New short-term rental regulations effective March 6

Among some of the new regulations for property owners are:

-Obtain a business license and pay an annual $250 license fee.

-Notify all residential properties adjacent to, directly and diagonally across the property of their emergency contact information. Responses to complaints would be required from the emergency point of contact within 30 minutes for complaints for which public safety personnel are dispatched or 24 hours for non-emergency complaints. 

-Maintain liability insurance of at least $500,000 or provide evidence that each vacation rental or short-term rental transaction will be provided through an online lodging marketplace that provides equal or greater primary liability insurance coverage for the short-term rental.

-Conduct a sex offender background check on the person booking the short-term rental

These and additional regulations are effective beginning March 6. Short-term rental owners will be notified by mail in February on how to apply for the new license. Read all the new regulations: tempe.gov/ShortTermRentals.  

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Tempe PRE applications open Jan. 12

Tempe PRE, the city’s full-day preschool program, will begin accepting online applications for the upcoming school year at 8 a.m. Jan. 12. Families who live in Tempe and surrounding cities are encouraged to apply. 

Tempe PRE is located on school campuses in the Tempe Elementary School District and the school year will begin July 19. The program accepts children ages 3 and 4 who are fully potty-trained. Students must turn 3 by July 19 to be eligible. Families whose children will turn 3 between July 20 - Aug. 31 may still apply now and wait for their applications to be processed after their child turns 3 and space becomes available.

Tempe PRE offers full-tuition, half-tuition and free options depending on eligibility. Learn more: tempe.gov/TempePRE.

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Tempe workforce to receive training to spot and report human trafficking

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. In recognition, the City of Tempe is taking action. Starting this week, the City of Tempe is rolling out training to its employees on how to spot the signs of human trafficking and how to report it. That is more than 1,600 people. 

This training is a step to becoming Arizona's second CEASE City.

“CEASE AZ Human Trafficking 101 training will help to equip our employees so they provide more “boots on the ground’ here in Arizona to stop human trafficking,” said Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Velicia Humes.

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Beginning Jan. 12, you can pop into any participating restaurant at Tempe Marketplace, order a cocktail and enjoy it in designated outdoor areas in The District.

To celebrate, Tempe Marketplace has a variety of fun activities throughout The District beginning Thursday. Enjoy live music, lit mini golf and glowing corn hole games with friends.

Get details: tempemarketplace.com/sip

Cultural dinners return to the historic Hackett House

Go on a culinary adventure around the world with Tempe Sister Cities. A new season of cultural dinners will celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year on Jan. 20 and St. Patrick's Day on Feb. 24. Dinners are hosted in the historic 1988 Hackett House in downtown Tempe.

A limited number of tickets is available for each event. Secure yours now.

Kick off a green new year with Zero Waste Day

Clean out your attics, closets and garages of unwanted items and dispose of them for reuse, recycling and repurposing at Tempe’s next Zero Waste Day. On Saturday, Jan. 28, stop by the Tempe Fire Training Center, 1340 E. University Drive, between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.

New this year: donate your pet food and supplies to be repurposed and reused for City of Tempe rescue partners and homeless pets in Tempe. Find a full list of accepted items and how they are repurposed in the Tempe community at tempe.gov/ZeroWaste.

There’s still time to give a little cheer to a teen this holiday season and donate hoodies and socks to benefit Threadz teen clothes closets operated by Tempe Community Council (TCC). Teens are in need of special items this winter season and your gift will not only warm their bodies, but their hearts. 

Items can be purchased through TCC’s Amazon Warm Wishes holiday wish list and delivered to 34 E. Seventh St., Tempe, 85281 or purchased anywhere and dropped off at local donation sites. Find donation locations here.

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Give your tax money to a qualified nonprofit

Are you already working on your federal and state tax returns? Don't forget your favorite nonprofit.

Arizona law allows donations made to qualifying charitable organizations through April 18, 2023 to be claimed on the 2022 Arizona income tax return.  Singles, married people filing separate or head of household taxpayers can give $400 and married people filing jointly can give $800 and receive benefits. Get a list of charitable organizations and all the details here.

Honoring Tempe's law enforcement

Today is Tempe Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Thank you to the many Tempe businesses that donated pizza, pasta, cake, sandwiches and more in recognition of National Law Enforcement Appreciate Day.

