Guest View-John Musolf: Oro Valley's TREO Investment

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(Blogmaster Note: Yesterday, we posted regarding MTCVB. Today's posting is about the Tucson Regional Opportunities Organization (TREO).  Oro Valley contributes $43,000 annually to TREO. What does Oro Valley get for its investment?)
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 Item B on the Consent portion on the Town Council Agenda on February 15, 2012 is for approving (“rubber-stamping”) the Tucson Regional Opportunities Organization (TREO) second quarter report of performance in relation to the Town of Oro Valley. In my opinion, the report is incomplete and warrants the full attention of the members of the Oro Valley Town Council.

Here are some examples of why full vetting by Council is needed:

Objective One TREO set for itself for quarter two was to: "Facilitate High Wage Job Creation and Capital Investment Strategies by 2 sales mission/ trade shows related to the bioscience and/or the aerospace defense industry." The actual performance reported by TREO:

"During the IEDC conference in Sacramento, Business Development (BD) staff met with Aerospace and Defense prospects. One of the companies is a supplier for Sargent Aerospace and Controls."

Comment: What is IEDC? Why wasn't a copy of the presentation made to the Aerospace and Defense prospects included as an attachment to the report so the Council can judge the quality of the presentations made on its behalf? What other companies with which did TREO meet?

"As part of our Sun Corridor efforts, BD staff met with over 20 companies during the So Cal Bio and Opportunity Green Conferences.  Many of these companies are looking to expand to new markets. Innovation Park and Bio5 Oro Valley position our region well for those expansions."

Comment: Which companies? What was discussed that was specific to Oro Valley?

"Project Revival - TREO met several times with representatives from Project Revival to discuss their recent expansion as well as issues our region and state need to help solve that could lead to further expansions.

Project Rollup- TREO presented an incentive package, real estate options and programs to an existing solar manufacturer looking to significantly expand their operations. Other states are presenting highly competitive packages to attract this expansion to their respective regions making our efforts to engage our regional and state partners that much more important."

Comment: Project Revival and Project Rollup are code names for potential businesses interested in locating or expanding. Shouldn't these projects be discussed by Council in executive session so the non-disclosure can be honored and the Town Council can know who the companies are? As Ronald Reagan once said: “Trust, but Verify”. 

On Project Revival, the Town Council needs to know what industry TREO is talking to about that industry recent expansion and a detailed description of the issues that the region and state need to help solve to help the expansion. On Project Rollup, the Town Council needs a detailed description of any real estate options and program offers made to an existing solar manufacturer so the Town Council can approve of those representations.

There are numerous other items in the TREO report that also should be investigated. I have detailed them but, in the interest of brevity, have not posted them here.

The point is: The TREO second quarter report, like the MTCVB second quarter report, should not be a "consent agenda" item. TREO's accomplishments should be fully vetted by council in view of the citizens of Oro Valley.

John Musolf
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