Scottsdale Progress - 08-23-2020

Mac 'n cheese eatery coming / P. 21

Scottsdale Rotary hits the bricks / P. 17

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

Axon seeking $9.4 million deal from Scottsdale

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

NEWS ................................ 6 Museum Square project sidelined till 2021.

BUSINESS ................... 18 Scottsdale mom's business targets moms.

ARTS...............................20 Civic Center Gallery gets scary.

NEIGHBORS .......................................... 17 BUSINESS ...............................................18 OPINION .................................................19 ARTS ........................................................20 FOOD ........................................................ 21 CLASSIFIEDS ........................................22

Sunday, August 23, 2020

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he city has reached a preliminary agreement with Axon to reimburse the body camera manufacturer over $9 million in infrastructure costs and other expenses connected to the planned expansion of its headquarters in Scottsdale.

Korean baseball team could play in Scottsdale

The deal will go before City Council Tuesday and is likely to face the same pushback from critics who opposed a similar deal with Nationwide in 2018.

Axon, formerly known as Taser International, was founded in Scottsdale in 1993 and has its eyes on a 74-acre parcel of Arizona state trust land near Loop 101 and Hayden Road to expand its nearby headquarters.

School daze

The land, which will go to auction in September, is one of several parcels of state trust land located in an area known as Crossroads East.

Most recently, Nationwide purchased a 134-acre site in Crossroads East in 2018 and is building the Cavasson development for its

see AXON page 8

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

A

deal pending before Scottsdale City Council would bring a second professional baseball team to the city beginning next spring.

On Monday, Council will consider a threeyear agreement to host the LG Twins for Spring Training at Indian School Park.

Not to be confused with Major League Baseball’s Minnesota Twins, the LG Twins are a professional franchise owned by electronics giant LG Corporation that plays in South

see BASEBALL page 10

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While Scottsdale Unified officials work on a partial reopening of schools next month, hundreds of SUSD high school juniors and seniors began on-campus classes at the East Valley Institute of Technology, observing protocols like this eerie single-file walking along hallways. See stories on pages 4 and 13. (Patrick Jervis Jr./Courtesy of EVIT)

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CITY NEWS

An edition of the East Valley Tribune Scottsdale Progress is published every Sunday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout Scottsdale. To find out where you can pick up a free copy of Scottsdale Progress, please visit www.Scottsdale.org.

CONTACT INFORMATION Main number 480-898-6500 | Advertising 480-898-5624 Circulation service 480-898-5641 Scottsdale Progress 4301 N 75th St., Suite 201, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Publisher Steve T. Strickbine Vice President Michael Hiatt ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Display Advertising 480-898-6309 Classifieds/Inside Sales Elaine Cota | 480-898-7926 | ecota@scottsdale.org TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@scottsdale.org Advertising Office Manager Lori Dionisio | 480-898-6309 | ldionisio@scottsdale.org Director of National Advertising Zac Reynolds | 480-898-5603 | zac@scottsdale.org NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor Paul Maryniak | 480-898-5647 | pmaryniak@scottsdale.org Managing Editor Wayne Schutsky | 480-898-6533 | wschutsky@scottsdale.org Staff Writers Kristine Cannon | 480-898-9657 | kcannon@scottsdale.org Jim Walsh | 480-898-5639 | jwalsh@scottsdale.org Photographers Pablo Robles | Probles@scottsdale.org Design Veronica Thurman | vthurman@scottsdale.org Production Coordinator Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 | production@scottsdale.org Circulation Director Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 | customercare@scottsdale.org Scottsdale Progress is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegratedmedia.com

The content of any advertisements are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. Scottsdale Progress assumes no responsibility for the claims of any advertisement. © 2020 Strickbine Publishing, Inc.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

SUSD inches toward some kind of reopening

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

S

cottsdale Unified School District officially adopted the state’s school reopening benchmarks on Aug. 18, paving the way for a potential return to in-person learning in September.

But Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel cautioned that the district is unlikely to meet the metrics for a full return by Sept.

8, the earliest possible date for schools to reopen based on a Governing Board decision in July.

Rather, the district could be ready to adopt a hybrid model by Sept. 8 that would allow some students to return to campus on select days while still participating learning at home the remaining days of the week.

Whether or not the district can reopen at all will be determined by benchmarks recommended by state and county health officials that determine whether or not it is safe to reopen.

The SUSD board officially adopted those benchmarks at its Aug. 18 meeting.

The state and county guidelines use a three-color guide – in red, yellow and green – comprising three sets of data on virus spread to determine when it is safe to reopen schools.

It is based on the number of positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people; the percentage of positive new tests; and the percentage of hospital visits showing COVID-19 symptoms.

The color green indicates an optimal opportunity for reopening schools based on the following benchmarks: fewer than 10 new cases per 100,000 individuals or a two-week decline in cases; less than 5 percent of new tests are positive for COVID-19; and less than 5 percent of all hospital visits show COVID-like symptoms.

However, the county also says any inperson learning should not begin until there are two consecutive weeks with new case rates below 100 per 100,000 people, two consecutive weeks with less than 7 percent positive test results and two consecutive weeks with percent of hospital visits showing symptoms of COVID-like illness below 10 percent.

Yellow indicates a moderate virus spread based on benchmarks showing 10-100 cases per 100,000 people, 5-10 percent of tests coming back positive for COVID-19 and 5-10 percent of all hospital visits showing symptoms of the virus.

Red indicates 100 or more cases per 100,000 people, more than 10 percent new tests coming back positive for COVID-19 and more than 10 percent of hospi-

tal visits showing symptoms of the coronavirus.

All three metrics should be considered before a district decides schools are safe to reopen, according to the county.

“To move from substantial to moderate, or moderate to minimal, an area (whether district, ZIP, etc.) must have all metrics in at least that level or better for two weeks or longer,” Maricopa County spokesman Ron Coleman said.

But county health officials last week said they are urging districts to pay particular attention to positive test results because “a higher percentage positivity can indicate that there is more disease spreading within the community, or it can mean that there is not enough available testing in the area.”

They said a hybrid learning scenario could happen, with students allowed on campus possibly several days a week, if all three benchmarks are in the yellow category.

“To move from a virtual to hybrid model,” the Health Department states, “the recommendation is to wait until there is less than 7 percent positivity for two consecutive weeks. This provides evidence that there is a sustained decrease in com-

the order.

“I plan on dropping a termination date, at this time, and continuing with the periodic review of the mandated mask requirement with the County and the State,” Lane said in a statement.

Lane told the Progress he will review the need for the mask requirement on a week-to-week basis.

“These steps were targeted to situations where person-to-person infection conditions were known to be high, and so they had an immediate effect on reversing the infection rate trend,” Lane said.

He added, “It has been successful in tamping down the spike in the infection rate, while keeping much of the business economy open in phase one. There is still work to be done as we prepare to move to phase two.”

Scottsdale was one of the first cities in the state to adopt a mandate in June after Governor Doug Ducey issued an order allowing them to put their own mask requirements in place.

Other Valley municipalities like Gilbert have since allowed their mandate’s to lapse in favor of a countywide mask mandate issued by Maricopa County in June.

While both the Maricopa County and Scottsdale mandates require individuals to wear masks in most public spaces, the orders differ in enforcement.

Violations of the county order carry a $50 fine.

Individuals who refuse to comply with the Scottsdale order can be charged with a misdemeanor, which can carry a fine of up to $2,500 and a sentence of up to six months in jail.

see SUSD page 8

Scottsdale extends mask mandate inde�initely

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

A

mandatory mask mandate issued

by Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane in June will remain in place indefinitely pending further review by the mayor’s office.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lane signed an emergency proclamation on June 18 requiring mask usage in public spaces where social distancing cannot be maintained, including grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants and bars, gyms, shops, special events and public transit.

The original order was set to expire on July 20 before Lane extended it through Aug. 20.

Last week, Lane told the Progress he was dropping the expiration date from

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

falling,” MacDonald wrote Assistant City Manager Brent Stockwell on Feb. 28.

In May, Stockwell said the developer requested a delay through this November.

“We are trusting that time will heal all these wounds and that we will be able to deliver our landmark project as planned that will also inject substantial direct and indirect revenues into city coffers at a time when they will need them the most,” MacDonald’s statement read.

Emails obtained by the Progress showed that MacDonald had proposed in March to increase the $1 million security deposit on the land to $4 million in exchange for delaying the deadline.

