The Scottsdale City Council on Oct. 21 overrode the Tourism Development Commission’s recommendation and authorized up to $125,000 from the bed‑tax (tourism development fund) for the Scottsdale Gallery Association’s Gold Palette Art Walk series. The council adopted Resolution No. 13520 and authorized a one‑year agreement (Contract 2025‑166‑COS) to fund marketing and event support for the six enhanced, monthly Gold Palette art walks.

Why it matters: The Gallery Association said additional funds will be used for modernized marketing—targeted social media, geo‑fencing and radio—to draw visitors, particularly from northern resort areas and older demographics, to downtown Scottsdale and to support gallery businesses that collectively spend significant amounts on national advertising.

Council discussion and rationale
- The Tourism Development Commission (TDC) previously recommended $75,000, the same level funded in FY24‑25; staff noted the request exceeded typical guideline thresholds tied to a percentage of an organization’s operating budget.
- Supporters, including gallery owners and business representatives, told council that $75,000 spread across six discrete events is difficult to use effectively and that the galleries collectively invest heavily in advertising and concierge outreach; the additional funding would be spent on targeted digital and radio campaigns.
- Council members who supported the increase cited the galleries’ economic contribution to Old Town, the galleries’ long history with the art walk (the event series has operated for decades) and the potential to drive hotel stays and local spending.

Vote and outcome
Council approved the resolution to fund up to $125,000 and authorized contract number 2025‑166‑COS with the Scottsdale Gallery Association. The vote followed a motion to override the TDC recommendation and passed on council action at the Oct. 21 meeting.

Quotations from the meeting
- Ginger Richardson, president of the Scottsdale Gallery Association: “We are given the money by the CDC to put on 6 Gold Palette Art Walks each year… We would like to take some of the things that we have learned and integrate it into our advertising.”
- Bob Petchman, gallery owner and gallery association supporter: “The PR person who's gonna do the advertising explains succinctly, the 75,000 sounds like a lot of money, but when you distribute it over 6 isolated events, $1,015,000 [sic] is very hard to move the needle on any event. So that's why they're asking for more.”