Couple's treasure goes on the block / P. 33
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS .................................. 4 Early start to Scottsdale mayoral race
NEIGHBORS ................25 Pajamas with a purpose
ARTS................................. 35 Fans keep Scottsdale business rolling in dough
NEIGHBORS ........................20 BUSINESS .............................28 OPINION ...............................31 SPORTS ................................ 32 ARTS .................................... 33 FOOD & DRINK................... 35 CLASSIFIEDS .......................38
Former Wolf now a Diamondback / P. 32
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Sunday, March 24, 2019
Whatever fell, it created a mess for city crews BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor
T
he snow – or whatever it was – that blanketed northern Scottsdale in late February was a welcome departure from the norm for many residents, but the aberration posed serious safety and logistical problems for the city Public Works Department. Just ask driver Jorge Vera, whose trash truck got stuck in the snow on Feb. 21 near Jomax Road and 110th Place. Scottsdale Public Works Executive Director Dan Worth said the city ultimately made the decision to pull drivers off the road due to wet, slippery conditions that made it unsafe. Worth said the snow started around noon and started sticking to the roads by early afternoon, causing trucks to slide and experience difficulty climbing hills. “We’re not going to leave an operator out there in an unsafe situation,” Worth said. The city – which has no snow plows for obvious reasons – sent full crews out over-
Jorge Vera, a driver with Scottsdale Public Works, uses a shovel to dig out his truck, which was stuck in the snow in northern Scottsdale near Jomax Road and 110th Place on Feb. 21. (Photo courtesy of City of Scottsdale)
night with road graders to clear major streets. “We know how to mobilize for bad weather in the Streets Department,” Worth said. “It’s the same equipment they use when we have monsoon storms.” Most of the snow was cleared by the next
day and the department was able to service routes and get back on schedule over the next couple of days, Worth said. Servicing typical routes was not the only problem created by the cold snap, though.
includes financial commitments from those organizations as well. The Giants agreed to commit $15.125 million, including $2.5 million payments in 2019 and 2020. The remaining $10.125 million will be paid in annual installments through 2039. The Charros, which has hosted spring baseball in Scottsdale since 1961, will contribute $2.7 million in 20 yearly installments starting this year. The city and Giants are also in negotiations with a concessionaire that is expected to con-
tribute $2.5 million to the first two renovation phases. The city will fund its obligations with $5 million in bed tax funds and $24.3 million in Municipal Property Corporation bonds that are supported by bed tax revenues. The city’s obligation also includes $5 million in bed tax monies previously allocated toward project design. In order to make the deal work, the City
see SNOW page 6
Council OKs $35M for stadium renovation BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor
T
he city will invest up to $35 million in the first phase of renovations at Scottsdale Stadium that is set to begin when spring training ends next week, according to an agreement approved by the City Council on March 19. The council unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with the Scottsdale Charros and San Francisco Giants that
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