live at 27597 North 67th Way.
I moved here in the summer of 2019. Ever since I received the library card at age eight, I could explore the depths with Jacques Kustoau
and read about the heights with Alan Shepard. I discovered DNA. It opened my world. you are doing great and inspiring. I
remember the first time that I read from Jacques Kustau and read and reading reading about his journals also in a public library in Tucson, Arizona. If you have anything else to add, we would love to hear it. If not, we will we will move on to questions at your leisure.
would well um you know I I've traveled around and uh I at one time I lived in Fort Wayne Indiana and um they house the second
largest genealogy collection in the United States. So, the library provides many services and um you know I I'd have to say that I'm well aware of
that. Wonderful. Thank you. Members, do you have any questions for Mr. Farber? No. Thank you very much, sir. Appreciate it. >> Okay. Thank you. Enid Siden, you are recognized when you have when
you are up there. No rush. And you are recognized for two minutes. Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak. My name is Enid Siden. I live at 13436
East Desert Trail for 30, excuse me, 30 years. I am a retired reading specialist and classroom teacher for SUSD. I have served on two other commissions and was vice chair and amchair at
present of the library board. I serve on the Maricopa County Foster Care Review Board and just joined the board of Jewish Free Loan. I have board experience and a love of reading
background. The Scottsdale Public Library is a significant and valued partner supporting education, lifelong learning, and public library services for our community. Libraries provide books, research
materials, and digital resources that help students and learners improve their knowledge. As library board members, we support growth and continuous improvement of the system. We participate and attend library events
and educational programs and do whatever we can to support leadership and staff. Technology is constantly evolving and keeping our libraries updated is expensive and challenging.
in order to provide the latest resources for our community such as 3D printers and hotspot wifi devices while maintaining budgetary control. I would love your support to be able to return
for another term on the library board. Thank you. >> Thank you. Members have any questions? Okay, with that I will now entertain votes for the library board. Each council member can vote for one nominee and I will begin with council member
Dubosquez. >> Patricia Pellet, >> council member McCallen, >> Enid Sinid. Um, yeah, all the candidates were really good and I just want to get our money's worth and reappoint Enid Sid and you've
done a great job. Thank you. >> I concur with your opinion. All of them were very uh very relevant to the board. Um I am going to cast my vote for Patricia Pellet though.
>> Enid Siden, Miss Plet. Miss Pellet and I also will cast my vote for Patricia Pellet. Congratulations, Miss Pellet. You've been appointed to the board. Thank you very much.
The Mcdow Sonorin Preserve Commission. There's one opening. The Mcdow Snoran Preserve Commission provides citizen oversight for acquisition, preservation, management, and stewardship of the Mcdow mountain and related Sonorin desert for the benefit of this and future
generations. There's one vacancy and two nominees. The nominees are John Veich who will be participating virtually and Cynthia Wenstrom. I will now entertain Oh, excuse me. I will start with with uh John Veich who
is coming at us live via satellite. There we go. Can you hear me >> buddy? Thank you for you are you are recognized for two minutes sir. >> All right. I appreciate the time and uh I am excited to be here. My name is John
Beckage. I live at 12031 East Aladina Drive in Scottsdale. Uh been there since 2013. Uh but I spent 10 years prior to that uh as a student and living in Arizona. I went to ASU back in the day uh and have a longtime love for the
state and the city of Scottsdale. Um I am a uh management consultant. I've worked in financial services for 30 years. I have a lot of experience um helping firms be successful in what they're trying to do. I also serve as an outsourced chief compliance officer as
part of my job. So I'm very aware of rules and regulations and how to uh operate under those as part of a uh part of a job that I do. Uh I served as a board member in my community HOA for 5 years and I have experience working
obviously with uh various government entities. Uh I'm also a very avid uh hiker so I definitely take advantage of the preserve. Uh we back up, our little development backs up into the preserve right by the Lost Dog trail head. Uh so
we spend a lot of time hiking uh spent a lot of time on the various trails and just really love u love the whole preserve and the whole concept and the mission for uh for what they are trying to accomplish. Um I would say that you know what I bring to the table is a a
good financial acumen and understanding of how to get things done not only in business but in government. So I I would be embracing the challenge and the opportunity to work with all of you. Um, obviously the biggest challenge that I would see is taking advantage and uh
leveraging the budget dollars and using those budget dollars to their maximum benefit for not only the benefit of the preserve uh but for the benefit of the citizens who get to use it uh keeping it safe, keeping it viable, uh and keeping it usable. So, I'm very excited about
the opportunity. I apologize I'm not there, but I was on business this week. Uh, but I appreciate the chance to uh speak to you and uh hear what you have to say. Thank you. >> Thank you. Members, do you have any questions? >> Thank you, Mr. Beckage. Appreciate it.
Cynthia Wstrom, come on down. You are recognized by two minute for two minutes. >> Thank you so much. Appreciate that. Good afternoon, Mayor Barrowski and council members. I am Cynthia Wstrom, a Scottsdale resident for 20 years and in
the valley for almost 50 years. My address is on file with our city clerk. Um, with two previous terms of experience on this commission and a history of supporting my city as a volunteer, I have the opportunity to interact with our previous councils, city staff, Arizona Game and Fish and
McDall Snoring Conservancy in this role. Strongly supporting the work accomplished with the assistance of Arizona's Game and Fish Professionals and our own Scottsdale Preserve Rangers. I support the work these experts bring to ensure our wildlife is uh taken care
of, our native plants, our hikers, our mountain bikers are safe, our bow hunters, and our visitors are safe to the best of these professionals ability. I served as the chair of the protect and preserve Scottsdale task force which led
to Proposition 490 and worked to successfully defeat the desert discovery center and with that was with Proposition 420 ensuring that the preserve ordinance is followed and respected. I am a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and I work for Grand Canyon
Conservancy. The top issue facing this commission is ensuring the citizenmandated Proposition 490 funding is used responsibly while maintaining and supporting this preserved natural sonor and desert land, its indigenous
plant plants and wildlife. I would be honored to serve on this commission and to work respectfully with this council, city staff, and fellow commissioners. I thank you for this opportunity to speak to you today. >> Thank you. Thank you members. Any questions
other than than the fact that I would like to commend you for mentioning the importance of hunting in that preserve. While it is a limited use, people don't know that there is hunting in that preserve, but there are plenty of responsible hunters who are able to go
in handinand with hikers and nature uh other nature enthusiasts and conservationists to create a sustainable environment. So, I'm thank you for that. >> Of course. Thank you. Okay, >> with that I will entertain a vote for McDonald Sonor and McDow Sonor and Preserve Commission. Each council member
can vote for one nominee. We will begin with Council Member McAllen >> Cynthia Wstrom. Cynthia Wenstrom, >> John Beck, Cynthia Widstrom, >> Miss Wstrom,
>> Cynthia Wangstrom, >> and I will cast my vote for Cynthia Wstrom. Congratulations, Cynthia. You have been appointed. >> Thank you so much. >> All right, guys. Are we ready for the neighborhood advisory commission? Let's do it. The neighborhood advisory commission advises and makes
recommendations to the city council on policies, plans, strategies, and programs for the preservation, improvement, and revitalization of Scottsdale's housing and neighborhoods. Terry Nickerson is withdrawn from consideration. There are there is only one vacancy yet three nominees. The
nominees are Lawrence Bear. Lawrence beer. Am I correct? >> Beer. >> Beer. >> Like your drink. >> Lawrence. Lawrence beer. Jane Brena and Kelly Perez who's unable to participate in today's interviews but is
still interested in being appointed to the commission. Mr. Mr. Beer, I'm going to pour you out over here and you are recognized for two minutes. >> You ought to go through life with the last name Beer, right? First in the
alphabet and first in the jokes. Um, well, you know the name already. Lawrence Beer, right? I lived at 9280 East Karen. I've been a resident of Scottsdale for six years and before that right on the border go to a place called
Paradise Valley, Arizona and watched this place grow for the last 32 years. Um, in regard to this commission, what's interesting to me is that there are
roughly 600 individual neighborhoods in the city of Scottsdale. You have 10 different zip codes. You're bordered by seven different, if we will, political communities, including an Indian
reservation. Technically, that makes this city the most diverse, unique one almost in the United States, right? And because of that, my background, I think, may be apppropo to dealing with all
those diverse considerations. Um, I was a professor at Arizona State University for 16 years, uh, teaching international business and managing across cultures. I've written four textbooks now five. Sorry, got to
correct myself. Um, dealing with managing across diverse cultures. Okay. What's so unique about this city is that over the years it has to deal with an emerging differences, needs, wants,
desires, and it's happening all the time. It's revolving. It's occurring. It's continuing. I think we need someone on the commission to advise the seven people in front of us as to the needs of the neighborhoods, but from blending
them. All right. They all have different age groups. All right. Different cultures, different backgrounds. We do entertaining, tourist, we have commercial interests. We're really so diverse. It's amazing. The ability to
blend those I think I can help do. Time up. >> Thank you, Professor Beer. >> Okay, >> there you go. >> No, I'm also an attorney and an accountant, so >> No, no, no. You stop. Stop when you're ahead. God,
>> really started. You You went on to attorney afterwards. >> All right. Any members, you have any questions? >> All right. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> All right. Uh Jane Brena, you're recognized for two minutes. Unless you're an attorney, then you only
get one. >> Okay. My name is Jane Brena. I live at 8226 East Monteito Avenue in Scottsdale. I've been in Arizona since 1978. So, a long time. I've lived in Scottsdale. I landed in Scottsdale
first. Lived there for many years. I bought my first house in South Phoenix. Lived there for a while right by South Mountain. Loved it. I also then moved to Higgley. bought my next house in Higgley, uh, which is out there. It's a
long way, but I finally ended up coming back here to Scottdale, and I now live in Oldtown Scottsdale in Scottsdale Estates 9, which is a historic neighborhood. The house is as old as I am.
