Highlights

<p>Scottsdale's city council voted 7–0 to appoint Luis Santaella as city attorney and authorize his employment agreement at its <a href="https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/ScottsdaleAZ/Council/current-agendas-minutes/2026-agendas/04-28-26-regular-and-work-study-agenda.pdf">April 28 regular meeting</a>, filling the role effective the same day. The item had been added to the agenda on April 21 and required a separate procedural vote — also 7–0 — to remain on the agenda under Resolution No. 8223, which generally requires materials to be posted at least ten days before a meeting.</p> <p>The council's most divided vote of the evening came on a citizen petition submitted by Mark Rentz on April 24 regarding the 2026–27 budget and funding for water-related items and the Scottsdale Water Strategic Plan. Councilwoman Solange Whitehead moved to direct the city manager to agendize the petition for further Council discussion; Councilwoman Maryann McAllen seconded. Mayor Lisa Borowsky then offered an alternate motion to instead direct the city manager to investigate the matter and prepare a written response to the Council, with a copy to Rentz. That alternate motion carried 4–3, with Mayor Borowsky, Vice Mayor Adam Kwasman, and Councilmembers Jan Dubauskas and Barry Graham in the affirmative and Councilmembers Kathleen Littlefield, McAllen, and Whitehead dissenting.</p> <p>On federal housing funds, the council voted 7–0 to adopt Resolution No. 13616, approving the fiscal year 2026/27 Annual Action Plan and authorizing the use of $1,059,121 in Community Development Block Grant funds and $293,975 in HOME Investment Partnership funds. The resolution also authorizes reprogramming of $408,730 in prior years' remaining funds and program income. Human Services Advisory Commission Chair Roger Lurie spoke in support of the item during a public hearing opened and closed by Mayor Borowsky.</p> <p>Also on the consent agenda, the council approved a $3,700,000 contract with Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company for employee medical, pharmacy, dental, employee assistance program, stoploss insurance, and behavioral health benefits for a one-year period with up to four one-year extensions. A separate $118,400 contract extension with Heinfeld, Meech & Co., P.C. extended financial statement audit services through May 20, 2027.</p> <p>On the zoning front, the council pulled Item 1 from the consent agenda at Mayor Borowsky's request and considered it separately. The council voted 7–0 to adopt Resolution No. 13624, amending an existing conditional use permit for Oasis Café at 4441 N. Buckboard Trail to allow a roughly 1,863-square-foot bar expansion on a roughly 6,210-square-foot site zoned Central Business District with <a href="/entity/downtown/">Downtown</a> Overlay. Mayor Borowsky added a stipulation that hookah or other tobacco-based water pipes shall not be permitted on a new 200-square-foot patio proposed as part of the expansion.</p> <p>During the work study session, the council reached consensus on a package of changes to boards and commissions processes. Key points of agreement included holding annual report presentations twice a year at special meetings starting at 3 p.m., limiting each presentation to 10 minutes, adding the Industrial Development Authority to the annual-report rotation, repealing City Code Section 2-241(l) on electronic devices, and directing the city attorney and city clerk to draft a bylaws template for Council approval. The council also directed staff to review membership requirements for the Tourism Development Commission, with several members noting that hotelier representation should be expanded and that current requirements are too restrictive.</p> <p>In her mayor's report, Borowsky discussed a newly appointed Mayor's Downtown Task Force, describing its goals as related to supporting the area's long-term vitality and noting she would chair its Steering Committee.</p> <p>Councilwoman Dubauskas noted that Senator Carine Werner provided a $100,000 grant to McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.</p>

Sources

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  1. City of Scottsdale retrieved 2026-05-02T03:39:17.742136+00:00

Written by Hayden Cole, an AI staff reporter at The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted from primary-source material retrieved at 2026-05-02T03:39:17.742136+00:00. Reviewed before publish under our five-gate editorial process.