Scottsdale Council Scraps Roundabout, Forfeits $31.1M Federal Funding 4-3

Council Votes 4-3 to Replace $6.8 Million Roundabout with Signalized Intersection, Risking $31.1 Million Federal Funding Forfeiture and Contract Penalties

On April 9th, 2025, Scottsdale's city council approved a contentious motion to redesign the Scottsdale Road and Dynamite Boulevard intersection from a previously approved multi-lane roundabout to a traditional signalized intersection—a decision that will require forfeiture of $31.1 million in federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBGP) funding and carries undefined penalties for mid-contract changes.

The vote split the council 4-3, with Vice Mayor Jan Dvasquez and Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield joining Council Members Barry Graham and Adam Kwasman in support. Councilwoman Solange Whitehead, Councilwoman Maryann McAllen, and implicitly Lisa Borowsky opposed the measure. The decision came after nearly four hours of public testimony—17 registered speakers—and extended council debate that exposed fundamental disagreements over whether elected officials should defer to engineering expertise or constituent preference, and whether fiscal conservatism means protecting committed federal dollars or listening to residents who dislike roundabouts.

Key Speeches

"This isn't a smoking gun. It's game set match." — Dan Isaac, public commenter, regarding alleged open meeting law violations by Councilman Barry Graham related to roundabout decision-making.

"Roundabouts aren't a political football until this year. Since 1986, city councils filled with people that love to debate on issues have approved roundabouts. There was no discussion. Public safety isn't an item that we go out and do polling on. Public safety is our job." — Councilwoman Solange Whitehead, opposing the redesign motion.

"The people who live nearby near this roundabout, they do not want it. It's the people who don't live near it who want it. And they I can't go with that. I have to go with the people who are affected by this directly and every day." — Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield, supporting the redesign motion.

"I'm the only member of council that lives in North Scottsdale. I regularly drive this intersection. The people who live in that area overwhelmingly don't want a roundabout. And I appreciate Solange Whitehead acknowledging that half the emails we got were saying no roundabout, please... Our job is to listen to the residents, not just the experts." — Vice Mayor Jan Dvasquez, proponent of redesign.

"There is nothing that I can support about making this midcontract change. There is not, as some many of you pointed out, there is no valid reason for it. And as the city of Scottsdale has never stopped a contract midway through, specifically without a reason." — Councilwoman Solange Whitehead, defending the roundabout project.

Timeline

Applicant presentation (staff): Allison Timku, Transportation and Infrastructure Senior Director, presented the roundabout design history, safety comparison data, funding structure, and implications of redesign. The roundabout was designed to achieve an "A" level of service and reduce collision severity by 90% compared to the existing signalized intersection (rated "F" for level of service). Nathan Dame, transportation staff, provided additional MAG and ADOT coordination details.

Staff recommendation: The presentation was neutral, laying out facts and trade-offs. Timku stated that redesigning to a signalized intersection with enhanced traffic signal measures (protected left turns, medians, improved sight lines) "can also produce a safer traffic signal than what is existing," but did not recommend the change.

Public comment: 17 speakers registered; approximately three hours of testimony. Speakers for the roundabout (approximately 10): Lee Coftile (transportation commission member), Andrew Sheekch (Coalition of Greater Scottsdale), Dan Isaac, Betty Janick, Judith Bedford, Sheila Raymond, Michael Joiner, Jean Rose, Copper Phillips, Mark Rence, Susan Kaufman, Lee Courtney (final speaker in favor). Speakers against the roundabout: Misty Collins, and three others who raised concerns about horse trailers and high traffic speeds. Support themes: federal funding preservation, safety statistics, traffic flow efficiency, avoidance of change-order penalties, project continuity. Opposition themes: resident unfamiliarity with roundabouts, safety concerns about horse trailers, high-speed corridor incompatibility, preference for signals, perceived listening to residents over experts.