So, my experience, my business experiences as a business analyst in a corporate environment, u many hats, many different hats, and I'm not sure how much that's going to apply to neighborhood services. So, hopefully my volunteer work will be
appropriate. Um, I worked with the Gilbert Town Council. They had a established a Gilbert mediation program and I was a mediator with that program. I also was a member of my HOA board for
several years. And as part of uh the Gilbert Town Council, they also had classes. They started classes similar to what Scottsdale does for people in HOAs. As a result, I ended up becoming a manager. So, I managed several
homeowners associations as a side job. Uh let's see. I think the top issue is the aging nonhoa neighborhoods uh which I live in. Um
leadership in the town as it's in the city council but you also need volunteers. You know people tend to be apathetic. People tend to want to just complain. I would rather volunteer. I have always volunteered. I think it's
better to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. And I think that's it. >> Thank you. Members, do you have any questions? And I want to apologize for choking on that bottle of water while you were speaking. I promise you I was listening while coughing up a lung
behind. >> It's okay. >> Um, >> all right. With that, I will now entertain a vote for the neighborhood advisory commission. Each council member can vote for one nominee. And I will start with council member Whitehead. >> Um, do we have Mr. Kelly?
>> Miss Kelly Perez is unable to participate in today's interviews, but is still interested in being appointed to the commission. >> Okay. Again, two great candidates. I'm going to go ahead. I I think we've seen Miss Brena before, so I'll go ahead and
cast my vote for her. >> Mayor >> Lawrence Beer. >> Lawrence Brier. Mr. Beer, >> Lawrence Beer, >> Lawrence Beer, >> Lawrence Beer.
>> A six-pack of votes for Lawrence Beer. Congratulations, Mr. Beer. You have been appointed. >> I got five kids. I got all the dad jokes in the world. >> Where Where do you draw this humor? Vice Mayor Quasman. >> It's a dad joke. >> You know, I have an entire keg of that
kind of humor. Just just in the back. >> All right. Parks and Wreck. The Parks and Recreation Commission advises the city council on the acquisition of lands and facilities for use as parks or recreation centers and on the operation, use, care, and
maintenance of these parks and recreation areas. There's one vacancy and one nominee. Let's make it quick and easy. Eric. Um. Oh, Michop. >> Exactly. >> Nailed it. >> Yes.
>> Excellent. If you do a Ron Swanson impression or grow the mustache. >> You got this locked. >> I might just uh Madame Mayor Broski, Vice Mayor Quasman, council members, thank you for the invitation to interview here. Um my name is Eric
Mashop. My uh address is on file with the city clerk. I've been a resident of Scottsdale for 22 years and um the parks and recck department uh division facilities uh events programs uh
participation is a big part of our family's uh lifestyle and fulfillment and that's why it's important that I get to uh have an opportunity to be on the commission again. I have uh volunteerism has sort of spurred my uh desire to be
part of greater community involvement as part of the commission. Also have a long career with many projects, capital and operational funded um based uh budgets and implementations that help quite a bit with the parks and recck commission. And finally, I think that the uh most
important uh issue facing the commission is the responsible resource allocation across uh our capital and operational budgets and specifically around the parks and preserve sales tax, the completion of perhaps a few more
remaining bond projects and the continued measured implementation of our systemwide plans, both strategic and visionary. Thank you again for your consideration. >> Thank you, Mr. Mashup. Any questions from the members? With that, I uh move
to uh appoint Eric Mashup by acclamation. >> All right. Thank you. You have been appointed. >> Tourism development. There's one in uh there is one industry rep opening. The Tourism Development Commission advises the city council on matters concerning
the expenditure of revenues from the transaction privilege tax, TPT, more commonly referred to as the bed tax designated for tourism development. As specified in the Scottsdale City Code, the Tourism Development Commission shall consist of representatives of the tourism industry in Scottsdale,
including a minimum of four Scottsdale hotel years, one member of the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, and a balance from elements of the tourism industry. There's one vacancy and two nominees. The nominees are Kathy McKver and Douglas Presley. Up
first, Kathy, you are recognized for two minutes. >> Good afternoon, Mayor Barowski and council members. Thank you for having me. My name is Kathy McKver. I live at 8620 East San Alfredo Drive, 85258. And
I've been a resident for 24 years. I have a degree in tourism from the hotel school at Michigan State University and a master's in international marketing from the Thunderbird School here in Arizona. I bring over 25 years of experience in the travel industry, some
in lodging. I have been a DOSM here in Scottsdale, so I'm very familiar with the challenges in this marketplace. Today, I'm applying as a tourism representative. I bring 11 years of experience with Aramark parks and destinations where I managed the
marketing for uh non-lodging products that included private marinas, boat rentals, powers sport vehicle rentals, campgrounds, cultural tours, retail, food and beverage, whitewater rafting. I even had
a golf course. Um, as such, I managed multi-million dollar marketing budgets where every dollar I spent had to be justified by very clear performance metrics and ROI. I have deep experience in data analysis and use the most modern
tools to assist me in that. I think Scottsdale has a couple of uh issues with regards to tourism. First, of course, is seasonality. That's never going away. Uh we need to continue to look for new creative but cost-effective
ways to bring business into Scottsdale shoulder and summer season. The next is smart spending. We have a good amount of money. We need to make sure we're getting bang for our buck and we need to use advanced analytical tools and benchmarking to make sure that we're
getting the ROI that we're looking for and we bring the business into Scottsdale when we need it. Thank you. Thank you, Miss McKver. Douglas Presley, you are recognized for two minutes.
>> So, yes, my name is Doug Presley. I am at 11021 East Rainry Drive of McDow Mountain Ranch. I have been a Scottsdale resident for 55 years, but I don't even look 55, but I am uh born uh in North Carolina. I
moved here in six months. My father was uh one of the executives from Bluec Cross Bus, Arizona, which brought us here. Uh grew up on 64th in Shea. Um life I mean SUSD student all the way through Chaproy Cocoapa. Uh I've been in
healthc care my entire career. Uh obviously my mom was a nurse, my dad was an executive. So a lot of what I've done is a lot of volunteer work with like nephrology building nephrology centers proformas partnering with hospital systems healthc care providers throughout uh not just Arizona but also
like 11 western states I don't quite have the credentials that Kathy has but I do have 1,400 stays at a Marriott if that means anything because I was doing a lot of traveling a lot of building in those things. So I do but I also want to just convey that uh growing up here and
watching the growth that's happened um you know Mr. James Kildday God rest his soul built Gany Ranch McCormack Ranch is all in my backyard. I've seen a lot of development. I've seen a lot of very very successful peace uh people um they get their start here and a lot of it has to do with tourism. They come here they
fall in love with it. They start a business. um a lot of people pizza shops, pool stores and 67% of the businesses have less than 100 employees and just the valley in itself. What I see is the biggest concern is is the
growth that we're having and balancing that with the tourism because there's going to be some major encroachment there. And then the other most critical piece is the the water component which is still kind of up in the air. And I think that's always been a big issue for me as a camper and enjoying this area and watching it grow because you're not
going to stop development. So you want to participate in it. And I'll just close with this. I being in Scottdale my entire life, this is the first time I've actually volunteered for anything. So I, you know, I feel like I want to give back to the community after for so many
years. It's provided so much for me. >> That's outstanding. And what an inspiration to everybody out there. Please, please apply for these boards and commissions and be a part of this wonderful community and its leadership uh in its leadership positions. Members, do you have any questions for Doug?
>> Thank you, Doug. >> Speaking of Catholic though, I was at Chaper High School before Blessed >> I was at Chapper High School having mass there before they built Blessed Sacrament. >> Are you serious? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I grew up listening to the bell uh church bells of of Blessed Sacrament. And uh which which elementary school did
you say you went to? >> Cop K through eight. >> Okay. Yeah. Yeah, I'm a >> right across from the ditch right there. >> I'm a Cocoa Paul Chapper guy, too. All right, here we go. >> All right. Thank you for your consideration. >> Thank you. I will now entertain a vote for the Tourism Development Commission. Each council member can vote for one
nominee. We are circled around the block. We're going back to the mayor. >> Thank you very much uh and both. Great job uh for the applicants, but I will uh cast my vote for Kathy Mckver. >> Yeah, this is the most difficult one I
think so far. Uh, I want them both on the commission, but since I can only choose one, I will go with Kathy McKver. >> Same same tough choice. Miss McKver is my vote. I hope Mr. uh Presley um keeps his um submission or application around
and I um totally off topic, but I think that tourism board is too exclusionary as far as the qualifications. We need to look at that at some point and uh maybe lift some of those restrictions and exclusionary requirements to get more talent on it. Thank you.
>> Um I have the same comment. I'm going to vote for Kathy McKver. I hope Doug that you apply again. A lot of times what you'll see is that um there's someone who is highly qualified and and you're just uh second, you know, the next person in line, right? So apply again and then you'll be at the top of the
heap. So we hope to see you again, sir. Kathy McKver. >> Thank you. I'd like to echo my la the last two comments. Yeah, absolutely. Reapply and apply to there's plenty of wonderful boards and opportunities coming up, but my vote will go to Kathy McKver.
