Questions looming in 2024 for Scottsdale

Jan. 8—Big questions are looming, as a New Year glimmers in Scottsdale.

Here are 24 questions that could be answered sometime in 2024.

—Who wants to be mayor?

Many expect the tight-lipped Mayor David Ortega to announce his reelection plans this month.

But he likely will face at least one candidate with a track record with voters: Linda Milhaven, 12-year city council member, filed paperwork to run for mayor this year.

Expect a heated battle between the longtime rivals, with the winner getting quite a say in the short-term future of Scottsdale.

2) We're drinking WHAT????

For years, the city has been rather quietly recycling water flushed down Scottsdale toilets — using a cutting-edge filtration system to take out the "stuff" and purify the remaining water.

Though to date the filtered water is only used for irrigating golf courses, Scottsdale has been "banking" a massive amount of recycled water, storing it in aquifers for potential future use.

Some of it is also used in beer making, though on an extremely limited basis.

Could this be the year?

Scottsdale Water is eagerly awaiting state approval to start flowing the recycled water into the city's drinking water system.

3) How will AI change your life?

The city is already using artificial intelligence-powered programs for traffic flow, visitor counts, phone tracking and other "data crunching."

Driverless Waymos are already whizzing customers around Scottsdale. The company may see competition and/or expand its reach in the city.

What other AI enhancements are just over the horizon?

4) Will Scottsdale be No. 1?

... for bachelorette parties.

A social media-fueled frenzy pushed Scottsdale to rival Nashville as the No. 1 bachelorette party destination in the nation.

Vegas? Not even close.

With Airbnb/VRBO "party houses" available in the city by the hundreds — perhaps this will be the year Scottsdale takes the top spot.

The West's Most Partying Town?

5) No pain ... no gain?

As many of us begin annual New Year's workouts — the city is getting ready for another year of road workouts.

Even as many arterial roads in North Scottsdale are under construction, ADOT this week begins a two-year widening project of the Loop 101 between Shea Boulevard and Princess Drive/Pima Road.

While the roadwork will be a major pain for drivers in the short term, city and state officials promise this will provide long-term traffic relief.

6) What will City Council look like?

A major battle is brewing on Scottsdale City Council, with three of the six council seats up for grabs, this year.

While Tammy Caputi and Tom Durham are planning to run for reelection, Betty Janik is calling it "one and done" and will not run again.The incumbents will face hearty competition.

Jan Dubauskas, Adam Kwasman and Justin Laos look like they are ready to start campaigns. Others can jump in any time over the next few months.

Candidates are likely to campaign as either: no-grow, slow-grow or go-grow.

7) Whither goest SUSD board?

Talk about a busy election year.

In addition to city races, three of the five Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board seats are up for election.

Julie Cieniawski, Libby Hart-Wells and Zach Lindsay's terms expire at the end of the year.

No announcements regarding reelection campaigns have been made, but, if they choose to run, all three are likely to face lively competition.

Those three on numerous occasions in 2023 formed an informal pack to vote down board newcomers Amy Carney and Carine Werner.

But if just one candidate who shares the conservative views of Carney and Werner is elected, it will be a whole new ballgame at the district's Jackrabbit Road headquarters.

8) How big will pickleball be?

Though the sport typically attracts a far different demographic than bachelorette parties, Scottsdale is already becoming a national leader on the pickleball scene.

The Arizona Pickleball League features pro pickleballers at the Orchard at Jigsaw Health (across the 101 from Butterfly Wonderland in North Scottsdale).

Coming soon: "PURE Pickleball is building a world-class pickleball club and academy in Scottsdale. Our 10-acre campus will open in 2024."

9) Will any Scottsdale schools close?

The likes of Paradise Valley Unified School District and other public districts around the Valley are looking at closing schools.

With sharply declining enrollment, particularly in its elementary schools, will SUSD take a hard look at shuttering some classrooms?

10) What sustainability plan?

For three years, the city has been talking the talk — but not walking the walk.

Plans for the city to have its first sustainability plan in 2021 came and went, then 2022 ... 2023 ...

11) Will Axon stun — or be stunted?

In mid-2023, the maker of Tasers "stunned" its neighbors with an astounding expansion plan — for not only its previously announced, "Star Wars"-inspired headquarters, but a hotel, restaurants, shops and six apartment buildings.

The residents of a heretofore-sleepy residential neighborhood were still putting their jaws back in place when they heard a whistle blower reported these plans to the state, charging Axon misrepresented its plans when it won a state auction for the North Scottsdale land.

Negotiations between Axon and the state are apparently underway, with Arizona likely to demand a stiff payment to allow more profitable residential construction on the site.

Will Axon pay the fiddler — or dance somewhere else?

12) Too much health care?