Mayor Corey Woods, Councilmember Berdetta Hodge and Police Chief Jeff Glover were on hand Monday to accept the delicious treats on behalf of the Tempe Police Department. The generous donation was made possible with support from Venezia’s Pizzeria, BKD’s Sports Bar, Wendy Griffin’s Firehouse Subs, Kiwanis Club of Tempe-Sunrise, Brock Supply and Linda Arters of The Arters Group.

Tempe City Council showed appreciation for the officers and professional staff of the Tempe Police Department by declaring a day in their honor for their role in keeping our community safe..

Get ready for Tempe FanCon with free workshops

The Tempe Public Library is offering free drop-in programs to help you get into superhero mood. Learn the basics or cosplay of hone your super skills.

-Power Armor Basics: Learn how to build big armor for cosplay. Jan. 14 at 10 a.m.

-Basic SFX Makeup for Cosplay: Learn how to properly apply non-latex makeup. Jan. 14 at 11 a.m. 

-Bruises, Blisters and Gore Makeup Class: Learn the basics of gore cosplay makeup. Jan. 21 at 11 a.m. 

Don't forget to save the date for Tempe FanCon on Saturday, Jan. 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Library Plaza. 

Mayor Corey Woods announced the 27 recipients of Tempe's BIPOC Micro-Manufacturing Grants during the MLK Diversity Awards Breakfast today. 

Only 11% of our country’s businesses are owned by people of color. Entrepreneurship is one way that people can create financial prosperity for themselves and their families. Recognizing that gap, the City of Tempe set aside $300,000 and partnered with Rep. Greg Stanton to secure $500,000 in federal funding. This $800,000 fund is providing up to $25,000 stipends to BIPOC-owned businesses that they can use for rent, supplies, tools, anything they need to succeed. They also receive a Tempe Chamber of Commerce membership. 

See who received grants

A taste of England

Newly reopened on Mill Avenue, Cornish Pasty is a Tempe mainstay offering English fare of both the meat-filled and vegan varieties. Visit the downtown location at 425 S. Mill Ave. or the original shop a few blocks west at 960 W. University Drive.

Good social media can help any business prosper. Tempe entrepreneurs can get free social media training at a Tempe Biz HUUB Training Lab taking place from noon to 2 p.m. on Jan. 10 and 17.  

Tempe Biz HUUB is a free, hyper-local platform to help Tempe small businesses navigate mini-courses, tap into experts, meet other local business owners and find grants to move your business forward. Get started.

Learn more and register

Now hiring Community Navigators! These contracted, short-term positions will be helping collect data and information for Making Space: An Equity Study for Parks & Recreation. Highlights include:

-$25 per hour, up to $2,000 for the entire project

-Flexible work hours

-Short-term position for January – June

-Must live or work in Tempe

-Ideal candidates have experience representing or providing service to underserved demographic groups

Learn more and apply: tempe.gov/MakingSpace

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Tips for parents when caring for colds

The Arizona Department of Health Services is offering timely tips for how parents can care for runny noses and common illnesses that are on the rise this winter. Get info on home remedies and find out when it's time to visit a doctor.

Get tips

Maricopa County
Flu Report

Get vaccinated
VaccineFinder.org

COVID-19 rates

Cases
by zip code 

Vaccination rates
by zip code

Ken McDonald course management open houses
Jan. 10
Virtual/Tempe History Museum

Meet CourseCo and learn about its proposal for Ken McDonald Golf Course management.

Council Committee Meeting
Jan. 11
3 p.m. 
City Council Chambers and virtual

Hear about improvements coming to downtown Tempe.

Tempe City Council Work Study Session
Jan. 12
4 p.m.
Virtual/Tempe City Hall

Topics include TempePRE program update and live music process for businesses.

Eisendrath House Drop-In Tours
Jan. 14
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Eisdendrath House 

Drop by to experience this intriguing historic home and its beautiful surroundings. Tours start every 30 minutes from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Marcos de Niza Mariachi Benefit
Jan. 14
7:30 p.m.
Marcos de Niza Auditorium

Hear two local bands while supporting the school's Mariachi program with $10 tickets & silent auction.

Rock n Roll Marathon
Jan. 14-15

Ready, set, run! The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon returns to Tempe this weekend. Be aware of increased traffic and traffic impacts.