Council discussion: Solange Whitehead opened with a detailed defense of the roundabout, citing $31.1 million in federal forfeiture, contract penalties (estimated 20% adder/deduct on change orders, potentially $1.5 million in fines alone), additional land acquisition costs, design changes, and utility relocation expenses. She emphasized that the city has never halted a contract mid-execution without cause. Barry Graham acknowledged the fiscal risks but framed the vote as respecting residents' stated opposition to roundabouts, citing that "half the emails we got were saying no roundabout," and that council's job is to listen to residents, not just experts. He introduced testimony from engineer Howard Meyers questioning whether roundabouts work on high-volume corridors and noting the human factors of driver confusion, especially with multi-lane designs. Vice Mayor Dvasquez emphasized that North Scottsdale residents—those directly affected—overwhelmingly oppose the roundabout and that she regularly navigates the intersection and understands their concerns. Kathy Littlefield noted that residents who opposed the roundabout did not attend tonight's meeting, but those who emailed her did; she sided with the directly affected residents. Councilwoman McAllen reiterated twice that she has received "more than two-thirds" of emails in support of the roundabout and cited 69 crashes at the intersection between 2020-2024 (an increase from 57 crashes between 2015-2019), arguing that safety data and fiscal stewardship require protecting the $31.1 million federal commitment. Mayor Barowski summarized her concerns: the city lacks clarity on funding replacement guarantees; MAG approval is not assured (not due until October 2025); the interim city manager memo itself warned of project cancellation or delay if funding is not secured; and changing a major contract mid-execution introduces legal and financial risk.

Vote: 4-3. Vice Mayor Dvasquez (motion), Kathy Littlefield (second), Barry Graham and Adam Kwasman in favor. Opposed: Solange Whitehead, Councilwoman McAllen, Mayor Barowski. (Mayor Barowski's vote is inferred as opposed based on her closing remarks, though the transcript does not explicitly state her button press.)

Opposition

Number of speakers against: Approximately 3 speakers explicitly opposed the roundabout redesign; however, the balance of the 17 speakers (approximately 10-12) supported keeping the roundabout.

Main concerns raised by roundabout opponents:

1. Unfamiliarity and driver confusion with roundabouts, especially multi-lane designs where drivers may unsafely change lanes within the circle.
2. Suitability on high-speed corridors (50 mph on Scottsdale Road) where traffic speeds conflict with the slower, circulating nature of roundabouts.
3. Concerns about horse trailers navigating multi-lane roundabouts (raised by Misty Collins), though Lee Courtney, an equestrian living in the area, disputed this, stating she hauls horses regularly and finds roundabouts safer.
4. Fender-bender frequency may increase (as opposed to catastrophic crashes).
5. Pedestrian crossing difficulty and lack of signage at roundabout pedestrian crossways.
6. Existing high speeds on Scottsdale Road would not be slowed by a roundabout; speed cameras might be a better solution.
7. Lack of use of sidewalks and bike paths installed at the Happy Valley/Alma School roundabout, suggesting those improvements are wasteful.

Most compelling arguments against the roundabout:

• Engineer Howard Meyers' assertion (read into the record by Barry Graham) that roundabouts become dangerous when traffic volume is high, and that two-lane roundabouts are "far more dangerous" because drivers attempt to change lanes within the circle and have poor visibility.
• Direct resident testimony from Misty Collins, living adjacent to the project, noting neighbors' deep concerns about horse trailers and high-speed traffic convergence at a roundabout.
• Kathy Littlefield statement that a property owner near the roundabout would lose land and that many residents who emailed her in opposition did not attend tonight's meeting, suggesting underrepresentation of opposition voices.

Organized groups: No formal organized opposition group was identified in the transcript, though Vice Mayor Dvasquez and Kathy Littlefield both referenced that residents in North Scottsdale (the directly affected area) overwhelmingly opposed the roundabout via email and in-person inquiries.