That's the argument Banner Health is making, in opposition to the planned massive HonorHealth campus across the road from Axon.

Unless Banner can convince city officials of its reasoning, North Scottsdale this year will have another major provider for healthcare.

13) Scottsdale Coyotes, anyone?

Coyotes — the land-based kind — were in the news last year, with rogue desert dogs biting kids in North Scottsdale and North Phoenix.

But will the Coyotes — the ice-based team — set up shop in or just outside Scottsdale?

Rumors have the team, which already has a strong operation in North Scottsdale, building on the outskirts of the city, which would prevent a political battle — yet draw on the city's population and visitors.

14) "Inflation vacation," anyone?

According to a recent Reuters story, "Federal Reserve policymakers are set to start the new year with fresh evidence that their 2022-2023 interest-rate hike campaign put U.S. price pressures firmly in retreat, with data on Friday showing that by some key measures inflation is now at or below their 2% goal."

With many predicting a string of Fed rate cuts, what does that mean for Scottsdale?

City leaders hope this boosts the economy by making it cheaper to borrow money for home and car purchases — while encouraging locals and visitors to spend, spend and spend some more.

15) How much can the city spend?

More money coming in, more money going out ...

After a record $2.5 billion budget, filled with projects running over original estimates like stampeding cattle, and with projections for reduced revenues due to falling consumer spending and the full stop of the city's rental tax, Scottsdale City Council is ready to pump the brakes on spending — right?

Maybe not.

A preliminary powwow in December planted the seeds for a push to ask voters to raise the state's limit on how much the city can spend.

16) Is Spring Training back?

In its first full season since the pandemic, Spring Training brought in more than $400 million to the state, according to one study.

And the weather wasn't all that great last year.

With the Cactus League 2024 playing ball next month, some are expecting spring baseball to be a home run — if not a financial grand slam for Scottsdale.

17) Campus of dreams?

While some were freaking out over the prospect of even more traffic on Scottsdale Road south of Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, others yawned and rolled their eyes over the Parque's plan.

Spending $1 billion to transform the quaint CrackerJax amusement park into a live-work-eat-play corporate campus, a la Silicon Valley?

Let me know when pigs fly, some cynics were saying — citing other "big ideas" that never got off the ground.

But George Kurtz, the Parque's billionaire owner, vows to start building as soon as possible.

So, if you see cranes across the street from Kierland — watch out for flying sows.

18) How fast will Scottsdale grow?

The Parque is just one among many high-end, massive projects in the works around town.

One Scottsdale and Optima McDowell Mountain plan to bring thousands of condos and/or apartments (heavy on the latter, likely) to North Scottsdale.

Smaller, but still considerable residential projects will be coming before the city's Planning and Design Review committees, before landing on the desk of Scottsdale City Council.

What appetite will the city's elected officials have for growth, this year?

19) New Year's (road) diet, anyone?

Unprecedented outcry, with hundreds (if not thousands) showering City Council members with emails and phone calls demanded: No more road diets!

Even though city officials insist "there are no 'road diets' in Scottsdale," and now use the term "complete streets," the city still has plans to take away motorized lanes in favor of bike lanes — notably on Thomas Road, which is far overdue for a Council decision.

20) Will the $6 million dog park be built?

If you ask dogs, Scottsdale is a pretty great city.

Where else can you find a "$6 million dog park"?

But that Labrador's dream — and dozens of other voter-approved projects — remains just that, a dream.

With other bond projects rocketing past original budgets, will the city have money for the ritzy canine playground, as well as many other plans?

21) How high will your electric bill go?

Scottsdale is one of the hottest cities in Maricopa County — one of the hottest counties in the country, if not the world.

Arizona Public Service (APS) is looking to raise rates by 10%+.

Unless an unprecedented cooling happens this year, that adds up to summer electric bills that may skyrocket.

22) Is Swags a restaurant ... or a bar?

A venue called Swags wants to join the hip, happening players of the Entertainment District.

But, after a rival business filed a protest, City Council puzzled over if Swags is a restaurant, as its claims — or another loud, rowdy bar, as its rival insists it will be.

After having its zoning request in December punted by Council, Swags tries again at the first council meeting of the year, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9.

23) How noisy is Scottsdale?

At preliminary meetings, city officials and police representatives pretty much admitted the current Noise Ordinance is faulty.

But how will the city strike a balance between party-pumping businesses in Old Town and other commercial areas and peace-loving residents?

24) Speaking of noise, can anyone stop the "party houses"?

Police say only a tiny fraction of the city's 5,000 or so short-term rentals cause problems with their permanent neighbors.

But, neighbors say, those short-term renters are wrecking their neighborhoods.

Though police and city officials say their hands are largely tied by state laws regulating STRs, the search is on for an approach that will curb the enthusiasm of the troublemakers.