LOVE Is ON Spring Break

Bits and Pieces

Barrett qualifies for mayoral ballot with maximum signatures
Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett has qualified for the Oro Valley mayoral ballot, submitting 1,050 signatures, double the 525 required. Barrett, who has served two terms on council, cited priorities including fiscal responsibility, parks and recreation, and protecting views and open space. “I am incredibly grateful to each person who signed and helped us achieve this significant milestone,...This level of support demonstrates significant grass-roots support in the community, as well as hundreds of conversations with citizens of Oro Valley.” She will now continue her campaign leading up to the July 21, 2026 election. (Source: Media Release, melaniebarrett.org)

Scramble for youth returns April 18 at El Conquistador
The Oro Valley Optimist Club will host its annual “Scramble for Youth” golf fundraiser on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the El Conquistador Golf Course, with an 8:00 a.m. shotgun start and lunch included. Proceeds support local youth programs such as Camp Fury, Project Graduation, Police Explorers, and Arizona Youth Partnership. Organizers note that the event remains a key fundraiser for these efforts and will also include raffle prizes. Residents can learn more or register here

2025 Annual Police report shows strong response times and high call volume and much more
The Oro Valley Police Department’s 2025 Annual Report is now available online, offering a detailed look at department activity and priorities. Among the highlights, officers handled more than 50,000 calls for service in 2025, while maintaining average response times of about 3 minutes for high-priority emergencies and under 5 minutes for other calls. The report also outlines staffing levels, community programs, and crime trends, giving residents a clearer picture of how police services are delivered and where resources are focused.

Volunteers lead push to make Pusch Ridge a certified wildlife sanctuary
The latest newsletter from Friends of Pusch Ridge Golf highlights a growing volunteer effort to transform the course into a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. As detailed in the March update, 14 volunteers recently planted 61 pollinator plants along key areas of the course to begin creating butterfly gardens that will support birds and other wildlife. The effort is part of a broader, multi-year process that includes habitat management, water conservation, and environmental education, with participation from residents, local organizations, and Town staff. Residents can contact the group about the Audubon project at puschaudubon@gmail.com ( Friends of Pusch Ridge Golf Newsletter, March 18, 2026)

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Bids are in… Will The Town Finally Move Forward on the Vistoso Trails Pond?

Town poised to select bidder to restore Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve irrigation pond
After years of planning, the Town of Oro Valley appears close to moving forward with restoring the irrigation pond at the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. The Town received bids last Friday. Hopefully, the bids are reasonable and fall within the approximately $2 million budget set aside for the pond restoration and related amenities. If so, the remaining steps are to select a bidder, finalize a contract, and begin construction.

It has been a long path to reach this point
In November 2024, the Town Council approved a design for the pond area that focused on desert restoration without a pond. That decision was reconsidered later that month, and in December 2024 Council directed staff to study a pond option and return with cost and design information. By April 2025, Council reviewed that information and moved forward with a pond concept, with additional design work continuing through 2025 and into 2026. Last fall, staff was remanded to get this project moving. In January, we selected the pond decision as one of the top five  stories that shaped Oro Valley in 2025.

Town has right to restore former irrigation pond
Having a pond on the site is a right. The town negotiated this right, a right to restore the pond, as part of the conservation easement that established the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. The permitted uses section of that agreement states that the “former irrigation pond…may be restored in whole or in part.” This language directly contemplates the pond and allows for its return as part of the Preserve.

Easement holder objects to project because pond will use reclaimed water
Archaeology Southwest (ASW), which holds and administers the conservation easement, has objected to the project because it will use reclaimed water. They argue that reclaimed water contains hazardous substances and that its use in the pond would violate the easement, citing the easement provision that prohibits the “storage, dumping or disposal of hazardous or toxic materials.” Earlier this month, ASW issued a formal 60-day notice to the Town. Since then it has used press releases, public channels, including the Explorer and KGUN 9, to present its position.

Their argument ignores the town's right to restore the pond
ASW’s position does not mention the easement language that entitles the town to restore the irrigation pond. The proposed design is a circulating, managed water feature rather than a stagnant basin. Like the original pond, the restored pond will use reclaimed water. And, like the original pond, that water will come from Tucson Water. Their reclaimed water is regulated as to quality and toxicity. It is widely used in the region for irrigation. That water meets state standards. We have not identified any local instance where such permitted uses have resulted in the type of conditions described by ASW.

