By Lincoln McDonald
Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky’s decision to hold a Town Hall amid a long list of local controversies seemed risky. And as a capacity crowd poured into the Mustang Library in north Scottsdale May 29th, it looked like the mayor would be in for a contentious conversation with her constituents. But that’s not what happened.
The crowd, with a few exceptions, seemed to agree with the positions and solutions the mayor was offering.
Former City Councilman, and current Scottsdale Charros Director, Dennis Robbins hosted the event which drew about 200 people.
Borowsky opened the Town Hall stressing the need for resident engagement, telling the crowd “Your voices matter.” She cited the Indian Bend Wash as an example of how community involvement can make great things happen.
Several questions centered on the Axon issue. Borowsky made it clear she is dead set against the company’s plans to build 1,900 apartment units near Hayden and the 101. She is also “disappointed” the Arizona Legislature passed a law that essentially nullifies a resident-initiated election on the project. Borowsky says the law takes local control away from Scottsdale and she says it could also impact three other local parcels. She said, “It’s a bad situation all around.”
The crowd was with her.
The crowd was also with her take on development. When one resident asked her to “Apply the brakes” on all the construction in town, Borowsky said, “You are not alone.” She wants to slow down “high density growth” and encourage “high quality development.” She would also like to see improvements made to the Planning and Building Department so that residents who want to remodel their homes can get through the process faster.
Borowsky’s concerns over the planned Old Town parking garage, where the Scottsdale Farmers Market is located, seemed to resonate with the audience. Borowsky said she has received more than 90 emails in opposition to the garage and only two supporting it. And when she asked the crowd to raise their hands if they support the garage as is, only two hands went up. Borowsky noted one of those hands belonged to City Councilmember Maryann McAllen.
Borowsky also used the Town Hall to push for the direct appointment of city board members and commissioners. She thinks each City Councilmember should be responsible for appointing a single member to a board or commission. In essence it would make the City Councilmember accountable for that appointment. She made multiple references to the idea.
She also fielded a long list of questions dealing with everything from wild fire prevention to light rail.
Borowsky demonstrated both a command of the facts, and an understanding of where her constituents are leaning on a given issue. She said she did not personally know three-fourths of the people attending the Town Hall. But she seemed to know what they were thinking.