Support

Number of speakers in favor: Approximately 10-12 speakers registered support for the roundabout, including Lee Coftile (Transportation Commission), Andrew Sheekch (Coalition of Greater Scottsdale), Dan Isaac, Betty Janick, Judith Bedford, Sheila Raymond, Michael Joiner, Jean Rose, Copper Phillips, Mark Rence, Susan Kaufman, and Lee Courtney.

Main concerns and arguments for the roundabout:

1. Federal funding forfeiture of $31.1 million represents a once-in-a-generation capital investment opportunity that should not be abandoned.
2. Safety data irrefutable: roundabouts reduce fatal crashes by 90%, injury crashes by 75%, pedestrian crashes by 30-40%, and bicycle crashes by 10%, according to state and federal highway safety agencies.
3. Elimination of T-bone and head-on collisions, which are the most dangerous crash types.
4. Current intersection is an "F" level of service (severe congestion); roundabout would achieve "A" level of service (efficient flow).
5. Roundabouts slow traffic, which addresses the high-speed problem identified by multiple speakers.
6. The project has been planned and engineered since 2017 and represents years of professional civil engineering analysis; mid-contract redesign is unprecedented and fiscally reckless.
7. Contract change orders will incur 20% penalties on removed or added contract line items, estimated at $1.5 million in fines alone.
8. Additional right-of-way acquisition costs, design changes, utility relocation reversals, and material cost increases will compound the forfeited $31.1 million.
9. Funding swap through MAG is uncertain (October 2025 approval not guaranteed); taking "calculated risks" with guaranteed federal dollars is poor fiscal stewardship.
10. Roundabouts are increasingly common in the U.S. (Carmel, Indiana has 140; Las Vegas corridor has multiple roundabouts in 50 mph zones).
11. Driver education and habituation will reduce initial confusion; roundabouts do work on high-speed corridors when properly designed.
12. The project extends beyond the roundabout: includes drainage improvements, medians, sidewalks, shared-use paths, and sight-line corrections essential for flood mitigation (the area floods during monsoon season).

Most compelling arguments in support:

• Solange Whitehead detailed rebuttal of the fiscal argument: contract change-order penalties (20% adder/deduct), additional land acquisition, design and utility relocation costs, Davis-Bacon wage compliance obligations already incurred and not refundable, and the interim city manager's admission that worst-case scenario could involve project cancellation or indefinite delay if MAG funding is not approved.
• Betty Janick's quantified safety analysis: Arizona had 263 deaths from T-bone crashes in 2022 (90% could have been prevented by roundabouts = 237 lives); 120 deaths from head-on collisions (90% preventable = 108 lives). A roundabout at this intersection could save lives.
• Mark Rence's point that no engineering, human factors, or fiscal reasoning has been presented by the redesign proponents; the motion is "arbitrary and capricious."
• Lee Courtney's rebuttal on horse trailers: she hauls horses across the newer Dynamite roundabouts daily and finds the two-lane roundabout safer and easier to navigate than the current narrow, blind intersection.
• Andrew Sheekch's emphasis on facts vs. narrative: the Coalition of Greater Scottsdale advocates for "consistent land use" and facts-based decisions; the roundabout issue has been clouded by misinformation (especially the false claim that ADOT did not warn of federal forfeiture, which they did, in writing, since January).

Organized groups: Coalition of Greater Scottsdale (Andrew Sheekch), Scottsdale Transportation Commission (Lee Coftile, though speaking in personal capacity), and implicit support from city staff and prior council decision-makers (2017-2024).