Will the Town move forward?

The Town is under no obligation to accept ASW’s interpretation of the easement agreement or its characterization of the reclaimed water provided by Tucson Water. The easement does, however, establish a process for resolving disputes. ASW has issued a 60-day notice, during which the Town has an opportunity to respond and either party may request mediation. If the matter is not resolved, ASW has the option of pursuing legal action.

It is clear to us that the conservation easement agreement unequivocally supports the Town’s permitted use right to restore the pond. Therefore, the Town is not obligated to respond to the 60-day notice nor enter into mediation. In essence, the Town should engage the contractor to restore the former irrigation pond.

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The Race Is On

It’s official...

There are two Mayoral candidates

Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett is completing her second term on council. In eight years, Barrett has driven key town initiatives including creating Naranja Park, bringing municipal golf from a financial liability to a financial asset, and revitalizing the Oro Valley Marketplace. She believes that there is more to do and wants to continue the job she and others have started.

Mark Napier, former Pima County Sheriff, brings a background in law enforcement and public administration. During his time as sheriff, he led a large organization with responsibility for public safety operations, budgeting, and personnel management. He has said he wants to apply that experience in managing complex operations and serving the public to benefit the community. He believes his background is particularly relevant as Oro Valley approaches buildout and faces decisions about long-term financial sustainability, service levels, and future growth.

...And five council candidates
The following are the five council candidates running for one of three council seats:

• Rosa Dailey has been active in Oro Valley issues, including participation in town advisory efforts.
• Jake Herrington has been involved in community discussions and town commissions.
• Rhonda Pina, a former council member, has focused on community engagement and local concerns.
• Chris DiSimone has highlighted public safety and community involvement in his discussions ot date.
• Matt Wood brings a business background and leadership of the Vistoso Community.

Things are going to get very busy!

Lots will happen between now and the July 21 election day. 

• Shortly, you will begin to see political signs appear in the town’s free speech zones. 
• There will also be at least two candidate forums. One will be held in April, hosted by the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce. Another forum is expected at Sun City, though the date has not yet been announced. 
• LOVE plans to offer our pages to candidates who want to communicate during their campaigns. We will likely interview some, while others may choose to write their own articles. 
• You are likely to see social media campaigns on Facebook and Nextdoor, along with other social media platforms. 
• Glossy postcards will arrive in the mail. 
• You may also read articles about the candidates in other local publications, though those may include less direct input from the candidates. 

LOVE will also report our analysis of campaign contributions as they are disclosed in candidates’ quarterly filings. This is something we have done for every campaign since 2016. 

Focus will be on challenges

We are not exactly sure what issues will define this campaign. But if the past is a guide, the following are likely to emerge. How the town manages growth and development, its long-term financial sustainability, and efforts to attract retail and other economic activity will most certainly be discussed. Water will also likely be a key topic, including long-term supply, conservation, and use. Public safety funding and facilities, along with traffic and infrastructure concerns, are also likely to be part of the discussion, as well as broader quality of life issues such as parks, trails, and open space.

Make sure you get a ballot: Your vote in the primary is critical as it may be the only opportunity to vote for council candidates. 

With only two candidates for mayor, that race will be decided in the July 21 primary. If you will be in town at that time, you can cast your ballot at the polls. If you plan to vote early and are on the early voting list, you will receive your ballot by mail several weeks before the election. Note that these ballots can not be forwarded.  If you will not be in town to vote in person or to receive your early ballot, you will need to make arrangements to have your ballot sent to you. To arrange that, contact the Pima County Recorder’s Office at 520-724-4330. Requests can be made starting April 21. 

Key Dates:

Last Day To Register To Vote: June 22 

Early Voting starts June 24 

Mailback Deadline: July 14

Election Day: July 21 

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Council Sends Tourism Priorities Back, Seeks Cost and ROI Details

The goal is to drive tax revenue through tourism
Oro Valley’s destination marketing effort is intended to generate new revenue for the Town, primarily through increased sales tax and bed tax collections. That matters now because, as we reported last week, the Town’s latest five-year financial forecast shows a tight alignment between projected revenues and expenses. Any new, sustainable revenue source will help. Destination marketing is a discretionary initiative aimed at generating that revenue.