>> Kathy McKver. Kathy McKver. >> Miss McKver, you have been appointed. Congratulations. >> All right, guys. Ladies and gentlemen, we're on our last board and commission. Now, if you've liked the way this has gone, by the way, and the and the energy that I'm bringing to it, it's great. If
you didn't like it, my email is bramscottsdaleaz.gov. Thank you. Right. The advisory commission consists of seven members, at least five of whom shall either be military veterans or work for organizations supporting veterans. The commission advises the city council on
veteran programs, policies, and practices and serve as a community connection point for veterans in the community where they live. This is one there's one vacancy and four nominees. The nominees are Scott Burke, Justin Layman, whose term is expiring and is
eligible for reappoint, Michael Leie, and Josiah Linquist. We will start with Mr. Burke. You are recognized for two minutes. Okay, thank you. Uh, once again, my name is Scott Burke. I live at 10971
East Paradise Drive in Scottsdale. I've been a resident of Scottsdale for 18 years. During that time, I opened a business, sold the business, and raised three beautiful daughters. One, my oldest, graduated from ASU. My middle
daughter is in real estate school and graduated from Desert Mountain. And my youngest graduated from Saworro a year early and she's going to be going to Scottsdale Community College. So with that said, um my prior experience is I
did serve on the weekend warriors board and help them to raise money and benefits for the local Phoenix and Scottsdale community for the veterans here. Um the top issue that I see for veterans here is just ensuring that the veterans
know about and can easily access the benefits that they've earned. I would focus on improving outreach, simplifying information and building strong local partnerships so veterans in Scottsdale
feel supported, informed, and connected in the resources they need. And that's it. Members, do you have any questions for Mr. Burke? Seeing none, thank you very much, sir. Appreciate it. Mr. Layman,
you're recognized for two minutes. All right. Good afternoon, Mayor Barski, Vice Mayor Quasman, may members of council. My name is Justin Layman. My address address is on record with the clerk. I'm a veteran, a business owner, and it's been my privilege to serve as your commissioner
these last three years. I serve on the board of directors for the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, Scottsdale Leadership, Imprints of Honor, and Arizona nonprofit that connects students with veterans. And I am the founder and president of Scottsdale for Veterans. With the support of the commission, I have worked to strengthen our current programs and develop new ones. And I'll
quickly quickly share a few. We expanded Scottsdale Salutes to include a float with in the parata for those veterans and veterans that are in city employees this year earning the most patriotic float. We partnered with Scottsdale Arts Canal Convergence to host the salutes reception increasing attendance to just
under 200. And we worked with one of the artists to display this last year's honores on a two-story television so that all day passerby had a chance to see those veterans. For the last three years, we have hosted a Vietnam Veterans Day event that has grown to become our largest most well-attended veterans event. Just about half of all veterans
calling Scottsdale home are Vietnam veterans. And this event provides them an opportunity to hear from their own, one of their own, and for us to give our thanks and welcome them home. On display in this building is an award presented to the city by the Department of Defense's Vietnam War 50th program for
our exceptional efforts. Last year, as part of the final year of the DoD's program, we partnered with SUSD to host a student contest. Now, all of our veterans observance events include a student sharing their winning entry. Together with the Scottsdale Chamber and city employees, we piloted an adopt a
veteran program last fall. This program brought together veterans qualifying under the city's adopt a senior program and the VASH housing program. I hope to announce next fall enhancements to this program that will meet the need for all of these veterans while providing additional programming and resources at no direct cost to our city. This is just
some of what we've been we have we have done together and I ask for the chance to continue to work on your behalf and your questions. Members, do you have any any questions for Mr. Layman? My only comment is moving forward and I know that the schools of course are under
their own districts and and but I truly believe that a veterans program in conjunction with uh uh with the Veterans Advisory Commission and our school districts to put veterans in the schools and teach children what it meant to
serve, what it meant to come home, and what it and and what it means to be a veteran in the community and how important that is is something that should be championed at the commission and could be a wonderful partnership between the school districts and the city of Scottsdale. >> May I address absolutely your comments,
sir? Uh we are uh so I will announce in April uh Imprints of Honor uh is an organization that connects students with veterans. Uh going to get in trouble here, but uh we are going to announce that they are coming into Sawaru High School. Uh we'll be able to announce that we intended to announce that in
April uh when the city of Scotsdale will host their two-day book signing ceremony. In addition, they bring veterans into the classroom to share their stories as well as record those stories and send and print them in books and then send that to the Library of Congress as part of the Veterans Heritage Project. >> Promise we did not plan that.
>> That's outstanding. >> Thank you very much. What a wonderful program. All right. Thank you, >> Michael Leie. You are recognized for two minutes. >> Good evening. My name is Mike Lacy. Uh I live at uh 126 in Via Linda right across
from Desert Mountain High School. I've been a a resident for the last 5 years and moved from California. Came out here. My wife's family lives in Fountain Hills. They've lived out about 12 years. So we just want to be closer to them and hang out with them. Uh my employment is where I think most applicable here. I
was a firefighter police officer for 27 years and in the military for 34. And what I've seen during that time is a lot of veterans that came from active duty struggled with the structure in a police department where I'm 55. I may take orders from a 27y old. You're a
lieutenant colonel. You're used to giving orders, not taking orders. So I think this is one area that I helped get a mentoring program at Sunnyale going to help the uh new coming veterans coming in how they can handle and deal and get avenues of talking to other people so
they could didn't struggle. Um I think that's one thing here. I looked at talked to a lot of firefighters and police officers. They're not the highest paid. They leave for higher paying jobs. There's other things that we can do to get out there. They can get VA benefits through like the GI Bill when they go to school or through FTO. So, they may not
leave Scottsdale or um police department or fire department and stay here locally. Um top issues I think that are facing. Uh one thing that I face is I suffer from PTSD. I think a lot of veterans have PTSD issues as well as mental health. I
know when I left the guard in 2020, the biggest killer was suicide. And I think we need to take care of our veterans and watch out for suicide, PTSD, mental illness, and how they can go about getting those um benefits and resources available. I use the VA. I've been using the last 12 years. Problem with the VA
is it's California recognizes me, but if I'm from Arizona, they don't. So, you have to reregister for everywhere you go. And I think a problem with a lot of veterans is they get frustrated with the system and they quit. So that would be one of my goals is to make sure I can help lead them through this process and get through the system. It's not that
difficult, but you just need to put your head down and get through it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Members, do you have any questions? Thank you for your service and all you have done in this community. Josiah Linquist, Mr. Linquist, are you here?
All right. Thank you. So I will now entertain a vote for the Veterans Advisory Commission. Each council member can cast a vote for one nominee. Council member Whittlefield, we will begin with you. >> This one is tough. Um,
I will vote for Justin Layman. >> Mr. Layman. >> My vote is for Mr. Layman. Mr. Layman, I would ask that you reach out to the two gentlemen who also applied and um see if we can get them connected in any way. They're wonderful applicants, all of
you. Thank you. The level of quality of the applicants for this tells us the incredible nature and extent of our military and the veterans. Just unbelievable. Everybody, please reapply if you do not get appointed today. And I will cast my vote
for Justin Lman. >> I would echo the sentiments of my uh fellow council member uh Councilwoman Dascus. Gentlemen, um if Justin gets your name, you're getting to work, so be ready. Um, I cast my vote for Justin
Layman. >> Ditto on the comments and I enthusiastically reappoint Justin Layman. >> Justin Layman. Congratulations. >> Justin Layman, you've been reappointed. This concludes our appointment process
for today. I'd like to thank all our nominees for their interest in serving on the city border commission, and we're fortunate to continue to receive qualified applicants uh for all positions on all of our boards and commissions. Even if you were not appointed today, your application will remain on file for consideration at future date if there are additional
vacancies. City staff will contact the individuals appointed this evening and provide them with information on the next step regarding their appointment. The city of Scottsdale is fortunate to have such dedicated and talented individuals who are willing and ready to serve our city. Thank you very much.
Back to you, Madame Mayor. >> Thank you. And thank you to all the applicants and congratulations to everyone that got nominated uh appointed I should say. Okay, that concludes our special meeting business. So with that, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn.
>> All those in favor? >> I I >> All right, so we should reopen the general the regular meeting uh which was to start at 5:00 PM. Anyone want to take a break? Are we good? Five minutes. We need five minutes.
>> Five minutes. Okay, let's do five minutes and we'll make it a real five minutes. >> Oh yeah, that's a good point. We'll trade seats. Thank you everybody. Thank you for your patience and thank you for being here with us
this evening. I'd like to call the March 24th, 2026 city regular me city council regular meeting to order. City Clerk Ben Lane, can you please do a roll call for us? >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Mayor Lisa Barowski, >> present. >> Vice Mayor Adam Quasman,
>> Council Members Jandy Bosquez, >> here. >> Barry Graham, >> Kathy Littlefield, >> here. >> Mayor McCallen, >> present. >> And Solange Whitehead >> here. >> City Manager Greg Kaitton >> here. >> Interim City Attorney Luis Santea >> present. >> City Treasurer Sonia Andrews >> here. >> Acting City Luff
>> here. >> And the clerk is present. Thank you, mayor. >> Thank you this evening. Thank you to our police officers and firefighter that are here tonight. If anyone requires their assistance, please let a member of our staff know. And uh as for for to lead us
in the pledge of allegiance, I'd like to call upon Councilman Graham. >> Mayor, thank you. It's my pleasure. >> To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Uh for the invocation this evening, I have the pleasure, great pleasure of uh welcoming the Scottsdale Bible Church's Fountain Hills campus
pastor, Reagan. Pastor Reagan Mitchell. And Reagan, will you please join us? Thank you for being here this evening. Thank you so much. Thank you so much, mayor and council members. Thank you so much for inviting me here and having me here. Like to thank everyone else is here as well. If you would like to join me in prayer as you see fit, if you bow
your heads with me. God, we thank you for this time. We ask that you would be with us as we make these decisions, as we participate in government and all of its functions. I ask for charity, grace, and unity in
this time. Would we be united in one purpose? Would we give charity to one another when things don't seem to go our way? And would we have grace for one another and ourselves in this time? We thank you. Amen.
