The city provides monthly brush and bulk item collection, offering residents a convenient way to dispose of items too large for refuse containers.

Residents are asked to have brush and bulk items out for pick up by 5 a.m. on Monday the week of scheduled service.
Here’s the upcoming schedule:
** McDonald Drive to Thomas Road and Happy Valley Road to Pinnacle Peak Road: Week of July 13.
** Thomas Road to McKellips Road and Pinnacle Peak Road to Bell Road: Week of July 20.
** Bell Road to Cholla Street and Dynamite Boulevard to northern city
limits: Week of Aug. 3.
** Cholla Street to McDonald Drive and Dynamite Boulevard to Happy Valley Road – includes Sundown Drive between Cactus Road and Shea Boulevard: Week of Aug. 10.

For more information, contact the city’s Solid Waste Management division (480) 312-5600 or visit http://www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/recycle

The Scottsdale Police Department’s Investigative Services Bureau is part of a group receiving the Group/Task Force Award for Excellence in Cooperative Law Enforcement on July 22. The award is from the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee, a Valley group made up of local law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The award recognizes the efforts of several agencies during NBA All-Star Weekend last February.

Increases in violent and property crimes had occurred during previous
All-Star weekends in other cities — that didn’t happen in the Valley.
Incidents were especially low in Scottsdale, even though the city’s
entertainment and shopping districts were near capacity with players,
celebrities and fans. Scottsdale police were assisted by units from Mesa, Chandler and DPS and the Phoenix Emergency Operations Center.

For more information on the Scottsdale Police Department, visit:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Police.asp

Scottsdale’s Vista del Camino center, located at 7700 E. Roosevelt St., is serving as one of the Valley’s designated water hydration stations this summer.

The center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The purpose of the stations is to protect the health of vulnerable populations, such as those living on the streets, during the summer heat by providing locations where they can go to get free bottled water and if needed, sunscreen wipes, lip balm and hats.

Scottsdale Healthcare is partnering with the city to provide the supplies, plus information on the dangers of extreme heat. The stations also accept public donations of bottled water or other
appropriate material such as light colored t-shirts, sun block, socks and underwear, hats, and pre-packaged snack items.

A map of the Valley’s hydration stations and refuge locations is located at: http://magwww.mag.maricopa.gov/pdf/cms.resource/HS_2008_Hydration-Refuge-Locations_v111981.pdf

For more information on Scottsdale’s Vista del Camino center, visit:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/parks/vista.asp

Residents and businesses are invited to provide input for the Scottsdale
Airport Strategic Business Plan.

The Airport Advisory Commission will hold a hearing on the plan during its next meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 8. The meeting takes place at the Scottsdale Airport Terminal, 15000 N. Airport Drive.

The goal of the business plan is to ultimately determine the focus and
guidance for future planning and development at the airport. Four potential business scenarios for the airport have been developed to
determine the best approach to keep Scottsdale Airport efficient and
effective and providing long-term benefits to the city and surrounding
community.

The four scenarios are:
** Scenario 1 – Market focus – small to mid-size corporate jets; reflects current operations
** Scenario 2 – Market focus – small to mid-size corporate jets with
adjusted administrative weight restriction; current operations plus an
increase to the aircraft weight limit from 75,000 to 100,000 lbs
** Scenario 3 – Market focus – small to large-sized corporate jets; current operations plus larger corporate jets
** Scenario 4 – Market focus – commuter air service; current operations plus scheduled passenger/commuter service

You can learn more about the four scenarios, download and review documents, and take a brief survey at: www.scottsdaleaz.gov/airport/AirportSBP.asp

If you are unable to attend the Commission meeting you also can provide input by calling (480) 312-2549 or e-mailing, airportsbp@scottsdaleaz.gov

After more than a year of renovation and renewal, the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is embarking upon a new era with the opening of its state-of-the-art Virginia G. Piper Theater and a star-studded 2009-10 season of dance, jazz, classical and world music, theater and satire.

Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth will be the first to perform on the new stage as part of the Oct. 24 ARTrageous Celebration, a benefit for the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.

The new 852-seat Virginia G. Piper Theater will offer the latest lighting
and acoustic technology as well as dramatic improvements in sightlines,
climate control, seating and audience accessibility. Most importantly, the theater’s intimate character, which has long been its hallmark, has been thoughtfully enhanced. Outside the theater, the updated and renamed Dayton Fowler Grafman Atrium has likewise been transformed into a more welcoming and comfortable space that offers visitors many improved amenities, such as a new box office, mezzanine and café managed by Arcadia Farms.

Commissioned by the Scottsdale Public Art Program for the atrium, a radiant work by artist Kana Tanaka will feature more than 100 blown-glass pieces illuminated with fiber-optic lighting.

For more information on the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
renovation and the 2009-10 season lineup, visit: http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/

The muddiest show on (or in) earth returns July 17 when Scottsdale’s Mighty Mud Mania flings into action for the 34th time.

Activities run from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chaparral Park, 5401 N. Hayden Road. This year Might Mud Mania has a lead sponsor — Henkel Consumer Goods Inc., marketers of well known brands such as Dial soap.