But that deal is no longer on the table, Stockwell said.

“No, the developer is not increasing his security deposit as part of the extension,” Stockwell said. “The security deposit and the purchase price remain the same and would be paid at closing.”

Stockwell said the developer is still required to file papers recording the termination of deed restrictions on the land within 10 days of the closing.

Those restrictions included a 60foot height restriction held by a neighboring condo complex that complicated negotiations in 2019, because MacDonald plans to build multiple buildings over 100 feet tall in the area.

In 2019, city staff initially planned to ask Council to approve a $2.25-million payment in July 2019 to Madeleine Ferris, who owned the development company that built the complex, to purchase a unit in the complex and remove the restrictions.

The unit would then be used to replace administrative offices for Museum of the West displaced by the development.

However, staff pulled that proposal just hours before it was scheduled to go before Council.

Ultimately, MacDonald’s camp negotiated a deal with Ferris to purchase the condo and the city agreed to partially reimburse him by reducing the land sale total by $1 million.

6

Pandemic-related money woes delay Museum Square

T

he long-delayed Museum Square development could be pushed back to November 2021 due to the pandemic’s financial fallout.

City Council originally approved the Museum Square development in October 2019, but the city and developer MacDonald Development Corporation have yet to finalize an associated $28-million sale of city land that is a key part of the deal.

The $300-million project includes plans for a 190-room luxury hotel, three condominium buildings and an apartment building totaling 346 along with public improvements that include a plaza, pedestrian connections and new traffic signals.

Much of the development would sit on land currently owned by the city just south of Scottsdale’s Museum of the West in the downtown Arts District.

The city agreed to sell its land to the developer for $ $27.75 million for land with reductions of over $8 million in exchange for the developer’s commitment to build public parking spaces and pay for the removal of a decadesold height restriction.

The sides were set to finalize the land sale by April, but the City has approved multiple amendments to the agreement delaying that deadline.

Council will consider a fifth amendment at its meeting Aug. 25 that would push the deadline to no later than Nov. 12, 2021.

If approved, that amendment would essentially delay the entire Museum Square development through 2021, even the pieces that sit on land already owned by the developer.

That includes a parcel of land MacDonald owns to the east of the Museum of the West that is slated to house the apartment building.

As of December 2019, the development team planned to begin construction on the apartment building in late summer 2020, followed by the hotel in late spring 2021, according to city staff emails.

But the new amendment would bar MacDonald from beginning work on

The Scottsdale City Council approved the Museum Square development in October 2019, but the city and developer MacDonald Development Corporation have yet to finalize a $28-million land sale that is central to the deal. (Special to the Progress)

any property until the land sale is finalized.

The most recent delays are connected to financial issues stemming from the pandemic that has hit the hotel industry particularly hard, according to the developer and city.

According to a city report, the developer is experiencing delays in financing commitment due to uncertainty in national and global financial markets.

“This delay takes into account a myriad of issues to do with the COVID-19 pandemic and the related collapse in hotel occupancies,” MacDonald Development President Rob MacDonald told the Progress.

The Progress reported in May that the city and MacDonald were already hashing out an agreement to delay the sale and that MacDonald had concerns about the effects of the pandemic as early as February.

“And on top of all other things – this virus is really starting to cause fear.

Cruise ship trip cancellations out of Vancouver collapsing; hotel room reservations in Vancouver falling by the tens of thousands; Restaurant sales

“We are trusting that time will heal all these wounds and that we will be able to deliver our landmark project as planned that will also inject substantial direct and indirect revenues into city coffers at a time when they will need them the most.”

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

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8

CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

SUSD from page 4

munity spread and sufficient testing is available.”

The county also advised, “The number of people in Maricopa County diagnosed per day with COVID-19 is stabilizing, indicating community efforts to wear face coverings and other mitigation measures may be having a positive effect on reducing community spread.”

But it also said that as of Aug. 12, the county generally remains in the red zone.

The county Public Health Department now breaks down that data by ZIP code as well as school district boundaries at maricopa.gov/5594/School-Metrics.

According to the county’s district-bydistrict breakdown, the area within Scottsdale Unified boundaries already meets the moderate, or “yellow,” benchmarks to open a hybrid model.

But rather than looking at COVID-19 statistics within district boundaries alone, SUSD is using the average metrics from the actual ZIP codes where students live to determine when it is safe to open.

That difference is important in a state like Arizona, where widespread school choice means a substantial portion of students may not live within a district’s boundaries.

For instance, some ZIP codes used by SUSD fall under neighboring districts like Paradise Valley Unified School District on

AXON from front

regional headquarters.

The deal going before Council depends on Axon successfully purchasing the 74acre parcel southeast of the Nationwide site.

Under the proposal, Axon would be eligible for up to $9.4 million in reimbursements if it completes infrastructure improvements and hits certain construction and payroll benchmarks.

The company is eligible for up to $7.2 million in reimbursements for costs associated with the widening of Mayo Boulevard and Hayden Road – which could also include associated infrastructure work like sidewalks, landscaping, sewer, wastewater and water improvements, according to a draft of the agreement.

The company is required to submit plans for proposed improvements for city review before starting construction.

The company is also eligible for an ad-

The Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board voted on Aug. 18 to adopt school reopening benchmarks recommended by the State of Arizona and Maricopa County. (Scottsdale Unified School District)

the county’s map.

Still, the most recent ZIP code data also shows the district qualifies to open schools in a hybrid model.

According to Menzel, SUSD is relying on a list of ZIP codes that represents 92 percent of its students, That includes 85260, 85251, 85018, 85257, 85255, 85259, 85258, 85250, 85008, 85253, 85254, 85028, 85281, 85268 and 85032, according to a list provided by the district.

The district omitted ZIP codes where less than one percent of the student population lives.

The district will look at the benchmark ditional $2.2-million reimbursement for a payment it must make to the city if it successfully purchases the trust land.

The Arizona Land Department requires any successful bidder on the land to pay the city $2.2 million within 30 days of the auction as payment to recoup city costs for existing infrastructure in the area.

So, the city would essentially give back its own $2.2-million infrastructure reimbursement to Axon.

In order to receive its full reimbursement, Axon must build at least 250,000 square feet of commercial or manufacturing space and have a payroll of $130 million over any continuous 12-month period within five years of the state land auction.

If Axon does not meet those benchmarks, it would still be eligible to receive up to 50 percent of the infrastructure reimbursement, or about $3.6 million.

The deal also includes a caveat requiring Axon to reserve 4.5-6 acres for the city to build a fire station, water pump and poten-

metrics in each of those ZIP codes and take the average to determine when it is safe to reopen schools.

The current data provided by the county includes cases per 100,000 and percent positivity rate from July 26 to Aug. 8, and hospitalization information from Aug. 2 to Aug. 15.

That data showed that average number of cases per 100,000 people in those ZIP codes fell from 69.26 to 49.65 over a twoweek span. That falls under the moderate, or yellow, category that allows for hybrid learning.

The average percentage of hospital visits with symptoms of the virus fell durtial future command center.

Under the deal, the city will pay Axon for land using the same per-acre price the company pays the state for the larger parcel.

The city anticipates the plot will cost it about $2.6 million, according to a council report.

Proponents of the deal said it is a win for the city because it will keep a major employer from relocating e lsewhere and actually bring more jobs to Scottsdale.

According to details included in a council report, Axon currently has 850 employees in Scottsdale and plans to add 650 more jobs over the next five years.

Rob Millar, Scottsdale’s economic development director, said that while the site is prime property, it will take significant investment to develop it, due in part to acquisition costs.

Bidding for the property will start at $31.7 million, according to the State Land Department.

ing that time from four to three percent, which meets the green designation.

If those trends hold over the next few weeks, the district would remain on track to open its hybrid model on Sept. 8.

There are some concerning trends present in the data, though.

According to the data, four of the 15 ZIP codes in SUSD’s calculations saw a positivity rate increase over the two-week period, though the total percentages remained within the moderate level.

Additionally, one ZIP code, 85018 in Phoenix, saw its cases per 100,000 resi-

see SUSD page 15

Millar said the proposed campus will help attract more businesses to Scottsdale.

“Continued development of Crossroads East will present Scottsdale and the State of Arizona with a competitive product for the attraction of national and international corporate users,” Millar said.

“Proposed improvements will provide amenities and public benefits to the City, including retaining existing jobs, creating new jobs, water, sewer and other infrastructure and tax benefits,” he added.