>> Amen. Thank you for being here this evening. Appreciate it. for the mayor's report this even this evening I'd like to talk about an event that many of us attended this afternoon and that was to celebrate the western
spirit Scottdale's museum of the west uh their expansion with the Louiswis B Sands Center and this event marked the culmination of years of planning and partnership and showcased the strong civic philanthropic and cultural
collaboration that continues to divi define our community. The expansion represents a $12 million enhancement to the mu museum's campus and adds a new twostory 12,000 square foot facility bringing Western Spirit's total
footprint in here in Oldtown Scottsdale to 55,000 square feet which is dedicated to exhibitions, education, preservation, and community gatherings. And that the museum, if you haven't been there already, is gorgeous. But now with this
12,000 uh square foot addition, it's stunning. And uh that was that was to house the uh it was it was supported by the Sans family, which was terrific. Big western family name here. Uh not not
necessarily in Scottsdale, but in the valley. So, and the new center um will allow Western Spirit to host larger rotating exhibitions, broad broaden the educational programming and create additional space for artists, scholars, and the public to come together. And it
also strengthens the museum's capacity to preserve treasured works and share the bo both the iconic and emerging stories of the American West. So, I would encourage you to go take a look at it. and it's a beautiful museum and
celebrating of course the westmost western town western town and our western heritage. Turning to the presentations tonight, uh the spirit of Scottsdale 2025 awards presentation. I'll invite Vice Chair Kim
Baris and Commissioner George Spatola of the Neighborhood Advisory Commission to come talk to us about that. Okay, that's fine. Thank you. >> Good evening, Mayor Bowski, Vice Mayor Quasman, and City Council. As members of
the Neighborhood Advisory Commission, we are here this evening to present the winners of the 2025 Spirit of Scottsdale Awards Program. The neighborhood advisory commission advises and makes recommendations to the city council on policies, plans, strategies, and programs for the
preservation, improvement, and revitalization of Scottsdale's neighborhoods. One such program is a spirit of Scottsdale awards, an annual program that recognizes residents and organizations or businesses that help and strengthen and build Scottsdale's community through their commitment to
the involvement in neighborhoods embodying the spirit of Scottsdale. The commission determines winners based on their active years of involvement and their unique contra contributions of time, skills, or financial resources to the community. We would like to now highlight the two 2025
winners from each category. Once all winners are announced, we ask that them to come forward and receive their award. >> Okay, next slide, please. And I think one more forward. Thank you. Okay. Um, the winner of the 2025
individual spirit of Scottdale award is Lauren Trap. For more than 25 years, Lauren has served the neighbor served as the neighborhood watch captain for Sherwood Heights, and she has organized the neighborhood's well-known gain block
parties. Uh while many neighborhood gatherings might draw a few dozen people, Sherwood Heights routinely welcomes over 300 residents, making the event a signature tradition for families and neighbors year after year. When Lauren was contacted about this
recognition, she was quick to say that she could not accept the award without acknowledging the rest of her team. She used the metaphor of a symphony to explain their collective success. The audience, she said, is the neighborhood itself. The musicians are the blockwatch team
because without them, there is no gain and no organized effort to work with the city and the police to keep the neighborhood safe. Without a conductor, there is no coordination to bring it all together. Take any piece away and there is no music.
Together, they've created something truly special in Sherwood Heights. Each person plays an important part. And the results is a community that works together, looks out for one another, and embodies the spirit of Scottsdale. Please join me in congratulating Lauren
Trap and the neighborhood watch team of Sherwood Heights. at the end. We'll call all you up at the very end. Yeah. Thank you. Not not yet. Hold on. We'll do one more. Yeah. Next slide, please. Thank you. >> The winner of the 2025 organizational
spirit of Scottsdale award is the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona. For more than 70 years, the air the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show and the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona has been closely connected to the identity and growth of our city. What began in
1955 as a regional equestrian event has grown into one of the most prestigious Arabian horse shows in the world while remaining firmly rooted in the community which helped shape it. Today, the annual return of the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show is cherished tradition for residents and visitors alike,
celebrating Scottsdale's western heritage and reinforcing the city's reputation is a premier destination for culture, sport, and tourism. The impact of the Scotsio Arabian Horse Show extends well beyond the event itself. Supported by thousands of volunteer hours, the show generates meaningful
economic uh activity for local businesses while bringing international visibility to Scottsdale during the key tourism season. At the same time, the organization reinvests into the community through local vendor partnerships, youth engagement, and
cheerable outreach that benefits Scottsdale yearround. For decades of service, stewardship, and dedication to Scottsdale's heritage, and future, please join me in congratulating the Arizona Horse Association of Arizona and the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show.
Thank you to all who submitted nominations to this year's program and to you mayor and council for your time this evening. Lauren and representatives from the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona. Please come forward now to receive your awards and members of the Sherwood Heights Neighborhood Watch team
who are present are also invited to join Lauren. Thank you all. >> Excellent. Congratulations to all of you. Mayor come down and help you. in the bathroom.
Right. They have a wide angle camera. Terrence I Thank you. All right. Thank you so much. That was wonderful. Come back. Come back anytime.
We need to arrange for a block party here. All right, moving right along. As is the case at every regular city council meeting, during tonight's meeting, the council may make a motion
to recess into executive session if we need to obtain legal advice on any applicable item on the agenda. If authorized by the council, the executive session would be held immediately and will not be open to the public. The public meeting would resume uh
immediately following the executive session. Moving on to meeting minutes, approvals. Uh we are here to potentially approve the special meeting minutes of January 27th, 2026, executive session meeting minutes of January 27th, 2026,
regular meeting minutes of January 27th, 2026, and regular meeting and work study session minutes of February 10th, 2026. May I please have a motion uh if there are no questions or changes to those documents? >> So moved. Second.
>> Thank you. Uh please indicate your vote. I I >> I I I I All right, we're faster than the queue here, so this is good. Next, we have consent agenda items 1 through 13A.
Please note that item number four, which was the wireless telecommunications license agreement, was removed from the agenda at the request of staff and will be held heard at a future council meeting uh date. Do any members of the
council have any questions on any of the consent agenda items or request to move uh any of the consent items to the regular agenda? I see that Councilwoman Dvasquez has indicated uh a comment or
question or go ahead. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. I just wanted to make a comment about agenda item number three, which is fire station 601 ambulance annex. And I wanted to give a kudos to our city manager, Greg Kaitton, and to our fire chief, Tom Shannon. This was originally planned to be down the
street in an older building. Um, and not actually connected to fire station 601, which is extremely busy fire station. So, when the two uh got together, they talked it through, decided it would actually be best if it was located physically at the fire station, much
more efficient for the ambulance and the firefighters who now work together. So, um, this is a a creative and and thoughtful outcome. They're going to be able to build exactly what they need rather than retrofitting something to sort of try to make it work. Um, the cost is very reasonable. And so, I just
wanted to say kudos to our city manager for catching this and working with our fire chief to come and get the best outcome for our residents. So, um, I think this is a big win for the entire city. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Graham. >> Mayor, thank you. I just had a comment
on that too cuz this was I remember voting on this and I remember thinking about, you know, the 601 annex and kind of how those weren't those weren't connected. And so this is a good
resolution in my opinion and I agree with Councilwoman Dowskis about with the hatt tip to city manager Kaitton and Fire Chief Shannon for thoughtfully resolving this. I think we're going to lose a little bit of that Elorado Park, just a smidge of it. But I think the
section lost is kind of a kind of just sort of part of a, you know, a patch area and uh it's not part of like a field or a pond or we're not going to lose any parking. In fact, we're going to add parking. So, I wanted to repeat
or I wanted to um I wanted to agree with Councilwoman Devowskis on this. Thank you. >> Thank you. And uh moving on, I have a comment just to uh on the consent item number seven, the Westworld strategic
plan. Uh this item for decision follows a presentation that we had a couple of weeks ago for the strategic plan that we've developed that uh our general manager Will Loft together with the city manager has developed. An excellent job. I'm I know there was a lot of action on
what was going to happen at Westworld uh mid to late last year and you've really all stepped up to uh start to really conquer a lot of these concerns. And in fact, Will and I were out there today looking at the beautiful stalls that have been renovated and talking about
the amazing drainage improvement project that we're going to have. And we also met a beautiful Palamino mayor named what was her name? >> Daisy. Daisy, how could I forget? That tested both of our memories. So, thank you, Will, for indulging all that. And
thank you for for your efforts. And it looks like this is going to keep on the consent agenda. So, I'm thrilled about that. Uh, I see no other comments or questions. I will now entertain a motion to approve consent agenda items 1 through 13A. >> So, moved. Second.
>> Mayor, I apologize. There's public comments. >> Public speakers. I almost forgot. Okay. All right. Let's go through this. I was all so excited about that one. Uh, number one, consent agenda item number one, we have Steve Sutton and Patricia
Petty Badnock to talk on this. Steve, please join us at the podium. >> Since I'm closest, I'll just say that um I don't uh feel that my comment is relevant at this time. >> Thank you. >> Change. Thank you. >> Thank you.