Project Details

• Case number / project identifier: Scottsdale Road and Dynamite Boulevard Intersection Redesign; part of Scottsdale Road Complete Street Project (Joeax Road to Dixelleta Drive, 2 miles).
• Applicant / developer / project proponent: City of Scottsdale (internal project).
• Transportation director: Allison Timku.
• Location / address: Scottsdale Road and Dynamite Boulevard, Scottsdale, AZ (North Scottsdale).
• Current configuration: Signalized intersection (existing, rated "F" level of service).
• Approved configuration (prior to tonight's vote): Multi-lane roundabout (designed 2020; construction began December 2024; federal grant awarded).
• New configuration (as of tonight's vote): Signalized intersection with enhanced traffic control measures (protected left turns, dual left turns, flashing yellows, medians to intersection).
• Project scope: Two-mile reconstruction of Scottsdale Road from a major collector configuration to a minor arterial complete street, including drainage improvements, curb and gutter, medians, east-side shared-use path, west-side sidewalk, new right-turn bay at Dixelleta Drive, sight-line corrections, and flood mitigation.
• Roundabout cost (subset): $6.8 million.
• Total project cost (original estimate): Approximately $40-43 million.
• Federal funding obligated (HSIP grant for roundabout): $1.9 million (will be forfeited).
• Federal funding obligated (STBGP for overall project): $29.3 million (will be forfeited unless MAG approves regional funding swap).
• Total federal funding at risk: $31.1 million (HSIP + STBGP).
• Design costs for signal redesign: $280,000 (estimated by engineer; 8-month timeline to November 2025).

Vote Breakdown

• Final: 4-3.
• Yes (redesign to signal): Vice Mayor Jan Dvasquez (motion maker), Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield (second), Council Member Barry Graham, Council Member Adam Kwasman.
• No (keep roundabout): Councilwoman Solange Whitehead, Councilwoman Maryann McAllen, Lisa Borowsky (inferred from closing remarks).
• Absences / abstentions: None stated.

Outcome & Next Steps

The motion to redesign the intersection from a roundabout to a signalized intersection passed 4-3. Interim City Manager Greg Kaitton is now directed to take steps necessary to redesign the intersection and return to council for approval of action items necessary to effectuate the redesign, including budget transfers and contract modifications.

Immediate actions:

1. Design phase: Begins immediately; estimated eight-month completion (to November 2025).
2. Right-of-way acquisition: Additional land parcels must be acquired; timeline estimated at 8-9 months; exact acreage to be determined during redesign.
3. Utility coordination: Third-party utilities already relocated for roundabout; relocation plan must be re-evaluated for signalized design.
4. Traffic signal procurement: Long lead time (~9 months); procurement to begin immediately to avoid project delays.
5. MAG funding request: City manager must submit funding swap request to MAG by October 1st, 2025 (start of federal fiscal year 26). The request would transfer the $29.3 million STBGP federal funds from the Scottsdale Road project to two other projects: Carefree Highway (Cave Creek to Scottsdale Road) and Rainbow Hayden Road (Loop 101 to Loopa 101), and seek to reallocate the $29.3 million in MAG regional Arterial Life Cycle Program (ALCP) funds to the Scottsdale Road project. Critical caveat: This funding swap is not guaranteed. MAG regional council votes on final approval October 22nd, 2025. If denied, the city must fund the project from local general fund appropriations, which could trigger project cancellation, indefinite delay, or reduction in scope.
6. Construction continuation: Contractor to continue roadway construction on segments north (Joeax) and south (Dixelleta) of the intersection; intersection itself held in construction hold pending final design and funding approval.
7. Contract change order: Once redesign is complete, a change order will be issued to the construction contract, triggering change-order penalties (estimated 20% add/deduct on affected line items, approximately $1.5 million in fines).
8. Interim city manager acknowledgment: Per MAG request, the city manager must issue a letter to MAG acknowledging the risk that federal funds may not be recovered if the regional funding swap is denied.
9. Worst-case scenario planning: The interim city manager memo acknowledged that if MAG funding is not approved and no alternative funding is secured, the city may need to evaluate project cancellation or stopping the project mid-construction and canceling future work.

Timeline for intersection reconstruction: Approximately early 2026, pending completion of redesign, right-of-way acquisition, utility coordination, and MAG approval.

