Bits and Pieces

Town has no proof that TAC was to blame for Franke resignation

Last month, we wrote about the Tourism Advisory Commission(TAC) Then, earlier this month we reported that the Town Council had voted to dissolve it. One point we wanted to examine further was the assertion by Town Manager Jeff Wilkins and Mayor Joe Winfield that Crystal Franke, the Town’s former tourism and marketing manager, resigned to take another position because of her experience with the TAC. We had asked Franke directly, and she neither affirmed nor denied that assertion. So we specifically asked the Town for documentation showing that Franke herself had identified TAC as a reason for leaving. The Town could not provide such documentation. All it provided was an email from Wilkins to the Council attributing Franke’s resignation to TAC. We then asked a second time and were told that the town had provided all information it had on the matter. Our conclusion: Saying something is so does not make it so.

Wall Street Journal features Oro Valley as a great place to retire

A recent Wall Street Journal article on retirees moving to lower-tax states featured Oro Valley residents Earl and Pat Vittitoe, who moved here from Illinois. They chose Oro Valley after visiting Earl’s aunt and were attracted by a 55-plus community with pools, golf, Arizona’s climate and the area’s outdoor lifestyle. Earl told the Journal that they have never had second thoughts about the move. The article also profiled retirees who relocated to Lakewood Ranch, Florida; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Henderson, Nevada. Oro Valley was one of the communities highlighted as offering retirees a combination of lifestyle and financial advantages. (Source: Wall Street Journal, September 16, 2026.)

Town releases simplified 2027 town budget guide

The Town of Oro Valley has released its FY 2026/27 Know Your Town’s Budget summary, a resident-friendly guide intended to make the Town’s finances easier to understand. The guide explains how the budget works, how Town funds support services and facilities, and key facts such as Oro Valley not having a municipal property tax. Town Manager Jeff Wilkins said the summary is intended to improve transparency and help residents better understand how public dollars are used. (Source:  Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

Amphi implements barrier between CDO and the Aquatic Center parking lots...creates a problem with parking for shared events
The Amphitheater School District has closed the stairway connecting the Canyon del Oro High School east parking lot with the Town’s Aquatic Center parking lot at James D. Kriegh Park. For years, with District permission, the Town has used the school lot for overflow parking during major Aquatic Center events as well as other events. Closing the stairway means visitors who park in the east lot must now walk around the school property and enter the park from Calle Concordia, a considerably longer route that will be especially difficult for people with physical limitations. The stairs have also long provided a direct route to school for students living nearby. As the panel shows, the access has now been blocked by substantial fencing. It is welded to the railing. We do not yet know why the District closed the stairway or whether the decision was coordinated with the Town. LOVE will investigate.

Aquatic Center late afternoon parking problem getting harder to ignore
Parking at the Aquatic Center is becoming increasingly difficult in the late afternoon and evening, particularly when CDO Little League is using much of Kriegh Park. During these times, the Aquatic Center lot can fill completely, forcing Aquatic Center users to compete for limited nearby parking [see panel left]. The recent closure of the stairway from the CDO High School east parking lot has made the problem worse by eliminating an overflow parking access point that had been used for years. The Town needs to address this parking problem so Aquatic Center users have reasonable and reliable access to the facility.

HallOVeen Spooktacular returns October 17
Oro Valley Parks and Recreation will hold its free HallOVeen Spooktacular on Saturday, October 17, from 5 to 8 p.m. at James D. Kriegh Park, 23 W. Calle Concordia. The family-friendly event will include a Trunk-or-Treat hosted by local businesses, music, jumping castles, food trucks, kids’ crafts and other activities.

Friday Night Concerts at Steam Pump Ranch return tonight
Oro Valley’s free Friday Night Concert series returns to Steam Pump Ranch beginning tonight. The concert features Rainy Daze. It runs from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Additional concert dates are October 2, October 23 and November 6, featuring Your Money’s Worth, Good Trouble and Ones All Band. Residents can bring a chair or blanket and their own food, while food trucks will also be available. Admission and parking are free; outside alcohol is not permitted.