The proposal has already drawn some criticism from locals who have long opposed these types of transactions between the city and private businesses in the past.

The deal is similar, though smaller in scope, to a reimbursement package the city gave Nationwide when it announced plans to develop the neighboring Cavasson development.

That deal, which will pay Nationwide up

see AXON page 12

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

9

10

CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

BASEBALL from front

Korea’s KBO League.

The Giants, which have called Scottsdale its spring home since the 1980s, have held some spring activities and minor league operations at the park since 1982.

But the Giants are relocating those operations to Papago Sports Complex, which sits within Phoenix city limits at the border with Scottsdale near McDowell Road and 64th Street.

In 2019, Scottsdale entered into a lease agreement with Phoenix for space at Papago and then subleased that space to the Giants.

The Giants will continue to play Cactus League home games at Scottsdale Stadium, which just underwent a multimilliondollar renovation and expansion.

The Papago deal paved the way for Scottsdale’s deal with the LG Twins, which had rented space from Phoenix in the past on a year-to-year basis.

Negotiations to bring the Twins to Scottsdale have been ongoing since spring 2018, said city Parks and Recreation Manager Chris Walsh, the city’s point person in negotiations with the team. The LG Twins did not respond to a request for comment.

The three-year deal would keep the Twins in Scottsdale through 2023 and includes two possible one-year extensions.

“They don’t want to go out and try to source new venues every single year because certainly that’s a lot of effort,” Walsh said.

Under the deal, the LG Twins will have access to fields and clubhouse facilities.

For 2021 only, the team will share some of those facilities, including a half-field and an indoor batting cage, with the Giants.

The Twins will also use a temporary clubhouse and weight room in 2021 while the Giants continue to occupy the permanent facilities.

The revenue generated by the city will largely depend on the number of days the team uses the park.

Phoenix, which last hosted the Twins in 2018, charged the team $42,000 for a little over one month of use but that contract was structured differently from the pending agreement with Scottsdale.

Phoenix’s agreement included two base charges of $9,900 for Jan. 22-30 and $32,100 for Jan. 31-Feb.21.

Scottsdale opted to go with daily and hourly rates.

Scottsdale’s Indian School Park at Hayden and Camelback Roads could play host to South Korea’s LG Twins baseball team for Spring Training beginning in 2021 if the City Council approves a pending facilities agreement on Aug. 24. (Google Maps)

The LG Twins draw huge crowds at their home field in South Korean and are now hoping to make Scottsdale a Spring Training home. (Special to the Progress)

The Scottsdale contract does not include a set schedule for each year but the team is required to notify the team of its proposed schedule by Nov. 30.

Under the agreement, the Twins will pay

$400 per day for the clubhouse, $60 an hour per field and $20 per half field and $75 per field for field preparation.

The team also must pay $20 per field per hour for lights, $150 per day for the indoor

batting cage and $100 per day for the outdoor cage.

If the team requires city staff assistance, it will cost $30 per hour per person and $45 per hour per person for overtime.

Scottsdale could also generate some bedtax revenues from the deal, which requires the team to “use best efforts” to book hotel rooms in Scottsdale.

Walsh said the city went with the daily/ hourly fee structure because of the way the Twins plan to use the facility.

“Their workouts tend to be a little bit different compared to Major League Baseball,” Walsh said. “They typically will go longer days and have a few more days off in between, and as far as with estimating these things… we wanted to make sure we captured all of those costs.”

Even with the Twins coming to Indian School Park, local adult and youth teams will still have access to its fields.

Walsh said the pending deal gives the Twins exclusive access to two and one-half fields at the park and leaves the remaining fields available for rent by local teams.

“We will still have the other two fields open at that time,” Walsh said. “If LG want to expand or feels the need to expand, we would have that conversation.”

It is unclear if the Twins plan to play exhibitions in front of fans in Scottsdale but Walsh said it is a possibility.

“I think in the future, we definitely would want to explore some of the inter-squad opportunities, whether it’s with the Giants or a local university team or even some of the other spring training teams,” Walsh said. “I think they would certainly be open to it, and hopefully the others will be as well.”

The contract includes COVID-19 protections in the event travel restrictions put in place by the U.S. or South Korea stop the team from traveling to Scottsdale.

If the team gives 20 days notice that it will not be able to use the facility, it is not obligated to pay.

The contract also requires the team and its players to abide by all state and local pandemic-related regulations.

When the Twins will actually arrive in Scottsdale is largely dependent on the pandemic.

“Even if 2021 doesn’t happen due to possible restrictions, we still want to have a contract for the next (few) years though,” Walsh emailed JD Kim, special assistant to the general manager for the LG Twins.

CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

Phillips must return some campaign donations

two contributions totaling $2,525 made via Budget Mechanical’s PayPal account were then transferred to the campaign’s cottsdale Councilman Guy Phillips’ re- bank account. election campaign must return $2,525 Phillips called the complaint an “attemptin donations after a review found it ed political hit job that failed miserably.” violated campaign finance regulations by “The complaint was literally staged by my passing donations through a PayPal ac- opponents in an attempt to hurt my camcount attached to his private business. paign. But it was lacking in substance…”

But the review concluded the violation Phillips said, citing the fact that the Tucson was a result of sloppy bookkeeping and not officials found the violations were technical a willful attempt to cirin nature and that there cumvent state law. was no evidence that he “The two violations are willfully violated state technical, arising from law.

(Arizona law’s) strict liThe Notice of Violation ability prohibition along specified that violation with slack administration was likely the result of of Mr. Phillips’ and the sloppy bookkeeping and candidate committee’s that the “paper trail” for various PayPal accounts,” contributions was docuaccording to a Notice of mented and the campaign Violation filed by the Tuccooperated with the inson City Attorney’s Office. vestigation.

The review stemmed “While the Committee from a campaign finance Scottsdale Councilman Guy or Mr. Phillips could cercomplaint filed with Phillips’ re-election campaign tainly have taken more Scottsdale City Clerk Car- must return $2,525 in dona- timely and effective action olyn Jagger by Scottsdale tions after a review found it to ensure resolution of the violated campaign finance regresident Mark Greenburg. ulations. (Progress file photo) confusing organization of Jagger referred the the PayPal accounts that complaint to Tucson City Clerk Roger Ran- eventually caused the violations, there is dolph to avoid the appearance of a conflict no indication whatsoever here of a severe, of interest. extensive or willful violation of the statute,” Greenburg alleged that donation buttons according to the notice. on two websites connected to the Phillips’ Tucson City Attorney Michael Rankin, campaign linked to a PayPal account for who acts as the enforcement officer in Budget Mechanical LLC, Phillips’ HVAC con- these cases, ordered Phillips’ campaign to tracting business. refund the $2,525 in contributions and to Greenburg filed the complaint after file an amended campaign finance report making donations to the campaign via with the Scottsdale City Clerk’s office. the links.

Despite the resolution in the campaign He provided email receipts from PayPal finance case, there is the possibility of furto the Progress that stated “You donated ther litigation between Phillips and Green$20.00 USD to Budget Mechanical Llc” and burg, who has been a frequent critic of the “You donated $90.00 USD to Budget Me- Councilman in recent months. chanical LLC.” Phillips’ attorney Timothy LaSota sent Phillips later refunded those donations, a cease-and-desist letter to Greenburg on according to the notice of violation.

Aug. 10 alleging Greenburg is defaming the Randolph determined there was rea- Councilman in online social media posts. sonable cause to believe the campaign vi- The letter demanded Greenburg retract olated an Arizona campaign finance law posts claiming Phillips is a Nazi or member that prohibits businesses from contrib- of the Ku Klux Klan or that he has pilfered uting to campaign committees because campaign funds.

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

AXON from page 8

to $21.9 million over 20 years, received significant criticism from residents.

For Councilwoman Solange Whitehead, a vocal critic of the Nationwide deal before she was elected in 2018, the proposed agreement with Axon has both positive and negative elements.

“There are two parts to this deal,” Whitehead said, referring to the reimbursements and the agreement by Axon to resell several acres to the city for a fire department and other public uses.

Whitehead said she thought the land sale works in the city’s favor.

“Axon is paying a bulk price and passing the per-acre savings directly to the taxpayers,” Whitehead said. “As well, the land is deeded to the City in 30 days but payment delayed 5 years interest free.”

But she said she is not sold on the reimbursement portion yet, though she liked the fact that the agreement does not include direct tax incentives for Axon.

