Scottsdale Fire Chief Willie McDonald will be the speaker at a special Sept. 11 Mayor and City Council Breakfast, which will also feature a brief commemoration of the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

The breakfast is at the Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road, just north of McDowell Road. It begins at 7:30 a.m. with light refreshments.  The program starts at 8 a.m.

Chief McDonald will join other members of the Fire and Police departments in a brief observance of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the bravery demonstrated by firefighters and police officers, many who died while saving the lives of others.

The chief, who came to Scottsdale in 2004 to transition the fire department from a private contractor to a public agency, will also talk about his department's efforts to improve service and reduce response times.

He will also cover some of the department's innovations, such as the "2 Fit 2 Fall" program for seniors and the department's use of an alternative form of CPR that has proven more effective than the traditional method.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information on Scottsdale public safety, visit: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Topics/PublicSafety.asp.