by Matthew Holloway | Nov 28, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
In a special meeting on November 17th, the Scottsdale City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Axon Enterprise, Inc. In a 4-3 vote, the council adopted controversial plans to expand the company’s headquarters in a compromise agreement that allows Axon to build 600 apartment units and 600 condos over two construction phases.
According to interim city communications and public affairs director Holly Peralta, the council also approved three related items on 4–3 votes: creating a new self-certification and third-party inspection program, repealing the 2024 Axon zoning ordinance, and authorizing conditional legal action tied to the ongoing TAAAZE lawsuit if Axon failed to sign the Memorandum of Understanding by Nov. 19th.
Following the vote, Axon released a public statement thanking Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky, Vice Mayor Adam Kwasman, and Councilmembers Solange Whitehead and Maryann McAllen, all of whom voted in favor of the measure.
“Thank you to Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky, Vice Mayor Adam Kwasman, and Councilors Solange Whitehead and Mary Ann McAllen for supporting a fair compromise for all parties regarding the new Axon global headquarters. And thank you to the thousands of Scottsdale residents who helped make our project better with their feedback.
We are very excited to move forward with our new headquarters. Our team will work harder than ever to deliver safe outcomes to public safety and communities alike.”
Former City Councilman and Chairman of TAAAZE, Bob Littlefield, released a statement on Tuesday condemning the decision. He wrote in part, “Mayor Borowsky and Councilmembers Kwasman, Whitehead, and McAllen – totally sold out to Axon at the expense of Scottsdale residents. They gave Axon everything they wanted, and more!”
Referring to the city’s vote pertaining to the ongoing TAAAZE lawsuit, Littlefield wrote, “There was an item on the last night’s agenda to have the city join the TAAAZE lawsuit to reverse the ‘Axon bill’ which nullified the right of referendum for Scottsdale residents. Every time this item was voted on in the past, it was defeated by the pro-Axon majority. Last night it passed, but with so many amendments, it will never take effect.”
He added, “…don’t’ let Borowsky, Kwasman, Whitehead and McAllen gaslight you into believing they voted to have the city join the TAAAZE lawsuit – they didn’t.”
In a statement released Thursday, Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas described the deal writing, “While the contract says 600 apartments and 600 condos, without a voluntary deed restriction from Axon, that split is not legally enforceable by the city. Axon can build 1,200 apartments.” She added that Axon “will be the first company in the history of the city of Scottsdale to self-certify that its building meets city code,” and will “provide no additional water to cover its use,” which appears to be affected by a repeal of Scottsdale City Zoning Ordinance No. 4658 in the MOU.
In a statement released that same day, Mayor Borowsky fired back at Littlefield, Dubauskas and TAAAZE, writing in part:
“The Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions (“TAAAZE”) committee, led by former Councilman Bob Littlefield, ran the out-of-state, union-funded Axon referendum. Of the about 27,000 signatures gathered, a total of 25,000 Scottsdale voter signatures were paid for by a California labor union.”
She said that Councilmembers Dubauskas, Graham, and Littlefield voted against holding a referendum election in July and added, “Again, in October, I asked the City Council to hold an election at the next available date, which would have been March 2026. Again, those same Councilmembers refused to listen to reason and said, ‘no.’”
She continued, “…Accordingly, we were left with only two choices:
- File a lawsuit against the flawed Axon legislation, only to have Axon go back to the legislature to fix SB1543, neutering TAAAZE’s and the City’s legal claims and further nullifying the referendum election, leaving Axon free to build 2,000 apartments or more; or
- Strike a compromise to reduce the number of units and project density.”
The mayor effectively laid the blame for the present compromise on the three councilmembers, writing, “Delaying the election cost us our right to vote on the Axon project and resulted in the city being stuck with SB 1543.”
She concluded, “I promised the voters to oppose high-density apartments. In keeping with my promise, I negotiated a major reduction of density, down from 2,000 apartments to 600 apartments and 600 condominiums. Importantly, TAAAZE representatives agreed to resolve the entire dispute if Axon agreed to build 500 apartments and 1,000 condos. In the end, my negotiations with Axon resulted in a much lower overall density than TAAAZE’s last demand.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Nov 9, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Scottsdale City Council voted Monday to authorize Interim City Attorney Luis Santaella to ready counterclaims and other filings in its escalating court fight with Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions (TAAAZE), the residents’ group challenging the state’s controversial “Axon Bill,” SB1543.