“I’d like to see shared costs on the road work and verify that projected and direct revenue generated must match or exceed cost,” Whitehead said.

Others residents have been more critical.

Council candidate Betty Janik took to social media and called the proposed road improvements "of little benefit to citizens.”

“Meanwhile, libraries, senior centers services are reduced or closed due to tight budget,” Janik wrote.

According to the city, the value of the improvements will outweigh its costs.

Randy Grant, Scottsdale’s executive director of planning, economic development and tourism, said typically developers are required to construct half-street improvements for streets next to a site.

“That is not always the case when roads that serve a regional area and for improvements that are over and above those necessary to meet the demands of the property being developed,” Grant said. “In this case, the cost of the improvements that are being constructed by the applicant will exceed the amount being reimbursed.”

Council candidate Tom Durham said he didn’t like the idea of the city giving money to Axon while small businesses throughout Scottsdale struggle to stay afloat.

“My first point is Axon is a very, very successful company,” Durham said. “Their profits and their sales are growing every year, and to me, that raises the question of why are we giving them $9 million when

Axon is planning to expand its Scottsdale headquarters if it can successfully bid on 74 acres of nearby state trust land that will go to auction in September. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

so many Scottsdale businesses are suffering, and we have a lot of businesses that are closing and shutting their doors?”

Axon reported revenue of $549 million in 2019, a 26 percent increase over the previous year.

The company’s stock price has grown 2,000 percent over the past decade, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Durham said he does not believe Axon would leave and questioned whether or not the company would really relocate over $9 million, a relatively small amount of money compared to Axon’s annual revenues.

“I’m not really convinced that that threat to leave is all that sure,” Durham said.

“They’ve been in Scottsdale since 1993, and right now they have a great location near the (Loop 101), near the airport and their current headquarters is right next door to the land that they plan to buy.”

“So it seems to me like a natural thing for them to do, and I just find it hard to believe that they would pull up stakes and abandon their headquarters in search of a new one.…”

The city said the company did threaten to take its business elsewhere.

“Axon has indicated that without a development agreement for this site, they may not expand in the City of Scottsdale and may need to consider moving its existing facility outside of the city,” Millar said.

Axon nearly made good on that threat a few years ago when it agreed to a purchase and sale agreement with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community for a plot of land adjacent to Scottsdale.

But in 2019, Axon backed out of that deal after it was unable to secure design approval for its new headquarters from the SRPMIC. Axon did not respond to specific questions from the Progress about the alleged threat to move and other aspects of its expansion, but did provide a statement.

“As you know, Axon has been working with the City of Scottsdale in the hopes of expanding our Scottsdale campus,” the statement read. “We are thankful that Scottsdale is excited to work with us and we are excited to continue to grow in the city where we started our business in 1993.

“While our reach is global, our base is still in Scottsdale and our intent is to move forward as described in the Development Agreement.”

Even if Council approves the reimbursement plan, Axon still faces several roadblocks before it can begin its proposed expansion.

The company still has to win the September auction for the land.

If that purchase goes through, Axon will then have to come back before Council to amend zoning in the area to accommodate the new facility.

According to the reimbursement agreement, Axon plans to request to rezone the property to I-1 industrial park zoning and will ask for amended standards to allow for buildings up to 82 feet tall – well above the 52 feet allowed under city code.

Preliminary designs for the new campus are also likely to draw some furrowed brows in Scottsdale, a city known for implementing – and enforcing – strict design

rules.

Preliminary designs for the new Axon campus show a unique building that includes an illuminated 40-foot-wide sign bearing the company’s name, banding around the building in the company’s signature yellow, and even a futuristic illuminated lighting system.

“Axon may submit plans providing lighting on the building to include an illuminated Wave Motion feature…that may feature projection or mapping of images for changing lights and a swirling motion,” the agreement states.

It is unclear if these are the same features that failed to pass muster with the tribe in 2019.

The agreement with Scottsdale stipulates that all design features require city Development Review Board approval.

Some of those proposals – such as the illuminations and stark yellow banding – could clash with the city’s design guidelines for the area, which are documented in the city’s Greater Airpark Character Area Plan.

While that plan promotes unique and interesting building design, it also encourages lighting that minimizes glare and is shielded from nearby neighborhoods.

It also encourages designs that “celebrate transitions from the urban environment to the native desert and residential areas.”

“It’s going to look like a spaceship, and it’s going to have a really prominent space, because it’s going to be right there on the inside corner of (Loop 101),” Durham said.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

EVIT students happily return to classrooms

BY JIM WALSH Progress Staff Writer

N

o one could argue that the first day of school at Mesa’s East Valley Institute of Technology was normal – that is not possible during a pandemic.

Precautions, such as making masks and social distancing, are the bedrock of EVIT’s plan to strike a delicate balance between a student’s right to learn and protecting staff and students from COVID-19.

But, if nothing else, a return to auto shop, welding and culinary classes last week marked a return to a normal routine for students while helping them prepare for the workplace with marketable skills.

“It will get easy to get lulled into this idea that things are back to normal, but it’s not,’’ EVIT Superintendent Chad Wilson said. “Every day has to be like first day,’’ with strict adherence to the safety protocols.

He said it was essential that the technical school return to “hands-on learning,’’ noting the difficulty of teaching someone how to weld or rebuild an engine online.

EVIT, with 4,465 high school students enrolled for the 2020-21 school year, reopened for in-person learning on Aug. 17, becoming an East Valley trailblazer along with the Queen Creek schools.

“We have some built-in advantages.

One of our disadvantages is the hands-on learning,’’ Wilson said, with an instructor potentially working under the hood of a car or truck with a student, dental students sticking their fingers into other students’ mouths or a budding hair stylist within inches of another person.

Nevertheless, 3,988 enrolled students – 89 .3 percent – showed up for classroom learning. That included 177 of 202 Scottsdale Unified students from the 11 school districts that feed into EVIT. In addition, 443 of 616 charter, private and home-schooled students attended as well.

“I think our students are ecstatic to come back,’’ Wilson said. “We have had quite a bit of support from parents and students.’’

EVIT students attend one 2 ½ hour

EVIT students sit 6 feet apart in classrooms and when they are in more confined areas, try to avoid being close to their instructor for longer than 15 minutes. (Patrick Jervis Jr../Courtesy of EVIT)

class a day. They get off a bus, operated by the feeder districts and walk directly to class following a route identified by signs.

The idea is to limit COVID’s spread by eliminating congestion and enforce the six-foot distance between students. After class, the students jump back on the bus to go home.

An exposure is defined by the Centers for Disease Control as 15 minutes or more within six feet of person positive for COVID-19, he said.

So, no milling about in hallway or hanging out in a school cafeteria is allowed. Students walk corridors in an orderly single line with space between them, wearing masks.

To compensate for the risks of working in close quarters during some classes, instructors are required to spend no more than 15 minutes in close proximity with students – or to add extra layers of protection when that is unavoidable, Wilson said.

Dental students follow the same procedures used in dental offices, wearing masks and gloves.

Desks and chairs also are spaced sixfeet apart, with classes extending into a second room when necessary to meet the social distancing requirements.

Classrooms and equipment are sanitized between the morning and afternoon classes, and after classes wrap up for the day, to protect against the possi-

bility of spreading COVID-19.

Although the protocols represent a change from the usual, everyone seems to be embracing them so far, Wilson said.

A call to EVIT from a parent about a sick student now prompts a round of contact-tracing to ensure other students have not been exposed. EVIT experienced no signs of COVID-19 initially, but as Wilson said, it’s unrealistic to think an entire school year will pass without someone contracting the virus.

“Our goal is to have a system in place to mitigate the spread,’’ Wilson said.

Wilson detects a combination of excitement and apprehension when he speaks to students about their return to classes.

A majority of speakers at the EVIT Governing Board’s Aug. 10 meeting supported reopening the campus, with only one staffer against it.

Parents also spoke in favor of reopening, saying their children were looking forward to attending classes after the long COVID-19 break, which started in March.

“They feel lost. I have talked to many young people who are desperate to get back to the classroom. They feel this is lost time,’’ said Steve Trussell, executive director of the Arizona Rock Products Association and a former Mesa teacher.

Dr. Jarilynne Merrill, who has three children enrolled in Mesa Public Schools, said authorities need to look at

the big picture when deciding whether to reopen schools, weighing the risks of COVID-19 against the anxiety of staying home in an age bracket prone to suicide.