Tourism consultant named Oro Valley destination marketing manager
Kevin “Addy” Coleman is Oro Valley’s new Destination Marketing Manager. Coleman brings more than 25 years of tourism marketing consulting experience, much of it with Tucson-based Madden Media, a Tucson-based marketing agency specializing in travel, tourism and destination marketing. There, Coleman worked as a consultant to destinations around the country, specializing in destination strategy, digital marketing and measuring results. The Oro Valley position is a significant change for Madden.  Rather than advising tourism organizations from the outside, Coleman will be responsible for delivering results. (Source: OV Edge September 2026, Linkedin)
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Rockin’ 4 Heroes November Concert: Free For All!

There's no free lunch
As the saying goes, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.” But yes, there definitely is a FREE outdoor rock concert, one of Southern Arizona’s largest, right here in Oro Valley, drawing thousands of attendees from across Arizona and beyond for an afternoon of live classic rock, fun, food and heroes.

But there is an upcoming free outdoor concert

Admission to the 6th Annual Rockin’ 4 Heroes Concert, Sunday, November 8, at James D. Kriegh Park, is absolutely 100% free. And it’s all due to the generosity of many local and national businesses and private donors who believe in Rockin’ 4 Heroes’ mission to celebrate and thank the heroes who serve and protect our community and country.

Two new sponsors step up for Rockin’ 4 Heroes
Leading the roster of sponsors making this celebration possible are Presenting Sponsor HSL Properties, renewing its commitment for the 5th year in a row, and T-Mobile, joining the cause for the first time this year as Entertainment Sponsor after sending a team of spirited volunteers to work at last year’s event.

Another new sponsor this year is Tech Systems Inc. (TSI), a national company based in Georgia, which jumped on the bandwagon within a week of hearing what Rockin’ 4 Heroes is all about!

“From day one, we knew Rockin’ 4 Heroes had to be an event for the entire community. We wanted to honor our local heroes in a way that everyone could participate in, which is why keeping admission entirely free is our priority,” said Oro Valley resident Michael Quinn, who, along with his wife, Bonnie, founded the nonprofit. “We are incredibly grateful to our many sponsors who share our vision and make it possible to stage a high-caliber, high-energy musical celebration for all to enjoy.”

An amazing roster of continuing sponsors

• Advanced Sheetmetal
• Anthony and Shannon Gleckler
• Carolina Natural Resource Group LLC
• David Moyer
• Empower Coalition
• Finley Distributing
• HSL Properties
• Hughes Federal Credit Union
• Oro Valley Chamber Foundation
• Oro Valley Hospital
• Pain Institute of Southern Arizona
• Pima County Attractions & Tourism
• The Keg Steakhouse
• The Quinn Family
• The Town of Oro Valley
• TRICO
• Tucson Airport Authority
• Vetrano Financial
• Whelen Engineering

Proceeds support heroes long after the fun and music ends
The concert is free to attend, but our mission relies entirely on your generosity. Beyond the stage, your contributions fund vital year-round initiatives through the Hero Fund, providing critical scholarships, continuing education training, and emergency grants for First Responders, Active Military, Veterans, and Gold Star families.

To join an elite roster of community leaders...

...who are rockin’ for our heroes, or to pre-register for free admission and a chance to win a $500 American Furniture Warehouse gift card, visit www.Rockin4Heroes.org.

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Staff and Council Confusion Over Vistoso Trails Pond Restoration Raises Bigger Questions

Grant request opens a much broader discussion
The September 16 Council meeting included a discussion of a possible grant for recreational improvements at the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve, including the grass area around the pond. What started as a staff consent-agenda request to approve a grant application turned into a much longer discussion. That discussion revealed significant differences in Council’s and staff’s understanding of what is currently being built, what has been authorized but not yet contracted, what has to occur first, and what pursuing the new grant would delay. It also revealed the need for a broader discussion about the status of the Preserve’s overall remediation. That discussion, along with further consideration of the grant, will occur at the Council’s next meeting on October 7.