Good evening, council members. Steve Sutton, address on record. Uh, I'm learning quite a bit more about the company chassis, which I see is one of the contract awardies here. And, uh, it's my understanding this is, uh, essentially a preferred contractor
on the part of the city. I am glad that we have somebody that uh the city feels comfortable in using on multiple projects and I found their presentation on one
project uh week ago very interesting and I think we're going to be exploring that considerably more later tonight. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Steve. All right, I will let's go ahead and vote on the motion to
approve consent agenda items 1 through 13A. Moving on to the regular agenda, uh item number 14 is the comprehensive financial policies annual re review and adoption and that will be presented by city
treasurer Sonia Andrews. take it away. >> Thank you, Mayor Council. Actually, I'm gonna have our budget director, Scott Seline, present that. Sounds good. Hi, Scott. >> Good evening, Madame Mayor, members of the council. Uh very happy to be here tonight to discuss the uh proposed
modifications to the city's comprehensive financial policies. Uh we do typically propose um changes to our policies once a year in preparation for the new fiscal year um around this time of year. We include this slide um just as a
reminder of why we maintain uh comprehensive financial policies. They help us ensure fiscal responsibility and sound financial management. They help us comply with rules and regulations. They establish the budget controls uh that we all operate under.
And then finally, last but not least, financial policies are required in order to maintain our AAA bond ratings that the city maintains. Uh the nature of the changes that we're going to propose tonight uh fall into one of two categories. Uh the first category is housekeeping changes that
are intended to clarify the language of the current policy. And the second are minor changes meant to improve and or strengthen the uh the policy itself. I'm going to go over the major changes to the policies. Um the first proposed change to highlight is in the self-
insurance risk management section. The current policy sets the minimum reserve balance to the 80% confidence level of projected total outstanding claims. Um the policy has not always been 80%. Uh in recent history it's been 75%. Um the
policy change that we're proposing is to provide some flexibility to the risks to the loss trust fund board um by allowing a potential range of 75% to 80%. Um should the board wish to make a change in their target at some point in the future.
The next change um also relates to reserve but this time on the healthc care side. Uh, we propose amending this section to clarify that the actuarial Let me back up. Currently, policy states that an actuarial firm establishes
reserve levels in the healthcare fund. We propose amending this section to clarify that the actuarial firms will project liabilities as part of the process of establishing reserve levels. Um, the overall reserve levels are established by the city. uh but the
actuaries do play a role in determining certain types of reserves within the overall reserves. This proposed change is more of a clarifying change. Um this policy governs approval for increases in capital projects. Uh the proposed language is intended to codify our
existing practice which is that all increases to capital project budgets must be u approved by council. The proposed change also specifies that the budget for a capital project is what is listed in the CIP budget book as part
of the adopted budget. So that's what constitutes a project's budget for the purposes of this policy. Uh moving on, the intent of this proposed change uh regarding excise taxes um revenue secured obligations um is to clarify that this policy uh
includes water infrastructure finance authority debt. The way the current policy is written, it's not specifically excluded, but it's also not specifically included either. Um, this policy change would address that by including with a debt to the definition of non- voter
authorized debt. Uh, the next proposed change has to do with our self- insurance reserves and it just clarifies that the lost trust board must make recommendations regarding necessary reserve levels. And then the last proposed change that
we're bringing to you today is in uh appendix A. We sometimes refer to that as budget governing guidance and it has to do with the treatment of general fund interest earnings. Uh current policy transfers 100% of general fund interest earnings to the capital improvement
plan. Given uh the significant interest earnings that the city has realized, uh we don't necessarily need all that revenue in the capital improvement plan all the time. The proposed modification to this policy would be to introduce a range of what would be transferred to the CIP
uh to provide flexibility to address the uh the needs of the city. And it's not listed on the slide. I do apologize for that. But um if it pleased the council, we would request approval of res resolution uh 13608 in order to adopt the proposed uh edits to the
financial policy. And I'd be happy to entertain any questions that you might have. Councilman Graham. >> Mayor, thank you. Scott, thank you for your presentation. So, these are these seem like reasonable changes to me for the most part. 75% to
80% um minimum risk management reserve fund balance. Um I'm good with that. the I want to ask you about can we go to the um cost increase.
So is is the policy right now so say so imagine a a project is $10 million uh approved in the CIP budget right budget. Um, and so the way I read this is that if that project budget goes to $11 million
for either a scope increase or for a cost overrun, either either one has to come to city council. >> Madame Mayor, council member Graham, that's correct. Any increase to a capital capital improvement plan project would have to come to council and be approved by council. Now these are there
any capital um are there any capital expenditures that would not be included in this? Th >> this policy would govern uh CIP projects. There are uh capital expenditures that occur within the operating budget this would not apply to
those expenditures but any CIP project in the CIP book this policy would apply to. >> Does it um does that include does that cover um like bond projects? Uh, Madame Mayor, Council Member Graham, that's bond 2019 projects, for example, uh, all
those are in the capital improvement plan. So, yes, this would govern all of those those projects, >> but capital expenditures that don't fall in the CIP. You >> this policy does not Yeah, Madame Mayor, Council Member Graham, that's correct. That would not apply to those expenditures that occur within the operating budget.
>> And what about any other um what about any other capital expenditures as far as like from the the water fund or when the airport? >> This would cover Yeah. any capital improvement plan project in the CIP book. This would >> regard regardless of whether it's enterprise or >> Madame Mayor, Council Member Graham,
that's correct. >> Okay. Um, can you think of the most recent example that we've we've had we've had a few cost overruns over recent years. I mean, can you think of I can't think of off top of my head right now when you came to council or when somebody came to
council for approval of a cost overrun. Uh m Madame Mayor, Council Member Graham, uh I know every year at the end of the um the end of the fiscal year we bring a housekeeping adjustment and I I believe that last year there was such examples of that. Not one is not coming
to my mind at this time. >> Where where are they being hidden? >> No, I'm just kidding. So, um uh this would this would be for both a scope change and a cost overrun
with no change to the scope. >> Madame Mayor, Council Member Graham, this policy is agnostic to the reason as to why the cost is increasing. It would if there's a cost increase, it needs to be approved by council. >> Um and it has to be
It has to be both 10% and $1 million, right? >> Uh, Madame Mayor, Council Member Graham, I appreciate that question. Um, any increase of a project must be approved by council. But there is a special caveat in this policy that exists currently that any scope change greater
than $1 million and 10% if it meets both of those criteria. Um, it states that it requires council presentation or a written update to council. So that that's kind of a higher level of >> so approvement. >> Here's the problem though is that if
it's a $100 million project and it's $9 million overrun is that wouldn't qualify, would it? >> Madame Mayor, Council Member Graham, that's correct. It would not qualify for the special written uh I'm sorry, council presentation or written update,
but the increase itself would still need to be approved by council. Um it just wouldn't require a written update. I'm not gonna force it today, but I think we should maybe look at that because I think there should be kind of like that when you when you add that word and in there, it does a lot of work, doesn't
it? When you have to fulfill both conditions. So, um, my next question is, sorry, Council Member Dowskis, she she I have a couple more questions,
but maybe Mayor Mayor, I think she's You want to say something? >> Okay. >> Councilwoman Dascus. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. I was just going to ask the city manager to talk about the Tiger team. Um the council member Graham mentioned that we haven't had cost overruns in quite some time and
um I believe our city manager has something to do with that. So could you um put his mind at ease about this any cost overruns or or your process and how it relates to this for us? >> Yeah, ma madame mayor and councilwoman, thank you for the question. Uh the tiger
team as referenced there came out of discussions about a year ago and essentially this is a staff development team that I sit on with a number of my colleagues and what we do is re review capital projects on the front end. First of all, what we do is once they're authorized, let's just say for sake of
discussion as we uh enter into 2627 approved, then we would start the budget process of of really what's ready because you have to prioritize uh as you might suspect all across the organization when you have a significant capital improvement plan. Everybody believes you get to go uh July 2nd and
it doesn't quite work that way. So we have to stagger our resources and so that's the first task that the team we did nine months ago uh and actually started in May. So we're almost coming on our year anniversary of that. Then the second thing what we started uh all across the organization is before you
got to enter uh a project into our system. It actually went before this tiger team as a pre-authorization if you will. And what we found out through that is projects just weren't ready. And we prioritized them. And I have at least one poster child uh project or a great
example came before this city council. We actually had a board of commission member speak to it and advocate for the project. We did not include it in the the 2526. It just wasn't ready. Come to find out, we've uh spent time evaluating
that and found it uh to be completed or to be uh less expensive with an alternative route and will now be proposed in your upcoming budget in 2627. So I guess my point in that story is uh slow down to speed up and that's
what we did in the last starting in last May. And so then further to the cost overruns what we have found is that projects when they're again they're not ready they hadn't uh conducted a design or a feasibility quite frankly we didn't know the scope of the project I also
think uh compounding the situation is our way that we budget in multiple years and and there literally was this philosophy uh that you start off with a number and you add budget over the years as you wrap up that budget in say year
two or three. What we are identifying with this new approach is first of all you do a feasibility, you do a scope, you do it in a design, you do that initial work on the front end so we have a solid number then we enter into a contract and it may take two or three years of course with these sizable projects but that number doesn't change
over a period of time. if it does change, run into some uncertainties. You know, there are unusuals, but uh with this new process, it really tightens up uh the process and ensure certainty uh to city council and through our budgetary process. Thank you for the
opportunity to comment. >> Thank you. Uh back to Councilman Graham. >> Thank you, Mayor. Thank you to my colleague, uh Councilwoman Dowskis for that um for that comment and uh city manager.