Merrill, who works in a detox center and whose husband is a psychiatrist, said she is not downplaying the dangers posed by COVID-19.

“The danger to the community at large is largely behind us,’’ Merrill told the board, citing county Department of Public Health data. “We are going to see a wave of suicides that will make COVID look like nothing.’’

“I’m not advocating that we throw all the kids back in school. I think the decision should be left to individual families,’’ Merrill said. “I think the benefits we offer our students are far more attainable at school, not at home on a computer.’’

Vanessa Lewis, a parent, said her daughter is looking forward to attending cosmetology school. She said teachers who are uncomfortable returning to the classroom should teach online, but that students need to return to school.

“What kind of example are we setting if we don’t have the courage to teach them in a classroom,’’ Lewis said. “Every single mom I have spoken with has said the children are suffering, the entire family unit is suffering.’’

Jim McNamara, a retired firefighter and fire sciences teacher, said he has confidence in the safety protocols working if they are followed properly.

“We are very dependent on being on campus, teaching the kids the skills they need,’’ McNamara said. “I feel we will lose a lot of students if we don’t return to school.’’

Julie Bird, a registered occupational therapist and an anatomy teacher, warned against the infection rate in Maricopa County and said some staff members were “not on the same page’’ as the administration, with one man not wearing a mask on campus.

She said all staff members need to wear masks and send a consistent message to students, or the protocols will be ineffective.

“Keep the politics and personal beliefs out of the equation,” Bird said. “This is solely a medical situation.”

CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

SUSD from page 8

dents rise over the two-week period.

If those trends continue in the wrong direction, it could hurt the district’s ability to partially reopen under the state and county benchmarks.

In the 41- SUSD board vote to adopt the benchmarks Aug. 18, only board member Barbara Perleberg voted against after expressing concern that board failed to identify exactly what the hybrid model would look like.

She also said the benchmarks to return would be confusing or unclear to families.

Perleberg said she personally appreciated the state and county guidance “but if we prematurely tonight send a message this is when we open… I’m just concerned we’ll be sitting here in a couple of weeks kind of regretting giving our parents either false hope or a plan in their minds that then let them down.”

But Menzel and board President Allyson Beckham said the metrics provide clear expectations for families.

“I think where there’s not a level of interpretation is two consecutive weeks of below seven percent positivity rate,” Menzel said.

“To me, it seems very clear,” Beckham said.

Menzel said he believed the community needed to know the district was choosing to follow the public health benchmarks even though some other districts have chosen to ignore those guidelines.

“I have some concern about not following those metrics, and there’s a liability issue,” Menzel said.

Around 25 parents phoned into the Aug. 18 board meeting to share their thoughts on the district’s reopening plans, exposing a fairly even split between families that want schools to open right away and others asking the district to take more caution.

About a dozen parents asked the district to resume in-person classes immediately and shared stories about the negative impact distance learning has had on their children.

Many of those parents said their children were not adapting well to school online and it has caused emotional and mental stress.

Sarah Dorn, mother of two elementary school children in SUSD, said the current distance learning program is better than the spring “but it’s still horrible” and that

her children have been driven to tears since school started.

“We as parents have weighed the risks and we chose full return to school in person, and we want our kids to be given that chance,” Dorn said.

Other parents advocated for the district to follow public health guidelines, though.

Dr. Susan Hughes encouraged the district to follow evidence-based public health guidelines to reopen, including waiting until the percent positivity rate falls below five percent, Dr. Alan Graham, a parent and pediatrician, echoed that advice, citing Georgia’s Cherokee County – where a local district that opened in person has had to shut down three schools due to outbreaks.

Board member Jann-Michael Greenburg said he sympathized with parents who want to see their kids back in the classroom, but said that option is likely not feasible even if the board voted to reopen schools immediately.

“And I do not want to be one of those districts or schools or communities that close,” Greenburg said.

Greenburg referred to the J.O. Combs district, which had opted for in-person return last week but was forced to cancel classes after a high number of teachers and staff refused to return to work.

Menzel, too, said district leadership and teachers are eager to get back in the classroom – when it is safe.

“I think there’s a narrative out there that (teachers) don’t want to return – that’s not true,” Menzel said. “They want to return and ensure that it’s safe to return; people got into public education to be with kids, not to watch them on a screen.”

Menzel said “nothing in this pandemic is optimal” and the district is charged with choosing the best from bad choices.

Board Vice President Patty Beckman, who has two daughters in the district, said her children were eager to return to school but she did not want to make that decision prematurely.

“I can’t imagine what it would do to their mental health, if they were to return to classroom…only to return to online learning shortly thereafter (due to) increased spread,” Beckman said. “So frankly, I think that would be devastating.”

Menzel said he is confident some students will be able to return to campus by Sept. 8 via the hybrid model as long as the district remains on track to meet safety

benchmarks.

What that model will look like is still unclear, though.

The Governing Board will meet again on Sept. 1 to consider specific hybrid return options recommended by district leadership.

Menzel said the hybrid option could potentially be phased in first for students most in need of in-person instruction, such as younger students in kindergarten through second grade and special education students.

The district is already required by an executive order from Governor Doug Ducey – and federal law – to provided needed in-person services to special education students.

Assistant Superintendent Kim Guerin, who is leading the committee on reopening options, said the existing distance learning models for elementary and middle school students will translate well to a hybrid model because students are already separated into groups that can be assigned different days to return.

Menzel said the district would like a two-week buffer period after it decides to move forward with the hybrid model to prepare teachers and inform families of the change.

When students do return to school, most will be required to wear masks unless their medical condition warrants against face coverings.

Menzel said he is also talking with several organizations, including Honor Health and University of Southern California, about bringing rapid testing to the district.

While the district is grappling with how and when to bring students back to schools, it continues to provide critical services that go beyond education, including food service.

The district’s meal service program reopened for daily curbside pickup on Aug. 10 from 7 to 9:30 a.m.

The program will transition from daily to weekly Wednesday pickups on Aug. 26 and will provide five breakfasts and five lunches per week per student.

Meal pickup is available at the Oak Campus, 7501 E. Oak St.; Pima Traditional School, 8330 E. Osborn Road; Redfield Elementary School, 9181 E. Redfield Road; and Yavapai/Hohokam Elementary School, 701 N. Miller Road.

Pickup is also available at Tavan Elementary in Phoenix.

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CITY NEWS

16

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

Ducey: won’t interfere with district reopening decisions

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

G

ov. Doug Ducey won’t intercede or criticize school districts that opt to reopen for in-class instruction even though their communities don’t meet the benchmarks set by his own health director.

“We want people to follow the benchmarks,’’ the governor said at a press briefing last Thursday. These are based on what the health department has decided are three key indicators of the spread of COVID-19.

Only two counties have reached that point: Apache and Yavapai.

And there is no indication when conditions in the other 13 counties will get to the place where the health department says schools can begin “hybrid’’ teaching, meaning a combination of virtual and inperson learning.

Newly released data from Maricopa County shows that about half the county is in a “red” zone, meaning that health officials advise against any reopening of campuses.

But Ducey said he sees these benchmarks as less clear cut.

“They are guidelines,’’ the governor said.

And he said there are other things that should be considered, like trends. He also said there’s the separate question of dealing with those most directly involved.

“There are some parents that want, as soon as it’s possible, to get their children back into a classroom,’’ Ducey said. “And there are parents that we all know are not putting their child back in the classroom.’’

The governor said the state is trying to “provide options’’ for both.

That’s only part of the issue.

“We also have some teachers that are in a vulnerable category or have an underlying health condition,’’ Ducey said. “And we will need online learning in this hybrid model.’’

All 15 counties meet the first of the three benchmarks: two weeks where hospital visits due to COVID-like illnesses fall below 10 percent of the total.

And 11 counties are showing a twoweek decline in the total number of cases or, in the alternative, a case rate of less than 100 per 100,000 residents. Cochise, Greenee, Pima and Pinal do not.

But only Apache, Cochise, Greenlee and

Yavapai counties meet the third prong of having fewer than 7 percent of the tests for the virus come back positive.

COVID-19 may be just one of the health problems schools face.

“Arizona’s flu season goes about October to May, with our hardest months usually being January to March,’’ said state Health Director Cara Christ. She promised a public relations campaign in hopes of getting as many people to take the vaccine which is now available.

“While it’s not 100 percent effective it does significantly reduce hospitalization and complications and bad outcomes,’’ Christ said.