It has been four years after the Preserve came under Town ownership
It has been about four years since the Preserve came under Town ownership. That ownership followed several years of negotiations with property owner Romspen and the involvement of The Conservation Fund, which ultimately purchased approximately 202 acres of the former golf course for permanent preservation. The acquisition was made possible in part by a $1.8 million community fundraising campaign supported by more than 600 donors, while the Town separately paid $885,000 as part of the broader settlement that cleared the way for the transaction. The Conservation Fund then transferred the protected property to Oro Valley, subject to a conservation easement.

The Town accepted an obligation to maintain and restore the land
Essentially, the terms of the conservation arrangement require the Town to maintain and restore the Preserve in a manner consistent with its conservation purposes. LOVE later described that obligation as including restoration and maintenance of the property while allowing low-impact recreation and supporting amenities such as trails, benches, ramadas, restrooms and parking. Council subsequently interpreted that responsibility as restoring the former golf-course landscape toward natural Sonoran Desert conditions, including revegetation with native plants and continued control of invasive species such as Bermuda grass.

Then pond feature is in progress
The original restoration plan called for converting the pond area to a desert garden rather than restoring the former water feature. Council changed direction in April 2025, voting 4-2 to restore the full 2.5-acre pond using reclaimed water and to make the pond area a focal point of the Preserve. The broader pond-area concept included the pond itself, nearby parking and access improvements, with additional amenities such as trails, irrigation, turf, ramadas, benches, shade trees and other recreational features to be added as funding became available.

Pond construction is moving faster than the lawn
Staff said the current pond construction contract is now expected to be completed by the end of this year. The surrounding lawn is on a different schedule. Staff explained that its irrigation system cannot be installed until the area has been graded, but the current pond contract does not include that grading work. Completing the grading and irrigation will require additional funding and a change to the construction contract. Public Works Director Paul Keesler said, as a preliminary estimate, that sod could potentially be installed as early as April 2027 if funding and the preceding work fall into place.

Council had already directed money toward irrigation and ADA trails
The update surprised some Council members because, on May 6, Council had directed that approximately $150,000 in unspent Preserve funds from the current fiscal year, plus $50,000 from the following year, be used for plant and turf irrigation in the pond area. Council also directed that a $136,210 Arizona State Parks grant be used for ADA trails, with both projects to be completed in conjunction with the pond restoration.

Council wants the full picture before moving ahead
Confusion over the scope and timing of the pond-area work left Council without a shared understanding of what the current contract covered, what additional work would cost, or when irrigation and turf could be installed. Council continued action on the related grant application until October 7 and requested a full update on all Preserve restoration work, including the pond area and the sequence of the remaining work. 

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852 Acre State Lands Annexation Is “On The Table” Yet Again

State Lands annexation back again
The annexation of roughly 852 acres of State Trust Land west of Oro Valley is moving toward yet another Council discussion. This is not the first time the annexation has been before council. LOVE reported last October that the Town had reopened discussions with the Arizona State Land Department over the approximately 550 acres south of Tangerine Road. At that time, consultant Mark Longacre of WLB Group told Council that changes within the State Land Department made it worthwhile for Oro Valley to take another look at annexation. He said the State was moving toward a process in which the local jurisdiction would have greater control over planning and entitlement of State Trust Land. Mayor Winfield questioned whether that change was permanent, since it was administrative rather than established in law. LOVE reported on that discussion here.

Staff focus is on annexing the entire 852 acre parcel 
At last week’s annexation study session, Assistant Town Manager Carl Shaddock provided few details on the opportunity, saying staff was deliberately holding the fuller discussion for the Council’s October 7 meeting. What was new was that staff placed the total State Land area in the highest priority annexation tier. Mayor Winfield suggested separating the property: The approximately 550 acres south of Tangerine would remain a top-tier priority, while the roughly 302 acres north of Tangerine would move to Tier 3. That makes the October 7 discussion important because Council may now begin defining not simply whether to continue pursuing the 550, but how much of the larger 852-acre area Oro Valley actually wants to bring into Town.

