As reported in the July 25 Explorer, The Oro Valley Town Council passed a $118.8 2007-2008 budget.
One issue that might be of interest is the Naranja Park site.
Quoting Town Manager David Andrews, “We don’t have enough cash reserves to fund even one component of the Naranja Town Site.”
Early in the budget process some council members suggested the town use the unspent money to fund part of the proposed Naranja Town Site, a municipal park complex that could cost more than $150 million. ($155 million was the last number we heard, not including annual operation & maintenance costs.)
Andrews said to finance such a large project like the town site with a “pay-as-you-go” plan would wipe out all cash reserves.
It seems the town doesn't have the money, so what better place to go, than the poor, over-taxed citizens. You can expect a ballot issue for either a primary property tax or a secondary tax. Either way, you'll pay for the park. How much is the question.
Click here to read about the budget.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Oro Valley Looking To Make It Easier For Developers
In an article in the July 25 Explorer, writer Patrick McNamara tells us about a new contract Oro Valley has signed with Texas-based Buxton.
For those who may not recall, Buxton is the company that Oro Valley paid $50,000 a few years ago to tell us about our demographics, and why a retailer like Nordstrom won't be coming here.
That was a precursor to Vestar going through their "CHARADE" asking us which retailers we would like in their Marketplace.
Well---- I could have saved Oro Valley the $50,000 if they would have asked me. I, as well as just about everyone else, knew a community the size of Oro Valley came up a million or so short in population for a retailer like Nordstrom to even consider us.
In due respect, if memory serves me, Buxton did tell us we had a large enough per capita household income, for us to expect something more than a Wal-Mart.
That brings us to the Explorer article. Did anyone other than I,"catch" the quote from David Welsh our Economic Development Director? Welsh noted the "focus of analysis (contract with Buxton) was the intersection of Tangerine and Oracle roads."
Although this program will be of assistance to other developments, isn't that the location of Vestar's Market Place? Didn't we GIVE Vestar $23.2 million of our future sales tax revenue to bring us an "upscale, unique" shopping mall?
And now, we are going to spend OUR money for "an analysis to show how good of a match Oro Valley properties are for various retailers."
Are We Nuts, Or What?
Vestar already proved they don't give a damn what Oro Valley citizens want or what's a good match. Vestar proved they will bring in who they want, when they want, and not show the least bit of concern for Oro Valley citizens.
Click here if you still want to read the article.
Art
For those who may not recall, Buxton is the company that Oro Valley paid $50,000 a few years ago to tell us about our demographics, and why a retailer like Nordstrom won't be coming here.
That was a precursor to Vestar going through their "CHARADE" asking us which retailers we would like in their Marketplace.
Well---- I could have saved Oro Valley the $50,000 if they would have asked me. I, as well as just about everyone else, knew a community the size of Oro Valley came up a million or so short in population for a retailer like Nordstrom to even consider us.
In due respect, if memory serves me, Buxton did tell us we had a large enough per capita household income, for us to expect something more than a Wal-Mart.
That brings us to the Explorer article. Did anyone other than I,"catch" the quote from David Welsh our Economic Development Director? Welsh noted the "focus of analysis (contract with Buxton) was the intersection of Tangerine and Oracle roads."
Although this program will be of assistance to other developments, isn't that the location of Vestar's Market Place? Didn't we GIVE Vestar $23.2 million of our future sales tax revenue to bring us an "upscale, unique" shopping mall?
And now, we are going to spend OUR money for "an analysis to show how good of a match Oro Valley properties are for various retailers."
Are We Nuts, Or What?
Vestar already proved they don't give a damn what Oro Valley citizens want or what's a good match. Vestar proved they will bring in who they want, when they want, and not show the least bit of concern for Oro Valley citizens.
Click here if you still want to read the article.
Art
Vestar Will Take Our Millions, But Refuses To Talk To Us!
Diane Peters is one of the very articulate spokespersons for the grassroots group, OV1st. She has written a guest editorial to The Explorer. Read the way Vestar turned down an Oro Valley Council Member who attempted to arrange a meeting between the two parties. Vestar seems to be too good for our neighbors,but not too good to take $23.2 million of our future tax dollars. They're "playin' hardball"!
Read Diane's opinion piece by clicking here.
After reading it, you may also want to read the following letter from OV1st to the Oro Valley Mayor and Town Council on June 22:
Now, this sounds like a very reasonable request to us, given the nature of this project, the fact that Oro Valley is investing $23.3 million in tax rebates in it, and given the importance to the town. So, we ask, why hasn't this meeting happened?
Read Diane's opinion piece by clicking here.
After reading it, you may also want to read the following letter from OV1st to the Oro Valley Mayor and Town Council on June 22:
"On behalf of Oro Valley First (OV1st) and the 3,000 people who have signed the pledge thus far not to shop at Oro Valley Marketplace, we would like to request that the Mayor and Council consider the following proposal.
We would like you to request that Vestar give another presentation to Oro Valley residents at the Town Hall informing us, the citizens, of the current status of Oro Valley Marketplace. Specifically, we believe Vestar should provide the following information at this presentation:
- A list of tenants that Vestar has secured thus far.
- A list of tenants with whom they are currently negotiating.
- A list of tenants whom they plan to contact in the future.
- A presentation of the actual design plan for OVM, including signage.
- A Question and Answer session
Now, this sounds like a very reasonable request to us, given the nature of this project, the fact that Oro Valley is investing $23.3 million in tax rebates in it, and given the importance to the town. So, we ask, why hasn't this meeting happened?
