Scottsdale council approves resignation agreement for city attorney Sherry Scott, names interim city attorney

The Scottsdale City Council on a special meeting voted to authorize a resignation agreement with City Attorney Sherry Scott and to appoint an interim city attorney retroactive to June 17, 2025.

Council adopted Resolution No. 13456, authorizing the mayor to execute Resignation Agreement and General Release No. 2025-114-COS with outgoing City Attorney Sherry Scott and approving the interim appointment. The council also voted to appoint Luis Centanea as interim city attorney at an annual salary of $319,000 and with the same benefits he was receiving until a permanent city attorney is appointed.

The action came at the start of the meeting that moved into a brief executive session. City Clerk Ben Lane announced the item and said there was no staff presentation; the council heard one public comment on the item from Steve Sutton, who praised Sherry Scott’s institutional knowledge and service to the city.

Vice Mayor Jan DeBoskis moved to adopt Resolution No. 13456; the motion was seconded and passed with all council members voting in the affirmative. Council recorded no amendments to the resolution in the public session.

The council explained the procedural steps taken: after authorizing the resignation agreement and the interim appointment, the city will proceed with the posted process to recruit and appoint a permanent city attorney. The resignation agreement number and the interim appointment salary were read into the record during the special-meeting portion that preceded the council’s reconvened regular session.

Public comment on the item consisted of one speaker, who called the outgoing city attorney “invaluable” and urged the council to “do the very best” for her in the resignation process.

The council adjourned the special meeting after the vote and reconvened the regular meeting later the same evening.