The authorization was granted in the event that the court upheld its original November 7th filing deadline in the case. However, the court subsequently granted an extension motion, according to Holly Peralta, Public Affairs Supervisor for the City of Scottsdale. Under the extended deadline of November 21st, the city council “will consider whether to bring forth such claims at its next regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 17.”
Former Scottsdale City Councilmember Bob Littlefield posted about the meeting on Monday morning, writing in part, “One of the items on tonight’s City Council agenda is the issue of whether or not the City will join my TAAAZE lawsuit against the ‘Axon Bill’ which cancels the right of referendum for Scottsdale citizens.”
Littlefield was critical of Mayor Lisa Borowsky, alleging that while supporting the suit, she has chosen not to take action.
He wrote, “This same question has been on the City Council agenda several times over the last few months, and the outcome has always been the same; Councilmembers Littlefield, Graham and Dubaskas have supported the idea while Councilmembers Whitehead, Kwasman and McAllen oppose it. That always leaves Mayor Borowsky as the swing vote. Lisa has repeatedly expressed support for the city joining the TAAAZE lawsuit against the Axon bill, yet every time it comes to a vote, she either votes against it or delays the vote, so no action is taken!”
Littlefield told AZFamily on Monday, “She wants to appear resident-friendly by saying she supports the lawsuit, but when it comes to push and shove, she votes in Axon’s interest by saying no.”
Borowsky responded, telling the outlet that she would prefer Axon keep its headquarters in Scottsdale. “Unlike former City Councilman Bob Littlefield, I want Axon to stay in Scottsdale,” she said. “Had Mr. Littlefield and his supporters not delayed the election until November 2026, Axon would not have gone to the Arizona Legislature, and we would not be in the legal predicament we are in today.”
She added, “Mr. Littlefield’s referendum was funded by an out-of-state labor union, which paid for 25,000 of the 27,000 signatures gathered. The 1,900 apartments at the Axon campus were hastily approved by the Lame Duck City Council on their way out the door. Let me be clear, I don’t support 1,900 apartments on that site. It is an outrage the Arizona Legislature passed a law to circumvent our control over zoning.”
As previously reported by AZ Free News, the Mayor held a town hall meeting in an open Q&A format to address citizens’ concerns in the ongoing controversy surrounding Axon’s headquarters expansion. During the town hall, the Mayor similarly called out former Councilmember Littlefield, saying, “I would have preferred to have this election much earlier, like May 2025 … the reason I pushed so hard to have an earlier election is because I believe the people should speak on this.”
Littlefield was unmoved, however, and told the Daily Independent, “For months, she’s told residents she backs our effort, but when it matters most, she blocks it. Her go to excuse? ‘Questions about the bill.’”
“Lisa, the bill passed six months ago,” he continued. “You’re a lawyer. You’ve had ample time to read it and get answers.”
Governor Katie Hobbs signed SB 1543 into law in April, severely curtailing municipalities’ ability to refer zoning matters to a public ballot. The law retroactively nullified the TAAAZE referendum and earned a sharp rebuke from Borowsky and the council, who told the Governor the law “undermines the principles of local control that are foundational to Scottsdale’s governance” and “sets a dangerous precedent.”
As of this report, the council is expected to vote on whether to take legal action in the case during its Monday, November 17th meeting.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Oct 10, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The ongoing disagreement between the City of Scottsdale and Axon Enterprise, Inc. has taken on a new dimension after the city issued a clarification of its position on last week. Regardless of whether the controversial “Axon Bill,” SB 1543, remains in effect, the city stated that Scottsdale City Code Section 2-5 requires a referendum to be placed on the ballot at the next general election, scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
In a statement issued October 3rd, the city stated that the timetable for a referendum could be shortened, noting, “The city could, if directed by the City Council, place that referendum question on a city election ballot before Nov. 3, 2026, by calling a Spring 2026 Special Election or placing the item on the Aug. 4, 2026, primary election ballot.”
Responding to the enactment of SB 1543 in April, the City Council voted to authorize filing a notice of claim/notice of unconstitutionality in a special meeting on September 12th. The claim filed on September 15th serves as formal notice to the State of Arizona that potential legal action from the city may follow. As reported by AZ Free News at the time, SB 1543 strips residents in cities of certain sizes, including Scottsdale, of their ability to challenge zoning decisions through ballot initiatives. The law applies retroactively and nullified a referendum effort by nearly 27,000 Scottsdale residents who had petitioned to challenge a city council-approved expansion of Axon’s Scottsdale headquarters, which included almost 2,000 multifamily residential units, over 400 hotel rooms, and approximately 47,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.