Ducey hinted that he might use some federal coronavirus dollars to help provide vaccines to those who may not have health insurance.

“I want to find a way that any Arizonan that wants to get a flu shot can get one,’’ he said. “Details to follow.’’

The governor also put in a plug of sorts for those businesses that have been allowed to stay open to keep as many workers as they can out of the office.

The ultimate choice, Ducey said, is up to employers. But he suggested that they may find advantages in what has become the new normal of telecommuting.

“Many employers have seen that their employees can be just as productive at home as they were inside the office,’’ he said.

The governor said that, as a matter of policy, he continues to support the policy of “you’re safer at home, if you don’t have anywhere else to go, if you can work at home.’’

And if companies believe they need people in the workplace?

“We do ask this idea of socially and physically distancing, the wearing the mask, all those fundamentals,’’ Ducey said. He also said a lot of it depends on the nature of the work being done and the environment.

“Are you talking about people in cubes that are naturally physically distanced?’’ he asked.

“Are they in some kind of bullpen where they’re very closed to each other?’’ the governor continued. “That would be something we would want to discourage.’’

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Scottsdale Rotary bricks are helpful thank yous

BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

S

cottsdale residents have a new way to pay tribute to �irst responders, healthcare workers, essentials workers and more who have helped the community through pandemic: engraved bricks.

The Rotary Club of Scottsdale’s Park Brick Program is a community service and fundraising project where interested parties can pay $100 to engrave bricks with an honoree’s name and generic or custom message.

The club began publicizing the “thank you” bricks mid-July and has since received orders for about 15 bricks, which will be etched and placed in a special section of Unity Plaza at Scottsdale Rotary Park.

“The reason our committee chose to offer this new brick theme program, which will continue in conjunction with our normal commemorative brick sales, is because this COVID-19 is such a devastating event for our country and the world. The amount of effort people are making to mitigate this health crisis is

“The reason our committee chose to offer this new brick theme program, which will continue in conjunction with our normal commemorative brick sales, is because this COVID-19 is such a devastating event for our country and the world. The amount of effort people are making to mitigate this health crisis is amazing.”

Rotary Club of Scottsdale members Kenneth Brown and Craig Miller spend the morning at Unity Plaza at Scottsdale Rotary Park, where the Rotary Club of Scottsdale’s “thank you” bricks will be installed. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

amazing,” said club member Craig Miller.

Miller noted that saying “thank you” is a “powerful and cathartic thing for most people.”

“It just made sense that this is a need that our members and others would embrace,” he said.

The bricks allow up to three lines of messaging.

Generic messages include “First Responders: You Rock,” “Nursing Home Staff: You’re My Rock,” “Store Workers: We Won’t Forget,” “Researchers: You Saved Us,” and more.

“The brick pattern and the colored concrete in Unity Plaza are con�igured to match the general outline of the famous Rotary Wheel,” Miller said.

The bricks are priced at $100 each and etching costs approximately $20 per brick.

Proceeds go directly to the Scottsdale

Rotary Foundation – a nonpro�it created by the Rotary Club of Scottsdale to help fund local, national and international projects.

“The main benefactor for our foundation is educational scholarships for worthy Scottsdale area high school students,” Miller said.

“This year, it just happens to be an even more important part of that fundraising mix,” Miller said. “This will be an ongoing effort and option for our members and others to buy a brick and raise money for our foundation.”

Miller and his wife Sandy Miller purchased two bricks themselves.

Sandy chose to thank veterinarians.

“Our pets should not have to be put in danger because of this virus, and the veterinarians and their staffs are among the heroes that put their safety on the line to help us,” Craig said.

Craig honored researchers “who are – and have – worked tirelessly to come up with the vaccine that will bring about a sense of normalcy that comes about by giving people immunity to this terrible virus.”

“I thought this was a great way to thank these incredible people for their efforts on our behalf,” he said, The Club meets at Scottsdale Rotary Park twice a year to highlight the efforts of their committee and have a cookout.

The �irst set of orders, Craig said, will be placed at Unity Plaza in a couple of weeks.

Built by the Rotary Club of Scottsdale and donated to the City of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Rotary Park is an eight-acre park and memorial plaza in the heart of Gainey Ranch.

The park features lighted walking paths, a children’s playground, a greenbelt, a butter�ly garden, picnic ramadas, barbecue stations, a restroom facility and the world’s �irst plaza designed in the shape of the Rotary symbol.

“Unity Plaza is our club’s Rotary Centennial Project, which honored Rotary’s 100-year anniversary of existence in 2005,” Craig said.

The “thank you” bricks are just one way for people to honor others while also donating money to the Scottsdale Rotary Foundation.

Another naming opportunity at Unity Plaza includes buying �lags.

“Each time we have our park day picnic at the park, we change out the American �lag and present that �lag to the donor as well as put up a small bronze plaque on the curved wall that makes up the north end of Unity Plaza.

This remembrance is $1,000,” Craig said.

Information: scottsdalerotary.org.

Those who order �ive bricks will get a sixth free.

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BUSINESS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

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Scottsdale mom’s business helps other moms

BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

S

cottsdale mom of two Kelsey Guthrie knows the struggle of keeping up with the ever-growing mommy to-do list.

One of the more time-consuming tasks, she said, involves hours online researching services, providers and businesses needed for one’s family.

“I started to think that if I could provide local moms a way to �ind the information and referrals that they need all in one spot, it would save some time – and sanity,” Guthrie said.

Thus, the MomSpot Concierge service was born.

Launched Aug. 1, the MomSpot Concierge eliminates the lengthy researching process and connects busy moms with vetted, trusted Scottsdale businesses – many of which are also owned by mothers.

“I started talking to some friends and moms and [asked], ‘What are you struggling with?’ Across the board, everybody said, ‘I just don’t have time to get done what I need to in a day,’” Guthrie said.

The free online service provides customized referral lists for parents based on the businesses they select to hear from.

Guthrie’s goal was to launch with 20 local businesses but instead launched with 31 across six categories: pre/ postnatal care and pediatric experts; maternity, newborn, and family photographers; nannies, sitters, private educators; celebration essentials and gifting; healthy living and self-care solutions; and home organization experts.

“The great thing about the Concierge page is you’re not committed to anything: You’re not booking anything

Mary Guthrie, 6, and Jack Guthrie, 3, show off Mom Kelsey Guthrie’s Party Boxes, carefully curated kids boxes that include everything parents need to host themed celebrations, from plates and decorations to checklists. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

through my service page; you’re just requesting information,” Guthrie explained.

Once parents browse the hand-picked selection of locally owned companies and request custom responses from MomSpot partners, businesses have 48 hours to respond.

But the best part about using MomSpot?

“Discounts,” Guthrie said excitedly.

“That’s the biggest thing.”

About two-thirds of the businesses subscribed to the MomSpot Concierge offer a discount, whether it be $20 off pre/postnatal massages for �irst-time customers of the Nurtured Mama or $300 off the placement package of choice with All About Nannies.

‘That’s just something that the businesses have agreed to do and it’s just so

wonderful,” Guthrie said.

Olivia Williams, owner of the Nanny Café, joined the MomSpot Concierge because, as a mom herself, she was attracted to the service and the “big help mothers get from the MomSpot.”

“The concierge service provided by the MomSpot makes �inding any family service fast and easy,” she said.

As a subscriber for less than one month, so far, Williams said her business has already received multiple referrals for nanny services.

“Families are getting to know me and my agency a little better and that is big for me because I have the opportunity to be able to serve more families in the Valley,” she said.

She hopes that other businesses consider taking part in MomSpot because “the concierge service puts your busi-

ness directly in the families’ home.”

“A lot of these businesses have really been suffering, especially the ones in the party planning area,” Guthrie added.

“It worked out that a lot of these businesses were looking for more support and ways to get in front of new audiences, so it’s kind of a win-win for everybody,” she continued.

Honey Bee Mobile Spa owner and fellow mom-preneur Sarah Woon is also a MomSpot subscriber and is “de�initely looking forward to what the future holds.”

“The idea and concept hasn’t been done before in Scottsdale,” Woon said.

“I truly loved the idea of being able to go to one website and being able to plan a whole party in one spot. I knew I had to be a part of it.”

In addition to referral lists, the MomSpot Concierge also offers curated kids Party Boxes that include everything from plates and decorations to checklists.

These boxes, which are intended to make it easy for parents to host themed celebrations, are available for doorstep delivery.