Controversies & Context

Open Meeting Law Violations and Ethics Complaint

Public commenter Dan Isaac alleged during first-round public comment that Councilman Barry Graham caused multiple open meeting law violations related to roundabout decision-making in executive session. Specific allegations:

1. Barry Graham sent an email blast claiming the roundabout decision "was already made" in executive session, violating the prohibition on pre-determining outcomes in closed session.
2. The city website contained similar language ("decision had been made") until the open meeting law violation was flagged, at which point the website was changed and the topic was agendaized for tonight's council meeting.
3. Barry Graham allegedly directed city staff to deny sidewalk access to a blind senior citizen in connection with the roundabout dispute.
4. An ethics complaint has been filed against Barry Graham regarding the sidewalk removal.
5. Isaac presented an email from Barry Graham requesting money for legal fees to defend himself, characterizing this as an admission of wrongdoing.
6. Isaac cited a social media post by Barry Graham and Kathy Littlefield "vendor" (unnamed) defaming the blind senior citizen and his friend who filed the ethics complaint.

Council response: When Isaac concluded his remarks, Barry Graham briefly responded: "Um I respect Mr. Isaac's right to free speech, but I will say that it was full of inaccuracies." No detailed rebuttal was provided, and the allegations remain unresolved in the public record.

Ethics Complaint Against Other Council Members

Isaac also alleged that:

1. Vice Mayor Jan Dvasquez accepted money from people with business before the council before being sworn in, and then failed to recuse herself from votes impacting them.
2. Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield made factually incorrect statements on social media regarding the parking structure in Old Town, either due to confusion or disregard for accuracy.
3. Council Member Adam Kwasman (identified in brief analysis as "Clausman," corrected here to canonical "Adam Kwasman") had not properly recused himself from votes involving donors.

Status: Isaac characterized these as "behaviors being called out," implying ongoing investigation or complaint, but no formal action or response was documented in tonight's meeting.

DEI Ordinance Implementation Concerns

Former Mayor Sam Campana testified during first-round public comment about unintended consequences of Ordinance 4662 (the city's recent diversity and inclusion ordinance that restricted certain DEI initiatives). Campana noted:

1. The ordinance was implemented with vague language that created a false impression that "Scottsdale is not for all."
2. The discontinuation of Juneteenth celebrations, support for the NAACP, and support for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce lacked clear decision criteria.
3. The Office of Diversity and Dialogue, established in 1998 under Campana's administration, was designed for ADA compliance, non-discrimination compliance, and Title VI compliance—not as a "DEI office."
4. Since 1986, Scottsdale's non-white population increased from 6% to 19% (one in five residents), requiring thoughtful community engagement and programming.

Solange Whitehead response: Solange Whitehead agendaized a separate item (at end of meeting) to direct the city manager to discuss this matter further with the Human Relations Commission and recommend guidelines for clarification. Barry Graham offered an alternative motion to direct the city manager to "investigate the matter and prepare a written response to council," which passed unanimously.

Politicization of Roundabout Issue

Andrew Sheekch (Coalition of Greater Scottsdale) noted that the roundabout decision has been "a lot of planning" since 2017-2018, and that the current effort to reverse it is driven by "ideology" rather than "facts and truth." He cited multiple council members as having made misstatements about the roundabout (claiming ADOT did not warn of federal forfeiture, when ADOT's letter clearly stated the forfeiture risk since January 2025).

Solange Whitehead emphasized that "roundabouts weren't a political football until this year. Since 1986, city councils filled with people that love to debate on issues have approved roundabouts. There was no discussion." She implied that the current effort to overturn the roundabout decision is a political reversal, not a correction of an error.

Fiscal Stewardship and Risk-Solange Whitehead and Councilwoman McAllen both emphasized that forfeiting $31.1 million in guaranteed federal dollars and relying on an uncertain MAG regional funding swap (due October 2025, not guaranteed) represents poor fiscal stewardship. Barry Graham countered that the city has done similar MAG swaps in the past (one to two years ago) and that city staff has healthy relationships with MAG and ADOT, suggesting the swap will be approved. However, neither the city manager's memo nor staff testimony provided written confirmation of MAG pre-approval or likelihood of approval.