Two years in the making
The Town began this effort in April 2024 when the Town Council voted to discontinue working with Visit Tucson, saving nearly $500,000 annually and redirecting some of these funds to building its own destination marketing program. Much has been done since then to prepare for that, including hiring staff, launching initial tools, such as the Explore Oro Valley app to access the Explore OV page on the town's website, and commissioning visitor data analytics through Placer.ai. There have also been some early marketing and event promotion efforts.

Ready to roll
Fiscal 2027, which starts July 1, will be the year in which the “getting ready” of the past two years is put into action. Town Economic Development Director Paul Melcher told the Budget and Finance Commission last week that “we’re transitioning from plan implementation, website rollout and development,” and that the 2027 budget “really represents… emphasis on marketing and branding and getting out the word on Oro Valley.” (Source: Town of Oro Valley Tourism Advisory Commission Meeting, March 15, 2026)

One piece of unfinished business: Ranking new initiatives
One step remains: Prioritizing the recommendations from the Town’s Leisure and Travel Destination Management Plan. In February, the Council established six key criteria for selecting plan for selecting plan recommendations. (Panel below left) Using that, staff developed a scoring system that ranked te
potential initiatives, including revitalizing parks for sports tourism, developing a regional events and festival strategy, and activating Steam Pump Ranch. The Tourism Advisory Commission approved the list last week, but the Council did not.

Council wants cost-benefit detail before acting on the list of new initiatives
After seeing the list, Council Member Murphy asked, “What is this specific plan? How much is it going to cost? What’s the ROI?” Melcher did not provide those details, explaining that the plan is intended to be high level and that specific costs, scope, and expected returns would be developed later as individual projects are brought forward through the budget and implementation process. A majority of the Council disagreed. They voted 4–3 to send the rankings back to staff, directing them to return with more detailed, project-level information on each item, including scope of work, actual cost to the Town, timing, and expected impact on tourism.

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Bits and Pieces

Follow Up: Finance Director Gephart reinforces “lean but balanced” five year financial forecast

Wednesday, we reported that the town’s latest five-year financial forecast maintains balanced operations and reflects a more cautious, scaled-back approach to capital spending, while also highlighting longer-term uncertainties. Wednesday night, at the Town Council meeting, Finance Director David Gephart reinforced that view, describing the forecast as intentionally lean on capital projects to keep the town on a sustainable path. He said the plan is balanced and keeps spending within current means, while cautioning against drawing down fund balances, particularly in the capital fund, which will be needed for future priorities such as the full build-out of the police headquarters. He added that the forecast is a starting point, and any new spending will require adjustments during the upcoming budget process. (Source: The Oro Valley Town Council Meeting, March 18, 2026)

“ARK Project” promotes acts of kindness among local youth

Also at Wednesday's council meeting, Rabbi Baruch Zimmerman introduced a new community initiative during remarks tied to Education and Sharing Day, announcing the launch of the “ARK Project,” which stands for Acts of Random, or Routine, Kindness. The program centers on small charity boxes that individuals, particularly students, can fill with spare change and later donate to a person or organization of their choice. He said the effort is intended to encourage a mindset of giving, especially among young people, by working with local schools to distribute the boxes in classrooms and homes. Rabbi Baruch emphasized that the initiative is not a fundraiser for any organization, but rather a way to help instill habits of generosity and community contribution. Residents interested in participating or helping distribute the boxes are encouraged to reach out through local schools or community connections involved in the effort. (Source: The Oro Valley Town Council Meeting, March 18, 2026)

The Roadrunners are the AHL affiliate
of the NHL Utah Mammoth

Town Center GPA proposal returns to public discussion next week
We have had another resident ask about the yellow signs posted at the intersection of Oracle Road and Pusch View Lane. The sign announces a meeting that will take place next Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Town Council Chambers. The meeting concerns a general plan amendment and the rezoning of property donated to the town by the Rooney family. The property is currently zoned for somewhat unusual uses, and no development occurred under that zoning. As a result, the family donated the land to the town. Under the leadership of Melanie Barrett, the town has developed a concept that places commercial uses along Oracle Road, with some housing behind, while preserving much of the property as open space. Here is a link to the town’s information on the rezoning. Here is a link to LOVE’s previous reporting. Wednesday is an opportunity to learn more if you are interested in this property.