Mighty Mud Mania features activities for kids in two age groups, 6 and under and ages 7 to 17.  The younger group can enjoy the Mini Mud Course, Mudville (a “funtown” of mud), mini waterslide, mudpit and sand castle building. Older children can try the Original Mud Obstacle Course, waterslides, sandcastle building, and mudpits.

Participants must wear lace-up or Velcro shoes (sandals and flip-flops are not allowed) and must bring a signed permission slip or have a parent or guardian available at the event to sign one.

Scottsdale firefighters will provide a “kidwash,” so children can go home
clean.  Fully rinsed kids who bring along clean swimsuits and towels can
also enjoy a free swim at Chaparral Pool from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Residents can call 480-312-2771 to be put on a list to receive Mighty Mud Mail, or e-mail terickson@scottsdaleaz.gov to be put on an e-mail list for detailed information, permission slips, parking map, and everything needed for the event.

There is also an MMM answer line at 480-312-2704. About 200 volunteers are needed to staff the event each year.  Muddy and
not-so-muddy jobs are available.  Please call or e-mail the numbers and
address listed above by July 6 to volunteer.

Other sponsors for the 2009 event are Arizona’s Tooth Dr. for Kids,
ClifKid/Clifbar, Cricket Communications, Heritage Trucking, SRP, and
Universal Fog Outdoor Misting Systems.

For event details, visit http://www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/Parks/MMM

Valley Metro bus and rail fares increased Wednesday, July 1.

Riders are asked to plan ahead, especially for purchasing an all-day bus fare. Passengers who purchase an all-day pass at a light rail platform fare vending machine or at one of 80 select locations and stores prior to boarding a local bus can save $1.75 off of the on-board bus full-fare price.

The cost for a one-ride trip on the Valley Metro local bus, METRO light rail and the LINK bus (limited-stop service between Superstition Springs Center and Sycamore Station in Mesa) will now cost $1.75, and an all-day pass is $3.50. Purchasing an all-day pass at the farebox on the local/LINK bus will cost $5.25.

For more information on Valley Metro bus and rail fare changes, visit:
http://www.valleymetro.org/press_releases/detail/new_fares_for_bus_and_rail_transit_riders_on_july_1/

Supporting local businesses is an important step in sustaining vital city services through sales tax revenue.

A new Shop Scottsdale program encourages residents and visitors to enjoy life locally by staying, shopping, dining and experiencing Scottsdale … it’s all here!

Look for signs and decals carrying the Shop Scottsdale message around town, plus information on the city’s Web site, Channel 11 and city utility bills. To help encourage shopping in downtown Scottsdale, a new “T” Trolley Card will soon be available to trolley riders and downtown business to encourage residents to ride the trolley and patronize downtown businesses.

Use of the”T” Card at participating downtown businesses entitles card holders to discounts and specials.  Just look for the ‘T’ in the window of
participating businesses.  Cards will be available starting July 1 and will
be distributed to neighborhood connector and Downtown trolley riders,
Downtown businesses, and at the city of Scottsdale Downtown Office located at 4248 N. Craftsman Court.  Cards can also be obtained by calling (480) 312-7750.

Additional information about the Shop Scottsdale campaign is available
on-line at: www.ShopScottsdaleToday.com

Residents are invited to join the effort to send hunger packing this summer.

The Scottsdale Police Department is accepting food and cash donations for the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance through July 10.

Donation boxes are at the following locations:
** Police headquarters at 8401 E. Indian School Road
** Downtown District office at 3700 N. 75th St.
** Via Linda District office at 9065 E. Via Linda
** Foothills District office at 20363 N. Pima Road

Your donation will make a difference. The St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance
distributes more food into our community during the summer months, when children are out of school and away from breakfast and lunch programs, than it does during the holidays.

For more information on how you can help, contact Crime Prevention Officers Jen Wattier at (480) 312-0275 or Craig Abernethy at (480) 312-2594.

More information on the Scottsdale Police Department and its programs is available at: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Police.asp

Property taxes that keep streetlights lit around 27,000 homes and businesses will drop next year, after the City Council voted June 16 to roll back funds being held in reserve for the city’s 355 separate streetlight tax districts.

The districts serve nearly 33,000 Scottsdale properties, and 9 of 10 owners in the districts will see a decrease or no change in taxes. The average savings will be about $10 next year. About 2,150 owners will see tax increases to cover the costs for electricity and maintenance of their streetlights.

Another move by the city will help hold down future costs for some
districts. The city historically has contracted with the Valley’s two major electrical utilities, Salt River Project and Arizona Public Service, to
maintain street lights and poles. In March, the city took over maintenance for the 86 SRP districts in Scottsdale, and is expecting to save district taxpayers about $160,000 annually because of differences in the city’s maintenance cost structure.

APS is continuing to provide maintenance in the districts under its
contract.

For more information about the drop in streetlight property taxes, visit:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/News/06-22-2009-news.asp

More information also is available in the City Council report on the
streetlight districts at http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/documents/council/2009/061609/Item25B.pdf