Residents press Scottsdale council to reinstate sustainability plan, warn against limiting public comment

A string of public comments at the Dec. 1 Scottsdale City Council meeting focused on reinstating the city’s sustainability plan and on proposed changes to public comment rules.

Steve Sutton opened non‑agendized comment alleging a council‑backed effort to limit public participation and presented a petition asking the council to accept paper and online petitions circulated up to 365 days before any change to petition rules. Sutton said the changes appeared aimed at "suppressing Scottsdale residents from communicating with their council and fellow residents." The council later directed the city manager to investigate the petition and provide a written response.

Several residents — including Lila Yanko, Ryan Johnson, Madeline Sherman and Serena Sun — urged the council to restore Scottsdale’s sustainability plan. Ryan Johnson, a former Environmental Advisory Commission member, said the plan represented three years of volunteer and staff work and was called for by the city's general plan. Madeline Sherman disputed council statements on cost and scope, saying the plan contained 95 action items and that the only direct plan cost was a $100,000 ASU contract; she urged the council to release the revised version it had promised.

Speakers reiterated concerns that limiting public comment would undermine civic participation. The council recorded the petition and voted to direct staff to investigate and respond in writing to the petitioner.

The council did not take immediate policy action on the sustainability plan at the meeting; callers asked the council to return to the subject with concrete proposals.