🌱 Over-Seeding Code Amendment + EPA Reclassifies County

Good morning, neighbors! It's Saturday in Scottsdale and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on the most important things happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and hot. High: 101 Low: 77.

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Here are the top three stories in Scottsdale today:

1. The Scottsdale City Council has approved a code amendment prohibiting the requirement to over-seed lawns. The code applies to homeowner associations. The council's approval is meant to conserve water during the ongoing Colorado River water shortage. Over-seeding is when winter ryegrass seed is planted over existing warm-season lawns. (12 News)
2. Maricopa County has been reclassified by the EPA for ozone pollution. The new classification is now "moderate" - an increase in severity from "marginal". Maricopa County failed to meet the reduced ozone pollution guidelines placed in 2015. According to the American Lung Association, the count is the 8th worst county for particle pollution. (KJZZ)
3. Scottsdale will end its water delivery program to about 500 homes in the Rio Verde Foothills community on Jan. 1. The stoppage is due to the city not having enough water to distribute from the Colorado River. Development continues in the community despite the impending water shortage. The continuing development is due to loose Maricopa County zoning requirements. (Arizona Public Media)

Today in Scottsdale:

• Free 3rd Annual Action & Adventure Festival At Arizona Boardwalk (11:00 AM)
• Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical JR. At Desert Stages Theatre (3:00 PM)
• Oktoberfest In Fountain Park (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Scottsdale's Picazzo's Health Italian Restaurant will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on Wednesday, Nov. 9. To celebrate, the restaurant will be offering specials, giveaways, and unique photo ops. The first 20 guests on Wednesday, Nov. 9 will get a complimentary $20 Picazzo's gift card. (NewsBreak)
• The Scottsdale Fire Department reports that 14 promotion candidates have completed their first week of testing. The candidates will now be moving on to the Virtual Incident Command Center. (Scottsdale Fire Department via Facebook)
• On Tuesday, Sep. 27, the Scottsdale Public Library will be hosting a special presentation with Dr. Bobra Crockett on the cannabis industry. The presentation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Mustang Library Auditorium. (Scottsdale Public Library via Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early Monday with your next update.

— Helen Eckhard

About me: Helen Eckhard is a marketing assistant at Lightning Media Partners. She is a self-professed logophile who is currently pursuing her master’s degree in library science. Outside of work, you can find Helen constructing crossword puzzles, knitting, or devising increasingly crafty ways to kill off characters in her mystery novels.