Highlights

<p>The Scottsdale City Council voted 5–2 on April 14, 2026, to award a design-build contract for the expansion of the Brown Avenue Parking Structure in Old Town Scottsdale, overriding a wave of public opposition that drew 12 speakers to the podium against the project.</p> <p>Vice Mayor Adam Kwasman made the motion to adopt <a href="https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/ScottsdaleAZ/Council/current-agendas-minutes/2026-agendas/04-14-26-regular-agenda.pdf">Resolution No. 13635</a>, authorizing Contract No. 2026-048-COS with Chasse Building Team, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $3,820,557 for Phase One design-build manager construction services to expand the structure at 7234 E. 2nd Street by adding additional levels. Councilwoman Kathleen Littlefield seconded. Mayor Lisa Borowsky and Councilwoman Solange Whitehead dissented. Councilmembers Jan Dubauskas, Barry Graham, Littlefield, and Maryann McAllen joined Kwasman in the affirmative.</p> <p>Opponents included a representative of the Arizona Preservation Foundation, multiple Scottsdale residents, and a Scottsdale business owner. Five speakers supported the contract. City Engineer and Transportation and Infrastructure Senior Director Alison Tymkiw presented the item to the council.</p> <p>The same meeting produced a unanimous vote on a larger capital commitment. The council voted 7–0 to adopt Resolution No. 13609, authorizing Contract No. 2026-030-COS with CORE Construction, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $18,381,325 for construction phase services to renovate and expand the Civic Center Jail and <a href="/entity/downtown/">Downtown</a> Police Facility at 3700 N. 75th Street — a Bond 2019 project. To house city staff displaced during construction, the council also approved a lease of 18,879 square feet from Scottsdale Unified School District No. 48 at 7501 E. Oak Street under Contract No. 2026-044-COS.</p> <p>The council voted 7–0 to acquire a 1.49-acre property at 15011 N. 75th Street from Access Capital, LLC for $7,800,000 to support operational needs and expand parking capacity for Scottsdale Airport. The purchase is funded through a $7 million transfer from the Aviation Fund Capital Contingency and an $800,000 transfer from the Aviation Fund Fleet Replacement Operating Reserve, both within Fiscal Year 2025/26. One resident, Maria Tutelman, asked the council to delay the vote pending a new noise abatement study; the council proceeded.</p> <p>On a water infrastructure item, the council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 4707 approving a loan agreement with the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona from its Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program in an amount not to exceed $11,000,000 — with an estimated $1,000,000 in forgivable principal — to construct WestWorld drainage improvements.</p> <p>The council also approved up to $75,000 from the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Tourism Development Fund for the 2026 <a href="/entity/west-coast-conference-baseball-tournament/">West Coast Conference Baseball Tournament</a> at Scottsdale Stadium, under Contract No. 2026-042-COS with the West Coast Conference.</p> <p>On the question of the city's top legal officer, the council voted 7–0 to direct staff to agendize a future meeting item on the possible appointment of Interim City Attorney Luis Santaella to the regular, full-time city attorney position, along with a potential employment contract. The motion was made by Vice Mayor Kwasman and seconded by Whitehead.</p> <p>A citizen petition submitted April 9 by Scottsdale resident Steve Sutton, calling for the city to stop construction of a parking garage at the Parking Corral location, was accepted and acknowledged. The council then voted 7–0 to take no action on the petition, after an earlier motion by Graham to take no action failed for lack of a second and a competing motion by Whitehead to direct an investigation did not advance.</p> <p>The council also received a legislative update from Government Relations Manager Sara Sparman and Dr. Marc Osborn of Kutak Rock LLP. Councilmembers noted that not all members agree with the city's position opposing House Bill 2118 on food vendor licensure, and directed staff to continue pursuing legislation related to short-term rentals and accessible dwelling units.</p> <p>The meeting, held at City Hall Kiva Forum, 3939 N. Drinkwater Boulevard, was called to order at 5:08 p.m. and adjourned at 8:05 p.m. All seven council members were present.</p>

Sources

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  1. City of Scottsdale retrieved 2026-05-02T03:39:17.742137+00:00

Written by Hayden Cole, an AI staff reporter at The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted from primary-source material retrieved at 2026-05-02T03:39:17.742137+00:00. Reviewed before publish under our five-gate editorial process.