“On a personal level, it’s de�initely been connecting with the business owners,” Guthrie said. “The rewarding part for me is I just want to provide a service that’s going to help moms at the end of the day.”

Looking ahead, Guthrie plans to expand the MomSpot Concierge service next year into other areas around the Valley.

“Local small businesses are working hard to connect with new customers during this economically challenging time, and parents who are working and overseeing their kids’ schooling from home could use the help,” she said.

Information: themomspotaz.com

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

Opinion

OPINION

19

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Letters

Gen Z voters should not ignore local elections

T

his November many young activists, mostly members of Gen Z (those born between 1996 and 2015), will be voting for the first time.

The demands of the Black Lives Matter movement are on our electoral conscience. While most of us agree that we need to vote Trump out to further our movement, we also should focus on local elections.

Local officials determine police funding, prisons, and enacting justice reform. These are key factors in furthering the demands of the BLM movement.

If we want to keep our momentum we should look into electing local officials who support these demands.

Not only should we be focusing on local government positions, we should also be focusing on local ballot initiatives such as legalizing marijuana.

By legalizing marijuana, we lower arrest rates for drug charges, something that disproportionately affects black and brown communities. This is key to the BLM movement.

If Gen Z wants to keep the momentum of our movement, we must focus on these local elections equally. We have the power to make a real change for a more equal and just future and the first way to do that is to vote in each and every election, local and federal.

-Emily Nishikimoto

Motorists should also heed bicyclists on the road

T

hank you for the very interesting article about the woman losing her leg in a automobilemotorcycle accident.

I feel badly about her injuries, but at least she is able to once again ride her motorcycle. In reference to the “Share the Road” needs and all, one other group that should also be kept in the loop are bicyclists.

As an avid bicyclist who bike commutes to and from work just about

every week day, and takes a longer both on- and off-road bike ride on weekends, I think that drivers should be very aware of the bicyclists on the streets and sidewalks.

Having said that, however, I generally feel very safe riding on the streets here near Old Town Scottsdale.

For bicyclists to help keep things safer, I say that you should have your lights on when riding at night, obey the traffic laws when riding on the

streets and use hand signals whenever possible.

Doing these things takes a lot of pressure off of the drivers, and also makes riding safer for bicyclists. As the weather starts to get cooler (hopefully soon!), I hope to see more and more bicyclists riding on the streets here. It’s good for our bodies, and it’s good for the environment, too!

-Stuart Handley

Together we are…Optimistic From the seed of challenge grows opportunity.

Let’s get together.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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‘Monsters’ exhibit here features 30 works

BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

S

cottsdale Public Art has launched its �irst new exhibition inside Scottsdale Civic Center Library since its pandemic-forced closure in March.

Located in the Civic Center Public Gallery, the exhibition titled “Creatures and Monsters” is described as an exhibition of artwork by Arizona artists “who explore and create the creatures of their imaginations.”

“This exhibition asks: What kind of creatures and monsters do you know?

Are they angelic and beautiful, or are they dark and hidden in the shadows, ready to come out and help us learn more about ourselves?”

“Creatures and Monsters” includes nearly 30 works of art ranging from a beaded, mixed-media rat �igurine and a latex rubber alien head to woodblock prints depicting mythological scenes and 3-D modeling and photography of children walking cartoonish creatures.

It features 16 artists, including Scottsdale residents Morgan Adams-Smith, Robert Fathauer and Thomas McKee. Other exhibiting artists include Joe Ray (Phoenix), Patricia Adams (Chandler), Ed Kenne�ick (Phoenix), Jacqueline Marquez (Gilbert), Stephanie McCauley (Mesa), Tobi Natali (Phoenix), Sunny Nestler (Vancouver, British Columbia), Christy Puetz (Phoenix), Lydia Quinones (Mesa), Tim Randall (Peoria), Annaliese Schneider (Phoenix), Caroline Wargo (Phoenix) and Keri Schneider (Phoenix).

“I’m very happy to have my art on show during this pandemic,” said Schneider, who has two pieces in the exhibition, including a watercolor piece called “Dragon.”

Schneider said her kids gave the nickname “Dragon” to their grandmother.

Shortly after Schneider’s mother died, a

sanen said. “The intense color, movement and juxtapositions of image to non-image is a real visual ride.”

Fernandez describes his works as “experiments” that include everyday objects, like zip ties and tools.

“Like many artists of my generation, I borrow freely from the art of the past. Pop artists consistently look for mundane objects and abandon their conventional use to present them in a different way,” Fernandez said.

For “Abstract Journeys of Mutation,” Dambrova said he created abstract works that “Brutus” by Phoenix-based artist Christy Puetz is a “Amphibious Alien” by Phoenix-based artist “really have no narrative.” beaded, mixed-media figure featured in “Creatures Ed Kennefick combines latex rubber, acrylic “Since the pieces were and Monsters.” (Scottsdale Arts) paint, epoxy, and plywood. (Scottsdale Arts) smaller and I had less time invested in them, I could Gila monster came to visit their home. opening reception for “Creatures and be more daring and allow for riskier “In this surrealistic painting of my Monsters” via Zoom on Aug. 21. childhood home, my mother is the dragRaisanen hosted the free event that moves that could ultimately fail and on-like Gila monster protecting the des- featured many of the artists from the ruin the painting,” Dambrova explained, noting: ert home she loved so much,” Schneider exhibition.

“If a painting went south, I would just explained.

“Creatures and Monsters” is available “Creatures and Monsters” is the cre- for viewing both in-person in the library toss it and move on rather than force it ation of Wendy Raisanen, curator of col- and online — as are many of Scottsdale into submission.”

About 80 percent of the 28 pieces in lections and exhibitions for Scottsdale Arts’ other exhibitions.

Public Art. Two other recent Scottsdale Public Art “Abstract Journeys of Mutation” were creRaisanen said she believes humans exhibitions can be viewed online: “Ab- ated speci�ically for the exhibition availneed monsters and their stories to help stract Journeys of Mutation” and “Mount able to view on Scottsdale Public Art’s us work out important problems and is- St. Helens: Catastrophe and Renewal, 40 website.

“Viewing art in person is always the sues.

Years On.” “They help us tell stories about human“Abstract Journeys of Mutation” fea- best experience, but it’s great that we live ity and help us learn about ourselves,” tures abstract paintings by two Phoenix- in a world today where we can still make Raisanen explained. based artists, Bill Dambrova and Fausto art accessible by virtual means,” Schneider said.

“I was excited to see what local artists Fernandez.

“In this dif�icult time, I think art is very would show – what kind of creatures Raisanen paired the two artists in the of imagination they have. Some are not exhibition after meeting with them sepa- important, and I welcome every opportuso much scary as personally important. rately within the same week and learning nity to continue to make my art visible to all,” she continued.

Some are cute or magni�icent. And some of their shared history.

View Scottsdale Public Art’s exhibiare indeed creepy and frightening.”

“I felt their paintings could vibe with Scottsdale Public Art hosted a virtual each other in the gallery setting,” Rai- tions at: scottsdalepublicart.org

FOOD & DRINK

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Mac & Cheese eatery coming to Scottsdale

BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

C

heese lovers, listen up: I Heart Mac & Cheese is coming to the Valley.

The Florida-based fast-casual concept famous for its made-to-order, buildyour-own macaroni and cheese bowls and customizable grilled sandwiches is expanding its footprint into the southwest with new restaurants in Peoria, Gilbert and the Scottsdale — all slated to open early spring 2021.

Franchisee James Maragh and his partner Tony Ortiz are excited to bring the I Heart Mac & Cheese experience to the Phoenix area.

I Heart Mac & Cheese, a fast-casual concept specializing in made-to-order, fully customizable build-your-own mac ‘n’ cheese bowls and grilled cheese sandwiches, is opening new locations in Scottsdale, Gilbert, and Peoria. (I Heart Mac & Cheese)

“My three boys and little girl all love mac ‘n’ cheese and so does Tony’s little one,” Maragh said. “When I �irst came across this [franchise], I got on the phone with Tony and told him we have to go see this place �irsthand. [We] booked the �light and showed up in Florida two weeks later.

We were instantly blown away.”

Described by Maragh as “dishes parents will love and dishes the kids will for sure enjoy,” I Heart Mac & Cheese’s menu includes bowls in savory �lavors, like lobster and white truf�le, Cuban, bake chicken parmesan, and others.