 "The properties currently under consideration for annexation

by the Town of Oro Valley are the two State Land‐ owned sites

indicated on the map below, referred to as Tangerine North

(302 acres), and Tangerine South (550 acres)."

The State goal is to maximize the land’s value
The State’s basic objective has not changed. State Trust Land is managed to generate revenue for its beneficiaries, principally Arizona’s public schools. Last year, LOVE reported that the State’s newer approach could give Oro Valley more influence over permitted uses and planning than under the earlier process. But greater Town involvement may conflict with the State’s financial objective. 

When the property was formally discussed by the State in March 2025, the development concept included a master-planned approach, a mix of residential densities and housing types, commercial and other nonresidential uses, flexible allocation of residential and commercial development among parcels, and Planned Area Development zoning. The State also contemplated Oro Valley completing General Plan and zoning approvals before parcels were auctioned, giving future buyers greater certainty.

The development concept is still far from settled
We can trace versions of the proposed land use back eight years. In 2018, the annexation and rezoning concept for State land contemplated as many as 3,200 dwelling units, including single-family homes, apartments and townhomes. Today, OV’s Path Forward identifies the Tangerine 852 area as “Master-Planned Community” and says it is included in the Town’s Annexation Strategy for potential annexation in cooperation with the Arizona State Land Department. It also says that future land-use changes would occur through a cooperative public process. That gives the Town a framework, but it does not tell residents what ultimately would be built there.

Diminishing CAP water is big issue
Last year, LOVE published many unanswered questions that were posed by the council regarding this annexation. Providing water to the annexed land was the big one. At that time, Water Utility Director Peter Abraham told Council that full build-out of the State Trust Land could require roughly 1,000 acre-feet of water a year.  That is 10% of Oro Valley’s current CAP allocation. He said that the property would rely entirely on CAP water, not groundwater, and noted that nearly all of the Town’s existing CAP supply is already committed to current customers. Abraham warned that future CAP reductions would make that level of service unsustainable. The CAP situated has worsened since then. Last week, we reported that there is a 14% CAP water reduction starting in 2027. 

According the Abraham speaking at that time, the issue is not simply whether Oro Valley can physically deliver water. It can. The issue is committing that much CAP water when it is likely to become more scarce and at a time when the state has developed a firm plan for a sustainable alternative water source.

October 7 should move the discussion beyond where it was last year
LOVE has followed this proposal for nearly a decade, and we followed its return to Council in detail last October. The question now is no longer simply whether Oro Valley should take another look at the 550. That already happened. The October 7 discussion should tell residents whether the Town is prepared to move beyond preliminary exploration and, if so, what development, water, infrastructure and financial conditions Council would require before pursuing annexation any further. 

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Publisher Note: Town materials have historically referred to the broader property as the “880-acre” State Land area, although those same materials describe its two components as approximately 550 acres south of Tangerine and 302 acres north of Tangerine.

Bits and Pieces

Almost a year now and Gephart still does no know how huge construction sales tax forecasting error happened
LOVE has written for almost a year that the Town badly overestimated FY2025-26 construction sales tax revenue, budgeting about $5.1 million and ultimately collecting only about $2.7 million. At Wednesday’s Council meeting, we learned that staff made a large error in the opposite direction on building permits: residential building permit revenue reached $1.55 million, while total license and permit revenue exceeded budget by nearly $684,000. 

Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett asked the obvious question: How could the Town significantly overestimate construction tax revenue while simultaneously underestimating the permit revenue associated with development? Finance Director David Gephart responded, “I don’t have a good answer for you at this point,” adding that he would have to “go back and look at how the budget was formulated.” 

When Barrett asked for a report explaining the discrepancy, Gephart agreed. 