Town Easter celebration on April 5

Kriegh Park will again be busy, this time for the town’s annual Easter celebration on Saturday, April 4. This free event features age-based egg hunts scheduled throughout the morning: ages 0–2 at 9:30 a.m., ages 3–5 at 9:50 a.m., ages 6–8 at 10:10 a.m., and ages 9–10 at 10:30 a.m. Families can expect another well-attended community event at one of the town’s most frequently used parks. (Source: The Oro Valley Town Council Meeting, March 18, 2026)

Resident raises concerns about bright night signage near Vistoso Highlands

Resident Susanna Cameron Crichton raised concerns about lighting from the Centerpoint development near Vistoso Highlands Drive. Speaking at Wednesday's council meeting, she shared that two large illuminated signs along Pebble Creek Drive are affecting nearby homes and the adjacent nature reserve. She described the signs as unusually large and brightly lit, noting that they turn on at dusk and remain visible through surrounding vegetation. According to Crichton, the lighting disrupts sleep for nearby residents despite window coverings and may also impact wildlife in the preserve. She said she previously contacted a town ordinance officer, who reviewed applicable lighting regulations, but still questioned why this level of illumination is permitted when other neighborhoods in Oro Valley use more subdued signage. We don't know what will happen with this, but the mayor did not ask staff to look into it.  (Source: The Oro Valley Town Council Meeting, March 18, 2026)

Former council member questions legitimacy of new traffic signal approved by council at Naranja Park north entrance

Also speaking at Wednesday's council meeting, Bill Garner, an Oro Valley resident of more than 20 years and a former council member, raised concerns about the proposed traffic signal at Tangerine Road and Musette Drive, stating that it does not currently meet established warrant standards. He noted that this would be the second signal pursued without meeting those criteria, referencing the signal installed near the Community Center. Garner emphasized that the town has adopted standards and previously funded studies to guide such decisions, and cautioned against proceeding based on expectations that warrants may be met in the future. He also said nearby residents and the HOA were not notified of the proposal. Garner suggested that future projects include formal confirmation that warrants are met before construction begins and that advance public notice, such as posted signage, be required for major roadway changes. He also applauded Vice Mayor Barrett for abstaining from approving this traffic signal.  (Source: The Oro Valley Town Council Meeting, March 18, 2026)

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Rockin’ 4 Heroes Veteran Student Endowment Goes Beyond the GI Bill

A Rockin' 4Heroes endowment that keeps giving

Last Christmas, a U.S. Army veteran attending the University of Arizona faced a difficult choice. Behind on bills while her VA benefits were being processed, she had to decide whether to buy groceries, pay the electric bill, or purchase Christmas presents for her children.

Her situation is not unusual among student veterans. Demographic data shows that 85% of veterans receiving GI Bill benefits are between the ages of 24 and 40. Nearly half are married. Almost half are raising children. Many are juggling coursework with jobs, parenting, and the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life. While the GI Bill provides vital educational benefits, it often does not cover everyday expenses like childcare, transportation, or emergency costs.

A lifeline for student veterans
To help bridge that financial gap, Rockin’ 4 Heroes established a $50,000 Veteran Student Endowment through the University of Arizona Foundation in 2025. The fund provides critical grants to student veterans and Gold Star family members when unexpected financial challenges threaten to interrupt their education.

Statistics also show that these students are highly committed to their education, often earning higher GPA averages than traditional younger students. The Rockin’ 4 Heroes endowment helps relieve financial stress so these dedicated veterans can stay focused on their education and long-term success.

Helping veterans stay in school
To date, eight student veterans at the University of Arizona have received assistance from the Rockin’ 4 Heroes Veteran Student Endowment, with many additional requests in process. Blaze Smith, Director of VETS and ROTC programs at the University of Arizona, sees first-hand the impact of this endowment. “For the veteran who has bald tires, something the GI Bill doesn’t cover, a $250 grant can mean the difference between getting to class every day or dropping out,” Smith said.

Support for those who serve
The Veteran Student Endowment, along with other scholarships and initiatives that support heroes and their families, is made possible by contributions to Rockin’ 4 Heroes from business sponsors, private donors, and grants.

“We are grateful for our generous community of donors who support our mission and want to ensure the heroes who once served our nation have every opportunity to succeed in the next chapter of their lives,” said Michael Quinn, who, along with his wife Bonnie, founded Rockin’ 4 Heroes.

The organization’s signature event, the annual Rockin’ 4 Heroes Concert, is Sunday, November 8, 2026, at James D. Kriegh Park in Oro Valley. To learn more or to get involved, visit Rockin4Heroes.org or email Info@Rockin4Heroes.org.

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