City leaders pleaded with Governor Katie Hobbs to veto the bill, citing local concerns over increased traffic and infrastructure strain. They wrote in their plea, “These are not abstract issues—they impact the daily lives of our residents.”
Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky and the City Council warned that SB 1543 “undermines the principles of local control that are foundational to Scottsdale’s governance,” adding that it “sets a dangerous precedent.”
Borowsky told KTAR 92.3 host Mike Broomhead last week that, before “going to the state legislature,” Axon was negotiating with the city, and the 2000-apartment plan could have been reduced to 750. She added, “Let me be clear, I’m opposed to that high density of housing units,” referring to the initial 2,000 unit plan, but added there are three members of the council who are “vehemently” opposed to negotiation.
Public Affairs Supervisor Holly Peralta wrote, “The City Council’s vote did not authorize litigation, but that step could be taken by a separate Council action in the future.” She further added that a political action committee filed suit against the state and the city regarding Senate Bill 1543.
The lawsuit filed by Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions, or TAAAZE, claims that SB1543 violates both the “special laws” ban in the Arizona Constitution, as well as the right of referendum enshrined there.
Alexis Danneman, a Perkins Coie, LLP, partner and lead counsel for TAAAZE, said in a statement. “This lawsuit is about two of our State Constitution’s most important principles. First, it’s about the right of Arizona voters to hold referenda and vote directly on legislation passed by their city councils but with which they disagree. Second, it’s about the Constitution’s ban on so-called ‘special laws,’ like the Axon Bill, that confer special privileges and benefits on a specific company or group. The Axon bill passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor is the very definition of special interest legislation and it is illegal in the state of Arizona.”
As a separate matter, the city is “evaluating that lawsuit,” according to Peralta.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 15, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Scottsdale residents attending Monday’s City Council work study session will encounter a new layer of security at City Hall, the first council meeting since the summer recess.
The changes, implemented in July, require all visitors to pass through walk-through metal detectors or handheld screening devices, and have their bags checked at designated entry points. Signage directs guests to approved entrances and exits, where security personnel are stationed to assist and conduct screenings.
The security upgrades mirror measures rolled out earlier at Scottsdale’s One Civic Center, part of an effort city officials say is designed to enhance safety for employees, residents, and other visitors.
Under Arizona law (A.R.S. § 13-3102 A), weapons are prohibited inside City Hall. A secure lockbox is available at the entrance for the temporary storage of legal weapons.
City officials chose the summer for the rollout to coincide with a typically lighter meeting schedule, giving visitors and staff time to adjust before busier months ahead. Monday’s meeting will focus on WestWorld-related matters, but for those planning to attend, the city advises arriving early to allow extra time for the new security process.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jul 7, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
In a unanimous vote on July 2nd, the Scottsdale City Council approved what Mayor Lisa Borowsky described as a “crucial update,” to the city’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Ordinance (ESL) to adapt it for current environmental conditions and increase wildfire prevention.
“This crucial update reinforces Scottsdale’s long-standing commitment to preserving its unique desert character while ensuring the safety of its residents and natural resources,” Borowsky said in a statement.
“Wildfire mitigation is a crucial priority for me and learning our ESL ordinance hadn’t been updated recently to better protect homeowners — and their property — from wildfire dangers I asked Fire Chief Tom Shannon to take a look at how we could improve local protections.”
The ordinance was adopted in 1977 as the “Hillside Ordinance,” was last updated and renamed in 1991, and subsequently in 2001, 2003, and 2004. Although effective according to the city, and successful at protecting Scottsdale’s natural features, wildlife habitat, unstable slopes, and areas prone to erosion and flooding, the 21-year-old ordinance was in need of “a comprehensive review and modification,” of fire defensible space parameters.
“This forward-thinking amendment underscores Scottsdale’s proactive approach to environmental stewardship and public safety, ensuring the city’s unique natural landscape remains protected for generations to come,” Borowsky said.
According to the city, the new ESL addresses the following shortfalls of the previous law: responding to increased wildfire threat, updating defensible space requirements, setting compatible maintenance techniques, avoiding non-conforming conditions, ensuring consistency with fire code, maintaining environmental protection, and optimizing the existing regulatory framework.
The new regulations created by the ESL will refine defensible space requirements in relation to Natural Area Open Space (NAOS) and identify maintenance techniques and buffer strategies for NAOS areas as well.
Arizona’s 2025 fire season has already been a stressful one for Valley municipalities with the Monarch Fire burning just outside of Wickenburg on July 2nd, and the Gate Fire of 2024, which burned 100 acres in North Scottsdale and forced evacuations is a very fresh memory for many.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
