Staff Writer | Mayor of Scottsdale
Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky met with residents of the Desert Mountain and Mirabel communities this week to provide an update on the city’s progress in protecting Scottsdale’s quality of life through water security, public safety initiatives, infrastructure improvements and continued economic strength.
The presentations are part of Mayor Borowsky’s ongoing outreach effort to keep residents informed about issues shaping Scottsdale’s future.
During the presentations, Mayor Borowsky highlighted recent gains in the Valley’s water outlook following significant flows on the Salt and Verde rivers, which provided major benefits to the region’s reservoir system.
Salt River Project reservoirs captured approximately 120 billion gallons of water during recent runoff events, increasing system storage from 53% capacity to 70% capacity in just five days.
“Water security remains one of Scottsdale’s highest priorities,” Mayor Borowsky said following the HOA presentations. “Recent reservoir gains are welcome news, but our city remains focused on long-term planning and responsible water management to ensure Scottsdale continues to thrive for generations to come.”
Mayor Borowsky also delivered an update on planned improvements to Pima Road between Happy Valley Jomax roads, a key transportation corridor serving north Scottsdale residents.
The improvements are designed to enhance traffic flow, improve safety, strengthen drainage infrastructure and expand walking and biking connectivity while supporting regional transportation planning between Scottsdale and Carefree.
Public safety was another major topic of discussion as Mayor Borowsky outlined the city’s efforts to strengthen oversight and accountability surrounding law enforcement technology while maintaining effective tools to help keep Scottsdale neighborhoods safe.
“Technology can be a valuable tool in helping law enforcement solve crimes and protect neighborhoods, but that authority must come with strict accountability,” Mayor Borowsky said. “The strongest public safety programs are the ones that are transparent, narrowly tailored and subject to rigorous oversight.”
Both Police Chief Joe LeDuc and Fire Chief Tom Shannon joined Mayor Borowsky during her north Scottsdale HOA presentations earlier this week where she praised Chief LeDuc and his team for his interest in further enhancing automated license plate reader safeguards.
The mayor also discussed Scottsdale’s ongoing work to address challenges associated with short-term rentals as municipal officials have responded to nuisance complaints, criminal activity and licensing violations connected to some short-term rental properties, prompting Scottsdale City Council to unanimously approve Ordinance No. 4719 to strengthen local oversight and enforcement.
In addition, Mayor Borowsky shared a snapshot of Scottsdale’s strong tourism market pointing out the city saw an estimated $3.7 billion in economic impact last year and supported more than 36,000 jobs.
Bed-tax collections have increased approximately 8% year over year since January 2025, while the city is advancing more than $100 million in infrastructure and water investments during the current fiscal year.
“Protecting Scottsdale’s quality of life means planning ahead, investing wisely and delivering results for our residents,” Mayor Borowsky said. “From water security to public safety, Scottsdale is taking proactive steps to protect what makes our community exceptional. Strong infrastructure, safe neighborhoods and responsible planning are how we protect Scottsdale’s future.”