appreciate those um that message. The um you know I I try to think about financial policies and you think about what are the incentives they might create. You know how they might pressure people and because you can you can correct a problem and you can also
overcorrect a problem. Um so that was just kind of the sort of where I was coming from with some of those questions. I you know we thank you for the Tiger team. You know, the tiger strikes or pounces, doesn't it? Saving us lots of tax dollars. The I mean, when
we the fir my first two years on Yeah, Adam. Okay, f someone liked my joke. Everyone else cringed, but uh um the first two years on council, I mean, it was like it felt like every other meeting, you know, there was a massive overrun on something and we ended up
having over $150 million in cost overruns and you know it, you know, so we we we exposed those and we we talked about them and I think we had some, you know, then city manager Kaden kind of really
went in and and brought some scrutiny to that. I don't want to create the wrong incentives as far as I don't want so you think about you think about 10% and a million dollars. So one way someone may not our staff but
somebody the next city next city down the road if they had that policy they may say hey we're going to combine these two projects because there's a cost overrun there's two $50 million projects that are and we're going to combine them you know or some way so you may have an incentive to do that you um we don't
want people to cheap out on projects you know save a save a buck now so that we spend big down the road and that's actually happened before in our city be years past. Um we don't want to pressure our staff to slow something down because
we want to get a request out. You know, they say, "Oh, you know, there's going to be a cost overrun or cost a scope increase." And so, we're going to slow that down to just to wait until the next budget cycle when we think we're, you know, it's going to be a more favorable or different scenario. We don't want we
don't want to incentivize that. Um, we want to when we when we find out about them, we want to own it. We want to learn from it. And I think it is important though that you come to city council and we can discuss it and we can um figure it out, learn from it and
improve it. And so I appreciate you bringing these policy changes to us. The last question I want to ask is about funding CIP. it right now. So, we have our cash in the general fund and it sits there. It's
making a lot. I mean, I don't know what it's making, 400 bips or something like that, 500 bips. So, u whatever it may be. And um our policy for many many years has been to take those earnings and to apply them towards towards our capital budget
because, you know, I guess the theory the theory was that's less borrowing we have to do. And so, we're taking interest earnings and we're saving on interest expense. um what was the thinking to to give uh to change it to 50% and um is that I guess
what was the thinking behind that because I I'm wondering maybe like what our what do our counterparts what do our counterparts in the valley do with their interest earnings? Do they just they just throw it into the general fund like coingle it fungeibly or
>> uh madame mayor council member Graham regarding your first question uh the thinking behind it was just simply to provide some flexibility to the city to um allocate less than 100% if the CIP does not need those funds. Um I >> let me if I can interrupt you there. I'm
sorry Scott that that's that's what it does but why did you do it? And so it's like well maybe we felt like our interest earnings we didn't maybe our interest earnings were so strong and we had good interest rates on you know our our our debt obligations our debt service or whatever and so we didn't
feel like did something happen that caused the the you know the thinking to change. I I Madame Mayor, Council Member Graham, I think it was just the the large amounts of interest that the city's been realizing over the past, you know, couple of years that caused us to look at it and determine,
well, maybe maybe we don't need to send 100% all the time. Um, if if the CIP is properly funded, regarding your second question, I I can't yet speak intelligently about what other cities do. Perhaps the city treasur might be able to to weigh in on that. I Okay,
I'll give her a chance to say something and that'll be the end of my the the end of me. So, >> thank you, mayor. Thank you, council. I just wanted to add to what uh our budget director, Scott Selene, has said. So, um what we did last year was we moved some
of the CIP projects back into the operating. So, we were funding a lot of police and fire apparatus equipment in the CIP. So, we were transferring um 100% of our interest and also I think
50% of our construction um uh sales tax to the CIP to fund a lot of that that as well. >> We were doing that just because we had so much interest revenue that we wanted to be able to apply it to certain projects. >> Correct. Okay. Okay. So now that we have moved all those back into the operating,
we're keeping some of that same funding source in the operating instead of transferring it to the CIP. >> Okay. So that was basically just to avoid the the ownerous task of reclassifying things to be able to apply it. >> Yeah. So the so basically we're uh the
the the interest is still funding the same CIP. It's just now in the operating side as opposed to the capital side. >> Yeah. And so to answer the other question on uh other cities, um many other cities transfer construction sales tax to the CIP because construction
sales tax is considered more volatile and uh fluctuates a lot more. So there is um the the idea is not to rely on construction sales tax for um operations. Interest is not typically transferred to the CIP because interest
earnings are more stable than construction sales tax. You're always going to have a base with which you earn interest from. For us, because we have significant CIP projects and limited debt capacity, so we do rely on our
interest earnings to pay go our capital so that we do not extend our debt because we do have limited capacity on the debt side. >> Yeah. I just I see it as kind of a I I I see it as kind of a nice conservative measure, you know, keep our debt coverage ratio,
you know, stronger. Um and so while I have you uh city treasurer, did you consider are you considering in the future adding that that a million dollars plus 10%, you know, and to noncip capex? Um, mayor, council
members, when we came up with the 10% and 1 million for the capital projects with which would require specific written and uh, presentation or explanation to council that was done um, with consideration of what we would end
up bringing to council by providing that criteria. We looked at the last, I think, five years or so to look at all the project increases that would end up having to go to council with different criteria. If we change that criteria,
you may end up getting a lot of much smaller um cost increases that the city manager can simply approve. So, that was designed to bring relevant cost increases to council. we can take a look
at that again and uh revisit that and make sure that relevant cost increases are coming to council. >> Okay. Thank you. That that's that's I'm concluding my remarks. I would just say that that it might create a scenario where somebody might feel pressure to move it out of CIP because of you know
um to forestall the um the the idea of going to council. So, not that anybody here would do that, but just to look at, you know, what do incentives what what do policy what incentives do these policies create? So, thank you, city
manager. Thank you, Mr. Budget Director. I said city manager, city treasurer, pardon me. Thank you, mayor. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Mckllen. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh, thank you for the presentation, Scott. And with that, I move that we adopt resolution number
1368. I'll second that and I approve of these changes and the guidance that the city treasur's office gives us. Thank you. >> There's a motion in a second. I'll please indicate your vote. Actually,
all right. That motion passes and thank you for the presentation. Next, we have the public comment announcement. This is reserved for Scottsdale citizens, business owners, and or 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 to address the council. If you haven't already and you wish to speak uh on a non-aggendaized topic, please see our city clerk. Otherwise, we have Steve
Sutton, Melissa Kemp, Daniel Isac, Avon Cahill, and Bob Pedman. Steve Sutton again. Hello and good evening, council members. Steve Sutton, address on record. I've been talking to thousands of people
over the last few months and really gotten to know their feelings about many things here in Scottsdale. Had an interesting conversation the other day. Someone mentioned to me that it seems
odd that a few hundred people could complain about something up in North Scottdale and get immediate action which cost us millions of dollars more. But when many thousands of people complain over a period of almost a year
now about something, they're pretty much ignored. It just doesn't seem right. Something's wrong there. Later tonight, I'm going to be presenting something to you which thousands of people have already signed.
And this is going to be an issue that will be talked about for quite some time, I'm sure. I wonder why we have certain groups, small groups of people who get so much attention from the council and action taken on what
they want, but yet not thousands of people who have other ideas about what the council should do for them. I think that's going to be explored in great detail in the next few months.
Thank you for your time. Thank you, Steve. Next, I'm Melissa Kemp. Good evening, mayor and council. Melissa Kemp, McCormack Ranch. My address is on record record. Part six of my series on voter voice, civic engagement, and what
it costs when public input is treated like noise instead of data. This week, I tally voices and the dollars that follow when those voices are ignored. We all want a Scottsdale that is safe, that is cost-effective and stable. One critical
role of open public comment is accountability, where residents see things slipping and can speak up. Accountability isn't hostility. Accountability is a guardrail. And guardrails save lives and they save dollars. Here's the clear pattern that
Mr. Sutton just pointed out and that I believe voters should notice as public input grows from tens to hundreds to thousands to tens of thousands. This four member conservative majority keeps voting in the opposite direction
anyway as if they heard or saw nothing. Tense. We can look at the sustainability plan repeal. That was just over a year ago. The signal was clear. More than 27 voices supported keeping the plan. Only three here speaking supported repealing it. And that wasn't counting the emails
and other volume. Let's go to hundreds. The open public comment rule changes last December. December 2nd. The packet shows the ratio. The board packet was 100 to one against doing this, but you did it anyway. Is that listening?
Thousands. the old town parking garage where you've got 3,000 plus signatures on cit citizen petitions asking you to slow down and reconsider the location again. Thousands raise concern and you push forward
anyway. Okay, tens of thousands. Let's talk about Axon because it's time. more than 20,000 signatures requesting and pleading for a vote to be scheduled the soonest possible names were attached on
the record. But instead of respecting the simplest taxpayer winning position scheduling the vote, you refused a clean and clear accountability path. You cited around $250,000 for special election costs as your
reason not to do it and called that fiscal stewardship. Let's talk about wise fiscal stewardship. The dollar question that Scottsdale residents deserve you to answer is what's the bill now? Legal fees, staff time, outside counsel, and
delays. Ignoring early warning comments during open public comment here don't doesn't help. It doesn't make conflicts disappear. They escalate. They get bigger and they get more expensive. To the voter whose issue is local control and density, who wants a real say in
what gets built next door, listen carefully because this majority block may say the right words about caring about overdevelopment, but their actions in their job performance have given you exactly the diametric result. So, you're
representing your factions. I'm just going to say this here. How many voices does it take before you start to listen? >> Thank you, Melissa. Next, I have Dan Isaac. Dan Isaac, address on record. Uh, three
quick topics. Um, first, I won't be here at the next meeting. I'm sure you're upset. Um, but I would like to urge those of you who actually have any moral fortitude and honesty to vote against the contract for the parking garage for a variety of reasons that you've heard over and over. One, there is no proven
demand. Two, it's going to permanently displace the farmers market. And three, it's going to be a monstrosity in the most historic part of Oldtown. Uh, looking at the most recent rendering, I think the technical architectural term is butt ugly because that's what it is.
Now, we find out that it's going to cost $97,000 per parking space. That's three times the national average. There's a variety of reasons why it's going to cost so much, but regardless, this council claims to be responsible for with our money. Anybody who spends
$97,000 per parking space is not being a good steward of our money. So, please vote no on the contract. Second topic, Barry Graham, the Little Fields, and their donors continue to lie.
