2026-09-22 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official approved minutes. No video is posted, so there is no transcript or timing.

Regular Meeting and Work Study Session called to order at 5:41 PM by Mayor Borowsky; adjourned 7/0 at 8:37 PM. All seven members present (Kwasman arrived 5:46 PM; Littlefield joined electronically from 5:49 PM).
Proclamation for Constitution Week; presentations on the 2026 Sustainable Scottsdale Award (Stardust Building Supplies) and on the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation at Taliesin West.
August meeting minutes approved 7/0.
Consent agenda items 1 through 16 approved 7/0 with no public comment, including three tourism event funding agreements, a Kunkel Redbird Road easement abandonment, liquor license recommendations, and a $30,000 settlement.
Orangedale Lounge live entertainment permit approved 7/0 with shorter music hours after two speakers opposed.
Monterra Facility rental fees adopted 6/1, with Kwasman dissenting.
Council voted 6/0 to put a Flock technology discussion on the October 6, 2026 agenda.
Work study session on a possible large water user ordinance: presentation and Council observations, no vote.

Item 17, Resolution 13752, live entertainment permit for a bar of about 1,556 square feet at Bell Road, Suite 110. Steinke presented.
Public comment against: Todd Heroldt (effect on the natural environment and wildlife; handout provided) and David Boland for The Ridge at McDowell Mountain (operating hours and music amplification; asked for a remand to the Planning Commission if the stipulations were unclear).
First motion by Dubauskas: live music Monday through Thursday only, ending 8:00 PM, 65 decibels outside the premises. Whitehead seconded, then withdrew her second.
Alternate motion by Whitehead, seconded by McAllen: live music limited to 8:00 PM on weekdays and 9:00 PM on Friday and Saturday, all other stipulations remaining. Passed 7/0.

Item 18, Resolution 13765, FY 2026/27 rental fees for the Monterra Facility at WestWorld. Johnson, Interim WestWorld General Manager, presented; no public comment.
Motion by Borowsky, second by Whitehead; passed 6/1 with Kwasman dissenting.

Item 20, at the Mayor's request: direct the City Manager to agendize a presentation, discussion and possible direction on the Police Department's continued use of Flock technology. Council could only agendize, ask for a written response, or take no action.
Public comment: Eric Fowler (Libertarian Party chair, Chandler resident) opposed the cameras and supported agendizing; Lottie Kimbal for the Scottsdale Fraternal Order of Police supported the cameras and opposed agendizing; Yvonne Cahill opposed the cameras and supported agendizing.
Borowsky moved to agendize for the October 20, 2026 meeting; Whitehead seconded. Kwasman offered a friendly amendment for a 60-day window, which Borowsky rejected. Dubauskas then moved for November 10, 2026 (seconded by Kwasman) and withdrew it.
Alternate motion by McAllen, seconded by Whitehead: agendize for the October 6, 2026 regular meeting. Passed 6/0 (Littlefield absent for the vote).
General comment: Patricia Badenoch and Felipe Priess spoke against public surveillance cameras.

Approved on consent 7/0: Best of the West (up to $10,000, Arizona Reining Horse Association), Scottsdale Cup (up to $12,000, Rated Sports Group) and Arizona Indigenous Culinary Experience (up to $28,000), all from the FY 2026/27 Tourism Development Fund; staff contact Kevin Burke.

Consent item 7, Resolution 13751: abandonment of portions of General Land Office Patent Easements at Redbird Road (Kunkel), approved 7/0.

Work study session. Public comment: Alisa McMahon supported creating an ordinance, urged review of other cities' ordinances, covering both potable and non-potable water, and transparency; Raoul Zubia stressed workable, enforceable options and supported an ordinance.
Ryden-Diaz, Interim Water Resources Senior Director, presented, with Erin Perrault and Kevin Burke as co-presenters.
Council observations: single-family homes use most of the water; examine all non-potable water; report indoor versus outdoor use and reclaimed water use; rely less on the Colorado River; fund the Water Strategic Plan and the advanced water purification project; groundwater is not the solution; consider whether developers can be required to bring their own water if the 100-year assurance is not met; protect single-family homes and affordability; be mindful of small businesses and note golf course self-regulation. No vote.

Work study item 2: Selin (Budget Department Director) and Tymkiw (Transportation and Infrastructure Senior Director) presented preliminary FY 2026 General Fund results and the Capital Improvement Plan update. No vote.
Council comments: added sales tax is coming from consumers; the sidewalk at Thomas Road and 68th Street is inaccessible and a telephone pole needs to be relocated; the Thompson Peak Dog Park is a great resource.

Other consent items approved 7/0: four Series 12 liquor license recommendations and a patio extension of premises, Cedar Room bar permit, a shade structure cooperative contract (up to $750,000 per term), an aviation brokerage consulting contract (about $56,000 a year, not above $150,000, with Rick Wielebski as staff contact), a trolley office license, a $377,676 street sweeper grant, a $30,000 settlement in a pending lawsuit, and the July financial report.
General comment also included Dan Ishac on social media comments and free speech, and Andrew Wollman asking Scottsdale to match Phoenix campaign finance reporting times. No citizen petitions. Agenda item on Council procedure rules was removed at Kwasman's request.
Council reports: McAllen noted the Parks 75th anniversary event, the City Hall parking lot reopening and the farmers market opening October 3 at a new Civic Center location.