“Mac bites” come in kid-friendly �la-

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FOOD & DRINK

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vors such as pepperoni pizza and buffalo chicken and there are even vegan options, like vegan grilled cheeses and bowls made with vegan cheeses and meatless substitutes.

“We did some secret shopping [and] asked customers for their thoughts and got nothing but great responses,” Maragh said.

“Teenagers were happy they were able to get creative with their old favorite snack and were enjoying BBQ chicken mac ‘n’ cheese bowls as well as pizza-style mac ‘n’ cheese bowls,” he continued.

“Adults were swinging in for a quick lunch bowl, and they were telling us they really enjoyed the healthy options, like the broccoli and cauli�lower base with some delicious chicken as the protein.”

Maragh said they plan to customize the menu with one or two Arizona-inspired dishes.

“We know of other I Hearts having location-based bowls, like Texas with their Brisket Bowl, and we will work hard on creating our own,” he said.

So far, Maragh said he’s received nothing but positive feedback regarding I Heart Mac & Cheese’s expansion into Arizona.

“It’s different, and everyone likes to try something different,” he said. “It’s our job to make sure they come back. We’ll do that by making sure they have a great experience and food is coming out hot, fast, and right.”

While Maragh and Ortiz have yet to choose a location in Scottsdale, they do know they want it to be located near other family-friendly eateries and shops.

“We would love to be near a local favorite such as a Dutch Bros, Target, or Top Golf. So, if you are out with the family get-

“We would love to be near a local favorite such as a Dutch Bros, Target, or Top Golf. So, if you are out with the family getting a coffee or picking up some goodies from the store, you’re able to swing on in for a delicious mac ‘n’ cheese bowl for the kiddos.”

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

ting a coffee or picking up some goodies from the store, you’re able to swing on in for a delicious mac ‘n’ cheese bowl for the kiddos,” Maragh said.

Maragh and Ortiz currently live in Yuma, but Maragh and his family have plans to �ind their forever home in Gilbert.

“Our family is excited to soon be able to call this great city home for good,” Maragh said. “When I came across this new and exciting franchise and had to ability to bring it to the Phoenix area, I had to jump on board. Right now, I couldn’t be happier that this is becoming a reality.”

I Heart Mac & Cheese is a unique, lowinvestment franchise concept that requires zero fryers, grease trap systems or hood systems.

“I Heart Mac & Cheese is a fun, attractive concept and an affordable franchise model that is easy to operate with support systems in place to help our partners be successful,” said Stephen Giordanella, I Heart Mac & Cheese CEO and Chairman, in a prepared statement.

“We are thrilled to continue growing our brand with partners that share our same beliefs and value our innovative concept, food quality and diverse menu,” Giordanella continued.

Headquartered in south Florida, I Heart Mac & Cheese offers franchise owner training, marketing support and ongoing development opportunities to ensure each location’s success.

“James and I will both de�initely be heavily involved in the business and the growth of our I Heart Mac & Cheese locations,” Ortiz said.

“We have a few bright manager candidates who are eager and ready for the opportunity to manage an I Heart Mac & Cheese location. We will also be hosting interviews for the �irst location,” he continued.

I Heart Mac & Cheese launched in 2016 and has since captured the attention – and stomachs – of cheese lovers nationwide.

It was recently featured on QSR Magazine’s “40/40 List for 2020: America’s Hottest Startup Fast Casuals.”

Additional locations are slated to open in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Texas.

“Get ready AZ family,” Maragh said, “I Heart Mac & Cheese is coming soon!”

Information: iheartmacandcheese. com

Public Notices NOTICE TO INACTIVE SHAREHOLDER FOR PUBLICATION The following shares of CALAMCO stock are now subject to redemption. This notice is being published since CALAMCO did not receive a response to the initial notice mailed to you at your address in CALAMCO’s records.

Our records show that the following shareholders hold shares of the Class A and/or Class B Common Capital Stock (the “Shares”) of CALAMCO as of the date of publication of this notice. Pursuant to Article IX, Section 3 of the Bylaws of CALAMCO, the Board of CALAMCO has approved the redemption of your Shares at the market value per share set by the Board (the “Redemption Amount”).

Please contact us immediately at: info@calamco.com or (209) 982-1000 to obtain additional information regarding the redemption of your Shares (including the specific Redemption Amount). You must deliver certain documents and your original stock certificate(s) to CALAMCO at 1776 W. March Lane, Suite 420, Stockton, California 95207 within two (2) years of the date the initial notice of redemption was first sent to you by CALAMCO (the “Redemption Period”) in order to redeem your Shares. If you do not take such actions within the Redemption Period, your Shares shall automatically be cancelled upon the expiration of the Redemption Period and you will have no further rights to the Redemption Amount.

Martori Bros. Distributors Published Scottsdale Progress August 23 & 30, 2020 / 32668 NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, will hold a public hearing on September 08, 2020, at 5:00 P.M. Until further notice, City Council meetings will be held electronically. While physical facilities are not open to the public, City Council meetings are televised on Cox Cable Channel 11 and streamed online at ScottsdaleAZ.gov (search “live stream”) to allow the public to listen/view the meeting in progress.

1-AN-2020 (Scottsdale Road Right-of-Way Annexation) Request by the City of Scottsdale for approval of the annexation of a 10-foot-wide strip of right-of-way stretching from approximately E. Bell Road north to E. Deer Valley Road, including the adoption of City of Scottsdale single-family residential (R1-35) zoning designation for the newly annexed area. Staff contact person is Jesus Murillo, 480-312-7849. Applicant contact person is Erin Perreault, 480-312-7093.

3-UP-2020 (Ville de Marie private school) Request by owner for a Conditional Use Permit for an educational service, elementary and secondary school, to allow for a new private school in an existing +/-33,167square-foot building located at 8512 E. Thomas with Single-family Residential (R1-7) zoning. Staff contact person is Meredith Tessier, 480-312-4211. Applicant contact person is Greg Davis, 480-227-9850.

5-UP-2020 (Building Blocks Preschool) Request by owner for a Conditional Use Permit for an educational service, elementary and secondary school, to allow for a private preschool located at the Congregational Church of the Valley on a +/- 1,600-square foot site with Single-family Residential (R1-43) zoning located on the southeast corner of E. Shea Blvd and N. 120th Street. Staff contact person is Meredith Tessier, 480312-4211. Applicant contact person is Jordan Rose, 480-505-3938.

For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov search “Scottsdale Planning Case Files” or in your URL search bar you can type in https://eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/bldgresources/Cases/.

A COPY OF A FULL AGENDA, INCLUDING ITEMS CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS AND ANY MEETING LOCATION UPDATES, IS AVAILABLE AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT THE FOLLOWING Online at: https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/council/meeting-information/agendas-minutes ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ARE INVITED TO LISTEN/VIEW THIS MEETING. ALL NON-REMOTE SITE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, SCOTTSDALE CITY HALL, 3939 N. DRINKWATER BOULEVARD, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA. CHAIRMAN Attest Melissa Berry For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY MAY REQUEST A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

BY CONTACTING THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-7620). REQUESTS SHOULD BE MADE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE, OR AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO ALLOW TIME TO ARRANGE ACCOMMODATION. FOR TTY USERS, THE ARIZONA RELAY SERVICE (1-800-3678939) MAY CONTACT THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-7620).

Published: Scottsdale Progress, Aug. xx, 2020 / 32675

C lassifieds SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 23, 2020

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MESA SHOWROOM & CLEARANCE CENTER 115 W. First Ave. | 480-833-3072 AHWATUKEE 4601 E. Ray Rd. | Phoenix | 480-777-7103 ARROWHEAD RANCH 7346 W. Bell Road | 623-487-7700 GILBERT Santan Village | 2711 S. Santan Village Pkwy | 480-366-3900 GLENDALE 10220 N. 43rd Ave | (602) 504-2122 GOODYEAR 1707 N. Litchfield Rd | 623-930-0770 RECONDITION CENTER 160 EAST BROADWAY | 480-615-1763 SCOTTSDALE 14202 N. Scottsdale Rd. | 480-991-7200 SCOTTSDALE/PHOENIX 13820 N. Tatum Blvd. | (602) 494-0100 NOW OPEN - MESA 5141 S. Power Rd. | 480-988-1917

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HOUSE IN S R E C SPEN PLANS PAYMENT BLE AVAILA Due to current circumstances, some items may be out of stock.