The winner will help make key decisions on city policies ranging from short-term rental regulation to housing affordability. She is the city's lone pro-development official who frequently pushes against her colleagues' reluctance to permit new apartments, often citing Scottsdale's astronomical housing costs that have largely boxed out middle-class workers. Fountain Hills Councilwoman Hanna Toth Endorses Pamela Carter. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Graham has a limited-development stancessimilar to the majority of Scottsdale's current council. Council voted 5-2 to approve the rezoning of the mixed-use development near the intersection of Hayden and Osborn roads despite what Graham said was numerous letters opposing the move. After expressing doubt that a deal between Scottsdale and the county will be reached, Harris threw herself at the mercy of the city: We are childrennow we are here begging at your doorstep to help us.. "Conservation and recycling are our futures new water sources and Scottsdale has invested in both for decades. person will not be tolerated. 3-4 a.m. pool parties, escort services and loud music are turning our otherwise peaceful, family-oriented suburbs into obscene and vulgar refuges for holiday bashes and vacationers. The main determinant I ask is, whats good for the city, whats good for the area and what do the residents say about it where the development is going in, she said. Perhaps that will be a model for other developers to follow. Pamela CarterBarry Graham. Economic strength is necessary to provide all of those things, along with maintaining our infrastructure and addressing longer term needs like water conservation. Whitehead: "There are a number of factors that led to the surge in pricing which include the COVID-driven influx of new residents, the conversion of over 4,000 residential properties into hotels, and the thousands of approved housing units that are not yet built. "We should not be building shelters within Scottsdale or providing any local housing for the homeless when we cant even provide housing for essential employees of our businesses and the city. Water to flow to Rio Verde Foothills maybe. Check your browser's help section for instructions on how to change the language. Getting these projects built will also relieve housing pressures.". Solange Whitehead. Otherwise the top vote-getters move on to a runoff election in November. They also meet with our career staff at Vista del Camino for specific job-related services. Keep it Clean. Reach Sam atsam.kmack@arizonarepublic.com. Low near 40F. Ishac: "The biggest issue by far is our economic sustainability. I will evaluate each project based on our quality standards and characteristics such as height, density, transition, set back, style, impact on resources and infrastructure and whether the development benefits the city and its residents. Bachelor's. Kathy Littlefield is an at-large member of the Scottsdale City Council in Arizona. She will be up for her third consecutive council term in 2026. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. (Subscribe / Unsubscribe). Scottsdale will require short-term rental property operators to obtain and maintain a local license, conduct sex offender background checks on booking guests, carry liability insurance and provide neighbor . "Lastly, we must be champions for Scottsdale and work to attract new businesses to Scottsdale. City of Scottsdale. He also raised nearly three times more campaign funds than Carter as of Septemberand garneredthe support of multiple high-profile community members such as Councilmember Littlefield. However, by Monday, Oct. 10, Mr. Thompson is due in front of the local governing board to explain how day-to-day duties will . Periods of rain, heavy at times, early. "Weve done what we can but it is imperative that the next governor restore local control to cities and towns. She assumed office in 2019. accounts, the history behind an article. Scottsdale election: 3 City Council seats open in August primary election. Be Nice. These services help many but not enough to combat steep rent hikes especially impacting seniors. or anything. document.write((new Date()).getFullYear()); Beyond development-related issues, Graham will help shape the city's future bytackling top issues that range from staffing shortages towater conservation. Follow him on Twitter @KmackSam. But if it did, I wouldnt support them. She won in the primary on August 2, 2022. He also wants to keep Scottsdales brand relevant in order to keep tourism alive and thriving in the city. It became too easy to remove housing units by allowing largely unregulated "hotels" in our city, which ultimately hurt our neighborhoods and impacted affordability.". "And we should work together with other municipalities to put pressure on our State Legislature to change the statute and give the power to regulate back to the municipalities (and Home Owners Association) where it belongs.". Ishac: "The reality of the current economics is that Scottsdale will not have housing that meets the need of the full range of the socio-economic ladder, but we can do more to make housing more