Gov. Hobbs has signed House Bill 2561 that will hopefully provide water to the residents of Rio Verde Foothills area in the near future. As our neighbors it is the right thing to do.

The bill requires the city of Scottsdale to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with a standpipe water district in the RVF area. The bill sets up the standpipe water district and will pay the city for water delivered to the residents. The residents of RVF can voluntarily join the standpipe water district but only members can receive water. The number of residences is limited to 750.

The bill anticipates that the water will not come from city sources and the bill stipulates that the standpipe water district will reimburse the city for all costs.

Again, this means that the city of Scottsdale will be fully compensated for water. The water will be hauled to the residents from a standpipe in the City.

It was a great pity that the Legislature had to exercise its power over the city given that we jealously guard our autonomy. However, the city, under Mayor Ortega, was extremely reluctant to work with others to provide a solution. The mayor has been slightly hyperbolic in his reaction to the bill. Using the metaphor of the Trojan Horse to describe the situation is a tad overblown. The Trojan Horse was used in a major war between two empires.

The bill authorizes the standpipe water district for a three-year period. The long-term water solution for the residents of RVF is being worked on at the Arizona Corporation Commission. EPCOR water company has submitted an application to the corporation commission to serve water to the RVF area. This process is comprehensive and can be prolonged. That is why the bill has a limited time frame.

Road diets

The last council meeting became pretty heated when the council was considering the acquisition of property for the Thomas Road project. The mayor would not allow residents to express their views on the overall project, they could only comment on the acquisition action. In my view this was totally disingenuous of the mayor.

The staff had stated that the property was needed even if the Thomas Road project was not undertaken but it is clear that the city is proposing to move ahead with this project. There was discussion in the council report concerning the project, including a graphic showing the proposed cross section. Folks who had come to express their opinions on the project should have been heard.

In my opinion the Thomas Road project has considerable merit. Taking away the third east bound travel lane will match the cross section of the remainder of the roadway. Thomas Road is classified as a minor arterial, which is two lanes with bike lanes in either direction and a median or center turn lane. Staff has reached out to all residents along the corridor. The project was presented to the Transportation Commission. The project now needs to be advertised for construction and the council will need to approve the construction contract.

That of course will be open for additional public input.

The Transportation Commission is going to be revisiting the issue of so-called road diets as there is much confusion surrounding the issue. This is a worthwhile undertaking. At the last council meeting one of the residents who spoke thought the construction that ADOT will undertake on the 101 freeway is part of the road diet program.