The construction sales tax problem had been apparent for months, making it reasonable to expect Gephart to already understand how the original assumptions had gone so wrong. The issue is no longer simply that two forecasts missed badly in opposite directions. It now raises a broader question: Is Gephart providing the level of financial oversight the Council should expect?

Council and residents appeal staff zoning decision; Board of Adjustment hearing October 5

The Oro Valley Town Council and nearby Rancho Vistoso residents have appealed a staff zoning interpretation involving the proposed senior-care development on the vacant commercial parcel north of Safeway Vistoso Plaza. The disputed interpretation, issued by the Planning and Zoning Administrator, determined that a “sanatorium” is a permitted use in the Rancho Vistoso PAD’s C-1 commercial zoning district. Under Town procedures, appeals of zoning interpretations are heard by the Board of Adjustment, which acts as a quasi-judicial body and makes the Town’s final decision on the matter. Oro Valley The appeal is scheduled for a Board of Adjustment hearing on October 5. (learn more here)

Town launches pre-approved home plans to cut time and cost

Oro Valley’s new Community Model Homes program is now live, giving residents access to Town pre-approved designs intended to make building a guest house, casita or home faster and less expensive. The initial library includes accessory dwelling units and single-family homes, with duplex and triplex plans expected beginning in 2027. The plans are created by local design professionals and builders and are available for use by interested residents. The Town says the program is intended to expand housing options while reducing permitting time and costs. Visit the town program home page to learn more.

Oro Valley expects 14% CAP reduction in 2027 — but says local supplies are secure

Oro Valley Water Utility says the federal government’s new Colorado River operating framework is expected to reduce the Town’s Central Arizona Project allocation by about 14% beginning in January 2027. Water Utility Director Peter Abraham says Oro Valley is positioned to absorb that reduction because its CAP allocation exceeds what it normally needs, allowing the Town to store excess water underground, and because it has accumulated long-term storage credits that can be used if future CAP deliveries decline further. The Utility also points to its diversified water portfolio — groundwater, CAP water and reclaimed water — and regional partnerships as additional protection against future shortages. (Town of Oro Valley Water, "Behind the meter," Fall 2026 issue)

Fall pavement preservation work underway across Oro Valley

Oro Valley has started its fall 2026 pavement preservation program, with work scheduled from September through November on streets and in neighborhoods throughout town. The Town says the work is intended to extend the life of existing pavement before more expensive reconstruction is required, with streets selected based on pavement condition and prior treatment history. Among the larger areas on this fall’s list are Naranja Drive from La Cañada to First Avenue, Vistoso Commerce Loop, Vistoso Estates and Tangerine Heights, along with numerous neighborhood streets. Work is generally scheduled between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., and residents in affected neighborhoods will receive notice before construction begins. (Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

OVHS September Happenings...

Historical Society shares discoveries from its archives
Volunteers with the Oro Valley Historical Society have been working this summer on digitizing all of the Society’s archives, including documents, photographs and physical items. The Society is inviting the community to see some of what volunteers have discovered, including materials that may never have been seen before. Visit the Pusch House Museum at historic Steam Pump Ranch every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon this month. Docents will be on site to answer questions and provide additional information.

Click To Enlarge

On September 23, learn how sunlight carried messages across frontier Arizona
On Wednesday, September 23, at 10:30 a.m. at the Oro Valley Public Library, former CIA analyst and Oro Valley resident Lee Krsiean will present “Heliograph: Frontier Arizona’s Communication by Sunlight.” The presentation will discuss how U.S. Army soldiers used light-reflecting heliographs for communication and security for early settlers. Reflected-light communication could carry information across long distances, including from Flagstaff to Arizona’s southern border.

Attend The Peace Pole dedication September 26
On Saturday, September 26, the Historical Society will hold a special ceremony at Steam Pump Ranch. At 10 a.m., members of the Rotary Club of Oro Valley, Town officials and members of the Oro Valley Historical Society will dedicate a Peace Pole donated by the Rotary Club earlier this year. Peace Poles are an international symbol carrying the message “May Peace Prevail On Earth.” The Oro Valley pole carries that message on four sides in English, Mandarin, Spanish and Tohono O’odham. The community is invited to attend the dedication.