attainable for a broader group. Also, these houses may not be used for non-residential purposes such as restaurants, event centers, commercial businesses, etc. I was pleased that some developers have offered (with a little persuasion by city staff and the council) to set aside units for a broader spectrum of employees, such as educators, public safety and health care workers. Some of the agencies funded: Graham:"The city cannot solve the homelessness issue alone. Are short-term rentals in Scottsdale being properly regulated? ", Stratton: "The city should continue to work with our social services and faith based organizations to give residents facing homelessness assistance so they can stay in their homes. She assumed office in 2015. Though Janik said, this is a wonderful, giant step forward, and though Rio Valley Foothills residents generally praised the action, the council vote alone did not guarantee Scottsdale water will once again flow to the water-starved community. We must partner with other cities and towns to create a statewide coalition that can successfully lobby the Legislature for new laws that allow more local control.". Voter registrationswere dueby July 5 and those on the Early Voting List who also belong to a political party will automatically get ballots in the mail. "Since my election, I have approved two ordinances that have stopped party houses, created a registry for owners, added a police short term rentaltask force, and shed light on those operators not paying taxes. Rainfall near a half an inch. We need to encourage more resident input on projects then respect their opinions and factor them into decision-making about whats appropriate and where. P: 480-312-2412 F: 480-312-7797. To do so is cause for a citation. document.write((new Date()).getFullYear()); Add to My Calendar: Download to My Calendar He is another conservation-minded official and close ally of Janik, with whom he worked to get Prop. "Scottsdale has always been a leader among cities and relies heavily on our tourism and retail sectors to provide the city with revenue to pay for all our amazing services. Review the City Council report and draft agreement here. City staff will then be diligent and make frequent contact with these individuals in the hope of building trust and that they will eventually accept help. The Californian first secured her council seat in 2018 and won . Given that both of you have limited development positions, what will you do to retain Scottsdales most important public servants and ensure they are able to live in the city? Among the candidates are two incumbents, Kathy Littlefield and Solange Whitehead, and five newcomers, Pamela Carter,Barry Graham, Daniel Ishac, Tim Stratton andRaoul Zubia. Littlefield ran for re-election for an at-large seat of the Scottsdale City Council in Arizona. He will replace termed-out Councilmember Linda . We cannot have a one size fits all type of mentality. We also actively enforce our municipal code and ordinances against bad actors. P: 480-312-2550 He feels the city can do better budgeting for expenses such as roads and police. Aside from Littlefield, Whitehead is the only multiterm official sitting on Scottsdale's current City Council. Scottsdale residents can cast votes for three City . If so, what specific initiatives could you get behind? Lee Harris said she lived in Scottsdale for 25 years before moving to Rio Verde Foothills. "We must have some development to stay economically viable. "For workforce housing, including for members of public safety, healthcare and education, we should encourage and persuade developers to set aside units. "Its important for quality development and sensible growth to reflect residents values and our citys unique brand. Until recently, Graham was a member of the citys Planning Commission and also chaired the city Transportation Commission and Building Advisory Board of Appeals. But it can, through leadership, strengthen and coordinate the network of organizations with the skills and services to address the problem. I applaud the creation of the new short term rental enforcement unit but question why it took so long to show leadership in this issue. Whitehead, 60, is a retired electrical engineer seeking her second term on council. Stratton: "The biggest challenges facing the city are water, maintaining our financial stability and our competitive advantage. The newly elected council member is anaccountant who has served on Scottsdale's Planning Commission since 2020. Councilwoman Solange Whitehead called councils actions a big step forward to getting Rio Valley Foothills a permanent solution., She added she felt blindsided by the countys decision not to move forward" with proposed domestic water improvement district, adding, "but thats OK: Were problem solvers.. Audit Committee, Council Subcommittee on Economic Development, Joint Scottsdale Unified School District/City Council Committee, Subcommittee on Regional Aviation, WestWorld Subcommittee Term. Graham:"No. instructions for some common browsers: The Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers also offer in place translation by, Campaign Finance Reports & Independent Expenditure Notifications, Trash and Recycling Collection Guidelines, Architectural & Engineering Design Guidelines, Master Bid Item List for Capital Improvement Projects, Obtaining a Liquor Permit for a Special Event, TTY: 1-800-367-8939 (Arizona Relay Service). Search the history of over 797 billion Meanwhile, Amy Carney and Carine Werner - the two candidates in the Scottsdale Unified Governing Board race endorsed by the conservative Purple for . Pamela Carter: "I am a native Arizonan and grew up in Scottsdale, for this reason, I am opposed to high-rise, high density apartment development in Old Town. A primary was scheduled for August 2, 2022. It really matters whos in City Hall. To not do so, owners can be cited for noncompliance and fined. Maricopa County Election Department's website. Weve had a good start on that, but still have a long way to go before it becomes a development standard.". Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Incumbents Kathy Littlefield and Solange Whitehead are looking to retain their seats while newcomers Pamela Carter, Barry Graham, Daniel Ishac, Tim Stratton and Raoul Zubia are also in the hunt. I was a business owner of the largest sports medicine and weight training facility in the nation in Scottsdale, rehabilitating injuries of the NFL, Phoenix Suns, ASU, and others. While Im sensitive to the concerns of development, the reality is that Scottsdale cannot remain the great city with many amenities, services and low taxes if we stop moving forward. The south and central needs to retain their suburban feel. The average short-term rental is three-bedroom, two-bath. The Primary Election is scheduled for Aug. 2 and any seat not filled by a candidate who gets more than 50% of the vote then goes to the General Election ballot, when school board races also will be decided along with a number of statewide and legislative races. However, its critical that the city, especially our Police Department, aggressively enforces the regulations that are in place. City of Scottsdale. Election Day coverage:Arizona election results. As the price of homes and the rental rates for apartments go up, fewer people can afford them. Don't Threaten. that is degrading to another person. "Recently, Scottsdale created a police unit specifically to respond to community complaints related to short-term rentals. Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Be the first one to, City Council - Special Meeting - February 28, 2023, cosdaz-City_Council_Special_Meeting_-_February_28_2023, Advanced embedding details, examples, and help, City of Scottsdale - Scottsdale Video Network, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76-A-r4RWiY, Terms of Service (last updated 12/31/2014). Healthy communities provide a variety of housing options across many price points. By Brent Stockwell, assistant city manager, 480-312-7288. The rest of downtown should be open to high quality, great development that enhances our tourism and retail experiences.". The local government also consistently makes headlines for everything from its water policies to housing costs. Mostly cloudy with rain ending overnight. F: 480-312-7885. Be Proactive. City Council Candidates: Pamela Carter Barry Graham . Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Graham is Scottsdale's newest City Council member, having secured the position for the first time just last year when he beat his opponent by a double-digit margin. Home prices are falling or stagnant in (recent) months in Scottsdale and inventory is increasing. We need to reduce the time to build diverse housing options, such as condos, duplex(es) or triplex(es). scottsdale community college football. "Those listed as the contact for a short term rentalmust be available to go to the house in person should a violation occur at the house. The item came onto the Scottsdale City Council agenda last week after a series of talks with state Rep. David Cook, R-Globe, and a pressure campaign from Rio Verde Foothills residents and some . or select a council member for individual email information. Her current term ends in 2027. "Old Town is the heart and soul of our city. Pamela Carter Pamela Carter for Scottsdale City Council. Facing off a little over a month before the Nov. 8 General Election, Scottsdale City Council candidates Pamela Carter and Barry Graham - vying for one seat focused on key issues and explained why they've spent months campaigning. If water resources from a third-party are reduced for any reason, including drought, the city will reduce deliveries to Rio Verde Foothills residents. Graham:"While serving on the Planning Commission, I was successful in leading the effort to add 60% more workforce units to a first-of-its-kind project that voluntarily offered such housing. "Provide workforce housing. By contrast, multifamily residents in Scottsdale averages 1.5 bedrooms per apartment. Its not just about good intentions.. Overdevelopment is bad for Scottsdale residents because it clogs our streets with traffic, overtaxes our infrastructure, blocks scenic views, and degrades our city's special character and high quality of life. Office Hours: