Nicholas - thanks for the post. We've been talking about this recently, and recently launched an app focused on fixing problems around town (Info: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/News/05-21-2013-News-myScottsdaleapp)

An app focused on the things you mention sounds interesting - we would love to hear from you and other folks about what you'd like to see in a mobile app.

What features/info should it include to be really useful?

Ms. Corsette, Thank you for responding to my idea. I am a City Youth Corp Volunteer and my job is to present ideas of a smartphone App that will benefit citizens, tourists, youth, and businesses throughout our City. You mentioned this has been discussed recently. Has the City received ideas for any Apps already? We are aware of the study being done for the Airpark navigation App. I am trying to get feedack from citizens and I am wondering if you have any ideas on how I could perform that task in my very short time period. The posting of the idea was my first attempt to try to get some input from the public.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Nicholas

Thank you for your post, Zachary. We recognize this issue. The Transportation Master Plan Implementation Program approved by City Council on Jan. 13, 2009 contains several proposed projects to improve Scottsdale Road in this area and include drainage structures, landscaped medians, sidewalks, trails, and paths.

Unfortunately, the economic downturn has left these projects unfunded in the city’s 5-year capital improvement plan.  We hope to fund these projects in the future as revenue streams for capital transportation projects allow.

You can review the implementation plan at the link below - look specifically for projects #15 (Pinnacle Peak to Happy Valley: RTP FY2015), #25 (Happy Valley to Dynamite: RTP FY2017), and #28 (Dynamite to Carefree Hwy: RTP 2018).

Transportation Master Plan Implementation

We will look into this - thank you for letting us know.

Speaking of busses, I frequently choose to use public transportation to 16th and Camelback from McDowelll Ranch. Last year the routes were changed and impacted Scottsdale resident bus riders. I heard yesterday from a driver that the talks are continuing this year with more changes effective July 23rd, 2013. Can you verify this please?

Mary, Valley Metro transit service changes will occur throughout the Valley on July 22. In Scottsdale, service changes will occur on Route 106 and Route 80. In addition, schedule adjustments will be made to the Route 511 and 514 Express routes.

Here are the changes that will affect Scottsdale:

Currently, Route 106 runs from Peoria to the Mayo Clinic (with 2 stops on Shea Blvd. and on at 124th St. & Via Linda). Effective July 22, this route will end at Paradise Valley Mall, eliminating the four stops on Shea Blvd., Via Linda and Mayo Clinic.

The section of Shea no longer served by Route 106 will be picked up by a change to Route 80, which will be extended to continue east on Northern, north on Route 51 Piestewa, east on Shea to 56th Street and continue east on Shea assuming the existing Route 106 to 90th Street or Mayo Clinic.

No other route changes in Scottsdale are planned.

Not a bad idea and in fact as a minimum it reduces the volume of trash and gets a real head start on the decomposition process.

Hi Sigrid -- Thanks for sharing your comments. Our city Facebook page, scottsdaleazgov, works like other many government or corporate Facebook pages. You can't post a status -- like you can on your personal Facebook page, but you are welcome to comment on anything we've posted. We've set up Speak Up Scottsdale (this site) as an opportunity to post new ideas and suggestions. We are always willing to consider and look forward to getting citizen input. I hope this helps.

Sigrid - are you referring to the Speak Up Scottsdale "app" within our Facebook page?

That app seems to be experiencing problems at the moment, and generally does not offer the functionality we'd like citizens to experience.

The vendor is working on it and we apologize for any frustration it has caused.

Thank you for your feedback.

Thanks, Jeffrey - I've been tracking that for several years. The apps & other work coming out of CFA are impressive to say the least.

Is there a particular problem you think we could help solve through CFA?

Peter, thank you for the suggestion.

There is a very small garden in the planter-fountain west of City Hall on the Civic Center Mall (just across from the Love sculpture). That garden is maintained by Singh Farms who harvests the produce & takes it to our Vista del Camino community center for distribution.

(www.facebook.com/singhfarms)

Also coming up, courtesy our Green Building Program, is this seminar:

Feb. 7 Green Building Lecture features edible landscapes and community
gardens
Join urban gardeners as they share the benefits and “how-to's” of growing your own healthy food, herbs, edible flowers and fruit trees in our desert environment. The free event takes place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at the  Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road. Reservations aren’t necessary, but for more information, call 480-312-3111.

I feel a community garden would be a great idea for the city of Scottsdale as long as it is not privatized to only people who live in the specified community. Ex: DC Ranch residents only