The presentation and visits to the Pusch House Museum are complimentary. Donations to the Oro Valley Historical Society are gratefully accepted. 

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Editor Note: Before radio became common, the U.S. Army used heliographs in the Southwest because bright sunlight and clear air allowed messages to travel many miles between mountaintops and other elevated stations. The Historical Society presentation will focus on how this system was used in frontier Arizona for military communication and security.

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Proposition 431 Is OV’s Path Forward...Ten Things To Know

Prop 431 is on the November Ballot

Proposition 431, OV’s Path Forward, will be on your ballot this November. Here's ten things you should know before voting on OV’s next 10 years!

1. What is OV’s Path Forward?
This is Oro Valley’s General Plan, which was created by residents and must now be approved by residents. If it earns your vote, it will set goals, policies, and actions that guide the Town through 2036.

2. Who created OV’s Path Forward?
Oro Valley residents created this plan. Over the past two years, we have encouraged readers to take surveys, participate in online discussions, and review the plan. This resulted in more than 10,700 comments from residents like you.

3. Why is OV’s Path Forward important?
The plan reflects residents’ goals and priorities for Oro Valley’s quality of life. It includes specific actions related to community safety, parks, views, water resources, economic development, roadways, housing, land use, and more.

4. How does the plan lead to meaningful results in the community?
OV’s Path Forward is an action-oriented plan and a commitment from the Town to uphold residents’ values and priorities. It includes 286 specific actions for the Town to implement over the next 10 years. As stated on OVPathForward.com, “These actions are prioritized through the Town’s Strategic Plan, which allows Oro Valley to focus on the most pressing needs and optimize resources accordingly, while keeping the community’s long-term goals in mind.”

Each year, the Town produces a progress report showing residents how these actions are being fulfilled. The progress report for the current plan stated, “100% of its actions” were addressed.

5. How is OV’s Path Forward different from the Town’s current plan?
This new plan shares many of the same values as the Town’s current plan, like ensuring a safe community, conserving scenic views, and providing high-quality parks and roads. It also offers more specific direction in areas like housing, water resources, and Town finances. A more in-depth article about the differences between the plans is available in our LOVE OV’s Path Forward Primer.

6. What happens if OV’s Path Forward isn’t approved by the voters?
OV’s Path Forward was created by residents and must be approved by residents. If it does not pass in November, the current plan will stay in effect until a new one is approved by the voters.

7. What does the plan say about water use?
The plan emphasizes the community’s priority to “Ensure water availability for current and future residents.” It incorporates long-term strategies to diversify the town’s water sources and prepare for future water challenges.

8. What does the plan say about growth and development?
Based on resident guidance, the plan focuses on targeted growth and redevelopment. It includes goals and policies that prioritize the conservation of views and environmental resources during development. The plan honors residents’ preference for lower building heights and homeownership while encouraging more retail, restaurants, and gathering spaces.

9. Will the plan increase taxes?
No, the plan does not increase taxes. Most actions maintain residents’ core values and do not require additional resources. It states, “Most [actions] will entail efficient and effective use of existing resources. Others require further community engagement and additional resources to achieve meaningful results” (OV Path Forward, Achieving Meaningful Results, p. 9).

10. How do I get more information about OV’s Path Forward? 

The plan is available online at OVPathForward.com and display copies can be read at the Oro Valley Public Library, Community and Recreation Center, and the lobbies of the Town Hall Administration and Community and Economic Development buildings.

Town staff are available to present to groups or meet individually. You can contact them at OVPathForward@orovalleyaz.gov.

These FAQs and the plan are available on OVPathForward.com

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Publisher Note: Do take advantage of LOVE's Prop 431 Primer. Click the second tab above.

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