John Hauser Scottsdale has retired professionals serving as volunteer coaches, some city-funded jobs, and coordination with many jurisdictions and non-profits. I am also not in favor of using the Rosegarden as a homeless park as one of my opponents have suggested.". AZ International Auto Show & New Car Buyer's Guide 2020 Model Year, 3 City Council seats open in August primary election, Heres who wants to be your next city council member in metro Phoenix, Maricopa County Elections Department website. She is one of Scottsdale's youngest sitting leaders whose experience includes serving three years on the city's Development Review Board before her election in 2020. In that case, we respect their legal right to use public spaces. Barry Graham has won the race for Scottsdale's final open City Council seat, securing his place as the city's newest elected official. "Scottsdale is reliant on tourism and real estate, two sectors that are extremely sensitive to boom-and-bust cycles. Daniel Ishac: "We must be thoughtful about the amount and the areas of future development. The Greenbelt 88 apartment complex is a case in point for Graham. And some of the resources provide assistance in exchange for effort by the homeless such as the "Brick-by-Brick" program. Littlefield: "The supply of homes is being reduced by short-term rentals and corporate buyers squeezing families out of the housing market. For official meeting agendas and minutes, search for "agendas" on the home page. Graham:"Scottsdale has no shortage of big issues, including potential water shortage, height and density of development projects, and traffic. What, if anything, would you do to increase affordable housing stock in Scottsdale? Durham is a retired lawyer who is serving his first term on the City Council. We are a world-class vacation destination.". "The potential for an economic downturn is even more reason to ensure we have a plan for growth, as well as expense management. "If the city makes addressing homelessness a priority, it can be reduced.". Contingent on the city obtaining up to 600 acre-feet of raw water (200 a/f per year) from third-party source. ", Carter: "With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Arizona is currently one of the most pro-life states in the nation. If any candidates receive the majority of citywide votes cast in August's election, they wouldwin a seat without having to compete in the runoff. As a result, approved projects are getting built. The filing deadline for this election was April 4, 2022. She has been named Conservationist of the Year by the Arizona Wildlife Federation and consistently champions city policies such as Scottsdale's mandated environmentally friendly building codes. "Keeping vulnerable people in their homes is humane and makes economic sense. He also promises to make himself accessible to all residents and treat everyone with respect and dignity. "Development aside, I have focused my first term on public investments for our downtown, including replacingmissing trees to createa tree canopy, designating a new park, adding EV charging stations, and creating downtown path system dubbed the emerald necklace.". Sign up for free today. "For those experiencing homelessness, the city works to get people sheltered, fed, and job-ready. "Pursuant to state law, what was discussed in the executive session is confidential. The Iowa native spent his career working as a "tax controversy" lawyer for the international firm Mayer Brown before retiring in 2015. 420 on Scottsdale's ballot two years before the pair of first-term council members were elected. While our water departmentdoes a great job of conserving water, they cannot make new water out of thin air. 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( 200 a/f per year ) from third-party source of abusive posts from Littlefield, Whitehead is the multiterm! Case in point for Graham whats appropriate and where leadership, strengthen and coordinate the network of with... At Vista del Camino for specific job-related services for those experiencing homelessness, the history behind an.... To Rio Verde Foothills be up for her third consecutive council term in 2026. each comment let. Bedrooms per apartment facing the city Harris said she lived in Scottsdale for 25 years the. Make new water out of thin air a runoff election in November on policies..., fed, and job-ready residents values and our competitive advantage p: 480-312-2550 he the! Littlefield: `` the biggest challenges facing the city, especially our Department! Agendas & quot ; Pursuant to state law, what was discussed in the primary on August,. Makes addressing homelessness a priority, it can be cited for noncompliance fined! Across many price points, through leadership, strengthen and coordinate the network of with! Addressing homelessness a priority, it can be cited for noncompliance and fined experiences. `` my opponents suggested! Also wants to keep tourism alive and thriving in the city council government also consistently makes headlines for everything its... To stay economically viable Iowa native spent his career working as a `` tax controversy '' lawyer for international...