Very Important Oro Valley Council Meeting Wed. March 19

We noted in our "Upcoming Events" that there are a number of critical issues that are on the agenda for the Wed. March 19 council meeting.

Many readers know Brenda & Larry Ryan. They are in the forefront in looking out for the interests of their neighbors. They sent the following email to their neighbors as well as the mayor and council members.

Keep in mind, Dankwerth & either Parish or Gillaspie are now "lame duck" council members.
The issues they will vote on are critical to the future of Oro Valley.

Here is the Ryan's email.

Art
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Hello Neighbors,

Just a reminder that this coming Wednesday, March 19th, the TOV Council meets at 7 p.m. Among items to be considered are the 360K giveaway in reduced construction taxes to Sanofi-Aventis, one of the world's richest pharmaceutical companies. Sanofi-Aventis has been in Oro Valley for 17 years, has already started construction of their newer, larger facility on Innovation Park and Rancho Vistoso Blvd. Make no mistake, if they get 360K of Oro Valley's revenue, we taxpayers will compensate for it. You notice we have 2% utility taxes, and a new $2.90 per month water fee. There will be more to make up this loss, you can be sure!

At this meeting will be considered the Anthem Equity/Acorn Development which is to be built at the corner of RV Blvd. and Commerce Loop and will back up to our main entrance--Vistoso Village Drive. When you drive past this development you will see the REAR of 36' tall industrial buildings, four of them that will look terrible and block any views of residents nearby. There will also be loading docks and a dumpster. There are poles in place at this moment that show how high these buildings will be.

As another slap in the face to Neighborhood Two, we will try to bring up the double-switched zoning issue. We were CPI, then in 1994 the Oracle Road Scenic Overlay made us Residential. It was allowed to expire in 2003. Of course we were not told. TOV published a 3" x 3" notice in the DAILY TERRITORIAL. As you know, the Town suggests we place Deed Restrictions on our properties, and we may have to, BUT first we want to tell them it is THEIR PROBLEM and they need to permanently re-instate the Overlay giving us back our residential zoning status--and protect us from further commercial encroachment!

If you can attend the Council Meeting, please do. It is at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the 19th.

Brenda and Larry

Arroyo Grande Forum Thur. March 20. Issue: Wildlife Linkages

Downlaod PDF Flyer Here

A public forum about wildlife connectivity and exploring the wildlife linkages between the Catalina and Tortolita Mountains in the Oro Valley area.

Come join us for an exciting and informative evening! Forum Topics will include:

• Statewide wildlife linkage project efforts
• Different types of linkages structures along roadways
• The role of land-use planning, transportation corridors, and public and private landowners in creating a successful and viable linkage
• Specific data and research competed in the Oro Valley area
• Relevance to the Arroyo Grande Conceptual Plan
• Presentation by: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arizona Department of Transportation, the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, and Sky Island Alliance

Oro Valley Public Library, 1305 W. Naranja Dr.

Thursday, March 20, 2008, 6-8 PM

For additional information contact Kathleen Kennedy at Kathleen@sonorandesert.org or (520)388-9925

AZ Federation Of Taxpayers Asks Us For Help---To Help Ourselves

The following message is from Tom Jenney Executive Director Arizona Federation of Taxpayers.

Our State Senator from Legislative District 26 (Oro Valley,
Saddlebrook, Marana, Northwest Tucson), Charlene Pesquiera, is one of
the key swing votes for legislative bills HB2220 and SB1002, which would
keep the state equalization property tax from coming back next year.

We need a lot of (simple and polite) emails and phone messages to Sen.
Pesquiera from home and business owners in LD26, letting her know that
they would be harmed if she fails to vote for property tax relief and
allows their state property taxes to go up next year.

Please ask Sen. Pesquiera to support the property tax repeal NOW. If the
Legislature waits until next year, the budget rules will make it very
difficult to keep this $250 million property tax from coming back.

Her email is cpesquiera@azleg.gov and her phone is (602) 926-4326. Phone
messages are better than email, but both would be best.

Our friend Mary Shue of The Pima Association of Taxpayers points out this is the tax that is especially punitive to businesses for school equalization fund source. It would also be added back on to all properties so all taxpayers would be included in property tax. However, to have full disclosure the funding now comes from the state general fund during the current tax suspension period and is still distributed and that will be the source if this tax is eliminated. But Pima County still pays some of the highest taxes in the state for all sorts of funding and we have to protect ourselves and businesses.

PLEASE---- Take a moment for one phone call or email to help ourselves.