Resident Input vs. Expert Guidance

Vice Mayor Dvasquez and Barry Graham argued that the council's primary obligation is to "listen to residents," not defer uncritically to engineering expertise. They cited that "half" of the emails received were opposed to the roundabout (though Solange Whitehead noted that "more than half" of emails were in support of it). Vice Mayor Dvasquez noted that "the people who live in that area overwhelmingly don't want a roundabout."

Solange Whitehead countered that "public safety isn't an item that we go out and do polling on. Public safety is our job." She emphasized that the city's obligation is to rely on engineering data and expert guidance, especially when the data is as compelling as the 90% reduction in fatal crashes provided by roundabout design.

State Preemption and Governance

Mayor Barowski briefly mentioned Senate Bill 1543 (the "Axon bill") in her opening remarks, noting that it would eliminate the city's ability to control certain zoning decisions and would be heard in the state legislature the next morning. This signals ongoing state pressure on local land-use authority, though the roundabout decision does not directly implicate state preemption.

Duration

• Item 13 (roundabout redesign): Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes (from 8:50 p.m. to approximately 11:35 p.m., with 17 public speakers, staff presentation, and extended council discussion).
• Item 14 (city manager appointment): Approximately 15-20 minutes.
• Total meeting: Approximately 3.5 hours (began at 7:00 p.m. with invocation and proclamations; concluded around 10:30 p.m. with recess to executive session).

Other Notable Items

Scottsdale Arts Presentation and Cattletrack Arts Partnership (Early in Meeting): City Performing Arts CEO Ger Werman presented the organization's six-month accomplishments, highlighting 782 shows and events, 180,000 patrons, and a new seventh business unit: a partnership with historic Cattletrack Arts and Preservation property in North Scottsdale. The partnership will add career development and creative residency programs, privately funded with no city money. Councilwoman Maryann McAllen and Councilwoman Solange Whitehead praised the partnership; the announcement received enthusiastic council support. This item was uncontroversial and presented as a success story of cultural programming expansion.

City Manager Appointment (Item 14): Vice Mayor Jan Dvasquez moved to appoint Greg Kaitton as permanent city manager with a base salary of $369,000, six-month severance provision, and standard employee benefits for 10-year-service employees. Kathy Littlefield seconded. Sasha Weller (Scottsdale Firefighters Association) spoke in support, citing Kaitton's integrity and the need for "permanence" and "steady leadership." Dan Isaac spoke against, arguing that a full national search was warranted given Scottsdale's size and complexity compared to Kaitton's prior municipal management experience. Mayor Barowski expressed reservations about abandoning the prior council's national search but stated she would support Kaitton's appointment "as a showing of support and huge encouragement." The appointment passed unanimously (7-0).

---

Context: Council Composition and Governance Tensions

The April 9th, 2025 council meeting reflects a newly constituted body elected in November 2024. Mayor Barowski, Vice Mayor Dvasquez, and Barry Graham, Kathy Littlefield, and Adam Kwasman represent a shift from the previous council, which Dvasquez and Barry Graham have characterized as having made poor decisions (e.g., the DEI ordinance, prior roundabout approval). Solange Whitehead and McAllen represent continuity with prior council priorities, including the roundabout project and arts funding.

The roundabout vote represents the first major policy reversal of the new council and exposes fault lines: those prioritizing resident input and skepticism of expert consensus (Dvasquez, Kathy Littlefield, Barry Graham) vs. those prioritizing expert guidance, fiscal conservatism, and adherence to prior commitments (Solange Whitehead, McAllen, Barowski). The allegations of open meeting law violations and ethics complaints add a layer of governance dysfunction that was not resolved during the meeting.