First about the parking garage one, they say that the voters approved it. Fact, the ballot language didn't mention the word parking. Fact, the 50 plus page voter guide did not mention a location other than
Oldtown. Yet, they continue to say that voters overwhelming overwhelmingly approved this location. It is a lie. Barry, you're concerned about budgets. Here's another lie. Although the Scottsdale dynamite
improvement is going to be within budget, you forget to mention that it would have been $4 million under budget had you not pandered to the anti- roundabout people. Also, yes, we did get another $30 million grant, but guess what? That's for this fiscal year. It
would have funded other infrastructure projects. Those projects are now either delayed, canled, or will be paid by general fund. So we cost our residents millions of dollars. Third,
Vice Mayor Quasman, I love the theater, cue the stereotypic response, but this deis is not a stage. And what I don't understand, Vice Mayor Quasman, is you demonstrated earlier today at the boards and commission that you can be
charismatic, funny, even charming, but there are other times where you are performative and spout nonsense. The comment that you felt threatened by a reference to Carthage is absurd. There is no threat there. But you know what is a threat? When you send a vulgar laden
text to the mayor threatening to physically remove her from the office. That's a threat. Secondly, you are throwing around the term anti-semitism. You and I are completely aligned with the disgust we feel for discrimination. And I cannot
stand what I see on social media. And I don't know whether it's more prevalent or just more visible. But to throw around the term loosely minimizes the actual claims of anti-semitism and it people who are subject to violence threats discrimination.
Sometimes, Adam, you have to accept the fact that people don't like what you say and do and it has nothing to do with your faith. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dan. Avon Cahill. >> Thank you, Mayor and Council. My name is Ivon Cahill. My address is on record.
Um, today actually on the way down here I uh saw a Facebook post uh by Councilman Graham and it was a repost of an article written by Mr. Kubie and the title of the article was attacks on Oldtown parking garage ring hollow.
I just cannot believe as um Mr. Isaac just um testified that this is ringing hollow. Mr. Kooie, you just insulted over 6,000 residents.
Have you ever been down to the farmers market? Have you ever been to the mission? What have you done for the city? I know that you're recently appointed tonight to a commission, but I have to wonder if this
article was in exchange for votes. Also, many things in that article were not true. The 2019 bond project, there was no specified location in that
bond project. It just simply addressed Oldtown. The other problem is the cost. We're looking at three times the national average per space on this garage. And have you ever seen the game kids
play that says one of these things is not like the other? If you had been at that meeting for the Oldtown parking garage and saw the schematic they put up and then put the Oldtown buildings, the
mission that it's around, you could really like a two-year-old could pick that out. One of these things is not like the other. It doesn't belong. The council really needs to reconsider this and I'm asking you to vote no next
week on this project. I also with my one minute left I'm going to ask the council I hope somebody on the council every week will ask to get on the agenda to move the citizen comments again the resident comments to the first part and
let's of the meeting and let's see who votes against it. Let's have that vote every week that you have a meeting. Thank you very much for your time. >> Thank you. Thank you, Aban. Uh lastly,
we have Bob Pedman. >> Thank you, mayor and council. Name is Bob Pedman. Address is on record. So, if if I went to the farmers market, if I went to some public setting and somebody came to me with a with a petition alleging that there's going to be a
monstrosity built in Oldtown, it's going to blight historic Oldtown. It's going to harm the farmers market, maybe make him leave. It's going to it's going to blight the mission. It's going to put merchants out of business. If I truly believe that, I'd grab the pen fast
enough to sign it. The problem is that these statements are not fact anymore. Maybe a year ago when we didn't know the outcome of what's going to happen, these things could have happened, but the city has done a great job in the meantime to mitigate all these issues. For example,
farmers market, they did an excellent job to transition them to a better place where they can grow, they can expand in a park-like setting which kids can play as opposed to just a concrete slab. That's an improvement. Uh the design of the garage people are
saying it's disgusting. I was there. Uh there were three open houses and it it conforms to the to the to the historic to to the architectural standards of historic Oldtown. It does. So therefore it will not blight the area. It will not
blight the mission. And the construction mitigation plan that they talked about rarely closes the street at all and not fully. So the these issues have been addressed and thanks to staff who has addressed a lot of these. So now that
these issues are addressed, the co the gold post is being moved. So now this group is complaining about the high cost. What drove the cost up? For one thing, this used to be a 218 space garage.
Thanks to the residents who complained and the city and the and the contra and the and the and and the contractor listening, they stepped back the top level. That got rid of about 30 spaces. The cost per space went up. They also listened three open houses to make the
outside exterior of this building as as harmonious as possible. That increased the cost. Now, I have to remind uh people that two years ago, there was a win-win compromise made that for the people who
wanted the parking lot in the northeast, they got they they got that approved by the council unanimously, about $15 million, and of course, this parking lot got approved with voter approved bond funds. It was a win-win, right?
But if you look at the cost of these two parking lots, they're not too different. That alleged high cost is barely higher than the cost of the Northeast lot. Where is the outrage on that? And we all know why why there's no outrage on that?
Because this has now been twisted into a political campaign to influence the election. That's what it's been twisted into. Otherwise, those people would be complaining about the cost of the Northeast Quadrant, which by the way doesn't have the bells and whistles. And by the way, the voters did not approve
and by the way, it's being paid from the general fund. So, let's not take a win-win compromise that was made and turn it into a we win lose proposition. Thank you. >> Thank you, Bob. All right, that concludes the non-aggendaized public
comment. And next we have citizen petition receipt which we do have a petition here from Steve Sutton as he mentioned and it relates to let's see the building of the parking garage
in Oldtown at the parking corral and it requests that the city conduct a parking study to determine the need. Uh you have three minutes Steve. >> Sorry Mayor Barski that's incorrect. There's nothing in that petition that requests you do a study. I don't know
why that was put on the agenda. It doesn't say that at all. >> You sure you don't want to talk about that? >> I'll need a moment to >> I'm just kidding. >> No, no. I've You've already had that petition in your >> That's what I thought. It sounded remarkably familiar. You already know who I am. Uh, quickly,
extemporaneously, nobody's complained about that garage bo haven't gotten as far along in the process. I'm sure that people will complain about it when they find out how much it's going to cost. Last year, you received three petitions signed by thousands of people that twice
requested a town hall and once a parking study be conducted before any decision is made to build a parking extension at the parking corral. You ignored the requests for town halls and claimed that there was not enough time to conduct a parking study. That of course is a claim nobody believed when you made it. Those
petitions were submitted because people do not want a garage built in front of Scottsdale's most historic building, the old Adobe Mission. They do not want you to end the 17-year tradition of the farmers market being located at the parking corral. And they do not want you to defile Scottsdale's most culturally
and historically significant area, historic Oldtown. Tonight, you have a petition before you that is not making a request. It is instead 4,594 people who signed the petition telling you telling you do not build a garage
extension of the parking corral. The vast majority of those people are voters in Scottsdale. These voters over the last 10 months have become increasingly aware of the lie being told that people voted in the 2019 special bond election to build a garage and to build it at the parking corral. These voters know that
the actual ballot language voted upon and approved does not require the building of a garage, let alone one at the parking corral. These voters are now increasingly becoming aware that this city council, without conducting a parking study to justify need, wants to spend $18 million to build a garage, the
parking corral that will only provide 185 parking spaces. These voters are capable of determining the cost of $97,297.30 per parking space is over twice the national average per parking space. These voters are becoming increasingly aware that the council's motivation for
building a garage is not due to need, but almost certainly due to a political dealmaking between rivals on this in the previous council and the rewarding of political supporters of individual council members. Tonight, my presentation of this petition right here
with 4,000 Sunlad signatures on it fulfills my obligation to the thousands of people who relied upon me to present their objections to your plan. I can now honorably walk away from this fight. However, this is just the end of the big ending of the fight and for me and the
residents of Scottsdale. Cartago Delinda est. >> Thank you, Steve. And we have copies of that. Is that right, >> Mayor? It was sent electronically to the council last week. It's, as Mr. Sutton
mentioned, it's over 4,000 signatures. So, we did we sent it to the council electronically. We did not print it out due to the number of signatures. >> Right. Okay. Just making sure. Thank you so much. All right. That concludes the receipt of citizens petitions and uh we don't have any action action item
associated with this. So, I'm going to skip that part. >> Mayor. Yeah. No. Uh the council has to take one of three actions. Either uh agendaize the item, uh ask uh the responsible charter officer to draft a written report um to the council and to
the petitioner or take no action. Unless I'm missing something, there was no request for action in that petition that Steve just talked about. >> So, mayor, yeah, Mayor, just to clarify, there's a cover letter from Mr. Sutton that it says, "This petition provides
you the opportunity I'm going to skip part of it, but um to conduct a parking study to determine the need for spending $18 million to build a parking garage." >> That's what I just read, but he said that was not part of the petition.