Emil Franzi On Wal-Mart---And More
Emil Franzi writes in the June 25 Edition of the "Explorer" about the Oro Valley Marketplace, Wal-Mart and more. In the article, Franzi notes:
"The current Wal-Mart dispute in Oro Valley, a sure highlight in the upcoming town election, should be based on two fundamentals beyond the relative virtues or vices of Wal-Mart itself. Why did three town council members — Helen Dankwerth, Barry Gillaspie and Terry Parish — bail out on their original position opposing the Vestar development subsidy? That opposition got them elected. They need to explain what changed after they got there and why it was an important enough revelation to cause them (but not council members K.C. Carter and Paula Abbott) to reverse themselves. Simple courtesy let alone good governance demands that.
The second argument should be why Vestar needed a subsidy and fudged (the most polite and understated word I can use) their arguments during the referendum campaign about what their development would include. The council needs to address this, too. Their voters have been conned twice — once by them and again by Vestar."
To read more, click here.
"The current Wal-Mart dispute in Oro Valley, a sure highlight in the upcoming town election, should be based on two fundamentals beyond the relative virtues or vices of Wal-Mart itself. Why did three town council members — Helen Dankwerth, Barry Gillaspie and Terry Parish — bail out on their original position opposing the Vestar development subsidy? That opposition got them elected. They need to explain what changed after they got there and why it was an important enough revelation to cause them (but not council members K.C. Carter and Paula Abbott) to reverse themselves. Simple courtesy let alone good governance demands that.
The second argument should be why Vestar needed a subsidy and fudged (the most polite and understated word I can use) their arguments during the referendum campaign about what their development would include. The council needs to address this, too. Their voters have been conned twice — once by them and again by Vestar."
To read more, click here.
A Letter To The Explorer---Worth Reading
We don't know Carol, but she makes some valid points.
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Having moved to Oro Valley about 18 months ago, I have been very interested in all the proposed changes and the controversy about future developments here. In the July 11 issue I read that Phoenix-based Westcor is planning a La Encantada-like shopping center for the Marana mall. Westcor is seeking stores like Nordstrom, Dillards and Bass Pro Shops, rather than big-box Wal-Mart. Apparently more upscale stores have interest in this area rather than the proposed “upscale” marketplace in Oro Valley.In the same issue, I read that Wal-Mart presented a check to Oro Valley for $ 250,000 for the Naranja Town Site with “no strings attached,” as stated by Councilman Parish. I then read the letter to the editor from Dennis Ottley of Oro Valley, who stated while he was “not a fan of Wal-Mart and doesn’t shop there,” he doesn’t appear to believe that there are better choices for the marketplace. Would anyone consider stores like Stein Mart, Celebration of Golf, unique boutiques and fine restaurants for the OV Marketplace? Apparently Ottley supports Wal-Mart as the last resort anchor for the Marketplace because this mall is not enclosed. Is this the same Dennis Ottley who is on the Oro Valley advisory board for parks and recreation? Is this the same board that is planning the development for the Naranja Town Site, the recent beneficiary of the Wal-Mart donation of $250,000? While I am sure there are no strings attached, I do find it an interesting footnote.
Carol Surowiec,
Oro Valley
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Having moved to Oro Valley about 18 months ago, I have been very interested in all the proposed changes and the controversy about future developments here. In the July 11 issue I read that Phoenix-based Westcor is planning a La Encantada-like shopping center for the Marana mall. Westcor is seeking stores like Nordstrom, Dillards and Bass Pro Shops, rather than big-box Wal-Mart. Apparently more upscale stores have interest in this area rather than the proposed “upscale” marketplace in Oro Valley.In the same issue, I read that Wal-Mart presented a check to Oro Valley for $ 250,000 for the Naranja Town Site with “no strings attached,” as stated by Councilman Parish. I then read the letter to the editor from Dennis Ottley of Oro Valley, who stated while he was “not a fan of Wal-Mart and doesn’t shop there,” he doesn’t appear to believe that there are better choices for the marketplace. Would anyone consider stores like Stein Mart, Celebration of Golf, unique boutiques and fine restaurants for the OV Marketplace? Apparently Ottley supports Wal-Mart as the last resort anchor for the Marketplace because this mall is not enclosed. Is this the same Dennis Ottley who is on the Oro Valley advisory board for parks and recreation? Is this the same board that is planning the development for the Naranja Town Site, the recent beneficiary of the Wal-Mart donation of $250,000? While I am sure there are no strings attached, I do find it an interesting footnote.
Carol Surowiec,
Oro Valley
"Why I Fight Wal-Mart"
Read the Zeeman's Blogger Talk posting: "Why I Fight Walmart". It's located on the the LOVE web site's blogger talk page. The posting is a response to a blogger's email regarding WalMart. In it, the Zeeman points out that we are not bashing Wal-Mart. We simply feel that it is not appropriate for the world's largest retailer to be part of a corporate giveaway and that they are not the kind of retail store we were promised. Simply, its a matter of getting what we are paying for. Read it by clicking here.
More From Arizona Tax Revolt
The Arizona Tax Revolt sent an email detailing more on their attempts to put two initiatives on the ballot. One would limit the ability of a secondary taxing authority to raise rates more than 2%; the other would limit tax assessors ability to outrageously increase valuations. Visit their web site for more details.
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