Mayor, Council, Residents Participate in Informative  Town Meeting

The North Scottsdale Town Meeting organized by Friends of the Scenic Drive, the Greater Pinnacle Peak Homeowners' Association (GPPHA) and the Desert Foothills Property Owners Association was an unqualified success. Barbara Copeland, GPPHA Vice President, kicked off the event by welcoming the Mayor, City Council and residents. Tony Nelssen, GPPHA board member, acted as moderator. For the first 75 minutes of the meeting the Mayor and City Council members responded to 7 questions concerning north Scottsdale issues. The questions had been prepared by the meeting's sponsors and submitted to the leaders prior to the event. For the last 60 minutes, leaders responded to questions from attending residents. 

The consensus was that the meeting achieved the intended objectives of providing information about issues that concern north Scottsdale residents, and giving residents the opportunity to express their opinions on these issues. 

The following article from the Scottsdale Tribune describes the event. The article was written by Scott Seckel of the Tribune staff. Additional information can be obtained from the flyer that was mailed in advance of the meeting. [Read More]

Scottsdale Residents Quiz Leaders at Forum

"Cell towers, scenic views, annexation and what it means to be a Western town were some of the issues batted around at a Thursday night town hall meeting in north Scottsdale, where most of the city's leadership fielded questions from residents. 

About 90 residents heard Mayor Mary Manross and City Council members George Zracket, Ned O'Hearn, Robert Pettycrew and Cynthia Lukas discuss a variety of topics.

"I remember when this city practiced the "West's Most Western Town," north Scottsdale resident Chris Holmes said.

Holmes added that the West World equestrian center doesn't cater to casual users. "Those people are fast leaving this town. What are we doing for the equine group?" he said.

Zraket said he thought West World "has much more room to be user-friendly to our citizens. I think we need to look at our fee structure and management."  (Ed. Prior to Zracket's comment, Mayor Manross had indicated that the city is actively looking for a new management. Councilman Pettycrew indicated that West World needed further improvements and that since acquiring the facility the city expenditures have been for basic maintenance of the property.)

Meeting sponsors asked the city officials how the city will spend the $27 million approved by citizens for Scottsdale Road and the Scenic Drive. "We don't know yet," Lukas said. (Ed. Zracket displayed a document describing the Scottsdale Road review that was conducted last year and placed in on a table for resident to review. Manross indicated that, while the city will work to preserve the unique character of the various sections of Scottsdale Road, it will try to find some common theme to carry for the entire length of the road.)

One issue that the bond measure won't address is development on the Phoenix side of the road. Manross said she is trying to set up a meeting with Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimza to discuss the issue. (Ed. Pettycrew commented that it was very important that the councils of the two cities meet and discuss development goals.)

Decisions on how to spend the bond money won't be made for months, and development along the scenic corridor will continue. Terravita resident Ron Roessler asked what the city can do now. 

"One of the things this council will ask for is 100-foot setback," Pettycrew said. "We do have the final say." (Ed. Many in the audience applauded this comment.)

Troon Village resident Nancy Walderman was concerned about cell towers turning Scottsdale into an antenna farm. "They look like kitchen appliances hanging off large poles," Zraket said. "I call this collectively vertical pollution." (Ed. Marlene Baker, a Scottsdale activist, called for a special committee to look into possible solutions for the cell tower problem.)

Other discussion included annexation east to the Rio Verde area, which Manross said is not in the city's eye. "I'd prefer to concentrate on the community we have now," she said. 

City leaders spent most of the two-hour meeting answering prepared questions, but Terravita residents Nellie and Arty Carl felt citizens had plenty of time to ask their own questions. 

Friends of the Scenic Drive, the Greater Pinnacle Peak Homeowners Association and the Desert Foothills Property Owners sponsored the event." 

Ed. 

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