Okay. Well, that's what we took as his request, mayor, because it was in his cover letter. >> All right. Uh, well, I for one am in complete support for a parking study, but does anyone want to make a motion on this? Sure. I'll continue to support a parking
study as I have for a very long time. So, we can agendize the city man. I will uh let's see motion to uh move to direct the city manager to uh number two direct the city manager or
other responsible charter officer to investigate the matter and prepare a written response or actually you know what I'm going to do number one because since we have this coming forward why don't we add uh a parking study to that agenda item so I will direct the city manager or other responsible charter
officer to agendaize the petition for further discussion at the upcoming council meeting to include a parking study. Thank you. >> Thank you. I'm going to second that and I'm going to speak to my second. So, I met with uh Janie White uh last week,
maybe the week before and I met with her um you know, we hadn't met before. Her dad was grandfather, excuse me, was the first mayor of Scottsdale, right? and she's a property owner in Oldtown and we had a long conversation about this and
her experience is so different. She's she thinks everyone all the business owners or many of them are for the parking garage and think we need parking in Oldtown. Her experience was so different um polar opposite than my experience has been in terms of input
from downtown business owners, property owners and residents. So, I mean I this issue is just I would love to see it clarified and maybe parking study isn't the right the the beam of light that
will decide this this issue, but I think it's warranted to get an updated parking set study as I've said before. So, I'm going to second it. I know that we haven't had much success getting traction on this in the past, but you know, I'd love to see this settled
objectively. So, with that, uh, sorry, Vice Mayor Quasman. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, Ben, I'm sorry. Is the cover letter part of a petition? Because the petitioner claimed
re just right there said that the parking study's not part of this petition. I'm so confused. Do we create something out of whole cloth or he he said it himself, this is parking study's not part of it. And even he said, "Yeah, yeah, this I don't understand is the is the cover letter part of a petition or
not? What is being voted on? I don't understand. >> Let's let the maybe the petitions uh >> well say attorney >> is well he hasn't >> he spoke he said he said he spoke he said a parking study is not part of this petition. He said it right there.
>> Excuse me, Vice Mayor Quasman. Then he said from the audience that the purpose of it was we could decide either way. Well, that's inherent in this action item. But go ahead, city attorney, >> mayor and members of the council. What's agendaized tonight is what's on the
board here. So, you have three options. Either um agenda it for a further discussion in a later meeting or direct the city manager, responsible charter officer to investigate and do a report or number three is take no action. So
regardless of what his intent is, um it was agendaized in a particular way for the council to make a decision and the and the council can interpret his um intent as it sees fit. >> And just to just to recap, Vice Mayor Clausman, because you make you make a
great point. I had that same question to begin with because as I indicated, it's agendaized and to the city manager's point, that's what we need to move forward on. The citizen petition relates to the building of a parking garage at the parking corral location and requests
the city con to conduct a parking study in order to determine the need for a parking garage at this location or at a less culturally and historically significant area of Scottsdale. So that's the agenda item. There's a motion in a second and that's the answer apparently.
>> No, thank you madame mayor and and thank you. Thank you Luis. That is it's if it's up to us to interpret it, it's understandable. So, I would like to make an alternate motion for number two, direct the city manager or other responsible charter officer to investigate the matter and prepare a written response to the council with a copy to petitioner. >> I will second the
>> second. >> Okay. >> All right. We have an alternate motion on the table. Let's go ahead and vote on >> Oh, uh my >> Well, you had the floor. I didn't I thought that was your indicator. So, do you want to speak? >> Yes.
>> Okay, go right ahead. Thank you, mayor. Um, I didn't get the second in there because I was going to speak to my second, but I was outdrawn. The I This is almost a point of order because, um, the petition, the cover sheet,
in my opinion, he could add any cover sheet at the very last second and say anything that he ever wanted to say. And so I I think that what you need to evaluate the petition on is what is the language that
everybody who signed the petition was presented with. And otherwise he he could literally add any cover letter and and change the meaning or the text of the petition
um before it comes to council. And so when I read the petition, I read we petition the city council to cancel this project and that would be what would we would be agendaizing.
Do we vote to agendaize to just cancel the project? And um this says nothing like vice mayor said and others said about a study in
the abstract or in uh in or or as we read it. Um I I just want to go through a few points about this petition. Do not move the farmers market from its current location to the inconvenient city hall parking lot. I mean the city hall
parking lot. we heard from the farmers market is a convenient spot and I'm they're expanding to it and I think it's going to be a better spot for them with as councilwoman Whitehead talks about is going to have lots of more space and shade and places to eat and she's even
restrooms there there's restrooms that corral now but >> excuse me councilman Graham point of order the city attorney has already opined on this the agenda item the agenda was I it was agenda based on the language that's in our
published agenda and that I read to you at the outset. So to dissect what the cover letter says, we're here to vote and not analyze um you know good, bad or otherwise given the confusion and I too had that same confusion. This is what's
agendaized and we are to vote on that. >> Mr. Parliamentarian, um the mayor made a point of order and am I not allowed to just talk about the language of the petition? Is that out of or is not not I shouldn't say disallowed, but is that am I out of order doing that? And I'll I
will withdraw if I am. >> So, mayor and members of the city council, the the rules were revised not too long ago to allow each member of the council to speak once on a particular petition. Right. So, in terms of the scope of that discussion, um it's not
specific. However, um the agenda is pretty specific. Um and um it's as I indicated the vice mayor, it's up to the city council to interpret what the petition means and how to interpret it. And there are three um particular uh
avenues. Um so I think it would be best to concentrate on those three particular avenues that the that the council can consider and then at the if it is agendaized for a future meeting to discuss I think that probably be the more appropriate time to go dissect it. Um, where I was coming from, and I
appreciate the point of order, um, where where I was coming from was just just to read and I wasn't the mayor said I was dissecting the cover page, but I I wasn't even reading the cover page because I was reading the petition that the signers were before them. And um, so
I'm I'm not trying to be disputatious whatsoever. Um, I was just reading the petition language because I was explaining why in in uh an explanation of why I support the alternate motion and to give the public some of, you know, some of the thinking behind what
to to share to them what this language says um and maybe some ways to think about it. But, you know, I'll take a hint and I will uh um I will uh conclude my remarks and I'm ready to vote. Thank you. Right.
We have an alternate uh motion on the table and that is to direct the city manager to follow up with the applicant or the petitioner. All those in favor? Thank you very much. That concludes the
petition conversation and now we are nearly at the end of the agenda. Uh, Councilman Graham, would you like to I think there are some council member comments. Is that you? Did you have some? >> Oh, thank you, Mayor. This is Well, not
it's not comments. It's to um you know, I just had um I had my meeting minutes or meeting agenda up and I just accidentally closed it. So, let me just find that real quick. I wanted to bring before my colleagues for their consideration.
Um, there it is. I found it. Uh, to direct the city clerk and interim city attorney to agendaize city council presentation for discussion and possible action to require city council approval. when boards and commissions change their bylaws, I think it's um I think it's
prudent that that they they can do whatever they want to their bylaws and then they come before us, the city council, uh who's accountable to the people, and then we um and we can confirm uh those bylaw changes. But um when I was talking to the city clerk
about this item, uh it's um it's uh coincidentally I think changes to the uh boards and review procedures are already coming before us. Just probably some housekeeping items.
And so I would just kindly ask my my uh colleagues to consider this to be included in that. So, I'm not specifying a particular date for when we can consider that change, but when it but I guess I'm I'm kindly asking my colleagues to consider this to be included um as part of the when city
staff when our city charter officers bring it to council for our consideration. Do I So, do I do I make a motion? I haven't done this for a while. >> So, so I'll move to direct the city manager or responsible city charter officer to agend agenda agendaize the
item for a future meeting. All right. Anyone have any questions on that or need any clarification? Okay. Uh let's take a vote on that. All right. That concludes the business for the evening and unless there's
anything else I will >> council reports. >> I asked for those. Yeah. Does anybody else have any? Okay, go ahead. >> Uh, yeah. I just for our council remarks, I just want to make a couple comments. We had the 20th anniversary of
the Granite Reef Senior Center besides the millions of great things in community that that center brings. It was a pleasure to be there. It's also um it was the first uh senior center built in the state of Arizona that was leadcertified, lead gold. So, it's
energy efficient. Um, it conserves water and it has beautiful green spaces. Um, also I want to say that the city of Scottto uh was honored for the Ashler Hills Park this past weekend by um the
um Arizona Forward. So that was another great event. We had a park employee there with his wife. Um, and then finally, I want to tell everybody that next this Saturday is um the tour to
Scottsdale, third annual. So, I'm personally excited about riding in the heat for 60 miles. But anyway, so it's really a great event and really good for Scottsdale. So, thank you for these uh the opportunity to say these remarks.
>> Thank you, uh, Councilwoman Mckllen. >> Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to um say that this past week I had the pleasure of representing Scottsdale at the National Leagues Cities and Towns uh national conference uh in Washington DC
and the main topic uh was of course water in Arizona and our um intergovernmental director or manager uh Sarah Sparman also was there along with our fire chiefs uh Ganon and um Gagnan
and uh They we spent the day on Capitol Hill uh talking to um Representative Schwiker, Representative Biggs, Senator Ggo and uh Senator Kelly about the needs of water in Arizona and uh it was very
fruitful and literally spent 45 minutes in Rep. uh Schwiker's office and he is um hoping to help us with water. So uh I was very happy to represent um Scottsdale. Thank you. Thank you very much. Excellent.
Councilman Graham, >> I want to agree with the mayor about uh the excellent uh event today for the expansion of the uh western spirit um the museum in the downtown with the um uh Buzz Sands expansion hosting the
Eddie Basha art collection. One-of-a-kind ex uh exhibit and it'll be a gem for our downtown and for and a cultural attraction for for many years to come. Very excited about that. I want to remind everybody about the National
Vietnam Veterans Day, Sunday, March 29th at 11:00 a.m. at the Scottsdale Civic Center East Bowl. And I want to remind everybody as it's going on about the Gold Pallet Art Walk every Thursday at 6:30. Um it's a um it is a chance to
always explore Scottsdale's Arts District on our Thursday evenings uh this spring. So, hope to see you there. Thank you. >> Thank you. That concludes our business for this evening. Thank you for spending the day evening with us. We appreciate
it. And uh motion to adjurnn. Anybody opposed? >> Second. >> Thank you very much.